states and empires inade but little impression on him; but there was one species of despotism under which he had long groaned, and that was-petticoat government.

34. Happily that was at an end; he could now go in and out whenever he pleased without dreading the tyranny of Dame Van Winkle. Whenever her name was mentioned, however, he shook his head, shrugged his shoulders, and cast up his eyes; which might pass either for an expression of resignation to his fate, or joy at his deliverance.

ADAM AND EVE IN PARADISE.

Now came still evening on, and twilight grey
Had in her sober livery all things clad:
Silence accompanied; for beast and bird-
They to their grassy couch, these to their nests
Were slunk--all but the wakeful nightingale; 5
She all night long her amorous descant sung:
Silence was pleased. Now glowed the firma-

ment

With living sapphires :2 Hesperus, that led
The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon,
Rising in clouded majesty, at length,

ΤΟ

3

Apparent queen, unveiled her peerless light, And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw. When Adam thus to Eve:-" Fair consort! the hour

Of night, and all things now retired to rest, Mind us of like repose; since God hath set Labour and rest, as day and night, to men Successive; and the timely dew of sleep, Now falling with soft slumbrous weight, inclines

4

Our eyelids other creatures all day long
Rove idle, unemployed, and less need rest;
Man hath his daily work of body or mind
Appointed, which declares his dignity,
And the regard of Heaven on all his ways;
While other animals inactive range,

And of their doings God takes no account.
To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the east
With first approach of light, we must be risen,
And at our pleasant labour, to reform
Yon flowery arbours, yonder alleys green,
Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown,
That mock our scant manuring, and require
More hands than ours to lop their wanton
growth:

5

6

Those blossoms also, and these dropping gums, That lie bestrewn, unsightly and unsmooth, Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease; Meanwhile, as nature wills, night bids us rest."

To whom thus Eve, with perfect beauty adorned:

66

My author and disposer, what thou bidd'st, Unargued I obey: so God ordains.

God is thy law; thou, mine: to know no more 40
Is woman's happiest knowledge, and her praise!
With thee conversing, I forget all time;

All seasons, and their change-all please alike.
Sweet is the breath of morn-her rising sweet,
With charm of earliest birds; pleasant the sun, 45
When first on this delightful land he spreads
His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit and flower,
Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile earth
After soft showers; and sweet the coming on
Of grateful evening mild; then silent night,
With this her solemn bird, and this fair moon,
And these the gems of heaven, her starry
train:-

50

But neither breath of morn, when she ascends
With charm of earliest birds; nor rising sun
On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower, 55
Glistering with dew; nor fragrance 10 after
showers;

Nor grateful evening mild; nor silent night,
With this her solemn bird, nor walk by moon
Or glittering star-light, without thee, is sweet!"

THE RETREAT FROM MOSCOW.

1. The return was commenced towards the end of October, and almost as soon as the army was well in motion down came the snow. Napoleon's soldiers, indomitable before men, seemed to wither and fade before the keen blast of the early winter that had now set in.

2. There was no taking advantage of this town or that village for shelter, for everywhere the Russians prepared fire and ruin for the retreating troops; and while men, numbed with cold, were falling out from their ranks in the French army, the well-clad, fur-caped warriors of Kutusoff could harass the rear, and cut up the stragglers with impunity.

3. But there was discipline ever, and the French showed a bold front, for their great idol was with them, and Murat, Ney, and Davoust were in command of divisions. "Onward, onward!" was the cry, but through weather hourly growing more fearful.

4. The roads, trampled by the feet of marching thousands, soon became ploughed by the wheels of gun and tumbril, and horses would toil on till they fell and lay struggling, adding to the confusion by striking their fellows from their feet, till they lay in a tangle of muddy and snowy harness, which the numbed fingers of the soldiery could not disentangle.

5. Soon the snow deepened, and the frost came, turning it into a fine dust that, sweep

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