flattering acclamations of the spectators¿ All these have perished. 3. I hold it to be an unquestionable position, that they who duly appreciate the blessings of liberty, revolt as much from the idea of exercising, as from that of enduring, oppression. How far this was the case with the Romans, you may inquire of those nations that surrounded them. Ask them, 'What insolent guard paraded before their gates, and invested their strong holds They will answer, 'A Roman legionary.' Demand of them, 'What greedy extortioner fattened by their poverty, and clothed himself by their nakedness They will inform you, ‘A Roman Quaestor.' Inquire of them, 'What imperious stranger issued to them his mandates of imprisonment or confiscation, of banishment or death They will reply to you, 'A Roman Consul.' Question them, 'What haughty conqueror led through his city, their nobles and kings in chàins; and exhibited their countrymen, by thousands, in gladiators' shows for the amusement of his fellow citizens¿ They will tell you, 'A Roman Gèneral.' Require of them, What tyrants imposed the heaviest yòke-enforced the most rigorous exàctions-inflicted the most savage punishments, and showed the greatest gust for blood and torture They will exclaim to you, The Roman people." 4. Let us now consider the principle point, whether the place where they encountered was most favourable to Milo, or to Clodius. Were the affair to be represented only by painting, instead of being expressed by words, it would even then clearly appear which was the traitor, and which was free from all mischievous designs. When the one was sitting in his chariot muffled up in his cloak, and his wife along with him; which of these circumstances was not a very great incumbrance ¿ the dress, the ૐ chariot, or the companion How. could he be worse equipped for engagement, when he was wrapt up in a cloak, embarrassed with a chariot, and almost fettered by his wife¿ Observe the other now, in the first place, sallying out on a sudden from his seat; for what reason ¿ ---in the evening; what ùrged him --làte ;' to what pùrpose, especially at that season --He calls at Pompey's seat; with what view¿ To see Pompey? He knew he was at Alsium.--To see his house? He had been in it a thousand times-What then could be the reason of this loìtering and shifting about He wanted to be upon the spot when Milo came up. 5. Wherefore cease we then ૐ Say they who counsel war, we are decreed, 5 What can we suffer worse Is this then worst, Thus sitting, thus consulting, thus in árms? What! when we fled amain, pursued and struck With heav'n's afflicting thunder, and besought The deep to shelter us this Hell then seem'd 10 A refuge from those wounds: or when we lay Chain'd on the burning lake,--that sure was worse. What, if the breath, that kindled those grim fires, Awak'd, should blow them into sev'nfold rage, And plunge us in the flames or from above 15 Should intermitted vengeance arm again His red right-hand to plague us what if all Caught in a fiery tempest, shall be hurl'd, Ages of hopeless end! This would be worse. 6. But, first, whom shall we send In search of the new world whom shall we find 5 And through the palpable obscure find out Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive The happy isle what strength, what art, can then 10 Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe Through the strict senteries and stations thick Choice in our suffrage; for on whom we send 15 The weight of all, and our last hope, relies. 13.] Page 57. Language of authority and of surprise commonly requires the falling inflection. Denunciation, reprehension &c. come under this head. 1. Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise :—which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arìse out of thy sleep?Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep :--So shall thy pòverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. 2. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man that had not on a wedding-garment :-And he saith unto him, friend, how camest thou in hìther, not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless. -Then said the king to the servants, bind him, hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 3. Then he which had received the one talent came, and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed-And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, thou wìcked and slothful servant,-thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not,* and gather where I have not strèwed :— Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the *This clause uttered with a high note and the falling slide, expresses censure better with the common punctuation, than if it were marked with the interrogation. exchangers, and then at my coming I should have recieved mine own with usury.-Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 4. Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not.-Wò unto thee, Chorazin! wò unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Ty're and Sidon,* they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.-But I say unto you, It shall be more tòlerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment than for you.-And thou, Capèrnaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shall be brought down to hell for if the mighty works which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tòlerable for the land of Sodom, in the day of judgment, than for thee. 5. Such, Sir, was once the disposition of a people, who now surround your throne with reproaches and complàints. Do justice to yourself. Banish from your mind those unworthy opinions, with which some interested persons have labored to possess you. Distrust the men who tell you that the English are naturally light and inconstant; that they complain without a caùse. Withdraw your confidence equally from all parties; from ministers, favourites, and relations; and let there be one moment in your life, in which you have consulted your own understanding.、 * Even in Tyre and Sidon, is the paraphrase of the emphasis. |
