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THE ADVENTURER.

nda ma est; qua me quoque possim
Lumo, "uctorque virum volitare per ora-VIR
veros win, in quest of praise I go,

and are gazing muitine Drow.

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N. 69. TUESDAY, JULY. 3, 1753.

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ULLY has long ago observed, that no ran, however weakened by long lile, so conscious of his own decrepide, as not to imagine that he may yet ald station in the world for another year.3

truth of this remark every day urishes

w contiraation: there is no time of life, in ih men for the most part seem less to expect

the stroke of death, than when every other eye

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Nemo enim est tam seres qui se anuni na pter vivere."-De Senectute, vii 4.

THE ADVENTURER.

Tentanda via est; qua me quoque possim
Tollere humo, victorque virum volitare per ora.-VIRGIL.1
On vent'rous wing in quest of praise I go,
And leave the gazing multitude below.

No. 69. TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1753.

Ferè libenter homines id quod volunt credunt.-CÆSAR.2 Men willingly believe what they wish to be true.

ULLY has long ago observed, that no man, however weakened by long life, is so conscious of his own decrepitude, as not to imagine that he may yet hold his station in the world for another year.3 Of the truth of this remark every day furnishes new confirmation: there is no time of life, in which men for the most part seem less to expect the stroke of death, than when every other eye

1 Georgics, iii. 8.

2 Gallic War, iii. 18.

8 "Nemo enim est tam senex qui se annum non putet posse vivere."-De Senectute, vii. 24.

sees it impending; or are more busy in providing for another year than when it is plain to all but themselves, that at another year they cannot arrive. Though every funeral that passes before their eyes evinces the deceitfulness of such expectations, since every man who is borne to the grave thought himself equally certain of living at least to the next year; the survivor still continues to flatter himself, and is never at a loss for some reason why his life should be protracted, and the voracity of death continue to be pacified with some other prey.

But this is only one of the innumerable artifices practised in the universal conspiracy of mankind against themselves: every age and every condition indulges some darling fallacy; every man amuses himself with projects which he knows to be improbable, and which, therefore, he resolves to pursue without daring to examine them. Whatever any man ardently desires, he very readily believes that he shall some time attain : he whose intemperance has overwhelmed him with diseases, while he languishes in the spring, expects vigour and recovery from the summer sun; and while he melts away in the summer, transfers his hopes to the frosts of winter: he that gazes upon elegance or pleasure, which want of money hinders him from imitating or partaking, comforts himself that the time of distress will soon be at an end, and that every day brings him nearer to a state of happiness; though he knows it has passed nct only without acquisition of advantage, but perhaps without endeavours after it, in the formation of

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