pate; and, while it gives us enjoyment, will both conduce to the health of the body, and furnish time for the improvement of the mind.

Phyficians allow fix hours fleep to be fufficient for any one, and declare that a larger portion, though indeed it may be neceffary, in fome particular cafe, dulls the fpirits, weakens the mind, and enervates the whole frame. Though fleep, when moderately indulged, is "Nature's kind restorer," yet, prolonged to an undue length, instead of being beneficial, is, on the contrary, extremely injurious to health.

Naturalifts however fay, that he who is engaged in hard ftudy, requires more fleep than him who toils at the plough or thrashes in the barn; and there have been many inftances of this true, though extraordinary affertion.

Early rifing is not only beneficial, as it keeps us from our beds, and prevents the numerous ill effects of overmuch fleep; but as it alfo furnishes time for exercise and morning walks. The air is then more pure and falubrious, and it is then only we can enjoy the pleasure of feeing the refplendent fun" arife and tip the moun tains with his golden beams," a fight of the beauty of which, thofe only who have witneffed it can form a juft conception. This delightful fcene is finely defcribed by Dryden, in his Palamon and Arcite. Book II.

The morning lark, the meffenger of day,
Saluted in her fong the morning gray;

And foon the fun arose with beams fo bright,
That all th' horizon laugh'd to fee the joyous fight;
He, with his tepid rays, the rose renews,

And licks the drooping leaves and drys the dews.

The beautiful views and enchanting profpects with which the face of nature is variegated and adorned, can be seen at a much greater advantage before the air is obfcured by the vapours and fmoke which are drawn up by the heat of the day.

As

As in a fcorching fummer every thing feems refreshed after a fhower of gentle rain, fo it is in the morning, the herbs and flowers which appeared to be withered and exhaufted by the heat of the preceding day, are both refreshed and beautified by the cooling dew of the night.

The time which early rifing procures, makes it highly defirable to those who are engaged in bufinefs; it is fo much gained, which thofe who do not practise it muft inevitably lofe. The tradefman can, in the morning, fettle his accounts, and put his affairs in order before he is difturbed by the hurry and labour of the day.

So it is with regard to the ftudent, he not only, like the man of bufinefs, gains time for application; but, like him alfo, that time is, more than any other, adapted to it. Aurora mufis amica. The mind and imagination are more fitted for deep thought and the exertions of genius, after refreshing fleep, and in the quiet folitude of the morning, than when distracted by the noife and bustle of the day.

Early rifing has been, heretofore, recommended by the ancient fages and philofophers; it is often inculcated in the Proverbs of Solomon, and its good effects have been exemplified by the practice of many wife and learned men.

Let us then remember time ftops for no one, but that we ought wifely to improve what we have, and to lengthen out our portion by redeeming it from fleep.

Having thus briefly sketched out fome of the advantages of a habit of early rifing, I fhall conclude this effay with an extract on the fubject from Thomson :

Falfely luxurious will not man awake,
And, fpringing from the bed of floth,
Enjoy the cool, the fragrant, and the filent hour,
To meditation due and facred fong?

For is there aught in fleep can charm the wife?
To lie in dead oblivion, lofing half

The

The fleeting moments of too fhort a life-
Total extinction of th' enlighten'd foul!
Or else to feverish vanity alive,

Wilder'd and toffing thro' distemper'd dreams;
Who would in fuch a gloomy state remain
Longer than nature craves, when every muse
And every blooming pleasure wait without,
To blefs the wildly devious morning walk?
Colyton,

August 20, 1799.

W. B.

THE DRAMA.

DEC. 13. Piz

DRURY-LANE.

IZARRO was this evening introduced to the public with its fplendid decorations and engaging attractions. A few alterations have been made for the better, and the piece was received with reiterated plaudits of approbation. Kemble in Rolla, Barrymore in Pizarro, and Mrs. Siddons in Elvira, acquitted themfelves well. Nor muft we omit to notice Mifs Biggs, in the character of Cora, who is deferving of particular praife. She undertook this part inftead of Mrs. Jordan, who is confined. The whole paffed off with the fame diftinguifhed eclat which was beftowed upon it on former occafions. Our opinion of this popular play we have already given our readers; we thall, therefore, only add, that this piece, though not perfect, yet, upon the whole, merits well the approbation with which it has been honoured.

COVENT GARDEN.

Nov. 30. A new comedy, entitled the Wife Man of the Eaft, was performed here this evening, made up of the following characters:

Clarensforth

The scene is laid in London, where Clarensforth, a rich merchant, avails himself of a report of his death to affume the dress and character of an Indian Magus, or Wife Man of the Eaft. In this difguife he watches over the conduct of Edward, a libertine fon, now in the poffeffion of his fortune. In the course of this arduous duty, he meets with Lady Diamond, who, keeping a faro table, forms a plan to cheat Edward of his fortune at play. Mr. and Mrs. Metland, his particulaz friends, are reduced to poverty by their losses, sustained in confequence of his fuppofed death; and Ellen their daughter, defigned by Clarensforth for his fon's wife, but who, in her reduced state, becomes the servant of Lady Mary Diamond, is carried off by Edward, who, ignorant of her family, attempts to feduce her. Thefe fcenes produce feveral interviews between Clarensforth and his fon, which naturally abound with moral instruction. The denouement confifts in her reftoration to her family by the kind offices of the Wife Man of the Eaft, who, throwing off his difguife, avows himself to his friends, and, with refpe&t to Edward, effects a reconciliation. There is alfo a fcene of a Quaker family, which, not meeting with approbation, has been fince judiciously altered.

THE

PARNASSIAN GARLAND,

FOR DECEMBER, 1799.

Α

THE

COMPLAINTS OF THE POOR.

[From Southey's Poems.]

ND wherefore do the POOR complain?
The RICH MAN afk'd of me;

Come walk abroad with me, I said,
And I will answer thee.

'Twas ev'ning, and the frozen freets
Were cheerlefs to behold;
And we were wrapt and coated well,
And yet we were a-cold.

We met an old bare-headed man,
His locks were few and white;
I afk'd him what he did abroad
In that cold winter's night:
'Twas bitter keen, indeed, he said,
But at home no fire had he;
And therefore he had come abroad
To ask for charity.

We met a young bare-footed child,
And the begg'd loud and bold;
I afk'd her what she did abroad,
When the wind it blew fo cold;