ON THE RIGHTS OF BEASTS. I3I 



either law or cuftom, in fuch cafes, is futile ; 

 neither of them being obligatory, when in op- 

 pofition to the principle of juftice. The per- 

 petrators of injuftice and cruelty againft men, 

 are no longer fafe, than they can hold the fword 

 fall in their own hands ; the inftant it falls (and 

 they hold it by a mod precarious tenure) the 

 point turns towards themfelves, and they meet 

 their reward — but are we bafe enough to heap 

 act.s of cruelty upon brutes, becaufe we know 

 they are helplefs, and cannot retaliate ? 



It will be eafily perceived, that I am decrying 

 a voluntary departure from principles ; a legiti- 

 mate necelhty, and fuch can never be miftaken, 

 forming no part of the queftion. If cruelty be 

 allowable in any cafe towards brutes, it alfo in- 

 volves human creatures ; the gradation is much 

 eafier than may be imagined, and the example 

 contagious. We know that Hierophilus dif- 

 fered men alive. What heart fo hard, as not 

 to melt at the recital of that tremendous act. of 

 cruelty, perpetrated by the mercilefs fiend 

 Parrhafius ? — " When Philip of Macedon had 

 taken Olynthus, and had configned the inhabi- 

 tants to flavery, Parrhafius, the Athenian painter, 

 who had refided in the Macedonian camp, walk- 

 ing among the ruins of the place, was ftruck with 

 the exquifite expreflion of forrow which ago- 

 nized the features of an old captive, a man of 

 fome rank, whofe children had juft been torn 



k 2 from 



