Then, helm hard-port, right straight he sailed

Towards the headland light:
The wind it moaned, the wind it wailed,

And black, black fell the night.

Then burst a storm to make one quail

Though housed from winds and waves, They who could tell about that gale

Must rise from watery graves !

Sudden it came, as sudden went ;

Ere half the night was sped, The winds were hushed, the waves were spent,

And the stars shone overhead.

Now, as the morning mist grew thin,

The folk on Gloucester shore Saw a little figure floating in,

Secure, on a broken oar!

a

Up rose the cry,

“ A wreck! a wreck! Pull, mates, and waste no breath!” They knew it, though 't was but a speck

Upon the edge of death!

Long did they marvel in the town

At God his strange decree,
That let the stalwart skipper drown,
And the little child free!

Thomas Bailey Aldrich.

go

ANNIE LAURIE

MAXWELTON braes are bonnie
Where early fa’s the dew,
And it's there that Annie Laurie
Gie'd me her promise true, -
Gie'd me her promise true,
Which ne'er forgot will be ;
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me doune and dee.

Her brow is like the snaw-drift,
Her throat is like the swan,
Her face it is the fairest
That e'er the sun shone on,
That e'er the sun shone on;
And dark blue is her ee;
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me doune and dee.

Like dew on the gowan lying
Is the fa' o' her fairy feet ;
Like the winds in summer sighing,
Her voice is low and sweet,
Her voice is low and sweet ;
And she's a' the world to me;
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me doune and dee.

Unknown.

THE BALLAD OF ORIANA

My heart is wasted with my woe,

Oriana.
There is no rest for me below,

Oriana.
When the long, dun wolds are ribbed with snow,
And loud the Norland whirlwinds blow,

Oriana,
Alone I wander to and fro,

Oriana.

Ere the light on dark was growing,

Oriana,
At midnight the cock was crowing,

Oriana :
Winds were blowing, waters flowing,
We heard the steeds to battle going,

Oriana ;
Aloud the hollow bugle blowing,

Oriana.

In the yew-wood black as night,

Oriana,
Ere I rode into the fight,

Oriana,
While blissful tears blinded my sight
By star-shine and by moonlight,

Oriana,
I to thee my troth did plight,

Oriana.

She stood upon the castle wall,

Oriana :
She watched my crest among them all,

Oriana :
She saw me fight, she heard me call,
When forth there stept a foeman tall,

Oriana,
Atween me and the castle wall,

Oriana.

The bitter arrow went aside,

Oriana:
The false, false arrow went aside,

Oriana :
The damnèd arrow glanced aside,
And pierced thy heart, my love, my bride,

Oriana !
Thy heart, my life, my love, my bride,

Oriana !

Oh! narrow, narrow was the space,

Oriana.
Loud, loud rung out the bugle's brays,

Oriana.
Oh! deathful stabs were dealt apace,
The battle deepened in its place,

Oriana;
But I was down upon my face,

Oriana !

1

They should have stabbed me where I lay,

Oriana !

How could I rise and come away,

Oriana ? How could I look

upon

the day? They should have stabbed me where I lay,

Oriana,
They should have trod me into clay,

Oriana.

O breaking heart that will not break,

Oriana !
O pale, pale face so sweet and meek,

Oriana !
Thou smilest, but thou dost not speak,
And then the tears run down my cheek,

Oriana :
What wantest thou ? whom dost thou seek,

Oriana ?

I cry

aloud : none hear my cries,

Oriana.
Thou comest atween me and the skies,

Oriana.
I feel the tears of blood arise
Up from my heart unto my eyes,

Oriana.
Within thy heart my arrow lies,

Oriana.

O cursèd hand ! O cursed blow!

Oriana !
O happy thou that liest low,

Oriana !