Postern, a Behind shut the postern,* the lights sank to rest, small door or And into the midnight we galloped abreast. gate. Pique, a lance carried at the saddle. A whit, a point, a jot. Lokeren, in East Flanders, Belgium. Boom, Düf feld, Mechlin, in Antwerp. Mechlin is noted for its lace. Not a word to each other, we kept the great pace, place; I turned in my saddle, and made its girths tight, Rebuckled the check-strap, chained slacker the bit, * 5 * 'Twas moonset at starting; but while we drew near * So Joris broke silence with, "Yet there is time!" At Aerschot, up leaped of a sudden the sun, Resolute, bold. Haze, mist. Intelligence, understand. anon, now mon name for a horse. 15 20 And his low head and crest, just one sharp ear bent 25 back For my voice, and the other pricked out on his track; His fierce lips shook upwards in galloping on. By Hasselt,* Dirck groaned, and cried Joris, "Stay spur! * Your Roos galloped bravely, the fault's not in her, wheeze Of her chest, saw the stretched neck and staggering knees, And sunk tail, and horrible heave of the flank, 30 35 As down on her haunches she shuddered and sank. So we were left galloping, Joris and I, The broad sun above laughed a pitiless laugh; 40 'Neath our feet broke the brittle bright stubble like 45 chaff; Till over by Dalhem a dome-spire sprang white, "How they'll greet * us !"—and all in a moment his Greet, wel roan * Rolled neck and croup* over, lay dead as a stone; come. Croup, Then I cast loose my buffcoat, each holster * let fall, Holster, the 50 Shook off both my jack-boots, let go belt and all, Stood up in the stirrup, leaned, patted his ear, Clapped my hands, laughed and sang, any noise, bad Till at length into Aix Roland galloped and stood. 55 And all I remember is, friends flocking round, As I sate with his head 'twixt my knees on the case for a horseman's pistol. And no voice but was praising this Roland of mine, As I poured down his throat our last measure of wine, Burgesses, Which (the burgesses* voted by common consent) 60 Was no more than his due who brought good news from Ghent. the inhabitants or freemen of a borough. *The Battle of the Baltic. In 1801 a fleet was sent to break up the confederacy formed by Russia, Prussia, Sweden, and Denmark. Seventeen sail of the Danes were sunk, burnt, or taken in the roads of Copenhagen. The Baltic, a sea in the north of Europe. Its waters are shallow, and from this cause and the numerous rivers which it receives it is only slightly salt. This sea is covered with ice in winter. Leviathan, a huge Like leviathans * afloat, sea monster mentioned in the book of Job. It is generally supposed to mean the crocodile, though the large marine animal. Bulwarks, fortifica term is applied to any tions. Lay their bulwarks* on the brine; It was ten of April morn by the chime; But the might of England flushed Anticipate, to enjoy To anticipate * the scene; before the time. And her van the fleeter rushed O'er the deadly space between. ΙΟ 15 20 [each gun "Hearts of oak!" our captains cried, when Spread a death-shade round the ships, Of the sun! Again! again! again! 25 And the havoc did not slack, Conflagration, an ex- Or, in conflagration * pale, tensive fire. Ye are brothers. This Light the gloom! Out spoke the victor then, As he hailed them o'er the wave: refers to the common And we conquer but to save! origin of the English and Danes. Denmark, a low, flat country in the north of Europe. A great part of the western coast is embanked to keep out the sea. So instead of death, let us bring :- Then Denmark * blessed our Chief, As Death withdrew his shades from the day: O'er a wide and woeful sight, Where the fires of funeral light Died away! 40 45 50 Brave hearts! to Britain's pride * Festal cities' blaze. When news of the victory reached England, most of the large towns were illuminated. Elsinore, a town and seaport on island of Zealand, where ships paid toll to the King of Denmark, till it was abolished in 1857. Riou, Captain Riou, Soft sigh the winds of heaven o'er their grave! styled by Nelson "the 70 And the mermaid's song condoles, 5 Of the brave! gallant and good." RELIEVING GUARD.-Bret Harte. CAME the relief.* 66 What, sentry,* ho! Relief. It is the rule How passed the night through thy long in the army for each waking?" "Cold, cheerless, dark,—as may befit * The hour before the dawn is breaking." "No sight? no sound?" "No; nothing save And in yon western sky, about An hour ago, a star was falling." 66 "A star? There's nothing strange in that." ΙΟ "No, nothing; but, above the thicket, Somehow it seemed to me that God 5 Somewhere had just relieved a picket."* soldier to take his turn in keeping guard, and the one who has to do so is called the relief, or is said to be relieving guard. Sentry, the one keeping guard. Hour before the dawn. The hour before the morning breaks is considered to be the darkest time of the night. Picket, soldiers placed to guard the outposts of a camp. TO A MOUNTAIN DAISY.-Burns. WEE, modest, crimson tippèd flower, For I maun * * the stour crush amang To spare thee now is past my power, Thou bonnie gem. * Maun, must. F Neebor, neighbour. Weet, wet. Purpling, at dawn. Glinted, peeped out. Flaunting, gaudy, gay in colour. Bield, shelter. Stibble, stubble. * ΙΟ 15 The flaunting flowers our gardens yield * There, in thy scanty mantle clad, Unassuming, modest. Thou lifts thy unassuming * head Share, ploughshare. Minstrel, one of an order of men who sang to the harp verses composed by themselves or others; a musician. Chivalry, the deeds done by brave men. Palfrey, a saddlehorse. Carolled, he sang. Caressed, treated with affection. Unpremeditated, not prepared beforehand. In humble guise; But now the share * uptears thy bed, THE LAST MINSTREL.-Scott. THE way was long, the wind was cold, 25 5 IO 15 |