being resolved to earn an honest livelihood,1 he had been travelling about the country with a cart of crockery-that he had been doing pretty well until the day before, when his horse had dropped down dead near Chatham, in Kent-that this had reduced him to the unpleasant necessity of getting into the shafts himself, and drawing the cart of crockery to London-a somewhat exhausting pull of thirty miles 2-that he did not venture to ask again for money, but that if I would have the goodness to leave him out a donkey, he would call for the animal before breakfast.

A little while afterwards he wrote me a few broken-hearted lines, informing me that the dear partner of his sorrow died in his arms last night5 at nine o'clock. I despatched a trusty messenger to comfort the bereaved mourner6 and his poor children; but the messenger went so soon that the play was not ready to be played out; my friend was not at home, and his wife was in a most delightful state of health.

Next day came to me a friend of mine,8 the governor of a large prison, who said: "I know all about him and his frauds. He lodged in the house of one of my warders at the very time when he first wrote to you; and then he was eating spring lamb at eighteenpence a pound, and early asparagus 10 at I don't know how much a bundle! Apparent misery is always part of11 his trade, and real misery very often is, in the intervals of spring lamb and early asparagus. It is naturally an incident of his dissipated and dishonest life."

CH. DICKENS.

1 To earn an honest livelihood, De gagner honnêtement sa vie.-2 A somewhat exhausting pull of thirty miles, Coup de collier de trente milles quelque peu fatigant. - To leave him out a donkey, De mettre un âne à sa disposition.-4 He would call for the animal, Il viendrait chercher la bête.-5 Last night, La nuit précédente.— 6 Bereaved mourner, Mari désolé.-7 That the play was not ready to be played out, Qu'on n'avait pas encore distribué les rôles pour la comédie.-8 See § 23.-9 I know all about him and his frauds, Je le connais sur le bout du doigt, lui et ses manœuvres.-10 Early asparagus, Asperges nouvelles.-11 Is always part of, Fait toujours partie de.

E

motion;1 and that, as the boughs of an oak are dashed together by the storm, that swine may fatten upon the fallen acorns, so men are by some unaccountable power driven one against another, till they lose their motion, that vultures may be fed. Others think they have observed something of contrivance and policy 2 among these mischievous beings; and those that hover most closely round them pretend that there is, in every herd, one that gives directions to the rest, and seems to be more eminently delighted with a wide carnage. What it is that entitles him to3 such pre-eminence we know not; he is seldom the biggest or the swiftest, but he shows by his eagerness and diligence that he is, more than any of the others, a friend to the vultures."

S. JOHNSON.

1709-1784.

THE DEATH OF QUEEN ELIZABETH.

SOME incidents happened which revived her tenderness for Essex, and filled her with the deepest sorrow for the consent which she had unwarily given to his execution.

The Earl of Essex, after his return from the fortunate expedition against Cadiz, observing the increase of the queen's fond attachment towards him, took occasion to regret that the necessity of her service required him often to be absent from her person, and exposed him to all those ill offices which his enemies, more assiduous in their attendance, could employ against him. She was moved with this tender jealousy; and, making him the present of a ring, desired him to keep that pledge of her affection, and assured him that into whatever disgrace he should fall, whatever prejudices she might be induced to entertain against him," yet? if he sent her that ring, she would immediately, upon sight

1 With a power of motion, Avec la faculté de se mouvoir.-2 Something of contrivance and policy, Une sorte d'arrangement et d'organisation.-3 Entitles him to, Lui donne droit à.-4 See § 32, 10.-5 See §41.-6 More assiduous in their attendance, Plus assidus auprès d'elle.-7 See § 29.-8 Whatever prejudices she might be induced to entertain against him, Quelques préventions qu'on pût lui inspirer contre lui.— 9 See § 42.

of it, recall her former tenderness, and would lend a favourable ear to his apology. Essex, notwithstanding all his misfortunes, reserved this precious gift to the last extremity; but after his trial and condemnation, he resolved to try the experiment, and he committed the ring to the Countess of Nottingham, whom he desired to deliver it to the queen. The countess was prevailed on by her husband, the mortal enemy of Essex, not to1 execute the commission; and Elizabeth, who still expected that her favourite would make this last appeal to her tenderness, and who ascribed the neglect of it to his invincible obstinacy, was, after much delay and many internal combats, pushed by resentment and policy to sign the warrant for his execution. The Countess of Nottingham falling into sickness, and affected with3 the near approach of death, was seized with remorse for her conduct; and, having obtained a visit from the queen, she craved her pardon, and revealed to her the fatal secret. The queen, astonished with this incident, burst into a furious passion; she shook the dying countess in her bed ; and crying to her that God might pardon her, but she never could, she broke from her, and thenceforth resigned herself over to the deepest and most incurable melancholy. She rejected all consolation; she even refused food and sustenance; and throwing herself on the floor she remained sullen and immovable, feeding her thoughts on her afflictions, and declaring life and existence an insufferable burden to her. Few words she uttered, and they were all expressive of some inward grief which she cared not to reveal; but sighs and groans were the chief vent which she gave to her despondency. Ten days and nights she lay upon the carpet, leaning on cushions which her maids brought her; and her physicians could not persuade her to allow herself to be put to bed, much less to make trial of any remedies which they prescribed to her. Her anxious mind at last had so long preyed on her

4

1 The Countess was prevailed on by her husband not to, La Comtesse se laissa persuader par son mari de ne pas.-2 Who ascribed the neglect of it, Qui attribuait son silence.-3 Affected with, Effrayée de.-4 See § 37, 4.-5 She even refused food and sustenance, Elle refusa même tout ce qui pouvait la nourrir et soutenir ses forces. But sighs and groans were the chief vent which she gave to her despondency, Mais c'est surtout par des soupirs et des gémissements qu'elle exhalait son désespoir.

He half expected that this would be shock enough,1 and that Eppie would begin to cry. But instead of that, she began to shake herself on his knee, as if the proposition opened a pleasing novelty. Seeing that he must proceed to extremities,3 he put her into the coal-hole, and held the door closed, with a trembling sense that he was 4 using a strong measure. For a moment there was silence, but then came a little cry, "Opy, opy," and Silas let her out again, saying, "Now Eppie will never be naughty again, else she must go in the coal-hole-a black, naughty place." The weaving must stand still a long while this morning, for now Eppie must be washed and have clean clothes on; but it was to be hoped that this punishment would have a lasting effect, and save time in future-though, perhaps, it would have been better if Eppie had cried more.

In half-an-hour she was clean again, and, Silas having turned his back to see what he could do with the linen band, threw it down again, with the reflection that Eppie would be good without fastening for the rest of the morning, he turned round again, and was going to place her in her little chair near the loom, when she peeped out at him with black face and hands again, and said, "Eppie in de toal-hole." This total failure of the coal-hole discipline shook Silas's belief in its efficacy.5 "She takes it all for fun," he observed to himself.

So Eppie was reared without punishment, the burden of her misdeeds being borne vicariously by father Silas.

G. ELIOT. (SILAS MARNER.)

1 That this would be shock enough, Que cela ferait une impression suffisante.2 Opened a pleasing novelty, Lui offrait la perspective d'un nouvel amusement.3 Proceed to extremities, En venir aux extrémités.-4 With a trembling sense that he was, En tremblant d'avoir.-5 This total failure of the coal-hole discipline shook Silas's belief in its efficacy, L'emploi du trou à charbon ayant ainsi manqué complétement son effet, la confiance de Silas dans l'efficacité de cette punition se trouva fort ébranlée.

satisfied." 66 If you are satisfied," returned the monkey, "justice is not; a case of this intricate nature is by no means so soon determined." Upon which he continued to nibble first at one piece and then the other, till the poor cats, seeing their cheese gradually diminishing, entreated him to give himself no further trouble, but deliver to them what remained. "Not so fast, I beseech you friends," replied the monkey; we owe justice to ourselves as well as to you; what remains is due to me in right of my office." Upon which he crammed the whole into his mouth, and with great gravity dismissed the court.2

66

DODSLEY. 1703-1764.

ROBINSON CRUSOE'S CLOTHES, UMBRELLA, AND PARROT.

I HAVE mentioned that I saved the skins of all the creatures that I killed, I mean four-footed ones, and I had them hung up stretched out with sticks in the sun, by which means some of them were so dried and hard that they were fit for little, but others were very useful. The first thing I made of these was a great cap for my head, with the hair on the outside, to shoot off the rain; and this I performed so well, that, after, I made me a suit of clothes3 wholly of the skins. I must not omit to acknowledge that they were wretchedly made; for if I was a bad carpenter, I was a worse tailor. However they were such as I made a very good shift with,4 and when I was out, if it happened to rain, the hair of my waistcoat and cap being outermost, I was kept very dry.

After this, I spent a great deal of time to make an umbrella. I was indeed in great want of one, and had a great mind to make one. I had seen them made in the Brazils, where they are very useful in the great heats there, and I felt the heats every jot as

1 See § 17.-2 Dismissed the court, Il leva l'audience. -3 A suit of clothes, Un habillement complet. -4 I made a very good shift with, Je m'en arrangeai fort