"He kill'd King Henry."

"Hush, York!

The good King

Sudden departed; and Fame's untir'd wing
Flew with false tales. But let not these appal :
Time's last and dreadest day will prove us all."

"I will be firm and hope—”

"And trust above,

Ruling your heart by virtue, faith, and love."

"We'll strive to be more calm. Your counsels lead

My soul to noble thoughts-"

"Let these precede.

This world to be our home was never plann'd;

We are all travelling to another land.

Thro' joy and sorrow, labour, rest, and care,
'Tis ours for this grand future to prepare.
There lies our glory, dignity, and ease,
Our present life is but the path to these;
Our education, trial, test, and school,

To form and train us for His heavenly rule.
Let us with faith, and hope, and humbled mind,
Discharge our duties to this life assign'd.

The shorter here, the sooner we attain

The blissful kingdom of His personal reign.

To this He'll call us in His chosen hour,

Win, then, while now you may, th' immortal

dower."

"I feel your sacred truths my hopes increase; Their ways are pleasantness; their paths are peace."

"The of God is on you. eye

Should He choose

To let usurping power achieve its views,

The triumph will be transient; for no crime

Can build a stable house in mortal time.
"Twill be that future issues may expand,
Which will enlarge the welfare of our land.
All, while they live, pursue their chosen ways,
But are the elements of grander days.
We all contribute, ere we fade, to yield
Seeds of new harvests for a richer field.
None, unproductive of some future good,
Comes, acts, and sinks in Time's eternal flood.
If your Lord call you to His happier realm,
Where sin and pain and death no more o'erwhelm,
There, in immortal beauty and delight,

A new existence will attend your flight.

There love and glory, mercy, goodness, peace, Will flow in bounteous streams, and never cease."

"Your lessons, like a summer beam, impart Joy, confidence, and pleasure, to my heart. Come to us oftener-while you tread our floor I am not so unhappy as before."

"I will, dear York!"

"And tell my mother so,

But let her not my startling fancies know."

"Discretion shall direct my lips. Adieu! Lov'd youths! I have no smiles apart from you."

BOOK IX.

SUSPICIONS AND TIDINGS THAT HASTINGS MEDITATES SECRET HOSTILITIES AGAINST THE REGENT.

АH! fraudulent Self-Love! who can declare
That he has liv'd untrammell'd by thy snare?
Welcome and cherish'd inmate! from thy dreams
A dear diseasing flattery ever beams.

We seem superior to whate'er can shake
Our worth and rectitude: our souls partake,
In our own sight, whate'er should be approv'd;
Wise, true, and virtuous, never to be mov'd.
Self-estimation, self-confiding, cheats

The strongest minds, and brings its own defeats.

Hence Richard fancied, in his happy hour
Of self-deliverance from his thirst of power,
That, as a moral hero, he could still
Conquer the fondest visions of his will.

L

But Buckingham, alarm'd at what he heard, That Hastings was for confidence preferr'd, Went straight to Crosby Hall, and there besought Accustom'd audience, when by urgence brought. The Regent ever watchful to receive

All whispers of the plots which foes might weave, Permitted the impatient Duke, tho' late!

And, on his couch, what threaten'd ill to state.

"I would not be intrusive on your rest, Unless by sudden peril I were press'd.

But machinations now around us rise,

Which, if we slight them, will our lives surprise, We must not hope as yet to breathe in peace,

Till knaves, and perfidy, and treason cease.'

"What can have stirr'd you to these goading

fears?

Hastings is sooth'd; and all the rival peers."

"Such is the semblance; but their masks they

wear,

Until they can your overthrow prepare!

Ev'n now they are caballing with the Queen

Stanley and Morton

- and the secret scene