"HoI eound the tocain from my tower, and 6re the culverin,
Bid each retainer arm with speed; call every vassal in.
Up with my banner on th e wall-the banquet-board prepare--
Throw wide the portal of my hall, and bring my armour there I"
A hundted banda were bu.sy then; the banquet forth wuspread,
And rung the heavy oaken door with many a martial tread;
While from the rich dark tracery, along the vaulted wo.ll,
Lights gleam'd on harneas, plume, &lid spear, o'er the proud old
Gothic h.all.Fut hurrying throngb the outer gate, the mail'd retainers pour'd,
On through the portal's frowning arch, and tbrong'd around the
bo&ro.
While at ita bead, within his dark, ca.rved, oaken chair of state,
Arm'd cap-0.-pie, stem Rudiger, with girded falchion, sate.
"Fill every beaker up, men !-pour forth the cheering wine I
There's life and strength in everydrop,-thanksgiving t{) the vine!
Are ye all there, my vusab true ?-mine eyes are waxing dim!
Fill round, my tried and fearle•s one&, each goblet to the brim I
"Ye're there, bnt yet I see you not !-draw forth each trusty
sword,
And let me bear your faitllfulsteel clnsb once around my b6ardl
I bear it faintly: Londer yet I What clogs my heavy breath P
Up, all l-and about for Rudiger, • Dui..AJfcB mrro DE.U'B I'"Bowl rang to bowl, steel clang'cl to steel, and rose a deafening
cry,
That made the torehes flare around, alld snook;:the flags on high:
"Ho, cravens I do ye fear him? Slaveal Traitors I have ye flown?
Ho, cowards! have ye let\ me to meet him here alone?
"Bat J defy him !-let him come I" Down l'llD~ the m83sy cap,
While from ita sheath the ready blade came fluh1ng balf-waytlp i
And, with the black and heavy plumes scarce trembling on hi3
bead,
There, in hie dark, carved, oaken chair, old Rudiger sat-dead l
ALBERT G. GREENS.
t~e fa a ~is~tircgalt.MY heart aches, and a drowsy numbneBB paine
My sense, aa though of hemlock I had drunk,
Or emptied some dnll opiate to the drains
O!!e minute paat, a.nd Lethe-wards had auuk:..