PAUL AND VIRGINIA. I3I 



^' tually fulfil the duties of my fituation, I will be 

 *' fo zealous and fo confiant in my friendfhips, as 

 *^ to merit adoption from fome of them, which I 

 " have feen frequently to be the cafe, in thofe an- 

 " cient hiflories which you gave me to read." 



The Old Man. 

 " Ah, my good friend ! among the Greeks and 

 '* Romans, even in their decline, the higher orders 

 ** of men always paid refped to virtue ; we have 

 ** had, indeed, a great number of celebrated perfon- 

 ^^ ages, of all defcriptions, ftarting up from among 

 ** the common people, but I do not know of a 

 '' fingle one who has been adopted into a family of 

 *' rank. But for our Kings, Virtue would, in 

 *' France, be condemned to an eternal Plebeianifm. 

 " As I have often told you, they fometimes honour 

 '* virtue when they perceive it; but in the prefent 

 *' day, the diftindion which, in juftice, it fhould 

 ** obtain, is to be purchafed only with money." 



Paul. 

 " In cafe, then, I do not procure fupport from 

 " the Great, I will endeavour to render myfelf ufe- 

 " ful to fome corps. I will adopt it's fpirit, and 

 *' it's opinions, entirely; I will make myfelf be 

 " loved." 



K 2 T^E 



