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What I fufpected came to pafs. Contrary to the common policy of princes, I had formerly fupported the king of Perfia, when in imminent danger of being driven from his throne. This however was now forgotten, and the demands of the conqueror readily complied with. It was intimated immediately by public proclamation, that an immenfe fum of money would be the price of my head; and a description of my perfon was added, fo particular, that every one must have known me at first fight, provided my appearance had continued the fame. But however exactly my picture had been drawn, there was one circumftance of no small importance, which lucklily was not, nor could not be attended to; the alteration, which, in this interval, my misfortunes had occafioned. The man, whofe neceffities had reduced him fo low, that he was fupported only by his faithful dog, could refemble but little the vanquired monarch. I remained therefore at Ipahan a whole month in fecurity, and from thence continued my journey at leifure, until at last I reached Conftantinople. Here I purchafed a folitary manfion, and have now lived for fixteen years, far from the dangerous fociety of men. My parfimonious way of living required but little, and that little my ring has fupplied. I have never demeaned myself by asking affiftance, nor have I ever regretted the lofs of my crown. I never complained of my prefent fituation, nor did I ever again fhed a single tear, till yesterday, that my companion, my friend, and my preferver, my faithful Murckim, at laft forfook me. I was robbed of him by age; and fuch was his affection, that even to the last he licked my hand, and it feemed as if he expired with reluctance, only because he was parted from me.

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My history now approaches to a close out of eleven stones which were once in my ring, two of the most valuable yet remain. For the few days which I have now to live, the least of these two will be more than fufficient. Take then the other; and let your chiffel be employed in commemorating the virtues of a faithful creature, who, though only a dog, you will furely acknowledge, to be more worthy of that honour than many conquerors and heroes.

During this relation, which the tone of the speaker made much more interesting than it can be rendered to a reader,

the eyes of the artist melting into tears, more than once teftified what were his emotions. When Melai had now finished, Melonion began, Oh monarch!

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Melai. Monarch no more; I am only an old man. anor Melonion. Noble, generous, godlike old man, how deeply has thy fate affected me; with what warmth and fincerity do I thank you, for refolving to intruft to my flender abilities, a task, which at first indeed appeared to be degrading, but which I no confider as of more dignity, than that of commemorating many princes. Two requests you must how. ever grant me.

Melai. (Smiling.) Two for one: well, what are they? Melonion. Keep your jewel. Fortune has already fufficiently enriched me; and I can eafily afford to spend some of my time, in working entirely for my own fatisfaction. This was my first request, and here is my fecond; however well grounded may be your hatred of mankind, carry it not; I befeech you, fo far, as to disbelieve entirely in human virtue. What instinct, without the affiftance of reason, so frequently produces among the inferior animals, reflection and feeling, however feldom, will furely fometimes effect among ourselves. I have indeed no crown to offer you, as an atonement for the one which you have loft; but the laft and severeft of all your loffes, the lofs of a friend, I may be able to fupply.

Melai. You?

Melonion. Yes; abandon your folitude, and truft yourself to me. In my houfe you fhall always be master; nay more, you fhall be my father and my king; and then you can behold with your own eyes, the gradual progrefs of that monument, from which your favourite is to receive immortali. ty.

The fource from which this history was drawn begins here unfortunately to fail. It is only added in a few words, that the old man, after many denials, at last resolved to pass his life with Melonion; that he never had any reafon to repent his refolution; and that a beautiful monument of the finest alabafter, was erected to the memory of his faithful dog. To moft of thofe however, by whom it was beheld, the meaning and intention of it must have been totally a fecret, although,

after the death of the venerable monarch, we may fuppole that his history would no longer be concealed.

It is more than probable that this monument was remaining at the time that Conftantinople was taken by the Turks. What might afterwards become of it I know not, although I would not abfolutely difcourage my readers from hoping, that fo precious a fpecimen of fculpture may ftill exist in fome neglected corner, where fome future traveller may perhaps light upon it, and restore it to the curiolity of the admirers of art, and to the tears and enthusiasm of the lovers of virtue.

Remarks on fome Englih Plays, from Mifcellanies in profe and verfe..

Mahomet the Impoftor, a Tragedy, from Voltaire. This collection is wretched, but fuited to the taste of thofe gentlemen called bookfellers. I give it a place in my collection, only as a parch to Shakespeare, and a monument (may it be fhort lived) of bad taste. From this hard cenfure, I mean to except the Siege of Damafcus. It has fome merit; and there is indulgence enough in this admiffion; perhaps the befl critics may blame it. But to proceed, as to the merits of the play in queftion, Monfieur Voltaire could not abide Shakespeare, which is not furprifing. They were most perfect opposites, as a man of profound abilities and witdom, is oppofite to a pleafant fuperficial fop. A total want of genius, and even of taste and propriety for tragic compofition, is remarkable in every line of this piece; yet it has a great ran at London. The general admiration of this, and many other dramatic pieces of the fame caft, affords full proof that we are degenerate and flupid. Douglas, the fingle good tragedy of this age, was at first rejected at London. Mahomet, Barbaroffa, Gr. 6. live and flourish there.

The Siege of Damafcus, a Tragedy, by Hughes. THE epilogue, Spoken by Mr. Wilks, is filly, and very like those in vogue at present. The prologue, fpoken by Lord Sandwich, is finely poetical, and worthy of the occafion, and the actors.

The play, indeed, is fitter for fuch occafional performance, than come mon exhibition on the public theatre, having various beautics, and grea insperfe&ions.

The Chriftian Hero, a Tragedy, by Lillo

THE compofition of this play is as full of dullness and abfurdity as Mahomet, and less interesting in the plot.

Lady Jane Gray, a Tragedy, by Rowe.'

CANNOT read an historical play, without thinking of a comparison with Shakespeare, by whom the characters of nature are perfectly preserved, and yet raised above the pitch of nature, by the force of a great and inimitable genius.

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Don Sebaftian King of Portugal, a Tragedy, by

Dryden.

THIS play is full of abfurdities and unnatural flights; yet we may dif tinguish them as the abfurdities of a poet and a man of genius, unlike the nonfenfe of the moderns. The moral is rigorous indeed.

Jane Shore, a Tragedy, by Rowe..

How ftrangely different is the Gloucester of Shakespeare from the Gloucefter of Rowe. An audience of true judgment and taste, could not bear this comparison on the fame theatre.

The Country Wife, a Comedy, by Wycherley.

THERE are wit, humour, easy and lively conversation, variety of character, and pleafing adventure in this play. But there is a very unpar donable want of delicacy and decency. A lewd young fellow gains full credit to a report, that he had, by a fashionable misfortune, loft his virility. By this means, he cuckolds all the hufbands, and lies with all the women of the drama. There are, however, weak scenes in the play, improbabilities, and, I think, the characters both of Pinchwife and Sparkish are outré.

To make a dance of cuckolds at the end of this play, is a judicious conduct in the author, but a fhameless exhibition on a public theatre.

Erratum iu this Number, p. 65.

In the mufic, laft note but one, tenor, for G read E. It is requested this may be corrected by the pen.

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I HAVE read with confiderable pleasure, and not without edification, the effays of Albanicus on the fubject of the art of idlenefs, which I hope he will continue, for the amufement and inftruction of your readers, applying his principles to the practical benefit of the numerous fons and daughters of idlenefs, whofe fituation, when floating on the furface of fashion, without a guide or direction, one cannot look at without compaffion, mixed with contempt, or without withing, that their labours of idleness might be converted into the channel of their own real happiness, and the good of fociety.

For my own part, Mr. Editor, I will frankly acknowledge, that I am, with refpect to artlefs idleness, as a firebrand plucked out of the fire, and a living VOL. III.

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