E-text prepared by J. Paul Morrison
- This 15th edition of A
MUSEUM FOR YOUNG GENTLEMEN AND LADIES was published ca. 1799.
- Each page repeats the first word of the next page at the bottom
right - this has not been reproduced in this text version.
- As can be seen on the title page below, the book uses the long 's' (ſ) in
non-final positions - this has not been reproduced in this text
version, as it would make the text less easily searchable. A
non-final
double 's' is sometimes written with two long 's's, and sometimes with
a long 's' followed by a short (or final) 's' (somewhat like the
ß of German).
- 'st' and 'ct' are usually written with a ligature - this has not
been preserved in the text; 'ae' and 'oe' ligatures
have been preserved, however.
- Colons, semicolons, question marks, and brackets are usually
surrounded by spaces - in this
text, the modern convention has been followed.
- The book consistently uses '&c.' where we today use 'etc.' -
this has been preserved.
- The dimensions of the book are approx. 13½ cm. by 9 cm.,
so each line contains 8-9 words on average. This means that the
layout of the
following text does not usually match that of the book.
- Compound words like "every body" are often written with a space
in the middle - this has been preserved where it appears.
- Page numbers have been omitted.
- '[sic]' has been inserted at many places in the text to let the
reader know that the preceding word or phrase appeared as such in the
original. These appear in blue in the HTML version.
- A number of names are spelled differently from present-day usage,
e.g. Anna Bullen (Anne Boleyn) - in most cases, these have not been
marked.
- On one page, a letter is corrupted, and on the following line
letters appear to be missing - these have been marked with a comment in
square brackets.
- One major point of confusion should be mentioned: In the
section on the Seven Wonders of the World, what is usually described as
the Lighthouse of Pharos (shown in the woodcut) appears to have been
merged with the so-called Egyptian Labyrinth (described by Herodotus) -
see the title and the description in the text. In the next
section (the Pyramids of Egypt), there is a reference to a black marble
head on the third pyramid - perhaps this represents some confusion with
the Sphynx.
A
MUSEUM
FOR
YOUNG GENTLEMEN
AND LADIES
OR A
FOR LITTLE
MASTERS AND
MISSES.
Containing
a Variety of
uſeful Subjects;
AND, IN
PARTICULAR,
With Letters, Tales and Fables, for
amuſement
and
Inſtruction.
ILLUSTRATED
WITH CUTS.
THE FIFTEENTH
EDITION,
WITH CONSIDERABLE ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS.
[Price one Shilling.]
[Reverse
of title page]
Printed by B.C. COLLINS,
Canal,
Saliſbury.
THE
INTRODUCTION.
lie by
lay in
ALEXANDER to ARISTOTLE, greeting.
"You have not done well to publish your books of select
knowledge; for what is there now, in which I can surpass others, if
those things which I have been instructed in are communicated to every
body? For my own part, I declare to you, I would rather excel others in
knowledge than in power."
"Farewel."
MUSEUM
FOR
YOUNG GENTLEMEN AND LADIES.
NOTES AND POINTS
USED IN
Writing and Printing.
1. The Comma
(,)
|
3. Colon
(:) |
| 2. Semicolon
(;) |
4.
Period (.) |
Comma
one
Semicolon
two
Colon
three
Period
four
Colon
Semicolon
Interrogation
Admiration
Exclamation
1. Apostrophe
(’)
|
7.
Section (§
)
|
2.
Hyphen (-)
|
8. Ellipsis
(―)
|
3. Parenthesis ( )
|
9. Index
( )
|
4.
Brackets [ ]
|
10. Asterisk (*)
|
5. Paragraph
(¶ )
|
11.
Obelisk (†)
|
6.
Quotation (“)
|
12.
Caret (^)
|
Apostrophe
lov'd
Hyphen
pan-cake
Parenthesis
I
know that in me
liveth
Brackets
The little word
makes a great noise
Brackets
Parenthesis
Paragraph
Quotation
Section
Ellipsis
Index
Asterisk
Obelisk
Dagger
Caret
had
A certain man two sons:
^ |
had
Caret
Braces
Dialysis
Diæresis
Raphaël
Circumflex
Euphrâtes
Accent
negléct
hómage
RULES
FOR READING.
The
sun shines upon the just and upon the unjust
unjust
just
we must not imitate the
unjust practices of others
to consider the design
of the whole
emphatical
who
what
when
Did my father walk abroad yesterday?
father
he
somebody
else
walk
foot
horseback
yesterday
yesterday
RULES
TO READ VERSE.
prose
verse
Prose
Verse
metre
measure
blank verse
second
fourth
sixth
eighth
tenth
twelfth
The
mónarch spóke, and stráit a múrmur
róse.
English
Lóud
as the súrges, whén the témpest blóws.
first
third
fifth
seventh
Cóuld
we, whích we
néver cán,
Strétch our
líves beyónd their spán;
Beáuty líke a
shádow flíes,
Ánd our yóuth
befóre us díes. |
'Tis the vóice of the
slúggard,
I heár him compláin,
You have
wák'd me too soón, I must slúmber
agáin. |
First
Secondly
glittering
glitt'ring
The
USE of CAPITALS, and the different LETTERS used in PRINTING.
Roman
Italic
English
Old English
Roman
Italic
A CONCISE
ACCOUNT OF ANCIENT BRITAIN.
CHAP. I.
happy
Follow me, fellow
soldiers, unless you will betray the Roman Eagle into the hands of the
enemy. For my part I am resolved to discharge my duty to Caesar
and the Commonwealth.
A COMPENDIOUS
HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. II.
THE
INTERMEDIATE HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. III.
The
NORMAN
KINGS.
[sic]
[sic]
[sic]
The
House of Lancaster, called the RED ROSE.
The
House of York, called the WHITE ROSE.
THE
MODERN HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAP. IV.
The
House of TUDOR.
[sic]
The
STUART FAMILY.
No Bishop, No King
[sic]
The
House of ORANGE.
[sic]
[sic]
The
House of HANOVER.
[sic]
[sic]
[sic]
[sic]
[sic]
[sic]
[sic]
[sic]
[sic]
agriculture
and
commerce were improved and extended; the polite arts, such as painting
and sculpture, were patronized by his Majesty, and a royal academy
instituted for the purpose, in the year 1768. We might call this
the Augustine age; and Great-Britain promised to its posterity
universal empire. But the colonies of North America revolted from
their allegiance to Great-Britain in the year 1775, and formed a
congress, under the title The
Congress of the Thirteen United Provinces, which assumed all the
powers of government; in the following year it declared the
States of America independent of the crown and parliament of
Great-Britain. The government of France assisted them against the
forces of this nation both by sea and land; and Spain also declared war
against this country, as a diversion to its arms in favour of
America. Holland also became
a
party in the cause, to humble a nation which had arrived to such a
pitch of greatness; and the general struggle at last terminated in the
peace of 1783, in which the government of Great-Britain acknowledged
the Americans to be independent; in consequence, the provinces of
Canada and Nova Scotia only remain to us, of all our immense
possessions on the continent of America.
This country, in the year 1787, began to arm in favour of the Prince
Stadtholder of the Seven United Provinces, who had been driven from his
palace by a French party; but that business was terminated by their
submission to the Duke of Brunswick, who entered Holland, and restored
the former government. The Spaniards dispossessing our settlers
at Nootka Sound, in 1790, was made the pretext for equipping a
formidable armament; and though the difference with the Spaniards was
speedily settled by negociation [sic],
the jealousy entertained of the French Anarchists occasioned our
Government to keep the country in armed preparation; till the
indignation universally excited by the decapitation of the unfortunate
French King, and the invasion of Holland by the armies of the French
Republic, caused us to enter into that war, whose wide-extended fluence
has deluged the continent of Europe with blood, tumbled the papal
throne in ruins, dethroned the Kings of Naples and Sardinia, the former
of whom is however yet struggling for his rights, annihilated the
ancient Republics
of
Venice, Genoa, &c. &c.
extinguished the authority of
the House of Orange in Holland, endangered the very existence of the
House of Austria and the Germanic Empire, and by the invasion of the
Egypt and Syria, has even alarmed the Sultan of the Turks for the
safety of his capital, whilst the hardy bands of Russia have been
called forth into action both to defend her former inveterate foes, and
to wrest the classic ground of Italy from the gripe [sic]
of the modern
Vandals, the French! Yet amid all this carnage, the horrors of
the
war, if we except the enormous expenditure attending it, have scarcely
been felt in this country; two attempts of invasion by the enemy have
been frustrated; the captured fleets of France, Spain, and Holland,
have been triumphantly brought into our harbours; our own Colonies and
distant settlements have been secured, many of the most important of
those of the enemy have been taken; and the India Company has
established its power, by the complete conquest of the kingdom of
Mysore, Tippoo Sultaun having fallen in defending his palace at
Seringapatam. But it is a remarkable feature in this war, that after so
sanguinary a contest for seven years, Peace appears, at the close of
the year 1799, more distant than it did at its commencement.
THE HISTORY
OF THE
PRESENT STATE OF ENGLAND.
Its
Situation.
Its Air
[sic]
Its Soil.
Its Trees.
Its Plantations.
Its Rivers.
Its Contents.
Its Constitution.
Its Administration of Justice.
Its Ecclesiastical Government.
Of the Convocation.
Of the Parliament.
The
ancient STATE of
ENGLAND.
Their
GOVERNMENT.
[sic]
The
most remarkable TENETS of
their DRUIDS.
Their
ANCIENT STATES.
STATES.
|
COUNTIES.
|
1. Danmonii,
|
Cornwall
and Devon.
|
2. Durotriges,
|
Dorset.
|
3. Belgæ,
|
Somerset,
Wilts, and the
north part of Hants.
|
4. Attrebatii,
|
Berks.
|
5. Regni,
|
Surrey,
Sussex, and the south
part of Hants.
|
6. Cantii,
|
Kent.
|
7. Trinobantes,
|
Middlesex,
Hertfordshire, &
Essex.
|
8. Iceni,
|
Suffolk,
Norfolk, Cambridge,
and Huntingdon.
|
9. Catieuchlani,
|
Bucks
and Bedford.
|
10. Dobuni,
|
Gloucester
and Oxford.
|
11. Silures,
|
Hereford,
Monmouth, Rad-
nor, Brecon, & Glamorgan.
|
12. Dimetæ,
|
Carmarthen,
Pembroke, and
Cardigan.
|
13. Ordovices,
|
Flint,
Denbigh, Merioneth,
Montgomery, & Carnarvon.
|
14.
Cornavii,
|
Chester,
Salop, Stafford,
Warwick, and Worcester.
|
15.
Coritani,
|
Lincoln,
Nottingham, Derby,
Leicester, Rutland, and
Northampton.
|
16.
Brigantes,
|
York,
Lancaster, Westmore-
land, Cumberland, &
Durham.
|
17.
Ottadini,
|
Northumberland.
|
Their
general CHARACTER.
[sic]
The
ROMAN GOVERNMENT.
The
PERSECUTIONS against the
CHRISTIANS
consequent thereupon.
[sic
]
[sic]
[sic]
The
SAXON HEPTARCHY.
I. The
Kingdom of Kent.
II. The
Kingdom of the South Saxons.
III. The
Kingdom of the West Saxons.
IV. The
Kingdom of the East Saxons.
V. The
Kingdom of Northumberland.
VI. The
Kingdom of the East Angles.
VII. The
Kingdom of the Mercians.
Egbert
the Great, first King of England.
Ethelwulf,
the Second King of England.
[sic]
III.
[sic] Ethelbald and Ethelbert, joint Kings of
England.
Ethelbert,
the fourth King of England.
Ethelred,
the fifth King of England.
Alfred
the Great, sixth King of England.
[sic]
Edward
the Elder, seventh King of England.
Ethelstan,
eighth King of England.
AN ACCOUNT
OF THE
SOLAR SYSTEM,
Adapted to the Capacities of Children.
[sic]
assert, that there is an atmosphere of
air about her; and, if so, then is she subject to the wind, clouds,
rain, thunder, lightning, and other meteors, as well as the earth, and
of consequence may be
inhabited by men and animals. The diameter or thickness of the
moon, is about 2175 English miles.
The moon revolves round the earth
in about 27 days, 7 hours, and 43 minutes. According to the
different position of the moon in her orb, with respect to the sun and
earth, she puts on different aspects or phases, as new, horned, full,
&c. And since, at the same distance from the sun, she never
appears of a different face, it is evident that she has a diurnal
motion round her own axis, which is completed in the same time as her
periodical revolution is about the earth. So that the Lunarians,
or people of the moon, (if there are such) have their days and months
perpetually of equal length.
The other planets, i.e. Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars, Jupiter,
Saturn, and the Georgium Sidus,* all revolve in the same manner about
the sun as the centre of the system; and in the order from the sun as
they are named in the following figure of the UNIVERSE.
* The Georgium Sidus is a later discovery, having two moons;
without the orb of Saturn, and not represented in the following scheme,
for want of room.
Of
the EARTH, considered as a
PLANET.
OF THE CIRCLES,
Which are used by GEOGRAPHERS to explain
the Properties of the NATURAL
GLOBE.
Of
the ZONES.
Of
the CLIMATES.
[sic]
Of
LAND and WATER.
OF THE
FOUR QUARTERS OF THE WORLD,
AND FIRST OF EUROPE.
A
Swedish Man and Woman in their proper
Dresses.
An Historical and Geographical
Account of
SWEDEN, DENMARK,
and NORWAY.
An
Account of DENMARK.
An
Account of NORWAY.
A
Moscovite, or Russian Man and Woman
in
their proper Dresses.
An
account of MOSCOVY, or RUSSIA.
[sic]
A
French Man and Woman in their
proper Dresses.
An Historical and Geographical
Account of FRANCE
.
Germans
in their proper Habits.
An Account of GERMANY.
[sic]
A Dutch Man and Woman in their proper
Habits.
A
Spanish Man and Woman in their
proper
Habits.
An Account of SPAIN.
[sic]
A
Portuguese Man and Woman in their
proper Habits.
An
Account of PORTUGAL.
the world was at
an end
An
Italian Man and Woman in their proper Habits.
An Historical Description of ITALY
.
[sic]
Holy
Noble
Fair
Proud
Great
Rich
Learned
Fat
A
Turkish Man and Woman in their proper Habits.
An Account of TURKEY
.
[sic]
[sic]
ASIA.
A Man and Woman of Tartary in their
proper
Habits.
An Account of TARTARY
.
The Chinese are masters of the South and East parts of Tartary. The
Tartars are divided into four different nations, namely, the Tartars
properly so called, the Calmucks, and the Usbeck and Moguls. The
Calmuck Tartars acknowledge themselves subjects of Russia; the Usbeck
Tartars were once independent, but since subdued by Kouli Khan, the
late Sovereign of Persia,
who took possession and plundered their
capital city Bochara, which was extremely populous and wealthy. This
country of Usbeck Tartary is situate in a very happy climate and
fruitful soil, and carries on a very brisk trade to the East and West
parts of Asia: it was the country of the victorious Tamerlane, who
subdued most of the kingdoms of Asia.
[sic]
A Chinese Man and Woman in their
proper Habits.
An Account of CHINA.
THE Empire of China is a great and spacious country, on the East of
Asia, famed for its fruitfulness, wealth, beautifulness of towns, and
incredible number of inhabitants.
[sic]
An Indian Man and Woman in their
proper Habits.
An Account of INDIA
.
[sic]
[sic]
Of
TURKEY in ASIA.
[sic]
Shaw's
Travels.
AFRICA.
An Egyptian Man and Woman in their
proper
Habits.
An Account of EGYPT
.
[sic]
[sic]
An
Account of BARBARY.
[sic]
[sic]
A
Description of ZAARA, or the
Great Desarts
of AFRICA.
A
Negroe Man and Woman in their
proper
Habits.
An Account of the Land of the NEGROES
.
[sic]
An
Account of ÆTHIOPIA.
[sic]
[sic]
An
Account of GUINEA.
[sic]
AMERICA.
An American Man and Woman in their
proper
Habits.
[sic]
[sic]
An
Account of MEXICO, or
NEW SPAIN.
[sic]
An
Account of NEW MEXICO, or
GRANADA.
An
Account of FLORIDA.
An
Account of CANADA.
[sic]
[sic]
An
Account of TERRA FIRMA.
[sic]
An
Account of PERU.
Of
the Land of the AMAZONS.
An
Account of BRAZIL.
An
Account of CHILI.
i.e.
[sic]
A
Persian Man and Woman in their
proper
Habits.
An Account of PERSIA.
[sic]
An
Account of DAYS, WEEKS,
MONTHS, and
YEARS.
i.e.
i.e.
i.e.
Thirty days hath September,
April, June, and November;
February twenty-eight alone,
All the rest have thirty-one;
But when leap-year comes, that time
Has February twenty-nine. |
To
find the Leap-Year.
Divide the year of our Lord by 4, and if there be no remainder, it
is leap-year; but if there remains 1, 2, or 3, then that denotes the
first, second, or third after leap-year.
TABLES
OF
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
24
|
Grains
---
|
1
|
Pennyweight
|
dwt.
|
20
|
Pennyweights
|
1
|
Ounce ---
|
oz.
|
12
|
Ounces ---
|
1
|
Pound
|
lb.
|
16
|
Drams
---
|
1
|
Ounce
---
|
oz.
|
16
|
Ounces ---
|
1
|
Pound ---
|
lb.
|
28
|
Pounds
--- |
1
|
Quar. of a hun.
|
qr.
|
20
|
Hundreds --
|
1
|
Ton ---
|
ton.
|
N.B.
Apothecaries' Weight.
|
Char.
|
20
|
Grains
|
1
|
Scruple
---
|
|
3
|
Scruples ---
|
1
|
Dram ---
|
|
8
|
Drams
----
|
1
|
Ounce
---
|
|
12
|
Ounces ---
|
1
|
Pound ---
|
|
2
|
Pints ---
|
1
|
Quart
|
qrt.
|
4
|
Quarts ---
|
1
|
Gallon ---
|
gall..
|
63
|
Gallons ---
|
1
|
Hogshead ---
|
hhd.
|
2
|
Hogsheads ---
|
1
|
Pipe ---
|
pipe.
|
2
|
Pipes ---
|
1
|
Tun ---
|
tun.
|
2
|
Pints ---
|
1
|
Quart
---
|
qrt.
|
4
|
Quarts ---
|
1
|
Gallon ---
|
gall.
|
9
|
Gallons ---
|
1
|
Firkin ---
|
firk.
|
2
|
Firkins ---
|
1
|
Kilderkin ---
|
kild.
|
2
|
Kilderkins --
|
1
|
Barrel ---
|
bar.
|
| 1½ |
Barrel ---
|
1
|
Hogshead --
|
hhd.
|
3
|
Barrels, or 2 hhds.
|
1
|
Butt ---
|
butt.
|
N.B.
4
|
Nails ---
|
1
|
Quarter ---
|
qr.
|
4
|
Quarters --
|
1
|
Yard ---
|
yd.
|
60
|
Seconds ---
|
1
|
Minute
|
60
|
Minutes ---
|
1
|
Hour
|
24
|
Hours ---
|
1
|
Natural Day
|
7
|
Days
|
1
|
Week
|
4
|
Weeks
|
1
|
Month
|
13
|
Months, 1 day, and 6 hours, is
|
|
One
|
52
|
Weeks, 1 day, and 6 hours, is
|
|
Julian
|
365
|
Days, and 6 hours, is
|
|
Year.
|
8766
|
Hours, is
|
|
|
Note,
8
|
Pints ---
|
1
|
Gallon ---
|
gall.
|
2
|
Gallons ---
|
1
|
Peck ---
|
peck.
|
4
|
Pecks ---
|
1
|
Bushel ---
|
bush.
|
4
|
Bushels ---
|
1
|
Coomb --
|
coomb.
|
2
|
Coombs --
|
1
|
Quarter --
|
qr.
|
5
|
Quarters --
|
1
|
Wey ----
|
wey.
|
2
|
Weys ---
|
1
|
Last ---
|
last.
|
40
|
Square Perches ---
|
1
|
Rood
|
4
|
Roods ----
|
1
|
Acre
|
Long
Measure.
12
|
Inches
----
|
1
|
Foot
|
3
|
Feet
---
|
1
|
Yard
|
5
|
Yards and
½ ---
|
1
|
Pole or perch
|
40
|
Poles
---
---
|
1
|
Furlong
|
8
|
Furlongs or 1760 yards
|
1
|
English mile
|
A
MULTIPLICATION TABLE.
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
2
|
4
|
6
|
8
|
10
|
12
|
14
|
16
|
18
|
3
|
6
|
9
|
12
|
15
|
18
|
21
|
24
|
27
|
4
|
8
|
12
|
16
|
20
|
24
|
28
|
32
|
36
|
5
|
10
|
15
|
20
|
25
|
30
|
35
|
40
|
45
|
6
|
12
|
18
|
24
|
30
|
36
|
42
|
48
|
54
|
7
|
14
|
21
|
28
|
35
|
42
|
49
|
56
|
63
|
8
|
16
|
24
|
32
|
40
|
48
|
56
|
64
|
72
|
9
|
18
|
27
|
36
|
45
|
54
|
63
|
72
|
81
|
The
PENCE TABLE.
20
|
Pence is
|
1
|
shilling and
|
8
|
pence
|
30
|
---
|
2
|
----
|
6
|
|
40
|
---
|
3
|
---- |
4
|
|
50
|
---
|
4
|
---- |
2
|
|
60
|
---
|
5
|
---- |
--
|
|
70
|
---
|
5
|
---- |
10
|
|
80
|
---
|
6
|
---- |
8
|
|
90
|
---
|
7
|
---- |
6
|
|
100
|
---
|
8
|
---- |
4
|
|
110
|
---
|
9
|
---- |
2
|
|
120
|
---
|
10
|
---- |
--
|
|
130
|
---
|
10
|
---- |
10
|
|
140
|
---
|
11
|
---- |
8
|
|
150
|
---
|
12
|
---- |
6
|
|
160
|
---
|
13
|
---- |
4
|
|
170
|
---
|
14
|
---- |
2
|
|
180
|
---
|
15
|
---- |
--
|
|
190
|
---
|
15
|
---- |
10
|
|
200
|
---
|
16
|
---- |
8
|
|
210
|
---
|
17
|
---- |
6
|
|
220
|
---
|
18
|
---- |
4
|
|
230
|
---
|
19
|
---- |
2
|
|
240
|
---
|
20
|
---- |
--
|
|
[letter
corrupted]
[so
as? (letters apparently dropped)]
A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE
SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD.
The
TEMPLE
of EPHESUS.
The WALLS
of BABYLON.
[sic]
The
TOMB
of PHAROS.
[sic]
[sic]
Of
the PYRAMIDS
of
EGYPT.
[sic]
The
TOMB
of MAUSOLUS.
The
COLOSSUS
of the SUN.
The
IMAGE
of Jupiter.
Thus having given an
Account of the
Seven Wonders of the World, let us take a View of the Burning
Mountains, or Volcanos, called Mount Vesuvius and Mount Ætna;
than
which there is, perhaps, nothing in the whole Course of Nature more
worthy our Notice [sic] , or so capable of raising our Admiration;
and which, when considered in a religious sense, may, with Justice, be
said to be one of the wonderful Works of GOD.
[sic]
Death, in a thousand forms,
destructive frown'd,
|
And
Woe, Despair, and Horror rag'd around.
|
Æneid II. by Pitt.
What tongue the dreadful
slaughter could disclose;
|
Or, oh! what tears could answer half their woes?
|
Explanation
of the Cut of Mount
Vesuvius.
- The Southern Summit, out of which the fire proceeds.
- The Northern Summit.
- The Rocks on the North.
- The Valley between the two Summits.
- The Opening on the Side where the fiery Torrent broke out.
- The first Opening, called the Plain.
- The Course which the last fiery Torrent took.
- The Chapel of St. Januarius.
Explanation
of NUMBERS expressed by
Letters.
N.B.
LETTERS, TALES AND FABLES,
FOR
AMUSEMENT AND INSTRUCTION.
A Letter from Master
in London, to his Mamma in
the Country, giving a Description of the Tower, Monument, and St.
Paul's Church.
[sic]
[sic]
[sic]
[sic]
A
memorable Saying of the Duke de ORLEANS, at the Surrender of Gravelling, with a
generous Action of that Prince.
With
what a matchless virtue did
this Prince dismiss a gentleman that was hired to murder him!
This assassin was suffered to pass into the Duke's bedchamber one
morning early, pretending business of grave moment from the
Queen. As soon as the Duke cast his eyes on him, he spoke
thus: "I know thy business, friend: thou art sent to take away my
life. What hurt have I done thee? It is now in my power,
with a word, to have thee cut in pieces before my face. But I
pardon thee; go thy way, and see my face no more."
The
gentleman, stung with his own guilt, and astonished at the
excellent nature of this Prince, fell on his knees, confessed his
design, and who employed him; and having promised eternal gratitude for
his Royal favour, departed without any other notice taken of him; and
fearing to tarry in France, entered himself into the service of the
Spanish King. It was his fortune afterwards to encounter the Duke
of Orleans in a battle in Flanders. The Duke, at that instant,
was oppressed with a crowd of Germans, who surrounded him; and, in the
conflict, he lost his sword; which this gentleman perceiving, nimbly
stept to him, and delivered one into the Duke's hand, saying withal,
"Now reap the fruit of thy former clemency. Thou gavest me my
life, now I put thee in a capacity to defend thy own." The Duke
by this means at length escaped the danger he was in; and that day the
fortune of war was on his side. The French had a considerable
victory.
You see by this, that heroic actions have something divine in them, and
attract the favours of Heaven. No man was a loser by good works;
for though he be not presently rewarded, yet, in length of time, some
happy emergency arises to convince him, "That virtuous men are the
darlings of Providence."
The
remarkable Story of GIOTTO, an
Italian Painter, and his Crucifix.
IT
was a cruel and inhuman caprice of an
Italian Painter (I think his name was Giotto), who designing to draw a
crucifix to the life, wheedled a poor man to suffer himself to be bound
to the cross an hour, at the end of which he should be released again,
and receive a considerable gratuity for his pains. But instead of
this, as soon as he had him fast on the cross, he stabbed him dead, and
then fell to drawing. He was esteemed the greatest master in all
Italy at that time; and having this advantage of a dead man hanging on
a cross before him, there is no question but he made a matchless piece
of work on't.
As soon as he had finished his picture he carried it to the Pope, who
was astonished, as at a progidy [sic]
of art, highly extolling the exquisiteness of the features and limbs,
the languishing pale deadness of the face, the unaffected sinking of
the head: In a word, he had drawn to the life not only that
privation of sense and motion which we call death, but also the very
want of the least vital symptom.
This is better understood than expressed. Every body knows that it
is a master-piece to represent a passion or a thought well and
natural. Much greater is it to describe the total absence of
these interior
facilities, so as to dis
tinguish
the figure of a dead man from one that is only asleep.
Yet all this, and much more, could the Pope discern in the admirable
draught which Giotto presented him. And he liked it so well, that
he resolved to place it over the altar of his own chapel. Giotto
told him, since he liked the copy so well he would shew him the
original, if he pleased.
What dost thou mean by the original, said the Pope?
Wilt
thou shew me Jesus Christ on the
cross in his own person? No, replied Giotto, but I'll shew your
Holiness the original from whence I drew this, if you will absolve me
from all punishment. The good old father suspecting something
extraordinary from the painter's thus capitulating with him, promised,
on his word, to pardon him, which Giotto believing, immediately told
him where it was; and attending him to the place, as soon as they were
entered, he drew a curtain back which hung before the dead man on the
cross, and told the Pope what he had done.
The Holy Father, extremely troubled at so inhuman and barbarous an
action, repealed his promise, and told the painter he should surely be
put to an exemplary death.
Giotto seemed resigned to the sentence pronounced upon him, and only
begged leave to finish the picture before he died, which was granted
him. In the mean while a guard was set upon him to prevent his
escape. As soon as the Pope had caused the picture to be
delivered
FABLE
of the HARE and many FRIENDS.
By Mr. GAY.
FRIENDSHIP,
like love, is but a name,
Unless to one you stint the flame,
The child whom many fathers share,
Hath seldom known a father's care;
'Tis thus in friendship; who depend
On many, rarely find a friend.
A hare, who, in a civil way,
Complied with ev'ry thing, like Gay,
Was known by all the bestial train
Who haunt the wood, or graze the plain;
Her care was, never to offend,
And ev'ry creature was her friend.
As forth she went at early dawn,
To taste the dew-besprinkled lawn,
Behind she hears the hunter's cries,
And from the deep-mouth'd thunder flies;
She starts, she stops, she pants for breath;
She hears the near advance of death;
She doubles to mislead the hound,
And measures back her mazy round;
'Till, fainting in the public way,
Half dead with fear she gasping lay.
What transports in her bosom grew,
When first the horse appear'd in view!
Let me, says she, your back ascend,
And owe my safety to a friend;
You know my feet betray my flight,
To friendship every burden's light.
The horse replied, poor honest puss,
It grieves my heart to see thee thus;
Be comforted, relief is near,
For all your friends are in the rear.
She next the stately bull implor'd,
And thus replied the mighty lord;
Since every beast alive can tell
That I sincerely wish you well,
I may, without offence, pretend
To take the freedom of a friend;
Love calls me hence; a fav'rite cow
Expects me near yon barley mow;
And when a lady's in the case,
You know all other things give place.
To leave you thus might seem unkind,
But see, the goat is just behind.
The goat remark'd her pulse was high,
Her languid head, her heavy eye;
My back, says he, may do you harm;
The sheep's at hand, and wool is warm.
The sheep was feeble, and complain'd
His sides a load of wool sustain'd,
Said he was slow, confest his fears;
For hounds eat sheep as well as hares.
She now the trotting calf addrest,
To save from death a friend distrest.
Shall I, says he, of tender age,
In this important care engage?
Older and abler past you by;
How strong are those! how weak am I!
Should I presume to bear you hence,
Those friends of mine may take offence:
Excuse me then. You know my heart,
But dearest friends, alas, must part!
How shall we all lament: Adieu!
For see the hounds are just in view.
|
The
dying Words and Behaviour of
three great
Men, when just quitting the Stage of
Life.
SIR
Francis Walsingham, towards the end
of his life, grew very melancholy, and writ to the Lord Burleigh to
this
purpose: "We have lived long enough to our country,. to our fortunes,
and to our Sovereign; it is high time we begin to live to
ourselves, and to our God."
Sir Henry Wotton, who had gone on several embassies, and was intimate
with the greatest Princes, chose to retire from all, saying, The
utmost happiness a man could attain to, was to be at leisure to be, and to do good; never reflecting on
his former years, but with tears, he would say, "How much time have I
to repent of! and how little to do it in!"
Philip III. King of Spain, seriously reflecting upon the life he had
led in the world, cried out upon his death-bed, How happy were I, had I
spent those twenty-three years that I have held my kingdom, in a retirement! saying to
his confessor, "My concern is for my soul, not my body."
FINIS.
SALISBURY: Printed by B.C. COLLINS.
