With knots of sweetest flowers

Their winding-sheet perfume;

And wash their wounds with true-love showers,

And dress them for the tomb.

For beautiful in death

The WARRIOR's corse appears,

Embalm'd by fond AFFECTION's breath,

And bathed in WOMAN's tears.

-Give me the death of those

Who for their country die;

And O be mine like their repose,
When cold and low they lie!

Their loveliest mother Earth
Enshrines the fallen brave,

In her sweet lap who gave them birth

They find their tranquil grave.

THE VIGIL OF ST MARK.

RETURNING from their evening walk, On yonder ancient stile,

In sweet, romantic, tender talk,

Two lovers paused awhile :

EDMUND, the monarch of the dale,

All-conscious of his

powers;

ELLA, the lily of the vale,

The rose of AUBURN's bowers !

In airy Love's delightful bands

He held her heart in vain;

The Nymph denied her willing hands To HYMEN's awful chain.

"Ah! why," said he, " our bliss delay! "Mine ELLA! why so cold?

"Those who but love from day to day,

"From day to day grow old.

"The bounding arrow cleaves the sky, "Nor leaves a trace behind;

"And single lives like arrows fly, "They vanish thro' the wind.

"In wedlock's sweet endearing lot "Let us improve the scene,

"That some may be, when we are not, "To tell-that we have been."

""Tis now," replied the village Belle, "Saint Mark's mysterious eve;

"And all that old traditions tell

"I tremblingly believe :

"How, when the midnight signal tolls,

66

Along the church-yard green,

"A mournful train of sentenced souls

"In winding-sheets are seen!

"The ghosts of all whom DEATH shall doom

"Within the coming year,

"In pale procession walk the gloom,

"Amid the silence drear!

"If EDMUND, bold in conscious might,

'By love severely tried,

"Can brave the terrors of to-night,

"ELLA will be his bride."

She spake,—and, like the nimble fawn,
From EDMUND's presence fled :

He sought, across the rural lawn,
The dwelling of the dead!

That silent, solemn, simple spot,

The mouldering realm of peace,

Where human passions are forgot!
Where human follies cease!

The gliding moon, through heaven serene Pursued her tranquil way,

And shed o'er all the sleeping scene

A soft nocturnal day.

With swelling heart and eager feet

Young EDMUND gain'd the church,

And chose his solitary seat

Within the dreadful porch.

Thick, threatening clouds assembled soon,

Their dragon wings display'd;
Eclipsed the slow retiring moon,

And quench'd the stars in shade.
1