LEISURE AND LOVE.

BY LAMAN BLANCHARD.

I.

SOOTH 't were a pleasant life to lead,
With nothing in the world to do,
But just to blow a shepherd's reed
The silent seasons through;
And just to drive a flock to feed,-
Sheep, quiet, fond, and few!

II.

Pleasant to breathe beside a brook,

And count the bubbles-love-worlds-there;

To muse within some minstrel's book,

Or watch the haunted air;

To slumber in some leafy nook,

Or-idle anywhere.

III.

And then, a draught of nature's wine, A meal of summer's daintiest fruit;

To take the air with forms divine;

Clouds, silvery, cool, and mute;
Descending, if the night be fine,
In a star-parachute.

IV.

Give me to live with love alone,
And let the world go dine and dress;
For love hath lowly haunts—a stone
Holds something meant to bless.
If life's a flower, I choose my own-
"Tis "Love in Idleness!"

LAMBERTO.

Lamberto had not been long in possession of the kingdom of Lombardy, when he was murdered in the forest of Marengo, by a young nobleman, whom he had loaded with honours, in the vain hope of inducing him to forgive the cruel execution of his father (Count Manfred), whom Lamberto had ungenerously put to death, in revenge for his gallant defence of Milan, in the service of Arnolf.

Rivoluzioni d'Italia da Carlo Denina.

I.

DEEP in a forest's solitude,

A wounded Monarch bled;
And close beside, a courtier stood
With his heel upon his head:
Full fiercely did the Murderer vaunt
O'er his expiring prey;

And thus, with scoff and bitter taunt,

He sped his soul away :

II.

"Nay! do not clothe that royal brow

With such a withering frown,

I do not fear thy glances now;

Tyrant and traitor! down!

Talk not of pardon,—penitence,—
I mock the empty sound;
Manfred my father, calls thee hence;
Thy voice in his is drowned!

III.

"Go! cruel, coward spirit, go!

Yet ere thou dost depart,

That I have wreaked a vengeance, know,
Long cherished in my heart!
Confiding fool! and didst thou dream

That injuries like mine

Might be dissolved into a dream

By favour such as thine?—

IV.

"That thou in safety might'st exult
O'er thy foul work of shame;
And with thy loathed gifts insult
The heir to Manfred's fame?
Know, that the bounty, whose base weight
Was meant to force my faith,

Served but to keep awake my hate,

To hunt thee to the death!

V.

"I've hated thee 'mid many wiles,-
Through days that seemed like years ;-
I've hated thee 'mid outward smiles,
And secret, scalding tears:
And if, beyond the grave we meet
In punishment and pain,
Detested king! it will be sweet
To hate thee there again!

VI.

"But go! and when thou shalt appear
In the high Court of Heaven,
Tell how thy crimes and perjuries here
Were cancelled and forgiven:
Count o'er thy deeds of treachery done;
And in thy hour of need,

Say 't was a murdered father's Son

Who sent thee there to plead !"

L-x-C.