Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

On Prague's proud arch the fires of ruin glow,
His blood-dyed waters murmuring far below;
The storm prevails, the rampart yields away,
Bursts the wild cry of horror and dismay!
Hark! as the smoldering piles with thunder fall
A thousand shrieks for hopeless mercy call!
Earth shook; red meteors flashed along the sky,
And conscious nature shuddered at the cry!

6. O righteous Heaven! ere freedom found a grave,
Why slept the sword, omnipotent to save?

Where was thine arm, O vengeance, where thy rod,
That smote the foes of Zion and of God;

That crushed proud Ammon, when his iron car
Was yoked in wrath, and thundered from afar?
Where was the storm that slumbered till the host
Of blood-stained Pharaoh left their trembling coast ;
Then bade the deep in wild commotion flow,
And heaved an ocean on their march below?

7. Departed spirits of the mighty dead!

Ye that at Marathon and Leuctra bled!
Friends of the world! restore your swords to man
Fight in the sacred cause, and lead the van!
Yet for Sarmatia's tears of blood atone,
And make her arm puissant as your own!
O! once again to freedom's cause return
The patriot Tell," the Bruce of Bannockburn!'

8. Yes! thy proud lords, unpitied land! shall see
That man hath yet a soul, and dare be free!
A little while along thy saddening plains,

a Amion; the son of Lot, and father of the Ammonites. b Marathon; a town in Greece, famous for the victory of Miltiades over the Persians, B. C. 490. c Leuctra, Jük-tra;) a town in Greece, famous for the victory of Epaminon'das over the Spartans, B. C. 371. d Tell (William;) a Swiss peasant, distinguished for his resistance to the Austrian governor, Gesler. e Bruce (Robert ;) a king of Scotland, and son of Robert Bruce who fought in the English army against William Wallace. f Ban'nock-burn'; a village in Scotland, renowned for the victory of the younger Bruce over Edward II. of England.

The starless night of desolation reigns;
Truth shall restore the light by nature given,
And, like Prometheus," bring the fire of Heaven.
Prone to the dust oppression shall be hurled,
Her name, her nature, withered from the world!

LESSON XLIII.

SIEGE OF CALAIS.

BROOKE.

1. EDWARD III.," after the battle of Crecy, laid siege to Calais. He had fortified his camp in so impregnable a manner, that all the efforts of France proved ineffectual to raise the siege, or throw succors into the city. The citizens, under Count Vienne, their gallant governor, made an admirable defence. France had now put the sickle into her second harvest, since Edward, with his victorious army, sat down before the town. The eyes of all Europe were intent on the issue.

2. At length, famine did more for Edward than arms. After suffering unheard-of calamities, the French resolved to attempt the enemy's camp. They boldly sallied forth; the English ioined battle; and after a long and desperate engagement, Count Vienne was taken prisoner, and the citizens who survived the slaughter retired within their gates. The command devolving upon Eustace St. Pierre,' a man of mean birth, but of exalted virtue, he offered to capitulate with Edward, provided he permitted them to depart with life and liberty.

3. Edward, to avoid the imputation of cruelty, consented to spare the bulk of the plebeians, provided they delivered up to him six of their principal citizens, with halters about their

a Prometheus (pro-me'the-us, by the poet, in three syllables;) a Titan, said to have brought fire from heaven to men. b Edward III.; a warlike king of England, born 1313. c Crecy; a town in France, celebrated for a battle between the English and French, in which 30,000 foot and 1200 horse were slain. d Calais (kal'is ;) a seaport town in France e Count Vienne (ve-enne';) a governor of the province of Vienne. f Pronounced Peer.

necks, as victims of due atonement for that spirit of rebellion with which they had inflamed the vulgar. When his messenger, Sir Walter Mauny," delivered the terms, consternation and pale dismay were impressed on every countenance.

4. To a long and dead silence deep sighs and groans suc ceeded, till Eustace St. Pierre, getting up to a little eminence, thus addressed the assembly: My friends, we are brought to great straits this day. We must either yield to the terms of our cruel and ensnaring conqueror, or give up our tender infants, our wives and daughters, to the bloody and brutal lusts of the violating soldiers.

5. "Is there any expedient left, whereby we may avoid the guilt and infamy of delivering up those who have suffered every misery with you, on the one hand, or the desolation and horror of a sacked city, on the other? There is, my friends; there is one expedient left! a gracious, an excellent, a godlike expedient left! Is there any here to whom virtue is dearer than life? Let him offer himself an oblation for the safety of his people! He shall not fail of a blessed approbation from that Power who offered up his only Son tor the sal vation of mankind.”

6. He spoke; but a universal silence ensued. Each man looked around for the example of that virtue and magnanimity which all wished to approve in themselves, though they wanted the resolution. At length St. Pierre resumed: "I doubt not but there are many here as ready, nay, more zealous of this martyrdom, than I can be; though the station to which I am raised by the captivity of Lord Vienne imparts a right to be the first in giving my life for your sakes. I give it freely; I give it cheerfully. Who comes next?"

7. "Your son!" exclaimed a youth not yet come to maturity. "Ah! my child!" cried St. Pierre; "I am, then, twice sacrificed. But no; I have rather begotten thee a second time. Thy years are few, but full, my son. The victim of virtue has reached the utmost purpose and goal of mortality! Who next, my friends? This is the hour of heroes." "Your

a Mau'ny.

kinsman," cried John de Aire. "Your kinsman," cried James Wissant.b "Your kinsman," cried Peter Wissant. "Ah!" exclaimed Sir Walter Mauny, bursting into tears, "why was not I a citizen of Calais?"

8. The sixth victim was still wanting, but was quickly supplied by lot from numbers who were now emulous of so ennobling an example. The keys of the city were then delivered to Sir Walter. He took the six prisoners into his custody; then ordered the gates to be opened, and gave charge to his attendants to conduct the remaining citizens, with their families, through the camp of the English. Before they departed, however, they desired permission to take a last adieu of their deliverers.

9. What a parting! what a scene! They crowded with their wives and children about St. Pierre and his fellowprisoners. They embraced; they clung around; they fell prostrate before them; they groaned; they wept aloud; an the joint clamor of their mourning passed the gates of the city, and was heard throughout the English camp.

LESSON XLIV.

THE SAME SUBJECT, CONCLUDED.

BROOKE.

1. THE English, by this time, were apprized of what passed within Calais. They heard the voice of lamentation, and their souls were touched with compassion. Each of the soldiets prepared a portion of his own victuals, to welcome and entertain the half famished inhabitants; and they loaded them with as much as their present weakness was able to bear, in order to supply them with sustenance by the way. 2. At length, St. Pierre and his fellow-victims appeared, under conduct of Sir Walter and a guard. All the tents

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

the English were instantly emptied. The soldiers poured from all parts, and arranged themselves on each side, to behold, to contemplate, to admire, this little band of patriots, as they passed. They bowed to them on all sides; they murmured their applause of that virtue which they could not but revere, even in enemies; and they regarded those ropes, which they had voluntarily assumed about their necks, as ensigns of greater dignity than that of the British gar

ter.

3. As soon as they had reached the presence, "Mauny," says the monarch, "are these the principal inhabitants of Calais ?" 66 They are," says Mauny; "they are not only the principal men of Calais, they are the principal men of France, my lord, if virtue has any share in the act of ennobling." "Were they delivered peaceably?" says Edward, "was there no resistance, no cmmotion among the people?" "Not in the least, my lord; the people would all have perished rather than have delivered the least of these to your Majesty. They are self-delivered, self-devoted; and come to offer up their inestimable heads as an ample equivalent for the ransom of thousands."

4. Edward was secretly piqued at this reply of Sir Walter; but he knew the privilege of a Patish subject, and suppressed his resentment. "Experience," says he, "has ever shown that lenity only serves to invite people to new crimes. Severity, at times, is indispensably necessary, to compel subjects to submission y punishment and exainple. Go," he cried to an office, lead these men to exe

cution."

5. At this instant, a sound of triumph was heard throughout the camp. The Queen had just arrived with a powerful reinforcement of gallant troops. Sir Walter Mauny flow to receive her Majesty, and briefly informed her of the particu lars respecting the six victims.

[ocr errors]

6. As soon as she had been welcomed by Edward and his court, she desired a private audience. My lord," said she the question I am to enter upon is not touching the lives of

« ÎnapoiContinuă »