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bulus, sometimes to this side, sometimes to the other, are at a loss to imagine which will be favoured with his suffrage. Indeed the sentiment of Marius seems equally true and apposite with respect to him-That, to obtain eminence in the state, a man should never remember either injuries or kindness. Can he, however, be said ever to suffer from injury, whose zealous service every man in power can direct and command as he pleases? The interest therefore of Thrasybulus is secure, for he never knew what it was to blush. Tully observes, that he had known some who, not able to make themselves orators, had obtained proficiency in the knowledge of the laws. Very different motives impelled our Thrasybulus to this courtly, though perilous habit of life. That he should be constantly on the watch for new game is not at all wonderful; appetite sharpens the wit, and expands the genius. As long as he continued in his own country, he was confined to the lower courts, and esteemed, even by the vulgar, rude and uncouth as an orator, and a mere child in legal knowledge. What his powers of speech were able to effect, the judges hardly gave themselves time to consider; but even they allowed him the merit of clamorous perseverance. His good fortune, therefore, was not complete and perfect; for although he possessed the two great requisites of a pleader, confidence and noise, he did not succeed in his profession. Nevertheless, he who was deemed by his countrymen to rank only with Leguleius and Blatero a mere hunter of syllables, and guardian

of forms-was by the fates designed to enter the lists of eloquence with men of the most refined and exquisite accomplishments.

From a life of drudgery he turned his attention to other habits, which is indeed frequently done by those who wish to escape calamity, or elude misfortune. He had read, we believe, that the ancient Germans inured the less tractable and more misshapen of their cattle to undergo the greatest labour, by the effect of constant exercise. This man, therefore, born to stoop beneath a servile yoke, took care to discover in his character the fortitude which deliberately defies all danger, and the patience which can acquiesce under the greatest difficulties. He conceived that his merit would not only be more conspicuous, but more splendid, if he openly confessed that no eye should ever discover, in his conduct, a reluctance to undertake measures of a difficult nature, or a fastidious delicacy with respect to those which appeared base, and were thought dishonourable. By being every thing with every body, he insinuated himself into the favour of the great. He then entered on senatorial duty; a situation full of care, and exposed to much mortification. His tongue was, if we may be allowed the expression, always in the water. He took a deliberate survey of the different advantages of peace-affluence-power-the public revenues-the army; and how the eventual result of each was likely to affect his own individual interest. He submitted to various difficulties, and bore very patiently a great deal of arrogance

from others, without any detriment to his own dignity; in short, the wish of others was the rule of his conduct and his words.

Upon this unceasing and perhaps dishonourable labour he rested, as upon a solid basis; and expanded himself far beyond the common limits of human glory. The labour of undertaking to convince and persuade those of elevated condition, his conduct has amply testified; but to extol their good or their dishonest conduct with undeviating praise, he has shown to be his habit, his excellence, and his duty. He has never, therefore, condescended to palliate his conduct by any speciousness of apology; he has declared openly and boldly, with Marcus Terentius, "It is not for us to estimate the intrinsic virtues of him whom you have raised to glory, or the motives of your partiality; to you the gods have given the perfection of judgment; the glory of obedience must be ours

Intoxicated with the favours of fortune, he openly enrolls his name amongst those of most distinguished excellence. He avows himself ever prepared to undertake and suffer every thing, provided he retains his station, and touches the golden reward. To such a degree of levity has he arrived, that he thinks he may bask in security under the shade of an illustrious name. In favour of his systematic scheme of life he quotes these words, which he utters aloud in the very spirit of Cicero, and whispers in secret to bis friends-"That if he does not constantly ex

VOL. II.

* Tacitus.

LL

press himself in the same language, he has unalterably the same object in view*."

The man who pursues this line of conduct is no doubt satisfied with himself, that he does what is grateful to those with whom he is connected; that, when he unites opinions as contradictory as possible to each other, he still remains perfectly consistent with himself. It is the first, it is the dearest object of his heart, that the character he sustains should continue unchanged, from the commencement of any undertaking to its conclusion; that as circumstances alter, his sentiments should be suffered to alter along with them; and that a kind of consistency should be fixed to his most inconsistent actions.

One

What fortune can accomplish, whenever she chooses to wanton with bold and daring characters, Thrasybulus has seen and known. principle is immutably rooted in his mind-that every man is indebted for his success to himself; and that many may enjoy uninterrupted prosperity by consulting the moments of opportunity, rather than the interests of the public. The words of Pompey are constantly in his mouth-not as a matter to be disputed, but as a golden rule of life-That "more people worship the rising than the setting sun †.”

He is conscious also of many qualities, in a manner peculiar to himself, which facilitates his advances to power and to wealth. Our Thrasybulus has no occasion for preceding and established fame, to prove whether any cause immediately before him is honourable to record, or + Plutarch.

* Cic. Epist.

equitable to pursue. When he enters upon it he can possibly have nothing to lose; if it terminate in dishonour, nought is expected from him to alleviate its infamy. With respect to his future hopes, he is perfectly secure. Fearing to give a wound even to the guilty, he gently relaxes the rigours of his eloquence; and whatever he can detract from the resentment of others, he suffers with resignation to descend upon himself. This man's character alone will enable us to form a perfect idea of the generality of great men's friends. Upon such as these the minister, without reserve, depends. Surrounded by these, in contradiction to every rule of right, he has arrived at that summit after which his soul aspired. These, creeping from their hiding places, publicly attend him as companions. "Oh, sad reverse of morals and lost dignity of the senate *!" With so little equanimity does he bear success, that he has placed, with unabashed confidence, such men as these in the public senate of the nation, the supporters of his fame, and partners of his counsels. Some messenger shall go from hence to fate, And to his father his foul deeds relate +.

DR. PARR.

FRANCIS, DUKE OF BEDFORD.

IF the sad event which has recently occurred were only a private misfortune, however heavy, I should feel the impropriety of obtruding upon the house the feelings of private friendship, and ↑ Dryden's Virgil.

* Horat.

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