i am very well acquainted with two brothers, whom i shall conceal under the borrowed names of mercurius and honestus.
mercurius was the elder son of a gentleman, who, with a moderate fortune, and by a nice management, so regulated his affairs, that he was generally thought to be exceedingly rich.—he gave a genteel education to his two sons, who finished their studies at cambridge.
mercurius attached himself more to the gaiety and politeness of the college, than to the drudgery of books. he was a gay and lively companion, and a perfect master of those little arts which always recommend a young gentleman to the acquaintance of the giddy fools of fortune, who are sent to both our universities more out of complaisance to fashion, than to improve their morals, or enlarge their understandings.
mercurius had drawn this conclusion, (and it must be confessed, that experience tells us it is too true a conclusion), that powerful connections are more likely to raise a man's fortune in life than all the natural and acquired abilities which human nature is capable of possessing. he, therefore, took every opportunity to ingratiate himself with the noble young students, whose follies he flattered, and the fire of whose vanities he fanned.
amidst this pursuit after fortune and grandeur, his father died, and left but a small pittance for the support of him and his brother honestus.—this was soon known in the college, where fortune is considered as the first of all things.—mercurius was now forced, in order to keep up his noble connections, to stoop to many meannesses, such as the thirst of ambition only can persuade the true dignity of a man to submit to; but, when we once quit the path of virtue in pursuit of imaginary pleasure, we must give up every hope of a retreat.
among the patrons of mercurius was a young nobleman of great fortune and connections, such as were more than sufficient to make a coxcomb of the happiest genius. the time arrived in which he was to quit college, and mercurius accompanied him to london as his companion and friend. he was the constant partner of his nocturnal revels, and little more, in fact, than his footman out of livery. he was the dupe to his prejudices, the constant butt of his wit, and the contempt of every independent mind. but let us leave this mistaken man to the feelings of his own mind, and his fears for his future existence, that we may return to his brother.
honestus, less ambitious than his brother, had a mind above stooping too low in order to rise the higher. he applied himself closely to his studies, and employed the little his father had left him in the most frugal manner. he turned his whole attention to the study of the law, in which he became a very able proficient, and at last quitted the university with the reputation of a profound scholar, a cheerful companion, and a sincere friend.
these, however, are seldom characters sufficient to raise a man in the world. he long remained unnoticed in his profession as a counsellor; but, however long the beams of the sun may be obscured, they at last pierce through the densest bodies, and shine in their native lustre. he now reaps the fruits of his honest labours, and often looks back with pity on the tottering state of his brother, and the parade of empty ambition.
