[87] LETTER XXIV. ST. EVREMOND to WALLER. AM almoft perfuaded to think, with the philofopher of Chatsworth, that it is a right thing to avoid reading-Not from the fear of having my own sentiments adulterated by the introduction of others: I have not affectation of that kind. But where is the page that is not full of the follies and miferies of men? Whoever goes into a library, finds himself in the fame circumstances with Æneas among the pictures of Carthage. The lacrymæ rerum occur to him every where. If he opens a book, he is prefented with the hiftory of human miffortunes, perhaps with his own. The annals of latter times are fo filled with death and ruin, that I pass over them with the fears of a child, that thinks of ghosts and spectres as it wanders through the dark. The image of fome brave friend ftill ftarts up before me, points to his bleeding wounds, and bids me of faction and ambition. Oh, curfe the - The conclufion of your last brought before me all that I had fuffered in the destruction of my friends. I laboured to oppose the growing reflections I took up an antient authorMerciful God! the book opened at the following paffage: Accipe, mi Commilito ; — ede; non enim tibi gladium præbeo, fed panem-Accipe rurfum et bibe; non enim tibi fcutum, fed poculum trado: ut five tu me interficias, five ego te, moriamur facilius : atque ut ne me enervata atque imbecilla manu occidas, aut ego te. Hæ noftræ funt exequia, nobis adhuc viventibus. He who can read this with dry eyes - He who can think of it withont execrating the authors of civil diffenfions, cannot bear the heart of a man in his bofom. I need not tell you that this is recorded in the life of Vitellius. When, in the civil wars between that prince and Vefpafian, the army of the former was fupplied with provifions by their women, they conveyed part of them by night into the camp of Vefpafian, to refresh their countrymen, whom they were to fight the following day. The manner in which they deliver them, the language they ufe to remove their apprehenfions, is more affecting than any thing I ever met with of the kind: Take this, fellow-foldier, and eat it — It is not my fword I put towards you, it is bread-This, too, take, and drink it- It is not my fhield I am holding to you; it is a cup. Whether you ⚫ fall by my hand, or I by yours, this refresh'ment will make death more easy. It will 'ftrengthen the arm that gives the decifive • blow, and we shall not die flowly by a feeble ⚫ wound. Thefe, fellow-foldier, are the only funeral rites we fhall have. Let us thus celebrete them while we live." में In what a deteftable light do thofe wretches appear, whofe competitions could lead those brave and merciful men to the flaughter of each other! M Surely fome curse of peculiar bitterness is referved for those diabolical fpirits, who, for private gratifications, break the bonds of fociety! Is there no place of public punishment for thefe demoniacs? I would fooner believe there is no heaven for the virtuous. LETTER XXV. WALLER to ST. EVREMOND. ROMWEL once obferved to me, when CROM we were lamenting the lofs of fome brave men, who had fallen in the civil wars, that as it was the property of God to bring good out of evil, man might fometimes be unblameably inftrumental in doing that evil for the production of the enfuing good. I am fenfible, added he, that St. Paul speaks fomewhat differently on this fubject, but he does not feem to have intended that his precept should affect political matters. It is thus that the disturbers of fociety reason, when they want to effect their purposes by pernicious means. Cromwel was certainly a great man, an able negociator, a deep politician; but, without ingenuity, without humanity, without any affection for truth or honour, he made ufe of the worst and cruelleft of all political engines, fanaticism. I have often been astonished at his command of face, and expreffion of fanctity, when he liftened to the vileft nonsense that ever tortured the ear of a rational creature. Not one look, or glance, or feature bore any marks of that contempt which he felt at his heart. It seemed to me that he had two fouls, one directing his countenance, attitude, and motion; the other, more retired, charged with his proper and private fentiments ; one that fecretly planned and watched over the deep-laid schemes of political ambition; another that received its orders from within, and went through the external drudgery of carrying those schemes into execution.-I received many favours from him, partly because I had the honour to be related to him, and partly on account of the panegyric I wrote upon him- I must, therefore, beg for fome indulg |