THE BOROUGH. LETTER XIII. THE ALMS-HOUSE AND TRUSTEES. Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame. There are a sort of men whose visages Merchant of Venice. Sum felix; quis enim neget? felixque manebo; The frugal Merchant-Rivalship in Modes of FrugalityPrivate Exceptions to the general Manners-Alms-House built-Its Description-Founder dies-Six TrusteesSir Denys Brand, a Principal-His Eulogium in the Chronicles of the Day-Truth reckoned invidious on these Occasions-An Explanation of the Magnanimity and Wisdom of Sir Denys-His Kinds of Moderation and Humility-Laughton, his Successor, a planning, ambitious, wealthy Man-Advancement in Life his perpetual Object, and all Things made the Means of it-His Idea of Falsehood-His Resentment dangerous: how removed— Success produces Love of Flattery: his daily Gratification -His Merits and Acts of Kindness-His proper Choice of Alms-Men—In this Respect meritorious-His Predecessor not so cautious. THE BOROUGH. LETTER XIII. THE ALMS-HOUSE AND TRUSTEES. LEAVE now our streets, and in yon plain behold He wore his coat till bare was every thread, He had a female cousin, who with care Improving still, still seeking to improve, "Hard is thy fate, my brother," and they felt While they who saw him bare, but thought him rich, But while our merchant seem'd so base and mean, He had his wanderings, sometimes, " not unseen;" To give in secret was a favourite act, Yet more than once they took him in the fact : To soothe the sorrows of a suff'ring dame; A ling'ring, but reforming punishment : |