"time they have danced after her, a "world of little curiosities and trinkets, દ as well as things of more serious use, "in the way of dress, ornament, &c. "with all which she occasionally tricks "herself off, and makes, in them, I as"sure you, a charming sweet figure; "she has also had, now and then, a 1 66 pensive lover: but from them she has "borrowed little else than serious man 66 66 ner; which she very quickly puts off ‘again, lest, as she says, it spoil her flow "of spirits. So much for Miss Music. "Now for her sister; with whom, you "must know, I am a little acquainted. "She again is of a more steady deport"ment; keeps her looks very well; has 66 no aversion to a frolic, now and then ; "but, take notice, it must be with those "she is well acquainted with ; for she "is more reserved than her sister, and "sets up more on sense than sprightli 66 66 66 66 ness. She, too, has had some lovers ; though she does not give them much encouragement, considering them, in general, as danglers, yet, of the few "whom she esteemed, and thought she "could trust, she has not disdained, now "and then, to accept something in the way of remembrance, and even to wear 66 it, occasionally, for their sake. Now, "what I would have these two ladies do "is this. I would have each of them 66 empty her drawers, and band-boxes, "throw all the things together, and turn "the two wardrobes into one. By this 66 means, as I told them, the things of “each would, in effect, be doubled; for "the world is not to know. To this "scheme the younger, who thought it a "fine frolic, very readily agreed. The "elder has asked time to think of it; and, in the mean time, has got, at my 66 66 instigation, a milliner engaged to look 66 over her sister's things, and see which "will fit her best. By particular desire "also of your humble servant, (nay don't "look wise, for 'pon 'onnor,' there is "nothing between us) she is to make "her first experiment to-morrow, and "come down to tea in a trim airy dress "of her sister's, which I always liked on "Miss Music, and which, I pledged my taste, would become her too. 66 66 "Quo te Mari pedes? you say---Well, have been civil, and have put up your MAEVI in your pocket, which "I grant you might have flung at me, 66 66 though, mark, the quantity would have "been out of measure---I say, as you have "dealt by me like a civil gentleman, I "am going to come down from my 66 flights, and tell you shortly what I 66 mean. Summa sequar fastigia rerum. “A long and unintermitted enthusiasm "for music has, you know, led, volventi"bus annis, to the discovery of many "varied modes of musical expression, "and introduced multiplied mediums "of musical pleasure. There are many "of these which, I think, might be transferred to the sister art, Poetry, "with success. The enclosed, which 66 66 you, no doubt, read before the letter, " and I hope have done me the honour "to pronounce the serious effusion of a "non-erubescend flame---(by the way, the word is not yet English, I believe,)--con"tains an Essay Piece on the principle of "this scheme. The same is entitled a Po 66 ETICAL RONDEAU. Nay, do not stare. "Be sure the stranger prove no old acquaintance, before you thrust him from your chambers, and shut the door in "his face. 66 You know the principle There is as yet no such English word. The word nondescript, lately introduced, upon a similar analogy, is not much less ridiculous. "of the Rondeau in Music. It is · 66 66 to give a subject ease by the familiarity arising from repetition, and interest by "diversification.' What is known, al"ternates with what is unknown. They 66 mutually lead in each other: and give "to each other a mutual relief. The "little trifle I sent you enclosed, is an 66 attempt at this alternation, in Poetry. "Accordingly, when you have first duly Yielding to the suggestion of him, to whose civility I owe the letter, I submitted this passage of it to the consideration of a person, whom the doctor, with more of compliment than correctness, designates "a Professor of the art of Music." The decision of this person is before me. It runs thus: "The Idea of the Rondeau in music is tolera"bly correct. The perfection of the effect will be greatest "when the last bar of the DEPARTURE, and the first bar "of the SUBJECT, in Return, identify in TONE, but diversify in ACCENT; the common note, or series, rising from "a soft to an enforced intonation, in gradual progression, "till the ear has hold of the Return as already com"menced."-There may perhaps be found those who will understand the meaning, and reconcile themselves to the diction, of this award. 66 |