66 respects to you in a handsome manner! though I suppose you will come down presently, and so that difficulty is easily removed." Indeed, cousin," says the cock, "to tell you the truth I do not think it safe to venture upon the ground; for, though I am convinced how much you are my friend, yet I may have the misfortune to fall into the clutches of some other beasts, and what will become of me then?" O dear!" says Reynard, "is it possible that you can be so ignorant as not to know of the peace that has been lately proclaimed between all kinds of birds and beasts; and that we are, for the future, to forbear hostilities on all sides, and to live in the utmost love and harmony, and that, under penalty of suffering the severest punishment that can be inflicted?" All this while the cock seemed to give little attention to what was said, but stretched out his neck, as if he saw something at a distance. "Cousin," says the fox, "what is it that you look at so earnestly?" "Why." says the cock, "I think I see a pack of hounds yonder, a little way off." "O then," says the fox, "your humble servant, I must be gone." Nay, pray cousin do not go," says the cock, "I am just coming down; sure you are not afraid of dogs in these peaceable times ?" 'No, no," says he, "but ten to one whether they have heard of the proclamation yet."-Esop's FABLES. 66 66 66 ADVENTURE WITH AN ALLIGATOR. The ocean was very smooth and the heat very great, which made us so languid that almost a general wish overcame us on the approach of the evening, to bathe in the waters of the river. However, we were deterred from it by an apprehension of sharks, many of which we had observed in the course of the voyage, and these very large. One man alone, who had been drinking too much, was obstinately bent on going overboard, and, although we used every means in our power to persuade him to the contrary, he dashed into the water, and had swum some distance from the vessel when we on board discovered an alligator making towards him, behind a rock that stood a short distance from the shore. His escape seemed impossible, and one of the crew instantly seized a rifle to shoot the poor fellow ere he fell into the jaws of the monster. We waited with horror the event, and fired two shots at the approaching alligator, but without effect, for they glided off his skin, and the progress of the creature was by no means impeded. The noise of the gun soon made the man acquainted with his danger. He saw the creature making towards him, so with all his strength he swam for shore. On approaching within a very short distance of some caves and shoals that covered the bank, while closely pursued by the alligator, a ferocious tiger sprang towards him, at the instant that the jaws of his first enemy were extended to devour him. At this awful moment the man was preserved. The eager tiger, by overleaping, fell into the gripe of the alligator. A horrible conflict ensued. The water was coloured with the blood of the tiger, whose efforts to tear the skin of the alligator were unavailing, while the latter had also the advantage of keeping his adversary under water, by which the victory was presently obtained; for the tiger's death was now effected. They both sank to the bottom, and we saw no more of the alligator. The man was recovered, and instantly conveyed on board. He spoke not while in the boat, though his danger had completely sobered him; nor was he ever after seen the least intoxicated, nor did he ever again utter a single oath.-CASSELL'S NATURAL HISTORY. ALEXANDER SEVERUS AND HIS SOLDIERS. 66 Whilst Alexander Severus lay at Antioch, in his Persian expedition, the punishment of some soldiers excited a sedition in the legion to which they belonged. Alexander ascended his tribunal, and, with a modest firmness, represented to the armed multitude the absolute necessity, as well as his inflexible resolution, of correcting the vices introduced by his impure predecessor, and of maintaining the discipline which could not be relaxed without the ruin of the Roman name and empire. Their clamours interrupted his mild expostulation. "Reserve your shouts," said the undaunted emperor, till you take the field against the Persians, the Germans, and the Sarmatians. Be silent in the presence of your sovereign and benefactor, who bestows upon you the corn, the clothing, and the money of the provinces. Be silent, or I shall no longer style you soldiers, but citizens; if those, indeed, who disclaim the laws of Rome, deserve to be ranked among the meanest of the people." His menaces inflamed the fury of the legion, and their brandished arms already threatened his person. "Your courage" resumed the intrepid Alexander "would be more nobly displayed in a field of battle: me you may destroy, but cannot intimidate: and the severest justice of the republic would punish your crime and revenge my death." The legion still persisting in clamorous sedition, the emperor pronounced with a loud voice the deserved sentence, “Citizens! lay down your arms, and depart in peace to your respective habitations." The tempest was instantly appeased; the soldiers, filled with grief and shame, silently confessed the justice of their punishment and the power of discipline, yielded up their arms and military ensigns, and retired in confusion, not to their camp, but to the several inns of the city. Alexander enjoyed during thirty days the edifying spectacle of their repentance, nor did he restore them to their former rank in the army till he had punished those tribunes whose connivance had occasioned the mutiny.-GIBBON. FABLE-THE FOX AND THE WOLF. A wolf with hunger fierce and bold, By thefts at night regaled by day. Those jaws should prey on nobler food, Be brave and let thy mercy spare." 66 Friend," says the wolf," the matter weigh; Nature designed us beasts of prey; As such when hunger finds a treat, Hence, and thy tyrant lord beseech; But a pretended friend is worse.-GAY'S FABLES. ANECDOTE OF QUEEN MARGARET. When the victorious soldiers of Edward IV. broke into their opponents camp, Margaret, queen of Henry VI. who had shortly before died, seized with mortal terror for the life of her child, fled with him on foot and alone into the neighbouring forest, where she pursued her way by the most unfrequented paths, in momentary dread of being overtaken by the enemy. Here she unhappily fell in with a band of robbers, who, attracted by the richness of her dress and that of the young prince, surrounded and despoiled them of their jewels and costly robes. While these ruffians were quarrelling about the division of their plunder, Margaret, with much courage and presence of mind, caught up her son in her arms, and fled to a neighbouring thicket, the robbers being too much occupied in fighting over the rich booty they had taken to observe her movements, favoured as they were by the inequalities of the ground. When the shades of night closed round them, the fugitive queen and her son crept fearfully from their hiding place, and, uncertain whither to turn for refuge, began to attempt making their way through the forest, fearing above all things to fall into the hands of the foe. One wrong turn might lead them into the very midst of their enemies. While Margaret, bewildered with doubt and fear, was considering what was best to be done, she perceived by the light of the moon another robber approach |