and hated by the players and the poets. Many a fentence have I hiffed, which I did not understand, and many a groan have I uttered, when the ladies were weeping in the boxes. At laft a malignant author, whose performance I had perfecuted through the nine nights, wrote an epigram upon Tape the critick, which drove me from the pit for ever. My defire to be a fine gentleman still continued: I therefore, after a short suspense, chose a new set of friends at the gaming-table, and was for fome time pleafed with the civility and opennefs with which I found myself treated. I was indeed obliged to play; but being naturally timorous and vigilant, was never furprised into large fums. What might have been the confequence of long familiarity with these plunderers, I had not an opportunity of knowing; for one night the constables entered and seized us, and I was once more compelled to fink into my former condition, by fending for my old master to attest my character.. When I was deliberating to what new qualifications I should aspire, I was fummoned into the country, by an account of my father's death. Here I had hopes of being able to distinguish myself, and to fupport the honour of my family. I therefore bought guns and horfes, and, contrary to the expectation of the tenants, increased the falary of the huntsman. But when I entered the field, it was foon discovered, that I was not destined to the glories of the chace. I was afraid of thorns in the thicket, and of dirt in the marfh; I fhivered on the brink of a river while the sportsman croffed it, and trembled at the fight of a five-bar gate. When the VOL. VI. Sport Iport and danger were over, I was ftill equally dif concerted; for I was effeminate, though not delicate, and could only join a feebly whispering voice in the clamours of their triumph. A fall, by which my ribs were broken, foon recalled me to domeftick pleasures, and I exerted all my art to obtain the favour of the neighbouring ladies; but wherever I came, there was always fome unlucky conversation upon ribbands, fillets, pins, or thread, which drove all my stock of compliments out of my memory, and overwhelmed me with fhame and dejection. Thus I paffed the ten firft years after the death of my brother, in which I have learned at laft to reprefs that ambition, which I could never gratify; and, inftead of wafting more of my life in vain endeavours after accomplishments, which, if not early acquired, no endeavours can obtain, I fhall confine my care to thofe higher excellencies which are in every man's power; and though I cannot enchant affection by elegance and ease, hope to fecure efteem by honefty and truth. I am, &c. MISOCAPELUS. NUMB. 124. SATURDAY, May 25, 1751. Tacitum fylvas inter reptare falubres, Carantem quicquid dignum fapiente bonoqué eft. To range in filence through each healthful wood, HOR. ELPHINSTON HE feason of the year is now come, in which TH the theatres are fhut, and the card-tables forfaken the regions of luxury are for a while unpeopled, and pleasure leads out her votaries to groves and gardens, to still scenes and erratick gratifications. Those who have paffed many months in a continual tumult of diverfion; who have never opened their eyes in the morning, but upon fome new appointment; nor flept at night without a dream of dances, mufick, and good hands, or of foft fighs, and humble fupplications; must now retire to diftant provinces, where the firens of flattery are scarcely to be heard, where beauty sparkles without praife or envy, and wit is repeated only by the echo. As I think it one of the most important duties of focial benevolence to give warning of the approach of calamity, when by timely prevention it may be turned aside, or by preparatory measures be more cafily endured, I cannot feel the increafing warmth, or obferve the lengthening days, without confidering the condition of my fair readers, who are now preparing to leave all that has fo long filled up their hours, all from which they have been accustomed to hope for delight; and who, till fashion proclaims the liberty of returning to the feats of mirth and elegance, muft endure the rugged 'fquire, the fober housewife, the loud huntsman, or the formal parfon, the roar of obftreperous jollity, or the dulness of prudential inftruction; without any retreat, but to the gloom of folitude, where they will yet find greater inconveniencies, and muft learn, however unwillingly, to endure themselves. In winter, the life of the polite and gay may be faid to roll on with a ftrong and rapid current; they float along from pleasure to pleasure, without the trouble of regulating their own motions, and purfue the course of the ftream in all the felicity of inattention; content that they find themselves in progreffion, and careless whither they are going. But the months of fummer are a kind of fleeping ftagnation without wind or tide, where they are left to force themselves forward by their own labour, and to direct their paffage by their own skill; and where, if they have not fome internal principle of activity, they must be ftranded upon fhallows, or lie torpid in a perpetual calm. There are, indeed, fome to whom this univerfal diffolution of gay focieties affords a welcome opportunity of quitting, without difgrace, the poft which they have found themselves unable to maintain; and of feeming to retreat only at the call of nature, from asfemblies where, after a fhort triumph of uncontested fuperiority, they are overpowered by fome new intruder of fofter elegance or fprightlier vivacity. By thefe, hopeless of victory, and yet afhamed to confess a conquest, the fummer is regarded as a release from the the fatiguing service of celebrity, a difmiffion to more. certain joys and a fafer empire. They now folace themselves with the influence which they fhall obtain, where they have no rival to fear; and with the luftre which they fhall effufe, when nothing can be feen of brighter fplendour. They imagine, while they are preparing for their journey, the admiration with which the rufticks will crowd about them; plan the laws of a new affembly; or contrive to delude provincial ignorance with a fictitious mode. A thoufand pleafing expectations fwarm in the fancy; and all the approaching weeks are filled with diftinctions, honours, and authority. But others, who have lately entered the world, or have yet had no proofs of its inconftancy and defertion, are cut off, by this cruel interruption, from the enjoyment of their prerogatives, and doomed to lofe four months in inactive obfcurity. Many complaints do vexation and defire extort from those exiled tyrants of the town, against the inexorable fun, who pursues his courfe without any regard to love or beauty; and vifits either tropick at the stated time, whether fhunned or courted, deprecated or implored. To them who leave the places of publick refort in the full bloom of reputation, and withdraw from admiration, courtship, fubmiffion, and applaufe, a rural triumph can give nothing equivalent. The praise of ignorance, and the fubjection of weaknefs, are little regarded by beauties who have been accuftomed to more important conquefts, and more valuable panegyricks. Nor indeed fhould the powers which have made havock in the theatres, or borne down rivalry in courts, be degraded to a mean attack upon |