THE ALLELUIA BATTLE.

441.

St. Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, in Gaul, had just baptised a number of Britons on Easter Eve, when there was a threatening of an attack by a mingled host of Picts and Saxons. The event was as related in the ballad ensuing, as we are told on good contemporary authority.

By an ancient British river,
On the eve of Easter Day,
Knelt the new baptisèd soldiers
In their spotless white array.

Stood among them Bishop Germain,
From his home in distant Gaul
He had come, the lost and erring
To a purer faith to call.

Scarce the holy rite is ended,

When a cry rings o'er the lea-
"Close at hand are Pict and Saxon,
Up, the foe hath crossed the Dee!"

With what weapons can they meet them?
As of old in Israel's land,

Through the British host they find not
Sword or spear in any hand.

Then stood forth the holy Bishop

Bidding them be of good cheer,
For the Lord's arm is not shortened,
And their prayer can reach His ear.

High above the Flintshire valley

Next he posts them far and wide, Hid by broken ground and bushes All along the mountain side.

Then he sets a mighty watchword
For the Christian host that night,
Bids them shout it as a war cry
In the dawning Easter light.

All that night the heathen army
Moves those old Welsh hills among,
Savage Pict and fair haired Saxon
In the moonlight wind along.

Silence, stillness all around them,
Not a foeman seems in sight.
Sudden, every hill top crowning,
Flashes forth a watchfire's light.

Hark, a cry of joy and triumph
Never heard by Pagan ears,
Everywhere that cry is ringing,

Thrilling them with strange new fears.

"Alleluia! Alleluia!"

What are these in white array ? 'Alleluia! Alleluia !

Jesus Christ is risen to-day!"

66 Alleluia! Alleluia!"

So that cry rings out again. "Alleluia! Alleluia !"

Are they giants, gods, or men?

Rocks seem hurled from highest heaven,

White robed hosts descend the hills.

All the Pict and Saxon army

Lo! a sudden panic fills.

Flying from the wondrous war-cry
Till the night of fear is done,
Till the Easter sun uprises,

And the victory is won.

M. M.

"NON ANGLI, SED ANGELI SUNT."

595.

'TWAS in the Roman forum,1

Twelve hundred years ago,

A band of fair-haired children stood,

A bright and goodly show.

1 Market-place.

A holy Pontiff1 passing,

Inquired who might they be;

They tell him they are Angli,

From Isles beyond the sea,

Then said the priest with smiling eye, "Non Angli sunt, sed angeli."2

"Hast heard of God? hast read of Christ ?" To one the old man said,

The blue-eyed boy looked wondering up,
And slowly shook his head,-
For in the land they came from,
God's name was then unknown;
They blindly worshipped images,
Gods made of wood and stone,-
Then said the priest with weeping eye,
"Non Angli sunt, sed angeli."

Then straightway sailed for England
St. Austin, with the band

3

Of holy men to preach for Christ,

Throughout the Angle-land

To tell of God's glad tidings

Of joy, beyond the grave—

1 Gregory the Great, but he was not yet Pope. 2 The Latin for "They are not Angles, but angels."

3 Austin, a contraction of Augustin.

To tell how Jesus came to earth
The souls of men to save.
So truly did the old man cry,

Non Angli sunt, sed angeli!"

Sunt Angeli! Yes, ever since
Hath England done her best
To spread abroad through all the land.
The news of peace and rest;
Where'er the bright sun shineth
Her messengers are found,
With girded loins and staff in hand,
Spreading the joyful sound--

So truly did that good priest cry
"Non Angli sunt, sed angeli !"

D. M. COLERIDGE.

KING EDWIN'S WITENAGEMOT.

622.

The Council at which Edwin of Northumbria and his people consented to receive Christianity.

KING EDWIN sat among his thanes, and council sage held they,

If they should cast to bats and owls their fathers' gods away;