"Then, ay, then-he shall kneel low,
With the red-roan steed ănear him,

Which shall seem to understand-
Till I answer, 'Rise and go!

For the world must love and fear him
Whom I gift with heart and hand.'

"Then he will arise so pale,
I shall feel my own lips tremble
With ǎ yes I must not say-

1

Nathless maiden-brave, 'Farewell,'

I will utter and dissemble

'Light to-morrow with to-day.'

"Then he'll ride among the hills
To the wide world past the river,
There to put away all wrong:
To make straight distorted wills,
And to empty the broad quiver

Which the wicked bear ǎlõng.

"Three times shall a young foot-page
Swim the stream and climb the mountain
And kneel down beside my feet-
Lo! my master sends this gage,

Lady, for thy pity's counting!

What wilt thou exchange for it?'

"And the first time, I will send
A white rosebud for a guerdon,-
And the second time, à glove:
But the third time-I may bend
From my pride, and answer-' Pardon-
If he comes to take my love.'

"Then the young foot-page will run

Then my lover will ride faster,
Till he kneeleth at my knee:
'I am a duke's eldest son !

'Nathless (nåth' lès), nevertheless; not the less; notwithstanding.

'Guerdon (gèr ́don), a requital;

a recompense, or reward.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,

Or softly lightens o'er her face-
Where thoughts serenely sweet express

How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,

But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent.

BYRON.

IT

LADY CLARE.

T was the time when lilies blow,
And clouds are highèst up in air,
Lord Ronald brought ǎ lily-white doc
To give his cousin, Lady Clare.

I trow they did not part in scorn:
Lovers long-betrothed were they:
They two shall wed the morrow morn;
God's blessing on the day!

"He does not love me for my birth,
Nor for my lands so broad and fair;
He loves me for my own true worth,
And that is well," said Lady Clare.

In there came old Alice the nurse,

Said, "Who was this that went from thee?"

'It was my cousin," said Lady Clare;

66 To-morrow he weds with me."

"O God be thanked!" said Alice the nurse, "That all comes round so just and fair :

Lord Ronald is heir of all your lands,
And you are not the Lady Clare."

Thousand serfs do call me master,-
But, O Love, I love but thee!"

"He will kiss me on the mouth

Then ;

and lead me as ǎ lover,

Through the crowds that praise his deeds:

And, when soul-tied by one troth,

Unto him I will discover

That swan's nest among the reeds.

Little Ellie, with her smile

Not yet ended, rose up gayly,

Tied the bonnet, donned the shoe-
And went homeward, round a mile,

Just to see, as she did daily,

What more eggs were with the two.

Pushing through the elm-tree copse
Winding by the stream, light-hearted,
Where the osier pathway leads--
Past the boughs she stoops-and stops!
Lo! the wild swan had deserted-

And ǎ rat had gnawed the reeds.

Ellie went home sad and slow:

If she found the lover ever,

With his red-roan steed of steeds, Sooth I know not! but I know She could never show him-never, That swan's nest among the reeds!

One shade the mōre, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,

Or softly lightens o'er her face--
Where thoughts serenely sweet express

How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,

But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent.

BYRON.

IT

LADY CLARE.

T was the time when lilies blow,
And clouds are highèst up in air,
Lord Ronald brought ǎ lily-white doe
To give his cousin, Lady Clare.

I trōw they did not part in scorn:
Lovers long-betrothed were they:
They two shall wed the morrow morn;
God's blessing on the day!

"He does not love me for my birth,
Nor for my lands so broad and fair;
He loves me for my own true worth,
And that is well," said Lady Clare.

In there came old Alice the nurse,

Said, "Who was this that went from thee ?" "It was my cousin," said Lady Clare; "To-morrow he weds with me."