the court whenever she gave vent to her indignation against her persecutors, she ceased speaking amid the threats and invectives of her hearers. The people were at that period permitted to take a fearful and leading part in the dialogue between the judges and accused; they even permitted persons on trial to address the court, or compelled their silence; the very verdiet rested with them. 2. Madame Roland heard herself sentenced to death with the air of one who saw in her condemnation merely her title to immortality. She rose, and slightly bowing to her judges, said, with a bitter and ironical smile, "I thank you for considering me worthy to share the fate of the good and great men you have murdered!" She flew down the steps of the Conciergerie with the rapid swiftness of a child about to obtain some long-desired object: the end and aim of her desires was death. As she passed along the corridor, where all the prisoners had assembled to greet her return, she looked at them smi lingly, and, drawing her right hand across her throat, made a sign expressive of cutting off a head. This was her only farewell; it was tragic as her destiny, joyous as her deliverance; and well was it understood by those who saw it. Many who were incapable of weeping for their own fate shed tears of unfeigned sorrow for hers. 3. On that day (November 10, 1793,) a greater number than usual of carts laden with victims rolled onward toward the scaffold. Madame Roland was placed in the last, beside an infirm old man, named Lamarche. She wore a white robe, as a symbol of her innocence, of which she was anxious to convince the people; her magnificent hair, black and glossy as a raven's wing, fell in thick masses almost to her knees: her complexin, purified by her long captivity, and now glowing under the influence of a sharp, frosty November day, bloomed with all the freshness of early youth. Her eyes were full of expression; her whole countenance seemed radiant with glory, while a movement between pity and contempt agitated her lips. A crowd followed them, uttering the coa:sest threats and most revolting expressions. "To the guillotine! to the guillotine!" exclaimed the female part of the rabble. 4. "I am going to the guillotine," replied Madame Roland; applaud our execution Sometimes she would appear to hear the in a few moments and I shall be there; but those who send me thither will follow me ere long. I go innocent, but they will come stained with blood, and you who will then applaud theirs with equal zeal." turn away her head that she might not sults with which she was assailed, and would lean with almost filial tenderness over the aged partner of her execution. The poor old man wept bitterly, and she kindly and cheeringly encouraged him to bear up with firmness, and to suffer with res ignation. She even tried to enliven the dreary journey they were performing together by little attempts at cheerfulness, and at length succeeded in winning a smile from her fellow-sufferer. 5. A colossal statue of Liberty, composed of clay, like the liberty of the time, then stood in the middle of the Place de la Concorde, on the spot now occupied by the Obelisk; the scaffold was erected beside this statue. Upon arriving there, Madame Roland descended from the cart in which she had been conveyed. Just as the executioner had seized her arm to enaable her to be the first to mount to the guillotine, she displayed an instance of that noble and tender consideration for others, which only a woman's heart could conceive, or put into practice at such a moment. "Stay!" said she, momentarily resisting the man's grasp. "I have one only favor to ask, and that is not for myself; I beseech you grant it me." Then, turning to the old man, she said, "Do you precede me to the scaffold; to see my blood flow would be making you suffer the bitterness of death twice over. I must spare you the pain of witnessing my punishment." The executioner allowed this arrangement to be made. 6. With what sensibility and firmness must the mind have been imbued which could, at such a time, forget its own sufferings, to think only of saving one pang to an unknown old man! and how clearly does this one little trait attest the heroic calmness with which this celebrated woman met her death! After the execution of Lamarche, which she witnessed without changing color, Madame Roland stepped lightly up to the scaffold, and, bowing before the statue of Liberty, as though to do homage to a power for whom she was about to die, exclaimed, “O, Liberty! Liberty! how many crimes are committed in thy name! " She then resigned herself to the hands of the executioner, and in a few seconds her head fell into the basket placed to receive it. LESSON LVIII. LORD ULLIN'S DAUGHTER. CAMPBELL 1. A CHIEFTAIN to the Highlands bound Cries, "Boatman, do not tarry! 2 "Now, who be ye would cross Loch-Gyle, 4. "His horsemen hard behind us ride; Should they our steps discover, Then who will cheer my bonny bride, When they have slain her lover?" 5. Out spoke the hardy, Highland wight, "I'll go, my chief, I'm ready; It is not for your silver bright, 6. "And, by my word! the bonny bird In danger shall not tarry; So, though the waves are raging white, I'll row you o'er the ferry." 7. By this, the storm grew loud арасе, The water-wraith was shrieking; And, in the scowl of heaven, each face 8. But still, as wilder grew the wind, 9. "O haste thee, haste!" the lady cries, "Though tempests round us gather; I'll meet the raging of the skies, 10. The boat has left the stormy land, When, oh! too strong for human hand, 11. And still they rowed against the roar Of waters, fast prevailing; Lord Ullin reached that fatal shore, His wrath was changed to wailing. 12. For, sore dismayed, through storm and shade, His child he did discover, One lovely hand she stretched for aid. And one was round her lover. 13. "Come back! come back!" he cried in grief, And I'll forgive your Highland chief; 14. 'Twas vain: the loud waves lashed the shore, The waters wild went o'er his child, LESSON LIX. EULOGY ON HAMILTON. MASON. 1. He was born to be great. Whoever was second, Hamilton must be first. To his stupendous and versatile mind no investigation was difficult-no subject presented which he did not illuminate. Superiority in some particular, belongs to thousands. Preeminence, in whatever he chose to undertake, was the prerogative of Hamilton. No fixed criterion could be applied to his talents. Often has their display been sup posed to have reached the limit of human effort; and the judg ment stood firm till set aside by himself. 2. When a cause of new magnitude required new exertions, he rose, he towered, he soared; surpassing himself as he sur passed others. Then was nature tributary to his eloquence! Then was felt his despotism over the heart! Touching, at his pleasure, every string of pity or terror, of indignation or grief |