cătches glimpses of quaint effigies,1 some kneeling in niches2 as if in devotion; others stretched upon the tombs with hands piously pressed together; warriors in armor, as if reposing after battle; prělates with crosiers and mitres; and nobles in robes and coronets lying, as it were, in state. 8. There is something extremely solemn and awful in those effigies on Gothic tombs, extended as if in the sleep of death, or in the supplication of the dying hour. They have an effect infinitely more impressive on my feelings than the fanciful attitudes, the over-wrought conceits 5 and allegorical groups which abound on modern monuments. I have been struck, also, with the superiority of the old sepulchral inscriptions. 8 9. There was a noble way in former times of saying things simply and yet saying them proudly; and I do not know an epitaph that breathes a loftier consciousness of family worth and honorable lineage, than one which affirms of a noble house, that all the brothers were brave and all the sisters virtuous." I continued in this way to move from tomb to tomb, and from chapel to chapel. 10. The day was gradually wearing away. I stood before the entrance to Henry the Seventh's chapel. Two small aisles on each side of this chapel present a touching instance of the equality of the grave, which brings down the oppressor to a level with the oppressed, and mingles the dust of the bitterest enemies together. In one is the sepulchre of the haughty 10 Elizabeth; in the other is that of her victim, the lovely and unfortunate Mary. 11. Not an hour in the day but some ejaculation of pity is scribing a thing by its resemblance to another thing. 1 Ef'fi ġies, likenesses in sculpture or painting. 2 Niche, a hollow or recess within the thickness of a wall for a statue, bust, or other erect ornament. 3 Crosier (krō'zher), a bishop's crook or pastoral staff; a symbol of his authority. 4 Coro net, an inferior crown worn by a nobleman. 5 Con ceit, an ill-founded, odd, or extravagant notion, 6 Al'le gŏr'i cal, a method of de uttered over the fate of the latter, mingled with indignation at her oppressor. The walls of Elizabeth's sepulchre continually echo with the sigh of sympathy heaved at the grave of her rival. 12. A peculiar mělancholy reigns over the aisle where Mary lies buried. The light struggles dimly through windows darkened by dust. The greater part of the place is in deep shadow, and the walls are stained and tinted by time and weather. A marble figure of Mary is stretched upon the tomb, round which is an iron railing, much corroded,1 bearing her national emblemthe thistle. I was weary with wandering, and sat down to rest myself by the monument, revolving in my mind the checkered 2 and dişăstrous story of poor Mary. WASHINGTON IRVING.3 II. 11. EXECUTION OF MARY STUART. D URING the long night previous to her execution, with the sound of the hammer on her scaffold ringing from the next room, Mary Stuart knelt before the agonized figure of her crucified Redeemer. She read the divine history of His sacred Passion; she read a sermon on the subject of the penitent thief; she drew from the bleeding lips of the five wounds. of Jesus the blood of remission and the waters of consolation; and her saintly soul grew strong within her, and leaping up from the sorrowful earth with the renewed sense of God's pardon, found rest and refreshment already on the bosom of that dear Lord who died for her. 2. At four in the morning she laid down upon her bed, but not to sleep. Her attendants looking on her steadfastly, saw through the mists of their tears, that her lips were moving in incessant prayer. 3. Oh, through those moments of repose, did the smile of her 1 Cor rōd'ed, eaten away by time or rust. grace and polish of Franklin. His carefully selected words, his vari 2 Check'ered, of mingled dark ously constructed periods, his reand bright. 3 Washington Irving, born in New York city April 3, 1783; died Nov. 28, 1859. His style has the ease and purity, and more than the markable elegance, sustained sweetness, and distinct and delicate word-painting place him in the front rank of the masters of our language. mother re-appear? Did her glad sweet youth in sunny France come back? Did she see the bright skies and the pûrple bloom of the vineyards? Was the pomp of her young royalty visible? Was the shadow of her yearning love between her heart and heaven? 4. I fancy not. I think that she heard nothing but the choirs on high, saw only the crown eternal, the unfading pälm-brånch, the blue rushing of the stream of life, that floweth from the throne of God and of the Lamb. At day-break she arose, called her small household round her, and once more både them fârewell; read to them her låst will; gave them her money and apparel; kissed the wildly sobbing women, and gave her hand to the strong men, who bowed down over it and wept bitterly. 5. Then she went to her oratory, and they knelt, crying, behind her. Thêre Kent, and Shrewsbury, and Sheriff Andrews found her. Thence she arose, and taking the crucifix from the altar in her right hand, and her prâyer-book in her left, she followed them. Her servants, forbidden to attend her, knelt for her benediction. She gave it and påssed on. 6. Then the door closed, and the wild wail of their loving agony shook the hall. Besides what the commissioners reported, she said to Melville, "Pray for your mistress and your queen." She begged that her women might attend her to disrobe her, and the Earl of Kent refused to grånt this natural request. 7. "My lord," she said, "your mistress being a maiden queen, will vouchsafe,1 in regard to womanhood, that I have some of my own women about me at my death." Kent gave no answer, and she said: "You might, I think, grant me a far greater courtesy 2 were I a woman of lesser calling than the Queen of the Scots." 8. No answer still. And then-"My lords, I am a cousin of your queen, a descendant of the blood-royals of Henry Seventh, a married Queen of France, and the anointed Queen of Scotland." Then they allowed Jane Kennedy and Mistress Cûrle to wait on her. She wōre her richest royal robes as she 1 Vouchsafe', grant; permit. ? Coûrt'e sy, an act of kindness performed with politeness. Roy'al, relating to a sovereign. walked to the scaffold, and approached it with the graceful majesty 2 that ever distinguished her. 9. Then Dr. Fletcher, Dean of Peterborough, began to preach, exhôrting her to forsake the Catholic Faith. Mary begged him not to trouble himself or her. On his persisting, she turned away from him. He walked round the scaffold, confronted her, and began again. Then the Earl of Shrewsbury commanded him to stop preaching and begin to pray; a command which was instantly obeyed. 10. But, meantime, Mary was repeating in Latin the Psalms for the dying. Then she knelt down and prayed for her son and for Elizabeth, for Scotland, for her enemies, and for herself, and holding up the image of her suffering Saviour, she cried out: "As Thy arms, O my God! were stretched out upon the Cross, so receive me into the embrace of their mercy, and forgive me all my sins." 11. “Mädäme'," cried courteous Kent, "you had better leave such Popish trumperies, and beâr Him in your heart." And Mary answered, "Were He not already in my heart, His image would not be in my hands." Then they bound a goldedged handkerchief over her eyes, and she, saying, "O Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit," knelt down. 12. At the first blow, the executioner split the lower part of her skull; at the second, he cut deeply into her neck; at the third, he severed 5 her head from her body, and, holding it up by the long gray hair, said, "God save Queen Elizabeth!" The people sobbed and wept. "So perish all her enemies!" said the Dean of Peterborough. And the people sobbed and wept; but no one said, "Amen!" 1 Scăf'fold, a raised platform for the execution of a criminal. 2 Mǎ'jes ty, dignity; loftiness. 3 Ex hortʼing, advising; warning. 4 Per sist ́ing, a determined continuance. 5 Sěv'ered, separated; cut. 6 Donald McLeod (-loud), born in New York in 1821, was the youngest son of Alexander McLeod, a Scotch Presbyterian preacher fa D. F. X. MCLEOD. mous in New York fifty years ago. He became a Catholic when about thirty years old. He was a pleasing and elegant writer. A "Life of Mary Queen of Scots," and "Devotion to the Blessed Virgin in North America," were among his best volumes. Later in life he became a priest, and was killed on a railroad near Cincinnati while going on a call of sacerdotal duty. III. 12. DAUGHTER OF SIR THOMAS MORE. 1 HEN Sir Thomas saw the door of his dungeon 1 ōpen, W and the beloved forms of his children appear, his joy deprived him of utterance. Before his sudden emotion was cälmed, Margaret and Roper were in his arms. "You here, my children! God working miracles in my behälf !”—“ Judge if He is, from the message which the king "_"The king!" 66 cried Sir Thomas, tûrning pale, "the king send me a message by you?" 3 2. "Yes," said Margaret, "he wishes your daughter to bring you eternal death and dishonor; he wishes to stifle 2 the sacred voice of your conscience, and to abuse your tenderness, by extôrting from it the oath which his authority could not obtain." "And you accepted that mission, Margaret?"—"I accepted nothing, I promised nothing. I simply took advantage of the opportunity of seeing you."-" But that is to fail already, since it is to deceive," replied the austere voice of the chancellor. 3. Margaret raised her head proudly. "Not so, my dear father; for the king, certain beforehand of my consent, did not åsk me for a promise."-" And if he had?". "Even at the risk of never seeing you again on earth, I could not have perjured 5 myself," was her unfaltering reply. "Oh, my father, it is not your daughter who will ever advise you to weakness or dishonor! Death is better, as you yourself have often declâred. Here, death is martyrdom!" 4. “Margaret, you are a noble and saintly woman! may God guard and protect you even as your father loves you. Roper, you shall henceforth be more to her than ever: do not let her forget her father, but console her for his absence; often remind her that in a better world we shall all meet again. 5. "Tell her that if it is good to be a dûtiful daughter, it is still better to be a worthy and devoted mother!" Sir Thomas spoke long; he gave his children his last orders and instructions; he spoke to them of God, of heaven, of duty, and of 1 Dun'geon, a secure prison. 2 Sti'fle, to smother; to suppress. Ex tort'ing; obtaining by vio lence; gained by force. 4 Au stēre', stern; severe. |