[THOMAS MOORE, was born in Dublin on the 28th of May, 1780. In 1799 he proceeded to London to study law, and to publish, by subscription, a translation of "Anacreon." In 1803 he obtained an official situation at Bermuda, the duties of which might be performed by proxy; but his deputy proved unfaithful, and the poet incurred heavy pecuniary losses. In 1813 Moore commenced his patriotic task of writing lyrics for the ancient music of his native country. His "Irish Melodies" display great fervour with melody of diction. In 1817 he produced an Eastern romance called "Lalla Rookh," which may be considered his most elaborate poem. In 1819 he accompanied Lord John Russell to the Continent. On his return from this tour he settled at Paris, where he remained till the year 1822. His latest imaginative work was the "Epicurean." His latter days were spent at a comfortable cottage near Devizes, Wilts. He died in 1852.]

Of youth, and home, and that sweet time, When last I heard their soothing chime.

Those joyous hours are passed away;
And many a heart that then was gay,
Within the tomb now darkly dwells,
And hears no more those evening bells.

And so 'twill be when I am gone;

That tuneful peal will still ring on,
While other bards shall walk these dells;
And sing your praise, sweet evening bells!

MICHAEL: A PASTORAL POEM.

BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH,

[WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, was born at Cockermouth, in the county of Westmoreland, on the 7th of April, 1770. He received his education at St. John's, Cambridge. Having finished his academical course, and taken his degree, he married his cousin, and took up his residence at Rydal Mount, among the lakes and mountains of Westmoreland. Through the patronage of Lord Lowther, he received, in 1814, the easy and lucrative situation of Distributor of Stamps, which left the greater portion of his time at his own disposal; and he was thereby enabled to indulge his love for poetry, which was with him almost the sole occupation of his life. In 1835 he received from Government a pension of 300l. a year; and was permitted to resign his situation of Stamp Distributor in favour of his son. In 1843, at the death of Southey, he was appointed Poet Laureate. He died, in his eighty-first year, on the 23d of April, 1850, and was buried in the quiet churchyard of Grasmere.]

IF from the public way you turn your steps
Up to the tumultuous brook of Greenhead Ghyll,
You will suppose that with an upright path
Your feet must struggle; in such bold ascent
The pastoral mountains front you, face to face.
But, courage! for beside that boist'rous brook
The mountains have all open'd out themselves,
And made a hidden valley of their own.

No habitation there is seen; but such

As journey thither find themselves alone

With a few sheep, with rocks and stones, and kites

That ovcihicad are sailing in the sky.

It is in truth an utter solitude;

Nor should I have made mention of this dell

But for one object which you might pass by, Might see and notice not.

Beside the brook

There is a straggling heap of unhewn stones!
And to that place a story appertains,
Which, though it be ungarnish'd with events

Is not unfit, I deem, for the fireside,

Or for the summer shade. It was the first,
The earliest of those tales that spake to me
Of shepherds, dwellers in the valleys, men
Whom I already loved-not verily

For their own sakes, but for the fields and hills
Where was their occupation and abode.

And hence this tale, while I was yet a boy,
Careless of books, yet having felt the power
Of Nature, by the gentle agency

Of natural objects led me on to feel

For passions that were not my own, and think (At random and imperfectly indeed)

On man, the heart of man, and human life.
Therefore, although it be a history

Homely and rude, I will relate the same
For the delight of a few natural hearts;
And, with yet fonder feeling, for the sake
Of youthful poets, who among these hills
Will be my second self when I am gone.

Upon the forest-side in Grasmere Vale
There dwelt a shepherd, Michael was his name;
An old man, stout of heart, and strong of limb.
His bodily frame had been, from youth to age,
Of an unusual strength; his mind was keen,
Intense and frugal, apt for all affairs,

And in his shepherd's calling he was prompt
And watchful more than ordinary men.

Hence he had learn'd the meaning of all winds,