LESSON CXC.-THE VISION OF LIBERTY.-HENRY WARE, JR. The evening heavens were calm and bright; That sparkled from that wilderness of worlds on high; The placid planets held their modest way; And silence reigned profound o'er earth, and sea, and sky. Oh! what an hour for lofty thought! Around me, man and nature slept; Till morning dawned, and sleep resumed her power. A vision passed upon my soul. I still was gazing up to heaven, And all those countless sons of light Flame from the broad blue arch, and guide the moonless night. When lo! upon the plain, Just where it skirts the swelling main, A massive castle, far and high, In towering grandeur broke upon my eye. Proud in its strength and years, the ponderous pile Flung up its time-defying towers; Its lofty gates seemed scornfully to smile. At vain assault of human powers, And threats and arms deride. Its gorgeous carvings of heraldic pride, Yet ivy there and moss their garlands wove, Bursting on my steadfast gaze, See, within, a sudden blaze! So small at first, the zephyr's slightest swell, But soon it spread, Waving, rushing, fierce, and red,— From wall to wall, from tower to tower, 5 Till every fervent pillar glowed, And every stone seemed burning coal, Like streaming radiance from the kindled pole. Beautiful, fearful, grand, Silent as death, I saw the fabric stand. From side to side, throughout the pile it ran; Till now in rattling thunder-peals it grew; Like blazing comets through the troubled sky. In quick explosion disappeared, Nor even its ruins met my wondering eye. But in their place, Bright with more than human grace, Robed in more than mortal seeming, Radiant glory in her face, And eyes with heaven's own brightness beaming,Rose a fair majestic form, As the mild rainbow from the storm. I marked her smile, I knew her eye; Read ye the dream? and know ye not How truly it unlocked the world of fate? Vainly they reared their impotent defence: 5 10 That fervent energy must spread, Till despotism's towers be overthrown; Liberty stands alone! Hasten the day, just Heaven! Accomplish thy design; And let the blessings thou hast freely given, Till equal rights be equally enjoyed, And human power for human good employed; LESSON CXCI.-SHAKSPEARE.-CHARLES SPRAGUE Then Shakspeare rose!- 5 There clustering round, submissive to his will, 10 15 20 Madness, with his frightful scream, Remorse, that weeps, and Rage, that roars, And Jealousy, that dotes, but dooms, and murders, yet Mirth, his face with sunbeams lit, Arm in arm with fresh-eyed Wit, That waves his tingling lash, while Folly shakes his vell. Where the prophet bird's wail Dies along the dull gale, And the sleeping monarch's blood is gushing. Despair, that haunts the gurgling stream, 5 10 20 Then broken-hearted sinks to rest, Beneath the bubbling wave that shrouds her maniac breast Young Love, with eye of tender gloom, Where they met, but met to die :- Where beauty's child, the frowning world forgot, Rapture on her dark lash glistening, While fairies leave their cowslip cells, and guard the happy spot. Thus rise the phantom throng, Obedient to their master's song, 15 And lead in willing chain the wondering soul along. 25 30 LESSON CXCII.-SPEECH OF RIENZI TO THE ROMANS.-. Rienzi. Friends, I come not here to talk. Ye know too well The story of our thraldom. We are slaves! The bright sun rises to his course, and lights 5 A race of slaves! He sets, and his last beam Falls on a slave: not such as, swept along By the full tide of power, the conqueror leads 5. Rich in some dozen paltry villages,— Each hour, dark fraud, Or open rapine, or protected murder, Cries out against them. But this very day, 10 An honest man, my neighbor, there he stands,— 15 At sight of that great ruffian. Be we men, And suffer such dishonor? Men, and wash not 20 Full of all gentleness, of calmest hope, Of sweet and quiet joy," there was the look That gracious boy! Younger by fifteen years, 25 Brother, at once, and son! "He left my side, A summer bloom on his fair cheeks,—a smile Parting his innocent lips." In one short hour The pretty, harmless boy was slain! I saw The corse, the mangled corse, and then I cried 30 For vengeance!-Rouse, ye Romans!-Rouse, ye slaves Have ye brave sons? Look in the next fierce brawl To see them die. Have ye fair daughters? Look To see them live, torn from your arms, distained, Dishonored; and, if ye dare call for justice, 35 Be answered by the lash. Yet, this is Rome, That sat on her seven hills, and from her throne Of beauty ruled the world! Yet, we are Romans. Why, in that elder day, to be a Roman Was greater than a king! And once again, 40 Hear me, ye walls, that echoed to the tread The eternal city shall be free! her sons |