energy, than of his choice; his element is evidently in scenes of sensuality, profligacy and lewdness. His licentious witticisms-his lascivious insinuations-his corrupt allusions, many times repeated,reveal a heart revelling in its own abomi nations; and render, both him and his work, in a moral light, the objects of indignation and disgust!"

"Well, well," said Wallis, "it is a good thing this is said in a private room amongst friends. If the world knew it, you would be placarded in all the streets of London for a blockhead or a madman.”

"No matter which," returned Douglas, "so that it be not incurred by my own imprudence. I think it is high time to speak out on this subject. Shakspeare is the great national idol, whom religious and profane seem willing to worship. Our christian writers have, in complaisance to the world, joined in his unqualified and unlimited praise, without noticing the moral character of his works. Numbers of religious persons, of high pretensions, but slender claim, to taste and literature, have

justified such praise, lest their claim should be disputed, till, at length, a word against Shakspeare, is something like a word against our King and Constitution."

"Treason to be sure!" cried Wallis; "well, let us have no more literary treason. Odds! it little matters, in these days, whether you lose your head on Tower-hill, or bring down upon it the sentence of a critical tribunal."

"Rely upon it," said Douglas, "I have no pleasure in saying so much. It is painful to expose the errors of a great genius; and nothing but a strong sense of duty would dispose me to it. But I remember the dangers to which I was liable; and, there are thousands of young persons still in a similar situation. It was the fine quotations and boundless encomiums of this poet, in writings of most unquestionable religious character, that first induced me to read his dramas. I entered on them as on a Paradise of sweets and loveliness. Little did I expect to find the serpent of vice concealed amongst its beauties!—and well may I wonder at my escape from its

seductions under such circumstances!It is no very difficult thing to avoid vice, when we are aware of its presence, and it appears in its own deformity; but, who shall escape, when it borrows the forms of virtue, and is adorned with all the fascinations of Shakspeare's pencil?"

"Well Charles," said Wallis, a little baffled, "after such solemn discourse about play going, I suppose you wo'n't go; so I shall carry Jane your negative--and good evening to ye!"

"I should hope you will not go till you have reconsidered the matter,” said Lefevre.

"O, as to that, I am none of the considering sort. I must leave that to you and Mr. Douglas. The time for enjoying pleasure is over while one's considering about it

Seize on pleasures as they fly,
Now we live-to-morrow die;
Time is stealing fast away,

Seize on pleasure while you may!

"A fine heathen sentiment," said

Douglas; "more worthy of the meridian

of Constantinople than of London.-I confess I have no sympathy with the man, who can live in a world of such misery and guilt as this, for the mere purposes of pleasure. What, have we no temptations to resist no propensities to mortify-no self denying duties to perform?-Have we no concern for the degraded-the wretched condition of human nature?-Is there no hell to shun-no God to supplicate-no heaven to pursue? O, Mr. Wallis, allow me to say, if you refuse to think seriously now, a time will come when you will be compelled to it."

The earnest sincerity with which Douglas made this address, affected Wallis. He feigned a smile to cover his feelings, and taking him by the hand as he left the room, he observed with an averted countenance-" Well, well, you have good intentions Douglas. I won't quarrel with you-good evening!"

CHAPTER XV.

ALTHOUGH Lefevre took but a small share in the preceding conversation, he was far from being an uninterested auditor. His friends were placed in direct contrast before him; the state of his mind, from his circumstances, was unusually inclined towards Douglas; and he felt ashamed that his heart should be divided between two persons of such different character. Pained with his own inconsistency, he rested his head upon his hand, and said to himself, "Q, Wallis, you are a usurper! Douglas, after all, is the choice of my heart. I can repose on his friendship in the hour of adversity. I will break with you Then, as if filled with a distressing recollection, he resumed, No: I cannot break with him now. I cannot appear mean and ungenerous. I must first —" And then he started from his position with vexation.