FRAGMENT. 279 



ceftors are raifed amidft groves of myrtle, of cy- 

 prefs, and of fir. Their defcendants, to whom 

 they endeared themfelves in life, refort thither in 

 their hours of pleafure, or of pain, to decorate 

 them with flowers, and to invoke their fhades, 

 perfuaded that they continually prefide over their 

 deftinies. The pad, the prefent, and the future, 

 link together all the members of this Society with 

 the bands of the Law of Nature, fo that, there, to 

 live and to die is equally an objeâ: of délire. 



Such was the vague idea which I gave of the 

 Plan of my Work to John-James. He was de- 

 lighted with it. We made it, oftener than once, 

 on our walking excurfions, the fubjecl of much 

 pleafant converfation. He fometimes imagined 

 incidents of a poignant fimplicity, of which I 

 availed myfelf. Nay, one day, he perfuaded me 

 to change my Plan entirely. *' You mud," faid 

 he to me, ^' fuppofe a principal aftion in your 

 " Hiftory, fuch as that of a man on his travels, to 

 " improve himfelf in the knowledge of Mankind. 

 *' Out of this will fpring up incidents varied and 

 *' agreeable. Befides, it will be neceflary to op- 

 " pofe to the ftate of Nature of the Nations of 

 " Arcadia, the ftate of corruption of fome other 

 " People, in order to give relief to your pidures 

 " by means of contrails." 



T 4 This 



