"MAN'S A KING, HIS THRONE IS DUTY,-(STERLING) CARISBROOK CASTLE. 427 mind and body, threw up that duty; embraced the profession of letters; "EARTH, OF MAN THE BOUNTEOUS MOTHER, FEEDS HIM STILL WITH CORN AND WINE; CARISBROOK CASTLE. [Carisbrook Castle is situated on a considerable knoll, about one mile from Newport, in the Isle of Wight, Here Charles I. was imprisoned in 1647; and here his daughter, the Princess Elizabeth, died, September 8, 1650. "The castle," says Sterling, "is of large extent, tolerably preserved, and draped with a good deal of ivy. But the want of great height prevents it from bearing that look of indomitable command which, in some cases, makes an ancient fortress resemble the last of the Anakim, bidding defiance to the feebler race that crawl around its feet. The view from the top of the keep is pretty and cheerful, without any peculiar wildness or extreme beauty, beyond that of the slightly broken country, quiet and varied verdure, and happy-looking dwellings. I was shown the window through which Charles I. tried to escape. I threw my general impressions of the place into the following lines:"-] HE WHO BEST WOULD AID A BROTHER, SHARES WITH HIM THese gifts divine."-STERLING. THAT HOLDS the date of all oF US; WE ARE BORN WITH TRAVAIL AND STRONG CRYING, 436 66 A LITTLE SORROW, A LITTLE PLEASURE, ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE. And the high gods took on hand Fire, and the falling of tears; From under the feet of the years; And dust of the labouring earth; In the houses of death and of birth; With life before and after, * And death beneath and above, For a day, and a night, and a morrow, From the winds of the north and the south They gathered as unto strife; A time to serve and to sin; And night, and sleep in the night. * "Looking before and after."-Shelley. "Speech was given to man to conceal his thoughts."-Attributed to Tallyrand; but a similar sentiment is found in Goldsmith. FATE METES US FROM THE DUSTY MEASURE AND FROM THE BIRTH-DAY TO THE DYING THE LIKENESS OF OUR LIFE IS THUS."-SWINBURNE. "THIS IS SURE: MAN SINKS NOT BY A MORE UNMANLY VICE THAN IS THAT SIN 66 CIVIL AND MORAL LIBERTY ARE TWAIN."-HENRY TAYLOR. THE DREAM. 437 In his heart is a blind desire; In his eyes foreknowledge of death; Sows, and he shall not reap; Between a sleep and a sleep. * [From "Atalanta in Calydon."] Sir Henry Taylor. [SIR HENRY TAYLOR was born early in the present century. His works Sir Henry Taylor has recently received the honour of knighthood, in ac- OF PRODIGALITY: MAN FINDS NOT MORE DISHONOUR THAN IN DEBT."-TAYLOR. THE DREAM. [The French have invaded Flanders, and Philip van Artevelde, at the head of the Flemish forces, prepares to resist their advance. The night before the great battle (in which he perished) he is disturbed by a vision of his dead wife, under circumstances which he describes to the lady of his later love, Elena, an Italian beauty.] *"Our little life is rounded with a sleep."-SHAKESPEARE, 66 LIFE HATH FOR ME A PURPOSE AND A DRIFT."-TAYLOR. "MORN, THAT LOOK'ST SO GRIM AND GRAY, TELL ME TRULY, TELL ME TRULY, 438 Artev. "WHAT MAKES A HERO? AN HEROIC MIND,—(TAYLOR) SIR HENRY TAYLOR. What took you from your bed ere break of day? something. Tell me, now, what has happened. Be at rest. No accident, save of the world within ; Elena. You stole away so softly EXPRESSED IN ACTION, IN ENDURANCE PROVED."-TAYLOR. "WHAT WILT THOU BE ERE MID-DAY? WHO CAN SAY, WHO CAN SAY?"-TAYLOR. "THE FAIREST FLOWER THAT E'ER WAS BORN OF EARTH WERE BETTER CROPT THAN CANKERED."-TAYLOR. 66 Elena. ART COMMENDS NOT COUNTERPARTS AND COPIES,-(TAYLOR) How should it make me smile? What followed, say, After your meditations on the bridge? For I am scarce so credulous myself As to believe that was which my eyes saw A visual not an actual existence. Elena. What was it like? Wore it a human likeness? For whether by the corporal organ framed, Upon the inner sense, not once nor twice, Elena. What was it you beheld? Artev. Elena. To-day! Last night— This morning-when you sate upon the bridge. Artev. 'Twas a fantastic sight. Elena. What sort of sight? Artev. [After a pause.] Once in my sad and philosophic youth- For very philosophic in my dawn BUT FROM OUR LIFE A NOBLER LIFE WOULD SHAPE."-TAYLOR. "HAPPY THEY WHO WALK BY FAITH, AND IN THE DARK BY THINGS UNSEEN SUPPORTED."-TAYLOR. |