[Footnote 17: This was one of his "beloved ancients," famous for what he did in helping to found the dynasty of Chow, a man of great political wisdom, a scholar also, and poet.

Shoes, among the classical ancients, were cleaned by a sponge; in the middle ages, by washing.

Hal., de Comp., Verb. §xi, speaks of the rhythm of verse differing from the proper measure of the syllables, and often reversing it: does not this imply, that the ancients, contrary to the opinion of the learned author of Metronariston, read verse as we do?"Churchill's New Gram., p. 393, note 329. OBS.

RELIGION, amount of religion in the country, ii. 96; ancients not in earnest as to it, iii. 10; balancing of accounts, iv. 225; changing it, ii. 466; iii. 298; choosing one for oneself, iii. 299; College jokers its defenders, iv. 288; differences of opinion not much thought of, iv.

Nor is it merely the common mass of readers who have chosen Plutarch as their favorite ancient.

He had expected to see in my brother a gray-haired ancient; whereas he found a man under forty.

The heathen ancients might have instructed this Christian minister in the rites of hospitality; but much is to be pardoned to the spirit of self-love.

The half-insane ancient heard my outburst to the end, staring at me through the thick lenses of his glasses as if I was some new kind of a bug whose appearance he wished to implant firmly within his mind.

But, as a necessary consequent of this spirit, as its implied complement in the balance of human nature, we find, as a distinct trait in the lives of many of the manliest ancients, an occasional prevalence of a spirit of despondency, a recognition of the ultimate weakness of man when brought by himself face to face with the wall of opposing circumstance and the resistless force of Fate.

"That is just the frightful play of destiny," replied Albano, "to occupy the heights of the mighty ancients with monks shorn down into slaves.

Whether in tracing the history of the Roman people, from the foundation of the city, I shall employ myself to a useful purpose, I am neither very certain, nor, if I were, dare I say; inasmuch as I observe that it is both an old and hackneyed practice, later authors always supposing that they will either adduce something more authentic in the facts, or, that they will excel the less polished ancients in their style of writing.

But since men will believe more than they need, And every man will make himself a creed; In doubtful questions 'tis the safest way To learn what unsuspected ancients say: For 'tis not likely we should higher soar In search of heaven, than all the Church before: Nor can we be deceived, unless we see The Scripture and the Fathers disagree.

When we look back to the venerable ancients, we behold a class of writers, if not of a much higher rank, at least of a very different character, from the moderns.

" "Like the wicked ancients who used to wrap themselves in skins of beasts and stay among the graves and monuments to sleep and dreamand in the temples of the idols, thinking the departed or the idols would foretell to them in dreams.