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>^

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THE

ECONOMY
OF

HUMAN
IN

LIFE.
BOOKS.

TWO

BY ROBERT DODSLEY.
WITH

SIX ELEGANT ENGRAVINGS

BY MACKENZIE^

FROM DESIGNS BY CRAIG AND UWINS.

LONDON:
Printed for Sherwood,
Neeljr,

Rivingtons

Longman,
C. Brown
}

Hurst,

and Jones; F. C. and J. Rees, and Orme j

J.Harris; Cuthell and Martin;

R. Scholey
;

B.Crosby and Co.

and T. Hughes.

1809.

Charles Squire, Printer, Furnival'$-Inn-Court, London,

advertisement:

1 HE

deserved esteem in which this

little

work has been held

the excellence of
its

for a series of years,

moral principles, the

it

concise but forcible style in which

culcates

in-

the

precepts

of virtue, justice,

benevolence^ and piety, and which renders

it

so pleasing and easy a vehicle of instruc-

tion to youth, preclude the necessity of

any

apology for the present improved edition of

the

Economy

of

Human

Life.

As

work admirably designed

for the

improve-

ment of youth,

the publishers have been

it,

anxious to render

in point of typogra-

phical neatness and elegance of embellish-

ments, superior to any edition that has yet

appeared; and they doubt not but that the

ADVERTISEMENT.
designs,

which

are

by

Craig

and Uwins,
will

and engraved by

Mackenzie,

give

general satisfaction.

The only liberty taken

with the original has been to omit the disguise

of an oriental composition, which

first

the modesty of the author

gave to his

work, but which

unnecessary
5

now was

considered as
the author

the real

name of

having long been known to the public.

MEMOIRS
OP

MR. ROBERT DODSLEY.

MEMOIRS
or

Mr,

ROBERT DODSLEY,

Among

the

many

blessings

which the peo-

ple of this country are in the enjoyment of in

a pre-eminent degree beyond those

of most

other nations, one of the most pleasing and

striking
station,
is,

that merit

and abilities

in the lowest

when accompanied by

virtue, integrity,

and perseyerance in
to raise a

their possessor, rarely fail

man, however humble

his origin, to

honourable distinction and independence.

He
in

who

to talents joins industry

and diligence

his pursuits

need never dispau: of improving

but .without those virtues the
illu-

his condition;

most splendid endowments are frequently

sory.

The

subject of the following biogra-

a 3

TUl
phical sketch
is

MEMOIRS OF
a striking example of the truth

of these observations.

ROBERT DODSLEY,
of the

the ingenious author

Life,

Economy of Human

was born

at

Mansfield, in Nottinghamshire, in the year 1703.

His parents, being persons in a humble

of
life,

situation

were unable to give him more than a

education
3

common

so that, as he himself in-

forms us, he was unacquainted with the learned

languages, and consequently destitute of those
aids,

which by many
to

are supposed

neces-

sary

the

formation

of

correct

and

elegant taste, though of such a taste there appears not the slightest deficiency in his works.

His

first

setting out in life

was

in the

humble

capacity of a footman, in the family of the

Honourable Mrs. Lowtherj but by a happy

incident his talents soon raised

him

fi-om this

low station.
called the

Having composed a dramatic piece

"Toy-shop," and

that piece being

shewn

to

Mr. Pope, then

in the zenith

of his

MR, KOBERT DODSLEY.

IX

reputation, and justly regarded as the arbiter of

of English literature, the delicacy

of

its satire,

though clothed with the greatest simplicity of

design, so strongly

recommended the author

to

the notice of that celebrated poet, that he continued from that time to the day of his death

warm and

a zealous friend to

Mr. Dodsley

and though he had no

particular

connection

with the theatres, yet procured him such an

interest as insured his piece being

brought im-

mediately on the stage, where

success
it

it

met with the

merited

as did also a farce, intitled

"

the King, and Miller of Mansfield,*'

*'

on the

plan of the

Parti de Chasse de Henri IV. "

which made
viz.

its

appearance in ihe ensuing year,

the present season

1736, and which in

(1809' has been revived in an Italian dress at

the King's theatre in the Haymarket.

The

success of these pieces having put

Mr.

Dodsley into possession of a sum of money considerable for

one

in his

circumstances of

life,

^ wisely determined not

a4

to trust to the Mtises

MEMOIRS OF
eapw

alone for his future support, but with the

tal

he had so honourably gained entered into

In
this station,

the business of a bookseller.

the recommendations of

Mr. Pope, and

his

own

merit,

soon obtained him not only the

first ability,

countenance of persons of the

but

also of those of the first rank,

and

in

few

years raised him to great eminence in his profession, of

which he was almost,

if

not altogesuccess in

ther, at the head.

But neither

his

trade,

nor the increase of his reputation as a

writer,

had any

effect in

changing the disposiIn his

tion of this amiable

and excellent man.

prosperity

he was mindful of the

his

early encou-

ragement which

own

talents

had met with,

and ever ready to give the same opportunity of

advancement to those of others

spoke of
ty
his
is

and he ever

literary

labours with that modesIt is

which

inseparable from true genius.

difficult

whether

we

ought most

to

applaud the

humility of his character, which he presented

when

raised to the

most aflluent circumstance^;

MR. ROBERT DODSLEY.

XT

or the grateful remembrance he retained, and

ever expressed, to the

memory

of those
first

to

whom
As

he owed the obligation of his

life.
is

being

taken notice of in

a writer, there

an ease and elegance

which runs through the whole of Mr. Dodsley 's

works, which
is

oftentimes more pleasing than

;

a more laboured and ornamented manner

this

and

high praise

is

due

to

him, that he always

wrote on the side of virtue and good morals. In verse his numbers are flowing,
lime, and his subjects constantly
if

not sub

well chosen
familiar,

and entertaining.
chaste
3

In

proiie

he

is

yet

and

in his dramatic pieces

he has ever

kept

in his

eye the one great principle, delecj

tando pariterqut inonenJo

is

some general moral

constantly conveyed in the general plan, and

particular instruction dispersed in the particular

strokes of satire.

Mr. Dodsley wrote

six dramatic pieces

life

and

besides these he published, in his

J^ittle

time* a

collection of his

works

in

one volume 8vQ,

Xll

MEMOIRS OF
title

under the modest

of

<'

Trifles/'
"^

and a
Public

poem of
Virtue."
collected

considerable length, intjtled

A
2.

second volume of his works was

his

after

decease,

consisting of, 1.

Cleonej
ror
4.

Melpomene, or the Region of Ter3

and Pity, an Ode

the

3 Agriculture, a poemj
.

Economy of Human

Life.

Having

acquired a very handsome fortune by his profession,

Mr. Dodsley

retired

from

business

some

years before his death,

which happened
at the
at

on the 23d of September, 17^4,

his friend, the reverend

house of

Mr

S pence,

Durham.

His remains were interred

yard, at

in the

Abbey Church-

Durham, and

the following inscription

to his

was placed on a tombstone erected

me-

mory on

the spot.

If you have any Respect

for

uncommon

Industry and Merit,

!

regard this Place

in

which are interred the Remains

of

MR. ROBERT DODSLEY;

MR. ROBERT OODSLET.

Xlll

Who,

as.

an Author,

rais*d

himself

much above what

from one in

could have been expected

his

Rank

in Life,

and without learned Education

And who,

as a

Man^ was scarce

exceeded by any in Integrity of Heart

and Purity of Manners and Conversation.

He

left this

Life for a better,

in the 6lst

September 23, 17^4,

Year of

his

Age.

In the preface to the collection

Plays,"

of"

Old

which bears

his

name, and which was

is

republished after his death, there

the follow-

ing testimony to his character, evidently from

the pen of one
his

who

>^

as well acquainted

with

worth, and with

it

we

shall

conclude our
'*

account of this excellent person.

edition of the present

The

first

volumes was one of the

many

plans produced by the late

Mr, Robert
is

Dodsley, a

man

to whom

literature

under so

many

obligations,

that

it

would be unpardon-

XIV

MEMOIRS OF MR. ROBERT DODSLEY.

to neglect this opportunity

able

of informing

those

who may

have received any pleasure from

the work, that they

owe

it

to a person

whose

merit and

abilities raised

him from an obscure

and
independence.

situation in life to affluence

Modest,

sensible,

and humane, he retained the

brought him into notice
sufficient for every

vktues which
after

first

he had attained wealth

arise

wish which could

it.

from the possession of

friend,

He

was a generous

an encourager

of men of genius, and acquired the esteem and

respect of
It
all

who were acquainted

with him.

was

his happiness' to pass the greater part

of

his life

with those whose names

j

will

be revered

by
as

posterity

by most of
the

whom

he was loved

much

for

virtues of his heart, as

he

was admired on account of

ings."

his excellent writ-

CONTENTS.

1^
EMOIRS of the AUTHOR
-

Introduction

PART

I.

DUTIES THAT RELATE TO MAN, CONSIDERED AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

Sect.

I.
II.

Consideration

ii

Modesty
Application

18
15
.
-p-

III.

IV. Emulation

is

V.

Prudence

20
23 34

VI. Fortitude
VII. Contentment

VlII.Tempcrance

S7

PART
THE
L Hope
11.

II.

PASSIONS.
-

and Fear
-

31

Joy and Grief

04

xvi
Sect.

CONTENTS.
Page.

III.

Anger

37

IV. Pity

40
42

V. Desire and Love

PART
I.

ni.

WOMAN.
Woman

1/j
40

PART IV.
CONSANGUINITY; OR, NATURAL RELATIONS.
I.

Husband
Father

52

II.

55
-

III.

Son

57

IV. Brothers

59

PART

V.

PROVIDENCE; OR, THE ACCIDENTAL DIFFERENCES IN MEN.

I.

Wise and Ignorant

Rich and Poor
Masters and Servants
-

62

II.

64
67

III.

IV. Magistrates and Subjects

69

PART
I.
II.

VI.

THE SOCIAL DUTIES.

Benevolence
Justice
-

...

.74
70

CONTENTS.
Sect.

id
Page.

III.

Charity

78

IV. Gratitude

80
82

V.

Sincerity

PART
I.

VII.

RELIGION.
Religion

86

BOOK

II.

PART L
MAN, CONSIDERED IN THE GENERAL.
I.

Of

the

Human Frame
Man
;

and Structure

92

II.

Of the Use

of the Senses
its

III.

The

Soul of

Origin and Affections

98
103

IV. Of the Period and Uses of

Human

Life

PART

II.

MAN, CONSIDERED IN REGARD TO HIS INFIRMITIES, AND THEIR EFFECTS.

I.

Vanity
Inconstancy

>

110
.

II.

114

III.

Weakness

119

xviii

CONJENTS.
l>age.

SecU

IV.

Of the
Misery

Insufficiency of Knovrledgc

123

V.

13t 132
137

VI. Of Judgment
VII. Presumption

PART

III

OF THE AFFECTIONS OF MAN WHICH ARE HURTFUL TO HIMSELF AND OTHERS.

I. II.

Covetousness
Profusion
-

145

149
-

III.

Revenge

151

IV. Cruelty, Hatred, and

Envy
-

156
-

V.

Heaviness of Heart

160

PART

IV.

OF THE ADVANTAGES MAN MAY ACQUIRE OVER HIS FELLOW-CREATURES.

I.

Nobility and

Honour

169
-

II.

Science and Learning

1*4

PART
I.

V.

OF NATURAL ACCIDENTS.
Prosperity and Adversity
-

181
j

II.

Pain and Sickness

85

III.

Death

IS?

Tac

ECONOMY
OF

HUMAN

LIFE.

INTRODUCTION.

Bow

down your heads unto

!

the dust,

O ye

inhabitants of earth

be

silent

and receive, with

reverence, instruction from on high.

Wheresoever the sun doth shine, wheresoever

the

wind doth blow, wheresoever

and a mind
life

there
;

is

an

ear to hear,

to conceive

there let
let

the precepts of

be made known>

the

maxims of truth be honoured and obeyed.

B

INTI^ODUCTlpN,

All things proceed from God.

His power
eternity,

i&

unbounded,

his

wisdom

is

from

and

his goodness endureth for ever.

He sitteth

on

his throne in the centre,

and

the breath of his

mouth giveth

life

to the world.

He
On

toucheth the stars with his finger, and

they run their course rejoicing.

the wings of the

wind he walketh abroad,

smd performeth

his will through all the region*

of unlimited space.
Order, and grace, and bounty, spring from
his hand*

The

voice of

wisdom speaketh

in

all

his

works ; but the human understanding comprehendeth

it

not.

The shadow
mind of man
dark
3

of knowledge passeth over the

as a

dream
is

he seeth

as in the

he reasoneth, and

often deceived.
is

But the wisdom of God

heaven 5

as the light

of
the

he reasoneth not
trutli.

his

mind

is

fountain of

INTRODUCTION.

7
throne;

Justice and

mercy wait before

his

benevolence and love enlighten his countenance

for ever.

Who
in

is

like unto the

shall

Lord

in glorj'

Who
in

power

contend with the Almighty?

in

Hath he any equal

wisdom
?

Can any

goodness be compared unto him

He
ment

it is,

O man

who
is

hath created thee

fixed

thy station on earth

:

by

his appoint-

the powers of thy

:

mind

are the gift of

his goodness

the wonders of thy frame are the

work of his hand.

Hear then

his voice, for

it is

gracious

and

he that obeyeth,
peace.

shall establish

his soul in

B 2

PART

I.

DUTIES THAT RELATE TO MAN,

CONSIDERED AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

b3

il

SECTION

I.

CONSIDERATION,

VyOMMUNE

with thyself,

Oman>

and consider

wherefore thou wast made.

Contemplate thy powers, thy wants, and thy

connections
of
life,
;

so shalt thou discover the duties

in all thy ways.

and be directed

Pro-

ceed not to speak or to act before thou hast

weighed thy words, and examined the tendency

of every step thou
fly far

shalt take
in thy

so shall disgrace
shall

from thee, and

:

house

shame

be a stranger

repentance shall not

visit thee,

nor sorrow dwell upon thy check.

The

thoughtless
at

man

bridleth not his tongue 5

is

he speaketh

random, and

entangled in the

foolishness of his

own

words.
in haste,

As one
side,

that runneth

and leapeth
on the other
the

over a fence,

may

fell

into a pit

which he doth not

see

go

is

man that

b4

12

CONSIDERATION.

pliingeth suddenly into any action, before lie

hath considered the consequences thereof.

Hearken
deration
5

therefore unto the voice of Consi-

her words are the words of wisdom,

shall

and her paths

safety.

lead

thee

to

truth and

13

SECTION

II.

MODESTY.

Who
thine

art

thou,

man,
or

that

presumest

oil

own wisdom ? thyself on thine own

art

why
is

dost thou vaunt

?

acquirements
to

The

first

step towards being wise,

know

that thou

ignorant

and

if

thou

wouldst

not be
cast

esteemed

foolish in the

judgment of others,

off the folly

of being wise in thine

own

conceit.

As

a plain garment best adorneth a beautiful

is

n^oman, so a decent behaviour*

the greatest

ornament of wisdom.

The

speech of a modest

man

giveth lustre to

truth, and the diffidence of his

his error.

words absolveth

He

relieth

not on

his

own wisdom
friend,

he

weigheth the counsels of a

the benefit thereof.

and receiveth

He tumeth
and believeth
ing his

away
it

his ear
is

from

his

own

praise,

not ; he

the last in discover-

own

perfections.

14

MODESTY.

Yet, as a veil addeth to beauty, so are his

virtues set off

by the shade which

his

modesty

casteth

upon them.
he

But, behold the vain man, and observe the

arrogant; he clotheth himself in rich
attire,

walketh
his eyes,

in

the public street, he casteth round

and courteth observation.

He
and

tosseth.

up

his head,

and overlooketh the

poor J he treateth his inferiors with insolence,

his superiors in return look

down on

his

pride and folly with laughter.

He
lieth

despiseth the
his

judgment of
is

others,

he re-

on
is

own

opinion, and

confounded.
his

He

puffed
:

up with the vanity of

and

ima-

gination

his delight is to hear

to speak

of

himself all the day long.

He swalloweth with greediness his own praise,

and the
flatterer in return eateth

him up.

J^iHishci h* TJc B-Mujhej Ludjjatc

S'treet JjiiCi.jo

15

SECTION

IJI.

APPLICATION.

Since
come
loss

the days that are past are gone for

those that are to come,
thee,
it

ever, and
to

may
man,

not
to

behoveth thee,

employ the present time, without regretting the

of that which
is

past, or too

much depend*
is in

ing on that which

is

to

com&'
the

This

instant

is

thine, the next

womb
it

of futurity, and thou kno west not what

bring forth.

may

Whatsoever thou resolvest

ly
,-

to do,

do

it

quick-

defer not

till

the evening

what the morning

nnay accomplish.
Idleness
is

the parent of

want and of pain

but the labour of virtue bringeth forth pleasure.

The hand
perity

of diligence defeateth want

prosat-

and success arc the industrious man's

tcndaots.

16

APPLICATION.

Who

is

he that hath acquired wealth, that

hath risen to power, that hath clothed himself with honour, that is spoken of in the city with
praise,

and that standeth before the king

?

in his

counsel

Even he
house
;

that hath shut out Idleness

said unto SIoth>

from
art

his

and hath

Thou
5

mine enemy.
riseth

He

up

early,

and

lieth

down

late

he
his

exerciseth his

mind with contemplation, and

body with
both.

action,

and preserveth the health of

a burden to himself, his

The

slothful

man

is

hours hang heavy on his head:

he

loiiereth

about, and knoweth not what he would do.

His days pass away

like the

shadow of a
for

cloud, and he leaveth behind

him no mark

remembrance.

His body
he wisheth

is

diseased for

want of

exercise

for action, but hath not

power to

move

his

mind
;

is

in darkness

his thoughts

are confused

he longeth

for

knowledge, but
alits

hath no application.

He

would eat of the

mond, but hateth the

shell.

trouble of breaking

His house

is

in

disorder, his

servants

are

wasteful and riotous, and he runneth on toward?

APPLicATioir.
ruin

17
it

he seeth
ears,

it

with his eyes, he beareth

his
till

with his

he shaketh
;

head and wisheth,

niin

but bath no resojution

cometh upon

him
$uice

like a

whirlwind, and shame and repent-

descend with him to the grave.

2&

SECTION
1
1

IV.

'

;'',';:

EMULATION.

If thy

soul thirsteth

for honour, if thy ear

hath any pleasure in the voice of praise, raise

thyself from the dust whereof thou art made,

and

exalt thy

aim

to

something that

is

praise-

worthy.

The oak

that

now

spreadeth

its

branches to-

wards the heavens, was once but an acorn in

the bowels of the earth.

Endeavour to be
ever
it

first

in

thy calling, what-

be

neither let any one go before thee

:

in well-doing

nevertheless, do not

envy the

merits of another,
talents.

but improve

thine

own

Scorn

also to depress thy

competitor by dis:

honest or unworthy methods

thyself above
j^hall

strive

to raise

him
if

only by excelling

him

so

thy contest for superiority be crowned

not with success.

with honour,

By

a virtuous emulation the spirit of a

man

EMULATION.
is

1^^

exalted within

him; he panteth
run

after

fame,

and

rejoiceth as a racer to
riseth like
5

his course.

He

the palm-tree in spite of opin the

pression

and as an eagle
aloft,

firmament of
his eye

heaven,

he soareth

and fixeth

upon the

glories of the sun.

The examples
visions

of eminent

men
is

are

in

his

by night

and his delight

to follow

them

all

the day long.

He

formeth great designs, he rejoiceth in

the execution thereof, and his

to the ends of the world.

name goeth
y

forth

But the heart of the

bitterness

envious
spitteth

man

is
j

gall

and

his tongue

venom

the success

of his neighbour

breaketh his

rest.
cell repining,
is

He'sitteth in his

and the good

evil.

that happeneth to another,

to

him an

Hatred and malice feed upon

there
is

his heart,

and

no

rest in

him.

He
cel
all

endeavours to depreciate those that exevil interpretation

him, and putteth an

their doings.

on

He
chief:

lieth

on the watch, and meditates mis-

but the detestation of

is

man

pursueth

him, and he

crushed as a spider in his

own

web.

20

SECTION

V.

PRUDENCE.

Hear
heart
:

the words of

Prudence,
store

give
in

heed
thine

unto her counsels,

and

them

her maxims are universal, and

all

the

virtues lean
tress

upon her: she is the guide and mislife.

:

of

human

Put a bridle on thy tongue

fore thy lips, lest the

set

a guard be-

words of thine own mouth

destroy thy peace.

Let him
of another's of his

that scofieth at the lame, take care

:

that he halt not himself

failings

whosoever speaketh

with pleasure, shall hear

own with bitterness of heart. Of much speaking cometh repentance, but

is

in silence

safety.
is

A talkative man
car
is

a nuisance to society j the

sick of his babbling, the torrent of his

words overwhelmeth conversation

Boast not of thyself, for
it

shall bring

confor

tempt upon thee} neither deride another,

it is

dangerous.

PJIVDJSNPP.

31

A bitter jest
trouble.

is

th^ ppison of friendships and

he that cannot restrain

^h

tongue, shall have

Furnish thyself with the proper accommodations belonging to thy condition

:

yet spend not

\Q the utmost pf what thou canst afford, that

the providence of thy youtli n^ay be a comfort

to thy old age.

Let thine own business engage thy attention

leave

the care of the state to the governors

thereof.

Let not thy recreations be

pain of purchasing

ei^pensive, lest the

them exceed the pleasure

out the eyes of

thou hast in their enjoyment.

Neither
let

prosperity put

circumspection, nor abundance cut off the hands

of frugality
superfluities

he
of

that too
life,

much

indulgeth in the

shall live to

lament the

want of

its

necessaries.

learn

From the wisdom

experience of others,
j

do thou

and from

their failings correct

thine

own

faults.

When
lock

thou hast proved a

man

to

be honest,
re-

him up in thine heart as a treasure ; gard him as a jewel of inestimable price.

Refuse the favours of a mercenary

manj

22

PRUDENCE.
;

they will be a snare unto thee

thou shalt

tiiever

be quit of the

obligation.

Use not

to-day what to-morrow

may want

neither leave that to hazard

which foresight

may

provide for or care prevent.

infallible

Yet expect not even from prudence

success
J

for the

day knoweth not what the

night

may bring forth. The fool is not always unfortunate, nor the wise man always successful yet never had a
;

fool a thorough

enjoyment

never was a wise

man

wholly unhappy.

25

SECTION

VI,

FORTITUDE.

Perils, and misfortunes, and want, and

and injury, are more or
every
It
less

pain,

the certain lot of

man
!

that

cometh

into tlie world.

behoveth thee, therefore,

early to fortify thy

child of ca-

lamity

mind with courage

and patience, that thou mayest support, with

a becoming resolution, thy allotted portion of

human evil. As the camel

hunger, and

beareth labour, and heat, and

thirst,
j

through deserts of sand,

and fainteth not

sustain

so the fortitude of
all perils.

man

shall

him through

A man of a noble
of fortune
cast
j

spirit disdalneth

the malice not to be

his greatness

of soul

is

down.

hath not suffered his happiness to depend on her smiles, and therefore with her frowns he shall not be, dismayed.

He

C2

24

FORTITUDE.

As
not.

a rock on the sea-shore, he standeth firm,

and the dashing of the waves disturbeth him

He

raiseth his

head like a tower on a

at his feet.

hill,

and the arrows of fortune drop

In the instant of danger the courage of his

heart sustaineth

him

and the steadiness of

of

his

mind beareth him

out.
evils
life as

He

meeteth the

man

that
vic-

goeth forth into

battle,

and returneth with

tory in his hand.

..

Under

the pressure of misfortunes, his calm-

ness alleviates their weight, and his constancy

shall

surmount them.
dastardly spirit of a timorous

But the

man
so

betrayeth him to shame.

As a reed is shaken with a breath of the shadow of evil maketh him tremble.
In the hour of danger he
is

air,

embarrassed and

confounded j in the day of misfortune he sinketh> and despair overu'helmeth his soul.

T
t.
"j/jfk

2B

SECTION

rii.

QNTENTlylNT,

Forget
earth
nal
;

not,

man

that thy station

on

is

appointed by the wisdom of the Eterthy heart,

who knoweth
all

vanity of

thy

wishes, and

who who

sceth the
often, in

mercy, denicth thy requests.

Yet

for

all

reasonable desires, for

all

honest

endeavours, his

benevolence hath established,

in the nature of things, a probability of success.

The

uneasiness thou feelest, the misfortunes

thou bewailest, behold the root from whence

they spring
pride, thine
!

even thine

own

folly, thine

own

own

distempered fancy.

Murmur

not therefore at the dispensations of

:

God, but correct thine own heart

within thyself,
leisure,
all

neither say

"

If

had wealth, or power, or

j" for

I should

be happy

know, they

bring to their several possessors their pecuinconveniences.

liar

c3

26

CONTENTMENT.

The poor man

ties

seeth not the vexations and

anxieties of the rich, he feeleth not the difficul-

and perplexities of power, neither knowj

eth he the wearisonjeness of leisure

fore
it is

and therelot.

that he repineth at his

own

But envy not the appearance of happiness

any man,
for thou
satisfied

in

knowest not
with a
little

his secret griefs.

is

To

be
;

the greatest
riches, ipis

wisdom

and he that increaseth his

:

creaseth his cares

but a contented mind

it

hidden treasure, and trouble findeth

not.

Yet

if

thou sufFerest not the allurements of

fortune to rob thee of justice, or temperance,

or charity, or modesty, even riches themselves,
shall not

make

thee unhappy.

But hence
felicity,

shall

thou learn, that the cup of

is

pure and unmixed,

by no means a

draught for mortal man.

Virtue
to
is

the race

which God hath

goal,

set

him

run,

and happiness the

at
till

which none

can arrive

he hath finished his course, and

in the mansions of eternjty.

^received his

crown

27

SECTION VIII

TEMPERANCE.

J^

HE

nearest

approach thou canst

is

make
to

to

iiappiness on this side the grave,

enjoy

from heaven understanding and

health.

These

blessings,

if

thou

possessest,

and

wouldst preserve to o!d age, avoid the allure-

ments of Voluptuousness, and

temptations.

fly

from her

When
board,

she spreadeth her delicacies on the

sparkleth in the <:up,

when her wine

when

she smileth upon thee, and pursnadeth

j

thee to be joyful and happy

then

is

the hour

of danger, then
guard.

let

Reason stand firmly on her

For

if thou

hearkenest unto the words of her

adversary, thou art deceived and betrayed.

The
ases

joy which she proraiseth, changeth to

dig.

madness, and her enjoyments lead on to

and death.

c4

28

TEMPERANCE.

Look round her board

allured

cast thine eyes

upon

her guests, and observe those

who

have been

by her

smiles,

who

have listened to her

temptations.

Are

they not meagre or bloated

?

are they

not sickly

are they not

spiritless.

Their short hours of jollity and

riot

are fol-

lowed by tedious days of pain and

dejection.

She hath debauched and

that they have

palled their appetites,

:

no

relish for their nicest dainties

;

her votaries are become her victims

the just

and natural consequence which

punishment of those who abuse

God

hath or-

dained, in the constitution of things, for the

his gifts.

But who

is

she that with graceful steps, and

ttips

with a lively air,

over yonder plain

The
jajTi

rose blusheth

on her cheeks, the sweetj

ness of the morning breatheth from her lips

tempered ^ith innocehce and modesty,

in her eyes,

sparkUth

and from the cheerful-

ness of her heart she singeth as she walks.

Her heme

is

Health

she

is

the daughter of

Exeirise and Temperance; their sons inhabit

the mountains of the northern regions.

They

are brave, active,

and

lively>

ahd par-

TEMPBKANCB.
take of
sister.
all

^9
firtues

the beauties and

of

their

Vigour stringeth
eth in
all

their nerves, strength dwellis

their

bones, and labour

their delight

the day long.

The employments of their

appetites,

father excite their

and

the repasts of their

mother re-

fresh them.

To combat

the passions

is

their delight

to

conquer evil habits their glory.

Their pleasures are moderate, and therefore

they endure
j

their repose

is

short,

but sound

and undisturbed.
Their blood
is

pure, their minds are serene,

to

and the physician findeth not the way

habitations.

their

But
neither

safety dwelleth not

is

with the sons of men,

security found within their gates.

to

Behold them exposed

new

dangers from

without, while a traitor within lurketh to betray

them.

Their health,
activity,

their strength, their beauty

in

and

have raised desire

the

bosom of

lascivious love.

She standeth

in

her bower, she courteth their

regard, she spreadeth her temptations.

30
Her limbs
is

TEMPEHANCB.
are soft and
delicate
5

her

attire

loose

and

inviting.

Wantonness speaketh in
sits

her eyes, and on her bosom

Temptation.

She beckoneth them wiih her finger, she wooeth

them with her

looks, and

by the smoothness of

her tongue, she endeavoureth to deceive.

Ah

fly

from her allurements, stop thy ears

If thou meetest the
;

to her enchanting words.

languishing of her eyes

softness of her voice
j

if

thou hearest the

if

she casteth her arms

about thee, she bindeth thee in chains for ever.

Shame
care,

folio weth,

and

disease,

and want, and

and repentance.

Enfeebled by dalliance, with luxury pampered, and softened by sloath, strength shall for*

sake thy limbs, and health thy constitution

thy

days

shall

be few, and those

inglorious j

thy

griefs shall

be many, yet meet with no com*-

passion.

PART

II,

THE PASSIONS.

32

SECTION

I.

HOPE AND FEAR.

A HE
tion
5

promises of hope are sweeter than roses

in the bud,

and

far

more

flattering to

expecta-

but the threatcnings of fear are a terror

to the heart.

Nevertheless, let not hope allure, nor

deter thee from doing that which
shalt thou
is

fear
5

right

so

be prepared

to

meet

all

events with

an equal mind.

The

terrors
;

even of death are no

terrors to
evil

the good

he that committeth no
fear.
let

hath

nothing to

In

all

thy undertakings

a reasonable asj

surance animate thy endeavours

spairest

if

thou de-

of success, thou shalt not succeed.

Terrify not thy soul with vain fears, neither

let

thy heart sink within thee from the phan-

toms of imagination.

HOPE AND PEAR.

83
j

From

fear proceedeth

misfortune

but he

that hopeth, helpeth himself.

As

the ostrich,

when

pursued,
j

hideth his

head, but forgetteth his body

a coward expose

so the fears

of

him

to danger.

If thou believest a thing impossible, thy des-

pondency

shall

make it lib

liut

he

that perse-

vereth, shall

overcome

all difficulties.
j

A
In

vain hope flattereth the heart of a fool

is

but he that
all

wise pursueth
let

it

not.

thy desires

reason go along with

thee, and fix

not thy hopes beyond the bounds

;

of probability

so shall success attend thy

un-

dertakings, thy heart shall not

be vexed with

disappointmeDts.

34

SECTION

II.

JOY AND GRIEF.

Let

not thy

mirth be so extravagant as to

intoxicate thy

mind, nor thy sorrows so heavy

as to depress thy heart.

This world afFordeth

no good

so transporting, nor infficteth any evil

so severe, as should raise thee far

sink thee
deration.

above, or

much

beneath, the balance of

moIt
;

Lo
is

yonder standeth

tlie

house of joy.

painted on the outside,

and looketh gay

thou mayest

know

it

from the continual noise

it.

of mirth and exultation that issueth from

The

mistress standeth at the door, and callall

eth aloud to

that pass

by
go

she singeth and

shouteth, and laugheth without ceasing.

She

inviteth
life,

them

to

in

and

taste the

pleasures of

which she

telleth

them
roof.

are

nowhere

to

be found but beneath her

into her gate
)

But enter not thou

neither as-

JOY AND 6EIP.

sociate* thyself

t$
frequent her

with those

who

house.

They

call

themselves the sons of joy

:

they

laugh and seem delighted

folly are in all their doings.

but madness and

They
and
set

are linked with mischief hand in hand,

their steps lead

down
^

to evil.

Dangers bepit

them round

about,

and the

of destruc-

tion

yawneth beneath

their feet.

Look now on
from the
row.

the other side, and behold,

in

that vale overshadowed with trees, and hid

sight of

men, the

habitation of Sor-

Her bosom heaveth with

filled

sighs, her

mouth

is

with lamentation

she delighteth to dwell

on the subject of human misery.

She looketh on
life,

tlie
;

common

accidents

of

and weepeth

ths weakness and wicked-

ness of

man

is

the theme of her lips.

All nature to her teemeth

object she seeth
is

with

evil,

every

tinged with the

gloom of

her

own mind, and

the voice of complaint sad-

deneth her dwelling day and night.

Come

not near her cell

her breath

is

con-

tagious 5 she will

blast the fruits,

and

witlier

36

JOY AND GRIEF.

the flowers that adorn and sweeten the garden

of life
In avoiding the house of joy,
feet betray thee to the borders
let

not thy dismal

of this

mansion

but pursue with care the middle path,

which

shall lead thee

by a gentle ascent

to the

bower of Tranquillity.

With her dwelleth

not gayj she
is

Peace, with her dwelleth

Safety and Contentment.

serious,

She

is

cheerful,,
j

but
she

but not grave

vieweth the joys and the sorrows of life with an

equal and steady eye.

From hence,

as

from an eminence,

shalt

thou

behold the folly and the misery of those who,

led by the gaiety of their hearts, take

up
and

their
riot-

abode with the companions of

ous Mirth
j

jollity

or,

infected with gloominess and

all their

melancholy, spend

days in complainlife.

ing of the woes and calamities of human

Thou
straying.

shalt view them both with pity, and

the error of their ways shall keep thy feet from

37

SECTION

III.

ANGER.

-A s the whirlwind in

its

fury teareth
;

up

trees,

and deformeth the face of nature

earthquake in
cities
J

or as

an

its

convulsions overturneth whole

so the rage of an angry

man throweth

mischief around him.

Danger and destruction

forget

wait on his hand.

But consider, and

weakness
others;
}

not

thine

own

so shalt thou pardon the failings of

Indulge not thyself in

it

tlie

passion of anger

is whetting a sword

to

wound thine own breast^

or

murder thy

friend.

If thou bearest slight provocations with patience,

it

shall
if

be imputed unto thee

for

wis-

dom; and

thou whipest them from thy reshall

membrance, thy heart

i>

not reproach thee,

38

ANGEK.
^eest thou not that the angry

man

loseth his

understanding
let the

Whilst thou

art yet in

thy senses,
thyself.

^rath of another be a lesson to

Do
If

notliing in a passion.

Why wilt thou put

?

to sea in the violence of a storm

it

be

difficult to rule thine anger^ it is

it
:

wise

to prevent
falling into

avoid therefore
:

all

occasions of

wrath

or guard thyself against them

whenever they occur.

fool

is

provoked with insolent speeches,

laugheth them to scorn.
in

but a wise

man

Harbour not revenge

thy breast,
its

it

will

torment thy heart, and warp

tions.

best inclina*

Be always more ready

turn an injury
:

to forgive than to re-

he that watches for an oppor-

tunity of revenge, lieth in wait against himself,

and draweth down mischief on

his

own
;

head.

A mild
cast

answer to an angry man, like water

fire,

upon the

abateth his heat

and from worthy of

an enemy he
Consider

shall

become thy
things

friend.

how few

are

anger, and thou wilt wonder that any but fools

should be wrath.

In

folly

or weakness

it

always beginneth

AN6BR.
but remember, and be well assured,
concludeth without repentance.
it

39
seldom

On

the heels of folly treadeth shame ; at the

back of anger standeth remorse.

Dft

40

SECTION

IV.

PITY.

As

blossoms and flowers are strewed upon

earth by the hand

of spring, as the kindness of

summer
on
tlie

produceth in perfection the bounties

j

of harvest

so the smiles of pity shed blessings

children of misfortune.

He who pitieth another^ recommendeth himself j

but he
it

who

is

without compassion, de-

serveth

not.
at the bleating

The

butcher relenteth not

is

of

the lamb 5 neither

the heart of the cruel

moved with
But the
of the

distress.

tears of the compassionate are sweeter

than dew-drops
spring.

falling

from roses on the bosom

Shut not thine ear therefore against the

of
tlie

cricb

poor

neither harden thine heart against

the calamities of the innocent.

PITY.

41
upon
thee,

When the
assistance
affliction,

fatherless call
is

when the
pity her

widow's heart

sunk, and she imploreth thy

tears

with

of sorrow

and extend thy hand to those

to help

who

have none

them.

When
bitation
}

thou seest the naked wanderer of the

street, shivering let

with coM, and destitude of halet

bounty open thine heart,

the

wings of charity shelter him

thine

from death, that

the bed of

Whilst the poor

own soul may live. man groaneth on

sickness, whilst the unfortunate languish in the

horrors of a dungeon, or

the hoary head of

j

age

lifts

up a

feeble eye to thee for pity

bow

canst tliou riot in superfluous enjoyments,

regardless

of their wants, unfeeling of their

woes!

1^3

42

SECTION

r.

DESIRE

AND LOVE.

Beware, young man,

ments of wantonness, and
thee to her delights.

beware of the
let

allure-

not the harlot tempt

The madness of
'

desire shall defeat

its

its

own

pursuits

from the blindness of

rage thou

shalt rush

upon

destruction.

Therefore give not up thy heart to her enticements, neither suffer thy soul to be enslaved

by her

delusions.

The

fountain of health, which must supply

the stream of pleasure, shall quickly be dried

up, and every spring of joy shall be exhausted.

In the prime of thy

take thee
:

life

old age shdl over-

thy sun shall decline in the morning

of thy days.

But when
harms,

vu-tue

and modesty enlighten her

the lustre of a beautiful

woman

is

DESIRE AND LOVE.

43

brighter than the stars of heaven, and the in-

fluence of her

power

it is

in vain to resist.

The
lily
3

whiteness of her
is

bosom

transceudeth the

her smile

more

delicious than a garden

of roses.

The
heart.

innocence of her eye

is

like

that of

the turtle} simplicity and truth dwell in her

The
honey
her
-,

kisses of her

mouth

are sweeter than

the perfumes of Arabia breathe from

lips.

Shut not thy bosom

love
J

to

the tenderness of

the purity of

its

flame shall ennoble thy

heart,

and soften

it

to receive the fairest im-

pressions.

04

PART

III.

WOMAN.

46

PART

III.

WOMAN.

Give

ear, fair

daughter of love, to the

in-

structions of prudence,

and

let the

precepts of

truth sink deep in thy heart, so shall the charms

of thy mind add lustre to the elegance of \hj

form

and thy beauty^

its

like the rose

it

resem-

bleth, shall retain

is

sweetness

when

its

bloom

withered.

In the spring of thy youth, in the morning

of thy days,

when

the eyes of men gaze on thee

with delight, and nature whispereth in thine

ear the

meaning of

their looks
;

ah

hear with

caution their seducing words

guard well thy

heart, nor listen to their soft persuasions.

Remember
sion
5

that thou art

made man's

rea-

sonable companion,

not the slave of

is

his pas-

the end of thy being

not merely to graassist

tify his loose desire,

toils

but to

of

life,

to soothe

him in the him with thy tenderness,

and recompense

his care with soft endearments.

WOMAN.

47

Who
breast
?

is

she that winneth the heart of maq,

that subdueth

him

to love,

and reigneth in his

Lo
ness,

yonder she walketh in maiden sweet-

with innocence in her mind, and modesty

on her cheek.

Her hand
She
is

seeketh cmploy;nent, her foot dc-

lighteth not in gadding abroad.

clothed with neatness, she

;

is

fed with

temperance

humility and meekness are as a

circling her head.

crown of glory

On

her tongue dwelleth music, the sweetness

lips.

of honey floweth from her

Decency

is

in all her words, in her

answers

are mildness and truth.

Submission and obedience are the lesgoos of

her
life,

and peace and happiness are her reward.

Before her steps walketh Prudence, and Virtue attendeth at her right hand.

Her eye speaketh

softness

and love

but dii-

crction with a sceptre sitteth

on her brow,

presence, the
silent.

The tongue of the licentious is dumb in her awe of her virtue keepcth them
scandal
is

When

busy, and the fame of h^r

48
neighbour
is

WOMAK.
tossed

from tongue

to tongue, if

charity and good nature open not her

mouth,

the finger of silence rcsteth on her

lip.

Her

breast

is

the mansion of goodness, and

therefore she suspecteth no evil in others.

Happy were
his wife
j

the

man

that should

make he'
call

happy the child that should

her

mother.

She presideth

in the

house, and there

is

peace J she commandeth with judgment, and

is

obeyed.

She
affairs,

ariseth in the

morning, she considers her

and appointetli to every one iheir pro-

per business.

The

care of her family

is

her whole delight,

:

to that alone she applieth her study

and

ele-

gance with frugality

is

seen in her mansions.

is

The prudence of her management

with a
secret delight.

an ho-

nour to her husband, and he heareth her praise

She informed! the minds of her children with

wisdom

she fashioneth their manners from the,

examples of her

own

goodness.
is

The word of
obedience.

her mouth

the law of their

youth, the motion of her eye commandeth their

WOMAN.
She speaketh, and her servants
pointeth, and the thing
is

4Q
fly
;

she

done

for the

law of

love

is

in their hearts,
feet.
is

and her kindness addeth

wings to their

In prosperity she
sity

not puffed up

in adver-

she healeth the wounds of fortune with

patience.

The
ments

troubles of her husband are alleviated

by her counsels, and sweetened by her endear:

he putteth

his heart in her

bosom, and

receive! h comfort.

Happy
wife
;

is

the

man

that

hath made her his

happy the child that callethher mother.

PART

IV.

CONSANGUINITY;
OR,

MAIURAL RELATIONS.

52

SECTION

I.

HUSBAND.

Take

unto thyself a wife, and obey the or;

dinance of God

take unto thyself a wife, and

become a

faithful

member of society.
fix

But examine with care, and

not suddenly.

On

thy present choice depends thy future hap-

piness.

If

much of her
j

time
is

is

destroyed in dress and

adornments

if she

enamoured with her own

beauty, and delighteth in her

own

praise;
;

if

she laugheth much, and talketh loud

if

her

foot abideth not in her father's house, and her

eyes with boldness rove on the faces of

men

though her beauty were as the sun

in

the firma-

ment of heaven, turn thy

turn thy feet

face

from her charms,

suffer not thy

from her paths, and

soul to be ensnared by the allurements of ima-

gination

But when thou

findest sensibility of heart.

HUSBANIX.
joined with softness of manners

53
;

an accom-

plished mind, with a form agreeable to thy

fancy J take her

home

to thy house;

she

ift

worthy to be thy friend, thy companion in

the wife of thy bosom.

life>

cherish her as a blessing sent thee

from

heaven.

Let the kindness of thy behaviour

the mistress of thy house 3 treat her

endear thee to her heart.

She

is

therefore with respect, that thy servants

may

obey her.

Oppose not her

she
is

inclination without cause

the partner of thy cares,

make her

also

the companion of thy pleasures.

Reprove her

faults

with gentleness

exact

not her obedience with rigour.

Trust thy secrets in her breast

her counsels

are sincere, thou shalt not be deceived.

Be

faithful to

her bed

for she

is

the mother

of thy children.

When

pain and sickness assault her, let thy

tenderness soothe her affliction j a look from

thee of pity and love shall alleviate her grief, or

mitigate her pain, and be of
ten physicians.

more

avail than

54

HUSBAND.
Consider the tenderness of her sex, the de-

licacy

of her frame

and be not severe to her

thine

weakness, but remember

tions.

own

imperfec*

55

SECTION

JI.

FATHER.

Consider
duced,
it is

thou,

who
;

art a

parent,

the imhast pro-

portance of thy trust

the

bdng thou

thy duty to support.

also
it

Upon thee
child of thy

may

depend, whether the

bosom

shall

be a blessing or a curse

to thyselfj a useful or a worthless

member

to

the community.

Prepare him early with instraction, and sea-

son his mind with the maxims of truth.

Watch

the bent of his inclination, set

him
gain

right in his youth,

and

let

no

evil

habit

strength with his years.

So
tains
J

shall

he

rise like a

cedar on the

mountrees

his

head

shall

be seen above the

of

the forest.

A wicked son
h^irs.

is

a reproach to his father

is

but he that doth right

an honour

to his gray

E 2

56

FATHER.
soil is
J

The
vation

thine

own,

let it

not want culti-

the seed which thou sowest, that also

expect to reap.

Teach him obedience, and he

thee J teach

shall

bless

him modesty, and he

gratitude,

shall not

be

ashamed.

Teach him
nefits
j

and he

shall receive

be-

teach

him

charity,

and he

shall gain

love.

health

Teach him temperance, and he shall have teach him pradence, and fortune shall j
shall

attend him.

Teach him justice, and he

by the world
;

be honoured

teach

him

sincerity,

and

his

own

heart shall not reproach him.

Teach him
crease
s^hall
;

diligence,

and

his

wealth

shall in-

teach

him benevolence, and

science,

his

mind

be exalted.

Teach him
ful
}

and

his life shall

be use-

teach

him

religion,

and

his death shall

bo

happy.

SECTION

III,

SON.

From

the creatures

of Grod let

man

learn

wisdom, and apply

they give.
Gro to the desert,

to himself

the instruction

my

son
;

observe the young

stork of the wilderness

let

him speak
his

to thy
sire,

heart

he beareth on

his

wings

aged

he lodgeth him with

with food.

safety, anc} supplieth

him

The

piety of a child

is

sweeter tlian the in3

cense of Persia offered to the sun

delicious than odours

yea,

more
of

wafted from a

field

Arabian spices by the western gales.

Be
thee
thee.

grateful then to thy father,

;

for

he gave

life

and to thy mother,

for she sustained

Hear the words of

spoken for thy good
j

his

mouth,

for they are

give ear to his admoni-

tion, for it proceedeth

from love.

E3

58

SON.

He

hath watched for thy welfare, he hath

j

toiled for thy ease

do honour therefore

to his

age, and let not his gray hairs be treated with

irreverence.

Forget not thy helpless infancy, nor the frowardness of thy youth, and indulge the
mities of thy aged parents
3

infir-

assist

and support

them
So

in the decline of life.

shall

their hoary
;

heads go

down

to

the

grave in peace

and thine own children,

in re-

verence of thy example, shall repay thy piety

with

filial

love.

59

SECTION

IV,

BROTHERS.

Y E are the children

for

of one father, provided

by

his care

and the breast of one mother

hath given you suck.

Let the bonds of

your
father's house.

affection, therefore, unite

you, that peace and happiness

may

dwell in

And when
unity
;

ye separate

in the world,

remem-

ber the relation that bindeth you to love and

and prefer not a stranger

to

your

own
:

blood.

If thy brother

is

in adversity,

assist

him

if

thy

sister is in trouble,

forsake her not.

So

shall the fortunes

of thy father contribute

his care

to the support of his

whole race 3 and

all

be continued to you
other.

in

your love to each

B 4

PART V

PROVIDENCE;
OR,

THE ACCIDENTAL DIFFERENCES IN MEN.

62

SECTION

J.

WISE AND IGNORANT.

The

gifts

of the understanding are the treaappointeth to every one

sures of

God ; and he
in

his portion,

what measure seemeth good

unto himself.

enlightened thy

Hath he endued thee with wisdom ? hath he mind with the knowledge of truth > Communicate it to the ignorant, for
communicate
it

their instruction 5
for thine

to the wise,

own improvement.
is less

True wisdom

presuming than

folly.

The

fool

is

obstinate,

and doubteth notj he

knoweth

all

things but his

own
is

ignorance.
j

The

pride of emptiness
is

an abomination

and to t^lk much

Nevertheless,
it is

the foolishness of folly.

the part of

wisdom

to bear

impertinence with patience^ and to pity absur*

dity.

WISB AND IGNORANT.

Yet be not puffed up with
tliine

63

own

conceit,
5

neither boast of superior understanding

clearest
folly.

the

human knowledge

is

but blindness and

The
is

wise
;

man
:

feeleth his imperfections,

and

humbled

he laboureth in vain for his

own

approbation

but the fool peepeth in the shalhis

low stream of
he

own mind, and

is

pleased

with the pebbles which he sees

bringetli
j

at the

bottom
as

them up, and showeth them

pearls

and with the applause of

his brethren

delightcth he himself.

He

boasteth attainments in things that are of

;

no worth

but where

it is

shame

to

be igno-

rant, there

he hath no understanding.

Even
folly
3

in the paths of

wisdom he

toileth after

and shame and disappointment are the

reward of his labour.

But the wise

knowledge
light,
:

man

cultivates bis

mind with
is

the improvement of arts

utility to the

his

de-

and their

public crowneth

him with honour.

Nevertheless the attainment of virtue he ac-

counteth as the highest learning

and the science

life.

/^happiness

is

the study of his

6*4

SECTION

II,

KICH AND POOR.

The man to whom God

and blessed with
.

hath given riches,

mind

to

employ them

aright,

is

peculiarly favoured,

and highly distinguished,

He looketh
cause
it

on

his

wealth with pleasure, be-

affordethhim the means to do good.

:

He

seeketh out objects of compassion

5

h<

enquireth into their wants

he relieveth wit

judgment, and without ostentation.

He

assisteth

and rewardeth merit

he cn-

courageth ingenuity, and liberally promote thi

every useful design.

He

carrieth

on great works
tiie

his country

is]

enriched, and

labourer

is

employed

h<

formeth

new schemes, and

the arts receive im-

provement.

He

considereth the superfluities of his table

as belonging to the poor of his neighbourhood^

and he defraudeth them

not^

RICH AND POOB.

09.

The benevolence of
by
his fortune
j

his

mind

is

not checked

he rejoiceth therefore in riches,

and

his joy

is

blameless.
that heapeth

But woe unto him

thereof

up wealth

in

abundance, and rejoiceth alone

in the possession

That grindeth the

face of the poor,

and

cory-

sidereth not the sweat of their brows.

He

thriveth

on oppression without feeling

the ruin of his brother disturbeth

him

not.

The

tears of the

orphan he drinketh as milk

are music to his ear.
;

the cries of the

widow

His heart

is

hardened with the love of wealth

no grief nor distress can make impression upon

it.

But the curse of

liveth in
nrrind,

iniquity pursueth
j

him

he

continual fear

the anxiety of bis

and the rapacious

desires of his

own

soul,

take vengeance upon

him

for the calamities

he

has brought upon others.

what

arc.

the miseries of poverty, in

com!

parison with the gnawings of this man's heart

Let the poor

joice
;

man

comfort himself, yea, rereasons.

for

he hath

many

He
(able

sitteth
is

down

to his morsel in

peace

his

not crowded with flatterers and de-

tourers.

00

RICH AND POOR.

is

He

not embarrassed with a train of desoli-

pendants, nor teased with the clamours of

citation.

Debarred from the dainties of the

escapeth also their diseases.

rich,

he

The

bread that he eateth,

?

is

it

not sweet
is
it

to his taste

the water he drinketh,

?

not

pleasant to his thirst

yea,

far

more

delicious

than the richest draughts of the luxurious.

His labour preserveth

cureth

his health,

and pro-

him
is

a repose to which the

downy bed

of sloth

a stranger.

He limiteth his desires

calm of contentment
all
is

with humility, and the

sweeter to his soul than

the acquirements of wealth and grandeur.

Let not the

riches
his
j

rich, therefore,

presume on

his

nor the poor, in his poverty, yield to

J

despondence

for the providence

of

God

dispenseth happiness to

them

both.

67

SECTJOir III.

MASTERS AND SERVANTS.

Repine
tude
I

not,

O
j

man^

at the state

of servi-

it is

the appointment of God, and hath

it

many
cares

advantages

removeth thee from the

of life.
is

and

solicitudes

The honour
Be

of a servant

his fidelity

his

highest virtues are submission and obedience.

patient, therefore,
;

under the reproofs of

thy master

and,

swer not ^ain.

shall not

when he rebuketh thee, anThe silence of thy resignation

be forgotten.

Be

studious of his interests, be diligent in

his affairs,

and

faithful to the trust

which he

reposeth in thee.

Thy
for

time and thy labour belong unto him.

for

Defraud him not therefore,

them.
thou

he payeth thee

And

who

art a

master,

be just to thy
fidelity j

servant, if thou expecteth

from him

68

MASTERS AND SERVANTS.

in thy

and reasonable

commands,
in

if

thou ex-

pectest a ready obedience.

The
rigour

spirit

of a

man

is

him j

severity

and

may

create fear, but can never

command

his love.

Mix

kindness with reproof, and reason with

:

authority

so shall thy admonitions take place

in his heart,

and

his

duty

shall

become

his plea-

sure.

He

shall serve thee faithfully

J

from the mo-

tive of gratitude

he

shall

obey thee cheerfully

:

from the principle of love

and

fail

not thou,

in return, to give his diligence

and

fidelity their

proper reward.

SECTION IV,
MAGISTRATES AND SUBJECTS.

THOU, favourite

of heaven,

whoqi ^he

son* of men, j^y equals, have agreed to.i;aise ,tD sovereign power, and set as a rukr over

themselves) consider the ends and impor^anpe

,(0f,

their trust, far, flaore than the dignity

and

height of thy station.

Tbou.^rt
a throne
:

clotjied in purple,

and seated on

the

crown of majesty inveSteth thy

is

,Aemples: the sceptre of power

placed in thy

hand: but not

given
J

for thyself

were these ensigns

not meant for thine own, but the good

of thy kingdom.

The
ple
;

glory of a king is the welfare pf his peo-

his

power and dominion

rest

on the hearts

of his subjects.

The mind

of a great prince
:

is

exalted with

the grandeur of his situation

he revolveth high

things, and searcheth for business

worthy of his

power.

70

MAGISTRATES AND SUBJECTS.

He

calleth together the wise

men of his kingfreeall.

dom, he consulteth amongst them with

dom, and heaieth the opinions of them

He looketh among
ment
3

his people

with discernof men, and

he discovereth the

abilities

employeth them according

to their merits.

His magistrates are

just,

his

ministers are
deceivetli

wise, and the favourite of his

bosom

him

not.

He
hand.

smileth on the arts and they flourish

the sciemces improve beneath the culture of hii

With
and the

the learned and ingenious he delightetl

in their breasts

himself J he kindleth

emulation^
exalted bj

glory of his

kingdom

is

their labours.

The
his

spirit

of the merchant,
;

who

extendeth

commerce

the skill of the farmer,

j

who enaitist,

richeth his lands

the ingenuity of the

j

the improvement of the scholar

all

these he

honoureth with his favour, or rewardeth with

his bounty,

He
ships,

planteth

new

colonies, hebuildeth strong

rivers for convenience,
3

he openeth

he

formeth harbours for safety

his people

abound

MAOISTIATES AND SUBJECTS.

in ricbe,

71
in-

and the strength of his kingdom

creaseth.

He
dom
bour
J

framcth his statutes with equity and wishis subjects enjoy the fruits

of their la-

in security

and

their happiness consists

in the observance of the law.

He foundeth
he
is

his

judgments on the principles

of mercy J but in the punishments of offenders

strict

and

impartial. his

His ears are open to the complaints of

subjects
pressors,
}

he restraineth the hand of

and
delivftreth

their op-

them from

their ty-

ranny. His people therefore look up to him as a

father,

with reverence and love

they consider

him

as the guardian

of all they enjoy.

Their

affection unto

him
;

begetteth

in his

breast a love of the public

the security of their

happiness

is

the object of his care.

against

No murmurs
his state.

him

arise in their hearts

the machinations of his enemies endanger not

His
cause
brass
;

subjects are faithful, and firm in

his

they stand in his defence as a wall of

the array of a tyrant flieth before thena

as chaff before the wind.

F 2

72

^MAGISTRATES
and peace

Mt>^S\fB!riC'ii,

^ecuirity

tides' the dwellirfgs

6f his

people

glory and strength encircle his thtone

ior ever.

PAHT

VI.

THE SOCIAL DUTZES,

f3

74

SECTION

I.

BENEVOLENCE.

When

thou

considerest

thy

wants,

when

thou beholdcst thy imperfections, acknowledge

His goodness,

son of humanity

who hoto

noured thee with reason, endued th^e with

speech, and placed thee in society,
receive

and confer
tions.

reciprocal helps

and mutual obliga-.

Thy

food, thy clothing, thy convenience

5

of

habitation

thy protection from the injuries,

pleaassist-

thy enjoyments of the comforts and the

sures of life
;

all

these thou owest to the

ance of others, and couldst not enjoy but

the bands of society.
It is

in

thy duty therefore to be a friend to

as
it

mankind,

is

thy interest that

man

should

be friendly to thee.

As

the rose breatheth sweetness from

its

own

BENEVOLENCE.
nature, so the heart of a benevolent

JS

man

pro-

duceth good works.

He
own

enjoyeth the ease and tranquillity of his

breast,

and rejoiceth

in the happiness

and

prosperity of his neighbour.

He
faults

openeth not

his

ear unto slander

the

and the faihngs of men give

a pain to his

heart.

His

desire

is

to

do good, and he searcheth

out the occasions thereof j in removing the oppressions of another he relieveth himself.

From

the largeness of his mind, he comprcall

hendeth in his wishes the happiness of

men;

and, from the generosity of his heart, he en-

deavojreth to promote

it,

f4

7S

SECTION

II.

JUSTICE.

T^i ^ce
the

of society dependeth oW
of
indiv'idnals,

j'uafice
safii

fei^ppines^'

on the

en-

joyment of all

their possessions.

JCeep the desires of thy heart, therefore,

withm the bdcma^ of fn6defation

oi justice lead theni aright.
Cast not an
evil

let

th6 hand

eye on the goofds Of

is

th;f

neighbour j

let

whatever

his property be sa-

cred from thy touch.

Let no temptation allure thee, nor any provocation excite thee, to

lift

up thy hand

to the

hazard of his

life.

Defame him not

false witness against

in his character

bear no

him.
servant to cheat or fonake

Corrupt not

his

him ; and
to sin.
It will

the wife of his bosom,

tempi not

be a grief

to hJ heart,

which

\Iovl

JUSTICE.
canst not relieve

77
to his life,

an injury
for^

which

no reparation can atone

In thy dealings with men, be impartial and

just
J

and db" unto" them

as

thou wouldst they

should do unto thee.

Be faithful to thy trust, and deceive not the man who reli'eth upon thee be assured it is less evil in the sight of God to steal, than to
;

betray.

Oppress not the poor, and defraud not of

his hire the labouring maii.

When
deration
J

thou

sellest

for gain, hear the

perings of conscience, and be satisfied with

wMsmo-

nor from the ignorance of the buyer

advantage.
tliou

make any
gave thee

Pay the debts which

credit, relied

owest, for he
thine honour
;

who
and

upon

to withhold

from him

his due, is

both

mean and

unjust.
Finally,
call

O ^on of society

examine thy heart,

;

remembrance

to thy aid

and

if in

any of

these things tliou findest thou hast transgressed,

take sorrow and shame to thyself,

and maker

speedy reparation to the utmost of thy powerr

78

SECTION

III,

CHARITY.

Happy

is

the

man who

hath
5

sown

in his

breast the seeds of benevolence

the produce

there of shall be charity and love*

From
riversof

the fountain

of his heart shall

rise

goodness

and the streams

shall over-

flow for the benefit of mankind.

He
men.

assisteth the

poor in their trouble

the prosperity

he
all

rejoiceth

in

furthering

of

He

censureth not his neighbour, he believeth

tales

not the

of envy and malevolence, neither

repeateth he their slanders.

He
lice

forgiveth the injuries of

his

men, he wipeth
revenge and ma-

them from
For

remembrance

have no place in his heart.

evil

he retumeth not

evil

he hateth not

even his enemies, but requjteth their unjustice

with friendly admonition.

T^tblisTK-'d

by T.kRJIiiohe.'.Lud^ate Siren. J.m'.^h.iSoo.

CHARITY.

79

The

griefs
j

and anxieties of

men

excite his

compassion

he endeavonreth to

alleviate the

weight of their misfortunes, and the pleasure of

success rewardeth his labour.

He
strife

calraeth the fury, he healeth the quarrels

of angry men, and preventeth the mischiefs of

and animosity.
promoteth
in his his

He
praise

neighbourhood peace

and good-will, and

name

is

repeated with

and benedictions.

80

SECTION, LK

G.RATITUBiB.

A
eth

the branches of a tree return

tlieir

sap to

the root from

its

whence

it

arose, as a river pourits

streams to the sea, where

j

spring

was
de-

supplied

so the heart of a grateful

man

lighteth in returning a benefit received.

He acknowledgeth his obligations with cheerfulness

f

he looketh on

his benefactor

with love

and esteem.

And

if to

return

it

be not in

his

power, he

nourisheth the

memory of it
it

in his breast
all

with

kindness^ he forgetteth
his
life.

not

the days of

The hand
fruits,

of the generous

man

is

like ths

clouds of heaven, which drop, upon the earth,

herbage, and flowers
is
:

but the heart of

the ungrateful

like a desert

of sand, which

swalloweth, with greediness, the showers that

GRATITUDE,
fall,

81

and burieth them

in

its

bosom/ and pro-

duceth nothing.

Envy not
conceal
the

thy benefactor, neither strive to

benefit

he hath conferred

for

though the act of generosity commandeth admiration

;

yet the huminty of gratitude touchis

eth the heart, and

amiable in the sight both

of

God and man.

But receive not a favour from the hands of

the prtrtid:"to the selfish and avaricious have

tto obligation .'the

vanity of pride shall expose

thee to shame, the greediness of avarice 6ball

nievef'be' satisfied.

SECTION

V.

SINCERITY.

() THOU
ties

who

art

enamoured with the beau-

of Truth, and hast fixed thy heart on the

simplicity of her charms, hold fast thy fidelity

unto her and forsake her notj the constancy

of thy virtue shall crown thee with honour.

The

tongue of the sincere

is

rooted in his

heart: hypocrisy and deceit have no place in

his words.

He

blusheth at falsehood, and

is

confounded^

but, in speaking the truth, he hath a steady eye.

He

supporteth as a
j

man

the dignity of his

character
to stoop.

to the arts of hypocrisy

he scorneth

He
but to

is

consistent with himself;

3

he

is

never

embarrassed
lie

he hath courage enough for truths

is afraid.

he

He

is

far

above the meanness of dissimula-

SINCERITY.
tion

83
are the thoughts

the words of his

mouth

of his heart.

Yet with prudence and caution he openeth

his lips
;

he studieth what is

rights

and speaketh

with discretion.

He

adviseth with

friendship,

he reproveth

with freedom J and whatsoever he promiseth

shall surely

be performed.
heart of the hypocrite
is

But the
breast
:

hid in his

he masketh his words

in the

semblance
only to

of truth, while the business of bis

deceive.

life is

He
tation.

laugheth in sorrow, he weepeth in joy

his

and the words of

mouth have no

interpre-

He
cieth

worketh
he
is

in
j

the dark as a mole, and fan-

safe

but he blundereth into light,

and

is

betrayed and exposed, with his dirt on

bis head.

He

passeth his days with perpetual constraint

his tongue

and

his heart are for

ever at variance.

He
man
j

laUoureth for the character of a righteous

and he huggeth himself in the thoughts

of his cimning.

O fool,

fool

the pains which thou takest to

hide what thou art, are

more than would mak

ai

SIKCSRIAY.
and the cliildren

Ihee what thou wouldst seem

of wisdom

shall

mock

at thy cunning,
is

when,

in

the midst of security, thy disguise

ofti

stripped

and

the finger of derisiwi.^h^l point ,J^?e

to scorn.

PART

VII.

RELIGION.

86^

SECTION

/.

RELIGION.

There
tor;

is

but one God, the author, the crea-

the governor of the world, almighty, eter-

nal,

and incomprehensible;
is

The sun

not God, though his noblest image.

He
his

enliveneth the world with his brightness,

warmth
;

giveth

life

to the products of the

earth

admire him as the creature, the instru-

ment of God ; but worship him not.

To

the

One who

is

supreme, most wise and

alone belong worship,

beneficent, and to

him

adoration, thanksgiving, and praise.

Who hath
his hand,

stretched forth the heavens with

who

hath described with his finger

the courses of the stars.

Who setteth bounds to the ocean, which

not pass
still.
J

it

can-

and

saith

unto the stormy winds.

Be

RELIGION.

Sy
and the nations

Who
tremble
j

shaketh the earth,

who

darteth his lightnings, and the

wicked are dismayed.

Who
mouth
J

calleth forth worlds

by the word of

his

who

smiteth with his arm, and they

sink into nothing.

"

O
;

reverence the Majesty of the

Omni-

potent

and tempt not

!"

his anger, lest

thou be

destroyed

The
he

providence of

God

is

over

all

his

works

ruleth,

and directeth with

infinite

wisdom.

He
in
all

hath instituted laws for the government

j

of the world

he hath wonderfully varied them and each, by

his nature,

beings J

con-

formeth to

his will.
all

In the depth of his mind he revolveth

knowledge
fore him.

the secrets of futurity

lie

open be-

The
view
}

thoughts of thy heart are naked to his

he knoweth thy determinations before they are made.

With

respect to his prescience, there

is

no-

thing contingent; with respect to his provi-

dence, there
*

is

nothing accidental.
is

Wonderful he

in all his

ways ;

his counsels

are inscrutable; the

manner of his knowledge

transcendeth thy conception.

o 2

88

RILIGION.

" Pay

therefore to his
;

wisdom all honour and

ifi

veneration

and bow down thyself

to his

humble

and submissive obedience

tion."

supreme direc-

ThiQ Lord

is

gracious and beneficent

he hath
works

created the world in

mercy and

love.
all his
:

His goodness

is

conspicuous in

he

is

the fountain of excellence, the centre of

perfection.

The
ness,

creatures of his
all thedr

hand declare

his

goodj

and

enjoyments speak his praise

he clotheth them with beauty, he supporteth

them with
sure

food,

he preserveth them with pleato generation. to

from generation

If

we

lift

up our eyes
;

the heavens, his

glory shinet^ forth

if

we cast them down upon

j

tUe earth,

it

is

full

of his goodness

the

hills

and thevallies rejoice and sing;

iields;

rivers,

and woods resound

bis praise.

Bwt

thee,

O man, he hath distinguished with

-,

peculiar favour
all,

and exalted thy

station

abov

creatures.

He

hath endued thee with reason, to main*

j

tain thy dominion

he hath

fitted thee
j

with

l^iguagc, to impfove

by

society

an4 exalt^

thy mijjd with the powers of meditation to contdoiplate and adore bis inimitable p^jfections.

RBLI6I0N.

89

And

in the laws
life,

he hath ordaiacd, as the

rule of thy

so kindly hath he uited thy

duty to thy nature, that obedience to his

cepts
*'

pre-

is

happiness to thyself.

O praise his goodness with songs of thankswonders

;

giving, and meditate, in silence, on the

of his love

let

thy heart overflow with grati;

tude and acknowledgment

let

the language of
j

thy

lips

speak praise and adoration

let

the ac-

tions of thy life

show thy love

to his law."

The Lord is just and righ teous, and will judge

the earth with equity and truth.

Hath he established
thereof?

bis laws in goddness

and

mercy ; and shall he not punish the transgressors

O think
ment
that
is

not, bold

man

because thy punish-

delayed, that the

flatter

arm of

the Lord

is

weakened} neither
he winketh

thyself with hopes

at thy doings.

His eye pierceth the secrets of every heart,

and he remembereth them

for ever

he

re-

specteth not the persons nor the stations of men

The
shaken

high and the low, the rich and the poor,

the wise and the ignorant,

off*

when

the soul hath

the cumbrous shackles of this mortal

life, shall

equally receive from the sentence of

o 3

90

RELIGION.
a just

God

and everlasting

retribution, accord-

ing to their works.

Then
his

shall the

wicked tremble and be afraid

but the heart of the righteous shall rejoice in

judgments.

"
thy

O fear the
life,

Lord, therefore,

all

the days of

and walk in the paths which he has

Let prudence admonish

opened before thee.

thee, let temperance restrain, let justice guide

thy hand, benevolence

warm

thy heart, and

gratitude to heaven inspire thee with devotion.

These
state,

shall give thee happiness in

thy present

and bring thee

to the

mansions of eternal

felicity in

the paradise of God."

the true

This

is

economy of human

life.

BOOK SECOND.
PART
MA N,
CONSIDERED IN THE GENERAL.
I.

4.

92

SECTION

I.

OF THE

HUMAN FRAME AND

TURE.

STRUC-

Weak
humble
dust
!

and igUOTant as thou

as thou oughtest to be,

art, O O child

man
of the
to

wouldst

thou
?

raise

thy

thoughts

infinite

wisdom
displayed

wouldst thou see omnipo-

tence
thine

bef e

thee?

contemplate

own

frame.

Fearfully and
praise

wonderfully art thou

made

therefore thy

Creator with awe, and

reverence.

rejoice before

him with
all

Wherefore of
erect,

creatures art

thou only
his

but that thou shouldest behold

works

wherefore art thou to behold, but that thou

mayest admire them

wherefore to admire,

but that thou mayest adore their and thy Creator!

Wherefore
alone
!

is

consciousness reposed in thee

is it

and whence

derived to thee.

OF THB
it
is

HUMAN F&AMF.
',

03

not in flesh to think

it is

not in btfnes
that

to reason.
shall eat
is

The
hino
j

lion

knoweth not

worms

the ox pereeiveth not tht he

fed for slaughter.

Something
thou seest
:

Is

added to thee unlike to what

sonaetbing informs thy clay, higher

is

than
hold,

all

that

the object of thy senses.

Be-

what

is it ?

Thy body
therefore
therefore
it

remaineth perfect after this

is

is

fled>

no part of
eternal
:

it

it is

immaterial,

it is

it is

free to act,
actions.

there*

fore

it is

accountable for

its

Knoweth
his teeth

the ass the use of food, because

the herbage
?

mow down
?

or standeth
is

the crocodile erect, although his back bone

as straight as thine

God formed
after

thee as he had formed these:

them

all

wert thou created

superiority
all,

and command were given thcC over

his

and of

own

breath did he communicate to thee

thy principle of knowledge.

Know
part of

thyself then the pride of his creation

:

the link uniting divinity and matter

behold a

thine

God himself within own dignity, nor dare

thee:

remember
evil

descend to

or

to meaness.

94

OF THE HUMAN FRAME.

terrour in the
tail

Who planted
pent?

of the

ser-

who
?

cloathed the neck of the horse with

thunder

even he

who

hath instructed thee to

feet,

crush the one under thy

other to thy purposes.

and

to

tame the

95

SECTION

II.

OF THE USE OF THE SENSES.

AUNT

not of thy body, because

it

was

first

formed ; nor of thy brain, because therein thy

soul resideth.
Is not the master of the
its

house

more honourable than

walls

The ground must be prepared

before he can

before

com

be planted j the potter must build

his furnace

make

his porcelane.

As
roll,

the breath of

Heaven sayeth unto the

waters of the deep, this

way
;

shall thy billows

and no other

thus high shall they raise

so let thy spirit,
j

their fury,

and no higher

man,

actuate and direct thy flesh

wildness.
is

so let

it

repress

its

Thy

soul

the

monarch of thy frame

it.

suf-

fer not its subjects to rebel against

Thy body

is

as the globe of the earth,

it

thy

bones the pillars that sustain

on

its

basis.

96

OF THE USE OF THE SENSES.

the ocean giveth rise to springs, whose
its

As

waters return again into

rivers, so

bosom through

tbe-.

runneth thy

life
it

from the heart outunto

its

wards, and so returneth

place again.
?

Do

not both retain their course for ever

Behold, the same

Is not thy

God

ordained them.
?

nose the channel to perfumes

?

thy mouth

the path to delicacies

yet

know
offen-

thou> that perfumes long smelt

sive, that delicacies
flatter.

become

destroy the appetite they

Are not thine eyes

for thee? yet

the sentinels that watch

how

often are they

unable to

distinguish truth from error.

Keep
spirit to

then thy soul in moderation, teach thy

be attentive to

its

good} so

shall these its

ministers be ever unto

truth.

thee conveyances of

Thine hand,
the creation

is it

not a miracle
like

Is there in

ought

unto it?

wherefore
mightest
?

was

it

given
it

thee, but that thou

stretch

out to the assistance of thy brother

living art
?

Why of all things

capable of blushing

thou alone made

the world shall read thy

shame upon thy face; therefore do nothing

.sbamieiul.

OF THE USE OF THE SENSES.

Fear and dismay,

97

why rob
?

they thy counteavoid guilt, and

;

nance of its ruddy splendour

thou shalt

know

that fear

is

beneath thee

that

dismay

is

unmanly.
to thee alone speak
?

Wherefore

shadows

in
;

the visions of thy pillow

for

reverence them

know that dreams are from on high. Thou man alone canst speak. Wonder at thy glorious prerogative and pay to him who
j

gave

it

ihee a rational

and welcome

praise,

leaching thy children

wisdom, instructing the

offspring of thy loins in piety.

9S

SECTION

III.

THE SOUL OF MANj

ITS ORIGIN

AND

AFFECTIONS.

The
est

blessings,

man

of thy ej^ternal part,

are health, vigour, and propoition.

The
is

greatto the

of these

is

health.
is

What
is

health

body, even that

honesty to the soul.

That thou
unto thee.
not to

hast a soul,
all

of

all

knowledge
most plain
it.

the most certain, of

truth the

Be meek, be
it

grateful for
It
is

Seek

know

perfectly.

inscrutable.

Thought, understanding, reasoning, willing,

call

not these the soul

its

they are

its

actions,

but they are not

Raise
spised.
it

essence.

not too high, that thou be not dethose

Be not thou like unto

it

who

fall

by climbing, neither debase

brutes
j

to the sense of

nor be thou like to the horse and the

mule, in

whom

there

is

no understanding.

THE SOUL OF MAN.

Search
virtues.
it

99
it

by

its

faculties,

know

by

its

They

are
;

more

in

number than the

hairs of thy

head

the stars of heaven are not

to be counted with them.

Think not with Arabia,

parted

that

one soul

is

among
know,
one.

all

men

neither believe thou,

with the sons of Egypt, that every

man

hath

many
soul

that as thy heart, so also thy

is

Doth not

the sun harden the clay

doth

it

not alsa soften the

wax

As
it is

it is

one sun that

worketh both, even so

leth contraries.

one soul that wil-

As

the

moon

retaineth her nature though

itself

darkness spread
tain, so

before her face as a cur-

the soul remaineth perfect even in the

fool.
;

bosom of the
She
is

is

immortal
all.

she

is

unchangeable

she
to

alike in

Health

calleth her

forth

shew her

loveliness,
oil

and application anointeth

her with the

of wisdoms.
shall- live after

Although she
she

thee, think not

was

bom
flesh,

before theej she

was created
brain.

with thy

and formed with thy

Justice could not give her to thee exalted

virtues,

by

nor

mercy

deliver

her

to

thee

JOO
deformed by

THE SOUL OF MAN*

vices.

These must

be: thiniC,

and

thou must answer them.

Suppose not death can shield

examination
;

thee from

think not corruption can hide

thee from enquiry.

He who

formed thee of
raise tliee

^ou

knowest not what, can he not

?

from thou knowest not what again

Perceiveth not the
iiight
?

cock the hour of midtell

Exalteth he not his vdce, to

thee
the the
?

when

it is

morning

Knoweth not the dog

flieth

footsteps

of his master? and

not

wounded goat unto the herb

Yet,

that healeth

him

when
:

these die, their spirit returneth to

the dust

thine alone surviveth.

to

Envy not
vantage
lieth

these

their

senses,

becaase

quicker than thine owA.

Learn that the ad-

not in possessing good things, but

in the knowing

how

to use

them.
stag, or

Hadst thou the ear of the

were thine
-,

ye
-didst

as

strong and

piercing as the eagle's

thou equal the hound in smell, or could

taste,

the ape resign to thee his

or the tortpise

her feeling

yet,

without reason, what would

all

they avail thee? Perish not

these like their

kindred

THE SOUL OF MAN.

Hath any one of them the
gift

101
of speech
I so
?

can any say unto thee, therefore did

The
cabinet

lips
?

of the wise are as the doors of a

sooner are they opened, but trea-

iio

sures are poured out before thee.

Like unto trees of gold arranged

silver, are

in

beds of

wise sentences uttered in due season.

?

Canst thou think too greatly o( thy soul

or can too

much be said in its praise ? It is the image of Him who gave ir. Remember tliou its dignity for ever forget not how great a talent is committed to thy
)

charge.

Whatsoever may do good, may also do harm.

Beware
croud

that thou direct

its

course to virtue.
tlie

Think not
;

that

thou canst lose her in

suppose not that canst bury her in thy

closet.

Action

is

her delight, and she will

it.

not be withheld from

Her motion
universal
Is
it
;

is

perpetual
is

her attenipts are

her agility

not to be suppressed.
?

at

the uttermost part of the earth

it
:

she

will have
stars
!

is

it

beyond the region of the

it.

yet will her eyes discover

is

Inquiry

her delight.

As one who

traverselh

102

THE SOUL OF MAN.

eth the burning sands in search of water, so is

the soul that thirsteth after knowledge.

Guard
she
is

her, for she

;

is

rash

restrain her, for

is

irregular
;

correct her, for she

is

out-

ragious
flexible

more supple
than wax,

she than water,

yielding
?

more
air.

more

than

Is there

aught then can bind her

As
so
is

a sword in the hand to a

the soul to

madman, even him who wanteth discretion.

is

The end of
to discover
it

her search

truth

her means

are reason and experience, but

are not these

weak, uncertain, and

it ?

falacious

How

then shall she attain unto

is

General opinion

no proof of truth

for the

generality of men are ignorant.

Perception of thyself, the knowledge of Him

who

created

thee,

the sense of the Worship

plain

thou ovvest unto Him, are not these

before thy face
?

And, behold

what
?

is

there

more

that

man

necdeth to

know

103

SECTION

IF.

OF THE PERIOD AND USES OF HUMAN

LIFE.

the eye of morning

to

the lark, as the

shade of evening to the owl, as honey to the

bee, or as the carcase to

the vulture

even

such

is life

unto the heart of nian.

it

Tho* bright,
it

dazzleth not; tho* obscure,

3

displeaseth not
;

though sweet,
it

it

cloyeth
;

not

though corrupt
is

forbiddeth
true value

not
?

yet

who

he that knoweth
to

its

Learn

esteem

life

as thou oughtest

then

art thou near the pinnacle

of wisdom.
that nothing
is

Think not with the

more valuable
it
j

fool,

nor believe with the pretended

wise, that thou oughtest to

contemn
it

it.

Love

not for

itself,

but for the good

may be of
can the

to others.

Gold cannot buy

it

for thee, neither

mines of diamonds purchase back thf moments

H 2

i64
thou hast

OF THE PERfOD AND USES

now lost
it

of

it.

Employ the succeed,

to

ing ones in virtue.

Say not, that

born
early
J

were best not

have been

or, if born^ that it

had been best to die

had

neither dare thou to ask of thy Creator,

evil

where had been the

good
evil
;

I not existed;
is

is

in thy
if

power;

tlie

want of good
!

and,

thy question be just, lo

it

con-

demneth

thee.

Would
enter the

the fish swallow the bait if he

?

knew
lion

the hook was hid therein

toils if

would the

he saw they were prepared for

him
this

so neither,
clay,

were the soul

to

to perish

with

would man wish

livej neither
:

would a merciful God have created him

hence thou
shalt live afterward.

know

As
seeth
sides
5

the bird inclosed in t^e cage before he

it,

yet

teareth not his flesh against

its

so neither
state

labour thou
art

vainly

to run
it is

from the

thoU

in

but
it.

know

allotted thee,

and be content with

Though
not
all

its

ways are uneven, yet are they

painful.

Accommodate
is

thyself to

all

-,

and where there

least

appearance of

evil,

Suspect the greatest danger.

When

thy bed

is

straw,

thou

sleepest

OFHUMAKH5E.
security
roses^
j

105

but

when thou
is

stretchest thyseVf on

beware of the thorns.

good death

better

than an

evil life;

stiLve to live thereforcw as

long as thou oughest^

not as long as thou canst.

others wortli

While thy
deaths

life is
is

to

more than thy

it.

it

thy

duty to preserve

Complain not with the

of thy time
:

fool of the shortness

remember

that with thy day5,

thy cares are shortened.

Take from
parts of
it,

the period of thy

life
?

the useless
off the

and what remaineth

Take

time of thine infancy, the second infancy of

age, thy sleep, thy thoughtless hours, thy days

of sickness

and, even at the fulness of years,

how few seasons hast thou truly numbered. He who gave thee life as a blessing, shortened it to make it more so. To what end would
longer
life

have served thee

wishest thou to
?

have had an opportunity of more vices

the good, will not
satisfied

as to

He who

limited thy span, be'

with the fruits of

it ?

To
world
?

what end,
?

O child

of sorrow

wouldst

thou live longer

all this

to breathe, to eat, to see the

thou hast done often already.

H 3

106

OF THE PJBRIOD AND USES

frequent repetition,
not superfluous.
is it

Too
is it

not tiresome

or

Wouldst thou improve

virtue
is it
?

thy

wisdom

and

Alas

what

art
?

Ihou to

know

or

who

shall
little

teach tbee

Badly thou employest

the

thou hast, dare not, therefore, to com-

plain that

more

is

not given thee.

Repine not

at the

want of knowledge;

it

must

perish with thee in the grave.

Be honest
nuraberest
?

here, thou shalt be wise hereafter.

Say not unto the

the fawn,

crow,

why

thou seven times the age of thy lord

or to
oft-

why

art thine eyes

to see
?

my

spring to an hundred generations

are these to
?

be compared with thee

are

in the abuse of life

they riotous
?

are

they cruel

are they
that

ungreatful

Learn from them

life

rather

innocence of

and simplicity of manners,

are the paths to a good old age.

Knowest thou
these
}

to

employ

life

better

than

then

less

of

it

may

suffice thee-

Man who

dares enslave the world,

his tyranny
at, if

when he

knows he can enjoy

but a moment,

what would he not aim

tal ?

he were immor-

OP HUMA!C LIFB.

107

Enough
not
:

bast thon of lif> but thou regardest

it,

thou art not in want of

prodigal
:

man
it

but

thou art

thou throwest

lightly
j

away,

as if thou hast

more than enough

it is

and

yet thou repinest that

not gathered again

unto thee.

Know that it is
rich,

not abundance which

maketh

but economy.
wise continueth to Hire from his
J

The
period

first

the fool

is

always beginning.
first,

Labour not

after riches

and think thou

neglectall

afterwards wilt enjoy them.

He who

eih

{he

present

moment throws away

knew
it.

that he hath.

As

the arrow passeth through

not that

the heart, while the warrior

it

was coming

so shall his

life

be taken away

before he knoweth that he hath

What
it 3

then
is

is

life,

that

man

should desire
it.

what
it

breathing, that he should covet

Is

not a

scene of delusion,

a series of
all

misadventures, a pursuit of evils linked on

sides together} in

the beginning
its

it

is
its

igno-

rance, pain

is

in

middle, and

end

is

sorrow.

As one wave pusheth on another

are involved in that behind

till

both

ihem,

even so

H 4

108

OF HUMAN LIFE.
life

succeedeth evil to evil in the

of

man

the

greater and the present swallow

up the lesser
;

and the

past.

Our

terrors are real evils

our

expectations look forward into improbabilities.

Fools,
if

to dread as mortals,
I

and

to desire as

immortal

What

part of

life is it
?

that

remain with us

Is

it

youth

we would wish to ? can we be in

?

love with outrage, licentiousness, and temerity

Is
it

age

than are

we

found of infirmities.

It is said gray hairs are revered,

and

in length

of days
to the

is

honour.

Virtue can add reverence

j

bloom of youth

and without

it

age

plants

more

wrinkles in the soul than

on the

forehead.
Is

age respected because

justice
is

it

hateth
it
is

riot?

What
age.

in

this,

when

not age

despiseth pleasure,

but pleasure that despisetb

Be
Jlhine

virtuous while thou art young, so shall

age be honoured.

PART

TI,

MAN,
CONSIDERED IN REGARD TO HIS INFIRMITIES AND THEIR EFFECTS.

no

SECTION

I,

VANITY.

Inconstancy is powerful in the heart of man intemperence swayeth it whither it will despair cngrosseth much of itj and fear proj
;

claimeth, Behold, I set uarival'd therein vanity

is

but

beyond them

all.

Weep
human

not therefore at the calaminities of

3

state

neither laugh at

its follies.

In

the hands of the

man

addicted to vanity,

life is

but the shadow of a dream.

The

hero,

the most renowned

is

of

human
this

characters,

what

he but the bubble of

is

weakness
ful
5

the public

unstable and ungrate-

why

should the

man

of wisdom endanger

himself

for fools.

The man who

cerns, to revolve
greater,

neglecteth

his

present con-

how

he

will

behave

when

feedeth himself with wind^ while his

eaten

bread

is

by

another.

VANITY.

Ill

Act
and
in

as

becometh thee

in thy present station

more

exalted ones thy face shall not be

ashamed.

What
lieart

blindeth the eye,

or

what bideth the

!

of a man from himse'f, like vanity ? Lo when thou seest not thyself, then others dis^

cover thee most plainly.

As
setteth

the tulip that

is

gaudy without smell,

is

conspicuoiis without

use; so
high,

the

man who

himself up on

and hath not

merit.

The

heart of the vain

is

troubled while

it

seemeth content ;
pleasures.

his cares are greater than his

His
the

solicitude cannot
is

rest

with his bones

it
;

grave

not deep enough to hide

he

extendeth his thoughts beyond his being; he

bespeaketh praise to be paid

but whoso promiseth
it,

when he

is

gone

deceiveth him.
his wife to

As
so

the

man who engageth

remain

in widowhood, that she disturb not his soulj

is

he that expecteth that praise

shall reach

his ears beneath the earth, or cherish his heart

in his shroud.

Do
what

well while thou livest

is

but regard not

said of

it.

Content thyself with de*

112

VANITY.

seiTing praise, and thy posterity shall rejoice

in hearing of
it.

As

the butterfly
3

who

seeth

not

her

own

colours

as the jessamine
it

which
it
;

feeleih jiot
is

the scent

castcth around

so

the nian

who

appeareth gay, and

biddeth others take

note of it.

To what
gold, to
dainties,
if

purpose, saith he,

is

my

vesture of

what end are

not

my

tables

filled
if

with
the

no eye gaze upon them,

it
!

world

know

Give thy raiment

j

to the

naked, and thy food to the hungry

so shalt

thou be praised, and

it.

feel that

thou deservest

Why
flattery

bestowest

thou on
?

every

man
not.

the

of unmeaning words

thou knowesjt,
it

when

returned thee, thou regardest

lieth

He

knoweth he
and thou

unto thee
it.

yet he

knoweth

thou wilt thank him for

shalt hear

Speak

in sincerity,

with instruction.

The
him.

vain delighteth to speak of himself ; but

that

he seeth not

others

like

not to hear

If he hath done any thing worthy praise

if
j

he possesseth
his joy
is

that

which
it
:

is

worthy admiratipn

to proclaim

his pride is to hear it

VANITY.
reported
itself:
:

113

the desire of snch a

say not,

man

defeateth
itj

men

behold he hath done

it 5

or, see,

he possesseth

but,

mark how proud

he

is

of it.

The heart of man cannot attend at once to many things he who fixeth his soul on shew,
-,

loseth

reality

he pursueth
flight,

bubbles

which

break ih their
earth

while he treads to the

what wonld do him honour.

114?

SECTION

II.

INCONSTANCY

In ATURE urgeth thee

to

inconstancy,
all

O man
it.

therefore guard thyself at

times against

Thou
father
shalt

art

from the
;

womb

of thy mother
loins
:

various and wavering

inheritest thou
?

from the
instability

of thy
then

how

thou be firm

Those who gave thee

with weakness
3

a body,

furnished

it

but

He who
5

gave thee a soul,

armed thee with

thou art wise
:

resolution

employ
art

it,

and

be wise and thou

well,
is it

happy.

Let him who doeth

boasteth of
Is
it

beware how he
of his

it

for rarely

own

will.

not the event of an impulse from with;

out

born of uncertainty
J

enforced
!

by. acci-

dent

dependent on somewhat else

is

to these,

then, and to accident,

the praise due. the intent of thy

j

Beware of
actions;

irresolution in

beware of

instability in the execution

failings

so shalt thou

triumph over two great

of

thy nature.

iKCONSTANeV.

115

What

reproacheth reason more than to act

?

coatrarieties

what can suppress the tenden

but firmness of mind.
feeleth

cies to these,

The

inconstant

that
;

he changeth,

but he knoweth

not

why

he seeth that he

escapeth from himself, but he perceiveth not

how
that
thee.

but be thou incapable of change in

is

which

right

and men

will

rely

upon

Establish unto

thyself principles of action

act

and

see that

thou ever

according

to

them.
First

know

that thy principles are just

and

then be thou inflexible fn the path of them.

So
so

shall

thy passions have no rule over thee

shall thy

constancy ensure unto thee the

good thou possessest, and drive from thy door

misfortune: anxiety and disapointment shall be
strangers to thy gates.

Suspect not
it
:

evil in

any one, until thou seest

when thou seest it forget it not. Whoso hath been an enemy cannot be a friend for a man mendeth not of his faults. How should his actions be right who hath no
:

rule of life? nothing can be just,

which pro-

ceedeth not from reason.

Il6

INCONSTANCY.
inconstant hath no peace in his
soul
:

The

neither can any be at ease

whom

he concerneth

himself with.

His life

is

unequal

his

motions are irregularj

his soul changeth with the weather.

To-day he loveth thee

detested by

to-morrow thou
?

art

him

and

why

Himself knoweth

not wherefore he loved, or wherefore he

hateth.

now

To-day he
servant
is

is

thy tyrant;
j

to-morrow thy
?

less

humble

and

why

He who is
where

arrogant without power, will be

there
is

servile

no

subjection.
is

To-day he
eth unto his

profuse

to-morrow he grudg-

mouth

that

which

it

should eat

thus
tion.

it

is

with him that knoweth not modera-

Who
when

shall say

of the cameleon he
after,

is

black,

the

moment

the verdure of the

grass overspreadeth him.

Who shall
when
his

say of the inconstant, he

shall

is

joyful,
in

next breadth

be

spent

sighing.

What
riseth

is

the
a
j

life

of such a
?

man but
:

the

phantom of
happy

dream

in
is

the

morning he
this

at

noon he

on the rack

INCONSTANCY.
hour he
is

117

god; the next belqw a

;

worm

one

moment he laugheth the next he weepeth he now willeth } in an instant he willeth not
and
in

another he knoweth not whether he

willeth or no.

Yet
selves

neither ease nor pain have fixed them*

on him ; neither
lessj

is

he waxed

greater^ or
for

become

neither hath

he had cause
:

laughter, nor reason for sorrow

therefore shall

none of them abide with him.

The
built

happiness of the inconstant

j

is

as a palace

on the surface of the sand

its
it fallelh.

the blowing
j

of the wind carrieth away

foundation

what

wonder then that

But what
ward
directs

exalted form
its

is this,

that hither-

even,

its

uninterrupted course j

whose

foot
?

is

on the

earth,

whose head above

the clouds

On
is

his

brow
and

silteth

majesty;

steadiness

in his port;

in his heart reigneth tran-

quillity.

Though

obstacles

appear in his way,

he
tho*

deigneth not to look

down upon them

heaven and earth oppose his passage, he proceedeth.

The

mountains sink beneath his tread

1

tho-

118

INCONSTANCY.

waters of the ocean are dried up under the sole

of his foot.

The
in vain

tiger
;

throweth herself across his

way

the spots

of the leopard glow against

him unregarded.

He
death

marcheth through the embattled legions

with his hand he putteth aside the terrors of

Storms roar against

not able to shake them over his head in vain
;

his
:

shoulders, but are

the thunder bursteth

the lightning serveth

but to shew the glories of his countenance.

His name

is

Resolution

he cometh from

the utmost part of the earth

afar off before

-.

he seeth happiness

him

his

eye discovereth her

temple beyond the limits of the pole.

He

walketh up to

it

he entereth boldly

and he remaineth there for ever.

Establish thy heart,
is

man

in that

which

right,
is

and then know the greatest of human

to be immutable.

praise

119

SECTION

III,

WEAKNESS.

Vain

and inconstant
!

as thou art,

child of

imperfection

how

canst thou be but

weak
?

Is not inconstancy connected with frailty

can

there be vanity without infirmity? avoid the

danger of the one

and thou

shalt escape the

mischiefs of the other.

Wherein

art

thou

most

weak?
even

In that

wherein thou

seemest most strong: in that

gloriest
:

wherein most thou

in possessing

the thing which thou hast

that
is

in using the

good

about thee.
desires also frail
it is
?

Are not thy

thou even what

or

knowest
?

thou wouldst wish

when

thou hast obtained what most thou soughtest

after,

behold

it

contenteth thee not.

tlie

Wherefore
Ihee
its relish

loseth
?

pleasure that

is

before

and why appeareth

J

that

which

120"

'

WEAKNESS.

is

yet to come, the sweeter ? because thou art

this,

wearied with the good of

because thou
is

knowest not the

thee.

evil

of that which
is

not with

Know

that to be content

to

be happy.

Goulds t thou chuse for thyself? would thy

Creator lay
before
,

thee

all

that

thine heart

could ask for

would happiness then remain

with thee
gates
?

or would joy dwell always in thy

Alas

thy weakness forbiddeth

it.

it

thy

infir-

mity declareth against

Variety

is

to thee in

the place of pleasure}

but that which per-

manently delighteth must be permanent.

When it
it.

is

gone thou repentest the

it

loss

of itf

though while

was with

thee, thou despisedst

That wljich succeedeth

pleasure for thee
lest
j

it,

hath

no more

and thou afterwards quarrel

with thyself for preferring it

behold the

only circumstance in which thou errest not.

Is their

any thing in which thy weakness

in desiring things
?

ap>*
is

peareth

more than

it

in

the possessing, and in the us'ng them.

Good

things often cease to be good in our

to

enjoyment of them ^ what nature meant

be

pure sweets-, are sources of bitterness to us

WEAKNESS.
from our
sorrow.
delights arise pain
:

121

from our joy

Be moderate
remain

in thy

enjoyment; and
:

it

shall

in thy possession

let

thy joy be foundshall

ed on reason j and
stranger.

to

its

end

sorrow be a

Tlie delights of love are ushered in by sighs,

and they terminate

jection
:

in

languishment and defor,

the object tliou burnedst

nau-

seates with satiety;

and no sooner hadst thou

its

possessed
sence.

it,

but thou wert weary of

pre-

Join esteem to thy admiration

ship with thy love
:

unite friend-

so shalt thou find in the

end, that content surpasseth raptures; that tranquillity

is

of more worth than extasy.

given thee

God has

no good without

its

ad-

mixture of evil: but he hath given thee also the

means of throwing off the evil from

it-

As joy
neither
is

is

not without

its

allay

of pain, so

sorrow without its portion of pleasure.

:

Joy and grief though unlike are united

our

own

choice only can give

itself

them

to us entire.
:

Melancholy

often giveth delight

is

and

the extremity of joy

mingled with

tears.

The

best things in the

hand of

a fool m^ay

i3

122
be turned

WEAKNESS.
to his destruction
:

and out of the

worst the wise will find the means of good.

So blended

is

weakness in thy nature^

O
be

man

that thou hast not strength either to

e\il entirely
evil
:

good or be

rejoice that thou canst

not excel in

and

let

the good that

is

with-

in thy reach content thee.

The

virtues

are allotted to various stations

seek not after impossibilities, nor grieve that

thou canst not possess them

all.

Wouldst thou

at

once have the

liberality

of

the rich, and the contentment of the poor? or

should the wife of thy

bosom be dispised because

?

she sheweth not the virtues of the widow

If thy father sink before thee in

tlie divisi-

ons of thy country, can

at

once thy justice deslife ?

troy him, and thy duty save his

If thou behold thy brother in the agonies of a

slow death,
life
?

is it

not mercy to put a period to his

?

and

is it is

not also death to be his murderer

Truth

but onci thy doubts are of thine

j

own

raising

he

who made

virtues

what they

are, planted also in thee a

knowledge of their

pre-eminence

inform thy soul, and act as that

j

dictates to thee
Jigbt.

and the end

shall

be alwayg

123

SECTION
OF THE

IF,

INSUFFICIENCY OF KNOWLEDGE.

If

there

is

any thing lovely

;

if there

is

any

thing desirable

if there

is

any thing within

praise, is
it

the reach of

man
?

that

is

worthy of
is it

not Knowledge

and yet who

that attain-

ethunto

it?
it it

The

statesman proclaimeth that he hath

the ruler of the people claimeth the praise of

but findeth the subject that he po4sesseth

Evil
is

it ?

not requisite to

man

neither
;

can

vice be necessary to be tolerated

yel

how

many

evils
?

are

permitted by the connivance

of the laws

how many

crimes committed by
?

the decree of the council

But be wise,
art to

O ruler
is

and
!

learn,

O thou that

command
by thee

the nations

one crime autho.

rised

worse than the escape of t^n

from punishment.
I

124

OF THE INSUFFICIENCY
thy people are ntimerous
j

When

when

thy

sons increase about thy table, sendest thou

them

not out to slay the innocent

fore

and

to fall be-

the sword of
?

him

whom they

have not

offended

If the object of thy desire demandeth the

lives
it ?

of a thousand, sayest thou not, I will have

surely thou forgettest that

3

He who

created

thee, created also these

is

and

that their blood

as rich as thine.

Sayest thou that justice cannot be executed

without wrong

surely thine

own words
hopes the
:

con-

demn thee. Thou who

not unto

flatterest

with

false

cri-

minal, that he

may

confess his guilt

?

are thoui

him

a criminal

or
it ?

is

thy guilt the less

because he cannot punish

When
who
is

thou commandest to the torture him

ill
;

but suspected of
that thou

darest

thou to
?

remember
thy soul
(enforce
is 5

mayest rack the innocent

?

Is thy purpose
satisfied

answered by the event

with his confession
?

is

pain will

him

to say

what

is

not, as easy as

what

and anguish hatli caused innocence to accuse

Jierself.

That thou mayest not

kill

him without .cause.

OP KNOWLEDGE.
tliou dost
est

12J

worse than

kill

himj that thou may-

prove whether he be guUiy, thou destroyest

innocent.
all

him
the

O blindness to
wisdom of
shall

truth

O insufficiency
know when
-,

of
thy

the wise

Judge
shalt

bid thee account for this

then

thou wish ten thousand guilty to have

free, rather

gone

than one innocent to stand

forth against thee.

Insufficient
as

thou art to the mahitenance

shalt

of

Justice,

how

thou arrive

at

the

know-

ledge of truth ?

how

shalt
?

thou ascend to the

footstep of her throne

As the owl

is

blinded by the radiance of the

sun, so shall the bright countenance of truth

dazzle thee in thy approaches.

If thou wouldest
first

mount up

into her throne,

J

bow

thyself at her footstool

at the

if

thou would-

est arrive

knowledge of
ignorance.

her, first inform

thyself of thine

own

More worth
her carefully
j

is

she than pearls, therefore seek

sapphire^
j

the emerald, and the

as
dirt

and the ruby, are

beneath her feet

therefore pursue her manfully.

The way

to her

is

labour

attention

is

the

pilot that must conduct thee into her ports

126

OF THE INSUFPICIe'nCY
j

but weary not in the way

for

when thou
to thee for

art arrived at her, the toil shall

be

pleasure.

Say not unto

thyself,

behold truth breedeth

it
:

hatred, and I will avoid

dissimulation raisit
:

eth

friends,

and I

will follow

are not the

enemies made by truth better than the friends

obtained by flattery
?

Katurally doth
it

man

desire the truth, yet

when
itj

is

before him,
if it
it ?

he will not apprehend

and
ed

force iuelf

upon him,

is

he not offend-

at

The fault
dor.

is

not in tmth, for that

ot

is

amiable
its

but the weakness

man

beareth not

splen-

Wouldst thou see thine

plainly
j

insufficiency

more
!

view thyself
\^'as

at

thy devoiions

To

what end
weakness

religion instituted, but to teach

;

thee thine infirmities

3

to

remind thee of thy

to

shew thee
for

that
?

from heaven alone

thou art to hope

good

Doth
doth
it

it

not remind thee that thou art dust

tell

not

thee that thou art ashes

;

And
?

behold repentance

is it

not built on
j

frailty

When

thou givest an oath

wilt

when thou
j

swe^est thou

not deceive

behold

it

OF KNOWLEDOI.

I2f

spreadeth shame upon thy face, and upon the

face of

him

that receiveth

it

learn to be just,
3

and repentance may be forgotten

learn to

be

honest, and oaths are unnecessary.

The
halves.

shorter follies are the better

say not

therefore to thyself, I will not play the fool by

He
shall

that heareth his

own

faults

with patience

reprove another with boldness.

that giveth a denial with reason, shall

He

suffer a repulse with moderation.

If thou art suspected,

answer with freedom

whom
ty?

should suspicion affright except the guil

The
more

tender of heart

is

turned from his puris

pose by supplications} the proud

obstinate

rendered

by entreaty

the sense of thine

to hear
;

insutHciency

commandeth thee

but to

be just

thou must hear without ihy

passions.

128

SECTION

V,

MISERY.

Ieeble and
in

insufficient as thou art,

Man!
art

good

frail

and inconstant

as

thou

in

pleasure

yet

is

there a f!hing in which thou art

5

strong and unshaken

It
is

its

name

is

Misery.
j

the character of thy being

:

the preroit

gative of thy nature

sideth
j

in thy breast alone

is

reit
:

without thee there

is

nothing of

and behold what

passions
?

its

source, but thine

own

He who
son
to

gave thee these, gave thee also rea5

subdue them

exert
feet.

it,

and thou

shalt

trample them under thy

Thine entrance
shameful
?

into the world,

is it

is

it

not
?

thy destruction,

not glorious

Lo

men

adorn the instruments of death with

gold, and gems, and

wear them above

their gar-

ments.

MISERY.

129
hideth his face
is ;

He who
Know
error
:

begetteth a

man

but he that killed a thousand

tliou,

honoured.
is

notwithstanding, that in this

custom can not

alter the nature of truth 5

neither can the opinion of a

tice
;

man
man

destroy jus-

the glory and the

is

shame
for a

are misplaced.

There

but one

way

to be pro-

duced

there are a tliousand

by which he may

be destroyed.

There

is

no praise nor honour

j

to

him who

giveth being to another

but triumphs and

empire are the rewardsof murder.

Yet he who hath many

children, hath

as

many
the

blessings

and he who hath taken away

life

of another, shall not enjoy his own.

the birth of his son,
j

While the savage curseth

and blesseth the death of
not
call

his father

doth he

himself a monster?

maketh

Enough of evil is allotted unto man j but he it more while he lamenteth it.
is
j

The greatest of all human ills much of this thou art born unto it by thine own perverseness.
Grief
thee
:

sorrow

too

add not unto

is

natural to thee, and

is

is

always about

Pleasure
:

a stranger, and visitelh thee

but at times

use well thy reason, and sorrow

130
shall
visits

MISERY.
be cast behind thee
:

be prudent, and the

of Joy shall remain long with thee.

is

Every part of thy frame

capable of sorrow

but few and narrow are the paths that lead to

delight.

Pleasures can be admitted only simply

pains rush in a thousand at a time.

but

As

the blaze of straw fadeth as soon as

:

it is

kindled

so passeth

away the brightness of joy,

is

and thou knowest not what

become of it.
is

Sorrow

is

frequent

pleasure

rare

pain
;

Cometh of itself 5 delight must be purchased

grief
is

unmixed

but joy wanteth not

its

allay

of bitterness.

As
us

the soundest health

is less

perceived than

the lightest malady, so the highest joy touches

less

deep than tke smallest sorrow.

are in love with anguish
:

We
tiot

we
it,

often fly
costeth
it

from pleasure

when we purchase
it is

more than
is

worth

Reflection
his state
is

the business of

his first duty:

?

but
it

man a sense of who remember:

eth himself in joy

that sorrow
is

is

not in meicy then

?

allotted

unto us

Man

foreseeth the evil that

it

is
5

to

come

he

remembereth

when

it is

past

he considerelh

MISERY.

131

nol that he thought of affliction woundeth deeper than affliction itself

:

think not of thy pain

but when

it is

upon

thee,

and thou

shalt avoid

what most would hurt

thee.

He who
that

weepeth before he needeth, weep:

eth more than he needeth

and

why
is

but

he loveth weeping.
stag

The
up
fall till

weepeth not
:

till

the spear

lifted

against

him

nor do the tears of the beaver

is

the

hound

ready to seize him

man

ant icipatetli death by the apprehensions of it:

and the
itself.

fear

is

greater misery than the event

Be always
thine actions
is
;

prepaj^ed to give

an account of
is

and the best death

that

which

least premeditated.

132

SECTION

VI,

OF JUDGMENT.

1 HE
them

greatest bounties given to

will
:

ment and
not.

happy

is

he

man are, judgwho nnisapplieth

the

As

the torrent that rolleth

is

down

mounit 5

tains, destroyeth all that

borne away by

common opinion overwhelm reason, in him who submitteth to it, without ssyhig,
so doth

-What

is

thy foundation

See that what thou receivest as truth be not

the shadow of
as convincing
is
it
;

what thou acknowledgest

:

often but plausible

be firm, be
shall

constant

determine for thyself: so

for thine

thoa

be answeraWe only
of the action

own
is

weakness.

Say not that the event proveth the wisdom

:

remember man

not above the

reach of accidents.

Condemn

not the judgments of another, be*

OP JUDGMENT.
cause
it

133
:

difFereth

from thine own

?

may

not

even both be in an error

When

thou esteemest a

man

for his titles,

and contemnest the stranger because he wanteth them, judgest thou not of the camel by his
bridle
?

Think not thou

art

revenged of thine enemy

:

when thou

slayest
j

him

thou putteth him bej

yond thy reach

him.

thou givest him quiet

all

and

thou takest from thyself

means of hurting

Was
and
art

thy mother incontinent, and grieveth

told of
it ?

it

thee to be

Is frailty in thy wife,

it ?

thou pained at the reproach of

it,

he

who
art

despiseth tliee for

condemneth himself:
?

thou answerable for the vices of another

Disregard not a jewel because thou possessest

it:

neither enhance thou the value of a thing

it

because

is

another's

possession to the wise

addeth to the price of

it.

Honour not thy wife

in thy

the less because she

is

power

and despise him that hath

less
?

said,

Wouldst thou love her

marry her

What

hath put her into thy power, but her confi-

dence
less for

in

thy virtue? shouldst thou love her

?

being more obliged to her

134

OP JUDGMENT.

If thou wert just in thy courtship of her,

though thou neglectest her while thou hast her,

yet shall her Joss be bitter to thy soul.

He who
at least

thinketh another best only because

;

he possesseth her he
is

if

he be not wiser than thee

more happy.
the loss thy friend hath suffered,
griefs are

Weigh not
by the
oft
tears

he sheddeth, the greatest

expressions of them.
action because
it is

above

tlie

Esteem not an
noise and

done with
that

pomp

the noblest soul

is

is

which
in

doth great things, and

not

moved

the

doing them.

Fame
it;

astonisheth the ear of

him who heareth:

is

but tranquillity rejoiceth the heart that

it.

possessed of

Attribute not the good actions of another to

bad causes

thou canst not

know

his heart

but the world will

full

know by

this that thine is

of envy.
is

There
folly
:

not in hypocrisy
is

more

vice
so.

than

to

be honest

as easy as to

seem

Be more ready

to

acknowledge a benefit than

j

to revenge an injury
benefits than injuries

so shalt thou have

more

done unto thee.

PF JUDGMENT.

135
j

Be more
Be
sure
:

ready to love than to hate

so shaU

thou be loved by more than hate thee.

willing to

commend, and be slow

upon thy
to

to cen-

so shall praise be
shall

virtues,

and the

eye of Enmity

be blind

thy imperfections.
it
it
:

When
good
3

thou dost good,

do

because

it

is

not because

men
it

esteem

when thou
3

avoidest evil, flee

because
it
:

it is

evil

not be-

cause

men
it

speak against

be honest for love

:

of honesty and thou

that doth

shalt

be miiformly so
is

he

without principle,

wavering.

Wish
to

rather to be reproved by the wise than

be applauded by him
:

who hath no understandthee of a

;

ing

when

they

tell

fault,

they sup-

pose thou canst improve

the other,

when he
art
it,

praiseth thee, thinketh thee like unto himself.

Accept not an
qualified, lest

office for

which thou
of

not
de-

he

who knowcth more

spise thee.

Instruct not another in that wherein thyself

art ignorant
:

when he seeth

it

he will upbraid

thee.

Expect not a friendship with him who hath

thee: he who sulfereth may forgive but he who doeth it, be weU with him.
injured
;

the wrong,
it

never wilj

'2

136

OF JUDGMENT.
too great obligations on
j

Lay not
will drive

him thou

wishest thy friend

behold

the sense of them

benefit alienat-

him from thee

;

little

cth friendship

a great

one maketh an enemy.

is

Nevertheless^ ingratitude

not in the nature

of man;

neither
to
is

is

his

anger irreconcileable

he hateth
pay
;

be put in mind of a debt he cannot

he

ashamed

in the presence

of him

whom

he hath injured.
at the

Repine not

good of a stranger ; neither

rejoice thou in the evil that befalleth thine ene-

my

Wishest thou that others should do thus

?

by thee
thy

Wouldst thou enjoy the good- will of all men,

let

own
it

benevolence be universal.

If thou

obtainest

not by this, no other means could

:

give

it

thee

and know, though thou hast

it

not, thou bast the greater pleasure of having

merited

it.

137

SECTION

VII,

PRESUMPTION.

Pride and meanness seem

incompatible; but
:

man

reconcileth contrarities

he

is

at

once the
all

most miserable and the most arrogant of

creatures.

Presumption

is

the bane of reasoning

j

it

is

the nurse of error

yet

it is

congenial with rea-

son

in us.
is

Who
others.

there that judgeth not

either

too

highly of himself, or thinketh too meanly of

Our
another

Creator himself escapeth not our pre:

sumption
?

how
is

then shall

we be

safe

from one

What
whence
suming
to

the origin of superstition

And
pre-.

ariseth false

worship

From our

to reason about
is

what
K 3

is

above our reach

comprehend what

incomprehensible.

138

PRESUMPTION.

Limited and weak as our understandings are,

we employ not ought we soar

:

even their
not high

little

forces as
in

enough
;

our ap-

proaches to God's greatness

we

give not

wing

enough

to

our ideas,

when we

enter into the

adoration of Divinity.

Man who fears

to breathe a whisper against

his earthly sovereign, trembles not to arraign

the dispensations of his

his majesty,

God
his

he forgetteth

and rejudgeth

judgments.

He who
call that

dareth not repeat the

j

name

of his

prince without honour

yet blusheth not to

of his Creator

to

be witness to a

lie.

He who

would hear the sentence of the

;

magistrate with silence

yet dareth

to

plead

with the Eternal

he attempteth to sooth him

flatter him with promises j upon conditions j nay, to him to agree with brave and murmur at him if his request is not

with intreatiesj to

granted.

Why
impiety
tion.
!

art

thou unpunished,
is

O man,

in

thy

but that this

not the day of retribu-

Be

not like unto those

who

fight

with the

thunder, nor dare thou to deny thy Creator thy

prayers bacause he chastiseth thee
:

thy mad-

PRESUMPTION.
ness
is

139
;

on thine own head

in this

thy impiety

hurteth no one but thyself.

Why
of his

boasteth
;

man
it ?

that

he

is

the favourite

Maker

yet neglecteth to pay his thanks,

hU

adorations for

how
?

suiteth

such a

life

with a belief so haughty

Man, who
created for

is

truly but a

mote

in the

wide

expanse, believeth the whole earth and heaven

him

he thinketh the whole frame

of nature hath

interest in his well-being.

the

.As the fool, while the images tremble on bosom of the water, thinketh that trees,
pleasure} so

towns, and the wide horizon are dancing to do

him

man, while nature

is

perall

forming her destined course, believes that

her emotions are but to entertain his eye.
"While he courts the rays of the sun to

warm

him, he supposeth

him

path,

made only to be of use to rt'hile he traceth the moon in her nightly he believeth she was created to do him
it

pleasure.

Fool to thine

own

pride

be humble

know

thou art not the cause

its

why

the world holdeth

vicissitudet

course

for thee are not

made the

of summer and winter.

Ko

change would follow

if

thy whole ract

r4

140
existed not
:

PRESUMPTION.
thou
art
it.

but one among millions

that are blessed in

Exalt not thyself to the heavens;

angels are above thee
j

for, lo,

the

nor disdain thy fellow-

inhabitants of the earth, for that they are be-

neath thee

are they not the

work of the same

hand?

Creator,

Thou who how

art

happy by the mercy of thy wantonness put

darest thou in

others of his creatures to torture ? beware that

it

jeturn not upon thee.

Serve they not

all

the

same universal Master

its
?

with thee
laws
?

hath he not appointed unto each

hath he not care of their preservation

it ?

and darest thou infringe

Set not thy judgment above that of

earth
?

all

the

neither

condemn
thine

as

falsehood

what
for

agreeth not

with

own

apprehension.

Who gave
others
3

thee the

power of determining

or

who

took from the world the right

of choice.

How many
now

things have been rejected

?

which

are received as truths

how many now

?

received as truths shall in their turn be despised?

of what then can

man

be certain

Do

the

good that thou Igiowe^t, and hap-

presumption;
piness shall be unto thee
;

141

virtue is

more thy

business here than wisdom.

Truth and falsehood, have they not the same

appearance in what

we

understand not

what

then but our presumption can determine be-

tween them

We
that

easily believe

what

is

above our comto pretend

:

prehension; or

we

are proud

it,

we may
is
it

appear to have understanding

? ?

Is

not this folly and arrogance

Who
it

that affirms

most boldly

who
?

is

that holds his opinion

most obstinately
5

even
hath

he

who

hath most ignorance

for

he

also

most

pride.

Every man when he layeth hold of an opinion

desireth to remain in it; but

most of

all

he

who
will

hath most presumption

he contenteth not
it,

himself to betray his

own

soul into

but he
also.

impose

it

on others
is

to believe in

it

Say not that truth

established

by years, or
is

that in a multitude of believers there

tainty.

cer-

One human
rity

proposition hath as
if

much

autho-

as another,

reason maketh not the dif-

ference.

PART

III,

OF THE AFFECTIONS OF

MAN

WHICH ARE HURTFUL TO HIMSELF AND OTHERS.

I

14^

SECTION.

I,

COVETOUSNESS.

Riches

are not

worthy a strong attention

an

earnest care of obtaining

justifiable.

them

is

therefore un-

The
opinion

desire of

what man
it,

calleth good, the joy

is

he taketh
:

in possessing

grounded only
j

in

take not up that from the vulgar

thyself,

ex-

amine the worth of things

shalt not

and thou

be covetous.
desire of riches is a poison
it

An

immoderate
j

lodged in the soul

contaminates and destroys

it j
it is

every thing that was good in

rooted there, than
all

no sooner

virtue, all honesty, all

it.

natural affection, fly before the face of

The covetous would

his coffer

sell his

children for gold

parents might die ere he

:

would open

his

nay, he considereth not himself in res:

pect of it

in the search of happiness

he mak-

cth himself unhappy.

146

COVETOUSNESS,
the

As
so
is

man who
for the

selleth his

house to purchase
it r

ornaments

embellishment of

even

he

who

giveth

up peace

in the search of in

riches, in hopes

he may be happy

enjoying

them.

Where
soul
is

covetousness reigneth,

know

that the

poor.

Whoso

accounteth not riches the

all

principal

good man, will not throw away

other goods in the pursuit of them.

Whoso

feareth not poverty as the greatest evil

all

of his nature, will not purchase to himself

other evils in the avoiding of
it.

Thou
riches
?

fool, is

not virtue more worth than

Is not guilt

more base than poverty

is

Enough
every

for his necessities

:

in the
it,

power of

man

be content with

and thy happi-

ness shall smile at the sorrows of him

who heapearth, as

cth up mol-e.

Nature hath hid gold beneath the

unworthy

to

be seen

silver

hath she placed

:

where thou tramplest

it

under thy feet

meanis

eth she not by this to inform thee, that gold

nor worthy thy regard

thy notice
?

that silver

is

beneath

Covetousness burieth under the ground mil-

COVBTOUSNBSS.
lions
ters

14^

of wretches

they dig for their hard masinjury

;

what returneth the

earth

what maketh

them more miserable than

these their slaves.

The

is

barren of good things where she

:

hoardeth up treasure

where gold

is

in her

bowels, there noherb groweth*

As the
the

horse findeth not there

his provender
3

is

grass,

nor

mule

as the fields of corn

hills
;

laugh not on the sides of the

holdeth not forth there her

as the olive

fruits,

nor the vine

her clusters
breast of
treasure.

even so no good dwelleth in the

heart broodeth over bis

him whose

Riches are servants to the wise

tyrants over the soul of the fool.

but they are

The
him
:

covetous servelh his gold,

it

serveth not

he possesseth
j

his wealth as the sick

doth

a fever

it

burneth and tortureth him, and will

not quit

him until death. Halh not gold destroyed the

?

virtue of mil?

lions
Is

Did

it

ever add to the goodness of any

it
?

not most abundant with the worst of

men

wherefore then shouldest thou desire to

it ?

be distinguished by possessing

148

COVETOUSNESS.
not the wisest been those

Have
had
least

who have
?

of

it ?

and

is

not

wisdom happiness
and hath not

Have not

the worst of thy species possessed

it ?

the greatest portions of

their

end been miserable

Poverty wanteth

many
all.

things

but covet-

ousness denieth itself

The
he
is

covetous can be good to no

man

but

to

none so cruel
to

as to himself.

Be
happy

industrious

procure gold:
it 3

and be
is

generous in the disposal of

as

man

never

so

when he

giveth happiness to another.

14

SECTION

JI,

PROFUSION.

If

there be a vice greater than the

it

hoarding
to use-

up of riches,
less purposes.

is

the employing

them

He
giveth

that prodigally lavisheth that

which he

hath to spare, robbeth the poor of what nature

them

a right unto.

He whosquandereth away his treasure refuseth

the

means

to

do good: he denieth himself the

practice of virtues

whose reward
his

is

in their

hand

whose end
It is

is

no other than
difficult to

own

happiness.

more

be well with riches,

:

than to be at ease under the want of them

man

governeth himself
in

much

easier in poverty than

abundance.
Poverty requircth but one virtue, patience to

support

it

the rich,

if

he hath not charity, tem-

perance, prudence, and

many more,

is

guilty-

150

PROFUSION.
poor hath only the gobd of his
;

The

own

state

committed unto him

the rich

is

entrusted

with the welfare of thousands.

He that
away

giveth
:

his treasures wisely, giveth

his plagues

he that retaineth

their in-

crease, heapeth

up sorrows.

Refuse not unto the stranger that which he

wanteth

deny not unto thy brother even that

thyself.

which thou wantest

Know
lions

there

is

more

delight in being without

what thou hast

given, than in possessing milof.

which thou knowest not the use

151

SECTION

III,

REVENGE,

HE
soul
:

root of revenge

is

in the

weakness of the

the most abject and timorous are the most

it.
?

addicted to

Who

torture those they hate, but cowards

who murder tliose The feeling an

the revenging
to say
it

they rob, but

injury

women

must be previous

to

it;

but the noble mind disdaineth

hurts

me.
is

If the injury

not below thy notice, he that

:

doeth

it

unto thee, maketh himself so

lists

wouldst
?

thou enter the

Disdain the
thee
J

with thine inferior

man who

attempteth to wrong
dis*

contemn him who would give thee

quiet.

In this thou not only presciTeth thine

peace, but thou
inflictest all

own

the punishment pf

L 2

152

REVENGE.
it

revenge, without stooping to employ

against

him.

As
and

the tempest and thunder affect not the

stars,

sun or the
trees

but spend their fury on stones

;

below

so injuries ascend not to the

souls of the great,

but waste themselves on

offer

such as are those

who

them.
;

Poorness of spirit will actuate revenge

ness of soul despiseth the offence
;

greatit

nay,

doth

good unto him who intended

it.

to

have disturbed

Why seekest
what purpose is
est

thou vengeance,
it

O man
it ?

with

that thou pursuest

Ihink-

thou to pain thine adversary by

its

it ?

know
is

that thyself feelest

greatest torment.
inin-

Revenge gnaweth the heart of him who

fected with
it
',

while he against

whom
inflicts
:

it is

tended remaineth easy.

It is

unjust in the anguish

it

it

there-

fore nature intended

not for thee

?

needeth

he who

is

injured,

more pain

or ought he to

add force
cast

to the affliction
?

which another hath

upon him

The man who

meditateth revenge

is

not con-

tent with the mischief he hath received.

He

addeth to his anguish the punishment due unto

HEVENGE.
another
j

153
to hurt,

while he

whom
:

he seeketh

goeth away laughing

he

maketh

himself

merry

at this addition to his misery.

is

Revenge
dangerous

painful in the intent

and

it is

in

the execution
lifted

.-

seldom doth the

ax
lo
!

fall

where he who

it

up intended} and
it

he remembereth not that

must

recoil

against him.

Whilst the revengeful seeketh his enemy's hurt,

he often procureth he almeth

lo
!

his

own

destruction

while

at

one of the eyes of

his adversary,

he putteth out boih his own.

it
:

If he attain not his end, he lamenteth

if

he succeed, he repenteth of
justice taketh

away the peace

The fear of of his own soul

it.

the care to hide

his friend.

him from

it,

destroyeth that of

Can
hatred

the death of thine adversary satiate thy

?

can the setting

him

at rest restore

thy

peace

Wouldst thou make him sorry for his offence,

conquer him and spare him
not thy superiority
:

in death

he owneth

nor feeleth he more the

power of thy wrath.

In revenge their should be a triumph of the
avengerj and he who hath injuied him should feel

u3

iB4
his

RVEN6.
displeasure
j

he should

suffer pain

6-om

it,

and should repent him of the cause.

This
that
is

the revenge inspired from anger

but

which maketh the

for

greatest, is contempt.

Murder
ardice
:

an

injur}' ariseth

only from cow-

he

who

inflicted

it

feareth that the ene-

my may

live

and avenge himself.

j

Death ended the quarrel

the reputation
:

but

it

restoreth not

killing
is

is

an act of caution, not

it is

of courage

it

safe,

but

not honourable.

There
offence
;

is

nothing so easy as to revenge an

is

but nothing

so honourable as to

pardon

it.

The
himself
torteth

greatest victory
:

man

can obtain

is

over

he

that disdaineth to feel an injury re-

it

upon him who

offereth

it.

When
est that

thou meditatest revenge, thou confessthou feelest the wrong;

when thou
to the

complainest, thou acknowledgest thyself hurt

by it

meanest thou to add

this

triumph

pride of thine

enemy

That cannot be an

injury

which
it,

is

not

felt
it.

how

then can he
it

who

despiseth

revenge

If thou think

dishonourable to bear an of-

fence,

more

is

in thy

power

thou mayest con-

quer

it.

REVENGE.

155
to

Good offices w!ll make a man ashamed

thine enemy.

be

Greatness of soul willterrify

him
is

from the thought of hurting thee.

The

greater the wrong, the

it ;

more glory

in

pardoning

and by

would be revenge,
is in

how much more justifiable by so much the more honour

be a judge
io thine

clemency.
right to

Hast thou a

own

cause; to be a party in the act^ and yet to pro-

nounce sentence on
est, let

it ?

before thou
just.

condemn-

another say
is

it

is

The
hated
is
:

revengeful

feared,
is

and therefore he

is

but he that

endowed with clemency

remaineth

adored.

The

praise of his actions

forever; and the love of the world attcndetb

him.

1.4

156

SECTION IV.

CRUELTY, HATRED, AND ENVY,

IvEVENGE
lo
!

is

detestable

what then

is

cruelty

it

possesseth the mischiefs of the other, but

itwanteth even the pretence of its provocations.

Men

disown

it
it

as not

of their nature

they

are ashamed of

as a stranger to their hearts

do they not

call it

inhumanity
her origin

is

Whence then human oweth

Fear
5

is

unto what that

?

she her existence

is

her father
it

is

and behold Dismay,

not her

mother.

The

hero lifted his sword against the

;

enemy

that resisteth

but no sooner doth he submit,

than he
It
is

is satisfied.

not in honour to trample on the object

:

that feareth

it is

not in virtue to insult what

is

beneath

it

subdue the insolent, and spare the

art at the height

humble, and thou

of victory.

CRUELTY RJTREJ>

/.'TTF

J^H^Turd

hy

T.kRMu^s.Ludfote

Street. Jan*. Sio-do^.

CRUELTY, HATRED, AND ENVY.

15/
end
it

He who wanteth
he
lo
!

virtue to arrive at this

who hath

not courage to ascend thus into

he suppheth the place of conquest by murby slaughter.

all,

der, of sovereignty

He who
The

teareth

striketh at all

why

ar
?

tyrants cruel,

but because they live in terror

t

cur will tear the carcase,

it

<>ugh
:

he dare
but the
it

not look

in the

face
it

\shile

living

hound who hunteth

not afterwards.
Civil

to the death,

mai ^leth

wars a.e the most bloody, because those

who
is
it

fight

them

are cowards.

Conspirators are
is

murderers, because in deafh there

silence

not Fear that tclleth them they

?

may be

betrayed

That thou mayest not be

too high for hatred.

cruel,

set thyself

That thou mayest not be inhuman, place

thyself above the reach of envy.

Every man may be viewed

in

in

two

lights

on/he

will

be troublesome,

in the other less

oftensive: choose to see

least hurteth thee
;

him

in that in

which he

then shalt thou do no hurt

unto him.

What
his

is
?

there that a
in that

man may

not turn unto

good

which olfendeth us most.

158
there

CRUELTY, HATRED, AND ENVY.

is

more ground

for complaint than hatred.

Man would
complaineth

be reconciled to him of whom he

:

what murdereth he, but what

not

he hateth

If thou art prevented of a benefit,

into rage
:

fly

the loss of thy reason

is

the want of

a greater.

Because thou

art

robbed of thy cloak, wouldst

thou

strip thyself

of thy coat also?

When

thou enviest the

titles

man who

possesseth
raise

honours; when his

Ihy indignation
j
-,

and his greatness

seek to

know whence

they

came unto him

turned into pity.
If the
at the

enquire by what means he

>yill

was possessed of them, and thine envy

he

same fortune were

price,

offered unto
if

thee

same

be assured
it.

thou wert wise

thou wouldst refuse

What is the pay for titles but flattery ? how doth man purchase power but by being a slave to him who giveth it ? Wouldst thou lose thine own liberty to be
able to take

away

that of another

or canst

thou envy him

who

doth so

Man

purchaseth nothing of his superiors but

CRUELTY, HATRED, AND ENVY.

for a price,

159

and that

price, is

it

not

more than

the value

wouldst thou prevert the customs

?

of the world

wouldst thou have the purchase

also
?

and the price

As thou
drive

canst not envy

this

what thou wouldst

-,

not accept, disdain

cause of hatred

and

from thy soul

this occasion as

the parent

of cruelty.
Jf thou possessest honour, canst thou envy
that

which

is

obtained at the expence of

it ?

if

thou knowest the value of

not those

virtue, pitiest
it

thou
?

who have

bartered

so

meanly

When

thou hast taught thyself to bear the

seeming good of men without repining, thou

wilt hear of their real happiness with pleasure.
If

thou seest good things

fall

to
in

one who
it j

deserveth
virtue
is

them, thou wilt rejoice

in the prosperity
in

for

happy

of the virtuous.

He who

rejoicetli

the happiness of ano-

ther, increaseth

by

it

his

own.

160

SECTION

r.

HEAVllSESS OF HEART.

Ihe

soul ofthe chearful forcetha smile

;

from

the face of affliction

bat

the

despondence

of the sad, deadeneth even the brightness of

Joy.

What
want of
She
of thy

is

the source of sadness, but a feeble?

ness of the soul

spirit
?

what giveth

it

power^ but the

rouse thyself to the combat,

field

and she quitteth the

is

before thou strickest.

;

an enemy to thy race

j

therefore drive

her from thy heart

life
j

she poisoneth the sweets

therefore suffer her not to enter thy

dwelling.

She
about

raiseth the loss of a straw to the destruc;

tion of thy fortune

trifles,

while she vexeth thy soul

sherobbeth thee of thine attention

;

to the things of consequence

behold, she but

HEAVINESS OF HEART.
prophesieth what she seemeth
thee.

l61

to relate unto

She spreadeth drowsiness

virtues
:

as a veil over

thy

she hideth them from those

;

who would
it

honour thee on beholding them

and" keepeth them

she entangleth

down, while she maketh

them.
;

most necessary

for thee to exert

Lo
tieth

she oppresseth thee with evil

and she

down

thine

hands,

when
is

they would

throw the load from off thee.

If thou wouldst avoid what

base;

if

thou thou

wouldst disdain

what

is

cowardly;
is

if

wouldst drive from thy heart what

suffer not sadness to lay hold

unjust,

upon

it.

Suffer
piety
;

it

not to cover

itself

with the face of

let it

not deceive thee with a

show of
to

wisdom.

Religion
let it

payeth

honour

thy
:

Maker
sorrow

not be clouded with melancholy

wisdom maketh thee happy: know then

in

that

her sight

is

as a stranger.

For what should

afflictions
?

man be
it

sorrowful, but for

why

should his heart give up joy,

are not

when
him
?

the causes of
is

removed from

not this being miserable for the sake

?

of misery

As

the

mourner who looketh sad because he

l62
is

HEAVINESS OF HEART.
j

hired to do so
:

tears are paid for

such

who weepeth because his is the man who sufFeris

eth his heart to be sad, not because he aileth

ought, but because he

It
is

gloomy.

not the occasion that produceth the sorthe

row;

for behold

same thing

shall

be to

another rejoicing.

Ask men
better,
is

if their

sadness

maketh things the

to thee that
it

and themselves confess

;

folly
ills

nay they will praise him

who

beareth

his

with patience,

who maketh

head against

misfortunes with courage, applause should be

followed by imitation.

Sadness

is

against nature, for

!

it

troubleth her

motions
she hath

lo

it

rendereth distasteful whatever

made

amiable.

As

the oak falleth before the tempest and

raiseth not his

head again: so boweth the heart of sadness, and returneth

of man
unto
its

to the foice

strength no more.

from the

As the snow melteth upon the mountains rain that trickleth down their sides,
so
is
:

even

beauty washed from off the cheeks

by

tears

and neither the one nor the other

returneth again for ever.

As the

pearl

is

dissolved by the vinegar which

HEAVINESS OF HEART.
seemeth
is

l63
surface
j

at first

only to obscure

its

so

thy happiness,

man, swallowed up by
though
its

heaviness

of heart,
it

at first

it

seemeth

only to cover

with
in

shadow.
streets
:

Behold sadness
thine eye

the public

cast

upon her

in the places of resort:

doth any look upon her? avoideth she not

every one
?

and doth not every one

?

flee

from

her presence

See

how she
root
is

droopeth her head like a flower

:

whose
to

cut asunder

her eyes on the earth, see

how she fixeth how they serve her

see
?

no purpose but
Is there in her

for

weeping.
discourse
?

mouth

is

there in

her heart the love of society

soul reason
?

is

there in her

ask her the cause, and she

know-

eth

it

not

inquire the occasion, and behold

there

is

none.
fail

Yet doth her strength

her

lo

at length

she sinketli into the grave, and no one sayeth*

what

is

become

of her ?
seest thou not

Hast thou understanding and

this
?

hast thou piety, and perceivest thou not

?

thine error

God

created thee in mercy

had he not in-

tended thee to be happy his beneficence would

1(54

HEAVINESS OF HEART.
;

not have called thee into existence

how

durest
?

thou then to

fly in the face

of his majesty

While thou art most happy with innocence, thou dost him most honour j and what is thy discontent, but murmuring against him ?
Created he not
all

things liable to changes

at their

and darest thou

If

to

weep

changing

we know

the law of nature, wherefore do

it ?

we

complain of

if

we

are ignorant of

it,

what should ue accuse but our

blindness, to

what every moment giveth us proof of?

Know,
them
thee,

that

it is

not thou

that art to give

is

laws to the world: thy part

as

to

submit to

thou findest them

is

if

they distress

thy lamenting

but adding to thy tor-

ment.

Be not deceived with

fair

pretences, nor sup:

pose that sorrow healeth misfortune

it

is

a
it

poison under the colour of remedy

while

pretendeth to draw the arrow from thy breast,

lo
!

it

plungeth

it

into thine heart.

While
friends,

sadness
it

separateth

thee

from thy

doth
?

not say thou art unfit for conit

versation

while

drivetii

thee into corners,

it
is

doth

it

not proclaim that

ashamed of

itself?

HEAVINESS OF HEART
It is

l65

not in thy nature to meet the arrows of

it

HI

fortune unhurt; nor doth reason require

:

of thee a

it is

thy duty to bear misfortune like

first

man

but thou must

also feel

it

like

one.

Tears

may drop from

is

thine eyes

be thou

careful only that there

cause

and that they

flow not too abundantly.

The
greatest

greatness of the evil

is

not to be reckon-

ed from the number of

griefs are

tears

shed for

it;

the

above these testimonies, as

the greatest joys are beyond utterance-

What
grief?
Is

is

there that

weakeneth the soul

it

like

what depresseth

like sadness

the sorrowful prepared for noble enter? ?

prises

or armeth he himself in the cause of

virtue

Subject not thyself to

in return

ills,

where there are

no advantages

neither sacritice thou

is

the means of good unto that which

in itself

an

evil.

PART

IV.

OF THE

ADVANTAGES MAN MAY AC2UIRE

OVER HIS FELLOW.CRBATURES.

m2

169

SECTION

I.

NOBILITY AND HONOUR.

Nobility
is

resideth not but in the soul

not

there true honour except in virtue.

The
vices
J

favour of princes

rank and
:

titles

may be bought by may be purchased for

money
them

but these are not true honour.

Crimes cannot exalt the

to

real

glory; neither can

man who commits gold make

;

men
he
is

noble.
titles

When
set

are the reward of virtue

when
:

on high

who

hath sensed his country

he who bestoweth the honours hath

as

glory, like
is

he

who

receiveth
it.

them
to

-,

and the world

bentfited by

Wouldst thou wish

be raised and

meu

know

not for what

wouldst thou that they

should say,

why

is

this?

When

the virtues of the hero desce'nd to his

170

NOBILITY AND HONOUR.

titles

children^ his

accompany them well

but

when he who

possesseth
!

them

is

unlike to
call

who

deserveth them, lo
?

do they not

him him

degenerate

Hereditary honour
noble
J

is

accounted the most

in

but reason speaketh

it.

the cause of

him who hath acquired

He whoj
a thief

meritless himself, appealeth to the

is

actions of his ancestors for his greatness,

like

who

claimeth protection by flying to the

Pagod.

What
his
is it

good
?

is it

to the blind, that his parents

is it

could see

what benefit
mean,

to the
?

dumb,

that

grandfather was eloquent

to the
?

even so what

that their predecessors

were

noble

A mind disposed
possessor of
it
:

to virtue,

maketh

great the

and without

titles it will raise

Ivm above

the vulgar.

He
it
:

will acquire

honour while others receive

and

will

he not say unto them, such were

glory in being derived

the

men whom you

from.

As

the shadow waiteth

upon the substance,

virtue.

even so true honour attendeth upon

NOBILITY AND HONOUR.

Say not that honour
is

l7l

the child of boldness^

life

nor believe thou that the hazard of

alone

can pay the price of

that
it.
it is

it

it is

not to the action

due, bat to the manner of performing

AH
of

are not called to the guiding the

5

helm

state

neither are there armies to be

:

comshall

manded by every one

is

do well

in that

which

committed to thy charge, and praise

renaain

upon

thee.

Say not

that difficulties are necessary to be

conquered, or that labour and danger must be

in the

way
is

to

renown

the
?

chaste,

she not praised

the

woman who man who

?
;

is
is

honest, deser\'eth he not to be honoured

The
honour

thirst
is

of fame
;

is

violent

the desire of

powerful

and he

who

gave them to

us, gave

them

for great purposes.

When
public
i

desperate actions are necessary to the

lives

when our

are to be exposed for

the good of our country,

virtue but ambition
It is
?

what can add

force to

not the receiving honour that delighteth

the
it.

uoble

mind

its

pride

is

the deserving

m4

173
Is
it

NOBILITY AND HONOUR.

not better

men
!

should say,

why

hath

not this
ask,

man

a statue

than that they should

why he hath one ? The ambitious will always be

3

first

in the

crowd

he presseth forward, he looketh out

5

behind him

more anguish

is it

to his soul to

see one before him, than joy to leave thousands

at a distance.

The
it

root of ambition
in all
it
:

is

in every

riseth not
in

fear

keepeth

it

man but down in

-,

some,

many
the

is

suppressed by modesty.

It is
first

inner garment
it

of the soul; the

flesh,

thing put on by

with the

and the
it.

last it

kyeth down

at

its

separation

from

It

is

an honour to thy nature

J

when
it

worthily

employed
purposes,

when thou

directest

to

wrong
cover-

it

shameth and destroyeth thee.

is

In the breast of the traitor ambition

ed

Hypocrisy hideth her face under her man-

tle,

and cool dissimulation furnisheth

:

it

with

smooth words

but in the end

men

shall see

what

it is.

The serpent loseth not, his sting though benumbed with the frost j the tooth of the viper k not broken, though the cold closeth his

NOBILITY AND HONOUR.

173

mouth: take

pity

on
:

his

state

and he will
in thy

shew thee
and he
\vill

his spirit

warm him

bosom

requite thee with death.

is

He

that
:

truly virtuous, loveth Virtue, for

herself

he disdaineth the applause which am-

bition aimeth after.

How
she
is

pitiable

were the

state

of Virtue,

if she
!

could not be happy but from another's praise

too

noble

to see recompence,

and no

more
doth

will, than can

be rewarded.
less
is

The
it

higher the sun ariseth, the

shadow
the virit

make

even so the greater

it

tue, the less doth

covet praise; yet cannot

avoid

its

reward

in

honours.
flieth

Glory, like a shadow,

sueth
it
J

but

it

followeth at the heels of

him who purhim

coiirtest
it
it

who would
if
it

fly

from

it

if

thou

without merit, thou shalt never attain unto

thou deservest
it.

though thou hidest

thyself,

will never forsake thee

Pursue that which

is

honourable, do that

which

is

right,

and the applause of thine

own
thou

conscience will be more joy to thee, than the

shouts

of millions

who know

not that

deservest them.

m
SECTION
II.

SCIENCE AND LEARNING.

1 HE noble employment of the mind of man

is

the study of the works of his Creator.

To him whom

the science of nature delight-

eth, every object bringeth a proof of his

God

every thing that proveth

adoration.

it^

giveth cause of

His mind

is

lifted

up

to

heaven every mo-

ment
tion.

his

life is

one continued act of devo-

Casteth he his eye towards the clouds, findeth he not the heavens full of wonders
eth he
?

look-

down
to

to the

earth, doth not the

less

worm
Omni-

proclaim

him,

Could
me ?
in

than

potence have formed

While the

planets

perform

their courses
3

while the sun remaineth

his place

while

SCIENCE AND LEARNING.

the comet wandereth through the liquid
air,

Ij5

and

returneth to

its
!

destined road again

who but thy

God,
but

infinite

man could have formed them ? what Wisdom could have appointed them
?

their laws

Behold

how

awful their splendour

!

yet do

they not diminish

tions
!

lo

how

rapid their

yet one runneth not in the

moway of an-

other.

Look down upon

duce
:

the earth, and see her pro-

examine her bowels, and behold what

;

they contain

hath not wisdom and power or?

?

dained the whole

Who
watereth
croppeth

biddelh the grass to spring up

it
it
;

who

at

its

due seasons

behold the ox

the horse and the sheep, feed not

they upon

it ?

who

is

he that provideth

it

for

them

Who
sowest
fold?
?

giveth increase to the corn

which thou

who

returneth

it

to thee a thousand

Who

ripeneth for thee the olive in

also,

its

time

and the grape

the cause of
it.

though thou knowest not

Can

the meanest fly create itself

or wert

176
thou any
fashioned

SCIENCE AND LEARNING,

less
it ?

than God,

couldst

thoa have

The
they
eth

beasts feel that they exist

at
it
:

but they
life,

wonder not

they rejoice in their

it

but

know

not that

shall

end
:

each perfornais

its

course in succession

nor

there a loss

of one species in a thousand generations.

Thou who seest the whole

parts,

as admirable as its

canst thou better

employ thine eye than

in tracing out thy Creator's greatness in

them
?

thy mind, than in examining their wonders

Power and mercy

ation
;

are displayed in their form-

justice and goodness shine forth in the

is

provision that

made

for

them

all

are

happy

in their several ways, nor envieth one the other.

What
this?

is

the study of words compared with

is

in

what science

knowledge, but

in the

study of Nature.

When
into
its

thou hast adored the

j

fabric,

enquire

use

for

know, the

earth

produceth
:

nothing but

may be

of good to thee

are not

food and raiment, and the remedies for thy diseases, all derived

from

this

source alone

Who is wise then, but he that knoweth it? who

hath understanding, but he that contemplateth
for ther est, v.diatever science hath
it
?

most

utility

SCIENC AND LEARNING.

whatever knowledge hath the
fer these
least vanity
;

177
pre-

unto the others;

and

profit

of them

for the sake of thy neighbour.

To
obey
5

live

and

to

ciiej

to
;

command and
?

to

to

do and

to suffer
to care
;

are not these all that

thou hast further

teach thee thf se
lay

about

morality shall
Life shall

the

Economy of
in

them before

thee.

Behold they are written

thine heart, and

j

thou needest only to be reminded of them

are easy of conception
shalt retain
J

they

be

attentive,

and thou

them.
all

All other sciences are vain,

other

know-

ledge

is

boast, lo!

it is

not necessary or beneit

ficial to

Man,

or doth

make him more good

to thy
?

or

more honest.
Piety to thy

God, and benevolence

fellow-creatures, are they not thy great duties

what
his

shall

teach thee the one like the study or

shall

works ? what

inform thee of the other

like understanding thy dependencies.

PART V

OF NATURAL ACCIDENTS.

181

SECTION

/.

PROSPERITY AND ADVERSITY.

Let

not prosperity elate thine heart above

3

measure

neither depress thy soul to the grave,

because Fortune beareth hard against thee.

Her

smiles are not stable; therefore build

:

not thy confidence upon them

her frowns en-

dure not for ever

patience.

therefore let hope teach thee

To bear
dom.

adversity well isdiflScult: but to be

is

temperate in prosperity

the height of wis-

Good and
to

ill

are the tests by which thou art

;

know

thy constancy
tell

nor

is

there aught else

that can

thee the powers of thine

own

soul

be therefore upon the watch

when

they arc

upon

thee.
flatter-

Behold prosperity, how sweetly she

eth thee
;

how

insensibly she robbeth

!

thee of

thy strength and thy vigour

182

PROSPERITY AND ADVERSITY.

hast been constant in
ill

Though thou

fortunej
j

though thou hast been invincible

yet by her thou art conquered
;

in distress

not knowing

that thy strength returneth not again, and yet

that thou again
Affliction

mayest need

it.

movethour enemies

to pity

sucto

cess

and happiness causeth even our

the seed of well-doing
:

friends

envy.

Adversity

is

it

is

the

nurse of

all

heroism and boldness

will
is

who
to

that

hath

enough
?

endanger himself
at ease

have

more

who
?

that

will set his life

on

the hazard

True
but

virtue will act under all circumstances

men

see

most of
it.

its

effects

when

accidents

concur with

In adversity
others
;

man
:

seeth himself abandoned

all

by

he findeth that

his

hopes are center-

ed within himself
countereth his

he rouseth his soul, he en-

difficulties,

and they yield before

him.

In prosperity he fancieth himself safe; he

thinketh he
his table
:

is

beloved of

all

that smile about

he groweth

careless

and remiss
before

he

seeth not the danger

trustcth to others,

that

is

him: he

and

in the

end they deceive

PROSPBRITT AND ADVERSITY.

Every man can advise
his

183

own soul

in distressj

but prosperity blindeth the truth.

Better
is

the sorrow that leadeth to content-

ment, than the joy that rendereth

to

man

unable

endure
into
it.

distress

and afterwards plungeth

him

Our

passions dictate to us in
is

all

our extremes;

moderation

the effect of wisdom.

life
i

Be
all its

upright in thy whole

be content in
thy profit
thing

changes} so shalt thou

all

make

out of

occurrences

so

shall every

that happeneth unto thee be the source of praise.

The wise man maketh

means of advantage
3

every thing

the

and with the same counall

tenance beholdeth he

the faces of Fortune 5

evil
j

he governeth the good, he conquereth the he

is

unmoved

in

all.

Presume not
adversity
:

in prosperity, neither despair in

court not dangers, nor meanly fly

:

from before them

will not

dare to despise whatever

remain with thee.

Let not adversity tear off the wings of

Hope 5

neither let Prosperity obscure the light of pru-

dence.

He who

despaireth of the end shall never at-

N 2

184

PROSPERITY AND ADVERSITY.

unto
it
:

tain

and he

who seeth not

the pit shall

perish therein.

He who

calleth Prosperity his

good

who
in

hath said unto her, With thee will I establish

my happiness;
washeth away.

lo

he anchoreth his vessel

bed of sand, which the return

of the

tide

As

the water that passeth from the mountains

in its

kisseth,

way

to the
:

ocean, every field

as
it

that bordercth the rivers

tarricth not in

any place

even so Fortune
is

visiteth the sons

of

men
she

her motion

incessant, she will not stay

is

unstable as the windsj

?

how

then wilt

thou hold her

when she

kisseth thee thou art

blessed; but behold as thou turnest to thank

her, she
is

gone unto another.

185

SfCiION

II,

PAIN

AND

SICKNESS.

1 HE sickness of
soul
:

tlie

bodv

affecteth

even the

the one cannot be in health without the

Other.

Pain
it is

is

of

all ills that

which

is

most

felt

and

that

which from Nature ha:h the fewest

thy constancy faileth thee,

remedies.

When
reason
:

call in

thy

when

thy patience quiitetb Jhee, call

in thy hope.

To
nature

suffer, is
;

a necessity entailed

upon thy

wouldst thou that mirctcles should pro-

tect thee
it

from

it ?

or shall thou repine becau:,

?

happeneth unto thee

all.

when

lo

it

happen*

eth unto

It is injustice to

expect exception from that

:

thou wert

bom

unto

submit with modesty Xq

the laws of thy condition^

iS6

PAIN AND SICKNESS.

to the seasons, pass

Wouldst thou say

lest I

not

oti

grow

old

is it

not better to suffer well

?

that

which thou canst not avoid

is

Pain that endureth long

therefore to complain of
lent
is
it 5

moderate

blush
is

that

which

vioit

short, behold thou seest the

end of

The body was

the soul
:

created to be subservient to
,

whilst thou afflicteth the soul for pan

settest the

behold thou

body above

it.

As

the wise afflicteth not himself because a

j

thorn teareth his garment

so the patient grievit

eth not his soul, because that which covereth

is

injured

187

SECTION

III,

DEATH.

As
3ur

the

production of the metal proveth the

:

ivork of the alchymist

lives
:

so

is

death the test of

the essay which sheweth the stand-

ard of all our actions.

Wouldstthon judge of a
riod of
it
;

life,

examine the pe;

the end crowneth the attempt

is

and

where dissimulation
peareth.

no more, the truth ap-

He

hath not spent his

life

ill

who knoweth
aril

to die well; neither can

he have, lost

his

time

who employeth
nour.

the

last

portion oft to his ho-

He was

not

bom

in vain

who

dieth as he

ought: neither hath he lived tinprotitably

dieth happily.

who

He

that considereth he

is

to

d!e

i^ content

188
while he liveth
j

'

DEATH.

he

who

striveth to

forget

it

hath no pleasure in any thing

eth to

his joy appear-

him

jewel which he expect eth every

lose.

moment he shall
Wouldst thou
die before thee.

learn to die nobly, let thy vices

Happy
life

is

he

who endeth

the

business of his

before his death:

who,

when

the hour cometh, hath nothing else to do

;

but to die

who

wi^heth not delay, because he

hath no longer use for time.

Avoid not death ;

for

it

is

weakness

fear
is
:

it

not, for thou understandest not

that thou certainly

what
that
it

it

all

knowest

is,

putteth

an end to thy sorrows.

Think not the longest

which
honour
is
;

life

the happiest

that

best

employed doth man the most

himself shall rejoice after death in the

it.

advantages of

THIS IS THE COMPLETE

ECONOMY OF HUMAN
FINIS.

LIFE.

A7

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Dodsley, Robert The economy of [human] lif