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and introduced to the circle of his acquaintance. But gratitude, and a respect to the laws of hospitality, seemed not to govern the conduct of Voltaire. One day, when he knew Pope was from home, he called on his ancient mother, who lived with him, and told her that he should be very sorry to do any thing to displease her, but really it was so hard living in London, that he had a poem, a severe lampoon upon her, which he was going to publish, but which he would recommend her to give him a sum of money to suppress.

"The fear of the poor old woman at length prevailed over her indignation, and she bribed him not to publish: which he agreed to, on one condition, that she would never mention the subject. She promised, and she kept her word. Having so well succeeded once, he made a second attempt on the yielding prey. The indignation of the injured lady was at its height, when Pope entered the room, and, perceiving her agitation, insisted on knowing the cause. She informed him in half-stifled accents. Voltaire had neither time to make off, nor to make up an excuse; when the enraged Poet, who was never deficient in filial respect, flew with a proper

resentment on the unfeeling Frenchman, striking him vehemently. Voltaire, in the attempt to retreat precipitately, fell over a chair."-Gent. Mag. 1797.

LORD BUCKHURST'S "GORBODUC."

THIS was the first dramatic piece of any consideration in the English language, and was written many years before Shakspeare flourished. Lord Buckhurst was assisted in it by Norton, a fellow-labourer with Sternhold and Hopkins. This tragedy was acted before Queen Elizabeth, at Whitehall, by the Gentlemen of the Inner Temple, A. D. 1561. It originally had the title of "Ferrex and Porrex;" was surreptitiously and incorrectly printed in 1565; more completely in 1570; and again, under the title of "Gorboduc," in 1590. It was re-published, in 1736, with a Preface, by Mr. Spence, by the procuration of Mr. Pope, who wondered that "the propriety and natural ease of it had not been better imitated by the dramatic authors in the succeeding age." It is to be found in the second volume of the Collection of Old Plays, published by Dodsley.

Sir Philip Sydney, in his Apology for

Poetry,' gives the following character of this tragedy, in his lofty style: "It is full of stately speeches and well-sounding phrases, climbing to the height of Seneca's style, and as full of notable morality, which it doth most delightfully teach, and thus obtain the very end of poesy." Puttenham says, in his Art of Poetry,' "I think that, for tragedy, the Lord of Buckhurst and Maister Edward Ferreys, for such doings as I have seen of theirs, do deserve the highest price: the Earl of Oxford and Maister Edwards, (of her Majesty's Chappel,) for Comedy and Interlude."

DOCTOR GOLDSMITH.

WHEN Goldsmith had wrought his way up to fame, some friend wishing to introduce him into extended notice and higher society, advised him to give an evening entertainment at his chambers. Ladies and gentlemen were accordingly invited, and the titled and the untitled came. Goldsmith, in a pea-green coat, and other parts of his dress appropriately gay, received his guests with due politeness, and the party amused themselves very agreeably. After tea, &c., cards were proposed, and loo, the fashion

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able game of that day, soon engaged the attention of its votaries; Goldsmith attending and enjoying the vicissitudes of their speculations. At length, however, he was observed to become exceedingly agitated he walked round the table, and up and down, with a disturbed air. Mr. Bunbury, one of the gamesters, had a run of ill luck, and had lost several pounds. This so distressed his host, that he could endure it no longer; but, shocked to see any one plundered of so immense a sum in his house, he called him out of the room, and, slipping a guinea into his hand, begged him for heaven's sake to play no more. The diversion occasioned by this sally was not the least amusing of the mistakes of the night.

THE PRINTER, THE SOLDIER, AND THE POET.

BODONI, the celebrated Printer, of Parma, told M. De Creuzé, that, one day, a Captain in the Austrian service came into his shop, and asked to see one of his best books. Bodoni put a Horace into his hands, which the Officer had the patience to examine very attentively, leaf after leaf, from beginning to end, and then asked"Who is Horace?"

SWIFT.

SOON after the appointment of Swift to the Deanery of St. Patrick's, he was informed by one of the Chapter, that the Beadle of his Cathedral was a poet. The Doctor sent for the man, and asked him some questions respecting his poetical talents, which the other modestly disclaimed, saying, that he wrote only for his bell. The next day being the 5th of November, the Dean insisted upon it that he should immediately compose some verses suited to the occasion, when the Beadle produced the following:

"To-night's the day, I speak it with great sorrow, That we were all t' have been blown up to-morrow; Therefore take care of fires and candle-light, 'Tis a cold frosty morning, and so good night."

FATHER AISEMENT.

FATHER AISEMENT, of the order of Minims, having the office of Lord Preacher, some of his doctrines did not please a bachelor in divinity, of the name of Thibault. In consequence of this, the young divine composed a few indifferent verses, in which he attempted to ridicule

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