'Yet give one kiss to your mother

dear!

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Alas, my child, I sinn'd for thee!' 'O mother, mother, mother,' she said, 'So strange it seems to me.

'Yet here's a kiss for my mother dear,
My mother dear, if this be so,
And lay your hand upon my head,
And bless me, mother, ere I go.'

She clad herself in a russet gown,
She was no longer Lady Clare;
She went by dale, and she went by
down,

With a single rose in her hair.

60

THE CAPTAIN

A LEGEND OF THE NAVY

HE that only rules by terror
Doeth grievous wrong.

Deep as hell I count his error.
Let him hear my song.
Brave the Captain was; the seamen
Made a gallant crew,

Gallant sons of English freemen,
Sailors bold and true.

But they hated his oppression;
Stern he was and rash,

So for every light transgression
Doom'd them to the lash.
Day by day more harsh and cruel
Seem'd the Captain's mood.
Secret wrath like smother'd fuel
Burnt in each man's blood.
Yet he hoped to purchase glory,
Hoped to make the name
Of his vessel great in story,

Wheresoe'er he came.

So they past by capes and islands,
Many a harbor-mouth,

Sailing under palmy highlands
Far within the South.
On a day when they were going
O'er the lone expanse,

In the north, her canvas flowing,
Rose a ship of France.
Then the Captain's color heighten'd,
Joyful came his speech;
But a cloudy gladness lighten'd
In the eyes of each.

3c

THE LORD OF BURLEIGH

IN her ear he whispers gaily,

'If my heart by signs can tell, Maiden, I have watch'd thee daily, And I think thou lov'st me well.' She replies, in accents fainter, "There is none I love like thee.' He is but a landscape-painter, And a village maiden she. He to lips that fondly falter Presses his without reproof, Leads her to the village altar,

And they leave her father's roof. 'I can make no marriage present; Little can I give my wife.

כ1

Love will make our cottage pleas ant,

And I love thee more than life.' They by parks and lodges going See the lordly castles stand;

Summer woods, about them blowing, Made a murmur in the land.

20

From deep thought himself he rouses,
Says to her that loves him well,
'Let us see these handsome houses
Where the wealthy nobles dwell.'
So she goes by him attended,

Hears him lovingly converse,
Sees whatever fair and splendid
Lay betwixt his home and hers;
Parks with oak and chestnut shady,
Parks and order'd gardens great,
Ancient homes of lord and lady,

30

Built for pleasure and for state. All he shows her makes him dearer; Evermore she seems to gaze On that cottage growing nearer, Where they twain will spend their days.

O, but she will love him truly!

He shall have a cheerful home, She will order all things duly, When beneath his roof they come. 40 Thus her heart rejoices greatly,

Till a gateway she discerns With armorial bearings stately, And beneath the gate she turns, Sees a mansion more majestic

Than all those she saw before. Many a gallant gay domestic

50

Bows before him at the door; And they speak in gentle murmur. When they answer to his call, While he treads with footstep firmer, Leading on from hall to hall. And, while now she wonders blindly, Nor the meaning can divine, Proudly turns he round and kindly, All of this is mine and thine.'

Here he lives in state and bounty, Lord of Burleigh, fair and free;

Not a lord in all the county

Is so great a lord as he.

All at once the color flushes

60

And a gentle consort made he,
And her gentle mind was such
That she grew a noble lady,

And the people loved her much.
But a trouble weigh'd upon her,
And perplex'd her, night and mor
With the burthen of an honor

Unto which she was not born. Faint she grew, and ever fainter, And she murmur'd, 'O, that he Were once more that landscape-painte Which did win my heart from me!'

So she droop'd and droop'd befor him,

Fading slowly from his side; Three fair children first she bor him,

Then before her time she died. Weeping, weeping late and early, Walking up and pacing down, Deeply mourn'd the Lord of Burleigh Burleigh-house by Stamford-town. And he came to look upon her,

And he look'd at her and said,
'Bring the dress and put it on her,
That she wore when she was wed.'
Then her people, softly treading,
Bore to earth her body, drest

In the dress that she was wed in,
That her spirit might have rest.

THE VOYAGE

I

10

chin;

And we might sail for evermore.