Man

,—a degenerate degraded animal; the victim of kings, priests, and courtiers. Born to be free, yet content to be a slave. Homo est duplex animal, say the old school-men. When he is independent and free, he is the noblest work of the creation, the image of his Maker; but when he is a subject to monarchs, and duped by their ministers, he is the vilest wretch that crawls upon the earth. When he starts from oppression, and breaks his chain, he presents an awful and sublime spectacle, on which the gods might look with pleasure; but sinking into ignorance and slavery, he is the scorn, the disgrace, and the derision of every class of animated beings.