134 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



*' are fo ambitious of obtaining, are not near To 

 " happy." 



Paul. 

 *' Alas ! Firginia is ftill wanting to me; without 

 " her, I have nothing ; with her, I (hould pofl'efs 

 « every thing. She, alone, is my birth, my glory, 

 " and my fortune : but her aunt muft, no doubt, 

 *' have bellowed her, in marriage, on a man of 

 *' high reputation ! By means of books and ftudy, 

 *' however, men may become learned and cele- 

 " brated : I will acquire knowledge, by dint of in- 

 *' tenfe application ; I will render a ufeful fervice 

 *' to my country, by my fuperior illumination, and 

 *' will neither offend any one, nor be dependent on 

 " him : my fame will be illuftrious, and the glory 

 ** which I may obtain will be entirely my own." 



The Old Man. 

 *' My fon, talents are ftill more rare than either 

 *' birth or riches j and, doubtlefs, they are the 

 *' moft invaluable poffeflîons, becaufe nothing can 

 ** deprive us of them, and becaufe they univerfally 

 *' conciliate public efteem. But they colli a man 

 " dear; they are to be obtained only by privations 

 " of every kind; by an exquifite fenfibility, which 

 " renders us unhappy, both at home and abroad, 

 *' by the perfecution of our contemporaries. In 

 ** France, the lawyer does not envy the glory of 

 " the Ibldier, nor the foldier, that of the failor, but 



*' every 



