ROM the courts above a visitor But the dress of English Droll. For in that memorable year When Mercury turn'd auctioneer,2 1 An Eleatic Philosopher, of Abdera in Thrace. Born 513; died 404, B. C. 2 In the "Sale of Philosophers," as described by Lucian, the heads of the different sects are brought to the hammer, Mercury being the auctioneer. Pythagoras fetches ten Minæ, Diogenes, with his rags and cynicism, two obolshe may do for a house-dog! Aristippus (the founder of the Cyrenaic sect) is too fine a gentleman for any body to venture on. Democritus and Heraclitus are alike unsaleable. Socrates, with whom Lucian seems to confound the Platonic philosophy, after being well ridiculed and abused, is bought by Dion, of Syracuse, for the large sum of two talents. Epicurus produces two Minæ. Chrysippus, the B Putting up for sale a number 3 Of rare wits, like household lumber! stoic, who gives some extraordinary specimens of his logic, "Once more, Democritus, arise on earth, 5 How the Sage was rewarded will be seen by the following extract from an autograph letter (in the possession of Uncle Timothy) written by the excellent and learned Elizabeth Carter to Miss Highmore, dated April 23, 1752. "I extremely honour the just indignation you express |