These advances have not been made at
all times with the same diligence or the same success. Negligence has
suspended the course of improvement, or affectation turned it aside;
time has elapsed with little change, or change has been made without
amendment. But elegance has been long kept in view with attention as
near to constancy as life permits, till every man now endeavours to
excel others in accuracy, or outshine them in splendour of style, and
the danger is, lest care should too soon pass to affectation.
No. 64. SATURDAY, JULY 1, 1759.
_Quid faciam, praescribe. Quiescas_.--HOR. Lib. ii. Sat. i. 5.
TO THE IDLER.
Sir,
As nature has made every man desirous of happiness, I flatter myself,
that you and your readers cannot but feel some curiosity to know the
sequel of my story; for though, by trying the different schemes of
pleasure, I have yet found nothing in which I could finally acquiesce;
yet the narrative of my attempts will not be wholly without use, since
we always approach nearer to truth as we detect more and more varieties
of errour.
When I had sold my racers, and put the orders of architecture out of my
head, my next resolution was to be a _fine gentleman_.
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