EXCURSION TO THE REALMS BELOW, 8l 



/, Might! The firft king, even though he were 

 king of but two hundred, or even only of twenty men, 

 could not have made himfelf king by might. 



Menipp. And accordingly I allow that the firft king 

 tvas a very good king. 



/. I am of the fame opinion. Therefore I faid be- 

 fore, that .nature herfelf made certain men kings. The 

 firft king of any one nation in the world, was certainly 

 one whom nature had made for that office. He was 

 the ftrongeft, the bolder!, the moll enterpriiing and 

 refolute of all the reft ; he fet himfelf up as their leader 

 becaufe he felt himfelf qualified for it ; and the others 

 followed him, becaufe they felt themfelves in want of 

 fuch a leader. 



Menipp. He did not fet himfelf up, but they elected 

 him. 



/. What need of election ? Wherever thou feeft 

 a parcel of wild boys together, thou wait always per- 

 ceive one who is followed by all the others ; not be- 

 caufe they have elected him to the fupreme command, 

 but becaufe. he will and can obtain it. The ftrongeft, 

 the clevereft, the moft daring, is ever at the top of all 

 their undertakings. They follow him, becaufe they 

 acknowledge him to be fo, and they acknowledge him 

 to be fo becaufe they have found him fo by experience* 

 Amongft beings of the fame ftamp there is no chief till 

 fome occalion for him is prefent ; is that arrived ? then 

 there is no time for chilling ; he that has the courage 

 to fet himfelf up as leader is immediately acknowledged 

 for fuch. 



Menipp. That may be ; but at lean: that he may 

 continue fo, demands a formal, exprefs confent from 

 the reft ; and this is furely election. 



VOL. I. G /. All 



