'If then,' rejoin'd Sophia, ' tales like these Ought never to attract a female's eye,

Tell me, good Sir, for I have long'd to ask,

What shall we read ?'

'What read, my child?' said he,

Read thy Creator in his word and works.
Follow Philosophy, and hear her speak

Of other peopled worlds, and other suns
Enlight'ning worlds unheard of. See her draw
The ample circle, and describe the laws
Of this our little universe, which lies

Within the ken of our assisted eye.

Be with her when she turns the spotted globe,
And shews the cause of seasons, day and night,
In equal portions dealt to all mankind.

Attend her to the field, with studious eye
Closely examining whate'er she sees.

Hear her discourse of wisdom in the brute,
The fish, the fowl, the insect, plant and flow'r,
In ev'ry particle alive or dead,

From the cloud-cover'd mountain's highest peak

Down to the centre. Follow History,

And hear her justify the ways of God,
Requiting evil, and rewarding good,
And holding up to honour and esteem
The great example. Follow Poetry,
And mark her epic song and tragic act,
And only leave her when indecent mirth

Turns wit to madness. I could tell thee, child,
Would time permit, a thousand wholesome paths,
Where profit only with amusement dwells,

And where no danger lurks. Be such as Grey,
Or More's attentive daughter. From his lips
A family grew wise, and ev'ry ear

Drank pure instruction. Like a summer sun

On all about him his benignant ray

Shed happy influence, and ev'ry child,
Improv'd and cherish'd by the glowing beam,
Shone like a planet. Chiefly she the first,
The morning star, how exquisite her charms,
For ever near and dancing in his smiles,
And shining most the parent orb eclips'd.
Be such as Bacon's mother, skill'd to rear

Her infant prodigy; or such as she
The gallant Sidney's sister, learn'd and good,
Whose like ere death shall kill, expiring time
Shall throw a dart at him, and shut the grave.
Learn by what arts ingenious Packington
To lasting honour rose; how Masham won
Locke's just regard; how pious Norton's child
In early greatness died; how Astell shone
The glory of her age. Seek these, my child,
And let none go beyond thee. To excel
Be all thy wish at morning, noon, and night.
But shun the flow'ry path where no good dwells,
And guard thy virtue as a precious gem

Much envied and soon lost. Another time,

If yet the wood, the cottage, and the down Have charms to stay thee, Gilbert gone for ever,

I will instruct thee further. Live with me,

And be Maria's friend, and eat my bread,

And be my second daughter.'

'Thanks, good Sir,'

Sophia said, and in one modest look

Convey'd such gratitude as angels feel

In the great world above. And now again

Grief swell'd her heart, and tears ran down her cheek.

'Come,' said the careful father, 'weep no more.

Go to the cot, ere chilly ev'ning come,

And the damp wood affect thee. Where's my daughter?'

UNDER a poplar's shade that overhung

The noisy brook, upon a painted bench,

Maria sat and slept. But scarce her eyes

Had clos'd, when Ronsart, looking for his friend,

And angry to be left so long alone,

Came scowling to the spot. He saw the maid,

And stood a moment in amazement lost.

His anger ceas'd, aud pleasure in its stead
Sat on his brow exulting. So retreats
The morning cloud before the rising sun,
And day that louring wak'd forbears her frown,

And softens to a smile. Nearer the maid

He drew, enraptur'd with her charms. He gaz'd,

And all the villain came into his heart.

He long'd, and yet he fear'd to touch. For vice

Is ever aw'd at goodness, and begins

Her treach❜rous act with fear and doubt, asham'd

To see herself so base, and of her prey

Inly despairing, since no pow'r can force

Strong Heav'n, no strength withstand his fiery arm

Who fights for virtue. With a trembling hand
He stole the book and read-he drew away

And kiss'd her handkerchief, and touch'd her hand.

So plays the hungry tiger with his prey,

Whetting his appetite by long restraint.

She mov'd, and sigh'd. He throbb'd with expectation,

And ready stood to catch her in his arms
Soon as her eye-lids rose. She slept again.
He sat beside her, and with curious eye
Survey'd her, as he thought, all unobserv'd:
But close behind him, by a tree conceal'd,
Stood one in rustic habit clad, and watch'd
His guilty motions. To the brook he came,