EXERCISES.

1. The spider is said to be formed for a state of war.

Show how it is fitted for defence, attack, and observation. What are offensive and defensive weapons? What is meant when it is said "his remarks were most offensive;" "the defender gained his case;" "this observation caused much laughter"?

2. State of what and in what manner the ordinary spider constructs its web. What is the use of the web? What is there in the threads that renders them fit to entangle flies? Distinguish between warp and woof.

3. Collect all the words in the lesson that are borrowed from the operations of war, and explain their exact meaning and application.

4 Give the meaning of those parts of the following words that are in italics :-insects, pliant, secure, coarser, recedes, lengthens, otherwise, transversely, artist, strength, ensued, victor, antagonist, impotent.

LESSON XIV.

Cœur de Lion at the Bier of his Father.

bier, that on which a coffin is

borne.

chant, song or strain.

clang, clear, ringing sound.

mien, appearance, manner.

recked, cared.

sceptred, crowned, wearing a
sceptre.
settled, calm, fixed.

stole, a long flowing robe, a
priest's dress.
sup-pressed', kept under.

re-morse', sorrow for wrong- trace, mark, sign.

doing.

TORCHES were blazing clear,

Hymns pealing deep and slow,
When a king lay, stately, on his bier,

In the Church of Fontevraud;

Banners of battle o'er him hung,

And warriors slept beneath,

And light, as noon's broad light, was flung
On the settled face of death.

On the settled face of death

A strong and ruddy glare,

Though dimmed, at times, by the censer's breath,
Yet it still fell brightest there—
As if each deeply-furrowed trace
Of earthly cares to show;
Alas! that sceptered mortal's race
Had surely closed in woe!

The marbled floor was swept
By many a long, dark stole,

As the kneeling priests, round him that slept,

Sang mass for the parted soul;

And solemn were the strains they poured

In the stillness of the night,

With the cross above, and the crown, and sword, And the silent king in sight.

There was heard a heavy clang,

As of steel-girt men the tread,

And the tombs and the hollow pavement rang
With a sounding thrill of dread;
And the holy chant was hushed awhile,

As, by the torches' flame,

A gleam of arms, up the sweeping aisle,
With a mail-clad leader came.

He came with haughty look,

A dark glance high and clear,

But his proud heart through its breastplate shook,

When he stood beside the bier;

He stood there still with drooping brow,

And clasped hands o'er it raised, For his father lay before him low,— It was Cœur de Lion gazed.

And silently he strove

With the workings of his breast;
But there's more in late repentant love
Than steel may keep suppressed:

And his tears brake forth at last like rain,—
Men held their breath in awe,—

For his face was seen by his warrior train, And he recked not that they saw.

He looked upon the dead,

And sorrow seemed to lie

(A weight of sorrow, e'en as lead)—
Pale on the fast-shut eye;

He stooped and kissed the frozen cheek
And the hand of lifeless clay,

Till bursting words, yet all too weak,
Gave his soul's passion way.

"Oh, father! is it vain,

This late remorse and deep?
Speak to me, father, once again;
I weep,-behold, I weep!
Alas! my guilty pride and ire!
Were but this work undone,

I would give England's crown, my sire,
To hear thee bless thy son!

"Speak to me! Mighty grief

Ere now the earth hath stirred;
Hear me but hear me! father-chief-
My king! I must be heard!

Hushed! hushed! How is it that I call,
And that thou answerest not?
When was it thus? Woe, woe for all
The love my soul forgot!

"Thy silver hairs I see,

So still, so sadly bright;
And, father, father! but for me
They had not been so white:

I bore thee down, high heart! at last,
No longer couldst thou strive;
Oh! for one moment of the past,
To kneel and say, 'Forgive!'

"Thou wert the noblest king

On royal throne e'er seen;

And thou didst wear, in knightly ring,
Of all the stateliest mien;

And thou didst prove, where spears are proved, In war the bravest heart

Oh! ever the renowned and loved

Thou wert, and there thou art!

Thou that my boyhood's guide
Did take fond joy to be!
The times I've sported at thy side,

And climbed thy parent knee!

And there, before the blessed shrine,
My sire! I see thee lie!

How will that still, sad face of thine

Look on me till I die!"

Mrs. HEMANS.

Cœur de Lion.--Literally, the Lion-hearted, a name given to Richard I. on account of his bravery. He had on more than one occasion risen in rebellion against his father, Henry II., who died of grief. Henry's body lay in state in the Abbey Church of Fontevraud, where it was visited by Richard, who, on beholding it, was struck with remorse, and bitterly reproached himself for that rebellious conduct which had been the means of bringing his father to an untimely grave.

Torches were blazing.-It was customary when the bodies of kings or of nobles lay in state, prior to burial, to have torches continually lighted in the chamber or hall.

Hymns pealing, &c.—It was likewise customary to have hymns sung or chanted by the priests on such occasions. These chants were often accompanied by orchestral music.

Fontevraud (pronounced, Fontevro).—A town in the Department of the Maine-et-Loire district, in France. The remains of the magnificent abbey, in the choir of which Henry II. was buried, still exist, and in them are the tombs of that king, and of Richard I. and his queen.

The censer's breath.-The perfume rising from the censer or vessel in which incense was burned.

The marble floor was swept, &c.—The train of the priests robes trailed on the floor, and so "swept" it.