DESCRIPTION OF HAMPSTEAD. A STEEPLE issuing from a leafy rise, Within thine ever shifting looks surprise, Streets, hills, and dells, trees overhead now seen, A village, revelling in varieties. Then northward what a range, with heath and pond, SONG. WRITTEN TO BE SET TO MUSIC BY VINCENT NOVELLO.. WHEN lovely sounds about my ears And when we reach the close divine, 9 THE GLOVE AND THE LIONS. KING Francis was a hearty king, and loved a royal sport, And one day, as his lions fought, sat looking on the court; The nobles fill'd the benches round, the ladies by their side, And 'mongst them sat the Count de Lorge, with one for whom he sigh'd: And truly 'twas a gallant thing to see that crowning show, Valor and love, and a king above, and the royal beasts below. Ramp'd and roar'd the lions, with horrid laughing jaws; They bit, they glared, gave blows like beams, a wind went with their paws; With swallowing might and stifled roar, they roll'd on one another, Till all the pit, with sand and mane, was in a thunderous smother; THE GLOVE AND THE LIONS. 123 The bloody foam above the bars came whizzing through the air: Said Francis, then, "Faith, gentlemen, we're better here than there." De Lorge's love o'erheard the king, a beauteous, lively dame, With smiling lips and sharp bright eyes, which always seem'd the same; She thought, The count, my lover, is brave as brave can be He surely would do wondrous things to show his love of me : King, ladies lovers, all look on; the occasion is divine, I'll drop my glove, to prove his love; great glory will be mine. She dropp'd her glove, to prove his love, then look'd at him and smiled; He bow'd, and in a moment leap'd among the lions wild : The leap was quick, return was quick, he has regain'd the place, Then threw the glove, but not with love, right in the lady's face. "By God!" cried Francis, "rightly done!" and he rose from where he sat; "No love," quoth he, "but vanity, sets love a task like that!" ABOU BEN ADHEM AND THE ANGEL. ABOU BEN ADHEM (may his tribe increase!) "What writest thou?" The vision rais'd its head, And, with a look made of all sweet accord, Answer'd, "The names of those who love the Lord." "And is mine one?" said Abou. 66 Nay, not so;" Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low, But cheerly still; and said, "I pray thee, then, Write me as one that loves his fellow-men.” The angel wrote and vanished. The next night It came again, with a great wakening light, And show'd the names whom love of God had bless'd, And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest. |