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"Had I once thought the man would faithlefs prove,

To her did he profess so dear to love;

I had not left my native home and friends.
To ferve the Captain's base and vicious ends;
But man's by nature falfe as woman's fair,

The biflory of SOPHRONIA, founded And when he courts us, 'tis but to enfnare:

on fa&is.

"Alike unfortunate, our fate is fuch,
We please too little, or we pleafe too much."

Oh, faithlefs Captain, think how oft you
fwore

No man could ever love a woman more
Than you did me; and as a proof, for life

Sophronia was the third das great But now both cool and quit for your wife

grown,

a stranger

You've bafely left me daily to bemoan,
That heartfelt love I had for you alone;
Ungenerous wretch ! by whofe feducing art,
I've loft my friends, my virtue and my heart,
I remain, Sir, your's

A YOUNG PHILANTHROPIST.

Hampftead, Dec. 15.

THE LONG FAREWELL. [Illuftrated and embellished with a curious copper-plate, from the defign of a Royal Academician, engraved by a celebrated Artif.

TR

RUEMAN was the fecond fon of a worthy clergyman, who hav ing the chaplainship of a regiment abroad, befides the advantages of a liberal education, had him inftructed in the principles of fortification and gunnery: but he dying before his fon was an adept in the military fciences, Trueman inftead of the field of battle, chose the field of Ceres, and commenced farmer.

of private gentleman of refpectability in Aberdeen; fhe was fome few years fince on a vilit to a near relation in London, where the became acquainted with a Captain Palmer, a man of pleasure, fashion and intrigue. After a few months were paft, their intimacy became too particular not to be taken notice of; indeed the lady was fo imprudent as to make her boaf in company of having gained the affections of one, who the could not poffibly know much of, or however, not enough to countenance her in encouraging his addreffes. Before the year was out from their first meeting each other, Sophronia, contrary to the advice and folicitations of her best friends, and in oppofition to every good advice given her upon the occafion, confented to his entreaties and loft her reputation. After the birth of her illegitimate first born, which happened on the 5th of November, 1776, fhe began to find the Captain's affiduities and attention greatly to abate. From feeing her every other The education which he had receiv day (at a lodging he had provided for ed, joined with an uncommon affabiher in a neighbouring village,) he fatis-lity and politenefs of address, recomfed himself with calling on her only once a week, and within thefe laft fix months has never been near her, only fent her one or two upbraiding letters, which have pierced her to the heart, and the is now (between grief for her little child's death, and his cruel unprovoked and ungenerous treatment) on the verge of her diffolution; forfaken, diftracted and almoft ftarved; a few lines compofed by her on the Captain's difhonourable behaviour shall close her melancholy story, which (heaven grant) may prove a useful leffon to the fair fex in general, not to truft "man who is by nature falfe."

mended him to the esteem of all the gentry in the neighbourhood. converfation was not only entertaining, but likewife improving; the various anecdotes he had felected from claffical authors, and a knowledge of mankind, rendered the evenings spent in his com pany, truly Attic evenings, and by means of his company the country ruft was filed away, and the gaiety and politenefs of the metropolis were not ftrangers to a village, which had formerly been notorious for its rufticity.

Always an admirer of the fex, he not only poffeffed their ears, but likewife made fome impreffions on their

hearts. Many a fair wished to be diftinguished by him from the rest of the circle but fplendid as the fun he fhone on all, and fhone on all alike. The coquette and the prude, though they admired, could not but look on him with fmiles of approbation; they pronounced him already vanquished by fome unknown beauty, or elfe that he wanted a heart; a heart to feel, or to acknowledge its feelings.

one hand denoted want of merit, or on the other, want of fufceptibility. He adored the fex in general, but was puzzled to felect a flower from the reft of the gay parterre. In fixing his choice for life, his motive would be happinefs; but he faw too many beauties who cultivated only their external charms, and though heaven had decorated their exterior to a degree of profufion, they seemed themselves to negThe fhafts of the brighteft eyes lect the adorning of their minds, or were shot for fome time by the fex, to make themselves appear angelic by and were for fome time fhot in vain. their understanding, as well as their Though they could not captivate, they perfons. To live with a meer beauty, would not defpair. Time and oppor- was only to contemplate an excellent tunity were all their hopes, and they portrait, or an elegant piece of statuaimagined, that notwithstanding his re- ry though charmed with the Venus fiftance, the fortrefs of his heart was of Medicis, yet he never viewed it not impregnable, and affuming, like without withing it animation, and Count d'Estaing in a late rencounter, without withing that the fex, who were they promifed themfelves that their fo fond of facrificing to the graces, former conquefts were only forerun-would likewife pay fome homage to ners of their future ones.

:

Minerva.

The glory of fubduing an enemy, His acquaintance fmiled at his fenwho had been unfubdued, fecmed totiments; but unanimously agreed, that be great; and as every one thought a man, who was not averfe to the fex, he was more likely than her rival to would fome time or other wear their carry away the prize, they plied all chains. They were not long in fufthe little artifices of beauty, and, in pence, chance effected what was not vain exhausted all the arrows in the fufpected; the town which holds out quiver of love. Trueman, whofe in- against a regular frege, may neverdifference was not owing to affecta-theless be taken by furprize. tion, could not, but notice the extra- The principles of religion, which ordinary attentions which were paid were inculcated in his mind in infancy, him by the fair he faw their rivalry; did not wither in his maturer years: he he fmiled at the lures they fpread to always had a regard for public worenfnare him. His wishes were, thatfhip, and never failed of attending its he might be fufceptible of thofe deli-public rites unless prevented by fick cate feelings, which are appropriated nefs. His opinion was that no perto the lover of a diftinguished fair. fon deferved the appellation of a man, Amidft the gay circle which he daily who would not own, who would not vifited, no one fecmed to him fo far fupe- pay his homage to his Maker. The rfor to the reft, as to claim a fuperior contrary behaviour he likened to that regard; and confcious of their want of the grand enemy of human happiof power, he profeffed to thofe of his nefs, and efteemed it as the greatest own fex, that the temple of Hymen degradation that the dignity of our feemed to be shut to him, but open to nature was capable of. Thefe fentievery man befides. Whether mar-ments he applied likewife to the other riages were made in heaven, according fex, and frequently pronounced a beauto a vulgar notion, he would not pre-teous woman without devotion to be a tend to determine; but this he was certain of, his fummons either was not made out, or at lealt it was a long while in its defcent. The character of an old bachelor he detefted, as it on

monfter in nature, and though her exterior fhould make her deemed an angel, a want of piety muft fhew that fhe was only a fallen one.

(To be continued.)

Selim and Selima. An Oriental Tale:

625

SELIM AND SELIM A. dently longed to view the youthful AN ORIENTAL TALE.

NEAR

maiden. He tarried fome time in. hopes of feeing her; but the unfortu

return home with discontent and difappointment. He repaired to his dwelling, refolving, on the enfuing morn, to watch the door of Omar, and look for the fair one whofe voice had led him captive.

Thus with thoughts and fenfations. unknown before he retired to his chamber, but not to reft: his mind being difcompofed, he cannot fleep as in fimes paft. He arofe from his bed with anxiety and pain, and had recourfe to that facred volume, which often gives confolation to every good Muffulman.

TEAR to the famous city of Bag-nate fhepherd was at laft obliged to dat dwelt the fage Omar, feeluded from the tumult and noife of the city in a pleafant vale. His only companion was his daughter Selima, whofe person was radiant as the fun, beautiful as the Houries of Paradife, the joy of her affectionate father, who ever beheld her with parental tendernefs, and made it his study to render her mind as amiable as her perfon was lovely, by inftructing her in the paths of virtue, and in the facred pages of the Alcoran. Her great affection and respect for her exemplary parent, made her never wish to be feparated from him, or to quit this reclufe habitation. Thus the fair Selima paffed her days in that ease and calm contentment, which is ever attending those who tread the flowery paths of virtue and truth, though frequently unknown in the courts of princes. But, alas! this happiness was of fhort duration !

At a small distance from the cottage refided a youthful shepherd named Selim. Though he had much riches in his poffeffion, yet he was humble, and untainted with vice. He beheld his numerous flocks, and his camels richly laden, yet he was without pride, or thinking on his great wealth. He had left the alluring pleasures of Bagdat, and retired to a fmall countryhoufe left him by his father. Here he fpent his time in rural amusements, and made it his employment to attend his fheep.

Returning home, one evening, he chanced to pass the cottage of Omar, and having a fhort time before accidentally heard the worthy owner very highly extolled, curiofity induced him to ftop awhile, when he heard the fage reading and giving inftruction to the dutiful and attentive Selima, who, at the conclufion, did not fail to return him thanks for his goodness with the greatest respect. The liftening Selim heard her melodious voice, but could not fee her. He was enchanted with the beauty of her expreffion, and arVOL. X.

But, alas! this did not prove of any ufe !-Therefore, before the dawn of day, he repaired to the fummit of the hill, on the declivity of which stood the cottage of the fage. He looked around, but could not difcern any object. All nature feemed melancholy and filent. The virtuous youth fixed his enquiring eyes on the door of the cot, till, loft in meditation, he broke out in the following foliloquy-

"O that my longing eyes could behold the lovely maid! My heart tells me fhe is lovely, though unfeen: her melodious voice, and delicacy of expreffion, inform me that she is both lovely and virtuous !-My affections are centered in her!-I cannot read with attention the facred writings of the holy prophet, in which my dear father inftructed me! My heart trembles! my fenfes are confufed! my mind, my thoughts are nothing but Selima !---What can these tumults mean? Surely this is not love, fo celebrated by the poets!-No, it cannot be: I have not feen her!-How can I love an object which my eyes never beheld?-I have heard many voices before, but not like her's!--Oh! how I long to fee her!"

Here he was interrupted by the appearance of the fage at the door of his dwelling, followed by his beloved daughter. They were come, in their accustomed manner, to behold the fun

4 L

rifing

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