foolish nymph, like her ill-judging fex, repeats much louder and with more delight than Philomela's fong; he vindicates the honour of the foreft, and hunts the noify long-ear'd animal. So Wotton fled, fo Boyle purfued. But Wotton heavy-armed, and flow of foot, began to flack his courfe; when his lover Bentley appeared, returning laden with the spoils of the two fleeping antients. Boyle obferved him well, and foon discovering the helmet and fhield of Phalaris, his friend, both which he had lately with his own hands new polished and gilt; rage fparkled in his eyes; and, leaving his purfuit after Wotton, he furiously rushed on against this new approacher. Fain would he be revenged on both; but both now fled different ways: and, as a woman in a little house, that gets a painful livelihood by fpinning; if chance her geefe be fcattered o'er the common, fhe courfes round the plain from fide to fide, compelling here and there the fragglers to the flock; they cackle loud, and flutter o'er the champain. So Boyle · purfued, fo fled this pair of friends: finding at length their flight was vain, they bravely joined and drew. themfelves in phalanx. First Bentley threw a fpear with all his force, hoping to pierce the enemy's breaft: but Pallas came unfeen, and in the air took off the point, and clapped on one of lead, which, after a dead bang against the enemy's fhield, fell blunted to the ground. Then Boyle, obferving well his time, took up a lance of wonderous length and sharpness; and, as this pair of friends compacted stood clofe fide to fide, he wheeled him to the right, and, with unufual force, darted the weapon. Bentley faw his fate approach, and, flanking down his arms close to his ribs, hoping to fave his body, in went the point, paffing through arm and fide, nor flopped, or fpent its force, till it had alfo pierced the valiant Wotton, who, going to fuftain his dying

This is also after the manner of Homer; the woman's getting a painful livelihood by fpinning, has nothing to do with the

fimilitude, nor would be excu→ fable without fuch an autho- .

rity.

Vid. Homer.

friend,

friend, fhared his fate. As when a fkilful cook has truffed a brace of woodcocks, he, with iron fkewer, pierces the tender fides of both, their legs and wings clofe pinioned to their ribs: fo was this pair of friends tranffixed till down they fell, joined in their lives, joined in their deaths; fo closely joined, that Charon would miftake them both for one, and waft them over Styx for half his fare. Farewel, beloved, loving pair; few equals have you left behind: and happy and immortal fhall you be, if all my wit and eloquence can make

you.

And now

Defunt cætera.

FINIS.

S2

A

DISCOURSE

CONCERNING THE

MECHANICAL OPERATION

OF THE

SPIRIT.

IN A

LETTER to a FRIEND.

FRAGMENT.

$ 3

THEO

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THE following difcourfe came into my hands perfect and intire: but there being feveral things in it, which the prefent age would not very well bear, I kept it by me fome years, refolving it should never fee the light. At length, by the advice and affifiance of a judicious friend, I retrenched those parts that might give moft offence, and have now ventured to publifh the remainder. Concerning the author I am wholly ignorant; neither can I conjecture, whether it be the fame with that of the two foregoing pieces, the original having been fent me at a different time, and in a different hand. The learned reader will better determine, to whofe judgment intirely fubmit it.

A DIS