He sent for a Doctor, and cried, like a ninny, "I have lost many pounds-make me well-there's a guinea." The Doctor looked wise :- Prescribed sudorifics,—and going to bed. "Sudorifics in bed," exclaimed WILL," are humbugs! 'I've enough of them there, without paying for drugs!" WILL kicked out the doctor :—but when ill indeed, "Look ye, Landlord, I think," argued WILL with a grin, “That with honest intentions you first took me in : 66 But from the first night—and to say it I'm bold— "I've been so very hot, that I'm sure I caught cold!” Quoth the landlord-" Till now, I ne'er had a dispute; "I've let lodgings ten years, I'm a baker to boot; "In airing your sheets, sir, my wife is no sloven : "And your bed is immediately-over my OVEN. "The oven !*! ! -says Will;-says the host, "Why this passion? "In that excellent bed died three people of fashion. Why so crusty, good sir?"—" Zounds!" cried Will in a taking, "Who would not be crusty with half a year's baking?" Will paid for his rooms :-cried the host with a sneer, "Well, I see you've been going away half a year." "Friend, we ca'nt well agree;—yet no quarrel "—Will said : "But I'd rather not perish, while you make your bread." COLMAN. THE LEGEND OF HORATIUS. OUT spake the Consul roundly : "The bridge must straight go down ; For, since Janiculum is lost, Nought else can save the town." Then out spake brave Horatius, Death cometh soon or late. And the temples of his Gods? "Hew down the bridge, Sir Consul, With all the speed ye may ; * * In yon strait path a thousand May well be stopped by three. Now who will stand on either hand, Then out spake Spurius Lartius; 66 Lo, I will stand at thy right hand, "Horatius," quoth the Consul, As thou say'st, so let it be." And straight against that great array Spared neither land nor gold, Nor son nor wife, nor limb nor life, Then none was for a party; Then all were for the state; Then the great man helped the poor, And the poor man loved the great : F Then lands were fairly portioned; In the brave days of old. Now while the Three were tightening The Consul was the foremost man And Fathers mixed with Commons, Meanwhile the Tuscan army, * Came flashing back the noonday light, Four hundred trumpets sounded A peal of warlike glee, As that great host, with measured tread, And spears advanced, and ensigns spread, Rolled slowly towards the bridge's head, Where stood the dauntless Three. The Three stood calm and silent, And a great shout of laughter From all the vanguard rose; And forth three chiefs came spurring To earth they sprang, their swords they drew, To win the narrow way; Aunus, from green Tifernum, Lord of the Hill of Vines; And Seius, whose eight hundred slaves Sicken in Ilva's mines: And Picus, long to Clusium Vassal in peace and war, Who led to fight his Umbrian powers O'er the pale waves of Nar. Stout Lartius hurled down Aunus Into the stream beneath; Herminius struck at Seius, And clove him to the teeth: At Picus brave Horatius Darted one fiery thrust : And the proud Umbrian's gilded arms Clashed in the bloody dust. * * * * * |