SgO STUDIES OF NATURE. 



My intention at firft was to difarm my enemy, 

 in the view of faving his life, but he did not leave 

 this in my option. Rage tranfported him beyond 

 all the bounds of prudence. The firft blow which 

 he aimed at me, carried off a huge fplinter from a 

 neighbouring oak, I fhunned the blow, by ftoop- 

 ing down my head. This movement redoubled his 

 infolence. *' Wert thou," exclaimed he, " to 

 " ftoop down to hell, thou fhouldeft not efcape 

 ** me." Then, taking his fword in both hands, 

 he fell furioufiy upon me ; but Jupiter preferving 

 my fenfes in complete tranquillity, I parried with 

 the back of my fword the ftroke with which he 

 was going to fell me to the ground, and prefenting 

 to him the point, he violently rulhed upon it, and 

 run himfelf throu^h the breaft. Two ftreams of 

 blood iffued at once from the wound and from his 

 mouth ; he fell backward, the fword dropped from 

 his hands, he raifed his eyes to Heaven, and ex- 

 pired. His vaflals immediately encompaffed his 

 body, uttering loud and horrid cries. But they 

 fuffered me to depart without the leaft molefta- 

 tion ; for generofity is a prominent charader in 

 thofe barbarians. I retired to the city, fadly de- 

 ploring my vidory. 



I gave an account of what had happened, to 

 Cephas and to the King. " Thofe larles," faid the 

 King, ** give me much uneafinefs. They tyran- 



*' nize 



