Then let not what I cannot have Although a poor Blind Boy. C. Cibber. 13.-ANIMALS AND THEIR COUNTRIES. O'er Afric's sand the tawny lion stalks ; On Phasis' [1] banks the graceful pheasant walks; From Alp to Alp the sprightly ibex bounds; Infest the reedy banks of fruitful Nile ; The dipsas [4] hisses over Mauritania's [5] plain, And seals and spouting whales sport in the northern main. [6] Barbauld. [1] Phasis-a river in Persia [2] Kilda-an island of Scotland, the most western of the Hebrides. [3] Meer-a large lake. [4] Dipsas-a venomous serpent. [5] Mauritania-the ancient name of north-western Africa, now Fez and Morocco. [6] Main-main-sea-ocean. 14. THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM.[1] It was a summer evening, Old Kaspar's work was done, And by him sported on the green, Roll something large and round, In playing there, had found; Who stood expectant by ; And then the old man shook his head, "Tis some poor fellow's skull,” said he, 66 "I find them in my garden, for There's many[2] here-about, The ploughshare turns them out; 66 [] This dreadful battle was fought in Queen Anne's reign, at Blenheim, a village in Bavaria, situated on the Danube. [2] There's many-there is many-put for "there are many." [8] It is said that 36,000 men were left killed and wounded on the field. "Now tell us what 'twas all about," With wonder-waiting [1] eyes; But every body said," quoth [2] he, "My father lived at Blenheim then, So with his wife and child he fled, And knew not where to rest his head 66 With fire and sword the country round And many a wretched mother, then, But things like that, you know, must be 66 They say it was a shocking sight, For many thousand bodies here Lay rotting in the sun; But things like that, you know, must be After a famous victory. [1] Wonder-waiting--waiting for wonders. [2] Quoth says or said. [3] Yon little stream hard by-close to yonder little stream. "Great praise the Duke of Marlbro' won, "Nay, nay, my little girl," quoth he, 66 It was a famous victory. "And every body praised the Duke, Why, that I cannot tell," said he, Southey. 15. THE NEGRO BOY. [1] When avarice enslaves the mind, His father's hope, his mother's pride, To fiends that Afric's coast annoy, [1] An African prince, who once visited England, was asked what he had given for his watch; he answered, "what I will never give again—a fine boy." From country, friends, and parents torn, No hopeful dreams his nights employ, His wretched parents long shall mourn, But all their hopes and sighs are vain ; Of their lamented negro boy. Samwell. 16. THE CAMEL. Camel, thou art good and mild, Thou wast made for usefulness, Man to comfort and to bless: Thou dost clothe him; thou dost feed; Where no rock its shadow throws; |