my finger upon my upper lip! Besides, as my nose was exceedingly prominent, I gave it two or three unlucky knocks. The heap was at last distributed. It was a most piteous sight to see the men and women as they wandered up and down under the pressure of their several burdens. The whole plain was filled with murmurs and complaints, groans, and lamentations. Jupiter, at length, taking compassion on the poor mortals, ordered them a second time to lay down their loads, with a design to give every one his own again. They discharged themselves with a great deal of pleasure, after which the phantom who had led them into such gross delusions was commanded to disappear. There was sent in her stead a goddess of a quite different figure; her motions were steady and composed, and her aspect serious but cheerful. Her name was Patience. She had no sooner placed herself by the mount of sorrows, but, what I thought very remarkable, the whole heap sunk to such a degree that it did not appear a third part as big as it was before. She afterwards returned every man his own proper calamity, and, teaching him how to bear it in the most commodious manner, he marched off with it contentedly, being very well pleased that he had not been left to his own choice as to the kind of evils which fell to his lot. Besides the several pieces of morality to be drawn out of this vision, I learned from it never to repine at my own misfortunes, or to envy the happiness of another, since it is impossible for any man to form a right judgment of his neighbor's sufferings; for which reason, also, I have determined never to think too lightly of another's complaints, but to regard the sorrows of my fellow-creatures with sentiments of humanity and compassion. JOSEPH ADDISON. NATURE AND THE CHILD For many blessings I to God upraise A thankful heart; the life He gives is fair And sweet and good, since He is everywhere, Still with me even in the darkest ways. But most I thank Him for my earliest days Passed in the fields and in the open air, With flocks, and birds, and flowers, free from all care And glad as brook that through a meadow strays. O balmy air, O orchards white with bloom, O waving fields of ever varying green, O deep, mysterious woods, whose leafy gloom Invites to pensive dreams of worlds unseen, To thoughts as solemn as the silent tomb, No power from you my heart can ever wean. BISHOP SPALDING. HYMN TO THE VIRGIN Ave Maria! maiden mild! Though banished, outcast, and reviled Mother, hear a suppliant child! Ave Maria! undefiled! Ave Maria! The flinty couch we now must share, Shall seem with down of eider piled, If thy protection hover there. The murky cavern's heavy air Shall breathe of balm, if thou hast smiled; Then, Maiden! hear a maiden's prayer; Mother, list a suppliant child! Ave Maria! stainless styled! Ave Maria! Foul demons of the earth and air, From this their wonted haunt exiled, Shall flee before thy presence fair. We bow us to our lot of care, Beneath thy guidance reconciled; Hear for a maid a maiden's prayer, And for a father hear a child! Ave Maria! SIR WALTER SCOTT. THE DEWDROP AND THE WAVE To a Dewdrop bright a Wave made speech: "Come follow me upon my way; I'll bear thee on until we reach The ocean, where the billows play." The Dewdrop answered, whispering low: "No! better to be here alone Than rolling on in restless flow, 'Mid myriad drops a drop unknown. "Glide past me, then, in thy quick flight; Shall droop with fragrance, - fate most blest. "In vain ye lure me from this bed: The Wave, then mocking, onward fled -HERWEGH, translated by BISHOP SPALDING. |