The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1826-10-31
FOR THE COUNTY POST.
ON THE INSTABILITY OF HUMAN
GRANDEUR

There are but few things that more readily
show the truth Of the declaration "that all is
vanity than the instabilityof human gran
deur. In some conditions the fall may be
more frequent, in others more sudden, but
y9ne SO extensively combine all the distress
sing modes of distance, wide spreading effects,
ssuddenness and frequency. None fall SO far
as those seated on the pinnacle OF greatness,
none make such wide spreading havoc as those
that fall surrounded by dependents, none
fall SO suddenly as those who are the most at
tached to their condition, and no falls are so
frequent as those whose elevation depends up
on the fear and admiration, rather than love,
of the world. The great, in fact, like the in
habitants of Mount Etna, though the region
around them may be pleasant and luxuriant,
still are continually in danger Of the volcano
beneath. The ground on which they tread,
though green, Is hollow--the very genial
warmth Of the air may arise from the fires
within, and the richness of the soil be only de-
pendent for It's existence on the very causes
that win produce the ruin.
The truth of this position can be easily seen
upon the page Of history. From the wreck
Of ancient days, the river of time will Hoat
down to us sufficient memorials of fallen
greatness. Cities in ruins show by the remains
Of their proud walls, how they once frowned
defiance on all. The mouldered and defaced
column but hardly tells the name Of the war
rior for whom it was erected. The peasant
quietly feeds his flock among the ruins of the
eloquence Of Athens !; the scorching blasts Of
the desert have breathed over the palacco Of
Palmyra, and she is mouldered into DUST
while the very names Of the builders of the
Pyramids are no longer remembered and
their fame. what ere It was, Is now passed
\ irc%
vessels in the deep.
How have the conqucrors and the heroes Of
old withered away--how has their fame been
lost. Like the scared leaf Of antumn borne
of by the blast. Some beheld the ruins OF
their greatness while yet alive; their sun was
cioudedere their day was half spent and dark
ness covered them.
Alexander after the conquest Of the world
died I" as the fool dieth."
The morning Of Dyonisius was bright with
Joy-the evening Of his life showed him
spectacle Of fallen greatness among the refuse
Of Corinth--and Pompey the conqueror or
Asia, was buried in the sand of the sea shore
by two faithful adherents. Neither have mod
ern times been less productive in instances
All heroes from Macedonia's mailman to
the Swede," have all followed the same path,
have meteor like, dazzled for moment, seat
s@.SN GAGH VGcthcuCcse8 CApirGus-OnG example
will sufficc--we have only to point YOU to the
rock Of ST. Helena and show the stamp Of fall
4 len greatness she bears, and ask can human
4 greatness be stablcwhen such'is the end;
Since he miscalld the morning Star,
I" Nor man nor fiend hath follow d SO far.''
4 Once master Of upwards ii one hundred mill.
ions of pcopie-with his feet on the neck oi
kings--and now. none so poor as TO do him
| reverence ssysS.5A sS
4 "Oh who would soar to solar height
I "TO set in such starless night"
7 Nor is national greatnes any more durable.
One monarchy after another has arisen and
tallen--the destroying angel has swept them
from the world, the rivers flow on with unva-
4 ried constnney--the mountains still stand flrm
ana silent and unmoved as the hand that made
them, for they are the works of d higher pow
er--whilc mar, poor mar, his works have crur,-
J bled into dust--his names and his memorial.
are blotted from the things that be.p
y Where are Greece and Rome f--where are
Babylon aud Persia and Macedonia that once
. shook terror into the nations g--Swept into
4 the deep gulph of political oblivion and known
i only on the page of history. The cross
and the crescent have Mingled their power to
driye them from the world-where the LOFTY
temple OF Belus rose-the wild beasts of the
desert howl. Tie iron hand ofoppression and
the leaden power Of Ignorance now weigh
heavily on the once free and powerful shores
OF Greece. In Persia "the spider has wove
II