348 On the Moral Iiijiuence of History, 



views, sympathize with them in their difficulties 

 and dangers, triumph with them in their 

 success ; and become at length so dazzled 

 with the splendor of their exploits, and the 

 elevation to which they rise, that if we are not 

 absolutely enamoured with their very vices, 

 yet they are in a great measure lost to our view. 



" They have no faults, or \\q no faults can spy," 



we acquire a false notion of heroism uncon- 

 nected with virtue; and the detestation of 

 crime, perhaps even of the most horrid mag- 

 nitude, is so lessened by the lustre of successful 

 greatness, as to plead for its excuse, and 

 dispose us to consider it as the necessary and 

 unavoidable consequence of the circumstances 

 in which they are engaged. And it is truly 

 wonderful to observe, how historians of every 

 age have contributed to this delusion by the 

 unjust applauses which they have bestowed 

 upon certain characters and actions. The 

 heroes of their pens have in general been the 

 great destroyers of mankind ; those wno have 

 ravaged kingdoms, overthrown empires, and 

 thinned the human race. Men have been 

 deified and sainted, not for the goodness, 

 but for the greatness, of their exploits; not 

 for their endeavours to civilize and improve 

 the state of mankind by the introduction of 



