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You're daily cocker'd up (1) in pride.
The tree's (2) distinguished by the fruit,
Be virtue then your first pursuit :
Set your great ancestors in view,
Like them deserve the title too;
Like them ignoble actions scorn:
Let virtue prove you nobly born.
If you the paths of learning slight (3),
You're but a dunce in stronger light;
In foremost rank the coward placed
Is more conspicuously disgraced.
If you to serve a paltry end,
To knavish jobs can condescend,
We pay you the contempt that's due;
In that you have precedence too.
Whence had you this illustrious name?
From virtue and unblemish'd fame :
By birth the name alone descends
ls;
Your honour on yourself depends.
Think not your coronet can hide
Assuming ignorance and pride.
Learning by study must be won,
'Twas ne'er entail'd (4) from son to son.
Superior worth your rank requires;
In that mankind reveres your sires.
If you degen'rate from your race,
Their merits heighten your disgrace.

(1) Cockered up, enorgueilli (peu usité).

(2) The tree's pour the tree is, l'arbre est, etc. (5) To slight, négliger.

(4) To entail, substituer aux ainés de sa famille.

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THE TORCH-RACE.

THE TORCH-RACE.

311

Among the feasts and games of the Athenians, the Torch-race deserves particular notice.

It was performed on a spot near the garden of the Academy. The distance was about seven stadia (875 paces), extending from the altar of Prometheus, which is at the garden-gate, to the walls of the city.

Several young men are placed at equal distances. Fire is burning on the altar, and, at a signal given, the youth next the fire lights his torch and runs with his greatest speed to the second, who in his turn seizes the torch and carries it rapidly to the third; each youth, as he arrives, taking the places of the one to whom he delivers the flambeau. To gain a prize, it is necessary to have carried the torch with rapidity from one station to another throughout the entire distance, without extinguishing or letting it fall. The shouts of the multitude are heard during the whole race, sometimes in acclamations and praises for the fleetest, and most adroit, and at other times in railleries when any one, through fear of extinguishing the torch, slackens his pace.

This beautiful and interesting scene which took place at the close of the day, is delightfully sung by that truly harmonious poet Thomas Moore, whose charming flowers culled in the exotic parterres of the muses, will be eternally preserved among the leaves of European literature. Read the allegory in his own words.

P. S.

THE TORCH OF LIBERTY.

I saw it all in Fancy's glass

Herself (1), the fair, the wild (2) magician,
That bid this splendid day-dream (5) pass,
And named each gliding (4) apparition.

"Twas like a torch-race, such as they
Of Greece perform'd in ages gone,
When the fleet (5) youths, in long array,
Pass'd the bright torch triumphant on.

I saw the expectant nations stand
To catch the coming (6) flame in turn-
I saw from ready hand to hand,
The clear, but struggling (7) glory burn.

And, oh, their joy, as it came near! 'Twas, in itself, a joy to see— While Fancy whisper'd in my ear, "That torch they pass is liberty!'

And each, as she received the flame,
Lighted her altar with its ray;

(1) Herself, elle-même (l'imagination).
(2) Wild, extravagante, possédée.
(5) Day-dream, rêve de jour, vision.
(4) Gliding, qui glisse, passager.
(5) Fleet, adj., leste, rapide.

(6) Coming, qui s'approche.

(7) Struggling, qui se débat, qui a de la peine à se soutenir.

THE TORCH OF LIBERTY.

Then, smiling, to the next who came,
Speeded (1) it on its sparkling way.

From Albion (2) first, whose ancient shrine
Was furnish'd with the fire already,
Columbia caught the spark divine,
And lit a flame like Albion's steady.

The splendid gift then Gallia took,
And, like a wild Bacchante, raising
The brand (3) aloft, its parkles shook,
As she would set the world a-blazing !

And when she fired her altar, high
It flash'd into the redd'ning air,
So fierce, that Albion who stood nigh,
Shrunk (4) almost blinded by the glare (5).

Next Spain, so new was light to her,
Leap'd at (6) the torch-but ere the spark
She flung upon her shrine could stir,
'Twas quench'd, and all again was dark.

Yet, no-not quench'd-a treasure worth
So much to mortals rarely dies-

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(1) To speed, expédier, faire passer rapidement. (2) Albion, l'Angleterre; ainsi appelée à cause de ses côtes blanches.

(3) Brand, tison, torche.

(4) Shrunk, prétérit de to shrink, se reculer.
(5) Glare, éblouissement, éclat de lumière.
(6) To leap at, s'élancer sur, pour s'en saisir.

Again her living light look'd forth (1),
And shone a beacon in all eyes!

Who next received the flame? Alas,
Unworthy Naples, - shame of shames,
That ever through such hands should pass
That brightest of all earthly flames!

Scarce had her fingers touch'd the torch,
When frighted by the sparks it shed,
Nor waiting ev'n to feel the scorch (2),
She dropp'd it to the earth and fled.

And fall'n it might have long remain'd;
But Greece, who saw her moment now,
Caught up the prize tho' prostrate, stain'd,
And waved it round her beauteous brow.

And Fancy bid me mark where, o'er
Her altar, as its flame ascended,
Fair, laurell'd spirits (5) seem'd to soar,
Who thus in song their voices blended :

"Shine, shine for, ever, glorious flame,
Divinest gift of Gods to men!

From Greece thy earliest splendour came,
To Greece thy ray returns again.

(1) To look forth, se montrer.

(2) Scorch, chaleur, ardeur de la flamme.

(3) Laurell'd spirits, fantômes couronnés de lauriers; les âmes des anciens Grecs.

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