Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-08-11

intellectual greatness" He passes his fihe
!! among the muses., it is true; but it is the GA
ces, who mingle in the circle that engross lis
attention and his lie, though nominally gk-
en- 10 contemplation, is little else than .slto
sport with Amaryllis in the shade. and plsy
with the tangles OF Neraa's hair. He goesto
his books, 20 enjoy a certain mild delirium OF
the mind, regardless of the claims of society,
and of the account, which he must give at
last, of his studies and advantages. Whenev-
er he comes out into the world, he thinks it
was not made for him; and soon returns in
disgust, to seek relief in that employment
which has been admirably called the invisible
riot of the mind, that secret rrodigality of be-
| ing, secure from detection and fearless OF re-
proach." Some are devotees to the bowling
/ alley, card table or the angling rod; willie
others are roaming the fields and the forests to
gain the high renown of sharp shooters. Sorpe:
are ever engaged in amours, and, like Adonis,
give all TO PgoSerpine and Venus while 9TH
ers are hunting after Bacchus in grog-shops
and bar-rooms, and end their revel with a
punk of the stew. Notwithstanding expert
ence has ever verified the truth of DR.. Beatties
declaration, 6 without industry and attention,
genius is good for nothing,n yet these who
not practically believe the necessity Of adding
a1tcearaed study to genius. They will rely on
their inventive powers, their native fecundity,
and the excitability of the moment, and think
to bear off the palm from the studious appl-
cant. With knowledge of few first princi-
pies, they are willingto be ignorant of consti-
tutions, statutes, and reports, rather than sub
init to 'laborious investigation, and fOrego the
immuniries of sloth and the pleasures ofsports
and sensuality. Instead Of feeling as Virgil
did when he says in his third George "a
"-- Tentanda via est qua INC quoque
possim
Tollere hume, victorquc rerum volitare per
ora"
they depend on the deeds, requirements and
| fame of their father or grandfather, and with
out effort Of their own, they fondly hope these
acts and attainments will, at least, {" by grace
ofimputation,' - be theirs, Some have seemed
to suppose, to be established in the metropo-
lis of the State, or shire town Of the county, it
would be to them like sitting on the tripod Of
! Pyhtd-that immediate inspiration would fol-
low, and that they should have little more to
do than speak out their oraclss. But no SUI
cedaneum for study mas yet been found out,
and we know of no one who has arrived to
eminence, as jurist or judge, who was not
first distinguished for dssidnity. Genius and
study should ever be associated. Uuted, they
may accomplish almost any undertaking but,
separated, each will be impoteut and compar-
atively contemplate. Horace writes peril
nently on this subject in his 6 De Arte Poet
car
"---; ego nee stadium sine divite vena,
| No a Ill
RUS sic
Altera poscit OPEN res, ct coujnrat amice.
/ 9ui studet optatam cilrsu contingcre metam,
Multa tulit fecitque puer. sudavt ct alsit,
| Abstinuit Venere ct vino."
1t is said that nothing valuable is given to us
without labor, and that by labor, the greatest
difficulties can be removed, and the most de-
sirable object attained. The Grecians could
not obtain wreath Of leaves, ga corruptible
cropn," without "striving for the mastery
and being temperate in all things" 1t is
an assertion of Horace, that 6 Nil sine ,magno
vita lahore 'dedit m6rtalibHs;' and Epichar-
mus aihrms the same-ss Laboribus yendunt
nobis omnia bona Dip" The gods sell all
their kindnesses for toll and labor" Another
maxim is, "Absque satdore ct lahore, nulum
opus peIfectrna est." This perpetual struggle
and exertion would be as dishcartening as the
condemnation OF Sisyphus, TO be continually
rolling stone to the top of hill, which, when
it reaches the summit, rebounds again, were
it not that persevering labor, itself, becomes
sreet in ascending the, at first, rough and steep
hill Of science, ard the various satisiactions
Fand rich rewards that attend the approaches
and the final possession of the literary emf.
I n fha Job to;o . 1,
tory is excitement enough to noble minds
+" Obi major labor illic major rOluptas." SIN
ettGt neentan1 dpSG GrtilLnl dulcedO." When
Cicero asserts, $ digientid ut9.cH on,mia, . and
a wise man Of Greece, 6 nihI impossible an
d,tstriae," and Virgil, {" Labor on,nia uiacit,
who can doubt the success and joy that will
attend the aspiring, the studious, the temper
ate and the pious votary of legal science, and
that his career will be mere glorious and hap
| Ply, than that of the rolupt'lary and Sluggq4d.
This natural inclination to inactivity and
remissnoss--to Illicit indulgencies and encr-
waiting pleasures must be counteracted--this
rts anertiG must be overcome" Vttanda est
in'pro6G Siren, Desidia, o-these seductire
charms must be summed, or we shall neglect
or forget our laudable pursuits, and sink into
insignifcaace and contempt. The descent is
easy. Ketrograde motion will swiftly and in
senslbly carry us down to an abyss Of infamy
and wretchedness; but to reascend against
this sinking power, she labor est''--" in this
the task and mighty labor lies" Though much
study be WEAKNESS to the flesh, yet il must
delight the student, in his youth and manhood ,
to grow pale over the midnight lamp. j" al
te nocturnis jtoat inpGIescere chartis,n says
Persus. While others are winding downstthe
may dance" or attendant on their orgies,
sulPing viands and nectar, he, that aspres TO
true dignity and glory in the theory and praG-
tice of law, must be diligently engaged with
Coke, Blackstone, Mansfield and Parsons.
.Noctatr,a cersate manu-, rersaie diurra,-is a
command to lawyers, as to reading, which, as
long as professional life shall last, never ought
TO be disobeyed or relaxed. lie that yoiun-
tarily ceases TO read his Bible will make no
further advances in theology or religion; and
ne that disrelishes legal studies and ncslects
his library will Immediately discover, that bis
| professional knowledge il din1;njshjDr aud