those who languish in health, and repine in plenty, for want of fome fource of diverfion that may be lefs eafily exhaufted, and to inform the multitudes of both fexes, who are burthened with every new day, that there are many fhows which they have not feen. He that enlarges his curiofity after the works of nature, demonftrably multiplies the inlets to happinefs; and, therefore, the younger part of my readers, to whom I dedicate this vernal speculation, must excuse me for calling upon them, to make ufe at once of the spring of the year, and the spring of life; to acquire, while their minds may be yet impreffed with new images, a love of innocent pleafures, and an ardour for useful knowledge; and to remember, that a blighted fpring makes a barren year, and that the vernal flowers, however beautiful and gay, are only intended by nature as preparatives to autumnal fruits. NUMB. 6. SATURDAY, April 7, 1750. Sirenua nos exercet inertia, navibus atque Active in indolence, abroad we roam In queft of happiness which dwells at home: With vain pursuits fatigu'd, at length you'll find, HOR. ELPHINSTON. HAT man fhould never fuffer his happiness THA to depend upon external circumstances, is one of the chief precepts of the Stoical philofophy; a precept, indeed, which that lofty fect has extended beyond the condition of human life, and in which fome of them feem to have comprised an utter exclufion of all corporal pain and pleasure from the regard or attention of a wife man. Such fapientia infaniens, as Horace calls the doctrine of another fect, fuch extravagance of philosophy, can want neither authority nor argument for its confutation: it is overthrown by the experience of every hour, and the powers of nature rife up against it. But we may very properly enquire, how near to this exalted state it is in our power to approach, how far we can exempt ourfelves from outward influences, and fecure to our minds a state of tranquillity: for, though the boaft of abfolute independence is ridiculous and vain, yet a mean flexiVOL. IV. D bility upon a mirrour which fhows all that prefents itfelf without difcrimination. It is therefore not a fufficient vindication of a character, that it is drawn as it appears, for many characters ought never to be drawn; nor of a narrative, that the train of events is agreeable to obfervation and experience, for that obfervation which is called knowledge of the world will be found much more frequently to make men cunning than good. The purpose of these writings is furely not only to fhow mankind, but to provide that they may be seen hereafter with lefs hazard; to teach the means of avoiding the fnares which are laid by TREACHERY for INNOCENCE, without infufing any wish for that fuperiority with which the betrayer flatters his vanity; to give the power of counteracting fraud, without the temptation to practise it; to initiate youth by mock encounters in the art of neceffary defence, and to encrease prudence without impairing virtue. Many writers, for the fake of following nature, fo mingle good and bad qualities in their principal perfonages, that they are both equally confpicuous; and as we accompany them through their adventures with delight, and are led by degrees to interest ourselves in their favour, we lofe the abhorrence of their faults, because they do not hinder our pleasure, or, perhaps, regard them with fome kindness for being united with so much merit. There have been men indeed fplendidly wicked, whofe endowments threw a brightnefs on their crimes, and whom fcarce any villany made perfectly deteftable, becaufe they never could be wholly wholly divested of their excellencies; but fuch have been in all ages the great corrupters of the world, and their resemblance ought no more to be preserved, than the art of murdering without pain. Some have advanced, without due attention to the confequences of this notion, that certain virtues have their correfpondent faults, and therefore that to exhibit either apart is to deviate from probability. Thus men are obferved by Swift to be "grateful in the fame degree as they are refent"ful." This principle, with others of the fame kind, fuppofes man to act from a brute impulfe, and pursue a certain degree of inclination, without any choice of the object; for, otherwife, though it fhould be allowed that gratitude and refentment arife from the fame conftitution of the paffions, it follows not that they will be equally indulged when reafon is confulted; yet unless that confequence be admitted, this fagacious maxim becomes an empty found, without any relation to practice or to life. Nor is it evident, that even the first motions to thefe effects are always in the fame proportion. For pride, which produces quickness of resentment, will obstruct gratitude, by unwillingness to admit that inferiority which obligation implies; and it is very unlikely, that he who cannot think he receives a favour, will acknowledge or repay it. It is of the utmost importance to mankind, that pofitions of this tendency fhould be laid open and confuted; for while men confider good and evil as fpringing from the fame root, they will spare the one for the fake of the other, and in judging, if not of others at least of themselves, will be apt to To this to estimate their virtues by their vices. fatal error all thofe will contribute, who confound the colours of right and wrong, and, inftead of helping to fettle their boundaries, mix them with so much art, that no common mind is able to difunite them. In narratives, where hiftorical veracity has no place, I cannot discover why there fhould not be exhibited the most perfect idea of virtue; of virtue not angelical, nor above probability, for what we cannot credit we fhall never imitate, but the higheft and pureft that humanity can reach, which, exercifed in fuch trials as the various revolutions of things fhall bring upon it, may, by conquering fome calamities, and enduring others, teach us what we may hope, and what we can perform. Vice, for vice is neceffary to be fhewn, fhould always disgust; nor fhould the graces of gaiety, or the dignity of courage, be fo united with it, as to reconcile it to the mind. Wherever it appears, it should raise hatred by the malignity of its practices, and contempt by the meannefs of its ftratagems; for while it is fupported by either parts or fpirit, it will be feldom heartily abhorred. The Roman tyrant was content to be hated, if he was but feared; and there are thousands of the readers. of romances willing to be thought wicked, if they may be allowed to be wits. It is therefore to be fteadily inculcated, that virtue is the highest proof of understanding, and the only folid basis of greatness; and that vice is the natural confequence of narrow thoughts; that it begins in miftake, and ends in ignominy. |