10 the solitudes. Sept, 25% 
THE SOLITUDES. 
Continued jrom p.72 and concluded. 
Createp for sorrow and tears, we wander here below 
in the midst of fhades, in a night without stars, It is 
beyond the tomb that day lightens. To what givest thou 
the name of pleasure, unhappy mortal? Observe narrow- 
ly the dazzling scenes of life,—thou wilt only see a cloth 
on which error has thrown colours without brightnefs : 
the fool adwnires it, the sage considers it with indifference ; 
sometimes it amuses him but it never deceivés him... . 
Fut does not humanity offer more eminent pleasures ? are 
they all like those of the frivolous young man, or of the 
prince without merit. No, sweet pleasures, confidents.of 
virtue, follow the steps of the retired sage, who, too great 
for the confusion of the earth, pafses his days in the bot- 
tom of a peaceful valley, far from the tumult of cities, in 
the arms of a tender wife. Transported with joy, when 
the morning animates the meadows, he slowly traverses 
the smiling groves: animated with a secret gaity, he 
contemplates the flowers, which seem to smile upon him : 
insensibly the objects around lead him to the throne of 
the Creator. In his religious and profound contemplati- 
on, his soul darts beyond this criminal globe. His af- 
fectionate spouse presents herself before him; they em- 
brac: tenderly ; tears of joy run down their glowing 
cheeks. The invisible argvls who surround them, see 
with a celestial joy that God has permitted man to taste 
a felicity almost equal to their own. . »-.+In the 
evening, when a copious dew has moistened the fields, he 
again wanders out into the valiey, his eyes raised to the 
