FLORAL CUSTOMS, SUPERSTITIONS, AND HISTORIES. 235 



evil, so wisdom is the greatest good. "Wisdom is the exalted reason 

 which God has given man to guide him through the dark, uncertain 

 paths of life. The man who is guided by that pure celestial light is 

 just and true, he will be frugal and temperate, because he knows that 

 excess of pleasure is followed by loss of health, reputation and 

 fortune : he possesses true fortitude of heart, because he sees the 

 extent of danger, and knows the necessity of braving it. He thence 

 concluded that all virtue is wisdom and truth, and must be extended 

 by the exercise of benevolence ; and vice is the error which must 

 produce all evils. Confident in his doctrines, Socrates conceived the 

 noble desire of dissipating, if not too late, the looming clouds of 

 error and prejudice, by which the human race were degraded, and of 

 instructing men in their duties ; and of leading them on to virtue and 

 truth. To this glorious ministry he devoted every moment of his' 

 life, and discharged it with a zealous enthusiasm, and a love of his 

 fellow-men. He sought to converse with them in squares and public 

 walks, and instructed them in their true interests, and they learned 

 with surprise, that happiness consists in being good parents, fond 

 husbands, and virtuous citizens ; and by the language of reason and 

 friendship he sought to lead them to virtue and happiness. He taught 

 that the fewer our wants, the nearer we approach to the Divine nature, 

 that idleness degrades, not labour ; that the glory of the sage consists 

 in his being righteous, without affecting to appear so. That it is 

 better to die with honour, than to live in ignominy, and to conchide 

 with one of those startling truths on which he insisted, — that it is 

 the greatest of deceptions to pretend to govern and conduct men, 

 without possessing the requisite abilities. And after teaching this, 

 he declared that he knew nothing. 



Socrates was attended by a number of illustrious pupils, whom he 

 instructed by his exemplary life and doctrines. He spoke with free- 

 dom on every subject, religious as well as civil; and this independence 

 of spirit, and visible superiority of mind, created him many enemies ; 

 but, as his character was irreproachable, the voice of malevolence was 

 silent. Yet, Aristophanes undertook, at the instigation of Melitus — 

 a frigid poet, destitute of ability, and who would have been forgotten 

 long since but for his villany — to ridicule the venerable character of 

 Socrates upon the stage ; and, when once the way was open to calumny 

 and defamation, the fickle populace paid no reverence to the philo- 

 sopher whom they had before regarded with the most profound respect. 



