Page images
PDF
EPUB

it remembered, that in the tenements of obscurity and indigence, it is not extinguished.

It is said of a poor woman in Spain, that in company with three of her children, she went begging from door to door. Some French merchants offered, from motives of compassion, to take the eldest of her sons into their service: but she refused their kindness with disdain, scorning, as she said, that her family should be disgraced by servitude: for poor as they all then appeared to be, he might live to be one day King of Spain.

[ocr errors]

Many are the anecdotes both of ancient and modern times which might be related to expose the folly of those more ridiculous branches of pride which feast on the vanity of person, or the ostentation of dress. Even with all the blooming attractions of look and figure, the human frame is a mass of corruption, and liable every moment to be assaulted

assaulted by diseases which are loathsome to the eye, and offensive to the smell! concerning the pride of clothing, the wise Solon told Crasus, who appeared before him in robes of costly magnificence, that peacocks and pheasants were dressed with superior brilliancy.

The splendour of apparel is not however always a criterion of the pride of him, who wears it: the affected contempt and actual negligence of a decent exterior, more frequently points out the character, where that passion has taken much deeper root: for to many an arrogant sloven of the present day, may justly be applied the reproof of Socrates to Antisthenes, "I see thy vanity through the. holes of thy coat."

[graphic]

Even of mental accomplishments in the highest perfection, which have the best claim to challenge admiration and swell the heart with pride, thos reali ossess

them, are usually the most diffident: for it has been well remarked, that ships which are heaviest laden sail lowest, so a mind richly stored with sound and genuine Philosophy, is the most humble.

The wisest man of antiquity summed up the extent of his knowledge in these pithy words, "I know one thing," says he, which is this, "I know nothing;" yet, alas, pride, that parent sin, which was unbecoming man in his best estate, he retains in the worst. There dribbles the idiot, or raves in a mad-house, he, who, once edified by his wisdom, or charmed by his eloquence!-look at him, who once gave out, "that the stars fell before him, that the earth trembled at his presence, and that he was the scourge of God!" but where look for him? the haughty tongue is condemned to eternal silence. This very man who had expressed

M

* Attila.

expressed a wish to extend his conquests over the whole world, and often glutted his barbarity by dragging captive kings in his train, is suddenly choked by an effusion of blood, and that on his nuptial day! pride was not made for man! reflect on this, and be no longer proud!

ESSAY V.

DUELLING.

THE celebrated Lord Rochester has somewhere remarked, "That all men would be cow. ards if they durst:" whether that observation is founded in truth or error shall not be the subject of present investigation: but as a general argument, we will maintain, that if a man be naturally void of fear, courage is no virtue in him, and if he fears, he is conscious of cowardice,

The most courageous among brutes are not insensible to the impressions of fear: Natural

M 2

« PreviousContinue »