And there lay the steed with his nostrils all wide, |

But through them there roll'd not the breath of his pride;

And the foam of his gasping lay white on the turf, |
And cold as the spray on the rock-beating surf. |

And there lay the rider, distorted and pale, |
With the dew on his brow and the rust on his mail;
And the tents were all silent, the banners alone, |
The lances unlifted, the trumpet unblown. |

And the widows of Ashur are loud in their wail, |
And the idols are broke in the temple of Baal ; |
And the might of the Gentile, unsmote by the sword, |
Hath melted like snow in the glance of the Lord! |

CASABIANCA.

(MRS HEMANS.)

[Young Casabianca, a boy about thirteen years old, son of the admiral of the Orient, remained at his post (in the battle of the Nile) after the ship had taken fire, and all the guns had been abandoned; and perished in the explosion of the vessel, when the flames had reached the powder.]

The boy stood on the burning deck, |
Whence all but him had fled;|
The flame that lit the battle's wreck, |
Shone round him o'er the dead. |

Yet beautiful and bright he stood, |
As born to rule the storm ; |

A creature of heroic blood, |

A proud, though child-like form. |

The flames roll'd on- | he would not go,|
Without his father's word; |

That father, faint in death below, |
His voice no longer heard. |

He call'd aloud-"Say, father, say |
If yet my task is done?" |
He knew not that the chieftain lay |
Unconscious of his son. |

"Speak, father!" | once again he cried, |
"If I may yet be gone?" |
And but the booming shots replied, |
And fast the flames roll'd on. |

Upon his brow he felt their breath, |
And in his waving hair ; |

And look'd from that lone post of death, |
In still, yet brave despair. |

And shouted but once more, aloud, |

"My father! must I stay?" |

While o'er him fast, through sail and shroud, | The wreathing fires made way. |

They wrapt the ship in splendour wild, [

They caught the flag on high, |

And stream'd above the gallant child, |

Like banners in the sky. |

There came a burst of thunder sound-|
The boy-oh! where was he? |
Ask of the winds that far around |
With fragments strew'd the sea!|

With mast, and helm, and pennon fair, |
That well had borne their part—|
But the noblest thing that perish'd there, |
Was that young faithful heart. |

RECEPTION OF COLUMBUS ON HIS RETURN TO SPAIN.

(WASHINGTON IRVING.)

The fame of his discovery | had resounded throughout the nation, and as his route lay through several of the finest and most populous provinces of Spain, | his journey appeared like the progress of a sovereign. Wherever he passed, the surrounding country poured forth its inhabitants, who lined the road and thronged the villages. In the large towns, the streets, windows, and balconies, were filled with eager spectators, who rent the air with acclamations. |

His journey was continually impeded by the multitude pressing to gain a sight of him, and of the Indians, | who were regarded with as much admiration as if they had been natives of another planet. It was impossible to satisfy the craving curiosity which assailed himself and his attendants, at every stage, with innumerable questions: popular rumour, as usual, had exaggerated the truth, and had filled the newly-founded country with all kinds of wonders. |

It was about the middle of April, that Columbus arrived at Barcelona, where every preparation had been made to give him a solemn and magnificent reception. The beauty and serenity of the weather, in that genial season and favoured climate, contributed to give splendour to this memorable ceremony. As he drew near the place, many of the more youthful courtiers, | and hidal gos of gallant bearing, | together with a vast concourse of the populace, came forth to meet and welcome him.

His entrance into this noble city has been compared to one of those triumphs, which the Romans were accustomed to decree to conquerors. | First were paraded the Indians, painted according to their savage fashion, | and decorated with tropical feathers, and with their

a Hidalgo (Spanish), a noble man or woman.

national ornaments of gold; | after these were borne various kinds of live parrots, together with stuffed birds and animals of unknown species, | and rare plants, supposed to be of precious qualities: while great care was taken to make a conspicuous display of Indian coronets, | bracelets, and other decorations of gold, which might give an idea of the wealth of the newly-discovered regions. After these followed Columbus, on horseback, surrounded by a brilliant cavalcade of Spanish chivalry.

The streets were almost impassable from the countless multitude; the windows and balconies were crowded with the fair; the very roofs were covered with spectators. It seemed, as if the public eye could not be sated with gazing on these trophies of an unknown world, or on the remarkable man by whom it had been discovered. | There was a sublimity in this event, that mingled a solemn feeling with the public joy. It was looked upon as a vast and signal dispensation of Providence, | in reward for the piety of the monarchs; and the majestic and venerable appearance of the discoverer, so different from the youth and buoyancya that are generally expected from roving enterprise, seemed in harmony with the grandeur and dignity of his achievement. |

To receive him with suitable pomp and distinction, | the sovereigns had ordered their throne to be placed in public, | under a rich canopy of brocade of gold, in a vast and splendid saloon. Here the king and queen awaited his arrival, | seated in state with the prince Juan beside them, and attended by the dignitaries of their court, and the principal nobility of Castile, | Valentia, | Catalonia, and Arragon, | all impatient to behold the man, who had conferred so incalculable a benefit upon the nation. |

At length Columbus entered the hall, surrounded by a brilliant crowd of cavaliers, among whom, says Las Casas, he was conspicuous for his stately and command

ing person, which, with his countenance rendered venerable by his grey hairs, gave him the august appearance of a senator of Rome. | A modest smile lighted up his features, showing that he enjoyed the state and glory in which he came; and certainly nothing could be more deeply moving, to a mind inflamed by noble ambition, | and conscious of having greatly deserved, than were these testimonials | of the admiration and gratitude of a nation, or rather of a world. |

As Columbus approached, the sovereigns rose, as if receiving a person of the highest rank. Bending his knees, he requested to kiss their hands; but there was some hesitation on the part of their majesties | to permit this act of vassalage. Raising him in the most gracious manner, they ordered him to seat himself in their presence; a rare honour in this proud and punctilious court.

At the request of their majesties, | Columbus now gave an account of the most striking events of his voyage, and a description of the islands which he had discovered. | He displayed the specimens he had brought of unknown birds and other animals; of rare plants, of medicinal and aromatic virtue; | of native gold, | in dust, | in crude masses, or laboured into barbaric ornaments; and, above all, the natives of these countries, who were objects of intense and inexhaustible interest; | since there is nothing to man so curious as the varieties of his own species. All these he pronounced mere harbingers of greater discoveries he had yet to make, which would add realms of incalculable wealth to the dominions of their majesties, and whole nations of proselytes to the true faith. |

The words of Columbus were listened to with profound emotion by the sovereigns. When he had finished, they sunk on their knees, and raising their clasped hands to heaven, their eyes filled with tears of joy and gratitude, | they poured forth thanks and praises to God for so great a providence ; | all present followed their example; a deep and solemn enthusiasm pervaded

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