Chap.VlII. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 21X 



people, which they are very anxious to prefervc, more anxious 

 than to deftroy their enemies. And, as to the torments by which 

 they put them to death, Monfieur Roubaud told inc, that 

 we are in a miftake if we afcribe this to impotence of paffion, 

 cruelty, and revenge ; for it is among them the eflect of policy; 

 and they reafon in this manner : War, fay they, is the gieateft evil 

 that can befal men, and fhould be prevented by all means poffible j 

 therefore, in order to deter our neighbours from attacking us un- 

 juftly, v/e make them fuffer the greatefi: torments when they be- 

 come our prifoners in war. And I cannot help faying, I fo far ap- 

 prove of this reafoning, that, I think, what we call the humanity 

 of modern war in Europe, has made war very much more frequent 

 than in antient times ; and we are much readier to take up the 

 hatchet^ (to ufe the Indian phrafe), and do it with much lefs deli- 

 beration, than the Indians do ; neither do we let it lie fo long Z'/^- 

 ried as they do. 



As to the gluttony with which they are charged, it does not pro- 

 ceed from what we call fenfuality or intemperance, but from con- 

 ftraint of appetite, and the real neceflity they are under, of fillino- 

 their bellies when they have an opportunity, in order to be able to 

 fupport the long fafts which their manner of living expofes them 

 to ; and we might as well accufe of intemperance an eagle or a 

 fox, or any other bird or beaft of prey, when he makes a voracious 

 meal of any game which he happens to catch. The intemperate 

 man is he who makes his plcaiure confifl; in eating, and, for that 

 purpofe, is at pains to provoke appetite, and to procure the mofl 

 delicate things to fatisfy it j but he is neither a glutton nor an epi- 

 cure, who eats only to fatisfy prefent appetite and to provide fur 

 future want. 



D d 2. The 



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