Ballads of Beauty. Various

gaze, they smile in pleased surprise;

      They ask her name; they long to show

      Some silent friendship in their eyes.

      She glances not; she passes on;

      Her steely footfall quicker rings;

      She guesses not the benison

      Which follows her on noiseless wings.

      Smooth be her ways, secure her tread,

      Along the devious lines of life,

      From grace to grace successive led, —

      A noble maiden, nobler wife!

      Augusta

      "Handsome and haughty!" a comment that came

      From lips which were never accustomed to malice:

      A girl with a presence superb as her name,

      And charmingly fitted for love – in a palace!

      And oft I have wished – for in musing alone

      One's fancy is apt to be very erratic —

      That the lady might wear – No! I never will own

      A thought so decidedly undemocratic!

      But if 'twere a coronet– this, I'll aver,

      No duchess on earth could more gracefully wear it;

      And even a democrat – thinking of her—

      Might surely be pardoned for wishing to share it!

      Lord Ullin's Daughter

      A chieftain to the Highlands bound,

      Cries, "Boatman, do not tarry!

      And I'll give thee a silver pound

      To row us o'er the ferry."

      "Now who be ye would cross Lochgyle,

      This dark and stormy water?"

      "Oh, I'm the chief of Ulva's isle,