No portents now our foes amaze,
Forsaken Israel wanders lone;
Our fathers would not know thy ways,
And thou hast left them to their own.

But present still, though not unseen!
When brightly shines the prosperous day,
Be thoughts of Thee a cloudy screen
To temper the deceitful ray :

And, oh! where stoops on Judah's path
In shade and storm the frequent night,
Be thou long-suffering, slow to wrath,
A burning and a shining light!

Our harps we left by Babel's streams,
The tyrant's jest, the Gentile's scorn;
No censer round our altar beams,
And mute are timbrel, trump, and horn.
But thou hast said, the blood of goat,
The flesh of rams I will not prize,
A contrite heart, a humble thought,
Are mine accepted sacrifice.

THE GRATEFUL PRINCESS.

1. The king of Armenia, who was vassal to the Medes, looking upon them as ready to be swallowed up by the formidable league formed against them, thought fit to lay hold on this occasion to shake off their yoke. Accordingly he refused to pay them the ordinary tribute, and to send them the number of troops he was obliged to furnish in time of war. This highly embarrassed Cyaxares, who was afraid at this juncture of bringing new enemies upon his hands, if he undertook to compel the Armenians to execute their treaty. But Cyrus, having informed himself exactly of the strength and situation of the country, undertook the affair.-The important point was to keep his design secret, without which it was not likely to succeed. He therefore appointed a great hunting match on that side of the country; for it was his

Of whom was the king of Armenia vassal ?—How did Cyrus get possession of him?

custom to ride out that way, and frequently to hunt with the king's son and the young noblemen of Armenia. On the day appointed, he set out with a numerous retinue. The troops followed at a distance, and were not to appear till a signal was given. After some days hunting, when they were come pretty near the palace where the court resided, Cyrus communicated his design to his officers, and sent Chrysanthes with a detachment, ordering them to make themselves masters of a certain steep eminence, where he knew the king used to retire, in case of an alarm, with his family and his treasure.

2. This being done, he sent an herald to the king of Armenia to summon him to perform the treaty, and, in the meantime, ordered his troops to advance. Never was a court in greater surprise and perplexity. The king was conscious of the wrong he had done, and was not in a condition to support it. However, he did what he could to assemble his forces together from all quarters; and in the meantime despatched his youngest son, called Sabaris, into the mountains with his wives, his daughters, and whatever was most precious and valuable. But when he was informed by his scouts, that Cyrus was coming upon their heels, he entirely lost all courage, and all thoughts of making a defence. The Armenians following his example, ran away, every one where he could, to secure what was dearest to him. Cyrus, seeing the country covered with people that were endeavoring to make their escape, sent them word, that no harm should be done them, if they staid in their houses; but that as many as were taken running away should be treated as enemies. This made them all retire to their habitations, excepting a few that followed the king.

3. On the other hand, they that were conducting the princesses to the mountains, fell into the ambush Chrysanthes had laid for them, and were most of them taken prisoners. The queen, the king's son, his daughters, his eldest son's wife, and his treasure, all fell into the hands of the Persians. -The king hearing this melancholy news, and not knowing what would become of him, retired to a little eminence, where he was presently invested by the Persian army and obliged to surrender. Cyrus ordered him, with all his fami

What order did Cyrus send the inhabitants of Armenia ?

ly, to be brought to the midst of the army. At that very instant arrived Tigranes, the king's eldest son, who was just returned from a journey. At so moving a spectacle he could not forbear weeping. Cyrus, addressing himself to him, said, "Prince, you are come very seasonably to be present at the trial of your father;" and immediately he assembled the captains of the Persians and Medes, and called in also the great men of Armenia. Nor did he so much as exclude the ladies from this assembly who were there in their chariots, but gave them full liberty to hear and see all that passed.

4. When all was ready, and Cyrus had commanded silence, he began with requiring of the king, that in all the questions he was going to propose to him, he would answer sincerely, because nothing could be more unworthy a person of his rank than to use dissimulation or falsehood.-The king promised he would. Then Cyrus asked him, but at different times, proposing each article separately and in order, whether it was not true that he had made war against Astyages, king of the Medes, his grandfather; whether he had not been overcome in that war, and in consequence of this defeat had concluded a treaty with Astyages; whether by virtue of that treaty he was not obliged to pay a certain tribute, to furnish a certain number of troops, and not keep any fortified place in this country?

5. It was impossible for the king to deny any of these facts, which were all public and notorious. For what reason, then," continued Cyrus, "have you violated the treaty in every article ?" "For no other," replied the king, "than because I thought it a glorious thing to shake off the yoke, to live free, and to leave my children in the same situation." "It is really glorious," answered Cyrus, "to fight in defence of liberty; but if any one, after he is reduced to servitude, should attempt to run away from his master, what would you do with him?" "I must confess," said the king, "I would punish him." "And if you had given a government to one of your subjects, and he should be found to commit malversations, would you continue him in his post?" tainly; I would put another in his place." "And if he had amassed great riches by his unjust practices?" "I would

"No, cer

Who was the king's son mentioned?-What did Cyrus require of the king?

strip him of them." "But, (which is still worse) if he had held intelligence with your enemies, how would you treat him ?" 66 Though I should pass sentence upon myself," replied the king, "I must declare the truth; I would put him to death." At these words Tigranes tore his hair from his head, and rent his garments; the women burst out into lamentations and outcries, as if sentence was actually passed upon him.

6. Cyrus having again commanded silence, Tigranes addressed himself to the prince to this effect: "Great prince, can you think it consistent with your wisdom to put my father to death, even against your own interest ?" "How against my interest ?" replied Cyrus. "Because he was never so capable of doing you service." "How do you make that appear? Do the faults we commit enhance our merit, and give us a new title to consideration and favor?" "They certainly do, provided they serve to make us wiser. For of inestimable value is wisdom; are either riches, courage, or address to be compared to it? Now, it is evident this single day's experience has infinitely improved my father's wisdom. He knows how dear the violation of his word has cost him. He has proved and felt how much you are superior to him in all respects. He has not been able to succeed in any of his designs; but you have happily accomplished all yours, and with that expedition and secrecy, that he has found himself surrounded and taken before he expected to be attacked; and the very place of his retreat has served only to ensnare him." "But your father," replied Cyrus, "has yet undergone no sufferings that can have taught him wisdom." fear of evils," answered Tigranes, "when it is so well founded as this is, has a much sharper sting, and is more capable of piercing the soul than the evil itself. Besides, permit me to say, that gratitude is a stronger and more prevailing motive than any whatever; and there can be no obligations in the world of a higher nature than those you will lay upon my father. His fortune, liberty, sceptre, life, wives, and children, all restored to him with such a generosity; where can you find, illustrious prince, in one single person, so many strong and powerful ties to attach him to your service?"

"The

How were Tigranes and the women affected when the king confessed himself guilty?-Through whose solicitations did Cyrus spare the king?

7. "Well, then," replied Cyrus, turning to the king, "if I should yield to your son's entreaties, with what number of men, and what sum of money, will you assist us in the war against the Babylonians?" "My troops and treasures," says the Armenian king, are no longer mine; they are entirely yours. I can raise 40,000 foot, and 8,000 horse; and as to money, I reckon, including the treasures which my father left me, there are about 3,000 talents in ready money. All these are wholly at your disposal." Cyrus accepted half the number of troops, and left the king the other half, for the defence of the country against the Chaldeans with whom he was at war. The annual tribute which was due to the Medes he doubled, and instead of 50 talents exacted 100, and borrowed the like sum over and above in his own name. "But what would you give me," added Cyrus, " for the ransom of your wives ?" "All that I have in the world," answered the king. "And for the ransom of your children?" "The same thing.' "From this time, then, you are indebted to me the double of all your possessions! and you, Tigranes, at what price would you redeem the liberty of your lady ?" Now he had but lately married her, and was passionately fond of her. "At the price," says he, "of a thousand lives, if I had them." Cyrus then conducted them all to his tent, and entertained them at supper. It is easy to imagine what transports of joy there must have been upon this occasion.

8. After supper, as they were discoursing upon various subjects, Cyrus asked Tigranes, what was become of a governor he had often seen hunting with him, and for whom he had a particular estcem. "Alas," says Tigranes," he is no more; and I dare not tell you by what accident I lost him." Cyrus pressing him to tell him, "My father," continued Tigranes, "seeing I had a very tender affection for this governor, and that I was extremely attached to him, was jealous it might be of some ill consequence, and put him to death. But he was so honest a man, that, as he was ready to expire, he sent for me, and spoke to me in these wordsTigranes, let not my death occasion any disaffection in you towards the king your father. What he has done to me did not proceed from malice, but only from prejudice and

What did Tigranes propose to give for the liberty of himself and wife?