the progress of the great truth propounded by Copernicus, and demonstrated by thee, than they can stop the revolving earth. Close now, venerable sage, that sightless, tearful eye; it has seen what men never before saw; it has seen enough. Hang up that poor little spyglass; it has done its work. Not Herschel nor Rosse have, comparatively, done more. Franciscans and Dominicans deride thy discoveries now, but the time will come when, from two hundred observatories in Europe and America, the glorious artillery of science shall nightly assault the skies; but they shall gain no conquests in those glittering fields before which thine shall be forgotten. Rest in peace, great Columbus of the heavens;-like him scorned, persecuted, broken-hearted; - in other ages, in distant hemispheres, when the votaries of science, with solemn acts of consecration, shall dedicate their stately edifices to the cause of knowledge and truth, thy name shall be mentioned with honor. WHAT CONSTITUTES A STATE W SIR WILLIAM JONES HAT constitutes a state? Not high-raised battlements or labored mound, Not cities proud, with spires and turrets crowned; Where, laughing at the storm, rich navies ride; Not starred and spangled courts, Where low-browed baseness wafts perfume to pride. With powers as far above dull brutes endued, In forest, brake, or den, As beasts excel cold rocks and brambles rude; Men, who their duties know, But know their rights, and, knowing, dare maintain; And crush the tyrant while they rend the chain. These constitute a state; And sovereign law, that state's collected will, Sits empress, crowning good, repressing ill. L'ALLEGRO JOHN MILTON NOTE TO THE PUPIL. - John Milton, born in London in 1608, is with the exception of Shakespeare the most noted author, and his is, with this exception, the most illustrious name in English literature. He was a graduate of Cambridge. Among the poems most read are "Comus," "L'Allegro," "Il Penseroso" and "Lycidas." His great work is "Paradise Lost." He also wrote "Samson Agonistes" and "Paradise Regained." His greatest prose work is "Areopagitica,” a plea for unlicensed printing. Milton died in 1674. HASTE thee, nymph, and bring with thee Jest and youthful jollity, Quips, and cranks, and wanton wiles, Such as hang on Hebe's cheek, And Laughter, holding both his sides. Come and trip it, as ye go, And in thy right hand lead with thee To hear the lark begin his flight, Oft listening how the hounds and horn The clouds in the thousand liveries dight; Whistles o'er the furrowed land, Towered cities please us then, Where throngs of knights and barons bold, There let Hymen oft appear Or sweetest Shakespeare, Fancy's child, And ever, against eating cares, Such as the meeting soul may pierce Untwisting all the chains that tie That Orpheus' self may heave his head. Of heap'd Elysian flowers, and hear These delights if thou canst give, HOME JAMES MONTGOMERY NOTE TO THE PUPIL. James Montgomery, a religious poet, was born in 1771 at Irvine in Ayrshire. He lived to be eighty-three years old. For more than thirty years he edited a newspaper, and was twice imprisoned and fined for printing what was deemed a seditious libel. During the latter part of his life he had a pension of £200 a year from the government. Among his longer poems are "The Wanderer of Switzerland," "The West Indies," "The World Before the Flood," "Greenland," and "Pelican Island," none of which is much read now. Many of his shorter poems are very popular. If you are so disposed, you might read "The Common Lot," "Prayer," "Aspirations of Youth," and "Night," all of which are very beautiful. HERE is a land, of every land the pride, Beloved by heaven o'er all the world beside; |