What a picture comes back from the passed-away times! 
  They are lounging once more ’neath the sweet-scented limes;
  See how closely he watches the Queen of Coquettes,
  As her white hands roll deftly those small cigarettes! 
  He believes in her smiles and puts faith in her sighs
  While he’s dazzled by light from her fathomless eyes. 
  Ah, the dearest of voices delightfully sings
  Through the wind intertwining of Cigarette Rings!

How sweet was her song in the bright summer-time, When winds whispered low ’neath the tremulous lime!  How sweet, too, that bunch of forget-me-nots blue—­ The love he thought lasting, the words he thought true! Ah, the words of a woman concerning such things Are weak and unstable as Cigarette Rings!

J. ASHBY-STERRY.

SMOKING SPIRITUALIZED.

The following old poem was long ascribed, on apparently sufficient grounds, to the Rev. Ralph Erskine, or, as he designated himself, “Ralph Erskine, V.D.M.”  The peasantry throughout the North of England always called it “Erskine Song;” and not only is his name given as the author in numerous chap-books, but in his own volume of “Gospel Sonnets,” from an early copy of which this version is transcribed.  The discovery, however, by Mr. Collier of the First Part in a MSS. temp.  James I., with the initials “G.W.” affixed to it, has disposed of Erskine’s claim to the honor of the entire authorship.  G.W. is supposed to be George Wither; but this is purely conjectural, and it is not at all improbable that G.W. really stands for W.G., as it was a common practice among anonymous writers to reverse their initials.

The history, then, of the poem seems to be this:  that the First Part, as it is now printed, originally constituted the whole production, being complete in itself; that the Second Part was afterwards added by the Rev. Ralph Erskine, and that both parts came subsequently to be ascribed to him, as his was the only name published in connection with the song.  See “Ballads of the Peasantry,” Bell’s edition.  Variants of this song will be found on pages 86 and 150 of the present collection; the first is ascribed to George Wither, and the other is taken from the first volume of “Pills to purge Melancholy.”

PART I.

  This Indian weed, now withered quite. 
  Tho’ green at noon, cut down at night,
        Shows thy decay,
        All flesh is hay: 
  Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

  The pipe, so lily-like and weak,
  Does thus thy mortal state bespeak;
        Thou art e’en such—­
        Gone with a touch: 
  Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

  And when the smoke ascends on high,
  Then thou behold’st the vanity
        Of worldly stuff—­
        Gone with a puff: 
  Thus think, and smoke tobacco.