Diffidence, and her husband, the giant were got to bed, they began to renew their discourse of their prisoners; and, withal, the old giant wondered that he could, neither by his blows nor counsel, bring them to an end. And with that his wife replied: "I fear," said she, "that they live in hope that some one will come to relieve them, or that they have picklocks about them, by the means of which they hope to escape." "And sayest thou so, my dear?" said the giant; "I will therefore search them in the morning." 14. Well, on Saturday, about midnight, they began to pray, and continued in prayer till almost break of day. Now, a little before it was day, good Christian, as one half amazed, broke out in this passionate speech: "What a fool," quoth he, "am I thus to lie in a stinking dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty? I have a key in my bosom, called Promise, that will, I am persuaded, open any lock in Doubting Castle." Then said Hopeful: "That's good news, good brother; pluck it out of thy bosom and try." 15. Then Christian pulled it out of his bosom, and began to try at the dungeon-door, whose bolt, as he turned the key, gave back, and the door flew open with ease, and Christian and Hopeful both came out. Then he went to the outer door that leads into the castle-yard, and with his key opened that door also. After, he went to the iron gate, for that must be opened too; but that lock went very hard, yet the key did open it. Then they thrust open the door to make their escape with speed; but that gate, as it opened, made such a creaking, that it waked Giant Despair, who, hastily rising to pursue his prisoners, felt his limbs fail; for his fits took him again, so that he could, by no means, go after them. Then they went on, and came to the king's highway, and so were safe; because they were out of his jurisdiction. 16. Now, when they were gone over the stile, they began to contrive with themselves what they should do at that stile to prevent those that should come after from falling into the hands of Giant Despair. So they consented to erect there a pillar, and to engrave upon the stile thereof this senience: "Over this stile is the way to Doubting Castle, which is kept by Giant Despair, who despiseth the King of the Celestial Country, and seeks to destroy his holy pilgrims." Many, therefore, that followed after, read what was written, and escaped the danger. EXERCISE CXXXIV. The celebrated Soliloquy which forms the present Exercise, is from Addison's "CATO;" a tragedy which, though constructed according t the strictest rules of classical propriety, and, in the author's own time, very popular, has failed to maintain its place in the dramatic world, because of its strange deficiency in the representation of manners and character, and its marked improbabilities of time, place, and action. MARCUS PORCIUS CATO, the hero of Addison's famous tragedy, was born about the year 95 before Christ. He is often called "Cato the Younger," to distinguish him from his great-grandfather, so celebrated in Roman history for inflexible virtue, and so well known under the title "Cato the Censor;" being so called in allusion to his severity in the discharge of the duties of his office, as Censor. The Cato, here meant, received, also, the Latin designation UTICENSIS (pertaining to Utica), from his tragical fate at Utica. In the terrible civil contest that divided the state, in his day, he took part with Pompey against Cæsar: these being the two great military spirits then struggling for the mastery. Pompey, however, being defeated in Europe, and the hopes of the party utterly extinguished by a decisive battle in Africa, whither Cato had gone with the troops under his command, he still sought to unite the fragments of the defeated army in an effort to hold the town of Utica against the grasp of the conqueror. This proving vain, he retired, in the evening, to his own apartments, and employed himself in reading the Phædon of Plato,* a dialogue on the immortality of the soul: having secretly resolved to commit suicide, which he did, by stabbing himself, towards the approach of morning. It ought to be added that "Cato the Younger" falls little behind his great ancestor in all those virtues for which the latter was so justly admired. CATO'S SOLILOQUY. ADDISON.† SCENE. Cato seated, with Plato's treatise in his hand, and his sword beside him. I. it must be so-Plato, thou reasonest well! Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire, * See Note on Plato, p. 98. † For a sketch of Addison, see Exercise CXXIII. This longing after immortality? Or whence this secret dread, and inward horror II. Eternity!-thou pleasing, dreadful thought! Through what new scenes and changes must we pass? III. Here will I hold. If there's a Power above us And that which He delights in, must be happy. But when? or where? I'm weary of conjectures. This world was made for Cæsar! This must end them. IV. [Laying his hand on his sword. Thus am I doubly armed. My death and life, The wreck of matter, and the crush of worlds! * The sword † The book. EXERCISE CXXXV. ROBERT BURNS, the celebrated Scottish poet, was born in January, 1759, and died in July, 1796. The son of very poor, but very judicious parents, he had every encouragement to learning, except pecuniary means. This being denied, he employed the intervals of labor on the farm, in the effort to master the English and acquire knowledge by reading. In this he was eminently successful; for his early compositions display such skill in the use of language, to say nothing of their other merits, as seldom attends the most favored culture. But the struggle with poverty still continued to embarrass his course, and often to bring him into associations unfriendly to regular habits. Hampered in this way, he was, in the year 1786, just about te attempt an escape from the difficulties of his situation, by making a voyage to the West Indies. At this juncture, he received a letter from a friend in Edinburgh, earnestly inviting him to come to that city and issue a second edition of his poems; they having now come to be regarded with especial favor. He went; and soon became the object of almost unqualified admiration. Besides, he received a large pecuniary return. In 1788 he got married: at the same time securing, througn friends, some small political office. But the vexations of want still pursued him; which, added to the inroads of irregular life, soon closed his comparatively short career. Whatever his frailties, however, the world does not often look upon his like, whether you regard his spirit, as a man, or his wonderful power, as a poet. PASSAGES FROM BURNS. I. THE WISH FOR MANHOOD. Oh, enviable early days, When dancing thoughtless pleasure's maze, How ill exchanged for riper times, To feel the follies, or the crimes Ye little know the ills ye court, II. PLEASURES EVANESCENT. But pleasures are like poppies spread,— Or like the snow-falls in the river,— That fit ere you can find their place; III. MONEY NOT TO MINISTER TO PRIDE OR AVARICE To catch dame Fortune's golden smile, IV. A NOBLE ANCHOR IN THE TEMPEST OF LIFE. When ranting round in pleasure's ring, Or if she giet a random sting, It may be little minded; But, when on life we're tempest driven, A correspondence fixed wi' Heaven, V. THE RICH AND GREAT NOT ALL TRULY BLEST. A few seem favorites of fate In pleasures lap caressed; Yet, think not all the rich and great Are likewise truly blest: * That is, the fleeting luminous appearances which pass under the aame Aurora Boreä/lis. t Gie, that is, give. |
