tinued fcene of forrow and fuffering? And in those apparently fortunate cases, where the greatest abundance of sensual goods is accompanied with health and power of enjoyment; yet, alas! how foon does enjoyment confume the little good which they contained, and leave the wealthy glutton to languifh under indifference, to fret through difappointment, and to figh for something else?

CAST your eyes on that pale bloated figure. It is the Emperor Heliogabalus, corrupted by the brutalizing fophiftry of Epicurus, i. e. that the pleasures of the body conftitute man's only happinefs, he refolved to be happy to fome purpose. All Italy was taxed; all Afia robbed to fupport his luxury; every region of the earth was explored; every element ranfacked to furnish his table. All that bounteous nature beftows of rare and delicious among her birds, beasts, fishes, fruits and fpices; and

all

1

all these prepared by the niceft hand of cookery, were served up to feast and delight his appetites. Surely, if luxurious ease and delicious fare were happinefs, Heliogabalus must have been bleft indeed. The difcontent vifible in his countenance proves the reverse. Could you ask him, he would tell you that his pleasures are at beft but vain, and too frequently vexatious. Sometimes he was mortified, because, through defect of appetite, he could not enjoy his delicious morfels. At other times, tempted by their luscious flavour, he fed to an excess, which brought on him a variety of painful and loathfome difeafes. And at all times it was matter of grief to him, that the pleasures of eating and drinking fhould fo foon be over. This circumftance caufed one of the Roman Emperors to quarrel with his own conftitution, and to wish, in all the rage of disappointed pleasure, that he had the

ftomach

stomach of a horse, that he might enjoy the fatisfaction of eating ten times. as much as its prefent fcanty capacities would allow. And another Emperor, for the fame fwinifh reafon, preferred his petition to the Gods, that they would grant him a neck as long as that of a crane, vainly hoping, that he fhould thereby the longer enjoy the dear pleasure of swallowing.

BUT granting the fenfuality an utter exemption from all the ills and vexations of gluttony; that his coveted dainties are all served up in the most inviting style of perfection; that his fruits are luciously ripe and fresh; his meats tender and deliciously flavoured ; his cookery the most exquifite in the world, and his wines equal to the nectar of Jove. And granting too that he has an appetite to feason, and health to enjoy all these dainties, yet, alas! how foon must the seafon of enjoyment be

over with him forever! Old age will presently steal on him; his nerves muft foon grow hard and dull, and lose their delicate edge and sensibility, and then, though he may fit down, yet can he not enjoy his dainty morfels.

BEHOLD, I am now (faid the rich old Barzillai) fourscore years old, and can I difcern what is favoury? Can I tafte what I eat or what I drink; or can I hear the voice of finging men and finging women? After this humiliating period, what fad dishonours will ficknefs and death foon

bring upon the body, the gluttons pampered pride! His cheeks once fo plump and rofy, are now pale and emaciated. His fkin, formerly fo fmooth and polifhed, is now deformed with wrinkles. His body once straight and erect, is now crooked and bent with years. His limbs, late fo nimble and active, are now stiff and scarcely able to move.

who forty years ago poffeffed

And he

all the

bloom and vigour of full formed manhood, is now fhrunk away to mere skin and bone, and experiences all the helpleffness of a fecond childhood.

SUPPORTED on his crutches or cane, he attempts to move, but it is with dif ficulty and pain. His knees knock against each other through weakness. His hands tremble, and his whole body shakes as with an ague. In a little time his infirmities prevail; his body, though but the fhadow of his former felf, is now too heavy for his exhausted strength. In a low faultering voice, he begs to be led to his bed, and there lies down never more to rife. Nature now finks apace; his heart labours; his breast heaves; his breathing becomes fhort and quick; his eyes are hollow and funk; his voice grows hoarfe; he rattles in the throat; his limbs wax cold; his teeth turn black; he foams at the mouth; a feeble convulfion fhakes his frame, and,