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When Bladud became king, he introduced certain arts and sciences among his subjects. He was devoted to the study of astronomy, and built a high tower for an observatory, which he called the Tower of Apollo.
Weakness and vanity, however, at length led him on to his destruction; for, in the pride of his supposed knowledge, he was so silly as to construct for himself a pair of wings, and to attempt to fly from the top of this lofty tower. As might, of course, have been expected, he fell to the earth, and was dashed to pieces.
He had reigned many years over Britain, and is said to have been the father of King Lear, whose sad story forms the subject of a beautiful tragedy by our great poet Shakspeare.
THE SLAVE OF AUVERGNE.
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A TALE OF THE ANCIENT CHRISTIANS, THE FRANKS, AND
THE VISI-GOTHS.
CHAPTER I.
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GREGORY, COUNT OF AUTUN, BECOMES CHRISTIAN BISHOP OF LANGRES.—HIS GRANDSON ATTALUS.—AUVERGNE CONQUERED BY THE ROMANS.—TRANSFERRED TO THE VISI-GOTHS, AND FROM THEM CONQUERED BY THE FRANKS.—KING THEODORIC.—TREACHERY OF HIS BROTHER CHILDERBERT.—ATTALUS DELIVERED AS A HOSTAGE, AND CARRIED TO METZ.