than two Greek epigrammatists will afford us in their accounts of human life, which I shall lay before the reader in English prose.

bates and troublesome affairs: domestic privacies are haunted with anxieties; in the country is labour; on the sea is terror: in a foreign land, he that has money must live in fear, he that wants it must pine in distress: are you married? you are troubled with suspicions; are you single? you languish in solitude; children occasion toil, and a childless life is a state of destitution: the time of youth is a time of folly, and gray hairs are loaded with infirmity. This choice only, therefore, can be made, either never to receive being, or immediately to lose it."

istent with the faculty of reason; it being imagined, that universal agreement could proceed only from the invariable dictates of the universal parent. Posidippus, a comic poet, utters this comIn questions diffuse and compounded, this simi-plaint: "Through which of the paths of life is it larity of determination is no longer to be expect-eligible to pass? In public assemblies are deed. At our first sally into the intellectual world, we all march together along one straight and open road; but as we proceed further, and wider prospects open to our view, every eye fixes upon a different scene; we divide into various paths, and, as we move forward, are still at a greater distance from each other. As a question becomes more complicated and involved, and extends to a greater number of relations, disagreement of opinion will always be multiplied; not because we are irrational, but because we are finite beings, furnished with different kinds of knowledge, exerting different degrees of attention, one discovering consequences which escape another, none taking in the whole concatenation of causes and effects, and most comprehending but a very small part, each comparing what he observes with a different criterion, and each referring it to a different purpose.

Where, then, is the wonder, that they who see only a small part, should judge erroneously of the whole? or that they, who see different and dissimilar parts, should judge differently from each

other?

Such and so gloomy is the prospect which Posidippus has laid before us. But we are not to acquiesce too hastily in his determination against the value of existence: for Metrodorus, a philosopher of Athens, has shown, that life has pleasures as well as pains; and having exhibited the present state of man in brighter colours, draws with equal appearance of reason, a contrary conclusion.

"You may pass well through any of the paths of life. In public assemblies are honours and transactions of wisdom: in domestic privacy is Whatever has various respects, must have va- stillness and quiet: in the country are the beaurious appearances of good and evil, beauty or ties of nature: on the sea is the hope of gain: in deformity; thus the gardener tears up as a weed, a foreign land, he that is rich is honoured, he the plant which the physician gathers as a me- that is poor may keep his poverty secret: are you dicine; and "a general," says Sir Kenelm Dig-married? you have a cheerful house; are you by, "will look with pleasure over a plain, as a fit place on which the fate of empires might be decided in battle, which the farmer will despise as bleak and barren, neither fruitful of pasturage, nor fit for tillage."

single: you are unincumbered; children are objects of affection, to be without children is to be without care: the time of youth is the time of vigour, and gray hairs are made venerable by piety. It will, therefore, never be a wise man's Two men examining the same question, pro-choice, either not to obtain existence, or to lose ceed commonly like the physician and gardener it; for every state of life has its felicity." in selecting herbs, or the farmer and hero looking on the plain; they bring minds impressed with different notions, and direct their inquiries to different ends; they form, therefore, contrary conclusions, and each wonders at the other's absurdity.

In these epigrams are included most of the questions which have engaged the speculations of the inquirers after happiness; and though they will not much assist our determinations, they may, perhaps, equally promote our quiet, by showing that no absolute determination ever can be formed.

affairs is vexatious and difficult, but it is the only duty in which wisdom can be conspicuously displayed: it must then still be left to every man to choose either ease or glory; nor can any general precept be given, since no man can be happy by the prescription of another.

We have less reason to be surprised or offended when we find others differ from us in opinion, Whether a public station, or private life, be because we very often differ from ourselves. desirable, has always been debated. We see How often we alter our minds, we do not always here both the allurements and discouragements remark; because the change is sometimes made of civil employments; on one side there is trouimperceptibly and gradually, and the last convic-ble, on the other honour; the management of tion effaces all memory of the former, yet every man accustomed from time to time to take a survey of his own notions, will, by a slight retrospection, be able to discover, that his mind has suffered many revolutions; that the same things have in the several parts of his life been condemned and approved, pursued and shunned: and that on many occasions, even when his practice has been steady, his mind has been wavering, and he has persisted in a scheme of action, rather because he feared the censure of inconstancy, than because he was always pleased with his own choice.

Of the different faces shown by the same objects, as they are viewed on opposite sides, and of the different inclinations which they must constantly raise in him that contemplates them, a more striking example cannot easily be found

Thus, what is said of children by Posidippus, "that they are occasions of fatigue," and by Metrodorus," that they are objects of affection," is equally certain; but whether they will give most pain or pleasure, must depend on their future conduct and dispositions, on many causes over which the parent can have little influence: there is, therefore, room for all the caprices of imagination, and desire must be proportioned to the hope or fear that shall happen to predominate.

Such is the uncertainty in which we are always likely to remain with regard to questions

*

나

Ir may have been observed by every reader, that
there are certain topics which never are exhaust-
ed. Of some images and sentiments the mind It is not only uncertain, whether through all
of man may be said to be enamoured; it meets the casualties and dangers which beset the life
them, however often they occur, with the same of man, we shall be able to reach the time ap-
ardour which a lover feels at the sight of his mis-pointed for happiness or wisdom; but it is likely,
tress, and parts from them with the same regret
when they can no longer be enjoyed.

in real life inseparably united; habits grow stronger by indulgence; and reason loses her dignity, in proportion as she has oftener yielded to temptation: "he that cannot live well today," says Martial, "will be less qualified to live well to-morrow."

can now only benefit his friends, by remaining to their memories a permanent and efficacious instance of the blindness of desire, and the uncertainty of all terrestrial good. But perhaps every man has, like me, lost an Euryalus, has known a friend die with happiness in his grasp; and yet every man continues to think himself secure of life, and defers to some future time of leisure what he knows it will be fatal to have finally omitted.

Of the uncertainty of every human good, every human being seems to be convinced; yet this uncertainty is voluntarily increased by unnecessary delay, whether we respect external causes, or consider the nature of our own minds. It is, indeed, with this as with other frailties He that now feels a desire to do right, and wishes inherent in our nature; the desire of deferring to regulate his life according to his reason, is to another time, what cannot be done without not sure that, at any future time assignable, he endurance of some pain, or forbearance of some shall be able to rekindle the same ardour; he pleasure, will, perhaps, never be totally overcome that has now an opportunity offered him of or suppressed; there will always be something breaking loose from vice and folly, cannot know, that we shall wish to have finished, and be nebut that he shall hereafter be more entangled, vertheless unwilling to begin: but against this and struggle for freedom without obtaining it. unwillingness it is our duty to struggle, and We are so unwilling to believe any thing to every conquest over our passions will make way our own disadvantage, that we will always for an easier conquest: custom is equally forciimagine the perspicacity of our judgment and ble to bad and good; nature will always be at the strength of our resolution more likely to in-variance with reason, but will rebel more feebly crease than to grow less by time; and, therefore, conclude, that the will to pursue laudable purposes, will be always seconded by the power.

But, however we may be deceived in calculating the strength of our faculties, we cannot doubt the uncertainty of that life in which they must be employed: we see every day the unexpected death of our friends and our enemies, we see new graves hourly opened for men older and younger than ourselves, for the cautious and the careless, the dissolute and the temperate, for men who, like us, were providing to enjoy or improve hours now irreversibly cut off: we see all this, and yet, instead of living, let year glide after year in preparations to live.

as she is oftener subdued.

The common neglect of the present hour is more shameful and criminal, as no man is betrayed to it by error, but admits it by negligence. Of the instability of life, the weakest understanding never thinks wrong, though the strongest often omits to think justly reason and experience are always ready to inform us of our real state; but we refuse to listen to their suggestions, because we feel our hearts unwilling to obey them: but, surely, nothing is more unworthy of a reasonable being, than to shut his eyes, when he sees the road which he is commanded to travel, that he may deviate with fewer reproaches from himself: nor could any mo. tive to tenderness, except the consciousness that we have all been guilty of the same fault, dispose us to pity those who thus consign themselves to voluntary ruin.

Men are so frequently cut off in the midst of their projections, that sudden death causes little emotion in them that behold it, unless it be impressed upon the attention by uncommon circumstances. I, like every other man, have outlived multitudes, have seen ambition sink in its triumphs, and beauty perish in its bloom; but have been seldom so much affected as by the No. 111.] TUESDAY, Nov. 27 1753. fate of Euryalus, whom I lately lost as I began to love him.

Euryalus had for some time flourished in a lucrative profession; but having suffered his imagination to be fired by an unextinguishable curiosity, he grew weary of the same dull round of life, resolved to harass himself no longer with the drudgery of getting money, but to quit his business and his profit, and enjoy for a few years the pleasures of travel. His friends heard him proclaim his resolution without suspecting that he intended to pursue it: but he was constant to his purpose, and with great expedition closed his accounts and sold his moveables, passed a few days in bidding farewell to his companions, and with all the eagerness of romantic chivalry, crossed the sea in search of happiness. Whatever place was renowned in ancient or modern history, whatever region art or nature had distinguished, he determined to visit: full of design and hope, he landed on the continent; his friends expected accounts from him of the new scenes that opened in his progress, but were informed in a few days, that Euryalus was dead.

Such was the end of Euryalus. He is entered that state whence none ever shall return; and

Que non fecimus ipsi,
Viz ea nostra voco.

The deeds of long descended ancestors
Are but by grace of imputation ours.

DRYDEN

THE evils inseparably annexed to the present condition of man, are so numerous and afflictive, that it has been, from age to age, the task of some to bewail, and of others to solace them, and he, therefore, will be in danger of seeming a common enemy, who shall attempt to depreci ate the few pleasures and felicities which nature has allowed us.

Yet I will confess, that I have sometimes employed my thoughts in examining the pretensions that are made to happiness, by the splendid and envied condition of life; and have not thought the hour unprofitably spent, when I have detected the imposture of counterfeit advantages, and found disquiet lurking under false appearances of gayety and greatness.

It is asserted by a tragic poet, that “est miser nemo nisi comparatus," "no man is miserable, but as he is compared with others happier than

himself:" this position is not strictly and philo- | sophically true. He might have said with rigorous propriety, that no man is happy but as he is compared with the miserable; for such is the state of this world, that we find in it absolute misery, but happiness only comparative; we may incur as much pain as we can possibly endure, though we can never obtain as much happiness as we might possibly enjoy.

Yet it is certain likewise, that many of our miseries are merely comparative: we are often made unhappy, not by the presence of any real evil, but by the absence of some fictitious good; of something which is not required by any real want of nature which has not in itself any power of gratification, and which neither reason nor fancy would have prompted us to wish, did we not see it in the possession of others.

For a mind diseased with vain longings after unattainable advantages, no medicine can be prescribed, but an impartial inquiry into the real worth of that which is so ardently desired. It is well known, how much the mind, as well as the eye, is deceived by distance; and, perhaps, it will be found, that of many imagined blessings it may be doubted, whether he that wants or possesses them has more reason to be satisfied with his lot.

arts or commerce, and left at liberty to dispose of life as fancy shall direct them.

If every man were wise and virtuous, capable to discern the best use of time, and resolute to practise it, it might be granted, I think, without hesitation, that total liberty would be a blessing; and that it would be desirable to be left at large to the exercise of religious and social duties, without the interruption of importunate avocations.

But, since felicity is relative, and that which is the means of happiness to one man may be to another the cause of misery, we are to consider, what state is best adapted to human nature in its present degeneracy and frailty. And, surely, to far the greater number it is highly expedient, that they should by some settled scheme of duties be rescued from the tyranny of caprice, that they should be driven on by necessity through the paths of life with their attention confined to a stated task, that they may be less at leisure to deviate into mischief at the call of folly.

When we observe the lives of those whom an ample inheritance has let loose to their own direction, what do we discover that can excite our envy? Their time seems not to pass with much applause from others, or satisfaction to themselves: many squander their exuberance of fortune in luxury and debauchery, and have no other The dignity of high birth and long extraction, use of money than to inflame their passions, and no man, to whom nature has denied it, can con- riot in a wide range of licentiousness; others, fer upon himself; and, therefore, it deserves to less criminal indeed, but surely not much to be be considered, whether the want of that which praised, lie down to sleep, and rise up to trifle, can never be gained, may not easily be endured. are employed every morning in finding expedi It is true, that if we consider the triumph and de- ents to rid themselves of the day, chase pleasure light with which most of those recount their an- through all the places of public resort, fly from cestors, who have ancestors to recount, and the London to Bath, and from Bath to London, withartifices by which some who have risen to unex-out any other reason for changing place, but that pected fortune endeavour to insert themselves into an honourable stem, we shall be inclined to fancy that wisdom or virtue may be had by inheritance, or that all the excellences of a line of progenitors are accumulated on their descendant. Reason, indeed, will soon inform us, that our estimation of birth is arbitrary, and capricious, and that dead ancestors can have no influence but upon imagination: let it then be examined, whether one dream may not operate in the place of another; whether he that owes nothing to forefathers, may not receive equal pleasure from the consciousness of owing all to himself; whether he may not, with a little meditation, find it more honourable to found than to continue a family, and to gain dignity than transmit it; whether, if he receives no dignity from the virtues of his family, he does not likewise escape the danger of being disgraced by their crimes; and whether he that brings a new name into the world, has not the convenience of playing the game of life without a stake, and opportunity of winning much though he has nothing to lose.

they go in quest of company as idle and as vagrant as themselves, always endeavouring to raise some new desire, that they may have something to pursue, to kindle some hope which they know will be disappointed, changing one amusement for another which a few months will make equally insipid, or sinking into languor and disease for want of something to actuate their bodies or exhilarate their minds.

Whoever has frequented those places, where idlers assemble to escape from solitude, knows that this is generally the state of the wealthy; and from this state it is no great hardship to be debarred. No man can be happy in total idleness: he that should be condemned to lie torpid and motionless, "would fly for recreation," says South, "to the mines and the galleys ;" and it is well, when nature or fortune finds employment for those, who would not have known how to procure it for themselves.

He, whose mind is engaged by the acquisition or improvement of a fortune, not only escapes the insipidity of indifference, and the tediousness There is another opinion concerning happi- of inactivity, but gains enjoyments wholly unness, which approaches much more nearly to known to those, who live lazily on the toil of universality, but which may, perhaps, with equal others; for life affords no higher pleasure than reason be disputed. The pretensions to ances- that of surmounting difficulties, passing from tral honours many of the sons of earth easily see one step of success to another, forming new to be ill-grounded; but all agree to celebrate the wishes, and seeing them gratified. He that laadvantage of hereditary riches, and to consider bours in any great or laudable undertaking, has those as the minions of fortune, who are wealthy his fatigues first supported by hope, and afterfrom their cradles, whose estate is "res non parta wards rewarded by joy; he is always moving labore, sed relicta;" "the acquisition of another, to a certain end, and when he has attained it, not of themselves," and whom a father's indus- an end more distant invites him to a new purtry has dispensed from a laborious attention to suit.