good for evil, we are not expected to bestow love for hate.

Previous to the death of Mary de Medicis, she was anxious to receive the holy sacrament; and the pope's legate was ac cordingly sent for to perform the sacred rite which the church of Rome ordains.— The misery she had endured through the intrigues of Richlieu, was not to be effaced even at that awful moment; and it was some time before the legate could convince her of the necessity of being in charity with all mankind, if she expected to receive the mercy of heaven. At length, convinced of the duty of forgiveness by the forcible arguments of her august confessor, she assured him that she pardoned Richlieu's offences; but upon being entreated to send him some token of her amity, and present him either with a ring or bracelet, she exclaimed, "This is too much," and expired.

A beautiful

A beautiful instance of the true spirit of forgiveness is recorded in the life of the Duke of Guise; and as it proved him possessed of true magnanimity of mind, I shall give it a place in my little history. The duke, being informed that a Protestant gentleman had obtained admission into his camp for the sole purpose of assassinating his person, sent a messenger, requesting a private interview, and, in confidence, demanded whether the report was true? The man, who had thought it no dishonour to become a murderer, would have considered himself disgraced by uttering a falsehood, therefore candidly avowed the intended crime. The duke heard the assertion with surprise; but calmly enquired whether he had done him any injury, or whether any part of his family had been sufferers from his conduct? "Your excellence (replied the infatuated man) never did me any kind of injury; but as you are y 2 a powerful

a powerful enemy to my religion, I thought I should do a service to that by depriving you of life."" Well, my friend, (said the great and truly religious man) "if your religion incites you to assassinate me, my religion tells me to forgive you therefore you have nothing to fear from my resent

ment."

An anecdote, somewhat similar, though not so interesting as this, is related of the emperor Adrian, who observing the embarrassment of a man that had been his greatest enemy previous to his obtaining the imperial diadem, exclaimed, “My good friend, you have escaped; for I am an emperor."

The different stations which are marked for the two sexes, prevents females from being able to display this exalted virtue in that eminent degree which I have just described; yet, in the beautiful language scripture, "offences will come;" and wo

of

men,

men, in the milder walks of life, have frequent opportunities of pardoning them, and of practising a duty which in either sex is amiable, but in our's absolutely necessary,

To observe a young woman nurturing resentment, or cherishing animosity, is one of the most unnatural objects in the creation: though history and observation too fully prove, that they are frequently both hard-hearted and unforgiving.

Olympius, daughter of the King of Epirus, was, at an early age, united to the Macedonian conqueror, who loved her with a most sincere and ardent tenderness; yet in a short time became so completely wretched, that he absolutely wished for the termination of his life. Imperious, cruel, vindictive, and resentful, his home became a scene of disquiet; and not all the gratification he derived from conquest could compensate for the loss of domestic bliss! Harassed

U 3

Harassed by her petulance, and wearied by her caprice, he at length resolved upon an absolute separation; and, after going through the usual forms of a divorce, he made the niece of his general the partner of his throne.

Enraged at what she considered as a personal indignity, the haughty princess became cruel; and her hatred against the king arose to such an height, that it was generally believed she conspired against

his life. Whether this crime is to be laid to her charge, none of the Grecian historians have been able to determine; but that she applauded the conduct of her husband's murderer, was fully proved by her own actions; for when the body was hung upon a high gibbet, for the purpose of deterring others from so atrocious a crime, she had the head adorned with a golden crown; and in a few days afterwards the body was taken