and ſhould be diſtinguiſhed from humility, becauſe humility is a kind of ſelf-abaſement.
A modeſt man often conceives a great plan, and tenaciouſly adheres to it, conſcious of his own ſtrength, till ſucceſs gives it a ſanction that determines its character. Milton was not arrogant when he ſuffered a ſuggeſtion of judgment to eſcape him that proved a propheſy; nor was General Waſhington when he accepted of the command of the American forces. The latter has always been characterized as a modeſt man; but had he been merely humble, he would probably have ſhrunk back irreſolute, afraid of truſting to himſelf the direction of an enterpriſe, on which ſo much depended.
A modeſt man is ſteady, an humble man timid, and a vain one preſumptuous:—this is the judgment, which the obſervation of many characters, has led me to form. Jeſus Chriſt was modeſt, Moſes was humble, and Peter vain.
Thus, diſcriminating modeſty from humility in one caſe, I do not mean to confound it with baſhfulneſs in the other. Baſhfulneſs, in fact, is ſo diſtinct from modeſty, that the moſt baſhful laſs, or raw country lout, often becomes the moſt impudent; for their baſhfulneſs being merely the inſtinctive timidity of ignorance, cuſtom ſoon changes it into aſſurance[1].
- ↑ 'Such is the country-maiden's fright,
When firſt a red-coat is in ſight;
Behind the door ſhe hides her face;
Next time at diſtance eyes the lace:
She now can all his terrors ſtand,
Nor from his ſqueeze withdraws her hand.
She plays familiar in his arms,
And ev'ry ſoldier hath his charms;
From tent to tent ſhe ſpreads her flame;
Gay.For cuſtom conquers fear and ſhame.'
