Such the Bard's prophetic words, pregnant with celestial fire, Bending as he swept the chords of his sweet but awful lyre. She, with all a monarch's pride, felt them in her bosom glow; Rushed to battle, fought, and died,-dying, hurled them at the foe! "Ruffians! pitiless as proud, Heaven awards the vengeance due; Empire is on us bestowed; shame and ruin wait for you!"
PRINCIPLE PUT TO THE TEST.
A YOUNGSTER at school, more sedate than the rest,
Had once his integrity put to the test:
His comrades had plotted an orchard to rob,
And asked him to go and assist in the job.
He was very much shocked, and answered, "Oh no!
What, rob our poor neighbour! I pray you don't go;
Besides, the man's poor, and his orchard's his bread;
Then think of his children, for they must be fed.” -
"You speak very fine, and you look very grave,
But apples we want, and the apples we'll have;
If you will go with us, we'll give you a share,
If not, you shall have neither apple nor pear.'
They spoke, and Tom pondered: "I see they will go;
Poor man! what a pity to injure him so!
Poor man! I would save him his fruit if I could,
But my staying behind will do him no good.
'If this matter depended alone upon me,
His apples might hang till they dropped from the tree;
But since they will take them, I think I'll go too;
He will lose none by me, though I do get a few.”
His scruples thus silenced, Tom felt more at ease,
And went with his comrades the apples to seize ;
He blamed and protested, but joined in the plan;
He shared in the plunder, but pitied the man.