DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2056#0347
l86 INDUSTRY AND IDLENESS.
and industrious; and, by regular and natural gra-
dations, attains the highest dignities of the great-
est city in Europe. This is making the pencil an
instrument in the cause of virtue, holding up the
mirror of morality and truth, and shewing the fair
reward of industry and integrity, to be happiness,
honour, and independance; and the inevitable
consequences of idleness and vice, to be poverty,
misery, and shame.
The hint for contrasting these two very opposite
characters, is taken from the old play of Eastward
Hoe, written by Ben Jonson, George Chapman,
and John Marston, printed for William Aspley,
1605, and reprinted in Dodsley's collection. In
this comedy, Touchstone, a plain and honest old
citizen and goldsmith, has two apprentices, Gold-
ing and Quicksilver: the former is a counterpart
of Hogarth's Goodchild, and the latter has many
of the dispositions of Mr. Thomas Idle. Touch-
stone, in a proverbial and formal style, advises all
who wish to become respectable, and acquire inde-
pendence, to conduct themselves on the same
principles that he had done, and by adherence to
which he had gained his fortune.
" I hired me a little shop, bought low, took
" small profits, kept no debt book; garnished my
" shop (instead of plate}, with good, wholesome,
" thrifty sentences; such as, Touchstone, keep
" thy shop and thy shop will keep thee; light
and industrious; and, by regular and natural gra-
dations, attains the highest dignities of the great-
est city in Europe. This is making the pencil an
instrument in the cause of virtue, holding up the
mirror of morality and truth, and shewing the fair
reward of industry and integrity, to be happiness,
honour, and independance; and the inevitable
consequences of idleness and vice, to be poverty,
misery, and shame.
The hint for contrasting these two very opposite
characters, is taken from the old play of Eastward
Hoe, written by Ben Jonson, George Chapman,
and John Marston, printed for William Aspley,
1605, and reprinted in Dodsley's collection. In
this comedy, Touchstone, a plain and honest old
citizen and goldsmith, has two apprentices, Gold-
ing and Quicksilver: the former is a counterpart
of Hogarth's Goodchild, and the latter has many
of the dispositions of Mr. Thomas Idle. Touch-
stone, in a proverbial and formal style, advises all
who wish to become respectable, and acquire inde-
pendence, to conduct themselves on the same
principles that he had done, and by adherence to
which he had gained his fortune.
" I hired me a little shop, bought low, took
" small profits, kept no debt book; garnished my
" shop (instead of plate}, with good, wholesome,
" thrifty sentences; such as, Touchstone, keep
" thy shop and thy shop will keep thee; light