Seven Discourses on Artby Sir Joshua ReynoldsINTRODUCTIONIt is a happy memory that associates the foundation of our Royal Academy with the delivery of these inaugural discourses by Sir Joshua Reynolds, on the opening of the schools, and at the first annual meetings for the distribution of its prizes. They laid down principles of art from the point of view of a man of genius who had made his power felt, and with the clear good sense which is the foundation of all work that looks upward and may hope to live. The truths here expressed concerning Art may, with slight adjustment of the way of thought, be applied to Literature or to any exercise of the best powers of mind for shaping the deligh　

MARCELLUS268?-208 B.C.by Plutarchtranslated by John DrydenTHEY say that Marcus Claudius, who was five times consul of theRomans, was the son of Marcus; and that he was the first of his familycalled Marcellus; that is, martial, as Posidonius affirms. He was,indeed, by long experience, skilful in the art of war, of a strongbody, valiant of hand, and by natural inclinations addicted to war.This high temper and heat he showed conspicuously in battle; inother respects he was modest and obliging, and so far studious ofGreek learning and discipline, as to honour and admire those that...　

Aaron Trowby Anthony TrollopeI would wish to declare, at the beginning of this story, that Ishall never regard that cluster of islets which we call Bermuda asthe Fortunate Islands of the ancients. Do not let professionalgeographers take me up, and say that no one has so accounted them,and that the ancients have never been supposed to have gottenthemselves so far westwards. What I mean to assert is thisthat,had any ancient been carried thither by enterprise or stress ofweather, he would not have given those islands so good a name. Thatthe Neapolitan sailors of King Alonzo should have been wrecked here,I consider to be more likely. The vexed Bermoothes is a good name...　

THE COMPARISON OF PHILOPOEMEN WITH FLAMININUSby Plutarchtranslated by John DrydenFIRST them, as for the greatness of the benefits which Titusconferred on Greece, neither Philopoemen, nor many braver men than he,can make good the parallel. They were Greeks fighting againstGreeks, but Titus, a stranger to Greece, fought for her. And at thevery time when Philopoemen went over into Crete, destitute of means tosuccour his besieged countrymen, Titus, by a defeat given to Philip inthe heart of Greece, set them and their cities free. Again, if weexamine the battles they fought, Philopoemen, whilst he was the...　

ON SENSE AND THE SENSIBLEby Aristotletranslated by J. I. Beare1HAVING now definitely considered the soul, by itself, and itsseveral faculties, we must next make a survey of animals and allliving things, in order to ascertain what functions are peculiar,and what functions are common, to them. What has been alreadydetermined respecting the soul [sc. by itself] must be assumedthroughout. The remaining parts [sc. the attributes of soul andbody conjointly] of our subject must be now dealt with, and we may...　

BOOK II: OF THEIR TOWNS, PARTICULARLY OF AMAUROTHE that knows one of their towns knows them all, they are so likeone another, except w here the situation makes some difference. Ishall therefore describe one of them; and none is so proper asAmaurot; for as none is more eminent, all the rest yielding inprecedence to this, because it is the seat of their SupremeCouncil, so there was none of them better known to me, I havinglived five years altogether in it.It lies upon the side of a hill, or rather a rising ground: itsfigure is almost square, for from the one side of it, which shoots...　

POPLICOLA500 B.C.by Plutarchtranslated by John DrydenSUCH was Solon. To him we compare Poplicola, who received this latertitle from the Roman people for his merit, as a noble accession to hisformer name, Publius Valerius. He descended from Valerius, a manamongst the early citizens, reputed the principal reconciler of thedifferences betwixt the Romans and Sabines, and one that was mostinstrumental in persuading their kings to assent to peace and union.Thus descended, Publius Valerius, as it is said, whilst Romeremained under its kingly government, obtained as great a name from...　

GULLIVER OF MARSGULLIVER OF MARSby Edwin L. Arnold1- Page 2-GULLIVER OF MARSCHAPTER IDare I say it? Dare I say that I, a plain, prosaic lieutenant in therepublican service have done the incredible things here set out for the loveof a womanfor a chimera in female shape; for a pale, vapid ghost ofwoman-loveliness? At times I tell myself I dare not: that you will laugh,and cast me aside as a fabricator; and then again I pick up my pen and...　

TWICE-TOLD TALESTHE CELESTIAL RAILROADby Nathaniel HawthorneNOT A GREAT WHILE AGO, passing through the gate of dreams, Ivisited that region of the earth in which lies the famous city ofDestruction. It interested me much to learn that, by the public spiritof some of the inhabitants, a railroad has recently been establishedbetween this populous and flourishing town, and the Celestial City.Having a little time upon my hands, I resolved to gratify a liberalcuriosity to make a trip thither. Accordingly, one fine morning, afterpaying my bill at the hotel, and directing the porter to stow my...　

The Memorabiliaor Recollections of Socratesby XenophonTranslation by H. G. DakynsXenophon the Athenian was born 431 B.C. He was apupil of Socrates. He marched with the Spartans,and was exiled from Athens. Sparta gave him landand property in Scillus, where he lived for manyyears before having to move once more, to settlein Corinth. He died in 354 B.C.The Memorabilia is a recollection of Socrates inword and deed, to show his character as the bestand happiest of men.BOOK III have often wondered by what arguments those who indicted[1] Socratescould have persuaded the Athenians that his life was justly forfeit to...　

THE BIRTHMARKIn the latter part of the last century there lived a man ofscience, an eminent proficient in every branch of naturalphilosophy, who not long before our story opens had madeexperience of a spiritual affinity more attractive than anychemical one. He had left his laboratory to the care of anassistant, cleared his fine countenance from the furnace smoke,washed the stain of acids from his fingers, and persuaded abeautiful woman to become his wife. In those days when thecomparatively recent discovery of electricity and other kindredmysteries of Nature seemed to open paths into the region ofmiracle, it was not unusual for the love of science to rival the...　

St. Ives, The Adventures of a French Prisoner in Englandby Robert Louis StevensonCHAPTER I - A TALE OF A LION RAMPANTIT was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall atlast into the hands of the enemy. My knowledge of the Englishlanguage had marked me out for a certain employment. Though Icannot conceive a soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to behanged for a spy is a disgusting business; and I was relieved to beheld a prisoner of war. Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing inthe midst of that city on the summit of an extraordinary rock, Iwas cast with several hundred fellow-sufferers, all privates like...