There is nothing certain in this world but death: theory supposes,
experience sometimes proves, but the latter often deceives. The fatality
which constantly attends the wayward lot of mortals, is so secret in its
operations, that it baffles all the penetration of men to discover it.
Xerxes came to conquer Greece with such a numerous force, that his
armies quite exhausted the rivers in quenching their natural thirst. He
covered the sea with ships, as numerous as the caterpillars which
formerly infested Egypt; whence he was inflated with such a certain
prospect of success, that he already considered himself as a complete
master of the sea; and he commanded it to be whipped with rods, for
having the insolence to mutiny tempestuously against him. But, alas! he
shamefully lost so many thousand men, and such a number of ships, that
he thought himself very fortunate in escaping on board a small fishing
bark.
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