lent Author of our Being has originally implanted in us. "I cannot conceive, (fays LONGINUS) how it can happen '' otherwise, but that we, who are fo "doatingly fond of immense Riches, or, "to speak more justly, who idolize them, "fhould receive into our Souls those "Evils which are congenial with them. "For Profufion very clofely follows "Wealth, or, as we may fay, accompa"nies it; and the latter having opened "the Gates both of Cities and private Families, they enter in and dwell toge"ther: where having fettled for some "Time they make their Neft (as the Wife obferve) and presently endeavouring to propagate their Kind, they beget Pride "and Luxury, which are no fpurious Iffues, but their true and legitimate Offfpring. Whoever permit these Children "of Wealth to come to Maturity within them, they foon bring forth thofe impla"cable Tyrants in their Souls, Contumely, Injustice, and Impudence *» Now, Hiftory will inform us, that in all Empires a * Ου δη εχω λογιζομενα γύρειν ως οιον, &c. LONGIN. de Sublim. Page 248. Edit. Pearce. fimilar fimilar Depravity of Tafte for Arts and Sciences and natural Beauty, has ever attended a national Corruption of Morals. In the glorious and virtuous Part of the RoMAN Republic under the Confuls, what admirable Edifices were erected for public Ufe, fuch as Temples for the Worfhip of the Gods, Senate-Houfes, Granaries and Aquæducts! In the Sink of Vice under the Emperors, we hear of expenfive Maufoleums, immenfe Circuffes, fplendid Amphitheatres, ftately Columns dedicated to Monsters who difgraced their Species, and many other tafteless Wonders built for the Gratification of human Vanity. From hence I am inclinable to think the Ruins now before us were erected in the Age immediately preceding, or in that of ZENOBIA herfelf; when the fplendid CORINTHIAN only could fatisfy the Luxury of the Times, which had eradicated that Tafte for Propriety as otherwife would have been occafionally delighted with the milder Charms of the DORIC Order. Nevertheless considering a true Tafte for Architecture muft have preceded this indifcriminate Magnificence, on and that many of thefe Buildings too are not only Inftances of great Science, but likewise often applied with great Propriety (for Inftance, among others, the great Temple) I could not help falling into the fame kind of Reflection as SULPICIUS makes, in his Letter to CICERO * seeing, in his Voyage from ASIA, the Ruins of EGINA, MEGARA, the PIRÆEUS, and CORINTH. Shall fuch inconfiderable Creatures as myself, (faid I) repine at any little private Lofs, when at one View I behold the aftonishing Magnificence of fo many hundred Families, and the vast public Structures of a mighty Kingdom, all in Ruins before me? Indeed, PHILEMON, I begin to be ashamed that you ever heard me murmur!-I am now going with a Party of felect Friends of both Sexes to take a Tour of Pleasure to several Seats in the North of -fhire. When I return, you may rely upon receiving free *The humane Sulpicius thus apoftrophizes himself, af. ter the Reflection. Hem! nos homunculi indignamur, fi quis noftrum interiit, aut occifus eft, quorum vita brevior effe debet, cum uno loco tot oppidum cadavera projecta jaceant? Vifne tu te, Servi, cohibere, et meminiffe, bominem te effe natum? Epift. lib. iv. epift. 5. and impartial Obfervations upon what we fee there, in the manner you delight in, when you defire me to give you my flow of Soul. Adieu, my dear Friend, and continue to do me the Juftice of thinking that my Heart always flows from my Tongue and Pen, efpecially when I fay how much I am, Your, &c. &c. LET. [83] LETTER Jox XIII. To LEONORA. OY to you, my dear LEONORA, upon the Accomplishment of all your own Wishes, and thofe of a Man who I believe is as dear to you as yourself; at least of one whofe Happiness is neceffary to constitute yours. You are now entered into that State from whence, as our great Poet fays, Relations dear, and all the Charities "Of Father, Son, and Brother, firft were knowi*. Give me leave, therefore, as the Tie of Blood betwixt us may in fome measure authorize the Freedom, and the Friendship we have always had for each other still more, to mix with the unfeigned Joy of Congratulation, the unreftrainable Tendernefs of a Brother, and Concern of a Friend, in giving my Advice to you in this Scene of Happiness. Nor think it any Reflection upon the Strength of your Heart, that I should imagine I could any *Par. Loft, Book the 4th. way |