of Plato, it was fo conftructed, and fo full of variety, that he regarded it as dangerous, and too apt to relax the mind. When Anacreon flourished, it had already obtained forty ftrings. Ptolemy and Porphyry defcribe inftruments refembling the lute and theorbo, having a handle with keys belonging to it, and the strings extended from the handle over a concave body of wood. At Rome, is an ancient ftatue of Orpheus, with a mufical bow in his right hand, and a kind of violin in his left. And there is a paffage in Tertullian, which deferves particular confideration: What an astonishing hydraulic organ,' fays he, was that of Archimedes; compofed of fuch a number of pieces, confifting each of fo many different parts, connected together by fuch a quantity of joints, and containing fuch a variety of pipes for the imitation of voices, conveyed in fuch a multitude of founds, modulated into fuch a diverfity of tones, breathed from fuch an immenfe combination of flutes; and yet, all taken together, conftituting but one fingle inftrument!'-In this paffage, it is apparent, that the flute was carried to fuch a high degree of perfection among the ancients, that there were various kinds of them, and fo different in found, as to be wonderfully adapted to exprefs all manner of fubjects.

With refpect to harmony, it has been curforily treated of by many respectable ancients. Macrobius fpeaks of five notes, among which the base bears fuch a fymphony with those above it, that, however different, they altogether compofed one found. Ptolemy, fpeaking of the monochord, calls it a mighty fimple inftrument, as having neither unifon, accompaniment, variety, nor complication of founds. Seneca, in one of his letters, fays to his friend, Do not you obferve how many different voices a band of mufic is compofed of? There you have the bafe, the higher notes, and the intermediate, the foft accents of women, and the tones of men in

termingled with the founds of flutes, which, however feparately distinct, form altogether but one harmony of found, in which each bears a share.' Plato fufficiently makes it appear, that he knew what harmony was, when he fays, that munc is a very proper study for youth, and fhould employ three years of their time; but that it was improper to put them upon playing alternately in concert, it being enough for them, if they could accompany their voice with the lyre. And the reafon he gives for it is, that the accompaniment of various inftruments, the base with those of a higher key, and the variety, and even oppofition of fymphonies, where mufic is played in divifions, can only embarrass the minds of youth. True it is, the ancients did not much practife compound mufic; but that proceeded only from their not liking it. For Ariftotle, after afking why one inftrument accompanied only by a fingle voice gave more delight, than that very voice would do with a greater number, replies, that the multitude of inftruments only obftrusted the found of the fong, and hindered it from being heard. Yet the fame author, in another place, exprefsly fays, that mufic, by the combination of the base and higher tones, and of notes long and fhort, and of a variety of voices, arifes in perfect harmony. And in the following chapter, fpeaking of the revolutions of the feveral planets, as perfectly harmonizing with one another, they being all of them conducted by the fame principle, he draws a comparifon from mufic to illuftrate his fentiments; just as in a chorus, says he, of men and women, where all the variety of voices, through all the different tones, from the base to the higher notes, being under the guidance and direction of a mufician, perfectly correfpond with one another, and form a full harmony. Aurelius Caffiodorus defines fymphony to be the art of fo adjufting the bafe to the higher notes, and them to it, through all the voices. and inftruments, whether they be wind

or

Cottage. It was neceffary, however, to af the fisherman if he were inclined to furnish the treat.

On coming into his houfe, we found, fitting round a table, inviting to the eye, from the whitenefs of the linen, the cleannefs of the dishes, and the golden colour of the hoafehold bread, a family which exhibited not the mirthful feelings of hilarity, but the happy calm of content; a man about fifty; another fifteen years younger; a woman of about five-andtwenty; and three children ftanding befide her, the youngest of whom might have been weaned fix months before; which did not prevent his mother, ftill blooming with youth and health, from being again pregnant. Her husband feemed modelled after the antique gladiator; and his countenance was the picture of franknefs and cordiality. As to the wife, it was easy to fee that, before the became a mother, fhe must have had the fhape of Diana; whofe fmile and dignified modefty fhe bore upon her brow.

She received us with an air of hofpitality; and asked politely to what The was indebted for the favour of our vifit. In paffing by, faid Adelaide, we were regaled with the fmell of an excellent matelote; and we are come. The waterman's wife did not wait for her conclufion, to make us an offer of their fupper. No, faid we; 'tis to morrow that we fhould be glad of fuch a treat, if you will permit us to come to your house.

his treafures, and carry off his cook. 'Twas he who made me leave India. But I forgive him; for he was alo the caufe of Bathilda's efcaping with her innocence from the feraglio of the young Sophy, and of her coming to Befons to make me a prefent of thefe pretty children.

What is all this? exclaimed the young ladies. The truth, faid he, with great unconcern. But it is very aftonishing. Not at all. Does not every thing in the world go with the ftream, and hap-hazard, as the faying is? Mankind are all like floating wood; one ftops here, another there, according to the winding of the bank, till the flood carries them again into the middle of the current. For inftance, my father-in-law, whom you fee before you, would he be there if the czar Peter had not travelled in France; if Elifabeth, his daughter, had not put the crown upon her head; and if, at that time, the Tartars had not made an incurfion into the kingdom of Kazan? You may add, said the father, if a merchant of Damafcus had not believed in the tranfmigration of fouls; and if fome accident had not put the Dey of Algiers' timepiece out of order.

We thought we were liftening to one of the Tales in the Arabian Nights Entertainment. But the young man and his father-in-law fimiled at our furprife; and Bathilda, without attending to what they were faying, was thinking about the matelote.

But on going away we reflected, that if our fociety knew what awaited us the next day at the waterman's hut, they would all wifh to be of the party; and that we might be more at our cafe, we agreed upon fecrecy. Not one of us could divine how fo many different epilodes could be connected.

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Have

Have not the good folks, faid Adelaide, been dreaming all this? And where is the perfon, faid I, who, endeavouring to recollect all the events of his life, does not think he dreamed them? Not you, indeed, ladies, whofe youthful years have glided fo peacefully away. But have you never yourfelves, in your fleep, been tormented with any of thofe frightful dreams, in which we feem to fall, and roll from precipice to precipice, to ftruggle with the waves, and to climb up rocks? And have you never felt the inexpreffible pleafure we experience when, upon waking, we find ourfelves all at once laid quietly in our beds, enjoying the repofe neceffary to our perturbed fpirits, and the ravishing fight of fo many dangers fo fuddenly dispelled. This is, in my opinion, a moment of the trueft and mot lively happiness. Such, perhaps, were the fenfations of thefe good people on finding themfelves at Befons.

The next day, on coming into the cottage, we faw a copious matelote flewing over a clear fie, in a veffel as refplendent as the flame; and after having for fome time inhaled its favoury vapour, we went to wait for it feated on the lawn, where our table was fpread. There we folicited our hoits to relate their history.

man.

Mine is not long, faid the young My father, Nicholas Verbois, was what I am, a waterman on the river. This cottage was his. My mother was fifter to the famous Lucas, the first man in the world for providing wedding-dinners, and for cooking matelotes. I was brought up in his tavern; and, at the age of fourteen, was almost as knowing as him

felf.

vantage that, in every condition of life, attended the being juft, good, and honourable; of the noblene is and beauty of virtue; and of the deformity and baseness of vice. Indeed, when thefe people, who knew every thing in the world, called back time paft, and cited examples of dignity of mind, rectitude, franknefs, and honour, they fet us a-longing; and I, who waited upon them, and listened to their converfation, could never hear them without feeling a defire to be fuch a man as I heard them praife. They talked and talked, till at length, infpired by their converfation, I began to despise a public-houfe; and determined to follow a profeffion, in which the mind might be more at large. My father was famous on the Seine: I followed his example; and leaped into a boat as foon as I was able to handle an oar. But I foon grew tired of being a freshwater failor, and was defirous of becoming a feaman. I went down the iver to Havre-de-Grace, entered for a failor, and in fix months was in India.

I was in hopes of being made pilot; and then-and then, whatever fortune might please. But it has been truly faid, that we cannot avoid our definy; and mine had resolved that I thould be a waterman at Befons. When we were arrived in India, our captain having boafted of fome dishes I had cooked on board the ship, nothing was talked of but my talent. I was fent for by the governor. He made trial of me; and was fo well fatisfied, that, to please the Nizam of the Decan, who was defirous of having a French cook, I was chosen to be fent to his highness.

I

matelotes.

5

Mogul

Mogul was fond of good eating; and I did my best to regale him. Accordingly we were the best friends in the world; and who knows, to what height his favour might have raifed me? Nothing less than a king of Perfia could overturn my hopes.

All of a fudden I heard that the. frontiers of the empire were attacked, and that this king of Perfia, cailed Nadir-Kouli-Khan, was advancing at the head of a hundred thousand men. He fubdued and plundered the provinces, and wrote to my mafter, that every thing he did was out of pure friendship. At length, after having beat a million of bad foldiers, taken their camp, rifled their baggage, arms, and artillery, he came very cordially to refide at Delhi, dined, fupped, and Jodged in the emperor's palace; and thinking he did him a great favour by leaving him in poffefion of his crown, carried off his immenfe treafures. It was necefiary, befides, to give him a fplendid entertainment every day.

Before he went away he married Allah Mirza, one of his fons, to a princefs of Hindooftan; and the Mogul was likewife obliged to give the wedding-dinner. I leave you to judge whether I cooked it with good will. I could have wished to make them fwallow vipers inftead of eels. But, nevertheless, I made the matelote like an honest man; and luckily it was I did, as you fhall hear prefently.

Nadir found it fo good, and eat fo much of it, in fpite of his boasted abftemicufnefs, that he was taken very ill at night. Nor was any thing more natural. Six of his guards, with their naked fwords, came fuddenly to break my reft, and ordered me to get up and follow them. I obeyed; and was conducted to Nadir's apartment, where I found him half reclined upon a fofa, and thought I faw a terrible giant. His whiskers ftood an end, his face was in a flame, and his eyes fparkled with rage. I cannot draw my breath, faid he; and I feel horrible gripings. You have

poifoned me with your treacherous ragouts. Confefs your crime, and I will pardon it; for you will only have obeyed your orders. A French cook, faid I, knows how to feaion, but not how to poi on a ragout-This cool and haughty anfwer alonified him. What is it then, faid he, that occafions the gripings which I feel?I believe that I know, anfwered I; but I will tell it to you alone. He then bade his guards withdraw, and ordered me to speak King of the Perfians, faid I, cels are very hard of digeftion Your highness has eaten too niuch.-That may be, replied he; and you have acted prudently in telling it to me alone. Your words would otherwife have coft you your life. Do you know any remedy for my intemperance? Yes, faid I; a bowl of warm water fwallowed at a draught. He drank it; and felt himself relieved.- Harkee, faid he; I am obliged to you for having made me acquainted with the luxury of good eating. But a furfeit is unworthy of me; and whether the excefs I have fallen into be your fault or mine, I infist upon fecrecy; your head thall be anfwerable for it; and for my better affurance, i thall take you away with

me to-morrow.

What! faid Adelaide, so now you are in Perfia, in the fervice of KouliKhan! Yes, replied the young man, I endeavoured in vain to ward off the blow. I rep efented to him that he had taken his treafures, two of his provinces, and all his diamonds from my good malier, and conjured him to leave him at least a true friend. His only anfwer was a haughty fmile; and the next day I was obliged to fet off for Perfia, where I remained feven years.

Nadir, during the whole of that time, was engaged in his war with the Turks; but on his return home at the peace, he thought he perceived that his court was grown effeminate and dainty, and accufed me of having spoiled the palate of his children. He behaved, however, with gene

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rolity;