deeds was the murder of Clitus an old officer who had fought under king Philip. He had once saved Alexander's life in battle; and on this account he was allowed to speak very freely to him.

3. One night, after drinking too much wine, Alexander began to speak of his own exploits; and he spoke more highly of them than old Clitus thought they deserved. Accordingly, he told Alexander that his father Philip had done much greater things than ever he had done.

4. The monarch was so enraged that he snatched a spear from one of his attendants, and gave Clitus a mortal wound. But when he saw the old man's bloody corpse extended on the floor, he was seized with horror. He had murdered the preserver of his own life!

5. Alexander's remorse, however, did not last long. He still insisted on being a god, the son of Jupiter Ammon; and he was mortally offended with a philosopher named Callisthenes, because he refused to worship him. For no other crime Callisthenes was put into an iron cage, and tormented, till he killed himself in despair.

6. After Alexander's return from India to Persia, he met with a great misfortune. It was the loss of his dearest friend, Hephaestion, who died of a disease which he had contracted by excessive drinking. For three days afterwards Alexander lay prostrate on the ground, and would take no food.

7. He erected a funeral pile of spices and other precious materials, so that it was as costly as a palace would have

been. The lifeless body of Hephaestion was placed on the summit. Alexander then set fire to the pile, and stood mournfully looking on while the corpse of his friend was consumed to ashes.

8. It would have been well if he had taken warning by the fate of Hephæstion. But Alexander the Great was destined to owe his destruction to the wine-cup. While drinking at a banquet in Babylon, he was suddenly taken sick; and death soon conquered the conqueror.

9. As to the merits of Alexander, I pretty much agree with a certain pirate, whom the Macedonian soldiers once took prisoner. Alexander demanded of this man by what right he committed his robberies. "I am a robber by the same right that you are a conqueror," was the reply. "The only difference between us is, that I have but a few men, and can do but little mischief; while you have a large army, and can do a great deal."

10. It must be confessed that this is too frequently the chief difference between conquerors and robbers. Yet, when Alexander died, his body was deposited in a splendid coffin at Alexandria, in Egypt, and the Egyptians paid him divine honours, as if he had been the greatest possible benefactor to the world.

QUESTIONS.-1. What of Alexander? What ruined his disposition? How did he consider himself? 2. What of the actions of Alexander? Who was Clitus? 3, 4. Give an account of the murder of Clitus. 5. What did Alexander insist on being called? What of Callisthenes?

6. What of Hephaestion? What was the cause of his death? 7. What did Alexander do with the body of Hephaestion? 8. What caused Alexander's death? Where did he die? Where is Babylon? Direction from Macedon? India? 9. Tell the story of the Pirate. 10. What was done when Alexander died?

CHAP. LXV.-EUROPE continued.

GREECE INVADED BY THE GAULS.

1. WHEN Alexander lay on his death-bed, his attendants asked to whom he would bequeath the empire, which now extended from Greece to India, including a great many nations. His answer was, "To the most worthy."

2. But there appears to have been no very worthy man among those whom he left behind him; and even if there had been, the unworthy ones would not have consented to yield him the whole power. Alexander's empire was therefore divided among thirty-three of his chief officers.

3. But the most powerful of these officers were determined to have more than their share; and, in the year 312 before Christ, four of them had got possession of the whole. Alexander had then been dead eleven years. All his children and relatives had been destroyed by his ambitious officers.

4. The Greeks, when they heard of Alexander's death, had attempted to regain their liberty. But their struggles were unsuccessful; and the country was reduced to subjection by Cassander, who had been general of Alexander's cavalry.

Cassander died in a few years. Thenceforward, the history of Greece tells of nothing but crimes, and revolutions, and misfortunes.

5. In the year 278 before the Christian era, the Gauls invaded Greece. They were a barbarous people, who inhabited the country now called France. Their general's.

name was Brennus: and their numbers are said to have been a hundred and sixty-five thousand men.

6. Brennus met with hardly any opposition. He marched to Delphos, intending to take the treasures that were contained in the famous temple of Apollo. "A deity, like Apollo, does not want these treasures," said Brennus. am only a man, and have great need of them."

"I

7. Accordingly, he led his barbarians towards the temple. The stately marble front of the edifice was seen at a short distance before them. It was considered the holiest spot in Greece. Here was the mysterious oracle, from which so many wonderful prophecies has issued.

8. A wild shout burst from the army of the Gauls, and they were on the point of rushing forward to the temple. But suddenly a violent storm arose. The thunder roared, and the wind blew furiously. At the same moment a terrible earthquake shook the ground beneath the affrighted Gauls.

9. A band of Greeks had assembled to fight in defence of the temple. When they saw the disorder of the barbarians, they attacked them sword in hand. It had grown so dark,

that the Gauls could not distinguish friends from foes. They killed one another, and the whole army was destroyed.

10. Such is the story which the old historians tell about this battle; it is doubtless much exaggerated, for some of the particulars appear hardly credible. But, at any rate, this was the last great victory that the ancient Greeks ever achieved over their enemies.

QUESTIONS.-1. What was Alexander asked on his death-bed? His reply? 2. How was the empire divided? 3. What took place in the year 312 B.C.? What of Alexander's children and relatives? 4. Who put Greece under subjection? Who was Cassander? What of the history of Greece after his death? 5. When did the Gauls invade Greece? Who was their general? What of their army? 6. Where was Delphos? Direction from Athens? Sparta? Thebes? What famous temple was at Delphos? 7. Describe the march towards the temple. 8. What affrighted the Gauls? 9. What of the Greeks? How were the Gauls destroyed? 10. What may be said of this victory over the Gauls?

CHAP. LXVI.-EUROPE continued.

END OF GRECIAN INDEPENDENCE.

1. THE Greeks had now almost entirely lost their love of liberty, as well as the other virtues which had formerly distinguished them. In proof of this, I will relate the story of Agis, the young king of Sparta.

2. King Agis was anxious for the welfare of Sparta, and he greatly desired to restore the ancient laws which Lycurgus had enacted. But the Spartans were now. vicious and