He declared in a flowing style, that " from a habit of surveying the beauty of external objects, the mind makes an easy transition to the fitness, the order, and regularity, of its own inward frame, and from a view of outward decorum it begins to acquire the same correctness and elegance in its own operations; studiously careful not to think or do any thing unhandsomely, from whence results that grace of character which is, in its very nature, highly eligible and praiseworthy."

Virgil came forward with a modest mien, and great regularity in his motion. He desired to pass all his time with the Graces and the Muses; and, bowing respectfully, thanked the Graces, for that elegant simplicity, the Molle atque facetum, which they had conferred upon him. He then retired to a laureat shade, where he almost hid himself in illustrious ease. Statius, Lucan, and Silius Italicus, endeavoured to walk in the same path after him, and sometimes they even aimed at his footsteps, but an awkward strut in their gait rendered it impracticable. The goddesses told Ovid, that they were sorry they could not follow him into exile. At the approach of Horace, Venus, and all the laughing Loves, smiled with peculiar pleasure. Tibullus was received with every token of affection, and,

before he withdrew, he begged leave to introduce Mr. Hammond to their presence, which was granted, and accordingly Mr. Hammond had the honour of kissing their hands.

After this a pause ensued in the rites, occasioned by the delay of several monks and fathers, to whom a summons had been sent commanding their attendance. They were all in a cluster at the foot of Parnassus, and they at length returned for answer, that they did not choose to worship false deities. After such a declaration, it was with surprise I beheld a certain bishop lay aside his mitre, and venerate the Pagan goddesses. Upon inquiring his name, I found this personage to be the celebrated Vida. He was followed by Erasmus, Strada, Bohours, and several Jesuits, who were at length joined by Boileau and La Fontaine. The former had a degree of severity mixed in his smiles, and the latter was all quickness, vivacity and wit. In imitation of Tibullus, they begged leave to present their friends, and accordingly, Garth, Prior, and Gay were introduced.

Shakspeare and Milton came down from the highest eminence in Parnassus to pay their respects; but, while they were performing their duty, I observed they both raised their heads to look at a part of the heavens where there

was a distant thunder. Dryden had not money to procure a sufficient quantity of frankincense, but the Graces accepted the intention for the deed, convinced by several touches in his works that no one had a finer sense of beauty. Mr. Pope advanced with his eyes fixed upon Homer, who was then in company with Virgil; his look was thoughtful, but bright, and he delivered himself in the most harmonious numbers. Addison followed close at his heels, and he acquitted himself in his peculiar manner of giving good sense all the embellishments of ease and artful negligence. He observed how much good humour added to the beauty of the Graces, and he was pleased to see them without any fashionable edifice of hair on their heads, and free from any enormous circle of the hoop.

By this time a general whisper began to run through all ranks, owing, as I soon perceived, to the appearance of Dr. Swift, who approached with Cadenus and Vanessa in his hand, as an offering to the Graces. As he drew nearer, he sucked in his cheeks, and the Goddesses turned to each other with a smile. Upon his making an apology for some strokes in his works, they assured him that they could overlook those singularities on account of his admirable qualities; and they added, that what was formerly

granted to Virgil should be also allowed to him, viz. to toss about his dung with an air of gracefulness.

Lord Shaftesbury was ready to yield all veneration to the three Goddesses, who had always warmed his fancy with the brightest ideas. This noble writer was succeeded by the Lord Viscount Bolingbroke, who, by the way, declared himself an enemy to all forms of worship. He avowed at the same time, that he was readier to pay adoration to those bright existences, than to the God of Moses or the God of Paul, on which topics he harangued with a roll of periods, in which, though he did not advance the strict truth, he deserved at least to be called, in the words of a witty satirist, a polite apostate from God's grace to wit.'

His Lordship withdrew, and I perceived some certain modern periodical writers entering the temple. They approached the altar with a college mien, and a pompous affectation of learned industry. Though no charge could be brought against them for want of matter, their style appeared too elaborate, and their words frequently formed an exotic dialect of adventitious phrases, by which means all ease was discarded from their writings; and where ease is wanting, grace will be always deficient..

Emboldened by the example of my brother writers, methought I approached the altar; but I was told by Euphrosyne, that I advanced with rather too great an air of negligence, and the goddess advised me to avoid the appearance of thoughtlessness, while I endeavoured to be easy and graceful. I was so stung with this reproach, that my repose was instantly disturbed, and, when awakened, I pleased myself in the reflection that the whole was but a dream.

GRAYS-INN JOURNAL, No. 51.