the cause of the plague, of all the evils we suffer from. What! eat the cabbages of your master!” "My good sir," replied the poor donkey, trembling in every limb, "I did not eat a cabbage, it was only" "Rascal, you ate the leaves, it's all the same. You deserve death." Thereupon, all the animals fell on the ass, tore him to pieces, and devoured him.

The weak are often punished for trifling faults, while men in power escape the punishments they deserve for great crimes.

57. FINE EXAMPLE OF FILIAL LOVE.

A German (a) colonel showed to a number of officers who were dining with him a gold snuff-box of great value. Missing it when the dinner was over, he said to his guests, "Has not one of you put it in his pocket through inattention, or to play me a trick?" All stood up at once, and turned their pockets inside out, but the snuff-box was not to be found. A young ensign, whose embarrassment was visible, alone refused to submit to this trial. "I affirm on my word of honor," said he, "that I have not the snuffbox; that ought to be sufficient." Before the end of the evening, the colonel found his snuff-box, to the satisfaction of all. It had slipped through a hole in the lining of his coat.

(a) Voir note (b), p. 122.

seul qui es cause de la peste, de tous les maux que® nous souffrons. Quoi! manger les choux de ton maître!" "Mon bon monsieur," répliqua le pauvre baudet, tremblant de tous ses membres, "je n'ai pas mangé un chou, ce n'était..." "Coquin, tu as mangé les feuilles, c'est tout un. Tu mérites la mort," Là-dessus tous les animaux se jetèrent sur l'âne, le mirent en pièces et le dévorèrent.

Les faibles sont souvent punis pour des fautes légères, tandis que les puissants échappent aux châtiments qu'ils méritent pour de grands crimes.

57. BEL EXEMPLE D'AMOUR FILIAL.

Un colonel allemand (a) montra à plusieurs officiers qui dînaient chez lui une tabatière d'or d'un grand prix. A la fin du dîner, ne la retrouvant pas, il dit à ses convives: "Quelqu'un de vous ne l'aurait-il pas mise dans sa poche par distraction ou pour me faire une plaisanterie ?" Tous se levèrent aussitôt et retournèrent leurs poches sans que la tabatière reparût. Un jeune sous-lieutenant, dont l'embarras était visible, seul refusa de se soumettre à cette épreuve. "J'affirme sur ma parole d'honneur," dit-il, "que je n'ai point la tabatière; cela doit suffire." Avant la fin de la soirée, le colonel retrouva sa tabatière, à la satisfaction de tout le monde. Elle s'était glissée par un trou dans la doublure de son habit.

(a) See note (b), p. 122.

1

The next day, the colonel said to the ensign, "Have the goodness to tell me why you were not willing, like all the other officers, to turn your pockets inside out?" "Colonel," answered the young officer, "to you only will I reveal the truth, because I am sure you will keep my secret. My parents are very poor, and, to be able to give them a part of my pay, I go to as little expense as I can for my meals. When you did me the honor of inviting me to dinner, I had already my dinner in my pocket. Imagine what would have been my confusion, if, in turning my pockets inside out, I had dropped a sausage and a piece of brown bread!"

The colonel, much affected, pressed his hand affectionately, saying, "Well, in order to aid you in relieving your parents, I invite you to take your meals with me every day." He made him a present of his snuff-box, as a token of esteem.

58. THE FIGHT OF THE THIRTY KNIGHTS.

In the commencement of the reign of John II, (the Second), during the seven years' truce which had been sworn in 1350 by Philip of Valois, his father, and Edward III. (the Third) of England, a noble of Brittany, Baron Robert Beaumanoir, jealous of the reputation of bravery obtained by an English baron, who resided not far from his own castle, challenged him to come with twenty-nine other knights of his nation, to fight against thirty

Le lendemain, le colonel dit au sous-lieutenant: Ayez la bonté de me dire pourquoi vous n'avez pas voulu, comme tous les autres officiers, retourner vos poches?" "Mon colonel," répondit le jeune officier, "c'est une chose que je n'avouerai qu'à vous; parce que je suis sûr que vous garderez mon secret. Mes parents sont très-pauvres, et, pour pouvoir leur donner une partie de ma solde, je fais le moins de dépense possible pour mes repas. Lorsque vous me fites l'honneur de m'inviter à dîner, j'avais mon dîner dans ma poche. Jugez qu'elle aurait été ma confusion, si, en retournant mes poches, j'avais fait tomber un saucisson et un morceau de pain bis!"

Le colonel, vivement ému, lui dit en lui serrant la main avec affection: "Eh bien, pour vous aider à soulager vos parents, vous aurez votre couvert tous les jours chez moi." Il lui fit présent de sa tabatière comme une marque d'estime.

58. LE COMBAT DES TRENTE.

Au commencement du règne de Jean II (Deux), pendant la trêve de sept ans qu'avaient jurée en 1350 Philippe de Valois, son père, et Édouard III (Trois) d'Angleterre, un noble Breton, le baron Robert de Beaumanoir, jaloux de la réputation de bravoure dont jouissait un seigneur anglais, qui résidait non loin de son château, l'envoya défier de venir avec vingt-neuf autres chevaliers de sa nation combattre trente chevaliers français. De semblables

French knights. Such challenges were not rare, at that period, between the French and the English, and were never declined. Therefore, the baron's was readily accepted.

The thirty warriors of the two nations, cased in steel, and their horses also, were, on the appointed day and hour, at the place of meeting, which had been chosen near Ploermel. They had no sooner arrived than, at a given signal, they rushed furiously upon each other. The first onset was terrible, and their blood soon flowed in torrents. Several men were dismounted and trampled upon by the horses. For three hours the battle was kept up with increasing fury, while the victory remained undecided for either party.

It is related, that the Seigneur de Beaumanoir, dangerously wounded and tortured by a burning thirst, was failing fast from suffering and loss of blood. One of his companions, perceiving it, cried out to him, "Beaumanoir, drink thy blood, and thy thirst will cease." The intrepid Breton, roused by these words, recalled all his energy; and the victory was soon decided for the French. Eight English knights remained on the field of battle; the others threw down their arms. (Historical.)

59. EXCESS OF CONFIDENCE.

A countryman was going to market to sell an ass and a goat. He was riding upon the ass, and fol