No 624. Wednesday, November 24. Audire, atque togam jubeo componere, quifquis M Hor. ANKIND is divided into two Parts, the Bufie and the Idle. The Bufie World may be divided into the Virtuous and the Vicious. The Vicious again into the Covetous, the Ambitious, and the Senfual. The Idle Part of Mankind are in a State inferior to any one of thefe. All the other are engaged in the Purfuit of Happiness, though often mifplaced, and are therefore more likely to be attentive to fuch Means, as fhall be propofed to them for that End. The Idle, who are neither wife for this World, nor the next, are emphatically called by Dr. Tillot fon, Fools at large. They propofe to themfelves ne -End, but run adrift with every Wind. Advice therefore would be but thrown away upon them, fince they would fcarce take the Pains to read it. I fhall not fatigue any of this worthless Tribe with a long Harangue; but will leave them with this fhort Saying of Plato, that Labour is preferable to Idleness, as Brightness to Ruft. THE Purfuits of the Active Part of Mankind, are either in the Paths of Religion and Virtue; or, on the other Hand, in the Roads to Wealth, Honours or Pleafure. I fhall therefore compare the Purfuits of Avarice, Ambition and Senfual Delight, with their oppofite Virtues; and fhall confider which of these Principles engages Men in a Course of the greatest Labour, Suffering and Affiduity. Moft Men, in their cool Reasonings, are willing to allow that a Course of Virtue will in the End be rewarded the most amply; ply; but represent the Way to it as rugged and nar ΓΟΥ. If therefore it can be made appear, that Men ftruggle through as many Troubles to be miferable, as they do to be happy; my Readers may perhaps be perfuaded to be Good, when they find they fhall lofe nothing by it. FIRST for Avarice. The Mifer is more Indu ftrious than the Saint; The Pains of getting, the Fears of lofing, and the Inability of enjoying his Wealth, have been the Mark of Satyr in all Ages. Were his Repentance upon his Neglect of a good Bar gain, his Sorrow for being over-reached, his Hope of improving a Sum, and his Fear of falling into Want, directed to their proper Objects; they would make fo many different Chriftian Graces and Virtues. He may apply to himself a great Part of St. Paul's Catalogne of Sufferings. In journeying often; in Perils of Water, in Perils of Robbers, in Perils among falfe Brethren. In Weariness and Painfulness, in Watching often, in Hunger and Thirst, in Faftings often,At how much less Expence might he lay up to himself Treasures in Heaven; or if I may, in this Place, be allowed to add the Saying of a great Philofopher, he may provide fuch Poffeffions, as fear neither Arms, nor Men, nor Jove himself. . -ÍN the fecond Place, if we look upon the Toils of Ambition, in the fame Light as we have considered those of Avarice, we fhall readily own that far lefs Trouble is requifite to gain lafting Glory, than the Power and Reputation of a few Years; or, in other Words, we may with more Eafe deferve Honour, than obtain it. The Ambitious Man fhould remember Cardinal Woolfey's Complaint. Had I ferved God, with the fame Application, wherewith I ferved my King, he would not have forfaken me in my old Age. The Cardinal here foftens his Ambition by the fpecious Pretence of ferving his King: Whereas his Words, in the proper Conftruction, imply, that if inftead of being acted by Ambition, he had been acted VOL. VIII. & M by by Religion, he should have now felt the Comforts of it, when the whole World turned its Back upon him. Thirdly, LET us compare the Pains of the Sensual, with those of the Virtuous, and fee which are heavier in the Balance. It may feem ftrange, at the first View, that the Men of Pleasure fhould be advised to change their Course, because they lead a painful Life. Yet when we see them fo active and vigilant in quest of Delight; under fo many Difquiets, and the Sport of fuch various Paffions; let them anfwer, as they can, if the Pains, they undergo, do not outweigh their Enjoyments. The Infidelities on the one Part between the two Sexes, and the Caprices on the other, the Debasement of Reason, the Pangs of Expectation, the Disappointments in Poffeffion, the Stings of Remorfe, the Vanities and Vexations attending even the moft refined Delights that make up this Bufinefs of Life, render it fo filly and uncomfortable, that no Man is thought wife till he hath got over it, or happy, but in proportion as he hath cleared himself from it. THE Sum of all is this. Man is made an active Being. Whether he walks in the Paths of Virtue or Vice, he is fure to meet with many Difficulties to prove his Patience, and excite his Industry. The fame, if not greater Labour, is required in the Service of Vice and Folly, as of Virtue and Wisdom: And he hath this eafie Choice left him, whether with the Strength he is Mafter of, he will purchase Happiness or Repentance. Friday, N° 625. Friday, -amores A tenero meditatur Ungui. Hor. HE Love-Cafuit hath referred to me the fol Tlowing Letter of Queries, with his Answers to each Queftion, for my Approbation. I have accordingly confidered the feveral Matters therein contained, and hereby confirm and ratifie his Answers, and require the gentle Querift to conform her self thereunto. с SIR, I Was Thirteen the Ninth of November laft, and 'must now begin to think of fettling my felf in the World, and fo I would humbly beg your Ad'vice, what I muft do with Mr. Fondle, who makes his Addreffes to me. He is a very pretty Man, and hath the blackeft Eyes and whitest Teeth you ever faw. Though he is but a younger Brother, he dreffes like a Man of Quality, and ro Body comes into a Room like him. I know he hath refufed great Offers, and if he cannot Marry me, he will never have any Body elfe. But my Father hath for• bid him the Houfe, because he fent me a Copy of • Verfes; for he is one of the greatest Wits in Town. My eldest Sifter, who, with her good Will, would call me Mifs, as long as I live, must be married before me, they fay. She tells them, that Mr. Fondle makes a Fool of me, and will spoil the Child, as fhe calls me, like a confident thing as he is. In 'fhort, I am refolved to marry Mr. Fondle, if it be but to fpite her. But because I would do nothing that is imprudent, I beg of you to give me your • Answers to fome Questions I will write down, and M 2 defire ' defire you to get them printed in the SPECTATOR, ' and I do not doubt but you will give such Advice, ." as, I am fure, I fhall follow. WHEN Mr. Fondle looks upon me for half an Hour together, and calls me Angel, is he not in Love? Anfwer, No. MAY not I be certain he will be a kind Huf• band, that has promised me half my Portion in Pinmony, and to keep me a Coach and Six in the Bargain? No. "WHETHER I, who have been acquainted with him this whole Year almoft, am not a better Judge of his Merit, than my Father and Mother, who never heard him talk, but at Table? No. WHETHER I am not old enough to chufe for my felf? No. WHETHER it would not have been rude in me to refufe a Lock of his Hair? No. SHOULD not I be a very barbarous Creature, if I did not pity a Man that is always Sighing for ! my Sake? No. WHETHER you would not advise me to run • away with the Man? poor No. WHE |