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Read Ebook: The Mirror of Literature Amusement and Instruction. Volume 17 No. 471 January 15 1831 by Various
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Ebook has 132 lines and 15980 words, and 3 pages
THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.
CASTLE OF VINCENNES.
ANECDOTE GALLERY
PETRARCH AND DANTE.
"Ay, indeed!" replied her companion; "very likely; see how his face is scarred with fire and brimstone, and blackened with smoke, and how his hair and beard have been singed and curled in the flames!"
BETA.
CHESS.
Colonel Stewart used frequently to play at chess with Lord Stair, who was very fond of the game; but an unexpected checkmate used to put his lordship into such a passion, that he was ready to throw a candlestick or any thing else that was near him, at his adversary; for which reason the colonel always took care to be on his feet, to fly to the farthest corner of the room, where he said, "checkmate, my lord."
The game of chess has been generally practised by the greatest warriors and generals; and some have even supposed that it was necessary to be well skilled in it. Tamerlane the Great was engaged in a game during the very time of the decisive battle with Bajazet, the Turkish emperor, who was defeated and taken prisoner.
It is related of Al Amin, the Khalif of Bagdad, that he was engaged at chess with his freedman Kuthar, at the time when Al Manim's forces were carrying on the siege of that city, with so much vigour, that it was on the point of being carried by assault. The Khalif, when warned of his danger, cried out, "Let me alone, for I see Checkmate against Kuthar."
Was engaged at chess when the deputies from Rouen came to acquaint him that their city was besieged by Philip Augustus; but he would not hear them until he had finished the game.
Having been accustomed to amuse himself at chess with his wife, and being constantly beaten by her, a mutual hatred took place, which came to such a height, that when the count was taken prisoner at Bovines, she suffered him to remain a long time in prison, though she could easily have procured his release.
W. King at its Rook, B. King at the B. Queen's 4th square. Knight's square.
W. Bishop at W. King's, B. Queen at the King's 4th square. Knight's 2nd square.
W. Rook at W. Queen's Rook, B. Rook at King's Knight's square. 2nd square.
Two White Pawns, one at B. Rook at the W. Queen's Knight's B. Queen's Bishop's 2nd square. 3rd square, the other at its Knight's 3rd square.
J.H.L.
SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.
EARLY RISING.
I had the pleasure of spending the last Christmas holidays, very agreeably, with a family at Bristol. I am aware that those who have heard nothing of the Bristolians, save through George Frederick Cooke's satire on them, will be amazed at any one's venturing to bring together, in the same sentence, three such words as "agreeably," "Bristol," and "pleasure;" but I declare it, on my own knowledge, that there is in that city one family, which for good sense, good humour, pleasantry, and kindness, is not to be out-done by any in Great Britain. "The blood of an African," indeed! There is not one amongst them, not excepting the ladies--no, nor even excepting Miss Adelaide herself , who would not relinquish the use of sugar for ever, rather than connive at the suffering of one poor negro. The family I allude to are the Norringtons. As a rigid recorder, I speak only to what I positively know: there may be others of equal value.
"So, sir," said I to the book-keeper, "you start a coach, to London, at five in the morning?"
"Yes, sir; five to a minute--two minutes later you'll lose your place."
This exceeded all my notions of human impudence. It was evident I had here an extraordinary mine to work, so I determined upon digging into it a few fathoms deeper.
"Let you know directly, sir. When for, sir?"
I stood aghast at the fellow's coolness.--"To-morrow."
The very word, "outside," bringing forcibly to my mind the idea of ten or a dozen shivering creatures being induced, by any possible means, to perch themselves on the top of a coach, on a dark, dull, dingy, drizzling morning in January, confirmed me in my belief that the whole affair was, what is vulgarly called, a "take-in."
"Yes, sir, if you please."
"And, perhaps, you will go so far as to receive half my fare?"
"If you please, sir--one-pound-two."
"Well, you are an extraordinary person! Perhaps, now--pray be attentive--perhaps, now, you will carry on the thing so far as to receive the whole?"
"If you please, sir--two-pound-four."
I paid him the money: observing at the same time, and in a tone calculated to impress his imagination with a vivid picture of attorneys, counsel, judge, and jury--"You shall hear from me again."
"To what expedients," thought I, as I left the office, "will men resort, for the purpose of injuring their neighbours. Here is one who exposes himself to the consequences of an action at law, or, at least, to the expense of sending me to town, in a chaise and four, at a reasonable hour of the day; and all for so paltry an advantage as that of preventing my paying a trifling sum to a rival proprietor--and on the preposterous pretence, too, of sending me off at five in the morning!"
"To me this Twelfth-night was no night of mirth."
Before twelve o'clock, I left a pleasant circle, revelling in all the delights of Twelfth-cake, pam-loo, king-and-queen, and forfeits, to pack my portmanteau,
"And inly ruminate the morning's danger!"
The individual who, at this time, so ably filled the important office of "Boots," at the hotel, was a character. Be it remembered that, in his youth, he had been discharged from his place for omitting to call a gentleman, who was to go by one of the morning coaches, and who, thereby, missed his journey. This misfortune made a lasting impression on the intelligent mind of Mr. Boots.
"Boots," said I in a mournful tone, "you must call me at four o'clock."
"Do'ee want to get up, zur?" inquired he, with a broad Somersetshire twang.
"Why, to be sure I will."
"And now I'll pack my portmanteau."
It was a bitter cold night, and my bed-room fire had gone out. Except the rush-candle, in a pierced tin box, I had nothing to cheer the gloom of a very large apartment--the walls of which were of dark-brown wainscoat--but one solitary wax taper. There lay coats, trousers, linen, books, papers, dressing-materials, in dire confusion, about the room. In despair I set me down at the foot of the bed, and contemplated the chaos around me. My energies were paralyzed by the scene. Had it been to gain a kingdom, I could not have thrown a glove into the portmanteau; so, resolving to defer the packing till the morrow, I got into bed.
My slumbers were fitful--disturbed. Horrible dreams assailed me. Series of watches, each pointing to the hour of FOUR, passed slowly before me--then, time-pieces--dials, of a larger size--and at last, enormous steeple-clocks, all pointing to FOUR, FOUR, FOUR. "A change came o'er the spirit of my dream," and endless processions of watchmen moved along, each mournfully dinning in my ears, "Past four o'clock." At length I was attacked by night-mare. Methought I was an hourglass--old Father Time bestrode me--he pressed upon me with unendurable weight--fearfully and threateningly did wave his scythe above my head--he grinned at me, struck three blows, audible blows, with the handle of his scythe, on my breast, stooped his huge head, and shrieked in my ear--
"Vore o'clock, zur; I zay it be vore o'clock."
"Well, I hear you."
"But I doan't hear you. Vore o'clock, zur."
"Very well, very well, that'll do."
"Beggin' your pardon, but it woan't do, zur. 'Ee must get up--past vore zur."
"The devil take you! will you--"
"Now, if 'ee please, zur; no time to lose; only twenty-vive minutes to vive."
There was no time for the performance of any thing like a comfortable toilet. I resolved therefore to defer it altogether till the coach should stop to breakfast.
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