327 the dormant Paffion. This feems to be the concealed Meaning of what the Poets tell us concerning Orpheus and his Lyre.

Thus, in every View, it seems evident, that it was Affection for the Species, which drew Men into Society; and that, without it, they never did, and never can fubfift. For could Nature intend to preferve and propagate the Species, and not maintain Fellowship and mutual Affection? Whence arifes that ftrict Agreement between the Sexes, in the Care of their growing Offspring, but from Love? And can you ftop here? How (as I remember Lord Shaftsbury closely puts the Question) "How fhould Man break "off from this Society, if once begun? And that it began thus, and grew into an Houfhold, is an inconteftable Fact. And must not this Houfhold ❝ have foon grown into a Tribe that Tribe into a "Nation ?"

Here Philocles paused when, looking ftedfaftly on his Friend-O Sophronius, faid he, is it poffible you can, in good Earneft, contend against the Reality of the kind and generous Affections? Is it poffible you cannot difcover a moral Attraction in our Natures, which unites Mankind to each other, previous to all Confiderations of Intereft or Convenience?

But I have long fufpected, that we are drawn into Opinions from our conftitutional Propenfities, as the Stream follows the feveral Declivities of the Ground, through which it flows. Something, perhaps, of this Kind

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Dial. I. Kind may have given a Biafs to my Friend's Sentiments, and turned them afide from that Scheme he is oppofing. But I will not defpair of reconciling you to more favorable Thoughts of the human Kind. No Method feems more probable to effect this, than a Contemplation of Nature in these her visible Operations. From her (it is çonfeffed) the defigning and imitative Arts derive all their Energy and Grace. And yet the herself, it seems, (helpless Parent!) is deftitute of all thofe Charms and Delicacies, the confers on her acknowledged Offspring! But

It is very poffible, interrupted Sophronius, that the Opinions of Mankind may be influenced by their Tempers. The Fruit, no Doubt, will partake of the Nature of the Soil. But Philocles fhould remember, that the fame Obfervation will ferve to explain the Rife of his Sentiments, no less than mine. I am, however, very willing to confefs, that I am always afhamed of being pleased, where I cannot affign the Caufe; and am extremely apt to suspect my Judg- ment concerning any Object, that moves my Paffion. For this Reafon, I fhould hardly fend my Difciple to the School of Arts (for there, Philacles, you -feemed to be pointing) for his Inftruction in the . Truth of fevere Philofophy. A good Picture, a wellexecuted Statue, or a fine Style, give me (fo far as I am able to discover clearly their respective Beauties) fome Degree of Pleasure. But when the profeffed Admirers, the Connoiffeurs in these several Arts, talk of their nameless Graces, their certain inexplicable Delicacies, and I know not what other fine Terms,

of

of which they themselves do not pretend to explain the Meaning; there, I confefs, I am left behind, and reserve my Rapture, till I receive my Conviction.

For tell me, Philocles, what is this Delicacy, either in the Arts or Conduct of Life, which you are conftantly extolling in fuch high Strains, and with fuch an Air of Earneftnefs, as if you were perfuaded that there is something in it real and substantial?

Philocles was going to reply; when a Servant informed them that Supper was upon the Table. However, in their Way to the House, he took Occafion, from the beautiful Scenes they paffed, to throw out some general Reflexions in Support of his favourite Doctrine: for he was determined to omit no Opportunity of drawing his Friend into the Love and Study of Refinement; the Difregard to which Accomplishment, he looked upon as the chief Deficiency in the Character of Sophronius.

DIALOGUE

DIALOGUE II.

S Sophronius is an early rifer, he was amusing himself in the Library, before Philocles was

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yet ftirring, But his Friend, perceiving it now Day, foon followed him thither, being unwil ling to lose any Opportunity of enjoying a Conversation, in which he found himself often inftructed, and always entertained,

How happy (faid Philocles entering the Room) how happy would it be for the fashionable World, were they as well acquainted with this sweet Hour of "Prime," as you, Sophronius, are, who feldom fuffer the Sun to rise upon you in Bed!

Rather, replied Sophronius, how much happier would it be for the World in general, would certain active Spirits be perfuaded to flumber Life away! fince they wake but to pursue their Ambition, or vent their Impertinences, and rife only to embroil or mislead Mankind.

Undoubtedly, faid Philocles, if many of those, whofe Actions fill our Hiftories, or whofe Specula

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tions