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Journeys Through Bookland Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Journeys Through Bookland novel. A total of 424 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : Journeys Through Bookland.by Charles H. Sylvester.VOL 2.AESOP Many centuries ago, more t
Journeys Through Bookland.by Charles H. Sylvester.VOL 2.AESOP Many centuries ago, more than six hundred years before Christ was born, there lived in Greece a man by the name of Aesop. We do not know very much about him, and no one can tell exactly what he
- 101 Gladly did Psyche leave this gloomy abode and set out on her homeward journey. The black path seemed not so long nor so frightful when she knew she was moving toward the light of day; and O, how happy she was when she saw the sunlight glimmering ahead of
- 102 Once more he stept into the street; And to his lips again Laid his long pipe of smooth straight cane; And ere he blew three notes (such sweet Soft notes as yet musician's cunning Never gave the enraptured air) There was a rustling that seemed like a
- 103 In deep dejection Frithiof then set sail in Ellida, Ingeborg watching him from the sh.o.r.e with a heavy and foreboding heart. Hardly had the s.h.i.+p got under way when there arose a terrible storm, caused by two witches whom Helge had paid to use their
- 104 At this time there dwelt in Burgundy, on the Rhine, a young princess of such rare virtue and beauty that n.o.ble youths had come from every land to win her as a bride. As yet, however, she had bestowed her favor upon no one. What, then, were the surprise
- 105 It was not long before Siegfried with his bride returned to his home in Netherland, and was made king of that realm by his father Siegmund.No less brave and generous was he as a ruler than as a knight, and the years sped on in high prosperity for all the
- 106 There was mounting 'mong Graemes of the Netherby clan; Forsters, Fenwicks, and Musgraves, they rode and they ran; There was racing and chasing on Cann.o.bie Lee, But the lost bride of Netherby ne'er did they see.So daring in love, and so dauntle
- 107 "I'll serve you with all my whole heart; My name is John Little, a man of good mettle; Ne'er doubt it, for I'll play my part.""His name shall be alter'd," quoth William Stutely, "And I will his G.o.dfather be;
- 108 There are twelve months in all the year, As I hear many say, But the merriest month in all the year Is the merry month of May.[Ill.u.s.tration: ROBIN HOOD AND THE WIDOW]Now Robin is to Nottingham gone, With a link, a down, and a day, And there he met a si
- 109 "I have no money," then quoth the young man, "No ready gold or fee, But I will swear upon a book Thy true servant for to be."[Ill.u.s.tration: IN THE GREENWOOD]"How many miles is it to thy true love?Come tell me without guile,&quo
- 110 Charlemagne put forth his hand and touched the kneeling Ganelon."Since the Franks have chosen thee," he said, "enter upon thy journey with a brave heart. Put aside all fear and take my glove and baton."Still trembling, half with rage a
- 111 Though two hundred thousand of the pagans lay dead, many thousand Christians mingled with them. Of the Twelve but two remained, when the hosts of Marsilius began to flee and he looked with dismay upon the slain. Then would Roland have won his battle in sp
- 112 Journeys Through Bookland.Volume Four.by Charles H. Sylvester.BETTER THAN GOLD Better than grandeur, better than gold, Than rank and t.i.tles a thousand fold, Is a healthy body, a mind at ease, And simple pleasures' that always please. A heart that c
- 113 And Don Ramon answered, "Eat you, Don Rodrigo, for your fortune is fair and you deserve it; take you your pleasure, but leave me to die." And in this mood he continued for three days, refusing all food.But then my Cid said to him, "Take foo
- 114 Now Don Garcia Tellez, the abbot, and the trusty Gil Diaz, were wont every year to make a great festival on the day of the Cid's departure, and on that anniversary they gave food and clothing to the poor, who came from all parts round about. And it c
- 115 Among the most distinguished and interesting buildings in the town of Portland, Maine, is the rather severe-looking house built in the latter part of the eighteenth century by General Peleg Wadsworth. From the very date of its erection, this structure bec
- 116 The strongest claim to the high regard in which Longfellow's poems are held is based on the very qualities that endear him to his child- readers. All his life, even in the midst of affliction and sorrow, he was governed by true, deep kindness for all
- 117 It sounds to him like her mother's voice, Singing in Paradise!He needs must think of her once more, How in the grave she lies; And with his hard, rough hand he wipes A tear out of his eyes.Toiling--rejoicing--sorrowing, Onward through life he goes; E
- 118 A dog of Flanders--yellow of hide, large of limb, with wolflike ears that stood erect, and legs bowed and feet widened in the muscular development wrought in his breed by the many generations of hard service. Patrasche came of a race which had toiled hard
- 119 Patrasche had lain quiet countless hours watching its gradual creation after the labor of each day was done, and he knew that Nello had a hope--vain and wild perhaps, but strongly cherished--of sending this great drawing to compete for a prize of 200 fran
- 120 There came also as the day grew apace a painter who had fame in the world and who was liberal of hand and of spirit."I seek one who should have had the prize yesterday had worth won," he said to the people, "a boy of rare promise and genius
- 121 The publication in 1852 of Alice's _Clovernook Papers_ brought to her increasing recognition and new friends. These simple, original little sketches of rural scenery and rural life were just the things which Alice Cary knew best how to write, and the
- 122 In an hour after the arrival of the "Polly" in the deceitful port, Paul and his entire crew were marched through the streets of a French village, and were drawn up opposite the prison entrance.Upon their arrival at the gate they were met by the
- 123 "I know an Englishman who wears a French girl's picture in his heart,"said d.i.c.k, who, with a sly wink at Paul as a preface, thus made his first bold advance. "A what?" inquired Leontine."A poor devil," replied d.i.c.k
- 124 No time was lost in useless greeting; but the severed bar of the window was at once made use of as a lever to remove the heavy stones, and in less than ten minutes an aperture was made sufficiently large for an exit.Paul now fastened the rope that had bee
- 125 Naturally Gaea was not pleased with this treatment of her children, so she helped Saturn, the youngest of the t.i.tans, to escape, and gave him a scythe with which he might revenge himself on his father.After defeating Ura.n.u.s, Saturn released all his b
- 126 What blessings Thy free bounty gives, Let me not cast away; For G.o.d is paid when man receives: T' enjoy is to obey.Yet not to earth's contracted span Thy goodness let me bound, Or think Thee Lord alone of man, When thousand worlds are round.If
- 127 (b) He was gay and joyful, for he smiled as he dismounted from his horse, and he smiled as he fell dead.(c) That he was strong-willed, we know; for his tightly compressed lips held back the blood, and he concealed his suffering.(d) He was courageous: he p
- 128 "I only hear above his place of rest Their tender undertone, The infinite longings of a troubled breast, The voice so like his own."There in seclusion and remote from men The wizard hand lies cold, Which at its topmost speed let fall the pen, An
- 129 But Sir William Phipps had not always worn a gold-embroidered coat, nor always sat so much at his ease as he did in Grandfather's chair. He was a poor man's son, and was born in the province of Maine, where he used to tend sheep upon the hills i
- 130 The lieutenant-governor listened. But his ears were duller than those of his daughter: he could hear nothing more terrible than the sound of a summer breeze sighing among the tops of the elm trees."No, foolish child!" he replied, playfully patti
- 131 A gush of smoke had overspread the scene. It rose heavily, as if it were loath to reveal the dreadful spectacle beneath it. Eleven of the sons of New England lay stretched upon the street. Some, sorely wounded, were struggling to rise again. Others stirre
- 132 PANCRATIUS _By_ CARDINAL WISEMAN Note.--The selection following has been adapted from _Fabiola_, or _The Church of the Catacombs_, a tale by Cardinal Wiseman. Pancratius, one of the early Christian martyrs, was a boy of fourteen at the time the story open
- 133 "And did they give thee my knife, together with thy leopard-skin purse, which I found on the ground, after I had dragged thee forth?""No; they said the purse was lost in the ca.n.a.l. It _was_ a leopard-skin purse, the gift of an African so
- 134 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth- peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.By Nebo's lonely mountain, On this side Jordan's wave, In a vale in the land of Moab There lies a lonely grave.And no m
- 135 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and
- 136 And Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.Saul said, "I will give him her that she may be a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Wherefore Saul said to David, &
- 137 Nevertheless Saul spake not anything that day: for he thought, "Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean."And it came to pa.s.s on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David's place was empty:
- 138 And David said unto the young man that told him, "How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?"And the young man that told him said, "As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the ch
- 139 II Now Absalom, the favorite son of David, was wroth at his brother Amnon who had dealt wickedly with his sister. And at a sheep-shearing where Absalom had invited Amnon and all his other brothers, Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, "Mark ye
- 140 "I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies."When the waves of death compa.s.sed me, the floods of unG.o.dly men made me afraid; the sorrows of h.e.l.l compa.s.sed me about; the snares of death pr
- 141 Earl Douglas on his milk-white steed, Most like a baron bold, Rode foremost of his company, Whose armor shone like gold."Show me," said he, "whose men you be, That hunt so boldly here, That, without my consent, do chase And kill my fallow d
- 142 "Yet shall not Scots or Scotland say But I will vengeance take; I'll be revenged on them all For brave Earl Percy's sake."This vow full well the King performed After at Humbledown; In one day fifty knights were slain With lords of high
- 143 "The Black Knight," answered Rebecca, faintly; then instantly again shouted with joyful eagerness--"But no--but no! the name of the Lord of Hosts be blessed! he is on foot again, and fights as if there were twenty men's strength in his
- 144 The evil conscience and the shaken nerves of Front-de-Boeuf heard, in this strange interruption to his soliloquy, the voice of one of those demons who, as the superst.i.tion of the times believed, beset the beds of dying men, to distract their thoughts, a
- 145 "It is well thought upon," said De Bracy; "I will play my part.Templar, thou wilt not fail me?""Hand and glove, I will not!" said Bois-Guilbert. "But haste thee, in the name of G.o.d!"De Bracy hastily drew his men t
- 146 _From_ HOMER'S ILIAD [Footnote: One of the greatest poems that has ever been written is the _Iliad,_ an epic of great length dealing with the siege of Troy. The author is generally considered to be the old Greek poet and singer Homer. although some a
- 147 Sometimes, as here, they simply watch the struggle from their home above Olympus; sometimes, as in the first lines of this selection, they actually descend to the battlefield and take part in the contest.]As through the forest, o'er the vale and lawn
- 148 *[Footnote: The eagle was sacred to Jove.]*[Footnote: _Hesper_ was the old name for Venus, the evening star, the brightest of the planets.]*[Footnote: Patroclus was the friend of Achilles, whom Hector had killed. Hector had, after the usual custom, taken
- 149 Now Dardan* swains before the king With clamorous demonstration bring, His hands fast bound, a youth unknown, Across their casual pathway thrown By cunning purpose of his own, If so his simulated speech For Greece the walls of Troy might breach, Nerved by
- 150 Thessander,* Sthenelus, the first, Slide down the rope: Ulysses curst, Thoas and Acamas are there, And great Pelides' youthful heir, Machaon, Menelaus, last Epeus, who the plot forecast.They seize the city, buried deep In floods of revelry and sleep,
- 151 The first to make the attempt was Leiodes, a blameless priest, the best of all the suitors, the only one in the throng who was a decent man, and who detested the conduct of the wretches who hung about the queen.However strong his heart, his feeble fingers
- 152 The father of John Bunyan was a poor tinker, a mender of pots and kettles, working sometimes in his own house and sometimes in the homes of others. His son followed the same occupation and did his work well.Even after he became a popular preacher and a gr
- 153 Then said Evangelist, "Keep that light in your eye, and go up directly thereto: so shalt thou see the Gate; at which, when thou knockest, it shall be told thee what thou shalt do."So I saw in my dream that the man began to run. Now, he had not r
- 154 _Apol._ "Thou didst the same to me, and yet I am willing to pa.s.s by all, if now thou wilt yet turn again and go back."_Chr._ "What I promised thee was in my nonage; and beside, I count the Prince under whose banner now I stand is able to
- 155 But by this time the waters were greatly risen, by reason of which the way of going back was very dangerous. (Then I thought that it is easier going out of the way, when we are in, than going in when we are out.) Yet they adventured to go back; but it was
- 156 [Ill.u.s.tration: The Celestial City]Now, as they walked in this land, they had more rejoicing than in parts more remote from the kingdom to which they were bound; and drawing near to the city, they had yet a more perfect view thereof. It was builded of p
- 157 Think of him faring on, as dear In the love of There as the love of Here; And loyal still, as he gave the blows Of his warrior strength to his country's foes.-- Mild and gentle, as he was brave,-- When the sweetest love of his life he gave To simple
- 158 And he shook his fists and he tore his hair Till I really felt afraid, For I couldn't help thinking the man had been drinking, And so I simply said:-- "O elderly man, it's little I know Of the duties of men of the sea, And I'll eat my
- 159 The council now broke up. Mr. Hunt transferred his camp across the river at a little distance below the village, and the left-handed chief placed some of his warriors as a guard to prevent the intrusion of any of his people. The camp was pitched on the ri
- 160 Journeys Through Bookland.Vol. 5.by Charles Sylvester.JONATHAN SWIFT The father of Jonathan Swift was a Dublin lawyer who died just as he was beginning what might have been a profitable career, and before his only son was born. The widow was left with so
- 161 [Footnote 6: _Lingua Franca_ was the name given to a mixed dialect used in some parts of the Mediterranean coasts as means of communication between people of different nationalities. It consisted largely of corrupted Italian words.]After about two hours t
- 162 [Footnote 13: The Alcoran, or, as it is more commonly called, the Koran, is the Mohammedan Bible.]"Now, the Big-endian exiles have found so much credit in the emperor of Blefuscu's court, and so much private a.s.sistance and encouragement from t
- 163 I was going to halloo after them, although it had been to little purpose, when I observed a huge creature walking after them in the sea, as fast as he could; he waded not much deeper than his knees, and took prodigious strides; but our men had got the sta
- 164 [Ill.u.s.tration: GULLIVER AND THE KING]_IV. A Wonderful Escape_ I had always a strong impulse that I should some time recover my liberty, though it was impossible to conjecture by what means, or to form any project with the least hope of succeeding. The
- 165 Which in his height of pride, King Henry to deride, His ransom to provide To the king sending; Which he neglects the while, As from a nation vile, Yet, with an angry smile, Their fall portending.And turning to his men, Quoth our brave Henry then: "Th
- 166 (Extract from _The History of Tom Long the Carrier._) As Tom Long the Carrier was travelling between Dover and Westchester, he fortuned to pa.s.s something near a House, where was kept a great Mastiff Dog, who, as soon as he espied Tom, came running open-
- 167 Arthur willingly rode back, but when he came to the lodging he could not enter, because every one had gone out to see the jousting. Arthur loved Sir Kay dearly, and could not bear to think of his brother being kept out of the tourney because he had no swo
- 168 Arthur rode toward the robbers, and they turned and fled at the sight of an armed knight."O, Merlin," said Arthur, "this time certainly you would have been killed in spite of your magic if I had not appeared to rescue you.""No,&qu
- 169 [Ill.u.s.tration: ARTHUR RECEIVES EXCALIBUR]"That is my sword, Excalibur," answered the maid, "and I will give it to you if you will give me a gift when I ask it.""Right willingly will I give you what you ask, so that I may have t
- 170 "That is right," said the king. "Now ask what you will and you shall have it if it lies in my power to give it.""I ask," returned the Lady, "the head of the knight that to-day has won the other sword, or else the head of
- 171 The brothers waited till Rience was opposite them, and then they rushed upon him and bore him down, wounding him severely. Wheeling from the charge they fell upon the followers of Rience and smote them to right and left, so that many fell dead or wounded
- 172 And this forgetfulness was hateful to her.And by and by the people, when they met In twos and threes, or fuller companies, Began to scoff and jeer and babble of him As of a prince whose manhood was all gone, And molten down in mere uxoriousness.And this s
- 173 [Footnote 2: _Vermeil-white_ means _red and white_, or _reddish white_.]He spake: the Prince, as Enid past him, fain To follow, strode a stride, but Yniol caught His purple scarf, and held, and said, "Forbear!Rest! the good house, tho' ruin'
- 174 He spoke: the mother smiled, but half in tears, Then brought a mantle down and wrapt her in it, And claspt and kiss'd her, and they rode away.Now thrice that morning Guinevere had climb'd The giant tower, from whose high crest, they say, Men saw
- 175 But here is one who loves you as of old; With more exceeding pa.s.sion than of old: Good, speak the word: my followers ring him round: He sits unarm'd; I hold a finger up; They understand: nay; I do not mean blood: Nor need ye look so scared at what
- 176 Then strode the brute Earl up and down his hall, And took his russet beard between his teeth; Last, coming up quite close, and in his mood Crying, "I count it of no more avail, Dame, to be gentle than ungentle with you; Take my salute," unknight
- 177 He and all they said, "Yea.""Then shall he," said Sir Launcelot, "receive the high order of knighthood as to-morn at the reverence of the high feast."That night Sir Launcelot had pa.s.sing good cheer; and on the morn at Galah
- 178 GALAHAD DRAWS THE SWORD OF BALIN LE SAVAGE Then the King took him by the hand, and went down from the palace to shew Galahad the adventures of the stone."Sir," said the King unto Sir Galahad, "here is a great marvel as I ever saw, and right
- 179 "Now blessed be G.o.d and fortune," said Galahad. And then he asked his arms, and mounted upon his horse, and hung the white s.h.i.+eld about his neck, and commended them unto G.o.d.Then within a while came Galahad thereas[16] the White knight a
- 180 "Care thou not," said Galahad, "and arise up and shew thy good will."And so he a.s.sayed, and found himself as whole as ever he was. Then ran he to the table, and took one part against Galahad.And anon arose there great noise in the ci
- 181 And fainter onward, like wild birds that change Their season in the night and wail their way From cloud to cloud, down the long wind the dream Shrill'd; but in going mingled with dim cries Far in the moonlit haze among the hills, As of some lonely ci
- 182 Speak out: what is it thou hast heard, or seen?"And answer made the bold Sir Bedivere: "Sir King, I closed mine eyelids, lest the gems Should blind my purpose, for I never saw, Nor shall see, here or elsewhere, till I die, Not tho' I live t
- 183 The exploring party, however, were prevented from making any discovery, by a violent thunder storm, which soon drove them back to the s.h.i.+p. They saw plenty of deer, and soon after espied a number of small piles of stones, which they at first supposed
- 184 But he had fallen into the power of a Scottish knight, who, though he served in the English army, did not choose to be the instrument of putting Bruce into their hands, and allowed him to escape. The conquerors executed their prisoners with their usual cr
- 185 When King Edward the First heard that Scotland was again in arms against him, he marched down to the Borders, with many threats of what he would do to avenge himself on Bruce and his party, whom he called rebels. But he was now old and feeble, and while h
- 186 The hero hailed the sign!And on the wished-for beam hung fast That slender, silken line; Slight as it was, his spirit caught The more than omen, for his thought The lesson well could trace, Which even "he who runs may read,"That Perseverance gai
- 187 Sir William of Saint Clair is down; We may not leave him here!"But thicker, thicker grew the swarm, And sharper shot the rain, And the horses reared amid the press, But they would not charge again."Now Jesu help thee," said Lord James, &quo
- 188 And as the wind-gusts waft The sea-foam brightly, So the loud laugh of scorn, Out of those lips unshorn, From the deep drinking-horn Blew the foam lightly."She was a Prince's child, I but a Viking wild, And though she blushed and smiled, I was d
- 189 My mother was ill in bed, and the terrified maid summoned my father from outside, with the story that the baby's ankle was out of joint. He hurried in, gave it one look, and, being a hasty, impetuous man, he declared, "Yes, the child's ankl
- 190 From time to time there arose among the buccaneers leaders whose success brought a large following from men of other companies, and in one or two instances a particularly strong man gathered about him almost all the men who were willing to engage in such
- 191 Notwithstanding Captain Morgan had promised to deliver the prisoners if the ransom was paid, he was so much in fear of destruction by sh.e.l.ls from the castle as he was pa.s.sing out of the lake that he told them he would release none of them until he wa
- 192 These twenty parcels, well packed, were placed on as many horses, each parcel, with the horse, being intended as a present for one officer.They were very thankfully received, and the kindness acknowledged by letters to me from the colonels of both regimen
- 193 I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps; They have builded him an altar in the evening dews and damps; I have read his righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps.His day is marching on.I have read a fiery gospel, writ in burnis
- 194 JOHN (_the Porter_).In this volume a few of his most amusing stories are printed--all, perhaps, that it is worth while to read.I Some years before my beard announced approaching manhood, or, in other words, when I was neither man nor boy, but between both
- 195 VIII We all remember Captain Phipp's (now Lord Mulgrave) last voyage of discovery to the north. I accompanied the Captain, not as an officer, but a private friend. When we arrived in a high northern lat.i.tude I was viewing the objects around me with
- 196 the tune is changed."We listened again, and the musician struck up in a brisk and lively manner, _Over the Water to Charlie_."That's mighty mysterious," said one of my friends."Can't cipher it out nohow," said another.&q
- 197 "1 lb. beefsteak, with 1 pt. bitter beer every six hours.1 ten-mile walk every morning.1 bed at 11 sharp every night.And don't stuff up your head with things you don't understand."I followed the directions, with the happy result--speak
- 198 When Harris is at a party and is asked to sing, he replies: "Well, I can only sing a _comic_ song, you know"; and he says it in a tone that implies that his singing of _that_, however, is a thing that you ought to hear once, and then die."O
- 199 He finished amid a perfect shriek of laughter. We said it was the funniest thing we had ever heard in all our lives. We said how strange it was that, in the face of things like these, there should be a popular notion that the Germans hadn't any sense
- 200 On went the talk and laughter. Arthur finished his was.h.i.+ng and undressing, and put on his nightgown. He then looked round more nervously than ever. Two or three of the little boys were already in bed, sitting up with their chins on their knees. The li