7^ 1HELAI, A TALE. May iS, 



tlie eyes of the artift meltinjj into tears, more than once 

 tellitied what were his emotions. When Melai had now 

 idiriiihed, Melonion began, — Oh monarch I 



JMela'i. Monai'ch no more j I am only an old man. 



Melonion. Noble, genetous, godliKe old man, how deeply 

 Las thy fate aiiefled me •, with what warmth and fincerity 

 do I thank you.forrefolvingto intruft to my ilender abilities, 

 ?. talk, whicli at fiiil indeed appeared to be degrading, but 

 ■which I now confider as of more dignity, than that of con) 

 memorating many princes. Two requells you muft how- 

 «ver grant me. 



Melai. (^Smiling.') Two for one: well, what are they ? 



Melonion. Keep your jewel. Fortune has already fuffi- 

 ciently enriched rae ; and I can eafily aiford to fpend fome 

 of my time, in working entirely for my own fatisfaftion. 

 Tliis was my firfl; requeft, and here is my fecond -, however 

 ■well grounded may be your hatred of mankind, carry it not, 

 I befeech you, fo far, as to dilhelieve entirely in huni-an vir- 

 tue. What inl^nft, without the affillance of reaibn, fo fre- 

 fjuently produces among the inferior animals, reiledlion 

 and feeling, ho^wever feldom, will lurely fometimes effeft 

 among ourfelves. I have indeed no crown to offer you, as 

 an atonement for the one which you have loil •, but the laft 

 and feverell of all your lofl'es, the lofs of a friend, I may be 

 able to fupply. 



Melai. You ? 



Melonion. Yes •, abandon your folitude, and truft yourfclf 

 to me. In my houfe you fliall always be malk r •, nay more, 

 you ihall be my father and my king ; and then you can be- 

 hold with your own eyes, the gradual progrefs of that mo- 

 nument, from which your favourite is to receive immortali- 



The fource from which this hiftory was drawn begins here 

 unfortunately to fail. It is only added in a few words, that 

 the old man, after many denials, at laft refolved to pafs his 

 life with Melonion 5 that he never had any reafon-to repent 

 his refolutlon ; and -that a beautiful monument of the fineit 

 alabafter, was eretled to the memory of his faithful dog. To 

 moll of thofe however, by whom it was beheld, the meaning 

 and intention of it rauft.have been totally a I'ecret, although, 



