E'en, for the marriage altar crowned,
The lover quits his bride.

And all this haste, and change, and fear,
By earthly clarion spread!-

How will it be when kingdoms hear
The blast that wakes the dead?

LESSON TWENTY-EIGHTH.

King Richard and the Minstrel.

The singular manner of discovering the situation of King Richard the First, when a prisoner to Leopold, duke of Austria, which Fauchet relates from an ancient chronicle, is thus related in Mrs. Dobson's Literary History of the Troubadours.

A minstrel, called Blondel, who owed his fortune to Richard, animated with tenderness towards his illustrious master, was resolved to go over the world till he had discovered the destiny of this prince. He had already traversed Europe, and was returning through Germany, when, talking one day at Lintz, in Austria, with the innkeeper, in order to make this discovery, he learned that there was near the city, at the entrance of a forest, a strong and ancient castle, in which there was a prisoner, who was guarded with great care.

A secret impulse persuaded Blondel that this prisoner was Richard. He went immediately to the castle, the sight of which, made him tremble. He got acquainted with a peasant, who went often there to carry provisions; questioned, and offered him a considerable sum to declare who it was that was shut up there; but the good man, though he readily told all he knew, was ignorant both of the name and quality of the prisoner.

He could only inform him, that he was watched

ways intent upon deceiving. Whereas, on the contrary, we make no scruple to confide in those who are sincere, because we know ourselves to be safe in their hands. They will be either constant friends, or open enemies; and, even if, through human frailty, they are sometimes led into errors, yet their generous acknowledgement of them makes amends, in a great degree, and is a good token of their avoiding them for the future.

"Where truth is found, bright virtue still resides,
And equal justice every action guides.

In the pure heart and spotless mind she reigns,
And with mild power her happy sway maintains;
The attribute of God himself confest,

That stamps his image on the human breast."

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LESSON FIFTEENTH.

Pyrrhus and Fabricius.

A treaty being on foot between the Romans and Pyrrhus, king of Macedon, for the exchange of prisoners, the latter, after having given a general audience to the ambassadors, took Fabricius aside, and conversed with him to the following purport.

After telling him he was sensible of his merit, that he was convinced of his excellence as a general, and perfect qualifications for the command of an army; that justice and temperance were united in his character, and that he justly passed for a person of virtue; he lamented the certainty of poverty, and said that fortune, in this particular, had treated him with injustice, by misplacing him in the class of indigent sena

tors.

"In order, therefore, to supply that deficiency," said Pyrrhus, "provided thou wilt assist me to negotiate an honorable peace, I am ready to give as much gold and silver as will raise thee above the richest citizen

of Rome; being fully persuaded that no expense can be more honorable to a prince, than that which is employed in the relief of great men, who are compelled by their poverty to lead a life unworthy of their virtue, and that this is the noblest purpose to which a king can possibly devote his treasures.

The answer of Fabricius was as follows:

"As to my poverty, thou hast, indeed, been rightly informed. My whole estate consists in a house, of but mean appearance, and a little spot of ground, from which, by my own labor, I draw my support

"But, if any have been persuaded to think, that this poverty makes me less considered in my country, or in any degree unhappy, they are extremely deceived. I have no reason to complain of Fortune; she supplies me with all that nature requires; and, if I am without superfluities, I am also free from the desire of them.

"With these, I confess, I should be more able to succor the necessitous, the only advantage for which the wealthy are to be envied. But, small as my possessions are, I can still contribute something to the support of the state, and the assistance of my friends. With regard to honors, my country places me, poor as I am, upon a level with the richest; for Rome knows no qualifications for great employments, but virtue and ability.

"She intrusts me with the command of her armies, and confides to my care the most important negotiations. My poverty does not lessen the weight and influence of my counsels in the senate. The Roman

people honor me for that very poverty which some consider as a disgrace. They know the many opportunities I have had in war to enrich myself, without incurring censure.

They are convinced of my disinterested zeal for their prosperity; and, if I have any thing to complain of in the return they make, it is only the excess of their applause. What value, then, can I set on gold

and silver? What king can add any thing to my fortune? Always attentive to discharge the duties incumbent on me, I have a mind free from self-reproach, and I have an honest fame."

Like to the falling of a star,
Or as the flights of eagles are;
Or like the fresh spring's gaudy hue,
Or silver drops of morning dew;
Or like a wind that chafes the flood,
Or bubbles which on water stood-
Even such is man, whose borrowed light
Is straight called in, and paid to-night.

The winds blow out, the bubble dies;
The spring entombed in autumn lies;
The dew dries up, the star is shot;
The flight is past—and man forgot.

LESSON SEVENTEENTH.

The Ungrateful Guest.

A soldier in the Macedonian army, had, in many instances, distinguished himself by extraordinary acts of valor, and had received many marks of Philip's favor and approbation. On some occasion, he embarked on board a vessel, which was wrecked by a violent storm, and he himself was cast on the shore, helpless and naked, and scarcely with the appearance of life.

A Macedonian, whose lands were contiguous to the sea, came opportunely to be witness of his distress; and, with all humane and charitable tenderness, flew

to the relief of the unhappy stranger. He bore him to his house, laid him in his own bed, revived, cherished, comforted, and, for forty days, supplied him freely with all the necessaries and conveniences which his languishing condition could require.

The soldier, thus happily rescued from death, was incessant in the warmest expressions of gratitude to his benefactor, assured him of his interest with the king, and of his power and resolution of obtaining for him from the royal bounty, the noble returns which such extraordinary benevolence had merited. He was now completely recovered, and his kind host supplied him with money, to pursue his journey.

Some time afterwards, he presented himself before the king: he recounted his misfortunes; magnified his services; and this inhuman wretch, who had looked with an eye of envy on the possessions of the man who had preserved his life, was now so abandoned to all sense of gratitude, as to request that the king would bestow upon him the house and lands, where he had been so tenderly and kindly entertained.

Unhappily, Philip, without examination, inconsiaerately and precipitately granted his infamous request; and this soldier, now returned to his preserver, repaid his goodness, by driving him from his settlement, and taking immediate possession of all the fruits of his honest industry.

The poor man, stung with this instance of unparalleled ingratitude and insensibility, boldly determined, instead of submitting to his wrongs, to seek relief, and, in a letter addressed to Philip, represented his own, and the soldier's conduct, in a lively and affecting manner.

The king was fired with indignation. He ordered that justice should be done without delay; that the possessions should be immediately restored to the man whose charitable offices had been thus horribly repaid; and, having seized this soldier, caused these words to be branded on his forehead-The Ungrateful Guest;'