540

She was lovely and fair to see
And the elfin's heart beat fitfully;
But lovelier far, and still more fair,
The earthly form imprinted there;
Nought he saw in the heavens above
Was half so dear as his mortal love,
For he thought upon her looks so meek,
And he thought of the light flush on her
cheek;

Never again might he bask and lie
On that sweet cheek and moonlight eye,
But in his dreams her form to see, 550
To clasp her in his reverie,

To think upon his virgin bride,

Was worth all heaven and earth beside.

The star is yet in the vault of heaven,
But it rocks in the summer gale;
And now 'tis fitful and uneven,
And now 'tis deadly pale;

580

590

And now 'tis wrapp'd in sulphur smoke,
And quenched is its rayless beam,
And now with a rattling thunder-stroke
It bursts in flash and flame.

As swift as the glance of the arrowy lance
That the storm-spirit flings from high,
The star-shot flew o'er the welkin blue,
As it fell from the sheeted sky.

As swift as the wind in its trail behind The elfin gallops along,

The fiends of the clouds are bellowing loud,

But the sylphid charm is strong; 600 He gallops unhurt in the shower of fire, While the cloud-fiends fly from the blaze;

He watches each flake till its sparks expire,

And rides in the light of its rays. But he drove his steed to the lightning's speed,

And caught a glimmering spark; Then wheeled around to the fairy ground, And sped through the midnight dark.

Ouphe and goblin! imp and sprite!
Elf of eve! and starry Fay!
Ye that love the moon's soft light,
Hither-hither wend your way;
Twine ye in a jocund ring,

610

And Coleman3 is silent since Phillips departed,

And Noah's too busy to think of the stage.

Now, the aim of this letter is merely to mention

That, since all your critics are laid on the shelf,

Out of pure love for you, it is my kind intention

To take box No. 3, and turn critic myself.

Your ladies are safe-if you please you may say it,

Perhaps they have faults, but I'll let them alone;

1 For statement on the "Croaker Papers," see pages 626 to 628.

"Woodworth's Chronicle."-A periodical conducted by that popular poet for a brief period. 3 William Coleman.-The editor of the NewYork Evening Post. He died during the summer of 1829.

name

But, brother, I fear, though our cause is the same,

We shall quarrel like Brutus and Cassius.

Mrs. John Barnes appeared for the last time in Philadelphia, July 25, 1851, as Lady Randolph, which character she sustained with almost undiminished excellence.

5 Miss Catherine Leesugg, afterward Mrs. James H. Hackett, and Mrs. Barnes. As ladies and actresses, well meriting the poet's eulogiums, and highly estimated in public and private life. Olliff, etc.-Actors of merit in various departments of their profession.

The man who frets at worldly strife,
Grows sallow, sour, and thin;
Give us the lad whose happy life
Is one perpetual grin;
He, Midas-like, turns all to gold,
He smiles when others sigh,
Enjoys alike the hot and cold,

And laughs through wet and dry.
There's fun in every thing we meet,
The greatest, worst, and best,
Existence is a merry treat,

And every speech a jest;

Be't ours to watch the crowds that pass
Where Mirth's gay banner waves;
To show fools through a quizzing-glass,
And bastinade the knaves.

The serious world will scold and ban,
In clamor loud and hard,
To hear Meigs called a Congressman,
And Paulding styled a bard;
But, come what may, the man's in luck
Who turns it all to glee,
And laughing, cries, with honest Puck,
"Great Lord! what fools ye be."
D.

10

20

The New York Evening Post, Mar. 19, 1819.

Jacob Sherred. - A wealthy painter and glazier.

1 "Charley Macheath."-In which character in the Beggars' Opera the celebrated English singer, Mr. Charles Incledon, during his engagement some time previous at the Park Theatre, had been favorably received.

William Niblo.-The proprietor of the then most popular hotel and restaurant in New York, on the corner of William and Pine Streets, and still a highly-respected resident of this city.

3 Thomas Kilner, etc., etc.-Comedians at the theatre. The three latter had been recently engaged in England by Mr. Simpson during a professional visit there.

Tenth-Ward Electors.-Those composing a party in opposition for a short time to the regu lar nominees at Tammany Hall.