The broad sun above laughed a pitiless laugh; 40 'Neath our feet broke the brittle bright stubble like Till over by Dalhem a dome-spire sprang white, "How they'll greet* us !"-and all in a moment his Greet, wel roan * Rolled neck and croup* over, lay dead as a stone; Then I cast loose my buffcoat, each holster * let fall, fear; Till at length into Aix Roland galloped and stood. 55 And all I remember is, friends flocking round, And no voice but was praising this Roland of mine, come. of a bay or brown Holster, the case for a horseman's pistol. Burgesses, the inhabitants or free men of a city or borough. THE BATTLE OF THE BALTIC. *—Campbell. OF Nelson* and the North Nelson was born in 1758. He entered the navy in his twelfth year. He was killed on board the Victory, at Trafalgar, in 1805. Prince. The Danish forces were commanded by their Prince Regent, who became king as Frederick VI. in 1801. *The Battle of the Baltic. In 1801 a fleet was sent to break up the confederacy formed by Russia, Prussia, Sweden, and Denmark. Seventeen sail of the Danes were sunk, burnt, or taken in the roads of Copenhagen. The Baltic, a sea in the north of Europe. Its waters are shallow, and from this cause and the numerous rivers which it receives it is only slightly salt. This sea is covered with ice in winter. Leviathan, a huge sea monster mentioned in the book of Job. It is generally supposed to mean the crocodile, though the term is applied to any large marine animal. Bulwarks, fortifica tions. Like leviathans * afloat, Lay their bulwarks* on the brine; It was ten of April morn by the chime; But the might of England flushed Anticipate, to enjoy. To anticipate* the scene; before the time. Van, the front. Adamantine, hard as diamond. Here it refers to the iron guns. And her van * the fleeter rushed ΙΟ 15 20 [each gun "Hearts of oak!" our captains cried, when Spread a death-shade round the ships, Of the sun! Again! again! again! 25 And the havoc did not slack, Till a feebler cheer the Dane 30 To our cheering sent us back. Boom, the noise made by the firing of big Their shots along the deep slowly boom ;*- 35 Light the gloom! guns. As they strike the shattered sail; Conflagration, an ex- Or, in conflagration * tensive fire. Hailed them, called to them. Ye are brothers. This pale, Out spoke the victor then, * As he hailed them o'er the wave: "Ye are brothers! ye are men! refers to the common And we conquer but to save! 55 60 Now joy, Old England, raise! While the wine-cup shines in light ;- Brave hearts! to Britain's pride 70 Elsinore, a town and seaport on island of Zealand, where ships paid toll to the King of Denmark, till it was abolished in 1857. Riou. Captain Riou, gallant and good." Soft sigh the winds of heaven o'er their grave! styled by Nelson "the While the billow mournful rolls, Of the brave! Condoles, sympathi. ses, grieves with others. RELIEVING GUARD.-Bret Harte. CAME the relief.* * 66 What, sentry,* ho! Relief. It is the rule in the army for each How passed the night through thy long waking?" soldier to take turn in "Cold, cheerless, dark,—as may befit The hour before the dawn* is breaking." 5 "No sight? no sound?" "No; nothing save The plover from the marshes calling, 10 5 IO And in yon western sky, about "A star? There's nothing strange in that." keeping guard, and the one who has to do so is called the relief, or is said to be reliev ing guard. Sentry, the one keeping guard. Hour before the dawn. The hour before the morning breaks is considered to be the darkest time of the night. Picket, soldiers placed to guard the outposts of a camp. TO A MOUNTAIN DAISY.—Burns. WEE, modest, crimson tippèd flower, the stour Thy slender stem; To spare thee now is past my power, Alas! it's no thy neebor* sweet, Wi' spreckled breast, * When upward springing, blythe, to greet Maun, must. Amang, among. Neebor, neighbour. Meet, fit. Purpling, at dawn. doomed or fated to be unfortunate. Note the card, &c. As the mariner who neglects to consult his compass may be the cause of the wreck of his vessel, so the poet himself will be certainly ruined if he neglect to note the compass of Prudence, Cauld* blew the bitter-biting north Scarce rear'd above the parent earth * The flaunting flowers our gardens yield 15 High sheltering woods and wa's* maun shield, 20 Of prudent lore,* Till billows rage, and gales blow hard, Such fate to suffering worth is given, which should guide Till, wrench'd* of every stay but Heaven, him through the storms and troubles of this life. Lore, learning. Wrench'd, deprived of. Elate, proudly. Minstrel, one of an order of men who sang to the harp verses composed by themselves or others; a musician, a bard. Sole, only. He, ruin'd, sink! THE LAST MINSTREL.-Scott. THE way was long, the wind was cold, The last of all the bards was he, 20 Old times were changed, old manners gone; Had called his harmless art a crime. A wandering harper, scorned and poor, He passed where Newark's stately tower * The embattled* portal arch he passed, * Of good Earl Francis,* dead and gone, Border chivalry, the brave deeds done on the borders of Eng land and Scotland. Palfrey, a young saddle-horse, a small horse for a lady. Carolled, sang. Caressed, treated with affection and respect. Unpremeditated, not A stranger, William stately tower, now a noble ruin, situated three miles from Selkirk. Yarrow, a river in Selkirkshire. Embattled, provided with a battlement or parapet on the top of the building. The Duchess, Anne, the heiress of Buccleuch, who had been married to the Duke of Monmouth, son of Charles II. Mien, way of conducting one's self; appearance. Menials, the servants. Monmouth's bloody |