22. without pride; firm, without obduracy; beneficent in each preference; lovely, though in her frown! On that justice I rely; deliberate and sure, abstracted from all party purpose and political speculations; not on words, but on facts! You, my lords, who hear me, I conjure, by those rights it is your privilege to preserve; by that fame it is your best pleasure to inherit; by all those feelings which refer to the first term in the series of existence, the original compact of our nature, our controlling rank in the creation. This is the call on all, to administer to truth and equity, as they would satisfy the laws and satisfy themselves, with the most exalted bliss possible or conceivable for our nature; the self-approving consciousness of virtue, when the condemnation we look for will be one of the most ample mercies accomplished for mankind since the creation of the world! Sheridan: Speech at the Trial of Warren Hastings. They pass me by like shadows, crowds on crowds, With Heaven's clear messages they madly strove, Alas! poor fools, the anointed eye may trace A dead soul's epitaph in every face! Lowell: The Street. 23. 7. Median Stress Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 24. In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fear shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets : Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Ecclesiastes, XII, 1–7. And slowly answer'd Arthur from the barge: Lest one good custom should corrupt the world. I have lived my life, and that which I have done If thou shouldst never see my face again, Pray for my soul. More things are wrought by prayer That nourish a blind life within the brain, If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer Both for themselves and those who call them friend? Bound by gold chains about the feet of God. 25. To the island-valley of Avilion ; Where falls not hail, or rain, or any snow, Deep-meadow'd, happy, fair with orchard lawns 8. Final Stress The train from out the castle drew; But Marmion stopped to bid adieu :— "Though something I might plain," he said, "Of cold respect to stranger guest, Sent hither by your king's behest, While in Tantallon's towers I stayed, To each one whom he lists, howe'er Burned Marmion's swarthy cheek like fire, And- "This to me!" he said, — "An 't were not for thy hoary beard, And, first, I tell thee, haughty Peer, 26. On the Earl's cheek the flush of rage O'ercame the ashen hue of age: Fierce he broke forth: "And darest thou then The Douglas in his hall? And hopest thou hence unscathed to go? No, by Saint Bride of Bothwell, no! Up drawbridge, grooms-what, Warder, ho! Scott: Marmion, VI, xiii, xiv. Petruchio. Come on, i' God's name; once more toward Good Lord, how bright and goodly shines the moon! now. Pet. I say it is the moon that shines so bright. Evermore cross'd and cross'd; nothing but cross'd! Pet. I say it is the moon. 27. Kath. I know it is the moon. Pet. Nay, then you lie; it is the blessed sun. Kath. Then God be bless'd, it is the blessed sun: And the moon changes even as your mind. And so, it shall be so for Katharine. Hor. Petruchio, go thy ways; the field is won. Pet. Well, forward, forward! thus the bowl should run, And not unluckily against the bias. Shakespeare: The Taming of the Shrew, IV, v. 9. For general reading "A merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!" cried » cheerful voice. It was the voice of Scrooge's nephew, who came upon him so quickly that this was the first intimation he had of his approach. "Bah!" said Scrooge. "Humbug!" "Christmas a humbug, uncle!" said Scrooge's nephew. "You don't mean that, I am sure?” "I do," said Scrooge. "Merry Christmas! What right have you to be merry ? What reason have you to be merry ? You're poor enough.” "Come, then," returned the nephew gayly. "What right have you to be dismal? What reason have you to be morose? You 're rich enough." Scrooge, having no better answer ready on the spur of the moment, said "Bah!" again; and followed it up with "Humbug!" “Don't be cross, uncle!" said the nephew. "What else can I be," returned the uncle, "when I live in such a world of fools as this? Merry Christmas! Out upon merry Christmas! What's Christmas-time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, and not an hour richer; a time for balancing your books, and having every item in 'em through a round dozen of months presented dead against you? If I could work my will," said Scrooge indignantly, "every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips should be boiled with |