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to be sad, not because he suffereth aught, but because he is gloomy.

It is not the occasion that produceth the sorrow; for behold, the same thing shall be to another rejoicing.

Ask men if their sadness maketh things better, and they will confess to thee that it is folly; nay, they will praise him who beareth his ills with patience, who maketh head against misfortune with courage. Applause shall be followed by imitation.

Sadness is against nature, for it troubleth her motions: lo, it rendereth distorted whatsoever na-, ture hath made amiable.

As the oak falleth before the tempest, and raiseth not its head again; so boweth the heart of man to the force of sadness, and returneth unto his strength

no more.

As the snow melteth upon the mountains, from the rain that trickleth down their sides, even so is beauty washed from off the cheek by tears; and neither the one nor the other restoreth itself again. As the pearl is dissolved by the vinegar, which seemeth at first only to obscure its surface; so is thy happiness, O man! swallowed up by heaviness of heart, though at first it seemeth only to cover it as with its shadow.

Behold Sadness in the public streets: cast thine eye upon her in the places of resort; avoideth she not every one? and doth not every one fly from her presence?

See how she droopeth her head, like the flower whose root is cut asunder! see how she fixeth her, eyes upon the earth! see how they serve her to no purpose but for weeping!

Is there in her mouth discourse? is there in her heart the love of society? is there in her soul, rea

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son? Ask her the cause, she knoweth it not : inquire the occasion, and behold there is none!

Yet doth her strength fail her; lo, at length she sinketh into the grave; and no one saith, What is become of her?

Hast thou understanding, and seest thou not this? hast thou piety, and perceivest thou not thine error?

God created thee in mercy: had he not intended thee to be happy, his beneficence would not have called thee into existence; how darest thou then to fly in the face of Majesty?

Whilst thou art most happy with innocence, thou doest him most honour; and what is thy discontent but murmuring against him?

Created he not all things liable to changes; and darest thou to weep at their changing?

If we know the law of nature, wherefore do we complain of it? If we are ignorant of it, what shall we accuse but our blindness to what every moment giveth us proof of?

Know that it is not thou that art to give laws to the world; thy part is to submit to them as thou findest them. If they distress thee, thy lamentation but addeth to thy torment.

Be not deceived with fair pretences, nor suppose that sorrow healeth misfortune. It is a poison under the colour of a remedy: while it pretendeth to draw the arrow from thy breast, lo, it plungeth it into thine heart.

While sadness separateth thee from thy friends, doth it not say, Thou art unfit for conversation? while she driveth thee into corners, doth she not proclaim that she is ashamed of herself?

It is not in thy nature to meet the arrows of illfortune unhurt; nor doth reason require it of thee:

it is thy duty to bear misfortune like a man; but thou must first also feel it like one.

Tears may drop from thine eyes, though virtue falleth not from thine heart; be thou careful only that there is cause, and that they flow not too abundantly.

What is there that weakeneth the soul like grief? what depresseth it like sadness.

Is the sorrowful prepared for noble enterprises? or armeth he himself in the cause of virtue?

Subject not thyself to ills, where there are no advantages in return; neither sacrifice thou the means of good unto that which is in itself an evil.

OF THE ADVANTAGES MAN MAY ACQUIRE OVER HIS FELLOW-CREATURES.

NOBILITY AND HONOUR.

NOBILITY resideth not but in the soul; nor is there true honour except in virtue.

The favour of princes may be bought by vice; rank and titles may be purchased for money: but these are not true honour.

Crimes cannot exalt the man who commits them, to real glory: neither can gold make men noble.

When titles are the reward of virtue, when the man is set on high who hath served his country; he who bestoweth the honours hath glory, like as hè who receiveth them; and the world is benefited by it.

Wouldst thou wish to be raised, and men know not for what? or wouldst thou that they should say, Why is this?

When the virtues of the hero descend to his children, his titles accompany them well; but when he

who possesseth them is unlike him who deserved them, lo, do they not call him degenerate?

Hereditary honour is accounted the most noble; but reason speaketh in the cause of him who hath acquired it.

He who, meritless himself, appealeth to the actions of his ancestors for his greatness, is like the thief who claimeth protection by flying to the pagod.

What good is it to the blind, that his parents could see? what benefit is it to the dumb, that his grandfather was eloquent? even so, what is it to the mean, that their predecessors were noble?

A mind disposed to virtue maketh great the possessor; and without titles it will raise him above the vulgar.

He will acquire honour while others receive it: and will he not say unto them, Such were the men whom ye glory in being derived from?

As the shadow waiteth on the substance, even so true honour attendeth upon virtue.

Say not that honour is the child of boldness, nor believe thou that the hazard of life alone can pay the price of it: it is not to the action that it is due, but to the manner of performing it.

All are not called to guide the helm of state; neither are their armies to be commanded by every one: do well in that which is committed to thy charge, and praise shall remain unto thee.

Say not that difficulties are necessary to be conquered, or that labour and danger must be in the way of renown. The woman who is chaste, is she not praised? the man who is honest, deserveth he not to be honoured?

The thirst of fame is violent; the desire of honour is powerful; and he who gave them to us, gave them for great purposes.

When desperate actions are necessary to the

public, when our lives are to be exposed for the good of our country, what can add force to virtue but ambition?

It is not the receiving of honour that delighteth the noble mind; its pride is the deserving of it.

Is it not better that men should say, Why hath not this man a statue? than that they should ask, Why he hath one?

The ambitious will always be first in the crowd; he presseth forward, he looketh not behind him. More anguish is it to his soul, to see one before him, than joy to leave thousands at a distance.

The root of ambition is in every man; but it riseth not in all: fear keepeth it down in some; in many it is suppressed by modesty.

It is the inner garment of the soul; the first thing put on by it with the flesh, and the last it layeth down at its separation from it.

It is an honour to thy nature when worthily employed; when thou directest it to wrong purposes, it shameth and destroyeth thee.

In the breast of the traitor ambition is covered; hypocrisy hideth its face under her mantle; and cool dissimulation furnisheth it with smooth words; but in the end men shall see what it is.

The serpent loseth not his sting though benumbed with the frost; the tooth of the viper is not broken though the cold closeth his mouth : take pity on his state, and he will shew thee his spirit; warm him in thy bosom, and he will requite thee with death. He that is truly virtuous, loveth virtue for herself; he disdaineth the applause which ambition aimeth after.

How pitiable were the state of virtue, if she could not be happy but from another's praise! she is too noble to seek recompense, and no more will, than can be rewarded.

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