his footsteps; precedes his march; and follows at his heels. Nor is the orator unattended by a reward which comes directly home to him. All these recompences however are empty sound to the selfish disposition; which demands something that it deems more solid; that is, something better calculated to please the part of our nature approaching nearest to the brutes of the field. Of all Fame, the passion for literary Fame is the most praiseworthy, as it is the purest, the most abstract, and the least liable to the suspicion of being intermingled with those grovelling views, which would debase it. Its nutriment is airy food; it is cheered by sounds which are not heard by common ears; and the chaplets with which it is crowned are invisible to common eyes. He who gives up his days and nights to win esteem by his intellectual exertions from those who are capable of appreciating his merits, or receiving pleasure from his productions, is treated by his neighbours, and by those among whom he is thrown by the common intercourse of life, with coldness and neglect, if not dislike. To their vulgar judgments it would be the highest presumption and ignorance to place him in competition with Folly or Vice themselves, should they possess more rank, or a better fortune. True it is that this ordinary and contemptible estimate prevails more in country neighbourhoods than in a metropolis; and I am not sure that if a man of genius have any alloy in his desire of renown, he ought to pass his life among rural acquaintances. But, O! how much would he lose by the exchange! Airs of heaven, that blow upon the breast of the poet in all your purity, and fan his solitary and uninterrupted meditations! Leaves, that spread yourselves beneath his feet, and delight his senses with your fragrance! Deep woods, that shelter from his sight the polluted haunts of men! And songs of birds, whose tender notes distinctly thrilling the quiet atmosphere, make him forget the hum and clamours of distracted cities! Would he forsake the exquisite enjoyments, which you afford him, for a little addition of stupid flattery? If there should be any one so mistaken as to fix on the pursuit of literature for any other purposes than the intrinsic pleasure which it affords, and the honourable fame, which may be the remote reward of the instruction or the amusement it will confer; bitter disappointment will be the almost necessary consequence of his error. It is not an occupation fitted for the ends of the worldling. The castles which it builds in the clouds give no satisfaction to him; and the ideal nothing," in which its riches consist, in his opinion only deserves the pity, which is excited by the straw crowns of the maniac. But we cannot suppose that this intense desire of Fame, as well future as distant, is implanted in us for nothing: we cannot suppose it would be most violent in those endowed with the highest qualities both of head and heart, unless for some wise and important purposes. Nor does it seem to me consistent with the benevolence and justice of the Creator to animate us with the wish for delusive rewards as the result of virtuous exertions. I can never therefore bring my mind to believe that that fame which is sought and won by the pure efforts of intellectual labour, is when obtained hollow and valueless. Let us instance in Milton. Giving all the credit, which has ever been demanded, to his genius; yet before he could raise his talents to that admirable command of fancy and language, which the progressive productions of his Muse exhibit, can we doubt that it cost him continued toils, repeated self-denials, years of ordinary pleasures foregone, and a thousand sensual wishes conquered? When we compare the time of his life thus spent with the mode in which the generality consume it, what a very exalted station must he hold in our opinions? Was not the hope of that station the solace of many weary and ill-paid fatigues, many "outwatchings of the Bear?" Perhaps it may be observed, that if these exertions were virtuous, he will enjoy in common with others the rewards of virtue. But if these rewards were sufficient to excite him to exertions of a kind so extraordinary, why should he be led on by the auxiliary motive of a false hope? The future is unknown to us; the world of spirits, with their occupations and enjoyments, is hid from our narrow sights. Perhaps, since the grave has closed over the body of this illustrious Bard, it has been one of the exquisite enjoyments of his angelic soul to listen to the increasing praises, which have continued to swell, in louder and louder tones, over every enlightened nation of the earth! Jan, 16, 1809. N° LX. A new Translation of Martial's Epigram on the chief ingredients of human happiness; with Remarks on the Capabilities of the SONNET. I AM indebted to Mr. LOFFT for the excellent accompanying translation of the following beautiful Epigram of Martial. I need scarcely apprise my readers that the original has been introduced before in the first volume of this work. "MARTIALIS, L. X. 47. Ultimo versu auctum. EPIGRAMMA. "Vitam quæ faciunt beatiorem, |