So vague, so devious, at the breath of heav'n, From their fix'd aim are mortal counsels driven. Anonymous.

CHAP. XVII.

Here is a father now,

Will truck his daughter for a foreign venture,
Make her the stop-gap to some canker'd feud,
Or fling her o'er, like Jonah, to the fishes,
To appease the sea at highest.

Anonymous.

CHAP. XVIII.

Sir, stay at home and take an old man's counsel
Seek not to bask you by a stranger's hearth;
Our own blue smoke is warmer than their fire;
. Domestic food is wholesome, though 'tis homely,
And foreign dainties poisonous, though tasteful.

The French Courtezan.

CHAP. XXIII.

Such was our fallen father's fate,
Yet better than mine own;
He shared his exile with his mate,

I'm banished forth alone.

Waller.

CHAP. XXV.

True-love, an' thou be true,

Thou has ane kittle part to play,
For fortune, fashion, fancy, and thou
Maun strive for many a day.

I've kend by mony friend's tale,
Far better by this heart of mine,
What time and change of fancy avail,

A true-love knot to untwine.

Hendersoun.

CHAP. XXVII.

Why, now I have Dame Fortune by the forelock,
And if she 'scapes my grasp, the fault is mine;
He that hath buffeted with stern adversity,
Best knows to shape his course to favouring

breezes.

Old Play.

FROM IVANHOE.

(1.) THE CRUSADER'S RETURN.

1.

HIGH deeds achieved of knightly fame,
From Palestine the champion came;
The cross upon his shoulders borne,
Battle and blast had dimm'd and torn.
Each dint upon his batter'd shield
Was token of a foughten field;
And thus, beneath his lady's bower,
He sung, as fell the twilight hour:

2.

"Joy to the fair!-thy knight behold,
Return'd from yonder land of gold;
No wealth he brings, nor wealth can need,
Save his good arms and battle-steed;

His spurs to dash against a foe,

His lance and sword to lay him low;
Such all the trophies of his toil
Such-and the hope of Tekla's smile!

3.

"Joy to the fair! whose constant knight
Her favour fired to feats of might!
Unnoted shall she not remain

Where meet the bright and noble train ;
Minstrel shall sing, and herald teil-
'Mark yonder maid of beauty well,
'Tis she for whose bright eyes was won
The listed field at Ascalon!

4.

"Note well her smile!—it edged the blade Which fifty wives to widows made,

When, vain his strength and Mahound's spell, Iconium's turban'd Soldan fell.

See'st thou her locks, whose sunny glow

Half shows, half shades, her neck of snow?
Twines not of them one golden thread,
But for its sake a Paynim bled.'

66

5.

Joy to the fair!-my name unknown,
Each deed, and all its praise, thine own;
Then, oh! unbar this churlish gate,
The night-dew falls, the hour is late.
Inured to Syria's glowing breath,

I feel the north breeze chill as death;
Let grateful love quell maiden shame,
And grant him bliss who brings thee fame."
Chap. xvii

(2.) THE BAREFOOTED FRIAR.

1.

I'LL give thee, good fellow, a twelvemonth or twain, To search Europe through from Byzantium to

Spain;

But ne'er shall you find, should you search till you tire,

So happy a man as the Barefooted Friar.

2.

Your knight for his lady pricks forth in career, And is brought home at even-song prick'd through

with a spear;

I confess him in haste-for his lady desires

No comfort on earth save the Barefooted Friar's.

3.

Your monarch!-Pshaw! many a prince has been known

To barter his robes for our cowl and our gown: But which of us e'er felt the idle desire

To exchange for a crown the gray hood of a Friar !

4.

The Friar has walk'd out, and where'er he has

gone,

The land and its fatness is mark'd for his own;