Peal'd her loud drum, and twang'd her trumpet horn!
Tumultuous horror brooded o'er her van,
Presaging wrath to Poland, and to man!

2. Warsaw's last champion from her height survey'd,
Wide o'er the fields, a waste of ruin laid. -

O! Heav'n, he cried, my bleeding country save!
Is there no hand on high to shield the brave?
Yet, though destruction sweep these lovely plains,
Rise, fellow-men! our country yet remains!
By that dread name, we wave the sword on high,
And swear for her to live! with her to die!

3. He said, and on the rampart heights array'd
His trusty warriors, few, but undismay'd;
Firm-pac'd and slow, a horrid front they form,
Still as the breeze, but dreadful as the storm;
Low murmuring sounds along their banners fly,
Revenge, or death, the watchword and reply.
Then pealed the notes, omnipotent to charm,
And the loud tocsin toll'd their last alarm!

4. In vain, alas! in vain, ye gallant few!
From rank to rank your volley'd thunder flew ;
O! bloodiest picture in the "Book of Time,"
Sarmatia fell, unwept, without a crime;
Found not a gen'rous friend, a pitying foe,
Strength in her arms, nor mercy in her woe!

Dropp'd from her nerveless grasp the shattered spear,
Clos'd her bright eye, and curb'd her high career;
Hope, for a season, bade the world farewell;
And freedom shrieked, as Kosciusko fell!

5. The sun went down, nor ceas'd the carnage there, Tumultuous murder shook the midnight air.

a Kosciusko. b Sarmatia (sär-ma-she-a, by the poet, in three syllables); an ancient country, of which Poland is a part. c Kosciusko (kos-se-us-ko); a distinguished Polish general, and Washington's aid in the American Revolution.

On Prague's proud arch the fires of ruin glow,
His blood-dy'd waters murmuring far below;
The storm prevails, the rampart yields away,
Bursts the wild cry of horror and dismay!
Hark! as the smoldering piles with thunder fall,
A thousand shrieks for hopeless mercy call!
Earth shook; red meteors flash'd along the sky,
And conscious nature shudder'd at the cry!

6. O! righteous Heaven! ere freedom found a grave,
Why slept the sword, omnipotent to save?
Where was thine arm, O vengeance! where thy rod,
That smote the foes of Zion and of God;
That crush'd proud Ammon, when his iron car
Was yok'd in wrath, and thunder'd from afar?
Where was the storm that slumber'd till the host
Of blood-stain❜d Pharaoh left their trembling coast;
Then bade the deep in wild commotion flow,
And heav'd an ocean on their march below?

7. Departed spirits of the mighty dead!

Ye that at Marathon and Leuctra bled!

Friends of the world! restore your swords to man,
Fight in the sacred cause, and lead the van!
Yet for Sarmatia's tears of blood atone,
And make her arm puissant as your own!
O! once again to freedom's cause return
The patriot Tell, the Bruce of Bannockburn !'

8. Yes! thy proud lords, unpitied land! shall see
That man hath yet a soul, and dare be free!
A little while along thy sadd'ning plains,

a Ammon; the son of Lot, and father of the Ammonites. b Mărathon; a town in Greece, famous for the victory of Milti'ades over the Persians, B. C. 490. c Leuctra (lük'-tra); a town in Greece famous for the victory of Epaminon'das over the Spartans, B. C. 371. d Tell (William); a Swiss peasant, distinguished for his resistance to the Austrian governor, Gesler. e Bruce (Robert); a king of Scotland, and son of Robert Bruce who fought in the English army against William Wallace. f Ban'-nock-burn'; a village in Scotland, renowned for the victory of the younger Bruce over Edward II. of England.

The starless night of desolation reigns;
Truth shall restore the light by nature giv'n,
And, like Prometheus, bring the fire of Heav'n!
Prone to the dust oppression shall be hurl'd,
Her name, her nature, wither'd from the world!

LESSON XLIII.

SIEGE OF CALAIS.

BROOKE.

1. EDWARD III., after the battle of Crecy, laid siege to Calais. He had fortified his camp in so impregnable a manner, that all the efforts of France proved ineffectual to raise the siege, or throw succors into the city. The citizens, under Count Vienne, their gallant governor, made an admirable defence. France had now put the sickle into her second harvest, since Edward, with his victorious army, sat down before the town. The eyes of all Europe were intent on the issue. 2. At length, famine did more for Edward than arms. suffering unheard-of calamities, the French resolved to attempt the enemy's camp. They boldly sallied forth; the English joined battle; and after a long and desperate engagement, Count Vienne was taken prisoner, and the citizens who survived the slaughter retired within their gates. The command devolving upon Eustace St. Pierre, a man of mean birth, but of exalted virtue, he offered to capitulate with Edward, provided he permitted them to depart with life and liberty.

After

3. Edward, to avoid the imputation of cruelty consented to spare the bulk of the plebians, provided they delivered up to him six of their principal citizens with halters about their

a Prometheus (pro-me'-the-us, by the poet, in three syllables); a Titan, said to have brought fire from heaven to men. b Edward III; a warlike king of England, born 1313. c Crecy; a town in France celebrated for a battle between the English and French, in which 30,000 foot and 1200 horse were slain. d Calais (kal'-is); a seaport town in France. e Count Vienne (ve-enne') a governor of the province of Vienne. f Pronounced Peer.

necks, as victims of due atonement for that spirit of rebellion with which they had inflamed the vulgar. When his messenger, Sir Walter Mauny, delivered the terms, consternation and pale dismay were impressed on every countenance.

4. To a long and dead silence, deep sighs and groans succeeded, till Eustace St. Pierre, getting up to a little eminence thus addressed the assembly; "My friends, we are brought to great straits this day. We must either yield to the terms of our cruel and ensnaring conqueror, or give up our tender infants, our wives and daughters, to the bloody and brutal lusts of the violating soldiers.

5. Is there any expedient left, whereby we may avoid the guilt and infamy of delivering up those who have suffered every misery with you, on the one hand, or the desolation and horror of a sacked city, on the other? There is, my friends; there is one expedient left! a gracious, an excellent, a godlike expedient left! Is there any here to whom virtue is dearer than life? Let him offer himself an oblation for the safety of his people! He shall not fail of a blessed approbation from that Power who offered up his only Son for the salvation of mankind."

6. He spoke; but a universal silence ensued. Each man looked around for the example of that virtue and magnanimity which all wished to approve in themselves, though they wanted the resolution. At length St. Pierre resumed; "I doubt not but there are many here as ready, nay, more zealous of this martyrdom, than I can be; though the station to which I am raised by the captivity of lord Vienne, imparts a right to be the first in giving my life for your sakes. I give it freely; I give it cheerfully. Who comes next?"

7. "Your son!" exclaimed a youth not yet come to maturity. "Ah! my child!" cried St. Pierre; "I am then twice sacrificed. But no; I have rather begotten thee a second time. Thy years are few, but full, my son. The victim of virtue has reached the utmost purpose and goal of mortality!

Who

a Mau'-ny

next, my friends? This is the hour of heroes." "Your kinsman," cried John de Aire. "Your kinsman,” cried James Wissant." "Your kinsman," cried Peter Wissant. "Ah!" exclaimed Sir Walter Mauny, bursting into tears, "why was not I a citizen of Calais ?"

8. The sixth victim was still wanting, but was quickly supplied by lot, from numbers who were now emulous of so ennobling an example. The keys of the city were then delivered to Sir Walter. He took the six prisoners into his custody; then ordered the gates to be opened, and gave charge to his attendants to conduct the remaining citizens, with their families, through the camp of the English. Before they departed, however, they desired permission to take a last adieu of their deliverers.

9. What a parting! what a scene! they crowded with their wives and children about St. Pierre and his fellow-prisoners. They embraced; they clung around; they fell prostrate before them; they groaned; they wept aloud; and the joint clamor of their mourning passed the gates of the city, and was heard throughout the English camp.

LESSON XLIV.

THE SAME SUBJECT, CONcluded.

BROOKE.

1. THE English, by this time, were apprized of what passed within Calais. They heard the voice of lamentation, and their souls were touched with compassion. Each of the soldiers prepared a portion of his own victuals, to welcome and entertain the half famished inhabitants; and they loaded them with as much as their present weakness was able to bear, in order to supply them with sustenance by the way.

2. At length, St. Pierre and his fellow-victims appeared under conduct of Sir Walter and a guard. All the tents of

a John de Aire'. b Wis-sant'.