"interrupted felicity which your virtues are fo "amply entitled to." Edmond had scarce ftrengh to urge his requeft; 'till Frederic foreseeing that the execution of his gloomy purpose might be prevented by the jealous vigilance of his friend, appeared by degrees to soften into compliance, and relieved his present anxiety by a momentary affectation of tranquillity. He was fcarce however retired to his chamber, when, having directed a small note to Edmond, he threw himself into a chaise, and arrived late in the evening in the Metropolis. Regardless of the objects around him, and folely enveloped in the contemplation of the scene he had just quitted, he threw himself on a bed in the Inn at which he alighted; and with partial dozes, which only ferved to render his fituation more horrible, he reflected on his miferies 'till morning. As foon as it was light, he determined to hire a lodging in fome obscure part of the town, where he might elude the prying generofity of his friend, and endeavour to protract a miferable existence, which an enthusiastic sense of religion alone prevented him from facrificing to his despair. For this purpose he fixed on a miferable garret, in those gloomy regions, at fight of which even adverfity recoils; here, with the af fiftance S 2 fistance of a few books which he had brought with him for the purpose, he endeavoured to beguile. that hollow mifery which continually preyed on his vitals. And that no neglect of religious duty might embitter his reflections, determined to apply himself to fome means of fupporting life. Still therefore cherishing the idea of independence. however wretched; he determined to enlist himself among a tribe of tranflators employed by an eminent bookseller; vainly hoping, that while he earned his miferable pittance, by a return of labour, the obligation would be confidered as mutual.. But he foon found that there is not fo abject a flave as a hireling fcribler, nor fo tyrannical a defpot, as an illiterate churl, who pays for learning and potatoes with the fame remorfelefs ftupidity. The imperious arrogance of this Bafhaw, and the grofs adulation, and vulgar merriment of his fellow fervants, was little fuited to the proud fenfibility of Frederic. He endured however the infults of the one and jefts of the others, 'till a fever, brought on by his continual agitation of spirits, actually deprived him of this means of earning a fubfiftence, and stretched him on his truckle bed anidst all the horrors of famine, indigence, difeafe, and defpair. In the mean time, Edmond, whofe violent affliction for the departure of his friend, had for fome time reduced his life to a precarious fituation; as soon as he found his health in fome, degree reestablished, determined to abandon a spot which only presented to his mind a gloomy recollection of the days that were gone, and to follow the fortunes of his friend. Having accordingly laid the circumftances before his father, he obtained a full permiffion to gratify his inclination. He repaired to London, as fuppofing Frederic would abfcond in fome obfcure fpot of a labyrinth in which he was moft likely to be effectually concealed. After a fortnight's fruitless fearch, when a fettled gloom had began to throw a damp on all his hopes of fuccefs, happening one day to enter the fhop of Frederic's late employer, he overheard the literary monarch enforcing his daily rebuke withfundry oaths and ejaculations; and among other particulars, bitterly complaining of the abfence of the pale difinal young man, who had lately enlifted in his fervice. This defcription immediately figured to his imagination, his dejected friend; tremblingly alive with this idea, he eagerly eagerly enquired his lodging, determining immediately to fatisfy the fearful curiofity which his late abfence had infpired. His first emotions a little fubfided, he refolved previously to apply for medical affiftance; that in cafe of any urgent neceffity, it might be at hand. For this purpose he vifited the late Dr., and it was by his advice, that he determined to spare his friend's weak and exhaufted fpirits the agitation of a fudden interview. It was not without confiderable emotion that Edmond entered a dreary hut, whofe very appearance was calculated to inspire mifery; it was from the Hag who owned this manfion, that he learned, that her lodger had for fone time kept his bed; and was fo reduced, by three days al'most total abstinence, as to be frequently deprived of understanding. Shocked as he was at this information, he faw the propriety of the Physician's advice fufficiently, to take his ftand at the door of the apartment, in order to watch the most favourable opportunity for an interview. Frederic's ftrength had been that evening fo far exhaulted by a preceding delirium as to afford him for a fhort time the wretched poffeffion of his faculties. He was kneeling, with great apparent agony, before a bible, and grafping with a convulfive gripe the foot of his bed, as if by the exertion of his nerves, to awaken his fainting foul from the torpor which feemed to be gathering on it at every interval of impaffioned phrenzy There is in folitary mifery, a comfortless horror in brooding over misfortunes, which far exceeds even the cutting pangs we feel when those we love are involved in our calamities. In the latter fituation we have a pleasing object to rest the external fenfe on; and the very gratification of our feelings on fuch an occafion, transfufes a tranquil luxury over our forrows; in the former, all is dark and comfortlefs, and a gnawing horror perpetually fuggefts ideas, which the gangrened imagination, while it trembles to nourish, is unable to refift the indulgence of. Such was the fituation of Frederic, when the recollection of the paft, the horror of the prefent, and the profpect of the future, drew from the bottom of his foul, "Oh! that I had the wings of a dove, then would "I fly away and be at reft." Edmond could at this ejaculation no longer contain himself, but rushing into the room, and hanging over his fainting |