(23) "Ovid had been wise for winking." Page 229. The poet Ovid was exiled for life to the shores of the Black Sea for having seen, and indiscreetly divulged, some intrigue in the family of Augustus. He complains frequently o this hard lot; for example, "Inscia quod crimen viderunt lumina plector, Peccatumque oculos est habuisse meum.” But he might with greater justice have accused his tongue than his eyes. (24) Page 238. Madame de Staël somewhere uses these words: "To enjoy ourselves, we must seek solitude. It was in the Bastile that I first became acquainted with myself." Scipio is reported to have originated the popular sayings, " I am never less idle than when I have most leisure," and "I am never less alone than when alone." The Emperor Charles V., with the example of Dioclesian before him, resigned his crown, and retired from the world to the monastery of St. Just, at Plazencia, in Spain: where, as Robertson says, "he ouried in solitude and silence his grandeur and his ambition." (*) Page 241. It may be necessary to acquaint the reader that this section takes a retrospective glance at my former series of subjects treated in the proverbial style: a brief recapitulation of the present series follows, finishing the work. A THOUSAND LINES. PROLOGUE. My heart presents her gift; in turn, of thee Kindly to spend with these my thoughts and me, Full of young hopes I dare the tented field!Not so this is no time for measuring swords; Thou art no craven though thy spirit yield, For yonder are fair looks and friendly words: Choose a more peaceful image :-here, reveal'd Shines a small sample of my golden hoards. SLOTH. "A LITTLE more sleep, a little more slumber, Touch not these curtains!—your hand will be tearing Cease your dull lecture on cares and employment, Hush, for the halo of calmness is spreading Hush, for new slumbers are over me stealing, |