which carried Prescott, and Warren, and Putnam to the battle field, are good,-good, humanly speaking, of the highest order It is good to have them; good to encourage them; good to honor them; good to commemorate them: and whatever tends to cherish, animate, and strengthen such feelings does as much right-down practical good as filling low grounds and building railroads. 4. This is my demonstration. I wish, sir, not to be misunderstood. I admit the connection between enterprises, which promote the physical prosperity of the country, and its intellectual and moral improvement; but I maintain that it is only this connection that gives these enterprises all their value, and that the same connection gives a like value to every thing else which, through the channel of the senses, the taste, or the imagination, warms and elevates the heart. LESSON CLXXVIII. WIND AND SEA. BY BAYARD TAYLOR. 1. THE sea is a jovial comrade: His merriment shines in the dimpling lines He lays himself down at the feet of the sun, And broad-back'd billows fall faint on the shore 2. But the wind is sad and restless, And cursed with an inward pain: He sobs in the cedar and moans in the pine, 3. Welcome are both their voices, And I know not which is best, The laughter that slips from the ocean's lips, There's a pang in all rejoicing, A joy in the heart of pain, And the wind that saddens, the sea that gladdens, LESSON CLXXIX. PUBLIC FAITH. BY FISHER AMES. FISHER AMES, one of the most eloquent of American statesmen, was born at Dedham, Massachusetts, in 1758, and died in 1808. While in Congress, of which he was a member during the whole of Washington's administration, he made his celebrated speech on "The British Treaty," from which this and a following lesson are taken. 1. To expatiate on the value of public faith may pass with some men for declamation: to such men I have nothing to say. To others, I will urge, can any circumstances mark upon a people more turpitude and debasement? Can any thing tend more to make men think themselves mean, or degrade to a lower point their estimation of virtue and their standard of action? It would not merely demoralize mankind; it tends to break all the ligaments of society, to dissolve that mysterious charm which attracts individuals to the nation, and to inspire, in its stead, a repulsive sense of shame and disgust. 2. What is patriotism? Is it a narrow affection for the spot where a man was born? Are the very clods where we tread entitled to this ardent preference, because they are greener? No, sir; this is not the character of the virtue; it soars higher for its object. It is an extended self-love, mingling with all the enjoyments of life, and entwining itself with the minutest filaments of the heart. It is thus we obey the laws of society, because they are the laws of virtue. In their authority we see, not the array of force and terror, but the venerable image of our country's honor. Every good citizen makes that honor his own, and cherishes it, not only as precious, but as sacred. He is willing to risk life in its defence; and is conscious that he gains protection, while he gives it. For what rights of a citizen will be deemed inviolable, when a state renounces the principles that constitute their security? Or, if this life should not be invaded, what would its enjoyments be, in a country odious in the eyes of strangers and dishonored in his own? Could he look with affection and veneration to such a country as his parent? The sense of having one would die within him; he would blush for his patriotism, if he retained any, and justly, for it would be a vice. He would be a banished man in his native land. It 3. I see no exception to the respect that is paid among nations to the law of good faith. If there are cases, in this enlightened period, when it is violated, there are none when it is decried. is the philosophy of politics, the religion of governments. It is observed by barbarians: a whiff of tobacco-smoke, or a string of beads, gives not merely binding force, but sanctity, to treaties. Even in Algiers a truce may be bought for money; but, when ratified, even Algiers is too wise or too just to disown or annul its obligations. 4. It is painful, I hope it is superfluous, to make even the supposition that America should furnish the occasion of this opprobrium. No! let me not even imagine that a republican government-sprung, as our own is, from a people enlightened and uncorrupted, a government whose origin is right, and whose daily discipline is duty-can, upon solemn debate, make its option to be faithless; can dare to act what despots dare not avow, what our own example evinces the states of Barbary are unsuspected of. No! let me rather make the supposition that Great Britain refuses to execute the treaty, after we have done every thing to carry it into effect. Is there any language of reproach pungent enough to express your commentary on the fact? What would you say, or, rather, what would you not say? Would you not tell them, wherever an Englishman might travel, shame would stick to him; he would disown his country? You would exclaim, "England, proud of your wealth, and arrogant in the possession of power, blush for these distinctions, which become the vehicles your dishonor!" Such a nation might truly say "to corruption, Thou art my father, and to the worm, Thou art my mother and my sister." We should say of such a race of men, "Their name is a heavier burden than their debt." of LESSON CLXXX. AFFECTION CONQUERS. Saladin. Malek Adhel. Attendant. Attendant. A STRANGER craves admittance to your Highness. Saladin. Whence comes he? Attendant. That I know not. Enveloped with a vestment of strange form, Attendant. Thy royal brother! Saladin. Bring him instantly. [Exit Attendant.] Now, with his specious, smooth, persuasive tongue, Fraught with some wily subterfuge, he thinks To dissipate my anger. He shall die. [Enter Attendant and Malek Adhel.] Leave us together. [Exit Attendant.] [Aside.] I should know that form. Now summon all thy fortitude, my soul, Nor, though thy blood cry for him, spare the guilty! Malek Adhel. Behold it, then! Saladin owns no kindred with a villain. Malek Adhel. Oh, patience, Heaven! Had any tongue but thine Utter'd that word, it ne'er should speak another. Saladin. And why not now? Can this heart be more pierced By Malek Adhel's sword than by his deeds Oh, thou hast made a desert of this bosom Malek Adhel. Thou art soften'd; I am thy brother, then; but late thou saidst- Thou hast betray'd me in my fondest hopes! Villain? 'Tis just; the title is appropriate ! Thinkest thou I'm soften'd? By Mohammed! these hands Fall from them at thy fate! Oh, monster, monster! Is excellent to thee, for in his form The impulse of his nature may be read; Malek Adhel. Go on! go on! 'Tis but a little while to hear thee, Saladin; And, bursting at thy feet, this heart will prove Its penitence, at least. Saladin. That were an end Too noble for a traitor! The bow-string is A more appropriate finish! Thou shalt die! Malek Adhel. And death were welcome at another's mandate What, what have I to live for? Be it so, If that, in all thy armies, can be found Saladin. Oh, doubt it not! They're eager for the office. Perfidy So black as thine effaces from their minds All memory of thy former excellence. Malek Adhel. Defer not, then, their wishes. Saladin, If e'er this form was joyful to thy sight, This voice seem'd grateful to thine ear, accede To my last prayer:-Oh, lengthen not this scene, To which the agonies of death were pleasing! Saladin. This very hour! [Aside.] For, oh, the more I look upon that face, shall have! What, ho! who waits there? Attendant. Did your Highness call? |