"Ungrateful creatures! whence arise "Hard is my lot," the hound replies; O'er plains and vales, and mountains go; The morning sees my chase begun, Nor ends it till the setting sun." "When," says the greyhound, "I pursue, The lion craved the fox's art; The bird of heav'n then cried aloud, Would ye, rebellious mutineers! Entirely change your name and nature, And be the very envied creature? What, silent all; and none consent? And proud ambition of mankind." MORAL. Every one thinks his own condition the hardest. SUSPICION. SUSPICION is no less an enemy to virtue, than to happiness. He that is already corrupt is naturally suspicious; and he that becomes suspicious, will quickly be corrupt. He that suffers by imposture, has too often his virtue more impaired than his fortune. But as it is necessary not to invite robbery by supineness, so it is our duty not to suppress tenderness by suspicion. It is better to suffer wrong than to do it; and happier to be sometimes cheated, than not to trust. He who is spontaneously suspicious, may be justly charged with radical corruption. "Though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps At wisdom's gate; and to simplicity Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill I do not want admirers, And many come from far." "The pretty bugs and beetles, Sir, "So take advice, my little friend, Is the best I ever knew; THE FALLS OF NIAGARA. THE thoughts are strange that crowd into my brain, And notch His cent'ries in the eternal rocks. Deep calleth into deep. And what are we, And yet, bold babbler, what art thou to Him, IMPATIENCE. In those evils which are allotted us by Providence, such as deformity, privation of the senses, or old age, it is always to be remembered, that impatience can have no present effect, but to deprive us of the consolations which our condition admits, by driving away from us those by whose conversation, or advice, we might be amused or helped; and that with regard to futurity, it is yet less to be justified, since without lessening the pain, it cuts off the hope of that reward, which he, by whom it is inflicted, will confer upon those that bear it well. |