noble Lines, which, in the finest Climax imaginable, describe the Magnificence and Grace of this most astonishing Transaction :

Survey the wondrous Cure,

And at each Step let higher Wonder rife.
Pardon for infinite Offence!—And Pardon
Through Means that speak its Value infinite!
A Pardon bought with Blood!-With Blood divine!
With Blood divine of HIM, I made my Foe!-
Perfifted to provoke !—Though woo'd and aw'd,
Bleft and chaftis'd, a flagrant Rebel ftill !–
Nor I alone! A rebel Universe!

My Species up in Arms!-Not one exempt!
Yet for the fouleft of the Foul, He dies * !

Night-Thoughts, No IV.

DIA

DIALOGUE V.

SPASIO, having fome Letters of Importance to anfwer, as foon as the Cloth was taken away, retired from Table. His epiftolary Engagements being dispatched, he enquired for TheThe Servants informed Him, that their Mafter walked into the Garden.-A very little Search found Him, seated on an airy Mount, and sheltered by an elegant Arbour.

Strong and fubftantial Plants of Liburnum formed the Shell; while the flender and flexile Shoots of Syringa filled up the Interftices. Was it to compliment, as well as to accommodate their worthy Gues, that the Shrubs interwove the luxuriant Foliage? Was it to reprefent those tender but close Attachments, which had united their Affections, and blended their Interests?—I will not too pofitively afcribe fuch a Defign to the Difpofition of the Branches. They compofed, however, by their twining Embraces, no inexpreffive Emblem of the Endearments and the Advantages of Friendship. They compofed a Canopy, of the freshest Verdure,

5

and

and of the thickeft Texture. So thick, that it ens tirely excluded the fultry Ray*; and shed both a cool Refreshment, and an amufive Gloom: while every unfheltered Tract, glared with Light, or fainted with Heat.

You enter by an easy Afcent of Steps, lined with Turf, and fenced with a Balustrade of floping Baytrees.-The Roof was a fine Concave, peculiarly ele vated and stately. Not emboffed with Sculpture; not mantled over with Fret-work; but far more delicately adorned with the Syringa's filver Tufts, and the Liburnum's flowering Gold. Whofe large and lovely Clufters, gracefully pendent from the leafy Dome; difclofing their Sweets to the delighted Bee; and gently waving to the balmy Breath of Spring; gave the utmost Enrichment to the charming Bower,

Facing the Entrance, lay a fpacious grally Walk; terminated by an octangular Bason, with a curious Jet d'Eau playing in the Center. The Waters, fpinning from the lower Orifices, were attenuated into innumerable little Threads; which difperfed themfelves in an horizontal Direction, and returned to the Refervoir in a drizling Shower. Thofe, which iffued from the higher Tubes, and larger Apertures, either fprung perpendicularly, or fpouted obliquely; and formed, as they fell, several lofty Arches of liquid Crystal; all glittering on the Eye, and cooling to the Air.

Parallel to the Walk ran a Parterre; planted with an Affemblage of Flowers. Which advanced, one above another, in regular Gradations of Height, of Dignity, and of Beauty.-Firft a Row of Daifies gay

gay as the Smile of Youth, and fair as the Virgin Snows.-Next, a Range of Crocuses, like a long Stripe of yellow Sattin, quilted with Threads, or diverfified with Sprigs of Green.-A fuperior Order of Ranunculuses, each resembling the Cap of an Earl's Coronet, replenifhed the third Story with full-blown Tufts of gloffy Scarlet.-Beyond this, a more elevated Line of Tulips *, raised their flourished

* Here is, it must be confessed, fome little Deviation from the general Laws of the Season; fome Anachronism in the Annals of the Parterre. The Flowers united in this Representation, do not, according to the usual Procefs of Nature, make their Appearance together. However, as by the Oeconomy of a skilful Gardener, they may be thus affociated; I hope, the Poffibility of the Thing, will fcreen my flowery Productions from the Blafts of Cenfure!-Or, may I not fhelter my blooming Affembly, under the Remark of a mafterly Critic? Which is as pertinent to the Cafe, as if it had been written on purpose for our Vindication; and in all refpects fo elegant, that it muft adorn any Work, which quotes it; and charm every Perfon, who reads it.

"A Painter of Nature is not obliged to attend Her in "her flow Advances, which she makes from one Season

to another; or to obferve her Conduct in the fucceffive Production of Plants and Flowers. He may draw into "his Description all the Beauties of the Spring and Au"tumn; and make the whole Year contribute fomething

to render it more agreeable. His Rofe-trees, Wood

bines, and Jeffamines may flourish together; and his "Beds be covered at the fame Time with Lilies, Violets, "and Amaranthufes. His Soil is not restrained to any

particular Set of Plants, but is proper either for Oaks i or Myrtles, and adapts itself to the Product of every "Climate.-Oranges may grow wild in it; Myrrh may "be met with in every Hedge; and if He thinks it.

pro

per to have a Grove of Spices, He can quickly com"mand Sun enough to raise it. His Concerts of Birds 86 may be as full and harmonious, and his Woods as

I

" thick

flourished Heads, and opened their enameled Cups; not bedecked with a fingle Tint only, but glowing with an intermingled Variety of radiant Hues.Above all arofe, that noble Ornament of a royal Efcutcheon, the Flower-de-Luce; bright with etherial Blue, and grand with imperial Purple. Whịch formed, by its graceful Projections, a Cornish or a -Capital of more than Corinthian Richness; and imparted the most confummate Beauty to the blooming Colonade.

The Whole, viewed from the Arbour, looked like a Rainbow, painted upon the Ground. And wanted nothing to rival that refplendent Arch, only the Boldness of its Sweep, and the Advantage of its ornamental Curve.

To this agreeable Recefs Theron had withdrawn Himself. Here He fat mufing and thoughtful; with his Eye fixed upon a Picture, representing fome magnificent Ruins.-Wholly intent upon his Specu-lation, He never perceived the Approach of Afpafio; till He had reached the Summit of the Mount, and was ready to take a Seat by his Side.

Afp.

"thick and gloomy, as He pleases. He is at no more "Expence in a long Vista, than a fhort one; and can as

66

eafily throw his Cafcades from a Precipice of half a "Mile high, as from one of twenty Yards. He has his Choice of the Winds, and can turn the Course of his Rivers, in all the Variety of Maanders, that are most delightful to the Reader's Imagination. In a Word; "He has the Modeling of Nature in his own Hands, and may give Her what Charms He pleafes, provided "He does not reform her too much, and run into Abfurdities by endeavouring to excel."

Spect. Vol. VI. N° 418.