No. One to the right, one to the left recedes, 77. Those talents worthy of eternal blaze, Were they employ'd in God's and Virtue's praise; 78. From death's monitions best we scan The puny frame of mortal man. THE 2 RAMBLE R. NUMBER LIII. LONDON, Tuesday, September 18. 1750. Φάδεω τῶν κτεανών. T Epigram. Vet. Here is scarcely among thofe evils to which human life is expofed, any fo univerfally dreaded as poverty. Every other fpecies. of mifery, those who are not much accustomed to disturb the present moment with reflection, can eaVOL. III. A fily fily forget, because it is not frequently forced upon their regard: but it is impoffible to pass a day or an hour in the confluxes of men, without feeing how much indigence is expofed to contumely, neglect, and infult; and, in its lowest state, to hunger and nakedness, to injuries against which every paffion is in arms, and to wants which nature cannot fuftain. Against other evils the heart is often hardened by true or by falfe notions of dignity and reputation. Thus we see dangers of every kind faced with willingness, because bravery in a good or bad caufe is never without its encomiafts and admirers. But in the profpect of poverty there is nothing but gloom and melancholy; the mind and body fuffer together; its miferies bring no alleviations: it is a state in which every virtue is obscured, and in which no conduct can avoid reproach; a state in which chearfulness is infenfibility, and dejection fullennefs; and of which the hardships are without honour, and the labours without reward. Of these calamities there feems not to be wanting a general conviction: for we hear on every fide the noise of trade, and see the streets thronged with numberless multitudes, whofe faces are clouded with anxiety, and whose steps are hurried by precipitation, from no other motive than the hope of gain; and the whole world is put in motion by the defire of that wealth, which is chiefly to be valued, as it fecures us from poverty; for it is more ufeful for defence than acquifition, and is not fo much able to procure good, as to exclude evil. Yet there are always fome whofe paffions or fol lies |