875 What? he has vanquished all impediment and in the wilful mood of his own daughter that thou, the daughter of his haughty fortunes, shouldst e'er demean thee as a love-sick maiden; and like some poor cost-nothing, fling thyself toward the man, who, if that high prize ever be destined to await him, yet, with sacrifices the highest love can bring, must pay for it. 876 Thek. I thank thee for the hint. It turns 877 my sad presentiment to certainty. and it is so! Not one friend have we here, This is no theatre, where hope abides: it draws, it pulls me with a god-like power- WA S. T. COLERIDGE from Schiller WARSAW'S LAST CHAMPION ARSAW'S last champion from her height surveyed, wide o'er the fields, a waste of ruin laid,— O, Heaven! he cried, my bleeding country save!— is there no hand on high to shield the brave? 878 Sem. Yet, though destruction sweep those lovely plains, by that dread name, we wave the sword on high! G T. CAMPBELL SEMPRONIUS-PORTIUS SON OF CATO OOD morrow, Portius! let us once embrace, Por. My father has this morning called together if yet he can oppose the mighty torrent, that bears down Rome, and all her gods, before it, or must at length give up the world to Cæsar. Sem. Not all the pomp and majesty of Rome can raise her senate more than Cato's presence: they strike with something like religious fear, 879 WA A DROWNED SOLDIER ALKING next day upon the fatal shore, among the slaughter'd bodies of their men, which the full-stomach'd sea had cast upon the sands, it was my unhappy chance to light upon a face, whose favour when it lived my astonish'd mind inform'd me I had seen. He lay in his armour, as if that had been his coffin; and the weeping sea (like one whose milder temper doth lament the death of him whom in his rage he slew) runs up the shore, embraces him, kisses his cheek; goes back again and forces up the sands to bury him; and every time it parts, sheds tears upon him; till at last, (as if it could no longer endure to see the man whom it had slain, yet loath to leave him) with a kind of unresolv'd unwilling pace, winding her waves one in another, (like a man that folds his arms, or wrings his hands, and hide itself for shame of such a deed. C. TOURNEUR 880 LEONIDAS' ADDRESS TO THE LEADERS OF THE GREEKS VENERABLE synod, whose decrees have called us forth to vanquish or to die, thrice hail! Whate'er by valour we obtain your wisdom must preserve. With piercing eyes each Grecian state contemplate, and discern their various tempers. Animate the cold, and watch the faithless: some there are betray themselves and Greece; their perfidy prevent, or call them back to honour. Let us all be linked in sacred union, and the Greeks shall stand the world's whole multitude in arms. If for the spoil, which Paris bore to Troy, a thousand barks the Hellespont o'erspread shall not again confederated Greece 881 882 be roused to battle, and to freedom give, G AJAX R. GLOVER REAT Jove, immure my heart, or girt it with and can a cloud, darker than night, so muffle and armour were not made things to be talk'd on, for him, to boast he strove with Ajax Telamon, Harmosan, the last and boldest the invader to defy, captive overborne by numbers, they were bringing forth to die. Then exclaimed that noble captive-"Lo! I perish in my thirst, give me but one drink of water, and let then arrive the worst." In his hand he took the goblet, but awhile the draught forbore, seeming doubtfully the purpose of the foemen to explore. Well might then have paused the bravest-for around him angry foes with an hedge of naked weapons did that lonely man enclose. "But what fear'st thou?" cried the Caliph: "is it, friend, a secret blow? fear it not our gallant Moslem no such treacherous dealing know: thou may'st quench thy thirst securely, for thou shalt not die before thou hast drunk that cup of water-this reprieve is thine no more." Quick the Satrap dashed the goblet down to earth with ready hand, and the liquid sank for ever, lost amid the burning sand. "Thou hast said that mine my life is, till the water of that cup I have drained-then bid thy servants that spilled water gather up." For a moment stood the Caliph as by doubtful passions stirred, then exclaimed, "For ever sacred must remain a monarch's word! bring another cup, and straightway to the noble Persian give: drink, I said before, and perish--now I bid thee drink and live." R. C. TRENCH 883 I IMOGEN SEE a man's life is a tedious one: I have tired myself; and for two nights together have made the ground my bed. I should be sick, but that my resolution helps me.-Milford, |