Masonic Festivities.

with great liberality , and numbers of tickets were purchased by parties unable to be present . There was a sum of upwards of £ 20 taken at the doors , ancl great numbers went away unable fco find accommodation . This sum , including the amount received for tickets , will reach nearly £ 120 , leaving , after deducting expenses , a handsome sum for the benetit of the charity .

Poetry.

Poetry .

CAMOENS TO CATHERINE . [ Camoens , tho celebrated bufc unfortunate author of the " Lusiad , " first met Dona Catevina do Ataide , in the Church of Christ ' s Wounds , afc Lisbon . She seems to have aroused love of the deepest and purest character in the bosom of tlie young poet , a love returned afterwards by fche lady , for it was only after months of assiduous adoration that she gave him a silken filletinstead of a tress of her hair which he had asked

, for . Camoens previous to this appears to have despised the dear creatures , and thought none of them at all worthy of his regard . Caterina being one of the Queen ' s ladies , great restraint was put upon her , and Camoens , having been found in the royal apartments , was sent into banishment , likely afc the instigation of the lady ' s relatives , who did not favour the poet's suit . He , however , secretly returned , again had an interview Avith his lad

y love , again was detected , and sent a second time into banishment , with a hint to beware how he returned Avithout permission . He joined King John III . in an expedition against the Moors in Africa , where he lost an eye , but covered himself with renown . His gallantry procured his recall to Court , Ai-hifclier be rushed with all the impetuosity of a lover , and found his Caterina dead . of his finest

Many pieces are addressed to Caterina , whose memory in all his after sins and sorrows , fortunes and misfortunes , sickness and health , shone like a beacon of hope before him . ]

The early mass was singing , The altar bell was ringing , Thick clouds of incense streaming , wrapt the host in perfumed smoke , Kneeling by the oaken screen , First I siuv thee , Catherine , Then my heart of ice in liquid waters afc thy beauty broke . Ah ! then heart beat quicker

, my , Ancl my labouring breath came thicker Through my parched lips , as on thy beauty feasted wild mine eyes ; Prudence fled , and , all umvavy , I , as if led by some fairy , Fell into the sea of love , and knew ifc only by my sishs . I who once had laughed

Afc love ' s most blessed draught , And scoffed at womankind , and at all their fell beivitchiimwiles ; ° I , the stony hearted , Pelt , as Eros darted His keen arrow , from thy beauty , life was only in thy smiles .

When the Mass was done , And thou Avert from me gone , I felt as if ivith theo had ' fled the broacl proud sun of day . Ah 1 dreary then seem'd life , With pain and sorrow rife . My choicest blooms lay ivifcher'd , and fcum'cl before me to decay . Bufc from that fated hour

The _ church became a bower , Beside the screen each morning found me wait-in" there for thee . All tremblingly I stood , And wildly gushed my blood , When thro' the porch I saw thee , like some angel come to me . And time flew on , ancl I At length dared utter sigh ,

Thou heard'sfc me , and thou turn'd'st to me , thou did'st not turn away . No need of words when eye Could answer back to eye , Thou loved'sfc me ! a high feast still I keep that holy clay . Alas ! that love should be But constant misery .

Alas 1 that hearts mayn't freely tell the love they bear to other . Only the stolen glance Where love doth gaily dance , Reveals the VOAV and passion thafc 'fore the gibing world we smother . Ob , hours of bliss ! Alas , Such heavenly moments pass .

Proud eyes had seen ivhat ive , poor fools , so fondly thought unseen . I asked a tress of hair To comforfc my despair , When from thy side thou gavesfc me thy fillet ' s silken sheen . High words of pride ivere spoke When on us fierce they broke

. And drove me from thee , by their might , to lonely banishment . Ah 1 wildly then I wept , I ivould have crouch'd and crept To their proud feet , and begged , Avould they have changed the punishment .

What cared I for thy state ! I felt thou wert my fate , As proud and blue blood swept my veins as swept in theirs or thine . Bufc , ah ! was I nofc poor ? They drove me from thy door Out into the cold , the bitter air , to wither there and pine . Who set tbem up for gods ?

Who bade them fashion rods To scourge the heart ' s blood from me , and drive me wildly on despair ? In Heaven there is but love , Can Ave earth-ivorms more prove Our right to Heaven than doing ivhat the angel ones do there ? I stole back from

exile—With studied watch and lvile We met . Oh , blessed night ! although fco say a sad farewell . Fainting I press'd the kiss , And , strange , I felt but bliss , Even while I heard the parting sounding from the chapel bell . Though storms dash'd o'er thine eyes , Broke on thheart in sihs .

y g Though sorrow toll'd in harsh hoarse notes affection ' s parting knell , Oh ! yet to me 'twas bliss , For as kiss answer'd kiss , Ah ! then I knew at last all thafc I wished—thou loi'ecl ' sfc me ivell .

For love so hid before ¦ Was secret then no more , Thafc kiss told all that thou before had ' st timidly concealed , For love wept in thine eyes , And sobb'd among thy sighs , Each pang that shook thy heart , only the more bis face revealed . I coulcl but think of bliss

, AVhen love dwelt on the kiss , And hope , with golden pinions , on a glorious morning broke . It seem'd then to console , And soothe my anxious soul" Affection's child iu woo that ' s born shall clie in Miss , " ifc spoke . But ah 1 accursed fate , They fcluiiider'd at tlie gate .

Once more , ev'n like the timid dove , I was thrust out of the ark , To wander o'er the deep , To rave , and moan , ancl weep , Ancl friends to make of those sad sombre spectres of the dark . I battled in far scenes , My thoughts but Catherine ' s ,