THE RURAt SOCRATES. 17 x 



ry kind of pencil ? — I nothing blame then the painter ; 

 and as little the hiitorian. Few can more highly ci- 

 teem the talents and merits of the Istter than myielf ; 

 and afTuredly none have read liis book with mere plea- 

 fure. I may even add, that it will be difficult for any 

 to feci more profoundly the truth of his defcriptions: 

 And yet I mull alfo add that in my eyes the original 

 is above the copy ; or rather a copy of fach an origi- 

 nal is impoflible. I mufl at tlis lame time confefs, 

 that Mr. Hirzel has defircd to be an kijlorian^ a-dd by 

 no 77icans a panegyrljl, — if on my fide, I endeavor to 

 make a like fketch, 1 perceive tlie fame traits, the 

 fame exprefliocs occurring io myfelf ; as to this 

 relpe(ri:3blc biographer ; — and nevcrtkelcrs I venture 

 upon tlie fame attempt. 



* I never found my-felfnear Kliyogg, without hsving 

 his prefence, \m efj'ergy, produc-irig in me a kind of 

 fentiment, fuch as my heart never experienced at the 

 fight cf any other man. It was not a fentiment which 

 partook of the wai-mth of enthufiafm : it v/ss as if a 

 faint image cf/V'/ii'^/ man fought to acquire life and dif- 

 tinctnefs in my bofom. I felt gently riling there an 

 emotion i'o fingle, fo delicate, ^^o difficult to be ^xpref- 

 fed, that it v^as neither refpec>, nor tenderncfs, noi' 

 even friendlhip : it was a (oft expanfiori of the foal ; 

 incorrupt human nature which penetrated me deli- 

 cionfly with its prefence. 



* The true model of man, in all its fimple unity — * 

 before me. The totality of man the cultivator ; the 

 totality of the cultivator; of man difcngagcd froni 

 cares, conilraints, and fubiervience to a plan, A light 

 without dazzling ; a v/armth without effervclccncc ^ 

 a full fentiment of what he is, without any prcfump- 

 tuous egotifm ; a confidence in himfelf which is en^ 

 l\r^^ but without pride. An inteile<fi: in no degree 

 brilliant, in no degree inquifilivc : but fo found, io 

 inaceeflible to the corrupting breath of prejudice, ^o 

 f<rm -jain^ fedu'filonj ihat no -gbyrinth c?.n miliead it, 



^For 



