tion which is done by this passion, represent the fair sex as basilisks that destroy with their eyes; but I think Mr. Cowley has, with great justness of thought, compared a beautiful woman to a porcupine, that sends an arrow from every part.

I have often thought, that there is no way so effectual for the cure of this general infirmity as a man's reflecting upon the motives that produce it. When the passion proceeds from the sense of any virtue or perfection in the person beloved, I would by no means discourage it: but if a man considers that all his heavy complaints of wounds and deaths rise from some little affectations of coquetry, which are improved into charms by his own fond imagination, the very laying before himself the cause of his distemper may be sufficient to effect the cure of it.

It is in this view that I have looked over the several bundles of letters which I have received from dying people, and composed out of them the following bill of mortality, which I shall lay before my reader without any further preface; as hoping that it may be useful to him in discovering those several places where there is most danger, and those fatal arts which are made use of to destroy the heedless and unwary.

LYSANDER, slain at a puppet-show on the third of September.

Thyrsis, shot from a casement in Piccadilly. T. S. wounded by Zelinda's scarlet-stocking, as she was stepping out of a coach.

Will Simple, smitten at the opera by the glance of an eye that was aimed at one who stood by him.

Tho. Vainlove, lost his life at a ball.

Tim. Tattle, killed by the tap of a fan on his left shoulder by Coquetilla, as he was talking carelessly with her in a bow-window.

Sir Simon Softly, murdered at the playhouse in Drury-Lane by a frown.

Philander, mortally wounded by Cleora, as she was adjusting her tucker.

Ralph Gapley, Esq. hit by a random shot at the ring.

F. R. caught his death upon the water, April

the 1st.

W. W. killed by an unknown hand, that was playing with the glove off, upon the side of the front-box in Drury-Lane.

Sir Christopher Crazy, Bart. hurt by the brush of a whalebone petticoat.

Sylvius, shot through the sticks of a fan at St. James's church.

Damon, struck through the heart by a diamond necklace.

Thomas Trusty, Francis Goosequill, William Meanwell, Edward Callow, Esqrs, standing in a row, fell all four at the same time by an ogle of the widow Trapland.

Tom Rattle, chancing to tread upon a lady's tail as he came out of the playhouse, she turned full upon him, and laid him dead upon the spot.

Dick Tastewell, slain by a blush from the queen's box, in the third act of the Trip to the Jubilee.

Samuel Felt, haberdasher, wounded in his walks to Islington by Mrs. Susannah Crosstich, as she was clambering over a stile.

R. F. T. W. S. I. M. P. &c. put to death in the last birth-day massacre.

Roger Blinko, cut off in the twenty-first year of his age by a white-wash.

Musidorus, slain by an arrow that flew out of a dimple in Belinda's left cheek..

Ned Courtly, presenting Flavia with her glove, which she had dropped on purpose, she received it and took away his life with a courtesy.

John Gosselin having received a slight hurt from a pair of blue eyes, as he was making his escape was despatched by a smile.

Strephon, killed by Clarinda as she looked down into the pit.

Charles Careless, shot flying by a girl of fif teen, who unexpectedly popped her head upon him out of a coach.

Josiah Wither, aged threescore and three, sent to his long home by Elizabeth Jetwell, spinster. Jack Freelove, murdered by Melissa in her hair. William Wiseacre, Gent. drowned in a flood of tears by Moll Common.

John Pleadwell, Esq. of the Middle-Temple, barrister at law, assassinated in his chambers the 6th instant by Kitty Sly, who pretended to come to him for his advice.

I.

No. 378.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14.

Communicated by Mr. Pope.

Aggredere, O magnos, aderit jam tempus, honores.

VIRG. Ecl. 4. v. 48.

Mature in years, to ready honours move.

DRYDEN.

I WILL make no apology for entertaining the reader with the following poem, which is written

by a great genius, a friend of mine, in the country, who is not ashamed to employ his wit in the praise of his Maker."

MESSIAH.

A SACRED ECLOGUE, COMPOSED OF SEVERAL PASSAGES OF ISAIAH THE PROPHET.

Wrillen in imitation of Virgil's Pollio.

YE nymphs of Solyma! begin the song,
To heav'nly themes sublimer strains belong.
The mossy fountains, and the sylvan shades,
The dreams of Pindus and th' Aonian maids,
Delight no more-0 thou my voice inspire
Who touch'd Isaiah's hallow'd lips with fire!

Rapt into future times, the bard begun,
A Virgin shall conceive, a Virgin bear a Son:
From Jesse's root behold a branch arise,

Whose sacred flow'r, with fragrance fills the skies. (a)
Th' ætherial spirit o'er its leaves shall move,

And on its top descends the mystic Dove.

Ye heav'ns! from high the dewy nectar pour, (b)
And in soft silence shed the kindly show'r!

The sick and weak, the healing plant shall aid, (c)
From storms a shelter, and from heat a shade.
All crimes shall cease, and ancient fraud shall fail;
Returning justice lift aloft her scale; (d)
Peace o'er the world her olive wand extend,
And white rob'd innocence from heav'n descend.
Swift fly the years, and rise th' expected morn!
Oh spring to light, auspicious Babe be born!
See nature hastes her earliest wreaths to bring,
With all the incense of the breathing spring: (e).

(a) Isaiah, chap. xi. 1.
(b) Chap. xlv. 8.
(c) Chap. xxv. 4%

(d) Chap. ix. 7.
(e) Chap. xxxv. 2,

See lofty Lebanon his head advance,

See nodding forests on the mountains dance,
See spicy clouds from lowly Sharon rise,
And Carmel's flow'ry top perfumes the skies!
Hark! a glad voice the lonely desert cheers! (a)
Prepare the way! a God, a God appears!
A God! a God! the vocal hills reply,

The rocks proclaim th' approaching Deity.
Lo earth receives him from the bending skies!
Sink down ye mountains, and ye vallies rise!
With heads declin'd, ye cedars homage pay!
Be smooth ye rocks, ye rapid floods give way!
The Saviour comes! by ancient bards foretold!
Hear him ye deaf, and all ye blind behold! (b)
He from thick films shall purge the visual ray,
And on the sightless eye-ball pour the day. (c)
'Tis he th' obstructed paths of sound shall clear,
And bid new music charm th' unfolding ear;
The dumb shall sing, the lame his crutch forego,
And leap exulting like the bounding roe.
No sigh, no murmur, the wide world shall hear,
From ev'ry face he wipes off ev'ry tear.
In adamantine chains shall death be bound, (d)
And hell's grim tyrant feel th' eternal wound.
As the good shepherd tends his fleecy care, (e)
Seeks freshest pastures and the purest air,
Explores the lost, the wand'ring sheep directs,
By day o'ersees them, and by night protects;
The tender lambs he raises in his arms,
Feeds from his hand and in his bosom warms:
Mankind shall thus his guardian care engage,
The promis'd Father of the future age. (f)
No more shall nation against nation rise, (g)
Nor ardent warriors meet with hateful eyes,
Nor fields with gleaming steel be cover'd o'er,
The brazen trumpets kindle rage no more;
But useless lances into scythes shall bend,
And the broad falchion in a ploughshare end.

(a) Isaiah, Chap. xl. 3, 4.
(b) Chap. xlii. 18.
(c) Chap. xxxv. 5, 6.

(d) Chap. xxv. 8.

(e) Chap. xl. 11. (f) Chap. ix. 6. (g) Chap. ii. 4.