what is good, and entered on the path which leads to their object, they afterwards take another direction, either frightened by the difficulties which arise, or drawn aside by their own levity, and so either resign themselves to inactivity, or at any rate leave off the urgent pursuit of that which they had originally set before them. Others, lastly, though they form a true judgment, and persevere in the plan they have laid down, are hindered by the deficiency of their powers from attaining that which they desire.

XVIII.

We see persons, whose characters have previously been irreproachable, utterly changed by the possession of authority and power, and by the influence of prosperity. We see old friendships slighted by them, and new ones indulged in. And yet after all, when men are possessed of resources, wealth, and influence, how unwise to purchase all that money can purchase -horses, servants, rich clothing, valuable ornaments -and yet not to secure friends, who are, if I may use the term, the best and noblest furniture of life! For in providing all things else, they cannot foresee the future possessor; they know not for whom they toil; for all things else go to the stronger hand. But to friendships a man retains an inseparable and inalienable right; and granting even that what may be called the gifts of fortune remain in our possession, yet we could never enjoy a life destitute of friends.

XIX.

From this period all the Roman writers, whether poets or historians, seem to vie with each other in celebrating the praises of Cicero, as the most illustrious of all their patriots, and the parent of the Roman wit and eloquence, who had done more honour to his country by his writings than all their conquerors by their arms, and extended the bounds of his learning beyond those of their empire; so that their very emperors, near three centuries after his death, began to reverence him in the class of their inferior deities; a rank which he would have preserved to this day if he had happened to live in papal Rome, where he could not have failed, from the innocence of his life, of obtaining the honour and title of a saint.

XX.

MIDDLETON.

The total defeat of the Scottish army, lately mentioned, succeeded this; and when those noble persons within Colchester were advertised of both, they knew well that there was no possibility of relief; nor could they subsist longer, to expect it, being pressed with want of all kind of victual, and having eaten near all their horses. They sent, therefore, to Fairfax to treat about the delivery of the town on reasonable conditions; but he refused to treat or give any conditions, if they would not render to mercy all the officers and gentlemen: the common soldiers he was contented to dismiss. A day or two was spent in

deliberating. They within proposed to make a brisk sally, and thereby to shift for themselves as many as could; but they had too few horses, and the few that were left uneaten were too weak for that enterprise.

XXI.

Friendship is the only thing in the world on the advantages of which all unanimously agree. Some depreciate virtue, and call it mere hypocrisy and outward show; others care little for riches, and are easily satisfied with scanty fare and humble maintenance. Many, again, look down with contempt on all public offices of trust, as worthless and unsatisfactory; and all other objects of particular regard to some are valueless in the eyes of others. But on the subject of friendship there is no variety of opinion; the politician, the lover of philosophy, the man of leisure all agree, and even the votaries of pleasure feel that life cannot exist without friendship.

XXII.

When king Pyrrhus was in Italy, and had been conqueror in one or more engagements, and kept the Romans fully employed, and the greater part of Italy had revolted to the king, a certain man of Ambracia, a friend of Pyrrhus, came secretly to Fabricius asking a reward, for which, if it were given him, he promised to destroy the king by poison; this, he affirmed, would be easily accomplished, as his sons gave the king his wine at entertainments. The letter

which the consuls sent to Pyrrhus on this occasion was to this effect: The Roman consuls send health to king Pyrrhus. On account of the injuries received from you, we are ever anxious to oppose you with ardour and with enmity. But for the sake of general example and fidelity, we wish you to be preserved, that we may finally conquer you in arms. Nicias, your familiar friend, came to us, asking of us a reward if he should destroy you privately. To this we refused our assent; nor might he for this expect any advantage from us; at the same time we thought proper to inform you of this, lest if any such thing happened, the world might have thought it done by our suggestion; and because it is not agreeable to us to contend by means of perjury or fraud. Unless you take heed, you will perish.

XXIII.

The king was alarmed at the yoke which he saw prepared for him. Buckingham's sole guilt, he thought, was the being his friend and favourite. All the other complaints against him were mere pretences. A little before he was the idol of the people. No new crime had since been discovered. After the most diligent inquiry, the smallest appearance of guilt could not be fixed upon him. What idea, he asked, must all mankind entertain of his honour, should he sacrifice his innocent friend to pecuniary considerations ? What further authority should he retain in the nation, were he capable, in

the beginning of his reign, to give, in so signal an instance, such matter of triumph to his enemies and discouragement to his adherents?

XXIV.

The ancients universally esteemed agriculture to be the proper business for freemen, as well as the proper school for soldiers. The countryman, says Cato, has the fewest evil thoughts. In him the old stock of the nation is preserved; while it changes in cities where foreign merchants and tradesmen settle, and the natives remove withersoever gain lures them. In every country where slavery prevails, freedmen seek their livelihood by occupations of this kind, in which they not unfrequently grow wealthy. Thus, among the ancients, such trades were mostly in the hands of this class, and were therefore thought disreputable to a citizen. Hence the opinion that admitting the artisans to full civic rights was a hazardous

measure.

XXV.

Once upon a time, a king walking in his garden saw some roses which were yet buds breathing an ineffable sweetness. He thought, if these shed such sweetness while yet they are buds, what will they do when they are fully blown? After a while the king entered the garden anew, thinking to find the roses now blown, and to delight himself with their fragrance; but arriving at the place, he found them