LESSON 52. DEFINITIONS. Al-ex-an'-der, king of Macedonia. Bac-tri-ans, a nation, north of Persia. Scyth'-i-ans, a wandering people inhabiting the northern part of Europe and Asia. What word is the opposite of vast? Equal? War? Subdue? Growing? Top? Dead? Weak? Beyond? Satiety? Speech of the Scythians to Alexander the Great. QUINTIUS CURTIUS. 1. IF your person were as vast as your desires, the whole world would not contain you. Your right hand would touch the east, and your left the west, at the same time. You grasp at more than you are equal to. From Europe you reach Asia; from Asia you lay hold on Europe. And if you should' conquer all mankind you seem disposed to wage war with woods and snows, with rivers and wild beasts, and subdue nature. 2. But, have you considered the usual course of things? Have you reflected that great trees are many years a growing to their height, but are cut down in an hour? It is foolish to think of the fruit only, without considering the height you have to climb to come at it. Take care, lest, while you strive to reach the top, you fall to the ground, with the branches you have already laid hold on. 3. The Lion, when dead, is devoured by ravens; and rust consumes the hardness of iron. There is nothing so strong, but it is in danger from what is weak. It will, therefore, be your wisdom to take care how you venture beyond your reach. 4. Besides, what have you to do with the Scythians; or the Scythians with you? We have never invaded Macedonia; why should you attack Scythia? We inhabit vast deserts, and pathless woods, where we do not want to hear the name of Alexander. We are not disposed to submit to slavery, and we have no ambition to make slaves of others. 5. That you may understand the genius of the Scythians, we present you with a yoke of oxen, an arrow, and a goblet. We use these respectively, in our commerce with friends, and with foes. We give to our friends, the corn, which we raise by the labor of our oxen. With the goblet we join in pouring out drink offerings to the gods; and with the arrows, we attack our enemies. 6. You pretend to be the punisher of robbers, and are yourself the greatest robber the world ever saw. You have taken Lybia; you have seized Syria; you are master of Persia; you have subdued the Bactrians; and attacked India. All this will not satisfy you, unless you lay your greedy and insatiable hands upon our flocks and herds. 7. How imprudent is your conduct! you grasp at riches, the possession of which only increases your avarice. You increase your hunger, by that which should produce satiety; so that the more you have, the more you desire. Child. LESSON 53. The Child's Inquiry. "How big was Alexander, Pa, "Was he so large that he could stand And, while his feet were on the ground Father. "O no, my child; about as large 'Twas not his stature made him great; Child. "His name so great? I know 'tis long, I knew it very well." Father. "I mean, my child, his actions were That every body speaks with praise, Child. "Well, what great actions did he do? Father. "Why, he it was that conquered Tyre, "And thousands of her people slew- "A hundred conquered cities shone Child. "Did killing people make him great" Father. Who killed his neighbor training day, "I never heard them call him great." And him that kills a single man Child. "Well, then, if I should kill one man, I should be great, and not get hung Father. "Not so, my child, 'twill never do: Child. The gospel bids be kind.” "Then they that kill, and they that praise, Father. "You know, my child, the Bible says, Child. "But, Pa, did Alexander wish That some strong men would come. "And every body called him great Well, now, what right he had to kill, "If one should burn the buildings here, LESSON 54. The Child's first Grief.—1 Child. .-MRS. HEMANS. 1. "O, call my brother back to me, 2. I cannot play alone; The summer comes with flower and bee,- The butterfly is glancing bright, Across the sunbeams track; 3. I care not now to chase its flight, O call my brother back!" "The flowers run wild, -the flowers we sowed Around our garden-tree; Our vine is drooping with its load O call him back to me!" Mother. 4. "He would not hear my voice, my child! He may not come to thee; 4. 6. 7. 1. 2. The face that once, like spring-time smiled, "The rose's brief, bright light of joy, Child. "And has he left his bird and flowers? And through the long, long summer hours, "And by the brook, and in the glade, Oh! while my brother with me played, LESSON 55. Death and the Youth, "Not yet, the flowers are in my path; Not yet, my heart is full of hope, "Not yet, I never knew till now, |