THE SUNSET CITY.

THERE's a city that lies in the Kingdom of Clouds,
In the glorious country on high,
Which an azure and silvery curtain enshrouds,
To screen it from mortal eye;

A city of temples and turrets of gold,
That geam by a sapphire sea,

Like jewels more splendid than earth may behold,
Or are dreamed of by you and by me.

And about it are highlands of amber that reach
Far away till they melt in the gloom;
And waters that hem an immaculate beach
With fringes of luminous foam.

Aerial bridges of pearl there are,

And belfries of marvellous shapes, And lighthouses lit by the evening star, That sparkle on violet capes;

And hanging gardens that far away
Enchantedly float aloof;
Rainbow pavilions in avenues gay,
And banners of glorious woof!

When the Summer sunset's crimsoning fires Are aglow in the western sky,

The pilgrim discovers the domes and spires Of this wonderful city on high;

And gazing enrapt as the gathering chade Creeps over the twilight lea,

Sees palace and pinnacle totter and fade, And sink in the sapphire sea;

Till the vision loses by slow degrees

The magical splendor it wore ;

The silvery curtain is drawn, and he sees
The beautiful city no more!

HENRY SYLVESTER CORNWELL.

THE CASTLE IN THE AIR.

ADDRESSED TO A LADY WHO DATED HER LETTERS FROM "THE LITTLE CORNER OF THE WORLD."

IN the region of clouds, where the whirlwinds

arise,

My castle of fancy was built.

The turrets reflected the blue of the skies, And the windows with sunbeams were gilt.

The rainbow sometimes in its beautiful state
Enamelled the mansion around ;
And the figures that fancy in clouds can create
Supplied me with gardens and grouná.

I had grottos and fountains and orange-tree groves;

I had all that enchantment has told;

I had sweet shady walks for the gods and their loves;

I had mountains of coral and gold.

But a storm that I felt not had risen and rolled,
While wrapped in a slumber I lay;
And when I awoke in the morning, behold,
My castle was carried away!

It passed over rivers and valleys and groves;
The world, it was all in my view;

I thought of my friends, of their fates, of their loves,

And often, full often, of you.

A fair, swift bark from some radiant realm,
Its diamond cordage cuts the sky
In glittering lines; all silently
A seeming spirit holds the helm,
And steers. Will he pass me by!

Ah! not for me is the vessel here;

Noiseless and swift as a sea-bird's flight She swerves and vanishes from the sight; No flap of sail, no parting cheer,

She has passed into the light.

Sitting some day in a deeper mist,

Silent, alone, some other day,

An unknown bark, from an unknown bay, By unknown waters lapped and kissed, Shall near me through the spray.

No flap of sail, no scraping of keel,

Shadowy, dim, with a banner dark,

It will hover, will pause, and I shall feel A hand which grasps me, and shivering steal To the cold strand, and embark,

Embark for that far, mysterious realm

Where the fathomless, trackless waters flow.
Shall I feel a Presence dim, and know
Thy dear hand, Lord, upon the helm,
Nor be afraid to go?

And through black waves and stormy blast
And out of the fog-wreaths, dense and dun,
Guided by thee, shall the vessel run,
Gain nc fair haven, night being past,
And anchor in the sun?

SAKAH WOOLSEY (Susan Coolidge).

THE BLESSED DAMOZEL.

THE blessed damozel leaned out

From the gold bar of heaven; Her eyes were deeper than the depth Of waters stilled at even; She had three lilies in her hand,

And the stars in her hair were seven.

Her robe, ungirt from clasp to hem,
No wrought flowers did adorn,
But a white rose of Mary's gift,
For service neatly worn;
Her hair that lay along her back
Was yellow like ripe corn.

Her seemed she scarce had been a day
One of God's choristers;
The wonder was not yet quite gone
From that still look of hers;

Albeit, to them she left, her day
Had counted as ten years.

It was the rampart of God's house
That she was standing on;
By God built over the sheer depth
The which is space begun ;

So high, that looking downward thence
She scarce could see the sun.

It lies in heaven, across the flood
Of ether, as a bridge.

Beneath, the tides of day and night
With flame and darkness ridge
The void, as low as where this earth
Spins like a fretful midge.

Heard hardly, some of her new friends
Amid their loving games
Spake evermore among themselves
Their virginal chaste names;
And the souls mounting up to God
Went by her like thin flames.

And still she bowed herself and stopped
Out of the circling charm;
Until her bosom must have made

The bar she leaned on warm,
And the lilies lay as if asleep

Along her bended arm.