So through the streets, and through the northern gate, Did Roderick, reckless of a resting place, With feeble yet with hurried step, pursue His agitated way; and when he reach'd The open fields, and found himself alone Beneath the starry canopy of Heaven, The sense of solitude, so dreadful late, Was then repose and comfort. There he stopt Beside a little rill, and brake the loaf; And shedding o'er that unaccustom'd food Painful but quiet tears, with grateful soul
He breathed thanksgiving forth; then made his bed On heath and myrtle."
"A midnight march in Spain is also very beautifully described."
." The favouring moon arose,
To guide them on their flight through upland paths Remote from frequentage, and dales retired, Forest and mountain glen. Before their feet The fire-flies, swarming in the woodland shade, Sprung up like sparks, and twinkled round their way; The timorous blackbird, starting at their step, Fled from the thicket, with shrill note of fear; And far below them in the peopled dell,
When all the soothing sounds of eve had ceased, The distant watch-dog's voice at times was heard, Answering the nearer wolf. All through the night Among the hills they travell'd silently;
Till when the stars were setting, at what hour The breath of Heaven is coldest, they beheld Within a lonely grove the expected fire, Where Roderick and his comrade anxiously Look'd for the appointed meeting.-
Bright rose the flame replenish'd; it illumed
The cork-tree's furrowed rind, its rifts and swells And redder scars, . . and where its aged boughs O'erbower'd the travellers, cast upon the leaves A floating, grey, unrealizing gleam."
"There is also much sweetness and pleasing poetry in the description of the investiture of the young Alphonso with the honours of knighthood."
The servants of the house with emulous love Dispute the charge. One brings the cuirass, one The buckler; this exultingly displays
The sword, his comrade lifts the helm on high: The greaves, the gauntlets they divide ; . . a spur Seems now to dignify the officious hand Which for such service bears it to his Lord. Greek artists in the imperial city forged That splendid armour, perfect in their craft; With curious skill they wrought it, framed alike To shine amid the pageantry of war,
And for the proof of battle. Many a time Alphonso from his nurse's lap had stretch'd His infant hands toward it eagerly,
Where gleaming to the central fire it hung High in the hall; and many a time had wish'd With boyish ardour, that the day were come When Pedro to his prayers would grant the boon, His dearest heart's desire.
No season this for old solemnities,
For wassailry and sport; .. the bath, the bed,
The vigil, . . all preparatory rites
Omitted now, . . here in the face of Heaven,
Before the vassals of his father's house,
With them in instant peril to partake
The chance of life or death, the heroic boy Dons his first arms; the coated scales of steel Which o'er the tunic to his knees depend, The hose, the sleeves of mail: bareheaded then He stood. But when Count Pedro took the spurs, And bent his knee in service to his son, Alphonso from that gesture half drew back, Starting in reverence, and a deeper hue Spread o'er the glow of joy which flush'd his cheeks. Do thou the rest, Pelayo! said the Count;
So shall the ceremony of this hour
Exceed in honour what in form it lacks."
"I will just read to you another passage, which, though of a different kind, is not less beautiful.”
How visitations of calamity
Affect the pious soul, 'tis shown ye there! Look yonder at that cloud, which through the sky Sailing alone, doth cross in her career
The rolling moon! I watch'd it as it came,
And deem'd the deep opaque would blot her beams; But, melting like a wreath of snow, it hangs In folds of wavy silver round, and clothes The orb with richer beauties than her own, Then passing, leaves her in her light serene.- "Thus having said, the pious sufferer sate, Beholding with fix'd eyes that lovely orb, Till quiet tears confused in dizzy light The broken moonbeams. They too by the toil Of spirit, as by travail of the day
Subdued, were silent, yielding to the hour. The silver cloud diffusing slowly past,
And now into its airy elements
Resolved is gone; while through the azure depth
Alone in heaven the glorious Moon pursues Her course appointed, with indifferent beams Shining upon the silent hills around,
And the dark tents of that unholy host,
Who, all unconscious of impending fate,
Take their last slumber there. The camp is still; The fires have moulder'd, and the breeze which stirs The soft and snowy embers, just lays bare At times a red and evanescent light, Or for a moment wakes a feeble flame. They by the fountain hear the stream below, Whose murmurs, as the wind arose or fell, Fuller or fainter reach the ear attuned. And now the nightingale, not distant far, Began her solitary song; and pour'd To the cold moon a richer, stronger strain Than that with which the lyric lark salutes The new-born day. Her deep and thrilling song Seem'd with its piercing melody to reach The soul, and in mysterious unison.
Blend with all thoughts of gentleness and love. Their hearts were open to the healing power Of nature; and the splendour of the night, The flow of waters, and that sweetest lay Came to them like a copious evening dew Falling on vernal herbs which thirst for rain."
RHYMES OF IDLENESS.
"I HAVE great delight," said Egeria one evening as she was communing with the Bachelor on the literary accomplishments of several great characters, "in reading those little poetical sketches in which some of the most eminent statesmen have occasionally unbended. I do not speak of statesmen who had a decided bias for authorship, and who have published books, but of such as, in some few moments of gayety and enjoyment, have drawn their fingers playfully over the strings of the lyre, and brought forth tunes and melodies that make one regret they had not more cultivated the art. The great Earl of Chatham has, in two or three instances, imitated Horace with much taste and freedom; but I think the following little piece by Sir William Blackstone, the celebrated judge and expounder of the principles of English law, is not inferior to some of the happiest effusions of the regular-bred poets. It is not certainly of a very high order of poetry, but the verses are imbued with elegance, and the sentiments breathe the feelings of an amiable heart.”
THE LAWYER'S FAREWELL TO HIS MUSE.
"As by some tyrant's stern command, A wretch forsakes his native land, In foreign climes condemn'd to roam, An endless exile from his home, Pensive he treads the destined way,
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