Now, just as the gates were opened to let in the men, I looked in after them, and behold, the City shone like the sun: the streets also were paved with gold; and in them walked many men with crowns on their heads, palms in their hands, and golden harps to sing praises withal.

There were also of them that had wings, and they answered one another without intermission, saying, 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord!' And, after that, they shut up the gates; which, when I had seen, I wished myself among them.

EXERCISE II. EXAMPLE 10.

A VISION OF TRIUMPHANT ENTRANCE.

Here the Problem of the long story of the Pilgrim's Progress is seen in its final Solution. The Pilgrims come to the bourne of their desire. The Problem is that of one undertaking a hard and perilous enterprise. Will he succeed or fail? Bunyan chooses, to exemplify his Subject, a traveller and his comrades going upon a difficult journey, beset with every kind of danger. How may they get to their journey's end? The Example shows the Problem solved. The Subject, then, is: The Triumphant End of a long and painful Enterprise.

The ways of treating it are numerous. The required situation may be taken from personal experience, or from history, or it may be invented. It may contain a mystical signification, as Bunyan's does, or it may be simple narrative. The successful passing of a dreaded examination-the winning of a game, or a

race, whose issue hangs doubtful to the last—the entrance into a city, long besieged, of the besiegers -these situations, and such as these, readily present themselves for treatment.

Here, as usual, Bunyan's Invention is admirable. The Shining Men, escorting the tired wayfarers to the sound of trumpets, towards the City where the bells were ringing in their welcome; the gate inscribed with the legend of gold; the transfiguration of the mortal men into the likeness of immortality; the vision of the City shining like the sun,-are excellent images all. The details are few, vague and suggestive, as befits the subject. Everything is seen in a dazzle of glorious light. Note the skill with which the author selects the texts from Scripture; which so harmonise with his own story, that his parable comes with something of the Biblical authority upon his readers. His Disposition is straightforward, as usual. As for his Diction, note its wonderful felicity:-'. . . with melodious noises and loud, made even the heavens to echo with their sound ... continually sounding as they went, with melodious noise swallowed up with the sight of angels. the warm and joyful thoughts.' The words are so arranged as to harmonise, in their look and sound, with their meaning.

A VICTORY OVER ADVERSE FORTUNE.

Laurence Sterne. (1713-1768.)

A Sentimental Journey.

I STOP not to tell the causes which gradually brought the house of D'Ein Brittany into decay. The Marquis d'E had fought up against his condition with great firmness, wishing to preserve and still show to the world. some little fragments of what his ancestors had been— their indiscretions had put it out of his power. There was enough left for the little exigencies of obscurity: but he had two boys who looked up to him for light-he thought they deserved it. He had tried his sword; it could not open the way; the mounting was too expensive, and simple economy was not a match for it; there was no resource but commerce.

In any other province in France save Brittany, this was smiting the root for ever of the little tree his pride and affection wished to see re-blossom. But in Brittany there being a provision for this, he availed himself of it; and taking an occasion when the States were assembled at Rennes, the marquis, attended with his two boys, entered the court; and having pleaded the right of an ancient law of the duchy, which, though seldom claimed, he said, was no less in force, he took his sword from his side: 'Here,' said he, 'take it, and be trusty guardians of it till better times put me in condition to reclaim it.'

The president accepted the marquis's sword-he stayed a few minutes to see it deposited in the archives of his house, and departed.

The marquis and his whole family embarked the next day for Martinique; and in about nineteen or twenty

EXAMPLE 11

years of successful application to business-with some unlooked-for bequests from distant branches of his house -returned home to reclaim his nobility, and to support

it.

It was an incident of good fortune which will never happen to any traveller but a sentimental one, that I should be at Rennes at the very time of this solemn requisition; I call it solemn: it was so to me.

The marquis entered the court with his whole family; he supported his lady, his eldest son supported his sister, and his youngest was at the other extreme of the line next his mother. He put his handkerchief to his face twice.

There was a dead silence. When the marquis had approached within six paces of the tribunal, he gave the marchioness to his youngest son, and, advancing three steps before his family, he reclaimed his sword. His sword was given him, and the moment he got it into his hand he drew it almost out of the scabbard. 'Twas the shining face of a friend he had once given up-he looked attentively along it, beginning at the hilt, as if to see whether it was the same, when observing a little rust which it had contracted near the point, he brought it near his eye, and bending his head down over it, I think I saw a tear fall upon the place: I could not be deceived by what followed.

'I shall find,' said he, 'some other way to get it off.'

When the marquis had said this, he returned his sword into its scabbard, made a bow to the guardian of it, and, with his wife and daughter and his two sons following him, walked out.

Oh, how I envied him his feelings!

EXERCISE III. EXAMPLE 11.

A VICTORY OVER ADVERSE FORTUNE.

The Problem is somewhat the same as that of the last Example: the undertaking of a hard and long enterprise; and the Subject, as before, its triumphant issue. How essentially different another working out of the same problem, another treatment of the same subject, may become, will be perceived at once in comparing the two examples. And, in this case, the story is complete in itself; we have no need to refer to a larger design of which the subject under discussion is but a part.

The Invention of the Treatment of the Subject is— what is called-romantic. The head of an ancient and noble house, which is brought to poverty, deliberately resigns the symbol of his rank; and, for his sons' sake, becomes a tradesman in the hope of repairing their fortunes. He succeeds in his enterprise; and, after twenty years, resumes his proper rank. The force of the Invention lies in the presentation of the scenes of the resignation of the sword, and its redemption; which are made occasions of formal and dignified ceremonial.

And it is in the emphasis given to these scenes that the judgment exercised in Selection is evident. Remark how the chain of causes, extending over generations, which brought the family fortunes to ruin, is no more than indicated; and how the twenty years