and Sophia. The day was fpent in plea- But pleasure, unmixt pleafure, was foon Sir Thomas Goodville invited all the neighbouring gentry to a ball, on account of his fon's return from the univerfity. Sophia was Modeftus's partner. Now more charming than ever, the engroffed his whole foul. He heard not the mufic The minded not the dance. But women, however fenfibly affected, have generally more recollection on fuch occafions. By the affittance of Sophia he escaped cenfure. It is pleafing to overcome difficulties. No fooner was Modeftus at the foot of the dance, than his heart fwelled with confcious pride, while his eyes seemed to demand from Sophia a fmile of approbation. Sophia fmiled, and accompanied it with a look of ineffable tenderness, How tranfporting the leatt gleam of hope to the lovefick heart! Not fight to the blind, not the first ray that vifits the wretch in the dungeon, will stand the comparison. Modeftus had now the boldness to feize her hand; and though the foft infection thrilled through every nerve, while the dew diftilled from his forehead, he felt a confolation in holding it-and would have held it till now, had not the amiable girl withdrawn it. This however the did in fo gentle a manner, as to make the lofing only lefs agreeable than the holding: her inclination feemed to be at ttrife with her fenfe of decorum. The joys of lovers are generally fhortlived. Thofe of Modellus were foon changed for a more painful emotion than his heart had yet felt, and perhaps the moft diftracting of any to which human nature is fubject. A wealthy young fquire in the neigh bourhood, who had long entertained an affection for Sophia, and to whom he appeared altogether charming at the ball, came foon after and paid his addreffes in form. "And why not to you:" "We are not always able, Madam, to account for our averfion.." "Averfion!" cried Mrs. Lovebond, affuming the file of exhortation, “be not foolish, Sophia; the fquire has every qualification neceffary to render a prudent woman happy he is young, wealthy, and fond, what could you wish more:' "A man whom I could love." "Love! why can't you love him?" "Is affection to be forced?" "No; but it should be led; a girl of your age fhould be directed by her mother." "In all but this I will, Madam." "And why not in this?" "Because the happiness of life depends upon it." my future "For that very reafon you should: and it is your ignorance of the world and your own intereft that makes you think otherwife. You muft banith these childifh notions. How can it be poffible for a perfon at your time of age to judge fo properly, what will render the married ftate happy, as one who has had the benefit of experience?" "I ought not then to marry; for no other perfon can judge what will make me happy." Strange creature!-but I fee the caufe: you are in love with Modeltus." "What foundation, dear Madam, did I ever give for fuch a fufpicion?" The strongest: do you think I did not obferve your conscious blufhes, your downcaft eyes, and ftolen glances? Be ashamed, Sophia, to fall in love with a boy! who will never regard you, or forget you before he has croffed the channel: you know he goes abroad." Sophia, unable to answer, burst into a flo a flood of tears. Her mother, who tenderly loved her, was now forry for what fhe had faid, begged her to be comforted, and promifed never to put any conftraint on her affection; but defired her, at the fame time, to think of her advice. Country courtships are foon known, and gather ftrength from every recital. Returned from a tour of visits, in which it was refolved that he fhould fpend the hunting feafon in the country, the first news that faluted the ear of Modeftus, was the intended marriage of Sophia. Inquiry only confirmed his fears. The youth, the fortune of the fquire, his known affection, were ftrong arguments; and then his vifit was indifputable-nay, he avowed its purpose, he proclaimed his reception, and boasted of a thousand civilities that never were fhewn. What daggers to the heart of Modeftus!-He fed from company, but found not in folitude the wifhed relief. Nature to him was one difcoloured profpect. He was first fullen, then wild, muttered to himfelf, walked diffractedly-and, at last, feemed to find fome confolation in venting his grief. Shall that fweet bud of hope be blafted ere fully blown-fhall the rofe of love, that should have perfumed my bofom with eternal odours, be plucked by a rude hand, that knows not its value? -Adorable Sophia! fhall thy feeling heart, and unviolated charms be configned to the arms of one who is a stranger to delicacy? To all that play of affection, those tender affiduities, elegant pleafures and fine referves, that fill up the intervals of paffion, and keep love in everlafting fpring?-Shall that foul of fentiment be devoted to a man whofe defires are grofs as the beast that roves the foreft:" How ftudious is the heart to conceal its felfish motives!-Modeftus, thought he grieved only for Sophia. What a caution to mankind, in their intercourfe with fociety, to throw a veil over the weakneffes of human nature! which, however we may be induced by vanity or friendhip to think otherwife, as often as we difcover, infallibly leffen us in the esteem of every fenfible mind. Modeftus, after a paufe, proceeded thus: "But will Sophia fubmit?-Will that lovely angel, to whom my foul exhaled in fighs, who fmiled with fo much tendernefs will that miracle of beauty and good nefs-will Sophia beftow thofe fmiles upon another But, I dream-Sophia knows not my affection; 1 have fondly deceived myself. Though her bofom fhould burn with a paffion for me, the cannot reveal it-the laws of cuftom are inviolable. Let me find the lovely maid, let me throw myfelf at her feet, and pour out the emotions of my heart before her. All perhaps is not lost." Such were the ravings of Modeftus, and not much calmer were those of Sophia. Though Mrs. Lovebond had relented the night before, no fooner did the perceive the morning light than the called for Sophia, and began her lectures anew. Sophia reminded her of her promise, but in vain. A flood of tears came again to her relief; which trickling, like liquid pearls, down her lovely cheeks, added fresh lustre to her beauty She left the room in a transport of grief and rage, accufing her mother of the most unfeeling barbarity, and vowing, she would rather fubmit to death itself than marry the man fhe did not love. Unaccountable propenfity in human nature! that leads parents of all ranks to thwart the inclinations of their children, unless they fall in with their own fordid views-to place an imaginary good in oppofition to real felicity-to prefer the bags of ore, or the trappings of fhew, to the home-felt fatisfaction of the heart! to the raptures of mutual love!-What dæmon could devife fo infernal a scheme? -To form an alliance between love and avarice?-between the most generous and the most selfish paffion of the heart!-between that, whofe aim is the welfare of its object, and that which is folicitous only of its own! Though this principle operated on the heart of Mrs. Lovebond, as strongly as on moft pioufly affectionate mothers (for, by a firange kind of fatality, it is obferved to increase in proportion to the love for the child) the distracted manner in which Sophia went out fo alarmed her, that the refolved to lay afide all thoughts of constraint for the future But fuch refolutions, like fick-bed reformations, generally die with the caufe that gave them birth. Memoirs of her Grace the Duchefs of Argyle. THE HE hiftory of this lady is as fingular as her merit. From a private rank fhe became the first duchess in Scotland; and is at this time the mother of the firft duke in Scotland, and the wife of a duke. When this lady and her fifter, who died fome years fince, firft appeared in England, they attracted univerfal attention. Every place of public entertainment was thronged when their prefence was expected; the men of fashion fought every opportunity of filling up their train, and the women of fashion of courfe took every method which spleen and envy could fuggeft to traduce thefe formidable rivals. These fifters were natives of Ireland, a circumftance ftill more mortifying to the English beauties in general. Their mother was the daughter of Lord Mayo of the kingdom of Ireland, and their father was a harrifter, and practised in Dublin. Their perfons were uncommonly fine, infomuch, that the late Lord Chesterfield, when Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1745, was fo much struck with the then opening beauties of thefe fair Hibernians, that he enquired very circumftantially into the fituation of their family, and finding that their fortunes were very fmall, and their expectances inconfiderable, by his interest he procured a penfion of 300l. a year for Mr. Gunning's three daughters, in order to finish their education, and give that embellishment to their mind which fuch delicate forms deferved, and likewife feemed to indicate a natural aptitude to acquire. This nobleman was fucceeded in the viceroyalty of Ireland by Lord Harrington, the father of the prefent Earl, who took particular notice of the two elder fifters, and introduced them into the fashionable companies of that capital, and when he returned to England, the Gunning family came over with him. They were no fooner feen here than admired, and lavish encomiums were paffed upon them; but what is rather fingular, the very method that was taken to ruin them in the estimation of people of rank and confequence, ferved molt effectually to advance them, and probably laid the first foundation of their exaltation. A card was conveyed to the two Mifs Gunning's, as from the then Countess of Northumberland, but now the Duchefs, inviting them to a rout that evening at Northumberland house. As they had not the honour of an acquaintance with that lady, their mother very April, 1775. wifely fufpected the reality of the invitation; but to afcertain that point the fat down and wrote the Countefs a letter, fignifying the high honour the feemed to have done her daughters, but begged to know if the invitation really came from her ladyfhip. The Countefs immediately faw through the trick that was intended to have been played on the young ladies, and applauding the circumfpection of the mother, determined to counteract the defign, by fending them an invitation in form; and throughout the evening took every opportunity of paying them attentions and civilities. Thus countenanced by a lady who gave the ton, they became fashionable. The eldeft lady had a fuitor whose name was M-1, a private gentleman of an easy fortune, who lived at C-n in Surry; but the flattering attentions paid to her by the E. of Coventry, induced her to keep her commoner at bay: His lordship's aim however, was to obtain a furrender of her perfon without a matrimonial capitulation, to bring about which he artfully introduced them into a circle of company and pleafures, which required a very confiderable expence in drefs and ornaments to appear with propriety. The father, whilft he wifhed his daughters to make their fortunes by an advantageous match, was not inclined to ruin himself for fuch an expectancy, he therefore took an opportunity to affure his lordship of the juft fenfe he entertained of his civilities to his daughters, but at the fame time, told him, that as his fortune was narrow, the confequent expences of fuch a mode of life, were much beyond his income, and he must be obliged to reduce his plan of life to a narrower fcale. His lordship with the most apparent liberality told him to make himself quite eafy on that head, for that he would discharge all the bills incurred on that score. A masquerade happened foon after, to which the young ladies were invited, the eldest by Lord Coventry, the other by the Duke of Hamilton. This evening was chofen for executing the plot which had been concerted. Mr. Gunning was arrested at the fuit of a mercer for a confiderable fum, and conveyed to a fpunging-houfe. In this perplexity, not fufpecting the plot which was laid for him, or its projector, he wrote a note to Lord Coventry, to acquaint him with his fituation, and directed the meilenger who was charged with it, in cafe Lord Coventry could not be found, to give it to the Duke of Hamilton. So inconfiderable a circumstance as the delivery of this letter, perhaps contributed C c very very materially to determine the fortunes of thefe ladies. Lord Coventry could not be found, and the letter was delivered to the Duke of Hamilton. His Grace immediately faw through the whole defign, and having procured a friend to efcort the lady, begged to leave her for a fhort time, on business of the utmost confequence. He immediately fettled Mr. Gunning's debt, and then went in fearch of Lord Coventry, whom he informed of what had happened, and at the same time cenfured him for the scheme he had laid to ruin the young lady's honour, and con- accordingly. The Duke of Hamilton was a man extremely addicted to pleafures; in the pursuit of which he had impaired his ef tate, and almoft ruined his confitution; but he was a man poffeffed of a very nice fenfe of honour, as well as a thousand good qualities which take their rife in the heart. His marriage with this very deferving lady, gave a very different turn to his plan of life. He became domefti cated, and uxorious, and was fo thoToughly convinced of the fervices which The had rendered him by breaking off his deftructive attachments by the force of gentle and perfuafive manners, that he ufed to fay, the had faved his foul, his body, and his eftate. His Grace died fix or feven years after his marriage; by him fhe had three children. Her eldelt fon is now Duke of Hamilton. She continued a widow for fome time, and in 1759, married Col. Campbell, whom the preferred to the duke of Buccleugh, who made her an offer of marriage. The Col. was however at that time heir to the Duke of Argyle, and has fince by the death of that Peer come into poffeffion of the title and estate. The uncommon merit of this lady is univerfally acknowledged, very few poffefs an equal fhare of merit with her, few have had fuch diftinguished opportunities of difplaying it, and none ever appeared in fo confpicuous a ftation with greater dignity and honour. Mr. Hoole, who with fuch abundant Re- Teramenes, Mrs. Hartley. Mifs Dayes. Guards, attendants. &c. Scene, a city of Bithynia, and the country adjacent. THE FABLE. notwithstanding his only fon has YCOMEDES, king of Bithynia, fallen in an engagement between him and the king of Pontus, is compelled, to use the poet's words, by the times neceffity to accede to a truce.-His foul is nevertheless fo ftrongly bent on revenge, that we find him on the frontiers of his dominions ready to avail himself of the firft honourable opportunity of attacking 'Artabafus. His queen having died with grief for the lofs of her fon, he is accompanied in this his martial fituation by his last remaining child the princess Cleonice. Arfinoe, daughter of Teramenes, is her friend and attendant; and it is a fettled point, that fo foon as Polemon's manes are appeased, Orontes, a prince of the Bithynian blood, and an officer of eminence in the army of Lycomedes, fhall receive the princefs's hand. During this period of the truce, Pharnaces, fon of Artabafus, in his return from Rome, where he has spent fome time in warlike ftudies, under the feigned name of Arfetes vifits Bithynia. Teramenes conceives a fingular friendship for the youth unknown, and by acts of prowefs against the enemies of Lyconiedes, he foon grows into high effeem with that monarch likewife; nay, Cleo 1 nice herself has favoured him with fo large a fhare of her approbation, that it is pretty plain, on the opening of the piece, though bound by all the ties of honour to Orontes, her affections are devoted to Arfetes. Orontes, however, fearless of a rival in his love, beholds the martial exploits of this ftranger with a jealous eye; and, though obliged to preferve the appearance of amity towards him in public, privately hates him for his virtues. Arfetes has long acknowledged to Agenor, the companion of his travels, how neceffary it is he thould leave Bithynia, and return to his father; but as lovers refolves are ever weak and wavering, from being paffionately attached to the princefs he still finds excuses for his stay; until only one poor day is unexpired of the ceffation of hoftilities between the kings, when roused by the arguments, the exhortations of Agenor, he not only acquaints Teramenes with his intended departure, but actually prepares to bid Cleonice adieu. Lycomedes, Teramenes, in a word the whole army, except Orontes, are fo defirous of his continuance amongst them, that the general conceiving, from fome observations he has made, it would be highly agreeable to him, offers him his daughter Arfinoe in marriage. Arfinoe, as well as her royal mistress, is in love with Arfetes, but having difcovered the princefs's inclination, fo prudently conceals her own, that a father's difcerning fondnefs could alone have traced them out. Lycomedes informs the princess of the expedient they have hit upon for retaining Arfetes, and concluding he has approved it, the refufes to hear him fpeak at their next interview, whereupon, though to fatisfy his friend, his fignet is difpatched, with affurances to his father of his return early enough to attend him to the field; he is determined, if poffible, to fee Cleonice once again, to learn the cause of her altered behaviour. Artabafus no fooner receives the glad tidings of his fon's near approach, than he commands them to be proclaimed throughout his camp. Lycomedes' wounds bleed afresh on being told the reafon of their joy, and he vows this beloved fon fhall fall a facrifice to his vengeance, that Artabafus may feel what it is to be a father. Cleonice, convinced the has been premature in her displeasure, tenderly laments the departure of Arfetes; but Orontes, whofe predominant paffion we now find to be ambition, exuiting that he fhall no longer be in danger of having his laurels obfcured by the atchievements of a stranger, intreats Lycomedes to fpare the flaughter of his troops, by permitting him to challenge the fon of Artabafus to fingle combat. Lycomedes approves the thought, but as Orontes is his deftined fon and fucceffor, will not confent he fhall devote himself for his country, unlefs by joining his name with fix other chiefs of the first celebrity in arms, the lot fhould chance to be his. Arfetes, in fpite of himself, is put on this lift, and fortune, as if to mock his refolution, declares him the champion. Orontes, who we now find from his own confeffion, by deep diffimulation, not merit, has won upon the king's heart, is fo ftung by this decifion, that he engages his friend Zopyrus to kill Arfetes as he is conducting him from the fane of Mars to meet Pharnaces; the confequence of which request is, that instead of the hoped for victory, a dead march íuddenly befpeaks fome difatter, and the corpfe of Arfetes is borne in-the princess raves, Lycomedes weeps. But to inter the hero with martial pomp, is all their power can bestow, and the body is carried off for that purpose. Orontes and Zopyrus fhortly, however, discover, to their unfpeakable confufion, that they have failed in their designs, for Arfetes not only lives, but Pharnaces and Arfetes are the fame. Zopyrus bids him truft he will yet fall beneath his conquering fword; but Orontes, in order to play a fure game, proposes to draw him from the tumult of the battle to a grove, where lying in ambush, they may furprize and cut him off. Pharnaces having happily reached his father's camp, is tenderly received, and acknowledging his paffion for Cleonice, pleads that paffion in excufe for his delayed return-the king is propitious to his utmost wiflies. He then mourns the fall of Araxes, a youth whom it seems, from nearly refembling himfelf, he had disguised for Arfetes, and being instructed after a few paffes to yield himself prifoner, was to have met him in that character as the Bithynian champion. An alarm is now spread that the Bithynians, led on by Orontes, have begun the attack: the troops of Artabafus have foon the advantage; but Lycomedes chufing rather to die than retreat unrevenged, he, together with his daughter and Teramenes, are made prisoners. Artabafus orders their chains to be truck off, and proposes the defired union beCc 2 tween |