last, the only hope of the proposer is, that his proposal, when realised, will not be an ignominious failure. All hope of pleasure, at least for the proposer, has long been out of the question.

Sir Arthur Helps.

e-lec'-tric
tel'-e-graphs

sym-pa-thet'-ic
ar'-gu-ment

hum'-or-ous, fond of saying or doing funny things.

nov'-el, new; strange.
con-struc'-tion, build.

al-lud'-ed, spoke of; meant.
ar'-ti-sans, workmen.
com'-ment, remark.
con-tem'-plat-ing, viewing.
de-sign'-er, person who planned.
dis-cour'-age-ment, seeking to stop
or check by disfavour.
de'-sig-nat-ed, called.
en'-ter-prise, that which is entered
upon.

theme, subject.

di'-a-logues, conversations.

in-vent'-or, person who makes some-
thing for the first time.
fas'-cin-ates, fixes or controls.
con-fides', tells.

yams, large roots like potatoes,
which grow in warm countries.
im-paled', killed by a stake of wood
driven through the body.
lu'-di-crous, fit to excite laughter.
pro'-phe-sy, foretell what is to come
to pass.

in-gen-u'-i-ty, cleverness; readiness.
di-late', speak very much about.
re-cre-a'-tion, amusement.
gen'-u-ine, real.

tim-id'-i-ty, want of courage.
pro-ject'-ors, persons who plan or
devise something.

sym'-path-y, feeling for a person.
ap-pre'-ci-ate, to know and judge
fully and correctly about.
de-spond'-en-cy, hopelessness.
ig-no-min'-i-ous, mean; contempt-
ible.

EXERCISES.—1. The Latin prefix (1) subter- means under, beneath; as subterfuge, a flying under. (2) Super- means above, over; as superfine, over fine; supervisor, an overseer; superintend, to look over; superscription, a writing over.

2. Analyse and parse the following: 'He did not deny that it was beautiful; but he instantly fastened upon a small crack in it, that nobody had observed.'

3. Make sentences of your own, and use in each one or more of the following words; Novel, artisan, humorous, ludicrous,

HORATIUS AT THE BRIDGE—I.

[Horatius Cocles, or Horatius the 'one-eyed,' is the hero of this spirited ballad by Lord Macaulay, part of which is given below from his Lays of Ancient Rome. According to the old Roman tale, Lars Porsena, king of the Etruscan or Tuscan town of Clusium, was asked by Tarquin, the former king of Rome, who had been expelled from that city, to assist him in fighting the Romans and recovering his kingdom. Porsena did so, marched against them with a great army, took possession of a hill near Rome, and was about to enter the city by the bridge over the river Tiber. How Horatius defended the farther side of the bridge, along with Spurius Lartius and Titius Herminius, against the whole Tuscan army, is the subject of the poem.]

1. But the consul's brow was sad,

And the consul's speech was low;
And darkly looked he at the wall,
And darkly at the foe:
'Their van will be upon us

Before the bridge goes down;
And if they once may win the bridge,
What hope to save the town?'

2. Then out spake brave Horatius,
The captain of the gate:
'To every man upon this earth
Death cometh soon or late;
And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds
For the ashes of his fathers,
And the temples of his gods?

3. 'Hew down the bridge, Sir Consul,
With all the speed ye may;

I, with two more to help me,
Will hold the foe in play:

In yon strait path a thousand
May well be stopped by three.
Now, who will stand on either hand,
And keep the bridge with me?'

4. Then out spake Spurius Lartius; A Ramnian proud was he: 'Lo! I will stand at thy right hand, And keep the bridge with thee.' And out spake strong Herminius; Of Titian blood was he: 'I will abide on thy left side, And keep the bridge with thee.'

5. 'Horatius,' quoth the consul,
'As thou sayest, so let it be.'
And straight against that great array
Forth went the dauntless three;
For Romans in Rome's quarrel

Spared neither land nor gold,
Nor son nor wife, nor limb nor life,
In the brave days of old.

6. Now, while the three were tightening
Their harness on their backs,
The consul was the foremost man
To take in hand an axe;

And Fathers mixed with commons
Seized hatchet, bar, and crow,
And smote upon the planks above,
And loosed the props below.

7. Meanwhile, the Tuscan army, Right glorious to behold,

H

Came, flashing back the noonday light,
Rank behind rank, like surges bright
Of a broad sea of gold.
Four hundred trumpets sounded
A peal of warlike glee,

As that great host, with measured tread,
And spears advanced, and ensigns spread,
Rolled slowly toward the bridge's head,
Where stood the dauntless three.

8. The three stood calm and silent,
And looked upon the foes,
And a great shout of laughter
From all the vanguard rose;

And forth three chiefs came spurring

Before that deep array:

To earth they sprang, their swords they drew,
And lifted high their shields, and flew
To win the narrow way.

9. Stout Lartius hurled down Aunus Into the stream beneath; Herminius struck at Seius,

And clove him to the teeth;

At Picus brave Horatius

Darted one fiery thrust,

And the proud Umbrian's gilded arms
Clashed in the bloody dust.

10. But now no sound of laughter
Was heard amongst the foes:
A wild and wrathful clamour
From all the vanguard rose;

11. But hark! the cry is Astur;
And, lo! the ranks divide,
And the great Lord of Luna
Comes with his stately stride,

Upon his ample shoulders

Clangs loud the four-fold shield,

And in his hand he shakes the brand
Which none but he can wield.