7. From Valladolid, he continued his journey to Plazencia in Estremadura. He had passed through that city a great many years before; and having been struck at that time with the delightful situation of the monastery of St. Justus, belonging to the order of St. Jerome, not many miles distant from that place, he had then observed to some of his attendants, that this was a spot to which Dioclesian might have retired with pleasure. 8. The impression had remained so strong on his mind, that he pitched upon it as the place of his retreat. It was seated in a vale of no great extent, watered by a small brook, and surrounded by rising grounds, covered with lofty trees. From the nature of the soii, as well as the temperature of the climate, it was esteemed the most healthful and delicious situation in Spain. 9. Some months before his resignation, he had sent an architect thither, to add a new apartment to the monastery, for his accommodation; but he gave strict orders that the style of the building should be such as suited his present station, rather than his former dignity. It consisted only of six rooms, four of them in the form of friars' cells, with naked walls; the other two, each twenty feet square, were hung with brown cloth, and furnished in the most simple manner. 10. They were all on a level with the ground; with a door on one side into a garden, of which Charles himself had given the plan, and had filled it with various plants, which he proposed to culti vate with his own hands. On the other side, they communicated with the chapel of the monastery, in which he was to perform his devotions. 11. Into this humble retreat, hardly sufficient for the comfortable accommodation of a private gentleman, did Charles enter, with twelve domestics only. He buried there, in solitude and silence, his grandeur, his ambition, together with all those vast projects, which, during half a century, had alarmed and agitated Europe; filling every kingdom in it, by turns, with the terror of his arms, and the dread of being subjected to his power. 12. In this retirement, Charles formed such a plan of life for him self, as would have suited the condition of a private person of a moderate fortune. His table was neat but plain; his domestics few; his intercourse with them familiar; all the cumbersome and ceremonious forms of attendance on his person were entirely abolished, as destructive of that social ease and tranquillity, which he courted, in order to sooth the remainder of his days. 13. As the mildness of the climate, together with his deliverance from the burdens and cares of government, procured him, at first, a considerable remission from the acute pains with which he had been long tormented, he enjoyed, perhaps, more complete satisfaction in his humble solitude, than all his grandeur had ever yielded him. 14. The ambitious thoughts and projects which had so long engrossed and disquieted him, were quite effaced from his mind. Far from taking any part in the political transactions of the princes of Europe, he restrained his curiosity even from any inquiry concerning them; and he seemed to view the busy scene which he had abandoned, with all the contempt and indifference arising from his thorough experience of its vanity, as well as from the pleasing reflection of having disentangled himself from its cares. DR ROBERTSON. PIECES IN POETRY. CHAPTER 1. SELECT SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS SECTION I. SHORT AND EASY SENTENCES. Education. "TIS education forms the common mind: With pleasure let us own our errors past, A soul without reflection, like a pile Secret Virtue. The private path, the secret acts of men, Necessary Knowledge easily attained. Disappointment. The mind that would be happy, must be great; In faith and hope the world will disagree; The Prize of Virtue. Sense and Modesty connected. Moral Discipline salutary. Heav'n gives us friends to bless the present scene; NOTE. In the first chapter, the Compiler has exhibited a considerable variety of poetical construction, for the young reader's preparatory exercises. N All evils natural are moral goods; All discipline, indulgence, on the whole. Present Blessings undervalued, Hope, of all passions, most befriends us here; Who noble ends by noble means obtains, No radiant pearl, which crested fortune wears, Nor rising suns that gild the vernal morn, Shine with such lustre, as the tear that breaks, For others' wo, down Virtue's manly cheeks. SECTION II. VERSES IN WHICH THE LINES ARE OF DIFFERENT LENGTH Bliss of Celestial Origin. RESTLESS mortals toil for naught; Bliss in vain from earth is sought; Bliss, a native of the sky, Never wanders. Mortals, try; There you cannot seek in vain; For to seek her, is to gain. The Passions, Trust in Providence recommended 'Tis Providence alone secures, An earthquake may be bid to spare Epitaph. How lov'd, how valu'd once, avails thee not; All fame is foreign, but of true desert; Plays round the head, but comes not to the heart. And more true joy Marcellus exil'd feels, Virtue the Guardian of Youth. Down the smooth stream of life the stripling darts, But yonder comes the pow'rful king of day, Aslant the dew-bright earth, and colour'd air, And sheds the shining day, that burnish'd plays Self-government. May I govern my passions with absolute sway; Shepherd. On a mountain, stretch'd beneath a hoary willow, VERSES CONTAINING EXCLAMATIONS, INTERROGATIONS, AND PARENTHESES. Competence. A COMPETENCE is all we can enjoy: Oh! be content, where Heav'n can give no more. Much joy not only speaks small happiness, 1 Can joy, unbottom'd in reflection, stand? Can gold gain friendship? Impudence of hope! Patience. Beware of desp'rate steps. The darkest day Bane of elated life, of affluent states, What dreary change, what ruin is not thine! How dost thou lure the fortunate and great! how soon he dies! The source of Happiness. Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, Placid Emotion. Who can forbear to smile with nature? Can Solitude.* O sacred solitude; divine retreat! Choice of the prudent! envy of the great! Presume not on To-morrow. In human hearts what bolder thoughts can rise, By solitude here is meant, a temporary seclusion from the world. |