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and to whomd it will be the most dreadful of all evils to count their past years by follies, and to be reminded of their former luxuriance of health only by the maladies which riot has produced." JOHNSON.

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DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON.

This learned mans was born at Litchfield, where his father was established as* a* bookseller. Afterh leaving the University of Oxford, where he studied for some time, he came to London, and soon after began his career as an authori: we shall not enumerate the numerous works of this writer, they are such as will immortalizek his name. The Editor of the "Biographia Dramatica," who has very ably delineated his character as a man of letters, shows him with no less advantage in another point of view:-" It would be the highest injustice, (says he,) were I not to observe, that nothing but his great genius can possibly exceed the extent of his erudition; and it would be adding a greater injury to his still more valuable personal qualities, were I to stop here, since together with the ablest head¶, he seems possessed of the best heart. Every line, every sentiment, that issues' from his pen, tends tos the great centre of all his views-the promotion oft virtue, religion, and humanity; nor are his actions less directed towards the same end. Benevolence, charity, and piety, are the most striking features

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of his character; and, while his writings point out what a good man ought to be, his own conduct sets us an example" of virtue."

▾ homme de bien;-u nous donner un modèle.

HEROISM.

A DUTCH captain, named John Schaffelaar, being in possession of the Fortress of Barnevelt, in 1482, was there besieged, and summoned to surrender, but would not capitulate until a2 breach was made, when he consented to yield. The first article of the capitulation required that the captain should be thrown from the top of the tower, which raised the indignation of the besieged, who swore all to die sooner than accede to such a condition; but the generous Schaffelaar, climbing toc one of the battlements, cried to them-" Friends, I must die one day, and I shall never have an opportunity of dying more gloriously, since I save you all by my death." Having said these words, he precipitated himself from the top of the tower.

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SECTION III.

ARNOLD DE WINKELRIED.

Ar the battle of Sempach, a knight of the Canton of Untervalden, in Switzerland, named Arnold de Winkelried, seeing that his countrymen could not break the line of battle of the Austrians, who were armed from head to foot, and formed a very close column, conceived the generous design of sacrificing himself for his country. "My friends," said he to the Swiss who surrounded him, "I am about to sacrifice my life for my country: I only recommend to you my family. Follow me!" On this, he placed them in the form of a triangle, of which he formed the point; marched towards the centre of the enemy, and, grasping as many pikes as he could, he threw himself on the ground; thus opening, to those who followed him, a way to penetrate into this thick column. The Austrians, once broken, were conquered, the weight of their arms becoming fatal to them.

FREDERIC II., KING OF PRUSSIA.

THIS king who has been surnamed the Great, was born in 1712: as soon as he ascended the throne he displayed his ambition and military

dispositions, by demanding Silesia from Maria Theresa, under the plea that it had been wrongfully dismembered from the possessions of his family; he entered it with a powerful army, and conquered it. In 1757, he found himself obliged to contend at once with Russia, the German Empire, the House of Austria, Saxony, Sweden, and France; the numerous armies of his enemies overran the whole of his dominions, but his extraordinary activity enabled him to meet every where his enemies, and give them battle. It is difficult to say which deserves most to be admired-his signal victories, or his ability in repairing his defeats. Always above the vicissitudes of fortune, he beheld, with the same philosophical calmness, his successes and the bitterest strokes of fate.

The activity of his mind was easily discerned in the vivacity of his eyes; he was one of those extraordinary men, who, by a judicious and regular partition of time, and by perseverance, can pursue a variety of occupations, which common mortals must contemplate with astonishment. Had he not been a king, he would, in any situation have been a very distinguished man being a king, he displayed those talents which usually require the retirement of a private life for their cultivation, in a degree of excellence which his situation and mode of life rendered still more extraordinary.

As all particulars respecting a man so eminent are objects worthy of attention, we shall subjoin an account of his habitual mode of life, as it is given by the best authorities. He was plain in his dress, and always wore a military uniform; a few minutes early in the morning served him to arrange it: boots always formed a part of it. Every moment from five o'clock in the morning to ten at night had its regular allotment. His first employment,

when he arose, was to peruse all the papers that were addressed to him from all parts of his dominions; the lowest of his subjects being allowed to write to him, with the certainty of an answer. Every proposal was to be made, and every favour to be asked, in writing; and a single word, written with a pencil in the margin, informed his secretaries what answer to return.

him so

Continuation.

THIS expeditious method excluding all verbal discussion, saved a great deal of time, and enabled well to weigh his favours, that he was seldom deceived by his ministers. About eleven o'clock the King appeared in his garden, and reviewed his regiment of guards, which was done at the same hour by all the Colonels of his armies. At twelve o'clock, precisely, he dined, and usually invited eight or nine officers. At table he discarded all etiquette, in hopes of making conversation free and equal; but, though his own bon mots and liveliness offered all the encouragement in his power, this is an advantage that an absolute monarch cannot easily obtain. Two hours after dinner Frederic retired to his study, where he amused himself in composing verse or prose, or in the cultivation of some branch of literature. At seven commenced a private concert, himself playing upon the flute with the skill of a professor; and frequently he had pieces rehearsed, which he composed himself. The concert was followed by a supper, to which few were admitted except literary men. As he sacrificed many of his own gratifications to the duties of royalty, he exacted a severe account from his officers, and all who had places in the State. His severity, however, became some

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