OLYMPIC DIALOGUE, 365 



poffible pains with thy pottery, when it comes out of 

 the oven, it will be to thy difgrace. 



"The unknown^] The clay (to proceed with thy me- 

 taphor) is in itfelf not fo bad as thou imagineft; it 

 may be purified and rendered as pliant as I want it for 

 the composition of new and better men. 



Jupiter.] I am glad to hear it ! Haft thou ever 

 made the trial ? 



The unknown.'] Doubtlefs. 



Jupiter.] I mean — in the grofs ? For, that, of 

 a thoufand pieces, one may fucceed, is nothing to the 

 purpofe. 



Tbe unknown, after fome hejitation.] If the experi- 

 ment in the grofs does not fucceed to my mind ; yet, 

 at leaft, I know why it could not happen ctherwife. 

 It will do better in time. 



Jupiter.] In timer' — Yes; one is always apt to 

 hope the beft from time ! Who, without this hope, 

 would attempt any thing great ? We mall fee how far 

 time will correfpond with thy expectations. For the 

 next thoufand years I can promife thee little good. 



The unknown.] I fee thou meafureft with a fhort 

 rule, old king of Crete i What are a thoufand years 

 to the period requifite to the completion of the great 

 work of making the whole human race into one fok 

 family of good and happy bqings ? 



Jupiter.] Why, that is true ! How many thotl- 

 fands of years have the hermetic philofophers already 

 been labouring at their ftone, without having brought 

 it to efFecl And what is the work of the wife mailers 

 in comparifon with thine ? 



Tbe 



