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From distant vales, where bubbles from its source
A crystal rill, they dug a winding course :
See! through the grove a narrow lake extends,
Crosses each plot, to each plantation bends;
And while the fount in new meanders glides,
The forest brightens with refreshing tides.
Towards us they taught the new-born stream to flow,
Towards us it crept irresolute and slow :
Scarce had the infant current trickled by, *
When lo ! a wondrous fleet attracts our eye :
Laden with draughts might greet a monarch's tongue,
The mimic navigation swam along.
Hasten, ye ship-like goblets, down the vale,
Your freight a flagon, and a leaf your sail.t
Oh may no envious rush thy course impede,
Or floating apple stop thy tide-borne speed.
His mildest breath a gentle zephyr gave;
The little vessels trimly stemm’d the wave:
Their precious merchandise to land they bore,
And one by one resign’d the balmy store.
Stretch but a hand, we boarded them, and quaft
With native luxury the temper'd draught.
For where they loaded the nectareous fleet,
The goblet glow'd with too intense a heat;
Cooľd by degrees in these convivial ships,
With nicest taste, it met our thirsty lips.

Thus in delight the flowery path we trod
To Venus sacred, and the rosy god :
Here might we kiss, here Love secure might reig
And revel free, with all his am'rous train. -
And we did kiss, my friend, and Love was there,
And smooth'd the rustic couch that held fair.
Like a spring-mead with scented blossoms crown'd,

Her head with choicest wreaths Limona bound : * Scarce had, &c.] This is an excessively pretty image. The water bailiff dug a small water-course, which cane by the feet of these people in the garden ; and the stream had scarce passed by them when the servants sent down several drinking vessels in the shape of ships, which held warm liquor so nicely tempered, that the coolness of the water which encompassed it in its passage, was just sufficient to render it palatable when it arrived at the port of destination.

+ Your freight a flagon, &c.] In the original, this luxurious image is pursued so far, that the very leaf, which is represented as the sail of the vessel, is particularized as of a medicinal nature, capable of preventing any ill effects the wine might produce.

* Like a spring-mead, &c.] The word deuwv signifies a meadow : and

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But Love, sweet Love ! his sacred torch so bright
Had fann'd, that, glowing from the rosy light,
A blush (the print of a connubial kiss,
The conscious tattler of consummate bliss)
Still flush'd upon her cheek; and well might show
The choicest wreaths she'd made, how they should glow;
Might every flower with kindred bloom o'erspread,
And tinge the vernal rose with deeper red.
But come, my friend, and share my happy lot:
The bounteous Phyllion owns this blissful spot;
Phyllion, whose gen'rous care to all extends,
And most is blest while he can bless his friends.
Then come, and quickly come; but with thee bring
The nymph, whose praises oft I've heard thee sing
The blooming Myrtala ; she'll not refuse
To tread the solitude her swain shall choose.
Thy sight will all my busy schemes destroy,
I'll dedicate another day to joy,
When social converse shall the scene improve,
And sympathy bestow new charms on love.
Then shall th' accustom'd bank a couch be made;
Once more the nodding plane shall lend its shade;
Once more I'll view Poniona's jovial throng;
Once more the birds shall raise the sprightly song ;
Again the little stream be taught to flow;
Again the little fleet its balm bestow;
Again I'll gaze upon Limona's charms,
And sink transported in her quiv'ring arms;
Again my cheek shall glow upon her breast;
Again she'll yield, and I again be blest.

EPISTLE IV.

THE EXPERIMENT.

PHILOCHORUS TO POLYÆNUS.

As Hippias t'other day and I

Walk'd arm and arm, he said,
“ That pretty creature dost thou spy,

Who leans upon her maid ?

“She's tall, and has a comely shap

And treads well, too, I swear : Come on-by this good light we'll scrape

Acquaintance with the fair.” “Good God !" cried I, “ she is not game,

I'm sure, for you or me:
Do nothing rashly-you're to blame;

She's modest, you may see.”
But he, who knew all womankind,

Thus answer'd with a sneer: "You're quite a novice, friend, I find

There's nothing modest here. “ A virtuous dame this hour, no doubt

Would choose to walk the streets; Especially so dizen'd out,

And smile on all she meets. “Her rings, her bracelets, her perfumes,

Her wanton actions, prove
The character which she assumes,

And that her trade is love.
“See now, she fidgets with her vest-

To settle it, be sure,
And not at all to show her breast,

Nor wishing to allure. “Her robe tuck'd up with nicest care

But that's to show she's neat;
And though her legs are half-way bare,

She means to hide her feet.
“But see ! she turns to look behind,

And laughs, I'll take my oath :
Come on~I warrant we shall find

The damsel nothing loth.”
So up he march’d, and made his bow-

No sooner off his hat,
But, lover-like, he 'gan to vow,

And soon grew intimate.
But first premised the ways were rough

“Madam, for fear of harm, I beg”—so cleverly enough

He made her take his arm.

Then—"Fairest, for thy beauty's sake,

Which long has fired my breast,
Permit me to your maid to make

A single short request !
“And yet you know what I'd require,

And wherefore I apply:
Nought unrequited I desire,

But gold the boon shall buy.
“I'll give, my fairest, what you please-

You'll not exact, I'm sure :
Then deign, bright charmer, deign to ease

The torments I endure."
Assent sat smiling in her eyes;

Her lily hand he seized;
Nor feign'd she very great surprise,

Nor look'd so much displeased.
She blush'd a little too, methought,

As though she should refuse-
But women, I've been told, are taught

To blush whene'er they choose.
Hippias was now quite hand in glove,

With Miss, and firmly bent
To take her to the bower of Love,

He whisper'd as he went-
“Well, Phil, say now whose judgment's best?

Was I so very wrong?
You saw, not eagerly I press'd,

Nor did I press her long.
“But you are ignorant, I see,

So follow, and improve,
For few, I ween, can teach like me

The mysteries of Love."

EPISTLE V. THE EXPEDIENT.*

ALCIPHRON TO LUCIAN.
T'other day Charidemus a feast did prepare,

And with all his acquaintances fill’d up the room : The writer here describes an ingenious device practised by a lady of gallantry to deceive a suspicious husband.

'Mong the rest, (for you know his tendresse for the fair,)

Another man's wife he persuaded to come.
The guests were all seated, when in comes our spark,

Introducing to table a musty old dad,
Whom as soon as the lady had time to remark,

To another apartment she scuttled like mad.

« Charidemus," said she, “ do you know what you've done?

That old fellow's my husband just now you brought in : I shall here be discover'd, as sure as a gun,

By the cloak I pull'd off, and which hangs on a pin.

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“ But if you can assist me, and privately send

That cloak to my house, with a dish of your meat, I've a trick that shall quickly his jealousy end ;

His suspicions I'll 'scape, and his vigilance cheat.” Away then she slipt, and got quick to her house,

Then sent for a gossip, her help to implore; And they'd scarce fix'd their plan the old cuckold to chouse,

When blust'ring and swearing he came to the door.

He cried, while he sought for his poignard to stab her, “No more shall you shame me ;-your cloak show'd your

pranks.”But while he was storming thus, in pops her neighbour,

The cloak to return to its owner with thanks.

“ I'm come to acknowledge your favour,” she said, “And some prog from the feast have I brought with me

here : I knew that at home all the ev'ning you stay'd,

So was willing to give you a taste of our cheer.” The silly curmudgeon grew meek as a lamb,

On hearing this story, and seeing the meat; For pardon he sued from his retrograde dame,

And bow'd with contrition quite down to her feet.

He vow'd that he ne'er would suspect her again,

If now she'd accept his most humble submission; And swore Dian herself sent the old woman in,

To show him the folly of groundless suspicion.