evil! and rather grant me to perish at once, than to behold a calamity fo dreadful and me lancholy!" When the old man perceiv'd that fhe was crying, he ran to her, kiss'd her tears, -- and mingling his own with them, groan'd the most piteously, and utter'd words, enough to melt a heart of ftone. Never was scene more 'diftressful the poor man was not himself, and his wild ravings were piercing as the keenest dagger to her heart; her tears augmented his diftrefs, and the forrow which both endeavour'd. to footh and appeafe, became more powerful and afflicting by thofe very endeavours; so that it wou'd have been difficult for the niceft cafuift 'to have determin'd which was the most miferable, the daughter or the father, or which was moft forrowful, their lamentings, or mutual confolations this however wou'd admit of no dispute, that never fufferers more deferv'd compaffion, never did mifery more forcibly demand commiferation! HERE then, oh reader, let us paufe a while, and give a generous tear or two to this unhappy father, and fill as unhappy daughter; whose distress, fo far from diminishing, will appear likely to encrease, when we return to Mr. JaiJon, and find the unlucky occafion of his fummons from Mr. Hodfon. In the mean time, admonifh'd K 4 monish'd by these fufferers-let us learn to ba humble-from vanity let us turn our eyes, 25 from a harlot that wou'd feduce us into her embraces with deluding love, and plunge us into inextricable evils. Build on no falfe and airy hopes: make virtue your friend, and innocence your companion confult with that beft of counsellors, true religion, and lean on her precepts, as an a rock; confult her ere the day dawn, and with the fetting fun, fee thou attend her courts! bring her home to thy house, espouse her to thy heart, take her to thy bofom, and fill thy foul with her love; unlike all other love, that shall never fatiate thee, its tranfports fhall never end, its raptures fhall never cloy: time shall have no power to diminish it: paffion no ability to shake it: for behold thus building, thou buildeft on a rock, whose bafis is unfhaken, whose top reacheth far above the clouds, and which shall endure to the longest eternity. The End of the Fifth Book. THE THE HISTORY O F LUCY and CAROLINE SANSON. BOOK VI. CHAP. I. The arrival of Mr. Jaifon's father in town: his and Caroline's diftrefs thereupon: their refolution: Mr. Jaifon's scheme. I T will be eafy to imagine, that Mr. Jaifon's furprize was infinitely great, when, on entering the room, he beheld there his father: Little did he fufpect any fuch matter, little did he think of fo unwelcome a gueft. He was confounded and diftreft beyond measure; he scarceJy knew how properly to addrefs him, and to pay him that duty and reverence which is demanded from a fon to his father. The old gentleman, K 5 tleman, who was naturally not one of the fweeteft tempers, and gentleft difpofitions, perceived his confufion, and cou'd not refrain from bursting into a violent paffion, abufing his fon with very grofs language, threatening abfolutely to difinherit him, and demanding his immediate attendance on him into the country. Mr. Jaifon fat down mute, and thunder-ftruck: he cou'd make no reply, and any reply which he fhou'd have made, wou'd have been like oil caft into a flaming fire. Mrs. Hodfon took upon her the part of a mediator, advifing the father to greater coolness and gentleness, the fon to an "Cooler, or exact compliance and obedience. not cooler, madam, faid the father, matters little I am greatly oblig'd to you for your kind information; and I'll not fet down and fee my fon ruin'd he either this very day departs with me from London, or believe me he is no longer a fon of mine. What fay you, fir; which do you prefer, ruin or happiness? Come, come, I'll have no delay; for death is not more certain or refolv'd." Mr. Jaifon, who well knew his father's temper, its rigid obftinacy, and pertinacious ftubbornefs, thought it better to comply with it a little, as the more probable method of fuccefs in fuch a dilemma: fince it is more prudent for a man who hath fallen into a deep and dangerous torrent, to fwim down with the ftream, : than am, but I "I don't under what's all this than to oppose its force, and refift its proudly fwelling waves. "I am ready, fir, faid he, to do as advise you I me: am ready to attend you, whenever you pleafe; I am perfectly at your command. But, for your fake and mine, we had better proceed with a little more deliberation, left we give the world a handle for ill talking, and you bring a difcredit on your fon, which perhaps it may not be easy to wipe off. I offer nothing, I fay nothing, wholly subject as I and defire to be to you, fir wou'd leave this matter to Mrs. Hodfon; let her prudence direct us herein." ftand thee, boy, faid the father Canterbury tale to end in? foolery: we'll away." faid Mrs. Hodfon, fpeaks extremely well; and L rejoice to find him fo ready to obey; I have indeed always had great reafon to approve and commend him; before this unhappy flip, never faw the least thing improper in him. What he means, if I understand him right, is to proceed in this affair with prudence and caution, and to fhew himself, as he has done, in all his actions a gentleman, and a man of worth, becoming you and his family. He wou'd not have: this mistake of his blazon'd abroad to your and his difhonour, which it must inevitably be, if you carry him from town thus abruptly, and none of your My nephew, brother, take |