norance or idleness, by which some discourage others and some themselves: the mutability of mankind will always furnish writers with new images, and the luxuriance of fancy may always embellish them with new decorations.

T.

No. XCVI. Saturday, October 6, 1753.

-Fortunatos nimium, fua fi bona norint.

happy, if ye knew your happy ftate!

VIRG.

DRYDEN.

In proportion as the enjoyment and infelicity of life depend upon imagination, it is of importance that this power of the mind should be directed in its operations by reason; and, perhaps, imagination is more frequently busy when it can only imbitter disappointment and heighten calamity; and more frequently slumbers when it might increase the triumph of success, or animate insensibility to happiness, than is generally perceived.

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he was in the same state, as if he had never heard of the vacancy, which he had fome chance to fill: but Evander groaned under the tyranny of imagination, and in a fit of causelefs fretfulness cast away peace, because time was not stopped in its career, and a miracle did not interpose to secure him a living.

Agenor, on whom the living which Evander folicited was bestowed, never conceived a single doubt that he should fail in his attempt: his character was unexceptionable, and his recommendation such as it was believed no other could counterbalance; he, therefore, received the bounty of his patron without much emotion; he regarded his fuccess as an event produced, like rain and fun-shine, by the common and regular operation of natural causes; and took possession of his rectory with the fame temper, that he would have reaped a field he had sown, or received interest of a sum which he had placed in the funds. But having, by accident, heard the report which had been circulated by the friends of Ev ander, he was at once struck with a sense of his good fortune; and was so affected by a retrospect on his danger, that he could scarce believe it to be past. "How providential," said he, " was it, that I did not stay to "drink another dish of tea at breakfast, that I found a

hackney-coach at the end of the street, and that I met " with no stop by the way!" What an alteration was produced in Agenor's conception of the advantage of his fituation, and the means by which it was obtained! and yet at last he had gained nothing more than he expected; his danger was not known time enough to alarm his fear; the value of his acquisition was not increased; nor had providence interposed farther than to exclude

An ecclefiaftical living of confiderable value became vacant, and Evander obtained a recommendation to the patron. His friend had too much modesty to speak with confidence of the fuccess of an application fupported chiefly by his interest, and Evander knew that others had folicited before him; as he was not, therefore, much elevated by hope, he believed he should not be greatly depressed by a disappointment. The gentleman to whom he was recommended, received him with great courtesy; but upon reading the letter, he changed countenance, and discovered indubitable tokens of vexation and regret; then taking Evander by the hand, "Sir," said he, " I think it scarce less

misfortunate to myself than you, that you was not " five minutes sooner in your application. The genman whose recommendation you bring, I with more "than any other to oblige; but I have just presented "the living to the person whom you faw take his leave " when you entered the room."

This declaration was a stroke, which Evander had neither skill to alude, nor force to resist. The strength of his interest, though it was not known time enough to increase his hope, and his being too late only a few minutes, though he had reason believe his application had been precluded by as many days, were circumstances which imagination immediately improved to aggravate his disappointment: over these he mused perpetually with inexpressible anguish; he related them to every friend, and lamented them with the most passiionate exclamations. And yet, what happened to Evander more than he expected? nothing that he possessed was diminished, nor was any possibility of advantage cut off: with respect to these and every other reality,

he

he was in the same state, as if he had never heard of the vacancy, which he had fome chance to fill: but Evander groaned under the tyranny of imagination, and in a fit of causelefs fretfulness cast away peace, because time was not stopped in its career, and a miracle did not interpose to secure him a living.

Agenor, on whom the living which Evander folicited was bestowed, never conceived a fingle doubt that he should fail in his attempt: his character was unexceptionable, and his recommendation such as it was believed no other could counterbalance; he, therefore, received the bounty of his patron without much emotion; he regarded his fuccess as an event produced, like rain and fun-shine, by the common and regular operation of natural causes; and took possession of his rectory with the fame temper, that he would have reaped a field he had sown, or received interest of a sum which he had placed in the funds. But having, by accident, heard the report which had been circulated by the friends of Ev ander, he was at once struck with a sense of his good fortune; and was so affected by a retrospect on his danger, that he could scarce believe it to be past. "How providential," said he, " was it, that I did not stay to "drink another dish of tea at breakfast, that I found a

hackney-coach at the end of the street, and that I met " with no stop by the way!" What an alteration was produced in Agenor's conception of the advantage of his fituation, and the means by which it was obtained! and yet at last he had gained nothing more than he expected; his danger was not known time enough to alarm his fear; the value of his acquisition was not increased; nor had providence interposed farther than to exclude