SECT. XCI.

THE DISCOVERY.

EDGAR. Lift a brief tale,

and when 'tis told, O, that my heart would burst !—
The bloody proclamation to escape,

that follow'd me fo near; O, our lives sweetness !
that we the pain of death would hourly bear
rather than die at once, taught me to shift
into a madman's rags; t' affume a femblance,'
the very dogs difdain'd; and in this habit
met I my father, with his bleeding rings,
their precious gems new loft; became his guide,
led him, begg'd for him, fav'd him from despair :
-Never, O fault! reveal'd myself unto him,
until fome half hour past, when I was arm'd,
not fure, tho' hoping of this good success,

I afk'd his bleffing, and from first to last

told him my pilgrimage. But his flaw'd heart,

alack, too weak the conflict to support,
'twixt two extremes of paffion, Joy and GRIEF,
burft fmilingly.

. SECT.

SECT. XCII.

ABSENCE FROM HOME.

THE celebrated traveller Cox obferves 66 one great advantage he derived from his journies, which was, "that he was led by them to prefer his own to every "other country." Whether this arose from the power of reflection we will not prefume to fay, for every one has experienced the pleasure of returning home, when he has been out but a few weeks even on a party of pleafure.

For where to find that happiest spot below,
who can direct, when all pretend to know?
The fhudd'ring tenant of the frigid zone
boldly proclaims that happieft fpot his own;
extols the treasures of his ftormy feas,
and his long nights of revelry and ease;
the naked negro, panting at the line,
boafts of his golden fands and palmy wine;
basks in the glare, or ftems the tepid wave,
and thanks his gods for all the good they gave.

That

That the paffion for one's country is increased by abfence, is particularly manifefted by the natives of Switzerland. They were fo affected by a little air, expreffive of their fituation, that it is affirmed by feveral, that it once excited fo exquifite a folicitude, that it was therefore prohibited to be played in France upon pain of death.

THE AIR.

Quand reverrai'je en un jour
Tous les objets de mon amour:
Nos claire ruiffeaux

Nos coteaux,

Nos hameaux,

Nos montaignes ?

Et l'ornement des nos compaignes?

La fi gentil le fabeau

A l'ombre d'un ormeau,

Quand danferai'je au fon du chalumeau ?

Quand reverrai'je en un jour,

Tous les objets de mon amour?

Mon pere,

Ma mere,

Mon frene,

Ma fœur,

Mes agneaux,

Mes troupeaux,

Ma bergere,

Quand reverrai'je en un jour,

Tous les objets de mon amour.

In this air the images are all rural and fimple, and in the highest degree affecting. The music is also remarkable for its fimplicity, and fudden transition of meafure, varying frequently from Allegro to Andante. When this little air was played or fung to the Swiss foldiers, they would exprefs fighs and tears, and would not unfrequently defert in the impulfe of the moment; and fuch as fhewed filent dejection, and scorned fo base a procedure, fell martyrs to their own feelings, by a difeafe called Nofialgia*.

XENOPHON, in his retreat of the ten thousand, gives a very lively defcription of the tumultuous joy which the army exhibited, when they firft faw the fea from Mount Theches, where they inftantaneously erected a trophy amidst the loudeft acclamations. The strong emotions of the followers of COLUMBUS upon feeing land, may be explained also partly upon this principle.

* A vehement longing after home.

VOL. IV.

5 S

SECT.

862

SECT. XCIII.

DISAPPOINTMENT.

His late Majefty GEORGE II. having kept the audi ence waiting, much confufion arofe in the theatre, and a hiss even reached the ear of Majesty upon his arrival. The King, with admirable presence of mind, took out his watch, and looking at it, appeared to say something to a lord in waiting, and, placing his hand to his breast, bowed to the audience. This confeffion from fo high a perfonage instantly overwhelmed the hearts of the whole affembly, and without exception the whole house joined in reiterated plaudits, and it was a long while before the effufion ceased, and the play could be proceeded with.