84 HISTORY OF A FORTUNATE IDLER. May '1 9 



" Idlenefs is fo general a diftemper, that I cannot bu* 

 imagine a fpeculation on this fubjeft will be of univer- 

 fal ufe. 



" There is hardly any one perfon without fome allay of it 

 and thoulartds befide myfelf fpend more time in an 

 idle uncertaihty, which to begin firft, of two af a rs, 

 than ^vould have been fufiicient to have ended them 

 both. The occafion of this feems to be the want of 

 fome nccc'Tary cmplo3'ment, to put the fplrits in mo- 

 tion, '.uid awaken them out of their lethargy. 



" If I had lefs leifure, I ftiould have more ; for I 

 fliould then find my time diftinguilhed into portions, foine 

 for bufinefs, and others for the indulging of pleafares : 

 But now, one face of indolence overfpreads the whole, 

 and I have no lundmark to direft myfelf by. Wer^ 

 one's time a little ftraitened by bufinefs, like water in- 

 clofed in its banks, it would have fome deter- 

 mined courfe ; but unlefs it be put into fome channel, 

 it has no current, but becomes a deluge without either 



ufe or motion." 



Stop, you rafcal, faid I, what the devil are you about ? 

 I did not defire you to fpeak to me ; I ordered you to 

 read that book. An' plcafe your honour, faid he, and 

 fo I am reading the book, without putting in a word 

 of my own. God help me, if I were ever fo willing, 

 I could not fpeak fuch outlandilh things for the world. 

 Go on Sirrah, faid I. 



" When Scanderbeg prince of Epyrus was dead, 

 the Turks, who had but too often felt the force of his 

 arm in the battles he had won fiom them, imagined, 

 that by wearing a piece of his bones near their heart, 

 they Ihould be animated with a vigour and force like 

 to that which infpired him when living. As I am like 

 to be of little ufe while I live, I am refolved to do 

 what good I can after my deceafe ; and have according- 

 ly ocdered my bones to be difpofed of in this manner, 

 for the good of my countrymen who are troubled with 

 too great a degree of fire. All fox-hunters, upon wear- 



