Here, to the houseless child of want
My door is open still;

And, though my portion is but scant,
I give it with good will.

"Then turn, to-night, and freely share
Whate'er my cell bestows-
My rushy couch and frugal fare,
My blessing and repose.

"No flocks that range the valley free To slaughter I condemn

Taught by that power that pities me,
I learn to pity them.

"But, from the mountain's grassy side A guiltless feast I bring

A scrip with herbs and fruits supplied,
And water from the spring.

"Then, pilgrim, turn, thy cares forego;
All earth-born cares are wrong:
Man wants but little here below,
Nor wants that little long."

Soft as the dew from heaven descends,
His gentle accents fell;

The modest stranger slowly bends,
And follows to the cell.

Far, in a wilderness obscure,
The lonely mansion lay;

A refuge to the neighbouring poor,
And strangers led astray.

No stores beneath its humble thatch
Requir'd a master's care;
The wicket, opening with a latch,
Receiv'd the harmless pair.

And now, when busy crowds retire
To take their evening rest,
The hermit trimm'd his little fire,
And cheer'd his pensive guest;

II.

And spread his vegetable store,
And gaily press'd and smil'd;
And, skill'd in legendary lore,

The lingering hours beguil'd.

Around in sympathetic mirth,
Its tricks the kitten tries-
The cricket chirrups in the hearth,
The crackling faggot flies;

But, nothing could a charm impart
To soothe the stranger's woe-
For grief was heavy at his heart,
And tears began to flow.

His rising cares the hermit spied-
With answering care oppress'd;
"And whence, unhappy youth," he cried,
The sorrows of thy breast?

"From better habitations spurn'd,
Reluctant dost thou rove?

Or grieve for friendship unreturn'd,
Or unregarded love?

"Alas! the joys that fortune brings
Are trifling, and decay-

And those who prize the paltry things
More trifling still than they;

"And what is friendship but a name,
A charm that lulls to sleep-
A shade that follows wealth or fame,
But leaves the wretch to weep?

"And love is still an emptier sound-
The modern fair-one's jest ;

On earth unseen, or only found

To warm the turtle's nest.

"For shame, fond youth, thy sorrows hush

And spurn the sex," he said;

But while he spoke, a rising blush

His lovelorn guest betray'd:

2 A

Surpris'd, he sees new beauties rise,
Swift mantling to the view-
Like colours o'er the morning skies,
As bright, as transient too.

The bashful look, the rising breast,
Alternate spread alarms:

The lovely stranger stands confess'd,
A maid in all her charms.

"And, ah! forgive a stranger rude,
A wretch forlorn," she cried-
Whose feet unhallowed thus intrude
Where heaven and you reside;

"But let a maid thy pity share,
Whom love has taught to stray-
Who seeks for rest, but finds despair
Companion of her way.

My father liv'd beside the Tyne-
A wealthy lord was he;

And all his wealth was mark'd as mine;
He had but only me.

"To win me from his tender arms

Unnumber'd suitors came;
Who prais'd me for imputed charms,
And felt or feigned a flame.

"Each hour, a mercenary crowd

With richest proffers strove; Among the rest young Edwin bow'dBut never talk'd of love.

"In humble, simplest habit clad,
No wealth nor power had he;
Wisdom and worth were all he had-
But these were all to me.

"And when, beside me in the dale,
He carol'd lays of love,

His breath lent fragrance to the gale,
And music to the grove.

"The blossom opening to the day,

The dews of heaven refin'd, Could nought of purity display To emulate his mind;

"The dew, the blossom on the tree, With charms inconstant shine:

Their charms were his; but, woe to me, Their constancy was mine.

"For still I tried each fickle art, Importunate and vain ;

And while his passion touch'd my heart, I triumph'd in his pain.

"Till, quite dejected with my scorn,
He left me to my pride;

And sought a solitude forlorn,
In secret, where he died.

"But mine the sorrow, mine the fault, And well my life shall pay;

I'll seek the solitude he sought,

And stretch me where he lay.

"And there, forlorn, despairing, hid— I'll lay me down and die; 'Twas so for me that Edwin did,

And so for him will I."

"Forbid it, Heaven!" the hermit cried, And clasp'd her to his breast:

The wondering fair-one turn'd to chide'Twas Edwin's self that press'd.

"Turn, Angelina! ever dear—
My charmer, turn to see
Thy own, thy long-lost Edwin here,
Restor'd to love and thee.

"Thus let me hold thee to my heart,

And every care resign;

And shall we never, never part,

My life my all that's mine!

No; never from this hour to part,
We'll live and love so true:

The sigh that rends thy constant heart
Shall break thy Edwin's too."

THE SIEGE OF HENSBURGH.

BY DR. JOHN RYAN.

["When the Emperor Conrad the Third had besieged Guelphus, Duke of Bavaria, in the city of Hensburgh, the women, finding that the town could not possibly hold out long, petitioned the Emperor that they might depart out of it with as much as each of them could carry. The Emperor, knowing that they could not convey away many of their effects, granted them their petition; when the women, to his great surprise, came out of the place, with every one her husband on her back. The Emperor was so much moved at the sight, that he burst into tears, and, after having very much extolled the women for their conjugal affection, he gave the men to their wives, and received the Duke into his favour."-Spectator, Vol. vii., No. 499.]

BRAVE news! brave news! the Emperor
Hath girded on his sword,

And swears by the rood, in angry mood,
And eke by his knightly word,

That humbled Hensburgh's towers shall be,
With all her boasted chivalry.

The brazen clarion's battle note

Hath sounded through the land;

And brave squire and knight, in their armour dight,

Ay, many a gallant band,

Have heard the summons far and near,

And come with falchion and with spear.

"Ho! to the rebel city, ho!

Let vengeance lead the way!

And anon the sheen of their spears was seen,

As they rushed upon the

prey.

Beneath where Hensburgh's turrets frown'd

Great Conrad chose his vantage-ground.

Far stretching o'er the fertile plain

His snow-white tents were spread;