MCXXV. An alderman is a peer of the city, and a member of their upper house; who, as soon as he arrives at so many thousand pounds, is bound by the charter to serve the public with so much understanding, what shift soever he make to raise it, and wear a chain about his neck like a rein-deer, or in default to commute, and make satisfaction in ready money, the best reason of the place; for which he has the name only, like a titular prince, and is an alderman-extraordinary. But if his wife can prevail with him to stand, he becomes one of the city supporters; and like the unicorn in the king's arms, wears a chain about his neck very right-worshipfully. * * When he sits as a judge in his court, he is absolute, and uses arbitrary power; for he is not bound to understand what he does, nor render an account why he gives judgment on one side rather than another; but his will is sufficient to stand for his reason, to all intents and purposes. He does no public business without eating and drinking; and when he comes to be lord-mayor he does not keep a great house, but a very great house-warming for a whole year; for though he invites all the companies in the city, he does not treat them, but they club to entertain him, and pay the reckoning beforehand. His fur gown makes him look a great deal bigger than he is, like the feathers of an owl; and when he pulls it off, he looks as if he were fallen away, or like a rabbit, had his skin pulled off.-Butler. MCXXVI. He that first started the doctrine, that bravery was the best defence against a knave, was but an ill teacher, ad. vising us to commit wickedness to secure ourselves. But for such as presume upon our modesty, to keep them off with their owh weapons, and not gratify their unreasonable impudence with an easy compliance, it is but just and good, and the duty of every honest man. Neither is it a hard matter to put off some mean and ordinary people, who will be apt to prove troublesome to you in that nature. Some shift them off with a jest or smart repartee: as Theocritus being asked in the bagnio to lend his napkins, by two persons, whereof one was a stranger to him, and t'other a notorious felon; he made answer: You, sir, I know not well enough, and you I know too well.-Plutarch. MCXXVII. - The prince that pardons Massinger. MCXXVIII. Security diminishes the passions; the mind, when left to itself, immediately languishes; and, in order to preserve its ardour, must be every moment supported by a new flow of passion. For the same reason despair, though contrary to security, has a like influence.-Hume. MCXXIX. So far is it from being true that men are naturally equal, that no two people can be half an hour together but one shall acquire an evident superiority over the other.-Johnson. INDEX. ABUSES, 107 Brauty, 136, 264, 387, 653, 885, 1001 832 Books, 11, 89, 298, 763, 771, 911, Botany, 925 1076 Care, 824, 929, 968, 1047 Caution, 255, 289, 778, 809 Charity, 3, 33, 782, 945, 1032, Cheatery, 108, Chess, game of, 228 Clergy, 411 Colonies, 368 Company, 210, 224, 334, 541, 627 Comparison, 79 Comus, 757,786 Conceit, 519, 946 Confidence, 508 Conjecture, 55 Consolation, 777 Constable, 241 Constancy, 538 Content, 458, 536, 1016 Controversy, 482, 942, 1010, 1017, 1024, 1034, 1071 Еe 2 5,526,54 06.52 Conversation, 378, 591, 595, 695, | Ennui, 1089 Epicurism, 861 592 Equanimity, 295 Epitaph on a Lady, 664 by Milton, 687 Eternity, 635 Etyriology, 905 Every Day Accomplishments, 652 Example, 13, 176, 194,642, 1019 Experience, 438 Eye, 182,884 Daughter, advice to, 800 Faction, 142, 690 Faith, 126 Fame, 6, 130, 133, 140, 462, 555, 604, 661, 686, 696, 697, 715, 728, 794, 807, 816, 830, 865, 919, 958 Fan, stanzas on, 269 Fanaticism, 83, 283, 433, 937 Fasbion, 203, 543, 546 Fate, 277, 337, 722 Fear, 388 Fellow, the term, 878 Flattery, 209, 290, 309, 326, 351, Fiecknoe, the wit, 651 Folly, 191, 366 Fools, 548 Fortune, 116, 246, 565, 843, 1023, 1097 French, character of, 883 language, 504 women, 294 Freethinkers, 637, 863 Friendship, 28, 37, 82, 132, 173, 189, 238, 254, 270, 285, 305, 356, 397, 398, 423,429, 667, 669, 855, 926, 954, 959, 982, 1022, 1096 1057 Gaming, 102 Gardening, 274, 322, 740 Generosity, 115, 448 |