ranks of mankind to claim merit from the contempt of that
pomp and pleasure which fortune has placed beyond their
reach. The virtue of the primitive Christians, like that of
the first Romans, was very frequently guarded by poverty
and ignorance."--Gibbon, DECLINE AND FALL, CHAP. 15.]

55.--The hate of favourites is only a love of favour.
The envy of NOT possessing it, consoles and softens its
regrets by the contempt it evinces for those who pos-
sess it, and we refuse them our homage, not being able
to detract from them what attracts that of the rest of
the world.

56.--To establish ourselves in the world we do
everything to appear as if we were established.

57.--Although men flatter themselves with their
great actions, they are not so often the result of a
great design as of chance.

58.--It would seem that our actions have lucky or
unlucky stars to which they owe a great part of the
blame or praise which is given them.

59.--There are no accidents so unfortunate from
which skilful men will not draw some advantage, nor
so fortunate that foolish men will not turn them to
their hurt.

60.--Fortune turns all things to the advantage of