IV. Special, martial, destiny, reference, usages, "soldier elect," liability, dictated, incalculably, descry, averaging, cultivation, "pagan era," maintaining, latitudes, afford, geologists, correspondents, shuddered, gratis, furnished, undeniable, luxurious, immense, majority, superb, conspiracies.

V. "By backing in this way" (2)—(i. e., into the subject). Note De Quincey's use of colloquial expressions, and the familiarity in which he indulges toward his reader. State, in your own language, the first reason for the early rising of the Romans;-the second reason. "A certain age" (7)—what use is commonly made of this expression? "Farthing rushlight" (dried rushes were used as wicks).

CXXXIV. RIENZI'S ADDRESS TO THE ROMANS.

We are slaves!

1. I come not here to talk. You know too well
The story of our thralldom.
The bright sun rises to his course, and lights
A race of slaves! he sets, and his last beam
Falls on a slave!-not such as, swept along
By the full tide of power, the conqueror leads
To crimson glory and undying fame,
But base, ignoble slaves-slaves to a horde
Of petty tyrants; feudal despots; lords,
Rich in some dozen paltry villages,

2.

Strong in some hundred spearmen; only great
In that strange spell-a name.

Each hour dark fraud,

Or open rapine, or protected murder,

Cry out against them. But this very day,

An honest man, my neighbor (there he stands),
Was struck-struck like a dog, by one who wore
The badge of Ursini, because, forsooth,
He tossed not high his ready cap in air,
Nor lifted up his voice in servile shouts

At sight of that great ruffian! Be we men,

3.

4.

5.

And suffer such dishonor?-men, and wash not
The stain away in blood?

Such shames are common.

I have known deeper wrongs. I that speak to you,

I had a brother once (a gracious boy),

Full of gentleness, of calmest hope,

Of sweet and quiet joy: there was the look
Of heaven upon his face, which limners give
To the beloved disciple. How I loved
That gracious boy! Younger by fifteen years,
Brother at once and son! He left my side,
A summer bloom on his fair cheek, a smile
Parting his innocent lips: in one short hour,
The pretty, harmless boy was slain! I saw
The corse, the mangled corse, and then I cried
For vengeance!

Have ye brave brawl,

To see them die.

Rouse ye, Romans! rouse ye, slaves! sons? Look, in the next fierce

Have ye fair daughters? Look To see them live, torn from your arms, distained, Dishonored; and, if ye dare call for justice,

Be answered by the lash.

Yet this is Rome,

That sat on her seven hills, and, from her throne
Of beauty, ruled the world! Yet we are Romans!
Why, in that elder day, to be a Roman

Was greater than a king! And, once again,
(Hear me, ye walls, that echoed to the tread
Of either Brutus !) once again, I swear,
The Eternal City shall be free!

Mary Russell Mitford.

FOR PREPARAT ON.-I. From the drama "Rienzi."

Rienzi (re-ĕn'ze),

in 1347, effected a sudden reformation in Rome, securing the people against the tyranny and rapacity of the feudal barons, who occupied fortified castles. He was, however, more eloquent than judicious, and was driven out in the same year; and finally, on his return in 1354, as senator sent by the Pope, he was killed in an insurrection fomented by the nobles.

II. €ŏn'-quer-or (kõn’'ker-ēr), feù'-dal (fu'-), neigh'-bor (nā bēr), růf'fian (ruf'yan), lim'-ners.

III. "Crimson glory "—why crimson? "Ignoble" (ig is in, meaning not). "Be we men"-why not "Are we men"? Meaning of est in calmest? IV. Thralldom, ignoble, horde, petty, despots, paltry, spell, fraud, rapine, servile, limners, mangles, vengeance, badge.

V. "The badge of Ursini" (The Ursini or Orsini [pron. or-see'-nee] were among the most famous of Italian noble families-with the Colonnas, Savellis, and others. This family resisted Rienzi.) "Struck-struck like a dog"-what effect does it have to repeat the word struck?

CXXXV. LIBERTY, OR DEATH!

1. MR. PRESIDENT: It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?

2. For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth-to know the worst, and to provide for it. I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experi ence. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past; and, judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which

gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House.

3. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet! Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love?

4. Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation—the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies ?

5. No, sir, she has none; they are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them?

6. Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable, but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted?

7. Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm that is now coming on. We have

petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament.

8. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned with contempt from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope.

9. If we wish to be free; if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending; if we mean not basely to aban don the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! I repeat it, sir: We must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!

10. They tell us, sir, that we are weak-unable to cope with so formidable an adversary; but when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?

11. Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of Nature hath placed in our