Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-09-18
rush'd

80" "e'o ubPioIou ~ siosruoscou 4. anu
were, IS | afterwards found, of infinite
service 10 the engagement Aud now
--together rush'd
Both armies main with ruinous assault,
And undistinguishable rage.
The FIRST attack was made by Falsehooa's
right wing, under the conduct Of Calumny,
on the left wing of Truth, commanded by
Merit, who, by dint of courage and con-
duct, kept the field for some time, and
seemed to In bibe fresh spirit from the enc
my's spears, which fell blunted to the
ground. C%alumny, observing this, listened
to tho advice of Experience, changed her
weapons, and ordered her troops to make
use Of poisoned arrows, which fell in such
irresistible showers, that the troops of
Merit were forced to give way, and yield
to superior force. Time, who was in the
rear, advanced Immediately TO the assist
ance Of Merit, aud endeavored to rally his
DISTRESSED friends, but was too slow in his
motion, to coanteract tbs vigilance and
activity of his adversary.
] could not help observing on the COCA
sion, that the success of Falsehood was 10
q great measure, owing to the assistance of
Ridicule, who, from u subaltern in the SER
vice of Calumny, had lately raised himself
by art and chicanery, to a distinguished
rank in the army his troops, also, like
those Of the general under whom he fought
used poisoned arrows, which they shot in
the manner of the Parthiaus, SO that they
seemed to fly from the enemy while they
attacked him.
10 the midst Of the battle, I remarked,
with mixture Of surprise and indignation,
a warrior, who by the splendor of his dress,
aud the gaiety Of his appearance, seemed
no inconslderable parsonage ; but who sew
erai times, to my great astonishment, de-
serted from Truth to Falsehood, and from
Falsehood to Truth, shifting sides almost
every moment, and who was yet %receiv-
ed by each with an equal degree of sat
isfaction. l found, upon inquiry, that
The name of this hero was Wit, and
soon learned that he had more of Thersites
than Ajax 10 his composition, and served
rather to divert and entertain both armies,
than to be Of any real consequence to
either.
From this ridiculous object my senses
we're soon called off to another part of the
field, to mark the bold and successful at.
tacks of Learning on Ignorance, whom be
could have put to flight with the utmost
facility, had he not listened to the dictates
Of Pride, and pushed his victory too far
the fatal consequence of which was, thar
ambushes were laid by the enemy, int
which he fell with precipitation, he coulc
not escape from them without danger anc
difficulty.
Though the two amazons, Modesty am
Beauty, most heartily engaged in the de
fence Of their beloved monarch, | coult
not help observing the former was great,
deficient in conduct, and the latter failet
in point Of courage, SO that their force
were easily subdued by lmpudence an
Malice. Their defeat, indeed, would hav
occasioned a general overthrow, and de
termined the victory 10 favor Of Falsehoo,
had not Virtue arrived very seasonably t
the relief Of Truth, with a ,considerabl
reinforcement. At his approach ever,
cheek was flushed with confidence, an,
every eye sparkled with delight. Meri
rallied his scattered troops, and even Mod
esty grew bold under his auspices. Beaut
smiled with fresh charms, and Learnin,
once more took the field with reanimater
vigor. Integrity, who had the first com
mand under this new ally, had brough
with him a quantity of shields, proof agains
the spears Of Malice, and impenetrable b
the arrows Of Calumny; with these tn
army CT Truth was soon equipped, and re
newed the battle with fresh ardor and re-
doubled courage.
Falsehood began now, in her turn, t
despair her forces retreated on every sid,
ana Victory was just on the point Of de
olaring herself the patroness eff Truth ,whe
the half subdued combatant, by the advic
Of Cunning, whom she always consulted too
a dangerous and desperate resolution, whic
proved but too successful. She clothe
herself in the habit of Truth, assumed he
air, gesture and discourse, and coming
the eDemy's camp, insinuated herself I'M
the hearts of the ~soldiery, and seduced til
whole army over to her territories, whel
it was some time before the c~aptiyes di
covered the fraud, and found themselvt
the deluded victims of Treachery and Di
stimulation. The cries made by the u
happy prisoners on a sudden awaked m
to lament once more the undeserved ia
Of Truth, thus doomed tie fall a sacrifice
the stratagems of Falsehood, who has tt
insolence to boast her perpetual triumph
over the united efforts of Learning, Meri
and Virtue.
To Mothers, Sisters, Wives, Daughter