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her hand, he faid, "This, awful GODDESS! this is the matchlefs woman "who converted me to reason and humanity. I have done nothing to merit your notice only bestow upon my beloved companion fome récompence proportioned to her deferts." He turned to her with unutterable admiration. Her regards were fixed upon the ground; and fhe obferved a modeft filence, more expreffive than the livelieft eloquence.

VIRTUE from her throne furveyed them both with fingular fatisfaction, and ordered Hymen to bring forth from her treasury two garlands of ivy, which fhe herself wreathed about their heads, while fhe thus addreffed them. "Bleffed pair! I crown

you with these as memorials of my

complacence, and of the conquests that <each of you has gained. Remain eter*nal monuments of the joys that spring from a chafte and rational affection; and witness to a degenerate age, how

far thefe endearments of the heart fur"pafs the warmeft tranfports of lawless paffion."

She then commanded Chastity, Meeknefs, Fidelity, and Chearfulness, in company with the Graces, to conduct them into the hymeneal chamber near the altar.

14 Next in order came a grave matronlike lady on the decline of life: but no wrinkles had yet deformed her face; and by many agreeable traces, which she ftill retained, I could perceive fhe had once ftood in the foremoft rank of beauty. Her looks bespoke a mixture of fentiment and fimplicity; and her air was of that kind which is at once elevated and engaging. It appeared, That having been heiress to an ample fortune, and poffeffed of many advantages both of mind and perfon, fhe had nevertheless maintained fuch a moderation of spirit as gave real dignity, to the first, and added new allurement to the

latter: That, though her train was foon fwelled with a croud of admirers, fome of whom were of the firft diftinction, and addreffed her in due form, fhe had never been vain of paft, nor ambitious of future conquefts: That fhe had made use of her affluence, and other advantages, only to relieve the poor, to patronize the deferving, and protect the modeft against

the oppreffor's wrongs, the proud man's contumely, and the infolence of office :" That having rejected the baits of grandeur offered her by her interefted fuitors, who confidered marriage merely as a bargain, and those of gallantry prefented her by gay ones, who regarded it as the aft refuge of a ruined eftate, fhe had made choice of a plain man, without rank, youth, or beauty, and of a very moderate income, but of admirable fenfe and uncommon worth; with whom she - removed into the country, preferring his company, and that of a few fele&t friends, anidft the ftill delights of retirement, to

the tumultuous diverfions of the town, and the tirefome parade of a court.

The GODDESS, with an afpect of hight approbation, thus confirmed fo honour able a teftimony: "Exalted creature! I "have long beheld with more than ordi"nary esteem thy difcreet referve, thy

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equanimity, and generous ufe of "power and opulence. Thefe have found, "their juft reward in one of the beft "men. Be thou a lafting model to thy ❝fex, of unambitious, but noble con"duct: teach them to facrifice the ❝ tranfient glare of wealth, and hollow "pageantry of greatness, to the folid "and unfading fweets of friendship, "freedom, and felf-enjoyment."

Then VIRTUE taking from her own hand a ring of inestimable value, on which were cyphered the names of Wisdom and Love, put it upon the finger of the votarefs.. She was afterwards conducted, by three

attendants of the GODDESS, Generofity, Decency, and Joy, to her husband, who, from a corner of the Temple, had witneffed with rapture the honours paid to the admired author and partner of his happiness.

The fucceeding votary appeared to be a man paft the boisterous season of youth, but not yet fully arrived at his prime. He had a mafculine and animated look, mixed with something thoughtful; which feemed to intimate, that he had endured confiderable hardships, but spoke at the fame time a mind unbroken and fuperior. Of him it was recorded, That, though born to a plentiful eftate, he had found it much impaired by the extravagance of his father, and the injustice of his guardians: That the remainder he had employed in giving himself a liberal education: That he had wifely appeased, or resolutely fupported, fome ftrong animofities which he had incurred