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 put an end to the troubles of this. If we were offered immortality on earth, who is there would accept so melancholy a gift ? What resource, what hope, what consolation would then be left us against the rigour of fortune, and the injustice of mankind?

art thou then to despise men, or what raises thee above them ? Thy services or thy virtues ? But how many obscure men more virtuous than thou, more laborious, more useful ? Thy birth ?—:We respect it: In thee we salute the shadow of thy ancestors; but is a shadow to pride itself on the homage paid to the body ? Thou wouldst have reason to pride thyself, if they gave thy name to thy ancestors, as they gave to the father of Cato the name of his son " The light ot' Rome." But what pride can a name inspire thee with which owes thee nothing, and for which thou art only indebted to chance ?