of the Spaniard whom he had then in custody. He concealed the horror and suspicion which he felt, and, retiring to his chamber, he remained there till midnight. Then going privately into the garden, he opened the door of the summerhouse, and thus accosted (1) the cavalier: "Christian, the youth, whom you have murdered, was my only son. Your crime merits the severest punishment. But I have solemnly pledged my word (2) not to betray you, and I disdain to violate a rash engagement even with a cruel enemy." He then conducted the Spaniard to the stables, and furnishing him with (3) one of his swiftest mules: "Fly," said he, "while the darkness of the night conceals you. Your hands are polluted with blood, but God is just; and I humbly thank him that my faith is unspotted (4), and that I have resigned judgment (5) to him.”

(1) Accosted, s'adressa à.

(2) Word. parole.

(3) To furnish with, donner.

(4) Unspotted, sans tache, intacte.

(5) To resign judgment to, se rapporter à la justice de.

64.

King Pyrrhus's physician having proposed to Fabricius the Roman general, to poison his master, Fabricius sent to Pyrrhus that traitor's letter, with these words: "Prince, learn better for the future how (1) to chuse your friends and your foes." To requite this benefit, Pyrrhus sent back all the prisoners; but Fabricius received them only on condition (2), that he would accept the like number of his; and wrote to him: "Do not believe, Pyrrhus, that I have discovered this treason to you from a particular regard to your person, but because the Romans abhor base stratagems, and scorn (3) to triumph otherwise than by open force."

65.

In order to be a perfectly virtuous man, justice alone is not sufficient; for generosity and greatness of soul imply much more. Alexander the Great, having conquered Darius, king of Persia,

(1) How, ne traduisez pas ce mot.
(2) On condition, à condition.
(3) To scorn, dédaigner.

took many thousand prisoners; and among others the wife and mother of Darius. He might, according to the laws of war, have made slaves of them; instead of which, he treated them as queens, and with as much attention and respect as if he had been their subject. Darius, being informed of this, said that Alexander deserved to be victorious, and was alone worthy to reign in his stead.

66.

Julius Cæsar was also, in a very eminent degree, possessed of humanity and greatness of soul. After having vanquished Pompey, at the battle of Pharsalia, he pardoned those whom he might lawfully have put to death, and even restored to them their fortunes and their honours. Cicero, speaking to Julius Cæsar, in one of his orations, makes the following remark upon his conduct:"Fortune could not do more for you, than give you the power of saving so many people; nor nature serve you better, than in giving you the will to do it."

HABIT.

Ill habits gather by unseen degrees;
As brooks to rivers, rivers run to seas.

67.

DRYDEN.

Dr. Plot, in his history of Staffordshire, tells us of an idiot, who chanced to live within the sound of a clock, and was always amusing himself with counting the hour of the day, whenever the clock struck. This clock being spoiled by some accident, the idiot continued to strike and count the hours without its help, in the same manner as he had done when it was entire.

Though I dare not vouch for the truth of this story, it is very certain that custom has a mechanical effect upon the body, as well as a very extraordinary influence upon the mind.

HONESTY.

How far that little candle darts its beams!

So shine good actions in this naughty (1) world. SHAKSPEARE.

68.

Cardinal Farnese, who, for the multitude of his generous actions, was styled (2) the Patron of the Poor, had a constant custom once or twice a week, of giving public audience to all indigent people in the hall of his palace, to relieve every one according to his various necessities, or the motives of his own bounty.

One day a poor woman, encouraged by the fame of his generosity, came into the hall of this Cardinal to be heard among the crowd of petitioners. The Cardinal, discerning the marks of an extraordinary modesty in her face and carriage, encouraged her to tell her wants freely. She

(1) Naughty, pervers.

(2) Styled, nommé.