Animula vagula, blandula, Alas, my Soul! thou pleafing Companion of this Body, thou fleeting thing that art now deferting it! whither art thou flying? To what unknown Region? Thou art all trembling, fearful, and penfive. Now what is become of thy former Wit and Humour? Thou shalt jeft and be gay no more. I confefs I cannot apprehend where lies the trifling in all this, 'tis the most natural and obvious Refie'ction imaginable to a dying Man: and if we confider the Emperor was a Heathen, that Doubt concerning the future Fate of his Soul will feem fo far from being the Effect of want of Thought, that 'twas fcarce reafonable he should think otherwife; not to mention that here is a plain Confeffion included of his Belief in its Immortality. The diminutive Epithets of Vagula, Blandula, and the rest, apC pear not to me as Expreffions of Levity, but rather of Endearment and 'Concern; Concern; fuch as we find in Catullus, and the Authors of Hendeca-fyllabi after him, where they are used to exprefs the utmoft Love and Tenderness for their Miftreffes If you think me right in my Notion of the last 'Words of Adrian, be pleased to in'fert this in the Spectator; if not, to ' fuppress it. I am, &c. To the fuppofed Author of the IN Courts licentious, and a shameless Stage, How long the War fall Wit with Virtue wage? Enchanted by this prostituted Fair, Our Youth run headlong in the fatal Snare; THY Spotless Thoughts unshock'd the Priest may hear, And the pure Vestal in her Bofom wear. Nor harsh thy Precepts, but infused by stealth, Thy Thy Works in Chloe's Toilet gain a part, THE brainless Stripling, who, expell'd to Damn'd the ftiff College and pedantick Gown, From Pert to Stupid finks fupinely down, SUCH Readers fcorn'd, thou wing'ft thy da ring Flight Above the Stars, and tread'ft the Fields of Light; Fame, Heav'n and Hell, are thy exalted Theme, And Vifions fuch as Jove himself might dream, Man funk to Slav'ry, tho' to Glory born, Heav'ns Pride when upright, and deprav'd his Scorn. SUCH Hints alone could British Virgil lend, So flufh'd with Sweets, by Beauty's Queen be- With more than mortal Charms Æneas glow'd. PERMIT thefe Lines by thee to live- A Mufe that pants and languishes for Fame; Loft in the Mafs of mean forgotten things. The Praife of Virgins in fucceeding times; But ftand protected, as infpir'd by thee, SO fome weak Shoot, which elfe would poorly Jove's Tree adopts, and lifts him to the Skies; Thro Thro' the new Pupil foft'ring Juices flow, Thruft forth the Gems, and give the Flow'rs to blow Aloft; immortal reigns the Plant unknown, With borrow'd Life, and Vigour not his own. י, C To the SPECTATOR-GENERAL. Mr. John Sly humbly fheweth, THAT upon reading the Deputation given to the faid Mr. John Sly, all Perfons paffing by his Obfervatory behaved themfelves with the fame Decorum, as if your Honour your felf had been prefent. THAT your faid Officer is preparing, according to your Honour's fecret Inftructions, Hats for the feveral kinds of Heads that make figures in the Realms of Great Britain, with 'Cocks fignificant of their Powers and • Faculties. THAT your faid Officer has taken due notice of your Inftructions and Admonitions concerning the Internals of the Head from the out'ward Form of the fame. His Hats for Men of the Faculties of Law and Phyfick do but juft turn up, to give a little Life to their Sagacity; his mili |