quainted with Greek, or with ancient learning, to be able to improve themselves by the fine philosophy of the polished ages of Greece and Rome. Like spiders in a dark and dirty corner, they have drawn flimsy cobwebs from themselves, with which they cruelly endeavour to ensnare the giddy and unwary. It is indeed my misfortune, if it be a misfortune, to have no great idea of the utility of metaphysical disquisition. And though Aristotle's logic and me taphysics principally contributed, in the middle ages, to render him the idol of the world, I cannot help considering them as the least useful parts of his va rious lucubrations. They are indeed valuable cu riosities, and illustrious monuments of human inge, nuity; but at the same time, when compared to his rhetorical, ethical, and political books; they are as the husk and the shell to the pulp and the kernel. It was these, however, together with his erroneous physics, which induced the bigoted theologists to number Aristotle among the saints in the calendar, and to publish a history of his life and death; which concluded with asserting, that Aristotle was the fore→ runner of Christ in philosophy, as John the Baptist had been in grace. Images of him and of the founder of Christianity were beheld at one time with equal veneration. . It is said, that some sects taught their disciples the categories instead of the catechism, and read in the church a section of the ethics.instead of a chapter in the Gospel. If the exclamation which he is related to have made at his death be true, he appears to have possessed very rational ideas on the subject of religion. A christian might have said, as it is reported he said just before his dissolution," In sin and shame 66 was I born, in sorrow have I lived, in trouble I "depart; O! thou Cause of causes, have mercy 66. upon me!"I found this anecdote of Aristotle in the Centuries of Camerarius, but I am not certain of its authenticity.. The style of Aristotle has been censured as harsh and inelegant; but it must be remembered, that few works, of which so much remains, are supposed to have suffered more from the carelessness or presumption of transcribers, and the injuries of long duration, than the works of the great legislator of taste and philosophy.. We may fairly attribute any chasms and roughnesses in the style to some rude hand, or to accident. Strabo, indeed, relates, that the works of Aristotle were greatly injured by damps, as they were buried in the earth a long time after the death of their writer. When they were brought to Rome, and transcribed, they were again injured by the hand of ignorance. It is not credible that so accurate a writer should have neglected those graces of style which the nature of his subjects admitted. The style of his best works is truly pure and Attic; and Quin tilian, whose judgment ought to decide, expresses a doubt whether he should pronounce him more illustrious for his knowledge, his copiousness, his acumen, his variety, or the sweetness of his style.. NO. CXLIX. ON THE BEAUTY AND HAPPINESS OF AN DISPO A GREAT part of mankind, if they cannot furnish themselves with the courage and generosity of the lion, think themselves equally happy, and much wiser, with the pitiful cunning of the fox. Every word they speak, however trivial the subject, is weighed before it is uttered. A disgustful silence. is observed till somebody of authority has advanced an opinion, and then, with a civil leer, a doubtful and hesitating assent is given, such as may not preclude the opportunity of a subsequent retraction. If the conversation turn only on the common topics of the weather, the news, the play, the opera, they are no less reserved in uttering their opinion, than if their lives and fortunes depended on the sentiment they should at last venture, with oracular dignity, to advance. Whatever may be their real idea on the subject, as truth is a trifle compared to the object of pleasing those with whom they converse, they generally contrive gently to agree with you; unless it should appear to them, on mature consideration, that their opinion (if contingencies to the number of at least ten thousand should take place) may, at the distance of half a century, involve them in some small danger of giving a little offence, or of incurring a small embarrassment. They wear a constant smile on their countenance, and are all goodness and benevolence, if you will believe their professions: but beware; for their hearts are as dark as the abysses which constitute the abodes of the evil spirit. A man of this character niger est, as Horace says, and thou who justly claimest the title of an honest Englishman, be upon thy guard when thine ill fortune introduces thee into his company. These crafty animals are even more reserved, cautious, timid, and serpentine, in action than in con* Hune Tu, Romane, caveto. HOR. * versation. They lay the deepest schemes, and no conclave of cardinals, no combination of conspi rators, no confederacy of thieves, ever deliberated with more impenetrable secrecy. Connections are sought with the most painful solicitude. No arts and no assiduities are neglected to obtain the favour of the great. Their hearts pant with the utmost anxiety to be introduced to a family of distinction and opulence, not only because the connection gra tifies their pride, but also because, in the wonderful complications and vicissitudes of human affairs, it may one day promote their interest. Alas! before that day arrives, their perpetual uneasiness has often put a period to their ambition, by terminating their existence. But even if they gain their ends, after a youth and a manhood consumed in constant care and servitude, yet the pleasure is not adequate to the pain, nor the advantage to the labour, Every one is ready to complain of the shortness of life; to spend, therefore, the greatest part of it in perpetual fear, caution, suspense, and solicitude, merely to accomplish an object of worldly ambition or avarice; what is it but the proverbial folly of him who loses a pound to save a penny? Give me, O ye powers! an ingenuous man would exclaim, give me health and liberty, with a competence, and I will compassionate the man of a timid and servile soul, who has at last crept on hands and knees, through thick and thin,. into a stall, and seated his limbs, after they have been palsied with care, on the bench of judges or of bishops. -Indeed, the perpetual agitation of spirits, the tormenting fears, and the ardent hopes, which alter nately disorder the bosom of the subtle and suspicious. worldling, are more than a counterbalance to all the riches and titular honours which successful cunning can obtain. What avail croziers, coronets, fortunes, mansion-houses, parks, and equipages, when the poor possessor of them has worn out his sensibility, ruined his nerves, lost his eyes, and perhaps stained his honour, and wounded his conscience, in the toil, some drudgery of the most abject servitude, from his youth up even to the hoary age of feebleness and decrepitude? When a man has a numerous offspring, it may, indeed, be generous to sacrifice his own ease and happiness to their advancement. He may feel a virtuous pleasure in his conduct, which may sooth him under every circumstance of disagreeable toil or painful submission. But it is obvious to observe, that the most artful of men, and the greatest slaves to interest and ambition, are frequently unmarried men; and that they were unmarried, because their caution and timidity would never permit them to take a step which could never be revoked. Them. selves, however unamiable, have been the only ob jects of their love; and the rest of mankind have been made use of merely as the instruments of their mean purposes and selfish gratifications. But the rest of mankind need not envy them, for they inflict on themselves the punishments they deserve. They are always craving and never satisfied; they suffer a torment which is justly represented as infernal; that of being perpetually reaching after blessings which they can never grasp, of being prohibited to taste the fruit, whose colour appears so charming to the eye, and whose flavour so delicious to the ima gination. |
