er a
certain hour of the night. The superstitious ideas current amongst the
lower orders of people were, that on every evening about the hour of
eight, a beautiful female figure was seen in a small vessel, sailing
from Hereford to Northrigg, (a small village about three miles
distant,) with the utmost rapidity, against wind and tide, or even in
a dead calm--landed at the little village, returned, and vanished,
when arrived at a certain part of the river, where the current is
remarkably strong, about half a mile from the city of Hereford."

--_Neele's Romance of History._ See MIRROR, vol. x, page 352.

Bright shines the silver queen of night,
Upon fair Wye's soft stream;
Which throws a ray of heavenly light
Reflected from her beam.
Yet this smooth water, wide and clear,
This scene of sweet repose;
Erst filled the villagers with fear
As ancient story goes.

'Tis told us that in dead of night,
(In days of yore long past)
A skiff was seen compact and light,
With sail, and oars, and mast.
And in it sat the spectral form,
Of a most beauteous maid;
Who heeded neither wind nor storm,
As she this voyage made.

Nor heeded she the pelting rain,
Nor winter's blinding snows;
But to the destin'd spot amain,
The scudding vessel goes;
Or if so calm, the placid Wye,
No wave was on its face,
Yet onward did that light bark fly
To reach the fated place.

When on the deck she was espied,
Each trembled to behold;
As on she sail'd 'gainst wind and tide,
('Tis scarce believ'd when told)
Then sail and oar were both applied,
And swift the vessel flew;
But where the man--who could abide
That vessel to pursue?

Ah! who could dare approach the spot
Where Isabel did steer?
That mariner existeth not,
But did that phantom fear.
Or where's the man whose courage bold,
Could lend him strength one hour,
To gaze upon that form so cold,
Or place him in her power.

And when the spectral sail was spread,
That flutter'd to and fro;
The hair would bristle on each head,
Which awful fear did show.
And when the moon-beam seem'd to kiss,
That dreaded maiden's brow;
Something each knew would go amiss,
Nor judg'd such wrong, I trow.

For tho' the form was wond'rous fair,
'Twas terrible to view;
And to avoid it was the care
Of every vessel's crew