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 Life-time, as well as at his Death, let me feel his Bounty.

A little before his Death, he was very much indisposed, and thought that he would be in a fair Way of Recovery, if he removed to this Place where we now are: Accordingly he took me along with him, and we both arrived here safe by the Help of a Diving-Bell, which he kept for that Purpose. We were no sooner arrived than his Sickness increased, which shortly made an End of him. About an Hour before he died, he called me to him, and spoke to me like a kind Father, advising me, and bequeathing all his Possessions to me.

I know, said he, that the Hour of my Death is at hand; and now I bid Farewel to all the gilded Vanity which Men so eagerly pursue. Mark well my Words, and do not suspect a dying Man of Falshood: I now am old, and fraught with Experience and Observation, which may be of use to you that are young: I have seen Fortune loaded with Gifts and Honours, smilingly courting me to enjoy her; yet, just when I hoped to possess her, she hath frown'd; and not only baffled my Hopes, but deprived me of some small Favours which I before quietly enjoyed. This Treatment convinc'd me that she was giddy, and armed me against her Smiles, as well as Frowns: I opposed her with a superior Power, and call'd Virtue to my Aid, who is constant to her Votaries: She led me far from Noise and Tumult, and brought me Contentment in Solitude. There I exercised my Mind, and improved it; and made Discoveries in Nature useful to myself and others; yet here Fortune was kind, and discovered her Blindness, by tempting one that was out of her Power. Her Shadows could not draw me from the real Substance; neither could Abundance of Gold make