ingredient, to his new way of living; and having once tasted it, he was tempted by little and little to give loose to the excesses of intoxication. His general simplicity of life was changed; he perfumed his apartments, and commanded his helmet to be ornamented with beautiful rows of the teeth of the rein-deer. Indolence and effeminacy stole upon him by imperceptible gradations, relaxed the sinews of his resolution, and extinguished his thirst of military glory. While Hacho was thus immersed in pleasure, the King of Norway invaded his kingdom with a formidable army. Hacho roused himself, and marched forward to meet him. Both armies joined battle in the forest where Hacho had been lost after hunting; and the King of Norway challenged him to single combat, near the very spot where he had tasted the honey. The Lapland chief, languid and long unused to arms, was soon overpowered, and before his insulting adversary struck his head from his body, he uttered this exclamation: "I fall a sacrifice to sloth and luxury. The honey which I tasted in this forest, and not the hand of the King of Norway, conquers Hacho." 1. What delicious repast was it that first tempted Hacho to indulge in other luxuries ? 2. When overpowered by the King of Norway, what exclamation did Hacho utter? LESSON CCXLVIII. SEPTEMBER THE FIFTH. A Toad-eater. A TOAD-EATER is a contemptible appendage to exalted rank; a nonentity which disgraces the temple of supreme Fashion. This species of reptile is to be found in almost every mansion of profligacy and profusion. He smiles in his patron's face, and, with little less than the idolatry of a bigot, he extols him for every virtue that can adorn humanity; while, at other periods, he wins his money at a gaming-table, ridicules his prodigality, condemns his false pride, and proclaims his ignorance. A toad-eater is perhaps one of the most indolent, and, at the same time, the most indefatigable of creatures. He has no occupation, and is nevertheless perpetually employed. He has seldom any honourable independence, and yet he exists in the very vortex of every luxury. He has no settled home, but every house of ton is open to receive him. He is not learned, and yet he gives his opinion with freedom; he is not polished, but he is the censor of good breeding; and with a pliability that is astonishing, suits his looks, manner, voice, and opinions to those of the patron on whom he depends for the day's enjoyment. "Let no such men be trusted;" they are the subtile mischiefs which undermine the foundation of domestic happiness. They are the smooth, honeyed poisons which contaminate the cup of human felicity. They are the defamers of the dupes they feed on; the flatterers of their indiscretions; the sycophants of their weaknesses; the pliant varnishers of that clay which Nature stamped with dulness and insipidity; the pests of society, and the disgrace of human nature! Let the prudent avoid, the rational despise, and the liberal abhor them. 1. What is a toad-eater? 2. How does the toad-eater conduct himself when in the presence of his patron? 3. Explain how it is that the toad-eater is one of the most indolent, and, at the same time, one of the most indefatigable of creatures. LESSON CCXLIX.-SEPTEMBER THE SIXTH. On this day, in 1769, a very beautiful comet, moving swiftly through the heavens, was seen in England; its tail, like an immense luminous arch, thirty-six millions of miles in length, presented a most magnificent spectacle. The tail of a comet, which is generally its most conspicuous part, is thought by Newton to be a prodigious quantity of fume and vapours, flying off from its body, as it becomes more and more heated in its approach to the sun. These tails are sometimes exceedingly long, some having been computed to be eighty millions of miles in length: that they are vapours was thought evident from these considerations; first, the fixed stars are often se n through them; secondly, they appear broader on their upper part than near the head of the comet; thirdly, the tail lies always towards those parts which the comets have just left; and fourthly, they seem most splendid and large immediately after they return from the sun; - all which is agreeable to the nature of smoke and vapour. "In Fancy's eye, encountering armies glare, THE GREAT PLAGUE IN LONDON. Thus comets, dreadful visitants! arise, 1. What was seen on this day in 1769 ? 2. What was the length of its tail? 3. What is to be remarked of the tails of comets generally? LESSON CCL.-SEPTEMBER THE SEVENTH. The Great Plague in London. 355 MR. EVELYN, in his Diary for this day, in the year 1665, says, "There are perishing near 10,000 poor creatures weekly; however, I went all along the city and suburbs, from Kent Street to St. James's, a dismal passage, and dangerous to see so many coffins exposed in the streets, now thin of people; the shops shut up, and all in mournful silence, as not knowing whose turn might be next." "From Ethiopia's poison'd woods, From stifled Cairo's filth, and fetid fields This great destroyer springs. Her awful rage Forbid to blow the wholesome breeze, and stain'd The sword and balance; mute the voice of Joy, The cheerful haunt of men; unless escaped From the doom'd house, where matchless Horror reigns, With frenzy wild, breaks loose; and loud to heaven Dependants, friends, relations; Love himself, The sweet engagement of the feeling heart. LESSON CCLI. SEPTEMBER THE EIGHTH. Bishop Hall. On this day, in the year 1656, died Bishop Hall, aged eighty-two, a prelate who, being cast upon the evil days of Charles I., suffered much from the persecutions of the rebellious parliament. Some notion of their proceedings, upon the passing of the ordinance for sequestering torious delinquents," in April, 1643, he being then Bishop of Norwich, may be formed from his own brief account. 66 no "The sequestrators sent certain men appointed by them, whereof one had been burned in the hand, to appraise all the goods I have in my house, which they accordingly executed with all diligent severity, not leaving so much as a dozen of trenchers or my children's pictures out of their curious inventory; yea, they would have appraised our very wearing apparel, had not some of them declared their opinion to the contrary. These goods, both library and household stuff of all kinds, were appointed to be exposed to public sale; but in the mean time Mrs. Goodwin, a religious good gentlewoman, whom yet we had never known nor seen, being moved with compassion, very kindly offered to lay down to the sequestrators the whole sum at which the goods were valued, and was pleased to leave them in our hands, for our use, till we might be able to re-purchase them. As for the books, several stationers looked on them but were not forward to buy. At last Mr. Cooke, a worthy divine of this diocese, gave bond to the sequestrators to pay them the whole sum whereat they were set, which was after WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. 357 wards satisfied out of that poor pittance which was allowed me for my maintenance." As a moralist, Bishop Hall has been entitled the Christian Seneca; his knowledge of the world, depth of thought, and elegance of expression, place him nearer our own times than many of his contemporaries; while he adorned his age by learning, piety, and the uniform exercise of all the Christian graces. It would indeed be difficult to name a prelate of more excellent character, or one of his time whose talents and sufferings, whose zeal in prosperity, and courage in adversity, deserve more honourable mention. 1. What eminent bishop died on this day, in 1656? On this day, in 1087, died at Hermentrude, a village near Rouen, William the Conqueror. In 1086, William visited Normandy, on which country some neighbouring French barons had made predatory incursions. Perceiving that the King of France had instigated these hostilities, William entertained a resentment against him, which was aggravated by an unseemly jest of that monarch upon his increasing corpulency. This displeasure broke out into open war in 1087, and the King of England, entering France near the time of harvest, laid all waste with fire and sword, and took the town of Mantes, which he burned to the ground. An accident, however, put an end to his destructive career. The starting of his horse having thrown him against the pommel of his saddle, he received a hurt in the belly, the consequences of which proved fatal. Perceiving the approach of death, he expressed great remorse for the violences and cruelties he had committed, and endeavoured to atone for them by the usual donations to the church, and the pardon and release of some of his enemies. By his will he bequeathed to his eldest son Robert the countries of Normandy and Maine, and the crown of England to his second son William, leaving nothing to Henry, the third son, but the property of his mother. William the Conqueror at his death was the most powerful and greatest sovereign of his time. He possessed superior talents, political and martial, and employed |