“ADDRESS TO THE SKYLARK.”

       “Bird of the | wilderness,
        Blithesome and | cumberless,
    Light be thy | matin o’er | moorland and | lea;
        Emblem of | happiness,
        Blest is thy | dwelling-place;
    O! to a |-bide in the | desert with | thee!

       “Wild is thy | lay, and loud,
        Far on the | downy cloud;
    Love gives it | energy, | love gave it | birth: 
        Where, on thy | dewy wing,
        Where art thou | journeying? 
    Thy lay | is in heav |-en, thy love | is on earth.

       “O’er moor and | mountain green,
        O’er fell and | fountain sheen,
    O’er the red | streamer that | heralds the | day;
        Over the | cloudlet dim,
        Over the | rainbow’s rim,
    Musical | cherub, hie, | hie thee a |-way.

       “Then, when the | gloamin comes,
        Low in the | heather blooms. 
    Sweet will thy | welcome and | bed of love | be. 
        Emblem of | happiness,
        Blest is thy | dwelling-place;
    O! to a |-bide in the | desert with | thee!”

OBS. 3.—­It is observed by Churchill, (New Gram., p. 387,) that, “Shakspeare has used the dactyl, as appropriate to mournful occasions.”  The chief example which he cites, is the following:—­

   “Midnight, as |-sist our moan,
    Help us to | sigh and groan
        Heavily, | heavily. 
    Graves, yawn and | yield your dead,
    Till death be | uttered
        Heavily, | heavily.”—­Much Ado, V, 3

OBS. 4.—­These six lines of Dactylic (or Composite) Dimeter are subjoined by the poet to four of Trochaic Tetrameter.  There does not appear to me to be any particular adaptation of either measure to mournful subjects, more than to others; but later instances of this metre may be cited, in which such is the character of the topic treated.  The following long example consists of lines of two feet, most of them dactylic only; but, of the seventy-six, there are twelve which may be otherwise divided, and as many more which must be, because they commence with a short syllable.

“THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS.”—­BY THOMAS HOOD.

   “One more un |-fortunate,
      Weary of | breath,
    Rashly im |-portunate,
      Gone to her | death! 
    Take her up | tenderly,
      Lift her with | care;
    Fashioned so | slenderly,
      Young, and so | fair!

    Look at her | garments
    Clinging like | cerements,
    Whilst the wave | constantly
      Drips from her | clothing;
    Take her up | instantly,
      Loving, not | loathing.

    Touch her not | scornfully;
    Think of her | mournfully,
      Gently, and | humanly;
    Not of the | stains of her: 
    All that re |-mains of her
      Now, is pure | womanly.

    Make no deep | scrutiny
    Into her | mutiny,
      Rash and un |-dutifull;
    Past all dis |-honour,
    Death has left | on her
      Only the | beautiful.