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did it, it is said, admirably well.—Another priest, whose name was Mr. John De Nicey, Curate of Metrange, personated Judas; and he had liked to have been stifled while he hung upon the tree, for his neck was dislocated: this being at length luckily perceived, he was quickly cut down, and recovered.

The following account of the representation of the crucifixion as given us by Mr. Whitfield, is

curious.

"In the church belonging to the convent of St. De Beato, at Lisbon, we had not," says Mr. W., "waited long, before the curtain was drawn up: immediately, upon a high scaffold, hung in the front with black baize, and behind with silk purple damask laced with gold, was exhibited to our view an image of the Lord Jesus at full length, crowned with thorns, and nailed on a cross between two figures of like dimensions, representing the two thieves. At a little distance, on the right hand, was placed an image of the Virgin Mary in plain long ruffles, and a kind of widow weeds. The veil was purple silk, and she had a wire glory round her head. At the foot of the cross lay, in a mournful pensive posture, a living man, dressed in woman's clothes, who personated Mary Magdalen ; and not far off stood a young man, in imitation of the beloved disciple. He was dressed in a loose green silk vesture, and bob-wig. His eyes were fixed on the cross, and his two hands a little extended. On each side, near the front of the stage, stood two sentinels in buff, with formidable caps and long beards; and directly in the

front stood another yet more formidable, with a large target in his hand: we may suppose him to be the Roman centurion. To complete the scene, from behind the purple hangings came out about twenty little purple-vested winged boys, two by two, each bearing a lighted wax taper in his hand, and a crimson and gold cap on his head. At their entrance upon the stage, they gently bowed their heads to the spectators, then kneeled, and made obeisance, first to the image on the cross, and then to that of the Virgin Mary. When risen, they bowed to each other, and then took their respective places over against one another, on steps assigned for them on the front of the stage. Opposite to this, at a few yards distance, stood a black friar in a pulpit hung in mourning. For a while he paused; and then, breaking silence, gradually lifted up his voice till it was extended to a pretty high pitch, though, I think, scarce high enough for so large an auditory. After he had proceeded in his discourse about a quarter of an hour, a confused noise was heard near the front great door; and, turning my head, I saw four long-bearded men, two of which carried a ladder on their shoulders; and after them followed two more with large gilt dishes in their hands, full of linen, spices, &c.: these, as I imagined, were the representatives of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. On a signal given from the pulpit, they advanced towards the steps of the scaffold; but, upon their first attempting to mount it, at the watchful centurion's nod, the observant soldiers made a pass at them, and presented the points of their javelins directly

to their breasts. They are repulsed. Upon this, a letter from Pilate is produced: the centurion reads it, shakes his head, and (with, looks that bespoke a forced compliance) beckons the sentinels to withdraw their arms. Leave being thus obtained, they ascend, and, having paid their homage by kneeling first to the image on the cross, and then to the Virgin Mary, they retired to the back of the stage. Still the preacher continued declaiming, or rather, as was said, explaining the mournful scene. Magdalen persists in wringing her hands, and variously expressing her personated sorrow; whilst John (seemingly regardless of all besides) stood gazing on the crucified figure. By this time it was near three o'clock, and therefore proper for the scene to begin to close. The ladders are ascended; the superscription and crown of thorns taken off; long white rollers put round the arms of the image; and then the nails knocked out which fastened the hands and feet. Here Mary Magdalen looks most languishing, and John, if possible stands more thunderstruck than before. The orator lifts up his voice, and almost all the hearers expressed concern, by weeping, beating their breasts, and smiting their cheeks. At length, the body is gently let down; Magdalen eyes it, and, gradually rising, receives the feet into her wide-spread handkerchief; whilst John (who hitherto had stood motionless, like a statue), as the body came nearer the ground, with an eagerness that bespoke the intense affection of a sympathising friend, runs towards the cross, seizes the upper part of it into his clasping arms,

and, with his disguised fellow mourner, helps to bear it away. Great preparations were made for its interment. It was wrapped in linen and spices, &c., and being laid upon a bier richly hung, was afterwards carried round the churchyard in grand procession. The image of the Virgin Mary was chief mourner; and John and Magdalen, with a whole troop of friars with wax tapers in their hands, followed after. Determined to see the whole, I waited its return, and, in about a quarter of an hour, the corpse was brought in, and deposited in an open sepulchre prepared for the purpose; but not before a priest, accompa nied by several of the same order, in splendid vestments, had perfumed it with incense, sung to and kneeled before it. John and Magdalen attended the obsequies; but the image of the Virgin Mary was carried away, and placed upon the front of the stage, in order to be kissed, adored, and worshipped by the people. This I saw them do with the utmost eagerness and reverence. And thus ended this Good Friday's tragi-comical, superstitious, idolatrous, droll. Surely, thought I, whilst attending on such a scene of mock devotion, if ever, now is the Lord Jesus crucified afresh and I could then, and even now, think of no other plea for the poor beguiled devotees, than that which suffering innocence put up himself for his enemies, when actually hanging upon the cross, viz. Father, forgive them for they know not what they do'.

It is said of William Esculquens, who was Capitoul of Toulouse, that, being in perfect health, he caused a solemn service to be held in

the church of the Dominicans in that city, at which were present the capitouls, his colleagues, with a great number of others who were invited. The service consisted in the representation of his own burial. He was laid at length in a coffin, having his hands joined and surrounded by forty lighted torches. The mass being ended, the incense was administered about the pretended corpse with the customary prayers. Nothing now remained but to put the body in the ground; but his zeal did not extend to that length. They proceeded, therefore to lay him behind the great altar; from whence he took himself away shortly after. Afterwards, having quitted his shroud, for resuming his gown of capitoul, he returned home, accompanied by his colleagues and the rest of the company, whom he kept to dine with him. What lengths will weakness and superstition carry men to!

POPULARITY.

THOUGH popularity, in some respects, is a desirable thing, yet it is not always a criterion of real ability; nor is it to be sought after with that avidity as if it were the foundation of happiness. It has been the occasion of ruin to many, and of distress to more. Those who have aimed at it have been generally left to disappointment and confusion.

When Phocion had made a speech which was applauded by the populace, he asked, "Have I not said some foolish thing?"

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