ESSAYS IN OLD FRENCH FORMS.

“They are a school to win
The fair French daughter to learn English in;

And, graced with her song,
To make the language sweet upon her tongue.”

BEN JONSON, Underwoods.

F

As, to the pipe, with rhythmic feet
In windings of some old-world dance,
The smiling couples cross and meet,
Join hands, and then in line advance,
So, to these fair old tunes of France,
Through all their maze of to and fro,
The light-heeled numbers laughing go,
Retreat, return, and ere they flee,
One moment pause in panting row,
And seem to say-Vos plaudite !

ROSE-LEAVES.

(TRIOLETS.)

"Sans peser.-Sans rester."

R

A KISS.
OSE kissed me to-day.

Will she kiss me to-morrow?
Let it be as it may,
Rose kissed me to-day.
But the pleasure gives way

To a savour of sorrow ;Rose kissed me to-day,

Will she kiss me to-morrow?

CIRCE.
IN the School of Coquettes

Madam Rose is a scholar :-
O, they fish with all nets
In the School of Coquettes !
When her brooch she forgets

'Tis to show her new collar ; In the School of Coquettes

Madam Rose is a scholar !

A TEAR
There's a tear in her eye, -

Such a clear little jewel !
What can make her cry?
There's a tear in her eye.
“Puck has killed a big fly,–

And it 's horribly cruel ;"
There's a tear in her eye,-

Such a clear little jewel!

A GREEK GIFT.
HERE's a present for Rose,

How pleased she is looking !
Is it verse ?-is it prose ?
Here's a present for Rose !
“ Plats," “ Entrées,” and “ Róts,"

Why, it's “Gouffé on Cooking”!
Here's a present for Rose,

How pleased she is looking !

URCEUS EXIT."
I INTENDED an Ode,

And it turned to a Sonnet.
It began à la mode,
I intended an Ode;
But Rose crossed the road

In her latest new bonnet ;
I intended an Ode,

And it turned to a Sonnet.

1874.