pens, that fluggishness and activity are equally furprised by the last summons, and perish not more differently from each other, than the fowl that received the fhot in her flight, from her that is killed upon the bush.

Among the many improvements made by the last centuries in human knowledge, may be numbered the exact calculations of the value of life; but whatever may be their use in traffick, they seem very little to have advanced morality. They have hitherto been rather applied to the acquifition of money, than of wisdom; the computer refers none of his calculations to his own tenure, but perfifts, in contempt of probability, to foretel old age to himself, and believes that he is marked out to reach the utmoft verge of human existence, and fee thousands and ten thoufands fall into the grave.

So deeply is this fallacy rooted in the heart, and so strongly guarded by hope and fear against the approach of reason, that neither fcience nor experience can shake it, and we act as if life were without end, though we fee and confefs its uncertainty and fhortnefs.

Divines have, with great ftrength and ardour, fhewn the abfurdity of delaying reformation and repentance; a degree of folly indeed, which fets eternity to hazard. It is the fame weakness, in proportion to the importance of the neglect, to tranffer any care, which now claims our attention, to a future time; we subject ourselves to needlefs dangers from accidents which early diligence would have obviated, or perplex our minds by vain precautions, and make provision for the execution of defigns, of B 3 which

which the opportunity once miffed

return.

never will

As he that lives longest lives but a little while, every man may be certain that he has no time to wafte. The duties of life are commenfurate to its duration, and every day brings its tafk, which if neglected is doubled on the morrow. But he that has already trifled away those months and years, in which he should have laboured, must remember that he has now only a part of that of which the whole is little; and that fince the few moments remaining are to be confidered as the last truft of heaven, not one is to be loft.

NUMB. 72.

SATURDAY, November 24, 1750.

Omnis Ariftippum decuit ftatus, et color, et res,

Sedantem majora fere; prefentibus æquum.

HOR.

Yet Ariflippus ev'ry dress became;

In ev'ry various change of life the same;

And though he aim'd at things of higher kind,
Yet to the present held an equal mind.

SIR,

To the RAMBLER.

FRANCIS.

THOSE who exalt themselves into the chair

of inftruction, without enquiring whether any will fubmit to their authority, have not fufficiently confidered how much of human life paffes in little incidents, curfory converfation, flight business, and

cafual

cafual amusements; and therefore they have endea. voured only to inculcate the more awful virtues, without condescending to regard those petty qualities, which grow important only by their frequency, and which, though they produce no fingle acts of heroifm, nor aftonish us by great events, yet are every moment exerting their influence upon us, and make the draught of life sweet or bitter by imperceptible inftillations. They operate unfeen and unregarded, as change of air makes us fick or healthy, though we breathe it without attention, and only know the particles that impregnate it by their falutary or malignant effects.

You have fhewn yourself not ignorant of the value of those fubaltern endowments, yet have hitherto neglected to recommend good-humour to the world, though a little reflection will fhew you that it is the balm of being, the quality to which all that adorns or elevates mankind muft owe its power of pleafing. Without good-humour, learning and bravery can only confer that fuperiority which fwells the heart of the lion in the defert, where he roars without reply, and ravages without refiftance. Without goodhumour virtue may' awe by its dignity, and amaze by its brightnefs; but must always be viewed at a distance, and will fearcely gain a friend or attract an imitator.

Good-humour may be defined a habit of being pleased; a conftant and perennial foftness of manner, eafinefs of approach, and fuavity of difpofition; like that which every man perceives in himself, when the first transports of new felicity have fubfided, and his thoughts are only kept in motion by a flow fucceffion

B 4

ceffion of foft impulfes. Good-humour is a state between gaiety and unconcern; the act or emanation of a mind at leifure to regard the gratification of another.

It is imagined by many, that whenever they aspire to please, they are required to be merry, and to shew the gladness of their fouls by flights of pleafantry, and bursts of laughter. But though thefe men may be for a time heard with applause and admiration, they feldom delight us long. We enjoy them a little, and then retire to easiness and good-humour, as the eye gazes awhile on eminences glittering with the fun, but foon turns aching away to verdure and to flowers.

Gaiety is to good-humour as animal perfumes to vegetable fragrance; the one overpowers weak fpirits, and the other recreates and revives them. Gaiety feldom fails to give fome pain; the hearers either ftrain their faculties to accompany its towerings, or are left behind in envy and defpair. Goodhumour boasts no faculties which every one does not believe in his own power, and pleases principally by not offending.

It is well known that the most certain way to give any man pleasure, is to perfuade him that you receive pleasure from him, to encourage him to freedom and confidence, and to avoid any fuch appearance of fuperiority as may overbear and deprefs him. We fee many that by this art only, fpend their days in the midst of careffes, invitations, and civilities; and without any extraordinary qualities or attainments, are the universal favourities of both fexes, and certainly find a friend in every place. The darlings of

the

the world will, indeed, be generally found fuch as excite neither jealoufy nor fear, and are not confidered as candidates for any eminent degree of reputation, but content themselves with common accomplishments, and endeavour rather to folicit kindness than to raise esteem; therefore in affemblies and places of refort it feldom fails to happen, that though at the entrance of fome particular perfon every face brightens with gladness, and every hand is extended in falutation, yet if you pursue him beyond the firft exchange of civilities, you will find him of very fmall importance, and only welcome to the company, as one by whom all conceive themselves admired, and with whom any one is at liberty to amuse himself when he can find no other auditor or companion, as one with whom all are at ease, who will hear a jeft without criticism, and a narrative without contradiction, who laughs with every wit, and yields to every difputer.

There are many whofe vanity always inclines them to affociate with thofe from whom they have no reafon to fear mortification; and there are times in which the wife and the knowing are willing to receive praise without the labour of deferving it, in which the most elevated mind is willing to defcend, and the most active to be at reft. All therefore are at fome hour or another fond of companions whom they can entertain upon eafy terms, and who will relieve them from folitude, without condemning them to vigi lance and caution. We are most inclined to love when we have nothing to fear, and he that encou rages us to please ourselves, will not be long without preference in our affection to those whofe learn