in her's, and turn'd away her eyes, that were fill'd with tears.

MIRTILUS. I saw it as well as thee. Alas! our father! He is surely worse than he was yesterday.

CHLOE. Ah! my brother, if he should die! How he loves us! What caresses he bestows upon us, when we do what he likes, and what is pleasing to the gods.

MIRTILUS. O, my sister, how every thing is sorrowful! My lamb comes in vain to caress me; I almost forget to feed him. In vain my ring-dove flutters upon my shoulders, and strives to bill my lips and chin. Nothing-no, nothing can delight me now. O my father, if you die, I will die also.

CHLOE. Alas! do you remember-five days ago, how our dear father took us both on his knees, and began to weep.

MIRTILUS. Yes, CHLOE-I do remember how he set us down, and turn'd pale !-I can hold you no longer, my children-I am ill-very ill. At those words he crept to his bed, and, from that day, he has been sick.

CHLOE. And, from that day, his illness has continually encreased. I'll tell you what I design, my brother. At the break of day I came out of the cottage to gather fresh flowers, of which I have made these garlands. I am going to lay them at the feet of the statue of PAN. Does not our mother

always tell us that the gods are good, and love to hear the vows of innocence? I will go; I will offer

F F

my garlands to the god PAN. And dost thou see in this cage, what is of all things most dear to me, my little bird-Well, then, I will sacrifice him also to the god.

fruit; and my also to the god

MIRTILUS. O, my dear sister! I will go with you-Stay, I pray you, an instant. I will go fetch my basket; it is full of the finest ring-dove, and I will sacrifice him PAN. He ran, and soon return'd. together to the foot of the statue. It was situate not far off, upon a little hill, in the midst of shady fir-trees. They knelt down, and thus invoked the god of the fields:

They then went

"O PAN, protector of our villages! hear, kindly hear our prayers, and receive our little offerings: they are all that children can offer to thee. I place these garlands at thy feet; if I cou'd reach higher, I would with them crown thy head, and put them round thy shoulders. Save, O PAN!—save our father, and restore him to his poor children!"

MIRTILUS. "I bring thee these fruits; they are the fairest I cou'd gather in our orchard. Receive them kindly. I would have sacrificed to thee the finest goat in the flock, but he was too strong for me. When I am bigger, I will sacrifice two every year to thee, for having restored our father to our prayers. Restore, gracious god!-restore to health the best of fathers!"

CHLOE. "I will now sacrifice to thee this bird; O gracious god! it is of all things the most dear to me. See, how it flies upon my hand to seek its

food; but I will, O PAN! I will sacrifice it to thee."

MIRTILUS. "And I will offer thee this ringdove. It plays about, and caresses me; but I will, O PAN-I will sacrifice it to thee, that thou mayest restore our father to us! Hear, O PAN! hear our prayers."

Their little trembling hands had already seiz'd the victims, when a voice pronounc'd these words: -"The gods are pleas'd to hear the vows of innocence. Lovely children! do not sacrifice what makes your greatest pleasure. Your father is restored to health."

MENALCUS immediately recovered his health. Happy in the piety of his children, he went the same day, with all his family, to make an offering to the god and liv'd, surrounded by prosperity, to see his children's children.

JEALOUSY.

THE most devouring flame, the most cruel ser

pent, with which the FURIES torture the human heart, is Jealousy. This ALEXIS proved. He loved, and was beloved by DAPHNE. ALEXIS was a brown and manly beauty. DAPHNE was beautiful as innocence, and fair as the lily that opens to the rising of AURORA. These happy lovers had vow'd an eternal passion. VENUS and the LOVES seem'd to have shed their choicest favours o'er them. The father of ALEXIS had just escap'd a dangerous disease. My son, he said, I have vow'd to sacrifice six ewes to the god of health. Go, lead the victims to his temple. The temple of ESCULAPIUS was distant two long day's journey. ALEXIS pour'd a torrent of tears on parting from his shepherdess. One wou'd have thought he was going to traverse the vast ocean! Thoughtful and melancholy, he drove the sheep before him, and, as he left the village, like the tender dove, he moan'd along the road. He pass'd the most beautiful meadows, and saw them not. The most pleasing landscapes had no charms for his eyes. He felt nothing but love, and saw nothing but his shepherdess. He beheld her in the shades, by the border of the stream; he heard her repeat the name of ALEXIS, and answer'd her with sighs. Thus he toil'd through the solitary paths,

following his sheep, and lamenting that they had not the swiftness of the roebuck. He arrived at the temple; he offer'd the victims; and, the sacrifice completed, he flew on the wings of love to regain his village; but, in passing through the bushes, a thorn pierced his foot. The torment was so great, that he was scarce able to reach a neighbouring cottage. A beneficent shepherd receiv'd him, and apply'd to the wound some salutary herbs. Gods! how unfortunate I am! he cry'd incessantly. Pensive and gloomy, he told each minute by his sighs. An hour appear'd to him as a long winter's night. Some malignant power at last pour'd into his heart the poison of jealousy. Gods! he cry'd in a low murmur, and casting a fierce look around him-Gods, what a thought! Can DAPHNE be perfidious!-Unjust and hateful thought!-But DAPHNE is a woman, and DAPHNE is beautiful.Who can see her, and resist her charms? Has not DAPHNIS sigh'd a long time for her? Is he not handsome? Who is not melted by the sweet accents of his voice; and who, like him, can touch the lyre? His cottage is close to that of DAPHNE. They are separated only by a delightful shady walk. -But away-ha!--begone, distracting thoughts! -Alas! you grave yourselves incessantly still deeper

in

my heart! You pursue me night and day. Ofttimes the roving imagination of ALEXIS, show'd him his shepherdess, stealing, with timid steps, through the shade where DAPHNIS sigh'd to the ECHOES his anguish and his love. There he saw