CHAP. XXXI.

N O V E L T Y.

Call now to mind what high capacious powere
Lie folded up in man; how far beyond
The praise of mortals, may th' eternal growth
Of nature to perfection half divine,
Expand the blooming soul. What pity then
Should Sloth's unkindly fogs deprefs to earth
Her tender blossom ; choke the streams of life,
And blast her spring! Far otherwise defign'd
Almighty Wisdom; Natare's happy cares
Th' obedient heart far otherwise incline.
Witness the sprightly joy when aught unknown
Strikes the quick senfe, and wakes each active pow'r
To brisker measures : witness the neglect
Of all familiar prospects, thobeheld
With transport once; the fond attentive gaze
Of young Aftonishment; the fober zeal
Of Age, commenting on prodigious things;
For such the bounteous providence of Heav'n,
In ev'ry breast implanting this defire
Of objects new and strange, to urge us on
With unremitted labour to pursue

Those facred ftores that wait the ripening foul,
In Truth's exhaufless bosom. What need words
To paint its pow'r? For this the daring youth,
Breaks from his weeping mother's anxious arms,
In foreign climes to rove; the pensive fage,

Heedler

Heedless of sleep, or midnight's harmful damp,
Hangs o'er the fickly taper; and untir'd
The virgin fullows, with enchanted step,
The mazes of some wise and wond'rous tale,
From morn to eve; unmindful of her form,
Unmindful of the happy dress that stole
The wishes of the youth, when ev'ry maid
With envy pin'd. Hence finally by night
The village matron, round the blazing hearth,
Suspends the infant-audience with her tales,
Breathing aftonishment ! of witching rhymes,
And evil spirits; of the death-bed call
Of him who robb’d the widow, and devour'd
The orphan's portion; of unquiet fouls
Ris'n from the grave to ease the heavy guilt
Of deeds in life conceal'd; of shapes that walk
At dead of night, and clank their chains, and wave.
The torch of hell around the murd'rer's bed,
At every solemn pause the crowd recoil
Gazing each other speechless, and congeald
With fiv'ring fighs: till eager for th' event,
Around the beldame all erect they hang,
Each trembling heart with grateful terrors quell'd.

AKENSIDER

BOOK

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THE STORY OF LE FEVRE. It was some time in the summer of that year in which Dendermond was taken by the Allies, which was about seven years

before father came into the country,--and about as many, after the time, that my uncle Toby and Trim had privately decamped from my father's house in town, in order to lay some of the finest fieges to some of the finest forti. fied cities in Europe-when my uncle Toby was one evening getting his fupper, with Trim fitting behind him at a small sideboard. The landlord of a little inn in the village came into the parlour with an empty phial in his hand to beg a glass or two of fack; 'Tis for a poor gentleman, I think, of the army, said the landlord, who has been taken ill at my house four days ago, and has never held up his head fince, or had a desire to taste any thing, till just now, that he

has

has a fancy for a glass of fack and a thin toast, I think, says he, taking his hand from his forehead, it would comfort

If I could neither beg, borrow, or buy fuch a thing, added the landlord, I would almost steal it for the poor gentleman, he is so ill. hope in God he will ftill mend, continued he-We are all of us concerned for him.

Thou art a good-natured soul, I will answer for thee, cried my uncle Toby; and thou shalt drink the poor gentleman's health in a glass of sack thyself and take a couple of bottles, with my fervice, and tell him he is heartily welcome to them, and to a dozen more, if they will do him good.

THOUGH I am persuaded, said my uncle Toby, as the landlord shut the door, he is a very compassionate fellowTrim, - yet I cannot help entertaining a high opinion of his guest too ; there muft be something more than common in him, that in so short a time Tould win so much upon the affections of his hoft:-And of his whole family, added the corporal, for they are all concerned for him.

Stepafcer him, said my uncle Toby-do Trim,--and ask if he knows his name:

I HAVE quite forgot it, truly: said the landlord, coming back into the parlour with the corporal,-- but I can ask his fon again :-Has he a fon with him then : fạid. my uncle Toby. A boy, replied the landlord, of about eleven or twelve years of age ; but the poor creature has tafted almost as little as his father; he does nothing butmourn and lament: for him night and day :~He has not Stirred from the bed-side thefe two days.

My unele-Toby. laid down his knife and fork, and thrust his plate-from before him, as the landlord gave him the ac

count; and Trim, without being ordered, took

away

without saying one word, and in a few minutes. after brought him his pipe and tobacco.

-Stay in the room a little, said my uncle Toby. TRIM !-faid my uncle Toby, after he lighted his pipe and smoked about a dozen' whiffs.-Trim came in front of his master and made his bow; -my uncle: Toby smoked on, and said no more. Corporal ! said my uncle Toby.

-the corporal made his bow:- My uncle Toby proceeded no farther, but finifhed his pipe.

TRIM ! faid my uncle' Toby, I have a project in my head, as it is a bad night, of wrapping myfelf up warm in my roquelaure, and paying a visit to this poor geatleman.

Your honour's roquelaure, replied the corporal, has not once been had ong-fince the night before your honour received your wound, when we mounced guard in the trenches before the gate of St. Nicholas ; and besides it is so cold and rainy a night, that what with the roquelaure, and what with the weather, 'twill be enough to give your honour your death, and bring on your honour's torment in your groin. I fear fo, replied my uncle Toby: but I am -not at rest in my mind, Trim, since the account the land. lord has given me. I wish I had not known so much of this'affair--added my uncle Tobyor that I had known more of it: How fall we manage itLeave it, an't please your honour, to me, quoth the corporal;I'll take my hat and stick; and go to the house and reconnoitre, and act accordingly; and I will bring your honour a full account in an hour. Thou Thalt go, Trim, said my uncle Toby, and here's a filling for thee to drink with his fer- vant.--) hall get it all out of him, said the corporal, fhut

ting the door.

My