THE LUTE. I have seen the scimetar in the Sahib's hand, and the sceptre in the Rajah's; I have seen the one rusted, and the other broken. And I have seen the lute ring over the graves of the Sahib and the Rajah. Let me then take the lute, and with it win thee.-Bengalee Poem. THE masters of the earth have died, And take my lute and sing to thee. I saw his chieftains trampling round ; I heard his trumpet's stormy sound: The eve was on the mountain's brow: I saw the host returning slow The Rajah's corse, cold, bleeding, bare, My steps were once in lordly halls, What's life?-at best a wandering breath, Soon, soon alike the bond and free- Gleams through the thicket's fragrant gloom. CROLY. THE WAR OF THE LEAGUE. Now glory to the Lord of Hosts, from whom all glories are! And glory to our Sovereign Liege, King Henry of Navarre! Now let there be the merry sound of music and of dance, Through thy corn-fields green, and sunny vines, oh pleasant land of France! And thou, Rochelle, our own Rochelle, proud city of the waters, Again let rapture light the eyes of all thy mourning daughters. As thou wert constant in our ills, be joyous in our joy, For cold, and stiff, and still are they who wrought thy walls annoy. Hurrah! hurrah! a single field hath turn'd the chance of war, Hurrah! hurrah! for Ivry, and King Henry of Na varre. Oh! how our hearts were beating, when, at the dawn of day, We saw the army of the League drawn out in long array; With all its priest-led citizens, and all its rebel peers, And Appenzel's stout infantry, and Egmont's Flemish spears. There rode the brood of false Lorraine, the curses of our land! And dark Mayenne was in the midst, a truncheon in his hand; And, as we look'd on them, we thought of Seine's empurpled flood, And good Coligni's hoary hair, all dabbled with his blood; And we cried unto the living God, who rules the fate of war, To fight for his own holy name, and Henry of Na varre. The King is come to marshal us, in all his armour drest, And he has bound a snow-white plume upon his gallant crest. He look'd upon his people, and a tear was in his eye; He look'd upon the traitors, and his glance was stern and high. Right graciously he smiled on us, as roll'd from wing to wing, Down all our line, a deafening shout, 'God save our Lord the King!' 'And if my standard-bearer fall, as fall full well he may, For never saw I promise yet of such a bloody fray,— Press where ye see my white plume shine, amidst the ranks of war, And be your oriflamme, to-day, the helmet of Na varre.' Hurrah! the foes are moving! Hark to the mingled din Of fife, and steed, and trump, and drum, and roaring culverin! The fiery Duke is pricking fast across St. André's plain, With all the hireling chivalry of Guelders and Al mayne. Now by the lips of those ye love, fair gentlemen of France, Charge for the golden lilies now,-upon them with the lance! A thousand spurs are striking deep, a thousand spears in rest, A thousand knights are pressing close behind the snow-white crest; And in they burst, and on they rush'd, while, like a guiding star, Amidst the thickest carnage blazed the helmet of Navarre. Now, God be praised, the day is ours! Mayenne hath turn'd his rein., D'Aumale hath cried for quarter. The Flemish Count is slain. Their ranks are breaking like thin clouds before a Biscay gale; The field is heap'd with bleeding steeds, and flags, and cloven mail; And then we thought on vengeance, and, all along our van, Remember St. Bartholomew,' was pass'd from man to man; But out spake gentle Henry, 'No Frenchman is my foe: Down, down with every foreigner, but let your bre thren go.' Oh! was there ever such a knight, in friendship or in war, As our Sovereign Lord, King Henry, the soldier of Navarre? Ho! maidens of Vienna! Ho! matrons of Lucerne! Weep, weep, and rend your hair for those who never shall return. Ho! Philip, send, for charity, thy Mexican pistoles, That Antwerp monks may sing a mass for thy poor spearmen's souls! Ho! gallant nobles of the League, look that your arms be bright! Ho! burghers of Saint Genevieve, keep watch and ward to-night! For our God hath crush'd the tyrant, our God hath raised the slave, And mock'd the counsel of the wise, and the valour of the brave. Then glory to his holy name, from whom all glories are; And glory to our Sovereign Lord, King Henry of Na varre. CURTIUS. MACAULEY THERE is a multitude, in number like |