O could the Muse one simple moral teach, From scenes like these, which all who hear might reach; Thou child of sympathy, whoe'er thou art, Who with Assyria's queen hast wept thy part; Go search where keener woes demand relief, Go, while thy heart yet beats with fancied grief. Thy breast, still conscious of the recent sigh, The graceful tear still ling'ring on the eye; Go, and on real misery bestow The blest effusions of fictitious wo, So shall our muse, supreme of all the nine; Deserve indeed the title of divine, Virtue shall own her favoured from above, And Pity greet her with a sister's love. * * * * * _A few words of advice, extracted from a London magazine._ TO THE CONDUCTOR. Mr. CONDUCTOR, I am a sort of literary _Lounger_, though no _Connoisseur_, yet an _Idler_, like myself, will always assume a right to turn _Observer_ upon every _Adventurer_; and, whether you may subscribe to my opinions or not, yet, as I mean to subscribe to your work, I shall offer them very freely. Too many publications promise much at their outset, and perform little in the sequel; great expectations will be formed of what may be produced by the members of a British _Cabinet_; and in case of failure every _Guardian_ of his own rights will become a _Tatler_; you will be accused as a _Rambler_ from your engagements, and, at your downfal, the _World_ will be an unconcerned _Spectator_; while, on the contrary, by proper polish and reflection, you may be styled the _Mirror_ of all _Monthly Magazines_ in the metropolis. So much for your title, I shall next make some remarks as to the general conduct of the work itself. With regard to the engraved heads prefixed to each number, and called portraits, I would certainly advise that they should bear _some_ resemblance to the originals; this, notwithstanding it may be but a trifling recommendation to some readers, will often prove an advantage; for, however singular it may appear, I have frequently purchased a picture myself, for no reason than that it put me in mind of the person it professed to represent.