a man to act unworthily, than to perfuade him that he has nothing of innate worthinefs in his genuine disposition; than to reafon him out of every elevated notion of his own grandeur of foul; and to destroy, in fhort, every motive that might juftly infpire him with a principle of self-reverence; that fureft internal guard Heaven seems to have affigned to the human virtues. I am, &c. T HO it was not poffible for me to celebrate with you, as ufual, that happy anniversary which we have fo many reafons to commemorate; yet I'could not fuffer so joyful a festival to pass by me without a thousand tender reflections. I took pleasure in tracing back that stream to its rife, which has colored all my fucceeding days with happiness; as my Cleora, perhaps, was at that very instant, running over in her own mind, thofe many moments of calm fatisfaction which she has derived from the fame fource. MY My heart was so entirely poffeffed with the sentiments which this occafion fuggefted, that I found myself raised into a fort of poetical enthusiasm; and I could not forbear expreffing in verfe, what I have often faid in profe of the dear author of my most valuable enjoyments. As I imagined Teraminta would by this time be with you, I had a view to her harpficord in the compofition; and I defire you would let her know I hope fhe will fhew me, at my return, to what advantage the most ordinary numbers will appear, when judiciously accompanied with a fine voice and instru ment. I MUST not forget to tell you, it was in your favorite grove, which we have fo often traversed together, that I indulged myself in these pleafing reveries; as it was not, you are to fuppofe, without having first invoked the Genius of the place, and called upon the Muses in due form, that I broke out in the following rhapfody. ODE ODE for MUSIC. AIR I. Thrice has the circling earth, fwift pacing, run, And thrice again, around the fun, Since firft the white-rob'd prieft, with facred band, Sweet union! join'd us band in hand. CHORUS. All beav'n, and ev'ry friendly pow'r RECITATIVE. What tho in filence facred Hymen trod, AIR IL. Bleft with fenfe, with temper bleft, 'AIR III. Ev'ry home-felt blifs is mine, Sinks my foul with gloomy pain? Oft as clouds my paths o'erspread CHORUS. Chief amongst ten thousand fhe, WHILE fuch are the fentiments which I entertain of my Cleora, can I find myself obliged to be thus diftant from her, without the highest regret? The truth, believe me, is, tho both the company and the scene wherein I am engaged, are extremely agreable, yet I find a vacancy in my happiness, which none but you can fill up. Surely those who have recommended thefe little feparations feparations as neceffary to revive the languor of the married ftate, have ill understood its most refined gratifications: there is no fatiety in the mutual exchange of tender offices. THERE feems to have been a time, when a happiness of this kind was confidered as the highest glory, as well as the fupreme bleffing of human life. Several conjugal infcriptions upon the fepulchral monuments of antient Rome are ftill extant; which, instead of running out into a pompous panegyric upon the virtues of the deceased, mention fingly, as the moft fignificant of encomiums, how many years the parties lived together in full and uninterrupted harmony. The Romans, indeed, in this, as in many other inftances, afford the most remarkable examples; and it is an observation of one of their writers, that, notwithstanding divorces might very easily be obtained among them, their republic had fubfisted many centuries before there was a single inftance of that privilege ever having been exerted. Thus, my Cleora, you fee, however unfashionable I may appear in the prefent generation, I might have been kept in |