Æquoris affulgens fopitæ Cynthius undæ Non oculis rutilo certet honor tuis. Tunc juvat immenfum Veneris luftrare profundum; Lætus ago remos, vinculaque ipfa placent; Exultans pelagum téneo, oblitufque meorum Auferor, & fordet littora quicquid habent. Aft ubi delirum id pectus, mihi pectus amatum, Labra ubi turgefcunt, & ftantia lumina guttis Tunc furis impatiens, ponti intractabilis inftar, Naufragus incafsùm nitor comprendere terram; 1747-8: END of the eighth number: I O fortunatos nimium, bona fi fuá nêrint, Agricolas ! Brother STUDENT, VIRGIL. Am one of thofe odd fort of people, who are greatly enamour'd with the country, and fond of nature in her original dress. The ruftic plainefs, and downright fimplicity of a company of clowns afford me more entertainment than a masquerade at Ranelagh, a ridotto, or the most brilliant affembly. In the one you fee the real operations of nature without disguise, in the other the various diftortions and cozenage of art. And a man who can reduce himself to their level, talk in their ftile, and join with them in their Numb. IX. Sf exercifes exercises and diverfions, may depend upon being carefs'd by them, and at the fame time agreeably entertain'd. In my last journey to my uncle's, I accidentily faw several young men with their hair comb'd strait and powder'd, each with a lafs in his hand neatly drefs'd, croffing the road for the next village. Hence I concluded that fome mirth was going forward, and call'd to one of 'em to know what was to be done there. La! fir, quoth the young fellow, a huge deal of fun will be there indeed. 'Tis fair-day, and there will be rope-dancing, and tumbling, the doctor and the merry Andrew, and a many fine things. As it was vacation time, and upon mature confideration, finding I had full as much business at the fair, as at my uncle Sir Richard's, I turned my horfe and accompanied the young people, who were wonderfully pleas'd with my condescention, and before we came to the village, gave me an invitation to dance with them in the evening, affuring me at the fame time, that they were the best dancers in all those parts. The Mountebank, with the affiftance of his Andrew, gave the people great delight, and they in return bought numbers of the doctor's packets; fo both parties feem'd pleas'd. How well they were fatisfy'd who took the physick, I don't know, nor is it my business to conjecture. The tumbler was fo exceeding clever, that an old man near me, after looking at him thro' his spectacles full an hour, turn'd round and told me he was a comical dog, indeed! and, tho' he was near seventy years old, he had not feen his equal. As this arch fellow fo much exceeded every body in that character, I enquir'd after his country, education, &c. and was inform'd by himself, that he was educated at Sadlerswells, under those great masters of the science, Meff. Rofomon and Hough. The doctor himself, while I was treating his tumbler with a glass at the next booth, did me the mighty favour to take me by the hand and drink my health, and then laying aside the the farce of his phyfick, fat down and entertain'd us with a history of his packets and patients. He foon learn'd from my conversation that I came from Oxford, and pulling one of his printed papers out of his pocket, defir'd the favour of me to give him half a line of Latin to put under the King's-arms, which I did, and thereby fo oblig'd the doctor and his people, that I was complimented with their company, till the time appointed by my friends the dancers was expir'd, and then I was oblig'd to withdraw. When I came to the place, I found the lads and laffes were all met, and waited only for the fidler, who soon after enter'd, to the great joy of the affembly, and then every man look'd about for his partner. As for my part I chose the prettieft, I affure you, who happen'd alfo to be a good dancer, and on that account I thought myself happy; but after going down the first dance, she stept afide to whisper a young man, who lower'd very much in his countenance, and stood in a melancholy posture. I enquir'd what this fecret might be, and was inform'd that the young man was an acquaintance of hers, whom she had promis'd to go down a dance with bye and bye. But William (for that was the young man's name) more fully explained the matter, when I came down the second time; for making up to me with his hat off, and scratching his head, I wish, fir, fays he, you would take another partner; because this is my fweetheart, and we are to be married next week indeed.-There was fomething fo pitiful und affecting in poor William's countenance at the time he spoke to me, that I was really concerned to think I had been the unhappy inftrument of giving him so much pain. And tho' I know there are many in our college who would have refufed the request, and rejoiced in the triumph, yet as they were so closely connected, I willingly relinquish'd my partner; for I always lay it down as a rule, that no man bas a right to rob another of his peace. 'Tis impoffible to exprefs the joy that appear'd in William's countenance on this occafion; nor indeed was Dolly difpleas'd; for to do her juftice, I must own, fhe did not lend me any part of that love, which was due only to William. No, fhe danc'd with the gentleman in the gold-lac'd waistcoat, because she did not care any one else should have that honour. This was her motive, and she would have been much better pleas'd, if William and I had agreed to take her by turns, so that I might have done without another partner. It has been a maxim amongst the wifeft of all nations, That a man should never do any thing to make even the meanet perfon his enemy, if it can poffibly be avoided, and for this reafon; because every man, let his circumstances be what they will, may have it in his power, to do a good office or an injury to those who are infinitely his fuperiors. The use of this maxim I found afterwards verify'd in the cafe of my friend William. One night, when it was extremely dark, wet and cold, I happen'd to lofe my way on a large heath, and rode many hours without being able to procure any shelter, or to get intelligence of my road. At length I chanc'd tọ find a farm houfe: the people were in bed and unwilling to rife: I call'd and knock'd at the gate a good while before I could get any answer: at laft an old fellow popt his head out of a window, and mutter'd fomething, to which I made a paffionate reply. At that very inftant, who should come to open the door but my friend William, who, it seems, knew my voice, and immediately came to my affiftance. We fhook hands moft heartily, and William returned my former civility by taking care of my horfe, providing me with a fupper, and then placing me in his warm bed, while he cook'd up a fire to dry my clothes. I cannot take leave of the country-people without admiring their modesty and ftrong propenfity to virtue, and have often thought, if this did not prevail more in the country than in town, the frequent opportunities they have to be naught would fill every family with feuds. 'Tis true, fometimes an accident will happen; but then it rather proceeds from plain downright fimplicity and indifcretion, than from any |