On the Moral Influence ofllisiorx). 33!> 



the retinue of guards, the ermine robe, or even 

 the wig ; and the king, the senator, the ma- 

 gistrate and the judge would lose half their 

 dignity, and be almost considered as common 

 men. 



But there is^^ real grandeur in the actions 

 which history records, which demonstrates a 

 superiority of talent, and which even the fas- 

 tidium of a cloister must acknowledge. Cyrus, 

 Alexander, ITiemistocles, Militiades, Epa- 

 minondas, Hannibal, Alfred, Edward III., the 

 Black Prince, and Henry V. of England, 

 llunniaJes among the Poles, Scanderbeg of 

 Epirus, Gustavus Vasa, Gustavus Adolphus 

 and Charles XII. of Sweden, Frederic the 

 Great of Prussia, even the Barbarians Gen- 

 chischan and Tamerlane, and among states- 

 men, Pericles, Tully, Richlieu, and the great 

 Lord Chatham, all display this grandeur of 

 tal'^nt, which, be the moral character what it 

 will, enforce admiration, and constitute the 

 charm, whi<;h interests the reader of their 

 story. Nor will the manly spirit of England, 

 with all its laudable indignation of his insults 

 aixl his crimes, refuse this tribute to Bonaparte 

 himscli. 



Here and in the active spirit of curiosity lies 

 t]\c whole secret jOf that interest, which all 

 feci in history.'^^^^^Ve ?eek not for morale hi$ 

 ' T t 2 



