Some Account of the Death of Abel. actually fent to all the islands and co- B 25 almoft wholly unknown, though it has already paffed through three editions in Switzerland, where it was originally printed, and where the character of the author was fufficient to raife expectation: It appears, however, to be a work of merit in the tranflation that is now offered to the public, which, though not in verse, is yet in a kind of measured language, not unfuitable to the sentiments and imagery of poetry. To give the story with all its incidents as the author has worked it be to preclude the pleasure of reading would up, her performance; fome extracts,therefore, will be selected as a specimen of the work and the tranflation, the fentiments and the language. C The author begins where Milton has ended. Milton defcribes the départure of our first parents from paradife; M. Geffner, their entrance into the world. Befides thefe, and many other pub- He was indeed a person of great can- " Some Account of the Death of Abel, a' • HE of Abel, as it is related Tin the facred writings, is a fingle incident fo fimple, that it is not easy to conceive, how it could be made the fubject of a poem, extended thro' five books; nor do we readily fuppofe, that an event which being related without circumftances, we have always read without emotion,can be again told so as forcibly to remove all the paffions on which the pleasure of poetry depends. It is therefore, probable, that the title of this book has procured it few readers in a country where the author is (Gent. Mag. Jan. 1762.) 2 D The country they croffed, fays he, feemed one wide and dreary defart, and Adam furveyed the uncultivated earth with anxiety and anguifh; they kind of rude grotto, and within the came at last to a rock, in which was a grotto, a fpring of water; this place Adam fixed upon for his dwelling; but a new species of labour was now become neceffary, ' here, says Adam to " his wife, we will prepare our lodging, but before we fleep, I must fe6 cure the entrance to keep us from Ebeing furprized by nocturnal enemies. What enemies, replied Eve, with emotion: What enemies have we to fear? Haft thou not remarked, 'faid Adam,that the curfe of our fin has fallen on the whole creation? the bands of friendship between the ani'mals are broken, and the weak are · now become the prey of the strong ; they are no longer under our com'mand, nor do the leopard, the lion, and the tyger any longer fawn upon us; they look upon us with threatening afpects,and their roaring is the Gevour to gain by our kindnefs, thofe of we will that are moft tractable, and providence has given us reafon, which will teach us to fecure oprfelves from the most favage.' Eve, now alarmed with the fenfe of Htion and timidity, to gather fome danger, went out with a look of cauleaves to form their bed, and fome fruits for their repaft; and the, who before wandered through the flowery labyrynths of paradife with a confcious fecurity, that made her foinetimes with D 26 wish to be alone, now ftopped and looked round her at every itep, keeping Adam continually in her eye, who was fecuring the entrance of the grot, by a fence of brambles which he twined together. While they were taking their repast in this grotto, they beheld the first fform, and were feized with fuch terror, as is natural to beings under a fentence of death, which they fuppofed every awful phænomenon was intended to execute. This incident is related by Adam in the following words. Á dark cloud fuddenly obscured the declining fun, it extended over our heads with encreasing darkness, and the black veil which covered the < earth, feemed to prefage the def"truction of all nature; a tempeftu ous wind arofe, it bellowed in the C "mountains, it overthrew the trees of "the foreft, flames darted from the clouds, and loud burfts of thunder' augmented the horrors of this tre'mendous fcene.'- -Eve, who was ftruck with terror, cried out, that the death with which they had been threatened was now approaching, and throwing herself into Adam's arms, clung, pale, trembling, & fpeechless to his bofom. Adam endeavoured to footh her fears,and depricate the impending deftruction, by an addrefs to their offended creator: And now, fays he, · the clouds poured forth their torrents, livid flames no longer flashed from the heavens, and the thunder · rolled at a distance; I raised my head from the ground, saying, the Almighty, my dear Eve, has paffed us by; he hath not destroyed the earth, and we are yet permitted to live. We arofe and were comforted: the F heavens refumed their brightness, and the fetting Sun fpread a mild radiance through the fky, like the luminous track which we ufed to be. • hold in Eden, when legions of angels were carried above us on the flying clouds. Silence reigned over the moift fields, the herbage and flowers G ftill glittering with the drops of heaven, glowed with more than ufual beauty. The departing Sun darted ་ upon us his laft beams, while we celebrated with reverential awe, and thankful love, the wildom, power, ⚫ and love of our Creator.' Some Account of the Death of Abel. A There is fomething very fanciful and poetical, in the manner of furnithing a vehicle for the fpirit of Abel, after he was flain. The angel of Death called forth the foul of Abel from the enfanguin'd duft: It advanced with a Imile of joy. The more pure and fpirituous parts of the body flew off, and mixing with the balfamic exha'lations wafted by the zephyrs from " the flowers which fprung up within the circuit irradiated by the angel, 'environed the foul, forming for it an "æthereal body.' The addrefs of the angel to this happy fpirit, and the fong of welcome when it approaches the gates of heaven, are alfo well imagined. Let us quit this earth, nothing now can be 'dear to thee but the 'virtuous; regret not to leave them behind, for after a few more rifing and fetting Suns, they too will partake of thy felicity. The foul of Abel "rifing in the air, began to lofe fight ' of the earth, and was foon furroundD'ed by multitudes of angels, who having conducted it to the confines of the cœleftial atmosphere, reclined ' on a crimson cloud, and thus fung in 'chorus.' "HE rifes! the new inhabitant of 'heaven rifes to his native land I render him homage ye brilliant conftelElations which roll in the immenfity of fpace; render homage with gladnefs to the earth your companion : What glory to that opaque fphere to have nourished in its duft a being prepared for the joys of immortality! glow, ye fields, with brighter verdure; reflect, ye hills, a purer light. " " "Herifes! the new inhabitant of hea⚫ven rifes to his native land.Legions of angels, await his arrival at the cœleftial portals; with what rapture will they welcome their new companion to the feat of blifs! they will crown ' him with unfading rofes. What will be his tranfport, when he traverses the flowery fields of heaven! when, under aromatic bowers of eternal verdure, he joins the angelic choir in their fongs of praife; afcribing glory, honour, power, and dominion to the fource of happiness, the fole principle of good.' · H' The author has, with great judgment, imagined a variety of incidents, which render the death of Abel, and the fituation of Cain, affecting in a Waile Thus, paffed the firft day after their leaving paradife; and, the reader may by thefe extracts, fhort and imperfect they are, form fome notion of the as description. author's turn of thought and power of high degree. A Speech to Parliament, at their While Abel is lying dead on the ground, and Cain fuffering all the torments of remorfe and defpair, Adam and Eve, wholly ignorant of what has happened, walk out to enjoy the fragrance and beauty of the morning, till the hour of labour should call him to the field, and her to their dwelling. They admire the mild radiance of the rifing fun, the beauty of the prospect, and the fong of the birds, and are touched with joy at the portion of good that is ftill left them; to participate the pleafing fenfations to which they were now conscious, Adam propofes to B feek Abel, where he ufually led his flocks to pafture; but Eve expreffed a defire to go firft to the field of Cain; I have in this basket, fays the, brought a little present to my first born; I have picked out fome of my beft figs, and a few branches of my fineft dried grapes, e they will be an agreeable refreshment for him, when at mid-day he retires to the fhade, faint and exhaufted with labour. Adam confented, and they encreafed their pace, anticipating the pleasure they should receive from this little teftimony of their regard to Cain, who they hoped would accept it with kindness, as a token that he fhared their affection with Abel: But these foothing profpects were all blasted in a moment, by Eve's fuddenly difcovering the dead body of Abel on the ground, disfigured by wounds, and weltering in blood: Át her exclamations, Adam, who was a little behind her, came up, and in the midst of the grief and horror that had feized them, Cain rushed upon them, frantic with despair, and accufed himself as the murderer of his brother; he then ran again into the woods, and, Adam and Eve, when they recovered the use of fpeech, mixed with their tears the most paffionate felf-accufations as the murderers of their child, having first introduced fin and death into the world, by their original disobedience. D F G Thirza, the wife of Abel, whom he had left fleeping, but whofe fleep had been difturbed by frightful dreams, at length rofe, and feeling her mind still dejected, went out in fearch of Abel to comfort her; on her way he is joined by Mahala, the wife of Cain, with whom he enters into converfation, on the different difpofitions of the two brothers, but their difcourfe is at H length interrupted by a mournful found, which proceeded [from behind fome trees, and the next moment they beheld their father bending un Meeting after the Holydays. 27 der the dead body of his fon, with Eve walking by his fide overwhelmed with grief, and hiding her face with her hair. 6 The diftrefs of this fituation is encreased, by Mahala's crying out, where wert thou, O Cain, my Iponse; where wert thou when thy brother dyed? tho' expiring, he would have bleffed thee, and implored for thee the divine confolations with his dying lips; what a tweet relief would this remembrance have been to thy forrows! how would it have softened the griefs of thy future days!'-She learns, at length, that her husband Cain, whom he had been withing to receive his brother's dying benediction, was his murderer; and the effect of the difcovery is thus forcibly defcribed. She was fruck mute with terror; her immove ble eyes thed no tears; the cold fweat trickled down her pale face, and her trembling lips were difcoloured." As Adam was burying the body, two little boys, the fons of Cain came up, whofe innocent fimplicity, produces exclamations and enquiries, which still heighten the diftrefs. The fentiments are in general, not only juft, but elevated; and a strain of piety runs through the whole poem, which would alone render it pleafing to a mind that has a quick and tender fenfibility to religious impreffions. His Majesty's most gracious Speech to both My Lords and Gentlemen, I of cere difpofition to put an end to the calamities of war, and to restore the publick tranquillity, on folid and lafting foundations, that no impartial perfon either at home, or abroad, can fufpect me of unneceffarily kindling a new war in Europe. But, it is with concern, I acquaint you, that, fince your recefs, I have found myfelf indifpenfably obliged to declare war against Spain. The caufes are fet forth in my public declaration on this occafion; and therefore I shall not detain you with the repetition of them. My own conduct, since my accession to the throne, as well as that of the late king, my royal grandfather, towards Spain, has been fo full of good-will, and friendship; fo averfe to the laying hold of feveral juft grounds of complaint, which might have been alledged; and fo attentive to the advantages of the Catholic from Triftram Shandy. in God he will ftill mend, continued he, we are all of us concerned for him. 28 Story of Le Fever; Catholic king, and his family; that it was matter of the greatest furprize to me, to find, that engagements had, in this conjuncture, been entered into between that crown, and France; and a treaty made, to unite all the branches of the houfe of Bourbon, in the most ambitious, and dangerous defigns against the commerce, and independency, of the rest of Europe; and particularly of my kingdoms. A Thou art a good-natured foul, I will answer for thee, cried my uncle Toby; and thou shalt drink the poor gentleman's health in a glafs of fack thyfelf, and take a couple of bottles, with my fervice, and tell him he is heartily welcome to them, and to a dozen more, if they will do him good. Whatever colours may be endea- Though I am perfuaded, faid my uncle Toby, as the landlord fhut the door, he is a very compaffionate fellow-Trim,-yet I cannot help entertaining a high opinion of his guest too; there must be fomething more than common in him, that in fo fhort a time should win fo much upon the affections of his hoft :-And of his whole family, added the corporal, for they are all concerned for him.Step after him, faid my uncle Toby,do Trim, and ask if he knows his I leave thefe confiderations with you, full of the juftest confidence, that the honour of my crown, and the interefts D of my kingdoms, are fafe in your hands. name. I have quite forgot it, truly, faid the landlord, coming back into the parlour with the corporal,—but I can afk his fon again:Has he a fon with him then? faid my uncle Toby.A boy, replied the landlord, of about eleven or twelve years of age;-but the poor creature has tafted almost as little as his father; he does nothing but mourn and lament for him night and day :-He has not stirred from the bed fide thefe two days. My uncle Toby laid down his knife and fork, and thruft his plate from before him, as the landlord gave him the account; and Trim, without being ordered, took away without faying one word. The Story of LE FEVER: From the Sixth It T was fome time in the fummer of that year, in which Dendermond was E taken by the allies,—which was about jeven years before my father came into the country,-and about as many, after the time, that my uncle Toby and Trim had privately decamped from my father's houfe in town, in order to lay fome of the finest fieges to fome of the fineft fortified places in F Europe when my uncle Toby was one evening getting his fupper, with Trim fitting behind him at a fmall fideboard, that the landlord of a little inn in the village came into the parlour with an empty phial in his hand, to beg a glass or two of fack: 'Tis for A poor gentleman,-I think, of the army, faid the landlord, who has been taken ill at my houfe four days ago, and has never held up his head fince, or had a defire to tafte any thing, till juft now, that he has a fancy for a glafs of fack and a thin toast,-I think, Tays he, taking his hand from his fore-H ad, it would comfort me.-- or If could neither beg, borrow, pour Trim! faid my uncle Toby, I have a project in my head, as it is a bad night, of wrapping myfelf up warm in my roquelaure, and paying a visit to this Foor gentleman.-Your honour's roquelaure, replied the corporai, has not once been had on, fince the night before your honour received your wound, when we mounted guard in the trenches before the gate of St Nicholas;— and, befides, it is fo cold and rainy a night, that what with the roquelaure, and what with the weather, 'twill be enough to give your honour your death, and bring on your honour' torment in your groin. I fear fo; replied my uncle Toby, but I am not at reft in my mind, Trim, fince the account the landlord has given me.. I wish I had not known fo much of this altair,-added my uncle Toby,— or Story of Le Fever; from Triftram Shandy. or that I had known more of it :-- It was not till my uncle Toby had knocked the afhes out of his third pipe, that corporal Trim returned from the inn, and gave him the following account: I defpaired at firft, faid the corporal, of being able to bring back any intelligence to your honour, about the lieutenant and his fon; for when I asked where his fervant was, from whom I made myself fure of knowing every thing which was proper to be afked,-I was anfwered, that he had no fervant with him;-that he had come to the inn with hired horfes, which, upon finding himself unable to proceed, (to join, I fuppofe, the regiment) he had dismissed the morn- D ing after he came.-If I get better, my dear, faid he, as he gave his puríe to his fon to pay the man,-we can hire horses from hence.-But alas ! the poor gentleman will never get from hence, faid the landlady to me, -for I heard the death-watch all night E long; and when he dies, the youth, his fon, will certainly die with him; for he is broken-hearted already. 29 to my dinner, as I had to cry with him for company-What could be the matter with me, an' please your ho nour? Nothing in the world, Trim, faid my uncle Toby, blowing his note, -but that thou art a good-natured fellow. B When I gave him the toast, continued the corporal, I thought it was proper to tell him I was Captain Shandy's fervant, and that your honour, (though a ftranger) was extremely concerned for his father;-and that if there was any thing in your house, or cellar-(And thou might't have added my purse too, faid my uncle Toby)-he was heartily welcome to it: -He made a very low bow, (which was meant to your honour) but no anfwer, for his heart was full-fo he went up ftairs with the toast;-I warrant you, my dear, faid I, as I opened the kitchen-door, your father will be well again. Mr Yorick's curate was fmoaking a pipe by the kitchen-fire,but faid not a word good or bad to comfort the youth. I thought it wrong, added the corporal.-I think fo too, faid my uncle Toby. I never, in the longeft march, faid the corporal, had fo great a mind When the lieutenant had taken his glafs of fack and toast, he felt himicif a little revived, and fent down into the kitchen, to let me know, that in abon ten minutes he fhould be glad it I would step up ftairs.-I believe, faid the landlord, he is going to lay his prayers,-for there was a book laid upon the chair by his bed fide, and as I fhut the door, I faw his fon take up a cushion.—— F I was hearing this account, continued the corporal, when the youth came into the kitchen, to order the thin toast the landlord fpoke of;-but I will do it for my father myfelf, faid the youth.-Pray let me fave you the trouble, young gentleman, faid I, taking up a fork for the purpofe, and offering him my chair to fit down upon by the fire, whilft I did it.-I believe, Sir, faid he, very modeftly, I can please him beft myself.-I am fure, faid I, his honour will not like the toaft the worse for being toafted by an old foldier.-The youth took hold of my hand, and inftantly burst into tears. -Poor youth! faid my uncle Toby,,he has been bred up from an infant in the army; and the name of a foldier, Trim, founded in his ears like the name of a friend;-I wish I had him here. G I thought, faid the curate, that you gentlemen of the army, Mr Trim, never faid your prayers at all.-I heard the poor gentleman fay his prayers laft night, faid the landlady, very devoutly, and with my own ears, or I could not have believed it.-Are you fure of it? replied the curate.-A foldier, an' pleafe your reverence, faid I, prays as often (of his own accord) as a parfon; and when he is fight. ing for his king, and for his own life, and for his honour too, he has the most reason to pray to God, of any one in the whole world.-'Twas weil faid of thee, Trim, faid my uncle Toby. -But when a foldier, faid I, an' pleafe your reverence, has been ftanding for twelve hours together in the trenches, Hup to his knees in cold water,-oi engaged, faid I, for months together in long and dangerous marches;-harrated, perhaps, in his rear to-dayharrating others to-morrow ;~d~tach |