This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1774 edition. Excerpt: ...the focial virtues will be mod cultivated by thole, to whom the lulling and uninterrupted enjoyment of peace gives opportunity and inclination to improve the mind and humanize the foul. But whilft danger hovers over us, the defire of felf-prefervation engrofles our whole thoughts, commands and fixes our whole ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1774 edition. Excerpt: ...the focial virtues will be mod cultivated by thole, to whom the lulling and uninterrupted enjoyment of peace gives opportunity and inclination to improve the mind and humanize the foul. But whilft danger hovers over us, the defire of felf-prefervation engrofles our whole thoughts, commands and fixes our whole attention, and whilft we are continually buGed in the defence of our houfehold gods, we have no leifure to facrifice to the graces. ' The Goths, by their irruptions, had indeed given a temporary change to the manners of the inhabitants of Italy, by the introduction of their own; but when pnce the tumults they had occafioned fubfided, and peace was again reftored, literature was then revived.; art and fcienc.es, for the comfort and cmbeUiiluuent of life, were the then introduced, and with them their concomitant virtues, huma-nity and a regard for the welfare of others. What eafe and inactivity began, the warmth1 of climate accomplished; and a keen fenfibilicy took place unknown to former ages. The modern Italians then be-came totally unlike their progenitor Fabricius, who, it is faid, could bear the moll unexpected and terrifying objects without the leaft fhock or emotion. The irritablenefs and delicate mobility of their nerves was confiderably heightened and increafed, and the rough fpirit of valour gave place to the finer feelings of fympathetic ten-dernefs. To this great revolution, it may be doubted, whether the change in the political fyftem or of climate contributed moft. That the climate of Italy is very much altered from what it was in former times, we have the ftrongell reafons to believe, if we compare the accounts given of it by ancient writers, with the real (late of it at this day. Horace and Pliny frequently mention the feverity...
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