WINTER. A POEM. 3 STE TERN Winter fhews his hoary form, The plains beneath the ruthless ftorm The streams are bound in icy chains, And while this folemn feafon reigns, The rural walks, and shady bowers, And tedious lag the lingering hours, The gardens yield a fainting blaze, And Phoebus darts oblique his rays, Tho' Nature feems to make a pause, Unseen to man by fecret laws, Prepares the future crop. But But bleft with Phoebe's lovely smile, While fancy wafts me to that ifle, For fhe's the fun of all my bliss, She often bids her Jemmy think, Then fummer's beauties will return, And bloom afresh in spring; What reason then has man to mourn? ANECDOTE OF SIR ISAAC NEWTON. THE and HE following anecdote of Sir Ifaac Newton. fhews an amiable fimplicity in that great man, proves his inattention to worldly affairs. One One of his philofophical friends abroad had fent him a curious prism, which was taken to the Customhoufe, and was at that time a scarce commodity in this kingdom. Sir Ifaac, laying claim to it, was afked by the officers what the value of the glass was, that they might accordingly regulate the duty. The great Newton, whofe bufinefs was more with the universe, than with duties and draw-backs, and who rated the prifm according to his own idea of its ufe and excellence, answered, "That the value was fo "great, he could not afcertain it." Being again preffed to fet fome fixed estimate upon it, he perfifted in his reply, "that he could not fay what was "its worth, for that the value was ineftimable." The honest Custom-houfe officers accordingly took him at his word, and made him pay a most exorbitant duty for the prifm, which he might have taken away, upon only paying a rate according to the weight of the glass. ANECDOTE OF SHENSTONE. T HE late Mr. Shenstone was one day walking through his romantic retreats, in company with his Delia: (her real name was Wilmot:) they were going towards the bower which he made facred to the afhes of Thomson. "Would to heaven,” faid he pointing to the trees, " that Delia could be happy in the midst of these ruftic avenues!” He would have gone on, but was interrupted. A perfon rushed out of a thicket, and, presenting a pistol to his breaft, demanded his money. Shenftone was furprised, and Delia fainted. "Money," fays he, "is not worth struggling for: you cannot be poorer " than I am. Unhappy man!" fays he, throwing him his purse, " take it, and fly as quick as poffible." The man did fo. He threw his pistol into the water, and in a moment disappeared. Shenstone ordered the foot-boy, who followed behind them, to pursue the robber at a distance, and observe whither he went. In two hours time the boy returned and informed his master, that he followed him to HalesOwen, where he lived; that he went to the very door of his houfe, and peeped through the key-hole; that, as foon as the man entered, he threw the purfe . on on the ground, and addreffing himself to his wife, Take,' fays he, the dear-bought price of my ⚫ honefty:' then taking two each knee, he said to them, of his children, one on I have ruined my foul ⚫ to keep you from starving;' and immediately burst into a flood of tears. This tale of diftress greatly affected Shentone. He inquired after the man's character, and found that he was a labourer, honest and induftrious; but oppreffed by want and a numerous family. He went to his houfe, where the man kneeled down at his feet, and implored mercy. Shenstone carried him home, to affift at the buildings and other improvements, which made himself fo poor; and when Shenstone died, this labourer bedewed his grave with true tears of gratitude. ANECDOTE OF ACHILLES HARLAY, FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE PARLIAMENT OF PARIS. HE remained ever faithful to his fovereign. At the celebrated day of the Barricades in 1588, the Duke of Guise wished to attach him to his party. Harlay |