100 Haply some hoary-headed swain may say, "Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn Brushing with hasty steps the dews away, To meet the sun upon the upland lawn. "There, at the foot of yonder nodding beech, That wreathes its old fantastic roots so high, His listless length at noontide would he stretch, And pore upon the brook that babbles by. "Hard by yon wood, now smiling as in scorn, 105 Muttering his way ward fancies, he would rove; Now drooping, woeful, wan, like one forlorn, Or crazed with care, or crossed in hopeless love. "One morn I missed him on the accustomed hill, Along the heath and near his favourite tree; 31 "The next, with dirges 30 due, in sad array," Slow through the church-way path we saw him borne : Approach and read (for thou canst read) the lay 33 32 Graven on the stone beneath yon aged thorn." Here rests his head upon the lap of Earth, I 10 115 120 Large was his bounty,36 and his soul sincere ; He gained from Heaven ('twas all he wished) No further seek his merits to disclose, Or draw his frailties from their dread abode, 37 (There they alike in trembling hope repose),The bosom of his Father and his God. NOTES. 1 Curfew, the evening bell rung in England during Norman times to warn the people to put out all fires and lights. 2 Lea, grassland, an untilled meadow. 4 Glimmering, fading away. 6 Breezy call, &c., fresh pure air 7 Ply, to work at. 8 Glebe, land for cultivating. 9 Jocund, cheerful, joyous. of 10 Annals, short yearly accounts or histories. 11 Inevitable, that which cannot be avoided. 12 Trophies, monuments. 13 Pregnant, full of. 14 Ecstasy, great joy. 15 Lyre, a kind of harp. 16 Penury, poverty. 17 Repressed, checked, kept back. 20 21 22 Hampden (John), lived in the time Milton (John), was one of England's Cromwell (Oliver), the chief leader in the rebellion against Charles I. 24 Ingenuous, open, straightforward. 26 Sequestered, lonely, private. 27 Elegy here means praise of the 28 Parting, departed. 30 Dirge, a funeral service. 32 Lay, the song or verse carved on 34 Epitaph, inscription carved on a tomb. 35 Melancholy, a gloomy state of mind, 36 Bounty, what he gave away as gifts. 125 KING JOHN. PRINCE ARTHUR'S DEATH PLANNED.-ACT III. SCENE 3. King John invades France to chastise Philip for espousing the cause of Prince Arthur, the rightful heir to the English throne. In a battle before Angiers, Arthur is taken prisoner. Hubert, chamberlain to King John, is appointed Arthur's keeper, with instructions to find some means of depriving the young prince of life. SCENE-Plains near Angiers; after the battle; the English having gained the victory and made Arthur a prisoner. Q. Elinor. Come hither, little kinsman, hark a word. [She takes Arthur aside. K. John. Come hither, Hubert.' O my gentle Hubert, 3. There is a soul counts thee her creditor,1 5 And with advantage means to pay thy love; 8 In good sooth, Hubert, I am almost ashamed 10 But thou shalt have: and creep time ne'er so slow, 15 Yet it shall come for me to do thee good. (Which, else, runs tickling up and down the veins, Making that idiot, laughter, keep men's eyes Or if that thou couldst see me without eyes, 25 30 Hear me without thine ears, and make reply Then, in despite of brooded 15 watchful day, Hub. So well, that what you bid me under take, 17 Though that my death were adjunct to my act, Indeed I'd do't. K. John. Do not I know thou wouldst ? Good Hubert, Hubert, Hubert, throw thine eye On yon young boy; I'll tell thee what, my friend, He is a very serpent in my way; 35 40 And, wheresoe'er this foot of mine doth tread, 45 He lies before me: dost thou understand me? I could be merry now: Hubert, I love thee. 55 |