Added to which, human civilisation, so difficult to acquire, and almost impossible to perfect, is not so immutable that it cannot relapse. In fact, we find it has done so several times, among people who once possessed a high degree of culture. In conclusion, I think your brother Epimetheus would have gained the prize before you, had he brought to the judges his model of the first ass, or first frog. I will, however, quite agree with you as to the perfection of man, if you on your part will admit that his excellence is of the kind attributed to the world by Plotinus. This philosopher says the world in itself is supremely perfect, but containing as it does every conceivable evil, it is in reality as bad as can be. From the same point of view, I might perhaps agree with Leibnitz, that the present world is the best of all possible worlds. There can be no doubt that Prometheus had prepared a concise and crushing reply to all this reasoning; but it is very certain he did not give it expression, for just then they found themselves over the city of London. The gods descended, and seeing a great many people rushing to the door of a private house, they mixed with the crowd, and entered the building. Within, they found a dead man, who had been shot in the breast, laid out on a bed. He had a pistol clenched in his right hand, and by his side lay two children, also dead. There were several people of the house in the room, who were being questioned by magistrates, while an official wrote down their replies. _Prom_. Who are these unfortunate beings? _Servant_. My master and his children. _Prom_. Who has killed them? _Servant_. My master himself. _Prom_. What! Do you mean to say he killed his children and himself? _Servant_. Yes. _Prom_. Alas! Why did he do that? Surely some great misfortune must have befallen him. _Servant_. None that I know of. _Prom_. Perhaps he was poor, or despised by every one, unfortunate in love, or in disgrace at court. _Servant_. On the contrary, he was very rich, and I believe universally esteemed. He cared nothing about love, and was in high favour at court. _Prom_. Then why has he done this thing? _Servant_. He was weary of life,--so he says in the writing he has left. _Prom_. What are these judges doing? _Servant_. Taking evidence as to whether my master was out of his mind or not. Unless he is proved to have been insane, his goods fall to the crown by law; and really there is nothing to prevent their so doing. _Prom_. But had he no friend or relative to whom he could entrust his children instead of killing them? _Servant_. Yes, he had; and especially one friend, to whom he has commended his dog.[2]