396 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



pire, letters were no longer cultivated, except by 

 a few enfranchifed Greeks. Suffer the herd to run 

 at the heels of the rich and the voluptuous. What 

 do you propofe to yourfelves in the facred career 

 of letters, except to march on, under the protec- 

 tion of Minerva ? What refpeft would the World 

 fhew you, were you not covered by her immortal 

 Egis ? It w^ould trample you under foot. Suffer 

 it to be deceived by thofe who are mean enough 

 to be it's worfliippers ; repofe your confidence in 

 Heaven, whofe fupport will fearch and find you 

 out wherever you may be. 



The vine, one day, complained to Heaven, 

 with tears, of the feverity of her deftiny. She en- 

 vied the condition of the reed. *' I am planted," 

 faid fhe, " amidll parched rocks, and am obhged 

 *' to produce fruits repleniflied with juice; whereas, 

 *' in the bottom of that valley, the reed, which 

 ** bears nothing but a dry (hag, grows at her 

 " eafe by the brink of the waters." A voice 

 from Heaven replied ; " Complain not, O vine 1 

 " at thy lot. Autumn is coming on, when the 

 *' reed will perifli, without honour, on the border 

 *' of the marfhes ; but the rain of the ikies will go 

 *' in quett of thee in the mountain, and thy juices, 

 " matured on the rock, fhall one day ferve to 

 *' cheer the heart of God and Man." 



We 



