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The lightning's past, the post must go,
The song is short, the journey so,

The

pear doth rot, the plum doth fall, The snow dissolves, and so must all.

WASTELL.

THE OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD.

Dweller in heaven, and ruler below!

Fain would I know thee, yet tremble to know!
How can a mortal deem how it may be,

That being can not be, but present with thee?
Is it true that thou saw'st me ere I saw the morn?
Is it true that thou knew'st me before I was born?
That nature must live in the light of thine eye
e?
This knowledge for me is too great and too high!
That fly I to noonday or fly I to night,
To shroud me in darkness, or bathe me in light,
The light and the darkness to thee are the same,
And still in thy presence of wonder I am!
Should I with the dove to the desert repair,
Or dwell with the eagle in clough of the air,
In the desert afar on the mountain's wild brink,
From the eye of Omnipotence still must I shrink.
Or mount I on wings of the morning away,
To caves of the ocean unseen by the day,
And hide in these uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there to be living and moving in thee?
Nay, scale I the cloud in the heavens to dwell,
Or make I my bed in the shadows of hell;
Can science expound, or humanity frame,
That still thou art present, and all are the same?
Yes, present for ever! Almighty-alone,
Great Spirit of nature, unbounded, unknown!
What mind can imbody thy presence divine?
I know not my own being! how can I thine?
Then humbly and low in the dust let me bend,
And adore what on earth I can ne'er comprehend,
The mountains may melt and the elements flee,
Yet an universe still be rejoicing in thee.

HOGG.

THE SUPERIOR BEAUTY OF THE EYE.

Lovely the milk-white orient pearl,
Deep hid beneath the waves that curl
In Ormus' sunny bay;

And bright the blush of the Ruby's red,
When we drag it forth from the secret bed,
In the dark earth where it lay.
But lovelier far the Diamond bright,
Darting its beams of living light

Through the darkness of the mine:
More beautiful its silvery rays,

Than the pearl's soft white, or the ruby's blaze, Or the fairest gems that shine.

So the brow may be pure as the unsunned snow,
And the blushing tints on the cheek that glow
May be exquisitely bright;

But these fading charms can never vie
With the diamond-sparkle of the Eye,
With its pure and lustrous light.
"Tis here the immortal spirit lives,
The spark of heavenly fire, that gives
Expression to the whole ;

Each feeling pictured here we find,
'Tis the index of the mighty mind,

The Palace of the Soul.

A. W. L.

THE POLISH CHILDREN.

Forth went they from their father-land,

A fallen and fetter'd race,

To find upon a distant strand,
Their dark abiding-place.

Forth went they-not as freemen go,
With firm and fearless eye,

But with the bow'd down mien of woe
As men go forth to die.

The aged in their silver hair,
The young in manhood's might,
The mother, with her infant care,
The child in wild affright-
Forth went they all-a pallid band,
With many an anguish'd start :
The chain lay heavy on their hand,
But heavier on their heart!

No sounds disturb'd the desert air,
But those of bitter woe,

Save when at times re-echoed there
The curses of the foe.

When hark! another cry peal'd out-
A cry of idiot glee,

Answer'd and heighten'd by the shout
Of the fierce soldiery.

'Twas childhood's voice-but ah! how wild,
How demon-like its swell!

The mother shriek'd to hear her child
Give forth that soulless yell!

And fathers wrung their fetter'd hands,
Beneath this maddening woe;
While shouted out those infant bands,
The chorus of the foe!

And curses deep and low were said,

Whose murmur reach'd to heaven;
And sighs were heaved and tears were shed,
And woman-hearts were riven;

While all forgetful of their woes,

The children onward trod,
And sang *—and their young
A vengeance-cry to God!

voices rose

*It is said that the Russians intoxicated the children of the condemned Poles, in order that they might sing while on their way to the mines.

145

DRAMATIC SCENES.*

THE TRIAL OF THE MACEDONIAN PRINCES.

Perseus, the eldest son of Philip, the last King of Macedon, having for a considerable time seen with extreme indignation the regard which the Macedonians entertained for his brother Demetrius, took the most culpable means to gain over to his side as many chiefs of the nation as he possibly could, who formed the determination of taking the earliest opportunity of ruining him in the opinion of his father, or of even taking his life. As was the custom, after a certain annual festival the army was reviewed, and a sham fight took place. On this occasion the army was divided into two parts, one of which was commanded by Perseus, and the other by Demetrius; and, although the troops fought with foils, they entered so much into the spirit of the engagement as to cause bloodshed. Demetrius's party had the advantage, which increased the hatred of his brother, and made him more intent than ever on his destruction. After the battle the two princes gave a grand entertainment, and Perseus was invited by his brother to his banquet; he, however, refused to go, but sent a spy, whose object being known, was treated rather roughly by some of Demetrius's party, but entirely without the knowledge of Demetrius. Demetrius, wishing to conciliate his brother, proposed to his friends to visit him; they all agreed, but those who had ill-treated the spy, took with them, privately, arms to defend themselves if attacked, as they expected they might be. This being told to Perseus, he refused their admittance, under the pretence that he feared assassination, and the next day went to Philip, and accused his brother of endeavouring to take his life. Philip immediately ordered Demetrius to appear before him to answer the charge; the accusation and defence form the groundwork of the following dramatic scene.

CHARACTERS.

PHILIP, King of Macedon.
PERSEUS, his elder son.

DEMETRIUS, his younger son.
DYMAS, the King's favourite.
PERICLES, the friend of Perseus.

ANTIGONUS, a minister of state.

* In the Dramatic Scenes, the Orations, Impassioned and Comic Pieces intended for Recitation; those words which are Emphatic are printed in italics, while those which require decidedly a very full emphasis are printed in capitals.

H

The King appears seated. Dymas stands by the side of the King. The King's manner is naturally most dignified, but his peculiar position, in being the judge between his sons, requires the tone of voice to be most solemn, and expressive of the feelings which must necessarily harass and distress his mind.

KING. Bring forth the prisoners. Strange trial this! Here sit I to debate, Which vital limb to lop, nor that to save, But render wretched life more wretched still. What see I, but heaven's vengeance in my sons? THEIR guilty scourge for MINE. 'Tis thus heav'n writes Its awful meaning, plain in human deeds.

And language leaves to man.

Enter PERSEUS and DEMETRIUS in chains, from opposite sides; Perseus followed by Pericles, and Demetrius by Antigonus.

*Dread Sir, your sons.

DYMAS.
KING. I have no sons, and that I ever had
Is now my HEAVIEST CURSE. And yet, what care,

What pains, I took to curb their rising rage!
How often have I rang'd through history
To find examples for their private use?
The Theban brothers did I set before them-
What blood! what desolation! but-in vain !
For thee, Demetrius, did I go to ROME
And bring thee patterns thence of brothers' love;
The Quintii and the Scipios. But in vain!
If I'm a monarch, where is your obedience?
If I'm a father, where's your duty to me?
If old, your veneration due to years?

But I have wept, and you have sworn, in vain!
I had your ear,
and enmity your heart.

How was this morning's counsel thrown away!
How happy is your mother in the grave!

She, when she bore you, suffered less. Her pangs,
Her pungent pangs throb thro' the father's heart.

DEM. You can't condemn me, Sir, to worse than this.
KING. Than what, thou young deceiver? While I live,

* In the most respectful manner. Much affected.

+ With intense feeling.

In a severe tone.

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