Unlike Shakespeare, Milton enjoyed the advant education. In his early life he composed a numb beauty. Among these are Comus," 'Lycidas Morning of Christ's Nativity." The poetic art s has perhaps never been surpassed since Milton's da

Milton was unlike Shakespeare also in the fa part in the political and religious questions of his ti he held a public office under Cromwell, and wrot lutionary measures of the Puritan government.

Later in life, when he was living in poverty consequence of excessive devotion to work, he ha composed his immortal epic, Paradise Lost." religious poem. It commands the homage of all E education for the nobility and beauty of its lang interest as a work of pure and exalted imaginati of his life belong the poems entitled "Paradise Agonistes."

WHEN I consider how my light :
Ere half my days, in this dark
And that one talent which is
Lodged with me useless, though r
To serve therewith my Maker, a
My true account, lest he, retur
"Doth God exact day-labor, lig
I fondly ask:

But Patience, to That murmur, soon replies, "God Either man's work, or his own Bear his mild yoke, they serve 1 Is kingly; thousands at his biddi

post o'er land and ocean without rest: also serve who only stand and wait.

with speed, as if with tal'ent, special gift. See Matt, xxv.

14-30.

(line 7). The dependent clause begins with the first 'ire, sider... I fondly ask, Doth God,” etc.

o you think is a good proverb?

prose the clause in lines 11 and 12 beginning" who best." his poem is a sonnet.

LXXXIV. - EVENING.

MILTON.

me still evening on, and twilight gray
her sober livery all things clad;
accompanied; for beast and bird,
their grassy couch, these to their nests,
unk, all but the wakeful nightingale;
night long her amorous descant sung.

was pleased: now glowed the firmament
ving sapphires; Hesperus, that led
rry host, rode brightest, till the moon,
in clouded majesty, at length,

nt queen, unveiled her peerless light,
er the dark her silver mantle threw.

nctive dress or garb. elating to love.

f'fir), a beautiful gem; restricted to blue cryshe Oriental ruby is a variety.

des'cant, a song or tune in parts. Hes'pe-rus, old poetic name of the planet Venus, when she is the evening star; that is, when she follows the sun and appears in the evening.

LXXXV. —A LEAP FO

1. WHEN I was a young fellow, ago, I used to spend most of my vaca cle, who lived in a beautiful part of house was only a mile or two from in that neighborhood was very wil and remarkable for the peculiar char composing many of the cliffs.

2. During one of these visits guests two professional geologists who had heard of the special facilitie borhood afforded for the pursuit of th They found many features of scien the coast, and continued their geolo several days.

3. One pleasant morning we all district, some miles away, peculiarly We drove the first portion of the putting up our light traveling wag to await our return, pursued the re: cursion on foot.

4. As we walked along the cliffs, able height and magnificence, -- we less admiration the beauty and grand The bold line of coast stretched awa side, the tremendous precipices desco blue waters that lapped their base, broken by some jagged and pointed r

5. Our expedition was a great suc specimens of different fossils were a

had reached the extreme end of our excurere on the point of retracing our steps, when strangers expressed a desire to round a promhort distance ahead, so as to inspect the line st beyond.

proposal was agreed to; and we all started cliff, which at this place was of less altiat some points we had previously passed, Il it was about fifty or sixty feet above the e sea, which was then at full flood, and washt the rocky wall below us. To round the y, we found it necessary to descend a little Chen proceed along a ledge of projecting rock, in some parts that it would have been imposmy one to attempt the passage unless he had and a steady head.

were all experienced climbers, so the risk was d. The two geologists and my uncle had ed round a rather sharp angle, and I was lowing, when the rock on which I trod sude way under my feet, and after a brief but I struggle I slipped down-down over the Jttering a cry as I fell, I instinctively flung s upward. One of them in some marvelous aught a projecting portion of the ledge; the s strongly grasped by my uncle, who, being me, had turned at my shout.

two or three minutes, which seemed an eterus both, my brave relative, who, though an han, was very powerful, held me suspended in tful manner, while he endeavored to take in tion and decide on a plan of action. Our horriads were powerless to help, as they could not

carious footing, and rendered useless raise me from my dreadful position.

9. I was young, and life was very I felt that my last moment was com ute or two must end the matter: s could no longer be endured; our ha their hold, and I must inevitably be on the broken rocks I had observed a precipice.

10. There was an interval of breat] ing which time my uncle had clearly cal nature of the situation, and dec He looked over, and saw that at precipice, directly below the spot w pended, there was a rugged projection ing fully four feet beyond the perp point where I hung. If I fell on t sealed; no power could save me f yond this rock was water, possibly of to break the force of a fall, if only be reached; but in this lay all the

11. My uncle was willing to da save me; but he did not underval the awful risk he was undertaking o knew that he was going to take his hands, as well as mine. Breathing a protection, he said, quietly but firmly but one way for it. I'll save you, perish together. When I say the word from the rock. Now!"

12. As my uncle shouted, "Now