Subject, he has faid, My dear Friend, you are beholden to Xantippe, that I bear fo well your Aying out in a Difpute. To another, My Hen clacks very much, but she brings me Chickens. They that live in a trading Street, are not dif turbed at the Paffage of Carts. I would have, if poffible, a wife Man be contented with his Lot, even with a Shrew; for tho' he cannot make her better, he may, you fee, make himfelf better by her means. BUT inftead of pursuing my Design of Difplaying Conjugal Love in its natural Beauties and Attractions, I am got into Tales to the disadvantage of that State of Life. I must say therefore, that I am verily perfuaded that whatever is delightful in human Life, is to be enjoy'd in greater Perfection, in the marry'd, than in the single Condition. He that has this Paffion in Perfection, in Occafions of Joy can fay to himself, befides his own Satisfaction, How happy will this make my Wife and Children? Upon Occurrences of Distress or Danger can comfort himself, But all this while my Wife and Children are fafe. There is something in it that doubles Satisfactions, because others participate them; and difpels Afflictions, because others are exempt from them. All who are marry'd without this Relish of their Circumftance, are in either a taftelefs Indolence and Negligence, which is hardly to be attain'd, or elfe live in the hourly Repetition of fharp Anfwers, eager Upbraidings, and distracting D 4 Re Reproaches. In a word, the married State, with and without the Affection fuitable to it, is the completeft Image of Heaven and Hell we are capable of receiving in this Life. N° 480 Wednesday, September 10. T Refponfare cupidinibus, contemnere honores, Who's proof against the Charms of vain Delight: T CREECH. HE other Day looking over those old Manufcripts, of which I have formerly given fome account, and which relate to the Character of the mighty Pharamond of France, and the close Friendship between him and his Friend Eucrate; I found among the Letters which had been in the cuftody of the latter, an Epiftle from a Country Gentleman to Pharamond, wherein he excufes himself from coming to Court, The Gentleman, it feems, was contented with his Condition, had formerly been in the King's Service; but at the writing of the following Letter, had, from Leifure and Reflexion, quite another Senfe of things than that which he had in the more active Part of his Life. Monfieur Monfieur Chezluy to Pharamond. Dread Sir, I HAVE from your own Hand (inclofed under the Cover of Mr. Eucrate of your Majefty's Bedchamber) a Letter which invites me to Court. I understand this great Honour to be done me out of Refpect and Inclination to me, rather than Regard to your own Service: For which Reafons I beg leave to lay before your Majefty my Reasons for declining to depart from home; and will not doubt but, as your Motive in defiring C my Attendance was to make me an happier Man, when you think that will not be effected by my Remove, you will permit me to stay where I am. Those who have 'an Ambition to appear in Court, have ever an opinion that their Perfons or their Talents are particularly formed for the Ser'vice or Ornament of that Place; or else are hurried by downright Defire of Gain, or 'what they call Honour, or take upon themfelves whatever the Generofity of their Mafter can give them Opportunities to grafp at. "But your Goodness fhall not be thus impofed upon by me: I will therefore confefs to you, that frequent Solitude, and long Converfation with fuch who know no Arts which polish Life, have made me the plaineft Creature in your Dominions. Thofe lefs Capacities ' of 6 of moving with a good Grace, bearing a ready Affability to all around me, and acting with ease before many, have quite left me. I am come to that, with regard to my Perfon, that I confider it only as a Ma'chine I am obliged to take care of, in order to enjoy my Soul in its Faculties with Alacrity; well remembring, that this Habitation of Clay will in a few Years be a meaner Piece of Earth than any Utenfil about my 'House. When this is, as it really is, the most frequent Reflexion I have, you will eafily imagine how well I fhould become a Drawing-Room: Add to this, What shall a Man without Defires do about the gene< rous Pharamond? Monfieur Eucrate has hinted to me, that you have thoughts of diftinguishing me with Titles. As for myself, in the Temper of my prefent Mind, Appellations of Honour would but embarrass Difcourfe, and new Behaviour towards me perplex me in every Habitude of Life. I am alfo to acknowledge to you, that my Children, ' of whom your Majefty condefcended to inquire, are all of them mean, both in their Perfons and Genius. The Eftate my eldeft Son is Heir to, is more than he can enjoy with a good Grace. My Self-love ⚫ will not carry me fo far, as to impose upon Mankind the Advancement of Perfons (merely for their being related to me) into high Distinctions, who ought for their own Sakes, < as as well as that of the Publick, to affect • Obscurity. I wish, my generous Prince, as it is in your Power to give Honours and Offices, it were alfo to give Talents fuitable to them: Were it fo, the noble Pharamond would reward the Zeal of my Youth with Abilities to do him Service in my Age. THOSE who accept of Favour without Merit, fupport themselves in it at the expence of your Majefty. Give me leave to 'tell you, Sir, this is the Reafon that we in the Country hear fo often repeated the • Word Prerogative. That Part of your Law ' which is reserved in yourself for the readier Service and Good of the Publick, flight • Men are eternally buzzing in our Ears to cover their own Follies and Miscarriages. It would be an Addition to the high Favour you have done have done me, if you would let Eucrate fend me word how often, and in 'what Cafes you allow a Constable to insist upon the Prerogative. From the highest to the lowest Officer in your Dominions, fomething of their own Carriage they would exempt from Examination under the Shelter of the Word Prerogative. I would fain, moft noble Pharamond, fee one of your Officers affert your Prerogative by good and gracious Actions. When it is used to help 'the Afflicted, to refcue the Innocent, to comfort the Stranger? Uncommon Methods, apparently |