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dwelt upon the Carpathian rocks;1 he had made many observations; he knew the places that afforded prey round his habitation, as far in every direction as the strongest wing can fly between the rising and the setting of the summer sun; he had fed year after year on the entrails of men. His opinion was, that men had only the appearance of animal life, being really vegetables with a power of motion; and that, as the boughs of an oak are dashed together by the storm, that swine may fatten upon the fallen acorns, so men are by some unaccountable power driven one against another, till they lose their motion, that vultures may be fed. Others think they have observed something of contrivance and policy' among these mischievous beings; and those that hover most closely round them pretend that there is, in every herd, one that gives directions to the rest, and seems to be more eminently delighted with a wide carnage. What it is that entitles him to such pre-eminence we know not; he is seldom the biggest or the swiftest, but he shows by his eagerness and diligence that he is, more than any of the others, a friend to 10 the vultures."

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S. JOHNSON. 1709-1784.

1 Carpathian rocks, Les monts Carpathes.-2 He knew the places that afforded prey round his habitation as far in every direction as the strongest wing can fly, Il connaissait les lieux autour de sa demeure où il y avait de la proie, aussi loin de chaque côté que l'oiseau le plus fort puisse voler.- See § 31, 13.- With a power of motion, Avec la faculté de se mouvoir.-5 Something of contrivance nd policy, Une sorte d'arrangement et d'organisation.-6 See § 19 - See § 49.8 To be more eminently delighted with, Fort content de, see also § 35, 7.-9 Entitles him to, Lui donne droit à.-10 See § 33, 11.

XI.-WALTER SCOTT AT SCHOOL.

Ir appears that when this celebrated author was at school, though very laborious, his intelligence was not brilliant, and his great success in after-life was owing to his indefatigable perseverance.

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The following anecdote is found in his " Autobiography," lately published.

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"There was," says Walter Scott, a boy in my class who stood always at the top, and I could not with all 5 my efforts supplant him. Day came after day, and still he kept his place: till at length I observed that, when a question was asked him, he always fumbled with his fingers at a particular button on the lower part of his waistcoat while seeking an answer. I thought therefore if I could remove the button slily, the surprise at not finding it might derange his ideas at the next interrogation of the class, and give me a chance of taking him down. The button was therefore removed without his perceiving it.10 Great was my anxiety to know the success of my measure," and it succeeded but too well.

"The hour of interrogation arrived, and the boy was questioned he sought as usual with his fingers for the friendly 12 button, but could not find it. Disconcerted, he

1 In after-life, Plus tard dans la vie.--2 Owing to, L'effet de, or dus à, or résultant de.-3 Autobiography, Histoire de sa vie.— To stand at the top, Être le premier.—5 With all, Malgré.—6 Day came after day, Les jours se succédèrent. The lower part, La partie inférieure, or le bas.—8 Interrogation, Examen.-9 Of taking him down, De le faire descendre.-10 Without his perceiving it, Sans qu'il s'en aperçût.-11 Measure, Entreprise.-12 Friendly, Magique.

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looked down;1 the talisman was gone, his ideas became confused, he could not reply. I seized the opportunity, answered the question and took his place, which he never recovered, nor do I believe he ever suspected the author of the trick.

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"I have often met with him since, and never without feeling my conscience reproach me. Frequently have I resolved to make him some amends' by rendering him a service; but an opportunity did not present itself, and I fear I did not seek one with as much ardour as I sought to supplant him at school."

LOCKHART. 1794-1854.

XII.-A SHORT CHARACTER OF THOMAS, EARL OF WHARTON.

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I HAVE had the honour of much conversation with his lordship, and am thoroughly convinced how indifferent he is to applause, and how 10 insensible of" reproach. . . . He is without 12 the sense of shame, or glory, as some men are without the sense of smelling; and therefore13 a good name 14 to him is no more than 15 a precious ointment"

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1 To look down, Baisser les yeux.-2 To become confused, Se brouiller.-3 Nor do I believe, Je ne crois pas non plus. The author of this trick, De lui avoir joué ce tour.-5 To meet with, Rencontrer. 6 My conscience reproach me, L'aiguillon de ma conscience.-7 To make some amends, Faire quelque dédommagement.

Of much conversation, De converser beaucoup.-9 And am thoroughly convinced, Et je suis parfaitement convaincu.-10 And how, Autant que.-11 Of, Aux.- 12 Without, Dépourvu de.-13 And therefore, C'est pourquoi.—14 Name, Réputation.—15 No more than, Aussi peu de chose que.-16 Ointment, Parfum.

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would be to these. Whoever, for the sake of others, were to describe the nature of a serpent, a wolf, a crocodile or a fox, must be understood to do it without any personal love or hatred for3 the animals themselves. In the same manner his excellency is one whom I neither personally love nor hate. I see him at court, at his own house, and sometimes at mine, for I have the honour of his visits; and when these papers are public, it is odds but he will tell me, as he once did upon a like occasion, "that he is mauled," and then, with the easiest transition in the world, ask about the weather, or time of the day; so that I enter on the work with more cheerfulness,10 because I am sure neither to make him angry, nor any way hurt his reputation; a pitch of happiness and security to which his excellency has arrived," and which no philosopher before him could reach.12 Thomas, Earl of Wharton, lord-lieutenant of Ireland, by the force of a wonderful constitution,13 has some years passed his grand climacteric1 without any visible effects of old age,' either on his body or his mind. . . . Whether he walks or

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1 Whoever, for the sake of others, were to describe the nature, Quand un homme, dans l'intérêt du public, se met à décrire le naturel.— 2 Must be understood to do it without, On doit entendre qu'il le fait sans.-3 For, Envers.- One, Un de ceux.-5 The honour of, L'honneur de recevoir ses.-6 These papers, Cet écrit.-7 It is odds but, Il est probable que.-8 Ask about, Me parlera du.-9 Time of the day, L'heure qu'il est.-10 So that I enter on the work with more cheerfulness, J'entreprends donc ce travail de meilleur cœur.-11 To which his excellency has arrived, Qui appartient à Son Excellence.

12 And which no philosopher before him could reach, Et que nul philosophe avant lui n'a pu atteindre.-13 By the force of a wonderful constitution, Par la force étonnante de sa constitution.— 14 Grand climacteric, L'âge critique.-15 Without any visible effects of old age, Sans que la vieillesse ait laissé de traces visibles.

whistles, or swears, or calls names, he acquits himself in each, beyond a templar of three years standing." With the same grace, and in the same style, he will rattle his coachman in the midst of the street, where he is governor of the kingdom; and all this is without consequence, because it is in his character, and what everybody expects.... The ends he has gained by lying appear to be more owing to the frequency, than the art of them; his lies being sometimes detected in an hour, often in a day, and always in a week. . . . He swears solemnly he loves and will serve you; and your back is no sooner turned, but he tells those about him you are a dog and a rascal. He goes constantly to prayers in the forms of his place, and will talk3 blasphemy at the chapel door. He is a presbyterian in politics, and an atheist in religion. In his commerce with mankind, his general rule is, to endeavour to impose on their understandings, for which he has but one receipt," a composition of lies and oaths. . . . He was never yet known to refuse or keep a promise, as I

1 Or calls names, Ou crie des injures.—2 A templar of three years' standing, Un étudiant de troisième année.—3 He will rattle, Il tempêtera. In the midst of the street, En pleine rue.—5 Where he is governor of the kingdom, Dans le royaume dont il est gouverneur.

Because it is in his character and what everybody expects, Parce que la chose est dans son naturel et que tout le monde s'y attend.

The ends he has gained by lying, appear to be more owing to the frequency, than the art of them, Lorsqu'il réussit, c'est moins par l'art que par le nombre de ses mensonges. Your back is no sooner turned, but he tells those about him, Votre dos tourné, dit aux assistants. In the forms of his place, and will talk, Selon l'étiquette de sa place, et profère.—10 To impose on their understandings, De leur en imposer.-11 For which he has but one receipt, N'ayant d'autre recette pour cet effet que.

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