I

N° 108. SATURDAY, May 20, 1780.

Ah, vices! gilded by the rich and gay.

SHENSTONE.

F we examine impartially that eftimate of pleasure, which the higher ranks of fociety are apt to form, we fhall probably be furprised to find how little there is in it either of natural feeling or real fatisfaction. Many a fashionable voluptuary, who has not totally blunted his tafle or his judgment, will own, in the intervals of recollection, how often he has fuffered from the infipidity, or the pain of his enjoyments; and that, if it were not for the fear of being laughed at, it were fometimes worth while, even on the score of pleasure, to be virtuous.

Sir Edward to whom I had the pleafure of being introduced at Florence, was a character much beyond that which diftinguifhes the generality of English travellers of fortune. His ftory was known to some of his countrymen who then refided in Italy; from one of whom, who could now and then talk of fomething befide pictures and operas, I had a particular recital of it.

He

. 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 generally 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 Marfeilles with a lingering diforder, for which he was under the neceffity of taking a fea-voyage, leaving Sir Edward to profecute the remaining part of his intended tour alone.

Descending into one of the valleys of Piedmont, where, notwithstanding the ruggedness of the road, Sir Edward, with a prejudice natural to his country, preferred the conveyance of an English bunter to that of an Italian mule, his horse unluckily made a false step, and fell with his rider to the ground, from which Sir Edward

was lifted by his fervants with scarce any figns of life. They conveyed him on a litter to the nearest house, which happened to be the dwelling of a peasant rather above the common rank, before whofe door fome of his neighbours were affembled at a fcene of rural merriment, when the train of Sir Edward brought up their mafter in the condition I have defcribed. The compaffion 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 himself immediately to the care of the stranger, and, with the affiftance of his daughter, who had left the dance she was engaged in, with great marks of agitation, foon reftored Sir Edward to fenfe and life. Venoni poffeffed fome little skill in furgery, and his daughter produced a book of receipts in medicine. Sir Edward, after being blooded, was put to bed, and tended with every poffible care by his hoft and his 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.

He could not help expreffing fome surprise at the appearance of refinement in the converfation of the latter, much beyond what her fituation feemed likely to confer. Her father ac

counted

counted for it. She had received her education in the house of a lady, who happened to pass through the valley, and to take shelter 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, "whose name, at her defire, we had given the "child, took her home to her own house; "there she was taught many things, of which "there is no need here; yet she is not so 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 Louisa better than from the description 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 pleasure from her drawings, which they had never given her before, when they were praised by Sir Edward; and the familyconcerts of Venoni were very different from what they had formerly been, when once his guest was fo far recovered as to be able to join in The flute of Venoni excelled all the other music 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 be06 ings!

them.

ings! fcience, tafte, fentiment!-it was long fince Louisa had heard these sounds; amidst the ignorance of the valley, it was luxury to hear them; from Sir Edward, who was one of the most engaging figures Lever saw, they were doubly delightful. In his countenance, there was always an expreffion animated and interefting; his fickness had overcome fomewhat of the firft, but greatly added to the power of the latter.

Louifa's was no lefs captivating-and Sir Edward had not seen it fo long without emotion. During his illness, he thought this emotion but gratitude; and, when it firft grew warmer, he checked it, from the thought of her fituation, and of the debt he owed her. But the ftruggle was too ineffectual to overcome; and, of confequence, increafed his paffion. There was but one way in which the pride of lowed of its being gratified. thought of this as a bafe and unworthy one; but he was the fool of words which he had often defpifed, the flave of manners he had often condemned. He at laft compromifed matters with himfelf; he refolved, if he could, to think no more of Louifa; at any rate, to think no more of the ties of gratitude, or the reftraints of virtue.

Sir Edward al

He fometimes

Louifa, who trufted to both, now communicated to Sir Edward an important fecret. It

was