364 ©LYMPIC DIALOGUE. 



The unknown^] Thou fpeakeft as I might have ex- 

 pelled. 



Jupiter .] It feems fcandalous to thee to hear me 

 talk in this manner ; does it not ? — Thou haft con- 

 ceived a grand and beneficent plan for the benefit of 

 mortals; thou burneft with eagernefs to put it in execu- 

 tion ; thy whole heart and foul are in it ; thy far-feeing 

 eye beholds all the advantages while it overlooks all the 

 difficulties of the undertaking ; thou haft made, as it 

 were, thy whole exiftence to depend upon it : How 

 ihouldft thou ever dream that it may not fucceed? 

 but — thou haft to do with mankind, my dear friend ! 

 Do not take it amifs of me if I tell thee plainly what I 

 think of it ; it is a prerogative of age and experience. 

 Thou feemeft to me like a tragic poet, who mould de- 

 fign to reprefent an excellent piece by a company of 

 a6lors made up of cripples and dwarfs, of limping and 

 crooked perfons. Befides, my friend, thou art not the 

 firft who has attempted to accomplifh fomething great 

 with mankind ; but I tell thee, that, fo long as they 

 are what they are, nothing will come of fuch attempts. 



The unknown.'] For that very reafon new mm muft 

 be made of them. 



Jupiter^] New men ! — [laughing] That is excel- 

 lent ! If thou canft do that I — Yet I think I under- 

 ftand thee. Thouwouldft re-compofe them, give them 

 a new and better form — the model is at hand — thou 

 haft only to frame them after thyfelf However this is 

 not fo foon done as faid. Nature has furnifhed thee 

 the clay for thy new creation, and that thou muft take 

 as it is. Mind; my words, good fir ! After taking all 



poffible. 



