ind awaits and compares scarce ediions and curious documents; he sauners to the public libraries, revises with astidious care, and fatigues his amanaensis by his caprices. Hence it happens, that a poor author is almost always superior to his book; and a rich author almost always inferior to his book. Philip, King of Macedon, lost one of his eyes by a very singular accident. Besieging the small city Methone, a man named Aster, of Amphipolis, offered his services to Philip, telling him that he was so excellent a marksman, that he could bring down birds in their most rapid flight. The Monarch made this answer, "Well, then I will take you into my service when I make war upon Starlings." This reply stung the archer to the quick, and here it was fully proved, that a repartee may be of fatal consequence to him who makes it. Aster having thrown himself into the city, let fly an arrow, on which was written, "to Philip's right eye." This carried a most cruel proof that he was a good marksman, for he actually hit him in the right eye. Philip, however, sent him back the arrow, with this inscription; "If Philip takes Methone, he will hang up Aster;" and accordingly, having taken it, he was as good as his word. ON GOOD AND EVIL DAYS. [The subject of the following remarks is of general concern. Aimost every individual has prepossessions in favour of one day and antipathies against another, and although the reason may be convinced that the prejudice is a folly, yet his inclination (shall we say superstition?) leads him often to obey it. Men die and are buried on all days, but it very rarely happens even among our enlightened countrymen that any are married on a Friday, and a lady has been known to declare she would rather remain an old maid for life than go to the altar on this inauspicious day. We hear of vessels lost without any discrimination of times, and yet we all know the preference of sailors for a Sunday's departure: In truth mankind have weaknesses which they cannot strengthen and are carried on the current of prevailing sentiment without being desirous of freedom. Em. Ed'rs ] Notwithstanding the ridicule which of later" ages has been deservedly thrown on the idea of good and evil days, it is certain that, from time immemorial, the most celebrated nations of antiquity, the Chaldeans, the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans, adopted and placed implicit faith in this superstitious notion, which is still prevalent in all parts of the East. According to Plutarch, the kings of Egypt never transacted business on the 3d day of the week, and abstained even from food till the evening, because on that day Typhon, who was considered by them as the cause of every evil, was born. The 17th of the month was also deemed unfortunate, as on that day Osiris died. The Greeks, too, had their unlucky days, which they denominated The Thursday was generally considered by the Athenians as of so unlucky an import, that the assemblies of the people which happened to fall on that day, were always deferred. Hesiod enumerates the days when it might be proper to commence certain undertakings, and those, when it was necessary to abstain from every employment. A mong the latter he mentions the 5th of every month, when the infernal Furies were supposed to bestride the earth.— Virgil has the same idea- Quintam fuge:-pallidus OrcusEumenidesque sata-tum partu terra nefundo [Typhaa, Caumque Iapetumque creat, jævumque. Et consuratos cælum rescindere fratres. Many historical observations have contributed to favour these superstitious notions. Josephus remarks, that the temple of Solomon was burnt by the Babylonians on the 8th of September, and was a second time destroyed on the same day by Titus. Emilius Protus also observes, that Timoleon, the Corin thian, gained most of his victories on the anniversary of his birth. To these facts drawn from ancient history, many from more modern times may be added. It is said, that most of the successes of Charles the Fifth occurred on the festival of St. Matthias.Henry the Third was elected king of Poland, and became king of France, on Whitsunday, which was also his birthday. Pope Sextus the fifth preferred Wednesday to every other in the week, because it was the day of his birth, of his promotion to the cardinalate, of his election to the papal throne, and of his mind, alternately wise and weak, indis. coronation, criminately adopts error and truth. For the Emerald. MR. FENNELL. were not such evidence rendered unne cessary, by the specimens of superio talent, which the public have already witnessed. The recitations of "Clar ence's Dream," "Satan's address to the Lion," &c. on Tuesday evening at Concert Hall, were highly appreciated by a very respectable and discerning auditory." Louis the Thirteenth asserted that. Friday was always a favourable day to him. Henry the VIIth. of England was partial to Saturday, on which most of the happy events of his life had taken place. THE Course of Readings and Recita But if it were necessary to adduce tions, proposed by Mr. FENNELL, it examples against a sentiment so con- hoped will meet that encouragement, trary to reason and common sense, it which the liberality and good taste of would be easy to enumerate instances this town has always offered, when dis of good and ill fortune occurring on the tinguished talents have claimed the same day. Pompey was assassinated on public patronage. The success which the day of his former triumph over Mith- attended a similar course in Philadel ridates. Alexander, who had received phia, ill adapted as it was to attract the better instructions from his preceptor, attention of the million, would be suffi Aristotle, once ridiculed with spirit ancient evidence of Mr. Fennell's merit, observation of one of his officers, who represented to him that the kings of Macedon never commenced a march in the month of June, and that he might encounter some unfavourable event if he neglected to follow the ancient custom. "It is necessary (said he) for once to infringe the custom; I therefore order that this June, which is so much dreaded, shall henceforth be called the second month of May." Lucullus replied in the same manner to those who endea voured to dissuade him from engaging Tigranes on the Nones of October, because the army of Cepio had on that day been defeated by the Cimbri. "And I for that very reason, said Lucullus, will render it for the future a favourable day for the Romans. He attacked the king of Armenia, and defeated him. Leo the Tenth was inaugurated Pope on the an-jections usually made against theatrical niversary of his imprisonment the year representations will here be obviated; before. Oliver Cromwell had always all impurities will be expunged, and considered the 3d September as fortu- only the noblest parts retained, nate for him. On the 3d of September mixt with baser matter." 1650, he defeated the Scotch at Dun- the auditory be subjected to the drudg bar, and on that day, in the following ery of attending to every low, illiterate year, he gained the battle of Worcester; performer, whose false pronunciation, but on the 3d of Sept. 1658 he expired. false emphasis, false cadence, and false Though this distinction of good and every thing, is sufficient to deter any evil day's be in reality as absurd as it ap-humane person from witnessing such pears to be, I much doubt if it be yet horrid mutilation of harmless English. entirely eradicated. When it is considered how many things concur to keep up an error of this kind, and that among the great, as well as with the vulgar, opinions as puerile as this are not only received, but even made a rule of action, it may be inferred, that in every age and every country, however civilized, superstition always maintains its influence though it may occasionally vary in its object and name. The human beauties of the Drama; while the pages The stage presents us only with the of Milton, Thomson, Gray, and other admired poets, furnish passages equaly susceptible of additional force and bea ty from the powers of the accomplished speaker.--A judicious selection of these of oratory, we are confident in saying, passages, embellished with the graces will be exhibited in the readings and recitations of Mr. Fennell. The ob 66 017 Nor will We are sensible that no arguments need be used, to induce the public to bestow their patronage on one, who, notwithstanding prejudices that exist against the profession to which he be longs, is esteemed as a gentleman, a scholar, and a disciple of the old school with our friend R**. He does not write We have a very capital fault to find half often enough. For the Emerald. POETRY. THE WILD FLOWER. To ROSA. K you yon coy distrustful flower -ep from its humble bed, ere never yet, the vigorous power e hath it blossom'd since its birth, bending o'er its parent earth, mark yon proud and flaunting gem, By Peter Pindar, Esq. INSCRIBED TO A LADY. Harriet, for you I pen the tale, Content, where WISDOM points the In modest solitude to stray, A BUTTERFLY, of plumage gay, every wandering breeze that flies, The coxcomb pertly now press'd in, e garden's care and pride. obs it of rich perfume; every comer soils its dies, nd every sun its bloom. oh, how soon its faded form, For the Emerald. To R** Exclaiming, with satiric grin, "Who's here that bids the world fare. well? Hoh! master Maggot are ye dead?" head Just like a hermit from his cell. Amid the dark for ever groping? I range at will the hill and vale, IN Spring's first gem doth ope its "What insolence (the grub replies ;) eye, id rear its tender form, can the beauteous nursling fly, e keen and biting storm? Alas! how vain are Butterflies. Know, then, that Heaven my wishes grants, Contented with my humble food, I know that Providence is good, "Blaspheming creature learn, O learn Was, with a grin, prepar'd to treat him ; When forth a sparrow hopp'd, unseen, Spoil'd monsieur's meditated mien, In triumph bore him off and ate him. How few simplicity endears! Ah! who would lose, for sighs and tears, The charms of friendship, love, and calm security, To grandeur's giddy heights to climb ? The happy state, and true sublime, Live in two words-Contentment and Obscurity. ARABIAN SONG. From Carey's Amatory Poems. COME, maid of Yemen ! sit with me Beneath the fragrant almond tree; And shun, within this close retreat, The blazing noontide's fervid heat. Wafts't thou a gale of rich perfume From drops that pearl the rose's bloom, O Zephyr 'mid thy blossoms straying With Pleasure's sportive daughters playing? Or have the virgin lilies spread Or is it Zeineb's softer breast Or is it some gay child of air, Or wakes the nightingale her lay |