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fordid temper, are to be moved only by mercenary motives; but the brave and liberal will always be most effectually fubdued by courtesy and kindness. C. But fuppofe, my Socrates, when I have done as you have advised, my brother should behave no better than he has done?

S. Suppofe he should, Chærecrates, what greater harm can result to you, than that of having fhewn yourself to be a good man, and a good brother, to one whose badness of temper rendered him unworthy of your regard! But I have no apprehenfion that the affair will end in fuch an unfavourable manner: rather, when your bro-' ther fall obferve that it is your intention to con→ quer him by courtefy, he will strive to out-do you in fo noble a conteft. As the affair stands at present, your fituation is really deplorable. It is juft the fame as if these hands, which were de figned, by the bountiful Author of nature, for mutual affistance, should fo far forget their office, as to be continually hindering each other; or as if these feet, which were intended for reciprocal help, should entangle each other to the detriment of both. But, furely, it must be as foolish and perverfe as it is pernicious, thus to turn those conveniences to our hurt, which were defigned for our comfort and fecurity. For, to speak the truth, I regard a brother as one of the most valuable bleffings which God has bestowed upon us:

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two brothers being more serviceable to each other than two hands, or two feet, or any other of those members which have been given to us in pairs, for their mutual benefit and affiftance; for, as to the hands, or feet, they could not poffibly help and relieve each other, unless the distance between them was very small; and even our eyes, whose use and capacity are far more extensive, cannot view the front and reverse of the fame object at the fame time: but no distance of fituation can prevent two brothers, who cultivate a mutual affection, from rendering to each other the most effential fervices."

CHAP.

CHAP. IV.

OF TEMPERANCE.

By Temperance, I mean a just moderation,

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both in the quantity and the quality of our food. As to the quantity, we fhould neither eat nor drink fo much as to overload the stomach, or diforder the mind; and the best rule we can observe for that purpose is, always to rise from table with an appetite, and as capable of performing any exercifes, either bodily or mental, as when we first fat down. As to the quality, whether of meat or drink, that which is the plainest and simplest is best.

The rapacious and covetous have the pleasure of growing rich, and add to their own fubftancewhat they take from that of others; but the intemperate man injures his neighbour without any profit to himself; nay, he injures every man, and himself most of all; if the ruin of his family, his health, his body, and his mind, can be called injuries. Neither can fuch a one either receive, or communicate the pleasures which arise from focial conversation; for what pleasure can he give, whose only delight is in eating and drinking, and who, deftitute of fhame, prefers the

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company of a notorious fot or a common prostitute, to that of his best friend? Hence, therefore, we may see how neceffary it is to make temperance our chief study; fince, without this, as its basis, what other virtue can we attain? Or how is it poffible, that we should have fufficient attention and refolution, either to learn what is profitable, or to practife what is praife-worthy? For these reasons, we cannot conceive any state more truly pitiable, both in respect to the body and the mind, than that of the voluptuary, who has abandoned himself to all the drudgery of intemperance.

He who is accustomed to indulge iu variety, will feel himself diffatisfied, when it is not in his power to procure it; but the man who generally reftrains himself to one difh, will rife contented, and well fatisfied, from the meaneft table.

He who fits down with a good appetite, has no want of rich fauce to give a relish to his food: nor will he disturb himself with a wish for the coftly and high-flavoured wines of the voluptuary, who has been accustomed to quench his thirst with a draught of water.

No person will employ another, or admit him into his house as a fervant,, unless he is well affured of his fobriety: nay, not even a flave will be received, though fent as a prefent, if he is branded with the vice of intemperance. How

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inconsistent, then, and how shamefully absurd, must be the man, who wantonly indulges himself in that very excefs, which he would defpife and resent in the meanest hireling.

Befides the injury which we do to ourselves and others, by an intemperate courfe of life, we become guilty of the vileft ingratitude to our Maker. We pervert his bounty to the worst of purposes; and employ the bleffings he has bestowed upon us for our comfort and refreshment, to our utter fhame and ruin.

EXAMPLES of TEMPERANCE.

(1.) Alexander having restored Ada, the fifter of Maufolus, king of Caria, to the throne of her ancestors, the princefs refolved to fhew her grati-tude to fo generous a conqueror. For this purpose, having provided a variety of dainties, which had been provided by all the refinements of Afiatic luxury, the fent them as a prefent to the king, to-gether with the cooks she had employed in making them. But the young monarch, who had no tafte for fuch effeminate delicacies, thanking her very politely for her kind intentions, fent her word that he had no occafion for the cooks, because he had already two very excellent ones, who had been recommended to him by his tutor Leonidas, viz. a long march in the morning, to give him a relish for his dinner; and a moderate dinner, to

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