ly of voluntary fubmiffion to those whom nature has levelled with ourselves. I knew the defects of every scheme of government, and the inconveniences of every law, I fometimes fhewed how much the condition of mankind would be improved by breaking the world into petty fovereignties, and fometimes difplayed the felicity and peace which universal monarchy would diffuse over the earth. To every acknowledged fact I found innumerable objections for it was my rule, to judge of history by reafon; and therefore I made no fcruple of bidding defiance to teftimony. I have more than once queftioned the existence of Alexander the Great; and having demonstrated the folly of erecting edifices like the pyramids of Egypt, I frequently hinted my fufpicion, that the world had been long deceived, and that they were to be found only in the narratives of travellers. It had been happy for me had I been able to confine my fcepticism to hiftorical controverfies, and philofophical difquifitions: but, having now violated my reason, and accustomed myself to inquire, not after proofs, but objections, I had perplexed truth with falfehood, till my ideas were confused, my judgment embarraffed, and my intellects diftorted. The habit of confidering every propofition as alike uncertain, left me no teft by which any tenet could be tried; every opinion presented both fides with equal evidence, and my fallacies began to operate upon my own mind in more important inquiries. It was at laft the sport of my vanity, to weaken the obligations of moral duty, and efface the diftinctions of good and evil; till I had deadened the fenfe of conviction, and abandoned doned my heart to the fluctuations of uncertainty, without anchor, and without compals; without fa tisfaction of curiofity, or peace of confcience; withour principles of reafon, or motives of action. Such is the hazard of repreffing the first percep tions of truth, of spreading for diverfion the fnares of fophiftry, and engaging reafon against its own determinations. The difproportions of abfurdity grow lefs and lefs vifible, as we are reconciled by degrees to the deformity of a miftréfs; and falfes hood, by long ufe, is affimulated to the mind, as poifon to the body. I had foon the mortification of seeing my con verfation conrted only by the ignorant or wicked; by either boys who were enchanted by novelty, or wretches, who, having long difobeyed Virtue and Reason, were now defirous of my affiftance to de throne them. Thus alarmed, I fhuddered at my own corruption; and that pride by which I had been feduced, contributed to reclaim me. I was weary of continual firrefolution, and a perpetual equipoife of the mind; and afhamed of being the favourite of those who were scorned and fhunned by the rest of mankind. I therefore retired from all temptations to difpute, prefcribed a new regi men to my understanding, and refolved, inftead of rejecting all established opinions which I could not prove, to admit all which I could not confute: I forbore to heat my imagination with needlefs controverfies, to difcufs queftions confeffedly uncer tain; and refrained fteadily from gratifying my vanity by the fupport of falsehood. By this method I am at length recovered from my argumental delirium, and find myself in the state of one wakened from from the confufion and tumult of a feverish dream. I rejoice in the new poffeffion of evidence and reality, and step on from truth to truth with confidence and quiet. I am, Sir, &c. PERTINAX. THE RAMBLER. NUMBER XCVI. LONDON, Saturday, February 16. 1751. Quid fi Platonis mufa perfonat verum, BOETIUS. I T is reported by an eminent writer of the Perfians, that the fum of their education confifted in teaching youth to ride, to shoot with the bow, and to speak truth. The bow and the horse were easily mastered; but it would have been hapVOL. IV. ру |