"WHY, WHAT'S THE WORLD AND TIME?

A FLEETING THOUGHT IN THE GREAT

66

34

66 THE HEAVIEST RAINING IS THE BRIEFEST SHOWER."- -BEDDOES.

THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES.

Leads down the animating fire of heaven

To the world's use. That instrument is broken,

And in another sphere the spirit works,
Which did appropriate to human functions
A portion of the ghostly element.

This then is all your Death.

[From "Dramatic Scenes and Fragments."]

A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT.

JOW lovely is the heaven of this night,
How deadly still its earth! The forest brute

Has crept into his grave, and laid himself
Where sleep has made him harmless like the lamb.
The horrid snake, his venom now forgot,
Is still and innocent as the honied flower
Under his head. And man, in whom are met
Leopard and snake, and all the gentleness
And beauty of the young lamb and the bud,
Has let his ghost out, put his thoughts aside,
And lent his senses unto Death himself.
[From "Dramatic Scenes and Fragments."]

A NIGHT SCENE.

HE lake, like her, heaves gently

Its breast of waves under a heaven of sleep,

And pictures, in its soothed, transparent being,
The depth of worlds o'erhanging o'er the pillow
Washed by the overflowing, flowery locks,

:

A silver promise of the moon is breathed :

A SILVER PROMISE OF THE MOON IS BREATHED. -BEDDOES.

MEDITATING UNIVERSE, A BRIEF PARENTHESIS IN CHAOS."-THOMAS L. BEDDOES.

"TO ITS OWN YOUNG BUDS, AND THE WOOING GALE,

THE LILY OF THE VALLEY.

And the light veil of hieroglyphic clouds
The curious wind rends ever and anon,

Revealing the deep dream of Alpine heights,
Which fill the distance of its wondering spirit;
And on its hectic cheeks the prophecies
Do fearfully reflect, that flicker up

Out of the sun's grave underneath the world.

[From "Dramatic Scenes and Fragments."]

35

"EVER LOVE THE LILY PALE, THE FLOWER OF LADIES BREASTS ;-(THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES)

THE LILY OF THE VALLEY.
HERE the harebells are ringing
Their peal of sunny flowers,

And a bird of merry soul
Sings away the birth-day hours
Of the valley-lily low,
Opening, dewily and slow,
Petals, dear to young and fair
For the prophecy they bear

Of the coming roses—
The free bold bird of merry soul
Amidst his leaves cannot control
His triumphant love of spring.

Thou bird of joyous soul,
Why canst thou not control
Thy triumphant love of spring?
I know that thou dost rally
Thy spirit proud to sing,

Because to-day is born

The lily of the valley.

Oh, rather shouldst thou mourn;

ITS PERFUME SIGHS A GENTLE TALE."-BEDDOES.

"FOR THERE IS PASSION ON ITS CHEEK, ITS LEAVES A TIMOROUS SORROW SPEAK."-BEDDOES.

"IT IS NO EARTHLY COMMON FLOWER FOR MAN TO PULL, AND MAIDENS WEAR-(BEDDOES)

ITS PETALS, BRIMMED WITH COOL. SWEET AIR,-(BEDDOES)

WILLIAM COX BENNETT.

For that flower so meek and low,
Born with its own death-bell,
Only cometh to foretell

Unpitying Winter's doom,
Who in scorn doth lay it low
In the tomb.

Vain is all its prayer;
It may flatter, as it will,

The ungentle Hours

With its ring of toying flowers:

Unrelenting they must kill

With their scornful breath;

For the very petals fair,

Which the destined flower uncloses

In its innocence,

To plead for its defence,

By the prophecy they bear

Of the coming roses,

Sign the warrant for its death.

[From "Poems: by the late T. L. Beddoes," edit. 1851.]

William Cox Bennett.

[WILLIAM COX BENNETT was born at Greenwich in 1820; educated at a
parish school; and has since been engaged in business. He has attained
deserved popularity as a writer of graceful songs, and as the poet of child-
hood; childish ways and little children being the subject of some of his
most successful effusions. A collective edition of his poems appeared in
1862, comprising "Queen Eleanor's Vengeance," "Baby May,"
Songs,"
," "The Worn Wedding-Ring," "Our Glory Roll," and numerous
miscellaneous strains. He has recently been honoured with the degree of
LL.D.]

""War

ARE CHASTE AS WORDS OF A VIRGIN'S PRAYER."-beddoes.

ON THE WREATHED MIDNIGHT OF THEIR HAIR-DEEP AFFECTION IS ITS DOWN."-BEDDOES.

"HOW STRANGE ARE THE FREAKS OF DREAMS!-HOW QUAINTLY THE MOCKING NIGHT-BENNETT)

WEAVES THAT WHICH IS, WITH THAT WHICH SEEMS, TO CHEAT OUR SLEEPING SIGHT."-BENNETT.

O GENTLE SUMMER RAIN, LET NOT THE SILVER LILY PINE IN VAIN!"-WILLIAM C. BENNETT.

"TO FEEL THAT DEWY TOUCH OF THINE, TO DRINK THY FRESHNESS ONCE AGAIN."-BENNETT.