84 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



of his own excellence, by infpiring liim with the 

 contempt of terreftrial and tranfient enjoyments, 

 and with a defire after things celeftial and immor- 

 tal. It was this fublime atiradion which exalted 

 courage to the rank of a virtue, and which made 

 Man advance intrepidly to meet death, amidft fo 

 many anxieties to preferve life. Gallant d'JJfas, 

 what had you to hope for on the Earth, when you 

 poured out your blood in the night, without a 

 witnefs, in the plains of Klofterkam, for the falva- 

 tion of the French army ? And you, generous 

 E'i/ince de St. Pierre^ what recompence did you ex- 

 peft from your Country, when you appeared be- 

 fore her tyrants, with the halter about your neck, 

 ready to meet an infamous death, in fiving your 

 fellow-citizens ? Of what avail, to your infenfible 

 afhes, were the ftatues and the elogiums which 

 pofterity was one day to confecrate to your me- 

 mory ? Could you fo much as hope for this re- 

 ward, in return for facrifices either unknown, or 

 loaded with opprobrioufnefs ? Could you be fiat- 

 tered, in ages to come, with the empty homage of 

 a world feparated from you by eternal barriers } 

 And you, more glorious (till in the fight of God, 

 obfcure citizens, vvho fink inglorioufiy into the 

 grave; you, whofe virtues draw down upon your 

 heads (hame, calumny, perfecution, poverty, con- 

 tempt, even on the part of thofe who difpenfe the 



honour^ 



