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barbarity. It was known to the ancient Greeks; and there is also a very peculiar species of water ordeal, said to prevail amongst the Indians on the coast of Malabar; where, a person accused of any enormous crime, is obliged to swim over a broad river, abounding with crocodiles; and, if he escapes unhurt, he is reputed innocent.

In Siam too, besides the usual methods of fire and water ordeal, both parties are sometimes exposed to the fury of a tiger, let loose for that purpose: and, if the beast spares either, that person is accounted innocent; if neither, both are held to be guilty; but, if he spares both, the trial is incomplete.

LESSON TWENTY-SEVENTH.

The Trumpet.

The trumpet's voice hath roused the land,
Light up the beacon-pyre!

A hundred hills have seen the brand,
And waved the sign of fire.

A hundred banners to the breeze
Their gorgeous folds have cast-
And hark! was that the sound of seas?—
A king to war went past.

The chief is arming in his hall,

The peasant by his hearth;

The mourner hears the thrilling call,

And rises from the earth.

The mother on her first-born son,

Looks with a boding eye

They come not back, though all be won,
Whose young hearts leap so high.

The bard has ceased his song, and bound
The falchion to his side;

E'en, for the marriage altar crowned,
The lover quits his bride.

And all this haste, and change, and fear,
By earthly clarion spread!-

How will it be when kingdoms hear
The blast that wakes the dead?

LESSON TWENTY-EIGHTH.

King Richard and the Minstrel.

The singular manner of discovering the situation of King Richard the First, when a prisoner to Leopold, duke of Austria, which Fauchet relates from an ancient chronicle, is thus related in Mrs. Dobson's Literary History of the Troubadours.

A minstrel, called Blondel, who owed his fortune to Richard, animated with tenderness towards his illustrious master, was resolved to go over the world till he had discovered the destiny of this prince. He had already traversed Europe, and was returning through Germany, when, talking one day at Lintz, in Austria, with the innkeeper, in order to make this discovery, he learned that there was near the city, at the entrance of a forest, a strong and ancient castle, in which there was a prisoner, who was guarded with great care.

A secret impulse persuaded Blondel that this prisoner was Richard. He went immediately to the castle, the sight of which, made him tremble. He got acquainted with a peasant, who went often there to carry provisions; questioned, and offered him a considerable sum to declare who it was that was shut up there; but the good man, though he readily told all he knew, was ignorant both of the name and quality of the prisoner.

He could only inform him, that he was watched

with the most exact attention, and was suffered no communication with any one but the keeper of the castle, and his servants. He added, that the prisoner had no other amusement than looking over the country through a small grated window, which served also for the light that glimmered into his apartment.

He told him that this castle was a horrid abode; that the staircase and the apartments were black with age, and so dark, that, at noon-day, it was necessary to have a lighted flambeau to find the way along them. Blondel listened with eager attention, and meditated several ways of coming at the prison, but all in vain.

At last, when he found that, from the height and narrowness of the window, he could not get a sight of his dear master, who, he firmly believed, was there, he bethought himself of a French song, the last couplet of which had been composed by Richard, and the first by himself. After he had sung, with a lud and harmonious voice, the first part, he suddenly stopped, and heard a voice, which came from the castle window, "continue, and finish the song." Transported with joy, he was now assured it was the king, his master, who was confined in this dismal castle.

The chronicle adds, that, one of the keeper's servants falling sick, he hired himself to him, and thus made himself known to Richard; and, informing his nobles, with all possible expedition, of the situation of their monarch, he was released from his confinement, on paying a large ransom.

LESSON TWENTY-NINTH.

The Graves of a Household.

They grew in beauty, side by side,
They filled one home with glee;
Their graves are severed far and wide,
By mount, and stream, and sea.

The same fond mother bent at night
O'er each fair sleeping brow;
She had each folded flower in sight-
Where are those dreamers now?

One, 'midst the forests of the West,
By a dark stream, is laid;

The Indian knows his place of rest,
Far in the cedar shade.

The sea, the blue lone sea, hath
He lies where pearls lie deep;
He was the loved of all, yet none
O'er his low bed may weep.

one,

One sleeps where southern vines are drest,
Above the noble slain;

He wrapped his colors round his breast,
On a blood red field of Spain.

And one-o'er her the myrtle showers
Its leaves, by soft winds fanned;
She faded 'midst Italian flowers,
The last of that bright band.

And parted thus they rest, who played
Beneath the same green tree;
Whose voices mingled as they prayed
Around one parent knee!

They that with smiles lit up the hall,
And cheered with song the hearth-
Alas! for love, if thou wert all,
And nought beyond, O earth!

LESSON THIRTIETH.

Mourat Bey.

A peasant, near Damascus, in a year that locusts covered the plains of Syria, to supply the urgent ne

cessities of his family, was daily obliged to sell a part of his cattle. This resource was very soon exhausted; and the unhappy father, borne down by the present calamity, went to the town to sell his implements of labor.

Whilst he was cheapening some corn, newly arrived from Damietta, he heard tell of the successes of Mourat Bey, who, after vanquishing his enemies, had entered Grand Cairo in triumph. They painted the size, the character, the origin of this warrior. They related the manner in which he had arisen from a state of slavery to his present greatness.

The astonished countryman immediately knew him to be one of his sons, carried off from him at eleven years old. He lost no time in conveying to his family the provisions he had purchased, recounted what he had learned, and determined to set out for Egypt. His wife and children bathed him with their tears, offering up their vows for his safe return. He went to the port of Alexandretta, where he embarked, and landed at Damietta.

But, a son who had quitted the religion of his forefathers to embrace Mahometanism, and who saw himself encircled with all the splendor of the most brilliant fortune, was it likely that he would acknowledge him? This idea hung heavy on his heart. On the other hand, the desire of rescuing his family from the horrors of famine, the hopes of recovering a child, whose loss he had long bewailed, supported his courage, and animated him to continue his journey.

He entered the capital, and repaired to the palace of Mourat Bey. He presented himself to the prince's attendants, and desired permission to speak with him. He urged, he ardently solicited an audience. His dress, and his whole appearance, which bespoke poverty and misfortune, were not calculated to obtain him what he sought for; but his great age, that age so respected in the East, pleaded in his favor

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