"in a very dangerous dilemma; fince the very "expedient, which is to protect me from vio"lence of one fort, expofes me to it under "another shape too odious to mention.". "And is there then," faid Mufidorus fighing, "is is there no human being in your thoughts in " whom you can confide? Alas for me! if you "believe you have no friend who is not tainted "with the impurities of his fex: And what is

friendship? what, but the union of fouls? "and are not fouls thus united already mar"ried? For my part, I have long regarded our

pure and spiritualized connection in this light, " and I cannot forefee how any outward cere<< mony is to alter that inherent delicacy of "fentiment, which is infeparable from my foul's

attachment to the foul of Sappho : If we are "determined to defpife the world, we should also "despise the constructions of the world: If re"tirement is our choice, and the life and "habits of Clemens are not to be the life and "habits of Sappho, why fhould Mufidorus, "who is ready to facrifice every thing in her "defence, not be thought incapable of abufing "her confidence, when he offers the protection "of his name? If a few words muttered over "us by a Scotch blacksmith will put all our "troubles to reft, why fhould we refort to c dangers

CC dangers and difficulties, when fo eafy a re"medy is before us?-But why fhould I seek "for arguments to allay your apprehenfions, "when you have in me fo natural a fecurity for

my performance of the stricteft ftipulations ?”

"And what is that fecurity?" fhe eagerly demanded. Mufidorus now drew back a few paces, and with the most folemn air and action, laying his hand upon his heart, replied, “My "age, madam !"-" That's true," cried Sappho; and now the conversation took a new turn, in the course of which they agreed upon their plan of proceeding, fettled their rendezvous for the next day, and Mufidorus departed to prepare all things neceffary for the security of their expedition.

No LXXXII,

N° LXXXII.

Tange Chloën femel arrogantem.

(HORAT.)

"O Cupid, touch this rebel heart!”

UPON

PON the day appointed, Sappho, with her father's confent, fet out in a hired poft-chaise upon a pretended visit to a relation, who lived about twenty miles from town on the northern road: At the inn where she was to change horfes, fhe difmiffed her London poftillion with a fhort note to her father, in which she told him fhe fhould write to him in two or three days time: Here she took post for the next stage upon the great road, where fhe was met by Mufidorus, and from thence they prefied forward with all poffible expedition towards Gretna Green.

The mind of Sappho was visited with some compunctions by the way; but the eloquence of her companion, and the respectful delicacy of his behaviour, foon reconciled her confcience to the step she had taken: The reflections which paffed in Mufidorus's breaft, were not so easily quieted: The anxiety of his thoughts, and the

fatigues

fatigues of the journey, brought fo violent an attack upon him, that when he was within a stage or two of his journey's end, he found himself unable to proceed; the gout had feized upon his ftomach, and immediate relief became neceffary: The romantic vifions, with which Sappho hitherto had indulged her imagination, now began to vanish, and a gloomy prospect opened upon her; in place of a comforter and companion by the way to footh her cares, and fill her mind with foft healing fentiments, fhe had a wretched object before her eyes, tormented with pain and at the point of death.

The houfe, in which fhe had taken fhelter, was of the meaneft fort, but the good people were humane and affiduous, and the village afforded a medical affiftant of no contemptible skill in his profeffion: There was another confolation attended her fituation, for in the fame inn was quartered a dragoon officer with a small recruiting party; this young cornet was of a good family, of an engaging perfon and very elegant address; his humanity was exerted not only in confoling Sappho, but in nurfing and cheering Mufidorus. These charitable offices were performed with such a natural benignity, that Sappho must have been moft infenfible if she could have overlooked them; her gentle heart on the VOL. III. contrary

Р

contrary overflowed with gratitude, and in the extremity of her diftrefs fhe freely confeffed to him, that but for his support she must have sunk outright. Though the extremity of Mufidorus's danger was now over, yet he was incapable of exertion; and Sappho, who was at leisure to reflect upon her fituation, began to waver in her refolution, and to put fome questions to herself, which reason could not readily answer. Her thoughts were fo diftracted and perplexed, that fhe faw no refource but to unburthen them, and throw herself upon the honour and difcretion of Lionel, for fo this young officer was called. This fhe had frequently in mind to do, and many opportunities offered themselves for it, but ·ftill her fenfibility of shame prevented it. The conftant apprehenfion of pursuit hung over her, and fometimes fhe meditated to go back to her father; in one of these moments she had begun to write a letter to Clemens to prepare him for "her return, when Lionel entered the room and informed her that he perceived fo vifible an amendment in Mufidorus, that he expected to congratulate her on his recovery in a very few days"and then, Madam," added he, “ my forrows "will begin where your's end; be it fo! if you are happy, I must not complain: I prefume "this gentleman is your father, or near rela"tion?"

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