"

the world, "I had had an affair with the

'moon,

in which there was neither fin

nor fhame," than have it pafs altogether

as my own act and deed, wherein there was fo much of both.

I was

-But be this as it may. The moment I caft my eyes upon him, predetermined not to give him a fingle fous; and accordingly I put my purse into my pocket-button'd it up-fet myself a little more upon my centre, and advanced up gravely to him: there was fomething, I fear, forbidding in my look: I have his figure this moment before my eyes, and think there was

that in it which deferved better.

The monk, as I judged from the

break in his tonfure,

a few fcatter'd

white hairs upon his temples, being all that remained of it, might be about fe

venty

venty-but from his eyes, and that fort of fire which was in them, which feemed more temper'd by courtefy than years, could be no more than fixtyTruth might lie between-He was certaindy fixty-five; and the general air of his countenance, notwithflanding fomething feem'd to have been planting wrinkles in it before their time, agreed to the account.

It was one of thofe heads, which Guido has often painted-mild, palepenetrating, free from all common-place ideas of fat contented ignorance looking downwards upon the earth-it look'd forwards; but look'd, as if it look'd at fomething beyond this world. How one of his order came by it heaven above, who let it fall upon a monk's fhoulders, best knows but it would have fuited a Bramin, and had I met it upon the plains of Indoftan, I had reverenced it.

The

The rest of his outline may be given in a few firokes; one might put it into the hands of any one to defign, for 'twas neither elegant or otherwife, but as: character and expression made it fo: it was a thin, fpare form, fomething above the common fize, if it loft not the diftinction by a bend forwards in the figure-but it was the attitude of Intreaty; and as it now ftanda prefented to my imagination, it gain'd more than it loft by it.

When he had enter'd the room three. paces, he flood fill; and laying his left hand upon his breaft, (a flender white staff with which he journey'd being in his right) when I had got clofe up to him, he introduced himfelf with the little ftory of the wants of his convent, and the poverty of his order and did it with fo fimple a grace and fuch an air of deprecation was there in the whole cast

of

of his look and figure-I was bewitch'd not to have been ftruck with it

-A better reafon was, I had predetermined not to give him a fingle fous.

THE MONK.

CALAIS.

'TIS very true, faid I, replying to a caft upwards with his eyes, with which he had concluded his addrefs-'tis very true and heaven be their refource who have no other but the charity of the world, the flock of which, I fear, is no way fufficient for the many great claims which are hourly made upon it.

he

As I pronounced the words great claims,

gave a a flight glance with his eye downwards upon the fleeve of his tunick-I felt the full force of the appeal-I acknowledge it, faid I-a coarse habit, and that but once in three years, with meagre diet-are no great matters; and

the