9. An engagement came on, in which the Tepanecs were totally discomfited; and the victorious prince, receiving everywhere on his route the homage of his joyful subjects, entered his capital, not like a proscribed outcast, but as the rightful heir, and saw himself once more enthroned in the hall of his fathers. 10. Soon after he united his forces with the Mexicans, long disgusted with the arbitrary conduct of Maxtla. The allied powers, after a series of bloody engagements, routed the usurper under the walls of his own capital. He fled to the baths, whence he was dragged out, and sacrificed with the usual cruel ceremonies of the Aztecs. 11. The restored prince became one of the most illustrious monarchs of the New World, and, after a prosperous reign of nearly half a century, dropped peacefully into the tomb. WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT. LESSON XLIV. THE COLOR-BEARER. Én'fi lade', to rake with shot | Grīme, dirt; sullying blackness. through the whole length, as a Pla toon', half of a company of soldiers. Em brǎ'şure, an opening in a wall through which cannon are pointed and fired. Ăb'a tis, branches of trees sharpened and laid with the points outward, to obstruct the approach of assailants. Văn, the front of an army. WAS a fortress to be stormed: Boldly right in view they formed, All as quiet as a regiment parading : Then in front a line of flame ! Then at left and right the same! 2. "Twill be over in an hour! "Twill not be much of a shower! Never mind, my boys," said he, “a little drizzling!” Then to cross that fatal plain Through the whirring, hurtling rain Of the grapeshot and the minie-bullets whistling! As he runs with the guns 3. Leaving trails of dead and dying Like a breaker where the gale of conflict rolled them, With a foam of flashing light Borne before them on their bright Burnished barrels-O, 'twas fearful to behold them! While from ramparts roaring loud Swept a cloud like a shroud To enfold them! 4. O, his colors were the first! Through the burying cloud he burst, With the standard to the battle forward slanted! Through the belching, blinding breath Of the flaming jaws of Death, Till his banner on the bastion he had planted! And the yell of the shell, Nothing daunted. 5. Right against the bulwark dashing, Over tangled branches crashing, 'Mid the plunging volleys thundering ever louder ! There he clambers, there he stands, With the ensign in his hands— Of the powder ! 6. "Twas six minutes, at the least, Ere the closing combat ceased Near as we the mighty moments then could measure—. On the lifting vapors drifting o'er the embrasure! Saw it glimmer in our tears, While our ears heard the cheers 7. Through the abatis they broke, Through the surging cannon smoke, And they drove the foe before like frightened cattle! O, but never wound was his, For in other wars than this, Where the volleys of life's conflict roar and rattle, He must still, as he was wont, In the front bear the brunt Of the battle. 8. He shall guide the van of truth, Be her fearless, be her peerless color-bearer! Like a banner brave and ample, Ever leading through receding clouds of error, To the empire of the Strong, J. T. TROWBRIDGE. LESSON XLV. CALIFORNIA. Hěs per, the evening star. Bay, the laurel-tree; a wreath of laurel. Ar-ea'di-an, relating to Arcadia, a fabled land of peace and plenty. FAIR young land, the youngest, fairest far, Whose guardian planet, evening's silver star, 2. How art thou conquered, tamed in all the pride How brought, O panther of the splendid hide, 3. No more thou sittest on thy tawny hills Or pour'st the crystal of a thousand rills Down from thy house of snows. 4. But where the wild oats wrapped thy knees in gold The plowman drove his share, And where, through cañons deep, thy streams are [rolled. 5. Thy human children shall restore the grace The wild, barbaric beauty of thy face 6. And Order, Justice, Social Law shall curb Thy untamed energies; And Art, and Science, with their dreams superb, 7. The marble, sleeping in thy mountains now, Thy native oak shall crown the sage's brow-- 8. Thy tawny hills shall bleed their purple wine, And Music with her eloquence divine, 9. Till Hesper, as he trims his silver beam, No happier land shall see, And earth shall find her old Arcadian dream Restored again in thee! BAYARD TAYLOR. WOMAN. O woman! in our hours of ease, By the light quivering aspen made; SCOTT. |