always triumph over pride and folly. Juftice, by means of mildness and humility, inflicts on the head of the guilty the punishment which was intended for the injured party, as Haman was hanged on the very gibbet he had provided for ' the deftruction of Mordecai. To fhun provocation, let it be remembered, that the littleft fly has a spleen, and the smallest bee a fting; and therefore to live quietly ourselves, we must do no wrong to others. It is as much the nature of a wicked man to do an injury, as it is the duty of a wife and honest man to bear it; for he who cannot bear injuries, witneffes against him. felf that he is no good man. These observations will alfo apply with equal force to fcoffs, flanders, contumelies, obloquies, defamations, detractions, pafquillings, libels, and the like. A wife citizen of Athens, who had a fcolding wife, whenever the bawled, played upon his drum, and by that means drowning her noife, rendered it of no effect. Aristophanes attempted to ridicule the character of Socrates on the stage; but the philosopher attended the representation, and, wifely laughing at the attempt, defeated, by his ease and unconcern, the whole effect of the malice which the poet had levelled against him. Anger and revenge, indeed, are their own punishment, as Praxiteles experienced, when, paffionately dafhing on the floor the mirror which L 3 reflected

ment of the glafs. A fteady, erect, compofe and temperate conduct, always defeats the in tended effects of malice and ill-nature.

There are many other grievances which hap pen to mortals in this life, from friends, wives, children, fervants, mafters, companions, neighbours, and ourfelves, to the cure of which the following rules will greatly contribute; "Recompence evil with good: do nothing through contention or vain glory; but every thing with meeknefs of mind, and love for one another."

CHAPTER THE SIXTH.

OF LOVE MELANCHOLY.

L

OVE is a delectation of THE HEART, OCcafioned by fome apparently good, amiable, and fair object, the favor or poffeffion of which, THE MIND ardently wishes to win, and seeks to enjoy. Of this paffion there are two species, nuptial and heroic. NUPTIAL LOVE is the warm, but fincere, and steady affection of a virtuous heart, feeking its happiness in that high and honourable union which was appointed by God in Paradife.

For those who spurn not Hymen's powers,
But seek for bliss within his bowers,

By sweet experience know,

That MARRIAGE, rightly understood,
Gives to the tender and the good
A PARADISE below.

This fpecies of love captivates the foul by fuch irresistible powers, is furrounded by fuch an affemblage of perfuafive charms, comes recommended by fuch rational and fatisfactory motives, and is capable of filling the bofom with L 4

fuch

224

OF LOVE MELANCHOLY.

fuch transcendent and refined delight, that no man, who has not a gourd for his head, or a pippin for his heart, can avoid it. It is the true Promethean fire, which heaven, in its kindness to the fons of man, has fuffered to animate the human breast, and lead it to felicity.

This is the love that ties the nuptial knot, Dictates to friendship its most binding laws, And with chaste vows does what is bound confirm : Thrice happy they when love like this, from heaven, Gains an ascendent o'er their virtuous minds.

No cord or cable can draw fo forcibly, or bind fo faft, as this charming paffion can do with only a fingle thread; for when formed on just and rational principles, it poffeffes the virtues of the adamant, and leads to an inexhaustible fource of increasing pleasure. It renders the union perfect and complete. The husband fways his willing confort by virtue of his fuperior understanding and knowledge in the affairs of life; but she again commands his heart by the influence of her charms he is her kind protector, and the his only joy and conftant comfort. They are not only of one flesh, but of one mind. Geryon like, they have one heart in two bodies. She is, as Plutarch fays, a beautiful mirror, to reflect her husband's face and temper; for if he be pleafant, fhe will be merry; when he laughs,

fhe

c

she will smile; and when he is fad, her heart will participate in his forrow, and ease him of half his pain. As the bride faluted the bridegroom of old, in Rome, fhe continually exclaims, " Ubi tu CAIUS, ego femper CAIA;" "Be you ftill CAIUS, and I will for ever be your CAIA." It is, indeed, a happy ftate, as Solomon obferves, "when the fountain is bleffed, and the husband rejoices with the wife of his youth; when fhe is to him as the loving hind, and the pleasant roe; and he is always ravifhed with her love." There is, under fuch circumftances, fomething in woman beyond all human delight. She poffeffes a magnetic virtue, a quality that charms, a fecret attraction, and moft irresistible power. No earthly happiness can be compared to that which refults from the poffeffion of a sweet and virtuous wife.

O come, ye chaste and fair, come, old and young, Whose minds are willing, and whose hearts are pure, Drink deep of happiness, drink health and peace From the sweet fountain of connubial love;

And, like Seneca with his Paulina, Abraham with Sarah, Orpheus with Eurydice, Arria with Patus, Artemnifia with Mausoleus, and Rubenius Celer with his lovely Ennea, live in uninterrupted felicity and increafing happiness.