in its Commendation than only this, that now be fhould begin to live fomething like a Man.

This Behaviour favours more of the exorbitant Extravagances of a Nero, than the due Greatnefs of an Emperor; more of an effeminate and cruel Tyrant, than a truly great Monarch; and as there is nothing in it worthy Imitation (confidering this prodigious Expence was fupported and fupplied by Extortions, Confifcations, and the very Blood of his People) fo I make mention of it for no other Reafon, than to render his Memory more defpicable and odious.

We feldom read in Hiftory of any Structure, which raifes our Admiration more (tho' there are many Buildings more Magnificent and Lofty) than the Terrafs, which Ackmet built in that part of the Seraglio, which borders upon the Sea, for the Diverfion and Satisfaction of his Sultaneffes: it was eight hundred Foot long, and one hundred wide, but that which ftill enhances the Grandeur of it is, the Shortness of Time it was built in; it was finifhed in the Space of three Months; the Bafbaws being conftantly on the Spot to haften the Workmen employ'd in carrying and fetting in order the Sand and Stones; and the Vizier himself, distributed daily amongst them vastSums of Money to encourage them, and brought thither a great many Muficians, the tuneful Notes and pleafing Harmony of whofe Mufick, render'd their Labour lefs painful and more agreeable. According to that of Ovid, Studio fallente Laborem.

I am not of Opinion, that such strong folid Fa. bricks, as have out-lafted fo many Ages, are the greatest Demonstration of a Prince's Power. The glorious Ruins of thofe Walls Semiramis raised about the City of Babylon, nor those Pyramids of the Kings of Egypt, which still arrogantly lift up

their proud and lofty Heads near Memphis, do not come up to the Magnificence of the Kings of the laft Ages in their Buildings; tho' the Statelinefs andPomp of them disappear'd in a very fhort Time: And indeed thofe Palaces which feem fo wonderful by their Contrivance,tho' they are of no longer Continuance than is requifite for anEntertainment, or the Reception of a Prince, or the Interview of two great Monarchs, render the Noblenefs of a Prince more confpicuous.

For Inftances of this Nature we need look no further back than the Reign of Henry the Eighth of England, where we may find an Account; after a what fumptuous Manner he entertain'd Francis the First of France at Guines. He had a new Palace built on Purpose, and most richly furnished, the outfide being a Square of Timber, every Side containing Three Hundred and Twenty Eight Foot, the Parts of which extraordinary Building, being artificially framed in England, were now put together, and afterwards taken afunder and brought Home.

Sometime after the Emperor, Charles the Fifth, receiving the fame Francis the First at Graveling, ufed his utmoft Endeavours to appear with all the Magnificence becoming his exalted Dignity and Character; his House of Entertainment was built in the Form of an Amphi-theatre, Eight or Nine Hundred Foot in Circumference, the whole wonderfully contrived, it being built only with painted Boards, which had a Connexion with a Pillar placed in theMiddle, which confifted of Eight large Mafts clofely bound together. The vaulted Roof, which was painted fo as to resemble the Firmament,had this extraordinary,that it contain'd Water-Organs, and feveral other Mufical Inftru

ments.

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On the other fide, Francis the First, who in Magnificence would not be Out-done by either of them, when he was in his Turn to entertain Henry the Eighth, erected about two Miles from Arares, one Pavilion only, but of a prodigious Length and Breadth, cover'd with blue Velvet, all cover'd and embroider'd with Golden Flower. de-luces; there were at each Corner, Four other Pavilions, cover'd with the fame Cloth, and the whole fasten'd with Silk and Golden Laces: But as it was the Work of one Night only, a boisterous Wind happening to arife, fwept all away in an Inftant; and the flender Concern the King expreffed at fuch a Lofs, made his Magnanimity ftill more confpicuous. The Court was at that Time fo fplendid, and the Gentlemen fo richly Cloth'd, that the Place was call'd, the Field of Cloth of Gold.

It would be endless to go about to describe the Magnificence of the Palaces belonging to the feveral Princes of Europe; Words cannot equal, much lefs exceed their feveral Beauties and Magnificence. 'Tis true, Madrid and its Efcurial, are most excellently Fine; but it must also be confefs'd, that, which is molt rare and beautiful in them, was brought from France; when after the Battle of St. Quintin, Philip the Second had an Opportunity of carrying-off with him, whatever he could meet with most curious and rich. The great Duke of Tuscany's Cabinet may well be reckon'd amongst the most remarkable Curiofities, the whole being compofed with fine Stones of Mofaick. Work, and inlaid in fuch a Manner that, without the Help of any Pencil, Enamel, or Colours, there are reprefented, Birds, Flowers, and all forts of Beasts, with an agreeable Medley: One might also put upon the fame Level, the Palace of the Duke of Mantua

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Mantua, and of St. Mark in Venice: But none can cope, in Symmetry and Architecture, with the Louvre at Paris, which might, were its first Draught finish'd, ferve as a Pattern to all that can be undertaken of that Kind. In England the Castle of Windfor excels, for its pleafant Situation, and yields a most rare Profpect; neither are there many finer Buildings than Hampton-Court, and Kensington. Ali

That Jefts too often end in Earnest; or the Danger of Mobbing.

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WO Colts on a Time were plac'd together in a Meadow, both having an equal Propenfity to frisk and wanton on its flourishing Verdure; but on a Day more particular, the One, being more than ufually difpos'd for Oftentation, and elevated with the Pride of Flesh and Mettle, came up and thus addrefs'd the Other: Brother, methinks, I feel fomething within me, which Jeems to roufe up my tardy Force, and animate me with fresh Warmth and Vigour. Could you but once find a like Impulse on your languishing Spirits, and be excited with equal Ardour, certainly we might rout a whole Army, The Other, being of no cool Conftitution, and thinking himself infpir'd with no lefs generous Fire, made this reply: Let us then exercife our Faculties, and explore the utmost of our Strength and Skill; upon which he gave him a Stroke with his Tail over the Head; the other gratefully made him a Return of his Complement, little imagining that this was only a Prelude to a rougher Exercife: And thus they continued Fooling, till at last one of them, tho' in Jeft and by Accident, hit the other in the Eye with his long dangling Tail, the Smart of which fo much fomented his growing Paffion, and blew it up into fo high a Flame, that he gave the Other a good lufty Kick; upon which they_both_turn'd Tail, and gave one another fuch Lashes, that he, by whofe Means the Joke commenc'd, but terminated

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