418 UNIVERSAL ERUDITION; 



falfe fublime, have abandoned the project of 

 continual foaring among the clouds, have been 

 content to remain upon the earth, and there imi- 

 tate the operations of nature. 



VI. The ancient inhabitants of the eaft, and 

 the Egyptians, were moreover accuftomed to 

 exprefs themfelves by hieroglyphics, and by all 

 kinds of images. It was a national tafte of which 

 their ftyle partook, as well in profe as verfe. 

 The pfalms of David, and the writings of the 

 prophets are full of thefe images. It would per- 

 haps be dangerous, and even injudicious to imi- 

 tate them. Now, if this enthufiafm was the ef- 

 fect of the climate, the modern inhabitants of 

 thofe countries ought to be pofiefTed of it. But 

 experience proves the reverie. The Orientals of 

 our days are cold and phlegmatic, and have prc- 

 ferved nothing of the ancient warmth, but the 

 fafluous titles of their monarchs. The ancient 

 Greeks were notable babblers, the modern are re- 

 markable for taciturnity. The ancient Romans 

 were grave and thoughtful, warriors, politicians, 

 philofophers j the modern inhabitants of Rome, 

 and of Italy, in general, are lively and fplendid, 

 great and florid talkers, but weak in war, fubtle, 

 refined, induftrious : characters totally oppofite. 

 Have thefe climates changed ? 



VII. The epochs fatal to the arts and fciences 

 arife from four principal caufes. The firit is 

 war. A people that are continually in arms, and 



for 



