LEARNING THE USE OF LIBERTY Ariosto tells a pretty story of a fairy, who, by some mysterious law of her nature, was condemned to appear at certain seasons in the form of a foul and poisonous snake. Those who injured her during the period of her disguise were for5 ever excluded from participation in the blessings which she bestowed. But to those who, in spite of her loathsome aspect, pitied and protected her, she afterwards revealed herself in the beautiful and celestial form which was natural to her, accompanied their steps, granted all their wishes, filled 10 their houses with wealth, made them happy in love and victorious in war. Such a spirit is Liberty. At times she takes the form of a hateful reptile. She grovels, she hisses, she stings. But woe to those who in disgust shall venture to crush her! And 15 happy are those who, having dared to receive her in her degraded and frightful shape, shall at length be rewarded by her in the time of her beauty and her glory! There is only one cure for the evils which newly acquired freedom produces; and that cure is freedom. When a 20 prisoner first leaves his cell he cannot bear the light of day; he is unable to discriminate colors, or recognize faces. But the remedy is, not to remand him unto his dungeon, but to accustom him to the rays of the sun. The blaze of truth and liberty may at first dazzle and be25 wilder nations which have become half blind in the house of bondage. But let them gaze on, and they will soon be able to bear it. In a few years men learn to reason. The extreme violence of opinions subsides. Hostile theories correct each other. The scattered elements of truth cease to contend, and begin to coalesce. And at length a system of justice and 5 order is educed out of the chaos. Many politicians of our time are in the habit of laying it down as a self-evident proposition, that no people ought to be free till they are fit to use their freedom. The maxim is worthy of the fool in the old story, who resolved not to go 10 into the water till he had learned to swim. If men are to wait for liberty till they become wise and good in slavery, they may indeed wait forever. From MACAULAY'S Essay on Milton. HELPS TO STUDY Ariosto was a famous Italian poet. The story here referred to has been told in many forms in many places. 1. What is Ariosto's story? 2. To what does Macaulay apply it? 3. What does the application mean? How can Liberty take the form of a hostile reptile "? 4. How are the faults of newly acquired freedom to be remedied? 5. How is liberty likened to the light one 6. sees on coming out of the dark? How do men learn to correct the 7. What abuses of liberty have To be studied with the Glossary: Participation, loathsome, grovel, discriminate, remand, coalesce. Phrases: house of bondage, violence of opinions, self-evident proposition. THE BATTLEFIELD Once this soft turf, this rivulet's sands, Encountered in the battle-cloud. Ah! never shall the land forget How gushed the life-blood of her brave— Now all is calm, and fresh, and still, And talk of children on the hill, And bell of wandering kine are heard. No solemn host goes trailing by The black-mouthed gun and staggering wain; Men start not at the battle-cry. Oh, be it never heard again! Soon rested those who fought; but thou Thy warfare only ends with life. A friendless warfare! lingering long Hang on thy front, and flank, and rear. Yet nerve thy spirit to the proof, And blench not at thy chosen lot. The timid good may stand aloof, The sage may frown - yet faint thou not. Nor heed the shaft too surely cast, 5 The foul and hissing bolt of scorn; 10 For with thy side shall dwell, at last, Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again; 15 Another hand thy sword shall wield, Till from the trumpet's mouth is pealed WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT. HELPS TO STUDY How 1. Contrast the past and the present scenes on the battlefield. many stanzas are given to each picture? 2. In the fifth stanza, who do you think is meant by "those "? Is it we, the readers of the poem? 3. What "harder strife " is the poet speaking of? 4. Can you think of any famous men or band of men who have struggled to establish some truth? 5. Who are meant by the "wild and many-weaponed throng "? 6. Which side will win the victory? 7. Commit the ninth stanza to memory. It is one of the bits that everybody is expected to know. Tell clearly what it means. 8. What will happen in the battle for the truth when we are gone? Will it cease, or go on? Read the answer to this in the poem. 9. Where, or in what, is the real battle of the world? WHAT CONSTITUTES A STATE? What constitutes a state? Not high-raised battlement or labored mound, Not cities proud with spires and turrets crowned; Where, laughing at the storm, rich navies ride; Where low-born baseness wafts perfume to pride; Men who their duties know, But know their rights, and knowing, dare maintain; And crush the tyrant while they rend the chain! These constitute a state. SIR WILLIAM JONES. |