The New-York Weekly Magazine, or Miscellaneous Repository Part 87

ANECDOTE OF CaeSARE ARETHUSI.

Caesare Arethusi, was invited by the duke of Ferrara, to visit his court, and received there with extraordinary respect. That prince sat to him for his portrait, admired the performance highly, gave him evident proofs not only of his favour, but of his friends.h.i.+p and esteem; and having, at last, concluded that his generous treatment must inevitably have secured his grat.i.tude (if not his affection) he freely acquainted him with his real inducement for inviting him to Ferrara. Confiding in the integrity of the painter, he told him there was a lady in the city whose portrait he wished to possess; but that it was to be procured in a manner so secret, as neither to be suspected by the lady herself, nor any of her friends. He promised an immense reward to Arethusi, if he was successful and retentive; he threatened him with the utmost severity of his resentment, if ever he suffered the secret to transpire.

The artist watched a proper opportunity to sketch the likeness of the lady, unnoticed by any; and having shewn it to the duke, he seemed exceedingly struck with the resemblance, as well as the graceful air of the figure, and ordered Arethusi to paint a portrait from that sketch, as delicately as he possibly could, but, above all things, recommended it to him, to keep it from every eye except his own.

When the picture was finished, the painter himself beheld it with admiration, and thought it would be injurious to his fame to conceal from the world, a performance which he accounted perfect; and through an excess of pride and vanity shewed it privately to several of his friends, who could not avoid commending the work, while they detested the folly and ingrat.i.tude of the artist.

The secret thus divulged, circulated expeditiously; it soon reached the ears of the lady, and her family, who were exceedingly irritated; and the duke appeared so highly enraged at the treachery of Arethusi, that he was almost provoked to put him to death; but he only banished him for ever from his dominions.

ADVICE.

When you come or find yourself coming full bat, it is called, against another person, you endeavour to get out of the way. Let an old man advise you not to do so. Stand still. He will endeavour to get out of your way, and, by your standing still, he will effect it. If you both endeavour to get by at the same time, as there are but two sides, it is an even wager you run against each other.

_For the +New-York Weekly Magazine+._

ON THE ORIGIN OF LOVE.

Helvetius, who has scrutinised the effects of first impressions, with an acuteness which few of our moral philosophers can boast, led me, the other day, to consider on his theory, the origin of those refined and delicate sensations, which, in the mutual attachment of the s.e.xes, give birth to the choicest blessings of humanity. According to his way of reasoning, I should suppose our ideas of beauty, and those expressions of the countenance which captivate the heart, should be ascribed to the earliest impressions on the mind. Every one's experience will suggest to him the proof of this a.s.sertion. The first impression I can recollect when my eyes opened upon this world, was the sight of a beautiful mother, who hung over me with looks of the most fervent love. A face like hers, to me therefore, naturally became the most agreeable object in nature: And it must be to some secret a.n.a.logy of feature that I owe that delirium of love, which I have since experienced from the charms of a mistress, whose countenance bore all those striking expressions of tenderness which characterised hers.

So much for the definition.---I cannot but add, how truly deplorable it is, that a pa.s.sion which const.i.tutes almost the only honourable _trait_ in human nature, should now be every where trampled upon by avarice. For my part, altho' I have suffered more from the _fancied_ than ever I shall probably again from the real preference of a wealthy rival, yet, I trust I shall not witness, as our country advances, the same instances of legal prost.i.tution as I have done in some other parts of the world.

With us it is still more unpardonable; as the means of bettering our fortunes are so much more easy or certain. If there are those who are so far insensible to the refinements of sentiment as to give a preference to those enjoyments which are to be purchased, let them recollect, that by renouncing an union of the same taste and disposition, they abandon the only hope they can confidently entertain of nuptial constancy and domestic suns.h.i.+ne. If any one objects to me, that I may frequently be mistaken in this result of sincere love, I should still exclaim

"O mentis gratissimus error!"--and wish for "Tribus _Anticyris_ caput insanabile nusquam."

Yours, &c.

PETRARCH.

POLITICS.

"Politics," says the elegant and ingenious Mr. Grenville, in his Maxims, "are the food of sense exposed to the hunger of folly." And indeed they seem to be devoured with so voracious an appet.i.te, that no good a.s.similation or chylification of them takes place in the body politic in consequence of it. The appet.i.te is great, the digestion imperfect.

ANECDOTE.

No object can be more pleasing to a virtuous mind, than to behold a well-directed benevolence, productive of a grateful and happy heart; while the smiling scenes of cultivation and society succeed to the solitary wastes of savage nature. Mr. Wood, a free merchant of Decca, coming thence to Calcutta, where the Ganges flows thro' vast tracks of uncultivated and marshy woods, which render the navigation peculiarly difficult and dangerous, happened to fall in with a poor native wood-cutter. In the course of conversation, the latter said, that if he had but fifty rupees (5l.) he could make a comfortable settlement. The fifty rupees Mr. Wood lent him. When this worthy man, after staying some time at Calcutta, returned to Decca, he saw the pleasing effects of his bounty in an advanced settlement, on a small eminence newly cleared from standing trees. Unsolicited, he lent the wood-cutter fifty rupees more.

The next voyage, Mr. Wood was delighted to behold the rapid progress of the settlement, and astonished to meet the wood-cutter offering to pay half the small, but generous loan. Mr. Wood refused to receive it at that time, and lent him 100 rupees more. About eighteen months after the commencement of the settlement, he had the inexpressible satisfaction of seeing his industrious wood-cutter at the head of five populous villages, and a s.p.a.cious tract of fine land under cultivation, drained and cleared of swamps and woods. The woodcutter now repaid the princ.i.p.al he had borrowed, and tendered the interest, while tears of grat.i.tude and humble affection stole down his venerable, his happy and expressive countenance. But how inexpressible the feelings of the benevolent merchant! Let those plunderers, who return with the wealth of nations sinking under their cruelty and oppression, while they wanton in all the luxuries of life---let them still

In palaces lie straining their low thought To form unreal wants----

To sensations like his they must ever be strangers. An enjoyment so exquisite, so pure, so permanent, not all the riches of the East can purchase.

_NEW-YORK._

MARRIED,

On Sat.u.r.day the 12th inst. at Schenectady, by the Rev. Dr. Smith, Mr.

JEREMIAH VAN RENSSELAER, son of Gen. Robert Van Rensselaer, of Claverack, to Miss SIBELLA A. KANE, daughter of Mr. John Kane of that place.

On Thursday evening the 17th inst. by the Rev. Dr. Foster, GEORGE SIMPSON, Esq. to Miss MARY PENN, both of this city.

On Sunday evening the 20th inst. Mr. THOMAS MAHAN, to Miss HANNAH CURTIS, both of this place.

_For the +New-York Weekly Magazine+._

The reader will easily recollect the addresses to Winter published in our two last numbers. The following forms

ANOTHER WINTRY PROSPECT.

The joys which summer lately gave, Autumnal winds have swept away; And Sol, in haste his steeds to lave, Flings to the earth the shorten'd day.

Then let us leave these naked plains, And to the crowded town repair; Here frightful desolation reigns, But happier scenes await us there.

When winter with tremendous ire Shall Heaven's enchanting face deform, The sheltering roof, the social fire, Shall s.h.i.+eld us from the raging storm.

And then affection's brightened chain, From long forgetfulness restor'd; Shall join our parted friends again Around the hospitable board.

And oft to cheat the tedious hours, Shall knowledge spread "her ample page,"

And from her undecaying bowers Produce the fruits of every age.

But when with every comfort blest, That peace and plenty can bestow, Shall pity never be a guest, Nor lead us to the house of woe?

Oh yes--we'll seek the dreary cell, Where helpless penury retires; Affliction's morbid glooms dispel, And kindle Hope's extinguish'd fires.

Grateful for every blessing sent, We'll strive that blessing to impart; And with the balsam of content Restore to joy the wounded heart.