After what has been stated concerning Basilisk attributes, it may seem extraor dinary that Greek and Roman naturalists treat of Basilisk hunting. Excitement of the chase is proverbially fascinating. In all times sportsmen have for amusement courted danger. The question is not so much whether sportsmen would now go out Basilisk-stalking were the creature really in existence, as how they would devise a way to kill him. One must needs see the prey to be brought down; but how to see the Basilisk, and not be one's self brought down? I am not qui e certain whether the Basilisk was held to be harmless if viewed posteriorly; but even granting that to be so, the creature might turn his head. Then too be the fact remembered that his breath was poisonous. It does not seem easy, I repeat, to imagine a way of killing the Basilisk. The ancients represent Basilisk-stalking to have been conducted in the following manner: People went out into the arid deserts where Basilisks did congregate, each person bearing a mirror. This was the only weapon. The hunters advanced, each holding the mirror well before him. The sands were well explored; and if in the course of beating, a Basilisk should chance to gaze upon the mirror, back came his own glances reflected, and he was a dead Basilisk forthwith. This system was ingenious, but it must have been awfully dangerous and most abominably slow.

ancient writer described the Basilisk as | bra di capello. One point of testimopy winged, though in medieval times the more our author notes, namely, that monster gained that attribute occasion- Basilisk-poison cannot act through specally. From the dawn of Christianity tacle-glasses. onwards to a certain period, the Cockatrice type of presentment for the monster came to prevail; the creature being described and in some cases depicted as having some resemblance to a cock. Invariably, however, the Basilisk, whether of serpent-like or cock-like type, was represented pictorially as the wearer of a kingly crown, emblematic of his regal attributes. Next came a further mutation of popular belief as regards this creature. No longer a serpent or a twelve-legged cock, the Basilisk came to be regarded as a sort of eminently poisonous toad. The habitat of the monster, too, had changed. Whereas in more ancient times the Basilisk had been wont to dwell in the full glare of an African sun, basking upon desert sands that his fatal eye-glance had made a solitude, the Basilisk of later times took up his abode in wells and mines and tombs, striking down with fell eyeglance people who might descend incautiously. Frequently, when reading mining experiences of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, one will meet with circumstantial accounts of individuals killed by looking upon the eyes of a Basilisk; and invariably the accident has happened in the recesses of some cave, or the depths of some mine or well. So generally did the belief in Basilisk-eye poison prevail in England, at least, up to the beginning of the last century, that a writer on natural philosophy of that date circumstantially accounts for it. Discussing the venom of poisons generally, it was his object to prove that their action depended on a mechanical function. He would have his readers believe that poisons acted through the laceration caused by the sharpness of their particles. Taking this as an established fact, he goes on to set forth how very sharp the particles of certain poisons may be; seeing the Basilisk-poison acts through a mere eyeglance. This author does not seem to have the remotest notion that the Basilisk might be a fabled creature merely. He writes with the same confidence of this animal that a naturalist now might write concerning the rattlesnake or co

There is usually some foundation for every myth, and the Basilisk myth is no exception, whether we study its ancient serpent phase or its mediæval toad-like mutation. The part of the ancient tale which relates to the immunity of the weasel in presence of the king of serpents is reflected on-the naturalist is reminded of the well-attested relations between the cobra di capella and a weasel-like animal called the mungoose. Not only is this little animal fearless in presence of the dreaded cobra, but no sooner does he meet with this serpent than he violently attacks it. If bitten, as sometimes happens, notwithstanding that the mungoose is wonderfully agile,

1867.7

PRINCE TALLEYRAND.

the celebration of the great patriotic feast, styled the "federation," on July 14th, 1790; and in his capacity of bishop, at the head of 200 priests, wearing the national colors over their white robes, he officiated in that solemnity upon the great altar erected in the midst of the Champ de Mars. In the assembly he reported a plan for the reörganization of public instruction, which plan and report are still considered masterpieces of ingenuity; he advocated the abolition of ecclesiastical tithes, the assumption by the government of the lands belonging to the clergy as national property, and the establishment of a civil constitution for that order; and on this constitution being adopted, he consecrated such priests as consented to take the oath to it. This, added to his many deficiencies as a Catholic bishop, and his political course, caused him to be excommunicated by the pope. He attended Mirabeau in his last moments, and was charged by the great orator to deliver in the assembly a speech he had prepared upon testamentary powers and the rights of succession. On the ad journment of the constituent assembly, October 1st, 1791, Talleyrand was sent, under Chauvelin, on a mission to England, to promote friendly relations between that country and France; but he was coldly and even disdainfully treated, his exertions proved fruitless, and he returned home previous to August 10th. After the king's fall he retired to England; but, while a warrant was issued against him in Paris by the committee of public safety (1793), he received peremptory orders from the ministry to leave England in twenty-four hours. He then sailed for the United States, where, through successful speculations, he accumulated a fortune, and carefully studied American institutions and commerce. Before the adjournment of the convention, on motion of Chénier, acting under Madame de Staël's influence, his name was erased from the list of emigrants; he returned to Paris, found himself a member of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences, was one of the original members of the Constitutional Club, and in July, 1797, was called to the ministry of foreign affairs. On Bonaparte's return from Italy, Decem

641

ber 5th, he welcomed him, introduced
him to the directors, delivered a speech
in his honor at his great official recep-
tion, and promoted his subsequent de-
signs. While the young general sailed
for Egypt, the diplomatist was to repair
to Constantinople in order to reconcile
the sultan to the invasion of one of his
provinces; he however neglected this
mission, and continued in office till June,
1799, when he was forced to resign, his
diplomacy not having fulfilled the ex-
pectations formed of it. When Bona-
parte returned from Egypt, he again
propitiated the conqueror, procured an
interview between Bonaparte and Sieyès,
and prevailed upon Barras to resign,
thus greatly contributing to the success
of the coup d'état of the 18th Brumaire.
He was rewarded by his reäppointment,
in December, 1799, as minister of foreign
affairs, which office he held for nearly
eight years. His pliancy, aristocratic
associations, and refined manners, suited
the new master of France, under whose
leadership he aided in the reëstablish-
ment of the peace in Europe, taking
part in the successful conclusion of the
treaties of Lunéville, 1801, and of Ami-
ens, 1802. In 1804 he was released
from excommunication and his clerical
vows, and, yielding to Bonaparte's in-
junction, took formally as his wife Ma-
dame Grant, with whom he had lived
for the last seven years. His influence
was now on the wane, or at least his
advice was less complacently listened
to. In 1806 he received the office of
grand chamberlain and the principality
of Benevento in Italy. Having vainly
advocated an alliance with England, and
feeling the growing coldness of the em-
peror, he resigned his ministerial office,"
August 9th, 1807, and received the title
of vice grand elector, to which a large
salary was attached. Thenceforth he
was only occasionally consulted by his
sovereign, but gave very free expression
to his views upon great political ques-
tions, and was in consequence deprived
of his office of chamberlain in 1809; but
this only stimulated his sarcastic criti-
cisms against the imperial policy. As
early as 1812 he is said to have foretold
the approaching overthrow of the unruly
conqueror. He accordingly prepared
himself for the crisis, and so skilfully

gusted by the hard terms imposed upon France by the allied powers, and by the reäctionary tendencies of the new Chamber of Deputies, he resigned his office at the end of a few weeks. According to another account, having become obnoxious to the Emperor Alexander, he was dismissed; but through the Duke of Richelieu's entreaties he received the title of Grand Chamberlain of France, with a salary of 40,000 francs. He still visited the Tuileries, but was coldly received; he retained his seat in the Chamber of Peers, and delivered there several opposition speeches; but his influence was greatest in social intercourse, his saloon being the gathering place of politicians of every shade of opinion. After the revolution of July, 1830, he was appointed ambassador to England, with a princely salary, and succeeded in negotiating a treaty, April 22d, 1834, by which France, England, Spain, and Portugal united for the pacification and settlement of the two peninsular kingdoms. Satisfied with this last perform

manœuvred that on its occurrence he was looked upon, at home and abroad, as the most influential statesman of the day, and the leader of the new revolution. A last interview between him and the emperor in the beginning of 1814, during which he was very harshly treated by Napoleon, completed the estrangement between them; and Talleyrand, although still a dignitary of the empire and one of the council of regency, thought of nothing but ruining his master. While the latter was accomplishing wonders of skill and valor on the battle field, he secretly sent word to the allied sovereigns to hasten toward Paris; and when that metropolis surrendered, March 30th, he offered his hotel to the Emperor Alexander. His management secured the appointment by the senate, on April 1st, of a provisional government, and its formal declaration on the following day that Napoleon was dethroned. While Marshal Marmont was prevailed upon to sign at Essonne (April 3d) a convention that baffled Napoleon's last hopes of resistance, he resigned his office, January 7th, ing, Talleyrand welcomed the Count of 1835, and retired to private life. In Artois to the French metropolis, April 1838 he delivered the eulogium on Count 12th, and remained the head of the new Reinhardt before the Academy of Moral government. On the arrival of Louis and Political Sciences. During his latter XVIII. he was appointed (May 12th) years he returned to the observance of minister of foreign affairs, holding, in ecclesiastical rites, and died reconciled fact, the premiership in the cabinet; and to the church. The most remarkable of on June 4th he was made a peer of his essays is his Mémoire sur les relaFrance. He negotiated the first treaty tions commerciales des Etats Unis vers of Paris, May 30th, 1814; and four 1797. He left personal memoirs, which months later he was sent as minister are supposed to throw considerable light plenipotentiary to the Congress of Vien- upon the events in which he particina, where, notwithstanding his superior pated, and are to be published, accordabilities as a diplomatist, he failed in ing to his will, thirty years after his protecting the interests of France as death, that is to say, in 1868. That well as he desired. He was overtaken time is now so near at hand that no litthere by the sudden return of Napoleon tle interest begins to be felt in these from Elba, and participated in the dec memoirs. That they will possess a high laration that "outlawed the enemy of degree of interest no one can doubt. nations." He was excepted from the And in the present and prospective conamnesty granted to those who had pre-dition of France, it is not at all improbviously deserted the emperor, repaired to Ghent, where he joined the exiled king Louis XVIII.,accompanied him to France when he returned there after the battle of Waterloo, and resumed, July 8th, 1815, the premiership in the cabinet and the ministry of foreign affairs; but being dis

able that a considerable political significance may be attached to them. Indeed it is not impossible that the policy and political views of this remarkable man may again play an important part in the affairs and destinies of France.

HAMPDEN AND CHALGROVE FIELD.

BY GEORGE SMITH.

FULL gayly rode the Cavaliers on that disastrous day,
With bounding blood and joyous hearts all eager for the fray;
For sweet success had crown'd their arms, with an unwonted tide,
E'er since Prince Rupert, son of fire, became their welcome guide-
And well they loved that daring youth, proud scion of their king,
Whose soul was bold and fearless as a bird upon the wing.

Now as they came to Chalgrove Field, brave Rupert made a stand,
The trumpet sounded and the troops flock'd towards him in a band:
Then stretch'd he forth his mailed hand and lifted high his voice,
And cried, "My father and my country' be each gallant soldier's choice!"
So every warrior drew his sword, and shook the blade on high,
And gave the word by which he fought, and was prepared to die!

In grim array before them lay the foe upon the field,
With looks that told of giant hearts that knew not how to yield-
And in old England's palmiest days, what patriots could eclipse
The grand, the simple Puritans, with guileless hearts and lips?
With Hampden for their leader, then, or vict'ry or the grave,
They stood a rock to break the roll of tyranny's wild wave.

"God and our country!" was the oath that bound their valiant souls;
"And if I fall," the leader cried, "tis only one that falls;

Stay not to mourn for me, I pray, nor lose the combat's prime,

But give to England liberty, or win a death sublime!"

With that he spurr'd his horse, and charged the thickest of the foe,
And with his comrades by his side dealt many a sturdy blow.

The fight wax'd fierce; the Roundhead pray'd, the Cavalier rush'd on,
Impetuous and lion-like, amidst the battle-dun;

But oh! a thousand sorrows be upon that dreadful day,

That saw the first of English hearts sink downward in the clay

The great and glorious captain from the cruel bullet reel'd,

And bending o'er his horse's neck drave listless round the field.

And as they bore him from the scene he turn'd aside his face,
For hard, hard by he saw the dear, the well-nigh worshipp'd place
Where lovers' tears had oft been shed, and by affection dried-
Where, full of youthful love and pride, he went to claim his bride-
And bursting yet again the flood pent up within his breast,
He wept till ev'ry man was moved, and ev'ry heart distress'd.

The crown-men saw him led away, and raised a joyful cry,
Whilst like a mountain avalanche, that darkens earth and sky,
Right down upon the cheerless band they bore with thund'ring haste,
And, breaking up their wav'ring line, laid all their pow'rs in waste;
Then each man hew'd and hack'd, and cut his adversary down,
And madly goading on his horse, escaped to Oxford town.

All fainting from the loss of blood, the patriot came to Thame,
Weak as a babe from suff'ring, but his manly heart the same;
And on a couch reclining, all his wounds were quickly dress'd,
Then, like the sun at eventide, he calmly sank to rest;
But round him a right trusty few their faithful vigils kept,
Who mark'd each change with sorrowing gaze, and for their hero wept.

Anon the bands of sleep were loosed-the sleeper roused his soul,
And soon a heav'n-caught smile beam'd forth upon the watchers all;
O well he loved them, and their cause was dear to him as life,
For he it was that threw the brand that first provoked the strife!—
He turn'd him to the lattice, and beheld the meadows fair,
The glorious homes of Britain, too, and thus brake out in prayer:

"O God, who art the Father of this fatherland of ours,
Whose might can scatter armies, and whose breath dissolve their tow'rs-
Thou who canst crush the crowns of kings, and bring to naught the strong,
Who wilt not from Thine awful throne behold and suffer wrong-

To Thee we cry, 'Come forth! come forth! avenge Thine own elect,
Let not the Stuart on our shores bear his proud head erect!'