A MORAL ESSAY Concerning REVENGE. In a DIALOGUE between Philotimus and Philalethes. Philal. M Yold Friend Philotimus? Methinks 'tis an Age fince our laft Meeting; I fuppofe you have been abroad, and are lately come off your Travels. Philot. In my Opinion, that Conjecture upon you had been more probable; but to ftop your Enquiry, I must tell you I don't converfe with Apparitions ; if People are for Darkness, and diving out of fight, they may live by themselves, for I have fomething elfe to do than to dance after them. Philal. It may be fo, but why fo much plain Dealing at the first Salute? I fhould be glad to take you in jeft, but that I perceive perceive your Tongue and your Face go together; Philotimus does not ufe to be thus fingular, pray has any thing difturb'd you this Morning? Philot. Yes; I have been affronted and outrag'd where I had reafon to expect the best Ufage imaginable: The Ingratitude and provoking Temper of fome People is not to be endur'd! Philal. I grant you the World is not very engaging either as to Honesty, or Humour; but what then? Why should we disturb our felves about that which we can't help? Philot. For all your Philofophy, I fancy I fhall meet with fome body, and make 'em repent to purpose e'er long. Philal. Are you going to commence a Suit, and bring an Action of Trefpaß? Philot. No, I'll venture to be my own Magistrate for once. Philal. My Friend, your Spirit, to be clear with you, is always pretty Topping, and now you feem to lie under a particular Disadvantage; if I have any Skill, your Conftitution is out of order, and you want a Dofe to expel Choler. Philot. Philot. Who must be my Doctor then, Socrates or Hippocrates? Philal. The firft at prefent, if you please. Philot. I perceive you are inclin'd to argue against private Revenge: I am contented to hear you; but am too much out of Temper to difpute, and therefore you must not expect I fhould go any length with you in the Conference. Philal. Since you leave the Argument to me, I fhall begin without any farther. preamble; and here my Affertion is this, That unauthoriz'd Reparations, where the Injury is either overlook'd by Law, or the Injur'd has no publick Warrant for Reprizals, are by no means defenfible, or convenient. Philot. I fuppofe now you will prove your Propofition; and fhew me the Grounds upon which it stands. Philal. I fhall endeavour your Satisfaction; by obferving in the ft Place,That private Revenge would be very dangerous to Society. Were every Man his own Magistrate, and trusted with the Power of punishing, there would be strange Confufion in a fhort time, and the World would be ruined by doing Juftice: If Ignorance and ill Na ture ture might condemn and execute at Difcretion; if Spleen and Pride might play without Controul, and Refentment make a Sally upon every Pretence, the Four Winds might better be loose upon us, than all the Paffions of fuch a Liberty. Philot. Amongst other Inconveniencies, it may be you think private Revenge would be often unfeasonably ma naged. Philal. Yes: Was every one permitted to carve out his own Satisfaction, People would be apt to pursue the Injury too clofe, and strike immediately upon receiving the Blow. They would of ten do themselves right at the first smart of an Affront, when the Provocation was fresh, and the Anguish moft ftinging. Now Heat and Impatience are very ill Directors: When the Mind is thus clouded with Paffion, 'tis odds but that a Man miffes his way. When Violence hurries on too fast, and Caution does not keep pace with Revenge, People generally do themselves more harm than the Enemy. Paffing too eagerly upon a Provocation lofes the Guard, and lays open the Body: Calmnefs, and Leifure, and Deliberation do the Business much better: To wait the Opportunity, and attack attack with Order and Conduct, is the way to strike fafe, and to ftrike fure too, if we please. To proceed; Private Revenge would be dangerous to the Peace of Society, because if Men were their own Judges, the Punishment would be over-proportion'd to the Injury: Most People are apt to be favourable at home, and over-rate their own Pretenfions. Philot. I'm afraid fo too: But pray go to the bottom of the Reafon. Philal. Why an Advantage which belongs to themselves is more independent, and within reach, than that which is foreign: The Sweets of it may be tafted at Pleasure: And being thus abfolute and unprecarious, there is more Service in the Poffeffion than would be otherwise. Now Efteem generally rifes upon the Degrees of Satisfaction; and that which is beft to us, we are apt to think is best in itself too. Besides, Men are not very quick in fpying out the Excellency of their Neighbours, because fuch a Discovery brings them under a Difadvantage of Comparison: And this unless they are generoufly inclin'd will not please. Thefe Reafons make People over-kind to their own things: And they who are fo, are always partial; and |