"Give me some companion," says Sterne, "in my journey, be it only to remark to, how our shadows lengthen as the sun goes down; to whom I may say, how fresh is the face of nature! How sweet the flowers of the field! How delicious are these fruits!"
If either of these parties be versed in music, what a tide of innocent delight must it prove,---to soothe in adversity, to humanize in prosperity, to compose in noise, and to command serenity in every situation. If books have any charms for them, (and must they not be tasteless, if they have not) well might the poet of nature place them in company like this:
"An elegant sufficiency, content, "Retirement, rural quiet, friendship, books, "Ease, and alternate labour, useful life, "Progressive virtue, and approving heaven."
What a transition is it from what a Shakespear wrote, to what a Handel played! How charming a relaxation from the necessary avocations of business!----"Of business do you say?"---Yes; for I number this too, among the pleasures of the happily married. Let the lady find agreeable employment at home, in the domestic conomy of her household, but let the gentleman be pursuing by unremitted and honest industry, new comforts for her, for his children, and for himself.
Is there not some gratification too, in reflecting, that the blessings of the marriage state, are more secure and permanent than most others, which fall within the compa.s.s of human life?---it is the haven of a sea of gallantries, of turbulence, and fears. Other friendships are seen to fade, to languish, and to die, by removal of abode, by variance of interest, by injuries, or even by mistakes: but this is co-equal with life, the present existence has been called a state of trial, and of preparation for a better, marriage is the perfection of it, here our education is completed, all the sympathies and affections of the citizen, the parent, and the friend, have their fullest spheres a.s.signed them; and, doubtless, that pair, who in this engagement, are truly happy and irreproachable, must have so qualified themselves by a thousand instances of mutual affection and forbearance, for an improved state of manners and society, that they may be p.r.o.nounced to have reached the pinnacle of human felicity, from whence to Heaven, the transition will neither be difficult nor strange; for that is the _home_ to which the best improvements of social life are only framed to conduct us.---
"Evening comes at last, serene and mild, "When after the long vernal day of life, "Enamour"d more, as more remembrance swells, "With many a proof of recollected love; "Together down they sink in social sleep; "Together freed, their gentle spirits fly "To scenes where love and bliss immortal reign."
_NEW-YORK._
MARRIED,
On Sat.u.r.day evening last, by the Rev. Dr. Moore, Mr. JAMES HEWITT, to the very amiable and accomplished Miss ELIZA KING, daughter of the late Major King, of England.
Lo, the lovely blooming maid, Full in beauty"s grace array"d.
Softly treads to Hymen"s shrine, Radiant as the Ophirian mine.
Happiest youth, with haste away, Seize the blushing, dazzling prey; Loves and graces all unite, Charm with rapturous delight.
Bless, O bless, ye powers above, Each in others endless love; And when time dissolves the pair, Bliss eternal may they share!
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
? The beautiful lines of ALEXIS, on the Scottish Bard, are received, and shall appear in our next. We flatter ourselves CANDIDUS will not forget his promise to bring forward a series of Essays; we shall deem as a high favour, a continuation of his correspondence.
_THE AMARANTH._*
TO MARIA.
"Immortal Amaranth! a flow"r which once "In Paradise, fast by the tree of life, "Began to bloom; but soon, for man"s offence, "To Heav"n remov"d, where first it grew, there grows, "And flowers aloft, shading the fount of life; "And where the river of bliss, thro" midst of Heav"n, "Rolls o"er Elysian flow"rs her amber stream: "With these, that never fade, the spirits elect "Bind their resplendent locks, inwreath"d with beams."
MILTON"S PARADISE LOST.
Say, lovely fair! whene"er you rove, Along the flow"r-enamell"d vale, Or, careless tread the perfum"d grove Whose sweets impregnate ev"ry gale:
As then the varying scene you view, Does not instruction freely pour, From ev"ry shrub that tastes the dew, The treasures of his copious store?
Let these attract the mental eye, These prompt Maria"s thought profound To call the gems, which ambush"d lie In Nature"s vegetable round.
But then, as myriads confuse, And each the other"s sweets annoy, Wilt thou condemn the friendly muse Who aids thee in the great employ?
Who bids thee now neglect the rose, Which long has claim"d the moral lay, For the bright amaranth, that glows In regal purple ever gay--
Bright boasted flow"r, of boasted plains!
Whilst myriads around thee fade, Thy living l.u.s.tre still remains Untainted by, or sun, or shade!
The dappled pink, and lily pale, With ev"ry gaudy-tinted flow"r That decks the hill, or scents the dale, If gather"d, fade to bloom no more.
But thou, Elysian flow"r divine!
If sprinkled o"er with balmy dew, Again thy wonted colours shine, Again thy purple beams anew!
--Let this instructive flow"r, my fair, A grateful secret thus impart, How you may beauty"s charms repair, Unaided by cosmetic art.
When time (that worst of female foes) Has torn, with ruthless hand, away From beauty"s cheek the blushing rose, Which far outvies the blooms of May,
For orient, renovating dew, Which purples o"er this regal flow"r; Let mild good humour beam in you, Aided by virtues magic pow"r.
These, lasting beauties will create, These, give new l.u.s.tre to the eye; The cheeks bright bloom reanimate, And plant the rose that ne"er will die.
Thus, lovely maid, where"er you rove, "Cross verdant hill, or fragrant dale, Make the gay flowrets of the grove, More useful than to scent the gale.
[* "A flower of purple velvet colour, which, though gathered, keeps its beauty; and when all other flowers fade, recovers its l.u.s.tre by being sprinkled with a little water."
NOTES ON MILTON.]
VIRTUE AND ORNAMENT; AN ODE.
TO THE LADIES.
The diamond"s and the ruby"s rays Shine with a milder, finer flame, And more attract our love and praise Than Beauty"s self, if lost to fame.
But the sweet tear in Pity"s eye, Transcends the diamond"s brightest beams; And the soft blush of modesty More precious than the ruby seems.
The glowing gem, the sparkling stone, May strike the sight with quick surprise, But Truth and Innocence alone Can still engage the good and wise.
No glitt"ring ornament or show Will aught avail in grief or pain: Only from inward worth can flow Delight that ever shall remain.