East and the South on one side, the West and the North on the other; in short, two worlds, the civilization of Africa and the civilization of Europe. They measure each other from head to foot. They gather all their forces. Gradually the war kindles. The world takes fire. She ut 4. These colossal powers are locked in deadly strife. Carthage has crossed the Alps; Rome, the seas. The two nations, personified in two men, Hannibal* and Scipio,† close with each other, wrestle, and grow infuriate. The duel is desperate. It is a struggle for life. Rome wavers. ters that cry of anguish,- Hannibal at the gates! rallies, collects all her strength for one last, appalling effort, throws herself upon Carthage, and sweeps her from the face of the earth‡! - But she Victor Hugo. He *Hannibal was the most illustrious of the Carthaginian generals. gained a series of great victories over the Romans; but was, at last, defeated by Scipio at the famous battle of Zama, fought B. C. 202. He was afterwards compelled to take refuge in Syria, when, to avoid falling into the hands of his enemies, he committed suicide 183 B. C. + Scipio, called, from his victories over the Carthaginians, Scipio Africa'nus, was one of the most celebrated of the Roman generals. He died 183 B. C., in exile, having been unjustly accused by his ungrateful countrymen of embezzling some of the spoils of the vanquished Syrians. Three great wars were waged between the two rival republics, Rome and Carthage, called the Punic Wars. In the second of these wars, Rome was, for a time, by the daring and brilliant military genius of Hannibal, brought to the greatest extremity of peril; but she was saved by the victories of Scipio. The third Punic war was brought on by the continued jealousy of Rome toward her rival, and her determination to destroy her. Cato, one of the Roman senators, ended every one of his speeches with the words, 'Carthage must be destroyed." Carthage knew her weakness, and complied with every demand of her enemy, till the people were told they must abandon their city, so that it might be destroyed. Then, with the energy of despair, they made a brave but unavailing resistance. The city was taken and set on fire, and continued to burn for seventeen days. The fortifications were razed, and the site on which it stood was cleared of every habitation. This memorable event occurred 146 B. C. LESSON CIII. THE NAUTILUS AND THE AMMONITE. 1. The nautilus* and the ammonite + Were launched in friendly strife; On the wide, wild sea of life. For each could swim on the ocean's brim, 2. And theirs was a bliss more fair than this They swam 'mid isles whose summer smiles Whose groves were palm, whose air was balm, 3. They sailed all day through creek and bay, And at night they sank on a coral bank, * Nau'ti lus, an aquatic animal, belonging to the genus mollusca, interesting as the representative of an order of which very few species now remain, although in former periods they were exceedingly numerous, as shown by the fossil remains. It usually inhabits the bottom of the sea; but it can rise to the surface of the water, and float in its shell, as in a boat, thrusting out its head and arms, which assume somewhat the appearance of a sail. Hence the fable that the nautilus spreads a sail. + Am'mon ite, an extinct species of molluscs, nearly allied to the nautilus. Both probably existed together in former times. And the monsters vast* of ages past They saw them ride in their power and pride, 4. And hand in hand, from strand to strand, These fairy shells, with their crystal cells, And they came at last to a sea long past, The Almighty's breath spoke out in death, 5. So the nautilus now, in its shelly prow, Still seems to seek, in bay and creek, And alike do we, on life's stormy sea, As we roam from shore to shore, 6. Yet the hope, how sweet, again to meet, When heart meets heart, and no more they part, Who meet in that better land. G. F. Richardson. * In the early periods of the earth's history, we learn, by the researches of geologists, that there were many huge and monstrous animals, which are now extinct. Such were the ichthyosaurus and the plē si o saurus, two marine animals; the former lizard-like in shape and habits, the latter having a neck of enormous length, and head like a serpent's, with paddles like those of a whale. These creatures were of enormous size. It is to these and others of a similar character that the poet refers, when he speaks of the "monsters vast of ages past." LESSON CIV. WILLIAM TELL. 1. "Place there the boy," the tyrant said; "Fix me the apple on his head. There is a fair mark for thy shaft; There, try thy boasted archer-craft!” The Switzer gazed; his cheek grew pale; "Ha! so you blench?" fierce Gesler cried. "I've conquered, slave, thy soul of pride!" No word to that stern taunt replied, All still as death. 2. "And what the meed?" at length Tell asked. "Bold fool! when slaves like thee are tasked, It is MY WILL ; But that thine eye may keener be, Give him a bow and arrow there, One shaft, but one." Madness, despair, One moment swept the Switzer's face; Then passed away each stormy trace, tr 3. "I take thy terms," he murmured low; Chose out an arrow keen and long, Deep stillness fell on all around; Through that dense crowd was heard no sound All watched with fixed and shuddering eye, The light wind died into a sigh, 4. The gallant boy stood firm and mute; He knew that pale fear ne'er unmanned Slow rose the shaft; it trembled, hung. "My only boy!" gasped on his tongue : He could not aim ! "Ha!" cried the tyrant, "doth he quail? He shakes his haughty brow is pale!" Shoot!" cried a low voice. "Canst thou fail? Shoot, in Heaven's name!" 5. Again the drooping shaft he took, And cast to Heaven one burning look, Of all doubts reft: |