A bead-roll, in his hand a clasped book, Or staff more harmless than a shepherd's crook, [to hide Like ivy, round some ancient elm, they twine In grisly folds and strictures serpentine ; Yet, while they strangle without mercy, bring For recompense their own perennial bower. CONTINUED. METHINKS that to some vacant hermitage Yet tempering, for my sight, its bustling rage REPROOF. BUT what if one, through grove or flowery mead, Indulging thus at will the creeping feet On a wild coast, rough monitors to feed Of a long life; and, in the hour of death, The war-worn chieftain quits the world- In cloistered privacy. But not to dwell SHADES OF THE RELIGION, By such examples moved to unbought pains The people work like congregated bees; t * He expired dictating the last words of a translation of St. John's Gospel. † See in Turner's History, vol. iii., p. 528, the account of the erection of Ramsey monastery. Penances were removable by the perfor mances of acts of charity and benevolence Eager to build the quiet fortresses To their beloved cells :-or shall we say And Christian India, through her widespread chime, In sacred converse gifts with Alfred shares. HIS DESCENDANTS. CAN aught survive to linger in the veins Of their protection, gentle virtues thrive; INFLUENCE ABUSED. That, like the red-cross knight, they urge URGED by ambition, who with subtlest skill their way, To lead in memorable triumph home ALFRED. BEHOLD a pupil of the monkish gown, Changes her means, the enthusiast as a dupe Shall soar, and as a hypocrite can stoop, And turn the instruments of good to ill, Moulding the credulous people to his will. Such Dunstan :- from its Benedictine coop Issues :he master mind, at whose fell swoop The chaste affections tremble to fulfil Their purposes. Behold, pre-signified, The night of spiritual sway! his thoughts, his dreams, Do in the supernatural world abide : So vaunt a throng of followers, filled with pride In shows of virtue pushed to its extremes, And sorceries of talent misapplied. DANISH CONQUESTS. WOE to the crown that doth the cowl obey!t Dissension checks the arms that would restrain The incessant rovers of the Northern main; And widely spreads once more a pagan sway: But gospel-truth is potent to allay + The violent measures carried on under the influence of Dunstan for strengthening the Benedictine order, were a leading cause of the Through the whole of his life Alfred was second series of Danish invasions.-See Tursubject to grievous maladies. * ner. Fierceness and rage; and soon the cruel CANUTE. A PLEASANT music floats along the mere, From monks in Ely chanting service high, Whileas Canute the king is rowing by :"My oarsmen," quoth the mighty king, "draw near, [hear!" That we the sweet song of the monks may He listens, (all past conquests and all schemes Of future vanishing like empty dreams,) Heart-touched, and haply not without a tear. The royal minstrel, ere the choir is still, While his free barge skims the smooth flood along, Gives to that rapture an accordant rhyme,* O suffering earth! be thankful; sternest As with the stream our voyage we pursue, The gross materials of this world present A marvellous study of wild accident; Uncouth proximities of old and new ; And bold transfigurations, more untrue (As might be deemed) to disciplined intent Than aught the sky's fantastic element, When most fantastic, offers to the view. Saw we not Henry scourged at Becket's shrine? [crown, Lo! John self-stripped of his insignia ;Sceptre and mantle, sword and ring, laid down [line At a proud legate's feet! The spears that Baronial halls, the opprobrious insult feel; And angry ocean roars a vain appeal. SCENE IN VENICE. BLACK demons hovering o'er his mitred head, To Cæsar's successor the pontift spake : Ere I absolve thee, stoop! that on thy neck [tread." Levelled with earth this foot of mine may Then, he who to the altar had been led, He, whose strong arm the orient could not check, He, who had held the soldan at his beck, Their eyes away in sorrow, others burn CISTERTIAN MONASTERY. 'Here man more purely lives,* less oft doth fall, More promptly rises, walks with nicer heed, *"Bonum est nos hic esse, quia homo vivit More safely rests, dies happier, is freed Earlier from cleansing fires, and gains withal A brighter crown."--On yon Cistertian wall Yet, while the rugged age on pliant knee AND not in vain embodied to the sight Down to the humble altar, which the knight And his retainers of the embattled hall For prayer in stillness, or the chanted rite; purius, cadit rarius, surgit velocius, incedit cautius, quiescit securius, moritur felicius, purgatur citius, præmiatur copiosius."- Bernard." This sentence," says Dr. Whitaker, "is usually in scribed on some conspicuous part of the Cistertian houses." Hów sad would be their durance, if forlorn Of offices dispensing heavenly grace! CONTINUED. AND what melodious sounds at times prevail ! And, ever and anon, how bright a gleam Fair court of Edward! wonder of the world! CRUSADERS. of these bright scenes without a farewell NOR can imagination quit the shores glance [mance Given to those dream-like issues-that roOf many-coloured life which fortune pours Round the crusaders, till on distant shores Their labours end; or they return to lie, The vow performed, in cross-legged effigy, Devoutly stretched upon their chancel floors. [chanted Am I deceived? Or is their requiem By voices never mute when heaven unties Her inmost, softest, tenderest harmonies; Requiem which earth takes up with voice [and wise, For their high guerdon not in vain have When she would tell how good, and brave, panted! undaunted |