LESSON FORTY-THIRD. Lewis XII. of France. When Lewis XII. had, by employing every engine of violence and policy, accomplished his designs, he fell into a lingering disorder, which warned him of his approaching dissolution. But, although he seemed to expect the stroke of death, with those horrors of mind that result from a consciousness of guilt and apprehensions of punishment, he resolved to support to the last moment his absolute power, and provided, by every possible means, against any attempts which the languid state of his health might encourage his nobles to make against his authority. Concealing as much as possible his sickness, and causing reports of his convalescence to be daily circulated, he shut himself up in a castle, which he caused to be encompassed with massive bars of iron, of an extraordinary thickness, and at every corner were watchtowers, strongly guarded with soldiers. The gate was shut, and the bridge drawn up every night; and, throughout the whole day, the captains guarded their posts with the same vigilance as in a place closely besieged. Within this impregnable fortress, Lewis bade defiance to every mode of attack, while all the powers of medicine, every allurement of the sense, and all the inventions of superstition, were employed to promote his recovery. Sacred relics were brought from various parts, that their effects on his health might be tried; and St. Francis, of Paul, was invited from Calabria, in order to restore by his prayers the shattered frame of the monarch. The powers of music were employed to revive his spirits, and the most beautiful girls were procured to dance in his presence, to the sound of vaus instruments, for his amusement. In spite, however, of all his precautions and endeavors, death, that irresistible assailant, whose entrance, all his iron bars, strong walls, and wide ditches could not prevent, made Lewis his prey, on the 30th of August, A. D. 1483, in the sixty-first year of his age, and when the twenty-second of his reign wanted only fifteen days of its expiration. LESSON FORTY-FOURTH. What is Life? A cloudy day, lit up by transient gleams; A bowl which sparkles brightly at its brim, Such, such is life! O for a state more glorious far than this! Charles XII. and his Soldier. It is well known under what severe discipline the troops of Charles XII. were kept; that they never pillaged towns taken by assault, before they received LESSON FORTY-THIRD. Lewis XII. of France. When Lewis XII. had, by employing every engine of violence and policy, accomplished his designs, he fell into a lingering disorder, which warned him of his approaching dissolution. But, although he seemed to expect the stroke of death, with those horrors of mind that result from a consciousness of guilt and apprehensions of punishment, he resolved to support to the last moment his absolute power, and provided, by every possible means, against any attempts which the languid state of his health might encourage his nobles to make against his authority. Concealing as much as possible his sickness, and causing reports of his convalescence to be daily circulated, he shut himself up in a castle, which he caused to be encompassed with massive bars of iron, of an extraordinary thickness, and at every corner were watchtowers, strongly guarded with soldiers. The gate was shut, and the bridge drawn up every night; and, throughout the whole day, the captains guarded their posts with the same vigilance as in a place closely besieged. Within this impregnable fortress, Lewis bade defiance to every mode of attack, while all the powers of medicine, every allurement of the sense, and all the inventions of superstition, were employed to promote his recovery. Sacred relics were brought from various parts, that their effects on his health might be tried; and St. Francis, of Paul, was invited from Calabria, in order to restore by his prayers the shattered frame of the monarch. The powers of music were employed to revive his spirits, and the most beautiful girls were procured to dance in his presence, to the sound of vaus instruments, for his amusement. In spite, however, of all his precautions and endeavors, death, that irresistible assailant, whose entrance, all his iron bars, strong walls, and wide ditches could not prevent, made Lewis his prey, on the 30th of August, A. D. 1483, in the sixty-first year of his age, and when the twenty-second of his reign wanted only fifteen days of its expiration. LESSON FORTY-FOURTH. A cloudy day, lit up by transient gleams; A bowl which sparkles brightly at its brim, Such, such is life! O for a state more glorious far than this! LESSON FORTY-FIFTH. Charles XII. and his Soldier. It is well known under what severe discipline the troops of Charles XII. were kept; that they never pillaged towns taken by assault, before they received write?" The secretary could only say, "Ah, sire, the bomb!" " Well," replied the king, "what has the bomb to do with the letter I am dictating to you ? Go on." LESSON FORTY-EIGHTH. The clock strikes one: we take no note of time, Where are they? with the years beyond the flood; How much is to be done! my hopes and fears Poor pensioner on the bounties of an hour? A great inundation having taken place in the north of I aly, owing to an excessive fall of snow in the Alps, followed by a speedy thaw, the bridge near Verona was carried off by the flood, except the middle part, on which was the house of the toll gatherer, who, with his whole family, thus remained imprisoned by the waves, and in momentary danger of destruction. They were discovered from the banks, stretching fo th har aands, screaming, and imploring accor, |