o STUDIES OF KATURE, 



cepiible of it ; and this, not by a fecret retrofpect 

 to himlcif, as (ome enemies of the Human Race 

 have pretended : for, were that the cafe, on ftaiing 

 a comparifon beiween a child and an old man, 

 both of them unfortunate, we ought to be move 

 aiFeCied by the mifery of the old man, confidering 

 that we are removing from the wretch.cdneis oi 

 chik'iiood, and drawins; nearer to thole ot old- 

 age : the contrary, however, takes place, in virtue 

 of the moral fcntiment which I have alleged. 



When an old man is virtuous, the moral Icnti- 

 ment of his diftrefs is excited in us with redoubled 

 force ; this is an evident proof, that pity in Man 

 is by no means an animal affedion. The fight of 

 a Belifariiis is, accordingly, a moft affecling objeCl. 

 If you heighten it by the introducftion of a child 

 holding out his little hand to receive the alms be- 

 flowcd on that illullrious blind beggar, the imprefT 

 fion of pity is ftill more powerful. But let me put 

 a fcntlmental cafe. Suppofe you had fallen in 

 with Belifarius foliciting charity, on the one hand, 

 and on the other, an orphan child, blind and 

 VvTetched, and that you had but one crown, with- 

 out the podibiiity of dividing it, to which of the 

 two would you have given it } 



If on reflection you (ind, that the eminent fer- 

 vlces rendered by Belifarius to his iingraieful Coun- 

 try, 



