Rome was still the lawful mistress of the world; the pope and the emperor, his bishop and general, had abdicated their station by an inglorious retreat to the Rhone and the Danube; but if she could resume her virtue, the republic might again vindicate her liberty and dominion. Amidst the indulgence of enthusiasm and eloquence, Petrarch, Italy, and Europe were astonished by a revolution which realized for a moment his most splendid visions.-Gibbon. TACITUS, Ann. ii. c. 4. LIVY, xxii. c. 25, 26. ANECDOTE OF MAXIMIN-HIS BODILY STRENGTH AND A ACTIVITY. BOUT thirty-two years before that event, the Emperor Severus, returning from an eastern expedition, halted in Thrace to celebrate with military games the birthday of his younger son Geta. The country flocked in crowds to behold their sovereign, and a young barbarian of gigantic stature earnestly solicited in his rude dialect that he might be allowed to contend for the prize of wrestling. As the pride of discipline would have been disgraced in the overthrow of a Roman soldier by a Thracian peasant, he was matched with the stoutest followers of the camp, sixteen of whom he successively laid on the ground. His victory was rewarded by some trifling gifts, and a permission to enlist in the troops. The next day the happy barbarian was distinguished above a crowd of recruits, dancing and exulting, after the fashion of his country. As soon as he perceived that he had attracted the emperor's notice, he instantly ran up to his horse, and followed him on foot, without the least appearance of fatigue, in a long and rapid career. "Thracian," said Severus, with astonishment, "art thou disposed to wrestle after thy race?" "Most willingly, sire," replied the unwearied youth; and almost in a breath overthrew seven of the strongest soldiers in the army. A gold collar was the prize of his matchless vigour and activity, and he was immediately F appointed to serve in the horse guards, who always attended on the person of the sovereign. Maximin, for that was his name, though born on the territories of the empire, descended from a mixed race of barbarians. His father was a Goth, and his mother of the nation of the Alani.—Gibbon. A CORIES AND THE CHIEF OF CEMPOALLA. LONG conference ensued, from which the Spanish general gathered much light respecting the state of the country. He first announced to the chief that he was the subject of a great monarch who dwelt beyond the waters; that he had come to the Aztec shores to abolish the inhuman worship which prevailed there, and to introduce the knowledge of the true God. The cacique replied that their gods, who sent them the sunshine and the rain, were good enough for them; that he was the tributary of a powerful monarch also, whose capital stood on a lake far off among the mountains: a stern prince, merciless in his exactions, and in case of resistance or any offence, sure to wreak his vengeance by carrying off their young men and maidens to be sacrificed to his deities. Cortes assured him that he would never consent to such enormities; he had been sent by his sovereign to redress abuses, and to punish the oppressor; and that if the Totonacs would be true to him, he would enable them to throw off the detested yoke of the Aztecs.-Prescott. LIVY, xxi. c. 20. xxxiii. c. 33. CESAR, Bell. Gall. i. c. 14. HEROIC CONSTANCY OF THE BURGOMASTER. HERE stood the burgomaster, a tall, haggard, imposing figure, with dark visage, and a tranquil but commanding THERE stark eye. eye. He waved his broad-leaved felt hat for silence, and then exclaimed, in language which has been almost literally preserved, "What would ye, my friends? Why do ye murmur that we do not break our vows, and surrender the city to the Spaniards? a fate more horrible than the agony which she now endures. I tell you I have made an oath to hold the city, and may God give me strength to keep my oath! I can die but once; whether by your hands, the enemy's, or by the hand of God. My own fate is indifferent to me, not so that of the city intrusted to my care. I know that we shall starve if not soon relieved; but starvation is preferable to the dishonoured death, which is the only alternative. Your menaces move me not; my life is at your disposal; here is my sword, plunge it in my breast, and divide my flesh among you. Take my body to appease your hunger, but expect no surrender, so long as I remain alive." TACITUS, Hist. iv. c. 67, 68. LIVY, V. c. 44. CHARLES V. relinquishES THE CROWN, AND RECOMMENDS A SUCCESSOR. HR E sketched his various wars, victories, and treaties of peace, assuring his hearers that the welfare of his subjects and the security of religion had ever been the leading objects of his life. As long as God had granted him health, he continued, only enemies could have regretted that Charles was living and reigning. But now that his strength was but vanity, and life fast ebbing away, his love for his dominion, his affection for his subjects, and his regard for their interests, required his departure. Instead of a decrepit man with one foot in the grave, he presented them with a sovereign in the prime of life and the vigour of health. Turning toward Philip, he observed, that for a dying father to bequeath so magnificent an empire to his son was a deed worthy of gratitude, but that when the father thus descended to the grave before his time, and by an anticipated and living burial sought to provide for the welfare of his realms and the grandeur of his son, the benefit thus conferred was surely far greater. He added that the debt would be paid to him with usury, should Philip conduct himself in his administration of the provinces with a wise and affectionate regard to their true interests. Posterity would applaud his abdication, should his son prove worthy of his bounty: and that could only be by living in the fear of God and by maintaining law, justice, and religion in all their purity as the true foundation of the realm.-Motley. TACITUS, Hist. i. c. 15, 16. JUVENAL, Xi. 44. CHARLES V. ADOPTS HIS SON PHILIP AS HIS UCH brave words as these, so many vigorous asseverations of SUCH attempted performance of duty, such fervent hopes expressed of a benign administration on behalf of the son, could not but affect the sensibilities of the audience, already excited and softened by the impressive character of the whole display. Sobs were heard throughout every portion of the hall, and tears poured profusely from every eye. The knights on the platform, and the burghers in the background, were all melted with the same emotion. As for the emperor himself, he sank almost fainting on his chair as he concluded his address. An ashy paleness overspread his countenance, and he wept like a child. Even the icy Philip was almost softened as he rose to perform his part in the ceremony. Dropping upon his knees before his father's feet, he reverently kissed his hand. Charles placed his hands solemnly upon his son's head and blessed him. Then raising him in his arms, he tenderly embraced him, saying, as he did so, to the great potentates around him, that he felt a sincere compassion for the son on whose shoulders so heavy a weight had just devolved, and which only a lifelong labour would enable him to support.-Motley. TACITUS, Hist. i. c. 17. Ann. i. c. 11. EARL OF CHATHAM-HIS LAST APPEARANCE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. No. O sooner did he hear of the intended address than he deter mined to appear in the House of Lords and oppose it. For such an exertion it was clear that he had not yet regained sufficient strength of body, nor even composure of mind. His family and friends endeavoured to dissuade him, but in vain. On the 7th of April, then, he came, or it might almost be said, was carried in, walking with feeble steps, and leaning with one arm on his son William, with the other on Lord Mahon. The earl spoke, but was not like himself; his speech faltered, his sentences broken, and his mind not master of itself. His words were shreds of unconnected eloquence, and flashes of the same fire which he, Prometheus-like, had stolen from heaven, and which were then returning to the place whence they were taken. With an unconquerable spirit he protested against surrendering the birthright of the British princes, and the union of the British race and name.-Lord Stanhope. LIVY, xxxiii. c. 2. CICERO, de Oratore, iii. § 2, 6. De Senectute, § 16, 22. NATIONAL SORROW FOR THE LOSS OF NELSON. THE 'HE death of Nelson was felt in England as something more than a public calamity; men started at the intelligence, and turned pale; as if they had heard of the loss of a dear friend. An |