Though virtue appear severe, she is truly amiable. Though success be very doubtful, it is proper that he endeavours to succeed.

5. If thou have promised, be faithful to thy engagement.

Though he have proved his right to submission, he is too generous to exact it.

Unless he have improved, he is unfit for the office. 6. If thou had succeeded, perhaps thou wouldst not be the happier for it.

Unless thou shall see the propriety of the measure, we shall pot desire thy support.

Though thou will not acknowledge, thou canst not deny the fact.

7. If thou gave liberally, thou wilt receive a libe

ral reward.

Though thou did injure him, he harbours no re

sentment.

It would be well, if the report was only the misrepresentation of her enemies.

Was he ever so great and opulent, this conduct would debase him.

Was I to enumerate all her virtues, it would look like flattery.

Though I was perfect, yet would I not presume.

8. If thou may share in his labours, be thankful and do it cheerfully.

Unless thou can fairly support the cause, give it up honourably.

Though thou might have foreseen the danger, thou couldst not have avoided it.

If thou could convince him, he would not act accordingly.

If thou would improve in knowledge, be diligent. Unless thou should make a timely retreat, the danger will be unavoidable.

I have laboured and wearied myself, that thou may be at ease.

He enlarged on those dangers, that thou should avoid them.

9. Neither the cold or the fervid, but characters uniformly warm, are formed friendship.

They are both praise-worthy, and one is equally deserving as the other.

He is not so diligent and learned as his brother. I will present it to him myself, or direct it to be given to him.

Neither despise or oppose what thou dost not understand.

The house is not as commodious as we expected it would be.

I must, however, be so candid to own I have been mistaken.

There was something so amiable, and yet so piercing in his look, as affected me at once with love and terror.

"I gain'd a son ;

And such a son, as all men hail'd me happy." The dog in the manger would not eat the hay himself, nor suffer the ox to eat it.

As far as I am able to judge, the book is well written.

We should faithfully perform the trust committed to us, or ingenuously relinquish the charge.

He is not as eminent, and as much esteemed as he thinks himself to be.

The work is a dull performance; and is neither capable of pleasing the understanding, or the imagination.

There is no condition so secure, as cannot admit of change. 3

This is an event, which nobody presumes upon, or is so sanguine to hope for.

We are generally pleased with any little accomplishments of body or mind.

10. Be ready to succour such persons who need thy assistance.

The matter was no sooner proposed, but he privately withdrew to consider it.

He has too much sense and prudence than to become a dupe to such artifices.

It is not sufficient that our conduct, as far as it respects others, appears to be unexceptionable.

The resolution was not the less fixed, that the secret was yet communicated to very few.

He opposed the most remarkable corruptions of the church of Rome, so as that his doctrines were embraced by great numbers.

He gained nothing further by his speech, but only to be commended for his eloquence.

He has little more of the scholar besides the name. He has little of the scholar than the name.

They had no sooner risen, but they applied themselves to their studies.

From no other institution, besides the admirable one of juries, could so great a benefit be expected. Those savage people seemed to have no other element but war.

Such men that act treacherously ought to be avoided.

Germany ran the same risk as Italy had done.

No errors are so trivial, but they deserve to be corrected.

RULE XX.

When the qualities of different things are compared, the latter noun or pronoun is not governed by the conjunction than or as, but agrees with the verb, or is governed by the verb or the preposition, expressed or

understood: as, "Thou art wiser than I;" that is, "than I am." "They loved him more than me;" that is, more than they loved me. "The sentiment is well expressed by Plato, but much better by Solomon than him;” that is, "than by him."

Grammar, p. 206. Key, p. 60.

In some respects, we have had as many advantages as them; but in the article of a good library, they have had a greater privilege than us.

The undertaking was much better executed by his brother than he.

They are much greater gainers than me by this unexpected event.

They know how to write as well as him; but he is a much better grammarian than them.

Though she is not so learned as him, she is as much beloved and respected.

These people, though they possess more shining qualities, are not so proud as him, nor so vain as her.

The following examples are adapted to the notes and observations under RULE xx.

Grammar, p. 206. Key, p. 60.

1. Who betrayed her companion? Not me. Who revealed the secrets he ought to have concealed? Not him..

Who related falsehoods to screen herself, and to bring an odium upon others? Not me; it was her. There is but one in fault, and that is me.

Whether he will be learned or no, must depend on his application.

Charles XII. of Sweden, than who a more courageous person never lived, appears to have been destitute of the tender sensibilities of nature.

Salmasius (a more learned man than him has seldom appeared) was not happy at the close of life.

RULE XXI.

To avoid disagreeable repetitions, and to express our ideas in few words, an ellipsis, or omission of some words, is frequently admitted.

Grammar, p. 207. Key, p. 61.

I gladly shunned who gladly fled from me. And this is it men mean by distributive justice, and is properly termed equity.

His honour, interest, religion, were all embarked in this undertaking.

When so good a man as Socrates fell a victim to the madness of the people, truth, virtue, religion, fell with him.

The fear of death, nor hope of life, could make him submit to a dishonest action.

An elegant house and furniture were, by this event, irrecoverably lost to the owner.

The examples which follow, are suited to the notes and observations under RULE xxi.

Grammar, p. 207. Key, p. 62.

1. These rules are addressed to none but the intelligent and the attentive.

The gay and the pleasing are, sometimes, the most insidious, and the most dangerous companions. Old age will prove a joyless and a dreary season, if we arrive at it with an unimproved, or with a corrupted mind.

The more I see of his conduct, I like him better. It is not only the duty, but interest of young persons, to be studious and diligent.

2. These counsels were the dictates of virtue, and the dictates of true honour.

Avarice and cunning may acquire an estate; but avarice and cunning cannot gain friends.

A taste for useful knowledge, will provide for us a great and noble entertainment, when others leave

us.