THE

RAMBLER.

NUMBER LXVI.

LONDON, Saturday, November 3. 1750.

Pauci dignofcere poffunt

Vera bona, atque illis multum diverfa, remotâ

Erroris nebula.

Juv.

T

HE folly of human wishes and pursuits has always been a standing subject of mirth and declamation, and has been ridiculed and lamented from age to age; till perhaps the fruitless repetition of complaints and cenfures may VOL. III.

be

extent of power, and eminence of reputation con→ fer, must be always, by their own nature, confined to a very small number; and the life of the greater part of mankind must be lost in empty wishes and painful comparisons, were not the balm of philofophy fhed upon us, and our discontent at the appearances of unequal distribution soothed and appeafed.

It was perhaps below the dignity of the great mafters of moral learning, to defcend to familiar life, and caution mankind against that petty ambition which is known among us by the name of vanity; which yet had been a province not unworthy of the longest beard and most folemn aufterity. For though the paffions of little minds, acting in low stations, do not fill the world with bloodshed and devastation, or mark by great events the periods of time; yet they torture the breaft which they happen to feize, infect thofe that are placed within the reach of their influence, deftroy private quiet and private virtue, and undermine infenfibly the happiness of the world.

The defire of excellence is laudable, but is very frequently ill directed. We fall, by chance, into fome clafs of mankind; and, without confulting nature or wisdom, resolve to gain their regard by thofe qualities which they happen to esteem. I once knew a man remarkably dim-fighted, who, by converfing much with country-gentlemen, found himself irrefiftibly determined to fylvan honours, and was very defirous to be thought a skilful sports

man.

His great ambition was to fhoot flying; and he therefore spent whole days in the woods, purfu

ing game; which, before he was near enough to fee them, he always frighted away.

When it happens, that the defire, however ab. furd or fruitless, tends only to objects which produce no competition, it may be overlooked with fome indulgence; because it cannot have ill effects upon the morals. But most of our enjoyments owe their value to the peculiarity of poffeffion; and, when they are rated at too high a value, give occafion to ftratagems of malignity, and incite oppofition, hatred, and defamation. The conteft of two rural beauties for preference and distinction, is often fufficiently keen and rancorous to fill their breafts with all thofe paffions which are generally thought the curfe only of fenates, of armies, and of courts; and the rival dancers of an obfcure affembly, have their partifans and abbettors often not lefs exasperated against each other, than those who are promoting the interests of rival monarchs.

It is common to confider those whom we find infected with an unreasonable regard for trifling accomplishments, as juftly chargeable with all the. confequences of their folly, and as the authors of their own unhappiness. But perhaps all those whom we fcorn or deteft, have more claim to tenderness than has been yet allowed them. Before we permit our severity to break loofe upon any fault or error, we ought furely to confider how much we have countenanced or promoted it. We see multitudes bufy in the pursuit of riches, at the expence of wisdom and of virtue: but we see the reft of mankind approving their conduct, and inciting their eagerness, by paying that regard and deference to wealth, which wisdom and virtue only can deferve.

We