MARGARITA. Gracious Lord, have mercy! For what to this to-morrow's scourge or stake? CALLIAS. And he must sit the livelong day alone MARGARITA. closes with the evening song to Apollo which is heard in the distance. Margarita is next found in a splendid, illuminated palace. Am I brought here to die? My prison opened And is it thus ye would enamour me Where all would soothe to sleep, but that to sleep MARGARITA. Lord Prefect, it becomes The dying Christian to be mock'd in death; He comes with the temptation of power and pleasure and with the persuasive tenderness of love, if possible, to seduce the faith of Margarita and to reclaim her to fine and exalted poetry in this part, in a the world and to himself. There is much subsequent interview with her father who finds her in the palace and thinks that she is there to become Olybius' bride, in a soliloquy of Olybius and in another of Margarita, as also in a chorus of Heathen maidens in praise of Apollo, which is replied to by the Christians in one to the glory of God. But we must pass abruptly over various passages which would tempt us to quote, in order to come at the concluding scene. Premising however that Olybius and Macer have devised a plan for saving Margarita, by delaying her execution to the last, thinking that the sight of her brethren's tortures and sufferings will shake the firmness of her purpose. The multitudes are assembled: The statues of the Pagan deities are brought in triumphant procession to witness the vengeance which is about to be executed on the mockers of their rites.Callias appears. All true, and real all: My sleep is fled, but not my hideous dreams. Ah! there they stand, their baskets full of flowers, The censers trembling in their timid hands, All, all the dedicated maids, but one. CITIZEN. Why doth be gaze around? he seems to seek What he despairs of finding. CALLIAS. No, there's none That taller than the rest draws all regards; And if they touch their lyres, they will but wake, With all their art, the memory of that voice Which is not of their choir. CITIZEN. Ah, poor old man! CALLIAS. What! who art thou that dust presume to pity I tell thee, insolent! even beside the stake ANOTHER CITIZEN. Would I were like bim! Ah,-no-no, my child! Olybins comes on and ascends the throne-The captives are brought forth to hear their doom. To love-but not of man, Oh! pardon me, "Tis he Beyond! ah, who is there At the right band of One, O'er him the rainbow springs, And spreads its emerald-wings, The Christ!--the Christ commands us to his Jesus, Redeemer, Lord, we come, we come, we come! The poem does not finish here, but here we must conclude our account of it the christians are led off to sufferall die in triumph-save Charinus, who, at the stake, forswears his religion, and and afterward, Judas-like, slays himself in remorse. When it is told to Callias that the savage executioner, when he held the shining axe o'er Margarita's neck,trembled Ha! God's blessing on his head! And the axe slid from out his palsied hand? OFFICER. He gave it to another. CALLIAS. And- OFFICER. It fell. CALLIAS. I see it, I see it like the lightning flash-I see it, And the blood bursts--my blood-my daughter's blood! Off let me loose. There are many faults in this poem which, if we had opportunity we would point out: the work however sustains little injury from slight defects, and not to know some trifles is a praise.' X. THE CLUB.' No. III.-Friday, March 1st. 1822. "He is a man who has seen many changes." LORD BYRON, "And marked how wide extends the mighty waste, `O'er the fair realms of Science, Learning, Taste." CANNING. One of our members, who is a person of some experience and knowledge of the world, gave us at a recent meeting, an account of the several Clubs which he had attended, either as a member or as a visitor, before his admission at the Green Dragon. He has permitted us to communicate the whole or any part of the narrative to the readers of The Club.' We have, therefore, determined to avail ourselves, at intervals, of this permission. We shall now, however, merely offer a brief general sketch of some of the Institutions, with which our informant has made us acquainted, promising to enter, on some future occasion, more into detail. The first club which excited the notice of our friend was a Musical-Club, of which, being fond of music, he had formed a very high expectation. But having been admitted one night as a visitor, he was surprised to find that the usual practice of distorting the countenance while singing or playing, had given most of the members very unseemly visages; and being himself a single man, and on his preferment, as we usually term it, he feared that to become an active member of this institution, might be fatal to his prospects in another quarter! He has, indeed, paid so much attention to the subject, that he has promised us a paper, in which he designs to prove that, in proportion as men improve the harmony of the voice they lose that of the features. He has lately been at the trouble of going to Liverpool, in order to visit the Blind Asylum of that town, with a view of trying his theory under the most favourable circumstances; but, though it received ample confirmation in the exhibition which be there witnessed, he finds that the choicest illustrations of it might be met with at the club where it was first suggested. He was next admitted into a Blue-Stocking-Club, as it is called, consisting of persons of both sexes, who profess to meet for the purpose of conversing about books, but who usually change that topic of conversation, for one with which they are, in general, better acquainted. This club was restricted to single persons. The members, however, paired off so rapidly that our friend, thinking himself in some danger from such frequent examples, and recollecting that they who have the first choice seldom leave the best things behind, thought it prudent to withdraw while he could do so with safety. He is still fond of alluding jocularly to this club, and of congratulating himself on his escape, the ladies, several of whom can point out the road to Gretna, having not proved to be such proficients in domestic economy, as they are in retailing tea-table criticisms on popular novels, and in deciding upon the merits of the most striking passages in Don Juan. He some time after associated himself with a Deba ting-Society, at which, however, notwithstanding his ardour in what he undertakes, he was not a very conspicuous member. Some of the members, to display their knowledge of language, used many hard words Iwith about the same propriety as my aunt Tabitha in Humphrey Clinker; and others, to shew the extent of their learning, introduced topics in no respect connected with the subject under discussion, which it was evident they did not understand, and in which they expressed themselves with all the elegance and perspicuity which might have been expected! Our friend finding that there was but little pleasure or improvement to be gained by his attendance resigned after he had been at a few of the meetings. He was also once introduced to a tavern society, called the Kit Cat Club, in which he expected, from the representations of one of the members, to be highly entertained. He was, however, woefully disappointed. Instead of rational conversation, or improving discussions, he was surprised, after a good deal of wrangling about rules and fines, to see one of the members, with a strong Northern accent, get up to give the company Cato's Soliloquy, after the manner of Kean, which the members pronounced to be an excellent imitation. Another member sang When he who adores thee, &c.' to a tune something like that of Nancy Dawson, and was much applauded. I shall advert at present to only one more club which he visited. This was an association which had no name, and to which, indeed, it would be difficult to give one. The favourite member was a young man who assumed no small degree of confidence from the frequent praises of the rest. It was impossible to utter the most notorious truism without giving rise to a paradox in the fancy of this inveterate logician. He is so much given to investigating causes, that he has gravely promised the club a theory which, after much labour, he has lately invented, to explain why a black cat is more prolific than a tabby, and another which will shew, why red-haired persons are more amorous than those whose hair is of a different colour. The members in general entertain so high an opinion of his sagacity that they have no doubt he will soon be able to clear up these important mysteries in natural history. I must not, however, omit to mention that there has been in this club, from its commencement, one young man in whom very superior learning and talents shine through the veil which a graceful modesty has thrown over them. a Our informant was connected with a Jockey-Club, Bachelor-Club, a Card-Club, a Charity-Club, a Book-Club, and a number of other clubs before he was introduced at the Green Dragon. Of his peregrinations, from one place to another, with the dancing at the Book-Club, and the eating at the Charity-Club, (by which circumstances these two institutions were most particularly distinguished) we shall perhaps give a further account in some future paper. He is a person of some humour, and much observation; and, though rather taciturn at first, he is, after a glass or two, exceedingly agreeable. He has gone through so many scenes, and played a part on so great a variety of occasions, that an astrological friend of ours is desirous to examine the horoscope of his birth, under the persuasion, that some singular planetary configurations shed their mingled influence upon his fortune, and, by their position in a moveable sign, gave him his rambling propensity. C. La POETRY. SOUTH AMERICAN PATRIOT'S SONG. Translated from the original Spanish, printed at Buenos Ayres, 1818. "Tis the voice of a nation waking From her long, long sleep, to be free- The laurel-leaves bang o'er her, The gallant victor's prize : And see how low before her, Chorus -Eternal glory crown us! Eternal laurel bloom, To deck our heads with honour, On the steps of the heroes treading Had roused the sleeping dead. Saw ye the Tyrant shedding The blood of the pure and free? Argentines! by the pride of our nation, Hark! o'er the wide waves sounding,. Thy glorious throne is planting Over oppressions grave; And a thousand tongues are chanting, The mariner whose little bark is toss'd Upon the rude ungovernable waves, 'Midst rocks and quicksands, often toils and slaves. Uncertain if he shall, or not be lost, And buried in the mighty deep he cross'd So often and so safe-in vain he craves Assistance, whilst the foaming ocean laves His labouring vessel-thoughts which once engross'd And cheer'd his brighter days, are now forgot, Or, if remember'd, tend to aggravate The dreadful scene- How wretched is my lot!' He cries:-the danger o'er, he tempts his fate Again. Thus weak repining man doth sigh, And discontented lives, yet fears to die. W. LINES WRITTEN IN SICKNESS. O, DEATH! if there be quiet in thine arms, LINES C. Suggested by an Evening's walk on the banks of the Humber. Ως χρονος εσθ' ηβης και βιοτοί ολιγος θνητοις. But my choice, my pursuit, my enjoyment on earth SIMONIDES. The sun has sunk beneath the trembling wave, The fickle sons of wantonness and vanity. Would fresh for every scene our strength renew? Our fathers where are they?-Beneath the yew; The mould'ring turf entombs their sacred earth; Their clay unconscious drinks the evening dew, And left behind with aught that gave them birth, Their weariness and pain, their hopes and noisy mirth. And haply soon o'er my departed dust, The lonely cypress will its branches wave, And soon, at most, receive its fragile trust, The narrow precinct of my humble grave. O God! and is there nought on earth can save— Nought that can teach me to avert the blow? And is it vain a longer stay to crave? And wilt thou surely lay thy creature low? Beneath thy chastening rod, O let me humbly bow? Hull. Οντις. The reproach under which our language labours of harshness, arising from the frequent recurrences of hissing sounds, is well known. Mr. Thelwall has given us a curious specimen of an English song without a Sibilant,' as a proof that this fault might partly, at least, be avoided. As it may be considered a kind of poetical novelty, it is subjoined. No-not the eye of tender blue, Tho' Mary, 'twere the tint of thine ;- Had long enthrall'd my mind: But when to radiant form and feature, The empire of the mind. With my wife and my children, are dearest to me. Like the vine that is cultured, the bee that is hived, The flowers which are tended by tender controal, Our state is so aptly, so dearly contrived, The seasons in placidness over us roll; Old bachelors laugh and shrewd maidens avow To be wed is dependence, or lottery, at best; They may laugh and may shun, but for me, I allow, I am peacefully gay and contentedly blest. Islington. J. R. PRIOR. SONNET. ANGELO DI COSTANZO. 'Qualor l'eta che si veloce arriva.' When the cold touch of withering Time comes on, The flame divine that in my spirit glows, VARIETIES. BURKE. Being asked for a motto to a publication, in which the subject of discussion was the Isle of Man, jocosely replied: The proper study of Mankind is Man.' THE DUGONG. Sir T. S. Raffles has sent to England several skeletons of animals from Sumatra; among these is the Dugong. This creature grazes at the bottom of the sea without legs; and is of the figure and form of the whale; the position and structure of its mouth enables it to browse upon the fuci and submarine algæ like a cow in a meadow, and the whole structure of the masticating and digestive organs, shows it to be truly herbivorous. It never visits land, or fresh water, but lives in shallow inlets, where the water is two or three fathoms deep. Their usual length is eight or nine feet. But a curious, and to some perhaps, the most interesting part of the detail of the history of this animal is, that the flesh resembles young beef, being very delicate and juicy. The language is not very courtly, and joined with the sentiment, imports that every wise man will readily give something-who does not, let him be devoted to destruction. Alms were formerly solicited here-and the devil below served all the purposes of a loaded pistol, to the ignorant traveller, who was thereby intimidated out of his money. George II. had implicit faith in the German notion This is affirmed, with the dry preciof vampyres. sion of historical truth, by Horace Walpole. THE MANCHESTER IRIS. The forthcoming publication by the author of The FASHIONS FOR MARCH. Take three-fifths of two score-five hundred-and one half of a kiss-and you will bave the name of a populous town in Lancashire. No. 6. A young gentleman who had invited a morose old at once. ' it is a verse to matrimony, and so is he. ANTIENT CAVE. Last autumn, through the activity of Mr. Harrison of Kirby Moorside, an horizontal Cave or opening was discovered, in working a stone quarry a little below Kirkdale Church, Yorkshire. On the 2nd of August, it was explored to the extent of 100 yards or more in length; from two to seven feet in height; and from four to 20 in width; but contracting and expandadvances Eastward under the ing its dimensions as adjacent and incumbent field. The present opening is estimated to be about four yards below the surface of the ground, on the side of a sloping bank, and the cap or covering is principally rock. On the floor of this Cave or opening was found a considerable quantity of loose earth, chiefly calcareous, amongst which were animal remains, much decayed. Several bones of immense magnitude, teeth, horns, stalactites, &c. were collected, which appear to have been those of the bear, the rhinoceros, the stag, &c. &c. Whether these remains are to be referred to the Antediluvian world, or the Cave may have been subsequently the resort of the above animals, if they ever existed in this island, it is for geologists to consider. THE DRAMA. MANCHESTER DRAMATIC REGISTER. Monday, March 4th.-Fazio: Bianca, Mrs. Bunn; LITERARY NOTICES. Preparing for Publication. A new volume of Poems under the title of Napoleon, and other Poems.' By B. Barton, one of the Society of Friends. The Works of Dr. James Arminius, formerly Professor of Divinity in the University of Leyden. Translated from the Latin. A Translation of Cottu's admirable Work on the Criminal Jurisprudence, and the Manners and Society of the English, A Life of Oliver Cromwell. By Mr. Southey. PROMENADE DRESS. What four weights are those, by which a person A poplin high gown, made tight to the shape: the METEOROLOGICAL REPORT Rain, Wind, &c. deduced from diurnal observa- at the hand with ermine. A white satin gown, cut low and square round the The favourite colours are pink, violet, amaranth, REMARKS.-February 2nd, a strong west wind the evening, attended with rain:-5th, a very low state of the barometer, being the minimum of the during the day, which increased to violent gusts in a little fall of rain during a strong north-west wind.— month, no remarkable change of the weather, except 10th, Incessant rain all day.-20th, sharp frost, aldegrees.-26th, gusts of wind towards evening, from though the reporters' thermometer only indicates 35 the south-east, with a little hail and rain. Bridge-street, March 5th, 1822. FOR THE IRIS. THE WAY TO LIVE. Atticus (for that is my friend's name) was the son of regular and exemplary parents, who did their part in superintending his childhood, and in rightly forming his habits. As soon as he became possessed of the use of reason or judgement, (for I reckon little of the preceding period), he applied himself to this design of living while he lived, and of steering a course conformable to the combined relations of virtue and happiness. He meant not stoically to debar bhimself the enjoyments of life, but to crop them passing along as they lay beside him; not to make them the objects of his journey, or to dwell on them too long or too intensely. Taking then a comprehensive view into future consequences which was little to be expected at an age so green and tender, he saw at once the propriety of applying himself to the acquisition of information in its most general sense. He listened with deference to the precepts of his tutors, he sought for instruction by questions upon every point that occurred to him, and he imbibed, with a docility of a sacred and venerating cast, the great and lasting principles of religion which were addressed to him. He was at the same time obedient to his natural and adopted parents and instructors, and cherished a kind and ingenuous affection beyond that which duty requires. His general character, at this early period of his life, was marked by diffidence and good nature, a voracious appetite for reading, and a scrupulous care of the books which contributed, either in school or at leisure hours, to his improvement. the delicacy of refinement, the polish of manner, is called, early; and often repeats his conviction of and the humanity in feeling, to which it gives birth; the uselessness of single life, and the increased value while he ruled with an iron hand its excesses, and and importance, as well as respectability, conferred restrained, during the continuance of present impedi- on a man by marriage, in the relations of society. ments, the impetuosity and the fire which mark its With the prospects then which he possessed, and at character. "Let be," said he, " till prudence war- the age of two and twenty, whither did he direct his rants and fortune favours, till the frame receives eyes ?-To a lady distinguished for beauty and fairstrength, and the mind acquires vigour and confi- ness of complexion-to the lineal representative of dence, the indulgence of the passion which I per- an ancient family known in the records of hereditary ceive within me. The feeling will not be extin-grandeur? to the heiress of vast possessions and untold wealth? No. I feel a proud triumph in being able to assert, that my friend, in his choice of a consort, disregarded the petty considerations of worldly policy, and looked only to purity of heart, stability of principle, and ornament of mind. He made a declaration of his sentiments to a lady of this character, which, as he had been known and respected before his attentions presented him as an object of love, was accepted and returned. I . I have a friend advanced in years, whose life presents so much of the pleasing and the instructive, and exhibits a character so consistent with the purposes for which it is demonstrable the Creator bestowed it, that I shall conceive I am performing a not unaccep-guished or impaired by the delay, nor lose any thing table office, in introducing it to public notice. When of either its brilliancy or ardour, while it is really the ways of living are so various, when so many increased in its resources, and improved by moderfalse lights are thrown out, and when an anomalous ation. Meanwhile frown not on the gentle emotions refinement in learning has perverted the right way, of nature, or the blandishments of life, only regard or offered in itself a new one, the man who points that while you encourage the suavity and gentleness, out the true and legitimate path, and establishes the you sink not in the effeminacy of love. I will means recommended upon sure, easy, and undevinot blast," he added, "6 the formation of an attachating rules, does a service to society at large. In ment for some deserving object, even during the pethis, as in all other cases, examples are more effica- riod at which I am really subject to others, since The sober age of forty now stamped my friend's cious than precepts. it will refine my thoughts and stimulate my exertions; history; and behold him a man possessed of strength but I will forbear making any disclosure or declara- of body and vigour of intellect, and standing, as it tion of my love, till I am established in business, and were, in the very prime of life. He was the father have the prospect of competence before me." of a family which would generally be considered dwell with the greater minuteness on the sentiments large, but to which his industry was adequate, and and conduct of my friend in this particular, because which conduced to shed an additional lustre over his it is one on which it is most important that right character as a member of the community. It had opinions should be held. He now perceived, too, the been at once his greatest care and highest delight necessity of guarding against the attractions held out to train them in principles which he knew would seby the speculative and glowing plans of the moment, cure their permanent good; and the influence of his and against suffering his judgement to elope with the bright example continually before their eyes, gave an gay and gawdy objects which indeed flatter the ima-efficacy to his precepts, which alone they could not gination, and win the heart of youthful enthusiasm, have attained. The economy of his family was a but seduce the attention to shadows from the sub-model of good management, regularity, and prustantial realities of life. A man must live, and act, dence; no levity, no envy, no obstinacy, no waste of and make a respectable appearance in society, but he time, no squandering were found there. He was as need not glitter in the sun, or flutter about, or com-hospitable as he was discreet and domestic; he repose declamations. My young friend's situation was lieved, therefore, the train of business, by the occaone belonging to mediocrity; he saw it and profited. sional company of some friends, selected from those He had been put to an occupation which requires whom he could most approve. His manner of giving much mechanical labour, as well as intellectual ap- an entertainment was strikingly delicate, and worthy plication. He devoted, therefore, to the service of of admiration. His manners were always pleasing his employers, that proportion of his time which was and affable, and his mind being filled with the their due, and laid down the most prudent plans for choicest stores of classic elegance, and his taste the employment of those hours which were at his liberalized by the most gentlemanly sentiments, were own disposal. The study of the business in which diffused through all his actions with a delicacy and he was engaged, was his primary object, from which effect that invariably won the hearts of his guests. he suffered nothing to divert him next to that be His conduct was marked by a watchfulness to supply allowed himself to beguile the cares of life, by all their wants, and by an equal attention to their catching up the literary pleasures that floated round feelings with regard to any thing that was unpleasant his path. to them. He never pressed them with rudeness to Manhood came, and with it the steadiness, the firm-replenish their glasses to an excess that violated their ness, the consistency of character, and the habitual integrity of mind, which make a member of society, at this period, truly respectable. Atticus had now completed the institutional plans of youth; had laid the foundation of knowledge, and entered on a line of life which held out the prospect of independence, and turned to his own benefit the acquirements and the maxims which he had derived, while engaged in the service of his former masters. With a good business in his hands, and a heart overflowing with benevolence and love, he turned his attention to the subject which had long been nearest his heart, of calling some dear object by the name of wife. He had some time since formed an attachment, which, as founded on virtue, was deeply engrafted in his heart, but which, if fortune proved unpropitious, he intended not to disclose, relying on the energies of his nature to conquer it in his own soul, and resolving not to wound the peace of an innocent lady, by prematurely involving her in the same hopeless situation with himself. He was a sworn foe to the cold and calculating doctrine which advises to wait till fortune has principally realized the expectations of life; till the glow of passion is extinct, and till advancing years have cooled the temperament, and sobered the sensations of the breast. He cheerfully acceded to the maxim, that late marriages make early orphans; and he knew the difficulty with which, at the age of thirty, the tastes and habits of two persons accommodate themselves, and the affection of the husband is brought exclusively to centre in the wife He resolved to begin the world, as it As his childhood grew, and his years exulted in having brought him with safety over the second climacteric of life, his ideas proportionately expanded; and while he congratulated himself on the direction which his early pursuits had received, he looked forward with new vigour, to plans proposed for the continuance of so laudable a system. He persisted in applying himself to the great and useful branches of learning; he attached himself to science, laid the ground-work of natural philosophy, and made the attainment of solid information his principal object. To this he intended to devote his labours, prior to any attempt at the ornaments of character, which require a prepared basis; and, like the gilded devices in the province of art, can not be stuck, with any firmness, upon a body that is not already hard and solid. As he advanced from this period to the third stage of life described by Shakespeare, and which is the bridge standing between boyhood and adult life, he first felt the gentle alarms of our nature, which startle the unsuspecting boy, and puzzle him with reflections on the cause of so strange an influence as that which he acknowledges in the company of the other sex. He did not forbid access to its first approaches, though he investigated the claim which it had to the entire possession of his mind. When he saw it, as I conceive it truly is, a feeling justified by nature in its origin, and entitled to respect by the designs for which it had existence, but requiring the controul of reason, and subservient to custom, the laws, and sound prudence, he determined to cherish taste, or put their health in jeopardy. The words with which he was in the habit of prefacing his bounteous repasts, were generally such as these :-—" Gentlemen, I have invited you from personal esteem to enliven my board this evening, and my efforts will be directed to making it as thoroughly pleasing to you as possible. Liberty is the watchword here; every gentleman must consider himself at perfect ease, and take as much as he pleases, without exercising any compulsion on his neighbour. I shall be happy to propose any number of toasts and sentiments in succession, and assist in the circulation of the joke and the circulation of the bottle, as long as reason justîfies us. Some constitutions are suited to take more than others, and I should wish all to be satisfied; but when our entertainment has reached a certain height, you must excuse me if I omit to drink to the toasts that may be proposed. I will sit resolutely at your head, and partake in your mirth, and my cellars shall be at your service to the utmost extent; only as I mean to make you free agents here, you must be so kind as to leave me in possession of the same freedom." I need not say that this conduct procured him the admiration and love of his guests. Atticus is now, ordinarily speaking, in the decline of life; he has lost the great and overwhelming strength of manhood, and the sportiveness of youth; but he retains all his faculties, his senses are unimpaired, his constitution is sound and healthful. Having been uniformly temperate, for he never remembers being in a state of intoxication, his frame is vigorous, and his brain unclouded, and he seldom |