1 1 I w Kew, July 1770. T'hE Author and Editor of the ETHIC AMUSEMENTS join infmcere and moji refpe^tful Thanh to. the generous Encouragers of that Undertaking. Mr. Bellamy believes it unneceJJ'ary to trouble his Friends with a detail of the Accidents that have delayed the Publication of this Ap~ pendix Co long beyond the Time originally limited ; being affured the generality of Suhfcribers ivill put a kind and candid ConftruStion on every Thing that may feein amifs. The Odes ^;?i/ Sonnet here prefented to the Public ivere neither prowifed, or indeed intended to conftitute Part of this Work ; but fe- 'ceralof the Editor s Friends having i7itimated a defire to fee them prefixed to their Books, Gratitude convinced him it was his Duty to comply. Mr. Bellamy icill take an early opportunity of waiting on fuch of the Suhfcribers as refide in his Neighbourhood; not only to return them his perfonal Thanks, but for the SatisfaSlion of being afjured that the Work has been properly delivered. If any remoter Sub-' fcribers have not received their Books he will acknowledge it an additional Obligation if they will fignify the OmiJJion with their Addrefs, by a Linediredled To the Rev. Mr. Bellamy, at Mr. IlalV^, Book-binder, in Beaufort -Biuldings, in the Strand, Wefiminjler. tr/i trrkoo BY PERMISSION, o OF THE N. Ethic Amusements haVe been most humbly presented. 'TO * Th E K I N G. * T H E QJU E E N. * His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. * Her Royal Highness the Princess Dowager of Wales. * His Royal Highness Frederick Bishop of Osnabrug. * His Royal Highness Prince William. SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. OIR Charles Afgill, Bart. 1^ Mrs. Ainyand Mrs. AOiers Mrs. Allen John Arbuthnot, Efq; Thomas Adderley, Elc[; John Armitage, Efq; Mr Heniy Andrews Mr. Hendjn Allen Mr. Saint AUum Mr. Richard Arnott Mr. Thomas Allen B. * The Right Hon. the Earl of Bute The Right Hon. Lord Vifcount Boling- broke Mrs. Burdett Mifs Bilcliffe Mrs. Bacon Mrs. R. Briflowe Mrs. Browne, of Strand Mrs. Brown, of Richmond Mifs S. Browne Mrs. Bridges * Mifs Beal * Mrs. Bellamy Mrs. Anne Bellamy George Baker, m. d. PhyGcian to the Royal Houfehold, and f r. s. * John Baker, m. d. of Richmond. The Rev George Bellas, d. d, Richard Belfon, Efq; Chriflopher Blanchard, Efq; John Bell, Efq; Brillow, Efq; ■William Blair, Efq; John Briftowe, Efq; Thomas Burdett, Efq; Braiholomew Burton, Efq; * Frederick William Blomberg, Efq; Bayley, Efq; Nathaniel Bayley, Efq; James Bonnell, Efq; James Beal, Efq; John Bulley, Efq; Writing-mafler to the Princes * The Rev. Mr. John Burrough, Fel- low of Magdalen-Colk'ge, Oxford The Rev Mr. Charles Brown Mr. Henry Hell Mr. George Bickham Mr. John Bickham Mr. Solomon Browne Mr. Bradbury * Mr. Thomas Bellamy * Mr. Thomas Bellamy, Jan. Mr. Edward Ballard, Bookfeller Mr. Nathaniel Burrough * Mr. BoydeU, Engraver, two books * Mrs Baldwin Mifs Baldwin C. * His Grace the Lord Archbifhop of Canterbury * The Right Hon. the Countefe of Cowper * The Right Hon. the Lady Camden The Hon Lady Margaret Compton The Hon Mrs. Clutterbuck Sir James Cockbourne * The SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. * The Rev. John Cofens, d. d. Mini- fter of Teddington, and Chaplain to the Right Hon. the Earl of Den- bigh * The Rev. James Carrington, m. a. Chancellor of Exeter Mrs. Calliaud * Mrs. Cotefworth Mrs. Cutts Mrs. Curtis Mrs. CoHins, Hill-ftreet, Richmond Mrs. Colhngton Mifs Crofts Mrs. Campbell * Mrs. Cofens * Mifs Frances Carrington ■ Chambers, Efq; * John Cooke, Efq; George Carrington, Efq; Clark, Efq; Stephen Cazalet, Efq; * Claude Crefpigny, Efq; ll. d. * Claude Champion Crefpigny, Efq; * Philip Champion Crefpigny, Efq; John Chafe, Efq; * George Chadd, Efq; Edward Collins, Efq; Crop, Efq; Richard Cuvfon, Efq; George Colman, Efq; Chefler, Efq; James Campbell. Efq; WiUiam Chambers, Efq; of the Royal Academy The Rev. Mr. CoQard, Vicar of Twick- enham The Rev. Spark Cauham, m. a. Chap- Iain to the Right Hon. the Earl of Plymouth The Rev. Mr. James Carrington, Jun. Mr Richard Carpenter Mr. John Corp - Mr. Clicfdcn Mr. Samuel Chriftopher Mell's. Curtis, Stationers Mr. Benj. Cole, Engraver Mr. Edward Clark D. The Right Hon. Lady Delamer The Rev. Benjamin Dawfon, ll. d. John D'Urban, m. d. Mrs. Dubois Mrs. Delafoffe Mrs. Denoyer Mifs Denoyer * Mifs Duck Charles Deaves, Efq; James Davis, Efq; Quarter-mailer, Light-horfe Dorell. Efq; B. Gurdon Dillingham, Efq; Abiaham de Paibe, Efq; Phihp Denoyer, Efq; Mr. Charles Delafoffe, matter of the Boarding-fchool, Richmond-green Mr. Joleph Davis, Panfh-Clerk of Peterlham * Mr. Lockyer Davis, Bookfeller, two copies Mr. Raymond Davis . Mr. Edward Davidfon * The Right Hon. the Countefs Dow- ager ol Effingham * The Hon. and Right Rev. the Lord Bifliop of Exeter Mr. Dilman Englehart Mr. Edmead Mr. Edwards, Surgeon * The Right Hon. Lady Charlotte Finch The Right Hon. Lady Fitzwilliam Lieutenant General !• itzwilliam Ihe S-UBSCRIBERS NAMES. The Rev. Thomas Francklin, d. d. Vicar of Ware, Herts, and Chaphiiii in Ordinary to his Majclly The Rev. Claudius Fonnereau, i.i.. d. * Thomas Edwards Freeman, Efq; * Peter Flojer, Efq; Edward Fletcher, Efq; The Rev. Mr. Fayting, Re6lor of Si. Martin's Outwich, London Mr. \N'illiam Faden, five copies Mr. Farmer Mr. Fawfon G. * The Right Hon. the Countcfs of Greenwich * Baron Grothous * The Rev. Gooch, d. o. Pre- bendary of Ely Lady Grant Mrs. Graves Mrs. Gualtier * Mrs. Gardiner, of Twickenham Mrs. Gaudy, Governefs of the Board- ing-fchool at Richmond Mrs. Green, Governefs of the Board - ing-fchool at Hadleigh Mifs Gooch Mifs Guy Mifs S. Guy * William Gardiner, Efq; ]ohn Gray, Efq; John Henry Grofe, Efq; Goodchild, Efq; Edward Gafcoignc, Efq; * ]o(hua Glover, Efq; * Mrs Glover * Charles Grignion, Efq; Engraver Auguflinc Greenland, Efq; Secretary in the Chancery-court Mordecai Green, Efq; * John Guife, Efq; * Mrs. Guife Mr Job Gai diner Mr, James Guillct H. * The Ridit Hon. the Earl of Har- ringtou * The Right Hon. Ladv Harrington * The Right Hon. the Earl of Hard- wicke The Right Plon. Lady Howe The Hon. H. Hobart The Hon. Mrs. Hobart George Harris, ll. d, John Hawkefworth, i.i.. d. * Mrs. Houblon Mrs. Hunter Mrs. Holman Mrs. Anne Handiey Mrs. Sarah Handiey Mrs. Hardinge Mrs. Huddon Mrs. Herbert Mrs. Holroyd Mrs. Harriot Hales Mifs Howard * Mifs Hardinge * Mifs Juliana Hardinge Mifs Emma Maria HilHer Mifs Charlotte Hillier John Holroyd, Efq; Pennell Hawkins, Efq; Surgeon to the Royal Houfehold Capt. John Hamilton, of Montpelier- row Heron, Efq; * Ifaac Henckell, Efq; Tilman Henckell, Efq; Miles Halfey, Efq; Percivall Hart, Efq; Holman, Efq; George Hardinge, Efq; * Leonard Hammond, Efq; two Books * John Haverfield, Efq; John Haverfield, Efq; Jun. Thomas Haverfield, Elq; Mr. William Haverfield, of Univerfity- CoUcge, Oxford The SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. The Rev. Mr. Samuel Hemming, Chaplain to the Right Reverend the Lord Bilhop of London Mr. James Hou-ard Mr. William Henley Mr. Horsfield, Bookfcller, two Copies ■Mr. Jofeph Hall. Booklbller Mr. Thomas Hill Mr. Jofeph Hillier Mr. Hyde, of Cambridge Mr. Hall, Bookbinder, Beaufort Buildings I. The Rev. James Ibbetfon, d. d. Re£lor of Bufhcy, Herts, and Archdeacon of St. Alban's Robert Wallace Johnfon, m. d. The Rev. Mr. Jeffreys, of IQeworth Mrs James Mils Irifh Mr. Jackfon, Surgeon Mr. Ibbetfon K. The Rev. Thomas Knovvles, d. d. Rec- tor of ickworth, Preacher of St. Maiy's, Bury St. Edmunds Mrs. Knapp Mrs. Kranen Mrs. Elizabeth Knapton * Mrs. King Thomas King, Efq; J. Knapton, Efq; Ralph Knox, Efq; Richard Knovvler, Efq; * Joftiua Kirby, Efq; Defigner in Per- fpeftive to their Majefties, and F. R. s. William Kirby, Efq; of the Board of Works Mr. King, of the Ferry Mr. Kinglbury L. Mrs. Loydd Mrs. Levi Mrs Langford Caleb Lomax, Efq; of Childwick, Bury Henry Leaves, Efq; Charles Leigh, Efq; The Rev. Mr. Larkum The Rev. Mr. Langford, of Eton Mr. Langford, Surgeon Mr. Philip Laggatt Mr. George Long M. * His Grace the Duke of Montague His Excellency M. Mouffin Pouflin, Minifterfrom Ruffia The Rev. Bernard Mills, D JD. Reftor of Hitcham The Rev. Mr. John Morgan, Chancel- lor of St. David's Mrs, Marks Mrs. Middleton Mrs. Marten Mrs. Jane Moore Charles Morris, Efq; Thomas Morfon, Efq; Samuel Moody, Efq; Andrew Millar, Efq; James Miller, Efq; Thomas Melmouth, Efq; * Mefsman, Efq; Jeremiah Meyer, Efq; Thomas Metholde, Efq; Mr. Merrill, Bookfeller, two Copies Mr. Benjamin Martin * Mr. Morris The Rev. N. Xeden, D. D. * Dr. Nares, of the Royal Chapel Ditto, four Copies Mrs Newton * MifsNoy * James Norman, E(q; The Rev. Mr. Nott * Tlie SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. * The Rev. Mr. Naylor, Mafter of the Roarding-fchool, Afton-green Mr. Norton O. * The Risfht Hon. Georg;c Onflow Thoma.s Overton, Efq; Mrs. Oiton Mr Orton Mr. Owen, Bookfeller, tu-o Copies The Right Hon. the Lady Juliana Penn * Sir Samuel Prime * Lady Prime Sir James Porter General Paterfon * Samuel Pcchell, Efq; Mailer in Chancery, two Copies Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Pechell Mrs. Paten Mrs. Palmer Mrs. Pritchard Mifs Priaulx William Patoun, Efq; Lewis Perrin, Efq; Charles Pearce, Efq; Stephen Pitt, Efq; Hinchley Phipps, Efq; Palmer, Efq; John Price, llfq; James Payne, tfq; of the Board of Works The Rev. Mr. Pridie, ReQor of St. Alban's Abbey Mr. Thomas Payne, Bookfeller, two Copies Mr. Giles Panchen, of Doftors Com- mons Mr. Edward Prockter, Junior Mr. Palmer Mr. Price, Timber- merchant Mr. James PerrigaU Q Her Grace the Dutchefs of Queenfberry R Sir William Richardfon Major Roberts, of Portfmouth * Mifs Roberts Captain Rowley, of the Navy Mrs. RuffeU l\"rs. RuiTell, of Ormond row Mrs. Martha Roberts Mrs. Ruffeil. of Georgeflreet * Mrs. Reeffin, of Shene * ^'"ifs Margaret Robertfon * Mifs Ifabella Robertfon * Mifs Anne Robinfon, of Kew * Mifs Mary Fanny Robinfon Mifs Sarah Rhoades James Rofs, Efq; WiUiam Roberts, Efq; George Robertfon, Efq; of the Navy William Robertfon, Efq; Eaft-India fervice Charles Le Roche, Efq; Thomas Robinfon, Efq; Page to the Princes * Mr. William Robertfon, Surgeon Mr. Runnington Mr. Thomas Reading, of Hedgerley Mr. Charles Reading Mr. Roberts, of Brentford Mr. Jonathan Robotham Mr. Matthew Randall, Junior Sir Charles Sheffield, Bart. Lady Seabright Baron de Stark The Rev. U. Matthew Schutz, Reftor of March Gibbons, and Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majefty Mifs Schwellenberg Mrs. Skinner Mrs. SiddaU Mrs Stubbs * Mrs. Selwyn * Mifs Frances Smith, of Orange-ftreet Mrs. SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. Mis. Starkie Mrs. Spilfbury, Governefs of the Board- ing-fchool at Hammerfmith Samuel Smith, Efq; of Briflol Dutton Seaman, Efq; Inner Temple Symondfon, Elq; Secretar)' to his Grace the Archhifhop of Canterbury *" Matthew Skinner, Efq; Daniel Le Sueur, Efqi William Smitli, Efq; Auditor of the War office James Sayer, Efq; Deputy- fleward of Richmond Manor John Salter, Kfq; Thomas Smith, Efq; * Ji'hn Somncr Sedley, Efq; The Rev. Mr. Soame, of Milden-hall Mr. Shenton Mr. \V'illiam Strudwick, Surgeon * Mr. Thomas Smith, of Orangc-ftreet Mr. Clement Smith Mr. Richard Smith Mr. Stallard Mr. Francis Stone Mr. I':dward Smith Mr. Richard Seaman * Mr. Smith, Mafler of the Boarding- fchool at Richmond Mr. Charles Scott Sir Edmund Tiiomas, Bart. * Mrs. Tundall * Henry St. John Darell Trelawny, Efq; Witchcot Turner, Efq; William Turner, Efq; John Thompfon, Efq; * Peter Theobald, Efq; Thomas Tunllall, Efq; Jolin Thomas, Efq; Turton, Efq; The Rev. Mr. George Tilfou Mr. James Trimmer, Junior Mr. William Telphord V. Sir Francis \'incent, Bart. W. The Ri"ht Hon. the Earl of O Winchelfea * The Right Re\-. the Lord Bifhop of Wincheftcr Sir Booth Williams, Bart. Mrs. Wray Mrs Sarah Wadefon Mrs, Wilkes Mrs. Wright, of Newport- fireet * Mifs Anna Maria Wotton Mifs J. M. W^iltfchut * Mrs Wood, Governefs of the Board- ing-fchool at St. Edmund's-buiy Mifs Hannah M. M. Wood James Witchurch, Efq; Thomas Howlett Warren, Efq; ** Jofeph Wilton, Efq; of the Royal Academy, Statuary to his Majefty, two Copies Watts, Efq; Deputy Treafurer to the Princefs of Wales * George Wilfon, Efq; of Symonds- Inn John Wollaflon, Efq; Lewis Way, hfq; Benjamin Way, Efq; William White, Efq; George Wood, Efq; Daniel Wray, Efq; Daniel Wife, Efq; Groves Wheeler, Efq; * George ^^'^egg, Efq; William Wright, Efq; three Copies * Samuel Wale, Efq; of the Royal Academy The Rev. Mr. George Wollaflon, F. R.s. Reftor of Stratford, St. Mary, Suffolk The k. V. Mr. Frederick Wollaflon, Preacher at St. James's, Bury St. Edmonds The SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. The Rev. Mr. Woodcock, Vicar of A^'atford * The Rev. Mr. George Wakefield, Vicar of Kingfton upon Thames Mr. Wilfon, of the W. H. College * Mr. Watts, of Thames-flrcct Mr. Webiter Mr. Waterman Mr. Richard Walklin, Schoolmafler at Richmond Mr. John W'ood, of Ipfwich Mr. Thomas "Woodgate, Bookfcller at Brighthelmllonc Mr. Samuel VVitchingham, Junior Mr. Ward Mr. George ^\'arren Y. Shute Shrimpton Yeamans, Efq; ivjrs. Yeames, Governcis of the Board- ing-fchool, in Ormond»ro\v *^* The impreffion of this Work confifts only of Five Hundred Copies, viz. — One Hundred on Writing Paper, for thofe Names marked with Afterifks. — Four Hundred on common Paper. — The Purchafers are af- fured that, — in whatever ftiape the Ethic Amusements may hereafter ap- pear, — the Verfion of Boetius fhall never, by the Editor's pennilTion, be re-printed ; whereby that excellent Piece of moral Philofophy will impart a value to the Subfcribers Books, not only from its real in^rit, but from its. fcarcenefs.. Jidy 1770. tt* OmifTions or Miflakcs in the foregoing Lift of Names may be reftified; if pointed out to the Editor before Ckriftmas next ; at which Time the Subfcription will be finally clofed, and (hoiild any Copies then remain un- fold, the Price will be raifed to Two Guineas the Writing-paper, and One Giunea arJ a Hal/ the common Paper. THE R O H E An ODE. Qua Miiui. MAjus, meliusve terris Fata donavere, bonique Divi Nec dabunt, quamvis redeant in Aurum Temf-ora priscum. Than whom the Gods ne'er gave, or bounteous fate To human kind a gift more good or great, Nor from their treafures fhall again unfold, Though Time roll backward to his ancient gold. Ho RAT. Francis. ODE T O HER MAJESTY^ WITH A COPY OF THE Ethic Amusement s. MOST HUMBLY PRESENTED By the editor. TREMBLING I wake the lyre j for, ah ! what ftrain What energy of facred fong May fpeak Her merit ? — nor profane • Blcft: Caroletta's name, fo Icmg The joy of ev'ry heart, and theme of ev'ry tongue ? Come THt PROPHECY: II. Come Gratitude ! thou SERAPH rob'd in fire. Sole Sovran of my pafllve mind. Be thou my Mule ; and, oh, infpire Thy raptur'd votary to find Fit Eulogy for Her — The Friend of human kind ! iir. As Parent, — could'fl thou paint her holy care, Watching with all the Charitk's ; As Wife — a pattern for the Fair: What boots the blazon with the wife ? Who read Her commendation in a Monarch's eyes. IV. Her Bounty, like the golden font of day. Could 'ft thou defcribe in numbers free, Efi"ufing wide its genial ray. From grcatnefs even down to me ; Say, — what avails to prove what all confefs, and fee? V. CECILIA now, She wakes the foul of fong, And gives the lyre to ecftafy ; Now fhines Penelope amon::: Her chofen female band, who ply The needle's art, and fix the ilow'rs perennial dye. The AN ODE. VI. The daughters of ingenuous Poverty, (Such glories in Her annals fliine) Hence eat the bread of Induflry; Their manners with their art refine. And emulate their Queen — a Christian Heroine ! VII. Hence, ye Prophane ! — Let no unhallow'd fight Intrude upon her fecret hour ; Her blue eye lifts its humid light In frequent homage to that pow'r. Who makes her Portion George, and Paradife her Dow'r. VIII. 'Twasin the Reign of GEORGE the good," — fo Fame To future ages fliall report — " Virtue\v\\}a Caroletta came, " And fix'd her refidence at Court, " Then Greatnefs learn'd to lean on Goodnefs for fupport. IX. ** Blefs'd be that memorable Holiday " Which brought — fee Britain's Genius fniilc — " The living trcafiire o'er the fea, " T'enrich and dignify this Ifle ! ** Sincerely Chrijiian, then was Woman's higlieft flyle. *' Hence THE PROPHECY. X. ** Hence the true Eafe of nuptial happinefs, " Her fair example could reflore ; *' And hence fliall future Georges blefs " The world: and Albion's fartheftfhore *' Sound Caroletta's name, till time i2iall be no more. XI. Go Mufe ! nor at the Throne acceptance fear, Religion's Heav'n-diredled look IVIakes all Avmfement Ethic there : Ev'n Majefly thy fong fliall brook, ** And from its meaning well, fee merit in the Book. Kew, May lo, 176^. s ODE TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS The Princess Dowager OF WALES; WITHACOPYOFTHE Ethic Amusements* MOST HUMBLY PRESENTED By THE EDITOR. I. "'^Y^Other of George ! — an awful name, ly X. Which late pofterity fliall blefs. When grateful Britain fliall enquire of Fanae, The fource of all her happinefs ; And thro' a long illuftrious Race, Backward to thee the various Virtues trace. II. Ah, deign, all-gracious ! to receive, fRefpeSl can render trifles dear) Nor more the rich, nor more the great can givC' An offerino; from a heart fincere : To Heav'n, alike accepted, come The fingle heifer, and the hecatomb. t Infolvent "W \ AN ODE. III. Infolvent e'en in thanks till now. The Mufe would vindicate her right To pay — 'tis all her feeble pow'rs allow. One humble, tributary mite; May that h^x fealty record ! And thy acceptance bland becomes her beft reward. IV. If aught of moral good, or fair j If aught that dignifies man's breafV, Aright her imitative page declare ; ..^ ^ And all Augusta ftands confeft : To Her thofe happier lines of right belong, ^ For who infpires the Bard, perforce mufl take the Song. V. And thou, old Thames! whofe facred flream. Calm, clear, majeftically deep, Refembles beft my heart cnobling theme. Say, as I trod thy flow'ry fteep. Did e'er ambition on my foul intrude, Save to evince my Faith, and glowing Gratitude ? VI. Enough for me, in fome retreat. Unheeded by the public eye. To fteal thro' life with noifelcfs pace, and cat My bread with peace and privacy ; Appeafe each hope, and fears tumultuous flrife. And read my duty in my Sovran's Life. Kevv, July 4, J 768. SONNET T O HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The prince of WALES; WITH A M. S. VERSION OF Fenelon's Fable s, most humbly presented By the editor. I. GEoRGE, Prince of Wales ! Great Britain's deareft hope. Round whom the winged fandtities of Heaven, Ere wakes the Bridegroom Sun, to when aflope He beams his weftern glory ; night and even. Spread their fure panoply : — What fliall a Bard Of earth prefent, worthy that minds regard — A Charlotte's Pupil, and an Angel's Ward ? Line 3. Bridegroom Sun, alluding to Praliirxix. 5. 7. Jiigel's Ward, alluding to St. Matthew xviii. i:;. And o N N T. II. And yet — fond wifli ! ev'n this poor Book may prove, Should'ft thou its merit by its meaning weigh. How burns my bofom with refpedful love. And pants the debt of Gratitude to pay : Admitted to that * SHRINE thy Mother gave — — High place can Books, as well as Authors fave — One work of ours perchance, may triumph o'er the grave. * An elegant Book-cafe prefented by her Majefty, to his Royal Highnefs on his Birth-day 1768. Kew, Au^ufi 12, 1769. ETHIC TALES AND FABLES. INVENTED For the Education of a PRINCE. B y Francois de Salignac de La Motte F E N E L O N, Archbishop, and Duke of CAMERA Y. from the french. By D. B E L L a M Y. FICTION IS OF THE ESSEKCE OF PoETRY, AS WELL AS PaINTING : THERE IS A RESEMBLANCE IN ONE OF HUMAN BoDIES, ThINGS, AND ACTIONS, WHICH ARE NOT Rf AL, AND IN THE OTHER OF A TRUB STORY BT A FiCTION. D RY DE N. ( I ) F E N E L O JV's T A L E S AND F A B L E S. FABLE I. The Adventures of ARISTONOUS. Ophronvmus, having met with a long feries of difiippoint- ments both at home and abroad, and being thereby reduced to the lowcfl: ebb of fortune, fought confolation from his virtue in the Ifle of De/os. There he tuned his golden lyrej there fang the wonders of the Deliaji God. He made his court there to theMufes, who proved as kind as they were fair. The wond'rous works of nature were the condant objedts of his contem- plation : there he {ludicd the revolutions of the Heavens, and all the flarry train, the beauteous order of the elements, the fabrick of the terreftrial globe, which he was ever meafuring with his compafs, the various qualities of plants, and flrudure of the bru- tal world ; — but above all, in this retreat he pried with a more cu- rious eye into himfelf j with pleafure rcileded on his fuperior facul- ties, and praftifed all the virtues that adorn the foul. Thus dif- . B trefs 2 F E N E L N's trefs did not debafe his noble mind ; it only changed the fcene, and gave him new glory by the alteration. Whilll thus he lived poor, but content in his retirement ! he fpied a venerable, grave old man, juft landed on the Ifland. This flrangcr with furprize furveyed the fea-banks, well-knowing that the Ifle once floated here and there : but fixed his eyes with more attention on that fide, where the finall hills, forever verdant, reared up their heads above the rocks. He thought he never could ad- mire enough the chryftal fprings, and rapid floods, that water this delightful country. Slowly he moved along towards the hallowed groves, which fiiade all round the temple of the God. He gazed with pleafure on thofc ever-greens, which the bleak north- winds durfl; not blafl. With curious eyes he viewed the beauties of the temple ; its Parian marble, white as the new-fallen fnow ; its flately pillars of foHd jafper. Sophronymus, with equal curiofity, ob- ferved the good old man. His filver beard fell graceful on his breafl:. His face, tho' wrinkled, no ways was deformed. As yet, he knew none of the cares of age. His eyes were quick and lively; his ftature tall and majeft:icj his years, however, made him decline a little ; and when he walked, he wore an ivory flafF. Sophronymus approached, and thus addreffed him : What is it, venerable fir, you feek for here ? You feem a perfedl fl:ranger to the place. If it is the temple of the God j yonder it ftands, and, if you pleafe, I will conduft you thither. I reverence the Gods, and know my duty to a flranger. The old Gentleman replied ; — with pleafure I accept your friendly offer. May the kind Gods reward your love to fl:rangers ! Lead to the temple. — As they walked along, he told Sophronymus his adventures. My name, faid he, is Aristonous : I was born ai C/iiZomene, 0. town in Ionia, fituate in that pleafant coaft that ad- vances towards the fea, and fecms as if it joined the Illc of C/iios, the TALESandFAELES. 3 the native country of immortal Homer. My parents, tlio' poor, were both of an illuftrious family. Polistratus, that was my father's name, being encumbered with too large a family, unkindly ordered a friend of his at 'Teos to expofe me naked to the world, a tender, helplefs infant. A charitable old woman of Erythrea, who lived hard by, commiferated my unhappy flate, and reared me with goat's milk as her own. But as her circumftances were very narrow, when I was capable of fervice, flie fold me to a merchant who conveyed me, as his flave, to Lycia. He fold me again at Patara — luckily for me — to Alcinus, a Gentleman of fortune and diflin- guiflied merit. This Alcinus was a fecond father to me in my youth. I was fo happy as to be thought good-natured, fober, ho- neft, well'inclined, and attentive to all good advice. By his direc- tion I applied myfelf to Apollo^ favourite arts* Mufic and ex- ercife were my amufements j but his healing faculty my chief re- gard. I foon made large improvements in that fo neceflary fcience ; and afTifted by the infpiration of the Gcd, found out a thoufand curious fecrets. Alcinus, who flill grew more indulgent as I ad- vanced in years, well-pleafed with the fuccefs of all his cares, made me a freeman, and fent me to 'Damocles^ the King of Lycaonia -, a Prince much given to luxury and eafe, who made this life his care, and trembled at the thoughts of death. The monarch, to attach me to his intereft, made me rich and great. Damocles, fome few years after died. His fon, incenfed againft me, by the inftigation of fome parafites about him, gave me a diflafte to the pomp and grandeur of a court. In (liort, I had a flrong incli- nation to revifit Lycia, where I had fpent my younger years with fo much fitisfaflion. I lived in hopes of feeing once again my patron, my fofler-father, my benefador. On my tirfl arrival 1 heard the melancholy news that he was dead ; that jufl. before his deceafe he lofl his whole cdate, and fuffered manfully the frowns of fortune, B 2 and 4 F E N E L N' s and tlie cares of age. I vilited his tomb, fire wed flowers upon his venerable aflies, and bathed them with my tears. To perpetu- ate his memory, I ordered his character to be engraved upon the flonej and then enquired into his family- concerns. I was informed that Orchiloclnts was his only furviving fon, who dildaining to live in penury, and in a cottage, where his father had before him lived in fuch grandeur and repute, was refolved to lead a folitary life in fome far diflant Ifland. Orchilochus, it feems, foon after was cafl away upon the coafl of C^r/»/;^/z/j J fo that the whole race of my dear friend and benefador then was quite extindl. I determined immediately to purchafethe eftate, where formerly he lived in eafe and plenty. With pleafure I furveyed the fruitful fields around, which brought to my remembrance pleafures paft, and the dear image of my M'orthy mafter. I could fcarce perfuade myfelf but that I was young again, and gay, as when I ferved Alc'mus. Soon as I had fettled this purchafe with his creditors, affairs, of a quite different nature, called me again to Clazomene. My father Pclijlra- tus, and Phidilis my mother, were both dead. My reftlefs, uneafy brothers, were forever at variance one with another. No fooner was I arrived at Clazomene, but I made myfelf known to them, in the tattered garb of a poor, miferable flave, overwhelmed with his misfortunes, and fliewed the marks that infants generally bear, who are expofed as I was. They were nettled at this new difcovery, nor wanted unexpefted heirs to make their little lefs. They ffcre- nuoufly infifled, I was a bold impoftor, and denied my right in open court. In return to this ungenerous, unnatural declaration, I publicly refigned my title, confented to be deemed a perfect ftranger, and moved that they might equally difclaim their right in me. A decree was paft accordingly; then I threw off the flave ; difcovered the treafure I had on board ; affured them, that I was the fame Aris- T A L E S. AND F A B L E S. 5 Arirtokous, who had long been the peculiar favourite of DnviocleSy the lut J King of Lycaonia, and that^ I never had been married. My biothers foon repented of their coldnefs towards me, and hoping llill in time to be my heirs, were obfequious to the laft degree, and ftudied, but to no purpofe, to oblige me. Their per- petual jars compelled them to expofe that little they had left to pub- lic fiile. I was the fairell purchafer ; and they, with fliame and deep rclu<5lance, faw him legally poffeflcd of all their father had, whofe right to the leaft part, they had fo publicly contefted. In a fliort time, by their ill conduft, all grew miferably poor. But after I had humbled them, and made them feel myjuft refentment, I gave them large demonftrations of love and friendlhip. Freely I forgave them all ; received them in my houfe ; by proper prefent?, put it in their powers to trade abroad, and get eftates. The family was all harmony ; they and their children lived with me in perfevit peace. They all efleemed me as their common parent. By this happy union, and their diligence and application, all became conii- derably rich. In the mean time, you fee, old age knocks loudly at my door, covers my head with fnow, furrows my face, and warns me that my healthful days arc not of long duration Once more, therefore, I determined, before this feeble lamp of life was quite extinguiflied, to revifit that favourite fpot of ground, more dear to me than even my native country, that Lycia, where I ftudied to be wife and virtuous, under the kind guidance of my good old maftcr. In my paflage thither, I was credibly informed by a merchant of the Cyclad IJlands, that one of Orchilochus% fons flill lived at Delos ; and pradtifedall the virtues of his god-like grandlire. Whereupon I immediately declined my intended voyage ; and under the pro- tection of the Delicm God, arrived in fafety on this happy Ifland, in hopes to find the dear remains of one, to whom I owe my life,, my liberty, my all; My days are almofl; now fpurn out to their full length : 6 F E N E L N' s length : the cruel Parccr, foes to that downy reft which Jove bc- ftows fo feldoni upon mortals, will quickly cut the feeble thread I ! could thefe eyes but once behold the grandfon of my dear, dear mafter, freely I'd prefs into Death's icy arms ! Speak then, O fpeak, my hofpitable friend, have you ever heard of fuch a virtuous youth ? Can you diredt me where to find him ? If you can, may the kind Gods reward you for the favour ! May they prolong your happy life, 'till your childrens' children dance upon your knees, and afk your blcfling 1 May peace and plenty, the heft fruits of virtue, ever attend your numerous progeny ! At the clofe of this kind prayer of Aristonous, tears, {hed from joy and grief, like kindly Ihowers, flowed down Sophkonymus's cheeks. His tranfport ftopped the organs of his fpeech j filent, he threw his arms around the old man's neck, embraced, and prefTed him clofe : but at the laft, words intermingled with fighs found out their way. — O ! venerable Sir, 1 am the youth you look for ; — I am the grandfon of your friend Alclnus: and from the recital of your wond'rous ftory, am per- fuaded, fully perfuaded, that Heaven has fent you here to miti- gate my forrows. Gratitude, Vi'hich long fince— like yijlrcea — had forfook the world, is now returned in you. I had heard, indeed, when but a child, that a gentleman of fortune and diftinguifhed merit, v.'ho lived in Lycaonia, had been educated by my grand-fa- ther : but as my father Orchihchtis died young, when I was a poor, helplefs infant, you may imagine my ideas of thofe things were but confufcd. I was loth, on fuch weak motives, to go to Lycaonia i I chofe ratlier to continue here in quiet, alleviating my forrows by a philofophical contempt of grandeur and magnificence, and an agreeable cultivation of the mufes in the temple of Jlpollo. Mi' nerva, who inftrudls mankind, that nature is fufnccd with but a little, and that true happinefs confifts in a contented mind, has hitherto fupported me, and amply made amends for all my loffes. SoPITRO- TALES AND FABLE S.,. 7 SopiiRONYMUS, foon as he had fpoke thcfe words, finding him- felf before the temple- gate, propofed to Aristonous to enter in, and oiTer up their mutual pra3^ers and praifes to the Dclian God. The propofal was approved j v,'ith awful reverence two Iambs, white as the new-fallen fnow, and a young heifer, with a crefcent on his forehead, jufl between his horns, were laid upon the altar. There they hailed the God of Day ; there in melodious numbers praifed the fun, v/ho, in his radiant orb, illumines heaven and earth -, who rolls around the year, makes all the arts and fciences his care, and animates the facred nine. Their homage to the God thus paid, they fpent the remnant of the day, alternately recounting their adventures. Sophronymus conduced to his houfe the good old man, and entertained him with the fame refpedl as he would have fhewn Alclnus, had he then been living. The day following both agreed to fail for Lycia. Aristonous led his companion into a fertile country, on the verdant borders of the river Xanthus, in whofe tranfparentftreams^/tf/Zo, wearied with the chace, and covered with duft, fo frequently had plunged, and waflied his golden locks. Willows and poplars flood in rows along the river fide, within whofe tender verdant boughs a thoufand pretty birds concealed their hefts, and warbled night andday. The river, falling from thefum- mit of a rock, daflied down her noify, foaming billows into a little channel paved with pebbles. A golden harveft covered all the plain. Fruit-trees and vines rofe, like an amphitheatre, all round the little hills. There lavifli nature had adorned the year -, clear was the fky, ferene the air, and the earth ready to produce her ftores, with gratitude to crown the labours of the fwain. As they advanced Aill higher up the river, Sophronymus perceived a little country feat, not gay, but regularly built. No marble pillars, no coHly figures, wrought in filver, gold, or ivory, adorned the out-fidc ; no purple furniture was feen within. Every thing, however, was neat, clean. 8 F E N E L N' 5 clean, and convenient, tho' no ways oftentatious. In the middle of the court, a little fountain played its waters high, v/hich, as they fell, formed a delightful rill, whofe verdant banks were all ena- melled with the gaycft flowers. The gardens were but fmall, yet plentifully flored with various fruits and falutary plants. On each fide of the garden was a pleafant grove, whofc lofty trees fcemed coetaneous with their mother earth : whofe branches were fo thick, fo interwoven, that no fun- beams e'er could pierce them. They withdrew into a fpacious parlour, and there refreflied them- felves with fuch repaft, as nature from the gardens had provided ; wherein no coftly foreign fruits were introduced, fo often purchafed, and fo much admired in cities. They had milk in plenty ; fweeter than that ApoUo\ cattle yielded, when fliepherd to Admetia. ' They had honey more delicious than the produft of the Sicilian Bees in Hybli, or thofe of Attica on mount Hymettus. They had flore of beans and peafe, and various fruits before them but that moment gathered. Their wine, which was racked off from ftately jars into fmall, well- wrought bowls, v.as of a finer flavour, and more racy than the nedtar of the Gods. ARistoNous, during this frugal, but delightful entertainment, would not fit down at table. At firft, he made a thoufand little excufes to conceal his modeAy ; but when at laft SoPHRONYMUs was too importunate, he owned the caufe : declared he could not make himfelf fo free, and fo familiar with the grandfon of Alcimis, behind whofe chair he had fo many years attended in that very parlour. Here, Sir, faid he, my good old mader always dined ; there he converfed with his familiar friends j there followed all liis innocent diverfions. Hejiod and Homer were his old companions here ; and there. Sir, was his favourite bed- room. In friendly recolleftion of thefe various circumftances his tender heart began to melt, and tears ran trickling down his cheeks. After their repalt was over, he condudlcd Sophro.nymus into the adjacent TALES AND FABLES.. 9 adjacent meadows, to take a view of his large cattle, wliicli ranged at will and lowed along the river. Then they furveyed his nume- rous flocks, as they returned from their fat paftures. The little wanton lambs played near the bleating ewes, whofe udders fwelled with milk. They found no fervants idle ; all were induflrious in their feveral vocations : work feemed a pleafure for fo good a mal- ter ; one whom they loved fo well ; and one, who fweetened all their labours. Aristonous having now fliewn Sophronymus his houfe, his flaves, his herds, his flocks, and fertile meadows, thus addreflTed him : With tranfport I behold you now pofleflTed of what your an- ceftors enjoyed before you. Happy am I ! thus to have power to reinflate you on that very fpot, where I fo long had ferved the good Alcinus, Enjoy in peace that which long fmce was his. Make yourfelf happy, but be cautious j and by your prudent condudl, may your decline of life be replete with better fortune than marked your venerable father's latter days. — - Immediately he made the efliate over to Sophronymus by a legal conveyance ^ and declared he would difinherit fuch of his relations, as fliould ungratefully prcfumc todifputehis title. Aristonous had flill further favours to beftow. Before this deed of gift was executed, he furniflied the houfe anew; made it at all points decent and compleat ; without things gaudy and fuperfluous. The barns he ftored with the rich treafures of the Goddefs Ceres ; the cellars with the choicefl: wines of Chios, neat and racy, fit to be ferved up ztjove^ table by Ganymede or 'Hebe. — To thefe he added choice Parmenian wines, the honey of Hymcttus and of Hybla, in large quantities ; and Attic oils aimort; as fweet, and of as fine a flavour. Moreover, he heaped up a boundlefs ftock of the finefl: wool, white as unfullied fnow, the treafures formerly of tender flieep that fed on the Arcadian moun- tains and Sicilian plains. With thcfc valuable additions w.as the houfe made over to Sophronymus. He clofcd his bounty'with a C fpccih.v- lo F E N E L O N' s fpeclfic legacy of fifty Eudcic talents, referving to his own relations his feveral eilates in Clazomene, Smyrna, Lebedos, and Colophom all of confiderable value. Aristonous having thus fettled his af- fairs to his entire fatisfacflion, reimbarked on board his veffel, bound for Ionia. Sophronymus overvi^helmed with fuch a flood of favors, waited on him to the fhip -, and as the tears ran trickling down his cheeks, with filial tendernefs carefied him, and called him as they went along, his father. The winds proved favourable, and Aristonous foon arrived fafe at home. None of his relations ever prefumed to murmur at his bounty to Sopheonvmus. My friends, faid he, I have now made my will ; and thereby have declared, that all my effects, real and perfonal, without reftridion, fliall be fold, and given to the poor loniam ; in cafe any one of you hereafter fliall difpute my free donation to the grandfon of Alcinus. The good old man long lived in peace ; long he enjoyed the good things of this life, which the kind Gods beflowed as the rewards of virtue. His age did not prevent him, once a year, from vifiting Sophronymus at Lycia, and facrificing on the tomb of good Alcinus, which he had decorated with new erections, and moft curious carved vt'ork. — He by his will direded, that his body, after his deceafe, fliould be interred in the fame tomb, that even in death he might embrace his mafter. Sophronymus, as each revolving fpring came on, impatient to behold his friend, forever fixt his eyes upon the fliore, in hopes to fpy the bark, which at that feafon brought his dear Aristonous to his arms. Each year he had the pleafure to defcry from far the wifli'd-for veffel, ploughing the briny waves, and moving towards him. The diftant profpecfl pleafed him infinitely more than all the beauties which the fpring can boafl of, when the winter's rage abates; This fo much long'd-for fhip one fpring ne'er came at all. So- phronymus fighed from his inward foul. His fecret anguifli and diflrading fears were legible upon his face. — Soft, downy fleep ne'er TALESandFABLES. n ne'er clofed his weary eye-lids. He had no reliOi for the mofl coftly dainties. Refllefs he fpent the tedious hours ; each Httle noife alarmed him : his eyes were ever wand'ring towards the port, and he would every moment alk after the Ionian vefTels. — One comes at lafl: : — but oh ! — no Aristonous was there. — Only his venerable aflies in a filver urn. Amphldes, an old gentleman, and bofom-friend of the deceafed, his faithful executor, was the fole melancholy bearer. — When he firfl: approached, Sophronymus had no words to tell his grief: — Both mingled fighs in a dumb fcene of forrow. Sophronymus firft kiffed the urn, then bathed it with his tears ; — words — at laft found out their way. — O thou venerable, good old man ! — All the pleafures I e'er enjoyed flowed from thy bounty : now all my joy, my comfort, all that is left in life fleets after thee. Thefe eyes fliall never fee thee more ; death now would be thrice welcome, could I but fly to thee, attend thee in the Elyfian fields, where thy blcfl fliade enjoys eternal reft : and fuch pleafures as the Gods referve for virtuous men. Thou hafl; brought back again, in thefe degenerate times, religion, juftice and gratitude on earth. In thefe iron days, thou hafl difplayed the innocence and beauties of the golden age. The Gods, before they crowned thee with the glories of the jufl:, granted thee length of happy days. But, alas ! he, who deferves to be immortal, often dies the foonefl:. Thy ver- dant fields, thy flow'ry gardens, now have no charms for me ; now thou art abfent, every place feems defert. O blefl: fliade ! when fliall I follow thee ? ye dear remains ! had you fen(ation, you would furely feel new pleafure in mingling with the aflies of Alcinus. Mine Ihall one day be mingled too with yours. Till that day comes, I fliall with pious care lock up thy precious aflics. O! Aristo- nous ! Aristonous ! thou flialt never die : thy memory fliall ever be imprinted on my heart. Sooner would I forget myfelf than fuch a friend, fo virtuous a man, fo bountiful a bcnefaflor ! After this afi'ecSlionate, tho" broken fpecch, Sophronymus per- formed the funeral rites, and placed the urn within his grandfire's C 2 monument. 12 F E N E L N' s monument. He facrificed whole hecatombs, whofe blood ran like a torrent o'er the green- fwerd altars, which were raifed all round the tomb. He poured forth large libations both of wine and niilk. He burnt perfumes imported from the diflant eaft, whofe odori- ferous clouds curled upwards to the fkies. Forever after, by the appointment of Sophronymus, annual funeral games were cele- brated in remembrance of Alchiusy and his virtuous friend. Spec- tators, in tribes innumerous, reforted thither from the fruitful plains of Cciria ; from the delightful banks of the Meander, which fports and plays along in many a winding wreath, and feems to quit the country, which it waters, with reluilance ; from the gay, ilow'ry banks of the Cayjlrw, from the (hores of rich PaSloluSy under whofe gentle waves roll golden fands ; and from Pamphylia, to which Pomo7ia, Ceres and Flora ftrive who fliall be moft indul- gent ; in fine, from the extended plains of fair Cilicia, as a garden watered with the torrent rolling impetuous down from "Taurus, whofe high head is ever filvered o'er with fnovv. During thefe an- nual rites, the nymphs and fwains, dreft in loofe linnen robes, white as the fairefl lilies, fang the eulogiums of Alcinus and his friend : there was no praifing the one without the other ; nor could they feparate two men, whofe union flill cemented in the grave. A miracle immediately fucceeded : on thefirft day of celebration, whilft Sophronymus was pouring forth his large libations both of wine and milk, a myrtle of fragrant fmell, and beauteous verdure fhot from the middle of the tomb ; all on a fudden, reared its tufted head, and with its interwoven boughs o'erfhadowed both the urns. The whole afTembly, with one voice, declared that Aristonous, as a reward of his uncommon virtues, was by the Gods transformed into this beauteous tree. Sophronymus, with pious care, watered this myrtle himfelf ; revered it as a God. It feemed to flourifh in immortal youth ; and, by this miracle, the Gods inftrudted them that Virtue, li-hich diffufes fuch perfumts tipon the memories of men is ever/ajing, and its own renvard, FABLE ( 13 ) FABLE II. The Adventures of MELESICHTON. MElesichton was a native of Megan's, and a gentleman of an illuftrious family in Greece. When young, the heroic a£lions of his anceflors took up all his thoughts j and he gave early demonftrations of his courage and conduift, in feveral bold and ha- zardous engagements : but as he was too fond of grandeur, his high and expenfive way of living foon plunged him into a fea of troubles. He was obHged to fly with his wife Proxinoe to a country-feat on the fea-fliore, where they lived together in a pro- found folitude. Proxinoe was a lady highly efteemed for her wit, courage, and {lately deportment : many, who were in much better circumftances than Melesichton, made their addrelfes to her on account of her birth and beauty; but true merit alone made him the objedl of her choice. Tho' their virtue and friendfliip were inviolable , tho' Hymen for many years had never united a happier pair ; yet their mutual attachment and affedtion proved now but an aggravation of their forrows. Melesichton could have borne with lefs impatience the fevereil frowns of fortune, had he fuffercd alone, or without fo tender a partner as Proxinoe ; and Proxinoe with concern obferved, that her prefcnce augmented the pains of her Melesichton. Their fole comfort now arofe from the reflcdtion that heaven had blefl them with two children, beauteous as the Graces : their fon's name was Meliboeus, and the daughter's Pceminu. Meliboeus 14 F E N E L N's Melibo^us was very adtive, ftrong, and courageous ; In every gentle- man-like exercife he excelled all the neighbouring youth. He ranged around the forefts, and his arrows w^ere as fatal and unerring as thofe of Apollo : however, the arts and fciences — thofe nobler rays of the deity — were more the objedts of his contemplation, than his bow was his diverfion. Melesichton, in his retirement, laid before him all the advantages of a liberal education, and im- printed on his mind, betimes, the love of virtue and good manners. Meliboeus, in his air and mien, was unaffeded, foft and engaging ; yet his afpeft was noble, bold, and commanded refpedl. His father caft his longing eyes upon him, and wept over him with a paternal fondn efs. Poeminis was by the mother intruded with equal care, in all the various arts with which the Goddefs Minerva h^s obliged mankind; and to thofe ufeful accomplifhments were added the charms of mufic : Orpheus never fung, or touched his lyre more foftly than Poeminis. At firft fight flie appeared like the young Goddefs Diana, juft rifen from her native floating Ifland. Her filver trefles were tied with a carelefs air behind ; whilft fome few ringlets unconfined, played about her ivory neck at the breath of every gentle zephyr. Her drefs was a thin loofe gown, tucked up with a girdle, that flie might move with the greater freedom. Without the advantage of drefs, no nymph was ever fo beautiful, fo free from pride, fo little confcious of her own charms. She was never fo vain or curious as to examine her features in any tranfparent flream. The condudl and ceconomy of the family v/as her whole employment. But Melesichton, whofe thoughts were ever dark and gloomy, whofe hopes of a return from his flate of banilhment were now all loft, fought every opportunity to be alone. The fight of Proxinoe and his cliildren now aggravated his forrows :' he •would often fteal out to the fea-fliore at the foot of a large rock, full of tremendous caverns -, and there awhile bemoan his v^ay ward fate : TALES AND FABLES. 15 fate : from thence repair to a thick fhady vale, where — even at mid-day — no fun-beam ever entered. There would he lit on the margin of a purling ftream, and ruminate on all his ills. Soft, downy fleep ne'er clofed his weary eye-lids ; his words all terminated in fighs ; old age before his time had furrowed all his face ; and unable to bear the ftorm, he grew negligent of life, and funk under the weight of his misfortunes. One day as he was reclined on a bank in his favourite, folltary vale, tired and fatigued with thought, he fell afleep j and in a dream, faw the Goddefs Ceres, crowned with golden flieaves, who approached him with an air of majefty and fwectnefs : — "Why, Melesich- " TON, faid flie, art thou thus inconfolable ? Why art thou thus " overwhelmed with thy fate ?" " Alas ! replied he, I am aban- *' doned by my friends ; my eftate lofl j law-fuits and my creditors *' forever perplex me ; the thoughts of my birth, and the figure •* I have made in the world are all aggravations of my mifcry ; and ** to labor at the oar, like a galley-flave, for a bare fubfiflance, is ** an adl too mean, and what my fpirit never can comply with." " Does nobility then, replied the Goddefs, confill; in affluence *• of fortune? — No, Melesichton ; but in the heroic imitation " of thy virtuous anceflors; The juft man only is truly noble. " Nature is fufficed with a little : enjoy that little with the fvveat ** of thy brow : live free from dependance, and no man will be *' nobler than thyfelf. — Luxury and falfe ambition are the ruin of ** mankind. — If thou art deftitute of theconveniencies of life, who *• fliould better fupply thee than thyfelf ? Be not terrified then at " the thought of attaining them by the fevereft induftry and ap- ** plication ?" She faid ; and immediately prcfcnted him with a golden plough- fhare, and an horn of plenty. Bacchus next appeared, crowned with ivy, grafping his thyrfus in his hand, attended by Pan, playing on i6 F E N E L N's on his rural pipe, while the fauns and fatyrs danced to the melodi- ous mufic. Pomona next advanced, laden with fruits, and Flora, dreft in all her gayeft, fweeteft flowers. In fliort, all the rural deities cart a favourable eye on Melesichton. He waked, fully convinced of the application and moral ufe he ought to make of this celeftial dream. A dawn of comfort all on a fudden fhot thro' his foul, and he found new inclinations rife to the labours of the plain. He communicated his dream with plea- fure to the fair Proxinoe, who rejoiced with him, and approved of his interpretation. The next day they lefTened their retinue ; the valet and waiting-woman were immediately difcharged, and all their equipage and grandeur at once refigned. Proxinoe with Pcmenis fpun, while Melesichton and MeUboeus tended their flieep, — and at convenient hours weaved their own cloth and fluffs, and cut out and contrived every thing to the befl advantage for themfelves and the reft of the family, All their fine needle- works — in which Mtner-va herfelf could never be more curious — were now no more regarded ; and the glaring tent was refigned for the mere advanta- geous diflaff: their daily provifions were the produdl of their own ground, and drefl with their own hands. They milked their own kine, which now began to fupply them with plenty. They pur- chafed nothing without doors. Every thing was got ready with decency and without hurry. Their food was fubflantial, plain, and natural ; and enjoyed with that true reliflj, which is infepara- ble from temperance and hard labour. In this rural manner they lived, and every thing was neat and decent round about them ; all the coflly tapiftry was difpofed of ; yet the walls were perfedlly white ; no part of the houfe in the leaft diforder: none of the goods foiled with duft. The beds, tho' not of down, were clean, and proper for repofe. The very furniture of the kitchen — which you fhall feldom find in great families — was TALES AND FAELES. 17 was bright as filver ; nothing Hood out of its proper place. At times of pubHc entertainment Proxinoe made the bell of paftry. She kept bees, whofe honey was fweeter than that which trickled from the trunks of oaks that grew in the golden age. Her cows made her willing prefents of large flowing bowls of milk. Her garden was plentifully ftored with variety of plants for fcrvice and delight, in their proper feafon ; and by her peculiar induftry and fklll, flie was the firfl of all her neighbours that could produce them in perfe61ion : her colledlion of flowers likewife was very curious ; part of which Che fold, after (he had referved a fufticient quantity for the ornament of her houfe. Poemnis trod in the fleps of her induflirious mother ; flie was ever chearful at her work, and fang as fhe went along to pen her flieep. No neighbour's flock could rival hers ; no contagious diftemper, no rav'nous wolves durft ever ap- proach them ; her tender lambkins dance upon the plains to her melodious notes, whilil all the echoes round about with pleafure re- peat the dying founds. Melesichton tilled his own grounds, drove his own plough, fowed his feed, and reaped his harvefl: with his own hand. He is now fully convinced, that the hufhandman's life is lefs laborious, far more innocent and advantageous than the foldier's. No fooner had he cocked and got in his hay ; but Ceres, with her yellow fruits, invited him to the field, and with large intereft repaid the debt {he owed him. Soon after Bacchus fupplied him with nedtar, worthy the table of the Gods. M'uierva too complimented him with the fruit of her favourite, falutary tree. Winter was the feafon for re- pofc, when all the family met together were innnocently gay, and tkankful to the Gods, for all their harmlefs unambitious pleafures : they ate no flefli, but at their facrifices, and their cattle never died but on their altars. Mcl'iboeus was thoughtful and fedate beyond his years. He took on himfelf the whole care and management of the larger cattle ; hewed down large oaks in the forefts ; dug aquaduds for the more commodious watering the meadows, and with indefatigable induftry D would i8 F E N E L N' s r A L E S, kc. would eafe his father. His diverfions, at proper feafons, were hunt- ing and courfing with the young gentlemen, his neighbours ; or invi''* proving himfelf in his fiudies, of which Melesichton had laid the folid foundation. In a little time, Melesichton, by a life thus led in fimplicity and innocence, was in better circumftances than at firft ; his houfe was flored with all the conveniences of life ; tho' there was nothing in it ufelefs, or fuperfluous. The company he kept, for the moft part, was within the compafs of his own family : they lived toge- ther in perfect love and harmony, and contributed to each others happinefs. Their humble refidence was far from court, where plea- fures bear fo high a price j their enjoyments were fweet, innocent, eafy to be attained, and attended with no dangers in the purfuit. Meliboeus and Pocminis were thus brought up, and inured to rural labours : thus their former chara6ters ferved only to infpire them with greater courage, and make them eafy under the frowns of for- tune. The encreafe of their flock introduced no new and luxurious courfe of life. Their diet was ftill as frugal as before, and their in- duftry continued with equal vigour. Melesichton's friends now preffed him — fince fortune once again had proved propitious — to re- fume his former port, and fliine again in the bufy world. To whom he replied : " Shall I again give way to pride and luxury, the fatal " caufeofall my late misfortunes; or fliall I fpend my future days in " rural labours, which have not only made me rich again, but what " is more, compleatly happy ?" — To conclude, — one day he took a tour to his old folitary fhade, where Ceres had thus kindly diredled his conduit in a dream, and repofed himfelf on the verdant grafs, with as much ferenity of mind, as before with confufion and defpaif". There he (lept again ; again the Goddefs Ceres, in the like gracious manner, approached, and thus addreffed him. " True nobility, " Melesichton, confifts in receiving no favours from any one, '♦ and beftowing them with a liberal hand on all. — Have your depen- " dance on nothing but the fruitful bofom of the earth, and the works '* of your own hands. Never for luxury and empty fliew refign that *• folid good which is the natural, and in^xhauAible fountain of true tL 1- _■ ! /*. >> ( 19 ) FABLE III. ARIST^US AND VIRGIL. VIrgil, foon after his defcent to the infernal regions, came to the Elyfian fields ; where the favourites of the Gods lived in perpetual blifs, on banks of never-dying flowers, amidfl a thou- fand little purhng flreams. The fhepherd ARiST-ffius, who was fit- ting amongfl: the Demy-gods, underllanding who he was, immedi- ately approached, and thus addreffed him. The fight of fo divine a Poet as you are, is pleafure incxpreflible. Your verfcs, fire, flow fofter than the dew upon the tender grafs ; fo fvvect, fo harmonious are your numbers, they command our tears, and melt our hearts. Your tuneful fongs on me, and my bees, might make e'en Homer jealous. To you I fi:and as much indebted for the honours that arc paid me, as to the fun and to Cyrene. Not long ago I rehearfed fome beautiful paflages of yours to Linus, Homer, and Hefiod. No fooncr had I finillied, but all three drank large draughts of the river Letl-.e to forget them ; fo painful was the recolledion of another's verfes, fvveet as their own. The whole tribe of Poets, you know, are ex- tremely jealous. Come, therefore, amongfl; them, and take poflefiion of your place. — Since they are fo partially jealous, as you obferve — re- plied Virgil — I fliall not be over-delighted with the place. I mull: fpend many a tedious hour in fuch company ; for I perceive, like your bees, they prefentlygrow warm, and fliew their refentment. 'Tis true, replied Arist^us, like bees, they buzz, and like them too have their flings, and feck revenge on all that dare provoke them. There's an- other great man, I fee, fays Virgil, that I mufl: endeavour to oblige too, the divineO;/)//fwj, Imean ; — pray doyoulive focially together? — I cannot fay we do, replied Arist^eus ; for he's as jealous of his wife, as the other three are of their compofitions. But you need not fear D 2 a civil. 20 F E N E L N's r A L E S, kc. a civil reception there ; for you have ufed him with abundance of good manners, and have been.much more prudent, much more fa- vourable than Ovhi, in your relation of his quarrel with the 'Thracian dames, to whofe refentment he fell an unhappy victim. But we lofe time i let us enter this little facred grotto, watered with fo many fountains, clearer than the chryflal. Believe me, the whole /acred band will rife, and pay their due refpefts to you. Don't you already hear Orpheus' s tuneful lyre ? and Linus, who fings the combat of the Gods againft the giants ? Don't your hear Homer too, finging the he- roic adlions of the gvc^X. Achilles ; who flew the mighty HeSlor, to revenge the fall of his friend Patroclus ? But Hefiodh the Poet, whofe difpleafure you have moft reafon to dread ; for one of his fanguine compleiftion will be apt to take diftafte at your admirable Treatife on Agriculture, which he imagines his peculiar province. Arist^us had no fooner finifhed his addrefs, but they arrived at the refrefliing lliades, where an eternal tranfport reigns, which in- fpires thefe mighty heroes. All rofe, and intreated Virgil to fit down, and repeat fome of his favourite verfes. At firfl he fang low, with a becoming modefty j but at laft, grew bolder, and fpake with energy and tranfport. The moft jealous of them all, even againft: their inclinations, were raviflaed at the mufic of his voice. Orpheus' s lyre, that had fo often charmed the very rocks and woods, now dropt out of his hand, and bitter tears flowed down his cheeks. Homer forgot the inimitable majefty of his Iliad, and the beauteous variety of his Odyfles. Linus miftook his flowing verfes for the compofition of his father Apollo, and at the ravifliing founds flood fpcechlefs, and as immoveable as a flatue. //tyfoJhimfelf could not refill: fuch powerful charms. At laft, recollefting himfelf a httle, he with much warmth and jealoufy thus addrefled him. O Virgil, thy works are more durable than monuments of brafs or marble ! Yet flill I prophefy the day will come, when a royal youth fliall tranflate them into his native language, and fliall fliare the honour with thee cf having fung the conduft and ceconomy of the bees. FABLE ( 21 ) FABLE IV. The Story of ALIBEG the P e r s i a n. Ciia-Abbas, King of Perfui, under pretence of taking a tour, retired from court into the country, and concealed him lelf under the charadler of a private gentleman, in order to take an un- fufpecSed furvey of his fubjedts in all their native innocence and freedom. One favourite dourtier alone had the honour to attend him in his travels. " I have no right idea, fays the monarch to *' his companion, of the fimple, undifguifed manners of mankind. ** Courtiers adl all in mafquerade. Crowned heads fee nothing of " nature : every tranfadtion is artifice and defign. I have a great " inclination to pry into the fecret pleafures of a country life, and " examine that part of my fubjedls, who live retired, and negledted *' by the bufy world, and yet are in reality the props of my crown impertinent tongue-pad ; a fellow, that was forever venting im- probable ftories ; a felf-conceited coxcomb ; an unnatural mimic j a fiiarling, injudicious critic ; one, in fhort, that would interrupt the moft refined converfation, to hear himfelf talk, and introduce his own nonfenfical difcourfe. Mercury, who recollefted him, tho* fo difguifed, thus with a fmile addreffcd him. Thou fool, I know thee well enough. I've feen thee long e'er now. Thou worthlcfs compound of the Ape and Parrot ! Take but away thy antic geftures, and a few hard terms, which thou haft learnt by rote, but canft not underftand, and thou haft nothing left. A pretty ?arrot and a fprightly Monkey, when compounded, make but one filly coxcomb. Alas ! what numbers are there in the town, who by their artful cringes, ftudied addrcfles, and affefted airs, without one grain of v/ifdom arc careffcd, and thought men of vaft importance ? K 2 FABLE ( 68 ) FABLE XX. The two Young LIONS. TWO young Lions had been reared together In one forcft. Their ftature, ftrength nd age were equal. One was taken captive by the Great Mogul. Tl e other ranged, without reftraint, amongft the craggy mountains. The firft was 'by the huntfmen ftrait conveyed to court, where Iciig he lived in luxury and eafe. He feldom dined without an ante!' pe, or e'er repofed but on a bed of down. A fair eunuch conftantly attended twice a day, to comb his graceful golden main. When he was polifhed and made trac- table, the monarch would himfclf carefs him. He fcon grew plump, fmooth, comely and majeftic. A golden collar graced his neck ; diamonds and pearls adorned his ears. He looked with an eye of contempt on his brother-lions, who inhabited the dens adjacent ; they were not equal favourites with him ; nor their apartments lb commodious or well-furniflied as his own. His grandeur and fuccefs with pride elate his heart -, he vainly thinks the fiivours that he meets with, the refult of merit. His court- education fired his mind with falfe ambition. He imagined, that had he ranged the foreft unconfined, by this time he had/ been fome mighty hero. One day, he quits the court, and tra- vels, big with expedation, to his native country. At the fame jundlure his old royal mafter died ; and the ftates were all affem- bled, to fill by vote the vacant throne. Among the numerous candidates, there appeared one much fterner and much more imperious F E N E L N ' s r A L E S, ice. 69 imperious than the reft. This lordly, dauntlefs hero was our gay courtier's old companion, who had never been a fluve. Whilft the one had been indulged in all the luxury and pride of courts; the other, urged by the pure appetite of nature, was often exer- cifed in dreadful combats, and fcorned all dangers for a bare fub- liftance. Shepherds as well as flocks fell vi<5tims to his fury. His carcafe was both lean and fliaggy ; ghaftly were his looks. His eyes were blood(hot, and feemed all on fire. His limbs were ftrong and acflive j he could climb the trees, and fpring upon his prey, fcarlefs of darts or jav'lins. Thefe two old companions propofed to the auguft afTembly to decide their right by fingle combat. But an old, i^nge, experienced Lionefs, to whofe judgment the whole body paid peculiar deference, perfuaded them to fix upon the throne, without delay, the politician that was bred at court. There were feveral malcontents on this advice: they murmured, that an effeminate, luxurious prince fliould be preferred ; whilft the bold warrior, long inured to toils, fearlcfs of dangers, and well able to fupport his caufe, fliould be negledled. However, the old Lionefs, by her fuperior influence, hufhed the rifing florm, and fixed the courtier on the throne. At his firfl: acccfllon to the crown he revelled in delight; indulged himfelf in luxury and eafe j by artifice and fmooth addrefs, concealed his innate fury, and his love of lawlefs power. His fubjedts_ foon neglected, fcorned, dc- tefted him. Now, fiys the old Lionefs, 'tis proper to dethrone him. I foreknew his want of merit ; but was defirous you fliould have a monarch for a while, bred up and fpoiled in a luxurious court, that you might learn to value courage, conduct and true merit, where you found it. Now is the time to let them fight or die. Tiie two heroes were immediately conducftcd into a lar^^c cnclofure, and the affembly, big with expectations, gazed at the gallant fliovv, a fliow, that foon was over. Tiic courtier trembled at 70 FENELON's TALES, &CC. at his foe, and durft not once approach him. He fled, and ftrove to be concealed. The forefler purfued, and called him with dif- dain a coward. AH the fpcdlators cried ; tear him in pieces. Have no mercy on the poor poltroon. No, no, replied the vidor, when a coward is a foe, 'tis cowardice indeed to be afraid. Let him ftill live. Death, from my hands, would be too great an honour. I fhall know how to reign, and keep him ever in fub- jedlion without danger. In Ihort, the dauntlefs Lion ruled his fubjefts with the wifdom and good condudl of Minerva. The other was content to cringe, and creep, and fawn for trivial favours ; and fpent the poor remainder of his days, in fliameful and inglo- rious eafe. FABLE ( 71 ) FABLE XXI. The BEES. ONE day, when gentle zephyrs fanned the air, and nature was arrayed in all her glory, a young, gay Prince was walking in a curious garden. Allen a fudden, an unufual found invades his ears j he turns about, and at a diftance fees a bee-hive. The novelty induced him to approach it. With pleafure and amazement he obferved the induftry, the conduifl and ceconomy of that re- public. Their cells were very vifible, and regularly formed. One party was employed to fill thofe cellars with neftar. Others brought in their flore of flowers, collefted from the bofom of the fpring. In this republic none lived in indolence and eafe. Every one was full employed ; but no one hurried, or confounded. Thofe at the helm, directed tlie inferiors, who laboured all the day, without a murmur, or the leaft reflexion. As their exad obedi- ence was the peculiar objedt of the Prince's admiration. A Bee, whom all the commonwealth acknowledged as fupreme, with grace- ful air approached, and thus addreflcd him. The ceconomy, which you obferve amongfl: us, has been, 1 find, an amufement to you : but make it rather, royal Sir, a Icfibn of inflrudion. No fadious fools, no lawlcfs libertines, arc known amongil us. No one expedls our favour and indulgence ; but he, who labours hard, and ftudies to promote the public good. True merit is the only claim to polls of truft. We lludy night and day to be of fervicc to mankind. O ! may I live to hail the day, when you fliall copy u?, and rule mankind by laws as juA as ours ! FABLE ( 72 ) FABLE XXll. The BEE and the FLY. ONE day a Bee obferved a Fly, that fettled, as flie thought, too near her hive. In an imperious tone, flie cried, what is thy bufinefs ? How durfl: thou, faucy thing, approach us regents of the air ? The Fly, ironically, with a fmile, replied j amazing in- folence ! wonderful prefumption truly ! How groundlefs is your refentment ? You are a race of fuch peevifli, ill-natured, unfociable creatures, that none but fools would e'er regard you. No nation under the fun, replied the Bee, has that good condud and ceconomy as we have. Our laws are all peculiar to ourfelves, and our republic is the wonder of the world. We trade in nothing but celeftial ho- ney, a liquor as delicious as the nedar of the Gods. Out of my fight, thou faucy, worthlefs wretch, whofe every meal's ofFenfivc. The Fly replied, we make our lives as eafy as we can : adverfity's no crime, tho' paflion is. Your honey, I allow, is to perfcdion pure ; but your proud hearts are wretchedly polluted. Your laws with juflicc all admire. But then your conftitutions are too warm: you all take fire too foon. You'll facrince your lives to gratify theleafl: refentment. 'Tis better to be modeft and good-natured, than haughty and imperious, and have fo nice atafte for mere punftilios. FABLE C 73 ) FABLE XXIII. The B E E S and the S I. L K - W O R M S. ONE day the Bees foared up as high as the throne of 'Jupiter, fell proftrate at his feet, and with fubmiflion hoped for his indulgence, in return for their good offices of old, their former care of him when a helplefs infant on Mount Ida. Jove gracioufly accepted their addrefs, and thought it was juft to grant them the precedence to all other infedls : but Minerva, who pre- fides o'er all the arts and fciences, informed him, that there was another race as beneficial to mankind as they. — Their names, {^ys Jove. — The Goddefs anfwered him, the Silk-Worms — forth- with, the God commifiioned Mercury to fummon all their deputies, and ordered proper zephyrs to attend him, who fhould waft them on their gentle wings to high Olympus, that he himfelf might hear what the contending parties had to offer. The ambaffadrefs from the republic of the Bees opened the folcmn caufe ; enlarged upon the fweetnefs of their honey, the nednr of mankind, its various virtue^, and its artful compofition ; from thence proceeded to the wifdom of their laws, and the exadt oeconomy of their republic. We, continued the female orator, and we alone can boafl the honour of fupporting the great father of the Gods, when, in a cave expofed, a tender, helplefs infant. Moreover, eur courage in the field Is equal to our induflry at home; let but our royal leader bid us charge the foe, we bravely fight or die. Invincible alTurancc ! How could thefe Worms, thefe abjccf", L worthlefs 74 F £ AT E L AT's T A L E S, &c. worthlefs infcdVs, think to difpute this point with us ? Infeds, that only grovel upon earth; whilft we have nobler powers ; with golden wings can mount the azure fkies. To tliis the advocate for the Silk-Worms modeflly replied. We readily acknowledge that we are but reptiles ; that we cannot boaft that courage and good condudl which our antagonifls moft juftly can. Hov/ever, each individual member of our flate is a meer prodigy in nature, and for the public good confumes his very vitals. Tho' lawlefs, ftill we live in peace. No civil difcords e'er diftraft our flate, to which the factious Bees are ever fubjedl. Like Proteus we are ever changing, and tho' our form's but fmall, we boaft eleven, gay, parti' coloured ringlets, beauteous as the bow of ///.f, or the moft artificial flower. Our labours grace the monarch on the throne; nay more, they help to furnifli the gay temples of the Gods. Our manufatflure's beautiful and lafting; not like their honey, which, tho' fweet whilft new, is very fubjed to decay^ In fhort, we transform ourfelves to little Beans ; but Beans, that have a grateful fmell ; that ftili retain their motion, and the figns of life. At laft, we metamorphofe into gaudy Butterflies. Then are our forms more beauteous than the bees ; then we can boaft as bold a flight tow'rds Heaven as they. I've nothing more to oflfer, but fubmit to yove. The God was at a lofs to give his final judgment in fo nice a caufe ; at laft, however, he declared in favour of the Bees ; fince cuftom time out of mind confirmed their right. How ungrateful fliould I be, Jove added in excufe,. flaould I degrade my friends, who ferved me in diftrefs. No, I'll' ever own the favour. However, ftill, in my private opinion, mankind have greater obligations to the Silk- Worms. FABLE ( 75 ) FABLE XXIV. The Conceited OWL. A Young. Owl, who, NarclJfus-YikQ, had furveyed himfclf with pleafure in a chryilal flream, and thought himfelf, not only fairer than the hght, for Fhocbus is no deity of his, but fair as Night herfelf, his favourite Goddefs, thus began his proud fo- liloquy. How often have I offered incenfe to the Graces ! When I was born, fair Cytharea dreft me in her ceftos. Young fmiling cupids fan their wanton wings around me. I'm now of age i Hymen fhall blefs me with a numerous ifTue, beauteous as myfelf : they fliall in time become the glory of the groves, the darlings of the night ! O ! fliould the race of Owls be once extinft, the lofs would be irreparable. Thrice happy rnufl that fair one be, that (hall be circled in my arms ! Fired with thefe felf- conceited thouf'hts, he fends the Crow to the dreid monarch of the birds with bold propofals oi a match between himfelf and his fair daughter, the royal Eaglet. Fain would the Crow have been excufed from this commiflion. What reception can I expedl> faid (l:ie, \x\ the propofal of a match fo vifibly unequal ? How can you imagine, that the Eaglet, who can, unhurt, gaze fledfaft on the fun, fliould wed with you, whofe tender eyes can't bear the dawn of day ? Light and darknefs can never pofTibly agree. You'd live forever in a fl:ate of feparation. The felf- conceited Owl was deaf to all advice. The Crow, to footh his vanity, complied at lall, and made the propofition. They fmiled at the ridiculous L 2 requefl: ^i 7« F E N E L N' s T A L E S, kc. requeft. However, the monarch anfwered ; if your mafler be ambitious of my favour, let him meet me in the regions of the air to-morrow about mid-day. The proud ambitious fool attempts the flight. All on a fudden a dim fuffufion veiled his eyes, unable to endure the radiant light, downwards he funk upon a rock. All the feathered race purfued, and ftript him of his plumes. A cavern now he finds his greateft happinefs, and he refolves to wed an Owl, an humble tenant of the rock. The nuptials were confummated at night ; and as they both were blind, they thought each other fair. Pride will have its fall. We fliould not aim to fhine in fpheres we cannot pofiibly adorn. FABLE ( 17 ) FABLE XXV. CLEOBULUS and PHILLIS. APenfive fliepherd once led his flock to paflure on the flow'ry banks of the river Achelous. The Fauns and Satyrs, that lay concealed in the adjacent groves, danced on the verdant grafs to his melodious pipe. The water-nymphs, fporting beneath tlic waves, advanced amidfl the ruflies, attentive to his charming mufic. Achelous too, reclining on his urn, reared up his head, which, lince his combat with the mighty Hercules, had loft a horn, and the har- monious founds fafpended for a time the tortures of the vnnquiflied God. The admiring Naiades made no imprelTion on the fwain : Phillis alone was thedear objedtof his wiflies ; Piiillis, the plain, the modeft nymph, the beauty unadorned ; who never flione with borrowed rays ; contented with thofe charms alone the Graces gave her. Phillis went from home into the meadows, thoughtful of nothing but her tender flock, herfelf alone infenfiblc of all her charms ; the neighb'ring nymphs grew jealous. The fwain adored- her, but wanted courage to declare his paffion. Her fevere virtue and unafrcd:cd modcfty, thofe never-dying charms of beauty, that awed her lovers, and kept them at a diflance, were the chief objcds of his admiration ; but Cupid is a fubtlc God ; a thoufand lit- tle arts he foon invents that fhall reveal the fecret. The fliep- herd foon concluded the pleafmg, tho' unfludicd fong he had begun,. to introduce another, more artificial, that might melt his charmer down to love. He knew her tafle ; that flic admired ftories of heroic 73' F E N E L N's heroic virtue. He fung, therefore, under a fiditious name, his own adventures ; for in thcfe days heroes themfelves were fhepherds, and condefcended to their drefs. Thus then he began his martial fong. When Po/ynices went to the liege of T/iel/es, in hopes to de- throne his brother Eteocks, all the Grecian powers efpoufed his caufe, and armed in their chariots, lay before the city. Here jidrajlusy father-in-law to the great Polynkes, with fury urged the war : Thoufands fell victims to his fword ; as the yellow harveft bends beneath the fickle. There Amphiariius, the celebrated for- cerer, who had foretold his own untimely fate, mingled amongfl the crowd, when, on a fudden, the earth gaped wide, and fwallowed him to quick deftrudion. As he was tumbling down the dark abyfs, he curft his planet, and his day of marriage. At fome fmall dillance, the two fons of Oedipus were clofe engaged in dreadful combat. As the Leopard and the Tyger, when they meet upon the rocks of Caiicafus, with inbred fury contend for victory ; fo thefe irreconcileable heroes fought rolling upon the ground, refolved to die or conquer. During this unnatural engagement Cleobulus, an attendant on Polynkes, oppofed a mighty Theban, a favourite of ikf^Jrj. The arrow, which the Theban threw, direded by the God himfelf, had fealed the fate of young Cleobulus, had he not, with incre- dible adivity, fprung from the deadly blow. Cleobulus, in a moment, turned upon the Theban, and with his jav'lin llruck him to the heart. The reeking blood gufhed from the gaping wound ; his eyes grew dim and languifliing ; his foul lay ftruggling to be loofed, and death foon caft his fable veil o'er all his manly features. Soon as the dear partner of his bed difcerned from a high tower her hufband's fall, her lovely eyes were drowned in floods of forrow. Thrice happy foldicr, tho' thus vanquifiicd to be fo pitied, and fo well beloved ! With how much tranfport could I yield to fate on fuch conditions ! What is youth, what is beauty, and a thirft for fame. TALES AND FABLES.. 79 if the fair nymph, the objedl of our wiflies, flill difdains us ? Phil- Lis, who Hftencd with attention to his charming fong, was now convinced, the fljepherd was himfelf Gleobulus, that flew the Ibebiin. His conqueft now began to fire her heart ; flie views his beauties with a lover's eye, and pities all his pains. The fair now gives lier hand, and plights her faitii. In a few days. Hymen con- firmed their joys. The neighb'ring fwains, the rural Deities them- fclvcs, with envious eyes, behold the happy pair. They lived to- gether to a good old age, and fpent their days, like the famed Baucis and Philemon, in rural fports, in innocence and love. FABLE ( 8o ) FABLE XXVI. CHROMIS and MNASYLUS. C H R O M I S. HOW cool this grotto is ! What ftately trees ! How thick and verdant are the leaves ! How gloomy are the walks ! How fweetly Philomela tells her mournful tale ! Mnasylus. True, thefe are charms ; but there are nobler objeds ftill in view. C H R o M I s. What ! thofe ftatues do you mean ? For my part, I can fee no beauty in them. How unpolillied that fir.Q: figure fcems to be ! Mnasylus. 'Tis the image of a beauty for mi that. But no more on that topic. For a brother-fwain, you know, has faid all that can poffi- bly be offered in its commendation. C H R O M I s: Then you mean that fliepherdcfs, 1 prefume, that bends over the fountain. Mnasylus. No, no, nor that. Our Lyr/^^j has tuned herpraifeson his lural pipe } and who fliall after him prefume to fing ? C H R o M I s. Then you muft certainly mean that young figure in the corner. Mnasylus. F E N E L N's r A L E S, 6cc. 8i M N A S Y L U S. I do fo.^If you obferve, it has not that rural air as the other two have. — 'Tis a Goddefs, you mull know. Pomona, or one of her attendants at leafl: : in her right hand, flie grafps a cornucopias, fiTled with autumnal fruits ; in her left an urn, from whence, with a profufe hand, fhe fcatters gold j poflefled at once of the gay produds of the earth, the wealth of nature, and thofe richer treafure* which mankind adore. C H R o M I s. How flie declines her head ! — Is that an artful poflure ? M N A s Y L u s. Yes : — for all flatues, if elevated high, to be furveyed below, fland in the faireft point of light, when they incline, C H R o M I s. But is not that head-drefs fomething particular? None of our modern beauties ever drefs fo. Mnasylus. That may be ; but the air is very carelefs and becoming not- withftanding. How curioufly feme hairs are parted all before! — How gracefully fome locks hang curling on each fide 3 whilfl; a gay riband binds the reft behind ! C H R o M I s. Your opinion of the drapery. — Why, pray, fo many folds ? Mnasylus. Oh ! — 'tis a-la-negligee. — A girdle, you fee, tucks up her gown, that flie may trace the grove with greater freedom : the loofe, flowing drapery is much more graceful than a formal drefs. — One would almoft: imagine, that the ftatuary had foftencd the very mar- ble, the plaits are fo natural. — If you obferve, there are fome parts vifibly naked thro' the veil. The foftnefs of the flefli, added to M the 82 F E N E L N's r AL E S, &CC. the beauty of the drapery, ftrikes the eye at once, and makes the whole a ravifliing performance. C H R o M I s. Ho, ho ! I find your affedt tafle. — You talk like an artifl. — But pray tell me, fiince you are fuch a critic, was that cornucopia plucked by Alcides from the head of Achelous, or was it Amalthcrd^^ the famed nurfe of '^ove ? M N A s Y L u s. That's a queftion too curious to be refolved in a moment, — Be- fides, I muft haften to my flock. Adieu ! A CH A- ( 83 ) CHARACTER. The S E L F - T O R M E N T O R. "X^ THY fits Me/cu/ this thus dejeded and forlorn ? No real, but - » ▼ imaginary ills torment him. His affairs move fmoothly on ; his friends all ftudy to oblige him. Why then, — why puts he on this melancholy gloom ? Laft night he went to bed the darling of mankind ; but when he rofe, a trifle difcompofed him ; the morning low'red, and heavily brought on the day ; all around him were in pain. Now his friends blufli for fhame. They mufl con- ceal him : his mind's all dark and gloomy, filled with imaginary fears. He fighs, and like an infant weeps; with horror like a lion roars. A melancholy cloud darkens his underflanding : ink is not blacker than his thought. Talk not to him of any thing he values mofl: in life ; for what he fo admires is in a moment the objetfl of his fcorn and hatred. His boon companions, who, but the day before, were favourite friends, are now grown tedious, and he re- folves to fliake them off forever. He feeks all occafions to contra- dict, to make complaints, to cxafperate all about him ; then frets that his refentmcnts don't provoke them. Sometimes, witii his clinched fills, he beats the empty air j as, with his goring horns, M 2 the 84. F E N E L O N' i the bull fans furious, and combats witji the winds. When he wants a proper opportunity to rail at others, he diredts his difcourfe to himfelf, blames his own ill-qondudt, calls himfelf worthlefs coxcomb, fits down difconfolate, and takes it ill if you attempt to pity, or redrefs him. One moment he would be alone ; the next, retirement is infupportable. He feeks his company again ; again is churlifli, and ill-natured. If they don't talk, their filence is af- fedted and ofFenfive. If they whifper, he liftens with a jealous ear. If they difcourfe too loud, they talk too much, and are too gay and airy. If dull and penfive, he thinks it a tacit reflecflion on him- felf. If they laugh, he imagines that his condudt is the fubjed: of their ridicule. What muft be done ? — Be as patient, as he is im- pertinent, and wait, in friendly hope, he'll be again to day, as pru- dent as he was the day before. This unaccountable humour ebbs and flows ; when it affeds him, it may properly be called the fpring of a machine that will foon fall to pieces. Juft fo, we fliould de- fcribe a man, tormented with a devil ; reafon is turned the wrong fide outward. 'Tis folly's mafter-piece. Make the experiment. You may perfuade him that 'tis night, when the fun fliines in his full glory ; for night and day are equally the fame to an imagination fo ruffled and difturbed. Sometimes, he'll refled with admiration on his excefs of humour ; and fmile amidft his gloomy thoughts at his egregious flights. But how fhall we prevent thefe outrages of nature, and allay the riung florm ? — It is not in the power of art. We have no almanack extant to fettle fuch precarious weather. Be cautious how you fay, to-morrow we'll divert ourfelves in fuch or fuch a garden ; the man to-morrow is another creature. That which he engages to perform one moment, is the next forgot ; 'tis to no purpole to remind him of his verbal promife. But inrtead, you'll TALESandFABLES. 85 you'll find an unaccountable Ibmewhat, which neither has, nor can have any proper name or form, and is impoflible to be defined, like Proteus ever changing. Study him well j then pafs your judgment. In a nioment he'll be the flime he was before. This fickle humour will, and will not; he plays the bully and the coward; mingles the moft favage infults with the vilefl: and moft low fubmiflions. He plays the merry Andrew, weeps, fmiles, and raves ; and in thofe fits is mofl extravagant. He is diverting, Acrid, artificial, full of cvafions, without one ray of reafoii. Never tell him he is not juft, pundtual, or a man of judgment : he'll furely take the advantage, and retort upon you. He'll refign his folly, and refume the man of fenfe, for the mere fatisfaclion of convincing you, that you arc otherwife. Like a bubble, blown up in the air, his reafon's in a moment loft, and never heard of more. He never knows the real caufe of his difpleafure; he only knows that he is, and will be dif- pleafed ; nay, fometimes he fcarce knows even that. He imagines oftentimes, that his friends who talk with him are warm; whilft he alone is cool. He's like a man afflicTted with the jaundice, who fanfies every objcft in his view is yellow ; tho' that colour is only in his own eyes, and the cifedl of his diftemper. However, are there no perfons whom he peculiarly regards, who arc his favourite friends ? — No! his caprice yields to none; all feel the effedls of it alike. He vents his paflion on the firft that comes ; friends and foes are all the fl^me, in cafe he can but gratify his humour. He'll caft his vile refle(Slions on the very perfons to whom he lies under the greateft obligations. He dcfpill-s their friendship. Tiiey ilight him, dun him, blafl his charadtcr ; he values no man living. Have patience but a moment, and the fcene is changed. He thinks himfelf obliged to all mankind; he refpects them; they regard hiin ; he fawns and hatters ; they, who before thought ill of him, are 86 F E N E L N' s T A L E S, &c. are charmed with his addrcfs. He freely owns his accvifatlons all unjuft, laughs at his follies, and adls them in ridicule all o'er again fo naturally, you'd think him in the wildeft tranfports. After this farce is over, at his own expence, you might well imagine he'd never pcrfonate the humDurift more. — Alas ! you are deceived : — he will be mad as ever to-night in very purpofe — to laugh his folly o'er again to-morrow. 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