DIALOGUE I CONCERNING The Duties that relate to MAN in general, and those that in particular conftitute the true character of a PRINCE. SOCRATES and EVAGORAS. M SOCRATES. AY I ask you, Evagoras, what neftness, in those fpacious walks, that EVAGORA S. You were there alfo, I find, Socrates; I am forry not to have known that: I should have made no difficulty to leave what I was looking at, for the pleasure of your company. SOCRATES. This I take as an obliging inftance of your politeness and friendship: But, pray tell me, what you would have left on my account? EVAGORAS. Why really the preference is no great compliment; for I was only looking at a Peacock. SOCRATES. A Peacock! that is the most beautiful bird in the world, and I cannot help thinking myself much obliged to you for fo readily giving me the preference. EVAGORA S. 'Tis true, there is nothing more beautiful than the figure of that charming bird: There is fomething noble and majestic in its air and motions: The lively green that paints its feathers, is agreeably diversified with various fhades: Its neck is clouded with a bluish dye, that is perpetually chang ing, each step it makes, and when expofed to the fun, prefents to our fight a beautiful fucceffion of azure and purple colours, that feem blended with gold: its head is adorned with a plume or creft, that furpaffes the luftre of the Persian Diadem, and then its tail, ftudded, as the fable fays, with the eyes of Argus, when it is fpread out, and expanded in all its glory, is incomparably more gorgeous than the richest brocade. SOCRATES. I am charmed with your defcription, Evagoras, and fhould indeed be furprized at it, did I not confider how early you began to enrich, by the reading of our beft Poets, that uncommon geniús, which you derive from Nature.But while you dwell with rapture on the beauties of the Peacock, you fay not a word of its finging. EVAGORAS. O! as to its music, Socrates, let us pass it in filence; it is far from being of a piece with the reft of the description: you know what a vile fqueaking cry it makes, that grates even those ears, whose feeling is the leaft delicate. SOCRATES. You fee, Evagoras, that all perfections feldom or never are found in the fame object: Nature has blended fhades of imperfection in her fairest productions, and has fo difpofed her gifts, that they in fome measure counterbalance one another.-I find then you are difgufted at the mufic of the Peacock; perhaps, you would like a Swan better! EVAGORAS. Doubtless, if we may depend upon what the poets say of its melody. I have been often ftruck with the rich and lively white that fhines in the plumage of that noble bird, nor have I lefs admired that |