appointed. People naturally oppose, any violent propensity in others, however they may use the freedom to indulge it in themselves; and no fooner do they difcover in any a paffionate longing after fame, as there is no inclination more ready to betray itself, than they are upon their guard, and take pleasure in withholding that applause, which, however they might be willing to bestow it as a gift, they cannot endure to have exacted as a tribute. Even the moft generous minds will be careful, how they deal out commendation to fuch as it might render yet more conceited.

Befides, I doubt not but you have often obferved, that this weakness is constantly leading men into indecencies, which offend the by-ftanders, from that sense of decorum which polifhed fociety cultivates in the human breaft. All the world is hurt by the boaftfulness and oftentation of him who is for ever exhibiting. In his

impatience to put himself forward; to talk of his own performances, and of his own concerns; to be still the hero of his little tale; to turn the conversation still his own way, if indeed he does not engross the whole; and either openly or obliquely to detract from others, while with more or lefs management, or it may be none at all, he magnifies himself ;-in fuch behaviour there is an impropriety, an indelicacy, a breach of good manners, which is felt by every one; and, however many persons may content themselves with smiling at it when it feems merely the effect of vanity, all will be disgufted when it is apparently the refult of pride.

Whether it be that arrogance is peculiarly unbecoming in a creature so frail and defective as man, or that felf-love in each individual revolts against a quality in others, that would attempt to mortify it by a fenfe of inferiority; of this we are certain, that there is not on earth one

any

fo infupportable; and therefore of all others it meets with the fevereft checks, and seldom fails to ruin the towering fabric it is ever labouring to raise. The highest rank, the greatest talents, the most illuftrious atchievements, can neither juftify nor excuse it; and indeed it is fecretly detefted by the very perfons who for their own ends fubmit to soothe it. Mankind in general are more penetrating and cautious than you will readily believe, with regard to both the encroachments of the proud, and the artifices of the vain; and if you wish for their esteem, you must not think of taking it either by force or surprise.

But I go farther, and fay that, though the follower of fame should have the prudence to conceal his eagerness in the chace; if yet he appear to pursue it ultimately for its own fake; if he be found more defirous of receiving than of deferving praise, more follicitous to be admired than amiable; or if there be rea

fon to suspect that he obliges others only, or chiefly, to recommend himself; let his merit in that cafe be what it may, fo great a blemish will for ever darken it: fo selfish a motive is fufficient to throw a fhade on the moft brilliant action; and it has been justly remarked, that when one would leffen the reputation of the actor, we need only impute to vain-glory that conduct, which, proceeding from a noble principle, would have merited and received high commendation.

It does honour to the fentiments of the human heart, that we cannot help venerating the man who shines on in a superior orbit of worth, without the affectation of shining, who is neither stopped in his courfe by the ftrife of tongues, nor tempted to stand still that he may liften to the founds of applaufe. In reality, the less you are feen to covet that, the more you are likely, if you deserve, to obtain it. I appeal to the observation

of all ages. Who has not heard that Praife will follow Virtue as her fhadow while fhe moves on, but fly her the moment the grows vain and turns to catch it?

Let us advance yet farther, and suppofe the over-confcious candidate for fame to escape the common fnares, and to arrive at his favourite object; I mean, in appearance. How far may he still be from it in truth, for aught that he knows! How feldom can any man be fure, that the approbation he receives is either quite fincere, or not attended with heavy abatements! How rare is that inflexible veracity, which will not yield, on fome occafions, to the defire of gratifying an acquaintance, a companion, a friend, with a degree of commendation not exactly measured by the opinion entertained of him! Where is the breast furnished with a window, which shows you diftinctly all that paffes there relating