[Illustration] VIII. "Gee up, my little horse!" he cried, "I mean to have a glorious ride; So bear me forth with lightning speed, A Knight resolved on doughty deed. The wide world we will gallop round, And clear the hedges at one bound." The mouse set off, the hero bantered, And out into the world they cantered. [Illustration] IX. At last they rode up to an inn: "Good Mr. Host, pray who's within?" "My daughter serves the customers, Before the fire the Tom-cat purrs." For further news they did not wait-- The mouse sprang through the garden-gate-- They fled without a look behind them. The question is--Did Thomas find them? SONGS FOR MUSIC SERENADE. I would not have you wake for me, Fair lady, though I love you! And though the night is warm, and all The stars are out above you; And though the dew's so light it could Not hurt your little feet, And nightingales in yonder wood Are singing passing sweet. Yet may my plaintive strain unite And mingle with your dreaming, And through the visions of the night Just interweave my seeming. Yet no! sleep on with fancy free In that untroubled breast; No song of mine, no thought of me, Deserves to break your rest! MAIDEN WITH THE GIPSY LOOK. Maiden with the gipsy look, Dusky locks and russet hue, Open wide thy Sybil's book, Tell my fate and tell it true; Shall I live? or shall I die? Timely wed, or single be? Maiden with the gipsy eye, Read my riddle unto me! Maiden with the gipsy face, If thou canst not tell me all, Tell me thus much, of thy grace, Should I climb, or fear to fall? Should I dare, or dread to dare? Should I speak, or silent be? Maiden with the gipsy hair, Read my riddle unto me! Maiden with the gipsy hair, Deep into thy mirror look, See my love and fortune there, Clearer than in Sybil's book: Let me cross thy slender palm, Let me learn my fate from thee; Maiden with the gipsy charm, Read my riddle unto me. AH! WOULD I COULD FORGET. The whispering water rocks the reeds, And, murmuring softly, laps the weeds; And nurses there the falsest bloom That ever wrought a lover's doom. Forget me not! Forget me not! Ah! would I could forget! But, crying still, "Forget me not," Her image haunts me yet. We wander'd by the river's brim, The day grew dusk, the pathway dim; Her eyes like stars dispell'd the gloom, Her gleaming fingers pluck'd the bloom. Forget me not! Forget me not! Ah! would I could forget! But, crying still, "Forget me not," Her image haunts me yet.