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Harvard Classics - Reading Guide - AugustAug 1: Calvin's DEDICATIONHis Influence Still Lives Steadfast allegiance to duty, simple living and adherence to plain, honest, homely doctrines are Calvin's principles. Are not these same old-fashioned truths followed to-day? Read from Calvin's DEDICATION ................... Vol. 39, pp. 27-33 Aug 2: DRUMMOND'S POEMSPoems from a Heart of Love "Here is the pleasant place—and nothing wanting is, save She, alas!" How often we too are faced with like adversity. So sings Drummond—a master songster and composer. Read from DRUMMOND'S POEMS ........... Vol. 40, pp. 326-330 Aug 3: Virgil's AENEIDWhen the Greeks Sacked Troy They battered down the palace gates and ravaged with fire and sword the chambers of King Priam's hundred wives. Through halls resounding with shrieks of terror, Priam and his household fled to sanctuary. Read from Virgil's AENEID ..................... Vol. 13, pp. 110-117 Aug 4: ANDERSEN'S TALESWorld's Greatest Bedtime Stories Hans Christian Andersen had an extraordinary capacity for amusing children. Were he living to-day he might be in great demand as a radio bedtime story man. Read: ANDERSEN'S TALES .......................... Vol. 17, pp. 221-230 Aug 5: Burns' COTTERS' SATURDAY NIGHTJoys of the Simple Life "Cotter's Saturday Night" for generations to come will remain the choicest picture of Scotch home life. Into this poem Burns instills the sense of all-pervading peace and happiness that comes at the end of a well-spent day. Read: Burns' COTTERS' SATURDAY NIGHT ........... Vol. 6, pp. 134-140 Aug 6: Tennyson's LOCKSLEY HALLA Prophet of Aerial Warfare "For I dipt into the future—saw the nation's airy navies grappling in the central blue." We are amazed at the accuracy of Tennyson's prediction. But he also foretells "the federation of the world"—yet to be fulfilled. Read: Tennyson's LOCKSLEY HALL ............. Vol. 42, pp. 979-986 Aug 7: Plato's PHAEDOThe Last Golden Words of Socrates The death sentence of Socrates could not be executed until the return of the sacred ship from Delos. One day his friends learned that the ship had returned. They hastened to the prison to listen to the last words of Athens' sage. Read from Plato's PHAEDO .......................... Vol. 2, pp. 45-54 Aug 8: Homer's ODYSSEYMen Transformed by Circe's Wand Unfavorable winds sent by angry gods blew the ships of Odysseus far off their course. The sailors were cast upon a remote island, governed by an enchantress where, for their coarse manners, they were put under a magic spell. Read from Homer's ODYSSEY ....................... Vol. 22, pp. 133-144 Aug 9: Walton's LIFE OF DR. DONNEEnglish Bridal Party Jailed Minister and witness, bride and groom were arrested by an enraged father when John Donne married his employer's niece. Donne was soon released, but he found himself without money, position or bride. Read from Walton's LIFE OF DR. DONNE .......... Vol. 15, pp. 326-334 Aug 10: Burke's THE REVOLUTION IN FRANCE"Give Them Cake," said the Queen When the people of Paris howled because they had no bread to eat, Queen Marie Antoinette exclaimed: "Well, then, let them eat cake!" Such an attitude hastened the revolution. Read from Burke's THE REVOLUTION IN FRANCE ...... Vol. 24, pp. 143-157 Aug 11: Epictetus' GOLDEN SAYINGSClever Repartee of Epictetus Epictetus advises that if a person speaks ill of you, make no defense, but answer: "He surely knew not of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these only." Read from Epictetus' GOLDEN SAYINGS .............. Vol. 2, pp. 176-182 Aug 12: LOWELL'S POEMSZekle's Courtin' Huldy, the rustic belle, sat alone peeling apples. She was bashful in her consciousness that Zekle would come soon. When he did, she merely blushed and timidly said: "Ma's sprinklin' clo'es," and then— Read: LOWELL'S POEMS ..................... Vol. 42, pp. 1376-1379 Aug 13: Southey's AFTER BLENHEIM and Other PoemsToo Close to See the Battle England and France came to battle near Blenheim. Years later the people of Blenheim called it a "famous victory," but could not tell whose victory it was. Read: Southey's AFTER BLENHEIM and other poems ...... Vol. 41, pp. 732-735 Aug 14: Dana's TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MASTA College Boy Goes to Sea Leaving Harvard on account of ill health, Dana sought adventure and thrilling experience aboard a sailing vessel that rounded Cape Horn. He turned the dangers, hardships, and keen joys of a sailor's life into a fascinating story. Read from Dana's Two YEARS BEFORE THE MAST ..... Vol. 23, pp. 30-37 Aug 15: THE SONG OF ROLANDInto Death's Face He Flung This Song Charlemagne's rear guard was attacked by the Basques in the valley of Roncesvaux. Roland, its leader, fought a courageous fight, and, though conquered, became immortal. Read from THE SONG OF ROLAND ............ Vol. 49, pp. 166-173 Aug 16: THE PSALMSInspiring Ritual of Temple Worship David—the psalm singer—knew the wondrous ways of the Lord and praised H im in his psalms. Burdened souls in all ages have found comfort in these songs that once were used in the gorgeous ritual of Jerusalem's temple. Read from THE PSALMS ......................... Vol. 44, pp. 286-295 Aug 17: Luther's ADDRESS TO THE NOBILITYThree Walls Luther Saw Luther declared that the unreformed church had drawn its doctrines like three walls so closely about the people that they served not as protection but were the cause of untold misery and distress. This he hoped to relieve by the Reformation. Read: Luther's ADDRESS TO THE NOBILITY .......... Vol. 36, pp. 263-275 Aug 18: CELLINI'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY"I Took Her by the Hair and Dragged Her Up and Down" In Cellini's day the model's life was a hazardous one. Cellini's Autobiography reveals how some models were treated. You will find it more thrilling than the most modern novel. Read from CELLINI'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY ....... Vol. 31, pp. 312-323 Aug 19: Pare's JOURNEYS IN DIVERSE PLACESRoses Boiled in Wine Astonishing treatments and cures are related by Ambroise Pare, famed surgeon of the fifteenth century. One remedy, for instance, used to cure a distinguished nobleman, was red roses boiled in white wine,—and it was effective. Read from Pare's JOURNEYS IN DIVERSE PLACES ...... Vol. 38, pp. 50-58 Aug 20: Milton's PARADISE LOSTPlot Against Eve Driven from Heaven, Satan meditated revenge. He decided his greatest opportunity to injure God was to bring sin to mankind. Satan's plot against Eve is told by Milton. Read from Milton's PARADISE LOST ................ Vol. 4, pp. 154-164 Aug 21: CONFESSIONS OF ST. AUGUSTINEHidden Treasures in an Old Book A certain man was willed a Bible. He scorned the legacy until one day, penniless and downcast, he turned to the book for consolation. Imagine his amazement on finding hundred dollar bills between the pages. St. Augustine explains how he found even greater treasures in the Bible. Read from CONFESSIONS OF ST. AUGUSTINE ............ Vol. 7, pp. 118-126 Aug 22: Dana's TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MASTAboard the Old Sailing Ships In the days when sailing ships plied the seven seas, common sailors were often subject to a brutal captain whose whim was law. Dana, a Boston college boy, makes an exciting story of his sea experiences. Read from Dana's Two YEARS BEFORE THE MAST ...... Vol. 23, pp. 99-111 Aug 23: Burke's ON THE SUBLIME AND BEAUTIFULWhich Is a Beautiful Woman? The Hottentot thinks his wife beautiful. Every American believes his wife also to be beautiful. But the American and the Hottentot are quite different. What, after all, is Beauty? Read from Burke's ON THE SUBLIME AND BEAUTIFUL ....... Vol. 24, pp. 78-88 Aug 24: Pliny's LETTERSSurvivor's Story of Vesuvius The eruption of Vesuvius that demolished Pompeii and buried thousands of people was witnessed by Pliny. He describes his panic-stricken flight with his mother from the doomed villa through falling ashes and sulphurous fumes. His famous uncle, the elder Pliny, lost his life while investigating the eruption and aiding refugees. Read from Pliny's LETTERS ...................... Vol. 9, pp. 284-291 Aug 25: Kelvin's TIDESBritain Saved by a Full Moon We to-day know that there is a direct relation between the moon and tides. When Julius Caesar went to conquer Britain his transports were wrecked because he did not know the tides on the English coast; a knowledge of which might have changed the whole course of history. Read from Kelvin's TIDES ........................... Vol. 30, pp. 274-285 Aug 26: FROISSART'S CHRONICLESThe Prince of Wales Wins His Spurs A brilliant victory for the English king was gained in this battle, a fight in which vast numbers of French nobility, many princes, and the aged King John of Bohemia were slain. Froissart describes all in detail. Read from FROISSART'S CHRONICLES ............... Vol. 35, pp. 27-33 Aug 27: Burns' POEMS AND SONGSPriceless Treasures of Memory "A man's a man for a' that." "Should auld acquaintance be forgot." "To see her is to love her and love but her forever." "Flow gently, sweet Afton." Every stanza of Burns is treasured. How many have you stored up? Read from Burns' POEMS AND SONGS ......... Vol. 6, pp. 317, 417, 442, 511 Aug 28: Goethe's FAUSTThe World's Love Tragedy "Almighty God, I am undone." With this cry of despair, Margaret witnessed the fiendish work of Faust, her lover, who bartered his immortal soul for worldly pleasure. A thrilling drama, based on a famous medieval legend. Read from Goethe's FAUST ................... Vol. 19, pp. 158-167 Aug 29: Plutarch's ANTONYCleopatra Bewitches Mark Antony Cleopatra rode to meet Antony in a gilded barge with sails of purple; oars of silver beat time to the music of flutes and fifes and harps. She went as Venus, and her attendants were dressed as Cupids and Nymphs. Read from Plutarch's ANTONY .................. Vol. 12, pp. 339-349 Aug 30: Marcus Aurelius' MEDITATIONSSimple Life in a Palace Every luxury, all the wealth in the world at his command—yet Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of haughty Rome, led a simple life even in a palace. He left his secret in his "Meditations." Read from Marcus Aurelius' MEDITATIONS ...... Vol. 2, pp. 222-228 Aug 31: Emerson's AMERICAN SCHOLARAmerica's Greatest Thinker Emerson was included in Dr. Eliot's recent selection of the world's ten greatest educators of all time. Here the great thinker discusses this force within man that makes him a scholar. Read: Emerson's AMERICAN SCHOLAR ................ Vol. 3, pp. 5-15 |