EXTRACTS FROM NR, GIBBON’S COMMON-PLACE BOOKS

on the virtues of the millstone); the style languid, harsh, and perplexed. Instead of the ornantents of nature and propriety, the barren writer consumes a fourth of his poem in mythological stories which he affects to despise. The prettiest passages are the complaint of the preference given to the lucrative over the curious arts (v. 250—283), and the power of fire (588-561).

Tiasdepasia.—Herodotus observes with the most placid indifference that the Persians were fond of adopting new customs and new plea-. -esures. From the Medes they borrowed their dress, from the Egyptians their breast plates. By the Greeks they were taught to forget the - distinction of sexes, az’ EAAyvwy palorres watos paoryorras. (1) , (1) L, ie. 135.

Nous (de la).—The situation and behaviour of de la Noue at the siege of La Rochelle is perhaps without parallel in history. 1. Such was his established reputation for honour and virtue, that in the heat of the civil wars of France immediately after the massacre of St. Bar. tholomew, Catherine of Medicis and her son entrusted-this zealous Protestant to negociate with the Rochellois, 2. By the election of the people, and with the consent of the court, he accepted the military ° command in the revolted city. 3. During the siege of La. Rochelle, he performed with admirable courage and conduct all the duties of a soldier and a mediator. 4. When the fanaticism of the Rochellois had rejected equitable conditions of peace, he obeyed the summons of the Duke of Anjou, repaired to the royal standard,, and afterwards. retired. to his own house, with the esteem. and confidence of both parties.

Such. wonders. require much stronger evidence than the partial authority of a biographer: and it is almost as singular that they are attested in all the material circumstances, by D’Aubigny, a. violent |; Hie, uni. protestant, (1) by Thuanus, a moderate philosopher, (2) and by Davila, eee be a bigotted catholic. (3) The testimony of Davila is the more valuable Shane. as he betrays some inclination to suspect the intentions of de la Noue, (3 Mira delle

in his return to the royal camp. Prenton Pe 326—330, Edit. Lond,