3&Q OLYMPIC DIALOGUE. 



The unknown^] Not piecemeal, not what it is in lingle 

 places and periods, not as it Hands in relation to this 

 or that thing, not as it lofes or gains by being immerfed 

 in the cloudy atmofphere of human opinions and paf- 

 lions, not as it is infected by folly or by corruption qf 

 heart : but as it relates to the whole in its beginning, 

 progrefs and termination, in its own inherent impetus, 

 In all its forms, movements, effects, and confequences ; 

 that is, how much it contributes to the eternal growth 

 pf its perfection. 



Jupiter .] This is pleafant enough ! 

 Numa.'j And how, from this point of view, doft 

 thou difcover the fubject on which we two were con- 

 verting on thy coming up to us ? the grand cataftrophe 

 which in thefe days has overthrown, without defer- 

 ence or diftinction ? whatever has been for fo many ages 

 held as venerable and facred among mankind ? 



The unknown^ It neceffarily follows, as having been 

 long ago prepared ; and at laft there is no more want- 

 ing, as thou knowefl, but one additional guft of wind for 

 completely overthrowing an old, crazy, ill-conflruclied 

 building, and laifed withal upon a fandy foundation. 



Ntima^] But it was fuch a handfome edifice ! fo 

 venerable from its antiquity, fo limple with the greatefl 

 diveriifications, fo beneficent from the fhelter which 

 humanity, the laws, ' the fecurity of governments for 

 fuch a long feries of time had found beneath its lofty 

 roofs ! W ould it not have been more advifeable to repair 

 than to demolifh it ? Our philofophers at Alexandria 

 ... had drawn fuch elegant plans, not only to refiore it to 

 its former dignity, but even to endow it with far 

 greater fplendor, and efpecially to give it a fymmetry, 

 beauty, and convenience which it never had before ! 



It 



