THE LESSON CCXX. GLOVE AND THE LION. KING Francis was a hearty king, and loved a royal sport, And truly 't was a gallant thing to see that crowning show, Valor and love, and a king above, and the royal beasts below. Ramped and roared the lions, with horrid laughing jaws ; They bit, they glared, gave blows like beams, a wind went with their paws; With wallowing might and stifled roar, they rolled on one another; Till all the pit, with sand and mane, was in a thunderous smother; The bloody foam above the bars came whizzing through the air: Said Francis, then, “Faith, gentlemen, we're better here than there." De Lorge's love o'erheard the king, a beauteous, lively dame, She thought, "the Count, my lover, is brave as brave can be, I'll drop my glove, to prove his love; great glory will be mine." She dropped her glove, to prove his love, then looked at him, and smiled, He bowed, and in a moment leaped among the lions wild: The leap was quick, return was quick, he soon regained the place, Then threw the glove, but not with love, right in the lady's face. "In faith," cried Francis, "rightly done !" and he rose from where he sat; "Not love," quoth he, "but vanity, sets love a task like the " LEIGH DT. LESSON CCXXI. JOHN GILPIN. JOHN GILPIN was a citizen of credit and renown, A train-band captain eke was he of famous London town. John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear, "Though wedded we have been, My sister and my sister's child, myself and children three, He soon replied, "I do admire of womankind but one, Quoth Mrs. Gilpin, "That's well said; and, for that wine is dear, The morning came, the chaise was brought, but yet was not allowed To drive up to the door, lest all should say that she was proud; The stones did rattle underneath, as if Cheapside were mad. John Gilpin at his horse's side seized fast the flowing mane, So down he came; for loss of time, although it grieved him sore, Yet loss of pence, full well he knew, would trouble him much more. "T was long before the customers were suited to their mind, When Betty, screaming, came down stairs, "The wine is left behind!" “Good lack!” quoth he; "yet bring it me, my leathern belt likewise, In which I bear my trusty sword when I do exercise." Now Mistress Gilpin, (careful soul!) had two stone bottles found, Then over all, that he might be equipped from top to toe, Now see him mounted once again upon his nimble steed, So, stooping down, as needs he must, who cannot sit upright, His horse, who never in that sort had handled been before, Away went Gilpin, neck or naught; away went hat and wig; Then might all people well discern the bottles he had slung; Away went Gilpin; who but he? his fame soon spread around, And now, as he went bowing down, his reeking head full low, But still he seemed to carry weight, with leathern girdle braced ; And there he threw the wash about on both sides of the way, At Edmonton his loving wife from the balcony spied “Stop, stop, John Gilpin! Here's the house," they all at once did cry; "The dinner waits, and we are tired:” said Gilpin, “So am I!" But yet his horse was not a whit inclined to tarry there; Away went Gilpin out of breath, and sore against his will, Till at his friend the calendrer's his horse at last stood still. The calendrer, amazed to see his neighbor in such trim, Laid down his pipe, flew to the gate, and thus accosted him : "What news? what news? your tidings tell; tell me you must and shall; Say why bareheaded you are come, or why you come at all!" Now Gilpin had a pleasant wit, and loved a timely joke; "I came because your horse would come; and, if I well forebode, My hat and wig will soon be here, they are upon the road.” The calendrer, right glad to find his friend in merry pin, Returned him not a single word, but to the house went in: Whence straight he came with hat and wig; a wig that flowed behind, A hat not much the worse for wear, each comely in its kind. He held them up, and in his turn thus showed his ready wit; Said John, “It is my wedding-day, and all the world would stare, If wife should dine at Edmonton, and I should dine at Ware." So, turning to his horse, he said, "I am in haste to dine; 'Twas for your pleasure you came here, you shall go back for mine." Ah, luckless speech and bootless boast! for which he paid full dear; Now Mistress Gilpin, when she saw her husband posting down Into the country far away, she pulled out half a crown; And thus unto the youth she said, that drove them to the Bell, "This shall be yours when you bring back my husband safe and well." The youth did ride, and soon did meet John coming back amain; Away went Gilpin, and away went postboy at his heels, With postboy scampering in the rear, they raised the hue and cry: "Stop thief! stop thief! a highwayman!" not one of them was mute; And all and each that passed that way did join in the pursuit. And now the turnpike gates again flew open in short space; Now let us sing, Long live the King, and Gilpin, long live he; And when he next doth ride abroad, may I be there to see! COWPER. LESSON CCXXII. THE NEW YEAR'S NIGHT. ON new-year's night, an old man stood at his window, and looked, with a glance of fearful despair, up to the immovable, unfading heaven, and down upon the still, pure, white earth, on which no one was now so joyless and sleepless as he. His grave stood near him; it was covered only with the snows of age, not with the verdure of youth; and he brought with him out of a whole, rich life, nothing but errors, sins, and diseases; a wasted body; a desolate soul; a heart full of poison; and an old age full of repentance. The happy days of his early youth passed before him, like a procession of specters, and |