Penman Antiquities. 
108 
[January, 
patient past recovery, or the aged past usefulness, the public 
executioner is sent and they are strangled. Eten orders it, 
they say, and none ever interfere with these orders. 
Thirteen thousand years ago, Vega, or a Lyrce, was the 
north polar star. Since then how many changes has she 
seen in our planet ! How many nations and races spring 
into life, rise to their zenith splendour, and then decay ; and 
when we shall have been gone thirteen thousand years, and 
once more she resumes her post at the north, completing a 
“ Platonic, or Great Year,” think you that those who shall 
fill our places on the earth at that time will be more con- 
versant with our history than we are of those that have 
passed ? Verily might we exclaim in terms almost Psalm- 
istic, Great God, Creator and Director of the Universe, 
what is man that Thou art mindful of him ! 
