14. So through the night rode Paul Revere ; A cry of defiance, and not of fear, A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door, In the hour of darkness and peril and need, LXXVII.-ALEXANDER THE GREAT, AND A ROBBER. JOHN AIKIN. Alexander. What, art thou the Thracian robber, of whose exploits I have heard so much? Robber. I am a Thracian, and a soldier. Alex. A soldier !—a thief, a plunderer, an assassin! the pest of the country; I could honor thy courage, but I must detest and punish thy crimes. Robber. What have I done, of which you can complain? Alex. Hast thou not set at defiance my authority, violated the public peace, and passed thy life in injuring the persons and properties of thy fellow subjects? Robber. Alexander! I am your captive-I must hear what you please to say, and endure what you please to inflict. But my soul is unconquered; and if I reply at all to your reproaches, I will reply like a free man. Alex. Speak freely. Far be it from me to take the advantage of my power, to silence those with whom I deign to converse. Robber. I must then answer your question by another. How have you passed your life? Alex. Like a hero. Ask Fame, and she will tell you. Among the brave, I have been the bravest: among sovereigns, the noblest among conquerors, the mightiest. Robber. And does not Fame speak of me too? Was there ever a bolder captain of a more valiant band? Was there ever- but I scorn to boast. You yourself know that I have not been easily subdued. Alex. Still, what are you but a robber-a base, dishonest robber? Robber. And what is a conqueror? Have not you, too, gone about the earth like an evil genius, blasting the fair fruits of peace and industry; plundering, ravaging, killing, without law, without justice, merely to gratify an insatiable lust for dominion? All that I have done to a single district with a hundred followers, you have done to whole nations with a hundred thousand. If I have stripped individuals, you have ruined kings and princes. If I have burned a few hamlets, you have desolated the most flourishing kingdoms and cities of the earth. What is, then, the difference, but that as you were born a king, and I a private man, you have been able to become a mightier robber than I? Alex. But if I have taken like a king, I have given like a king. If I have subverted empires, I have founded greater. I have cherished arts, commerce, and philosophy. Robber. I, too, have freely given to the poor what I took from the rich. I have established order and discipline among the most ferocious of mankind, and have stretched out my protecting arm over the oppressed. I know, indeed, little of the philosophy you talk of, but I believe neither you nor I shall ever atone to the world for half the mischief we have done it. Alex. Leave me.-Take off his chains, and use him well. -Are we then so much alike? Alexander like a robber? Let me reflect. LXXVIII. ON THE SHORES OF TENNESSEE E. L. BEERS. 1. "Move my arm-chair, faithful Pompey, And I fain would hear the south wind On the shores of Tennessee. 2. "Mournful though the ripples murmur, Dreaming that again I see Stars and stripes on sloop and shallop 3. "And, Pompey, while old Massa's waiting For Death's last dispatch to come, If that exiled starry banner Should come proudly sailing home, 5. "'Pears like, she was watching MassaIf Pompey should beside him stay, Mebbe she'd remember better How for him she used to pray; 6. Silently the tears were rolling Down the poor old dusky face, Of the rolling Tennessee; 7. Master, dreaming of the battle 8. Still the south wind fondly lingers 9. Thus he watches cloud-born shadows To the river's yielding breast. The flag's come back to Tennessee!" 10. "Pompey, hold me on your shoulder, Help me stand on foot once more, That I may salute the colors As they pass my cabin door. Here's the paper signed that frees you, 11. Then the trembling voice grew fainter, When the flag went down the river Man and master both were free; LXXIX. THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM. ROBERT SOUTHEY. 1. It was a summer evening; Old Kaspar's work was done, And by him sported on the green 2. She saw her brother Peterkin In playing there, had found. He came to ask what he had found, 3. Old Kaspar took it from the boy, Who stood expectant by; And then the old man shook his head, ""Tis some poor fellow's skull," said he, |