And when she came on agen at last, what deafening thunder 'o cheers!
Men a-waving their hats like mad-women and kids in tears!
I thought of the night when Kean first set all England's heart astir:
"Sir, the pit ROSE AT ME!" he said; and so it did at her!
And she seem'd inspired, so grand she was, so passionate, true, and warm ;
From the time she open'd her mouth agen, she took the house by storm:
Three times they had her back at the end, and I shall never
How he had to lead her on at the last-I can see and hear
A bonnie couple they were, my boy, and to see 'em together
Hem! bother the smoke; it's been and got into my eyes agen!
He dropp'd me a fiver for a feed for the company next day,
And she bought me this here diamond ring-up to the knocker, eh?
He took a nice little place in Kent, where they're living in style, you know;
And there's always a knife and fork for me whenever I like
It ain't so very long ago—perhaps two or three months, or
Since me and the missus was there for a week, and was
treated "up to the door."
I had their story put in a play, and it answer'd pretty well, But, bless your heart, it wasn't a patch on the genuine article! Well, good-bye for the present, old friend, if you won't have any more:
You won't forget about the bills? Good on yer! O revwar! EDWIN COLLER.
[By kind permission of Messrs. Chatto and Windus.]
THE PARTING OF MARMION AND DOUGLAS
Not far advanced was morning day
When Marmion did his troop array,
To Surrey's camp to ride;
He had safe-conduct for his band,
Beneath the royal seal and hand,
And Douglas gave a guide.
The ancient earl, with stately grace,
Would Clara on her palfrey place;
And whispered, in an under-tone,
"Let the hawk stoop, his prey
is flown."
The train from out the castle drew;
But Marmion stopped to bid adieu :—
"Though something I might plain," he said,
"Of cold respect to stranger guest,
Sent hither by your king's behest,
While in Tantallon's towers I stayed,
Part we in friendship from your land,
And, noble earl, receive my hand."—
But Douglas round him drew his cloak,
Folded his arms, and thus he spoke:
"My manors, halls, and bowers, shall still
Be open, at my sovereign's will,
To each one whom he lists, howe'er
Unmeet to be the owner's peer:
My castles are my king's alone,
From turret to foundation stone;-
The hand of Douglas is his own,
And never shall in friendly grasp
The hand of such as Marmion clasp."-
Burned Marmion's swarthy cheek like fire,
And shook his very frame for ire,
And-"This to me!" he said ;
"An 'twere not for thy hoary beard,
Such hand as Marmion's had not spared
To cleave the Douglas' head!
And, first, I tell thee, haughty peer,
He who does England's message here,
Although the meanest in her state,
May well, proud Angus, be thy mate!
And, Douglas, more I tell thee here,
Even in thy pitch of pride,
Here in thy hold, thy vassals near,-
(Nay, never look upon your lord,
And lay your hands upon your sword),—
I tell thee thou'rt defied!
And if thou saidst I am not peer
To any lord in Scotland here,
Lowland or Highland, far or near,
Lord Angus, thou hast lied!"
On the earl's cheek the flush of rage
O'ercame the ashen hue of age.
Fierce he broke forth;-" And darest thou, then,
To beard the lion in his den,
The Douglas in his hall?
And hopest thou hence unscathed to go?—
No! by Saint Bride of Bothwell, no!-
Up drawbridge, grooms!-what, warder, ho!
Let the portcullis fall."
Lord Marmion turned-well was his need,-
And dashed the rowels in his steed,
Like arrow through the archway sprung-
The ponderous gate behind him rung:
To pass there was such scanty room,
The bars, descending, razed his plume!
O England, awe of earth, how great art thou!
Mother of nations, filler of the lands
With freemen, free-born, who is like to thee,
Or hath been? Egypt and the vanish'd rules
Of Asia swept the earth, but desert winds
That blasted races, and, death dealt, were gone,
Their records, ruins. Greece arose and lit
The dark with glory, but a falling star,
How bright, how fleeting! save that yet her thoughts,
Less mortal than her gods, illume us still.
Rome came and saw and conquered, crushed and pass'd,
Smitten by freemen, she and all her slaves.
Gone are the thrones that the eternal sea
Heap'd riches on and empire-billows huge
That roll'd, and roar'd, and burst upon her shores,
Tyre and the pomp of Sidon-Afric's boast,
Swart Carthage-Venice, and the ocean rules
Of Genoa and of Holland-all are gone.
Spain is the mock of nations once who shook
Even at the utterance of her iron name.
These and their glories are but mutter'd dreams
That by the past's dead lips are feebly told;
But we endure, we, sceptred heirs of power,
Victory and empire, fated to endure,
Gathering fresh might and glory through all time.
Our glory is our safeguard. Wall'd we stand
With mighty memories-buckler'd with bright fames;
Our present, still 'tis pillar'd on a past
That lifts it, glistening in time's marvelling gaze,
An awe and wonder to the trembling world.
Yes; were we aged-did our great life die out—
Were England palsied, as the nations are
That once knew greatness, phantoms of the past
Would rule earth for us, and the subject seas,
So long our tributaries, at the thought
Of what we have been, still would crouch and cringe,
And fawn upon our footstool; but, thank God!
Greatly we stand on greatness-rock-like, plant
Feet adamantine through the flow of time,
No muscle loosening; ever widening still
Stretch the broad bases that uprear our strength,
And thrust us skywards; the hot vines of Spain
Ripen beneath our shadow; the green world
The barks of Palos bared to Europe's gaze,
That is our children's heritage; the isles
That chafe the tropic billows feel our tread;
Lo, other Englands gather in the south,
And 'neath the glare of India we tread out
The bloody wrath that writhes beneath our heel,
And shield the maddening nations from themselves.
Where is the earthly air that has not borne
The record of our glory? What far race
But, naming greatness, to its children tells
Foremost our triumphs, all the mighty names
That are our greatness? For what land on earth,
Sceptred or crownless, can bid glory count
Hero for hero with us-fame for fame?
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