He had chosen this work, he said, because the declamatory style was framed in imitation of the Eastern authors.

Through this work I obtained a cursory knowledge of history and a view of the several empires at present existing in the world; it gave me an insight into the manners, governments, and religions of the different nations of the earth.

I heard of the slothful Asiatics, of the stupendous genius and mental activity of the Grecians, of the wars and wonderful virtue of the early Romans--of their subsequent degenerating--of the decline of that mighty empire, of chivalry, Christianity, and kings.

I heard of the discovery of the American hemisphere and wept with Safie over the hapless fate of its original inhabitants.
"These wonderful narrations inspired me with strange feelings.

Was man, indeed, at once so powerful, so virtuous and magnificent, yet so vicious and base?
He appeared at one time a mere scion of the evil principle and at another as all that can be conceived of noble and godlike.