Sir Philip Sidney

by James Baldwin

　　

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A cruel battle was being fought. The ground was covered with dead anddying men. The air was hot and stifling. The sun shone down withoutpity on the wounded soldiers lying in the blood and dust.One of these soldiers was a no-ble-man, whom everybody loved for hisgen-tle-ness and kindness. Yet now he was no better off than thepoorest man in the field. He had been wounded, and would die; and hewas suf-fer-ing much with pain and thirst.When the battle was over, his friends hurried to his aid. A soldiercame running with a cup in his hand."Here, Sir Philip," he said, "I have brought you some clear, coolwater from the brook. I will raise your head so that you can drink."The cup was placed to Sir Philip's lips. How thank-ful-ly he looked atthe man who had brought it! Then his eyes met those of a dying soldierwho was lying on the ground close by. The wist-ful look in the poorman's face spoke plainer than words."Give the water to that man," said Sir Philip quickly; and then,pushing the cup toward him, he said, "Here, my comrade, take this. Thyneed is greater than mine."What a brave, noble man he was! The name of Sir Philip Sidney willnever be for-got-ten; for it was the name of a Chris-tian gen-tle-manwho always had the good of others in his mind. Was it any wonder thateverybody wept when it was heard that he was dead?It is said, that, on the day when he was carried to the grave, everyeye in the land was filled with tears. Rich and poor, high and low,all felt that they had lost a friend; all mourned the death of thekindest, gentlest man that they had ever known.

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