A PORTRAIT.

"One name is Elizabeth."—Ben Jonson.

i paint her as I see her:
Ten times have the lilies blown,
Since she looked upon the sun.

And her face is lily-clear—

Lily-shaped, and drooped in duty
To the law of its own beauty.

Oval cheeks encolored faintly,
Which a trail of golden hair
Keeps from fading off to air:

And a forehead fair and saintly,
Which two blue eyes undershine,
Like meek prayers before a shrine.

Face and figure of a child,—

Though too calm, you think, and tender,

For the childhood you would lend her.

Yet child-simple, undefiled,
Frank, obedient,—waiting still
On the turnings of your will.

Moving light, as all young things—
As young birds, or early wheat
When the wind blows over it.

Only free from flutterings

Of loud mirth that scorneth measure—
Taking love for her chief pleasure:

Choosing pleasures (for the rest)
Which come softly—just as she.
When she nestles at your knee.

Quiet talk she liketh best.
In a bower of gentle looks,—
Watering flowers, or reading books.

And her voice, it murmurs lowly,
As a silver stream may run,
Which yet feels, you feel, the sun.

And her smile, it seems half holy.
As if drawn from thoughts more fair
Than our common jestings are.

And if any poet knew her.

He would sing of her with falls
Used in lovely madrigals.

And if any painter drew her.
He would paint her unaware
With a halo round her hair.

And if reader read the poem,

He would whisper—' You have done a Consecrated little Una!'

And a dreamer (did you show him
That same picture) would exclajm,
''Tis my angel, with a name!'

And a stranger,—when he sees her
In the street even—smileth stilly,
Just asjfou would at a lily.

And all voices that address her.
Soften, sleeken every word.
As if speaking to a bird.

And all fancies yearn to cover

The hard earth whereon she passes.
With the tbymy scented grasses.

And all hearts do pray, 'God love her t'
Ay, and always, in good sooth,
We may all be sure He Doth.

HECTOR IN THE GARDEN.
i.

Nine years old! The first of any
Seem the happiest years that come:
Yet when / was nine, I said
No such word !—I thought instead

That the Greeks had used as many
In besieging Ilium.

tt.

Nine green years had scarcely brought me

To my childhood's haunted spring: I had life, like flowers and bees In betwixt the country trees; And the sun the pleasure taught me Which hcteacheth every thing.