THE SCHOLAR'S MISSION. 159 forbid a life of mere scholarship or literary pursuits to the great majority of those who go out from our colleges. However it may have been in other times and other lands, here and now but few of our educated men are privileged "From the loopholes of retreat To look upon the world, to hear the sound Society has work for us, and we must go forth to do it. Full early and hastily we must gird on the manly gown, gather up the loose leaves and scanty fragments of our youthful lore, and go out among men, to act with them and for them. It is a practical age; and our wisdom, such as it is, "must strive and cry, and utter her voice in the streets, standing in the places of the paths, crying in the chief place of concourse, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors." This state of things, though not suited to the tastes and qualities of all, is not, on the whole, to be regretted by educated men as such. It is not in literary production only, or chiefly, that educated mind finds fit expression, and fulfils its mission in honor and beneficence. In the great theatre of the world's affairs there is a worthy and a sufficient sphere. Society needs the well-trained, enlarged, and cultivated intellect of the scholar in its midst; needs it and welcomes it, and gives it a place, or, by its own capacity, it will take a place of honor, influence, and power. The youthful scholar has no occasion to deplore the fate that is soon to tear him from his studies, and cast him into the swelling tide of life and action. None of his disciplinary and enriching culture will be lost, or useless, even there. Every hour of study, every truth he has reached, and the toilsome process by which he reached it; the heightened grace, or vigor of thought or speech he has acquired,―all shall tell fully, nobly, if he will give heed to the conditions. And one condition—the prime one—is, that he be a true man, and recognize the obligation of a man, and go forth with heart, and will, and every gift and acquirement dedicated, lovingly and resolutely, to the true and the right. These are the terms: and apart from these there is no success, no influence to be had, which an ingenuous mind can desire, or which a sound and far-seeing mind would dare to ask. Indeed, it is not an easy thing, nay, it is not a possible thing, to obtain a substantial success and an abiding influence, except on these terms. A factitious popularity, a transient notoriety, or, in the case of shining talents, the doom of a damning fame, may fall to bad men. But an honored name, enduring influence, a sun brightening on through its circuit, more and more, even to its serene setting-this boon of a true success goes never to intellectual qualities alone. It gravitates slowly, but surely, to weight of character, to intellectual ability rooted in principle. CLAUDE MELNOTTE'S APOLOGY AND DE FENCE. LORD LYTTON. PAULINE, by pride Angels have fallen ere thy time: by pride- And a revengeful heart, had power upon thee. Old gossips tell-how maidens sprung from kings Have stoop'd from their high sphere; how Love, like Death, CLAUDE MELNOTTE'S APOLOGY AND DEFENCE. 161 Levels all ranks, and lays the shepherd's crook And, with such jewels as the exploring mind Of the dear starlight of thy haunting eyes! At last, in one mad hour, I dared to pour For their revenge! Thou hadst tran pled on the worm- THE FORGING OF THE ANCHOR. SAMUEL FERGUSSON, Q. o. COME, see the Dolphin's anchor forged; 'tis at a white heat now; The billows ceased, the flames decreased; though on the forge's brow The little flames still fitfully play through the sable mound The windlass strains the tackle-chains, the black mound heaves below, And red and deep a hundred veins burst out at every throe; "Hurrah!" they shout, leap out-leap out:" bang, bang, the sledges go; Hurrah! the jetted lightnings are hissing high and low; A hailing fount of fire is struck at every squashing blow; The leathern mail rebounds the hail; the rattling cinders strow "Ho!" Leap out, leap out, my masters; leap out and lay on load! The low reef roaring on her lee, the roll of ocean poured ར THE FORGING OF THE ANCHOR. 163 And not an inch to flinch he deigns save when ye pitch sky-high, Then moves his head, as though he said, "Fear nothing-here am I!" Swing in your strokes in order, let foot and hand keep time, cheer; When weighing slow, at eve they go, far, far from love and home, And sobbing sweethearts, in a row, wail o'er the ocean foam. In livid and obdurate gloom, he darkens down at last. A shapely one he is, and strong as e'er from cat was cast. Then deep in tangle-woods to fight the fierce sea-unicorn, To leave the subtle sworder-fish, of bony blade forlorn, Till snorting, like an under-sea volcano, off he rolls, |