will support thee, he will raise thee up, he will supply thee with what thou needest, and relieve thee of what is burdensome; the fire of his looks will animate thine, his melodious voice will soften the roughness of thine, his reflecting prudence will temper thy 'împetuous vivacity: the tenderness 'which 'he 'feels toward thee will be imprinted on thy face, and all who know him 'will recognise him in thee: thou wilt be what he is, and thou wilt 'remain not the less what thou art."

WHO can stand before envy? The dread of it obstructs the use of talents. Thucydides is of opinion, that seeing there is a necessary connection between envy and great talents, that he consults best for his own glory who aims at the highest pitch of glory and envy. The bashful do not aspire to glory, yet cannot always escape envy.

A

modest youth may be tempted, by the examples, and speeches, and snares of envious companions to run with them to the same excess of riot. St. Augustin says of himself, in his Confessions, that he was ashamed among his equals not to be guilty of sins in which they gloried, and even feigned to be worse than he was, to avoid their sneer. The

с

66

bashful young sinner thus entangled, finds it difficult to resist, or stop short, or draw back. Having done all to stand, he must put on the armour of God. Rompez enfin des chaines dont vous ne pouvez plus trainer le poids " honteux; secouez un joug qui vous accable; "osez mepriser les jugemens d'une monde "dont vous deja meprisez les plaisirs et ne "faites pas a la grandeur de Dieu l'outrage de "la craindre moins que la monde-Et vous, "O mon Dieu! achevez d'eclairer ces ames "foibles qui commencent a vous connoitre; "fortifiez leurs volontés timides et chan"celantes: vanquez encore une fois le monde "dans leurs cœurs*."

* Massillon Sermon sur le Respect Humain.

ON BASHFULNESS.

Part Second.

PLUTARCH, in his Treatise on Bashfulness, recommends a gradual cure; to begin with refusing to drink, or game, or lend money, or listen to an endless talker, or to recommend the undeserving, or to become surety: if you cannot yet say no, turn aside or look another way: silence is an answer to a wise man, and there is yet more occasion for it in dealing with a fool.

Through shame you may err so far, as in sickness not to call an able physician, lest another should take offence; in a lawsuit, not to retain counsel learned in the law, because we must gratify one who calls himself our friend, or give opportunity to a young relation to show himself in the world; to admit a disadvantageous proposal of marriage,

or decline one that is suitable and desired; to entertain ignorant impudent obtruders as tutors to our children. Against this folly we might try to harden ourselves in daily occa sions, and not to give way to it even in the choice of a barber, or a tailor, or a paltry inn, when better accommodation might be had, because the landlord cringed to us; but in every case to choose the best, though the difference be inconsiderable: and so we through custom prepared to resist in greater instances.

As there are bodies easily affected by cold. or heat, so feebles minds are chilled by a frown, and melted with a smile; we must be ware of becoming a prey either to those who would frighten or cajole us: rather to grapple with evil men, than after serving their base ends to be despised by them; neither to comeply with flatterers: Bion compares one who lends an ear to flattery to a pitcher:-"Take it by the ear, and you may move it as you please." We might have in our memory defensive sayings of wise men: Phocion said: to Antipater, "You are deceived if you would "have me your friend, and expect that I "should play the flatterer:" Simonides the poet solicited an unjust sentence from Themistocles" You would be no good poet if

66°

your verses were irregular, and he is no "good magistrate whose sentence is unjust." Perseus, in lending money to a friend, took legal security: "Why, said the borrower, "these forms of law among friends?" He answered; "that we may continue friends." Zeno asked a young man why he skulked "To avoid one who would have me bear false"witness."-" Has he the effrontery to be im "pious, and are you ashamed to be just?" If one who stands upon his quality and reputa tion proposes any thing dishonourable, we must tell him freely, he acts not as becomes one of his character. If they who would practise on our modesty, do it from a desire of glory or power, why should we contract disgrace or infamy to ourselves, to advance the authority or set off the reputation of others, like those who bestow the rewards wrongfully at the public games, or make a false return of the poll: They confer; indeed, garlands and honours on other men, but at the same time forfeit their own reputation and integrity..

. Cato the Elder preferred young men who blushed to the pale. There are plants, which, though they may prove pernicious, indicate a promising soil, so the blushes of young men, though no unpromising sign, may run into