Who nothing has to lose, the war bewails; Congreve-to Sir R. Temple. MCCXC. O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods themselves have provided that I shall have much help from you: How had you been my friends else? Why have you that charitable title from thousands, did you not chiefly belong to my heart? I have told more of you to myself, than you can with modesty speak in your own behalf; and thus far I confirm you. O, you gods, think 1, what need we have any friends, if we should never have need of them? they were the most needless creatures living, should we ne'er have use for them: and would not resemble sweet instruments hung up in cases, that keep their sounds to themselves. Why, I have often wish'd myself poorer, that I might come nearer to you. We are born to do benefits: and what better or properer can we call our own, than the riches of our friends? O, what a precious comfort 'tis, to have so many like brothers, commanding one another's fortunes! O joy, e'en made away ere it can be born! Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks: to forget their faults, I drink to you.—Timon of Athens-Shakspeare. МССХСІ. I had rather see some women praised extraordinarily, than to see any of them suffer detraction.-Dryden. MCCXCII. Though a pleader or preacher is hoarse or awkward, the weight of their matter commands respect and attention; but in theatrical speaking, if the performer is not exactly proper and graceful, he is utterly ridiculous. In cases where there is little expected but the pleasure of the ears and eyes, the least diminution of that pleasure is the highest offence. In acting, barely to perform the part is not commendable, but to be the least out is contemptible.-Steele. MCCXCIII. Disguise, I see, thou art a wickedness; In women's waxen hearts to set their forms? For, such as we are made of, such we be. MCCXCIV. Shakspeare. Idleness is a constant sin, and labour is a duty: idleness is but the devil's home for temptation, and for unprofitable, distracting musings; labour profiteth others, and ourselves.-Baxter. MCCXCV. Of all men living, I pity players (who must be men of good understanding, to be capable of being such,) that they are obliged to repeat and assume proper gestures for representing things, of which their reason must be ashamed, and which they must disdain their audience for approving. The amendment of these low gratifications is only to be made by people of condition, by encouraging the representation of the noble characters drawn by Shakspeare and others; from whence it is impossible to return without strong impressions of honour and humanity. On these occasions, distress is laid before us with all its causes and consequences, and our resentment placed according to the merit of the persons afflicted. Were dramas of this nature more acceptable to the taste of the town, men who have genius would bend their studies to excel in them.-Steele. MCCXCVI. There is too much reason to apprehend, that the custom of pleading for any client, without discrimination of right or wrong, must lessen the regard due to those important distinctions, and deaden the moral sensibility of the heart.-Percival. MCCXCVII. Heaven be their resource who have no other but the charity of the world, the stock of which, I fear, is no way sufficient for the many great claims which are hourly made upon it.-Sterne. MCCXCVII. The happiness of London is not to be conceived but by those who have been in it. I will venture to say, there are more learning and science within the circumference of ten miles from where we now sit, than in all the rest of the kingdom.-Johnson. MCCXCIX. 'Twas never merry world, since, of two usuries, the merriest was put down, and the worser allow'd by order of a law, a furr'd gown to keep him warm; and furred with fox and lamb-skins too, to signify, that craft, being richer than innocency, stands for the facing. -Shakspeare. MCCC. It is in the politic, as in the human, constitution; if the limbs grow too large for the body, their size, instead of improving, will diminish the vigour of the whole. The colonies should always bear an exact proportion to the mother country; when they grow populous, they grow powerful, and by becoming powerful, they become independent also. Thus, subordination is destroyed, and a country swallowed up in the extent of its own dominions.-Goldsmith. MCCCI. It is madness to make Fortune the mistress of events, because in herself she is nothing, but is ruled by prudence.-Dryden. MCCCII. If I freely may discover What should please me in my lover, Neither too easy nor too hard: MCCCIII. Ben Jonson Though selfishness hath defiled the whole man, yet sensual pleasure is the chief part of its interest, and therefore, by the senses it commonly works, and these are the doors and the windows by which iniquity entereth into the soul.-Baxter. MCCCIV. Such are the vicissitudes of the world, through all its parts, that day and night, labour and rest, hurry and retirement, endear each other; such are the changes that keep the mind in action; we desire, we pursue, we obtain, we are satiated: we desire something else, and begin a new pursuit.-Johnson. MCCCV. O, man, proud man! Most ignorant of what he 's most assured, Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven, MCCCVI. Prizes would be for lags of slowest pace, Shakspeare. Despise those drones, who praise, while they accuse, The too much vigour of your youthful muse. That humbler style, which they your virtue make, Is in your power; you need but stoop and take. MCCCVII. A lady's morning work: We rise, make fine, MCCCVIII. 325 J. Shirley. Marriage is the strictest tie of perpetual friendship, and there can be no friendship without confidence, and no confidence without integrity; and he must expect to be wretched, who pays to beauty, riches, or politeness, that regard which only virtue and piety can claim. Johnson. Who dares, who dares, MCCCIX. In purity of manhood stand upright, Will knit and break religions: bless the accursed; |