THE THIEF AND THE CORDELIER. 281 Great claims are there made, and great secrets are known; Cut off thy reflections, and give us thy tale. 'Twas there, then, in civil respect to harsh laws, The 'squire, whose good grace was to open the scene, And often took leave, but was loath to depart. What frightens you thus, my good son? says the priest, You murder'd, are sorry, and have been confess'd. O father! my sorrow will scarce save my bacon; For 'twas not that I murder'd, but that I was taken. Pough, prithee ne'er trouble thy head with such fancies; If the money you promised be brought to the chest, And what will folks say, if they see you afraid? It reflects upon me, as I knew not my trade; To-morrow! our hero replied in a fright; He that's hang'd before noon, ought to think of to-night. Tell your beads, quoth the priest, and be fairly truss'd up, For you surely to-night shall in paradise sup. Derry down, &c. Alas! quoth the 'squire, howe'er sumptuous the treat, I should therefore esteem it great favour and grace, Derry down, &c. That I would, quoth the father, and thank you to boot; But our actions, you know, with our duty must suit ; The feast I proposed to you, I cannot taste, For this night by our order is mark'd for a fast. Then, turning about to the hangman, he said, THE SPACIOUS FIRMAMENT. BY JOSEPH ADDISON. [JOSEPH ADDISON was born at Milston, in 1672. He was educated at the Charterhouse School, and afterwards at Queen's College and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he distinguished himself for Latin poetry. In 1699 he obtained a pension of 300l. to enable him to travel; and when he returned he published a pleasing account of his wanderings. Some time afterwards he was made Commissioner of Appeals, and then Under-Secretary of State. When the Marquis of Wharton was made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, he accompanied him to that country; and, while there, was made Keeper of the Irish Records. He married the Countess Dowager of Warwick, to whose son he had been tutor; but the union was unfortunate. Both his and Dryden's fate, in marrying noble wives, are warnings to ambitious literary men. Addison became Secretary of State in 1717; but, unable to defend the measures of Government, he resigned the office, on a pension of 1,500l. a year. He died in 1719. Dr. Johnson asserts that any one desirous of acquiring an English style of the highest excellence "must give his days and nights to the volumes of Addison." He contributed a great number of admirable papers to the Spectator and other periodicals, which have become a portion of English classical literature. Besides his literary excellence, the tendency of his writings is to advance the cause of religion and virtue. One of his last efforts was a defence of the Christian religion; and the portion which has been published shows how much reason there is to regret that he did not live to complete it.] THE spacious firmament on high, With all the blue ethereal sky, And spangled heavens, a shining frame, Their great Original proclaim: Th' unwearied sun from day to day Does his Creator's power display, And publishes to every land The work of an Almighty hand. Soon as the evening shades prevail, The moon takes up the wondrous tale, And nightly to the list'ning earth Repeats the story of her birth: Whilst all the stars that round her burn, And all the planets in their turn, THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM. 285 Confirm the tidings as they roll, And spread the truth from pole to pole. What, though in solemn silence, all THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM. JOSEPH ADDISON, BUT now the trumpet terrible from far, The daring prince his blasted hopes renews, |