I.

Of the POPULACE.

HE Populace is a Monster fo powerful, fo fierce, and fo dangerous to provoke, that the Wife ufe their utmoft Diligence to keep in its good

Graces. 1

Of PREDICTION.

IS a common Argument against Predictions, that if we are decreed to endure Misfortunes, to know them, will not render them lefs inevitable, and if predestined to good Fortune, have no Occafion for fuch Fore-knowledge; but this may be eafily answered by faying, That if threatned by any malevolent Afpect of the Stars, Precaution may poffibly, though not always, render it ineffectual.

2. Seneca fpent his whole Life in learning how to bear well the Disappointments and Misfortunes of which it is full.

Of PRIMOGENITUre.

HE Right of Primogeniture has been in all

"TH Tages and in all Nations of the World, obferved with the utmost Strictnefs. The holy Scripture affures us, that the Patriarchs left their whole Estates to their first born Sons, and gave the others Fortunes only by way of Prefents. Juftin teftifies the fame of the Parthians and Macedonians; and Gromerus of Nations more remote and unciviliz'd.

of

1.

Of PROSPERITY.

Aulus Emilius, a Roman General, having ob

nians, and taken Perfeus their King, in order to retain his Soldiers within the Bounds of Moderation, fpoke to them in this Manner. There are Men, my

Friends, faid he, who on a lucky Turn of Fortune fwell themselves with Pride, and rather glory in the prefent Profperity of their Affairs, than reflect that all human Good is liable to change: but let us, above all Things, avoid this Error. We have before our Eyes a notable Example of the Uncertainty of Events; we fee the Pride of many Ages in one Day destroy'd; the Houfe of Alexander the Great, who was the most powerful Prince of the Universe, is now fùbjected to the Roman Sway; we fee a King whom yesterday we beheld attended by more than a Million of Warriors, now reduc'd to receive Meat and Drink from the Hands of his Enemies; and acknowledging each Roman Citizen as his Mafter. Ought we then to look on our Happiness as more affured? No certainly. We are also Men, and confequently liable to the fame Vi ciffitudes of Fortune; few are there who never experience a Change, and if To-day we glory in our Victory, To-morrow fome unforeseen Event may happen as greatly to our Difgrace. Plut. in his Life.

2. Marcus Aurelius, having vanquish'd Pamphilion, Chief of the Parthians, faid to him, I tell thee, I more dread Fortune in her Smiles than Frowns, because I know neither are of long Continuance; and when in Adversity, expect Profperity, when in Prof perity, I look every Hour for Adverfity

3. Julius Cæfar being raised above his Fellow eitizens, declared perpetual Dictator, and the fole Authority lodged in him, could not yet be content, but would needs make himself be call'd King of the Remans, a Name most odious to the People fince Tar-

quin,

quin, and this it was that caused his Death. Plut. in the Life of Brutus.

Of PRUDENCE.

1. Prudence is the Queen and Directress of all the

other moral Virtues; in her confifts the Knowledge how to manage good Fortune, and provide against bad.

2. The prudent Man, fays Socrates, remembers all Things pat, makes a right Use of the present, and provides for the future.

3. Scipio Africanus, being accufed by the Tribunes of the People of many Things, answer'd nothing to the Crimes alledg'd against him, but only faid, I have not yet render'd Thanks to Jupiter for the great Victory I obtained against Carthage and Hannibal, fo advantageous to Rome, permit me first to Sacrifice, and then give what Judgment you think proper on me. This faid, he turn'd towards the Temple, follow'd by his Friends and a great Number of the Senators, which the People perceiving attended him alfo, and inftead of condemning, made him triumph another Time. Plut. in his Lile.

T'

Of PRESENTS.

IS not the Value of the Prefent, but the affectionate Heart of him that offers it, which renders it acceptable to a noble Mind, there is fometimes more Love in an Egg, than a Pheasant. 2. Anaxerxes, King of Perfia, difdain'd not to accept a Draught of Water from a poor Labourer, who offer'd it to him as he pass'd by the Place where

he

he work'd. This Prince was used to fay, it was no÷ less magnanimous to receive fmall Presenrs, than to give great ones. Plut. in his Life:

Of PRIDE.

1. Ride is the Deteftation of God and Man, 'tis

flow, and though it fhould draw no other after it, yet is it fufficient of itself to turn the best Things into Wickedness.

2. Dioclefian the Emperor having been fo proud, that he made himfelf be call'd the Brother of the Sun. and Moon, was afterwards afham'd of his Prefump tion, and became the humblest of Mankind.

3. Menacrates perceiving Philip of Macedon to be falling into this Vice, made him fee his Error by a pleafant Stratagem; he invited him and his whole Court to a Feaft, where were feveral Tables for the Nobility all cover'd with the most excellent Viands, but that for the King was ferv'd only with Incense, which he asking the Meaning of; if thou art a God,. faid Menacrates, as thou thinkeft thyself, this is the only Food thou canst be treated with. Thefe Words were indeed too fevere, for fome Kings to have forgiven, but this excellent Prince was fo far from being offended, that he ever after look'd on the Speaker of them as his best Friend, and from that Moment threw off all Pride and vain Glory. Ælian, VarHift.

4. The Pride of this World is generally turn'd into Contempt. Those who for fome Time are idoliz'd, are in the End derided, even Alexander the Great, worshipp'd as a God while living, was denied human Rights when dead, his Body lying unburied for thirty Days. Elian, l. 12, Var. Hift.

5. Demof

5, Demofthenes obferves, that nothing obfcures the Luftre of good Actions fo much as Pride, nor renders ill ones fo notorious.

1.

Of PLAY.

Lphonfo, Son of Ferdinand, King of Spain, forbad all his Train the Ufe of Cards or Dice, on the Penalty of being banish'd his Court for three Months.

2. It was the Opinion of the Ancients, that nothing discover'd an avaricious Mind more than the Love of Gaming; and that Eagernefs with which the Moderns engage in it, the Transports they are in at a lucky Hit, and Difcontents enfuing a contrary one, prove but too evidently that Affert on to be juff.

3. Seneca maintains, that nothing is more impo. litick than publick Gaming, and with Reafon : For .could a Statesman see himself in those antick Gestures which his good or ill Fortune at Play puts him in, or a fine Lady the Distortion of thofe Features fhe has, perhaps, all the Morning been endeavouring in her Glafs to compofe; the one would tremble at the little Regard would hereafter be paid to his Counfels, and the other for the Lofs of her Conquefts, and Reputation of Beauty.

Of QUARRELS.

Rivate Quarrels are as fhameful, as publick ones are dangerous to a Commonwealth: And if it be dishonourable to be accounted a Coward, it is no lefs fo, in the Opinion of the truly brave and wife, to be too ready to draw the Sword on every tri