the aj kingston j chron nec rege nec populo sed utroque vol x saturday august 23 1828 bto vii jpoetry to a lady on the sudikn decease of her infant though i bad power to touch the tender theme in worthier strains melodious soft and slow though like the music of some gliding stream my numbers with my thoughts bad learnt to flow what spell of song shall calm a troubled breast or hush its sighs to everlasting rest i can but breathe in harmony with thine lady my hearts best orison to heaven that solace such as no vain skill of mine can minister may yet to thee be given yes mourner make to god thy prayers appeal for only he who wounds thee knows to lieal o and he haththt healing balm bestowd fpto thy hifterest cup his sweets infusd lightcnd tby labouring spirits heaviest load and kindly proppd the reed himselfhad brutsd and often hath his secret still small voice tjnearthly music made thy heart rejoice and though thou mourn not murmur- thus to lose thy babe nor bid it ere twas fled a- d iou sweet babe well erahlemd by the sum mers rose as fair as fragraut aud as fragile too there is a thought will charm thy greatest grief and bring theechildless motherrich relief thy darliug was not for god took her home ere een the guardians of her infancy could bear to think the parting hour was come or dreamt the haze of death was on her eye without one pang her spirit to him was given she did but sleep on earth and wake in heaven thy lamb theshephard gatheru with his arm j and in his bosom he shall ever bear and hide it as thou never couldst from harm for harm and dread and deathintrude not there and there when this worlds woes joys are oer mother and babe shall meet nor separate more i alec literature the hero of the coliseim to the mind of a modern and an eng lishman monks and monasteries convey no ery definite an idea contemplated in the pages of romance they acquire some- wbat of consistency and realize a splen did sconn nfenthirerondrur and ceremo nial pomp ihe sunlight streams through eniblasoned windows and rests on raauy a storied raonnmcut of the heroic head gor geous processiom sweep through long- drawn aisles enveloped in clouds of in- cense and hailed by music scarcely of this world then succeed darker visions of penance and gloomy vigil ignorance su perstition shame and sorrow of heart till the musers reverie is chequered as the moonbeams chequered fair melrose abbey where buttress and buttress alternately seemed formed of ebony and ivory carrying his mind yet further back to an age of which we have few records and fewer relics the first days of monastic in stitution the reverie assumes yet another character disapprobation becomes strang- ly tempered by a sentiment of kindness and the sincere austerities and self deny ing labours of the early anchorites not on ly appeal for pardon hut sometimes com mand respect here and there we be hold a character born as it were out of due time an individual fitted to guide and enlighten the world he forsakes to become an cxamplar not of unmeaning penance and barbarous privation but of active practical benevolence to manifest a self devotion geutlo and kind and wise kindled it may be in solitude but expati ating aetongst the charities of life towardsthe close of the fourth century buried in one of those austere brotherhoods which the followers of st anthony had scattered over egypt dwelt the monk te- lemachus his fellow anchorites esteem ed him for the peculiar gentleness and sim- simplicity of his manners but his superio rity of miud his enlarged heart his power of disinterested exertion they knew not nor had they known could they have ap preciated a hard mm r a rough blanket spread on the ground suuiced for his bed the same bundle of palmleaves served at once for a seat by day aud a pillow by night and his food was the coarse biscuit loaf of the country varied only by fruit vegetables the hours not occupied in study or devotion were spent iu the sileut sedentary occupatiou of forming wooden sandals or twisting tho leaves of the palm tree into mats and baskets either for the use of the community or for sale in some distant market whero superstitution re- a garded them with reverence the monas teries of egypt differed essentially from the more refined and less rigid ones of the west cells or rather separate huts low narrow and of the slightest fabric were distributed into streets a fountain of wa ter various offices the church the hospital and sometimes a library occupied the cen tre and the whole was enclosed by a wall those who agreed in diet and discipline formed a fraternity of which many varie ties might exist in the same institution from some motive or other telemachus mingled little with his companions it might he that his life eventful and che quered before he assumed the cowl fur nished memories more interesting than the vapid converse of those around hiui or it might be that the future absorbed his mind to the exclusion of petty and passing con cerns a habitation in the desert did not in those days necessarily imply separation from the world it was possible to retire into notoriety and the reputed scantily of the monastery in question and a superb collection of relics the least of which was efficient for a miracle drew frequent crowds irom the surrounding parts and not unlre- quent visits from individuals of a superior order on these religious gala days telc- mumachus kept more than ever aloof and left to his brethren the task of edifying the multitude and the pleasure of gleaning i information concerning the world they pro fessed to despise in fact the popularity of these good fathers was iu no slight de gree owing to their taste for gossip but if the crowds of more vulgar devotees flock ed elsewhere mauy a visitant entered the lonely hut of telemachus or sought the grove of palmtrees his private and fre quent oratory the buyers of relics and delighters in legends knew well that fa- father felicissim us orthe holy monk hila- rion would better supply their need but the mother who sought advice for her sick child the peasant whose ragged sheepskin e reclaimed bis beggary the broken iu eart and the troubled iu conscience the destitute afflicted and despairing intui tively repaired to telemachus the tra veller too whom chance commerce or curiosity made a temporary guest at the monastery soon singled him out from his brethren and if that traveller came from rome the monk in his turn discovered strong and unusual interest details of its buildings and basilica its former and pre- seut history the character and manners of its people were listened to with eager in terest and such was the impression left upon his mind by these narrations that his comfort was sometimes marred by a regret that he had not taken the vows at home but telemachus was habitually humble and after a transient sigh he returned pla cidly to his cell or his palmgrove to weave mats make sandals or listen to the com plaint of some sorrowful peasant thus for nearly twenty years pas sed his tranquil but not useless life nei ther the errors which he shared in common when however the first impressions of wonder and delight subsided aud telem achus had leisure to form a sober estimate of the surrounding objects disappointment aud sadness took possession of his spirit effeminate luxury characterized the inha bitants in their houses their dress their pleasures ami even their occupations the same corrupting influence was fast gaining ground in the churches aud monasteries de dicatcd to a spiritual religiou and though lodged iu the monastery attached to saint john lateran called par exerltnce the mother of churches he had so little taste or so much simplicity as to mourn after 41 h is lodge in the wilderness ii brother llilarion said he one night to a fellowanchorite whose egyptian dis cipline was grievously impaired by his re sidence iu koine we may presume he ac ted on the well known proverb brother hiuriodf would that coming hither tobe- neht the souls of others may uot bring hut m to our own and the worthy monk sighed iu die sincerity of his heart dismiss that doubt as a temptation as i snare good tolemaxbrs replied his less sensitive companion 1 fimi ii good uotli for biil 111 bud 10 stity iicli- 1 alii ii lo fay that this city has been chris- with the rest of his age nor the benumbing tendency of monastic seclusion could dead en his fervent unaffected love for mankind tianized by law upwards of a century 1 marvel how the people could be worse when it wui heathen replied telemachus llilarion stared in siieuee to hear o he retical au assertion from me pious lips of his companion hut his indignation was cut short by be vesper bell and telem achus was o i sorry to break oil a conver sation which only deepened his regard for the simplicity of his own monastery there the sound of the rustic horn break ing the silence ol tiic desert called hiui to a worship in much the seductive aids ol outward pomp were utterly unknown jiul if he grieved as a uiouk ho grieved more deepj as a man the still continu ed love of gladiatorial shows and ihe ob stinacy with which the mandates of suc cessive christian emperor lr their aboli tion had been resisted ly tlic people tvoiu- ed heavily on his miud he uud beeu e- qvially aware of the fact in his seclusion but when at a distance aud ou tue spot there was a vast dillereuce in lm power ol realization then hesiucerel lamented but now his days were spent in eiwqutul if unavailing rcmouatrauces with ah to whom he had access his peace was em bittered and even his dreaojs were disturb ed by ttie imaged horrors ol the arena it happened too that during ins sojourn at rome the subject was rendered pronmeut- ly interesting to celebrate the recent victory obtained over we voths iuu toe honour of the emperors visit to tne city preparations were making fur maguiiiccui games to iuclude as usual scenes ol hu man butchery aud rome was alive willi expectation the fondness of the subordinate ranks for pleasure provided at the public expense appears natural but the etonian piebiau had other sources of gratification in the amphitheatre like the senators and even his emperor he sat upon a marble swat the canopy occasionally extended from the hair gathered into a knot at the top of the head and unarmed with the exception of a small sword and small round buckler two young warriors of the alcmanni slow ly advanced to the front of the arena they were captives who had been taken in the late avar and were reserved with many others for the present occasion the approach of the victims was hailed by a shout of applause painfully contrasted with the sadness of their deportment they placed themselves on opposite sides of the arena and expectation hushed the waiting thousands for some time the unfortu nate opponents exhibited only t e harm less play of fencers not from any dread of death and still less of pain hut from a mutual and noble disiuchnatiou to slay a countryman aud brother in arms but the watchful audieuce soon perceived and resented the skill which avoided wounds and with threats and expressions of con tempt commanded thciu to lose the de voted pair retreated a few sip p backwards cast a glance of unutterable scorn on the glittertug ranks of their savftgo lords aud sprang vehemently forwards each wiih the same desire to throw himself on the sword af tilt oilier teoftal mkfflwm two well and sunk mortally wouml at the feet of his unwilling conqueror 11 he leans upou his hand his manly brow consents to death but conquers ag and hisdroopd head sinks gradually w and through his side the last drops ebbing slow from the red gash fall heavily one by one like the first of a thunder shower 00w tho arena swims around him he i gone eroceasd the inhuman shout wbicl haild the one who won lie heard it but he heeded not hr eyes were with his heart that was faraway he recked not of the hie he lost nor prize lut where his rude hut by the dambe lay 7wewcre his rude barbarians all ft play thtre was their daeian mother sh their sire butchered to make a roman holiday- all tiis rusld with bib blond but the last hour in which these specta- courage there was not however time for deliberation to the first succeeded a stcoud pair of combatants and as their encounter commenced with energy the were hailed with corresponding applause at that moment calmly cheerfullydeter- minately with his life in his hand and the spirit of christianity strong in his heart telemaelius descended into the arena iu- terposed between the astonished g adiilors and in the presence of assemhi d kome denounced the sin the cruelty and the cow ardice of such amusements simple a- mazemeut at the interruption prevented for some moments the exhibition of any other declined coinpniiv so that i set sentiment but as telemachus gathering mrs lucas and had lost sight of energy by exertion proceeded lo make a pathetic appeal to tue emperor wiiosc merciful inclinations were no secret to the multitude rage at the intruders audacity and fear that he might prevail succeeded the numberless entrances and passages to the auipi it theatre so exqui atel j contrived that the whole of lii- vast assemblage could collect and disperse with incredible ease aud celerity hastened the hue of their and if his sphere of influence was limited top of the building as a protection from like the firefly of the forest he cheerfully the suu and rain covered him likewise employed his little light to irradiate and j the air refreshed bv fountains and im- pregitateii with oiioms ctaiumutuu to ui pleasure not less til an to theirs and il ulo division assigned him reminded him of in feriority his pride was soodled by ohserv ing the still slighter estimation obtained by the feuiale sex a wooden gallery at the very summit of tho edifice the least agree able nation of the whole was assigned to enliven it very unexpectedly that sphere became enlarged throughout the chris tian world of that period there existed a popular prejudice in favour of the ascetic monks pilgrimages were made to their cells qdestious of spiritual aud even of temporal moment were referred to their casuistry a favourite hermit was often dragged from his retirement and placed in the vomen but the absorbing interest the episcopal chair whilst their presence felt ith few exceptions hy both sexesand was coutiuually requestedby distant mo- by all ranks dwelt in tho cruel sports them- nasteries and sometimes by earthly digni- selves and iu the human far more than iu ties it chanced that on some one or o- the iima conflicts ther of the thousand points that continual ly arose to divide public opinion a num ber of monks from the most celebrated thr day of festival at length arrived suurie beheld what to a modern must appear inconceivable eighty thousand ci- hrotherhoods in egypt were summoned to tizen- congregated in that stupendous rome for the purpose of holding a con- buildiug which lined with marble deeo- fjrence amongst them went telemachus less interested perhaps iu his ostensible er rand than in the gratification of his secret and long cherished desire to view for him self the city of the world an easy and continual intercourse by sea and land con nected the provinces of the roman em pire and the company of egyptian an chorites reached their place of destination in safety if not with the speed of modern travellers from the stillness of a desert and the austere habits of a louely cell the transi tion to a scene of imperial and religious pomp like that presented by kome was startling alike to mind and body the glo rious trophies with w hich art had embellish ed its pagan days were not as now mourn ful and massy ruius overshadowed by the cypress and the pine ancient temples once populous with gods were changed into imposing basilicas gorgeous palaces towered beside cloistered convents aud the coliseum which after a thousand years ol pillage and decay we still visit as a worlds wonder was standing then in the pridethc grandeur and the symmetry of its whole beyond the city gates stretched the marble dwellings of the dead in a long line of im pressive majesty while these aud unnum bered other structures mingling solemnity with splendour but conducted the eye to natural and distant glories to stately vil las with their glow ing depths of shade to the alban mount with its extensive woods the purple bloom upon the sabine hills the glittering summits of the snow-crown- od appennincs rated with statues replete w wall that lux ury mold iuveut or wealth tne wealth ol a woihl command was devoted to purpo ses more base and barbarous tnan the wars of savages th first day elapsed in diversions which usually prefaced the introduction ol the the gadiators hunters despatched wild beasts wild beasts tore their hunters and animals brought from all parts ol tie konuu empire differing in size audfero- cy were matched against each other the arcua contrived to exhibit a change ol scenes represented on tins occasion a vast desert which acquired a fngitlul reality from the roariug of the comoaiauis uauve as it seemed to the spot whilst ue sauu with which it was profusely strewu tend ed to heighten the illusion iut its spark ling mirface was soon staiued with blood and long before the conclusion of the ton flicts several limbs aud mangled homes both rf men and iii als hij scatlereo a- modtst the ariiticul rocks and thickets ou die day following the arena assumed a new form the desert with its howl ing inhabitants and frightful carnage was removed and a scene substituted in its stead equally perfect aud in its lirt as pect more pleasing part oi w hat had ap peared a barren plain was by means ol water conveyed through subterraneous pipes cou verted iuto a w tndiog river w inch with a colony of rude huts hacked by a dark and far extending forest suggested to ihe audience the country ol their outbic foes chulonly in a limn tunic their long ccs were to outrage humanity was athand and a humble monk of the deseit was destined to achieve what emperocs had been unequal to on the morning of the second day of the games telemachus to the consternation of llilarion annouueeti it as his intention to repair to the coliseum there to make an appeal to the people and if nrodful descend at all hazards into the arena and separate the gladiators a desperane or ishilarion termed it a presumptuous en terprise but which judging by results we may term the inspiration of heroism that worthy father put forth a ion list of dissuasive- he represented the urscein- liness of the place foran anhoritcerjargcd ou the probability of danger the certainty of disappointment and strengthened his argu- meats by the authority of every saint and augel then extant but all iu vain telemachus mildly repeated his resoluti on and patiently explained the motives hy which he was actuated uot one of which was intelligible to hilarions less fervent spirit marvellous marvellous ejacu lated the poor monk in a tone and with a 1 i i ml il i intended victim as il tie same resolution had in the same instant been lorinea b each hundreds and thousands simultane ously rushed from fbeir seats into we qclgn- houriug streets aud iu a lew minutes returned to them again laden with what ever missiles they had heen able to collect their infuriated shouts and menacing gestures announced to tennachus tiic doom he had anticipated making sigual to the gladiators to retire from the areua he sank upon his knees not to im plore mercy of man but to commend his spirit to god and with folded arms aud head bowed meekly upon his urcust awaited aud received that slower ol stones which dismissed him lo his restthe noble martyr ol humanity uuderluj revolutions of feeling have sometimes taken place in popular assem blies and that elfecied m the nreseut p instance was uot more slricking than it is authentic shame remorse aud sorrow succeeded to murderous rage the destroy ers bestowed luueral honours on ineir victim and when immediately afterwards iionorious decreed the abolition oi gladia torial shows they yielded au unresisting obedience it has been esteemed matter of regret that amongst the beueiciorsoi uiehnuiau race neither sbrine nor statue has been erected to telemachus a vain aim ueed- less teehng since while a single stone remains tue coliseum itsell i his mo nument il j j too had been born iu the country amidst the sweetest recesses of the new forest aud pininp herself for liberty and solitude and green fields and fresh air she soon began too fancy tlat her children were vi sibly deteriorating in health imd appear ance and pining for them also and find ing that her old servant dinah mills was settled with her husband in this deserted farm house she applied to his master to rent for a few mouths the untenanted apartments dure o aberleigh and fixed there apparently lor life e lived in diiferen parishes and she idem met her for some years retaining merely a general recollection of the mild placid elegiut mother surrounded by three rosy rotnp- ing hrighicvcd child en when the arri val of au in ti mute frsend at aberleijh rectory caused me fr qucuiiy to pass l e lonely farm house aud i brew this inicr- reug family again under my observa tion the first time that i saw them was on a bright summer evening when the olgit- legale was jet in the coppice the hivr rose blossoming in the hedge and the ml ii f sweet scent ol the u t s nemuiime jessy of kiises farm by miss m r mitforo about the centre ol a deep winding and woody lane in ihe secluded village of a- berleigh stands u old farm house whose ani displaying the sillgult in irc hfiii dean uelus penniulug the air mrs lucas still lovely and tie- gaut though somewhat faded aud c re- worn was walking pensively up and down the grass path of the pretty flower court her eldest daughter a rosy bright a j brunette with her dark hair floating iu all directions was dartin about like a bird now tying up the links now watering the geraniums now collecting the fallen rose leaves into the straw bonnet which dangled from her frm and now feeoing a brood of bantams from a little barley measure which that sagacious aud active colony seemed to recognise as if by instinct coming long before she called them at tleir swiftij pace between a run and a fl- to await with their usuatnoisy and hustling patience the showers of grain which she flung to them across the paling it was a beauti ful picture of youth and health and hap piness and her clear gay voice aud bril liant smile accorded well with a shape and motion as light as a butterfly ami aa wild as the wind a beautiful picture was that rosy lass of fiftei io her uncon scious loveliness and i might have conti nued gazing ou her longe had i not beeu attracted by an object no less charming although in a very different way it was a flight elegant girl apparently about a year younger than the pretty remp of the flower garden 4sot unlike her iu form aud feature but totally spinet m colour ing aud expression she sate in the old porch wreathed with jessamine and houeysm kle with the west ern sun floating proulld her like a glory r beauty of lcr stables outluiloiugs and auple yard have a peculiarly lorlorn and deserted appearance they can in fact scticeiy be said to be occupied the person who rents the land preferring to live at a large farm about a mile distant lecviug lhs lonely house to the care ol a labourer aba his wife who reside iu one endauu have the charge of a few coils and heifers that chesnut hir hrown v ith a golden light and iho exceeding delicacy of her smooth and finely grained complexion so pale and yet so healthful her whole face and form lied a bending and statuelike grace increased by tie adjustment of her splen did hair which was parted on her w hire forehead and gathered up behind iu a natural coronet her dismay yes good brother of a surety j her young family one ought to love ones neighbours rs one self but running headlougiuto death and danger is not loving ones self at all can you not pray quietly in your cell for the deliverencc of these unfortunate beings who arc forced to ruu each other through fn- pastime and can you not preach against the si u aud shame of bloodthirstiness when you are safe in some pulpit but oh marvellous marvellous to think of go ing down iuto the arena and provoking eighty thousand people in a breath saint anthony truly preached to the fishes but oh brother brother you are going to preach to wild beasts llilarion replied telemachus with a sweet if somewhat mournfui smile our thoughts take different paths on this point and to the outward cyeyours is the siraiglit- est and easiest to follow but there is that within my heart which urges me ouwards ami gives me good hope of success altho between it and me trere lies perchance h painful dem- and now dear brother hilarion far well aud seeing you cannot alter my determination which believe has not been forme the charge ola lew coils and hellers that knot a natural coronet uer ec- ruu in the orchard aud an adjoining mea- i brows aud long eyelashes were n few shades dow whilst ihe vacant rooms are tenanted durker than her hair and siiuhiy rich o a widow iu huuiule ciicuiusluuvvb ahu ni her young family rapidly and skilfully and bent ever her onsuddeoor vainglo rious thoughts grant me one favours return with ail speed to our own homely dwelling for it is not good either for soul or body to stay where you are and j would not our brethren should have cause to charge us with fickleness of purpose sometimes visit the painwrove sllhsrion i have found it oft a sweet sacred place and have a special care of the destitute mourners who resort to the monastery some of whom may inquire for tr lema- chus with these words and a fervently- he- stowed benediction he rapped hi- cloak round him and taking his stall set forth ou his way with the steady step and seri ous aspect of one who feels he has under taken a great work from the execution of which he may never return he reached the coliseum just before the gladiators death the exulting shouts which then broke from the collected thou sands stunned him with affright ad for a moment his heart recoiled from j n hie purpose hut a second glance a the manly form bleeding before his cy by appealing to his shupiiihyuvigoia j the house is beautifully situated deep as i have said in a narrow woody lane which winds between high banks now- leathered with hazel uow thickly stunned with pollards aud forest trees until oppo site kibes farm it widens sufhcieiuij to admit a huge clear pomi round which tne hedge closely aud regularly set with a row of tall elms sweeps in a gracclul curve forming for that blight minor a rich lealy frame a little way farther on the lane again wiueus and makes an abrupter wiudmg as it is crossed by a broad shal low stream a branch of the loudon which comes meandering along fioiu a cuam oi beautiful meadows then torus iu u nar rower channel by the side ol the road and unaliy spreads iheji into a to go piece ol water almost a lakelet amidst the rushes and willows of hartiv aloor a footbridge is dung over the stream where it crosses the laue which with a giant oak growing ou the bank and throw iug its broad bran ched far ou the opposite cideforuis in eve ry season a pretty rural picture kibes farm is as picturesque as its situ ation very old very irregular with gable ends clustered chimneys casemeui win dows a large porch ami a sort of square wingjutiing outcveu wuu the porch and covered with aluxuriaut vine wlucn has quite the effect especially when seeu by moonlight oiau ivymantled one side extend the ample farm buildiug- on the chard whose trees are and so huge as lo convey the idea lriit forest behind the house is an kitchengarden aud before a neat flower court the exclusive demesuc oi iis lucas aud her family to whom indeed the labour er john miles and bis good wile bin ail served iu some sort as domestics mrs lucas had known far belter days her husband had been anollicer and died fighting bravely in one of the last battles ol the peninsular war leaving her with three children one lovely boy and two delicate girls to struggle through tho would as best she might she was an accomplished wo- mau ami at first settled in a great town and endeavoured to improve her small in come by teaching music ami languages liul she was country bred her children tower on but disused other the old or- so wild so hoary of a implc rapidly and skilfully and bent over her work with htnild and placid attention a sedate pensivcncss that did not belong to her age and which contrasted straucly and sadly with the gaieiy of her laughing and brilliant sister wiho at this moment darted up to her with a handful of pinks aud some groundsel jessy received them with a smile such a smile- bespoke a few sweet words in a sweet stghing voice put ihe flowers in her bosom and tie groundsel in the cage of a linnet thai hung near her and then resumed her seat and her work imitating better than i have ever heard them imitated the various notes of a nightiugale who was singing in the opposite hedge wlint i ashamed of loitering longer passed on the next time i saw her my inter t in this lovely creature was increased tenfold for i ihcnknew that jessy was blind a misfortune always so touching especially iu early youth and in her case reudeied peculiarly affecting hy the personal cha racter of the individual we soon became acquainted and even intimate under the hen gu auspices of the kind mistress of the rectory aud every in erview served lo increase the interest excited hy the whole family and most of all by the sweet blind girl never was any human being more gen tle generous and grateful or more nn- feigncdly resigned to her great calamity the prnsiveness that marked her charac ter aroc as i soon perceived from a different source her blindness had been of rcccni uccurrcncct arising irominllama- tion unskilfully treated ami was pronounc ed incurable but iron coming on so late ly it admitted of several alleviations of which she was accustomed to speak with a devout and tender gratilmlc he ever could work she said as well as and cut out ami write and drc herself and keep the keys ami run errands in the house she knewso well without nmkittg any mistake or confusion heading to be sure she had been lorced to give ip and drawing ami some day or other she would show tue only that it seemed so vain some vuraes vviith her dear brother william had wrirtenupeii u group 0 ftid flowers which sle f d h- uuu before r mislortiim oh if was aluiot woita jl