The meal-sacks on the whiten'd floor, Made misty with the floating meal. But when at last I dared to speak, The lanes, you know, were white with May! Your ripe lips moved not, but your cheek Flush'd like the coming of the day; And so it was-half-sly, half-shy, You would, and would not, little one! Although I pleaded tenderly, And you and I were all alone. TENNYSON. Oriana. OH! breaking heart, that will not break, Oh! pale, pale face so sweet and meek, Oriana. Thou smilest, but thou dost not speak, And then the tears run down my cheek, Oriana: What wantest thou? whom dost thou seek, Oriana? I cry aloud: none hear my cries, Oriana. Thou comest atween me and the skies, I feel the tears of blood arise Up from my heart unto my eyes, Within thy heart my arrow lies, Oriana. TENNYSON. Song. A SPIRIT haunts the year's last hours, For at eventide, listening earnestly, At his work you may hear him sob and sigh Earthward he boweth the heavy stalks Of the mouldering flowers: Heavily hangs the broad sunflower Over its grave i' the earth so chilly; The air is damp, and hush'd, and close, As a sick man's room when he taketh repose An hour before death: My very heart faints and my whole soul grieves At the moist rich smell of the rotting leaves, And the breath Of the fading edges of box beneath, Heavily hangs the broad sunflower Heavily hangs the tiger-lily. TENNYSON. Isabel. EYES not down-dropt nor over-bright, but fed Were fixed shadows of thy fixed mood, Revered Isabel, the crown and head, TENNYSON. Lilian. AIRY, fairy Lilian, Flitting, fairy Lilian, When I ask her if she love me, She'll not tell me if she love me, When my passion seeks She looking thro' and thro' me Thoroughly to undo me, Smiling, never speaks; So innocent-arch, so cunning-simple, Glancing with black-beaded eyes, PREFACE. WE have great pleasure in presenting to the patrons of our establishment a catalogue of its contents, in a form so attractive as the present volume. Herein they will find a vast multitude of beautiful things alternating with beautiful thoughts; or, as it is expressed in the title-page, "Things of beauty set with gems of verse." We deal in the beautiful. It is our task to clothe common implements with beauty, and to invest all the trifles worn upon the person, or carried in the street, or used at home, with elegance of form. It is our object to blend perfect utility with perfect beauty; and, therefore, it seems peculiarly appropriate that we should summon to our assistance on this occasion the charms of verse, by which to break up, and agreeably diversify, the monotony of our catalogue. We hope by this pleasant expedient to secure a more general and careful perusal of the work, which is now submitted to the inspection of our friends and the public. CARROLL & HUTCHINSON. 547 Broadway, New York. |