Amid the crowded Cirque he stood, and raised to heaven his eye,

For well that feeble old man knew they brought him forth to die!

Yet joy was beaming in that eye, while from his lips a prayer

Passed up to heaven-and faith secured his peaceful dwelling there.

Then calmly on his foes he looked; and, as he gazed, a tear

Stole o'er his cheeks-but 'twas the birth of pity, not of fear:

He knelt down on the gory land-once more he looked t'wards heaven,

And to the Christians' God he prayed that they might be forgiven.

But, hark! another shout o'er which the hungry lion's roar,

Is heard like thunder 'mid the swell on wild tem

pestuous shore;

And forth the Libyan savage bursts-rolls his red eyes around

Then on his helpless victim springs, and beats him to the ground.

Short pause was left for hope or fear-th' instinctive love of life

One struggle made, but vainly made in such unequal strife;

Then with the scanty stream of life his jaws the savage dyed,

While one by one the quivering limbs his bloody feast supplied.

Rome's Prince and Senators partook the shouting crowd's delight,

And Beauty gaz'd unshrinkingly on that unhallow'd ed sight;

But say, what evil had he done-what sin of deepest hue?

A blameless faith was all the crime that Christian Martyr knew.

And where his precious blood was spilt, even from that barren sand

There sprung a stem whose vigorous boughs soon overspread the land,

O'er distant Isles its shadow fell; nor knew its roots decay,

Even when the Roman Cæsars' throne an mpire passed away.

THE ISLAND FISHERMAN,

BY HENRY SAMUEL BAYNES.

THE isle of Sarque is situated nine miles east from the beautiful and luxuriant island of Guernsey. It is but three miles in length, and about two in breadth, and contains between two and three hundred inhabitants, who subsist partly by the cultivation of their little ritory, and partly by the employment of fishing. They are, as are the generality of islanders, most expert at the latter occupation, and dexterous, to a proverb, in the management of their boats.

A few years ago, it was my lot to spend nearly four months under the peaceful roof

of the Pastor of the island.-A man, who, whilst he possesses a mind singularly gifted, has so industriously improved his talents, that, instead of being the guide of those poor and illiterate Normans, he is competent to fill the professor's chair of a chartered university. *

Not many days elapsed after my arrival in this quiet and isolated spot, ere my pious friend had introduced me to the abodes and acquaintance of nearly the whole of his parishioners. And truly the recollection, at this remote period, of the manner in which he conducted himself towards every class of his divine charge, produces in my mind the most delightful and salutary sentiments. The more than brotherly love which he manifested towards them, in reference to all

* Query, is the Right Rev. Dr Sumner, Bishop of Winchester, aware that he has a clergyman in his diocese, possessing such claims upon his patronage, as the above-mentioned individual, pining, with a large family, under the withering influence of a pittance not exceeding fifty pounds per annum? Although this valuable character is not at present the incumbent of the parish of St Mary, Sarque, he may readily be discovered in one of the neighbouring islands.

their concerns, besides his deep and touching interest for their spiritual welfare, was most thrillingly conspicuous. Such was the veneration in which he was consequently regarded, that his fame spread from beyond the limits of his rock-bound parish, to all the neighbouring islands. Well do I recollect the occurrence of an incident, illustrative of this particular. We were walking together through a field, when we beheld before us a sailor, evidently under the influence of liquor. "That man," observed my amiable friend, "does not belong to our island: is it not a pity that my people should be exposed to the example of that poor vagrant?"

As the sailor approached, he appeared an< xious to avoid passing us, but that had been impossible, unless he had turned back upon his footsteps. When, however, within a few paces, he dropped upon his knees, and in all the simplicity and sincerity characteristic of his profession, "he begged his reverence's pardon, but was not much the worse of drink." What were the precise apprehensions of the poor fellow at being discovered