And driven it might be, by the terror of the storm, from more secure quarters, a bird, at this instant, was dashed against the window, and fell to the ground. "That's a call," continued Peter; "it will be over soon, and we must set out. The dead will not need to tarry. Look at that trail of fire along the avenue; dost see yon line of sparkles, like a rocket's tail? That's the path the corpse will take. St. Hermes' flickering fire Robin Goodfellow's dancing light, or the blue flame of the corpse-candle, which I saw flitting to the church yard last week, was not so pretty a sight-ha, ha! You asked me for a song a moment ago · you shall have one now without asking." And without waiting to consult the inclinations of his comrades, Peter broke into the following wild strain with all the fervour of a half-crazed improvisatore. THE CORPSE-CANDLE. Lambere flamma raços et circum funera pasci. I. Through the midnight gloom did a pale blue light Thrice it paused - till the grave it found. Over grass-green sod it glanced, Over the fresh-turned earth it danced, Like a torch in the night-breeze quivering- Never was seen so blithe a sight As the midnight dance of that pale blue light! II. Now what of that pale blue flame dost know? Canst tell where it comes from, or where it will go ? Over the earth that takes its way, And tarries a moment in mirth and glee Where the corse it hath quitted interr'd shall be? Or is it the trick of some fanciful sprite, That taketh in mortal mischance delight, And marketh the road the coffin shall go, And the spot where the dead shall be soon laid low? master Peter," said Toft, as "but if thou didst see a corpse "I can't say I like thy song, the sexton finished his stave, candle, as thou call'st thy pale blue flame, whose death doth it betoken? 66 - eh!" Thy own," returned Peter, sharply. "Mine! thou lying old cheat dost dare to say that to my face? Why, I'm as hale and hearty as ever a man in the house. Dost think there's no life and vigour in this arm, thou drivelling old dotard? Upon which, Toft seized Peter by the throat with an energy that, but for the timely intervention of the company, who rushed to his assistance, the prophet might himself have anticipated the doom he prognosticated. Released from the grasp of Toft, who was held back by the by-standers, Peter again broke forth into his eltrich laugh; and staring right into the face of his adversary, with eyes glistening, and hands uplifted, as if in the act of calling down an imprecation on his head, he screamed, in a shrill and discordant voice, "Soh! you will not take my warning? you revile me you flout me! 'Tis well! your fate shall prove a warning to all unbelievers they shall remember this night, though you will not. - Fool! fool! your doom has long been sealed! I saw your wraith choose out its last lodgment on Halloween; I know the spot. Your grave is dug already ha, ha! And, with renewed laughter, Peter rushed out of the room. "Did I not caution thee not to provoke him, friend Toft?' said Plant; "it's ill playing with edged tools; but don't let him fly off in that tantrum - one of ye go after him." دو "That will I," replied Burtenshaw, and he departed in search of the sexton. "I'd advise thee to make it up with Peter so soon as thou canst, neighbour," continued Plant; "he's a bad friend, but a worse enemy." 66 Why, what harm can he do me?" returned Toft, who, however, was not without some misgivings. "If I must die, I can't help it I shall go none the sooner for him, even if he speak the truth, which I don't think he do ; and if I must, 'I shan't go unprepared — only I think as how, if it pleased Providence I could have wished to keep my old missis company some few years longer, and see those bits of lasses of mine grow up into women, and respectably provided for. But His will be done. I shan't leave 'em quite penniless, and there's one eye at least, I'm sure, wo'n't be dry at my departure." Here the stout heart of Toft gave way, and he shed some few "natural tears;" which, however, he speedily brushed away. "I tell you what, neighbours," continued he, "I think we may all as well be thinking of going to our own homes, for, to my mind, we shall never reach the churchyard to-night." "That you never will," exclaimed a voice behind him; and Toft turning round, again met the glance of Peter. "Come, come, master Peter," cried the good-natured farmer, "this be ugly jesting ax pardon for my share of it - sorry so give us thy hand, man, and think no for what I did more about it." Peter extended his claw, and the parties were, apparently, once more upon terms of friendship. Ceterum priusquam corpus humo injectâ contegatur, defunctus oratione funebri laudabatur. - DURAND. The A SUPPLY of spirits was here introduced; lights were brought at the same time, and placed upon a long oak table. party gathering round it, ill-humour was speedily dissipated, and even the storm disregarded, in the copious libations that ensued. At this juncture, a loiterer appeared in the hall. His movements were unnoticed by all excepting the sexton, who watched his proceedings with some curiosity. The person walked to the window, appearing, so far as could be discovered, to eye the storm with great impatience. He then paced the hall rapidly backwards and forwards, and Peter fancied he could detect sounds of disappointment, in his muttered exclamations. Again he returned to the window, as if to ascertain the probable duration of the shower. It was a hopeless endeavour; all was pitch-dark without; the lightning was now only seen at long intervals, but the rain still audibly descended in torrents. Apparently, seeing the impossibility of controlling the elements, the person approached the table. "What think you of the night, Mr. Palmer?" asked the sexton, of Jack, for he was the anxious investigator of the weather. "Don't know—can't say -set in, I think-cursed unlucky -for the funeral I mean we shall be drowned if we go." "And drunk if we stay," rejoined Peter. "But never fear it will hold up, depend upon it, long before we can start. Where have they put the prisoner?" asked he, with a sudden change of manner. "I know the room, but can't describe it; it's two or three doors down the lower corridor of the eastern gallery." "Good. Who are on guard?" "Titus Tyrconnel, and that swivel-eyed quill-driver, Coates." "Come, come, master Peter," roared Toft, "let's have another stave. Give us one of your odd snatches. No more corpse-candles or that sort of thing. Something livelysomething jolly-ha, ha!" "A good move," shouted Jack. "A lively song from you -lillibullero from a death's head-ha, ha!" 66 "I am My songs are all of a sort," returned Peter; seldom asked to sing a second time. However, you are welcome to the merriest I have." And preparing himself, like certain other accomplished vocalists, with a few preliminary hems and haws, he struck forth the following doleful ditty: THE OLD OAK COFFIN. Sic ego componi versus in ossa velim. - TIBULLUS. I. In a churchyard, upon the sward, a coffin there was laid, II. For here was wrought the sculptured thought of a tormented face, And emblematic scrolls, mort-heads, and bones together met I ༥ III "Ah, well-a-day!" that sexton grey unto himself did cry, IV. "In digging deep, where monks do sleep, beneath yon cloister shrined, That coffin old, within the mould, it was my chance to find; The costly carvings of the lid I scraped full carefully, In hope to get at name or date, yet nothing could I see. V. "With pick and spade I 've plied my trade, for sixty years and more, VI. And saying so, with heavy blow, the lid he shattered wide, The last, last, dreary, darksome stage of fall'n humanity. VII. Though all was gone, save reeky bone, a green and grisly heap, The hands were clench'd, the teeth were wrench'd, as if the wretch had risen, VIII. The neck was bent, the nails were rent, no limb or joint was straight; And, as the sexton stooped him down to lift the coffin plank, IX. "Ah, well-a-day!" that sexton grey unto himself did cry, "Full well I see how Fate's decree foredoomed this wretch to die; X. A vision drear did then appear unto that sexton's eyes; XI. The coffin then, by reverend men, is borne with footsteps slow, XII. He draweth breath - he wakes from death to life more horrible, Die! die! he must, that wretched one! he struggles, strives in vain; XIII. "Gramercy, Lord!" the sexton roar'd, awakening suddenly, Oh, cast my body in the sea! or hurl it on the shore! It was not difficult to discover the effect produced by this |