NOTES.
Act II. Scene I.—Busné, or gentiles, is the name given by the gipsies to all who are not of their race. Calés is the name they give themselves.
Act III. Scene V.—The scraps of song in this scene are from Borrow’s “Zincali; or an Account of the Gipsies in Spain.”
The gipsy words in the same scene may be thus interpreted:
Juan-Dorados, pieces of gold.
Pigeon, a simpleton.
In your morocco, robbed, stripped.
Doves, sheets.
Moon, a shirt.
Chirelin, a thief.
Murcigalleros, those who steal at night-fall.
Rastilleros, foot-pads.
Hermit, highway robber.
Planets, candles.
Commandments, the fingers.
Saint Martin asleep, to rob a person asleep.
THE CHILD’S PRAYER.
———
BY ROBERT MORRIS.
———
Great Being! whose eternal home
Is in the far-off skies,
Permit a little child to kneel
And heavenward turn her eyes!
They tell me that our lower world
Is not a world of bliss,
And that there is a realm beyond
More beautiful than this!
That there are seen angelic throngs
Constant in songs of praise,
That brothers, sisters, never part,
And years are but as days—
That smiles illumine every face,
And joy cheers every breast,
That sighs and sorrows are unknown,
And all alike are blest!
Oh! I would, when my life shall close,
Soar to that happy land,
And mingle with the good and fair,
And join the angel band—
Wings for my spirit I would have,
That like a bird at last
Upward and on my soul should soar,
Rejoicing as it passed!
But oh! I would not go alone,
I would not leave behind
A mother fond and dear as mine,
A father, too, so kind—
Oh! no, may these, when Death shall come
To close these fading eyes,
Soar with me to my heavenly home,
Or meet me in the skies!
As yet I am a feeble child,
A poor, frail thing of earth;
Great Maker! keep me undefiled
And sinless e’en in mirth!
They tell me that thy guardian care
Extends o’er land and sea,
That e’en a sparrow may not fall
Unseen, unknown to thee!
That thou art God o’er great and small,
That by thy power was made
As well the fire-fly as the sun,
The bright light as the shade—
That the clear stars which shine above
Are wondrous worlds like ours,
Perchance with richer, softer skies
And sweeter buds and flowers!
They tell me, and my Bible true
Confirms the cheering tale,
That thou dost love all human things,
That none who seek will fail—
That none who bend the suppliant knee
And ask thy godlike aid,
Will fail to win a mansion bright
When life and earth shall fade!
Then guide, I pray thee, guide my feet,
My youthful heart control,
Chasten and purify my thoughts
And brighten all my soul—
Oh! make me true and dutiful
To thee and kindred dear,
And lead me to that better land,
That world without a tear!
DE PONTIS.
A TALE OF RICHELIEU.
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BY THE AUTHOR OF “HENRI QUATRE; OR THE DAYS OF THE LEAGUE.”
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(Continued from page 175.)