inferior fortunes, laugh not but where there is occafion.

It is folly to truft to the gratitude of men in high ftation. What they receive, is confidered as a fervice, not a favour. Nor is this furprising. The natural intercourfe certainly is, that fuperiors fhould bestow, and inferiors be thankful.

It is a fhowy thing, to build a palace, lay out a garden, or appoint an equipage. This the great understand, this they pique themfelves upon. But to fill a heart with joy, reftore content to the afflicted, or relieve the neceffitous, thefe fall not within the reach of their five fenfes; they do not comprehend, they have no relifh for fuch actions.

Few of us would be lefs corrupted than kings are, were we, like them, befet with flatterers, and poisoned with that vermine.

An ancient philofopher obferved, that the fons of princes learned nothing to purpose but to manage the great horfe, which knows not to flatter, but will as readily throw the king as the peafant.

Inlift me among the troops of a private man, I am Therfites. Place me at the head of an army, I am Achilles himself.

No man ever fought well who had a halter about his neck.

Admiration is the paffion of the vulgar, arifing, not from the perfection of the object, but from the ignorance of the fpectator. The moft refined genius is the moft reserved upon that point.

Nothing can poifon the contentment of a 66 man who lives by his labour, but to make

him rich.

I have scarce known a peafant that was troubled with one moment's thought how he fhould pass his laft hour. Nature teacheth him not to think of death before it comes, and then he behaves with a better grace than Ariftotle himself, whom death diftreffed doubly, in itself, and in anxious forefight.

Few are able to reflect that they have been young, and how difficult at that time it was to preferve temperance or chastity. They condemn the fallies of youth, as if they had never tafted of them. It gives

them pain another fhould ponce there fures they are no longer in a capacity to joy. It is a fentiment of envy.

The first and most important female quality, is fweetness of temper. Heaven did not give to the female fex infinuation and perfuafion, in order to be furly: It did not make them weak, in order to be imperious: It did not give them a fweet voice, in order to be employed in fcolding: It did not provide them with delicate features, in order to

be disfigured with anger. A wife frequently has caufe to lament her condition; but never to utter bitter complaints. A hufband too indulging, is apt to make an im pertinent wife; but, unlefs he be a monster, fweetness of temper in his wife will restore him to good humour, and foon or late triumph over him.

CHAP. 1

Inlift m

m

CHA P. IV.

Rules for the Conduct of Life.

A

Conscience.

Man of integrity will never listen to 67 any reason against conscience.

Let fame be regarded, but confcience much more. It is an empty joy to appear better than you are; but a great bleffing to be what you ought to be.

Men are guided less by confcience than by glory: And yet, the shortest way to glory, is to be guided by confcience.

Take counsel of thine own heart, for there is not a more faithful monitor.

Self-command.

Happiness is a never-failing attendant on felf-command: No man can enjoy without inquietude what he cannot lose without pain.

Ancient Lacedemon affords an admirable inftruction for fubduing our paffions. Certain occupations were appointed for each fex, for every hour, and for every season of life. In a life always active, the paffions have no opportunity to deceive, seduce, or corrupt. Industry is an excellent guard to virtue.

68 Let your conduct be the refult of deliberation, never of impatience.

69

In the conduct of life, let it be one great aim, to fhow that every thing you do proceeds from yourself, not from your paffions. Chryfippus rewards in joy, chastises in wrath, doth every thing in paffion. No perfon ftands in awe of Chryfippus, no person is grateful to him. Why? Because it is not Chryfippus who acts, but his paffions. We thun him in wrath as we fhun a wild beast; and this is all the authority he hath over us.

There is no condition that doth not fit

well upon a wife man. I fhall never quarrel with a philofopher for living in a palace; but will not excufe him if he cannot content himself with a cottage. I fhall not be fcandalized, to behold him in the apparel af