Monday, December 6, 2010

L'Estrange: A Rich Man and a Poor.

As a Poor Fellow was Beating the Hoof upon the Highway, and Trudging on Merrily in a Bitter Cold Morning, with never a Rag to his Tayl; A Spark that was Warm Clad, and Well Mounted, (but his Teeth Chattering in his Head yet,) call'd to this Tatter-de-Mallion, and ask'd him how he was able to Endure this Terrible Weather? Why says t'other, how does your Face endure it? My Face is us'd to't, says the Cavalier. And so is my Body says the other; so that I am all Face. And then (says the Poor Cur) there's another thing yet besides; I have all the Cloaths I have in the World upon my Back, and that's enough to keep me Warm: Do but you put on all yours too, and you shall be Warm as well as I.

By Custom, Practice and Patience, all Difficulties and Hardships, whether of Body or of Fortune, are made Easie to us. Mankind is all of a Make, and if we shrink in the Wetting, as we say, or in any Trial of Distress or Persecution, 'tis our own Fault; for we are Consulting our Skins, and our Affections, when we should rather be attending to the Motions of our Reason, which would give us better Council.


Source: L'Estrange 468.
M0999 (not in Perry)

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