It is said, that the light of the sun is not a continuous body, but that he darts new rays so rapidly, that we cannot discern their separation. According to Lucretius: For as the etherial sun that shines so bright, The adverse passions blended in the mind, As gentle love, blest hope, rash anger, and mad fear. While Xerxes was viewing his numberless forces, during their passage over the Hellespont, on his expedition into Greece, he was seized with a tremor of joy on confidering that so many millions of men were under his command, and his countenance difplayed the satisfaction of his mind. But his thoughts instantly suggesting to him, that among so many lives there would scarcely be one surviving at the end of a century, he contracted his brow, and became sad even to tears. We have pursued with ardour the revenge of an injury, and having obtained it, we have felt a singular satisfaction; nevertheless, upon reAection, K 3 flection, we have not been devoid of chagrin, as every thing wears two aspects. Our old acquaintances, relations, and friends, have won our affections, and we become for a season paffionately fond of them; but the counter-charm seizes us, and the ties are, often as instantly dissolved. Thus we are greatly deceived, if we imagine that there is one regular train of thinking. If the vague mind should every thought expose, What could with her celerity compare, Quicker than light, and swifter than the air. Lucretius. When Timaleon wept for the murder which, after the most mature and unbiassed deliberation, he had committed *, he did not weep for the liberty which he rendered his country, he did not lament the death of a tyrant, but he grieved for his brother; one part of his duty is performed, let us leave him to perform the other. * He slew his brother Timophanes, because he `attempted to enslave his country. ESSAY 28. ON SOLITUDE. Let us wave the old comparison betwixt the us active and the solitary life, and, with regard to that fine saying of Lucretius, "that we are not born for ourselves, but for the public," let us boldly appeal to those who are most engaged in public affairs. Let them lay their hands on their hearts, and then say, whether they do not aspire to titles and offices, rather for their private advantage, than for the service of their country. A man may do well or ill every where; but if what Bias says is true, that the greater part is the worse, or there is not one good in a thousand, the contagion is very dangerous in a crowd. A man must either imitate the vicious, or hate them: both are dangerous; to resemble them because they are many, or to hate them because they differ from ourselves. Merchants who trade by sea, act wisely when they refuse to take on board dissolute characters, judging that such society is unfortunate. To be in company with the innocent is always an advantage. Such was the opinion of Albuquerque, who was sent viceroy to India by the king of Portugal: being in extreme peril during his passage, he took a young child upon his shoulder, that through his innocency he might be protected by heaven, and arrive on shore. Charordas punished those for bad men who were convicted of keeping bad company. And Aristhenus did not, in my opinion, give a satisfactory answer, when he was reproached with frequenting ill company, by saying, " that physicians enjoyed their health among the sick," for if they conduce to the health of the sick, they must doubtless, by contagion, impair their own. We frequently imagine, that we have quitted business when we quit our situation in life, and travel into remote countries; but unless we are guided by reason and prudence, He He who mounts his horse to fly from care, When once worldly affairs have taken strong possession of our minds, they will follow us into cloisters or defarts; and if a man does not first disengage himself from inordinate desires, and relieve his mind from the burden with which he is oppressed, he will, like a sick person, receive more harm than good by removing from place to place. "You'll fay, perhaps, that you have broke the chain: "Why so the dog has knawed the knot in twain, "That ty'd him fast; but as he flies he feels "The pond'rous chain still rattling at his heels." Horace says," to what corroding care is not a man subject when he is a prey to his passions? by what terrors is he not agitated, and in what a gulph of misery is he not plunged by arrogance, debauchery, pride, luxury, and idleness? we then in vain seek that true repose from solitude, which may be possessed even in populous cities. and the courts of kings, with a right disposition, though I confess more commodioufly when Leparated K 5 |