ESSAY XV,

The STOIC †.

HERE is this obvious and material difference in

THE

the conduct of nature, with regard to man and other animals, that, having endowed the former with at fublime celestial fpirit, and having given him an affinity with fuperior beings, fhe allows not fuch noble faculties to lie lethargic or idle; but urges him, by neceffity, to employ, on every emergence, his utmost art and industry. Brute-creatures have many of their neceffities fupplied by nature, being cloathed and armed by this beneficent parent of all things: And where their own induftry is requifite on any occafion, nature, by implanting inftincts, ftill fupplies them with the art, and guides them to their good, by her unerring precepts. But man, expofed naked and indigent to the rude elements, rifes flowly from that helpless state, by the care and vigilance of his parents; and having attained his utmoft growth and perfection, reaches only a capacity of fubfifting, by his own care and vigilance. Every thing is fold to skill and labour; and where nature furnishes the materials, they are ftill rude and unfinished, till induftry, ever active

+ Or the man of action and virtue.

L 2

and

and intelligent, refines them from their brute ftate, and fits them for human ufe and convenience.

Acknowledge, therefore, O man, the beneficence of nature: for he has given thee that intelligence which fupplies all thy neceffitics. But let not indolence, under the falfe appearance of gratitude, perfuade thee to rest contented with her prefents. Wouldeft thou return to the raw herbage for thy food, to the open sky for thy covering, and to ftones and clubs for thy defence against the ravenous animals of the defert? Then return also to thy favage manners, to thy timorous fuperftition, to thy brutal ignorance; and fink thyself below those animals, whofe condition thou admireft, and wouldest so fondly imitate.

Thy kind parent, nature, having given thee art and intelligence, has filled the whole globe with materials to employ thefe talents: Hearken to her voice, which fo plainly tells thee, that thou thy felf shouldest also be the object of thy induftry, and that by art and attention alone thou canst acquire that ability, which will raife thee to thy proper ftation in the univerfe. Behold this artizan, who converts a rude and fhapelefs ftone into a noble metal; and molding that metal by his cunning hands, creates, as it were by magic, every weapon for his defence, and every utenfil for his convenience. He has not this fkill from nature: Ufe and practice have taught it him: And if thou wouldeft emulate his fuccefs, thou muft follow his laborious foot-fteps.

But while thou ambitio fly afpireft to perfecting thy bodily powers and faculties, wouldeft thou meanly neglect thy mind, and from a prepofterous floth, leave it ftill rude and uncultivated, as it came from the hands of na

ture?

ture? Far be fuch folly and negligence from every rational being. If nature has been frugal in her gifts and endowments, there is the more need of art to fupply her defects. If fhe has been generous and liberal, know that the ftill expects industry and application on our part, and revenges herfelf in proportion to our negligent ingratitude. The richest genius, like the most fertile foil, when uncultivated, fhoots up into the rankeft weeds; and instead of vines and olives for the pleasure and ufe of man, produces, to its flothful owner, the most abundant crop of poisons.

The great end of all human industry, is the attainment of happiness. For this were arts invented, fciences cultivated, laws ordained, and focieties modelled, by the most profound wisdom of patriots and legiflators. Even the lonely favage, who lies exposed to the inclemency of the elements, and the fury of wild beafts, forgets not, for a moment, this grand object of his being. Ignorant as he is of every art of life, he keeps ftill in view the end of all thofe arts, and eagerly feeks for felicity amidst that darkness with which he is environed. But as much as the wildeft favage is inferior to the polished citizen, who, under the protection of laws, enjoys every convenience which industry has invented; fo much is this citizen himself inferior to the man of virtue, and the true philofopher, who governs his appetites, fubdues his paffions, and has learned, from reafon, to fet a just value on every purfuit and enjoyment. For is there an art and apprenticeship neceffary for every other attainment? And is there no art of life, no rule, no precepts to direct us in this principal concern? Can no particular pleasure be attained without fkill; and can the whole be regulated without reflection or intelligence, by the

blind guidance of appetite and instinct? Surely then nơ mistakes are ever committed in this affair; but every man, however diffolute and negligent, proceeds in the pursuit of happiness, with as unerring a motion, as that which the celeftial bodies obferve, when, conducted by the hand of the Almighty, they roll along the ethereal plains. But if mistakes be often, be inevitably committed, let us regifter thefe miftakes; let us confider their caufes; let us weigh their importance; let us enquire for their remedies. When from this we have fixed all the rules of conduct, we are philofophers: When we have reduced thefe rules to practice, we are fages.

Like many fubordinate artifts, employed to form the feveral wheels and fprings of a machine: Such are thofe who excel in all the particular arts of life. He is the mafter workman who puts those several parts together; moves them according to just harmony and proportion; and produces true felicity as the refult of their confpiring order.

While thou haft fuch an alluring object in view, shall that labour and attention, requifite to the attaining thy end, ever feem burdenfome and intolerable? Know, that this labour itfelf is the chief ingredient of the felicity to which thou afpireft, and that every enjoyment foon becomes infipid and diftafteful, when not acquired by fatigue and induftry. See the hardy hunters rife from their downy couches, flake off the flumbers which ftill weigh down their heavy eye-lids, and, ere Aurora has yet covered the heavens with her flaming mantle, haften to the foreft. They leave behind, in their own houfes, and in the neighbouring plains, animals of every kind, whose flesh furnishes the most delicious fare, and

which offer themselves to the fatal ftroke. Laborious man difdains so easy a purchase. He feeks for a prey, which hides itself from his fearch, or flies from his purfuit, or defends itself from his violence. Having exerted in the chace every paffion of the mind, and every member of the body, he then finds the charms of repofe, and with joy compares its pleasures to thofe of his engaging labours.

And can vigorous induftry give pleasure to the pursuit even of the most worthless prey, which frequently escapes our toils? And cannot the fame induftry render the cultivating of our mind, the moderating of our paffions, the enlightening of our reason, an agreeable occupation; while we are every day fenfible of our progrefs, and be hold our inward features and countenance brightening inceffantly with new charms? Begin by curing yourself of this lethargic indolence; the tafk is not difficult: You need but tafte the fweets of honeft labour. Proceed to learn the juft value of every purfuit; long study is not requifite: Compare, though but for once, the mind to the body, virtue to fortune, and glory to plea fure. You will then perceive the advantages of industry : You will then be fenfible what are the proper objects of your industry.

In vain do you seek repofe from beds of rofes: In vain do you hope for enjoyment from the most delicious wines and fruits. Your indolence itfelf becomes a fatigue: Your pleasure itself creates difguft. The mind, unexercised, finds every delight infipid and loathsome ; and ere yet the body, full of noxious humours, feels the torment of its multiplied difeafes, your nobler part is fenfible of the invading poifon, and feeks in vain to re