a ness, which is not always clean: you have you were called. * For the rest, the respect chosen for yourself a private greatness, and will and love which was paid you, not only in the not be polluted with ambition. It has been ob- province where you live, but gencrally by all served in former times, that none have been so who had the happiness to know you, was a wise greedy of employments, and of managing the exchange for the honours of the court-a place public, as they who have least deserved their of forgetfulness, at the best, for well-deservers. stations. But such only merit to be called It is necessary, for the polishing of manners, to patriots, under whom we see their country have breathed that air; but it is infectious, flourish. I have laughed sometimes, (for who even to the best morals, to live always in it. It would always be a Heraclitus ?) when I have is a dangerous commerce, where an honest man reflected on those men, who from time to time is sure at the first of being cheated, and he rehave shot themselves into the world. I have covers not his losses, but by learning to cheat seen many successions of them; some bolting others. The undermining smile becomes at out upon the stage with vast applause, and length habitual; and the drift of his plausible others hissed off, and quitting it with disgrace. conversation is only to flatter one, that he may But, while they were in action, I have con- betray another. Yet it is good to have been stantly observed, that they seemned desirous to looker on, without venturing to play; that a man retrear from business : greatness, they said, was may know false dice another time, though he nauseous, and a crowd was troublesome : a never means to use them. I commend not him quiet privacy was their ambition. Some few of who never knew a court, but himn who forsakes it them, I believe, said this in earnest, and were because he knows il. A young man deserves making a provision against future want, that no praise, who, out of melancholy zeal, leaves they might enjoy their age with ease. They the world before he has well tried it, and runs saw the happiness of a private life, and promised headlong into religion. He who carries a maidto themselves a blessing, which every day it enhead into a cloister, is sometimes apt to lose was in their power to possess. But they defer- it there, and 10 repent of his repentance. He red it, and lingered still al court, because they only is like to endure austerities, who has already thought they had not yet enough to make them found the inconvenience of pleasures : for almost happy: they would have more, and laid in, to every man will be making experiments in one make their solitude luxurious : - a wretched part or another of his life; and the danger is the philosophy, which Epicurus never taught them less when we are young; for, having tried it in his garden. They loved the prospect of this early, we shall not be apt to repeat it afterquiet in reversion, but were not willing to have wards. Your lordship Therefore may properly it in possession: they would first be old, and be said to have chosen a retreat, and not to have make as sure of health and life, as if both of them chosen it till you bad maturely weighed the adwere at their dispose. But put them to the ne vantages of rising higher, with thu hazards of cessity of a present choice, and they preferred the fall. continuance in power ; like the wretch who Res, non parta labore, sed relicta, called Death to his assistance, but refused him when he came. The great Scipio was not of was thought by a poet to be one of the requisites their opinion, who indeed sought honours in his to a happy life. Why should a reasonable man youth, and endured the fatigues with which he put it into the power of Fortune to make him purchased them. He served his country when miserable, when his ancestors have taken care it was in need of his courage and conduct, till to release him from her ? Let him venture, says he thought it was time to serve himself; but Horace, qui zonam perdidit. He, who has nodismounted from the saddle when he found the thing, plays securely; for he may win, and canbeast which bore him began to grow restiff and not be poorer if he loses : but he who is born to ungovernable. But your lordship has given us a plentiful estate, and is ambitious of offices at a better example of moderation. You saw be- court, sets a stake to Fortune, which she can times, that ingratitude is not confined to com seldom answer. If he gains nothing, he loses monwealths; and therefore, though you were all, or part of what was once his own, and, if formed alike for the greatest of civil employ- he gets, he cannot be certain but he may refund. ments and military cornmands, yet you pushed • Dryden's praise, though often hyperbolical, is not your fortune to rise in either, but contented always founded on some circumstances appropriate yourself with being capable, as much as any to its object. Lord Chesterfield, who had enjoyed whosoever, of defending your country with your offices of honour at the court of Charles il., now lived in retirement at an elegant vilia. according to sword, or assisting it with your counsel, when Mr. Malone, near Twickenham. CONTENTS. VOL. II. Pagr. Dedication of the Georgics II. Alexis 8 10 11 13 14 X. Gallus Goorgics I. IV. Book II. Book XII. Dedication of the Translation of the League Postscript to the History of the League To Mr. Jarvis Preface to the Art of Painting 15 22 30 38 81 91 102 111 121 132 145 156 166 177 190 203 217 219 253 258 259 284 286 288 290 310 321 322 323 340 365 PAGE. 398 . The Judgment of Charles Alphonse du Fresnoy Letler 1. To Madame Honor Dryden 8. From Jacob Tonson to John Drydes Esq. 36. Answer to the foregoing by Mr. Pepys 39. To the Right Hon. Chai es Montagne 41. , To Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas, 42. T. Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas, Juni. 444 ib. Jun: ib. 453 ib. 454 455 ib. |
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