34 MELAl, A TALE. May II, 



While the ftranger fpoke thus, the tear ftood in his eye ^ 

 and his tone was altered from the fobriety of age, to all 

 the fervour and animation of youth. 



He proceeded. - ; . •. 



But what price do you demand for a inonument of your 

 handy-work ? 



Mel. Two thoufand golden byzantincs. 

 . Old Man, A large fum, yet not more than he deferves.i 



And of whom do you fpeak ? aiked Melonion, fomewhat 

 furprifed. .•: 



. Before I can tell that, you muft anTwer me once more. 

 You fay you have no intention of confining you'rfelf to he^ 

 roes. Would you then confider your art as degraded, if it 

 were to be employed on an animal of another fpecies, whofe 

 liie was deferving of admiration and pr^ife ? ') 



Every word which the llranger uttered,- contributed to 

 jncreafe the perplexity of Melonion. "• An. animal of anf 

 other fpecies ! what can 11 thou mean ?" 



Old Man. I fee yon are already fufficiently aftonilhed ; 

 but your furprife will be Hill greater, when 1 tell you it is 

 my dog. ! 



The old man was in the right. Melonion, on hearing 

 thefe words, flood aghaft. He examined the firanger's 

 countenance, and his habit by turns 5 and unable to recon" 

 cile fuch apparent contradiction, fixed his eyes upon the 

 ground in perplexity and amazement.' The wildnefs and 

 extravagance of fuch a- propofal made him imagine, that 

 either his vifitor was mad, or that he was a perfon cm- 

 ployed by his enemies, to turn both himfelf and his art in- 

 ' to ridicule. The firil of thcfe fuppofitions was however 

 contradifled by his fenfible converfation at his firft coming 

 m J and the fecond by his ferious and animated tone. It 

 was not till after the artill had bewildered himfelf for fome 

 minutes in fruitlefs conjedlurcs, that he fo far recovered 

 himfelf as to be able to fpeak. 



I muft confefs to you, reverend old man, that your pre- 

 fent propofal furprifes mo notja little ; for it is the firft of the 

 kind which I have ever received j permit me then to aik, 

 if you are jefting or ferious ? 



Old Man. Serious indeed. 



I'd': '. Have you deliberately confidered the matter ' 



