the wooden Xenophon my face had been continually burning like a firebrand, and I was just beginning to recover my self, and to feel comfortably cool, when an unlooked for accident rekindled all my heat and blushes. Having fet my plate of foup too near the edge of the table, in bowing to Mifs Dinah, who politely complimented the pattern of my waistcoat, I tumbled the whole fcalding contents into my lap. In fpite of an immediate fupply of naptkins to wipe the furface of my cloaths, my black filk breaches were not tout enough to fave me from the painful effects of this fudden fomentation, and for fome minutes my legs and thighs feemed ftewing in a boiling caldron; but recollecting how Sir Thomas had disguised his torture when I trod upon his toe, I firmly bore my pain in filence, and fat with my lower extremities parboiled, amidft the ftifled giggling of the ladies, and the fer

vants.

I will not relate the feveral blunders which I made during the first courfe, or the diftrefs occafioned by my being defired to carve a fowl, or help to various dishes that stood near me: fpilling a fauce-boat, and knocking down a a falt-feller; rather let me haften to the fecond

courfe, where fresh difafters overwhelmed me quite.

I had a piece of rich sweet pudding on my fork, when Mifs Louifa Friendly begged to trouble me for a pigeon that food near me, in my hafte, fcarce knowing what I did, I whipped the pudding into my mouth, hot as a burning coal; it was impoflible to conceal my agony; my eyes were farting from their fockets. At laft, in fpite of fhame and refolution, I was obliged to drop the cause of torment on my plate. Sir Thomas and the ladies all compaflionated my misfortune, and each advised a different application: one recommended oil, another water; but all agreed that wine was beft for drawing out the fire; and a glass of fherry was brought me from the fideboard, which I fnatched up with eagerness: but, oh! how fhall I tell the fequel? whether the butler by accident miftcok, or purposely designed to drive me mad, he gave me the strongest brandy, with which I filled my mouth, already flead and bliftered. Totally unused to every kind of ardent fpirits, with my tongue, throat, and palate, as raw as beef, what could I do? I could not fwallow; and clapping my hands. upon my mouth, the curfed liquor fquirted through my nose and fingers like a fountain,

over all the dishes; and I was crushed by bursts of laughter from all quarters. In vain did Sir Thomas reprimand the fervants, and Lady Friendly chide her daughters; for the measure of my shame and their diversion was not yet complete. To relieve me from the intolerable ftate of perfpiration which this accident had caufed, without confidering what I did, I wiped my face with that ill-fated handkerchief which was still wet from the confequences of the fall of Xenophon, and covered all my features with ftreaks of ink in every direction. The baronet himself could not fupport the fhock, but joined his lady in the general laugh; while I fprung from the table in despair, rushed out of the house, and ran home in an agony of confufion and difgrace, which the moft poignant fenfe of guilt could not have excited.

NUMBER XXII.

As mufing flow I hail
Thy genial lov'd return!

ODE TO THE NIGHTINGALE.

Sweet Bird of Sorrow!-why complain
In fuch foft melody of fong
That Echo, am'rous of thy ftrain,

The ling'ring cadence doth prolong?

Ah! tell me, tell me, why,

Thy dulcet notes afcend the fky.
Or on the filmy vapours glide
Along the misty mountain's fide ?
And wherefore doft thou love to dwell,
In the dark wood and mofs-grown cell,
Befide the willow-margin'd stream—
Why doft thou court wan Cynthia's beam?
Sweet Songftrefs-if thy wayward fate
Hath robb'd thee of thy bofom's mate,
Oh, think not thy heart-piercing moan
Evap❜rates on the breezy air,,

Or that the plaintive song of Care
Steals from thy widow'd breaft alone.

Oft have I heard thy mournful tale,
On the high clift, that o'er the vale
Hangs its dark brow, whofe awful fhade
Spreads a deep gloom along the glade:
Led by its found, I've wander'd far
Till crimfon evening's flaming ftar
On Heav'n's vaft dome refulgent hung,-
And round ethereal vapours flung;
And oft I've fought th' Hygeian Maid,
In rofy dimpling fmiles array'd,
Till forc'd with every hope to part,
Refiftlefs Pain fubdued my Heart.

Oh then, far o'er the reftlefs deep
Forlorn my poignant pangs I bore,.
Alone in foreign realms to weep,

Where Envy's voice could taunt no more. I hop'd, by mingling with the gay, To fnatch the veil of Grief away; I hop'd, amid the joyous train, To break affliction's pond'rous chain; Vain was the Hope-in vain I fought The placid hour of carelefs thought Where Fashion wing'd her light career, And sportive Pleasure danc'd along, Oft have I fhunn'd the blithfome throng, To hide th' involuntary tear

For e'en where rapt'rous transports glow, From the full Heart the conscious tear will flow.