The fiery spirits were attended by a female, and debauched quarrelsome men; the airy by amorous pairs, ridiculously dressed, and alchymists; the watery by drunken Dutch schippers; and the earthy by witches, usurers, and fools. After them came a modern Devil, representing the sworn enemy of Poetry and the sister Arts, but a decided friend to every kind of discord; who was accompanied by a number of factious followers, habited in character; those were succeeded by three Indian ladies of rank, and their dancing-train; amongst whom was a young Persian. After some observations, he retired; and a number of nimble youths, of the same country, appeared, habited in sea-green, their coats reaching nearly to their knees; they had loops and buttons before, and were cut square to their hips, with two short skirts; the sleeves were large, without seams, cut short to the bend of the arm, and hung down behind; under these were sleeves of white embroidered satin," and the basis, answerable to the sleeve, hung down in gathering underneath the shortest part of their coats;" their turbans were silvered, and bound with white cypress, and decorated with feathers. When they had completed a dance, the scene shifted to a calm sea, with a fore-ground of rocks, and a mountainous distance; the trees, and cottages, and animals, represented a landscape in Asia; Orpheus, in a white robe, and mantle of carnation, crowned with laurel, appeared from the side, seated in a bark, adorned with sculpture, gilt with silver and gold, and terminating at the stern in a large bust of a sea-god. It appears from the description, that the waves had motion, and the bark is said to roll with them. Previous to the exit of the musician, he sung, and was answered by the priests of the Temple of Love. A sea chariot then came on, composed of porous rock, shells and weeds, coral and pearls, with golden wheels, the spokes without rims, and shaped like oars. Sea monsters brought it forward undu lating with the waves; the seat, formed like an escallop-shell, supported Indamora, Queen of Narsinger, whose dress is not mentioned; but that of the masquers was of Isabella-colour and watchet, with bases in large panes, cut through all over, richly embroidered with silver; and the dressing of their heads was of silver, with small falls of white feathers, tipped with watchet. After The chorus sung during this scene. which, the nearest portion of the sea became land, and Indamora, with her ladies, descended. A second dance of the masquers commenced; and the Queen having taken her seat by the King on the throne, the scene changed to the Temple of Chaste Love, composed of Satyrs bearing the architrave architrave and other members, enriched with gilding. The interior of the building was decorated with pilasters, niches, and statues; and in the midst a stately gate, adorned with columns, and their ornaments; and a frontispiece on the top; all of which seemed to be of burnished gold. Semesis and Thelema appeared, the former habited in cloth of gold, reaching below the knees, with wide sleeves; his mantle was of watchet, secured on each shoulder, and hanging behind; he wore a garland of sinope on his head, with a flame of fire issuing out of it; his buskins were yellow wrought with gold. Thelema, a young lady, in changeable silk, was in other respects characteristic. These two personages sung; and during that time, a transparent cloud descended, which opening, Amicanteros, habited in carnation and white, with garlands of laurel in one hand, having reached the earth, he proceeded to the throne, accompanied by the other dramatic personages; the chorus following singing. "After which, they all retire to the scene; and Indamora and her Ladies begin the revels with the King and the Lords, which continue the most part of the night." CHAP. CHAP. VI. ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE CHANGES IN OUR LAN GUAGE, LITERARY CUSTOMS, AND GRADUAL IM- THE history of Learning or of Literature in England cannot be enlarged upon in a work like. the present; as the subject requires volumes, and I can afford it only a chapter. The Druids were undoubtedly a sagacious set of men, and possessed more knowledge than the most improved of their countrymen; but it seems absurd to speak of their learning in the present acceptation of the term: the reveries of men little better than Savages, who could know nothing but by tradition, without the means of reading, and unable to write, may have had academies or schools; and precious indeed was the philosophy and arts taught in them. To enlarge further appears wholly unnecessary. Individuals endowed with strong natural powers of discrimination were as liberally scattered throughout the general population then as at any later later period. Those viewed causes and effects in a true light; but inventions and systems, calculated to advance ideas, were unknown, and it required many concurring circumstances to introduce them. It is obvious, that as Rome was the seat of Learning when its armies secured a footing on this Island, we are indebted to Italy for that blessing, which, undergoing numberless mutations, became at length greatly, though not sufficiently, encouraged, producing thousands of persons whose names are an honour to this nation; and would equally honour that of any other in Europe. Latin and French (the former barbarous and incorrect) were the two languages in which the learned preferred to convey their knowledge to each other. The English partaking of both, and originating with the Saxon, was for a long time consigned to the illiterate mass of the people, and consequently suffered daily mutilation; even after it became customary to encourage its use, the progress towards perfection was extremely gradual. Leaving every other particular connected with the sciences, and the improvement of the mind, to authors who treat expressly on them, I shall present the reader with several specimens of our native language in a chronological series, and some of the customs of literature subsequent to the invention of the art of printing; which, consisting |