CHAPTER XXXI.

That no Condition of Life is without Trouble and Uneafinels.

T

HE Fable tells us, that a Horse seeing a Groom entring into the Stable with a Bridle, begun to cry out, How very Unfortunate am I, not to have one Day of Eafe alloted me. Tefterday I was Hunting, to Day a Forraging, and to Morrow perhaps I shall be in the Plow. While he was making these heavy Complaints he spoke to Two Grey-Hounds ty'd up near him; You have Reason, fays he, I grant to Laugh at my Condition, for you never carry any thing upon your Backs, and even your Courfing is a Pleafure to you. But one of them reply'd to him after this Manner: Beating is no more Spar'd us than Meat, and what is fill more grievous, we are under Confinement for our whole Life: But that Hawk, which you now behold upon the Perch, lives at Eafe, and is exceeding Happy; when they carry it abroad, it enjoys its Liberty, and takes the fresh Air at Pleafure; its ordinary Food is Partridge, and if he requires better, it need only be at the Pain to catch it. You are in a grand Miftake, cries the Bird, and I pity your Ignorance, for reckoning me happy, who am one of the most miferable Creatures: For whenever I endeavour to reft upon a Tree, the Faulconer checks me feverely, and for one Morfel of good, I have twenty of bad Meat: Yet thisUfage I fhould endure patiently, if they did not abuse me, by making me carry a Bell about my Neck. They never fawn upon me, as they do upon their Dogs, neither do they carefs me as they do their

Horfes.

Horfes. The Groom perceiving the Pleasure and Satisfaction these Creatures took in their Discourse, would not offer to deprive them of the Liberty of making their Complaints; but as foon as they had ended their Dialogue, he fet the Saddle upon the Horfe, and Bridled him.

The MORAL.

We may learn from this Fable: Firft, That we naturally have an Averfion to much Trouble. Secondly, That we look upon the Condition of other Men to be preferable to our own. Thirdly, That every one feems in a more particular Manner to be fenfible of his own Misfortunes. Fourthly, That Afflictions make us relish Pleasures the better. Fifthly, That it is necessary the Unfortunate fhould have Liberty to Complain, in order to alleviate their Afflictions.

There is not any one of what Profeffion foever, that may not properly ferve as a Subject to this Fable: For where is the Man that is entirely fatisfy'd with his own Condition? Horace has very justly obferv'd, that the Merchant complains of the Hazards and Fatigues of the Sea; and that he look's upon the Life of a Soldier, as bad as it is, to be much more Honourable. The Soldier, on the Contrary, reduced to Neceffity, approves of nothing fo much as a Man of Commerce and Bufinefs; whofe Profits and Advantages, arifing from Trade, procure all Conveniencies, and ren der his Way of Living happy and agreeable. The Citizen is charm'd with the Pleafures of a Country-Life; and the Husbandman, tired with continual Labour, admires nothing fo much as the Eafe and Satisfaction the City affords. The Courtier laments his fervile Flattery and Obfequioufnefs

quioufnefs to his Prince, and thinks that his Rewards are not equal to his Deferts. If the Sovereign commits any Part of the Government to his Charge; or if he fhews more Respect to one, who has been lefs Serviceable to him, he still repines and fhews his Refentment. If he follows the Court, he is difpleas'd with a Life spent in Ease and Luxury, and had rather chufe to pass away his Time in an agreeable Retirement. If he lives at a Distance, he thinks himself as far distant from the Happiness which these enjoy, who fit at the Helm of Government, and embrace the Slavery of the Court. If he is Complemented with any publick Poft in the Army, this truly does not hit with his Inclinations; or perhaps is not fo high Advanc'd as another, whofe Merits, in his Opinion, fall infinitely short of his own. If he has Children, Wars give him continual Uneafinefs; If he has none,he reckons them the happiest who have most. If his Wife is Ugly, he Hates her; If Handsom he is Jealous. If he is Extravagant, fhe will ruin his Family, If Sparing the will difgrace it.

Thofe alfo, who are poffeffed of the highest Offices in the Church are diffatisfied, they could wish for a little more Liberty, and think the Preferments they enjoy are attended with too much Trouble. Those who are imploy'd in the Affairs of the State, and have the Management of the Government in their Hands, are always Murmur. ing and Uneafy; They can fpare no Time to recreate themselves, neither can they be free in Converfation. The Publick's Welfare always em ploys their Thoughts, and their Charge obliges them to be referv'd.

The Learned are not always at Eafe, but deplore their Unhappiness, and confefs, that a too great Application to Study is not only deftructive to the Brain,

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Brain, but renders their Tempers morofe, and fhortens their Days.

Themistocles quitted pleading at the Bar, for an Office in the Army; and the Romans often recreated themselves with both these Kinds of Life. Dioclefian, being tired with the Weight and Splendor of a Crown, chang'd his Empire for a poor Village. Cincinnatus, who was call'd from the Plow to the Dictator-Ship, afterwards quitted the Senate to follow the Plow. Zeno, the Merchant, became a Philofopher. Aristipes, from a Philofopher became a Courtier, and Sylla from a Prince, a private Perfon.

'Tis the greateft Default, and Imperfection imaginable in Men, that they fhould be fo wavering in their Affections, and changeable in their Inclinations. What is agreeable to us to Day, dif pleafes us to Morrow, and the next Day perhaps grows infupportable. We always are apt to forget the Bleffings and Happinefs that attends us, and only reflect upon our Misfortunes, and the Difappointments that we meet with; which encreafes our Uneafiness, and enhances our Mifery.

Whoever has fo great a Defire of taking up Arms, ought to confider seriously the innumerable Hardships and Fatigues he must undergo for Hunger and Thirst, Perils and Dangers, will be his infeparable Companions: And it may be,when he has pretty well furmounted all thefe Difficulties, he is not in the leaft affur'd, that all his Courage and Loyalty, all his Conduct, join'd with Prudence and Judgment, will gain him the Ear of the General, or recommend him to the Affections of his Prince.

Thofe, on the contrary, who have engag'd in that Profeffion, feem to make use of the propereft Method to cafe a difcontented Mind, who can

look

look with Calmnefs and Undifturb'dness upon the Pleasures and Satisfaction, that War deprives them of; and can rejoyce in their Honours and Preferments, without repining at the Pains and Troubles, that neceffarily attend them. Befides, what moft of all encreafes their Happiness, if poffible, is when they look upon themfelves as the only true Patriots and Defenders of their Country. I fhall pass by, in Silence, the Acclamations and Applaufes they receive from the People, as a Tribute due to their Merit, after fome extraordinary Exploit: Their Friends are pleas'd with their generous Behaviour, their Relations reckon themselves Happy in their Happiness, and Pofterity looks upon them as inimitable Examples of Heroick Virtue.

Hence it is, that we shall find, whatever Comparisons we make between the different Profeffions of Mankind, that they are all checker'd with Pleafure and Pain, Mifery and Happiness; and that it is the greatest Folly imaginable, fondly to admire other Men's Enjoyments, and murmur at their Own.

The Man of the Gown perhaps cannot give fufficient Testimony of his Courage, yet he may leave behind him an irreproachable Proof of his Wisdom. If he is not allow'd to live up to the Grandeur and Pomp of a Soldier, he will not fuffer these Inconveniences that arife from a numerous Equipage And if he cannot decide a Quarrel, by the Point of his Sword, yet he can appease it, by the Influence of his Eloquence.

In one Word, We are Daily taught by Experience, that there is no Condition, how Miferable foever and Distress'd, but fometimes has its Intervals of Happiness and Satisfaction; and no Mortal was ever yet so much at Ease, but his Shoe wrung him fome where or other. St. Auftin confirm'd

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