5 And I'll be sworn, I have power to shame him hence. No more of this unprofitable chat. Hot. Methinks my portion, north from Burton here, See, how this river comes me cranking in, 15 20 25 It shall not wind with such a deep indent, To rob me of so rich a bottom here. Glend. Not wind? it shall, it must; you see, it doth. Worcester. Yea, but a little charge will trench him here, And on this north side win this cape of land; And then he runs straight and even. Hot. I'll have it so; a little charge will do it. Hot. Will not you? Glend. No, nor you shall not. Hot. Who shall say me nay? Glend. Why, that will I. Hot. Let me not understand you, then; Speak it in Welsh. Glend. I can speak English, lord, as well as you; Where, being but young, I framed to the harp 30 Many an English ditty, lovely well, And gave the tongue a helpful ornament; A virtue that was never seen in you. Hot. Marry, and I'm glad of it with all my heart; 35 Than one of these same metre ballad-mongers; 40 'T is like the forced gait of a shuffling nag. But, in the way of bargain, mark ye me, Glend. The moon shines fair, you may away by night: 5 Break with your wives of your departure hence : [Exit. Mort. Fie, cousin Percy! how you cross my father! A clip-winged griffin, and a moulten raven, - 15 And such a deal of skimble-skamble stuff That were his lackeys: I cried humph,—and well,—go to, 20 But marked him not a word, Oh! he's as tedious As is a tired horse, a railing wife; Worse than a smoky house :-I had rather live Mort. In faith, he is a worthy gentleman; In strange concealments; valiant as a lion, And curbs himself even of his natural scope, 35 Might so have tempted him as you have done, But do not use it oft, let me entreat you. Wor. In faith, my lord, you are too wilful blame You must needs learn, lord, to amend this fault; 40 Though sometimes it shows greatness, courage, blood, (And that's the dearest grace it renders you,) Yet oftentimes it doth present harsh rage, Defect of manners, want of government, Pride, haughtiness, opinion, and disdain; The least of which, haunting a nobleman, Loseth men's hearts; and leaves behind a stain Beguiling them of commendation. 5 Hot. Well, I am schooled; good manners be your speed! LESSON CLX.-EXTRACT FROM AN ADDRESS DELIVERED AT CHAPEL HILL.-WM. GASTON. Deeply rooted principles of probity, confirmed habits of industry, and a determination to rely on one's own exertion, constitute the great preparation for the discharge of the duties of man, and the best security for performing 5 them with honor to one's self, and benefit to others. But it may be asked, what is there in such a life of never-ending toil, effort, and privation, to recommend it to the acceptance of the young and the gay? Those who aspire to heroic renown, may indeed make up their minds to embrace these 10 "hard doctrines;" but it may be well questioned, whether happiness is not preferable to greatness, and enjoyment more desirable than distinction. Let others, if they will, toil up "the steep where Fame's proud temple shines afar;" we choose rather to sport in luxurious ease and careless 15 glee, in the valley below. It is, indeed, on those who aspire to eminence, that these injunctions are intended to be pressed with the greatest emphasis, not only because a failure in them would be more disastrous than in others, but because they are ex30 posed to greater and more numerous dangers of error. But it is a sad mistake to suppose, that they are not suited to all, and are not earnestly urged upon all, however humble their pretensions or moderate their views. Happiness, as well as greatness, enjoyment, as well as renown, have 25 no friends so sure as Integrity, Diligence and Independ ence. We are not placed here to waste our days in wanton riot or inglorious ease, with appetites perpetually gratified and never palled, exempted from all care and solicitude, 30 with life ever fresh, and joys ever new. He who has fitted us for our condition, and assigned to us its appropriate. duties, has not left his work unfinished, and omitted to provide a penalty for the neglect of our obligations. Labor is not more the duty, than the blessing of man. Without 35 it, there is neither mental nor physical vigor, health, cheer fulness nor animation; neither the eagerness of hope, nor the capacity to enjoy. Every human being must have some object to engage his attention, excite his wishes, and rouse him to action, 5 or he sinks, a prey to listlessness. For want of proper occupations, see strenuous idleness resorting to a thousand expedients, the race-course, the bottle, or the gamingtable, the frivolities of fashion, the debasements of sensuality, the petty contentions of envy, the grovelling pursuits 10 of avarice, and all the various distracting agitations of vice. Call you these enjoyments? Is such the happiness which it is so dreadful to forego? 15 20 "Vast happiness enjoy thy gay allies! Reserving woes for age, their prime they spend ; With sorrow to the verge of life they tend; Grieved with the present, of the past ashamed; They live and are despised, they die, nor more are named." 5 10 15 20 LESSON CLXI.--THE LYRE.-MILTON WARD. There was a lyre, 't is said, that hung An angel hand its chords had strung, When, springing from the rose's bell, Bright with the tears that morning wept, Waved lightly his soft azure wing; The birds, that sweetly warbled by, And the soft echo from the hills, Were heard not where that harp was nigh. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 10 When the last light of fading day While night had darkened all the rest, And sweeter than the lay, that rung Unearthly forms were seen to stray, In earth and air it shone no more; To shield the harp of heavenly song! Was dreadful,-but it was the last. |