Trees he passed the door, these words 02 plainly come to Peter's ears; And they such joyful tidings were, Ty was more than he could bear! if melted into tears.

Net tears of hope and tenderness! And ist they fell, a plenteous shower! to Derves, his sinews seemed to melt; h all his iron frame was felt

Atle, a relaxing power!

Each fibre of his frame was weak;
Weak all the animal within;
An its helplessness, grew mild
1x gentle as an infant child,
As mint that has known no sin.

"said, that, through prevailing grace, e not unmoved, did notice now cross upon thy shoulders scored, Beast! in memory of the Lord m all human-kind shall bow;

It memory of that solemn day

Jesus humbly deigned to ride, ng the proud Jerusalem, immeasurable stream footing people deified!

While the persevering Ass, wards a gate in open view,

up a narrow lane; his chest In the yielding gate he pressed,

A quietly passed through.

up the stony lane he goes; hot more softly ever trod; ng the stones and pebbles, he down his hoofs inaudibly, f with felt his hoofs were shod.

Ang the lane the trusty Ass he two hundred yards, not more; When to a lonely house he came; turned aside towards the same, 1 stopped before the door.

Peter, 't is the poor man's home! istens-not a sound is heard See from the trickling household rill;

stepping o'er the cottage-sill,
with a little Girl appeared.

to the Meeting-house was bound lage some tidings there to gather;Yapse it is no doubtful gleam*mw-and uttered with a scream, Mr father! here's my father!"

Beside the Woman Peter stands;
His heart is opening more and more;
A holy sense pervades his mind;
He feels what he for human kind
Had never felt before.

"My pearly Boat, a shining Light,

That brought me down that sunless river,
Will bear me on from wave to wave,
And back with her to this sea-cave;
Then, Merlin! for a rapid flight

Through air to thee my charge will I deliver.

"The very swiftest of thy Cars

Must, when my part is done, be ready; Meanwhile, for further guidance, look Into thy own prophetic book;

And, if that fail, consult the Stars

And Nina heard a sweeter voice

Than if the Goddess of the Flower had spoken "Thou hast achieved, fair Dame! what none Less pure in spirit could have done;

Go, in thy enterprise rejoice!

Air, earth, sea, sky, and heaven, success betoken."

So cheered she left that Island bleak,

A bare rock of the Scilly cluster;

And, as they traversed the smooth brine, The self-illumined Brigantine

Shed, on the Slumberer's cold wan cheek

This scarcely spoken, she again Was seated in her gleaming Shallop, That, o'er the yet-distempered Deep, Pursued its way with bird-like sweep, Or like a steed, without a rein, Urged o'er the wilderness in sportive gallop.

Soon did the gentle Nina reach That Isle without a house or haven; Landing, she found not what she sought, Nor saw of wreck or ruin aught But a carved Lotus cast upon the shore By the fierce waves, a flower in marble graven.

Sad relique, but how fair the while!
For gently each from each retreating
With backward curve, the leaves revealed
The bosom half, and half concealed,
Of a Divinity, that seemed to smile

On Nina as she passed, with hopeful greeting.

No quest was hers of vague desire,
Of tortured hope and purpose shaken;
Following the margin of a bay,

She spied the lonely Cast-away,

Unmarred, unstripped of her attire,

Fleet was their course, and when they came
To the dim cavern, whence the river
Issued into the salt-sea flood,

Merlin, as fixed in thought he stood,
Was thus accosted by the Dame:
"Behold to thee my Charge I now deliver!

"But where attends thy chariot - where !" Quoth Merlin, "Even as I was bidden, So have I done; as trusty as thy barge My vehicle shall prove· O precious Charge! If this be sleep, how soft! if death, how fair! Much have my books disclosed, but the end is hidde

He spake, and gliding into view

Forth from the grotto's dimmest chamber
Came two mute Swans, whose plumes of dusky wh
Changed, as the pair approached the light,

Drawing an ebon car, their hue

(Like clouds of sunset) into lucid amber.

Once more did gentle Nina lift
The Princess, passive to all changes:
The Car received her; then up-went

Into the ethereal element

The Birds with progress smooth and swift

Then Nina, stooping down, embraced, With tenderness and mild emotion, The Damsel, in that trance embound; And, while she raised her from the ground, And in the pearly shallop placed, Sleep fell upon the air, and stilled the ocean.

The turmoil hushed, celestial springs
Of music opened, and there came a blending
Of fragrance, underived from earth,

With gleams that owed not to the Sun their birth,
And that soft rustling of invisible wings
Which Angels make, on works of love descending.

ranges.

Sage Merlin, at the Slumberer's side, Instructs the Swans their way to measure; And soon Caerleon's towers appeared, And notes of minstrelsy were heard From rich pavilions spreading wide, For some high day of long-expected pleasure.

Awe-stricken stood both Knights and Dames Ere on firm ground the Car alighted; Eftsoons astonishment was past, For in that face they saw the last, Last lingering look of clay, that tames All pride, by which all happiness is blighted.