When thus forlorn, a merry horn And many a horse was taken out And men, by dint of drink, became For now begun a harder run On wine, and gin, and beer; And overtaken men discussed The overtaken deer. How far he ran, and eke how fast, As dearly as he could : And how the hunters stood aloof, Regardful of their lives, And shunned a beast, whose very horns. They knew could handle knives! How Huggins stood when he was rubbed By help and ostler kind, And when they cleaned the clay before, How worse "remained behind." And one, how he had found a horse Adrift a goodly gray! And kindly rode the nag, for fear The nag should go astray; Now Huggins, when he heard the tale, GUIDO AND MARINA. A DRAMATIC SKETCH. [GUIDO, having given himself up to the pernicious study of magic and astrology, casts his nativity, and resolves that at a certain hour of a certain day he is to die. MARINA, to wean him from this fatal delusion, which hath gradually wasted him away, even to the verge of death, advances the hour-hand of the clock. He is supposed to be seated beside her in the garden of his palace at Venice.] Guido. Clasp me again! My soul is very sad; And hold thy lips in readiness near mine, Lest I die suddenly. Clasp me again! 'Tis such a gloomy day! Mar. Nay, sweet, it shines. Guido. Nay, then, these mortal clouds are in mine eyes. Clasp me again!-ay, with thy fondest force, Give me one last embrace. Mar. Love, I do clasp thee! Guido. Then closer-closer-for I feel thee not; Unless thou art this pain around my heart. Thy lips at such a time should never leave me. Mar. What pain-what time, love? Art thou ill? Alas! I see it in thy cheek. Come, let me nurse thee. Here, rest upon my heart. Guido. Stay, stay, Marina. Look !-when I raise my hand against the sun, Is it red with blood? Mar. Alas! my love, what wilt thou? |