THE RAMBLER. NUMBER LXXX. LONDON, Saturday, December 22. 1750. Vides ut alta ftet nive candidum HOR. A S Providence has made the human foul an active being, always impatient for novelty, and ftruggling for fomething yet unenjoyed, with restless defire and unwearied progreffion, the world feems to have been eminently adapted to this VOL. IV. B difpofition difpofition of the mind, and formed to raise new expectations by conftant viciffitudes, and obviate fatiety by perpetual change. Where-ever we turn our eyes, we find something to revive our curiofity, and engage our attention. In the dusk of the morning we watch the rifing of the fun, and fee the day diverfify the clouds, and open new profpects in its gradual advance. After a few hours, we fee the fhades lengthen, the light decline, and the fky refigned to a multitude of fhining orbs, differing in magnitude and fplendour. The earth has a new appearance as we move upon it; the woods offer their fhades, and the fields their harvefts; the hill flatters with an extensive view, and the valley invites with fhelter, fragrance, and flowers. The poets have numbered among the felicities of the golden age, an exemption from the change of feafons, and a perpetuity of fpring: but I am not certain, that in this state of imaginary happinefs they have made fufficient provifion for that infatiable demand of new gratifications, which feems particularly to characterize the nature of man. Our fenfe of delight is in a great measure comparative; and arifes at once from the fenfations which we feel, and those which we remember. Thus eafe after pain for a time is pleafure; and we are very agreeably recreated, when the body, chilled with the weather, is gradually recovering its natural tepidity: but the joy ceafes when we have forgot the cold; and we must fall below eafe again, if we defire to rife above it, and purchafe new felicity by voluntary pain. It is therefore not unlikely, that however the fancy may be amufed amufed with the defcription of regions, in which no wind is heard but the gentle zephyr, and no fcenes are difplayed but vallies enamelled with unfading flowers, and woods waving their perennial verdure, we should foon grow weary of uniformity, find our thoughts languifh for want of other objects and employment, call on heaven for our wonted round of feafons, and think ourselves liberally recompenfed for the inconveniencies of fummer and winter, by new perceptions of the calmnefs and mildness of the intermediate variations. Every feafon has its particular power of striking. the mind. The nakednefs and afperity of wintry nature always fills the beholder with penfive and profound aftonishment as the variety of the scene is leffened, its grandeur is increased, and the mind is fwelled at once by the mingled ideas of the prefent and the paft; of the beauties which have vanifhed from the eyes, and the waste and defolation which are now before them. It is obferved by Milton, that he who neglects to vifit the country in fpring, and rejects the pleasures that are then in their first bloom and fragrance, is guilty of fullennefs against nature. If we allot different duties to different feafons, he may be charged with equal difobedience to the voice of nature, who looks on the bleak hills and leaflefs woods without ferioufnefs and awe. Spring is the feafon of gaiety, and winter of terror. In fpring the heart of tranquillity dances to the melody of the groves, and the eye of benevolence sparkles at the fight of happiness and plenty. In the winter, compaffion melts at univerfal calamity, the tear starts B 2 at at the wailings of hunger, and the cries of the creation in diftrefs. There is indeed in most minds very little inclination to indulge heavinefs and forrow; nor do I recommend them beyond the degree neceffary to maintain in its full vigour that habitual fympathy and tenderness, which, in a world of fo much mifery, is neceffary to the ready difcharge of the most important duties. The winter therefore is generally celebrated as the proper season for domestic merriment and gaiety; and we are feldom invited by the votaries of pleasure to look abroad for any other purpose, than that we may shrink back with more fatisfaction to our coverts; and when we have heard the howl of the tempeft, and felt the gripe of the froft, congratulate each other with more gladnefs upon a close room, an eafy chair, a high-piled fire, and a fmoaking dinner. There are indeed now natural incitements to jollity and converfation. Differences, we know, are never fo effectually laid afleep, as by fome common calamity; and an enemy unites all to whom he threatens danger. The rigour of winter brings generally to the fame fire-fide thofe who, by the oppofition of their inclinations, or the difference of their employments, moved in various directions through the other parts of the year; and when they have met, and find it their mutual intereft to remain together, they endear each other by mutual compliances, and often wish for the continuance of the social season, with all its bleaknefs and all its feverities. To the men of study and imagination the win ter |