16 SALMONIA. [FIRST DAr. 



summons. Pliny has, as well as I recollect, compared 

 a river to human life. I have never read the passage 

 in his works, but I have been a hundred times struck 

 with the analogy, particularly amidst mountain scenery. 

 The river, small and clear in its origin, gushes forth 

 from rocks, falls into deep glens, and wantons and 

 meanders through a wild and picturesque country, 

 nourishing only the uncultivated tree or flower by its 

 dew or spray. In this, its state of infancy and youth, 

 it may be compared to the human mind in which fancy 

 and strength of imagination are predominant ; it is 

 more beautiful than useful. AVhen the different rills 

 or torrents join, and descend into the plain, it becomes 

 slow and stately in its motions ; it is applied to move 

 machinery, to irrigate meadows, and to bear upon its 

 bosom the stately barge ; in this mature state, it is 

 deep, strong, and useful. As it flows on towards the 

 sea, it loses its force and its motion, and at last, as it 

 were, becomes lost, and mingled with the mighty 

 abyss of waters. 



HAL. One might pursue the metaphor still further, 

 and say, that in its origin its thundering and foam, 

 when it carries down clay from the bank, and becomes 

 impure, it resembles the youthful mind, affected by 

 dangerous passions. And the influence of a lake, in 

 calming and clearing the turbid water, may be com- 

 pared to the effect of reason in more mature life, when 



