Soon as the pea puts on the bloom, An annual guest in other lands, Sweet bird! thy bower is ever green, Henry, duke of Saxony, was by nature fierce and haughty, eager in his pursuits, impatient of disappointment or control. The outrages committed by this prince were without end; every thing was sacrificed to his lust, cruelty, and ambition; and, at his court, beauty, riches, honors became the greatest misfortunes. His horrid enormities filled him with suspicion. At enmity with every one, and least of all at peace with himself, feeling the agonies of a reproving conscience, which haunted him when waking, and left him not when asleep. In a melancholy fit, under the impression of a wicked action recently perpetrated, he dreamed that the tutelar angel of the country stood before him, with anger in his looks, mixed with some degree of pity "Ill fated wretch!" said the apparition, "listen to the awful command I bear." Upon this, the angel reached a scroll of paper, and vanished. The scroll contained the following words, After six. Here the dream ended; for the impression it made broke his rest. The prince awaked in the greatest consternation, deeply struck with the vision. He was convinced that the whole was from God, to prepare him for death, which he concluded was to happen in six months, perhaps in six days; and that this time was allotted him to make his peace with his Maker, by an unfeigned repentance of all his crimes. Thus, in the utmost torments of mind, six days, six weeks, and six months passed away; but death did not follow. Now he concluded that six years were to be the period of his miserable life. Hitherto, the supposed shortness of his warning had not left it in his power to repair the many injuries he had committed, which was the greatest load upon his mind. Now he resolved to make the most ample reparation. In this state of mind, when hope prevailed, and some beams of sunshine appeared breaking through the cloud, he addressed his Maker, in a solemn and fervent prayer. His first endeavors were to regain the confidence of his nobles, and love of his people. With unremitting application, he attended to their good; and soon felt that satisfaction in considering himself as their father, which he never knew while he considered them as his slaves. After tasting such misery, how did he bless the happy change! Now, always calm and serene, diffusive benevolence gilded every thought of his heart, and action of his life. It was his delight to be seen, and to lay open his whole soul, for in it dwelt harmony and peace. Fame blazed his virtues all around; in distant regions was the good prince known, where his vices had never reached. In all disputes, he was the constant mediator between sovereigns, and between them and their subjects, and he gained more authority over neighboring princes by esteem and reverence, than they had over their subjects. In this manner elapsed the six years, till the fatal period came. The vision was fulfilled; but very differently from what was expected. For, at this precise period, a vacancy happening, he was unanimously elected Emperor of Germany! LESSON FIFTY-SIXTH. [An Account of two English Lords, who were swallowed up in the Falls of the Rhine.] When, the following day, I passed through Lauffenburg, I left my carriage, and walked over the bridge, in company with a man of the place, who, seeing me look with great attention at the Rhine, foaming through the arches, over a bed of rocks, said to me, pointing with his hand to a sharp angle, "There the two English lords were swallowed up.' This was in fact the place where, a few months ago, Lord Mand Mr. B― made so deplorable an end. When one sees the rapid and deep course of the Rhine at this place, dashing its water through a narrow bed of rocks, which present, for three hundred yards, acute and sharp winding angles, it is not easy to believe that so desperate an attempt would have been hazarded, as that which cost those unfortunate young men their lives. They were travellers. The beauty of the country tempted them to stop for a few days at Lauffenburg. The novelty and danger of this unattempted navigation, excited in them the wish to do what other people deemed impossible. The moment their idea was known, it was strongly opposed; and the opposition only served to confirm them in their purpose. They proceeded, however, with some caution. They first pushed an empty boat into the stream, and, unfortunately for them, and incredible as it appeared to the spectators, who had crowded both sides of the Rhine to see this experiment, the boat went through undamaged. This success, achieved in the presence of five hundred people, was a spur to the foolish pride of the two young Englishmen, who thought that they could not now relinquish their scheme without being laughed at. A second boat was prepared, and the next morning appointed for the experiment. Deputations were sent to them from the magistrates, who strongly remonstrated against the guilty madness of the enterprise, but without effect. Next came some of the clergy, to warn against perdition, and to prophesy certain death. Their efforts were equally unsuccessful; and, on the appointed morning, they sallied forth, both dressed in white waistcoats, without coats, and slippers. They gave their money and watches to their servants: they knew, therefore, that there was a great chance of death. Mr. B- I went to the boat with a heavy heart, and even said he would not go, and remonstrated with Lord M; but his lordship jumped into the boat, and said he would go alone; upon which, poor Mr. B unwilling to leave his friend, went in after him. They pushed off. They had each a long pole, with which they hoped to keep the boat clear of the rocks. On both shores stood an overawed multitude, some crying, all vociferating entreaties to desist, and not to rush into eternity. It was now too late; no human strength could have stopped the boat, when once it had got into the rapid current. To the amazement of the trembling spectators, they went unhurt over the first breakers, and, rushing into the foaming torrent, evaded the first threatening angle. Life was then, for a few seconds, once more in their power. They might have jumped on the rocks, from which they were not more than three or four feet distant. The people on the shore screamed out to them to do it; instead of which, elated with this momentary success, they huzzaed, and waved their hats. Alas! blind, unfortunate youths! that salute was a ast farewell to this world; they were just plunging nto eternity. With the swiftness of an arrow, they vere carried to a tremendous vortex; their boat was instantly overset; they struggled for a short time against the roaring billows, swam even the space of two hundred yards on their backs, calling out for help and mercy. No help could be given. The distressed multitude gazed on them, as they passed, and saw them swallowed up-never to appear again. I did not hear this affecting narrative with a dry eye. The man who gave me the particulars of it, had been himself a witness of the whole, and was much agitated on recounting it. He told me, that not so much as a button of their waistcoat had been seen afterwards; and that two English gentlemen, who had come on purpose from England, had stayed at Lauffenburg some weeks, endeavoring, by every possible contrivance, to find their remains; but they had no LESSON FIFTY-SEVENTH. Virtue is the best Treasure Virtue, the strength and beauty of the soul, |