104 ANCIENT HISTORY Off K1KKB Y-MOORSIDE. 



my compassion than resentment. A future state 

 may well enough strike terror into any man, who 

 has not acted well in this life ; and he must have 

 an uncommon share of courage indeed, who does 

 not shrink at the presence of God. The apprehen- 

 sions of death will soon bring the most profligate to 

 a proper use of his understanding. To what a sit- 

 uation am I now reduced ! Is this odious little hut 

 a suitable lodging for a prince ? Is this anxiety of 

 mind becoming the character of a Christian ? From 

 my rank, I might have expected affluence to wait 

 upon my life ; from religion and understanding, 

 peace to smile upon my end : instead of which I am 

 afflicted with poverty, and haunted with remorse; 

 despised by my country, and 1 fear forsaken by my 

 God! 



There is nothing so dangerous as extraordinary 

 abilities. I cannot be accused of vanity now, by 

 being sensible that I was once possessed of uncom- 

 mon qualifications, especially as I sincerely regret 

 that I ever had them. My rank in life made these 

 accomplishments still more conspicuous ; and fas- 

 cinated by the general applause which they procu- 

 red, I never considered the proper means by which 

 they should be displayed. Hence, to procure a 

 smile from a blockhead whom I despised, I have fre- 

 quently treated the virtuous with disrespect ; and 

 sported with the holy name of heaven, to obtain a 

 laugh from a parcel of fools ; who were entitled to 

 nothing but contempt. 



Your men of wit generally lo k upon themselves 

 as discharged from the duties ofreligion, and confine 



