It
is
to
be
remarked,
that
the
river
or
torrent
thus
precipitated
into
the
sea
does
not
lose
its
nature,
although
it
is
so
changed
and
lost
as
not
to
be
recog-nised.
It
will
always
remain
what
it
was,
yet
its
identity
is
lost,
not
as
to
reality,
but
as
to
quahty;
for
it
so
takes
the
properties
of
salt
water,
that
it
has
nothing
peculiar
to
itself,
and
the
more
it
loses
itself
and
remains
in
the
sea,
the
more
it
exchanges
its
own
nature
for
that
of
the
sea.
For
what,
then,
is
not
this
poor
torrent
fitted
?
fts
capacity
is
unhmited,
since
it
is
the
same
as
that
of
the
sea;
it
is
capable
of
enriching
the
whole
earth.
O
happy
loss
!
who
can
set
thee
forth?
Who
can
describe
the
gain
which
has
been
made
by
this
useless
and
good-for-nothing
river,
despised
and
looked
upon
as
a
mad
thing,
on
which
the
smallest
boat
could
not
be
trusted,
because,
not
being
able
to
restrain
itself,
it
would
have
dragged
the
boat
with
it.
What
do
you
say
of
the
fate
of
this
torrent,
O
great
rivers
!
which
flow
with
such
majesty,
which
are
the
delight
and
admiration
of
the
world,
and
glory
in
the
quantity
of
merchandise
spread
out
upon
you
?
The
fate
of
this
poor
torrent,
which
you
regard
with
contempt,
or
at
best
with
compassion,
H
