319 Grief, for Fear of difturbing her in her laft Moments; and the Wife even at that Time concealing the Pains fhe endured, for Fear of encreasing his Affliction. She kept her Eyes upon him for fome Moments after the grew Speechlefs, and foon after closed them for ever. In the Moment of her Departure, my Friend (who had thus far commanded himfelf) gave a deep Groan, and fell into a Swoon by her Bed-fide. The Diftration of the Children, who thought they faw both their Parent expiring together, and now lying dead before them, would have melted the hardeft Heart; but they focu perceived their Father recover, whom I helped to remove into another Room, with a Refolution to accompany him till the first Pangs of his Affliction were abated. I knew Confolation would now be impertinent, and therefore contented my felt to fit by him, and con dole with him in Silence. For I fhall here ufe the Mes thod of an ancient Author, who in one of his Epiftles relating the Virtues and Death of Macrinus's Wife, expreffes himfelf thus; I fhall fufpend my Advice to this best of Friends, till he is made capable of receiving by those three great Remedies, (Neceffitas ipfa, *Dies longa, Satietas Doloris) The Neceflity of Submiffion, Length of Time, and Satiety of Grief, . In the mean Time, I cannot but confider with much Commiferation, the melancholy State of one who has had fuch a Part of himfelf torn from him, and which he miffes in every Circumftance of Life. His Condi tion is like that of one who has lately loft his Right Arm, and is every Moment offering to help himself with it. He does not appear to himfelf the fame Per fan in his House, at his Table, in Company, or in Re tirement, and lofes the Relith of all the Pleasures and Diverfions that were before entertaining to him by her Participation of them. The most agreeable Objects recal the Sorrow for her with whom he used to enjoy them. This additional Satisfaction, from the Taste of Pleafures in the Society of one we love, is admirably defçribed in Milton, who reprefents Eve, though in Pa radife it felf, no farther pleased with the beautiful Ob jects around her, than as fhe fees them in Company with Adam, in that Paffage fo inexpreflibly charming. With thee converfing I forget all Time, All Seafons, and their Change; all pleafe alike. Sweet is the Breath of Morn, her Rifing fweet With Charms of earliest Birds; pleasant the Sun, When firft on this delightful Land he spreads ! His Orient Beams, on Herb, Tree, Fruit and Flower, Glift'ring with Dew; fragrant the fertile Earth After foft Show'rs,a nd fweet the coming on Of grateful Ev'ning mild; the filent Night, With his her folemn Bird, and this fair Moon, And these the Gems of Heav'n, her ftarry Train. But neither Breath of Morn when she afcends With Charm of earliest Birds, not rifing Sun In this delightful Land, nor Herb, Fruit, Flower. Glift'ring with Dew, nor Fragrance after Showers, Nor grateful Ev'ning mild, nor filent Night,/ With this her folemn Bird, nor Walk by Moon, Or glittring Star-light, without Thee is fweer THE Variety of Images in this Paffage is infinitely pleafing, and the Recapitulation of each particular Image, with a little varying of the Expreffion, makes one of the fineft Turns of Words that I have ever seen: Which I rather mention, becaufe Mr. Dryden has faid in his Preface to Juvenal, That he could meet with no Turn of Words in Milton. Ir may further be obferved, That though the Sweetnefs of thefe Verfes has fomething in it of a Pastoral, yet it excels the ordinary Kind, as much as the Scene of it is above an ordinary Field or Meadow. I might here, fince I am accidentally led into this Subject, fhew feve ral Paffages in Milton that have as excellent Turns of this Nature, as any of our English Poets whatsoever; but fhall only mention that which follows in which he defcribes the fallen Angels engaged in the intricate Difputes of Predeftination, Free-will, and Fore-knowfedge; and to humour the Perplexity, makes a kind of Labyrinth in the very Words that defcribe it. Others apart fate on a Hill retir'd, In Thoughts more elevate, and reafon'd high The End of the Second VOLUME. ACTEON's Manner of Life. Action neceffary to Eloquence. - Applauded in an eminent Dean, Page 44 83 84 ib. Actors cenfur'd for adding Words of their own in their Parts. Advice to young People. Affectation of Vice and Imperfections cenfuxed. Affections, how govern'd. P 3 Afterwit's Obfervation on the Town. - Allegory of Virtue and Pleafure, making their Court te Socrates. B. Page 240 Bacon (Sir Francis) his Sentiments of Patry. Battle Criticks, what. Battle of Blaregnies. 174 79 72, 74 Beauty, how long it ought to be the Care of the Fair --- Charged with injuring a certain Perfon by hus Satire. His Account of his Love. His Court-Day for bearing Petitions. Bickerftaffs, their Race; how improved. 57 117 204 213 114 115, 116 341 130 288 267 148 135 Blindness cured by Mr. Grant, with the Circumftances of Blunder buys Arms without Touch-holes. Bouffler's Letter to the King, after the Battle of Blaneg- nies, Bribery with Coals, and Reflections thereupon. Bruyere's Satire on the French. 147 128 37 C. Christmas-Eve, Shakefpear's Defcription of it. Page 303 Commendations of one's felf, how neceffary. 58 214 99. 100 Complaint of not fucceeding in Endeavours to reform Man- kind. Conjugal Affection defcribed. 237 318, 3198 Copperfmith (Will.) his Character compared with the Copper/mith, the Name explain'd Coquettry, its Effects on a young Gentleman. Advice how to overcome the Power of it. Country Gentlemen, no Ceremony.. Coxcomb, defcribed by Suckling. Craffus's Character. Cynthio's Paffion for Clariffa. 35 56 28 28 38 211 His Death. His Epitaph and Tomb. D. 38. 186 187 Dancing Mafter, an Account of his Studies, and his Dan~ Her Account of her Conquefts. Defcription of a Rural Squire. Diffenfions owing to the Laziness of the Clergy. Dogs, a Lift of the Kennels. How to be difpofed of. 6 |