And on their way, in friendly chat,
Now talked of this, and then of that;
Discoursed awhile, 'mongst other matter,
Of the Chameleon's form and nature,
“ A stranger animal,” cries one,
“Sure never lived beneath the sun :
“ A lizard's body, lean and long,
“ A fish's head, a serpent's tongue,
“ Its foot with triple claw disjoined;
" And what a length of tail behind !
“ How slow its pace! and then its hue-
“ Who ever saw so fine a blue ?”—

“Hold there !" the other quick replies,
“ 'Tis green-I saw it with these eyes,
“ As late with open mouth it lay,
" And warmed it in the sunny ray;
“ Stretched at its ease, the beast I viewed,
“ And saw it eat the air for food.”_

" I've seen it, Sir, as well as you, “ And must again affirm it blue; “At leisure I the beast surveyed, “ Extended in the cooling shade.”

“ 'Tis green, 'tis green, Sir, I assure ye.”-
“Green !” cries the other in a fury:
Why, Sir,—d'ye think I've lost my eyes ?”
“ 'Twere no great loss,” the friend replies ;
“ For, if they always serve you thus,
“ You'll find them but of little use.”

So high at last the contest rose,
From words they almost came to blows:
When luckily came by a third-
To him the question they referred ;
And begged he'd tell them, if he knew,
Whether the thing was green or blue.

“Sirs,” cries the umpire, “cease your pother; “ The creature's neither one nor t'other. “ I caught the animal last night, “ And viewed it o'er by candle-light : “ I marked it well—'twas black as jet “ You stare—but Sirs, I've got it yet,

“ And can produce it."-" Pray, Sir, do;
“ I'll lay my life the thing is blue.”-
“ And I'll be sworn, that when you've seen
“ The reptile, you'll pronounce him green.”-

“ Well then, at once to ease the doubt,”
Replies the man, “I'll turn him out :
“ And when before your eyes I've set him,
“ If you don't find him black, I'll eat him.”

He said ; then full before their sight
Produced the beast, and lo!-'twas white.
Both stared, the man looked wondrous wise
“ My children,” the Chameleon cries,
(Then first the creature found a tongue)
“ You all are right, and all are wrong:
“ When next you talk of what you view,
" Think others see as well as you:
“ Nor wonder, if you find that none
“ Prefers your eye-sight to his own.

THE SOLDIER'S DREAM.

Our bugles sang truce—for the night-cloud had lowered,

And the sentinel stars set their watch in the sky; And thousands had sunk on the ground overpowered,

T'he weary to sleep, and the wounded to die. When reposing that night on my pallet of straw,

By the wolf-scaring fagot that guarded the slain ; At the dead of the night a sweet vision I saw,

And thrice ere the morning I dreamt it again. Methought from the battle-field's dreadful array,

Far, far I had roamed on a desolate track ; 'Twas autumn-and sunshine arose on the way

To the home of my fathers, that welcomed me back. I flew to the pleasant fields, traversed so oft

In life's morning march, when my bosom was young; I heard my own mountain.goats bleating aloft,

And knew the sweet strain that the corn-reapers sung.

Then pledged we the wine-cup, and fondly I swore,

From my home and my weeping friends never to part; My little ones kissed me a thousand times o'er,

And my wife sobbed aloud in her fulness of heart. “ Stay, stay with usmrest, thou art weary and worn;

And fain was their war-broken soldier to stayBut sorrow returned with the dawning of morn,

And the voice in my dreaming ear melted away.

THE EAGLE AND THE ASSEMBLY OF

ANIMALS.
As Jupiter's all-seeing eye
Surveyed the worlds beneath the sky,
From this small speck of earth were sent
Murmurs and sounds of discontent;
For every thing alive complained,
That he ihe hardest life sustained.
Jove calls the Eagle. At the word,
Before him stands the royal bird.
The bird, obedient, from heaven's height,
Downward directs his rapid flight;
Then cited every living thing,
To hear the mandates of his king.
“ Ungrateful creatures whence arise
“ These murmurs which offend the skies?
“ Why this disorder? Say the cause ;
“ For just are Jove's eternal laws.
“ Let each his discontent reveal;
“ To yon sour Dog, I first appeal.”
“ Hard is my lot,” the Hound replies ;
“ On what feet nerves the Greyhound flies !
" While I, with weary step, and slow,
“ O'er plains, and vales, and mountains go.
“ The morning sees my chase begun,
“ Nor ends it till the setting sun,"

“ When," says the Greyhound, "I pursue,
“ My game is lost, or caught in view ;

“ Beyond my sight the prey's secure :
“ The Hound is slow, but always sure :
“ And had I his sagacious scent,
“ Jove ne'er had heard my discontent.”

The Lion craved the Fox's art; The Fox, the Lion's force and heart. The Cock implored the Pigeon's flight, Whose wings were rapid, strong, and light: The Pigeon strength of wing despised, And the Cock's matchless valour prized : The Fishes wished to graze the plain ; The Beasts to skim beneath the main. Thus, envious of another's state, Each blamed the partial hand of Fate.

The bird of heaven then cried aloud, “ Jove bids disperse the murm’ring crowd ; “ The God rejects your idle prayers. “ Would ye, rebellious mutineers ! “ Entirely change your name and nature, “ And be the very envy'd creature? " What, silent all, and none consent ? “ Be happy then and learn content ! “ Nor imitate the restless mind, “ And proud ambition of mankind.”

LORD WILLIAM.

No eye beheld when William plunged

Young Edmund in the stream: No human ear but William's heard

Young Edmund's drowning scream.

Submissive all the vassals owned

The murderer for the lord ; And he, as rightful heir, possessed

The house of Erlingford,

The ancient house of Erlingford

Stood in a fair domain,
And Severn's ample waters near

Rolled through the fertile plain,

But never could Lord William dare

To gaze on Severn's stream ;
In every wind that swept its waves

He heard young Edmund's scream!

In vain, at midnight's silent hour,

Sleep closed the murderer's eyes ; In every dream the murderer saw

Young Edmund's form arise !

-Slow were the passing hours, yet swift The months appeared to roll ; And now the day returned that shook

With terror William's soul

A day that William never felt

Return without dismay;
For well had conscience kalendar'd

Young Edmund's dying day.

A fearful day was that! the rains

Fell fast with tempest roar,
And the swoln tide of Severn spread

Far on the level shore.

In vain Lord William sought the feast,

In vain he quaffed the bowl,
And strove with noisy mirth to drown

The anguish of his soul.

Reluctant now, as night came on,

His lonely couch he pressed ;
And, wearied out, he sunk to sleep,-

To sleep-but not to rest.