and pursue that' conduct' towards your brother' (11), which you would practise to a neighbour' (4). His' (25) friendship is of inestimable' (8) worth (26); and nothing` is more' lovely' in the sight of Heaven' (11,2), than for brethren' to dwell' together in unity' (4, 2). THE ELOCUTIONIST. PROMISCUOUS SELECTIONS IN PROSE. On Study. STUDIES' serve for delight', for ornament', and for ability. Their chief use for delight', is in privateness' and retiring; for ornament', is in discourse'; and for ability', is in the judgement' and disposition' of business`. For expert' men can execute', and perhaps judge' of par ticulars, one by one'; but the general' counsels', and the plots, and marshaling' of affairs, come` best' from those' that are learned'. To spend too much time' in studies, is sloth; to use' them too much for ornament`, is affectation'; to make judgement wholly by their' rules, is the humour of a scholar'. They perfect nature', and are perfected' by experience'; for natural' abilities' are like natural plants, that need pruning by study'; and studies themselves' do give forth directions too much at large', except they be bounded' in' by experience. Crafty' men contemn` studies, simple` men admire' them, and wise' men use them: for they teach not their own' use, but that is a wisdom without them, and above' them, won' by observation'. Read-not to contradict` and refute', not to believe' and take for granted', nor to find talk' and discourse— but to weigh' and consider. Some' books are to be tasted`; others, to be swallowed'; and some' few', to be chewed' and digested': that is, some' books are to be read only in parts; others', to be read-but not curiously'; and some` few', to be read wholly', and with diligence' and attention`. Some books also may be read by deputy', and extracts of A and pursue that' conduct' towards your brother' (11), which you would practise to a neighbour' (4). His' (25) friendship is of inestimable` (8) worth (26); and nothing is more' lovely' in the sight of Heaven' (11, 2), than for brethren' to dwell' together in unity' (4, 2). THE ELOCUTIONIST. PROMISCUOUS SELECTIONS IN PROSE. On Study. STUDIES' serve' for delight', for ornament', and for ability. Their chief use for delight', is in privateness' and retiring; for ornament', is in discourse'; and for ability', is in the judgement` and disposition' of business`. For expert men can execute', and perhaps judge' of particulars, one by one'; but the general' counsels', and the plots', and marshaling' of affairs, come` best' from those' that are learned'. To spend too much time' in studies, is sloth; to use' them too much for ornament`, is affectation'; to make judgement wholly by their' rules, is the humour of a scholar'. They perfect nature', and are perfected' by experience'; for natural' abilities' are like natural plants, that need pruning by study'; and studies themselves' do give forth directions too much at large', except they be bounded' in' by experience'. Crafty' men contemn` studies, simple` men admire' them, and wise' men use them: for they teach not their own' use, but that is a wisdom without` them, and above' them, won' by observation. Read-not to contradict` and refute', not to believe' and take for granted', nor to find talk' and discourse'— but to weigh' and consider. Some' books are to be tasted`; others, to be swallowed'; and some few', to be chewed' and digested': that is, some' books are to be read only in parts; others, to be read-but not curiously'; and some` few', to be read wholly', and with diligence' and attention`. Some books also may be read by deputy', and extracts of A them made by others'; but that should be only in the less' important arguments, and the meaner' sort of books; else distilled' books are like common` distilled' waters'-flashy' things. Reading' maketh a full' man; conference`, a ready' man; and writing', an exact man. And, therefore, if a man write' little, he had need have a present' wit`; if he confer` little, he had need have a good memory'; and if he read' little, he had need have much` cunning' to seem` to know' that he doth not.' Bacon. On the Love of Life. AGE, that lessens the enjoyment of life, increases our desire of living. Those dangers which, in the vigour of youth, we had learned to despise, assume new terrors as we grow old. Our caution increasing as our years increase, fear becomes at last the prevailing passion of the mind; and the small remainder of life is taken up in useless efforts to keep off our end, or provide for a continued existence. Strange contradiction in our nature, and to which even the wise are liable! If I should judge of that part of life which lies before me by that which I have already seen, the prospect is hideous. Experience tells me, that my past enjoyments have brought no real felicity; and sensation assures me, that those I have felt are stronger than those which are yet to come. Yet experience and sensation in vain persuade: hope, more powerful than either, dresses out the distant prospect in fancied beauty; some happiness, in long perspective, still beckons me to pursue; and, like a losing gamester, every new disappointment increases my ardour to continue the game. Whence, then, is this increased love of life, which grows upon us with our years? Whence comes it, that we thus make greater efforts to preserve our existence, at a period when it becomes scarce worth the keeping? Is it that Nature, attentive to the preservation of mankind, increases our wishes to live, while she lessens our enjoyments; and, as she robs the senses of every pleasure, equips Imagination in the spoils? Life would be insupportable to an old man, who, loaded with infirmities, feared death no more than when in the vigour of manhood; the numberless calamities of decaying nature, and the consciousness of |