2T7 Origin of our geii'^ral Ideas of Beauty 416
216 Ssnfe^ Taile, and Genius aiitinguiihed 417
a a 229 Thoughtsv
CONTENTS,
9eCt. Authors. Pag.
£29 Thoughts on the Human Capacity Uper. 418
230 Tafte, how depraved and loft â– 4;8
231 Some Refle*Sions on the Human Mind \ 419
832 General Refiedlons upon what is
caUed Good Tafte - Rollin. 420
a33 A clalBcal and fafhionable Education i
contralted - Mirfcr. 424
a34 Defence of Literary Studies and !
Amufements in Men of Bu-
fjnefs - - Lounger, 42S
835 Dr. Johnson's Preface to his Edition ',
of Shakfpeare - â– ' â– 429
236 Pope's Preface to his Homer — — 441
»37 An Elfay on Virgil's GeorgicSj prefixed to
Mr. Dryden's Tranflation Addifon. 452
438 Hiftory of the Heathen Deities Ancn. 456
459 Neglect of Oratorical Numbers F'u'xofi. 470
240 Upon Grace in Writing -â– 472
241 Style of Horace in hii Moral Writings 472
242 Criterion of Tafte - — — 475
243 OnMr. Pope'sHoufeatBinfield ——477
»44 Ufe of Ancient Mytholojiy — — 478
Sea.
245 Delicacy of Authors of Genius
246 Refledtions upon Style
247 On Thinking
248 Advantages of Converfation
249 On the great Hiftorical Ages
250 On the Englifh Conftitution
251 Of Columbus, and America
252 Influence of Science on Men
253 Refpedt paid to Old Age
254 On FaJtus and Arria
255 Sidonians Choice of a King
256 Refjgnation of Charles V.
257 Account of Muli Moluc
25S — — Valentine and Unnion
259 Example of Hiftorical Narration
260 Story of Damon and Pythias
261 Dionyfius the Tyrant
262 A remarkable Inftance of Filial
• Duty - - , Pliny.
263 Continence-of Scipio Africanus Ll'vy
264 Private Life of /pmilius Scipio RoVtin
265 Ancient Hiftory compared with mo-
dern - - Lounger. 505
Authors. Paj.
479
F'ltxop. 480
481
483
Voltaire. 484
Montefq. 485
Foltaire- 491
Rohertf. 495
Spea. 497
Fllvy. 497
^. Curt. 498
Rrbertf. 498
Spca. 5foo
Tatler. S0(.
Sail. 50T
Cicero. 501
501
50Z
50Z
503
266 On Pundtuation
Lctvtb. 50$
BOOK III. Orations, Chara5lers, &c.
t 'T~' H E firft Oration againft Philip
J_ Leland,
2 The firft Olynthiac Oration
3 The fecond ditto - - — — ]
4 The diird ditto
;; Oration againft Catiline
6 Ditto
7 Ditto
8 Ditto
9 Oration for Archias
10 for T. Annius Milo
1 , Cicero's Oration againft Verres
12 Oration of Pericles
13 Hamlet to the Players
14 Character of Marius
jj Romulus to the Romans
j6 Charadler of Sylla
J 7 Hannibal to Scipio Africanus
18 Scipio's Anfwer
19 Charafter of Pompey
20 Speech of beneca to Nero
21 — — Charidemus
22 Character of Julius Caefar
Whltivorth. 20
51
71
72
70
76
77
7S
7S
79
79
81
81
Clc. Orat.
Thucyd.
Sb^kf.
Middl.
Hoike.
Middl.
Hooke.
Middl.
".onu Tacit.
^ Curt.
Middl.
23 Callifthenes's Reproof of Cleon's Flat-
tery - ■■^ ^'^''^•
24 Charadter of Cato - Mip'dl.
25 Brutus vindicates Casfar's Murder Shakf.
26 Csefar compared with Cato Sal/nji.
27 Caius Manus to the Romans -+- —
28 Charadtcr of Catiline -
29 Titus Quindtius to the Romans Hooke-
JO Micipfa to Jugurtha - Salluji.
31 Publius Scipio to the Roman Army Hooke.
Ha
Charadler of Hannibal
al to the Carthaginian Army
Ll'vy.
^ Curt.
34 Scythian Ambaft. to Alexander
35 J"n'"s i^rutus over Lucietia Liwy.
36 Adhcrbal to the Roman Senate SalluJl.
37 Canuleius to the Roman Confuls H^nke.
38 l.i.e of Cicero - - M ddl.
39 Charadter of Martin Luther Rohertf. i
40 Charaflet of Alfred K. of Eng'and i/.- •«.'. i
41 Another
42 Charadler of William the Conq
43 Another
44 Another
45 Charadler of William Rufus
46 Another
47 CharaaerofHenryl.
48 Another
49 Charadler of Stephen
30 Another
5 i,Charadter of Henry 11.
52 Another
53 Charr.dter of Richard I.
54 Another
55 Charadler of John
56 Another
57 Charadlerof Henry III.
58 Another
59 Charadler of Edward I.
60 Another
61 CharaGer of Edward II.
62 Another
63 Charafter of Edward III.
64 Another
65 Charafter of Richard II.
66 Another
67 Another
68 . Charad-er of Henry IV.
69 Another
70 Charadler of Henry V.
71 Another
72 Account of Henry VI.
73 Death of Henry VI.
74 Charadler of Edward IV.
75 Anotlier
76 Another
77 Edward V. -
78 Charafter of Richard III.
79 Another
80 Charadler of Henry VII.
Si Another
Sz Chnradlcr of Henry VHI. .
Smollett, li'j
ueror Hume. 317
Smollett. 11^
Lytielton. 11%
Hume, 119
Smollett. 120
Hume. 120
Smollitt. 120
Hume. 120
Smollett. 121
Hume. 121
Smollett. 121
Hume, izz
Smollett. IZZ
Hume. 123
Smollett. 123
Hume. 123
Smollett, 124,
Hume. 12^
Smollett. 124
Hume. 125
Small ftt. 125
Hume. 125
Smollett. 126
Hume. 126
Smollett. 127
Henry. 1 27
Hume. 127
Smollett. 128
Hume. 128
Smollett. 128
liume. 12S
Smollett. 129
Hume. 129
Smollett, 129
R-fin. 129
130
Hume. 130
Smy'ihtt. 13«>
Hume. 131
Smollett. 13 J
; Hume. 131
83 Another
CONTENTS,
83 Another
84 Charadter of Edward VI
85 Anothei-
86 Another
87 Chara<Ster of Mary
88 Another
89 Charafter of Queen/ Elizabeth
90 Another
gi Another
gz Character of James I.
Q^ Another
94 Another
cg5 Another
(56 Character of Charles L
g7 Another
g8 Another
99 Charader of Oliver Cromwell
Joo Charader of Charles II,
loi Another
102 Another
103 Another
104 Charader of James II.
J05 Another
J06 Charader of William III.
107 Another
108 Charafter of Mary, Queen Confort
of William III.
209 Charader of Anne
Authors.
Pag.
Se<3
Smollett.
13a
no
- Micrm.
'33
I ti
Hume,
13-5
112
SmoiUit.
133
113
Hume.
134
114
Smollett.
134
"5
1 Rapin.
134
116
Hume.
13s
117
Smollett.
136
118
Ji/Lacauley.
136
119
Smollett.
137
120
Hume.
137
121
Rapin.
138
132
Smollett.
138
123
Hume.
139
124
Macauley.
139
125
I NMe.
140
.26
Hume.
141
127
Smollett.
141
I2S
Burnet.
142
129
Macpherj'on.
142
X30
m .
H3
131
Macauley.
143
132
Smollett,
146
133
Macfherjon.
146
134
Confort
Smollett.
147
13s
147
136
A.uthors.
Cbamberlawti
Macpherjj
Leland.
Ch^Jierf.
Another
Another
Charafter of Mary Queen of Scots.' Robert
Charadler of Francis I.
Charles V.
— ■— Epaminondas
— — — of Lord Townfend
Mr. Pope
— — Lord Bolingbroke
i Mr. Pulteney
Sir Robert Walpole
— — Lord Granville
Mr. Pelham
— — Earl of Scarborough
— — Lord Hardwicke
— — Duke of Newcaftle
Duke of Bedford
Another Charader of him
Charafter of Mr. Henry Fox
Mr. Pitt
Another Character of him
Another
Another •
Speech on reducing the Army Pulteney,
â– for repealing the Septennial
. Adi . Sir John St. Aubln,
The Minifter's Reply to Ditto Walpole.
Speech on Repeal of the Jew Bill Lytt,
'JU7UUS,
Chejlerf.
Smollett.
Burke.
Pag.
147
148
14S
149
150
151
15Z
iSZ
153
154
154
\\l
156
157
158
158
159
159
160
161
161
i6i
i6x
164
166
16$
BOOK IV. Narratives y Dialogues, &c. with other humorous,
facetious, and entertaining Pieces.
1 'T^HE Story of Le Fevre Sterne,
■z JL Yorick's Death - — —
3 Alcander and Septimius Byzant. H'lji.
4 The Monk - - Sterne.
5 Sir Ber trand ; a Fragment - Aiktn.
6 On Human Grandeur - Gcldjmith,
7 Dialogue between Mr. Addifon and Dr.
Swift - Dmkgiici of xbe Dead,
8 The Hill of Science j aVifion Aikin.
^ 9 On the Love of Life - Goldjm,
10 The Canal and the Brook ALkin.
1 1 The Story of a Difabled Soldier Goldjm,
12 Ulyffes and Circe - D\al. Bead,
13 Love and Joy; a Tale - A'ikin,
14 Scene between Colonel Rivers and Sir
Harry
15 OnDignity of Manners - Chejlerf.
16 On Vulgarity - - ~ —
17 On Good-brteding - — —
j8 Dialogue betvt'ixt Mercury, an EngHfh
Duellift, and a North American
Savage - Lialogues of tbe Dead.
jg Bayes's Rules for Compofition Bucking.
20 TheArt of Flealing - Chejiuf.
21 Dialogue between the Plinys Dial- Dead.
12 Humorous Scene betwfen Boniface and
Aimwell - Furquhar.
23 Endeavours to pleafe are fcarcsly un-
fuccefsful - Cheferf.
24 A Dialogue between M. Apicius and
Darteneuf - - Dial- Dead,
25 Scene between lago and Caffio Shakf.
26 Dialogue between Mercury and a Mo-
dern Fine Lady - Dial, Dead.
27 Scene betwefR Shylock and Tubal ShakJ.
28 Sc?ne between P. Henry and FalftafF Shak.
29 Scene between Moody and Manly
30 Management of Wit
31 Egotifm to be avoided
33 Letter to Lord ****
Cbefltrf.
Baling.
Pope.
20S
210
210
3 3 The Birth of Martlnus Scriblerus
The Dodtor and his Shield
The Nutrition of Scriblerus — —
Play Things - -
Mufic - _
Logic - - — ,—
The Seat of the Soul - — ._
The Soul a QuaUty - _«,
34 Diverfity of Geniufes - ., . .
The Advancement of the Bathos .
Dedications and Panpgyrics — — .
A Recipe to make an Epic Poem
To maite an Epic Poem — _
35 The Duty of a Clerk -"
36 Cruelty to Animals - — —
37 Paftoral Comedy - —
38 Dogs - .
39 Lady Mary Wortley Montague . â–
40 The Manners of a Bookfelier — —
41 Defcription of a Country Seat — .
42 Apology for his Religious Tenets
43 Defence againft a Noble Lord's Reflexions
44 The Deatn of Mr. Gay
45 En^y - - Rambler
46 Epicurus's Charafter - Onery.
47 Example, its P,evilence - Baling.
" â– j dangerous wheji copied without
judgment - « __
48 ]
2ia
.213
214
215
2id
217
2IS
218
219
219
220
221
22a
zzz
223
224
225
230
231
233
233
234
234
235
ixilc
CONTENTS,
Seft. Authors. Page
48 Exile only an imaginary Evil Baling. 235
. cannot h urt a reflecting Man 236
-49 Love 01 Fame ~ Fitzofi. 236
.50 Enthufiafm — — ' ^37
51 Fiee-thinking, Abufes of — Covnotjf. 23S
i he Unbeliever's Creed — — • 239
5Z Fortune not to be truiled — Eol'mg. 239
, her Evils difarmed by Patience 239
53 Dsiicacv conllitutional — Hume. 240
'-â– 'â– ' - " 240
felect our
Rambler
— Hi
Me.
240
241
241
242
243
243
Sterne. 243
Blackfiune. Z44
IdLr. 247
Rambler , 249
Blackftone. 250
Orrery. 253
of Tafte aefirable
. — - that it teaches us
Company —
54 Detradllon a deteftable Vice
55 Learning, its Application
its i'rogrels
ufeleis without Tafte
. its Obftruftions —
56 Manlcind, a Portrait of —
57 Manors, their Origin, &c.
58 Hard Words defended —
59 Difcontent, its common Lot
60 Feudal Syftem, Hiftory of
61 Of Britiih Juries —
62 Tuftice, its Nature, &.c. defined Goldjin. 253
63 Habit, Difficult) of conquering Idler. 253
64 Halfpenny, ics Adventures Adventurer, 254
65 Hiftory, our natural Fondnefs for it, and —
itstiueUfe — , Baling. 255
66 Human Kature, its Dignity Hume. 256
67 OpeiaciLns of confidered Orrery. 257
68 Oeconomy, Want of it no Mark of
Genius — Adventurer. 257
69 Operas ridiculed — ! yttdton. 259
•JO Patience recommended Bo'nngLroke. 259
•jx exemplified in the Story of an
Afs — Sterne. 260
72 Players in a Country Town defcrJbed Conn. 261
^3 often miftake one Eftedt for
another — — . 262
74 True Pleafure defined — Seed- 262
75 Politenefs, how manifefted Hume. 262
76 Poet, Bufmefs and Qualifications of de-
fcribed — Joknjon. 263
77 , Remarks on fome of the belt, both
Ancient and Modern — Dryden. 264
7S — — Re.iii.ks on fome of the beft iinglilh
Dramjtic ones — Dryden. 265
79 Property, Origin and Right of, ex-
plained — — Blackftone.
gc Retirement of no Ul'e to fome Bohng.
81 Revnlution of 1688, its Conftquences
82 Riddles defendi-d — Fit^ojb.
83 Senfes pe verted by FaihJon SmolLtt.
84 Simplicity, its Beauty in Wiiting Brown.
85 coiii'picuous in the Scriptures
go lh»uld be pseferred to Refinement in
• writing — — hume.
87 Suicide, Hliay on — Comoijf.
88 Enumer.iticm of Superftitions obkivea .n
the Country — — —
89 Swearing; ind.hcate ard wicked — ^
90 Sympaciiy, a Source of vhe Subi.me
gi — — its tft' dfs m the i litrefi'es of
others — — Burke.
02 Tears not unworhy of an Hero L> jde -
93 Terror, a Source ot the cjabume i^urke.
94 Tragedy compared with Epic Poe y
95 Tranflations, H;ftory of —
96 Tiaufi-icor, Talent* to foim ;
6' d
Drjuc)
283
284
28b
Sefft. Authors. Page
97 Wit, the Nature of in v?rlting Dryden. 288
98 Examples that Words may affedt without
raifing Images — Burke. 289
99 Charadteriftics of Whig and Tory
Parties — — Hume. 290
100 Painting difagreeable in Women ConnoijJ'. 290
101 Advantages of well-direfted Satire pointed
out — — Fitx/b- i.<ji
loa Juvenal and Horace compared as Satirifts
Dryden. 29a
103 Delicate Satire not eafily hit off — — 293
104 Works of Art defedtive — SpeEi. 294.
— — Advantages from their Similarity to
thofe of Nature — . . ' ■294
105 On the Progrefs of the Arts — Idler. 295
106 Aftronomy, Study of, delightful latler. 295
107 The Planetary and Terreftrial Worlds
comparatively confidered — Sfe^l. 296
108 Character of Toby Bumper — ConnolJJ. 297
109 Caufes of National Chara<fters Hume. 2^J
110 Chaltity an additional Ornament to
Beauty — — Spiff. 298
111 —— a valuable Virtue in a Man Guard- 29S
112 Charadlers of Gamefters — Conno'tjf. 299
113 Tatler's Advice to his Sifter Jenny: a
Leflbn for young Ladies Tatler, 300
-114 On Curiofity — Sterne. 30a
lis Controverfy feldom decently condufted
Brywne. 30J
116 Converfation, how to pleafe in Rambler. 303
117 various Faults in — Connoijf. 303
118 Citizen's Country Houfe defcribed — — 305
119 Humorous Scene between Dennis the
Critic and the Dodlor — Sivft- 306
120 The Two Bees — An n. 308
121 Pleafant Scene of Anger — Spe&. 308
122 FalftafFs Encomiums on Sack Shakf. 308
123 Hotfpur reading a Letter — — — 309
124 Falftaff's Soliloq y on Honour — — 309
1x5 The pe.feft Speaker — 309
126 Diftempers of the Mind cured Thornton. 310
IZ7 Character of a Choice Spirit â– 310
128 A Citizen's Family fetting out for
Brighthelmftone — 31*
129 Charadler of a mighty good Kind of
Man — — 313
130 Charadter of a mighty good Sort ot
Woman — — - — - 315
131 On the affefted Strangenefs of fome Men
of Quality — — ■316
132 On the Arrogance of younger Brothers of'
Quality — — 317
133 Perfons of Quality proved to be
Traders — — • 319 '
134 On Pedantry — — . 321
135 A Sunday in the Country — • -3^*
136 On the Militia — — 323
137 On going to Bath, &c. — ■324
1 38 i'he faint hearted Lover — 326
139 Coronation, Detail of — — -^ 326
140 Letter from a fuccefsful Adventurer in
the Lottery — — 33I
Characters of Camilla and Flora Gre-vHle. 3 3»
A table, by Linnffius — 333
Mercy reeominenaed — Sterne. 334
The Staring - — 334
Ibei^a.tve — — 335
'J lirn'o i:.xplanation of the Fifth Com-
mon imeut — — 335
47 Heaitft — — 335
148 A VOVAGS
HI
142
'43
144
US
140
.CONTENTS.
SeSt, Authors. Page
248 A Voyage to Lilliput. Swift.
Chap I. Author's Account of himlelf
and Family — — 336
» II. TheEmperor of Lilliput vifits
the Author in his Confinement — 3^
,. . III. The Emperor and his Nobi-
lity diverted by him — 344
a IV. The Metropolis of Lilliput
defcribed ■— — 348
— — V. The Author prevents an In-
r^ vafion — ""■350
E'= __ VI. Of the Inhabitants of Lilli-
" put — — — 353
*- — VII. The Author's Efcape to
Blefufcu ~ - 357
_. — VIII. His Return to his native
Country — — 361
14J A Voyage to Brobdingnag.
Chap. I, A great Storm defcribed — 363
Se£t. Authors.
Chap, II. Defcrlptlon of the Farmer's
Daughter — -» — -
— — III. The Author fent for to
Court — —
— __ IV. The Country defcribed — •
— — V- Adventures that hjvppencd to
the Author — —
— — VI. Contrivances of the Author
to pleafe the King and Queen —
— Vll. The Author's Love of his
Country — —
— — Vlll. His Return to England
7 50 Detached Sentences — Various.
151 Pro'verbs — — __
15a Old Italian Proverbs — —
153 Old Spanifh Proverbs — —
154 The Way to Wealth — FranUin.
155 In Praife of Virtue — Price.
1 56 On Cruelty to inferior Animals yenyns,
157 On the Duties of School Boys RoUin,
Page
36a
371
375
378
38*
3«S
388
391
397
403
409
414
418
41S
4ZO
BOOK V, IntroduEHon to Geography, Afironomy, Chromhgy^
Natural Htjlory, t^c.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHY.
J TAEFINITiON of Geography
JlV Sharpen Holberg. 423
a Mathematical Defcription of the Earth 423
3 Phyfical Defcription of the Earth — 424
4 Political Defcription of the Earth — 424
5 Of Europe and its feveral Kingdoms — 424
6 Of Spain — — 4^5
7 Of Portugal — « — 42^
8 Of France ~ — 4^5
9 Of Italy — — — 42 s
10 Of" Great Britaia — — 426
11 Of Denmark — — 4^7
12 Of Norway — — 427
13 Gf'-weden — — 427
14 Of the low Countries — — 4 8
S^5 OfGr-rmanv — — 42S
16 Of Bohemia and Hungary — • — 429
17 Of Swi zerland — — 4^9
18 Of Poland — — -—430
19 Of ^iufcovy .»« ~ — 430
ao OfTh'-ace — — 430
21 <-'f'y^o fia — — 430
22 OfT"rnfylvania — — 430
23 Of re ce — ' —'431
24 Of Afia — — 43 I
25 Of Chi" a — -—431
26 Of india — — 431
27 Of Perfia — — 431
28 Regions, in Afia belong! g to the Turkifh
Empire — — 432
29 Of Africa — — 433
30 Of America — — 4:4
31 Of the Iflands in the Weft Indies — 434
32 Of Counrnes and Iflands in the Southern
Kemifphere •— •— 434
CHAPTER IL
INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMr.
A general View of the Univerfe Jennings.
Of the Earth and its Motions —
Of the Mb n — ■—
Of the Eclipfes of the Sun and Moon —
Of the Doftrine of the Tides —
Of the inferior and fuperior Planets —
Comets — —
Of the fixed Stars — —
43*
436
438
441
44a
444
447
449
CHAPTER III.
NTRODUCTION TO CHRONOLOGY.
Jennings. 449
— 4SI
45*
453
453
Of the Djvilions of Tims
Of C^aiendars — •
Of Cycles —
Of the Epaa —
C/ Epuc^ 13 or y^ras
CHAPTER IV.
INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL HIS-
TORY, y^.
The Horfe — — Pennant
— Ox — —
— Sheep — ^
— WJd Cat — ""— I
— Dom^.Tic Cat ~ —
454
457
459
46 1
464
464.
II. O R N I T H O r. O G Y,
Explanation of fome technical Terms 5n
Orn'thology — .
The rigenn ^
— Blackbird —
— BulniiLh —
— Goldfinch — .
— Linnet <»—
•v Canary Bird â– >â–
— 465
— 466
— 467
— 467
— 469
— 469
14 The
CONTENTS;
Seft. Authors. Page
14 ■— Sky Larfe — Pennant. 469
15 — Nightingale — — 47°
16 — Red Breait — — 47'
jy — Wren — ~,
,2 — Swift — —
19 Of the Difappearanc* of Swallows —
20 Of Small Birds of Flight Bar-^ington.
ai — Singing Birds — —
III. Fishes.
»2 The Eel — Fenmitt.
aj ~ Perch — —
24 — Trout — —
15 — Pike or Jack — —
46 — Carp — —
7.^ — Barbel —« —
472
472
473
47';
478
4^3
4S4
485
486
4l?7
48S
Sea.
Authors.
Page
28 — Tench
—
Pennant.
48^
29 — Gudgeon
—
—
489
30 — Bream
—
— .
489
31 — Crucian
—
~.
4^9
32 — Roach
—
—
489
33 — Dace
—
— >
490
34 ~ Chub
—
— .
400
35 — Bleak
—
—
490
— White Bait
— .
—
491
36 — Minow
a_
_
491
37 — Gold Filh
—â–
—
49 i
IV. The Calendar of Flora
StUUvtrfieet.
49a
Chronological Table
of remarkable Events,
Difcoverles, and Inventions
Guth ie-
504.
Men of Learning and Genius
—
5^9
ELEGANT
^
ELEGANT EXTRACTS,
IN PROSE.
BOOK THE FIRS T.
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS.
i*
The Vijto'n of Mirza, exhibitmg a Pic-
ture of Human Lfe,
ON the fifth day of the moon, which,
according to the cuftora of my fore-
fathers, I always keep holy, after
having waflied myfelf, and offered up my
morning devotions, I afcended the high hills
of Bagdat, in order to pafs the reft of the
day in meditation and prayer. As I was
here airing myfelf on the tops of the moun-
tains, I fell into a profound contemplation
on the vanity of human life; and paffing
from one thought to another. Surely, faid I,
man is but a fhadow, and life a dream.
Whilft I was thus mufing, I caft my eyes
towards the fummit of a rock that was not
far from me, where I difcovered one in the
habit «f a (hepherd, with a little mufical in-
ftrument in his hand. As I looked upon
him, he applied it to his lips, and began to
play upon it. The found of it was exceed-
ing fvveet, and wrouglit into a variety of
tunes that were inexpreffibly melodious, and
altogether diiferent from any thing I had
ever heard : they put me in mind of thofe
heavenly airs that are played to the departed
fouls of good men upon their firft arrival in
Paradife, to wear out the imprelTions of the
laft agonies, and qualify them for the plea-
fures of that happy place. My heart melted
away in fecret raptures.
I have been often told, that the rock before
me was the haunt of a genius ; and that fe-
veral had been entertained with that mufic,
who had paffed by it, but never heard that
the rnufician had before made himfelf vifi-
'ble. When he had raifed my thoughts, by
thofe tranfporting airs which he played, to
tafte the pleafures of his converfation, as I
looked upon him like one aftonifhed, he
beckoned to me, and, by the waving of his
hand, direfted me to approach the place
where he fat. I drew near with that reve-
rence which is due to a fuperior nature ; and
as my heart was entirely fubdued by the
captivating ftrains I had heard, 1 fell down
at his feet and wept. The genius fmiled
upon me with a look of compaliior. and aifa-
bility that familiarized him to my imagina-
tion, and at once difpelled all the fears and
apprehenfions with which I approached himi
He lifted me from the ground, and taking
me by the hand, Mirza, faid he, I have
heard thee in thy foliloquies ; follow me.
He then led me to the higheft pinnacle of
the reck, and placing me on the top of it,
Caft thy eyes eaftward, faid he, and tell me
what thou feeft. I fee, faid I, a huge val-
ley, and a prodigious tide of water rolling
through it. The valley that tliou feef!-, faid
he, is the vale of mifery, and the tide of
water that thou feeft, is part of the great tide
of eternity. What is the rearon,faid I, that
the tide I fee rifes out of a thick mift at one
end, and again lofes itfelf in a thick mift at the
other? What thou feeft, faid he, is that por-
tion of eternity which is called Time, m.ca-
fured out by the fun, and reaching from the
beginning of the world to its confummation.
Examine now, faid he, this fea that is
bounded with darkncfs at both ends, and tell
me what thou difcovereft in it. I fee a
bridge, faid I, ftanding in the midft of the
tide. The bridge thou feeft, faid he, is hu-
man life ; confidcr it attentively. Upon a
more leifurely furvey of it, I found that it
confifted of threefcore and ten entire arches,
B With
ELEGANT EXTRACTS,
Book I.
with feveral broken arches, which, added to
thofe that were entire, made up the number
about an hundred. As I was counting the
arches, the genius told me that this bridge
confifted at firft of a thoufand arches ; but
that a great flood fwept away the reft, and
left the bridge in the ruinous condition I
now beheld it : but tell me further, faid he,
what thou dlfcovereft on it. I fee multitudes
of people pa fling over it, faid I, and a black
cloud hanging on each end of it. As I
looked more attentively, I faw feveral of the
paflengers dropping through the bridge into
the great tide that flowed underneath it :
and upon further examination, perceived
there, were innumerable trap-doors that lay
concealed in the bridge, which the paflen-
gers no fooner trod upon, but they fell through
them into the tide, and immediately difap-
peared. Thefe hidden pit-falls were fet very
thick at the entrance of the bridge, fo that