We may not sunder the veil apart

That hides from our vision the gates of day.
We only know that their barks no more

May sail with us o'er life's stormy sea;
Yet somewhere, I know, on the unseen shore
They watch, and beckon, and wait for me.
And I sit and think, when the sunset's gold
Is flushing river, and hill, and shore,
I shall one day stand by the water cold,

And list for the sound of the boatman's oar.
I shall watch for the gleam of the flapping sail;
I shall hear the boat as it gains the strand;
I shall pass from sight with the boatman pale
To the better shore of the spirit land;

I shall know the loved who have gone before:
And joyfully sweet will the meeting be,
When over the river, the peaceful river,
The Angel of Death shall carry me.

276.-"THAT'S NOT THE WAY AT SEA."

F. R. HAVERGAL.

“That's not the way at sea, my boys,
That's not the way at sea!"

He stood upon the fiery deck,
Our captain kind and brave!
He would not leave the burning wreck,

While there was one to save.

We wanted him to go before,
And we would follow fast;

We could not bear to leave him there,
Beside the blazing mast.

But his voice rang out in a cheery shout,
And noble words spoke he-
"That's not the way at sea, my boys,
That's not the way at sea!"

So each one did as he was bid,

And into the boats we passed.

While closer came the scorching flame,

And our captain was the last.

Yet once again he dared his life,

One little lad to save;

Then we pulled to shore from the blaze and roar,
With our captain kind and brave.

In the face of death, with its fiery breath
He had stood, and so would we !
For that's the way at sea, my boys,
For that's the way at sea.

Now let the noble words resound,
And echo far and free,
Wherever English hearts are found,
On English shore or sea.

The iron nerve of duty, joined
With golden vein of love,
Can dare to do, and dare to wait,
With courage from above.

Our captain's shout among the flames
A watchword long shall be--
"That's not the way at sea, my boys,
That's not the way at sea.'

277.-THE TRIAL SCENE.

SHAKSPEARE.

Duke. Give me your hand. Came you from old Bellario? Portia. I did, my lord.

Duke. You are welcome: take your place.

Are you acquainted with the difference

That holds this present question in the court?

Por. I am informed thoroughly of the cause. Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew? Duke. Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth. Por. Is your name Shylock?

Shylock. Shylock is my name.

Por. Of a strange nature is the suit you follow;

Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law

Cannot impugn you as you do proceed.

You stand within his danger, do you not? (To Antonio.)

Antonio. Ay, so he says.

Por. Do you confess the bond?

Ant. I do.

Por. Then must the Jew be merciful.

Shy. On what compulsion must I? tell me that.
Por. The quality of mercy is not strained:
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath; it is twice blessed;
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest. It becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown:

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings:
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings;

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this-
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoken thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;

Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.
Shy. My deeds upon my head! I crave the law,
The penalty and forfeit of my bond.

Por. Is he not able to discharge the money?

Bassanio. Yes, here I tender it for him in the court;

Yea, twice the sum; if that will not suffice,

I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er,

On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart:

If this will not suffice, it must appear

That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you, Wrest once the law to your authority:

To do a great right, do a little wrong,

And curb this cruel devil of his will.

Por. It must not be; there is no power in Venice Can alter a decree established;

'Twill be recorded for a precedent;

And many an error, by the same example,

Will rush into the state: it cannot be.

Shy. A Daniel come to judgment! Yea, a Daniel!

O wise young judge, how do I honor thee!

Por. I pray you, let me look upon the bond.
Shy. Here 'tis, most reverend doctor; here it is.

Por. Shylock, there's thrice thy money offered thee. Shy. An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: Shall I lay perjury upon my soul?

No, not for Venice.

Por. Why, this bond is forfeit;

And lawfully by this the Jew may claim

A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off

Nearest the merchant's heart. Be merciful;

Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond.
Shy. When it is paid according to the tenor.
It doth appear, you are a worthy judge;
You know the law; your exposition

Hath been most sound. I charge you by the law,

Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar,
Proceed to judgment: by my soul I swear,
There is no power in the tongue of man
To alter me. I stay here on my bond.
Ant. Most heartily do I beseech the court
To give the judgment.

Por. Why, then, thus it is:

You must prepare your bosom for his knife.
Shy. O noble judge! O excellent young man!
Por. For the intent and purpose of the law
Hath full relation to the penalty,

Which here appeareth due upon the bond.

Shy. 'Tis very true; O wise and upright judge!
How much more elder art thou than thy looks!
Por. Therefore, lay bare your bosom.
Shy. Ay, his breast;

So says the bond—doth it not, noble judge?—
Nearest his heart; those are the very words.

Por. It is so.

The flesh?

Are there balance here, to weigh

Shy. I have them ready.

Por. Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge,To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death.

Shy. Is it so nominated in the bond?

Por. It is not so expressed; but what of that? 'Twere good you do so much for charity.

Shy. I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond.

Por. Come, merchant, have you anything to say?
Ant. But little; I am armed, and well prepared.
Give me your hand, Bassanio! fare you well!
Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you;
For herein fortune shows herself more kind
Than is her custom; it is still her use,

To let the wretched man outlive his wealth;

To view, with hollow eye and wrinkled brow,

An age of poverty; from which lingering penance
Of such misery doth she cut me off.

Commend me to your honorable wife;
Tell her the process of Antonio's end;

Say, how I loved you; speak me fair in death;
And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge,
Whether Bassanio had not once a love.

Repent not you that you shall lose your friend;
And he repents not that he pays your debt;
For, if the Jew do cut but deep enough,

I'll pay it instantly with all my heart.

Por. A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine;

The court awards it, and the law doth give it.

Shy. Most rightful judge!

Por. And you must cut this flesh from off his breast;

The law allows it, and the court awards it.

Shy. Most learnéd judge! A sentence! come, prepare. Por. Tarry a little-there is something else

This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;

The words expressly are, a pound of flesh.

Take then thy bond; take thou thy pound of flesh;
But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed

One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods
Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate

Unto the state of Venice.

Gratiano. O upright judge!—Mark, Jew!-O learned judge!

Shy. Is that law?

Por. Thyself shall see the act:

For, as thou urgest justice, be assured

Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest.

Gra. O learned judge!-Mark, Jew!-a learned judge! Shy. I take this offer, then: pay the bond thrice,

And let the Christian go.

Bas. Here is the money.

Por. Soft;

The Jew shall have all justice-soft!-no haste-
He shall have nothing but the penalty.

Gra. O Jew! an upright judge! a learnéd judge!
Por. Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.
Shed thou no blood; nor cut thou less, nor more,
But just a pound of flesh. If thou takest more,
Or less than just a pound-be it but so much
As makes it light or heavy in the substance,
Or the division of the twentieth part

Of one poor scruple-nay, if the scale do turn
But in the estimation of a hair-

Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate.
Gra. A second Daniel-a Daniel, Jew!

Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip.

Por. Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture.
Shy. Give me my principal, and let me go.
Bas. I have it ready for thee; here it is.
Por. He hath refused it in the open court;
He shall have merely justice, and his bond.
Gra. A Daniel, still say I! a second Daniel !
I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word.
Shy. Shall I not have barely my principal?
Por. Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture,
To be so taken at thy peril.

Shy. Why, then the devil give him good of it!
I'll stay no longer question.

Por. Tarry, Jew;

The law hath yet another hold on you.

It is enacted in the laws of Venice,