tance, fhe tamely permits a strapping fellow of the guards to pat her on the cheek, play with her hand, and even approach her lips, and that too in my prefence.

NUMBER XXXIV.

Ufelefs in business, yet unfit for ease.

LIFE IS BURDENSOME UNLESS EMPLOYED.

Few people know it, yet, dear Sir, 'tis true,
Man fhould have fomewhat evermore to do.
Hard labour's tedious, every one must own;
But furely better fuch by far, than none;
The perfect drone, the quite impertinent,
Whofe life at nothing aims, but to be spent ;
Such heaven vifits for fome mighty ill :
'Tis fure the hardest labour, to fit still.
Hence that unhappy tribe who nought pursue:
Who fin, for want of fomething else to do.

What Sir,-a month, and not one line afford! 'Tis well-how finely fome folk keep their word!

I own my promife-But to fteal an hour,
'Midft all this hurry-'tis not in my pow'r,
Where life each day does one fix'd order keep,
Succeffive journies, weariness and sleep.
Or if our scheme fome interval allows,
Some hours defign'd for thought and for re-
pofe;

Soon as the scatter'd images begin

In the mind to rally-company comes in:
Reason, adieu! there's no more room to think;
For all the day behind is noise and drink.
Thus life rolls on, but not without regret ;
Whene'er at morning, in fome cool retreat
I walk alone :-'tis then in thought I view
Some fage of old; 'tis then I think of you;
Whose breast no tyrant paffions ever feize,
No pulfe that riots, blood that disobeys;
Who follow but where judgment points the

way,

And whom too busy sense ne'er led aftray.
Not that you joys with moderation shun;
You taste all pleasures, but indulge in none.
Fir'd by this image, I refolve anew:
'Tis reafon calls, and peace and joy's in view.
How blefs'd a change! a long adieu to fenfe,
O field me, fapience! virtue's reign com

mence!

Alas, how fhort a reign!-the walk is o'er, The dinner waits, and friends some half a score: At first to virtue firm, the glafs I fly;

"Till fome fly fot,- Not drink the family!" Thus gratitude is made to plead for fin; My trait'rous breast a party forms within: And inclination brib'd, we never want Excufe-'Tis hot, and walking makes one • faint.'

Now fenfe gets strength; my bright refolves decay,

Like stars that melt at the approach of day : Thought dies; and ev'n, at last, your image fades away.

My head grows warm; all reafon I defpife:
6 To-day be happy, and to-morrow wife !?
Betray'd so oft, I'm half persuaded now,
Surely to fail, the first step is to vow.

The country lately, 'twas my wish: oh there! Gardens, diverfions, friends, relations, air: For London now, dear London, how I burn! I must be happy, fure, when I return. Whoever hopes true happinefs to fee, Hopes for what never was, nor e'er will be: 'The nearest ease, fince we must fuffer ftill, Are they who dare be patient under ill.

Whilom a fool faw where a fiddle lay; And after poring round it, ftrove to play : Above, below, across, all ways he tries! He tries in vain, 'tis difcord all and noise : Fretting he threw it by: then thus the lout; There's music in it, could I fetch it out." If life does not its harmony impart,

We want not inftruments, but have not art.
'Tis endless to defer our hopes of ease,
Till croffes end, and disappointments cease.
The fage is happy, not that all goes right,
His cattle feel no rot, his corn no blight;
The mind for ease is fitted to the wife,

Not fo the fool's 'tis here the difference lies ; Their profpect is the fame, but various are their eyes.

NUMBER XXXV.

But a fmooth and stedfast mind,

Gentle thoughts, and calm defires,

Hearts with equal love combin'd,
Kindle never-dying fires.

THE HAPPY PAIR.

ERASTUS, at the expiration of his clerkship to a merchant, saw himself in poffeffion of a fortune, which in a few years, with fuccefs,

might have increased to the height of his ambition. He made a favourable impreffion on the heart of the fair Eliza, his mafter's daughter, and married her foon after he was fettled, with the consent of her father, who retired from bufinefs, and paffed the remainder of his days in eafe and calmness.

They had but a few years enjoyed the happinefs they imparted to each other, before Eraftus, by unexpected loffes, and the bankruptcy of a house abroad, was robbed of all hisfortune. He now for ever looked on the lovely Eliza with pain. Canft thou ftill love the man who has reduced thee to poverty ?Indeed, thou canft!' faid he, preffing her hand with all imaginable tenderness.

Hea

ven knows I have not brought my misfortunes on myself-we muft not repine, and yet fo lovely a family at which time he caft his eyes on his little rogues, who were playing on the carpet, and then on his Eliza. He faw the tear flow down her cheek, and wept. Whatever fhe could fuggeft to give him eafe, fhe fpoke with all the tenderness. imaginable. • We will not weep, then, my < Eliza; perhaps we may yet know happier hours.' The attention of the little ones was drawn by their tears. One afked the mother