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2. What would we give to our beloved?
The hero's heart, to be unmoved;

The poet's star-tuned harp, to sweep;
The patriot's voice, to teach and rouse ;
The monarch's crown, to light the brows?
"He givèth His beloved, sleep."

3. What do we give to our beloved?
A little faith, all undisproved;
A little dust, to over weep;
And bitter memories to make

The whole earth blasted for our sake?
"He giveth His beloved, sleep."

4. "Sleep soft, beloved!" we sometimes say,
But have no tune to charm away

Sad dreams that through the eyelids creep;
But never doleful dream again
Shall break the happy slumber when
"He giveth His beloved, sleep."

5. O Earth, so full of dreary noises!
O men, with wailing in your voices!
O delved gold! the wailer's heap!
O strife, O curse, that o'er it fall!
God makes a silence through you all,
"And giveth his beloved, sleep."
6. His dews drop mutely on the hill;
His cloud above it sailèth still,

Though on its slope men sow and reap.
More softly than the dew is shed,
Or cloud is floated overhead,

"He givèth His beloved, sleep."

7. Ay, men may wonder when they scan A living, thinking, feeling man,

Confirmed in such a rest to keep; But angels say—and through the word I think their happy smile is heard— "He givèth His beloved, sleep!" 8. For me, my heart, that erst did go Most like a tired child at a show,

That sees through tears the mummer's leap,
Would now its wearied vision close,
Would childlike on His love repose,

"Who giveth His beloved, sleep."

9. And friends!-dear friends!-when it shall be
That this low breath is gone from me,
And round my bier ye come to weep,-
Let one, most loving of you all,

Say, "Not a tear must o'er her fall

HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED, SLEEP.

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ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING.

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SECTION XXXIV.

I.

158. QUEEN ISABELLA, OF SPAIN.

ER person was of the middle height, and well proportioned. She had a clear, fresh complexion, with light blue eyes and auburn hair, a style of beauty exceedingly rare in Spain. Her features were regular, and universally allowed to be uncommonly handsome.

2. The illusion which attaches to rank, mōre especially when united with engaging manners, might lead us to suspect some exaggeration in the encomiums so liberally lavished on her. But they would seem to be in a great measure justified by the pōrtraits that remain of her, which combine a faultlèss symmetry' of features, with singular sweetness and intelligence of expression.

3. Her manners were most gracious and pleasing. They were marked by natural dignity and modèst reserve, tempered by an affability' which flowed from the kindliness of her disposition. She was the last person to be approached with undue familiarity; yet the respect which she imposed was mingled with the strongest feelings of devotion and love.

4. She showed great tact in accommodating herself to the

1 En co mi um, a high commenda- the parts of a body to each other. tion; praise. Af` fa bĭl' i ty, easiness of ap › Sym ́me try, a due proportion of proach; readiness to converse.

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peculiar situation and character of those around her. She appeared in arms at the head of her troops, and shrunk from none of the hardships of war. During the reforms introduced into the religious houses, she visited the nunneries' in person, taking her needle-work with her, and passing the day in the society of the inmates. When traveling in Galicia, she attired herself in the costume of the country, borrowing for that purpose the jewels and other ornaments of the ladies there, and returning them with liberal additions. By this condescending and captivating deportment, as well as by her higher qualities, she gained an ascendency' over her turbulent subjects, which no king of Spain could ever boast.

5. She spoke the Castilian' with much elegance and correctness. She had an easy fluency of discourse, which, though generally of a serious complexion, was occasionally seasoned with agreeable sallies, some of which have passed into proverbs. She was temperate, even to abstemiousness," in her diet, seldom or never tasting wine; and so frugal in her table, that the daily expenses of herself and family did not exceed the moderate sum of forty ducats."

6. She was equally simple and economical in her apparel. On all public occasions, indeed, she displayed a royal magnificence; but she had no relish for it in private, and she freely gave away her clothes and jewels, as presents to her friends.

7. Naturally of a sedate, though cheerful temper, she had little taste for the frivolous amusements which make up so much of a court life; and, if she encouraged the presence of minstrels and musicians in her palace, it was to wean her young nobility from the coarser and less intellectual pleasures to which they were addicted. 8. Among her moral qualities, the most conspicuous, perhaps,

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the most elegant dialect of Spain.

• Ab ste mi ous ness, a sparing use of food, or strong drink.

"Duc' at, a coin of several countries in Europe, struck in territory

3 As cĕnd' en cy, superior or con- governed by a duke. A silver ducat trolling influence. is generally of nearly the value of an

4 Turbulent, (têr bu lent), riotous; American dollar, and a gold ducat violent; mutinous. of twice the value.

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Castilian, (kas tel' yan), the lan

guage spoke in Castile, considered

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was her magnanimity.' She betrayed nothing little or selfish, in thought or action. Her schemes were vast, and executed in the same noble spirit in which they were conceived. She never employed doubtful agents, or sinister measures, but the most direct and open policy. She scorned to avail herself of advantages offered by the perfidy' of others.

9. Where she had once given her confidence, she gave her hearty and steady support; and she was scrupulous to redeem any pledge she had made to those who ventured in her cause, however unpopular. She sustained Ximenes in all his obnoxious but salutary reforms. She seconded Columbus in the prosecution of his arduous enterprise, and shielded him from the calumny of his enemies. She did the same good service to her favorite, Gonsalvo de Cordova; and the day of her death was felt, and, as it proved, truly felt, by both, as the last of their good fortune.

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10. Artifice' and duplicity were so abhorrent to her character, and so averse from her domestic policy, that when they appear in the foreign relations of Spain, it is certainly not imputable to her. She was incapable of harboring any petty distrust, or latent malice; and, although stern in the execution and exaction of public justice, she made the most generous allowance, and even, sometimes, advances, to those who had personally injured her.

11. But the principle which gave a peculiar coloring to every feature of Isabella's mind, was piety. It shōne fōrth from the věry depths of her soul with a heavenly radiance, which illuminated her whole character. Fortunately, her earliest years had been passed in the rugged school of adversity, under the eye of

1 Măg`na nim'ity, greatness of mind; dignity or elevation of soul, which meets danger with calmness and firmness, which raises the possessor above revenge, which makes him hate injustice and meanness, and moves him to act and suffer for noble objects.

'Per' fi dy, treachery; falsehood. ' Cardinal Ximenes, (zỉ mè nèz), born 1437, died 1517. He was the queen's confessor.

Obnoxious, (ob nôk'shus), odious; unpopular.

5 Căl' um ny, the uttering of a false charge, proceeding from hatred against another.

6 Gonsalvo de Cordova, (gonsål' vo då kår′ do vå), called also "the Great Captain," was a Spanish warrior, distinguished by his victories over the Moors in Spain, and the French in Naples. Born 1443, died 1515.

"Ar' ti fice, an artful or skillful contrivance; a fraud or trick. "Du plic'i ty, double-dealing; deceitfulness.

a mother who implanted in her serious mind such strong princ ples of religion, as nothing in after life had power to shake.

12. At an early age, in the flower of youth and beauty, she was introduced to her brother's court; but its blandishments,' so dazzling to a young imagination, had no power over hers; for she was surrounded by a moral atmosphere of purity, "driving far off each thing of sin and guilt." Such was the decōrum of her manners, that, though encompassed by false friends and open enemies, not the slightest reproach was breathed on her fair name in this corrupt and calumnious court.

WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT.

B

II.

159. BELSHAZZAR.

ELSHAZZAR is king! Belshazzar is lord!

And a thousand dark nobles all bend at his board; Fruits glisten, flowers blossom, meats steam, and a flood Of the wine that man lovèth runs redder than blood; Wild dancers are there, and a riot of mirth, And the beauty that maddens the passions of earth; And the crowds all shout, till the vast roofs ring— "All praise to Belshazzar, Belshazzar the king!"

2. "Bring forth," cries the monarch, "the vessels of gold Which my father tōre down from the temples of old; Bring forth, and we'll drink, while the trumpets are blown, To the gods of bright silver, of gold, and of stone; Bring forth!" and before him the vessels all shine, And he bows unto Bääl,3 and he drinks the dark wine; While the trumpets bray, and the cymbals' ring,"Praise, praise to Belshazzar, Belshazzar the king!" 3. Now what comèth-look, look!—without menace, or call? Who writes with the lightning's bright hand on the wall?

1 Blǎnd'ish ment, words or actions expressive of affection or kindness, and tending to win the heart, or to flatter.

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4 Cym' bal, a flat musical instru ment, in a circular form, producing, when two are struck together, a sharp ringing sound.

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2 Ca lum' ni ous, slanderous. Měn' ace, the show of an inten3 Bā' al, an idol or false god of the tion to inflict an evil; a threat; the Assyrians and Chaldeans. show of probable evil to come.

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