(April, 1823.)
With a total disbelief in all the vulgar legends of supernatural agency, and that upon firmer principles than I fear most people could assign for their incredulity, I must yet believe that the ‘soul of the world’ has in some instances sent forth1 mysterious types of the cardinal2 events, in the great historic drama of our planet. One has been noticed by a German author, and it is placed beyond the limits of any rational scepticism; I mean the coincidence between the augury3 derived4 from the flight of the twelve vultures as types of the duration of the Roman empire, i. e. Western Empire, for twelve centuries, and the actual event. This augury we know to have been recorded many centuries before its consummation; so that no juggling5 or collusion between the prophets and the witnesses to the final event can be suspected. Some others might be added. At present I shall notice a coincidence from our own history, which, though not so important as to come within the class of prefigurations I have been alluding6 to, is yet curious enough to deserve mention. The oak of Boscobel and its history are matter of household knowledge. It is not equally well known, that in a medal, struck to commemorate7 the installation (about 1636) of Charles II., then Prince of Wales, as a Knight8 of the Garter, amongst the decorations was introduced an oak-tree with the legend—‘Seris factura nepotibus umbram.’
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1
forth
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adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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2
cardinal
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n.(天主教的)红衣主教;adj.首要的,基本的 | |
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3
augury
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n.预言,征兆,占卦 | |
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4
derived
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vi.起源;由来;衍生;导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 );(从…中)得到获得;源于;(从…中)提取 | |
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5
juggling
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n. 欺骗, 杂耍(=jugglery) adj. 欺骗的, 欺诈的 动词juggle的现在分词 | |
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6
alluding
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提及,暗指( allude的现在分词 ) | |
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7
commemorate
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vt.纪念,庆祝 | |
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8
knight
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n.骑士,武士;爵士 | |
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