with one or two, to knit their brows and look solemn; but we who are engaged in discoursing of true philosophy, are cheerful as amatter of course!" Heracleon the magician, knew what he was about when he resolved to be wise. And yet, after all, it is our constitution and not our learning, that makes us one thing or the other-grave or gay, lively or severe ! We may form our philosophy in one school, but our feelings may impel us to another; and while our tenets rejoice with Democritus, our hearts may despond with Heraclitus. And, in fact, it re quires not only all that our wisdom can teach us, but perhaps, also, something of a constitution of mind naturally sanguine and elastic, to transmute into golden associations the baser ores of our knowledge of the world. Deceit and Disappointment are but sorry stimulants to the Spirits! "The pleasure of the honey will not pay for the smart of the sting."* As we know, or fancy that we know, mankind, there is a certain dimness that falls upon the * Jeremy Taylor, Sermon vi. Part 2. glory of all we see. "The lily is withered, the purple of the violet turned into paleness;"* without growing perhaps more selfish, we contract the circle of our enjoyments. We do not hazard-we do not venture as we once did. The sea that rolls before us proffers to our that we have not already seen. curiosity no port About this time, too, our ambition changes its character-it becomes more a thing of custom than of ardour. We have begun our career- shame forbids us to leave it; but I question whether any man moderately wise, does not see how small is the reward of pursuit. Nay, ask the oldest, the most hacknied adventurer of the world, and you will find he has some dream at his heart, which is more cherished than all the honours he seeks-some dream perhaps of a happy and serene retirement which has lain at his breast since he was a boy, and which he will never realize. The trader and his retreat at Highgate are but the type of Walpole and his palace at Houghton. The worst feature Man. Jeremy Taylor. Contemplations of the State of in our knowledge of the world is, that we are wise to little purpose-we penetrate the hearts of others, but we do not content our own. Every wise man feels that he ought not to be ambitious, nor covetous, nor subject to emotion yet the wisest go on toiling, and burning to the last. Men who have declaimed most against ambition have been among the most ambitious; so that, at the best, we only become wise for the sake of writing books which the world seldom values till we are dead-or of making laws and speeches, which, when dead, the world hastens to forget. "When all is done, human life is at the greatest and the best but like a froward child, that must be played with and humoured a little to keep it quiet till it falls asleep, and then the care is over." * Sir William Temple. |