32 SATAN'S MEETING WITH URIEL. To darken o'er the fair domain. It is as though the fiends prevail'd And fix'd on heavenly thrones, should dwell So soft the scene, so form'd for joy, So curst the tyrants that destroy! SATAN'S MEETING WITH URIEL IN THE SUN. HE SOON Saw within ken a glorious angel stand, The same whom John saw also in the sun: His back was turned, but not his brightness hid: Circled his head; nor less his locks behind Glad was the Spirit impure, as now in hope His journey's end, and our beginning woe. In curls on either cheek played; wings he wore He drew not nigh unheard; the angel bright, KING JOHN AND HUBERT. Admonished by his ear, and straight was known Who in God's presence, nearest to his throne, 33 That run through all the heavens, or down to th' earth Bear his swift errands over moist and dry, O'er sea and land. Milton. KING JOHN AND HUBERT. John. COME hither, Hubert. O my gentle Hubert, We owe thee much; within this wall of flesh There is a soul, counts thee her creditor, And with advantage means to pay thy love: And, my good friend, thy voluntary oath Lives in this bosom, dearly cherished. Give me thy hand. I had a thing to say— But I will fit it with some better time. By heaven, Hubert, I'm almost asham'd To say what good respect I have of thee. Hubert. I am much bounden to your majesty. Had bak'd thy blood, and made it heavy, thick; D 34 THE SPANISH ARMADA. Making that idiot, laughter, keep men's eyes, Or if that thou could'st see me without eyes, John. Do not I know thou wouldst? Good Hubert, Hubert, Hubert, throw thine eye And wheresoe'er this foot of mine doth tread, Shakspeare. THE SPANISH ARMADA. ATTEND all ye who list to hear our noble England's praise, I tell of the thrice-famous deeds she wrought in ancient days, When that great Fleet Invincible against her bore in vain The richest spoils of Mexico, the stoutest hearts of Spain. It was about the lovely close of a warm summer day, There came a gallant merchant ship full sail to Plymouth bay; THE SPANISH ARMADA. 35 Her crew hath seen Castille's black fleet, beyond Aurigny's isle, At earliest twilight, on the waves lie heaving many a mile; At sunrise she escaped their van, by God's especial grace; And the tall Pinta, till the noon, had held her close in chase. Forthwith a guard at every gun was placed along the wall, The beacon blazed upon the roof of Edgecumbe's lofty hall; Many a light fishing-bark put out to pry along the coast; And with loose rein and bloody spur rode inland many a post. With his white hair unbonnetted the stout old sheriff comes; Behind march the halberdiers, before him sound the drums; His yeomen, round the market-cross, make clear an ample space, For there behoves him to set up the standard of her Grace. And haughtily the trumpets peal, and gaily dance the bells, As slow upon the labouring wind the royal blazon swells. Look how the Lion of the sea lifts up his ancient crown, And underneath his deadly paw treads the gay lilies down! So stalked he when he turned to flight, on that famed Picard field, Bohemia's plume, and Genoa's bow, and Cæsar's eagle shield: So glared he when at Agincourt in wrath he turned to bay, And crushed and torn beneath his claws the princely hunters lay. 36 THE SPANISH ARMADA. Ho! strike the flagstaff deep, sir knight: ho! scatter flowers, fair maids : Ho! gunners, fire a loud salute: ho! gallants, draw blades: your Thou sun, shine on her joyously-ye breezes, waft her wide; Our glorious SEMPER EADEM―the banner of our pride. THE SAME CONTINUED. The freshening breeze of eve unfurled that banner's massy fold, The parting gleam of sunshine kissed that haughty scroll of gold; Night sunk upon the dusky beach, and on the purple sea Such night in England ne'er had been, nor e'er again shall be. From Eddystone to Berwick bounds, from Lynn to Milford bay, That time of slumber was as bright and busy as the day; For swift to east and swift to west the warning radiance spread; High on St. Michael's Mount it shone-it shone on Beachy Head. Far on the deep the Spaniard saw, along each southern shire, Cape beyond cape, in endless range, those twinkling points of fire; The fisher left his skiff to rock on Tamar's glittering waves, The rugged miners poured to war from Mendip's sunless caves. O'er Longleat's towers, o'er Cranbourne's oaks, the fiery herald flew; He roused the shepherds of Stonehenge, the rangers of Beaulieu : |