Languages & literature > Key to the drama

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flved in that •exereife. Careful not to in¬
terrupt me, (he would often fteal into my
ftudy while r was under the tuition of my
mafters, and liften with an attention un-
iifual at her age. Such an -early tendency
to acquire fuperior knowledge, difpofed me
to re-communicate to her fuch of my lefibns
as were beft adapted to a female genius :
I took delight in making her acquainted
with every amiable character I learnt from
hifrory. I remember, that upon one occa-
fion I was expatiating upon the different
effects produced by the virtuous or vicious
habits of the Greeks and Romans-, atone
time admiring the wifdom, prudence and
humanity, of an Augufius or a Vefpafian ;
at another, depreciating the villainy and
barbarity of a Nero, Caligula and Domitian -,
when the infant charmer obferved—I know
not (faid fhe) if in our days we (hall ever
fee an Augujlus or a Vefpafian, but furely
the a&ions of a Nero and Caligula are too
common to us: however, (continued the
furprifing Eugenia) I have often heard my
dear papa advife every one to be flow in
pafling judgment on the aftions of others,
till we can be fure that our own hearts are
inclined to correift them ; and that good is
often produced from the confequence of
the moft apparent evil. This (faid fhe) I
am already convinced of, becaufe, if I had
been