to the influence of truth. By slow but sure advances, education has extended itself through all ranks of female society. There is no longer any dread, lest the culture of science should foster that masculine boldness and restless independence, which alarms by its sallies, or wounds by its inconsistencies. We have seen that here, as every where else, knowledge is favorable to human virtue and human happiness; that the refinement of literature adds lustre to the devotion of piety; that true learning, like true taste, is modest and unostentatious; that grace of manners receives a higher polish from the discipline of the schools; that cultivated genius sheds a cheering light over domestic duties, and its very sparkles, like those of the diamond, attest at once its power and its purity. There is not a rank of female society, however high, which does not now pay homage to literature, or that would not blush even at the suspicion of that ignorance, which, a half century ago, was neither uncommon nor discreditable. There is not a parent, whose pride may not glow at the thought, that his daughter's happiness is in a great measure within her own command, whether she keeps the cool, sequestered vale of life, or visits the busy · walks of fashion. A new path is thus opened for female exertion, to alleviate the pressure of misfortune, without any supposed sacrifice of dignity or modesty. Man no longer aspires to an exclusive dominion in authorship. He has rivals or allies in almost every department of knowledge; and they are to be found among those whose elegance of manners and blamelessness of life command his respect, as much as their talents excite his admiration. Who is there that does not contemplate with enthusiasm the precious fragments of Elizabeth Smith, the venerable learning of Elizabeth Carter, the elevated piety of Hannah More, the persuasive sense of Mrs. Barbauld, the elegant memoirs of her accomplished niece, the bewitching fiction of Madame D'Arblay, the vivid, picturesque and terrific imagery of Mrs. Radcliffe, the glowing poetry of Mrs. Hemans, the matchless wit, the inexhaustible conversations, the fine character painting, the practical instructions of Miss Edgeworth. LESSON LIX. NIGHT IN EDEN. 'Twas moonlight in Eden! Such moonlight, I ween, How bright was the bower where the fair-fingered Eve, While the rose caught its blush from her cheek's living dye. There, lulled by the murmurs of musical streams, But other forms gazed on the grandeur of night, S There, azure-robed beauty, with rapture-lit smile, From mountain and forest an organ-like tone, Stream, fountain, and fall, whispered low to the sod, With blushes like Eden's own rose in its bloom, Then first on the ears of the angels of light, Each form of creation with joy was surveyed, All night, as if stars were deserting their posts, O Eden, fair Eden! where now is thy bloom? Their voices no more on earth's breezes arise. -- But joy for the faith that is strong in its powers, - Then, nobler than Adam,-more charming than Eve,- LESSON LX. GREENOUGH'S WASHINGTON. THE quarry whence thy form majestic sprung Heroes and gods that elder bards have sung, But from its sleeping veins ne'er rose before Than his, who glory's name with meekness wore, Sheathed is the sword that passion never stain'd, His gaze around is cast, As if the joys of freedom newly-gained Before his vision pass'd; As if a nation's shout of love and pride With music fill'd the air, And his calm soul was lifted on the tide As if the crystal mirror of his life To fancy sweetly came, With scenes of patient toil and noble strife, As if the lofty purpose of his soul Expression would betray The high resolve ambition to control O, it was well in marble firm and white Whose angel guidance was our strength in fight, Our star amid the storm! And it is well to place his image there, Beneath the dome he blest; Let meaner spirits who its councils share, Let us go up with high and sacred love And as with solemn grace he points above, LESSON LXI. IMAGINARY DEDICATION OF A HEATHEN TEMPLE. As we drew near to the lofty fabric, I thought that no scene of such various beauty and magnificence, had ever met my eye. The temple itself is a work of unrivaled art. In size, it surpasses any other building of the same kind in Rome, and for the excellence of workmanship, and purity of design, although it may fall below the standard of Hadrian's age, yet for a certain air of grandeur, and luxuriance of invention, in its details, and lavish profusion of embellishment in gold and silver, no temple nor other edifice of any preceding age, ever perhaps resembled it. Its order is Corinthian, of the Roman form, and the entire building is surrounded by its slender columns, each composed of a single piece of marble. Upon the front is wrought Apollo surrounded by the Hours. |