THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 27 



Thus, Joy fills itfelf with the good things of this life; Fear efcapes from danger 

 by flight ; Anger defends itfelf by refinance ; and Grief mourns for the lofes and mi. 

 feries which are incident to this mortal ftate. 



The policy of Nature is equally manifefted in all its kingdoms t For, as nations are 

 not created for the fake of their rulers, but as governors are appointed to watch over 

 the interests of the governed, fo herbivorous animals are created for fubjecting vege- 

 tables under proper reftriction, and carnivorous for preventing the exuberance of thofe 

 animals that live on vegetables ; and of thefe laft the greater keep the leffer within 

 proper bounds. Man, in his character of an animal, is intended for preferving order 

 over all, but chiefly on his own account ; excited by a favage inftinct, he exercifes 

 tyrannic rule, that jufl proportions may be perpetually preferved among the members, of 

 the natural commonwealth. " Many individuals, in their turn, among the citizens of 

 " this great republic, vainly confpire againft the majefty of rational Man, their ap- 

 " pointed chief magiftrate, whofe great employment is to acknowledge the high Au- 

 " thor of the whole *." As water collects from multitudes of fmall fprings, through 

 enlarging rivulets, ftreams, and rivers, to flow into the immenfe ocean, fo the com- 

 monwealth of Nature, beginning from the vaftly numerous plebeian rank of animals, 

 afcends, through lefs numerous patricians, and by a fcanty nobility, to Man, the em- 

 peror and ruler of the whole ; while even the fmalleft animals, which, by their infinite 

 number, poffefs vail power and energy, contribute to the wellfare of the larger ; and 

 the lefs active give place to fuch as are more excellent: Thus Nature is never greater 

 than when it feems compofed infinitely of little things. The agents of this natural 

 police, each appropriated to its proper department, are equally numerous with the fpe- 

 cies of animals ; all being prompted to the proper difcharge of their duty,, becaufe 

 their own prefervation depends on that being accurately fulfilled, that nothing may be 

 neglected, and nothing done in vain. And, left any one fhould encroach on the pro- 

 vince of another, and thereby deprive his neighbour of the reward appointed to his 

 actions, the Law of Poifon is eftablifhed, under the pain of capital puniftiment, and re- 

 corded even in the animal fenfes, chiefly thofe of tafte and fmell, left tranfgrtflbrs, by 

 pleading ignorance, fhould efcape. 



The principal occupations of the inhabitants of Nature are : — To multiply their fpe- 

 cies, that every thing may remain in juft quantity and proportion : — To preferve equi- 

 librium among the fpecies of animals and vegetables, that a juft proportion may for 

 ever be continued; this end is accomplifhed in various ways ; ift, by annually cutting 



D 2 down 



* Amoen. Acad. vi. 17. 



