can lay hold of another. Whenever I have seen him in his native woods, whether at rest, or asleep, or on his travels, I have always observed that he was suspended from the branch of a tree. When his form and anatomy are attentively considered, it will appear evident that the Sloth cannot be at ease in any situation, where his body is higher, or above his feet. We will now take our leave of him.

157. THE RISE OF WOLSEY.

CAVENDISH.

Ir chanced at a certain season that the king had an urgent occasion to send an ambassador unto the Emperor Maximilian, whc lay at that present in the low country of Flanders, not far from Calais. The Bishop of Winchester and Sir Thomas Lovell, whom the king most highly esteemed, as chief among his counsellors, (the king one day counselling and debating with them upon this embassy,) saw they had a convenient occasion to prefer the king's chaplain, whose excellent wit, eloquence, and learning, they highly commended to the king. The king giving ear unto them, and being a prince of an excellent judgment and modesty, commanded them to bring his chaplain, whom they so much commended, before his grace's presence. At whose repair thither, to prove the wit of his chaplain, the king fell in communication with him in matters of weight and gravity, and, perceiving his wit to be very fine, thought him sufficient to be put in authority and trust with this embassy; and commanded him thereupon to prepare himself to this enterprise and journey, and for his dépêche* to repair to his grace and his trusty counsellors aforesaid, of whom he should receive his commission and instructions. By means whereof he had then a due occasion to repair from time to time into the king's presence, who perceived him more and more to be a very wise man, and of a good entendment. And after his dépêche he took his leave of the king at Richmond about noon, + Understanding.

* Despatch.

and so came to London with speed, about four of the clock, where then the barge of Gravesend was ready to launch forth, both with a prosperous tide and wind. Without any farther abode he entered the barge, and so passed forth. His happy speed was such that he arrived at Gravesend within little more than three hours, where he tarried no longer than his post-horses were provided; and travelling so speedily with post-horses, that he came to Dover the next morning early, whereas the passengers were ready, under sail displayed, to sail to Calais. Into which passengers, without any farther abode, he entered and sailed forth with them, so that he arrived at Calais within three hours, and having three posthorses in a readiness, departed incontinent, making such hasty speed, that he was that night with the emperor; who, having understanding of the coming of the king of England's ambassador, would in no wise defer the time, but sent incontinent for him (his affection unto King Henry the Seventh was such that he rejoiced when he had occasion to show him pleasure). The ambassador, having opportunity, disclosed the sum of his embassy unto the emperor, of whom he required speedy expedition, the which was granted; so that the next day he was clearly dispatched, with all the king's requests fully accomplished. At which time he made no further tarriance, but with post-horses rode incontinent that night towards Calais again, conducted thither with such number of horsemen as the emperor had appointed, and was at the opening of the gates there, where the passengers were as ready to return into England as they were before in his advancing; insomuch that he arrived at Dover by ten of the clock before noon; and having post-horses in a readiness, came to the court at Richmond that night. Where he, taking his rest for that time until the morning, repaired to the king at his first coming out of his grace's bedchamber, towards his closet to hear mass. Whom (when he saw) he checked him for that he was not past on his journey. "Sir," quoth he, "if it may stand with your highness's pleasure, I have already been with the emperor, and dispatched your affairs, I trust, to your grace's contentation." And with that delivered unto the king the emperor's letters of credence. The king, being in a great confuse and wonder of his hasty speed with ready furniture of all his proceedings, dissimuled all his imagination and

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wonder in that matter, and demanded of him whether he encountered not his pursuivant, the which he sent unto him (supposing him not to be scantly out of London) with letters concerning a very necessary cause, neglected in his commission and instructions, the which the king coveted much to be sped. Yes, forsooth, sire," quoth he, "I encountered him yesterday by the way; and having no understanding by your grace's letters of your pleasure therein, have, notwithstanding been so bold, upon mine own discretion (perceiving that matter to be very necessary in that behalf) to dispatch the same. And forasmuch as I have exceeded your grace's commission, I most humbly require your gracious remission and pardon." The king, rejoicing inwardly not a little, said again, "We do not only pardon you thereof, but also give you our princely thanks, both for the proceeding therein, and also for your good and speedy exploit," commanding him for that time to take his rest, and to repair again to him after dinner for the farther relation of his embassy. The king then went to mass; and after a convenient time he went to dinner.

It is not to be doubted but that this ambassador hath been since his return with his great friends, the Bishop of Winchester and Sir Thomas Lovel, to whom he hath declared the effect of all his speedy progress; nor yet what joy they conceived thereof. And after his departure from the king in the morning, his highness sent for the bishop and Sir Thomas Lovell, to whom he declared the wonderful expedition of his ambassador, commending therewith his excellent wit, and in especial the invention and advancing of the matter left out of his commission and instructions. The king's words rejoiced these worthy counsellors not a little, forasmuch as he was of their preferment.

Then, when this ambassador remembered the king's commandment, and saw the time draw fast on of his repair before the king and his council, he prepared him in a readiness, and resorted unto the place assigned by the king, to declare his embassy. Without all doubt he reported the effect of all his affairs and proceedings so exactly, with such gravity and eloquence, that all the council that heard him could do no less but commend him, esteeming his expedition to be almost beyond the capacity of man. The king, of his mere motion and gracious consideration, gave him at that

time for his diligent and faithful service, the deanery of Lincoln, which at that time was one of the worthiest spiritual promotions that he gave under the degree of a bishopric. And thus from thenceforward he grew more and more into estimation and authority, and after was promoted by the king to be his almoner. Here may all men note the chances of Fortune that followeth some whom she listeth to promote, and even so to some her favor is contrary, though they should travail never so much, with all the urgent diligence and painful study that they could devise or imagine; whereof, for my part, I have tasted of the experience.

Now ye shall understand, that all this tale that I have declared of his good expedition in the king's embassy, I received it of his own mouth and report, after his fall, lying at that time in the great park of Richmond, I being then there attending upon him; taking an occasion upon divers communications to tell me this journey, with all the circumstances as I have here before rehearsed.

158.-SUMMER.—II.

[IN this volume (No. 121) we have given some of the passages of the Poets' description of Summer. We now add some farther extracts connected with that season, and we commence with Mrs. Barbauld's "Summer Evening's Meditation." There are some splendid lines in this poem, and Leigh Hunt justly says that it presents "to the reader's imagination the picture of a fineminded female wrapt up in thought and devotion."]

'Tis past! the sultry tyrant of the south

Has spent his short-liv'd rage: more grateful hours
Move silent on; the skies no more repel

The dazzled sight, but, with mild maiden beams

Of temper'd light, invite the cherish'd eye

To wander o'er their sphere, where hung aloft,
Dian's bright crescent, "like a silver bow
New strung in heaven," lifts high its beamy horns,
Impatient for the night, and seems to push

Her brother down the sky. Fair Venus shines,
Even in the eye of day; with sweetest beam
Propitious shines, and shakes a trembling flood
Of soften'd radiance from her dewy loins.
The shadows spread apace; while meeken'd Eve,
Her cheek yet warm with blushes, slow retires
Through the Hesperian gardens of the west,
And shuts the gates of day. 'Tis now the hour
When Contemplation, from her sunless haunts,
The cool damp grotto, or the lonely depth
Of unpierced woods, where wrapt in solid shade
She mused away the gaudy hours of noon,
And fed on thoughts unripen'd by the sun,
Moves forward, and with radiant finger points
yon
blue concave swell'd by breath divine,
Where, one by one, the living eyes of heaven
Awake, quick kindling o'er the face of ether
One boundless blaze; ten thousand trembling fires,
And dancing lustres, where th' unsteady eye,
Restless and dazzled, wanders unconfined
O'er all this field of glories: spacious field,
And worthy of the Master; he whose hand,
With hieroglyphics older than the Nile,
Inscribed the mystic tablet; hung on high
To public gaze; and said, Adore, O man,
The finger of thy God! From what pure wells
Of milky light, what soft o'erflowing urn,

To

Are all these lamps so fill'd? these friendly lamps
Forever streaming o'er the azure deep

To point our path, and light us to our home.
How soft they slide along their lucid spheres!
And, silent as the foot of time, fulfil

Their destined courses! Nature's self is hush'd,
And, but a scatter'd leaf, which rustles through
The thick-wove foliage, not a sound is heard
To break the midnight air; though the raised ear
Intensely listening, drinks in every breath.
How deep the silence, yet how loud the praise!