that the multitude of sad groups in it did but distract me-I took a single captive, and having first shut him up in his dungeon, I then looked through the twilight of his grated door to take his picture.

15. I beheld his body half wasted away with long expectation and confinement, and felt what kind of sickness of the heart it is which arises from hope deferred. Upon looking nearer, I saw him pale and feverish: in thirty years the western breeze had not once fanned his blood-he had seen no sun, no moon, in all that time-nor had the voice of friend or kinsman breathed through his lattice-his children—but here my heart began to bleed-and I was forced to go on with another part of the portrait.

16. He was sitting upon the ground upon a little straw, in the furthest corner of his dungeon, which was alternately his chair and bed; a little calender of small sticks was laid at the head, notched all over with the dismal days and nights he had passed there he had one of these little sticks in his hand, and with a rusty nail he was etching another day of misery to add to the heap.

17. As I darkened the little light he had, he lifted up a hopeless eye towards the door, then cast it down-shook his head, and went on with his work of affliction. I heard his chains upon his legs, as he turned his body to lay his little stick upon the bundle-He gave a deep sigh—I saw the iron enter into his soul-I burst into tears-I could not sustain the picture of confinement which my fancy had drawn.

LESSON LIV.

Alcander and Septimius.-GOLDSMITH.

1. ALCANDER and Septimius were two Athenian students, whose tastes for the arts and sciences became the foundation of their future friendship, and they were scarcely ever seen apart. Although Alcander's breast was animated by that tender sentiment, a still more lively one found entrance, and the fair Hypatia became the object of his love: He declared his passion, and was accepted.

2. Septimius happened to have left the city, when his friend first saw the blooming fair one, and did not return until the day fixed upon for his marriage. The moment that introduced him to the view of such perfection, was fatal to his peace; and the struggle between love and friendship became too violent for his

resolution. A sudden and dangerous fever attacked him; and the unsuspicious Alcider introduced the object of his affection to assist him in his unwearied care of his friend.

3. The moment the physicians beheld Hypatia enter, they were no longer at a loss to account for their patient's illness; and calling Alcander aside, they informed him of the nature of it, and also expressed their fears that Septimius' recovery was impossible! Tortured between the dread of losing the friend of his heart, and agonized at the idea of relinquishing the object of his affection, his anguish for some time deprived him of utterance; but recovering that fortitude which had ever marked his conduct, he flew to the bed-side of his apparently dying friend, and promised to renounce his claim to Hypatia, if she consented to a union with Septimius.

4. Whether Hypatia had not been strongly attached to the amiable Alcander, or whether compassion urged her to accept the hand of his friend, is uncertain; but they were united, quitted Athens, and went directly to Septimius' house at Rome. Hypatia's friends, imagining Alcander had relinquished his betrothed bride for the sake of a rich reward, commenced an action against him for a breach of promise; and the judges, biassed by the representations of his enemies, ordered that he should pay a heavier fine than his whole property amounted to.

5. The wretched Alcander was now reduced to the most melancholy situation; his friend absent, the object of his love lost, and his own character stigmatized with baseness! Being absolutely unable to pay the demand, his person became the property of his oppressors, and he was carried into the market place and sold as a common slave. A Thracian merchant became his purchaser, and for several years he endured a life of torment. At length liberty presented itself to his view, and the opportunity of flight was not to be rejected. Alcander ardently embraced it, and arrived at Rome in the dusk of the evening.

6. Friendless, hopeless, and forlorn, the generous Alcander had no place of shelter, and necessity compelled him to seek a lodging in a gloomy cavern. Two robbers, who had long been suspected to frequent that spot, arrived there soon after midnight, and disputing about their booty, fortunately did not perceive his presence. One of them at length was so exasperated against his companion, that drawing a dagger from his side, he plunged it into his heart, and left him, weltering in his blood at the mouth of the cave.

7. Alcander's miseries had been so accumulated, and his distresses so undeserved, that his mind at last was worn down by his afflictions, and he became indifferent to every thing around him. In this situation he was discovered, and dragged to a court of justice, as the murderer of the man whose body had been found in the cave. Weary of existence, he did not deny the charge; and sentence was going to be pronounced against him, when the murderer, smitten with a pang of conscience, entered the court, and avowed the fact !

8. Astonishment seized every mind, but particularly that of the judge who was going to comdemn him, who, examining the countenance of a man capable of such singular conduct, discovered the features of his beloved friend, Alcander! Rising from the throne of justice, and flying to the bar of guilt, he caught his suffering Alcander in his arms, and, after shedding over him tears of joy and compassion, presented him to the Senators as a man whose disinterested conduct had been the means of preserving his own existence.

LESSON LV.

INGRATITUDE-Story of Inkle and Yarico.

1. AMIDST the various vices to which human nature is prone, none more strikingly evince its debasement than ingratitude. For other vices, and other failings, reason may be able to assign a cause; but for that she must search in vain. That kindness should ever be returned with cruelty, or affection be treated with neglect, is humanity's shame, and man's disgrace.

2. Mr. Thomas Inkle, a young merchant of London, was the third son of a wealthy citizen, who had carefully instilled into his mind a desire of acquiring wealth; and this propensity, which he had imbibed from precept, and felt from nature, was the grand inducement for him to try his fortune in the West Indies. Inkle's person was absolutely the reverse of his mind: the former was manly and noble; but the latter mean and contracted.

3. During the voyage, the Achilles, the vessel in which he embarked, put into a creek to avoid the fury of a storm; and young Inkle, with several of the party, went on shore, to take a view of a scene so entirely new. They had not walked far up the country before they were observed by a party of Indians, and fear and apprehension lent wings to their flight. Inkle

outran his companions, and breathless with terror, sought secu rity in the thicket of a forest.

4. He had not been there long, when he was surprised by the appearance of a young female, whose benignant countenance seemed instantly to compassionate his forlorn situation. The name of the female was Yarico. Gentleness and sweetness were displayed in every feature; and when Inkle, by signs, acquainted her with his condition, she evidently proved that sympathy was confined to no particular clime, and that humanity depends not upon the color of the skin.

5. The generous Indian was a woman of high birth; and knowing that the tenderness she felt for the unfortunate stranger would be displeasing to her parents, she knew the necessity of disguising it. She conducted Inkle to a remote cave, supplied his wants, and daily administered to his comforts. Her affection in time became so strong, that she scarcely could exist but in his presence.

6. Fearful that he would grow weary of his confinement, she used to watch the opportunities of her parents' absence, and then conduct him into the beauteous groves, with which that country abounds; then persuade him to lie down and slumber, and anxiously watch by him for fear he should be disturbed! His little dwelling was adorned with all the elegance that native art could suggest, and unsuspecting innocence employ, to make it appear pleasing to her lover's eyes.

7. At length Yarico had the happiness of finding Inkle undeistand her language, and of hearing him express the strength of his gratitude, and power of his love. Inkle was constantly representing the joys that would await them, if they could once return to England, and painted his passion in such glowing colors, that the unsuspecting Yarico could not doubt its sincerity, and at length promised not only to become the partner of his flight, but daily watch the arrival of some vessel to promote it.

8. The wished for object soon appeared; the unsuspicious Yarico left the abode of her doating parents, and, forgetful of duty, thought only of her affection. The ship in which they had embarked was bound for Barbadoes,* and all Inkle's ideas of acquiring wealth returned with double force. Love, which had been a transitory passion, and which had its foundation in interest, now yielded to a superior claim. His freedom once obtained the means were totally forgotten, and the unfortunate Yarico was considered as a tax upon his bounty.

* Barbadoes, the most eastern of the West India Islands.

9. As soon as the vessel arrived at Barbadoes, the merchants crowded around it for the purpose of purchasing slaves. The despicable Inkle was animated at the sight, and resolving to relieve himself of what he considered a burden, offered the beauteous Yarico, his amiable deliverer, to the highest bidder! It was in vain that she threw herself on her knees before him, or pleaded her tenderness and affection; the heart that could be dead to gratitude was lost to love; and the unfortunate Yarico was doomed to a life of slavery!!

LESSON LVI.

The Battle of Blenheim*-SOUTHEY.

1. Ir was a summer evening;

Old Kaspar's work was done;
And he, before his cottage door,
Was sitting in the sun;

And by him sported on the green,
His little grandchild, Wilhemine.
2. She saw her brother Peterkin

Roll something large and round,
That he beside the rivulet,

In playing there had found;
He came to ask what he had found,
That was so large, and smooth, and round.

3. Old Kaspar took it from the boy,

Who stood expectant by;

And then the old man shook his head,
And with a natural sigh,

"Tis some poor fellow's skull, said he,
Who fell in the great victory.

4. I find them in the garden, for
There's many here about,

And often when I go to plough,
The ploughshare turns them out;
For
many thousand men, said he,

Were slain in this great victory.

* Blenheim, a town in the north-western part of Austria, on the river Danube. It is famous for the great victory obtained in its vicinity, on the 13th of August, 1704, by the English and Austrians, under the duke of Marlborough and prince Eugene, over the French and Bavarians, commanded by marshals Tallard, Marsin, and the elector of Bavaria. The loss of the French and Bavarians exceeded 30,000; that of the allies was 12.000