two Saracens, and the Dwarf, who was very courageous, dealt one of the champions a most angry blow. It did the Saracen but very little injury, who, lifting up his sword, fairly struck off the poor Dwarf's arm. He was now in a woful plight; but the Giant coming to his assistance, in a short time left the two Saracens dead on the plain, and the Dwarf cut off the dead man's head out of spite. They then travelled on to another adventure. This was against three bloody-minded Satyrs, who were carrying away a damsel in distress. The Dwarf was not quite so fierce now as before; but for all that, struck the first blow; which was returned by another, that knocked out his eye but the Giant was soon up with them, and had they not fled, would certainly have killed them every one. They were all very joyful for this victory, and the damsel who was relieved fell in love with the Giant, and married him. They now travelled far, and farther than I can tell, till they met with a company of robbers. The Giant, for the first time, was foremost now; but the Dwarf was not far behind. The battle was stout and long. Wherever the Giant came, all fell before him; but the Dwarf had like to have been killed more than once. At last the victory declared for the two adventurers: but the Dwarf lost his leg. The Dwarf had now lost an arm, a leg, and an eye, while the Giant was without a single wound. Upon which he cried out to his little companion: "My little hero, this is glorious sport; let us get one victory more, and then we shall have honor forever.”—“No,” cries the Dwarf, who was by this time grown wiser, "no, I declare off; I'll fight no more: for I find in every battle that you get all the honor and rewards, but all the blows fall upon me.” FROM "THE TRAVELLER.” 199. FRANCE. To kinder skies, where gentler manners reign, With tuneless pipe, beside the murmuring Loire! Have led their children through the mirthful maze; So blest a life these thoughtless realms display, Theirs are those arts that mind to mind endear, Here passes current; paid from hand to hand, They please, are pleased, they give to get esteem, FROM "THE DESERTED VILLAGE." 200. THE Village Inn. Near yonder thorn, that lifts its head on high, The parlor splendors of that festive place; The white-washed wall, the nicely sanded floor, The chest contrived a double debt to pay, A bed by night, a chest of drawers by day; While broken tea-cups, wisely kept for show, Ranged o'er the chimney, glistened in a row. Vain transitory splendors! could not all No more the farmer's news, the barber's tale, CHAPTER XVII. HISTORICAL, MORAL, POLITICAL, AND THEOLOGICAL WRITERS OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. ISAAC WATTS. 1674-1728. (Manual, p. 288.) FROM HIS LYRICS. Book I. 201. THE EARNEST STudent. “Infinite Truth, the life of my desires, Come from the sky, and join thyself to me: 'Tis thy fair face alone my spirit burns to see. "Speak to my soul, alone; no other hand Shall mark my path out with delusive art: "Retire, my soul, within thyself retire, Away from sense and every outward show: May mount and spread above, surveying all below." The Lord grows lavish of His heavenly light, And pours whole floods on such a mind as this: And sees unutterable things in that unknown abyss. PHILIP DODDRIDGE. 1702-1751. (Manual, p. 345.) 202. OBLIGATION OF HARMONY AMONG CHRISTIANS. Among many other good affections which the perusal of this history may naturally inspire, and which I have endeavored often to suggest in the improvements which conclude each section, I cannot forbear mentioning one more; I mean a generous and cordial love to our fellow-Christians of every rank and denomination. I never reflect upon the New Testament in this view, but I find it difficult to conceive how so much of a contrary temper should ever have prevailed amongst such multitudes who have professed religiously to receive it, yea, whose office hath been to interpret and enforce it. To have enlisted under the banner of Jesus, to have felt his love, to have espoused his interest, to labor to serve him, to aspire after the enjoyment of him, should, methinks, appear to every one, even on the slightest reflection, a bond of union too strong to be broken by the different apprehensions that one or another of us may entertain '(perhaps, too, after diligent inquiry) concerning the exact sense of some of the doctrines he taught, or the circumstantial forms of some of his institutions. A humble sense of our own weakness, and of the many imperfections of our character, which will never be more deeply felt than when we consider ourselves as standing before our Divine Master, will dispose us to mutual candor, will guard us against the indecency of contending in his presence, and will, as St. Paul, with admirable spirit, expresses it, dispose us to receive one another, as Christ hath received us. Yea, our hearts will be so eagerly desirous of employing our life in serving him to the best purpose we can, that we shall dread the thought of misspending, in our mutual animosities, accusations, and complaints, the time that was given us for ends so much nobler, and which is capable of being employed to the honor of our common Lord, and for the benefit of the church and the world. EPIGRAM ON HIS FAMILY MOTTO, "Dum vivimus vivamus." Live while you live, the epicure would say, Lord, in my view let both united be, I live in pleasure when I live to thee. DAVID HUME. 1711-1776. (Manual, p. 326.) 203. CHARACTER OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. There are few great personages in history who have been more exposed to the calumny of enemies, and the adulation of friends, than Queen Elizabeth, and yet there is scarce any whose reputation has been more certainly determined by the unanimous consent of posterity. The unusual length of her administration, and the strong features of her character, were able to overcome all prejudices; and obliging her detractors to abate much of their invectives, and her admirers some |