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commanded all the Charms of Harmony, and all the Powers of Eloquence, in this strange Land has forgot its Cunning." Where are now thofe Strains of Melody, which ravished our Ears? Where is that Flow of Perfuafion, which carried captive our Judgments? The great Mafter of Language, and of Song, is become filent as the Night that furrounds Him.-The pamper'd Flesh, fo lately cloathed in Purple, and fine Linnen, how is it covered rudely with Clods of Clay? There was a Time, when the timorously nice Creature would fcarce "* adventure to set a "Foot upon the Ground, for Delicatenefs and "Tenderness;" but is now enwrapped in clammy Earth, and fleeps on no fofter a Pillow than the ragged Gravel-ftones.-Here "the Strong "Men bow themfelves:" The nervous Arm is unftrung; the brawny Sinews are relaxed; the Limbs, not long ago the Seats of Vigour and Activity, lie down motionless; and the Bones, which were as Bars of Iron, are crumbled into Duft.

HERE, the Man of Business forgets all his favourite Schemes, and difcontinues the Pursuit of Gain. Here, is a total Stand to the Circulation of Merchandize, and the Hurry of Trade. In thefe folitary Receffes, as in the Building of Solomon's Temple, is heard no Sound of the Hammer

* Deut. xxviii. 56.

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and Ax. The Winding-fheet, and the Coffin, are the utmoft Bound of all earthly Devices, "Hitherto may they go, but no farther.". Here, the Sons of Pleasure take a final Farewel of their dear Delights. No more is the Senfualift anointed with Oil, or crowned with Rose-buds : He chants no more to the Melody of the Viol, nor revels any longer at the Banquet of Wine. Inftead of fumptuous Tables, and delicious Treats, the poor Voluptuary is Himself a Feast for fattened Infects; the Reptile riots in his Flesh; "the Worm feeds fweetly on Him *."-Here alfo, Beauty fails; bright Beauty drops her Luftre here. Oh! How her Roses fade, and her Lilies languish, in this bleak Soil! How does the grand Leveller pour Contempt upon the Charmer of our Hearts! How turn to Deformity, what captivated the World before!

COULD the Lover have a Sight of his once inchanting Fair-one, what a startling Aftonishment would feize him!" Is This the Object, "I not long ago fo paffionately admired! I faid,

he was divinely fair, and thought her more than mortal. Her Form was Symmetry itself; "Every Elegance breathed in her Air; and all "the Graces waited on her Motions.-'Twas Mufic, when the spoke: But when she spoke

σε

*Job xxiv. 20.

Encourage

* Encouragement, 'twas little less than Rapture. How How my Heart danced to those charm"ing Accents!—And can that, which, fome "Weeks ago, was to Admiration lovely, be "now fo infufferably loathfome.-Where are "those blushing Cheeks; where the coral Lips; "where that ivory Neck, on which the curling "Jet, in fuch gloffy Ringlets, flowed; with a "thousand other Beauties of Perfon, and ten "thousand Delicacies of Action? O amaze"ing, distracting Alteration!-Fondly, I gazed

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upon the glittering Meteor: It fhone brightly; " and I miftook it for a Star, for a permanent " and fubftantial Good. But how is it fallen! "fallen from an orb not its own! And all that, "I can trace on Earth, is but a putrid Mafs."

LIE, poor Florella! lie deep, as thou doft, in obscure Darkness. Let Night, with her impenetrable Shades, always conceal Thee. Thy Dwelling agrees with thy Condition. Let no prying Eye be Witness to thy Difgrace; but let thy furviving Sifters think upon thy State, when they contemplate the Idol in the Glass. When the pleafing Image rifes gracefully to View, furrounded with a World of Charms; and flushed with

Quo fugit Venus? Heu! Quove Color? decens
Quo Motus? Quid habet illius, illius,

Quæ fpirabat Amares,
Que me furpuerat mihi ?

HOR.

with Joy, at the Consciousness of them all:Then, in those Minutes of Temptation and Danger, when Vanity uses to steal into the Thoughts: -Then, let them remember, what a Veil of Horror is drawn over a Face, that was once beautiful and brilliant, as theirs. Such a feasonable Reflection might regulate the Labours of the Toilet; and create a more earnest Solicitude to polish the Jewel, than to varnish the Cafket. It might then become their highest Ambition, to have the Mind decked with Divine Virtues, and dreffed after the amiable Pattern of their Redeemer's Holiness.

AND would this prejudice their Perfons, or depreciate their Charms?-Quite the Reverse: It would spread a Sort of Heavenly Glory over the finest fet of Features, and heighten the Lovelinefs of every other engaging Accomplishment.

And, what is yet a more inviting Confider ation; these Flowers would not wither with Nature, not be tarnished by Time; but open continually into richer Beauties, and flourish even in the Winter of Age.-But the most incomparable Recommendation of these noble Qualities is; That, from their hallowed Relics, as from the fragrant Ashes of the Phoenix, will ere-long arise an illuftrious Form, bright as the Wings of Angels, lafting as the Light of the new Jerufalem.

FOR

FOR my Part, the Remembrance of this fad Revolution fhall make me afbamed to pay my Devotion, to a Shrine of perifhing Flesh; and afraid, to expect all my Happiness, from fo brittle a Joy. It fhall teach me, not to think too highly of well-proportioned Clay; though formed in the moft elegant Mould, and animated with the fweetest Soul. 'Tis Heaven's laft, beft, and crowning Gift; to be received with Gratitude, and cherished with Love, as a most valuable Bleffing; not worshipped, with the Incense of Flattery, and Strains of fulfome Adoration, as a Goddess. It will cure, I truft, the Dotage of my Eyes; and incline me always to prefer the fubftantial "Ornaments of a meek and virtuous Spirit," before the tranfient Decorations of White and Red on the Skin.

66

HERE I called in my roving Meditations, from their long Excurfion on this tender Subject. Fancy liftened a while, to the Soliloquy of a Lover; but now Judgment refumes the Reins, and guides my Thoughts to more near and felf-interefting Inquiries. However, upon a Review of the whole Scene; crouded with Spectacles of Mortality, and Trophies of Death; I could not forbear fmiting my Breast, and fetching a Sigh, and lamenting over the nobleft of all vifible Beings, lying in Ruins under the Feet of “the pale

"Horfe,

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