repofe with comfort, is that which prefents to us the, care of Providence, whofe eye takes in the whole of things, and under whofe direction all involuntary errors will terminate in happiness.

NUMB. 108. SATURDAY, November 17, 1753.

Nobis, cum fimul occidit brevis lux,

Nox eft perpetuo una dormienda.

When once the fhort-liv'd mortal dies,

A night eternal feals his eyes.

CATULLUS,

ADDISON.

T may have been obferved by every reader, that

there are certain topicks which never are exhausted. Of some images and fentiments the mind of man may be faid to be enamoured; it meets them, however often they occur, with the fame ardour which a lover feels at the fight of his mistress, and parts from them with the fame regret when they can no longer be enjoyed,

Of this kind are many defcriptions which the poets have tranfcribed from each other, and their fucceffors will probably copy to the end of time; which will continue to engage, or, as the French term it, to flatter the imagination, as long as human nature fhall remain the fame.

When a poet mentions the fpring, we know that the zephyrs are about to whisper, that the groves are to recover their verdure, the linnets to warble forth their notes of love, and the flocks and herds

not much o

haps, equally no abfolute des

Whether firable, has a

the alluren

ployments:
honour; th

difficult, br.:

ort, is that which prefents to us the e, whofe eye takes in the whole of r whofe direction all involuntary ate in happiness.

can be co

left to every s

can any g be happy

Thus, "they are

"that the

certain; pleafure, difpofition can have

for all the

be propert
to predom

Such a
likely to
we have m

us freft
indeed,

ties are

ATURDAY, November 17, 1753.

nul occidit brevis lux,

40 una dormienda.

he fhort-liv'd mortal dies,
nal feals his eyes.

CATULLUS,

ADDISON.

een obferved by every reader, that in topicks which never are exhaufted,

and fentiments the mind of man e enamoured; it meets them, howoccur, with the fame ardour which the fight of his mistress, and parts the fame regret when they can no

ed,

are many descriptions which the poets 1 from each other, and their fucceffors copy to the end of time; which will gage, or, as the French term it, to gination, as long as human nature e fame.

et mentions the fpring, we know that re about to whisper, that the groves r their verdure, the linnets to warble

tes of love, and the flocks and herds

"troubled with fufpicions; are you fingle? you

languish in folitude; children occafion toil, and "a childless life is a ftate of deftitution; the time "of youth is a time of folly, and gray hairs are "loaded with infirmity. This choice only, there"fore, can be made, either never to receive being, "or immediately to lofe it."

Such and fo gloomy is the profpect, which Pofidippus has laid before us. But we are not to acquiefce too hastily in his determination against the value of existence: for Metrodorus, a philofopher of Athens, has fhewn, that life has pleasures as well as pains; and having exhibited the present state of man in brighter colours, draws, with equal appearance of reafon, a contrary conclufion.

"You may pass well through any of the paths of life. In publick affemblies are honours and tranf"actions of wifdom; in domeftick privacy, is ftill

nefs and quiet; in the country are the beauties of "nature; on the fea is the hope of gain; in a

foreign land, he that is rich is honoured, he that "is poor may keep his poverty fecret; are you mar"ried? you have a cheerful houfe; are you fingle? you are unincumbered; children are objects of "affection, to be without children is to be without care; the time of youth is the time of vigour, and gray hairs are made venerable by piety. It will, "therefore, never be a wife man's choice, either not "to obtain exiftence, or to lofe it; for every state "of life has its felicity."

46

In thefe epigrams are included most of the queftions which have engaged the fpeculations of the enquirers after happiness; and though they will

not

not much affift our determinations, they may, perhaps, equally promote our quiet, by fhewing that no abfolute determination ever can be formed.

Whether a publick ftation, or private life be defirable, has always been debated. We fee here both the allurements and difcouragements of civil employments on one fide there is trouble, on the other honour; the management of affairs is vexatious and difficult, but it is the only duty in which wisdom can be confpicuously displayed: it must then fill be left to every man to choose either eafe or glory; nor can any general precept be given, fince no man can be happy by the prescription of another.

Thus, what is faid of children by Pofidippus, " that they are occafions of fatigue," and by Metrodorus, "that they are objects of affection," is equally certain; but whether they will give most pain or pleasure, must depend on their future conduct and difpofitions, on many causes over which the parent can have little influence: there is, therefore, room for all the caprices of imagination, and defire must be proportioned to the hope or fear that fhall happen to predominate.

Such is the uncertainty in which we are always likely to remain with regard to questions, wherein we have moft intereft, and which every day affords us fresh opportunity to examine: we may examine, indeed, but we never can decide, because our faculties are unequal to the fubject: we fee a little, and form an opinion; we fee more, and change it.

This inconftancy and unsteadinefs, to which we must so often find ourselves liable, ought certainly. to teach us moderation and forbearance towards. H 3 thofe