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bosom he awakes again to sense and life. *** They return to the hermitage, when Satyavat finds his father no longer blind; and every kind of happiness awaits them.

"EPISODE OF THE MAHABHARATA.”*

THE EMPEROR CONRAD AND THE

MARRIED WOMEN.

In the year 1141 during the civil war in Germany it happened that the Emperor Conrad besieged the Guelph Count of Bavaria in the castle of Weinsberg. After a long and obstinate defence, the garrison was obliged at length to surrender, when the Emperor, annnoyed that they had held out so long and defied him, vowed that he would destroy the place with fire, and put all to the sword except women, whom he gallantly promised to let go free, and pass out unmolested. The Guelph countess, when she heard of this, begged as a further favour that the women might be allowed to bear forth as much of their valuables as they could severally manage to carry. The emperor having pledged his word and honour that he would grant this request, on the morrow at day-break, as the castle-gates were opened, he saw, to his amazement, the women file out one by one, every married woman carrying her husband with their young ones upon her back, and the others each the friend or relation nearest or dearest to her. At sight of this the emperor was tenderly moved, and could not help according to the action the homage of his admiration. The result was that not only were life and liberty extended to the Guelphs, but the place itself was spared and restored in perpetuity to its heroic defenders. The Count

* From Mrs. Manning's Ancient and Medieval India.

and his Countess were henceforth treated by the emperor with honour and affection, and the town itself was long after popularly known by the name of "Weibert reue," i. e. the Abode of Womanly Fidelity.*

THE HUSBAND DESIRING TO BE DIVORCED FROM HIS LOVING WIFE.

A certain man brought his wife before Rabbi Simon, stating his desire to be divorced from her, since he had been married over ten years without being blessed with children. The rabbi at first endeavoured to dissuade the man from his purpose, but finding him resolute, he gravely addressed the pair thus :-"My children, when you were married, did ye not make a feast, and entertain your friends? Well, since you are determined, to be divorced, do likewise; go home, make a feast, entertain your friends. and on the following day come to me and I will comply with your wishes." They returned home, and, in accordance with the reverend father's advice, the husband caused a splendid feast to be prepared, to which were invited their friends and relations. In the course of the entertainment, the husband, being gladdened with wine, said to his wife, "My beloved, we have lived many happy years together, it is only the want of children that makes me wish for a separation. To convince thee, however, that I still love thee, I give thee leave to take with thee out of my house whatever thou likest best." "Be it so," ," said his wife. The wine-cup was freely plied among the guests, and all became merry, until at length many had fallen asleep, and amongst these was the master of the feast, which his wife perceiving, she caused him to be carried to her father's house and put

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* From Clouston's Popular Tales and Fict

to bed. Having slept off the effects of his carouse, he awoke, and finding himself in a strange house, he exclaimed, "Where am I? "Where am I? How came I here?" His wife who had placed herself behind a curtain to await the issue of her little stratagem, came up to him, and told him that he had no cause for alarm, since he was in her father's house. "In thy father's house?" echoed the astonished husband. "How should I come hither?" "I will soon explain, my dear husband," said she. "Didst thou not tell me last night that I might take out of thy house whatever I most valued? Now, my beloved, believe me, amongst all thy treasures there is none I value so much as I do thyself." The sequel may be easily imagined: overcome by such devotion, the man affectionately embraced his wife, was reconciled to her and they lived happily together ever afterwards.*

CONJUGAL AFFECTION.

Polyxenus, having joined in a conspiracy against his brother-in-law Dionysius, fled from Syracuse, in order to avoid falling into the tyrant's hands. Dionysius immediately sent for his sister Thesta, and reproached her very much for not apprizing him of her husband's intended flight, as she could not, he observed, be ignorant of it. She replied, without expressing the least surprise or fear, "Have I then appeared so bad a wife to you, and of so mean a soul, as to have abandoned my husband in his flight, and not have desired to share in his dangers and misfortunes? No! I knew nothing of it; for I should be much happier in being called the wife of Polyxenus in exile, in the most remote corner of the world, than, in Syracuse, the sister of the tyrant!" Dionysius

* From Clouston's Papular Tales and Fictions.

could not but admire an answer so full of spirit and generosity; and the Syracusans in general, were so charmed with the magnanimity of Thesta, that, after the tyranny was suppressed, the same honours, equipage, and train of a queen, which she had before, were continued to her during her life; and, upon her death, the people numerously attended her body to the tomb.*

* From Noble Deeds of Women by Elizabeth Starling

52. FASHION.

A mighty ruler is Fashion
Who sits on a gilded throne;
And a more exacting tyrant
The world has never known.
She issues her royal mandates
In a proud, imperious way;
And not one of her majesty's subjects

Her will would dare to gainsay.

The three conquerors of the world are, Fashion, Love and Death.

The fashion wears out more apparel than the man.
-SHAKESPEART

n

J

Silk and satins put out the fire in the chimney.

-PROVE RE.

What is the reason-can you guess-
Why men are poor and women thinner?
So much do they for dinner dress,
That nothing's left to dress for dinner.

Who with vain fancies do themselves possess,
Are never bless'd, or can never bless;
Their life perplex'd, and fretful to no end-
The truly wise on Providence depend.*

h

dec

it.

ar,

7

From Bewick's Select Fables.

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