'775- which has fometimes induced him not only to fipare the life of men or brute creatures who have been given up to him for prey, but even to carefs them, and treat them wjth the greateft kindnefs ? Whims and freaks of this kind have, perhaps, in a great meafure acquired the lion the reputation it has for generality; but I cannot allow this fpecious name, facred only to virtue, to be laviihed upon a wild be aft. Slaves, indeed, and wretches of forvile minds, are wont with this attribute to flatter their greateft tyrants; but with what ihew of reafon can this attribute be bellowed upon the moft powerful tyrant among quadrupeds, be- caufe it does not exercife an equal degree of cruelty upon all occafions ? That the lion does not,, like the wolf, tiger,: and fome other beafts o f prey, kill a great deal of game or cattle at one time, perhaps, proceeds from this, that while he is employed in attacking one or two of them, the remainder fly farther than it accords with the natural indolence of this beaft to follow them. I f this be called generality, a cat may be ftyled generous with refped to the rats; as I have feen this creature in the fields among a great number o f the latter, where Ihe could have made a great havock at o n c e , feize on a Angle one only, and run off with it. The lion and the cat likewife, very much re- femble each other, in partly fleeping out, and partly palling away in a quiet inactive ftate a great part o f their time, in which hunger does not urge them to go in queft of their prey. From what I have already related, and am farther about to mention, we may conclude, that it is hot in magnanimity. mity, as many; Will have it to be, but in an infidious- and De^ er: cowardly difpofltiofi,- blended with • a certain degree of pride, that the general charader o f the lion confifts : and that hunger muft naturally have the effect of-now and then infpiring fo ftrong and nimble an animal with uncommon intrepidity-and ' courage. Moreover, being accuftomed always itfelf to kill its own foodi and that with the greateft eafe, as meeting with no fefiftance, and even frequently to devour it reeking and weltering in its blood, it cannot but be eaflly provoked, and acquire a greater turn, for- cruelty than for generaflty : but, 011 the other hand; not being ac- euftomed to meet With any refinance, it is no wonder that when it does, it ihould fometimes be faint-hearted and creft- falien; and, as I have already faid, fuffer itfelf to be feared away with a cudgel. Here follows: another inftance o f this fad. i ; . « a yeoman, a man of veracity, ( J a c o b K o k , of - Zee- koe-rivier,') related to .me an adventure- he had in thefe words : One day walking '■ over his lands; with his loaded gun, 1 he 'unexpectedly met with a lion.- Being an excellent ihoty he thought himfelf pretty certain, in, the pqfi- tion he was in, of killing it, and; therefore fired his piece. Unfortunately he did not recoiled, that the charge had been in- it for fome timei, and confequently was damp ;: fo that his piece hung fire, and the ball falling ihort; entered the ground clofe to the lion. In confequenee of this; he was feized with a panic, and took diredly to his feet; but being foon out o f breath, and clofely purfued by the lion, he jumped up on a little heap of ftones, 'and there made a ftand,. prefenting the butt-end of his gunito his adverfary, fully refolved to defend his. life as-well as h e could to the utmoft. My friend:
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