CXXI. DEATH FOR COUNTRY.

PERCIVAL.

The following noble lyric, so classical in its spirit and metrical construction, is an imitation of the martial odes of Tyrtæus, the second great elegiac poet of the Greeks. He was a schoolmaster and lived about the year 660 B. C. By his poems he inspired the Spartans with such courage that they were victorious over their enemies. The author of these lines, in his anticipations of the state of the hero after death, has followed the heathen mythology; but the patriotic sentiment which glows through the poem can never be obsolete.

See in Index, aye, glory, paTRIOT, WARRIOR; ELYSIAN, HEBE, OLYMPIAN, PERCIVAL.

Delivery. For the first stanza a bold orotund quality of voice, rather joyous than plaintive, and a strong middle pitch, with nearly quick time, are appropriate; but in the second, there should be a marked transition to a subdued, pathetic tone and slower time, till the last line of the stanza is reached, when there should be another transition. The remainder of the poem should be rendered in a pure, spirited tone, which should rise in the last stanza to one of cheer and exultation.

O, it is sweet for our country to die!

How softly reposes

Warrior youth on his bier,

Wet by the tears of his love,

Wet by a mother's warm tears;

They crown him with garlands of roses,

Weep, and then joyfully turn,

Bright where he triumphs above.

III.

Not to the shades shall the youth descend
Who for country hath perished;
He'be awaits him in heaven,

Welcomes him there with her smile;

There, at the banquet divine,

The patriot spirit is cherished;

God loves the young who ascend
Pure from the funeral pile.

O, then, how great for our country to die,
In the front rank to perish,
Firm with our breast to the foe,
Victory's shout in our ear!
Long they our statues shall crown,
In songs our memory cherish;
We shall look forth from our heaven,
Pleased the sweet music to hear.

CXXII.

CROMWELL'S EXPULSION OF THE

PARLIAMENT.

LINGARD.

The great historical scene here described took place the 20th of April, 1653. See in Index, MACE, PARLIAMent, Sydney, Vane, Lingard.

1. AT this eventful moment, big with the most important consequences both to himself and his country,

whatever were the workings of Cromwell's mind, he had the art to conceal them from the eyes of the beholders. Leaving the military in the lobby, he entered the Parliament House, and composedly seated himself on one of the outer benches. His dress was a plain suit of black cloth, with gray worsted stockings. For a while he seemed to listen with interest to the debate; but when the Speaker was going to put the question, he whispered to Harrison, "This is the time; I must do it"; and, rising, put off his hat to address the House.

He

2. At first his language was decorous, and even laudatory. Gradually he became more warm and animated. At last he assumed all the vehemence of passion, and indulged in personal vituperation. charged the members with self-seeking and profaneness, with the frequent denial of justice, and numerous acts of oppression; with idolizing the lawyers, the constant advocates of tyranny; with neglecting the men who had bled for them in the field, that they might gain the Presbyterians, who had apostatized from the cause; and with doing all this in order to perpetuate their own power, and to replenish their own purses. But their time was come; the Lord had disowned them; he had chosen more worthy instruments to perform his work.

3. Here the orator was interrupted by Sir Peter Wentworth, who declared that he had never heard language so unparliamentary, -language, too, the more offensive, because it was addressed to them by their own servant, whom they had made what he was. At these words, Cromwell put on his hat, and, springing from his place, exclaimed, "Come, come, sir, I will put an end to your prating!" For a few seconds, apparently in the most violent agitation, he paced forward and backward, and then, stamping on the floor, added, "You are no Parliament! I say you are no Parliament! Bring them in, bring them in!" Instant

ly the door opened, and Colonel Worsley entered, followed by more than twenty musketeers.

4. "This," cried Sir Henry Vane, "is not honest; it is against morality and common honesty.” "Sir Henry Vane,” replied Cromwell; "O Sir Henry Vane! The Lord deliver me from Sir Henry Vane ! He might have prevented this. But he is a juggler, and has not common honesty himself! From Vanc he directed his discourse to Whitelock, on whom he poured a torrent of abuse; then pointing to Chaloner, "There," he cried, "sits a drunkard"; and afterwards selecting different members in succession, he described them as dishonest and corrupt livers, a shame and scandal to the profession of the Gospel.

5. Suddenly, however, checking himself, he turned to the guard, and ordered them to clear the House. At these words, Colonel Harrison took the Speaker by the hand, and led him from the chair; Algernon Sydney was next compelled to quit his seat; and the other members, eighty in number, on the approach of the military, rose and moved toward the door.

6. Cromwell now resumed his discourse. "It is you," he exclaimed, "that have forced me to do this. I have sought the Lord both day and night, that he would rather slay me than put me on the doing of this work." Alderman Allan took advantage of these words to observe that it was not yet too late to undo what had been done; but Cromwell instantly charged him with peculation, and gave him into custody. When all were gone, fixing his eye on the mace, "What," said he, "shall we do with this fool's bawble? Here, carry it away." Then, taking the act of dissolution from the clerk, he ordered the doors to be locked, and, accompanied by the military, returned to Whitehall.

7. That afternoon the members of the Council assembled in their usual place of meeting. Bradshaw had just taken the chair, when the Lord-General entered

and told them that if they were there as private individuals, they were welcome; but if as the Council of State, they must know that the Parliament was dissolved, and with it also the Council. "Sir," replied Bradshaw, with the spirit of an ancient Roman, “we have heard what you did at the House this morning, and before many hours all England will know it. But, sir, you are mistaken to think that the Parliament is dissolved. No power under heaven can dissolve them but themselves; therefore, take you notice of that."

8. After this protest they withdrew. Thus, by the parricidal hands of its own children, perished the Long Parliament, which, under a variety of forms, had, for more than twelve years, defended and invaded the liberties of the nation. It fell without a struggle or a groan, unpitied and unregretted. The members slunk away to their homes, where they sought by submission. to purchase the forbearance of their new master; and their partisans-if partisans they had reserved themselves in silence for a day of retribution, which came not before Cromwell slept in his grave.

When the planet Venus follows the sun, or appears in the evening, she is called Hesperus, the evening star; but the name now rarely occurs except in the old poets.

See in Index, MILTON.

Now came still evening on, and twilight gray
Had in her sober livery all things clad;

Silence accompanied; for beast and bird,

They to their grassy couch, these to their nests,