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ROGER ASCHAM.

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LESSON IV.-JANUARY THE FOURTH.

Roger Ascham.

On this day, in the year 1568, Roger Ascham died. He was a native of Kirkby-Wiske, near Northallerton, Yorkshire; celebrated for his learning, and for the respectable share which he bore in the education of the family of Henry VIII. From St. John's College, Cambridge, where he was known by his application, and his knowledge of Greek, he was introduced to Henry VIII., to whom he inscribed his treatise on archery; and he not only received a pension, but, as he wrote a beautiful hand, he was appointed to instruct in writing Prince Edward, the Lady Elizabeth, and the two brothers Henry and Charles, dukes of Suffolk. Elizabeth (afterwards England's queen) was indebted to him also for her knowledge in Greek and Latin, as he read with her the best part of Livy, Cicero, Isocrates, Sophocles, &c. He subsequently returned to Cambridge as public orator of the university, and was invited, in 1550, to attend an embassy to Charles V. On his way to London he visited Lady Jane Grey, at Bradgate-hall, in Leicestershire, in whose hands he found a Greek edition of Plato's Phædo; from which book, this amiable woman observed, she received more real pleasure than from sharing the diversion of her attendants and family who were hunting in the park. In Germany he applied himself to politics so successfully, that he wrote a book on the affairs of the empire. He was appointed Latin secretary to King Edward, an office which was still continued for him under Mary and Elizabeth; but though a favourite at court, he did not use his influence to raise himself to any high preferment, a prebend in the church of York being the only favour he received, and that quite unsolicited on his part.

Ascham's most valuable work is entitled "The Schoolmaster," which was written at the request of Sir Richard Sackville, in consequence of a dispute with respect to the various modes of education. His Latinity, and the elegance of his diction in his letters, have been greatly and deservedly admired.

In a work entitled "Imaginary Conversations," by W. S. Landor, the following is supposed to have taken place between Ascham and the Lady Jane Grey, immediately after her marriage with Lord Guildford Dudley :"Ascham. I once persuaded thee to reflect much; let

me now persuade thee to avoid the habitude of reflection, to lay aside books, and to gaze carefully and steadfastly on what is under and before thee.

"Jane. I have well bethought me of all my duties: oh how extensive they are! What a goodly and fair inheritance! But tell me, wouldst thou command me never more to read Cicero, and Epictetus, and Polybius? The others I do resign unto thee: they are good for the arbour and for the gravel walk; but leave unto me, I beseech thee, my friend and father,—leave unto me, for my fireside and for my pillow, truth, eloquence, courage, constancy.

"Ascham. Read them, and read the best of all books habitually. Thou spotless undrooping lily - these have fenced thee right well! Mind thou thy husband.

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Jane. I sincerely love the youth who hath espoused me; I love him with the fondest, the most solicitous affection. I pray to the Almighty for his goodness and happiness, and do forget at times, unworthy supplicant! the prayers I should have offered for myself. O never fear that I will disparage my kind, religious teacher, by disobedience to my husband in the most trying duties.

"Ascham. Gentle is he, gentle and virtuous; but time will harden him: time must harden even thee, sweet Jane! Do thou complacently and indirectly lead him from ambition.

"Jane. He is contented with me and with home.

"Ascham. Ah Jane, Jane! men of high estate grow tired of contentedness.

"Jane. He told me he never liked books, unless I read them to him. I will read them to him every evening; I will open new worlds to him, richer than those discovered by the Spaniard: I will conduct him to treasures oh, what treasures!-on which he may sleep in innocence and peace.

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"Ascham. Rather do thou walk with him, ride with him, play with him, be his faery, his page, his every thing that love and poetry have invented: but watch him well; sport with his fancies; turn them about like the ringlets round his cheeks; and if ever he meditate on power, go, toss up thy baby to his brow, and bring back his thoughts into his heart by the music of thy discourse. Teach him to live unto God and unto thee: and he will discover that women, like the plants in woods, derive their softness and tenderness from the shade."

CHARACTER OF THE BRITISH SOLDIER.

1. For what is Roger Ascham known?

2. What was Queen Elizabeth indebted to Ascham for?

3. What is Ascham's most valuable work?

4. What do you understand by the term Latinity?

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5. From what work is the dialogue between Ascham and the Lady Jane Grey taken?

LESSON V.-JANUARY THE FIFTH.

Character of the British Soldier.

COLONEL NAPIER, in his History of the Peninsular War, thus writes: "That the British infantry soldier is more robust than the soldier of any other nation, can scarcely be doubted by those who, in 1815, observed his powerful frame, distinguished amidst the united armies of Europe; and, notwithstanding his habitual excess in drinking, he sustains fatigue, and wet, and the extremes of cold and heat, with incredible vigour. When completely disciplined, (and three years are required to accomplish this), his port is lofty, and his movements free; the whole world cannot produce a nobler specimen of military bearing, nor is the mind unworthy of the outward man. He does not, indeed, possess that presumptuous vivacity which would lead him to dictate to his commanders, or even to censure real errors, although he may perceive them; but he is observant, and quick to comprehend his orders, full of resources under difficulties, calm and resolute in danger, and more than usually obedient and careful of his officers in moments of imminent peril.

"It has been asserted that his undeniable firmness in battle is the result of a phlegmatic constitution, uninspired by moral feeling. Never was a more stupid calumny uttered. Napoleon's troops fought in bright fields, where every helmet caught some beams of glory; but the British soldier conquered under the cold shade of aristocracy no honours awaited his daring, no despatch gave his name to the applauses of his countrymen, his life of danger and hardship was uncheered by hope, his death unnoticed.

"Did his heart sink, therefore? Did he not endure with surpassing fortitude the sorest of ills, sustain the most terrible assaults in battle unmoved, and with incredible energy overthrow every opponent, at all times proving that while no physical military qualification was wanting, the fount of honour was also full and fresh within him?

me now persuade thee to avoid the habitude of reflection, to lay aside books, and to gaze carefully and steadfastly on what is under and before thee.

"Jane. I have well bethought me of all my duties: oh how extensive they are! What a goodly and fair inheritance! But tell me, wouldst thou command me never more to read Cicero, and Epictetus, and Polybius? The others I do resign unto thee: they are good for the arbour and for the gravel walk; but leave unto me, I beseech thee, my friend and father, leave unto me, for fireside my and for my pillow, truth, eloquence, courage, constancy. "Ascham. Read them, and read the best of all books habitually. Thou spotless undrooping lily- these have fenced thee right well! Mind thou thy husband.

"Jane. I sincerely love the youth who hath espoused me; I love him with the fondest, the most solicitous affection. I pray to the Almighty for his goodness and happiness, and do forget at times, unworthy supplicant! the prayers I should have offered for myself. O never fear that I will disparage my kind, religious teacher, by disobedience to my husband in the most trying duties.

"Ascham. Gentle is he, gentle and virtuous; but time will harden him: time must harden even thee, sweet Jane! Do thou complacently and indirectly lead him from ambition.

"Jane. He is contented with me and with home.

"Ascham. Ah Jane, Jane! men of high estate grow tired of contentedness.

"Jane. He told me he never liked books, unless I read them to him. I will read them to him every evening; I will open new worlds to him, richer than those discovered by the Spaniard: I will conduct him to treasures oh, what treasures! on which he may sleep in innocence

and peace.

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"Ascham. Rather do thou walk with him, ride with him, play with him, be his faery, his page, his every thing that love and poetry have invented: but watch him well; sport with his fancies; turn them about like the ringlets round his cheeks; and if ever he meditate on power, go, toss up thy baby to his brow, and bring back his thoughts into his heart by the music of thy discourse. Teach him to live unto God and unto thee: and he will discover that women, like the plants in woods, derive their softness and tenderness from the shade."

CHARACTER OF THE BRITISH SOLDIER.

1. For what is Roger Ascham known?

2. What was Queen Elizabeth indebted to Ascham for?

3. What is Ascham's most valuable work?

4. What do you understand by the term Latinity?

5. From what work is the dialogue between Ascham and the Lady Jane Grey taken?

LESSON V.-JANUARY THE FIFTH.

Character of the British Soldier.

COLONEL NAPIER, in his History of the Peninsular War, thus writes: "That the British infantry soldier is more robust than the soldier of any other nation, can scarcely be doubted by those who, in 1815, observed his powerful frame, distinguished amidst the united armies of Europe; and, notwithstanding his habitual excess in drinking, he sustains fatigue, and wet, and the extremes of cold and heat, with incredible vigour. When completely disciplined, (and three years are required to accomplish this), his port is lofty, and his movements free; the whole world cannot produce a nobler specimen of military bearing, nor is the mind unworthy of the outward man. He does not, indeed, possess that presumptuous vivacity which would lead him to dictate to his commanders, or even to censure real errors, although he may perceive them; but he is observant, and quick to comprehend his orders, full of resources under difficulties, calm and resolute in danger, and more than usually obedient and careful of his officers in moments of imminent peril.

"It has been asserted that his undeniable firmness in battle is the result of a phlegmatic constitution, uninspired by moral feeling. Never was a more stupid calumny uttered. Napoleon's troops fought in bright fields, where every helmet caught some beams of glory; but the British soldier conquered under the cold shade of aristocracy: no honours awaited his daring, no despatch gave his name to the applauses of his countrymen, his life of danger and hardship was uncheered by hope, his death unnoticed.

"Did his heart sink, therefore? Did he not endure with surpassing fortitude the sorest of ills, sustain the most terrible assaults in battle unmoved, and with incredible energy overthrow every opponent, at all times proving that while no physical military qualification was wanting, the fount of honour was also full and fresh within him?

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