Thee, chantress, oft the woods among 40 For so I have seen a lark rising from his bed of grass, and soaring upwards, singing as he rises, and hopes to get to heaven, and climb above the clouds; but the poor bird was beaten back with the loud sighings of an eastern wind, and his motion made irregular and inconstant, descending more at every breath of the tempest, than it could recover by the libration1 and frequent weighing of his wings; till the little creature was forced to sit down and pant, and stay till the storm was over; and then it made a prosperous flight, and did rise and sing, as if it had learned music and motion from an angel, as he passed sometimes through the air, about his ministries here below. 1 Libration, balancing. USEFUL STUDIES. Spend not your time in that which profits not; for your labour and your health, your time and your studies, are very valuable; and it is a thousand pities to see a diligent and hopeful person spend himself in gathering cockle-shells and little pebbles, in telling sands upon the shores, and making garlands of useless daisies.1 JOHN BUNYAN. Born 1628-Died 1688. THE GOLDEN CITY. 1. Now I saw in my dream that these two men went in at the gate; and lo, as they entered, they were transfigured, and they had raiment put on that shone like gold. There were also that met them with harps and crowns, and gave to them the harps to praise withal, and the crowns in token of honour. 2. Then I heard in my dream that all the bells in the city rang again for joy, and that it was said unto them: "Enter ye into the joy of your Lord." I also heard the men themselves, that they sang with a loud voice, saying: "Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power be to Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever." 3. Now, just as the gates were opened to let in the men, I looked in after them, and behold the city shone like the sun; the streets, also, were paved with gold, and in them walked many men with crowns on their heads, palms in their hands, and golden harps, to sing praises withal. RICHARD BAXTER. Born 1615-Died 1691. ON HIS OWN AND OTHER MEN'S KNOWLEDGE. Heretofore, I knew much less than now, and yet was not half so much acquainted with my ignorance. I had a great delight in the 1 Sir Isaac Newton, a little before he died, said: "I don't know what I may seem to the world, but as to myself, I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary; whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me." daily new discoveries which I made, and of the light which shined in upon me-like a man that cometh into a country where he never was before-but I little knew either how imperfectly I understood those very points whose discovery so much delighted me, nor how much might be said against them, nor how many things I was yet a stranger to; but now I find far greater darkness upon all things, and perceive how very little it is that we know, in comparison of that which we are ignorant of, and have far meaner thoughts of my own understanding, though I must needs know that it is better furnished than it was then. H Aloft in awful state The godlike hero sate On his imperial throne; His valiant peers were placed around, Their brows with roses and with myrtles bound: (So should desert in arms be crowned). The lovely Thaïs by his side Sate like a blooming Eastern bride, In flower of youth and beauty's pride. None but the brave, None but the brave, None but the brave deserves the fair. 10 [CHAPTER XVII.] 20 Thus long ago, Ere heaving bellows learned to blow, Timotheus, to his breathing flute Could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire. At last divine Cecilia came, Inventress of the vocal frame; The sweet enthusiast, from her sacred store, With Nature's mother-wit, and arts unknown before. Or both divide the crown: JOHN LOCKE. Born 1632-Died 1704. CHRISTMAS IN THE OLDEN TIME. 1. This was the show: the music to it was all vocal in the quire1 adjoining, but such as I never heard. They had strong voices, but so ill-tuned, so ill-managed, that it was their misfortune, as well as ours, that they could be heard. He that could not, though he had a cold, make better music with a chevy chase2 over a pot of smooth ale, deserved well to pay the reckoning, and go away athirst. 2. However, I think they were the honestest singing-men I have ever seen, for they endeavoured to deserve their money, and earned it certainly with pains enough; for what they wanted in skill, they made up in loudness and variety. Every one had his own tune; and the result of all was like the noise of choosing parliament-men, where every one endeavours to cry loudest. 3. Besides the men, there were a company of little choristers. I thought when I saw them at first they had danced to the others 330 music, and that it had been your Gray's Inn1 revels; for they were jumping up and down about a good charcoal-fire that was in the middle of the quire this their devotion and their singing was enough, I think, to keep them warm, though it were a very cold night—but it was not dancing, but singing they served for; for when it came to their turns, away they ran to their places, and there they made as good harmony as a concert of little pigs would, and they were much about as cleanly. 4. Their part being done, out they sallied again to the fire, where they played till their cue2 called them, and then back to their places they huddled. SIR ISAAC NEWTON. Born 1642-Died 1727. FROM HIS "RELIGIOUS BELIEFS." We are to return thanks to the Father alone for creating us, and giving us food and raiment and other blessings of this life; and whatsoever we are to thank him for, or desire that he would do for us, we ask of him immediately in the name of Christ. [CHAPTER XVIII.] DANIEL DEFOE. Born 1661-Died 1731. THE GREAT PLAGUE IN LONDON. 1. Much about the same time I walked out into the fields towards Bow. I turned away over the fields, from Bow to Bromley, and down to Blackwall,3 to the stairs that are there for landing or taking water. Here I saw a poor man walking on the bank or sea-wall, as they call it, by himself. I walked a while also about, seeing the houses all shut up; at last I fell into some talk, at a distance, with this poor man. 2. "Why," says I, "what do you here all alone?" Why," says he, "I am a poor desolate man: it hath pleased God I am not yet visited, though my family is, and one of my children dead." 1 Gray's Inn, one of the law schools in actor's speech. London. "How 3 Bow, Bromley, and Blackwall, sub 2 Cue, the last words of the previous urbs of London. |