pass—­ye raine descended, though the moone and millions of starres were shyneing bryght.  In journeying home, another straynge occurrence came to pass; her coral lippes the gentleman’s did meete in sweetest kyss.  Thys was not straynge at all; but that the moone, that still shone bryghte, did in the momente hide herself behynde a cloude:  this was straynge, most passing straynge indeede.  The ladie faire, who prayed to the blessed Virgin, did to her confesseur this confession mayk, and her confesseur with charitye impromptu wrote:—­

  “Whence came the rayne, when first with guileless heart
  Further to walk she’s lothe, and yet more lothe to part? 
  It was not rayne, but angels’ pearly teares,
  In pity dropt to soothe Eliza’s feares. 
  Whence came the cloude that veil’d the orb of nighte,
  When first her lippes she yielded to delyght? 
  It was not cloude, but whylst the world was hush,
  Mercy put forthe her hande to hide Eliza’s blush.”

W.G.C.

* * * * *

PICTON’S MONUMENT, CARMARTHEN.

(For the Mirror.)

This interesting national tribute stands at the west end of the town of Carmarthen, rising ground, and is erected in memory of the gallant Sir Thomas Picton, who terminated his career in the ever-to-be-remembered battle of Waterloo.  The structure stands about 30 feet high, and is, particularly the shaft and architrave, similar to Trajan’s pillar in Rome; and being built of a very durable material, (black marble,) will no doubt stand as many ages as that noble, though now mouldering relic.  The pillar stands on a square pedestal, with a small door on the east side, which fronts the town, where the monument is ascended by a flight of steps.  Over the door, in large characters, is the hero’s name, Picton; and above this, in basso relievo, is represented part of the field of battle, with the hero falling from his horse, from the mortal wound which he received.  Over this, in large letters, is inscribed Waterloo.  On the west end is represented the siege of Badajos, Picton scaling the walls with a few men, and attacked by the besieged.  Above this is the word Badajos.  On the south side of the pedestal is the following inscription:—­

  Sir Thomas Picton,

  Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of the
    Bath,
  Of the Portuguese Order of the Tower and Sword,
    and of other foreign Orders;
  Lieutenant-General in the British Army, and
    Member of Parliament for the Borough of
    Pembroke,
  Born at Poyston, in Pembrokeshire, in August,
    1758;
  Died at Waterloo on the 18th of June, 1815,
    Gloriously fighting for his country and the
    liberties of Europe. 
  Having honourably fulfilled, on behalf of the
    public, various duties in various climates: