Sir,

LETTER XII.

To the same.

I HAVE obeyed your commands in sending the inclosed; you will not require an apology for an essay on this transporting subject: Joy and Gratitude will speak, however disproportioned the expressions.

On our SAVIOUR's Nativity.

VICTORIJUS Love! how uncontroul'd thy pow'r !
How great thy triumph on that glorious hour!
The high-rais'd thrones above look'd down to sec
The vanquifh'd God a captive led by thee.
His splendour in mortality disguis'd,
The Principalities of heav'n furpris'd;

Th' indulgent fkies fmil'd on the happy birth,
While peace and joyful wonder hush'd the earth,
Fly, rigid Winter, with thy horid face,
And let the foft and lovely Spring take place;
Oh! come thou faireft feafon of the year,
With garlands deck'd and verdant robes appear;
And once produce the Summer's various cost,
Whatever fweets her flow'ry ftores can boast:
Full canifters of Sharon's rofes fpread,
And dref's with art th' illuftrious Infant's bed;
Rifle the gardens, fearch the painted fields,
For all the blooming glories Nature yields.

But, O ye produ&s of the earth, how poor,
To heav'n's enamell'd plains, are all your ftore!
Perpetual greens, and never fading flow'rs,
Enrich with foft perfumes th' immortal bow'rs;

And yet he left the bright ethereal feats
For these cold regions and obfcure retreats.

Be hufh'd, ye, Winds, no angry tempest rove,
But fink in gentle whispers through the grove;
With all Arabia load your balmy wings,

And breathe the fragrance of ten thousand springs.
Begin, you sweet muficians of the air!

Let Nature all her foothing founds prepare ;
Let tuneful Art her various measures bring
Each melting tone, and ev'ry warbling ftring;
Let pfalt'ries, harps, and the loud cymbal ring;
Let the fhrill trumpets raise their sprightly voice,
While Carmel and high Lebanon rejoice.

He comes, O Jacob, thy long promis'd King!
Celestial envoys the glad tidings bring:
O'er earth's wide compass to the distant main,
With truth and perfect juftice he shall reign.

The sparkling skies shall tarnish and decay,
The fun be quench'd, and stars fhall fade away;
But he fhall rife with a propitious light,

Stand at high-noon, and shine divinely bright.

I shall now leave you to your own sublimer contemplation on this unbounded theme, and sub

scribe myself,

SIR,

Your most obedient humble servant,

AMINTOR.

view: Oh, when will the happy period come, which ends this mortal story! But my friendship for you shall outlive the date of this transitory existence, and be the same when I am no more, af ter the formalities of this lower world.

Your humble servant,

THEOPHILUS.

LETTER X.

To Lady

**** from a Sylph.

You will find this Letter on a bank of violets, where I have often the pleasure to seat myself near you, unseen; and never fail of being entertained with that vivacity and innocent wit that sparkles in your conversation. However negligent you are of your invisible admirer, your earliest part of life has been my care; my services claim the pre-eminence of all my mortal rivals, and give me a right to make my pretensions before your heart admits an earthly passion.

I have followed your early rambles over the flowery lawns, guarded you on the verge of murmuring streams, and screened your beauty from the sultry noon; I have fanned you with my golden plumes, and breathed the fragrance of the spring about you; by me the music of the groves has been improved, while I have joined with the feathered chorus to divert you; the nightingale for

'you has prolonged her melodious strain, and from some flowery spray entertained you with her nightly serenade.

These harmless gallantries, instead of molesting have indulged your tranquillity; for mine is an affection suited to your guiltless inclination, and consistent with the most refined virtue. Indeed, this is the superior charm, the powerful attraction, that has gained you a celestial lover; those divine graces, those sparklings of goodness and generosity, that sacred impression of virtue Heaven has stamped on your soul, charm me beyond your lovely person; and yet I view your blooming beauty with delight, and find a guiltless transport in your smiles; I am captivated with those looks of benevolence and peace, which scatter universal joy and alacrity about you; the guiltless gaiety of your temper and inoffensive wit divert me; I love to mimic the sweetness of your voice, and repeat the charming accent in a thousand sportive echoes.

Were not the view of etherial beauty forbidden to any of mortal race, I might insult all human vanity, and defy the most glorious rival among the sons of men; was I permitted to appear in the rosy bloom of celestial youth, with my golden zone, my purple wings and glittering tiara, I should outshine the most splendid birth-night beau.

But I am not permitted to convince you of my superiority till your date of mortal life is expired;

and then, if you continue stedfast to the rules of virtue, you shall be mine by all the engagements of celestial love: I will lead you in triumph to the blissful fields and charming bowers, surpassing the most poetical description of Cyprian groves or Hesperian gardens. What you call palaces and magnificent seats are but dens, but dwellings in the dust, compared to the dazzling habitations of the aerial race the region is for ever calm, the skies for ever unclouded:

No stormy winter enters there,

'Tis jovial spring through all the year:
Soft gales through groves of myrtle blow,
The streams o'er golden pebbles flow;
Fresh Youth and Love their sportive train
Lead o'er the ever verdant plain ;
Etherial forms in bright array
Along the blissful currents stray;
Or wander thro' Elysian groves,
Or banquet in the gay alcoves;
And oft in amarinthine bow'rs
Repose on fragrant beds of flowers,
While Music, with her soothing strains,
Warbles through the woods and plains:
The hills, the dales, and fountains round,
With heav'nly harmony resound.

But numbers fail, human language loses its energy and grows insipid, while I would paint the wonders of the immortal world; neither can I describe, nor will you be able to conceive, these transporting scenes, till the happy time comes when