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THE INVOCATION.

WRITTEN AFTER THE DEATH OF A SISTER-IN-LAW.

ANSWER me, burning stars of night!

Where is the spirit gone,

That past the reach of human sight,
Even as a breeze, hath flown?

-And the stars answer'd me-"We roll

In light and power on high,

But, of the never-dying soul,

Ask things that cannot die!"

Oh! many-ton'd and chainless wind!
Thou art a wanderer free;
Tell me if thou its place canst find,
Far over mount and sea?
-And the wind murmur'd in reply,

"The blue deep I have cross'd,
And met its barks and billows high,

But not what thou hast lost! "

Ye clouds that gorgeously repose

Around the setting sun,

Answer! have ye a home for those
Whose earthly race is run?

The bright clouds answer'd-" We depart,
We vanish from the sky;

Ask what is deathless in thy heart

For that which cannot die!"

Speak, then, thou voice of God within!
Thou of the deep low tone!
Answer me through life's restless din,

Where is the spirit flown?

-And the voice answer'd-"Be thou still!

Enough to know is given;

Clouds, winds, and stars their task fulfil,

Thine is to trust in Heaven!"

THE SIEGE OF VALENCIA :

A DRAMATIC POEM.

Jndicio ha dado esta no vista hazaña
Del valor que en los siglos venideros
Tendrán los Hijos de la fuerte España,
Hijos de tal padres herederos.

Hallò sola en Numancia todo quanto
Debe con justo titulo cantarse,

Y lo que puede dar materia al canto.

Numancia de Cervantes.

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE history of Spain records two instances of the severe and self-devoting heroism, which forms the subject of the following dramatic poem. The first of these occurred at the siege of Tarifa, which was defended in 1294 for Sancho, King of Castile, during the rebellion of his brother, Don Juan, by Guzman, surnamed the Good.* The second is related of Alonzo Lopez de Texeda, who, until his garrison had been utterly disabled by pestilence, maintained the city of Zamora for the children of Don Pedro the Cruel, against the forces of Henrique of Trastamara.†

Impressive as were the circumstances which distinguished both these memorable sieges, it appeared to the au

* See Quintana's 'Vidas de Españoles celebres,' p. 53.
See the Preface to Southey's 'Chronicle of the Cid.'

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