•222 THE BEE, OR Feb. 9, 



forgot ; or if reinembered, no longer give uneafinefs, 

 but pleafure, from having called forth exertion. 



Analagous to the fatisfa£tIon with which we contem- 

 plate, the fcenes of youth is the pleafure we have, in 

 reading the hillory of our forefathers ; and in contraft- 

 ing the limplicity of their times, with the more polifli- 

 ed manners of our own. Here too, the mind is often, 

 and by a fecret charm, captivated with the defcription ; 

 and forms the romantic wiih of having lived in their 

 times, and having witneiTed the fcenes in which they 

 were engaged. The fatisfaction we feel on thefe ocea- 

 fions, is of the melancholy kind. To ufe a favourite 

 cxprelBon of a bard of our own country, on the fame 

 fubjedt, " The tale of other times is, as the joy of 

 grief, pleafant and mournful to the foul." 



In moft nations we difcover a relilh for this melan- 

 choly pleafure, in their Ih-ong attachment to their early 

 writers, particularly to the productions of their poets. 

 And the llrength of this attachment fometimes leads us 

 to afcribe to thofe early productions, an excellence above 

 ttieir merits. Now, though I confefs myfelf an enthu- 

 fiaftic admirer of the early productions of our own coun- 

 tiy, both in mufic and poetry; yet I hope I lliall fo far 

 guard againft prejudice, as to illuftrate its beauties, 

 without incurring the charge of being too laviHi in its 

 praife. 



We may fuppofe it to have been compofed in winter, 

 after the poet had witnefled the fcenes alluded to, of 

 cutting down the grain, and having it brought into the 

 barn yard. Winter was well fitted to fuggeft the me- 

 lancholy ideas to the poet. The flowers of the field 

 faded, the leaves of the trees fallen, the Iky overcaft. 

 with clouds, could not fail of making an impreffion on 

 his mind. — But he had then a caufe of grief which more 

 deeply affected him. The flowers now faded, would a- 

 gain bloflbm ; — the trees now naked, would again be 

 clothed with foliage ; — the fun, whofe rays were now 

 obfcured, would again lliine forth in his glory, and by 



