34.  In order to do it I past my time in bottling up Maydew, inventing white-washes, mixing colours, cutting out patches, consulting my glass, suiting my complexion, tearing off my tucker, sinking my stays—­Rhadamanthus, without hearing her out, gave the sign to take her off.  Upon the approach of the keeper of Erebus her colour faded, her face was puckered up with wrinkles, and her whole person lost in deformity.

35.  I was then surprised with a distant sound of a whole troop of females that came forward laughing, singing, and dancing.  I was very desirous to know the reception they would meet with, and withal was very apprehensive that Rhadamanthus would spoil their mirth; but at their nearer approach the noise grew so very great that it awakened me.

36.  Employment of time is a subject that, from its importance, deserves your best attention.  Most young gentlemen have a great deal of time before them, and one hour well employed, in the early part of life, is more valuable and will be of greater use to you, than perhaps four and twenty, some years to come.

37.  What ever time you can steal from company and from the study of the world (I say company, for a knowledge of life is best learned in various companies) employ it in serious reading.  Take up some valuable book, and continue the reading of that book till you have got through it; never burden your mind with more than one thing at a time:  and in reading this book do not run it over superficially, but read every passage twice over, at least do not pass on to a second till you thoroughly understand the first, nor quit the book till you are master of the subject; for unless you do this, you may read it through, and not remember the contents of it for a week.

38.  The books I would particularly recommend, are Cardinal Retz’s maxims, Rochefoucault’s moral reflections, Bruyere’s characters, Fontenelle’s plurality of worlds, Sir Josiah Child on trade, Bollinbroke’s works; for style, his remarks on the history of England, under the name of Sir John Oldcastle; Puffendorff’s Jus Gentium, and Grotius de Jure Belli et Pacis:  the last two are well translated by Barbeyrac.  For occasional half hours or less, read the best works of invention, wit and humor; but never waste your minutes on trifling authors, either ancient or modern.

39.  Any business you may have to transact, should be done the first opportunity, and finished, if possible, without interruption; for by deferring it we may probably finish it too late, or execute it indifferently.  Now, business of any kind should never be done by halves, but every part of it should be well attended to:  for he that does business ill, had better not do it at all.  And in any point which discretion bids you pursue, and which has a manifest utility to recommend it, let not difficulties deter you; rather let them animate your industry.  If one method fails, try a second and a third.  Be active, persevere, and you will certainly conquer.