It is evident that fame, considered merely as the immortality of a name, is not less likely to be the reward of bad actions than of good; he therefore has no certain principle for the regulation of his conduct, whose single aim is not to be forgotten. And history will inform us, that this blind and undistinguishing appetite of renown has always been uncertain in its effects, and directed by accident or opportunity, indifferently to the benefit or devastation of the world. When Themistocles complained that the trophies of Miltiades hindered him from sleep, he was animated by them to perform the same services in the same cause. But Cæsar, when he wept at the sight of Alexander's picture, having no honest opportunities of action, let his ambition break out to the ruin of his country. If, therefore, the love of fame is so far indulged by the mind as to become independent and predominant, it is dangerous and irregular; but it may be usefully employed as an inferior and secondary motive, and will serve sometimes to revive our activity, when we begin to languish and lose sight of that more certain, more valuable, and more durable reward, which ought always to be our first hope and our last. But it must be strongly impressed upon our minds that virtue is not to be pursued as one of the means to fame, but fame to be accepted as the only recompence which mortals can bestow on virtue; to be accepted with complacence, but not sought with eagerness. Simply to be remembered is no advantage; it is a privilege which satire as well as penegyrick can confer, and is not more enjoyed by Titus or Constantine, than by Timocreon of Rhodes, of whom we only know from his epitaph, _that he had eaten many a meal, drunk many a flaggon, and uttered many a reproach_. Πολλα φαγων, και πολλα πιων, και πολλα κακ' ειπων Ανθρωπους, κειμαι Τιμοκρεων Ρὁδιος. The true satisfaction which is to be drawn from the consciousness that we shall share the attention of future times, must arise from the hope, that with our name, our virtues will be propagated; and that those whom we cannot benefit in our lives, may receive instruction from our examples, and incitement from our renown. No. 50. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1750. _Credebant hoc grande nefas, et morte piandum,_ _Si juvenis vetulo non assurrexerat, atque_ _Barbato cuicunque puer, licet ipse videret_ _Plura domi fraga, et majores glandis acervos._ JUV. Sat. xiii. 54. And had not men the hoary head rever'd, And boys paid rev'rence when a man appear'd, Both must have died, though richer skins they wore, And saw more heaps of acorns in their store CREECH.