sion; in the midst of the princes and nobles, Anguillara assumed his throne, and at the voice of a herald Petrarch arose. After discoursing on a text of Virgil, at thrice repeating his vows for the prosperity of Rome, he knelt before the throne, and received from the senator a laurel crown with the declaration, “This is the reward of merit.” The people shouted, "Long life to the Capitol and the poet." A sonnet in praise of Rome was accepted as the effusion of genius and gratitude; and, after the whole procession had visited the Vatican, the wreath was suspended before the shrine of St. Peter. In the act of diploma, which was presented to Petrarch, the title and prerogatives of poet-laureate were revived in the Capitol, after the lapse of 1300 years; and he received the perpetual privilege of wearing, at his choice, a crown of laurel, ivy, or myrtle; of assuming the poetic habit, and of teaching, disputing, interpreting, and composing, in all places whatsoever, and on all subjects of literature. The grant was ratified by the authority of the senate and people, and the character of citizen was the recompense of his affection for the Roman name. 1. What happened on this day in 1341 ? 2. Why must literary fame in those days have depended on the opinion of a very few competent judges ? 3. What did he receive unexpectedly in August, 1340? 4. What did he receive from the senate ? On this day, in 1626, died the famous Lord Bacon, in the 66th year of his age, at the Earl of Arundel's house at Highgate. He was buried privately in St. Michael's church at St. Alban's, Herts. The spot that contains the remains of this great man lay obscure and undistinguished, till the gratitude of a private individual, formerly his servant "living, his attendant; dead, his admirer" erected a monument to his name and memory. It is a singular example of the confidence with which original genius reposes upon the merit of its own productions, and assures itself of posthumous fame, that Lord Bacon inserted in his last will the following remarkable passage: :- "My name and memory I leave to foreign nations, and to mine own countrymen after some time be passed over." When young, he formed the grand con EFFECT OF THE HUMAN EYE ON ANIMALS. 139 ception that he was born to benefit mankind: in his letter to Fulgentio he styles himself the Servant of Posterity; in all his philosophical labours, he, to the latest hour of his life, considered himself in this light; and succeeding ages have abundantly proved that he was not mistaken. The ever-increasing pile of natural knowledge, which philosophers following his method of experimental investigation have been enabled to raise, is an eternal monument to his memory, on which distant posterity will read this inscription, Bacon, the Father of Experimental Philosophy. The moral defects which were interwoven with intellectual excellences in his character, it is impossible to disguise or forget, and in vain to palliate. The nobler his conceptions were, the more culpable was his obliquity of conduct. Flaws are most to be regretted in the most precious gems. When we meet with a Bacon disgracing himself by servility, ingratitude, and corruption, nothing remains but to lament such mortifying instances of human frailty, and to take care to draw from the instructive fact the right moral inference. In the present case, instead of hastily concluding that superior talents are rather to be dreaded than desired, as Pope seems to have done when he wrote, "If parts allure thee, think how Bacon shined, The wisest, brightest, meanest of mankind," we should infer the infinite superiority of the pursuits of intellectual pleasures above those of ambition. Had Bacon been contented with being a philosopher, without aspiring after the honours of a statesman and a courtier, he would have been a greater and a happier man. 1. Where was Lord Bacon buried? 2. What remarkable passage did he insert in his last will? 3. What does he style himself in his letter to Fulgentio? LESSON C.. - APRIL THE TENTH. Effect of the Human Eye on Animals. A SOUTH AFRICAN writer observes, that in a conversation he had with one of the native chiefs while he was in Cape Town, respecting the wild animals of Africa, he made some remarks on the lion, which, as they correspond with the accounts the writer had before received from the Boors and Hottentots, he has no doubt are perfectly correct. The lion, he said, very seldom attacks man if unprovoked but he will frequently approach within a few paces and survey him steadily; and sometimes he will attempt to get behind him, as if he could not stand his look, but was yet desirous of springing upon him unawares. If a person in such circumstances attempts to fight or fly he incurs the most imminent peril; but if he has sufficient presence of mind coolly to confront him, without the appearance of either terror or aggression, the animal will, in almost every instance, after a little space, retire. But he added, that when a lion has once conquered a man, he becomes tenfold more fierce and villanous than he was before, and will even come into the kraals in search of him, in preference to other prey. The overmastering effect of the human eye upon the lion has been frequently mentioned, though much doubted by travellers. But from my own inquiries amongst lionhunters, says the narrator, I am perfectly satisfied of the fact; an anecdote which was related to me a few days ago by Major Macintosh, late of the East India Company's service, proves that this fascinating effect is not restricted exclusively to the lion. An officer in India (whose name I have forgotten, but who was well known to my informant) having chanced to ramble into a jungle adjoining a British encampment, suddenly encountered a royal tiger. The rencontre appeared equally unexpected on both sides, and both parties made a dead halt, earnestly gazing at each other. The gentleman had no fire-arms, and was aware that a sword was no effective defence in a struggle for life with such an antagonist. But he had heard that even the Bengal tiger might be sometimes checked by steadfastly looking him in the face. He did so ; in a few minutes the tiger, which appeared as if preparing to make his fatal spring, grew disturbed, slunk aside, and attempted to creep round upon him behind. The officer turned constantly upon the tiger, which still continued to shrink from his glance, but darting into a thicket, and again issuing forth at a different quarter, it persevered for above an hour in this attempt to catch him by surprise; till at last it fairly yielded the contest, and left the gentleman to pursue his pleasure walk. The direction he now took, as may be easily believed, was straight to the tents at double quick time. 1. In what way does a lion generally approach a man? 2. Is the fascinating effect of the human eye over the lion confined to that animal ? YOUTH AND SUMMER. LESSON CI. APRIL THE ELEVENTH. Youth and Summer. SUMMER'S full of golden things! Summer, rich in joy it is, Doth not wear a shade of sadness! Radiant youth! thou'rt ever new! All the forest! Joyous youth! thou'rt fresh and fair; Thou, amidst thy ringing laughter, Brighter than the brightest flowers; Youth and Love go hand in hand, Youth! thou never dost decay! 141 Galgacus, the General of the Caledonii, to his Army, to incite them to Action against the Romans. COUNTRYMEN AND FELLOW-SOLDIERS! When I consider the cause for which we have drawn our swords, and the necessity of striking an effectual blow before we sheath them again, I feel just hopes arise in my mind, that this day an opening will be made for the restoration of British liberty, and for shaking off the infamous yoke of Roman slavery. Caledonia is yet free. The all-grasping power of Rome has not yet been able to seize our liberty: but it is only to be preserved by valour. You are not to expect that you should escape the ravage of the general plunderers of mankind, by any sentiment of moderation in them. When the countries which are more accessible come to be subdued, they will then force their way into those which are harder to be overcome; and if they should conquer the dry land, over the whole world, they will then think of carrying their arms beyond the ocean, to see whether there be not certain unknown regions which they may attack, and reduce under subjection to the Roman empire. For we see, that if a country is thought to be powerful in arms, the Romans attack it, because the conquest will be glorious; if inconsiderable in the military art, because the victory will be easy; if rich, they are drawn thither by the hope of plunder; if poor, by the desire of fame. The east and the west, the south and the north, the face of the whole earth, is the scene of their military achievements; the world is too little for their ambition and their avarice. * * * * * But, after all, who are these mighty Romans? Are they gods? or mortal men, like ourselves? Do we not see that they fall into the same errors and weaknesses as others? Does not peace effeminate them? Does not abundance debauch them? Do they not even go to excess in the most unmanly vices? And can you imagine, that they who are remarkable for their vices are likewise remarkable for their valour? What, then, do we dread? Shall I tell you the truth, my fellow-soldiers? It is by means of our intestine divisions that the Romans have gained such great advantage over us. They turn the misconduct of their enemies to their own praise. They boast of what they have done, and say nothing of what they might have done, had we been so wise as to unite against them. What is this formidable Roman army? Is it not composed of a mixture of people from different countries; some more, some less disposed to military achievements, some more, some less capable of bearing fatigue and hardship. They keep together while they are successful. Attack them with vigour; distress them; you will see them more disunited among themselves than we are now. |