Its head grew steady-again it went, Again it fell, and swung below, "Sure," cried the king, "that foolish thing Will strive no more to climb; When it toils so hard to reach and cling, But up the insect went once more, Steadily, steadily, inch by inch, And a bold little run, at the very last pinch, "Bravo, bravo!" the king cried out, And Bruce of Scotland braced his mind, That he tried once more, as he tried before, Pay good heed, all ye who read, 'Tis a cowardly word, and apt to lead Whenever you find your heart despair Con' over this strain, try bravely again, 1 Con, think. MISCELLANEOUS SELECTIONS. GINEVRA.-Rogers.-1762-1855. If thou shouldst ever come to Modena,1 8 She was an only child; from infancy 1 Modena, a city in the north of Italy. 2 Reggio Gate, the gate from which runs the road to Reggio, a town not far from Modena. 3 Orsini, an illustrious Italian family. 4 Prithee, I pray thee. 5 Emerald, a precious stone of a green colour. 6 Alabaster, a kind of marble. 8 Sire, father. 7 Coronet, a small crown. Her pranks the favourite theme1 of every tongue. But now the day was come, the day, the hour; And in the lustre of her youth, she gave Her hand, with her heart in it, to Francesco. Great was the joy; but at the bridal feast, 66 And filled his glass to all; but his hand shook, Orsini lived; and long might'st thou have seen Full fifty years were passed and all forgot, That mouldering chest was noticed; and 'twas said 66 Why not remove it from its lurking place?" 'Twas done as soon as said; but on the way It burst-it fell; and, lo! a skeleton; With here and there a pearl, an emerald stone, A golden clasp, clasping a shred of gold; All else had perished-save a nuptial ring And a small seal, her mother's legacy, Engraven with a name, the name of both"Ginevra."-There then had she found a grave ! 1 Theme, subject. 2 Venice, a city in the north-east of Italy. 4 Tenantless, without tenants or inhabitants. 6 Nuptial ring, wedding ring. Within that chest had she concealed herself, MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS.-H. G. Bell.-1814-1874. I looked far back into other years, and lo! in bright array I saw, as in a dream, the forms of ages passed away. 4 And o'er the antique dial-stone the creeping shadow passed, And, all around, the noon-day sun a drowsy radiance cast. No sound of busy life was heard, save from the cloister 5 dim The tinkling of the silver bell, or the sisters' holy hymn. And there five noble maidens 6 sat beneath the orchard trees, In that first budding spring of youth when all its prospects please; And little recked 7 they, when they sang, or knelt at vesper prayers,8 That Scotland knew no prouder names-held none more dear than theirs ; And little ev'n the loveliest thought, before the holy shrine, Of royal blood and high descent from the ancient Stuart line; 1 Ambush, a hiding-place. 2 Mary, Queen of Scots, the daughter of James V., king of Scotland; succeeded her father when only eight years old, in 1542. 3 Stately convent, a priory on the island of Inchmahome, in the lake of Monteith (Perthshire), whither Mary was sent, when about three years old, for safety. 4Antique, old-fashioned. 5 Cloister, a monastery or nunnery. 6 Five noble maidens, Mary Carmichael, Mary Hamilton, Mary Seton, Mary Beaton, and Mary the Queen. 7 Recked, cared. 8 Vesper prayers, evening prayers. D Calmly her happy days flew on, uncounted in their flight, And as they flew, they left behind a long-continuing light. The scene was changed. It was the court, the gay court of Bourbon,1 And 'neath a thousand silver lamps a thousand courtiers throng : And proudly kindles Henry's 2 eye-well pleased, I ween,3 to see The land assemble all its wealth of grace and chivalry: :Grey Montmorency, o'er whose head has passed a storm of years, Strong in himself and children, stands the first among his peers; And next the Guises, who so well fame's steepest heights assailed, And walked ambition's diamond ridge, where bravest hearts have failed And higher yet their path shall be, stronger shall wax their might, For before them Montmorency's star shall pale its waning light. Here Louis, Prince of Condé,4 wears his all-unconquered sword, 4 With great Coligni by his side: each name a household word. And there walks she of Medicis," that proud Italian line, The mother of a race of kings-the haughty Catherine. The forms that follow in her train a glorious sunshine make A milky way of stars that grace a comet's glittering wake; But fairer far than all the rest who bask on Fortune's tide, Effulgent in the light of youth, is she, the new-made bride! 6 1 Court of Bourbon, court of France. 2 Henry, Henry II., King of France, to whose son (Francis) Mary was betrothed before she left Scotland. 3 I ween, I know. + Montmorency, Guises, etc., celebrated French nobles and princes. 5 She of Medicis, the celebrated Catherine de Medici, descendant of a wealthy and powerful Italian family, and Queen of France. 6 Effulgent, bright, splendid. |