REVENGE.

FORBEARANCE of revenge, when revenge is within reach, is fcarcely ever to be found among princes.

Memoirs of the K, of Pruffia, p. 137.

RESPECT.

RESPECT is often paid in proportion

as it is claimed.

LITERARY

Idler, v. 1. p. 276.

REPUTATION.

OF the decline of literary reputation, many causes may be affigned. It is commonly loft because it never was deferved, and was conferred at first, not by the fuffrage of criticifm, but by the fondnefs of friendship, or fervility of flattery. Many have loft the final reward of their labours, because they were too hafty to enjoy it. They have laid hold on recent occurrences and eminent names, and delighted their readers with allufions and remarks, in which all were interested, and to which therefore all were attentive; but the effect ceased with its caufe; the time quietly came when new events drove the former from memory, when the viciffitudes of the world brought new hopes and fears, transferred

the

the love and hatred of the public to other agents, and the writer whofe works were no longer affifted by gratitude or refentment, was left to the cold regard of idle curiofity. But he that writes upon general principles, or delivers univerfal truths, may hope to be often read, because his work will be equally useful at all times, and in every country; but he cannot expect it to be received with eagerness, or to fpread with rapidity, becaufe defire can have no particular ftimulation. That which is to be loved long, is to be loved with reafon, rather than with paffion.

Idler, v. 2. p. 36 & 37.

REASON and FANCY. REASON is like the fun, of which the light is conftant, uniform and lafting. Fancy, a meteor of bright but tranfitory luftre, irregular in its motion, and delulufive in its direction.

Prince of Abyffinia, p. 116.

S.

SATIRE.

PERSONAL refentment, though no

lauda

laudable motive to fatire, can add great force to general principles. Self-love is a busy prompter.

Life of Dryden.

All truth is valuable, and fatyrical criticifm may be confidered as useful, when it rectifies error, and improves judgment. He that refines the public taste, is a public benefactor.

Life of Pope.

SATYRIST.

IN defence of him who has fatyrized the man he has once praifed, it may be alledged, that the object of his fatire has changed his principles, and that he who was once defervedly commended, may be afterwards fatyrized with equal juftice, or that the poet was dazzled with the appearance of virtue, and found the man whom he had celebrated, when he had an opportunity of examining him more nearly, unworthy of the panegyric which he had too haftily bestowed; and that, as falfe fatire ought to be recanted, for the fake of him whofe reputation may be injured, false praife ought likewife to be pbviated, left the diftinction been vice and virtue

fhould

fhould be loft, left a bad man fhould be trufted upon the credit of his encomiaft, or left others should endeavour to obtain the like praises by the fame means. ——But though thefe excufes may be often plaufible, and fometimes juft, they are feldom fatisfactory to mankind; and the writer who is not conftant to his fubject, quickly finks into contempt; his fatire lofes its force, and his panegyric its value; and he is only confidered at one time as a flatterer, and as a calumniator at another. To avoid these imputations, it is only neceffary to follow the rules of virtue, and to preserve an unvaried regard to truth. For though it is undoubtedly poffible, that a man, however cautious, may be sometimes deceived by an artful appearance of virtue, or a false appearance of guilt, fuch errors will not be frequent; and it will be allowed, that the name of an author would never have been made contemptible, had no man ever faid what he did not think, or mifled others but when he was himfelf deceived.

Life of Savage.

ST

SECRETS.

SECRETS are fo feldom kept, that it may be with fome reafon doubted, whether a fecret has not fome fubtle volatility by which it escapes, imperceptibly, at the smallest vent, or fome power of fermentation, by which it expands itself, fo as to burst the heart that will not give it way.

Rambler, v. 1, P 75.

To tell our own fecrets is generally folly, but that folly is without guilt. To communicate thofe with which we are intrusted, is always treachery, and treachery for the most part combined with folly.

Ditto, ditto, p. 76.

SCEPTICISM.

THERE are fome men of narrow views and groveling conceptions, who, without the inftigation of perfonal malice, treat every new attempt as wild and chimerical, and look upon every endeavour to depart from the beaten track, as the rafh effort of a warm imagination, or the glittering fpeculation of an exalted mind, that may please and dazzle for a time, but can produce no real, or lafting advantage.

Life of Blake, p. 191.

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