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CHARACTER OF QUEEN ELIZABETH.

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difficult circumstances; and none ever conducted the 1 government with such 2 uniform success and felicity. Though unacquainted with the practice of tolerationthe true secret of managing religious factions-she preserved her people, by her superior prudence, from those confusions in which theological controversy had involved all the neighbouring nations; and though her enemies were the most powerful princes of Europe, the most active, the most enterprising, the least scrupulous, she was able by her vigour to make deep impressions on their states; her own greatness meanwhile remained untouched and unimpaired.

The wise ministers and brave warriors who flourished under her reign, share the praise of her7 success; but instead of lessening the applause due to her, they make great addition to it.8 They owed, all of them, their advancement to her choice; they were supported by her constancy, and with 10 all their abilities, they were never able to acquire any undue ascendant 11 over her. In her family, in her court, in her kingdom, she remained equally mistress: the force of the tender passions was great over her, but the force of her mind was still superior; and the combat which her victory visibly cost her, serves only to display the firmness of her resolution, and the loftiness of her ambitious sentiments.

The fame of this princess, though it has surmounted the prejudices both of faction and bigotry, yet lies still 12

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1 Ever conducted the, n'a jamais tenu les rênes du-2 see note 3, p. 51-3 unacquainted with, étrangère à of managing, pour maîtriser-5 from those confusions, du désordre she was able, etc. ......unimpaired, elle réussit par sa vigueur à faire sentir profondément son influence dans leurs états, tandis que sa propre grandeur demeura respectée et intacte - the praise of her, le mérite de ses― 8 the applause, etc......to it, les éloges qui lui sont dûs, ils ne font que les rehausser-9 all of them, tous-10 with, malgré—" any undue ascendant, un ascendant illégitime-12 yet lies still, est cependant restée.

exposed to another prejudice, which is more endurable, because more natural, and which, according to the different views in which we survey her, is capable 3 either of exalting beyond measure or diminishing the lustre of her character. This prejudice is founded on the consideration of her sex. When we contemplate her as a 5 woman, we are apt to be struck with the highest admiration of her great qualities and extensive capacity; but are also apt to require some more softness of disposition, some greater lenity of temper, some of those amiable weaknesses by which her sex is distinguished. But the true method of estimating her merit is to lay aside all these considerations, and consider her merely as a rational being placed in authority, and entrusted with 10 the government of mankind. We may find it difficult to reconcile our fancy to her as a wife; 12 but her qualities as a sovereign, though with some considerable exceptions,1s are the object of undisputed 14 applause and approbation.

HUME, "History of England."

FIRE ON BOARD SHIP.15

The Skimmer paused, for at 16 that moment a fierce

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1 "Because it is more" the different views in which we survey her, les différents points de vue sous lesquels nous l'envisageons3 capable, susceptible—1 either, to be left out-5 a, to be left out— 6 with, de-7 of, pour-8 some more softness, etc.......temper, un peu plus d'affabilité, de douceur de caractère-9 by which her sex is distinguished, qui distinguent son sexe-1 placed in authority, and entrusted with, investi de l'autorité, et chargé de-11 of mankind, des hommes-12 we may find, etc.......as a wife, il se peut que notre imagination ait de la peine à se la représenter comme épouse— though with some considerable exceptions, à part toutefois quelques points importants-14 undisputed, universels.

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15 On board ship, à bord d'un navire—16 at, en.

FIRE ON BOARD SHIP.

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light glared upon the ocean, the ship, and all in it.1 The two seamen gazed at each other 2 in silence, and both recoiled, as men recede before an unexpected and fearful attack. But a bright and wavering light, which rose out of the forward hatch of the vessel, explained all. At the same moment, the deep stillness which, since the bustle of making sail had ceased, pervaded the ship, was broken by the appalling cry of "Fire !" 5

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The alarm which brings the blood in the swiftest current to a seaman's heart7 was now heard 8 in the depths of the vessel. The smothered sounds below, the advancing uproar, and the rush on 10 deck with the awful summons in the open air,11 succeeded each other 12 with the rapidity of lightning. A dozen voices repeated 13 the word, the "grenade!" proclaiming in a breath both 14 the danger and the cause. But an instant before, the swelling canvass, the dusky spars, and the faint lines of the cordage, were only to be traced by the glimmering light 15 of the stars, and now the whole hamper of the ship was the more conspicuous from the obscure background against which it was drawn in distinct lines.16 The sight 17 was fearfully beautiful: beautiful, for it showed the symmetry and fine outlines of the vessel's

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1 All in it, tout ce qu'il portait-2 gazed at each other, se regardèrent-3 out of the forward hatch of the vessel, de l'écoutille d'avant-4 which since, etc......the ship, qui après le fracas avec lequel on avait mis toutes les voiles dehors, avait régné sur le navire by the appalling cry of "fire!" par l'effroyable cri: au feu!-6 the alarm, ce cri d'alarme-7 which brings, etc......heart, qui fait refluer le sang le plus rapidement au cœur d'un marin— 8 was now heard, se fait entendre-9 advancing, qui s'élève—10 rush on, pas précipités de l'équipage qui s'élance sur le 11 with the, etc. ......air, et le terrible commandement en plein air-12 succeeded each other, se succèdent-13 "repeat"-14 in a breath both, du même souffle-15 were only, etc......light, ne s'apercevaient qu'à la faible lueur-16 the whole, etc......lines, la masse entière du vaisseau n'était que plus visible, à cause du fond obscur sur lequel il se détachait distinctement-17 sight, spectacle.

rig, resembling the effect of a group of statuary seen by torch-light; and fearful, since the dark void beyond seemed to declare their isolated and helpless state.” 2

There was one breathless, eloquent moment, in which all were seen gazing at the grand spectacle in mute awe,3 and then a voice rose, clear, distinct, and commanding,5 above the sullen sound of the torrent of fire which was roaring among the avenues of the ship.

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"Call all hands to extinguish fire! Gentlemen, to your stations. Be cool, men; and be silent!"

J. F. COOPER, "The Waterwitch."

THE ARAB AT HOME.

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The best definition of an Arab which I can give, is— a philosophizing sinner. His fatalism gives him a calm and equable temperament under all circumstances, and God wills it !" or " God is merciful!" is the solace for every misfortune. But this same carelessness to the usual accidents of life extends also to his speech and his dealings 10 with other men. I will not say that an Arab never speaks 11 truth: on the contrary, he always does,12 if he happens to 13 remember it, and there is no object to be gained by 14 suppressing it; but rather than

1 By torch-light, à la lueur des torches- to declare, etc......state, proclamer leur isolement et leur abandon-3 there was, etc......awe, il y eut un moment de silence éloquent, durant lequel tous furent vus contemplant ce spectacle solennel avec un muet effroi- and then, puis-5 commanding, impérieuse-6 call all hands to, que toutes les mains travaillent à-7 men, marins.

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8 Philosophizing, philosophe-" "in"-10 to his speech and his dealings, à sa manière de parler et d'agir-1" says 12 see note ", p. 17 13 if he happens to, s'il lui arrive de-14 and there is no object to be gained by, et qu'il (see note ", p. 20) n'ait pas d'intérêt à.

THE ARAB AT HOME.

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trouble himself to answer correctly a question which requires some thought, he tells you whatever comes uppermost in his mind, though certain to be detected the next minute. He is like a salesman who, if he does not happen to have the article you want, offers you something else, rather than let you go away emptyhanded. In regard to his dealings, what Sir Gardiner Wilkinson says of Egypt, that "nobody parts with money without an effort to defraud," is equally true of Nubia and Soudân. The people do not steal outright;8 but they have a thousand ways of doing it in an indirect and civilized manner, and they are perfect masters of9 all those petty arts of fraud which thrive so greenly in the great commercial cities of Christendom. With these slight drawbacks,10 there is much to like in the Arabs, and they are certainly the most patient, assiduous, and good-humoured people 11 in the 12 world. If they fail in cheating you,13 they respect you the more,14 and they are so attentive to you, so ready to take their mood from yours15 -to laugh when you are cheerful, and be silent when you are grave—so light-hearted in the performance of severe duties, that if you commence your acquaintance by despising,16 you finish by cordially liking them. BAYARD TAYLOR,

"Life and Landscapes from Egypt, etc."

1 Rather than trouble himself to, plutôt que de se donner la peine de-2" to a "-3 thought, réflexion- whatever, etc......mind, tout ce qui lui vient d'abord à l'esprit-5 the next minute, un instant après- if he does not happen to have, s'il se trouve ne pas avoir7 in regard to his dealings, quant à sa manière de traiter les affaires - the people do not steal outright, les gens ne volent pas dans le sens direct et rigoureux du mot-9 they are perfect masters of, ils sont passés maîtres dans-10 with these slight drawbacks, à part ces défauts-11 they are.... .the most......people, ce sont......les gens les plus......12 in the, du—13 if they fail in cheating you, s'ils ne réussissent pas à vous attraper-14 they respect you the more, ils ne vous en respectent que plus-15 to take their mood from yours, à régler leur humeur sur la vôtre-16 by despising, par les mépriser.

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