and wear away, by degrees, the Memory of a Hero, and an Event, which ought to be facred to latest Posterity. Had he done the fame thing for fuch remote Nations as China, or Indoftan, which he did for the British Isles, his godlike Virtues would have entitled him to our Efteem and Admiration : much more then should they do so, when we ourselves enjoy the Benefits of them; and when the Fact is yet fo recent, that many among us can look back on the day of our Diftrefs, as well as of our Deliverance.

THE happy Influence this Society had on the publick Affairs, in a late time of danger, is an invincible Argument for the Revival and Continuance of it. The Spirit of Liberty never breathed more nobly in any Nation, than it did at that time in ours. Like InSpiration, it proved catching; and diffufing itself from the City to the Country, from thence was returned with new Warmth in the Reprefentative Body of the Nation, where it broke out into Refolutions, that would have become a Senate of antient Greeks or Romans, accompanied with all thofe Circumftances which render the Actions of fuch Great Affemblies illuftrious and awful. If then, a Ceremony of this fort can be so useful in difficult and critical Conjunctures, there can be no reafon for laying it aside before we are intirely rid of all Apprehenfions from the fame quarter, which, I am afraid, is not yet our Cafe. The Enemies

of our Constitution have neither quitted their Antipathy, nor their Attempts against it. We fee daily endeavours ufed to poison the Principles of the People, both as to Religion and Government. Parker's History of his Times, and Fiddes's Life of Cardinal Wolfey, are Inftances of this; which feem calculated with no other defign, than to raife Prejudices against the Principles of Liberty, and the Reformation, under the notion of facrilegious Encroachments on the Rights of the Crown, and the Church; which, according to them, ought to divide the Spoils, and difpofe of the Eftates and Confciences of Mankind at their pleasure. It is therefore the duty of those who are Friends to their Country, and the Laws of it, to use all innocent and legal Methods to animate the Zeal of the common People against all Maxims which tend to Slavery and Superftition, to diffeminate which amongst them we fee fo great Industry and Affectation. For which good Purpose I know no Course lefs exceptionable than the annual Commemoration of our former Deliverances, nor which gives fo great probability of Success.

I AM fenfible, that what I have faid on this Occafion will give a handle for taxing me with breaking a Rule I have laid down for my Conduct in thefe Papers, not to meddle with Party-Matters. To which I hall give a very fhort Anfwer; That I

cannot

cannot understand how expreffing an honest and fincere Attachment to the Laws of my Country can be called fiding with a Party. A Reflection of this fort, to fay the best of it we can, is very indecent. My Friend, Mr. Alogift, and I, have undergone a good deal of Cenfure already on this fcore; as if we had deferted our first Design, and refolved to turn Political Lecturers. I am confident, neither of us ever had this in our thoughts. But at the fame time, I believe, it is his Opinion, as well as mine, that expreffing our Zeal for the GOOD OLD CAUSE of Liberty, and the British Conftitution, can be no ways inconfiftent with an honest Intention of making our Labours chiefly fubfervient to the Interests of Reafon and Virtue; which is all I fhall say in vindication either of him, or my felf.

I am, SIR, yours, &c.

HIBERNICUS.

N° 88. Saturday, December 3, 1726.

To HIBERNICUS.

O fortunates nimium! fua fi bona norint. VIRGIL.

SIR,

I

SEND you the two following Tranflations from Horace, without any farther Preface or Apology, than pleading the Liberty you have fo often already given

me of the fame kind.

I am your very humble Servant,

MUSOPHILUS.

HORACE, Book I. Ode iv.

THE

HE Snows are fled; along the Plain
The Grafs its flow'ry Mantle Spreads ;

The Trees a comely Load fuftain,

And wave in Air their flowing Heads.

The Earth its gayeft Robes puts on;
The muddy Rivulets refine :

And filver'd with th' incumbent Sun,
The limpid Currents gayly shine.

The

The Graces feel th' indulgent Change,
And dance before the tuneful Swain;
Along the Valleys naked range,
And beautify the painted Plain.

My Lord, the fwift revolving Year,
The fleeting Seafons let us know,
There is no true Perfection here,
No lafting Happiness below.

The Winter Storms, when Spring returns,
To Zephyr's fofter Whispers yield;
Spring's gaudy Dress the Summer burns,
And loads with ripening Corn the Field.

With Apples crown'd, and yellow Sheaves,
Fair Ceres then begins her Reign :
But foon the Earth all naked leaves,
And doleful Winter comes again.

Tet Time thofe daily Waftes repairs;
The Stars again restore the Spring,
Produce new Seafons, and new Tears,
And move in an eternal Ring.

But more unhappy we become

Mere Shadows, and to Atoms fly,
Whene'er the Fates pronounce our Doom,
And cruel Pluto bids us die.

Who knows if Heav'n another Day
Will add to thofe already paft,

Or fnatch us inftantly away,

And make the prefent Gasp our last?

The