Gre enland, the Indians of North America, Africa, then pass along the field of this poetical magic-lantern, and are followed by an apostrophe to the Star of Bethlehem, that will not be overlooked. O Star! the most august of all that clasp The star-girt heav'n, which erst in eastern skies As with a golden clew, the labyrinth All shadowless, even to the poles shall reign.' pp. 16, 17. The Scriptures and the progress of knowledge claim an emphatic notice, and the signs of the present times afford an appropriate subject for the conclusion. The Sacred Poems'. consist chiefly of versions of the Psalms, and of stanzas suggested by different passages of Scripture. There are a few of a more general cast, among which we were well pleased to recognise the Reverie,' from the additions to the second edition of the Associate Minstrels.' The 145th Psalm is versified in a measure of which we do not, at the present moment, recollect a previous instance, and which, we think, produces a very impressive effect. It is the heroic rhyme alternated. We shall give a part. I will extol thy name, O God, my king: Great is the Lord, unfathomably great: His deeds of might, the goodness of his ways. Tell of Jehovah's glorious majesty; Tell of his power that spread the heavens abroad; Tell of the flaming mount, the parting sea,— How earth, and sea, and heaven obeyed their God. Tell of the bread from heaven that daily fell; The new born spring that made the desert glad ; The mystic guide, that constant miracle, A cloud by day, by night with glory clad. • Gracious and merciful is God: how slow Thee, all thy works, Maker omnipotent, Oh, let them to an impious world proclaim That glory, power, and government are Thine: Till earth confess the terrors of thy name, And kings to Thee their shadowy crowns resign.' pp. 45-47. The 148th Psalm is of more convenient length, and we shall cite it without mutilation. PRAISE Jehovah, all on high- Praise His name, at whose command, Praise Jehovah, all below— Dews, and snow, and stormy gale, Ancient mountains, wood-clad hills, Palm and olive, oak and pine, Praise, for ever praise the Lord!' pp. 48-50. We shall close our extracts from this division with the following. Above that dome of sky, Further than thought itself can flee, Thy dwelling is on high; Yet, dear the awful thought to me, Art nigh, and yet my labouring mind Thee in these works of power to find, Or to Thy seat attain. Thy messenger, the stormy wind, Thy path, the trackless main These speak of Thee with loud acclaim; The glorious honour of Thy name, We hear thy voice, when thunders roll The waves obey Thy dread control Oh, not in circling depth, or height," O come, thou Presence Infinite, And make thy creature blest.' pp. 74, 75. The Domestic Poems' are introduced by a brief Proëm,' of which, mindful of our pledge, we shall say nothing. It will, however, speak sufficiently for itself. PRÖEM. As through the mazy path of life I stray, She by those flowers her winding course may bend And with those early flowers wreathe the white brow of Age.' P. 96. But we are yielding rather too freely to temptation, and we Till Autumn's stores reveal in corn and wine Then comes the solemn pause which calls Spring back again.' pp. 175-176. Of the two with which we shall follow up this, the first opens the series on spring; and of the second, we must be permitted to say, that the closing idea is as beautiful, both in fancy, feeling, and expression, as any thing we ever met with of the kind. There is a stir abroad in earth and sky. The busy clouds, now huddling, now dispersing, The landscape is alive: the shadows fly, VOL. XXI. N.S. A dotting scarce perceptible, thrown out Felt through all Nature's veins; and all things now, Waiting His word, who said, Let there be light.' 'Summer is come; he with the of flame Has call'd the roses up on her chaste cheek! Is rich with gorgeous hues; and glorious things Resplendent forms: the flowers have taken wings. That dies; succession all, and wondrous transmigration.' pp. 167, 8. There is a Poem addressed to the Nightingale, of which we shall only say, that we think it the most original and delightful We shall extract a part, not by any means of the collection. as superior to the rest, but as the most tractable for citation. O wondrous bird! thy varied measure, The very soul of pleasure, • To me that song denotes no less |