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who should come after him. This difficulty does not seem to have occurred to any of the commentators. Had the works of Menander and of his cotemporaries been preserved, they probably would have explained the mystery; which for want of that light will perhaps remain a mystery for ever.

Homer has, for twenty centuries, been held the prince of poets. Such perfection in an author who flourished when arts were far short of maturity, is truly wonderful. The nations engaged in the Trojan war are described by him as in a progress from the shepherd state to that of agriculture. Frequent mention is made in the Iliad of the most en inent men being shepherds. Andromache, in particular, mentions seven of her brethren who were slain by Achilles as they tended their father's flocks and herds. In that state, garments of woollen cloth were used; but the skins of beasts, the original clothing, were still worn as an upper garment: every chief in the Iliad appears in that dress. Such indeed was the simplicity of this early period, that a black ewe was promised by each chief to the man who would undertake to be a spy. In times of such simplicity, literature could not be far advanced; and it is a great doubt, whether there was at that time a single poem of the epic kind for Homer to imitate or improve upon.

[To be continued.]

DISEASE AND DEATH.

AS DEATH is from no other source than from sin, and sin is all that which is contrary to divine order, it is from this ground that evil closes the smallest and altogether Invisible vessels [of the human body] of which the next greater vessels, which are also invisible, are composed; for the smallest and altogether invisible vessels are continued to man's interiors; hence comes the first and inmost obstruction, and hence the first and inmost vitiation in the blood; this vitiation, when it increases, causes disease, and at length death. But if man had lived the life of good, in this case his interiors would be open to Heaven, and through Heaven to the Lord; thus also the smallest and invisible vascula [the delineaments of the first stamina] would be open also, and hence man would be without disease, and would only decrease to ultimate old age, until he became altogether an infant, but a wise infant; and when in such case the body could no longer minister to its internal man, or spirit, he would pass, without disease, out of his terrestrial body, into a body such as the angels have, thus out of the world immediately into Heaven. A. C. 5726.

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Nursed by affection's fostering care,
As Dian chaste, as Hebe fair,

The pride of every grove,

Was Anna, when, with raptured tongue,
To her fond ear, young Henry sung

The tender notes of love.

But soon, alas! the reign of bliss was o'er,
And Henry's madrigals were heard no more:

For near to Anna dwelt a maid
Who, late, of fickle fortune's aid,

Had gained an ampler share;

Possessing too, each subtle art

By which a warm and fluttering heart
Coquettes are wont t' insnare.

Her golden charms he views with dazzled eyes,
And to the bait, from love and Anna, flies.

With sensibility endued,

Of tenderest nerve, a shock so rude

In vain she strove to bear;

The rose soon left her grief-worn cheek,
And all her words and actions speak

The language of despair.

At length, one morn, to Hudson's banks she hied,

Of life quite sick, and plunged beneath the tide.

A youth, unseen, was angling near,
Who saw the maiden disappear,

And eager sprang to save;

With whelming death he bravely fought,
And soon, by active ardor, caught

The victim from the wave.

Returning life at length her senses woke,

And thus, with panting breath, she wildly spoke:

"Ah, cruel! thus a hapless wretch, From peace, officiously, to fetch

Back to a world of woes!

Ah! why me from my wishes tear,
And why not let me drown my care,
Entranced in long repose!

Oh give me Henry back with Henry's love,
Or leave me to the fate I fain would prove!"

The startled youth conviction stung;
Long in his ears the accents rung,

And struck him mute with awe;
Whilst to pale Anna's wondering eyes
Confusion's guilty blushes rise-

'Twas Henry's self she saw!

Now gushing tears his bosom's feelings tell,
And lowly at her feet he sighing fell.

"Oh, injured maid! with pity see
A contrite spirit's pangs in me,

A face with shame o'ercast! Say, can a life of watchful care, Of tenderest love and virtue rare, Atone for errors past?

Wealth, and the world's gay trappings I resign,
And constancy shall now be ever mine.”

Forgiveness beam'd in Anna's eye,
And straight, affliction's heartfelt sigh
Became the sigh of joy;

Soon Hymen's shrine its rites bestowed,
Since which a constant stream has flowed,
Of bliss that cannot cloy.

No cares or jealousies their peace molest,
But, by" each other's blessing, they are blest."

FOR THE HALCYON LUMINARY.

RELIGION.

Written by a Lady, in a lingering sickness.

Come, blest Religion! heavenly fair,
With patience meek, and mild;
Oh come, and shield me from Despair,
Whose ghastly looks, and snaky hair,
Fill me with terrors wild.

He tells me health has from me fled,
That pain I still shall know;

That sickness pale my couch has spread,
And bids me lengthened days to dread,
As only lengthened wo.

"O turn thee, weary pilgrim sad,"
The soothing maid replied;

"Flee back, Despair, whose purpose bad,
To mock poor wretches, still is glad,
And turn their steps aside.

Thy sorrows on thy Maker cast,
And kiss his chastening rod;
Reflect, how quickly time is past,
That all shall work for good at last,

To those who love their God."

New-York, Feb. 14, 1812.

M. A. W.

FREE MASONRY.

Hail, glorious art! to mortals given
To teach the certain road to heaven,
And strew the path with sweets;
'Tis this which lifts our fallen race,
And gives to man an angel's place,
If he the offer meets.

'Tis this ennobles human kind,

'Tis architecture in the mind,

And prompts the generous heart,

To square each thought, each word and act,
All conscious errors to retract,

And take a brother's part.

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To tread the path the sages trod,
Through nature look to nature's God,
And own his power divine;
Contemplate all his works on high,
The burning sun and spangled sky,
And trace the grand design.

That fills immensity of space
With beings fitted to the place,
And sphere in which they move;
Form'd man, the great connecting link
Of distant worlds, with powers to think,
To enjoy, adore, and love.

To joy for what the good possess,
On want and virtue in distress
Pure charity bestow;

To turn affliction's sighs to songs,
Protect the fair, revenge their wrongs,
And sooth the bed of wo.

To form a true fraternal band
Taught to converse and understand,
By mystic symbols given;
To enjoy what God and nature give,
To teach mankind the art to live,
And render earth like heaven.

"But alas! what is taste? A disease of the mind, Though seductive, infirm-and though prais'd, undefin'd; 'Tis a whim-a mere shadow-a changeling-a gleamStill it mocks what we would, like the bliss of a dream."

And the unfortunate man is viewed

Through the dim shade his fate casts o'er him:
A shade that spreads its evening darkness o'er
His brighest virtues, while it shows his foibles
Crowding and obvious as the midnight stars,
Which in the sunshine of prosperity
Never had been descried.

CAMOENS.

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