POETS' CORNER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1819, 1 October 1886, Page 30

POETS' CORNER.

Lap me in soft Lydian airs, Married to immortal verse. j — MILTOK. Tlic Legend of Myddfai. En Van Pools, Black Mountains, South 'WfAiES. &. shepherd, so the legend runs, who fed His sheep upon th« mountain near the lake, Beheld one morn a form of beauty bred Kise from the flood. He gazing, longed to make The form his own — his own, for love's sweet sake ; For never had he seen a thing bo fair. Her eyes -were radiant as the stars which wake it even, yet they filled him with despair, Per how could mortal wed a spirit light as air ? ong summer Bayu he sought in vain the spell With which to bind the gentle maiden's heart ; lis simple fare : sweet herbs from hill and dell— Of these his modest; wealth he offered part. But could not force her love by any art, )ne evening as he sat by thought oppressed, She, swift as light, more quick ihantroutlet'sdart, lose at his feet— hands clasped upon her breastFair Mortal, I have heard ; I rise at thy request." !he spoke ; he saw the gleaming of her locks, And heard a voice more sweet than summer wind. 1 Yes, shepherd, I will wed thee, brave the shocks Of man's poor life ; but if thou prove unkind, Or twice should striki me, then my vow shall bind tty life no longer ; hither I will turn, And thou. in grief and loneliness, shalt find Che truth of that which men are slow to learn — Chat love which lights their livea is fiery flame to bum." k> they were wed, and to the shepherd's cot Was brought the maiden of the lonely mere ; 3he filled with sunshine all h's humble lot, And they were happy, for a happy year. No longer ; for the stroke of doom was near, t chanced some folk were married in the vale, And they were bidden ; but instf ad of cheer Yhen all the rest were merry, she sat pale Lnd marred the marriage feast with moan and woeful wail. ler husband, wroth to see his yonng wife weep, Smote sharply on her arm »s white as snow, Uid aßked her why she wept. She turned her deep Reproachful eyes on him ; " Alas, I know 'lbafc nought but sorrow from this feast shall flow I Uo these, who loveless wed. Ah ! me, in vain My maiden heart foretold my wedded woo. Beware, lest smitten by thy hand again, [ seek the kindly flood aglow with summer rain." | Another year went by ; and lo ! a grave Was opened to receive the loveless bride. Lnd surging tears the mourner's cheek did lave, But she stood smiling at the shepherd's side. And then again he struck her wrist, and cried, ' Shame on thee, wife, to mock when others weep ! " " I needs must joy," she said, and softly sighed : ' The dead are happy : from life's rocky steep move's mighty tide doth bear her children to the deep." Phen she was gonp. The legend tells how sad The shepherd left his sheep to watch the mere ; Lnd how at times his griof grew mild, and glad He hailed the star which tells that day is near ; But ne'er to him his love did reappear, fet, some aver, when dawn bsgins to break On one, the longest day of all the y^ar, L breathing's space, the maid, for old love's sake, )oth raise her golden locks above the glowing lake. — John Jervts Bekesford, M.A., in the Argosy. The First Spring. To The Mbsiobv of A. M. M. 0, my beloved, awake . Dawn flashes the hill tops. Wake the young birds to the light, Unfold the sweet; day flowers. O, my beloved, awake I Gone is the winter's gloom ; t Come back to our love again. Awake ! arise from the tomb. O, my beloved, awake 1 Open dead eyes to the light ; Speak, dead lips once more, Dead hand cUsp ours again. O, ray beloved, awake ! Sottly th» spring airs breathe ; Never came spring before Missing thee, sleeping in death. Wakens our love with the spring. Mourning and yearning tor the?, Wakens the echoes of spring Saddening the distance afar. Sieep, our beloved, sleep, ' ' Cold, is the world and wide. Filled with its sorrow and care, Waken not thou to onr pain. O, our beloved, sleep, Past is thy wild life storm, Gone is the nightmare dream— The fever that knew not sleep. Sleep, our beloved, sleep, Over the grave are the flowers, And the holy light of the sun Dreaming'above thee now. E. H. S. September 25. Despair. Once, dread visitor, you came, Once, or twice at most. But you stayed not, so your name Soon to me was lost— Now you linger like a guest And I cannot cannot rest. When the tender hues of spring Cam* with birds that pair, With the pairing birds I'd sing Life Is sweet and love is fair— Now I languish and I sigh, And I only wish to die. I am young in years, but you Aged me long ago, What to me is spring-time's hue,; Birds that sing, or buds that blow— Every pr jspect now is drear, For I look — and you are here. Once, dread visitor you came To my tro"bled heart, But delight with sword of flame Bade you soon depart — Now you come an armed host : Delight is dead, and I am lost. FI.RTA. Dunedin, — An Irish journalist, mourning his wife, tearfully exclaimed,- "Faith, an' she was a Jgood woman ; she always hit me wid the soft end o' bbemop." Remember This. If you are sick. HOP BITTERS will surely .u<! Nature in making you well when all else lails It you are costive or dyspeptic, or are suffering trom any other of the numerous diseases ot the etomach or bowels, it Is -your own tault it you if main ill. tor HOP BITTEtfS is a sovereign remed) in all such complaints. It you are Nervous, use HOP BITTEBS. II you have rough, pimply, or sallow sktn. 'wi brehtli, pains and nehes. and feel miserable generally HOP BITTERS will give you fair skin, rich Dlood »ncl sweetest breath and health. That poor, bedridden, invalid wile, sister, mother or daughter, can be made the picture ot health by AMhRICAN COMPANY'S HOPBITTEUS. costing one a trifle. Will you let them suffer r In sho:t,they cure all Diseases of the Stomac-h. Bowels. Blood. Liver. Kerves, Kidneys. Brijjht'b Disease, fcooo will be paid tor a case they will not cure or help. Druggists and Chemists keep. PROSECUTE THE SWINDLERS! ! If when on call tor Amerie<ui Hop Bitters (set green tuig of Ho/Ji on the white label and Ur Hoi/lc't name blown m the bottle),- t\\B vendor hands out, anything but American Hop Bitters, reinse it and eliiin that vendor"as yon would a viper . aud If he has taken your money for anything else, indict him lor the' iraud and sue him for damages for the swiudle. and we will pay you liberally for the cqnvictiou. (