ing ranged themselves with Aristotle; and those who had only genius, or even pretensions to that endowment, went to augment the crowd of Platonists." It is assumed, as an historical fact, that the maxims of moral philosophy taught in the schools of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, very powerfully contributed to discipline the minds of men for the reception of the sublimer doctrines of Christianity; though, it is no less certain, that the active jealousy of many, styling themselves disciples of Plato, had an influence in retarding the establishment of the Christian Religion. Their hostility, so well attested, is ascribed with some plausibility to their settled veneration for the head of their sect, and an apprehension, that the new system would speedily eradicate their favourite philosophy, which, of all others, in the opinion of a modern enthusiast, "discovers the greatest conformity with Revelation." Whether this honour be ascribed to the sentiments of Plato or of Socrates, is perhaps not very material; but, as the former was a disciple of the latter, the praise of conformity belongs rather to the master, than the scholar. The united testimony of ancient and modern writers gives rank to Socrates, as the most extraordinary person, that ever appeared in the heathen world; and, in our day, we have seen a philosophical parallel, between the character of Socrates and Jesus of Nazareth, produce an interesting controversy, between two learned Theologians.‡ To combat vulgar errours; to stem the torrent of popular prejudice; and to meliorate the condi tion of men in despite of themselves, is of all employments the most thankless; and it is a solemn truth, that the best and richest gifts of providence, in the persons and characters of eminent men, have been slighted, if not rejected with loathing, by those for whom the blessing was designed. Jerusalem stoned and killed her prophets. Athens poisoned her Socrates. Rome murdered her Cicero. The Jews-But I forbear further to trespass on holy ground. The fate of Socrates is most connected with my subject. Though not untarnished with suspicion, his life and character are for the most part represented in the most amiable light. His cotemporaries shrink from a comparison, because the example he gave is reproachful of their dissoluteness of manners. Athens was infested with a swarm of false pretenders to wisdom, denominated Sophists, whose trade was disputation and the sum of whose merit is comprised in a short sentence...they had the art "to make the worse appear the better reason." From this vermin it was the ambition of Socrates to rid his country. Their hypocrisy, not surpassed by that of the scribes. and pharisees, he knew and despised; their ignorance he knew, and exposed it. While they pretended to such acquisitions of knowledge, and such a knack of imparting it to others, that, as a facetious Frenchman professed to teach the art of painting, so they could teach the art of wisdom, in three hour's time, Socrates, who was wiser than them all, professed to know but this, that he knew nothing. At an advanced period of his life, the rancour of those enemies, whom all his life had exasperated, enkindled the resent a vailed upon ment of his countrymen, by im- the merits of moral treatises, peaching him of the heinous sin adjudge the prize to Tully, of of '« endeavouring to bring wis. whose book of Offices the famous dom and things together, and make Barbeyrac* has recorded his testitruth consist with sober sense.” mony, that “ without dispute it is That he corrupted the youth, and the best treatise of morality, with refused homage to the gods of his which all antiquity has furnished country, were other articles in the us." charges preferred against Socrates Should a parallel be run between to the Athcnian senate. The stage Socrates and Cicero, with a view had been employed as an instru- to determine which has most inment, by the force of ridicule, to fluenced the manners and opinions destroy the influence of his capti- of posterity, the palm of victory vating manners and seducing opin- would unquestionably be decreed ions, and the ribaldry of Aristo- to the Roman. In ethicks and phanes occasionally bespattered the jurisprudence, in oratory and potransparent drapery oftheSocratick lite literature, whether in theory portrait of Divinity. In spite of or in practice, it must be inquired his able defence, his enemies pre- respecting Cicero, as Cicero in the fickle and wayward quired of Pisistratus, « who of passions of the populace, and they those times surpassed him in learn. decreed death by poison as his ing, or what orator was more eloportion. Of his conduct wbile in quent or accomplished ?" prison, after sentence had been In a disquisition upon philosopronounced against him, and the phy, to omit the name of Chan. magnanimity of the last scene of celior Bacon, the great reformer, his life, none are ignorant. Cicero might be thought little less parand science wept his unnatural donable, than for a treatise upon death. the reformation in religion to forWho noble ends, by noble means, ob- get the name of Luther. tains, It was he, who, in the language Or failing, smiles in exile or in chains, of Sir William Jones,f " so eleLike good Aurelius, let him reign or gantly analysed human knowledge bleed, Like Socrates that man is great indeed.* according to the three great facul ties of the mind, memory, reason, Notwithstanding the partial esti- and imagination, which we conmation, in which Socratcs was held stantly find employed in arranging by antiquity, and however extraor and retaining, comparing and disdiary the appearance of such a lu- tinguishing, combining and diverminary may be considered in refer. sifying the ideas which we receive ence to the period of his life,it is on- through our senses, or acquire by ly from the writings of his two dis. reflection ; hence the three main ciples, Xenophon and Plato,that tes branches of learning are History, timonials of his wisdom are to be Science, and Art. The first com. collected. These have afforded prehends either an account of nat. matter for enthusiastick encomium ural productions, or the genuine to all students in ethicks to the pre records of empires and states ; the sent day ; but there are those, of Barbeyrac. Preface to Puffendorf. no mean taste, who, comparing + Sir William Jones's Works. Dis course pronounced before the Asiatick * Pope. Essay on Man, Society second embraces the whole circlements in agriculture, commerce, of pure and mixed mathematicks, and manufactures. Civil polity is together with ethicks and law, so in the hands of the people...let them far as they depend on the reason- look to it ; while science and the ing faculty; and the third includes whole family of her kindred, may all the beauties of imagery, and the be safely confided to the fostering charms of invention, displayed in care of our Alma Mater. modulated language, or represent- Upon you, my brethren, who ed by colour, figure, or sound.” are still detained in academick It was Bacon, who first gave the groves, it would be superfluous to plan of those institutions for the inculcate emulation. “Verily the acquisition of natural science, reward is great." Slaves to no which, since his day, have multi- sect, but followers of all who point plied in, at least, three quarters of the path to truth, let it be your the globe ; the objects of whose in- pride, as it is your precious preroquiries are “ Man and Nature, gative, like the Eclectick Philosowhatever is performed by the one, phers, to profit of all the good and or produced by the other.” discard all the pernicious tenets of Of those institutions in our own ancient or modern times. Like country, professing similar objects, good soldiers in the ranks of Mi. it is remarkable, that the most con- nerva, learn to vanquish every obspicuous were founded amid the stacle in your march to the fortress din of arms, and in the very heat of knowledge, and as a motto for of our struggle for independence ; your banners, while scaling the affording an honourable illustration ramparts of her citadel, may each of the truth of a maxim, that the individual adopt the inspiration of love of liberty and that of solid the Mantuan Muse. and useful knowledge walk hand in hand. “ Tentanda via est quâ me quoque Philosophy, indeed, is no longer possim followed as a profession, but in Tollere humo ; victorque virum voli tare perora.” every branch of profitable knowledge, the labourers are many. “ I too will boldly strive my flight to Freedom of inquiry, aided by facil raise, ities in communicating the result And wing'd by victory, catch the gale of praise.” of laborious investigation, has al Sotheby Trans. ready led to valuable improve CRITICISM. (Concluded from po 466.] HERE Narcissus begins to be or his mother, or Burrhus, but he more at his ease. He wished to only still fears the publick opinion, sound the soul of Nero : it opens, the last restraint of a perverse and and he sees, that nature has not and powerful man, when he bas cast one sigh, that there is there some vanity. Nero has yet a little no remorse, not one sentiment of left ; and it is by tris varit; that virtue ; that Nero has done noth- Narcissuis proceeds to get the Mäs ; ing from any regard to his brother, tery of him. Vol. III. No. 10. 3R Is it worthy of you to listen to their discourses? Will you bury in oblivion all your own desires? And will you be the only one, you dare not confide in ? Tempted their patience, but never have You dread the turpitude of a poisoning? Even were they innocent, would im- You will see them mark in their kalender for unfortunate days, But, my Lord, the Romans are not known to you. No: No in their discourses they are more reserved. So much precaution enfeebles your government; They will soon flatter themselves, that they deserve to be icared. Et prenez vous, seigneur, leurs caprices pour guides ? Avez vous pretendu qu'ils se tairaient toujours ? Est-ce à vous de prêter l'oreille à leurs discours ? De vos propres desirs perdrez vous la memoire ? Et serez vous le seul que n'oserez croire ? pas connus. Non: non dans leurs discous ils sont Tant de precaution affaiblit votre regne ; We see here the most perfidious of all suggestions, and the most effectual with bad princes; it is, to irritate in them the pride of power. Who can tell how many times adulation has repeated in other terms what is here said by Narcissus. Nothing more remains for him, but to tranquilize Nero, concerning the opinions and discourses of the Romans. NARCISSUS. They have long been sub jected and reconciled to the yoke; They adore the hand that holds them in chains. You will find them always ardent to please you : Tiberius was even fatigued and disgust- Which I received from Claudius with Have a thousand times, in the course of my past glor Those, on which both the sister and brother were born. Au joug, depuis long temps, ils se sont façonnés; Ils adorent la main qui les tient enchairés. Leur prompt servitude a fatigué Tibere. Tenté leur patience, et ne l'ai point lassée. Rome, sur les autels prodiguant les victimes, Fussent-ils innocens, leur trouvera dea crimes. Vous verrez mettre au rang des jours infortunes, Ceux cù jadis la sœur et le frere sont nés. This actually happened after the murder of Agrippina, and the abjection of the Romans is here painted with the nervous fidelity of the pencil of Tacitus. Nero, delivered, not indeed from his scruples but his fears, defends himself no longer but very feebly. Narcissus, once more, I cannot undertake it. I have promised Burrhus; I could not but yield to him. I will not yet, by forfeiting my word to Give to his virtue arms against me. I cannot hear him with a tranquil heart. Narcisse, encore un coup, je ne puis l'entrependre. Fai promis à Burrhus, il a fallu me rendre. Je ne veux point encore, en lui manquant de foi, Donner à sa virta des armes contre moi. "Are employed to excite applauses for him." Ah! will you not oblige these gentry to be more discrect? Burrhus ne pense pas, Seigneur, tout ce qu'il dit; Son adroite vertu menage son créit; abaissée; Vous seriez libre alors, seigneur; et devant Ces maitres orgueilleux flechiraient comme nous. Quoi donc ? ignorez vous tout ce qu'ils osent dire ? "Nero, s'ils en sont crus, n'est point né pour l'empire, "Il ne dit, il ne fait que ce qu'on lui prescrit; "Burrhus conduit son cœur, Sencque son esprit. "Pour toute ambition, pour virtu singu liere, "Il excelle à conduire un char dans la carriere; "A disputer des prix indignes de ses mains; "A se donner luimême en spectacle aux Romains; "A venir prodiguer sa voix sur un théâtre ; "A reciter des chants qu'il vent qu'on idolâtre ; "Tandis que des soldats, de momens en 'oppose à ses raisons un courage inutile, Je ne l'ecoute point avec un cœur tranquille. There remains therefore nothing to destroy, but a remnant of regard for Burrhus, expressed in such a manner, as to shew that the counsels of a virtuous governour press strangely upon Nero, although impatient to throw off every kind of restraint. This is the critical moment to strike the last blow, and Narcissus employs the weapon, so familiar to the profligate, calumny. He attributes to Burrhus, to Seneca, and to all those, who exerted themselves still to restrain the vices of Nero, speeches the most abusive and the most bitter. This artifice of flatterers scarcely ever fails of its effect. They put into the mouth of the man they would destroy, all the contempt, which they feel at the bottom of their own hearts for the master, whom they would deceive. NARCISSUS.-Burrhus, my Lord,thinks not always as he says; His virtue has address enough to preserve his credit; Or rather, they have all but one mind. They would see, by this stroke, their power reduced; ; and Then, my lord, you will be free not born for empire; his understanding. "All his ambition, all his singular virtue, "Is to exult in conducting a chariot in a race; "In contending for prizes, unworthy of his hands; "In offering himself as a spectacle to "In exerting his voice upon the theatre; momens, "Vont arracher pour lui des applaudisse mens." Ah! ne voulez vous pas, les forcer à se It is impossible that Nero should He says not, positively, what course This scene is perhaps the greatest lesson, that the dramatick art ever gave to sovereigns. It is asserted, that the part, which relates to spectacles, made such an impression on Louis the Fourteenth, as to correct him in a habit he had indulged in his youth, of acting on |