declared that she forgave her enemies, and protested that she was innocent of ever consenting in wish or deed to the death of her English sister. She then prayed in English for Christ's afflicted church, for her son James, and for queen Elizabeth, and in conclusion, holding up the crucifix, exclaimed, "As thy arms, O God, were stretched out upon the cross, so receive me into the arms of thy mercy, and forgive my sins." When her maids, bathed in tears, began to disrobe their mistress, the executioners, fearing the loss of their usual perquisites, hastily interfered. The queen remonstrated, but instantly submitted to their rudeness, observing to the earls with a smile, that she was not accustomed to employ such grooms, or to undress in the presence of so numerous a company. Her servants, at the sight of their sovereign in this lamentable state, could not suppress their feelings; but Mary, putting her finger to her lips, commanded silence, gave them her blessing, and solicited their prayers. She then seated herself again. Kennedy, taking from her a handkerchief edged with gold, pinned it over her eyes; the executioners, holding her by the arms, led her to the block; and the queen, kneeling down, said repeatedly with a firm voice, "Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit." But the sobs and groans of the spectators disconcerted the headsman. He trembled, missed his aim, and inflicted a deep wound in the lower part of the skull. The queen remained motionless; and at the third stroke her head was severed from her body. When the executioner held it up, the muscles of the face were so strongly convulsed, that the features could not be recognized. He cried as usual, "God save queen Elizabeth." "So perish all her enemies!" subjoined the dean of Peterborough. "So perish all the enemies of the gospel!" exclaimed, in a still louder tone, the fanatical Earl of Kent. Not a voice was heard to cry amen. Party feeling was absorbed in admiration and pity. XC.-THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN. BROWNING. [ROBERT BROWNING, a living poet of England, is the author of Paracelsus, a narra tive poem, of several dramas, and of much miscellaneous poetry, narrative, lyrical, and speculative. He is a man of peculiar and original genius. His poetry is much valued by the few, but is not likely to be ever popular with the many. He combines vigorous imaginative power with a rare faculty of acute mental analysis. Poetry and philosophy seem struggling in his mind for the mastery; and much of what he has written has too strong a metaphysical flavor for the general taste. His poetry require study; but it also rewards it. He uses words with great skill and power, but his ver sification is frequently rough and broken. His humor-in which he sometimes indulges-has a quaint and peculiar character, as the following specimen shows.] HAMELIN town's in Brunswick, By famous Hanover city; The River Weser, deep and wide, But, when begins my ditty, Almost five hundred years ago, To see the townsfolk suffer so From vermin, was a pity. Rats! They fought the dogs, and killed the cats, And bit the babies in the cradles, And ate the cheeses out of the vats, And licked the soup from the cook's own ladles; Split open the kegs of salted sprats, Made nests inside men's Sunday hats, And even spoiled the women's chats, At last the people in a body To the Town Hall came flocking; "Tis clear," cried they, "our mayor's a noddy; And as for our corporation-shocking To think we buy gowns lined with ermine For dolts that can't or won't determine What's best to rid us of our vermin! You hope, because you're old and obese, To find in the furry civic robe ease. Rouse up, sirs! Give your brains a racking To find the remedy we're lacking, Or, sure as fate, we'll send you packing!" At this the mayor and corporation Quaked with a mighty consternation. An hour they sate in council; At length the mayor broke silence: "For a guilder I'd my ermine gown sell; - I wish I were a mile hence! Makes my heart go pit-a-pat!" "Come in!" the mayor cried, looking bigger; And in did come the strangest figure! His queer long coat from heel to head But lips where smiles went out and in Had walked this way from his painted tombstone!" He advanced to the council table, And "Please your honors," said he, "I'm able, By means of a secret charm, to draw On creatures that do people harm - To match with his coat of the selfsame check; And his fingers, they noticed, were ever straying, Upon this pipe, as low it dangled Over his vesture so old fangled.) 66 "Yet," said he, "poor piper as I am, In Tartary I freed the Cham, Last June, from his huge swarms of gnats; I eased in Asia the Nizam Of a monstrous brood of vampyre bats; Into the street the piper stepped, Smiling first a little smile, In his quiet pipe the while; To blow the pipe his lips he wrinkled, (As he the manuscript he cherished) To Rat-land home his commentary, Which was, "At the first shrill notes of the pipe, And putting apples, wondrous ripe, And a moving away of pickle-tub boards, |