Eu. But that’s one of the difficultest Things in the World, when with very good Reason there is this old Saying:  He that has no Enemies has no Friends; and Envy is always an Attendant on Felicity.

Gl. Envy always is a Concomitant of a pompous Felicity, but a Mediocrity is safe; this was always my Study, not to make any Advantage to myself from the Disadvantages of other People.  I embraced as much as I could, that which the Greeks call Freedom from the Encumbrance of Business.  I intermeddled with no one’s Affairs; but especially I kept myself clear from those that could not be meddled with without gaining the ill Will of a great many.  If a Friend wants my Assistance, I so serve him, as thereby not to procure any Enemies to myself.  In Case of any Misunderstanding between me and any Persons, I endeavour to soften it by clearing myself of Suspicion, or to set all right again by good Offices, or to let it die without taking Notice of it:  I always avoid Contention, but if it shall happen, I had rather lose my Money than my Friend.  Upon the Whole, I act the Part of Mitio in the Comedy, I affront no Man, I carry a chearful Countenance to all, I salute and resalute affably, I find no Fault with what any Man purposes to do or does, I don’t prefer myself before other People; I let every one enjoy his Opinion; what I would have kept as a Secret, I tell to no Body:  I never am curious to pry in the Privacies of other Men.  If I happen to come to the Knowledge of any thing, I never blab it.  As for absent Persons, I either say nothing at all of them, or speak of them with Kindness and Civility.  Great Part of the Quarrels that arise between Men, come from the Intemperance of the Tongue.  I never breed Quarrels or heighten them; but where-ever Opportunity happens, I either moderate them, or put an End to them.  By these Methods I have hitherto kept clear of Envy, and have maintained the Affections of my fellow Citizens.

Pa. Did you not find a single Life irksome to you?

Gl. Nothing happened to me in the whole Course of my Life, more afflicting than the Death of my Wife, and I could have passionately wish’d that we might have grown old together, and might have enjoy’d the Comfort of the common Blessing, our Children:  But since Providence saw it meet it should be otherwise, I judged that it was best for us both, and therefore did not think there was Cause for me to afflict myself with Grief, that would do no good, neither to me nor the Deceased.

Pol. What, had you never an Inclination to marry again, especially the first having been so happy a Match to you?

Gl. I had an Inclination so to do, but as I married for the Sake of Children, so for the Sake of my Children I did not marry again.

Pol. But ’tis a miserable Case to lie alone whole Nights without a Bedfellow.