July 8

Italy's Fair Assassin
When the monstrous Cenci forced his daughter Beatrice into a horrible situation, she revolted and boldly struck for freedom. Shelley tells her pitiful story in one of his best works.
(Percy Bysshe Shelley drowned, July 8, 1822.)

Read from Shelley's CENCI Vol. 18, pp. 288-300

April 9

A Perfect Land in a Wilderness of Waters
West of Peru there was reported to be a land where Truth and Science were used to promote the happiness and freedom of man. Here is Bacon's description of this ideal commonwealth.
(Francis Bacon died April 9, 1629.)

Read from Bacon's NEW ATLANTIS (The Harvard Classics: Vol. 3, pp. 145-155)

April 8

Beware the Vengeful Hounds!
Orestes, holding an avenging sword over his mother, is told: "Beware thy mother's vengeful hounds." How he pays for disregarding his mother's warning is told in this drama where a mother is slain to avenge a father's ghost.

Read from Æschylus' THE LIBATION BEARERS Vol. 8, pp. 111-121

April 7

Nature Guided His Pen
Wordsworth was so closely in touch with Nature that the simple beauty of flowers, woods, and fields is reflected in his poems as if Nature herself took up the pen and wrote.
(Wordsworth born April 7, 1770.)

Read: From Wordsworth's POEMS (The Harvard Classics: Vol. 41, pp. 639-651)

April 6

Who Is Bad?
Badness has many interpretations, a different definition has been the dictate of each new generation. The solution of the eternal riddle was earnestly sought by Marcus Aurelius.
(Marcus Aurelius born in April (26th), 121 A. D.)

Read: Marcus Aurelius' MEDITATIONS (The Harvard Classics: Vol. 2, pp. 243-253)

April 5

You and Your Dreams
Dreams and their causes interested Hobbes. Without superstition, the philosopher weighed the evidence of ghosts, goblins, and witches.
(Hobbes born April 5, 1588.)

Read from Hobbes' LEVIATHAN (The Harvard Classics: Vol. 34, pp. 313-322)

April 4

The Mistakes of a Night
Genial and rollicking fun are provided in this highly entertaining story of a man who mistakes a private house for an inn, and who treats his host's daughter like a serving maid.
(Oliver Goldsmith born April 4, 1774.)

Read from Goldsmith's SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER (The Harvard Classics: Vol. 18, pp. 205-215)

April 3

Romance with a Happy Ending
"As a conqueror enters a surprised city; love made such resolutions as neither party was able to resist. She changed her name into Herbert the third day after this first interview."
(George Herbert born April 3, 1593)

Read from Walton's LIFE OF GEORGE HERBERT (The Harvard Classics: Vol. 15, pp. 392-404)

April 2

A Spoon Dances in the Moonlight
A huge spoon dressed in human finery, placed on a grave, appears to become convulsed when the moon's rays fall on it and dances to the tune of chanting natives. Weird sights, according to Darwin, abound in the South Seas.

Read from Darwin's VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE (The Harvard Classics: Vol. 29, pp. 462-471)

April 1

APRIL

. . . proud-pied April, dress'd in all his trim.

Hath put a spirit of youth in everything,

That heavy Saturn laughed and leaped with him.

       Shakespeare (Vol. 40, p. 278)

"Oh! to Be in England Now That April's There"
Everyone knows the pangs of homesickness in the spring. Even bright, sparkling Italy could not wean Browning's affection from the green hedgerows of misty England.

Read:  From Browning's POEMS (The Harvard Classics: Vol. 42, pp. 1068-1074)

January 10

Where Love Lies Waiting

King Pantheus of Thebes contended against Dionysus, the God, for the adoration of the Theban women. The god was winning by bewitching the women when the king interceded. Euripides tells the story in a masterpiece of Greek drama.

Read from Euripides' THE BACCHÆ Vol. 8, pp. 368-372

January 9

Treasure Hunt in Nombre de Dios

With only fifty-two men, Sir Francis Drake conceives the idea of attacking his archenemy, Spain, at her most vulnerable point the treasure at Nombre de Dios.
(Drake died at Nombre de Dios, Jan. 9, 1596.)

Read from Nichol's SIR FRANCIS DRAKE REVIVED Vol. 33, pp. 135-145

January 8

Trying the Patience of Job

God was pleased with the piety of Job, but Satan accredited the piety to Job's prosperity and happiness. So a trial was made. See how each succeeding affliction visited on Job shook the depths of his nature, and how he survived.

Read from THE BOOK OF JOB Vol. 44, pp. 71-87

January 7

If He Yawned, She Lost Her Head!

The Sultan had a habit of beheading each dawn his beautiful bride of the night before, until he encountered Scheherazade. Cleverly she saved her life a thousand and one mornings.

Read from THE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS Vol. 16, pp. 5-13