The captive linnet which enthral? To chase the rolling circle's speed, While some on earnest business bent, Some bold adventurers disdain The limits of their little reign, And unknown regions dare descry; And lively cheer, of vigour born; Alas! regardless of their doom, Yet see how all around them wait The ministers of human fate, And black misfortune's baleful train. Ah! show them where in ambush stand, To seize their prey, the murd'rous band, Ah! tell them they are men! These shall the fury passions tear,5 And Shame that skulks behind; That inly gnaws the secret heart; THE FLIGHT OF TIME. Ambition this shall tempt to rise, The stings of falsehood those shall try, That mocks the tear it forced to flow; Lo, in the vale of years beneath The painful family of death, More hideous than their queen : That numbs the soul with icy hand; To each his sufferings; all are men, The tender for another's pain, Yet ah! why should they know their fate? And happiness too swiftly flies; 1. The establishment to which Eton owes all its importance is its College, founded by Henry VI. in 1440. That monarch, by whom it was liberally endowed, intended it principally for the education of "poor and indigent boys" destined for the Church. 2. Why in vain ? 215 GRAY. 3. The exact meaning of careless here? 4. What is less pleasing when possessed? 5. "I do not know that anv poet, ancient or modern, has given so complete a picture of the passions in so short a compass." --- Wakefield. 6. What queen? V. THE FLIGHT OF TIME. "WHATEVER We see on every side, reminds us of the lapse of time and the flux of life. The day and night succeed each other; the rotation of seasons diversifies the year; the sun rises, attains the meridian, declines, and sets; and the moon every night changes its form.”Johnson. FAINTLY flow, thou falling river, Keep thy calm unruffled way: Roses bloom, and then they wither; Years are bearing us to heaven, Home of happiness and rest. JAMES G. PERCIVAL. VI. THE RAINY DAY. "MAN's strength is in his war with obstacles.”—Bulwer. THE day is cold, and dark, and dreary; My life is cold, and dark, and dreary; Be still, sad heart! and cease repining; Some days must be dark and dreary. LONGFELLOW. TO THE SUN DIAL. VII. TO THE SUN DIAL. 217 "AN Italian philosopher expressed in his motto, that TIME WAS HIS ESTATE; an estate, indeed, which will produce nothing without cultivation, but will always abundantly repay the labours of industry, and satisfy the most extensive desires, if no part of it be suffered to lie waste by negligence, to be overrun with noxious plants, or laid out for show rather than for use."-Johnson. My ear is pained, my heart is sick, "Tis irksome in the dead of night To have Time's progress thus made known, Proclaimed in such a sullen tone. To know that thus in darkness fly Nothing to show their lapse redeemed Have found and left us unemployed. Better I love-since time must pass- With still more joy to thee I turn, Time's sweetest flight from thee I learn, Whose lore is borrowed from above. The worldly use of time may need Less cumbrous things its course to tell,— To read-and-feel its voiceless spell. On some old terrace-walk to greet Thou simple, silent, and sublime, But show'st thy shadowy sign from Heaven. BERNARD BARTON. VIII. FOOTSTEPS OF ANGELS. "In general, night is a very advantageous time for those who love to meditate, and to use self-examination. The tumult and dissipation, in which we commonly live during the day, leave us but too little time for recollection, for detaching our affections from the earth, and for occupying ourselves seriously about our latter end, and the duties of our station. The tranquillity of the night invites us to, and assists us in, these serious occupations. We may then, without interruption, converse with our hearts, and acquire the important science of selfknowledge. Our souls may collect all their powers, and direct them to the objects which relate to our eternal happiness. We may then banish the evil impressions which are received from the world, and get our souls fortified against the seducing examples of the age. This is the time in which we may meditate on death without distraction, and employ ourselves in the great concerns of the eternal world. The tranquil solitude of our closets is favourable to religious thoughts, and will inspire us with an ardent desire, to be more and more occupied in this sacred work."-Sturm. WHEN the hours of day are numbered, Wake the better soul,' that slumbered, Ere the evening lamps are lighted, |