"The secrets of the living rock, Deep hid from man's divining rod, A spark may open, and the shock Bring forth an ingot or a toad: The secret that is kept for years, One stroke of fate yields to the sight; And if the toad a jewel wears, That jewel may have lost its light. "Begone ye hopes of tender ties, Of smiling home with wife and child, Of all love's tender sympathies, That once a rugged soul beguiled! In vain may Beauty deck her crown, And winning Goodness try her plan, I trust no more--the guile of ONE Hath changed me to a savage man. "If in this world I smile again, Twill be to see the charming eye Like _hers_--the smile--each effort plain, And think I can them all defy. You tell me these are Nature's ways, But Nature tells me to beware; And while each angler smiling plays, So shall I play to shun the snare. "Mocked by the glamour of the eye, I dread all things surpassing fair; The sweetest flower but makes me sigh To think there may be poison there. Were I inclined to change my part, And seek again domestic peace, I'd seek for beauties in the heart, Though seen through a _revolting_ face. "By the heart-pulses of my love, By all the things once dear to me, By every tree within the grove, By every bird upon the tree, By every tint upon its wing, By every note of melodie That close by HER I've heard it sing, _Cursed be the dame of Dowielee_." VII. Burde Olive sat at the evening hour Within her mother's painted bower: It was a ruthless winter night. When beasts and birds cowered with affright From brattling winds that, roving free, Moaned in the woods of Dowielee. A wanderer knelt beside her chair, And spoke these words of tearful prayer: THE APPEAL. "When Justice sought the skies above, She left on earth her sister, LOVE, And heaven-born MERCY staid behind On purpose to console mankind. The silly sheep that left one day The winter's beild and went astray, Did not, when weary, worn, and old, Seek all in vain the shepherd's fold! And He, the Shepherd without sin, Felt for the contrite Magdalene, And gave her hope--her sin forgiven-- That she would join the fold in heaven: And shall my Olive while on earth Forgive not her who gave her birth? Oh! turn on me a smiling face, Forgiving eyes--a look of grace." But Olive turned her face away-- Her father's spirit whispered Nay-- His hastened death, his curse forbade: She trembled and was sore afraid; Yet father's daughter, meek and mild, Was she not, too, the mother's child? Then _he_ was gone, and _she_ was here: Her eye acknowledges the tear Of brooding nature all confessed-- She falls upon the wanderer's breast! No more the veil obscures the frame-- The curse is taken from the name. XVII. THE BALLAD OF MAID MARION. Maid Marion laid her down to sleep, Maid Marion could do nought but weep, For thinking of that happy time When she was in her early prime, When in her glass she looked so fair With lily-lire and golden hair.