Decked in their homespun flax and wool! Where youth's gay hats with blossoms bloom; And every maid with simple art, Wears on her breast, like her own heart, A bud whose depths are all perfume; The pastor came; his snowy locks Hallowed his brow of thought and care; The pastor rose; the prayer was strong; He spoke of wrongs too long endured, Even as he spoke, his frame, renewed Rose, as it seemed, a shoulder higher; A moment there was awful pause, י! The other shouted, "Nay, not so, And now before the open door The warrior priest had ordered so So loud and clear, it seemed the ear And there the startling drum and fife The great bell swung as ne'er before: "Who dares?" - this was the patriot's cry, For her to live, for her to die?" A hundred voices answered, “I!” - THOMAS BUCHANAN READ. RALEIGH AND QUEEN ELIZABETH AT this moment the gates opened and ushers came forth in array. After these, amid a crowd of lords and ladies, so placed around her that she could see and be seen on all sides, came Elizabeth herself. She was then in the full glow of what in a sovereign was called beauty, and possessed a noble figure joined to striking and commanding features. Young Walter Raleigh had never before been so near the person of the Queen, and he pressed forward as far as the line of guards permitted. Unbonneting, at the same time he fixed his eager gaze on the Queen's approach with a mixture of respectful curiosity and modest, yet ardent admiration. Walter then withdrew. The guards, struck with his rich attire and noble countenance, allowed him to approach the ground over which the Queen was to pass, somewhat closer than was permitted to ordinary spectators. Thus the adventurous youth stood full in Elizabeth's eye, and she fixed her keen glance on Walter as she approached the place where he stood. Just then there occurred an incident that drew her attention toward him yet more strongly. The night had been rainy, and just where the young gentleman stood a small quantity of mud interrupted the Queen's passage. As she hesitated to pass on, Walter, snatching his cloak from his shoulder, threw it on the miry spot so as to insure her stepping over it without soiling her feet. Elizabeth looked at the young man, who accompanied this act of devoted courtesy with a profound reverence, and a blush that overspread his whole countenance. The Queen was confused, and blushed in her turn, nodded her head, and hastily passed |