STUDY XIII. 251 



OF AN ELYSIUM. 



The hereditary tranfmifTion of nobility is fub^ 

 je(5t to a farther inconveniency ; namely this. 

 Here is a man, who fets out with the virtues of a 

 Marius, and finiQies the career, loaded with all his 

 vices. I am going to propofe a mode of diftin- 

 guifhing fuperior worth, which (hall not be liable 

 lo the dangers of inheritance, and of human in- 

 conftancy : it is to with-hold the rewards of virtue 

 till after death. 



Death affixes the laft feal to the memor}'^ of 

 Man. It is well known of what weight the deci- 

 fions were, which the Egyptians pronounced upon 

 their citizens, after life was terminated. Then, 

 too, it was, that the Romans fometimes exalted 

 theirs to the rank of demi-gods, and fometimes 

 threw them into the Tiber. The People, in de- 

 fault of priefts and magiftrates, ftill exercifes, 

 among us, a part of this priefthood. I have oftener 

 than once flood ftill, of an evening, at fight of a 

 magnificent funeral proceffion, not fo much to ad- 

 mire the pomp of it, as to llften to the judgment 

 pronounced by the populace on the high and puif- 

 fant Prince, whofe obfequies were celebrating. I 

 have frequently heard the queftion afked. Was he 



a good 



