In brief, he became from an idiot and a clown, to be one of the most complete gentlemen in Cyprus, and did many valorous exploits all for the love of Mistress Iphigenia.

In a word, I may say this much of them all, let them be never so clownish, rude, and horrid, Grobians and sluts, if once they be in love, they will become most neat and spruce; they will follow the fashion, begin to trick up, and to have a good opinion of themselves: Venustatum enim mater Venus; a ship is not so long a rigging as a young gentlewoman a trimming up herself against her sweetheart comes.

A painter's shop, a flowery meadow, no so gracious an aspect in Nature's storehouse as a young maid, nubilis puella, a Novitsa or Venetian bride that looks for a husband, or a young man that is her suitor; composed looks, composed gaits, clothes, gestures, actions, all composed: all the graces, elegancies in the world are in their face. Their best robes, ribands, chains, jewels, lawns, linens, laces, spangles, must come on: præter quam res patitur, student elegantiæ; they are beyond all measure coy, nice, and too curious on a sudden. 'Tis all their study, all their business how to wear their clothes neat, to be polite and terse, and set themselves out. No sooner doth a young man see his sweetheart coming, but he smugs up himself, pulls up his cloak now fallen about his shoulders, ties his garter, points, sets his band and cuffs, slicks his hair, and twires his beard.

JOSEPH HALL.

JOSEPH HALL, Bishop of Norwich, sometimes called the "English Seneca," was born in A.D. 1574, died in 1656. The first extract is from his Contemplations, the second from his Occasional Meditations.

ELI AND HANNAH.

OLD Eli sits on a stool by one of the posts of the tabernacle. Where should the priests of God be but in the

temple, whether for action or for oversight? Their very presence keeps God's house in order, and the presence of God keeps their hearts in order.

It is oft found that those which are themselves conscionable, are too forward to the censuring of others. Good Eli, because he marks the lips of Hannah to move without sound, chides her as drunken, and uncharitably misconstrues her devotion. It was a weak ground whereon to build so heavy a sentence. If she had spoken too loud and incomposedly, he might have had some just colour for his conceit; but now to accuse her silence, notwithstanding all her tears which he saw, of drunkenness, it was a zealous breach of charity.

Some spirits would have been enraged with so rash a censure. When anger meets with grief, both turn into fury. But this good woman had been inured to reproaches, and besides did well see the reproof arose from misprision, and the misprision from zeal; and therefore answered meekly, as one that would rather satisfy than expostulate, "Nay, my lord, but I am a woman troubled in spirit."

If she had been in

Eli may learn charity of Hannah. that distemper whereof he accused her, his reproof would not have been so easily digested. For guiltiness is com

monly clamorous and impatient, whereas innocence is silent and careless of misreports.

It is natural to all men to wipe off from their name all aspersions of evil, but none do it with such violence as they that are faulty. It is a sign the horse is galled that stirs too much when he is touched. If Hannah had been tainted with this sin, she would have denied it with fervour, and have disclaimed it with an extenuation, "What if I should have been merry with wine, yet I might be devout; if I should have overjoyed in my sacrifice to God, one cup of excess had not been so heinous." But her freedom is seen in her severity. Those which have clear hearts from any sin prosecute it with rigour, whereas the guilty are ever partial; their conscience

holds their hands, and tells them that they beat themselves while they punish others.

Now Eli sees his error, and recants it; and to make amends for his rash censure, prays for her. When good natures have offended, they are unquiet till they have hastened satisfaction. This was within his office to pray for the distressed; wherefore serves the priest but to sacrifice for the people? And the best sacrifices are the prayers of faith.

She that began her devotions with fasting and heaviness, rises up from them with cheerfulness and repast. It cannot be spoken how much ease and joy the heart of man finds in having unloaded his cares, and poured out his supplications into the ear of God, since it is well assured that the suit which is faithfully asked is already granted in heaven. The conscience may well rest when it tells us that we have neglected no means of redressing our affliction; for then it may resolve to look either for amendment or patience.

The sacrifice is ended, and now Elkanah and his family rise up early to return unto Ramah; but they dare not set forward till they have worshipped before the Lord. That journey cannot hope to prosper which takes not God with it. The way to receive blessings at home is to be devout in the temple.

ON A GREAT LIBRARY.

WHAT a world of wit is here packed up together! I know not whether this sight doth more dismay or comfort me; it dismays me to think there is so much here which I cannot know; it comforts me to think this variety yields so good a help to know what I should.

There is no truer word than that of Solomon, "there is no end of making many books;" this sight verifies it; there is no end; indeed, it were pity there should; God hath given to man a busy soul, the agitation of which cannot but, through time and experience, work out many hidden truths; to suppress these would be no other than

injurious to mankind, whose minds, like unto so many candles, should be kindled by each other; the thoughts of our deliberation are most accurate; these we vent into our papers. What a happiness is it, that without all offence of necromancy, I may here call up any of the ancient worthies of learning, whether human or divine, and confer with him of all my doubts; that I can at pleasure summon whole synods of reverend fathers and acute doctors, from all the coasts of the earth, to give their well-studied judgments in all points of question which I propose. Neither can I cast my eye casually upon any of these silent masters, but I must learn somewhat; it is a wantonness to complain of choice. No law binds me to read them all; but the more we can take in and digest, the better liking must the mind needs be; blessed be God that hath set up so many clear lamps in his church.

Now, none but the wilfully blind can love darkness; and blessed be the memory of these his faithful servants, that have left their blood, their spirits, their lives, in these precious papers, and have willingly wasted themselves into these daring monuments to give light unto others.

OWEN FELTHAM,

OWEN FELTHAM, author of Resolves, Divine, Moral, and Political, born about A.D. 1610, died 1678.

DILIGENCE AND MODERATION.

THERE is no such prevalent workman as sedulity and diligence. A man would wonder at the mighty things which have been done by degrees and gentle augmenta tions.

Diligence and moderation are the best steps whereby to climb to any excellency. Nay, it is rare if there be

any other way. The heavens send not down their rain in floods, but by drops and heavy distillations. A man is neither good, nor wise, nor rich at once; yet, softly creeping up these hills, he shall every day better his prospect, till at last he gains the top. Now he learns a virtue, and then he condemns a vice.

An hour in a day may much profit a man in his study when he makes it stint and custom. Every year something laid up may in time make a stock great. Nay, if a man does but save, he shall increase; and though, when the grains are scattered, they be next to nothing, yet, together, they will swell the heap.

He that has the patience to attend small profits, may quickly grow to thrive and purchase; they be easier to acccomplish and come thicker. So he that from every thing collects somewhat, shall in time get a treasury of wisdom. And when all is done for man, this is the best way. It is for God and for Omnipotency to do mighty things in a moment; but degreeingly to grow to greatness, is the course that he hath left for man.

DETRACTION.

IN some dispositions there is an envious kind of pride, that they cannot endure that any but themselves should be set forth as excellent; so that when they hear one justly praised, they will either openly detract from his virtues, or if these virtues be like a clear and shining light, eminent and distinguished, so that he cannot be safely traduced by the tongue, they will then raise a suspicion against him by a mysterious silence, as if there were something remaining to be told which overclouded even his brightest glory.

Surely if we considered detraction to proceed as it does from envy, and to belong only to deficient minds, we should find that to applaud virtue would procure us far more honour than underhandedly seeking to disparage her. The former would show that we loved what we commended, while the latter tells the world that we grudge that in others which we want ourselves,