vegetable organism progresses onward to form a portion of the animal structure.

9. A plant exposed to the action of natural or artificial decomposition passes into air, leaving but a few grains of solid matter behind it. An animal, in like manner, is resolved into "thin air." Muscle and blood and bones, having undergone the change, are found to have escaped as gases, leaving only a pinch of dust which belongs to the more stable mineral world.

10. Our dependency on the atmosphere is therefore evident. We derive our substance from it; we are, after death, resolved into it again. We are really but fleeting shadows. Animal and vegetable forms are little more than consolidated masses of the atmosphere. The sublime conceptions of the most gifted bard cannot rival the beauty of this, the highest and the truest poetry of science!

LXXIII. THE EXPLOIT OF HECTOR.

HOMER.

In the twelfth Book of Homer's Iliad, the Trojans, led by Hector, are represented as assailing the rampart built for the protection of the Grecian fleet. The description of Hector forcing the gates is bold and impressive, and we know of no translation of the passage, which is superior to that by Cowper, which we present. Hector is called Priameian (pri-am-e'yan), as being the son of Priam. By the son of Saturn is meant Jupiter or Jove, the principal god of the heathen mythology.

66

See in Index, Rampart, transveRSE, COWPER, HOMER.

I.

SUCH was the poise in which the battle hung
Till Jove himself superior fame at length
To Priamëian Hector gave, who sprang

First through the wall. In lofty sounds that reached
Their utmost ranks, he called on all his host:

"Now press them! now, ye Trojans, steed-renowned,

Rush on! break through the Grecian rampart! hurl At once devouring flames into the fleet!"

II.

Such was his exhortation. They, his voice All hearing, with close-ordered ranks, direct Bore on the barrier, and up-swarming showed On the high battlement their glittering spears.

III.

But Hector seized a stōne; of ample base,
But tapering to a point; before the gate
It stood. No two men, mightiest of a land
(Such men as now are mighty), could with ease
Have heaved it from the earth up to a wain;
He swung it easily alone,

- so light

The son of Săturn made it in his hand.

IV.

As in one hand with ease the shepherd bears
A ram's fleece home, nor toils beneath the weight,
So Hector, right toward the planks of those

Majestic folding-gates, close-jointed, firm
And solid, bore the stone.

Two bars within

Their corresponding force combined transverse'
To guard them, and one bolt secured the bars.

V.

He stood fast by them, parting wide his feet
For 'vantage sake, and smote them in the midst.
He burst both hinges; inward fell the rock
Ponderous, and the portals roared; the bars
Endured not, and the planks, riven by the force
Of that huge mass, flew scattered on all sides.

VI.

In leaped the godlike hero at the breach,
Gloomy as night in aspect, but in arms

All-dazzling, and he grasped two quivering spears.
Him entering with a leap the gates, no force

Whate'er of opposition had repressed,

Save of the gods alone. Fire filled his eyes;

Turning, he băde the multitude without

Ascend the rampart; they his voice obeyed;
Part climbed the wall, part poured into the gate;
The Grecians to their hollow galleys flew,
Scattered; and tumult infinite arose.

LXXIV..

THE RETURN OF Ravenswood.

SCOTT.

Scott's tragical story of "The Bride of Lammermoor" is founded almost literally on facts in the lives of Lord Rutherford (here called Ravenswood) and Janet Dalrymple (Lucy Ashton). These two solemnly plight their faith to each other to marry; and, as a pledge of their troth they break a piece of gold together. Lucy's mother, imperious and self-willed, finding a rich suitor for her daughter, urges her to write a letter of dismissal to Ravenswood, a poor though high-spirited nobleman, and consent to a union with Bucklaw. Lucy, driven to despair, at length yields, in the absence of Ravenswood, to the threats and entreaties of her mother. The marriage day has come. Bucklaw, the bridegroom, and Craigengelt, his parasite, Bide-the-bent, the clergyman, Lucy's parents and brother, are present. The marriage contract has been signed by all the parties except Lucy. The pen is placed in her hand, and just as she signs she hears the hasty tramp of a horse at the gate. "He is come!" she exclaims, with a faint shriek, and drops the pen. The following extract commences with the entrance of the returning Ravenswood on the scene.

See in Index, ERE, MACHINATION, NOTHING, PARENT, STREW, SWORD, WEARY, WILLFUL or WILFUL, SCOTT.

Delivery. Few scenes more impressive than this, or better adapted to expressive reading, can be found in modern fiction. It presents a mixture of the narrative and dramatic styles. The dialogue should be read in tones appropriate to the characters and to the passions by which they are moved. A rare opportunity is here offered for the reader to show his powers of personation.

1. HARDLY had Miss Ashton dropped the pen, when the door of the apartment flew open, and the Master of Ravenswood entered the apartment. Lockhard and another domestic, who had in vain attempted to oppose his passage through the gallery or antechamber, were seen standing on the threshold transfixed with surprise, which was instantly communicated to the whole party in the state-room.

2. The surprise of Colonel Douglas Ashton was mingled with resentment; that of Bucklaw with haughty and affected indifference; the rest, even Lady Ashton herself, showed signs of fear, and Lucy seemed stiffened to stone by this unexpected apparition. Apparition it might well be termed, for Ravenswood had more the appearance of one returned from the dead than of a living visitor.

3. He planted himself fully in the middle of the apartment opposite to the table at which Lucy was seated, on whom, as if she had been alone in her chamber, he bent his eyes with a mingled expression of deep grief and deliberate indignation. His dark-colored riding cloak, displaced from one shoulder, hung around one side of his person in the ample folds of the Spanish mantle. The rest of his rich dress was travel-soiled, and deranged by hard riding. He had a sword by his side, and pistols in his belt.

4. His slouched hat, which he had not removed at entrance, gave an additional gloom to his dark features, which, wasted by sorrow, and marked by the ghastly look communicated by long illness, added to a countenance naturally somewhat stern and wild a fierce and even savage expression. The matted and disheveled locks of hair which escaped from under his hat, together with his fixed and unmoved posture, made his head more resemble that of a marble bust than that of a living man. He said not a single word, and there was a deep silence in the company for more than two minutes.

5. It was broken by Lady Ashton, who in that space partly recovered her natural audacity. She demanded to know the cause of this unauthorized intrusion.. "That is a question, madam," said her son, "which I have the best right to ask, and I must request of the Master of Ravenswood to follow me, where he can answer it at leisure."

6. Bucklaw interposed, saying, "No man on earth should usurp his previous right in demanding an explanation from the Master.-Craigengelt," he added, in an undertone, "why do you stand staring as if you saw a ghost? Fetch me my sword from the gallery."

"I will relinquish to none," said Colonel Ashton, "my right of calling to account the man who has offered this unparalleled affront to my family.”

7. "Be patient, gentlemen," said Ravenswood, turning sternly toward them, and waving his hand as if to impose silence on their altercation. "If you are as weary of your lives as I am of mine, I will find time and place to pledge it against one or both; at present I have no leisure for the disputes of triflers." —“Triflers!" echoed Colonel Ashton, half unsheathing his sword, while Bucklaw laid his hand on the hilt of that which Craigengelt had just reached him.

8. Sir William Ashton, alarmed for his son's safety, rushed between the young men and Ravenswood, exclaiming, "My son, I command you - Bucklaw, I entreat you keep the peace, in the name of the Queen. and of the law!" "In the name of the law of God," said the preacher, Bide-the-bent, advancing also with uplifted hands between Bucklaw and the Colonel and the object of their resentment, "In the name of Him who brought peace on earth, and good-will to mankind, I implore I beseech-I command you to forbear violence toward each other. God hateth the bloodthirsty man: he who striketh with the sword, shall perish with the sword."

9. "Do you take me for a dog, Sir," said Colonel Ashton, turning fiercely upon him, "or something more brutally stupid, to endure this insult in my father's house?Let me go, Bucklaw! he shall account to me, or I will stab him where he stands.”. "You shall not touch him here," said Bucklaw; "he once gave me my life, and were he the Devil come to fly away with the