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then re-plunged into the depth, with a frightful noise, as if the abysses were open.

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First, Nilus spake as follows: Grandson of Saturn, thou that holdest the vast empire of the waters, have compassion on my griefs! The glory, which, rough so many ages I have enjoyed, is shorn from my head a new river, a river that flows only amid a barbarian soil, presumes to dispute with me the chief name among streams. Have you forgot that the land of Egypt, fertilized by my waters, was the asylum of the gods, when the giants sought to escalade the heavens ? It is I who give that land its value; it is I who render Egypt delightful and powerful: my course is immense; I come from burning climates which mortals dare not venture to approach; and when Phaeton, in the car of the sun scorched up the earth, that he might not dry away my waters, I so concealed my lofty head, that from that hour my source and origin have remained unknown. Instead of the irregular inundations with which other rivers ravage the fields, mine is always regular, mine spreads abundance over happy Egypt, rather a fine garden than a field. My docile waters divide themselves into as many canals as the inhabitants desire to quench the thirst of their grounds, and facilitate their commerce. All my banks are lined with villages, and in Egypt alone they are counted twenty thousand. You know at what cataracts my waters precipitate themselves among certain rocks, above the plains of Egypt: it is even said that their noise, at this fall, deafens all the inhabitants of the country. Seven different mouths give my waters to your empire; and the delta, which they form, is the dwelling of the wisest, the most learned, the best governed, and the most ancient people in the universe: they reckon many millions of years in their history, and in the traditions of their priests. In my favour, then, I have length of course, antiquity of nations, miracles of the gods performed upon my banks, fertility of soil produced by

source.

my inundations, and the singularity of an unknown. But why should I recount all these advan tages against an adversary who has so few? He springs from the savage and frozen countries of the Scyths, and throws himself into a sea which is an instrument of commerce only to barbarians: his nations are celebrated only for having been subjugated by Bacchus, at the head of a troop of drunken women with disheveled hair, dancing with their thyrses in their hands. His banks are neither adorned with polished and learned people, magnificent cities, or monuments of the benevolence of the gods: he is an upstart that boasts, but produces no testimonies. Powerful god, that commandest the waves, and the tempests, confound his temerity!

It is thine that should be confounded, returned Ganges! Thou, it is true, hast been the more anciently known, but thou didst not exist before me. Like thee, I descend from high mountains; I overrun vast countries; I receive the tribute of many rivers; I flow by many mouths into the bosom of the ocean, and fertilize the countries I inundate. If, like thee, I should enter into the marvellous, I could say, with the Indians, that I am descended from the gods, and that my beneficent waters are not less salutary to the soul than to the body; but it is not before the presence of the god of floods and seas that chimerical pretensions like these can prevail. Created, never

theless, in that moment when the world sprang from chaos, many historians have placed my birth in that garden of joy where dwelt the first made man: this at the least is certain, I water still more kingdoms than thee, I flow through countries as beautiful and abundant as thine, I roll down with my waves that gold-dust so ardently sought, and perhaps so baneful to mankind; pearls, diamonds, and all that serves to adorn temples and thrones I have on my borders; on my banks, superb edifices are scattered, and long and

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magnificent festivals celebrated. The Indians, as well as the Egyptians, have their antiquities, their metamorphoses, and their farces; but, more than this, they have also illustrious gymnosophists and enlightened philosophy. Which of thy renowned priests canst thou compare with Pilpay? He has taught princes the principles of morals, and the art of governing with justice and goodness. His ingenious apologues have rendered his name immortal; they are read, but they are seldom profited by in the states Jenrich; and what shames us both is, that we see on our banks only princes, unfortunate because they are devoted to voluptuousness and unbounded authority; we see in the first countries of the world, but hordes of people, miserable, because, almost without exception, they are slaves, the victims of the arbitrary rule and insatiable cupidity of masters who govern, or

rather crush them.

What benefit do I derive then, from the antiquity of my origin, or from the volume of my writers, of from the display of wonders with which I secure the reverence of the navigator? I desire neither the honours or the glory of preference, while I contribute in no more eminent degree to the happiness of the multitude, while my services maintain only the indolence and avidity of a handful of gaudy or thoughtless tyrants: there is nothing great, nothing estimable, but in that which is beneficial to the human race!

Neptune and the assembly of the marine gods applauded the speech of Ganges; they loved his benign compassion for aggrieved and suffering humanity: they encouraged him to hope, that, from another part of the world, there would transport themselves into India polished and humane nations capable of enlightening princes on the subject of their true happiness, and teaching them that it consists in rendering happy those who depend on them, and in governing them with wisdom and moderation.

MR

THE VICISSITUDES OF LIFE.

A MORAL TALE.

Anonymous.

R. JEFFRIES was a rich merchant, who lived in the greatest splendour: he kept many servants, and had several carriages. His house in London was spacious, and fitted up in the most costly manner; nor was his country seat less magnificent. This gentleman had two sons: Lewis and Archibald. As soon as they were of proper age, they were put under the tuition of a worthy clergyman, who lived at some distance from the metropolis. As these children had been accustomed to a life of indolent indulgence, to do nothing for themselves, and to have servants constantly attending them, they were weak in body, and debilitated in mind. Their wishes, however absurd, had always been gratified, and hence, though of much possessed, they were with nothing pleased. Their desires increased from the facility with which they were complied with, and only served to render them fretful and dissatisfied. What they had did not gratify them, and what they wished for, when obtained, pleased them no longer.

Such were the pupils Mr. Briant received; their pride was equal to their indolence, they constantly rang the bell for every trifle they wanted, and gave their orders in the most imperious manner. They complained of the fatigue they endured; because they were obliged to walk, instead of having a carriage always at their command.

Mr. Briant, who was a man of sense and learning, and who knew much of life, was certain that with such dispositions his pupils could never be happy, notwithstanding the bounty which distinguished their. lot.

To possess the means of happiness is not sufficient, unless we know how to apply them; and of this knowledge how many are ignorant! how rarely is plenty enjoyed by those who riot in profusion! how seldom are the sweets of rest tasted by such as have no employment! To subdue superfluous wishes, to learn to prefer what is really good, to what only appears so, is the way to be truly happy. We ought never to shrink even from labour and toil, if by it our virtue is strengthened, or the good of our fellowcreatures is promoted. To subdue every sordid and selfish inclination, and to oppose to them the pure precepts of benevolence and philanthropy, can alone raise any one above that equality, which is the natural inheritance of all.

It was the active, and arduous endeavour of Mr. Briant, to erase from the minds of his pupils those pernicious maxims they had long been suffered to indulge; to lead them to nobler aims, than merely living at the expence of others, and passing their time in listless idleness. By degrees he innured them to exercise, and they often assisted him in cultivating a gar den which belonged to his house. Eager to imitate what they saw, they were insensibly led to better habits; and their minds as well as their bodies were strengthened by them. They arose early in the morning, which, though at first they found difficult, use soon made agreeable. A delightful walk, or a story from Mr. Briant, more than repaid them for every exertion. Their breakfast was rendered entertaining by a recapitulation of the events of the preceding day; and whenever they had performed any praise-worthy action, the warmest commendations recompensed their virtue. Their tempers also, which before were sour and morose, were now become pliant and obliging. When they returned in the holidays to their father's house, so great was the alteration a twelvemonth had made, that he could scarcely' recognize them as his

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