The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-09-19
SelerIel fnr Tie Allrrnn,.

comb records of Pope and the 9th
CT celebrated men Of that time, has
made me look through their works
again with new zest. Something
on other is sure to occasion me this
pleasure at little intervals Of time.
The smallest additional light thrown
upon The mind Of a fayorlte author,
makes me gn over the whole picture
afresh. \ find something new To be dc
lighted With. OF Pope enough las
been said in our last number Ill
invite the reader to peruse VITA M
an article % SNif' . sppn Mem and
Great EgHreS maze By Sererai FER
sons. The whole Of il shall be re-
Ipcated, because il is small. luil 9tyaz
ricty. prONokes comment, and |
| think Is very characteristic ot tae
author without being hackneycd in
point Of notoricty. II would be de
sirable 10 see many lists Of this kind
from differentpcus.-IhVy would at
ford good evidence OF peoples moral
aud political tastes.
'' Of those 7rho hare made Great ri
gureS in some particular act or cir
cumstance Of their tires.'
alexander tie Great, after his
pictory at The straits Of Mount Tau
rus 1chcn he enteved the tent. 1phe,e
the Queen and the PriareSSeS Of Per-
Sia teH at his feet. This was great
in one sense of the word. but not in
the greatest. 1t WAS prodisious, IL
we consider how Persia had threa-
tened tue Greeks, and from what n
summit these royal persons fell. at
the feet Of the young Macedonian.
But after all it was royalty against
royalty, pride against pride. 1t Is
very dramatic and conquering, but
inasmuch as Alexander WAS not e
paminondas, it wants moral gran
deur.
Socrates, the wioic last day Of
his lJe, and particularly from The
time he took the poison, UlttH tie mo-
mcnt he erpired."-lhis is moral
grandeur triumphant; triumphant IN
defeat. Alexander, great as he was,
had something about INN which could
not bear disappointment. liere the
very want of success ID only victory
in another shape.
" Cicero, 4ohen he 7cas recalled
f5a = enlistment, Tie peopie M1o'
erery place he passed meeting him
1cHh Shoats Of joy cna eoagr0htlatioa.
and al H0ute coming ont 10 receeue
him. This ought 10 have been one
efthe greatest situations in he world.
III 4e.'re TO think it somewhat in
iurul - gua person of Cicero, my
excuse must be that | have l.,eiy
read the paneSyricai life Of him by
Middleton an author who has the
art Of making his hero unheroical.
.EeguiaS, 1ohen he 7oeRt ont Of
Rome attended by his friends to he
gates. dnd returned 10 Carthage dc-
c0rding to has 1cord Of honor attho'
he knc7U he mnSi be put 10 Il craei
JeGh, for odriSing the Romans 10
pursue their car 7rith that common
weaith. An old cleminatc lord Of
my acquaintance, who was account
cd a great Wit in his time, used to
say of patriots Of this description,
/" Stubborn dogs all out of the spi-
rit of pcrNcrsencss and obstinaCy.o
Thus he would undo, at Jerk, the
whole Roman commonwealth. 4
modern American Jared rs i'll with
him.
:. scipio, the Elder, 1ohen lie DIS
MISSED u beaatitHL captire tady pre-
scented 10 him after Il great Victory,
turning his head aside to preserre has
orcn uirtue. This is curious from
Swift. confess | do not see so much
in it, considering Scipio's education,
and tIIat the lady had lover. But
Swift was apt to be common aud in
plicit enough, over his Greek aud
Latin.
"The same Scipio, when he and
Hannibal met before tie battle, il
the fact be true" How time and
history exalt even a scene like this !
The whole world seem t0 be Look
ing on.
:" CincnnatuS, 7Ohen the mesSen-
gers seat b. the Senate to make han
! dictator, jotatd him at the ptongh."
4" EpdmtnondaS, aehen the Persian
ambassador, came TO his house, aud
found him IN the ntidst Of porcriy."
: His whole lie was Il great action.
Z" Tie Fart Of .straGH'd the dag he
made his o7on defence at his triaI.'-