should be softly sung by a concealed choir. The lady starts with surprise, stands mute and listening, until the last notes die away and the curtain falls. A song of a boat: There was once a boat on a billow, Lightly she rocked to her port remote, And the foam was white in her wake like snow, And her frail mast bowed when the breeze would blom And bent like a wand of willow. I shaded mine eyes one day when a boat I marked her course till, a dancing mote, And I stayed behind in the dear loved home; And my thoughts all day were about the boat, I And my dreams upon the pillow. pray you hear my song of a boat, For it is but short; My boat, you shall find none fairer afloat, Long I looked out for the lad she bore, And I think he sailed to the heavenly shore, Ah me! A song of a nest: There was once a nest in a hollow, I pray you hear my song of a nest, You shall never light in a summer quest Shall never light on a prouder sitter, I had a nestful once of my own, Ah, happy, happy I! Right dearly I loved them: but when they were grown They spread out their wings to fly Oh, one after one they flew away Far up to the heavenly blue, To the better country, the upper day, I pray you, what is the nest to me, And what is the shore where I stood to see Can I call that home where I anchor yet, And the land where my nestlings be: The only home for me! Ah me! ADAPTED FROM JEAN INGELOW ROMEO AND JULIET. BALCONY SCENE. OMEO-He jests at scars that never felt a wound. ROMEO 1 JULIET appears on the Balcony, and sits down. But soft! What light through yonder window breaks! It is the east, and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief, That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she. "It is my lady; Oh! it is my love: Oh, that she knew she were!" She speaks, yet she says nothing: what of that? I am too bold. Oh, were those eyes in heaven, Romeo-She speaks, she speaks! Oh, speak again, bright angel! for thou art To the up-turned wond'ring eyes of mortals, And sails upon the bosom of the air. Juliet--Oh, Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo! Deny thy father, and refuse thy name: Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet. Romeo-Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this? Juliet-'Tis but thy name that is my enemy! Romeo-I take thee at thy word! Call me but love, I will forswear my name Juliet-What man art thou, that, thus bescreened in night So stumblest on my counsel? Romeo-I know not how to tell thee who I am! My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, Because it is an enemy to thee. Juliet-My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words Of that tongue's uttering, yet I know the sound! Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague? Romeo-Neither, fair saint, if either thee displease. Juliet-How cam'st thou hither?-tell me and for what? The orchard walls are high, and hard to climb; If any of my kinsmen find thee here. Romeo-With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls; For stony limits cannot hold love out; And what love can do, that dares love attempt; Juliet-If they do see thee here, they'll murder thee. Romeo Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye, Than twenty of their swords! look thou but sweet, And I am proof against their enmity. Juliet-I would not, for the world, they saw thee here! By whose direction found'st thou out this place? Romeo-By love, who first did prompt me to inquire; He lent me counsel, and I lent him eyes. I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far As that vast shore washed with the furthest sea, Juliet-Thou know'st, the mask of night is on my face, Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek, So thou wilt woo! but else, not for the world. Romeo-Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow- moon That monthly changes in her circled orb; |