of Countrie Sports, etc. to which the youngest listened greedilie: and at length I was advised to ask them woulde they not like to see Forest Hill? to which the elder replyed in his most methodicall Manner, "If Mr. Powell has a good 66 Library." For this Piece of Hypocrisie, at which I heartilie laught, he was commended by his Uncle. Hypocrisie it was, for Master Ned cryeth over his Taskes pretty nearlie as oft as the youngest. Friday. O rewarde my zealous Practice to-day on the Spinnette, Mr. Milton produced a Collection of "Ayres, and 66 Dialogues, for one, two, "and three Voices," by his Friend Mr. Harry Lawes, which he sayd I shoulde find very pleasant Studdy; and then he told me alle about theire getting up the Masque of Comus in Ludlow Castle, and how well the Lady's Song was sung by Mr. F Mr. Lawes' Pupil, the Lady Alice, then a sweet, modest Girl, onlie thirteen Yeares of Age, and he told me of the Singing of a faire Italian young Signora, named Leonora Barroni, with her Mother and Sister, whome he had hearde at Rome, at the Concerts of Cardinal Barberini; and how she was "as gentle and modest as "sweet Moll," yet not afrayd to open her Mouth, and pronounce everie Syllable distinctlie, and with the proper Emphasis and Passion when she sang. And after this, to my greate Contentment, he tooke me to the Gray's Inn Walks, where, the Afternoon being fine, was much Companie. After Supper, I proposed to the Boys that we shoulde tell Stories; and Mr. Milton tolde one charminglie, but then went away to write a Latin Letter. Soe Ned's Turn came next; and I must, if I can, for very Mirthe's Sake, write it down in his exact Words, they were soe pragmaticall. "On a Daye, there was a certain Child "wandered "wandered forthe, that would play. He 66 66 met a Bee, and sayd, 'Bee, wilt thou play with me?' The Bee sayd, 'No, "I have my Duties to perform, tho' you, "it woulde seeme, have none. I must away to make Honey.' Then the Childe, "abasht, went to the Ant. He sayd, "Will you play with me, Ant?' The "Ant replied, 'Nay, I must provide against "the Winter.' In shorte, he found that "everie Bird, Beaste, and Insect he ac 66 66 66 costed, had a closer Eye to the Purpose of their Creation than himselfe. Then "he sayd, "I will then back, and con my Task.'-Moral. The Moral of the foregoing Fable, my deare Aunt, is this "We must love Work better than Play." 66 With alle my Interest for Children, how is it possible to take anie Interest in soe formall a little Prigge? Saturday. Saturday. HAVE just done somewhat for Master Ned which he coulde not doe for himselfe-viz. tenderly bound up his Hand, which he had badly cut. Wiping away some few naturall Tears, he must needs say, "I am quite ashamed, Aunt, you shoulde see me cry; but the worst of it is, that "alle this Payne has beene for noe good; whereas, when my Uncle beateth me "for misconstruing my Latin, tho' I cry "at the Time, all the while I know it is "for my Advantage."-If this Boy goes on preaching soe, I shall soon hate him. -Mr. Milton having stepped out before Supper, came back looking soe blythe, that I askt if he had hearde good News. He sayd, yes: that some Friends had long beene persuading him, against his Will, to make publick some of his Latin Poems; and that, having at length consented to theire Wishes, he had beene with Mosley the Publisher in St. Paul's Churchyard, who |