Save an unhappy lady's sighs,

That issued from that lonely pile.

"Leicester," she cried, "is this thy love That thou so oft hast sworn to me, To leave me in this lonely grove,

Immured in shameful privity?

"No more thou com'st with lover's speed, Thy once beloved bride to see;

But be she alive, or be she dead,

I fear, stern Earl, 's the same to thee.

"Not so the usage I received

When happy in my father's hall;
No faithless husband then me grieved,
No chilling fears did me appal.

"I rose up with the cheerful morn,

No lark more blithe, no flower more ga And like the bird that haunts the thorn, So merrily sung the livelong day.

"If that my beauty is but small,

Among court ladies all despised, Why didst thou rend it from that hall,

Where, scornful Earl, it well was prized?

"And when you first to me made suit,

How fair I was, you oft would say! And proud of conquest, plucked the fruit, Then left the blossom to decay.

"Yes! now neglected and despised, The rose is pale, the lily's dead;

But he that once their charms so prized, Is sure the cause those charms are fled.

"For know, when sick'ning grief doth prey, And tender love 's repaid with scorn, The sweetest beauty will decay,—

What floweret can endure the storm?

"At court, I'm told, is beauty's throne,
Where every lady 's passing rare,
That Eastern flowers, that shame the sun,
Are not so glowing, not so fair.

"Then, Earl, why didst thou leave the beds Where roses and where lilies vie,

To seek a primrose, whose pale shades Must sicken when those gauds are by?

"Mong rural beauties I was one,

Among the fields wild flowers are fair; Some country swain might me have won, And thought my beauty passing rare.

"But, Leicester, (or I much am wrong,) Or 't is not beauty lures thy vows; Rather ambition's gilded crown

Makes thee forget thy humble spouse.

"Then, Leicester, why, again I plead,

(The injured surely may repine,)— Why didst thou wed a country maid, When some fair princess might be thine?

"Why didst thou praise my humble charms, And, oh! then leave them to decay?

Why didst thou win me to thy arms,

Then leave to mourn the livelong day?

"The village maidens of the plain

Salute me lowly as they go;

Envious they mark my silken train,
Nor think a Countess can have woe.

"The simple nymphs! they little know

How far more happy 's their estate; To smile for joy than sigh for woeTo be content-than to be great.

"How far less blest am I than them?
Daily to pine and waste with care!
Like the poor plant, that, from its stem
Divided, feels the chilling air.

"Nor, cruel Earl! can I enjoy

The humble charms of solitude; Your minions proud my peace destroy, By sullen frowns or pratings rude.

"Last night, as sad I chanced to stray,

The village death-bell smote my ear; They winked aside, and seemed to say, 'Countess, prepare, thy end is near.'

"And now, while happy peasants sleep,
Here I sit lonely and forlorn;
No one to soothe me as I weep,

Save Philomel on yonder thorn.

"My spirits flag-my hopes decay

Still that dread death-bell smites my ear,

And many a boding seems to say,
'Countess, prepare, thy end is near!'"

Thus sore and sad that lady grieved,
In Cumnor Hall so lone and drear,
And many a heartfelt sigh she heaved,
And let fall many a bitter tear.

And ere the dawn of day appeared,
In Cumnor Hall, so lone and drear,
Full many a piercing scream was heard,
And many a cry of mortal fear.

The death-bell thrice was heard to ring,
An aerial voice was heard to call,
And thrice the raven flapped its wing
Around the towers of Cumnor Hall.

The mastiff howled at village door,

The oaks were shattered on the green;
Woe was the hour, for nevermore
That hapless Countess e'er was seen.

And in that manor now no more
Is cheerful feast and sprightly ball;
For ever since that dreary hour

Have spirits haunted Cumnor Hall.

The village maids, with fearful glance,
Avoid the ancient moss-grown wall,
Nor ever lead the merry dance,

Among the groves of Cumnor Hall,

Full many a traveler oft hath sighed,
And pensive wept the Countess' fall,
As wandering onward they 've espied
The haunted towers of Cumnor Hall.

WILLIAM JULIUS MICKLE,

The Sailor's Wife.

AND are ye sure the news is true?
And are ye sure he 's weel?
Is this a time to think o' wark?

Ye jades, lay by your wheel.

Is this the time to spin a thread,
When Colin 's at the door?

Reach down my cloak, I 'll to the quay,
And see him come ashore.

For there's nae luck about the house,

There 's nae luck at a';

There's little pleasure in the house
When our gudeman 's awa'.

And gie to me my bigonet,
My bishop's satin gown;

For I maun tell the bailie's wife
That Colin's in the town.
My Turkey slippers maun gae on,
My stockins pearly blue;

It 's a' to pleasure our gudeman,
For he 's baith leal and true.

Rise, lass, and mak a clean fireside,
Put on the muckle pot;

Gie little Kate her button gown,
And Jock his Sunday coat;
And mak their shoon as black as slaes,
Their hose as white as snaw;
It 's a' to please my ain gudeman,
For he 's been lang awa'.

There's twa fat hens upo' the coop,

Been fed this month and mair; Mak haste and thraw their necks about, That Colin weel may fare;

And spread the table neat and clean,

Gar ilka thing look braw,

For wha can tell how Colin fared

When he was far awa'?

Sae true his heart, sae smooth his speech,

His breath like caller air;