Chap. III. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 309 



carried off by the wind or the air. Now this makes fuch a difference 

 in the way of living of thefe two animals, that man, who can live 

 for any number of years in fo unnatural a way, muft have a 

 ftrength of conftitution very much fuperior to the brute. 



As to the brutes, who live in the natural ftate and not under the 

 dominion of men, they are not I believe liable to any difeafes, not 

 even to thofe peftllcntial difeafes which we call Plagues, that deftroy 

 fo many men. Under the reign of Juftinian the Emperor there 

 were fo many plagues, that it was faid they deftroyed one half of 

 the human fpecies in the countries where they raged; yet we do not 

 hear of any of the brutes dying of them*. It is evident therefore 

 that the brutes, which are in the natural ftate, enjoy that greateft 

 blefling of our life in this world and the foundation of every other, 

 1 mean health, much more than we do. 



As to the pleafures of fenfe, fuch as eating, drinking, and coition, 

 the brutes in the natural ftate enjoy them more than we do, becaufe 

 they enjoy them in a more natural way. Nor do they want the plea- 

 fures of the mind : For they have great pleafure in nurfmg and rear- 

 ing their off*spring ; and the herding animals, befides the delight 

 they have in living with their herds, have certain attachments to 

 particular animals, which give them a great deal of pleafure. The 

 dog, befides the natural attachment he has to his own fpecies, has 

 an attachment to man, fuch as is not to be found betwixt any 

 other animals of fpeciefes fo different as thofe of man and dog : And 

 he is moft ufeful to us ; for he is the guardian of our houfe, and of 

 our flocks and herds : And he may be called our companion ; 

 nor do I think it is improperly faid by Homer, " that Telemachus 

 " was not alone ; for he had two dogs with him f.'* 



It 

 * See Vol. III. of this work, p. 185, &c. 



I OdvfT. II. V. II. 



