policy consisted in maintaining an amicable relation between the two nations. In these favourable circumstances, Elizabeth dispatched assistance to the Protestants of France and Holland. When, in 1593, Henry IV. announced his intention of conforming to the ancient religion, she appeared inclined to quarrel with this prince, and severely reproached him for his change of creed; but she was gradually reconciled, and did not eventually desert her old ally.

3. In 1594, a discovery was made of two conspiracies by the Spaniards against the life of the Queen. She retaliated by repeating her exertions in favour of the Dutch and the king of France, by ravaging the Spanish colonies, and by an expedition against Spain itself. In 1596, she equipped a naval force of 150 ships, under the command of Lord Effingham, who proceeded to Cadiz, and having defeated a Spanish fleet that lay in the roads, gained possession of the city by assault. A vast amount of spoil fell into the hands of the victors; and it was estimated that the total damage sustained by the Spaniards on this occasion was no less than twenty millions of dueats.

This exercise can be multiplied from daily lesson.

3. Supply appropriate words in the following elliptical passages.

EXERCISES.

1. About the middle of the eighteenth

lishmen

greater

when Eng

abroad were, from their rareness, objects of than now, one, while

the tour of Europe,

at the passing troops, a young officer, evidently de

his company. There was a

passed on. Though the

of unreceived to rejoin

of applause, and the

of a moment, it

heart it was an of that genuine politeness which
from kind and gentle feelings. On the
the captain, who was a young

cumstance in

every

being dismissed, the cir

The colonel im

; and when the an aid-de-camp wait

of rank,

mediately

terms to his colonel. it to the general in returned to his hotel, he

ing to

his

evening he was

to dinner at head-quarters. In the to court, at that the most bril

liant in Europe, and was with particular ing his subsequent at

of all persons of

to the different states of

of moderate

advantage

through a foreign

and fortune.

act of

he received letters of Thus a private

with more real distinction and

can be derived from the mere

2. We require frequent the shortness and uncertainty of brances are highly

ever,

or

to induce us to

on

Such remem

; for we have naturally a strong all ideas of death. It is, howwhich, one day

to drive from our
to reflect often upon this
must

it, we shall meet its
come by fear. In the

us; and by frequently and duly
with firmness, and not
of winter, many images of

themselves before our

our souls with

where we have so often walked with

that,

and charms which in

de

The

flowers, conveyed the sweetest

is seen around but one wide sterility, where no verdure

Perhaps this may be a
in the pride of

night usurps the
presentation of some now
of intellect, and gaiety of
them, and

weigh heavily

, and alacrity, shall have

to that state, and a temper
bear the

pointment will no

in, and

them

and

re, the

they no longer

possess

to render

will be a

or even supportable companions. days of such an

oppression of which every

Though the

The tedious

from the

being will long to be

of winter are so

, we have no reason

1. Vary the expression and construction of the following prose passages, taking care to preserve the

sense.

EXAMPLE.

When Cyrus, king of Persia, took possession of Sardis, the capital of Lydia, his victorions soldiers proceeded through the town in search of pillage, as the reward of their toils. Some of them entered the palace of Croesus, king of Lydia, for the purpose of seizing that monarch. They found him, not knowing that it was he, and were about to put him to death. Already one of the soldiers had raised his sword to strike him, when his son, who had been dumb from his birth, made such

an effort to speak, that he burst the fetters which had bound his tongue, and cried out, "Stop, barbarian! spare the life of my father!" This cry saved the life of Croesus, who was immediately led into the presence of the victorious Cyrus.

CHANGED.

Sardis, the metropolis of the kingdom of Lydia, having been taken by the celebrated Cyrus, king of Persia, his triumphant followers dispersed themselves throughout the city, for the purpose of obtaining plunder as a recompense for the dangers and hardships they had undergone. Some of them, desirous of making a capture of Croesus, king of Lydia, entered his palace with that intention, where they happened to meet him, without being aware that he was the object of their search. They were just on the point of dispatching him, when his son, who had, until that moment, been destitute of speech, struggled so violently to give utterance to his feelings, that he was no longer dumb, but cried out to the soldier whose weapon was already uplifted to shed the blood of his parent, "Stop, barbarian! spare the life of my father!" This exclamation saved Croesus from instant death; and he was forthwith led away for the purpose of being brought before Cyrus his conqueror.

EXERCISES.

1. During an eruption of Mount Vesuvius, Pliny the younger was at Misenum with his family. All the inhabitants sought for safety in flight; but, reflecting little on the danger that surrounded himself, Pliny was completely occupied with the means of saving his mother, whom he esteemed more than his life. She entreated him in vain to flee from a place where his destruction was certain. to him that her age and infirmities would prevent her from accompanying him, and that the least delay would expose them both to destruction. Her entreaties were useless: Pliny would rather die than leave his mother in such imminent danger. He seized her against her will, and forced her

She represented

along. She yielded to his entreaties, and allowed him to carry her, but reproached herself for retarding his flight.

2. Already the ashes were falling upon them; and the vapour and smoke with which the air was filled, turned day into the darkest night. On entering this gloom, they had nothing to guide their trembling steps but the flashing of the flames that surrounded them. They heard nothing but groans and cries, which rendered the darkness more frightful. But this horrible spectacle could not shake the constancy of Pliny, nor induce him to provide for his own security by deserting his mother. The more she was in danger, the more did he exert himself to comfort her. He supported and carried her in his arms; her frailty roused his courage, and enabled him to make the greatest efforts for her safety. Heaven rewarded so praiseworthy an action, and preserved to him a mother more esteemed than the life which he received from her, and to her a son worthy of being beloved and exhibited as a pattern of filial duty.

3. But the Scottish nation, though conquered, was not subdued, and only waited a favourable opportunity for again raising the standard of independence. Their deliverer appeared in the person of the celebrated popular leader, William Wallace. Having slain an Englishman who had insulted him, he fled into the wilds, where he gathered around him a numerous band of outlaws like himself. His various attacks were so

successful, that he was soon looked upon as the national champion. He was now joined by Sir William Douglas at the head of his vassals; and the two chiefs conceived the design of capturing Ormesby, the English justiciary at Scone, the seat of the government. Ormesby escaped; but his treasures and many prisoners fell into the hands of the insurgents. Other powerful leaders now united with Wallace. To these was added, shortly after, the youthful Robert Bruce, the grandson of him who had been Baliol's rival for the crown. Edward took immediate steps to crush this revolt against his power; and a numerous army was sent into Scotland, which came up with the insurgents near Irvine in Ayrshire.