divinity has continued happiness unto the end, we call happy. To salute as happy one that is still in the midst of life and hazard, we think as little safe and conclusive as to crown and proclaim victorious the wrestler that is yet in the ring." After this Solon was dismissed, having given Croesus some pain, but no instruction. 8. Esop, who wrote the fables, being then at Sardis upon Croesus's invitation, was concerned that Solon was so illy received, and gave him this advice: "Solon, let your converse with kings be either short or seasonable." "Nay, rather," replied Solon, "either short or reasonable." 9. Croesus at this time despised Solon; but later, when, overcome by Cyrus, king of Persia, he had lost his kingdom, and being taken alive had been condemned to be burnt, and was laid bound upon the pile, he called three times as loud as he could, "O Solon!" Cyrus, being surprised, sent some one to inquire what man or god this Solon was. Croesus told him the whole story, saying, "He was one of the wise men of Greece, for whom I sent, not to be instructed, but that he should be a witness of my happiness, the loss of which was, it seems, a greater evil than the enjoyment was a good. He, conjecturing from what then was what now is, bade me to look to the end of my life, and not rely or grow proud upon uncertainties." 10. When this was told him, Cyrus, who was a wiser man than Croesus, saw in the present example Solon's maxim confirmed, and not only freed Croesus from punishment, but honored him as long as he lived. So that Solon had the glory by the same saying of saving one king and instructing another. 1. Fancies, decked, gorgeous, spectacle, complements, sumptuous, competent, sacrificing, tranquil, exasperate, insolent, condemned, uncertainties, maxim, confirmed. 2. Who was Croesus? Why did he want to see Solon? Why did Croesus want to impress Solon with his wealth? What did Solon consider the measure of happiness? Did Croesus profit by the lesson Solon taught him? What part of Solon's teachings was remembered by Croesus when Cyrus was about to kill him? XLVI. IN MEMORIAM. 1. With trembling fingers did we weave 2. At our old pastimes in the hall We gamboled, making vain pretence 3. We paused; the winds were in the beech— We heard them sweep the winter land; And in a circle hand in hand Sat silent, looking each at each. 4. Then echo-like our voices rang; We sang, though every eye was dim— 5. We ceased. A gentler feeling crept 66 They rest," we said, "their sleep is sweet." And silence followed, and we wept. 6. Our voices took a higher range; Once more we sang: "They do not die, Nor change to us, although they change: 7. "Rapt from the fickle and the frail, 8. "Rise, happy morn! rise, holy morn! The light that shone when Hope was born!" 1. Weave, pastimes, gamboled, pretence, impetuously, sym pathy, fickle, seraphic. 2. What is the thought of this extract? Is some loved one missing this Christmas who was with those "round the Christmas hearth" last year? What was the "shadow"? Explain "vain pretence," "winds were in the beech," "rapt from the fickle," 'from veil to veil." 66 XLVII. DON QUIXOTE AND SANCHO PANZA. 1. Don Quixote, hearing how soon Sancho Panza was to depart to his new government, took him by the hand and led him to his chamber, in order to give him some advice respecting his conduct in office. "First, my son, fear God; for to fear Him is wisdom; and being wise thou canst not err. Secondly, consider what thou art, and endeavor to know thyself, which is the most difficult study of all. The knowledge of thyself will preserve thee from vanity, and the fate of the frog who foolishly vied with the ox will serve thee as a caution; the recollection, too, of having been formerly a swineherd in thine own country will be to thee, in the loftiness of thy pride, like the ugly feet of the peacock." 2. "It is true," said Sancho, "that I once did keep swine, but I was only a boy then; when I grew towards manhood I looked after geese, and not hogs. But this, methinks, is nothing to the pur |