'^ 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSETY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD 
 ENDOWMENT FUND 
 
 w-,i!Jf*' 
 
 '- C .1 o
 
 iM 
 
 ^-
 
 II .Hr^^n.Unr 
 
 I-Teff. Jiulf, 
 
 TiM^ia iv Zaciaurtan.^Un.i: ('." ,S^ May 'Ski. 
 
 m
 
 APHORISMS 
 
 for 
 
 |9outJ), 
 
 WITH 
 
 OBSERVATIONS AND REFLECTIONS, 
 
 RELIGIOUS, MORAL, CRITICAL, AND CHARACTERISTIC ; 
 
 SOME ORIGINAL, 
 
 bat chiefly selected, 
 
 DURING AN EXTENDED COURSE OF READING, 
 
 from the most distinguished 
 
 ENGLISH, FRENCH, AND ITALIAN WRITERS. 
 
 INTERSPERSED WITH SEVERAL PIECES OF 
 ORIGINAL POETRY 
 
 LONDON: 
 PRINTED FOR LACKINGTOX, ALLEN, AKD CO. 
 
 Temple of the Muses, Finsbuty Siiuare, 
 
 180i.
 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 a/oL JTERNAL solicit udefrst suggested 
 the idea of the following compilation : the in- 
 struction of a beloved daughter sxsas its object; 
 anxiety for whose welfare directing every avoca- 
 tion of a fond mother's mind, produced the desire 
 of culling for her benefit whatever could form a 
 useful lesson, from those stores of literary genius 
 and exalted wisdom which came within the reach 
 of her inspection. The leading the youthful mind 
 to reflection by pointing out subjects for its con- 
 templation, teaching it to compare ideas in every 
 point of view in which they could be presented, 
 and thence forming opinions of its own, she con- 
 ceived a likely method to produce a character 
 superior to the common class. Her success, even- 
 beyond her most sanguine expectations, in the 
 subject for whom the work was originally intend-, 
 ^d, has emboldened her to offer it to a candid^ 
 B
 
 6 
 
 public; who she trusts, however, will judge her 
 by her intentions, even though they should not 
 approve of the plan of her performance. 
 
 She makes no pretensions to originality in any 
 respect: aphorisms, maxims, and proverbs have, 
 from the earliest times, been used as vehicles of 
 instruction. Some of the thoughts contained in 
 the following pages have been produced by her 
 oron mind, and are dressed in her own language ; 
 yet she is conscious that neither the ideas, nor 
 the garb in which they are clothed, may bear 
 the stamp of novelty, because every subject of 
 discussion of the human mind, and nearly every 
 possible arrangement of language, have, she be- 
 lieves, been Ions since exhausted. But as in the 
 human frame scarcely two beings were ever 
 formed alike, though strong resemblances may 
 subsist, so in human compositions there are ap' 
 propriate distinctions, which, though slight, make 
 good the claims of authors to their productions, 
 in Hke manner as those of parents to their chil- 
 dren. 
 
 Her selections, she flatters herself, will be 
 uniformly found to be such as tend to inculcate 
 true religion, sound morality, and constancy in
 
 7 
 
 virtue. She fears not being accused of plagia' 
 rism, since she openly prof esses to have drawn her 
 "Aphorisms" from sources so infinitely superior to 
 her own limited powers. From moralists "of other 
 times " she has borrowed without reserve or ap- 
 prehension; and even those of the present day, 
 should they chance to cast an eye on her book, 
 will, she hopes, pardon the liberty she has taken 
 in enriching her gleanings with the Jlozvers of 
 their genius. 
 
 For the little poetical pieces scattered through 
 the volume, she is indebted to one or two friends. 
 They have at least the merit of novelty, none of^' 
 them having ever before appeared in print. 
 
 jB2
 
 APHORISMS for YOUTH, 
 
 --<H^->r- 
 
 JL RUE emulation is, the endeavouring 
 to rise superior to others in every thing virtuous 
 and praiseworthy. 
 
 ' Youth foresees too little; old age too much: 
 to-day is the mistress of the former; to-morrow 
 of the latter. 
 
 3 
 Pride fixes her appetite upon bubbles, and 
 therefore seldom can satisfy her hunger, because 
 she scarcely ever attempts to taste substantial 
 food. 
 
 4 
 Even in this world real merit and the strict 
 performance of our several duties seldom fail of 
 being rewarded; gratitude ajid self-denial are 
 virtues which evermore obtain esteem and admi- 
 ration of the worthy part of mankind, and secure 
 to us self -approbation; deprived of which, all
 
 10 
 
 the delusive pleasures in the zoorld cannot render 
 us happy in ourselves, or respectable in the eyes 
 of others. 
 
 5 
 Judgment, of every kind, is the child of ob- 
 servation. 
 
 The instructive life is very short : the only way 
 to prolong it is, to form the judgment early. 
 
 7 
 To be open to conviction is one great step to- 
 wards every thing laudable ; to see the path of 
 virtue, and be pleased with it, induces us to 
 pursue it without further deviation. 
 8 
 A dignified sedateness of deportment is the 
 surest mean to charm, after the playfulness (f 
 youth has subsided. 
 
 9 
 Quando il muro della civilta k rotto la mala 
 creanza e Vinsulto presto si fanno sfrada per la 
 breccia. 
 
 10 
 When we have diligently laboured for any 
 purpose, zee are Trilling to believe we ha\e at- 
 tained it; and because we have already done
 
 11 
 
 much, too suddenly conclude that no more is to 
 be done. 
 
 11 
 It is not the active, but the indolent, who 
 zveari/: it is not the temperate, but the pampered, 
 toho are capricious, 
 
 12 
 How charming is that vivacity which is not 
 the result of levity, but of a constant cheerful- 
 ness of mind, arising from unsullied purity of 
 heart and universal benevolence ; capable of oc- 
 'Casional exhilaration, but never of absolute de- 
 pression, 
 
 13 
 How often does pride turn the scale of our 
 actions. Pride is the serpent's egg, laid in the 
 hearts of all, but only hatched by fools and 
 wicked men. 
 
 14 
 Qu'on est heureuse lorsqu'on a refu du Ciel 
 un esprit droit et observateur ! lorsque compa- 
 rant, scrutant examinant avec soin tout ce que 
 nous entoure, on peut juger sainement ces res- 
 sorts que fait jouer la malignite des hommes pour 
 tromper, etpour seduire. Le philosophe qui suit 
 penser et refecher est toujours occupe; rien ne 
 
 B4
 
 t2 
 
 lui est indifferent tout It frappe, tout Finteresse, 
 tout excite sa curiosite. Ecout, voit, rejiechit, 
 et compare, il na pas besoin d'approuver pour 
 etre vertueuse. 
 
 15 
 In modesty we should discriminate that purity 
 of mind, which is the effect of chastity, from a 
 simplicity of character, which leads us to form 
 a just opinion of ourselves equally distant from 
 vanity and presumption ; so that modesty is per- 
 fectly compatible with a lofty consciousness of 
 our own dignity. 
 
 16 
 Modesty is the graceful calm virtue of matu- 
 rity : bashfulness is the fascinating charm of 
 vivacious youth. 
 
 17 
 Modesty is that soberness of mind zehich pre- 
 vents persons thinking more highly of themselves 
 than they ought; and is to be distinguished from 
 humility, which is a kind of self abasement. 
 18 
 Modesty will not prevent a person from con- 
 ceiving a great plan, and adhering to it; whilst 
 humility might make us shrink back irresolute.
 
 13 
 
 19 
 
 A i dotti e agF ignorante la via della f elicit a 
 e'sconosciuta egual mente. 
 20 
 
 Zeno said : " We have two ears, and but 
 
 one tongue ; because we should hear much, and 
 talk little. " 
 
 1 
 
 None take reproof so well as those who most 
 deserve to be commended. 
 22 
 
 The very essence of virtue consists in a con" 
 formiti/ of our actions with right reason, or the 
 eternal and immutable relations and differences 
 of things: it is then a conduct umeorthy a ra- 
 tional being to direct his pursuits to the attain- 
 ment of selfish happiness ; the idea of self ought 
 to be absorbed in the superior principle of social 
 benevolence. 
 
 23 
 
 To increase philanthropy is to iticrease happi- 
 ness; wherefore, then, degrade our fellow- 
 creatures by supposing them all capable of 
 crimes, and affix a vicious cause for things 
 which might have been brought about by casual 
 circumstances ?
 
 u 
 
 24 
 " Marij " says Hehetius, " is born zvithout 
 ideas, and without passions, but he is bom a 
 docile imitator; consequently, to instruction 
 and example he owes his habits or character." 
 25 
 Of all passions envy is the most detestable : 
 compassion is softened by the sufferings of men, 
 hut envy rejoices in their tortures. 
 26 
 There is no other passion that does not propose 
 some pleasure for its object : the sole object of 
 envy is the misery of others. 
 27 
 Merit contemns the prosperity of the wicked 
 and the stupid; envy, that of the good and wise. 
 28 
 Love and wrath lighted in a heart burn for 
 an hour, a day, or a year; envy gnaws to the 
 last moment of existence. 
 29 
 Under the banners of envy march hatred, ca- 
 lumny, malignity, and treachery. 
 30 
 Youth is a season when envy is generally least 
 felt : we then have an emulation of attaining to
 
 15 
 
 what we desire; it is only when we lose that 
 
 hope that admiration gives place to hatred. 
 
 This proves how much fnvy is connected with 
 meanness; or, at least, how little with pride irt 
 ourselves. 
 
 31 
 
 One advantage in mixing with mankind, is, 
 that we are obliged to examine our prejudices, 
 and often imperceptibly lose as we analyze 
 them. 
 
 32 
 
 fCicero says '' Letters are the instruction of 
 youth, and delight of old age ; an ornament in 
 prosperity; in adversity a comfort and relief: at 
 home always agreeable, abroad never trouble- 
 some; in town or country, night or day, at 
 every hour, in every place, the truest happiness 
 of life." 
 
 33 
 
 Jfa woman neglects the duties of domestic life 
 to cultivate the sciences, even though she made 
 the most considerable progress in them, she 
 would be highly blamable : but the same spirit 
 which leads to the knozoledge of truth will aid 
 us in the performance of every duty.
 
 16 
 
 i-**4 
 34 
 The queen of England, wife to George the 
 Second, who teas mediatrix between the two 
 greatest metaphysicians in Europe (Clark and 
 Leibnitz), never, on that account, for a moment 
 neglected the duties of a queen, a mother, or a 
 wife. 
 
 35 
 " Christina, " says Voltaire, " who quitted 
 the throne of Sweden for the polite arts, was 
 ranked amongst the greatest sovereigns whilst she 
 held the reins of empire. " 
 36 
 Les plaisirs d'une personne raisonable doivent 
 concourir a epurer sa raison en egayant douce- 
 ment son esprit. 
 
 37 
 JLe bonheur est enemi du bruit auquel le dissi- 
 pation se laisse emporter. Le tourbillon du 
 grande monde rHest point son element : il cherche 
 V ombre, et la compagnie de quelques personnes 
 fait pour le connoitre : c'est au milieu d!un petit 
 nombre d^amis sages qiHil aime a jouir de lui 
 meme. Renferme dans ce cercle, il sait se pas- 
 ser d'un plus grand nombre de temoins, et dei 
 eclats d'une multitude inseiuee.
 
 17 
 
 38 
 Unefemme n' est jamais si belle que lorsqu* elh 
 Test a son inspi : que gagne-t-elle a s'occuper 
 sans cesse de ses chdrmes 9 La beaute n'a pas 
 besoin de culture comme F esprit et le caeur que 
 lesfemmes sont dans thahitude de negliger un 
 peu trop. 
 
 39 
 
 In Richardson's Sir Charles Grandison, the 
 characters he gives of the two sisters, Lady L. 
 and Miss Grandison, are pleasingly contrasted. 
 -^ Lady L., '* says he, " has true female soft- 
 ness and delicacy : there is something more of 
 dignity and liveliness in Miss Grandison ; but 
 as there is less of complacency, you are more 
 afraid to love her than the former, whom you 
 feel affection for at the first sight : the latter, 
 one rather asks leave to love, if she zvill spare 
 you from her raillery ; and yet, whether she 
 does or not, you must like her. " 
 40 
 
 It is an observation as true as it is old, and 
 never can be too often repeated, that the vir- 
 tuous cultivation of the mind is the only source 
 of enjoyment to be depended upon. We seek
 
 18 
 
 pleasure in vain, if we seek it otherwise than as 
 a relaxation from more serious pursuits. 
 41 
 Dissipation is generally accounted as a mean 
 of cheerfulness; whereas, a little experience 
 soon shows that dissipation is by no mean cheer' 
 ful 
 
 42 
 We should consider who we are ; what we have 
 to do ; whither we go, and whence we came. 
 43 
 Eco7iomy is the fountain of liberality, and the 
 parent of independence. 
 44 
 jill such knowledge as tends to adorn and 
 soften human life and manners is peculiarly be-- 
 coming in women. 
 
 45 
 It is not from the mean gratification cf selfish 
 passions that the human mind derives its most re- 
 fined enjoyments. 
 
 Above the lyre the lute above 
 
 Be mine that melting tone. 
 Which makes the peace of all "we Iffce 
 
 The basis of our oxon.
 
 19 
 
 46 
 Incidents attending domestic and private situ- 
 ations are always the most apt to affect the heart, 
 and we feel but little interested in calamities far 
 removed from common life. So it is with the 
 great heroic virtues : they play round the ima- 
 gination, but rarely touch the feelings ; whilst 
 the humbler merits of domestic worth give us a 
 relation to it. 
 
 47 
 Malevolence to others often brings on our own 
 ruin; whilst kindness to our fellow-creatures is 
 the true road to happiness. 
 
 48 
 Let us ever remember this maxim, that self- 
 approbation is an inestimable enjoyment ; but if 
 we allow passion to conquer reason, we engage 
 in a state of warfare that ever renders us mi- 
 serable. 
 
 49 
 It argues much in favour of the femalt sex, 
 that, with liearts more susceptible and judgments 
 less informed, they are often able,through strength 
 of principle, to resist and conquer passions 
 which men give unbounded sway to.
 
 26 
 
 50 
 Pleasure prepares a fading rcreath and in- 
 toxicating cup for her votaries ; but the fruit 
 which virtue gives, is only the recompense of toil, 
 and, gradually tasted as it ripens, yields a last- 
 ing calm satisfaction, which, appearing to be 
 tJie result of the natural tendency of things, is 
 often scarcely observed : like bread, the common 
 food of life, zchich is seldom regarded as a bless- 
 ing, although it supports the frame and preserves 
 health; whilst disease, or death, lurks in the 
 cup or the dainty, which elevates the spirits and 
 flatters the appetite. 
 
 51 
 
 It is a most dangerous thing to tamper zvith 
 truth, even on the most trifling occasions : how- 
 ever guileless our intentions may be, the habit 
 may take root in the most diminutive trifles, and 
 gain upon us, under cover of various excuses and 
 denominations, till it usurps a leading influence 
 on our conduct and deportment. There is some- 
 thing sacred in simplicity ;a7id no well-constituted 
 mind can bear to abuse it. 
 52 
 
 The world will soon wear azcay the sanguine 
 and ingenuous bloom of our thoughts ; let us.
 
 21 
 
 therefore, leave them untainted as long as zee 
 can. 
 
 53 
 There are a thousand latent energies in every 
 human character, which may only want the 
 powerful voice of necessity to call them out. 
 54 
 Pride is the most corroding of all human pas- 
 sions; and, being an invasion on the natural 
 rights of mankind, meets with perpetual morti' 
 Jications.. 
 
 55 
 If is the storms of ambition and contention of 
 the passions that form the elements of life. 
 56 
 he caprice est file du loisir et de la mollesse. 
 
 51 
 Les hommes conviennent tous qu^une belle 
 femmt est le plus charmant spectacle que la 
 nature pul^se leur offrir : ils fadmij'ent d'un com- 
 mun accorde, mais raiement se fait ellt aimer 
 long temps : tandis quunefemme dujie mediocre 
 beaute, ou memc sans beaute allume quelque fois 
 la passion la plus forte, et la plus durable : 
 parceque une belle personne reste communement 
 ce que la nature tafaite, une ires belle objei ; 
 C
 
 22 
 ^*4 
 
 ef en tomber dans unt affectation qui rehute. 
 
 " Ce n' est pas sans peine gu'ellesplaisent moins," 
 
 dit la Bruyere en parlant de T affectation. 
 
 58 
 
 One should not place an implicit corifidence in 
 
 books : the proper way is to act, z&ith regard to 
 
 them, zcith the same caution as with men; 
 
 chuse the most rational, examine, and never 
 
 yield but to evidence. 
 
 That gentleness which is the characteristic of 
 goodness has (like every other virtue) its seat in 
 the heart. Indeed, nothing but what Jiozcs from 
 the heart can render even external manners 
 truly pleasing. 
 
 60 
 Dio mi guardi da quella gatta, che dinanzi 
 mi lecca e dietro mi graffia. 
 61 
 To convince any man against his will is hard ; 
 but to please him against his will is above the 
 reach of human abilities. 
 
 62 
 
 A CHARACTER. 
 
 Mrs. ***, %nth an uncommon portion of 
 acfitenefs a?nl dii-cerumenf, ^:osf.s>r.s the hif^hcst
 
 23 
 
 degree of tmte and refinement : her conversation 
 is ever animated and improving ; and a delicate 
 seme of virtue, zcith a zcarmth of sensihility 
 which she displays reithout affectation, create an 
 attachment in all who knozo her. Intimately 
 acquainted with human nature, she possesses the 
 quickest penetration and truest knowledge of 
 every character which comes within her observa- 
 tion; whilst, from a native generosity of mind, 
 she is ever willing to make allozcances for the 
 weaknesses or follies of others. Too unassuming 
 to suppose her conduct could exhibit a pattern 
 of perfect ion from the very possession of her 
 various endozcmenls, she fails in points in zchich 
 many of inferior talents succeed. Her superior 
 knozoledge of the human heart, instead of 
 enabling her to fx on a steady, uniform line 
 of judging and acting, produces only doubts 
 and hesitation : on all sides she beholds difficul- 
 ties presented by her penetration, which her ima- 
 gination magnifies. 
 
 63 
 When we give ourselves up to our feelings we 
 are ever unstable ; and sterling talents zcill al- 
 ways sz&eep before them the alternately timid and 
 ferocious slaves of feeling. 
 
 C 2
 
 24 
 
 64 
 It is much more by the loss than hy the 'pre- 
 sence of our friends that we discover the import- 
 ance they are of to us. 
 
 65 
 It is often much easier to debase others than 
 to raise ourselves. It is more congenial to a 
 bad mind to take away the cause of envy than to 
 cease to be envious. 
 
 66 
 The Christian duties are easily defined ; and 
 the practice of them so incontestibly proves their 
 simplicity, that, wherever we find our consciences 
 bewildered, we may be assured we have depart- 
 ed from them. 
 
 61 
 Independence ! thou inestimable gem ; first 
 object of the aspirations of a noble mind ; the 
 dear solace of our most pensive hours, and 
 szpeetest enlivener of solitude ! 
 68 
 The great science of life is to keep in constant 
 r employment that restless active principle within 
 us, which, if not directed right, will be eternally 
 drawing us from real to imaginary happiness ;
 
 25 
 
 flr/ 6y avocations to prevent that languor to 
 which all human pleasures are subject, 
 
 69 
 
 Reason nor virtue will never acquire strength, 
 zchilst to make a figure or appearance in the 
 world is the predotninant wish of the mind. 
 70 
 
 Calumny, though raised upon nothing, is too 
 swift to be overtaken, and too volatile to be im- 
 peded, 
 
 71 
 Pride is a very high pozoer, yet we all make 
 it bend to little interests. 
 72 
 IVhen one suspicion glides into the heart, it 
 poisons every thing ; it wounds the soul ; its scar 
 remaim for ever painful, and easy to be burst 
 open ; and every thing appears in an exaggerat- 
 ed point of view. 
 
 73 
 Alcuni hanno tanto stizza di vedersi inferior i 
 ad altri, che sino la loro gratitudine e una spezie 
 di vendetta ; e restituiscono un benefizio non mica 
 perche il rimunerare dia loro piacere, ma perche 
 Haver obbligo da loro affanno. 
 C3
 
 26 
 
 They zcho suffer one duty, or one affection, to 
 swallow iq) the rest, have not sufficient mind or 
 heart to fulfil even that one conscientiously. It 
 then loses tlie venerable aspect of a duty, or the 
 pleasing one of a sentiment, and assumes the 
 fantastic form of a whim. 
 
 74 
 
 PVe should not too much trust to the appear- 
 ances of things, nor be over hasty to condemn ; 
 always remembering, there are things probable 
 which are not true, and things true which are 
 not probable. 
 
 75 
 
 There is a conscious pride which is the soul of 
 energy. 
 
 76 
 
 Religious rites and ceremonies are of no avail, 
 if they lead not to actions becoming a true Chris- 
 tian. We should not content ourselves zvith these 
 shadows of virtue, but actively pursue the sub- 
 stance. 
 
 77 
 
 Good sense is a sedate quiescent quality, 
 which manages its possessions well, but does 
 not encrease them ; collects few materials for its
 
 27 
 
 own operations, and preserves safety without 
 gaining supremacy. 
 
 78 
 
 A CHARACTER. 
 
 The mind of Mr. **** was strong and pe- 
 netrating; his imagination clear and lively; 
 his heart warm with benevolence ; his memory 
 uncommonly retentive. The various scenes of 
 life in zchich he had been a spectator or actor ^ 
 joinefi to the natural eloquence zcith which he 
 related events, rendered his conversation pecu- 
 liarly interesting. Never tenacious of the ho- 
 nour of his profession hut when it was unjustly 
 attacked. He wrote with accuracy and ele- 
 gance. The early part of his life had been 
 condemned to severe seclusion; and those days 
 he passed in acquiring profound knowledge, and 
 studying truth in spite of superstitious errors. 
 This retirement made him afterwards peculiarly 
 sensible to the charms of society ; but he only 
 courted it from the pleasure he took in instruct- 
 ing and entertaining. Eager for praise, but 
 only when he felt himself zc or thy of it ; solicitous 
 of regard, but only when he knew himself deserv- 
 ing of that ajfcction, which he warmly repaid. 
 C 4
 
 28 
 
 i-^<^4- 
 
 IBeloved hi/ the good, esteemed by the Jt'ise, and 
 distinguished by the great, nothing wan wanting 
 to his celebrity. Candour, probiti/, and justice, 
 were his characteristics ; and, above all, un- 
 shaken constancy in friendship . 
 
 79 
 
 It is a question whether the man deserves most 
 praise who makes a voluntary sacrifice of luxu- 
 rious delicacy, or he zoho has magnanimity 
 enough not to envy those who are in possession 
 of er^oy merits which he cannot procure. Satiety 
 may hifluence the first ; necessity the second. 
 80 
 
 The characteristics of the two sexes are so 
 widely different, that nothing is more disgusting 
 than either encroaching on the other. To men 
 belong the bold, hardy, active virtues ; to zvomen, 
 the patient, gentle, amiable graces : and the 
 comparative excellence of each must ever depend 
 Qn their dissimilitude.
 
 29 
 
 81 
 
 STANZAS ON A PET BULLFINCH. 
 Written after a severe Frost. 
 
 Sweet warbler ! object of young Harriet's care, 
 Whoxfost'rivg hand supplies thy daily food. 
 
 Screens thee from each inclement breath of air, 
 And shields thy glossy plumes from talons rude. 
 
 When late the snow-clad earth and freezing sky 
 To fate consign d thy brothers of the grov, 
 
 Thine was awak'd attention's "watchful eye, 
 With all the tender offices of love. 
 
 Instinctive gratitude thenpdurd the lay. 
 
 And glad acknowledgment attun'd thy throat ; 
 
 *' Accept my feeble song," thou seem'dst to say, 
 " The little tribute of each swelling note." 
 
 Ye sons of Luxury, his song attend ; 
 
 Andj whilst enjoyments court you all around. 
 From thankful hearts your cheerful tribute send. 
 
 And learn, like him, tku^ humbly to abound.
 
 50 
 
 fif*4 
 
 But let Religion far o'er instinct rise, 
 
 And melting Charity from her have birth ; 
 
 And, whilst your gratitude ascends the skies. 
 Relieve your suff'ring brothers of the earth. 
 
 82 
 
 Great wealth is only desirable from the pozv- 
 er it gives of making others happy ; but when we 
 see hozv few make this laudable use of extreme 
 affiuence, one acquiesces cheerfully in the will 
 of Heaven, satisfied with not having the tempta- 
 tion to. misapply those gifts of the Supreme 
 Being, for which we must be accountable. 
 83 . 
 
 Philosophy is a delightful thing when griefs 
 are moderate ; but if hope once expires, the mind, 
 like creation when the sun is eclipsed, becomes a 
 chaos. But there is a still more sublime senti- 
 ment than philosophy it is Christianity alo?ie 
 that converts our weakness into strength. 
 84 
 
 Les premieres vertus sont celles qui sont in- 
 dependantes des different jeux de la fortune ; et 
 qui peuveut trouver place dam tous les moments 
 de la vie.
 
 SI 
 
 i-<M-r- 
 
 85 
 
 Qm' est-ce done que la mort, dont nous sommes 
 si effrayee ? Oest elle qui venge la pauvre en 
 frappant le riche a ses cotes et confond tous les 
 rangs dans la meme poussier. Les uns sont en~ 
 leves dt cette scene tumultueuse du monde au mo- 
 ment quHls commencent a Fentrevoir. D'autres 
 arriventjusqu' a V adolescence et se sentent frap- 
 pes du coup mortel dans le sein meme de leurs 
 premiers plaisirs. Quelques-uns sont plus long- 
 tems aux prises avec la vie ; et a la Jin, consumes 
 par la douleur, epuises par la viellesse ils soupi- 
 rent, chancelent, tombent et disparoissent. Au- 
 deld du tombeau est Vabyme de tetemitt. Oest 
 le sejour des esprits dtgages de la substance ter- 
 restre et vile qui nous enveloppe ; les oracles 
 sacres nous disent qu'ils sont tous heureux ou 
 malheureux. Si telle est la difference de leur 
 destin, les bons ne meurent pas trop tot, ni les 
 medians trop tard. 
 
 86 
 
 The greatest portion of human misery arises 
 from want of settled and consolidated senti- 
 ments ; from submitting to the violence of va- 
 rious passions, without adhering to any upon
 
 52 
 
 principle : to be chasing shadozijs, and, fiuctuaU 
 ingy tempest-tost between opposite opinions. 
 87 
 
 Ignorance is the middle point between true 
 and false learning : the ignorant man is as much 
 above the falsely learned, as he is below him of 
 science. 
 
 88 
 
 Civility is an imitation of charity, and is one 
 cf our great social duties : it consists in borrow- 
 ing something from self, and turning it to tlie 
 advantage of others. 
 
 89 
 How dull is that evening which closes the day 
 cf a life wholly sacrificed to ambition. 
 90 
 In infancy children acquire only the means 
 <f improvement ;from that time every day ought 
 to add something to the cultivation of both head 
 4ind heart. 
 
 91 
 IIozc universally are desires taken for want&. 
 
 92 
 There is not much imagination atnongst peo- 
 ple who have not a habit of reflection ; andzchere 
 the judgment and taste are not called forth, and
 
 S3 
 
 formed by the cultivation of the arts and sciences, 
 
 little of that delicacy of feeling and thinking is 
 
 to be found characterized by the word sentiment. 
 
 93 
 
 Te forgive is the most arduous pitch of virtue 
 at which human nature can arrive. A coxcard 
 has often fought, a coward has often conquered ; 
 but a coxcard never forgave. 
 94 
 
 " Sxveet pliability of marCs spirit," says 
 Sterne, " that can at once surrender itself to 
 illusions which cheat expectation and sorrow of 
 their weary moments ! Long, long since had they 
 numbered out my days, had I not stood so great 
 a part of them upon this enchanted ground. 
 When my way is too rough for my feet, or too 
 steep for my strength, I get off to some smooth 
 velvet path which fancy has scattered over with 
 rose-buds of delight ; and, having taken a few 
 turns in it, come back strengthened and re- 
 freshed." 
 
 95 
 
 The mind that cannot obtrude its distresses on 
 the ear of pity, is formed to feel their poignancy 
 the deepest.
 
 34 
 
 When a blow is levelled at the body, the degree 
 of its force is known ; but it is scarcely possible to ' 
 guess what pain may be irifiicted by one aimed at 
 the mind. 
 
 97 
 
 On ne repand pas impuniment ramertume sur 
 la vie des autres. 
 
 98 
 
 Without knowledge there can be no morality. 
 Ignorance is but a frail base for virtue. 
 
 99 
 Conscious dignity will prevent us from too 
 much priding ourselves on account of praise, 
 which proper conduct obtains. 
 100 
 It is of the greatest advantage to young per- 
 sons not to let them, rely too much upon the as- 
 sistance and opinions of others ; but rather to 
 lead them to form their own, which inspires a 
 firmness and decision, and prevents a waterin<r 
 imbecility. 
 
 101 
 Religion not only takes from us the bitter 
 sense of calamity, but gives a finer zest to all the 
 pleasures of life.
 
 35 
 
 102 
 How charming is piety when it is the child of 
 gratitude, not of fear ; and when its character- 
 istics are cheerfulness and benevolence, 
 103 
 ZJartifice et le mensonge sont de grandes mar- 
 ques de la foible sse, et de la petit esse de V esprit 
 humain ; comme la fausse monnie rest de la 
 pauvrete. 
 
 104 
 To be convinced of our errors arises from good 
 sense ; and to acknowledge that conviction is a 
 proof both of good sense and good temper ; the 
 latter a quality full as valuable, and more rare 
 than the former. 
 
 105 
 y Let our superfluities bless the needy, our ex- 
 A ample encourage morality ; and, zchile we despise 
 not the elegancies of life, let us remain untaint- 
 ed by its luxuries. 
 
 106 
 Voltaire says of the opera " It is a spec- 
 tacle as whimsical as it is absurd ; where the eye 
 and ear receive more satisfaction than the mind; 
 where its subjection to music makes the most ri- 
 diculous faults even necessary ; where we are
 
 36 
 
 forced to sing ballads at the destruction of a 
 
 city, and dance round a tombstone. Palaces 
 
 are built, and pulled down in the twinkling of 
 
 an eye ; and we suffer, and are even fond of, 
 
 these extravagancies, because we arc in the land 
 
 of fairies. But, yet, operas are the best, where 
 
 the grand rules of unities, and consequently of 
 
 probabilities, are not violated." 
 
 107 
 
 Quen un lieu, qxCen unjour un seulfait accompli, 
 
 Tiennejusqu d la fin, le theatre rempli. 
 
 Boileau. 
 
 108 
 It is a very difficult thing to make good pic- 
 tures, good statues, good music, or good verses ; 
 the names of those illustrious men, therefore, 
 who have been able to perform this arduous task, 
 mil remain, perhaps, much longer than the king- 
 doms where they ffourished. 
 
 ]09 
 Nothing disconcerts self-sufficiency so much as 
 
 neglect ; for abuse, as zoell as praise, feeds it. 
 110 
 Those zeho wish to give or feel contentment on 
 earth must make circumstances contribute to 
 happiness ; not happiness subservient to circum- 
 stances.
 
 37 
 
 111 
 
 All is hollow where the heart bears not part ; 
 
 all is peril where principle is not the guide. 
 
 112 
 Calamity requires not more fortitude than 
 
 pleasure. 
 
 113 
 
 The pure design of benevolence is to bestow 
 happiness on others ; but its intrinsic reward is 
 bringing happiness home, 
 114 
 
 IIozv wretched must that mortal be, who, on 
 glancing an eye over his own past life, can dis- 
 cern no cheering ray refected from acts of bene- 
 volence to brighten the gloomy retrospect; no 
 cordial drop of self-approbation to comfort his 
 drooping spirits. 
 
 11.5 
 . ... jfr^o. 
 
 That bears a human bosom, hath not felt 
 HoTV dear are all those ties which bind avr race 
 In gentleness together ; and how sweet 
 Their force, let Fortunes wayward hand (he while 
 
 Be kind or cruel ? 
 
 Alenside. 
 
 D
 
 38 
 
 116 
 A wrong bias of understanding is much more 
 easily corrected than a want of energy can be 
 supplied. We may dig long and deep for a 
 spring, and lose our pains at last ; whereas a 
 little drain will speedily reduce an overfow to 
 its level. 
 
 ^117 
 Every weight ill carried is increased in gra- 
 vity ; and, as it is impossible to make human 
 misery accommodate itself to our will, it is more 
 prudent, and less fruitless, to strive to accommo- 
 date ourselves to human misery. 
 118 
 People are too apt to persuade themselves 
 that what is only difficult is absolutely impos- 
 sible. 
 
 119 
 That delicate languor which is so often ho- 
 noured with the name of sensibility, ought, more 
 properly, to be termed affectation. True sen- 
 sibility only shews itself in proportion to the 
 greatness of the occasion ; it does not waste it- 
 self in vapours, nor is it ever on the watch for 
 wasps and spiders.
 
 39 
 f < " i" 
 
 J20 
 
 Conformitd ne! vizi ti mette spesso in pugno 
 
 altrui. La virtu puo reggersi da se, e non si 
 
 crede mai troppo obbligata a chi la spalkggia 
 
 e Vapprova ; ma il vizio timido e poverello sem- 
 
 pre cerca di rifuggursi nclla folia e procaccia 
 
 di difesa unendosi in lega con altrui. II lu- 
 
 singhieri perd non istudia d'ingemmore le huone 
 
 qualita del son protettore ma impiega Varti sua 
 
 in abellare le sue debolezze e le suefollie, in dar 
 
 pasto alia sua predominante vanita e in istuzzi- 
 
 core i suoi desideri piu veemente. 
 
 121 
 
 No man was ever great by imitation. 
 
 122 
 
 To raise esteem, we must benefit others; to 
 
 procure love, we must please them. 
 
 123 
 
 To lessen the evils and increase the comforts 
 
 of age in either sex, the surest means are to he 
 
 J'ound in the cultivation and improvement of the 
 
 mind in youth ; thus to lay up a stock on which 
 
 to subsist when the sources of extensive supply 
 
 are cut off : it serves to preserve that energy 
 
 of soul, without which life is burdensome. 
 
 D2
 
 40 
 
 124 
 
 Ces services mutuels, cette attention reciproque 
 et soiitenue, ce sentiment sur toutes les petites 
 jouissances, cette occupation continuelh pour It 
 bicn-etre de ceux que Fon aime, ce la ou est la 
 vraie felicite. 
 
 125 
 
 In quest of happiness we should cast our eyes 
 downwards, and contemplate the misfortunes of 
 those more wretched than ourselves : this would 
 stifle the voice of self-love, and silence complaints 
 Tvhich arise from lesser sorrows, and sometimes 
 imaginary ones. 
 
 126 
 
 When we despond under the calamities of life, 
 we reproach ourselves : their sting may he sharp, 
 hut, if not poisoned by the hand of vice, the 
 wounds are not deep. Shielded in the armour 
 of righteousness, the arrozvs of misfortune fall 
 blunted at our feet. 
 
 127 
 
 The highest degree of reverence should be paid 
 to youth ; and nothing indecent should be suffer- 
 ed to approach their eyes or ears.
 
 41 
 
 f<Wf4- 
 
 128 
 How detestable is that unfeeling temper which 
 rejoices not at the voice of gladness, and zcithholds 
 tears amidst the distresses of a fellow-creature. 
 129 
 The streams of disinterested benevolence swell 
 the tide of private happiness. 
 130 
 Religion teaches, that vice leads to endless 
 misery in a future state ; and experience proves, 
 that, in spite of the gayest and most prosperous 
 appearances, inward misery accompanies her 
 here ; for, even in this life, her zcays are ways 
 of zcretchedness, and all her paths are woe. 
 131 
 If zee wish to make our children happy, we 
 should carefully moderate their expectations ; 
 and inculcate that happier frame of mind, hu- 
 mility, on which temporal, as well as eternal, 
 happiness so much depends. 
 132 
 Love of pleasure is natural to the human 
 heart; and the best preservative against cri- 
 minal ones, is, a proper indulgence in such a 
 are innocent. 
 
 D5
 
 42 
 
 133 
 Hope nerves as zeell as gladdens us ; whilst 
 terror shakes, and apprehension depresses us. 
 134 
 Hope does not mean presumption, but sim- 
 ply a cheerful trust in Heaven, 
 135 
 
 THE TRUE CHARACTER OF WOMEN. 
 
 All the soft and gentle graces, the sweet smiles 
 ofzcinning beauty, the captivating blush of mo- 
 desty, the charming fears of dependent weakness, 
 the tender apprehensions of the feeling heart, 
 are appropriated to the lovely sex. More are 
 they distinguished by these charms, than by the 
 Jine proportions, well-moulded features, expres- 
 sive eyes, and delicate complexions, which they 
 so abundantly possess. Some there are who ex- 
 eel in all these, and, yet, their beauty is the 
 least of their prhise ; for their' s are the finer 
 ornaments of the mind, sense, embellished and 
 harmonized by an habitual softness of manners ; 
 their's is the practice of every moral and social 
 duty : all the virtues that are founded in the 
 sensibility of the heart are eminently their's :^ 
 pity, the attribute of angels, and friendship, the
 
 4^ 
 
 halm of life, delight to dwell in the female 
 bosom. 
 
 136 
 One of the chief distinctions of rationality is 
 laughing. Milton says : 
 
 " Smiles from reason fow to bi:3itS denied 
 " And are ofUyoe the food." 
 
 137 
 
 Bias said " To silence calumny, we must al- 
 ways be exercising such things as are praise- 
 worthy." Plato, being told he had enemies who 
 spoke ill of him, said " / will live so, that 
 none shall believe them. " 
 138 
 
 J prejudice is an obstinate persuasion, for 
 which we can assign no reason ; for, the moment 
 a reason can be given, it ceases to be a pre- 
 judice. 
 
 139 
 If the heart and understanding be good, want 
 of knowledge in the ways of the world will not 
 make a young person a less eligible companion : 
 there is something extremely striking in the na- 
 tural simplicity of an untainted mind. 
 D4
 
 44 
 
 140 
 He that will admit of no judge, condemns 
 himself. 
 
 141 
 Emulation is a nohle passion ; it strives to ex~ 
 ctlf by raising itself; not by debasing others. 
 142 
 
 UN PORTRAIT. 
 
 II est possible d'etre plus belle que Matilde, 
 mais il ne rest pas de reunir plus de graces et en 
 mime temps plus de noblesse ; d'avoir un en- 
 semble plus scduisante ses traits ne sont pas re- 
 guliers, mais chacun d'eux a une expression qui 
 lui est propre ; sa physionomie varie a cheque 
 instant, elle est le miroir du caur le plus excel- 
 lent et de Vesprit le plus aimable. Tantot gale, 
 badine, folatre, mutine meme, elle inspire la 
 joie le plaisir a tout ce que Ventoure ; dans 
 d'autres momens douce, sensible, carressante elle 
 attendriroit Fame le plusfroid. Sa charmante 
 enjouemeiit qui fait reportir son esprit et ses 
 sraces sans nuire a la bonte de son caur, toutes 
 ses differentes manieres dUetre aimable forment 
 les contrastes les plus piquans et les plus varies 
 sans alter er leur union.
 
 45 
 
 143 
 The secret complainings of confiding virtue, 
 and the idle lamentations of sickly fancy, ought 
 to meet a very different reception : both may be 
 pitied, as human frailties ever demand commi- 
 seration; but the former alone should find an 
 asylum in the heart. 
 
 144 
 It is as possible to become pedantic by the fear 
 of pedantry, as to be troublesome by ill-timed 
 civility. 
 
 145 
 TVe should hope firmly, or at once relinquish 
 that remedy when we perceive no grounds for it: 
 there is no drug more poisonous than feeble, ill- 
 founded hope. 
 
 146 
 Happy are those who have no leisure for arti- 
 ficial grief 
 
 147 
 
 The ghastly smile of malice, the mysterious air 
 
 of calumny, affects to conceal what it knows, and 
 
 would appear tender of the heart it wishes to stab. 
 
 148 
 
 Quick transitions of fortune act upon the 
 
 mind as sudden changes of climate do upon the
 
 46 
 
 constitution : the stamina must be strong that 
 can bear them. 
 
 149 
 Solid readings improve the understanding and 
 fortify the heart: we should carefully guard 
 against such as leave too tender impressions, 
 which are hard to be effaced. 
 150 
 It is a mean of making people faithful, to be- 
 lieve them so : we give others occasion for com- 
 mit ting faults, when zee shezv that we think them 
 capable of them. 
 
 \5\ 
 Some assert, that there are in the soul three 
 methods of attaining knozcledge by sense, rea- 
 son, and understanding. From sense arises ap- 
 petite, which we have in common with brutes ; 
 from reason comes choice, which is peculiar to 
 man; and from understanding, zohich men have 
 in common with angels, arises will. 
 
 152 
 Secondo in guerra, o in pace 
 Trovano it nostra cor 
 Cambiano di color 
 Tutti gli oggetti.
 
 47 
 
 153 
 
 However torn and bruised the heart may bey 
 what a healing efficacy has benevolence. 
 154 
 
 There is something inexpressibly painful to 
 an honest and ingenuous mind in the little arts 
 and subterfuges necessary in the matmgement of 
 all clandestine affairs : mean evasions must 
 wound our delicacy, and do violence to our 
 feelings. In vain would we use chicane with 
 Conscience ; her decisions are clear, and this is 
 her language : " In whatever zoords you ex- 
 press your meaning, if they convey not to others 
 that sense in which you understand them your- 
 self you are a deceiver, and speak not the trutk 
 from your heart." 
 
 155 
 
 A CHARACTER. 
 
 Florios person was generally allowed to be 
 handsome, and he possessed all the external ac- 
 complishments. His manner was easy and un- 
 embarrassed ; some called it assuming, but his 
 friends thought it natural. His conversation 
 was full of the language of sensibility , which 
 sometimes was suspected of shallowness and af- 
 fectatioji. Partiality praised him for avoiding
 
 48 
 
 the pedantry of knowledge, and the rusticity of 
 men proud of its acquirements, 
 156 
 Jill useless misery is certain folly. To feel 
 evils before they come, may be deservedly cen- 
 sured ; yet this is more reasonable than to regret 
 the past. The business of life is to go forzcard : 
 Ziehen we see misery in prospect, let us meet it on 
 the way; they zcho catch it by retrospection 
 turn back to find it. 
 
 157 
 
 JEU d'eSPRIT, 
 
 Conveyed into a lady's work-drawer with a scaled 
 paper containing a lace xeil, a present from the 
 writer. 
 
 If you, dear girl, are not quite free 
 
 From female curiosity. 
 
 Touch not this paper, or beuare 
 
 lst you're entangled in a snare. 
 
 Perhaps your future plan in life 
 
 Is, one day, to become a wife ; 
 
 If so, be cautious, nor discover 
 
 That which must hide you from a laoer; 
 
 For, when you once have broke the seal. 
 
 Too sure you then must take the veil.
 
 49 
 
 158 
 
 The adoption of a noble sentiment, or appro- 
 priation of a borrowed ornament, maysometimei 
 display so much judgment, as will almost com- 
 pensate for want of invention. 
 159 
 
 Those who have only experienced affluence 
 can judge but incorrectly of themselves or 
 others: the rich and poxcerful live in a perpe- 
 tual masquerade, in which all about them wear 
 borrowed characters ; and the estimation they 
 are held in is only discovered when they can no 
 longer give hopes or fears, 
 160 
 
 Nice distinctions in the exact import of words 
 reputed synonymous must be attended to, when 
 we would write or speak clearly and forcibly. 
 For instance : austerity is applied to manner of 
 living; severity ^o thinking; rigour ^o punish- 
 ment. To the first is opposed effeminacy ; to 
 the second relaxation ; and to the third cle- 
 mency. 
 
 161 
 
 By custom we mean the frequent repetition of 
 the same act ; by habit, the effect which that re- 
 petition produces on the mind or body.
 
 50 
 
 One is surprized at rehat is unexpected ; asto- 
 nished at what is vast ; amazed at what is in- 
 comprehensible. 
 
 163 
 We desist from difficulty of accomplishing ; 
 renounce from disgust ; quit for some other 
 4hing ; and leave off from weanness. 
 164 
 Pride makes us esteem ourselves ; vanity, de- 
 sire the esteem of others. Haughtiness is found- 
 ed on a high opinion of ourselves ; disdain, on a 
 <low opinion of others. 
 
 \65 
 We distinguish what we do not confound with 
 ethers; we separate what loe remove from 
 others. 
 
 166 
 The continuance of a thing wearies us ; labour 
 fatigues us. 
 
 167 
 We invent things that are new, and discover 
 what was before hid. 
 
 168 
 Only imports no other of the same kind ; alone 
 imports being unaccompanied by any other.
 
 51 
 f*4 
 
 What a diff'erent idea is given hy saying^" oir' 
 tue only makes us happy, " or, '' virtue alone 
 makes m happy." 
 
 169 
 A difficulty embarrasses ; an obstacle stops : 
 we remove the one, surmount the other. 
 170 
 Wisdom leads us to do what is proper ; pru- 
 dence to avoid what is wrong. 
 171 
 2'o avow, signifies to glory in a thing ; to ac- 
 knowledge, signifies a forced confession ; and to 
 confess, acknowledging a fault or error. 
 172 
 To remark, is to remember ; to observe, is t9 
 examine. 
 
 173 
 
 An equivocal expression has an open sense 
 
 meant to be given, and a concealed one known 
 
 only to the person using it : an ambiguous eX' 
 
 pression is one which has apparently tzco senses. 
 
 174 
 
 " Children are in their cradles susceptible of 
 
 education," says Helvetius ; " therefore we never 
 
 should defer it so as at once to have to encounter 
 
 the faults of childhood, and the habits of those
 
 .52 
 
 faults. Why not hasten to stifle, whilst thepas- 
 sions are yet zoeak, the seeds of the greatest 
 vices ?" 
 
 175 
 " We should" says Rousseau, on the same 
 subject, " begin the education of children at a 
 very early age : if we do not suppress clamorous- 
 ness in children, the same cause that makes them 
 bawl at three years eld, will make them refrac- 
 tory at twelve, brawlers at twenty, imperious at 
 thirty, and insupportable all their lives." 
 
 176 
 "A mother," continues Rousseau, ''has in 
 her own hands the passions of her children : " 
 ehe is, therefore, iti possession of their characters. 
 They who can dispose of the cause, are masters of 
 the effect. 
 
 177 
 A knowledge of upper life cannot be attained 
 either from books or the stage. A fine gentle- 
 man formed on the former zmll turn out a pe- 
 dant, and from the latter a coxcomb. 
 
 178 
 Well-chosen books are a guide to youth, en- 
 tertainment to age, support in solitude, and in 
 'all states keep us from being a burden to our-
 
 53 
 
 selves : the company of the dead has nothing of 
 peevishness, pride, or design, in their conver- 
 sation. 
 
 179 
 
 Pope's account of wit is certainly erroneous ; 
 he' depresses it below its natural dignity, and 
 reduces it from strength of thought to happiness 
 of language. If by a more noble and more ade- 
 quate conception that he considered as wit which 
 is at once natural and new ; that zohich, though 
 not obvious, is upon itsfrst production acknow- 
 ledged to be just ; if it be that zchich he who 
 never found it wonders how he missed it, his de- 
 finition is wrong. 
 
 180 
 
 L'esprit na besoin pour perfectionner que 
 dune etude moderee et agreuble qui peut etre 
 raise au rang des plaisirs. Les femmes sont 
 nees avec une facilite qui les rendent inexcusables 
 loKsqu' elles refusent d'ajouter ce nouveau charme 
 a ceux qu' elles possedent deja. 
 181 
 
 Si unefemme sait yjoindre une sorte dt tra- 
 vail habituel qui empeche son imagination de 
 s'ecarter trop, elle se souistrait au tumulte des 
 passions, qui viennent presque toujours troubltr 
 E
 
 54 
 
 5-<H^4- 
 
 la mollesse et Vindolence. II y a tout a gagner 
 
 d se livrer a uue occupation reglee, qui donne 
 
 aux plaisirs plus de vivacitc et d'innocence. 
 
 Tout ce luxe que les fenmies idolatrent si, est 
 
 qu'une fausse montre de bonheur : Vespritsfaux 
 
 peuvent se contenter de paroitre heureux, les 
 
 bons esprits cherchent a retre. 
 
 182 
 
 In the soft and pliable features of infancy and 
 
 youth the mind can express itself with much more 
 
 force and perspicuity than in the features of 
 
 those more advanced in years. The nerves and 
 
 fibres in our early age are all open, active, and 
 
 animated, and the soul looks forth; but time 
 
 destroys these intelligible muscles, till, at last, 
 
 the surface of the -countenance grows so callous 
 
 and rigid, that those mental expressions are no 
 
 longer discovered ; scarcely any thing but sud' 
 
 den passion, like the lightning's flash, breaks 
 
 through the gloom. 
 
 183 
 There is a z&ord in the vocabulary more bit- 
 ter, more direful in its import, than all the rest. 
 If poverty, disgrace, bodily pain, or even slight- 
 ed love, is our unhappy fate, we may kneel, and
 
 55 
 
 hless Heaven for its beneficent influence, if we 
 ure not tortured with the anguish of Remorse. 
 184 
 The beautiful encomium Tully bestows on 
 literature is still more applicable to religion 
 that it is the friend of every season and situa- 
 tion ; the guard and ornament of prosperity, 
 and refuge of affliction. 
 185 
 A decent personal reserve is the foundation of 
 dignity of character, a7id gives strength to mo- 
 desty. It has been well said, that cleanliness, 
 neatness, and personal reserve, are the handmaids 
 of beauty. 
 
 186 
 Modesty is the daughter of chastity; and 
 wherever the heart is clean, true modesty is sure 
 to reside. 
 
 187 
 There is nothing so sacred that may not be 
 turned into a Jest ; nothing so innocent but in- 
 terest or prejudice may misrepresent. 
 188 
 Heavy grief must have given way to milder 
 melancholy before ideas can be fitted zcith lan- 
 guage any way equal to their expression : till 
 2
 
 56 
 
 that period arrives, sensibility can manifest it' 
 self by gesticulation only. Those who pretend 
 to tcrite, at the very instant of their calamity, 
 effectually discover zvhat they labour to conceal ; 
 and by exerting themselves in ill-timed descrip- 
 tions, prove their woes only to be the conjurations 
 of a wild fancy. 
 
 From the sad soul imvmrd in Grief's deep gloom 
 
 No thoughts escape to gather Rhetoric s Jlovo' rs ; 
 Nor yields its cumber d habitation room 
 
 Fcr Art's trim feats, or Fancy's sportive pow'rs : 
 No ! not the wretch out-stretcKd upon the rack 
 
 Suffers the flit idea less to roam, 
 When ev'ry straiten' d life-string holds it back. 
 
 And pain confines it to its oivn sad home. 
 
 189 
 
 The contemplation of the beauties of the uni- 
 verse, the cordial enjoyments of friendship, and 
 rational pleasures of religion, are open to all, 
 and truly capable of affording real happiness." 
 They in vain hope for etjoyment zvho have not a 
 heart for devotion, humanity, friendship, arid 
 affection ; nor a taste for what is truly beauti- 
 ful and amiable.
 
 57 
 
 The sympathies of our nature are meaTiened by 
 custom until they become scarcely perceptible. 
 How admirably has Shakespeare exempUJied this 
 in Macbeth : " His heart smote him for his 
 first murder more than for a hundred subsequent 
 ones" 
 
 igr 
 
 Douceur et gaite, voila lesfonds d^un carac- 
 tere aimable. II est impossible qu* une femme 
 douee de ces deux qualites neplaise. La douceur \ 
 lui conciiie tons les caurs, c'est une sorte d^in- 
 stinct aimable que la nature donne et que la 
 bonne educationlnet a profit. Oest par les ma~ 
 nieres insinuanies que les femmes regnent ; et 
 elks out d!autant plus de pouvoir quelles s\:n 
 arrogent moins. La politesse 71 est que oeite 
 douceur meme reduite en art : mais ces dehors 
 s'ils ne sontfondes sur bonte du caur se dementejit 
 bientot ; c'est alors un genre d'hypocrisie dout on 
 n'est pas long temps dupe. 
 192 
 
 A fake image ahcays disgusts : zcas a painter 
 to draw a bed of roses on the sea, who would 
 bear it ? Even a true image, displaced, is 
 unpleasing. 
 
 E3
 
 58 
 
 What art thou, Beauty ? 
 Whose charms make sense and talour grow as tame 
 As the blind turtle ! 
 
 Beauty 
 
 Is all ideal: 'tis the wayward child 
 
 Of Fancy ; shifting with the changeful wind 
 Of fond opinion. What to you appears 
 The model of perfection, may disgust 
 My strange capricious taste. 
 
 193 
 Voltaire sai/s '' The polite arts, which are^ 
 as it were, linked hand in hand, and generally- 
 sink and rise together, first began in Italy to 
 revive again after their destruction by the Goths 
 and Vandals. Cicumabici became anew the in- 
 ventor of painting, hi the thirteenth century 
 Giotto drew pictures zvhich are yet beheld with 
 pleasure ; particularly one in St. Peter's at 
 Rome. Brunelleschi began to reform Gothic 
 architecture ; and Guido, of Arezzo, about the 
 etid of the eleventh century, invented notes for 
 music; he was sometimes called Guido Aretinus : 
 he was a Benedictine monk ; and his six notes, 
 ut-re-mi fa-sol-la, were the initial letters of the 
 words of a hymn of St. John,
 
 59 
 
 +< -r - 
 
 It is not so astonishing that so many great 
 geniuses have arisen in Italy, in the midst of 
 civil wars and destitute of models and protec- 
 tion, when we recollect that, amongst the Ro- 
 mans, Lucretius wrote his beautiful Poem on 
 Natural History; Virgil, his Bucolics; and 
 Cicero, his books of Philosophy : in the midst 
 of the horrors of civil tears. 
 
 But although this li^ht beamed strons^est in 
 Italy, yet in other parts of the world persons of 
 talents were not wajiting. St. Bernard and 
 ylbelard appeared in France ; although the scho- 
 lastic divinity of the times (which icas the bas- 
 tard offspring of the Aristotelian philosophy, 
 badly translated, and ill understood) did more 
 injury to the understanding and the polite 
 studies than ever the Huns and Vandals had 
 done. 
 
 The polite arts zcere kept alive in the East: 
 the Poems of Sadi are still in the mouths of 
 Persians, Turks, and Arabians. He was co- 
 temporary with Petrarch, and equalled his re- 
 putation amongst the Orientals : but their taste 
 is not in general good; their works, like the 
 JE4
 
 60 
 
 -1 < 
 
 titles of their monarchs, abound in high-sounding 
 epithets. The spirit of slavery is naturally das- 
 tardly, as that of liberty is nervous, and true 
 greatness simple. The Orientals are void of 
 delicacy, ozcing to women being excluded from 
 their society : and they have no order, for every 
 one gives a loose to his imagination in the soli- 
 tude in which he passes his life; and imagination 
 of itself is always unruly. They are likewise 
 strangers to eloquence ; for z&ho but slaves have 
 they to persuade'? 
 
 In the year 1560 tournaments were suppressed 
 in Europe, owing to the many accidents which 
 happened in them; more particularly that of the 
 death of Henry the Second of France, who, at 
 the celebration of a peace, instituted a tourna- 
 ment, and sent a lance to the Count Montgo- 
 mery, Captain of the Scotch Guard, zvho ac- 
 cordingly entered the lists, and, in a tilting 
 match, a splinter of his lance ran through the 
 King*s vizor, and penetrated his eye into the 
 brain; of which wound he expired: and, soon 
 after, Henry of Bourbon Duke of Montpensier, 
 a prince of tht blood, losing his life also in one, 
 they zcere abolished ; and with these games ex- 
 pired the ancient spirit of chivalry.
 
 61 
 
 Riches were note much increased in Europe, 
 and some expensive shews were exhibited, parti- 
 cularly the interview between Francis the First 
 and Henry the Eighth : but these were momen- 
 tary parades, and implied not general luxury ; 
 the hand of industry had not changed sorry 
 wooden dwellings into sumptuous palaces ; thatch- 
 ed roofs and mud walls were seen in the streets 
 of Paris, and of London still more. Princes 
 and noblemen rode into the country with their 
 wives behind them,- in riding cloaks of waxed 
 cloth in rainy weather, even till the middle of 
 the seventeenth century. Pope Julius the Second 
 began the fashion of letting his beard grow, to 
 inspire people with the greater respect by its sin- 
 gularity. He zcas followed by Francis the First 
 and Charles the Fifth : soon after by all other 
 Kings ; and then by their courtiers. 
 
 In this century the arts still four islied most in 
 Italy, and were carried to perfection even when 
 Rome was sacked by Charles the Fifth, its coasts 
 laid waste by Barbarossa, and the country reiit 
 by dissentions between princes and republics. 
 Italy then resembled ancient Greece, where arts 
 
 flourished amidst domestic and foreign wars. 
 
 Italy had its Thucydides in Guiccardini : he
 
 &2 
 
 nvTote the wars of his time, as Thucydides did 
 those of Peleponnesus ; it produced its orators 
 and dramatic geniuses even equal to Greece, the 
 Mandragora of Machiavel being worth all the 
 comedies of Aristophanes. Machiavel was also 
 an historian ; and, zeithout being biassed or pre- 
 judiced. Homer's Odyssey and Jriostoh Orlando 
 might well be compared: the latter is, it is 
 true, equally guilty with the former, of giving 
 the reins to an intemperate imagination, and 
 soaring to romantic incredibilities ; but for this 
 defect he compensates, by just allegories, deli- 
 cate satire, and a thorough knowledge of the 
 human heart ; and by so many comic graces suc- 
 ceeding strokes of terror, and such innumerable 
 beauties, he has altogether formed a monster ive 
 cannot but admire. In a fezv ages more, perhaps 
 Homer or Tasso will be no longer placed in 
 comparison with him. So says Voltaire. 
 
 Painting was in the sixteenth century carried 
 to high perfection. Sculpture, a more limited 
 art, and architecture also flourished. Music 
 teas more cultivated than it had ever been. En- 
 graving on copper was invented, at Florence, in 
 the fifteenth century ; and, nearly at the same
 
 63 
 
 tinle, the Germans invented printing : the first 
 who bro7ight books to Paris were condemned as 
 sorcerers. It was not till the end of the sixteenth 
 century that philosophy began to beam on man- 
 hind. Galileo studied Nature, and spoke the 
 language of truth. Not long before, Coperni- 
 cus, on the borders of Poland, discovered the 
 true system of the vniverse. Galileo was not 
 only the first good natural philosopher, but 
 wrote with Plato's elegance; with this advantage 
 
 over the Greeks, of treating only of true and 
 
 intelligible matters. He was, however, condemn- 
 ed by the Inquisition to suffer imprisonment and 
 penance, and to retract his opinions on his knees. 
 His sentence was more mild than zcas that of 
 Socrates ; but it reflected equal disgrace on his 
 judges as those of that great man incurred. It 
 has been the fate of mankind, that truth should 
 ever be persecuted at its first appearance. 
 
 The arts thusfiourishedin Italy, and religi- 
 ous disputes had not yet extended thither. 
 Whilst the people of other countries were cutting 
 each other's throats about what they did not un- 
 derstand, ten Popes contributed to the finishing 
 of the cathedral church of St. Peter, and en- 
 coura^ed the arts.
 
 (54 
 
 IVe should accustom ourselves to view those 
 above us without too much admiration, and with 
 no envy ; and never look on those below us with 
 contempt. Little souls fall down and worship 
 grandeur : admiration is only due to virtue. 
 195 
 
 It is observable, that the further people ad- 
 vance in elegance, the less they value splendor. 
 Necessity must first be supplied ; convenience 
 then requires to be satificd ; but after that pe- 
 riod men begin to distinguish themselves by taste, 
 and learn to despise those paltry distinctions 
 which riches alone can bestow. 
 196 
 
 // divenir famoso nan s' ha a contarc fra le 
 cose necessarie alia vita, onde nan dobbiamo do- 
 lerei se la lode non ci corre dietro. 
 197 
 
 Bacon says, " To free ourselves from a bad 
 habit, we ought not to change too much at a 
 time, lest zee be discouraged by difficulty ; nor 
 too little, lest the tediousness frighten us." 
 198 
 
 Solitude is sometimes the nurse of content' 
 ment as well as of zcoe.
 
 6.5 
 
 199 
 
 True eloquence consists in saying all that 
 ought to be said, and in saying nothing more. 
 200 
 
 A genuine love of Nature is the result of good 
 sense and a feeling heart, pure from those al- 
 loys of romance which give a currency to what is 
 called taste, whilst in fact it debases it. 
 201 
 
 Se plaint-on d'un ingrat (a dit un illustre 
 philosophe) on tie doit s'en prendre gu'd soi 
 mej^e : qu'on se reproche de ne lui avoir pas fait 
 du bien liberalement et de n'avoir pas recueille 
 tout le fruit de son action dans le terns meme 
 qu'on la fait e. L'homme est ne pour faire du 
 Men ; toutes lesfois qvLil est dans cet exercise il 
 accomplit les conditions sous lesquelles il jouit 
 de Vexistence: il a tout ce qui lui convient. 
 Je voudrois qu'on attachdt autant honte aux 
 plaintes d'une bienfaiteur qu'a Vingratitude. 
 202 
 
 A CHARACTER. 
 
 The excellencies of Adelaide's character re- 
 quire some refinement to become sensible of: we 
 must have a nice discernment of natural beauties, 
 and a certain degree of classic taste for the great
 
 ' 66 
 
 simple. Her mind is in such a state of perfect 
 nature, that she cannot be examined by the rules 
 of common life ; for her zeords, her actions, and 
 her zchole manners, borrow a peculiar propriety 
 from herself alone. In many is to be traced 
 the mechanical forming of a mother, a govern- 
 ess, or a priest ; but in her can be discovered 
 only one forming hand even His who made 
 Jier. 
 
 203 
 
 We feel for ourselves in feeling for a friend ; 
 ^t the kindness we shew an Unknown springs 
 from true urbanity. 
 
 204 
 
 Despondence is an addition to misfortunes ; 
 makes them heavier, and calls down fresh ones 
 from Heaven. The vicious receive adversity for 
 a punishment, and according to the use they 
 make of it, it heals or corrodes. The virtuous 
 z&elcome it as a fiery ordeal, from which they 
 come purified. Patience softens present afflic- 
 tions, and lays up future happiness. 
 205 
 
 That melancJwly which is excited by objects 
 of past pleasures, or inspired by sounds of har- 
 mony, sooths the heart instead of corroding it.
 
 67 
 
 Affliction is the tckolcsonie soil of virtue ; 
 Where patience, honour, sweet humanity. 
 Calm fortitude, take roof, and strongly flourish. 
 
 Mallet. ' 
 
 206 
 
 That lift is a blank which is not marked with 
 the efforts of virtue ; but it is a blank that we 
 shnll be called to account for in another. 
 207 
 
 Philosophy may teach us to talk of fortitude, 
 but religion empowers us to practise it. 
 208 
 
 A dead calm is the zcorst state possible for- the 
 human mind ; agitation is necessary to preserve 
 its proper temperament : it is ever happy when 
 this agitation is the effect of the social, not the 
 selfish passions. 
 
 209 
 
 Be if mine. Father of Mercy ! never to trans- 
 gress thy laws ; be it mine also to pity those who 
 do. When we stretch forth the hand of compas- 
 sion to the feeble, when we snatch them from the 
 gulph which would open to receive them, does it 
 return to us sullied by their guilt or does the 
 tincture of their crimes overspread it ? Let us 
 fly their contagion ; but, in doing so, let us not 
 allow it to extend to others, nor, in care of our 
 own security, suffer their total destruction.
 
 68 
 
 210 
 Ou sont les infortunes qui ne s'empressent pas 
 a caresser Vomhre de Fesperance ? 
 211 
 To compare the ideas that possess the mind in 
 different circumstances, is often more affecting 
 than to compare the circumstances themselves ; 
 because the mind rests not in the present for real 
 happiness or misery, but still anticipates an ex- 
 quisiteness in either extreme never to be verified. 
 212 
 The greatest of evils is a repining mind. 
 213 
 
 CHARACTER OF MRS. ***. 
 
 She is arrived at that period of life when 
 women become the most agreeable friends; nei- 
 ther too old to be lively, nor too young to be 
 grave ; and in either state of mind she is grace- 
 ful and unaffected. In her serious moments she 
 has a mixture of tender melancholy, and philo- 
 sophic calmness, in a countenance so expressive, 
 that it serves for a comment on her every thought: 
 you read the approaching refection in her eye, 
 which, as Prior says, " drops sense distinct and 
 clear." Her mind is not the mansion of melan- 
 choly, but of cheerfulness ; which, agreeable to
 
 69 
 
 --^^-{ 
 AddisoiCs definition, exerts itself rather as a 
 habit than as an act. In conversation she shews 
 that true politeness, which induces her to lead to 
 subjects most pleasing to those zoith whom she 
 converses; and, without brilliancy, she talks 
 sensibly : she is acquainted with most of the 
 elegant authors in several of the living lan- 
 guages ; and what industry can obtain she is 
 sure to possess, for she is indefatigable in appli- 
 cation to study. She possesses native seeds of 
 taste and genius, which her manner of writing 
 shews it is spirited and nervous. That charm- 
 ing sensibility, which is the glory of the female 
 nature, she possesses unaffectedly in an eminent 
 degree. Her mind is naturally formed superior 
 to every thing mean and sordid ; her sentiments 
 <ire enlarged; and her heart, like her coun- 
 tenance, is open. She may not deserve much 
 praise for her virtues, for they are constitutional 
 with her; and not to practise them, zcould be 
 doing herself violence. 
 
 214 
 An active mind embraces the whole circle of 
 its duties, andfnds time enough for all. 
 
 F
 
 70 
 
 215 
 
 It is the power of looking into the human 
 heart, and respomively vibrating with each emo- 
 tion there, that enables the poet to personify 
 each passion, and the painter to sketch with a 
 pencil ofjire. 
 
 216 
 
 How surprising it is to see guilt Jind resources 
 in courage, where innocence sinks spiritless ; yet 
 every day we may observe the just harmless, yet 
 diffident ; and the unjust, though conscious of 
 guilt, yet assured. 
 
 I hate when Vice can bolt her arguments, 
 And Virtue has no tongue to check her pride. 
 
 Mi/ion. 
 217 
 On reconnoit Thommc sans jugement en six 
 occasions; il sefache sans sujet ; il dit des choses 
 inutiles ; il se confie a tout le monde ; il change 
 de place sans raison ; il se mele de ce qui ne le 
 regarde point ; et il confond son ami avec son 
 ennemi. 
 
 218 
 II est noble je'n conviens, de se rendre indepen- 
 dant des hommes, et de se suffire a soi mime ; mais
 
 71 
 
 ^<^*4 
 il est certainement aussi heau de vivre au milieu 
 de la societe, de savoir s'y rendre utile et aimable 
 a tout le monde. 
 
 219 
 Many feel strong regrets for error ; but to 
 confess and atone, is the effort of a great mind. 
 Those who affect the reputation of decided cha- 
 racters, are apt to mistake obstinacy in error 
 for consistency of opinion. 
 
 Surely nothing can gratify the truly benevo- 
 lent heart like the exalted satisfaction of speak- 
 ing peace and comfort to the unhappy, without 
 expecting the meanness of adulation in return ; 
 or that creeping humility, which a sense of fa- 
 vours hardly bestowed by the arrogant seem to 
 demand. 
 
 221 
 j4 taste for rural scenes is born with us ; and, 
 after seeking in vain for pleasure amongst the 
 works of Art, we are forced to come back, and 
 find that the highest enjoyment is placed in the 
 lovely simplicity of Nature. 
 222 
 JUenfance et la viellesse se ressemblent en bien 
 des chases ; timidite, inconstance, caprices, voila 
 F 2
 
 leiirs def antes; confiatice, sensibiUfe, franchise, 
 toila leurs verius : elies parlent heaucoup, se 
 repeient souvent, etjinissent touj ours par ctre de 
 voire avis, j^insi done Venfance est interessante 
 meme par ces defauts ; mais que ses qualites sont 
 attachantes ! que son sourire est ingenu ! que 
 ses caresses sont innocentes ! 
 223 
 
 Wealth and titles are the gifts of fortune ; 
 dut peace and content are the endowments of a 
 well-regulated mind. Superior, indeed, is that 
 mind which can hear ajfiictions with patience; 
 a brilliant fortune without vain-glory ; that can 
 he familiar without meanness, and reserved 
 without pride. 
 
 224 
 
 He that will not bear the admonitions 
 of a friend, deserves the chastisement of an 
 enemy. 
 
 225 
 
 There is no occasion to bare our hearts to the 
 
 inspection of all our intimate acquaintances ; 
 
 for thereby we destroy that distinguishing mark 
 
 of confidence with which we should compliment 
 
 our particular friends.
 
 73 
 
 1-*^4- 
 226 
 
 Perfect happiness is only to be found in the 
 palace of imagination. 
 
 227 
 
 Man knows more than youth, having more 
 facts in his memory ; but he has not more apti- 
 tude to learn more force of attention nor 
 more capacity of reasoning. It is at the com- 
 mencement of youth at the age of desires and 
 passions, that our ideas shoot out and Jiourish 
 with the greatest vigour. It is in youth that 
 those thoughts are jjlanted zchich often after- 
 wards make men conspicuous. 
 228 
 
 Mr. Walpole (afterwards Lord Orford) dis- 
 approved of introducing characters on the stage 
 quite mad, or, like Belvidera, talking of " lutes, 
 laurels, seas of milk, and ships of amber ;" be- 
 cause this expresses merely light-headedness; and 
 because, Ziehen madness takes entire possession of 
 a person, the character ceases to be Jit for stage 
 representation, unless for a very short time it 
 being the business of the theatre to exhibit pas- 
 sions, not distempers. The finest exhibition of 
 a /lead distempered by misfortune, is that of 
 King Lear : his thoughts, amidst all their wild- 
 F3
 
 74 
 
 ness, dwell upon the cause of if his daughters; 
 and every sentence he drops excites reflection 
 and pity. Surely compassion must abate, did 
 we think him so mad as no longer to feel his un- 
 happiness. But Shakespeare writes madness as a 
 philosopher, Otway, merely as a poet, 
 
 " The excellence of our dramatic writers," con- 
 tinues he, " is by no means equal to the great men 
 we have produced in other works. Theatric 
 genius lay dormant after Shakespeare ; waked 
 with some bold and glorious, but irregular, and 
 often ridiculous, fights in Dryden ; revived in 
 Otway ; maintained a placid kind of dignity in 
 Howe, and even shone bright in Jane Shore ; it 
 trod in sublime and classic fetters in Cato, but 
 was void of nature, or the power of affecting 
 the passions ; in Southerne, it seemed a ray of 
 nature and Shakespeare, but, falling on an age 
 still more Hottentot, was stifled in those gross 
 and barbarous productions tragi-comedies. It 
 turned to tuneful nonsense in the Mourning 
 JBride ; grew stark mad in Lee, whose cloak, a 
 little worse for the wear, fell on Young, but 
 mth both was still a poet's cloak. It recovered- 
 its senses in Hughes and Fenton, who were 
 afraid it would relapse, and accordingly kept it
 
 75 
 
 down with a timid and amiable hand ; and then 
 it languished. We have not mounted again 
 above the two last" 
 
 229 
 Heaven, doubtless, formed us to be happy, 
 evdn in this world ; and zee obey its dictates in 
 being so when zae can, without encroaching on 
 the happiness of others. This lesson is legibly 
 written in the book of creation, which univer- 
 sally smiles : the earth cloathed in the loveliest 
 colours the animals playful the birds melo- 
 dious : such would not have been the case, had 
 our divine Creator intended this to be a world 
 of gloom. 
 
 230 
 True good-breeding is the sister of philan- 
 thropy ; with feelings not so serious or tender, 
 but equally inspired by fneness of soul, and 
 open to impressions of social affection. 
 
 231 
 Jepense que Tindulgence se trouve naturelle- 
 ment place dans Vamitie ; et que sans user dune 
 Idthe complaisance, on pent reprendres ses amis 
 avec douceur et attendre le moment favorable 
 pour f aire gouter sa morale.
 
 76 
 
 232 
 Warm active spirits are disgusted by resist- 
 ance, whilst moderate tempers are not speedily 
 wearied ; and, once put in activity, endeavours 
 for success constitute a part of their being ; nor 
 do they easily forego the custom of exertion 
 when once acquired. 
 
 There is a fearful tribunal, where our actions 
 will not fail to be arraigned, not according to 
 the marks that human policy has adopted to 
 judge by, but the sins of the heart will receive 
 the most risid recosnition. 
 234 
 The region of passion is a land of despotism, 
 zcJiere reason excites but a m^ck jurisdiction , and 
 is continually forced to submit to an arbitrary 
 tyrant, who, rejecting temperate lazes, is only 
 guided by the dangerous impulse of violent and 
 uncontroulable wishes. 
 
 235 
 Philosophy often retires from action, and 
 dwells in speculation. 
 
 236 
 The epicure, who caters like a slave, 
 Is but a pampered morsel for the grave.
 
 77 
 
 37 
 Give, no promise without consideration ; but 
 when given, hold it sacred. 
 238 
 How engaging is \a frank and artless hospi- 
 taUty, equally distinct from importunate civili- 
 ty, or blunt rusticity. " Welcome the comings 
 speed tlie parting, guest," is Homer's precept. 
 239 
 JTai trouve un peu de resemblance entre ce 
 qu'on appelle le monde, et le bal de Vopera^ 
 Oest 'assurement un lieu enchanteur ; on y fait 
 ififiniment d^ esprit ; on y voit tres jolis masques,, 
 mais un peintre seroit peut-etre cmbarrasse d'y 
 trouver une physionomie. 
 240 
 Les gens qui articuler^tunremercimentsecroient 
 aquittes par cette formule ; mais ceux qui nUx- 
 priment pas leur recounoisanee la prouveni dans 
 toutes leurs actions. 
 
 241 
 The summit of our wishes is not the pinnacle 
 of happiness; and terror will oft intrude onjoy^ 
 
 2fot Happiness makes good her name ; 
 
 Our very wishes give lis not our wish. 
 
 Young.
 
 78 
 
 242 
 A hatin proverb sat/s Nothing can enter into 
 the affections which stumbles at the threshold by 
 woundins the ear. 
 
 243 
 Agreeableness is arbitrary ; beauty is some- 
 thing more real and dependant of taste or 
 opinion. 
 
 244 
 Women are religious, as they are virtuous 
 less from principles founded on reasoning and 
 argument, than from elegance of mind, delicacy 
 of moral taste, and from a quick perception of 
 the beautiful and becoming in every thing; and 
 their instinct is worth all the tedious reasonings 
 of men. , 
 
 245 
 Wit, vivacity, good-nature, and politeness, 
 give an eternal youth ; as stupidity and mo- 
 roseness give premature old age. 
 
 24f) 
 
 " I sighed and zoept in secret, whilst, to the 
 
 world, I wore the appearance of content." 
 
 This is as much as we have power to do ; and he 
 
 that says philosophy can go farther, and teach
 
 79 
 v+- 
 
 its not to feel, mistakes its use, and makes dull 
 
 apathy supply its place. 
 
 QAl 
 To tell our own secrets to all, is folly hut 
 folly without guilt ; but to communicate those 
 with which we were entrusted, is always trea- 
 chery combined with folly. 
 
 248 
 It is the well-horn and respectable persons, 
 reduced by a variety of misfortunes, who strive 
 to support a character in the zcorld by the 
 greatest self-denials, and shrink from the inso- 
 lence of prosperity to privacy and retirement, 
 preserving their integrity, and ennobled by their 
 industry and resignation it is such that have 
 claims upon the liberal and beneficent heart. 
 
 249 
 Gibbon says, " Cicero's epistles afford models 
 of e$)ery form of correspondence from the care- 
 less effusions of tenderness and friendship, to 
 the well-grounded declarations of discreet and 
 dignified resentment ; and contain admirable les- 
 sons, applicable to almost every situation in lifeP 
 
 250 
 ILa virtu contemplata nuda o dalla immagi- 
 naziont o dalla ragione, appare tanto ahbellita
 
 80 
 
 5-<f>-t 
 
 dalle sue stessi grazia, ed h tanto fortemente in" 
 culcata dal diritto discorso, che un uomo dab- 
 bine stupisce come altri possa non essernt inna- 
 morato. 
 
 251 
 
 *' Truth" says Lord Shaftesbury, "is the most 
 pozoerful thing in the world ; even fiction can 
 only please by its resemblance to it ; and the ap- 
 pearance of reality is necessary to make any 
 thins agreeable" 
 
 252 
 
 We should never sujfer attention to one part 
 of our conduct to swallow up our regard for 
 every other. 
 
 253 
 
 On the return of long-absent dear friends, 
 the rapture lasts not very long ; gladdened as 
 the heart is, the friend received and friend re- 
 ceiving sit down quietly to tell and hear stories. 
 254 
 
 There cannot be more unhappy men than those 
 wlto have never experienced adversity. 
 
 Sweet are the uses of adversity ; 
 
 Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, 
 
 Wears yet a precious Jewel in its head. 
 
 Shaifs^are.
 
 81 
 
 255 
 
 We are not alzcays obliged to speak what wt 
 think ; hut roe ought always to think what we 
 do speak. 
 
 256 
 
 Le sage fait souvent un utile retour sur ltd 
 meme au milieu des plaisirs tumultueuse, en com- 
 parant ce qiiil pourroit faire, et ce quil fait. 
 Au milieu de titresse commune il se trouve des 
 times fortes et energique, qui sont entrainees vers 
 les souhaits les plus vertueux, et les sentimens les 
 plus sublimes. Plus d'une entreprise utile ex~ 
 ecutee dans le silence, plus d'une action celebre 
 ne farent peut-etre imagintes d'abord gu'au 
 milieu de la musique et de la danse : peuf ttre 
 une belle ame ne rentre-t-elle jamais plus en elle 
 meme que dans ces lieux oil le vulgaire, litre au 
 vertige et a Fillusion des sens, est incapable 
 dHaucune reflexion, et se laisse emporter aveugle- 
 ment au torrent de la folic. 
 257 
 
 What can he want who is ulready content 
 who lives within the limit of his circumstances 
 and who has said to his desires, " Thus far 
 shall ye go, and no farther?" This is the end
 
 of all philosophic ; and poor is the philosopher 
 who has not gained this end. 
 258 
 When the heart is softened by the pressure of 
 sorrow, melancholy impressions, even from fo- 
 reign causes, are apt to sink deep. In an hour 
 of distress, the simply pathetic song of " Marys 
 Dream'^ was once so forcibly felt,, as called 
 aloud for some exertion of the person's mind so 
 affected to dispel the added gloom; and this 
 exertion produced the following 
 
 SONG, 
 In contrast to Mary's Dream. 
 
 The sun, in full meridian blaze, 
 
 His southern altitude had gain'd, 
 And vertical, with fervid rays. 
 
 In golden pomp resplendent reign d ; 
 When Sandy sought a grateful shade, 
 
 Where Ganges' scetited groves arise, 
 There, screen d from day^ supinely laid. 
 
 Sleep's balmy pressure clos'd his eyes. 
 
 His heart, with Mary's image fraught, 
 Beat high with transports fondly sweet, 
 
 When Lffcc, who led each busy thought. 
 Now bore him to his Mary's feet :
 
 83 
 l-*-}f4- 
 
 Joy bearrid in radiance from her eyes, 
 Whilst thus lier lips, that Joy ccnxeyy 
 
 In accents soft of glad surprise^ 
 " My Sandy lives to love and me ! 
 
 *' Not Time, in his unceasing round, 
 
 " Whilst Heaven this vital spark imparts; 
 
 " Not space, tho' stretch' d to earth's last bound, 
 " Shall tear thee from this *' heart of hearts ;" 
 
 " Not shadows drear, by fear portray d, 
 -" Whilst musing fancy dwelt on thee, 
 
 " Shall e'er again my peace invade 
 
 " My Sandy lives to love and me ! 
 
 " Dear youth! now freed from all our woes, 
 
 " Has fate that blissful hour in store, 
 " When time nor space shall interpose, 
 
 " A7id thou and I shall part no more?" 
 
 A piercing ray his slumbers broke 
 No more of' Mary could he see ; 
 But soft she to his soul still spoke, 
 " My Sandy ! live for love and me /" 
 259 
 The maxim which Periander, of Corinth 
 (one of the seven sages of Greece), left, teas 
 " Be master of your anger" considering 
 anger as the great disturber of life the chief 
 enemy both of public happiness and private
 
 84 
 
 tTanquility ; and he thought this guard to pos- 
 terity a strong obligation to reverence his me- 
 mory. 
 
 260 
 Men sometimes fancy they hate flattery ; but 
 they hate only the manner of it. 
 261 
 II sangue nobile e un accidente de I la for tuna ; 
 le azioni nobile caratterizano il grande. 
 262 
 Frugality and industry are the handmaids of 
 fortune. 
 
 263 
 As the mind must govern the hand, so must 
 the man of intelligence direct the man of la- 
 bour. 
 
 264 
 Those who too much refine their delicacy, en- 
 danger their quiet. 
 
 265 
 A man cannot make himself illustrious in let- 
 ters, zeithout dividing his time hetzveen the 
 Zijorld and retirement : in the desert, he must 
 pick up diamonds in the zi'orld, cut, polish, 
 and set them.
 
 85 
 
 266 
 A strong memory and fertile invention are 
 generally found together, and the former proves 
 of the utmost utility to the latter. 
 
 267 
 The tame objects excite in m very diferent 
 sensations^ according to the moments at zchich 
 th^y present themselves ; and it is to these dif- 
 ferent impressions zve are principally to attri- 
 bute the diversity of understanding ainongst 
 those educated in the same way : there are mo- 
 ments of perfect repose of mind ; the objects 
 which then present themselves engage the nhole 
 attention ; are examined minutely, and make a 
 durable impression. A child being shut up 
 alone in a room zchere there is a pot ofjioicers, 
 may chance to pluck some of them, consider them 
 attentively, and discover their nice differences, 
 which a superficial survey never would have 
 done : this accident may determine his taste for 
 painting of Jiozvers. Thus chance has a consi- 
 derable influence in our education ; and it is to 
 the most trifling incidents that the most illus- 
 trious men have often owed their talents. This 
 assertion disgusts our vanity, which assigns con- 
 sequential causes to great effects. Chance acts 
 
 G
 
 86 
 
 f**4 
 
 alike on all mankind; and if its effects on ordi- 
 nary minds are less remarkable, it is because the 
 minds themselves are less remarkable. 
 
 M. Vaucauson attended his pious mother con- 
 stantly to her spiritual director ; when she re- 
 tired with him to confession in his cell, her son 
 remained alone in the hall, where stood a clock. 
 As in a state of vacation there are no sensations 
 indifferent, he was struck with the uniform mo- 
 tion of the pendulum ; his curiosity was excited, 
 and, desirous to discover the cause, he proceeded 
 to examine the wheels : from this examination 
 he projected a machine, z&hich he executed in 
 wood, zeith a knife. Encouraged by (his suc- 
 cess, his taste for mechanics was determined ; 
 and he discovered the possibility of forming a 
 fluting automaton. 
 
 A chance illumined the genius of Milton : 
 driven into disgrace by the death of Cromwell^ 
 he executed his fine poem. 
 
 Had not Shakespeare's imprudence drove him 
 from his trade, he might have been the prudent, 
 but never the celebrated, Shakespeare. 
 
 It was chance, too, that determined Moliere's 
 taste for the stage: his grandfather frequently 
 carrying him to the theatre, his father, in anger.
 
 7 
 
 asked ^' Was he to be an actor f " Would 
 to God" replied his grandfather^ " he was as 
 good a one as Montrose /" This reply striking 
 young Moliere, he took a disgust to his trade ; ariU 
 to this chance France ozced itsjirst comic zcriter. 
 
 Corneille loved, and found he was, a poet : 
 had he riot known his mistress, he would have 
 been a lazoyer, most probably, all his life. 
 
 Thus it is : the devotion of a mother, the 
 death of Cromwell, deer-stealing, the exclama- 
 tion of an old man, and the beauty of a woman, 
 have givenfive illustrious characters to Europe. 
 
 Newton, too, is another instance : he was a 
 student at Cambridge ; and reading, one day, 
 under an apple-tree, one of the fruit fell, and 
 hit him on the head. When he observed the 
 smallness of the apple, he zcas surprised at the 
 smartness of the blozv : this led him to consider 
 the accelerating motion of falling bodies ; from 
 whence he deduced the principles of gravity, 
 and laid the foundation of that philosophy 
 which refects honour on the English nation. 
 Hozo many revolutions have been accomplished 
 or prevented ; how many wars kindled or extin- 
 guished, by the intrigues of a priest, a zooman, 
 t)r a minister ? How often, for want of secret 
 G 2
 
 88 
 
 anecdotes, do we not every rohere find the glove 
 of the Duchess of Marlborough ? Were his- 
 tory aheays to search out those secret causes, it 
 might he less dignified, but would be much more 
 instructive. 
 
 Helvetius on Man, 
 
 268 
 
 Good nature and good sense are perennials, 
 and, properly cultivated, bloom through the 
 whole routine of human existence, with only 
 this difference that they are lively and ani- 
 mated in the spring, sentimental and refined in 
 the summer, mild and interesting in the autumn, 
 striking and delightful in the winter season, 
 when their beams have peculiar beauty, because 
 they so seldom gild the closing scene. 
 269 
 
 To feel due admiration for noble actions, 
 people should have minds capable of conceiving 
 them. 
 
 270 
 
 The effusions of gaiety, so exhilarating to a 
 mind at ease, come to an aching heart as a ray 
 of sunshine upon ice too deep to be penetrated 
 by it.
 
 89 
 
 271 
 
 Mimickry may he used pleasantly, and with- 
 out degrading us, if we keep it clear of buffoon- 
 ery ; even whilst zve mimic, preserving the dig- 
 nity of our own character, abstaining from in- 
 decent words or actions, from too great distor- 
 tions, and from going into great extremes : and 
 we should not select deformities, but defects, for 
 ridicule. 
 
 272 
 
 Women ought so to calm even their most ami- 
 able affections, that no idle jealousies should dis- 
 turb the discharge of their sober duties of life ; 
 or have their thoughts, which ought to be other- 
 ways employed, engrossed by particular objects. 
 273 
 
 Modest frugality is a virtue zvhich at all times 
 receives the approbation of the good, and excites 
 no envy amongst the vain and ambitious. 
 274 
 
 Disappointment in our best hopes is so much 
 the condition of life, that we are taught to be- 
 lieve, by frequent and unerring proofs, that 
 such disappointments are calculated to improve 
 our virtues, and ultimately turn out for our ad- 
 vantage : for sorrow humanizes the mind, and 
 G 3
 
 90 
 
 expaiids the heart to feel for the zc'oes of others ; 
 teaching eompassion, benevolence , mid resigna- 
 tion ; producing felicity to ourfellozc-creatures, 
 and self-approbation to ourselves. 
 275 
 
 La vertu aime autant a se cacher que la vice 
 aime aparoitre. Ce qui fait juger quel que fois 
 assez injustement du beau sexe c'est sa modestie 
 memc qui tient ses vertus dans Vonibre : cette 
 modestie et ce silence sont cependant sa plus 
 haute vertus : le gloire des femmes est de fairs 
 pcu parler d'elles. 
 
 0.76 
 
 II est une aimahle philosophic exempte des 
 rides de Vausterite qui scait conciliet les devoirs 
 et les plaisirs. Celle la convieut mieux au 
 sexf que Vorgueileux pedantisme de nos esprits 
 forts. 
 
 277 
 
 The satisfaction derived from revenge endures 
 but for a moment ; but that which is the offspring 
 of clemency is eternaL 
 
 278 
 
 Ilfaut bien estimer quelqvH un pour conscntir 
 a lui devoir tout*
 
 91 
 
 279 
 Self-condemnation shews the goodness of the 
 heart. 
 
 280 
 One bad habit subdued, one evil intention 
 given up, from a sense of rectitude, zsiU, in the 
 hours of sickness and retirement, afford a delight 
 beyond any indulgence of vicious propensities, or 
 yielding to the temptations of delusive pleasures. 
 
 281 
 Compassion is an emotion of which we ought 
 never to be ashamed : graceful in youth is the 
 tear of sympathy, and the heart that melts at 
 the tale of woe. 
 
 282 
 Of all human defects that exist without a bad 
 heart, a querulous disposition is the most una- 
 miable : doubly wretched are those zcho murmur 
 at the evils of life, instead of supporting them 
 xcith fortitude. 
 
 283 
 Brilliant talents may be mistaken by the un- 
 Ti'ary for wisdom ; but the crafty designs of 
 worldly cunning can never be mistaken by the 
 wise for the honest simplicity of the heart. 
 
 G 4
 
 92 
 
 284 
 In the search after wisdom, the lapse of time 
 is silent and imperceptible ; and the hour that ii 
 spent in improvement passes rapidly away. 
 285 
 To encourage a restless and zvandering dispo- 
 sition, is not the way to be happy. 
 286 
 We are never to form a judgment of the feel- 
 ings of others by what we might feel in their 
 place. However dark the habitation of the 
 mole in our eyes, yet the animal itself finds the 
 apartment sufficiently lightsome. 
 287 
 Time, among other injuries, diminishes the 
 power of pleasing. 
 
 288 
 Praise, like gold and diamonds, owes its value 
 only to its scarcity. 
 
 289 
 The excellence of an aphorism consists not so 
 much in the expression of some rare or abstruse 
 sentiment, as in tlie comprehension of some ob- 
 vious and useful truth in a few words, 
 290 
 La solitude est un etat de Tame dans lequel 
 elle s^abandonne librement a ses rejiexions : ainsi
 
 9S 
 
 le sage qui ouhlie tout ce qui Venvironne pour se 
 recueillir en lui mime n' est pas moim solitaire 
 que celui qui fuit la sociite pour se litre entie- 
 rement aux douceurs dune vie tranquiL 
 291 
 
 Oh ! in that hour 
 
 Of deepest horror, when the throbbing hearty 
 Oppress' d "with anguish, can sustain no more, 
 . May patience still, and resignation, come 
 To cheer the gloom ! Not such as his xvho hoast 
 Supenor poxo'rs a mind above flte reach 
 Of human xveakness, yet with ardour seeks 
 The frail support of transitory praise ; 
 Or his, who, trembling at an unknown pow'r. 
 Submits in silence to omnipotence, 
 And, struggling, checks the murmurs of his heart ; 
 But that sweet peace, that heartfelt confidence. 
 By heav'nly hope and filial love inspir'd. 
 
 Miss Bawdier. 
 
 Those who have cheerfully practised the du- 
 ties of their station, and possessed for a length 
 of time esteem and consideration, deserve not that 
 mi the first equivocal action of their lives, sur- 
 prize should be converted into doubt, and doubt 
 into determined condemnation.
 
 94 
 
 Doing nothing is very different from having 
 nothing to do : there is an art and address in it 
 zvhich the fair sex understand much better than 
 men, 
 
 " Whose t rising pleases, and wham trifles please." 
 294 
 
 To know men thoroughly/, we should examine 
 their every-day merit. 
 
 295 
 
 Wt should exercise the understanding, and use 
 _^ it more than the memory : it is better to form 
 our own ideas, than tofll our heads solely with 
 those of other people, which is chiefly memory's 
 province : the understanding extends by exer- 
 else. 
 
 296 
 
 In too ardent a pursuit of pleasure, we gene- 
 rally fail, ft'om our hurry to obtain it. " They 
 do not taste their pleasures, but swallow them 
 z&hole" is a judicious description of sensualists. 
 297 
 
 Happiness has this essential difference from 
 what is called pleasure, that virtue forms its 
 basis; and, therefore, being the offspring of rea- 
 son, produces uniformity of effect.
 
 95 
 
 298 
 Vuoi far vendetta del tuo iiemico, governate 
 bate. 
 
 299 
 If the day is divided by a round of useful 
 duties, innocent amusements, and instructive ap- 
 plications, the hours dance cheerfully along. 
 300 
 Tout difficvlte vaincue donne du plaisir ; 
 chaque fois que Von avance vers un but quel- 
 conque, que Von regarde avec complaisance un 
 ouvrage acheve, Vame sent un calm une satis- 
 faction inexprimable, et contente d^elle menie, ne 
 cherche plus d^ autre plaisir. 
 301 
 IjCS femmes sont bien plus capables d'atten- 
 tion qu'on ne pense ; il ne leur manque que Vap- 
 plication. 
 
 302 
 Le suite des tableaux que fournissent les an- 
 nales du genre humain est tres propre a former 
 lejugement et le coeur. 
 
 303 
 Si les femmes ne veulent pas se borner a ne 
 hriller qvLun matin, elles doivent perfectionner 
 leurs facultes par uu peu d^ etude, et par h con^
 
 96 
 
 merce d'hommes eclaires : c'est se mtnager une 
 resource que lesmettres unjour a tabri de la so- 
 litude ; et reunira en elks les avantages des deux 
 sexes. 
 
 304 
 
 The timid and reserved are often relieved 
 from painful exertions by the frank and com- 
 placent, who derive a generous pleasure in bring- 
 ing forth that merit to view, which modesty 
 would veil. 
 
 305 
 
 It is a just observation, that persons of ge- 
 nius, aud those who are most capable of the 
 works of art, are always most fond of nature; 
 as they are sensible that all art must end in the 
 imitation and study of nature. 
 306 
 
 Overstrained sensibility naturally relaxes the 
 other powers of the mind, and prevents intel- 
 lect from attaining that sovereignty which it 
 ought, to render a human creature useful to 
 others, and content with its own station. 
 307 
 
 The true^irit of religion cheers as well as 
 composes the mind ; it banishes, indeed, all le- 
 vity of behaviour, and dissolute mirth; but Jills
 
 97 
 
 f^'j^-t 
 
 the mind zoith perpetual screniti/, uninterrupted 
 cheerfulness, and an habitual inclination to 
 please others, and be pleased ourselves. 
 
 308 
 Good taste is a pozcerful coadjutor to reason 
 in the conduct of life : the perception of moral 
 beauty is near akin to that of natural ; and a 
 mind capable of receiving vivid impressions of 
 the latter, xcill easily feel the influence of the 
 former. The love of every thing great and 
 beautiful, whether in the natural or the moral 
 world, will be a powerful preventive against 
 danger at that period when we are most liable 
 to temptations, and have not experience to teach 
 us to escape them. Good taste and good prin- 
 ciples zcill ensure us against the blandishments of 
 vice. 
 
 309 
 In a Latin poem written by Sir Thomas 
 More, he describes, as an amiable wife, one who 
 is not stupidly silent when not prattling non- 
 sense; learned, or, at least capable of being 
 made so ; for, being thus accomplished, she is 
 ever drawing sentences and maxims of virtue out 
 the best authors : one who, in changes of for- 
 tune, is not too much elated by prosperity, nor
 
 98 
 
 -*-^ 
 
 broken down h\j adverdty ; one who proves a 
 cheerful, good-humoured companion ; infusing 
 knowledge into her children with their milk, 
 and from infancy training them up to virtue 
 and wisdom. It is such a wife that makes a 
 husband long for home; in whatever amusement 
 he may chance to be engaged, he is always 
 anxious to return to one so dear, so intelligent, 
 and so amiable. If she touches her lute to sing 
 her compositions, her voice soothes his solitude, 
 and sounds more sweetly than that of the night-' 
 ingale : days are zoith pleasure passed in her 
 company, and new beauties ever discovered in 
 her discourse ; she keeps the mind in perpetual 
 serenity, restrains mirth from being dissolute, 
 and prevents melancholy from becoming pain- 
 ful. Such must have been the z&ife of Orpheus, 
 for who would grieve for a foolish wife ? Such 
 the daughter of Ovid, who rivalled him in 
 poetry. Such was Tullia, who is celebrated by 
 the most learned and fondest of fathers ; and 
 such was the mother of the two Gracchi, who is 
 no less famous for being their instructor than 
 their parent. 
 
 310 
 Christianity alzoays carries internal convic- 
 tion by the excellence of its moral precepts, and
 
 99 
 
 1 v^ i' 
 
 hy its tendency to make mankind happy ; and, 
 in the peculiar mode of it established in Eng- 
 land, breathes the mild spirit of the gospel, and 
 that charity which embraces all mankind as 
 brothers. It is equally free from enthusiasm 
 and superstition ; its outward form is decent 
 and respectful, without affected ostentation; 
 mid what shews its excellence above all others, 
 is, that every other church allows it to be the 
 best, except itself, 
 
 311 
 
 Heaven has endowed all creatures with a 
 certain portion of affection, which must be 
 expended ; some lavish it on zcorthy, some on 
 unzcorthy, objects : a dog, cat, man, or 
 monkey, often share that of the fair sex ; whilst 
 pleasure, interest, or ambition, are the idols of 
 the other. 
 
 312 
 
 Miserable must that being be, zehose education 
 has only tended to injiame the passions ; but a 
 distinction ought to be made between injiaming 
 and strengthening them : if the passions are 
 pampered whilst the judgment is left unformed, 
 madness and folly must etisue. '
 
 100 
 i- <<# 4 
 
 313 
 
 Women ought to etideavour to purify their 
 hearts ; hut can they do so when their unculti- 
 vated understandings make them dependent on 
 their sejises for employment ; when no noble 
 pursuit sets them above the little vanities of the 
 day, or enables them to curb the wild emotions 
 that agitate the mind, like a reed over which 
 every passing breeze has power ? 
 314 
 
 Shakespeare calls just resentment the child of 
 integrity. 
 
 315 
 
 // matrimonia ha molti affanni, ma il celi- 
 bato non ha diletto alcuno. 
 316 
 
 " II lampeggiar delV angelico viso." Flashes 
 of ajfection breaking from the soul, alone dis- 
 play the truth of generosity and tenderness that 
 deserves a friend. ' Gleams from the heart ; shezo 
 its intricacies, its weakness, and its vigour ; ex- 
 posing it naked and undisguised to the spectator. 
 A single minute in this way gives more knozc- 
 ledge of a character, and attracts more con- 
 fidence, than twenty years experience of refined 
 taste and propriety of conduct.
 
 101 
 
 317 
 
 That character is always most perfect where 
 sensibility is united with fortitude, and where 
 the heart is ready to correct the severe strictures 
 which the judgment is forced to make on the 
 conduct ofoth^frs. 
 
 318 
 
 Rousseau says Men will argue more forcibly 
 about the honan heart, hut women will read 
 the heart much better. Women haze most wit 
 men most genius ; women observe men reason : 
 the world is the book of women. 
 
 319 
 Sweet is the look of sorrow for an ofence 
 from a heart determined never to commit it 
 more : upon that altar only could I offer up my 
 wrongs. 
 
 Sterne. 
 
 320 
 It is curious to observe the triumph of slight 
 incidents over the mind, and zchat incredible 
 weight they have in governing our opinion of 
 men and things. That trifes light as air shall 
 waft a belief into the soul, and plant it so 
 immoveable within, that all Euclid's demon- 
 H
 
 102 
 
 sfratiom, could tJiei/ he brought to batter 
 it in breach, should not have power to over- 
 throw it. 
 
 321 
 There is no possibility of appretiating human 
 actions justly , without knozoledge of the motives : 
 many splendid actions are tnerely the offspring 
 of ostentation. 
 
 322 
 What a common and fatal malady it is to be 
 sick of superjiuities. 
 
 323 
 Objects of high gratification are difficult, and 
 rarely obtained ; and our anguish on losing them 
 is proportionable to the transport they occasion- 
 ed us : but objects of complacency and satisfac- 
 tion are always within the reach of a benevolent 
 mind. 
 
 324 
 JJ Hymen est un engagement tres facile a con- 
 tracter, mais pour en soutenir dignemcnt les 
 charges et Men remplir tous les devoirs de la vie 
 privee il faut peut-ttre aufant de vertu que 
 pour remplir les roles les plus brillans et les plus 
 distingues.
 
 103 
 
 325 
 
 TIN PORTRAIT. 
 
 Jelie Madame de *** ! Cette epithete de 
 jolitf que Vonprodigue tant, et que Fon applique 
 si mal, sembh avoir ttt imaginte pour elle. Sa 
 seduction est prompte et durable. Figurez vous 
 line houche qui nefait que de tiaitre, et des yeux\ 
 qui nejinissent point, presque blues quoique ils 
 sont bruues, et armcs de longues paupieres noin, 
 servant comtne des voiles aux rayons qui s'en- 
 echappent ; un teint dtune blancheur eblous- 
 sante et qui lui appartient ; des bras arrondis 
 par les graces ; un pied que la Chine envieroit ; 
 une taille au dessus de tout, legere, elegante, 
 pleine de mollesse, et majestueuse en cas de bc- 
 win:-ct ce physique victoricux, joignez un 
 moral celeste ; Pesprit de tout dire, de tout ap- 
 percevoir, de tout orner : cette folic qui notcr 
 rien d la decence ; un coquetterie qui desespere 
 et qui plait, des bouffees d'humenr de ravissantes, 
 petites bouderies, des lu-eurs de sentiment, quelques 
 ruanees de melancolie d'autant plus piguantes 
 qu'on rCen devine pas la cause ; une ame gene- 
 reuse bienfaisante et noble ; un imagination ar- 
 il 2
 
 104 
 
 dente vagabonde et magiqne, que lui cree des 
 plaisirs oil les autres en cherchent, et la pro~ 
 mene toujours dans un monde enchante. 
 326 
 The most selfish villager has no conception to 
 what a degree of selfishness and insensibility the 
 feelings of those arrive who live in sloth and 
 luxury in capitals ; where the heart is rendered 
 callous by the daily exhibition ofprofusion con- 
 trasted with want of misery with mirth. 
 327 
 j^s youth is most elated by bright prospects of 
 happiness, so it is most desponding and easily de- 
 jected in disappointment. 
 328 
 Benevolence and sobriety constitute, in a great 
 measure, the perfection of a rational being. 
 
 329 
 Wise people sometimes defeat their aims by too 
 great caution ; and cunning almost always over- 
 shoots its mark by too much craft. 
 330 
 When we consider the calamities to which our 
 nature is subject, the trivial vexations of life are 
 beneath our regard.
 
 105 
 
 331 
 Chuse friends zeithjudgmey^t, confide in them 
 with caution, and love them toith sincerity/, but 
 moderation. 
 
 332 
 A lively imagination aggravates the sombre 
 teints of life. 
 
 333 
 Nothing is more useful than to keep a book by 
 one, containing easy and interesting productions, 
 to be read, by snatches, at moments zchich would 
 otherwise be lost. 
 
 334 
 
 No more on "worth let man look down with scorn, 
 And frown on those not quite so highly born ; 
 Nor, as the coaches rattle from his door, 
 Boast, like proud Haman, that he is not poor : - . 
 Earth's doom'd to safer all folly there fnust end; 
 Then read, and own t/ie satyrist a friend. 
 
 There is no blessing more earnestly to be wish- 
 ed for than a calm and composed resignatian to 
 the events of life. 
 
 536 
 " Born without ideas, without vice, without 
 virtue," says Helvetius, " every thing in man i% 
 
 H 3
 
 106 
 
 an acquisition : even humanity it is to his 
 education he owes this se?itime?it ; and the most 
 efficacious method of inspiring it, is, to accustom 
 youth to beholding miserable objects, to ask them 
 by what chance they are not i7i similar situa- 
 tions, which leads children to picture themselves 
 in the place of the zoretched; that habit gained, 
 they become more touched with misery : an in- 
 finity of different sentiments then mix with the 
 first, and their assemblage improves the pleasure 
 felt by a noble soul in succouring the distressed." 
 337 
 
 Johnson conceives that English poetry cannot 
 2jlease without rhyme. " Those," he says, '' who 
 think themselves capable of astonishing, may 
 write blank verse ; but those who hope only to 
 please, must condescend to rhyme." 
 338 
 
 Women are always more exposed to sufferance 
 than the other sex, because always in depend' 
 ance ; a thing they should no more regret than 
 other dispensations of Providence. 
 339 
 
 Ogni periodo della vita prende in presto fell' 
 cita dal tempo avtenire.
 
 107 
 
 340 
 Nothing is so dangerous to our happiness as 
 silvering one sole ideal prospect of fe licit t/ to 
 engross our imagination, and, by so doing, gain 
 a too powerful ascendancy over the heart. 
 341 
 No mind where reason is habitually para- 
 mount gives place, but for a moment, to the 
 anarchy of the passions. 
 
 342 
 That hypocrisy which affects the air of severe 
 difficult virtue, is in itself the worst vice. 
 343 
 Let us always listen even to our censurers, 
 and profit by their remarks, if good; laugh at 
 them, if bad; always aspiring at perfection, 
 and letting them rail at us, if they will. 
 344 
 We should inculcate in youth the i7iost lively 
 ideas of the native beauty of virtue ; and that 
 elegant moral taste, that quick sensibility, which 
 is a nearer way to rectitude than the dull road 
 of inanimate precept. 
 
 345 
 ies passions, les vices, et les ridicules sont trois 
 sortes d' affections differentes qiCil faut bien se 
 II 4
 
 108 
 
 ^arder de confondre. Les passions naissent 
 dans I'ame ; elles maitressent, elles la tyrannisent ; 
 et si il est possible d^arreter leur impetuosite, it 
 fest rarement de les extirper. On pent partager 
 les passions en deux classes, celles de gout, et 
 celles de sentiment. Les passions de gout ne sont 
 quelquefois point naturelles a I'homme qiC elles 
 tourmentent ; elles tiaissent souvent de Voisivetty 
 de la paresse, du libertenage : elles sont les pas- 
 sions du jeu, du vin et des femmes ; quelques 
 forces qu elles acquirent par rhabitude il est 
 neanmoins possible de s'en corriger ; elles ne 
 tiennent point assez essentiellement a Fame; 
 mille circonstances peuvent les deraciner d'un 
 coeur. II rCen est pas de meme des passions que 
 jappelle de sentimetit ; celles la sont gravees en 
 caracteres ineffa^ables ; rien ne parvient meme 
 a les adoucir ; le terns les augmente, et la viel- 
 lesse accroit leur violence : dans cette classe je 
 mets Vavarice, lajealousie, I'envie, la haine, la 
 vengeance, etc. etc. ; leurs traits sont caches, et 
 ieurs effets terribles. 
 
 346 
 Les vices viennent du coeur, et sont enfans des 
 passions. II est cependant possible d'etre vi-
 
 109 
 
 cieux sans avoir des passions : un etre froide, 
 passif apathique, sera vicieux souvent pour etre 
 quelque chose ; il aimera la vertu avec les hon- 
 nites gens ; et caressera le vice avec des hommes 
 pervers. Me/iez vous tovjours de Vhomme qui 
 n^a point de caractere ; ctlui la pent vous perdre 
 comme il pent vous ohliger. Xentends done par 
 vices des affections du coeur, telles que Vingra- 
 titude la durete la maligniti la perfidie, etc. 
 347 
 Les ridicules ne sont ni des vices, fti des pas- 
 sions : ils ne viennent ni de Tame, ni du coeur i 
 lis tiennent au caractere a Veducation a la ma- 
 nicre de voir, au plus ou moins d'esprit, aux 
 differentes impressions qu'on a recues dans sa 
 jtunesse, etc. etc. On pent ttre un tres honnete 
 homme et avoir des ridicules ; mais ces ridicules 
 combien ils nous font d'enemis I 
 348 
 How many are driven by the burdensome te- 
 dium of unoccupied leisure to seek relief in a di- 
 versity of situation ; but a lively imagination, 
 a cultivated understanding, and a good flow 
 of animal spirits, prevent a mind from ever 
 sinking into apathy.
 
 110 
 
 349 
 
 Had not the benevolent Author of our beitifr 
 mingled with the bitter drauglUs in hitman life 
 that blessed drop of oblivion that draws the 
 venom from the shaft of sorrow, the world would 
 be a perpetual scene of mourning and ajfiiction ; 
 everj/ present blessing clouded hy remembrance 
 of past calamities; every ray of hope extinguish- 
 ed by tears. 
 
 350 
 
 Neither friendship nor gratitude can subsist 
 in a breast whose movements are governed by the 
 inconstant and tyrannic sway of caprice. 
 351 
 
 Those who are above the world in sentiments 
 or pursuits should not hazard the consequences 
 of a coTi/iict with it ; whilst those who disdain not 
 its occupations and its pleasures must conform 
 to its rules, or an obstinacy is evinced not at all 
 calculated to promote their own ease, or tliat of 
 others. 
 
 352 
 
 Few things more deject the mind than being 
 obliged to alter our opinion of the cliaracter we 
 have been accustomed to reverence and esteem. ; 
 particularly in youth, when we are apt to form 
 to ourselves pictures of ideal perfection.
 
 Ill 
 
 353 
 Excessive tenacity is ever the characteristic of 
 little minds. 
 
 354 
 Frederic the Second, King of Prussia, said 
 " ffhen zcit is too pert, it makes us guilty of 
 folly ; but when its ardour ajid rapidity ii- 
 under the guidance of reason, when it is prompt 
 to conceive, quick iu combining, and brilliant in 
 reply, the man of zcit is superior to all otlier 
 men" 
 
 355 
 
 A CHARACTER^ 
 
 ,Ellen, at seventeen, zvith all the gaiety that 
 belongs to that age, possessed great acuteness of 
 discernment, much pozoer of reason, an invin- 
 cible integrity, and a command over her pas- 
 sions, zchich is seldom met with : her mind was^ 
 stored zcith useful and ornamental learning y 
 her countenance zaas frank and intelligent : wo. 
 one who zoas not acquainted with lier, thought 
 her beautiful i but all who knew her, did. 
 356 
 In objects, sublimity consists in grandeur and 
 force ; in character, the same. It is not Thyrsis 
 at the feet of his mistress, but Scavola with his
 
 112 
 
 hand amidst the burning coals, that inspires us 
 with respect. 
 
 357 
 A great many people believe themselves vir- 
 tuous, because they are austere ; rational, because 
 they are discontented ; and witty, because they 
 are satirical. 
 
 358 
 Ideas difficult to comprehend are never forcibly 
 >* felt : hence one of the charms of simplicity, con- 
 stantly presenting distinct ideas. 
 
 359 
 Where there is no hope, there can be no en- 
 . deavour. 
 
 360 
 Philosophy may infuse stubbornness, but reli- 
 gion, only, can give patience. 
 361 
 Expectation, zchm once her wings are ex- 
 panded, easily reaches heights which perform- 
 ance never will attain ; and, when she has mount- 
 ed to the summit of perfection, derides her fol- 
 towers, zoho die in the pursuit. 
 360. 
 ^ Employment is the great instrument of intel- 
 lectual dominion ; the mind cannot retire from
 
 113 
 
 9ts enemy into total vacancy, nor turn aside from 
 one object but by passing to another. The 
 gloomy and resentful are found to be those 
 zcho do nothing : zee must be busy, either about 
 good or evil ; and he to whom the present offen 
 nothing, will naturally look hack to the past. 
 363 
 
 Physical knowledge is of such rare emergency, 
 that one may knozo a man half his life without 
 being able to estimate his skill in hydrostatics or 
 astronomy ; but his moral and prudential cha- 
 racter immediately appears : those authors, 
 therefore, ought to be most studied in youth 
 that supply most axioms of prudence, most pr in- 
 ciples of moral truth, and most materials for 
 co7iversation ; and these purposes are best served 
 by poets, orators, and historians. 
 364 
 
 Disease begins that equality which death 
 completes : earthly distractions are not perceiv-^ 
 ed in a sick room ; it is vain to expect amusement 
 from the gay, instruction from the wise, when 
 all human glory is obliterated; the wit is clouded, 
 the reason perplexed, and the hero subdued: 
 the highest and brightest of mortal beings finds
 
 "114 
 
 nothing left him then, but the consciousness ojf 
 innocence. 
 
 365 
 
 Tliere are particular modes of good breeding 
 peculiar to every place, which, being arbitrary, 
 <ire only learned by custom. Those, however, 
 may be violated without offence, if evident 
 that neither malice nor pride contributed to the 
 failure : but those will not atone, however rigid- 
 ly observed, for the tumour of insolence, or pe- 
 tulance of contempt. 
 
 366 
 
 L' amour fraternal, le plus dour et le plus 
 durable des amours, n'est point snjet a des revo- 
 lutions : les bons amis que la nature Jious ^ 
 donnes doivent avoir la premiere place duns no- 
 ire coeur. 
 
 367 
 
 It is sometimes wise to parley with our woes, 
 and, by frequent converse, become intimate with 
 them : it is the way to lessen their horrors, and 
 our own dread of them ; as well as to harden 
 the heart against nezv ones. 
 368 
 
 The most necessary dispositions to relish plea- 
 sures is to know how to be without them.
 
 115 
 
 369 
 
 A contempt of reputation rapidly leads to a 
 contempt of virtue. 
 
 370 
 When a man gives himself up to avarice, he 
 renounces glory. There have been illustrious 
 villains, but never an illustrious miser. 
 371 
 How many useful projects are applauded and 
 neglected. 
 
 372 
 Of things that terminate in human life, the 
 nor Id is the proper judge : to despise its sentence, 
 if it were possible, were unjust ; and, if it were 
 just, is not possible. 
 
 373 
 It is of much importance to write letters with 
 propriety ; since, next to the power of pleasing 
 with his presence, every man should zcish to give 
 delight at a distance. 
 
 374 
 If zoe do not sigh to be the foremost of the 
 throng, independance, peace, and self -approving 
 refections, will not fail to render us happy. 
 375 
 I have often remarked much heart where there 
 was little sentiment : heart depends upon the
 
 !16 
 
 rectitude of the feelings, and on sympathy ; sen' 
 timent has a higher source ; call it imagination, 
 genius, or what you will. 
 376 
 
 The amplest estate is wretched penury, if eX' 
 ceeded by the expenses of the possessor. 
 377 
 
 If is not in the costly dome, but in the 
 rural cot, tJmt the impartial Lord of all most 
 (f ten fixes the seat of happiness. Health, peaces 
 content, and domestic tenderness, are the only 
 real szeeets of life ; and they often smile on the 
 humble roof of virtuous industry. 
 378 
 
 There are evils which no human foresight can 
 teach us to avert, no purity of intention enable 
 s to escape. In the conduct under such evils 
 lies our trial, and the foundation of our future 
 rewards and punishments. 
 
 379 
 Vous vous occupez des soins de votre menage ; 
 c^est le moyen le plus propre a chasser toutes les 
 idees contraires a la vertu que I'oisivete fait 
 germer au fonds des coeurs, oil elles prennent 
 insensiblement racine, et sont ensuite tres diffi- 
 cile a extirper. Sans Vextreme dissipation de
 
 ii7 
 
 f^i?^-i 
 la pluparf desfemmes du grand monde, les ver- 
 rait-n si soutent oublier qu'elks sout cpouses et 
 meres ? 
 
 380 
 
 If is a true observation, that we must be old 
 before roe know the world ; but yet, when young, 
 zoe ought carefully to guard against a suspicious 
 temper. Much better is it that zee should be 
 sometimes deceived, than too distrustful : the real 
 evils of human life are sufficient, without render- 
 ing it more gloomy by removing from it that 
 benevolence and mutual confidence which arc yet 
 to be found in it. 
 
 381 V 
 
 Tout le nierite dont ils sont doucs, les hommes 
 les plus charmans, we contribuent qu'd Vagrt- 
 ment de la societe, et ne corromprait point les 
 moeurs d'un nombre infini d'epouses, si celles-ci 
 soccupaient serieusement de leur inenage. Voila 
 la secret d'une conduite fir me et inebranable ; 
 qui fait trout er an milieu des soi-us utiles, unc 
 douce dissipation, des plaisirs purs. 
 382 
 
 Mere pity never seeks employment; it is a 
 virtue of parade and popularity : it searches 
 not out distress, like charity, nor folloics thr 
 I
 
 118 
 
 f <-?> 4 
 
 mourntr in his melancholy haunts to admi- 
 nister secret comforts and relief: these offices 
 demand a firmer spirit; nerves that can face 
 affliction do their business boldly, and wipe az&ay 
 the widow'' s tears with a steady hand. 
 
 383 
 
 ON HEAKING A CHARITY SERMON PREACHED 
 IN ST. WERBURGH's CHURCH, DUBLIN. 
 
 When, Charity, celestial guest ! 
 
 Descends to bless mankind, 
 Her dwellin-g is the good man's breast ' 
 
 Her throne the feeling mind; 
 
 There, speaking thrd the placid eye, 
 
 With energy divine. 
 She bids each selfish passion fy 
 
 Each heav'nly virtue shine. 
 
 Whilst stniles of mild benevolence 
 
 Enforce her sacred la-ws, 
 She points the tongue mth eloquence 
 
 To plead the wretch's cause. 
 
 When late her G***** she did employ, 
 
 In delegated trust. 
 Each outstretch' d hand, each fear fraught eye^ 
 
 Proclaim' d the choice was Just.
 
 llf) 
 
 Whilst thousands bless their preacher s worthf 
 
 Thro* whom relief was giv'n, 
 His life more solid good holds forth 
 
 It points their ~xay to Heav'n. 
 
 384 
 
 When an evil, of whatever nature, is certainf 
 the mind hy degrees acquires firmness to endure -^ 
 it ; but the pain of uncertainty and conjecture 
 is, of all others, the most intolerable. 
 38j 
 
 Viezt'ing zcith the eye of reason the large field 
 of action zchich presents itself to us ; enjoying life 
 with temperance ; fulfilling our duties to the 5^ 
 Most High, to our brethren, and ourselves ; 
 worthily Jil ling the place assigned us ; content 
 in conscious probity ; we then, indeed, are free 
 and happy. 
 
 386 
 
 A doubt of those in whose integrity we hav6 
 coTifided, in whose virtue roe are ititerested, is a 
 situation of mind the most comfortless. Suspi-^ 
 cion is like a mist, which renders the object it 
 shades so uncertain, that the figure must be 
 finished by imagination ; and, when disgust 
 takes the pencil, the strokes are generally sa
 
 120 
 r<f4 
 
 darky that the disappointed heart sickens at the 
 picture. 
 
 387 
 
 Men gathered in great mtmhers rather possess 
 ears than judgment : to astonish, is to seduce 
 them ; and whoever assumes authority to com- 
 unand them, disposes them, to obey. 
 388 
 
 Daily toil makes short the flying hours, and 
 test from labour becomes moments ofl enjoy me fit : 
 this prevents the poor from feeling that tedious- 
 ness of lift which we find amongst the great, 
 who, surrounded by pleasures zahich court their 
 acceptance, their taste is palled by the too great 
 facility of satisfying every wish : lassitude and 
 disgust creep on their languid hours ; and, want^ 
 ing the gale of hope to keep the mind in gentle 
 agitation, it sinks into a calm more destructive 
 than the rudest storm of adversity. 4 
 
 389 
 
 Souvenez vous toiijours, que notre bonheur 
 solide doit se fonder sur testime de nous memes, 
 et sur les avantages que nous pro cur oris dd'autres; 
 et que de tons les projets la plus impraticable 
 pour un etre qui vit en societe, est celui de 
 vouloir se rendre exclusivement heureux.
 
 121 
 
 390 
 Suis done o homme ! dans quelque rang que 
 til te trouves ; h plan que fest trace pour ob- 
 tenir le bonheur auquel tupeut pretendre4 Que 
 thumanite sensible finteresse du sort de Vhomme 
 ton semblable ; que ton coeur fattendrisse sur les 
 infortunes des autres ; que tu main genereuse 
 s'ouvrir pour secourir le malheureux que son 
 destin accable ; songe qu'il pent tin jour facca- 
 bier ainsi que lui. Reconnois done que tout in- 
 fortune a droit a tes bicnfaits : essuie sur tout 
 les pleurs de Vinnocence opprimee ; que les 
 larmes de la vertu dans la detresse soient re- 
 cueille dans ton sein ; que la douce chalair de 
 Vamitie echnuffe ton coeur honnete ; que Pestime 
 \ d^une compagne cherie te fosse oublier les peines 
 i de la vie ; sois fidelle a sa tendresse, qu'elle soit 
 fide lie a la tienne ; que sous les ycux de parens 
 unis et verteux tes enfans apprennent la vertu 
 qu^apres avoir occupe ton age mur ils rendent a 
 ta viellesse les soins que tu auras donnes a leur 
 erifance imbecilh. 
 
 391 
 Sois juste, parceque requite est la soutien du 
 genre humain ; sois ben, parceque la bonte en*- 
 chaine tons les coeurs ; sois indulgente, parceque 
 13
 
 122 
 
 i" V "it -T"" 
 
 foible toi meme tu vis avec des etres aussi foibles 
 que toi ; sois doux, parcequt la douceur attire 
 Vajjfection; sois recorinoissaut, parceque la re- 
 connoissance alimente et nourit la bontc ; sois 
 modeste, parceque Torgueil revoke les etres epris 
 d'eux mtmes. Pardonnez les injures, parceque 
 la vengeance eternise les haines ; fois du Men, ^ 
 ^ ctlui qui f outrage a fin de te montrer plus grand 
 que lui, et de fen foire un ami. Sois retenu, 
 tempcre, chaste, parceque la volupte rintem- 
 perance, et les exces detruissent ton ttre, et te 
 rendront meprisable. En U7i mot, sois homine ; 
 sois un etre sensible et raisonable ; sois epoux 
 
 fidelle, pere tendre, maitre equitable, citoyen. 
 tele ; travaille a servir ton pays par tes forces, 
 tes talens, ton industrie, tes vii'tus. Faire part 
 a tes associSs des dons que la nature fa foit ; 
 repand le bien ttre, le contentement et la joie 
 &ur tons ceux que fapprochent : que la sphere de 
 tes actions, rendut vivante par tes bienfoites, 
 reagisse sur toi meme ; sois sur que Vhomme qui 
 
 foit des heureux ne pent etre lui meme malheu- 
 
 r reux. En toi conduisant ainsi, quelque soit 
 
 \ ^injustice et Vaveuglement des etres avec qui 
 
 '^ ton sort tefoit vivre, tu ne seras jamais totale- 
 
 i me^nt prives des recompences qui te seront dues :
 
 123 
 
 nulle force sitr la terre nt pourra du moins te 
 ravir le contentement interieure ; cette source la 
 plus pure de toute laftlicitt ; tu rentras a chaque 
 instant avec plaisir en toi me me ; tu ne trouveras 
 a u fond de ton coeur ni honte, ni terreur, ni 
 remords ; tu t'aimeras, tu seras grand a tes 
 ytux : tu seras cheri, tu seras estime de toutes 
 les antes honnetes dont le suffrage vaut bien 
 mieux de celui de la multitude egare. Cepen- 
 dant si tu te port en au dehors, des visages con- 
 teyis fexprimeront la tendresse, Vinterit Vsen- 
 timent. Une vie dont chaque instant sera 
 marque par la paix de ton ame, et F affection 
 des etrts qui Venvironnent, te conduira paisi- 
 blement au terme de tes jours ; car il faut que 
 tu meures ; mats tu ft survis deja par la pensee ; 
 tu vivras toujours dans Vesprit de tes amis, et 
 des etres que tetmains out rendue fortunes : tes 
 vertus y ont d'avance erige des monumens du- 
 rables. Si le del s'occupoit de toi, il seroit 
 contents de ta conduite, quand la terre en est 
 contente. 
 
 It would cost vs muck less trouble to conquer 
 bad passions than to hide them. 
 J4
 
 124 
 i-<^*>4- 
 
 393 
 Idleness, rather than ill-nature, often gives 
 birth to scandal, and to the observation of little 
 incidents which narrow the mind; arid, frequent- 
 ly, the fear of being talked of produces that 
 puerile scrupulosity about trifles incompatible 
 with an enlarged plan. 
 
 394 
 Such is the vacancy of dissipated pleasure, 
 that, never satisfied with what it possesses, an. 
 opening always remains for something yet to be 
 tried; and on that something yet to.come, all en- 
 joyment seems to depend. 
 395 
 How seldom do the youthful thiiik how much 
 \y ^f W^ remains when youth is past ; and how 
 ^^ noon beauty loses its power even before it 
 Jades. 
 
 S9 
 It is as much a moral duty not to refuse re- 
 ceiving good offices, as not to avoid administer- 
 ing them. That species of independance which 
 proudly flies all ties of gratitude, is inimical to 
 the social compact of civilized life, wlcich sub- 
 sists but by reciprocity of services.
 
 125 
 f<H-t- 
 
 397 
 Intanto cJie non siano ezuaU al comiine de^ti 
 nomini, It ammonizioiii degli amici e i rimpro- 
 veri de' nemici non ci lasciano perder di vista i 
 nostri doveri ; ma que che siedono in sulla vetta 
 ddla ruota difortuna di rado si sentona accu- 
 sare difalli commessi ; e se per caso i biasini 
 altrui giungono aferire gli orecchi loro ecco la 
 lusinga che s' avvicina e versa nelle lor menti i 
 suoi sonnolenti balsami che tranquiUano tanto 
 bene osni aceita coscienza. 
 398 
 How happy are those whose cultivated minds 
 can at all times draw resources from themselves t ^ 
 to such, solitude is never irksome, and amuse- 
 ment charms with double zest. 
 
 Por them, the Sprbig 
 
 Distils her dexvs, and from the silken gem 
 Its lucid leaves unfolds ; for them, the hand 
 Of Autumn tinges every fertile branch 
 With blooming gold, and blushes like the morn : 
 Each passing hour sheds tribute from her uings ; 
 And still new beauties meet their lonely walks.. 
 
 399 
 That maxim of the old philosophers " JRe* 
 verence thyself" cannot be too often recommend-
 
 126 
 f*4 
 
 td to young zcomen ; as from a due attention to 
 it proceeds that honour and delicacy which form 
 the glory of the sex. She who reverences her- 
 self will suffer no infringement of the nicest 
 rules of decorum. 
 
 400 
 Sensibility is a fashionable term in rfiodern 
 dialect. Let us part with our pride, and we 
 shall not find this sensibility so troublesome a 
 guest as it seems to be with many. 
 401 
 The general description of a critic, is, that of 
 a person usually more attentive to zvhat is want- 
 ing than what is present. 
 402 
 Wliat is foolish, is the object of pity : but ab- 
 surdity of ten proceeds from an opinion of suffi- 
 ciency ; and, consequently, is an honest occasion 
 for laughter. 
 
 403 
 If people knew the soothing pleasure that at- 
 tends the acknoz&ledgment of error, the secret 
 comfort that is derived from the confession of a 
 fault, never would they listen to the suggestions 
 of ridiculous pride, or misplaced self-love.
 
 127 
 
 404 
 Celui qui ne salt pas trouver dans son coeur 
 un ami, une societe, qui craint de s^ Uvrer a ses 
 reflexions, et de passer un instant avec lui-meme, 
 regarde du meme loeil la solitude et la mart. 
 405 
 The most illiterate of both sexes have the 
 largest share of vanity and self-consequence. 
 406 
 
 A CHARACTER. 
 
 Horatio uas modest, virtuous, mild, and ra~ 
 tional ; wise, without self-love ; learned, without 
 pedantry ; attached to religion, without being 
 intolerant or superstitious; possessing dignity, 
 without egotism ; an enemy to vice, without at- 
 tacking its votaries ; and agreeable in conversa- 
 tion, without enorrossins: it. 
 407 
 
 Mes pensees viennent quand elles veulent, et 
 non quand je veux. (Disoit Rousseau.) 
 408 
 
 Combien d'etincelles de bonnes pensees sont 
 etouffees par un commerce oisif; et cambieti on 
 devient frivole soi mime en vivant avec des gens 
 frivoles !
 
 128 
 
 409 
 Si Vamitie et Tamour ont tovjours sain de 
 nous, font tous pour nous, nous portent s'ans 
 cesse dans leurs bras, nous y oublions bientot la 
 faculte de nous mouvoir nous memes, d'agir nou 
 memes, de marcher iious memes a trovers les ad- 
 versitts de la vie. 
 
 410 
 Toute vertu cesse quand on se litre a la pre- 
 miere impression ; qu'on est toujours gouverne 
 par les evenemens ; et quon ne sait pas les 
 maitriser a sou tour. 
 
 4U 
 Que nous seriom malheureux si Dieii accom- 
 plissoit tous nos voeux I a rinstant oil Chomme 
 croit que tout le bonheur de sa vie est aneantif 
 Dieu se propose peut etre quelque chose d'ex- 
 traorditiaire a son tgard. De nouvelles circon- 
 siances excitent de nouvelles forces ; la vigeur et 
 la vie reviennent lorsque Fon se croyoit con- 
 damne a une inaction eternelle. 
 412 
 Les Jouissances du coeur sont a la portte de 
 tous les hommes qui libres, tranquilles et aimans, 
 sont toujours contens d'eux memes et des autres. 
 Ah ! combien aussi pour cette raison la bonheur
 
 129 
 
 (jue Von gout e a la campagne est il plus grand 
 que cette ftUcite mensongtre qu^on affecte dans 
 les palais, et dans les circles brillans. C'est ce 
 que savent bien les mondains qui Fon e.ntend si 
 souvent se plaindre de l' ennui dans les vallons 
 des Alpes ; sur ces montagnes ou Vinnocence ha~ 
 bite encore ; et qii aucune etranger ne quittc 
 sans verser des larmes. 
 
 413 
 That women were not designed for the exer- 
 \ tion of extreme intense thojight, may easily he 
 seen, from the effect it has on their countenances 
 and features : the contracted brow, prolated 
 visage, motionless eyebrow, and fixed attitude, 
 though they give force and dignity to the strong 
 lines of male countenances, give the most unpleas- 
 ing expression to soft features. It may be, that 
 the difference which subsists between the cha- 
 racters of the two sexes, is, that male genius 
 
 fetches its treasure from the deptJis of science, 
 and the accumulated wisdom of ages ; the female 
 
 finds her's in the lighter region of fancy, and 
 modern knowledge : but there are approxima- 
 tions between them that render it difficult to 
 ascertain the point at which they diverge. 
 Whatever is ingenious, shrewdy elegant, and
 
 130 
 
 sportive ; wJiatever requires pathos and energy 
 of plaintive eloquence, may he looked for from 
 women ; but they are, also, well formed for the 
 serious, merely stopping short of the abstruse. 
 The peculiar properties of the female mind are^ 
 acuteness of perception, vivacity of imagination, 
 mid a concatenation of invention that disdains 
 all limit. The corporeal part of our composi- 
 tion, perhaps, adds to the intellectual charms of 
 ^ our minds ; our irritable nerves, though our 
 torment, are yet our grace ; we conceive quicks 
 hf and clearly, and often feel exquisitely : to 
 these feelings, perhaps, zoe owe much of that na- 
 tural eloquence which we mistake for strength, 
 when it is only the property of penetration ; we 
 fancy we wield a pike, when it is but a needle. 
 414 
 
 fVe should learn to let every man be happy his. 
 own way, let our own be ever so different. 
 415 
 
 What weight does circumstance give to the 
 simplest sentiment. 
 
 416 
 
 When men are actuated by passion, and know, 
 or suspect, themselves to be zorong, they are too 
 apt to supply in positiveness what is wanting in
 
 131 
 
 reason : hence, none are so obstinate as those in 
 fault. 
 
 417 
 There is but little merit in acts of beneficence, 
 if we know not how to sacrifice our other grati- 
 fications to the delight of performing them : if , 
 we entrench not upon our luxuries, it is no more 
 an exertion of virtue than giving a penny to a 
 beggar, which, though it may enrich him, is no 
 sacrifice for us to bestow. 
 418 
 Self-repentance, and contemptuous ridicule in 
 old age, is the consequence and punishment of a 
 youth spent in frivolous follies. 
 419 
 There are emotions for which we cannot be 
 accountable, therefore such as we can neither 
 blame nor applaud ; but, although the language 
 of Nature will make itself be heard, reason may 
 attune it to moderation. 
 
 420 
 Rather improve by other men^s faults, than 
 censure therii. 
 
 421 
 V ji false friend is like a shadow on a dial, 
 which appears infme weather, but vanishes at 
 I the approach of a cloud.
 
 132 
 
 422 
 We should give our heart to our Creator, 
 reverence to our superiors, our bosom to our 
 friend, diligence to our calling, and relief to 
 the needy, 
 
 423 
 A zoise man endeavours to shine in himself; a 
 fool, to outshine others : thefrst is humbled by 
 a sense of his own infirmities ; the latter is exalt- 
 ed at the discovery of others^ imperfections : the 
 wise man considers zahat he wants ; the fool, 
 what he abo^nds in : the wise man is happy when 
 he gains his owyi approbation; the fool, only 
 when he recommends himself to the approbatioi} 
 of others. 
 
 424 
 Jt is not the number, but the strength, of the 
 passions by which many crimes are produced ; 
 torrents that divide themselves into many 
 branches are the least dangerous in their courses 
 a strong passion is a solitary passion that con- 
 centres all desires within one point. 
 425 
 The power of abstracting from a condition 
 different from our oz&n the evils that we }iav& 
 not felt, makes a man alzcays envy the lot of
 
 133 
 i-<fi^- 
 
 cunother. Indigence often, by these abstractions, 
 divests riches of all the cares and discontents by' 
 which they are attended. 
 426 
 A distinction is to be made between fame and 
 true honour ; the former is a loud and noisy ap- 
 plause the latter, a more silent and internal 
 homage : fame floats on the breath of the mul' 
 titude ; honour rests on the judgment of the wise : 
 fame may give praise whilst it zeithholds esteem; 
 true honour implies esteem mingled with respect. 
 427 
 h Learning is the cause of reason and humility, 
 ' as ignorance is the source of vanity and folly : 
 the more we learn, the further we see the bou?ids 
 of Knowledge extend, and the more humiliating 
 becomes the opinion of our own intelligence. 
 But ignorance is forward and assuming, confi- 
 dent of supposed excellence, and preferring its. 
 own opinion to the judgment of others, because 
 I it sees wisdom extend uo further than the narrow 
 I limits that were within the scope of its own con- 
 ceptions. 
 
 428 
 Those who set out in life surrounded by 
 t the most advantages, do not alicays make the 
 I K
 
 134 
 
 most happy progress through it: there is no 
 situation, however exalted, from zchich our 
 own errors may not precipitate us into the low~ 
 est abyss of misery. 
 
 429 
 Je le vols trap les soins qu'on prend de notre enfance 
 Torment nos sentimens, nos moeurs, notre creance ; 
 L' instruction fait tout, et les mains de nos peres 
 Graves en nos foibles coeurs ces premiers caractercs, 
 Que t example et le terns nous viennent retracer ; 
 Et que pent Stre en nous, Dieu seul pent efacer. 
 
 430 
 
 Men of genius are often too apt to despise the 
 world ; but the zvorld takes ample revenge, by 
 giving them credit for a thousand unexisting 
 enormities. 
 
 431 
 
 Too often those imaginary duties which the 
 extreme of modern refinement prescribes, are 
 only practised at the expense of solid virtues, 
 whose excellencies have stood the test of ages : 
 and let enthusiasts answer, who indulge in all 
 the extravagance of heroic generosity, romantic 
 love, and exuberant friendship, whether they sup- 
 pose it -possible to improve on the model which 
 Christianity presents to our imitation. That
 
 135 
 
 simple inestimable code presents no puzzling 
 question to tear the divided heart hy contrary 
 duties: it speaks of life as a mutable scene, 
 teaches us to enjoy its pleasures with moderation, 
 and endure its evils with patience : it tells us 
 that man is as variable as the world he inhabits ; 
 that imperfections mingle with the virtues of the 
 best, urging us to constant circumspection and 
 attention ; and, from the nature of good and 
 evil, zee learn to curb our passions, and mode- 
 rate our desires ; to expect with diffidence, enjoy 
 with gratitude, and resign with submission. 
 Conscious of our own failings, we become in- 
 dulgent to the errors of others: on the basis of 
 mutual wants, general imperfection, and uni' 
 versal kindred, we build the structure of can- 
 dour and benevolence. 
 
 432 
 Covetousness is more opposite to economy than 
 liberality. 
 
 433 
 II y a plusieurs quipi'endent des declamations 
 pour des portraits. 
 
 434 
 How many are silly without simplicity, and 
 rtjul zciihout understanding. 
 
 K Q.
 
 136 
 
 435 
 Happiness, though often crossed hy misfor- 
 tune, is more frequently destroyed hy impru- 
 dence. 
 
 436 
 
 A CHARACTER. 
 
 Philanders benevolence made such allozc- 
 ances for human frailties, that one zeould ima- 
 gine he thought himself the only person that tvas 
 obliged to be honest : his virtues, far from being 
 troublesome to others, left every body at their 
 ease ; he had that amiable complaisance and 
 good-nature so necessary for the good corre- 
 spondence and harmony of mankind. None of 
 his virtues were precarious, because they z&ere 
 all natural : an acquired merit is often un- 
 certain. 
 
 437 
 
 Falsehood in actions is fill as inconsistent 
 with our love of truth as falsehood in words. 
 438 
 
 All vices flatter our self-love, all virtues at- 
 tack it : valour exposes it, modesty lowers it, 
 generosity throws it away ; moderation morti- 
 ces it, and a wish for the happiness of others 
 sacrifices it to the good of society.
 
 137 
 
 439 
 27ie world is full of people zeho are perpetu- 
 ally dinning things in our ears, zoithout ever 
 saying any thing to entertain the mind. 
 
 440 
 Such is the power of health, that without its 
 co-operation every other comfort is torpid and 
 lifeless, as the power of vegetation without the 
 sun. 
 
 441 
 
 THE VALE OF.TEMPE. 
 
 The Thessalian Tempe is a valley situated be- 
 tween Olympus and Ossa, tzoo high mountains, 
 which look as if they had once been joined, but 
 separated by some god, to place the beautiful 
 plain that lies betzveen them, about five miles 
 long, arf,d very narrozc. In the middle of this 
 plain runs Peneus, into which several lesser cur- 
 rents empty themselves, and szoell this river into 
 a large size : on its banks are dispersed numbers 
 of the most beautiful shady arbours ; whilst the 
 river. glides its soft and silent course through a 
 beautiful verdant lawn adorned zeith clumps of 
 the finest trees, overhung with others planted 
 along its borders, which furnish a cool and tem- 
 perate navigation on its bosom. The sides of 
 K 3
 
 138 
 -V < f"> I- 
 
 the mountains and rocks are perfectli/ covered 
 
 with the finest foliage. It seems as if Nature 
 
 was here ambitious to display her various beau^ 
 
 ties; whilst the worship of the gods, and thefra- 
 
 grancy of sacrifices and burning odours, further 
 
 consecrated the place. 
 
 442 
 
 The traveller who has a long journtif to ac- 
 complish, must not allow himself to be too much 
 engrossed by any object, however pleasing, on 
 his way. Friends, fortune, health, are blessings 
 which bountiful Providence supplies to beguile 
 the tediousness of the way, not to betray us inta 
 forgetfulness of that better country to zehich we 
 are hastening. 
 
 443 
 
 Les plaisirs se resentent comme les pensees du 
 plus au moins d'elcvation qu'on a dam Vame. 
 444 
 
 lues femmes sont crees pour un fin plus noble 
 que celle doffrir un vain spectacle. Leurs 
 charmes ne sont que tannonce dautres qualites 
 plus touchantes ; les reduire a la beaute c'est les 
 degrader, et les mettre presqtte de niveau avec 
 leurs tableaux.
 
 139 
 i-4^-t- 
 
 445 
 
 Grief ^nd anxiety frequently lie hid under 
 the golden robes of prosperity ; and the gloom of 
 calamity is relieved by secret irradiations of 
 hope and comfort ; as, in the works of Nature, 
 the bog is sometimes covered with Jiowers, and 
 the mine concealed in the barren crag. 
 446 
 
 Warmth of temper sometimes produces extra- 
 ordinary exertions of mind, and is then the soil 
 of genius and virtue. 
 
 447 
 
 Systems often serve to fetter the understand- 
 ing ; and the common methods of education 
 cramp, if not totally destroy it. Give a well- 
 disposed mind its freedom, and time and habit to 
 think for itself: teach how, but not what, to 
 think. The seeds of virtue are innate ; cherish 
 the rising shoot, and prune (but with a cautious 
 hand J the too luxuriant branches. 
 448 
 
 The partiality we feel, inspires diffidence ; that 
 we create, has a contrary effect. 
 
 449 
 Turns in the tide of fortune are amongst the 
 happiest lessons of humanity, where those who 
 K 4
 
 140 
 
 serve the humble and helpless, from motives of 
 pure disinterestedness, make useful friends for 
 themselves in the vicissitudes of our unstable con- 
 dition. 
 
 450 
 Sensibility should never be so far encouraged 
 as to unfit u^ for the discharge of any active or 
 social duty ; or feelings in themselves amiable, 
 by too free indulgence, become ruinous to our 
 peace, and injurious to society, by depriving 
 others of the good offices which are the offspring 
 of genuine and well-regulated sympathy. 
 
 451 
 Delicacy is necessary to reconcile persons under 
 depressed circumstances to mix with others they 
 may deem more rich and fortunate than them- 
 selves. 
 
 453 
 Every person who rises above the common 
 hvel has received two educations ; the first, from 
 his teachers ; the second, more personal and im- 
 portant, from himself. 
 
 453 
 To delay a letter from the Wednesday to the 
 ' Saturday, and then from the Saturday to the 
 Wednesday, appears a slight offence ; yet, in the
 
 141 
 
 repetifion of such delays, weeks, months, and 
 years, will elapse, till the omission may become 
 irretrievable. 
 
 454 
 
 Being too suddenly elated, shews a weak 
 head ; and too soon depressed, a pusillanimous 
 heart. 
 
 455 
 
 They who always suspect, will be ofteti mis- 
 taken, and never be happy ; yet there is a wide 
 distinction between the corifidence zchich becoines 
 a man, and the simplicity that disgraces a fool. 
 He who never trusts, is a niggard of his soul, 
 who starves himself, and by z&hom no other is en- 
 riched ; but ke z&ho gives every one his confidence 
 and praise, squanders the fund that should serve 
 for the eucouragemcnt of integrity, and the re- 
 zcard of excellence. 
 
 A5y 
 
 Imprudence is much easier regretted than re- 
 paired. 
 
 457 
 
 Pity differs widely from true charity : a soft 
 heart and watery eye are common qualities; and 
 those who possess them are often the mere dupes 
 of knaves and impostors. A nature of this cast
 
 is active only when spurred to motion by some in- 
 
 teresting object present : provoke it not, it sleeps. 
 
 458 
 
 Est ce le role d'une creature raisonahlt que 
 def aire son affaire capitale du plaisir'? une 
 femme entraine par ce gout d'amusement n^est 
 ordinairement tii mere, ni tpouse, ni amie ni 
 mime citoyenne heureuse ; encore, si la dissipa^ 
 tion ne la conduit pas jusqu a s'oublier elle meme! 
 459 
 
 JLes petiis esprits incapable de ne rien ceder, 
 donnent leurs fantaisies pour des loix. 
 460 
 
 It is too often an error, in the modern system 
 of education, to consider talents and accomplish- 
 ments according to the use that is made of them, 
 rather than their intrinsic value : applause is 
 rectitude; and success, moralit}'; but such is 
 not sufficient for an honourable character : there 
 is a dignity in the mind which leads those who 
 possess it to cultivate only those arts which are 
 valuable ; who have a satisfaction in their ozcn 
 feelings, beyond what applause, power, or popu- 
 larity, could bestow. Let ms shew to youth how 
 dangerous it is to trifle on the borders of virtue ; 
 for its chief safeguard is a Jealous sensibility that
 
 143 
 
 startles at the colour or shadow of vice : when 
 once its hai'rier is infringed, there is no other at 
 which conscience will rise to exclaim, '' thus 
 far, and no farther." 
 
 461 
 
 In the morning of life, when the soul first 
 makes her entrance into the world, all things 
 look fresh and gay ; their novelty surprizes, and 
 every little glitter or gaudy colour transports 
 the stranger : but, by degrees, the sense grows 
 callous, and we lose that exquisite relish of 
 trifles by the time our mirids should be supposed 
 ripe for rational entertainments. 
 462 
 
 To be virtuous, is not to talk and define irt 
 what it consists, it is practising precepts. 
 463 
 
 Every virtue gives man a proportionate de^ 
 gree of felicity : honesty gains confidence ; jus^ 
 tice, estimation ; prudence, respect ; courtesy and 
 affability, affection; temperance gains health; 
 and fortitude, peace of mind, not to be disturbed 
 by adversity. 
 
 464 
 
 To be covetous of applause, discovers a slender 
 merit : self-conceit is an attendant of ignorance.
 
 144 
 
 465 
 
 Toute action virtueuse porte le calm dans 
 tame, et unjoie vive et tranquilh accompagne 
 Jusque dans Vinterieure de sa maison celui qui 
 vient defaire quelque chose pour le Men de lliu- 
 manite. 
 
 466 
 
 The sorrows and calamities of real life fur- 
 nish a sufficient fund of affliction, without our 
 having recourse to visionary ones. 
 . 467 
 
 Many sage writers, and Montesquieu in par- 
 ticular, have supposed the rough scenes of Na- 
 ture to have a great effect on the human mind ; 
 and have found virtues in mountainous coun- 
 tries which were not the growth of tamer re- 
 gions. Montesquieu is in quest, chiefly, of po- 
 litical virtue, liberality, bravery, and the arts 
 of bold defence ; but private virtue is equally be- 
 friended by those rough scenes : simple villages 
 on the sides of lakes and mountains, in no line of 
 communication with " the busy haunts of men," 
 are generally inhabited by a happy race of 
 people. Ignorance is sometimes called the mo- 
 ther of vice, but it is often the nurse of inno- 
 cence. The example of innocence is a more in-
 
 145 
 f<fr^-5 
 
 structive lesson than any that can be taught by 
 artists and literati ; xoherefore travellers amongst 
 a simple people might learn to amend their man- 
 ners, by seeing in how narrow a compass the 
 wants of human life may be compressed ; and a 
 journey through wild scenes might be attended 
 with more improvement than one through the 
 most polished courts of Europe. 
 468 
 j4ll the hind propensities of the heart ought to 
 be warmly cherished in youth : age is apt to 
 make even the most benevolent frigid. 
 
 " OJi ! loxely source 
 
 ** Of gen rents foibles, youth ! xchen op'niug minds 
 " Are honest as the light, lucid as air ; 
 " As fostering breezes kind, as linnets gay ; 
 " Tender as buds, and lavish as the Spring/* 
 
 469 
 By intercourse, the two sexes perfect each 
 other s qualities : what could we conceive of a 
 world of men, but as one harsh, haughty, and 
 obstinate ; or of a world of zoomen, but as a set 
 of beings subtle, timid, and mutable? But, 
 when they mix, the harshness of man loses its 
 acrimony ; his haughtiness mellozcs into magna-
 
 146 
 f<^*-t 
 
 mimity, and his obstinacy into a rational steadi- 
 ness: whilst, by the same blending qualities, 
 women's subtlety polishes into address; her ti- 
 midity meliorates into becoming diffidence ; and 
 her mutability takes the consistency of a pleas- 
 ing yieldingness. 
 
 470 
 
 La certezza che la vita non puo esser lunga, 
 la probabilita che sara molto piu breve che 
 non e statuito da natura, dovrebbe stitnolar ogtC 
 uomo a tirare innanzi con tutto il possibile vi- 
 gore ogni cominciata intrappresa. 
 All 
 
 When evils cannot he avoided, it is wise to 
 contract the interval of expectation, to meet the 
 mischiefs which will overtake us if we fly ; and 
 io suffer only their real malignity, without the 
 conflicts of doubt, atid anguish of anticipation. 
 472 
 
 Human excellence does not so much consist in 
 freedom from frailty, as in recovery from 
 lapses. Our detestation of our transgressions, 
 <ind desire of atoning for them, forms the dis- 
 tinction the Apostle gives between a just and a 
 good man : the just man adheres strictly to tlie 
 rule of right or equity, and exacts from others
 
 147 
 
 the same measure ; whilst the good man mat/ fall 
 short of justice, but knows no measure to his be- 
 nevolence : the just man condemns, and is de- 
 sirous of punishing transgressors ; but the good 
 man gives latitude from the sense of his own 
 failings; he condemns no one, save himself. 
 The just man is as a stream which deviates not to 
 the right or left, nor swells with the food of 
 passion above its banks; but the heart of a good 
 man is a lamp lighted by the breath of God, to 
 the effiux and irradiations of which none can set 
 bounds. 
 
 473 
 When we are to make the passions speak, all 
 men have pretty nearly the same ideas ; but the 
 manner of expressing them distinguishes the man 
 of wit from him that has none ; the man of ge- 
 nius from him who has nothing but wit ; and the 
 real poet from him who would be a poet, if he 
 could. 
 
 474 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM VOLTAIRE's DISCOURSE 0T>1 
 TRAGEDY. 
 
 Dedicated to Lord Bolingbroke. 
 
 Freedom of thought gives language force and 
 energy ; vigorous sentiments of the heart pass in-
 
 148 
 
 sensibli/ into our expressions ; and he who thinks 
 nobly will always speak so. 
 
 I envy the happy liberty you enjoy of writing 
 tragedy in blank verse, of lengthening or short- 
 ening zcords, of running one verse into another, 
 and of coining new expressions. An English 
 poet is a free man who can subject his language 
 to his genius ; whilst the Frenchman is a slave to 
 rhyme, obliged, sometimes, to make four verses to 
 express a sentiment that an Englishman can give 
 in one : an Englishman says what he will ; a 
 Frenchman, what he can : one runs along, a lame 
 open field, whilst the other walks in shackles 
 through a narrow and slippery road. Bui, in 
 spite of all these reflections and complaints, zoe 
 can never shake off the yoke of rhyme ; it is so 
 absolutely essential to French poetry. Whoever 
 could be absurd enough to shake off a burden 
 which the great Corneille was obliged to carry, 
 would be looked upon, and with great reason, 
 Tiot as a bold enterprizing genius striking into a 
 new road, but as a weak and impotent writer, 
 who had not strength to support himself in the 
 old path. 
 
 It is most probable verse will always be made 
 use of in all tragedy, and rhyme in oui's.
 
 149 
 
 f^<'4-- 
 
 The Greek tragedians often mistook horror 
 for terror, and the disgustful and incredible for 
 the tragic and marvellous. 
 
 Those who crowd too many evettts into a piece, 
 do so because they have not sufficient genius to 
 fll up a performance with one single action. 
 Detached beauties support poetical perform- 
 ances, and hand them down to posterity : it is 
 only a peculiar manner of saying common things, 
 the art of embellishing by diction, what all men 
 think and feel, that constitutes the true poet. 
 
 To exact love in every tragedy, shews an effe- 
 minate taste; entiixly to proscribe it from the 
 theatre, is equally zcrong. The stage ought to 
 be a living picture of human passions ; conse- 
 quently love in a tragedy is riever blamable 
 but when introduced unseasonably, or treated 
 inartif daily. The Greeks seldom introduced 
 this passion, because their tragedy teas generally 
 formed on subjects of terror; and, because women 
 there led so retired a life, the language of love 
 was not then so common ; and men playitig 
 women^s parts rendered it ridiculous. 
 
 Oh the French stage, the love of heroes is sel- 
 dom more than mere gallantly ; on the English, 
 it sometimes degenerates into licentiousness and 
 L
 
 1.50 
 
 1 (f "> [ 
 
 debauchery. To render love morthy of the tra- 
 gic scene, it ought to arise naturally from the 
 business of the piece , and not be forced in to 
 Jill a vacancy : it should be a passion entirely 
 tragical, considered as a weakness, and opposed 
 by remorse ; leading to misfortunes or crimes to 
 shew its danger, yet subdued by virtue, to shew 
 it is not invincible ; or else it is the mere love of 
 an eclogue or a comedy. 
 475 
 . No concurrence of fortunate circumstances 
 i can ever produce happiness, or even tranquility, 
 independent of conscious integrity. 
 
 " The broadest mirth unfeding folly wears, 
 " Less pleasing, far, than virtues very tears." 
 
 476 
 
 'Notwithstandiag all that has been said on the 
 sweets of retirement, S^c, yet, still, it is not good 
 for man to be alone ; nor can all the cold-hearted 
 pedants ever reconcile it to the mind. In the 
 loudest vauntings of philosophy. Nature zeill 
 have her yearnings for society and friendship : 
 a good heart zcants some object to be kind to ; 
 and the best part of our blood, and purest of 
 our spirits, suffer most under the destitution.
 
 151 
 
 1 <{ I 
 
 Wherever Providence places me, may I have a 
 companion in my journey , he it only to remark 
 how our shadows lensathen as the sun soes down, 
 or to whom I may say Hoio fresh is the face 
 of Nature ; or, hozo szceet the flowers of the 
 fleld. 
 
 477 
 
 The virtues are catching, as well as the vices. 
 478 
 
 There is no real happiness but in the exercise 
 of virtue and abilities. 
 
 479 
 
 Though all who write hastily write not well, 
 yet correction and toil too frequently destroy 
 that natural train of ideas which characterizes 
 the first flow of genius, and which is one of its 
 chief beauties. 
 
 480 
 
 Happy are we when we arrive at tliat period, 
 when years have chilled the fervour of the soul, 
 and extinguished the burning sensations of the 
 fieart ; when we live in the peaceful, calm phi- 
 losophy of age, and view with contempt the toys 
 that allured and the trifles that agitated us ; 
 and wonder at the devastation of the passions 
 lichen we no longer are subject to their influence : 
 L 2
 
 152 
 
 but far more happy still, those, who, whilst 
 the soul is yet alive, and the heart yet warmed 
 with all the vivid passions of our nature, are 
 skilled to pour the sweet milk of softness to allay 
 their fervour, and by force of reason to temper 
 the passions of the less amiable kind, whilst those 
 of the softer class are encouraged in all the wild 
 fervour of their nature ; thus adding all that is 
 desirable in age to all that is bewitching in youth. 
 
 481 
 Humility is both a christian and a social vir- 
 tue: self-conceit makes us maintain our rights with 
 arrogance, and intrench on those of other people. 
 
 482 
 We often fnd dramatic pieces giving lectures 
 of virtue, and leaving impressions of vice. 
 
 483 
 In contemplating the future, how many 
 abandon the comforts of probability, andftel 
 all the horrors of the possible. 
 
 484 
 A sweet voice is pleasant in conversation ; it 
 softens severity, and enhajices kindness. 
 
 485 
 With the sort of people who have either seen 
 nothing of the world, or too much, where is the
 
 153 
 
 merit of resigning what one is unacquainted 
 with or weary of^^ The praise-worthy Recluses 
 are those who enter the world zeith innocence, 
 and retire from it in good humour. 
 48f) 
 
 Those whose ideas are too much beyond the 
 common level of mankind in general, lose re- 
 sources wherein the more common minds find 
 comfort on this rugged road of life. A Jine^ 
 thinker may go as much on one side of reason as 
 a no-thinker on the other ; whilst the no-thinker 
 oftener enjoys the pleasure of the moment, and 
 leaves the fine-thinker like one who dissects a 
 bubble, and loses whilst he analyzes it. 
 487 
 
 Hoz0 wrong are we to let reason, even for a 
 moment, be subservient to our best passions : 
 when a mind with this propensity is persuaded 
 of the justice of a cause, or propriety of a senti- 
 ment, how often do we see the heated imagina- 
 tion know not where to stop iit their defence. 
 488 
 
 We should not indulge our wish for informa- 
 tion, when procuring it gives pain to others. 
 Curiosity is a virtue, when it aims at any com- 
 mendable information or benevolent purpose; 
 L 3
 
 154 
 
 excited by other motives, it is intrusive and 
 criminal, and produces mischief in society : it is 
 then the parent of scandal, and the companion 
 of detraction. Inquisitive people are ever ready 
 to propagate calumny ; and, if they have ever 
 such a slight foundation where folly hasprevailed 
 over human frailty, they build a superstructure 
 without remorse, and level characters with the 
 dust. 
 
 489 
 The middle station of life appears to be that 
 temperate region in which the mind, neither 
 enervated by too bright a ray of jjrosperity, 
 nor chilled by the freezing blast ofjjenury, is in 
 the situation most favourable for every great 
 and generous exertion. 
 
 490 
 The exercise of amiable feelings, and not the 
 parade of them, is the only criterion by zchich 
 we can form an adequate idea of a lively sensi- 
 bility ; and, however we endeavour to acquire a 
 surreptitious reputation for goodness, it only 
 deceives ourselves ; for the discerning will soon 
 see through the specious veil, and never fail to 
 expose the hypocrisy.
 
 155 
 
 i-<fr*-r- 
 
 491 
 IVe should mver sacrifice animated pleasures 
 to sluggish inaction, which merely afford com- 
 fort without zest. 
 
 492 
 There are some who have such a chilling aus- 
 terity of manner, as checks the ardour of the 
 most heroic spirit ; they subdue without convinc- 
 ing, and silence grief they have not the tender- 
 ness to soothe; they make affliction tremble 
 whilst they affect the office of consolation ; and, 
 under the shield of virtue, pierce the soul of sen- 
 sibility. 
 
 493 
 QuHl est touchant le spectacle de deux amis 
 dont Tune re^oit des bienfaits de Vautre! ik 
 n^osent se parler ; un silence eloquent est leur 
 seul language ; celui qui donne parait aussihojt- 
 teux que celui qui recoit ; on ne peut devenir a 
 leur embarras lequel de ces deux amis est Pin- 
 fortune ! Telle est la conduite de deux amis 
 delicates. 
 
 494 
 
 A CHARACTER. 
 
 hady ***, with all the strength of reason 
 and steadiness of mind man can boast of, has all 
 L 4
 
 156 
 
 the winning softness of the most amiable of her 
 own sex : gentle, affable, social, polite, she joins 
 the graces of a court to the simplicity of a cot- 
 tage, and with her ease and szeeetness makes all 
 happy zvho surround her. Impartial in polite- 
 ness, she m,akes no invidious distinctions to damp 
 the heart of an irferior. She is the best and 
 most beloved of wives, mothers, and mistresses, 
 her domestic character being most lovely ; and 
 all her virtues are rendered doubly charming by 
 a certain grace and delicate fnish in her man- 
 ners, which it is easy to perceive, though not to 
 describe. She does not disdain to direct the eco- 
 nomy of her house, zchich is magnijicent zcithout 
 profusion, and regular zcithout restraint. 
 495 
 Splendid genius is often mixed with such fail- 
 ings as render the possessors less easily made 
 happy, and those around them little disposed to 
 contribute to their happiness. Temper, modC" 
 ration, humility, a toleration of folly, and an 
 attention to trijies, are endowments necessary in 
 the commerce zcith mankind; often as useful 
 and generally more attractive than wisdom, 
 learning, eloquence, or wit, when attended zcith
 
 157 
 i-<f*-H- 
 
 arrogance, ill-nature, an ungracious manner, or 
 
 forbidding address. 
 
 496 
 
 Quil est aisc de croire ce qu'on desire avec 
 
 ardeur ! 
 
 497 
 
 Quand Vamour propra des kommes est Jlattc 
 
 lis sont toujours indulgens. 
 
 498 
 
 Whatever advantages we snatch by anticipa^ 
 
 tion, is like money spent before it becomes due, 
 
 which, at the time of regular payment, will be 
 
 missed and regretted. 
 
 499 
 
 Pythagoras observed, that ability and neces- 
 sity dwell near each other. 
 500 
 
 Une beaute de profession est toujours gourmee 
 d'une sottise qui la fait aller de pair avec le be I 
 esprit en titre. Celles, au contraire, qui la 
 nature semble avoir un peu negligees cherchent 
 de repairer ses torts par Cacquisition des qua- 
 lites aimables : leur esprit netanf point gate par 
 lafatterie acquiest de la jicstesse, leurs pensees 
 se repliant moins sur elles memes s'etendent 
 davantage; de la plus de ressources dans le
 
 158 
 
 co7nmerce, et par consequent mains de fantai- 
 sies. Comme elks n'ont pas tant de pretentioiis, 
 dies VLont pas le ton si haut, et se forment mi 
 caractere complaisant qui rend ce qu'elles ont 
 d'agrements d'autant plus touchant qu'elles pa~ 
 roissent y compter moins. Ce sont ces avantages 
 qui compenseut ceux de lajigure, et Temportent 
 mime sur eux. II est dans le caractere et dam 
 Vhumeur de puissants charmes qui suppleent a 
 la beaute, et aux quels celle-ci ne supp lee point, 
 
 501 
 j4re there no griefs but such as guilt pro- 
 duces "^ not one which time, employment, per- 
 severance, and exertion, cannot alleviate. 
 
 502 
 AN ADDRESS TO FORTUNE. 
 
 Oh ! Fortune, goddess, heavnly Fair ! 
 Fropitious, kcar thy suppliant's pray'r ; 
 Let me approach thy splendid fane, 
 The humblest vot'ry of thy train ; 
 And, whilst svbmiss to thee I pay 
 My vows, and own thy sov' reign sway, 
 Thy gracious smiles let ine implore, 
 And deprecate thy harsher pow'r. 
 
 If, by illusive fancy led, 
 
 Whilst youth's gay season o'er my head
 
 159 
 
 With rapid pinions iirg'd its flight, 
 And deck'd each scene in colours bright ; 
 Jf, then, resentful of thy scorn, 
 I fondly hop'd, by pride upborne, 
 To soar aloft, thy powr disown. 
 Nor court thy smile, nor fear thy frcmn ; 
 Jf, Quixote-like, I dar'd engage 
 'Gainst thee, and war unequal wage ; 
 Despised thy malice, brav'd its course^ 
 And deem'd thy arrows void of force ; 
 Maturer, now, I feel, and own 
 My error, which I would atone ; 
 My blind presumption would deplore, 
 Thy ev'ry attribute restore ; 
 Confess thy frown can bliss destroy 
 Thy smile can heighten ev'ryjoy. 
 
 Though distant from thy presence f lac d. 
 Though far unworthy such a guest. 
 Yet, should'st thou deign to be my friend^ 
 Thy powerful influence extend. 
 Thy magic glance all worth can grant- 
 Confer each merit that I want ; 
 And all shall flnd, by thee carest, 
 The wisest, virtuous, and best. 
 
 For not to Folly s sotis alone, 
 
 Or sordid minds, thy pow'r is known ;
 
 160 
 
 1 vw i 
 
 Thy fascinating charms can bind 
 The best and wisest of mankind: 
 To thee all bend through ev'ry stage. 
 From blooming youth to hoary age ; 
 Involuntary homage pay, 
 Unconscious of thy latent sway. 
 
 Thefreeborn soul, whose boundless pow'rs 
 Midst Nature's works supremely fow'rs ; 
 Whose active comprehensive view 
 Can pierce creation's wonders through, 
 Jnd, searching e'en beyond the tomb, 
 Anticipate a life to come ; 
 Oft thou call'st home, with mandate strong, 
 To droop beneath " th' oppressor's wrong ;" 
 " The proud man's contumely" bear, 
 The stern rebuf, the taunt severe ; 
 Reproof too insolently plain, 
 Insulting pity, cold disdain ; 
 With all the various obloquies 
 Which supercilious wealth employs 
 To wring the bosom, pierce the heart. 
 With Feeling's keen, corrosive dart ! 
 
 Thee, sacred Friendship would disclaim ; 
 Above all sordid, selfish aim. 
 Sublime, it rears aloft its throne. 
 And seeks congenial minds alone :
 
 161 
 
 Yet do thy fav' rites oft'nest bend 
 To thy auspices for a friend ; 
 Whilst they whose stars less brightly shincj 
 Obscur'd by thee with clouds malign ; 
 Whose bosoms genuine friendship kfiow, 
 With all its warmth, its fervour glow, 
 Oft meet (if not th' indignant spurn) 
 Unkind neglect or cool return. 
 
 And Love, the heart's chief favour'd guest, 
 The sweetest inmate of the breast. 
 Whose soft, but absolute, control 
 Ennobles aiid refines the soul, 
 If blest by thee, it mutual glows, 
 Exalted happiness bestows : 
 But when thy rig' runs frowns pursue, 
 Th' ill fated passion shrinks from view ; 
 And, whilst concealment wears a smile. 
 Takes deeper root, murps the soil. 
 And, twining with life's glowing flow' r. 
 Is plucked but in the mortal hour. 
 
 Een God-like Virtue owes to thee 
 
 Felicity's supreme degree; 
 
 From thee derives (true happiness !) 
 
 The more dijfusive pow'r to bless. 
 
 The open hand, and feeling heart. 
 
 Shed comforts round heal Sorrow's smart ;
 
 162 
 
 Whilst Gratitude's expressive tear, 
 With eloquaice refin'd, sincere, 
 Repays with usury the -whole ; 
 Breathes sweeter accents to the soul 
 Than venal Flatt'ry's loud acclaim., 
 Though echod by the voice of Famt : 
 And Heav'n itself, with smiles benign, 
 Approving, stamps its seal divine ; 
 And bids each social virtue prove 
 The source of endless joys above. 
 
 Then, gracious Pow'r ! oh ! haste to shed 
 Thy choicest blessings on this head ; 
 I jet Wealth in gorgeous form descend. 
 Await my nod, my steps at fend; 
 So shall praise, honour, friendship, love, 
 Bid all my hours with rapture move ; 
 So shall this heart with joy o'erfioKO, 
 Expand with sympathetic glow ; 
 Shall with disj)ensing bounty bless, 
 And cheer theghom of wretchedness f 
 
 Yet, should the favours I implore 
 Fallacious prove, though gilded o'er ; 
 Should happiness that fugitive 
 Fly far, nor deign with thee to live ; 
 Or thou, whilst I invoke thy sway. 
 Exact beyond my pow'r to pay ;
 
 163 
 
 Is mean sercility the prke ? 
 
 Integrity themciijice? 
 
 Should luxury, fair Virtue^ s bane, 
 
 Absorb each sentiment humane ; 
 
 Or av'rice, with contracting pom'r, 
 
 Unblest, corrode each anxious hour ; 
 
 Retain thy gifts, and, in their stead, 
 
 Let peace its balmy influence shed; 
 
 By me, ambition be resign' d, 
 
 Whose "wild extreme sul/certs the mind. 
 
 All strength of principle confounds, 
 
 And Virtue's self remorseless tvounds. 
 
 Let me the better part prefer, 
 
 To mild Religion's helps recur ; 
 
 And, with its awful truths imprest. 
 
 Confess that what Heav'n wills is best ! 
 
 503 
 Human happiness is the result of reason, not 
 of the passions. 
 
 504 
 ^, The best things become dangerous ly excess : 
 Virtue resides in that meridian which is equally 
 distant from all extremes. 
 505 
 There is no desire more prevalent than that 
 of being thought happy : what numbers sacrifice
 
 154 
 
 the dearest feelings of the heart at this pride- 
 raised shrine I 
 
 . 506 
 When zee command, we should give our rea- 
 sons for it ; that is what distinguishes the appro- 
 bation of a man of sense from the flattery of 
 sycophants, and the admiration of fools. 
 
 507 
 Merely to observe, without endeavouring to 
 account for any thing, may serve as a common 
 sense of life, but lays up no store to clothe the 
 soul. 
 
 508 
 \^ When religious impressions are deeply en- 
 graven on the heart, they become a source of 
 happiness zchich compensates for many depriva- 
 tions; and throw a constant consoling ray of 
 light into situations which, to the general eye of 
 the zeorld, seem' quite hopeless and gloomy. 
 
 509 
 We find that there are two representations of 
 life which meet us on our entrance into the world; 
 one, the work of imagination, a giddy enthu- 
 siast ; the other, of experience, a sober, skilful 
 artist : the first presents exaggerated features, 
 deceitful proportions, and random strokes, which
 
 165 
 f<^<J>-^ 
 
 confound and mislead the judgment ; in the 
 zcork of the last, zee see every thing judiciously 
 disposed, and may trace beauty, symmetry, and 
 design, through the zchole : all is mellowed hy 
 time, and, if zee are not dazzled zvith its lustre, 
 neither are Zjse disgusted zoith its faults. To 
 vieze this picture in the fairest light, making the 
 best of life is true zeisdom. 
 
 510 
 Nothing presents a more striking emblem of 
 Time than a silent smooth-Jiozcing river : to the 
 inattentive it seems always the same, though its 
 v^ario us portions are gliding imperceptibly away, 
 whilst the flowerets that enamel its banks are 
 undermined hy its current : azvhile zoe ad- 
 mire its beauty, and are refreshed by its cool- 
 ness ; but the scene soon changes : swoln to a 
 torrent, it bursts its bounds ; dark, troubled.; 
 and impetuous, it involves in its zcasteful pro- 
 gress every herb and Jiowcr which it before 
 nourished. So fares it with the human soul; 
 whilst the affections flow in their smooth course, 
 the seeds of virtue spring, and flowers blossom ; 
 but, zahen the storm of passion^rises, every no- 
 ble thought, generous wish, and useful aim, are 
 swept away into the gulph of oblivion. 
 M
 
 166 
 
 511 
 If we wish to prepare young persons to en- 
 counter the evils of life with dignity, and that 
 they should acquire real wisdom and virtue, we 
 must make them exercise their own faculties, 
 not heap precept upon precept ; and exact from 
 obedience, zmthout bringing conviction home to 
 reason. 
 
 512 
 Prudence too early in life is the cautious 
 craft of ignorant self-love. 
 
 513 
 Many prejudices are indolently adopted be- 
 cause age has given them a venerable appear- 
 ance, though, perhaps, the reasons on which they 
 were originally founded may have ceased. Men- 
 tal as well as bodily exercise, is, at first, irk- 
 some ; wherefore we are ready to let others think 
 as well as zoorkfor us. 
 
 514 
 How few have a true inclination for inward 
 peace : those who have, prefer reality to exter- 
 nal happiness, temperance to luxury, the con- 
 venient to the superfluous, and simple nature to 
 ostentation.
 
 157 
 
 ' 1 H'v I 
 515 
 How enchanting it is to find information with- 
 out theparade of display, accomplishments with- 
 out the levity that too often attends them, and 
 wit and gaiety without satire or detraction, 
 516 
 There is no knowing how the heart will bear 
 those misfortunes which have been contemplated, 
 but never felt. We are but little affected by a 
 distant view of evil, and it is good for our peace 
 it should be so. 
 
 517 
 Melancholy brings to our minds the expres- 
 sions of others which describe our situations; 
 probably because it is the stillest state of the 
 mind, and most inclined to remembrance. Iti 
 this state, quotations, when judicious, are sure 
 to be pleasing ; but they must be natural to have 
 effect, flow without seeking for, or effort to in- 
 troduce them. 
 
 518 
 
 A deviation from truth, hozcever plausible, 
 
 apparently, are its motives, can never meet the 
 
 sanction of Heaven, but must revert with sorrow 
 
 on the heart which allowed itself to be seduced 
 
 'Ms
 
 168 
 
 i-^4 
 into aforgeifubtess of the never-fading beauties 
 of sincerity. 
 
 5KJ 
 A modest man is steady, an humble man is 
 timid, and a vain man is presumptuous. 
 520 
 Sad hearts, it is said, make warm devotees : 
 with as much truth it may be said, that the es- 
 sence of cheerfulness is the true spirit of' reli- 
 gion. 
 
 521 
 
 A CHARACTER. 
 
 Arabella r&as one of the kindest of daughters^, 
 without forgetting that she was a wife ; one of 
 the most atte7itive ofzcives, without forgetting 
 that she was a mother ; and the tenderest of 
 mothers, without a breach of the domestic, the 
 social, the friendly, or even the elegant, duties 
 of the individual ; for it was not less a pleasure 
 than an honour to her heart to call forth all the 
 powers which Nature had given her into action : 
 she would, therefore, amuse, regulate, compas- 
 sionate, instruct, serve, and sympathize, by the 
 easiest transitions. What are called cares of 
 41 family i zvere to her only sourcesof animation ; 
 nor zvas it certain whethtr the graces of her per-
 
 ]f)9 
 
 son or the virtues of her mind were most strik- 
 ing : and, yet, this divine zeoman always assert- 
 ed that the sole merit of her temper and conduct 
 consisted in knozcing zchcn she z&as pleased, and 
 being grateful to Heaven and her friends for 
 her happiness. 
 
 522 
 Tliere are some uses zchich productions of 
 fancy and genius may serve : the region of ex- 
 alted zssisdom and dignified virtue, to zchich 
 they transport us, may have much effect in 
 changing the cold and unfeeling temperament 
 of zDorldly minds ; the indifferent and insensible 
 may be uarmed and expanded by the fiction of 
 distress, and eloquence of sentiment : but there 
 is a sort of mind common in youth, and that, 
 too, of the most amiable nature, tender, zcarm, 
 and visionary, to zohich the walks of fancy and 
 enthusiasm, of romantic love, of exaggerated 
 sorrozc, of trembling sensibility, are very unsafe : 
 in such bosoms, feeling and susceptibility ought 
 rather to be repressed than encouraged : they 
 resemble luxuriant soils, which may be enriched 
 beyond wholesome fertility, and produce only 
 weeds ; weeds more to be regretted, from growing 
 in that soil zohere virtue would have sprung. 
 M 3
 
 170 
 
 5-<MH- 
 
 523 
 Quel dge heureux que celui ou le moment pre- 
 sent est tout, ou Von enjouit avec transport sans 
 souvenir du passe, et sans crainte pour Favenir ! 
 524 
 En songeant qu'il faut qu'on oublie quelque 
 chose on s'en souvient. 
 
 5Q.5 
 La tournure la plus simple est toujours la 
 meilleure. 
 
 526 
 Contentment is the best friend to health and 
 beauty. 
 
 527 
 How willingly do we cherish the remembrance 
 of past happiness; it sweetens present enjoy- 
 ments, and alleviates present sufferings ; it lulls 
 MS into pleasing dreams, and converts the uu- 
 smooth couch to a bed of down. 
 528 
 There is often a perseverance in virtue, and a 
 magnanimity in females, seldom equalled in 
 men. The virtues of men are frequently from 
 considerations, which, though they do not destroy, 
 , certainly diminish their merits : their heroic 
 actions are performed on a great theatre, zvith
 
 171 
 
 i-<N>-{ 
 public admiration to support them ; but, when 
 a woman sacrifices every thing to filial duty and 
 affection, she has no concomitant motive or ex- 
 ternal circumstance to animate her exertions ; 
 her silent, secret virtue is the pure and unmin- 
 gled effort of tenderness of affection and duty. 
 529 
 La ragione h il gran distintivo della natura 
 trniana, e la faculta per cui possiamo dirci in 
 qualche grade imparcatati colle intelligenze ce- 
 lestiale. 
 
 530 
 False sentiment and false delicacy excite a 
 kind of morbid sensibility, which faints under 
 every ideal distress and every fantastical trial, 
 weakening the mind, and depriving it of those 
 resources which Nature intended it should find 
 within itself When young people enter into 
 life with these over-refined feelings, and per- 
 suade themselves they are meritorious, it renders 
 them liable to a thousand vexatiotis and morti- 
 fications, without strength or fortitude to van- 
 quish them. 
 
 531 
 We must not allozo ourselves to anticipate 
 misfortunes , our lives cannot be regulated by 
 
 M 4
 
 17!^ 
 
 oar desires ther/ should jlow conformably with 
 our duties; and we cannot hope for enjoyments, 
 if we have not something to prove us leorthy of 
 them. 
 
 532 
 ON THE RAINBOW. 
 
 Behold yon bright ethereal bow 
 With evanescent beauties glow ; 
 The spacious arch streams through the shy, 
 Deck'd with each teint of Nature's die : 
 Refracted sunbeams through the show'r 
 I A humid radiance from it pour ; 
 Whilst colour into colour fades, 
 With blended lights and soft'ning shades. 
 
 But soon those gath'ring clouds shall chase, 
 The beauteous curte, its form deface ; 
 Absorb each streaming ray of light, 
 And hide its glories from our sight. 
 
 Thus bright, amidst this vale of tears. 
 To youth's fond vision, Hope appears ; 
 Wears eo'ry grace, each Iris hue. 
 As bright almost as transient, too. 
 In life's horizon clouds arise. 
 Beneath whose gloom thejlatt'rer dies ;
 
 173 
 
 Or, should ive grasp the gliit'ring Fairy 
 We fold her form but painted air : 
 So unsubstantial, when attain' d, 
 Are human joys so soon to end. 
 
 All-gracious Mercy plac' d yon sign. 
 High proof of love andpowr divine! 
 All-gracious Mercy hope bestows, 
 Sweet antidote to human woes ! 
 A world, by heav'nly promise bless' d. 
 Was by the cloud-form' d bow expressed ; 
 A brighter world Hope points to view 
 There, all may fold her promise true ! 
 
 533 
 
 He who is taught by a critic to dislike that 
 which pleased him in his natural state, may 
 complain of his instructor as the madman did of 
 his doctor, who, when he thought himself Em- 
 peror of Peru, physicked him down to poverty. 
 534 
 
 To listen to the complaints of the unfortunate, 
 is a more difficult task than to relieve their ne- 
 cessities ; yet this is a sacrifice humanity requires 
 of us. Our alms cannot extend to all, but sym- 
 pathy and attention may ; and, though not re- 
 lieve, we may console.
 
 174 
 
 535 
 
 When we have encountered great evils, we be- 
 come insensible to smaller ones. 
 5SQ 
 
 Prejudices are a thick cloud on the face of 
 reason, 
 
 537 
 
 We cannot command happiness : we should he 
 often at a loss to chuse, if zee could ; but, in be- 
 ing resigned to what happens, we merit it ; and 
 no virtue is overlooked in Heaven. 
 538 
 
 It is not in the etiquette of a court, nor the 
 ceremonies of a drawing-room, that elegance of 
 manners exists : genuine excellence here, as every 
 where else, springs from Nature, and is only to 
 i>e cultivated, not created, by artificial instruc- 
 tion. There is more complacency in the negli- 
 gence of some people, than in what is called the 
 good breeding of others ; and little absences of 
 the heart are often more interesting and en- 
 gaging than the punctilious attentions of a thou- 
 sand professed sacri/icers to the graces. 
 
 539 
 The creation of too refined and subtilized 
 feelings has an ill effect not only on our ideas of
 
 175 
 
 virtue, but also on our estimate of happiness: 
 that sickli/ sort of refinement creates imaginary 
 evils and distresses ; and imaginary blessings and 
 enjoyments, which depretiate the common attain- 
 ments of life. This affects the temper doubly, 
 both with respect to ourselves and others ; with 
 respect to ourselves, from what we think ought 
 to have been our lot ; with regard to others, 
 from what we think ought to be their sentiments. 
 It inspires a certain childish pride of our own 
 superior delicacy, and an unfortunate contempt 
 of the plain worth, and the ordinary but useful 
 occupations and ideas, of those around us. 
 540 
 
 There is a Spanish proverb, which says The 
 Devil tempts all men but the idle man ; the idle 
 man tempts the Devil. 
 
 541 
 
 j^s the contemplation of Nature is ever in our 
 power, so it is judicious to encourage a taste for 
 the beauties it presents : we may feast our ima- 
 ginations with the verdure of waving groves, 
 the diversified colours of an evening sky, or 
 dwell with rapture on the more sublime exhi- 
 bitions of Nature, the raging tempest, the bil- 
 lozvy deep, or the stupendous precipice : these we
 
 176 ^ 
 
 i-^-^-r- 
 can contemplate as often as zee please, and are 
 an inexhaustible source of delight, when zee are 
 alive to their beauties. 
 
 542 
 "Let the unfortunate reflect, that, though per- 
 haps they enjoy but fezo of the blessings of life, 
 one of a very superior nature is always in their 
 power, that is innocence ; and, though Fortune 
 may render us in a degree unhappy, she can 
 never make us completely or irreparably miser- 
 able zcithout our own consent. 
 
 543 
 That cordial friendship and warm attachment 
 which we find in the smaller circles of life, is lost 
 in the bustle of extended connexions and large 
 societies. 
 
 544 
 We often perceive persons differing zcidely in 
 theory and practice ; the reason is obvious: 
 zee argue from the head, but act from the heart. 
 What can differ more widely than zcise men and 
 fools f yet they often act alike, both being 
 mostly governed by the impulse of passion. 
 
 545 
 In afflictions of zehatever degree, zohere death 
 has not already fixed events in certainty, the
 
 177 
 
 mind shoots aimost beyond the sphere of possibi- 
 lity in search of hope ; and seldom relinquishes 
 the fond illusion till the stroke of reality dis- 
 solves the enchantment. 
 
 546 
 Among the many advantages arising from 
 ^ cultivated sentiment, one of the most truly va- 
 luable, is, that delicate complacency of mind 
 which leads us to consult the feelings of those 
 with whom we live ; by shezcing a disposition to 
 gratify them, as far as is in our power, and by 
 avoiding whatever has a contrary tendency. 
 
 547 
 Charity is a virtue of the heart, not of the 
 hands : gifts and alms are the expressions, not 
 the essence, of this virtue. Charity is a habit 
 of good will and benevolence in the soul, whieh 
 disposes us to the love, assistance, and relief, of 
 mankind. 
 
 548 
 The just pride of true genius may be often a 
 bar to a mans advancement in life, by prompt- 
 ing him to retreat, with a generous disdain, from 
 the hand that might lead him to fame and for- 
 tune, when he thinks it ungracefully extended 
 tozcards him.
 
 178 
 549 
 
 OBSERVATIONS ON ACTING. 
 
 When the voice is raised, it ought to be natU' 
 rally exerted without any effort to make it 
 sweeter, but as much stronger and fuller as 
 possible, making it weighty and pathetic ; that 
 is, by a forceful and pathetic dwelling on the 
 word in the delivery, as if to stamp it on the 
 understanding, and as if parted roith reluctant- 
 ly, until it would have its effect ; and, to prevent 
 such emphasis from appearing affected or whin- 
 ing, there need only be shewn that feeling signi- 
 ficance, that interested sound of concern, that 
 gives meaning to the tone it is spoken with. 
 
 An actor should be able, occasionally, to smile 
 without gaiety, look erect without pride, be 
 provoked without rage, appear soft without ten- 
 derness, and condescending without ceremony; 
 for instance, such should be the manners of 
 Tamerlane, As to the manner of speaking, as 
 it is the result of refections, it ought to be strong, 
 deliberate, and impressive ;for manly and noble 
 sentiments require distinct and weighty utter- 
 ance, allowing them to ascend from the ear to 
 the understanding.
 
 179 
 
 The French plays, or manner of acting, suit not 
 an English audience. A Frenchman, when he 
 goes to a theatre, makes entertainment a matter 
 of importance : the long speeches of CorneillCf 
 Racine, Crebillon, and Voltaire, disgust an 
 English ear ; whilst our neighbours sit in silent 
 enjoyment of the beauty of the sentiments, and 
 the energy of language. The Englishman goes 
 to the theatre for amusement, and expects not to 
 be alarmed by terror, nor wrought upon by scenes 
 of commiseration ; he is surprized into feeling, 
 and sheds tears because he cannot avoid it ; and 
 receives instruction by chance, not choice. 
 550 
 
 Small transgressions become great by frequent 
 repetitions ; as small expenses multiplied, waste 
 a large revenue. 
 
 55\ 
 
 Recreation should fit us for business, not rob 
 us of time. 
 
 550. 
 
 If we dive too deep in pleasure, we always find 
 a sediment that renders it impure and noxious. 
 553 
 
 Passion, when in such a degree as to rouse 
 and kindle the mind, without depriving it of its
 
 1-80 
 
 stlf -possession, is universally found to exalt all 
 human powers. 
 
 534 
 
 Naivete is explained by Marmontel as an 
 amiable ingenuity, or undisguised openness, 
 which seems to give us some degree of superio- 
 rity over the person who shezos it ; a certain in- 
 fantine simplicity which we love in our hearts, 
 but which displays some features in the cha- 
 racter that zoe think we could have art enough 
 to hide, and which, therefore, leads us to smile 
 at the person who discovers it. 
 555 
 
 From a natural love of virtue whilst we are 
 unsullied z&ith too intimate a commerce with the 
 world, and before we become soured zeith ingra- 
 titude, we are charmed with the works of Na-. 
 ture, warmed zoith benevolence, and feel a pro- 
 pensity to ge?ierous actions. 
 556 
 
 A man is not a coward because he fears to be 
 unjust. 
 
 551 
 
 That which is to be loved long, is to be loved 
 with reason: rather than with passion. Reason 
 is like the sun, of which the light is constant;-
 
 181 
 
 f <*-<} 4 
 
 uniform, and lasting ; fancy, a meteor of bright 
 hut transient, lustre, irregular in its motions, 
 and delusive in its attraction. 
 558 
 
 The mind possesses strength unknown to itself, 
 till virtue calls for its exertion ; then it is, that 
 we soar above ourselves, and aspire to tJiat per- 
 fection which is the honour of our nature. 
 559 
 
 There are trials which virtue itself zcould do 
 well to avoid. ^ The passions are the most rest- 
 less disturbers of human happiness ; and the wist 
 in all a^es have been convinced that there are no 
 foes so dangerous to man as those within his own 
 breast. 
 
 560 
 
 A man should live with the zcorld as a citizen 
 of the zcorld; he may have a preference for the. 
 particular quarter, or square, or even ulley, in 
 which he lives, but he should have a generous 
 feeling for the welfare of the zohole ; and if, in 
 his rambles through this great city (the world), 
 he may chance to meet a man of a different habit, 
 language, or complexion, from his own, still he 
 is a fellow-creature, a short sojourner, in com- 
 mon with himself; subject to the same wants, in- 
 N
 
 182 
 - I 
 
 JlrmitteSf and necessities; and one that has a 
 
 brother's claim upon him for his charity, com- 
 
 fort, and relief. 
 
 561 
 Cicero, it is well known, was d great jester, 
 and some of his good sayings have reached us : 
 it does not appear as if his wit had been of the 
 malicious sort ; and yet Pompey, whose temper 
 could not stand a jest, was so galled by him, that 
 he is reported to have said, with great bitterness, 
 - **^0h! that Cicero would go over to my 
 enemies, for then he would be afraid of me !" 
 If Cicero forgave this sarcasm, he must not 
 only have been better tempered, but a better 
 man, than Pompey. 
 
 560, 
 There is a pleasure of the highest and noblest 
 kind annexed to the performance of a generous 
 action ; a pleasure which the gratitude of the 
 objects obliged may somezvhat increase, but 
 which their ingratitude can never destroy. 
 
 563 
 Singularity of opinion is the natural conse- 
 quence of want of opportunities of comparing 
 eur ideas with those of other people.
 
 183 
 
 1 f'w I" ' 
 
 564 
 To oblige the most fertile genius to say otitif 
 what is new, would be to contract his volume to 
 a very few pages. 
 
 565 
 The most real satisfaction which praise can 
 bestow, is, when what is repeated aloud agrees 
 with the whispers of the conscience. 
 566 
 Mankind is one vast republic ; every indivi- 
 dual receives, and ought to pay, many benefits :' 
 none have a right to withdraw themselves from 
 their task of vigilance, or be indulged in idle 
 wisdom or solitary pleasure. 
 567 
 Trifles alwaysrequire exuberance of ornament, 
 
 568 
 An Italian philosopher expressed in his mot- 
 to, " that time was his estate." It is one which 
 might satisfy the most extensive desires, if tto 
 part is suffered to lie waste from negligence, to 
 be overrun with noxious plants, or laid out for 
 shezv ratJier than for use. 
 569 
 Though the relations of life are numerous^ 
 there is but one bond, that is, social love : on 
 N 2
 
 184 
 
 earth, it joins the hearts of the married pair in 
 the softest sympathr^ of affections ; unites the 
 parent to the child, the master to the servant, 
 and each man to his neighbour. In Heaven, it 
 forms that sacred bond which shall hereafter 
 join the angel and archangel in blessed commu- 
 nion. 
 
 570 
 Many mistake the love for the practice of 
 virtue ; and are not so much good men, as the 
 friends of goodness. 
 
 571 
 iffl speme de' malvagi 
 Svanisce in nn momenta. 
 Come spitma in tempest a, ofumo al venfo. 
 Ma de' giusti la speme 
 Mai non cangia sembianza ; 
 Ed e I'istesso Dio la lor speranza. 
 
 Metastatio. 
 
 572 
 How often does custom prevent our following 
 in practice what we admire in theory. 
 573 
 When a cultivated mind is added to simplicity 
 of manners, how much more engaging is it than 
 all the factitious accomplishments of fashionable 
 life.
 
 X 
 
 185 
 
 574 
 
 Things art often overdone both in writing 
 and speaking. The imagination is apt to take 
 offence, if the balance of power is entirely on 
 the side of words ; and the strongest meanings 
 are sometimes totally explained away by their 
 interference. 
 
 575 
 
 The common mode of dispelling grief, by flying 
 to dissipation, is ever sure to produce disappoint- 
 ment : its removal must be the work of reason, 
 not the triumph of folly : our passions must be 
 subdued by religion and re/lection, not drowned 
 by riot and diversion. The former surmounts, 
 the latter but stifes, sorrozo, for a time, to re- 
 ceive fresh fuel ; and, in the end, consumes every 
 good and virtuous thought, and adds remorse to 
 affiiction. 
 
 576 
 
 A CHARACTER. 
 
 His mind teas of Nature's choicest composi- 
 tion, but hurt, partly, by the dispensation of 
 Providence partly by unprofitable pondering. 
 }Ie zvas a man of unbounded humanity, fine af- 
 fections, and capable of the purest friendship ; 
 a man too sensible to be happy ; who thought too 
 N 3 '
 
 186 
 
 deeply, to think to any purpose ; and who spun 
 the thread of affection so fine, as to render it (at 
 least to himself) unserviceable. A character 
 which, in a crowd, is unnoticed, because, like the 
 minutice of Mature, it requires nice observation 
 to distinguish its exquisiteness. A character 
 that, to its intimates, is ever amiable, because it 
 will, even to the monopolizing inquietude to it- 
 self, endeavour to compass their tranquility. A 
 character to itself barely supportable, because 
 corporeal nature cannot keep pace with its men- 
 tal refinement. 
 
 577 
 Error is continually at contradiction with it- 
 self; truth, never. 
 
 578 
 Want and poverty are the only instructors 
 whose lessons are ahvays heard, and wJiose coun- 
 sels are always efficacious. 
 579 
 No tame country, however beautiful, however 
 adorned, can distend the mind like awful ma- 
 jestic scenery. The wild sallies of untutored 
 genius often strike the imagination more than 
 the most correct effusions of cultivated parts. 
 Though the eye, therefore, might take more plea-
 
 187 
 
 sure in a view (cormdefed merely in a pictu- 
 resque light) judiciously adorned by the hand of 
 Art, yet it is much to be doubted whether such 
 a view would have that strong effect on the ima- 
 gination, as when rough, with all its bold irre- 
 gularities about it ; when beauty and deformity, 
 grandeur and horror, mingled together, strike 
 the mind with opposing ideas ; and, like che- 
 mical liquors of an opposite nature, when mixed, 
 produce an effervescence which no homogeneous 
 liquors could produce. 
 
 Surely there s a hidden potifr that reigns 
 Mid the lone majesty of untam'd Nature, 
 Controling sober reason. 
 
 580 
 We should never forget, that the unfortunate 
 are often even more grateful Jor delicate atten- 
 tions thanj'or essential services. 
 
 581 
 How often do we see very worthy people not 
 exempt from the common J'oible oj' supposing 
 themselves the most competent judges of what is 
 best Jor their friends, and determining to have 
 them good or happy in their own xcay. 
 
 iV4
 
 188 
 582 
 
 CHARACTER, OF SHAKESPEARE's WRITINGS. 
 
 Shakespeare is a name so interesting, that it 
 cannot be passed by without a tribute of admi- 
 ration. He differs essentially from all other 
 writers; him we may prof ess to feel, rather than 
 to understand ; and it is safer to say, on many 
 occasions, that zee are possessed by him, than 
 that zee possess him. He' scatters the seeds of 
 things, the principles of characters and action, 
 with so cunning a hand, yet, with so careless an 
 air and master of our feelings, submits himself 
 so little to our judgment, that every thing seems 
 conducted by some superior agency. We dis- 
 cern not his course, we see no connexion of cause 
 and effect, we are rapt in ignorant admiration, 
 and claim no kindred with his abilities : all the 
 incidents, all the parts, look like chance, whilst 
 we feel and are sensible that the whole is design. 
 His characters not only act and speak in strict 
 conformity to Nature, but in strict relation to 
 us ; just so much is shewn as is requisite just so 
 much is impressed : he commands every passage 
 to our heads and to our hearts, and moulds tts 
 as he pleases, and that with so much ease, that 
 he never betrays his ozvn exertions. We see
 
 189 
 
 i-<^*4 
 these characters act from the mingled motives of 
 passion, reason, interest, habit, and complexion, 
 in all their proportions, when they are supposed 
 to know it not themselves ; and we are made to 
 acknozvledge that their actions and sentiments 
 are from those motives the necessary result. 
 He at once blends and distinguishes every thing ; 
 every thing is complicated every thing is plain, 
 I restrain the farther expressions of my admira^ 
 tion, lest they should not seem applicable to man ; 
 but it is really astonishing that a mere human 
 being, a part of humanity only, should so per-- 
 fectly comprehend the whole ; and that he should 
 possess such exquisite art, that, whilst every child 
 shall feel the zchole effect, his learned editors and 
 commentators should yet so very frequently mis- 
 take, or seem ignorant of, the cause. A sceptre 
 or a straw are, in his hands, of equal efficacy : 
 he needs no selection ; he converts every thing 
 into excellence : nothing is too great, nothing is 
 too base. Is a character efficient, like Richard, 
 it is every thing we can wish : is it otherwise, 
 like Hamlet, it is productive of equal admira- 
 tion. Action produces one mode of excellence ; 
 inaction, another. The chronicle, the novel, or 
 the ballad} the king or the beggar; the hera,
 
 190 
 
 the madman, the sot, or the fool; it is all one : 
 nothing is worse, nothing is better. The same 
 genius pervades, and is equally admirable in all; 
 or, is a character to be shewn in progressive 
 change, and the events of years to be comprized 
 within the hour, zenith zvhat a magic hand does 
 he prepare and scatter his spell ! The under- 
 standing, in the first place, must he subdued ; 
 and, lo ! how the rooted prejudices of the child 
 spring up to confound the man ! 'The weird 
 sisters rise, and order is extinguished ; the laws 
 of Nature give way, and leave nothing in our 
 minds but wildness and horror. No pause is 
 allozced us for reflection : horrid sentiments, fu- 
 rious guilt, and eomputiction ; air-drawn dag- 
 gers, murders, ghosts, and enchantment, shake 
 and possess us wholly. In the mean time the 
 process is completed: Macbeth changes under 
 our eye ; the milk of human kindness is con- 
 verted to gall; he has supped full of horrors; 
 and his May of life is fallen into the sere, 
 the yellow leaf; whilst we, the fools of amaze- 
 ment, are insensible to the shifting of place, and 
 the lapse of time ; and, till the curtain drops, 
 never once zcake to the truth of things, nor re- 
 cognize the laws of existence. On such an occa-
 
 191 
 
 )-<H>4- 
 sion, a fellow, like Rymer, waking from his 
 trance, shall lift up his constable^s staff, and 
 charge this great magician, this daring prac- 
 
 'tiser of arts inhibited, in the name of Aristotle, 
 to surrender ; whilst Aristotle himself, disavow- 
 ing his wretched officer, would fall prostrate at 
 his feet, and acknowledge his supremacy. 
 
 When the hand of Time shall have brushed off 
 his present editors and commentators, and zchen 
 the very name of Voltaire, and even the memory 
 of the language in which he has written, shall 
 be no more, the Apalachian mountains, the banks 
 of the Ohio, and the plains of Sciola, shall re- 
 sound with the accents of this barbarian. In 
 his native tongue he shall roll the genuine pas- 
 sions of Mature ; nor shall the griefs of Lear be 
 alleviated, nor the charms and wit of Rosalind be 
 abated by time. There is, indeed, nothing pe- 
 rishable about him, except that learning which 
 he was said so much to want. He had not, it 
 is true, enough for the demands of the age in 
 which he lived ; but he had too much for the reach, 
 of his genius, and the interest of his fame. MiV- 
 ton ayid he will carry the decayed remnants and 
 
 frippery of antient mythology into more distant 
 ages than they are, by their own force, entitled
 
 192 
 
 f<M^4- 
 to extend ; and the Metamorphoses of Ovid, up- 
 held by them, lay in a new claim to unmerited 
 immortality. 
 
 583 
 
 Restrain resentment at the injuries which you 
 
 may meet with : thy forgiveness of a brother's, 
 
 shall be requited by the pardon of thy ozvn 
 
 against the tremendous Majesty of Heaven. 
 
 584 
 
 mille volte for tunato, e mille 
 Chi sd por meta a suoi pensieri in tanto 
 Che per vana speranza immoderata 
 Di moderato ben non perde Ufrutto ! 
 
 II Pastor Fido. 
 
 5S5 
 A true friend must be one who fears God, and 
 loves his fellow-creatures. Many ingredients 
 are necessary in the connexion, but the chief are, 
 parity of fortune, similarity of sentiment, frm 
 resolution, inviolable secrecy, strict honour, and 
 reciprocal communication. How few, then, are 
 calculated for this character, and how cautiously 
 should we chuse ! a precipitate decision in this 
 point has led many to folly, guilt, and misery. 
 Pernicious example destroys refection, and sti- 
 pes conscience : abilities and good education.
 
 193 
 
 then, only serve to defend and varnish crimes 
 by fallacious reasonings. 
 
 586 
 
 STANZAS WRITTEN BY A VERY YOUNG LADY 
 TO HER MUSIC MASTER. 
 
 Oh ! kind instructor of my youthful song. 
 My heart its gratitude now strives to prove ; 
 
 To tliee that sentiment must e'er belong. 
 
 Whilst Heav'n permits this little heart to move. 
 
 Words, ye are feeble ! nothing can I find 
 
 Expressive of the feelings of my mind, 
 
 Benevolent heart, towards thee ! 
 
 Thy gen'raus soul, its science to infuse. 
 From endless store of sweetest melody. 
 
 Shed o' er my youthful mind, with hand profuse, 
 A skilful art, with patience taught by thee ! 
 
 Warm thanks are due for the laborious toil ; 
 
 Whate'er the produce of th' unthrifty soil, 
 Accept thy due from me ! 
 
 587 
 The prejudices of the ignorant are easily fix- 
 ed, but difficult to be shaken. 
 588 
 Idleness is the mother of immorality, and the 
 cause of every corruption.
 
 194 
 
 589 
 
 In matters of instruction, truth alone is beau- 
 
 4iful, and obtains durable esteem. 
 
 590 
 Severity speaks bluntly, malignity in a man- 
 
 ner the most mortifying ; pride commands impe- 
 riously, reason examines with sagacity, friend- 
 ship contradicts with regret. 
 
 591 
 We should be religious without superstition. 
 Just without rigour, merciful z&ithout partiality y 
 cautious without fear, valiant without rashness, 
 and great without pride. 
 
 Youth is the season of candour and unsuspect- 
 ing innocence ; doing no ill, it fears none^ This 
 it is that forms the halcyon joys of early life, 
 which in riper year's we view with so much plea- 
 sure in retrospection. 
 
 593 
 
 Caution, like avarice, is the vice and curse of 
 tLge. Let not youth, then, allow it to rob them 
 of the good and genuine feelings of the heart : 
 they should rather encourage its lively emotions, 
 4ind ett^oy the innocent pleasures they procure.
 
 195 
 
 )-<" 4 
 594 
 
 V^ PORTRAIT. 
 
 TI**** recommandable par lesagrements de sa 
 figure, Tetoit beaucoup plus encorepar les charmes 
 de son esprit ; il etoit en efet difficile d'en avoir 
 eutant, et de Vavoir d'un genre si agreabh. 
 Quoique il feut fort etendu, il ne vous en mon- 
 troit Jamais que ce qu'il savoit que vous en 
 pouviez saisir, et que ce qu'il en falloit pour 
 vous plaire. Attentif aux besoins et a la deli- 
 catesse de voire amour-propre, il vous parloit 
 souvent de vous ; et ne vous entretenoit jamais 
 de lui-meme ; vous louoit peu, et vous Jiattoit 
 toujours moins par ses eloges cependant que par 
 le plaisir que vous paroissiez de lui faire, II 
 nHgnoroit pas que Fesprit et, de tous Its dons de 
 la nature celui que les hommes envient leplus, et 
 qu'ils pardonnent le moins, et il aimoit mieux 
 quon ne lui en crut pas autant qu'il en avoit, 
 que de paroitre en avoir autant que vous : aussi 
 jamais vous ne le quittiez sans ttrc persuade 
 qu'apres vous, il etoit Vhomme du monde qui en 
 avoit le plus. Vif, ingenieux, varie, il passoit 
 sans contrainte et sans effort d'un sujet a un 
 autre. Plus galant que tendre, amant ksfemmes
 
 196 
 
 f**+- 
 
 passionement, mais ne les estimant pas, il etoit 
 plus fait pour plaire que pour ttre aime. 
 o9o 
 Though fortune and grandeur, in the lan- 
 guage of philosophy, are termed glittering tri- 
 fles, it is difficult for those who have been accus- 
 tomed to them to learn to despise them : i/et, were 
 they really essential to the happiness of mankind 
 in general, how unjust z&ould that Providence ht 
 who limits their possession to so few. But the 
 heart-felt cheerfulness which inspires the rustic 
 mirth of the poor industrious peasant, convinces 
 us that they are not so ; and teaches us that peace 
 is the offspring of temperance and labour. 
 596 
 If the path of human life is dreary and per- 
 plexed, if even the most virtuous find it sometimes 
 gloomy and disconsolate, hozv deep must be its 
 darkness to the rcretch zoho has voluntarily for- 
 feited the sunshine of the blameless heart, the 
 magnanimity of conscious rectitude. 
 597 
 Of what advantage is a cultivated mind, or 
 improved taste, if they do not render us more in- 
 dependent of the casualties of life ?
 
 197 
 
 598 
 The Divifie precept expressly enjoins us not to 
 do evil, that good may come of it. 
 
 599 
 Tlie heart which feels it an indignity to receive 
 a benefit, zcould be too narrow to confer one, un- 
 less from selfish motives. 
 600 
 It is only the affectation of affluence can make 
 poverty contemptible, 
 
 601 
 Little minds are not formed for great sta- 
 tions : they are intoxicated by authority. 
 602 
 Good-natured and generous tempers are more 
 sensible of the obligation that lies upon them to 
 do good, than they are of all the other necessities 
 of life, 
 
 603 
 Jth the rich who feel most forcibly the want 
 of riches. 
 
 604 
 Custom renders the advantages of the great 
 and affluent so familiar, that they behold a thou- 
 sand things zoith indifference, which would throw 
 their inferiors into rapture. He have all near- 
 O
 
 198 
 
 f<^*+- 
 
 ly an equal portion of happiness bestowed on us : 
 none of our cups are so large as to satisfy our 
 thirst, hut all arejilled ; so that, where Fortune 
 lavishes her bounties, it only makes the cup over- 
 flow, and the rich thirst on, as well as the poor. 
 
 60.5 
 
 Ijet those Tehom Heav'n has taught to feet 
 
 The purest joys "which mortal eer can know^ 
 With gratitude recal the blessings giv'n, 
 Though grief succeeds ; nor e'er mth envy view 
 That calm which cold ind'iff'rence seems to share, 
 And think those happy xcho can never lose 
 
 That good they never knew. 
 
 Miss Bovjdler, 
 
 60f) 
 
 The soft showers of summer to the parched 
 earth are not more grateful than kindness to a 
 mind depressed by neglect or indifference. 
 607 
 
 Rational conversation is the soul of society ; 
 it expands the heart, and invigorates the under- 
 standing ; illumines remote ideas, and enables us 
 to select them into argument, and confirm them 
 into Judgment : our powers are cultivated by 
 exertion.
 
 199 
 
 608 
 Jl song is a small gem, whose value consists in 
 exquisite polish and delicate workmanship, more 
 than in the intrinsic worth of materials : faci- 
 lity of expression and smoothness of versifica- 
 tion are principally required^ 
 
 609 
 Son teramente i sogni 
 Delle nostre speranze, 
 Piu eke dcW avvenir, vane sembianze ; 
 Immagini del di, gvaste e corrote 
 Dall ombre delta notie^ 
 
 6lO 
 Non h sempre co' send 
 L'anima adormentara 
 Anzi tanto k piu desta 
 Quanta men traviara 
 Dalle fallaci forme 
 Del senso, allor ch' ^ dorme, 
 
 611 
 Wide is the difference betzoeen the effects of 
 the social and the selfish passions ; the one is like 
 the breath of Heaven on the peaceful lake, zohose 
 gefitle motion purifies and clears ; the other re- 
 sembles a vortex in a troubled pool, which ab- 
 
 O 2
 
 200 
 
 sorhs everi/ thing of worthy and sends its fecu- 
 lence to the surface, 
 
 612 
 Sensibility ought never to he in the extremty 
 so as to render us urfit for the discharge of tiie 
 duties of society : zoe should repress those feellfigs 
 whose over-indulgence would ruin our ozon peace, 
 and be injurious to society, by depriving it of 
 those good offices which are the offspring of ge- 
 nuine and Wll-regulated sympathy. . 
 
 613 
 On entering the ZDorld, an unkind indiscrimi- 
 nating censure of our species is unamiable ; but, 
 in youth, the heart generally decides before the 
 understanding, and imagination often leads both 
 astray. Youth should be cautious of forming 
 opinions of characters, and modest in sheziing 
 their own ; have affability for all, but corifidtnce 
 confined to those zvhom intimate acquaintance 
 has proved zoorthy. They should despise the 
 craft of hypocrisy, remain frm in virtue, and 
 yet cultivate that vniversal complacency and 
 good will, which is the offspring of good sense, 
 principle, and humanity. 
 
 V;:v. FINIS* 
 
 Knight and Compton, Printers, Middle Street, 
 Cloth Fair.
 
 3 S2 ^
 
 University of California 
 
 SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 405 Hiigard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 
 
 Return this material to the library 
 
 from which it was borrowed. 
 
 
 ^'Jm
 
 I'i 
 
 ^ 
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 AA 000 067 264 

 
 m 
 
 Un 
 
 y,^'^