104 
CALUMNY. 
HELLEBORE. 
Helleborus Niger. 
Language — CALUMNY. 
My dark-eyed darling, don’t you know, 
If you were homely, cold, or stupid, 
Unbent for you were Slander’s bow ? 
Her shafts but follow those of Cupid. 
Dear child of genius, strike the lyre, 
And drown with melody delicious, 
Soft answering to your touch of fire, 
The envious hint, the sneer malicious. 
Remember it is music’s law, 
Each pure, true note, though low you sound it, 
Is heard through discord’s wildest war 
Of rage and madness storming round it. 
Serenely go your glorious way, 
Secure that every footstep onward 
Will lead you from their haunts away, 
Since you go up, and they go — downward. 
Mrs. Osoood. 
I know that slander loves a lofty mark ; 
It saw her soar a flight above her fellows, 
And hurled its arrow to her glorious height, 
To reach as high, and bring her to the ground. 
Miss IL More. 
