1275 Pelides moved from Scyros, where concealed a seemly damsel: thus the youth appeared R. SOUTHEY ISCRIZIONE DELLA PORTA INFERNALE ER me si va nella città dolente: 'PER per me si va nell' eterno dolore: la somma Sapienza e 'l primo Amore. vid' io scritte al sommo d' una porta: DANTE ALIGHIERI 1276 THE PORTRESS OF HELL TO SATAN `HE key of this infernal pit by due ΤΗ and by command of Heaven's all-powerful King I keep, by Him forbidden to unlock these adamantine gates; against all force F. S. III 33 1277 1278 into this gloom of Tartarus profound, with terrors and with clamours compassed round A COUNTRY DANCING GROUND T was a roundell seated on a plaine, IT J. MILTON that stood as sentinell unto the maine, and made that place the ground of all her pride, A silver spring forth of a rocke did fall, a tuft of trees grew circling in a rancke, WH HYMN TO THE NAIADS W. BROWNE HERE shall my song begin, ye Nymphs, or end? Wide is your praise and copious. First of things, first of the lonely powers, ere Time arose, and quelled his deadly might. Then social reigned and tuneful Aganippe, that sweet name M. AKENSIDE 1279 So they brought the swords, and delivered them to the King. The King drew the swords, and the whole court shone with their brightness. Their hilts were of solid gold: all the good men of the Cortes marvelled at them. And the Cid rose and received them, and kissed the King's hand, and went back to his ivory seat: and he took the swords in his hand, and looked at them: they could not change them, for the Cid knew them well, and his whole frame rejoiced, and he smiled from his heart, and he laid them upon his lap and said: "Ah, my swords, truly may I say of you, that you are the best swords in Spain; and I won you: for I did not get you either by buying or barter. I gave you in keeping to the Infantes, that they might do honour to my daughters with you; but ye were not for them! they kept you hungry, and did not feed you with flesh, as ye were wont to be fed. Well is it for you, that ye have escaped that thraldom, and come again to my hands, and happy man am I to recover you." CHRONICLE OF THE CID 1280 THE HERE was a French soldier of noble mien, who sat his horse gallantly. He spied two Englishmen, who were also carrying themselves boldly. They were both men of great worth, and had become companions in arms and fought together, the one protecting the other. They bore two long and broad bills, and did great mischief to the Normans, killing both horses and men. The French soldier looked at them and their bills and was sore alarmed, for he was afraid of losing his good horse, the best that he had; and would willingly have turned to some other quarter, if it would not have looked like cowardice. He soon however recovered his courage, and spurring his horse gave him the bridle, and galloped swiftly forward. Fearing the two bills, he raised his shield, and struck one of the Englishmen with his lance on the breast, so that the iron passed out at his back. At the moment that he fell the lance broke, and the Frenchman seized the mace that hung at his right side, and struck the other Englishman a blow that completely broke his skull. 1281 As MARINE'S DESPAIR when to seek her food abroad doth rove two sharpe set hawkes doe her on each side hem, with winde and tyde, the winde doth sternely blowe W. BROWNE 1282 1283 NIOBE MID nine daughters slain by Artemis AMID stood Niobe: she rais'd her head above those beauteous forms which had brought down the scath whence all nine fell, rais'd it, and stood erect, and thus bespake the Goddess enthroned on high. that thou wouldst guide these children in the pass the richest gift that youth from heaven receives. may not a mother in her pride repeat what every mortal said? for me to offer yet. One prayer remains Thy quiver holds more than nine arrows: bend thy bow: aim here, I see, I see it glimmering through a cloud. Artemis, thou at length art merciful: my children will not hear the fatal twang.' AND SIR BEDIVERE W. S. LANDOR if indeed I cast the brand away, surely a precious thing, one worthy note, should thus be lost for ever from the earth, which might have pleased the eyes of many men, What good should follow this, if this were done? What harm, undone? deep harm to disobey, seeing obedience is the bond of rule. Were it well to obey then, if a king demand an act unprofitable, against himself? The King is sick, and knows not what he does. should be to aftertime, but empty breath |