Z46 THE MORALISTS: Part 3

a shameful and an honorable. “ Hear me,” saysone who pretends to value Philocles, and bevalued by him. “ There can be no such thing as“ real valuableness or worth ; nothing in itself“ estimable or amiable, odious or shameful. All* is Opinion: it is' opinion which makes beauty,“ and unmakes it. The graceful or ungraceful in“ things, the decorum and its contrary, the amiable“ and unamiable, vice, virtue, honor, shame,“ all this is sounded in opinion only. Opinion is“ the law and measure. Nor has opinion any rule“ besides mere Chance; which varies it, as custom“ varies; and makes now this > now that, to bect thought worthy , according to the reign of" fashion, and the ascendant power of education."

What shall we say to such a one? howrepresent to him his absurdity and extravagance?Will he desist the sooner? or shall we ask whatshame, of one who acknowledges no shameful?

Yet he derides, and cries, Ridiculous!

By what right? what title? For thus, ifI were Philocles, would I defend myself: “Am“ I ridiculous ? As how ? What is ridiculous ?Cl Every thing? or nothing?” Ridiculousindeed! But something then, something

there is ridiculous; and the notion, it seems, isright, “of a shameful and a ridiculous, in things.”

How then shall we apply the notion? For thisbeing wrong applied, cannot itself but be ridi-culous. Or will he who cries Shame, refuse toacknowledge any in his turn ? Does he not blush,nor seem discountenanced on any occasion? If he