make the Succeffion Masculine. The People, as inconftant as poffible, lov'd Change as well as the could do; but it must be a Change of their own, what themselves defired. They oppofed her, because they loved Oppofition; and the very well faw, thro' their natural Perverfenefs, fhe fhould find much more Trouble than the expected, before fhe could be able to effect her Purpose.

The Marquefs of Caria, Count Biron, and one or two more great Officers, were called to confult about the Methods most proper to make them receive fuch a Change. They refolved upon thofe that were arbitrary;, an Army was raifed. The Princefs, according to the Inclinations of her Heart, made her Favourite Marquefs, the General. Count. Biron's Courfe of Life having never led him to the Camp, the retain'd him about her own Perfon, and conftituted him one of the Council of Five, to whom the gave an unlimited Power, firft to examine into thofe Laws that made the Succeffion Feminine; and afterwards to revoke or difpenfe with them, as they faw Occafion.

The Duke of Venice immediately took the Alarm; for fhould fuch Methods obtain, what Profpect could he have of one Day wearing the Utopian Crown? He had, by Hopes, Promifes, and the Love of Novelty, gain'd a large Party, who continually informed him of the Advances that were made, and which he neither wanted Intelligence, Intereft, Cunning, or Capacity, to traverse. G 2

Count

Count Biron diftinguifhed himself in his new Employment. They made many Alterations in Government; raifing and difmifling all thofe who he thought would advance or defer their Purpofe. The Nation began to be in a Ferment to fee that they purfu'd, in good Earnest, Methods which fubverted their known Laws, destroyed their Conftitution; and were in a way (thould they fucceed) not only of breaking the Succeffion, but of making the Monarchy unlimited and arbitrary.

The Marchionefs of Caria, in the mean time, infinuated her felf into the Lady Olimpia's Favour; which was no hard Matter for her to do, because on her fide he was not only artificial and cunning, but Olimpia was good and tender. She gain'd fuch an Afcendant over her, as began to make her confidered by all those who forefaw that her Miftrefs muft one Day, notwithstanding the Princefs Ormia'sEndeavours, wear the Crown of Utopia.

Count Biron had not been able to defend himself from the Effects of the Marchionefs's Charms. His Heart was inflamed, but he was forced to fupprefs the Fire, because that he faw but little Hopes of a Return. The Marquefs was not only the handfomeft Man at Court, but the Duke of Candia had the Reputation of her Heart. Nothing could be fairer or more agreeable than Madam de Caria: In her were reconcil'd the two Oppofites, and which had ever been esteemed a Paradox, Gallantry, and Covetoufnefs; un

lefs

Jefs you will still call it Covetoufness to defire Lovers as well as Money. 'Tis certain fhe has liv'd to know a Fulness of Enjoyment in both, one of the moft happy Ladies of her time, (but in her laft Scene;) who when the was Young, poffefs'd all thofe tue and glorious Pleasures, which fo well becomes the Young; and in a more advanced Age, when all her other Paffions feemed to be fwallowed up in the Love of Riches, the found her felf in Poffeffion of a greater Mafs, than the accumulated Endeavours could procure of the whole Race of Favourites that ever the Utopian Monarchs had; and they have not been either few or inconfiderable.

Count Biron's good Senfe foon recommended him to the Marquefs's Tafte, who was as ambitious of Glory as a true Heroe, as covetous as his Wife, as felf-interested as Self-love could make him, yet fhining in Diffimulation which obfcured his Vices. With the Addition of good Fortune and court Favour, they but by Intervals appear'd, and with fo little Difadvantage to his Reputation, that could his Friends have perfwaded him to have been lefs fond of Property, and the ingrateful Methods by which fometimes he acquired it, his Setting would have been as glorious as his Meridian Sun. But what Mortals are without fome Defect, either prejudicial to themselves or

others?

The good Correfpondence there was between the Marquefs and the Count, left the latter many Opportunities of feeing Madam de Caria. Ah! how irresistible did he find her Charms: Sometimes he would ask himfelf what a Statesman had to do with that inferior Attraction, Beauty? A Statesman, who had Penetration and Capacity fufficient to raise him to the Miniftry, without a Fear of being ftop'd by himfelf by a vain scrupulous Nicety of what confcientious Rubs he might find in his way to Grandour. But thefe very wife Reflexions ferved only to fhow him, that, however all Politician, as the World efteemed him, and as he would be thought, Love ftill found he was but a Man like others, and as eafily difarm'd. He needed only to fhow him the Marchioness's fair Eyes to make him confefs himself a Mortal; nay, and fo weak a one, that the leaft Glance or Word from Madam de Caria

ad, Force to make him lay down at her Feet all Pretenfions that interfered with her Arbitrary Riegn of Beauty, her defpotick Sway, her undoubted Capacity of making him either bleffed or miferable. The God of Love finds little more Difficulty in fubduing the Grave than the Gay; the Defires he gives are alike Ubiquitary, and if he fometimes reign more potently, 'tis in the Heart of those to whom Nature has given the largest Portion of Understanding; they fet the trueft Value upon those ineftimable Joys within his Power to beftow, and which

none

fo

none but an affected Stoick could ever yet far recede from, as not to confefs they are the greatest that humane Nature is capable of tafting, according to that celebrated Poet,

Love the most generous Paffion of the Mind! The foft Retreat that Innocence can find! That Jafe Director of unguided Youth! Fraught with kind Wishes, and fecur'd by Truth. That Cordial Drop, Heav'n in our Cup has (thrown, To make the naufeous Draught of Life go down!

But as great Genius's have this Peculiar, that when they are in Misfortunes and meet unlucky Accidents, they have Address, not only to extricate themfelves, but to make thofe very Misfortunes conducive to the Advantage that thofe Accidents feemed to obftruct: So Count Biron forefaw that this Paffion which he fo ragingly felt for Madam de Caria, by her Afcendant in the Lady Olimpia's Favour, might be brought to introduce and fix him there; an Advantage he had then but little Profpect of; I mean a. rational One, because he was in the Interefts and Defigns of the Princefs Ormia, which fhe drove on with all the Violence imaginable. 'Tis hard to fay whether even for wife a Man as Count Biron was not for once miftaken, If he did not believe the intended? Innovation would have fucceeded; why did he give into their Measures, and by all his Actions and Difcourfe, fo publickly adhere.