The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-09-08
IEryNIAN H.ATURE.


pretor of the New York Mirror.
fZJn1AN MATURE.
Written by Matilda Murray of N York. for the
Premium of Fifty Dollars.
The human mind is like fitting field,
Where two contending champions scorn to yield
Reason and Passion-each in turn prevails,
Just as the owner regulates the scales.
IF wisely he on Reasons side declare,
Passion must yield and happiness be there
But it. alas to passions side he leah,
Disorder reigns, and desolates the scene.
When Kemble was Kissed BY as exasper-
ated audience, in consequence OF a rudcness
previously offered to female favorite, he
could not have chosen more plausible ex-
cuse than the one which gained him univer-
sal applause. "Human nature" said the
great tragedan in his high, shrll, peculiar
voice; "Hnman nature!' "Human nature!"
1t was eloquent in the extreme. The ingen-
uity OF the world could not have devised Il
wiser pretcxt than the frailties and incon-
stancies Of human nature. Good and evil
are strangely commingied together. Opin-
ions always tluctuating, and passions coun-
teracting each other, whirl the mind into
a delrium Of contending emotions; and man
is so sngularly constructed that he is ever
or miseraby disappointed in the accomplish
,ment Of his brightest hopes.-In all the ar
dour of virtuous meditation he is eager to
acknowledge the impossibility of a combi-
nation between happiness and vice; and yet
unalurcd by true glory, and unabashed by
shame, he daily sacrifices integrity to earth
ly pursuits: he abandons an endearins Pro-
tector, an everlasting source of JOY, for pal
try treasures, which are at any moment La
bic to be destroyed by the tickle sport OF
chance.
Fame, that comes and goes OH the wings
of the wind. pleasures, which fash and dis
appear like electricity iii the summer cloud
---and wealth, which gldes ire resistibly from
the tenacious grasp, are subjects that mo-
nopolize the attention OF the learned. and
arrest the steps Of the gay.
The philosopher in his closet, and the SOL
dier in the field (though the former profess
ses to teach the emptiness OF glory, and the
latter to stem the current OF unjust power
weary the slowly rolling hours with eHcrtions:
She one gaining admiration, by the ridicule
ofpraise, and the other ingcniously furthering
the cause OF humanity by glutting himself
with the blood OF his fellow men. We can
not too deeply impress our minds with the
value Of virtue, or too carefully mould our
abounds with fascinating temptations, which
surround the atlventurer to dazzle his vision
with false glares, and betray his attention
with cheating sounds. The ambient plea
sures will sometimes prove too strong for
eagle-cyed resolution TO resist, and faith OF
ten sleeps when the battle is nigh. JGless
trained by long discipline into the practice
of honour, he may not always follow the best
inclinations to guide them. lhe iiowery
wreaths OF vice stupify his senses with their
fragrance, and lull his conscience into fa-
tai repose, till the deluded mind is entangled
in her hundred thousand folds, and tile
whole man sinks a hGrrid victim to irretric-
vable ruin Then too late he sees his error;
then the chains which seemed at first but
gan lands of flowers, are metamoiphosed IN
TO serpcnts, whose breath is rank poison,
and whose touch is destruction. Nanly he
struggles in their nauseeus embracc--sciZcs
their slippery forms il his useless GRASP, OF
attempts to control their bllowy motions
and tramplc them beneath his shrinking feet
Alas: the creeping folds have encircled
his body, and imprisoned every limb; gasp
ing. he IS enYeloped in their countless tolls
and Yields conquered and shutldeling to tor,
mGnts horrible as hell The course Of vice
is a steep descent and we pass with accclc.
IatNAi NSl0SltJ AoWh iNo bt teattidi ha---t
false sep, OF needless turn, may plunge u
into the lon's den, and the Spirit Of Got
dwtlls not with the abandoned one, to pacity
their rugged natures Or soften down thcil
ire.
Let US on the other hand observe the no
bic ork Of God--an honest man. Iii
the constitution Of humanity to endure every
sorrow which is not the result Of sin, and thc
good man rurns snieleIed breast to the ILL
of lie, which rattle like harmless Maidstone
on an armed knight Virtue to the tnint
], more imperishaOlc protection, thai
Spanish stsel to the bcay; and he who ha
equipped himself in her sacred suit, walk
gigantic and immortal amid the loudest tlil
and tercest dangers OF ttunutuous war
The greatest III onarch who has gained hi
magniicence by the sacrifice of honour
has no dignity to compare to this; and La
Fa. cite in his plain blue coat surrounded b,
the enchantnents which virtue has bestow
ea, is an object comparably Of more ntercs
and admiration, than the sultan half burie,
in the treasures OF the east. Many veal
minded mortals, at the onset oftheit career
yainly suppose it possible to tr!ilra littl
with the pleasures pf vice, and afterwar,l
erect themselves in the strict practice CT al
that is just honourablc and good The
would amuse their tastes by slipping forbid
den sweets, being careful not to drain til
poisonous bowl to the bottom, and fondi
imagine they possess resolution, in whic
daily experience proves their fellow MOI