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her consent!
Would you not say that this magistrate, whose venerable age commands the
respect of a whole people, is governed by pure and lofty reason, and that he
judges causes according to their true nature without considering those mere
trifles which only affect the imagination of the weak? See him go to sermon,
full of devout zeal, strengthening his reason with the ardour of his love.
He is ready to listen with exemplary respect. Let the preacher appear, and
let nature have given him a hoarse voice or a comical cast of countenance,
or let his barber have given him a bad shave, or let by chance his dress be
more dirtied than usual, then, however great the truths he announces, I
wager our senator loses his gravity.
If the greatest philosopher in the world find himself upon a plank wider
than actually necessary, but hanging over a precipice, his imagination will
prevail, though his reason convince him of his safety. Many cannot bear the
thought without a cold sweat. I will not state all its effects.
Every one knows that the sight of cats or rats, the crushing of a coal,
etc., may unhinge the reason. The tone of voice affects the wisest, and
changes the force of a discourse or a poem.
Love or hate alters the aspect of justice. How much greater confidence has
an advocate, retained with a large fee, in the justice of his cause! How
much
Lucifer
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