[1] The obscurity of this philosopher’s style is complained of by
    Aristotle in his treatise on Rhetoric, iii. 5.  We make the reference
    with the view of recommending to attention the whole of that book,
    which is interspersed with the most acute remarks, and with rules of
    criticism founded deeply on the workings of the human mind.  It is
    undervalued only by those who have not scholarship to read it, and
    surely merits this slight tribute of admiration from an Editor of
    Johnson’s works, with whom a Translation of the Rhetoric was long a
    favourite project.

No. 62.  SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1753.

  O fortuna viris, invida fortibus
  Quam non aequa bonis praemia dividis. SENECA.

  Capricious Fortune ever joys,
  With partial hand to deal the prize,
  To crush the brave and cheat the wise.

TO THE ADVENTURER.

Fleet, June 6.

SIR,

To the account of such of my companions as are imprisoned without being miserable, or are miserable without any claim to compassion, I promised to add the histories of those, whose virtue has made them unhappy or whose misfortunes are at least without a crime.  That this catalogue should be very numerous, neither you nor your readers ought to expect:  rari quippe boni; “the good are few.”  Virtue is uncommon in all the classes of humanity; and I suppose it will scarcely be imagined more frequent in a prison than in other places.

Yet in these gloomy regions is to be found the tenderness, the generosity, the philanthropy of Serenus, who might have lived in competence and ease, if he could have looked without emotion on the miseries of another.  Serenus was one of those exalted minds, whom knowledge and sagacity could not make suspicious; who poured out his soul in boundless intimacy, and thought community of possessions the law of friendship.  The friend of Serenus was arrested for debt, and after many endeavours to soften his creditor, sent his wife to solicit that assistance which never was refused.  The tears and importunity of female distress were more than was necessary to move the heart of Serenus; he hasted immediately away, and conferring a long time with his friend, found him confident that if the present pressure was taken off, he should soon be able to reestablish his affairs.  Serenus, accustomed to believe, and afraid to aggravate distress, did not attempt to detect the fallacies of hope, nor reflect that every man overwhelmed with calamity believes, that if that was removed he shall immediately be happy:  he, therefore, with little hesitation offered himself as surety.

In the first raptures of escape all was joy, gratitude, and confidence:  the friend of Serenus displayed his prospects, and counted over the sums of which he should infallibly be master before the day of payment.  Serenus in a short time began to find his danger, but could not prevail with himself to repent of beneficence; and therefore suffered himself still to be amused with projects which he durst not consider, for fear of finding them impracticable.  The debtor, after he had tried every method of raising money which art or indigence could prompt, wanted either fidelity or resolution to surrender himself to prison, and left Serenus to take his place.