The drowsy herd forget to crop, The bee is cradled in the balm: If but one little leaf should drop, 'Twould break the sacred calm. From the wide sea leaps up no voice, Mute is the forest, mute the rill; Whilst the glad earth sang forth _Rejoice_, God's whisper said--_Be still_. Her pulses in a lull of rest, In hush submissive Nature lies, With folded palms upon her breast, Dreaming of yon fair skies. J. D. TO CLARA. I would not we should meet again-- We twain who loved so fond, Although through years and years afar, I wish'd for nought beyond. Yet do I love thee none the less; And aye to me it seems, There's not on earth so fair a thing As thou art in my dreams. All, all hath darkly changed beside, Grown old, or stern, or chill-- All, save one hoarded spring-tide gleam, _Thy smile that haunts me still_! My brow is but the register Of youth's and joy's decline; I would not trace such record too Deep graven upon thine. I would not _see_ how rudely Time Hath dealt with all thy store Of bloom and promise--'tis enough To know the harvest's o'er. I would not that one glance to-day, One glance through clouds and tears, Should mar the image in my soul That love hath shrined for years. J. D. SECLUSION. The heart in sacred peace may dwell, Apart from convent gloom-- To matins and to vespers rise, 'Mid nature's song and bloom: Or in the busy haunts of life, In gay or restless scene, In sanctuary calm abide, As vestal saint serene. It is the pure and holy thought, The spotless veil within, That screens pollution from the breast, And hides a world of sin. J. D. THE LAST HOURS OF A REIGN. A TALE IN TWO PARTS.--PART I. CHAPTER I. "Let's see the devil's writ. What have we here?" * * * * * "First of the King. What shall of him become?" SHAKSPEARE. "A pretty plot, well chosen to build upon." IDEM. It was in the month of May 1574, and in the city of Paris, that, at an hour of the night which in these days might be considered somewhat early, but which at that period was already late, two personages were seated in a gloomy room, belonging to a small and ancient hotel, at no great distance from the old palace of the Louvre, with which it was supposed to communicate by courts and passages little known and seldom used.