above described, I am obliged to exculpate myself from any intentional offence by fairly laying the truth before them, and humbly appealing to their candour: or—according to the language of the standing theatrical apology—their usual indulgence.
I was going to begin this chapter in a most lovely style, by saying that the bees came about somebody's cradle, and left their honey on his lips; giving proof that he would be sweet and eloquent in discourse. But, casting in my mind who this somebody could be, it presently struck me—for I
"do bear a brain"
—that the point was not settled.

This prodigy is related of ST. AMBROSE of Milan. Doctor JOHNSON, who ought to have known something about the matter, says it was PINDAR; but FENELON affirms it was said of PLATO by his preceptor SENECA, who, while the circumstance was warm in his mind, dreamt that a cygnet flew to his bosom, which, by degrees, became covered with feathers of a most beautiful and dazzling whiteness;

and which, taking wing, flew with a force and rapidity superior to an eagle:—and these prodigies were so strongly verified in this great man, that CICERO said of him, when he grew up,
"If JUPITER had condescended to speak like man, he would have used the language of PLATO."

Now it cannot be denied but that here is proof upon proof on the side of FENELON; and, as he gathered this intelligence for the improvement of princes, one would think that he must have made a point of collecting his materials from the best authorities. But as there is no court of criticism to appeal to from the fiat of Dr. JOHNSON—his ipse dixit being always final upon these occasions—if the reader please it shall stand for PINDAR: not for the living PINDAR, because every body knows that, instead of honey, he deals in nothing but gall.
In this case it is melancholy to lose the beautiful dream of SENECA, and the fine saying of CICERO, but ornament and flourish must give way to truth and Dr. JOHNSON. Besides, Mr. BOSWELL informs us that the Doctor had but a pitiful opinion of FENELON, for that he would not allow Telemachus to be written more than
"pretty well."

Having established this important point, I shall

regularly proceed to the business of introducing my hero, who having set the poets together by the ears before he was born, will be allowed to have given a pretty good specimen of the work he was to cut out for them afterwards.
Many and various are the portents and omens that are said to have announced