liar precept is, 'Love thy neighbour as thyself. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.' I will not say, that what is a most shining proof of our religion, is not often a reproach to its professors: but this I think very plain, that whether we regard the analogy of nature, as it appears in the mutual attraction or gravitations of the mundane system, in the general frame and constitution of the human soul; or lastly, in the ends and aptness which are discoverable in all parts of the visible and intellectual world; we shall not doubt but the precept, which is the characteristic of our religion, came from the Author of nature. Some of our modern free-thinkers would indeed insinuate the Christian morals to be defective, because, say they, there is no mention made in the gospel of the virtue of friendship. These sagacious men (if I might be allowed the use of that vulgar saying) cannot see the wood for trees.' That a religion, whereof the main drift is to inspire its professors with the most noble and disinterested spirit of love, charity, and beneficence, to all mankind; or, in other words, with a friendship to every individual man; should be taxed with the want of that very virtue, is surely a glaring evidence of the blindness and prejudice of its adversaries. N° 127. THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 1713. Lucit amabiliter He sported agreeably. AN agreeable young gentleman, that has a talent for poetry, and does me the favour to entertain me with his performances after my more serious studies, read me yesterday the following translation. In this town, where there are so many women of prostituted charms, I am very glad when I gain so much time of reflection from a youth of a gay turn, as is taken up in any composition, though the piece he writes is not foreign to that of his natural inclination. For it is a great step towards gaining upon the passions, that there is a delicacy in the choice of their object; and to turn the imaginations towards a bride, rather than a mistress, is getting a great way towards being in the interest of virtue. It is an hopeless manner of reclaiming youth which has been practised by some moralists, to declaim against pleasure in general. No; the way is to shew, that the pleasurable course is that which is limited and governed by reason. In this case virtue is upon equal terms with vice, and has with all the same indulgences of desire, the advantage of safety in honour and reputation. I have for this reason often thought of exercising my pupils, of whom I have several of admirable talents, upon writing little poems, or epigrams, which in a volume I would entitle The Seeing Cupid. These compositions should be written on the little advances made towards a young lady of the strictest virtue, and all the circumstances alluded to in them, should have something that might please her mind in its purest innocence, as well as celebrate her person in its highest beauty. This work would instruct a woman to be a good wife, all the while it is a wooing her to be a bride. Imagination and reason should go hand in hand in a generous amour; for when it is otherwise, real discontent and aversion in marriage, succeed the groundless and wild promise of imagination in courtship. The court of Venus from Claudiun, being part of the In the fam❜d Cyprian isle a mountain stands, In vain access by human feet is try'd, Its lofty brow looks down with noble pride On bounteous Nile, thro' seven wide channels spread; Along its sides no hoary frosts presume To blast the myrtle shrubs, or nip the bloom. The mountain, when the summit once you gain, These were the bribes, the price of heav'nly charms; A sylvan scene, in solemn state display'd, Branches in branches twin'd, compose the grove; Blue heav'ns above them smile; and all below, Along the grassy banks, in bright array, Ten thousand little loves their wings display: Quivers and bows their usual sports proclaim; Their dress, their stature, and their looks the same; Smiling in innocence, and ever young, And tender, as the nymphs from whom they sprung; For Venus did but boast one only son, And rosy Cupid was that boasted one; He, uncontroll'd, thro' heaven extends his sway, Or if he stoops on earth, great princes burn, Sicken on thrones, and wreath'd with laurels mourn. Here Love's imperial pomp is spread around, Boldness unfledg'd, and to stol'n raptures new Now from afar the palace seems to blaze, Here spices in parterres promiscuous blow, Not from Arabia's fields more odours flow, The wanton winds through groves of cassia play, And steal the ripen'd fragrances away; Here with its load the wild amomum bends; There cinnamon, in rival sweets, contends; A rich perfume the ravish'd senses fills, While from the weeping tree the balm distils. At these delightful bowers arrives at last The God of Love, a tedious journey past; Then shapes his way to reach the fronting gate, Doubles his majesty, and walks in state. |