be trusted. Convinced by time of the selfishness, the meanness, the cowardice, the treachery of men.
'Youth ambitious, as thinking honours easy to be had.
'Different kinds of praise pursued at different periods. Of the gay in youth, dang, hurt, &c. despised.
'Of the fancy in manhood. Ambit.—stocks—bargains.—Of the wise and sober in old age—seriousness—formality—maxims, but general—only of the rich, otherwise age is happy—but at last every thing referred to riches—no having fame, honour, influence, without subjection to caprice.
'Horace[1].
'Hard it would be if men entered life with the same views with which they leave it, or left as they enter it.—No hope—no undertaking—no regard to benevolence—no fear of disgrace, &c.
'Youth to be taught the piety of age—age to retain the honour of youth.'
This, it will be observed, is the sketch of Number 196 of The Rambler. I shall gratify my readers with another specimen:
'Confederacies difficult; why.
'Seldom in war a match for single persons—nor in peace, therefore kings make themselves absolute. Confederacies in learning—every great work the work of one. Bruy. Scholar's friendship like ladies. Scribebamus, &c. Mart.[2] the apple of discord — the laurel of discord—the poverty of criticism. Swift's opinion of the power of six geniuses united[3]. That union scarce possible. His remarks just;
- ↑ From Horace (Ars Poet. I. 175) he takes his motto for the number:—
Multa ferunt anni venientes commoda secum,
Malta recedentes adimunt.'
'The blessings flowing in with life's full tide
Down with our ebb of life decreasing glide.'
Francis. - ↑ Lib. xii. 96 [95]. 'In Tuccam æmulum omnium suorum studiorum.' Malone.
- ↑ 'There never appear,' says Swift, 'more than five or six men of genius in an age; but if they were united, the world could not stand before them.' Johnson's Works, iv. 18.
