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than Philomela's fong; he vindicates the honour of the forest, 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 course; when his lover Bentley appeared, returning laden with the fpoils of the two fleeping ancients. Boyle obferved him well, and foon discovering the helmet and shield 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 pursuit after Wotton, he furiously rush'd 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 spinning; if chance her geefe be fcattered o'er the common, fhe courses round the plain from fide to fide, compelling here and there the stragglers to the flock; they cackle loud, and flutter o'er the champain. So Boyle pursued, fo fled this pair of friends: finding at length their flight was vain, they bravely join'd and drew themfelves in phalanx. First Bentley threw a fpear with all his force, hoping to pierce the enemy's breast: but Pallas came unfeen, and in the air took off the point, and clapp'd 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 wondrous length and sharpness;

*This is alfo after the manner of Homer: the woman's getting a painful livelihood by fpinning, has nothing to do with the fimilitude, nor would be excufeable without fuch an authority.

Vid. Homer.

and

and as this pair of friends compacted stood close fide to fide, he wheel'd 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 ftopp'd, or spent its force, till it had also pierced the valiant Wotton, who, going to fuftain his dying friend, fhared his fate. As when a skilful cook has trufs'd a brace of woodcocks, he, with iron fkewer, pierces the tender fides of both, their legs and wings clofe pinion'd to the ribs fo was this pair of friends transfix'd, till down they fell, join'd in their lives, join'd in their deaths; so closely join'd, that Charon would mistake them both for one, and waft them over ftyx for half his fare. Farewel, beloved, loving pair; few equals have you left behind: and happy and immortal shall you be, if all my wit and eloquence

T

THE

Bookfeller's Advertisement.

my

hands

HE following difcourfe came into perfect and intire: but there being several things in it, which the prefent age would not very well bear, I kept it by me fome years, refolving it fhould never fee the light. At length, by the advice and affistance of a judicious friend, I retrenched those parts that might give moft offence, and have now ventured to publish the remainder. cerning 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 I intirely fubmit it.

Con

A DIS

A

DISCOURSE

CONCERNING THE

MECHANICAL OPERATION

OF THE

SPIRIT.

For T. H. Esquire *, at his chambers in the academy of the Beaux Efprits in New-England.

SIR,

T is now a good while, fince I have had in my head fomething, not only very material, but abfolutely neceffary to my health, that the world fhould be informed in: for, to tell you a fecret, I am able to contain it no longer. However I have been perplexed for fome time to refolve, what would be the most proper form to fent it abroad in. To

⚫ Suppofed to be Col. Hunter, author of the Letter of Enthufiafm, mentioned in the apology for the Tale of a Tub.

This difcourfe is not altogether equal to the former, the best parts of it being omitted; whether the bookfeller's account be true, that he durft not print the reft, I know not; nor, indeed, is it easy to deter-mine, whether he may be relied on, in any thing he fays of this, or the former treatises, only as to the time they were writ in; which, however, appears more from the difcourfes themfelves, than his rela

tion.

R 2

which