dismissal of the prince results in the freedom of Gama. Psyche and Cyril take refuge in the camp of the prince's father.

The brothers of Ida now arrive, and it is agreed to submit the claim of the prince to the gage of battle. By fierce tourney the question is to be decided. Fifty knights on either side rode into the lists. The strife is described with great vigor, and terminating with the defeat of the prince and his companions.

Ida is now freed from the obligations of her early betrothal; and, standing on her palace roof, she sang a song of triumph. But in the midst of her triumphal song, her woman's heart heaves for the wounded prince, and, on the plea of hospitality, she causes the wounded to be brought into her halls.

"So was their sanctuary violated;

So their fair college turned to hospital."

The prince now became the peculiar care of Ida. Seated beside him, she fanned his fevered brow, and listened to his delirious ravings at " 'weary noon," and at night

"when clocks

Throbbed thunder through the palace floors, or called
On flying Time from all their silver tongues ;"

until from pity, tenderness flourished up," and at last

Love, like an Alpine harebell hung with tears

By some cold morning glacier: frail at first

And feeble, all unconscious of itself,

But such as gathered color day by day."

At length the prince waked from his delirious dreams to find Ida bending with sweet solicitude over his couch. Fixing his eyes upon her he said, whisperingly,

666 'If you be, what I think you, some sweet dream,
I would but ask you to fulfil yourself:
But if you be that Ida whom I knew,

I ask you nothing; only, if a dream,

Sweet dream, be perfect. I shall die to night.
Stoop down and seem to kiss me ere I die.'”

She stooped; and with a great shock of the heart
Our mouths met: out of languor leapt a cry,
Crowned Passion from the brinks of death, and up
Along the shuddering senses struck the soul,
And closed on fire with Ida's at the lips;
Till back I fell, and from mine arms she rose
Glowing all over noble shame; and all

Her falser self slipped from her like a robe,
And left her woman."

Thus did Nature conquer an idle theory. The Maiden College was broken up. Ida and the prince, Psyche and Cyril, Melissa and Florian, joined their destinies in one, and the medley is brought to a fit conclusion.

It is not for the sake of its narrative that we admire this delightful poem; but for its rich and varied poetry; its

gems and jewels of grace and beauty; its pure sentiment; its touching pathos; its humanity; its touches of quiet humor; its fidelity to nature; its enchanting descriptions of rural scenery, and its revealings of the depths and workings of the human heart; for its power to charm the imagination, and to elevate the heart. It has faults, but they are lost amid throngs of beauties; and whoever reads the Princess, will often return to its pages, and be led to confess of it, with the poet, that

"A thing of beauty is a joy for ever."

FALL RIVER, MASS.

THE PRESENCE OF JESUS.

BY REV. JOHN W. LINDSAY, A. M.

"Lord, if thou hadst been here my brother had not died." John xi. 21.

A SCENE of even more than usual interest in the life of Christ, is connected with the occasion on which these words were spoken. There was a family in the little village of Bethany whom Jesus often visited, for he seems to have been their familiar friend, and always to have found a kind welcome from them. But sorrow has entered that household, and the two sisters have been watching by the bedside of their dying brother. They have heard his last words; they have seen his eyes closed in death; and now friendly hands have laid his body in the In the bitterness of their grief, Mary and Martha have thought of Jesus, and had before sent him word that he, whom he loved, was sick. does not hasten to receive the last embrace of his friend; or rather, they wonder why he is not with them to arrest the fearful progress of disease, to lay his hand upon the emaciated form and restore it to health.

grave.

Doubtless they wonder why he

But Jesus is far away. Not long before this, he was in the porch of the temple, proclaiming to the Jews his divin

ity, and his unity with God; for he had said to them, “I

He

is now beyond Jordan, the scene of John's first ministry. All this while he is not unmindful of that family. hears that Lazarus is sick; but he goes not to his relief, for he knows there is a greater work for him to do. He knows that this sickness is for the glory of God, in that it might glorify the Son, in giving him occasion to impress great truths, by the performance of mighty works.

Christ goes back to Jordan; and Thomas says, let us also go, that we may die with him; for he bears in mind that it was only a few days before that the Jews threatened the life of Jesus.

As Jesus approaches the village, Martha hastens to meet him; and in the strength of her faith, utters the language of my text: "Lord, if thou hadst been here my brother had not died." And rising still higher, as if she knew the purpose of Jesus, she adds, "Even now, whatsoever thou shalt ask of God he shall give it thee." Encouraging to the bereaved sister, and soul-inspiring to us all, are the truths he utters in reply, "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."

What a scene of deep and thrilling interest is going on in that little village of Bethany. A group have gathered around Jesus, and are listening to the announcement of