execution; have them instantly before us." They came; when the queen, with an aspect and accents diffusing sweetness, thus bespoke them: "Natives of France, and inhabitants of Calais, ye have put us to vast expence of blood and treasure in the recovery of Our just and natural inheritance; but you have acted up to the best of an erroneous judgment, and we admire and honour in you that valour and virtue, by which we are so long kept out of our rightful possessions. “You noble burghers, you excellent citizens! though you were tenfold the enemies of our person and our throne, we can feel nothing on our part, save respect and affection for you. You have been sufficiently tested;---we loose your chains-we snatch you from the scaffold--and we thank you for that lesson of humiliation which you teach us, when you shew us that excellence excellence is not of blood, of title, or station; that virtue gives a 'dignity superior to that of kings; and that those whom the Almighty informs with sentiments like yours, are justly and eminently raised above all human distinctions. "You are now free to depart to your kinsfolk, your countrymen, to all whose lives and liberties you have so nobly redeemed, provided you refuse not to carry with you the due tokens of our esteem. "Yet we would rather bind you to ourselves, by every endearing obligation; and for this purpose, we offer to you your choice of the gifts and honours that Edward has to bestow. Rivals for fame, but always friends to virtue, we wish that England were entitled to call you her sons." you. "Ah, my country!" exclaimed Saint Pierre, it is now that I tremble for Edward could only win your cities, but Philippa conquers hearts.” "Brave Saint Pierre," said the queen, "wherefore look you so dejected?" "Ah, madam!" replied Saint Pierre, "when I meet with such another opportunity of dying I shall not regret that I survived this day." FIFTH THE sage Aboul-casem having disco vered, by his skill in astrology, that all the water of the town where he dwelt would fall the next year under the influence of such a strange planet, that whoever drank of it would become foolish, resolved to exempt himself from the common disaster; and proposed great pleasure and honour from being the only wise man in the town. Accordingly he provided a reservoir, which he filled with a sufficient quantity of the present year's water, that he might be in no necessity of drinking that of the fatal year. This prediction was at length verified, and the first appearance of the universal folly gave him great delight; but folly not being of a nature to amuse long, he grew weary of so inhuman a pleasure. He soon found himself deprived of all the joys and conveniences of society: no creature could give him a reasonable answer. He asked one what o'clock it was; who told him," that corn was at two sequins a bushel." He enquired what news of another; who answered, "that salt was an excellent thing to butter fish with." He tried others, and found their replies equally remote from the question, which made him almost as mad as the water had made them. Yet he observed, that all lived easy and sociable with one another, and perfectly well satisfied with their |