rd:
I speak of the deed I have done for my King." The bishop then pronounced
a general benediction, and retired up to the altar; while the nun
professed was borne off between her friends, with lighted tapers, and
garlands waving.

WEDDED LOVE IS INFINITELY PREFERABLE TO VARIETY.

Hail, wedded love, mysterious law, true source
Of human offspring, sole propriety,
In Paradise of all things common else!

By thee adult'rous lust was driven from men,
Among the bestial herds to range; by thee,
Founded in reason, loyal, just and pure,
Relations dear, and all the charities
Of father, son, and brother, first were known.

Thou art the fountain of domestic sweets,
Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced.
Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights
His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings,
Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile
Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendear'd,
Casual fruition; nor in court amours,
Mix'd dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball,
Or serenade, which the starved lover sings
To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain.

ITALIAN DEBAUCHERY.

If chastity is none of the most shining virtues of the French, it is
still less so of the Italians. Almost all the travellers who have
visited Italy, agree in describing it as the most abandoned of all the
countries of Europe. At Venice, at Naples, and indeed in almost every
part of Italy, women are taught from their infancy, the various arts of
alluring to their arms, the young and unwary, and of obtaining from
them, while heated by love or wine, every thing that flattery and false
smiles can obtain in those unguarded moments: and so little infamous is
the trade of prostitution, and so venal the women, that hardly any rank
or condition set them above being bribed to it, nay, they are frequently
assisted by their male friends and acquaintances to drive a good
bargain; nor does their career of debauchery finish with their unmarried
state; the vows of fidelity which they make at the altar, are like the
vows and oaths made upon too many other occasions, only considered as
nugatory forms, which law has obliged them to take, but custom absolved
them from performing. They even claim and enjoy greater liberties after
marriage than before; every married woman has a cicisbey, or gallant,
who attends her to all public places, hands her in and out of her
carriage, picks up her gloves or fan, and a thousan