THE RAMBLER. NUMBER LXVII. LONDON, Tuesday, November 6. 1750. Ελπις καὶ συ τυχὴ μέγα χαίρετε. T Epigr. vetus. Here is no temper fo univerfally indulged as Hope. Other paffions operate by starts on particular occafions, or in certain parts of life; but Hope begins with the first power of comparing our actual with our poffible ftate, and attends us through every stage and period of our VOL. III. P lives; lives; always urging us forward to new acquifitions, and holding out fome diftant bleffing to our view; promifing us either relief from pain, or increase of happiness. T Hope is alike neceffary in every condition. The miferies of poverty, of ficknefs, of captivity, would, without Hope, be infupportable. Nor does it appear, that the happiest lot of terrestrial existence can fet us above the want of this general bleffing; or that life, when the gifts of nature and of fortune are accumulated upon it, would not still be wretched, were it not elevated and delighted by the hope of fome new poffeffion, of fome enjoyment yet behind, by which the wifh fhall be at last fatisfied, and the heart filled up to its utmost extent, Hope is indeed very fallacious, and promifes what it feldom gives: but its promifes are more valuable than the gifts of fortune; and it feldom fruftrates us, without affuring us of recompenfing the delay by a greater bounty. I was musing on this ftrange inclination which every man feels to deceive himself, and confidering the advantages and dangers proceeding from this gay profpect of futurity, when, falling asleep, on a fudden I found myfelf placed in a garden, of which my fight could defcry no limits. Every scene about me was gay and gladfome, light with funfhine, and fragrant with perfumes; the ground was painted with all the variety of fpring, and all the choir of nature was finging in the groves. When I had recovered from the first raptures, with which the confufion of pleafure had for a time entranTace d ced me, I began to take a particular and delibe rate view of this delightful region. I then perceived, that I had yet higher gratifications to expect; and that, at a small diftance from me, there were brighter flowers, clearer fountains, and more lofty groves, where the birds, which I yet heard but faintly, were exerting all the power of melody. The trees about me were beautiful with verdure, and fragrant with bloffoms; but I was tempted to leave them by the fight of ripe fruits, which feemed to hang only to be plucked. I therefore walked haftily forwards; but found, as I proceeded, that the colours of the field faded at my approach, the fruit fell before I reached it, the birds flew still finging before me, and though I preffed onward with great celerity, I was ftill in fight of pleasures of which I could not yet gain the poffeffion, and which feemed to mock my diligence, and to retire as I advanced. Though I was confounded with foany alter nations of joy and grief, I yet perfifted to go for ward, in hopes that thefe fugitive delights would in time be overtaken. At length I faw an innumerable multitude of every age and fex, who feeni ed all to partake of fome general felicity; for eve ry cheek was flufhed with confidence, and every eye sparkled with eagerness. Yet each appeared to have fome particular and fecret pleafure; and very few were willing to communicate their intentions, or extend their concern beyond themselves. Moft of them feemed, by the rapidity of their motion, too busy to gratify the curiofity of a stranger; and therefore I was content for a while to gaze upon them, without interrupting them with troublefome At last I obferved one man worn with ing |