THE DEATH OF HOFER.-JAMES C. MANGAN. FROM THE GERMAN OF JULIUS MOSEN. At Mantua long had lain in chains But now his day of doom was come→ O Heaven! with what a deed of dole With iron-fettered arms and hands The hero moved along, His heart was calm, his eye was clear— Death was for traitor slaves to fear! He oft amid his mountain bands, Where Inn's dark wintry waters roll, Had faced it with his battle-song, Anon he passed the fortress wall, And heard the wail that broke From many a brother thrall within. Your liberty! God shield you all! Lament not me! I see my goal. Lament the land that wears the yoke, So through the files of musketeers And stood within the hollow square. And proudly think on by-gone years! Thank God! had never braved the blast They bade him kneel; but he with all A patriot's truth replied "I kneel alone to God on high As thus I stand so dare I die, As oft I fought so let me fall! Farewell"-his breast a moment swoll With agony he strove to hide- No more emotion he betrayed. To Francis and the faithful men Who girt his throne. His hands were ther Unbound for prayer, and thus he prayed: "God of the Free, receive my soul! And you, slaves, fire!" So bravely fell MAGDALENA, OR THE SPANISH DUEL Near the city of Sevilla, Years and years ago;— And her hair was black as night, When she spoke, you thought, each minute, 'Twas the trilling of a linnet; When she sang, you heard a gush Of full-voiced sweetness like a thrush; And she struck from the guitar Ringing music, sweeter far Than the morning breezes make Through the lime trees when they shake Than the ocean murmuring o'er Pebbles on the foamy shore. Orphaned both of sire and mother How I wooed that maiden fair, And obtained an entrance there. Near the city of Sevilla, Years and years ago. Ay de mi!-Like echoes falling Once again I'm sitting near thee, Once again I see and hear thee Once again I'm whispering to thee Once again with song I woo thee "Twas an autumn eve; the splendor And the twilight, soft and tender, That the eye could scarce discover Toned the golden clouds, sun-painted, Till the blue sky, calm and holy, As Murillo paints her crescent Underneath Madonna's feet. And we sat outside the villa There we sate-the mighty river Silent, dreamy Guadalquiver, Famed in many a song. Silver gleaming 'mid the plain Yellow with the golden grain, Gliding down through deep, rich meadow Where the sated cattle rove, Stealing underneath the shadows Of the verdant olive grove; With its plenitude of waters, Ever flowing calm and slow, Loved by Andalusia's daughters, Seated half within a bower Where the languid evening breeze Shook out odors in a shower From oranges and citron trees, Sang she from a romancero, How a Moorish chieftain bold Fought a Spanish caballero By Sevilla's walls of old. How they battled for a lady, Fairest of the maids of Spain- Pierced the Moslem through the brain. Then she ceased-her black eyes moving, "British maids," I said, "are ever "Wooed not quickly, won not lightly- "And the men?"-"Ah! dearest lady, Where they can and where they may; "Fixed as waves, as breezes steady Como brisas, como rios, No se sabe, sabe Dios." "Are they faithful?”—“Ah! quien sabe? While we may we should be happy."- Then I took up her guitar, And I sang in sportive strain, This song to an old air of Spain. "QUIEN SABE." "The breeze of the evening that cools the hot air, Hither and thither and whither-who knows? II. "The river forever glides singing along, And away flows the river-but whither-who knows? III. "Let me be the breeze, love, that wanders along Be thou to my fancy the orange in bloom, Would the fruit be so golden, so fragrant the rose, Who knows? Who knows? If no breeze and no wave were to kiss them? As I sang, the lady listened, Silent save one gentle sigh: When I ceased, a tear-drop glistened Then my heart reproved the feeling Which I sang in words concealing What my heart would hide in vain. Up I sprang. What words were uttered Love, avowed with sudden boldness, Words half-vague and passion-broken, "Magdalena, dearest, hear me, Sighed I, as I seized her hand |