THE RURAL SOCRATES. 131 



{"libfiftence ; and in fliort, by the ruin both of body and 

 of mind. Herepreienls on the other hand, how their own 

 iiabits of labor render thcni happy j and how precious 

 ;3 a quiet conrcience.—-Far from mixing anything dif- 

 agreeable in his inftrnctions, he accompanies the whole 

 v/ith an amiable gaiety ; which wins every one who hears 

 him ; and convinces them, that he fpeaks of the happi- 

 nefs of a virtuous hufbaiKiman from his own experi- 

 ence. 



On the working days of this happy family, Kliyogg 

 puts himfelf at their head to go into the fields at day- 

 break, after having prayed ; for they always coaimencc 

 the day with this pious exercife ; though they are not 

 conih ained to it, any more than to their work ; Kli* 

 yogg maintaining that no ad ought to be more voh.inta- 

 ry than that of prayer. " When we know God, he 

 *' fays, we cannot help loving him ; and when we love 

 '' him and regard him as the fource of every good, we 

 *' ought to feel a high fatisfaclion in occupying our- 

 '' felves with the idea of him, and in fpeaking to him, 

 ^' and in imploring his benedictions ; but not thofeben- 

 ^^ ediflions which leave nothing on our fide to be done, 

 " Whoever (iie affirms) prays with fuch views, knovvS 

 • not the Supreme Being ; whofc defign it is, that we 

 '^ fliould gain our bread v;ith the fweat of our brov/ ; 

 '' and who confequently renders the -earth fertile only 

 ^' in proportion to thepains we take in cultivating it." — 

 When they are come to the place Vv'here they are to 

 work, every one applies himfelf to his part without in- 

 terruption, till the hours fixed for refting themfelves j 

 when they are refreQied with wholefome food. Noth- 

 ing is fpared upon this occafion ; every one from the 

 mafler to the loweft fervant, eating according to his ap- 

 petite ; for it is a rnaxim with Kliyogg, that the food of 

 the man who works, mufl: not be weighed. At the end 

 of their concluding repafl, every one yields to a reflor- 

 ing and tranquil fleep ; fuch as never is vi^anting when 

 the body is fatigued, and the mind unopprefTed with 



rorroding 



