Ch. ii. Of Systems of Equality . Godwin. 27 



ful fabric of the imagination vanishes at the severe 

 touch of truth. The spirit of benevolence, che- 

 rished and invigorated by plenty, is repressed by 

 the chilling breath of want. The hateful passions 

 that had vanished re-appear. The mighty law. of 

 self-preservation expels all the softer and more 

 exalted emotions of the soul. The temptations to 

 evil are too strong for human nature to resist. 

 The corn is plucked up before it is ripe, or se- 

 creted in unfair proportions; and the whole black 

 train of vices that belong to falsehood are imme- 

 diately generated. Provisions no longer flow in 

 for the support of a mother with a large family. 

 The children are sickly from insufficient food. 

 The rosy flush of health gives place to the pallid 

 cheek and hollow eye of misery. Benevolence, 

 yet lingering in a few bosoms, makes some faint 

 expiring struggles, till at length self-love resumes 

 his wonted empire, and lords it triumphant over 

 the world. 



No human institutions here existed, to the per- 

 verseness of which Mr. Godwin ascribes the ori- 

 ginal sin of the worst men.* ]No opposition had 

 been produced by them between public and pri- 

 vate good. No monopoly had been created of 

 those advantages which reason directs to be left 

 in common. No man had been goaded to the 

 breach of order by unjust laws. Benevolence had 

 established her reign in all hearts. And yet in 

 so short a period as fifty years, violence, op- 



* Polit. Justice, b. viii. c. iii. p. 340. 



