And died here,-ere he found me. Heaven can tell how far he wandered else! Upon that grave I knelt an altered man, And, rising thence, I fled from Mantua-nor had return'd, But tyrant hunger drove me back again To thee to thee !-my body to relieve At cost of my dear soul! I have done thy work,— Fer. Art thou indeed in earnest ? St. Pier. Look in my eyes. Fer. Saint Pierre, perhaps I have underpaid thee? Fer. I'll double the amount! St. Pier. Come, sign! Fer. Saint Pierre, Will forty thousand ducats please thee? St. Pier. There's The dial, and the sun is shining on it- The point of noon, the breadth of but a hair Fer. (Writing hurriedly.) It is! St. Pier. Your signet, as a proof I am at large: Now take my station in the closet-No Attempt at an alarm-In, in I say! Hold wind we'll make the port.-I thank your highness! [Opens door, speaks aloud, and exit.] LESSON LXXXV. Hours of Idleness.—WORDSWORTH. Whose very languor is a punishment Heavier than active souls can feel or guess. O hours of indolence and discontent, Not now to be redeemed! ye sting not less Because I know this span of life was lent For lofty duties, not for selfishness; Not to be whiled away in aimless dreams, But to improve ourselves and serve mankind, Life and its choicest faculties were given. Man should be ever better than he seems: And shape his acts, and discipline his mind, To walk adorning earth, with hope of heaven! LESSON LXXXVI. Fame.-JOANNA BAILLIE. OH! who shall lightly say that fame Whilst in that sound there is a charm The young from slothful couch will start, Oh! who shall lightly say that fame A desert bare, a shipless sea? Oh! who shall lightly say that fame To earth-worn pilgrim's wistful eye, LESSON LXXXVII. The Pauper's Death-bed.-MRS. SOUTHEY. In reverent silence bow- Stranger! however great, With lowly reverence bow; There's one in that poor shedOne by that paltry bedGreater than thou. Beneath that beggar's roof, Lo! Death doth keep his state: Enter-no guards defend That pavement, damp and cold, Lifting with meagre hands A dying head. No mingling voices sound An infant wail alone; A sob suppress'd—again That short deep gasp, and then The parting groan. Oh! change-Oh! wondrous change Burst are the prison bars— This moment there, so low, So agonised, and now Beyond the stars! Oh! change-stupendous change! There lies the soulless clod: The Sun eternal breaks The new Immortal wakes— Wakes with his God. LESSON LXXXVIII. Last Scene of the Tragedy of" Brutus."-J. H. PAYNE. Citizens Present. At the left of the stage a tribunal, with a consular chair upon it. Brutus enters, followed by Valerius, and ascends the tribunal. Br. Romans, the blood which hath been shed this day Hath been shed wisely. Traitors, who conspire Against mature societies, may urge Their acts as bold and daring; and though villains, [TITUS is brought in by the LICtors. Pris-on-er [A pause. [The voice of BRUTUS falters, and is choked, and he exclaims, with violent emotion Romans! forgive this agony of grief My heart is bursting-Nature must have way— I cannot feel less than a father ought! [He becomes more calm. Gives a signal to the Lic- Well, Titus, speak-how is it with thee now? Ti. Father, I call the pow'rs of heaven to witness The gods will have it so. Br. They will, my Titus : Nor heav'n, nor earth, can have it otherwise. It seems as if thy fate were pre-ordain'd To fix the reeling spirits of the people, And settle the loose liberty of Rome. 'Tis fix'd;-oh, therefore, let not fancy cheat thee: So fix'd thy death, that 'tis not in the power Ti. The axe!--Oh heaven !—Then must I fall so basely? What, shall I perish like a common felon ? Br. How else do traitors suffer ?-Nay, Titus, more— I must myself ascend yon sad tribunal And there behold thee meet this death of shame- Ti. Die like a felon ?-Ha! a common felon !- [Kneels. Br. Think that I love thee by my present passion, Ti. Oh, Brutus! Oh, my father!— When I shall be no more, forget not my Tarquinia. [Rises, |