Nei

goeth hand in hand with nature, not inclosed within the narrow warrant of her gifts, but freely ranging within the zodiac of his own wit. Nature never set forth the earth in so rich a tapestry as diverse poets have done; neither with so pleasant rivers, fruitful trees, sweet smelling flowers, nor whatsoever else may make the too much loved earth more lovely: her world is brazen, the poets only deliver a golden. ther let it be deemed too saucy a comparison, to balance the highest point of man's wit with the efficacy of nature; but rather give right honour to the heavenly Maker of that nature, who having made man to his own likeness, set him beyond, and over all the works of that second nature, which in nothing he shewed so much as in poetry, when, with the force of a divine breath, he bringeth things forth surpassing her doings, with no small arguments to the incredulous of that first accursed fall of Adam, since our erected wit maketh us know what perfection is, and yet our infected will keepeth us from reaching unto it.—Sir P. Sidney's Defence of Poesy.

CCII.

Cunning pays no regard to virtue, and is but the low mimic of wisdom. -Bolingbroke.

CCIII.

Exceed not in the humour of rags and bravery, for these will soon wear out of fashion; but money in thy purse, will ever be in fashion; and no man is esteemed for gay garments but by fools.-Sir W. Raleigh.

CCIV.

One world sufficed not Alexander's mind :

Coop'd up he seem'd, in earth and seas confin'd:
And struggling, stretch'd his restless limbs about
The narrow globe, to find a passage out.

Yet, enter'd in the brick-built town, he try'd
The tomb, and found the straight dimensions wide.
Death only this mysterious truth unfolds,

The mighty soul how small a body holds.

I know, and have long felt, the difficulty of reconciling the unwieldy haughtiness of a great ruling nation, habituated to command, pampered by enormous wealth, and confident from a long course of prosperity and victory, to the high spirit of free dependencies, animated with the first glow and activity of juvenile heat, and assuming to themselves as their birth-right, some part of that very pride which oppresses them.- Burke-on the American War.

CCVI.

One man will not, for any respect of fortune, lose his liberty so much, as to be obliged to step over a kennel every morning; and yet, to please a mistress, save a beloved child, serve his country or friend, will sacrifice all the ease of his life, nay, his blood and life too, upon occasion.-Sir W. Temple.

CCVII.

When things go wrong, each fool presumes t'advise,
And if more happy, thinks himself more wise :

All wretchedly deplore the present state;

And that advice seems best which comes too late.

CCVIII.

Sedley.

The distinguishing part of our constitution is its liberty. To preserve that liberty inviolate, seems the particular duty and proper trust of a member of the House of Commons. But the liberty, the only liberty

I mean, is a liberty connected with order; that not only exists along with order and virtue; but which cannot exist at all without them. It inheres in good and steady government, as in its substance and vital principle. -Burke.

CCIX.

Parent of wicked, bane of honest deeds,
Pernicious flatt'ry, thy malignant seeds
In an ill hour, and by a fatal hand,
Sadly diffused o'er virtue's gleby land,
With rising pride amidst the corn appear,

And choke the hopes and harvest of the year.

CCX.

Prior.

There is nothing more becoming any wise man, than to make choice of friends, for by them thou shalt be judged what thou art: let them therefore be wise and virtuous, and none of those that follow thee for gain; but make election rather of thy betters, than thy inferiors, shunning always such as are poor and needy; for if thou givest twenty gifts, and refuse to do the like but once, all that thou hast done will be lost, and such men will become thy mortal enemies.-Sir W. Raleigh-to his Son.

CCXI.

O sweet woods, the delight of solitariness!
O how much do I like your solitariness!
Here nor treason is hid, vailed in innocence,
Nor envy's snaky eye, finds any harbour here,
Nor flatterer's venomous insinuations.
Nor coming humourist's puddled opinions,
Nor courteous ruin of proffer'd usury,
Nor time prattled away, cradle of ignorance,
Nor causeless duty, nor cumber of arrogance,

Nor trifling titles of vanity dazzleth us,
Nor golden manacles stand for a paradise.

Here wrong's name is unheard; slander a monster is, Keep thy sprite from abuse, here no abuse doth haunt, What man grafts in a tree dissimulation.

Sir P. Sidney's Arcadia.

CCXII.

There is a great number of noblemen among you, that are themselves as idle as drones; that subsist on other men's labour, on the labour of their tenants, whom, to raise their revenues, they pare to the quick. This, indeed, is the only instance of their frugality, for in all other things they are prodigal, even to beggaring of themselves. But besides this, they carry about with them a great number of idle fellows, who never learned any art by which they may gain their living; and these, as soon as either their lord dies, or they themselves fall sick, are turned out of doors; for your lords are readier to feed idle people, than to take care of the sick; and often the heir is not able to keep together so great a family as his predecessor did. —Sir T. More's Utopia.

CCXIII.

It is a notable example of virtue, where the conqueror seeks for friendship of the conquered.-Sir P. Sidney.

CCXIV.

The quality of mercy is not strain'd:

It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath it is twice bless'd;
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes:
"Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown:
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power

The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings
But mercy is above this scepter'd sway,

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then shew likest God's,
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,—
That, in the course of Justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy.
Shakspeare.

CCXV.

Eloquence, that leads mankind by the ears, gives a nobler superiority than power that every dunce may use or fraud that every knave may employ, to lead them by the nose. But eloquence must flow like a stream that is fed by an abundant spring, and not spout forth a little frothy water on some gaudy day, and remain dry the the rest of the year.- Bolingbroke.

CCXVI.

"Tis the curse of mighty minds oppress'd,

To think what their state is, and what it should be⚫
Impatient of their lot, they reason fiercely,

And call the laws of providence unequal.

CCXVII.

Rowe.

The hero passeth through the multitude, as a mai that neither disdains a people, nor yet is any thing tickled with their vanity -Sir P. Sidney.

CCXVIII.

Of all wild beasts preserve me from a tyrant,

And of all tame, a flatterer.

Johnson.