Sy^I. ON THE ART OF IDLENESS. II 



" idly, ^rdeiis Virtus. It is impoirible for a perfon to 

 be happy if his mind Is gnawed by refleftions on an 

 ill fpent life, or diltrafted with unfatistied defires, and 

 diforderly paffions. 



" 3d]y, zuAlaJily. Dis geniti, which was an expreffion 

 ufed by the ancients to exprefs what we more limply 

 call, men of a good family. Though no delbent, how- 

 ever flluftrious, can compenfate for want of perfonal 

 merit, yet where that favourable circumftance concurs 

 in a perfon that has the two foregoing necelVary quali- 

 fications, it contributes much to elevate the mind, and 

 affifts it to contemn low purfuits. Such men too are 

 generally fo early initiated in the art of idlenefs, that it 

 becomes habitual to them, and they enjoy it with an 

 eafe and elegance that can fcarcely ever be attained by 

 other* . 



" I have often known worthy men whofe indullry had 

 raifed them to a great fortune, who then purchafed an 

 eflate in the country in hopes of enjoying that happy 

 idlenefs that is the fubjecl: of my difcourfe. But the 

 firfl vifits of ceremony were fcarce paid and received, 

 xvhen they and their neighbours were equally diflatis- 

 fied with one another, for no other reafon, but becaufe 

 the parties on one fide having been habituated to bufi- 

 nefs, knew -not how to enjoy their leifure with that eafe 

 the other could do who had been idle all their lives. 



" I have made fiich aprogrefs in this art, as is fcarce- 

 ly credible. I received fome days ago a letter from u 

 friend in London, telling me he had recovered two 

 hundred pounds lor me that I had defpaired of, and 

 that I might draw for it when I pleafed. Moil; people 

 would have gone to town immediately, but I put off 

 my journey till to-morrow, when I mull neceflarily go 

 however, and if it were not that I am obliged to pay 

 away part of it, I would almoft rather want the money 

 than be at the trouble of negotiating tlie bufinefs at a 



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