they seize, infeft those that are placed within the reach of their influence, deftroy private quiet and private virtue, and undermine infenfibly the happinefs of the world.

The defire of excellence is laudable, but is very frequently ill directed. We fall, by chance, into fome clafs of mankind, and, without confulting nature or wifdom, refolve to gain their regard by those qualities which they happen to esteem. I once knew a man remarkably dim-fighted, who, by converfing much with country gentlemen, found himfelf irrefiftibly determined to fylvan honours. His great ambition was to fhoot flying, and he therefore spent whole days in the woods purfuing game; which, . before he was near enough to fee them, his approach frighted away.

When it happens that the defire tends to objects which produce no competition, it may be overlooked with fome indulgence, because, however fruitless or abfurd, it cannot have ill effects upon the morals. But most of our enjoyments owe their value to the peculiarity of poffeffion, and when they' are rated at too high a value, give occafion to ftratagems of malignity, and incite oppofition, hatred, and defamation. The contest of two rural beauties for preference and diftinction, is often fufficiently keen and rancorous to fill their breafts with all thofe paffions, which are generally thought the curfe only of fenates, of armies, and of courts; and the rival dancers of an obfcure affembly have their partisans and abettors, often not lefs exafperated against each other, than those who are promoting the interests of rival monarchs.

It is common to confider those whom we find infected with an unreasonable regard for trifling accomplishments, as chargeable with all the confequences of their folly, and as the authors of their own unhappiness: but, perhaps, thofe whom we thus fcorn or deteft, have more claim to tenderness than has been yet allowed them. Before we permit our severity to break loofe upon any fault or error, we ought furely to confider how much we have countenanced or promoted it. We see multitudes busy in the pursuit of riches, at the expence of wisdom and of virtue; but we fee the rest of mankind approving their conduct, and inciting their eagerness, by paying that regard and deference to wealth, which wisdom and virtue only can deferve. We fee women univerfally jealous of the reputation of their beauty, and frequently look with contempt on the care with which they study their complexions, endeavour to preserve or to fupply the bloom of youth, regulate every ornament, twist their hair into curls, and shade their faces from the weather. We recommend the care of their nobler part, and tell them how little addition is made by all their arts to the graces of the mind. But when was it known that female goodness or knowledge was able to attract that officiousness, or infpire that ardour, which beauty produces whenever it appears? And with what hope can we endeavour to perfuade the ladies, that the time spent at the toilet is loft in vanity, when they have every moment fome new conviction, that their intereft is more effectually promoted by a ribband well difpofed, than by the brightest act of heroick virtue ?

In every instance of vanity it will be found, that the blame ought to be shared among more than it generally reaches; all who exalt trifles by immoderate praise, or inftigate needlefs emulation by invidious incitements, are to be confidered as perverters of reason, and corrupters of the world: and fince every man is obliged to promote happiness and virtue, he should be careful not to mislead unwary minds, by appearing to fet too high a value upon things by which no real excellence is conferred.

NUMB. 67. TUESDAY, November 6, 1750.

Αἱ δ ̓ ἐλπίδις βόσκεσι φυγάδας, ὡς λόγος,
Καλῶς βλέπεσιν ὄμμασι, μέλλωσι δύο

Exiles, the proverb fays, fubfift on hope,
Delufive hope ftill points to diftant good,
To good that mocks approach.

EURIP.

HERE is no temper fo generally indulged

TH

as hope; other paffions operate by starts on particular occafions, or in certain parts of life; but hope begins with the first power of comparing our actual with our poffible state, and attends us through every stage and period, always urging us forward to new acquifitions, and holding out fome diftant blessing to our view, promifing us either relief from pain, or increase of happiness.

Hope is neceffary in every condition. The miseries of poverty, of sickness, of captivity, would, without this comfort, be infupportable; nor does

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it

it appear that the happiest lot of terreftrial existence can fet us above the want of this general bleffing; or that life, when the gifts of nature and of fortune are accumulated upon it, would not still be wretched, were it not elevated and delighted by the expectation of fome new poffeffion, of fome enjoyment yet behind, by which the wifh fhall be at last satisfied, and the heart filled up to its utmost extent.

Hope is, indeed, very fallacious, and promifes what it feldom gives; but its promifes are more valuable than the gifts of fortune, and it feldom fruftrates us without affuring us of recompenfing the delay by a greater bounty.

I was mufing on this ftrange inclination which every man feels to deceive himself, and confidering the advantages and dangers proceeding from this gay prospect of futurity, when, falling asleep, on a fudden I found myself placed in a garden, of which my fight could defcry no limits. Every scene about me was gay and gladfome, light with funfhine, and fragrant with perfumes; the ground was painted with all the variety of fpring, and all the choir of nature was finging in the groves. When I had recovered from the first raptures, with which the confufion of pleasure had for a time entranced me, I began to take a particular and deliberate view of this delightful region. I then perceived that I had yet higher gratifications to expect, and that, at a fmall diftance from me, there were brighter flowers, clearer fountains, and more lofty groves, where the birds, which I yet heard but faintly, were exerting all the power of melody. The trees about me were beautiful with verdure, and fragrant with bloffoms;

but

but I was tempted to leave them by the fight of ripe fruits, which feemed to hang only to be plucked. I therefore walked haftily forwards, but found, as I proceeded, that the colours of the field faded at my approach, the fruit fell before I reached it, the birds flew ftill finging before me, and though I preffed onward with great celerity, I was ftill in fight of pleasures of which I could not yet gain the poffeffion, and which feemed to mock my diligence, and to retire as I advanced.

Though I was confounded with fo many alternations of joy and grief, I yet perfifted to go forward, in hopes that thefe fugitive delights would in time. be overtaken. At length I faw an innumerable multitude of every age and fex, who feemed all to partake of fome general felicity; for every cheek wast flushed with confidence, and every eye sparkled with eagerness: yet each appeared to have fome particular and fecret pleasure, and very few were willing to communicate their intentions, or extend their concern beyond themselves. Most of them feemed, by the rapidity of their motion, too busy to gratify the curiofity of a stranger, and therefore I was content for a while to gaze upon them, without interrupting them with troublefome enquiries. At laft I obferved one man worn with time, and unable to struggle in the crowd; and, therefore, fuppofing him more at leifure, I began to accoft him: but he turned from me with anger, and told me he must not be disturbed, for the great hour of projection was now come, when Mercury should lofe his wings, and flavery fhould no longer dig the mine for gold.