Oriental. A dweller in the East. Circumspection.-Care, watchful

ness.

LIV.

Then within my tent, &c.—This sentence means that to the author his tent in the midst of the barren desert seemed a miracle of comfort; every luxury seemed to be contained within that small space. Oratories.-Small rooms for offering prayer. Martyrdom.-Properly, death for the sake of some great cause. Here simply self-inflicted death. Despondingly.-In dejection, depression of spirits. Encroaching. To encroach is to intrude upon, and gradually take, land, &c., that belongs to another.

LV.

Standard.--Banner, flag. Consuls. The two chief magistrates at Rome, elected each year, were called consuls. They had, among other duties, the command of the army in war. Van.-The first part of an army. Captain of the gate.-That is, he

was charged with the defence of the city gates.

Feed the eternal flame.-In the temple of Vesta, at Rome, a fire was always kept burning by the Vestals or virgin priestesses. Portioned.-Divided.

LVI.

Lever-i.e., bars of wood and iron, used for moving weights, &c.

Turret-tops. The tops of the small towers built at intervals along the walls.

Tawny-i.e., yellow. The river is said to toss its " 'mane," because it is here compared to a horse. The water of the Tiber is of a muddy yellow colour. Palatinus. One of the seven hills on which ancient Rome was built.

Yield to our grace-i.e., to our mercy.

Not deigning.-Not condescending, thinking the Tuscan army beneath his notice. Craven.-Cowardly.

Harness on his back.-His armour. So in the Bible w we read, "Smote him between the joints of the harness."-1 Kings xxxii. 34. Rapturous.-Joyful.

The fathers-i.c., the senators; the old men who sat in the Roman Senate.

Gory.-Blood-stained.

Of public right.-Public property; not portioned or assigned to any individual.

Molten image.-An image of
metal, melted and cast.
Algidus. A mountain near Rome.
Shuttle.-A small piece of wood

or bone used in weaving. With
it the cross-threads or woof are
thrown between the threads laid
lengthwise, or warp. Hence the
shuttle is here said to go flashing
through the loom.

LVII.

August, 1591-i.e., in Queen Elizabeth's reign, when there was war between England and Spain. The island of Florez is in the Azores. The incident here narrated is the subject of Tennyson's magnificent poem, "The Revenge.'

Victuallers. Provision ships. Pinnace.-A small craft moved

with oars and sails. Aggressive purpose.--Purpose of attacking the enemy.

The admiral.-The highest rank in the Navy. Lord Thomas Howard was the admiral of this fleet. Mythic stories.-Marvellous tales without foundation. Earl Talbot.-A great warrior in the reign of Henry VI. He was killed in 1453.

Coeur-de-Lion, i.e., Lion-heart.Richard I. of England, celebrated for his achievements in the Crusades. Uncontrollable propensities.

Eagerness that could not be checked or controlled. Carouse.-Drink. A carouse is a drinking feast.

Weighed-i.e., weighed anchor, set sail.

On his weather bow.-In front of his ship, a little towards the weather (i.e., windward) side. Raleigh. The well-known

Sir

Walter Raleigh, statesman and writer of Queen Elizabeth's time.

Sprang their luff-i.e., began to

sail nearer to the wind, more in the face of the wind, than before.

Lee. The side of a ship away from the wind.

Lower tier.-The shots from the lower row of guns. Entertainment.-Reception, treat

The battle of the Baltic, or of Copenhagen, was fought in 1801. Sir Hyde Parker and Nelson were sent to meet the Danish fleet, Denmark and Russia having allied themselves against England. Nelson was directed by Parker to attack, and the battle raged for some hours. At last, Parker, thinking it would be impossible to beat the Danes, hoisted a signal Nelson for Nelson to retire. put his telescope to his blind eye, and declared he could not see the signal. He called upon the foe to surrender, which they did. He sent the wounded Danes

OF

Aldrich, Thomas Bailey. An American writer, still living (1885). Author of a large number of prose stories distinguished by their originality and freshness of style, and of many short poems. Allingham, William. A living author (1885), born at Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, in 1828. He was for several years editor of Fraser's Magazine, and has written a number of graceful poems. Benjamin, Park (1809-1864).Born at Demerara, British Guiana, and well known in America as a writer both of prose and verse.

Bird, Isabella L. (Mrs. Bishop).— A distinguished living author of of works describing her travels in Japan, Polynesia, the Straits Settlements, and America. The extract in this volume is from her "Life in the Rocky Mountains. "

Byron, George Gordon, Lord (1788

-1824).-First became known
by two cantos of "Childe
Harold," published in 1812,
and was at once recognised as
one of our greatest poets. He
next wrote a series of romances
in
"The Giaour,'
"The
verse,
"Corsair," Lara, "The
Bride of Abydos." From 1816
to 1823 Byron lived chiefly in
Switzerland and Italy, and
wrote the remainder of "Childe

Harold," a poem descriptive of various places, chiefly those where great events have taken place; also "The Siege of Corinth, "The Prisoner of Chillon," and other poems and verse romances, besides several dramas, and Don Juan." The last year of his life was spent in Greece, where he wrote several poems expressing his warm sympathy with the national struggle of the Greeks for freedom, and he died at Missolonghi. On the Continent, Byron's works have been more popular than those of any other English author except Shakespeare. Campbell, Thomas (1774-1844).

-Born at Glasgow. Author of "Gertrude of Wyoming," and other poems of no great merit ; but his shorter lyrics, especially his war songs and ballads, are the works on which his fame principally rests.

Dobell, Sydney (1824-1874).—A writer of great but scarcely fulfilled promise. Author of "Balder," "The Roman," &c. Doyle, Sir Francis Hastings.-A living author (1885), born 1810. For some years Professor of Poetry at Oxford. He has written several stirring poems on recent historical events, and other verse. Dunraven, The Earl of.-Born 1841. Author of "The Great Divide," a book of American

travel, from which the extracts given in this volume are taken. Fields, James T.-An American author of prose and poetry, still living (1885).

Froude, James Antony.-An eminent living author, born 1822. His "History of England from the Fall of Wolsey to the Death of Elizabeth" and "The English in Ireland in the Eighteenth Century" are his chief historical works, and are distinguished by their vivid and dramatic style. From one of his "Short Essays on Great Subjects" the story of "The Revenge" is taken. Irving, Washington (1785-1859). -A celebrated American writer, author of "Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus" and other historical works; also of a volume of lively sketches, including "Rip Van Winkle." Kinglake, Alexander W.-A living

writer (1885), born at Taunton in 1809, called to the Bar in 1837. In 1844 Mr. Kinglake published his "Eothen," one of the best books of travel in our language. "Across the Desert of Gaza" is extracted from it. He is also author of "The Invasion of the Crimea " (recently concluded), an elaborate and valuable history of the Crimean War.

Larcom, Lucy. An American writer, author of "Poems," published 1869.

ex

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth (1807-1882). - The greatest poet America has yet produced. His writings, which are tremely popular in England, include Tales of a Wayside Inn,' "The Golden Legend,' "Evangeline,' Hiawatha," a drama called "The Spanish Student," and a great number of shorter lyrics.

99 66

Macaulay, Thomas Babington, Lord (1800-1859).-A brilliant

historian and essayist.

His

greatest works are his "Essays" and "History of England;" he also wrote "The Lays of Ancient Rome," and other poems, which are of great merit, and enjoy a wide popularity. His conspicuous ability and extraordinary gifts as a writer-besides his political services to his party-earned for him his elevation to the peerage, a distinction rarely conferred on a literary man. Mackay, Charles.-A living author of poems, novels, &c., born at Perth. Several of his ballads and songs are very spirited and popular.

Mickle, William Julius (17341788). A Scotchman, translator of the "Lusiad" of Camoens, and author of various poems. Parker, Martyn. An English author, born 1630.

Parsons, Thomas William.-Born

1819, in America, was educated as a surgeon, but soon took to a literary life, and translated Dante's Inferno.' Scott, Sir Walter (1771-1832).Born in Edinburgh, Scott's life was chiefly spent in his native country, where the scenes of many of his works are laid. He first became famous by his verse romances, "The Lady of the Lake," "Marmion," &c.; he also wrote songs, ballads, and translations. Finding himself overshadowed as a poet by Lord Byron's greater fame, Scott took to prose, and produced his Waverley Novels," which, for sustained interest, and accurate antiquarian and historical knowledge, have seldom been equalled. Ivanhoe," Guy Mannering," "The Antiquary, and "Quentin Durward" are of the most popular. "Archery in the Olden Time" is taken from "Ivanhoe," and

some

66