cemvir, and great Law-giver amongst the Romans: Whereof the Former was indeed a luxurious and voluptuous Mán; but the Latter was an auftere and wife Man. Whence any one may discern clearly, that LOVE (though rarely) can find Entrance, not only into an open Heart, but also into a Heart well fortified, if Watch be not well kept. It is an abject and poor-fpirited Saying of Epicurus, Satis magnum alter alteri Theatrum fumus: As if Man, made for the Contemplation of Heaven and heavenly Objects, fhould do nothing but adore a little Idol, and subject himself, tho' not to the Mouth (as Beasts are) yet to the Eye, which was given undoubtedly for higher Purposes.

Iris ftrange to confider the Excess of this Paffion, and how it infults the Nature and true Value of Things, by this only, that the speaking in a perpetual Hyperbole is decent in nothing but in LOVE. Neither does this Hyperbole appear only in the Phrafe. For whereas it hath been well faid, that the Arch

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Arch-Flatterer, with whom all the petty Flatterers have Intelligence, is a Man's felf; certainly the LOVER is fomething more. For there was never Proud Man thought fo abfurdly well of himfelf, as the LOVER doth of the Perfon LOVED. And therefore it was well faid, That to Love, and to be Wife, is fcarce poffible even to a God. Neither doth this Weakness appear to others only, and not to the Party LOVED; but to the Perfon LOVED most of all, unless the LOVE be Reciprocal. For it is a true Rule, that LovE is ever rewarded either with the reciprocal, or with an inward and fecret Contempt. By how much the more Men ought to beware of this Paflion, which lofes not only other Things, but it felf. As for the other Loffes, they are prettily figured in the Fable of the Poets, That he that preferr'd Helena, loft the Gifts of Juno and Pallas. For whofoever too much indulges amorous Affections, quits both Riches and Wisdom.

THIS Paffion hath its Floods, at the very Times when the Mind is most soft and weak; that is, in great Profperity, and great Adverfity; (tho' this latter hath perhaps been lefs observ'd:) Both which Seafons kindle LovE, and make it more fervent; which proves it to be the Child of Folly. They do beft, who, if they cannot but admit LOVE, yet make it keep Quarter, and fever it wholly from their ferious Affairs and Actions of Life. For if it interfere once with Business, it troubleth Men's Fortunes, and hinders them from being true to their own Ends.

I know not how, but Martial Men are given to LOVE: I think it is, but as they are given to Wine; for Perils commonly expect to be paid in Pleafures. There is in Man's Nature a fecret Inclination and Motion towards LOVE of others; which if it be not spent upon some one, or a few, doth naturally spread it felf towards many, and makes Men become Humane and Charitable, as it is feen fometimes in Fri

ars. Nuptial LOVE makes Mankind, friendly Love perfects it; but wanton LOVE corrupts and imbases it.

XI. Of Magiftracies and Dignities.

EN in GREAT PLACE are thrice Servants; Servants of the Prince or State, Servants of Fame, and Seryants of Business. So that they enjoy no manner of Liberty, neither in their Persons, nor in their Actions, nor in their Time. A strange kind of Defire! to covet Power, and to lofe Liberty; or to court Power over others, and to devest a Man's felf of Power over himfelf. The Rifing unto PLACE is laborious, and by Pains Men come to greater Pains; oftentimes also it is not clear: of unworthy Practices. And by Indignities Men come to DIGNITIES. The Standing is flippery, and the Regress is

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either a Downfal, or at least an Eclipse; and even this is a fad and melancholy Thing. Cum non fis, qui fueris, non effe, cur velis vivere. Retiring, tho' a Man

Nay, there is no would never fo

fain ; neither will Men retire when it were Reason they fhould: But they continue impatient of a private Life, even when old Age or Infirmity bears hard upon them; which require Ease, and the Shade; like old Townsmen that will be still fitting before the StreetDoor, tho' thereby they expose themfelves to Scorn.

CERTAINLY, Men in POSTS had need to borrow other Men's Opinions, to think themselves happy; for if they judge by their own feeling, they will find no fuch Thing: But when they think with themselves what other Men think of them, and how gladly they would change Conditions with them, then, and not till then, they are happy as it were by Report; when perhaps they find the contrary within. For they are the first of all fenfible of their.

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