As if to guard the Gulf across; Struck the wild ruins with her wing, Dark welcome to each stormy wave On the land side, those towers sublime, No eye could pierce the void between: Of that vast mountain stood on fire; Though fled the priests, the votaries gone, Through chance and change, through good and ill, Thither the vanquish'd Hafed led Is heav'n to him who flies from chains!" They cross'd the chasm and gain'd the towers,- Here we may bleed, unmock'd by hymns This spot, at least, no foot of slave And though but few-though fast the wave Enough for vengeance still remains. As panthers, after set of sun, Rush from the roots of Lebanon We'll bound upon our startled prey; And when some hearts that proudest swell When Hope's expiring throb is o'er, And ev'n Despair can prompt no more, Of the last few who, vainly brave, Die for the land they cannot save!”—Moore. Green Sea, Persian Gulf. Yemen, Arabia Felix. Kerman, a province of Persia ly- Moslem, belonging to the Mahommedans. ire, wrath, anger. malign, malicious, bad. Simoorgh, the griffin Simoorgh, it is said, took some feathers from her breast for Tahmuras (an ancient King of Persia), with which he adorned his helmet, and transmitted them afterwards to his descendants. Koran, the book written by Mahommed, as he and his followers assert by inspiration. talisman, charm or spell. pageant, spectacle. Al Hassan, the Emir, a title of Oman, one of the five divisions beetling, jutting. Caspian, a large lake on the north of Persia. albatross, the largest known seabird. According to fable it sleeps in the air when on the wing. Gheber, fire-worshipper. ravine, a long deep hollow formed votaries, those devoted by a vow Eblis, Lucifer, Satan. gloats, gazes with burning pas- satrap, a Persian viceroy or ruler. panther, a ferocious animal having a spotted skin, found in Asia and Africa. falchion, a short crooked sword. THE BATTLE OF NIEVELLE. WELLINGTON'S ENTRY INTO FRANCE THROUGH THE PYRENEES. 1. Day broke with great splendour; and as the first ray of light played on the summit of the lofty Pyrenees, the signal guns were fired in rapid succession. Then the British leaped up, and the French, beholding with astonishment their columns rushing forward, ran to their defences with much tumult. They opened a few pieces which were answered from the top of the greater Rhune by the mountain artillery, and at the same moment two companies of the 43rd were detached to cross the marsh, if possible, and keep down the fire from the lower part of the hog's back; the remainder of the regiment, partly in line, partly in column of reserve, advanced against the high rocks. 2. From these crags the French shot fast, but the quick even movement of the British line deceived their aim; and the soldiers running forward very swiftly, though the ground was rough, turned suddenly between the rocks and the marsh, and were immediately joined by the two companies which had passed that obstacle notwithstanding its depth. Then all together jumped into the lower works: but the men exhausted by their exertions, for they had passed over half a mile of very difficult ground with a wonderful speed, remained for a few minutes inactive within half pistol shot of the first stone castle, from whence came a sharp and biting musketry. 3. When they recovered breath they arose, and with a stern shout commenced the assault. The French, as numerous as their assailants, had for six weeks been labouring on their well-contrived castles; but strong and valiant in arms must the soldiers have been who stood in that hour before the veterans of the 43rd. One French grenadier officer only dared to sustain the rush. Standing alone on the high wall of the first castle, and flinging large stones with both his hands, a noble figure, he fought to the last and fell, while his men, shrinking on each side, sought safety among the rocks on his flanks. 4. Close and confused was then the action, man met man at every turn, but with a rattling musketry, sometimes struggling in the intricate narrow paths, sometimes climbing the loose stone walls, the British soldiers won their desperate way, until they had carried the second castle, called by the French the place of arms and the magpie's nest, because of a lofty pillar of rock which rose |