e same time be taught sufficient firmness of mind
not intirely to destroy their own happiness by their
sympathizing with too great sensibility with the numerous
irremediable evils, which exist in the present system of the
world: as by indulging that kind of melancholy they decrease
the sum total of public happiness; which is so far rather
reprehensible than commendable. See Plan for Female Education
by Dr. Darwin, Johnson, London, Sect. XVII.

This has been carried to great excess in the East by the
disciples of Confucius; the Gentoos during a famine in India
refused to eat the flesh of cows and of other animals to
satisfy their hunger, and save themselves from death. And at
other times they have been said to permit fleas and
musquitoes to feed upon them from this erroneous sympathy.]

II. "HEAR, O YE SONS OF TIME!" the Nymph replies,
Quick indignation darting from her eyes;
"When in soft tones the Muse lamenting sings,
And weighs with tremulous hand the sum of things;
She loads the scale in melancholy mood,
Presents the evil, but forgets the good. 140
But if the beam some firmer hand suspends,
And good and evil load the adverse ends;
With strong libration, where the Good abides,
Quick nods the beam, the ponderous gold subsides.

"HEAR, O ye Sons of Time! the powers of Life
Arrest the elements, and stay their strife;
From wandering atoms, ethers, airs, and gas,
By combination form the organic mass;
And,--as they seize, digest, secrete,--dispense
The bliss of Being to the vital Ens. 150
Hence in bright groups from IRRITATION rise
Young Pleasure's trains, and roll their azure eyes.

[Footnote: _From wandering atoms_, l. 147. Had those ancient
philosophers, who contended that the world was formed from
atoms, ascribed their combinations to certain immutable
properties received from the hand of the Creator, such as
general gravitation, chemical affinity, or animal appetency,
instead of ascribing them to a blind chance; the doctrine of
atoms, as constituting or composing the material world by the
variety of their combinations, so far from leading the mind
to atheism, would strengthen the demonstration of the
existence of a D