ailed upon me to allow. Fungofa was no very fuitable companion; for having been bred in a counting-houfe, he fpoke a language unintelligible in any other place. He had no defire of any reputation, but that of an acute prognofticator of the changes in the funds; nor had any means of raifIng merriment, but by telling how fomebody was overreached in a bargain by his father. He was, however, a youth of great fobriety and prudence, and frequently informed us how carefully he would improve my fortune. I was not in hafte to conclude the match, but was fo much awed by my parents, that I durft not difmifs him, and might perhaps have been doomed for ever to the groffnefs of pedlary, and the jargon of ufury, had not a fraud been discovered in the fettlement, which fet me free from the perfecution of groveling pride and pecuniary impudence.

I was afterwards fix months without any particular notice, but at last became the idol of the glittering Flofculus, who prefcribed the mode of embroidery to all the fops of his time, and varied at pleasure the cock of every hat, and the fleeve of every coat, that appeared in fashionable affemblies. Flofculus made fome impreffion upon my heart by a compliment which few ladies can hear without emotion; he commended my fkill in drefs, my judgment in fuiting colours, and my art in difpofing ornaments. But Flofculus was too much engaged by his own elegance, to be fufficiently attentive to the duties of a lover, or to please with varied praife an ear made delicate by riot of adulation. He expected to be repaid part of his tribute, and ftaid away three days because I neglected to take notice of a new coat. I quickly found, that Flofculus was rather a rival than an admirer; and that we fhould probably live in a perpetual ftruggle of emulous finery, and spend our lives in ftratagems to be firft in the

fashion.

I had foon after the honour at a feaft of attracting the eyes of Dentatus, one of thofe human beings whofe only happi

nefs is to dine. Dentatus regaled me with foreign varieties, told me of measures that he had laid for procuring the best cook in France, and entertained me with bills of fare, prefcribed the arrangement of dishes, and taught me two fauces invented by himself. At length, fuch is the uncertainty of human happinefs, I declared my opinion too hasti→ ly upon a pie made under his own direction; after which he grew fo cold and negligent, that he was eafily difmiffed.

Many other lovers, or pretended lovers, I have had the honour to lead a while in triumph. But two of them I drove from me, by difcovering that they had no tafte or knowledge in mufick; three I difmiffed, because they were drunkards; two, because they paid their addreffes at the fame time to other ladies; and fix, because they attempted to influ ence my choice, by bribing my maid. Two more I difcarded at the fecond vi fit, for obfcene allufions; and five for drollery on religion. In the latter part of my reign, I fentenced two to perpe tual exile, for offering me fettlements, by which the children of a former mar riage would have been injured; four, for reprefenting falfely the value of their eftates; three for concealing their debts; and one for raifing the rent of a decrepit, tenant.

I have now fent you a narrative, which the ladies may oppofe to the tale of Hymenæus. I mean not to depreciate the fex which has produced poets and philofophers, heroes and martyrs; but will not fuffer the rifing generation of beauties to be dejected by partial fatires or to imagine, that thofe who cenfured them have not likewife their follies, and their vices. I do not yet believe happinefs unattainable in marriage, though I have never yet been able to find a man with whom I could prudently venture an infeparable union. It is necessary to expofe faults, that their deformity may be feen; but the reproach ought not to be extended beyond the crime, nor either fex to be condemned, because fome women, or men, are indelicate or dishonest. I am, &c.

TRANQUILLA.

N the reign of Jenghiz Can, conque

IN

ror of the east, in the city of Samartand, lived Nouradin the merchant, renowned throughout all the regions of India for the extent of his commerce, and the integrity of his dealings. His warehouses were filled with all the commodities of the remotest nations; every rarity of nature, every curiosity of art, whatever was valuable, whatever was ufeful, hafted to his hand. The streets were crowded with his carriages; the sea was covered with his fhips; the streams of Oxus were wearied with conveyance, and every breeze of the sky wafted wealth to Nouradin.

At length Nouradin felt himself feized with a flow malady, which he first endeavoured to divert by application, and afterwards to relieve by luxury and indulgence; but finding his ftrength every day lefs, he was at laft terrified, and called for help upon the fages of phyfick; they filled his apartments with alexipharmicks, restoratives, and effential virtues; the pearls of the ocean were diffolved, the fpices of Arabia were distilled, and all the powers of nature were employed to give new fpirits to his nerves, and new balfam to his blood. Nouradin was for fome time amufed with promifes, invigorated with cordials, or foothed with anodynes; but the difeafe preyed upon his vitals, and he foon difcovered with indignation, that health was not to be bought. He was confined to his chamber, deferted by his phyficians, and rarely vifited by his friends; but his unwillingness to die flattered him long with hopes of life.

At length, having paffed the night in tedious languor, he called to him Alamoulin, his only fon; and difmiffing

FRANCIS

his attendants My fon,' fays he, 'bes hold here the weakness and fragility of man; look backward a few days, thy father was great and happy, fresh as the vernal rofe, and ftrong as the ⚫ cedar of the mountain; the nations of • Afia drank his dews, and art and com'merce delighted in his fhade. Male

volence beheld me, and fighed-" Hie "root," he cried, " is fixed in the "depths; it is watered by the fountains "of Oxus; it fends out branches afar, " and bids defiance to the blaft; pru"dence reclines against his trunk, and "profperity dances on his top." Now, • Almamoulin, look upon me withering

and proftrate; look upon me and attend. I have trafficked, I have profpered, I have rioted in gain; my house is splendid, my fervants are numerous; yet I displayed only a small part of my riches; the reft, which I was hindered from enjoying by the fear of raifing envy, or tempting rapacity, I have piled in towers, I have buried in caverns, I have hidden in fecret repofitories, which this

fcroll will discover. My purpose was, < after ten months more fpent in com'merce, to have withdrawn my wealth to a fafer country; to have given seven years to delight and feftivity, and the remaining part of my days to folitude and repentance; but the hand of Death is upon me; a frigorifick torpor encroaches upon my veins; I am now leaving the produce of my toil, which it must be thy bufinefs to enjoy with wifdom,' The thought of leaving his wealth filled Nouradin with fuch grief, that he fell into convulfions, became delirious, and expired.

Almamoulin, who loved his father, was touched a while with honeft forrow, and