From Virgil's' tomb he longs to pluck one flower To bless his own sweet home, his own proud shore 5. Wrapp'd in the raiment that it long must wear, Even there the spirit that I sing is true, The crew look on with sad, but curious view; 1 Virgil, the most distinguished of the Roman poets, was born at Andes, a small village of Mantua, on the 15th of October, B. c. 70. He died on the 22d of September, B. c. 19, before completing his fiftyfirst year. His body lies buried at the distance of two miles from the city of Naples.--2 Avon, a river in England, on the bank of which Shakspeare was born.- John Milton, the most illustrious English poet, was born in London, on the 9th of December, 1608. He died on Sunday, the 8th of November, 1675. DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. is said, One voice that silence breaks-the prayer 393 CHARLES SPRAGUE. THE 170. DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. THE discovery itself of the American continent may, I think, fairly be considered the most extraordinary event in the history of the world. In this, as in other cases, familiarity blunts the edge of our perceptions; but much as I have meditated, and often as I have treated this theme, its magnitude grows upon me with each successive contemplation. 2. That a continent nearly as large as Europe and Africa united, spread out on both sides of the equator, lying between the western shores of Europe and Africa and the eastern shore of Asia,' with groups of islands in either ocean, as it were stopping-places on the march of discovery,-a continent, not inhabited indeed by civilized races, but still occupied by one of the families of rational man, that this great hemisphere, I say, should have lain undiscovered for five thousand years upon the bosom of the deep,-a mystery so vast, within so short a distance, and yet not found out,-is indeed a marvel. 3. Mute nature, if I may so express myself, had made the discovery to the philosopher, for the preponderance of land in the eastern hemisphere demanded a counterpoise3 in the west. Dark-wooded trees, unknown to the European naturalist, had from age to age drifted over the sea and told of the tropical forests where they grew. Stupendous ocean currents, driven 'Asia (a' she a).- Pre pon' der ance, greater weight.-3 Coun' ter poise, a weight to balance another; a force or power sufficient to balance another. westward by the ever-breathing trade-winds,' had wheeled their mighty flexures along the American coast, and returned to Europe with tidings of the everlasting breakwater3 which had stopped their way. 4. But the fullness of time had not yet come. Egypt and Assyria, and Tyre and Carthage, and Greece and Rome, must flourish and fall, before the seals are broken. They must show what they can do for humanity before the vail which hides its last hope is lifted up. The ancient civilization must be weighed in a balance and found wanting. 5. Yes, and more. Nature must unlock her rarest mysteries; the quivering steel' must learn to tremble to the pole; the ǎs'trolābe must climb the arch of heaven, and bring down the sun to the horizon; science must demon'strate the sphericity' o1 the earth, which the ancients suspected, but could not prove; the press must scatter the flying rear of mediæval3 darkness; the creative instincts of a new political, intellectual, and social life, must begin to kindle into action; and then the Discoverer may go forth. 1. GON EDWARD EVERETT. 171. THE FLIGHT OF YEARS. ONE! gone forever!—like a rushing wave Of earthly being—and its last low tones, 'Tråde'-wind, a wind in or near the tropical countries, which con stantly blows in the same direction. Vessels engaged in trade avail themselves of these winds, and hence their name. In north latitudes, they blow from northeast to southwest; and in south latitudes, from southeast to northwest.-2 Flexures (flêks' yerz), bendings or windings. -3 Break' wå ter, any mole, mound, or wall, raised in a river or harbor to break the force of the waves and protect shipping; any thing that stops or changes the current of water. The magnetic needle, or mariner's compass." As' tro låbe, an instrument formerly used for measuring the height of the sun or stars at sea.- Dè mon' stråte, to prove to a certainty, or with great clearness.- Sphericity (sfè ris'i ty), roundness in every direction; the shape of a ball. Me di æ' val, relating to the Middle Ages, that is, from the latter part of the fifth to the fifteenth century. This period, consisting of a thousand years, is sometimes called the dark ages, on account of the ignorance and want of learning which then existed. 2. THE FLIGHT OF YEARS. Wandering in broken accents on the air, Are dying to an echo. The gay spring, 395 With its young charms, has gone—gone with its leaves— 3. And summer, with its dews and showers, has gone— 4. Autumn too Like banners from the battlements' of Heaven- 5. Nor have they gone alone. High human hearts 1 Seraph, an angel of the highest order.leys.—3 Båt' tle ments, walls of defense, with ings.- Ay (&), yes; certainly. - Aisles (llz), passages; alopenings, raised on build. 6. 7. Is chill on many a breast, that burn'd erewhile The woven sounds of breeze, and bird, and stream, In silence to the dust. Exultant' Hope, That roved forever on the buoyant winds And where very name Buoyant (bwål' ant), 1 Exultant (egz ůlt' ant), rejoicing greatly. bearing up; light. Ec' sta sy, extreme joy or pleasure ; overpowering emotion. Phån' tom, something that appears; something imagined to be seen, but not real.— Nêrve' less, destitute of strength; powerless. — Mè' te or, a luminous body passing in the air; any thing that dazzles and strikes with wonder. |