day.
(From "The Life and Surprizing Adventures
of Robinson Crusoe")

III In the Time of the Great Plague.
(From the "History of the Great Plague")

JONATHAN SWIFT--(Born in 1667, died in 1745.)

I On Pretense in Philosophers.
(From "Gulliver's Travels")

II On the Hospitality of the Vulgar.
(From No. 1 of _The Tatler_)

III The Art of Lying in Politics.
(From _The Examiner_)

IV A Meditation upon a Broomstick

V Gulliver Among the Giants.
(From "Gulliver's Travels")

JOSEPH ADDISON--(Born in 1672, died in 1719.)

I In Westminster Abbey.
(From No. 26 of _The Spectator_)

II Will Honeycomb and His Marriage.
(From Nos. 105 and 530 of _The Spectator_)

III Pride of Birth.
(From No. 137 of _The Guardian_)

IV Sir Roger and His Home.
(From Nos. 2 and 106 of _The Spectator_)

* * * * *

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND--I

1281-1745

RICHARD DE BURY

Born in 1281, died in 1345; the son of Sir Richard
Aungerville, his own name being taken from his birthplace,
Bury St. Edmonds; educated at Oxford, and became a
Benedictine monk; tutor to Edward III; dean of Wells
Cathedral in 1333; bishop of Durham the same year; high
chancellor of England in 1334; founded a library at Oxford;
his "Philobiblon" first printed at Cologne in 1473.

IN PRAISE OF BOOKS[1]

The desirable treasure of wisdom and knowledge, which all men covet
from the impulse of nature, infinitely surpasses all the riches of the
world; in comparison with which, precious stones are vile, silver is
clay, and purified gold grains of sand; in the splendor of which, the
sun and moon grow dim to the sight; in the admirable sweetness of
which, honey and manna are bitter to the taste. The value of wisdom
decreaseth not with time; it hath an ever-flourishing virtue that
cleanseth its possession from every venom. O celestial gift of divine
liberality, descending from the Father of light to raise up the
rational soul even to heaven; thou art the celestial alimony of
intellect, of which whosoever eateth shall yet hunger, and whoso
drinketh shall yet thirst; a harmony rejoicing the soul of the
sorrowful, and never in any way discomposing the hearer. Thou art the
moderator and the rule of morals, operating according to which none
err. By thee kings reign, and lawgiv