FRAGMENT. I^)^ 



FRAGMENT, 



BY WAY OF PREAMBLE 



TO 



THE ARCADIA. 



A: 



S foon as they perceived that, after 

 an experience of Mankind Co vexa- 

 tious, my heart panted only for a life of folitude; 

 that I had embraced principles from which I would 

 not depart ; that my opinions refpefting Nature 

 were contrary to their fyftems ; that I was not a 

 perfon difpofed to be either their puffer, or to 

 court their protedion ; and that, in a word, they 

 had embroiled me with my patron, whom they 

 frequently abufed to me, in the view of alienating 

 me from him, and to whom they affiduoufly paid 

 their court ; they then became my enemies. A 

 great many vices are imputed to the Great; but I 

 have always found many more in the Little, who 

 ftudy to pleafe them. 



Thefe laft were too cunning to attack me 

 openly., with a Perfonage to whom I had given, in 



o 4 the 



