$jS STUDIES OF NATURE. 



having the air of command, it is neceflary that 

 other men mould have that of fubmiffion, without 

 which he would find an enemy in every one of his 

 equals. The natural empire of Man extends only 

 to animals ; and in the wars which he wages with 

 them, or in the care which he exercifes over them, 

 he is frequently conftrained to drop his attitude 

 of emperor, and to affume that of a Have. 



Others reprefent Man as the perpetual object of* 

 vengeance to angry Heaven, and have accumu- 

 lated on his exiftence, all the miferies which can 

 Tender it odious to him. This is not painting 

 Man. He is not formed of a fimple nature, like 

 other animals, each fpecies of which invariably 

 preferves it's proper character j but of two oppo- 

 site natures, each of which is itfelf farther fubdi- 

 vided into feveral parlions, which form a contraft. 

 In virtue of one of thefe natures, he unites in him- 

 felf all the wants, and all the parlions of animals ; 

 and in virtue of the other, the ineffable fentiments 

 of the Deity. It is to this laft inftinct, much 



imprefied with the belief <fhat this epithet was introduced merely 

 to fill up the meafure of the verfe : but having remarked that, 

 early in Spring, the flioots and buds of molt trees affumed a 

 ruddy appearance, previoufly to throwing out their leaves, I 

 thence was enabled to comprehend what was the precife moment 

 of the feafon which the Poet intended to defcribe by were rubcnti. 



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