The salt sea was frozen on her breast, The salt tears in her eyes; And he saw her hair, like the brown seaweed, On the billows fall and rise. 80 85 THE GLOVE AND THE LIONS.-Leigh Hunt. * King Fran- KING FRANCIS was a hearty king, and loved a royal cis, Francis I. of France. Gallant, showy, splendid. Crowning, complete, perfect. Valour, bravery. Royal beasts, the lions; the sport, And one day, as his lions strove, sat looking on the court: The nobles filled the benches round, the ladies by their side, to make his bride : And 'mongst them Count de Lorge, with one he hoped And truly 'twas a gallant* thing to see that crown ing* show, lion is called Valour* and love, and a king above, and the royal the king of beasts. * beasts below. IO Ramped* and roared the lions, with horrid laughing They bit, they glared,* gave blows like beams, a wind With wallowing might and stifled roar they rolled on Till all the pit, with sand and mane, was in a thun- The bloody foam above the bars came whizzing Said Francis then: "Faith, gentlemen, we're better De Lorge's love o'erheard the king, a beauteous,* lively Beauteous, With smiling lips, and sharp bright eyes, which 15 She thought: "The Count, my lover, is as brave as 20 He surely would do desperate* things to show his love King, ladies, lovers, all look on; the occasion is * She dropped her glove to prove his love; then looked He bowed, and in a moment leaped among the lions The leap was quick; return was quick; he soon regained his place; Then threw the glove, but not with love, right in the "In truth," cried Francis, "rightly done!" and he rose from where he sat : "No love," quoth he, "but vanity,* sets love a task like that!" very handsome. Desperate, fearless of danger, rash. Occasion, opportunity, time,chance. Prove, try, test. Vanity, little pride, idle show. CONSCIENCE.-Shakspeare. WHAT stronger breastplate than a heart untainted? MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS.*—H. G. Bell. HENRY GLASSFORD BELL (1814-1874) was educated for the law, and was, at the time of his death, the Sheriff of Lanarkshire. He had very considerable literary taste, and was a frequent contributor to the Magazines. I LOOKED far back into other years, and lo! in bright array [away. I saw, as in a dream, the forms of ages passed lofty walls, And gardens with their broad green walks, And o'er the antique* dial-stone the creeping 5 And, all around, the noon-day sun a drowsy cloister * dim No sound of busy life was heard, save from the In that first budding spring of youth when all And little recked* they, when they sang, or That Scotland knew no prouder names-held And little even the loveliest thought, before the Of royal blood and high descent from the 10 Calmly her happy days flew on, uncounted in 15 The scene was changed. It was the court, the And 'neath a thousand silver lamps a thou- * Mary, Queen of Scots, was born at Linlithgow in 1542, a few days before the death of her father, James V. In 1558 she was married to Francis, the Dauphin of France, who died the next year, and Mary returned to Scotland in 1561. Her own subjects rebelled, and defeated her troops at Langside in 1568. She then fled to England, where she was executed by order of Elizabeth in 1587. * And proudly kindles Henry's eye-well pleased, I ween,* to see [chivalry :20 The land assemble all its wealth of grace and Grey Montmorency,* o'er whose head has passed a storm of years, * Strong in himself and children, stands the first his among peers; And next the Guises,* who so well fame's And walked ambition's diamond ridge, where 25 And higher yet their path shall be, stronger For before them Montmorency's star shall pale Here Louis, Prince of Condé,* wears his all- With great Coligni* by his side: each name a And there walks she of Medicis,* that proud [Catherine. 30 The mother of a race of kings-the haughty The forms that follow in her train a glorious sunshine make 35 40 A milky way of stars that grace a comet's * But fairer far than all the rest who bask on * Effulgent in the light of youth, is she, the The homage of a thousand hearts—the fond, deep love of one The hopes that dance around a life whose They lighten up her chestnut eye, they mantle They sparkle on her open brow, and high- Ah! who shall blame, if scarce that day, She thought of that quiet convent's calm, its The scene was changed. It was a bark* that And o'er its lee* the coast of France in the light And on its deck a Lady sat, who gazed with Receding, fading from Upon the fast receding* hills, that dim and view. Marvel, wonder. Her mother's land, of the Duke of Guise. Tranquil, peaceful. Ominous, threatening. Holyrood, the residence of the Scottish sovereigns in Edinburgh. This scene relates to the murder of Rizzio, an Italian musician, whom Mary promoted to the office of her secretary. Darnley, the Queen's husband, led the con spirators up a secret stair to Mary's private room, where she was sitting at supper with a few of her attendants and Rizzio. Blanched, made pale. Traitor, one who betrays, a deceiver. Rebel, one who goes against lawful authority. distant rise. No marvel* that the lady wept,—there was no She loved like that dear land, although she It was her mother's land,* the land of child- It was the land where she had found for all The land where her dead husband slept-the repose, 45 and the 50 No marvel that the lady wept-it was the land The future, like the gathering night, was omi- * One gaze again-one long, last gaze-" Adieu, 55 The breeze comes forth-she is alone on the The scene was changed. It was an eve of raw * [rood And in a turret-chamber high of ancient HolySat Mary, listening to the rain, and sighing with the winds, That seemed to suit the stormy state of men's 60 The touch of care had blanched * her cheek— The weight of royalty had pressed too heavy * And traitors to her councils came, and rebels The She * Stuart sceptre well she swayed, but the sword she could not wield. thought of all her blighted hopes the 65 And summoned Rizzio with his lute, and bade |