Behind and before and on either side, And the Bishop at that grew cold with fear, And when he rang at the palace bell, But soon the Bishop recover'd his glee, And now the Bishop had blest the meat, "With the Emperor now you are dining in glee, But know, Bishop Bruno! you sup with me!" The Bishop then grew pale with affright, And suddenly lost his appetite; All the wine and dainty cheer Could not comfort his heart so sick with fear. But by little and little recovered he, And he forgot his former dread, When he sat down to the royal fare Then from amid the masquers' crowd There went a voice hollow and loud,.. "You have past the day, Bishop Bruno, in glee! But you must pass the night with me!" His cheek grows pale, and his eye-balls glare, And stiff round his tonsure bristles his hair; With that there came one from the masquers' band, And took the Bishop by the hand. The bony hand suspended his breath, Bishop Bruno fell dead in the palace hall. 1798. THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM. It was a summer evening, Old Kaspar's work was done, And by him sported on the green She saw her brother Peterkin Roll something large and round, Which he beside the rivulet In playing there had found; He came to ask what he had found, That was so large, and smooth, and round. Old Kaspar took it from the boy, And then the old man shook his head, And with a natural sigh, ""Tis some poor fellow's scull," said he, "Who fell in the great victory. "I find them in the garden, The ploughshare turns them out! "Now tell us what 'twas all about," Young Peterkin, he cries ; And little Wilhelmine looks up With wonder-waiting eyes; "Now tell us all about the war, And what they kill'd each other for." |