was warfare and enmity; and when they had become reconciled to their foreign yoke the Romans would, for some time longer, regard them with too much contempt to feel any passion for them. Indeed the rude manners of the islanders would want a generation or two to refine themselves, so as to be deserving the endearments of a refined nation, such as were the Romans. The bulk of the people were, before the Roman conquest, and remained constantly afterward, slaves to their superiors; it cannot be expected that the Romans would regard the British, more than they would the Italian peasantry. Slavery in its worst form disgraced the Romans; these slaves were either domestic ones, or attached to their lands, and both of these would seldom be raised from their situation: the former kind might be sometimes taken away by their military masters, when they retired from the island, either on their return to Italy, or to fill some post or office in their wide extended domains. So that I think when the Romans retired from the island they left little of their blood here, the Britons being very much an unmixed people; I am the more of this opinion, because when they relunctantly quitted this favourite province, they entirely left it; none lingering here, but every soldier was withdrawn, and every Roman, whatever might have been his reluctance, gave up, abandoned his delightful villa, his woods, and his lawns, his flocks, and his herds, never to return, not even to visit them again.

When this extraordinary change happened, which was in the year of Christ 412, the unhappy Britons, long forbidden the use of arms, except drafted into the Roman legions, felt the destitution of hope. They had a country enriched and adorned in a manner far beyond what their ancestors or them. selves could ever have done; but these were temptations to ferocious neighbours for plunder. Their case was rendered still more unhappy by their being robbed.of all their strength. The British youth were compelled to quit their native country to assist in defending such parts of the empire as the Romans still strove to retain. When the savage Picts and Scots broke in upon them, they supplicated in the most moving language

1

for some assistance from Rome. A small force was sent, but the barbarians pressing upon Italy, what could South Britain expect! The Roman army was withdrawn, and every calamity followed.

A PERFECT stranger to me dropt in here this morning; and I find on enquiring into his merits, that, though they are to the taste of some people, he will be to me a mere burthen, therefore I send him to you. In a fable, written about him, for he has been celebrated both in prose and verse, I learn that he has, like myself, had many friends, and that they have, as we say, worried him to death. You may do what you please with him -he'll bear roasting, and you may even cut, and baste him, without exciting the least ill-humour on his part. Although he never owed any person a shilling, no one that I know has been so hunted by mankind, which, though game to the backbone, used to alarm him exceedingly, but he has conquered that weakness or timidity, and is now perfectly indifferent about it. As a proof how much stouter his nerves are at present, you may attack him, stab him, take his coat off his back, and sell it before his face, without stirring in him the feeling of fear, either for his property or himself. I fancy such a poor creature will get completely dished at your house. Still he is not, whatever you may imagine, without brains; and this I will say, that the more you can get of them, the more you will resemble me. He is indeed a hair-brained fellow, yet you may keep his company some time before you will perceive him

to be lively; but I believe you will like him better in his present quiet state; for, to tell you the truth, when he does get a maggot in his head, he is, to my way of thinking, very offensive. His ears too (or two) are certainly long, but you may say what you like before him, for he was never known to blab half so much as those who have shorter.

I beg that you will, when he is well dressed, introduce him to the most familiar acquaintance of Mrs. S. and merely a se. lect few, for being of tender years, he is not capable of af fording much entertainment to a large company. Of the maxim, "the more the merrier, the less the better cheer," he only sticks to the latter part, and it will be well for yours, if you also attend to it. He is a perfect child in one respectI am ashamed to mention it, but he is particularly agreeable, (at least so I have thought) where there is plenty of black currant jelly. I will not however pretend to dictate the measure of civility, which your amiable disposition, and esteem for my recommendation, may incline you to shew him. Sure I am of your good nature, and that you will for his own, as a well-bred stranger, if not for my sake, give him a warm reception, stuff him well, and, as it were, devour him, with kindness.

GREAT Mars, Sulpicia, this day keeps thy festival: if thou art wise, descend from Heaven and behold her. Venus herself will pardon it; but beware, thou violent, lest in thy admiration thine arms basely forsake thee. Love, when he wishes to inflame the gods, lights from her eyes a double fire. Whatever she does, wherever she turns her step, Grace waits

upon and bewitchingly composes her. If she dissolves her hair, it becomes her to have dishevelled locks; if she binds them, it is dignified to have tresses bound. She fires us, whe. ther she chooses to appear in a Tyrian mantle; she fires us, whether she comes shining in a snowy vest. So the happy Vertumnus, on the eternal Olympus, wears a thousand attires, and wears a thousand becomingly. * * * * ***

"The wit and genius of those old Heathens beguiled me, and as I despaired of raising myself up to their standard upon fair ground, I thought the only chance I had of looking over their heads, was to get upon their shoulders."

THIS number will take us to the end of the eleventh book, and terminate the treaty on cups, which certainly entitles the Deipnosophists to be included in Horace's "Calices*, quem non fecêre disertum," for they are diserti or copious here, with apparently a most loving fondness for the subject.

years

Of all their cups, the Pentaploa, which had its name from the five ingredients in the mixture it contained, is the one least to my taste. It is thus described at F.i in p. 495. The Athenians had certain games, in which youths eß, fourteen of age, contended in a foot-race, bearing a vine branch loaded with grapes, which was called orxos. They ran from the temple of Bacchus to the temple of Minerva scirrhas. The victor received a cup, called pentaploa, and bore it off, ac companied by his mates, in bacchanalian procession. The cup was distinguished by the title pentaploa, because of its contents--wine, honey, cheese, flour, and a little oil. The an

*The fœcundi calices is singularly well translated by Shakspeare in Henry V. "In their flowing cups freshly remember'd."

tients were strangely addicted to mixing their liquors, but surely this is one among the worst for a beverage, that could well be hit upon. Dalechamp remarks that Erasmus gives Teтanλoa, pentaploa, as an adage, and on turning to him, I, find that he says it may be applied to an oration loaded with various arguments.

No people understood the true spirit of hospitality better than the Greeks, and here it is expressed in what we term a hearty welcome. Ου βοων παρες, σωμαίι ετε χρυσός, είτε πορφύρεοι ταπηλες αλλά θυμος ευμενης, μέσα σε γλυκεία, καὶ Βοιωτιοισιν εν σκυ polo que nous. B. p. 500. That is, in our more homely phrase-I can't roast an ox for you, nor feed you on plate, nor can I boast of the richness of my furniture; but if you'll come and see me, you shall have the best I have an honest heart to welcome you, a cheerful song, and a good glass of wine.

Against the use of large cups, or what is called in our days a bumper, let us hear Socrates in Xenophon. The wisest of men recommends wine, beautifully observing that, by moistening our souls, it puts our cares to rest, as mandragora* composes man; and excites our hilarity, as oil produces flame. But, comparing our bodies to plants, he is an advocate for small cups; for as torrents destroy the latter or prevent their standing erect, while gentle showers refresh and make them flourish, so a are we, in a very similar manner, affected by an inordinate draught, while small cups, taken frequently, Tuxvα, (that you won't forget) do, as it were, cheer our hearts with the dew of gladness. P. 504. C. D. E.

April 2.

'*"Nor mandragora, nor all the drowsy syrups of the East." Othello.

* K- -VOL. VIL.*