It  is  not  to  be  denied,  that  former  Ages
were  replete .  with  examples  of  heroifm,
magnanimity,  and  a  contempt  of  death  :
I  give  them  full  credit  for  fuperior  abfte-
mioufnefs,  and  more  refigned  humility  :
they  produce  men  who  were  zealous  for
religion,  who  were  lovers  of  their  country,
and  foes  to  tyrants  ;  men,  who  were  valiant
in  war,  and  amiable  in  peace,— but  where
was  to  be  found  that  polifh  which  is  uni-
verfally  diffufed  over  modern  manners  ?
that  civilization,  that  mildnefs,  and  grace,
which  reprefs  the  burfts  of  furious  pafiions,
and  foften  the  ferocity  of  Rudnefs  and
Barbarity  ?

War,  the  peft  of  the  human  race,  and
the  difgrace  of  reafon,  was  once  carried  on
with  horrors  now  unknown.  The  public
enemy,  when  difarmed,  is  now  treated
with  the  indulgence  of  a  private  friend  ;
and,  inflead  of  dragging  the  vanquifhed  at
our  chariot-wheels,  Humanity  and  Gentle-
nefs  go  hand  in  hand  to  foften  the  feverity
of  defeat,  and  to  reconcile  the  conquered

to


4i6        OLLAPODRIDA.    N°4*.
to  himfelf.  The  fame  amiablenefs  of  man*
ners  is  vifible  in  humbler  circumftances,
and  difplayed  on  lefs  important  occafions.
The  fnarling  Cynic  may  call  all  this  effe-
minacy, and  dignify  favage  qualities  with
the  appellation  of  virtues  :  he  may  deno-
minate piety  a  weaknefs,  and  ftigmatize
the  humane  with  want  of  fpirit.  But  let
it  be  obferved,  in  anfwer  to  his  cavils,  that
whatever  renders  mankind  more  amiable,

and  more  refined,    whatever   binds   one  to

*

another  with  more  endearing  ties,  is  a  vir-
tue, and  a  virtue  deferving  applaufe.
