This universe, and all created things. Thus God the heaven created, thus the earth, His brooding wings the spirit of God outspread, At once the four spread out their starry wings, Yet half his strength he put not rth; but check'd Of goats or timorous flock together thrnng'd And chrystal wall of heaven; which opening wide \,—Alexander's Feast; or, the Power of Music—An Ode for St. Cicilia's Day.—Dryden. 'TWAS at the royal feast, for Persia won By Philip's warlike son.— Aloft in awful state, The godlike hero sat On his imperial throne. His valiant peers were plac'd around, Their brows with roses and with myrtles bound; The lovely Thais by his side, Sat like a blooming eastern bride, None but the brave, None but the brave, None but the brave, deserve the fair. Amid the tuneful choir, With flying fingers touch'd the lyre : The song began from Jove, When he to fair Olympia press'd, And stamp'd an image of himself, a sovereign of the world. The list'ning crowd admire the lofty sound; A present deity, they shout around; A present deity; the vaulted roofs rebound. With ravish'd ears the monarch hears, And seems to shake the spheres. The praise of Bachus, then, the sweet musician sung; The jolly god in triumph comes ! Flush'd with a purple grace, He shows his honest face: Now give the hautboys breath—he comes! he comes! Drinking joys did first ordain : Bachus' blessings are a treasure ! Sweet the pleasure; Sweet is pleasure after pain. Sooth'd with the sound, the king grew vain; And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the slain. His glowing cheeks, his ardent eyes ; Soft pity to infuse : He sung Darius, great and good, Fall'n, fall'n, fall'n, fall p, With downcast look the joyless victor sat; The various turns of fate below; The mighty master smil'd to see For pity melts the mind to love. Softly sweet, in Lydian measures, Never ending, still beginning, Take the good the gods provide thee. Gaz'd on the fair, Who caus'd his care; And sigh'd and look'd, sigh'd and look'd, At length, with love and wine at once oppress'd, A louder yet, and yet a louder strain: And rouse him like a rattling peal of thunder. Has rais'd up his bead, 'As awak'd from Ihe dead; See the snakes that they rear, And the sparkles that flash from their eyes! Each a torch in his hand! These are Grecian ghosts, that in battle were slain, Inglorious on the plain. Give the vengeance due to the valiant crew. And glittering temples of their hostile gods ! And the king seiz'd a flambeau, with zeal to deslroy: Thais led the vAy, To light him to his prey; And, like another Helen—fir'd another Troy. Could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire Inventress of the vocal frame. The sweet enthusiast, from her sacred store, And added length to solemn sounds, With nature's mother wit, and arts unknown before Let old Timotheus yield the prize, Or both divide the crown : He rais'd a mortal to the skies; z PART IL LESSONS IN SPEAKING. SECTION I ELOQUENCE OF THE PULPIT. L—On Truth and Integrity Tillotson. RUTH and integrity have all the advantages of appearance, and many more. If the show of any thing be good for any thing, I am sure the reality is better; for why does any man dissemble, or seem to be that which he is not, but because he thinks it good to have the qualities he pretends to? For, to counterfeit and dissemble, is to put on the appearance of some real excellency. Now, the best way for a man to seem to be any thing, is really to be what he would seem to be. Besides, it is often as troublesome to support the pretence of a good quality, as to have it; and if a man have it not, it is most likely he will be discovered to want it; and then all his labor to seem to have it, is lost. There is something unnatural in painting, which a skilful eye will easily discern from native beauty and com. plexion. It is hard to personate and act a part long; for where truth is not at the bottom, nature will always be endeavoring to return, and will betray herself at one time or other. Therefore, if any man think it convenient to seem good, let him be so indeed; aud then his goodness will appear to every one's satisfaction; for truth is convincing, and curries its own light and evidence along |