THE WORKS OF Samuel Johnson, LL.D. A NEW EDITION, IN TWELVE VOLUME S. W I TH AN ESSAY ON HIS LIFE AND GENIUS, By ARTHUR MURPHY, Esq. VOLUME THE FOURTH. LONDON: J. Robson, J. Johnson, C. Dilly, T. Vernor, G. G. J. and J. Robinson, B. C. Collins, and E. Newbery. M DCC XCII. CONTENTS: OF THE FOURTH VOLUM E. THE R A M B L E R. Page NUMB. i Difficulty of the first address. Practice of the epick poets. . Convenience of periodical performances 2 The necessity and danger of looking into futurity. Wri ters naturally fanguine. Their hopes liable to disap pointment 3 An allegory on criticism - 14 4. The modern form of romances preferable to the ancient. The necessity of characters morally good - 20 5 A meditation on the Spring 6 Happiness not local 7 Retirement natural to a great mind. Its religious use , 8 The thoughts to be brought under regulation ; as they i respect the past, present, and future - 46 9 The fondness of every man for his profession. The gradual improvement of manufactures - 53 10 Four billets with their answers. Remarks on masque rades: 11 The folly of anger. The misery of a peevith old age 12 The history of a young woman that came to London for a service . , 73 13 The duty of secrecy. The invalidity of all excuses for betraying secrets . Page NUMB. 88 15 The folly of cards. A Letter from a lady that has loft her money . 95 16 The dangers and miseries of literary eminence . 103 17 The frequent contemplation of death necessary to mo derate the passions 18 The unhappiness of marriage caused by irregular mos tives of choice - 116 19 The danger of ranging from one ftudy to another. The importance of the early choice of a profession - 123 20 The folly and inconvenience of affectation - 131 21 The anxieties of literature not less than those of publick ftations. The inequality of authors writings - 137 22 An allegory of wit and learning I-" 7 - 144 23. The contrariety of criticism. The vanity of objection. . An author obliged to depend upon his own judgment" i5o 24 The neceility of attending to the duties of common life. : The natural character not to be forsaken :') 156 25 Rashness preferable to cowardice. Enterprize not to s be repressed . . . . 162 26 The mischief of extravagance, and misery of dependance 168 27 An author's treatment from fix patrons 28 The various arts of self-delufion 181 29 The folly of anticipating misfortunes 188 30 The observance of Sunday recommended ; an allegory 194 31 The defence of a known mistake highly culpable - 199 32 The vanity of stoicism. The necesity of patience 33 An allegorical history of rest and labour : : . . 213 34 The uneasiness and disgust of female cowardice .i 219 35 A marriage of prudence without affection 36 The reafons why pastorals delight .. 37 The true principles of paftoral poetry i 38 The advantages of mediocrity. An Eastern fable i 39 The unhappiness of women whether single or married 40 The difficulty of giving advice without offending 41 The advantages of memory 263 42 The misery of a modish lady in folitudę " - 270 43 The inconveniencies of precipitation and confidence.. i 276 44 Religion 175 207 232 245 Page 289 319 : 351 NUMB. • 282 45 The causes of disagreement in marriage : 46 The mischiefs of rural faction 295 47 The proper means of regulating forrow 301 48 The miseries of an infirm constitution 307 49 A disquisition upon the value of fame 313 50 A virtuous old age always reverenced 51 The employments of a housewife in the country 325 52 The contemplation of the calamities of others, a remedy for grief - 332 53 The folly and misery of a spendthrift - 338 54 A death-bed the true school of wisdom. The effects of death upon the survivors - 344 55 The gay widow's impatience of the growth of her daugh. ter. The history of miss May-pole56 The neceffity of complaisance. - The Rambler's igrief for offending his correspondents , 357 57 Sententious rules of frugality : . 364 58 The defire of wealth moderated by. philofophy 370 59 An account of Suspirius the human screech-owl. 60 The dignity and usefulness of biography 61 A Londoner's visit to the country 387 62 A young lady's impatience to fee London 394 63 Inconftancy not always a weakness 400 64 The requisites to true friendship 65 Obidah and the hermit, an Eastern story 66 Passion not to be eradicated. The views of women ill :11 . directed • 418 67 The garden of hope, a dream 68 Every man chiefly happy or miserable at home. The opinion of servants not to be despised - 429 69 The miseries and prejudice of old age 70 Different men virtuous in different degrees. The vi. cious not always abandoned - 441 376 381 406 412 423 435 THE |