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Thus said the gallant Ponsonby, and rushed upon the

foe,

Three spears transfixed him thro' and thro', and soon they laid him low;

And there he lay, his horse and he, upon the battle field,

Twin hearts almost too proud to die, and far too brave to yield.

With arm about his charger's neck the valiant warrior

died,

Yet was his dying thought on one, that late had been his bride;

He gazed upon her likeness then, and with a tearful eye, Breath'd in a kiss of wishes fond his soul in latest sigh.

And there on bloody Waterloo the chieftain now doth rest,

Still sleeping with his faithful steed, and pillowed on his

breast,

Like brothers, side by side in death they ever calmly lie, The noble and the faithful steed, and gallant Ponsonby. W. M.

LESSON XVI.

THE SUPERSTITIONS OF ANTIQUITY.

'Tis not merely

The human being's pride that people's space
With life and mystical predominance;

Since likewise for the stricken heart of Love
This visible nature, and this common world,
Is all too narrow: yea, a deeper import
Lurks in the legend told my infant years
Than lies upon that truth, we live to learn.
For fable is Love's world, his home, his birth-place:

Delightedly dwells he 'mong fays and talismans,

And spirits; and delightedly believes

Divinities, himself being divine.

The intelligible forms of ancient poets,
The fair humanities of old religion,

The Power, the Beauty, and the Majesty,
That had her haunts in dale, or piny mountain,
Or forest by slow stream, or pebbly spring,

Or chasms and wat'ry depths; all these have vanish'd.
They live no longer in the faith of reason!
But still the heart doth need a language, still
Doth the old instinct bring back the old names,
And to yon starry world they now are gone,
Spirits or gods, that used to share this earth
With man as with their friend; and to the lover
Yonder they move, from yonder visible sky
Shoot influence down: and even at this day
'Tis Jupiter who brings whate'er is great,
And Venus every thing that's fair!

LESSON XVII.

TRIAL OF CHARLES I.

Coleridge.

On the morning of January 20th, 1648, towards noon, the High Court, having first held its secret sitting in the Painted Chamber, prepared to enter upon the final details of its mission. Prayers were scarcely over, before it was announced that the king, borne in a close sedan between two ranks of soldiers, was on the point of making his appearance. Cromwell ran to the windows, and as suddenly hastened back, pale, yet highly excited. He is here!—he is here! sirs; the hour for this grand affair draws nigh! Decide promptly, I beseech you, what you intend to reply; for he will instantly inquire in whose name, and by what authority you presume to try him," No one making any reply, Henry Martin at length observed :-" In the name of the Commons

assembled in Parliament, and of all the good people of England." To this no objection was made. The court proceeded, in solemn procession, towards Westminster Hall, the President Bradshaw at its head. Before were borne the mace and sword; and sixteen armed officers, with partisans, preceded the court. The president took his place, in an arm-chair adorned with crimson velvet; at his feet sat the clerk, near a table covered with a rich Turkey carpet, and upon which were placed the mace and sword. On the right and left appeared the members of the court, upon seats of scarlet cloth; while at the two ends of the hall stood the guards, all armed, a little in advance of the tribunal. The court being installed, all the doors were thrown open the crowd rushed into the hall. Silence being restored, the act of the Commons appointing the court was read, the names were called over, and sixty-nine members were found to be present.

"Sergeant," said Bradshaw, "let the prisoner be brought forward !” The king appeared under guard of Colonel Hacker and thirty-two officers. An arm-chair, adorned with crimson velvet, was in readiness for him at the bar. He came forward, fixed a long and severe look upon the court, and seated himself without taking off his hat. Suddenly he rose, looked round at the guard upon the left, and at the spectators upon the right of the hall, again fixed his eyes upon his judges, and then sat down, amidst the general silence of the court. Bradshaw rose instantly:

"Charles Stuart, king of England, the English Commons assembled in Parliament, deeply penetrated with a sense of the evils that have fallen upon this nation, and of which you are considered the chief author, are resolved to inquire into this sanguinary crime. With this view they have instituted this high court of justice, before which you are summoned this day. You will now hear the charges to be preferred against you." The Attorney General Coke now arose.

"Silence!" exclaimed the king; at the same time touching him on the shoulder with his cane. Coke, surprised and irritated, turned round: the handle of the king's cane fell off; and, for a few moments, he appeared deeply affected. None of his attendants were at hand to take it up he stooped, and picked it up himself, and then resumed his seat. Coke proceeded to read the act, imputing to the king all the evils arising,-first out of his tyranny,-subsequently from the war; and requiring that he should be bound to reply to the charges, and that judgment should be pronounced against him as a tyrant, a traitor, and a murderer. During this time the king continued seated, directing his eye towards his judges, or towards the spectators, without betraying any emotion. Once he rose, turned his back upon the court, to see what was passing behind him, and again sat down, with an expression at once of inquisitiveness and indifference in his manner. Upon hearing the words,-Charles Stuart, a tyrant, traitor, and murderer, he laughed, though he still remained silent. The act being read :- Sir," says Bradshaw, "you have now heard the act of accusation against you: the court expects you to reply."

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The KING. First, I wish to know by what authority I am summoned here ? A short time since, I was in the Isle of Wight, engaged in negociations with both houses of parliament, under guarantee of the public faith. We were upon the point of concluding a treaty. I would be informed by what authority,-I say legitimate authority; for, of illegitimate authorities there are, I know, many, like that of robbers on the highway: I would be informed, I repeat, by what authority I have been dragged from place to place, I know not with what views. When I am made acquainted with this legitimate authority, I will reply.

BRADSHAW. If you had attended to what was addressed to you by the court, upon your arrival, you would know in what this authority consisted. It calls

upon you, in the name of the people of England, of whom you were elected king, to make a reply. The KING. No, sir; I deny this!

BRADSHAW. If you refuse to acknowledge the authority of the court, it will proceed against you.

The KING. I maintain that England never was an elective kingdom: for nearly the space of a thousand it has been altogether an hereditary one. Let me years know, then, by what authority I am summoned here! Inquire from Colonel Colebelt, who is here at hand, if I were not brought by force from the Isle of Wight. I will yield to none in maintaining the just privileges of the House of Commons in this place. But where are the Lords? I see no Lords here, necessary to constitute a parliament. A king, moreover, is essential to it. Now, is this what is meant by bringing the king to meet his parliament ?

BRADSHAW. Sir, the court awaits a definitive answer from you. If what we have stated respecting our authority does not satisfy you, it is sufficient for us: we know that it is founded upon the authority of God, and of the country.

The KING. It is neither my opinion, nor yours, which should decide.

BRADSHAW. The court has heard you: you will be disposed of according to its orders. Let the prisoner be removed. The court adjourns until Monday.

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The court then withdrew; and the king retired under the same escort that had accompanied him. Upon rising, he perceived the sword placed upon the table. I have no fear of that," he observed, pointing towards it with his cane. As he descended the staircase, several voices called out, "Justice! Justice! but far the greater number were heard to exclaim, "God save the king! God save your Majesty!" On the morrow, at the opening of the sitting, sixty-two members being present, the court ordered strict silence to be observed, under pain of imprisonment. On his arrival, however,

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