15 
such as that to which he is thought to allude, did exist in the 
southern hemisphere. I imagine Dante intended these stars as al- 
legorical representations of the cardinal virtues ; and this opinion, 
which is that of several commentators, is rendered the more pro- 
bable from his introducing elsewhere four such personages, who 
say they are stars in one place and nymphs in another.—See Cant. 
31. 105. Besides, these four stars are made to shed their light upon 
the head of Cato, and to give a divine brilliancy to his counte- 
nance. 
Li raggi delle quatro luci sante 
Fregiavan si la sua faccia di lume.—Ip. 37, 38. 
I trust what I have adduced may furnish a conclusive answer 
to Collins, in the minds of those, who, like myself, have lamented 
the inefficiency of the arguments I have quoted in the commence- 
ment of this paper. The present times are distinguished by the 
revival of exploded objections against our most holy faith; and 
surely that is no unprofitable study, which leads us to confute 
them with arguments drawn from the stores of ancient literature ; 
and proves, that, to whatever test we expose Divine Reyelaticn, 
it will ever come forth as gold tried in the furnace. 
Dublin, January 4th, 1821. 
