4. A sob floats out to the summer air
With the song-bird's latest trill;
The gossamer folds of the drapery

Are waved by the swell of a long low sigh,
And the delicate hands are still.

5. "Ah! beauty of earth is naught, is naught!
And a gilded youth is vain!

6.

I have seen a sister's scarred face shine
With a youth and beauty all divine

By the soldier's couch of pain!

I have read of another * whose passing shade
On their pillows the mangled kissed
In the far Crimea!" There are no more tears,
But she plucks the gems from her delicate ears,
And the gold from her slender wrist.

7. The bird still sings in his gilded cage ;
But the Angel in her heart

Hath stung her soul with a noble pain ;
And beauty is naught, and youth is vain,
While the Patriot's wounds still smart!

8. Fiber by fiber, shred by shred,

Still fall from her delicate hand
The feathery films, as soft and slow
As fall the flakes of a vanishing snow
In the lap of a summer land.

9. There are crimson stains on breasts and brows,
And fillets in ghastly coils;

The walls are lofty and white and bare,
And moaning echoes roll ever there

Through the chamber where she toils..

10. No glitter of gold on her slender wrist,
gem in her roseate ears;

Nor

* Florence Nightingale, an English lady, who cared for her country's soldiers in the Crimean war, in 1854.

But a youth and a beauty all divine
In the face of the Christian maiden shine,
And her gems are the soldier's tears.

QUESTIONS.

First Stanza.

What is "lint," and for what is it used? What is a "fiber"? a "shred"? What are 'feathery films"? Why is the snow called the "vanishing snow"? What person is spoken of in this selection?

Second Stanza.

Why should the "jewels " be mentioned? What kind of jewels are they? What is meant by "roseate ears"? What are on her "wrists"? her "hands"? What are

"gems of

art"?

Third Stanza.

Why is the "bird" mentioned? What is a "casement"? What is to "glint"? What is the cause of the "tear"? What is a 66 diamond radiance"?

Fourth Stanza.

What is the song-bird's "latest trill"? Explain the third and fourth lines. What is "gossamer"? "drapery"? Why do the hands become "still"? What kind of hands are "delicate hands"?

Fifth Stanza.

What is meant by the statement that "beauty is naught? Who says it? What is a "gilded youth"? Is anything said to prove that beauty of earth is naught? How can a scarred face" be beautiful?

Sixth Stanza.

What did the "mangled" kiss? Why are there "no more tears"? Why does she "pluck the gems from her delicate ears"? What do you think was done with the gems and gold"?

Ninth Stanza.

What place is described in this stanza? What are "ghastly coils "? What takes place between the pictures presented in the sixth and ninth stanzas? What is the meaning of "ever" in the fourth line?

What lesson is taught in this poem? What is its general sentiment? How then ought the piece to be read?

CX.-SCENE FROM KING JOHN.

SHAKSPEARE.

ACT. IV. Scene I. Northampton. A Room in the Castle.
Enter HUBERT, and two Attendants.

Hubert. Heat me these irons hot; and, look thou stand
Within the arras: when I strike my foot
Upon the bosom of the ground, rush forth,

And bind the boy, which you shall find with me,
Fast to the chair: be heedful. Hence, and watch.
1st Attendant. I hope your warrant will bear out the deed.
Hubert. Uncleanly scruples: fear not you; look to't.-
[Exeunt Attendants].

Young lad, come forth; I have to say with you.

Enter ARTHUR.

Arthur. Good morrow, Hubert.

Good morrow, little prince.

Hubert.
Arthur. As little prince (having so great a title
To be more prince) as may be.—You are sad.
Hubert. Indeed, I have been merrier.

Arthur.

Mercy on me!

Methinks nobody should be sad but I:
Yet, I remember, when I was in France,
Young gentlemen would be as sad as night,
Only for wantonness. By my Christendom,
So I were out of prison, and kept sheep,
I should be as merry as the day is long;
And so I would be here, but that I doubt
My uncle practices more harm to me :
He is afraid of me, and I of him.

Is it my fault that I was Geffrey's son?
No, indeed, is't not; and I would to heaven,
I were your son, so you would love me, Hubert.

Hubert [Aside.] If I talk to him, with his innocent prate
He will awake my mercy, which lies dead:
Therefore I will be sudden, and dispatch.
Arthur. Are you sick, Hubert? you look pale to-day.
In sooth, I would you were a little sick;

That I might sit all night, and watch with you:

I warrant I love you more than you

do me.

Hubert [Aside.] His words do take possession of my

bosom.

Read here, young Arthur. [Showing a paper.] [Aside.] How now, foolish rheum!

Turning dispiteous torture out of door?

I must be brief; lest resolution drop

Out at mine eyes in tender womanish tears.Can you not read it? is it not fairwrit? Arthur. Too fairly, Hubert, for so foul effect.

Must you with hot irons burn out both mine eyes? Hubert. Young boy, I must.

I knit my handkerchief about your brows,
(The best I had, a princess wrought it me,)
And I did never ask it you again :

And with my hand at midnight held your head,
And, like the watchful minutes to the hour,

Still and anon cheered up the heavy time,

Saying, What lack you? and, Where lies your grief?
Or, What good love may I perform for you?
Many a poor man's son would have lain still,
And ne'er have spoke a loving word to you;
But you at your sick service had a prince.
Nay, you may think my love was crafty love,
And call it cunning: do, an if you will.

If heaven be pleased that you will use me ill,
Why, then you must.-Will you put out mine eyes?
These eyes that never did nor never shall

So much as frown on you?

Hubert.

I have sworn to do it,

And with hot irons must I burn them out.

Arthur. Ah! none but in this iron age would do it.
The iron of itself, though heat red hot,

Approaching near these eyes would drink my tears,
And quench his fiery indignation,

Even in the matter of mine innocence :
Nay, after that, consume away in rust,
But for containing fire to harm mine eye.

Are you more stubborn-hard than hammered iron?
An if an angel should have come to me,

And told me Hubert should put out mine eyes,

I would not have believed him ; no tongue but Hubert's.
Come forth.

Hubert.

[Stamps.]

Re-enter Attendants, with cord, irons, &c.

Do as I bid you do.

Arthur. O! save me, Hubert, save me! my eyes are out,
Even with the fierce looks of these bloody men.
Hubert. Give me the iron, I say, and bind him here.
Arthur. Alas! what need you be so boisterous-rough?
I will not struggle; I will stand stone-still.

For heaven's sake, Hubert: drive these men away,
And I will sit as quiet as a lamb ;

I will not stir, nor wince, nor speak a word,
Nor look upon the iron angerly.

Thrust but these men away, and I'll forgive you,
Whatever torment you do put me to.

Hubert.

Go, stand within; let me alone with him. 1st Attendant. I am best pleased to be from such a deed.

[Exeunt Attendants.] Arthur. Alas! I then have chid away my friend d;

He hath a stern look, but a gentle heart.—
Let him come back, that his compassion may
Give life to yours.

Hubert.

Arthur. Is there no remedy?

Hubert.

Come, boy, prepare yourself.

None, but to lose your eyes.

Arthur. O heaven !—that there were but a mote in yours,

A grain, a dust, a wandering hair,

Any annoyance in that precious sense!

Then, feeling what small things are boisterous there,
Your vile intent must needs seem horrible.