I.

THE RIVER YONNE 1.

WINDING below me through his meadows green,
Under the soft beams of the setting sun,
I watched the flowing of the River Yonne.
Earth never yielded me a fairer scene;
The River glided gracefully between

The loveliest vine-clad banks, which deeply shone
Reflected in the waters, flowing on

Forgetful of their beauty: and I ween,

No wood-nymph ever ran with such a grace,
Nor step so light-not Iris through the air
Glided so smooth, nor looked so bright and fair,
As flowed thy waves, O Yonne; and in thy face,
Reflecting all the colours of the sky,

The softest beauty blent with dignity."

II.

A RUINED CASTLE AT LA ROCHEPOT 2.

In this, the monument of ages gone,

The spirits of the dead start up to life:

They speak fierce words of warfare and of strife,-
Of bloody forays, and of battles won.

But in an age when bloodier deeds were done,
When Anarchy and civil broils were rife-—
When Murder spared not husband, brother, wife,-
By ruthless hands these walls were overthrown.
Scream not, fair birds! my visit is not meant
To do you wrong: with murtherous intent
I come not hither. I had rather shield
Your tender brood from violence than tear
One little plume from their young wings, and yield
Myself to cruelty:-I feel, and fear.

* Two birds, which probably had their nest in the ruin, were disturbed, and flew screaming over my head during the whole time that I remained within the walls.

III.

ON FIRST SIGHT OF THE ALPS FROM MACON.

ARE these the Alps, that on the horizon's verge
Mine eye with mingled pleasure now surveys?
Theme of the Historic Muse, the Poet's Lays,
I see them in the distance soft emerge,
As rise the Ocean's billows surge on surge.
With fine emotion and with deep amaze,
As to the heavens their heads sublime they urge,
The soul would thrill upon a nearer gaze.
From days of boyhood they have met my ear;
In youth they were Imagination's dream;

In manhood I have thought of them; and here
They rise before my vision, as a stream
Of unexpected light; they more than seem-
They swell before me distantly, yet clear.