2

myself.1 A moment after, the captain of the vessel, perceiving that the squall was increasing, ordered the top-sails to be taken in, whereupon this man, with several others, instantly ran aloft; the yard was in the act of being hauled down,3 when a sudden gust of wind whirled it round with violence, and a man was struck down5 from the cross-trees into the sea, which was working like yeast below. In a short time he emerged;7 I saw his head on the crest of a billow, and instantly recognised in the unfortunate man the sailor who a few moments before had related his dream. I shall never forget the look of agony he cast whilst the steamer hurried past him.8 The alarm was given, and everything was in confusion; it was two minutes at least before the vessel was stopped, by which time the man was a considerable way astern; I still, however, kept my eye upon him, and could see that he was struggling gallantly with the waves. A boat was at length lowered, but the rudder was unfortunately not at hand, and only two oars could be procured, with which the men could make but little progress in 12 so rough a sea. They did their best, 13 however, and had arrived within ten yards of the man, who still struggled for his life, 14 when I lost sight of him; and the men, on their return, said they saw him below

10

1 He was heard to say this by...besides myself, ...l'entendirent dire cela comme moi-2 ordered the top-sails to be taken in, donna ordre d'abaisser les huniers-3 the yard was in the act of being hauled down, on était en train d'amener la vergue- whirled it round, la fit tournoyer→→ 5 struck down, précipité-6 working, tourmentée-7 in a short time he emerged, il apparut bientôt à la surface- hurried past him, passa rapidement près de lui- it was, il s'écoula-10 by which time the man, et déjà le malheureux-11 was unfortunately not at hand, ne se trouvait malheureusement pas-12 in, sur- they did their best, ils firent de leur mieux-14 still struggled for his life, disputait encore sa vie aux flots.

the water, at glimpses, sinking deeper and deeper, his arms stretched out, and his body apparently stiff, but that they found it impossible to save him: presently after, the sea, as if satisfied with the prey which it had acquired, became comparatively calm. The poor fellow who perished in this singular manner was a fine young man of twenty-seven, the only son of a widowed mother; he was the best sailor on board, and was beloved by all who were acquainted with him.

BORROW, "Bible in Spain."

MISPLACED AMBITION.

6

The poor man's son, whom heaven in its anger has visited with ambition,5 when he begins to look around him, admires the condition of the rich. He finds the cottage of his father too small for his accommodation, and fancies he should be lodged more at his ease in a palace. He is displeased with being obliged to walk a-foot, or to endure the fatigue of riding on horseback. He sees his superiors carried about in machines, and imagines that in one of these he could travel with less inconvenience. He feels himself naturally indolent, and willing to serve himself with his own hands as little as possible; and judges that a numerous retinue of servants would save him from a great deal of trouble. He thinks

1 They saw him below the water, at glimpses, qu'ils l'avaient entrevu sous l'eau- his arms, les bras-3 that they found it impossible, qu'ils avaient trouvé impossible as if satisfied with, comme si elle était satisfaite de.

5 Whom..... ..has visited with ambition, à qui.........a inspiré de l'ambition-6 displeased with being, mécontent de ce qu'il est with, de-8 would save him from a great deal of trouble, lui épargnerait beaucoup d'embarras.

2

if he had attained all these, he could sit still contentedly, and be quiet, enjoying himself in the thought1 of the happiness and tranquillity of his situation. He is enchanted with the distant idea of this felicity. It appears in his fancy like the life of some superior rank of beings, and, in order to arrive at it, he devotes himself for ever to the pursuit of wealth and greatness. To obtain the conveniences which these afford, he submits in the first year, nay, in the first month of his application, to more fatigue of body, and more uneasiness of mind, than he could have suffered during the whole of his life from the want of them.3 He studies to distinguish himself in some laborious profession. With the most unrelenting industry he labours night and day to acquire talents superior to all his competitors. He endeavours next to bring those talents into public view,1 and with equal assiduity solicits every opportunity of employment. For this purpose he makes his court to all mankind; he serves those whom he hates, and is obsequious to those whom he despises. Through the whole of his life5 he pursues the idea of a certain artificial and elegant repose which he may never arrive at, for which he sacrifices a real tranquillity that is at all times in his power, and which, if in the extremity of old age he should at last attain to it, he

1 He thinks, etc......in the thought, il pense qu'une fois en possession de tous ces avantages, il pourrait se reposer content et jouir paisiblement de la pensée-2 of some superior rank of beings, de certains êtres d'un rang supérieur-3 than he could have suffered......from the want of them, que n'aurait pu lui en causer......la privation de ces avantages to bring those talents into public view, d'étaler ces talents aux yeux du public through the whole of his life, durant tout le cours de sa vie-6 which he may never arrive at, auquel il se peut qu'il n'atteigne jamais.

will find to be in no respect1 preferable to that humble security and contentment which he had abandoned for it.2

ADAM SMITH, "Theory of Moral Sentiments."

THE ASSYRIAN HUMAN-HEADED 3 LIONS.

I ascertained by the end of March the existence of a second pair of winged human-headed lions, differing from those previously discovered in form, the human shape being continued to the waist, and furnished with arms. In one hand each figure carried a goat or stag, and in the other, which hung down by the side, a branch with three flowers. They formed a northern entrance into the chamber," of which the lions previously described were the western portal. I completely uncovered the latter, and found them to be entire. They were about twelve feet in 10 height, and the same number in length. The body and limbs were admirably portrayed; the muscles and bones, although strongly developed to display the strength of the animal, showed at the same time a correct knowledge of its anatomy and form. Expanded wings sprung 12 from the shoulder and spread over the back; a knotted girdle, ending in tassels, encircled the loins. These sculptures, forming an entrance, were partly in full and partly

1 And which, etc......in no respect, et qu'après tout, si au terme de sa vieillesse il y parvient enfin, il trouvera n'être à aucun égard-2 for it, pour le poursuivre.

3 Human-headed, à tête humaine-4 by, vers-5 being continued to, se prolongeant jusqu'à-6 a northern entrance into the chamber, l'entrée du côté Nord de la salle-7 I uncovered, je dégageai-8 to be to be left out- they were, ils avaient-10 in, de-11 the same number in, autant de-12 sprung, partaient.

in relief. The head and fore part, facing the chamber, were in full; but only one side of the rest of the slab was sculptured, the back being placed against the wall of sun-dried bricks. That the spectator might have both a perfect front and side view3 of the figures, they were furnished with five legs,— two were carved on the end of the slab to face the chamber, and three on the side. The relief of the body and three limbs was high and bold,5 and the slab was covered, in all parts not occupied by the image, with inscriptions in the cuneiform character.6 These magnificent specimens of Assyrian art were in perfect preservation; the most minute lines in the details of the wings and in the ornaments had been retained with their original freshness. Not a character was wanting in the inscriptions.

I used to contemplate for hours these mysterious emblems, and muse over their intent10 and history. What more noble forms could have ushered the people into the temple of their gods? What more sublime images could have been borrowed from 12 nature by men who sought, unaided by 13 the light of revealed religion, to embody their conception of the wisdom, power, and ubiquity of a Supreme Being? They could find no better type of intellect and knowledge than the head of the man; of strength, than the

1 Facing, faisant face à-2 the slab, la stèle--3 a perfect front and side view, une vue parfaite de face et de côté end, extrémité5 high and bold, saillant et hardiment accusé · -6 in the cuneiform character, en caractères cunéiformes-7 in perfect preservation, parfaitement conservés-8 had been retained, s'étaient maintenues-9 I used to contemplate for hours, je passais des heures entières à contempler-10 and muse over their intent, et à méditer sur leur objet— 11 could have, etc......of their, auraient pu saluer le peuple à son entréo dans le temple de ses-12 from, à-13 unaided by, sans le secours de.