SONNET.

TO A FRIEND WHO ASKED, HOW I FELT WHEN THE NURSE FIRST PRESENTED MY

INFANT TO ME.

CHARLES! my slow heart was only sad, when first
I scanned that face of feeble infancy :
For dimly on my thoughtful spirit burst
All I had been, and all my child might be!
But when I saw it on its mother's arm,

And hanging at her bosom (she the while Bent o'er its features with a tearful smile,) Then I was thrilled and melted, and most warm Impressed a father's kiss: and all beguiled

Of dark remembrance and presageful fear, I secmed to see an angel-form appear— 'Twas even thine, beloved woman mild!

So for the mother's sake the child was dear, And dearer was the mother for the child.

TELL'S BIRTH PLACE.

IMITATED FROM STOLBERG.

I.

MARK this holy chapel well!

The birth-place, this, of William Tell.
Here, where stands God's altar dread,
Stood his parents' marriage-bed.

II.

Here, first, an infant to her breast,

Him his loving mother prest;

And kissed the babe, and blessed the day,
And prayed as mothers use to pray.

III.

"Vouchsafe him health, O God! and give

The child thy servant still to live!"

But God had destined to do more

Through him, than through an armed power.

IV.

God gave him reverence of laws,

Yet stirring blood in Freedom's cause—

A spirit to his rocks akin,

The eye of the hawk, and the fire therein!

To Nature and to Holy Writ
Alone did God the boy commit;

Where flashed and roared the torrent, oft
His soul found wings, and soared aloft!

VI.

The straining oar and chamois chase
Had formed his limbs to strength and grace:
On wave and wind the boy would toss,
Was great, nor knew how great he was!

VII.

He knew not that his chosen hand,
Made strong by God, his native land
Would rescue from the shameful yoke
Of Slavery-the which he broke !

ODE TO GEORGIANA,

DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE, ON THE TWENTY
FOURTH STANZA IN HER "PASSAGE

OVER MOUNT GOTHARD.”

"And hail the chapei! hail the platform wild!
Where Tell directed the avenging dart,

With well strung arm, that first preserved his child
Then aimed the arrow at the tyrant's heart."

SPLENDOUR'S fondly fostered child'
And did you hail the platform wild,
Where once the Austrian fell
Beneath the shaft of Teli!

O Lady, nursed in pomp and pleasure!
Whence learn'd you that heroic measure?

Light as a dream your days their circlets ran,
From all that teaches brotherhood to Man
Far, far removed! from want, from hope, from
fear!

Enchanting music lulled your infant ear,

Obeisance, praises soothed your infant heart;
Emblazonments and old ancestral crests,

With many a bright obtrusive form of art,
from nature: stately vests,

Detained your eye

That veiling strove to deck your charms divine, Rich viands and the pleasurable wine,

Were yours unearned by toil; nor could you see
The unenjoying toiler's misery.

And yet, free Nature's uncorrupted child,
You hailed the chapel and the platform wild,
Where once the Austrian fell

Beneath the shaft of Tell'

O Lady, nursed in pomp and pleasure!
Whence learn'd you that heroic measure?

There crowd your finely-fibred frame,
All living faculties of bliss;
And Genius to your cradle came,

His forehead wreathed with lambent flame,
And bending low, with godlike kiss
Breath'd in a more celestial life;
But boasts not many a fair compeer,

A heart as sensitive to joy and fear?
And some perchance, might wage an equal strife,
Some few, to nobler being wrought,
Corrivals in the nobler gift of thought.
Yet these delight to celebrate
Laurelled war and plumy state ;
Or in verse and music dress
Tales of rustic happiness-

Pernicious tales! insidious strains!

That steel the rich man's breast,

And mock the lot unblest,

The sordid vices and the abject pains,