Some comrades who were playing at the dice,
He joined them and forgot all else beside.

The dice was rattling at the merriest,
And Rhocus, who had met but sorry luck,
Just laughed in triumph at a happy throw,
When through the room there hummed a yellow bee
That buzzed about his ear with down-dropped legs,
As if to light. And Rhocus laughed and said,
Feeling how red and flushed he was with loss,
"By Venus! does he take me for a rose?"
And brushed him off with rough, impatient hand.
But still the bee came back, and thrice again
Rhocus did beat him off with growing wrath.
Then through the window flew the wounded bee;
And Rhocus, tracking him with angry eyes,
Saw a sharp mountain-peak of Thessaly
Against the red disc of the setting sun,
And instantly the blood sank from his heart,
As if its very walls had caved away.
Without a word he turned, and rushing forth,
Ran madly through the city and the gate,

And o'er the plain, which now the wood's long shade, By the low sun thrown forward broad and dim, Darkened well-nigh unto the city's wall.

Quite spent and out of breath, he reached the tree; And, listening fearfully, he heard once more The low voice murmur "Rhocus!" close at hand; Whereat he looked around him, but could see Nought but the deepening glooms beneath the oak. Then sighed the voice: "O Rhocus! nevermore Shalt thou behold me, or by day or nightMe, who would fain have blest thee with a love

More ripe and bounteous than ever yet
Filled up with nectar any mortal heart;
But thou didst scorn my humble messenger,
And sent'st him back to me with bruisèd wings.
We spirits only show to gentle eyes-

We ever ask an undivided love;

And he who scorns the least of nature's works
Is thenceforth exiled and shut out from all.
Farewell! for thou canst never see me more."

Then Rhocus beat his breast, and groaned aloud, And cried, "Be pitiful! forgive me yet

This once, and I shall never need it more!"
"Alas!" the voice returned, "'t is thou art blind,
Not I unmerciful; I can forgive,

But have no skill to heal thy spirit's eyes;
Only the soul hath power o'er itself."

With that again there murmured "Nevermore ! "
And Rhocus after heard no other sound,
Except the rattling of the oak's crisp leaves,
Like the long surf upon a distant shore,
Raking the sea-worn pebbles up and down.

The night had gathered round him; o'er the plain
The city sparkled with its thousand lights,

And sounds of revel fell upon his ear

Harshly and like a curse; above, the sky,
With all its bright sublimity of stars,

Deepened, and on his forehead smote the breeze;
Beauty was all around him, and delight;
But from that eve he was alone on earth,

JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.

UNA AND THE RED CROSSE KNIGHT.

FROM THE FAERIE QUEENE," BOOK I. CANTO I. A GENTLE Knight was pricking on the plaine, Ycladd in mightie armes and silver shielde, Wherein old dints of deepe woundes did remaine, The cruell markes of many a bloody fielde; Yet armes till that time did he never wield: His angry steede did chide his foming bitt, As much disdayning to the curbe to yield; Full iolly knight he seemed, and faire did sitt, As one for knightly giusts and fierce encounters

fitt.

And on his brest a bloodie crosse he bore,
The deare remembrance of his dying Lord,

For whose sweete sake that glorious badge he

wore,

And dead, as living ever, him adored:

Upon his shield the like was also scored,

For soveraine hope, which in his helpe he had, Right, faithfull, true he was in deede and word; But of his cheere,* did seeme too solemne sad; Yet nothing did he dread, but ever was ydrad.†

Upon a great adventure he was bond,
That greatest Gloriana to him gave,

That greatest glorious queene of Faëry lond,
To winne him worshippe, and her grace to have,
Which of all earthly thinges he most did crave:
And ever, as he rode, his hart did earne

To prove his puissance in battell brave

EDMUND SPENSER.

From an engraving after an original painting in the possession of the Earl of Kinnicutt.