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Discontinuing

I am discontinuing this blog in order to concentrate my blog on history, History Moments.  I am keeping this on the net because of the really great posts here.

It was a great idea, just lack of time.

Fifty Slaughtered in the Gloomy Vale

The Illiad
by Homer
This is the Alexander Pope translation.

We are journeying through Book 4. Previously

The tyrant feasting with his chiefs he found,
And dared to combat all those chiefs around:
Dared, and subdued before their haughty lord;
For Pallas strung his arm and edged his sword.
Stung with the shame, within the winding way,
To bar his passage fifty warriors lay;
Two heroes led the secret squadron on,
Mason the fierce, and hardy Lycophon;
Those fifty slaughter'd in the gloomy vale.
He spared but one to bear the dreadful tale,
Such Tydeus was, and such his martial fire;
Gods! how the son degenerates from the sire!"

Tie Her and Torture Her

Thousand and One Nights

Today's excerpt is from The Second Calendar's Story. Previously

I paid no heed to her words, but kicked the alcove with all my might, and immediately the place grew dark, it thundered and lightened, the earth trembled and the world was wrapped in gloom. When I saw this, the fumes of the wine left my head and I said to the lady, "What is the matter?" "The Afrit is upon us," answered she "Did I not warn thee of this! By Allah, thou hast ruined me! But fly for thy life and return whence thou camest."

The Wizard Scares Away the Cowardly Lion

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
by L. Frank Baum

Today's selection from Chapter 11. The Wonderful City of Oz. Previously

"Help Dorothy to kill the Wicked Witch of the West," replied the Beast. "When the Witch is dead, come to me, and I will then give you the biggest and kindest and most loving heart in all the Land of Oz."

The Happiest Part of French Railroad Management

Innocents Abroad
by Mark Twain

You're reading from chapter 12. Previously

The cars are built in compartments that hold eight persons each. Each compartment is partially subdivided, and so there are two tolerably distinct parties of four in it. Four face the other four. The seats and backs are thickly padded and cushioned and are very comfortable; you can smoke if you wish; there are no bothersome peddlers; you are saved the infliction of a multitude of disagreeable fellow passengers. So far, so well. But then the conductor locks you in when the train starts; there is no water to drink in the car; there is no heating apparatus for night travel; if a drunken rowdy should get in, you could not remove a matter of twenty seats from him or enter another car; but above all, if you are worn out and must sleep, you must sit up and do it in naps, with cramped legs and in a torturing misery that leaves you withered and lifeless the next day--for behold they have not that culmination of all charity and human kindness, a sleeping car, in all France. I prefer the American system. It has not so many grievous "discrepancies."

Richelieu, the Despotic Minister

The Three Musketeers
by Alexandre Dumas

Today's excerpt is from Chapter 43. Previously

Te Deums were chanted in camp, and afterward throughout France.

The cardinal was left free to carry on the siege, without having, at least at the present, anything to fear on the part of the English.