66 the cypress wreath. 
Give me to hail thy sunshine. 
With song and spirit free ; 
Or in a purer air than this 
May that next meeting be! 
—Mrs. Hemans. 
THE CYPRESS WREATH. 
0 lady, twine no wreath for me, 
Or twine it of the cypress-tree ! 
Too lively glow the lilies light, 
The varnish’d holly’s all too bright, 
The May-flower and the eglantine 
May shade a brow less sad than mine; 
But, lady, weave no wreath for me. 
Or weave it of the cypress-tree. 
Let dimpled Mirth his temples twine 
With tendrils of the laughing vine; 
The manly oak, the pensive yew, 
To patriot and to sage be due ; 
The 'nvrtle bough bids lovers live. 
But tha. Matilda will not give ; 
Then, lady, twine no wreath for me, 
Or twine it of the cypress-tree. 
