Although so feeble, led him on the Way, As near the Road he sought an hour's Repose. LETTER XIII. THE ALMS-HOUSE AND TRUSTEES. Do good by stealth, and blush to find it Fame. There are a sort of Men whose visages 6 And when I ope my lips let no dog bark.' Merchant of Venice. Sum felix; quis enim neget? felixque manebo; LETTER XIII. THE ALMS-HOUSE AND TRUSTEES. The frugal Merchant.-Rivalship in Modes of Frugality. -Private Exceptions to the general Manners.—AlmsHouse built.-Its Description.-Founder dies.—Six Trustees. Sir Denys Brand, a principal.— His Eulogium in the Chronicles of the Day. - Truth reckoned invidious on these Occasions.—An Explanation of the Magnanimity and Wisdom of Sir Denys.— His kinds of Moderation and Humility.-Laughton, his Successor, a planning, ambitious, wealthy Man.— Advancement in Life his perpetual Object, and all Things made the Means of it.-His Idea of Falsehood. -His Resentment dangerous: how removed.-Success produces Love of Flattery; his daily Gratification.— His Merits and Acts of Kindness.-His proper Choice of Alms-Men.In this respect meritorious. His Predecessor not so cautious. LEAVE AVE now our Streets, and in yon Plain behold Those pleasant Seats for the Reduc'd and Old; A Merchant's Gift, whose Wife and Children died, When he to Saving all his Powers applied; He wore his Coat till bare was every thread, And with the meanest Fare his Body fed. He had a female Cousin, who with care Walk'd in his Steps and learn'd of him to spare; With Emulation and Success they strove, But while our Merchant seem'd so base and mean, He had his Wanderings, sometimes, " not unseen;" To give in secret was a favourite act, Yet more than once they took him in the fact: Whose Husband robb'd him, and to whom he meant |