the charms of his polished elocution,-it is well enough for me, sitting in this house, to enjoy the scene; but it gives me most gloomy tidings to convey to my constituents in the lobby. For these reasons, sir, I wish, previously to our entering into this war, to be told what event it is that will put an end to it. EXERCISE XX. THE CONFESSION-FROM THE EPISCOPAL SERVICE. - Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy Spare thou those, O God, penitent; according to thy promises declared unto mankind, in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of thy holy name. Amen. EXERCISE XXI. GERTRUDE.—Mrs. Hemans. The Baron Von der Wart, accused, though it is believed unjustly, as an accomplice in the assassination of the Emperor Albert, was bound alive on the wheel, and attended by his wife Gertrude, throughout his last agonizing moments, with the most heroic fidelity. Her own sufferings, and those of her unfortunate husband, are most affectingly described in a letter, which she afterwards addressed to a female friend, and which was published some years ago at Haarlem, in a book entitled Gertrude Von der Wart, or Fidelity unto Death.' Her hands were clasped, her dark eyes raised, Up to the fearful wheel she gazed, All that she loved was there. The night was round her clear and cold, The holy heaven above; Its pale stars watching to behold The night of earthly love. 'And bid me not depart,' she cried, My Rudolph! say not so! Peace, peace! I cannot go. When death is on thy brow? The world! what means it ?—mine is here- I will not leave thee now! 'I have been with thee in thine hour Of glory and of bliss ; Doubt not its memory 's living power And thou, mine honored love and true, We have the blessed Heaven in view, And were not these high words to flow But oh! with such a freezing eye, With such a curdling cheek-Love, love! of mortal agony, Thou, only thou, shouldst speak! The winds rose high-but with them rose Beside his tortured form, And pouring her deep soul in prayer She wiped the death damps from his brow, Whose touch upon the lute chords low, She spread her mantle o'er his breast, Oh! lovely are ye, Love and Faith, She had her meed-one smile in Death And his worn spirit passed. While even as o'er a martyr's grave, She knelt on that sad spot, And, weeping, blessed the God who gave EXERCISE XXII. MEETING OF SATAN AND DEATH AT THE GATE OF HELL.-Milton. Meanwhile the adversary of God and man, He scours the right hand coast, sometimes the left; As when far off at sea a fleet descried Ply stemming nightly toward the pole: so seemed Hell bounds, high reaching to the horrid roof, And thrice three fold the gates: three folds were brass, Three iron, three of adamantine rock The one seemed woman to the waist, and fair, With mortal sting; about her middle round Far less abhorred than these Vexed Scylla, bathing in the sea that parts The other shape, If shape it might be called that shape had none Or substance might be called that shadow seemed: And shook a dreadful dart; what seemed his head The likeness of a kingly crown had on. Satan was now at hand; and from his seat The monster moving, onward came as fast With horrid strides; Hell trembled as he strode. |