close to his ribs, hoping to fave his body; in went the point, paffing through arm and fide, nor stopp'd, or fpent its force, till it had also pierced the valiant Wotton, who, going to sustain his dying friend, fhared his fate. As when a fkilful cook has trufs'd a brace of woodcocks, he, with iron skewer, pierces the tender fides of both, their legs and wings close pinion'd to their ribs fo was this pair of friends transfix'd till down they fell, join'd in their lives, join'd in their deaths; fo clofely join'd, that Charon would miftake them both for one, and waft them over ftyx for half his fare. Farewel, beloved, loving pair; few equals have you left behind: and happy and immortal shall you be, if all my wit and eloquence can make you. : T THE Bookfeller's Advertisement. HE following difcourfe came into my hands perfect and intire: but there being feveral things in it, which the prefent age would not very well bear, I kept it by me fome years, refolving it should never fee the light. At length, by the advice and affiftance of a judicious friend, I retrenched thofe parts that might give moft offence, and have now ventured to publish the remainder. Concerning the author I am wholly ignorant; neither can I conjecture, whether it be the fame with that of the two foregoing pieces, the original having been fent me at a different time, and in a different hand. The learned reader will better determine, to whofe judgment I intirely submit it. DISCOURSE CONCERNING THE MECHANICAL OPERATION OF THE SPIRIT. For T. H. Efquire, at his chambers in the academy of the Beaux Efpirits in New-England. SIR, IT is now a good while, fince I have had in my head fomething, not only very material, but abfolutely neceffary to my health, that the world should be informed in: for, to tell you a fecret, I am able to contain it no longer. However I have been perplexed for fome time to refolve, what would be the moft proper form to fend it abroad in. To which end I have been three days courfing through Westminster-ball, and St. Paul's Churchyard, and Fleet-fireet, to peruse titles; and I do not find any, which holds fo general a vogue, as that of a letter to a friend: nothing is more common than to meet with long epiftles addreffed to perfons and places, where, at first thinking, one would be apt to imagine it not altogether fo neceffary or convenient; fuch as, a neighbour at next door, a mortal enemy, a perfect ftranger, or a person of quality in the clouds; and thefe upon fubjects in appearance the leaft proper for conveyance by the poft; as, long Schemes in philofophy; dark and wonderfull myfteries of fate; laborious differtations in criticism and philofophy; advice to parliaments, and the like. Now, Sir, to proceed after the method in present wear: for, let me fay what I |
