Waiting for the appointed minute,
Oft he paces to and fro;
Stopping now, now moving forwards,
Sometimes quick, and sometimes slow.

Hope and fear alternate teaze him,
Oft he sighs with heart-felt care :—
See, fond youth, to yonder window
Softly steps the timorous fair.

Lovely seems the moon's fair lustre
To the lost benighted swain,
When all silvery bright she rises,

Gilding mountain, grove, and plain.

Lovely seems the sun's full glory
To the fainting seaman's eyes,
When, some horrid storm dispersing,
O'er the wave his radiance flies.

But a thousand times more lovely
To her longing lover's sight
Steals half seen the beauteous maiden
Thro' the glimmerings of the night.

Tip-toe stands the anxious lover,
Whispering forth a gentle sigh:
"Alla* keep thee, lovely lady;
Tell me, am I doom'd to die?

"Is it true the dreadful story,

Which thy damsel tells my page,

That seduc'd by sordid riches
Thou wilt sell thy bloom to age?

"An old lord from Antiquera

Thy stern father brings along ; But canst thou, inconstant Zayda, Thus consent my love to wrong?

The Mahometan name of God;

"If 'tis true now plainly tell me,

Nor thus trifle with my woes;
Hide not then from me the secret,
Which the world so clearly knows."

Deeply sigh'd the conscious maiden,
While the pearly tears descend :
"Ah! my lord, too true the story;
Here our tender loves must end.

"Our fond friendship is discover'd, Well are known our mutual vows:

All my friends are full of fury;

Storms of passion shake the house.

"Threats, reproaches, fears surround me;
My stern father breaks my heart :
Alla knows how dear it costs me,
Generous youth, from thee to part.

"Ancient wounds of hostile fury

Long have rent our house and thine;

Why then did thy shining merit

Win this tender heart of mine?

"Well thou know'st how dear I lov'd thee,

Spite of all their hateful pride,

Tho' I fear'd my haughty father

Ne'er would let me be thy bride.

"Well thou know'st what cruel chidings
Oft I've from my mother borne ;
What I've suffered here to meet thee
Still at eve and early morn.

"I no longer may resist them;

All, to force my hand, combine;

And to-morrow to thy rival

This weak frame I must resign.

"Yet think not thy faithful Zayda
Can survive so great a wrong;
Well my breaking heart assures me
That my woes will not be long.

"Farewell then, my dear Alcanzor!

Farewell too my life with thee! Take this scarf a parting token;

When thou wear'st it think on me.

"Soon, lov'd youth, some worthier maiden
Shall reward thy generous truth;
Sometimes tell her how thy Zayda
Died for thee in prime of youth."

To him all amaz'd, confounded,

Thus she did her woes impart :
Deep he sigh'd, then cry'd,-“O Zayda !
Do not, do not break my heart.

"Canst thou think I thus will lose thee?
Canst thou hold my love so small?
No! a thousand times I'll perish!-
My curst rival too shall fall.

"Canst thou, wilt thou yield thus to them?
O break forth, and fly to me!

This fond heart shall bleed to save thee,
These fond arms shall shelter thee.

""Tis in vain, in vain, Alcanzor,

Spies surround me, bars secure :

Scarce I steal this last dear moment,
While my damsel keeps the door.

Hark, I hear my father storming!
Hark, I hear my mother chide!
I must go farewell for ever!
Gracious Alla be thy guide!"

SADDLE TO RAGS.

From "Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the Peasantry of England," published by the Percy Society.

HIS story I'm going to sing,

I hope it will give you content,
Concerning a silly old man

That was going to pay his rent

As he was a-riding along,
Along all on the highway,

A gentleman-thief overtook him,
And thus unto him did say.

"O well overtaken, old man,

O well overtaken," said he; "Thank you kindly, sir," says the old man, "If you be for my companie."

"How far are you going this way?"
It made the old man to smile e;
"To tell you the truth, kind sir,
I'm just a-going twa mile.

"I am but a silly old man,

Who farms a piece of ground;

My half-year rent, kind sir,

Just comes to forty pound.

"But my landlord's not been at hame,—

I've not seen him twelve month or more;

It makes my rent to be large,

I've just to pay him fourscore."