WHEN THE KYE COMES HAME. COME, all ye jolly shepherds That whistle through the glen, I'll tell ye of a secret That courtiers dinna ken: What is the greatest bliss That the tongue o' man can name ? "T is to woo a bonny lassie When the kye comes hame! 'T is not beneath the coronet, Nor arbor of the great, "T is beneath the spreading birk, When the kye comes hame, etc. Where he pours his melting ditty, And love is a' the theme, And he'll woo his bonny lassie When the kye comes hame! When the kye comes hame, etc. When the blewart bears a pearl, Then the laverock frae the blue lift When the kye comes hame! See yonder pawkie shepherd, His ewes are in the fauld, An' his lambs are lying still; Yet he downa gang to bed, For his heart is in a flame, To meet his bonny lassie When the little wee bit heart Rises high in the breast, An' the little wee bit starn Rises red in the east, "Didst look last night upon my native vales, Thou Sun! that from the drenching sea hast clomb? Ye demon winds! that glut my gaping sails, Ọ, happy are ye, resting mariners! ATALANTA'S RACE. FROM "THE EARTHLY PARADISE." ATALANTA VICTORIOUS. AND there two runners did the sign abide Foot set to foot, - a young man slim and fair, Crisp-haired, well knit, with firm limbs often tried O Death, that thou wouldst come and take me In places where no man his strength may spare ; "Ye winds! when like a curse ye drove us on, One wept aloud, one shuddered down to pray, "Madness fell on me in my loneliness, The sea foamed curses, and the reeling sky A shoal of fiends came on me from the deep; Dainty his thin coat was, and on his hair But on this day with whom shall he contend? She seemed all earthly matters to forget; Nor from her loveliness one moment turned Now through the hush there broke the trum pet's clang Just as the setting sun made eventide. Then from light feet a spurt of dust there sprang, And dragged me forth, and round did dance and And swiftly were they running side by side; leap; But silent did the thronging folk abide They mouthed on me in dream, and tore me Until the turning-post was reached at last, from sweet sleep. "Strange constellations burned above my head, Strange birds around the vessel shrieked and flew, Strange shapes, like shadows, through the clear sea fled, And round about it still abreast they passed. But when the people saw how close they ran, When half-way to the starting-point they were, A cry of joy broke forth, whereat the man Headed the white-foot runner, and drew near As our lone ship, wide-winged, came rippling Unto the very end of all his fear; through, Angering to foam the smooth and sleeping blue." tree. There was a cry of joy; with seeking hands ALEXANDER SMITH. And scarce his straining feet the ground could feel, And bliss unhoped for o'er his heart 'gan steal. But midst the loud victorious shouts he heard Her footsteps drawing nearer, and the sound There stood she breathing like a little child But her late foe stopped short amidst his course, But while she seemed to hear her beating heart, Above their heads the trumpet blast rang out, And forth they sprang; and she must play her part; Then flew her white feet, knowing not a doubt, Though slackening once, she turned her head about, But then she cried aloud and faster fled Then high rose up the gleaming deadly blade, Than e'er before, and all men deemed him dead. Bared of its flowers, and through the crowded place Was silence now, and midst of it the maid Went by the poor wretch at a gentle pace, And he to hers upturned his sad white face; Nor did his eyes behold another sight Ere on his soul there fell eternal night. ATALANTA CONQUERED. Now has the lingering month at last gone by, Stands on the spot he twice has looked upon. But yet - what change is this that holds the maid? Does she indeed see in his glittering eye But he - what look of mastery was this Why must she drop her lids before his gaze, What makes these longings, vague, without a name, And this vain pity never felt before, But with no sound he raised aloft his hand, That gift to her, to make of earth a heaven. Then from the course with eager steps she ran, man Now well ahead she failed not to behold, Note, too, the bow that she was wont to bear But as he set his mighty hand on it, Until the globe with its bright fellow lay. Then, as a troubled glance she cast around, Short was the way unto such winged feet, These doubts that grow each minute more and Quickly she gained upon him till at last more? Why does she tremble as the time grows near, He turned about her eager eyes to meet, After the prize that should her bliss fulfil, Nor did she rest, but turned about to win And yet and yet why does her breath begin "It wearies me, mine enemy, that I must weep and bear What fills thy heart with triumph, and fills my own with care. Thou art leagued with those that hate me, ah! thou know'st I feel and That cruel words as surely kill as sharpest blades of steel. The goal is? Why do her gray eyes grow dim?'T was the doubt that thou wert false that wrung Why do these tremors run through every limb? That what thou didst to win my love, for love of me was done. Alas! if they but knew thee, as mine it is to know, thine arrows go; my heart with pain; 'TIS sweet to hear, At midnight on the blue and moonlit deep, The song and oar of Adria's gondolier, By distance mellowed, o'er the waters sweep; 'Tis sweet to see the evening star appear; 'T is sweet to listen as the night-winds creep From leaf to leaf; 't is sweet to view on high The rainbow, based on ocean, span the sky. 'Tis sweet to hear the watch-dog's honest bark Bay deep-mouthed welcome as we draw near home; They well might see another mark to which 'Tis sweet to know there is an eye will mark who knows That she who chides her lover forgives him ere Of bees, the voice of girls, the song of birds, The lisp of children, and their carliest words. he goes. She, rosy in the morning light, Like some fair sloop appeared to sail. Against her ankles as she trod I leaned upon the gate to see. The sweet thing looked, but did not speak ; A dimple came in either cheek, And all my heart was gone from me. Then, as I lingered on the gate, And she came up like coming fate, I saw my picture in her eyes, I said, "A tale was made of old Ah! let me, let me tell the tale." She laughed. What good to make ado? Reflected when the maid was gone. |