Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

fear the weight of myself and my afflictions together have been too much for him-they have shortened the poor creature's days, and I fear I have them to answer for."-"Shame on the world!" said I to myself" Did we love each other, as this poor soul but loved his horse-'twould be something."

LESSON XLIII.

Biographical Anecdotes.

1 AN amiable youth lamented, in terms of deep and moving grief, the recent death of a most affectionate parent. His companions made an effort to console him by the reflection, that he had always behaved towards the deceased with duty, tenderness, and respect. "So I thought," replied the youth, "while my parent was living, but now recollect with pain and sorrow, many instances of disobedience and neglect, for which, alas! it is too late to make atonement."

2. Sir Isaac Newton* possessed a remarkable mild and even temper. This great man, on a particular occasion, was called out of his study to an adjoining apartment. A little dog named Diamond, the constant, but incurious attendant of his master's researches, happened to be left among the papers; he threw down a lighted candle, which consumed, in a moment, the almost finished labors of many years. Sir Isaac soon returned, and had the mortification to behold his irreparable loss. But, with his usual self-possession, he only exclaimed, O Diamond! Diamond! thou little knowest the mischief thou hast done.

3. Queen Caroline having observed that her daughter, the princess, had made one of the ladies about her stand a long time, while the princess was talking to her on some trifling subject, was resolved to give a suitable reprimand. Therefore, when the princess came in the evening to read to her, as was usual, and was drawing a chair to sit down, the queen said to her, no, my dear, at present you must not sit; for I intend to make you stand this evening as long as you suffered lady B to remain in the same position.

4. The benevolent and immortal John Howard,† having settled his accounts at the close of a particular year, and found a balance in his favor, proposed to his lady to employ it in lefraying the expense of a journey to London, or any other * An English philosopher, born in 1642, and died in 1727.

† A celebrated English philanthropist, born in 1726, and died 1790. His life was devoted to the work of discovering and reforming the evils of prisons.

amusement which she might think preferable. "What a pretty little cottage," she replied, "would this build for a poor family. This charitable hint met his cordial approbation, and the money was laid out accordingly.

5. Horace, a celebrated Roman poet, relates that a countryman, who wanted to pass a river, stood loitering on the banks of it, in the foolish expectation, that a current so rapid would soon discharge its waters. But the stream still flowed, (increased perhaps by fresh torrents from the mountains,) and it must for ever flow; because the source from which it is derived, is inexhaustible. Thus the idle and irresolute youth trifles over his books, or squanders, in childish pursuits, his precious moments, deferring the business of improvement, (which at first might be rendered easy and agreeable, but which, by delay, becomes more and more difficult,) until the golden sands of opportunity have all run, and he is called to action without possessing the requisite ability.

6. Philip III. king of Spain, when he drew near the end of his days, (seriously reflecting on his past life, and being greatly affected by the remembrance of his misspent time,) expressed his deep regret in the following terms: "Ah, how happy would it have been for me, had I spent, in retirement, and the improvement of my mind, these twenty-three years that I possessed my kingdom."

LESSON XLIV.

The Revenge of a Great Soul.

1. DEMETRIUS Poliorcetes,* who had done singular services for the people of the city of Athens, on setting out for a war in which he was engaged, left his wife and children to their protection. He lost the battle, and was obliged to seek security for his person in flight.

2. He doubted not, at first, but that he should find a safe asylum among his good friends, the Athenians; but those ungrateful people refused to receive him, and even sent back to him his wife and children, under pretence, that they probably might not be safe in Athens, where the enemy might come and take them.

3. This conduct pierced the heart of Demetrius; for nothing is so affecting to an honest mind, as the ingratitude of those we love, and to whom we have done singular services. Some time *Pronounced De-me'-tri-us Po-li-or'-ce-tees, a king of Macedon. He died 286 B. C.

afterwards, this prince recovered his affairs, and came with a large army to lay siege to Athens.

4. The Athenians, persuaded that they had no pardon to expect from Demetrius, determined to die sword in hand, and passed a decree, which condemned to death those who should first propose to surrender to that prince; but they did not recollect that there was but little corn in the city, and that they would in a short time be in want of bread.

5. Want soon made them sensible of their error; and, after having suffered hunger for a long time, the most reasonable among them said, "It would be better that Demetrius should kill us at once, than for us to die by the lingering death of famine. Perhaps he will have pity on our wives and children." They then opened to him the gates of the city.

6. Demetrius having taken possession of the city, ordered that all the married men should assemble in a spacious place appointed for the purpose, and that the soldiery, sword in hand, should surround them. Cries and lamentations were then heard from every quarter of the city; women embracing their husbands, children their parents, and all taking an eternal farewell of each other.

7. When the married men were all thus collected, Demetrius, for whom an elevated situation was provided, reproached them for their ingratitude in the most feeling manner, insomuch that he himself could not help shedding tears. Demetrius for some time remained silent, while the Athenians expected, that the next words he uttered would be to order his soldiers to massacre them all.

8. It is hardly possible to say what must have been their surprise when they heard that good prince say, "I wish to convince you how ungenerously you have treated me; for it was not to an enemy you have refused assistance, but to a prince who loved you, who still loves you, and who wishes to revenge himself only by granting your pardon, and by being still your friend. Return to your own homes: while you have been here, my soldiers have been filling your houses with provisions."

LESSON XLV.

Death of Prince William.-GOLDSMITH.

1. HENRY I.* king of England, had a son called William, a brave and active youth, who had arrived at his cighteenth year. * Henry I. commenced his reign A. D. 1100 He died 1135

The king loved him most tenderly, and took care to have him recognized as his successor by the states of England; and carried him over to Normandy, in the north of France, to receive the homage of the barons of that duchy.

2. Having performed the requisite ceremony, the king set sail for England, accompanied by a splendid retinue of the principal nobility. William, his son, was detained by some accident, for several hours; and the crew having spent the interval in drinking, became so intoxicated, that they ran the ship upon a rock and it was immediately dashed in pieces.

3. The prince was put into a boat, and might have escaped had he not been called back by the cries of his sister. He prevailed upon the sailors to row back and take her in;-but no sooner had the boat approached the wreck, than numbers who had been left, jumped into it, and the whole were drowned. King Henry, when he heard of the death of his son, fainted away, and from that moment, he never smiled again.

He never smiled again. MRS. HEMANS.

1. The bark* that held a prince went down,
The sweeping waves rolled on,

And what was England's glorious crown
To him that wept a son?

He lived-for life may long be borne

Ere sorrow break its chain;

Why comes not death to those who mourn?

-He never smiled again.

2. There stood proud forms around his throne,
The stately and the brave;

But which could fill the place of one?
That one beneath the wave.

Before him passed the young and fair,
In pleasure's reckless train;

But seas dash'd o'er his son's bright hair—
-He never smiled again.

3. He sat where festal bowls went round;
He heard the minstrelt sing;

He saw the tourney's victor crowned,
Amidst the knightly ring.

* Bark, a small vessel.

+ Minstrel, a singer and musical performer on instruments. * Pronounced tur-ne, a martial sport or exercise

A murmur of the restless deep
Was blent with every strain;

A voice of winds that would not sleep-
-He never smiled again.

4. Hearts in that time closed o'er the trace
Of vows once fondly pour'd;

And strangers took the kinsman's place
At many a joyous board.

Graves which true love had bathed with tears,
Were left to heaven's bright rain;
Fresh hopes were born for other years-
-He never smiled again.

[ocr errors][merged small]

The Shepherd and the Philosopher.
1. REMOTE from cities liv'd a swain,"
Unvex'd with all the cares of gain :
His head was silver'd o'er with age,
And long experience made him sage;
In summer's heat and winter's cold,
He fed his flock and penn'd the fold;
His hours in cheerful labor flew,
Nor envy nor ambition knew:
His wisdom and his honest fame
Through all the country rais'd his name.
2. A deep philosopher, whose rules
Of moral life were drawn from schools,
The shepherd's homely cottage sought,
And thus explor'd his reach of thought.

"Whence is thy learning? Hath thy toil
O'er books consum'd the midnight oil?
Hast thou old Greece and Rome survey'd,
And the vast sense of Platot weigh'd?
Hath Socrates thy soul refin'd,

And hast thou fathom'd Tully's mind?

Swain, a shepherd.

Plato, an illustrious Grecian philosopher-died at Athens, 348 B. C. + Marcus Tullius Cicero, one of the greatest men of antiquity, whether we consider him as an orator, a statesman, or philosopher. He was born at Arpinum, (now included in the kingdom of Naples,) 107 B. C. He was baseIv assassinated by order of Mark Anthony, 42 B. C.

« ZurückWeiter »