As to the language, it may have undergone changes, from tranfcribers and publishers bringing it nearer the orthograghy and diction of their own times. This, indeed, does not apply to the ryming words; there the found at leaft cannot be eafily changed. Thus, away, occurs four times, always rhyming day, which fixes its found. I confefs I fhould have fuppofed awa, nearer the dialect of the 16th century. Perhaps it may help to account for this, to fuppofe that in the fouthern parts of Scotland, where this poem may have been compofed, from their intercourfe with England there might be more of the English dialect amongst them, than in other parts of Scotland.

These hints are offered with diffidence. It is not pretended that they give an anfwer to your correfpondent's observations-this was not intended, as I with not to make your useful mifcellany the vehicle ofcontroverfy. All that is aimed at, is to fhew the poffibility of this poem being compofed after the battle of Flodden.

I agree with your correfpondent, that in the prefent cafe it is a matter of little confequence when it was compofed. The poem poffeffes intrinfic merit, and will be admired on that account, though its author and the time of its compofition fhould remain unknown.

Upon perufing it, some observations occurred to me, which, if you fhould think them worthy a place in your mifcellany, are at your fervice. They were made, you will fee, under the idea of its being compofed foon after the battle, which idea the author has not yet feen reafon entirely to abandon. But even on the fuppofition of its modern compofition, they may ftill be applicable; because the author evidently perfonates one living at that time. And in this view, there is this additional to be confidered; the art of the poet in removing himfelf from his own times; entering fo much into ancient VOL. I.

A a

manners, as give you what we fuppofe a juft defcription of their feelings on that melancholy event. I am,

Miftrefs Bee, when you hum, whether profe or soft
lyrics,
Whether cynical fatires, or puff'd panegyrics,
Pitch nor high nor too low-ftill avoid in your tones,
The ill nature of wafps, and the dulnefs of drones.
ARISTAEUS. T

A Sonnet.

SEE o'er the water's far extended plain,
Yon veffel comes with all her canvas spread;
Beats on the waves, and rifing, falls again;
Still paffing on, the flowly moves a-head.

So man is tofs'd upon a sea of cares ;

Now raif'd to honour, wealth, and fhort lived fame}
Now funk in mif'ry's vale with fullen fears;
Still paffing to the land from which he came.

Time hafteth on with drowsy wings, while fad;
Juft fo yon fhip, when adverfe gales arife:
But when the hour of pleafure is furvey'd,
As darting fun-beams, the feducer flies.
Ah that I warn'd might be from this fad truth ;
Nor fplit on pleafure's rocks, to wreck my youth.
Q. D. G.

t

Song.

How bleft the man, while circling years
Their numbers ftill increafe,

Who, far from Grandeur's tumult, dwells
With Innocence and Peace;
Whose days, no envious angry ftrifes-
Whofe nights, no troubles fill;
But fmoothly rolls the tide of life
'Mid comforts growing still.

In vain to him, Ambition ftrives,
And Av'rice hoards in vain ;
In vain the fons of Pleafure feek
That pleasure to obtain.

His mind alone, with freedom bleft,
From baneful paffion's fway,
Can tafte the joys those paffions feek,
But feeking drive away.

To him fweet health and competence,
Alternate toil and ease-

A cheerful friend, and peaceful home,
Where all those comforts please,
Are all he asks of earthly blifs,

And Change but threats in vain-
He views the future without dread,
Nor views the paft with pain-

While each around the focial board
Now feels the joys we fing;
Let mirth and glee-and friendship too,

Their joyous tribute bring

To raife the fong, and make it last,

While circling years increafe

"How bleft the man who, cheerful, dwells

"With Innocence and Peace."

Six Edward F―r to whom I had the pleafure of being in troduced at Florence, was a character much beyond that which diftinguishes the generality of English travellers of fortune. His flory was known to fome of his countrymen who then refided in Italy; from one of whom, who could now and then talk of fomething befides pictures and operas, I had a particular recital of it.

He had been firft abroad at an early period of life, foon after the death of his father had left him mafter of a very large eftate, which he had the good fortune to inherit, and all the inclination natural to youth to enjoy. Though always fumptuous, however, and fometimes profufe, he was obferved never to be ridiculous in his expences; and though he was now and then talked of as a man of pleasure and diffipation, he always left behind him more inftances of beneficence than of irregularity. For that refpect and efteem in which his character, amidst all his little errors, was ge, nerally held, he was fuppofed a good deal indebted to the fociety of a gentleman who had been his companion at the univerfity, and now attended him rather as a friend than a tutor. This gentleman was unfortunately feized at Marseilles with a lingering disorder, for which he was under the necef-fity of taking a sea.voyage, leaving Sir Edward to profecute: the remaining part of his intended tour alone.

Defcending into one of the vallies of Piedmont, where, i notwithstanding the ruggedness of the road, Sir Edward, with a prejudice natural to his country, preferred the conveyance of an English hunter to that of an Italian mule, his horfe unluckily made a falfe ftep, and fell with his rider to the ground, from which Sir Edward was lifted by his fervants, with fcarce any figns of life. They conveyed him on a litter to the nearest houfe, which happened to be the dwelling of a peafant, rather above the common rank, at whose door fome of his neighbours were affembled at a scene of rural merriment, when the train of Sir Edward brought up their mafter in the condition I have defcribed. The com

paffion natural to his fituation was excited in all, but the owner of the manfion, whofe name was Venoni, was particularly moved with it. He applied himfelf immediately to the care of the ftranger, and with the affiftance of his daugh ter, who had left the dance fhe was engaged in, with great marks of agitation, foon reftored Sir Edward to ftrength and life. Venoni poffeffed fome little fkill in furgery, and his daughter produced a book of receipts in medicine. Sir Edward, after being blooded, was put to bed, and attended with every poffible care by his hot and family. A confiderable degree of fever was the confequence of his accident; but, after fome days, it abated, and, in little more than a week, he was able to join in the fociety of Venoni and his daughter.

す

He could not help expreffing fome furprife at the appearance of refinement in the converfation of the latter, much beyond what her fituation feemed likely to confer. Her father accounted for it. She had received her education in the houfe of a lady who happened to pafs through the valley, and to take fhelter in Venoni's cottage (for his house was but a better fort of cottage) the night of her birth. "When her mother died," faid he, "the Signora, whofe name at her defire we had given the child, took her home to her own houfe; there he was taught many things, of which there is no need here; yet she is not fo proud of her learning as to wish to leave her father in his old age; and I hope foon to have her fettled near me for life."

But Sir Edward had now an opportunity of knowing Louifa better than from the defcription of her father. Mufic and painting, in both of which arts fhe was a tolerable proficient, Sir Edward had ftudied with fuccefs. Louifa felt a fort of pleafure from her drawings, which they had never given her before, when they were praised by Sir Edward; and the family concerts of Venoni were very dif ferent from what they had formerly been, when once his gueft was fo far recovered as to be able to join in them. The flute of Venoni excelled all the other mufic of the valley; his daughter's lute was much beyond it; Sir Edward's violin was finer than either: But his converfation with Louifa-it was that of a fuperior order of beings!--Science,