spear, and thrust them into the doomed structure late so terrible. To do this, he was obliged to stand on a projecting beam, holding on by the hand of a pikeman to steady himself. This provoked Denys; he ran out from his mantelet, hoping to escape notice in the confusion, and levelling his crossbow missed the knight clean, but sent his bolt into the brain of the pikeman, and the tall knight fell heavily from the wall, lance and all.

The knight, his armour glittering in the morning sun, fell headlong, but turning as he neared the water, struck it with a slap that sounded a mile off.

None ever thought to see him again. But he fell at the edge of the fascines, and his spear stuck into them under water, and by a mighty effort he got to the side, but could not get out. Anthony sent a dozen knights with a white flag to take him prisoner. He submitted like a lamb, but said nothing.

From "The Cloister and the Hearth," by CHARLES READE.

COMPOSITION.-Try to describe some of the chief differences between a siege in the middle ages and a siege at the present time.

LESSON 21.

THE KING'S SENTINEL.

AN EASTERN LEGEND.

Richard Henry Stoddard (1825- ) was born at Hingham, in Massachusetts; but at ten years of age he removed to New York, where he has since lived. In his youth he worked in an iron foundry, which he quitted for a position in the Custom House. After further changes he settled down as reviewer. Much of his work appears without his name in the newspapers, but he has published two or three volumes of poems with his name. Good judges among his own countrymen think very highly of his verse. They find in it a fine imagination, and a severe simplicity of form, concealing art under the appearance of artlessness.

UPON a time, unbidden came a man

Before the mighty King of Teberistan.

When the king saw this daring man, he cried,

"Who art thou, fellow?" Whereto he replied, "A lion-hunter and a swordsman, I;

5

Moreover, I am skilled in archery:

A famous bowman, who of men alone

Can drive his arrows through the hardest stone.
Besides my courage, tried in desperate wars,

I know to read the riddle of the stars.

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First in the service of Emeer Khojend,

Who, friend to none, has none to be his friend-
Him have I left, I hope, an honest man,
To serve, if so he wills, the Lord of Teberistan."

To whom in answer: "I have men enow,
Stalwart, like thee, apt with the sword and bow;
These no king lacks, or need to; what we need
Are men who may be trusted-word and deed:
Who, to keep pain from us, would yield their breath;
Faithful in life, and faithfuller in death".

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20

"Try me." As thrice the monarch claps his hands,
The captain of the guard before him stands,
Amazed that one, unknown of him, had come

In to the king, and fearful of his doom.

25 Sternly his lord: "You guard me, slave, so well
That I have made this man my sentinel ".
Thus did the happy archer gain his end,
And thus his sovereign find at last a friend,
Who from that hour was to his service bound,
30 Keen as his hawk, and faithful as his hound.

Now when a moon of nights had ta'en its flight,
Amid the darkness of a summer night,

The king awoke, alarmed, with fluttering breath,
Like one who struggles in the toils of death,
35 And wandered to his lattice, which stood wide,
Whence, down below him in the court, he spied
A shadowy figure, with a threatening spear.

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“ What man art thou ?—if man-and wherefore here?” "Your sentinel, and servant, O my lord!"

"Hearken!" They did. And now a voice was heard, But whether from the desert far away,

Or from the neighbour-garden, who could say?

So far it was, yet near, so loud, yet low;
"Who calls?” it said. It sighed, "I
It sighed, "I go ! I go !"

45 Then spake the pallid king, in trouble sore,

"Have you this dreadful summons heard before?" "That voice, or something like it, have I heard(Perchance the wailing of some magic bird)— Three nights, and at this very hour, O king! 50 But could not quit my post to seek the thing. But now, if you command me, I will try, Where the sound was, to find the mystery." "Go! follow where it leads, if anywhere, And what it is, and means, to me declare; 55 It may be ill, but I will hope the best:

But haste, for I am weary, and must rest."

Softly, as one that would surprise a thief,
Who might detect the rustling of a leaf,
The sentinel stole out into the night,

60 Nor knew that the king kept him still in sight-
Behind him, with a blanket o'er his head,

Black-draped down to his feet, as he were dead; But the spear trembled in his hands, his knees Weakened-at length he sank beneath the trees. 65 Again the voice was heard, and now more near Than when it faded last-it was so clear:

"I go! what man will force me to return?”

"Now," thought the wondering soldier, "I shall learn Who speaks, and why." And, looking up, he saw 70 What filled his simple soul with love and aweA noble woman, standing by his side,

Who might have been the widow or the bride
Of some great king, so much of joy and woe
Hung on the perfect lips that breathed "I go,"

75 Shone in the quenchless eyes, dimmed the bright hairNo woman, born of woman, half so fair!

"Most beautiful! who art thou?"

"Know, O man!

I am his life, who rules in Teberistan

80 The spirit of your lord, whose end is nigh,

Except some friend-what friend?-for him will die." "Can I?" But she: "Tis written you must live". "What then-my life rejected-can I give?"

"You have a son," she whispered in his ear,

85 Feeling her way, it seemed, in hope and fear,
Lest what she would demand should be denied.
He pressed a sudden hand against his side
Where his heart ached, but spake not. "
And I remain; refuse, and I am gone

Fetch your son,

90 Even while we parley." Stifling the great sigh

That heaved his breast, he answered "He shall die!"