OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

323

“ and diligence, acquires a greater stock of re chap“ ligious merit, than he could gain by the re-“ petition of ten thousand prayers.” p In thespring of every year a festival was celebrated,destined to represent the primitive equality, andthe present connection, of mankind. The statelykings of Persia , exchanging their vain pomp formore genuine greatness, freely mingled with thehumblest but most useful of their subjects. Onthat day the husbandmen were admitted, with-out distinction, to the table of the king and hissatraps. The monarch accepted their petitions,inquired into their grievances, and conversedwith them on the most equal terms. “ From“ your labours, was he accustomed to say (and“ to say with truth, if not with sincerity), from

your labours, we receive our subsistence; you“ derive your tranquillity from our vigilance;

“ since, therefore, we are mutually necessary to“ each other, let us live together like brothers“ in concord and love.” q Such a festival mustindeed have degenerated, in a wealthy and des-potic empire, into a theatrical representation;but it was at least a comedy well worthy of aroyal audience, and which might sometimes im-print a salutary lesson on the mind of a youngprince.

Had Zoroaster , in all his institutions, invari- Power ofably supported this exalted character, his name n ' as *'would deserve a place with those of Numa and

p Zendavesta, tom. i/p. 224, and Precis du Systeme de Zoroastre,tom. iii.

q Hyde de Religioue Persarum, c. 10w