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Reproof.

"Ambitious fools!" (the Queen reply'd and frown'd)

"Be all your deeds in dark oblivion drown'd. There sleep forgot, with mighty Tyrants gone ; Your statues moulder'd, and your names un

known."

Wonder. A sudden cloud straight snatch'd them from

Indiff'rence

Delight.

Wonder.

my sight,

yet

And each majestic phantom sunk in night.
When came the smallest tribe I had seen;
Plain was their dress, and modest was their mien.
"Great idol of mankind! We neither claim
The praise of merit, nor aspire to fame;
But safe in desarts from the applause of men,
Would die unheard of as we liv'd unseen.
'Tis all we beg thee, to conceal from sight
Those acts of goodness, which themselves requite.
O let us still the secret joy (1) partake,
To follow virtue e'en for virtue's sake.

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"And live there men who slight immortal fame? Who then with incense shall adore our name ? Information But, mortals! know, 'tis still our greatest pride To blaze those virtues which the good would hide. Exciting. Rise, Muses! rise! Add all your tuneful breath! These must not sleep in darkness, and in death." She said. (2) In air the trembling music floats, description And on the winds triumphant swell the notes; So soft, tho' high; so loud, and yet so clear Ev'n list'ning angels lean from heaven to hear. To farthest shores th' ambrosial spirit flies, Sweet to the world, and grateful to the skies.

Beautiful

Queft. with
Reproof.

;

While thus I stood intent to see and hear, One came, methought, and whisper'd in my ear; (3) “ What could thus high thy rash ambition

66

raise ?

Art thou, fond youth! a candidate for praise ?"

(1)-"The fecret joy," to be expreffed with the hand laid the breast.

(2) To be fpoken as melodiously as poffible.

upon

(3) What could thus high," &c. muft be spoken with a lower voice than the foregoing,

'Tis true, said I, not void of hopes I came ;
For who so fond, as youthful bards, of fame?
But few, alas! the casual blessing boast,
So hard to gain, so easy to be lost.

How vain that second life in others' breath,-
Th' estate, which wits inherit-after death.
Ease, health, and life, for this they must resign,
(Unsure the tenure, and how vast the fine!)
The great man's curse, without the gains endure,
Though wretched, flatter'd, and though envy'd,
poor.

All luckless wits their enemies profest,
And all successful, jealous friends at best.
Nor fame I slight, nor for her favours call;,
She comes unlook'd for, if she comes at all.
But if the purchase costs so dear a price,
As soothing folly, or exalting vice;
And if the Muse must flatter lawless sway,
And follow still, where fortune leads the way;
Or if no basis bear my rising name,

But the fall'n ruins of another's fame;

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Then teach me, Heav'n, to scorn the guilty bays, Depreca
Drive from my breast that wretched lust of praise.

Unblemish'd let me live, or die unknown;
O grant me honest fame; or grant me none,

XXX.

POLITE CONVERSATION.

The fcene between Mr. Bevil and Indiana, in which fhe endea vours to find out whether he has any other regard for her, than that of rational esteem, or Platonic love.

(CONSCIOUS LOVERS.)

BEVIL and INDIANA,

Bev.MADAM, your most obedient. How do you do to-day? I am afraid you wished me gone last night before I went. But you were partly to blame. For who could leave you in the agreeable humour you was in ?

Refpe&t.

Humility.

Anxiety.

Refpect.

Ind. If you was pleased, Sir, we were both pleased. For your company, which is always agreeable, was more peculiarly so last night.

Bev. My company, Madam! You rally, I. said very little.

Ind. Too little you always say, Sir, for my improvement, and for my credit; by the same token, that I am afraid, you gave me an opportunity of saying too much last night; and unfortunately when a woman is in the talking vein, she wants nothing so much as to have leave to expose herself.

Bev. I hope, Madam, I shall always have the sense to give you leave to expose yourself, as you call it, without interruption.

[Bowing respectfully.] Ind. If I had your talents, Sir, or your pow er, to make my actions speak for me, I might be silent, and yet pretend to somewhat more than being agreeable. But as it is

Bev. Really, Madam, I know of none of my actions that deserve your attention, If I might be vain of any thing, it is, that I have understanding enough to mark you out, Madam, from all your sex, as the most deserving object of my esteem.

Ind. [Aside,] A cold word! Though I cannot claim even his esteem. [To him.] Did I think, Sir, that your esteem for me proceeded from any thing in me, and not altogether from your own generosity, I should be in danger of forfeiting it. Bev. How so, Madam ?

Ind. What do you think, Sir, would be so likely to puff up a weak woman's vanity, as the esteem of a man of understanding? Esteem is the result of cool reason; the voluntary tribute paid to inward worth. Who, then, would not be proud of the esteem of a person of sense, which is always unbiassed; whilst love is often the effect of weakness. [Looking hard at Bevil, who casts down his eyes respectfully.] Esteem arises from

a higher source, the substantial merit of the mind.

Bev. True, Madam-And great minds only can command it, bowing respectfully.] The

utmost pleasure and pride of my life, Madam, is, Apprehenthat I endeavour to esteem you as I ought.

fion.

Ind. [Aside. As he ought! Still more perplexing! He neither saves nor kills my hope. I will try him a little farther. [To him.] Now, I Question. think of it, I must beg your opinion, Sir, on a point, which created a debate between my aunt and me, just before you came in. She would needs have it, that no man ever does any extraordinary kindness for a woman, but from selfish Refpect.

views.

Bev Well, Madam, I connot say, but I am in the main, of her opinion: if she means, by selfish views, what some understand by the phrase ; that is, his own pleasure; the highest pleasure human nature is capable of, that of being conscious, that from his superfluity, an innocent and virtuous spirit, a person, whom he thinks one of the prime ornaments of the creation, is raised above the temptations and sorrows of life; the pleasure of seeing satisfaction, health and gladness, brighten in the countenance of one he values above all mankind. What a man bestows in such a way, may, I think, be said, in one sense, to be laid out with a selfish view, as much as if he spent it in cards, dogs, bottle companions, or loose women. with this difference, that he shews a better taste in expense. Nor should I think this any such extraordinary matter of heroism in a man of an easy fortune. Every gentleman ought to be capable of this, and I doubt not but many are. For I hope, there are many who take more delight in in reflection than sensation; in thinking, than in eating-But what am I doing? [Pulls out his Sudden Rewatch hastily] My hour with Mr. Myrtle is collection. come-Madam, I must take my leave abruptly.

But, if you please, will do myself the pleasure of waiting on you in the afternoon. Till when, Madam, your most obedient.

XXXI.

SERIOUS MEDITATION.

From Young's NIGHT THOUGHTS.

[Exit.]

Alarm.

THE clock strikes one.

We take no note of

Admiration

time,

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But by its loss. To give it then a tongue
Is wise in man. As if an angel spoke,
I feel the solemn sound. If heard aright,
It is the knell of my departed hours.

Where are they -With the years beyond the
flood.

It is the signal that demands dispatch.

How much is still to do! My hopes and fears
Start up alarm'd, and o'er life's narrow verge
Look down-on what ?-A fathomless abyss.

How poor, how rich, how abject, how august,
How complicate, how wonderful is man !
How passing wonder He, who made him such!
Who center'd in our make such strange ex-
tremes,

From diff'rent natures marvellously mixt,
Connexion exquisite of distant worlds!
Distinguish'd link in Being's endless chain,
Midway from nothing to the One Supreme.
A beam atherial-sully'd, and absorpt!
Though sully'd and dishonor'd, still divine!
Dim miniature of Greatness absolute!
An heir of glory! A frail child of dust!
Helpless immortal! Insect infinite
A worm! A God! I tremble at myself!
What can preserve my life? or what destroy?
An Angel's arm can't snatch me from the grave,
Legions of angels can't confine me there.

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