Happiness upon Thought. To retire for fuch Purposes as thefe, is the best Improvement of Solitude: To be thus alone, is the Way to bring us to the most desirable Company. Those who have attained to that Sublimity of Mind, as to be above all Worldly Cares, though they meddle with the World as being of the World, yet they do it fo fafely, that they cleave not to it, nor are aftonifhed to leave it.

F

To come to a Conclufion: Solitude hath certainly more Pleasures in it, than any public Employment; for it drives us into Contemplation, which is fo charming, that it may rather be faid to ravish, than pleafe, committing fo open a Rapture upon our Souls, that it puts them almost into a State of Separation. It is an Abuse of Retirement, for Men to embrace it out of Meannefs of Spirit, or for Weakness of Parts, as not fit to attain Greatnefs; and they ought to make it their Choice, purely to arrive at that Happiness which is ufually enjoy'd in a retired virtuous Life. Sir Richard Bulstrode, in his Effays, tells us of a King of Bohemia, who (retiring into a Defart, where he liv'd feveral Years with three poor Hermits) at his Death, told them, There was no Greatness preferable to the Tranquility of that Solitude be bad enjoyed

with them; which be efteemed as true Happinefs: Whereas that Life ke bad led upon bis Throne, deferved more the Title of Death than Life.

I remember it was the Saying of a wife Man, Crede mihi, qui benè latuit, benè vixit; Believe me, be that bath lain well conceal'd, bath liv'd well. But I must say in our Retirement, if we only converse with Earth, we shall be like it, that is, unlike ourfelves: But if we are engaged in more refin'd and intellectual Entertainments, we fhall be fomething more than ourselves, that is, than this narrow Circumference of Earth speaks us, the Soul being always like the Object of its Delight and Con

verfe.

In short, I would not be understood to recommend Retirement that should make us fupine, unactive, and ufelefs: Every Station of Life has its Offices; and there can be no Vacuum in our breathing Hours, but when, by Slumber, we repair our Nature. In our Retreats from the Hurry of public Employments, we must make ourselves ferviceable as far as we can: There are Duties which Solitude cannot exempt us from: We must extend our Hands to do good when Occafion offers, and not abfolutely wrap ourselves

up

up in Contemplation. The Communica

tion of our Kindness from behind a Cloud, when 'tis voluntary, and drawn down neither by Force nor Expectation, implies a Generofity, that feems a diftant Imitation of the Divinity.

O

A GE.

F all the impertinent Wishes which we have expreffed in Converfation, there is not one more unworthy a Gentleman, or a Man of liberal Edncation, than that of wishing one's felf younger. I have obferv'd, this Wifh is ufually made upon Sight of fome Object which gives the Idea of a past Action, which it is no Dishonour to us that we cannot now repeat; or else on what was in itself fhameful when we perform'd it. It is a certain Sign of a foolish or diffolute Mind, if we want our Youth again, only for the Strength of Bones and Sinews, which we once were Masters of. When an old Man bewails the Lofs of fuch Gratifications which are paffed, he difcovers a monftrous Inclination to that which is not in the Courfe of Providence to recal. The State of an old Man, who is diffatisfy'd merely for his being fuch, is the most out of all Measure of Reason and good Senfe of any Being we have an Ac

count

count of, from the higheft Angel to the loweft Worm.

Old Age is that which we all desire to afpire unto; and when we have attained, are as ready to complain of as our greatest Mifery, verifying in Part that old Obfervation, That Wedlock and Age are Things which we' defire and repent of.

Da fpatium vitæ, multos da, Jupiter, annos; Hoc recto vultu, folum hoc & pallidus optas. Sed quàm continuis, & quantis longa Senectus, Plena Malis?

Lays Juvenal:

Jove, grant me Length of Life; and Years good Store

Heap on my bending Back; I ask no more: Both Sick and Healthful, Old and Young conSpire,

In this one filly mischievous Defire.

Miftaken Bleffing, which old Age they call! 'Tis a long nafty darksome Hospital!

Years alone, are Load enough for the Strength, much more for the Weakness of Age; but when Labour and Sorrow are added to the Weight, how can we but double under the Burden? He was both old