Cleorus was, from his childhood, bred to business, and the pursuit of riches appeared to him178 as the principal he had in view, since, from his worldly possessions, he hoped to every comfort of life. He viewed, with an eye of pity and contempt, the and extravagancies of young fellows of his own age, and considered their nocturnal and excursions as so many sad scenes of misery.
He continued in this opinion till he was turned of the age of forty; at which period, losing his wife, and finding his circumstances easy, he joined in the company of those we call free and easy. New company, by degrees, made him new sentiments, and what he had considered as , began insensibly to assume the name of pleasure, and his former happiness was soon to be misery. He began to reflect on the dull path he had trodden all the prime of his life, and therefore to for it in the evening of his days, by entering on such scenes as were disgraceful even to the youthful partners of his follies. Suffice it to say, that after having exchanged for pleasure, he soon fell a to his .
It is a but a just observation, that the man who turns vicious in the evening of his life, is generally worse than the youthful , and his conversation often more and obscene. Hence we may conclude with Ovid, that no man can be truly said to be blessed, till death has put a seal on his
Join or Log In!
You need to log in to continue reading
