I ne'er the paths of learning tried:
Nor have I roamed in foreign parts,
To read mankind, their laws, and arts;
For man is practised in disguise;
He cheats the most discerning eyes;
Who by that search shall wiser grow,
When we ourselves can never know;
The little knowledge I have gained,
Was all from simple nature drained;
Hence my life's maxims took their rise,
Hence grew my settled hate to vice.
The daily labors of the bee
Awake my soul to industry.
Who can observe the careful ant,
And not provide for future want?
My dog, (the truest of his kind)
With gratitude inflames my mind;
I mark his true, his faithful way,
And in my service copy Tray.
In constancy and nuptial love,
I learn my duty from the dove.
The hen, who from the chilly air,
With pious wing protects her care,
And every fowl that flies at large,
Instructs me in a parent's charge.
From nature, too, I take my rule
To shun contempt and ridicule.
I never with important air,
In conversation overbear;
Can grave and formal pass
for wise,
When men the solemn owl despise?
My tongue within my lips I rein,
For who talks much must talk in vain.

We from the wordy torrent fly;
Who listens to the chattering pie?
Nor would I with felonious flight,
By stealth invade my neighbor's right;
Rapacious animals we hate;

Kites, hawks, and wolves, deserve their fe
Do not we just abhorrence find
Against the toad and serpent kind?
But envy, calumny, and spite,
Bear stronger venom in their bite;
Thus every object of creation
Can furnish hints for contemplation.
And from the most minute and mean,
A virtuous mind can morals glean.
Thy fame is just, the sage replies;
Thy virtue proves thee truly wise.
Pride often guides the author's pen;
Books as affected are as men;
But he who studies nature's laws,
From certain truth his maxims draws;
And those, without our schools, suffice
To make men moral, good, and wise.

LESSON SEVENTIETH.

Pizarro and the Inca of Peru.

It happened that just at the time of the arrival of Pizarro and Almagro in Peru, the inhabitants of the country were at war with each other. Two brothers were contesting the right of succession to the government of the country; and one of the two, whose name was Atahualpa, solicited the Spaniards to assist him in gaining his end.

Pizarro saw what advantage this would give him. He pretended to be sent from a distance, on purpose to assist Atahualpa in overcoming his enemies, and marched directly to join him.

Every thing the Spaniards saw, contributed to give them a high idea of the riches of the country, and to inflame their avarice; and Pizarro, who recollected how much Cortes had gained by seizing Montezuma,

formed a plan of the same kind, for getting the person of Atanualpa into his possession. He resolved that the next day, when he had invited this prince to visit him, he would put his scheme, if possible, into execution.

The monarch, or Inca, (as he was called,) made great preparations for his visit to the Spaniards. Pizarro grew so impatient, that he sent him several messages, to assure him of his friendly intentions; at the same time, arranging his soldiers in such a manner as seemed most likely to secure his success.

At length the Inca came. Four hundred men, in a uniform dress, walked first, in procession, to clear the way before him. He himself appeared, sitting on a throne, or couch, almost covered with plates of gold and silver, and precious stones. He was followed by his officers and troops, in all amounting, it was supposed, to 60,000 men.

As he drew nigh, a Spanish priest advanced, and read to the poor prince a long account of the doctrines of religion, and informed him that the pope had given the kingdom of Peru to the Spaniards, who were come to take possession of it; promising, that if he submitted to them, and embraced the Christian faith, he should be treated with kindness, and enjoy their favor and protection; but if not, he denounced war against him, and threatened him with the most dreadful vengeance.

The Inca, very much surprised at all this, which was imperfectly interpreted to him, at last answered, that he did not understand what right the pope, of whom he knew nothing, had to give away his king dom; that he had been brought up in the religion of Peru, and as yet had seen no reason for changing it; but he begged to know where the priest had learned all he told him.

"From this book," said the priest, holding out his prayer book to him. The Inca eagerly took the book,

opened it, and turned over the leaves. "This," said he, "is silent; it tells me nothing.' And he threw it down on the ground. The priest, angry at this, exclaimed, "To arms! Christians, to arms! the word of God is profaned."

Pizarro instantly gave the signal for attack. His soldiers fell upon the poor, defenceless, astonished people; the muskets and cannon were fired; the cavalry rode in among them. Pizarro himself advanced to seize the Inca. The Peruvians gathered round offering themselves willing to die for him; but Pizarro seizing him by the arm, dragged him away a prisoner to the Spanish quarters; still the bloody work went on; and the Spaniards are said to have killed on that day, four thousand of the natives of Peru!

The captive Inca, as soon as he had recovered a little from the deep distress into which he was plunged at finding himself a prisoner, began to think how he could regain his liberty; and soon observing the Spaniard's thirst for gold, he offered an immense ransom for his freedom. He undertook to fill the apartment in which he was confined, which was twenty-two feet in length, and sixteen in breadth, with vessels of gold as high as he could reach.

Pizarro, delighted, eagerly accepted the offer; and the prince sent orders to his subjects, in all parts of the kingdom, to collect these vessels of gold. The Spaniards were astonished at the expedition with which his orders were executed. Every day, parties of the natives arrived, bringing in their contributions; and when all were collected, and the gold melted, it amounted to an immense sum of money.

After this you will expect to hear that Pizarro set at liberty the poor monarch, according to his agreement. Alas, no! that was far from his thoughts. Almagro, who was not so hardened, begged earnestly, that so wicked and base a part might not be acted towards this prince. But Pizarro was determined on

the death of Atahualpa; and regardless of what could be said, he brought him to a formal trial, and then caused him to be put to death.

This cruel action greatly disgusted Almagro and many of his friends; and, at length, struck with abhorrence at this and other instances of Pizarro's cruelty, they revolted from him. Thus a civil war began between the conquerors of Peru. Almagro after a time, was taken prisoner by Pizarro and strangled; but his death was revenged by his son, who assassinated Pizarro in the year 1541.

LESSON SEVENTY-FIRST.

Ode on Solitude.

Thou gentle nurse of pleasing wo!
To thee, from crowds, and noise, and show,
With eager haste I fly.
Thrice welcome, friendly Solitude!

O let no busy foot intrude,

Nor list'ning ear be nigh.

Soft, silent, melancholy maid!
With thee to yon sequestered shade
My pensive steps I bend;
Ι

Still, at the mild approach of night,
When Cynthia lends her sober light,
Do thou my walk attend!

To thee alone my conscious heart
Its tender sorrow dares impart,
And ease my lab'ring breast;
To thee I trust the rising sigh,
And bid the tear that swells mine eye
No longer be suppressed.