When brought low by a cruel and insolent oppressor, there is no torture
we feel more poignantly, than to see him triumphantly exulting in our
downfal; and the opposite extreme must take place in our minds, on
seeing our enemy over-shoot his mark, and in his turn brought down
to the same level of distress with ourselves. The temper that is not
touched with feelings of this kind, must be of a highly philosophical
cast indeed. The great and powerful, for the sake of their own peace
of mind, should not unfeelingly persecute their inferiors; for nothing
is more sweet to some tempers, and scarcely any thing more easy to
compass, than revenge.
[Illustration: _It is not so ugly as a purse-proud, ignorant, wicked
man._]
[Illustration] [Page 291]