his advantage, than perhaps he thought was due.* A paffion for fame like this, instead of supporting virtue, must prove fubversive of it, by ftifling those higher principles of morality which should ever influence the heart, and govern the conduct.

A

GRATITUDE AND PIETY.

RTABANES was diftinguished with peculiar favour by a wife, powerful, and good prince. A magnificent palace, furrounded with a delightful garden, was provided for his refidence. He partook of all the luxuries of his fovereign's table, was invested with extenfive authority, and admitted to the honour of a free intercourfe with his gracious mafter. But Artabanes was infenfible of the advantages which he enjoyed; his heart glowed not with gratitude and respect; he avoided the society of his benefactor, and abused his bounty. --- I deteft fuch a character, faid Alexis,

*Ciceronis Epift. x11. Lib. 5.
E 4

with

with generous indignation! It is your own picture which I have drawn, replied Euphronius. The great Potentate of heaven and earth has placed you in a world, which difplays the highest beauty, order, and magnificence; and which abounds with every means of convenience, enjoyment, and happiness. He has furnished you with fuch powers of body and mind, as give you dominion over the fishes of the fea, the fowls of the air, and the beafts of the field: And he has invited you to hold communion with him, and to exalt your own nature, by the love and imitation of his divine perfections. Yet have your eyes wandered with brutal gaze over the fair creation, unconfcious of the mighty hand from which it fprung. You have rioted in the profufion of nature, without one fecret emotion of gratitude to the fovereign difpenfer of all good: And you have flighted the glorious converse, and forgotten the prefence of that Omnipotent Being, who fills all space, and exists through all eternity.

ENVY AND DISCONTENT.

E

VER charming, ever new,

When will the landscape tire the view!

The fountain's fall, the river's flow,
The woody vallies warm and low;
The windy fummit wild and high
Roughly rufhing on the sky;
The pleasant feat, the ruin'd tower,
The naked rock, the fhady bower;
The town and village, dome and farm,
Each gives each a double charm. *

Alexis was repeating these lines to Euphronius, who was reclined upon a feat in one of his fields at Hart-Hill, enjoying the real beauties of nature which the Poet defcribes. The evening was ferene, and the landscape appeared in all the gay attire of light and fhade. A man of lively imagination, faid Euphronius, has a property in every thing which he fees; and you may now conceive yourself to be lord of

* Grongar Hill, by Mr. Dyer.

the

- the vast expanfe around us, and exult in the happiness of myriads of living creatures, who inhabit the woods, the lawns, and mountains which present themselves to our view. The house, garden, and pleafure grounds of Eugenio formed a part of the prospect: And Alexis expressed a jo、cular wish, that he had more than an imaginary property in thofe poffeffions.---Banish the ungenerous defire, faid Euphronius; for if you indulge fuch emotions as thefe, your heart will foon become a prey. to envy and discontent. Enjoy with gratitude the bleffings which you have received from the liberal hand of Providence; increase them, if you can with honour and credit, by a diligent attention to the duties of that respectable profeffion, for which you are defigned; and though your own cup may not be filled, rejoice that your neighbour's overflows with plenty. Honour the abilities, and emulate the virtues of Eugenio; but repine not that he is wifer, richer, or more powerful than yourself. His fortune is expended in

acts

acts of humanity, generofity, and hofpitality: His fuperior talents are applied to the inftruction of his children; to the affiftance of his friends; to the encouragement of agriculture, and of every useful art; and to fupport the cause of liberty and the rights of mankind: And his power is exerted to punish the guilty, to protect the innocent, to reward the good, and to diftribute justice with an equal hand to all. I feel the affection of a brother for Eugenio; and esteem myself fingularly happy in his friendship.

COURAGE.

BR

RASIDAS, a Spartan general, who was diftinguished for his bravery and generofity, once feized a mouse; and being bitten by it, fuffered it to escape. There is no animal, faid he, fo contemptible, but may be fafe, if it have itself.

courage to defend

PLUTARCH.

FALSE