Words, new Compofitions; and it paffes for an Ornament, to borrow from the other Tongues, where we may be better furnish'd in our own. An Affectation in Writing is equally naufeous as in Expreffion; in Matters of Compofition, we fhould write, as we would speak, with Eafe and Freedom; if we put our Thoughts in good Senfe, the Matter of Ornament we may leave to the Orators. Yet where we can be eloquent, fays SENECA, without more Pains than the Thing's worth, let us ufe our Faculty provided that we value ourselves upon the Matter, more than upon the Words; and apply ourselves rather to the Understanding, than the Fancy: For as for efteeming any Man purely upon the Score of bis Rhetoric (continues the Philofoper) I would as foon choose a Pilot for a good Head f Hair. But to speak more immediately of our Actions and Behaviour: Every Man has one or more Qualities, which may make him ufeful both to himself and others: Nature never fails of pointing them out; and while the Infant continues under her Guardianship, the brings him on in his Way, and then offers herself for a Guide in what remains of the Journey: If he proceeds in that Course, he can hardly miscarry: Nature makes good her Engagements; for as fhe never pro mifes what fhe is not able to perform, fo fhe never fails of performing what the promifes. But the Misfortune is, Men despise what they may be Mafters of, and affect what they are not fit for: They reckon themfelves already poffeffed of what their Genius inclined them to, and fo bend all their Ambition to excel in what is out of their Reach: Thus they destroy the Use of their natural Talents, in the fame Manner as covetous Men do their Quiet and Repofe; they can enjoy no Satisfaction in what they have, becaufe of the abfurd Inclination they are poffeffed with for what they have not. The great Misfortune of these Affectations is, that Men not only lose a good Quality, but alfo contract a bad one; they not only are unfit for what they were defigned, but they affign themselves to what they are unfit for; and instead of making a very good Figure one Way, make a very ridiculous one another. It is to Affectation the World owes its whole Race of Coxcombs: Nature in her whole Drama never drew fuch a Part: She has fometimes made a Fool; but a Coxcomb is always of a Man's own making, by applying his Talents otherwife than Nature defigned; who ever bears an high Refentment for being put out of her Course, and never fails of taking her Revenge on thofe that do fo. If Men would be content to graft upon Nature, and affift her Operations, what mighty Effects might we expect? For wherever Nature defigns a Production, fhe always difpofes Seed proper for it; which are as abfolutely neceffary to the Formation of any moral or intellectual Excellence, as they are to the Being and Growth of a Plant. But oppofing her Tendency in the Applica tion of a Man's Parts, has the fame Succefs as declining from her Courfe in the Production of Vegetables: By the Affistance of Art, and an hot Bed, we may poffibly extort an unwilling Plant, or an untimely Sallad; but how weak, how tasteless and infipid! All Affectations, which endeavour to correct natural Defects, and have always the laudable Aim of pleafing, yet always mifs it; and the more they labour to put on Gracefulness, the farther they are from it. He that will examine wherein that Gracefulness lies, which always pleases, will find it arifes from that natural Coherence which appears between the Thing done, and such a Temper of Mind, as cannot but be approved of as fuitable to the Occafion. In a Word, could the World be reform'd to the Obedience of that famed Dictate, follow Nature, which the Oracle of Delphos pronounced to Cicero, when he confulted what Course of Studies he fhould purfue, we fhould fhould fee almost every Man as eminent in his proper Sphere, as Tully was in his; and fhould, in a very fhort Time, find Impertinence and Affectation banifh'd from the Women, and Coxcombs and falfe Characters from among the Men. Imitation of others, without difcerning what is graceful in them, or what is peculiar to their Characters, often makes a great Part of our Faults. But Affectation, of all Kinds, whencefoever it proceeds, is always offenfive; because we naturally hate whatever is counterfeit, and condemn thofe who have nothing better to recommend themselves by. IDLE NESS. O true to Industry, and fo zealous for Employment, have wife Men been in all Ages, that they have look'd upon Idleness and Inactivity, as Crimes of a heinous Nature. I remember it is a Reflection of Old Hefiod: Τῷ δὲ θεοὶ νεμεσῶσι καὶ ἀνέρες ὅς κεν άεργος. That both God and Men are angry at him that lives unactive, like Drones in an Hive, that devour the Fruit of the Bees Labour. Idleness is of fo general a Diftemper, that a copious Treatife on this Subject could not, but be of univerfal Ufe. There is hardly any one Perfon without fome Allay of it; and thousands spend more Time in an idle Uncertainty, which to begin firft of two Affairs, |