CONTENTS. PART II. PROSE. SHAKSPEARE, WILLIAM: 1564-1616, Henry V. (Act IV., Scene I.) Hamlet's Instructions to the Players DRYDEN, JOHN: 1631-1700. History and Biography PITT, WILLIAM (EARL OF CHATHAM): 1708-1778. xi PAGE 213 205 175 Speech against the Employment of Indians in the War with America 177 CHANNING, WILLIAM ELLERY: 1780-1842. IRVING, WASHINGTON: 1783-1859. Voyage across the Atlantic in a Sailing Vessel MACAULAY, THOMAS BABINGTON (LORD): 1800-1859. Liberty The Progress of England The Origin of the English Nation The Acquittal of the Bishops MILLER, HUGH: 1802-1856. REPETITION AND READING BOOK. PART I.-POETRY. NAPOLEON AND THE SAILOR. Napoleon's banners at Boulogne Armed in our island every freeman; His navy chanced to capture one They suffered him-I know not how- His eye, methinks, pursued the flight A stormy midnight watch, he thought Than this sojourn would have been dearer, If but the storm his vessel brought To England nearer. At last, when care had banished sleep, He saw one morning-dreaming-doting, An empty hogshead from the deep He hid it in a cave, and wrought The livelong day laborious; lurking Heaven help us! 'twas a thing beyond For ploughing in the salt sea-field, It would have made the boldest shudder; Untarred, uncompassed, and unkeeled, No sail-no rudder. From neighbouring woods he interlaced His sorry skiff with wattled willows; And thus equipped he would have passed The foaming billows. But Frenchmen caught him on the beach, Till tidings of him chanced to reach With folded arms Napoleon stood, Addressed the stranger. 'Rash man, that would'st yon channel pass On twigs and staves so rudely fashioned; Thy heart with some sweet British lass Must be impassioned.' 'I have no sweetheart,' said the lad; 'But-absent long from one another— Great was the longing that I had 'And so thou shalt,' Napoleon said, 'Ye've both my favour fairly won; A noble mother must have bred He gave the tar a piece of gold, And with a flag of truce commanded He should be shipped to England Old, And safely landed. Of Nelson and the North Sing the glorious day's renown, When to battle fierce came forth All the might of Denmark's crown, And her arms along the deep proudly shone; By each gun the lighted brand, In a bold determined hand, And the Prince of all the land Led them on. Like leviathans afloat, Lay their bulwarks on the brine, It was ten of April morn by the chime: As they drifted on their path, There was silence deep as death; For a time. But the might of England flush'd And her van the fleeter rush'd O'er the deadly space between. 'Hearts of oak !' our captains cried; when each gun From its adamantine lips Spread a death-shade round the ships, Like the hurricane eclipse Of the sun! Again! again! again! And the havoc did not slack, To our cheering sent us back : 3 |