Page images
PDF
EPUB

sembly no less splendid, and with a ceremonial equally pompous, resigned to his son the crowns of Spain, with all the territories depending on them, both in the old and the new world. Of all these vast possessions, he reserved nothing for himself, but an annual pension of a hundred thousand crowns, to defray the charges of his family 15, and to afford him a small sum for acts of beneficence and charity.

[ocr errors]

The place he had chosen for his retreat, was the monastery of St. Justus, in the province of Estremadura. It was seated in a vale of no great extent, watered by a small brook and surrounded by rising grounds 16, covered with lofty trees. From the nature of the soil, as well as the temperature of the climate, it was esteemed the most healthful, and delicious situation in Spain. Some months before his resignation, he had sent an architect thither to add a new apartment to the monastery, for his accommodation 17 but he gave strict orders that the style of the building should be such as suited 18 his present situation rather than his former dignity. It consisted only of six rooms; four of them in the form of friar's cells, with naked walls; the other two, each

[ocr errors]

regret de perdre..-15 To defray...., pour fournir aux charges de sa maison.—16 Rising grounds, collines.— 17 For his accommodation, à son usage. 18 The style...., le goût de ce nouveau bâtiment fût propor

twenty feet square 19, were hung with brown cloth, and furnished in the most simple manner. They were all on a level 20 with the ground, with a door, on one side, into " a garden, of which Charles himself had given the plan, and which he had filled with various plants, intending to cultivate them with his own hands. On the other side they communicated with the chapel of the monastery, in which he was to 22 perform his devotions. Into this humble retreat, hardly sufficient for the comfortable accommodation of a private gentleman 23, did Charles enter 24, with in SOtwelve domestics only. He buried there, litude and silence, his grandeur, his ambition, together with all those vast projects, which, during half a century, had alarmed and agitated Europe, filling every kingdom in it, by turns, with the terror of his arms, and the dread of being subjected to his power.

ROBERTSON.

tionné à. -19 Each...., chacune de vingt pieds carrés. 20 On a level, de niveau.-21 Into, sur.-22 He was to, il se proposait de.-23 For the...., pour loger com24 Construisez : modément un simple particulier. Charles did enter (Charles entra), with....., into this, etc.

LADY JANE GREY.

Tuis extraordinary young person, besides the solid endowments of piety and virtue, possessed the most engaging disposition, the most accomplished parts; and being of an equal age with king Edward the sixth, she had received all her education with him, and seemed even to possess a greater facility in acquiring every part of manly and classical literature. She had attained a knowledge of the Roman and Greek languages, as well as of several modern tongues; had passed most of her time in an application to learning; and expressed a great indifference for other occupations and amusements usual with her sex and station. Roger Ascham, tutor to the lady 3 Elizabeth, having at one time paid her a visit, found her employed in reading 5 Plato, while the rest of the family were engaged in a party of hunting in the park; and upon his admiring the singularity of her choice, she told him, that she received more pleasure from that author, than the others could reap from all their sport and gaiety.

4

6

1 Most, la plus grande partie de.-2 Usual with, ordinaires aux personnes de.- - Lady, princesse.At one time, un jour.- 5 Employed in reading, occupée à lire. 6 Upon...., comme il admirait.

3

Her heart, replete with this love of literature and serious studies, and with tenderness towards her husband, who was deserving of her affection, had never opened itself to the flattering allurements of ambition; and the information of her advancement to the throne was by no means agreeable to her. She even refused to accept the crown; pleaded the preferable right of the two princesses; expressed her dread of the consequences attending an enterprise so dangerous, not to say so criminal; and desired to remain in that private station in which she was born. Overcome at last with the entreaties, rather than reasons, of her father and father in law, and, above all, of her husband, she submitted to their will, and as prevailed on to relinquish her own judgment. But her elevation was of very short continuance. The nation declared for Queen Mary; and lady Jane, after wearing the vain. pageantry of a crown during ten days, returned to a private life, with much more satisfaction than she felt when royalty was tendered to her.

Queen Mary, who appears to have been incapable of generosity or clemency, determined to remove 9 every person, from whom the least danger could be apprehended. Warning was, therefore, given to lady Jane to prepare for

7 Was deserving of, méritait.-8 Returned...., rentra dans la vie privée. — To remove, se défaire de.

death 10 ; a doom which she had expected, and which the innocence of her life, as well as the misfortunes to which she had been exposed, rendered nowise unwelcome to her. The Queen's bigoted zeal, under colour of tender mercy to the prisoner's soul, induced her to send priests, who harassed her with perpetual disputation; and even a reprieve for three days was granted her, in hopes that she would be persuaded, during that time, to pay, by a timely conversion to popery, some regard to her eternal welfare. Lady Jane had presence of mind, in those melancholy circumstances, not only to defend her religion by solid arguments, but also to write a letter to her sister, in the greek language; in which, besides sending her a copy of the scriptures in that tongue, she exhorted her to maintain, in every fortune, a like steady perseverance. On the day of her execution, her busband, lord Guilford, desired permission to see her; but she refused her consent, and sent him word 12, that the tenderness of their parting would overcome the fortitude of both; and would too much unbend their minds from that' constancy 13 which their approaching end required of them. Their separation, she said,

10 To prepare for death, de se préparer à la mort. -11 Rendered...., lui avait appris à prévoir sans effroi, 12 Sent him word, lui manda.-13 Would

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »