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a faded black handkerchief, and one or two more such humble attempts to express, by outward signs, that grief which passes show.1 When I looked round upon the storied monuments," the stately hatchments, the cold marble pomp, with which grandeur mourned magnificently over departed pride,3 and turned to this poor widow, bowed down by age and sorrow at the altar of her God, and offering up the prayers and praises of a pious, though a broken heart, I felt that this living monument of real grief was worth them all.

I related her story to some of the wealthy members of the congregation, and they were moved by it. They exerted themselves to render her situation more comfortable, and to lighten her afflictions. It was, however, but smoothing a few steps to the grave. In the course of a Sunday or two after she was missed from her usual seat at church, and before I left the neighbourhood I heard, with a feeling of satisfaction, that she had quietly breathed her last, and had gone to rejoin those she loved, in that world where sorrow is never known, and friends are never parted.5

4

WASHINGTON IRVING.

1782-1860.

COUNTRY HOSPITALITY.

It is odd to consider that, for want of discretion, civility, intended to make us easy,6 is employed in laying chains and fetters upon us, and in crossing7 our most reasonable desires and inclinations.

This abuse reigneth chiefly in the country, as I found to my vexation, when I was last there, in a visit I made to a neighbour about two miles from my cousin. As soon as I entered the

1 That grief which passes show, Un chagrin qui ne saurait s'exprimer.-2 Storied monuments, Tombeaux chargés d'inscriptions.-3 With which grandeur mourned magnificently over departed pride, Au moyen desquels la richesse déploie le deuil fastueux d'un orgueil qui n'est plus.-4 Breathed her last, Rendu le dernier soupir.

And friends are never parted, Et où les amis ne se séparent jamais.—6 Civility, intended to make us easy, Les civilités qu'on nous fait dans l'intention de nous mettre à l'aise.-7 In crossing, À contrarier.-8 As I found to my vexation, Comme je l'éprouvai à mon grand déplaisir.

parlour,1 they put me into the great chair that stood close by a huge fire, and kept me there by force, until I was almost stifled. Then a boy came in a great hurry to pull off my boots, which I in vain opposed, urging that I must return2 soon after dinner. In the meantime, the good lady whispered to her eldest daughter, and slipped a key into her hand. The girl returned instantly 3 with a beer-glass half full of aqua mirabilis and syrup of gilliflowers. I took as much as I had a mind for; but madam vowed I should drink it off, (for she was sure it would do me good after coming out of the cold air,) and I was forced to obey, which absolutely took away my stomach. When dinner came in, I had a mind to sit at a distance from 5 the fire; but they told me it was as much as my life was worth, and set me with my back just against it. Although my appetite was quite gone, I resolved to force down as much as I could, and desired the leg of a pullet. "Indeed, Mr Bickerstaff," says the lady, "you must eat a wing to oblige me;" and so put a couple upon my plate. I was persecuted at this rate during the whole meal. As often as I called for small beer, the master tipped the wink, and the servant brought me a brimmer6 of October. Some time after dinner, I ordered my cousin's man, who came with me, to get ready the horses; but it was resolved? I should not stir that night: and when I seemed pretty much bent upon going, they ordered the stable-door to be locked, and the children hid my cloak and boots. The next question was what I would have for supper? I said I never ate anything at night; but was at last, in my own defence, obliged to name the first thing that came into my head. After three hours spent chiefly in apologies for my entertainment,10 insinuating to me "that this was the worst time of the year for provisions; that they were afraid I should be starved;" the lady

1 Parlour, Salle du rez-de-chaussée.-2 Which I in vain opposed, urging that I must return, Ce à quoi je m'opposai en vain, quoique je déclarasse formellement que j'étais obligé de m'en retourner.-3 See § 3, 1.-4 Which absolutely took away my stomach, Ce qui m'ôta tout mon appétit.-5 I had a mind to sit at a distance from, J'aurais bien voulu me placer loin de.-6 A brimmer, Un plein verre. -7 It was resolved, Il était décidé que.-8 The next question was what I would have, Il s'agit ensuite de savoir ce que je voulais.-9 In my own defence, à mon corps défendant.-10 For my entertainment, Pour la réception qu'ils me faisaient.

went and left me to her husband, (for they took special care I should never be alone.) As soon as her back was turned, the little misses ran backwards and forwards every moment; and constantly, as they came in or went out, made a courtesy directly at me, which, in good manners,1 I was forced to return with a bow, and "your humble servant, pretty miss."

Exactly at eight the mother came up, and discovered by the redness of her face that supper was not far off. It was twice as large as the dinner, and my persecution doubled in proportion. I desired at my usual hour to go to my repose, and was conducted to my chamber by the gentleman, his lady, and the whole train of children. They importuned me to drink something before I went to bed; and upon my refusing, at last left a bottle of stingo, as they called it, for fear I should wake and be thirsty in the night. I was forced in the morning to rise and dress myself in the dark, because they would not suffer my kinsman's servant to disturb me at the hour I desired to be called. I was now resolved to break through all measures to2 get away; and after sitting down to a monstrous breakfast of cold beef, mutton, neats'-tongues, venison-pasty, and stale beer, took leave of the family. But the gentleman would needs see me part of my way,4 and carry me a short cut through his own grounds, which he told me would save half-a-mile's riding. This last piece of civility had like to have cost me dear, being once or twice in danger of my neck, by leaping over his ditches, and at last forced to alight in the dirt; when my horse, having slipped his bridle, ran away, and took us up more than an hour to recover him again.-It is evident that none of the absurdities I met with in this visit proceeded from an ill intention, but from a wrong judgment of complaisance, and a misapplication in the rules of it.5

J. SWIFT. 1667-1745.

1 In good manners, En homme bien élevé.-2 I was now resolved to break through all measures to, J'étais bien décidé à ne garder aucune mesure pour.-3 After sitting down to, Après avoir assisté à.-4 Would needs see me part of my way, Éprouvait le besoin de m'accompagner une partie du chemin.-5 But from a wrong judgment of complaisance, and a misapplication in the rules of it, Mais d'une fausse idée de la politesse, et d'une maladroite application de ses règles.

THE LION OF THE TOWER OF LONDON.

In the afternoon our company went to the Tower, to see as well as to hear the recent story of the great lion and the little dog.

They found the place thronged, and all were obliged to pay treble prices,1 on account of the unprecedented novelty of the show; so that the keeper, in a short space, acquired a little fortune.

The great cage in the front was occupied by a beast who, by way of pre-eminence,2 was called the king's lion; and, while he traversed the limits of his straitened dominions, he was attended by a small and very beautiful black spaniel, who frisked and gambolled about him, and at times would pretend to snarl and bite at him; and again3 the noble animal, with an air of fond complaisance, would hold down his head, while the little creature licked his formidable chaps. Their history, as the keeper related it, was this:

It was customary for all who were unable or unwilling to pay their sixpence, to bring a dog or cat as an oblation to the beast in lieu of money to the keeper. Among others, a fellow had caught up this pretty black spaniel in the streets, and he was accordingly thrown into the cage of the great lion. Immediately the little animal trembled and shivered, and crouched, and threw itself on its back, and held up its paws in supplicatory attitudes, as an acknowledgment of superior power, and praying for mercy. In the meantime, the lion, instead of devouring the dog, turned it over with one paw, and then with the other; and smelled it, and seemed desirous of courting a further acquaintance.

The keeper, on seeing this, brought a large mess of his own family-dinner; but the lion kept aloof, and refused to eat, keeping his eye on the dog, and inviting him as it were to be his taster.4 At length, the little animal's fears being something abated, and his appetite quickened by the smell of the victuals, he approached slowly and, with trembling, ventured to eat. The lion then ad

1 To pay treble prices, Payer le triple du prix ordinaire.-2 By way of preeminence, En raison de sa beauté.-3 And again. De son côté. And inviting him, as it were, to be his taster, Et l'invitant, pour ainsi dire, à y goûter le premier.

vanced gently and began to partake, and they finished their meal very lovingly together.

From this day1 the strictest friendship commenced between them, a friendship consisting of all possible affection and tenderness on the part of the lion, and of the utmost confidence and boldness on the part of the dog; insomuch that he would lay himself down to sleep within the fangs and under the jaws of his terrible patron. A gentleman who had lost the spaniel, and had advertised a reward of 2 two guineas to the finder, at length heard of the adventure, and went to reclaim his dog. "You see, sir," said the keeper, "it would be a great pity to part such loving friends; however, if you insist upon your property, you must even be pleased to take him yourself; it is a task that I would not engage in for five hundred guineas!" The gentleman rose into great wrath, but finally chose to acquiesce rather than have a personal dispute with the lion.

As Mr Felton had a curiosity to see the two friends eat together, he sent for twenty pounds of beef, which was cut in pieces, and given into the cage; when immediately the little brute, whose appetite happened to be eager at the time, was desirous of making a monopoly of the whole, and putting his paws upon the meat, and grumbling and barking, he audaciously flew in the face of the lion. But the generous creature, instead of being offended with his impotent companion, started back, and seemed terrified at the fury of his attack, neither attempted to eat a bit till his favourite had tacitly given permission. When they were both gorged, the lion stretched, and lay down in an evident posture for repose, but this his sportive companion would not admit. He frisked and gambolled about him, barked at him,5 would now scrape at his head with his claws, and again seize him by the ear and bite and pull away; while the noble beast appeared affected by no other sentiment save that of pleasure and complaisance.

1 From this day, A partir de ce jour.-2 Had advertised a reward of, Avait fait annoncer une récompense de.-3 Was desirous of making a monopoly of the whole, Voulut accaparer le tout.-4 But this his sportive companion would not admit, Mais son folâtre compagnon ne l'entendait pas ainsi.-5 He frisked and gambolled about him, barked at him, Il folâtrait et gambadait autour de lui, aboyait après lui.

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