DANTE ALIGHIERI. This famous Italian poet of the thirteenth century, very poor, and an exile from his country, lived at Verona on a pension from Prince Scaliger; but so moderate was it, that Dante could scarcely subsist. In the same court was another person, whom Scaliger maintained as a buffoon, but treated very munificently. "How happens it," says the favourite one day to Dante," that a man of genius, as you are, should remain so poor, whilst such a blockhead and fool as I am abound in all things?"—“ I shall be rich too," says the indignant and sarcastic bard," when I have your luck to find a character so like my own." MAROT THE POET.* Marot has founded the following tale on a story told of Dante. When the Italian poet, absorbed in poetic meditation, was leaning on an altar in a church at Florence, an impertinent visitor broke in upon his * Clement Marot was a celebrated French poet and a wit, and valet de chambre to Francis I. He died in 1523. There is an edition of his works printed at Amsterdam, 1700, 2 vols. 12mo. They consist of songs, epigrams, eclogues, transla tions of psalms, &c. reverie. "What is the greatest of all beasts?" says the poet. "An elephant," replied the other. "Then, I pray, Mr. Elephant, you will go about your business." "Bien, laissez-moi," ce disoit une "La plus grosse beste qui soit, Monsieur, comme est-ce qu'on l'appelle?" "Un elephant, Mademoiselle, Me semble qu'on la nomme ainsi." "Pour Dieu, Elephant," ce dit-elle, "Va-t'en donc, laisse-moi ici." IMITATED. "Leave me, I must insist-for shame! A SINGULAR INSTANCE OF SUPERSTITION. There is a part of the country in the kingdom of Naples very much infested with robbers and murderers. A shepherd of that district, at confession, acknowledged with much sorrow and contrition, that once on a fast-day he had drank some drops of milk. "Does your conscience upbraid you with no other wickedness?" said the father confessor. "None at all,” replied the penitent. you never join any of your countrymen in robbing and murdering passengers?"—" O yes! very often, good father; but we do not look upon that as a matter of conscience." EMPEROR SIGISMOND. "Did This Prince, having granted the title of nobleman to a learned doctor, he observed the man at court taking his place among the nobles, and not, as formerly, among the professors." What a simpleton he is!" observed the Emperor: "I can make a thousand gentlemen every day of my life; but I cannot make one learned man.' Some noblemen of Hungary entered the palace of Sigismond, with an intention of assassinating the Prince, or taking him prisoner. The Emperor, on seeing them advancing, exclaimed, " Is any bold enough to lay his hands on me? What have I done to deserve death? Let any man come forward, if you intend slaughter, and I'll engage with him." The intrepidity of his voice, and the courage manifested in the challenge, caused the conspirators to retire in confusion. A gentleman in the presence of the Emperor spoke very disrespectfully of the characters and offices of magistrates; at the same time expatiated very amply on the merit of military men, to the disadvantage of the former. "Blockhead," replied Sigismond, "hold your peace. If all governors behaved as they should do, the world would have no occasion for men of the sword." A QUACK DOCTOR. A foolish idle fellow at Florence, hearing that a physician had obtained great credit and wealth by the sale of some pills, under He administered the same pills to all patients whatever; and as by chance they sometimes succeeded, his name became famous. A countryman called on him, and desired to know if his pills would enable him to find an ass he had lately lost. The quack bid him swallow six pills. In his way home, the operation of the pills obliged him to retire into a wood, where he found his ass. The clown spread a report, that he knew a doctor who sold pills which would recover strayed cattle. A FABLE. Come A fox observing some fowls at roost, wished to gain access to them by smooth speeches. "I have got," says he, "charming news to tell you. All animals have entered into an agreement to preserve universal peace among one another. down and celebrate with me this decree." An old cock, who was on his guard, looked round him very cautiously. On the fox asking him his reasons, "I was observing those two dogs which are coming this way." Reynard set off. "What," says the cock, |