OLYMPIC DIALOGUE. d|l 



of which they are at laft become weary, like a child 

 that is tired of a toy, for a new one ; with which how- 

 ever they generally fare worfe than with the former, 

 For this time it really has a look as if they would gain 

 by the exchange : but I know them too well, not to 

 forefee that they are not to be helped in this method. 

 For, if Wifdom herfelf were to defcend in perfon to 

 them, and live vifibly among them, they would not 

 ceafe from decking her out in rags and patches, and 

 feathers and bells, till they had made a fool of her. 

 Believe me, deities, the fongs of triumph they are at 

 this moment vociferating on account of the glorious 

 victory they have gained over our defencelefs Itatues is 

 an ill-omened fcream for pofterity. They think to 

 better themfelves, and get out of the rain by Handing 

 under the fpout. They are tired of us ; they will have 

 nothing more to do with us ? So much the worfe for 

 them! We want nothing of them. — If their priells 

 declare us to be unclean and evil fpirits, and the firnple 

 people are made to believe that our dwelling-place is 

 an ever-burning pool of brimfrone : what is that to me 

 or you ? How can it concern us what notions ha! f-^ * 

 reafoning terrefixia! animals entertain of us, or what 

 relation they chufe to give themfelves towards us, and 

 whether they fumigate as with a difgufling compound 

 of afTa fcetida and frankincenfe, or with infernal ful- 

 phur ? Neither the one nor the other comes up to us- 

 — They miftake us, you fay, in endeavouring to with- 

 draw themfelves from our fupremacy : did they know 

 us any better while they ferved us ? What the poor 

 people called their religion is their bufinefs, not bur s. 

 They alone have either to gain or to lofe by it, if they 

 vol, it. r conduct 



