Genorio, Eusebius, Lindamor.
Gen.
YOur Eyes, Gentlemen, have been so long fix’d upon this Wind-mill, that in spight of the Barrenness of the Subject, I cannot but suspect it may have afforded one, or each of you· an Occasional Meditation.
Euseb.
To justifie your Conjecture, Genorio, I will confess to you, That I was considering with my self, that if one, who knew not the Miller’s Trade, and Design, should look upon this Structure, he would think the Owner worthy of so incommodious a Mansion, if not of a Room in Bedlam; for we see he has chose to erect this Fabrick in a Solitary place, and upon the cold and bleak top of a swelling Ground, where nothing shelters it from the Violence of a Wind, whilst its high Scituation exposes it to the successive Violences of them all: But he that is acquainted with the Exigencies of the Miller’s Design, and Trade, will think he has made a very proper choice, in scating himself in a place where no Wind can blow, that he shall not be able to make an Advantage of. And having consider’d this, Genorio, my Thoughts, when you interrupted them, were making this Application of it, That we ought not to be too forward to censure Men, otherwise Virtuous, and Discreet, for engaging themselves upon some accounts to troublesome and unsettling Employments; for if th’ end be not mischosen, the means are to be estimated by their tendency thereunto; and though a calmer condition of Life, might be in it self more desirable, yet when a more expos’d one, can make him that is qualify’d for such Employments more serviceable in his Generation, this may, upon that account, be more Eligible than the other, since, as it exposes him to more hardships, so, in those very hardships, it affords him more Opportunities of prosecuting his Aims, so that his Station is recommended to him by those very Circumstances that make other Men dislike it.
Gen.
But may not I also know what Thoughts this worthy Theme suggested to Lindamor?
Lind.
I was, Genorio, taking notice, that this whole Fabrick is indeed but a large Engine, where almost every thing, as well as the Sails and the Wheels, is fram’d and fitted for the Grinding of Corn: But, though this whole Structure be Artificially enough contriv’d, yet it can now do nothing in order to its end, for want of such a light and Airy thing as a breath of VVind, to put all this into Motion; And, Genorio, this VVind-mill, thus consider’d, brought into my Mind the condition of a great Lord, that you and I not long since Visited, and who is far from being the only Person to whom the Reflection may be applicable; for one that not knowing his Humour, and his Aims, should see how great a Provision his plentifull Fortune, and his Skil to manage it, have laid together, of those things which are wont to be thought the chiefest Instruments (and perchance the chief Parts) of Happiness, would be apt to envy his Condition, as discerning nothing that is wanting to it. But alas! the Man expects and covets Esteem, and Reputation; and though Fame have these Resemblances to the VVind, that ‘tis an Airy and Unsolid thing, which we must receive from others, and which we are not only unable to procure for our selves, but know not how long we shall keep it when we have it, yet the want of this alone makes all the rest utterly insufficient for his satisfaction. Thus the not so Great, as Ambitious Alexander, after all the Blood he had spilt in Conquering the VVorld, is said to have shed Tears, that he had Conquer’d but one, when a Philosopher told him there were more. And all the Favours that the greatest Potentate upon Earth, could heap upon proud Haman, were, by his own Confession, unable to make him think himself happy, as long as he could not neglect a Captives neglect of him; all his Greatness did him no good, if but one Man had the Courage not to Bow to it; and an unsatisfy’d Appetite of Revenge, quite spoild the Rellish of the great Monarch’s Favours, and the fair Hester’s Banquets. Nor do I doubt, Genorio, that we often marvel, if not repine, at Providence upon a great Mistake; for by refusing to be God’s Servants, Men usually become· so to their own unruly Passions, and Affections. And therefore, we often very causelesly Envy the Great and Rich, as if they were as happy as the Advantages vouchsaf’d them, would make a wise and good Man; whereas perhaps the Man courts a Reputation, that is not to be acquir’d by what Men have, but by what they are, and do; or else he is in love with a Lady that loves not him, or loves another better: And the Coyness of a Mistress, the greater Title of a Neighbour, or some such trifling accident, that another would either not be subject to, or not be much concern’d for, will keep him from Enjoying any of those very things, for which By-standers Envy him: So just it is, that in Estimating a Man’s condition, we should not only consider what Possessions he has, but what Desires.
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