LETTER CIV.

CLEANDER to SMERDIS the Mage.

WON ONDER not, wise SMERDIS, that I frequently send thee my observations on human nature, and its efforts towards wisdom in this country. Assure thyself, no place in the world affords such variety as Greece. Thou, who art used to converse with a people contented with the wisdom of ZOROASTER, livest in perpetual calm. Thou canst have no conception of the turns and whimsical sallies of the human mind, where full liberty is indulged. The peace which

arises from an union of opinion, is like a dead still sea; without danger indeed, but it shows not the strength and nature of that element. In this place if a man preserve but an external regard for the gods, the principles of philosophy and religion are mere matters of choice. He may take what master he pleases; or, if he like it bet ter, (which some have affected,) he may take none, and so have the credit of being self-taught, and perhaps too of being the only follower, as well as founder, of his system.

There is a man of no small note at Abdera, who to a knowledge of nature has joined that of mankind. By a constant train of reasoning, founded on experiment, he attained the one; and the change of manners, that a course of travels presented him, gave him a sufficient insight into the other. The result of this improved genius is something extraordinary; he very much affects solitude, but with no design towards serious speculations; nothing is farther from him: he shuns men, not to avoid the gaiety of conversation and the impertinence of mirth, but because he can enjoy himself better, and

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be merrier without them. Nobody laughs more heartily at a jest he has just heard, than this philosopher does at his own ordinary reflections. His imagination affords him a constant supply of ridiculous images; but if one of his neighbours interrupt his merriment by falling in his way, he turns the laugh upon them. It is to no purpose to tell him they are disposed to be serious; that they expect his condolence for the loss of their treasure, the failure of a vintage, or the death of a relation. He knows no passion but one; and whatever turn of mind their fortune gives them, his is always to be merry. In short, if he hears that an heir is born, or a family is extinct; if he be told of new honours conferred, or disgrace falling upon a great man; of the success of an army, or its defeat; his laughter is equally immoderate. This philosophick turn has something so particular in it, that the whole town agreed to send for HIPPOCRATES to cure him of his frenzy. The physician, upon his arrival, found him in the laborious employment of dissecting animals, and was received with a loud laugh; which however was so far from convincing him of his patient's disorder, that, after some conversation with him, he turned back with indignation, and said, he was the only man amongst them in his sound senses.

Thou, my venerable friend, whose composed mind is as the serene brightness of the moon, wilt almost fancy this extravagant character is of my own forming. But I assure thee I have heard also of another master in philosophy of a direct opposite turn, who weeps at every thing which raises the mirth of the odd citizen of Abdera. I cannot tell which of these two to prefer; and it is impossible to approve both. But I think if that learned physician had confined them together, till they had reconciled their systems to each other, he would have taken a reasonable method of bringing them to that moderation which thou art too well acquainted with, either

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to let the vice and misery of our species subject thy mind to perpetual melancholy, or the vanities and follies of it be the materials for thy sport and merriment. Farewel. .

H.

LETTER CV.

ARTAXERXES the KING to CLEANDER.

THE HE satisfaction which you have given us, by your diligence and abilities in the discharge of your employment at Athens, hath been so great, that we have not only ordered our ministers to signify it to you in their dispatches, but bestowed several marks of our royal favour upon you, as a just reward of your faithful services.

We do not doubt of the continuance of that zeal and industry which hath hitherto appeared in your conduct; and have therefore thought fit to entrust you with an affair of the highest importance, which demands as much secrecy in the management, as speed in the execution. You cannot be ignorant, that during the time of our royal father, the people of Boeotia, particularly the Thebans, were well affected to the Persian cause, and, even in opposition to the rest of Greece, made the submission of earth and water, which was demanded of them; persevering in their fidelity to us inviolably, till the unfortunate battle of Platea. We have lately received undoubted intelligence, that notwithstanding the change which happened at Thebes, soon after that action, and the general notion, that the city is entirely devoted to the interest of Lacedæmon, there still subsist great remains of the old Median faction, who want nothing but encouragement from us, and supplies of money, to take the government

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government into their hands. Upon these grounds we direct you, that without the least delay, or staying for further orders, you set out for Thebes; and if you find things in the condition in which we have reason to believe they are, you must concert, with the descendants of TIMAGENES and ARTAGINUS, (families well known for their adherence to our interest,) those alterations in the senate and magistracy, which may bring that state back to its former measures. It will then be easy for you to prevail, that we may be admitted into the Peloponnesian league, or at least the Baotian confederacy; and that a proper place of arms, as the fortress of Elatea, may be provided for the reception of the troops we shall send to their assistance. We have ordered our treasurer TERIBAZUS to send you, by the ship which conveys this packet, remittances sufficient to enable you to put our design in execution; and so not doubting that you will exert your utmost industry and abilities to accomplish this important service, we recommend you to the protection of Oro

MASDES.

Given at Susa the palace, the 22d of the moon Aban, in the 41st year of our reign.

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