THE BALLAD OF RICHARD BURNELL.

"Seven years I truly served him,

Now my time is at an end; Master is he now no longer :

Father will be-has been friend.

"I was left betimes an orphan,

Heir unto great merchant-wealth,

But the iron rule of kinsfolk

Dimmed my youth, and sapped my health.

"Death had been my early portion

Had not my good guardian come;

He, the father of my Alice,

And conveyed me to his home.

"Here began a new existence,—

Then how new the love of friends!

And for all the child's afflictions

Each one strove to make amends.

"Late my spring-time came, but quickly Youth's rejoicing currents run,

And my inner life unfolded

Like a flower before the sun.

"Hopes, and aims, and aspirations Grew within the growing boy;

Life had new interpretation;

Manhood brought increase of joy.

"In and over all was Alice,
Life-infusing, like the spring;

My soul's soul! even joy without her
Was a poor and barren thing!

MARY HOWITT.

"And she spoke last eve at parting,
'When the folk are mad with glee,
In the Temple's pleasant gardens

Let me walk and talk with thee!*

"As she spoke, her sweet voice trembled,Love such tender tones can teach!

And those words have kept me waking,
And the manner of her speech!

"For such manner has deep meaning,"

Said young Burnell, blithe and gay ;

And the bells of London city

Pealed a welcome to the May.

PART II.

Whilst the folk were mad with pleasure, 'Neath the elm-tree's vernal shade, In the Temple's quiet gardens

Walked the young man and the maid.

On his arm her hand was resting,
And her eyes were on the ground;

She was speaking, he was silent;

Not a word his tongue had found.

"Friend beloved," she thus addressed him, "I have faith and hope in thee! Thou canst do what no one else can.

Thou canst be a friend to me!

THE BALLAD OF RICHARD BURNELL.

"Richard, we have lived together

All these years of happy youth; Have, as sister and as brother,

Lived in confidence and truth.

"Thou from me hast hid no feelings,
Thy whole heart to me is known ;
I-I only have kept from thee
One dear, little thought alone.

"Have I wronged thee in so doing?
Then forgive me! But give ear;
'Tis to bare my heart before thee
That I now am with thee here.

"Well thou know'st my father loves thee; 'Tis his wish that we should wed,— I shame not to speak thus franklyWish, or will more justly said.

"But this cannot be, my brother, Cannot be 't were nature's wrong!

I have said so to my father;

But thou know'st his will is strong."

Not a word spake Richard Burnell;
Not a word came to his lips;
Like one tranced he stood and listened;
Life to him was in eclipse.

In a lower tone she murmured,

Murmured like a brooding dove,

"Know thou,-Leonard Woodvil loves me,And that he has won my love."

MARY HOWITT.

-Came a pause. The words she uttered
Seemed to turn him into stone;

Pale he stood and mute beside her,
And with blushes she went on.

"This is known unto my father ;Leonard is well known to thee,

Thou hast praised him, praised him oftenOh, how dear such praise to me!

"But my father, stern and steadfast,
Will not list to Leonard's prayer ;-
And 'tis only thou canst move him,-
Only thou so much canst dare.

"Tell my father firmly, freely,

That we only love each other— "Tis the truth, thou know'st it, Richard,As a sister and a brother!

"Tell my father, if we wedded,
Thou and I, it would be guilt!
Thus it is that thou canst aid us-
And thou wilt-I know thou wilt!

"Yes, 'tis thus that thou must aid us, And thou wilt! I say no more!We've been friends, but this will make us Better friends than heretofore!"

Yet some moments he was silent;

His good heart was well-nigh broke;

She was blinded to his anguish ;

And "I will!" at length he spoke.

THE BALLAD OF RICHARD BURNELL.

PART III.

They were wedded. "Twas a wedding
That had far and high renown,

And from morning until even

Rang the bells of London town.

Time went on: the good old merchant

Wore a cloud upon his brow :

"Wherefore thus?" his friends addressed him,

"No man should be blithe as thou!"

In my old age I am lonely,"

Said the merchant, "she is gone ;And young Burnell, he I nurtured, He who was to me a son;

"He has left me !-I'm desertedE'en an old man feels such woe! 'Twas but natural she should marry,

But he should not have served me so.

"Twas not that which I expected!
He was very dear to me,-
And I thought no London merchant
Would have stood as high as he!

"He grew very strange and moody,
What the cause I cannot say ;-
And he left me when my daughter,
My poor Alice, went away!