862 



ESSAYS. 



the most splendid palace : I have not long to 

 live, and shall be unhappy except I spend the 

 rest of my days where my youth was passed, 

 in that prison' from whence you were pleased 

 to release me. 



The old man's passion for confinement is 

 similar to that we all have for life. We are 

 habituated to the prison, we look round with 

 discontent, are displeased with the abode, 

 and yet the length of our captivity only in- 

 creases our fondness for the cell. The trees 

 we have planted, the houses we have built, 

 or the posterity we have begotten, all serve 

 to bind us closer to the earth, and embitter 

 our parting. Life sues the young like a new 

 acquaintance ; the companion, as yet unex- 

 hausted, is at once instructive and amusing; 

 its company pleases, yet, for all this, it is but 

 little regarded. To us, who are declined in 

 years, life appears like an old friend ; its jests 

 have been anticipated in former conversation : 

 it has no new story to make us smile, no new 

 improvement with which to surprise, yet still 

 we love it; destitute of every enjoyment, still 

 we love it; husband the wasting treasure 

 with increasing frugality, and feel all the 

 poignancy of anguish in the fatal separation. 



Sir Philip Mordaunt was young, beautiful, 

 sincere, brave, an Englishman. He had a 

 complete fortune of his own and the love of 

 the king his master, which was equivalent to 

 riches. Life opened all her treasures before 

 him, and promised a long succession of hap- 

 piness. He came, tasted of the entertain- 

 ment, but was disgusted even at the begin- 

 ning. He professed an aversion to living; 

 was tired of walking round the same circle; 

 Imd tried every enjoyment, and found them 

 all grow weaker at every repetition. ' If life 

 be in youth so displeasing,' cried he to him- 

 self, 'what will it appear when age comes on; 

 if it be at present indifferent, sure it will then 

 be execrable.' This thought embittered 

 every reflection ; till, at last, with all the 

 serenity of perverted reason, he ended the 

 debate with a pistol. Had this self-deluded 

 man been apprized, that existence grows 

 more desirable to us the longer we exist, he 

 would have then faced old age without 

 shrinking! he would have boldly dared to 

 live ; and served that society, by his future 

 assiduity, which he basely injured by his de- 

 sertion. 



ESSAY 111. 

 THE STORY OF ALCANDER AND SEPTIMIUS. 



ATHENS, long after the decline of the Ro- 

 man empire, still continued the seat of learn- 

 ing, politeness, and wisdom. Theodoric, the 

 Ostrogoth, repaired the schools which bar- 

 barity was suffering to fall into decay, and 

 continued those pensions to men of learning, 

 which avaricious governors had monopoliz- 

 ed. 



In this city, and about this period, Alcan- 

 <Jer and Septimius were fellow-students to- 

 gether. The one, the most subtle reasoner 

 of all the Lyceum ; the other, the most elo- 

 quent speaker in the academic grove. Mu- 

 tual admiration soon begot a friendship. 

 Their fortunes were nearly equal, and they 

 were natives of the most celebrated cities in 



the world ; for Alcander was of Athens, Sep- 

 timius came from Rome. 



In this state of harmony they lived for some 

 time together, w hen Alcander, after passing 

 the first part of his youth in the indolence of 

 philosophy, thought at length of entering into 

 the busy world ; and, as a step previous to 

 this, placed his affections on Hypatia, a lady 

 of exquisite beauty. The day of their intend- 

 ed nuptials were fixed; the previous cere- 

 monies were performed ; and nothing now re- 

 mained but her being conducted in triumph 

 to the apartment of the intended bridegroom. 



Alcander's exultation in his own happiness, 

 or being unable to enjoy any satisfaction 

 without making his friend Sentiuuius a partner, 



