And, all the while,

Without an envious eye

On any thriving under fortune's smile,
Contented live, and then contented die.

COTTON.

THERE is one species of egotism which is truly disgusting; not that which leads us to communicate our feelings to others, but that which would reduce the feelings of others to an identity with our own. The Atheist, who exclaims, " Pshaw!" when he glances his eye on the praises of the Deity, is an egotist. An old man, when he speaks contemptuously of loveverses is an egotist; and the sleek favourites of fortune are egotists, when they condemn all "melancholy, discontented," verses.

COLERIDGE.

Nous serions heureux à jamais,
Sans le si, le car, et le mais.

THILKE ground that berith the wedes wicke,
Bereth eke these wholesome herbes as full oft,
And nexte to the foule nettle rough and thicke,
The rose ywexith sote, and smothe, and soft,
And next the valey is the hill aloft,
And next the derke night is the glad morowe,
And also joie is next the fine of sorowe.

CHAUCER.

Go, Soul, the Body's guest,
Upon a thankless arrant;
Fear not to touch the best,

The truth shall be thy warrant : Go, since I needs must die,

And give the world the lie.

Say to the Court, it glows, And shines like rotten wood; Say to the Church, it shows What's good, and doth no good; If Court and Church reply, Then give them both the lie.

Tell Potentates they live
Acting by others' action;
Not loved unless they give,
Not strong but by affection;
If Potentates reply,

Give Potentates the lie.

Tell Men of high condition,
That manage the estate,
Their purpose is ambition,
Their practice only hate;
And if they once reply,

Then give them all the lie.

Tell them that brave it most,

They beg for more by spending,

Who in their greater cost

Like nothing but commending : And if they make reply,

Then tell them all they lie.

Tell Zeal it wants devotion;
Tell Love it is but lust;
Tell Time it is but motion;
Tell Flesh it is but dust;
And wish them not reply,
For thou must give the lie.

Tell Age it daily wasteth ;
Tell Honour how it alters;
Tell Beauty how she blasteth;
Tell Favour how it falters:

And as they shall reply,

Give every one the lie.

Tell Wit how much it wrangles
In tickle points of niceness;
Tell Wisdom she entangles

Herself in over-wiseness:

And when they do reply,

Straight give them both the lie.

Tell Physic of her boldness;

Tell Skill it is pretension;

Tell Charity of coldness;

Tell Law it is contention:

And as they do reply,

So give them still the lie.

Tell Fortune of her blindness;
Tell Nature of decay;
Tell Friendship of unkindness;

Tell Justice of delay :

And if they will reply,

Then give them all the lie.

Tell Arts they have no soundness,
But vary by esteeming ;

Tell Schools they want profoundness,
And stand so much on seeming;

If Arts and Schools reply,

Give Arts and Schools the lie.

Tell Faith it's fled the City;

Tell how the Country erreth :
Tell Manhood shakes of pity;
Tell Virtue least preferreth :
And if they do reply,
Spare not to give the lie.

So when thou hast, as I

Commanded thee, done blabbing; Because to give the lie,

Deserves no less than stabbing:

Stab at thee who that will,

No stab the Soul can kill !

DAVISON'S RHAPSODY, 1608.

N

IF a man makes me keep my distance, the comfort is, he keeps his at the same time.

SWIFT.

THE busts of grandeur, and the pomp of pow'r,
Can these bid sorrow's gushing tears subside?
Can these avail in that tremendous hour,
When death's cold hand congeals the purple tide?

Ah no! the mighty names are heard no morePride's thought sublime, and beauty's kindling bloom, Serve but to sport one flying moment o'er,

And swell with pompous verse th' escutcheon'd tomb.

OGILVIE.

OUR actions are our own; their consequence

Belongs to Heaven.

FRANCIS.

YOUTH! thou wear'st to manhood now:

Darker lip, and darker brow,

Statelier step, more pensive mien,

In thy face and gait are seen :

Thou must now brook midnight watches,

Take thy food and sport by snatches;

For the gambol and the jest,
Thou wert wont to love the best,
Graver follies thou must follow,
But as senseless, false, and hollow.