When you consider Satyrion the Socratist, think upon Eutyches, or Hymen; ¹⁸ And when you remember Euphrates , think upon Eutychion, or Sylvanus ; And when Alciphron comes into your Head , carry your Thoughts to Tropæophorus; and when you are musing upon Xenophon , or Crito, let Severus come into the Contemplation ; And when you make your self the Subject of your Meditations , bring some of the Emperours your Predecessors into your Company ; And thus set the Dead and the Living of the same Character, and Profession, always one against another, then ask the Question; where are those Men that made such a Figure formerly? The Answer will be, they are no where, or at least no where that I know of. Thus you'l be strongly convinc'd that Men are but Smoak, and Bubbles; They Vanish as they Rise, and break soon after the Swelling : And this Impression will go the deeper, if you consider that what is once perish'd and Sunk, will never come up again exactly. ¹⁹ As for your share of Time : 'tis but a Moment in Comparison; Why then can't you manage that little Handsomly, and be satisfied? What a Noble opportunity of Improvement do you run away from ? For what are all the Revolutions of Nature , and the Accidents of Life, but Tryals of Skill, and Exercises of Reason ? A wise Man that has looked through the Causes of Things, makes but a Diversion of them. Go on then, with the Theory and Practice of Philosophy , till you have digested the Subject , and conquered the Difficulty ; For I would have you be like a strong Stomach , that masters all sort of Diet, and makes Nourishment of it; Or if you please , like a Fire well kindled, which catches upon every thing you throw in, and turns it into Flame and Brightness.