Year: 1871

But how'd with distant courtesy,


And babe the stranger sit
Not seeing the half-mocking glance,
MOI marking DER his cOuutenance
The light smile passing fit.
Lord Earl"-the strangers voice was


low,


lie spake as though hisspeech were pain;
Or did he foreign accent feign?
And one hand hid his bended brow,
The other press'd his watch-chain, where
A crystal sheathed tress of hair
Lord Earl, | know thy naughty race
For centuries have loved this place,
And gladly would | fud a way
To bid thy parting footsteps stay; ..-
And hear, | prey, what | suggest
1t is the simplest and the best
And not impute to arrogance
The hope my tongue dares scarce advance.
Thy daughters face is very fair,
Her young life is not fit for care,
And thou wouldst see with bitter pain
Her battle with the worlds disdain.
'Twere better far that she should stay,
To soothe thy life's declining day;
And thus thou mightest yet remain
The honor'd lord of thy domain,
And Jridal gold aoaa 10 Sare
Thu gray hairs from an exile'S 0rare."
An angry frown the Ear's brow wore:
"Aud dares thy pride thus high to soar,
That having bought my home, my land,
Thou barterest for my daughters hand ?
Time was thou shouldest trembling feel
The power of my avenging steel;
But am aged, and weak, and worn,
And cen such insult must be borne.
But give me pen, and let me sign
The deed that makes the castle thine;
So shall | not unwilling go


Where such disgrace | may not know"
The deed was signed. The stranger took
Ehe parchment with defiant look; ..
The priceless scroll then quickly threw
Where op the hearth thewood flame grew
And warding off the eager hands
That sought its rescue from the brands,
He watch'd the gaunt fame curling rounc
Its victim with hungry sound.
Then turning to the Earl, he said: H'
Thus art thou free from burden made
Thus naunsbrook'S land once more is thine
And again su;;tcr stand,
| A supplant for thy daughters hand.
Yet think not that | seek to claim
AS recvmpense for act of mine,
Done for past reverence of thy name, b
And from my wish not now to see
Unhoused thy old nobility


Some lowering of the naughty pride
That did thy curt refusal guide


One prayer make--and one alone
In Que thing let thy grace be shown
Let but thy child be free to choose;
And if herself my SUIT refuse,


AS forth my lonely way | take,
Then though my heart her answer breai


Perchancc EN- so shall be


Some soacc in the cheering thought,
That my long enterprise hath brought


Freedom for her and thee y


"And who art thou, that thou dost te
Such interest in my woe and veal ?


No! to my hearth though ruin come,
Y ct is my race not sunk so low


That | my castle and my home


To strangers clemency should owe.


Yet if thy latest act be due


Not to rich lust, but honor true,
:, Though for mine own. my daughters SAX
e Thy sacrifice may not take,


Yet at her feet thou mayest lay f1a
The suit thou hast preferr'd to-day.


How scant the Crane, how small the boon
[ fear me thou wilt find too soon;


For many a suitor hath implored H


The hearing she could not accord,
d And vainly urged her to forget


The love on which her heart is set,


And him who in distant land


Is toiling still to win her hand.


If so Jared those she knew the best.


What hope for thy unknown request


But if thy wish is still to plead


Thy hope, thou mayest yet succeed.


Come p and he led the way, nor heard
ID From the press'd lips the low-breath


word,


s.Heaven bless her for her loyalty


Now know [ she is true to me-"


Few those to whom the opning year
Brings no effect OF hope or fear,


Whose mind is not then oftener cast


Or on the future or the past,


To Florence, as she lay and thought.
y The cast year had no gladness brought


The future seem'd with sorrow traug


A banish'd love, ruin'd sire!
E Will Fate's disfayor never tire I
es' Such her minds broodings, as she lay
Smileless and still that wintry day.