of things was immediately transformed; the land was covered with towns and villages, encompassed with fields of corn and plantations of fruit-trees; and nothing was seen but heaps of grain and baskets of fruit, full tables and crowded storehouses. 46. The Same, continued. LABOR and his followers added almost every hour new acquisitions to their conquests, and saw Famine gradually dispossessed of his dominions; till, at last, amidst their jollity and triumphs, they were depressed and amazed by the approach of Lassitude, who was known by her sunken eyes and dejected countenance. She came forward trembling and groaning; at every groan the hearts of all those that beheld her lost their courage, their nerves slackened, their hands shook, and the instruments of labor fell from their grasp. Rest now took leave of the groves and valleys, which she had hitherto inhabited, and entered into palaces, reposed herself in alcoves, and slumbered away the winter upon beds of down, and the summer in artificial grottos, with cascades playing before her. There was indeed always something wanting to complete her felicity; and she could never lull her returning fugitives to that serenity which they knew before their engagements with Labor: nor was her dominion entirely without control; for she was obliged to share it with Luxury, though she always looked upon her as a false friend, by whom her influence was in reality destroyed, while it seemed to be promote The two soft associates, however, reigned for some time Alcove, a recess, or part of a room, separated by a partition of columns, or by other corresponding ornaments, in which is placed a bed of state, and sometimes seats for company; a recess in a library, in a garden, or in a grove. without visible disagreement, till at last Luxury betrayed her charge, and let in Disease, to seize upon her worshippers. Rest then flew away, and left the place to the usurpers, who employed all their arts to fortify themselves in their possession, and to strengthen the interest of each other. Thus Rest and Labor perceived their reign to be of short duration and uncertain tenure, and their empire liable to inroads from those who were alike enemies to both. They each found their subjects unfaithful, and ready to desert them upon every opportunity. Labor saw the riches which he had given always carried away as an offering to Rest, and Rest found her votaries in every exigence flying from her to beg help of Labor. They, therefore, at last determined upon an interview, in which they agreed to divide the world between them, and govern it alternately, allotting the dominion of the day to one, and that of the night to the other, and promised to guard the frontiers of each other; so that, whenever hostilities were attempted, Satiety should be intercepted by Labor, and Lassitude expelled by Rest. Thus the ancient quarrel was appeased. Rest, united to Labor, gave birth to Health, a benevolent goddess, who consolidated the union of her parents and contributed to the regular vicissitudes of their reign, by dispensing her gifts to those only who shared their lives in just proportions between Rest and Labor. JOHNSON 47. Death. O DEATH, with what an eye of desperate lust, Mankind! Ah, thou hadst been the terror long None could escape thee! In thy dungeon house, And all of horrible and deadly name, Thou satt'st, from age to age, insatiate, And drank the blood of men, and gorged their flesh The blood Of nations could not slake thy parchéd throat. For human prey. Gold, beauty, virtue, youth, To soften thy heart of stone. The infant's blood Each son of Adam's family beheld, With scythe, and dart, and strength invincible, He turned aside; he drowned himself in sleep, Read deep in science and philosophy, To fortify his soul; heard lectures prove Reserve of every promise, and the if Of all to-morrows! now, beyond thy vale, Stood all the ransomed multitude of men, Immortal all, and in their visions saw Thy visage grim no more. Great payment day! And life, not bought but with the blood of Him gnawed In thy unveiled caves, and solitudes And on thy maw eternal Hunger seized. Nor yet, sad monster, wast thou left alone. Unsatisfied, as men who, in the days POLLOK 48. The Bashful Man. I LABOR under a species of distress, which, I fear, will at length drive me utterly from that society in which I am most ambitious to appear. But I shall give you a short sketch of |