more violent modulations. It is an amusement by no means below the dignity of a rational soul, to observe the pretty creatures flying in pairs, to mark the different passions in their intrigues, the curious contexture of their nests, and their care and tenderness of their little offspring.

I am particularly acquainted with a wagtail and his spouse, and made many remarks upon the several gallantries he hourly used, before the coy female would consent to make him happy. When I saw in how many airy rings he was forced to pursue her; how sometimes she tripped before him in a pretty pitty-pat step, and scarce seemed to regard the cowering of his wings, and the many awkward and foppish contortions into which he put his body to do her homage, it made me reflect upon my own youth, and the caprices of the fair but fantastic Teraminta. Often have I wished that I understood the language of birds, when I have heard him exert an eager chuckle at her leaving him; and do not doubt, but that he muttered the same vows and reproaches which I often have vented against that unrelenting maid.

The sight that gave me the most satisfaction was a flight of young birds, under the conduct of the father, and indulgent directions and assistance of the dam. I took particular notice of a beau gold-finch, who was picking his plumes, pruning his wings, and, with great diligence, adjusting all his gaudy garniture. When he had equipt himself with great trimness and nicety, he stretched his painted neck, which seemed to brighten with new glowings, and strained his throat into many wild notes and natural melody. He then flew about the nest in several circles and windings, and invited his wife and children into open air. It was very entertaining to see the trembling and the fluttering of the little strangers at their first appearance in the

world, and the different care of the male and female parent, so suitable to their several sexes. I could not take my eye quickly from so entertaining an object; nor could I help wishing, that creatures of a superior rank would so manifest their mutual affection, and so cheerfully concur in providing for their offspring.

I shall conclude this tattle about the spring, which I usually call the youth and health of the year.' with some verses which I transcribe from a manuscript poem upon hunting. The author gives directions, that hounds should breed in the spring, whence he takes occasion, after the manner of the ancients, to make a digression in praise of that season. The verses here subjoined, are not all upon that subject; but the transitions slide so easily into one another, that I knew not how to leave off, until I had writ out the whole digression.

4

In spring, let loose thy males. Then all things prove The stings of pleasure, and the pangs of love: Æthereal Jove then glads, with genial showers, Earth's mighty womb, and strews her lap with flow'rs; Hence juices mount, and buds, embolden'd, try More kindly breezes, and a softer sky; Kind Venus revels. Hark! on ev'ry bough, In lulling strains the feather'd warblers woo. Fell tygers soften in th' infectious flames, And lions fawning, court their brinded dames: Great Love pervades the deep; to please his mate, The whale, in gambols, moves his monstrous weight; Heav'd by his wayward mirth old Ocean roars, And scatter'd navies bulge on distant shores.

All nature smiles: Come now, nor fear, my love,

To taste the odours of the woodbine grove,

To pass the evening glooms in harmless play,

And sweetly swearing, languish life away.

An altar bound with recent flowers, I rear
To thee, best season of the various year:
All hail! such days in beauteous order ran,
So soft, so sweet, when first the world began;
In Eden's bow'rs, when man's great sire assign'd
The names and natures of the brutal kind.
Then lamb and lion friendly walk'd their round,
And hares undaunted lick'd the fondling hound;
Wond'rous to tell! but when with luckless hand,
Our daring mother broke the sole command,

Then want and envy brought their meagre train,
Then wrath came down, and Death had leave to reign:
Hence foxes earth'd, and wolves abhorr'd the day,
And hungry churls ensnared the nightly prey.
Rude arts at first; but witty want refin'd
The huntsman's wiles, and famine form'd the mind.

Bold Nimrod first the lion's trophies wore,
The panther bound, and lanc'd the bristling boar;
He taught to turn the hare, to bay the deer,
And wheel the courser in his mid career.
Ah! had he there restrain'd his tyrant hand!
Let me, ye pow'rs an humbler wreath demand:
No pomps I ask, which crowns and sceptres yield;
Nor dang'rous laurels in the dusty field:
Fast by the forest, and the limpid spring,

Give me the warfare of the woods to sing,

To breed my whelps, and healthful press the game,
A mean, inglorious, but a guiltless name.

Just published, with her majesty's royal privilege and licence, proposals for printing by subscription a very fine edition of all the ancient Greek Poets, in three volumes folio. This work is prepared for the press by Mr. Michael Maittaire, from the best editions, and will consist of 750 sheets, or thereabouts, adorned with several beautiful designs, engraved by the best hands. The types, both Greek and Latin, are all cast new abroad, according to the specimen. The price of the three volumes to subscribers is five guineas, in quires, viz. one guinea in hand, two more upon delivery of the first volume, one guinea more upon delivery of the second volume, and the last upon the delivery of the third volume. Whoever subscribes for six books shall have a seventh gratis. The first volume will certainly be delivered within one year from the time of subscribing, &c.-Guard. in fol.

No. 126. WEDNESDAY, August 5, 1713.*

Homo sum, humani nihil à me alienum puto.

TER. Heaut. Act i. Sc. 1.

I am a man, and have a fellow-feeling of every thing belonging to man.

If we consider the whole scope of the creation that lies within our view, the moral, intellectual, as well as the natural and corporeal; we shall perceive throughout, a certain correspondence of the parts, a similitude of operation, and unity of design, which plainly demonstrate the universe to be the work of one infinitely good and wise Being; and that the system of thinking beings is actuated by laws derived from the same divine power, which ordained those by which the corporeal system is upheld.

From the contemplation of the order, motion, and cohesion of natural bodies, philosophers are now agreed, that there is a mutual attraction between the most distant parts at least of this solar system. All those bodies that revolve round the sun are drawn towards each other, and towards the sun, by some secret uniform, and never-ceasing principle. Hence it is, that the earth, as well as the other planets, without flying off in a tangent line, constantly rolls

* G. BERKELEY'S, D. D. &c.-It may not be improper to observe here a circumstance that escaped notice in its proper place. Guardian, No. 3. and nine other papers of this work, are expressly ascribed to the bishop of Cloyne, on the claim and authority of his son the rev. George Berkeley, formerly student at Christ-church, and vicar of Bray. Nevertheless there is a long quotation from Guard. No. 3. in Steele's Apology, 4to. p. 44. and it is expressly said there in a marginal note, that it was written by Steele himself. There are some other papers attributed to Dr. Geo. Berkeley, bishop of Cloyne, in this edition of the Guard. that do not rest on the claim or authority of his son. Of the propriety of such assignments the reader must ultimately judge for himself. See Nos. 88, and 89.

VOL. II.

about the sun, and the moon about the earth, without deserting her companion in so many thousand years. And as the larger systems of the universe are held together by this cause, so likewise the particular globes derive their cohesion and consistence from it.

Now if we carry our thoughts from the corporeal to the moral world, we may observe in the spirits or minds of men, a like principal of attraction, whereby they are drawn together into communities, clubs, families, friendships, and all the various species of society. As in bodies, where the quantity is the same, the attraction is strongest between those which are placed nearest to each other; so is it likewise in the minds of men, cæteris paribus, between those which are most nearly related. Bodies that are placed at the distance of many millions of miles, may nevertheless attract and constantly operate on each other, although this action do not show itself by an union or approach of those distant bodies so long as they are withheld by the contrary forces of other bodies, which, at the same time, attract them different ways; but would, on the supposed removal of all other bodies, mutually approach and unite with each other. The like holds with regard to the human soul, whose affection towards the individuals of the same species, who are distantly related to it, is rendered inconspicuous by its more powerful attraction towards those who have a nearer relation to it. But as those are removed, the tendency, which before lay concealed, doth gradually disclose itself.

A man who has no family is more strongly attracted towards his friends and neighbours; and if absent from these, he naturally falls into an acquaintance with those of his own city or country who chance to be in the same place. Two Englishmen meeting at Rome or Constantinople, soon run into a familiarity.