fortunes, nor
to envy the happiness of another, since it is impossible for any man to
form a right judgment of his neighbour's sufferings; for which reason
also, I have determined never to think too lightly of another's
complaints, but to regard the sorrows of my fellow-creatures with
sentiments of humanity and compassion.

_A Life of Virtue preferable to a Life of Pleasure, exemplified in the
Choice of Hercules_.

TATLER, No. 97.

1. When Hercules, says the divine Prodicus, was in that part of his
youth, in which it was natural for him to consider what course of life
he ought to pursue, he one day retired into a desert, where the silence
and solitude of the place very much favoured his meditations.

2. As he was musing on his present condition, and very much perplextd in
himself on the state of life he should chuse, he saw two women of a
larger stature than ordinary approaching towards him. One of them had a
very noble air and graceful deportment; her beauty was natural and easy;
her person clean and unspotted; her eyes cast towards the ground, with
an agreeable reserve; her motion and behaviour full of modesty; and her
raiment as white as snow.

3. The other had a great deal of health and florridness in her
countenance, which she had helped with an artificial white and red, and
endeavoured to appear more graceful than ordinary in her mein, by a
mixture of affectation in all her gestures. She had a wonderful
confidence and assurance in her looks, and all the variety of colours in
her dress that she thought were the most proper to shew her complexion
to an advantage. She cast her eyes upon herself, then turned them on
those that were present to see how they liked her, and often looked on
the figure she made in her own shadow.

4. Upon her nearer approach to Hercules, she stepped before the other
lady, who came forward with a regular composed carriage, and running up
to him, accosted him after the following manner:

5. My dear Hercules, says she, I find you are very much divided in your
own thoughts upon the way of life that you ought to chuse: be my friend
and follow me; I will lead you into the possession of pleasure and out
of the reach of pain, and remove you from all the noise and disquietude
of business. The affairs of either war or peace shall have no power to
disturb you. Your whole employment shall be to make your life easy, and
to entertain every sense with its proper gratifications. Sumptuous