we do not break our vows and surrender the city to the Spaniards?—a fate mōre horrible than the agony which she now endures. I tell you I have made an oath to hold the city; and may God give me strength to keep my oath! I can die but once, whether by your hands, the enemy's, or by the hand of God. My own fate is indifferent to me; not so that of the city intrusted to my care. I know that we shall starve if not soon relieved; but starvation is preferable to the dishonored death which is the only alternative. Your menaces move me not; my life is at your disposal; here is my sword, plunge it into my breast, and divide my flesh among you. Take my body to appease your hunger, but expect no surrender so long as I remain alive.” 7. On the 28th of September, a dove flew into the city, bringing a letter from Admiral Boisot. In this despatch, the position of the fleet at North Aa was described in encouraging terms, and the inhabitants were assured that, in a very few days at furthest, the long-expected relief would enter their gates. The tempest came to their relief. A violent equinoctial gale, on the night of the 1st and 2d of October, came storming from the northwest, shifting after a few hours full eight points, and then blowing still more violently from the southwest. The waters of the North Sea were piled in vast masses upon the southern coast of Holland, and then dashed furiously landward, the ocean rising over the earth and sweeping with unrestrained power across the ruined dykes. 8. In the course of twenty-four hours, the fleet at North Aa, instead of nine inches, had more than two feet of water. On it went, sweeping over the broad waters which lay between Zoeterwoude and Zwieten; and as they approached some shallows which led into the great mere, the Zealanders dashed into the sea, and with sheer strength shouldered every vessel through. On again the fleet of Boisot still went, and, overcoming every obstacle, entered the city on the morning of the 3d of October. Leyden was relieved. MOTLEY. JOHN LATHROP MOTLEY, the distinguished historian, was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, in 1814, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1831. Soon after, he spent several years in Germany, studying in its universities. In 1841, he was appointed Secretary of Legation to Russia, which post he resigned in less than two years, having written in the meantime for the N. A. Review a leading article on Peter the Great. He has written numerous papers for leading periodicals,-two anonymous novels, Morton's Hope, and Merrymount,-" The Rise of the Dutch Republic," in 1856, and quite recently, the "United Netherlands." VII. 34. THE HAPPY WARRIOR. HO is the happy warrior? Who is he WH That every Man in arms should wish to be? It is the generous Spirit, who, when brought Among the tasks of real life, hath wrought Upon the plan that pleased his boyish thought :Whose high endeavors are an inward light That makes the path before him always bright; Who, with a natural instinct to discern What knowledge can perform, is diligent to learn; Abides by this resolve, and stops not there, But makes his moral being his prime care :2. Who, doomed to go in company with Pain, And Fear, and Bloodshed (miserable train!) Turns his necessity to glorious gain; In face of these doth exercise a power Which is our human nature's highest dower; So often that demand such sacrifice; More skillful in self-knowledge, e'en more pure, 3. "T is he whose law is reason; who depends Rises by open means; and there will stand On honorable terms, or else retire, And in himself possess his own desire :— 5. Whose powers shed round him in the common strife, Or mild concerns of ordinary life, A constant influence, a peculiar grace; But who, if he be called upon to face Some awful mōmènt to which Heaven has joined With sudden brightnèss, like a man inspired; Come when it will, is equal to the need :- Is yet a soul whose master-bias leans It is his darling passion to approve; More brave for this, that he hath much to love : 7. 'T is finally the Man, who, liftèd high, 8. Who, whether praise of him must walk the earth, Or he must go to dust without his fame, Whom every Man in arms should wish to be. WORDSWORTH. WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, the greatest of metaphysical poets, and one of the purest and most blameless of men, was born at Cockermouth, Cumberland county, England, April 7th, 1770. He read much in boyhood, and wrote some verses. He received his early education at the endowed school of Hawkshead; entered St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1787, and though he disliked the system of the university, and attended little to the studies of the place, graduated with his degree of B. A. in 1791. In the close of the same year he went to France, where he passed nearly a year; and there he wrote the poem called "Descriptive Sketches," which, with "The Evening Walk,” was published in 1793. In 1795 he received a legacy of £900 from his friend, Raisley Calvert, and at the close of the same began to live with his sister, their first residence being at Racedown, Dorsetshire. He here made the acquaintance of Coleridge, and wrote many of the fine passages that afterward appeared in "The Excursion." In the autumn of 1798 he published the first edition of his "Lyrical Ballads," and then went to Germany with his sister and Coleridge; and, the party separating, Miss Wordsworth and her brother passed the winter at Goslar, in Hanover. Here were written "Lucy Gray," and several beautiful pieces. His long residence among the lakes of his native district began immediately after his return to England. His second volume of "Lyrical Ballads " appeared at the close of 1800. In 1802 he married Mary Hutchinson, of Penrith, to whose amiability his poems pay warm and beautiful tributes. In the spring of 1813, after various changes of residence, he took up his abode at Rydal Mount, two miles from Grasmere, which was his home for thirty-seven years, and the scene of his death. There, too, he was appointed distributor of stamps for Westmoreland; an office which was executed by a clerk, and yielded about £500 a year. In the summer of 1814 was published "The Excursion," a poem which, if judged by its best passages, has hardly an equal in our language. The following year appeared "The White Doe of Rylstone." From his fiftieth to his eightieth year the poet traveled much, suffered a great deal, and wrote but little. In 1842 he resigned his distributorship in favor of one of his two sons, and received from Sir Robert Peel, a pension of £300 a year. In 1843 he was appointed poet-laureate. He died on the 23d of April, 1850. VIII. 35. THE CONQUEROR'S GRAVE. ITHIN this lowly grave a conqueror lies; The emblems of a fame that never dies- To the great world unknown, Is graven here, and wild flowers rising round, 2. Here, in the quiet earth, they laid apart Of gentle womankind, Timidly shrinking from the breath of blame; One in whose eyes the smile of kindness made Its haunt, like flowers by sunny brooks in May; Yet at the thought of others' pain, a shade Of sweeter sadness chased the smile away. 3. Nor deem that when the hand that mōlders here Was raised in menace, realms were chilled with fear, Clouds rise on clouds before the rainy east,— Alone the battle fought; gave Through that long strife her constant hope was staid On God alone, nor looked for other aid. 4. She met the hosts of sorrow with a look That altered not beneath the frown they wōre; And soon the lowering brood were tamed, and took Meekly her gentle rule, and frowned no more. Her soft hand put aside the assaults of wrath, And calmly broke in twain The fiery shafts of pain, |