state of health during the prime of their lives, feel the infirmities6 of age, or a sudden sickness, more keenly than those who have labor⚫ed under a weakly and sickly constitution: so those who have basked7 in the perpetual sunshine of fortune, are more susceptible of the horrors of unexpected calamities,8 than those who have been rocked in the cradle of misfortune. and 6 Infirmity, s. 7 Basked, part. exposed to the heat of the sun. 8 Calamity, s misfortune, cause of mise ry. 9 Prosperity, s. success, good fortune, happi ness. 5 To bear prosperity9 and adversity with equal prudence fortitude, is perhaps one of the greatest difficulties we have to conquer; and it is from hence we may venture to form our opinions of the generality of people. Those who are insolent in prosperity will be mean in adversity; but he who meets adversity with manly cour age and fortitude, will, in the hour of prosperity be humane, gèn- bravery, cortle and generous. 6 To y from misfortunes, and endeavor to console2 ourselves by retiring from the world, is undoubtedly increasing the evil we wish to lessen. This has often been the case of disappointed lovers, when the object of their hearts has proved inconstants or ungrateful. They have vainly imagined that there must be something very soothing to the afflicted mind, in listening to Fortitude, age, strength. 2 Console, v to cheer, to comfort, to revive. 3 Inconstant, a not firm, varia ble. 4 Plaintive, a expressive of sorrow, lament ing 5 Plaints, s la mentations. the plaintive4 sound of some purling and meandering stream, or in uttering their plaints5 to the gentle breezes and the nodding groves. But alas! these delusive consolations only contribute6 to feed the 6 Contribute v disorder of the mind, and increase bear a part. to give to, to the evil till melancholy takes deep root in their souls, and renders their complaints incurable. 7. The society of the polite and refined of both sexes, is the only relief,7 at least the principal one, for any uneasiness of the mind. Here a variety of objects will insensibly draw our attention from that one which tyrannises8 in our bosom, and endeavors to exclude all others. 8. In the commerce of this life, there is hardly an evil which has not some good attending it, or a blessing which does not, in some dedegree or other, carry with it, some bitter ingredient,9 To be, therefore, too confident in prosperity, ás a folly; and to despair in adversity, is maduess. 9 Those who enjoy the good while they have it in their power, and support the evil without sinking under its weight, are surely best fitted for this uncertain and transitory2 state. To have too nice and 7Relief, help, mitigation. 8 Tyrannise, to play the tyrant, to act with rigor and imperiousness. 9 Ingredient a component part of a body. Prosperity, success, fortune. 2 Trasitar short tim goo very. nice; polite, soft; pure. delicates feelings is perhaps a mis- 3 Delicate, row." exactly; honestly. 5 Examine, a to ask questions; consider. 6 Despise, to scorn, ལ་ dis slight dain, 10. We are apt to form too great. an opinion of ourselves, and to examine5 so closely into the conduct of others, that we at last begin to shun and despise6 all the world, in whom we can find no belief; but were we to examine our own conduct as critically, we should find, that we have as much to ask from the candor7 of others, as we have 7 Candor, s incause to give. genuity; sweet11. Self-love and pride are the mess of temper. sources from whence flow most of our real, as well as imaginary woes; and if we seek the retired and sequestered8 but, it is not so much 8 Sequestered; with a view to avoid misery itself, part. set aside, as to endeavor to conceal it in our- separated; reselves from the eyes of the world. moved. Epilogue to Addison's Cato. 1 You see mankind the same in every age Heroic fortitude, tyrannic rage, Boundless ambition, patriotic truth, And hoary treason and untainted youth. 2 Did Cæsar,drunk with power, and madly brave Insatiate burn, his country to enslave? Did he for this, lead forth a servile host To spill the choicest blood that Rome could boast? 3 Columbia's crimson'd fields still smoke with Her bravest heroes cover all the shore: The flower of Britain, in full martial bloom, [gore; 4 Did Rome's brave senate nobly dare t' oppose The mighty torrent, stand confest their foes, And boldly arm the virtuous few, and dare The desp'rate horrors of unequal war? Our senate too the same bold deed have done, And for a Cato, arm'd a WASHINGTON : 5 A chief, in all the ways of battle skill'd, 6 We've had our Decius too,and Howe could say Health, pardon, peace, George sends America; Yet brought destruction for the olive wreath For health, contagion, and for pardon, death., 1 7 Rise! then, my countrymen, for fight prepare; Gird on your swords, and fearless rush to war; "Tis your bold task the generous strife to try; For your griev'd country, nobly dare to die! No pent up Utica contracts your powers, For the whole boundless continent is ours! Distribution of Happiness, more equal than commonly supposed. 1. Certain philosophers tell us, that there is no such thing as bappiness2 or misery in this life, and that they are terms merely confined to the ideas of different people, who differently defines them. It must indeed be confessed, from constant and invariable4 experience, that what a man, at one time in his life, considered as a misery, he will at another consider as a happiness. 2 Cleorus was from his childhood; breds to business, and the pursuit of riches appeared to him as the principal blessing he had in view, since, from his wordly possessions, he hoped to derive every comfort of life. He viewed with an eye of pity and † Philosopher either moral or 4 Invariable, a unchangeable, constant. 5 Bred, part. brought up. |