Maud. A meaner summoner might do as well. My Lord of Chester, is 't true what I hear Of Stephen of Boulogne, our prisoner, That he, as a fit penance for his crimes, Eats wholesome, sweet, and palatable food Off Glocester's golden dishes-drinks pure wine, Lodges soft? Chester. More than that, my gracious Queen, In counsel, dreams too much among his books. Maud. Truth! I think so. By Heavens, it shall not last! Chester. It would amaze your Highness now to mark How Glocester overstrains his courtesy To that crime-loving rebel, that Boulogne- Chester. For whose vast ingratitude To our late sovereign lord, your noble sire, Chester. From lips the courtliest and the rubiest Chester. Can make his June December. A queen's nod Here he comes. THE CAP AND BELLS;' OR, THE JEALOUSIES. A FAERY TALE UNFINISHED. I. N midmost Ind, beside Hydaspes cool, There stood, or hover'd, tremulous in the air, A faery city, 'neath the potent rule A Of Emperor Elfinan; famed ev'rywhere f For love of mortal women, maidens fair, Whose lips were solid, whose soft hands were made Of a fit mould and beauty, ripe and rare, To pamper his slight wooing, warm yet staid: He lov'd girls smooth as shades, but hated a mere shade. II. This was a crime forbidden by the law; "This Poem was written subject to future amendments and omissions: it was begun without a plan, and without any prescribed laws for the supernatural machinery."-CHARLES BROWN. ? There are beautiful passages and lines of ineffable sweetness in these minor pieces, and strange outbursts of individual fancy and felicitous expressions in the Cap and Bells,' though the general extravagance of the poetry is more suited to an Italian than to an English taste."-JEFFREY, Letter to the Editor, Aug. 1848. B If impious prince no bound or limit kept, In vain the pulpit thunder'd at the throne, C Caricature was vain, and vain the tart lampoon. III. Which seeing, his high court of parliament Themselves with what in faery land was sweet, Befitting best that shade with shade should meet: Whereat, to calm their fears, he promised soon From mortal tempters all to make retreat,— Aye, even on the first of the new moon An immaterial wife to espouse as heaven's boon. IV. Meantime he sent a fluttering embassy To half beg, and half demand, respectfully, V. As in old pictures tender cherubim A child's soul thro' the sapphired canvas bear, And so she journey'd, sleeping or awake, Save when, for healthful exercise and air, She chose to promener à l'aile or take A pigeon's somerset, for sport or change's sake. VI. "Dear Princess, do not whisper me so loud," Quoth Corallina, nurse and confidant, "Do not you see there, lurking in a cloud, Close at your back, that sly old Crafticant? He hears a whisper plainer than a rant: Dry up your tears, and do not look so blue; He's Elfinan's great state-spy militant, His running, lying, flying footman too,— Dear mistress, let him have no handle against you! VII. "Show him a mouse's tail, and he will guess, With metaphysic swiftness, at the mouse; Show him a garden, and with speed no less He'll surmise sagely of a dwelling-house, And plot, in the same minute, how to chouse The owner out of it; show him a"-"Peace! Peace! nor contrive thy mistress' ire to rouse !" Return'd the Princess, "my tongue shall not cease Till from this hated match I get a free release. 66 VIII. Ah, beauteous mortal!" "Hush!" quoth "Really you must not talk of him, indeed." Of anger in her eyes, enough to breed In stouter hearts than nurse's fear and dread: 'Twas not the glance itself made Nursey flinch, |