they may be esteemed as our best instructors,next to experience, through life. Oral advice loses its influence through a variety of causes. The teacher's delicacy too often induces him to spare the feelings of one, who has rendered himself obnoxious to reproof; and the pupil, in return, will contemn the precepts of him, whose moral character is not superiour to his own. But that advice, which is presented to us by the pen of the moralist, is devested of all personal considerations. He need not be penurious of censure, who knows not whom it will offend; nor will the false pride of another be wounded, who forms resolutions of amendment in the obscurity of his own closet. Ethological works constitute a sort of altar, where the ingenuous student may confess his faults; and if he turn not away from the vesti

mind, some taste for literature I consider, as indispensably necessary. It is a sight worthy of the contemplation of angels, to

fore the world shall know that he has been vitious.

"It is the peculiar advantage of this enjoyment, that it is not indebted either to time or place, for the fascination it possesses.'

Whether the student trim his midnight lamp, amid the tumult and smoke of the city, or indulge his fanсу, beneath the shade of beechen boughs, let him be surrounded by his books, and his pleasure is still the same. They have power to dispel the gloom of distress, by lifting up the discontented countenance, and brightening the heavy brow with cheerfulness. What is more delightful, my dear Anthes, than to know, that in every vicissitude of fortune, to which fate has doomed us, we shall still find a friend? In the deepest gloom of adversity, or amid the tu mults of joy, books teach the resignation of fortitude, or give a proper degree of moderation to the ebullitions of mirth.

"With such a taste, properly re

sleeping on the female cheek. All nature is then serene, like her own thoughts, and bright, like the lustre of her own liquid eye. Such is the influence of literature, upon the female mind. It invigorates the affections, and dispels the gloom of discontent. It cherishes the sensibility, and fortifies the virtue of woman. Unclouded by the mists of ignorance, and unsullied by the pestilential breezes of flattery, the mind of a sensible woman is irradiated by those soft tints, which shine but to diffuse the sweets of cheerfulness, and inspire the joys of tranquillity. Formed, as women are, to blunt the sharp stings of adversity, o extract its venom, from the wounds of misfortune, and add new charms to the pleasures of prosperity, no service can be too indefatigable, no fealty too obedient. It

should be the studious care of every one to burnish bright those golden links, which bind society together, and the authour of this work, while he looks forward with eager solicitude, to the reception, which his labours may experience, from female readers, whose improvement and pleasure he has sedulously consulted, hesitates not to confess, that the cheering smile of female approbation will be more flattering to his feelings, than the warmest applause of criticism.

ed with companions, who never leave us, and return with alacrity, at our call. They inform, amuse, and instruct; by describing the habits and manners of various countries, they teach us, how kingdoms have been subverted, and heroes exalted; they hold out a beacon to caution us against the impetuosity of the zealot, and the hypocrisy of the patriot; and if we would listen to the voice of the Muses, we may be conducted to fragrant bowers, where they whisper their sweetest inspirations.§"

"Ah!" replied Anthes," if my genius were so happily versatile as yours, I would cheerfully leave the merry carousal, for the retired shades

Selden, an old Lawyer, whose sterling sense is not less valuable for being ob scured by the rust of Black-Letter, has said, that patience is the chiefest fruit of study. A man that strives to make himself a different thing from other men, by much reading, gains this chiefest good,that, in all fortunes, he bath something to entertain and comfort himself withal.

this propensity. At the most critical juncture of affairs, are they to be seen roving on the banks of Strymon diverting themselves with rash bets, on the combats of cocks or quails.

"You mistake, my friend-you are not required to contend with your destiny; you are asked to control or subdue your inclinations. Your rank and your wealth may one day place you in the Council of the Amphictyons, where you must deliberate upon questions of the highest moment, to the interest and safety of your country. It is therefore, incumbent upon you, to discipline your mind to wisdom, and not suffer it to be enervated by idleness and dissipation."

"Well," said Anthes, I will endeavour to abandon all gaming, and abstain from the other modes of dissipation, in which I have been immersed."

Anacreon exhorted him to persevere in this resolution, and thus their

conversation ended.

Of all the people in Greece, none are now more infected with the vice of gaming than the Athenians. Immoderate in their desires, and extravagant in their pleasures, no publick

The

In the Palamedes of M. Sauter may be found a very copious list of the Grecian Games, which were numerous. See also the treatise of M. de Pauro, on the Alea veterum; as well as in the Grecia ludibunda. There is no doubt, but that dice were known among the ancients. Meursden, who was a most faborious compiler, in his Lud. Græc. mentions them. So does Eschyl. in Agam. v. 33. Plat. de Rep. lib. 6. Abbe Barthelemy mentions, that M. de Pieresc had in his possession, an antique calendar, ornamented with drawings. At the month of January, was a representation of a man, holding a dice-box, in the act of throwing the dice into a sort of tower, which is placed on the edge of a chequer board. It may be added, that the portico of Minerva, at Phaleris, is celebrated, as the principal scene of Grecian gambling.

In order to evade the rigour of the Areopagus, they retire to places beyond the jurisdiction of the police of the capitol. Thus, by bribes to the Demarchs. they obtain safe asylums at Phaleris and Sciron. At these places, and at the Symposia of the Eranes* did this young man

¶ The Anuagyo were the chief officers of the Aqua, or boroughs, of which Attica was divided into one hundred and seStrab. 19.) Their duty was, to assemble venty-four. (Eustath. note on Iliad B. the people under their jurisdiction, whose names were registered, and preside at the election of senators and magistrates, chosen by lot. Sometimes they were called Naunga and the boroughs Navngagiai being obliged, besides two horsemen, to fit: out one ship for the publick. See Har. Græc. Antiq. 33.

The greater part of the Athenians belonged to particular societies, called Eranes

which contributed both to the increase of patriotism and luxury. Each member was obliged to deposit a certain sum of money in the common treasury, and this was destined for the relief of associates, who la boured under particular misfortunes, such as inability, either in the payment of a fine, or the maintenance of credit, at a critical moment. But as soon as circumstances would permit of such an arrangement, they were obliged to refund the principal sums, without, however, being liable to either discount, or interest. Harpocrat, at the wordl ΕΡΑΝΙΣΤΗΣ.

These assemblies, often tumultuous, were sometimes subject to serious disorders. Either the directors accused the members of violating their engagements, and neglecting pay the stipulated quota, at the expirat of each month, or they, in return, were reproached with the crime of enriching themselves, at the expence of the society, by certain stratagems, which the Greeks termed subtilties but which we should call frauds. On this account, the Athenians, who had already established one tribunal for the Theatre, and another for good sayings, added a third to decide the disputes of the Eranists. This tribunal had

cest viands allured the taste, and the mellow wines of Lesbos exhilarated the brain. Courtesans and female dancers were admitted to these Bacchanalian rites, and singers rehearsed, in thrilling measures, the loves of Bacchus and Ariadne.

(To be continued.)

For The Port Folio.

A TREATISE ON ORIENTAL POETRY. (Continued from page 19.) After having made these few remarks upon the Oriental images, it will be proper to say something of the figures which they produce. We will not enlarge upon the simple metaphors, as the dew of liberality, the sweet flavour of reputation, since not only the writings of the orientals are filled with them, but they are also common among other nations. The Asiatick similitudes are in general very fine and very striking, as that of violets sparkling with dew; the blue eyes of a beautiful girl in tears; of a warriour advancing at the head of his troops, with an Eagle cleaving the air and piercing the clouds with his impetuous wings;* but we cugt not to omit a noble train of comparisons which an Arabian Poet makes in the description of the horse, the greatest part of which are grand and sublime in the highest degree. He compares the hair which falls upon the forehead of his coursers to the locks of a maiden dishevelled by the wind his back, to a rock which has been polished by a torrent, which falls incessently; his tail, to that of the

They compare the foreheads of their mistresses to the morning, their locks to the night, their faces to the sun, to the moon, or the blossoms of Jessimine, their cheeks to roses or ripe fruit, their teeth to pearls, hail stones and snow drops, their eyes to the flowers of the Narcissus, their curled hair to black Scorpions, and to Hyacinths, their lips to rubies or wine, the form of their breasts to pomegranates, and the colour of them to snow, their shape to that of Pine trees, and their stature to that of a cypress, a palm tree or a javelin, &c.

robe of a bride, which negligently droops; his sides, to those of a Leopard, his neck, to the high Palmtree under which the Traveller lights a fire in the hope of succour; his front, to the relievo of a shield which the Artist has made round and even; his nostrils, to the den of the Hyena; the hair of his legs, to the feathers of a black Eagle disordered by the wind; his pace to the swiftness of a Roebuck who deceives the address of the Hunter; his gallop, to a cloud which passes swiftly over one valley to shed its rain upon another, his form, to that of a green grasshopper arising from a marsh.

The Allegory or chain of metaphors is very common among the Persian and Turkish authours, as for example, "When the whirlwind of

fear had torn the sail of their understanding, and the deluge of despair had sunk the vessel of their hope, that they might be able to emerge from the gulph of danger, and arrive at the port of safety, they turned the helm of flight and unfurled the sails of a precipitate retreat."

As to the mystical allegories and concealed sense which some writers pretend to have in the love poems of the Persians, what they say concerning them is so incredible and so absurd, that it is useless to support the subject. Let the reader judge other meaning than that which it obif the following ode can have any viously presents.

"It is now the season of Roses, my compa

nions, let us abandon our hearts to joy, This is the advice of Sages and old men : let us no longer differ from it, At present, all is gay, but the lovely season quickly passes away,

Let us sell the Sacred carpets upon which we kneel down to pray, and let us buy wine,

The air is sweet, and invites to pleasure :

Oh Heaven! send us some lively and wanton Beauties, with whom we may drink this rose coloured wine.

String the Lyre. Fortune abuses worthy

men;

But, since we contemn her, why should we not enjoy ourselves?

The Roses flourish around us, Let us fll, let us all with this agreeable liquor,