line of parti-colored horsemen is strewn to an indefinite distance, the rear of the line disregarded, whilst all eyes are bent upon the pale face of the victor in the contest, as the goal reached, with suppressed exultation, he returns upon the track with his panting horse. And this is the "Derby!" the world renowned Derby! Other races follow, but of minor importance, and back again to London, is the word. No easy task. Again the highway is jammed with vehicles, and wearisome is the task of forcing a passage through the masses, the dust rising in clouds to complete the discomfort experienced. Night approaches whilst yet upon the road, and for the last five miles it is like a drive through Xerxes hosts seemingly, the whole country having disgorged its multitudes to witness. the spectacle. I am tired nearly to death,-but- I have seen the" Derby!" LIFE'S TEMPTATIONS. There are strange legends of those ancient days, When all the world of gods had each a shrine, When Latin story vied with Grecian lays, The beautiful being worshipp'd, as Divine; But Earth, to please, at length failed in its duty, And sea and air were conjured for new beauty. The pencil of Parrhasius, in those days, Apollo stared, as he ne'er stared before- "Ha!" said the god-"call on old Neptune now;" And out there came from coral grot and cave, Each lovely naiad, with seraphic brow, Which shone like star-light o'er the deep blue wave, And-wondrous charm-each snowy arm was there, Entwining gracefully with sunbright hair. And man, enraptured, own'd the loving spell- That-bent on mischief-straight she bares her arm LINES, WRITTEN IN A VOLUME PRESENTED TO Here, amid' Fancy's dreams, Where all is gay and bright-a world of flowers! And fairy footsteps follow flying hours,- With the bright future, and the glorious past, Backward o'er memory's waste a look mayst cast. And when deep sadness lies Upon thy heart-when it is darkly shaded, Which look'd in love, whose beaming light is faded- Of romance, love, aud truth, and smiles and tears, Thou'rt happy! Is it so? The world doth promise fair, too oft in vain; The tyrant's sceptre and the captive's chain; Is fraught with suffering to some child of earth, Is it for us then meet, To revel in the scenes which give it birth? Follow, where brave hearts bleed, Wherever stern Ambition's march hath been; Gaze on the victor's steed, List to the dull, dead tramp, o'er dying men; How doth the battle's din, Its glittering armor, sword, and plume, and lance, From him of Macedon, To the fierce Roman, whose triumphant shout Rang o'er the Rubicon, Down to the lord of Waterloo's wild routProudly though they have stood, Trampling on human hearts to reach a throne, Their suns have set in blood, Amid' deep woes mere life may not atone! Being of sunlit hours! Thy path though leading not o'er Fame's proud height, Winding, is seen, midst flowers; Long mayst thou walk in it with footstep light. Blessings be on thee shed, All that the pure heart loves or craves be thine; Sweet dreams be with thee, gentle friend of mine. [89] Selections. THE GAME OF CHESS. A SCENE IN THE COURT OF PHILIP THE SECOND. ter aspect, advanced towards the king, and in lowly reverence waited permission to address him. The appearance of this man was most forbidding; his King Philip the Second was playing entrance caused a general sensation. at a game of chess in the palace of the The nobles drew haughtily back, alEscurial. Ruy Lopez, a priest of the lowing their feelings of disgust for a ordinary rank, who was most expert at moment to overpower their sense of ettithis game, was his Majesty's antagonist. quette. One would have supposed that The player was allowed to kneel, by some fierce and loathsome beast had special privilege, while the nobles suddenly come amongst them; and cerstood round as spectators. There was tainly he was well calculated to excite something in their attitudes betokening such feelings. His figure was tall, an engagement of mind too anxious to bony, and of herculean dimensions, be called forth by the mere interest of clad in a black leather doublet. His the game. It was a splendid morning, coarse features, unlighted by a ray of and the air was redolent with perfume intelligence, betrayed tastes and pasnot less sweet than that exhaled by the sions of the most degraded character, orange-groves of Granada. The violet while a large, deep scar, reaching from colored curtains of the magnificent the eyebrow to the chin, till lost in the saloon softened the powerful rays of thick black beard, added to the natural the sun as they darted through the case- ferocity of his countenance. ment. The bright, cheerful light seemed at this moment but ill to accord with the mood of the king, whose gloomy brow seemed to grow darker and dark er, like the tempest brooding on the lofty Alpuxares. He frowned as he frequently glanced towards the entrance of the saloon. The nobles remained silent, exchanging looks of mutual intelligence. The assembly was anything but a cheerful one, and it was easy to perceive that some grave affair occupied the thoughts of all present. None appeared to pay attention to the chess save Ruy Lopez: who, with his eyes fixed on the board, was deliberating be. tween a checkmate and the deference due to his most Catholic Majesty Philip the Second, Lord of the Territories of Spain and its Dependencies. Not a sound was heard but the slight noise made by the players as they moved their pieces, when the door was suddenly thrown open, and a man of rude, sinis Philip turned to address him, but his faltering voice gave evidence of some unusual emotion. An electric shock passed through the whole assembly. The fact was, that this new arrival, who seemed the very personification of phys. ical force, was Fernando Calavarez, executioner in Spain. "Is he dead?" demanded Philip at last, in an imperious tone, whilst a shudder ran through the assembly. "Not yet, Sire," replied Fernando Calavarez, as he bent before the mon arch, who frowned angrily; "he claims his privilege as a grandee of Spain, and I cannot proceed to do my office on a man in whose veins flow the hidalgo. blood without having further orders froin your Majesty." And he again bent his head. An answering murmur of approval burst from the assembled nobles, and the blood of Castile boiled in their veins, and rushed to their brows. The excitement became general. The young Tarrasez has well said, "The king's Alonzo d'Ossuna gave open expression justice is the security for the rights of his to the general feeling by putting on his subjects.' My lord constable, where is His bold example was followed the nearest bishop to be found?" hat. by the majority; and now many a white plume waved, as if in token that their wearers claimed their every other privilege by using that which the grandees of Spain have always had-of stand ing with covered head before their sov. ereign. The king fiercely struck the table, overturning the pieces on the chessboard with the violence of the blow. "He has been condemned by our royal council, what more would the traitor have?" "Sire," replied the executioner, "he demanded to die by the axe, as becomes a noble, and not by the cord, and also to be allowed to spend the three last hours of his life with a priest." "Ah!-let it be so," replied Philip evidently relieved. But is not our confessor already with him, according to our order?" "Yes, sire," said Fernando; "the holy man is with him; but the duke refuses to have St. Diaz de Silva. He will not receive absolution from any one under the rank of a bishop;-such is the privilege of a noble condemned to death for high treason." "It is, indeed, our right," said the fiery D'Ossuna, boldly, "and we de mand from the king our cousin's privilege." This demand seemed to be the signal for a general movement. "Our rights and the king's justice are inseparable," said in his turn, Don Diego de Tarrasez, Count of Valencia, an old man of gigantic height, encased in amour, bearing in his hand the bâton of High Constable of Spain, and lean ing on his Toledo blade. "Sire, I have had more to do with the camp than with the church," bluntly replied the constable; "your Majesty's almoner, Don Silva, who is present, can give you more information upon such points than I can.” Don Silva y Mendez answered in some trepidation, "Sire, the Bishop of Segovia was attached to the royal household, but he died last week, and the nomination of his successor still lies on the council-table, and has yet to be submitted to the Pope's veto. A meeting of all the princes of the Church is to be held at Valladolid-all the prelates have been summoned there; so that the Bishop of Madrid has already set out from this." At these words, a smile played about the lips of D'Ossuna. His joy was most natural, for not only was he of the blood of the Guzmans, but the condemned noble had been his dearest friend. But the smile did not escape the notice of the king, and an expression of impa. tience and determination passed over his face. "Nevertheless, we are king," said he, with a calmness which seemed as sumed but to cover the storm beneath, "and we choose not that our royal person should be a butt for ridicule. This sceptre may seem light, gentlemen, but he who dares to mock it will be crushed by it as surely as though it were an iron block! But this matter is easily settled. Our holy father the Pope being in no slight degree indebted to us, we do not fear his disapproval of the step we are about to take; since the King of Spain can create a prince, he may surely make a bishop. Rise, then, Don Ruy Lopez; Bishop of Segovia. Rise, priest, I command it; take posses sion of your rank in the Church!" The astonishment was general. These words were repeated like an echo, till the king started from his throne of ebony, exclaiming, "By the bones. of Campeador, by the soul of St. Jago, I have sworn neither to eat nor drink he would have spoken, but his head till the bloody head of that traitor Don reeled, his brain grew dizzy, and he Guzman has been brought to me; and paused. Then, with a violent effort, he as I have said, so shall it be! But Don began at once of his new dignity and of the fearful condition attached to it. And as the vaulted passage echoed to their steps, he devoutly prayed the ground might open, and swallow him up alive, rather than that he should take any part in the fate impending of Don Guz. What was it bound him thus "May it please your Majest❞ "Silence, my lord bishop!" replied he king. "Obey the command of your overeign. The formalities of your installation may be deferred to a future ccasion. Meanwhile, our subjects will ot fail to recognize our lawful authorty in this matter. You, Bishop of man. Segovia, go with Calavarez to the cell closely to Don Guzman? Was it that of the condemned man. Absolve his they had been old and intimate sinful soul, and deliver his body to be friends? Was it that in the veins lealt with by our trusty minister here, of both flowed noble blood? No; according to our pleasure. And, Cala- it was simply that both were the best varez, see that you bring to us the head chess-players in Spain. Fervent and of this traitor to the saloon, where we sincere was his prayer; but it was not shall await you-for Don Guzman, granted. Prince of Calatrava, Duke of Medina Sidonia, is a traitor, and shall this day die a traitor's death!" And turning to Ruy Lopez, "Here is my signet-ring," said he, "as a token to the duke." "And now, my lords, have you anything to say why the justice of your monarch should not have its course?" No one answered. Ruy Lopez followed the executioner, and the king resumed his seat, beckoning to one of his favorites to take his place at the chess board. Don Ramirez, Count of Biscay, immediately came forward, and knelt on the velvet cushion before occupied by Don Lopez. "With the help of the chess, gentlemen, and your company," said the king, smiling, "I shall pass the time most pleasantly. Let none of you leave till the return of Calavarez; our good cheer would be diminished were we to lose one of you." With these ironical words, Philip began to play with Don Ramirez, and the tired nobles remained grouped around the august personage as at the beginning of our recital. THE PRISON. The Prince of Calatrava was pacing his narrow cell with a step whose inequality betokened intense agitation. The whole furniture consisted of a massive table and two heavy wooden stools. The floor was covered with coarse, thick matting, which suffered not the sound of their footfalls to break the gloomy silence. In the embrasure of the one narrow and grated window was fixed a rudely-carved crucifix: With the exception of this emblem of mercy and self-sacrifice, the walls were bare, and as the damp chill of the cell struck to the heart of Ruy Lopez, he felt that it was indeed the antichamber of death. The duke turned as they entered, and courteously saluted the new dignitary of the church. Glances of intelligence passed between them, and con. veyed to each feelings, the audible expression of which the presence of Calavarez forbade. The duke understood how painful to Ruy Lopez was the of fice which the executioner on the instant announced that he had come to perform; and Ruy Lopez felt as fully convinced of the innocence of Don Guz. man as was the duke himself, notwithstanding the apparently strong proofs Ruy Lopez walked along without of his guilt. One of these proofs was raising his eyes. He resembled far nothing less than a letter in his own more a criminal dragging to execution handwriting, addressed to the court of than a newly-made bishop. Was it a France, entering into full details of a dream?-but no, the dark, scowling plot to assassinate King Philip. Calavarez that proceeded him was indeed a stern reality, and reminded him Everything was restored to its usual order and quiet, whilst Calavarez conducted the impromptu bishop to the cell of the condemned nobleman. In the proud consciousness of innocence, Don Guzman had refused to of And men are playing different parts, as or "I remember those words of Don Quixote," said Ruy Lopez, and I also remember Sancho's reply,—that though the comparison was a good one, it was not altogether so new, but that he has heard it before. But these are not the subjects for such an hour as this; may the Lord forgive this unseemly levity!" fer any defence, and as no attempt was made to disprove the accusation, his silence was construed into an admission of his guilt, and he was condemn ed to die the death of a traitor. In the same calm silence Don Guzman heard the sentence; the colour faded not from his cheek, his eye quailed not, and with as firm a step as he entered that judgment hall, he quitted it for the cell of the condemned. And if now his brow was contracted-his step unequal; if now his breath came short and thick, it was because the thought of his bethrothed, the fair, the gentle Donna Estella, lay heavy at his heart. He pictured her, ignorant of his situation, waiting for him in her father's stately halls on the banks of the Guadelquiver, and awaiting him in vain. What marvel that love should make him weak, whom death could not appal! Calavarez, imagining that he had been hitherto unheeded, again repeated the monarch's commands, and an- "A bright idea has struck me," sudnounced that Don Ruy Lopez now denly exclaimed Don Guzman; "let us held such rank in the church as quali- have one last game of chess!” ified him to render the last offices to a grandee of Spain. The duke went on, without heeding Don Lopez, "I, too, have had my triumphs in chess; and even from you. holy father, have I sometimes wrested a trophy. You used to be proud of me as your pupil." "It is quite true," answered the bishop; "your play is masterly; and I have often gloried in having been your first instructor." "The thought is too profane," said the startled Ruy Lopez. The young nobleman on the instant "If you refuse me this last request, bent his knee to the new bishop, and I will summon the executioner on the craved his blessing. Then turning to instant; for how, think you, can I en Calavarez, he haughtily pointed to the dure the two hours of suspense that door. "We need not your presence, have yet to be undergone? To meet sir; begone. In three hours I shall be death is easy,-to await it is intolera ready." ble! Are you as changed as my for And how were these three hours pass. tunes? Care you neither for me nor ed? First came short shrift,-se -soon for chess? made. With a natural levity of character, which even this solemn hour could not subdue, Don Guzman turned from the grave exhortations of his confessor, as he dwelt upon the last great change. "Change, indeed!" cried the duke; "how different were the circumstances in which we last met. Do you not remember you were playing your famous game with Pauli Boz, the Sicilian, in the presence of Philip, and the whole court, and it was on my arm that the king leaned? Change, indeed! Well has Cervantes said, 'Life is a game of chess.' I have forgotten the precise words, but the passage runs to this effect, that upon the earth, as upon the chess-board,! The bishop again objected, but it was now faintly and hesitatingly. To say truth, the ruling passion, thus proved to be indeed strong in death, was nearly as powerful in his own mind. "You con sent, I see," said the young nobleman: "but what shall we do for chessmen?" "I always carry my arms about me," said Ruy Lopez, now completely won over. Then, drawing two stools to the table, he produced a miniature set of chessmen and a small board; "Our Lady pardon me," he said, as he pro ceeded to arrange the pieces; "but I own to you that sometimes a difficult move comes between me and my brevi ary." It was a curious picture to see the |