596 Songs of ‘a Sunimer Nigkt. Dike. 
owavered’to its merty Meanderings. | The’ atrention of the company was 
“now directed’ to a youth, who, with'little i prepated’to comiply 
“with ‘the request made by the lady, that he’ should relieve he¥ froii'the 
embarrassment of the'admiration she had excited by inimediately com- 
*mencing a’song, ‘and the smile and familiar inclination of the” headthat 
“followed the solicitation, was sufficient to shew that not only a fri 
“intimacy subsisted between them to justify her prompt demand, but that 
“he was an adept m the science. He was a youth’o slight form, with a 
‘profusion of light hair curling and waving over a full bright hazeb eye, 
“Gvhose clear arched brow and smooth forehead’ ‘spoke of happiness and 
‘heart’s-ease.’ Close to him sat a fair girl with a hand closely locked'in 
‘his, and looking at him so fondly, and answering his speaking and laugh- 
ing glances so tenderly and intelligibly, that it was’no ‘difficult’ matter to 
“guess they were lovers—happy, undivided lovers. © She’ stole ‘a short 
gentle whisper in ‘his ear, and presently all listened to’ 9 ("am © 
THE LOVER'S SONG. 
What are the summer skies to me, 
Though bright and beautiful they be? 
What are the garden’s freshest flowers, 
And the kissing breeze of its greenest bowers 7 
Though beauty and fragrance mingle there, - 
And sweet is the kiss of the amorous air, 
- Yet flowers were never so glowing and sweet 
As my lady’s blush when alone me meet. 
And what is the kiss of the softest breeze, 
To my lady’s lips in such nights as these? 
And never so bright were the summer skies, 
As the living light of my lady’s eyes. 
Sweet are the beams of the early sun, 
Ere the hum of the waking world’s begun ; 
And poets tell us the mermaid’s song 
Can calm the wild sea as it rolls along: 
Then sweet is the swell of each quiet wave, 
As if fraught with a sigh for the shores they lave :— 
But I know a bosom whose rise and fall 
Can murmur a sigh that’s sweeter than all ; 
And could you but hear my lady sing, 
You'd have ears for no other carolling : . 
While the morning beams would vapours’ be, 99 902 8 
+» To the light of my lady’s smile on me. (0). rod bed ase 
This song, which was given with all the art and skill of a practised 
singer, now dying away in low-yet clear tones, then gradually rising to the 
full swell of the voice, aided by the well-timed pauses and finished execution 
of a correct ear, so pleased those whowere listening, that an ‘universal burst 
of approbation brought the whole company into motion. ‘The attendants 
presented the wine cups, the ladies shifted their positions; as the gallants, 
becoming emboldened, and somewhat inspired by the songs, the time;and. 
the place, were gathering closer to the fair creatures); and many were'the 
delicate fingers that endured the pressure of: more ‘nervous‘ones, 
almost to flinching, But whoever might be’ delighted with the efforts of 
the last singer, none were more so than the fair girl that sat so’ close to 
him; and as he had extolled his lady’s carolling, no one fora moment 
imaginéd that any other than that lady could be meant: consequently 
intreaties for her melody poured in from every quarters ‘but thepoor 
\ girl, far from ‘attempting to prove her lover's taste, ‘sat! trembling ‘and 
grasping his arm, and giving breathless negatives to every request,:and 
