O and proudly stood she up!

Her heart within her did not fail: She look'd into Lord Ronald's eyes,

And told him all her nurse's tale.

He laugh'd a laugh of merry scorn:

He turn'd and kiss'd her where she stood:

'If you are not the heiress born,

And I,' said he, 'the next in blood

'If you are not the heiress born,
And I,' said he, 'the lawful heir,
We two will wed to-morrow morn,
And you shall still be Lady Clare.'

THE CAPTAIN.

A LEGEND OF THE NAVY.

He that only rules by terror

Doeth grievous wrong.

Deep as Hell I count his error.

Let him hear my song.

Brave the Captain was: the seamen

Made a gallant crew,

Gallant sons of English freemen,

Sailors bold and true.

But they hated his oppression,
Stern he was and rash;

So for every light transgression
Doom'd them to the lash.

Day by day more harsh and cruel
Seem'd the Captain's mood.

Secret wrath like smother'd fuel

Burnt in each man's blood.

Yet he hoped to purchase glory,
Hoped to make the name

Of his vessel great in story,

Wheresoe'er he came.

So they past by capes and islands,
Many a harbour-mouth,

Sailing under palmy highlands

Far within the South.

On a day when they were going

O'er the lone expanse,

In the north, her canvas flowing,

Rose a ship of France.

Then the Captain's colour heighten'd,

Joyful came his speech:

But a cloudy gladness lighten'd

In the eyes of each.

'Chase,' he said: the ship flew forward,

And the wind did blow;

Stately, lightly, went she Norward,

Till she near'd the foe.

Then they look'd at him they hated,

Had what they desired:

Mute with folded arms they waited—

Not a gun was fired.

But they heard the foeman's thunder

Roaring out their doom;

All the air was torn in sunder,

Crashing went the boom,

Spars were splinter'd, decks were shatter'd,

Bullets fell like rain;

Over mast and deck were scatter'd

Blood and brains of men.

Spars were splinter'd; decks were broken:

Every mother's son

Down they dropt-no word was spoken

Each beside his gun.

On the decks as they were lying,

Were their faces grim.

In their blood, as they lay dying,

Did they smile on him.

Those, in whom he had reliance

For his noble name,

With one smile of still defiance

Sold him unto shame.

Shame and wrath his heart confounded,

Pale he turn'd and red,

Till himself was deadly wounded

Falling on the dead.

Dismal error! fearful slaughter!

Years have wander'd by,

Side by side beneath the water
Crew and Captain lie;

There the sunlit ocean tosses

O'er them mouldering,

And the lonely seabird crosses

With one waft of the wing.

VOL. I.

THE LORD OF BURLEIGH.

In her ear he whispers gaily,

'If my heart by signs can tell, Maiden, I have watch'd thee daily, And I think thou lov'st me well.'

She replies, in accents fainter,
"There is none I love like thee.'
He is but a landscape-painter,
And a village maiden she.
He to lips, that fondly falter,

Presses his without reproof:
Leads her to the village altar,

And they leave her father's roof. 'I can make no marriage present: Little can I give my wife.

Love will make our cottage pleasant,
And I love thee more than life.'

They by parks and lodges going
See the lordly castles stand:

Summer woods, about them blowing,
Made a murmur in the land.