fjgi. THE HARPER OF Mt'LL, A TA! E, Z.l^. 



For the Bee. 



Tb-f Harpsr of Mull, a Tale, written in the year I /Be, 

 never he/ore printed. 



Ah cruilele genm, ncc fidum temina nonien ! 



Ah jjcreat, diJicit fal'.eie fi qua virum. 

 Tunc epjo nee cithara potci'am g;aud<;re fonora, 



Noeilmllcs chordis rtdut.ic voce fonos. 



. TJbul. lib. iii. El. 4. 



In the day? of yore, there lived in the ille of Mull a cel^' 

 brated harper, who mamed for love a youiiir woman of cs- , 

 ([iiinte beauty. This niulician was fr.pcrior to all his con- 

 temporaries in talle and execution j Lut perhaps he owed 

 part of liis fame, to a harp IL hapj ily ccnftioicted, that ilo 

 arlilt could hope to equal, much lefs furpafs it. Next tst 

 his wife, it was the pride and joy of his heart, and his com- 

 panion wherever he went. 



This pair had a relation orv the oppoHtC co::fl, v;hc:r! 

 they vv-eie called to vifit on a iudden. They who are ac- 

 quainted witVi that ruj^ffed illand, vfill not v.'O.ider, that a. 

 woman fhould fink under tlie cold and fatigue of the Jour- 

 ney. And accordinr^ly, on a high hill, which tliey ccuid 

 not avoid palFing, (lie fainted away quite e':h::ufted. The 

 hulLand. with the utmoft tendernefs, e.verteJ himfelf fcr 

 the prefervation of a life fo precious ■, and feeing fome 

 li^ns of recovery, made halte to kindle a fire to waim her. 

 He ilruck a flint, and recei>'ed the fparks among' a little 

 heather which he gathered with difficulty ; for the place 

 was too liigh and expjfed, to produce thai plant in abun- 

 dance, though fi native of barren foils. In this- penury of 

 fuel, the good man fcrupled not to facrifice his beloved 

 harp, breaking it in pieces, and feeding the flames with 

 its fraements. 



Meai'.while a young gentleman remavka'.jiy l-an.'fomi; 

 and 5;entecl, happened to be at no grc-at dilhince a hu.iting j 

 and fpying the imcke, made towards it. He appeared td 

 be greatly ltru.-;k on feeing in that wlldernefs a hnt woman 

 in diftrefs, whilfi Cie was fo much dilorJered v.x the figii: 01' 

 the ihan,e,er, ll;a: *.hc i.ull-:«i ur^-.-.Jed anuth-i fit. The 



