MT ©1YMPIC DIALOGUE. 327 



■much fhould I require thee to take up the caufe even 

 ■of kings in a more fpirited manner. 



Jupiter J] Thou wouldft imply, as it fhould feem, 

 that I incline too much to the popular fide ? It may 

 in fome meafure be the cafe ; but in facl* it is only be- 

 caufe it is one of my firft maxims of government, al- 

 ways to be pf the fide, that at laft is right. The pre- 

 fent time is not favourable to kings ; it is now the peo- 

 ple's turn, and I am .much afraid, my love, to do ever 

 fo little for thee and thy clients ; at the fame time I 

 fwear to thee, that I will put no obftacles in the way 

 of the meafures thou fhalt take to their advantage. 



Juno:\ The inhabitants of the earth have not yet 

 brought matters to fuch a pafs, as, in order to be in- 

 dependent on us, to dare to imagine that we have no 

 longer any authority over them \ 



Jupiter.~] As I faid, thou mayft try. I leave thee 

 at full liberty. I only forefee, that, as matters are, 

 thou wilt have but little caufe of joy from the event. 



Juno.~] I had rather thou didll not forefee it. If I 

 were inclined to be fufpicious — * 



Jupiter.'] That thou haft always been a little, o.fo- 

 vereign of my heart t But for this once thou wouldft 

 do me wrong. It is my fixed determination to keep 

 my promife; by leaving the mighty mafters of the 

 earth to thy powerful protection, and to — * their fate. 



JunoJ] I confefs, Jupiter, that I do not rightly 

 comprehend, how the king of gods and men can be fo 

 indifferent to the caufe of kings ; and fee, without 

 moving a finger, his fubdelegates gradually changing 

 into theatrical princes and kings of cards. 



Y 4 ■ • Jit** 



