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<A FIELDING> <T MNOTHING> <P 179><L 1> AN ESSAY ON NOTHING. THE INTRODUCTION IT IS SURPRIZING, THAT WHILE SUCH TRIFLING MATTERS EMPLOY THE MASTERLY PENS OF THE PRESENT AGE, THE GREAT AND NOBLE SUBJECT OF THIS ESSAY SHOULD HAVE PASSED TOTALLY NEGLECTED; AND THE RATHER, AS IT IS A SUBJECT TO WHICH THE GENIUS OF MANY OF THOSE WRITERS WHO HAVE UNSUCCESSFULLY APPLIED THEMSELVES TO POLITICS, RELIGION, ETC. IS MOST PECULIARLY ADAPTED. PERHAPS THEIR UNWILLINGNESS TO HANDLE WHAT IS OF SUCH IMPORTANCE, MAY NOT IMPROPERLY BE ASCRIBED TO THEIR MODESTY; THOUGH THEY MAY NOT BE REMARKABLY ADDICTED TO THIS VICE ON EVERY OCCASION. INDEED I HAVE HEARD IT PREDICATED OF SOME, WHOSE ASSURANCE IN TREATING OTHER SUBJECTS HATH BEEN SUFFICIENTLY NOTABLE, THAT THEY HAVE BLUSHED AT THIS. FOR SUCH IS THE AWE WITH WHICH THIS NOTHING INSPIRES MANKIND, THAT I BELIEVE IT IS GENERALLY APPREHENDED OF MANY PERSONS OF VERY HIGH CHARACTER AMONG US, THAT WERE TITLE, POWER, OR RICHES TO ALLURE THEM, THEY WOULD STICK AT . . .
