Thy kiss was all the guerdon that she sought;
For thee, and thee alone, the minstrel lyre
She tuned for thee, who first the embryo fire
Aroused--and thy approval doth she prize
More than all incense that can e'er arise,
E'en from thy heaven-saluting altar, Fame !-
Than minstrel lays, or poet's honored name!
To her 'twas ever sweet to do thy 'hest:
E'er opened to thy view, her windowed breast,
Useless (wert thine) had made Ithuriel's spear,
Whose art reveals all seemers as they are.

The path she trod-the home where long with thee
She dwelt--far from the city's turmoil free;
The flow'rs she loved will speak to thee of her;
Aye-ev'ry leaf a tongue shall have, to stir

Each inmost pulse. In dreams thoul't clasp her form,
And wake--no longer then to hail the morn.
And thou wilt woo no other bride--again
Thy lips can never breathe the hallowed strain,
Whose murmurs to her tend'rest passions spoke,
And struck the chord which first that touch awoke.
Thy love, thy constancy! 'twas such of yore
The fabled Cephalus for Procris bore ;
Vainly o'er him her spells Aurora wove,

And where are Earth or Heavens to change thy love?

VERBAL CRITICISMS.

CORA.

"THERE IS NO STAR."

BY PARK BENJAMIN.

There is no star in Heaven so bright
As that dark eye of thine;

The gems that gild the crown of night
With paler lustre shine!

I'd leave the fairest thing of Art

To gaze upon that face

And faultless form, whose every part
Is redolent of grace.

Thy step is like the wild gazelle's,
As firm, and light, and free;
And Beauty, like a spirit, dwells,
Enchanting girl, with thee!

I love-oh, who could ever view
That face and form divine,

Nor feel, when first that smile he knew,
His heart was wholly thine!

REMARKABLE LONGEVITY.

[The subjoined communication, though not precisely adapted to the pages of a literary periodical, is too interesting, in reference to its facts, to be excluded. Mr. Coles is among the most respectable and opulent of our citizens, and inhabits one of the fairest portions of Virginia. So many instances of extraordinary longevity, in so small a territorial circumference, would seem to point out the Green Mountain as the favorite abode of the goddess Hygieia herself. The facts themselves are given upon such high authority that they will not be disputed.-Editor S. L. Mes.]

To progress. This word, as well as guess and reckon, is denounced by the English writers of the present day as an Americanism. In a former article (Southern Literary Messenger, volume 2, page 388,) it was shown that the people of this country were justified in using these words as they do, by the authority of English wri- The undersigned, in presenting the annexed doters of eminence. It remains to perform the same ser-cument to the public, feels it due alike to those into vice to the verb to progress. It is to be found in John- whose hands it may fall, and to his own integrity son's Dictionary, who cites Shakspeare as authority for to say, that no care has been spared and no invesit, and it is to be met with in Ben Jonson's works-tigation omitted, which might have a tendency to think in the Alchemist. Whilst the English are cor- prevent error or inaccuracy in the statement subrupting their language, and at the same time forgetting many good words familiar to their and our forefathers, it is fortunate for us that the language used by the writers of Queen Elizabeth's day is not obsolete.

joined.

A few years since his attention was elicited to the comparative health, and consequent longevity, of the part of Virginia in which he is a residentand he made a list of each farm within a circuit of eight miles around his own dwelling-that forming the centre-giving in every instance the original settler on the different farms, heads of families, (sixty in number with their wives,) who had liv

Declination." Mr. So-and-so, who was lately nominated for congress has sent in his declination to the committee of conference." Such language is not uncommon in our newspapers-particularly in those which speak of "two hundred of a majority," and "three thousand of a majority." Declination is an astronomical term; and if a new word is to be coined to express the fact of an indi-ed and died there; he believed that such a docuvidual's declining to be a candidate for an office, declension would seem preferable.

Ameliorate and Amelioration.—These barbarisms still maintain their ground. To meliorate, would signify to improve, to better; but the a, prefixed, negatives what follows; and consequently the meaning of, to amelio

rate, would be the same as to deteriorate.

“Grant to bless”—“ Grant to prosper"—" Grant to aid." Such uncouth expressions are often heard in extemporaneous prayers. It is probably not too late to check this inaccurate and inelegant mode of speech, which has not yet made its way into print.

D.

ment could be completed in a few weeks, but soon ascertained that many of the descendants (of whom only, correct intelligence could be obtained,) had removed to a distance, and some of them even beyond the limits of the State; which, together with the investigation of registers, tomb-stones, &c., produced a delay difficult to be conceived; he believes that it now presents a faithful list of the respective ages subjoined, and the annexation of the publisher's name is an evidence of his own conviction of its accuracy.

From the list exhibited below, the average age| Wm. Moon, sen., of the sixty males is something less than seventy- William Irvine, eight years-one-tenth of the number being still James Eubank, alive: that of the sixty females is seventy-five William Elsom, years, and near a fourth of the number still living. Orlando Jones, In a note the reader will find a certificate from a John Coles, most respectable member of the Clarkson family, John Scott, attesting that of thirteen brothers and sisters, (of Christopher Hudson, whom James Clarkson in the subjoined list was Joseph Harlan, one,) lived, with a single exception, (a female who Dr. Morrison, died somewhat short of it,) to the advanced age of Lewis Nicholas, eighty years; and the publisher is farther confirm-Nicholas Hamner, ed in his belief of the accuracy of the statement Martin Thacker, from the concurrent testimony of many members of the family.

Green Mountain, Albemarle Co., Va.

Edward Carter,

William Dabney,

TUCKER COLES.

William Watson,

LIST OF AGES.

wife

87

James Jopling,

96,

wife 78

My father intermarried into the Clarkson fawife *90 mily when I was a small boy—and my marriage 70 into the same family, gave me the chance of being personally acquainted with the thirteen children, as 75 I have heard their mother say were all by one huswife *94 band, namely, eight sons and five daughters; they 84 were all born in the county of Louisa,—and all of 65 them did, at some time, live in the county of Albe43 marle. And I have no doubt in my mind, that 76 (with the exception of one, and she was near eigh95 ty,) the sons and daughters did live to be more 83 than eighty years of age, and several of them bor70 dering on ninety years.†

wife

wife

wife

wife

wife
wife 80 Given under my hand this fifth of February, one
84 thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven.

wife

wife *81

JESSE LEWIS.

wife 64
wife 96 Clarkson, who he is aware lived to a still greater age.

Mr. Lewis does not here allude to the senior member, James

wife 85

wife 80

wife 66

TASSO AND LEONORA.

The hour of freedom came at last, the dungeon was unclosed! He quitted now, the couch of stone, where years he had reposed, wife 76 Within the damp and vaulted walls, of that deep, gloomy cell, wife #82 Where the pure and peaceful gleamings of sunlight never fell. Once more he trod the verdant turf, with a footstep firm and free, wife 78 But his heart was sad and silent, and his voice had lost its gleo; wife 70 For she was gone-the beautiful--the peerless and the great,-74, wife 82 And the captive's longed for freedom, had come, alas! too late!

And when the praise he loved, was mute, what reck'd he then of fame?

wife 51 *80, wife *72 The proud applause that met him now, he held no longer dear, 65, wife 80 For all his sweetest hopes had died on Leonora's bier.

* The stars indicate those individuals who are still alive. This note has reference to the subjoined certificate.

His soul had lost the impulse wild, that lured him to be great,
And the glorious pomp of royal praise, had greeted him too late!

J. T. L.

He could not teach his broken lyre to sound another's name,

DREAMS.

What are our dreams?

What are those visions, calm and bright,
That shed o'er the hours of solemn night,
A radiancy, that seems

The splendor of that better land-
Where peace and love, go hand in hand-
And the sun of glory beams?

What are our dreams?
Do angels round our pillows bow,
And whisper us in accents low,

Of the beauty of the sky?

Of the Heavens, and the radiant band,
That near the throne of mercy stand,-
Of life that may not die?

No! it cannot be so!

paraphrase, of several books-which is not only highly curious, but of great real value to the student-and the Cicero, with geographical and historical indexes, compiled with great diligence and acumen. The Greek Grammar and Prosody, are even more valuable than those already specified; each of them being completely a sine qua non to the proper and thorough acquisition of the noble tongue, to which they belong, and both together filling a void which has long existed, and long been regretted alike, by the ripe scholar, and the raw tyro. They are emphatically excellent, and unsurpassed-the grammar being the best, the prosody the only work of the kind, fitted for the use of schools. The Latin Lessons, we have not had time to examine with the same care and attention, which we have bestowed on the former volumes of this admirable series, though we doubt not, they will be found fully equal to their predecessors. We look forward with the deepest interest to the forthcoming numbers, and especially to the higher order of classics, the Greek Tragedians, and Orators, which are included in the plan, and from which, should the editor succeed, as he has thus far succeeded, in blending deep lore and the results of vast research, with the singular simplicity and rare faculty of explaining that, he has brought to his arduous task, the most desirable effects may be expected, both as to the facilitating the acquisition of this branch of learning, and the increasing the number of classical scholars in the United States; which, to say truth, notwithstanding the boasted diffusion of knowledge through their limits, are yet, in this respect, centuries behind the European countries, which they would fain imagine their inferiors, in all pertaining to that choicest blessing to a people, a Liberal Education.

THE YOUTHFUL DEAD. Why mourn the young? we know the early dead Are welcomed in a world of bliss above

This admirable series has met, as was predicted long ago, with success so unequivocal, that, having advanced already to the sixth work, it will be carried out by successive publications, to the fullest extent originally contemplated, under the supervision of the able and accomplished scholar, whose name prefaces our remarks. The volumes already given to the public, in this series, are, Ho-That from a sphere of darkness, they have fled race, Cicero, Sallust, Cæsar, a grammar of the Greek Language, a system of Prosody, for the student of the same rich tongue, and a volume of Latin Lessons. It is, we are aware, a bold assertion, that we are about to make, but we are well assured, it is as true, as bold—namely, that there is not one of these works, which does not immea-We weep not, when the tempest-driven barque surably surpass any previous school edition of the same author.-The Horace, Sallust, Cicero, and Cæsar, are remarkable for an excellently correct text, and notes brief, luminous, comprehensive and admirably adapted to youthful intellects; the two latter works are adorned with many additions known to no other edition; the Cæsar, with a set of admirable maps and plans, besides a Greek

To one of spotless and eternal love.

Why mourn the flower, plucked in its earliest bloom,
Ere it had felt a single chilling blast?
We know that it will meet a blighting doom-
Then why regret its brilliancy is past?

Reaches a haven free from storm and cloud-
We mourn not, when at morning hour, we mark

The light of day disperse night's sable shroud.
Then mourn them not--the blest, the early dead!

The fairest things of earth, to die, were madeRepine ye not, when those ye loved, have fledThe best and dearest, are the first to fade!

J. T. L.

THOUGHTS AND FANCIES.

GREAT MEN.

The pure gold of human character can only be wrought out into the noblest forms of majesty and beauty after passing through a fiery ordeal of trial and suffering. Without this ordeal whatever of gold originally belongs to character is corrupted by the presence of much dross. No very great man ever rose sun-like in the firmament of mind, who had not previously passed through a night of doubt, despair and disquietude.

POETS.

All true poets are of necessity mythologists, for the multiform spirit of the universe is seen by them in ten thousand symbols in creation. To them the ocean is a symbol of its majesty, the stars of its glory, the forests of its beauty, the tempests of its strength, and the mountains of its grandeur.

BAXTER.

People like to be talked to as if they were wiser than they are. Baxter was aware of this, and used to put something in each of his sermons which he knew to be above the understanding of his listeners.

TALKING.

Some men in conversation utter nothing but parallelisms of your own thoughts, thereby giving them extension, but not force. They hammer out your gold, and exhibit much action and but little progress.

WOMAN.

Gibbon very truly remarks, that the condition of woman is elevated towards equality with the rougher sex in proportion as civilization is advanced. In Asiatic countries, woman, to this day, is but the slave of her haughty lord. Mahomet said that he stood at the gates of Heaven and the inmates were mostly of the poor, and that he stood at the gates of hell and the inmates were mostly women!

HAPPINESS.

It is a very common error to suppose children happier than men. This is only true on the supposition that happiness means absence of care. But happiness is positive enjoyment, and we are in a condition to feel the most of it when all our faculties are most fully developed, as it is the result of action.

GALLANTS.

on files and handsaws, for his face is as rough as the one and his temper as jagged as the other.

PRINCIPLES.

A principle which is genuinely good, cannot be run into ridiculous extremes. The way to test a principle is to carry it out to its farthest legitimate results. Run it to seed, and its fruits will condemn or commend it.

CREEDS.

I cannot avoid objecting to all creeds, because they essay to fix forever the boundaries of belief and to stereotype opinion-because they take it for granted that all is known that can be known on certain subjects-because they assume that no farther revelation will be made from Heaven, and because they decree that human investigation has penetrated to the very ultima thule of truth.

GREAT MINDS.

Great minds do not act immediately on the mass. They require interpreters to be rendered intelligible to common intellects. They are suns in the firmament of mind, and their light is blinding to weak visions. They enlighten their satellites, and they in their turn reflect that light on the world.

INCONSISTENCY AND DEFORMITY.

I know a lady of talent whose opinions are very ingeniously maintained, and are very inconsistent. It is a curious association, but I never think of her inconsistent opinions without having a vision of Madame de Stael's shoulders before my mind. That great woman's shoulders were very symmetrically formed, but, unfortunately, they were not matches; and hence, though each was beautiful when contemplated without reference to what was meant to be its fellow, when viewed together they presented a deformity.

MADAME DE STAEL.

By the way, speaking of De Stael, reminds me of what she once said in regard to the relative desirableness of genius and beauty in woman. She said she would willingly exchange her mind for a beautiful person. This remark is startling at first glance, but when we recollect that she of all things most desired the admiration of men, and that men are, as Byron says, mere moths to be caught by glare, we discover that the lady's opinion, viewed in connection with what she most desired, was not very remarkable for its silliness.

HUSBANDS.

It is to be feared that but too many husbands are

From the avidity with which ladies, who have like the father of Charles the Twelth, in one partino other charm than that which a bountiful allot-cular, who, when his wife was entreating him to ment of acres gives them, are sought for by gen-be merciful to some of his subjects, said to hertlemen in general, one cannot help recognising a" Madame, we took you to bring us children, not to likeness between those gallants and those Jews who give us advice." were enamored of a golden calf in the desert.

ASSIMILATION.

If it be true, as some suppose, that one's nature assimilates to the nature of the food one feeds on, I should think a certain distinguished general lived

PICK POCKETS.

A pickpocket is a tax gatherer, who gets his commission from nature, and levies on those who have more pounds in their purses than bullion in their brains.

The Roman victors had slaves attached to their chariots to remind them of the mutability of forFrom the best established intellect, the judgtune-and men of genius have always had malig-ment, which is the monarch jure divino, may be nant critics near them to remind them of their fal- cast down by rebellious passions, which when exlibility.

Love, like a flower, may be crushed to earth-occurrences. but, like the flower again, it may lift up its head and fling fragrance on the winds. When we are young, it soars like the bird in summer time, and though its pinions may be ruffled by tempests, and broken by the hunter, yet if it have the true vis medicatrix naturæ, it will rise and soar again in the wide empyrean.