altar, and reduced to ashes in an instant. The two priests then looked round, and chofe, with a few others, Horace and Quintilian from among the Romans, nd Addifon from the English, as their principal affiftants.

The first who came forward with his fering, by the loftinefs of his demeanor, as foon difcovered to be Homer. He pproached the altar with great majefty, and delivered to Longinus thofe parts cthis Odyffey which have been cenfured improbable fictions and the ridicuas narratives of old age. Longinus was preparing for the facrifice, but obarring that Aristotle did not feem wil

to affist him in the office, he returnthem to the venerable old bard with deference, faying, that they were and the tales of old age, but it was old age of Homer. Virgil appeared next, and approached The altar with a medeft dignity in his and countenance peculiar to him; and, to the furprife of all, commitis whole Æneid to the flames. But was immediately rescued by two Rons, whom I found to be Tucca and Varus, who ran with precipitation to the , delivered the poem from deftrucin, and carried off the author between em, repeating that glorious boat of rout forty lines at the beginning of the third Georgic

-Tertanda via eft; qua me quoque poffim "Are bamo, vi&torque virum velizare per ora, Prmas ego in patriam mecum, &c.

After him most of the Greek and Roan authors proceeded to the altar, and frendered with great modefty and hurality the moft faulty part of their works. Che circumftance was obfervable, that The facrifice always increased in proport as the author had ventured to deate from a judicious imitation of Ho7. The latter Roman authors, who med almoft to have loft fight of him, de fo large offerings, that fome of their works, which were before very voJuminous, fhrunk into the compafs of a

I marked with particular attention the feveral offerings of the most eminent English writers. Chaucer gave up his obfcenity, and then delivered his works to Dryden, to clear them from the rubbifh that encumbered them. Dryden executed his talk with great addrefs, and,' as Addifon fays of Virgil in his Georgics, toffed about his dung with an air of gracefulnefs: he not only repaired the injuries of time, but threw in a thousand new graces. He then advanced towards the altar himself, and delivered up a large pacquet, which contained many plays, and fome poems. The pacquet had a label affixed to it, which bore this infcription- To Poverty.'

Shakespeare carried to the altar a long ftring of puns, marked The Taste of

the Age,' a fmall parcel of bombast, and a pretty large bundle of incorrectnefs. Notwithitanding the ingenuous air with which he made this offering, fome officiates at the altar accufed him of concealing certain pieces, and mentioned the London Pigal, Sir Thomas Cromwell, The Yorkshire Tragedy, &c. The poet replied, that as those pieces were unworthy to be preserved, he fhould fee them confume to afhes with great pleasure; but that he was wholly innocent of their original. The two chief priefts interpofe in this difpute, and difmiffed the post with many compliments; Longis obferving, that the pieces in queftion could not poffibly be his, for that the failings of Shakespeare were like thofe of Homer, whofe genius, whenever it fubfided, might be compared to the ebbing of the ocean, which left a mark upon it's fhores, to fhew to what a height it was fometimes carried. Ariftotle concurred in this opi nion; and added, that although Shakefpeare was quite ignorant of that ex ict œconomy of the ftage, which is fo remarkable in the Greek writers, yet the mere ftrength of his genius had in many points carried him infinitely beyond

them.

and feveral other dramatic writers, who made fuch large contributions, that they fet the altar in a blaze.

Among thefe I was surprised to fee an author, with much politeness in his behaviour, and spirit in his countenance, tottering under an unwieldy burden. As he approached I difcovered him to be Sir John Vanbrugh; and could not but fmile, when, on his committing his heavy load to the flames, it proved to be his Skill in Architecture.

Pope advanced towards Addison, and delivered with great humility thofe lines written exprefsly against him, so remarkable for their excellence and their cruelty, repeating this couplet

Curft be the verfe, how well foe'er it flow, That tends to make one worthy man my foe!

The ingenuous critic infifted on his taking them again: For,' faid he, my affociates at the altar, particularly Horace, would never permit a line of fo excellent a fatirift to be confumed. The many compliments paid me in other parts of your works, amply compenfate for this flight indignity. And be affured, that no little pique or mifunderstanding fhall ever make me a foe to genius. Pope bowed in fome confufion, and promifed to fubftitute a fictitious name at least, which was all that was left in his power. He then retired, after having made a facrifice of a little pacquet of Antithefes, and fonie parts of his Tranflation of Homer.

During the courfe of thefe oblations, I was charmed with the candour, deconcy, and judgment, with which all the priests difcharged their different functions. They behaved with fuch dignity, that it reminded me of those

ages, when the offices of king and priest centered in the fame perfon. When. ever any of the affiftants were at a los in any particular circumstances, they applied to Ariftotle, who fettled the whole business in an instant.

But the reflections which this pleasing fcene produced, were foon interrupt.d by a tumultuous noife at the gate of the temple; when fuddenly a rude illiterate multitude rushed in, led by Tindal, Morgan, Chubb, and Bolingbroke. The chiefs, whofe countenances were impreffed with rage which art could no conceal, forced their way to the altar and amidst the joyful acclamations o their followers threw a large volum into the fire. But the triumph was fort and joy and acclamation gave way t filence and aftonishment: the volume lay unhurt in the midst of the fire; and, a the flames played innocently about it, could difcover written in letiers of gold the words, THE BIBLE. At tha inftant my ears were ravished with th found of more than mortal mufic ac companying a hymn fung by invifib beings, of which I well remember t following verfes:

The words of the LORD are pu words: even as the filver, which in th earth is tried, and purified seven tim in the fire.

More to be defired are they the gold; yea, than much fine gold: fweet also than honey, and the honey-comb

The united melody of inftrumen and voices, which formed a concert exquisite, that, as Milton fays,

might create a foul under the ribs death,' threw me into fuch extafe that I was awakened by their violence I am, Sir, your humble fervant, & CRITI

Tis contended by thofe who reject Christianity, that if revelation had been neceffary as a rule of life to mankind, it would have been univerfal; and they are upon this principle compelled to affirm that only to be a rule of life which is univerfally known.

But no rule of life is univerfally

OVID. ADDISON.

known, except the dictates of confcicn With refpect to particular actions, op nion determines whether they are go or ill, and conscience approves or dilap proves, in confequence of this deter mination, whether it be in favour truth or falfhoad. Nor can the errer of confcience be always imputed to

Criminal neglect of inquiry: thofe by whom a fyftem of moral truths was difcovered through the gloom of paganifm, have been confidered as prodigies, and regarded by fucceffive ages with aftotuhment and admiration; and that which immortalized one among many millions, can scarce be thought poffible to all. Men do not ufually fhut their res against their immediate intereft, however they may be thought to wink paint their duty; and fo little does ther appear to be discoverable by the ght of nature, that where the Divine Prefcription has either been witheld or torrupted, fuperftition has rendered piety cal, and error has armed virtue againit herfelf; mifery has been cultivated by those who have not incurred guilt; and dough all men had been innocent, they Light ftill have been wretched.

In the reign of Yamodin the Magfcnt, the kingdom of Golconda was &populated by a peftilence; and after mary other attempt to propitiate the gods had failed, it was believed, according to the fuperftition of the country, that they required the facrifice of a virgin of royal Exod.

It happened that at this time there was Tu virgin of the royal blood, but Taa the daughter of Yamodin, whom te had betrothed to one of the princes et his court, intending that he fhould fcceed to the throne; for Yamodin had fon, and he was not willing that his a fire should descend to a woman.

Yamodin confidered himself not lefs the father of his people than of Tamira; ...therefore, with whatever reluctance, termined to redeem the life of the pic with that of the individual. He preftrated himself in the temple, and inoked his principal idol as the fountain Eife: From thee,' faid he, I have derived my being, and the life which I have propagated is thine: when I un about to reftore it, let me rememher with gratitude, that I poffeffed it by thy bounty; and let thy mercy accept it as a ransom for my people.' Orders were given for the facrifice on the next day, and Tamira was permitted to difpofe of the interval as the piled. She received the intimation of ter father's pleasure without much furprize; because, as the knew the custom of her country, the fcarce hoped that the mand of her life would have been delayed fo longs the fortified herself against

the terrors of death, by anticipating the honours that would be paid to her me mory; and had just triumphed over the defire of life, when, upon perceiving her lover enter the apartment, the loft her fortitude in a moment, and burst into

tears.

When they were alone, after his eyes had, like her's, overflowed with filent forrow, he took her hand, and with a look of inexpreffible anxiety and tendernefs told her, that one expedient was yet left, by which her life might be preferved; that he had bribed a priest to his intereft, by whom the ceremonies of marriage might be immediately performed; that on the morrow, as fhe would be no longer a virgin, the propitiation of the gods could not be effected by her death; and that her father, though for political purposes he might appear to be difpleafed, would yet fecretly rejoice at an event, which, without his concur rence, had delivered him from the dread ful obligation of facrificing an only child, through whom he hoped to tranfmit dominion to his pofterity.

To this propofal Tamira, whofe attachinent to life was now ftrengthened by love, and in whofe bofom the regret of precluded pleasure had fucceeded to the hope of glory, at length confented; but the confented with all the timidity, reluctance, and confufion, which are produced by a confcioufnefs of guilt; and the prince himself introduced the man, who was to accomplish the purpofe both of his ambition and his love, with apparent tremor and hesitation.

On the morrow, when the priest stood ready at the altar to receive the victim, and the king commanded his daughter to be brought forth, the prince produced her as his wife. Yamodin ftood fome moments in fufpence; and then dismissing the affembly, retired to his palace. After having remained about two hours in private, he fent for the prince. The gods,' faid he, though they continue the peftilence, have yet in mercy refcued my people from the oppreffion of a tyrant, who appears to confider the life of millions as nothing in competition with the indulgence of his luft, his avarice, or his ambition.' Yamodin then commanded him to be put to death, and the fentence was executed the fame hour.

fures not only of poffeffion but hope were precluded; her attachment to life was broken, by the very means which fhe had taken to preferve it; and as an atonement for the forfeit of her virginity, the determined to fubmit to that law of marriage, from which as a princefs only The was exempted, and to throw herfelf on the pile by which the body of her husband was to be confumed. To this her father confented: their ashes were fcattered to the winds, and their names were forbidden to be repeated.

If by thefe events it is evident, that Yamodin difcerned no law which would have juftified the prefervation of his daughter; and if it is abfurd to fuppofe his integrity to be vicious, because he had lefs power and opportunity to obtain knowledge than Plato; it will follow, that, by whatever rule the oblation of human facrifice may be condemned, the conduct of Yamodin which would have produced fuch facrifice was morally right, and that of the prince which prevented it was morally wrong; that the confent of Tamira to the marriage was vicious, and that her fuicide was heroic virtue, though in her marriage The concurred with a general law of nature, and by her death oppofed it: for moral right and wrong are terms that are wholly relative to the agent by whom the action is performed, and not to the action itself confidered abftractedly, for abftractedly it can be right cr wrong only in a natural fenfe. It appears, therefore, that Revelation is neceffary to the eftablishment even of natural religion, and that it is more rational to fuppofe it has been vouchlafed in part than not at all.

It may, perhaps, be asked, of what ufe then is confcience as a guide of life, fince in thefe inftances it appears not to coincide with the Divine Law, but to oppofe it; to condemn that which is enjoined, and approve that which is forbidden: but to this question the answer is eafy.

The end which confcience approves is always good, though the fometimes mistakes the means: the end which Ya

modin propofed, was deliverance from a peftilence; but he did not, nor could know, that this end was not to be obtained by human facrifice: and the end which confcience condemns is always ill; for the end propofed by the prince was private gain by public lofs. By confcience, then, all men are restrained from intentional ill, and directed in their choice of the end though not of the means: it infallibly directs us to avoid guilt, but is not intended to fecure us from error; it is not, therefore, either ufelefs as a law to ourfelves, nor yet fufficient to regulate our conduct with refpect to others; it may fting with remorfe, but it cannot chear us with hope. It is by Revelation alone, that virtue and happiness are connected: by Revelation, we are led into all truth;' confcience is directed to effect it's purpose, and repentance is encouraged by the hope of pardon. If this fun is rifen upon our hemifphere, let us not confider it only as the object of fpeculation and inquiry; let us rejoice in it's influence, and walk by it's light; regarding rather with contempt than indignation, thofe who are only follicitous to difcover why it's radiance is not farther diffused; and wilfully fhut their eyes against it, because they fee others ftumble to whom it has been denied.

It is not neceffary to inquire, what would be determined at the Great Tribunal, concerning a heathen who had in every inftance obeyed the dictates of confcience, however erroneous; because it will readily be granted, that no fuch moral perfection was ever found among men: but it is easy to afcertain the fate of thofe, who love darkness rather than

light, becaufe their deeds are evil;' who violate the law that has been written upon the heart, and reject that which has been offered them from ABOVE; who though their fins are as fcarlet, cavil at the terms on which they might be white as fnow; and though their iniquities have been multiplied ithout number, revile the hand that would blot them from the Register of Heaven.

N° XCII.

SIR,

TO THE ADVENTURER.

In the papers of crititific, which marked a fpirit of candor and love of truth, equally remote from bigotry and captioufnefs; a just diftribution of praife amongst the ancients and the moderns; a fober deference to reputation long eftablished, without a blind adoration of antiquity; and a willingness to faYour later performances, without a light or puerile fondness for novelty.

N the papers of criticism which you

I fhall, therefore, venture to lay before you fuch obfervations as have rifen to my mind in the confideration of Virgil's Paftorals, without any enquiry how far my fentiments deviate from eftablished rules or common opinions.

If we furvey the ten paftorals in a general view, it will be found that Virgil can derive from them very little claim to the praife of an inventor. To fearch into the antiquity of this kind of poetry, is not my prefent purpofe; that it has long fubfifted in the east, the Sacred Writings fufficiently inform us; and we may conjecture, with great probability, that it was fometimes the devotion and fometimes the entertainment of the first generations of mankind. Theocritus united elegance with fimplicity; and taught his fhepherds to fing with to much eafe and harmony, that his countrymen, defpairing to excel, forbore to imitate him; and the Greeks, however vain or ambitious, left him in quiet poffeffion of the garlands which the wood-nymphs had beftowed upon

him.

. Virgil, however, taking advantage of another language, ventured to copy or to rival the Sicilian Bard: he has written with greater fplendor of diction, and elevation of fentiment: but as the magnificence of his performances was more, the fimplicity was lefs; and, perhaps, where he excels Theocritus, he fometimes obtains his fuperiority by deviat

HOR.

ing from the paftoral character, and performing what Theocritus never attempted.

Yet, though I would willingly pay to Theocritus the honour which is always due to an original author, I am far from intending to depreciate Virgil, of whom Horace juftly declares, that the rural mufes have appropriated to him their elegance and fweetnets, and who, as he copied Theocritus in his defign, has resembled him likewife in his fuccefs; for, if we except Calphurnius, an obfcure author of the lower ages, I know not that a fingle paftoral was writ ten after him by any poet, till the revival of literature.

But though his general merit has been univerfally acknowledged, I am far from thinking all the productions of his rural Thalia equally excellent: there is, indeed, in all his pastorals a train of verfification which it is vain to feek in any other poet; but if we except the firit and the tenth, they feem liable either wholly or in part to confiderable objec

tions.

The fecond, though we fhould forget the great charge against it, which I am afraid can never be refuted, might, I think, have perished, without any diminution of the prait of it's author; for I know not that it contains one affecting fentiment or pleafing defcription, or one paffage that trikes the imagination or awakens the paffions.

The third contains a contest between two fhepherds, begun with a quarrel of which fome particulars might well be fpared, carried on with fprightlines and elegance, and terminated at laft in a reconciliation: but, furely, whether the invectives with which they attack each other be true or falfe, they are too much degraded from the dignity of paftoral innocence; and inftead of rejoicing that they are both victorious, I should not have grieved could they have been both defeated.

The poem to Pollio is, indeed, of

another