I ftood looking at the bird: and to every person who came through the paffage it ran fluttering to the fide towards which they approach'd it, with. the fame lamentation of its captivity"I can't get out", faid the ftarling .. God help thee! faid I, but I'll let thee out, cost what it will; fo I turn'd about the cage to get to the door; it was twisted and double twisted fo faft with wire, there was no getting it open without pulling the cage to pieces I took both hands to it. The bird flew to the place where I was attempting his deliverance, and thrufting his head through the trellis, prefs'd his breast against it, as if impatient-I fear, poor creature! faid I, I cannot 5 I cannot fet thee at liberty No," faid the ftarling-"I can't get out "I can't get out," faid the ftarling. I vow, I never had my affections more tenderly awakened; or do I remember an incident in my life, where the diffipated spirits, to which my reafon had been a bubble, were fo fuddenly call'd home. Mechanical as the notes were, yet so true in tune to nature were they chanted, that in one moment they overthrew all my fyltematic reasonings upon the Baftile; and I heavily walk'd up stairs, unfaying every word I had faid in going down them. Disguise Difguife thyself as thou wilt, ftill flavery! faid I-ftill thou art a bitter draught; and though thousands in all ages have been made to drink of thee, thou art no lefs bitter on that account.-'tis thou, thrice sweet and gracious goddess, addreffing my. felf to LIBERTY, whom all in public or in private worship, whofe taste is grateful, and ever wilt be fo, till NATURE herself shall change-no tint of words can spot thy fnowy mantle, or chýmic power turn thy fceptre into iron-with thee to fmile upon him as he eats his cruft, the swain is happier than his monarch, from whofe court thou art exiled--Gracious heaven! cried I, kneeling down upon the last step but one in my ascentgrant grant me but health, thou great Beftower of it, and give me but this fair goddess as my companion and shower down thy mitres, if it feems good unto thy divine providence, upon thofe heads which are aching for them. THE THE CAPTIVE. PARI S. HE bird in his cage purfued THE me into my room; I fat down close to my table, and leaning my head upon my hand, I begun to figure to myself the miseries of confinement. I was in a right frame for it, and fo I gave full fcope to my imagination. I was going to begin with the millions of my fellow creatures born to no inheritance but flavery; but finding, however affecting the picture was, that I could not bring it near |