_Two Friends_ and _Fortune_.
There goes a Story of Two Familiar Friends that were often together, and
had a great many Words upon the Subject of that which we call _Fortune_.
They were both well enough to pass, but of very Differing Humours; the
one a Man of Project and Bussle in the World, the other altogether for
Ease and Quiet. The one had a Roving, Rambling Head; the other was a
Man of Privacy and Reserve. The one in Fine, was for making his Court
to _Fortune_; the other for _Lying by_, ’till _Fortune_ should make her
Court to _Him_, (according to the Freak of the rest of the Sex.) Come,
come, says the Ranger, we shall never make any thing on’t at this rate
of Living; here’s neither Honour nor Mony to be got by staying where we
are, and for my own part, I’m e’en for a Pilgrimage to the Temple of
_Fortune_. Ay, but where’s that? says t’other. Why, says the Rambler, we
must e’en beat it out the best we can. Pray’e, says his Companion, Advise
well with your Pillow before you Embark in this Adventure. You are going
you know not whither, to find out you know not what, or whom: A Phantome,
that slips out of your Arms in the very Grasping at it, a common
Prostitute to Fools and Footmen. You must be a Knave to be a Favourite,
and abandon all the Substantial Comforts of Human Nature for a Jilt; and
a Shadow; in one word, if you’ll needs be wandring, Pray’e, when we meet
next, remember what I told ye; And in the mean time, I’ll e’en lye down
in Peace, and keep my Self just as I am, and where I am; and if ever you
live to come back again, do but look for me, and there, if I’m Alive, you
shall be sure to Find me.
Upon these Terms they parted, and away Posts the Cavalier in Quest of
his new Mistress. His First Jaunt is to Court, where he Enquires for
Madam _Fortune’s_ Lodgings: But she shifted so often, they told him,
that there was no certainty of Finding her. He never fail’d to make one
at the Princes _Levee_ and _Couche_, where he heard over and over, how
she had been at this Place and at that Place, but never could get sight
of her. They told him indeed, that at such or such a Time, he might be
sure of her at this _Minions_, or at that _Buffoons_ Apartment; but
she was still so Busie, and so Private, that there was no coming to the
Speech of her. In fine, when he had Hunted and waited like a Dog, Early
and Late, I know not how long, one told him for a certain, that she had
newly taken Wing, and was gone a Progress to a Temple she had in _Terra
Australis Incognita_. Upon this, he takes his leave of the Court, and
away immediately to Sea, where he meets with Pyrates, Rocks and Shelves,
and in short, so many Dreadful Encounters, as made him cast many a heavy
Look and Thought upon the Quiet Cottage and Companion that he had left
behind him: But he goes pressing forward still for all this, ’till in the
conclusion, he was Fobb’d again with another Story: That _Fortune_ ’tis
true, had been there; but she was call’d away by an Express, not above
Two Minutes before, to the _Nor’ward_. These Phantastical Amusements and
Miscarriages brought him by little and little to his Wits again, and to a
contempt of all the vain Promises and Pretences of Avarice and Ambition.
With these thoughts about him, he makes all the hast he can back again,
to his poor Blessed Home; where he finds his old Friend and Acquaintance,
without any Cares in his head, Fast asleep; and that very _Fortune_ that
had led him this _Wild-Goose Chase_ over the whole World, waiting like a
Spaniel at the Door, and _Begging_ to be let in.
The MORAL.
_It is with Fortune as it is with other Fantastical Mistresses; she makes
sport with those that are ready to Dye for her, and throws her self at
the Feet of others that Despise her._