rinth of complicated paffions; he extends his radiance further than his heart, and guides all that are within view, but burns only those who make too near approaches.

Ditto, v. 2, p. 133.

But the wickednefs of a loose, or profane author, in his writings, is more atrocious than that of the giddy libertine, or drunken ravisher; not only because it extends its effects wider (as a peftilence that taints the air is more deftructive than poifon infufed in a draught) but because it is committed with cool deliberation. By the instantaneous violence of defire, a good man may fometimes be furprised before reflection can come to his refcue: when the appetites. have strengthened their influence by habit, they are not eafily refifted or fuppreffed; but for the frigid villainy of studious lewdness, for the calm malignity of laboured impiety, what apology can be invented? What punishment can be adequate to the crime of him who retires to folitude for the refinement of debauchery; who tortures his fancy, and ranfacks his memory, only that that he may leave the world lefs virtuous than he found it; that he may intercept the hopes of the

rifing generation, and fpread fnares for the foul with more dexterity?

Ditto, ditto, p. 134.

He that commences a writer may be confidered as a kind of general challenger, whom every one has a right to attack, fince he quits the common rank of life, steps forward beyond the lifts, and offers his merit to the public judgement. To commence author, is to claim praife; and no man can justly afpire to honour but at the hazard of difgrace.

Ditto, ditto, p. 231.

Authors and lovers always fuffer fome infatuation through the fondness for their feparate objects, which only abfence can fet them free; and every man ought to restore himself to the full exercife of his judgment, before he does that which he cannot do improperly without injuring his honour and his quiet.

Ditto, v. 4, p. 54.

That of conniving at another man prin ting his works, and then denying that he gave any authority, is a ftratagem by which an author, panting for fame, and yet afraid of feeming to challenge it, may (at once to gratify his vanity and preserve the aprearance of modefty) enter the lifts and

fe

fecure a retreat; and this candour might fuffer to pass undetected as an innocent fraud, but that indeed no fraud is innocent; for the confidence which makes the happiness of fociety is, in fome degree, diminished by every man whofe practice is at variance with his words.

Life of Sir T. Browne, p. 257.

He that teaches us any thing which we knew not before, is undoubtedly to be re-. verenced as a master. He that conveys knowledge, by more pleafing ways, may very properly be loved as a benefactor; and he that fupplies life with innocent amufement, will be certainly careffed as a pleasing companion.

Idler, v. 2, p. 184.

APHORISM S.

We frequently fall into error and folly, not because the true principles of action are not known, but because, for a time, they are not remembered he may therefore be justly numbered amongst the benefactors of mankind, who contracts the great rules of life into fhort fentences, that may be easily impreffed on the memory, and taught by frequent recollection to recur habitually to the mind.

Rambler, v. 4, p. 84.

B

BEAUTY.

The bloom and foftnefs of the female fex are not to be expected among the lower claffes of life, whofe faces are expofed to the rudeness of the climate, and whofe features are fometimes contracted by want, and fometimes hardened by blaits. Supreme beauty is feldom found in cottages, or workfhops, even where no real hardfhips are fuffered. To expand the human face to its full perfection, it feems neceffary that the mind fhould co-operate by placidness of content, or confcioufnefs of fuperiority.

Western Islands, p. 190.

Beauty is fo little fubject to the examinations of reafon, that Pafchal fuppofes it to end where demonftration begins, and maintains that, without incongruity and abfurdity, we cannot fpeak of geometrical beauty.

Rambler, v. 2, p. 219.

Beauty is well known to draw after it the perfecutions of impertinence; to incite the artifices of envy, and to raise the flames of unlawful love; yet among ladies whom prudence or modefty have made most

emi

eminent, who has ever complained of the inconveniences of an amiable form, or would have purchased safety by the lofs of charms?

Ditto, v. 3, P. 35.

It requires but little acquaintance with tle heart, to know that woman's first wifh is to be handfome; and that confequently the readieft method of obtaining her kindness is to praise her beauty.

Ditto, v. 4, P. 159.

As we are more accuftomed to beauty than deformity, we may conclude that to be the reason why we approve and admire it, as we approve and admire cuftoms and fafhions of drefs, for no other reason than that we are used to them: fo that though habit and cuftom cannot be faid to be the cause of beauty, it is certainly the caufe of our liking

it.

Idler, v. 2, p. 167.

In the works of nature, if we compare one fpecies with another, all are equally beauti ful, and preference is given from custom, or fome affociation of ideas; and, in creatures. of the fame fpecies, beauty is the medium, or centre of all its various forms.

Ditto, ditto, p. 172.