ft them defenceless.]

[Footnote 4: The groves were consecrated to the celebration of religious
mysteries.]

[Footnote 5: The Roman standard.]

[Footnote 6: The Druids are said to have preached the doctrine of
transmigration, in order to inspire their warriors with the greater
contempt of death.]

[Footnote 7: The practice of staining themselves with blue was common
among the Britons.]

[Footnote 8: The people, excepting the priests, shaved off all the hair
from their faces, but what grew on the upper lip.]

[Footnote 9: This equivocal manner of speech may be supposed natural
enough in one of this order of priests, who, it is said, held a more
refined idea of a future state than they preached to the people.]

* * * * *

Alas! no more that joyous morn appears
That led the tranquil hours of spotless fame;
For I have steep'd a father's couch in tears,

SHENSTONE.

* * * * *

THE FRATERNAL DUEL.

'Oh! hide me from the sun! I loath the sight!
I cannot bear his bright, obtrusive ray:
Nought is so dreadful to my gloom as light!
Nothing so dismal as the blaze of day!

No more may I its sparkling glories view!
No more its piercing lustre meet my eye!
On night's black wings my only comfort flew;
At breath of morn I sicken and I die.

Where can I fly? In what sequester'd clime
Does darkness ever hold her ebon reign?
Where woeful dirges measure out the time,
And endless echoes breathe the sullen strain.

Where dreary mountains rear their low'ring heads,
To pierce the heavy and umbrageous clouds;
And where the cavern dewy moisture sheds,
And night's thick veil the guilty mourner shrouds.

There, lost in horrors, I might vent my sighs;
To open misery myself resign;
Might snatch each torturing vision ere it flies,
And feast on prospects desolate as mine.

Oh! let me thither quickly take my flight,
And chuse a favourite and a final seat,
In scenes which would each gentler mind affright,
But for my guilt affords a fit retreat.

There, where no ray, no gleam of light could come,
There, and there only, could I find relief;
There might I ruminate on Edward's doom,
And lose myself in luxury of grief.

And, as it is, though joys around me shine,
Though pleasure here erects her dazzling brow,
Wrapt in despondence, will I droop and pine,
And tears of anguish shall for ever flow.

Oh Edward! could's