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lious Court.

At their request he gave an account of the most striking events of his voyage, and a description of the islands he had discovered. These he pronounced to be mere harbingers of the discoveries he had yet to make, which would add realms of incalculable wealth to their dominions, and whole nations of proselytes to the true faith.

When he had finished, the Sovereigns sank on their knees, and raising their hands to heaven, poured forth thanks to God for so great a providence. All present followed their example; a solemn enthusiasm pervaded the assembly, and prevented all common acclamations of triumph. Thus did the brilliant Court of Spain celebrate the discovery of the New World.

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PROSPERO'S INVOCATION.

(Shakspeare.)

7E elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes, and groves,
And ye that on the sands with printless foot
Do chase the ebbing Neptune, and do fly him,
When he comes back; you demi-puppets that
By moonshine do the green sour ringlets make,

Whereof the ewe not bites; and you, whose pastime.
Is to make midnight-mushrooms; that rejoice
To hear the solemn curfew; by whose aid
(Weak masters though ye be) I have bedimm'd
The noontide sun, call'd forth the mutinous winds,
And 'twixt the green sea and the azured vault
Set roaring war: to the dread rattling thunder

Have I given fire, and rifted Jove's stout oak
With his own bolt: the strong based promontory
Have I made shake; and by the spurs pluck'd up
The pine and cedar: graves, at my command,
Have waked their sleepers; oped, and let them forth
By my so potent art: But this rough magic
I here abjure: and, when I have required
Some heavenly music (which even now I do),
To work mine end upon their senses that
This airy charm is for, I'll break my staff,
Bury it certain fathoms in the earth,
And, deeper than did ever plummet

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DON QUIXOTE'S LOVE-MADNESS.

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(Cervantes.)

RAY, sir," quoth Sancho, "what is it that you mean to do in this fag end of the world?"

"Have I not already told thee," answered Don Quixote, "that I intend to copy Amadis in his madness, despair, and fury? nay, at the same time I will imitate the valiant Orlando Furioso's extravagance when he ran mad; at which time, in his frantic despair, he tore up trees by the roots, troubled the waters of the clear fountains, slew the shepherds, destroyed their flocks, fired their huts, demolished houses, drove their horses before him, and committed. a hundred thousand other extravagances, worthy to be recorded in the eternal register of fame. Not that I intend, however, in all things to imitate Roldan, or Orlando, or Rotoland (for he had all those names), but only to make choice of such frantic effects of his amorous despair, as I shall think most essential and worthy imitation. Nay, perhaps I shall wholly follow Amadis, who, without launching out into such destructive and fatal ravings, and only expressing his anguish in complaints and lamentations, gained nevertheless a renown equal, if not superior, to that of the greatest heroes."

"Sir," quoth Sancho, "I dare say the knight who did these penances had some reason to be mad; but what need have you to be mad too? what lady has set you a-packing, or so much as slighted you? when did you ever find that my Lady Dulcinea del Toboso did otherwise than she should do?"

"Why, there is the point," cried Don Quixote, "in this consists the singular perfection of my undertaking; for, mark me, Sancho, for a knight-errant to run mad upon any just occasion, is neither strange nor meritorious; no, the rarity is to run mad without a cause, without the least constraint or necessity: there is a refined and exquisite passion for you, Sancho! for thus my mistress must needs have a vast idea of my love."

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