be concealed beneath it; and yet the former owner of the land will not receive it." The defendant answered: "I hope that I have a conscience as well as my fellow-citizen. I sold him the land with all its contingent, as well as existing advantages, and consequently the treasure was included." The chief, who was at the same time their supreme judge, repeated their words, in order that the parties might see whether or not he understood them aright. Then, after some reflection, he said, "Thou hast a son, friend, I believe?" "Yes." "And thou," said the judge, turning to the other, "a daughter?" "Yes." "Well, then, let the son marry the daughter, and bestow the treasure on the young couple for their marriage portion." Alexander seemed surprised and perplexed. "Think you my sentence unjust?" the chief asked him. "Oh, no,” replied Alexander, "but it astonishes me." "And how, then," rejoined the chief, "would the case have been decided in your country?" "To confess the truth," said Alexander, "we should have taken both parties into custody, and have seized the treasure for the king's use." "For the king's use!" exclaimed the chief, now in his turn astonished. "Does the sun shine on that country?" "Oh, yes!" "Does it rain there?" "Assuredly." "Wonderful! But are there in that country tame animals which live on the grass and green herbs?" "Very many, and of many kinds." "Ay, that must be the cause," said the chief, "for the sake of those innocent animals, the All-gracious Being continues to let the sun shine and the rain drop down on your country." From "The Friend." Al'ex an'der (ǎl'eg zăn'der) the Mac'e do'ni an (măs'e dō'ni an), Alexander the Great, who conquered the known world, and at thirtyfour wept because there were no more worlds to conquer; ĕd'i ble, fit to eat; so'joûrn, tarry; all its con tin'gent (kon tin'jent), all that goes with it; cus'to dy (kus'to di), arrest; as sur'ed ly (a shōor'ěd li), certainly. STUDY HELPS What was strange about the people Alexander visited? What did Alexander tell them he had come for? Tell what dispute came up for settlement. How did the judge settle the dispute? How did the decision seem to affect Alexander? How did he say the dispute would have been settled in his country? Why did this answer astonish the chief? What questions did the chief ask? How did he explain the facts in Alexander's answers? What lesson is Coleridge trying to teach by this story? WHAT I LIVE FOR GEORGE LINNÆUS BANKS I live for those who love me, For all human ties that bind me, I live to learn their story, And follow in their wake; Whose deeds crown history's pages, And time's great volume make. I live to hold communion 'Twixt Nature's heart and mine; To profit by affliction, Reap truths from fields of fiction, I live to hail that season, I live for those who love me, For the cause that lacks assistance, And the good that I can do. As signed', set apart for; em'u lāte, to follow after, imitate; bärds, poets; martyrs (mär'tērz), those who give their lives for a cause; sāg'es, wise men; com mun'ion (ko mūn'yun), fellowship; fic'tion (fik'shun), something not real, an invented story. STUDY HELPS past? What ties are mentioned in stanza 1 as motives for a good life? What is "time's great volume"? The third stanza says there are divine influences to stir us to higher life. Where does the speaker find them? Who has foretold a perfect future? How will men live then? What lines in the fifth stanza are repeated from the first stanza? ALLEN-A-DALE SIR WALTER SCOTT Allen-a-Dale has no fagot for burning, The father was steel, and the mother was stone; The Baron of prances in pride, And he views his domains upon Arkindale side. The mere for his net, and the land for his game, The chase for the wild and the park for the tame; Yet the fish of the lake, and the deer of the vale Are less free to Lord Dacre than Allen-a-Dale! Allen-a-Dale was ne'er and his blade be as bright; Allen-a-Dale is no baron or lord, |