Sect. 2 .

A RHAPSODY.

345

we have already decreed, “That beauty and good“ are still the same 7 . ”

I remember, said I, what you forced me toacknowledge more than once before. And now ,good Theocles! that I am become so willing adisciple, I want not so much to be convinced,methinks , as to be coniirmed and strengthened.And 1 hope this last work may prove your easiesttask.

Not unless you help in it yourself, repliedTheocles, for this is necessary, as well as becom-ing It had been indeed shameful for you to haveyielded without making good resistance. To helpone’s self to be convinced, is to prevent reason,and bespeak error and delusion. But, upon fairconviction, to give our heart up to the evidentside, and reinforce the impression, this is to helpreason heartily. And thus we may be said honestlyto persuade ourselves. Show me then how

I may best persuade myself.

Have courage, said he, Philocles, raising hisvoice. Be not offended that I fay, Have courage ?It is Cowardice alone betrays us. For whence canfalse shame be, except from cowardice? To beashamed of what one is sure can never be shameful,must needs be from the want of resolution. Weseek the right and wrong in things; we examinewhat is honorable, what shameful; and havingat last determined, we dare not stand to our ownjudgment, and are ashamed to own there is really

7 Supra, p. 19s, soi. ;;i.