The first book was intended to open with the appearance of Brutus at the ftraits of Calpe, in fight of the Pillars of Hercules, (the ne plus ultra.) He was to have been introduced debating in council with his captains, whether it was advifeable to launch into the great ocean, on an enterprife bold and hazardous as that of the great Columbus.

One reafon, among others, affigned by Brutus, for attempting the great ocean in fearch of a new country, was, that he entertained no profpect of introducing pure manners in any part of the then known world; but that he might do it among a people uncorrupt in their manners, worthy to be made happy; and wanting only arts and laws to that purpose.

A debate enfues. Pifander, an old Trojan, is rather for fettling in Betica, a rich country, near the ftraits, within the Mediterranean, of whofe wealth they had heard great fame at Carthage. Brutus apprehends that the foftness of the climate, and the gold found there, would corrupt their manners; befides, that the Tyrians, who had eftablished great commerce there, had introduced their fuperftitions among the natives, and made them unapt to receive the instructions he was defirous to give.

Cloanthes, one of his captains, out of avarice and effeminacy, nevertheless defires to settle in a rich and fertile country, rather than to tempt the dangers of the ocean, out of a romantic notion of heroifm,

This has fuch an effect, that the whole council being difmayed, are unwilling to pass the ftraits, and venture into the great ocean; pleading the example of Hercules for not advancing farther, and urging the prefumption of going beyond a god. To which Brutus, rifing with emotion, answers, that Hercules was but a mortal like them; and that if their virtue was fuperior to his, they would have the fame claim to divinity: for that the path of virtue, was the only way which lay open to heaven.

At length he refolves to go in a single ship, and to reject all fuch daftards, as dared not accompany him,

Upon this, Orontes takes fire, declares he will attend him through any dangers; that he wants no oracle, but his own courage, and the love of glory. That it was for merchants like the Tyrians, not for heroes like them, to make trading fettlements in a country, for the fake of its wealth.

All the younger part of the council agree to the fentiments of Orontes; and,from the love they bear to Brutus, determine to be the companions of his enterprize, and it is refolved to fet fail the next day. That night Hercules appears to him in a vision, applauding and confirming the fentiments he had that day delivered in council, and encouraging him to persevere in the pursuit of the intended enterprize.

The

The fecond book opens with a picture of the fupreme God in all his majesty, fitting on his throne in the highest heaven. The superintending angel of the Trojans empire (the Regnum Priami vetus) falls down before the throne, and con

ees his juftice in having overturned that king

dom, for the fins of the princes, and of the people themselves. But adds, that after having chaftifed and humbled them, it would now be agreeable to his mercy and goodness, to raise up a new state from their ruins, and form a people who might ferve him better. That, in Brutus, his Providence had a fit inftrument for fuch a gracious defign.

This proftrate angel is raised by the Almighty, and permitted to attend upon Brutus in his voyage to Britain, in order to affift him in the reduction of that ifland.

The guardian angel, in pursuance of this commiffion, flies from heaven to the high mountain of Calpe; and from thence caufes an eaft wind to blow, which carries the fleet out of the ftreights weftward to the Canary islands, where he lands.

Here was to have been a description of Teneriff, and of the volcanoes, as likewife of a moft delicious ifland, which is defcribed to be without inhabitants. A great part of his followers are disposed to fettle here. What more, say they, can we wish for ourselves, than fuch a pleasing end of all our labours? In an inhabited country we must, perhaps, be forced to fight, and de

stroy

ftroy the natives; here, without encroaching upon others, without the guilt of a conqueft, we may have a land that will fùpply us with all the neceffaries of life. Why then fhould we go farther? Let us thank the gods, and rest here in peace. This affords room for a beautiful defcription of the land of lazinefs.

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Brutus, however, rejects this narrow and felfish propofition, as incompatible with his rous plan of extending benevolence, by inftructing and polishing uncultivated minds. He defpifes the mean thought of providing for the happiness of themselves alone, and fets the promises of heaven before them.

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His perfuafions, being feconded by good omens, prevail; nevertheless they leave behind them the old men and the women, together with fuch as are timid and unfit for fervice, to enjoy their ease there, and erect a city. Over this colony, confifting however of about three thousand perfons, he proposes to make Pisander king, under fuch limitations as appear to him wifeft and best.

To this propofal they all affent with great fatisfaction; only Pifander abfolutely refuses to be King, and begs, notwithstanding his age, that he may attend Brutus in his enterprise. He urges that his experience and councils may be of use, though his ftrength is gone; and that he fhall die unhappy, if he does not die in the arms of his friend.

Brutus

Brutus accepts his company, with great expreffions of gratitude; and having left his colony a form of pure worship, and a short and fimple body of laws, orders them to chufe a government for themselves, and then fets fail with none but refolute and noble affociates.

Here the poet, by way of epifode, meant to have introduced the paffion of fome friend, or the fondness of fome female, who refufed to ftay behind, and determined to brave all hardships and perils, rather than quit the object of their affections.

Providence is now fuppofed to fend his fpirit to raise the wind, and direct it to the northward. The vessel at length touches at Lifbon, or Ulyffipont, where he meets with the fon of a Trojan, captive of Ulyffes. This gives occafion for an epifode; and, among other things, furnishes an account of Ulyffes fettling there, and building of Lifbon; with a detail of the wicked principles of policy and fuperftition he had established, and of his being at length driven away by the difcontented people he had enflaved.

Brutus is afterwards driven by a storm, raised by an evil spirit, as far as Norway. He prays to the Supreme God. His guardian angel calms the feas, and conducts the fleet fafe into a port; but the evil spirit excites the barbarian people, to attack them at their landing.

Brutus