263 



CHAP. XXV. 



THE EAGLE. — ROMAK AND PEESIAN STANDAEDS. — GOLDEK EAGLE. 

 — TAAVNT EAGLE. — DAXGER IN TAKING EAGLETS. — CAPTUEE OF 

 AN EAGLE. — THE EAGLE A GLUTTON. — ANECDOTE. 



" Every one is eagle-eyed to see, 

 Another's faults and his deformity ; 

 There is a lust in man no charm can tame, 

 Of loudly publishing his neighbour's shame : 

 On eagle's wings immortal scandals fly, 

 "WJiile vii'tuous actions are but born and die." — Habtey. 



" Thou -n-mged and cloud-cleaTing minister, 

 Wliose happy flight is highest into Heaven, 

 "Well may'st thou STroop so near me. I should be 

 Thy prey, and gorge thine eaglets ; thou art gone 

 Where the eye cannot follow thee ; but thine 

 Yet pierces downward, onward, or above, 

 With a pervading vision." — Bteox. Manfred, sc. 2. 



The eagle in antiquity was borne by way of ensign 

 by several nations. The first who appear to have as- 

 sumed the eagle are the Persians, according to Xeno- 

 phon. It was afterwards assumed by the Eomans, who, 

 after a gi'eat variety of standards, ultimately fixed on 

 the eagle in the second year of the consulate of C. 

 JNIarius. Till that time they used indifferently wolves, 

 leopards, and eagles, according to the humour of the 



