CONTENTS.

PART II. PROSE.

SHAKSPEARE, WILLIAM: 1564-1616,

Henry V. (Act IV., Scene I.)

Hamlet's Instructions to the Players

DRYDEN, JOHN: 1631-1700.

History and Biography

PITT, WILLIAM (EARL OF CHATHAM): 1708-1778.
Speech of Chatham on being taunted with his Youth

xi

PAGE
210

213

205

175

Speech against the Employment of Indians in the War with America 177

CHANNING, WILLIAM ELLERY: 1780-1842.
Poetry and its Uses

IRVING, WASHINGTON: 1783-1859.

Voyage across the Atlantic in a Sailing Vessel
Love for the Dead

MACAULAY, THOMAS BABINGTON (LORD): 1800-1859.

Liberty

The Progress of England

The Origin of the English Nation

The Acquittal of the Bishops

MILLER, HUGH: 1802-1856.
The Mosaic View of Creation
The Fossil Pine-tree

STANLEY, ARTHUR PENRHYN (DEAN): 1815.

160

161

Prometheus and Epimetheus

Scene in the Bowling-Green behind the Pelican Inn, Plymouth,

July 19, 1588

DAILY TELEGRAPH:

Walter Savage Landor.

233

Foundering of the Steamer 'London' in the Bay of Biscay.

238

REPETITION AND READING BOOK.

PART I.-POETRY.

NAPOLEON AND THE SAILOR.

Napoleon's banners at Boulogne

Armed in our island every freeman;

His navy chanced to capture one
Poor British seaman.

They suffered him-I know not how-
Unprisoned on the shore to roam;
And aye was bent his longing brow
On England's home.

His eye, methinks, pursued the flight
Of birds to Britain half-way over,
With envy; they could reach the white
Dear cliffs of Dover.

A stormy midnight watch, he thought

Than this sojourn would have been dearer,

If but the storm his vessel brought

To England nearer.

At last, when care had banished sleep,

He saw one morning-dreaming-doting,

An empty hogshead from the deep
Come shoreward floating;

He hid it in a cave, and wrought

The livelong day laborious; lurking
Until he launched a tiny boat

Heaven help us! 'twas a thing beyond
Description wretched; such a wherry
Perhaps ne'er ventured on a pond,
Or crossed a ferry.

For ploughing in the salt sea-field,

It would have made the boldest shudder; Untarred, uncompassed, and unkeeled, No sail-no rudder.

From neighbouring woods he interlaced His sorry skiff with wattled willows; And thus equipped he would have passed The foaming billows.

But Frenchmen caught him on the beach,
His little Argo sorely jeering;

Till tidings of him chanced to reach
Napoleon's hearing.

With folded arms Napoleon stood,
Serene alike in peace and danger;
And in his wonted attitude,

Addressed the stranger.

'Rash man, that would'st yon channel pass On twigs and staves so rudely fashioned; Thy heart with some sweet British lass Must be impassioned.'

'I have no sweetheart,' said the lad;

'But-absent long from one another—

Great was the longing that I had
To see my mother.'

'And so thou shalt,' Napoleon said,

'Ye've both my favour fairly won;

A noble mother must have bred
So brave a son!'

He gave the tar a piece of gold,

And with a flag of truce commanded He should be shipped to England Old, And safely landed.

Of Nelson and the North

Sing the glorious day's renown,

When to battle fierce came forth

All the might of Denmark's crown,

And her arms along the deep proudly shone;

By each gun the lighted brand,

In a bold determined hand,

And the Prince of all the land

Led them on.

Like leviathans afloat,

Lay their bulwarks on the brine,
While the sign of battle flew
On the lofty British line:

It was ten of April morn by the chime:

As they drifted on their path,

There was silence deep as death;
And the boldest held his breath,

For a time.

But the might of England flush'd
To anticipate the scene;

And her van the fleeter rush'd

O'er the deadly space between.

'Hearts of oak !' our captains cried; when each gun

From its adamantine lips

Spread a death-shade round the ships,

Like the hurricane eclipse

Of the sun!

Again! again! again!

And the havoc did not slack,
Till a feebler cheer the Dane

To our cheering sent us back :

3