MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS. 237 peaceful conscience in the faith and hope of the gospel, and the tears of his country were dropped upon his tomb. The world, that knew the whole series of his life, stood amazed at the mighty change : They beheld him as wonder of reformation, while he himself confessed and adored the divine power and mercy, which had transformed him from a brute to a man. But this was a single instance ; and we may almost venture to write miracle upon it. Are there not large numbers of both sexes among our young gentry, and among the families of quality, in a degenerate age, whose lives thus run to utter waste without the least tendency to usefulness and reformation, and with a scorn of all repentance? When I meet with persons of such a worthless character he this, it brings to my mind some scraps of Horace. " Nos numerus sumus & fruges consumere nati. ' --- Alcinoique juventus " Cui pulchrum fuit in medios dormire dies," &c. Paraphrase. There are a number of us creep into this world, to eat and sleep ; And know no reason why they're born, But merely to consume the corn, . Devour the cattle, fowl and fish, And leave behind an empty dish : The crows and ravens do the same, Unlucky birds of hateful name ; Ravens or crows might fill their place, And swallow corn and carcases. Then, if their tomb .stone, when they die, Bent taught to flatter and to lie, There's nothing better will be said, Than that, " They've eat up all their bread, j} .. Drank up their drink, and gone to bed." There are other fragments of that heathen poet, which occur on such occasions, one in the first of his satires, the othep in the last of his epistles, which seem to represent life only as a season of luxury. Exacto contentus tempore vita " Cedat uti conviva satur. - " Lusisti satis, edisti saris atque bibisti ; " Tempus abire tibi." Which may be thus put into English. Life's but a feast ; and when we die, Horace would say, if he were by, " Friend, thou hast eat and drank enough, " 'Tis time now to be marching off: " Then like a well -fed guest depart, " With chearful looks, and ease at heart ; " Bid all your friends good night, and say, " You've done the business of the day."
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