MENTAL BEAUTY. BY JAMES G. PERCIVAL. BEAUTY has gone, but yet her mind is still Of light around her lips has every charm Dancing on glimmering dew-drops, when the moon Is calm and brightly beautiful below. She was all mildness, and the melting tone MENTAL BEAUTY. Of her sweet voice thrilled me and seemed to flow Into my soul, a stream of melody, Delicious in its mellowness; it spake A heart at ease-and then the quiet smile The kiss of him she smiled on. In her eye Gentleness had its dwelling, and light Mirth A lovely woman, made the common prey 'To mingle with the elements, and lose Its perfect clearness. She was as a flower 51 52 MENTAL BEAUTY. New opened in a valley, where no foot Had trodden, and no living thing had left To fly where Mind, when boldest, dared to soar. 'That issue from her lips, and flow around Of more than ancient wisdom, or they speak WWhich ever rises when a mind on fire Blends with the majesty of outward things; Fruition, which in hope will never end. THE MOSS SUPPLICATETH FOR THE POET. BY RICHARD H. DANA. THOUGH I am humble, slight me not, I, care or slight, with him would take. For oft he passed the blossoms by, And gazed on me with kindly look; Left flaunting flowers and open sky, And wooed me by the shady brook. And like the brook his voice was low: They said, the world he fain would shun, In humblest things found chiefest good;→ That I was of a lowly frame, And far more constant than the flower, Which, vain with many a boastful name, But fluttered out its idle hour; That I was kind to old decay, And wrapt it softly round in green, On naked root, and trunk of gray, Spread out a garniture and screen : They said, that he was withering fast, That on his manhood fell a blast, And left him bare, like yonder tree; |