55^ STUDIES OF NATURE. 



not a fingle fubjed. He employed himfelf in 

 twifting, upon the banks of the illand, ropes of 

 the bark of the lime-tree, and in hollowing alders 

 to make boats. He fold thefe produdions of his 

 own hands to the manners who failed up or down 

 the Seine. While he worked, he fung the advan- 

 tages of induHry and of commerce, which unite 

 together all mankind. The boatmen frequently 

 flopped to liften to his fongs. They were repeated, 

 and fpread throughout all the Gauls, among whom 

 they were known under the name of the verfes of 

 the Bards. Soon after, a great number of people 

 came to eftablifli themfelves in this ifland, in order 

 to hear him fing, and to live in greater fecurity. 

 His riches accumulated with his fubjeds. The 

 illand was covered with habitations, the neigh- 

 bouring forefls were cleared, and, in a fliort 

 time, numerous flocks covered both the adjacent 

 Ihores. It was in this manner that the good King 

 formed an empire without violence. But while, 

 as-yet, his ifland was not furrounded by walls, and 

 while he was already planning to make it the 

 centre of commerce for all the Nations of Gaul, 

 war was on the point of exterminating all it's in- 

 habitants. 



.One day, a great number of warriors, who were 



failing up the Seine, in canoes made of the bark, 



of the elm, difembarkcd upon it's northern fliore, 



^ diredly 



