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and pleasures, whose importunity, when once complied with, they became less and less able to resist; and though they often returned to the path, the asperities of the road were more severely felt; the hill appeared more steep and rugged; the fruits, which were wholesome" and refreshing, seemed harsh and ill tasted; their sight grew dim; and their feet tript at every little obstruction."

8. I saw, with some surprise, that the muses, whose business was to cheer and encourage those who were toiling up the ascent, would often sing in the bowers of pleasure, and accompany these who were enticed away at the call of the passions. They accompanied them, however, but a little way; and always forsook them when they lost sight of the hill The tyrants then doubled their chains upon the unhappy captives; and led them away, without resistance, to the cells of Ignorance, or the mansions of misery.

9. Amongst the innumerable seducers, who were endeavouring to draw away the votaries of Truth from the path of science, there was one, so little formidable: in her appearance, and so gentle and languid in her attempts, that I should scarcely have taken notice of her, but for the numbers she had imperceptibly loaded with her chains.

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10. Indolence, (for so she was called,) far from proceeding to open hostilities, did not attempt to turn their feet out of the path, but contented herself with retardinge their progress; and the purpose she could not force them to abandon, she persuaded them to delay. Her touch had a power like that of the torpedo, which withered the strength of those who came within its influence. Her unhappy captives still turned their faces towards the temple, and always hoped to arrive there; but the ground seemed to slide from beneath their feet, and they found themselves at the bottom, before they suspected they had changed their place.

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11. The placid serenity, which at first appeared to their countenance, changed by degrees into a melanchol ly langour, which was tinged with deeper and deeper gloom, as they glided down the stream of Insignificance a dark and sluggish water, which is curled by no breeze, and enlivened by no murmur, till it falls into a dead sea, where startled passengers are awakened by the shock, and the next moment buried in the gulf of oblivion.g

12. Of all the unhappy deserters from the paths of

Science, none seemed less able to return than the followers of Indolence. The captives of appetite and passion would often seize the moment when their tyrants were languid or asleep, to escape from their enchantment; but the dominion of Indolence was constant and unremitted; and seldom resisted, till resistance was in vain.

15. After contemplating these things, I turned my eyes towards the top of the mountain, where the air was always pure and exhilarating, the path shaded with laurels and evergreens, and the effulgencem which beamed from the face of Science seemed to shed a glory round her votaries. Happy, said I, are they who are permitted to ascend the mountain! But while I was pronouncing this exclamation, with uncommon ardour," I saw, standing beside me a form of diviner" features, and a more benigne radiance.

14. " Happier," said she," are they whom Virtue conducts to the Mansions of Content!" "What," said I, "does Virtue then reside in the vale ?" "I am found," said she, in the vale, and I illuminate the mountain, I cheer the cottager at his toil, and inspire the sager at his meditation. I mingle in the crowd of cities, and bless the hermit in his cell. I have a temple in every heart that owns my influence; and to him that wishes for me, I am already present. Science may raise thee to eminence but I alone can guide thee to felicity!"

15. While Virtue was thus speaking, 1 stretched out my arms towards her, with a vehemence which broke my slumber. The chill dews were falling around me, and the shades of evening stretched over the landscape. I hastened homeward; and resigned the night to silence and meditation.

O-bi-dah, d-bl'-da,

SECTION VII.

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AIKEN.

highest point of power or glory Com-mo-di-ous, kôm-mo'-jè ůs, or kam-mo-de-as, convenient, useful Ver-dure, vår'-jure, green colour Ir-re-sis-ti-bly, ir-ré zis'-tè-ble, in a degree superiour to opposition Re-mis-sion, rè-mish'-ån, abatement, pardon

Me-an der, mè-an'-dår, maze, labyrinth, to run winding

Bus-pect, sås-pêkt', to imagine what is not known

n Di-vert, dé-vårt', to turn aside, to please

o Ech-o, êk'-ko, repercussion of any sound, to sound back

ness

y Pur-pose, pår'-pås, intention, to rẻ

Bolve

ate

z Sol-ace, sól'-lås, comfort, to cheer p Cas-cade, kás-kåde', a cataract, wala Ad-e-quate, åd'-è-kwåte, proportionter-fall q Cir-cum-vo-lu-tion, ser-kim-vo-lù'-b Im-merge, Im-mêrje', to put under shan, the act of rolling

Loi-ter, löe'-tår, to linger

water

e Lux-u-ry, lik'-shh-rè, voluptuousnofs Tor-rent, tor-rênt, violent and rapid d Lab-yr-inth, lab' ber-inthi, a maze,

stream

t Ta-per, tå-pår, , a wax candle, conicale to lessen

Wil-der-ness, wil'-důr-nès, a desert

v Oc-cur-rence, ok-kår'-rênse, incident,
accidental event

w Fer-vour, fer'-vår, warmth, zeal
Vig-il-ance, vid'-jil-anse, watchful-

intricacy

In-vade, in-våde, to attack a coun-
try, to assail, to assault
Ob-struct, ob-strukt', to hinder, to

oppose

g Effort, &f-fört, struggle, endeavour Om-nip-o-tence, om-up'-po-tense, almighty power

The journey of a day; a picture of human life.

1. OBIDAH, the son of Abensina, left the caravansera early in the morning, and pursued his journey through the plains of Indostan. He was fresh and vigorous with rest; he was animated with hope; he was incited by desire; he walked swiftly forward over the vallies, and saw the hills gradually rising before him.

2. As he passed along, his ears were delighted with the norning song of the bird of paradise; he was fanned by the last flutters of the sinking breeze, and sprinkled with dew by groves of spices. He sometimes contemplated the towering height of the oak, monarch of the hill; and sometimes caught the gentle fragrance of the primrose, eldest daughter of the spring all his senses were gratified, and all care was banished from his heart.

3. Thus he went on, till the sun approached his meridian, and the increased heat preyed upon his strength; he then looked round about him for some more commodious" path. He saw, on his right hand, a grove that seemed to wave its shades as a sign of invitation; he entered it, and found the coolness and verdure irresistibly pleasant.

4. He did not, however, forget whither he was travelling but found a narrow way bordered with flowers, which appeared to have the same direction with the main road; and was pleased, that, by this happy experiment, he had found means to unite pleasure with business, and to gain the rewards of diligence without suffering its fatigues.

5. He, therefore, still continued to walk for a time;

without the least remission of his ardour, except that he was sometimes tempted to stop by the music of the birds, which the heat had assembled in the shade; and sometimes amused himsel with plucking the flowers that covered the banks on either side, or the fruits that hung upon the branches. At last, the green path began to decline from its first tendency, and to wind among the hills and thickets, cooled with fountains, and murmuring with waterfalls.

6. Here Obidah paused for a time, and began to consider whether it were longer safe to forsake the known and common track; but remembering that the heat was now in its greatest violence, and that the plain was dusty and uneaven, he resolved to pursue the new path, which he supposed only to make a few meanders, in compli ance with the varieties of the ground, and to end at fast

in the common road.

7. Having thus calmed his solicitude, he renewed his pace, though he suspected that he was not gaining ground. This uneasiness of his mind inclined him to Tay hold on every now object, and give way to every sensation that might sooth or divert him. He listened to every echo he mounted every hill for a fresh prospect; he turned aside to every cascade and pleased himself with tracing the course of a gentle river that rolled among the trees, and watered a large region with innumerable circumvolutions.

8. In these amusements, the hours passed away unae counted; his deviations had perplexed his memory, and he knew not towards what point to travel. He stood pensive and confused, afraid to go forward, lest he should go wrong, yet conscious that the time of loitering was now past. While he was thus tortured with uncertainty, the sky was overspread with clouds; the day vanished from before him; and a sudden tempest gathered round his head.

9. He was now roused by his danger to a quick and painful remembrance of his folly; he now saw how happiness is lost when ease is consulted: he lamented the unmanly impatience that prompted him to seek shelter in the grove and despised the petty curiosity that led him on from trifle to trifle. While he was thus reflecting, the air grew blacker, and a clap of thunder broke his medi

tation.

10. He now resolved to do what yet remained in his

power, to tread back the ground which he had passed, and try to find some issue where the wood might open into the plain. He prostrated himself on the ground, and recommended his life to the Lord of nature. He rose with confidence and tranquillity, and pressed on with resolution. The beasts of the desert were in motion, and on every hand were heard the mingled howls of rage and fear, and ravage and expiration. All the horrors of darkness and solitude surrounded him: the winds roared in the woods; and the torrents tumbled from the hills.

11. Thus forlorn and distressed, he wandered through the wild, without knowing whither he was going, or whether he was every moment drawing nearer to safety, or to destruction. At length, not fear, but labour, began to overcome him; his breath grew short, and his knees trembled; and he was on the point of lying down in resignation to his fate, when he beheld, through the brambles, the glimmer of a taper.'

12. He advanced towards the light; and finding that it proceeded from the cottage of a hermit, he called humbly at the door and obtained admission. The old man set before him such provisions as he had collected for himself, on which Obidah fed with eagerness and gratitade.

13. When the repast was over, "tell me," said the hermit," by what chance thou hast been brought hither? I have been now twenty years an inhabitant of the wil derness," in which I never saw a man before." Obidah then related the occurrences of his journey, without any concealment or palliation.

14. "Son," said the hermit, "let the errors and follies, the dangers and escape of this day, sink deep into thy heart. Remember my son, that human life is the journey of a day. We rise in the morning of youth, full of vigour, and full of expectation; we set forward with spirit and hope, with gaiety and with diligence, and travel on a while in the direct road of piety towards the mansion of rest.

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15. "In a short time, we remit our fervour" and endeavour to find some mitigation of our duty, and some mose easy means of obtaining the same end. We then relax our vigour, and resolve no longer to be terrified with crimes at a distance: but rely on our own constancy, and venture to approach what we resolve never to

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