Page images
PDF
EPUB

and sparkling (1) eloquence was the delight of all the fashionable circles, and it now found itself under the painful necessity of excluding Doctor Zeb, who was the scourge (2) of babblers, and who possessed a head so well organized, and so well furnished. The president, to whose lot it fell to communicate this disagreeable news to the applicant, could hardly agree to undertake the task, and knew not how to set about (3) it. After having meditated for a while upon the subject, he ordered a cup to be filled with water, and so nicely (4) filled, that the addition of a single drop would make the fluid run over (5). He then gave the sign to introduce the candidate. Dr. Zeb entered with that modest and unaffected manner which almost always indicates true merit. The president rose, and, without saying a word, he pointed with a sorrowful (6) air to the cup, the cup which was so completely full. The doctor instantly comprehended that no academical seat was vacant; but far from losing courage, he endeavoured to make it obvious (7) that no harm would arise (8) from their admitting a supernumerary academician. He saw

(1) Sparkling, étincelant, pétillant.

(2) The scourge, le châtiment, le fléau.

(3) To set about it, s'y mettre, s'y prendre.

(4) So nicely, si exactement.

(5) To run over, déborder.

(6) Sorrowful, triste.

(7) To make obvious, faire comprendre, démontrer.

(8) To arise, s'élever, s'ensuivre. Would, signe du conditionnel.

BONAPARTE AND THE ENGLISH SAILORS.

141

a rose-leaf (1) lying at his feet, picked it up, and laid it so delicately on the surface of the water, that not a drop was spilled (2).

This ingenious reply called forth a general clapping (3) of hands; the regulations of the academy were allowed to sleep upon this occasion; and Dr. Zeb was received by acclamation. The register of the academy in which the newly elected members were to inscribe their names, was now put into his hand. He wrote his name in it, and that being done, he had only to pronounce, according to the usage in such cases, a sentence expressive of thanks. But like a truly Taciturn Academician, Dr. Zeb returned thanks without uttering a word in the margin he wrote the number one hundred, which was that of his new colleagues; then, putting a nought before the figures, thus, 0100, he added below: "They are worth (4) neither more nor less than they were. The president replied to the modest doctor with equal politeness and presence of mind. He put a figure of one after the number, thus, 01001, and wrote: They are worth ten times as much as they were.

[ocr errors]

66

[ocr errors]

BONAPARTE AND THE ENGLISH SAILORS.

Napoleon being once on his return from Holland, arrived at Givet at a moment when a violent storm had

(1) Rose-leaf, feuille de rose.
(2) To spill, verser, répandre.
(3) Clapping, claquement.
(4) To be worth, valoir.

caused the Meuse to overflow its banks, and to carry away (1) a bridge of boats which formed the only passage across the river. Bonaparte was very desirous of continuing his journey, but was told it was impossible. He sent for the watermen (2), who declared the rapidity of the current rendered the construction of a bridge impossible, and that his majesty (3) must remain there three days." Impossible!" exclaimed Bonaparte who was not accustomed to be stopped by any obstacle, "I must pass before noon; are there any English prisoners here? A great many, sire. Can you find a hundred sailors (4) among them? · We think we can.

[merged small][ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

They were sent, and Napoleon asked them if it were impossible to join the boats so as to form a passage. They replied that it would be difficult and dangerous but not impossible. "Then commence your work, said he, 66 you shall have every assistance you require, but mind (5) I must cross to-day.

[ocr errors]

The British tars set to work (6) with their usual ardour, and actually completed the task, so that Napoleon and his suite passed in the course of the day.

(1) To carry away, emporter.

(2) Watermen, bateliers.

(3) En parlant des rois, les Anglais disent his majesty; mais pour les reines il faut dire her majesty, parce qu'en anglais l'adjectif possessif s'accorde avec la personne qui possède et non avec la chose possédée, comme en français.

(4) Sailors, matelots.

(5) To mind, faire attention.

(6) To set to work, se mettre à travailler.

THE PUPILS OF THE POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL.

143

The sailors were immediately set at liberty, clothed, rewarded and sent to England.

(Letters from St.-Helena.)

COURAGE OF THE PUPILS OF THE POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL.

In the defence of Paris in 1814, the youths of the Polytechnic School performed prodigies of valour. They had exhausted all their shot (1), and were waiting in the most painful anxiety for a fresh supply (2), when they saw a tumbril (5) arriving. They immediately ran to seize it, and on finding it contained only bread, exclaimed: "We do not want bread, we want cannonballs; we will not eat, we will save our capital or perish in its defence. " A supply of balls was shortly sent to them, but from some unaccountable negligence they were for cannon of a different calibre, and therefore entirely useless to those young heroes. Many of them mounted on their guns and declared they would die rather than abandon them.

This school is indeed a nursery (4) for heroes, and it is a great pity (5) that their courage and ardour should sometimes carry them a little too far. (Historical.) "The better part

Of valour is discretion. "

(1) Shot, boulels, et plomb de chasse.

(2) Supply, approvisionnement.

(3) A tumbril, un fourgon.

(4) Nursery, pépinière.

(5) A great pity, grand dommage.

SHAKSPEARE..

EXTRACT OF THE SPEECH OF CAIUS MARIUS
TO THE ROMANS.

It is but too common, my countrymen (1), to observe a material difference in the behaviour of those who stand candidates for places of power and trust, before, and after their obtaining them. They solicit them in one manner, and execute them in another. They set out with a great appearence of activity, humility, and moderation; and they quickly fall into sloth (2), pride, and avarice. It is, undoubtedly, no easy matter to discharge, to the general satisfaction, the duty of a supreme commander in troublesome times. I am, I hope, duly sensible of the importance of the office I propose to take upon me for the service of my country. To carry on with effect an expensive war, and yet be frugal of the public money; to oblige those to serve, whom it may be delicate to offend; to conduct at the same time a complicated variety of operations; to concert measures at home (5), answerable (4) to the state of things abroad (5); and to gain every valuable end, in spite of opposition from the envious, the factious, and the disaffected (6); to do all this, my countrymen, is more difficult than is generally thought.

(1) Countrymen, compatriotes.

(2) Sloth, la paresse.

(3) At home, chez soi, dans l'intérieur.

(4) Answerable, convenable.

(5) Abroad, à l'étranger.

(6) Disaffected, mécontent.

« PreviousContinue »