200 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



the very height of my misfortunes, proofs of africnd- 

 fliip fo difmterefted. On the contrary, in prefence 

 of that gentleman, as well as before myfelf, they 

 pafled high encomiums on my principles, and on 

 fome very fimple afts of moderation, which had 

 refuited from them ; but they employed terms fo 

 artfully exagger:ited, and appeared fo uneafy about 

 the opinion which the World would entertain of 

 the matter, that it was eafy to difcern their great 

 objedt was to induce me to renounce it, and that 

 they commended my patience fo extravagantly, 

 only to make me lofe it. Thus they calumniated 

 me under the guife of panegyric, and deftroyed 

 my reputation in feigning to pity me ; like thofe 

 forcereffes of Theffaly, mentioned by PUtty, who 

 blafted the harvefts, the flocks, and the hufband- 

 men, by fpeaking good of them. 



I feparated myfelf, therefore, from thofe artful 

 men, who continued to juftify themfelves at my 

 expenfe, in reprefenting me as a perfon of a mif- 

 truftful difpofition, after having abufed my con- 

 fidence in fo many different ways. 



Not but that I confider myfelf as reprehenfible 

 for a fenfibility, too acute, to pain, whether phy- 

 fical or moral. A fingle prickle gives me more 

 uneafmefs than the fmell of a hundred rofes gives 

 pleafure. The bell company in the World appears 



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