e sun beyond the
mountains, and the soul escaped from this vale of tears. My reflections
were tinged with melancholy, but they were sublime.--I grasped a mighty
whole, and smiled on the king of terrors; the tie which bound me to my
friends he could not break; the same mysterious knot united me to the
source of all goodness and happiness. I had seen the divinity reflected
in a face I loved; I had read immortal characters displayed on a human
countenance, and forgot myself whilst I gazed. I could not think of
immortality, without recollecting the ecstacy I felt, when my heart first
whispered to me that I was beloved; and again did I feel the sacred tie
of mutual affection; fervently I prayed to the father of mercies; and
rejoiced that he could see every turn of a heart, whose movements I could
not perfectly understand. My passion seemed a pledge of immortality; I
did not wish to hide it from the all-searching eye of heaven. Where
indeed could I go from his presence? and, whilst it was dear to me,
though darkness might reign during the night of life, joy would come when
I awoke to life everlasting.

I now turned my step towards home, when the appearance of a girl, who
stood weeping on the common, attracted my attention. I accosted her, and
soon heard her simple tale; that her father was gone to sea, and her
mother sick in bed. I followed her to their little dwelling, and relieved
the sick wretch. I then again sought my own abode; but death did not now
haunt my fancy. Contriving to give the poor creature I had left more
effectual relief, I reached my own garden-gate very weary, and rested on
it.--Recollecting the turns of my mind during the walk, I exclaimed,
Surely life may thus be enlivened by active benevolence, and the sleep of
death, like that I am now disposed to fall into, may be sweet!

My life was now unmarked by any extraordinary change, and a few days ago
I entered this cavern; for through it every mortal must pass; and here I
have discovered, that I neglected many opportunities of being useful,
whilst I fostered a devouring flame. Remorse has not reached me, because
I firmly adhered to my principles, and I have also discovered that I saw
through a false medium. Worthy as the mortal was I adored, I should not
long have loved him with the ardour I did, had fate united us, and broken
the delusion the imagination so artfully wove. His virtues, as they now
do, would have extorted my esteem; but he who formed the huma