VOLTAIRE. 45 



But here it would be unjust to forget that the 

 same genius which underwent this unworthy pro- 

 stitution, was also enlisted by its versatile possessor in 

 the service of virtue and of moral truth. There may 

 be some doubt if his moral essays, the ' Discours sur 

 1'Homme/ may not be placed at the head of his serious 

 poetry none whatever that it is a performance of the 

 highest merit. As the subject is didactic, his talents, 

 turned towards grave reasoning and moral painting, 

 adapted rather to satisfy the understanding than to 

 touch the heart, and addressing themselves more to 

 the learned and polite than to the bulk of mankind, 

 occupied here their appointed province, and had their 

 full scope. Pope's moral essays gave the first hint of 

 these beautiful compositions ; but there is nothing 

 borrowed in them from that great moral poet, and 

 there is no inferiority in the execution of the plan. A 

 strict regard to modesty, with the exception of a line 

 or two, reigns throughout, and the object is to incul- 

 cate the purest principles of humanity, of tolerance, 

 and of virtue. None but a Romanist bigot could ever 

 have discovered the lurking attack upon religion in the 

 noble verses against substituting vain ceremonies for good 

 works, and attempting to honour the Deity by ascetic 

 abstinence from the enjoyments which he has kindly 

 provided for our happiness. Nay, the finest panegyric 

 on the ministry of Christ is to be found mingled with 

 the same just reprehensions of those who pervert and 

 degrade his doctrines (Disc, vii.), and even the optimism 

 of which in his other works he has ridiculed the 

 extravagant doctrines, is here preached with a pious 

 approval of its moderate and rational faith, (Disc. iii. v.) 



