The same fond mother bent at night

O'er each fair sleeping brow;
She had each folded flower1 in sight-
Where are those dreamers now?
One, 'midst the forests of the West,2
By a dark stream is laid-

The Indian knows his place of rest,
Far in the cedar shade.

The sea, the blue lone sea, hath one-
He lies where pearls 3 lie deep;
He was the loved of all, yet none
O'er his low bed may weep.

One sleeps where southern vines1 are dressed
Above the noble slain;

He wrapped his colours round his breast 5
On a blood-red field of Spain.

6

And one-o'er her the myrtle showers

Its leaves, by soft winds fanned;
She faded 7 'midst Italian flowers-8
The last of that bright band.

And parted thus they rest, who played
Beneath the same green tree;
Whose voices mingled as they prayed
Around one parent knee!

They that with smiles lit up the hall,"

And cheered with song the hearth—10
Alas for love! if thou wert all,

And nought beyond, O Earth!

Each folded flower, each child. 2 West, North America. 3 Pearls are obtained from the pearl-oyster, and occasionally from the common oyster and other shell-fish. The pearl-oyster occurs most plentifully in the Indian Ocean. 4 Vines, grape-trees. 5 He wrapped, etc., He died fighting bravely. 6 Spain, a country in the south-west of Europe, once the scene of many battles between the English and French. 7 Faded, died gradually. 8 Italian flowers, flowers of Italy-a country at the south of Europe. 9 Hall, a large room at the entrance of a house or palace. 10 Hearth, fireside.

PRINCE ARTHUR.-Shakespeare.

Enter2 HUBERT and Two Attendants.

Hub. HEAT me these irons hot; and look thou stand3 Within the arrast: when I strike my foot

Upon the bosom of the ground, rush forth,
And bind the boy, which you shall find with me,
Fast to the chair: be heedful: hence, and watch.

1 Attend. I hope your warrant will bear out the deed. Hub. Uncleanly scruples !7 Fear not you look to't.— [Exeunts Attendants.

Young lad, come forth; I have to say with you.

Enter ARTHUR.

Good morrow, little prince.

Arth. Good morrow, 9 Hubert.

Hub.
Arth. As little prince (having so great a title
To me more prince) as may be.10-You are sad.
Hub. Indeed, I have been merrier.

Mercy on me!

Arth.
Methinks,11 nobody should be sad but I;
Yet, I remember, when I was in France,
Young gentlemen would be as sad as night,

1Prince Arthur. This extract is taken from the play of " King John." The scene is founded upon the report that John, fearing a rebellion in favour of his nephew Arthur, gave orders to blind the boy with red-hot irons. Arthur was the son of Geoffrey, the eldest brother of John. 2 Enter, players representing Hubert (warden of the castle in which Arthur was confined) and two attendants, appear upon the stage and repeat the sentences set down. Look thou stand, take care to stand. Arras, tapestry, hangings of wool or silk adorned with needlework, often representing figures of men, animals, etc., and used formerly to cover the walls of elegant apartments. Such hangings placed before a recess would afford means of concealment to the attendant. Warrant, written authority. Bear out the deed, authorise the crime; secure the actors from blame. 7 Uncleanly scruples, foolish, unreasonable doubts. Exeunt, a Latin word meaning go out. 9 Good morrow, good morning. 10 As little prince, I having such claims to be a greater prince, am as little prince as can be. 11 Methinks, it seems to me.

Only for wantonness. By my christendom,
So I were out of prison, and kept sheep,
I should be merry as the day is long;
And so I would be here, but that I doubt,
My uncle practises more harm to me:
He is afraid of me, and I of him :

Is it my fault, that I was Geoffrey's son ?
No, indeed, is't not; and I would to heaven,
I were your son, so you would love me, Hubert.
Hub. If I talk to him, with his innocent prate,
He will awake my mercy, which lies dead;
Therefore I will be sudden, and despatch.
Arth. Are you sick, Hubert?

[Aside.

You look pale to-day;

In sooth, I would you were a little sick;
That I might sit all night and watch with you:
I warrant I love you more than you do me.
Hub. His words do take possession of my bosom.-
Read here, young Arthur.
[Showing a paper.
How now, foolish rheum! 10 [Aside
Turning dispiteous torture out of door!
I must be brief, lest resolution drop
Out at mine eyes in tender womanish tears.
Can you not read it? Is it not fair writ ?
Arth. Too fairly, Hubert, for so foul effect:
Must you
with hot irons burn out both mine
Hub. Young boy, I must.

Arth.

Hub.

And will you?

eyes P

And I will.

Arth. Have you the heart? When your head did

but ache,

I knit my handkerchief about your brows,
(The best I had, a princess wrought it me ;)

Wantonness, sport, diversion. 2Christendom, countries inhabited by Christians; sometimes means Christianity. The expression might be explained as-"By my faith." So, if. 4 Uncle, King John. Prate, prattle. Aside. This speech is spoken so as not to be heard by Arthur. 7Sooth, truth. 8 Would wish. Warrant, maintain. 10 Rheum, moisture.

And I did never ask it you again.

head;

And with my hand, at midnight, held your
And, like the watchful minutes to the hour,
Still and anon1 cheered up the heavy time,
Saying, what lack2 you? and where lies your grief?
Or what good love may I perform for you?
Many a poor man's son would have lain still,
And ne'er have spoke a loving word to you;
But you at your sick service had a prince.
Nay, you may think my love was crafty3 love,
And call it cunning; do, an* if you will,

If Heaven be pleased that you must use me ill,
Why then, you must.-Will you put out mine eyes?
These eyes that never did, nor never shall,

So much as frown on you?

Hub.

I have sworn to do it; And with hot irons must I burn them out.

Arth. Ah, none, but in this iron age, would do it.5
The iron of itself, though heat red-hot,

Approaching near these eyes would drink my tears,
And quench his 6 fiery indignation,

Even in the matter of mine innocence.
Nay, after that, consume away in rust,
But for containing fire to harm mine eye.

Are you more stubborn hard than hammered iron?
An if an angel should have come to me,
And told me Hubert should put out mine eyes,

1 Anon, now and then. Lack, require, want, wish. 3 Crafty, artful. An. Tooke, in his "Diversions of Purley," says "an" is the original imperative of the verb grant, while "if" is derived from "give." He devotes many pages to the discussion of this almost obsolete conjunction. In old writers it was used frequently to supply the place of if, as, "An it please you." Ah, none, etc. There is not a man (excepting those living in these cruel times) who would do it. His, is the original form of the pronoun its. Until the time of Elizabeth, the word its seems to have been unknown. It is said never to occur in the original text of the Bible, his being used exclusively. "But, only.

I would not have believed him. No tongue but Hubert's. Hub. Come forth!

[Stamps.

Re-enter Attendants with Cords, Irons, etc.

Do as I bid you do.

Arth. O save me, Hubert, save me! My eyes are out, Even with the fierce looks of these bloody men.

Hub. Give me the iron, I say, and bind him here. Arth. Alas, what need you be so boisterous rough? I will not struggle, I will stand stone-still.

For Heaven's sake, Hubert, let me not be bound!
Nay, hear me, Hubert! drive these men away,
And I will sit as quiet as a lamb,

I will not stir, nor wince, nor speak a word,
Nor look upon the iron angerly;1

Thrust but these men away, and I'll forgive you,
Whatever torment you do put me to.

Hub. Go, stand within; let me alone with him.
1 Attend. I am best pleased to be from such a deed.

[Exeunt Attendants.

Arth. Alas! I then have chid away my friend;
He hath a stern look, but a gentle heart:—
Let him come back, that his compassion may
Give life to yours.

Hub.

Come, boy, prepare yourself.

Arth. Is there no remedy?
Hub.

None, but to lose your eyes.

Arth. O Heaven! that there were but a mote in

A grain, a dust, a gnat, a wandering hair,

Any annoyance in that precious sense,2

yours,

Then, feeling what small things are boisterous there, Your vile intent must needs seem horrible.

Hub. Is this your promise? Go to; hold your tongue, Arth. Hubert, the utterance of a brace of tongues

Must needs want pleading for a pair of eyes:

Let me not hold my tongue; let me not, Hubert!
Or, Hubert, if you will, cut out my tongue,

'Angerly, grily. 2Sense, the sense of sight. Boisterous, painful.