10. The tyrants2 then doubled their chains upon the unhappy cap tives, and led them away, without resistances to the cells of ignorance or the mansions4 of misery. Amongst the innumerable seducers, who were endeavoring to draw the votaries of truth from the path of science, there was one, so little formidable in her appearance, and so gentle and languid in ber attempts, that I should scarcely have taken notice of her, but for the numbers she had loaded with her chains. 11. Indolence, (for so she was called) far from proceeding to open hostilities,6 did not attempt to turn their feet out of the path, but contented herself with retarding their progress; and the purpose she could not force them to abandon, she persuaded them to delay.7 12. Her touch had a power like that of the torpedo.8 which wither ed the strength of those who came within its influence. Her unhappy captives9 still turned their faces towards the temple, and always hoped to arrive there; but the ground seemed to slide from beneath their feet, and they found themselves at the bottom, before they suspected they had changed their place. 18. The placid serenity, which at first appeared in their counte nance, changed by degrees into a melancholy languor2, which was tingeds with deeper and deeper gloom, as they glided down the stream of insignificance, a dark and sluggish water which is curled by no breeze, and enlivened by no murmur, till it falls into a dead sea, where startled passengers are awakened by the shock, and the next moment buried in the gulf of oblivion.4 14. Of all the unhappy deserters5 from the paths of science, none seemed less able to return than the followers of Indolence. The captives of appetitite and passion could often seize the moment when their tyrants were languid6 or asleep, to escape from their enchantment ;7 but the dominion of Indolence was constant and unremitted; and seldom was resisted till resistance was in vain. 15. After contemplating these things, I turned my eyes towards the top of the mountain, where the air was always pure and exhilarating,8 the path shaded with laurels9 and other evergreens; and the effulgence which beamed from the face of Science, seemed to shed a glory round her votaries. 16. Happy, said 1, are they who are permitted to ascend the moun 2 Languor, heaviness of 4 Oblivion,. forgetfulness, general parden 5 Deserters, s. persons who run away from an army. * Indolence, s. inattention, laziness. 6 Languid, a faint-hearted. 7 Enchantment • magical charms. 8 Exhilarating part. making cheerful. 9 Laurel, s an evergreen. Effulgence, 8 brightness, lus tre. tain! But while I was pronouncing vociferation. this exclamation,2 with uncommon 2 Exclamation, ardor, I saw, standing beside me, s outrageous a form of divine features, aud a more benigns radiance. •Happier,' 3 Benign; a said she, are they, whom Virtue conducts to the mansions of Content! What,' said I. does Virtue then reside in the vale ? kind, generous, libera, whole some. 4 Illuminate v to make light. 17. I am found,' said she, in the vale, and I illuminate4 the mountain. I cheer the cottager at his toil. and inspire the sage at his meditation. I mingles in the 5 Mingle, v to crowd of cities, and bless the ber- mix, blend, mit in his cell. I have a temple compound, in every heart that owns my influence; and to him that wishes for me, I am already present. unite. 18. Science6 may raise thee to 6 Science, eminence; but I alone can guide knowledge, thee to felicity! While Virtue was thus speaking, I stretched out my arms towards her, with a vehemence7 which broke my slumber. The chill dews were falling around me, and the shades of evening stretched over the landscape. I hastened homeward; and resigned the night to silence and meditation. 7 Vehemence,s violence. ardor, mental The Book of Nature. survey. 2 Immense, a unlimited, infinite, huge, vast 1. The book of nature is constantly open to the inspection of + Inspection, s every one. To study that book, oversight,view, nothing more is necessary than to be attentive to the surrounding objects which nature presents to our view. Even children are capable of studying this book, (if it may be so called) with immensc2 advantage to their understandings. 2. A garden, the fields, the forests, are each a book open to their views, in which they ought to read, and reflect 3 thereon. Nothing is more common among us than the use of bread and linen; and yet how few children are taught to know the preparation4 of either! Through how many shapes and hands wheat and hemp must pass, before they are made into bread and linen! 3. not even a single leaf is neglected, but nature, order and syminetry5 are obvious in every part of it, and yet, no two parts are exactly alike. Nothing can more demand our admiration, than the general colour which beautifies all plants. Had the fields been dyed6 in white or scarlet,7 we should not have been able to bear either 3 Reflect, vto think, consider, reproach 4 Preparation; -8 a making ready. 5 Symmetry, s proportion, har mony. 6 Dyed, oured. col 7 Scarlet, s. a color, deeply red, not shining the brightnesss or the harshness9 of them. 4. Had they been darkened with more dusky colours, we should have taken little delight in so sad a prospect. A pleasant verdure‡ keeps a medium between these two extreines, and it has such an affinity with the frame of the eye, that it is diverted,2 sustained and nourished by it, rather than wasted. 8 Brightness & lustre, splend or, acuteness. roughness, pee- + Verdure, 3 a green color, greenness. 2 Diverted, part turned aside, entertained. 3 Waft, v to carry over,float, 4 Harmony, & agreement, ac 5. Should my fancy wafts me into some garden in high cultivation, what variety of colours are there conspicuous! What harmony,4 what sweetness in their mixture, and the shadowings that tem- cord of sound. per them; what a picture, and by what a master! but let us turn aside from this general view, to the contemplation of some particular flower, and pick up at random 5 the first that offers to our hands, without troubling ourselves with the choice. It is just blown, and has still all its freshness6 and brightness. 6. Can the art of man produce any thing similar to this? No silk can be so soft, so thin, and of so fine a texture.7 From the beautics of the garden, which we have just been surveying, let us take a view of the fruitfuls orchard, filled with all sorts of fruits which 5 Random, a by chance, with out aim. 6 Freshness, coolness, ruddiness, newness. 7 Texture, s a manner of weav ing form. 8 Fruitful a plenteous. bearing fruit, |