thefe extracts has this title, "Good Language, gathered out of Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia." This was a work as celebrated as its author, who was at once the delight and the ornament of the English court, in the reign of Elizabeth. He is defcribed, by the writers of that age, as the most perfect model of an accomplished gentleman, that could be formed even by the luxuriant imagination of poetry or fiction. Virtuous conduct, polite converfation, heroic valour, and elegant erudition, were all united in Sir Philip Sidney.

As there appears to me great beauty in feveral of the paffages which are taken in the MS. from this once celebrated work, I have felected fome of them, by which, if inferted in your entertaining Repofity, I doubt not many of your readers will be as much pleafed as I have been. True poetry is always the fame, for it has its foundation in nature, and its fpirit will evince itfelf in whatever garb it may be dreffed. I never faw the Arcadia, but from the fpecimens here given, I fhould hardly hefitate in pronouncing it a profe poem, if I may be allowed fuch an expreffion.

Some of the defcriptions, and the manner of delivering fome of the fentiments, undoubtedly favour of the conceit and quaintnefs which characterized that age of English literature; but ftill there is, even in the moft far-fetched of the thoughts, fuch a general propriety of fimile, and fuch a delicacy of idea, as prove them to be the production of a well-informed, elegant, tender, and I think, I may fafely add, virtuous mind.

If you can fpare room for what I have now fent, and think they will be acceptable to your readers, my MSS. will furnish two or three papers more, and I fhall find pleasure in tranfcribing them for the ufe of the MONTHLY VISITOR.

I am, fir,

Your conftant Reader,

Sidbury Vale,
Devon.

RUSTICUS.

EXTRACTS

FROM

SIR PHILIP SIDNEY's ARCADIA.

FROM THE FIRST BOOK.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPRING.

When the earth begins to put on new apparel against the approach of her lover; and that the fun, running a molt even courfe, becomes an indifferent arbiter be tween day and night,

OF A LADY.

Certainly, her eyelids are more pleafant to behold than two white kids climbing up a fair tree, browfing on his tendereft branches; and yet are they nothing to compare with the day-fhining stars contained in them. Her breath is more fweet than a gentle fouth-weft wind, which comes creeping over flowery fields, and fhadowed waters in the extreme heat of fummer, yet this is nothing compared to the honey-flowing fpeech which that breath doth carry.

OF A SEA-FIGHT.

Their blood did as 'twere fill the wrinkles of the fea's vifage, which, it seemed, the fea would not wash away, that it might witnefs, it is not always his fault when we condemn his cruelty.

OF A HERO IN A SHIP.

He fat as on horfeback upon the maft, while his hair was ftirred up and down with the wind, which feemed to have a fport to play with it; as the fea alfo had to kifs his feet.

DESCRIP.

DESCRIPTION OF A PLEASANT COUNTRY.

There were hills which garnished their proud heights with ftately trees; humble vallies whofe base estate feemed comforted with the refreshing of filver rivers: meadows enamelled with all forts of eye-pleafing flowers: thickets, which being lined with moft pleasant fhade, were witneffed fo too, by the cheerful difpofition of many well tuned birds: rich paftures ftored with theep, feeding with fober fecurity, while the pretty lambs, with bleating oratory, craved the dams comfort. Here, a fhepherd boy piping as though he fhould never be old; there, a young thepherdefs knitting, and withal finging, and it feemed that her voice comforted her hands to work, and her hands beat time to her voice's mufic.

OF A FAIR LADY.

That which made her fairnefs much the fairer was, that it was but a fair ambaffador to a fairer mind.

They loved indeed, though for a while (hope's wings being cut off) the fire thereof was blown by the bellows of defpair.

He banished both fleep and food as enemies to that mourning which his paffion perfuaded him was but reafonable.

When the fix captains returned again into the field, there appeared in them a new life of refolution, as if he had been the root out of which, as into branches, their courage had fprung.

The chief parter of the night, which with her black arms pulled the combatants the one from the other.

I should efteem my houfe more bleffed than a temple of the Gods, had it once received you. .

OF A FAIR AND VALIANT MAN.

As if nature had miftaken her work, he had a man's heart in a Cupid's body. Ali that beheld him, made

their eyes quick meffengers to their minds of his beauty.

As fhe went to the temple to be married, her eyes themselves feemed a temple wherein love and beauty were married; her cheeks blufhiag, and withal when fhe was spoke unto, a little smiling, were like rofes when their leaves are with a little breath stirred.

Eagles fly alone, and they are but fheep which always herd together.

About the time when the candles begin to inherit the fun's office.

We ought to reverence old age, whose heaviness, if it weigh down the frail and fleshly balance, it as much lifts up the noble and spiritual part.

Love fhould not be fo fuperficial as to go no further than the fkin.

The fresh and delightful brooks fo flowly flide away, as loth to leave the company of fo many things united in perfection; and with a sweet murmur they lament their forced departure.

A pleasant valley there was, of either fide of which high hills lifted up their beetle brows, as if they would overlook the pleasantnefs of their under profpect.

They lay down by the murmuring mufic of certain waters, which fpouted out of the fide of the hills, and in the bottom of the valley, made of many fprings a pretty brook, like a commonwealth of many families.

A clofe arbour of trees, whofe branches fo lovingly interlaced one the other, that it could refift the strongest violence of eye-fight.

A FAIR LADY UNDER THE CUSTODY OF AN
UGLY FELLOW.

O! only pearl, that fo vile an oyfter fhould keep

thee.

Pardon

made to the fuccefs of the feafon, particularly the popularity of PIZARRO, which feems to have been received with an unparalleled degree of approbation. The merits of the refpective actors alfo are deferving of particular mention, efpecially Mr. Kemble and Mrs. Siddons, whofe talents have excited univerfal admiration. The theatre of Drury Lane, after the fummer recefs, will, no doubt, open with fresh attractions, and will bring forward fome new pieces which fhall demand and deferve the attention of the public.

HAY-MARKET THEATRE.

JULY 13. A mufical entertainment, called the Cafls of Sorrento, was performed here this evening. The piece is taken from the French comic opera, in one act, of Le Prifonnier, or La Refemblance.

The fcene lies at Sorrento, near Naples, and the plot arifes from a prifoner in the caftie finding a concealed paffage to an adjoining houfe, and perfonating, by that means, a double character. The strong resemblance that exists between both characters, occafions fome embarraffment of a lively nature, and the piece clofes with a fatisfactory explanation.

The entertainment has been adapted to our stage with judgment, and conveys a degree of intereft, of which the original, with all its eccentricities, is not poffeffed. It is particularly enlivened by the introduction of an Irishman in the part of the Governor of the Caftle, which produced a very humorous effect.

We admired the dialogue, which was characterized by many appropriate excellencies; and the mufic by Atwood, poffeffes great merit. Every part, indeed, of this new entertainment, contributed to our amusement by its fprightlinefs and variety.