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Autumn Woods.

Ere, in the northern gale,

The summer tresses of the trees are gone,
The woods of Autumn, all around our vale
Have put their glory on.

The mountains that infold,

In their wide sweep, the coloured landscape round Seem groups of giant kings, in purple and gold, That guard the enchanted ground.

I roam the woods that crown

The upland, where the mingled splendours glow,
Where the gay company of trees look down
On the green fields below.

My steps are not alone

In these bright walks; the sweet southwest, at play, Flies, rustling, where the painted leaves are strown Along the winding way.

And far in heaven, the while,

The sun, that sends that gale to wander here,
Pours out on the fair earth his quiet smile,—
The sweetest of the year.

Where now the solemn shade,

Verdure and gloom where many branches meet;
So grateful, when the noon of summer made
The valleys sick with heat?

Let in through all the trees

Come the strange rays; the forest depths are bright; Their sunny-coloured foliage, in the breeze,

Twinkles, like beams of light.

The rivulet, late unseen,

Where bickering through the shrubs its waters run, Shines with the image of its golden screen,

And glimmerings of the sun.

But 'neath yon crimson tree,

Lover to listening maid might breathe his flame,
Nor mark, within its roseate canopy,

Her blush of maiden shame.

Oh, Autumn! why so soon

Depart the hues that make thy forests glad,—
Thy gentle wind and thy fair sunny noon,-
And leave thee wild and sad.

Ah! 't were a lot too blessed

For ever in thy coloured shades to stray;
Amid the kisses of the soft southwest

To rove and dream for aye;

And leave the vain low strife

That makes men mad-the tug for wealth and power,

The passions and the cares that wither life,

And waste its little hour.

BRYANT

Eve to Adam.

WITH thee conversing I forget all time,
All seasons and their change, all please alike,
Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet,
With charm of earliest Birds; pleasant the Sun
When first on this delightful land he spreads
His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower,
Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile earth
After soft showers; and sweet the coming on
Of grateful Evening mild, then silent Night
With this her solemn Bird and this fair Moon,
And these the gems of Heaven, her starry train :
But neither breath of Morn when she ascends
With charm of earliest birds, nor rising Sun
On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, flower
Glistering with dew, nor fragrance after showers,
Nor grateful Evening mild, nor silent Night
With this her solemn Bird, nor walk by Moon,
Or glittering Star-light without thee is sweet.

MILTON.

FROM

The Passionate Pilgrim.

Crabbed age and youth

Cannot live together;

Youth is full of pleasance,
Age is full of care:

Youth like summer morn,

Age like winter weather:

Youth like summer brave,
Age like winter bare.

Youth is full of sport,

Age's breath is short;

Youth is nimble, age is lame;

Youth is hot and bold,

Age is weak and cold;

Youth is wild, and age is tame

Age, I do abhor thee,

Youth, I do adore thee;

O, my love, my love is young;

Age, I do defy thee;

O, sweet shepherd, hie thee,

For methinks thou stayest too long.

SHAKSPEARE.

Each and All.

LITTLE thinks, in the field, yon red-cloaked clown,
Of thee, from the hill-top looking down;
And the heifer that lows in the upland farm,
Far-heard, lows not thine ear to charm;

The sexton tolling the bell at noon,

Dreams not that great Napoleon

Stops his horse, and lifts with delight,

Whilst his files sweep round yon Alpine height;
Nor knowest thou what argument

Thy life to thy neighbour's creed has lent:
All are needed by each one,
Nothing is fair or good alone.

I thought the sparrow's note from heaven,
Singing at dawn on the alder bough;
I brought him home in his nest at even ;-
He sings the song, but it pleases not now;
For I did not bring home the river and sky;
He sang to my ear; they sang to my eye.
The delicate shells lay on the shore;
The bubbles of the latest wave
Fresh pearls to their enamel gave;
And the bellowing of the savage sea
Greeted their safe escape to me;
I wiped away the weeds and foam,

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