e Testimony of
his Fondness for the Flowers, the Zephyrs, and the Warblers of the Spring.
Nor has the most luxuriant Imagination been able to describe the Serenity
and Happiness of the golden Age otherwise than by giving a perpetual
Spring, as the highest Reward of uncorrupted Innocence.

There is, indeed, something inexpressibly pleasing in the annual
Renovation of the World, and the new Display of the Treasures of Nature.
The Cold and Darkness of Winter, with the naked Deformity of every Object
on which we turn our Eyes, makes us necessarily rejoice at the succeeding
Season, as well for what we have escaped, as for what we may enjoy; and
every budding Flower, which a warm Situation brings early to our View, is
considered by us as a Messenger, to inform us of the Approach of more
joyous Days.

The Spring affords to a Mind, so free from the Disturbance of Cares or
Passions as to be vacant to calm Amusements, almost every Thing that our
present State makes us capable of enjoying. The variegated Verdure of the
Fields and Woods, the Succession of grateful Odours, the Voice of Pleasure
pouring out its Notes on every Side, with the Observation of the Gladness
apparently conceived by every Animal, from the Growth of his Food, and the
Clemency of the Weather, throw over the whole Earth an Air of Gayety,
which is very significantly expressed by the Smile of Nature.

There are Men to whom these Scenes are able to give no Delight, and who
hurry away from all the Varieties of rural Beauty, to lose their Hours,
and divert their Thoughts by Cards, or publick Assemblies, a Tavern
Dinner, or the Prattle of the Day.

It may be laid down as a Position which will seldom deceive, that when a
Man cannot bear his own Company there is something wrong. He must fly from
himself, either because he feels a Tediousness in Life from the Equipoise
of an empty Mind, which, having no Tendency to one Motion more than
another but as it is impelled by some external Power, must always have
recourse to foreign Objects; or he must be afraid of the Intrusion of some
unpleasing Ideas, and, perhaps, is always struggling to escape from the
Remembrance of a Loss, the Fear of a Calamity, or some other Thought of
greater Horror.

Those, who are incapacitated to enjoy the Pleasures of Contemplation, by
their Griefs, may, very properly, apply to such Diversions, provided they
are innocent, as lay strong hold on the Attention; and those, whom Fear of
any future