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of innate worthiness in his genuine difpofition; than to reafon him out of every: elevated notion of his own grandeur of foul; and to destroy, in short, every motive that might justly inspire him with a principle of felf-reverence; that fureft internal guard Heaven feems to have affigned to the human virtues. I am, &c.

LETTER

TH

To CLEOR A.

XXXV.

HO' it was not poffible for me to celebrate with you, as usual, that happy anniversary which we have fo many reasons ́to commemorate; yet I could not suffer fo joyful a feftival to pafs 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, those many moments of calm fatiffaction which he has derived from the fame fource.

My

My heart was so entirely poffeffed with the fentiments 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 she will fhew me, at my return, to what advantage the most ordinary numbers will appear, when judiciously accompanied with a fine voice and inftru

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 suppose, without having first invoked the Genius of the place, and called the Muses in due form, that I broke out in the following rhapsody.

upon

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 sacred band,
Sweet union! join'd us band in band.

CHORU S.

All heav'n, and ev'ry friendly pow'r
Approv'd the vow, and blefs'd the bour.

RECITATIVE.

What tho' in filence facred Hymen trod,
Nor lyre proclaim'd, nor garland crown'd the gods
What tho' nor feaft nor revel dance was there,
(Vain pomp of joy the happy well may spare!)
Yet love unfeign'd, and conscious bonor led
The fpotless virgin to the bridal bed:
Rich tho' defpoil'd of all her little ftore;
For who fhall feize fair virtue's better dow'r?

AIR II.

Bleft with fenfe, with temper bleft,
Wifdom o'er thy lips prefides;
Virtue guards thy gen'rous breast,
Kindness all thy allions guides.

'AIR.

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Chafte deportment, artless mien,
Converfe fweet, and beart ferene.
Sinks my foul with gloomy pain?
See, fhe fmiles!ʼtis joy again :
Swells a paffion in my breast?
Hark, fhe fpeaks! and all is reft.
Oft as clouds my paths o'erfpread
(Doubtful where my steps should tread}
She, with judgment's steddy ray,
Marks, and fmooths, the better way.

CHORU s.

Chief amongst ten thousand she,
Worthy, facred Hymen! thee.

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 agreeable, yet I find a vacancy in my happiness, which none but you can fill up. Surely those who have recommended thefe little fepa

feparations as neceffary to revive the languor of the married ftate, have ill understood its moft 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 inscriptions 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 fubfifted many centuries before there was a fingle 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 M

counte

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