make is sweet, I grant you; but your heart is all bitterness: for to be revenged on an enemy, you will destroy your own life; and are so inconsiderate in your rage, as to do more mischief to yourselves than to your adversary. Take my word for it, one had better have less considerable talents, and use them with more discretion." REFLECTION. The greatest genius with a vindictive temper is far surpast in point of happiness by men of talents less considerable. "AVAUNT! thou paltry, contemptible insect!" said a proud Lion one day to a Gnat that was frisking about in the air near his den. The Gnat, enraged at this unprovoked insult, vowed revenge, and immediately darted into the Lion's ear. After having sufficiently teased him in that quarter, she quitted her station and retired under his belly: and from thence made her last and most formidable attack in his nostrils, where stinging him almost to madness, the Lion at length fell down, utterly spent with rage, vexation, and pain. The Gnat having thus abundantly gratified her resentment, flew off in great exultation: but in the heedless transports of her success, not sufficiently attending to her own security, she found herself unexpectedly entangled in the web of a spider; who, rushing out upon her, put an end to her triumph and her life. G REFLECTION. Little minds are so much elevated by any advantage gained over their superiors, that they are often thrown off their guard against a sudden change of fortune. GENIUS, VIRTUE, AND REPUTATION. GENIUS, Virtue, and Reputation, three intimate friends, agreed to travel over the island of Great Britain, to see whatever might be worthy of observation. But as some misfortune, said they, may happen to separate us, let us consider before we set out, by what means we may find each other again. "Should it be my ill fate," said Genius, "to be severed from you, my associates, which Heaven forbid, you may find me keeling in devotion before the tomb of Shakespear; or wrapt in some grove where Milton talked with angels; or musing in the grotto where Pope caught inspiration." Virtue, with a sigh, acknowledged that her friends were not very numerous: "but were I to lose you," she cried, "with whom I am at present so happily united, I should choose to take sanctuary in the temples of religion, in the palaces of royalty, or in the stately domes of ministers of state: but as it may be my ill-fortune to be there denied admittance, enquire for some cottage where Contentment has a bower, and there you will certainly find me." "Ah! my dear companions," said Reputation very earnestly, "you, I perceive, when missing, may possibly be recovered; but take care, I intreat you, always to keep sight of me, for if I am once lost, I am never to be retrieved." REFLECTION. There are few things so irreparably lost, as Repu |