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as if he meant them to some purpose, but they prove unprofitable as a piece of wrought timber to no use. His spirits

and the sun are enemies, the sun bright and warm, his humour black and cold. Lastly, he is a man only in shew, but comes short of the better part, a whole reasonable soul, which is man's chief pre-eminence and sole mark from creatures sensible.

SIR T. OVERBURY

282. THE ANALOGY BETWEEN THE MORAL AND MATERIAL WORLD. In the material world, we see all disorders cured by their own excesses: a sultry calm fails not to produce a storm, which dissipates the noxious vapours, and restores a purer air; the fiercest tempest, exhausted by its own violence, at length subsides; and an intense sun-shine, whilst it parches up the thirsty earth, exhales clouds, which quickly water it with refreshing showers. Just so in the moral world, all our passions and vices,. by their excesses defeat themselves: excessive rage renders men impotent to execute the mischiefs which they threaten; repeated treacheries make them unable to deceive, because none will trust them; and extreme profligacy, by the diseases which it occasions, destroys their appetites, and works an unwilling reformation. As in the natural world, the elements are restrained in their most destructive effects by their mutual opposition; so in the moral, are the vices of mankind prevented from being totally subversive of society by their continually counteracting each other: profusion restores to the public the wealth which avarice has detained from it for a time; envy clips the towering wings of ambition; and even revenge, by its terrors, prevents many injuries and oppressions: the treachery of the thief discovers his accomplices; and the villainy of the assassin puts an end to the cruelty of a tyrant.

S. JENYNS

283. COMPARISON BETWEEN KINGS AND CEDARS. They say that the goodliest cedars, which grow on the high mountains of Libanus, thrust their roots between the clefts of hard rocks, the better to bear themselves against the strong storms that blow there. As nature hath instructed those kings of trees, so hath reason taught the kings of men to root themselves in the hardy hearts of their faithful subjects. And as those kings of trees have large tops, so have the kings of men

large crowns, whereof as the first would soon be broken from their bodies were they not underborne by many branches, so would the other easily totter were they not fastened on their heads with the strong chains of civil justice and martial discipline. SIR W. RALEGH

284. CHARACTER OF BEN JONSON. As for Jonson, I think him the most learned and judicious writer which any theatre ever had. He was a most severe judge of himself, as well as others. One cannot say he wanted wit, but rather that he was frugal of it. In his works you find little to retrench or alter. Wit, and language, and humour also in some measure, we had before him; but something of art was wanting to the drama till he came. He managed his strength to more advantage, than any who preceded him. You seldom find him making love in any of his scenes, or endeavouring to move the passions; his genius was too sullen and saturnine to do it gracefully, especially when he knew he came after those who had performed both to such a height. Humour was his proper sphere, and in that he delighted most to represent mechanic people. If there was any fault in his language, 'twas that he weaved it too closely and laboriously, in his comedies, especially. If I would compare him with Shakespeare, I must acknowledge him the more correct poet, but Shakespeare the greater wit. Shakespeare was the Homer, or father of our dramatic poets; Jonson was the Virgil, the pattern of elaborate writing; I admire him, but I love Shakespeare. J. DRYDEN

285. LOVE OF TRUTH. You complain of a great many defects, and that very complaint is the highest recommendation I could desire to make me love and esteem you, and desire your friendship. And if I were now setting out in the world, I should think it my great happiness to have such a companion as you, who had a true relish for truth, would in earnest seek it with me, from whom I might receive it undisguised, and to whom I might communicate what I thought true freely. Believe it, my good friend, to love truth for truth's sake is the principal part of human perfection in this world, and the seed-plot of all other virtues; and, if I mistake not, you have as much of it as ever I met with in any body. What then is there wanting to make you equal to the best; a friend for any one to be proud of?

286. GILDAS HIS BAD CHARACTER OF THE BRITONS. That which he notes especially to be the chief perverting of all good in the land, and so continued in his days, was the hatred of truth, and all such as durst appear to vindicate and maintain it. Against them, as against the only disturbers, all the malice of the land was bent. Lies and falsities, and such as could best invent them, were only in request. Evil was embraced for good, wickedness honoured and esteemed as virtue. And this quality their valour had, against a foreign enemy to be for ever backward and heartless; to civil broils, eager and prompt. In matters of government and the search of truth, weak and shallow; in falsehood and wicked deeds, pregnant and industrious. Pleasing to God, or not pleasing, with them weighed alike; and the worse-most an end was the weightier. All things were done contrary to public welfare and safety; nor only by secular men, for the clergy also, whose example should have guided others, were as vicious and corrupt. Many of them besotted with continual drunkenness, or swollen with pride and wilfulness, full of contention, full of envy, indiscreet, incompetent judges to determine what in the practice of life is good or evil, what lawful or unlawful. J. MILTON

287.

DEIOCES-HIS STRICT FORM OF GOVERNMENT. This Deioces was the first that ruled the Medes in a stri form, commanding more absolutely than his predecessors ha d done. For they, following the example of Arbaces, had given to the people so much licence, as caused every one to desire the wholesome severity of a more lordly king. Herein Deioces answered their desires to the full. For he caused them to build for him a stately palace; he tooke unto him a guard for defence of his person; he seldome gave presence, which also when he did, it was with such austerity, that no man durst presume to spit or cough in his sight. By these and the like ceremonies he bred in the people an awful regard, and highly upheld the majesty, which his predecessors had almost letten fall, through neglect of due comportments. In execution of his royal office, he did uprightly and severely administer justice, keeping secret spies to inform him of all that was done in the kingdom. He cared not to enlarge the bounds of his dominion, by encroaching upon others; but studied how to govern well his own.

SIR W. RALEGH

288.

CHARACTER OF THE LONG PARLIAMENT IN 1641. A parliament being called, to address many things, as it was thought, the people with great courage and expectation to be eased of what discontented them, chose their behoof in parliament, such as they thought best affected to the public good, and some indeed men of wisdom and integrity; the rest (to be sure the greater part) whom wealth or ample possessions or bold and active ambition (rather than merit) had commended to the same places. But when once the superficial zeal and popular fumes that acted their new magistracy were cooled and spent in them, strait every one betook himself (setting the commonwealth behind, his private ends before) to do as his own profit or ambition led him. Then was justice delayed and soon after denied: spight and favour determined all: hence faction, thence treachery, both at home and in the field; everywhere wrong and oppression: foul and horrid deeds committed daily or maintained in secret or in open. Some who had been called from shops and warehouses, without other merit, to sit in supreme councils and committees, (as their breeding was) fell to huckster the commonwealth. Others did thereafter as men could soothe and honour them best; so he who would give most, or under covert of hypocritical zeal insinuate basest, enjoyed unworthily the rewards of learning and fidelity; or escaped the punishment of his crimes and misdeeds. J. MILTON

289. PERORATION OF A SPEECH ON AMERICA. This, my lords, though no new doctrine, has always been my received and unalterable opinion, and I will carry it to my grave, that this country had no right under heaven to tax America. It is contrary to all the principles of justice and civil policy, which neither the exigencies of the state, nor even an acquiescence in the taxes, could justify upon any occasion whatever. Such proceedings will never meet their wished for success; and, instead of adding to their miseries, as the bill now before you most undoubtedly does, adopt some lenient measures, which may lure them to their duty: proceed like a kind and affectionate parent over a child whom he tenderly loves; and instead of those harsh and severe proceedings, pass an amnesty on all their youthful errors; clasp them once more in your fond and affectionate arms; and I will venture to affirm you will find them children worthy of their sire. But should their turbulence exist after your proffered

terms of forgiveness, which I hope and expect this house will immediately adopt, I will be among the foremost of your lordships to move for such measures as will effectually prevent a future relapse, and make them feel what it is to provoke a fond and forgiving parent! a parent, my lords, whose welfare has ever been my greatest and most pleasing consolation.

W. PITT

290. KING LEIR AND CORDEILLA. Now might be seen a difference between the silent or downright spoken affection of some children to their parents; and the talkative obsequiousness of others: while the hope of inheritance overacts them and on the tongue's end enlarges their duty. Cordeilla, out of mere love, without the suspicion of expected reward, at the message only of her father in distress pours forth true filial tears. And not enduring either that her own, or any other eye should see him in such forlorn condition as his messenger declared, discreetly points one of her trusty servants first to convey him privately towards some good seatown there to array him, bathe him, cherish him, furnish him with such attendance and state as beseemed his dignity; that then, as from his first landing, he might send word of his arrival to her husband Aganippus. Which done, with all mature and requisite contrivance, Cordeilla, with the king her husband and all the barony of his realm, who then first had news of his passing the sea, go out to meet him; and after all honourable and joyful entertainment Aganippus, as to his wife's father and his royal guest, surrenders him during his abode there the power and disposal of his whole dominion; permitting his wife Cordeilla to go with an army and set her father upon his throne. Wherein her piety so prospered, as that she vanquished her impious sisters with those dukes; and Leir again, as saith the story, three years obtained the crown. To whom dying Cordeilla with all regal solemnities gave burial in the town of Leicester: and then as right heir succeeding and her husband dead ruled the land five years in peace. J. MILTON

291.

DECISION OF CHARACTER.

A decisive man is in danger of extending but little tolerance to the prejudices, hesitation and timidity of those with whom he has to act. If full scope be allowed to this tendency, it will make even

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