Ah, lady! heed the monitor! thy mirror tells thee truth; LESSON CLXXI. THE OLD WEDDING RING. [The device-two hearts united. The motto "Dear love of mine, my heart is thine."] I LIKE that ring, that ancient ring, The men and days of deeds sublime. But most I like it, as it tells He won his fair and blooming bride; How, till the appointed day arrived, They blamed the lazy-footed hours; Strewed their glad way with freshest flowers; They stood in all their youthful pride, All this it tells; the plighted truth, I like its old and quaint device; Two blended hearts; though time may wear them, No mortal change, no mortal chance, Till death, shall e'er in sunder tear them. Year after year, 'neath sun and storm, Their hopes in heaven, their trust in God, These two the world's rough pathway trod. Age might impair their youthful fires, Their strength might fail, 'mid life's bleak weather, Still, hand in hand, they traveled on; True hearts! they slumber now together. I like its simple poesy too; "Mine own dear love, this heart is thine!" As when the cloudless sunbeams shine: Remnant of days departed long, Emblem of plighted troth unbroken, Of heartfelt, holy love, the token; G. W. DOANE. LESSON CLXXII. HOME AND LOVE. Rienzi. CLAUDIA-nay, start not! Thou art sad to-day; I found thee sitting idly, 'mid thy maids; A pretty, laughing, restless band, who plied As marble, those unseeing eyes were fixed To bear a merry heart with that clear voice, Cla. Oh! mine old home! Rie. What ails thee, lady-bird? Cla. Father, I love not this new state; these halls, With flowers and herbs, thick-set as grass in fields; Rie. Why, simple child, thou hast thine old, fond nurse. And good Camillo, and shalt have thy doves, Thy myrtles, flowers, and cedars: a whole province In Christendom but would right proudly kneel Cla. Oh! mine own dear home! Rie. Wilt have a list to choose from? Listen, sweet! If the tall cedar, and the branchy myrtle, And the white doves, were tell-tales, I would ask them, And if, at eventide they heard not oft A tuneful mandolin, and then, a voice, Clear in its manly depth, whose tide of song Cla. Oh, father! father! [runs to him, and falls upon his neck.] Rie. Well! Dost love him, Claudia? Cla. Father! Rie. Dost thou love Young Angelo? Yes? Said'st thou yes? That heart, I cannot hear thy words. He is returned To Rome; he left thee on mine errand, dear one; Cla. Oh, father! father! Rie. Now, Back to thy maidens, with a lightened heart, Cla. Alas! alas! I tremble at the hight. Whene'er I think And the inconstancy of power, I tremble Rie. Tremble? let them tremble. I am their master, Claudia, whom they scorned, MISS MITFord. LESSON CLXXIII. CLAUDIA PLEADING FOR HER HUSBAND. Claudia. [Without.] Father! father! Rienzi. Guard the door! Be sure ye give not way. Cla. [Without.] Father! Rie. To see Her looks! her tears! Cla. Enter Claudia hastily. Who dares to stop me? Father! Rie. I bade ye guard the entrance. Cla. Against me? Ye must have men and gates of steel, to bar Where is he? They said he was with you-he—thou know'st He lives. Cla. Oh! blessings on thy heart, dear father! Blessings on thy kind heart! When shall I see him? Is he in prison? Fear hath made me weak, And wordless as a child. Oh! send for him. Thou hast pardoned him; didst thou not say but now Thou hadst pardoned him? Cla. Oh, thou hast thou hast! This is the dalliance thou wast wont to hold Cla. Ay! I am thine own Claudia, whose first word Was father! These are the same hands that clung Around thy knees, a tottering babe; the lips That, ere they had learned speech, would smile, and seek To meet thee with an infant's kiss; these eyes Thou hast called so like my mother's, eyes that never Looked on thee, but with looks of love. Oh, pardon! Nay, father, speak not yet; thy brows are knit Into a sternness. Pr'ythee speak not yet! Rie. This traitor Cla. Call him as thou wilt, but pardon ! Oh, pardon! Rie. He defies me. Cla. See, I kneel. And he shall kneel, shall kiss thy feet; wilt pardon? |