Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

a cause; but for that she must search in vain that kindness should ever be returned with cruelty, or affection with neglect, is humanity's shame and man's disgrace.

2. A young merchant, whose name was Thomas Inkle, was the third son of a wealthy citizen, who had carefully instilled into his mind a love of gain, and a desire of acquiring wealth; and this propensity, which he had imbibed from precept, and felt from nature, was the grand inducement for him to try his fortune in the West-Indies. Inkle's person was quite the re-. verse of his mind; the former was manly and noble, but the latter mean, selfish, and contracted.

3. During the voyage, the vessel in which he embarked put into a creek to avoid the fury of a storm; and young Inkle, with several of the party, went on shore to take a view of a scene so entirely new. They had not walked far up the country before they were observed by a party of Indians, and fear and apprehension lent wings to their flight. Inkle outran his companions, and breathless with terrour, sought security in the thicket of a forest.

4. He had not been long in that forlorn situation, when his astonishment was called forth by the appearance of a young fe male, whose benignant countenance seemed instantly to compassionate his unhappiness. The name of the female was Yarico. Gentleness and sweetness were displayed in every feature, and when Inkle, by signs, acquainted her with his distressed situation, she evidently proved that sympathy was confined to no particular clime, and that humanity depends not upon the colour of the skin.

5. The generous Indian was a woman of high birth; and knowing that the tenderness she felt for the unfortunate stranger would be displeasing to her parents, she felt the necessity of disguising it. She conducted Inkle to a remote cave, supplied his wants, and daily administered to his comforts. Her affection, in time, became so strong, that she scarcely could exist but in his presence.

6. Fearful that he would grow weary of his confinement, she used to watch the opportunities of her parents' absence, and then conduct him into the beauteous groves with which that country abounds; then persuade him to lie down and slumber, and anxiously watch over him for fear he should be disturbed! His little dwelling was adorned with all the art that native elegance could suggest, and unsuspecting innocence employ, i make it appear pleasing to her lover's eyes.

7. At length Yarico had the happiness of finding Inkle un

F

derstand her language, and had the felicity of hearing him express the strength of his gratitude, and power of his love. Inkle was constantly representing the joys that would await them if they could once return to England; and painted the excess of his passion in such glowing colours, that the unsuspecting Yarico could not doubt his sincerity, and at length promised, not only to become the partner of his flight, but daily watch the arrival of some vessel to promote it.

8. The wished for object soon appeared; the unsuspicious Yarico left the abode of her doating parents, and, forgetful of her duty, thought only of her affection. The ship in which they had embarked was bound for Barbadoes, and all Inkle's ideas of acquiring wealth returned with double force. Love, which had been a transitory passion, and which had acquired its foundation in interest, now yielded to a superiour claim. His freedom once obtained, the means were totally forgotten, and the unfortunate Yarico considered as a tax upon his bounty.

9. As soon as the vessel arrived at Barbadoes, the merchants crowded round it for the purpose of purchasing their slaves. The ungrateful Inkle was animated at the sight, and resolved to relieve himself of what he considered as a burden, offered the beautiful Yarico, his amiable deliverer, to the highest bidder! It was in vain that she threw herself on her knees before him, or pleaded her tenderness and affection: the heart that could be dead to gratitude, was lost to love; and the unfortunate Yarico was doomed to a life of slavery!!!

Demetrius and the Athenians.

1. DEMETRIUS POLIORCETES, who had done singular services for the people of the city of Athens, on setting out for a war in which he was engaged, left his wife and children to their protection. He lost the battle, and was obliged to seek security for his person in flight.

2. He doubted not, at first, but that he should find a safe asylum among his good friends the Athenians but those ungrateful people refused to receive him, and even sent back to him his wife and children, under pretence that they probably might not be safe in Athens, where the enemy might come and take them.

3. This conduct pierced the heart of Demetrius; for nothing is so affecting to an honest mind, as the ingratitude of those we love, and to whom we have done singular services. Some time afterwards this prince recovered his affairs, and came with a large army to lay siege to Athens.

4. The Athenians, persuaded that they had no pardon to expect from Demetrius, determined to die sword in hand, and passed a decree, which condemned to death those who should first propose to surrender to that prince; but they did not recollect that there was but little corn in the city, and that they would, in a short time, be in want of bread.

[ocr errors]

5. Want soon convinced them of their errour; and after having suffered hunger for a long time, the most reasonable among them said, It would be better that Demetrius should kill us at once, than for us to die by the lingering death of famine. Perhaps he will have pity on our wives and children.' They then opened to him the gates of the city.

6. Demetrius having taken possession of the city, ordered that all the married men should assemble in a spacious place appointed for the purpose, and that the soldiery, sword in hand, should surround them. Cries and lamentations were then heard from every quarter of the city; women embracing their husbands, children their parents, and all taking an eternal farewell of each other.

7. When the married men were all thus collected, Demetrius, for whom an elevated situation was provided, reproached them for their ingratitude in the most feeling manner, insomuch that he himself could not help shedding tears. Demetrius for some time remained silent, while the Athenians expected, that the next words he uttered would be to order his soldiers to massacre them all.

8. It is hardly possible to say what must have been their surprise, when they heard that good prince say, 'I wish to convince you how ungenerously you have treated me for it was not to an enemy you have refused assistance, but to a prince who loved you, who still loves you, and who wishes to revenge himself only by granting your pardon, and by being still your friend. Return to your own homes: while you have been here, my soldiers have been filling your houses with provisions.'

Alcander and Septimius.

1. ALCANDER and Septimius were two Athenian students, whose taste for the arts and sciences became the foundation of their future friendship, and they were scarcely ever seen apart. Although Alcander's breast was animated by that tender sentiment, a still more lively one found entrance, and the fair Hypatia became the object of his love: he declared his passion, and was accepted.

2. Septimius happened to have left the city when his friend frst saw the blooming fair one, and did not return until the day fixed upon for his marriage. The moment that introduced him to the view of such perfection, was fatal to his peace; and the struggle between love and friendship became too violent for bis resolution. A sudden and dangerous fever attacked him ; and the unsuspicious Alcander introduced the object of his affection, to assist him in the unwearied care of his friend.

;

3. The moment the physicians beheld Hypatia enter, they were no longer at a loss to account for their patient's illness and calling Alcander aside, they informed him of the nature of it, and also expressed their fears that Septimius' recovery was impossible! Tortured between the dread of losing the friend of his heart, and agonized at the idea of relinquishing the object of his affection, his anguish for some time deprived him of utterance; but recovering that fortitude which had ever marked his conduct, he flew to the bedside of his apparently dying friend, and promised to renounce his claim to Hypatia, if she consented to a union with Septimius.

4. Whether Hypatia had not been strongly attached to the ariable Alcander, or whether compassion urged her to accept the hand of his friend, is uncertain; but they were united ; quitted Athens, and went directly to Septimius' house at Rome. Hypatia's friends imagining Alcander had relinquished his betrothed bride for the sake of a rich reward, commenced an action against him for a breach of promise; and the judges, biassed by the representations of his enemies, ordered that he should pay a fine amounting to more than his whole property. 5. The wretched Alcander was now reduced to the most melancholy situation; his friend absent, the object of his love lost, and his own character stigmatized with baseness! Being absolutely unable to pay the demand, his person became the property of his oppressors, and he was carried into the marketplace and sold as a common slave. A Thracian merchant beGame his purchaser, and for several years he endured a life of bondage. At length liberty presented itself to his view, and the opportunity of his flight was not to be rejected. Alcander ardently embraced it, and arrived at Rome in the dusk of the evening.

6. Friendless, hopeless, and forlorn, the generous Alcander had no place of shelter, and necessity compelled him to seek a lodging in a gloomy cavern. Two robbers, who had been long suspected to frequent that spot, arrived there soon after midnight, and disputing about their booty, fortunately did not per

ceive him. One of them, at length, was so exasperated against his companion, that, drawing a dagger from his side, he plunged it into his heart, and left him weltering in his blood at the mouth of the cave.

7. Alcander's miseries had been so accumulated, and his distresses so undeserved, that his mind, at last, was worn down by his afflictions, and he became indifferent to every thing around him. In this situation he was discovered, and dragged to a court of justice, as the murderer of the man whose body had been found in the cave. Weary of existence, he did not deny the charge; and the sentence was about to be pronounced against him, when the murderer, smitten with a pang of conscience, entered the court, and owned the fact!

8. Astonishment seized every mind, but particularly that of the judge who was going to condemn him, who, examining the countenance of a man capable of such singular conduct, discovered the features of his beloved friend Alcander! Rising from the seat of justice, and flying to the bar of guilt, he caught his suffering Alcander in his arms, and after shedding over him tears of joy and compassion, presented him to the senators, as a man whose disinterested conduct had been the means of preserving his own existence.

Joseph and his Brethren.

1. ISRAEL loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he gave him a coat of many colours. But when his brethren saw their father's partiality to him, they hated him, and would not speak peaceably unto him. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren.

2. Behold, he said, we were binding sheaves in the field; and lo! my sheaf arose and stood upright; and your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said unto him, shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him the more for his dreams, and for his words.

3. It happened that his brethren went to feed their father's flock at Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren; but when they saw him afar off, they conspired against him to slay him; and they said one to another, we will tell our father that some evil beast has devoured him.

4. But Reuben wished to deliver him out of their hands; and he said, let us not kill him, but cast him into this it that is

« AnteriorContinuar »