looking up", "What mean," said I, "those great flights of birds that are perpetually hovering about the bridge, and settling upon it from time to time? I see vultures, harpies, ravens, cormorants, and among many other feathered creatures, several little winged boys, that perch in great numbers upon the middle arches."These," said the genius, are envy, avarice, superstition, love, with the like cares and passions that infest human life."

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I here fetched a deep sigh "Alas," said I, 66 man was made in vain! how is he given away to misery and mortality! tortured in life, and swallowed up in death!" The genius being moved with compassion towards me, bid me quit so uncomfortable a prospect. "Look no more, said he, "on man in the first stage of his existence, in his setting out 45 for eternity; but cast thine eyes on that thick mist into which the tide bears the several generations of mortals that fall into it." I directed my sight as I was ordered 46, and, whether or no 47 the good genius strengthened it with any supernatural force, or dissipated part of the mist that was before too thick for the eye to penetrate 48, I saw the valley opening at

thing, quelque chose que.-44 Upon looking up, en regardant en l'air.-45 In his setting out, sur son départ.-46 As I was ordered, comme le génie me l'ordonnait.-47 Whether or no, je ne sais si.-48 For the

insomuch that

51

the farther end, and spreading forth into 49 an immense ocean, that had a huge rock of adamant running through the midst of it 50 and dividing it into two equal parts. The clouds still rested on one half thereof, I could discover nothing in it but the other appeared to me a vast ocean planted with innumerable islands, that were covered with fruits and flowers, and interwoven with 52 a thousand little shining seas 53 that ran among them. I could see persons dressed in glorious habits, with garlands upon their heads, passing among the trees, lying down by the sides of fountains, or resting on beds of flowers; and could hear a confused harmony of singing birds, falling waters, human voices, and musical instruments. Gladness grew in me upon the discovery of 54 so delightful a scene. I wished for the wings of an eagle that I might fly away to 55 those happy seats; the genius told me there was no passage to them 56, except through the gates of death that I saw opening every moment upon the bridge.

but

eye to penetrate, pour que l'œil pût le percer.· 49 Spreading forth into, découvrant. 50 Running..., qui le traversait par le milieu.-51 Planted with, parsemé de. -52 Interwoven with, coupés par.- 53 Seas, bras de mer.-54 Gladness..., la joie rentra dans mon cœur, quand je découvris. —55 That I might..., afin de pouvoir prendre mon essor vers.-56 To them, pour y

"The islands," said he, that lie so fresh and green before thee, and with which the whole face of the ocean appears spotted as far as thou canst see, are more in number than the sand on the sea shore; there are myriads of islands behind those which thou here discoverest, reaching further than thine eye, or even thine imagination can extend itself. These are the mansions of good men after death, who according to the degree and kinds of virtue in which they excelled, are distributed among those several islands, which abound with pleasures of different kinds and degrees, suitable to the relishes and perfections of those who are settled in them; every island is a paradise accommodated to its respective inhabitants. Are not these, O Mirza, habitations worth contending for 57? Does life appear miserable, that gives thee opportunities of earning such a reward? Is death to be feared that will convey thee to so happy an existence? Think not man was made in vain, who has such an eternity reserved for him?" I gazed with inexpressible pleasure on these happy islands. "At length," said I, “show me now, I beseech thee, the secrets that lie hid under those dark clouds, which cover the ocean on 58 the other side of the rock of adamant."

arriver—57 Worth contending for, ne méritent-elles pas qu'on fasse tout pour y arriver.—5 8 On, de.

The genius making me no answer, I turned about to address myself to him a second time, but I found that he had left me; I then turned again to the vision which I had been so long contemplating; but instead of the rolling tide, the arched bridge 59, and the happy islands, I saw nothing but the long hollow valley of Bagdat, with oxen, sheep, and camels grazing upon the sides of it.

S. JOHNSON.

69 Arched bridge, le pont et ses arches.

EXECUTION OF A CAMERONIAN.

3

THERE lived at a place called Priesthill, in Lanarkshire2, a man called John Brown, a carrier by profession, and called from his zealous religious principles, the Christian carrier. This man had been with the insurgents at Bothwell Bridge", and was for other reasons amenable to

Pendant les persicutions qui ensanglantèrent te règne de Jacques II.—2 Le Lanarkshire, comté d'Ecosse. - From, à cause de.—4 Le pont de Bothwell, où lès

5

the cruelty of the existing laws. On a morning of May, 1685, Peden, one of the Cameronian ministers whom Brown had sheltered in his house, took his leave of his host and his wife, repeating twice," Poor woman! a fearful morning!a dark and misty morning!" When Peden was gone, Brown left his house with a spade in his hand for his ordinary labour, when he was suddenly surrounded and arrested by a band of horse, with Claverhouse at their head. The prisoner answered the questions which were put to him in this extremity with such composure and firmness, that Claverhouse asked whether he was a preacher. He was answered in the negative 6. "If he has not preached," said Claverhouse, "mickle hath he prayed in his timeBut betake you now to your prayers for the last time (addressing the sufferer), for you shall presently die." The poor man kneeled down and prayed with zeal, and when he was touching on the political state of the country, and praying that heaven would spare a remnant, Claverhouse interrupting him, said, "I gave you leave to pray, and you are preaching."" Sir," answered

8

Puritains livrèrent bataille aux troupes royales.—5 Claverhouse, un des généraux de Jacques II, en Écosse, et l'agent de ses cruautés.-6 He was..., il reçut unc réponse négative.-7 Mickle, mot écossais pour much.

Betake..., faites maintenant vos prières. —