Part ii

,--_George Crabbe_.

GEORGE CRABBE, a celebrated English poet, was born in Aldborough, Suffolk, December 24, 1754, and died at Trowbridge, Wiltshire, February 3, 1832. His most famous poems are: "The Parish Register," "The Village," "Tales in Verse," and "The Borough."

Still so gently o'er me stealing, Mem'ry will bring back the feeling, Spite of all my grief revealing That I love thee,--that I dearly love thee still.

"La Sonnambula,"--_Scribe_.

AUGUSTIN EUGÈNE SCRIBE, a distinguished French dramatist, was born in Paris, December 24, 1791, and died February 20, 1861. His collected "Oeuvres," (76 vols. 1874-85), contains all his works.

She is fair as the spirit of light, That floats in the ether on high.

--_Adam Mickiewicz_.

ADAM MICKIEWICZ, the most celebrated of Slavic poets, was born near Novogròdek, Lithuania, December 24, 1798, and died at Constantinople, November 26, 1855. Among his famous works are: "Crimean Sonnets," "Lectures on Slavic Literature," "The Books of the Polish People and of the Polish Pilgrimage," the ballad, "Dziady," and three famous epics: "Pan Tadeusz," "Conrad Wallenrod," and "Grazyna."

There is no better motto which it (culture) can have than these words of Bishop Wilson, "To make reason and the will of God prevail."

"Culture and Anarchy,"--_Matthew Arnold_.

MATTHEW ARNOLD, an eminent English poet, essayist and critic, was born at Laleham, December 24, 1822, and died at Liverpool, April 15, 1888. His principal works are: "Empedocles on Etna," "The Strayed Reveler and Other Poems," "New Poems," "Essays in Criticism," "Lectures on the Study of Celtic Literature," "Culture and Anarchy," "Friendship's Garland," "Mixed Essays," "Irish Essays," "Last Essays on Church and Religion," and "Discourses on America."

It is not enough to do good; one must do it the right way.

"On Compromise,"--_John Morley_.

JOHN MORLEY (VISCOUNT MORLEY), a renowned English statesman, essayist, editor, critic and biographer, was born at Blackburn, Lancashire, December 24, 1838. He has written: "Life of Oliver Cromwell," "Life of Gladstone," "Life of Cobden," "Sir Robert Walpole," "Studies in Literature," "Cromwell," "Literary Essays," "Notes on Politics," "Recollections," etc.

Well may your hearts believe the truths I tell: 'Tis virtue makes the bliss, where'er we dwell.

"Oriental Eclogues," I, Line 5,--_William Collins_.

WILLIAM COLLINS, a celebrated English poet, was born in Chichester, December 25, 1721, and died there, June 12, 1759. His principal works were: "Ode to Evening," "The Passions," "Ode on the Death of Thomson," and the "Dirge to Cymbeline."

Who dares this pair of boots displace, Must meet Bombastes face to face.

"Bombastes Furioso," Act I, Sc. 4,--_William Barnes Rhodes_.

WILLIAM BARNES RHODES, a noted English dramatic writer, was born December 25, 1772, and died November 1, 1826. He wrote: "The Satires of Juvenal, Translated into English Verse," "Epigrams," and his famous burlesque, "Bombastes Furioso."

The curfew tolls the knell of parting day, The lowing herd winds slowly o'er the lea, The ploughman homeward plods his weary way, And leaves the world to darkness and to me.

"Elegy in a Country Churchyard,"--_Thomas Gray_.

THOMAS GRAY, the renowned English poet, was born at Cornhill, London, December 26, 1716, and died at Cambridge, July 24, 1771. He wrote: "Ode to Adversity," "Progress of Poesy," "The Bard," "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College," and his most famous work, "Elegy in a Country Churchyard."

It may well wait a century for a reader, as God has waited six thousand years for an observer.

"Martyrs of Science" (Brewster),--_John Kepler_.

JOHANNES KEPLER, a German astronomer of great fame, was born at Weil, Würtemberg, December 27, 1571, and died at Ratisbon, November 15, 1630. His most famous work was: "New Astronomy, with Commentaries on the Motions of Mars."

Among men of letters Lowell is doubtless most typically American, though Curtis must find an eligible place in the list. Lowell was self-conscious, though the truest greatness is not; he was a trifle too "smart," besides, and there is no "smartness" in great literature. But both the self consciousness and the smartness must be admitted to be American; and Lowell was so versatile, so urbane, of so large a spirit, and so admirable in the scope of his sympathies, that he must certainly go on the calendar.

"Mere Literature and Other Essays,"--_Woodrow Wilson_.

WOODROW WILSON, a famous American educator and author, and twenty-eighth President of the United States, was born at Staunton, Va., December 28, 1856, and died at Washington, D. C., February 3, 1924. His works include: "Congressional Government: A Study of American Politics," "The State: Elements of Historical and Practical Politics," "Division and Reunion," "Epochs of American History," "An Old Master, and Other Political Essays," "Mere Literature and Other Essays," "George Washington," "A History of the American People," "Constitutional Government in the United States," "The New Freedom," "When a Man Comes to Himself," "On Being Human."

Selfishness is the greatest curse of the human race.

"Speech," Hawarden, May 28, 1890,--_William E. Gladstone_.

WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE, the eminent English statesman, essayist, and translator from the classics, was born in Liverpool, December 29, 1809, and died in 1898. His works include: "Studies in Homer and the Homeric Age," "Church and State," "Juventus Mundi," "Homeric Synchronism," "Gleanings of Past Years," etc.

The tumult and the shouting dies,-- The Captains and the Kings depart,-- Still stands thine ancient sacrifice, An humble and a contrite heart.

"Recessional,"--_Rudyard Kipling_.

RUDYARD KIPLING, a renowned English short-story writer, poet, and novelist, was born at Bombay, India, December 30, 1865. Among his writings are: "Life's Handicap," "Mine Own People," "Many Inventions," "Soldiers Three," "The Light That Failed," "The Seven Seas," "Barrack Room Ballads," "The Jungle Books," "Captains Courageous," "The Day's Work," "Stalky and Co.," "Just So Stories for Little Children," "Kim," "The Five Nations," "Traffics and Discoveries," "Puck of Pook's Hill," "Actions and Reactions," "Rewards and Fairies," "The Harbour Watch" (a play), "The New Armies in Training," "France at War," "Fringes of the Fleet," "A Diversity of Creatures," "The Years Between," etc.

Die Todten reiten schnell.[2]

"Lenore,"--_Bürger_.

GOTTFRIED AUGUST BÜRGER, an eminent German poet, was born at Molmerswende, near Ballenstedt, Anhalt, December 31, 1747 (or January 1, 1748), and died in Göttingen, June 8, 1794. He wrote: "The Parson's Daughter," "The Wild Huntsman," "The Song of the Brave Man," "Kaiser and Abbot," "The Robber Count," "The Wives of Weinsberg," and his most famous ballad, "Lenore."

"Isn't God upon the ocean Just the same as on the land?"

"The Tempest,"--_James Thomas Fields_.

JAMES THOMAS FIELDS, a noted American publisher and author, was born at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, December 31, 1817, and died in Boston, April 24, 1881. He published: "Underbrush," "Yesterdays with Authors," etc.

In winter, when the dismal rain Comes down in slanting lines, And Wind, that grand old harper, smote His thunder-harp of pines.

"A Life Drama," Sc. ii,--_Alexander Smith_.

ALEXANDER SMITH, a famous Scottish poet, was born in Kilmarnock, December 31, 1830, and died at Wardie, near Edinburgh, January 5, 1867. Among his poetical works are: "City Poems," "Edwin of Deira," and "A Life Drama," his most famous work. His prose works include: "Miss Oona McQuarrie," "Alfred Hagart's Household," "Dreamthorpe," "A Summer in Skye," etc.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] I fear God, dear Abner, and I have no other fear.

[2] The dead ride swiftly.

APPENDIX

APPENDIX

A bad neighbour is as great a misfortune as a good one is a great blessing.

"Works and Days," Line 346,--_Hesiod_.

HESIOD, a renowned Greek poet, born at Ascra in Boeotia, and lived in the ninth century (?), B.C. Among his writings are the: "Theogony," "Works and Days," "The Shield of Hercules," etc.

"The Homeric Poems are the earliest literary product of the world which has survived to our day, and they lie at the fountain-head of all the later literature of Europe."

HOMER, the greatest of epic poets, author of the "Iliad" and "Odyssey." The date of his birth has never been known, but is generally set at the eighth or ninth century B.C.

The fox said the grapes were sour.

--_Æsop_.

ÆSOP, a famous Greek fabulist, lived in the seventh century, B.C.

Procure not friends in haste, and when thou hast a friend part not with him in haste.

--_Solon_.

SOLON, the renowned Athenian legislator, lived about 638-559 B.C. The constitution which he gave to Athens, made him famous.

What is beautiful is good, and who is good will soon also be beautiful.

--_Sappho_.

SAPPHO, a celebrated Greek poet, was born in the Island of Lesbos, about 612 B.C. Little is known of her life. Only fragments of her poems remain. We have in complete form a "Hymn to Aphrodite" and an "Ode to a Beautiful Girl."

Wine is wont to show the mind of man.

"Maxims," Line 500,--_Theognis_.

THEOGNIS OF MEGARA, a famous Greek elegiac poet, flourished in the latter half of the sixth century B.C. Over one thousand of his verses have come down to our time.

With the exception of Heraclitus, Parmenides is the greatest of the pre-Socratic Greek thinkers.

--_Parmenides_.

PARMENIDES, a celebrated Greek philosopher of the fifth century B.C., was born at Elea in Southern Italy. He wrote one famous work on philosophy entitled: "On Nature." It was divided into three sections, "Proem," "Truth," and "Opinion," but only fragments of this work have come down to our time.

A lip like Persuasion's calling on us to kiss it.

--_Anacreon_.

ANACREON, a famous lyric poet, of Greece, was born at Teos, in Ionia, 562 (?) B.C., and died 477 B.C. A few of his authentic compositions have come down to our times.

We count it death to falter, not to die.

Jacobs I. 63, 20,--_Simonides_.

SIMONIDES, a renowned Greek lyric poet, was born in the Island of Ceos about 556 B.C., and died about 468 B.C. Some of his famous "Epigrams," have come down to our times.

By nature men are nearly alike; by practice they get to be wide apart.

--_Confucius_.

CONFUCIUS, the head of Chinese religious and social philosophy, was born about 551 B.C., and died 478 B.C. He wrote: "Analects," etc., and is credited with having compiled the "Ancient Poems." His last work is called "Annals of Lee" or "Spring and Autumn."

Much knowledge of things divine escapes us through want of faith.

--_Heraclitus_.

HERACLITUS, a renowned Greek philosopher, born in Ephesus, about 535 B.C., died about 475 B.C.

Time as he grows old teaches many lessons.

"Prometheus," 981,--_Æschylus_.

ÆSCHYLUS, the greatest of the Greek dramatists, was born at Eleusis, Attica, 525 B.C., and died at Gela, Sicily, 456 B.C. Of his numerous works only seven tragedies remain, "The Suppliants," "The Persians," "The Seven Against Thebes," "Prometheus Bound," "Agamemnon," "Choephori," and "Eumenides."

He is gifted with genius who knoweth much by natural talent.

--_Pindar_.

PINDAR, the greatest of the Greek lyric poets, was born at Cynoscephalæ near Boeotian Thebes, 522 B.C., and died at Argos, about 450 B.C. The Alexandrine scholars divided his poems into 17 books, comprising Hymns, Pæans, Dithyrambs, Encomia, and Songs of Victory.

Fortune is not on the side of the faint-hearted.

--_Sophocles_.

SOPHOCLES, the great Greek tragic poet, was born at Colonus near Athens, about 495 B.C.; and died about 405 B.C. His seven great tragedies are: "Antigone," "Electra," "Ajax," "Trachiniæ," "Philoctetes," "Oedipus Tyrannus," and "Oedipus at Colonus."

The saying "Call no man happy before he dies" was ascribed to Solon.

--_Herodotus_, I, 32.

HERODOTUS, "The Father of History," was born at Halicarnassus, in Caria, about 490 B.C., and died at Thurii, in Magna Græcia, between 428 B.C. and 426 B.C. His "Exposition of History" in nine books, won for him everlasting fame.

Moderation, the noblest gift of Heaven.

"Medea," 636,--_Euripides_.

EURIPIDES, a great Greek tragic poet, was born at Athens, about 480 B.C., and died about 406 B.C. Nineteen of his dramas have come down to our time: "Alcestis," "Andromache," "Hecube," "Bacchæ," "Helena," "Electra," "Heraclidæ," "The Mad Hercules," "The Suppliants," "Hippolytus," "Iphigenia at Tauris," "Ion," "Iphigenia at Aulis," "Medea," "Orestes," "Rhesus," "The Trojan Women," "The Phoenissæ," and "Cyclops."

Extreme remedies are very appropriate for extreme diseases.

Aphorism i,--_Hippocrates_.

HIPPOCRATES, a noted Greek philosopher and writer, termed the "Father of Medicine," was born according to Soranus, in Cos, in the first year of the 80th Olimpiad, i.e., in 460 B.C. The earliest Greek edition of the Hippocratic writings is that which was published by Aldus and Asulanus at Venice in 1526.

You think that upon the score of fore-knowledge and divining I am infinitely inferior to the swans. When they perceive approaching death they sing more merrily than before, because of the joy they have in going to the God they serve.

"In Phaedo," 77,--_Socrates_.

SOCRATES, the renowned Athenian philosopher, was born at Athens, about 470 B.C., and died 399 B.C. He left no writings, but his philosophical method and his teaching are to be found in the works of his contemporaries and disciples.

Envy doth merit like its shade pursue.

--_Aristophanes_.

ARISTOPHANES, the greatest of the Greek writers of comedy, (448-380 B.C.), was born at Athens. Only eleven of his 44 plays have come down to us. They are: "The Knights," "The Clouds," "The Wasps," "The Acharnians," "The Peace," "The Lyristrate," "The Birds," "The Thesmophoriazusæ," "The Frogs," "The Ecclesiazusæ," and "Plutus."

Trees and fields tell me nothing, men are my teachers.

--_Plato_.

PLATO, the renowned Greek philosopher, was born at Athens, about 427 B.C., and died there 347 B.C. Among his famous dialogues are: "Apology," "Lysis," "Charmides," "Laches," "Protagoras," "Meno," "Gorgias," "Io," "Euthyphro," "Crito," "Phædrus," "The Sophist," "The Politician," "Parmenides," "Symposium," "Phædo," "The Republic," "The Laws," etc.

Excess of grief for the deceased is madness; for it is an injury to the living, and the dead know it not.

--_Xenophon_.

XENOPHON, a famous Greek author, was born at Athens, about 430 B.C., and died in Corinth, about 355 B.C. He is the author of: "Encomium of Agesilaus," "Horsemanship," "Hipparchicus," "Cynegeticus," "Cyropædeia," "Lacedæmonian Polity," "Hieron," "Athenian Finance," "Symposium," "Apology of Socrates," "Oeconomicus," and his most celebrated works, the "Hellenics" and "Anabasis."

Our Theocritus, our Bion, And our Pindar's shining goals!-- These were cup-bearers undying, Of the wine that's meant for souls.

"Wine of Cyprus,"--_E. B. Browning_.

THEOCRITUS, the greatest of Greek bucolic poets, lived in the first half of the third century B.C. Thirty-one of his idyls and pastorals and a number of his epigrams have been preserved.

No excellent soul is exempt from a mixture of madness.

--_Aristotle_.

ARISTOTLE, the most renowned of Greek philosophers, was born at Stagira, Macedonia, 384 B.C., and died at Chalcis, Euboea, 322 B.C. He wrote numerous treatises on philosophy.

There is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots. What is it? Distrust.

"Philippic 2," Sect. 24,--_Demosthenes_.

DEMOSTHENES, a renowned Athenian orator, was born about 384 B.C., and died at Calauria, 322 B.C. Besides his numerous orations, he wrote the "Olynthiacs" and the "Philippics," and his great speech, "On the Crown."

Amnesty, that noble word, the genuine dictate of wisdom.

--_Æschines_.

ÆSCHINES, a great Athenian orator, rival of Demosthenes, lived 389-314 B.C.

A good man never dies.

"Epigrams," X,--_Callimachus_.

CALLIMACHUS, a renowned Greek poet, born in Cyrene, flourished in the third century B.C. Besides his tragedies, comedies, elegies and hymns, he wrote the epics, "Hecale" and "Galatea," a "Hymn to Jupiter," and an "Epitaph on Heracleitus."

Patience is the best remedy for every trouble.

"Rudens," Act II, Sc. 5, 71,--_Plautus_.

TITUS MACCIUS PLAUTUS, a celebrated Roman comic poet, was born at Sarsina in Umbria, about 254 B.C., and died at Rome about 184 B.C. His "Captives" has been declared "the best constructed drama in existence."

Buy not what you need, but what you must have; what you do not need is dear at a penny.

--_Cato_.

MARCUS PORCIUS CATO, THE CENSOR, a famous Roman statesman and pamphleteer (234-149 B.C.) He wrote many tractates on different subjects, but only one of them, "On Farming," has come down to our times. Of "Beginnings" we have only a few fragments.

"Polybius of Megalopolis in Arcadia must rank as the third Greek historian, Herodotus and Thucydides being first and second."

POLYBIUS, a celebrated Greek historian, was born at Megalopolis in Arcadia, 204 B.C., and died 122 B.C. His "Histories," won for him great fame.

The quarrels of lovers are the renewal of love.

"Andria," Act III, Sc. 3, 23,--_Terence_.

TERENCE, the renowned Latin writer of comedy, was born at Carthage, about 185 B.C., and died about 159 B.C. Among his writings are: "Andria," "Hecyra," "Heautontimorumenos," "Eunuchus," "Phormio," and "Adelphi."

While the sick man has life there is hope.

"Epistolarum ad Atticum,"--_Cicero_.

MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO, the prince of Roman orators, a distinguished writer on philosophy, rhetoric, morals, etc., was born at Arpinum, 106 B.C., and died 43 B.C. Among his treatises on the art of oratory are: "The Orator, to Marcus Brutus," "Of the Orator," and "Brutus, or of Illustrious Orators." His philosophical writings include: "The Academics," "Tusculan Disputations," "Of Definitions of Good and Evil." Of discussions of moral questions, we have the practical treatise, "Of Mutual Offices." Theological questions are examined in the two treatises, "Of Divinations" and "Of the Nature of the Gods"; also the treatises, "Of Old Age," "Of Friendship," "Of Consolation." The letters of Cicero are extant to the number of 864, under the titles: "To Intimate Friends" (16 books), "To Atticus" (also 16 books), "To Quintus," his brother, (3 books), and "Correspondence with M. Brutus" (in 2 books).

Wine and other luxuries have a tendency to enervate the mind and make men less brave in battle.

--_Cæsar_.

CAIUS JULIUS CÆSAR, the great Roman general and writer of memoirs, was probably born about 100 B.C.; killed March 15, 44 B.C. Besides his famous "Commentaries," he wrote a grammatical treatise, "On Analogy," but it has not come down to our times.

What is food to one man may be fierce poison to others.

"De Rerum Natura," IV, 637,--_Lucretius_.

TITUS LUCRETIUS CARUS, a renowned Roman poet, was born about 98 B.C., and died 55 B.C. His one work, "On Nature," in six books, is considered one of the greatest of Latin didactic poems.

I hate and love--the why I cannot tell But by my tortures know the fact too well.

"Two Chords," (translation of Sir Theodore Martin),--_Catullus_.

CAIUS VALERIUS CATULLUS, the greatest of Roman lyric poets, was born at Verona, 84 B.C., and died 54 B.C. A number of his compositions have come down to our time, The most celebrated are those "To Lesbia," "The Boat," and "Address to Himself."

Numero deus impare gaudet. (The god delights in odd numbers.)

"Eclogæ," 8, p. 75,--_Virgil_.

VIRGIL, the greatest of Roman epic poets, was born at Andes near Mantua, October 5, 70 B.C., and died at Brundisium, September 21, 19 B.C. He wrote the "Georgics," "Bucolics," and the epic, "The Æneid," in 12 books.

If you wish me to weep, you yourself must feel grief.

"Ars Poetica," 102,--_Horace_.

HORACE (QUINTUS HORATIUS FLACCUS), the great Latin lyric poet, was born at Venusia, Italy, December 8, 65 B.C., and died at Rome November 27, 8 B.C. He wrote: "Satires," "Epodes," "Odes," and his famous "Epistles."

Wit is the flower of the imagination.

--_Livy_.

LIVY, the great Roman historian, was born at Patavium (Padua), 59 B.C., and died there A.D. 17. He wrote the "History of Rome from the Founding of the City," in 142 "books," many of which have been lost.

Perjuria ridet amantum Jupiter.[1]

--_Tibullus_.

ALBIUS TIBULLUS, a renowned Roman poet, was born about 54 B.C., and died probably in 19 B.C. Three books of his elegies have come down to us.

Qua pote quisque in ca conterat diem.[2]

--_Propertius_.

SEXTUS PROPERTIUS, the great Roman elegiac poet, was born at Aassisium, about 50 B.C., and died about 15 B.C. His poems consist of four books.

In my opinion, he only may be truly said to live, and enjoy his being, who is engaged in some laudable pursuit and acquire a name by some illustrious action or useful art.

--_Sallust_.

SALLUST, a famous Roman historian, was born about 86 B.C., and died at Rome, about 34 B.C. He wrote: "The Conspiracy of Catiline," and "The History of the War Against Jugurtha."

A good man possesses a kingdom.

"Thyestes," 380,--_Seneca_.

LUCIUS ANNAEUS SENECA, an illustrious Roman philosopher, was born at Corduba, in Spain, about the year 4 B.C., and died A.D. 65. Many of his writings have come down to our time, among them 124 "Epistles to Lucilius," containing exhortations to the practice of virtue: "On Providence," "Anger," "Of Benefits," and "Natural History Questions," also, several tragedies, among them, "Phædra," "Thyestes," and "Medea."

Habit is stronger than nature.

--_Quintus Curtius Rufus_.

QUINTUS CURTIUS RUFUS a notable Eoman historian, was born about the first century A.D. He is the author of "De Rebus Gestis Alexandri Magni" (Deeds of Alexander the Great), in ten books, the first two of which are lost.

The best plan is, as the common proverb has it, to profit by the folly of others.

Natural History,