"you conclude, that it is his Intereft to "be fo, that Ambition would bid him "take that Alternative; in a Word, that a "Statesman is greater or happier than a Prig, I must deny my Affent. But, in comparing these two together, we must carefully avoid being milled by the vulgar erroneous Estimation of Things; for "Mankind err in Difquifitions of thisNature, "as Phyficians do, who, in confidering the

cr

Operations of a Difeafe, have not a due Regard to the Age and Complexion of "the Patient. The fame Degree of Heat "which is common in this Constitution,

may be a Fever in that; in the fame

manner, that which may be Riches or "Honour to me, may be Poverty or Disgrace "to another; for all these things are to be "estimated by Relation to the Perfon who

poffeffes them. A Booty of 10%. looks "as great in the Eye of a Bridle-cull, and gives as much real Happiness to his

Fancy, as that of as many thousands to "the Statesman; and doth not the for"mer lay out his Acquifitions in Whores "and Fiddles, with much greater Joy and "Mirth, than the latter in Palaces and

"Pictures?

"Pictures? What are the Flattery, the false "Compliments of his Gang to the State

man, when he himself must condemn "his own Blunders, and is obliged against "his Will to give Fortune the whole Ho"nour of his Succefs; what is the Pride "resulting from fuch fham Applause, com

pared to the fecret Satisfaction which a Prig enjoys in his Mind, in reflecting on "a well-contrived and well-executed <<< Scheme. Perhaps indeed the greater Danger is on the Prig's Side; but then "you must remember, that the greater << Honour is fo too. When I mention Ho"nour, I mean that which is paid them ડ by their Gang; for that weak Part of "the World, which is vulgarly called THE

WISE, fee both in a disadvantageous " and difgraceful Light: And as the Prig "enjoys (and merits too) the greater De<< gree of Honour from his Gang, fo doth "he fuffer the lefs Difgrace from the "World, who think his Mifdeeds, as they "call them, fufficiently at leaft punished " with a Halter, which at once puts an "End to his Pain and Infamy; whereas "the other is not only hated in Power, but D 2 "detefted

"detefted and contemned at the Scaffold; "and future Ages vent their Malice on

his Fame, while the other fleeps quiet "and forgotten. Befides, let us a little "confider the fecret Quiet of their Con"sciences; how easy is the Reflection of having taken a few Shillings or Pounds "from a Stranger, without any Breach of "Confidence, or perhaps any great Harm "to the Person who lofes it, compared to that "of having betrayed a publick Trust, and " ruined the Fortunes of thoufands. How "much braver is an Attack on the Highway, than at a Gaming- Table; and "how much innocenter the Character of a

By-House than a C-t-Pimp? He was eagerly proceeding when, cafting his Eyes on the Count, he perceived him to be fast asleep, wherefore having gently jogged him, in order to take his Leave, and promised to return to him the next Morning to Breakfast, they separated; the Count retired to Reft, and Mafter Wild to a Night-Cellar.

CHAP.

CHAP. VI.

Farther Conferences between the Count and Mafter Wild, with other Matters of the GREAT Kind.

EING met the next Morning, the

BE

Count, (who, though he did not agree with the whole of his Friend's Doctrine, was, however, highly pleased with his Argument) began to bewail the Miffortune of his Captivity, and the Backwardnefs of Friends to affift each other in their Neceffities; but what vexed him, he said, moft, was the Cruelty of the Fair; for he entrufted Wild with the Secret of his having had an Intrigue with Mifs Theodofia, the eldest of the Mifs Snaps, ever fince his Confinement, but could not prevail with her to fet him at Liberty. Wild anfwered, with a Smile: "It was no Wonder a Wo

man fhould wish to confine her Lover, "where he might be fure of having him entirely to herself; but added, he believ"ed he could tell him a Method of cer

tainly procuring his Escape." The Count

D 3

eagerly

eagerly befought him to acquaint him with

it. Wild told him: << Bribery was the "surest Means, and advised him to apply "to the Maid." The Count thanked him, but returned: "That he had not a Far

thing left befides one Guinea, which he "had then given her to change." Το which Wild faid: He must make it up "with Promises, which he fuppofed he "was Courtier enough to know how to put off." The Count greatly applauded the Advice, and faid, he hoped he should be able in Time to perfuade him to con defcend to be a Great Man, for which he was fo perfectly well qualified.

THIS Method being concluded on, the two Friends fat down to Cards, a Circumftance which I fhould not have mentioned but for the fake of obferving the prodigious Force of Habit; for, though the Count knew, if he won never fo much of Mr. Wild, he should not receive a Shilling, yet could he not refrain from packing the Cards; nor could Wild keep his Hands out of his Friend's Pockets, though he knew there was nothing in them.

WHEN