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CHARACTER OF MAHOMET.

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of his scriptural oracle of Waraka; in his career as a conqueror, he had Omar, Khaled, and other fiery spirits by his side1 to urge him on,2 and to aid him in managing 3 the tremendous power which he had evoked into action. Even with all their aid, he had occasionally to avail himself of his supernatural machinery as a prophet, and in so doing may have reconciled himself to the fraud by considering the pious end to be obtained.7

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His military triumphs awakened no pride nor vain glory, as they would have done had they been effected for selfish purposes.9 In the time of his greatest power 10 he maintained the same simplicity of manners and appearance as in the days of his adversity. So far 11 from affecting regal state, he was displeased if, on entering a room, any unusual testimonial of respect were shown him.12 If he aimed at universal dominion, it was the dominion of the faith; as to the temporal rule which grew up 13 in his hands, as he used it without ostentation, so he took no step 14 to perpetuate it in his family.

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The riches which poured in upon him from 15 tribute and the spoils of war were expended in 16 promoting the 17 victories of the faith, and in relieving the 18 poor

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1 By his side, à ses côtés-2 to urge him on, pour le pousser en avant-3 in managing, à diriger- the tremendous power......evoked into action, la formidable puissance......évoquée et mise en mouvement-5 to avail himself of, à faire appel à-6 and in, etc.......fraud, et il se peut qu'il se soit pardonné l'emploi de cet artifice-7 end to be obtained, objet en vue- effected, poursuivis for.....purposes, dans un but...... 10 in the time of his greatest power, à l'apogée de son pouvoir- so far, loin-12 on entering, etc.......shown him, à son entrée dans un appartement, on lui donnait des marques excessives de respect-13 which grew up, que la force des choses plaça14 he took no step, il ne prit aucune mesure-15 the riches, etc....... from, les richesses considérables que lui procurèrent-16 expended in, employées à-17 promoting the, l'avancement des-18 in relieving the, au soulagement des.

among its votaries, insomuch that his treasury was often drained of its last coin.1 Omar Ibn Al Hareth declares, that Mahomet, at his death, did not leave a golden dinar nor a silver dirhem, a slave nor a slave girl,2 nor anything but his grey mule Daldal, his arms, and the ground, which he bestowed upon his wives, his children, and the poor. "Allah," says an Arabian writer, "offered him the keys of all the treasures of the earth, but he refused to accept them."

WASHINGTON IRVING, "Life of Mahomet."

FRANCE UNDER NAPOLEON.

The sudden resurrection of France, when Napoleon assumed the helm, is one of the most extraordinary passages of European history, and singularly descriptive of 5 the irresistible reaction in favour of a firm government, which inevitably arises from a long course of revolutionary convulsions. Let not future ages be deluded by the idea that a period of democratic anarchy is one of national strength; it is, on the contrary, in the end, the certain forerunner of public calamity. The glories of the Revolutionary wars were achieved 10 under the despotic rule of the Convention, wielding ten times the power which had ever been enjoyed by 11 Louis

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1 Insomuch, etc......its last coin, à tel point qu'il ne resta souvent pas une seule pièce de monnaie dans ses coffres-2 a slave nor a slave girl, un esclave homme ou femme-3 nor anything but, qu'il ne laissa absolument rien que.

4 Assumed the helm, s'empara de l'autorité-5 singularly descriptive of, montre d'une manière frappante-6 which inevitably arises from, qui est la conséquence inévitable de-7 let not......be deluded by the idea, que......ne s'abusent point à croire- one, une période9"the glorious successes"-10 achieved, remportés-11 wielding, etc. ......enjoyed by, qui exerça dix fois autant d'autorité qu'en posséda jamais.

FRANCE UNDER NAPOLEON.

221

XIV.; the effects of democratic anarchy appeared 1 from its dissolution in the disasters of the Directory. After the fall of the Committee of Public Salvation, the triumphs of France centred3 in Napoleon alone; whereever he did not command in person, the greatest reverses were experienced. In 1795 the republicans were defeated by Clairfait on the Rhine; in 1796, by the Archduke Charles in Germany. In 1799, their reverses were unexampled, both in Italy and Germany; from the 9th Thermidor to the 18th Brumaire-a period of about five years-the fortunes 5 of the Republic were singly sustained by the sword of Napoleon and the lustre of his Italian campaigns. When he seized the helm in November 1799, he found the armies defeated and ruined; the frontier invaded, both on the sides of Italy and Germany, the arsenals empty, the soldiers in despair deserting their colours, the royalists revolting against the government, general anarchy in the interior, the treasury empty, the energies of the Republic apparently exhausted. Instantly, as if by enchantment, everything was 10 changed; order reappeared out of 11 chaos, talent emerged out of obscurity, vigour arose out of weakness.12 The arsenals were filled,13 the veterans crowded to 14 their eagles, the conscripts joyfully repaired to the frontier, Vendée was pacified, the exchequer began to overflow. In little more than six months after Napoleon's accession,15 the Austrians were 16 forced to seek refuge under the cannon of Ulm,

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1 Appeared, éclatèrent—2 from, dès-3 centred, furent concentrés 4 experienced, essuyés-5 sing.—6 both on the sides of......and, du côté de......comme du côté de-7 in, à-8 the energies, les forces-? as if by, comme par-10 was, see note a, p. 33-11 out of, du sein du12 vigour, etc......weakness, la faiblesse fit place à la vigueur-13 were filled, se remplirent-14 crowded to, accoururent en foule sous15 N.'s accession, avénement de N. au pouvoir-16 imperf.

Italy was regained, unanimity and enthusiasm prevailed1 among the people, and the revived energy of the nation was finally launched into the career of conquest.2 Changes so extraordinary cannot be explained by the influence of any one man.1 Great as the abilities of Napoleon undoubtedly were, they could not be equal to the Herculean task of reanimating a whole nation. It was the transition from anarchy to order, from the tyranny of demagogues to the ascendant of talent, from the weakness of popular to the vigour of military government, which was the real cause of the change. The virtuous, the able, the brave, felt that they no longer required to remain in obscurity; that democratic jealousy would not now be permitted to extinguish rising 10 ability; financial imbecility to crush patriotic exertion; private cupidity to exhaust public resources; civil weakness to paralyze military valour. The universal conviction that the reign of the multitude was at an end, produced the astonishing burst of talent which led to the glories 11 of Marengo and Hohenlinden.

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SIR ARCHIBALD ALISON.

ON REVENGE.

Revenge is a kind of wild justice, which the more man's nature runs to,12 the more ought law to weed it

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1 Prevailed, régnaient-2 plur.-3 cannot be explained, ne peuvent s'expliquer- of any one man, d'un seul homme, quel qu'il soit5 great as......were, tout grands qu'étaient (or: si grands que fussent)...... 6 equal to, à la hauteur de-7 the, ce-8 the virtuous, the able, the brave, les gens de bien, les hommes de tête et les hommes de cœur-9 that, etc......permitted, qu'on ne permettrait plus à la jalousie démocratique-10 rising, naissant led to the glories, amena les glorieuses journées.

12 Which the more man's nature runs to, telle que, plus le naturel de l'homme l'y pousse.

ON REVENGE.

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out for as for the first wrong,1 it doth but offend the law, but the revenge of that wrong putteth the law out of office. Certainly, in taking revenge a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior; for it is a prince's part to pardon; and Solomon, I am sure, saith, "It is the glory of a man to pass by an offence." That which is past is gone and irrevocable, and wise men have enough to do with things present and to come; therefore they do but trifle with themselves 5 that labour in past matters. There is no man doth a wrong for the wrong's sake, but thereby to purchase himself profit, or pleasure, or honour, or the like;8 therefore why should I be angry with a man for loving himself better than me? And if any man should do wrong merely out of ill-nature,10 why,11 it is but like the thorn or brier, which prick and scratch because they can do no other.12 The most tolerable sort of revenge is for those wrongs which there is no law to remedy;18 but then, let a man take heed 14 the revenge be such as there is no law to punish,15 else a man's enemy is still beforehand,16 and it is two for one. Some,17 when they take 18 revenge, are desirous the party should know 19 whence it

1 As for the first wrong, pour ce qui est de la première injustice is but even with, se met simplement au niveau de-3 in passing it over, en la dédaignant- that which is past is gone, ce qui est fait est passé-5 they do but trifle with themselves, ceux-là sont leurs propres dupes-6 that labour in past matters, qui se tourmen-` tent des choses passées-7 for the wrong's sake, pour l'amour de l'injustice- or the like, ou pareille chose-9 for loving himself, de ce qu'il s'aime-10 merely out of ill-nature, par pure méchanceté11 why, à quoi bon s'en formaliser ?-12 "they cannot do otherwise " 13 which there is no law to remedy, pour lesquelles il n'y a de remède dans aucune loi existante-14 let......take heed, qu'......ait soin 15 que- as there is no law to punish, qu'aucune loi ne puisse la punir-16 is......beforehand, a......les devants-17 some, il en est qui-18 they take, ils exercent leur-19 are desirous the party should know, tienner cet à que le délinquant sache.