A foam-besprinkled maiden fair

Arises from the tide.

She sang to him, she spoke to him,

'Ah! why my children call,

With human cunning, human wit,

In deadly glow to fall?

The fishes' joy, oh! couldst thou tell

Our ocean depths within,

Thou wouldst come down with us to dwell,

Here perfect health to win.

'Do not the sun and moon too lave

Themselves in ocean main,

Returning breathing of the wave,

All doubly fair again?

Say charmeth thee not heaven's space,

The blue of liquid light?

Say, charmeth thee not thine own face

In dew for ever bright?'

The water swelled, the water rose,

It laps his naked feet;

His heart with longing overflows,

As though his love to greet:

She spoke to him, she sang to him,

Then all for him was o'er;

She drew him half, he half sank in,

And none beheld him more.

A WANDERER'S EVENING SONG.

THOU who from the heavens art,

Ev'ry pain and sorrow stilling,

Still the doubly wretched heart,

Doubly with refreshment filling

DEDICATION.

THE morning came, his footsteps swiftly chasing

The slumber, calm and light, wherein I lay;

And I awakened, from my lowly dwelling
Went gaily forth upon the mountain way.
At ev'ry step my heart with joy was swelling
To mark the dew-bespangled budding spray;
The youthful day with joy himself upreared,
And to refresh me all refreshed appeared.

And as I clomb, from forth the meadow river

A mist in dappled streaks all softly sped:

It moved, and, changefully around me flowing,

It rose with wingéd swiftness o'er my head.

No more I watched the scene with beauties glowing,

A mournful veil was o'er the landscape spread;

Soon clouds on ev'ry side around me played,

And I was wrapped in twilight's gloomy shade.

Here suddenly the sun appeared returning,

For through the misty veil was seen a light; Now softly sank the cloud, beneath me meeting, Now parting, rose to soar o'er wood and height. Fain would I bring his rays the earliest greeting, Fain see him after darkness doubly bright.

Still raged the airy strife, above, below,

When I was dazzled by a sudden glow.

Soon by my inmost heart's desires emboldened,

I ventured once again mine eyes to raise :

I could but take one glance around and o'er me, For all appeared to be one glowing blaze.

When floating, borne upon the clouds before me,

A god-like woman met my wond'ring gaze :