hand with more difficulties than we really find, we shall be animated by unexpected facility with double spirit; and if we find our cautions and fears justified by the consequence, there will however happen nothing against which provision has not been made, no sudden shock will be received, nor will the main scheme be disconcerted.

There is, indeed, some danger lest he that too scrupulously balances probabilities, and too perspicaciously foresees obstacles, should remain always in a state of inaction, without venturing upon attempts on which he may perhaps spend his labour without advantage. But previous despondence is not the fault of those for whom this essay is designed; they who require to be warned against precipitation, will not suffer more fear to intrude into their contemplations than is necessary to allay the effervescence of an agitated fancy. As Des Cartes has kindly shewn how a man may prove to himself his own existence, if once he can be prevailed upon to question it, so the ardent and adventurous will not be long without finding some plausible extenuation of the greatest difficulties. Such, indeed, is the uncertainty of all human affairs, that security and despair are equal follies; and as it is presumption and arrogance to anticipate triumphs, it is weakness and cowardice to prognosticate miscarriages. The numbers that have been stopped in their career of happiness are sufficient to shew the uncertainty of human foresight; but there are not wanting contrary instances of such success obtained against all appearances, as may warrant the boldest flights of genius, if they are supported by unshaken perseverance.

NUMB. 44. SATURDAY, August 18, 1750.

Ὄνας ἐκ Διός ἐςι.

Dreams descend from Jove.

To the RAMBLER.

HOMER.

POPE.

SIR,

HAD lately a very remarkable dream, which made so strong an impression on me, that I remember it every word; and if you are not better employed, you may read the relation of it as follows:

me.

Methought I was in the midst of a very entertaining set of company, and extremely delighted in attending to a lively conversation, when on a sudden I perceived one of the most shocking figures imagination can frame, advancing towards She was drest in black, her skin was contracted into a thousand wrinkles, her eyes sunk deep in her head, and her complexion pale and livid as the countenance of death. Her looks were filled with terrour and unrelenting severity, and her hands armed with whips and scorpions. As soon as she came near, with a horrid frown, and a voice that chilled my very blood, she bid me follow her. I obeyed, and she led me through rugged paths, beset with briars and thorns, into a deep solitary valley. Wherever she passed, the fading verdure withered beneath her steps; her pestilential breath infected the air with malignant vapours, obscured the lustre of the sun, and involved the fair face of heaven in universal gloom. Dis

mal howlings resounded through the forest, from every baleful tree the night raven uttered his dreadful note, and the prospect was filled with desolation and horrour. In the midst of this tremendous scene my execrable guide addressed me in the following manner:

"Retire with me, O rash unthinking mortal, "from the vain allurements of a deceitful world, "and learn that pleasure was not designed the "portion of human life. Man was born to mourn "and to be wretched; this is the condition of all "below the stars, and whoever endeavours to op

pose it, acts in contradiction to the will of Hea"ven. Fly then from the fatal enchantments of "youth, and social delight, and here consecrate "the solitary hours to lamentation and woe.

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Mi

sery is the duty of all sublunary beings, and "every enjoyment is an offence to the Deity, who "is to be worshipped only by the mortification of "every sense of pleasure, and the everlasting ex"ercise of sighs and tears."

This melancholy picture of life quite sunk my spirits, and seemed to annihilate every principle of joy within me. I threw myself beneath a blasted yew, where the winds blew cold and dismal round my head, and dreadful apprehensions chilled my heart. Here I resolved to lie till the hand of death, which I impatiently invoked, should put an end to the miseries of a life so deplorably wretched. In this sad situation I espied on one hand of me a deep muddy river, whose heavy waves rolled on in slow sullen murmurs. Here. I determined to plunge, and was just upon the

brink, when I found myself suddenly drawn back. I turned about, and was surprised by the sight of the loveliest object I had ever beheld. The most engaging charms of youth and beauty appeared in all her form; effulgent glories sparkled in her eyes, and their awful splendours were softened by the gentlest looks of compassion and peace. At her approach the frightful spectre who had before tormented me, vanished away, and with her all the horrours she had caused. The gloomy clouds brightened into cheerful sunshine, the groves recovered their verdure, and the whole region looked gay and blooming as the garden of Eden. I was quite transported at this unexpected change, and reviving pleasure began to glad my thoughts, when, with a look of inexpressible sweetness, my beauteous deliverer thus uttered her divine instructions:

"My name is RELIGION. I am the offspring of "TRUTH and Love, and the parent of BENEVO"LENCE, HOPE, and Joy. That monster from "whose power I have freed you is called SUPERSTITION; she is the child of DISCONTENT, and her "followers are FEAR and SORROW. Thus different "as we are, she has often the insolence to assume

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my name and character, and seduces unhappy "mortals to think us the same, till she, at length, "drives them to the borders of DESPAIR, that "dreadful abyss into which you were just going "to sink.

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"Look round and survey the various beauties "of the globe, which Heaven has destined for the "seat of the human race, and consider whether a "world thus exquisitely framed could be meant

"for the abode of misery and pain. For what end "has the lavish hand of Providence diffused such "innumerable objects of delight, but that all might "rejoice in the privilege of existence, and be filled "with gratitude to the beneficent author of it? "Thus to enjoy the blessings he has sent, is virtue "and obedience; and to reject them merely as "means of pleasure, is pitiable ignorance or ab"surd perverseness. Infinite goodness is the source "of created existence; the proper tendency of every rational being, from the highest order of "raptured seraphs, to the meanest rank of men, "is to rise incessantly from the lower degrees of happiness to higher. They have each faculties "assigned them for various orders of delights.” "What," cried I, "is this the language of RE"LIGION? Does she lead her votaries through flowery paths, and bid them pass an unlaborious "life? Where are the painful toils of virtue, the "mortifications of penitents, the self-denying ex"ercises of saints and heroes ?"

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"The true enjoyments of a reasonable being," answered she mildly, "do not consist in unbounded indulgence, or luxurious ease, in the tumult of passions, the languor of indolence, or the flutter "of light amusements. Yielding to immoral plea"sure corrupts the mind, living to animal and trifling "ones debases it; both in their degree disqualify "it for its genuine good, and consign it over to "wretchedness. Whoever would be really happy, 66 must make the diligent and regular exercise of "his superior powers his chief attention, adoring "the perfections of his Maker, expressing good