before him. But he knew that eternity lay close by the shores of time. He knew that his Redeemer lived.

6. Eloquence, even in that hour, inspired him with his ancient sublimity of utterance. "This," said the dying man, “this is the last of earth." He paused for a moment, and then added, "I am content."

7. Angels might well have drawn aside the curtains of the skies to look down on such a scene-a scene that approximated even to that scene of unapproachable sublimity, not to be recalled without reverence, when, in mortal agony, One who spake as never man spake, said, “It is finished.”

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

SECTION XXXV.

I.

163. SCENE FROM THE COMEDY OF "MONEY.” '

[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.

VELYN. Stout, you look heated!

EV

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.

2

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 interèsts 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!

In the following dialogues, which are supposed to be copies of the conversation of ordinary life, the style of the reader should be spirited, unrestrained, and perfectly free

from effort and declamation.

rated town that is not a city; in 2 Borough, (bůr′rð), an incorpoEngland, a town or village that sends members to parliament.

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!) Keep your interest for young Lord Cipher-a most valuable candidate. This is an awful moment-the constitution depends on his return! Vote for Cipher!

Stout. Popkins is your man.

Evelyn [musing]. Cipher and Popkins-Popkins and Cipher. Enlightenment and Popkins-Cipher and the Constitution! I am puzzled! Stout, I am not known at Groginhole.

Stout. Your property's known there!

Evelyn. But purity of election-independence of voters.

Stout. To be sure: Cipher bribes abominably. Frustrate his schemes preserve the liberties of the borough-turn every man out of his house who votes against enlightenment and Popkins. Evelyn. Right! down with those who take the liberty to admire any liberty except our liberty! That is liberty!

Gloss. Cipher has a stake in the country-will have fifty thousand a-year: Cipher will never give a vote without considering beforehand how people of fifty thousand a-year will be affected by the motion.

Evelyn. Right; for as without law there would be no property, so to be the law for property is the only proper property of law! That is law!

Stout. Popkins is all for economy: there's a sad waste of the public money—they give the Speaker five thousand a-year, when I've a brother-in-law who takes the chair at the vestry, and who assures me confidentially he'd consent to be Speaker for half the money.

Gloss. Enough, Mr. Stout. Mr. Evelyn has too much at stake for a leveler.

Stout. And too much sense for a bigot.

Gloss. A bigot, sir!

Stout. Yes, a bigot! [Puts his hat on, and with his hands in his pocket looks fiercely at Glossmore.]

Evelyn [laughing]. Mr. Evelyn has no politics at all. Did you ever play at battledoor?

Both. Battledoor!

Evelyn. Battledoor-that is, a contest between two parties:

both parties knock about something with singular skill: something is kept up-high-low-here-there-everywhere—nowhere! How grave are the players! how anxious the bystanders! how noisy the battledoors! But, when this something falls to the ground, only fancy-it's nothing but cork and feathers! -Go and play by yourselves-I'm no hand at it.

Stout [aside]. Sad ignorance! Ar'istocrat!1

Gloss [aside]. Heartless principles! Parvenu!'

Stout. Then you dōn't go against us! I'll bring Popkins tomorrow.

Gloss. Keep yourself free till I present Cipher to you. Stout. I must go to inquire after Hopkins. The return of Popkins will be an era in history.

[Goes out. Gloss. I must go to the club: the eyes of the country are upon Groginhole. If Cipher fail, the constitution is gone.

[Goes out. Money versus

4

[Sharp rises my man of

Evelyn. All parties alike! nothing but money! Man!-Sharp, come here!-let me look at you. from the desk.] You are my agent, my lawyer, business. I believe you honest ;—but what is honesty ?—where does it exist?-in what part of us?

Sharp. In the heart, I suppose, sir.

Evelyn. Mr. Sharp, it exists in the breeches pocket! Observe, I lay this piece of yellow earth on the table-I contem'plate you both; the man there-the gold here. Now, there is many a man in those streets as honest as you are, who moves, thinks, feels, and reasons as well as we do; excellent in form, impĕrishable in soul; who, if his pockets were three days empty, would sell thought, reason, body, and soul too, for that little coin! Is that the fault of the man? No! it is the fault of mankind. God made man; behold what mankind has made a god! By the by, Sharp, send a hundred pounds to the poor bricklayer whose house was burnt down yesterday.

Sharp. Yes, sir.

1 Aristocrat, (år' is to krat), one who favors, in principal or practice, a form of government whose power is vested in the chief persons of a state; a haughty, proud, or overbearing person.

2 Par've nu, an upstart; one lately come into notice.

3 E' ra, a fixed point of time from which any number of years is be gun to be counted.

• Versus, against.

Evelyn. Well, man, don't stand gaping there have you no bowels? Go and see to it immediately. [They go out at opposite sides. EDWARD BULWER LYTTON.

II.

164. SCENE FROM "THE POOR GENTLEMAN."

W

Characters: SIR CHARLES CROPLAND-WARNER, his steward-OLLAPOD. ARNER. Your honor is right welcome into Kent. I am proud to see Sir Charles Cropland on his estate again. I hope you mean to stay on the spot for some time, Sir Charles? Sir Charles. A very tedious time-three days, Mr. Warner. War. Ah, good sir! things would prosper better if you honored us with your presence a little more. I wish you lived entirely upon the estate, Sir Charles.

Sir C. Thank you, Warner; but modern men of fashion find it věry difficult to live upon their estates.

War. The country about you so charming!

Sir C. Look ye, Warner: I must hunt in Leicestershire'for that's the thing. In the frosts, and the spring months, I must be in town, at the clubs-for that's the thing. In summer, I must be at the watering-places-for that's the thing. Now, Warner, under these circumstances, how is it possible for me to reside upon my estate? For my estate being in Kent

War. The most beautiful part of the country!

Sir C. Hang beauty! We don't mind that in Leicestershire. My estate, I say, being in Kent

War. A land of milk and honey!

Sir C. I hate milk and honey!

War. A land of fat!

Sir C. Melt your fat! Listen to me: my estates being in Kent

War. So woody!

Sir C. Burn the wood! No, that's wrong; for it's convenient -I am come on purpose to cut it.

War. Ah! I was afraid so! Dice on the table, and then, the ax to the root! Money lost at play, and then, good lack! the forest groans for it.

'Leicestershire, (les'ter sher), an inland country of England, near its center.

Sir C. But you are not the forest, and why the deuce do you groan for it?

War. I heartily wish, Sir Charles, you may not encumber1 the goodly estate. Your worthy ancestors had views for their posterity. Sir C. And I shall have views for my posterity: I shall take especial care the trees sha'n't intercept their prospect. In short, Mr. Warner, I must have three thousand pounds in three days. Fell timber to that amount, immediately. 'Tis my pĕr'emptory' order, sir.

War. I shall obey you, Sir Charles; but 'tis with a heavy heart. Forgive an old servant of the family, if he grieves to see you forget some of the duties for which society has a claim upon you. Sir C. What do you mean by duties?

War. Duties, Sir Charles, which the extravagant man of property can never fulfill: such as to support the dignity of an English landholder, for the honor of old England; to promote the welfare of his honest tenants; and to succor the industrious poor, who naturally look up to him for assistance. But I shall obey you, Sir Charles. [Exit.

Sir C. A tiresome old blockhead! But where is this Ollapod? His jumble of physic and shooting may enliven me ; and to a man of gallantry, in the country, his intelligence is by no means uninteresting, nor his services inconvenient. [Enter OLLAPOD.] Ah! Ollapod!

Oll. Sir Charles, I have the honor to be your slave! Hope your health is good. Been a hard winter here-sore throats were plenty-so were woodcocks. Flushed four couple one morning, in a half-mile walk from our town, to cure Mrs. Quarles of a quinsy. May coming on soon, Sir Charles-season of delight, love, and campaigning! Hope you come to sojourn, Sir Charles. Shouldn't be always on the wing-that's being too flighty. [Laughing.] He! he! he! Do you take, good sir? do you take?

Sir C. Oh, yes, I take. But, by the cockade in your hat, Ollapod, you have added lately, it seems, to your avocations. Oll. He! he! Yes, Sir Charles. I have now the honor to be cornet in the volunteer association corps of our town. It

2 En cùmber, embarrass; to load with debt.

3 Pěr emp to ry, that puts an end to all debate; positive.