Chapter XI: Part 11

The blades of heroes fence it round,
Where'er it springs in holy ground;
From tower and dome its glories spread;
It waves where lonely sentries tread;
It makes the land as ocean free, 5
And plants an empire on the sea!
Then hail the banner of the free,
The starry Flower of Liberty.

Thy sacred leaves, fair Freedom's flower,
Shall ever float on dome and tower, 10
To all their heavenly colors true,
In blackening frost or crimson dew,--
And God love us as we love thee,
Thrice-holy Flower of Liberty!
Then hail the banner of the free, 15
The starry Flower of Liberty.

1. What is "The Flower of Liberty?" Does Holmes
gain anything by calling it a flower? Substitute
its real name and read the poem through thus, to
test your answer.

2. Interpret the following passages: "hues from
heaven"; "burning star"; "flaming band"; lines
9-14, page 348; lines 19-20, page 348; "blades of
heroes"; "empire on the sea"; "thrice-holy."

3. What other poems on the flag have you read?
Which do you like best? How does this one compare
in quality with the others?

4. Bring to class another poem by Holmes and read
an interesting extract from it.

TRUE PATRIOTISM

BY BENJAMIN HARRISON

Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901) was the twenty-third
President of the United States; the grandson of
President William Henry Harrison; and the
great-grandson of Benjamin Harrison, Sr., a signer
of the Declaration of Independence. He was well
qualified to speak on the subject of real
patriotism as against mere loyalty to political
party.

Let us exalt patriotism and moderate our party contentions.
Let those who would die for the flag on the
field of battle give a better proof of their patriotism and a
higher glory to their country by promoting fraternity and
justice. A party success that is achieved by unfair methods 5
or by practices that partake of revolution is hurtful and
evanescent, even from a party standpoint. We should
hold our different opinions in mutual respect; and, having
submitted them to the arbitrament of the ballot, should
accept an adverse judgment with the same respect that we 10
would have demanded of our opponents if the decision had
been more in our favor.

No other people have a government more worthy of their
respect and love, or a land so magnificent in extent, so
pleasant to look upon, and so full of generous suggestion 15
to enterprise and labor. God has placed upon our head
a diadem, and has laid at our feet power and wealth beyond
definition or calculation. But we must not forget that
we take these gifts upon the condition that justice and
mercy shall hold the reins of power, and that the upward 20
avenues of hope shall be free for all the people.

I do not mistrust the future. Dangers have been in
frequent ambush along our path, but we have uncovered
and vanquished them all. Passion has swept some of our
communities, but only to give us a new demonstration that
the great body of our people are stable, patriotic, and law-abiding. 5
No political party can long pursue advantage
at the expense of public honor, or by rude and indecent
methods, without protest and fatal disaffection in its own
body. The peaceful agencies of commerce are more fully
revealing the necessary unity of all our communities, and 10
the increasing intercourse of our people is promoting mutual
respect. We shall find unalloyed pleasure in the revelation
which our census will make of the swift development of the
great resources of some of the states. Each state will
bring its generous contributions to the great aggregate of 15
the nation's increase. And when the harvests from the
fields, the cattle from the hills, and the ores from the earth,
shall have been weighed, counted, and valued, we will turn
from all to crown with the highest honor the state that has
most promoted education, virtue, justice, and patriotism 20
among its people.

1. When was Benjamin Harrison President? What did
he know about the party defeats he mentions? Was he
ever a defeated candidate?

2. What are the leading political parties of our
country at present? Are they essential to our form
of government? Support your answer by reasons.

3. Explain what Harrison meant by: "A party success
. . . achieved by unfair methods"; "the arbitrament
of the ballot"; "justice and mercy shall hold the
reins of power"; the last sentence.

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

BY KATHARINE LEE BATES

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America! 5
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern, impassioned stress 10
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control, 15
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life! 20
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees, beyond the years,
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! 5
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

1. The author mentions many ways in which America
is beautiful. Which of these are real,
matter-of-fact? Which are not?

2. To whom is the reference in lines 9-10
applicable? Explain lines 14-16. Paraphrase line
19. What is meant by line 7, page 353?

3. Memorize at least one stanza of the poem.

O BEAUTIFUL! MY COUNTRY!

BY JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL

This is a part of Lowell's "Commemoration Ode"
written in honor of the heroes of Harvard College,
killed in the Civil War. Lowell here imagines
America as a beautiful woman--a Goddess of
Liberty--now fully restored to her worshipers.

O beautiful! My Country! ours once more!
Smoothing thy gold of war-disheveled hair
O'er such sweet brows as never other wore, . . .
What were our lives without thee?
What all our lives to save thee? 5
We reck not what we gave thee;
We will not dare to doubt thee,
But ask whatever else, and we will dare!

THE PROBLEMS OF THE REPUBLIC

BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT

The following is extracted from the inaugural
address of President Roosevelt, delivered March 4,
1905. It is of special interest to read it in
connection with Mr. Hughes's speech (page 356) and
to compare the ideas of citizenship and of our
country as expressed in the two. In reading this
speech you should bear in mind that the era was one
of peace, long undisturbed by war. Our problems
then were the ordinary problems of everyday living.

Modern life is both complex and intense, and the
tremendous changes wrought by the extraordinary
industrial development of the half century are felt in every
fiber of our social and political being. Never before have
men tried so vast and formidable an experiment as that of 5
administering the affairs of a continent under the form of a
democratic republic. The conditions which have told for
our marvelous material well-being, which have developed
to a very high degree our energy, self-reliance, and individual
initiative, also have brought the care and anxiety 10
inseparable from the accumulation of great wealth in
industrial centers.

Upon the success of our experiment much depends, not
only as regards our own welfare, but as regards the welfare
of mankind. If we fail, the cause of free self-government 15
throughout the world will rock to its foundations, and
therefore our responsibility is heavy, to ourselves, to the
world as it is to-day, and to the generations yet unborn.

There is no good reason why we should fear the future,
but there is every reason why we should face it seriously, 20
neither hiding from ourselves the gravity of the problems
before us, nor fearing to approach these problems with the
unbending, unflinching purpose to solve them aright.

Yet after all, though the problems are new, though the
tasks set before us differ from the tasks set before our 5
fathers who founded and preserved this republic, the
spirit in which these tasks must be undertaken and these
problems faced, if our duty is to be well done, remains
essentially unchanged. We know that self-government is
difficult. We know that no people needs such high traits 10
of character as that people which seeks to govern its affairs
aright through the freely expressed will of the free men who
compose it.

But we have faith that we shall not prove false to memories
of the men of the mighty past. They did their work; 15
they left us the splendid heritage we now enjoy. We in our
turn have an assured confidence that we shall be able to leave
this heritage unwasted and enlarged to our children's children.

To do so, we must show, not merely in great crises, but
in the everyday affairs of life, the qualities of practical 20
intelligence, of courage, of hardihood, of endurance, and
above all, the power of devotion to a lofty ideal, which
made great the men who founded this republic in the days
of Washington; which made great the men who preserved
this republic in the days of Abraham Lincoln. 25

1. Give a full report of Roosevelt's life and
activities--political, literary, personal. Try to
describe the kind of man you think he was.

2. Find in this section of your Reader expressions
similar to lines 10-13, page 355.

3. What qualities does Roosevelt say we must
display if our country is to survive? Why does he
speak of our form of government as an experiment?

THE MEANING OF AMERICANISM

BY CHARLES EVANS HUGHES

Charles Evans Hughes (1862- ) has had a conspicuous
political career. He has been successively governor
of New York for two terms, a justice of the Supreme
Court; Republican nominee for the Presidency; and
Secretary of State.

At the time of the delivery of this speech Europe
was in the throes of the World War. America was
soon to join forces with the Allies against
Germany. This extract from Mr. Hughes's speech
should be read with the spirit of portending war in
mind. But the four-square interpretation of
Americanism that is herein set forth holds to-day
with as much force as in 1916. Read the selection
especially to get the notion of an ideal America
and the ideal citizen.

We want something more than thrills in our patriotism--we
want thought; we want intelligence--a
new birth of the sentiment of unity in the nation.

My dream of America is America represented in public
office by its best men working entirely for the good of the 5
Republic and according to the laws and ordinances established
by the people for the government of their conduct,
and not for personal or political desires and ambitions;
America working her institutions as they were intended to
be worked, with men whose sole object shall be to secure 10
the end for which the offices were designed.

And if one will throw his personal fortunes to the winds,
if he will perform in each place, high or low, the manifest
obligations of that place, we will soon have those victories
of democracy which will make the Fourth of July in its 15
coming years a far finer and nobler day than it has ever
been in the fortunate years of the past.

When we are thinking of the ideals of democracy, we
are thinking of the schools, and we deplore every condition
in which we find man lower than he should be under a free
government, and we want greater victories of democracy,
that the level of success shall be raised. 5

We are not a rash people; we are not filled with the
spirit of militarism. We are not anxious to get into trouble,
but if anybody thinks that the spirit of service and sacrifice
is lost and that we have not the old sentiment of self-respect,
he doesn't understand the United States. 10

We want patriotism, and I don't think that we are going
to lose it very soon, although I do devoutly hope that out
of the perils and difficulties of this time may come a new
birth of the sentiment of unity. I do hope that in the
midst of all these troublesome conditions we will have a 15
better realization of our national strength and the import
of our democratic institutions.

The boy is going to thrill at the sight of the flag to-day
just as he did fifty years or one hundred years ago. We
are all going to thrill when we hear the words of our 20
national hymn and we think of the long years of struggle
and determination that have brought us to this hour. But
we want something more than thrills in our patriotism:
we want thought; we want intelligence.

Not vast extent of territory, not great population, not 25
simply extraordinary statistics of national wealth, although
they speak in eloquent words of energy and managing
ability; but what we need more than anything else is an
intelligent comprehension of the ideals of democracy.
Those ideals are that every man shall have a fair and equal 30
chance according to his talents. It is not an ideal of democracy
that one alone shall emerge because of conspicuous
ability, but that there shall be a great advance of the plain
people of the country, upon whom the prosperity of the
country depends.

It is all very well to talk about the Declaration of Independence
and the strong sentiments it contains, but that 5
was backed by men who couldn't have committed it to
memory, men who couldn't have repeated it, but men in
whose lives was the incarnation of independence and whose
spirit was breathed into that immortal document.

It is because we had men who were willing to suffer, to 10
die, to venture, to sacrifice, that we have a country, and
it is only by that spirit that we will ever be able to keep a
country. I love to think of those hardy men coming here
with the same spirit that led the pioneers to the West and
Farther West, the same spirit which in every part of our 15
land has accounted for our development.

Quiet men, not noisy men; sensible men, not foolish
men; straight men, honest men, dependable men, real
men--that is what we mean by Americanism.

--_From a Speech Delivered at
Easthampton, L. I., July 4, 1916._

1. What evidences do you find in the speech that it
was delivered in war times? When did we enter the
World War? On what occasion was the speech made?

2. Explain what Mr. Hughes describes as his "dream
of America."

3. Discuss: "But we want something more than
thrills in our patriotism," lines 22-24, page 357.

4. What ideals of democracy are described?

5. Define Americanism in your own words.

6. Explain what you think an ideal citizen of your
community should be and do; of your school.

WHAT CONSTITUTES A STATE?

BY WILLIAM JONES

What constitutes a State?
Not high-raised battlement or labored mound,
Thick wall or moated gate;
Not cities proud with spires and turrets crowned;
Not bays and broad-armed ports, 5
Where, laughing at the storm, rich navies ride;
Not starred and spangled courts,
Where low-browed baseness wafts perfume to pride.
No:--men, high-minded men,
With powers as far above dull brutes endued 10
In forest, brake, or den,
As beasts excel cold rocks and brambles rude;
Men who their duties know,
But know their rights, and knowing, dare maintain,
Prevent the long-aimed blow, 15
And crush the tyrant while they rend the chain:--
These constitute a State.

1. What is meant by the word "State" as it is here
used? In what "State" do you live?

2. How many things are named, which do not
constitute a State? Why do these things not make a
State?

3. What is it that makes a State? Why?

4. Give in your own words the meaning of lines
13-16.

A PATRIOTIC CREED

BY EDGAR A. GUEST

To serve my country day by day
At any humble post I may;
To honor and respect her flag,
To live the traits of which I brag;
To be American in deed 5
As well as in my printed creed.

To stand for truth and honest toil,
To till my little patch of soil,
And keep in mind the debt I owe
To them who died that I might know 10
My country prosperous and free,
And passed this heritage to me.

I must always in trouble's hour
Be guided by the men in power;
For God and country I must live, 15
My best for God and country give;
No act of mine that men may scan
Must shame the name American.

To do my best, and play my part,
American in mind and heart; 20
To serve the flag and bravely stand
To guard the glory of my land;
To be American in deed,--
God grant me strength to keep this creed.

(From _Over Here_, copyrighted by Reilly & Lee Co.,
Publishers. Reproduced by permission.)

_FROM GREAT BOOKS_

_Only a few great books can be represented in this
small section of your Reader. The extracts are
offered in the firm belief that you will wish to
read further in the volumes from which they were
taken. Good books are like good friends; the better
you know them the better you like them; and they
stand ready always to give you genuine pleasure._

(_See following page_)]

THE LISTS AT ASHBY

BY SIR WALTER SCOTT

The following is the larger part of chapter eight
of Scott's _Ivanhoe_. The hero of the novel is a
Saxon knight, Wilfred of Ivanhoe, son of Cedric.
Ivanhoe is in love with his father's ward, Rowena,
but Cedric wishes her to marry a thick-headed Saxon
thane, or lord, called Athelstane. According to
Scott, the period was one of unrest. England had
come into the possession of the Normans, and the
native Saxons hated their new masters. Richard was
king. But since he had gone to the Holy Land as a
leader in one of the crusades, his brother, Prince
John, ruled in his stead. Both were foreigners, but
the common people liked Richard and hated John, who
was not only a tyrant, but was also planning to
seize his brother's throne. He had had Richard
imprisoned in Austria, and had surrounded himself
with ambitious and dissatisfied Norman knights. The
tournament at Ashby was really a trial at arms
between the Prince's followers and those of
Richard, of whom Ivanhoe was one.

The lists now presented a most splendid spectacle.
The sloping galleries were crowded with all that was
noble, great, wealthy, and beautiful in the northern and
midland parts of England; and the contrast of the various
dresses of these dignified spectators rendered the view as 5
gay as it was rich, while the interior and lower space, filled
with the substantial burgesses and yeomen of merry England,
formed, in their more plain attire, a dark fringe, or
border, around this circle of brilliant embroidery, relieving,
and at the same time setting off, its splendor. 10

The heralds finished their proclamation with their usual
cry of "Largess, largess, gallant knights!" and gold and
silver pieces were showered on them from the galleries,
it being a high point of chivalry to exhibit liberality toward
those whom the age accounted at once the secretaries and
the historians of honor. The bounty of the spectators
was acknowledged by the customary shouts of "Love of 5
Ladies--Death of Champions--Honor to the Generous--Glory
to the Brave!" To which the more humble
spectators added their acclamations, and a numerous band
of trumpeters the flourish of their martial instruments.
When these sounds had ceased, the heralds withdrew from 10
the lists in gay and glittering procession, and none remained
within them save the marshals of the field, who, armed cap-a-pie,
sat on horseback, motionless as statues, at the opposite
ends of the lists.

Meantime, the inclosed space at the northern extremity 15
of the lists, large as it was, was now completely crowded
with knights desirous to prove their skill against the challengers,
and when viewed from the galleries presented the
appearance of a sea of waving plumage intermixed with
glistening helmets and tall lances, to the extremities of 20
which were, in many cases, attached small pennons of
about a span's breadth, which, fluttering in the air as the
breeze caught them, joined with the restless motion of the
feathers to add liveliness to the scene.

At length the barriers were opened, and five knights 25
chosen by lot advanced slowly into the area; a single champion
riding in front and the other four following in pairs.
All were splendidly armed, and my Saxon authority records
at great length their devices, their colors, and the embroidery
of their horse trappings. It is unnecessary to be 30
particular on these subjects. To borrow lines from a
contemporary poet, who has written but too little--

"The knights are dust,
And their good swords are rust,
Their souls are with the saints, we trust."

Their escutcheons have long moldered from the walls of
their castles. Their castles themselves are but green 5
mounds and shattered ruins--the place that once knew
them knows them no more--nay, many a race since theirs
has died out and been forgotten in the very land which they
occupied with all the authority of feudal lords. What,
then, would it avail the reader to know their names or the 10
evanescent symbols of their martial rank!

Now, however, no whit anticipating the oblivion which
awaited their names and feats, the champions advanced
through the lists, restraining their fiery steeds and compelling
them to move slowly, while, at the same time, they 15
exhibited their paces, together with the grace and dexterity
of the riders. As the procession entered the lists, the sound
of a wild barbaric music was heard from behind the tents of
the challengers, where the performers were concealed. It
was of Eastern origin, having been brought from the Holy 20
Land; and the mixture of the cymbals and bells seemed to
bid welcome at once, and defiance, to the knights as they
advanced.

With the eyes of an immense concourse of spectators
fixed upon them, the five knights advanced up the platform 25
upon which the tents of the challengers stood, and
there separating themselves, each touched slightly, and
with the reverse of his lance, the shield of the antagonist to
whom he wished to oppose himself. The lower orders of
spectators in general--nay, many of the higher class, and 30
it is even said several of the ladies--were rather disappointed
at the champions choosing the arms of courtesy.
For the same sort of persons who, in the present day, applaud
most highly the deepest tragedies were then interested in a
tournament exactly in proportion to the danger incurred by
the champions engaged.

Having intimated their more pacific purpose, the champions 5
retreated to the extremity of the lists, where they
remained drawn up in a line; while the challengers, sallying
each from his pavilion, mounted their horses, and
headed by Brian de Bois-Guilbert, descended from the
platform and opposed themselves individually to the knights 10
who had touched their respective shields.

At the flourish of clarions and trumpets they started out
against each other at full gallop; and such was the superior
dexterity or good fortune of the challengers that those
opposed to Bois-Guilbert, Malvoisin, and Front-de-B[oe]uf, 15
rolled on the ground. The antagonist of Grantmesnil,
instead of bearing his lance point fair against the crest or
the shield of his enemy, swerved so much from the direct
line as to break the weapon athwart the person of his opponent--a
circumstance which was accounted more disgraceful 20
than that of being actually unhorsed; because the
latter might happen from accident, whereas the former
evinced awkwardness and want of management of the
weapon and of the horse. The fifth knight alone maintained
the honor of his party and parted fairly with the 25
Knight of St. John, both splintering their lances without
advantage on either side.

The shouts of the multitude, together with the acclamations
of the heralds and the clangor of the trumpets,
announced the triumph of the victors and the defeat of 30
the vanquished. The former retreated to their pavilions,
and the latter, gathering themselves up as they could,
withdrew from the lists in disgrace and dejection, to agree
with their victors concerning the redemption of their arms
and their horses, which, according to the laws of the
tournament, they had forfeited. The fifth of their number
alone tarried in the lists long enough to be greeted by the 5
applauses of the spectators, amongst whom he retreated, to
the aggravation, doubtless, of his companions' mortification.

A second and a third party of knights took the field; and
although they had various success, yet, upon the whole,
the advantage decidedly remained with the challengers, 10
not one of whom lost his seat or swerved from his charge--misfortunes
which befell one or two of their antagonists
in each encounter. The spirits, therefore, of those opposed
to them seemed to be considerably dampened by their continued
success. Three knights only appeared on the fourth 15
entry, who, avoiding the shields of Bois-Guilbert and
Front-de-B[oe]uf, contented themselves with touching those
of the three other knights, who had not altogether manifested
the same strength and dexterity. This politic selection
did not alter the fortune of the field: the challengers 20
were still successful. One of their antagonists was overthrown
and both the others failed in the attaint, that is,
in striking the helmet and shield of their antagonist firmly
and strongly with the lance held in a direct line, so that the
weapon might break unless the champion was overthrown. 25

After this fourth encounter, there was a considerable
pause; nor did it appear that anyone was very desirous
of renewing the contest. The spectators murmured among
themselves; for, among the challengers, Malvoisin and
Front-de-B[oe]uf were unpopular from their characters, and 30
the others, except Grantmesnil, were disliked as strangers
and foreigners.

But none shared the general feeling of dissatisfaction
so keenly as Cedric the Saxon, who saw, in each advantage
gained by the Norman challengers, a repeated triumph
over the honor of England. His own education had taught
him no skill in the games of chivalry, although, with the 5
arms of his Saxon ancestors, he had manifested himself on
many occasions a brave and determined soldier.

He looked anxiously to Athelstane, who had learned the
accomplishments of the age, as if desiring that he should
make some personal effort to recover the victory which was 10
passing into the hands of the Templar and his associates.
But, though both stout of heart and strong of person,
Athelstane had a disposition too inert and unambitious to
make the exertions which Cedric seemed to expect from
him. 15

"The day is against England, my lord," said Cedric, in
a marked tone; "are you not tempted to take the lance?"

"I shall tilt to-morrow," answered Athelstane, "in the
_mêlée_; it is not worth while for me to arm myself to-day."

Two things displeased Cedric in this speech. It contained 20
the Norman word _mêlée_ (to express the general
conflict), and it evinced some indifference to the honor of
the country; but it was spoken by Athelstane, whom he
held in such profound respect that he would not trust himself
to canvass his motives or his foibles. Moreover, he 25
had no time to make any remark, for Wamba thrust in his
word, observing, "It was better, though scarce easier, to be
the best man among a hundred than the best man of
two."

Athelstane took the observation as a serious compliment; 30
but Cedric, who better understood the jester's meaning,
darted at him a severe and menacing look; and lucky it
was for Wamba, perhaps, that the time and place prevented
his receiving, notwithstanding his place and service, more
sensible marks of his master's resentment.

The pause in the tournament was still uninterrupted,
excepting by the voices of the heralds exclaiming--"Love 5
of ladies, splintering of lances! Stand forth, gallant knights,
fair eyes look upon your deeds!"

The music also of the challengers breathed from time to
time wild bursts expressive of triumph or defiance, while
the clowns grudged a holiday which seemed to pass away 10
in inactivity; and old knights and nobles lamented in
whispers the decay of martial spirit, spoke of the triumphs
of their younger days, but agreed that the land did not now
supply dames of such transcendent beauty as had animated
the justs of former times. 15

Prince John began to talk to his attendants about making
ready the banquet, and the necessity of adjudging the
prize to Brian de Bois-Guilbert who had, with a single
spear, overthrown two knights and foiled a third.

At length, as the Saracenic music of the challengers concluded 20
one of those high and long flourishes with which
they had broken the silence of the lists, it was answered
by a solitary trumpet, which breathed a note of defiance
from the northern extremity. All eyes were turned to see
the new champion which these sounds announced, and no 25
sooner were the barriers opened than he paced into the
lists.

As far as could be judged from a man sheathed in armor,
the new adventurer did not greatly exceed the middle size
and seemed to be rather slender than strongly made. 30
His suit of armor was formed of steel, richly inlaid with
gold, and the device on his shield was a young oak tree
pulled up by the roots with the Spanish word _Desdichado_,
signifying "disinherited". He was mounted on a gallant
black horse, and as he passed through the lists he gracefully
saluted the prince and the ladies by lowering his
lance. The dexterity with which he managed his steed, 5
and something of youthful grace which he displayed in his
manner, won him the favor of the multitude, which some
of the lower class expressed by calling out, "Touch Ralph
de Vipont's shield--touch the Hospitaler's shield; he
has the least sure seat; he is your cheapest bargain." 10

The champion, moving onward amid these well-meant
hints, ascended the platform by the sloping alley which
led to it from the lists, and to the astonishment of all
present, riding straight up to the central pavilion, struck
with the sharp end of his spear the shield of Brian de 15
Bois-Guilbert until it rang again.

All stood astonished at his presumption, but none more
than the redoubted knight whom he had thus defied to
mortal combat and who, little expecting so rude a challenge,
was standing carelessly at the door of the pavilion. 20

"Have you confessed yourself, brother," said the Templar,
"and have you heard Mass this morning, that you
peril your life so frankly?"

"I am fitter to meet death than thou art," answered the
Disinherited Knight; for by this name the stranger had 25
recorded himself in the books of the tourney.

"Then take your place in the lists," said Bois-Guilbert,
"and look your last upon the sun; for this night thou shalt
sleep in Paradise."

"Gramercy for thy courtesy," replied the Disinherited 30
Knight, "and to requite it, I advise thee to take a fresh
horse and a new lance, for by my honor you will need both."

Having expressed himself thus confidently, he reined his
horse backward down the slope which he had ascended and
compelled him in the same manner to move backward
through the lists till he reached the northern extremity,
where he remained stationary in expectation of his antagonist. 5
This feat of horsemanship again attracted the applause
of the multitude.

However incensed at his adversary for the precautions
which he recommended, Brian de Bois-Guilbert did not
neglect his advice; for his honor was too nearly concerned 10
to permit his neglecting any means which might insure
victory over his presumptuous opponent. He changed
his horse for a proved and fresh one of great strength and
spirit. He chose a new and tough spear, lest the wood of
the former might have been strained in the previous encounters 15
he had sustained. Lastly, he laid aside his shield,
which had received some little damage, and received another
from his squires. His first had only borne the general
device of his order, representing two knights riding upon one
horse, an emblem expressive of the original humility and 20
poverty of the Templars, qualities which they had since
exchanged for the arrogance and wealth that finally occasioned
their suppression. Bois-Guilbert's new shield bore
a raven in full flight, holding in its claws a skull, and bearing
the motto _Gare le Corbeau_. 25

When the two champions stood opposed to each other
at the two extremities of the lists, the public expectation
was strained to the highest pitch. Few augured the possibility
that the encounter could terminate well for the
Disinherited Knight, yet his courage and gallantry secured 30
the general good wishes of the spectators.

The trumpets had no sooner given the signal than the
champions vanished from their posts with the speed of
lightning and closed in the center of the lists with the
shock of a thunderbolt. The lances burst into shivers up
to the very grasp and it seemed at the moment that both
knights had fallen, for the shock had made each horse recoil 5
backwards upon its haunches. The address of the riders
recovered their steeds by use of the bridle and spur; and
having glared on each other for an instant with eyes which
seemed to flash fire through the bars of their visors, each
made a demivolt, and retiring to the extremity of the 10
lists, received a fresh lance from the attendants.

A loud shout from the spectators, waving of scarfs and
handkerchiefs, and general acclamations, attested the interest
taken by the spectators in this encounter; the most equal,
as well as the best performed, which had graced the day. 15
But no sooner had the knights resumed their station
than the clamor of applause was hushed into a silence so
deep and so dead that it seemed the multitude were afraid
even to breathe.

A few minutes' pause having been allowed, that the 20
combatants and their horses might recover breath, Prince
John with his truncheon signed to the trumpets to sound
the onset. The champions a second time sprung from their
stations and closed in the center of the lists, with the same
speed, the same dexterity, the same violence, but not the 25
same equal fortune as before.

In this second encounter, the Templar aimed at the center
of his antagonist's shield and struck it so fair and forcibly
that his spear went to shivers, and the Disinherited Knight
reeled in his saddle. On the other hand, that champion 30
had, in the beginning of his career, directed the point of his
lance toward Bois-Guilbert's shield, but changing his aim
almost in the moment of encounter, he addressed it to the
helmet, a mark more difficult to hit, but which, if attained,
rendered the shock more irresistible. Fair and true, he
hit the Norman on the visor, where his lance's point kept
hold of the bars. 5

Yet, even at this disadvantage, the Templar sustained
his high reputation; and had not the girths of his saddle
burst, he might not have been unhorsed. As it chanced,
however, saddle, horse, and man rolled on the ground under
a cloud of dust. 10

To extricate himself from the stirrups and fallen steed
was to the Templar scarce the work of a moment; and,
stung with madness, both at his disgrace and at the acclamations
with which it was hailed by the spectators, he
drew his sword and waved it in defiance of his conqueror. 15
The Disinherited Knight sprang from his steed and also
unsheathed his sword. The marshals of the field, however,
spurred their horses between them and reminded them
that the laws of the tournament did not, on the present
occasion, permit this species of encounter. 20

"We shall meet again, I trust," said the Templar,
casting a resentful glance at his antagonist; "and where
there are none to separate us."

"If we do not," said the Disinherited Knight, "the fault
shall not be mine. On foot or horseback, with spear, 25
with ax, or with sword, I am alike ready to encounter thee."

More and angrier words would have been exchanged,
but the marshals, crossing their lances betwixt them,
compelled them to separate. The Disinherited Knight
returned to his first station, and Bois-Guilbert to his 30
tent, where he remained for the rest of the day in an
agony of despair.

Without alighting from his horse, the conqueror called
for a bowl of wine, and opening the beaver, or lower part
of his helmet, announced that he quaffed it "To all true
English hearts, and to the confusion of foreign tyrants."
He then commanded his trumpet to sound a defiance to 5
the challengers, and desired a herald to announce to them
that he should make no election, but was willing to encounter
them in the order in which they pleased to advance
against him.

The gigantic Front-de-B[oe]uf, armed in sable armor, was 10
the first who took the field. He bore on a white shield a
black bull's head, half defaced by the numerous encounters
which he had undergone, and bearing the arrogant motto,
_Cave, adsum_. Over this champion the Disinherited
Knight obtained a slight but decisive advantage. Both 15
knights broke their lances fairly, but Front-de-B[oe]uf, who
lost a stirrup in the encounter, was adjudged to have the
disadvantage.

In the stranger's third encounter, with Sir Philip Malvoisin,
he was equally successful; striking that baron so 20
forcibly on the casque that the laces of the helmet broke,
and Malvoisin, only saved from falling by being unhelmeted,
was declared vanquished like his companions.

In his fourth combat, with De Grantmesnil, the Disinherited
Knight showed as much courtesy as he had 25
hitherto evinced courage and dexterity. De Grantmesnil's
horse, which was young and violent, reared and plunged in
the course of the career so as to disturb the rider's aim,
and the stranger, declining to take the advantage which
this accident afforded him, raised his lance, and passing 30
his antagonist without touching him, wheeled his horse
and rode back again to his own end of the lists, offering
his antagonist, by a herald, the chance of a second encounter.
This De Grantmesnil declined, avowing himself
vanquished as much by the courtesy as by the address of
his opponent.

Ralph de Vipont summed up the list of the stranger's 5
triumphs, being hurled to the ground with such force that
the blood gushed from his nose and his mouth and he was
borne senseless from the lists.

The acclamations of thousands applauded the unanimous
award of the prince and marshals, announcing that day's 10
honors to the Disinherited Knight.

--_Ivanhoe._

1. Describe the lists as Scott makes you see them.
What was the order of proceeding at the outset?

2. Who were the Norman knights upon whom Prince
John relied to win the tournament? Which of these
was considered the best lance?

3. Where does the interest in the story begin
suddenly to increase? How does Scott make the
situation exciting?

4. Describe the combat between Bois-Guilbert and
the Disinherited Knight. Why did they not fight to
a finish? What makes you think they do before the
novel is finished? Tell of the succeeding combats
in turn.

5. As you have probably guessed, the Disinherited
Knight is Ivanhoe. Did anybody present recognize
him? How do you think Prince John felt at the
outcome?

6. _Gare le Corbeau_ means "Look out for the
raven," a boast that the ravens would pick the
bones of Brian's enemies. _Cave, adsum_ means
"Beware, I am here." Select a list of ten other
words or phrases for your classmates to explain.

7. Report either on Scott's life and writings or on
another chapter from _Ivanhoe_.

THE TWENTY-THIRD PSALM

The Bible serves, first, as a great religious
teacher. Second, it stands as a model of literature
whose greatness is everywhere acknowledged. Men
like John Bunyan and Abraham Lincoln learned to
write their beautiful prose through their close,
continued reading of the Scriptures. No finer
poetry exists than the Psalms of David, among which
the following is a favorite.

The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He
leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness for His name's sake. 5

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy
rod and Thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine
enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup 10
runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of
my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

--_The Bible._

1. This psalm should be among your collection of
memory gems. Repeat it aloud in unison with the
other members of your class. Why does it especially
lend itself to being spoken?

2. Palestine is a semiarid country. Why should
David make the reference to "green pastures" and
"still waters"? Why is there no mention of running
brooks and woods?

3. What is your understanding of lines 9-11?

4. What does David mean to convey to his hearers in
this psalm?

DOUBTING CASTLE

BY JOHN BUNYAN

Books are like men: great ones are rare.
Occasionally a book is written that affects the
thinking of people for centuries. To this class
belongs John Bunyan's _Pilgrim's Progress_,
published 1678-1684.

It is the story of the journey of a man named
Christian the Pilgrim, who travels from the City of
Destruction to the Holy City. On this journey
Christian is beset by all manner of terrors,
temptations, and evils. The story is an allegory,
portraying life and its struggles if one attempts
to live righteously. Its language is that of the
Bible. Its dialogue and characters seem real, and
its narrative is full of action.

Now I beheld in my dream that Christian and Hopeful
had not journeyed far until they came where
the river and the way parted, at which they were not a
little sorry; yet they durst not go out of the way. Now
the way from the river was rough, and their feet tender 5
by reason of their travel; so the souls of the pilgrims were
much discouraged because of the way. Wherefore, still
as they went on, they wished for a better way.

Now, a little before them, there was on the left hand of
the road a meadow, and a stile to go over into it; and that 10
meadow is called Bypath Meadow. Then said Christian
to his fellow, "If this meadow lieth along by our wayside,
let us go over into it." Then he went to the stile to see,
and behold a path lay along by the way on the other side
of the fence. 15

"'Tis according to my wish," said Christian; "here is
the easiest going; come, good Hopeful, and let us go over."

"But how if this path should lead us out of the way?"

"That is not likely," said the other. "Look, doth it
not go along by the wayside?"

So Hopeful, being persuaded by his fellow, went after
him over the stile. When they were gone over, and were 5
got into the path, they found it very easy for their feet;
and withal they, looking before them, espied a man walking
as they did, and his name was Vain-Confidence: so
they called after him, and asked him whither that way
led. 10

He said, "To the Celestial Gate."

"Look," said Christian, "did not I tell you so? By
this you may see we are right."

So they followed, and he went before them. But,
behold, the night came on, and it grew very dark; so that 15
they who were behind lost sight of him that went before.
He, therefore, that went before--Vain-Confidence by
name--not seeing the way before him, fell into a deep
pit and was dashed in pieces with his fall.

Now Christian and his fellow heard him fall; so they 20
called to know the matter. But there was no answer,
only they heard a groan.

Then said Hopeful, "Where are we now?"

Then was his fellow silent, as mistrusting that he had
led him out of the way; and now it began to rain and 25
thunder and lightning in a most dreadful manner, and the
water rose amain, by reason of which the way of going
back was very dangerous.

Yet they adventured to go back; but it was so dark
and the flood so high, that in their going back they had 30
like to have been drowned nine or ten times. Neither
could they, with all the skill they had, get back again to
the stile that night. Wherefore, at last lighting under a
little shelter, they sat down there until daybreak. But
being weary, they fell asleep.

* * * * *

Now there was, not far from the place where they lay,
a castle, called Doubting Castle, the owner whereof was 5
Giant Despair; and it was in his grounds they now were
sleeping. Wherefore he, getting up in the morning early,
and walking up and down in his fields, caught Christian
and Hopeful asleep in his grounds. Then with a grim and
surly voice he bid them awake, and asked them whence 10
they were and what they did in his grounds.

They told him they were pilgrims, and that they had
lost their way.

Then said the giant, "You have this night trespassed
on me, by trampling in and lying on my grounds, and therefore 15
you must go along with me."

So they were forced to go, because he was stronger
than they. They also had but little to say, for they
knew themselves in a fault. The giant, therefore, drove
them before him and put them into his castle, in a very 20
dark dungeon.

Here, then, they lay from Wednesday morning till Saturday
night, without one bit of bread, or drop of drink, or
light, or any to ask how they did: they were, therefore,
here in evil case, and were far from friends and acquaintance. 25

Now Giant Despair had a wife, and her name was Diffidence.
So, when he was gone to bed, he told his wife that
he had taken a couple of prisoners, and had cast them into
his dungeon for trespassing on his grounds. Then he asked
her also what he had best do to them. So she asked him 30
what they were, whence they came, and whither they
were bound; and he told her. Then she counseled him
that when he arose in the morning he should beat them
without mercy.

So when he arose, he getteth him a grievous crab-tree
cudgel, and goes into the dungeon to them, and there first 5
falls to rating of them as if they were dogs, although they
never gave him an unpleasant word. Then he fell upon
them and beat them fearfully, in such sort that they were
not able to help themselves or to turn them upon the floor.
This done he withdraws and leaves them there to condole 10
their misery and to mourn under their distress. So all
that day they spent their time in nothing but sighs and
bitter lamentations.

The next night she, talking with her husband further
about them, and understanding that they were yet alive, 15
did advise him to counsel them to make away with themselves.

So, when morning was come, he goes to them in a
surly manner as before, and perceiving them to be very
sore with the stripes that he had given them the day before, 20
he told them that, since they were never like to come out
of that place, their only way would be forthwith to make
an end of themselves, either with knife, halter, or poison.
"For why," he said, "should you choose to live, seeing it
is attended with so much bitterness?" 25

But they desired him to let them go. With that he
looked ugly upon them, and rushing to them, had doubtless
made an end of them himself, but that he fell into
one of his fits and lost for a time the use of his hands.
Wherefore he withdrew, and left them, as before, to 30
consider what to do.

Then did the prisoners consult between themselves,
whether it was best to take his counsel or no. But they
soon resolved to reject it; for it would be very wicked to
kill themselves; and, besides, something might soon
happen to enable them to make their escape.

Well, towards evening the giant goes down to the dungeon 5
again, to see if his prisoners had taken his counsel; but
when he came there, he found them alive. I say, he found
them alive; at which he fell into a grievous rage, and told
them that, seeing they had disobeyed his counsel, it should
be worse with them than if they had never been born. 10

At this they trembled greatly, and I think that Christian
fell into a swoon; but, coming a little to himself again,
they renewed their discourse about the giant's counsel,
and whether yet they had best take it or no. Now Christian
again seemed for doing it, but Hopeful reminded 15
him of the hardships and terrors he had already gone
through, and said that they ought to bear up with patience
as well as they could, and steadily reject the giant's
wicked counsel.

Now, night being come again, and the giant and his 20
wife being in bed, she asked him concerning the prisoners,
and if they had taken his counsel. To this he replied,
"They are sturdy rogues; they choose rather to bear all
hardships than to make away with themselves."

Then said she, "Take them into the castle yard to-morrow, 25
and show them the bones and skulls of those that
thou hast already dispatched, and make them believe thou
wilt tear them in pieces, as thou hast done their fellows
before them."

So when morning has come, the giant goes to them again, 30
and takes them into the castle yard, and shows them as his
wife had bidden him. "These," said he, "were pilgrims,
as you are, once, and they trespassed on my grounds,
as you have done; and when I thought fit, I tore them in
pieces; and so within ten days I will do to you. Get
you down to your den again."

And with that he beat them all the way thither. 5

Now, when night was come, Mrs. Diffidence and her
husband began to renew their discourse of their prisoners.
The old giant wondered that he could neither by his blows
nor by his counsel bring them to an end.

And with that his wife replied. "I fear," said she, "that 10
they live in hopes that some will come to relieve them,
or that they have picklocks about them, by the means of
which they hope to escape."

"And sayest thou so, my dear?" said the giant. "I
will therefore search them in the morning." 15

Well, on Saturday, about midnight, they began to pray,
and continued in prayer till almost break of day.

Now a little before it was day, good Christian, as one
half amazed, broke out into a passionate speech: "What
a fool am I, thus to lie in a dungeon! I have a key in 20
my bosom, called Promise, that will, I am persuaded,
open any lock in Doubting Castle."

Then said Hopeful, "That's good news, good brother;
pluck it out of thy bosom and try."

Then Christian pulled it out of his bosom and began 25
to try at the dungeon door, whose bolt, as he turned the
key, gave back, and the door flew open with ease, and
Christian and Hopeful both came out.

After that, he went to the iron gate, for that must be
opened too, but that lock went desperately hard: yet the 30
key did open it. Then they thrust open the gate to make
their escape with speed; but that gate, as it opened, made
such a creaking that it waked Giant Despair, who, hastily
rising to pursue his prisoners, felt his limbs to fail, for his
fits took him again, so that he could by no means go after
them. Then they went on, and came to the King's highway
again, and so were safe. 5

--_Pilgrim's Progress._

1. Who was traveling with Christian? What mishap
first befell them? Why did it occur? What next did
they encounter? What happened to the two in
Doubting Castle?

2. Explain what an allegory is. Remembering this is
an allegory, what do you think each of the
following represents in actual life: Bypath Meadow,
Vain-Confidence, Doubting Castle, Giant Despair,
Mrs. Diffidence, the key called Promise, the King's
highway?