name, first used by the cunning part of the fair vals; love is a method of protracting our greatest sex, and admitted by the silly part of ours, there-pleasure; and surely that gamester, who plays the fore no way more natural than taking snuff, or greatest stake to the best advantage, will, at the end chewing opium. of life, rise victorious. This was the opinion of "How is it possible," cried I, "that such a pas-Vanini, who affirmed, that every hour was lost sion can be natural, when our opinions even of which was not spent in love. His accusers were beauty, which inspires it, are entirely the result of unable to comprehend his meaning; and the poor fashion and caprice? The ancients, who pretended advocate for love was burned in flames, alas! no to be connoisseurs in the art, have praised narrow way metaphorical. But whatever advantages the foreheads, red hair, and eyebrows that joined each individual may reap from this passion, society will other above the nose. Such was the charms that certainly be refined and improved by its introduccaptivated Catullus, Ovid, and Anacreon. Ladies tion; all laws calculated to discourage it, tend to would at present be out of humour, if their lovers imbrute the species, and weaken the state. Though praised them for such graces; and should an an- it can not plant morals in the human breast, it cultique beauty now revive, her face would certainly tivates them when there; pity, generosity, and be put under the discipline of the tweezer, fore-honour, receive a brighter polish from its assisthead-cloth, and lead comb, before it could be seen ance; and a single amour is sufficient entirely to in public company. brush off the clown.

love, which gives up this natural advantage, must certainly be the effect of art,—an art calculated to lengthen out our happier moments, and add new graces to society."

"But the difference between the ancient and "But it is an exotic of the most delicate constimoderns is not so great as between the different tution; it requires the greatest art to introduce it countries of the present world. A lover of Gon- into a state, and the smallest discouragement is sufgora, for instance, sighs for thick lips; a Chinese ficient to repress it again. Let us only consider lover is poetical in praise of thin. In Circassia, a with what ease it was formerly extinguished in straight nose is thought most consistent with beau- Rome, and with what difficulty it was lately rety: cross but a mountain which separates it from vived in Europe: it seemed to sleep for ages, and the Tartars, and there flat noses, tawny skins, and at last fought its way among us through tilts, eyes three inches asunder, are all the fashion. In tournaments, dragons, and all the dreams of chiPersia, and some other countries, a man, when he valry. The rest of the world, China only excepted, marries, chooses to have his bride a maid; in the are, and have ever been utter strangers to its dePhilippine Islands, if a bridegroom happens to per- lights and advantages. In other countries, as men ceive, on the first night, that he is put off with a find themselves stronger than women, they lay a virgin, the marriage is declared void to all intents claim to a rigorous superiority: this is natural, and and purposes, and the bride sent back with disgrace. In some parts of the East, a woman of beauty, properly fed up for sale, often amounts to one hundred crowns: in the kingdom of Loango, ladies of the very best fashion are sold for a pig; "I entirely acquiesce in your sentiments," says queens, however, sell better, and sometimes amount the lady, "with regard to the advantages of this to a cow. In short, turn even to England, don't passion, but can not avoid giving it a nobler origin I there see the beautiful part of the sex neglected; than you have been pleased to assign. I must and none now marrying or making love, but old think, that those countries, where it is rejected, are men and old women that have saved money? Don't obliged to have recourse to art to stifle so natural a I see beauty from fifteen to twenty-one, rendered production, and those nations, where it is cultivatnull and void to all intents and purposes, and those ed, only make nearer advances to nature. The same six precious years of womanhood put under a stat- efforts that are used in some places to suppress ute of virginity? What! shall I call that rancid pas-pity, and other natural passions, may have been sion love, which passes between an old bachelor of employed to extinguish love. No nation, however fifty-six and a widow lady of forty-nine? Never! unpolished, is remarkable for innocence that is not never! what advantage is society to reap from an famous for passion; it has flourished in the coldest, intercourse where the big belly is oftenest on the as well as in the warmest regions. Even in the man's side? Would any persuade me that such a sultry wilds of Southern America, the lover is not passion was natural, unless the human race were satisfied with possessing his mistress's person withmore fit for love as they approached the decline, out having her mind : and, like silk worms, became breeders just before they expired."

"Whether love be natural or no," replied my friend, gravely, "it contributes to the happiness of every society into which it is introduced. All our pleasures are short, and can only charm at inter

"In all my Enna's beauties bless'd,
Amidst profusion still I pine;
For though she gives me up her breast,
Its panting tenant is not mine."*

'Translation of a South-American Ode.

"But the effects of love are too violent to be the and not on useful members of society. Their riches result of an artificial passion. Nor is it in the and opulence invited the invaders, who, though at power of fashion to force the constitution into those first repulsed, returned again, conquered by persechanges which we every day observe. Several verance, and at last swept the defendants into unhave died of it. Few lovers are unacquainted with distinguished destruction."

the fate of the two Italian lovers, Da Corsin and

How few appear in those streets which but some Julia Bellamano, who, after a long separation, ex-few hours ago were crowded! and those who appired with pleasure in each other's arms. Such pear, now no longer wear their daily mask, nor atinstances are too strong confirmations of the reality tempt to hide their lewdness or their misery. of the passion, and serve to show, that suppressing it is but opposing the natural dictates of the heart." Adieu.

LETTER CXVII.

From the Same.

But who are those who make the streets their couch, and find a short repose from wretchedness at the doors of the opulent? These are strangers, wanderers, and orphans, whose circumstances are too humble to expect redress, and whose distresses are too great even for pity. Their wretchedness excites rather horror than pity. Some are without the covering even of rags, and others emaciated with disease: the world has disclaimed them; so

THE clock just struck two, the expiring taper ciety turns its back upon their distress, and has rises and sinks in the socket, the watchman forgets given them up to nakedness and hunger. These the hour in slumber, the laborious and the happy poor shivering females have once seen happier are at rest, and nothing wakes but meditation, days, and been flattered into beauty. They have guilt, revelry, and despair. The drunkard once been prostituted to the gay luxurious villain, and more fills the destroying bowl, the robber walks are now turned out to meet the severity of winter. his midnight round, and the suicide lifts his guilty Perhaps, now lying at the doors of their betrayers, arm against his own sacred person. they sue to wretches whose hearts are insensible, or debauchees who may curse but will not relieve them.

tunities.

Let me no longer waste the night over the page of antiquity, or the sallies of contemporary genius, but pursue the solitary walk, where Vanity, ever Why, why was I born a man, and yet see the changing, but a few hours past walked before me, sufferings of wretches I can not relieve! Poor where she kept up the pageant, and now, like a houseless creatures! the world will give you refroward child, seems hushed with her own impor-proaches, but will not give you relief. The slightest misfortunes of the great, the most imaginary What a gloom hangs all around! The dying uneasiness of the rich, are aggravated with all the lamp feebly emits a yellow gleam; no sound is heard but of the chiming clock, or the distant power of eloquence, and held up to engage our attention and sympathetic sorrow. watch-dog. All the bustle of human pride is for- unheeded, persecuted by every subordinate species The poor weep gotten, an hour like this may well display the of tyranny; and every law which gives others seemptiness of human vanity.

There will come a time, when this temporary solitude may be made continual, and the city itself, like its inhabitants, fade away, and leave a desert in its room.

What cities, as great as this, have once triumphed in existence, had their victories as great, joy as just, and as unbounded, and, with short-sighted presumption, promised themselves immortality! Posterity can hardly trace the situation of some: the sorrowful traveller wanders over the awful ruins

curity becomes an enemy to them.

much sensibility? or why was not my fortune Why was this heart of mine formed with so adapted to its impulse? Tenderness, without a feels it more wretched than the object which sues capacity of relieving, only makes the man who

for assistance. Adieu.

LETTER CXVIII.

of others; and, as he beholds, he learns wisdom, From Fum Hoam to Lien Chi Altangi, the discontented Wanand feels the transience of every sublunary possession.

derer, by the way of Moscow.

Here," he cries, "stood their citadel, now I HAVE been just sent upon an embassy to Jagrown over with weeds; there their senate-house, pan; my commission is to be dispatched in four but now the haunt of every noxious reptile; tem- days, and you can hardly conceive the pleasure 1 ples and theatres stood here, now only an undis- shall find upon revisiting my native country. 1 tinguished heap of ruin. They are fallen, for shall leave with joy this proud, barbarous, inhosluxury and avarice first made them feeble. The pitable region, where every object conspires to d rewards of the state were conferred on amusing minish my satisfaction and increase my patriotism.

name, first used by the cunning part of the fair vals; love is a method of protracting our greatest sex, and admitted by the silly part of ours, there- pleasure; and surely that gamester, who plays the fore no way more natural than taking snuff, or greatest stake to the best advantage, will, at the end chewing opium.

of life, rise victorious. This was the opinion of "How is it possible," cried I, "that such a pas- Vanini, who affirmed, that every hour was lost sion can be natural, when our opinions even of which was not spent in love. His accusers were beauty, which inspires it, are entirely the result of unable to comprehend his meaning; and the poor fashion and caprice? The ancients, who pretended advocate for love was burned in flames, alas! no to be connoisseurs in the art, have praised narrow way metaphorical. But whatever advantages the foreheads, red hair, and eyebrows that joined each individual may reap from this passion, society will other above the nose. Such was the charms that certainly be refined and improved by its introduccaptivated Catullus, Ovid, and Anacreon. Ladies tion; all laws calculated to discourage it, tend to would at present be out of humour, if their lovers imbrute the species, and weaken the state. Thougk praised them for such graces; and should an an- it can not plant morals in the human breast, it cultique beauty now revive, her face would certainly tivates them when there; pity, generosity, and be put under the discipline of the tweezer, fore-honour, receive a brighter polish from its assisthead-cloth, and lead comb, before it could be seen ance; and a single amour is sufficient entirely to in public company. brush off the clown.

"But the difference between the ancient and

claim to a rigorous superiority: this is natural, and love, which gives up this natural advantage, must certainly be the effect of art,—an art calculated to lengthen out our happier moments, and add new graces to society."

"But it is an exotic of the most delicate constimoderns is not so great as between the different tution; it requires the greatest art to introduce it countries of the present world. A lover of Gon- into a state, and the smallest discouragement is sufgora, for instance, sighs for thick lips; a Chinese ficient to repress it again. Let us only consider lover is poetical in praise of thin. In Circassia, a with what ease it was formerly extinguished in straight nose is thought most consistent with beau- Rome, and with what difficulty it was lately rety: cross but a mountain which separates it from vived in Europe: it seemed to sleep for ages, and the Tartars, and there flat noses, tawny skins, and at last fought its way among us through tilts, eyes three inches asunder, are all the fashion. In tournaments, dragons, and all the dreams of chiPersia, and some other countries, a man, when he valry. The rest of the world, China only excepted, marries, chooses to have his bride a maid; in the are, and have ever been utter strangers to its dePhilippine Islands, if a bridegroom happens to per- lights and advantages. In other countries, as men ceive, on the first night, that he is put off with a find themselves stronger than women, they lay a virgin, the marriage is declared void to all intents and purposes, and the bride sent back with disgrace. In some parts of the East, a woman of beauty, properly fed up for sale, often amounts to one hundred crowns: in the kingdom of Loango, ladies of the very best fashion are sold for a pig; "I entirely acquiesce in your sentiments," says queens, however, sell better, and sometimes amount the lady, "with regard to the advantages of this to a cow. In short, turn even to England, don't passion, but can not avoid giving it a nobler origin I there see the beautiful part of the sex neglected; than you have been pleased to assign. I must and none now marrying or making love, but old think, that those countries, where it is rejected, are men and old women that have saved money? Don't obliged to have recourse to art to stifle so natural a I see beauty from fifteen to twenty-one, rendered production, and those nations, where it is cultivatnull and void to all intents and purposes, and those ed, only make nearer advances to nature. The same six precious years of womanhood put under a stat- efforts that are used in some places to suppress ute of virginity? What! shall I call that rancid pas- pity, and other natural passions, may have been sion love, which passes between an old bachelor of employed to extinguish love. No nation, however fifty-six and a widow lady of forty-nine? Never! unpolished, is remarkable for innocence that is not never! what advantage is society to reap from an famous for passion; it has flourished in the coldest, intercourse where the big belly is oftenest on the as well as in the warmest regions. Even in the man's side? Would any persuade me that such a sultry wilds of Southern America, the lover is not passion was natural, unless the human race were satisfied with possessing his mistress's person withmore fit for love as they approached the decline, out having her mind : and, like silk worms, became breeders just before they expired."

"Whether love be natural or no," replied my friend, gravely, "it contributes to the happiness of every society into which it is introduced. All our pleasures are short, and can only charm at inter

"In all my Enna's beauties bless'd,
Amidst profusion still I pine;
For though she gives me up her breast,
Its panting tenant is not mine."*

•Translation of a South-American Ode.

"But the effects of love are too violent to be the and not on useful members of society. Their riches result of an artificial passion. Nor is it in the and opulence invited the invaders, who, though at power of fashion to force the constitution into those first repulsed, returned again, conquered by persechanges which we every day observe. Several verance, and at last swept the defendants into unhave died of it. Few lovers are unacquainted with distinguished destruction."

the fate of the two Italian lovers, Da Corsin and How few appear in those streets which but some Julia Bellamano, who, after a long separation, ex-few hours ago were crowded! and those who appired with pleasure in each other's arms. Such pear, now no longer wear their daily mask, nor atinstances are too strong confirmations of the reality tempt to hide their lewdness or their misery. of the passion, and serve to show, that suppressing it is but opposing the natural dictates of the heart." Adieu.

LETTER CXVII.

From the Same.

But who are those who make the streets their couch, and find a short repose from wretchedness at the doors of the opulent? These are strangers, wanderers, and orphans, whose circumstances are too humble to expect redress, and whose distresses are too great even for pity. Their wretchedness excites rather horror than pity. Some are without the covering even of rags, and others emaciated with disease: the world has disclaimed them; so

THE clock just struck two, the expiring taper ciety turns its back upon their distress, and has rises and sinks in the socket, the watchman forgets given them up to nakedness and hunger. These the hour in slumber, the laborious and the happy poor shivering females have once seen happier are at rest, and nothing wakes but meditation, days, and been flattered into beauty. They have guilt, revelry, and despair. The drunkard once been prostituted to the gay luxurious villain, and more fills the destroying bowl, the robber walks are now turned out to meet the severity of winter. his midnight round, and the suicide lifts his guilty armı against his own sacred person.

Perhaps, now lying at the doors of their betrayers, they sue to wretches whose hearts are insensible, or debauchees who may curse but will not relieve them.

Let me no longer waste the night over the page of antiquity, or the sallies of contemporary genius, but pursue the solitary walk, where Vanity, ever Why, why was I born a man, and yet see the changing, but a few hours past walked before me, sufferings of wretches I can not relieve! Poor where she kept up the pageant, and now, like a houseless creatures! the world will give you refroward child, seems hushed with her own impor-proaches, but will not give you relief. The slightest misfortunes of the great, the most imaginary What a gloom hangs all around! The dying uneasiness of the rich, are aggravated with all the lamp feebly emits a yellow gleam; no sound is heard but of the chiming clock, or the distant watch-dog. All the bustle of human pride is for

tunities.

gotten, an hour like this may well display the emptiness of human vanity.

There will come a time, when this temporary solitude may be made continual, and the city itself,

like its inhabitants, fade away, and leave a desert in its room.

What cities, as great as this, have once triumphed in existence, had their victories as great, joy as just, and as unbounded, and, with short-sighted presumption, promised themselves immortality! Posterity can hardly trace the situation of some: the sorrowful traveller wanders over the awful ruins of others; and, as he beholds, he learns wisdom, and feels the transience of every sublunary possession.

power of eloquence, and held up to engage our attention and sympathetic sorrow. The poor weep of tyranny; and every law which gives others seunheeded, persecuted by every subordinate species

curity becomes an enemy to them.

much sensibility? or why was not my fortune
Why was this heart of mine formed with so
adapted to its impulse? Tenderness, without a
capacity of relieving, only makes the man who
for assistance. Adieu.
feels it more wretched than the object which sues

LETTER CXVIII.

From Fum Hoam to Lien Chi Altangi, the discontented Wanderer, by the way of Moscow.

"Here," he cries, "stood their citadel, now I HAVE been just sent upon an embassy to Jagrown over with weeds; there their senate-house, pan; my commission is to be dispatched in four but now the haunt of every noxious reptile; tem- days, and you can hardly conceive the pleasure 1 ples and theatres stood here, now only an undis- shall find upon revisiting my native country. 1 tinguished heap of ruin. They are fallen, for shall leave with joy this proud, barbarous, inhosluxury and avarice first made them feeble. The pitable region, where every object conspires to derewards of the state were conferred on amusing|minish my satisfaction and increase my patriotism.

name, first used by the cunning part of the fair vals; love is a method of protracting our greatest sex, and admitted by the silly part of ours, there- pleasure; and surely that gamester, who plays the fore no way more natural than taking snuff, or greatest stake to the best advantage, will, at the end chewing opium. of life, rise victorious. This was the opinion of "How is possible," cried I, "that such a pas- Vanini, who affirmed, that every hour was lost sion can be natural, when our opinions even of which was not spent in love. His accusers were beauty, which inspires it, are entirely the result of unable to comprehend his meaning; and the poor fashion and caprice? The ancients, who pretended advocate for love was burned in flames, alas! no to be connoisseurs in the art, have praised narrow way metaphorical. But whatever advantages the foreheads, red hair, and eyebrows that joined each individual may reap from this passion, society will other above the nose. Such was the charms that certainly be refined and improved by its introduccaptivated Catullus, Ovid, and Anacreon. Ladies tion; all laws calculated to discourage it, tend to would at present be out of humour, if their lovers imbrute the species, and weaken the state. Though praised them for such graces; and should an an- it can not plant morals in the human breast, it cultique beauty now revive, her face would certainly tivates them when there; pity, generosity, and be put under the discipline of the tweezer, fore-honour, receive a brighter polish from its assisthead-cloth, and lead comb, before it could be seen ance; and a single amour is sufficient entirely to in public company. brush off the clown.

"But the difference between the ancient and "But it is an exotic of the most delicate constimoderns is not so great as between the different tution; it requires the greatest art to introduce it countries of the present world. A lover of Gon- into a state, and the smallest discouragement is sufgora, for instance, sighs for thick lips; a Chinese ficient to repress it again. Let us only consider lover is poetical in praise of thin. In Circassia, a with what ease it was formerly extinguished in straight nose is thought most consistent with beau- Rome, and with what difficulty it was lately rety: cross but a mountain which separates it from vived in Europe: it seemed to sleep for ages, and the Tartars, and there flat noses, tawny skins, and at last fought its way among us through tilts, eyes three inches asunder, are all the fashion. In tournaments, dragons, and all the dreams of chiPersia, and some other countries, a man, when he valry. The rest of the world, China only excepted, marries, chooses to have his bride a maid; in the are, and have ever been utter strangers to its dePhilippine Islands, if a bridegroom happens to per- lights and advantages. In other countries, as men ceive, on the first night, that he is put off with a find themselves stronger than women, they lay a virgin, the marriage is declared void to all intents claim to a rigorous superiority: this is natural, and and purposes, and the bride sent back with dis- love, which gives up this natural advantage, must grace. In some parts of the East, a woman of certainly be the effect of art,-an art calculated to beauty, properly fed up for sale, often amounts to lengthen out our happier moments, and add new one hundred crowns: in the kingdom of Loango, graces to society." ladies of the very best fashion are sold for a pig; "I entirely acquiesce in your sentiments," says queens, however, sell better, and sometimes amount the lady, "with regard to the advantages of this to a cow. In short, turn even to England, don't passion, but can not avoid giving it a nobler origin I there see the beautiful part of the sex neglected; than you have been pleased to assign. I must and none now marrying or making love, but old think, that those countries, where it is rejected, are men and old women that have saved money? Don't obliged to have recourse to art to stifle so natural a I see beauty from fifteen to twenty-one, rendered production, and those nations, where it is cultivatnull and void to all intents and purposes, and those ed, only make nearer advances to nature. The same six precious years of womanhood put under a stat- efforts that are used in some places to suppress ute of virginity? What! shall I call that rancid pas- pity, and other natural passions, may have been sion love, which passes between an old bachelor of employed to extinguish love. No nation, however fifty-six and a widow lady of forty-nine? Never! unpolished, is remarkable for innocence that is not never! what advantage is society to reap from an intercourse where the big belly is oftenest on the man's side? Would any persuade me that such a passion was natural, unless the human race were more fit for love as they approached the decline, and, like silk worms, became breeders just before they expired."

"Whether love be natural or no," replied my friend, gravely, "it contributes to the happiness of every society into which it is introduced. All our pleasures are short, and can only charm at inter

famous for passion; it has flourished in the coldest,
as well as in the warmest regions. Even in the
sultry wilds of Southern America, the lover is not
satisfied with possessing his mistress's person with-
out having her mind :

"In all my Enna's beauties bless'd,
Amidst profusion still I pine;
For though she gives me up her breast,
Its panting tenant is not mine."*

• Translation of a South-American Ode.