intercourse with the world?-Certainly not: and as Laura is a woman of sense and talent, I cannot conceive why she persists in this course, unless she hopes, by continual practice, to verify the proverb, "Habit is second nature." Now, from what I know of Laura's character, and hear of the character of naïveté, if it come at all, it will come only with second childhood: yet, as Laura is a very pretty woman, I am afraid it will be difficult to convince her that the continued agitation of a light and symmetrical figure, and the display of a pretty foot is not haïveté. Indeed, had I the same advantages, I too would shut my ears against conviction, and be like her, in spite of nature; however, as my masterly arguments have convinced all persons with thick ankles or club feet, that Laura is not naïve, we will proceed. The next species is an affected modesty, and a retiring timidity, which is exceedingly graceful, and must interest every body who admires the delicacy of the sex; it is, moreover, easier than the first, and requires only a quick eye and a quantum sufficit of impudence. Being, however, easier and less hazardous than the first, it is of course less brilliant, and indeed is generally used as an ornamental appendage to it. We will therefore pass on to the third class; this consists in saying every thing you think, or, more properly, in going out of your way to say rude things. If you were to ask one of the lady professors of this branch, in the same palace, the definition would be short, but emphatic-to be regularly, systematically, actively, ill-bred. So much for the naïveté of candour. I cannot forbear noticing in conclusion the affectation of resignation in public, though it does not

exactly belong to naïveté, in which a person is continually making a pretence of misfortune, to be pitied for her sorrows, and admired for her patience: this, however, is never successful, nor would I recommend it, for it is very soon discovered that a young lady who is perpetually in the dismals, however pretty it may be for a time, infallibly becomes neither more nor less than a dismal bore.

MALEK.

EPILOGUE.

Again my cares and labours cease,
Again I hail the hour of peace;
Again the fruits of toil review,
And bid farewell to Number Two.

If not more bright, yet wiser now

sail :

Than when I launch'd my slender prow,
And felt the mild and prosp'ring gale
Urge on my course, and fill my
I saw the orient God of Day
Beam brightly o'er the wat'ry way;
I felt from far the Zephyr breeze
That kiss'd the ripple of the seas.

Such was the scene of joy on earth,
Such was the day that saw my birth,
Such was each kind and smiling face
That bade me run a prosp❜rous race :
Each hand prepar'd the wreath to give,
And bid my fleeting pages live.

Some brows were wrinkled, some were sad,
Some voted me, "in toto," bad,

Some struck me dead with meagre praise,
Some straight condemn'd my boyish lays,
And some, with meek indulgent love,
Thought practice would my muse improve.

But some there were whose kinder heart More genial feeling could impart : Some could discern a trembling lyre, A glimm❜ring of the poet's fire, Take Mercy's wand for Judgment's rod, And favour and acceptance nod; And these were many: and to these Again may artless Numbers please ; Again may pardon'd errors lie Conceal'd in dark obscurity, Again may boyhood's efforts raise The shout of undeserved praise.

But, hark! I hear a thund'ring cry That bids my pleasing prospects fly"Where are your sober pages?" where "Good things of all kinds?" light as air, And fleeting as the breezes gone, Descend to Styx and Phlegethon; There let the furies' scourges try

The courage of your youthful fry.
Go, Zoilus! I fear not thee,
I fear not all thine obloquy;
This will I bear, and more, far

more,

To reap the meed I reap'd before. · An hundred adverse critics' spite Would but enhance mine own delight; An hundred friendly voices round Shall bid me spurn one angry sound. Not yet defunct, I roam on earth, Made ready for my second birth; And, with your leave, my worthy friend, I will not quite so quick descend: Full soon thou 'lt see me gaily drest In Calf-perhaps in Russia-vest; Long, long, I trust, my sacred strains Shall dwell in these terrestrial plains, And, when the hour of death shall come, Repose in soft Elysium.

THE

ETON MISCELLANY,

No. III.

INTRODUCTION.

I HAVE been taught by experience, since I first addressed the public, that the condition of an author is not one of unmixed pleasure. Not long ago I met with a line in Euripides, which is peculiarly consolatory to me in my present frame of mind :

οὐκ ἔστιν οὐδένι δία τέλος εὐδαιμονεῖν.

When I have heard myself abused on one side, and commended on another, and when all the resources of my natural vanity have been exhausted, I have made up my mind to share with patience the common lot of mortals, and to be contented-as well indeed I may— with the unmerited patronage, and the liberal praise, which have been bestowed upon me.

I shall here present to the public two metrical epistles on the subject of the merits of this publication; as, if true, they deserve insertion, and, if unfounded, they will not injure me.

TO BARTHOLOMEW BOUVERIE.

When first I spied thy title page,

And read thine introduction,

I deem'd thee sober, grave, and sage,
A dealer in instruction.

G

To B. BOUVERIE.

Oh! for an hundred mouths to tell,
How gallant Bouv'rie fought and fell:
Oh! for an hundred Stentors' lungs,
To each an hundred hundred tongues :
Oh! for an hundred eyes, to read,

And urge my course with breeze-like speed,:
To wade through every page of lore,

Each duller than the one before."

'I've plumb'd the depths of Peter Bell;

Would I could fathom thine as well;

An innate "vis inertiæ"

Hath borne me on through all, but thee;

And till the Gods my prayers shall hear,v

And, listen with benignant ear, no