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what We recommend to the Practice of Others *; let Us, this very Night, begin to ennoble our Interviews with these improving Subjects. Let Us endeavour to make religious Conversation, which is in all Respects defirable, in fome Degree fafhionable.

Οι γαρ έτερος παιδευειν καταδεξάμενοι, ερυθριασομεν καὶ αισχυνε. μεθα, α τοις άλλοις επιτατίομεν, ταυία ελλιμπανονίες αυτον φανηναι. Chryfoft. Avdg. 0.

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DIALOGUE II.

WE HE next Morning, when Breakfast was over, Theron and Afpafio took a Walk into the Garden-Their Spirits cheared, and their Imagination lively -Gratitude glowing in their Hearts, and the whole Creation smiling round them. The Spot adjoining to the House, was appropriated to the Cultivation of Flowers.—In a Variety of handfome Compartments, were affembled the choicest Beauties of blooming Nature. Here, the Hyacinth hung her filken Bells, or the Lilies reared their filver Pyramids. There, stood the neat Narciffus, loosely attired in a Mantle of fnowy Luftre; while the fplendid Ranunculus wore a full-trimmed Suit of radiant Scarlet. Pinks were rifing to enamel the Borders; Rofes were opening to drefs the Walls; furrounded, on all Sides, with a Profufion of beauteous Forms, either latent in the Stalk, or bursting the Buds, or blown into full Expanfion.

This was bounded by a flight Partition; a Sort of verdant Parapet. Through which they defcend by

an

Hiantem Flore decore

Naroiffum.

an eafy Flight of Steps; and are prefented with the elegant Simplicity of the Kitchen-Garden.-In one Place, You might fee the Marigold flowering, or the Beans in Bloffom. In another, the Endive curled her Leaves, or the Lettuce thickened her Tufts. Cauliflowers fheltered their fair Complection, under a green Umbrella; while the Borage dishevelled her Locks, and braided them with native Jewels, of a finer Azure than the finest Sapphires. On the funny Slopes, the Cucumber and Melon lay basking in the collected Beams. On the raifed Beds, the Artichoke feemed to be erecting a Standard, while the Asparagus fhot † into Ranks of Spears. The level Ground produced all Manner of cooling Sallets and nourishing Efculents. Which, like the Brows of the Olympic Conquerors, were bound with a Fillet of unfading Parfley; or, like the Pictures of the Mountain-Nymphs, were graced with a Chaplet of fragrant Marjoram.-In fhort, nothing was wanting to furnish out the wholesome Luxury of an Antediluvian Banquet.

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Soon, a high Wall intervenes. Through which a Wicket opens, and tranfmits them into the regular and equi-diftant Rows of an Orchard. This Plantation is fo nicely adjusted, that it looks like an Arrangement of rural Piazzas, or a Collection of diverfified Viftas. The Eye is, every where, entertained with the exactest Uniformity; and darts, with unobᎠ 4 ftructed

*Referring to the loafe irregular Manner of its Foliation.

Alluding, not only to the Shape, but alfo to the Growth of this Plant; which is fo unufually quick, that it may almost be said to fart, rather than to rife out of the Earth.

structed Eafe, from one End of the branching Files to the other.-On all the Boughs, lay a lovely Evolution of Blossoms; arrayed in milky White, or tinged with the fofteft Red. Crouding into one general Cluster, without relinquishing a vacant Space for Leaves, they formed the faireft, the gayeft, the grandeft Alcove, that Fancy itself can imagine.— It is really like the Court of the Graces. None can approach it, without finding his Ideas brightened, and feeling his Temper exhilarated.

Contiguous to this correct Difpofition of Things, Nature has thrown a Wilderness; hoary, grotefque, and magnificently confufed. It ftretched itself, with a large circular Sweep, to the North; and secured both the Olitory and the Orchard from incommoding Winds.-Copfes of Hazel, and flowering Shrubs, filled the lower Spaces. While Poplars quivered aloft in Air, and Pines pierced the Clouds with their leafy Spires. Here, grew Clumps of Fir, clad in everlasting Green. There, ftood Groves of Oak, which had weathered, for Ages, the wintry Storm. -This woody Theatre, was interfected by a winding Walk; lined with Elms of infuperable Height. Whose Branches, uniting at the Top, reared a majestic Arch, and projected a folemn Shade. It was impoffible to enter this lofty Labyrinth, without being ftruck with a pleasing Dread *. As they proceed, every Inflection diffufes a deeper Gloom, and awakens a more penfive Attention.

Having ftrolled in this darkfome Avenue, without a Speck of Sunshine, without a Glimpfe of the Heavens; on a fudden, they step into open Day.-Sur

Caligantem nigra Formidine Lucum.

prising!

VIRG.

prifing! cries Afpafio. What a Change is this! What delightful Enchantment is Here !-One Inftant, whelmed in Trophonius's Cave; where Darkness lours, and Horrour frowns. Tranfported, the next, into the romantic Scenes of Arcadia; where all is lightfome, and all is gay.-Quick as Thought †, the Arches of Heaven expand their Azure. Turrets and Spires fhoot into the Skies. Towns, with their fpacious Edifices, fpread themfelves to the admiring View. Thofe Lawns, green with freshest Herbage; thofe Fields, rich with undulating Corn; where were they all, a Moment ago?-It brings to my Mind that remarkable Situation of the Jewish Law-giver; when, elevated on the Summit of Pisgah, He furveyed the goodly Land of Promise-surveyed the Rivers, the Floods, the Brooks of Honey and Butter-furveyed the Mountains dropping with Wine, and the Hills flowing with

Milk.

* The Reader may find a curious Account of this Cave, together with a very humorous, and (which should always accompany Humour, or elfe it will be like a Sting without the Honey) an improving Defcription of its Effects. Spect. Vol. VIII. N° 598, 599.

+ Such a fudden Alteration of the Profpect, is beautifully defcribed by Milton;

As when a Scout,

Through dark and defart Ways, with Peril gone
All Night, at last by Break of chearful Dawn
Obtains the Brow of fome high-climbing Hill,
Which to his Eye difcovers unaware
The goodly Profpect of fome foreign Land,
First feen; or fome renown'd Metropolis,
With glistering Spires and Pinnacles adırn'd,
Which now the rifing Sun gilds with his Beams.

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