The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-10-06
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
TRUTH AND ELOQUENCE.
T H r n " b o W.-....No. VIII.
AN ALLEGoRY.


tions, ipent their days IN the enjoyment OF thoie
tranquil and pure pleaiures, which ipring from
innocence and love, and from gratitude to the
beni6cent beings, by whom thele blehngs were
befowed. The earth was then watered by in
Vulnerable !treams, and covered with perpetual
verdure. The foreits were filled with lofty and
n,aienic trees, whole ihade invited to medita-
ton or repofe; while on their wide fpread
branches the teathered choir diiplayed the beau
ties of their plumage, and warbed throughout
the day, either fongs of Joy, or Fluctuations to
love. The fields and meadows were embelliih-
cd by countlefs flowers, diffung fragrance thro'
the air; and produced, tho not spontaneously,
yet IN abundance, thoie nouriihing fruits, which
impaired beauty to women, aud health and
itrength 70 man. This was indeed the golden
age and the ceietial beings, contemplating the
felicity which was enjoyed below, deigned tone-
times TO ailume human thape, and for time,
to make their abode on earth, among the wife
and happy mortals who then pofieGed it. But
after the lapfe of many centuries, man became
tired of the pleatures which he had 10 long been
permitted to enjoy. The Demon of ieifihnefs,
efcaping from the guph of Tartarus, to which
ages before, by a council of the Gods, he had
beer condemned, found his way to the habita-
tons of men, & ioon feduced the greater part of
the human race from the allegiance which they
owed 20 their celeitial benefactors. The enc
mics of the invader were firm, and for long
time maintained an unequal conflict but they
were finally overpowered by numbers, aud al
mott entirely deitroyed. From that time, the
Gods renounced all intercourfe with men and
left the earth and its inhabitants, prey TO thofe
phy6cal and moral evils which have ince never
Ceaied to attli6t them.
Among thofe who had eXertcd themfelves to
oppoie this Illuminating revolution, Truth and
Eioqnence had borne the mott confpicuous part.
TrNtb and EiOqaenfe, it has been iometimeS
flid, we're of celeftia origin. But tn S opinion
is not correct. Trntb was the legitimate daugh-
ter of LABOR and Whdom, the mott venerable
among the Inhabitants of the Antedeuvian
world. An1idft me contuiion and crimes, which
induced the Gods 10 abandon the earth, Labor
had been teiZed by the partiians of Selhhneis,
beaten with many ltripes, loaded with chains,
and compelled to toll for the benefit of others.
Wiidoln did not experience equal cruelty, but
fine WAS baniihed by decree of the ufurpers.
The place of her retreat has never yet been diff
covered. Ii is faid that her footteps have been
fometime traced in Europe, and that they have
been diltiaStly perceived in America but it
frens mott probable, that Minerva, who refpeGt-
ed ncr virtues and pitied her tuherngs, ioon
procured her feat in Heaven, and thus placed
her beyond the reach of men, who, in every age,
ard in every country, have proved by their con-
duct, their entire contempt for her character &
counfels.
ny of her infant years ihe had ipent under the
immediate guardanthip of the Goddefs, and by
her ihe was irrevocably confirmed, in thofe
principles which ihe had been taught by her We
ntTat,le parents. On her hrit acquaintance, her
countenance feemed gloomy, and her manners
auitsre. Her conversation was generally feri-
Gus, and her language plain. The votaries of
pleafure, awed by her looks, avoided her focie-
ty; the advocates of vice trembled in her pre-
fence but to thofe who knew her well, ihe ap-
peared invariably graceful and benevolent and
even her WORT enemies, after a few interviews,
have fometimes acknowledged the iniuftice of
their tirt imprelions, and devoted their lives to
her fervice, with unaterable fidelity and zeal.
The birth of ElOquenee was not 70 Respectable.
She was the child of EnthufiafIn, and on her
mothers tide, was nearly related TO fome OF the
hrit families of the ancient word-to Tate,
Fancy, SenGbiiity, Genius, Benevoence and
Virtue. But vino her father was, is yet I'M
Known. Some have thought, that ihe difplay-
ed ftrong resemblance TO Ambition others
have been equally confident that ihe bore the
features of Ava ice. But however divided men
might he as to her birth, they were unanimous
in their appreciation of herfeif. The expreftion
OF hsr eye, varying with every thought; the me-
l1dy of her voice, whether in periIaion or COM
mand; the grace and dignity of her gefures
her prompt wit !; her extenfive knowledge, made
her the object of universal admiration. But her
fortune when young was not 10 aufpicions as
that OF Truth. Her mother, tho patiionately
fond Of her, fometmes left her. Carried away
by her own contemplations, ilie forgot for time
her darling child. 1t Glanced that Mercury
found her daring the ablence of her mother,
and truck with the readineis of her nfantine re-
plies, he carried her away. lie retained her in
his hands for comfortable time, and did not
return her 20 her mother, until he and his friend
Proteus had amuied theinfelves with teaching
her fome of the arts by which they had been
accufomed to impoie upon mankind The
impreiIion upon the mind of the infant, produ-
ced by this difa1rous event, was not, however,
Immediately perceived.
At the commencement of the conflict, which
we nave mentioned, Truth and ElogUenee were
in full maturity. In the age of innocence they
had been infeparabIe companions. Eleqnppce
had inbibed from her mother, the moft ardent
affection for TrAtb, & notwithstanding her own
afpiring temper, had, for long time, volunta-
rily acted as her attendant and handmade. Be-
loved by the Gods, aud for long time refpect-
ed by men, they bad exerted their united innu-
eDce and powers, to avert from mankind the
evils with which they forelaw their enemy de-
hgncd, treacherouny, to overwhelm them. Even
now, notwithstanding the mutitudes VINO had
deferted, they did not defpair and in the pre-
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