We heard; and often while he spoke,
A sadness o'er our spirits broke;
For 'twas a tale of maiden beauty-

Of maiden fortitude and love-
Of a heart 'twixt love and duty
Indecisive, though it strove
With reason and affection true,
To be the child and lover too.

The story told with guileless art,—
The story of the Broken Heart,——
Our Gondola, then toward the shore
Was turned to glide the stream no more.

A Bridal Song.

THE golden gates of sleep unbar

Where strength and beauty met together, Kindle their image like a star

In a sea of glassy weather.

Night, with all thy stars look down,—

Darkness, weep thy holiest dew,--
Never smiled the inconstant moon
On a pair so true.

Let eyes not see their own delight;--
Haste, swift Hour, and thy flight
Oft renew.

Fairies, sprites, and angels, keep her!
Holy stars, permit no wrong!
And return to wake the sleeper,
Dawn,--ere it be long.

O joy! O fear! what will be done

In the absence of the sun!

Come along!

THE NEW YOR PUBLIC LIBRAR

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

Lake of Como.

BY HENRY D. MOORE.

THIS beautiful lake, is situated in Northern Italy, and is noticed by travellers as being remarkable for the picturesqueness of its locality, and the loveliness of its surrounding scenery. It is up in the Alpine shadows, and stretches to the base of those rugged hills, which lift their lofty summits to the clouds, crowned with eternal snows; and range nearly across the continent of Europe.

The picture which accompanies this sketch is true to nature, taken by a gentleman, who, travelling for literary advantage, was attracted by the beauteous scenery which was here presented to his view, and brought with him a faithful portraiture of the spot.

The chief advantage of this lake, rendering it beautiful to the poet's eye, is, its proximity to the mountains, imparting to it a wildness, and yet an aspect of serenity, which are rarely combined. It is solitude, and yet it is abundant in its companionships. Here and there along the banks we discover, amid a profusion of vine-growth, some crumbling tower, or mouldering walls of an older time;