and found her to be no less than the relict of Prune, the grocer, who, having no children, had bequeathed to her all his debts and dues, and his estates real and perfonal. No formality was neceffary in addreffing madam Prune, and therefore Leviculus went next morning without an introductor. His declaration was received with a loud laugh; fhe then collected her countenance, wondered at his impudence, asked if he knew to whom he was talking, then showed him the door, and again laughed to find him confused. Leviculus discovered that this coarsenefs was nothing more than the coquetry of Cornhill, and next day returned to the attack. He foon grew familiar to her dialect, and in a few weeks heard without any emotion, hints of gay cloaths with empty pockets; concurred in many fage remarks on the regard due to people of property; and agreed with her in deteftation of the ladies at the other end of the town, who pinched their bellies to buy fine laces, and then pretended to laugh at the city. HE fometimes prefumed to mention marriage; but was always anfwered with a flap, a hoot, and a flounce. At laft he began to prefs her clofer, and thought himself more favourably received; but going one morning, with a refolution to trifle no longer, he found her gone to church with a young journeyman from the neighbouring fhop, of whom fhe had become enamoured at her window. In these, and a thousand intermediate adventures, has Leviculus fpent his time, till he is now grown grey with age, fatigue, and disappointment. He begins at last to find,. that fuccefs is not to be expected, and being unfit, for any employment that might improve his fortune, and unfurnished with any arts that might amufe his leifure, is condemned to wear out a taftelefs life in narratives which few will hear, and complaints which none will pity. NUMB NUMB. 183. TUESDAY, Dec. 17, 1751. Nulla fides regni fociis, omnifque Poteftas T LUCAN.. HE hoftility perpetually exercised between one man and another is caufed by the defire of many for that which only few can poffefs. Every man would be rich, powerful, and famous; yet fame, power,. and riches, are only the names of relative conditions, which imply the obfcurity, depend-ance, and poverty of greater numbers.. THIS universal and inceffant competition, produces injury and malice by two motives,, interest, and envy; the prospect of adding to our poffeffions what we can take from others, and the hope of alleviating the sense of our disparity by leffening others, though we gain nothing to ourselves. . 1 Of these two malignant and deftructive: powers, it seems probable at the firft view,, that intereft has the strongest and most ex tenfivee tenfive influence. It is eafy to conceive that opportunities to feize what has been long wanted, may excite defires almost irresistible; but furely, the fame eagerness cannot be kindled by an accidental power of destroying that which gives happiness to another. It must be more natural to rob for gain, than to ravage only for mischief. YET I am inclined to believe, that the great law of mutual benevolence is oftener violated by envy than by interest, and that most of the mifery which the defamation of blamelefs actions, or the obftruction of honeft endeavours brings upon the world, is inflicted by men that propofe no advantage to themfelves but the fatisfaction of poisoning the banquet which they cannot, tafte, and blafting the harvest which they have no right to reap. INTEREST can diffuse itself but to a narrow compafs. The number is never large of those who can hope to fill the posts of degraded power, catch the fragments of fhattered fortune, or fucceed to the honours of depreciated beauty. But the empire of envy, has has no limits, as it requires to its influence very little help from external circumftances. Envy may always be produced by idleness and pride, and in what place will not they be found? INTEREST requires fome qualities not univerfally bestowed. The ruin of another will produce no profit to him, who has not difcernment to mark his advantage, courage to feize, and activity to pursue it; but the cold malignity of envy may be exerted int a torpid and quiescent state, amidst the gloom of stupidity, in the coverts of cowardice. He that falls by the attacks of intereft, is torn by hungry tigers; he may discover and resist his enemies. He that perishes in the ambushes of envy, is destroyed by unknown and invifible affailants, and dies like him who is fuffocated by a poisonous vapour, without knowledge of his danger, or poffibility of contest. INTEREST is feldom pursued but at fome hazard. He that hopes to gain much, has commonly fomething to lose, and when he ventures to attack fuperiority, if he fails to conquer, is irrecoverably crushed. But envy may |