68 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 



Am. You direct good measures ; but let me 

 first advise you to observe access, situation, and 

 strength, the complement and resolution of their 

 armed men ; their arms also, ammunition and 

 artillery ; what stock of provisions is stored in 

 their providers ; and whether nature or art chal- 

 lenges the superiority in her fortifications. This 

 is part of the task you impose upon yourself; 

 and by noon be in readiness for our depar- 

 ture ; about which time (if I calculate right . 

 the tide will commode us for our northern pas 

 sage over the trembling tottering sands. In 

 the meantime, let not the night nor our sleep 

 invade us, nor our watchings slide into wanton 

 embracements. For the Watchman of the night 

 will declare against such, and a serpent conceal'd 

 in the secrets of conscience, shall gnaw and de- 

 vour our habitations with ourselves. 



TheopJi. Vainly and profusely to lavish time, 

 we but flatter ourselves with sordid delusions, 

 that vanish if but touch'd by the cold icy finger 

 of death. How in a trice honours become fugi- 

 tive before us ; and mortality, in a moment, in- 

 corporates with the grave ; tissues and orris 

 hangings become a prey to the moth ; and po- 

 lish'd pavements of jasper, with those others of 

 marble, how quickly time translates them into 

 tombstones. Nay, those delicacies and viands 

 that surprized the palat, are by this also con- 



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