NO. CLVIII.

ON THE EXAMPLE OF HENRY

THE

FIFTH, AND THE BAD EFFECTS OF AN OPINION, THAT A PROFLIGATE YOUTH IS LIKELY TO TERMINATE IN A WISE MANHOOD.

THERE are those who consider early profligacy as a mark of that spirit, which seldom fails to produce, in the subsequent periods of life, a wise and a virtuous character. The example of Henry the fifth is often cited in confirmation of their opinion. Shakespeare has indeed represented his errors and reformation in so amiable a light, that many are not displeased when they see a young man beginning his career in riot and debauchery. While there is an appearance of spirit they regard not the vice.

The example of Henry the fifth has been applied particularly to heirs apparent of the crown. If the future king is found to be early initiated in the excesses of sensuality, it is a favourable presage, and we are referred to the example of Falstaff's Hal. If he devote his time to drinking, and be actually involved in continual intoxication, it is all the better, for do we not recollect Hal's exploits at the Boar's Head in East-cheap? Dame Quickly, Doll Tearsheet, are illustrious instances to prove what company a prince should keep in order to become hereafter a great king. It is in the haunts of intemperance and vice, and in the company of sycophants and knaves, that he is, according to the vulgar phrase, to sow his wild oats, to spend the exuberance of his spirit, to subdue the ebullition of his blood, and to acquire a valuable species of moral experience.

It is true, indeed, that Henry the fifth is a remark

able instance of early profligacy and subsequent reformation. He is a remarkable, because he is a rare instance. For one who succeeds as he did, a thousand become either incurable debauchees, drunkards, and rogues, ruin their character and fortunes, or die under the operation of so rough an experiment. We hear not of those who are obliged to go to sea, to hide themselves on the continent, to skulk in the garrets of blind alleys, to spend their days in gaols, or are early carried to the church-yard, amidst the thanks and rejoicings of their friends for so happy a deliverance from shame and ruin. But if one wild youth becomes but a tolerable good man, we are struck with the metamorphosis, as we are with every thing We exaggerate his goodness, by comparing it with his previous depravity. We cite the example, as a consolatory topic, wherever we behold a young man, as the scripture beautifully expresses it, walking in the ways of his own heart, and in the sight of his own eyes. We talk as if we almost congratulated a parent, when his son has spirit enough to violate, not only the rules of decency, but also the most sacred laws of morality and religion.

uncommon.

Such fatal ideas have broken the heart of many a virtuous and feeling father. They have brought his hairs, before they were gray, to the grave. I have been much pleased with a passage in the sermons of the late Dr. Ogden, in which he recommends regu. larity and virtue to young men solely for the sake of their parents. "Stop, young man," says he, "stop 66 a little to look towards thy poor parents. Think "it not too much to bestow a moment's reflection "on those who never forget thee. Recollect what

"they have done for thee. Remember all-all in"deed thou canst not; alas! ill had been thy lot, "had not their care begun, before thou couldst re"member or know any thing.

"Now so proud, self-willed, inexorable, then "couldst thou only ask by wailing, and move them "with thy tears. And they were moved, Their "hearts were touched with thy distress; they re"lieved and watched thy wants before thou knew

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est thine own necessities, or their kindness. They "clothed thee; thou knewest not that thou wast "naked; thou askedst not for bread; but they fed "thee. And ever since-for the particulars are too

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many to be recounted, and too many surely to be "all utterly forgotten-it has been the very prin"cipal endeavour, employment, and study of their "lives to do service unto thee. If by all these en"deavours they can obtain their child's comfort, "they arrive at the full accomplishment of their "wishes. They have no higher object of their am"bition. Be thou but happy, and they are so.

"And now tell me, is not something to be done, "I do not now say for thyself, but for them? If it be "too much to desire of thee to be good, and wise, "and virtuous, and happy for thy own sake; yet be "happy for theirs. Think that a sober, upright, "and, let me add, religious life, besides the blessings "it will bring upon thy own head, will be a foun"tain of unfeigned comfort to thy declining parents, "and make the heart of the aged sing for joy.

"What shall we say? which of these is happier "the son that maketh a glad father? or the father "blessed with such a son?

"Fortunate young man! who hast an heart open so early to virtuous delights, and canst find thy "own happiness in returning thy father's blessing upon his own head!

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"And happy father! whose years have been pro❝longed, not, as it often happens, to see his com"forts fall from him, one after another, and to be66 come at once old and destitute; but to taste a new "pleasure, not to be found among the pleasures of "youth, reserved for his age, to reap the harvest of "all his cares and labours, in the duty, affection, "and felicity of his dear child. His very look be"speaks the inward satisfaction of his heart. The "infirmities of his age sit light on him. He feels "not the troubles of life: he smiles at the approach " of death: sees himself still living and honoured "in the memory and the person of his son, his ❝ other dearer self; and passes down to the recep"tacle of all the living, in the fulness of content ❝ and joy.

"How unlike to this is the condition of him, who " has the affliction to be the father of a wicked off"spring! Poor, unhappy man! no sorrow is like "unto thy sorrow. Diseases and death are blessings, "if compared with the anguish of thy heart, when "thou seests thy dear children run heedlessly and "headlong in the ways of sin, forgetful of their pa❝rents council, and their own happiness. Unfor"tunate old man! How often does he wish he had "never been born, or had been cut off before he was 66 a father! No reflection is able to afford him con"solation. He grows old betimes; and the afflic ❝tions of age are doubled on his head. In vain are "instruments of pleasure brought forth. His soul

"refuses comfort. Every blessing of life is lost "upon him. No success is able to give him joy. "His triumphs are like that of David; while his "friends, captains, soldiers, were rending the air "with shouts of victory-he, poor conqueror, went 66 up, as it is written, to the chamber over the gate " and wept: and as he went, thus he said; O, my 66 son Absalom! my son, my son Absalom! would "to God I had died for thee! O Absalom, my son, my son !"

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I have introduced this passage, with a hope that gay and thoughtless young men may be properly affected by it; and though they should have no regard for themselves, that they should be led to have pity on their poor parents, and to chuse the right way, that they may not cause affliction to him who has often dandled them in his arms, nor to her at whose breast they hung in the sweet and innocent period of their infancy. It is indeed a melancholy consideration that many children, who have been the delight of their parents during the earlier ages, no sooner arrive at maturity, than they prove a scourge and a curse. They hurry those out of the world, who brought them into it. They embitter the old age of those who devoted the health and strength of manhood to their welfare and support. Sad return! to plant the pillow of reclining age with thorns!-0 have pity, have pity on your father-behold him with tottering step approaching you! With suppliant hands, and tears in his eyes, he begs you to do what? to be good and happy. O spare him, wipe away his tears: make him happy, be so yourself,so when it shall be your turn to be a father, may you never feel the pangs you have already inflicted!