Pona autem vehemens ac multò sævior illis, Juvenal. Sat. 18. 1.197. Think my former state an happy dream, Richard II. PRISONS. The Mind of Man accommodates itself to all Situations: Prisons otherwise would be intolerable.-Debtors: their different kinds: three particularly described; others more briefly.An arrested Prisoner: his Account of his Feelings and his Situation. The Alleviations of a Prison.-Prisoners for Crimes. -Two condemned: a vindictive Female; an Highwayman.— The Interval between Condemnation and Execution.—His Feelings as the Time approaches.-His Dream. LETTER XXIII. PRISONS. TIS Is well-that Man to all the varying states Or who could bear to lose the balmy Air Of Summer's Breath, from all things fresh and fair, With all that Man admires or loves below, All Earth and Water, Wood and Vale bestow, Where rosy Pleasures smile, whence real Blessings flow; With Sight and Sound of every kind that lives, Who could from these, in some unhappy Day, C (Save that the curious will by chance appear, Who could bear this and live?—Oh! many a Year All this is borne and Miseries more severe; And some there are familiar with the Scene, Who live in Mirth, though few become serene. Far as I might the inward Man perceive, There was a constant Effort-not to grieve; Not to despair, for better Days would come, And the freed Debtor smile again at home: Subdued his Habits, he may Peace regain, And bless the Woes that were not sent in vain. Thus might we class the Debtors here confin'd, A second kind are they, who truly strive To keep their sinking Credit long alive; Success, nay Prudence they may want, but yet There is a Debtor, who his trifling all He to his Goods assigns some Beauty's Name, Then in her Reign, and hopes they'll share her Fame; And talks of Credit, Commerce, Traffic, Trade, As one important by their Profit made; But who can paint the vacancy, the gloom, Of one day's Herring and the morrow's Steak; Is to display his Stock and vend his Ware. Long waiting hopeless, then he tries to meet |