A BALLAD,

Of a YOUNG MAN that would read unlawful Books, and how he was punished.

CORNELIUS AGRIPPA went out one day,
His Study he lock'd ere he went away,
And he gave the key of the door to his wife,
And charg'd her to keep it lock'd on her life.

And if any one ask my Study to see,

I charge you trust them not with the key,
Whoever may beg, and intreat, and implore,
On your life let nobody enter that door.

There liv'd a young man in the house who in vain
Access to that Study had strove to obtain,
And he begg'd and pray'd the books to see,
Till the foolish woman gave him the key.

On the Study-table a book there lay,
Which Agrippa himself had been reading that day,
The letters were written with blood within,
And the leaves were made of dead mens skin.

And these horrible leaves of magic between
Were the ugliest pictures that ever were seen,
The likeness of things so foul to behold,
That what they were is not fit to be told.

The young man, he began to read

He knew not what, but he would proceed,
When there was heard a sound at the door
Which as he read on grew more and more.

And more and more the knocking grew,
The young man knew not what to do ;
But trembling in fear he sat within

Till the door was broke and the Devil came in.

Two hideous horns on his head he had got.
Like iron heated nine times red hot,

The breath of his nostrils was brimstone blue,
And his tail like a fiery serpent grew.

What would'st thou with me? the Wicked One cried, But not a word the young man replied,

Every hair on his head was standing upright

And his limbs like a palsy shook with affright.

What would'st thou with me? cried the Author of ill, But the wretched young man was silent still;

Not a word had his lips the power

to say,

And his marrow seem'd to be melting away.

What would'st thou with me? the third time he cries, And a flash of lightning came from his eyes,

And he lifted his griffin claw in the air,

And the young man had not strength for a prayer.

His eyes with a furious joy were possest

As he tore the young man's heart from his breast,
He grinn'd a horrible grin at his prey,
And in a clap of thunder vanish'd away.

Henceforth let all young men take heed
How in a Conjurer's books they read.

To the RAINBOW.

Loveliest of the meteor-train,
Girdle of the summer-rain,
Tinger of the dews of air,
Glowing vision fleet as fair,
While the evening shower retires
Kindle thy unhurting fires,
And among the meadows near
Thy refulgent pillar rear;
Or amid the dark-blue cloud
High thine orbed glories shroud,
Or the moistened hills between
Bent in mighty arch be seen,
Thro' whose sparkling portals wide

Fiends of storm and darkness ride.

Like Chearfulness thou art wont to gaze
Always on the brightest blaze,

Canst from setting suns deduce
Varied gleams and sprightly hues ;
And on louring gloom imprint
Smiling streaks of gayest tint.

R. O.

TO TWILIGHT.

Friend of the pensive wanderer, Twilight, hail! I joy to see thee roll thy sea of clouds

Athwart the crimson throne

Of the departing sun.

For then what various objects, dimly seen,
By wonder-working Fancy touch'd, acquire
An awe-inspiring air,

Lo! thine attendant, the low-sailing bat,

Flaps his brown wing, begins his circling flight; E'en Midnight's tuneful bird,

To hail thee, pours her strain.

I love thy simple garb; no brilliant stars

Adorn thy dusky vest, unlike to that

Worn by thy sister Night,

Save when she reigns in storms.