The darts of calamity may assail her on every side,
but she is invulnerable to them all. Before her majesty, the fierceness
of all the tenants of the wood is disarmed, and the more untamed
brutality of savage man is awed into mute obedience. She may not indeed
put on the insolence of pride, and the fool-hardiness of presumption.
But wherever her duty calls, she may proceed fearless and unhurt. She
may be attacked, but she cannot be wounded: she may be surprised, but
she cannot be enslaved: she may be obscured for a moment, but it shall
only be to burst forth again more illustrious than ever.
"But you, Edwin, are much better acquainted with these things, and more
able to instruct than I. They were ever the favourite subject of your
attention. I have seen you with rooted eye fixed for hours in listening
admiration of the sublime dictates of the hoary Llewelyn.--It is little
to learn, to understand, and to admire. A barren and ineffectual
enthusiasm for the speculations of truth, was never respectable and was
never venerable. Now, my swain, is the moment in which these sacred
lessons are to be called into action, and in which, beyond all others,
reputation is to be asserted and character fixed. Leave not then to me
the business of inciting and animating you.
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