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The Works of Samuel Johnson, Ll. D.: Containing Adventurer and Rasselas.
The Works of Samuel Johnson Ll D Containing Adventurer and Rasselas Author:Samuel Johnson Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE ADVENTURER. N 34. SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1753. Has toties optata exegit gloria pasnas.—jov. Such fate pursues the votaries of praise. TO THE ADVENTU... more »RER. si, Fleet-prison, 'Feb. 24. J.O a berievolent disposition, every state of life will afford some opportunities of contributing" to the welfare of mankind. Opulence and splendor are enabled to dispel the cloud of adversity, to dry up the tears of the widow and the orphan, and to increase the felicity of all around them : their example will animate virtue, and retard the progress of .vice. And even indigence and obscurity, though without power to confer happiness, may at least prevent misery, and apprize those who are blinded by their passions that they tire on the briuk 6f. irremediable calamity. Pleased, therefore, with the thought of recovering others from that folly which has embittered my own days, I have presumed to address the Adventurer from the dreary mansions of wretchedness and despair, of which the gates are so wonderfully constructed, as to fly open Jbr the reception of strangers, though they are impervious as a rock of adamant to such as are within them: Fact/is descensus Aventi; Noctes atque dies patet atri janua Ditis: Sed revocare gradum, superasque evadere ad auras, Hoc opus hie labor est.—Tiro. The gates of hell are open night and day ; Smooth the descent, and easy is the way: But to return and view the cheerful skies ; In this the task and mighty labour lies.—Drydkn. Suffer me to acquaint you, Sir, that I have glittered at the ball, and sparkled in the circle; that I have had the happiness to be the unknown favourite of an unknown lady at the masquerade, have been the delight of tables of the first fashion, and the envy of my brother beaux; and to descend a little l...« less