ro, like fairest maidens of the royal blood; and sigh, and
smile, and whisper, full of the charming grace of youth, and tenderness,
and beauty.

I salute my noblemen, and queens, and princesses; they bow in return to
me, their king. Let us wander on.

--Ah! that is well; my river view! Of all my broad domain, I think I like
this part the best. Is it not beautiful? That clump of dogwood, however,
obstructs the view somewhat; I must cut it down. Let us move a little to
the right. Ah! there it is! See my lovely river; surely you must admire my
swan-like ships, flying, with snowy canvass spread, before the fresh
breeze. And see that schooner breaking the little waves into foam. Is that
a telescope which the captain of my vessel points toward us? He salutes
me, does he not? But I fear the distance is too great; he could hardly
recognize me. Still I shall bow--let us not neglect the laws of courtesy.

My ship is sailing onward. In earlier days I had many barks which sailed
from shore; they were freighted with the richest goods, and made me very
anxious. So my argosies went sailing, but they never came again. One bore
my poem, which I thought would make me very celebrated, but the ship was
lost. Another was to bring me back a cargo of such beautiful
things--things which make life delightful to so many!--pearls, and silks,
and wines, and gold-laced suits--garters, rosettes, and slips of ribbon
to be worn at the button-hole. This, too, was lost, and yet it did not
grieve me much. The third caused me more regret; I do not think I have yet
wholly recovered from its loss. It bore a maiden with sunny hair, and the
tenderest, sweetest eyes! She said she loved me--yes a thousand times! and
I--I loved her long and dearly. But the ship in which she sailed went
down--the strong, good ship, as I regarded it. She died thus,--did she
not?--or is it true that she was married to a richer suitor far away from
me in foreign lands?... These are foolish tears--let me not think of her
with want of charity; she was only a woman, and we men are often very
weak. ONE over all, is alone great and good. So, beautiful
ship!--I say--that sailed across my path in youth, sail on in peace and
happiness! A lonely bark, lonely but not unhappy, sees you, on the
distant, happy seas, and the pennon floats from the peak in amicable
greeting and salute. Hail and farewell! Heaven send the ship a happy
voyage, and a welcome home!

This little soliloquy perhaps wea