conveying into it a perpetual Affluence of animal Spirits. Nor muft I omit the Reafon which Hudibras has given, why those who can talk on Trifles speak with the greatest Fluency; namely, that the Tongue is like a Race-horfe which runs the fafter the leffer Weight it carries.

WHICH of thefe Reasons foever may be look'd upon as the most probable, I think the Irishman's Thought was very natural, who after fome Hours Converfation with a Female Orator, told her, that he believed her Tongue was very glad when the was afleep, for that it had not a Moment's Reft all the while fhe was awake.

THAT excellent old Ballad of the Wanton Wife of Bath has the following remarkable Lines:

I think, quoth Thomas, Womens Tongues

Of Afpen Leaves are made.

AND Ovid, though in the Defcription of a very barbarous Circumstance, tells us, That when the Tongue of a beautiful Female was cut out and thrown upon the Ground, it could not forbear muttering even in that Pofture.

Comprehenfam forcipe linguam
Abftulit enfe ferro. Radix mic at ultima lingue.

Ipfa jacet, terraque tremens immurmurat atræ; Utque falire folet mutilata cauda colubra Palpitat:-

IF a Tongue would be talking with. out a Mouth, what could it have done when it had all its Organs of Speech, and Accomplices of Sound about it? I might here mention the Story of the Pippin-Woman, had not I fome reason to look upon it as fabulous.

I must confefs I am fo wonderfully charmed with the Mufick of this little Inftrument, that I would by no means difcourage it. All that I aim at by this Differtation is, to cure it of feveral difagreeable Notes, and in particular of thofe little Jarrings and Diffonances which arife from Anger, Cenforioufnefs, Goffiping and Coquetry. In short, I would have it always tuned by Goodnature, Truth, Difcretion and Sincerity.

CS

Friday,

N 248. Friday, December 14.

Hoc maximè Officii eft, ut quifque maximè opis indigeat, ita ei potiffimùm opitulari. Tull.

า

HERE are none who de-ferve Superiority over others in the Efteem of Mankind, who do not make it their Endeavour to make it beneficial to Society; and who upon all occafions which their Circumftances of Life can adminifter, do not take a certain unfeigned Pleafure in conferring Benefits of one kind or other. Those whofe great Talents and high Birth have placed them in confpicuous Stations of Life, are indifpenfably obliged to exert fome noble Inclinations for the Service of the World, or elfe fuch Advantages become Misfortunes, and Shade and Privacy are a more eligible Portion. Where Opportunities and Inclinations are given to the fame Person, we fometimes fee fublime Inftances of Virtue, which fo dazzle our Imaginations, that we look

with Scorn on all which in lower Scenes of Life we may our felves be able to praEtife. But this is a vicious way of Thinking; and it bears fome fpice of romantick Madness, for a Man to imagine that he must grow ambitious, or feek Adventures, to be able to do great Actions. It is in every Man's Power in the World who is above meer Pover ty, not only to do things worthy, but heroick. The great Foundation of civil Virtue is Self-denial; and there is no one above the Neceffities of Life, but has opportunities of exercising that noble Quality, and doing as much as his Circumstances will bear for the Eafe and Convenience of other Men; and he who does more than ordinarily Men practife upon fuch occafions as occur in his Life, deferves the Value of his Friends as if he had done Enterprizes which are ufually attended with the highest Glory. Men of publick Spirit differ rather in Circumftances than their Virtue; and the Man who does all he can in a low Station, is more a Hero than he who omits any worthy Action he is able to accomplish in a great one. It is not many Years ago fince Lapirius, in wrong of his elder Brother, came to a great E

ftate

ftate by Gift of his Father, by reafon of the diffolute Behaviour of the First-born. Shame and Contrition reformed the Life of the difinherited Youth, and he became as remarkable for his good Qualities as formerly for his Errors. Lapirius, who obferved his Brother's Amendment, fent him on a New-Year's Day in the Morning the following Letter:

Honoured Brother,

Enclose to you the Deeds whereby my Father gave me this House and Land: Had he lived till now, he would not have beftowed it in that manner; he took it from the Man you were, and I restore it to the Man you are. I

am,

SIR, Your affectionate Brother,

and humble Servant, P. T.

AS great and exalted Spirits undertake the Purfuit of hazardous Actions for the Good of others, at the fame time gratifying their Paffion for Glory; fo do worthy Minds in the domestick way of Life, deny themfelves many Advantages, to fatisfy a generous Benevolence which they bear to their Friends. oppreffed with Diftreffes and Calamities.

Such