beauty of tropical nature; or to the moralist and the politician who want to solve the problem of how man may be best governed under new and varied conditions. 4. A native band was playing almost all the evening, and I had a good opportunity of seeing the instruments and musicians. The former are chiefly gongs of various sizes, arranged in sets of from eight to twelve, on low wooden frames. Each set is played by one performer with one or two drumsticks. There are also some very large gongs, played singly or in pairs, and taking the place of our drums and kettledrums. Other instruments are formed by broad metallic bars, supported on strings stretched across frames; and others again of strips of bamboo similarly placed and producing the highest notes. Besides these there were a flute and a curious two-stringed violin, requiring in all twenty-four performers. There was a conductor, who led off and regulated the time, and each performer took his part, coming in occasionally with a few bars so as to form a harmonious combination. The pieces played were long and complicated, and some of the players were mere boys, who took their parts with great precision. The general effect was very pleasing, but, owing to the similarity of most of the instruments, more like a gigantic musical box than one of our bands; and in order to enjoy it thoroughly it is necessary to watch the large number of performers who are engaged in it. 5. The road to Wonosalem led through a magnificent forest, in the depths of which we passed a fine ruin of what appeared to have been a royal tomb or mausoleum.1 It is formed entirely of stone, and elaborately carved. Near the base is a course of boldly projecting blocks, sculptured in high relief, with a series of scenes which are probably incidents in the life of the defunct.2 These are all beautifully executed, some of the figures of animals in particular being easily recognisable and very accurate. The general design, as far as the ruined state of the upper part will permit of its being seen, is very good, effect being given by an immense number and variety of projecting or retreating courses of squared stones in place of mouldings. The size of this structure is about thirty feet square by twenty high, and as the traveller comes suddenly upon it on a small elevation by the roadside, overshadowed by gigantic trees, overrun with plants and creepers, and closely backed by the gloomy forest, he is struck by the solemnity and picturesque beauty of the scene, and is led to ponder on the strange law of progress, which looks so like retrogression, and which in so many distant parts of the world has exterminated or driven out a highly artistic and constructive race, to make room for one which, as far as we can judge, is very far its inferior. 6. Few Englishmen are aware of the number and beauty of the architectural remains in Java. They have never been popularly illustrated or described, and it will therefore take most persons by surprise to learn that they far surpass those of Central America, perhaps even those of India. One is overwhelmed ' Mausoleum, a stately tomb or monument. 2 Defunct, a dead person. • Retrogression, going back. by the contemplation of these innumerable sculptures, worked with delicacy and artistic feeling in a hard, intractable rock, and all found in one tropical island. What could have been the state of society, what the amount of population, what the means of subsistence which rendered such gigantic works possible, will, perhaps, ever remain a mystery; and it is a wonderful example of the power of religious ideas in social life, that in the very country where, five hundred years ago, these grand works were being yearly executed, the inhabitants now only build rude houses of bamboo and thatch, and look upon these relics of their forefathers with ignorant amazement, as the undoubted productions of giants or of demons. From WALLACE's Malay Archipelago, by permission of Messrs. MACMILLAN and Co. KING HENRY'S SPEECH BEFORE THE BATTLE OF AGINCOURT. I. West. O that we now had here [Enter KING HENRY, But one ten thousand of those men in England, That do no work to-day! K. Hen. What's he that wishes so? My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin : The fewer men, the greater share of honour. No, 'faith, my coz,2 wish not a man from England. 10. God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour, As one man more, methinks, would share from me, For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more. Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host, That he which hath no stomach3 to this fight, 6 4 Crowns for convoys, money to pay his expenses home. 5 Fears his fellowship, who hesitates to cast in his lot with us, be the result life or death. ❝ Feast of Crispian is a festival in honour of St. Crispin, who was a shoemaker, and was chosen by the craft as their Patron Saint. The Rev. Alban Butler, in his Lives of the Saints, says, 'St. Crispin and St. Crispinian, two glorious martyrs, came from Rome to preach at Soissons, in France, towards the middle of the third century, and, in 20. He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, Then will he strip his sleeve, and show his scars, 30. What feats he did that day. Then shall our names, Familiar in his mouth as household wordsHarry the king, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloster— We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; And gentlemen in England, now a-bed, Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, SHAKESPEARE's King Henry V. imitation of St. Paul, worked with their hands in the night, making shoes, although they were said to be nobly born, and brothers.' 1 Vigil, the night before St. Crispin's day. 2 Advantages, with credit and praise from others. Vile, low, humble, The word is not used here with any bad sense. |