“For on thy deck, though dark it be.

66 A female form I see ; " And I have sworn this sainted sod “Shall ne'er by woman's feet be trod!”

THE LADY.

"Oh! Father, send not hence my

bark “ Through wintry winds and billows dark " I come with humble heart to share

“ Thy morn and evening prayer ; " Nor mine the feet, oh! holy Saint, “ The brightness of thy sod to taint.”

The Lady's prayer Senanus spurn’d ;
The winds blew fresh, the bark return'd.
But legends hint, that had the maid

Till morning's light delay'd,
And given the saint one rosy smile,
She ne'er had left his lonely isle.

Nec te nec ullam aliam
Admittenus in insulam.

See the Acta Sanct. Hib. page 610. According to Dr. Ledwich, St. Senanus was no less a personage than the river Shannon; but O'Connor, and other Antiquarians, deny this metamorphose indignantly.

HOW DEAR TO ME THE HOUR.

AIR.—The Twisting of the Rope.

I.

How dear to me the hour when daylight dies,

And sun-beams melt along the silent sea, For then sweet dreams of other days arise,

And memory breathes her vesper sigh to thee.

II.
And, as I watch the line of light that plays

Along the smooth wave toward the burning west, I long to tread that golden path of rays,

And think 'twould lead to some bright isle of rest!

Some hand more calm and sage

The leaf must fill. Thoughts come as pure as light,

Pure as even you require ; But oh! each word I write

Love turns to fire.

II.

Yet let me keep the book ;
Oft shall

my

heart renew, When on its leaves I look,

Dear thoughts of you!
Like you, 'tis fair and bright;

Like you, too bright and fair To let wild passion write

One wrong wish there!

III.

Haply, when from those eyes

Far, far away I roam, Should calmer thoughts arise

Towards you and home, Fancy may trace some line

Worthy those eyes to meet;

Thoughts that not burn, but shine

Pure, calm, and sweet!

IV.

And, as the records are,

Which wandering seamen keep,
Led by their hidden star

Through the cold deep-
So
may

the words I write
Tell through what storms I stray,
You still the unseen light

Guiding my way!

When in death I shall calm recline,

O bear my heart to my mistress dear; Tell her it lived upon smiles and wine

Of the brightest hue, while it linger'd here ;

Bid her not shed one tear of sorrow

To sully a heart so brilliant and light; But balmy drops of the red grape borrow,

To bathe the relic from morn till night.

II.

When the light of my song is o’er,

Then take my harp to your ancient hall; Hang it up at that friendly door, Where weary

travellers love to call.* Then if some bard, who roams forsaken,

Revive its soft note in passing along, Oh! let one thought of its master waken

Your warmest smile for the child of song.

III.

Keep this cup, which is now o'erflowing,

To grace your revel when I'm at rest ; Never, oh! never its balm bestowing

On lips that beauty hath seldom blest! But when some warm devoted lover

To her he adores shall bathe its brim,