My thoughts in fair alliance and array
    Hold converse on the theme which most endears: 
    Pity approaches and repents delay: 
    E’en now she speaks of us, or hopes, or fears. 
    Since the last day, the terrible hour when Fate
    This present life of her fair being reft,
    From heaven she sees, and hears, and feels our state: 
    No other hope than this to me is left. 
    O fairest miracle! most fortunate mind! 
    O unexampled beauty, stately, rare! 
    Whence lent too late, too soon, alas! rejoin’d. 
    Hers is the crown and palm of good deeds there,
    Who to the world so eminent and clear
    Made her great virtue and my passion here.

    MACGREGOR.

      My thoughts were wont with sentiment so sweet
    To meditate their object in my breast—­
    Perhaps her sympathies my wishes meet
    With gentlest pity, seeing me distress’d: 
    Nor when removed to that her sacred rest
    The present life changed for that blest retreat,
    Vanish’d in air my former visions fleet,
    My hopes, my tears, in vain to her address’d. 
    O lovely miracle!  O favour’d mind! 
    Beauty beyond example high and rare,
    So soon return’d from us to whence it came! 
    There the immortal wreaths her temples bind;
    The sacred palm is hers:  on earth so fair
    Who shone by her own virtues and my flame.

    CAPEL LOFFT.

SONNET XXVIII.

I’ mi soglio accusare, ed or mi scuso.

HE GLORIES IN HIS LOVE.

      I now excuse myself who wont to blame,
    Nay, more, I prize and even hold me dear,
    For this fair prison, this sweet-bitter shame,
    Which I have borne conceal’d so many a year. 
    O envious Fates! that rare and golden frame
    Rudely ye broke, where lightly twined and clear,
    Yarn of my bonds, the threads of world-wide fame
    Which lovely ’gainst his wont made Death appear. 
    For not a soul was ever in its days
    Of joy, of liberty, of life so fond,
    That would not change for her its natural ways,
    Preferring thus to suffer and despond,
    Than, fed by hope, to sing in others’ praise,
    Content to die, or live in such a bond.

    MACGREGOR.

SONNET XXIX.

Due gran nemiche insieme erano aggiunte.

THE UNION OF BEAUTY AND VIRTUE IS DISSOLVED BY HER DEATH.

      Two mortal foes in one fair breast combined,
    Beauty and Virtue, in such peace allied
    That ne’er rebellion ruffled that pure mind,
    But in rare union dwelt they side by side;
    By Death they now are shatter’d and disjoin’d;
    One is in heaven, its glory and its pride,
    One under earth, her brilliant eyes now blind,