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6. Ex-as-pe-ra-ted, pret. provoked, enraged, aggravated. Cle"-men-cy, s. tenderness, mercy, humility.

8. Plead'-ed, pret. spoken for, alleged in favour.

9. Dis-in-ter-est-ed, pret. not influenced by any views of private advantage; superior to any selfish motives.

1. GENEROSITY is a nobleness of mind, that makes a person incapable of any unworthy action. 2. It is a magnanimity of soul, that raises him above all self-interest and selfishness. 3. The following anecdote fully describes what is generosity, and in what it does consist.

4. In the reign of Edward the Third, Calais was besieged by the English. 5. The inhabitants defended themselves with great bravery; and famine alone obliged them, at last, to yield. 6. Edward, exasperated by their long resistance, seemed awhile forgetful of his usual clemency; when six of the principal citizens appeared before him. 7. They earnestly solicited for death; entreated him to accept of them as victims; and to be merciful to their fellow citizens. 8. Edward, moved by the generous conduct of these great men, granted life to them, and spared the citizens they so nobly pleaded for. 9. Here you will observe, that those men not only possessed generous minds, but minds disinterested; and Edward would have greatly departed from his usual character, if he had not sparedthem.

10. The siege of Calais happened in the year 1346.

CHAP. VI.

On Truth.

1. At-tri-bute, s. one of the several qualities of the divine nature. Infinite goodness, mercy, power, justice, &c. are called attributes of God.

Di-vi"-ni-ty, s. God, the supreme Being, the creator and preserver of all things.

3. Al-le-go-ry, s. a fabulous or figurative way of speaking or writing, made use of by those who say one thing and mean another, wherein the literal meaning is not to be regarded, but the design, &c.

3. Realm, s. a kingdom. Bound'-ed, pret. limited.

In-di-vi"-du-al-ly ad. singly. Without any distinction or difference.

15. Pen'-sive, a. thoughtful.

21. Ma"-jes-ty, s. the title given to kings and queens. Greatness, dignity.

22. Roy-al-ty, s. sovereign power, kingship.

25. Di'-a-dem, s. a crown, wreath, or some mark of royalty.

Re'-gal, a. royal, kingly.

33. In-sig-ni"-fi-cant, a. unimportant, trifling.

34. In-es-ti-ma-ble, a. of great value, above all price.

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1. TRUTH is a most noble quality. the attributes of the Divinity. It renders a person equitable, just, and sincere. 2. On earth it forms the strongest bond of union in society; and we are certain that it is beloved, and acceptable in heaven. 3. The following Allegory is a very good illustration of truth and falsehood.

AN ALLEGORY.

4. Cosmander reigned over a very small territory in Asia Minor.* 5. His realm being much bounded, his subjects were almost individually within his knowledge. 6. The city where the king kept his court, was, like most other great cities, the seat of

* This country is now called Natolia.

pleasure and of luxury. 7. The principal families followed the example of the court; and passed their days in amusement and in gaiety.

8. Cosmander, as he took the air, one summer's morning, having prolonged his ride farther than usual from the town, met a female, whose singular appearance attracted his attention. 9. She was of a majestic figure; her countenance was fair and composed; her dress the most simple and modest imaginable, and entirely white. 10. Cosmander viewed her with admiration; and, curious to inquire her name, entered a cottage. 11. The poor cottager told him, that who she was, or where she came from, he knew not; but that she now resided constantly in that neighbourhood; and was beloved by every one.

12. He added, that all who came from the town stopped to look at her; and many, not knowing her name, called her the reverse of Falsehood, who was a female that lived in the town. 13. But, said the countryman, though these people pretend to admire her, they just gaze for a moment, then pass on, forgetful of the object that attracted their notice.

14. Cosmander returned to his palace. 15. For many days he continued pensive; his mind wholly occupied with the sweet fair one he had seen. 16. He compared her with Falsehood, who had before so greatly charmed him; and how far superior did he find her! 17. He meditated some excuse to converse with his new acquaintance. 18. At length one morning, he said to his courtiers, that he could not be easy while he remained ignorant of any one

of his subjects; and he commanded that this nameless female should be brought to court. 19. His orders were quickly obeyed. 20. She was brought before the king. 21. Though so modest, she appeared before majesty, undaunted, undismayed. 22. Neither did royalty awe nor grandeur abash her. 23. Cosmander inquired her birth-place; and why her name was not enrolled among those of his subjects. 24. She mildly replied, that though a visitant here, in heaven was her origin; that she loved mankind, and wished to dwell in the world; but that Falsehood constantly strove to overpower her and drive her away; that this made her fly from populous cities, and seek the shade of retirement. 25. The king, more charmed with her discourse than he had been even with her form, entreated that she would no more fly from him, but take her residence in his court; that she would receive from him a royal diadem, and share his regal honours. 26. But pomp and splendour had no charms for her. 27. She declined those offers. 28. In a court, she said, she could not live without difficulty; peaceful scenes alone were her delight. 29. The king alternately threatened, entreated; but it was all in vain. 30. At last, too much enraptured to part from her, he offered to forsake his crown to live with her in retirement. 31. This proposal she accepted ;—and Cosmander found himself most amply rewarded for what he relinquished.

32. It was Truth he wedded. His happiness was now confirmed and unbounded. 33. All human grandeur faded, and became insignificant in

his eyes. 34. He had gained a treasure of inestimable value; a treasure that conducted him in the paths of goodness, on earth: and at death, was his guide to heaven.

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2. Mi"-ti-gate, v. to soften, to make less.

4. Plague, s. a disease which communicates from one person to another.

Il-lus-tra-ti-on, s. an explanation; the act of rendering a difficult word or passage easy to be understood.

5. May'-or, s. the chief magistrate of a city or town. In London and York, the title of Lord is prefixed.

Ma"-gis-trate, s. a person publicly invested with the authority and government of others.

7. So-li"-cit-ed, pret. implored, entreated, obtained.

1. PHILANTHROPY is the love of mankind in general. 2. It strives to mitigate and remove the sufferings of all. 3. It drives away the passion of self-love, and makes a person think no exertion too great to do good to his fellow-creatures. 4. The following tale of the celebrated Sir JOHN LAWRENCE, written in the journal of the great plague in London, in the year 1665, is an illustration of "Philanthrophy.”

5. In the time of the plague above-mentioned, Sir John Lawrence was the then Lord Mayor of London, who continued the whole time in the city; heard complaints, and redressed them, enforced the wisest regulations then known, and saw them executed. 6. The day after the disease was known with certainty to be the plague, above forty-thou

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