Camilla melancholy does fhe figh? Every body is affected: they enquire whether any misfortune has happened to Camilla; they find that the fighed for the misfortune of another, and they are affected ftill more. Young, lovely, and high-born, Camilla graces every company, and heightens the brilliancy of courts; wherever the appears, all others Seem by a natural impulfe to feel her fupeority; and yet, when the converfes, the has the art of infpiring others with an eafe which they never knew before: the joins to the nott fcrupulous politeness a certain feminine gaiety, free both from reftraint and boldness; always gentle, yet never inferior; always zinaffuming, yet never ashamed or awkward; for thame and awkwardnels are the effects of pride, which is too often mifcalled modefty: nay, to the most critical difcernment the adds fomething of a bathing timidity, which ferves but to give a meaning and piquancy even to her looks, an admirable effect of true fuperiority by this filent unafuming merit fac over-awes the turbulent and the proud, and ftops the torrent of that indecent, that overbearing noife, with which inferior natures in fuperior ftations overwhelm the flavish and the mean. Yes, all admire, and love, and reverence Camilla. You fee a character that you admirc, and you think it perfect; do you therefore conclude that every different character is imperfeet? what, will you allow a variety of beauty alinoft equally striking in the art of a Corregio, a Guido, and a Raphael, and refufe it to the infinity of nature? How diferent from lovely Camilla is the beloved Flora! In Camilla, nature has difplayed the beauty of exact regularity, and the elegant foftnefs of female prepnety's in Flora, the charms with a certain artless poignancy, a graceful negligence, and an uncontrouled, yet blameless freedom. Flora has fomething original and peculiar about her, a charm which is not cafily defined; to know her and to love her is the fame thing; but you cannot know her by defcription. Her perfon is rather touching than majestic, her features more expreffive than regular, and her manner pleases rather because it is reftrained by no rule, than because it is conformable to any that cuftom has cftablished. Camilla puts you in mind of the most perfect mutic that can be compofed; Flora, of the wild fwectnefs which is fometimes produced by the irregular play of the breeze upon the Holian harp. Camilla reminds you of a lovely young queen; Flora, of her more lovely maid of honour. In Camilla you admire the decency of the Graces; in Flora, the attractive (weetnefs of the Loves. Artlefs fenfibility, wild, native feminine gaiety, and the most touching tenderness of foul, are the ftrange cliaracter iftics of Flora. Her countenance glows with youthful beauty, which all art feems rather to diminish than increafe, rather to hide than adorn; and while Camilla charms you with the choice of her drefs, Flora enchants you with the neglect of hers. Thus different are the beauties which nature has manifefted in Camilla and Flora! yet while fhe has, in this contrariety, fhewn the extent of her power to pleafe, the has alfo proved, that truth and virtue are always the fame. Generofity and tendernefs are the first principles in the minds of both favourites, and were never poffelfed in an higher degree than they are poffeffed by Flora: the is juft as attentive to the intereft of others, as the is negligent of her own; and tho' fhe could fubmit to any misfortune that could befal herfelf, yet the hardly knows how to bear the misfortunes of another. Thus does Flora unite the strongest fenfibility with the moft lively gaiety; and both are expreffed with the most bewitching mixture in her countenance. While Camilla infpires a reverence that keeps you at a refpectful, yet admiring distance, Flora excites the most ardent, yet molt elegant defire, Camilla reminds you of the dignity of Diana, Flora of the attractive fenfibility of Califto: Camilla almoft elevates you to the fenfibility of angels, Flora delights you with the lovelieft idea of woman. Greville. 847. A Fable by the celebrated Linnæus, tranflated from the Latin. Once upon a time the feven wife men of Greece were met together at Athens, and it was propofed that every one of them fhould mention what he thought the greatest wonder in the creation. One of them, of higher conceptions than the reft, proposed the opinion of fome of the aftronomers about the fixed stars, which they believed to be fo many funs, that had each their planets rolling about them, and were ftored with plants and animals like this earth. Fired with this thought, they agreed to fupplicate Jupiter, that he would at least permit them to take a journey to the moon, and stay there three days, in order to fee the wonders of that place, and give an account of them at their return. Jupiter confented, and ordered them to affemble on a high mountain, where there should be a cloud ready to convey them to the place they defired to fee. They picked out fome chofen companions,who might affit them in defcribing and painting theobjects they fhould meet with. At length they arrived at the moon, and found a palace there well fitted up for their reception. The next day, being very much fatigued with their journey, they kept quiet at home till noon; and being ftill faint, they refreshed themselves with a moft delicious entertainment, which they relished fo well, that it overcame their curiofity. This day they only faw through the window that delightful fpot, adorned with the most beautiful flowers, to which the beams of the fun gave an uncommon luftre, and heard the finging of moft melodious birds till evening came on. The next day they arofe very early in order to begin their obfervations; but fome very beautiful young ladies of that country coming to make them a vifit, advised them first to recruit their strength before they expofed themselves to the laborious task theywere about to undertake. The delicate meats, the rich wines, the beauty of thefe damfels, prevailed over the refolution of thefe ftrangers. A fine concert of mufic is introduced, the young ones begin to dance, and all is turned to jollity; fo that this whole day was fpent in gallantry, till fome of the neighbouring inhabitants, growing envious at their mirth, rufhed in with fwords. The elder part of the company tried to appease the younger, promifing the very next day they would bring the rioters to juftice. This they performed, and the third day the caufe was heard; and what with accufations, pleadings, exceptions, and the judgment itself, the whole day was taken up, on which the term fet by Jupiter expired. On their return to Greece, all the country flocked in upon them to hear the wonders of the moon defcribed, but all they could tell was, for that was all they knew, that the ground was covered with green, intermixed with flowers, and that the birds fung among the branches of the trees; but what kind of flowers they faw, or what kind of birds birds they heard, they were totally ignorant. Upon which they were treated every where with contempt. **This is to ferve for parents and gover nors inftead of a whole volume upon the fabject. § 49. The Starling. Sterne. and opening his hand as he spoke, to let it cfcape;-go poor devil,- -get thee gone, why fhould I hurt thee-This world, furely, is If we apply this fable to men of the pre-wide enough to hold both thee and me. fent age, we fall perceive a very juft fimilirude. By thefe three days the fable denotes the three ages of man. First, youth, in which we are too feeble in every refpect to look into the works of the Creator: all that feafon is given up to idlenefs, luxury, and pastime. Secondly, manhood, in which men are employed in fettling, marrying, educating children, providing fortunes for them, and raifang a family. Thirdly, old age, in which after having made their fortunes, they are overwhelmed with law-fuits and proceedings relating to their eftates. Thus it frequently happens that men never confider to what end they were defined, and why they were brought into the world. B. Thornton. § 48. Mercy recommended. My uncle Toby was a man patient of injuries ;-not from want of courage,-where juft occafions prefented, or called it forth,-I know no man under whofe arm I would fooner have taken a shelter;-nor did this arife from any infenfibility or obtufenefs of his intellectual parts--he was of a peaceful, placid nature,--no jarring element in it,--all wasmixed up fo kindly within him: my uncle Toby had fcarce a heart to retaliate upon a fly:Go-fays he one day at dinner, to an overgrown one which had buzzed about his nofe, and tormented him moftcruelly all dinner-time, and which, after infinite attempts, he had caught at laft, as it few by him I'll not hurt thee, fays my uncle Toby, rifing from his chair, and going across the room, with the fly in his hand.--I'll not hurt a hair of thy head:-Go, fays he, lifting up the fafh, -Befhrew the ombre pencil! faid" I vauntingly--for I envy not its powers, which paints the evils of life with fo hard and deadly a colouring. The mind fits terrified at the object the has magnified herfelf and blackened: reduce them to their proper fize and hue, the overlooks them.'Tis true, faid I, correcting the propofition-the Battile is not an evil to be defpifed-but ftrip it of its towers-fill up the foffe-unbarricade the doors-call it fimply a confinement, and fuppofe 'tis fome tyrant of a diftemper-and not of a man-which holds you in it-the evil vanithes, and you bear the other half with out complaint, I was interrupted in the hey-day of the Yoliloquy, with a voice which I took to be of a child, which complained, “it could not get out."I looked up and down the paffage, and feeing neither man, woman, nor child, I went out without further attention. In my return back through the paffage, I heard the fame words repeated twice over; and looking up, I faw it was a Starling hung in a little cage- "I can't get outcan't get out," faid the Starling. I ftood looking at the bird; and to every perfon who came through the paffage, it ran fluttering to the fide towards which they ap preached it, with the fame lamentations of its captivity" I can't get out," faid the Starling-God help thee! faid I, but I will let thee thee out, coft what it will; fo I turned about the cage to get at the door; it was twifted and double twisted fo faft with wire, there was no getting it open without pulling the cage to pieces-I took both hands to it. The bird flew to the place where I was attempting his deliverance, and thrusting his head through the trellis, preffed his breaft against it as if impatient. I fear, poor creature! faid I, I cannot fet thee at liberty "No," faid the Starling." I can't get out. I can't get out," faid the Starling. I vow I never had my affections more tenderly awakened: nor do I remember an incident in my life, were the diffipated fpirits, to which my reafon had been a bubble, were fo fuddenly called home. Mechanical as the notes were, yet fo true in tune to nature were they chanted, that in one moment they over threw all my fyftematic reafonings upon the Baftile; and I heavily walked up ftairs, unfaying every word I had faid in going down them. and fhower down thy mitres, if it feems good unto thy Divine providence, upon those heads which are aching for thein! Sterne. $50. The Captive. The bird in his cage purfued me into my room; I fat down close by my table, and leaning my head upon my hand, I began to figure to myself the miferics of confinement: I was in a right frame for it, and fo I gave full fcope to my imagination. I was going to begin with the millions of my fellow-creatures born to no inheritance but flavery; but finding, however affecting the picture was, that I could not bring it near me, and that the multitude of fad groupes in it did but diftract me I took a fingle captive, and having first shut him up in his dungeon, I then looked through the twilight of his grated door to take his picture. I beheld his body half wafted away with long expectation and confinement, and felt what kind of ficknefs of the heart it was which arifes from hope deferred. Upon looking ncarer, I faw him pale and feverish: in thirty years the western breeze had not once fanned his blood-he had feen no fun, ma moon, in all that time-nor had the voice of friend or kinfman breathed through ins lattice-his children- Difguife thyfelf as thou wilt, ftill, flavery! faid till thou art a bitter draught and though thousands in all ages have been made to drink of thee, thou art no lefs bitter on that account. 'Tis thou thrice fweet and gra, cious goddess, addreffing myself to Liberty, whom all in public or in private worship, whofe tafte is grateful, and ever will be fo. till Nature herfelf thall change-no tint of words can spot thy fnowy mantle, or chynic power turn thy fceptre into iron-with thee to fmile upon him as he eats his cruft, the He was fitting upon the ground upon a fwain is happier than his monarch, from little straw, in the furtheft corner of his dunhofe court thou art exiled!-Gracious Hea-gcon, which was alternately his chair and ven' cried I kneeling down upon the laft bed: a little calendar of fmall sticks were laid tep but one in my afeent-Grant me but at the head, notched all over with the difmal health, thou great Beftower of it, and give me days and nights he had paffed there--he had but this fair goddess as my companion one of thele ladle ticks in his hand, and with -But here my heart began to bleed-and I was forced to go on with another part of the portrait. a ruity the diftinguishing characteristic of a man of merit. There is an heroic innocence, as well as an heroic courage. a rufty nail he was etching another day of Sterne. 51. Trim's Explanation of the Fifth Com mandment. There is a mean in all things. Even virtue itfelf hath its stated limits; which not being ftrictly obferved, it ceafes to be vir It is wifer to prevent a quarrel beforehand, than to revenge it afterwards.. It is much better to reprove, than to be angry fecretly. No revenge is more heroic, than that which torments envy by doing good. The difcretion of a man deferreth his anger, and it is his glory to pass over a tranfgref -Pr'ythee, Trim, quoth my father,What doit thou mean, by "honouring thyfion. father and mother?" Allowing them, an't please your honour, three halfpence a day out of my pay, when they grow old. And didft thou do that, Trim? faid Yorick.-He did indeed, replied my uncle Toby.-Then, Trim, faid Yorick, fpringing out of his chair, and taking the Corporal by the hand, thou art the best commentator upon that part of the Decalogue; and I honour thee more for it, Corporal Trim, than if thou hadft had a hand in the Talmud itself. Ibid. Money, like manure, does no good till it is fpread. There is no real ufe of riches, except in the distribution; the rest is all conceit. A wife man will defire no more than what he may get justly, ufe foberly, diftribute cheerfully, and live upon contentedly. A contented mind, and a good conscience, will make a man happy in all conditions. He knows not how to fear, who dares to die. There is but one way of fortifying the foulagain all gloomy prefages and terrors of mind; and that is, by fecuring to ourselves the friendship and protection of that Being who difpofes of events, and governs futu rity. Philofophy is then only valuable, when it ferves for the law of life, and not for the of teptation of fcience. Without a friend, the world is but a wildernefs. A man may have a thousand intimate acquaintances, and not a friend among them all. To be ever active in laudable purfuits, is If you have one friend think yourfelf happy. Whca |