To fly from misfortunes, and endeavour to console ourselves by retiring
from the world, is undoubtedly encreasing the evil we wish to lessen.
This has often been the case of disappointed lovers. They have vainly
imagined, that there must be something very soothing to the afflicted
mind, in listening to the plaintive sound of some purling and meandering
stream, or in uttering their plaints to the gentle breezes and the
nodding groves. But, alas! these delusive consolations only contribute
to feed the disorders of the mind, and increase the evil till melancholy
takes deep root in their souls, and renders their complaints incurable.
The society of the polite and refined of both sexes is the only relief,
at least the principal one, for any uneasiness of the mind. Here a
variety of objects will insensibly draw our attention from that one
which tyrannises in our bosom, and endeavours to exclude all others.
* * * * *