Beauty, the crown of enjoyment, the last perfection of
society, is within your reach. Be wise and taste. Partake of the
munificence the Gods vouchsafe."
As the song proceeded the two nymphs, who had first appeared to Edwin,
and since attended him with the extremest officiousness, endeavoured by
every artful blandishment to engage his attention, and rivet his
partiality. They exerted themselves to suppress the grossness,
inelegance and sensuality to which they had commonly been habituated,
and to cover the looseness of the passions with the veil of simplicity,
delicacy, and softness. As the music ceased, the master of the spectacle
came forth from his retreat. But his figure was no longer that which
bespoke the magician, and which Edwin had already seen. He appeared in
the form of a youth of that age in which the frolic insignificance of
childhood gives place to the eagerness, the enthusiasm and the engaging
manners of blooming manhood. His habit was that of a cupbearer. His
robes were of azure silk, and floated in graceful folds as he passed
along. The beauty of his person was worthy of the synod of the Gods. His
features had all the softness of woman without effeminacy; and in his
eye there sat a lambent fire which bespoke the man, without roughness,
and without ferocity.
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