FRAGMENT. 207 



. All the branches of human life are mortal, like 

 the trunk. Our fortunes, our reputation, our 

 friendlhips, our loves, all the moft endeared ob- 

 je(51:s of our affeélion, perifli oftener than once be- 

 fore we ourfelves die ; and if ihe mod fortunate 

 deftinies were difplayed, with all the calamities 

 which have attended them, they would appear to 

 us like thofe ftately oaks which embellilh the 

 earth with their fpreading branches, but which 

 rear others, of ftill greater fize, toward Heaven, 

 ftruck with the lightning. 



For my t)wii part, a feeble fhrub, fhattered by 

 fo many tempefts, nothing more remained to. me 

 that could be loft. Perceiving, befides, that I had 

 henceforth nothing to hope, either from others, 

 or from myfelf, 1 committed myfelf to God alone, 

 and engaged my promife to Him, never to expeft 

 any thing effential to my happinefs, from any one 

 man in particular, to whatever extremity 1 might 

 chance to be reduced, and of whatever kind it 

 might be. 



My confidence was acceptable to Him, of whom 

 no one ever implored affiftance in vain. The firft- 

 fruit of my refignation, was the calming of my 

 woes. My folicitudes were lulled to reft, as foon 

 as I ceafed to ftruggle againft them. Very foon 

 after, there dropped into my lap, without the 



Highteft 



