he saw occasion, and joining to all an universal affability, he was admitted to a share of the government of the town, and rose from one post to another, till at length he was chosen chief magistrate. In this office he main-tained a fair character, and continued to fill it with no small applause, both as governor and as a judge; till one day as he sat on the bench with some of his fellow judges, a criminal was brought before him, who was accused of murdering his master.

4 The evidence came out full, the jury brought in their verdict that the prisoner was guilty, and the whole assembly waited for the sentence of the president of the court (which he happened to be that day) with great suspense. Meanwhile he appeared to be in unusual disorder and agitation of mind; his colour often changed; at length he arose from his seat, and coming down from the bench, placed himself just by the unfortunate man at the bar, to the astonishment of all the people.

5. "You see before you," said he, addressing himself to his fellow judges, "you see before you a striking instance of the just awards of heaven, which this day, af ter thirty years concealment, presents to you a greater criminal than the man just now found guilty." Then he made a full confession of his guilt, and all its aggravations. "Nor can I feel," continued he, "any relief from the agonies of an awakened conscience, but by requiring that justice be forthwith done against me in the most public and solemn manner."

6. Amazement seized the whole assembly, and especially the minds of his fellow judges. They proceeded, however, upon his confession, to pass sentence upon him, and he died with all the symptoms of a penitent mind, leaving to the world this all important truth, that "tha wicked shall not go unpunished

CHAPTER LVIIK

CONSTANCY OF MIND.

1. CONSTANCY of mind gives a man reputation, and makes him happy under the greatest misfortunes. After the Carthagenians had defeated the Roman army and taken Regulus, their illustrious commander, prisoner, they met with such a series of misfortunes as induced them te

think of putting an end to so destructive a war by a speedy peace. With this view they began to soften the rigors of Regulus's confinement, and engaged him to go to Rome with their ambassadors, and to use his interest to obtain a peace upon moderate terms, or at least an exchange of prisoners.

2. Regulus obeyed his masters, and embarked for Rome, after having bound himself by a solemn oath, to return to his chains, if the negociation did not succeed. When the Senators assembled in the suburbs, he was introduced to them with the Carthagenian ambassadors; and, together with them, made the two proposals with which he was charged. "Conscript Fathers," said he, "being now a slave to the Carthagenians, I am come to treat with you concerning a peace, and an exchange of prisoners."

3. Having uttered these words, he began to withdraw, and follow the ambassadors, who were not allowed to be present at the deliberations and disputes of the Conscript: Fathers. In vain the senate pressed him to stay. He gave his opinion as an old senator and consul, and rẹfused to continue in the assembly till his African masters ordered; and then the illustrious slave took his place among the Fathers; but continued silent, with his eyes fixed on the ground, while the more ancient senators spoke. When it came to his turn to deliver his opinion, he addressed himself to the Conscript Fathers in the following words:

4. Though I am a slave at Carthage, yet I am free at Rome; and I will therefore declare my sentiments with freedom. Romans, it is not for your interest either to grant the Carthagenians a peace, or to exchange prisoners with them. Carthage is extremely exhausted; and the only reason why she sues for peace is, because she is not in a condition to continue the war. You have been vanquished but once, and that by my fault, a fault which Metellus has repaired by a single victory.

5. "But the Carthagenians have been so overcome, that they have not the courage to look Rome in the face. Your allies continue peaceable, and serve you with zeal. But your enemy's troops consist only of mercenaries, who. have no other tie than that of interest, and will soon be

disobliged by the republic they serve, Carthage being already destitute of money to pay them. No, Romans, a peace with Carthage does not, by any means, suit your interest, considering the condition to which the Carthagenians are reduced; I therefore advise you to pursue the war with greater vigor than ever.

As for the exchange of prisoners, you have among the Carthagenian captives several officers of distinction, who are young, and may one day command the enemy's armies; but as for me, I am advanced in years, and my misfortunes have

made me useless.

6" Besides, what can you expect from soldiers who have been vanquished and made slaves? Such men, like timorous deer that have escaped from the hunter's toils, will ever be upon the alarm, and ready to fly." The senate, greatly affected with his disinterestedness, magnanimity, and contempt of life, would willingly have preserved him, and continued the war in Africa. Some were of opinion, that in Rome, he was not bound to keep an oath, which had been extorted from him in an enemy's country.

7. The Pontifex Maximus himself, being consulted in the case, declared, that Regulus might continue at Rome without being guilty of perjury. But the noble captive, highly offended at this decision, as if his honor and courage were called in question, declared to the Senate, who trembled to hear him speak, that he well knew what torments were reserved for him at Carthage; but that he had so much of the true spirit of a Roman, as to dread less the tortures of a cruel rack, than the shame of a dishonorable action, which would follow him to the grave. It is my duty," said he, "to return to Carthage; to Providence I submit the rest.”

8. This intrepidity made the senate still more desirous to save such an hero. Every means were used to detain him, both by the people and the senate. He would not even see his wife, nor suffer his children to take their leave of him. Amidst the lamentations and tears of the whole city, he embarked with the Carthagenian ambassadors, to return to the place of his slavery, with as serene and cheerful a countenance, as if he had been going to his country seat for diversion.

9 The Carthagenians were so enraged against him, that they invented new torments to satisfy their revenge. First they cut off his eye-lids; keeping him some time in a dark dungeon, and then bringing him out and exposing him to the sun at noon-day. After this, they shut him up in a kind of chest, stuck with nails, having their points inwards, so that he could neither sit nor lean, without great torment; and there they suffered him to die with hunger, anguish, and want of sleep, giving this great lesson, that

"He dies in fame who dies in virtue's cause."

CHAPTER LIX.

HAPPINESS NOT FOUNDED ON WEALTH.

1. DAMOCLES, one of the courtiers of Dionysius, tyrant of Syracuse, was perpetually extolling with raptures his treasures, grandeur, the number of his troops, the extent of his dominions, the magnificence of his palaces, and the universal abundance of all good things and enjoyments in his possession; always repeating that "never man was happier than Dionysius.'

1. "Because you are of that opinion," said the tyrant, "will you taste, and make proof of my felicity in person?" The offer was accepted with joy; Damocles was placed upon a golden bed, covered with carpets of inestimable value. The side boards were loaded with vessels of gold and silver. The most beautiful slaves in the most splendid habits stood around him watching the least signal to serve him. The most exquisite essence and perfumes had not been spared. The table was spread with proportionable magnificence

as

himself upon 3. Damocles was all joy, and looked the happiest man in the world; when unfortunately casting up his eyes, he beheld over his head the point of a dagger suspended from the ceiling only by a single horsehair. He was immediately seized with a cold sweat, every thing lost its power to please; he could see nothing but the dagger, nor think of any thing but his danger. In the height of his fear, he desired permission to retire, and declared he would be happy no longer.

CHAPTER LX.

A PORTRAIT OF MANKIND.

But

1. VANITY bids all her sons to be generous and brave, and her daughters to be chaste and courteous. why do we want her instructions? ask the Comedian, who is taught a part he feels not. Is it that the principles of religion want, strength, or that the real passion for what is good or worthy will not carry us high enough? God! thou knowest they carry us too high, we want not to be, but to seem.

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2 Look out of your door, take notice of that man; sce what disquieting, intriguing, and shifting, he is content to go through, merely to be thought a man of plain dealing; three grains of honesty would save him all this trouble. Alas! he has them not. Behold a second, under a shew of piety, hiding the impurities of a vicious life; he is just entering the house of God; would he was more pure, or less pious! but then he could not gain his point.

3. Observe a third going almost in the same track; with what an inflexible sanctity of deportment he sustains hur self as he advances! every line in his face writes abstinence; every stride looks like a check upon his desires; see, I beseech you, how he is cloaked up with sermons, prayers, and sacraments; and so bemuffled with the externals of religion, that he has not a hand to spare for a worldly purpose; he has armour at least-Why does he put it on? Is there no true worship without all this? Must the garb of religion be extended so wide to the danger of its rending? Yes, truly, or it will not hide i he secret-and, what is that? That the saint has no religion at all.

4. But here comes generosity; giving, not to a decayed artist, but to the arts and sciences themselves. See, he builds not a chamber in the wall apart for the prophets; but whole schools and colleges for those who come after. Lord! how they will magnify his name it is in capitals already; the first, the highest, in the gilded rent-roll of every hospital and asylum;-one honest tear, shed in private over the unfortunate, is worth it all.

5. What a problematic set of creatures does simulation make us! Who would divine that all the anxiety and