WHAT HAVE I DONE TO MERIT THIS?

WHAT have I done to merit this,

That thus you treat me with disdain;
Refuse the hand of Love held forth,
And triumph in my bosom's pain?
Oh, if you dearly lov'd your friend,
You would a different course pursue,
At once the open charge present,
(At once prepar'd to prove it true.)
But silence coupled with disdain
Present no charge, nor charge maintain.

THE BRIDAL STAR.

HIS white plume o'er the mountain streams,
My heart throbs with delight,
His corslet in the sunshine beams-
He comes, my peerless knight.
The banquet spread and music bring
From holy land afar;

His lady love shall welcome sing,

And touch her gay guitar.

While songs of mirth and pastime strains

Are breathing soft around,

Hail, vassals, hail, till yonder plains

His welcome home resound!

I'll deck myself in all my best,

And wear my bridal star—

And now he's laid his lance at rest,
I'll touch my gay guitar.

THE DIFFIDENCE OF LOVE.

WHY should I blush to own I love?
'Tis Love that rules the realms above.
Why should I blush to say at all
That Virtue holds my heart in thrall?
Why should I seek the thickest shade,
Lest Love's dear secret be betray'd?
Why the stern brow deceitful move,
When I am languishing with love?

Is it a weakness thus to dwell
On passion that I dare not tell?
Such weakness I would ever prove:
'Tis painful, but 'tis sweet to love!

UNREQUITED LOVE.

SISTER! Since I met thee last,
O'er thy brow a change bath past,
In the softness of thine eyes
Deep and still a shadow lies;
From thy voice there thrills a tone
Never to thy childhood known;
Through thy soul a storm hath moved,
-Gentle sister, thou hast loved!

Yes! thy varying cheek hath caught
Hues too bright from troubled thought;
Far along the wandering stream
Thou art follow'd by a dream;

In the woods and valleys lone
Music haunts thee not thine own:
Wherefore fall thy tears like rain?
-Sister thou hast loved in vain!

Tell me not the tale, my flower!
On my bosom pour that shower!
Tell me not of kind thoughts wasted!
Tell me not of young hopes blasted;
Wring not forth one burning word,
Let thy heart no more be stirr❜d!
Home alone can give thee rest,
-Weep, sweet sister, on my breast!

THE TRYSTING HOUR.

THE night-wind's Eolian breezes,
Chase melody o'er the grove,
The fleecy clouds wreathing in tresses,
Float rosy the woodlands above;
Then tarry no longer, my true love,
The stars hang their lamp in the sky,
'Tis lovely the landscape to view, love,
When each bloom has a tear in its eye.

So stilly the evening is closing,

Bright dew-drops are heard as they fall,
Eolian whispers reposing,

Breathe softly, I hear my love call;
Yes! the light fairy step of my true love,
The night-breeze is wafting to me;
Over heath-bell and violet blue, love,
Perfuming the shadowy lea.

THE PRAYER OF EARTHLY LOVE.
-UNSEEN she pray'd,

With all the still, small whispers of the night,
And with the searching glances of the stars,
And with her God alone! She lifted up

Her sad, sweet voice, while trembling o'er her head
The dark leaves thrill'd with prayer-the tearful prayer
Of woman's quenchless yet repentant love.

"Father of spirits, hear!

Look on the inmost soul, to Thee reveal'd; Look on the fountain of the burning tear, Before thy sight in solitude unseal'd !

"Hear, Father! hear and aid!

If I have loved too well, if I have shed,
In my vain fondness, o'er a mortal head,
Gifts, on Thy shrine, my God, more fitly laid;

"If I have sought to live

But in one light, and made a mortal eye
The lonely star of my idolatry,

-Thou, that art Love, oh! pity and forgive!

"Chasten'd and school'd at last,

No more my struggling spirit burns,

But fix'd on Thee, from that vain worship turns! -What have I said? the deep dream is not past.

"Yet hear! If still I love,

Oh! still too fondly-if, for ever seen,

An earthly image comes my soul between,

And thy calm glory, Father, throned above;

"If still a voice is near

(Even while I strive these wonderings to controul)

An earthly voice, disquieting my soul,

With its deep music, too intensely dear;

"O, Father, draw to Thee

My lost affections back!—the dreaming eyes Clear from the mist-sustain the heart that dies; Give the worn soul once more its pinions free!

"I must love on, O God;

This bosom must love on! but let Thy breath

Touch and make pure the hour that knows not death, Bearing it up to Heaven, Love's own abode!"

BRIDAL GREETINGS.

OCEAN and land the globe divide;
Summer and winter share the year;
Darkness and light walk side by side;
And earth and heaven are always near.

Though each be good and fair alone,
And glorious in its time and place,
In all, when fitly pair'd, is shown

More of their Maker's power and grace.

Then may the union of young hearts
So early and so well begun,
Like sea and shore, in all their parts
Appear as twain, but be as one.

Be it like summer-may they find
Bliss, beauty, hope, where'er they roam;
Be it like winter-when confined,
Peace, comfort, happiness, at home.

Like day and night, sweet interchange
Of care, enjoyment, action, rest;
Absence nor coldness e'er estrange
Hearts by unfailing love possest.

Like earth's horizon be their scene
Of life, a rich and various ground;
And, whether lowering or serene,
Heaven all about it and around.

When land and ocean, day and night,
When years and nature cease to be,

May their inheritance be light,

Their union one eternity!