And the fitful strain alone
Murmurs the notes of his native land--
Does echo repeat that moan
From the dungeon wall so grim and so drear?--
No!--an answering minstrel lingers there.

Up starts the listening king--a flash
Of memory's gifted lore
Bursts on his soul--a deed so rash,
What captive would e'er deplore?
Since bonds no longer unnerve the free,
And valour hath won fidelity.

Dark child of sorrow, sweet comfort take,
In thy lone heart's widowhood,
Some charmed measure may yet awake
Arresting affliction's flood,
And thy prison'd soul unfetter'd be
By the answering spirit of sympathy!

_Metropolitan._

* * * * *


ASMODEUS AT LARGE.


The design of this paper, in the _New Monthly Magazine_, is by no means
novel; but the fine, cutting satire--the pleasant, lively banter on our