The ear, it is true, in respect to beauty, must give place to the eye.
However, it is perfectly well formed, and is no less a master-piece of
the creative hand. In the first place, the position of the ear shews
much wisdom. It is placed in the most convenient part of the body, near
the brain, the common seat of all the senses. The outward form of the
ear is worthy our admiration. It greatly resembles a muscle; but has
neither the softness of mere flesh, nor the hardness of bone. If it was
only flesh, it’s upper part would fall down over the orifice, and would
prevent the communication of sounds. If, on the contrary, it had been
composed of hard bones, it would be very painful and inconvenient to lie
on either side. For this reason, the Creator formed the outward part of
the ear of a gristly substance, which has the consistence, the polish,
and the folds, most proper to reflect sounds; for the use of all the
external parts is to collect and convey them to the bottom of the ear.
The interior construction of this organ must still more excite our
admiration. There is in the shell of the ear an opening, which they call
the _auditory pipe_. The entrance of it is furnished with little hairs,
which serve as a bar, to keep insects from penetrating into it; and it
is for the same purpose that the ear is moistened with a substance that
is conglutinous and bitter, which separates itself from the glands. The
drum of the ear is placed obliquely in the auditory pipe. This part of
the ear really resembles a drum; for, in the first place, there is in
the cavity of the auditory pipe a bony ring, on which is stretched a
round membrane, dry and thin: in the second place, there is, under that
skin, a string stretched tight, which does here the same service as that
of the drum, for it increases, by its vibrations, the vibration of the
drum of the ear, and serves sometimes to extend, and sometimes to relax
the membrane. In the hollow, under the skin of the drum, there are some
very small bones, but very remarkable, called auditory bones, and
distinguished by these names, the hammer, the anvil, the orbicular, and
the stirrup. Their use is, to contribute to the vibration, and to the
tension of the skin of the drum. Behind the cavity of the drum, another
opening must be observed, which communicates with a pipe which leads to
the palate, and which is equally necessary to produce the sensation of
exterior sounds. Next comes the _snail_, which rises in a spiral line.
Behind is the auditory pipe, which joins the brain.
Hearing is in itself a thing worthy of admiration. By a portion of air,
extremely small, which we put in motion, without knowing how, we can in
an instant make our thoughts known to one another, with all our
conceptions and desires, and this in as perfect a manner, as if our
souls could see into each other’s. But to comprehend the action of the
air, in the propagation of sounds, more clearly, we must remember that
the air is not a solid body, but a fluid. Throw a stone into a calm
running water, there will result from it undulations, which will extend
more or less, according to the degree of force with which the stone is
thrown. Let us now suppose, that a word produces in the air the same
effect as the stone produces in the water. While the person who speaks
is uttering the word, he expels (with more or less force) the air out of
his mouth; that air communicates to the outward air, which it meets with
an undulating motion, and this agitated air comes and shakes the
stretched membrane of the drum in the ear; this membrane, thus shaken,
communicates vibrations to the air which resides in the cavity of the
drum; and that strikes the hammer; the hammer, in it’s turn, strikes the
other little bones; the stirrup transmits to the nerves, through the
oval orifice, the motion it has received; and they then vibrate like the
strings of a fiddle. This motion gains strength in the labyrinth, and
reaches to what is properly called the auditory nerves. The soul then
experiences a sensation proportionable to the force or weakness of the
impression received, and, by virtue of a mysterious law of the Creator,
it forms to itself representations of objects and of truths.
God, in order to make us more sensible of his general goodness towards
mankind, permits now and then, that some should be born deaf. Must it
not teach us to value highly the sense of which they are deprived? The
best way to prove our gratitude for so great a blessing is to make a
good use of it.
* * * * *
* * * *
Interesting History Of
THE PRINCESS DE PONTHIEU.
_Translated from the French._
(Continued from page 50.)
The day being come, they were obliged to cast lots which of them should
die first: the fatal chance fell on the Count de Ponthieu; his son and
Thibault contended for the preference, but all they could obtain was, to
wait on him to the place of execution. The whole court was assembled to
see this spectacle--The Sultan was present himself, and his Sultaness,
whose extraordinary beauty had attracted the eyes of all the Infidels,
when they were drawn off by the arrival of the illustrious victims, that
were going to be sacrificed to the honour of the day. But that Queen,
whose soul was as perfect as her body, was surprized at the majestic air
of the Count de Ponthieu, who was as yet at a great distance from her:
his venerable age, and the contempt with which he seemed to look on his
approaching fate, made her order him to be brought nearer to her; he
being a stranger, she let down her veil, the women of that country never
suffering themselves to be seen by any but Saracens.
As he approached, she found emotions which at that time she knew not had
any other source than pity; but having attentively looked on his face,
she soon discovered the true cause: but making use of her utmost efforts
to prevent her disorder from being taken notice of, she asked him his
name, of what country he was, and by what accident he had been taken.
The softness of her voice, and the manner of her delivery, gave him a
sensible alarm, though he knew not the meaning of it--He answered her
without hesitation, that he was of France, and of the sovereignty of
Ponthieu. “Are you here alone?” demanded the Queen. “I have two
companions in my misfortunes,” replied he, “my son and my son-in-law.”
The Queen ordered them immediately to be brought to her; and having
heedfully observed them for some time, ordered the sacrifice to be
suspended, and ran to the throne where the Sultan was sitting, and
throwing herself at his feet “My lord,” said she “if ever I have been
happy enough to please you, and may flatter myself with your affection,
grant me the lives of these three slaves: they are of my country, and
pity makes me interest myself for them, and I hope your clemency will be
rewarded by the merit of those I am going to bind to your service.” The
Sultan, who adored her, raised her tenderly; “You are mistress of my
fate, madam,” replied he, “can I refuse you then the being so of that of
those strangers? Dispose of them as you please, I give them entirely up
to you, without reserving to myself any right over them.” She thanked
him, in terms full of gratitude and respect, and returning to the noble
captives, informed them of their pardon; and being secretly too much
disordered to stay till the conclusion of the feast, she ordered them to
follow her to her apartment; where seeing herself alone with them, she
was obliged to renew her efforts, to conceal the confusion of her soul;
and assuming an air of as much fierceness as she could, which was
heightened by a natural majesty; “I have saved your lives,” said she,
“and you may judge by such a proof of my power, that I have authority
enough to put you again into the same danger; resolve therefore to
satisfy my curiosity, in discovering without disguise all your
adventures: I give you till to-morrow to prepare yourselves; I must know
your names, qualities, and by what strange accident fate brought you
into this country---if you are sincere you may expect every thing from
my goodness.” Thibault who had not ventured to lift his eyes upon her
while they were before the Sultan, now endeavoured to discover, with the
nicest penetration, her beauties; which the thin gauze, of which her
veil was made, did not altogether conceal. The dazzling lustre of her
sparkling eyes, and the thousand charms which played about her lovely
mouth, notwithstanding this impediment, were not wholly obscured from
the view. The daring gazer found himself agitated with emotions, which
had been unknown to him since the death of his unhappy wife. He felt a
pleasure in contemplating this adorable queen, which nothing but itself
could equal; and perceiving the Count was silent, perhaps kept so by
sentiments which he knew not how to account for, he threw himself at her
feet; “As for me, madam,” said he, “it will not be the fears of death
that would prevail on me to relate the particulars of a life which has
been full of such unheard-of woes, that what to others would be the
greatest dread, to me would be a blessing---but there is something far
more terrible than what you have named, the abusing a generosity such as
yours, prevents me from concealing any part of what you command me to
disclose---if therefore the recital of our misfortunes can testify our
acknowledgments, depend on our sincerity.”
All the resolution which she had assumed for this rencounter, had like
to have forsook her at so moving a discourse; but making a new effort,
“Rise,” said she, “your destiny promises something very touching, I am
concerned in it more than you can yet imagine. The Sultan will soon
appear, therefore I would have you retire, you shall want for nothing
this palace can afford, recover yourselves of your fears and fatigues,
and to-morrow you shall receive my orders; and till then, I will defer
the history I have engaged you to give me.” She then called a slave in
whom she entirely confided; “Sayda,” said she to her, “conduct them as I
have ordered;” and then making a sign to them to withdraw, they obeyed,
and followed the slave. As they went out they heard the Queen sigh, and
neither of them could forbear doing so too---Thibault, who quitted her
with regret, returning to look on her once more, perceiving she put her
handkerchief to her eyes to wipe away some tears, he could not restrain
his own. Sayda led them to a little apartment behind the Queen’s, it
consisted of three rooms, and at the end an arched gallery, where the
fruit was kept that was every day served up to her table.---“This,” said
Sayda, “is the only service the Sultaness expects from you; she could
not have placed you so commodiously, without giving you some employment
that required your attendance near her person, you must therefore take
care of this fruit, put it in order in baskets provided for that use,
and present it to her at her repasts---under this pretence you may
possess these apartments, and be served by the slaves appointed for that
purpose---you are to be subservient only to the Sultan and Sultaness.”
In speaking these words, she quitted them, leaving them in an
inconceivable surprize at all they had seen. When they were by
themselves, Thibault, who could no longer contain in his breast the
different agitations which crouded one on another, and seemed to
struggle for utterance, approached the Count, and tenderly embracing
him; “What a woman is this Queen, my lord,” said he, “and by what
miracle does she reign over these barbarians! what have we done to
deserve her generous care of us! Ah! my lord, I find her companion
dangerous---Alas! my dear Princess!” added he, “you alone were wont to
raise these emotions in my soul!” “I don’t know,” replied the Count,
“what will be our fate, or what are the designs of the Queen: her
goodness does not affect me as it does you; you are young, and your
heart still preserves a fund of passion, which may cause more violent
perturbations in it than mine; yet I own, I have felt for her the
tenderness of a father; and that when she spoke, my daughter came into
my mind---But I am afraid, my dear Thibault, that you will doubly lose
your liberty in this fatal place.” Thibault made no other answer than by
sighs; and some refreshments being brought in, they were forced to drop
a discourse, that did not admit of witnesses.
The Queen, in the mean time, was too much interested in the affairs of
the day to be very easy, and was no sooner left alone with her dear
Sayda, than giving a loose to the transports she had so long restrained,
her beautiful face was bathed all over in tears. The faithful slave,
astonished at her excess of grief, kneeled down at her feet, and taking
one of her hands; “Alas! madam,” said she, “what is this sudden
misfortune---are these strangers come to trouble the tranquility you
were beginning to enjoy!---you have hitherto honoured me with your
confidence---may I not now know what has occasioned this grief?” “Ah!
dear Sayda,” replied her royal mistress, “let not appearances deceive
you.--Love, joy, nature, and fear, makes me shed tears much more than
any grief---that husband so dear to me, and of whom thou hast heard me
speak so much, is one of the captives whose lives I have saved---the
other is my father, and the young lad my brother. The horror of seeing
my father die for the diversion of a people to whom I am Queen, has
pierced me with so lively an affliction, that I wonder the apprehension
of it did not a second time deprive me of my reason---my husband,
partaker of the same fate, his melancholy, his resignation before me,
his looks full of that love and tenderness which once made my happiness,
has touched my soul in the most nice and delicate part: I dare not
discover myself, before I know their sentiments; and the constraint I
have put on myself, has been such, as nature scarce can bear---Preserve
my secret, dear Sayda, and don’t expose me again to tremble for lives on
which my own depends.” “Doubt not of my fidelity, madam,” answered the
other, “’tis inviolable, my religion, your goodness which I have so
often experienced, and the confidence with which you have honoured me,
have attached me to your service till death.”
(_To be continued._)
* * * * *