SOPHENE AND SOPHOCLES. 135 



selves. O Venus ! how worthy of your son are those dangerous 

 objects ! Here, every thing- breathes luxury, and promotes it. The 

 verdure and the trees contribute to render his triumph still more 

 complete. Happy birds, you may safely abandon yourselves to his 

 influence : pleasure is the reward of it. But, as for us, it lulls us 

 asleep, and we give up in return for it our quiet and our reason. 

 And where do we find that bliss that fills the measure of your en- 

 joyment ? 



Then Imlacca, who penetrated into my heart, better than I did 

 myself, said to me, That god whom you oppose in vain laughs at 

 your resistance, or rather you can resist no longer. Your defeat is 

 unavoidable. But, do you know what will happen to you *? You 

 will experience his power without knowing his pleasures. He contri- 

 butes to our happiness ; but only in proportion to what we do for 

 him. In the name of the gods, replied I, in that of Jupiter, under 

 whose guidance we came hither, forbear a discourse that affects 

 me too deeply. I will, said he. Let us speak of something else. 



You are like those sick bodies whom an inward fever devours. 

 They grow pale ; they tremble ; every one is sensible of the danger 

 they are in. They alone think they lessen or dissipate it, by dis- 

 guising it to themselves. I would not avow that picture to be mine ; 

 but it was drawn to the life. Thus far you have had my dream. 



We gave our conversation another turn. What we had just seen 

 supplied us with ample materials for it. Is it possible, said I, for a 

 man to shift so quickly from the greatest simplicity to the most im- 

 moderate luxury ? Can one place alone include so many opposite 

 things "? Such are men, answered he. Extremes are contiguous in 

 their hearts. They are astonished at their agreeing not together ; 

 and they do not observe that they are not consistent with themselves. 

 Moved, carried away by present objects, they always pitch upon the 

 last as being the best, or at least it determines their actions. Has it 

 any relation to that which came before or not '? The examination 

 would be too painful ; they avoid it, and so are never out of conceit 

 with themselves. They do not perceive any variety in their own 

 behaviour ; nay, they think that others are not sensible of it. With- 

 out that idea, without that hint from self-love, they would either be 

 always reasonable, or always conscious of their own folly. But what 

 avails this reasoning ? Let us not look for the means of curing them 

 of an error that makes them happy. Truth would render them 

 ridiculous. 



Thanks to the gods, said I, such considerations do not concern us. 

 You are a wise man ; and I wish to become so. Your example 

 your advice will help me to it. O dear Imlacca, how precious, how 

 necessary for me is your friendship ! Without it, error would be my 

 portion ; and it could not fail of being conspicuous in the high office 

 which has been conferred upon me. Henceforth, I shall be no more 

 an obscure man ; my countrymen will have a watchful eye upon my 

 conduct. If it does not answer their expectation, if it does not even 

 reach beyond it, they will despise me the more, the more they 

 have distinguished rne. All the ways to fortune will be shut against 

 me ; grown the disgrace of an illustrious family, I must either 



