第4部分(第1/6 页)

t　Parts　of　Conversation；　the　well…dress’d　Dishes；　the　Goodness　of　the　Wines；　the　fine　Weather；　＆　c。；　and　enjoy　all　with　Chearfulness。　Those　who　are　to　be　unhappy　think　＆　speak　only　of　the　contraries。　Hence　they　are　continually　discontented　themselves；　and　by　their　Remarks　sour　the　Pleasures　of　Society；　offend　personally　many　People；　and　make　themselves　everywhere　disagreeable。　If　this　Turn　of　Mind　was　founded　in　Nature；　such　unhappy　Persons　would　be　the　more　to　be　pitied。　But　as　the　Disposition　to　criticize；　＆　be　disgusted；　is　perhaps　taken　up　originally　by　Imitation；　and　is　unawares　grown　into　a　Habit；　which　tho’　at　present　strong　may　nevertheless　be　cured　when　those　who　have　it　are　convinc’d　of　its　bad　Effects　on　their　Felicity；　I　hope　this　little　Admonition　may　be　of　Service　to　them；　and　put　them　on　changing　a　Habit；　which　tho’in　the　Exercise　it　is　chiefly　an　Act　of　Imagination　yet　has　serious　Consequences　in　Life；　as　it　brings　on　real　Griefs　and　Misfortunes。　For　as　many　are　offended　by；　＆　nobody　well　loves　this　Sort　of　People；　no　one　shows　them　more　than　the　most　mon　civility　and　respect；　and　scarcely　that；　and　this　frequently　puts　them　out　of　humour；　and　draws　them　into　disputes　and　contentions。　If　they　aim　at　obtaining　some　advantage　in　rank　of　fortune；　nobody　wishes　them　success；　or　will　stir　a　step；　or　speak　a　word；　to　favour　their　pretensions。　If　they　incur　public　censure　or　disgrace；　no　one　will　defend　or　excuse；　and　many　join　to　aggravate　their　misconduct；　and　tender　them　pletely　odious。　If　these　people　will　not　change　this　bad　habit；　and　condescend　to　be　pleased　with　what　is　pleasing；　without　fretting　themselves　and　others　about　the　contraries；　it　is　good　for　others　to　avoid　an　acquaintance　with　them；　which　is　always　disagreeable；　and　sometimes　very　inco