176 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



fecial converfe of his fellow-creatures* or the innocent 

 recreations of the country. This is {he idea entertained 

 by man of a perfect climate ; and the poets, therefore, 

 when they (trove to extol the happinefV of certain coun- 

 tries, ufed to fay, that a perpetual fprifrg reigned in 

 them ; as Virgil faid of his Italy, (a) and Horace of the 

 Fortunate Ifles (b), to which he invited his countrymen. 

 Thus the ancients reprefented theElyfian fields \ and aifo 

 in the Holy Writings, in order to convey fome idea of 

 the felicity of heavenly Jerufalem, it is faid, that there, 

 there is no heat nor cold. 



Acofta, whofe hiftory is called by M. de Paw an ex- 

 cellent work, and who was acquainted with the climes of 

 both continents, and at the fame time was not partial to 

 America, nor had any intereft in extolling it, treating of 

 the American clime, he fpeaks thus (V) : " When I per- 

 " ceived the mildnefs of the air, and fweetnefs of the 

 cc climate of many countries of America, where it is 

 " not known what thing winter is that contracts, or fum- 

 " mer which relaxes with heat ; where a mat is fufficient 

 " for defence from every inclemency of the weather ; 

 " where it is fcarcely neceiTary to alter clothing through 

 " the whole year ; confidering, I fay, all this, I have 

 " many times thought, and I even think at this moment, 

 " that if men would difengage themfelves from the fnares 

 " which avarice lays for them, and abandon ufelefs and 

 c< vexatious pretentions, they might lead in America a 

 " life of tranquillity and pleafure ; for that which the 

 " poets fmg of the Elyfian fields, or the famous Tempe, 



" and 



(a) Hie ver afliduum atque albinis menfibus asftas ; 



Bis gravida pecudes, bis pomis utilis arbos. Virg. Georg. ii. 



(b) Verubi longum, tepidafque prasbet 



Jupiter brumas. Horat. lib. ii. ode 4. 



(c) Stor. Nat. e Mor. lib. ii. cap. 1 4. 



