I$2 EXCURSION TO THE REALMS BELOW. 



Menipp. I perceive whither thou wouldft lead me 

 by this clue : but, befides neceffity, there is, however, 

 Hill fomewhat that can move mankind voluntarily to 

 permit themfelves to be governed ; and this fomewhat 

 is — their reafon. 



Xenoph. Very well ! But furely, Menippus, thou 

 dofc not forget, that mankind are born children, whofe 

 reafon can only be flowly unfolded by education, and 

 which does not come to maturity till late by experience. 

 It is impoffible to be reafon that renders children fub^ 

 miffive to their parents — and even this is now, and 

 ever was, the cafe with all the unpolifhed tribes, hordes, 

 and petty nations, from which the greaterl flates and 

 civil confcitutions have been formed. A rude people 

 is an affemblage of grown children, juft as rafh and im- 

 petuous in their impulfes and paffions, and nearly as 

 inexperienced as they ; but fo much the more uncom- 

 plying as they have more itrength, and know how to 

 exert it better. 



Menipp. Reafon at firft acls merely like inilincl in 

 mankind, but is not therefore the lefs reafon. It is a 

 flower in the bud. Parents, who have the art of gain- 

 ing the love and confidence of their children , will al- 

 ways govern them fafer and better, than thofe who^ 

 build their domefcic iway alone on coercion and the 

 dread of punifhment. 



Xenoph. A very juft obfervation, from which, how-' 

 ever, we will not extract more confequences than actu- 

 ally flow from it. The government of parents over 

 their children is fupported by love, alleviated by 

 gratitude, and confirmed by confidence : but thefe 



/ fentiments 



