of Heaven: it mingles its voice with that of revelation; it summons you, in these hours when the leaves fall, and the winter is gathering, to that evening study which the mercy of Heaven has provided in the book of salvation; and while the shadowy valley opens which leads to the abode of death, it speaks of that Land which can comfort and can save, and which can conduct to those "green pastures and those still waters," where there is an eternal spring for the children of God.

ARCHIBALD ALISON.

1.

2.

175. THE DEATH OF ADAM.

HE sun, in summer majesty on high,

1 Darted his merce e fulgence down the sky;

Yet dimm'd and blunted were the dazzling rays,
His orb expanded through a dreary haze,
And, circled with a red, portentous zone,
He look'd in sickly horror from his throne:
The vital air was still; the torrid heat
Oppress'd our hearts, that labor'd hard to beat.
When higher noon had shrunk the lessening shade,
Thence to his home our father we convey'd;
And stretch'd him, pillow'd with his latest sheaves,
On a fresh couch of green and fragrant leaves.

Here, though his sufferings through the glen were known,
We chose to watch his dying-bed alone,

Eve, Seth, and I.3

In vain he sigh'd for rest,

And oft his meek complainings thus express'd:

"Blow on me, Wind! I faint with heat! Oh, bring
Delicious water from the deepest spring;

Your sunless shadows o'er my limbs diffuse,1

Ye Cedars! wash me cold with midnight dews;
Cheer me, my friends! with looks of kindness cheer;
Whisper a word of comfort in mine ear;

'Ef ful' gence, a flood of light; splendor.- Por tent' ous, ominous; foreboding ill.- ENOCH is here supposed to relate the circumstances of the death of ADAM. -* Diffuse (dif fùz'), pour out; spread; extend in all directions.

Those sorrowing faces fill my soul with gloom-
This silence is the silence of the tomb."

3. The sun went down amid an angry glare
Of flushing clouds, that crimson'd all the air;
The winds brake loose; the forest boughs were torn,
And dark aloof the eddying foliage borne;
Cattle to shelter scudded in affright;

The florid Evening vanish'd into night:
Then burst the hurricane upon the vale,

In peals of thunder, and thick-volley'd hail;

Prone rushing rains with torrents whelm'd the land;
Our cot amid a river seem'd to stand;

Around its base, the foamy-crested streams

Flash'd through the darkness to the lightning's gleams;
With monstrous throes an earthquake heaved the ground
The rocks were rent, the mountains trembled round:
Never, since Nature into being came,

Had such mysterious motion shook her frame:
We thought, ingulf'd in floods, or wrapt in fire,
The world itself would perish with our sire.

4. Amid this war of elements, within

More dreadful grew the sacrifice of sin,
Whose victim on his bed of torture lay,
Breathing the slow remains of life away.
Erewhile, victorious faith sublimer rose
Beneath the pressure of collected woes;
But now his spirit waver'd, went and came,
Like the loose vapor of departing flame,
Till at the point, when comfort seem'd to die
Forever in his fix'd unclosing eye,

Bright through the smoldering ashes of the man,
The saint brake forth, and Adam thus began:-

5 "Oh, ye who shudder at this awful strife,
This wrestling agony of Death and Life,
Think not that He, on whom my soul is cast,
Will leave me thus forsaken to the last:
Nature's infirmity alone you see;

My chains are breaking, I shall soon be free.
Though firm in God the spirit holds her trust,
The flesh is frail, and trembles into dust.

Thou, of
my
faith the Author and the End!
Mine early, late, and everlasting Friend!
The joy, that once thy presence gave, restore,
Ere I am summon'd hence, and seen no more.
Down to the dust returns this earthly frame-
Receive my spirit, Lord! from whom it came;
Rebuke the Tempter, show thy power to save;
Oh, let thy glory light me to the grave,

That these, who witness my departing breath,
May learn to triumph in the grasp of death."
6. He closed his eyelids with a tranquil smile,
And seem'd to rest in silent prayer awhile.
Around his couch with filial awe we kneel'd,
When suddenly a light from heaven reveal'd
A spirit, that stood within the unopen'd door:
The sword of God in his right hand he bore;
His countenance was lightning, and his vest
Like snow at sunrise on the mountain's crest;
Yět so benignly1 beautiful his form,
His presence still'd the fury of the storm;
At once the winds retire, the waters cease:
His look was love, his salutation "PEACE!"
7. Our mother first beheld him, sore amazed,
But terror grew to transport, while she gazed.
""Tis he, the Prince of Seraphim!2 who drove
Our banish'd feet from Eden's happy grove.
Adam, my life, my spouse, awake!" she cried;
"Return to Paradise; behold thy Guide!
Oh, let me follow in this dear embrace!”
She sunk, and on his bosom hid her face.

8. Adam look'd up; his visage changed its hue,
Transform'd into an angel's at the view.

1 Be nign' ly, kindly; graciously.—2 Sèr' a phim, angels of the high est order.

"I come!" he cried, with faith's full triumph fired,
And in a sigh of ecstasy1 expired.

The light was vanish'd, and the vision fled:
We stood alone, the living with the dead:
The ruddy embers, glimmering round the room,
Display'd the corpse amid the solemn gloom;
But o'er the scene a holy calm reposed,

The gate of heaven had open'd there, and closed.

JAMES MONTGOMERY.

176. THE GLOVE AND THE LIONS.

1. TING FRANCIS was a hearty king, and loved a royal sport, And one day, as his lions fought, sat looking on the court; The nobles fill'd the benches round, the ladies by their side, And 'mongst them sat the Count de Lorge, with one for whom he sigh'd:

And truly 'twas a gallant thing to see that crowning show, Valor and love, and a king above, and the royal hearts below. 2. Ramp'd and roar'd the lions, with horrid laughing jaws; They bit, they glared,' gave blows like beams, a wind went with their paws:

With wallowing might and stifled roar, they roll'd on one another,

Till all the pit, with sand and mane, was in a thund'rous smother;

The bloody foam above the bars came whizzing thro' the air : Said Francis then, "Faith! gentlemen, we're better here than there!"

3. De Lorge's love o'erheard the king, a beauteous lively dame, With smiling lips and sharp bright eyes, which always seem'd

the same;

She thought, The Count my lover is brave as brave can be; He surely would do wondrous things to show his love of me— Kings, ladies, lovers, all look on; the occasion is divine!

I'll drop my glove, to prove his love: great glory will be mine!

1 Ec' sta sy, literally, a being out of one's self; hence, rapture; over powering emotion.-- Glåred.

4. She dropp'd her glove, to prove his love, then look'd at him and smiled;

He bow'd, and in a moment leap'd among the lions wild. The leap was quick, return was quick-he has regain'd the

place,―

Then threw the glove-but not with love-right in the lady's face.

"By heaven" cried Francis, "rightly done!" and he rose from where he sat :

"No love,' quoth he, "but vanity, sets love a task like that!"

177. SCENES FROM THE COMEDY OF 66

LEIGH HUNT.

MONEY."1

EVELYN, a rich man of fashion—STOUT and GLOSSMORE, violent politicians of opposite parties-SHARP, a lawyer.

Enter Evelyn, meeting Stout, who comes in out of breath, with haste-Sharp is seated at a desk.

Evelyn. Stout, you look heated!

Stout [with great eagerness, but pompously]. I hear you've just bought the great Groginhole property.

Evelyn. It is true. Sharp says it's a bargain.

Stout. Well, my dear friend Hopkins, member for Groginhole, can't live another month-excellent creature, the dearest friend I have in the world--but the interests of mankind forbid regret for individuals! Popkins intends to start for the borough' the instant Hopkins is dead!—your interest will secure his election. Now is your time! put yourself forward in the march of enlightenment!-By all that's bigoted, here comes Glossmore! Enter Glossmore.

Gloss. [eagerly]. So lucky to find you at home! Hopkins, of Groginhole, is not long for this world. Popkins, the brewer,' is already canvassing underhand (so very ungentleman-like !)

1 In the following dialogue, which is supposed to be a copy of the conversation of ordinary life, the style of the reader should be spirited, unrestrained, and free from effort and declamation.—2 True (tr3).—3 Cẵn't. - World (wårld).—3 Borough (bůr' rỏ), a town incorporated with certain privileges; in England, a town that sends members to parliament.— Big' ot ed, full of blind zeal; prejudiced.—7 Brewer (brå' er).