Let me not hold my tongue; let me not, Hubert!
Or, Hubert, if you will, cut out my tongue,
So I may keep mine eyes; 0, spare mine eyes:
Though to no use, but still to look on you!
Ló, by my troth, the instrument is cold
And would not harm me.

HUB. I can heat it, boy.

ARTH. No, in good sooth; the fire is dead with grief,

Being create for comfort, to be used

In undeserved extremes: See else yourself;
There is no malice in this burning coal;

The breath of heaven hath blown his spirit out,
And strew'd repentant ashes on his head.

HUB. But with my breath I can revive it, boy.
ARTH. And if you do, you will but make it blush,
And glow with shame of your proceedings, Hubert..
Nay, it, perchance, will sparkle in your eyes;
And, like a dog that is compell'd to fight,
Snatch at his master, that doth tarre him on.
All things, that you should use to do me wrong,
Deny their office: only you do lack

That mercy which fierce fire and iron extends,
Creatures of note, for mercy-lacking uses.

HUB. Well see to live; I will not touch thine

eyes

For all the treasure that thine uncle owes :

Yet, I am sworn, and I did purpose, boy,

With this same very iron to burn them out.

ARTH. O, now you look like Hubert! all this while

You were disguised.

HUB. Peace: no more.

Adieu;

Your uncle must not know but you are dead:
I'll fill these dogged spies with false reports.
And, pretty child, sleep doubtless, and secure,
That Hubert, for the wealth of all the world,
Will not offend thee.

ARTH. O Heaven!-I thank you Hubert.

HUB. Silence; no more: Go closely in with me ; Much danger do I undergo for thee.

ACT IV.

[Exeunt.

SCENE 3.

Death of Arthur.

ARTH. The wall is high; and yet will I leap down ;

Good ground, be pitiful, and hurt me not!

There's few, or none, do know me; if they did,
This ship-boy's semblance hath disguised me quite.
I am afraid; and yet I'll venture it.

If I get down, and do not break my limbs,
I'll find a thousand shifts to get away;
As good to die, and go, as die, and stay.

(Leaps down.) O me! my uncle's spirit is in these stones :Heaven take my soul, and England keep my bones! (Dies).

AN INTERDICT, 1214

BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH.

REALMS quake by turns: proud arbitress of grace,
The Church, by mandate shadowing forth the power
She arrogates o'er heaven's eternal door,
Closes the gates of every sacred place,

Straight from the sun and tainted air's embrace
All sacred things are covered: cheerful morn
Grows sad as night-no seemly garb is worn,
Nor is a face allowed to meet a face

With natural smile of greeting.

Bells are dumb:

Ditches are graves-funeral rites denied ;
And in the churchyard he must take his bride
Who dares be wedded! Fancies thickly come
Into the pensive heart ill-fortified,

And comfortless despairs the soul benumb.

THE SIGNING OF MAGNA CARTA (1215)

BY ERNEST PERTWEE.

GREEN meadow by the Thames,-fair Runnymede Where tyranny received its fateful blow,

Thy name shall live while centuries come and go,Crowned with the flowers that blossom from thy seed.

In vain thy wrath, oh king! All impotent,
Thy frenzied rage doth sink in terror now;
The sign of fear is on thy pallid brow,
Wild, haggard eyes are on the Charter bent.

The pen is thrust within that shaking hand;
And now his name doth ratify the scroll,
The which doth give while ages onward roll,
The boon of Liberty to bless our land!

KING HENRY III (1216-1272)

A BALLAD OF EVESHAM

August 4, 1265

BY FRANCIS TURNER PALGRAVE

EARL SIMON on the Abbey tower

In summer sunshine stood,

While helm and lance o'er Greenhill heights

Come glinting through the wood.

My son!" he cried, "I know his flag

Amongst a thousand glancing

:

Fond father! no!-'tis Edward stern

In royal strength advancing.

The Prince fell on him like a hawk
At Al'ster yester-eve,

And flaunts his captured banner now
And flaunts but to deceive :-
-Look round! for Mortimer is by,
And guards the rearward river :—
The hour that parted sire and son
Has parted them for ever!

'Young Simon's dead," he thinks, and look'd Upon his living son :

66

Now God have mercy on our souls, Our bodies are undone !

But, Hugh and Henry, ye can fly

Before their bowmen smite us :

They come on well! But 'tis from me
They learn'd the skill to fight us.'

For England's cause, and England's laws, With you we fight and fall."

66

'Together, then, and die like men,

And Heaven will hold us all!"

-Then face to face, and limb to limb,
And sword with sword inwoven,
That stubborn courage of the race
On Evesham field was proven.

O happy hills! O summer sky
Above the valley bent !

Your peacefulness rebukes the rage
Of blood on blood intent!

No thought was then for death or life
Through that long dreadful hour,

While Simon 'mid his faithful few

Stood like an iron tower,

'Gainst which the winds and waves are hurl'd

In vain, unmoved, foursquare;

And round him storm'd the raging swords

ward and De Clare:

ound him in the narrow combe hite-cross comrades rally,

ghastly gashings cloud the beck rimson all the valley,

riple sword-thrusts meet his sword, hrice the charge he foils,

h now in threefold flood the foe
I those devoted boils :

ill the light of England's cause
ngland's love was o'er him,
he saw his gallant boy

vn in blood before him :

k God!" he said; nor long could life

Oved and lost divide him :

ght fell o'er De Montfort dead, ngland wept beside him.

ING EDWARD I (1272-1307)

THE BARD (1276)

BY THOMAS GRAY

seize thee, ruthless King! ision on thy banners wait;

n'd by Conquest's crimson wing, mock the air with idle state. or hauberk's twisted mail, athy virtues, Tyrant shall avail