Roam'd o'er their blue magnificence, to cull
Whate'er they gave of bright or beautiful!
The eve, delicious eve, was in the sky,
Filling with tears the fond enthusiast's eye;
Festoons of clouds hung o'er it, and a blaze
Of lambent glory, gold and azure rays,
Haloed the couch; where, in the sapphire west,
In glowing loveliness it sank to rest.

There, o'er that hill-zoned gathering of streams,
It flung its farewell gift of blushing beams;
Scattering its soul of rapture on the spray,
Till all in twilight grandeur dies away.
How oft in childhood's morning did I wing
My spirit o'er its waters, imaging

Some faery haunt beyond them, which might be
A paradise of love from sorrow free.

And every thought would languish o'er that dream
Of youthful passionateness, until a beam
Fading, like Hope, upon my throbbing brow,
Weaned me from joys I could not think of now.
And then I turned to many a knot of flowers,
Rising in sparkling beauty from the showers
Of southern rain, that graced their pensile stems
Like pearls upon sultanas' diadems;

And with a frolic hand I plucked away
A world of sweets that led my feet astray:
Cowslips and violets, the scarlet bell,

Where the sky's weepings fondly love to dwell;
Woodbines, and valley-lilies, clothed in white,
And the bright hyacinth, whose radiant light,
Pillows the humming-bee when evening flings
Suddenly gloom upon its wanderings.

All these, with many, many a nameless blossom,
Öft did I scatter on that lake's bright bosom,
Watching them gain some islet's distant shore,
There lose their bloom, and scent the wind no more,
Or falling languishingly down the wave,-
For such fair wanderers the meetest grave!

$.

A SKETCH IN POLAND.

And bore the ruins, no recording trace

Of all that woman's heart bad dared and done.
Mrs. Hemans.

THE Count Alvinski departed from the camp and sought the small hot that was now his only home, for in the long and arduous struggle for the liberty of Poland, he had not been the least sufferer by his country's misfortunes; his paternal estates had been wrested from him, and he was now among the foremost of those who rallied round the remnant of their former freedom, to defend it against the encroaching violence of a selfelected confederacy of regal plunderers.

Beside his humble board smiled the lovely Pauline, the wife of his son, who fondled in her arms the image of his mother's graces, the infant Alexis; on him, too, turned the pensive eyes of his daughter Christina, as she took him from her arms, and, presenting him to her father, sought to chase the gloom from his brow by calling his attention to his infantine endearments. Cheer up, my father,' said she; let this frugal meal be as welcome to you as when the train of obsequious vassals bowed round the board; let me but see you smile, my father; let me but once more see you take delight in your children, and I shall be happy.' 'I do, I do,' replied Alvinski, as he pressed the affectionate girl to his bosom, and, gazing on her beautiful countenance, seemed to gather consolation from the mild beams of her expressive eyes, which sparkled through her tears; her chesnut hair hung in disordered curls on her forehead, and her features assumed a more lovely cast from the smile of pleased yet painful sympathy that now dimpled them; her cheek varying every moment with the hectic of emotion, as she intently watched her father's countenance. Even in the zenith of his fortunes the count had always been pensive, the glittering acquirements of fame and glory had often appeared to lose their charms for him, and Christina had observed his mind to be more at ease since actively engaged in repelling the invaders of his country; exertion

bad banished thought from his brow. Why then at this moment, when it was more than usually required, should be appear to sink beneath his misfortunes? surely some new danger threatened, some hope must be relinquished, or why should a tear be seen to dim the eye of the brave Alvinski? He saw her eager anxiety, and, stifling his feelings, he attempted to appear composed; and Christina, pretending to be deceived, affected her usual cheerfulness. 'We shall not grieve for the splendour we have lost,' said she, if the merciless hand of war but spares those who are dear to us: blest in every tender tie, we shall have little reason to complain.'

A footstep near the door now aroused the watchful anxiety of Pauline, and her pleasure was complete as she saw her husband unclose the door, stooping as he entered the hut: his tall commanding figure lost none of its dignity from the dark cloak in which he was wrapped; his fine eyes beamed with pleasure as he displaced the beaver, wet with the dews of evening, from his forehead, in order to encircle in his arms the darling of his hopes; then, perceiving the unusual gloom that lowered on the brow of his father, he inquired if any intelligence had arrived with which he was unacquainted. None,' replied the count, the enemy still keep possession of the fort, and it is only--- But let us wave this subject, and enjoy the few moments of domestic happiness that are assigned us.' He then tried to smile, and each, inspired by his assumed cheerfulness, endeavoured to disguise their own feelings, and to alleviate each other's distress. Night drew on, the count suddenly rose, and, desiring Leopold to attend him, left the hut.

Christina expressed to her sister her apprehension, from the unusual depression of her father's spirits; and, while commenting on this subject, Captain Annesley, a young Englishman who had long served in the Polish ranks, entered. Christina's sparkling eyes beamed with delight at the sight of her lover, and, rising hastily from her seat, she presented him with both her hands, which ૨૩

he pressed to his lips. Unused to disguise her sentiments, she freely disclosed her apprehensions, and besought him, if it was in his power, to relieve her suspense. He replied in a vague manner, and then, taking her hand, he gently led her from the hut to where the batteries of P, disclosed by the moon-beams, towered on their view; and behind them, in the far distance, rose the snow-crowned tops of the Carpathian mountains. Why do you appear dejected, Annesley?' inquired Christina; what is there in this silent scene which can awaken a fear?'

I was reflecting,' said he, that to-morrow night those towers will be levelled with the dust from whence they rose.'

'Levelled,' repeated she, did you say? What! when the bravest of our troops have been repulsed in the attempt to retake them.'

One single arm will achieve what thousands have failed in; one noble heart, to which future ages will pay the tribute of admiration, is alone necessary to accomplish the mighty work.'

And that heart, that arm, is my father's!' exclaimed Christina, sinking, as she spoke, on her knees; and while she raised her trembling hands and tearful eyes to Heaven, Annesley watched her pale cheek and quivering lip aspirating the unspoken prayer.

Before the morning broke, the news of the Count Alvinski's determination had spread itself through the camp; the sentinel on the midnight-watch had ruminated on the gallant deed; the chief, in his tented couch, had awoke from broken slumbers, to wonder at the astounding plan; and the soldier had started from his bivouack only to take a last farewell of his revered and aged general.

Through the whole of the next day a mournful silence pervaded the camp, and had the total extinction of their liberty been certain, there could scarcely have been evinced a more heart-struck, a more appalling sensation. Evening approached, and all rushed to the plain, thronged with the assembling troops hastening to re

ceive the last farewell, the last blessing, of their beloved leader; it was the parting of a father and his children, nor could it hardly be exceeded by that which had already taken place. He had received the last embrace of his gallant son, he had pressed his loved Christina to his bosom, he had kissed the tear from her pale cheek, and, as she hung weeping over the infant Alexis, he had encircled them both in his arms, in all the wild frenzy a father's anguish could excite. Overcome by the shock, Christina sunk insensible in the arms of her sister, who had been without the power to speak during this distressing scene. She was aroused by the information that her father was about to enter the fatal mine, and, springing from the hut, she flew, with the swiftness of lightning, to the plain, from which a narrow defile, hewn in the rock, led to the vast subterranean cavern. A death-like silence prevailed; the soldiers, with arms reversed, knelt around the entrance of the secret aperture, which they looked upon as the grave of their beloved general.

Alvinski, on whose brow the frosts of age had long rested, stood at the opening of the horrid cavity; his countenance was still unmoved-a faithful portrait of the inflexibility of his character might there be traced : the lofty thought, the unshaken resolution, the unbend. ing soul which had so long directed their councils, and animated their patriotic struggles, sinking only beneath the weight of his country's woes, which had rived a heart adversity could never subdue.

The interest of the assembled multitude became painfully intense-every feeling was wrought to its extent-not a word was uttered-yet this silence was more expressive of their sorrow than the most unrepressed lamentations could have been; the count contemplated it a moment, and his manly voice almost lost its firmness as he exclaimed, Soldiers, farewell!' and rushed down the aperture. The echo of his footsteps was long heard, and, ere they died on the listening ear, the form of Christina was seen pressing through the closely cemented phalanxes, and hurrying forwards