The persecutions instituted by our fathers have been the occasion of ceaseless obloquy upon their fair fame.  And truly, it was a fault of no ordinary magnitude, that sometimes they did persecute.  But let him whose ancestors were not ten times more guilty, cast the first stone, and the ashes of our fathers will no more be disturbed.  Theirs was the fault of the age, and it will be easy to show that no class of men had, at that time, approximated so nearly to just apprehensions of religious liberty; and that it is to them that the world is now indebted for the more just and definite views which now prevail.

The superstition and bigotry of our fathers are themes on which some of their descendants, themselves far enough from superstition, if not from bigotry, have delighted to dwell.  But when we look abroad, and behold the condition of the world, compared with the condition of New England, we may justly exclaim, “Would to God that the ancestors of all the nations had been not only almost, but altogether such bigots as our fathers were.”

XXIV.  SHORT SELECTIONS IN PROSE. (130)

I. Dryden and Pope.

Dryden knew more of man in his general nature, and Pope in his local manners.  The notions of Dryden were formed by comprehensive speculation, those of Pope by minute attention.  There is more dignity in the knowledge of Dryden, more certainty in that of Pope.  The style of Dryden is capricious and varied, that of Pope cautious and uniform.  Dryden obeys the motions of his own mind; Pope constrains his mind to his own rules of composition.  Dryden’s page is a natural field, rising into inequalities, and diversified by the varied exuberance of abundant vegetation; Pope’s is the velvet lawn, shaven by the scythe, and leveled by the roller.  If the flights of Dryden are higher, Pope continues longer on the wing.  If, of Dryden’s fire, the blaze is brighter, of Pope’s the heat is more regular and constant.  Dryden often surpasses expectation, and Pope never falls below it.  Dryden is read with frequent astonishment, and Pope with perpetual delight. 
                                                —­Samuel Johnson.

Note.—­A fine example of antithesis.  See p. 26.

II.  LAS CASAS DISSUADING FROM BATTLE. (130)

Is then the dreadful measure of your cruelty not yet complete?  Battle! against whom?  Against a king, in whose mild bosom your atrocious injuries, even yet, have not excited hate; but who, insulted or victorious, still sues for peace.  Against a people, who never wronged the living being their Creator formed; a people, who received you as cherished guests, with eager hospitality and confiding kindness.  Generously and freely did they share with you their comforts, their treasures, and their homes; you repaid them by fraud, oppression, and dishonor.