THE mind delights to dwell on the fate of humanity, as on that which is the prime central movement of the mighty machine. We love not to think that we shall mix with the ages that have gone before us, as the broad black rain-drops mingle with the water of waters, making a trifling and momentary eddy, and are then lost for ever.

WALTER SCOTT.

-THERE's a steadiness of soul and thought,
By reason bred and by religion taught,
Which, like a rock amidst the stormy waves,
Unmoved remains, and all affliction braves.

THE glitter of false wit, like the shine of false jewels, serves at once to shew the vanity and poverty of the possessor.

OH! tis a blessed thing to know,
Tho' but beloved by few,

That there is One, in weal or woe,
Who still remembers you.

To feel when not a friend is near,
Whose hope-inspiring breath
Can make this hated life more dear,
Or soothe the hour of death,-

There is a soul which would not shrink,
But all you bore could bear;

Which of the cup you drank would drink,
Nor ask what draught was there.

Then flow no more, thou foolish tear,
The world may wreak its will;
Though all around be dark and drear,
One light is left me still!

ALLEGIANCE, tempted too far, is like
A sword well temper'd on an anvil tried,
That press'd too hardly may in pieces fly;
An overburthen'd trust may treach❜ry prove,
And be too late repented.

MASSINGER.

To be good and disagreeable is high treason against virtue ; and yet how many people are guilty of this crime! Those who have no character to lose, and whose sole tenure in society depends on what they contribute to it, have strong motives for exerting their powers of pleasing; and in a world where people must be amused as well as edified, it would be wiser if agreeableness were as frequently united with the solid virtues, as unfortunately we find it joined with qualities of an opposite nature.

DISHONOUR Waits on perfidy. The villain

Should blush to think a falsehood: 'tis the crime

Of cowards.

DR. JOHNSON.

CUSTOM forms all;

Our thoughts, our morals, our most fix'd belief, Are consequences of our place of birth.

BELIEVE me,

That when the wind of Promise and of Hope
Stretches the canvas out of Resolution,
The bark, Design, flies swift before the gale,
And quickly anchors in Good Fortune's bay:
Then we unlade our freight of doubts and fears,
And barter them for happiness and glory.

HAVARD.

O ELOQUENT! O just! O mighty Death!
Who shall recount the wonders of thy hand?
Whom none can counsel, thou hast well advis'd,
And whisper'd wisdom to the deafest ear;

Whom all have trembled at, thy might has dar'd;
Whom all have flatter'd, thou alone hast scorn'd,
And swept poor deified mortality

With common ashes to an humble grave.

SEWELL.

THERE are some that use

Humility to serve their pride, and seem

Humble upon their way,

to be prouder At their wish'd journey's end.

DENHAM.

THOU art the source and centre of all minds,
Their only point of rest, ETERNAL WORD;
From Thee departing, they are lost, and rove
At random, without honour, hope, or peace:
From Thee is all that soothes the life of man;
His high endeavour, and his glad success;
His strength to suffer, and his will to serve.
But O! Thou bounteous Giver of all good!
Thou art of all Thy gifts Thyself the crown:
Give what Thou canst, without Thee we are poor,
And with Thee rich, take what Thou wilt away.

COWPER.

GOD is on the side of virtue; for whoever dreads punishment, suffers it; and whoever deserves it, dreads it.

THE power to give creates us oft our foes:
Where many seek for favour, few can find it:
Each thinks he merits all that he can ask;
And disappointed, wonders at repulse;
Wonders awhile, and then sits down in hate.

FROWDE.

A LOVER'S hope resembles the bean in the nursery tale, let it once take root, and it will grow so rapidly, that in the course of a few hours the giant Imagination builds a castle on the top, and by and by comes Disappointment with the 'curtal axe,' and hews down both the plant and the superstructure.

WALTER SCOTT.

IN struggling with misfortunes,

Lies the true proof of virtue. On smooth seas
How many bauble boats dare set their sails,
And make an equal way with firmer vessels;
But let the tempest once enrage the sea,
And then behold the strong-ribb'd argosie
Bounding between the ocean and the air,
Like Perseus mounted on his Pegasus;
Then where are those weak rivals of the main ?
Or to avoid the tempest, fled to port,

Or made a prey to Neptune. Ev'n thus
Do empty shew and true priz'd worth divide
In storms of fortune.

SHAKESPEARE.

HONOUR is a sacred tie, the law of Kings,
The noble mind's distinguishing perfection,
That aids and strengthens virtue where it
Meets her, and imitates her actions where she
Is not.

ADDISON.