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The Works of Samuel Johnson, L. L. D. (7); In Twelve Volumes
The Works of Samuel Johnson L L D In Twelve Volumes - 7 Author:Samuel Johnson Volume: 7 General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1811 Original Publisher: Hastings, Etheridge and Bliss Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Millio... more »n-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: No. 6, SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1758. A virtuous woman is a repository of every excellence. Gr. Pro. JL HE lady who had undertaken to ride on one horse a thousand miles in a thousand hours, has completed her journey in little more than two-thirds of the time stipulated, and was conducted through the last mile with triumphal honours. Acclamation shouted before her, and all the flowers of the spring were scattered in her way. Every heart ought to rejoice when true merit is distinguished with publick notice. I am far from wishing either to the amazon or her horse any diminution of happiness or fame, and cannot but lament that they were not more amply and suitably rewarded. There was once a time when wreaths of bays or oak were considered as recompenses equal to the most wearisome labours and terrific dangers, and when the miseries of long marches and stormy seas were at once driven from the remembrance by the fragrance of a garland. If this heroine had been born in ancient times, she might perhaps have been delighted with the simplicity of ancient gratitude; or if any thing was wanting to full satisfaction, she might have supplied the deficiency with the hope of deification, and anticipated the altars that would be raised, and the vows that would be made, by future candidates for equestrian glory, . to the patroness of the race and the goddess of the stable. But fate reserved her for a more enlightened age, which has discovered leaves and flowers to be transitory things; which considers profit as the end of honour; and rates the event of every un...« less