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You will oblige

Your humble fervant,
PUBLICANUS.

reader,

H. W.

Salisbury, March 16, 1786.

E

LEG Y

To the Memory of Mifs T. P—, N vain this tear, lamented maid, is fhed, may

doom;

As Johnson was the firmeft of believers without being credulous, fo he was the moft charitable of mortals without being what we call an active friend. Admirable at giving counfel, no man faw his way fo clearly; but he would not ftir a finger for the affiftance of those to whom he was willing enough to give advice: befides that, he had principles of laziness, and could be indolent by rule. To hinder your death, or procure you a dinner, I mean if really in want of one; his earneftnefs, his exertions could not be prevented, though health and purfe and eafe were all deftroyed by their violence. If you wanted a flight favour, you must apply to people of other difpofitions; for not a step would Johnfon move to obtain a man a vote in a fociety, to repay a compliment which might be useful or pleafing, to write a letter of requeft, or to obtain a hundred F a tumbler be filled about one-third pounds a year more for a friend, who per- part with water, and by attaching to haps had already two or three. No force it a ftring, nine or ten inches long, you could urge him to diligence, no importu-fwing it to and fro, in the manner of a nity could conquer his refolution of ftand- pendulum, the water will preferve its poing ftill. "What good are we doing fition with respect to the brim of the glass with all this ado (would he fay)? deareft as though it were ice; then pour in gently Lady, let's hear no more of it! I have nearly as much oil as there is water, and

SUPPOSE a fquare pyramid of standard gold (the altitude and bafe in proportion as 6 to 1) was erected as a monument of the economy of our late minifters, equal in value to the present national debt, admitting it to be 230,000,000l. and gold worth 41. per ounce, what would the dimenfions thereof be in inches, and howTis the hard lot of excellence to die, many, annually, muft Mr. Pitt or his fucceffors cut from the top of it, fo that the part fo cut may be worth 1,200,000l. with the number of years requifite to remove the whole.

The pang of woe can never reach the dead,

Nor pierce the fad receffes of the tomb.
Yet, facred fhade, the tributary figh,
Which friendship pays, in tenderness re-
ceive ;

however more than once in my life forced him on fuch fervices, but with extreme difficulty.

He always made a great difference in his esteem between talents and erudition; and when he faw a perfon eminent for literature, though wholly unconverfible, it fretted him. "Teaching fuch tonies (faid he to me one day) is like fetting a lady's diamonds in lead, which only obfcures the luftre of the ftone, and makes the poffeffor afhamed on't." Ufeful and what we call every-day knowledge had the most of his juft praife. "Let your boy learn arithmetic dear Madam," was his advice to the mother of a rich young heir: "he will not then be a prey to every rascal which this town fwarms with: teach him the value of money, and how to reckon it; ignorance to a wealthy lad of one-and-twenty, is only fo much fat to a fick fheep: it juft ferves to call the rooks about him.'

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A CURIOUS EXPERIMENT.

let the tumbler vibrate as before; a fur-
prifing phænomenon will ftrike the eye
of the beholder; the tranquil and even
furface of the water will be transferred to
that of the oil, and the fubjected water
affume a turbulent appearance, elevating
and depreffing itself in waves, which
rife almoft to the furface of the oil, yet
never difturbing the tranquillity of that
furface.

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And must be nature's privilege to grieve.
But here reflection eafily may find

The fhort duration of the human ftate;
Since all the nobleft virtues of the mind,
Can ne'er exempt us from the stroke of fate.
Time's rapid courfe myfterious appears,
A new expanfion of our days to lend,
Yet ev'ry moment added to our years,
Is fent to draw existence to an end.

Then, while the fates prolong my fleeting

breath,

Bleft maid, thy bright example let me fee, That I may learn to meet the ftroke of fate, And fhare eternal happiness with thee.

SON NET.

NOW, rapid, but gently, I strike the soft

lyre,

On a theme fo delightful, attentive they dwell,
And fweet is the found, for the Mufes infpire,

And echo the name of their lov'd LIONEL.
As the bright beaming fun, in Aurora's dif
play

Of the rofeate morn, which precedes a fine day,
So wit and good humour which dulnefs difpel,
Illumines the converse of gay LIONEL.

In a form that is charming, a face that must
please,

In an air that engages by elegant ease ;
Should a modern Apelles attempt to excel,
He would find them all center'd in fweet
LIONEL.

But Oh! to depicture the mind of the youth,
To point out his knowledge, his friendship,
his truth,
How mild, unaffuming, his manners appear,
How benevolence beams in his eye thro' a tear;
The Mufes themselves in defpair seek to tell,
So great are the virtues which grace LIONEL.

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OF THE

LIFE of SOCRATES.

WHEN

61

An ACCOUNT of the LAST DAY They found Socrates juft relieved from now celebrating; and not being himself the weight of his bonds, attended by his a mythologift, had verfified fuch fables of wife Xantippe, who bore in her arms his fop as happened mot readily to occur infant fon. At their appearance, the to his memory. Tell this to Euenusexclaimed, "Alas! Socrates, here come bid him farewel; and farther, that if he your friends, whom you for the last time is wife, he will follow me; for I depart, behold, and who for the laft time behold as it is likely, to day; fo the Athenians you !" Socrates, looking at Crito, defired have ordered it." fome one to conduct her home. She departed beating her breaft, and lamenting with that clamorous forrow natural to her sex and her character.

HEN the fatal veffel arrived in the harbour of Sunium, and was hourly expected in the Piræus, Crito, the most confidential of the difciples of Socrates, firft brought the melancholy intelligence; and moved by the near danger of his admired friend, ventured to propofe a clandeftine efcape, fhewing him at the fame time that he had collected a fum of money to corrupt the fidelity of his keepers. This unmanly propofal, which nothing but the undiftinguishing ardour of friendship could excufe, Socrates anfwered in a vein of pleafantry, which fhewed the perfect freedom of his mind; "In what country, O Crito, can I escape death? Where fhall I fly to elude this irrevocable doom, paffed on all human kind?" To Apollodorus, a man of no great depth of understanding, but his affectionate and zealous admirer, who faid, "That what grieved him beyond measure was, that fuch a man fhould perifh unjustly," he replied, ftroking the head of his friend, " And would you be lefs grieved, O Apollodorus! were I deferving of death?" When his friends, and Crito efpecially, infifted, "That it would be no lefs ungenerous than imprudent, in compliance with the hafty refolution of a malignant or mifguided multitude, to render his wife a widow, his children orphans, his difciples for ever miferable and forlorn, and conjured him, by every thing facred, to fave a life fo ineftimably precious," Socrates affumed a tone more ferious, recalled the maxims which he profeffed, and the doctrines which he had ever inculcated, "That how unjustly foever we were treated, it could never be our intereft to practice injuftice, much lefs to retort the injuries of our parents or our country; and to teach, by our exThe ample, difobedience to the laws." ftrength of his arguments, and ftill more the unalterable firmnefs and cheerful ferenity that appeared in his looks, words, and actions, filenced the ftruggling emotions of his difciples. The dignity of virtue elevated their fouls; they parted with tears of inexpreffible admiration, and with a firm purpose to fee their mafter earlier than ufual on the fatal morning.

Having arrived at the prifon-gate, they were defired to wait without, becaufe the Eleven (fo the delicacy of Athens ftyled the executioners of public juftice) unloofed the fetters of Socrates, and announced to him his death before the fetting of the fun. They had not waited long when they were defired to enter.

never

The laft words introduced an important converfation concerning fuicide, and, maintained, that though it was better the immortality of the foul. Socrates Socrates, meanwhile, reclining on the for a wife man to die than to live, becouch with his ufual compofure, drew caufe there was reafon to believe, that his leg towards him, and gently rubbing he would be happier in a future than in be allowable to perish by his the part which had been galled by the the prefent ftate of existence, yet it could fetters, remarked the wonderful connection between what men call pleafure, own hand, or even to lay down life withand its oppofite, pain. The one fenfa-out a fufficient motive, fuch as that which tion, he obferved (as juft happened to influenced himself, a respectful fubmiffion his leg after being delivered from the to the laws of his country. This infmart of the irons), was generally fol- terefting difcuffion confumed the greatest lowed by the other. Neither could long part of the day. Socrates encouraged exift apart; they are feldom pure and his difciples not to fpare his opinions, unmixed; and whoever feels the one, from delicacy to his prefent fituation. may be fure that he will foon feel the Those who were of his mind he exhorted other. "I think, that had fop the to perfevere. Entwining his hand in the fabulift made this reflection, he would long hair of Phædo, "Thefe beautiful have faid, that the Divinity, defirous to locks, my dear Phædo, you will this day reconcile thefe oppofite natures, but find-cut off; but were I in your place, I ing the defign impracticable, had at leaft would not again allow them to grow, joined their fummits; for which reafon but make a vow (as the Argives did in a to resume the wonted ornament of my pleasure has ever fince dragged pain after matter of infinitely lefs moment) never it, and pain pleasure." beauty, until I had confirmed the doctrine of the foul's immortality."

The mention of fop recalled to Cebes, The arguments of Socrates convinced the Theban, a converfation which he had recently had with Euenus of Paros, "Those who had a celebrated elegiac poet, then refident and confoled his difciples, as they have in Athens. The poet afked Cebes, "Why often done the learned and virtuous in his mafter, who had never before ad- fucceeding times. dicted himself to poetry, fhould, fince adorned their minds with temperance, his confinement, have written a hymn juftice, and fortitude, and had despised to Apollo, and turned into verfe feveral the vain ornaments and vain pleasures of fop's fables?" The Theban feized of the body, could never regret their the prefent opportunity to fatisfy him- feparation from this terreftrial companion. felf in this particular, and to acquire And now," continued he, in the language me to death; it is almost time to bathe, fuch information as might fatisfy Euenus, of tragedy, "the deftined hour fummons who, he affured Socrates, would certainly repeat his queftion. The illuf- and furely it will be better that I myself, trious Sage, whofe inimitable virtues before I drink the poison, should perform were all tinged, or rather brightened, this operation, than occafion unneceffary by enthufiafm, defired Cebes to tell trouble to the women after I am dead." Euenus, "That it was not with a view" So-let it be," faid Crito; "but first to rival him, or with a hope to excel inform us, Socrates, in what we can do "Nothing new, his poetry (for that, he knew, would you pleasure, refpecting your children, not be eafy), that he had begun late in or any other concern." life this new purfuit. He had attempted O Crito! but what I have always told it in compliance with a divine mandate, you. By confulting your own happiness, He had, my children, to me, and to all manwhich frequently commanded him in you will act the best part with regard to dreams to cultivate mufic. therefore, firft applied to philofophy, kind! although you bind not yourselves thinking that the greatest mufic; but by any new promife. But if you forfake fince he was under fentence of death, he the rules of virtue, which we have juft judged it fafeft to try likewife the popular endeavoured to explain, you will benefit Crito then asked him, mufic, left any thing fhould on his part neither my children, nor any with whom be omitted which the gods had enjoined you live, although you should now fwear "How he chofe to be buried?" As you him. For this reafon, he had compofed to the contrary. a hymn to Apollo, whofe feftival was

pleafe, provided I don't efcape you." Saying this, he fmiled, adding, that as to his bed, they might bury it as feemed moft decent, and moft fuitable to the laws of his country.

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He then retired into the adjoining chamber, accompanied only by Crito; the reft remained behind, like children mourning a father. When he had bathed and dreffed, his fons (one grown up, and two children), together with his female relations, were admitted to him. He converfed with them in the prefence of Crito,d then returned to his difciples near fun-fet, for he tarried long within. Before he had time to begin any new fubject, the keeper of the prifon entered, and standing near Socrates, "I cannot,' faid he, 66 accufe you, Ó Socrates! of the rage and execrations too often vented against me by thofe here confined, to whom, by command of the Magiftrates, I announce that it is time to drink the poifon. Your fortitude, mildnefs, and generofity, exceed all that I have ever witneffed; even now I know you pardon me, fince I act by compulfion; and as you are acquainted with the purport of my meffage, farewel, and bear your fate with as much patience as poffible." At thefe words the executioner, hardened as he was in the fcenes of death, diffolved in tears, and, turning from Socrates, went out. The latter following him with his eye, replied, "And you allo farewel; as to me, I fhall obey your inftructions." Then looking at his difciples, How truly polite," faid he, " is the man! During my confinement, he often vifited and converfed with me; and now, how generously does he lament my death! But let the poifon be brought, that we may obey his orders."

66

Crito then faid, "Still, O Socrates! there is time; the fun ftill brightens the tops of the mountains. Many have I known, who have drunk the poifon late in the night, after a luxuriant fupper and generous wines, and laftly, after enjoying the embraces of thofe with whom they were enamoured. But haften not; it is yet time." "With good reason,' "faid Socrates, "thefe perfons did what you fay, because they believed thereby to be gainers; and with good reason I fhall act otherwife, because I am convinced that I fhould gain nothing but ridicule by an over-anxious folicitude for life, when it is juft ready to leave me." Crito then made a fign to the boy, who waited; he went, ground the hemlock, and returned with him who was to adminifter it. Socrates perceiving his arrival, "Tell me," faid he, "for you are experienced in fuch matters, what have I to do?" "Nothing farther than to walk in the apartment till your limbs feel heavy; then repofe yourself on the couch." Socrates then

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taking the cup in his hand, and looking
at him with ineffable ferenity," Say, as
to this beverage, is it lawful to employ
any part of it in libation?" The other
replied, "There is no more than what
is proper to drink." "But it is proper,"
"But it is proper,"
rejoined Socrates," and neceflary, if we
would perform out duty, to pray the
gods, that our paffage hence may be for-
tunate." So faying, he was filent for
moment, and then drank the poifon with
an unaltered countenance. With a mix-
an unaltered countenance. With a mix-
ture of gentleness and authority, he ftilled
the noify lamentations of his friends,
faying, that in order to avoid fuch un-
manly complaints, he had before difmiffed
the women. As the poifon began to gain
his vitals, he uncovered his face, and faid
to Crito," We owe a cock to Æfculapius;
facrifice it, and neglect it not." Crito
afked, if he had any thing further to com-
mand? But he made no reply. A little
after, he was in agony; Crito fhut his
eyes. Thus died Socrates; whom, his
difciples declared, they could never ceafe
to remember, nor, remembering, cease to
admire. "If any man," fays Xenophon
inimitably, "if any man, a lover of virtue,
ever found a more profitable companion
than Socrates, I deem that man the hap
piest of human kind.”

The WISDOM of CONTENTMENT:

An ANECDOTE.

LL mankind would make a figure. A Tomike to fations above us, is a maxim univerfally adopted; yet perhaps, the trueft wifdom and the fureft happinefs is, to cultivate well the rank in which we are born; for why should any man covet to raife and diftinguish himfelf farther than his real well-being may make neceffary?

ROYAL ANECDOTE.

T

HE real merit of the rulers of nations is beft eftimated by their benevolent actions. It is not, fays the philofopher Rouffeau, fpeaking of his prefent Majefty," the great Monarch whom I reverence, but the good husband, the good father, the virtuous, the benevolent man." How well his Majefty deserves this eulogium (an eulogium more to be prized as it came from the mouth of a profeffed Cynic), may be feen by the following anecdote, the truth of which may be depended on.-A Gentlewoman of the name of Delany, faid to have been an intimate acquaintance of Dr. Swift, lived for feveral years with the Dutchefs of Portland as a companion. On the decease of her Grace, Mrs. Delany was, at the age of 84, left almost entirely deftitute, the only legacy bequeathed her being a few curiofities. The Princeffes having frequently feen Mrs. Delany in their vifits to the Dutchefs, and knowing her circumftances, took an opportunity of mentioning her cafe before the Queen, who, with that goodness of heart for which the has always been diftinguifhed, immediately laid the matter before the King, when his Majefty readily confented to give her a fmall house in Windfor Park; and on its being reprefented by Lady Harcourt, that fomething more was requifite to enable the old Gentlewoman to pass the evening of her days in comfort, not only furnished the house with every neceffary article, but after taking the trouble to infpect the premises, that nothing might be wanting, fettled upon her a handsome penfion for life.

SONNET to a LINNET, Confined in a Cage in the Midft of a great City. By Mrs. HUGHES.

defcends,

And glittering fun-beams gild the budding thorn; With new-felt life the withering plant diftends,

And lively freshness fcents the woodland.

morn;

But why should't thou, fweet bird, so joyful fing?

Fuller, in his Holy State, relates an anecdote of an hufbandman, who claimed kinfhip with Robert Grofthead, Bishop of Lincoln, and thereupon requested from him an office. "Coufin, faid the MILD fpring returns, the vernal shower Bishop, "if your cart be broken, I'll mend it; if your plow be old, I'll give you a new one, and even feed to fow your land: But an hufbandman I found you, and an husbandman I'll leave you." The Bifhop thought it kinder (as it should feem) to ferve him in his way, than to take him out of his way: And perhaps Stephen Duck, the threfher, had been better provided for, if, inftead of being firft penfioned, and afterwards ordained, he had been endowed with ten acres of land, and fuffered to thresh on. By turning the laborious thresher into an inactive clergyman, they brought lunacy firft, and then fuicide, upon a man, who might otherwise have enjoyed himself with two cows and a pig, and ended his days in ferenity and cafe.

Why diftant hail gay pleasure's fportive

hour?

Ah! what's to thee the mild return of fpring?

The glittering fun-beam, or the vernal
fhower?

Yet though by Art and lawless power oppress'd,
Still innocence can chear thy little breaft,
Depriv'd of Nature's firft and fweeted boon,

And thy clear note to liquid foftness tune.
Oh! may Elyfan gales and fragrant bowers
Reward with lafting joy thy patient fuffering
hours!

To the Editor of the COUNTY MAGAZINE. SIR,

As you file your new work the County

Magazine, it may be presumed an account of any place of note within that of Wilts, or its neighbourhood, may be properly admitted to a place in it.

I fhall begin then with a brief history of Marleburgh Caftle and Town; but fhall principally confine myself to the former. How long before the Norman conqueft the Caftle was built, does not appear. Three years after that event took place, Agelric, Bishop of the South Saxons, or Chichefter, was imprifoned there, in the year 1069. In the year 1138 it was affigned by the Emprefs Maud to her baftard brother, Robert Earl of Gloucefter. Two years afterwards it was held by one John, who was hanged here for not surrendering the Caftle of Devizes to her. In 1174, King Henry the younger, fon of King Henry the Second, confirmed his father's grant of it to his brother John. Henry the Second was here in 1177, when he gave Philip de Brens the whole kingdom of Limeric for 60 Knights fervice, to hold of him and his fon John. The Courts of Law followed the fame King hither in the thirty-fecond year of his reign, in 1185. Four years after this it was granted anew to the fame John, by Richard the Firft, upon his acceffion to the Crown, together with the Caftle of Largarshall, in 1189. Between the years 1193 and 1205, this Caftle was befieged and taken by Hubert, Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1226, Henry HI. after Christmas, came hither, and was detained fome days by a dangerous illness.

He

was vifited by W. de Longefpee, who preferred a complaint against Hubert de Burgh, then Jufticiary, for adultery with his wife, and who, after a fham reconciliation, deAtroyed him by poison.

A Parliament was held here in 1268, in the Octaves of St. Martin, in which were enacted the Statutes of Marleberge, from hence fo denominated. As late as the time of Charles the Firft, it was taken for him, Dec. 5, 1642.

You will plainly perceive this to be no feigned Hiftory: not a tittle is advanced but upon proper grounds: the authorities are defignedly kept back, to avoid trefpafffing on your limits. Wishing you fuccefs in your prefent undertaking,

I remain yours, A WILTSHIRE ANTIQUARY. April 15, 1786.

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ON THE MONTH OF

APRIL.

Now daifies pied, and violets blue,
And ladyfmocks all filver white,
And cuckow-buds of yellow hue,

Do paint the meadows with delight; The cuckow now on every tree

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Sings cukoo-cuckoó.

increased, and they fport with feeming
pleasure in the warm funfhine.

And fee, my Delia, fee o'er yonder stream,
Where on the funny bank the lambkins play,
Alike attracted to th' enlivening gleam,

The stranger swallows take their wonted way.
JAGO.

As thefe birds live on infects, their appearance is a certain proof that fome of this minute tribe of animals are now got

APRIL weather is become a prover-abroad from their winter retreats.

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bial expreffion for a mixture of the bright and gloomy. The pleafantnefs of its funfhiny days, with the delightful view of fresh greens and newly opened flowers, is unequalled; but they are frequently overcaft with clouds, and chilled by rough wintry blafts.

fays

The birds are now bufied in pairing, and building their nefts. As their finging is the voice of courtship and conjugal love, the concerts of the groves begin. to fill with their various melody. The nightingale, that most accomplished and enchanting of fongfters, is heard foon after the arrival of the fwallow. He fings by day as well as by night; but in the day time, his voice is drowned in the the beautiful ballad of Margaret's multitude of performers; in the evening it is heard alone; whence the poets have always made the fong of the nightingale a nocturnal serenade.

Her face was like an April morn, Clad in a wintry cloud;

Ghoft.

This month gives the most perfect image of Spring; for its viciffitudes of warm gleams of funfhine, and gentle fhowers, have the most powerful effects in haftening that univerfal fpringing of the vegetable tribes, from whence the feafon derives its appellation.

April generally begins with raw unpleasant weather, the influence of the equinoctial forms ftill in fome degree prevailing. Its opening is thus defcribed in a poem of Mr. WARTON'S :

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Fringing the foreft's devious edge
Half rob'd appears the hawthorn hedge:.
Or to the diftant eye difplays
Weakly green its budding sprays.

Early in the month, that welcome gueft and harbinger of fummer, the fwallow, returns, The kind firft feen, is the chimney or houfe fwallow, known by its long forked tail, and red breast. At first here and there only one appears, glancing quick by us, as if scarcely able to endure the cold.

Sweet bird, that shunn'ft the noise of folly,
Moft mufical, moft melancholy!
Thee, chauntrefs, oft, the woods among,
I woo to hear thy even-fong.

MILTON.

Another of the most striking events of this month, is the renewal of the cuckow's note, which is generally heard about the middle of April. This is fo remarkable a circumftance, that it has commanded attention in all countries; and feveral ruftic fayings, and the names of feveral plants which flower at this time,. are derived from it.

Hail beauteous ftranger of the wood,
Attendant on the Spring!
Now heaven repairs thy rural feat,

And woods thy welcome fing.

Soon as the daify decks the green,
Thy certain voice we hear:
Haft thou a ftar to guide thy path
Or mark thy rolling year?
Delightful vifitant! with thee

I hail the time of flowers,

When heaven is fill'd with mufic fweet
Of birds among the bowers.
The school-boy, wand'ring in the wood.
To pull the flowers so gay,
Starts, thy curious voice to hear,

And imitates thy lay..

LOGAN

The cuckow's arrival is regularly preceded fome days by that of the wryneck, a fmall bird, fingular in its attitudes and. plumage, and living upon the infects which harbour in the bark of trees, which it extracts by means of its long tongue, But in a few days, their number is much furnished with a fharp bony tip.. The

The fwallow for a moment feen, Skims in hafte the village green.

wryneck alfo has a peculiar note or cry, eafily diitinguifhed by those who have once heard it.

Other birds which are feen amongst us. only in the warmer months, as the redftart, whitethroat and yellow wagtail, appear in April.

The fifhes are now infpired by the fame enlivening influence which acts upon the reft of animated nature; and in confequence, again offer themselves as a prey to the arts of the angler, who returns to his ufual haunt.

Beneath a willow, long forfook,
The fifher feeks his cuftom'd nook;
And bursting thro' the crackling fedge
That crowns the current's cavern'd edge,
He startles from the bordering wood
The bafhful wild-duck's early brood.

WARTON.

A confiderable number of plants flower in this month; in particular, many of the fruit-bearing trees and fhrubs, the flowers of which are peculiarly termed bloffoms. Thefe form a most agreeable fpectacle, as well on account of their beauty, as of the promise they give of future benefits.

Hope waits upon the flowery prime.

It is, however, an anxious time for the poffeffor, as the faireft prospect of a plentiful increase is so often blighted.SHAKESPEARE draws a pathetic compa.. rifon from this circumftance, to paint the delufive nature of human expectations.

This is the state of man; to-day he puts forth
The tender leaves of hope, to-morrow blossoms,
And bears his blushing honours thick upon him,
The third day comes a frost, a killing frost.
And Milton beautifully uses the fame fimile:
Abortive as the firft-born bloom of Spring,
Nipp'd with the lagging rear of Winter's frost.

The apricots and peaches lead the way in bloffoming, and are followed by the cherry and plum. The black thorn or floe (which is a fpecies of plum) alfo enlivens the hedges with its flowers in this month. Thofe of the lowlier plants which now moft ftrike the eye, are the primrose and wood-forrel under hedges; the wood-anemone in dry woods and thickets; the wood crowfoot and marfhmarygold in wet marfhy places; and the lady-fmock, or cuckow-flower (as fome call it) in meadows.

The farmer is ftill bufied in fowing different forts of grain, and feeds for fodder; for which purpose dry weather is yet fuitable; though plentiful fhowers at due intervals are defirable for feeding the young grafs and springing corn.

(

RE

To Mifs Home, ELEAS'D from Love's tyrannic chain, I fhut the paffage to my heart; I heard him threaten with difdain, And bade defiance to his dart! Of other charms was not afraid, Since freed from artful Anna's lure;

I call'd Indiff'rence to my aid,

And fondly thought myself fecure.
But, ah! how frail the cold defign

That prudence builds on paffion's bafe;
And, ah! what tranfient hopes were min
A trophy over love to raise!
Again I feel the tyrant's force,
Again I drag the cruel chain;
Again my paffions take their course,
And all refittance is but pain.

If friendship afk from whence this flame,
What object fets my breast on fire;
How shall I mention Stella's name,
That she alone could love inspire?
For Stella bears not Cupid's arms,
To Venus Stella none compare;
None fing in raptures Stella's charms;

None call her faireft of the fair.

She dazzles not with beauty's blaze,
Nor captivates all wond'ring eyes;
With other maids in form, in grace,
In rival charms fhe only vies.
But Stella has that matchlefs way

That wins o'er beauty, form, or art,
That leads the foul with fecret fway,
That binds with sympathy the heart.
She rivals not, I own, the fair

That fpread a lure for ev'ry eye;
She conquers in a narrower sphere,
She holds us by a stronger tie.
In the foft intercourse of life

Her modeft merit fhe displays,
To foothe with fmiles, to foften strife
With gentle deeds, is Stella's praise.
But, ah! while words and actions kind,
And looks intelligent enfnare,
And fenfibility refin'd

Renews in me a lover's care!
Stella, with delicacy pure,

That checks love's vows and fond defires, Compels in filence to endure

The paffion that her worth inspires!

(

An ELEGIAC SONNET to the WILLOW.
In the Character of STERNE'S MARIA.
ENTLE Willow, lend thy fhade,
Hang thy fheltering foliage low;
Screen, ah, fcreen a wandering maid,
Screen her from yon world of woe!
Lower ftill thy branches bend,

Waving as the zephyrs play,
Till they to the ftream defcend,

And fhield me from oppreffive day. So may that stream unceafing flow,

And deck thee in eternal green! So may thy fhade ftill deeper grow,

Till not a funbeam pierce between ! And, Philomel, with fweetly plaintive fong, For ever chaunt thy verdant boughs among!

RETIREMENT.

ROM London's fmoaky, fœtid air,

Take me, ye rural pow'rs; With you, in fweet fequefter'd ways, Where peace, that rofe-lip'd cherub, ftrays, I'd pass the fummer hours. For quiet here, in vain I try; O! let me from this city fly,

To 'cape the fcenes I hate;
The bufy, low, defigning crowd,
The infults of the vain, the proud,
The meanness of the great.

What, tho' with you no mafks by night,
Or painted beauties catch the fight,
In fashion's wanton gear;
Superior beauties you present,
Dear happiness and fweet content,
With mufic worth the ear.

The artlefs maid, the jocund fwain,
The blooming orchard, verdant plain,

The balmy-fcented breeze;
The cooling fpring, the prattling rill,
Gay landscapes round from ev'ry hill,
Bleft folitude and ease.

The furze-blown heath, the fragrant thorn,
Far ftretching fields of waving corn,
The farmer's promis'd wealth:

But, more than all, what's feldom found
In diffipation's vicious round,

Vivacity and health.

Whilft those whom London's walls immure, Rheumatics, colds, catarrhs, endure,

With all Pandora's store; From thefe I'd fly to hills and plains, Nor lofe a figh, while life remains, To fee the city more.

EPITAPH

On Mifs Shipley's Squirrel, killed by her Dog.
By Dr. BENJAMIN FRANKlyn.
Alas! poor Mungo!

Happy waft thou, hadft thou known thy own felicity!

Remote from the fierce, bold eagle,
Tyrant of thy native woods,
Thou hadft nought to fear
From his piercing talons,

Nor from the blundering gun of the thoughtless sportsman.

Safe in thy wired caftle, Grimalkin never could annoy thee: Daily waft thou fed with the choicest viands, By the fair hands of an indulgent mistress; But difcontented,

Thou wouldest have more liberty.
Too foon, alas! didst thou obtain it:
And, wandering, fell

By the merciless fangs of wanton cruel Ranger.
Learn hence, ye,

Who blindly feek more liberty, Whether fubjects, fons, squirrels, or daughters, That apparent restraint Is real liberty, Yielding peace and plenty with fecurity.

SALISBURY: Printed by B. C. COLLINS; And fold by all BOOKSELLERS, NEWSMEN, &c.

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