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XOVIII. THE BATTLE OF HOHENLINDEN.*

Campbell.

ON Linden, when the sun was low,
All bloodless lay the untrodden snow,
And dark as winter was the flow
Of Iser, rolling rapidly.

But Linden saw another sight,
When the drum beat at dead of night,
Commanding fires of death to light
The darkness of her scenery.

By torch and trumpet fast arrayed,
Each horseman drew his battle blade,
And furious every charger neighed,
To join the dreadful revelry.

Then shook the hills with thunder riven,
Then rushed the steeds to battle driven,
And, louder than the bolts of heaven,
Far flashed the red artillery.

And redder yet those fires shall glow,
On Linden's hills of blood-stained snow,
And darker yet shall be the flow
Of Iser, rolling rapidly.

"Tis morn, but scarce yon lurid sun
Can pierce the war clouds, rolling dun,
Where furious Frank and fiery Hun,
Shout, in their sulph'rous canopy.

The combat deepens. On, ye brave,
Who rush to glory, or the grave!
Wave, Munich, all thy banners wave!
And charge with all thy chivalry!

* Hohenlinden is a village in Bavaria, in which a bloody battle was fought, 3d December, 1800, between the Austrians and the French.

Ah! few shall part where many meet!
The snow shall be their winding sheet,
And every turf beneath their feet,

Shall be a soldier's sepulchre.

XCIX.-ROLLA AND THE SENTINEL.

From the tragedy of " Pizarro," by Kotzebue; Act 4, Scene 1. [A sentinel is walking Guard before the dungeon of Alonzo. Rolla, his friend, enters, in order to gain admission, to save him.]

Rol. Inform me, friend, is not Alonzo, the Spanish prisoner, confined in this dungeon?

Sen. He is.

Rol. I must speak with him..

Sen. You must not.

Rol. He is my friend.

Sen. Not if he were thy brother.
Rol. What is to be his fate?

Sen. He dies at sun-rise.

Rol. Ha! then I am come in time.

Sen. Just to witness his death.

Rol. Soldier, I must speak with him.

Sen. Back, back-it is impossible!

Rol. I do entreat thee, but for one moment!

Sen. Thou entreatest in vain-my orders are most strict. Rol. Even now, I saw a messenger go hence.

Sen. He brought a pass which we are all accustomed to obey.

Rol. Look on this wedge of massive gold-look on these precious gems. In thy own land they will be wealth for thee and thine, beyond thy hope or wish. Take them, they are thine-Let me but pass one minute with Alonzo.

Sen. Away! wouldst thou corrupt me? Me! an old Castilian? I know my duty better.

Rol. Soldier! hast thou a wife?

Sen. I have.

Rol. Hast thou children?

Sen. Four honest lovely boys.

Rol. Where didst thou leave them?

Sen. In my native village! even in the cot where myself was born.

Rol. Dost thou love thy children and thy wife?

Sen. Do I love them! God knows my heart-I do.

Rol. Soldier! imagine thou wert doomed to die a cruel death in this strange land-what would be thy last request? Sen. That some of my comrades should carry my dying blessing to my wife and children.

Rol. Oh! but if that comrade was at thy prison gate, and should there be told-thy fellow soldier dies at sun-rise, yet thou shalt not for a moment see him, nor shalt thou bear his dying blessing to his poor children, or his wretched wife, what wouldst thou think of him who thus could drive thy comrade from the door?

Sen. How!

Rol. Alonzo has a wife and child. I am come but to receive for her, and for her babe, the last blessings of my friend. Sen. Go in.--(Retires.)

Rol. Oh, holy nature! thou dost never plead in vain. There is not, of our earth, a creature bearing form and life, human or savage-native of the forest wild, or giddy air-around whose parent bosom thou hast not a cord entwined, of power to tie them to their offspring's claims, and at thy will to draw them back to thee. Yes, now he is beyond the porch, barring the outer gate! Alonzo! Alonzo! my friend! Ha! in gentle sleep! Alonzo-rise!

Al. How is my hour elapsed? Well-(returning from the recess)-I am ready.

Rol. Alonzo-know me.

Al. What voice is that?

Rol. 'Tis Rolla's.

Al. Rolla! my friend !-(Embraces him.)-Heavens !how couldst thou pass the guard? Did this habit

Rol. There is not a moment to be lost in words. This disguise I tore from the dead body of a friar, as I passed our field of battle; it has gained me entrance to thy dungeon; now take it thou, and fly.

Al. And Rolla

Rol. Will remain here in thy place.

Al. And die for me? No! rather eternal tortures rack

me.

Rol. I shall not die, Alonzo. It is thy life Pizarro seeks, not Rolla's; and from my prison soon will thy arm deliver me; or should it be otherwise, I am as a blighted plantain, standing alone amid the sandy desert. Nothing seeks or lives beneath my shelter. Thou art a husband and a father; the being of a lovely wife and helpless infant hangs upon thy life. Go! go! Alonzo! Go, to save, not thyself, but Cora and thy child!

Al. Ürge me not thus, my friend; I had prepared to die in peace.

Rol. To die in peace! devoting her thou'st sworn to live for, to madness, misery, and death! for be assured, the state I left her in forbids all hope, but from thy quick return. Al. Oh God!

Rol. If thou art yet irresolute, Alonzo, now heed me well. I think thou hast not known that Rolla ever pledged his word and shrunk from its fulfilment. And by the heart of truth I swear, if thou art proudly obstinate to deny thy friend the transport of preserving Cora's life, in thee no power that sways the will of man shall stir me hence; and thou'lt but have the desperate triumph of seeing Rolla perish by thy side, with the assured conviction, that Cora and thy child—are lost for ever!

Alo. Oh, Rolla! thou distractest me!

Rol. A moment's further pause, and all is lost. The dawn approaches. Fear not for me; I will treat with Pi. zarro as for surrender and submission; I shall gain time, doubt not, while thou, with a chosen band, passing the secret way, may'st at night return, release thy friend, and bear him back in triumph. Yes, hasten, dear Alonzo! Even now I hear the frantic Cora call thee! Haste!-Haste !-Haste! Al. Rolla, I fear thy friendship drives me from honor and from right.

Rol. Did Rolla ever counsel dishonor to his friend?
Al. Oh! my preserver!-(Embracing him.)

Rol. I feel thy warm tears dropping on my cheek.

Go,

I am rewarded!-(Throws the Friar's garment over Alonzo.) There, conceal thy face; and, that they may not clank, hold fast thy chains. Now, God be with thee!

Al. At night we meet again. Then, so aid me, heaven, I return to save, or perish with thee !—(Exit.)

Rol.-(Alone.) He has passed the outer porch-he is safe! He will soon embrace his wife and child! Now, Cora, didst thou not wrong me? This is the first time, throughout my life, I ever deceived man. Forgive me, God of truth! if I am wrong. Alonzo flatters himself that we shall meet again! Yes there!(Lifting his hands to heaven,)-assuredly we shall meet again; there possess in peace the joys of everlasting love and friendship-on earth imperfect and imbittered. I will retire, lest the guard return before Alonzo may have passed their lines.—(Retires into the recess.)

C.-A DESCRIPTION OF THE BALL AT BRUSSELS BEFORE * THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

Byron.

THERE was a sound of revelry by night,
And Belgium's capital had gathered then
Her beauty and her chivalry, and bright

The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men:
A thousand hearts beat happily; and when

Music arose with its voluptuous swell,

Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake again,

And all went merry as a marriage bell;

But hush! hark! a deep sound strikes like a rising knell!

Did ye not hear it ?-No; 'twas but the wind,
Or the car rattling o'er the stony street:
On with the dance! let joy be unconfined;
No sleep till morn, when youth and pleasure meet
To chase the glowing hours with flying feet-
But hark!—that heavy sound breaks in, once more,
As if the clouds its echo would repeat,

And nearer, clearer, deadlier than before!

Arm! arm! it is-it is-the cannon's opening roar !

*This extract from Byron, is founded upon the story, that the English officers were at a ball at Brussels, when they were suddenly alarmed by the news of Bonaparte's approach.

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