There was a middling Sort of Man that was left well enough to pass by his Father, but could never think he had enough, so long as any Man had more. He took Notice what huge Estates many Merchants got in a very short Time; and so sold his Inheritance, and betook himself to a way of Traffick and Commerce. Matters succeeded so wonderfully well with him, that every Body was in Admiration to see how mighty Rich he was grown all on a sudden. Why ay, says he, This 'tis when a Man understands his Business; for I have done all this by my Industry. It would have been well if he had stopt there: But Avarice is insatiable, and so he went pushing on still for more; 'till, what by Wrecks, Bankrupts, Pyrates, and I know not how many other Disappointments, one upon the Neck of another, he was reduc'd in half the Time that he was a Rising, to a Morsel of Bread. Upon these Miscarriages, People were at him over and over again, to know how this came about. Why, says he, my damn'd Fortune would have it so, Fortune happen'd to be at that Time within Hearing, and told him in his Ear, that he was an arrogant, ungrateful Clown, to charge her with all the Evil that befel him, and to take the Good to himself.
We are apt to ascribe our Successes in this World, and to impute our Misfortunes to wrong Causes. We assume the One to our selves, and charge the other upon Providence.
Source: L'Estrange 230.
No comments:
Post a Comment