274 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



of the countenance, fuch as penitence, hope, joy^ 

 fenfibility, innocence. Thefe are the peculiarities 

 of Nature, which never vary, and which always 

 pleafe, whatever be the drapery. Nay, the more 

 contemptible that the occupations and the garb of 

 fuch perfonages are, the more fublime will appear 

 the expreffion of charity, of humanity, of inno- 

 cence, and of all their virtues. A young and beau- 

 tiful female, labouring like Penelope at her web, 

 and modeftly dreffed in a Grecian robe, with long 

 plaitSj would there, no doubt, prefent an objed 

 pleafmg to every one : but I fliould think her a 

 thoufand times more interefling than the figure of 

 Penelope herfelf, employed in the fame labour, un- 

 der the tatters of misfortune and mifery. 



There fhould be on thofe tombs, no ikeletons, 

 no bats-wings, no Time with his fcythe, no one 

 of thofe terrifying attributes, with which our 11a- 

 vifli education endeavours to infpire us with hor- 

 ror at the thought of death, that laft benefit of 

 Nature; but we fhould contemplate on them 

 fymbols, which announce a happy and immortal 

 life; veflels, fhattered by the tempeft, arriving ûfe 

 in port ; doves taking their flight toward Heaven, 

 and the like. 



The facred effigies of virtuous citizens, crowned 

 with flowers, with the characters of felicity, of 



peace, 



