... 89 The luxury of vain imagination 90 The pauses in English poetry adjusted 91 The conduct of patronage, an allegory 93 The prejudices and caprices of criticism 94 An inquiry how far Milton has accommo- dated the sound to the sense... ... ... 98 The necessity of cultivating politeness... 104 The original of flattery. The meanness of venal praise 105 The universal register, a dream ... 106 The vanity of an author's expectations. 108 Life sufficient to all purposes if well em- 113 The history of Hymenæus's courtship ... 115 The sequel of Hymenæus's courtship 287 116 The young trader's attempt at politeness... 280 117 The advantages of living in a garret 121 The dangers of imitation. The impro- ... 122 A criticism on the English historians 126 The universality of cowardice. The impro- 128 Anxiety universal. The unhappiness of a 129 The folly of cowardice and inactivity 361 130 The history of a beauty 137 The necessity of literary courage... No 71. THE RAMBLER. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1750. Vivere quod propero pauper, nec inutilis annis MART. F. LEWIS. MANY words and sentences are so frequently heard in the mouths of men, that a superficial observer is inclined to believe, that they must contain some primary principle, some great rule of action, which it is proper always to have present to the attention, and by which the use of every hour is to be adjusted. Yet, if we consider the conduct of those sententious philosophers, it will often be found that they repeat these aphorisms, merely because they have somewhere heard them, because they have nothing else to say, or because they think veneration gained by such appearances of wisdom; but that no ideas are annexed to the words, and that, according to the old blunder of the followers of Aristotle, their souls are mere pipes or organs, which transmit sounds, but do not understand them. Of this kind is the well-known and well-attested position, that life is short, which may be heard among mankind by an attentive auditor, many times a day, but which never yet within my reach of observation left any impression upon the mind; and perhaps, if my readers will turn their thoughts back upon their old friends, they will find it difficult to call a single man to remembrance, who appeared to know that life was short till he was about to lose it. It is observable that Horace, in his account of the characters of men, as they are diversified by the various influence of time, remarks, that the old man is dilator spe longus, given to procrastination, and inclined to extend his hopes to a great distance. So far are we generally from thinking what we often say of the shortness of life, that at the time when it is necessarily shortest, we form projects which we delay to execute, indulge such expectations as nothing but a long train of events can gratify, and suffer those passions to gain upon us, which are only excusable in the prime of life. These reflections were lately excited in my mind, by an evening's conversation with my friend Prospero, who, at the age of fifty-five, has bought an estate, and is now contriving to dispose and cultivate it with uncommon elegance. His great pleasure is to walk among stately trees, and lie musing in the heat of noon under their shade; he is therefore maturely considering how he shall dispose his walks and his groves, and has at last determined to send for the best plans from Italy, and forbear planting till the next season. |