Onward in haste Llewellyn past, O'erturn'd his infant's bed he found, He call'd his child, no voice replied- "Hell-hound! by thee my The frantic father cried; child's devour'd!" And to the hilt his vengeful sword His suppliant look, as prone he fell, Arous'd by Gelert's dying yell Some slumberer wakened nigh; What words the parent's joy can tell, To hear his infant cry! Conceal'd amidst a mingled heap, His hurried search had miss'd: [1] Covert for coverlet, the outermost of the bedclothes. [2] Besprent-sprinkled. All glowing from his rosy sleep, Nor wound had he, nor harm, nor dread; Lay a great wolf, [1] all torn and dead, Ah! what was then Llewellyn's pain, Vain, vain was all Llewellyn's woe; The frantic deed which laid thee low, And now a gallant tomb they raise, Here never could the spearman pass, Here oft the tear-besprinkled grass And here he hung his horn and spear, In fancy's piercing sounds would hear Poor Gelert's dying yell! [1] Wolf-wolves were at this time numerous and formidable in Wales. [2] Rue-regret, lament. [3] Storied-engraved, or written over. And till great Snowdon's rocks grow old, The name of "GELERT'S GRAVE." W. Spenser. 156.-TO THE SKY-LARK. Bird of the sweet and early wakening hour! Has lit the busy humming bee ; Pure as all nature is to thee Thou, with an instinct half divine, To joy and praise; Oh! how much more Should mind immortal earth forsake, And man look upward to adore ! 157. Bernard Barton. THE SANDAL TREE. The best revenge is love:-disarm Anger with smiles: heal wounds with balm ; The sandal tree, as if to prove S. C. Wilkes. 158.-REASONS FOR MIRTH. The sun is careering in glory and might And the summer breezes go lightly by ; The linnet is singing the wild wood through, bee; All the creatures that dwell in the forest are gay, And why should not I be as merry as they? Miss Mitford. 159.-INSECTS. What atom forms of insect life appear! As through the wood with cautious step he moves. Like some stern warrior, formidably bright, 160.-LAPLAND. "With blue cold nose and wrinkled brow, Traveller, whence comest thou?" "From Lapland woods and hills of frost, By the rapid rein-deer crost; Where tap'ring grows the gloomy fir Where the wild hare and the crow Whiten in surrounding snow; Where the shiv'ring huntsmen tear Aikin. [1] Stunted-hindered from growth, dwarf. |