ADVERTISEMENT.

EVERAL authors have treated this fubject; among others, Metaftafio, Father Brumoy, Father Porée, and the author of a poem, imitated from the German, and entitled, Les Noces Patriarchales, or the Patriarchal Nuptials. Metastasio is known not to have been happy in his manner of treating subjects taken from the Holy Scriptures, nor can we find, in his Ifaac, his St. Helena, Bethulia preferved, Joseph made known to his Brethren, &c. the grace, the feeling, the genius of the author of Artaxerxes, Themistocles, Regulus, &c. The Ifaac of Father Brumoy is in five acts, and appears to me unequal, infipid, and extravagant. The author has introduced Ishmael, who, from converfations overheard and ill understood, and an infinity of light, trifling expedients, is perfuaded 'H 3

that

that his father means to facrifice him, which produces fcenes that are as tiresome as they are feeble. There is, however, an ingenious incident and interesting scene in the piece, of which the author has not known how to profit. Abraham finds Ifaac afleep, and is tempted then to kill him; but, reflecting that Ifaac is to perifh for his God, he will not fuffer him to expire without knowing that he is facrificed. I have taken nothing from any of the works I have cited, the principal defect of which, in my opinion, is the promptitude and ease with which Abraham goes to this terrible facrifice. He undoubtedly should be represented as submissive and refigned; but ftill as a father. What picture can please if it be not painted after nature? I have endeavored to mingle paternal affection with blind obedience: not by hesitation, or emotions of failure in his duty towards God, but by reflections and fenfations, which religion it

felf

felf naturally inspires. I feel all the deficiencies of this short piece, yet perhaps there will more of truth and nature be found in it, than in any hitherto written on the fame fubject.

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ст T I.

A C

SCENE I.

ABRAHAM, GAMARIA H.

heard

ABRAHA M.

EHOLD the day which I have each year held holy fince, the Lord my prayers, and made me the joyful father of Ifaac.-O happy birth-` day of my fon! Marked fhalt thou be by feafts and folemn facrifices, fo long as Abraham fhall exift upon the earth.

GAMA