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Saints' Days, obscure Customs, remarkable Events, &c.

[VOL. 2.

the jokes and compliments of any body in the sweat of thy brows shalt thou eat who chose to stand on the steps of their bread. This penance was renewed on coach doors, which were very low, and the Sunday following, when the sacrathe ladies were not backward in repartee. ment was administered. The most anWhen they had no answer ready, a cient manner of observing Lent was to volley of sugar-plums generally repulsed refrain from all food till the evening: their besiegers. The ranks on the rais- for the change of diet, as of flesh for fish, ed footway, and the crowd below, were was not by the ancients, accounted a fast. in a continual roar of laughter, some It is still a custom with some old peowith effusions of real humour. A few ple to wear black during Lent. fire-works were exhibited. On the whole, we were highly entertained with this grotesque amusement, and could not but admire the perfect good-nature of the people, who could carry off such a scene without the least disorder.'

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SAINT AGATHA, FÉВ. 5.
St. Agatha suffered martyrdom under
Decius in the year 251.

FEB. 8, 1587.-MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS

BEHEADED.

This beautiful, accomplished, interesting, and unfortunate woman, after be ing ranked among the most abandoned of her sex for nearly two centuries, owing to the envy and malice of her rival cousin and sister, Queen Elizabeth, has at length found champions in Mr. Goodall, Mr. Tytler, and Mr. Whitaker, who have vindicated her character, and shown, that, if, in some respects, she was impru dent, yet that she is more to be pitied than censured, and more pure than her calumniators, and that one of her greatest errors was confiding in her who was seeking her life.

Lent is not of apostolic institution, nor was it known in the earlier ages of the Christian church. This day was former- On Tuesday the 7th of February, the ly called Caput Jejunii, the head of the earls of Shrewsbury and Kent arrived at fast, and Dies Cinerum, or Ash-Wed- Fotheringay, and, demanding access to nesday. The latter appellation is deriv- the queen, read in her presence the ed from the following custom in the dis- warrant for execution, and required her cipline of the ancient church. On the to prepare to die next morning. Mary first day of Lent the penitents were to heard them to the end without emotion, present themselves before the bishop, and crossing herself in the name of the clothed in sackcloth, with naked feet, and Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy eyes fixed upon the ground, in the pres- Ghost, That soul,' said she, is not ence of the principal part of the clergy worthy of the joys of heaven, which rebelonging to his diocese, who were pines because the body must endure the to be judges of the sincerity of their stroke of the executioner; and though I repentance. When these were introdu- did not expect that the queen of England ced in procession into church, the bishop would set the first example of violating and the clergy, all in tears, repeated the the sacred person of a sovereign prince, I seven penetential psalms. Then rising willingly submit to that which Providence from prayers, they threw ashes upon has decreed to be my lot; and laying them, and covered their heads with sack- her hand on a Bible, which happened cloth; declaring to them, with deep to be near her, she solemnly protested sighs, that as Adam was thrown out of that she was innocent of that conspiracy Paradise, so they must be driven from the which Babington had carried on against church. The bishop now commanded Elizabeth's life. She then mentioned the proper officers to turn them out of the requests contained in her letter to the church-doors; and all the clergy fol- Elizabeth, but obtained no satisfactory lowed, repeating that curse upon Adam, answer. She entreated, with particular

VOL. 2.]

Time's Telescope for February.

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earnestness, that now, in her last moments, her neck; her beads at her girdle; and
her almoner might be suffered to attend in her hand she carried a crucifix of
her, and that she might enjoy the con- ivory. At the foot of the stairs the two
solation of those pious institutions pre- earls, attended by several gentlemen from
scribed by her religion. Even this the neighbouring counties, received her;
favour, which is usually granted to the
vilest criminal, was absolutely denied.

6

Tell him I have done nothing injurious to his kingdom, to his honour, or to his rights; and God forgive all those who have thirsted, without cause, for my blood."

and there Sir Andrew Melvil, the master Her attendants, during this conver- for some weeks from her presence, was of her household, who had been secluded sation, were bathed in tears, and, though permitted to take his last farewel. At overawed by the presence of the two earls, the sight of a mistress whom he tenderly with difficulty suppressed their anguish; loved, in such a situation, he melted into but no sooner did Kent and Shrewsbury tears; and as he was bewailing her conwithdraw, than they ran to their mistress, dition, and complaining of his own hard and burst out into the most passionate fate, in being appointed to carry the acexpressions of tenderness and sorrow. count of such a mournful event into Mary, however, not only retained per- Scotland, Mary replied, Weep not, fect composure of mind, but endeavoured good Melvil: there is at present great to moderate their excessive grief; and cause for rejoicing. Thou shalt this day falling on her knees, with all her domes- see Mary Stewart delivered from all her tics around her, she thanked heaven that cares, and such an end put to her tedious her sufferings were now so near an end, sufferings as she has long expected, and prayed that she might be enabled to Bear witness that I die constant in my endure what still remained with decency religion; firm in my fidelity towards and with fortitude. The greater part of Scotland; and unchanged in my affection the evening she employed in settling her to France. Commend me to my son. worldly affairs. She wrote her testament with her own hand. Her money, her jewels, and her clothes, she distributed among her servants, according to their rank or merit. She wrote a short letter to the King of France, and another to entreaties, she prevailed on the two earls With much difficulty, and after many the Duke of Guise, full of tender but to allow Melvil, together with three of magnanimous sentiments, and recom- her men-servants and two of her maids, mended her soul to their prayers, and to attend her to the scaffold. her afflicted servants to their protection. erected in the same hall where she had It was At supper she ate temperately, as usual, been tried, raised a little above the floor, and conversed not only with ease, but and covered, as well as the chair, the with cheerfulness; she drank to every cushion, and block, with black cloth. one of her servants, and asked their for- Mary mounted the steps with alacrity, giveness, if ever she had failed in any part beheld all this apparatus of death with of her duty towards them. At her an unaltered countenance, and, signing wonted time she went to bed, and slept herself with the cross, she sat down in calmly a few hours. Early in the morn- the chair. Beale read the warrant for ing she retired into her closet, and em- execution with a loud voice, to which ployed a considerable time in devotion. she listened with a careless air, and like At eight o'clock the high sheriff and his one occupied in other thoughts. officers entered her chamber, and found the Dean of Peterborongh began a Then her still kneeling at the altar. She im- devout discourse, suitable to her mediately started up, and with a majes- condition, and offered up prayers to present tic mien, and a countenance undismayed, heaven in her behalf; but she declared and even cheerful, advanced towards that she could not in conscience hearken the place of execution, leaning on two of to the one, nor join with the other, and, Paulet's attendants. She was dressed in falling on her knees, repeated a Latin a mourning habit, but with an elegance prayer. When the dean had finished and splendour which she had long laid his devotions, she, with an audible voice, aside, except on a few festival days. An and in the English tongue, recommended agnus dei hung by a pomander chain at unto God the afflicted state of the church,

358

Explanation of Saints' Days, remarkable Events, &c.

[VOL 2 and prayed for prosperity to her son, and of a lady of Bruges, to whom he was atfor a long life and peaceable reign to tached. Elizabeth. She declared that she hoped for mercy only through the death of Christ, at the foot of whose image she now willingly shed her blood; and, lifting up and kissing the crucifix, she thus addressed it: As thy arms, O Jesus, were extended on the cross; so with the outstretched arms of thy mercy receive me, and forgive my sins!'

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Ember week, feb. 11. The Ember days are the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after the first Sunday in Lent, and after the 13th of December. It is enjoined by a canon of the church, 'that Deacons and Ministers be ordained but only on the Sundays immediately following these Ember feasts.'

SAINT VALENTINE, FEB. 14. Valentine was an antient presbyter of the church he suffered martyrdom in the persecution under Claudius II, at Rome; being beaten with clubs, and then beheaded, about the year 270.

"The day Saint Valentine,

When maids are brisk, and at the break of day
Start up and turn their pillows, curious all
To know what happy swain the fates provide
A mate for life. Then follows thick disebarge
Of true-love knots and sonnets nicely penned,
But to the learned critic's eye no verse,
But prose distracted."*

HURDIS

The first inventor of this custom (observes Mr. Hutchinson) must have been

encourage the intercourse of the sexes;
for by such means intimacies might arise,
productive of love and marriage engage
ments or otherwise the first design of
those lots was, that those who shared in
the dances, and diversions, might have
their
proper partners assigned, without
hazarding the confusion and displeasure
which must necessarily arise in the lib
erty of choice.

She then prepared for the block, by taking off her veil and upper garments; and one of the executioners rudely endeavouring to assist, she gently checked him, and said, with a smile, that she had not been accustomed to undress before so many spectators, nor to be served by such valets. With calm but undaunted fortitude she laid her neck on the block; and while one executioner held her hands, the other, at the second stroke, cut off her head, which, falling out of its attire, discovered her hair already grown quite grey with cares and sorrows. The executioner held it up still streaming with some benevolent female, who studied to blood, and the dean erying out, "So perish all Queen Elizabeth's enemies,' the Earl of Kent alone answered, Amen, The rest of the spectators continued silent, and drowned in tears; being incapable at that moment of any other sentiments but those of pity or admiration.* FEB.9,1555.-BISHOP HOOPER BURNT. This venerable man, one of the first victims of the bloody Mary,' was sent under the guard of a troop of horse towards Gloucester, where it was determined that he should be burnt in the midst of his affectionate and sorrowful flock. Being led to the stake, he was not suffered to speak to the weeping crowd, and was there used in the most barbarous manner; for the fire being made of green wood, his lower limbs were slowly consumed, while his vitals were unaffected, and he underwent the most dreadful torments for above three quarters of an hour. He bore them, however, with admirable patience and fortitude, and the last words which he was able to utter were, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"

FEB. 10, 1430.-GOLDEN FLEECE. This order was instituted by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in honour

• Robertson

The following beautiful stanzas by Mrs. Robinson are an exception.

No tales of love to you I send,

No hidden flame discover,

I glory in the name of friend,
Disclaiming that of lover.

And now, while each fond sighing youth
Repeats his vows of love and truth,
Attend to this advice of mine-
With caution choose a Valentine.
Heed not the fop, who loves himself,
Nor let the rake your love obtain,
Choose not the miser for his pelf,

The drunkard heed with coid disdain;
The profligate with caution shun,
His race of ruin soon is run:

To none of these your heart ineline,
Nor choose from them a Valentine.
But should some generous youth appear,
Whose honest mind is void of art,
Who shall his Maker's laws revere,
And serve him with a willing heart;
Who owns fair Virtue for his guide,
Nor from her precepts turns aside;
To him at once your heart resign,
And bless your faithful Valentine.
Though in this wilderness below
You still imperfect bliss shall find,
Yet such a friend will share each woe,
And bid you be to Heaven resigned:
While Faith unfolds the radiant prize,
And Hope still points beyond the skies.
At life's dark storms you'll not repine,
But bless the day of Valentine,

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The Moslem Bridal Song, in our last Number
having excited much admiration, we have
great pleasure in presenting our readers with
the following not unworthy companion to
it, from the same distinguished pen

LOOK on that bed, the fetter bung
Above---the mat across it flung;
There sleeps a slave the last, long sleep!
That eye within its socket deep,
That fallen nostril, lip like stone,
Tell that he's clay, dust, air,---is gone!
This was some outcast, sent in scorn
Among life's strugglers--to be born---
A thing, to totter on, a slave,

Till chance unloosed him for the grave!

He was a King!---aye, come and gaze
On the old man! There lived a blaze
Of glory in the eye-ball hid
Beneath the pall of that dark lid;
There sate upon that pallid brow

A crown! but earth no more shall know
The lustre of thy diadem---

City of God! Jerusalem!

His life was splendid toil, he bound
No roses in the golden round;

His hands are scarred ;---not all the stain
Of fetters,---Ascalon's red plain,
The Moslem mother's howl can tell,
Before whose lance her first-born fell :
And thicker scars are on his breast,
But lift not now that peasant vest;
Be reverent to the old, the brave,
The champion of the SAVIOUR's grave!
Yet he had joy before he died--
'One bright, swift gleam of love and pride.
Like visions sent to gild the gloom,
Ere the pale martyr met the tomb,
He saw his royal infants.---felt
The warrior and the beauty melt

In his weak arms;---Earth had no more ;---
Blessing he died---his course was o'er!

From the Gentleman's Magazine.

SONNET,

PULCI.

He, who has not enough, for these to spare,
Of time, or gold, may yet amend his heart,
And teach his soul, by brooks, and rivers
fair:

Nature is always wise in every part.
Oct. 1817.

From the European Magazine.
THE PEARL ISLAND.

A PRAGMENT.

By the author of the "Legends of Lampidosa," &c

THE sun looks from his tent of gold
On Caspia's waters calm and cold,
And on that glitt'ring bark that greets
The south-gale with its store of sweets,
Like the gay raft to ocean's king
Maldivia's fragrant offering :---

Alone it comes---a fragrant boat,
Rich with a thonsand painted flow'rs
From the sweet depths of Persian bow'rs,
And that most precious amber kept
From tears by faithful sea-doves wept.

Slowly and safe its treasures float,
Tho' helmless and without a guide
It skims along the sparkling tide,
As the bright taper fed with balm,
That maid's send when the sea is calm,
Glides in a cocoa's perfum'd shell
With sweets (as Georgian legends tell),
To trace a wand'ring lover's track,
And tempt the waves to urge him back.
But in that floating cradle lies
A maid, whose blue half-opening eyes
Might seem the buds of Paradise,
Whence guardian Peris come to cull
The dews that virgin sleepers lull.---
She smiles, and where her cheek reposes
A blush steals o'er the silver roses;
And the soft clinging jasmine keeps
Her balmy breathing while she sleeps.
It is the Spirit of Peace !----and where
Will this sweet bark its treasure bear?
It rests not in the golden bay
Where Caspia's secret treasures lay,

Nor where the laughing sea-maids light
With insect-lamps the glowing waves
That glide above their diamond caves,

Till the rich surface burns more bright Than that fam'd crystal pavement spread O'er gems, for Saba's queen to tread.

To a Bird, that haunted the waters of LACKEN, But Peace, a spirit pure and fair,

in the Winter. By Lord THURLOW.

MELANCHOLY bird, a winter's day,
Thou standest by the margin of the
pool;

And taught by God, dost thy whole being

school

To Patience, which all evil can allay:
God has appointed thee the fish thy prey;
And giv'n thyself a lesson to the fool
Unthrifty, to submit to moral rule,
And his unthinking course by thee to weigh.
There need not schools nor the professor's
chair,

Though these be good, true wisdom to im-
part:

Finds not her promis'd haven there;
The demon of the death-mnie dwells
In that false bay of floating gold;
And Pleasure's syren daughters hold

Their revel in those glassy cells.---
There is a city dimly seen

Beneath the deep sea's mirror green,
Where spiry roofs and trellis'd walls,
And the long pomp of pillared halls,
Seem like some eastern forest's pride,
By emeralds mock'd below the tide;
Or like Formosa's kindred isle,
Stol'n by an envious sea-maid's guile,
With gems in many a column'd heap,
To tempt the diver to the deep.

But the mild Spirit rests not there,

360

For that sunk city is the wreck

Original Poetry.

Of glorious pomp, which war-fiends deck
The fearless venturer to snare,

Who 'midst those glitt'ring wrecks shall perish,
Where only mimic palm-trees flourish,
Or snatch ambition's prize to gem
His thankless monarch's diadem.

Far, far from thence the mild waves carl,
Where softly swells the Isle of Pearl,
The white isle of the blissful west,
The home of spirits pure and biest.
Nor gold, nor incense, nor the flow'rs
That tempt fond Sloth in fading bow'rs,
Dwell on that shore; but all things fair,
Gentle, and pure, are treasur'd there.

The hearts of mothers, and the dreams
Of Innocence when life is young;

The first rich radiant hope that gleams
On the proud bard whose harp is strung
In honour's praise; and that sweet thought
That longest, deepest, richest lies
In souls whose secret sacrifice

Is by the shining world unbought :---
And sisters' loves, and those dear cares
That give paternal Age repose;
And the bland charities that close

The silver veil weak Nature wears,
All shrin'd within this holy bound,
Pure in eternal light are found.

The boat is moor'd--the Seraph-maid
On this blest isle has found a shade
Beneath the bow'r of Charity,
That like the balsam-raining tree
Sheds life and freshness on whate'er
Blooms its ambrosial shadow near;
And there to mortal eyes unknown
Peace builds her everlasting throne--
But often o'er that summer-tide,
Without a helm, without a guide,
Youth's boat of flow'rs returns again
To seek the Isle of Pearl* in vain.
October 1817.

From the Eclectic Review.
THE SOLDIER'S WIDOW

AT THE GRAVE OF HER ONLY CHILD.

By Miss D. P. CAMPBELL.

"I Make blooming nature smile;

N vain for me may summer's glow

In vain may all the charms of spring
Adorn our happy isle.

In vain for me may zephyrs kiss
The lily's spotless breast;
In vain for me the blushing rose
In beauty's garb be dress'd;
In vain for me may pebbly brooks
And winding streamlets run;
In vain for me the rising morn,
In vain the setting sun.
My world is yonder little grave,
My all its narrow space;
My only child reposes there,

Lock'd in Death's cold embrace.
Yet peace is thine, sweet innocent!
By care nor grief opress'd;
Thou sleep'st regardless of the pangs
That rend thy mother's breast.

V.

The Islet once known to mariners by this name, said to have disappeared,

Unconscious babe! I would not wish
Thy deep repose to break;
Better in peace to slumber there,
Than like thy mother wake.
Sleep on, sleep on, my darling babe!
Till Heaven's resistless voice

[VOL. 2

Shall rouse the slumb`rers of the tomb,
And bid thy soul rejoice.

Sweet child! thine infant eyes had scarce
Beheld life's op'ning dawn,
Than thou wert fatherless, and I

A widow left to mourn.

Nor e'en the last sad grief was giv’n,
His dying form to see;

He fell upon a foreign shore,
Unwept by all but me.
Henry! thy nature suited ill

The battle's stormy rage--
Then wherefore go, my only love,
The bloody war to wage!

How happier I, didst thou repose
Beside our infant son,

Than buried thus in field of strife,

Where bloody deeds were done. But, ah! to Heav'n's eternal throne My ceaseless prayer shall rise, That yet our parted souls may meet In yonder blissful skies."

She paus'd---for now the glimm'ring east Disturb'd the friendly gloom;

Then slowly sought with bleeding heart Hei chang'd and cheerless home.

From the Monthly Review, October 1817.

ODE TO MEMORY.

BY HENRY NEELE.

"Man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?”

AND where is he? not by the side

JOB V

Whose every want he loved to tend;
Not o'er those valleys wandering wide,
Where, sweetly lost, he oft would wend;
That form belov'd he marks no more,

Those scenes admired no more shall see,
Those scenes are lovely as before,
And she as fair ;---but where is he?
No, no, the radiance is not dim,
That used to gild his favourite hill,
The pleasures that were dear to him,
Are dear to life and nature still;
But ah! his home is not as fair,

Neglected must his gardens be,
The lilies droop and wither there,
And seem to whisper, "where is he?"
His was the pomp, the crowded hall,

But where is now this proud display?
His riches, honours, pleasures, all

Desire could frame ;---but where are they? And he, as some tall rock that stands Protected by the circling sea, Surrounded by admiring bands, Seem'd proudly strong--and where is he? The church-yard bears an added stone, The fire-side shows a vacant chair, Here sadness dwells and weeps alone, And death displays his banner there; The life is gone, the breath has fled,

And what has been no more shall be ; The well-known form, the welcome tread, Oh where are they, and where is he?

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