HUME. 219 



found philosophy, there can be nothing more beau- 

 tiful than some of his descriptions of personal charac- 

 ter, or of public feeling, or of manners, or of individual 

 suffering ; and, like all great masters of composition, 

 he produces his effect suddenly, and, as it were, with a 

 single blow. 



Who that has read can ever forget his account, 

 fanciful though it be, of the effects produced on the 

 people by Charles's death and his son's return? Or his 

 picture of the French Ambassador at his first audi- 

 ence of Elizabeth, after the massacre of St. Bartho- 

 lomew, proceeding " through the palace, silence, 

 as in the dead of night, reigning through all the 

 chambers, and sorrow sitting on every face the 

 courtiers and ladies clad in deep mourning, ranged on 

 each side, and allowing him to pass without affording 

 him one salute or favourable look :" Or Cromwell's 

 state of mind when " society terrified him, surrounded 

 by numerous, unknown, implacable enemies ; solitude 

 astonished him by withdrawing the protection neces- 

 sary for his security :"f Or the groups of great men 

 who subverted the monarchy, when " was celebrated 

 the sagacity of Pym, more fitted for use than orna- 

 ment ; matured, not chilled by age " when " was 

 displayed the mighty ambition of Hampden, taught 

 disguise, not moderation, from former constraint ; sus- 

 tained by courage, conducted by prudence, embellished 

 by modesty" when "were known the dark, ardent, 

 and dangerous character of St. John, the impetuous 

 spirit of Hollis, violent, open, and entire in his enmities 



* Chap. xl. t Cha P- lxii - 



