Myrt.

I do; it seems to me,

In it's fresh whisper, and delighted eye,

And all this burst of out-o'-door enjoyment,

Just like a new creation,-Spring and Summer

Married, and Winter dead to be no more.

Was ever so much horror, at the best,

Followed by such a time,-change, wonderous change
In what has busied all your talk by the way,
And with it all this luxury,-flowers, blossoms,
And heaps of leafiness on every side

About and overhead, with beams between,

And quick-voic'd birds that steep the trees in music, Green fields, and chrystal waters, and blue skies, With here and there a little harmless cloud

That only wants a visible cherub on it

To ride its silver,-happy human beings
O'ertaking us meantime at every step
With smile that cannot help itself, and turning,
As they pass quick, with greeting of the day,
Exchanging blessedness :-Oh Sir, Oh father,
There's such a look of promise all about us,
A smile so bidding, something that almost

Seems to say yes to what the tip-toe heart,

Hanging on Nature's neck, would ask of her,
Even to the raising of a buried joy,

That I could fancy-but-forgive me, pray,
For talking of those things.

Eun.

Talk on, mỹ child,

And let the young hope, that is natural

Both to thy age and sweetness, come about thee.

Me too the season moves

-What said you, Sir?

(Catching hold of a Shepherd's arm.)

My senses quicken at the name you spoke,

Or else I'm losing them.

3d Shep.

I saw a figure,

Leaping the style just now 'twixt yonder trees,

Whom, if I make not miserable error,

Was your son Philaret

1st Shep..

This lady's husband,—

I saw him too-there-darting through the limes.

2d Shep. And there!-he knows us, and makes

joyful sign

With a wild arm ;-nay, Sir, you need not rise,—
Do not ;-dear lady too—.

D

Myrt.

'Tis he! 'Tis he!

Risen out of buried thousands to come back to us!

Enter PHILARET rushing toward his father, and kneeling under his embrace, his arm at the same time clasping his wife.

Eun. My boy!

-What then escaped!-alive once

more!

Come to lay smooth my old locks, ere I die!

3d Shep. (aside). Mark how his hand quivers and

slips about

To grasp his son all close to him.

2d Shep.

Hush, hush;

It is a sight to make our joy complete.

Phil. (still kneeling). Let me see both your faces

both at once ;

Oh, I see how it was,-you thought me dead,

Yes, all;-I have not, cannot cease to think

Of others, but I'm grateful,-and a joy

Despaired of comes to us like Heaven's own message

To bid us be content.-And yet I've wanted not
An angel with me :-ay, my boy, do thank her ;-
She need not turn from you, as she was wont
To do from me sometimes, her watery cheek;
Or manage, with a lovely, pale pretence

of unconcern, to draw from out your sight
The ring that slips upon her wasted finger.

Phil. Did she do so? Did you do thus, my best And tenderest heart,-my wife?-May Heaven for this, If only this, bring out that cheek again

Into it's dimpled outline,-Heaven for this

Cool the dear hand I grasp with health and peace,

Bless thee in body and mind, in home and husband,— And when old age, reverencing thy looks

In all it can, comes with his gentle withering,

Some thin and ruddy streaks still lingering on thee,

May it, unto the last keep thee thy children,
Full-numbered round about thee, to supply

With eyes, feet, voice, and arms, and happy shoulders

Thy thoughts, and wishes, books, and leaning-stocks,
And make the very yielding of thy frame

Delightful for their propping it.-Come, come,
We will have no more tears.-My old companions,
Generous, I see, as ever, pray forgive me;

I had not overlooked you, but for these;

And now for these, as well as for old times,
My hand must grapple with you. Ah, Damætas,
You've not forgotten your old shake, I find,-
The cordial crush that used to lay one's hand up.

3d Shep. Pray take it, Sir, for all the shakes I owe you. 2d Shep. And now we'll leave, Sir, to your better

keeping

Our happy friends :—we had not staid thus long,
But that we feared you might have thought us careless.
Phil. Nay, if you go, you'll only come again;

For as I heard, the pomps were just prepared

To leave the city, and strike hereabouts.

Flourish of a pipe in the air;—the voice of Phaniel

is heard.