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being unable to ford the River, took up a Refolution to wait, till the Stream was all run by:

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Labitur, & labetur in omne volubilis Evum *.

Ther. Here, I fanfy, We must take leave of your Countryman. If He adheres to his Resolution, We fhall find Him in the very fame Situation, when Breakfast is over; and may réfume our Subject, juft where it is difcontinued.

* Vain Man, defift: Such flatt'ring Hopes forego:
It flows, and flows, and will for ever flow.

DIA

DIALOGUE VII.

THERON.

O me, who have spent the greatest Part of the Winter in Town, these Scenes of the Country are inexpreffibly pleafing. Take, who will, the gilded Saloon, and the filken Settee; so long as I can fhelter myself under the Canopy of such a spreading Beech, and use one of its coarse, mif-fhapen Roots for my Seat.

'Tis true, We fee no longer thofe fplendid Brocades, and elegant Toupees, which diftinguish the Park and the Mall.-But we have, full in our View, a Multitude of honeft Ruftics; pursuing their chearful Labours in yonder Meadow. Some, mowing the luxuriant Herbage. Some, fpreading it to the Sun, or raising it into regular Cocks. Others, loading their Waggons with the Hay, or clearing the Ground with their Rakes. The Ground, cleared of its foft Incumbrance, appears fresh and green, like another Spring. While the Exhalations of the tedded Grafs, floating in the Air, give a rural Per

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fume

fume to the Gale.-And which, my Afpafio, which are the most valuable Objects? The little Labourers of the Hive, that enrich themselves and regale their Masters? Or the gay Flutterers of the Garden, whose whole Life is nothing but Sport; and their highest Character is, to be infignificantly pretty?

Afp. I understand you, Theron, and have the Satisfaction to agree with You.-In this Retirement, We hear none of the wanton and corrupting Airs of the Opera; no, nor the majestic and ennobling Melody of the Oratorio *.-But We have a Band of Mufic, ftationed in the Grove; and a Concert of native Harmony, warbling from the Boughs. We are entertained with the Mufic, which charmed the human Ear, long before + Jubal found out his Inftruments; and Thousands of Years before Handel compofed his Notes.-The Bullfinch, and a Multitude of little tuneful Throats, strike the Key. The Thrush below, and the Sky-lark refponfive from above, diverfify and exalt the Strain. The Blackbird, fomewhat like the folemn Organ, with Notes perfectly mellow, and gracefully fonorous, crowns the Choir. While the Turtle's melancholy Voice, and the murmuring Water's plaintive Tone, deepen and complete the universal Symphony.

This

Majeftic and ennobling.-This, I think, is the true Character, and expreffes the real Tendency, of the Oratorio. Nevertheless, it may not be improper to obferve; that if We carry a trifling or irreligious Spirit to the Entertainment; if We attend to the musical Airs, but difregard thofe facred Truths, which enter into the Compofition; fuch a Behaviour will be little better than a Profanation of holy Things. I fear, it will be one Species of taking GOD's adorable and glorious Name in vain.

† Gen. iv. 21.

This Mufic conftituted the first Song of Thankfgiving, and formed the firft vocal Praife, which the All-gracious CREATOR received, from his new-made World. This is neither the Parent of Effeminacy, nor a Pander for Vice; but refines the Affections, even while it amuses the Imagination.

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Ther. Yes; all the Entertainments of Nature, are calculated to fecure our Innocence, as well as to gratify our Fancy. And what is another very agreeable Circumftance, these Gratifications which afford the fublimeft Pleasure, are exhibited gratis. While thofe, which enervate the Mind, and debauch the Affections, must be dearly purchafed.Every one cannot gain Admittance into the Boxes or the Pit, when some celebrated Tragedy is brought upon the Stage. But every one may behold the beauteous Exhibitions of Spring, and the finifhed Productions of Autumn. All may contemplate the Machinery of Nature, and the Wonders of Crea-. tion. Thereby enjoying a far more exquifite Amufement, without any of the Guilt, or any of the Danger.

The Inhabitants of yonder Villages, have never beheld the fplendid Proceffion, which folemnizes the Coronation of a Monarch; nor the gaudy Illuminations, which distinguish the Anniversary of his Birth: But they fee, almost every Morning, a much nobler Spectacle difplayed in the Eaft. They fee the great Ruler of the Day, or rather the Envoy from Day's eternal SOVEREIGN, making his Entry amidst the Spaces of the Sky.-The Heavens are ftrewed with Colours, which outvie the Pinks and Carnations. The Grafs is decked with Dew-drops, and every Plant is ftrung, as it were, with Pearls. All VOL. I.

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around

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around the Darkness retires, and sweet refreshing Gales arife. At length the magnificent Luminary appears. And what is all the oftentatious Pomp of Kings? What is all the Glitter of the moft brilliant Courts? Compared with his transcendent Luftre ? -This Spectacle we may behold, without Lofs of Time, or Prejudice to Health. Nay, We cannot behold it, without improving one, and redeeming the other. So beneficial are even the Pleasures, which Nature yields! So ferviceable the very Diverfions, to which the invites !

Afp. Thus gracious is the Almighty MAKER, in the Constitution of material Things. The Subftantial and the Valuable, are open to every One; are acceffible by all. Only the Tinfel and the Trappings, are the Property of a Few; the poor Prerogative of Wealth.

No lefs gracious is GOD, in the Difpofal of Spiritual Favours. Thefe, though infinitely more excellent, yet are equally free. We are invited to buy them, without Money, and without Price *. What do you give for the Benefits of the rifing Sun, or the Delights of this rural Melody? The Cafe is much the fame, with regard to the Righteousness, by which We are juftified, and all the Bleffings of Salvation.

Ther. This brings to our Remembrance the Countryman, whom we left on the Banks of the River, And, for aught I can fee, Theron and the Rustic are pretty much upon a footing. The first, as far from acceding to your Notions; as the laft, is from gaining his Point.

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