CHAPTER VI.
"The soul grows clotted by contagion,
Imbodies and imbrutes, till she quite lose
The divine property of her first being."
Milton.
Melliphant had been for some time in the habit of administering to the intellectual pleasures of Rosilia, by supplying her with various books; and, as these were generally such as are esteemed for taste, elegant sentiment, and classic diction, she had received much pleasure in their perusal.
But when, no longer confining himself to these, Meliphant offered to her works addressed to the imagination merely, such as she was well persuaded, from the remarks she had gathered from those whose superior judgment she had deemed indisputable, whilst they pleased the fancy, could not convey the least moral instruction whatever, possessing rather a tendency to increase and enervate the natural sensibilities of the heart; she hesitated not to refuse them with so decided a negative, as mortified and confounded Melliphant.
"The Sorrows of Werter presents a master-piece in that species of literature," exclaimed he. "I
