Page images
PDF
EPUB

FUGITIVE POETRY.

THE MOTHER TO HER CHILD.

The following lines were written by a person eminent for poetic talent, but whose productions

seldom met the public eye. We are not certain,

however, whether these interesting stanzas have not been before published; at all events, we are assured they will ever be read with pleasure. WELCOME, thou little dimpled stranger, O welcome to my fond embrace; Thou sweet reward of pain and danger, Still let me press thy cherub face. Dear source of many a mingled feeling, How did I dread, yet wish thee here, While hope and fear in turn prevailing,

Serv'd but to render thee more dear.
How glow'd my heart with exultation,
So late the anxious seat of care,
When first thy voice of supplication
Stole sweetly on thy mother's ear!
What words could speak the bright emotion
That sparkled in thy father's eye,
When to his fond paternal bosom

He proudly prest his darling boy!
Oh! that thou may'st, sweet babe, inherit
Each virtue to his heart most dear,
His manly grace, his matchless merit,
Is still thy doating mother's pray'r.
While on thy downy couch reposing,
To watch thee is my tender toil,
I mark thy sweet blue eyes unclosing,
I fondly hail thy cherub smile.

Smile on, sweet babe, unknown to sorrow,
Still brightly beam that heav'nly eye;
And may the dawn of ev'ry morrow,
Shed blessings on my darling boy!

ISIDORA;

M. A. M.

OR, THE TRIUMPH OF FAITH. The following Lines are taken from Madame Dufrenoy's Poem on the "Fête de Dieu," lately celebrated in France; the scene lies in the valley of Bièvre.

SPRING now appears, with flow'rs and verdure crown'd,

And o'er the fields again her favours sheds;
The humble cot of rural peace she gilds,
And smiling Bievre, rich and fertile valley,
Sole place of all my fancied happiness,
Now offers to the ravish'd sight new charms:
Its ancient poplars in their spring attire,
Its grassy banks through which pure riv❜lets flow,
The sweets of roses mingling with the air,
The melodious of a thousand birds,
song

While with the opening spring, a sacred feeling
Pervades each heart, alive to hope and joy.
The virtuous sage, the pastor of the place,
Kind, like the Deity he represents,
Not an austere and zealous censurer,
Devotes his evenings to the act of prayer:
And, when the sacred temple we have left,
The pipe's sweet sound collects, in various

groups,

;

The village maidens and the village swains,
Who skim the flow'ry soil in mazy dance.
One lovely maid, the village ornament,
Scarce sixteen years had Isidora told-
Shunn'd the tumultuous pleasures of the dance;
Hiding her beauties and her winning grace,
Unthinking of their pow'r o'er every heart
Her modest looks fix'd only on the heavens
Which she invok'd, unceasing for a mother
Condemn'd to groan on mis'ry's hard couch.
This parent suffer'd long from palsy's touch;
Her deaden'd limbs no longer found their use.
Nor art, nor care, nor yet her daughter's soothings
Could heal the fatal ill which sapp'd her life.
Ah! who can paint sweet Isidora's grief?

[ocr errors]

Virgin, be calm-thy God has seen thy tears; "This is his day; his clemency he shews. "Believe and pray, and trust Almighty pow'r." These words, when sleeping, Isidora heard, An angel spake them, and her tears were dried, While fix'd on God her hopes, Faith guides her pray'rs.

And see, Heav'n's feast now comforts all the land!
Scarce did the star of morning gild the cot,
When castle walls are deck'd with ancient ban-

ners,

The well-wrought tapestry and trophy bright,
While humble canvas decks the lonely hut,
And all the dusty road is strew'd with flow'rs;
The cymbals clash, and joyous clamour sound,
The bells to prayer assemble all the faithful:
The swelling organ peals the solemn hymn,
The standard of the Saviour is display'd!
With slow pac'd steps, the priests of great Je-
hovah,

Now ope the portals of the sacred fane;
The Virgin's image, and the holy reliques,
The cross victorious, fill their pious arms.
Be prostrate, Christians, 'tis the King of heav'n!
Where is this God, to whom we homage pay?
Behold him 'neath a canopy of foliage!
Wives, husbands, children, aw'd by such a sight,
A solemn silence hold, then lowly bend.
But tears of love, at length, their eyes suffuse;
And when sweet smelling herbs and op'ning

roses

Unite their odours to the clouds of incense, With praise like this resounds the vault of heav'n.

O my heart, with joyful thrill,
Sing the Lord's own holiday ;

He, who the earth and heaven doth fill,
Now sheds on all his heav'nly ray.

God, who doth innocence protect,
Alone can happiness afford;
O Christians, when your woes affect

Your hearts with grief, then seek the Lord.

The dumb from him with speech is blest,
And blindness joyful haiis the light;
Good angels guard the cottage guest,
Equal with him of regal height.

O my heart, with joyful thrill,

Sing the Lord's own boliday,

He, who the earth and heaven doth fill,
Now sheds on all his heav'nly ray.

O yes, my God, joy'd Isidora cried,
Thou canst do all-then succour her I love!
I consecrate, O God! myself to thee:
Oh! my fond transports! wonder-working faith!

Sudden the virgin seeks her humble roof,
And raising in her arms her wretched mother,
Kneels with her burthen at the pastor's feet,
Whose trembling hands the sacrament sustains:
Scarce had the Eucharist her eyes beheld,
O miracle!-O rapture!-A new life,
Flows through the genial current of her veins,
And Isidora's mother strength receives!
In her dim eyes a brilliant spark of joy
Shines, as she raises them to Heav'n; then
On her child she gazes, with a lively joy ;
And soon, recovering from her lengthen'd trance,
She follows, with firm step, the sacred pomp.
Th' astonish'd crowd, o'erwhelm'd with fervent
joy,

Feels faith redoubled, ardour pure, and hope.
The pious daughter, now to God devoted,
Joins the chaste sisterhood, and deep secluded
For ever from the world, in sacred orison
Forms prayers unceasing for her mother's life.

SONNET.

BY JOHN MAYNE.

S. G.

SWEET Sound! I love to hear the parish-bells,
At church-time, when the villagers repair
To learn glad tidings which the preacher tells,
And bless their Maker in the House of Pray'r!
Behold them list'ning to the truths divine!

'Tis Pick'ring* preaches, dignified and clear! Pick'ring, whose precepts in his practice shine, Confirms their hope, and dissipates their fear! Returning happy home through flow'ry meads,

Or struggling on in eare's perplexing road, His doctrine guides them in the path which leads Their footsteps to the Paradise of God!

*The Rev. Joseph Pickering, perpetual Curate of Paddington, Middlesex.

Pure Paradise! unruffled with a sigh! Mau's surest hope on earth! the day-spring from on high !

ON INDEPENDENCE.

FROM THE GREEK ANTHOLOGIA. I Do not ask some costly vest to wear, But one which just may shelter from the air; And while I taste the pleasures of the muse, The pomp of rich men's tables I refuse. To wealth that feeds the flatterer and the knave I scorn to stoop, and own myself its slave; For tho' my board with less profusion shine, Its homely dish proves liberty is mine.

CHARLEMAGNE.

The following is given as a specimen of that celebrated poem "Charlemagne," written by Lucien Bonaparte, but which has never yet appeared in print: and from which some judgment may be formed of a work which has raised such high expectations in the public mind. The extract we give is taken from the first and only part of the work that was printed.

CHANT PREMIER. ARGUMENT.-Exposition. Invocation. Reunion des Lombards et des Grecs Iconoclastes sous les murs de Spolette. Revolte des Grecs. Sacrilege de Spolette. Fuite des Catholiques vers Rome.

LES soldats Byzantins campent aux pieds des

murs:

Leurs tentes de la ville environnent l'enceinte;
Une croix en eclats sur leurs drapeaux empreinte
Atteste leur croyance et leurs dogmes impurs.
A l'aspect imprevu de l'heretique armee,
Dans Spolette alarmee

Le Latin est saisi d'une secrette horreur,
Mais sous le joug Lombard il gemit en silence :
Didier, traitre a l' Eglise, infidele a l'honneur,
Ose aujourd'hui des Grecs proclamer l'alliance.
Rodamir et Longin sont recus dans la ville.
Admis au pres du Roi, Longin parle en ces mots :
Seigneur, un plein succes couronne mes tra-

66

vaux,

[ocr errors]

"Et j'apporte a tes pieds le fruit d'une zele utile. "Enfin Cesar Auguste a souscrit au traite "Que ta bouche a dicte :

"Il renonce a Ravenne, a Rome, a l'Italie. "A ton fils Adalgise, honneur du nom Lombard, "Il accorde la main de sa sœur Eudoxie; "Et les Grecs desormais suivrent ton etendard. "Auguste te promet des secours plus nombreux; "Et, s'il le faut, lui-meme, il quittera Byzance; "Il viendra dans l'eclat de toute sa puissance "Affermir dans tes mains le sceptre de ces lieux. "Pour prix de ses efforts, il ne veut en partage "Qu'un simple et pur hommage: "Du Supreme Exarcat il te cede les droits. "Prince, sois a jamais l'allie de l'Empire; "Du faible Vatican foulant aux pieds les loix, "Cesse de respecter ce que tu peux detruire."

THE ADDRESS OF A DAUGHTER TO HER FATHER, CONJURING HIM

TO SPARE HER LIFE.

Had I the voice of Orpheus, that my song The unbending strength of rocks might lead along,

Melt the rude soul, and make the stubborn bow,
That voice might heaven inspire to aid me now.
But now, ungifted as I am, untaught
To pour the plaint of sorrow as I ought,
Tears, the last refuge of a suppliant's prayer,
Tears yet are mine, and those I need not spare.
Father, to thee I bow, and low on earth

Clasp the dear knees of him who gave me birth-
Have mercy on my youth! oh, think how sweet
To view the light, and glow with vital heat?
Let me not quit this cheerful scene, to brave
The dark uncertain horrors of the grave!

I was the first to whom you fondly smiled, And straining to your bosom, called," My child!"

Canst thou forget how on thy neck I hung, And lisp'd, “My father!" with an infant tongue?

How 'midst the interchange of holy bliss, The child's caresses, and the parent's kiss, "And shall I see my daughter," wouldst thou say, "Blooming in charms among the fair and gay? Of some illustrious youth the worthy bride, The beauty of his palace and the pride?"

"Perhaps," I answered with a playful air, "And dares my father hope admittance there, Or think his prosperous child will e'er repay His cares, and wipe the tears of age away." Then round the dearest neck I clung, which yet I bathe in tears-I never can forget;

-But thou remember'st not how then I smiled'Tis vanish'd all-and thou wilt slay thy child.

Oh! slay me not! respect a mother's throes,
And spare her age unutterable woes!
Oh, slay me not!-or-if it be decreed-
(Great God avert it!) if thy child must bleed,
At least look on her, kiss her, let her have
Some record of her father in the grave!
Oh come, my brother! join with me in prayer!
Lift up thy little hands, and bid him spare!
Thou wouldst not lose thy sister! e'en in thee,
Poor child, exists some sense of misery-
-Look, father, look! his silence pleads for me.
We both intreat thee-I, with virgin fears,
He, with the eloquence of infant tears.

Oh, what a dreadful thought it is, to die!
To leave the freshness of this upper sky,
For the cold horrors of the funeral rite,
The land of ghosts, and everlasting night!
Oh, slay me not! the weariest life that pain,
The fever of disgrace, the lengthen'd chain
Of slavery, can impose on mortal breath,
Is real bliss "to what we fear of death."

[blocks in formation]

smallest appearance of stiffness, and dis- taste to say, that she deserves the greatest plays the natural beauties of the figure to credit as the inventress of two corsets o the greatest advantage, while, at the same well suited to every stage of life, and so time, it represses that fulness which some admirably adapted to display to advantage ladies find rather troublesome in the present the slight or the full proportioned female style of dress; and affords to pregnant ladies figure; nor can our fair readers forget the the greatest comfort and support. Undress improvement in their beauty which must lace cap, and French Pamela bonnet of result from wearing a corset so conducive white chip, ornamented with flowers, edged to their health. Adieu to steel busks, long with net and tied with a ribband to cor- stays, and all the torturing compressions respond with the trimming of the dress. || under which British beauty has so long Blue kid gloves; and fancy leather slippers, laboured; the Circassian and Wellington or half-boots. The Bathing Preserver is a corsets have, and we cordially hope for most ingenius and useful novelty for ladies ever, banished them. who frequent the sea-side; as it is intended to provide them with a dress for bathing far more adapted to such purposes than any thing of the kind at present in use: and it will be found most necessary and desirable to those ladies who go to the seaside unprovided with bathing dresses, and will relieve them from the nauseous idea of wearing the bathing coverings furnished by the guides. Mrs. Bell's Bathing Preserver is made quite in a novel manner, to which is attached a cap to be removed at pleasure, made of a delicate silk to keep the head dry. The Preserver is made of such light materials that a lady may carry it in a tasteful oiled silk bag of the same size as an ordinary lady's ridicule.

No. 2.-PAMELA EVENING DRESS. Frock of the finest India muslin, body and sleeves of lace; the former made full, and the latter the triple epaulet, which is composed of three folds of lace. Over this dress a superb white lace French pelisse, lined with sarsnet-colour, maiden's blush, and made an trimmed in the most elegant manner. We forbear to enter into the minutia of its form as its general effect is well preserved in the Print; and ladies who may wish to inspect the original will, we are convinced, find it the most becoming and elegant pelisse that has yet appeared in the circles of fashion. This dress is intended to represent a lady in the Circassian corset, which continues in the highest estimation; it might indeed be termed, with the greatest propriety, the corset of the Graces, since nothing can display a fine form to so much advantage. It is but justice to Mrs. Bell's

The above dresses were invented by Mrs. BELL, the Inventress of the Ladies' Chapeau Bras, at her Magazin des Modes, No. 26, Charlotte-street, Bedford-square.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

ON

FASHION AND DRESS.

little variety since the publication of our
IN the walking costume there is but
last Number. We have observed only two
actual novelties, a cloak without a name,
and a pelisse distinguished by the appella.
tion of the Russian wrap. This dress, not-
withstanding its name, is a very cool, light,
and elegant pelisse, and extremely appro-
priate to the season; it is made in white or
black lace, India muslin either plain or
worked, washing silk or spider net lined
with slight sarsnet, the latter, we must ob-
serve, is not very general; it is made high
in the neck, and, like all the other dresses
of the month, is full in the body, and either
gaged if sarsnet, or strips of lace let in to a
fulness if muslin, &c.
The collar is very

novel and pretty; it is shaped in such a
manner as to form at once a collar and a
small round cape, which, if composed of
lace, has a very elegant effect. A full
sleeve, which has a piece of muslin, &c. put
into the middle very full, and the fulness
is drawn at regular distances, and finished
with white or black silk ornaments. The
pelisse wraps on the left side to nearly the
middle of the back, and is sloped like a half
handkerchief to a point at where it fastens

The cloak which we have mentioned was made of fine worked muslin, and formed a part of the gown of the lady who wore it. In the dress itself there was nothing of novelty, but we were much pleased with the cloak, which consisted of two pieces of muslin put on as braces in full folds across the back of the dress, they were about half a quarter in breadth; to these braces, at the point of the shoulder, is fastened on each side a piece of muslin which forms a point; it is quite straight, about three quarters of a yard in length, and half a yard in breadth; || it is sewed in plaits to the brace, and is | trimmed round with lace. The perfect novelty of this little cloak is perhaps its principal merit, but its appearance altoge- || ther was by no means inelegant.

at the waist, and on that side it is sloped || can be called which measure only a few round to the bottom; on the other it is inches) and short skirt, which afford rather quite straight. The trimming is either too liberal a view of a well-turned ankle. silk fancy trimming, if the dress is sarsnet, Joking apart, we are sorry to see our fair or lace, if made in muslin, &c. countrywomen adopt a fashion which is neither delicate nor elegant, and which in the eyes of those whom they most wish to please, is most assuredly not thought becoming. Dinner dresses are mostly made in clear muslin; we have seen some in sarsnet, but except in white, sarsnets are on the decline. White sarsnet is in very high estimation; coloured ones, if worn at all, continue to be ornamented with silk fancy trimming, but white is generally trimmed with lace. The frock which we are about to describe is the only novelty of any consequence that has been introduced. Body of white lace, composed of alternate strips of letting-in and plain lace, the latter double the breadth of the former, and sewed very full to the other, which is plain; these strips are put lengthways, and the waist is finished, as is also the bosom of the dress, with a broad scolloped lace. The lace round the waist has a novel and very tasteful effect. Short full sleeve to correspond with the body, and finished with three rows of narrow scolloped lace placed one above another. The bottom of the skirt is finished with white satin folds laid on in waves, and edged at top and bottom with narrow scolloped lace; a deep flounce of scolloped lace goes round the gown. It is needless to observe that this dress is very expensive, but it is certainly truly elegant.

For the promenade costume French bonnets, and English bounets of a form nearly similar, continue to be in high estimation, indeed no fashionable belle will be seen in any thing else. It may not be superfluous to observe, that ladies who wish to be suited with elegant walking bonnets à-la-Pamela, will do well to look in at Mrs. Bell's Magazin des Modes. Connoisseurs in dress are very well aware that the same sort of thing may be made in a style either becoming or unbecoming: Mrs. Bell has contrived to render what was literally a disguise, an elegant and becoming bonnet; and she has been in consequence honoured with the most distinguished patronage.

In morning dresses the one which we have given in our Print is the only novelty deserving attention this month. Laced bodies still continue to be worn; dresses are made as much as ever off the shoulders, and waists are even shorter than they were last month. Coloured skirts and white bodies still continue to be worn with braces; but the same objections may be made to them. On the whole, the high dresses described in our last Number, must be considered as next in estimation to the one we have given in our Print.

If we turn to the dinner costume, we shall find full frock bodies (if bodies they

[ocr errors]

In full dress, frocks and draperies of white lace continue in the highest estimation; French gauze frocks, with bodies and short sleeves of ribband net, are next to them. Crape declines in favour, but is still worn by a few elegantes. Lace draperies do not differ in their form from those of the last month; but while we are upon the subject of lace, we must observe, that the astonishing perfection to which our bobbin net has been brought, has raised it to the highest estimation on the Continent as well as at home; a friend just returned from Paris having assured us, that a veil, or a dress, of this lace, is the most acceptable present which can be made to a Parisian belle. The French gauze frocks of which we have spoken, are made in all the

« PreviousContinue »