BOOK III PART III
subdued, felt in himself such a dignity of right
and of empire, that he coued not believe it
possible any one coued refuse to obey him.
Whether in Europe or in Asia, among Greeks or
Persians, all was indifferent to him: Wherever
he found men, he fancied he found subjects.”
In general we may observe, that whatever
we call heroic virtue, and admire under the
character of greatness and elevation of mind, is
either nothing but a steady and wellestablished
pride and self-esteem, or partakes largely of
that passion. Courage, intrepidity, ambition,
love of glory, magnanimity, and all the other
shining virtues of that kind, have plainly a
strong mixture of self-esteem in them, and de-
rive a great part of their merit from that origin.
Accordingly we find, that many religious de-
claimers decry those virtues as purely pagan