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downwards upon the earth-it look'd forwards; but look'd as if it look'd at fomething beyond this world. How one of his order came by it, Heaven above, who let it fall upon a monk's fhoulders, best knows; but it would have fuited a Bramin, and had I met it upon the plains of Indoftan, I had reverenced it.

The rest of his outline may be given in a few ftrokes; one might put it into the hands of any one to defign, for 'twas neither elegant nor otherwife, but as character and expreffion made it fo: it was a thin, fpare form, fomething above the common fize, if it loft not the distinction by a bend forwards in the figure-but it was the attitude of intreaty; and as it now frands prefent to my imagination, it gain'd more than it loft by it.

When he had entered the room three paces, he flood ftill; and laying his left hand upon his breaft (a flender white ftaff with which he journeyed being in his right)-when I had got close up to him, he introduced himself with the little ftory of the wants of his convent, and the poverty of his order-and did it with fo fimple a grace-and fuch an air of deprecation was there in the whole caft of his look and figure-I was bewitched not to have been ftruck with

it

A better reafon was, I had predetermined not to give him a fingle fous.

'Tis very true, faid I, replying to a caft upwards with his eyes, with which he had concluded his addrefs-'tis very true and Heaven be their refource who have no other but the charity of the world, the ftock of which, I fear, is no way fufficient for the many great claims which are hourly made upon it.

As I pronounced the words "great "claims," he gave a flight glance with his eye downwards upon the fleeve of his tunic-I felt the full force of the appeal I acknowledge it, faid I-a coarfe habit, and that but once in three years, with meagre diet-are no great matters and the true point of pity is, as they can be earn'd in the world with fo little industry, that your order should wish to procure them by preffing upon a

fund which is the property of the lame, the blind, the aged, and the infirm: the captive, who lies down counting over and over again the days of his af fictions, languishes alfo for his fhare of it; and had you been of the order of Mercy, instead of the order of St. Francis, poor as I am, continued I, pointing at my portmanteau, full cheerfully fhould it have been opened to you for the ranfom of the unfortunate. The Monk made me a bow-but of all others, refumed I, the unfortunate of our own country, furely, have the first rights; and I have left thoufands in diftrefs upon our own fhore-The Monk gave a cordial wave with his head-as much as to fay, No doubt, there is mifery enough in every corner of the world, as well as within our convent-But we diftinguifh, faid I, laying my hand upon the fleeve of his tunic, in return for his appeal-we diftinguish, my good father! betwixt those who with only to eat the bread of their own labour and thofe who eat the bread of other people's, and have no other plan in life, but to get through it in floth and ignorance, for the love of God.

The poor Francifcan made no reply: a hectic of a moment pafs'd across his cheek, but could not tarry-Nature feemed to have had done with her refentments in him; he shewed none-but letting his ftaff fall within his arm, he preffed both his hands with refignation upon his breaft, and retired.

My heart fmote me the moment he fhut the door-Pfha! faid I, with an air of careleffnefs, three feveral times

but it would not do; every ungracious fyllable I had uttered, crowded back into my imagination; I reflected I had no right over the poor Franciscan, but to deny him; and that the punishment of that was enough to the difappointed, without the addition of unkind language-I confidered his grey hairshis courteous figure feemed to re-enter, and gently ask me, what injury he had done me? and why I could ufe him. thus? I would have given twenty livres for an advocate 1 have be haved very ill, faid I within myself; but I have only juft fet out upon my

-

travels;

travels; and shall learn better manners as I get along. Sterne.

$5. Sir Bertrand. A Fragment.

light, which proceeded from a window in one of the turrets, glided along and vanished; at the fame moment the moon funk beneath a black cloud, and the night was darker than ever. All was Sir Bertrand turned his filent-Sir Bertrand faftened his fteed fteed towards the woulds, hoping to under a fhed, and approaching the cross these dreary moors before the cur- houfe traverfed its whole front with few. But ere he had proceeded half light and flow footsteps-All was ftill his journey, he was bewildered by the as death-He looked in at the lower different tracks; and not being able, as windows, but could not distinguish a far as the eye could reach, to efpy any fingle object through the impenetrable object but the brown heath surrounding gloom. After a fhort parley with himhim, he was at length quite uncertain felf, he entered the porch, and feizing which way he should direct his courfe. a maffy iron knocker at the gate, lifted Night overtook him in this fituation. it up, and hesitating, at length ftruck a It was one of thofe nights when the loud ftroke-the noife refoundedthrough moon gives a faint glimmering of light the whole manfion with hollow echoes. through the thick black clouds of a All was ftill again-he repeated the lowering ky. Now and then fhe fud- ftrokes more boldly and louder-anodenly emerged in full fplendour from ther interval of filence enfued-A third her veil, and then inftantly retired be time he knocked, and a third time all hind it; having juft ferved to give the was ftill. He then fell back to fome forlorn Sir Bertrand a wide extended distance, that he might difcern whether profpect over the defolate wafte. Hope any light could be feen in the whole and native courage awhile urged him front-It again appeared in the fame to push forwards, but at length the place, and quickly glided away, as beincreafing darkness and fatigue of body foreat the fame inftant a deep fullen and mind overcame him; he dreaded toll founded from the turret. Sir Bermoving from the ground he ftood on, trand's heart made a fearful stop-he for fear of unknown pits and bogs, and was a while motionless; then terror imalighting from his horfe in defpair, he pelled him to make fome hafty steps threw himself on the ground. He had towards his fteed-but fhame ftopt his not long continued in that pofture, flight; and urged by honour, and a rewhen the fullen toll of a diftant bell fiftlefs defire of finishing the adventure, ftruck his ears he ftarted up, and turn- he returned to the porch; and working ing towards the found, difcerned a dim up his foul to a full fteadiness of refotwinkling light. Inftantly he feized his lution, he drew forth his fword with horfe's bridle, and with cautious fteps one hand, and with the other lifted up advanced towards it. After a painful the latch of the gate. The heavy door march, he was stopped by a moated creaking upon its hinges reluctantly ditch, furrounding the place from yielded to his hand he applied his whence the light proceeded; and by a fhoulder to it, and forced it open-he momentary glimpse of moon-light he quitted it, and ftept forward-the door had a full view of a large antique man- inftantly fhut with a thundering clap. fion, with turrets at the corners, and an Sir Bertrand's blood was chilled-he ample porch in the centre. The inju- turned back to find the door, and it ries of time were strongly marked on was long ere his trembling hands could every thing about it. The roof in va- feize it but his utmoft ftrength could rious places was fallen in, the battle- not open it again. After feveral inefments were half demolished, and the fectual attempts, he looked behind him, windows broken and dismantled, A and beheld, across a hall, upon a large draw-bridge, with a ruinous gate-way ftair-cafe, a pale bluish flame, which at each end, led to the court before the caft a difmal gleam of light around. building-He entered, and inftantly the He again fummoned forth his courage,

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and advanced towards it-it retired.
He came to the foot of the ftairs, and
after a moment's deliberation afcended.
He went flowly up, the flame retiring
before him, till he came to a wide gal.
lery-The flame proceeded along it,
and he followed in filent horror, tread-
ing lightly, for the echoes of his foot-
fteps ftartled him. It led him to the
foot of another stair-cafe, and then va-
nished-At the fame inftant another
toll founded from the turret-Sir Ber-
trand felt it ftrike upon his heart. He
was now in total darkness, and, with his
arms extended, began to afcend the fe-
cond stair-cafe. A dead cold hand met his
left-hand, and firmly grasped it, draw
ing him forcibly forwards he endea-
voured to difengage himself, but could
not he made a furious blow with his
fword, and inftantly a loud fhriek
pierced his ears, and the dead hand was
left powerlefs with his He dropt it,
and rushed forwards with a defperate
valour. The ftairs were narrow and
winding, and interrupted by frequent
breaches, and loofe fragments of tone.
The ftair-cafe grew narrower and nar-
rower, and at length terminated in a low
iron grate. Sir Bertrand pushed it open
it led to an intricate winding paffage,
just large enough to admit a perfon upon
his hands and knees. A faint glim-
mering of light ferved to fhew the na-
ture of the place-Sir Bertrand entered
-A deep hollow groan refounded from
a diftance through the vault-He went
forwards, and proceeding beyond the
first turning, he difcerned the fame blue
flame which had before conducted him
He followed it. The vault, at
length, fuddenly opened into a lofty
gallery, in the midst of which a figure
appeared, completely armed, thrufting
forwards the bloody ftump of an arm,
with a terrible frown and menacing gef
ture, and brandishing a fword in his
hand. Sir Bertrand undauntedly fprung
forwards; and aiming a fierce blow at
the figure, it inftantly vanished, letting
fall a maffy iron key. The flame now
refted upon a pair of ample folding
doors at the end of the gallery. Sir
Bertrand went up to it, and applied the
key to a brazen lock-with difficulty he
turned the bolt-in ftantly the doors flew

open, and difcovered a large apartment,
at the end of which was a coffin refted
upon a bier, with a taper burning on
each fide of it. Along the room, on
both fides, were gigantic ftatues of black
marble, attired in the Moorish habit,
and holding enormous fabres in their
right hands. Each of them reared his
arm, and advanced one leg forwards, as
the knight entered; at the fame mo-
ment the lid of the coffin flew open,
and the bell tolled. The flame ftill
glided forwards, and Sir Bertrand refo-
Iutely followed, till he arrived within
fix paces of the coffin. Suddenly a
lady in a shroud and black veil rofe up
in it, and ftretched out her arms to-
wards him-at the fame time the statues
clafhed their fabres and advanced. Sir
Bertrand flew to the lady, and clafped
her in his arms-fhe threw up her veil,
and kiffed his lips; and instantly the
whole building fhook as with an earth-
quake, and fell afunder with a horrible
crafh. Sir Bertrand was thrown into a
fudden trance, and on recovering found
himfelf feated on a velvet fofa, in the
moft magnificent room he had ever seen,
lighted with innumerable tapers, in
luitres of pure cryftal. A fumptuous
banquet was fet in the middle. The
doors opening to foft mufic, a lady
of incomparable beauty, attired with
amazing fplendour, entered, furround-
ed by a troop of gay nymphs more
fair than the Graces-She advanced to
the knight, and falling on her knees,
thanked him as her deliverer.
nymphs placed a garland of laurel upon
his head, and the lady led him by the
hand to the banquet, and fat befide
him. The nymphs placed themselves
at the table, and a numerous train of
fervants entering, ferved up the feaft;
delicious music playing all the time.
Sir Bertrand could not speak for afto-
nithment-he could only return their
honours by courteous looks and gestures.
After the banquet was finished, all re-
tired but the lady, who leading back
the knight to the fofa, addreffed him in
thefe words:

Sf

The

Aikin's Mifcel.
§ 6. On

§ 6. On Human Grandeur. An alehoufe-keeper near Iflington, who had long lived at the fign of the French King, upon the commencement of the laft war pulled down his old fign, and put up that of the Queen of Hun gary. Under the influence of her red face and golden fceptre, he continued to fell ale, till fhe was no longer the favourite of his cuftomers; he changed her, therefore, fome time ago, for the King of Pruffia, who may probably be changed, in turn, for the next great man that fhall be fet up for vulgar ad. miration.

In this manner the great are dealt out, one after the other, to the gazing crowd. When we have fufficiently wondered at one of them, he is taken in, and another exhibited in his room, who feldom holds his ftation long; for the mob are ever pleafed with variety.

I must own I have fuch an indifferent opinion of the vulgar, that I am ever led to fufpect that merit which raises their

fhout at leaft I am certain to find thofe great, and fometimes good men, who find fatisfaction in fuch acclamations, made worfe by it; and history has too frequently taught me, that the head which has grown this day giddy with the roar of the million, has the very next been fixed upon a pole.

As Alexander VI. was entering a little town in the neighbourhood of Rome, which had been juft evacuated by the enemy, he perceived the townfmen bufy in the market-place in pulling down from a gibbet a figure which had been defigned to reprefent himself. There were fome alfo knocking down a neighbouring ftatue of one of the Orfini family, with whom he was at war, in order to put Alexander's effigy in its place. It is poffible a man who knew lefs of the world would have condemned the adulation of thofe bare-faced flat terers; but Alexander feemed pleafed at their zeal; and, turning to Borgia, his fon, faid with a fmile, " Vides, mi "fili, quam leve difcrimen patibulum inter et latuam." "You fee, my fon, "the small difference between a gibbet " and a flatue." If the great could be taught any leffon, this might ferve to

teach them upon how weak a foundation their glory ftands; for, as popular applaufe is excited by what feems like merit, it as quickly condemns what has only the appearance of guilt.

Popular glory is a perfect coquet: her lovers must toil, feel every inquietude, indulge every caprice; and, perhaps, at laft, be jilted for their pains. True glory, on the other hand, refembles a woman of fenfe; her admirers must play no tricks; they feel no great anxiety, for they are fure, in the end, of being rewarded in proportion to their merit. When Swift ufed to appear in public, he generally had the mob fhouting in his train. Pox take thefe fools," he would fay, how much joy might all "this bawling give my lord-mayor!"

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We have feen thofe virtues which have, while living, retired from the public eye, generally tranfmitted to pofterity, as the trueft objects of admiration and praife. Perhaps the character of the late duke of Marlborough may one day be fet up, even above that of his more talked-of predeceffor; fince an affemblage of all the mild and amiable virtues are far fuperior to those vulgar. ly called the great ones. I must be pardoned for this fhort tribute to the memory of a man who, while living, would as much deteft to receive any thing that wore the appearance of flattery, as I fhould to offer it.

I know not how to turn fo trite a fubject out of the beaten road of common-place, except by illuftrating it, rather by the affiftance of my memory than judgment; and, inftead of making reflections, by telling a story.

A Chinefe, who had long ftudied the works of Confucius, who knew the characters of fourteen thousand words, and could read a great part of every book that came in his way, once took it into his head to travel into Europe, and obferve the customs of a people which he thought not very much inferior even to his own countrymen. Upon his arrival at Amsterdam, his paffion for letters naturally led him to a book feller's fhop; and, as he could fpeak a lit le Dutch, he civilly afked the book feller for the works of the immortal Xixofou. The book feller affured him he had never heard

the

the book mentioned before. "Alas!"

cries our traveller, " to what purpofe, then, has he fafted to death, "to gain a renown which has never travelled beyond the precincts of "China!"

There is fcarce a village in Europe, and not one univerfity, that is not thus furnished with its little great men. The head of a petty corporation, who oppofes the defigns of a prince, who would tyranically force his fubjects to fave their best cloaths for Sundays; the puny pedant, who finds one undifcovered quality in the polype, or defcribes an unheeded procefs in the skeleton of a mole; and whofe mind, like his microfcope, perceives nature only in detail; the rhymer, who makes fmooth verfes, and paints to our imagation, when he fhould only fpeak to our hearts; all equally fancy them felves walking forward to immortality, and defire the crowd behind them to look on. The crowd takes them at their word. Pa. triot, philosopher, and poet, are fhouted in their train. "Where was there ever fo much merit feen? no times fo im"portant as our own! ages, yet un"born, fhall gaze with wonder and "applaufe!" To fuch mufic the important pigmy moves forward, bufling and fwelling, and aptly compared to a puddle in a storm.

I have lived to fee generals who once had crowds hallooing after them whereever they went, who were bepraifed by news-papers and magazines, those echoes of the voice of the vulgar, and yet they have long funk into merited obfcurity, with fcarce even an epitaph left to flatter. A few years ago the herring-fifhery employed all Grub-freet; it was the topic in every coffee-houfe, and the burden of every ballad. We were to drag up oceans of gold from the bottom of the fea; we were to fupply all Europe with herrings upon our own terms. At prefent, we hear no more of all this. We have fifhed up very little gold that I can learn; nor do we furnish the world with herrings, as was expectect. Let us wait but a few years longer, and we shall find all our expectations an herring-fishery. Goldsmith.

§ 7.

A Dialogue between Mr. ADDISON and Dr. SWIFT.

Dr. Swift. Surely, Addifon, Fortune was exceedingly bent upon playing the fool (a humour her ladyship, as well as moft other ladies of very great quality, is frequently in) when he made you a minifter of ftate, and me a divine!

Addifen. I must confefs we were both of us out of our elements. But you do not mean to infinuate, that, if our deftinies had been reversed, all would have been right?

Swift. Yes, I do.-You would have made an excellent bishop, and I thould have governed Great Britain as I did Ireland, with an abfolute fway, while I talked of nothing but liberty, property, and fo forth.

Addifon. You governed the mob of Ireland; but I never heard that you governed the kingdom. A nation and a mob are different things.

Swift. Aye, fo you fellows that have no genius for politics may fuppose. But there are times when, by putting himfelf at the head of the mob, an able man may get to the head of the nation. Nay, there are times when the nation itself is a mob, and may be treated as fuch by a skilful obferver.

Addifon. I do not deny the truth of your axiom but is there no danger that, from the viciffitudes of human affairs, the favourite of the mob should be mobbed in his turn ?

Swift. Sometimes there may; but I rifked it, and it answered my purpofe. Afk the lord-lieutenants, who were forced to pay court to me instead of my courting them, whether they did not feel my fuperiority. And if I could make myself fo confiderable when I was only a dirty dean of St. Patrick's, without a feat in either houfe of parliament, what fhould I have done if fortune had placed me in England, unincumbered with a gown, and in a fituation to make myfelf heard in the houfe of lords or of commons ?

Addifon. You would doubtlefs have done very marvellous acts! perhaps you might have then been as zealous a whig as lord Wharton himfelf; or, if the

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