" he replied, "God Almighty was
obliged to me!"--The fear of hell is another insanity, which will be spoken
of below.

8. _Superbia stemmatis._ Pride of family has frequently formed a maniacal
hallucination, which in its mild state has consisted in agreeable reverie,
but when it has been so painful as to demand homage from others, it has
frequently induced insane exertions. This insanity seems to have existed in
the flourishing state of Rome, as now all over Germany, and is attacked by
Juvenal with great severity, a small part of which I shall here give as a
method of cure. Sat. 8.

Say, what avails the pedigree, that brings
Thy boasted line from heroes or from kings;
Though many a mighty lord, in parchment roll'd,
Name after name, thy coxcomb hands unfold;
Though wreathed patriots crowd thy marble halls,
Or steel-clad warriors frown along the walls;
While on broad canvas in the gilded frame
All virtues flourish, and all glories flame?--
Say,--if ere noon with idiot laugh you lie
Wallowing in wine, or cog the dubious die,
Or act unshamed, by each indignant bust,
The midnight orgies of promiscuous lust!--
Go, lead mankind to Virtue's holy shrine,
With morals mend them, and with arts refine,
Or lift, with golden characters unfurl'd,
The flag of peace, and still a warring world!--
--So shall with pious hands immortal Fame
Wreathe all her laurels round thy honour'd name,
High o'er thy tomb with chissel bold engrave,
"THE TRULY NOBLE ARE THE GOOD AND BRAVE."

9. _Ambitio._ Inordinate desire of fame. A carelessness about the opinions
of others is said by Xenophon to be the source of impudence; certainly a
proper regard for what others think of us frequently incites us to virtuous
actions, and deters us from vicious ones; and increases our happiness by
enlarging our sphere of sympathy, and by flattering our vanity.

Abstract what others feel, what others think,
All pleasures sicken, and all glories sink.
POPE.

When this reverie of ambition excites to conquer nations, or to enslave
them, it has been the source of innumerable wars, and the occasion of a
great devastation of mankind. Caesar is reported to have boasted, that he
had destroyed three millions of his enemies, and one million of his
friends.

The works of Homer are supposed to have done great injury to mankind by
inspiring the love of military glory. Alexander was said to sleep with t