THE FALL OF D'ASSAS.

A BALLAD OF FRANCE.

[The Chevalier D'Assas, called the French Decius, fell nobly whilst reconnoitring a wood, near Closterkamp, by night. He had left his regiment, that of Auvergne, at a short distance, and was suddenly surrounded by an ambuscade of the enemy, who threatened him with instant death if he made the least sign of their vicinity. With their bayonets at his breast, he raised his voice, and calling aloud "A moi, Auvergne ! ces sont les ennemis!" fell, pierced with mortal blows.]

ALONE through gloomy forest-shades
A soldier went by night;

No moonbeam pierced the dusky glades,
No star shed guiding light.

Yet on his vigil's midnight round

The youth all cheerly pass'd; Uncheck'd by aught of boding sound That mutter'd in the blast.

Where were his thoughts that lonely hour?
-In his far home, perchance;
His father's hall, his mother's bower,
Midst the gay vines of France:

Wandering from battles lost and won,

To hear and bless again
The rolling of the wide Garonne,
Or murmur of the Seine.

Hush! hark!-did stealing steps go by?
Came not faint whispers near?
No! the wild wind hath many a sigh,
Amidst the foliage sere.

Hark, yet again!-and from his hand, What grasp hath wrench'd the blade? -Oh, single midst a hostile band,

Young soldier! thou'rt betray'd!

"Silence !" in under-tones they cry"No whisper-not a breath! The sound that warns thy comrades nigh Shall sentence thee to death."

Still, at the bayonet's point he stood,

And strong to meet the blow; And shouted, midst his rushing blood, "Arm, arm, Auvergne! the foe!"

The stir, the tramp, the bugle-call-
He heard their tumults grow;
And sent his dying voice through all-
“Auvergne, Auvergne! the foe!"

THE BURIAL OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR,

AT CAEN IN NORMANDY-1087.

["At the day appointed for the king's interment, Prince Henry, his third son, the Norman prelates, and a multitude of clergy and people, assembled in the church of St Stephen, which the Conqueror had founded. The mass had been performed, the corpse was placed on the bier, and the Bishop of Evreux had pronounced the panegyric on the deceased, when a voice from the crowd exclaimed,-' He whom you have praised was a robber. The very land on which you stand is mine. By violence he took it from my father; and, in the name of God, I forbid you to bury him in it.' The speaker was Asceline Fitz-Arthur, who had often, but fruitlessly, sought reparation from the justice of William. After some debate, the prelates called him to them, paid him sixty shillings for the grave, and promised that he should receive the full value of his land. The ceremony was then continued, and the body of the king deposited in a coffin of stone."LINGARD, vol. ii. p. 98.]

LOWLY upon his bier

The royal conqueror lay; Baron and chief stood near, Silent in war-array.

Down the long minster's aisle
Crowds mutely gazing stream'd;
Altar and tomb the while
Through mists of incense gleam'd.

And, by the torches' blaze,

The stately priest had said High words of power and praise To the glory of the dead.

They lower'd him, with the sound
Of requiems, to repose;
When from the throngs around
A solemn voice arose :-

"Forbear! forbear!" it cried;

"In the holiest name, forbear! He hath conquer'd regions wide, But he shall not slumber there!

"By the violated hearth

Which made way for yon proud shrine ; By the harvests which this earth

Hath borne for me and mine;

"By the house e'en here o'erthrown, On my brethren's native spot; Hence with his dark renown, Cumber our birthplace not!