!

and our presumption, when we observe such a remembered, and by extending the reputation of variety of events rapidly revolving in so narrow a others, to advance at the same time our own. circle.

Shakespeare ("As You Like It," act iii. sc. 2) says:"Time travels in divers paces with divers persons. He ambles with a priest that lacks Latin, and a rich man that

hath not the gout: for the one sleeps easily because he cannot study; and the other lives merrily, because he feels no pain: the one lacking the burden of lean and wasteful learning; the other knowing no burden of heavy tedious penury. These Time ambles withal. He trots hard with a young maid, between the contract of her marriage and the day it is solemnized; if the interim be but a se'nnight. Time's pace is so hard that it seems the length of seven years. He gallops with a thief to the gallows: for though he goes as softly as foot can fall, he thinks himself too soon there. He stays still with lawyers in the vacation: for they sleep between term and term, and then they perceive not how Time moves." Euripides (Fr. Antiop. 41) says:

Alas, alas, how many are the varieties and forms of the miseries of mankind; one could not reach the end of them."

DEATH.

Death is ever, in my opinion, bitter and premature to those who are engaged on some immortal work. For those who live from day to day immersed in pleasure, finish with each day the whole purpose of their existence; while those who look forward to posterity, and endeavor by their exertions to hand down their name to future generations, to such death is always premature, as it ever carries them off from the midst of some unfinished design.

Epictetus (iii. 10) speaks in a different strain:

"At what employment would you have death find you? For my part, I would have it in some humane, beneficent, public-spirited, noble action. But if I cannot be found doing

any such great things, yet at least I would be doing what I

ELOQUENCE AND LOQUACITY.

For a fresh wound shrinks from the hand of the surgeon, then gradually submits to and even calls for it; so a mind under the first impression of a misfortune shuns and rejects all comfort, but at cannot be restrained from, what is given me to do-cor-length, if touched with tenderness, calmly and recting myself, improving that faculty which makes use of willingly resigns itself. the phenomena of existence to produce tranquillity, and render to the several relations of life their due; and if I am so fortunate, advancing still further in the security of judging right. If death overtakes me in such a situation, it is enough for me if I can stretch out my hands to God and say, 'The opportunities I have received from Thee of comprehending and obeying Thy administration I have not neglected. As far as in me lay, I have not dishonored Thee. See how I have used my perceptions; how my convictions. Have I at any time found fault with thee? Have I been discontented with Thy dispensations, or wished them otherwise? Have I transgressed the relations of life? I thank Thee that thou hast brought me into being. I am satisfied with the time I have enjoyed the things thou hast given me. Receive them back again, and distribute them as thou wilt. For they were all Thine and thou gavest them me.'

THE LIVING VOICE.

For the sense of the speaker is determined by the countenance, the gesture, and even the tone of the voice; whereas a letter, being destitute of these advantages, is more liable to the malignant construction of those who are inclined to misinterpret its meaning.

Shakespeare (" Coriolanus," act iii. sc. 2) says:-
"For in such business
Action is eloquence, and the eyes of the ignorant
More learned than their ears."

HISTORY.

It appears to me a noble employment to rescue from oblivion those who deserve to be eternally

Eloquence is indeed the talent of very few, but that faculty which Candidus calls loquacity is common to numbers, and generally attends impudence.

Samuel Bishop says:

"On Folly's lips eternal tattlings dwell:
Wisdom speaks little, but that little well."

ACTION RIGHT OR WRONG ACCORDING TO SUCCESS.

It is the usual custom of the world (though a very unequitable rule of estimation) to pronounce an action to be either right or wrong, as it is attended with good or ill success; and accordingly you shall hear the very same conduct attributed to zeal or folly, to liberty or licentiousness, as the event happens to prove.

OPPORTUNITY AND FRIENDS REQUIRED FOR RISING

IN THE WORLD.

For no man possesses so commanding a genius as to be able at once to merge from obscurity unless some subject present itself and an opportunity when he can display his talents, with a friend to promote his advancement.

HUMAN ACTIONS.

How much does the reputation of human actions depend upon the position of those who perform

them! For the very same acts, according as they proceed from a person of high or low rank, are either much extolled or left unnoticed.

PROSPERITY.

FOREBODING OF EVIL.

For there is very little difference between the enduring and fearing a danger, except this much, indeed, that there are some bounds to the feeling but none to the apprehending of it. For you can

Time passes more speedily in proportion as it is suffer only as much as you have actually suffered,

happy.

THE OPINION OF THE MULTITUDE.

The reason, I believe, is that there is a large collective wisdom in a multitude; though individually their judgment may be of little weight, united it becomes of great importance.

PUBLIC INTEREST..

but you may apprehend all that may possibly happen.

A WILL.

It is a mistaken maxim too generally advanced, that a man's will is a kind of mirror wherein one may clearly discern his genuine character.

THINGS NEAR AT HAND OVERLOOKED.

But the interest of the public ought always to supersede every private consideration, as what is Those works of art or nature which are usually eternal is to be preferred to what is mortal; and a the motives of our travels, are often overlooked man of true generosity will study in what man- and neglected if they happen to lie within our ner to render his benefaction most advantageous, reach; whether it be that we are naturally less inrather than how he may bestow it with least ex-quisitive concerning those things which are near us, while our curiosity is excited by remote objects; or because the easiness of gratifying a desire is always sure to damp it; or, perhaps, that we defer from time to time viewing, whilst we have an opportunity of seeing whatever we please.

pense.

MODESTY.

How many of the learned are concealed from view by modesty, or an unwillingness to have their name brought before the public. Yet, when we are going to speak or recite our works in crowded assemblies, it is the judgment only of those who possess ostentatious talents of whom we stand in awe: whereas we ought rather to revere the decisions of those who form their opinions of works of genius in their closets, undisturbed by the noise of public assemblies.

COUNTRY GENTLEMEN.

In short, his conversation has increased my solicitude concerning my works, and taught me to revere the judgment of these studious country gentlemen, as much as that of more known and distinguished literati. Let me persuade you to consider them in the same light; for, believe me, upon a careful observation you will often find in the literary as well as military world, most powerful abilities concealed under a rustic garb.

SICKNESS.

When a man is laboring under the pain of any distemper, it is then that he recollects there are gods, and that he himself is but a man: no mortal is then the object of his envy, his admiration, or his contempt, and having no malice to gratify, the tales of slander excite not his attention.

HISTORY.

FORGIVENESS.

The highest of characters, in my estimation, is his, who is as ready to pardon the moral errors of mankind, as if he were every day guilty of some himself; and at the same time as cautious of committing a fault as if he never forgave one.

So Ephesians iv. 22:

"And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

AFFECTION.

Ill, believe me, is power proved by insult; ill can terror command veneration, and far more efficacious is affection in obtaining one's purpose than fear. For terror operates no longer than its object is present, but love produces its effects when the object is at a distance, and as absence changes the former into hatred, it raises the latter into respect.

Milton ("Paradise Lost," 1. 523) says to the same effect:"Who overcomes

By force, hath overcome but half his foes."

LIBERTY AND GOVERNMENT.

For, what is more becoming our social nature than well regulated government, or more valuable than liberty? How ignominious, then, must his conduct be, who turns the first into anarchy and

History ought to be guided by truth; and the last into slavery? worthy actions require nothing more.

So Matthew xv. 8:

my praise and recommending it to you, to conduct | and chaste mind, than the man who repeats a preyourself in such a manner as to preserve the pared prayer. proper distinction of rank and dignity. For to level and confound the different orders of society is far from producing an equality among mankind; it is, in fact, the most unequal thing imaginable.

SUMMER FRIENDS.

Far different from those who love, or rather, I should more properly say, who counterfeit love to none but the living. Nor indeed even that any lorger than they are the favorites of fortune: for the unhappy are no more the object of their remembrance than the dead.

G. Herbert ("The Answer "):

"Like summer friends,

Flies of estates and summershine."

DELIBERATION.

Experience having taught me never to advise with a person concerning that which we have already determined, where he has a right to expect that one shall be decided by his judgment.

"This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me

VICISSITUDES.

Such is the changeful condition of mankind. that adversity arises from prosperity, and prosperity from adversity. God hides in obscurity the causes of both, and frequently the reasons of the good and evil that befals man lies concealed under both.

Simonides of Ceos (Fr. 29, S.) thus speaks of life:"There is no evil that may not be expected by men: in a short time God turns all things upside down."

So 1 Corinthians ii. 7:

"We speak the hidden wisdom of God."

PROSPERITY AND ADVERSITY.

Prosperity tries the fortunate, adversity the great.

Antiphanes (Fr. Com. Gr. p. 569, M.) says:-
"Riches are what test a man's character."

Let every man employ himself in the business dies. Why grieve about things which take place according to with which he is best acquainted.