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4. The fhape, character, and origin of the warrior, were defcribed, and how he had rifen from flavery to power fupreme. The aftonished farmer found the defcription accorded with a fon, who had been stolen from him at twelve years old; hope palpitated in his heart, he haftened home with his provifions, told his family what he had heard, and determined immediately to depart for Egypt.

5. His weeping wife and fons offered up prayers for his fafe return. Going to the port of Alexandretta, he embarked there, and came to Damietta. One continued fear tormented him; his fon, forfaking the religion of his fathers, had embraced Mahometanism; and now, furrounded as he was by fplendor, would he acknowledge his parents? 6. The thought lay heavy on his heart; yet, the wish to fnatch his family from all the horrors of famine; the hope of finding a long lamented fon, gave, him fortitude. He continued his journey, came to the capital, repaired to the palace of Mourad, applied to the officers of the prince, and moft ardently folicited admiffion.

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7. His drefs and appearance bespoke poverty and mif. fortune, and were poor recommendations; but his great age, fo refpectable in the Eaft, pleaded in his behalf. One of the attendants went to the Bey, and told him an aged man, apparently miferable, requested an audience.

8. Let him enter, replied Mourad ; and the farmer proceeded, with trembling fteps, over the rich carpet which befpread the hall of the Divan, and approached the Bey, who reclined on a fofa, embroidered with filk and gold. Crouding fenfations deprived him of the use of speech.

19. At last, after attentively looking, the voice of nature wanquishing fear, he fell, and embracing his knees, exclaimed, You are my fon! The Bey raised him, endeavored to recollect, and, after explanation, finding him to be his father, made him fit down by his fide, and careffed him most affectionately.

10.

The firft gufh of nature over, the fire described in what a deplorable ftate he had left his mother, and brethren; and the prince proposed to fend for, and with them divide his riches and power, if they would embrace Islamism.

II. This the generous Chriftian had foreseen, and fearing youth might be dazzled, took not one of his fons with

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with him. He, therefore, firmly rejected Mourad's offer, and even remonftrated with him on his own change of religion.

12. The Bey, finding his father determined, and that his family's distress demanded immediate fuccor, fent him back to Syria, with a large fum of money, and a veffel loaded with corn. The happy hufbandman immediately re turned to the plains of Damafcus, where his arrival banished mifery and tears from his homely roof, and brought joy, eafe and felicity.

SCENE BETWEEN CATO AND DECIUS.

Decius. CESAR fends health to Cato

Cato. Could he fend it

To Cato's flaughter'd friends, it would be welcome.
Are not your orders to addrefs the fenate?

Dec. My bufinefs is with Cato; Cefar fees the
Straits to which you're driven, and, as he knows
Cato's high worth, is anxious for your life.

Cato. My life is grafted on the fate of Rome. Would he fave Cato, bid him fpare his country. Tell your dictator this; and tell him, Cato Difdains a life which he has power to offer.

Dec. Rome and her fenators fubmit to Cefar;
Her gen'rals and her confuls are no more,

Who check'd his conquefts, and deny'd his triumphs.
Why will not Cato be this Cefar's friend?

Cato Thofe very reasons thou hast urg'd forbid it ́
Det. Cato, I've orders to expoftulate,

it;

And reafon with you, as from friend to friend ;
Think on the ftorm that gathers o'er your head,
And threatens ev'ry hour to burst upon
Still may you stand high in your country's honors;
Do but comply, and make your peace with Cefar.
Rome will rejoice, and caft its eyes on Cato,
As on the fecond of mankind.

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1 must not think of life on these conditions.

Dec

Dec. Cefar is well acquainted with your virtues,
And therefore fets this value on your life.
Let him but know the price of Cato's friendship,
And name your terms.

Cato. Bid him difband his legions,
Restore the commonwealth to liberty,
Submit his actions to the public cenfure,
And ftand the judgment of a Roman fenate.
Bid him do this, and Cato is his friend.

Dec. Cato, the world talks loudly of your wifdomCato. Nay, more, tho' Cato's voice was ne'er employ'd To clear the guilty, and to varnish crimes, Myfelf will mount the roftrum in his favor, And ftrive to gain his pardon from the people. Dec. A ftyle like this becomes a conqueror. Cato. Decius, a style like this becomes à Roman. Dec. What is a Roman, who is Cefar's foe?

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Cato. Greater than Cefar; he's a friend to virtue.
Dec. Confider, Cato, you're in Utica;
And at the head of your own little fenate;
You don't now thunder in the capitol,

With all the mouths of Rome to fecond you.

eye

him

Cato. Let him confider that who drives us hither.
"Tis Cefar's fword has made Rome's fenate little,
And thinn'd its ranks. Alas! thy dazzled
Beholds this man in a falfe glaring light,
Which conqueft and fuccefs have thrown upon
Didit thou but view him right, thou❜dst see him black
With murder, treason, facrilege and crimes,
That strike my foul with horror but to name 'em.
I know thou look'ft on me, as on a wretch
Befet with ills, and cover'd with misfortunes;
But, be it known to thee, millions of worlds
Should never buy me to be like that Cefar.

Dec. Does Cato fend this anfwer back to Cefar,
For all his gen'rous cares and proffer'd friendship?
Cato. His cares for me are infolent and vain;
Prefumptuous man! the gods take care of Cato.
Would Cefar fhow the greatness of his foul,
Bid him employ his care for thefe my friends,
And make good ufe of his ill-gotten pow'r,
By fhelt'ring men much better than himself.

Dec. Your high, unconquer'd heart makes you forget: You rush on your deftruction.

You are a man.

But I have done.

When I relate hereafter

The tale of this unhappy embaffy,

All Rome will be in tears.

THE BEGGAR'S PETITION..

PITY the forrows of a poor old mar,

Whofe trembling limbs have borne him to your door,s
Whofe days are dwindled to the fhorteft fpan,
Oh! give relief, and Heaven will blefs your ftore.
Thefe tatter'd clothes my poverty befpeak,
These hoary locks proclaim my lengthen'd years;
And many a furrow in my grief-worn cheek
Has been the channel to a flood of tears.

2.

3. Yon house, erected on the rifing ground,
With tempting afpect drew me from my road;
For plenty there a refidence has found,
And grandeur a magnificent abode.

Hard is the fate of the infirm and poor
4.
Here, as I crav'd a morfel of their bread,
A pamper'd menial drove me from the door,
To feek a fhelter in a humbler fhed.

5. Oh! take me to your hofpitable dome;
Keen blows the wind, and piercing is the cold
Short is my paffage to the friendly tomb,
For I am poor and miferably old.

6. Should I reveal the fources of my grief,
If foft humanity e'er touch'd your breast,
Your hands would not withhold the kind relief,
And tears of pity would not be repress'd..

7. Heaven fer és misfortunes; why should we repine ? "Tis Heaven has brought me to the state you fee

And
condition may
be foon like mine,
your
The child of forrow, and of mifery.

8. A little farm was my paternal lot,
Then like the lark I fprightly hail'd the morn;
But ah! oppreffion forc'd me from my cot,
Mettle dy'd, and blighted was my corn.

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9. My

9. My daughter, once the comfort of my age,
Lur'd by a villain from her native home,
Is cast abandon'd on the world's wide stage,
And doom'd in fcanty poverty to roam.

10. My tender wife, fweet foother of my care,
Struck with fad anguish at the ftern decree,
Fell, ling'ring fell, a victim to defpair,,
And left the world to wretchedness and me.

II. Pity the forrows of a poor old man,
Whofe trembling limbs have borne him to your door,
Whofe days are dwindled to the shorteft fpan,
Oh! give relief, and Heaven will bless

your ftore.

THE TEST OF GOODNESS.

REAL

AL goodnefs confifts in doing good to our enemies. Of this truth the following apologue may: ferve for an illuftration. A certain father of a family, ad-vanced in years, being defirous of fettling his worldly matters, divided his property between his three fons.

2.

Nothing now remains, faid he to them, but a diamond of great value; this I have determined to appropriate to whichever of you fhall, within three months, perform the best actions..

3. His three fons accordingly departed different ways, and returned by the limited time. On prefenting themfelves before their judge, the eldest thus began.

4. Father, faid he, during my absence, I found a stranger fo circumftanced, that he was under a neceffity of entrusting me with the whole of his fortune.

5. He had no written fecurity from me, nor could he poffibly bring any proof, any evidence whatever of the depofit. Yet I faithfully returned to him every fhilling. Was there not fomething commendable in this a tion?

6. Thou hast done what was incumbent upon thee to do, my fon, replied the old man. The man who could have acted otherways were unworthy to live; for honefty is a duty; thy action is an action of juftice, not of goodness.

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7. On

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