241. Letter on the Absence of Lovers-Remedies proposed 243. On the Beauty and Loveliness of Virtue . 255. Uses of Ambition-Fame difficult to be obtained 256. Subject-Disadvantages of Ambition 262. The Spectator's Success-Caution in Writing-an- nounces his Criticism on Milton 265. Female Head-dress-Will. Honeycomb's Notions of it 267. Criticism on Paradise Lost 269. Visit from Sir Roger-his Opinions on various Matters 170 279. Criticism on Paradise Lost 185 289. Reflections on Bills of Mortality-Story of a Dervise Fable of a Drop in the Ocean 211 223 343. Transmigration of Souls-Letter from a Monkey 345. Criticism on Paradise Lost 369. Criticism on Paradise Lost 371. Humorous way of sorting Companies-for Mirth- 339 255 342 262 344 270 347 439. The Manners of Courts-The Spy and the Cardinal 440 Proceedings of the Infirmary for Ill-humoured People 441. Happiness of Dependance on the Supreme Being 463. Weight of Wisdom and Riches, a Vision 464. Mediocrity of Fortune to be preferred 465. Means of strengthening Faith 469. On Benevolence in official Situations 494 THE SPECTATOR. No. 162. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5. -Servetur ad imum HOR. Qualis ab incepto processerit, et sibi constet. NOTHING that is not a real crime, makes a man appear so contemptible and little in the eyes of the world as inconstancy, especially when it regards religion or party. In either of these cases, though a man perhaps does but his duty in changing his side, he not only makes himself hated by those he left, but is seldom heartily esteemed by those he comes over to. In these great articles of life, therefore, a man's conviction ought to be very strong, and, if possible, so well timed, that worldly advantages may seem to have no share in it, or mankind will be ill-natured enough to think he does not change sides out of principle, but either out of levity of temper or prospects of interest. Converts and renegadoes of all kinds should take particular care to let the world see they act upon honourable motives; or whatever approbations they may receive from themselves, and applauses from those they converse with, they may be very well assured that they are the scorn of all good men, and the public marks of infamy and derision. Irresolution on the schemes of life which offer themselves to our choice, and inconstancy in pursuing them, are the greatest and most universal causes of all our disquiet and unhappiness. When ambition pulls one way, interest another, inclination a third, and perhaps reason contrary to all, a man is likely to pass his time but ill who has so many different parties to please. When the mind hovers among such a variety of allurements, one had better settle on a way of life that is not the very best we might have chosen, than grow old without determining our choice, and go out of the world, as the greatest part of mankind do, before we have resolved how to live in it. There is but one method of setting ourselves at rest in this particular, and that is, by adhering stedfastly to one great end, as the chief and ultimate aim of all our pursuits. If we are firmly resolved to live up to the dictates of reason, without any regard to wealth, reputation, or the like considerations, any more than as they fall in with our principal design, we may go through life with steadiness and pleasure; but if we act by several broken views, and will not only be virtuous, but wealthy, popular, and everything that has a value set upon it by the world, we shall live and die in misery and repentance. One would take more than ordinary care to guard oneself against this particular imperfection, because it is that which our nature very strongly inclines us to; for if we examine ourselves thoroughly, we shall find that we are the most changeable beings in the universe. In respect of our understanding, we often embrace and reject the very same opinions; whereas beings above and beneath us, have probably no opinions at all, or at least no waverings and uncertainties in those they have. Our superiors are guided by intuition, and our inferiors by instinct. In respect of our wills, we fall into crimes and recover out of them, are amiable or odious in the eyes of our great Judge, and pass our whole life in of fending and asking pardon. On the contrary, the beings underneath us are not capable of sinning, nor those above us of repenting. The one is out of the possibilities of duty, and the other fixed in an eternal course of sin or an eternal course of virtue. There is scarce a state of life, or stage in it, which does not produce changes and revolutions in the mind of man. Our schemes of thought in infancy are lost in those of youth; these too take a different turn in manhood, till old age often leads us back into our former infancy. A new title, or an unexpected success, throws us out of ourselves, and in a manner destroys our identity. A cloudy day, or a little sunshine, have as great an influence on many constitutions, as the most real blessings or misfortunes. A dream varies our being, and changes our condition while it lasts; and every passion, not to mention health and sickness, and the greater alterations in body and mind, makes us appear almost different creatures. |