Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Man.
casts his eyes on his feet , their deformity lowers his pndejo such a' decree , that he turns away his head , as though he were ashamed of having admired himself . Man is this peacock , who in the half circle of the moon , " Avhich he has in his head , is fond of admiring his borrowed beauties , but Avhen he is constrained to cast his eyes on his miseries , he returns- to his first condition . Man is the most fantastical animal in the world ; he must be managed Avith much more dexterity and cunning
than the other species of animals ; for though he governs the briite creation , he is not easily ruled by those of his own class . The prince of Lyric Poets , the immortal Pindar , has marked in his Qdes this sentence , by way of question ; " That Man is but the shadow of a sltiimbering dream ( esteeming human life but of short duration ) , and'of great vanity . Nothing is more trifling and fleeting than a dream .
Glaucus being asked by Diomede , " From what family he Avas descended ; whether ancient or not ? " answered in the following mariner , . ' / Why do you ask me who have been my predecessors ; men are like the leaves of a forest , bloAvn away by a violent wind ; others succeed in their p lace , for among men . you shall see many who flourish in honourand others who perish under the assaults of misfortune ! "Seneca
, , in the consolation" he addresses to Marcia , says , " What is Man ? A weak helpless body , more feeble than a ivorm ; he comes into the world , naked ancl disarmed , abandoned to all the rigours of fortune ; in the strength of his best days exposed as a prey to wild beasts ; liable
to be ruined by the first which meets him , and has a design upon him ; made up of materials that have neither strength nor duration ; comely in appearance , but Avhat can neither endure heat , cold , or labour ; and in the tranquillity of rest , he is in perpetual fear of what nourishes him , for as great superfluities are dangerous , so want on the other hand is mortal : Man is a reasonable animal , born to enjoy the charms of society ; to observe justice and the taws , and to practise all the offices of
benignity and goodness : The greatest virtues God has implanted in his soul are , Love , Charity , and compassion to his nei g hbour . ; on which account we never knoAV the worth of a man till Ave have lost him , " The Romins never knew the real merit of Coriolanus till after his banishment , for the nation of the Folfques , which had been so often defeated by him , UOAV obtained signal victories . At another
timeHos-, tilius , the leader of the Romans , Avas no sooner killed , than his army betook themselves to flight . The same thing happened at the deaths bf the Consul Flaminius , and Marcus Valerius Publicola . Cancus Scipio was no sooner dead , than the Carthaginians rejoiced in the certain-, ty of future vi & ory . The duty of an honest man consists in acquitting himself of the principal and only end of his being , which consists in thei
glory of his Creator , his obedience to his King , and the love of his neighbour : But on the first infallibl y depends the two last , for without the fear of God , men Avould never preserve among themselves obe-¦dience , equity , or love : As on the contrary , honouring the Divine Majesty teaches them to live in union and uprightness . Mo X
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Man.
casts his eyes on his feet , their deformity lowers his pndejo such a' decree , that he turns away his head , as though he were ashamed of having admired himself . Man is this peacock , who in the half circle of the moon , " Avhich he has in his head , is fond of admiring his borrowed beauties , but Avhen he is constrained to cast his eyes on his miseries , he returns- to his first condition . Man is the most fantastical animal in the world ; he must be managed Avith much more dexterity and cunning
than the other species of animals ; for though he governs the briite creation , he is not easily ruled by those of his own class . The prince of Lyric Poets , the immortal Pindar , has marked in his Qdes this sentence , by way of question ; " That Man is but the shadow of a sltiimbering dream ( esteeming human life but of short duration ) , and'of great vanity . Nothing is more trifling and fleeting than a dream .
Glaucus being asked by Diomede , " From what family he Avas descended ; whether ancient or not ? " answered in the following mariner , . ' / Why do you ask me who have been my predecessors ; men are like the leaves of a forest , bloAvn away by a violent wind ; others succeed in their p lace , for among men . you shall see many who flourish in honourand others who perish under the assaults of misfortune ! "Seneca
, , in the consolation" he addresses to Marcia , says , " What is Man ? A weak helpless body , more feeble than a ivorm ; he comes into the world , naked ancl disarmed , abandoned to all the rigours of fortune ; in the strength of his best days exposed as a prey to wild beasts ; liable
to be ruined by the first which meets him , and has a design upon him ; made up of materials that have neither strength nor duration ; comely in appearance , but Avhat can neither endure heat , cold , or labour ; and in the tranquillity of rest , he is in perpetual fear of what nourishes him , for as great superfluities are dangerous , so want on the other hand is mortal : Man is a reasonable animal , born to enjoy the charms of society ; to observe justice and the taws , and to practise all the offices of
benignity and goodness : The greatest virtues God has implanted in his soul are , Love , Charity , and compassion to his nei g hbour . ; on which account we never knoAV the worth of a man till Ave have lost him , " The Romins never knew the real merit of Coriolanus till after his banishment , for the nation of the Folfques , which had been so often defeated by him , UOAV obtained signal victories . At another
timeHos-, tilius , the leader of the Romans , Avas no sooner killed , than his army betook themselves to flight . The same thing happened at the deaths bf the Consul Flaminius , and Marcus Valerius Publicola . Cancus Scipio was no sooner dead , than the Carthaginians rejoiced in the certain-, ty of future vi & ory . The duty of an honest man consists in acquitting himself of the principal and only end of his being , which consists in thei
glory of his Creator , his obedience to his King , and the love of his neighbour : But on the first infallibl y depends the two last , for without the fear of God , men Avould never preserve among themselves obe-¦dience , equity , or love : As on the contrary , honouring the Divine Majesty teaches them to live in union and uprightness . Mo X