Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

122. A Brave Queen.

Margaret, the widow of the slain king, appeared in the council of war, leading her eldest son, a child of eight years old, and spoke to them these gallant words :-" Fye, my noble lords, think not now shamefully to give up an enterprise which is so bravely begun, or to abandon the revenge for this unhappy accident, which has befallen before this ill-omened castle. Forward, my brave lords, and persevere in your undertaking. Let it not be said that such brave champions needed to hear from a woman, and a widowed one, the courageous advice and comfort which she ought to receive from you!" SCOTT.

123. “Bell-the-Cat."

Many of the nobility held a secret council, where they enlarged upon the evils which Scotland sustained through the insolence and corruption of the royal favourite. While they were thus declaiming, Lord Gray requested their attention to a fable. “The mice," he said, "being much annoyed by the persecution of the cat, resolved that a bell should be hung about puss's neck to give notice when she was coming. But although the measure was agreed to in full council, it could not be carried into effect, because no mouse had courage enough to undertake to tie the bell to the neck of the formidable enemy." This was as much as to intimate his opinion, that though the discontented nobles might make bold resolutions against the king's ministers, yet it would be difficult to find one courageous enough to act upon them. Archibald, Earl of Douglas, a man of gigantic strength and intrepid courage, and head of that second family of Douglas, whom I before mentioned, started up when Gray had done speaking. "I am he,” said he, "who will bell the cat," from which expression he was distinguished by the name of Bell-the-Cat to his dying day. SCOTT.

124. Douglas gives a Fable.

A fisherman, he said, had made a hut by a river side, that he might follow his occupation of fishing. Now, one night, he had gone out to look after his nets, leaving a small fire in his hut; and when he came back, behold there was a fox in the cabin, taking the liberty to eat one of the finest salmon he had taken. "Ho, Mr. Robber!" said the fisherman, drawing his sword, and standing in

saw

the door-way to prevent the fox's escape, "you shall presently die the death". The poor fox looked for some hole to get out at, but none; whereupon he pulled down with his teeth a mantle which was lying on the bed, and dragged it across the fire. The fisherman ran to snatch his mantle from the fire-the fox flew out at the door with the salmon, "and so," said Douglas, "shall we escape the great English army by subtilty, and without risking battle with so large a force ".

125. Randolph Regent.

SCOTT.

Robert Bruce, the greatest king who ever wore the Scottish crown, being dead, as you have been told, the kingdom descended to his son David, who was called David the Second, to distinguish him from the first king of that name, who reigned about 100 years before. This David the Second was only four years old at his father's death, and although we have seen children who thought themselves very wise at that age, yet it is not usual to give them the management of kingdoms. So Randolph, Earl of Murray, of whom you have heard so much, became what is called Regent of the kingdom of Scotland. This wise provision had been made by Bruce with consent of the Parliament of Scotland, and was very acceptable to the kingdom. SCOTT.

126. An English Appius.

No Englishman can have read thus far, without remembering the scene, in all points so similar, which took place within our fathers' memory in our own house of parliament. We recollect how the greatest of English statesmen, bowed down by years and infirmity, like Appius, but roused like him by the dread of approaching dishonour to the English name, was led by his son and son-in-law into the house of lords, and all the peers with one impulse rose to receive him. We know the expiring words of that mighty voice, when he protested against the dismemberment of this ancient monarchy, and prayed that if England must fall, she might fall with honour. Those who would wish to know how Appius spoke, should read the dying words of the great orator of England. ARNOLD.

127. Hieronymus deserts the Roman Alliance.

He then called in the Roman ambassadors and told them that he was willing to renew his grandfather's league with Rome, if they

would repay him all the money and corn with which Hiero had at various times supplied them; if they would restore the costly presents which he had given them, especially the golden statue of Victory which he had sent them only three years since after their defeat at Thrasymenus; and finally if they would share the island with him equally, ceding all to the east of the river Himera. The Romans considered this answer as a mockery, and went away without thinking it worthy of a serious reply. ARNOLD.

128. Wrong never Expedient.

Themistocles having one day declared to the general assembly that he had thought of an expedient which would prove very salutary to the Athenians, but ought to be kept secret, was ordered to communicate it to Aristides only, and abide by his judgment of it. Accordingly he told him his project was to burn the whole fleet of the confederates, by which means the Athenians would be raised to the sovereignty of all Greece. Aristides then returned to the assembly, and informed the Athenians that nothing could be more advantageous than the project of Themistocles, nor anything more unjust. And upon his report of the matter, they commanded Themistocles to give up all thoughts of it. Such regard had that people for justice and so much confidence in the integrity of Aristides. PLUTARCH.

129. Cato turns Schoolmaster.

Cato took upon himself the office of schoolmaster to his son, though he had a slave named Chilo, who was a good grammarian, and taught several other children. But he tells us, he did not choose that his son should be reprimanded by a slave, or pulled by the ears if he happened to be slow in learning, or that he should be indebted to so mean a person for his education. He was, therefore, himself his preceptor in grammar, in law, and athletic exercises. For he taught him not only how to throw a dart, to fight hand to. hand, and to ride, but to box, to endure heat and cold, and to swim the most rapid rivers. He farther acquaints us that he wrote histories for him with his own hand in large characters, that, without stirring out of his father's house, he might gain a knowledge of the great actions of the ancient Romans and of the customs of his country. PLUTARCH.

130. Pyrrhus Victorious.

Pyrrhus immediately entered the Roman camp, which he found deserted. He gained over many cities which had been in alliance with Rome, and laid waste the territories of others. Nay, he advanced within 37 miles of Rome itself. The Lucanians and the Samnites joined him after the battle, and were reproved for their delay; but it was plain that he was greatly elevated and delighted with having defeated so powerful an army of the Romans with the mere assistance of the Tarentines. PLUTARCH.

131. Death of Pyrrhus.

Pyrrhus trusting to the goodness of his horse rode in amongst the enemy, who were harassing his rear; and it happened that he was wounded through the breast-plate with a javelin. The wound was rather slight than dangerous, but he turned against the man who gave it, who was an Argive man of no note, the son of a poor old woman. This woman, among others, looking upon the fight from the roof a house, beheld her son thus engaged. Seized with terror at the sight, she took up a large tile with both her hands, and threw it at Pyrrhus. The tile fell upon his head, and notwithstanding his helmet, crushed the lower vertebrae of his neck. His hands let go the reins, and he fell from his horse by the tomb of Licymnius. The crowd that was about him did not know him, but one Zopyrus, who served under Antigonus, and two or three others coming up, knew him and dragged him into a porch that was at hand, just as he was beginning to recover from the blow. There Zopyrus, though his hands trembled, and he several times missed his stroke, separated his head from his body. PLUTARCH.

132. The Choice of a Career.

Now we have first of all to settle what line of life we shall follow; and the choice is a matter of very great difficulty. For in early youth, when there is but little power of deliberation, each adopts the mode of spending life for which he has the greatest liking, and is thus involved in some definite course of action before he is able to judge of what is best. Prodicus (in Xenophon) tells us that Hercules, on reaching the age of puberty,-the time provided by nature for choosing one's line of life-went forth to a lonely place, and, as he

sat there, hesitated much and long which of the two paths presented to his view-that of pleasure, or that of virtue-it was desirable to follow. This might perhaps be the case with Hercules, the offspring of Jupiter; but not so with us, who imitate such as we think fit, and for the most part are moulded by the instructions of our parents unto the adoption of their habits and modes of life.

DICK BEQUEST EXAMINATION.

133. Crassus.

Marcus Crassus-like Pompeius, whose senior he was by a few years-belonged to the circle of the high Roman aristocracy: he had obtained the usual culture belonging to his rank, and had fought like Pompeius with distinction under Sulla in the Italian war. Far inferior to many of his peers in mental gifts, literary culture, and military talent, he outstripped them in his boundless activity, and by the perseverance with which he strove to acquire everything and to become all-important. He disdained no branch of gain; he carried on the business of building in the capital on an extensive scale, and with prudence; he entered into partnership with his freedmen in the most varied undertakings; he acted as banker both in and out of Rome, in person or by his agents. He was far from nice in the matter of making profit. DICK BEQUEST EXAMINATION.

134. The Fall of Syracuse.

Old as Archimedes was, the soldier's sword dealt kindly with him, in cutting short his scanty term of remaining life, and saving him from beholding the misery of his country. It was a wretched sight to see the condition of Syracuse, when the sack was over, and what was called a state of peace and safety had returned. Every house was laid bare, every temple stript; and the empty pedestals showed how sweeping the spoilers' work had been. The Syracusans beheld their captive gods carried to the Roman quarters, or put on shipboard to be conveyed to Rome; the care with which they were handled, lest the conqueror's triumph should lose its most precious ornaments, only adding to the grief and indignation of the conquered. ARNOLD.

135. M. Livius.

Then the Senators, and especially Q. Fabius, besought him to be reconciled to his colleague. To what purpose." He replied; "We

« ZurückWeiter »