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قراءة كتاب The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 20, No. 574, November 3, 1832 Title

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The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction
Volume 20, No. 574, November 3, 1832 Title

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 20, No. 574, November 3, 1832 Title

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دار النشر: Project Gutenberg
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The lovely "Mary Stuart" pays the homage of her tears,

With "Cath'rine Seymore" at the shrine of Scotia's dearest name,

And with her bends the "Douglas'" knees, with bold young "Roland Graeme."

But hark! what fairy melody comes wafted on the gale—

Oh! 'tis "Fenella's" sighing lute, in notes of woe and wail:

"Claud Halero" catches at the strain, and mourns the minstrel gone,

"His spirit rest in peace where sleeps the shade of glorious John!"

With spattered cloak, the ladies' knight, the gallant "Rawleigh" see,

"Sir Creveceux's" plume waves by his side, and "Durward's" fleur-de-lis;

There "Janet" leans on "Foster's" arm—e'en "Varney's" treacherous eye

Is moistened with a tear that speaks remorse's agony.

Next, muffled in his sable cloak, "Tressilian" wends his way,

His slouching hat denies his brow the cheering light of day;

See how he dogs the proud earl's steps, as "Leicester" bears along

The lovely "Amy" on his arm through that sad mournful throng.

There "Lillias" pass'd with fairy step, in hood and mantle green,

Her sire, "Redgauntlet's" eagle eye is fixed on her, I ween;

And "Wandering Willie" doffs his cap, to raise his sightless eye

To Heaven, and cried, "God rest his soul in yonder sunny sky!"

Here "Donald Lean," with fillibeg and tartan-skirted knee;

There pale was "Cleveland," as he slept by Stromness' howling sea;

With faltering step crept "Trapbois" by, with drooping palsied head,

More like a charnel truant stray'd from regions of the dead.

And thus they pass, a mournful train, the "squire," the "belted knight,"

The "hood and cowl," the ladies' page, and woman's image bright;

In distance now the solemn notes their requiem's chant prolong,

And now 'tis hush'd—to other ears they bear their funeral song.


"Two beauteous sisters, side by side, their wonted station kept;

The dark-eyed 'Minna' look'd to Heaven, the gentle 'Brenda' wept;

Wild 'Norna,' in her mantle wrapp'd, with noiseless step mov'd on,

'Claud Halcro' in his grief awhile forgot e'en glorious 'John.'

The princely 'Saladin' appear'd, aside his splendour laid,

And only by his graceful mien and piercing glance betray'd;

The lofty 'Edith,' followed by the silent 'Nubian slave,'

Dropp'd lightly, as she pass'd, a wreath upon the poet's grave."


THE TOPOGRAPHER.

Lestingham Church.

LESTINGHAM CHURCH.

(From a Correspondent.)

Lestingham, which is supposed to signify lasting-home, is a village near Kirkby Moorside, Yorkshire, the scene of Buckingham's death, so caricatured by Pope in his Dunciad. It is remarkable on account of its church, which is a most interesting edifice to the antiquary, exhibiting a true specimen of Saxon architecture. The east end terminates in a semicircular recess for the altar, resembling the tribune of the Roman basilica. It was here that Cedd, bishop of the East Saxons, or London, founded a monastery for Benedictines, about the year 648, or, some say, 655. The church of Lestingham was the first which was built in this district, or the first of which we have any account. It was originally constructed of wood, and it was not till many years after that a stone one was erected.

Cedd was a Saxon missionary, educated at the monastery of Lindisfarne, now Holy Island, not far from Bamburgh, the capital of Bernicia. Ethelwald, king of Deira, knowing Cedd to be a man of real piety, desired him to accept some land for the building of a monastery, at which the king might attend to pray. Cedd availed himself of the proposal, and chose Lestingham. Having fixed on the spot for the site of the sanctuary, he resolved to consecrate it by fasting and prayer all the Lent; eating nothing except on the Lord's day, until evening; and then only a little bread, an egg, and a small quantity of milk diluted with water; he then began the building. He established in it the same discipline observed at Lindisfarne. Cedd governed his diocese many years; and died of a plague, when on a visit to his favourite monastery at Lindisfarne, where he had been ordained bishop by Finan; he was interred here, 664, but his remains were taken up, and re-interred in the present church, on the right side of the altar.

(The Crypt.)

The present Saxon church contains many relics of antiquity; as painted glass, ancient inscriptions, &c.; but the most remarkable feature of is interior is the celebrated crypt, or vault, formerly used as a depository for the venerated relics of canonized prelates. At the east end of this subterraneous retreat, from the window through which the light faintly gleams, the scene is interesting to astonishment. Here you perceive the massy arches ranged in perspective on huge cylindrical pillars, with variously sculptured capitals, each differing from the other, and all in the real Saxon style; to this add the groined roof, and the stairs at the west end, leading up into the church, enveloped in a luminous obscurity, from the scanty light admitted by the window at the east end. From the account given by Venerable Bede, that the body of Cedd was interred on the right of the altar, we may suppose that the crypt was built after the erection of the church, though the time cannot be ascertained.

About fifty years ago, the remaining part of the venerable monastery, founded by Cedd, was razed, and its walls, hallowed by the dust of the holy brotherhood, furnished materials for building. The Rev. W. Ellis, the then incumbent, whose indignation, at the circumstance, was unbounded, wrote some Latin verses on the subject; but they have been lost in the stream of time, and, like the ashes of the hand that wrote them, cannot be found.

The late Mr. Jackson, R.A., was a native of the village of Lestingham; and, with feelings of regard for the land of his childhood, he proposed to execute a painting, as an altar-piece for the church. His Grace the archbishop of York and the Rev. F. Wrangham, were consulted on the subject, and gave it their approval; but, we believe, the meritorious artist died before he had finished the painting.


NEW BOOKS.


WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST.

This book is a grievous failure—that is, if the merits of books are to be adjudged with their titles. The writer is the author of Stories of Waterloo, from whom better things might have been expected. He has taken for his model, Mr. Lloyd's really excellent Field Sports of the North of Europe; but he has woefully missed his mark. The title of the work before us is equivocal: a reader might as reasonably expect the Sports of the Western World, as adventures in Ireland, such as make up the present volumes. What we principally complain of is the paucity of Sports among their contents. It is true that the title also promises Legendary Tales and Local Sketches, but here they are the substance, and the Wild Sports mere shadow. We have too

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