A sort of creeping kind of lethargy.--.

Are you e'er leiz'd thus ? Hah! here comes my antidote. Titus. Brutus! true; he's a doctor for the spleen. ;.

You mention'd Delphos; when we two went thither
Through the unknown feas of Greece, sent by our father
T'enquire the meaning of the prodigy,
The snake portentous, which with dreadful crest
Appearing in his palace hiss'd aloud
A direful omen ! Bruius then went with us. .
Oh! I remember well the precious scenes
Of folly which he acted. When we gave .
Rich presents to the God: He offer'd him
A walking-tick; as if the god would walk,
And take the air, but that the god was lame. .
Coming from out the temple, gazing back,

pack, s

. As loth to leave a place so fine, he fell Over the threshold, and plough'd up the grounds

Fixing his face i' th' earth.
Aruns,

You may remember
The oracle too said, that he should bear
Chief sway in Rome, who firft should kiss his mother,
When we came home, both at one time we kiss'd her,
In that I think we are at least before
Our brother Sextus, jointly we reign
After our father.

Enter BRUTUS.
Titus.

Brutus, where so fast? Why, thou art running like a loaded, horse. - Aruns. Or like a slave with fetters on his legs.

What! have the Rutili attack'd the camp,

That thou art posting in this plaguy hurry?
Brutus. Pray,'my Lords, stop me not ; I'm sent to you

On special ord’nance from the king; farewel,

I muit return again.
Aruns.

But wert thou sent
Only to see us ? Tell the king our father
We're in good health; we thank him for the message,

Which thou hast well remembered to deliver.
Brutus. Oh! my good Lord, I had forgot indeed. ,' .

But in the multitude of public cares
And daily business--if my memory fails
A little'tis no wonder-and you know

Memory is such a thing as
Titus,

As a cart-wheel.
Brutus. Indeed, my Lord, you've hit it; mine turns round,

And round-sometimes I think my head is turn'd.
Aruns. I too have thought it oft.
Brutus.

Have you, my Lord ? !
I'm always glad when you and I agree:
You have just such a wit as I should choose. ..
Would I could purchase fuch an one, and put it .

visi. Into A a 4

Into my brain ! Yet so I fear 'twould split

My head, as air hot up does water bubbles.
Titus. Thou haft spoke wittier, Brute, than thou'rt aware.
Aruns. But what wilt give me now for a recipe

To make a wit? I had it from the Sibyl,
Her thou saw't t'other day, who fold to th' king

Her books at such a rate.
Brutus.

Pray let me see it ;
: What will I give!—Ten acres of my land.
Aruns. Thy land! where lies it?
Brutus.

All the king my cousin :
He knows full well : I thank him, he's my leward,

And takes the trouble off my hands.
Titus.

: Who told thee so ? Brutus. The king himself.- Now twenty years are past,

And more, when he sent for me from the farm
Where I had liv'd fome time studying philosophy,

And such' like serious matters,
Titus.

Noble sophist,
I bend with the profoundest admiration

Qf thy rare, hidden knowledge,
Brutus.

Yes, yes, all men
Must grant that I have no small smattering.
But where was I? Oh-Kinsman, says the king,
Says he, and smiled, most graciously upon me,
For deeds of blackest and most treasonous nature,
Thy father and thy brother were accused of,
They've paid the forfeit with their lives : for thee,
Who knew'ít not of their crimes, as I love mercy,
Nor take delight in wanton deeds of cruelty,

Live, and be happy ; the ingenuous heart,
And simple manners speaking in thy face

Aruns. Aye, 'is a simple manners-speaking face.
Brutus, Nay, is it right to interrupi me thus ?
Aruns, Pardon, most noble Brutus.
Brutuş.

These thy qualities,
Promise, says he, thou ne'er wilt form a plot

Of damn'd conspiracy against thy sovereign-
Titus. Indeed for that, I'll be thy bondsman, Brutus.
Brutus. Live in my house, companion of my children,

As for thy land, to ease thee of all care,
I'll take it for thy use; all that I ask

Of thee, is gratitude:
Titus.

... And art thou nat
Grateful for goodness so unmerited ?
Brutus. Am I not? Never, by the holy Gods,

Will I forget it ! 'ris my constant prayer
To heaven, that I may one day have the power
To pay the debt I owe him. But the charm

For wit you told me of.
drugs.

Oh-take it gratis

Firft then ; attend with caution-- But the message

You brought from Tarquin.--
Brน..

Father Romulus,
That I should loiter thús! Why would you keep me
Engaged in talk i The king your father calls
A council, to confider of the fiege
Of Ardea,' and the future operations
Against the stubborn Rutili : your presence
Is ak'd immediately; Mall I before,

And say you're coming ?
Aruns,

If thou wilt, good Brutus ;
Or else behind ; or otherwise in th' middle: *
Come, we'll all go together; or ftay there,

And follow at thy leisure. [Exeunt Aruns and Titus. Brutus alone. Yet, 'tis not this which ruffles me-the gibes

And scornful mockeries of ill-govern'd youth
Or flouts of painted fycophants and jefters,
Reptiles, who lay their bellies on the dost
Before the frown of majesty. All this
I buc expect, nor grudge to bear; the face
I carry too demands it.-But what then:
Is my mind falhion'd to the livery
Of dull stupidity, which I have worn
These many a day? Is’t bent aside, and warp'd
From its true native dignity? Else why,
How is't that vengeance now hath Nept ro long?
O prudence ! ill delayer of great deeds,
And noble enterprizes !-Yet-not so.
Chance may, and accidental circumstance
Crown bold and lucky rashness with success
But oftener not. There is perhaps a time,
A certain point, which waited for with patience,
Seiz'd on, and urg'd with vigour, will go near
To banilh.chance, and introduce assurance
And fixedness in human actions.-
T'avenge my father's and my brother's murder!
(And sweet I must confess would be the draught)
Had this been all, oft hath the murderer's life
Been in my hands; a thousand opportunities
I've had to Atrike the blow--and my own life
I had not valued as a rush.--But still
There's something farther to be done my soul !
Enjoy the strong conception ; Oh! 'ris glorious
To free a groaning country from oppresion;
To vindicate man's common sites, and crush
The neck of arrogance.-To see Revenge
Spring like a lion from his den, and tear
These hunters of mankind !--Give but the time,
Give but the moment, gods! If I am wanting,
May I drag out this ideot-feigned life

To late old age ; and may posterity
Ne'er know me by another name, but that
Of Brutus, and the Tarquin's household fool.

We

(Exit."

of 1 pla

of W the this

1

We confess ourselves to be in the number of those who wish that the less studied diction, and more plain and level metre of the school of that immortal poet (which seems to have ended with Southern) had been continued to the prefent time,' And as far as our Author has adopted the diction of the school of Shakespeare, we approve of his dialogue, which is often flowing, easy, nervous, and characteristic; but it cannot be de. nied that it often sinks into gross familiarity and meanness, and sometimes goes in such a hobbling pace, and falls into such low expressions, that it cannot with justice be termed even 'meae fured profe.'

A diversification of character' bath not only been attempted in this play, but in many instances successfully executed: nor can we think with the Writer, that his piece is, on that account, less proper for the stage, or less adapted to the multitude. The stage and the multitude are equally favourable to pieces of character, and receive, with equal coldness, such dramas as are void of that ingredient; which is the chief reason why so many tragedies (tince the days of Southern) have cc strutted and fretted their short hour upon the stage, and then been heard no more !"

It is a very unfortunate circumstance for an Author to indulge his self-complacency so far, as to take it for granted that his taste and abilities are superior to the age in which his works are published. This idea is the parent of slovenliness and inaccuracy; and there is in the piece before us, if we may hazard the expression, a kind of laboured incorrectness; the Author seeming to disdain the trouble of giving the necessary compactness to his fable, or the last polish to his style.

Notwithstanding these defects, which it was our duty to ob. serve, this historical tragedy abounds with uncommon beauties of language and situation, and much exquifite delineation of character, all which excellencies would be still 'heightened, if the Author would vouchsafe to amend the irregularities, and Supply the deficiencies, which would, in its present state, prove the only obstacles to its success in theatrical representation. Such corrections would also render it ftill more pleasing in the clofet.

vocate,

Art: VIII. The Hifory of Edinburgh. By Hago Arnot, Esq; Ad

4t0. 11. 5 s. Boards. Edinburgh printed; fold by Murray in London. 1779. N the viciffitudes and accidents which characterise the hil

I story of towns, we find, in general, chany important objects

of research and curiofity's but when the towns described have the peculiarity of being the capitals of a nation, the instruction communicated is of che greater moment, and the materials

of

of the author are the more connected with great events. The plan of the work before us was originally of a limited nature; and we are informed, by Mr. Arnot, that it grew into its prefent magnitude from his attention to a variety of matter which tended to illustrate the state of manners in Scotland, and to throw a new light upon its public tranfactions. There is nothing, indeed, which appears more certain, than that the affairs of a kingdom and its capital are deeply interwoven. To give a wide range to inquiry and investigation is, of confequence, the most instructive method which can be adopted in works of this kind.

The minuteness of this Historian will, perhaps, be considered, by some readers, as a merit. The search which he acknowledges was made by him into most of the public records of Scotland, was highly proper. The colleges of St. Andrews, Aberdeen, and Edinburgh consented to afford him the aids he required ; and to several private gentlemen he returns his acknowledgments for the politeness of their communications.

Whatever has a particular relation to the city of Edinburgh, in the civil and ecclefiaftical history of Scotland, is detailed by this laborious Inquirer, and furnishes such materials as are the most capable of composition and ornament. The manners of the Scottish nation, the prices of provisions, and the value of money, engage his attention. He describes the public buildings of Edinburgh, its religious houses, its population, and its amusements. He treats of the legislative and the judicial afsemblies; and, on this subject, he advances the evidence of many improper acts of magistrates. His freedom and spirit, in this particular, are worthy of praise, as they have, in view the promotion of the interests of liberty and mankind.

The account he has given of the Court of Justiciary in Scotland will afford entertainment to our Readers, and will be accepted as a specimen from which they may form a judgment of the abilities of the Author :

It has been already explained, that the Justice-ayre, or Court of Justiciary, was the supreme court, civil as well as criminal, over the barons, and those residing within their domains. After the original Court of Session was instituted, it still retained its civil jurisdiction ; but, upon the erection of the College of Justice, the authority of the Court of Justiciary was restricted to criminal affairs. The judges were the Lord Justice General, Justice Clerk, and certain asferfors added to them by the Privy Council, who were chosen from among persons not versant in the laws, and whose commisions only lasted during the particular trials upon which they were appointed to pre. fide. A conftitution * so highly improper, was altered by Charles II. and the court modelled into its present form. It now consists of the

# Charles II. parl, 2. feft: 3. c. 26.'

Lord