Strife, wounds, and ghastly death unseen before, Prometheus Unbound. WEDNESDAY, December 3. Into Latin Hexameters. Hard by these shores, where scarce his freezing stream FRIDAY, December 5. Into Latin Elegiacs. Thomson's Winter. In vain to me the smiling mornings shine, A different object do these eyes require; MONDAY, December 8. Into Latin Prose. A Then ensued a scene of woe, the like of which no eye had seen, no heart conceived, and which no tongue can adequately tell. All the horrors of war before known or heard of, were mercy to this new havoc. storm of universal fire blasted every field, consumed every house, destroyed every temple. The miserable inhabitants, flying from their flaming villages, in part were slaughtered; others, without regard to sex, to age, to the respect of rank, or sacredness of function, fathers torn from children, husbands from wives, enveloped in a whirlwind of cavalry, and amidst the goading spears of drivers, and the trampling of pursuing horses, were swept into captivity, in an unknown and hostile land. Those who were able to evade this tempest, fled to the walled cities. But escaping from fire, sword, and exile, they fell into the jaws of famine. Burke, Speech on the Nabob of Arcot's Debts. WEDNESDAY, December 10. Into Greek Prose. As soon as the design against his brother's throne was decided, Cyrus, with increased sedulity, extended his connexions among the Greeks. They alone, among the nations of that time, knew how to train armies, so that thousands of men might act as one machine. Hence their heavy-armed had a power, in the shock of battle, that no number of more irregular troops, however brave, could resist. To men of character, therefore, from any part of Greece, but especially from Peloponnesus, whose heavy armed were of highest reputation, introduction to Cyrus was easy. The fame of his munificence and of his liberal manner invited; and many became connected with him by the pledge of hospitality, which, with the Persians, not less than among the Greeks, was held sacred. Mitford, History of Greece, Vol. V. FRIDAY, December 12. Into Latin Hexameters. While thus he spake, the angelic squadron bright Turn'd fiery red, sharpened in mooned horns. Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind Like Teneriff, or Atlas, unremoved. Milton, Paradise Lost, B. IV. MONDAY, December 15. Into Greek Iambics. Alas, my daughter! Thou hast rashly ventured in a stormy sea, Where life, fame, virtue, all were wrecked and lost; And may'st thou find from heaven the same forgiveness Rowe's Fair Penitent; a Tragedy. |