HYMN. Sing to the Lord! the desert rocks break out, Lift up thine head, imperial Capitol, Proud on thy height to see the banner'd Cross unroll. Sing to the Lord! when Time itself shall cease, Enwrap this wide and restless world of man; Eternal Vengeance waves its winnowing fan; To vast Infinity's remotest space, While ages run their everlasting race, Shall all the Beatific Hosts prolong, Wide as the glory of the Lamb, the Lamb's triumphant THIS writer, who obtained a high celebrity by a single poem, which was published anonymously, and attributed successively to our best poets, was born in Dublin, on the 14th of December, 1791. He obtained a distinguished literary reputation at the University of his native city; but instead of pursuing a career of ambition, he withdrew himself to the labours of an obscure country curacy. He died of consumption on the 21st of February, 1823; and it was not till after that period that the world understood the greatness of his talents, and the loss it had sustained by his death. SONG. If I had thought thou could'st have died, But I forgot, when by thy side, That thou could'st mortal be: And I on thee should look my last, And still upon that face I look, And still the thought I will not brook, But when I speak, thou dost not say What thou ne'er left'st unsaid, And now I feel, as well I may, If thou would'st stay even as thou art, I still might press thy silent heart, And where thy smiles have been. But there I lay thee in thy grave— I do not think, where'er thou art, And I perhaps may soothe this heart, In thinking too of thee: Yet there was round thee such a dawn Of light ne'er seen before, As fancy never could have drawn, And never can restore. THE BURIAL OF SIR JOHN MOORE, WHO FELL AT THE BATTLE OF CORUNNA. Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note, We buried him darkly at dead of night, No useless coffin enclosed his breast, Nor in sheet nor in shroud we bound him, But he lay like a warrior taking his rest, With his martial cloak around him. Few and short were the prayers we said, We thought, as we hollow'd his narrow bed, That the foe and the stranger would tread o'er his head, Lightly they'll talk of the spirit that's gone, But half of our heavy task was done, When the clock toll'd the hour for retiring; And we heard, by the distant and random gun, That the foe was suddenly firing. Slowly and sadly we laid him down From the field of his fame, fresh and gory: We carved not a line-we raised not a stoneBut left him alone in his glory. U THIS poet, who has afforded to so many thousands of readers the luxury of laughter in its highest perfection, was born in London, in 1798. His father, who was a native of Scotland, was partner in a distinguished publishing establish. ment in London. Thomas was educated at Camberwell, and after taking a sea voyage for the benefit of his health, which was in a very delicate state, he was articled to his uncle, an engraver, with a view of following that profession; but the pen had more attractions for him than the graver, and the poems, which he composed at this period, being inserted in the London Magazine, were received with such favour, that he has continued ever since to devote himself to poetry. In this capacity, he is chiefly known to the public as the author of Whims and Oddities, and the series called The Comic Annual-works abounding in broad wit and humour, and which have yielded him a plentiful harvest of profit and celebrity. But Hood is something better than a good punster; and his serious poems, in which he has evidently followed the natural bent of his genius, although they are comparatively little known, exhibit the finest flights of genuine poetry. THE SYLVAN FAIRY. Then next a merry Woodsman, clad in green, And wore the livery of Robin Hood, Who wont in forest shades to dine and sup,- "We be small foresters and gay, who tend "We bend each tree in proper attitude, "Sometimes we scoop the squirrel's hollow cell, Or chastest Laura,-sweetly call'd to mind And sometimes we enrich grey stems, with twined (6 And, lastly, for mirth's sake and Christmas cheer, From The Plea of the Midsummer Fairies. ARIEL AND THE SUICIDE. Quoth Ariel now "Let me remember how I saved a man, How he had made a vow to end his days, And therefore follow'd him in all his ways, 66 Through brake and tangled copse; for much he loath'd All populous haunts, and roam'd in forests rude, To hide himself from man. But I had clothed My delicate limbs with plumes, and still pursued, Till we were come beside an ancient tree His loud complaints,-choosing that spot to be "It was a wild and melancholy glen, |