hought of the lark in its musical glee;
One breath of the sweet breeze, balmy and free;
One prayer from two hearts that falter;
And Lo! in reply to a mortal's nod,
From the gibbet-tree dangle two pieces of clod,
Their souls standing face-to-face with their God,
Each wearing a hangman's halter.

Ah! shrink from the murderer; quaint, wise world
Yea: shudder at sight of him; sanctified world!
Go: plume him up deftly; clever old world!
Till he shines like a gilded excrescence:
Then strangle him dog-like--a civilised plan!
Quick! trample his life out: he's not of the clan:
He stinks in the nostrils of saintly man,
Though fit for the Infinite's presence!

WALES TO "PUNCH."

On his milking the amende honourable to Wales and the Welsh, in
some verses, the last of which was the following:

"And _Punch_--incarnate justice,
Intends henceforth to lick
All who shall scorn and sneer at you:
You jolly little brick."

I'm glad, old friend, that you your error see,
Of sneering where you cannot understand:
You've owned your fault: let by-gones by-gones be;
Past blows from _Punch_ forgetting--there's my hand.
Lick whom you list--creation if you please:
Let those who choose laugh at me: let them sneer;
I earn, before I eat, my bread and cheese;
I love my language; and I like my beer.
Content with what I have, so that it come
Through honest sources: happy at my lot,
I seek not--wish not--for a fairer home.
Hard work: my Bible: children: wife: a cot:
These are my birthright, these I'll strive to keep,
And round my humble hearth affection bind:
From Eisteddfodau untold pleasures reap;
And try to live at peace with all mankind.
Then glad am I that you your error see,
Of sneering where you cannot understand:
You've owned your fault: let by-gones by-gones be;
Past blows from _Punch_ forgetting--there's my hand.

WELCOME!

The following was written as a Prologue, to be read at the opening of
the Wrexham National Eisteddfod, 1876. It was not successful in taking
the offered prize, but as the adjudicator who made the award was
pleased to say it was "above the average," I have thought its
publication here will not be out of place.

Welcome! thrice welcome--one and all,
To this our Nation's Festival;
Be 't Peer or peasant; old or young:
Welcome! thrice welcome, friends among.
I