PRINCE HOEL'S CHILD. From Southey's Madoc. Now had prince Madoc left the holy isle, And homeward to Aberfraw, through the wilds Of Arvon, bent his course. A little way He turned aside, by natural impulses Moved, to behold Cadwalon's lonely hut; That lonely dwelling stood among the hills, By a grey mountain-stream; just elevate Above the winter torrents did it stand, Upon a craggy bank; an orchard slope Arose behind, and joyous was the scene, In early summer, when those antic trees Shone with their blushing blossoms, and the flax Twinkled beneath the breeze its liveliest green. But, save the flax fields, and that orchard slope, All else was desolate, and now all wore One sober hue; the narrow vale which wound Among the hills, was grey with rocks, that peer'd Above its shallow soil; the mountain side Was loose with stones bestrewn, which, oftentimes diding beneath the foot of straggling goat, latter'd adown the steep, or huger crags, Which, when the coming frost should loosen them, Would thunder down. All things assorted well With that grey mountain hue: the low stone lines, Which scarcely seem'd to be the work of man, he dwelling, rudely rear'd with stones unhewn, be stubble flax, the crooked apple trees, rey with their fleecy moss and misletoe, he white-bark'd birch, now leafless, and the ash, hose knotted roots were like the rifted rock, D Through which they forced their way. Adown the vale When Madoc came, A little child was sporting by the brook, Floating the fallen leaves, that he might see them His bright blue eyes; the wind just moved the curls In innocent wonder. Madoc took his hand, Some prying boy too near the dear retreat. To view the lonely hut among the hills. "Some few year Here we have dwelt," quoth she, "my child and I, Will it please you enter, and partake such fare As we can give ?" still timidly she spake ; But gathering courage from the gentle mien Of him with whom she conversed. Madoc thank'd The friendly proffer, and toward the hut They went, and in his arms he took the boy. Was flush'd with sudden heat, and manifest pain; Her bees, who now were slumbering in the hive, Three years," said Madoc, "have gone by, since here, I found a timely welcome, overworn With toil, and sorrow, and sickness-three long years! She grew pale, should have waken'd yours! Did you then know Prince Hoel?" She replied, "Oh no! my lot Vas humble, and my loss a humble one; et was it all to me! They say, "quoth she,---and as she spake, she struggled to bring forth Tith painful voice, the interrupted words "They say prince Hoel's body was not found; That it doth seem a fitting monument For one untimely slain-but wherefore dwell we He took a harp Which stood beside, and passing o'er its chords, For he had skill in minstrelsy, and raised Prince Hoel's lay of love. "I have harness'd thee, my steed of shining grey, I love that glittering dwelling, where we hear I pine away for her, yet pity her, That she should spurn a love so true as mine.” He ceased, and laid his hand upon the child,— "And didst thou like the song?" The child replied "Oh yes! it is a song my mother loves, To take thee with me," quoth the ocean lord, "Thou art prince Madoc then!"'—— OWEN GWYNETH. By S. R. Jackson. HENRY II. taking advantage of the dissention among the Welsh princes, in the year 1157, the third of his reign, collected a very ormidable army, determined on the subjugation of the Principality. He encamped his forces at Saltney Marsh, in Flintshire. Owen Gwyneth, prince of North Wales, with his usual activity, took post at Basingwerk, near Holywell, and waited the approach of the English. A chosen body of troops, commanded by several barons of distinction, were sent to tempt Owen to a general action. The party, passing through the broken country of Coed Eulo, were vigorously assaulted by the two sons of Owen, and the English led in great disorder and with much slaughter to the main body of he army. Alarmed at the danger, and mortified by the disgrace, Henry broke up his camp, and marched along the sea shore to the own of Flint, with a view of penetrating into the interior of the ountry; but in passing through a long and narrow defile at Counyllt, he was intercepted by Owen, who permitted him to enter, unnolested, into the strait, when, cutting off his retreat, the Welsh ushed upon their foes with terrible outcries, from the woods, ssaulting them most vigorously. Struck with dismay, and enumbered with heavy armour, the English were again thrown into he utmost disorder, and a dreadful carnage ensued. Eustace de itzjohn and Robert de Courcy, with many noblemen of distinction, |