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"Hence, and rejoice. The glorious work is done.
"A spark is thrown that shall eclipse the sun!
"And, tho' bad men shall long thy course pursue,
"As erst the ravening brood o'er chaos flew,*
“He, whom I serve, shall vindicate his reign;
"The spoiler spoil'd of all; the slayer slain;†
"The tyrant's self, oppressing and opprest,
"Mid gems and gold unenvied and unblest:+
"While to the starry sphere thy name shall rise,
"(The bright reward of generous enterprise!)
"Thine in all hearts to dwell-by fame enshrin'd,
"With those, the few, that live but for mankind."

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ORIGINAL POETRY.-FOR THE PORT FOLIO.

TO A ROSE BUD, ON MY STUDY TABLE.

ILLFATED bud! and must thou bloom,
Mid musty books and classic lore!
And must thou find an early tomb,

Where flowery fragrance never breath'd before,
Alas! it ill befits thee to be found

Among the ponderous tomes of wights profound.
Better for thee to blush in beauteous pride,
On her fair bosom whom my soul holds dear,
Than in this hermitage thy charms to hide,
And "waste thy fragrance" in this humble sphere.
But sooth to say thy beauties charm the eye,

Of one who dearly loves such gift of spring,
Thou shalt not "uncommended die,"

For I a verse will sing.

See Paradise Lost. X.

Cortes, Pizarro. Almost all,' says Las Casas, have perished. The innocent blood, which they had shed, called aloud for vengeance; the sighs, the tears of so many victims went up before God.'

L'Espagne a fait comme ce roi insensé qui demanda que toute ce qu'il toucheroit se convertit en or, et qui fut oblige de revenir aux dicux pour les prier de finir sa misère. Montesq.

627

Such as the youthful bard in fancy's dream,

Forms for his love, and thou shalt be my theme

I'll say, to the beauties that

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No nymph resemblance so perfect has borne;
Your charms all its sweetest attractions disclose,
And your wit oft reminds me how pointed its thorn.
And some discourse there too shall be,

Of doubt that chills and hope that warms,
Then to my fair, I'll send the verse with thee,
The loveliest emblem of her peerless charms.

FOR THE PORT FOLIO.

TO MARIA.

You did not like my lay uncouth,
Because I only said the truth,
Nor in deceit, nor flattery dealt,
But frankly told the fears felt.

'Tis true, I was a silly elf,
To talk to you about myself;
Because as now I clearly view,
I should have only talk'd of you.

Yes, yes, I should have been more wise,
And told about a score of lies,

Toiling, with tropes and figures fine,
To prove to you, you were divine.

If I had said, to form your eyes,

That Nature search'd through all the skies,
And robb'd, to make them heav'nly bright,
Both Mars and Venus of their light:

If I had called you mild as even,
If I had said your smile was Heaven,
1 That you than life were dearer far,
And fairer than the morning stary

H.

No doubt I should have won your trust,

You would have thought me frank and just,
You would have said, with secret joy,
I was a very candid boy!-

But I'll not jest; for I by half,

Am more disposed to frown than laugh;

I'm sure I said no more to you,

Than what was natural and true.

I said I doubted if the bard

Might hope to claim your heart's regard,
Because you might suppose the boy
Unworthy of so dear a joy.

Now if I err'd in doubts like these,
Why, dear, correct me when you please;
I will not fasten down the wind
To show your purity of mind:

I will not rove about the skies
To find a likeness for your eyes;
But I will say, without a fear,
That you are— -What? Why you are dear!

And if you think such speech amiss,
Why, sweetest, then it comes to this;
That we must wrangle more and more
For I will say it o'er and o'er.

J. M-Y.

FOR THE PORT FOLIO.

TO MARIA, ON HER RESTORATION TO HEALTH.

From the rude hand of Pain and Wo,

I hail thee, gentle maid, releas'd!
No more the unbidden tear-drops flow,
And every tort'ring sigh has ceas'd.

Thanks to the power that made thee whole,
And gave thee to the world again-
Of circles, the enliv'ning soul,

And first in beauty's matchless train,

627

'Tis bliss to find those eyes relume
The fires that lately dazzled there;
'Tis bliss to see that cheek resume
The roses it was wont to wear.

Since Spring now visits all the land,
Pouring around her softest gales,
'Tis time to burst Confinement's band,
And court the sunny hills and vales.

Come then, and let us tread the greens
That border Hartford's parent tide;
Than these, are found no lovelier scenes,
On Arno's banks or Mincio's side.

Come, and we'll breathe this grateful air,
Fraught with the sweets of every bloom;
Come, and we'll view this prospect fair,
Fashion'd in Nature's finest loom.

I long to see thee taste the sweets,
Which from the blooming season flow;
I long to find thee in retreats
That health and happiness bestow.

Then to my eye these hills and vales
In native beauty shall appear;

And then shall birds, and streams, and gales,
Waft sweeter music to my ear.

R.

TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS.

IT has been long and justly lamented, that while almost every nation of Europe, however miserable its condition or humble its political importance, has a traditionary music, and national airs, our country alone does not yet possess these important characteristics. This is, indeed, a great and prominent defect in our social and political existence. Blest as we unquestionably are with

more individual and general prosperity, than is enjoyed by any other people, and as strenuously attached to our national institutions, we yet in this country want an undefined something of national feeling, and of general sympathy which unites societies more powerfully than the mutual enjoyment of all these advantages. It is not the casual vicinity of our homes that makes a nation. It is not a cold and prudent calculation of the benefits of union and the dangers of dissension, which binds states together. It is a higher, and a more generous sentiment, the kindred feelings, the resembling habits, the consciousness of mutual esteem, the sense of common dangers, all these more than the calm deliberations of wisdom, come warm and rushing from the heart to make us not merely know, but feel that we have a country. It is this, noble sentiment, which reason can neither form, nor control, nor even sometimes approve, which thrills through our breasts at the remembrance of our country-which identifies our pride, with its glory-which makes us blush for its failings, or weep for its misfortunes, or swell with its triumphs, and fixing on that country, our undivided affections, surrounds its institutions with the sacred enthusiasm of the passions. In no manner can these feelings be inspired or preserved, more effectually, than by national and characteristic poetry. They thus approach us with all the fascinations of genius, at an age when the generous passions are alone awakened, and connecting themselves with our earliest and dearest associations, establish over our bosoms, a seductive and durable empire. Their influence need not be told to those who know the power of physical sounds, in union with endearing recollections, or who remember, that since the time of Tyrtæus to the days of Dibdin, the songs and poetry of a nation have always prepared or accompanied its triumphs. "Let me make the ballads of a nation, and I care not who makes the laws," was the observation of a judicious and profound statesman, which is peculiarly applicable to the popular institutions of our

own country.

During the long interval of repose in which this nation has slumbered, the feelings of mutual kindness, and conciliation, which should attach us to each other, have, unhappily, lost too much of

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