MARMION AND DOUGLAS.

(From "Marmion.")

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 to 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 't were 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 1"-
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 Bryde 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.

The steed along the drawbridge flies,
Just as it trembled on the rise;
Not lighter does the swallow skim
Along the smooth lake's level brim:

And when Lord Marmion reached his band,

He halts, and turns with clenched hand,

And shout of loud defiance pours,

And shook his gauntlet at the towers.

"Horse! horse!" the Douglas cried, "and chase!"

But soon he reined his fury's pace:

"A royal messenger he came,
Though most unworthy of the name.
A letter forged! Saint Jude to speed!
Did ever knight so foul a deed!

At first in heart it liked me ill,

When the King praised his clerkly skill.
Thanks to Saint Bothan, son of mine,
Save Gawain, ne'er could pen a line:
So swore I, and I swear it still,
Let my boy-bishop fret his fill. —
Saint Mary mend my fiery mood!

VOL. XVIII.

"A chain of gold ye sall not lack,
Nor braid to bind your hair;
Nor mettled hound, nor managed hawk,
Nor palfrey fresh and fair:

And you, the foremost o' them a',

Shall ride our forest queen"

But aye she loot the tears down fa'

For Jock o' Hazeldean.

The kirk was decked at morning-tide,

The tapers glimmered fair;

The priest and bridegroom wait the bride,

And dame and knight are there.

They sought her baith by bower and ha'

The ladie was not seen!

She's o'er the Border, and awa'

Wi' Jock o' Hazeldean.

AUGUSTIN EUGÈNE SCRIBE.

SCRIBE, AUGUSTIN EUGÈNE, a French dramatist; born in Paris, December 24, 1791; died there, February 20, 1861. After studying law, which he abandoned, he devoted himself to literature. His early plays were unsuccessful, but in collaboration with Delestre Poirson he wrote "Une Nuit de la Garde Nationale," which succeeded. In 1816 he brought out "Le Nouveau Pourceaugnac le Solliciteur," which brought him fame; and in 1820 he was engaged by Poirson to write exclusively for his theatre. Here Scribe's masterpieces were produced, including "Le Mariage Enfantin," "La Loge du Portier," "La Reine de Seize Ans," "La Marraine," "Le Mariage de Raison," etc. In 1822 he brought out the drama of "Valérie," in which Mlle. Mars appeared. Scribe wrote many plays with Legouvé, including "Adrienne Lecouvreur' (1849); "La Battaille de Dames" (1851); "Mon Étoile" (1853); and "Les Doigts de Fée" (1858). He wrote in collaboration with several other authors; composed the libretti of a great number of operas, among which were "Les Vêpres Siciliennes" for Verdi; "Les Huguenots," "Le Prophète," "L'Étoile du Nord," and "L'Africaine" for Meyerbeer; wrote several novels, including "Carlo Broschi," "Une Maîtresse Anonyme," and "Piquillo Alliaga." He was elected to the Académie Française in 1836. The whole number of his plays is estimated at four hundred.

LAST MOMENTS.

(From "Adrienne Lecouvreur.")

[ADRIENNE'S apartments. Enter MAURICE.]

MAURICE. [Heard outside.] She will be at home for me, I tell you. [Runs to ADRIENNE.] Adrienne! Adrienne!

ADRIENNE. Maurice!

me! Leave me!

Ah! What have I done! Leave

MAURICE. No! I come to throw myself at your feet! I come to implore your pardon! If I did not follow you when

com

you bade me to-it was because my duty-my honor pelled me to remain; because of an act of kindness, whereof the weight bore me down; I thought so, at least! and I could not suffer the day to end without saying to the Princess, I cannot accept your gold, because I love you not, because my heart is another's! But judge of my surprise when at the first words I address to her, crying out: "I know all! I know all!" trembling, wild, she who never trembles falls at my feet, and with tears, real or feigned, confesses that love and jealousy have turned her brain; and that she herself has been the cause of my imprisonment! She dared confess this and to me, who fondly deemed I owed to her my liberation!

ADRIENNE. O heavens!

MAURICE. To me she confessed this to me, who, downcast and ashamed of having received her benefits, came only to implore of her a few days' delay, that I might repay her, were it at the sacrifice of my blood and my life! And I was free! — free to despise, to hate, to abandon her!-free to hasten to you and seek a refuge at your feet. My protectress! my guardian angel! behold me here. Ah! spurn me not!

ADRIENNE. Can I believe you?

MAURICE. By heaven! - by mine honor, I swear I have told you the truth difficult though it be to explain. Hurled from the pinnacle of my hopes, arrested, thrown into prison, I still am ignorant as to whose hand set me free. Search as I may, I cannot discover who has returned to me my liberty, my sword, and, perhaps, a glorious future! Do you know? Can you help me discover this?

...

ADRIENNE. I know not; I cannot tell. . . MAURICE. Then, Adrienne, it was you? ADRIENNE. And he, my best friend, who assisted me; but we will talk no more of this. You have accepted.

MAURICE. On one condition: that on your part you will refuse naught from me! I know not the future that awaits me; I know not whether I am to win or to lose on the battle-field the ducal crown which the states of Courland have bestowed upon me; but should I prove victorious, I swear to share with you the dukedom which you have aided me to obtain, and confer upon you the name which you have helped me to immortalize! ADRIENNE. Your wife? I!

MAURICE. Yes, you! You are a queen at heart, and worthy to reign over all! Who was it enlarged my intellect? - You!