pale and withered. He exclaimed with regret, "Had I gathered them while yet tender and young, and while they gave forth their sweetness, I might have delighted myself with them; but now I have no pleasure in them." The next year the king walked in his garden; and finding rose-buds, he commanded his servants, "Gather them, that I may enjoy them before they wither, as last year they did."

XXVI.

TRENCH.

They are said to have been grasshoppers of the race of men who lived before the Muses were born. When, however, the Muses were born, and song invented, some of them were so transported with pleasure that they forgot to eat and drink, until death came upon them unawares. From them sprang the race of the grasshoppers, who received this boon from the Muses, that from their birth to their death they should ever sing without caring for food or drink.

XXVII.

The conspirators determined to make their attack upon him as soon as he should enter the assembly. Among the floating stories of the day was a prediction that the Ides of March should be fatal to Cæsar. It appears that he had received intimations from more than one quarter of the danger which threatened him but he resolutely rejected all advice to guard himself against it, relying, as he declared, implicitly on the good sense or gratitude of the citizens.

25

It had long been the fixed principle of his philosophy that the only way to enjoy life was to banish the fear of death. On the eve of the fatal day he was entertained by Lepidus; and when, in the course of conversation, some one started the question, what kind of death is the best, it was remarked that he cut short the discussion abruptly with the reply, "That which is least expected."

XXVIII.

MERIVALE.

While awaiting the arrival of the dictator, Brutus and Cassius occupied themselves, as prætors, with listening to casual applications; and the freedom with which the former expressed himself, rebuking those who boasted that Cæsar would reverse his decisions, But as the morning wore was especially remarked. on, the conspirators were exposed to redoubled risks. A senator, addressing Casca with a significant smile, said, "You have concealed your secret from me, but Brutus has revealed it." In another moment, Casca would have pressed his hand and communicated the dark design; but the other went on to allude to his meditated competition for the ædileship, and the conspirator saw that he was undiscovered. Lænas whispered to Brutus, "What you have in hand dispatch quickly," and was immediately lost in the crowd.

MERIVALE.

XXIX.

In the afternoon, the Median and Hyrcanian

cavalry rode up, bringing the horses and men whom they had captured. And when they came before him, Cyrus asked them, first, if they themselves were all without harm, then what fortune they had met with. He heard willingly all they related, and then asked them whether they had ridden over much country, and whether it was inhabited. When they said all the country was inhabited, and full of every thing, then said he, "We have two things to give heed to, that we may be masters of these inhabitants, and that they may not be driven away; for a country cleared of its inhabitants is likewise cleared of its wealth."

XXX.

He reminded them of the fable of the hare, who, upon proclamation that the horned beasts should depart the court immediately, fled, lest his ears should be construed into horns. And by his apologue he seems to insinuate that even those who heard or permitted such dangerous speeches would not themselves be entirely free from danger. He desired them to beware, lest if they meddled with these matters further, the queen might look to her own power, and finding herself able to repress the challenged liberty, and to exert an arbitrary authority, might imitate the example of Louis of France, who, as he termed it, delivered the crown from wardship.

XXXI.

Such was the covetousness of the richer sort at this time in England, that they converted many large cornfields into pastures; hereof ensued a general decay, not only of horses, but of persons who should do their king and country service. Besides sheep, cattle, and clothes being thus within the hands of a few, the price was much enhanced. To remedy this mischief, the king caused the statutes provided on that behalf to be looked into.

XXXII.

But this did not prevent him from being active in public business, frugal in his own: a quality not often found in those princes who are given to pleasure. No one bore labour, cold, and hunger better than he, which is proved by his frequent marches against the rebels in person. He was severe to the nobility, under pretence of favouring the poorer classes, which made them less ready to come forward when his occasion required it.

XXXIII.

In order to save her from this cruel mortification, he applied to Maitland, and expressed his astonishment at seeing a man of so much reputation for wisdom concurring with the regent in a measure so dishonourable to themselves and their queen, submitting the public transactions of the nation to the

judgment of foreigners. It was easy for Maitland, whose sentiments were the same as the duke's, to vindicate his own conduct. He assured him that he had employed all his credit to dissuade his countrymen from the measure, and would still contribute to the utmost of his power to divert them from it. This encouraged Norfolk to communicate the matter to the regent. He repeated and enforced the same arguments which he had used with Maitland. He warned him of the danger to which he must expose himself by such a violent action as the public accusation of his sovereign. Mary would never forgive a man who had endeavoured to fix such a brand of infamy on her character. If she ever recovered any degree of power, his destruction would be inevitable, and he would justly merit it at her hands. would Elizabeth screen him from this by a public approbation of his conduct.

XXXIV.

Nor

Both Marius and Sylla served as lieutenants to the consuls in this war, and commanded separate armies in different parts of Italy; but Marius performed nothing in it answerable to his great name and former glory-his advanced age had increased his caution; and, after so many triumphs and consulships, he was jealous of a reverse of fortune. that he kept himself wholly on the defensive, and like old Fabius, chose to tire out the enemy by declining a battle; content with snatching some

So