Teztuco, and, still further on, the dark belt of purple rock, girdling the valley round, like a rich setting which nature had devised for the fairest of her jewels.

9. Such was the beautiful vision which broke on the eyes of the conquerors. And even now, when so sad a change has come over the scene, when the stately forests have been laid low, and the soil, unsheltered from the fierce radiance of a tropical sun, is in many places abandoned to sterility, while the cities and hamlets have mouldered into ruins;—even now that desolation broods over the landscape, so indestructible are the lines of beauty which nature has traced on its features, that no traveller can gaze on them with any other emotions than those of astonishment and delight.

Adapted from Prescott's "History of the Conquest of Mexico."

Cortes succeeded with a mere handful of soldiers in conquering Mexico, which became a colony of Spain. The Spaniards carefully destroyed every trace of their interesting civilization, and treated the people with great cruelty. After a

long struggle Mexico succeeded in gaining its independence in 1821. The Spaniards left the country in a very much worse condition than they found it, nor has it yet succeeded in recovering its former prosperity.

The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed;
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.
"Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,-
The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings,-
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice.

Shakspere.

LESSON XLVIII.

THE WANDERINGS OF ROBERT BRUCE.

Part I.

1. At the close of the thirteenth century a contest arose in Scotland for the crown. The two principal rivals were Balliol and Bruce. All agreed to refer the matter to Edward I., King of England. He decided in favour of Balliol, but it was soon seen that Edward expected Balliol to be only a vassal of England. Balliol revolted, and Edward drove him from his throne and subdued Scotland. The Scots were determined not to lose their independence, and they rebelled under William Wallace, and gained some important successes. Wallace, however, was at last defeated by Edward near Falkirk, in 1298, and cruelly put to death.

2. For a time quiet was restored, but the Scots were by no means content to remain under the power of England, which was at that time a foreign country. Then Robert Bruce, a baron both of England and Scotland, grandson of Balliol's rival, claimed the Scotch crown, and stirred up fresh resistance. The aged Edward again marched forth to conquer the new foe, but while on his journey he was overtaken by death near Carlisle, in 1307. His troops advanced and defeated Bruce, who was driven to wander over the land pursued by the English, and by those Scots who supported them.

3. About the time when the Bruce was at the head of but a few men, the Earl of Pembroke,1 together with John of Lorn, the chieftain of what is now called Argyleshire, came into the south-west

2

of Scotland, where Bruce was known to be hiding, each of them being at the head of a large body of men. John of Lorn had a bloodhound with him, which, it was said, had formerly belonged to Robert Bruce himself; and having been fed by the king with his own hand, it became attached to him, and would follow his footsteps anywhere. By means of this hound Lorn thought he should certainly find out Bruce, and take revenge on him for the death of his relation Comyn.3

4. When these two armies advanced upon King Robert, he at first thought of fighting with Pembroke; but becoming aware that Lorn was moving round with another large body to attack him in the rear, he resolved to avoid fighting at that time, lest he should be oppressed by numbers. For this purpose, the king divided the men he had with him into three bodies, and commanded them to retreat by three different ways, thinking the enemy would not know which party to pursue. He also appointed a place at which they were to assemble again.

5. But when Lorn came to the place where the army of Bruce had been thus divided, the bloodhound took his course after one of these divisions, neglecting the other two, and then Lorn knew that the king must be in that party; so he also made no pursuit after the two other divisions of the Scots, but followed that which the dog pointed out, with all his men.

6. The king again saw that he was followed by a large body, and being determined to escape from them, if possible, he made all the people who were

with him disperse themselves different ways, thinking thus that the enemy must needs lose trace of him. He kept only one man with him, his own foster-brother, or the son of his nurse. When Lorn came to the place where Bruce's companions had dispersed themselves, the bloodhound, after it had snuffed up and down for a little, quitted the footsteps of all the other fugitives, and ran barking upon the track of two men out of the whole number.

7. Then Lorn knew that one of these two must needs be King Robert. Accordingly he commanded five of his men that were speedy of foot to chase after him, and either make him prisoner or slay him. The Highlanders started off accordingly, and ran so fast that they gained sight of Robert and his foster-brother. The king asked his companion what help he could give him, and his fosterbrother answered he was ready to do his best. So these two turned on the five men of John of Lorn, and killed them all.

8. By this time Bruce was very much fatigued, and yet they dared not sit down to take any rest; for whenever they stopped for an instant, they heard the cry of the bloodhound behind them, and knew by that that their enemies were coming up fast after them. At length they came to a wood, through which ran a small river. Then Bruce said to his foster-brother, "Let us wade down this stream for a great way, instead of going straight across, and so this unhappy hound will lose the scent; for if we were once clear of him, I should not be afraid of getting away from the pursuers."