Page:A discourse upon the origin and foundation of the inequality among mankind (IA discourseuponori00rous).pdf/140

 flow all the ocial Virtues, which he would dipute Mankind the Poeion of. In fact, what is Generoity, what Clemency, what Humanity, but Pity applied to the Weak, to the Guilty, or to the Human Species in general? Even Benevolence and Friendhip, if we judge right, will appear the Effects of a contant Pity, fixed upon a particular Object: for to wih that a Peron may not uffer, what is it but to wih that he may be happy? Tho' it were true that Commieration is no more than a Sentiment, which puts us in the place of him who uffers, a Sentiment obcure but active in the Savage, developed but dormant in civilized Man, how could this Notion affect the Truth of what I advance, but to make it more evident. In Fact, Commieration mut be o much the more energetic, the more intimately the Animal, that beholds any kind of Ditres, identifies himelf with