they might amuse themselves till his return." Accordingly they regain their liberty. The General, after giving Spy charge to attend carefully to their motions, leaves them under his guard, and pofts for the borough: Jenny, however, foon afterwards difcovering this fentry upon the watch behind a mulberry tree, begs Narciffa to retire to her favourite bower, and leave her to try to undermine the fidelity of their guardian, and procure the keys: accordingly, in an interview with him, the convinces him of the abfurdity of his flaying behind, when all the gar deners and every body were gone down to drink, huzza, and break windows in defence of liberty and property; and, for a kind fmile, he furrenders up the keys, and haftes away to the joys of the electi. Young Byron (who refufed the preffing folicitations of his friends to ftand for the borough) having difcovered the old general upon the march, arrives now upon the wings of love, to catch the golden opportunity; and notwithstanding the memento of " Men Traps and Spring Guns fet in thefe Grounds DAY and NIGHT," fcales the park pales in fearch of his beloved Narciffa: Jenny at the fame time goes out at the back gate in purfuit of him, here the first act closes. The fecond act difcovers Byron in an attitude of furprize, gazing on Narciffa afleep in an umbrageous arbour; after finging his contending paffions on the occafion, he recollected, that he can obey the dictates of honour as well as love, and accordingly takes a card from his pocket, thanking the infpired author of the Seafons for his kind affistance, and writes the following lines, which he lays on her lap: 46 -Sleep on, my fair, Yet unbeheld, fave by the facred eye Of faithful love :-I go to guard thy haunt, To keep from thy recefs each vagrant foot, And each licentious eye.” His tranfport having now difturbed her, he retires behind a tree; the difcovering the paper, comes forward, and expreffes the utmoft furprize, 'till the recognizes her Byron's hand; when the laments his fight, in an air, the latter part of which Byron approaching fills up with-I never will fly-Their mutual transports are aimolt in mediately broken in upon by Jenny, who comes in fearch of her milires; and now informs them, that her father, with Sir Harry Muff, as the fuppofes, are at the back gate, and will be in upon them in a moment;-to avoid which fatal difcovery, the recommends them to run into the temple, where fhe'll bolt them fafe in, till they are paffed by. The General now enters with Sir Harry Muff, heartily chagrined at the event of the election; his intended fon-in-law being kicked out, and young Byron returned by the fuffrages of the people, though totally without his knowledge. Sir Harry's petit-maitre's infenfibility on the occafion ftill increases the old foldier's choler; however, the unfortunate candidate confenting to lodge a petition againft the return, brings him a little about; when the General tells him he does not doubt but he fhall find fome under-hand dealings at the bottom; begs of him, therefore, to retire to the tem ple with him, for he's much fatigued, and he'll let him into his plan for the conduct of the matter. Finding the doors made faft, and hearing a buzz within fide, he imagines fome thieves have concealed themselves therein, and therefore calls for the gardeners (who are returned from the election) to break them open; which being complied with, Byron is difcovered, and foon after Jenny. Struck with amazement, the General orders Jenny immediately about her bufinefs, for this fuppofed intrigue, when Byron finding it can no longer be concealed, produces Narciffa as a testimony of their innocence. The old warrior, now enraged almoft to madness, orders the gardeners to feize upon him, and drag him to the canal; but they fing a trio in favour of their young member, who is the pride of the whole country, and throwing down their tools, quit their prefent fervice, rather than enforce the unjuft commands of their master. He now calls for Spy to fetch his horse piftols; but he enters drunk, calling 44 Byron for ever!" laughs at them both, and goes out reeling. The old man's only appeal now is to Sir Harry, to win his daughter and wear her,-telling him to put Byron to death, if he refufes to furrender. Sir Harry, therefore, though he acknowledges he has no butchering ideas about him, draws his couteau, and commands him to give up his title; but Byron, prefenting a piftol, his delicate anta on forinks back.-The General now afks him if he's afraid of the smell of powder; to which he answers,-"He's only afraid of difconcerting the ladies; and, beside, he's not upon a footing with the affaffin." Byron tells him, he fall he be under no apprehenfions on his account, Byron informs him, he need not put himself to that inconvenience, when he obferves one in him, who would lay down his life in defence of his daughter's virtue, and his honour.—The old General, charmed with his courage and conduct, bids him relieve his prifoners from the temple upon their patrole, till he paffes fentence; accordingly, on their arrival, he fays he feels a firange alteration of his nature upon the occafion, thinks he cannot fhew a heartier defire of reconciliation with Sir Walter, than by rewarding his fon of merit, with his only daughter and 50,000l. Accordingly he joins their hands, and wifhes neither he nor they may live to repent it: adding, -"he is now fully convinced, that the tender affections were never implanted in the human breaft, to be called forth or fuppreffed by the caprice of an unfeeling parent." A Vaudeville immediately fucceeds, which concludes the Opera. Mr. Welton spoke a humorous Epilogue, written by the author of the piece, accompanied by a large dog named Dragon, which had a very good effect; but as it was poor Dragon's first time of appearing upon the stage, he like all young performers of true feeling, feemed a good deal frightened at the tremendous appearance of the audience: but having conquered his fears, and recovered himfelf a little, he performed his part very chaftely, and to the entire fatisfaction of all present. The author of this little entertainment has not only fully anfwered the end he propofed, of introducing a deferving young compofer, whofe name it seems is Carter, to the public, but has given an agreeable specimen of his dramatic talents by a pleasant After-piece. The Fable indeed is too light and trivial to endure the feverity of a critical analyfis; but it is, at leaft, fufficiently important to ferve as a vehicle for the mufic; and the cataftrophe has peculiar vivacity and theatrical fpirit. Mr. Carter more than I SIR, Send you three inimitable effays, which I brought with me from Corke, under the fignature of Agricola. They were written by Henry Sheares, Efq; banker of faid city; who with feveral other gentlemen, frequently amuse that town by their productions in the Hibernian Chronicle, printed by Mr. Flyn, whofe paper was in fuch demand when they appeared, that I could not get one to purchase, but procured those inclosed from a subscriber. As I know they must be a valuable addition to your entertaining magazine, I fend them for your next publication, and am your conftant reader Y. Z. Effex-freet, Feb. 25, 1775. ESSAY I. TO impeach the goodness of Providence, or cenfure its distributions, is a crime which none will be found to vindi-. cate, and but few expreffly to commit. Yet in this, as in many other instances, we deceive ourselves. The little pride, and peevish unthankfulness of man fleal infenfibly into the intercourfe of every hour. Under the harmless appearance of cafual narrative and colloquial freedom, we admit fentiments pregnant with real malignity. Familiarity impofes on our attention, and impiety lofes its horrors in the smoothness of ordinary conversation. Too frequent are the occafions on which we are apt to flide into this criminal incaution, but on none fo remarkably as when the weather is the topick. This, as being of general concern to every inhabitant of the earth, is feized on as a common property to fupply the fterility of invention, and, in a climate like ours, of which the ruling characters are gloom and moisture, affords a never-failing fund of mutual complaint. The man of pleafure complains if his fchemes of gaiety do not meet with a correfponding fky; the man of business, if his appointments are prevented; and the man of no bufinefs, if he feels a head-ach or the spleen. The elements, from being the daily minifters to our wants, come at last to be confidered as our flaves, and the froft and fnow, the winds and rain, are execrated in their turns, if they clath with any of our narrow purposes, or petulant caprices. Nay often, under the difguife of obfer vation on fimple facts, we are fecretly giving vent to a fullness of repining, and indulging the ebullitions of discontent. In the changes of the atmosphere none feem fo immediately interested as the farmer; none fo frequently complain, and none are supposed to be fo well intitled to do fo. Yet furely, the conftant obferver and object of benefaction, fhould not be the first to murmur at the benefactor. In cities, we are surrounded with the works of art, our intercourse is with men, and the bounties of Providence are difpenfed to us at fecond hand. But the farmer is placed in the open theatre of Nature, and holds his intercourfe directly with the fkies. He may be faid, like our first parent, to hold converfe with his Maker face to face. The magnificent and lovely fcene is hourly varying under his eye, and while he witneffes to the wonders of his Creator's power, he is tasting the fweets of his benignity. The genial breath of fpring, and ripening heats of fummer, fhould foften his heart to joy, and diftend it with affection; the profufion of the autumn fhould melt him into gratitude, and there is in the winter a⚫ grandeur that should intimidate complaint. I yefterday walked into my fields, and faw the finest corn in the country laid low by the rains in the morning. A fudden impulfe of frowardness arofe, which my heart inftantly condemned, and reflection ` as quickly fubdued. I have loft, faid I, in part, one object of my care. But what remains? Everv thing. Health, competence, domeftic comfort, and inward peace. Is it for me then to scan his great designs, of which, beings, to whom I am as the worm at my foot, would hardly dare to hazard a conjecture? Shall I, who have fo often felt his foftering breeze, prefume to murmur, when he thunders in the ftorm, and rides upon the wings of the wind? Shall I, whofe fields are nourished by his kindly rains, and gentle dews, complain, when he thinks fit to condense the clouds, and float the earth with waters? Not a blaft can blow, nor a drop can fall, that is not prompted by his goodness as well as commiffioned by his power, and pointed by his wifdom. To me the creature of his breath, they are therefore facred. With fubject refignation, with chearful acquiefcence, I bow myself to his will, and for what he gives, and for what he takes away, blessed, thrice bless No man is more an enthufiaft in farm-ed be his name! ing than myfelf; none more laborious in his attention, or fanguine in his hopes. POETRY. AGRICOLA. (To be continued.) The Defcent of Anthemöe. By the Rev. And when stars no longer burn, Mr. Ball. Time, to thee they all return! While thou op'ft thofe awful writs, IME! what wonder haft thou And befide thee terror fits, wrought! Far above our skill or thought, Led by thee, yon bridegroom fun When this world of wonder fades, And when glory, gloom invades, When yon fun withdraws his light, When fweet Phoebe leaves the night, And behind thee ftares a vast Shrink'st thou not to read what hour While thro' all thy wondrous ways For For her fleep, the woodbine bow'rs, Thus for her reception fair And proud vice to ftrike with awe, Down to earth chafie beauty came, If 'tis true what legends fay -Joys like thefe, if found below Thus, to fecond heav'n's defign So in Sidon's blissful land Rapture crouded all the flrand, To behold the galley move, At whofe helm fat holy love. Next to him in grace excell'd Young Adonis, who upheld That rich canopy whofe fhade Veil'd from eyes a newborn maid. Underneath he oft would look, Left the rude air might have fhook Dewy hairs, or azure veft, Or difmantled beauty's breaft. Dawn'd with luftre new the morn, Triton wreath'd their joyful horn, Nereid with the calm advance, Ev'n old Ocean join'd the dance; Gales infpir'd with transport new Thro' th' exulting ftreamers blew; Billows wild their rage forbore, When Idalia mov'd to fhore. Prologue to the New Tragedy of Braganza. Spoken by Mr. Palmer. Hither they come; again they breathe ly mein ! they live[ceive. And Virtue's meed thro' every age reHither the Murd'rer comes, with ghaft[o'er the icene. And the fiend, Confcience, hunts him None are exempted--all muit re-appearAnd even Kings attend for judgment here; Here find the day when they their pow'r abuse, Is a fcene furnish'd to the Tragic Mufe. Such is her art, weaken'd, perhaps, at length, [trength. And, while fhe aims at beauty, loling Oh! when, refuming all her native rage, Shall her true energy alarm the Stage? This night a Bard-(our hopes may rife too high, [to try) 'Tis your's to judge-'tis your's the cause This night a Bard-as yet unknown to fame, [nuine flame Once more, we hope, will rouze the geHis, no French Play-tame, polifh'd,dull by rule! warm from Vigorous he comes—and A nation struggling with tyrannic might; A tablature of Honour, Guilt and Woe. If on his canvass Nature's colours fhine, You'll praise the hand that trac'd the just defign. Epilogue. Spoken by Mrs. Yates. Is it do finels to demand a tear? it permitted, in this age fevere, Is it allow'd, in fuch cenforious days, Prefume to dictate-and aspire to warm? And the chief Statefwoman of all the Sex Grows nervous, if a fop or pimple vex. Injurious flanders!-In Louifa's air Behold th' exemplar of a perfect Fair ! Juft, tho' afpiring; merciful, tho' brave; Sincere, tho' politic; and tho' fond, no flave; In danger calm, and fmiling in fuccefs, But as fecuring ampler means to blefs. Nor think, as Zeuxis, for a faultlefs piece, [Nymphs of Greece. Cull'd various charms from various Our Bard has center'd, in one beauteous whole, [foul: The rays that gleam thro'many a separate On Britain's and lerne's thores he faw The models of the fair he dar'd to draw; True Virtue in thefe ifles has fix'd her throne, And many a bright Louisa is our own. Epilogue to the New Comedy of the Choleric Man, written by Mr. Garrick, and. Spoken by Mrs. Abington, S I'm an artist, can my skill do better A Than paint your pictures: for I'm much your debtor : I'll draw the outlines, finifh at my leisure; A group like you wou'd be a charming treasure! Here is my pencil,here my fketching book, Where for this work 1 memorandums took ; I will in full three quarters, and profile, Take your fweet faces, nay your thoughts I'll fteal; From my good friends above, their wives and doxies, [boxes: Down to Madame, and Monfieur, in the Now for it, firs! I beg from top to bottom You'll keep your features fix'd till I have got 'em. First for fine gentlemen my fancy firetch[ketches: es They'll be more like, the flighter are the Such unembodied form inventon racks, Pale cheeks, dead eyes, thin bodies, and long backs: [wax. |
