36 



call Cassius, who had stained his hands in the blood of 

 an usurper, the last of the Romans. This spirit dictated 

 the lofty declamation of Lucan, and the indignant and 

 hi.h-minded invectives of Persius and Juvenal And, final- 

 IV this spirit produced repeated struggles for treedom; 

 and those conspiracies, under which some of the Roman 

 oppressors of the groaning world sunk. The mmd there- 

 fore, as yet, retained its energy unimpaired: but the de- 

 terioration of genius, and declension of the arts, under the 

 baleful influence of tyranny, was very rapid 



Let us proceed to the splendid age of Lewis XIV., 

 when " pensioned Boikau lashed, in honest strain, flatterers 

 " atid bigots;" and 



" Late CorneiUe, with Lucan's spirit fir'd, 



« Breath'd the free strain, as Rome and he inspir d. 



The ruling passion of this king was vanity. His vanity, 

 however, was connected with a generous and exalted na- 

 ture, and a good understanding; which directed him to 

 place its gratification in noble and subhme objects, and 

 works of magnificence. He signalized his reign, not only by 

 military trophies and conquests, but also by the sp endor 

 of genius, and the embellishments of those liberal arts, 

 which adorn an age and country with their moi^ments, 

 and are able to make luxury appear a virtue. He gave 

 the utmost encouragement to manufactures, arts, poetry, 

 painting, philosopl^y, architecture, sculpture and music. 



