as he lay indulging himself in ftate, a glit other should confent to be imprifoned in his ftead, and put to death for him, if he did not return before the day of execution. The attention of every one, and especially of the tyrant himself, was excited to the highest pitch; as every body was curious to fee what should be the event of fo ftrange an affair. When the time was almost elapfed, and he who was gone did not appear, the rafhness of the other, whofe fanguine friendship had put him upon running fo feemingly defperate a hazard, was univerfally blamed. But he ftill declared, that he had not the leaft fhadow of doubt in his mind of his friends's fidelity. The event fhewed how well he knew him. He came in due time, and furrendered himself § 260. A remarkable Inftance of filial to that fate, which he had no reason to think he fhould escape; and which he did not defire to escape by leaving his friend to fuffer it in his place. Such fidelity foftened even the favage heart of Dionyfius himfelf. He pardoned the condemned. He gave the two friends to one another; and begged that they would take himself in for a third. Val. Max. Cic. $259. The Story of DIONYSIUS the Tyrant. Dionyfius, the tyrant of Sicily, fhewed how far he was from being happy, even whilft he had abounded in riches, and all the pleasures which riches can procure. Damocles, one of his flatterers, was complimenting him upon his power, his treafures, and the magnificence of his royal ftate, and affirming, that no monarch ever was greater or happier than he. «Have you a mind, Damocles," fays the king, "to "tafte this happiness, and know, by ex"perience, what my enjoyments are, of "which you have fo high an idea?" Damocles gladly accepted the offer. Upon which the king ordered, that a royal banquet fhould be prepared, and a gilded couch placed for him, covered with rich embroidery, and fideboards loaded with gold and filver plate of immenfe value. Pages of extraordinary beauty were ordered to wait on him at table; and to obey his commands with the greatest readinefs, and the moft profound fubmiffion. Neither ointments, chaplets of flowers, nor rich perfumes were wanting. The table was loaded with the molt exquifite delicacies of every kind. Damocles fancied himself amongst the gods. In the midst of all his happiness, he fees, let down from the roof exactly over his neck Duty. The prætor had given up to the triumvir a woman of fome rank, condemned, for a capital crime, to be executed in the prifon. He who had charge of the execution, in confideration of her birth, did not immediately put her to death. He even ventured to let her daughter have access to her in prifon; carefully fearching her, however, as the went in, left the fhould carry with her any fuftenance; concluding, that in a few days the mother muft of course perifh for want, and that the feverity of putting a woman of family to a violent death, by the hand of the executioner, might thus be avoided. Some days paffing in this manner, the triumvir began to wonder that the daughter ftill came to vifit her mother. and could by no means comprehend, how the latter fhould live fo long. Watching, therefore, carefully, what paffed in the interview between them, he found, to his great aftonishment, that the life of the mother had been, all this while, fupported by the milk of the daughter, who came to the prifon every day, to give her mother her breafts to fuck. The ftrange contrivance between them was reprefented to the judges, and procured a pardon for the mother. Nor was it thought fufficient to give to fo dutiful a daughter the forfeited life of her condemned mother, but they were both maintained afterwards by a penfion fettled on them for life. And the ground upon which the prison flood was confecrated, and a temple to filial piety built upon it. What will not filial duty contrive, or what hazards will it not run, if it will put a daughter upon venturing, at the peril of her own life, to maintain her imprisoned and condemned mother in fo unufual a manner more frange, than a mother fucking the breafts of her own daughter? It might even feem fo unnatural as to render it doubtful whether it might not be, in fome fort, wrong, if it were not that duty to parents is the first law of nature. Val. Max. Plin. $261. The Continence of SCIPIO AFRI CANUS. manner! For what was ever heard of '“ univerfe, whom you ought lefs to defire "to be an enemy, or more a friend, to "you or yours.' The youth, covered with blushes, and full of joy, embraced Scipio's hands, praying the immortal gods to reward him, as he himself was not capable to do it in the degree he himself defired, or he deserved. Then the parents and relations of the virgin were called. They had brought a great fum of money to ranfom her. But feeing her restored without it, they began to beg Scipio to accept that fum as a prefent; protefting they would acknowledge it as a favour, as much as they did the restoring the virgin without injury offered to her. Scipio, unable to refift their importunate folicitations, told them, he accepted it; and ordering it to be laid at his feet, thus addreffed Allucius: "To the portion you are to receive from your father-in-law, "I add this, and beg you would accept it The foldiers, after the taking of New Carthage, brought before Scipio a young lady of fuch diftinguished beauty, that fhe attracted the eyes of all wherever the went. Scipio, by enquiring concerning her country and parents, among other things learned, that he was betrothed to Allucius, prince of the Celtiberians. He immediately ordered her parents and bridegroom to be fent for. In the mean time he was informed, that the young prince was fo exceffively enamoured of his bride, that he could not furvive the lofs of her. For this reafon, as foon as he appeared, 66 you and I are both young," faid he, "we can converfe together with greater "freedom, When your bride, who had "fallen into the hands of my foldiers, "was brought before me, I was informed "that you loved her paflionately; and, in "truth, her perfect beauty left me no "room to doubt of it. If I were at liber"ty to indulge a youthful paffion, I "mean honourable and lawful wedlock, "and were not folely engroffed by the "affairs of my republie, I might have "hoped to have been pardoned my ex"ceffive love for fo charming a miftrefs. "But as I am fituated, and have it in my power, with pleasure I promote your happiness. Your future spouse has met "with as civil and modeft treatment from "me, as if he had been amongst her own parents, who are foon to be yours too. "I have kept her pure, in order to have "it in my power to make you a prefent "worthy of you and of me. The only return I afk of you for this favour is, "that you will be a friend to the Roman people; and that if you believe me to "be a man of worth, as the ftates of "Spain formerly experienced my father "and uncle to be, you may know there "are many in Rome who refemble us; "and there are not a people in the as a nuptial prefent." So he defired him to take up the gold, and keep it for himself. Tranfported with joy at the prefents and honours conferred on him, he returned home, and expatiated to his countrymen on the merits of Scipio. "There "is come amongst us," said he," a young hero, like the gods, who conquers all things as well by generofity and beneficence, as by arms. For this reafon, having raised troops among his own fubjects, he returned a few days after to Scipio with a body of 1400 horse. Livy. دو § 262. The private Life of EMILIUS SCIPIO. The taking of Numantia, which terminated a war that difgraced the Roman name, completed Scipio's military exploits. But, in order to have a more perfect idea of his merit and character, it feems that, after having feen him at the head of armies, in the tumult of battles, and in the pomp of triumphs, it will not be loft labour to confider him in the repofe of a private life, in the midft of his friends, family, and household. The truly great man ought to be fo in all things. The magiftrate, general, and prince, may constrain themfelves, whilft they are in a manner exhibiting themselves as fpectacles to the public, and appear quite different from what they really are. But reduced to themselves, and without the witneffes who force them to wear the mask, all their laftre, like the pomp of the theatre, often abandons them, and and leaves little more to be feen in them than meannefs and narrowness of mind. Scipio did not depart from himself in any refpect. He was not like certain paintings, that are to be feen only at a diftance: he could not but gain by a nearer view. The excellent education which he had had, through the care of his father Paulus Æmilius, who had provided him with the most learned mafters of thofe times, as well in polite learning as the fciences; and the inftructions he had received from Polybius, enabled him to fill up the vacant hours he had from public affairs profitably, and to fupport the leifure of a private life, with pleafure and dignity. This is the glorious teftimony given of him by an historian: “ Nobody knew better how to mingle leifure and action, nor to use the intervals of reft "from public bufinefs with more elegance "and tafte. Divided between arms and "books, between the military labours of "the camp, and the peaceful occupations. "of the clofet, he either exercifed his body "in the dangers and fatigues of war, or "his mind in the study of the fciences *." The firft Scipio Africanus ufed to fay, That he was never lefs idle, than when at leifure, or lefs alone, than when alone. A fine faying, cries Cicero, and well worthy of that great man. And it fhews that, even when inactive, he was always employed; and that when alone, he knew how to converfe with himself. A very extraordinary difpofition in perfons accuftomed to motion and agitation, whom leifure and folitude, when they are reduced to them, plunge into a difguft for every thing, and fill with melancholy; fo that they are difpleafed in every thing with themselves, and fink under the heavy burden of having nothing to do. This faying of the firit Scipio feems to me to fuit the fecond ftill better, who having the advantage of the other by being educated in a tafte for polite learning and the sciences, found in that a great refource against the inconvenience of which we have been fpeaking. Befides which, having ufually Polybius and Panatius with him, even in the field, it is eafy to judge that his houfe was open, in times of peace, to all the learned. Every body knows, that the comedics of Terence, the most accomplished work of that kind Rome ever pro *Velleius Paterculus. duced, for natural elegance and beauties, are ascribed to him and Lælius, of whom we fhall foon fpeak. It was publicly enough reported, that they affifted that poet in the compofition of his pieces; and Terence himself makes it an honour to him in the prologue to the Adelphi. I fhall undoubtedly not advise any body, and leaft of all perfons of Scipio's rank, to write comedies. But on this occafion, let us only confider tafte in general for letters. Is there a more ingenuous, a more affecting pleafure, and one more worthy of a wife and virtuous man, I might perhaps add, or one more neceffary to a military person, than that which results from reading works of wit, and from the converfation of the learned? Providence thought fit, according to the obfervation of a Pagan, that he fhould be above those trivial pleasures, to which perfons without letters, knowledge, curiofity, and tafte for reading, are obliged to give themselves up. Another kind of pleafare, ftill more fenfible, more warm, more natural, and more implanted in the heart of man, conftituted the greatest felicity of Scipio's life; this was that of friendship; a pleasure feldom known by great perfons or princes, becaufe. generally loving only themselves, they do not deferve to have friends. However, this is the most grateful tie of human fociety; fo that the poet Ennius fays with great reafon, that to live without friends is not to live. Scipio had undoubtedly a great number of them, and those very illuftrious but I fhall speak here only of Lælius, whofe probity and prudence acquired him the furname of the Wife. : Never, perhaps, were two friends better fuited to each other than those great men. They were almoft of the fame age, and had the fame inclination, benevolence of mind, taste for learning of all kinds, principles of government, and zeal for the public good. Scipio, no doubt, took place in point of military glory; but Lælius did not want merit of that kind; and Cicero tells us, that he fignalized himself very much in the war with Viriathus. As to the talents of the mind, the fuperiority, in refpect of eloquence, feems to have been given to Lælius; though Cicero does not agree that it was due to him, and fays, that Lælius's ftyle favoured more of the ancient manner, and had fomething lefs agreeable in it than that of Scipio.. Let us hear Lælius himself (that is the はい words Cicero puts into his mouth) upon the ftrict union which fubfifted between Scipio and him. "As for me," fays Lælius," of all the gifts of nature or fortune, "there are none, I think, comparable to "the happiness of having Scipio for my "friend. I found in our friendship a per"fect conformity of fentiments in refpect "to public affairs; an inexhauftible fund "of counfels and fupports in private life; "with a tranquillity and delight not to be "expreffed. I never gave Scipio the "leaft offence, to my knowledge, nor ever heard a word efcape him that did not please me. We had but one houfe, "and one table at our common expence, "the frugality of which was equally the "tafte of both. In war, in travelling, in "the country, we were always together. "I do not mention our ftudies, and the "attention of us both always to learn "fomething; this was the employment of "all our leisure hours, removed from the fight and commerce of the world." 66 Is there any thing comparable to a friendship like that which Lælius haft juft defcribed? What a confolation is it to have a fecond felf, to whom we have nothing fecret, and in whofe heart we may pour out our own with perfect effufion! Could we tafte profperity fo fenfibly, if we had no one to fhare in our joy with us? And what a relief is it in adverfity, and the accidents of life, to have a friend ftill more affected with them than ourfelves! What highly exalts the value of the friendthip we fpeak of, was its not being founded at all upon intereft, but folely upon efteem for each other's virtues. "What "occafion," fays Lelius, "could Scipio "have of me? Undoubtedly none; nor I "of him. But my attachment to him was "the effect of my high efteem and admi"ration of his virtues; and his to me arofe "from the favourable idea of my character "and manners. The friendship increafed "afterwards upon both fides, by habit and "commerce. We both, indeed, derived great advantages from it; but thofe "were not our view, when we began to "love each other." I cannot place the famous embaffy of Scipio Africanus into the Eaft and Egypt, better than here; we fhall fee the fame talte of fimplicity and modefty, as we have just been reprefenting in his private life, thine out in it. It was a maxim with the Romans, frequently to fend amafiadors to their allies, to take cognizance of their affairs, and to accommodate their differ ences. It was with this view that three illuftrious petfons, P. Scipio Africanus, Sp. Mummius, and L. Metellus, were ferit into Egypt, where Ptolemy Phyfon then reigned, the moft cruel tyrant mentioned in history. They had orders to go from thence to Syria, which the indolence, and afterwards the captivity of Demetrius Nicanor amongst the Parthians, made a prey to troubles, factions, and revolts. They were next to vifit Afia Minor, and Greece; to infpect into the affairs of thofe countries; to inquire into what manner the treaties made with the Romans were obferved; and to remedy, as far as poffible, all the diforders that fhould come to their knowledge. They acquitted themselves with fo much equity, wifdom, and ability, and did fuch great fervices to thofe to whom they were fent, in re-cftablishing order amongst them, and in accommodating their differences, that, when they returned to Rome, ambaffadors arrived there from all the parts in which they had been, to thank the fenate for having fent perfons of fuch great merit to them, whose wisdom and goodness they could not fufficiently commend. The first place to which they went, according to their inftructions, was Alexandria. The king received them with great magnificence. As for them, they affected it fo little, that at their entry, Scipio, who was the richest and moft powerful perfon of Rome, had only one friend, the philofopher Panatius, with him, and five domeftics. His victories, fays an ancient writer, and not his attendants, were considered; and his perfonal virtues and qualities were efteemed in him, and not the glitter of gold and filver, Though, during their whole ftay in Egypt, the king caufed their table to be covered with the most exquifite provifions of every kind, they never touched any but the molt fimple and common, defpifing all the rcft, which only ferve to foften the mind and enervate the body.-But, on fuch occafions, ought not the ambaffadors of fo powerful a ftate as Rome to have fuftained its reputation of majefty in a foreign nation, by appearing in public with a numerous train and magnificent equipages? This was not the taste of the Romans, that is, of the people that, among all nations of the earth, thought the moft juftly of true greatnefs and folid glory. Rollin. § 263. $263. On Punctuation. Punctuation is the art of marking in writing the feveral paufes, or rests, between fentences and the parts of fentences, according to their proper quantity or proportion, as they are expreffed in a juft and accurate pronunciation. As the feveral articulate founds, the fyllables and words, of which fentences confift, are marked by letters; fo the rests and pauses, between fentences and their parts, are marked by Points. as the most obvious and remarkable: the Period, Colon, Semicolon, and Comma. The Period is the whole fentence, complete in itself, wanting nothing to make a full and perfect fenfe, and not connected in conftruction with a subsequent fentence. The Colon, or Member, is a chief conftructive part, or greater divifion, of a sen tence. The Semicolon, or Half-member, is a lefs conftructive part, or subdivifion, of a fentence or member. But, though the several articulate founds A fentence or member is again fubdiare pretty fully and exactly marked by vided into Commas, or Segments; which letters of known and determinate power; are the leaft conftructive parts of a sentence yet the feveral pauses, which are used in a juft pronunciation of difcourfe, are very imperfectly expreffed by Points. For the different degrees of connexion between the feveral parts of fentences, and the different paufes in a juft pronunciation, which exprefs thofe degrees of connexion according to their proper value, admit of great variety; but the whole number of Points, which we have to exprefs this variety, amounts only to four. Hence it is, that we are under a neceffity of expreffing paufes of the fame quantity, on different occafions, by different Points; and more frequently, of expreffing paufes of different quantity by the fame Points. So that the doctrine of Punctuation muft needs be very imperfect: few precife rules can be given which will hold without exception in all cafes; but much must be left to the judgment and taste of the writer. On the other hand, if a greater number of marks were invented to exprefs all the poffible different paufes of pronunciation; the doctrine of them would be very perplexed and difficult, and the use of them would rather embarrass than affift the reader. It remains, therefore, that we be content with the rules of Punctuation, laid down with as much exactness as the nature of the fubject will admit: fuch as may serve for a general direction, to be accommodated to different occafions; and to be fupplied, where deficient, by the writer's judgment. The feveral degrees of connexion between fentences, and between their principal conftructive parts, Rhetoricians have confidered under the following diftinctions, or member, in this way of confidering it; for the next fubdivifion would be the refolution of it into phrases and words. ap The Grammarians have followed this divifion of the Rhetoricians, and have propriated to each of these distinctions its mark, or point; which takes its name from the part of the fentence which it is employed to diftinguish: as follows: The Period The Colon The Semicolon The Comma is thus marked The proportional quantity, or time, of the points, with refpect to one another, is determined by the following general rule: The Period is a paufe in quantity or duration double of the Colon: the Colon is double of the Semicolon; and the Semicolon is double of the Comma. So that they are in the fame proportion to one another, as the Semibref, the Minim, the Crotchet, and the Quaver, in mufic. The precife quantity, or duration, of each paufe or note cannot be defined; for that varies with the time: and both in difcourse and mufic the fame compofition may be rehearfed in a quicker or a flower time: but in mufic the proportion between the notes remains ever the fame; and in discourse, if the doctrine of Punctuation were exact, the proportion between the pauses would be ever invariable. The Points then being defigned to exprefs the paufes, which depend on the different degrees of connexion between fentences, and between their principal conftructive parts; in order to understand the meaning of the Points, and to know how to apply them properly, we must confider the nature of a fentence, as divided into its principal constructive parts, and the degrees of con Rr nexion |