THE

RAMBLER.

NUMBER LXXIV.

LONDON, Saturday, December 1. 1750.

Rixatur de lana fæpe caprina.

HOR.

M

It is

EN are feldom able to give pleasure, where they are not pleased themselves. neceffary, therefore, to cultivate an habitual alacrity and chearfulness of mind for mankind are chiefly influenced by their affections; and VOL. III.

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in whatever state we may be placed by Providence, whether we are appointed to confer or receive benefits, to implore or to afford protection, we can profecute our purpòfes with fuccefs, only by fecuring the love of those with whom we tranfact. For though it is generally imagined, that he who grants. favours, may fpare any farther attention to his behaviour, and that usefulness will procure friends; yet it has been found, that there is an art of granting a request, an art very difficult of attainment; and that officioufnefs and liberality may be fo adulterated, as to lofe the greater part of their effect; compliance may provoke, relief may harrass, and liberality distress.

No disease of the mind can more fatally difable it from that intercourfe of benevolence, which is one of the chief duties of focial beings, than ill humour or peevifhnefs: for though it breaks not out in paroxyfms of outrage, nor bursts into clamour, and turbulence, and bloodfhed; it yet supplies the defect of violence by its frequency, and wears out happiness by flow corrosions, and fmall injuries inceffantly repeated. It may be confidered as the canker of life, that destroys its vigour, and checks its improvement; that creeps on with hourly depredations, and taints and vitiates what it cannot confume.

Peevishness, when it has been fo far indulged as to outrun the motions of the will, and difcover itfelf without premeditation, is a fpecies of depravity in the highest degree disgusting and offenfive; because, no caution or regularity, no rectitude of intention, nor softness of addrefs, can enfure a moment's exemption from affront and indignity.

While

While we are courting the favour of a peevish man, while we are making the warmeft offers of fervice, or exerting ourfelves in the most diligent civility, an unlucky fyllable difpl:afes, an unheeded circumstance ruffles and exafperates; and while we congratulate ourfelves upon having gained a friend, we have the mortification of finding all our endeavours fruftrated in a moment, and all our affiduity forgotten in the cafual tumult of fome trifling irritation.

This troublesome impatience is fometimes no thing more than the fymptom of fome deeper malady. He that is angry without daring to confefs his refentment, or forrowful without the liberty of telling his grief, is too frequently inclined to give vent to the fermentations of his mind at the first paffages that are opened, and to let his paffions boil over upon thofe whom accident throws in his way. A painful and tedious courfe of fickness frequently produces fuch a quick fenfibility, fuch an alarming apprehenfion of any increase of uneafinefs, as keeps the foul perpetually on the watch, to prevent or repel any thing from which inconvenience is felt or feared; fuch a restlefs and inceffant folicitude, as no care, no tenderness can .appeafe; and can only be pacified by the cure of the distemper, and the removal of the pain by which it is excited.

Nearly approaching to this weakness, is the captioufnefs of old age. When the strength is crushed, the fenfes are dulled, and the common pleafures of life are become infipid by repetition; we are willing to impute the uneafinefs of our condition to caufes not wholly out of our power; and

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please ourselves with fancying that we suffer by neglect, or unkindness, or want of skill, or any evil which admits a remedy, rather than by the decays of nature, which cannot be prevented, delayed, or repaired. We therefore revenge our pains upon thofe on whom we refolve to charge them; and too often drive mankind away at the time we have the greatest need of kindness and assistance,

But though peevishness may sometimes claim our compaffion, as the consequence or concomitant of mifery, it is very often found where nothing can juftify or excufe its admiffion. It is often one of the attendants on profperity, employed by infolence in exacting homage, and by tyranny in harrassing subjection. It is frequently the offspring of idleness and pride; of idleness anxious for trifles; and pride unwilling to endure the least obstruction of its wishes. Those who have long lived in folitude, indeed, naturally contract this unfocial quality; because, having long had only themselves to please, they do not readily depart from their own inclinations. Their fingularities therefore are only blameable, as they have imprudently or morofely withdrawn themselves from the world. But there are others, who have, without any neceffity, nurfed up this habit in their minds, by making implicit fubmiffivenefs the condition of their favour, and fuffering none to approach them, but thofe who watch their eyes, and obferve their nods; who never fpeak but to appland, or move but to obey.

He that gives himself up to his own fancy, and converfes with none but fuch as he hires to lull him in the down of abfolute authority, to footh

him

him with obfequioufnefs and regale him with flattery, foon grows too flothful for the labour of conteft, too tender for the afperity of contradiction, and too delicate for the coarseness of truth, A little oppofition offends, a little restraint enrages, and a little difficulty perplexes him. For man who has been accustomed to fee every thing give way to his humour and his choice, foon forgets his own littleness, and expects to find the world rolling at his beck, and all mankind employed to accommodate and delight him.

Tetrica had a very large fortune bequeathed to her by the fondness of an aunt, which made her very early independent of her parents, and placed her in a state of fuperiority to all about her. She had naturally no fuperfluity of understanding, and therefore was foon intoxicated by the flatteries of her maid, who informed her, that ladies, such as fhe, had nothing to do but take pleasure their own way; that he wanted nothing from others, and had therefore no reafon to value their opinion; that money was every thing; and that they who thought themselves ill-treated, fhould look for better ufage among their equals.

Warm with thefe generous fentiments, Tetrica came forth into the world; in which she endeavoured to diftinguifh herself by an overbearing haughtiness of mien, and contemptuous vehemence of language: but having neither birth, nor beauty, nor understanding in any uncommon degree, the frequent mortifications which the underwent from thofe who thought them felves at liberty to return her insults, reduced her turbulence to more cool and fecret malignity, and taught her to con

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