
audiobook
ESSAYS, OR DISCOURSES,
CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME
THE BALANCE OF ASTREA; OR, Upright Administration of Justice:
ON THE IMPUNITY OF LYING.
ON THE LOVE OF OUR COUNTRY, AND National Prejudice or Prepossession. - SECT. I.
ON TRUE and FALSE URBANITY. - SECT. I.
A DEFENCE OR VINDICATION of the WOMEN. - SECT. I.
ON CHURCH MUSIC. - SECT. I.
THE WONDERFUL EFFECTS OF MUSIC, AND A COMPARISON OF THE ANTIENT WITH THE MODERN.
ERRATA.
This volume gathers a series of thoughtful essays originally penned in Spanish and rendered into English by a careful translator. The pieces range from a reflective letter about the burdens of judicial office to lively discussions on truth, patriotism, and the role of women in society. Readers will find a blend of moral philosophy and cultural commentary that feels both eighteenth‑century in tone and surprisingly relevant today.
The opening discourse, a father’s counsel to his newly appointed son, warns that power can become a subtle form of slavery, demanding constant vigilance against personal bias and temptation. Subsequent essays examine the perils of lying, the complexities of national prejudice, the fine line between genuine courtesy and false affectation, and even the spiritual power of music. The tone is earnest yet accessible, inviting listeners to contemplate how timeless ideas about justice and virtue intersect with everyday life.
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (471K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United Kingdom: John Brett, 1780.
Credits
Josep Cols Canals, Krista Zaleski and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2023-07-26
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1676–1764
A Benedictine monk who became one of the clearest early voices of the Spanish Enlightenment, he wrote lively essays that challenged superstition and urged readers to trust observation and reason. His work helped bring new scientific and critical ideas to a wide Spanish-speaking audience.
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