It remains only to confider the fourth and last imputation on that period of life at which I am arrived. " Old-age," it seems, muft neceffarily be a state "of much anxiety and difquietude, "from the near approach of death." That the hour of diffolution cannot poffibly be far distant from an old man, is moft undoubtedly certain: but unhappy indeed must he be, if in so long a course of years he has yet to learn, that there is nothing in that circumftance which can reasonably alarm his fears. On the contrary, it is an event either utterly to be difregarded, if it extinguish the foul's existence: or much to be wished, if it convey her to fome region where she fhall continue to exift for ever. One of those two confequences muft neceffarily enfue the difunion of the foul and body: there is no other poffible alternative. What then have I to fear, if after death I fhall either not be miferable, or shall certainly be happy"? But after all, is there any man, how young foever he

may be, who can be so weak as to promife himself, with confidence, that he fhall live even till night? In fact, young people are more exposed to mortal accidents, than even the aged. They are also not only more liable to natural difeafes; but, as they are generally attacked by them in a more violent manner, are obliged to obtain their cure, if they happen to recover, by a more painful course of medical operations. Hence it is that there are but few among mankind who arrive at old-age: and this (to remark it by the way) will fuggest a reason why the affairs of the world are no better conducted. For age brings along with it experience, difcretion, and judgment; without which, no well

9 It appears by calculations formed on the bills of mortality, that out of an hundred perfons born in the fame week, there are not more than ten who reach forty-fix years. But it is proper to add, that this computation is built on the havock that is made of the human fpecies by being crowded together in large cities.

formed

formed government could have been eftablished, or can be maintained. But not to wander from the point under our present confideration: why should death be deemed an evil peculiarly impending on old-age, when daily experience proves, that it is common to every other period of human life? Of this. truth, both you and I, Scipio, have a very fevere conviction in our respective families in yours, by the premature decease of your two brothers, who had given their friends a moft promising earnest that their merit would one day raise them to the highest honours of the ftate and in mine, by the loss of my truly excellent fon 6e

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It will be replied, perhaps, that "youth may at leaft entertain the hope of enjoying many additional

46

years; whereas an old man cannot rationally encourage fo pleafing an expectation." But is it not a mark of extreme weakness, to rely upon pre

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carious contingences, and to confider an event as abfolutely to take place, which is altogether doubtful and uncertain? But admitting that the young may indulge this expectation with the highest reafon; ftill the advantage evidently lies on the fide of the old: as the latter is already in poffeffion of that length of life, which the former can only hope to attain. 66 Length of life," did I say? good Gods! what is there in the utmost extent of human duration, that can properly be called long; even if our days should prove as numerous as those of Arganthonius, the king of the Tarteffi; who reigned, as history tells us, eighty years, and lived to the age of an hundred and twenty"! In my own opinion indeed, no portion of time can justly be deemed long, that will neceffarily have an end; fince the longeft, when once it is elapfed, leaves not a trace behind, and nothing valuable remains with us but the confcious fatisfaction of having employed it well.

Thus

Thus hours and days, months and years, glide imperceptibly away; the past never to return; the future involved in impenetrable obfcurity! But whatever the extent of our present duration may prove, a wife and good man ought to be contented with the allotted measure; remembering that it is in life, as on the stage, where it is not neceffary in order to be approved, that the actor's part fhould continue to the conclusion of the drama: it is fufficient, in whatever scene he shall make his final exit, that he supports the character affigned him with deserved applause. The truth is, a small portion of time is abundantly adequate to the purposes of honour and virtue. But should our years continue to be multiplied; a wife man will no more lament his entrance into old-age, than the husbandman regrets, when the bloom and fragrancy of the spring is paffed away, that fummer or autumn is arrived. Youth is the vernal season of life; and the blof

foms