in some respects, and for some time to keep the most distinguished and fashionable company of the place you are at, either for their rank, or for their learning, or le bel Esprit et le Goút. This gives you credentials to the best companies, wherever you go wherever you go afterwards. Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination; never put of till to-morrow what you can do to day. That was the rule of the famous and unfortunate Pensionary De Witt; who, by strictly following it, found time not only to do the whole business of the Republic, but to pass his evenings at assemblies and suppers, as if he had had nothing else to do or think of. disgradevole in qualche riguardo, e per qualche tempo, determinatevi a trattar la più distinta, e più accreditata società nel paese dove siete, ossia per il rango de' suoi componenti, o per la loro dottrina, il loro spirito, il loro buon senso. Questo vi servirà di credenziali presso le migliori società, dove andrete in appresso. Conoscete il valor vero del tempo, rubatene, afferratene ogni momento. Non siate mai pigro, nè lento! non procrastinate mai nessun'affare, non rimandate mai alla domane quel che potete far oggi. Era questa la regola del famoso e sventurato Pensionario De Witt, il quale, aderendovi rigorosamente, trovò tempo per far non solo tutte le faccende della Repubblica, ma per passar le serate nelle conversazioni e alle cene, come se non avesse avuto altro da fare, e da pensare. VANITY. Be extremely on your guard against vanity, the common failing of inexperien ced youth; particularly against that kind of vanity that dubs a man a coxcomb; a character which once acquired, is more indelible than that of the priesthood. It is not to be imagined by how many different ways vanity defeats its own purposes. One man decides peremptorily upon every subject, betrays his ignorance upon many, and shews a disgusting presumption upon the rest: another de sires to appear successful among the women; he hints at the encouragement he has received from those of the most distinguished rank and beauty, and intimates a particular connexion with some one: if it is true, it is ungenerous; if false, it is infamous: but in either case he destroys the reputation he wants to get. Some flatter their vanity, by little extraneous objects which have not the least relation to themselves; such as being VANITA' Riguardatevi molto dalla vanità, difetto comune della gioventù inesperta, e particolarmente contro quella specie di vaità che fa dell' uomo uno sciocco impertinente, carattere che una volta acquistato, non si cancella più mai. Non è da immaginarsi in quante maniere la vanità tradisce il proprio suo fine. Un tale decide perentoriamente sovra ogni argo mento, manifesta la sua, ignoranza in molti, e scuopre una nauseante presunzione nel resto. Tal' altro vuol comparir fortunato colle donne, accenna gl' incoraggimenti che ha ricevuti dalle più distinte per rango e per bellezza, e vuol far sospettare qualche intima relazione con alcuna. Se la cosa è vera, egli manca di generosità, se è falsa, egli è un infame, ma in ogni modo distrugge quella riputazione che vorrebbe acquistare. Alcuni adulano la loro vanità con futili og getti estranei del tutto a loro medesimi, come per esempio la pretensione di di descended from, related to, or acquainted with people of distinguished merit, and eminent characters- They talk perpetually of their grandfather such a one, their uncle; and their intimate friend, Mr. such a-one, whom possibly, they are hardly acquainted with. But admitting it all to be as they would have it, what then? Have they the more merit for those accidents? Certainly not. On the contrary, their taking up adventitious, proves their want of intrinsic merit; a rich man never borrows. Take this rule for granted, as a never failing one, That you must never seem to affect the character to which you have a mind to shine. Modesty is the only sure bait, when you angle for praise. The affectation of courage will make even a brave man pass only for a bully, as the affectation of wit will make a man of parts pass for a coxcomb. By this modesty I do not mean timidity, but awkward bashfulness. On the contrary, be inwardly. firm and steady, know your own value, whatever it may be, and act upon that principle; but take great care to let nobody discover that you do know your |