Page:The Guardian (Vol 1).pdf/192

 130

THE GUARDIAN.

N ° 22.

life in general Mould be ſuppoſed agreeable. But as there is condition exempt from anxiety, I will allow l. werds to be afflicted with ſuch misfortunes, as the loſs of a favourite lamb, or a

faithleſs miſtreſs. He may, ifyou pleaſe, pick a thorn out of his foot; or vent his grief for loſing the prize in dancing; but theſe being ſmall tor ments, they recommend that ſtate which only produces ſuch trifling evils. Again I would not ſeem ſo ſtrict in my notions of innocence and

fimplicity, as to deny the uſe of a little railing, or the liberty of ſtealinga kid or a ſheep -hook. For theſe are likewiſe ſuch petty enormities, that we muſt think the country happy where theſe are the greateſt tranſgreſſions.

When a reader is placed in ſuch a ſcene as I have deſcribed, and introduced into ſuch com

pany as I have choſen, he gives himſelf up to the pleaſing deluſion ; and ſince every one doth not know how it comes to paſs, I will venture to tell him why he is pleaſed. The firſt reaſon is, becauſe all mankind love

eaſe. Though ambition and avarice employ moſt

men's thoughts, they are ſuch uneaſy habits, that we do not indulge them out of choice, but from

fomeneceffity, realor imaginary. We ſeek hap pineſs, in which eaſe is the principal ingredient, and the end propoſed in ourmoſt reſtleſs purſuits is tranquillity. We are therefore foothed and

'delighted with the repreſentation of it, and fancy we partake of the pleaſure. A ſecond reaſon is our fecret approbation of

innocence and fimplicity. Human nature is not ſo much depraved,as to hinder us from reſpecting