for a time with great velocity and vigour, but the force of the firft impulfe is perpetually decreafing, and, though it should encounter no obftacle capable of quelling it by a fudden stop, the resistance of the medium through which it paffes, and the latent inequalities of the fmootheft furface, will in a short time, by continued retardation, wholly overpower it. Some hindrances will be found in every road of life, but he that fixes his eyes upon any thing at a diftance, neceffarily lofes fight of all that fills up the intermediate space, and therefore fets forward with alacrity and confidence, nor fufpects a thousand ob ftacles by which he afterwards finds his paffage em. barraffed and obftructed. Some are indeed stopt at once in their career by a sudden fhock of calamity, or diverted to a different direction by the crofs impulfe of fome violent paffion; but far the greater part languish by flow degrees, deviate at firft into flight obliquities, and themselves fcarcely perceive at what time their ardour forfook them, or when they loft fight of their original design.

Weariness and negligence are perpetually prevailing by filent encroachments, affifted by different caufes, and not obferved till they cannot, without great difficulty, be oppofed. Labour neceffarily requires paufes of eafe and relaxation, and the deliciousness of eafe commonly makes us unwilling to return to labour. We, perhaps, prevail upon ourfelves to renew our attempts, but eagerly liften to every argument for frequent interpofitions of amusement; for, when indolence has once entered upon the mind, it can fcarcely be difpoffeffed but by fuch efforts as very few are willing to exert.

It is the fate of induftry to be equally endangered by miscarriage and fuccefs, by confidence and defpondency. He that engages in a great undertaking, with a falfe opinion of its facility, or too high conceptions of his own ftrength, is eafily difcouraged by the first hindrance of his advances, becaufe he had promifed himself an equal and perpetual progreffion without impediment or disturbance; when unexpected interruptions break in upon him, he is in the state of a man furprised by a tempeft, where he purposed only to bask in the calm, or sport in the fhallows.

It is not only common to find the difficulty of an enterprize greater, but the profit lefs, than hope had pictured it. Youth enters the world with very happy prejudices in her own favour. She imagines herfelf not only certain of accomplishing every adventure, but of obtaining thofe rewards which the accomplishment may deferve. She is not easily perfuaded to believe that the force of merit can be refifted by obftinacy and avarice, or its luftre darkened by envy and malignity. She has not yet learned that the most evident claims to praise or preferment may be rejected by malice against conviction, or by indolence without examination; that they may be fometimes defeated by artifices, and sometimes overborne by clamour; that, in the mingled numbers of mankind, many need no other provocation to enmity than that they find themfelves excelled; that others have ceafed their curiofity, and confider every man who fills the mouth of report with a new name, as an intruder upon their retreat, and disturber of their repofe; that fome are en.

gaged

gaged in complications of interest which they imagine endangered by every innovation; that many yield themfelves up implicitly to every report which hatred diffeminates or folly fcatters; and that whoever aspires to the notice of the publick, has in almost every man an enemy and a rival; and must ftruggle with the oppofition of the daring, and elude the ftratagems of the timorous, muft quicken the frigid and foften the obdurate, must reclaim perverfeness and inform ftupidity.

It is no wonder that when the profpect of reward has vanished, the zeal of enterprize fhould cease; for who would persevere to cultivate the foil which he has, after long labour, discovered to be barren? He who hath pleafed himself with anticipated praises, and expected that he fhould meet in every place with patronage or friendship, will foon remit his vigour, when he finds that, from thofe who defire to be confidered as his admirers, nothing can be hoped but cold civility, and that many refufe to own his excellence, left they should be too juftly expected to

reward it.

A man, thus cut off from the prospect of that port to which his addrefs and fortitude had been employed to steer him, often abandons himself to chance and to the wind, and glides careless and idle down the current of life, without refolution to make another effort, till he is fwallowed up by the gulph of mortality.

Others are betrayed to the fame desertion of themfelves by a contrary fallacy. It was faid of Hannibal, that he wanted nothing to the completion of his

martial

martial virtues, but that when he had gained a victory he should know how to use it. The folly of defifting too foon from fuccessful labours, and the haste of enjoying advantages before they are fecured, are often fatal to men of impetuous defire, to men whose consciousness of uncommon powers fills them with prefumption, and who, having borne oppofition down before them, and left emulation panting behind, are early perfuaded to imagine that they have reached the heights of perfection, and that now, being no longer in danger from competitors, they may pass the rest of their days in the enjoyment of their acquifitions, in contemplation of their own fuperiority, and in attention to their own praises, and look unconcerned from their eminence upon the toils and contentions of meaner beings.

It is not fufficiently confidered in the hour of exultation, that all human excellence is comparative; that no man performs much but in proportion to what others accomplish, or to the time and opportunities which have been allowed him; and that he who stops at any point of excellence is every day finking in estimation, because his improvement grows continually more incommenfurate to his life. Yet, as no man willingly quits opinions favourable to himself, they who have once been juftly celebrated, imagine that they still have the fame pretenfions to regard, and feldom perceive the diminution of their character while there is time to recover it. Nothing then remains but murmurs and remorse; for if the spendthrift's poverty be embittered by the reflection that he once was rich, how must the idler's obfcurity

obfcurity be clouded by remembering that he once had luftre!

These errors all arife from an original mistake of the true motives of action. He that never extends his view beyond the praises or rewards of men, will be dejected by neglect and envy, or infatuated by honours and applaufe. But the confideration that life is only depofited in his hands to be employed in obe dience to a Mafter who will regard his endeavours, not his fuccefs, would have preserved him from trivial elations and difcouragements, and enabled him to proceed with conftancy and cheerfulness, neither enervated by commendation, nor intimidated by cenfure.