HEre is a patch of way, to which any less smooth than a Bowlinggreen were rugged, and in which it seems not only so unlikely, but so difficult, for a Horse to trip, that nothing could have made me believe a Horse could have stumbled here, but that mine has dangerously done so. This Jade has this very Evening carry’d me safely through ways, where stumbles were so much to be expected, that they were to have been forgiven; and now in a place so smooth, that sure he could not faulter in it, only out of Curiosity and Trial, he falls under me so Lubberly, that I as much admir’d my Escape as Danger: But ‘tis too usual with us, unfaultringly to traverse Adversities rough ways, and stumble in Prosperities smoothest paths. The Observation is almost as Old as Prosperity, That Fortune ruins more Persons whilst she Embraces them, than whilst she would Crush them: But though the Observation be very common, it is not more so, than ‘tis to see ev’n those that make it, add to the instances that justifie it. I have seldome yet been so fortunate as to be obnoxious to that less frequently pittied than disarming Danger: Fortune has seldome yet vouchsaf’d to turn Syren to pervert me; and she has hitherto given me much more Exercise for my Constancy than for my Moderation. I think too, that without slandering my self, I may confess, that I have sometimes wisht my self in the Lists with that bewitching Enemy, Prosperity; and increas’d the Number of those many, who never think so fair an Adversary formidable till they find themselves Vanquish’d by her: But upon second Thoughts, I judge it better, to leave the choice of my Antagonist to him, who not only best knows my Strength, but gives it me; especially, when I consider, that as we are all of us naturally such Stumblers, that (as Solomon speaks in somewhat another sence) even the just Man falls seven times a Day, Pro. 24. 16. so it is observ’d in Stumblers, that they are most so in fair way; into which, if Providence lead my steps, I shall think it seasonable to pray, and lead us not into Temptation; and shall not think it unseasonable to remember, That Ice is at once the smoothest and the slipperest of ways, and that (the Jadishness of our Natures well consider’d) there is no way wherein we ought to Travel with more heed, than that whose treacherous Evenness would divert us from taking heed to our way.
← Reflections, Section 1, Reflection III · Contents · Reflections, Section 1, Reflection V →