It was clear that the earth would not produce her fruits in sufficient quantities without the assistance of tillage; but who would be at the pains of tilling it, if another might watch an opportunity to seize upon and enjoy the product of his industry, art and labor?  Had not, therefore, a separate property in lands, as well as movables, been vested in some individuals, the world must have continued a forest, and men have been mere animals of prey.  Whereas, now, (so graciously has Providence interwoven our duty and our happiness together,) the result of this very necessity has been the ennobling of the human species, by giving it opportunities of improving its rational, as well as of exerting its natural faculties.

Necessity begat property; and, in order to insure that property, recourse was had to civil society, which brought along with it a long train of inseparable concomitants:  states, government, laws, punishments, and the public exercise of religious duties.  Thus connected together, it was found that a part only of society was sufficient to provide, by their manual labor, for the necessary subsistence of all; and leisure was given to others to cultivate the human mind, to invent useful arts, and to lay the foundations of science.

Note.—­Cicero.  See note on page 156.

CXIX.  BATTLE OF WATERLOO. (415)

  There was a sound of revelry by night,
  And Belgium’s capital had gathered then
  Her Beauty and her Chivalry, and bright
  The lamps shone o’er fair women and brave men. 
  A thousand hearts beat happily; and when
  Music arose with its voluptuous swell,
  Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake again,
  And all went merry as a marriage bell;
But hush! hark!—­a deep sound strikes like a rising knell!

  Did ye not hear it?—­No; ’t was but the wind,
  Or the car rattling o’er the stony street;
  On with the dance! let joy be unconfined;
  No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet
  To chase the glowing Hours with flying feet—­
  But, hark!—­that heavy sound breaks in once mere,
  As if the clouds its echo would repeat,
  And nearer, clearer, deadlier than before! 
Arm! arm! it is—­it is the cannon’s opening roar!

  Ah! then and there was hurrying to and fro,
  And gathering tears, and tremblings of distress,
  And cheeks all pale, which, but an hour ago
  Blushed at the praise of their own loveliness;
  And there were sudden partings, such as press
  The life from out young hearts, and choking sighs
  Which ne’er might be repeated:  who could guess
  If ever more should meet those mutual eyes,
Since upon night so sweet such awful morn could rise.