PAUL AND VIRGINIA. I49 



'* feveral Mufes, who prefide over Letters : We 

 *' ought, therefore, to refign to them the government 

 ** of our paflions, in order that they may direâ: 

 " and curb them. They ought, with regard to the 

 *' faculties of the foul, to perform the fame func- 

 " tions with the Hours, which yoked, and guided 

 " the horfes of the Sun. 



*' -Apply yourfelf, then, my fon, to the ftudy of 

 '* books. Thofe wife men, who have written be- 

 ^' fore us, are travellers who have preceded us in 

 " the paths of calamity, who ftretch out the hand 

 *' toward us, and invite us to join their fociety, 

 " when every body elfe has abandoned us. A good 

 ** book is a good friend." 



" Ah 1" cried Paul, " I had no occafion to 

 " know how to read when Virginia was here : fhc 

 ** had ftudied no more than I had done, but when 

 " fhe looked upon me, calling me her friend, it 

 " was impoffible for me to know what forrow 

 *' meant." 



" Doubtlefs," faid I to him, '* there can be no 

 *' friend fo agreeable, as a miftrefs who loves reci- 

 " procally. There is, befides, in woman, a lively 

 *' gaiety, which diffipates the penfivenefs of man. 

 " Her graces make the dark phantoms of refleâ-jon 

 " to fly away. On her countenance are depided 



L 3 the 



