of slime and mud; for so Apollo begged of Jupiter, as a punishment to those who durst attempt to taste it with unhallowed lips, and for a lession to all not to draw too deep, or far from the spring.

At the fountain-head, W-tt-n discerned two heroes. The one he could not distinguish; but the other was soon known for Temple, general of the allies to the Ancient. His back was turned, and he was employed in drinking large draughts in his helmet, from the fountain where he had withdrawn himself to rest from the toils of war. W-tt-n, observing him with quaking knees and trembling hands, spoke thus to himself. 'Oh, that I could kill this destroyer of our army! What renown should I purchase among the chiefs? But to issue out against him, man for man, shield against shield, and lance against lance,* what Modern of us dare? For he fights like a god; and Pallas or Apollo are ever at his elbow. But oh, mother! if what Fame reports be true, that I am the son of so great a goddess, grant me to hit Temple with this lance, that the stroke may send him to hell, and that I may return in safety and triumph, laden with his spoils.' The first part of his prayer the gods granted, at the intercession of his mother, and of Momus; but the rest, by a preverse wind, sent from fate, was scattered in the air. Then W-tt-n grasped his lance, and brandishing it thrice over his head, darted it with all his might; the goddess, his mother, at the same time, adding strength to his arm. Away the lance went hissing, and reached even to the belt of the adverted Ancient; upon which, lightly grazing, it fell to the ground. Temple neither felt the weapon touch him, nor heard it fall. And W-tt-n might have escaped to his army, with the honour of having emitted his lance against so great a leader, unrevenged, but Apollo, enraged, that a javelin, flung by the assistance of so

[* Vide, Homer.]

foul a goddess, should pollute his fountain, put on the shape of and softly came to young Boyle, who then accompanied Temple. He pointed first to the lance, then to the distant Modern that flung it, and commanded the young hero to take immediate revenge. Boyle, clad in a suit of armour which had been given him by all the gods,* immediately advanced against the trembling foe, who now fled before him, As a young lion in the Libyan plains, or Arabian Desert, sent by his aged sire to hunt for prey, or health, or exercise; he scours along, wishing to meet some tiger from the mountains, or a furious boar; if chance a wild ass, with brayings importune, affronts his ear, the generous beast, though loathing to distain his claws with blood so vile, yet much provoked at the offensive noise; which Echo, foolish nymph, like her ill-judging sex, repeats much louder, and with more delight than Philomela's song; he vindicates the honour of the forest, and hunts the long-eared animal; so W-tt-n fled, so Boyle pursued. But W-tt-n heavy-armed, and slow of foot, began to slack his course; when his loved B-ntl-y appeared, returning laden with the spoils of the two sleeping Ancients. Boyle observed him well; and soon discovering the helmet and shield of Phalaris, his friend, both which he had lately with his own hands new polished and gilded; rage sparkled in his eyes; and leaving his pursuit after W-tt-n, 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 spinning; † if chance her geese be scattered over the common, she courses round the plain from side to side, compelling here and there

*Boyle was assisted in this dispute by Dean Aldrich, Doctor Atterbury, afterwards Bishop of Rochester and other persons at Oxford celebrated for their genius and learning, then called the Church wits.

+ This is also after the manner of Homer; the woman's getting a painful livellhood by spinning has nothing to do with the similitude, nor would it be excusable without such an authority.

the stragglers to the flock; they cackle loud, and flutter o'er the champion: so Boyle pursued, so fled this pair of friends. Finding at length their flight was vain, they bravely joined, and drew themselves in phalanx. First, B-ntl-y threw a spear with all his force, hoping to pierce the enemy's breast. But · Pallas came unseen, and in the air took off the point, and clapped on one of lead, which after a dead bang against the enemy's shield, fell blunted to the ground. Then Boyle, observing well his time, took a lance, of wondrous length and sharpness; and as this pair of friends compacted stood close side to side, he wheeled him to the right, and with unusual force darted the weapon. B-ntl-y saw his fate approach; and flanking down his arms close to his ribs, hoping to save his body; in went the point, passing through his arm and side: nor stopped or spent its force, till it had also pierced the valiant W-tt-n; who, going to sustain his dying friend, shared his fate. As when a skillful cook has trussed a brace of woodcocks, he, with iron skewer, pierces the tender sides of both their legs and wings close pinioned to their ribs ; so were this pair of friends transfixed, till down they fell, joined in their lives, joined in their deaths; so closely joined, that Charon would mistake them both for one, and waft them over Styx for half his fare. Farewell beloved, loving pair; few equals have you left behind: and happy and immortal shall you be, if all my wit and eloquence can make you so.

And now,

*

*

*

Desunt Cætera

AN

ESSAY ON MODERN EDUCATION.

FROM frequently reflecting upon the course and method of educating youth in this and a neighbouring kingdom, with the general success and consequence thereof, I am come to this determination-that education is always the worse, in proportion to the wealth and grandeur of the parents; nor do I doubt in the least, that if the whole world were now under the dominion of one monarch, (provided I might be allowed to choose where he should fix the seat of his empire,) the only son and heir of that monarch would be the worst educated mortal that ever was born since the creation; and I doubt the same proportion will hold through all degrees and titles, from an emperor downward to the common gentry.

I do not say that this has been always the case; for, in better times, it was directly otherwise, and a scholar may fill half his Greek and Roman shelves with authors of the noblest birth, as well as highest virtue: nor do I tax all nations at present with this defect, for I know there are some to be excepted, and particularly Scotland, under all the disadvantages of its climate and soil, if that happiness be not rather owing