Beyond all this, we may find another reason why God hath scattered up and down several degrees of pleasure and pain, in all the things that environ and affect us, and blended them together in almost all that our thoughts and senses have to do with ; that we, finding imperfection, dissatisfaction, and want of complete happiness, in all the enjoyments which the creatures can afford us, might be led to seek it in the enjoyment of Him with whom there is fulness of joy, and at whose right hand are pleasures for ever more.' L No. 388. MONDAY, MAY 26, 1712. Tibi res antiquæ laudis et artis Ingredior, sanctos ausus recludere fontes. VIRG. GEORG. ii. 174. For thee I dare unlock the sacred spring, MR. SPECTATOR, "It is my custom, when I read your papers, to read over the quotations in the authors from whence you take them. As you mentioned a passage lately out of the second chapter of Solomon's Song, it occasioned my looking into it, and, upon reading it, I thought the ideas so exquisitely soft and tender, that I could not help making this paraphrase of it; which, now it is done, I can as little forbear sending to you. Some marks of your approbation which I have already received, have given me so sensible a taste of them, that I cannot forbear endeavouring after them as often as I can with any appearance of success. "I am, SIR, "Your most obedient humble servant." THE SECOND CHAPTER OF SOLOMON'S SONG. I. As when in Sharon's field the blushing rose The fragrant odours through the air; Does o'er each flower with beauteous pride prevail, The roses with the lilies join, And their united charms are less than mine. II. As much as fairest lilies can surpass So does my Love the virgins' eyes invite: III. Beneath his pleasing shade My weary limbs at ease I laid, And on his fragrant boughs reclined my head. With sparkling wine he crown'd the bowl, IV. I faint! I die! my lab'ring breast V. I charge you, nymphs of Sion, as you go Be only gentle Zephyrs there, And when the balmy slumber leaves his eyes, VI. But see! he comes! with what majestic gait He onward bears his lovely state! Now through the lattice he appears, Arise my fair one, All the pleasures love can give! For, now the sullen winter's past, No storms nor threat'ning clouds appear, VII. Already, see! the teeming earth Brings forth the flowers, her beauteous birth. Nurse the new-born tender flowers. Arise, my fair one, and receive All the blessings love can give : VIII. As to its mate the constant dove Shall damp the sound of thy melodious voice; Where I may gaze, and mark each beauteous grace: For sweet thy voice, and lovely is thy face. IX. As all of me, my Love, is thine, Among the lilies we will play, Fairer, my Love, thou art than they; And balmy sleep forsake thine eyes; Then when soft sleep shall from thy eyes depart, Rise like the bounding roe, or lusty hart, Glad to behold the light again From Bether's mountains darting o'er the plain. T No. 389. TUESDAY, MAY 27, 1712. · Meliora pii docuere parentes. Their pious sires a better lesson taught. NOTHING has more surprised the learned in England, than the price which a small book, entitled Spaccio della Bestia Triomfante, bore in a late auction *. This book was sold for thirty pounds. As it was written by one Jordanus Brunus, a professed atheist, with a design to depreciate religion, every one was apt to fancy, from the extravagant price it bore, that there must be something in it very formidable. I must confess that, happening to get a sight of ・mani * The book here mentioned was bought by Walter Clavel, esq. at the auction of the library of Charles Barnard, esq. in 1711, for 28 pounds. The same copy became successively the property of Mr. John Nichols, of Mr. Joseph Ames, of sir Peter Thompson, and of M. C. Tutet, esq. among whose books it was lately sold by auction, at Mr. Gerrard's in Litchfield Street. The author of this book, Giordano Bruno, was a native of Nola, in the kingdom of Naples, and burnt at Rome by the order of the Inquisition, in 1600. Morhoff, speaking of atheists, says, ' Jordanum tamen Brunum huic classi non annumerarem, festo in illo atheismi vestigia non deprehendo.' Polyhist. i. 1, 8, 22, Bruno published many other writings said to be atheistical. The book spoken of here was printed, not at Paris, as is said in the title-page, nor in 1544, but at London, and in 1584, 12mo. dedicated to Sir Philip Sidney. It was for some time so little regarded, that it was sold with five other books of the same author, for 25 pence French, at the sale of Mr. Bigor's library in 1706; but it is now very scarce, and has been sold at the exorbitant price of 50%. Niceron. Hommes illustr. tom. xvii. p. 211. There was an edition of it in English in 1713. |