BY ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON (1809-1892) You ask me, why, tho' ill at ease, Whose spirits falter in the mist, It is the land that freemen till, That sober-suited Freedom chose, The land, where girt with friends or foes. A man may speak the thing he will; A land of settled government, A land of just and old renown, Where Freedom slowly broadens down From precedent to precedent : Where faction seldom gathers head, But by degrees to fullness wrought, The strength of some diffusive thought Hath time and space to work and spread. Should banded unions persecute Opinion, and induce a time When single thought is civil crime, And individual freedom mute; Tho' Power should make from land to land Yet waft me from the harbour-mouth, The palms and temples of the Scuth. THE GENERAL IN LOVE BABYR BY WASHINGTON IRVING (1783-1859) MASTER SIMON has informed me, in great confidence, that he suspects the General of some design upon the susceptible heart of Lady Lillycraft. I have, indeed, noticed a growing attention and courtesy in the veteran towards her ladyship; he softens very much in her company, sits by her at table, and entertains her with long stories about Seringapatam, and pleasant anecdotes of the Mulligatawney club. I have even seen him present her with a full-blown rose from the hot-house, in a style of the most captivating gallantry, and it was accepted with great suavity and graciousness; for her ladyship delights in receiving the homage and attention of the sex. Indeed, the General was one of the earliest admirers that dangled in her train during her short reign of beauty; and they flirted together for half a season in London, some thirty or forty years since. She reminded him lately, in the course of conversation about former days, of the time when he used to ride a white horse and to canter so gallantly by the side of her carriage in Hyde Park; whereupon I have remarked that the veteran has regularly escorted her since, when she rides out on horseback; and I suspect he almost persuades himself that he makes as captivating an appearance as in his youthful days. Still, however, this may be nothing but a little venerable flirtation, the General being a veteran dangler, and the good lady habituated to these kind of attentions. Master Simon, on the other hand, thinks the General is looking about him with the wary eye of an old campaigner; and now that he is on the wane, is desirous of getting into warm winter quarters. There are certain symptoms that give an air or probability of Master Simon's intimations. Thus, for instance, I have observed that the General has been very assiduous in his attentions to her ladyship's dogs, and has several times exposed his fingers to imminent jeopardy, in attempting to pat Beauty on the head. It is to be hoped his advances to the mistress will be more favourably received, as all his overtures towards a caress are greeted by the pestilent little cur with a wary kindling of the eye, and a most venomous growl. He has, moreover, been very complaisant towards the lady's gentlewoman, the immaculate Mrs. Hannah, whom he used to speak of in a way that I do not choose to mention. Whether she has the same suspicions with Master Simon or not, I cannot say; but she receives his civilities with no better grace than the implacable Beauty; unscrewing her mouth into a most acid smile, and looking as though she could bite a piece out of him. There is still another circumstance which inclines me to give very considerable credit to Master H |