Lenora.

LENORA .

[ Berger ' s Lenora still retains its hold on the interest and imagination of many , and as we see from time to time new translations of this famous poom appearing , we have remembered one of the hest versions we ever read , and which appeared about forty years ago anonymousl y in one of the light and amusing publications of Bro . Albert Smith . We give it , therefore , to our readers to-day , with the original preface of the translator . —ED . M . Mi ] TPHERE have been so many excellent translations done of this powerful ballad ,

J- that some little apology should be made for offering the present one to the reader . But the metre of the original has not been strictly preserved in any I have seen ; and , in consequence , the poem loses much of its impressiveness . In the following attempt I have carefully kept to the metre ; ancl in some lines the words are in the exact order of the original : indeed , I have sacrificed everything to make it as close and literal as possible . But for this intention , many of the verses might have been considerably improved .

LENORA , at the blush of day , From heavy slumbers started : " Art dead , or faithless , Wilhelm , say , How long must we be parted ? " He was with Frederick's armed might , At Prague , and there engaged in fight ;

Had sent no word or token , To prove his health unbroken . The Empress and the Prussian King , Weary of constant striving , Their stubborn natures softening , Saw peace at last arriving .

And all the troops rejoiced and sang , With kettle-drums' ancl martial clang , Their arms with greenboughs twining , Towards their homes inclining

And everywhere—all , all around , From roads and pathways meeting , Both old and young , with joyous sound , Went forth to give their greeting . " Thank God ! " the child and wife outcried , And "welcome" many a happy bride ;

Lenora , only , misses The warm embrace ancl kisses . And up ancl down , amidst the brave , She flew , each name repeating ; But none the information gave Of all that warlike meeting .

And when the train had passed elsewhere , She tore her locks of raven hair ; To earth her fair form flinging , Her hands in frenzy wringing .

Her mother ran to her , and cried , " With mercy , heaven , invest her ; What ill can my dear child betide ? " And in her fond arms pressed her . " 0 , mother—gone is gone for aye , The world and all may pass away .

God has no kindness clone me , Oh woe ! oh woe ! upon me ! " "Help , God ! help ! leave us not unblest ; Pray to him to befriend us . What is His will is for the best ;

God ! God ! some comfort send us !" "Oh , mother , mother ! foolish plea ! God has done nothing well for me ! My prayer ' s unhelp'd , unheeded , Shall never more be needed 1 "

" Help , God ! the true believers know Their gloom His aid can bri ghten ; The hallowed sacramental vow , Thy misery shall lighten . " " Oh , mother , this consuming rage , No sacrament can e ' er assuage ;

No sacrament e ' er taken , Has power the dead to waken . " " List , child . Perchance th y lover now , In distant lands united , In falsehood has renounced his vow

, To some new marriage plighted . So let him go . His love thus o ' er , His heart shall never profit more ; When soul and body sever , His . pangs shall last for ever , "