Gazing on its pale silvery beam
So softly shining, I dream a dream
Of better, brighter, happier years,
Untinged by sorrow, unstain'd by tears!

Some fresh oasis, in years to come,

Where a wounded spirit may find its home!
Some fair isle, 'midst the desert sea

Of drearisome dull mortality!

Where Bliss, like a cherub, sits alone

Gazing on beauties all its own;

Where the harassing cares of fate are o'er,

And the world's vain pleasures can tempt no more!

Mark! how its light thro' the dim sky streams,

Lighting all earth with its silvery beams!
Too purely bright, too chastely fair

For aught of evil to harbour there!

But hark to yon deep, long mournful chime!
It warns of the quick advance of Time;
It calls me hence, that gloomy knett;
Thou glimmering evening star! farewell!

L 5

THE Country called Greece was formerly divided into several states, or different sorts of people; each of which had laws and governors of its own, but they did not unite together as one people under one king.

Among these states Sparta and Athens were the most famous; the first on account of its laws, the other on account of its arts and sciences.

Lycurgus was the law-giver of Sparta; he contrived a number of very good laws. Lycurgus knew that it was proper to give children a good education; and as most of the people of Sparta spoiled their children by indulging them too much, he made it a law in Sparta, that parents should send their children to the public schools; and, that they might not be dainty, he made them all eat together at public tables, where they were ashamed to be so.

Athens was still more renowned for wisdom than Sparta. The Athenians, indeed, were quite a different kind of people from the Spartans; the latter were plain and hardy; the former were very fond of ingenious men, who could write clever books, speak well, paint fine pictures, make fine statues, and build magnificent houses and palaces.

Athens, as well as Sparta, had a famous law-giver; his name was Solon; a man greatly beloved by the whole city, on account of his wisdom and meekness of temper.

Solon made a number of good laws; and the people of Athens promised to obey them for a hundred years at least; upon which he resolved to travel into differ

ent countries, that he might improve himself in wisdom. When he was gone, the people of Athens fell into confusion. Solon, on his return, endeavoured to set them right; but a man named Pisistratus, by artful tricks, made himself master of the Athenians, and prevented Solon's laws from being obeyed. Solon, therefore, finding he could do them no more service, threw down his sword, and said, “I have done all the good in my power for my country and its laws; but as I am of no further use here, I will take my leave of Athens." He immediately departed, and ended his days, about two years afterwards, in the island of Cyprus.

When Darius, king of Persia, was raising his army to go against Greece, the Athenians stirred up the courage of their countrymen to withstand them; and a famous battle was fought by the Athenians with the Persians, under the command of Miltiades, called the battle of Marathon, in which they gained a signal victory. But the Athenians were afterwards very ungrateful to their brave general, and suffered him to perish in a prison, and would not even permit his body to be buried till his debts were paid.

The history of the Athenians is too long for us to relate; but we must just mention, that this state produced a number of the most famous warriors and

philosophers that ever lived: amongst the last, was Socrates, who was very ill-treated by his countrymen, and at last put to death.

Macedon was for a long time a little state in Greece, not famous for anything, excepting that its kings always governed according to the laws of the country, which were very good ones, and that their children were well educated. The sons of the kings were brought up under the best masters, in the love of knowledge of all things great and glorious upon earth; and the daughters were instructed in whatever could make them amiable. But the neighbouring states looked upon the Macedonians as a contemptible people, because they had not such great armies as many of them had.

At length, after most other kings had reigned over Macedon, one named Philip came to the throne, who determined that he would try to make his kingdom as famous as those of other countries.

For this purpose he soon had a great many men trained to be soldiers, and sent them to fight with different people who lived near Macedon-these they soon subdued. Philip then contrived to make the other states of Greece quarrel; and when they were quite tired with fighting one another, he made them all submit to him, which they were the more ready to