5. The vow, or sacred oath of a knight was to devote himself to the service of God and the ladies-in other words, he bound himself to perform all the duties of religion and humanity, as those duties were then understood. The ceremonies attending the declaration of this oath were very solemn. Immediately before this solemnity, the candidate watched his armour, and spent whole nights in prayer, among priests in a church, having been previously bathed, and clad in a white robe to denote the purity of his intentions, and of the life to which he had devoted himself. Before this last preparation the candidate's former life was scrupulously enquired into; and after the scrutiny was satisfactorily finished, his armour was put on, his spurs buckled upon his heel by a lady whom he loved, and his person and his sword were devoutly blessed by some venerable priest, who enjoined upon him the service to which he had devoted himself, and pronounced him, "knight."

6. A well-known passage from Marmion will serve to illustrate this ceremony.

"That night upon the rocks and bay
The midnight moonbeam slumbering lay,
And poured its silver light and pure,
Through loop-hole and through embrasure,
Upon Tantallon tower and hall;

But chief where arched windows wide
Illuminate the chapel's pride

The sober glances fall.

Much was there need; though, seamed with scars,

Two veterans of the Douglas wars,

Though two grey priests were there,

And each a blazing torch held high,

You could not by their blaze descry
The chapel's carving fair.

7. Amid that dim and smoky light Chequering the silver moonshine bright, A bishop by the altar stood,

A noble lord of Douglas blood,

With mitre sheen and roquet white;
Yet showed his meek and thoughtful eye,
But little pride of prelacy:

More pleased that in a barbarous age
He rude Scotland Virgil's page,
gave
Than that beneath his rule he held
The bishopric of fair Dunkeld.

8. Beside him ancient Angus stood,
Doffed his furred gown and sable hood;
O'er his huge form and visage pale
He wore a cap and shirt of mail,
And leaned his large and wrinkled hand
Upon his huge and sweeping brand.—
'Then at the altar Wilton kneels,
And Clare the spurs bound on his heels.

9. Then Douglas struck him with his blade, "Saint Michael and Saint Andrew aid! I dub thee knight,

Arise Sir Ralph, De Wilton's heir!
For king, for church, for lady fair,

See that thou fight."

And bishop Gawain as he rose

Said "Wilton! grieve not for thy woes,
Disgrace and trouble,

For he who honour best bestows

May give thee double."

Illustrations.

Poetry is not always readily understood by young readers. The preceding lines perhaps require a little exposition. The old castles and chapels of Europe are edifices different from any we have in this young country-their appearance can only bo comprehended by means of prints.

2. The verses above present the image of a coast in Scotland illuminated by the moon, which, at the same time, shed her light through the loopholes and embrasures (spaces left open in the walls) of the neighbouring tower of Tantallon, and also diffused her mild lustre over the chapel, or house of prayer, attached to Tantallon. And much need was there that the solemn darkness of the chapel should be thus relieved, for there two veteran soldiers, and aged priests, by the light of a dim torch's blaze, were to consecrate Ralph De Wilton to the services of knighthood.

3. Douglas, bishop of Dunkeld, one of the ecclesiastics present on this occasion, exhibited little of "the pride of prelacy"-his "mitre sheen," or shining-that is, his bishop's cap, shaded a brow of meek intelligence; for he exulted, or commended himself less in the dignity of a high station, than in the thought that he had contributed to refine a rude people, by introducing among them the Latin poetry of Virgil. A Prelate is a clergyman of high rank in the Catholic or Protestant Episcopal churches of Europe, and the prelates are often extremely proud.

4. The "ancient Angus" took off his outer , garments, and displayed his gigantic person en

veloped in a "shirt of mail ;" and his "large and wrinkled hand" sustained by the "sweeping brand" or great sword, which was fitted to his former strength and warlike habits. This "shirt of mail" was a close vest formed of steel or brass rings, interlaced in the manner that we sometimes see purses at the present time. The English poet Gray, speaks of "hauberk's twisted mail;" he means such a shirt as Angus wore.

5. When Clara had bound on De Wilton's spur, Douglas gently struck him with the point of his sword, commending him to Saint Andrew and St. Michael. According to the superstition of that age, Douglas believed that these dead saints could assist De Wilton in his enterprizes in defence of "king, and church, and lady fair." As De Wilton, who though innocent and honourable, had been afflicted and disgraced, rose from before the altar, bishop Gawain bid him not grieve, but be assured that Providence could make him full amends for all he had suffered. This concluded the ceremony, and De Wilton went his way.

6. A confidential attendant, called the squire, and several servants, more or less as the knight could afford, formed his retinue or attendants. Sometimes he was so poor that a single companion in arms-his trusty squire alone accompanied him. His armour was his helmet or metal cap, to which was fastened in front a sliding cover to the face, called the vizor, which could be lifted or let down at pleasure, a lance, a sword, a buckler or shield, and a suit of armour composed of plates of brass or steel adjusted to the body.

Very few men are kings, or statesmen, or generals, very few can be much known or talked of in the world, but all can be wise and benevolent in some degree,-all who have had kind parents, sensible teachers, and moral books to read. The bible commands us to "do good to all men, as we have opportunity." The first preparation for usefulness is a cultivated mind,-a mind informed of all it can do, and all it ought to do for its own improvement and happiness, and for the improvement and happiness of others.

2. Among the best examples of virtue recorded in history, is the character of Alfred, one of the Saxon kings of England. This prince was born in 849, at a place called Wannating, which is supposed to have been that which at present bears the name of Wantage in Berkshire, England. Alfred was a beautiful child, and grew up to be a very