174 



AGNES. 



For far and near in vain to find 

 A noblfr form of human kind 

 Than that which young Sir Aubery 



wore ; — 

 And many a heart had felt of yore, 

 The pang he left behind. 



And oh ! oft o'er that lovely form. 

 He bow'd and breathed his wishes 



warm, 

 Whilst she contented drank the tone 

 Of voice melodious as her own, 



Scarce less its power to charm. 



Or cheek to cheek in love's caress, 

 Vowing eternal steadfastness, 

 Eye meeting eye in loving look 

 Which sparkled in that leafy nook, 

 And tress entwined with tress. 



Snre Eden in its sunniest time, 

 Furni^hed no joys from purer mine. 

 Than when from bosoms closely 



strained 

 Rise loving murmurs, unconstrained, 



And hearts to hearts incline. 



And of such joys oft, oft, they fed, 

 And parting words reluctant said, 

 To leave him thus, her early grief 

 In hopes of meeting found relief,— 

 All other longings dead. 



For as eacli star that's set on high. 

 Although slill present in the sky, 

 No more is seen when morning's sun 

 Shines brighter than the brightest 



one. 



All paled when he was nigh. 



Both blest wiib wealth, in lands and 



gold. 



Two j'onthful spirits, uncontrolled, 



Boihin their matchle.-s beauty shune, 



Lovelier maid or youth came none. 



Within that mansion old. 



Each hope and thought tho' unex- 

 pressed. 

 Appeared a tenant of each breast, 

 As tho' their love had glowed so 

 strong. 

 Their hearts had blended into one ; 

 Each in the other blest. 



But luve, proverbially blind. 



Oft leaves what seems most prized 



behind, — 

 Pickle as the winds that play 

 Round flowers on a summer's day 

 Then haste now joys to find. 



And sad 1 1 tel', alas ! too true, — 

 Young Aubery's love was fickle too, 

 For ere the nuptial knot was tied 

 The last faint spark of love was died 

 And far away he flew, — 



Into another's ear to pour 



The vows oft made and broke 



before ; — 

 But purer heart, or fairer hand, 

 Than Agnes' of High Sunderland, — 

 None could in love implore. 



But who coull picture half ihe woe 

 Which Agnes felt beneath the blow, 

 When waking to her sense of ^vrong, 

 She found how fa'se, alas, how long. 

 He had deceived her so. 



Many in sympathising strain, 

 Besou-'lit her to look up again, 

 Kor let his lo^s a trouble prove, 

 But seek one worthier of her love ; 

 Yet all besought in vain. 



And in a voice which harshly rrng 

 From one so lovely and so young, 

 Clasi)ing her hands upon her brow. 

 She uttered this most awful vow, 

 That silenced every tonjjue. 



(to be COMrNtTED.) 



