Part 20

“Iambic pentameter.” A verse of five feet (pentameter), or ten syllables. Each foot is an iambus; that is, is composed of one short and one long syllable.

“Alexandrine,” ălˌex-ănˈdrĭne. A verse composed of twelve syllables, named from a French poem on Alexander.

P. 238.—“Ceres.” The Demeter of the Romans, the goddess who presided over grain and the harvest.

“Fauns.” The rural divinities of the Romans. They were supposed to have introduced the worship of the gods and agriculture. They are represented as possessed of horns, and having the figure of a goat below the waist.

“Courser’s birth.” The reference is to the creation of the horse by Neptune. It is said that Neptune and Minerva (Athene) contested for the honor of naming Attica. The gods decided that it should be the one who should give the most useful gift to man. Neptune struck the ground with his trident and the horse appeared. Athene created the olive tree; the latter received the honor.

“Pallas.” A name frequently given to Athene.

“Cypress.” The cypress was sacred to Pluto, the god of the lower world.

P. 239—“Thule.” The land which in the time of Alexander the Great was believed to be the northernmost part of Europe.

“Fasces,” făsˈsēz. An emblem of authority among the Romans. It was an ax tied up in a bundle of rods.

“Balance.” The constellation Libra, or the Scales. It lies in the Zodiac between the Virgin and the Scorpion.

“Elysium,” e-lĭzˈĭ-um. A dwelling place for the good after death.

“Proserpine,” pro-serˈpine. The daughter of Ceres, who was carried off by Pluto, to Hades. Her mother, discovering that Jupiter had given consent to the abduction, withdrew from Olympus, and did not allow the earth to bring forth fruit. Jupiter tried to dissuade her, but failing, sent for Proserpine. She returned, but as she had eaten in the lower world could not remain all the time on earth, but was obliged to spend one-third of the year with Pluto.

P. 254.—“Æolus,” æˈo-lus. The god of the winds.

“Sarpedon,” sar-peˈdon. A son of Jupiter and a prince of Lycia. He was an ally of the Trojans in the Trojan war, but was slain by Patroclus, the friend of Achilles.

“Simois.” One of the prominent rivers in the country of Troy.

P. 255.—“Orontes,” o-ronˈtes. A Lycian leader and ally of the Trojans; “Aletes,” a-lēˈ-tes; “Abas,” aˈbas; “Achates,” a-chaˈtes.

P. 258.—“Harpalyce,” har-palˈy-ce. A Thracian princess whose mother died in her infancy. She was trained to outdoor exercise and sports, and on the death of her father she turned robber. She lived in the woods and was so fleet that not even horses could overtake her.

P. 262.—“Amaracus,” a-marˈa-cus. The sweet marjoram or feverfew.

P. 263.—“Acidalian.” Venus was sometimes called _Acidalia_, from a well, Acidalius, in Greece, where she used to bathe with the Graces.

P. 264.—“Demodocus.” In Ulysses’s wanderings, after the fall of Troy, he was thrown on the island of Scheria, where the king of the people, the Phæacians, honored him with feasts, at which Demodocus, a minstrel, sang of the fall of Troy.

P. 266.—“Danaan,” danˈa-an. Danaus, the name from which this word is derived, was a former king of Argos.

P. 270.—“Thessander,” thes-sanˈder.

“Sthenelus,” sthenˈe-lus. The friend of Diomede, under whom he commanded the Argives in the Trojan war.

“Acamas,” aˈca-mas. A son of Theseus.

“Pelides,” pe-liˈdes. A name given to Achilles, whose father’s name was Peleus. The “youthful heir” here spoken of was Neoptolemus, son of Achilles.

“Machaon,” ma-chaˈon. The surgeon of the Greeks in the Trojan war. He was the son of Æsculapius, the god of the medical art. Machaon was a warrior as well as a doctor, and with his brother led thirty ships to Troy.

“Menelaus,” men-e-laˈus. The king of Lacedæmon, and husband of Helen.

“Epeus,” e-peˈus.

P. 288.—“Dis.” A contraction of Dives, a name given sometimes to Pluto, and hence to the lower world.

P. 289.—“Phlegethon,” phlegˈe-thon. A river of liquid fire flowing through Hades.

“Orcus.” Another name for Hades, or for Pluto.

“Tartarus,” tarˈta-rus. Like Orcus and Dis, Tartarus is sometimes used synonymously with Hades.

“Acheron,” aˈcher-on. The name of a river of the lower world, flowing, according to Virgil, into the Co-cyˈtus.

P. 290.—“Charon,” chaˈron.

“Treen.” An obsolete plural of tree.

P. 291.—“Palinurus,” pa-li-nuˈrus. He had been the pilot of Æneas’s ship, but fell into the sea and was murdered on the coast of Lucania, by the natives.

“Cerberus,” cerˈbe-rus. The dog that guarded the entrance to Hades.

P. 293.—“Marpesian,” mar-peˈsi-an. Derived from Marpessa, a mountain in Paros, from which the Parian marble was taken.

P. 294.—“Hecate,” heˈca-te. An ancient divinity, the only Titan which Jupiter allowed to retain power. She was thought to rule in heaven, earth and hell; this three-fold power led to her being sometimes represented with three heads.

“Gnosian,” gnoˈsi-an. From Gnosus, or Cnosus, an ancient city of Crete. The adjective is used here as equivalent to Cretan.

“Rhadamanthus,” rha-da-manˈthus. The brother of King Minos, of Crete. His justice through life led to his being made a judge in the lower world.

“Tisiphone,” ti-siphˈo-ne. One of the Fates.

P. 295.—“Hydra,” hyˈdra. A monster which formerly lived in a marsh in the Peloponnesus. It had many heads, one of which being cut off was immediately succeeded by two new ones. It was slain by Hercules.

“Aloeus,” a-loˈe-us. The son of Neptune; the sons here referred to were of enormous size and strength. When but nine years of age they threatened the Olympian gods with war. Apollo destroyed them before they reached manhood. “Salmoneus,” sal-moˈne-us.

“Levin,” lĕvˈin. An obsolete word for lightning.

P. 296.—“Lapith.” A race living in Thessaly.

“Pirithous,” pi-rithˈo-us. The King of the Lapithæ. He descended to the nether world in order to carry off Persephone, but was seized by Pluto and fastened to a rock with Theseus, who had accompanied him. Theseus was afterward released by Hercules, but Pirithous remained.

“Ixion,” ix-iˈon. The father of the above. Having committed a murder on earth for which he was never purified, Jupiter took pity on him, purified him, and took him to heaven, where he tried to win the love of Juno. For his ingratitude he was sent to Hades, and fastened to a perpetually rolling wheel.

P. 297.—“Teucer,” teuˈcer. The first king of Troy.

“Ilus.” The grandfather of Priam, and the founder of Ilion or Troy.

“Assaracus,” as-sarˈa-cus. The great-grandfather of Æneas.

“Dardany,” or Dardania, was a region adjacent to Ilium, lying along the Hellespont. It was named from Dardanus, the son-in-law of Teucer.

P. 298.—“Eridanus,” e-ridˈa-nus. A river god.

“Musæus,” mu-sæˈus. A mythological character, the author of various poetical compositions and of certain famous _oracles_.

P. 300.—“Procas.” One of the fabulous kings of Alba Longa.

“Numitor,” nuˈmi-tor. The grandfather of Romulus and Remus.

“Capys.” “Silvius.” Mythical kings of Alba Longa.

“Gabii,” gaˈbi-i. In early times a powerful Latin city near Rome.

“Nomentum,” no-menˈtum. A Latin town, about fourteen miles from Rome.

“Collatia,” col-laˈti-a. A Sabine town. “Cora.” An ancient town in Latium. “Bola.” A town of the Æqui. “Inuus.” Usually written Inui Castrum. A town on the coast of Latium.

P. 301.—“Ind.” The country of the Indus.

“Garamant,” garˈa-mant. The most southernly of the known people of Africa.

“Alcides,” al-ciˈdes. A name given to Hercules.

“Erymanthus,” e-ry-manˈthus. A lofty mountain of Arcadia, the haunt of the boar which Hercules killed.

“Lerna.” A marsh and river not far from Argos, where Hercules killed the Hydra.

P. 302.—“Decii,” deˈci-i. “Drusus,” druˈsus. “Torquatus,” tor-quaˈtus. Famous Roman leaders in the early days of the Republic.

“Æacides,” æ-acˈi-des. A name given to the descendants of Æacus, among whom were Peleus, Achilles and Pyrrhus.

P. 303.—“Feretrian,” fer-reˈtri-an. A name given sometimes to Jove. It is probably derived from the verb to strike, as persons taking an oath called on Jove to strike them if they swore falsely.

NOTES ON REQUIRED READINGS IN “THE CHAUTAUQUAN.”

FRENCH HISTORY.

P. 377, c. 1.—“Voltaire,” vol-têrˈ. (1694-1778.) French author.

“Rousseau,” Jean Jacques, rooˌsōˈ. (1712-1778.) French philosopher and writer.

“Montesquieu,” mŏnˈtĕs-kūˌ. (1689-1755.) French jurist and philosopher.

“D’Alembert,” däˈlŏnˌbêrˌ. (1717-1783.) French mathematician.

P. 377, c. 2.—“Maria Theresa,” ma-rīˈa te-reeˈsä. (1717-1780.) Empress of Germany and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia.

“Turgot,” türˌgoˈ. (1727-1781.) At the time of his appointment to the control of finance, Turgot had won a fine reputation by his papers on political economy, tolerance in governing, and like subjects. He at once undertook to carry out his views, abolishing all taxes save those on land, doing away with compulsory labor for the state, the privileges of trading corporations and the like; this made him very unpopular among the favored classes, and Louis was forced to dismiss him.

“Necker,” nĕkˈer. (1732-1804.) Necker’s policy was to restore order and confidence. He restrained the prodigality of the court, cut down the expenses of the government, regulated taxes, and laid the foundation of the Bank of France. After his final withdrawal from France, Necker lived in Geneva, where he wrote several essays. It is said that on the accession of Bonaparte to power he attempted to obtain the position of minister of finance, but was rejected.

“Ushant,” ushˈant. The largest of the Ouessant Isles, off the coast of the department of Finisterre in France.

“D’Estaings,” dĕsˌtănˈ. (1729-1794.) He was brought up to military service, was twice taken prisoner by the English but released, and in 1763 was appointed lieutenant-general of the navy. D’Estaings was sent to the United States in 1778, where he planned attacks on New York and Newport, but was unsuccessful in both. After the campaign in the West Indies he coöperated with the Americans in an attack upon Savannah, but was wounded.

“Granada,” “St. Lucia,” “St. Vincent.” Three islands of the Windward group of the West Indies.

“Langara,” läˈgä-rä. (1730-1800.)

“De Guichen,” deh-gēˈshonˌ. (1712-1790.) A French naval officer, made lieutenant-general in 1779. The next year after the victory here given he was defeated by the English.

“De Grasse,” deh gräs. (1723-1788.) Count de Grasse served in the American war, and in 1781 aided Washington and Lafayette in the capture of Cornwallis.

“Hood.” (1724-1816.) He entered the navy at sixteen. In 1780 he was made second in command in the West Indies. The year after his defeat he defeated De Grasse and was made a baron. In 1793 he commanded the English in the Mediterranean against the French, and in 1796 was made a viscount.

“Tobago,” to-bāˈgo. An island of the Windward group of the West Indies.

P. 378, c. 1.—“Ville de Paris.” The city of Paris.

“Crillon,” kreˈyonˌ. (1718-1796.) A lieutenant-general in the Seven Years’ War, and afterward captain-general of Spain.

“Senegal,” senˈe-gawlˌ. A river of western Africa.

“Calonne,” kăˌlonˈ. (1734-1802.) Calonne had been a law student and a courtier, when appointed to succeed Necker. After his dismissal he went to London, where he wrote many able political and financial tracts.

“Brienne,” breˌënˈ. (1727-1794.) Brienne was an archbishop and a member of the academy when he succeeded Calonne.

P. 378, c. 2.—“En Masse.” In a body.

“Desmoulins,” dāˌmooˌlănˈ. (1762-1794.) A schoolmate of Robespierre, and a partisan of the Revolution. He was called the “Attorney-General of the lamp post,” for his share in street mobs.

“Launay,” lōˈna. He was massacred immediately after the capture of the place.

“Condé,” kŏnˈdāˌ (1736-1818); “Polignac,” poˈlēnˌyäkˌ; “Noailles,” noˈäl; “Seignioral,” seenˈyur-al. Lordly, kingly; belonging to a seignior.

P. 379, c. 1.—“Sièyes,” se-yāsˈ. (1748-1836.) At the beginning of the Revolution Sièyes wrote a pamphlet which placed him at the head of the publicists. He was a member of the Assembly, of the Convention, and in 1799 of the Directory. When the new régime began he was one of the three consuls, but soon after lost his influence, which he never regained.

“Robespierre,” roˈbes-peer. (1758-1794.) He was educated for the law, and practicing, when in 1789 he was sent to the States-General. His radical democratic views gained him a prominent place. He afterward was a member of the Assembly, and in 1792 was elected to the Convention. He became the leader of one party there, and was instrumental in bringing on the Reign of Terror, of which he was the acknowledged head. His cruelty at last turned the people against him, and he was guillotined in 1794.

“Mirabeau,” mĭrˈa-bō. (1749-1791.) He was descended from a family of high rank, but was passionate and uncontrolled. Until 1788 his life was spent in all sorts of employments and intrigues. At that time he made up his mind to enter French politics, and succeeded in getting himself elected to the States-General of 1789. In 1791 he was elected president of the National Assembly, but died soon after, a victim to excess.

“Œil-de-Bœuf,” eel-deh-bŭf.

P. 379, c. 2.—“Chalons,” shäˌlōnˈ; “Menehould,” māˌnāˈhō.

“Bouillé,” booˈyā. (1739-1800.)

“Varennes,” väˈrenˌ.

“Rochambeau,” roˈshŏnˌbō. (1725-1807.) A French marshal. In early life he fought in several minor campaigns. In 1780 he was sent to the United States with 6,000 men, and the next year fought at Yorktown.

“Dumouriez,” düˌmooˈre-ā. (1739-1823.) After the battle of Jemappes, the convention being jealous of Dumouriez’s loyalty to the Bourbons, summoned him to their bar. He refused to go, and was obliged to spend the rest of his life in exile.

“Verdun,” vĕrˈdun; “Longwy,” lōngˌveˈ.

“Custine,” küsˌtēnˈ. (1740-1793.)

“Jemappes,” zhem-map.

P. 380, c. 1.—“Fédérés,” fāˈdāˌrāˌ; “Abbaye,” ă-bāˈ; “Conciergerie,” konˌcerˈjaˌreˌ; “Carmes,” kärm; “Bicêtre,” beˈcātrˌ. The names of famous French prisons.

“Lamballe,” lŏnˌbälˈ. (1749-1792.)

“Sombreuil,” sŏnˌbrulˈ. The sister of an officer prominent in support of the Royalists.

“Cazotte,” käˈzotˌ. Jacques Cazotte, her father, was a French poet.

P. 380, c. 2.—“Égalité,” ā-găˈle-tā.

“Vergniaud,” verˌyne-ōˈ. (1759-1793.)

P. 381, c. 1.—“Marat,” mäˈrä. (1744-1793.) Before the Revolution Marat had practiced medicine. In 1789 he gained great popularity among the Revolutionists by his journal, _The Friend of the People_. After his election in 1792 to the Convention and the formation of the triumvirate with Danton and Robespierre, he wielded great power by his decisive opinions.

“Danton,” dänˌtonˈ. (1759-1794.) He was a lawyer by profession. At the beginning of the Revolution he became a popular leader and orator. When the supreme power fell into the hands of the triumvirate Danton was elected minister of justice, thus having chief control of the city. Afterward he was elected to the Convention, where he became a prominent leader, but excited the jealousy of Robespierre. The latter triumphed in the contest for the first rank, and Danton was guillotined. Lamartine says of him: “Nothing was wanting to make Danton a great man, except virtue.”

P. 381, c. 2.—“Corday,” korˌdaˈ. (1768-1793.)

P. 382, c. 1.—“Aboukir,” ä-boo-keerˈ.

“Tuileries,” tü-eel-rē. A royal palace of Paris.

“D’Enghien,” dŏnˌ-gănˈ. (1772-1804.) “Eylau,” īˈlou; “Friedland,” frēdˈland.

COMMERCIAL LAW.

P. 384, c. 1.—“Misfeasance,” mis-fēˈzans. A wrong act.

P. 384, c. 2. “In transitu.” On the passage.

READINGS IN ART.

P. 384, c. 2.—“Cimabue,” che-mä-booˈā. (1240?-1302?) Called “the father of modern painting.”

P. 385, c. 1.—“Navicella,” năv-i-celˈla. The name of the mosaic, meaning the little ship.

“Assisi,” as-seeˈsee. A picturesque town of central Italy, chiefly noted as the birthplace of St. Francis, who founded the Franciscan order of monks.

“Podestà,” po-des-tāˈ. In 1207 the chief executive power of Florence was put into the hands of a single officer called the _podesta_; hence the reference is to the chief magistrate’s palace.

“Chiaro-scuro,” chi-äˌro-ŏs-cuˈro. The effective distribution of lights and shades in a picture.

“Guido di Pietro,” gweeˈdo de pe-aˈtrō.

“Fiesole,” fyesˈo-lā. A town of Italy, near Florence.

“Vicchio,” vekˈkee-o; “Mugello,” mu-gelˈlō.

P. 385, c. 2.—“Orvieto,” or-ve-āˈto. A town of central Italy, not far from Perugia.

“Luca Signorelli,” luˈca sēn-yo-relˈlee. (1439-1521.) An Italian painter, a nephew of Vasari. His frescoes are his most noteworthy pieces.

“Scudi,” skōoˈdee. The plural of scudo, an Italian coin used in Italy and Sicily, and worth about 96 cents.

“Santa Maria delle Grazie,” sänˈtä mä-reeˈä delˈlā grätˈse-ā.

“Marco d’Oggione,” marˈco dōd-goˈnā. (1470-1530.) A pupil of Leonardo. He made two copies of “The Last Supper”—his most important works.

P. 386, c. 1.—“Cloux,” clou; “Amboise,” almost ŏnbˈwīzˌ. A town on the Loire, in western central France.

“Vasari,” vä-säˈree. (1512-1574.) A pupil of Michaelangelo, and a successful painter. His fame rests on his “Lives of the most excellent Painters, Architects and Sculptors,” one of the most valuable books ever written on the subject.

“Trattato,” etc. Treatise on painting.

“Castel Caprese.” käs-telˈ kä-presˈā; “Arezzo,” ä-retˈso.

“Ghirlandaio,” gĕr-län-däˈyo. (1451-1495.) A painter famous for his invention. His chief works, “The Massacre of the Infants” and “The Death of St. Francis” are still preserved in the Sistine chapel.

“Fuseli,” fūˈseh-le. (1742-1825.) A celebrated historical painter.

“Monochrome,” mŏnˈo-chrōme. A painting with a single color.

P. 386, c. 2.—“Sandro Botticelli,” bot-te-chelˈlee. (1440-1515.) An eminent Italian painter. His frescoes in the chapel of the Vatican are his most powerful works.

“Cosimo Rosselli,” ro-selˈlee. (1439-1506.)

“Perugino,” pā-roo-jeeˈnō. (1446-1524.) The master of Raphael. He received his name, “The Perugian,” from the work which he did at Perugia, where there still exist some of his best frescoes.

“Raffaello Sanzio,” rä-fä-ĕˈlō sänˈze-o; “Pinturicchio,” pēn-too-rēkˈke-o. (1454-1513.)

P. 387, c. 1.—“Francia,” fränˈchä. (1450-1533?) A celebrated Italian painter.

“Fra Bartholommeo,” barˈto-lo-māˌō.

* * * * *

For help in pronouncing the Italian names which are so numerous in this paper, we give a set of simple rules for Italian vowels and consonants.

_A_ like _a_ in father.

_E_ like _e_ in met, more prolonged and open at the close of a syllable.

_I_ like _ee_ in feet.

_O._ Pronounce _roll_ and stop on the middle of the word, and it is precisely the Italian _o_.

_U_ like _oo_ in root.

_C_ or _g_ followed by _a_, _o_ or _u_, as in English, but followed by _e_ or _i_, _c_ has the sound of _ch_ as in cherry, and _g_ is like _g_ in gem.

_Gn_ is like _ni_ in poniard.

_Gl_ as in English, except before _i_, when it has the sound of _ll_ in brilliant.

_S_ at the beginning of a word has the hissing sound, as between two vowels, or followed by _b_, _d_, _r_ or _v_, is pronounced like _z_.

_Sc_, followed by _e_ or _i_, like _sh_.

_Z_ like _dz_ in words which have _z_ in the English word; like _tz_ when preceded by _l_ or _r_, or followed by two vowels, and in nouns ending in _zzo_.

Single consonants are generally soft; double consonants are pronounced in one sound, but stronger and more marked than when single.

SELECTIONS FROM AMERICAN LITERATURE.

P. 393, c. 2.—“En bloc.” In a lump.

“Genre.” A style; a peculiar kind or species.

“Du Maurier,” dü mōˈre-a. An English caricaturist who for over twenty years has been connected with _Punch_.

TALK ABOUT BOOKS.

Most indefinite ideas exist among even very well informed people concerning the Soudan and its tribes. What is the Soudan? Who people it? What does England want of it? Such questions are worrying many heads, and there has been a general search for information. A very timely book to those interested, is “The Wild Tribes of the Soudan.”[B] The author, so late as December, 1881, started on a trip of exploration and sport through the Basé country—a small part, it is true, of the Soudan, but the people, customs and country serve as reliable examples. The experiences of this company of sportsmen with the people, their adventures and dangers, furnish us with much useful information about a people in whom we are all just now interested. The book is furnished with excellent maps.

The erudition embraced in Dr. Winchell’s digest[C] of Cosmical Science exhausts the contributions of the French, German and English languages, and is simply enormous. As the author _con amore_ has made this subject the study of an average lifetime, his personal contributions of original thought constitute a large part of the book. It is written in a calm, judicial spirit and incisive style, and increases in strength and interest to the close. The universe of matter is the field of observation, and starting with the principles which are worked out before our eyes on this planet, the mechanism of the solar system is subjected to analysis in regard to the order of its structure and final destiny. He then passes into the stellar universe, and finds evidence that the same kinds of substances are there, subject to the same laws, and tending to the same results. The speculative reasoning of the volume of course covers much space, but the trustworthy information obtained is all that could be expected; in fact, all that is known to science. We know of no other book which gives to the mind so clear a view of the incomparable vastness of the universe, and the _rationale_ of its existing as does this. The conclusion reached is, that the surface of our moon is made up mostly of the craters, cinders, and lava-beds of spent volcanoes. All the other planets, the sun included, are tending in the same direction and destiny. In the stellar world other systems of sun and planets have reached this goal of desolation; others are on the way, and new systems, originating in nebulæ, are taking on form and order. When a cycle is once completed by a system its career is ended forever and ever. On the whole, this is one of the most instructive and fascinating volumes we have read for a long time.

“Oregon”[D] is one of a series of volumes entitled “American Commonwealths,” edited by H. E. Scudder. The monograph was furnished by W. Barrows, D.D., and is both well written and carefully edited. The subject of the narrative and the sources from which the materials were drawn may have somewhat affected the style of the writing, which is exuberant and picturesque. Suppository details are suggested with a freedom that shows a desire to make the account impressive without lessening its historical value. The most valuable part is given to the question of national right, and the long struggle of England and America for possession. Americans who found fault with the Ashburton-Webster treaty as conceding too much, while Oregon was left out, should read this book.

“Arius The Libyan”[E] is a historical romance, and one of the very best of the class. It deals vigorously with early ecclesiastical matters, and draws, with consummate skill, some well known prominent characters of the third and fourth centuries. Its literary merits are of a high order, and whether we do or do not accept the doctrines as true, and the estimates of the characters introduced as just, all will confess the story is well planned, and told with great power. Constantine is sketched as a very able, far-seeing, but intensely selfish and unscrupulous politician, a man evilly ambitious, and the lust of power his ruling passion. He and the bishops he influenced completely secularized the Church, left the common primitive Christianity, and established a politico-ecclesiastical institution intended to conserve the interests of the empire. The book is thoroughly self-consistent, and all the characters, good and bad, are well sustained.