But ſtill no Body can doubt, but that the Underſtanding and Reaſon of Man is to be preferr’d to theirs, as being comprehenſive of innumerable Things, indued with an infinite memory of what’s paſt, and capable of providing againſt what’s to come. That there is ſome ſuch Species of rational Creatures in the other Planets, which is the Head and Sovereign of the reſt, is very reaſonable to believe: for otherwiſe, were many Species endued with the ſame Wiſdom and Cunning, we ſhould have them always doing Miſchief, always quarrelling and fighting one with another for Empire and Sovereignty, a Thing that we feel too much of where we have but one ſuch Species. But to let that paſs, our next Enquiry ſhall be concerning thoſe Animals in the Planets which are furniſhed with the greateſt Reaſon, whether it’s poſſible to know wherein they employ it, and whether they have made as great Advances in Arts and Knowledge as we in our Planet. Which deſerves moſt to be conſidered and examined of any thing belonging to their Nature; and for the better Performance of it we muſt take our Riſe ſomewhat higher, and nicely view the Lives and Studies of Men. And in thoſe things wherein Men provide and take care only of what’s abſolutely neceſſary for the preſervation of their Life; in defending themſelves from the Injuries of the Air; in ſecuring themſelves againſt the Incurſions of Enemies by Walls; and againſt Fraud and Diſturbances by Laws; in educating their Children, and providing for themſelves and them: In all theſe I can ſee no great reaſon that Man has to boaſt of the Pre-eminency of his Reaſon above Beaſts and other Animals. For moſt of theſe Things they perform with greater Eaſe and Art than we, and ſome of them they have no need of. For that Senſe of Virtue and Juſtice in which Man excels, of Friendſhip, Gratitude and Honeſty, of what uſe are they, but either to put a ſtop to the Wickedneſs of Man, or to ſecure us from mutual Aſſaults and Injuries, Things wherein the Beaſts want no Guide but Nature and Inclination? Then if we ſet before our Eyes the manifold Cares, the Diſturbances of Mind, the reſtleſs Deſires, the dread of Death, that are the reſult of this our Reaſon; and compare them with that eaſy, quiet, and harmleſs Life which other Animals enjoy, we ſhould be apt to wiſh a Change, and conclude that they, eſpecially Birds, lived with more Pleaſure and Happineſs than Man could with all his Wiſdom. For they have as great a Reliſh of bodily Pleaſures as we, let the new Philoſophers ſay what they will, who would have them to be nothing but Clocks and Engines of Fleſh; a Thing which Beaſts ſo plainly confute by crying and running away from a Stick, and all other Actions, that I wonder how any one could ſubſcribe to ſo abſurd and cruel an Opinion. Nay, I can ſcarce doubt but that Birds feel no ſmall Pleaſure in their eaſy, ſmooth ſailing through the Air; and would much more if they but knew the Advantages it hath above our