have received, fighting by your side for the extension of the em pire, if our commerce is an object below your consideration, if justice and humanity have lost their influence on your hearts, still motives are not wanting to excite your indignation at the measures now pursued: your wealth, your honor, your liberty are at stake!

1. Ir pride leads the van, beggary brings up the rear. He that can travel well afoot, keeps a good horse. Mary's mouth costs her nothing, for she never opens it but at others' expense. Some men grow mad by studying much192 to know; but who grows mad by studying good to grow?

2. Take this remark from Richard poor and lame, — Whate'er 's16 begun in anger ends in shame. The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise. He that falls in love with himself, will have no rivals. Against diseases, know the strongest fence is the defensive virtue, abstinence. If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself.

3. A mob's a monster; with heads enough, but no brains. There is nothing humbler than ambition when it is about to climb. The discontented man finds no easy chair. When Prosperity was well mounted, she let go the bridle, and soon came tumbling out of the saddle. A little neglect may breed great mischief; for want of a nail the shoe was lost, and for want of a shoe the horse was lost, and for want of a horse the rider was lost.

4. A false friend and a shadow attend only while the sun shines. Plough deep while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep. Old boys have playthings as well as young ones; the difference is only in the price. If you would keep your secret from an enemy, tell it not to a friend.

5. One to-day is worth two to-morrows. What maintains one vice, would bring up two children. It is foolish to lay out money in a purchase of repentance. If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some; for he that goes a borrowing, goes a sorrowing. Pride breakfasted with plenty,

Isabella. AND so, Don Gomez, it is your conclusion that we ought to dismiss the proposition of this worthy Genoese.

Don Gomez. His scheme, your majesty, seems to me fanciful in the extreme; but I am a plain, matter-of-fact man, and do not see visions and dream dreams, like some.

Isa. And yet Columbus has given us cogent reasons for believing that it is practicable to reach the eastern coast of India by sailing in a westerly direction.

*

Don G. Admitting that his theory" is correct, namely, that the earth is a sphere,t-how would it be possible for him to return, if he once descended that sphere in the direction he proposes? Would not the coming back be all up hill? Could a ship accomplish it with even the most favorable wind?

Columbus. Will your majesty allow me to suggest that if the earth is a sphere, the same laws of adhesion and motion must operate at every point on its surface; and the objection of Don Gomez would be quite as valid against our being able to return from crossing the Strait of Gibraltar.

Don G. This gentleman, then, would have us believe the monstrous absurdity that there are people on the earth who are our antip'o-dēs; who walk with their heads down, like flies on the ceiling.

Col. But, your majesty, if there is a law of attraction which makes matter gravitate to the earth, and prevents its flying off into space, may not this law operate at every point on the round earth's surface?

Isa. Truly, it so seems to me; and I perceive nothing absurd in the notion that this earth is a globe floating or revolving in

space.

Don G. May it please your majesty, the ladies are privileged to give credence to many wild tales which we plain, mat

Columbus died in the erroneous belief that it was the eastern shore of Asia, and not a new continent, that he had discovered.

+ Practise the Exercises on the twenty-third elementary sound, page 40.

ter-of-fact men cannot admit. Every step I take confutes this

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visionary idea of the earth's rotundity. Would not the blood run into my head, if I were standing upside down? Were I not fearful of offending your majesty, I would quote what the great Lactantius says.

Isa. We are not vain of our science, Don Gomez; so let us have the quotation.

Don G. "Is there any one so foolish," he asks, "as to believe that there are antip'o-des with their feet opposite to ours; that there is a part of the world in which all things are topsy-turvy, where the trees grow with their branches downward, and where it rains, hails and snows, upwards?"

Col. I have already answered this objection. If there are people on the earth who are our antip'o-dēs, it should be remembered that we are theirs also.

We know

Don G. Really, that is the very point wherein we matter-offact men abide by the assurance of our own senses. that we are not walking with our heads down.

Isa. To cut short the discussion, you think that the enterprise which the Genoese proposes is one unworthy of our serious consideration; and that his theory of an unknown shore to the westward of us is a fallacy.EI

Don G. As a plain, matter-of-fact man, I must confess that 1 so regard it. Has your majesty ever seen an ambassador from this unknown coast?

Isa. Do you, Don Gomez, believe in the existence of a world of spirits?

Don G. I accept what the church says.

Isa. But have you ever seen an ambassador from that unknown world?

Don G. Certainly not. By faith we look forward to it. Isa. Even so by faith does the Genoese look forward, far over the misty ocean, to an undiscovered shore.

Col. Your majesty is right; but let it be added that I have reasons O! most potent and resistless reasons for the faith that is in me: the testimony of many navigators who have picked up articles that must have drifted from this distant coast;

the nature of things, admitting that the earth is round; the reports current among the people of one of the northern nations, that many years ago their mariners had sailed many leagues westward till they reached a shore where the grape grew abundantly; - these and other considerations have made it (next to faith in my Saviour) the fixed persuasion of my mind that there is a great discovery reserved for the man who will sail patiently westward, trusting in God's good providence, and turning not back till he has achieved his purpose.

Don G. Then truly we should never hear of him again. Speculation! mere speculation, your majesty! When this gentleman can bring forward some solid facts that will induce us plain, matter-of-fact men to risk money in forwarding his enterprise, it will then be time enough for royalty to give it heed. Why, your majesty, the very boys in the street point at their foreheads as he passes along.

*

Isa. And do you bring forward the frivolity of boys, jeering at what they do not comprehend, as an argument why Isabella should not give heed to this great and glorious scheme ay, sir, though it should fail, still great and glorious, - urged in language so intelligent and convincing, by this grave and earnest man, whom you think to undervalue by calling him an adventurer? Know, Don Gomez, that the "absurdity," as you style it, shall be tested, and that forthwith."

Don G. Your majesty will excuse me if I remark that I have from your royal consort himself the assurance that the finan'ces are so exhausted by the late wars, that he cannot consent to advance the necessary funds for fitting out an expedition of the kind proposed.

Isa. Be mine, then, the privilege! I have jewels, by the pledging of which I can raise the amount required; and I have resolved that they shall be pledged to this enterprise, without any more delay.

Col. Your majesty shall not repent your heroic resolve. I will return, your majesty, be sure I will return, your feet such a jewel as never queen wore yet able fame a fame that shall couple with your

and lay at an imperishmemory the

benedictions of millions yet unborn in climes yet unknown to civilized man. There is an uplifting presentiment in my mind. a conviction that your majesty will live to bless the hour you came to this decision.

Don G. A presentiment? A plain, matter-of-fact man, like myself, must take leave of your majesty, if his practical common sense is to be met and superseded by presentiments! An ounce of fact, your majesty, is worth a ton of presentiment. Isa. That depends altogether upon the source of the presentiment, Don Gomez. If it come from the Fountain of all truth,

shall it not be good?

Don G. I humbly take my leave of your majesty.

XLII.

Madame Vinet.

THE RETURN OF COLUMBUS.

DON GOMEZ HIS SECRETARY.

Don Gomez. WHAT! what is this you tell me? Columbus returned? A new world discovered? Impossible!

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Secretary. It is even so, sir. A courier arrived at the palace but an hour since with the intelligence. Columbus was driven by stress of weather to anchor in the Tagus. All Portugal is in a ferment of enthusiasm, and all Spain will be equally excited soon. The sensation is prodigious.

Don G. O! it is a trick! It must be a trick!

Sec. But he has brought home the proofs of his visit: gold and precious stones, strange plants and animals; and, above all, specimens of a new race of men, copper-colored, with straight hair.

Don G. Still I say, a trick! He has been coasting along the African shore, and there collected a few curiosities, which he is passing off for proofs of his pretended discovery.

Sec. It is a little singular that all his men should be leagued with him in keeping up so unprofitable a falsehood.

Don G. But 't is against reason - against common sense that such a discovery should be made.

Sec. King John of Portugal has received him with royal magnificence has listened to his accounts, and is persuaded that they are true.