Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors][ocr errors]

structor will take him by the hand, and lead him by the running streams, and teach him all the principles of Science, as she comes from her Maker; as he would smell the fragrance of the rose, with out gathering it.

[ocr errors]

This love of nature; this adaptation of man to the place assigned him by his heavenly Father; this fulness of the mind || as it descends into the works of God, is something, which has been felt by every one, though to an imperfect degree, and therefore | needs no explanation. It is the part of science, that this | be no longer a blind affection; but that the mind be opened to a just perception of what it is, which it loves. The affection, which the lover first feels! for his future wife, may be attended only by a general sense of her external beauty; but his mind gradually opens to a perception of the peculiar features of the soul, of which the external appearance | is only an image. So it is with nature. Do we love to gaze on the sun, the moon, the stars, and the planets? This affection contains contains

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

1

in its bosom | the whole science of astronomy, as the seed the future tree. It is the office of the instructor to give it an existence and a name, by making known the laws which govern the motions of the heavenly bodies, the relation of these bodies to each other, and their uses.

[ocr errors]

triangles only, but for any triangles, whether symmetrical or not, that are upon the same base and between the same parallels. Thus, the triangles L F G, MFG are each of them between the same parallels, D E, H K, and each of them would equal to the triangle P F G, which is on the same base, F G, and be equal to any triangle that may be formed by drawing lines from the points F and G to any point in the straight line HK, produced both ways indefinitely.

Triangles also which stand upon equal bases and between the same parallels are equal to one another. Thus, the triangles LNG, MOF, which stand on equal bases, N G, F O, and K between the same parallels, DE, HK, are equal to one another, as are also the triangles LN F, MOG, which are

H

P

D

Have we felt delight' in beholding the animal creation,-in watching their pastimes and their labours? It is the office of the instructor to give birth to this affection, by describing the different classes of animals, with their peculiar characteristics, which inhabit the earth, the air, and the sea. GO. Have we known the inexpressible pleasure of beholding the beauties of the vegetable world? This affection can only expand in the science of botany. Thus it is, that the love of nature in the mass || may become the love of all the sciences, and the mind will grow and bring forth fruit || from its own inherent power of development.

[ocr errors]

LESSONS IN GEOMETRY.-X.

IN our last lesson we considered the various series of data necessary for the construction of an isosceles triangle: we will now do the same for any kind of scalene triangle, or triangle of which all three sides are unequal.

A scalene triangle, as it has been stated, may be an acuteangled triangle, an obtuse-angled triangle, or a right-angled triangle. To determine any scalene triangle, it is plain that we must have one of the following series of data.

I. With regard to the sides without the angles :

1. The length of each of the three unequal sides.

2. The length of two sides and the altitude of the triangle.

[ocr errors]

II. With regard to the angles without the sides :3. Any two of the angles of the triangle.

III. With regard to the sides and angles combined :

4. The length of any two of the sides of the triangle and one of its angles.

5. The length of one side of the triangle and two of its angles. 6. The length of one side of the triangle, its altitude, and one of its angles adjacent to the given side.

As in the construction of the isosceles triangle, the first case is met by Problem VIII. (page 191), but the second brings us to

PROBLEM XXIV.-To draw a triangle of which the length of two of its sides and the altitude are given.

Let A and B (Fig. 32) represent the length of two of the sides of the triangle required, and c its altitude. In any straight line, DE, of indefinite length, set off F G equal to B, and by Problem X. (page 192), draw the indefinite straight line, H K, parallel to DE, at a distance from it equal to c, the altitude of the required triangle. Then from F as centre, with a radius equal to A, draw an arc cutting H K in the point L. Join LF, LG; the triangle LFG is a triangle answering the requirements of the data, for its sides, LF, F G, are equal to A and B respectively, and its altitude shown by the dotted line LN is equal to the given straight line c. The triangle M F G, drawn in the same way, is also a triangle which meets the requirements of the data, for its sides, M G, G F, are equal to A and B respectively, and its altitude, shown by the dotted line м O, is equal to c.

The triangles LFG, MFG, are equal to each other in every respect, namely, the length of their sides, their altitude, and their superficial area. They are upon the same base, F G, and between the same parallels, D E, H K, and they are what we may term symmetrical triangles. From this we learn that symmetrical triangles on the same base and between the same parallels are equal to one another; and this is true, not for symmetrical

N

Fig. 32.

M

E between the same

parallels and stand on equal bases N P, And this is also as true of unsymmetrical triangles as of symmetrical triangles, for if we join the dotted line N P, the triangles L N F, PNF, are equal to one another, because they are on the same base, N F, and between the same parallels; and since the triangle M G O is equal to the triangle L N F, it must also be equal to the triangle P N F.

In Case 3, when two of the angles of the required triangle are given, it is manifestly necessary only to make at two points in the same straight line, and on the same side of it, two angles equal to the given angles, each having its opening turned towards the apex of the other, and then, if necessary in order to complete the triangle, to produce the sides of the angles that are

inclined to the side that is common to both. The student must notice that when two angles of a required triangle are given without any special requirement as to their relative position, an endless number of pairs of symmetrical triangles may be drawn, similar in form but of different superficial areas, all satisfying the general requirements set forth in the data.

Thus, in Fig. 33, if A and B represent the given angles of the triangle required, it is plain that to make a triangle having two angles equal to the given angles A and B, we have only to make at any point, c, in a straight line, X Y, of indefinite length, the angle Y CE equal to A, and at another point, D, in the same straight line, the angle X D E equal to B, each angle having its opening opposite or turned towards the apex of the other, as, in this figure, the opening of the angle at c is opposite the apex D of the angle at D, and vice versa; and to complete the triangle produce the sides, C E, DE, of the angles at C and D that are inclined to the common side, CD, until they meet. If we reverse the position of the angles, making the angle at c equal to the angle at B, and the angle at D equal to the angle at A, the triangle assumes the form shown by the triangle FCD in the figure. The triangles ECD,

D

F C D, are symmetrical and equal in every respect. The triangles KG H, LG H, shown by dotted lines, are also equal and symmetrical in every respect, and satisfy the general conditions of the data, although their superficial area is greater than the area of the triangles E C D, F CD, because the points G and H, at which the angles necessary for the construction of the triangle required are made equal to a and B, are taken on the indefinite straight line, X Y, at a greater distance apart than c and D.

Fig. 33.

PROBLEM XXV.-To draw a triangle of which two sides and one of the angles are given.

First, let the given angle be included between the given sides, and let the straight lines B, c represent the length of the given sides of the triangle required, and a the given angle included between them (Fig. 34). Draw any straight line, XY, of indefinite length, and at any point, D, in x Y, make the angle Y DE equal to the given angle A. Along DY set off D F, equal to c

and along D E set off D G, equal to B. Join GF; the triangle G D F answers the requirements set forth in the data, as does also the triangle K D H, obtained by setting off D H along DY equal to B, and D K along D E equal to c.

The triangles G D F, K D H are symmetrical and equal in every respect; but if the position of the given angle had been required to be opposite to one of the given sides, instead of being included between them, a very different result would have been obtained.

B

C

We will suppose, firstly, that it is required to place the angle opposite the shorter of the two given sides. At the point L in the straight line of indefinite length, x Y, make the angle X L M equal to the given angle A, and as this angle is to be opposite to the shorter side, set off along L X the straight line L N, equal to c; and from N as a centre, with a radius equal to B, describe the arc o P, cutting the straight line L M in the points 0, P. Join O N and P N. Either of the triangles ON L, PNL, will satisfy the requirements of the data, for in the triangle ONL the sides o N, N L are equal to в and c respectively, while the angle OLN is opposite to the shorter side oN; and in the triangle PNL, the sides PN, NL are equal to B and C respectively, while the angle PLN is opposite to the shorter side PN.

H F

N

Fig. 34.

If it be required to place the angle opposite to the longer of the two given sides, it is manifest that we must set off L Q along LI equal to B; and from Q as centre, with a radius equal to c, describe an arc cutting the straight line L M in R. By joining EQ, we get a triangle, R Q L, that satisfies the requirements of the data, the sides L Q, QR being equal to в and c respectively, and the angle QL R, which is equal to the angle A, opposite to the longer side R Q.

The learner may make an endless variety of practical exercises on this problem, by varying the length of the given sides and the opening of the given angle. Practice of this kind will be found to ensure neatness and accuracy in geometrical or mechanical drawing, and will tend to render the draughtsman skilful in the use of his compasses and parallel ruler.

PROBLEM XXVI.-To draw a triangle of which one side and two of the angles are given.

Let A represent the length of the given side of the required triangle, and B and c the given angles, and first let both of the

L

E H

K

Fig. 35.

given angles be adjacent to the given side, or in other words, let them be at its opposite extremities, on the same side of it.

Draw any straight line, X Y, of indefinite length, and in it take DE equal to A. At the point D make the angle E D F equal to the angle B, and at the point E make the angle D E F equal to c. Let the sides D F, EF meet in the point F; the triangle F D E satisfies the requirements of the data; as will also the triangle GDE, constructed by making the angle GDE equal to C, and the angle GED equal to B.

Next, let one of the given angles be opposite to the given side, as, for example, when the angle equal to the larger angle B is required to be in this position. Take HK, in the straight line of indefinite length, x Y, and at the point н make the angle KHL equal to the angle c. Through K draw KM parallel to HL, and at the point K in the straight line м K make the angle MKN equal to the angle B, and let the straight line K N meet the straight line H L in N. The triangle NHK has the angle KH N equal to c, and the angle H N K equal to B (for it is equal to its alternate angle N K M, which was made equal to E), and the larger angle HNK is opposite to the side HK, which is equal

[blocks in formation]

altitude, and one of its angles adjacent to the given side, are given.

Let A represent the length of the given side of the required triangle, B its altitude, and c the given angle. Draw any straight line, X Y, of indefinite length, and, by Problem X. (page 192), draw the straight line D E, also of indefinite length, parallel to it, at a distance from it equal to B. Set off FG in X Y equal to A, and at the point F in the straight line G F make the angle G F H equal to the given angle c. Let F H meet DE in H. Join G H. The triangle F G H answers the requirements of the data, for it has a side FG equal to A, an angle GF H equal to c, and it is of the altitude H K, which is equal to the given altitude B. A triangle equal to the triangle G F H in every respect, and symmetrical with it, may be obtained by making an angle at G, in the straight line F G, equal to c, and following the same process of construction.

If the given angle be an obtuse angle, as c, the line which represents the altitude of the triangle required will fall on a point in x Y without the line which is set off upon it equal to the given side. If it be an acute angle, as the angle z, the line representing the altitude of the triangle may fall between the extremities of the line set off equal to the given side, as NO in the triangle N L M, which is drawn having the side L M equal to A, and the angle M L N equal to the given angle z; but whether this be the case or not depends entirely on the size of the angle and the relative proportions of the altitude and given side.

In the construction of right-angled triangles, as one angle is always necessarily known, less data are required than in the construction of obtuse-angled and acute-angled triangles; thus any right-angled triangle may be constructed if we know

1. The length of either of the sides containing the right angle (as A B and A C in Fig. 37).

2. The length of either of the sides containing the right angle, and the side which subtends the right angle (as ▲ B and B C, or AC and B C in Fig. 37).

3. The side which subtends the right angle, and the perpendicular let fall on it from the right angle (as AD and в C in Fig. 37).

Thus, if the sides that contain the right angle be equal to 1 and R, draw at right angles to each other A B and A c, and make A B equal to P, and AC equal to R, and join BC: ABO will be the triangle required.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

death

E

Fig. 37.

If the side which subtends there right angle be given equal to s, and the perpendicular let fall on it from the right angle equal to Q, draw B C equal to s, bisect it in E, and draw the semicircle B A C as before; through E draw EF perpendicular to в C, and along it set off E G equal to Q. Through & draw GA parallel to B C, cutting the circumference in A, and from A draw A B, AC, to the points B and C. altitude, A D, of the triangle A B C is equal to Q.

The

LESSONS IN GERMAN.-XIX.

SECTION XXXV.—PECULIARITIES IN VERBS, ETC.(continued).

FOR "any" and "some," as generally used before a noun, the German has no corresponding word, as:- -Haben Sie Brod? have you some bread? Haben Sie Seite? have you any silk? Ich habe Bücher, I have some books.

[ocr errors]

some

1. The indefinite adjective pronoun is expressed in German by welcher, welche, welches, as :-Haben Sie Wasser? Ich habe welches; I have "some." For the genitive of welcher-which, however, is usually left out-we employ the personal pronoun preceded by "of," as:-Haben Sie viel Wasser? have you much water? Ich habe (dessen) viel, I have much of it (literally, I have of it much). Haben Sie viel Hüte? have you many hats? Ich habe (deren) viele, I have many of them (I have of them many). From these examples it will be seen that the partitive word in German is placed after the pronoun, while in English it is placed before it. In this use it is declined like the relative welcher. DECLENSION OF welcher AS A PARTITIVE. Singular.

Masculine. Feminine.

Plural of all genders. welche, who.

Neuter.

[blocks in formation]

deren, whose.

[blocks in formation]

D. Welchem

A. Welchen,

welche, welches,

welchen, to whom. welche, whom.

2. Genug like "enough," is indeclinable, and generally follows its noun, or stands independently. Viel and wenig are frequently used without declension. (§ 53.)

3. Das, as also ties (ties being a contraction of the neuter tiefes) is frequently used in referring to nouns of both numbers and all genders, as :-Wer ist das? who is that? Dies ist mein Freund, This is my friend. Das sind Franzosen, those are Frenchmen. Das and dies, however, never precede and qualify a noun, except of the neuter gender. (§ 134. 1.)

4. G6, like its English equivalent, may refer to nouns of both numbers and all genders, as :-Es ist mein Freund, it is my friend. When c8 refers to a noun in the plural, the verb must agree in number with the noun, while in English it agrees with the pronoun, as:- —Es sind die Russen, die Ungarn überwunden haben, it is (German, fint) the Russians who have overpowered (conquered) Hungary. (§ 57. 8.)

5. G sometimes answers to our word "so' "" or one," as :Er ist gesund, oder scheint es zu sein, he is healthy, or appears so to be. Er ist Soltat, aber ich bin es nicht, he is (a) soldier, but I am not one. Gs is likewise rendered by "there" (Sect. XXXVI. 3), as-Es stand in alten Zeiten ein Schloß so hoch und hehr (Uhland), there stood in ancient times a castle so high and lofty. Es war ein König in Thule (Goethe), there was a king in Thule. (§ 57. 8.)

6. Es is often so used as to have no equivalent in English, as :—G8 reden und träumen die Menschen viel von bessern künftigen Tagen (Schiller), men talk and dream much of better future days. Ich weiß es, daß er da war, I know (it) that he was there. Es leben die Freiheitskämpfer, (long) live the champions of liberty. lebe die Republik, (long) live the republic.

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

He has given me (some) apples

and pears.

Will you have (some) bread or (some) cake?

Have you (some, any) fine black cloth ?

Has he money enough, or has he none?

He has enough (of it).

Has she books enough?

Sie hat (deren) genugʻ, aber zu wenig She has enough of them, but
Zeit, dieselben zu lesen.
too little time to read them.
Wissen Sie, wer das ist?
Do you know who that is?

Es ist mein Vater, meine Mutter, It is my father, my mother, my
mein Kind.
child.
EXERCISE 66.

1. Wie alt ist dieser Mann? 2. Er ist nicht sehr alt. 3. Hat er viel Geld? 4. Ja, und er hat auch viele Freunde und viele Feinte. 5. Welcher 6. Einer von den Knabe hat viel (R. 2, above) Aepfel und Birnen? Söhnen des Bauern hat viel Aepfel, der andere viel Birnen. 7. Der eine hat viel Glück, der andere hat nur Gram und Kummer. 8. Wie viel Brod hat der Bäcker? 9. Er hat sehr viel Brod, aber nur wenig Mehl. 10. Dieser Mann hat wenig Geld, aber viel Verstand. 11. Diese Stiefel find mir viel zu groß, und die Schuhe sind meinem Bruder ein wenig zu fur. 12. Wird Ihr Oheim viel Pulver kaufen? 13. Er wird nur wenig faufen, denn er hat zu wenig Geld. 14. Wer ist das? 15. Es ist ein alter Freund des Arztes. 16. Wer hat gutes Wasser? 17. Der Matrose hat welches. 18. Werde ich morgen die Bücher bekommen? 19. Sie sollen schon heute welche haben. 20. Hat der Bauer viel Weizen? 21. Er hat dessen nicht viel. 22. Hat der Schmied viel Stahl? 23. Er hat (dessen) viel. 24. Hat er viel Nägel? 25. Er hat (deren) viel. 26. Wer hat Milch? 27. Der Bauer hat welche. 28. Hat er (deren) sehr viel? 29. Er hat genug.

EXERCISE 67.

1. We must be cautious in the choice [vorsichtig in der Wahl] of him to whom we confide important concerns [wichtige Angelegen

heiten anvertrauen]. 2. They that (who) speak evil [übel] of others are often worse [schlimmer] than those whose failings they lay open [bloßftellen]. 3. He professed [bekannte] that religion whose pride and too little diligence. origin is divine [Ursprung göttlich ist]. 4. This boy has too much 5. That is the man through whose help he was saved. 6. Which pleased you the most? This or that? Neither. 7. Can those be loved whose vices are detested by everybody [Jetermann]? 8. How many hats has that boy? 9. He has three of them. 10. Who sells here good bread? 11. Our baker sells very good bread.

SECTION XXXVI.-IMPERSONAL VERBS. Impersonal verbs are confined to the third person singular, and have as their subject or nominative only the pronoun es, as :- -Es regnet, it rains. Es donnert, it thunders. Es blist, it lightens. (§ 81. 1.)

1. Besides those verbs that are merely impersonal, others may be thus employed, as:- -Es scheint, daß er frank ist, it appears that he is sick. Es schmerzt mich, das zu hören, it pains me to hear that, etc. 2. Many verbs, however, that in German are used impersonally have, in this respect, no verbs of the same kind in English to correspond, as :- -Es gelingt mir, I succeed (it succeeds to me), etc.

3. Geben, "to give," is often, with its proper case (the accusative), employed to denote existence in a manner general and indefinite, and is translated like sein, "to be," as :-Gs giebt (not es sind) Leute, die alle Tage auf den Markt gehen, there are (i.e., there exist) people who go to the market every day. Es sind heute (not es giebt) viele Leute auf dem Markte, there are many people to-day at the market. Es giebt keine Rosen ohne Dornen, there are (there exist) no roses without thorns. Es sind (not es giebt) viele Kinder in dieser Schule, there are many children in this school. Ge giebt (there exist) noch Riesen in der Welt, there are still giants in the world.

VOCABULARY.

Ebel, noble, magna- | Rückzug, m. return.

nimous.

Fis, n. ice.

Armee', f. army.
Aufgang, m. rising,
ascent.
Bis, until, up to. Erklären, to explain.
Bligen, to lighten. Feindlich, hostile.
Brechen, to break. Fürchten, to fear.
Ding, n. thing, af- Georg', m. George.
fair.
Hageln, to hail.
Donnern, to thunder. Leicht, easy, easily.
Reißent, ravenous.
RÉSUMÉ OF EXAMPLES.

Es wird immer Leute geben, die sich
gegen die hellsten Wahrheiten
empō'ren, wie viele giebt es teren
heut zu Tage nicht!

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

1. Es giebt dieses Jahr sehr viel Obst. 2. Es ist heute sehr schönes Wetter. 3. Es giebt mehr arme, als reiche Leute. 4. Es ist ein wahres Vergnügen, diesen Morgen spazieren zu gehen. 5. Giebt es in Deutschland auch reißende Thiere? 6. Es giebt noch viele Wolfe in ten Gebirgen. 7. Die feindlich Armee ist auf ihrem Rückzuge. 8. Giebt es etwas Schöneres, als den Aufgang der Sonne? 9. Es hat den ganzen Tag geschneit. 10. Gehen Sie diesen Nachmittag mit mir auf's Gis? 11. Nein, es thaut schon, und das Eis kann leicht brechen. 12. Wenn es tagt, werde ich Sie zu einem Spaziergang abholen. 13. Es schneit heute den ganzen Tag. 14. Regnet es schon? 15. Nein, aber es wird bald anfangen zu regnen. 16. Wie lange hat es geregnet? 17. Es hat bis vier Uhr geregnet. 18. Donnert es? 19. Ja, es donnert und blist, und ich fürchte, daß es auch hageln wird. 20. Wo waren Sie, während es schneite? 21. Ich suchte in der Capelle des St. Georg Zuflucht, denn es schneite nicht nur, sondern es stürmte und hagelte auch. 22. 3ch fage Ihnen nur das, was (Sect. XXI. 1) ich gehört habe.

EXERCISE 69.

1. It seemed this morning as if it [als ob es] would rain, but now the weather begins to be fine. 2. It happened [es ereignete fich] that it rained just as the battle commenced, and it thundered and hailed throughout the whole day. 3. It has rained, hailed, snowed, and frozen this winter. 4. As long as it rains I cannot depart. 5. It appears that there are many strangers in this hotel. 6. There are (exist) many things which we cannot explain. 7. As soon as it becomes day, I shall call upon you to go and see the rising of the sun. 8. Exists there anything more noble than to forgive an enemy? 9. Do you intend to go tomorrow with me upon the ice? 10. No, I fear that it thaws already, and it would be dangerous to venture it [gefährlich sein, es zu wagen]. 11. As soon as the wind abates it will rain. 12. In every community there exist more blockheads than villains, and more ignorant men than learned.

HISTORIC SKETCHES.-X.

THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS, OR RED CROSS KNIGHTS. On the borders of the debateable land where the jurisdictions of the Queen and of the Lord Mayor of London conflict and conjoin, is a stately monument (not Temple Bar), rich in historic interest, and in memories of bygone men. Hidden away under the block of buildings which form the south side of Fleet Street, one does not notice, without seeking for them, the colleges of the Inner and Middle Temple, which constitute the monument alluded to. It is from the river, from Waterloo or Blackfriars Bridge, or better still from the Surrey shore, that one sees

"Those bricky towers,

The which on Thames' broad, aged back do ride,
Where now the studious lawyers have their bowers,
There whilome wont the Templar knights to bide,
Till they decayed through pride."

Within those "bricky towers" do now study and work the apprentices, barristers, and serjeants of the law who are members of the two societies of the Temple; there are collected some of the brightest minds which the Universities of the kingdom have trained, some of the wittiest heads that ever Nature looked upon and smiled, some of the most intellectual, polished, and

learned men that are owned by the three kingdoms. They call themselves Templars, they worship in common in the Temple Church, and they preserve the devices and traditions of an order of knights whose name they bear, and in whose seats they sit. How is this? Was it always so? Certainly not. The lines of Edmund Spenser, quoted above, testify as much, and their witness, as we shall see in the course of this sketch, is exactly even with the truth. Let us inquire somewhat into the history of these colleges of law, and see how they came to be colleges at all; let us glean something out of the historic memories which cling around them, and follow the path pointed out by the finger of Time till it leads us to the epoch when the lawyers dwelt not in the Temple, but armed Christianity stalled her horse and sharpened her sword there.

There was a cry in Christendom that the heathen had entered into the inheritance of God, and had defiled His holy places. Stories the most pitiable were told of what the infidels had done to those who went up to Jerusalem to worship; how that once more the wicked had given the dead bodies of God's servants to be meat for the fowls of the air, and the flesh of His saints to the beasts of the land. A thrill of horror went through men as they listened to the accounts, most likely exaggerated, which were repeated from mouth to mouth, "and the sensation vibrated to the heart of Europe." Swiftly there followed upon this a determination to be up and doing, a stern sentiment founded on religion and soldierly anger, prompting men to exact satisfaction at the risk of their lives for the blood of Christ's children which had been shed. This was in the year 1090. The Saracens (a people often confounded with Turks, from whom they were altogether dissimilar), from Arabia, had conquered Palestine in the year of our Lord 637, driving out the authority of the declining Greek emperors, and establishing the religion and the state system of Mahomet. The Caliphs, or chiefs of the Saracens, had so far respected the religion and social habits of the conquered Christians, that they had allowed them to retain about one-fourth of the city of Jerusalem, besides numerous places in the provinces. Among other things which they were permitted to keep was the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which the Empress Helena, mother of the first Christian Emperor, Constantine, had built over the spot where the Saviour was supposed to have been buried. The Christians experienced at the hands of the Saracens the greatest moderation, though the character and principles of the two religions were essentially different, and in some particulars diametrically opposed. Pilgrims flocked in hundreds and thousands from all parts of Europe, to see the places which had been honoured by the real presence of their Lord, to utter their prayers in the very places where He had prayed, to abase themselves on the very scene of His sufferings, and to adore Him in Jerusalem, "the place where God ought to be worshipped." Though their numbers must have proved inconvenient, one would think, to the Mussulman authorities, and though their enthusiasm was not unlikely to have produced breaches of the peace, we do not hear of their having been interfered with. Occasionally, perhaps, there was a disturbance, but that in all probability was due rather to the imprudence of the Christians than to the tyranny of the Caliph so the pilgrimages went on, and were accounted by the rel gious system of the day for righteousness in those who performed them.

But a change came. In the year 1065, the year before the conquest of England by the Normans, Palestine was wrested from the Saracens by the Turcoman troops, whom they had hired, in the decline of their own vigour, to defend them. The power of the Arabian Caliphs was over; that of the Turkish Sultans or Emirs had taken its place. A very different sort of power the Christians found it. Though professing the same creed as the Saracens, the Turks had none of their moderation. Brutality coupled with fanaticism-these were the principles on which the new rulers proceeded to govern. Forthwith came a wail of misery from the Holy Land; pilgrims were ill-treated, insulted, and put to death. Women (it was customary even for women to go) were outraged; taxes the most offensive were exacted from those pilgrims who had money, and those who had none were driven back with the sword, whilst great numbers perished through the instrumentality of the Turks. A golden fee was required of every one before he could be admitted to the Holy Sepulchre. The Patriarch of Jerusalem was dragged across his church by the hair of his head, and flung inte

a dungeon, in order that he might be induced to procure the large ransom demanded of him. These and other tales came to Europe, brought by the wayworn and pitiable-looking objects who returned from their pilgrimage with life, and the effect of them was to arouse in the minds of all men the feelings of indignation and pity which have been already referred to-feelings akin to those, though far more ecstatic, which were felt in England when the story of the Indian mutiny came over, or, in a less degree, which were felt when the refusal of Abyssinian Theodore to give up his captives was made known.

Men's minds were ripe for action. They only wanted, as they ever want, some master-mind to take the lead. That mastermind was found in Peter the Hermit, who marched barefoot through Europe, preaching up a holy war, and exhorting Christians not to suffer infidels to crucify the Lord afresh in the persons of His children, and to put Him to an open shame. Pope Urban II. backed the hermit with all his influence, and Christendom roused as one man. "It is the will of God! it is the will of God!" the people shouted on the plains of Auvergne, when Peter stirred up many thousands of them with the burning wordsof his eloquence. A vast mob, numbering over 500,000, possessed with plenty of enthusiasm, but little military knowledge, marched forthwith under the guidance of Peter the Hermit and Walter the Moneyless; but they melted like snow under the hardships of the journey and by reason of the divi sions which sprang up among them. Before they reached Constantinople, then the capital of the Christian Greek Empire (Constantinople was not taken by the Turks under Mahomet II. till 1453), they became a mere rabble, and went no farther. Other hordes, under military leaders, and in numbers 700,000 strong, marched to the Crusades notwithstanding. Princes,

dually, as zeal grew faint, these succours became less, and there was considerable difficulty experienced by the Kings of Jerusalem in protecting their subjects, let alone visitors. It should be mentioned that the first and most renowned of the Christian Kings of Jerusalem was Godfrey de Bouillon, who mortgaged his Duchy of Bouillon in the Ardennes in 1095 to the Bishop of Liege, to raise the funds necessary to enable him to take part in the first Crusade. Following in the track of Peter the Hermit, he reached Palestine after encountering and surmounting difficulties of no ordinary nature; and having been joined by the forces that marched under Robert of Normandy, Bohemond of Tarentum, and other leaders, he was unanimously elected to the supreme command of the Christian hosts in the Holy Land. After a long siege Antioch yielded to the repeated attacks of the Crusaders in 1098, and about a year after Jerusalem was taken by assault, July 15, 1099. The guardianship of the Holy City was vested in Godfrey de Bouillon, who received the title of King of Jerusalem.

He did not long enjoy his sovereignty, for in a year and three days after the capture of Jerusalem, he died suddenly, having been, it is supposed, poisoned by the Emir of Cæsarea. Pilgrims continued to journey to the Holy City, receiving as their reward the assurance from the priests of absolution even from the most deadly sins. And certainly they deserved something substantial, for at this time they had not only to bear the enor mous expense which a pilgrimage, say from Northampton to the East, cost in those days, but they had to incur, in addition to this, to say nothing of the risks of climate, etc., the certain hostility of deadly foes, well acquainted with the country, and whose business in life it was to go about seeking what Christians they might devour. The journey from the coast to Jerusalem, no matter at what port the pilNumbers of travellers were cut off even in sight of the Holy City, and the King of the place was not able to succour them. Afflicted beyond measure at the sight of so much wrong, anxious to redress, as far as in them lay, the injuries suffered by the pilgrims, nine knights bound themselves by a solemn vow to devote themselves wholly and unreservedly to the sacred duty of shielding the pilgrims and of punishing their oppressors. A brotherhood of arms was formed under the most solemn circumstances, and vows were taken by the nine in the presence of the Patriarch, to the effect that they would devote themselves to this work; that they would be chaste, poor, and obedient, and do all to the glory of God. They called themselves The poor Fellowsoldiers of Jesus Christ.

[graphic]

ARMS AND COSTUME OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS.

barons, knights, esquires, yeomen, priests, hastened to enrol | grims disembarked, was full of peril. themselves under the banner of the Cross, and streamed eastward, possessed with the one idea of rescuing the Holy Land from the clutches of infidels, happy if only they might tread the land which had been trod by holiest feet. There were many of these crusades, the most notable being that led by Richard the Lion-hearted in the year 1190.

It is not surprising that such desperate enthusiasm should have succeeded in doing somewhat. Jerusalem was taken by the Crusaders. The Mussulmans were driven to the mountains, and a Latin kingdom, based upon the feudal principle (for an account of this principle see "Historic Sketches," I., p. 9), was established in their place.

The dangers surrounding this kingdom were great and perennial. The Turks, commingled now with their Saracen. brethren in faith, were ever on the watch to inflict injury on the invaders, and to play the part of the enemy who sowed the tares, if perchance at any time the Christians slept. For a while the conquerors reinforced by numerous additions from home, held their wwn, and kept up their communications with the sea; but gra

They acted as the police of the Latin King in the matter of Turks, infidels, and heretics; and the idea on which the brotherhood was founded, coupled with the reputation their prowess soon acquired, made the service of the Poor Fellow-soldiers very popular in Europe. A humorous writer has thus analysed the motives which induced men to go to the Crusades,

« AnteriorContinuar »