neither find out this Paffage in Scripture, nor the Reafon of it; nor can I give my Affent or Negative to a Propofition, till I am well acquainted with the Terms of it. If by natural Affection is here meant univerfal Benevolence, and Deformity neceffarily implies a want of it, a deformed Perfon must then be a complete Monster. But however common the Cafe may be, my own Senfations inform me, that it is not univerfally true. If, by natural Affection, is meant a partial Regard for Individuals; I believe the Remark is judicious, and founded in human Nature. Deformed Perfons are despised, ridiculed, and ill-treated by others; are feldom Favourites, and commonly most neglected by Parents, Guardians, and Relations; and therefore, as they are not indebted for much Fondness, it is no wonder if they repay but little. It is the Command of Scripture, Not to fet aur Affections on Things below: it is the Voice of Reason, not to overvalue what we must foon part with; and therefore, to be fo fond of others, as not to be able to bear the Absence, or to furvive them, is neither a religious nor moral Duty; but a childish and womanish Weaknefs: And I must congratulate deformed Perfons, who, by Example, are early taught another Leffon. And I will now lay open my own Heart to the Reader, that he may judge, if Lord Bacon's Pofition is verified in me. I hope it proceeds not from a Malignity of Heart; but I never am much affected with the common Accidents of Life, whether they befall myself myfelf or others. I am little moved when I hear of Death, Lofs, or Misfortune; I think the Cafe is common, -([b] Tritus, & e medio fortuna ductus acervo :). And as it is always likely to happen, I am not furprifed when it does. If I fee a Perfon cry of beat his Breast on any fuch Occafion, I cannot bear him Company, but am not a Democritus to laugh at his Folly. I read of Battles and Fields covered with Slain; of Cities deftroyed by Sword, Famine, Peftilence, and Earthquake; I do not fhed a Tear: I fuppofe it is, because they are the ufual Storms, to which the Human Species are expofed, proceeding from the juft Judgments of God, or the mistaken and false Principles of Rufers: I read of Perfecutions, Tortures, Murders, Maffacres; my Compaffion for the Sufferers are great, but my Tears are ftopped by Refentment and Indignation against the Contrivers and Perpetrators of fuch horrid Actions. But there are many Things that bring Tears into my Eyes, whether I will or no; and when I reflect, I am often at a lofs in fearching out the fecret Source from whence they flow." What makes me weep ? (for weep I do) when I read of Virtue and Innocence in Distress; of a good Man helplefs and forfaken, unmoved by the greateft Infults and Cruelties; or courageously supporting himself against Oppreffion in the Article of Death. I fup[6] Juv. Sat. xi * pofe pofe it is, to fee Vice triumphant, and Virtue fo ill rewarded in this Life. May I judge by myself, I should imagine, that few fincere Christians could read the Sufferings of their Saviour, or Englishmen those of a Cranmer, Ridley, or Latimer, without Tears; the first dying to establish his Religion, the laft to rescue it from Corruption. When I read of [c] Regulus returning to Torment, and [d] John of France to Imprisonment, against the Persuasion of Friends, to keep Faith with their Enemies; I weep to think, there is scarce another Inftance of fuch exalted Virtue. Those who often hear me read, know, that my Voice changes, and my Eyes are full, when I meet with a generous and heroic Saying, Action, or Character, especially of Perfons, whofe Example or Command may influence Mankind. I weep when I hear a [e] Titus fay, That he had loft the Day in f} Donec labantes confilio patres Firmaret auctor nunquam aliàs dato Egregius properaret exul. Atqui fciebat quæ fibi barbarus Tortor pararet: -tamen Dimovit obftantes propinquos, Hor. Od. v. 1. 3. [d] En vain fes Miniftres & les plus confidérables Seigneurs du Royaume firent tous leurs efforts, pour le faire changer de réfolution. Il répondoit à tout ce qu'on lui difoit là-deffus, que quand la bonne foy feroit bannie du refte du monde, il falloit qu'on la trovât toûjours dans la bouche des Rois. Hiftoire de France, par le P. G. Daniel. [e] Recordátus quondam fuper cœnam, quod nihil cui quam toto die præftitiffet, memorabilem illam meritoque laudatam vocem edidit; AMICI, DIEM PERDIDI.—— uetonius. which he did no Good. When [f] Adrian tells his Enemy, That he had escaped by his being Emperor; or [g] Lewis XII. That he is not to revenge the Affront of the Duke of Orleans. Thefe are the first Instances that happen to occur to me: I might recollect many, too many to infort in this Effay; yet all are but few, compared to instances of Cruelty and Revenge: perhaps I am concerned that they are fo rare: perhaps too I inwardly grieve that I am not in a Situation to do the like.. I am entertained, but not moved, when I read Voltaire's History of Charles XII. but I melt into Tears on reading Hanway's Character of his Antagonist Peter the Great. The first is the Story of a Madman; the other of a Father, Friend, and Benefactor of his People; whase Character (as the Author obferves in the Conclufion of it) will command the Admiration of all fucceeding Generations; and I fuppose I lament; that God is pleafed to advance to Royalty fo few fuch Inftruments of Good to Mankind. Harry IV. of France had every Quality to make a Prince amiable: Courage, Humanity, Clemency, Generofity, Affability, Politeness; his Behaviour on every Occafion is charming; and I cannot read the Account of him, given us by his Prime Minister (Sully) without Emotion. I do not wonder, if what is reported is true; that [b] at least fifty [] Echard's Roman History. ii. Let. 20. Turkish Spy, Vol. I. B Perfons 1 Perfons have written his Hiftory; and that he has been celebrated in Poems, and Panegyricks, by above five hundred: there are few fuch Subjects to be met with; and few Princes, who have fo justly deserved the Title of Great. His Grandfon had the fame Title bestowed on him; but how little did he deferve it! He has been celebrated by as many Hiftoriographers and Poets; but they are mostly such as he hired for that Purpose; and none of them, even Voltaire himfelf, will be able to pafs him for a great Man on unprejudiced Pofterity. Compare him with his Grandfather, you will find him the reverfe. Henry was bred to Toil and Hardships ; Lewis in Luxury and Effeminacy. Henry pleafant, eafy, and affable; Lewis formal, haughty and referved. Henry brave, and -expofing himself to all Dangers; Lewis cautious, and always in a fecure Poft. The one gaining Victories by himself, and his own perfonal Valour; the other by his Generals, and Superiority of Numbers. The one pleafed with performing great Actions; the other with being flattered for those which he never performed. The first ambitious of true; and the laft of falfe Glory. Henry ftabbed by Jefuits; Lewis governed by them. 'The one forgiving Rebels and Affaffins; the other encouraging both. Henry perfecuted; Lewis a Perfecutor. The first granting Liberty of Confcience; the laft taking it away. Henry promoting the Silk Manufacture in France; Lewis in England. One treating his Subjects as his children; the other as his Slaves. Henry bravely af ferting |