[
{"source_document": "", "creation_year": 1754, "culture": " English\n", "content": "Produced by Chris Curnow, Charlie Howard, and the Online\nTHE POEMS\nOF\nOLIVER GOLDSMITH\n[Illustration:\n  THE\n  POEMS\n  OF\n  OLIVER GOLDSMITH\n[Illustration]\n  THE POEMS\n  OF\n  OLIVER GOLDSMITH.\n  EDITED BY\n  ROBERT ARIS WILLMOTT,\n  AUTHOR OF THE \u201cPLEASURES OF LITERATURE,\u201d\n  \u201cSUMMER TIME IN THE COUNTRY,\u201d\n  ETC., ETC.\n  A NEW EDITION,\n  WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY\n  BIRKET FOSTER AND H.\u00a0N. HUMPHREYS,\n  PRINTED IN COLOURS BY EDMUND EVANS.\n  [Illustration]\n  LONDON AND NEW YORK\n  GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS.\n[Illustration:\nEDMUND EVANS\nENGRAVER & PRINTER]\n[Illustration: PREFACE]\nOliver Goldsmith, the fifth child of Charles and Ann Goldsmith,\nwas born at Pallas, a hamlet of the parish of Forney, county of\nLongford, Ireland, November 10th, 1728. His father, the \u201cPreacher\u201d\nof the \u201cDeserted Village,\u201d having been presented to the Rectory of\nKilkenny-West, about the year 1730, removed his family to Lissoy, the\n\u201cAuburn\u201d of the Poet. The \u201cmodest mansion\u201d is a ruin, or, by this time,\nhas quite disappeared. His first schoolmaster is described, by one\nwho remembered him, as a man \u201cstern to view,\u201d in whose \u201cmorning face\u201d\nthe disasters of the day might be easily read. Goldsmith made small\nprogress under the ferule of Paddy Burns, and, after being for some\ntime a pupil in the diocesan school of Elphin, he was placed with a\ncompetent teacher at Athlone, where he remained two years. He was then\ntransferred to the care of Mr. Hughes, vicar of Shruel, who treated him\nwith kindness, and whom he always mentioned with respect and gratitude.\nHis eldest sister has given a specimen of her brother\u2019s early and ready\nhumour. A large company of young people had assembled in his uncle\u2019s\nhouse, at Elphin, and Oliver, then nine years old, was desired to dance\na hornpipe, under very unfavourable circumstances, for his figure\nwas short and thick, and the marks of recent small-pox were still\nconspicuous. A young man, who played the violin, compared him to \u00c6sop\ndancing; but Oliver, stopping short in the performance, immediately\ndisabled his satirist with a sharp epigram:--\n  \u201cOur herald hath proclaim\u2019d this saying,\n  See \u00c6sop dancing, and his monkey playing.\u201d\nOn the 11th of June, 1745, he was admitted a Sizar of Trinity College,\nDublin--a fact which denoted a considerable proficiency in classical\nlearning; but he was unfortunate in his tutor, who deserved, and has\nwon, the title of \u201cSavage;\u201d and, perhaps, the promise of Oliver was\nblighted by his severity. He neglected his studies, and was seen\n\u201cperpetually lounging about the college gates.\u201d We find him elected,\nJune 15th, 1747, to an Exhibition, on the foundation of Erasmus Smith,\nobtaining a premium at the Christmas examination, and, after a delay\nof two years, taking his Bachelor\u2019s degree, February 27th, 1750. His\nfather died in 1747, but he found a second parent in the Rev Thomas\nContarine, who was descended from a noble ancestry in Venice, and had\nbeen a contemporary and friend of Berkeley. The relatives of the poet\nnow advised him to \u201cgo into orders,\u201d and yielding to the persuasion\nof Mr. Contarine, he presented himself before the Bishop of Elphin,\nand was rejected. Tradition ascribes the failure to his uncanonical\ncostume, and the episcopal dislike of scarlet breeches.\nHis kind friends might now, as he afterwards wrote, be perfectly\nsatisfied that he was undone; but they did not abandon him. He was\nenabled to proceed to Edinburgh, towards the end of 1752, where he\nattended the lectures of Monro and the other Medical Professors.\nScotland did not please him. \u201cShall I tire you,\u201d he wrote to a friend,\n\u201cwith a description of this unfruitful country, where I must lead you\nover their hills all brown with heath, or their valleys scarcely able\nto feed a rabbit? Man alone seems to be the only creature who has\narrived to the natural size in this poor soil.\u201d\nHis design of completing his studies at Leyden was nearly frustrated\nby an act of generous imprudence, from which two college friends set\nhim free. From Leyden, in the April or May of 1754, he sent a letter\nto Mr. Contarine, containing an account of his journey, and some\nlively sketches of the \u201cdownright Hollander,\u201d with lank hair, laced\nhat, no coat, and seven waistcoats, the lady with her portable stove,\nthe lugubrious Harlequin, and the domestic interior, which reminded\nhim of a magnificent Egyptian temple dedicated to an ox. He remained\nin Leyden nearly a year, deriving small benefit from the instruction\nof the Professors, who, with the exception of Gaubius, the teacher of\nChemistry, were as indolent as himself. Meanwhile, the necessaries of\nlife were costly, and the attractions of the gaming-table proved to\nbe overpowering and ruinous. At length, having emptied his purse, and\nreduced his wardrobe to a single shirt, he boldly resolved to make the\ntour of Europe. This characteristic chapter of the Poet\u2019s history is\nyet to be written, if his lost letters should ever be recovered. The\ninteresting and copious narrative which he communicated to Dr. Radcliff\nis known to have been destroyed by fire.\nHe commenced his travels about February, 1755. \u201cA good voice,\u201d adopting\nhis own account of an earlier adventurer, \u201cand a trifling skill\nin music, were the only finances he had to support an undertaking\nso extensive.\u201d Thus he journeyed, and at night sang at the doors\nof peasants\u2019 houses, to get himself a lodging. Once or twice, he\n\u201cattempted to play to people of fashion,\u201d but they despised his\nperformance, and never rewarded him even with a trifle. We are told\nby Bishop Percy, that he reached Padua, and visited all the northern\nparts of Italy, returning, on foot, through France, and landing at\nDover, about the beginning of the war, in 1756. We may believe his own\nassurance, that he fought his way homewards, examining mankind with\nnear eyes, and seeing both sides of the picture.\nHe appeared in London, without means or interest. England, he\ncomplained, was a country, where being born an Irishman was sufficient\nto keep a man unemployed. With much difficulty he obtained the\nsituation of usher at a school. Johnson did not remember the occupation\nwith a fiercer disgust; and the redolent French teacher, papering his\ncurls at night, was a frequent spectre of his memory. A migration from\nthe school-room to the chemist\u2019s shop slightly improved his condition.\nBetter days were coming. By the aid of an Edinburgh acquaintance,\nDr. Sleigh, and other friends, he was \u201cset up\u201d as a practitioner at\nBankside, Southwark, where, in his pleasant confession, he got plenty\nof patients, but no fees. A physician, Dr. Farr, who had known him\nin Scotland, thus describes his appearance:--\u201cHe called upon me one\nmorning, before I was up, and, on entering the room, I recognized my\nold acquaintance, dressed in a rusty, full-trimmed black suit, with\nhis pockets full of papers, which instantly reminded me of the poet\nin Garrick\u2019s farce of \u2018Lethe.\u2019 On this occasion he read portions of\na \u2018Tragedy,\u2019 and talked of a journey to decipher the inscriptions on\nthe Written Mountains.\u201d In later days, when writing an \u201cEssay on the\nadvantages to be derived from sending a judicious traveller into Asia,\u201d\nGoldsmith professed to feel the difficulty of choosing a proper person\nfor such an enterprise, and indicated the qualifications demanded:--\u201cHe\nshould be a man of a philosophical turn, one apt to deduce consequences\nof general utility from particular occurrences--neither swollen with\npride, nor hardened by prejudice--neither wedded to one particular\nsystem, nor instructed only in one particular science--neither wholly a\nbotanist, nor wholly an antiquarian; his mind should be tinctured with\nmiscellaneous knowledge, and his manners humanized by an intercourse\nwith men. He should be, in some measure, an enthusiast to the design;\nfond of travelling, from a rapid imagination and an innate love of\nchange; furnished with a body capable of sustaining every fatigue, and\na heart not easily terrified at danger.\u201d\nWith the year 1757, the prospects of Goldsmith brightened, and the\npapers which filled the pockets of the rusty black coat began to\nget abroad. He wrote several articles for the \u201cMonthly Review,\u201d\ntranslated the \u201cM\u00e9moires d\u2019un Protestant,\u201d and composed his \u201cEnquiry\ninto the Present State of Polite Learning in Europe.\u201d The object of\nthe work was special. He had obtained the appointment of physician to\na factory on the coast of Coromandel, and was providing funds for the\nvoyage. A considerable sum was needed. The Company\u2019s warrant cost ten\npounds, and the passage and equipment required one hundred and thirty\npounds in addition; but the emoluments were expected to be large. The\nsalary was one hundred pounds; the average returns of the general\npractice amounted to a thousand; there was an opening for commercial\nenterprise, and invested money brought twenty per cent. These were\nflattering inducements; but time deadened their charm, and he shrank\nfrom so distant a banishment, and beginning life again at the age of\nthirty-one. Eight years of anxiety and trial had done their work on his\nface and temper. His picture of himself was most discouraging. He had\n\u201ccontracted a hesitating, disagreeable manner of speaking, and a visage\nthat looked ill-nature itself.\u201d Home news deepened his melancholy, for\nhis mother was almost blind.\nThe \u201cEnquiry\u201d appeared, without the Author\u2019s name, April, 1759--a\nsmall volume, price half-a-crown; and in the autumn of the same year,\nthe commencement of a weekly paper, called \u201cThe Bee,\u201d afforded him an\nopportunity of showing his skill as an Editor. His plan was to \u201crove\nfrom flower to flower, with seeming inattention, but concealed choice,\nexpatiate over all the beauties of the season, and make his industry\nhis amusement.\u201d The \u201cBee\u201d expired with its eighth number, but he\nwas more successful in his next enterprise. To the \u201cPublic Ledger,\u201d\nof which the first number appeared January 12th, 1760, Goldsmith\ncontributed one hundred and twenty-three letters, which were afterwards\ncollected as the \u201cCitizen of the World.\u201d\nThe last day of May, 1761, was memorable in his life, as witnessing\nthe commencement of his intimacy with Johnson. His miscellaneous\nproductions in 1762-4 included a \u201cLife of Richard Nash, of Bath,\u201d an\n\u201cIntroduction to Natural History,\u201d an \u201cAbridgment of Plutarch,\u201d a\n\u201cHistory of England,\u201d and the \u201cTraveller.\u201d For the poem he received\nonly twenty guineas, but the applause of its readers was loud and\nunanimous. \u201cI was glad,\u201d said Sir Joshua, \u201cto hear Sir Charles Fox\nsay it was one of the finest poems in the English language.\u201d A fourth\nedition was required within eight months, and the Author lived to see\nthe ninth. In 1764, he wrote the \u201cCaptivity,\u201d for which the sum of ten\nguineas was paid by Dodsley.\nPoetry kept him poor, and we still see him writing for bread in a\ngarret, and expecting to be \u201cdunned for a milk score.\u201d However, he\ncleared and warmed the future with the hopefulness of his genial\nnature, and comforted himself by the recollection that while Addison\nwrote the \u201cCampaign\u201d in a third storey, he had only got to the second.\nReckless improvidence multiplied his difficulties. \u201cThose who knew\nhim,\u201d he told a correspondent, \u201cknew his principles to differ from\nthose of the rest of mankind, and while none regarded the interest of\nhis friend more, none regarded his own less.\u201d\nAmong his disappointments, at this period, are to be numbered an\nunsuccessful application for a Gresham Lectureship, and Garrick\u2019s\nrefusal of the \u201cGood-Natured Man.\u201d But Colman put the drama on the\nstage, January 29th, 1768, and the Professorship of Ancient History\nin the Royal Academy was agreeably bestowed. His \u201cRoman History,\u201d\npublished in 1769, was received with favour; and in the May of 1770,\nthe \u201cDeserted Village\u201d appeared.\nIn that year, Gray travelled through a part of England and South Wales,\nand Mr. Norton Nichols was with him at Malvern when he received the\nnew poem, which he desired his friend to read to him. He listened with\nfixed attention, and soon exclaimed, \u201cThis man is a Poet.\u201d In twelve\ndays the poem was reprinted, and before the 5th of August the public\nadmiration exhausted a fifth impression. His comedy, the \u201cMistakes of\na Night\u201d (represented March 15th, 1773), obtained a success, of its\nkind, not inferior. Johnson said that it answered the great end of a\ncomedy--\u201cmaking an audience merry.\u201d For an impertinent letter in the\n\u201cLondon Packet,\u201d Goldsmith caned the editor; having found, was the\nremark of a friend, a new pleasure, for he believed that it was the\n\u201cfirst time he had beat,\u201d though \u201che may have been beaten before.\u201d\nI may add, that the Ballad of \u201cEdwin and Angelina,\u201d having been\nprivately printed for the amusement of the Countess of Northumberland,\nwas inserted in the \u201cVicar of Wakefield,\u201d when that charming fiction\nfirst came out, March 27th, 1766, to delight the young by its\nadventures, and the old by its wisdom. For two years the manuscript had\nlain in the desk of the Publisher, until the fame of the \u201cTraveller\u201d\nencouraged him to send it to the press.\nHe was now engaged in the compilation of the \u201cHistory of the Earth and\nAnimated Nature,\u201d for which he was to receive eight hundred guineas;\nand about this time, according to Percy, he wrote \u201cthe \u2018Haunch of\nVenison,\u2019 \u2018Retaliation,\u2019 and some other little sportive sallies, which\nwere not printed until after his death.\u201d Mr. Peter Cunningham[1] has,\nfor the first time, related the true story of \u201cRetaliation,\u201d in the\noriginal words of Garrick:--A party of friends, at the St. James\u2019s\nCoffee House, were diverting themselves with the peculiar oddities\nof Goldsmith, who insisted upon trying his epigrammatic powers with\nGarrick. Each was to write the other\u2019s epitaph. Garrick immediately\nspoke the following lines:--\n  \u201cHere lies Nolly Goldsmith, for shortness call\u2019d Noll,\n  Who wrote like an angel, and talk\u2019d like poor Poll.\u201d\nThe company laughed, and Goldsmith grew serious; he went to work, and\nsome weeks after produced \u201cRetaliation,\u201d which was not written in\nanger, but with the utmost good humour.\nHis path seemed now to be winding out of gloom into the full\nsunlight,--but, of a sudden, there rose up in it the \u201cShadow feared\nof man.\u201d He was busy with projects, and had prepared a \u201cProspectus of\nan Universal Dictionary of Arts and Science,\u201d when a complaint, from\nwhich he had previously suffered, returned with extreme severity. His\nunskilful treatment of the disorder was aggravated by the agitation of\nhis mind, and he gradually sank, until Monday, April 4th, 1774, when\ndeath released him, in the forty-sixth year of his age. His remains\nwere interred in the burial-ground of the Temple; Nollekens carved\nhis profile in marble, and Johnson wrote a Latin inscription for the\nmonument, which was erected in the south transept of Westminster\nAbbey. The epitaph is thus given in English:--\n                    Poet, Naturalist, and Historian,\n                 who left scarcely any style of writing\n               and touched nothing that he did not adorn;\n                    whether smiles were to be moved,\n                     a powerful yet gentle master;\n                 in genius, sublime, lively, versatile;\n                  in style, elevated, clear, elegant--\n                        the love of companions,\n                        the fidelity of friends,\n                     and the veneration of readers,\n               have by this monument honoured the memory.\n                       at a place called Pallas,\n          [in the parish] of Forney, [and county] of Longford,\n                educated at [the university of] Dublin;\nGoldsmith, in the judgment of a friendly, but severe observer, always\nseemed to do best that which he was doing. Does he write History? He\ntells shortly, and with a pleasing simplicity of narrative, all that we\nwant to know. Does he write Essays? He clothes familiar wisdom with an\neasy and elegant diction, of which the real difficulty is only known\nby those who seek to obtain it. Does he write the story of Animated\nNature? He makes it \u201camusing as a Persian tale.\u201d Does he write a Novel?\nDr. Primrose sits in our chimney-corner to celebrate his biographer.\nDoes he write Comedy? Laughter \u201cholds both its sides\u201d at the Incendiary\nLetter to \u201cMuster Croaker.\u201d Does he write Poetry? The big tears on the\nrugged face of Johnson bear witness to its tenderness, dignity, and\ntruth. The naturalness of the Author pervaded the Man. Whose vanity\nwas so transparent, and yet so harmless? He honestly believed himself\nqualified to explore Asia, and would have undertaken to read, at sight,\nthe Manuscripts of Mount Athos. His tailor\u2019s bill is a commentary on\nhis life. But under the bloom-coloured coat beat the large heart of a\nkindly and generous nature, throwing up the spontaneous and abundant\nfruitfulness of charity to the needy, and sympathy with all. Thieves\nhad only to plunder a stranger, to make him a neighbour. In reading\nGoldsmith, or reading of him, the touch of nature changes us into his\nkindred, and we do not more admire the Writer, than we love the Brother.\n            ST. CATHERINE\u2019S,\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] Miscellaneous Prose Works of Goldsmith, vol. i., p. 79.\n[2] \u201cThe year of Dr. Goldsmith\u2019s birth had been universally mistaken,\ntill his family, some time after his death, furnished correct\ninformation of the circumstance.\u201d--PERCY.\n[Illustration: HERE LIES OLIVER GOLDSMITH]\n[Illustration: CONTENTS]\n  ON A BEAUTIFUL YOUTH STRUCK BLIND BY LIGHTNING                     125\n  TRANSLATION OF A SOUTH AMERICAN ODE                                128\n  DESCRIPTION OF AN AUTHOR\u2019S BED-CHAMBER                             130\n  SONG, FROM THE COMEDY OF \u201cSHE STOOPS TO CONQUER\u201d                   131\n  SONG, INTENDED TO HAVE BEEN SUNG IN \u201cSHE STOOPS TO CONQUER\u201d        135\n  ANSWER TO AN INVITATION TO PASS THE CHRISTMAS AT BARTON            138\n  ON SEEING A LADY PERFORM A CERTAIN CHARACTER                       141\n  PROLOGUE WRITTEN AND SPOKEN BY THE POET LABERIUS                   143\n  EPILOGUE INTENDED FOR \u201cSHE STOOPS TO CONQUER\u201d                      148\n  EPILOGUE WRITTEN FOR MR. CHARLES LEE LEWES                         163\n[Illustration: ILLUSTRATIONS]\nENGRAVED BY EDMUND EVANS,\nFROM DRAWINGS BY BIRKET FOSTER.\n  MILL AT LISSOY (_Frontispiece_).\n  GOLDSMITH\u2019S TOMB IN THE TEMPLE CHURCHYARD                         xvii\n  THE TRAVELLER.\n  _Or where Campania\u2019s plain forsaken lies_                            5\n  _Bless\u2019d that abode, where want and pain repair_                     6\n  _Even now, where Alpine solitudes ascend_                            7\n  _Ye lakes, whose vessels catch the busy gale_                        8\n  _The shuddering tenant of the frigid zone_                           9\n  _Basks in the glare, or stems the tepid wave_                       10\n  _While oft some temple\u2019s mouldering tops between_                   12\n  _In florid beauty groves and fields appear_                         13\n  _A mistress or a saint in every grove_                              14\n  _Where the bleak Swiss their stormy mansions tread_                 16\n  _With patient angle trolls the finny deep_                          17\n  _How often have I led thy sportive choir_                           18\n  _The willow-tufted bank, the gliding sail_                          21\n  _There gentle music melts on every spray_                           24\n  _Where wild Oswego spreads her swamps around_                       27\n  THE DESERTED VILLAGE.\n  _The never-failing brook, the busy mill_                            32\n  _The shelter\u2019d cot, the cultivated farm_                            33\n  _And many a gambol frolick\u2019d o\u2019er the ground_                       34\n  _The hollow-sounding bittern guards its nest_                       35\n  _Where once the cottage stood, the hawthorn grew_                   37\n  _The swain responsive as the milk-maid sung_                        38\n  _And fill\u2019d each pause the nightingale had made_                    39\n  _To pick her wintry faggot from the thorn_                          40\n  _The village preacher\u2019s modest mansion rose_                        41\n  _Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride_                        42\n  _At church, with meek and unaffected grace_                         43\n  _Low lies that house, where nut-brown draughts inspir\u2019d_            45\n  _No more the farmer\u2019s news, the barber\u2019s tale_                      45\n  _Space for his lake, his park\u2019s extended bounds_                    48\n  _Where the poor houseless, shivering female lies_                   50\n  _Her modest looks the cottage might adorn_                          51\n  _Where crouching tigers wait their hapless prey_                    52\n  _The cooling brook, the grassy-vested green_                        53\n  _And left a lover\u2019s for a father\u2019s arms_                            54\n  _Downward they move, a melancholy band_                             56\n  THE HERMIT.\n  _Then turn, to-night, and freely share whate\u2019er my cell bestows_    58\n  _The hermit trimm\u2019d his little fire, and cheer\u2019d his pensive\n  _And when, beside me in the dale; he caroll\u2019d lays of love_         64\n  THE CAPTIVITY.\n  _Ye hills of Lebanon, with cedars crown\u2019d_                          69\n  _Fierce is the tempest rolling along the furrow\u2019d main_             74\n  _As panting flies the hunted hind, where brooks refreshing stray_   80\n  ON A BEAUTIFUL YOUTH STRUCK BLIND BY LIGHTNING                     125\n  EPILOGUE WRITTEN FOR MR. CHARLES LEE LEWES                         162\n_The Ornamental Illustrations designed by_ H. NOEL HUMPHREYS\n[Illustration: THE TRAVELLER]\nDEDICATION.\nTO THE REV. HENRY GOLDSMITH.\nDEAR SIR,\nI am sensible that the friendship between us can acquire no new force\nfrom the ceremonies of a dedication; and perhaps it demands an excuse\nthus to prefix your name to my attempts, which you decline giving with\nyour own. But as a part of this poem was formerly written to you from\nSwitzerland, the whole can now, with propriety, be only inscribed to\nyou. It will also throw a light upon many parts of it, when the reader\nunderstands that it is addressed to a man who, despising fame and\nfortune, has retired early to happiness and obscurity with an income of\nforty pounds a year.\nI now perceive, my dear brother, the wisdom of your humble choice. You\nhave entered upon a sacred office, where the harvest is great, and the\nlabourers are but few; while you have left the field of ambition, where\nthe labourers are many, and the harvest not worth carrying away. But\nof all kinds of ambition--what from the refinement of the times, from\ndifferent systems of criticism, and from the divisions of party--that\nwhich pursues poetical fame is the wildest.\nPoetry makes a principal amusement among unpolished nations; but in\na country verging to the extremes of refinement, Painting and Music\ncome in for a share. As these offer the feeble mind a less laborious\nentertainment, they at first rival Poetry, and at length supplant her:\nthey engross all that favour once shown to her; and, though but younger\nsisters, seize upon the elder\u2019s birthright.\nYet, however this art may be neglected by the powerful, it is still in\ngreater danger from the mistaken efforts of the learned to improve it.\nWhat criticisms have we not heard of late in favour of blank verse and\npindaric odes, choruses, anapests, and iambics, alliterative care and\nhappy negligence! Every absurdity has now a champion to defend it; and\nas he is generally much in the wrong, so he has always much to say--for\nerror is ever talkative.\nBut there is an enemy to this art still more dangerous; I mean party.\nParty entirely distorts the judgment and destroys the taste. When the\nmind is once infected with this disease, it can only find pleasure in\nwhat contributes to increase the distemper. Like the tiger, that seldom\ndesists from pursuing man after having once preyed upon human flesh,\nthe reader who has once gratified his appetite with calumny, makes ever\nafter the most agreeable feast upon murdered reputation. Such readers\ngenerally admire some half-witted thing, who wants to be thought a bold\nman, having lost the character of a wise one. Him they dignify with the\nname of poet: his tawdry lampoons are called satires; his turbulence is\nsaid to be force, and his frenzy fire.\nWhat reception a poem may find, which has neither abuse, party, nor\nblank verse to support it, I cannot tell; nor am I solicitous to know.\nMy aims are right. Without espousing the cause of any party, I have\nattempted to moderate the rage of all. I have endeavoured to show that\nthere may be equal happiness in states that are differently governed\nfrom our own; that every state has a particular principle of happiness;\nand that this principle in each may be carried to a mischievous excess.\nThere are few can judge better than yourself how far these positions\nare illustrated in this poem.\n        Your most affectionate brother,\n                OLIVER GOLDSMITH.\n[Illustration: THE TRAVELLER]\n    Remote, unfriended, melancholy, slow--\n  Or by the lazy Scheldt, or wandering Po,\n  Or onward where the rude Carinthian boor\n  Against the houseless stranger shuts the door,\n  Or where Campania\u2019s plain forsaken lies,\n  A weary waste expanding to the skies--\n  Where\u2019er I roam, whatever realms to see,\n  My heart, untravell\u2019d, fondly turns to thee;\n  Still to my brother turns, with ceaseless pain,\n  And drags at each remove a lengthening chain.\n    Eternal blessings crown my earliest friend,\n  And round his dwelling guardian saints attend:\n  Bless\u2019d be that spot, where cheerful guests retire\n  To pause from toil, and trim their evening fire;\n  Bless\u2019d that abode, where want and pain repair,\n  And every stranger finds a ready chair;\n  Bless\u2019d be those feasts, with simple plenty crown\u2019d,\n  Where all the ruddy family around\n  Laugh at the jests or pranks that never fail,\n  Or sigh with pity at some mournful tale,\n  Or press the bashful stranger to his food,\n  And learn the luxury of doing good.\n[Illustration]\n    But me, not destin\u2019d such delights to share,\n  My prime of life in wandering spent and care,\n  Impell\u2019d with steps unceasing to pursue\n  Some fleeting good that mocks me with the view,\n  That, like the circle bounding earth and skies,\n  Allures from far, yet, as I follow, flies--\n  My fortune leads to traverse realms alone,\n  And find no spot of all the world my own.\n[Illustration]\n    Even now, where Alpine solitudes ascend,\n  I sit me down a pensive hour to spend;\n  And plac\u2019d on high, above the storms career,\n  Look downward where an hundred realms appear--\n  Lakes, forests, cities, plains extending wide,\n  The pomp of kings, the shepherd\u2019s humbler pride.\n[Illustration]\n    When thus Creation\u2019s charms around combine,\n  Amidst the store should thankless pride repine?\n  Say, should the philosophic mind disdain\n  That good which makes each humbler bosom vain?\n  Let school-taught pride dissemble all it can,\n  These little things are great to little man;\n  And wiser he whose sympathetic mind\n  Exults in all the good of all mankind.\n  Ye glittering towns with wealth and splendour crown\u2019d,\n  Ye fields where summer spreads profusion round,\n  Ye lakes whose vessels catch the busy gale,\n  Ye bending swains that dress the flowery vale--\n  For me your tributary stores combine;\n  Creation\u2019s heir, the world, the world is mine!\n    As some lone miser, visiting his store,\n  Bends at his treasure, counts, recounts it o\u2019er--\n  Hoards after hoards his rising raptures fill,\n  Yet still he sighs, for hoards are wanting still--\n  Thus to my breast alternate passions rise,\n  Pleas\u2019d with each good that Heaven to man supplies;\n  Yet oft a sigh prevails, and sorrows fall,\n  To see the hoard of human bliss so small;\n  And oft I wish, amidst the scene, to find\n  Some spot to real happiness consign\u2019d,\n  Where my worn soul, each wandering hope at rest,\n  May gather bliss to see my fellows blest.\n[Illustration]\n    But where to find that happiest spot below,\n  Who can direct, when all pretend to know?\n  The shuddering tenant of the frigid zone\n  Boldly proclaims that happiest spot his own,\n  Extols the treasures of his stormy seas,\n  And his long nights of revelry and ease;\n  The naked negro, panting at the line,\n  Boasts of his golden sands and palmy wine,\n  Basks in the glare, or stems the tepid wave,\n  And thanks his gods for all the good they gave.\n[Illustration]\n    Such is the patriot\u2019s boast, where\u2019er we roam,\n  His first, best country ever is at home;\n  And yet, perhaps, if countries we compare,\n  And estimate the blessings which they share,\n  Though patriots flatter, still shall wisdom find\n  An equal portion dealt to all mankind--\n  As different good, by art or nature given\n  To different nations, makes their blessings even.\n   Nature, a mother kind alike to all,\n  Still grants her bliss at labour\u2019s earnest call:\n  With food as well the peasant is supplied\n  On Idria\u2019s cliffs as Arno\u2019s shelvy side;\n  And, though the rocky-crested summits frown,\n  These rocks, by custom, turn to beds of down.\n  From art, more various are the blessings sent--\n  Wealth, commerce, honour, liberty, content;\n  Yet these each other\u2019s power so strong contest,\n  That either seems destructive of the rest:\n  Where wealth and freedom reign, contentment fails,\n  And honour sinks where commerce long prevails.\n  Hence every state, to one lov\u2019d blessing prone,\n  Conforms and models life to that alone;\n  Each to the favourite happiness attends,\n  And spurns the plan that aims at other ends--\n  Till, carried to excess in each domain,\n  This favourite good begets peculiar pain.\n    But let us try these truths with closer eyes,\n  And trace them through the prospect as it lies:\n  Here, for a while my proper cares resign\u2019d,\n  Here let me sit in sorrow for mankind;\n  Like yon neglected shrub, at random cast,\n  That shades the steep, and sighs at every blast.\n    Far to the right, where Apennine ascends,\n  Bright as the summer, Italy extends:\n  Its uplands sloping deck the mountain\u2019s side.\n  Woods over woods in gay theatric pride,\n  While oft some temple\u2019s mouldering tops between\n  With venerable grandeur mark the scene.\n[Illustration]\n    Could Nature\u2019s bounty satisfy the breast,\n  The sons of Italy were surely bless\u2019d.\n  Whatever fruits in different climes are found,\n  That proudly rise, or humbly court the ground--\n  Whatever blooms in torrid tracts appear,\n  Whose bright succession decks the varied year--\n  Whatever sweets salute the northern sky,\n  With vernal lives, that blossom but to die--\n  These, here disporting, own the kindred soil,\n  Nor ask luxuriance from the planter\u2019s toil;\n  While sea-born gales their gelid wings expand,\n  To winnow fragrance round the smiling land.\n[Illustration]\n    But small the bliss that sense alone bestows,\n  And sensual bliss is all the nation knows;\n  In florid beauty groves and fields appear--\n  Man seems the only growth that dwindles here!\n  Contrasted faults through all his manners reign;\n  Though poor, luxurious; though submissive, vain\n  Though grave, yet trifling; zealous, yet untrue--\n  And even in penance planning sins anew.\n  All evils here contaminate the mind,\n  That opulence departed leaves behind;\n  For wealth was theirs--nor far remov\u2019d the date\n  When commerce proudly flourish\u2019d through the state,\n  At her command the palace learn\u2019d to rise,\n  Again the long-fall\u2019n column sought the skies,\n  The canvas glow\u2019d beyond even nature warm,\n  The pregnant quarry teem\u2019d with human form;\n  Till, more unsteady than the southern gale,\n  Commerce on other shores display\u2019d her sail,\n  While nought remain\u2019d of all that riches gave,\n  But towns unmann\u2019d, and lords without a slave--\n  And late the nation found, with fruitless skill,\n  Its former strength was but plethoric ill.\n[Illustration]\n    Yet, still the loss of wealth is here supplied\n  By arts, the splendid wrecks of former pride:\n  From these the feeble heart and long-fall\u2019n mind\n  An easy compensation seem to find.\n  Here may be seen, in bloodless pomp array\u2019d,\n  The pasteboard triumph and the cavalcade;\n  Processions form\u2019d for piety and love--\n  A mistress or a saint in every grove:\n  By sports like these are all their cares beguil\u2019d;\n  The sports of children satisfy the child.\n  Each nobler aim, repress\u2019d by long control,\n  Now sinks at last, or feebly mans the soul;\n  While low delights, succeeding fast behind,\n  In happier meanness occupy the mind.\n  As in those domes, where C\u00e6sars once bore sway,\n  Defac\u2019d by time and tottering in decay,\n  There in the ruin, heedless of the dead,\n  The shelter-seeking peasant builds his shed;\n  And, wondering man could want the larger pile,\n  Exults, and owns his cottage with a smile.\n[Illustration]\n    My soul, turn from them, turn we to survey\n  Where rougher climes a nobler race display--\n  Where the bleak Swiss their stormy mansions tread,\n  And force a churlish soil for scanty bread.\n  No product here the barren hills afford,\n  But man and steel, the soldier and his sword;\n  No vernal blooms their torpid rocks array,\n  But winter lingering chills the lap of May;\n  No zephyr fondly sues the mountain\u2019s breast,\n  But meteors glare, and stormy glooms invest.\n    Yet still, even here, content can spread a charm,\n  Redress the clime, and all its rage disarm.\n  Though poor the peasant\u2019s hut, his feasts though small,\n  He sees his little lot the lot of all;\n  Sees no contiguous palace rear its head,\n  To shame the meanness of his humble shed--\n  No costly lord the sumptuous banquet deal,\n  To make him loathe his vegetable meal--\n  But calm, and bred in ignorance and toil,\n  Each wish contracting, fits him to the soil.\n  Cheerful at morn, he wakes from short repose,\n  Breasts the keen air, and carols as he goes;\n  With patient angle trolls the finny deep;\n  Or drives his venturous ploughshare to the steep;\n  Or seeks the den where snow-tracks mark the way,\n  And drags the struggling savage into day.\n  At night returning, every labour sped,\n  He sits him down the monarch of a shed;\n  Smiles by his cheerful fire, and round surveys\n  His children\u2019s looks, that brighten at the blaze--\n  While his lov\u2019d partner, boastful of her hoard,\n  Displays her cleanly platter on the board:\n  And haply too some pilgrim, thither led,\n  With many a tale repays the nightly bed.\n[Illustration]\n    Thus every good his native wilds impart\n  Imprints the patriot passion on his heart;\n  And even those ills, that round his mansion rise,\n  Enhance the bliss his scanty fund supplies:\n  Dear is that shed to which his soul conforms,\n  And dear that hill which lifts him to the storms;\n  And as a child, when scaring sounds molest,\n  Clings close and closer to the mother\u2019s breast--\n  So the loud torrent and the whirlwind\u2019s roar\n  But bind him to his native mountains more.\n[Illustration]\n    Such are the charms to barren states assign\u2019d--\n  Their wants but few, their wishes all confin\u2019d;\n  Yet let them only share the praises due,\n  If few their wants, their pleasures are but few;\n  For every want that stimulates the breast\n  Becomes a source of pleasure when redress\u2019d.\n  Whence from such lands each pleasing science flies,\n  That first excites desire, and then supplies;\n  Unknown to them, when sensual pleasures cloy,\n  To fill the languid pause with finer joy;\n  Unknown those powers that raise the soul to flame,\n  Catch every nerve, and vibrate through the frame:\n  Their level life is but a smouldering fire,\n  Unquench\u2019d by want, unfann\u2019d by strong desire;\n  Unfit for raptures, or, if raptures cheer,\n  On some high festival of once a year,\n  In wild excess the vulgar breast takes fire,\n  Till, buried in debauch, the bliss expire.\n    But not their joys alone thus coarsely flow--\n  Their morals, like their pleasures, are but low;\n  For, as refinement stops, from sire to son\n  Unalter\u2019d, unimprov\u2019d, the manners run--\n  And love\u2019s and friendship\u2019s finely pointed dart\n  Fall blunted from each indurated heart.\n  Some sterner virtues o\u2019er the mountain\u2019s breast\n  May sit, like falcons cowering on the nest;\n  But all the gentler morals, such as play\n  Through life\u2019s more cultur\u2019d walks, and charm the way--\n  These, far dispers\u2019d, on timorous pinions fly,\n  To sport and flutter in a kinder sky.\n    To kinder skies, where gentler manners reign,\n  I turn; and France displays her bright domain.\n  Gay sprightly land of mirth and social ease,\n  Pleas\u2019d with thyself, whom all the world can please--\n  How often have I led thy sportive choir,\n  With tuneless pipe, beside the murmuring Loire,\n  Where shading elms along the margin grew,\n  And, freshen\u2019d from the wave, the zephyr flew!\n  And haply, though my harsh touch, faltering still,\n  But mock\u2019d all tune, and marr\u2019d the dancers\u2019 skill--\n  Yet would the village praise my wondrous power,\n  And dance, forgetful of the noontide hour.\n  Alike all ages: dames of ancient days\n  Have led their children through the mirthful maze;\n  And the gay grandsire, skill\u2019d in gestic lore,\n  Has frisk\u2019d beneath the burden of threescore.\n    So bless\u2019d a life these thoughtless realms display;\n  Thus idly busy rolls their world away.\n  Theirs are those arts that mind to mind endear,\n  For honour forms the social temper here:\n  Honour, that praise which real merit gains,\n  Or even imaginary worth obtains,\n  Here passes current--paid from hand to hand,\n  It shifts, in splendid traffic, round the land;\n  From courts to camps, to cottages it strays,\n  And all are taught an avarice of praise--\n  They please, are pleas\u2019d, they give to get esteem,\n  Till, seeming bless\u2019d, they grow to what they seem.\n    But while this softer art their bliss supplies,\n  It gives their follies also room to rise;\n  For praise too dearly lov\u2019d, or warmly sought,\n  Enfeebles all internal strength of thought--\n  And the weak soul, within itself unbless\u2019d,\n  Leans for all pleasure on another\u2019s breast.\n  Hence ostentation here, with tawdry art,\n  Pants for the vulgar praise which fools impart;\n  Here vanity assumes her pert grimace,\n  And trims her robes of frieze with copper lace;\n  Here beggar pride defrauds her daily cheer,\n  To boast one splendid banquet once a year:\n  The mind still turns where shifting fashion draws,\n  Nor weighs the solid worth of self-applause.\n[Illustration]\n    To men of other minds my fancy flies,\n  Embosom\u2019d in the deep where Holland lies.\n  Methinks her patient sons before me stand,\n  Where the broad ocean leans against the land;\n  And, sedulous to stop the coming tide,\n  Lift the tall rampire\u2019s artificial pride.\n  Onward, methinks, and diligently slow,\n  The firm connected bulwark seems to grow,\n  Spreads its long arms amidst the watery roar,\n  Scoops out an empire, and usurps the shore--\n  While the pent ocean, rising o\u2019er the pile,\n  Sees an amphibious world beneath him smile;\n  The slow canal, the yellow-blossom\u2019d vale,\n  The willow-tufted bank, the gliding sail,\n  The crowded mart, the cultivated plain--\n  A new creation rescued from his reign.\n    Thus, while around the wave-subjected soil\n  Impels the native to repeated toil,\n  Industrious habits in each bosom reign,\n  And industry begets a love of gain.\n  Hence all the good from opulence that springs,\n  With all those ills superfluous treasure brings,\n  Are here display\u2019d. Their much-lov\u2019d wealth imparts\n  Convenience, plenty, elegance, and arts;\n  But view them closer, craft and fraud appear--\n  Even liberty itself is barter\u2019d here.\n  At gold\u2019s superior charms all freedom flies;\n  The needy sell it, and the rich man buys:\n  A land of tyrants, and a den of slaves,\n  Here wretches seek dishonourable graves;\n  And, calmly bent, to servitude conform,\n  Dull as their lakes that slumber in the storm.\n    Heavens! how unlike their Belgic sires of old--\n  Rough, poor, content, ungovernably bold,\n  War in each breast, and freedom on each brow;\n  How much unlike the sons of Britain now!\n    Fir\u2019d at the sound, my genius spreads her wing,\n  And flies where Britain courts the western spring;\n  Where lawns extend that scorn Arcadian pride,\n  And brighter streams than fam\u2019d Hydaspes glide.\n  There, all around, the gentlest breezes stray;\n  There gentle music melts on every spray;\n  Creation\u2019s mildest charms are there combin\u2019d;\n  Extremes are only in the master\u2019s mind.\n  Stern o\u2019er each bosom reason holds her state,\n  With daring aims irregularly great.\n  Pride in their port, defiance in their eye,\n  I see the lords of human kind pass by,\n  Intent on high designs--a thoughtful band,\n  By forms unfashion\u2019d, fresh from Nature\u2019s hand,\n  Fierce in their native hardiness of soul,\n  True to imagin\u2019d right, above control;\n  While even the peasant boasts these rights to scan,\n  And learns to venerate himself as man.\n    Thine, freedom, thine the blessings pictur\u2019d here;\n  Thine are those charms that dazzle and endear;\n  Too bless\u2019d indeed were such without alloy,\n  But, foster\u2019d even by freedom, ills annoy.\n  That independence Britons prize too high\n  Keeps man from man, and breaks the social tie:\n  The self-dependent lordlings stand alone--\n  All claims that bind and sweeten life unknown.\n  Here, by the bonds of nature feebly held,\n  Minds combat minds, repelling and repell\u2019d;\n  Ferments arise, imprison\u2019d factions roar,\n  Repress\u2019d ambition struggles round her shore--\n  Till, over-wrought, the general system feels\n  Its motions stopp\u2019d, or frenzy fire the wheels.\n[Illustration]\n    Nor this the worst. As nature\u2019s ties decay,\n  As duty, love, and honour fail to sway,\n  Fictitious bonds, the bonds of wealth and law,\n  Still gather strength, and force unwilling awe.\n  Hence all obedience bows to these alone,\n  And talent sinks, and merit weeps unknown;\n  Till time may come, when stripp\u2019d of all her charms,\n  The land of scholars, and the nurse of arms--\n  Where noble stems transmit the patriot flame,\n  Where kings have toil\u2019d, and poets wrote for fame--\n  One sink of level avarice shall lie,\n  And scholars, soldiers, kings, unhonour\u2019d die.\n    Yet think not, thus when freedom\u2019s ills I state,\n  I mean to flatter kings, or court the great.\n  Ye powers of truth, that bid my soul aspire,\n  Far from my bosom drive the low desire;\n  And thou, fair freedom, taught alike to feel\n  The rabble\u2019s rage, and tyrant\u2019s angry steel--\n  Thou transitory flower, alike undone\n  By proud contempt, or favour\u2019s fostering sun--\n  Still may thy blooms the changeful clime endure!\n  I only would repress them to secure;\n  For just experience tells, in every soil,\n  That those who think must govern those that toil--\n  And all that freedom\u2019s highest aims can reach\n  Is but to lay proportion\u2019d loads on each:\n  Hence, should one order disproportion\u2019d grow,\n  Its double weight must ruin all below.\n    Oh, then, how blind to all that truth requires,\n  Who think it freedom when a part aspires!\n  Calm is my soul, nor apt to rise in arms,\n  Except when fast-approaching danger warms;\n  But, when contending chiefs blockade the throne,\n  Contracting regal power, to stretch their own--\n  When I behold a factious band agree\n  To call it freedom when themselves are free--\n  Each wanton judge new penal statutes draw,\n  Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law--\n  The wealth of climes, where savage nations roam,\n  Pillag\u2019d from slaves, to purchase slaves at home--\n  Fear, pity, justice, indignation start,\n  Tear off reserve, and bare my swelling heart;\n  Till, half a patriot, half a coward grown,\n  I fly from petty tyrants to the throne.\n    Yes, brother! curse with me that baleful hour,\n  When first ambition struck at regal power;\n  And thus, polluting honour in its source,\n  Gave wealth to sway the mind with double force.\n  Have we not seen, round Britain\u2019s peopled shore,\n  Her useful sons exchang\u2019d for useless ore?\n  Seen all her triumphs but destruction haste,\n  Like flaring tapers, brightening as they waste?\n  Seen opulence, her grandeur to maintain,\n  Lead stern depopulation in her train--\n  And over fields, where scatter\u2019d hamlets rose,\n  In barren solitary pomp repose?\n  Have we not seen, at pleasure\u2019s lordly call,\n  The smiling long-frequented village fall?--\n  Beheld the duteous son, the sire decay\u2019d,\n  The modest matron, and the blushing maid,\n  Forc\u2019d from their homes, a melancholy train,\n  To traverse climes beyond the western main--\n  Where wild Oswego spreads her swamps around,[3]\n  And Niagara stuns with thundering sound?\n[Illustration]\n    Even now, perhaps, as there some pilgrim strays\n  Through tangled forests, and through dangerous ways,\n  Where beasts with man divided empire claim,\n  And the brown Indian marks with murderous aim--\n  There, while above the giddy tempest flies,\n  And all around distressful yells arise--\n  The pensive exile, bending with his woe,\n  To stop too fearful, and too faint to go,\n  Casts a long look where England\u2019s glories shine,\n  And bids his bosom sympathize with mine.\n    Vain, very vain, my weary search to find\n  That bliss which only centres in the mind.\n  Why have I stray\u2019d from pleasure and repose,\n  To seek a good each government bestows?\n  In every government, though terrors reign,\n  Though tyrant-kings or tyrant-laws restrain,\n  How small, of all that human hearts endure,\n  That part which laws or kings can cause or cure!\n  Still to ourselves in every place consign\u2019d,\n  Our own felicity we make or find:\n  With secret course, which no loud storms annoy,\n  Glides the smooth current of domestic joy;\n  The lifted axe, the agonizing wheel,\n  Zeck\u2019s iron crown, and Damiens\u2019 bed of steel,[4]\n  To men remote from power but rarely known--\n  Leave reason, faith, and conscience, all our own.\n[Illustration]\nFOOTNOTES:\n[3] The Onandago, or Oneida, a lake of the State of New York, which\nextends westward about twenty miles, where its outlet, the river of\nOnandago, runs into Lake Ontario, at Oswego, a town with a population,\n[4] George and Luke Zeck headed an insurrection in Hungary, A.D. 1514,\nand George was punished by having a red-hot iron crown placed on his\nhead. Robert Fran\u00e7ois Damiens was an enthusiast who attempted to stab\nLouis XV. of France, Jan. 5, 1757. Being seized and examined, he said\nhe did not intend to kill the king; and this statement was in some\nmeasure borne out by his knife having two blades, of which he used the\nshorter. He was condemned to be broken alive by horses, having been\npreviously tortured.\n[Illustration:\n  THE\n  DESERTED\n  VILLAGE\nDEDICATION.\nTO SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS.\nDEAR SIR,\nI can have no expectation, in an address of this kind, either to add\nto your reputation or to establish my own. You can gain nothing from\nmy admiration, as I am ignorant of that art in which you are said to\nexcel; and I may lose much by the severity of your judgment, as few\nhave a juster taste in poetry than you. Setting interest therefore\naside, to which I never paid much attention, I must be indulged at\npresent in following my affections. The only dedication I ever made was\nto my brother, because I loved him better than most other men. He is\nsince dead. Permit me to inscribe this poem to you.\nHow far you may be pleased with the versification and mere mechanical\nparts of this attempt, I do not pretend to inquire: but I know you will\nobject--and indeed several of our best and wisest friends concur in\nthe opinion--that the depopulation it deplores is nowhere to be seen,\nand the disorders it laments are only to be found in the poet\u2019s own\nimagination. To this I can scarce make any other answer, than that I\nsincerely believe what I have written; that I have taken all possible\npains in my country excursions, for these four or five years past, to\nbe certain of what I allege; and that all my views and inquiries have\nled me to believe those miseries real, which I here attempt to display.\nBut this is not the place to enter into an inquiry, whether the country\nbe depopulating or not; the discussion would take up much room, and I\nshould prove myself, at best, but an indifferent politician to tire the\nreader with a long preface, when I want his unfatigued attention to a\nlong poem.\nIn regretting the depopulation of the country, I inveigh against the\nincrease of our luxuries; and here also I expect the shout of modern\npoliticians against me. For twenty or thirty years past, it has\nbeen the fashion to consider luxury as one of the greatest national\nadvantages, and all the wisdom of antiquity, in that particular, as\nerroneous. Still, however, I must remain a professed ancient on that\nhead, and continue to think those luxuries prejudicial to states, by\nwhich so many vices are introduced, and so many kingdoms have been\nundone. Indeed, so much has been poured out of late on the other side\nof the question, that, merely for the sake of novelty and variety, one\nwould sometimes wish to be in the right.\n        Your sincere friend and ardent admirer,\n[Illustration: THE DESERTED VILLAGE]\n  Sweet Auburn! loveliest village of the plain,\n  Where health and plenty cheer\u2019d the labouring swain,\n  Where smiling spring its earliest visit paid,\n  And parting summer\u2019s lingering blooms delay\u2019d--\n  Dear lovely bowers of innocence and ease,\n  Seats of my youth, when every sport could please--\n  How often have I loiter\u2019d o\u2019er thy green,\n  Where humble happiness endear\u2019d each scene;\n  How often have I paus\u2019d on every charm--\n  The shelter\u2019d cot, the cultivated farm,\n  The never-failing brook, the busy mill,\n  The decent church that topp\u2019d the neighbouring hill,\n  The hawthorn-bush, with seats beneath the shade,\n  For talking age and whispering lovers made;\n  How often have I bless\u2019d the coming day,\n  When toil remitting lent its turn to play,\n  And all the village train, from labour free,\n  Led up their sports beneath the spreading tree--\n  While many a pastime circled in the shade,\n  The young contending as the old survey\u2019d,\n  And many a gambol frolick\u2019d o\u2019er the ground,\n  And sleights of art and feats of strength went round:\n  And still, as each repeated pleasure tir\u2019d,\n  Succeeding sports the mirthful band inspir\u2019d--\n  The dancing pair, that simply sought renown\n  By holding out to tire each other down,\n  The swain mistrustless of his smutted face,\n  While secret laughter titter\u2019d round the place,\n  The bashful virgin\u2019s side-long looks of love,\n  The matron\u2019s glance that would those looks reprove.\n  These were thy charms, sweet village! sports like these,\n  With sweet succession, taught even toil to please;\n  These round thy bowers their cheerful influence shed,\n  These were thy charms--but all these charms are fled.\n[Illustration]\n    Sweet smiling village, loveliest of the lawn,\n  Thy sports are fled, and all thy charms withdrawn;\n  Amidst thy bowers the tyrant\u2019s hand is seen,\n  And desolation saddens all thy green;\n  One only master grasps the whole domain,\n  And half a tillage stints thy smiling plain.\n  No more thy glassy brook reflects the day,\n  But chok\u2019d with sedges works its weedy way;\n  Along thy glades, a solitary guest,\n  The hollow-sounding bittern guards its nest;\n  Amidst thy desert walks the lapwing flies,\n  And tires their echoes with unvaried cries;\n  Sunk are thy bowers in shapeless ruin all,\n  And the long grass o\u2019ertops the mouldering wall;\n  And, trembling, shrinking from the spoiler\u2019s hand,\n  Far, far away thy children leave the land.\n[Illustration]\n    Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey,\n  Where wealth accumulates, and men decay:\n  Princes and lords may flourish, or may fade--\n  A breath can make them, as a breath has made;\n  But a bold peasantry, their country\u2019s pride,\n  When once destroy\u2019d, can never be supplied.\n    A time there was, ere England\u2019s griefs began,\n  When every rood of ground maintain\u2019d its man:\n  For him light labour spread her wholesome store,\n  Just gave what life requir\u2019d, but gave no more;\n  His best companions, innocence and health,\n  And his best riches, ignorance of wealth.\n  But times are alter\u2019d; trade\u2019s unfeeling train\n  Usurp the land, and dispossess the swain:\n  Along the lawn, where scatter\u2019d hamlets rose,\n  Unwieldy wealth and cumbrous pomp repose;\n  And every want to luxury allied,\n  And every pang that folly pays to pride.\n  Those gentle hours that plenty bade to bloom,\n  Those calm desires that ask\u2019d but little room,\n  Those healthful sports that grac\u2019d the peaceful scene,\n  Liv\u2019d in each look, and brighten\u2019d all the green--\n  These, far departing, seek a kinder shore,\n  And rural mirth and manners are no more.\n[Illustration]\n    Sweet Auburn! parent of the blissful hour,\n  Thy glades forlorn confess the tyrant\u2019s power.\n  Here, as I take my solitary rounds,\n  Amidst thy tangling walks and ruin\u2019d grounds,\n  And, many a year elaps\u2019d, return to view\n  Where once the cottage stood, the hawthorn grew--\n  Remembrance wakes with all her busy train,\n  Swells at my breast, and turns the past to pain.\n[Illustration]\n    In all my wanderings round this world of care,\n  In all my griefs--and God has given my share--\n  I still had hopes, my latest hours to crown,\n  Amidst these humble bowers to lay me down;\n  To husband out life\u2019s taper at the close,\n  And keep the flame from wasting, by repose.\n  I still had hopes, for pride attends us still,\n  Amidst the swains to show my book-learn\u2019d skill--\n  Around my fire an evening group to draw,\n  And tell of all I felt, and all I saw;\n  And as an hare, whom hounds and horns pursue,\n  Pants to the place from whence at first she flew,\n  I still had hopes, my long vexations past,\n  Here to return--and die at home at last.\n[Illustration]\n    O bless\u2019d retirement, friend to life\u2019s decline,\n  Retreats from care, that never must be mine!\n  How happy he who crowns, in shades like these,\n  A youth of labour with an age of ease;\n  Who quits a world where strong temptations try,\n  And, since \u2019tis hard to combat, learns to fly.\n  For him no wretches, born to work and weep,\n  Explore the mine, or tempt the dangerous deep;\n  No surly porter stands, in guilty state,\n  To spurn imploring famine from the gate;\n  But on he moves, to meet his latter end,\n  Angels around befriending virtue\u2019s friend--\n  Bends to the grave with unperceiv\u2019d decay,\n  While resignation gently slopes the way--\n  And, all his prospects brightening to the last,\n  His heaven commences ere the world be past.\n[Illustration]\n    Sweet was the sound, when oft at evening\u2019s close\n  Up yonder hill the village murmur rose.\n  There as I pass\u2019d, with careless steps and slow,\n  The mingled notes came soften\u2019d from below;\n  The swain responsive as the milk-maid sung,\n  The sober herd that low\u2019d to meet their young,\n  The noisy geese that gabbled o\u2019er the pool,\n  The playful children just let loose from school,\n  The watch-dog\u2019s voice, that bay\u2019d the whispering wind,\n  And the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind--\n  These all in sweet confusion sought the shade,\n  And fill\u2019d each pause the nightingale had made.\n  But now the sounds of population fail,\n  No cheerful murmurs fluctuate in the gale,\n  No busy steps the grass-grown footway tread,\n  For all the bloomy flush of life is fled--\n  All but yon widow\u2019d, solitary thing,\n  That feebly bends beside the plashy spring;\n  She, wretched matron, forc\u2019d in age, for bread,\n  To strip the brook with mantling cresses spread,\n  To pick her wintry faggot from the thorn,\n  To seek her nightly shed, and weep till morn--\n  She only left of all the harmless train,\n  The sad historian of the pensive plain!\n[Illustration]\n    Near yonder copse, where once the garden smil\u2019d,\n  And still where many a garden flower grows wild,\n  There, where a few torn shrubs the place disclose,\n  The village preacher\u2019s modest mansion rose.\n  A man he was to all the country dear,\n  And passing rich with forty pounds a year.\n  Remote from towns he ran his godly race,\n  Nor e\u2019er had chang\u2019d, nor wish\u2019d to change, his place;\n  Unpractis\u2019d he to fawn, or seek for power\n  By doctrines fashion\u2019d to the varying hour;\n  Far other aims his heart had learn\u2019d to prize--\n  More skill\u2019d to raise the wretched than to rise.\n  His house was known to all the vagrant train;\n  He chid their wanderings, but reliev\u2019d their pain;\n  The long-remember\u2019d beggar was his guest,\n  Whose beard descending swept his aged breast;\n  The ruin\u2019d spendthrift, now no longer proud,\n  Claim\u2019d kindred there, and had his claim allow\u2019d;\n  The broken soldier, kindly bade to stay,\n  Sat by his fire, and talk\u2019d the night away--\n  Wept o\u2019er his wounds, or, tales of sorrow done,\n  Shoulder\u2019d his crutch, and show\u2019d how fields were won.\n  Pleas\u2019d with his guests, the good man learn\u2019d to glow,\n  And quite forgot their vices in their woe;\n  Careless their merits or their faults to scan,\n  His pity gave ere charity began.\n[Illustration]\n    Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride,\n  And even his failings lean\u2019d to virtue\u2019s side--\n  But in his duty, prompt at every call,\n  He watch\u2019d and wept, he pray\u2019d and felt for all;\n  And, as a bird each fond endearment tries,\n  To tempt its new-fledg\u2019d offspring to the skies,\n  He tried each art, reproved each dull delay,\n  Allur\u2019d to brighter worlds, and led the way.\n    Beside the bed where parting life was laid,\n  And sorrow, guilt, and pain by turns dismay\u2019d,\n  The reverend champion stood: at his control\n  Despair and anguish fled the struggling soul;\n  Comfort came down the trembling wretch to raise,\n  And his last faltering accents whisper\u2019d praise.\n[Illustration]\n    At church, with meek and unaffected grace,\n  His looks adorn\u2019d the venerable place;\n  Truth from his lips prevail\u2019d with double sway,\n  And fools who came to scoff remain\u2019d to pray.\n  The service pass\u2019d, around the pious man,\n  With ready zeal, each honest rustic ran;\n  Even children follow\u2019d with endearing wile,\n  And pluck\u2019d his gown, to share the good man\u2019s smile:\n  His ready smile a parent\u2019s warmth express\u2019d,\n  Their welfare pleas\u2019d him, and their cares distress\u2019d.\n  To them his heart, his love, his griefs were given,\n  But all his serious thoughts had rest in heaven:\n  As some tall cliff, that lifts its awful form,\n  Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm.\n  Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread,\n  Eternal sunshine settles on its head.\n[Illustration]\n    Beside yon straggling fence that skirts the way,\n  With blossom\u2019d furze unprofitably gay--\n  There, in his noisy mansion, skill\u2019d to rule,\n  The village master taught his little school.\n  A man severe he was, and stern to view;\n  I knew him well, and every truant knew:\n  Well had the boding tremblers learn\u2019d to trace\n  The day\u2019s disasters in his morning face;\n  Full well they laugh\u2019d with counterfeited glee\n  At all his jokes, for many a joke had he;\n  Full well the busy whisper, circling round,\n  Convey\u2019d the dismal tidings when he frown\u2019d:\n  Yet he was kind, or if severe in aught,\n  The love he bore to learning was in fault.\n  The village all declar\u2019d how much he knew;\n  \u2019Twas certain he could write, and cipher too,\n  Lands he could measure, terms and tides presage--\n  And even the story ran that he could gauge.\n  In arguing too, the parson own\u2019d his skill,\n  For even though vanquish\u2019d, he could argue still;\n  While words of learned length and thundering sound\n  Amaz\u2019d the gaping rustics rang\u2019d around--\n  And still they gaz\u2019d, and still the wonder grew,\n  That one small head could carry all he knew.\n    But pass\u2019d is all his fame: the very spot,\n  Where many a time he triumph\u2019d, is forgot.\n[Illustration]\n    Near yonder thorn, that lifts its head on high,\n  Where once the sign-post caught the passing eye,\n  Low lies that house where nut-brown draughts inspir\u2019d,\n  Where grey-beard mirth and smiling toil retir\u2019d,\n  Where village statesmen talk\u2019d with looks profound,\n  And news much older than their ale went round.\n  Imagination fondly stoops to trace\n  The parlour splendours of that festive place;\n  The whitewash\u2019d wall, the nicely sanded floor,\n  The varnish\u2019d clock that click\u2019d behind the door--\n  The chest contriv\u2019d a double debt to pay,\n  A bed by night, a chest of drawers by day--\n  The pictures plac\u2019d for ornament and use,\n  The twelve good rules, the royal game of goose--\n  The hearth, except when winter chill\u2019d the day,\n  With aspen boughs, and flowers, and fennel gay--\n  While broken tea-cups, wisely kept for show,\n  Rang\u2019d o\u2019er the chimney, glisten\u2019d in a row.\n[Illustration]\n    Vain transitory splendours! could not all\n  Reprieve the tottering mansion from its fall?\n  Obscure it sinks; nor shall it more impart\n  An hour\u2019s importance to the poor man\u2019s heart:\n  Thither no more the peasant shall repair,\n  To sweet oblivion of his daily care;\n  No more the farmer\u2019s news, the barber\u2019s tale,\n  No more the woodman\u2019s ballad shall prevail;\n  No more the smith his dusky brow shall clear,\n  Relax his ponderous strength, and lean to hear;\n  The host himself no longer shall be found\n  Careful to see the mantling bliss go round;\n  Nor the coy maid, half willing to be press\u2019d,\n  Shall kiss the cup to pass it to the rest.\n    Yes! let the rich deride, the proud disdain,\n  These simple blessings of the lowly train--\n  To me more dear, congenial to my heart,\n  One native charm, than all the gloss of art.\n  Spontaneous joys, where nature has its play,\n  The soul adopts, and owns their first-born sway--\n  Lightly they frolic o\u2019er the vacant mind,\n  Unenvied, unmolested, unconfin\u2019d;\n  But the long pomp, the midnight masquerade,\n  With all the freaks of wanton wealth array\u2019d,\n  In these, ere triflers half their wish obtain,\n  The toiling pleasure sickens into pain--\n  And, even while fashion\u2019s brightest arts decoy,\n  The heart distrusting asks, if this be joy.\n    Ye friends to truth, ye statesmen who survey\n  The rich man\u2019s joys increase, the poor\u2019s decay--\n  \u2019Tis yours to judge, how wide the limits stand\n  Between a splendid and a happy land.\n  Proud swells the tide with loads of freighted ore,\n  And shouting folly hails them from her shore;\n  Hoards even beyond the miser\u2019s wish abound,\n  And rich men flock from all the world around;\n  Yet count our gains: this wealth is but a name,\n  That leaves our useful products still the same.\n  Not so the loss. The man of wealth and pride\n  Takes up a space that many poor supplied--\n  Space for his lake, his park\u2019s extended bounds,\n  Space for his horses, equipage, and hounds;\n  The robe that wraps his limbs in silken sloth\n  Has robb\u2019d the neighbouring fields of half their growth;\n  His seat, where solitary sports are seen,\n  Indignant spurns the cottage from the green;\n  Around the world each needful product flies,\n  For all the luxuries the world supplies:\n  While thus the land adorn\u2019d for pleasure--all\n  In barren splendour feebly waits the fall.\n[Illustration]\n    As some fair female, unadorn\u2019d and plain,\n  Secure to please while youth confirms her reign,\n  Slights every borrow\u2019d charm that dress supplies,\n  Nor shares with art the triumph of her eyes--\n  But when those charms are pass\u2019d, for charms are frail,\n  When time advances, and when lovers fail--\n  She then shines forth, solicitous to bless,\n  In all the glaring impotence of dress.\n  Thus fares the land, by luxury betray\u2019d:\n  In nature\u2019s simplest charms at first array\u2019d--\n  But verging to decline, its splendours rise,\n  Its vistas strike, its palaces surprise;\n  While, scourg\u2019d by famine, from the smiling land,\n  The mournful peasant leads his humble band--\n  And while he sinks, without one arm to save,\n  The country blooms--a garden and a grave.\n    Where, then, ah! where shall poverty reside,\n  To \u2019scape the pressure of contiguous pride?\n  If to some common\u2019s fenceless limits stray\u2019d,\n  He drives his flock to pick the scanty blade,\n  Those fenceless fields the sons of wealth divide,\n  And even the bare-worn common is denied.\n[Illustration]\n    If to the city sped--what waits him there?--\n  To see profusion that he must not share;\n  To see ten thousand baneful arts combin\u2019d\n  To pamper luxury, and thin mankind;\n  To see those joys the sons of pleasure know,\n  Extorted from his fellow-creatures\u2019 woe:\n  Here, while the courtier glitters in brocade,\n  There the pale artist plies the sickly trade;\n  Here, while the proud their long-drawn pomps display,\n  There the black gibbet glooms beside the way.\n  The dome where pleasure holds her midnight reign,\n  Here, richly deck\u2019d, admits the gorgeous train--\n  Tumultuous grandeur crowds the blazing square,\n  The rattling chariots clash, the torches glare:\n  Sure scenes like these no troubles e\u2019er annoy;\n  Sure these denote one universal joy!\n  Are these thy serious thoughts?--ah! turn thine eyes,\n  Where the poor houseless shivering female lies:\n  She once, perhaps, in village plenty bless\u2019d,\n  Has wept at tales of innocence distress\u2019d--\n  Her modest looks the cottage might adorn,\n  Sweet as the primrose peeps beneath the thorn;\n  Now lost to all--her friends, her virtue fled,\n  Near her betrayer\u2019s door she lays her head--\n  And, pinch\u2019d with cold, and shrinking from the shower,\n  With heavy heart deplores that luckless hour,\n  When idly first, ambitious of the town,\n  She left her wheel, and robes of country brown.\n[Illustration]\n    Do thine, sweet Auburn! thine, the loveliest train,\n  Do thy fair tribes participate her pain?\n  Even now, perhaps, by cold and hunger led,\n  At proud men\u2019s doors they ask a little bread.\n    Ah, no! to distant climes, a dreary scene,\n  Where half the convex world intrudes between,\n  Through torrid tracts with fainting steps they go,\n  Where wild Altama[5] murmurs to their woe.\n  Far different there from all that charm\u2019d before,\n  The various terrors of that horrid shore;\n  Those blazing suns that dart a downward ray,\n  And fiercely shed intolerable day--\n  Those matted woods where birds forget to sing,\n  But silent bats in drowsy clusters cling--\n  Those poisonous fields with rank luxuriance crown\u2019d,\n  Where the dark scorpion gathers death around--\n  Where at each step the stranger fears to wake\n  The rattling terrors of the vengeful snake--\n  Where crouching tigers wait their hapless prey,\n  And savage men, more murderous still than they--\n  While oft in whirls the mad tornado flies,\n  Mingling the ravag\u2019d landscape with the skies.\n  Far different these from every former scene--\n  The cooling brook, the grassy-vested green,\n  The breezy covert of the warbling grove,\n  That only shelter\u2019d thefts of harmless love.\n[Illustration]\n    Good Heaven! what sorrows gloom\u2019d that parting day\n  That call\u2019d them from their native walks away;\n  When the poor exiles, every pleasure pass\u2019d,\n  Hung round their bowers, and fondly look\u2019d their last--\n  And took a long farewell, and wish\u2019d in vain\n  For seats like these beyond the western main--\n  And shuddering still to face the distant deep,\n  Return\u2019d and wept, and still return\u2019d to weep.\n  The good old sire, the first, prepar\u2019d to go,\n  To new-found worlds, and wept for others\u2019 woe--\n  But for himself, in conscious virtue brave,\n  He only wish\u2019d for worlds beyond the grave;\n  His lovely daughter, lovelier in her tears,\n  The fond companion of his helpless years,\n  Silent went next, neglectful of her charms,\n  And left a lover\u2019s for a father\u2019s arms.\n  With louder plaints the mother spoke her woes,\n  And bless\u2019d the cot where every pleasure rose.\n  And kiss\u2019d her thoughtless babes with many a tear,\n  And clasp\u2019d them close, in sorrow doubly dear--\n  Whilst her fond husband strove to lend relief,\n  In all the silent manliness of grief.\n[Illustration]\n    O luxury! thou curs\u2019d by Heaven\u2019s decree,\n  How ill exchang\u2019d are things like these for thee;\n  How do thy potions, with insidious joy,\n  Diffuse their pleasures only to destroy!\n  Kingdoms by thee to sickly greatness grown,\n  Boast of a florid vigour not their own;\n  At every draught more large and large they grow,\n  A bloated mass of rank unwieldy woe--\n  Till sapp\u2019d their strength, and every part unsound,\n  Down, down they sink, and spread a ruin round.\n    Even now the devastation is begun,\n  And half the business of destruction done;\n  Even now, methinks, as pondering here I stand,\n  I see the rural virtues leave the land:\n  Down, where yon anchoring vessel spreads the sail,\n  That idly waiting flaps with every gale,\n  Downward they move--a melancholy band--\n  Pass from the shore, and darken all the strand;\n  Contented toil, and hospitable care,\n  And kind connubial tenderness are there--\n  And piety with wishes plac\u2019d above,\n  And steady loyalty, and faithful love.\n[Illustration]\n    And thou, sweet poetry! thou loveliest maid,\n  Still first to fly where sensual joys invade,\n  Unfit in these degenerate times of shame\n  To catch the heart, or strike for honest fame--\n  Dear charming nymph, neglected and decried,\n  My shame in crowds, my solitary pride--\n  Thou source of all my bliss, and all my woe,\n  That found\u2019st me poor at first, and keep\u2019st me so--\n  Thou guide by which the nobler arts excel.\n  Thou nurse of every virtue--fare thee well.\n  Farewell! and oh! where\u2019er thy voice be tried,\n  On Tornea\u2019s cliffs, or Pambamarca\u2019s side,[6]\n[Illustration]\n  Whether where equinoctial fervours glow,\n  Or winter wraps the polar world in snow,\n  Still let thy voice, prevailing over time,\n  Redress the rigours of the inclement clime.\n  Aid slighted truth: with thy persuasive strain\n  Teach erring man to spurn the rage of gain;\n  Teach him that states, of native strength possess\u2019d,\n  Though very poor, may still be very bless\u2019d;\n  That trade\u2019s proud empire hastes to swift decay,\n  As ocean sweeps the labour\u2019d mole away--\n  While self-dependent power can time defy,\n  As rocks resist the billows and the sky.[7]\n[Illustration]\nFOOTNOTES:\n[5] The river Alatamaha, in the United States.\n[6] Tornea, a river of Sweden. Pambamarca, a mountain of Mexico.\n[7] The last four lines were written by Johnson.\n[Illustration:\n  THE HERMIT\n  A BALLAD\n[A correspondent of the _St. James\u2019s Chronicle_ having accused\nGoldsmith of imitating a ballad by Percy, he addressed the following\nletter to the Editor. In a later edition of the \u201cReliques,\u201d Percy\nvindicated his friend from the charge, and said, \u201cIf there is any\nimitation in the case, they will be found both to be indebted to the\nbeautiful old ballad, \u2018Gentle Herdsman,\u2019 which the Doctor had much\nadmired in manuscript, and has finely improved.\u201d\n    SIR,--A correspondent of yours accuses me of having taken a\n    ballad, I published some time ago, from one (the \u201cFriar of\n    Orders Gray\u201d) by the ingenious Mr. Percy. I do not think there\n    is any great resemblance between the two pieces in question.\n    If there be any, his ballad is taken from mine. I read it to\n    Mr. Percy, some years ago; and he (as we both considered these\n    things as trifles at best) told me, with his usual good humour,\n    the next time I saw him, that he had taken my plan to form\n    the fragments of Shakspere into a ballad of his own. He then\n    read me his little cento, if I may so call it, and I highly\n    approved it. Such petty anecdotes as these are scarce worth\n    printing; and, were it not for the busy disposition of some of\n    your correspondents, the public should never have known that\n    he owes me the hint of his ballad, or that I am obliged to\n    his friendship and learning for communications of a much more\n    important nature.\n[Illustration]\n  \u201cTurn, gentle hermit of the dale,\n    And guide my lonely way,\n  To where yon taper cheers the vale\n    With hospitable ray;\n  \u201cFor here, forlorn and lost, I tread,\n    With fainting steps and slow--\n  Where wilds, immeasurably spread,\n    Seem lengthening as I go.\u201d\n  \u201cForbear, my son,\u201d the hermit cries,\n    \u201cTo tempt the dangerous gloom;\n  For yonder faithless phantom flies\n    To lure thee to thy doom.\n  \u201cHere to the houseless child of want\n    My door is open still;\n  And, though my portion is but scant,\n    I give it with good will.\n  \u201cThen turn, to-night, and freely share\n    Whate\u2019er my cell bestows--\n  My rushy couch and frugal fare,\n    My blessing and repose.\n  \u201cNo flocks that range the valley free\n    To slaughter I condemn--\n  Taught by that Power who pities me,\n    I learn to pity them;\n  \u201cBut, from the mountain\u2019s grassy side\n    A guiltless feast I bring--\n  A scrip with herbs and fruits supplied,\n    And water from the spring.\n  \u201cThen, pilgrim, turn, thy cares forego;\n    All earth-born cares are wrong:\n  Man wants but little here below,\n    Nor wants that little long.\u201d\n  Soft as the dew from heaven descends,\n    His gentle accents fell;\n  The modest stranger lowly bends,\n    And follows to the cell.\n  Far, in a wilderness obscure,\n    The lonely mansion lay;\n  A refuge to the neighbouring poor,\n    And strangers led astray.\n  No stores beneath its humble thatch\n    Requir\u2019d a master\u2019s care;\n  The wicket, opening with a latch,\n    Receiv\u2019d the harmless pair.\n  And now, when busy crowds retire\n    To take their evening rest,\n  The hermit trimm\u2019d his little fire,\n    And cheer\u2019d his pensive guest;\n  And spread his vegetable store,\n    And gaily press\u2019d, and smil\u2019d;\n  And, skill\u2019d in legendary lore,\n    The lingering hours beguil\u2019d.\n  Around, in sympathetic mirth,\n    Its tricks the kitten tries--\n  The cricket chirrups in the hearth,\n    The crackling faggot flies;\n[Illustration]\n  But nothing could a charm impart\n    To soothe the stranger\u2019s woe--\n  For grief was heavy at his heart,\n    And tears began to flow.\n  His rising cares the hermit spied--\n    With answering care opprest;\n  \u201cAnd whence, unhappy youth,\u201d he cried,\n    \u201cThe sorrows of thy breast?\n  \u201cFrom better habitations spurn\u2019d,\n    Reluctant dost thou rove?\n  Or grieve for friendship unreturn\u2019d,\n    Or unregarded love?\n  \u201cAlas! the joys that fortune brings\n    Are trifling, and decay--\n  And those who prize the paltry things,\n    More trifling still than they;\n  \u201cAnd what is friendship but a name,\n    A charm that lulls to sleep--\n  A shade that follows wealth or fame,\n    And leaves the wretch to weep?\n  \u201cAnd love is still an emptier sound,\n    The modern fair-one\u2019s jest;\n  On earth unseen, or only found\n    To warm the turtle\u2019s nest.\n  \u201cFor shame, fond youth, thy sorrows hush,\n    And spurn the sex,\u201d he said;\n  But while he spoke, a rising blush\n    His love-lorn guest betray\u2019d:\n  Surpris\u2019d, he sees new beauties rise\n    Swift mantling to the view--\n  Like colours o\u2019er the morning skies,\n    As bright, as transient too.\n  The bashful look, the rising breast,\n    Alternate spread alarms:\n  The lovely stranger stands confest,\n    A maid in all her charms.\n  \u201cAnd, ah! forgive a stranger rude,\n    A wretch forlorn,\u201d she cried--\n  \u201cWhose feet unhallow\u2019d thus intrude\n    Where Heaven and you reside;\n  \u201cBut let a maid thy pity share,\n    Whom love has taught to stray--\n  Who seeks for rest, but finds despair\n    Companion of her way.\n  \u201cMy father liv\u2019d beside the Tyne--\n    A wealthy lord was he;\n  And all his wealth was mark\u2019d as mine:\n    He had but only me.\n  \u201cTo win me from his tender arms,\n    Unnumber\u2019d suitors came;\n  Who prais\u2019d me for imputed charms,\n    And felt or feign\u2019d a flame.\n  \u201cEach hour a mercenary crowd\n    With richest proffers strove;\n  Among the rest young Edwin bow\u2019d--\n    But never talk\u2019d of love.\n  \u201cIn humble, simplest habit clad,\n    No wealth nor power had he;\n  Wisdom and worth were all he had--\n    But these were all to me.\n  \u201cAnd when, beside me in the dale,\n    He caroll\u2019d lays of love,\n  His breath lent fragrance to the gale,\n    And music to the grove.\n  \u201cThe blossom opening to the day,\n    The dews of heaven refin\u2019d,\n  Could nought of purity display\n    To emulate his mind.\n[Illustration]\n  \u201cThe dew, the blossom on the tree,\n    With charms inconstant shine;\n  Their charms were his; but, woe to me,\n    Their constancy was mine.\n  \u201cFor still I tried each fickle art,\n    Importunate and vain;\n  And while his passion touch\u2019d my heart,\n    I triumph\u2019d in his pain.\n  \u201cTill, quite dejected with my scorn,\n    He left me to my pride;\n  And sought a solitude forlorn,\n    In secret, where he died.\n  \u201cBut mine the sorrow, mine the fault,\n    And well my life shall pay;\n  I\u2019ll seek the solitude he sought,\n    And stretch me where he lay;\n  \u201cAnd there, forlorn, despairing, hid--\n    I\u2019ll lay me down and die;\n  \u2019Twas so for me that Edwin did,\n    And so for him will I.\u201d\n  \u201cForbid it, Heaven!\u201d the hermit cried,\n    And clasp\u2019d her to his breast:\n  The wondering fair-one turn\u2019d to chide--\n    \u2019Twas Edwin\u2019s self that press\u2019d.\n  \u201cTurn, Angelina! ever dear--\n    My charmer, turn to see\n  Thy own, thy long-lost Edwin here,\n    Restor\u2019d to love and thee.\n  \u201cThus let me hold thee to my heart,\n    And every care resign;\n  And shall we never, never part,\n    My life--my all that\u2019s mine!\n  \u201cNo; never from this hour to part,\n    We\u2019ll live and love so true;\n  The sigh that rends thy constant heart,\n    Shall break thy Edwin\u2019s too.\u201d\n[Illustration]\n[Illustration: THE CAPTIVITY]\nAN ORATORIO.\nTHE PERSONS.\n  _First Israelitish Prophet._\n  _Second Israelitish Prophet._\n  _Israelitish Woman._\n  _First Chaldean Priest._\n  _Second Chaldean Priest._\n  _Chaldean Woman._\n  _Chorus of Youths and Virgins._\nSCENE.--_The Banks of the River Euphrates, near Babylon._\nACT THE FIRST.\n  FIRST PROPHET.\n  _Recitative._\n  Ye captive tribes, that hourly work and weep,\n  Where flows Euphrates, murmuring to the deep--\n  Suspend your woes awhile, the task suspend,\n  And turn to God, your Father and your Friend:\n  Insulted, chain\u2019d, and all the world our foe,\n  Our God alone is all we boast below.\n  CHORUS OF ISRAELITES.\n  Our God is all we boast below,\n    To Him we turn our eyes;\n  And every added weight of woe\n    Shall make our homage rise:\n  And though no temple richly drest,\n    Nor sacrifice is here--\n  We\u2019ll make His temple in our breast,\n    And offer up a tear.\n  ISRAELITISH WOMAN.\n  That strain once more! it bids remembrance rise,\n  And brings my long-lost country to mine eyes.\n  Ye fields of Sharon, dress\u2019d in flowery pride;\n  Ye plains, where Jordan rolls its glassy tide;\n  Ye hills of Lebanon, with cedars crown\u2019d;\n  Ye Gilead groves, that fling perfumes around:\n  These hills how sweet! those plains how wondrous fair\n  But sweeter still, when Heaven was with us there!\n  O Memory! thou fond deceiver!\n    Still importunate and vain;\n  To former joys recurring ever,\n    And turning all the past to pain;\n  Thou, like the world, the oppress\u2019d oppressing,\n    Thy smiles increase the wretch\u2019s woe!\n  And he who wants each other blessing,\n    In thee must ever find a foe.\n[Illustration]\n  FIRST PROPHET.\n  _Recitative._\n  Yet, why repine? What, though by bonds confin\u2019d,\n  Should bonds enslave the vigour of the mind?\n  Have we not cause for triumph, when we see\n  Ourselves alone from idol-worship free?\n  Are not, this very morn, those feasts begun,\n  Where prostrate error hails the rising sun?\n  Do not our tyrant lords this day ordain\n  For superstitious rites and mirth profane?\n  And should we mourn? Should coward Virtue fly,\n  When vaunting Folly lifts her head on high?\n  No! rather let us triumph still the more--\n  And as our fortune sinks, our spirits soar.\n  The triumphs that on vice attend\n  Shall ever in confusion end;\n  The good man suffers but to gain,\n  And every virtue springs from pain:\n  As aromatic plants bestow\n  No spicy fragrance while they grow;\n  But crush\u2019d, or trodden to the ground,\n  Diffuse their balmy sweets around.\n  SECOND PROPHET.\n  _Recitative._\n  But, hush, my sons! our tyrant lords are near--\n  The sounds of barbarous pleasure strike mine ear;\n  Triumphant music floats along the vale--\n  Near, nearer still, it gathers on the gale:\n  The growing note their swift approach declares--\n  Desist, my sons, nor mix the strain with theirs.\n  _Enter_ CHALDEAN PRIESTS, _attended_.\n  FIRST PRIEST.\n  Come on, my companions, the triumphs display,\n    Let rapture the minutes employ;\n  The sun calls us out on this festival day,\n    And our monarch partakes of the joy.\n  SECOND PRIEST.\n  Like the sun, our great monarch all rapture supplies;\n    Both similar blessings bestow:\n  The sun with his splendour illumines the skies;\n    And our monarch enlivens below.\n  CHALDEAN WOMAN.\n  Haste, ye sprightly sons of pleasure;\n  Love presents the fairest treasure;\n    Leave all other sports for me.\n  CHALDEAN ATTENDANT.\n  Or rather, Love\u2019s delights despising,\n  Haste to raptures ever rising;\n    Wine shall bless the brave and free.\n  FIRST PRIEST.\n  Wine and beauty thus inviting,\n  Each to different joys exciting,\n    Whither shall my choice incline?\n  SECOND PRIEST.\n  I\u2019ll waste no longer thought in choosing,\n  But, neither love nor wine refusing,\n    I\u2019ll make them both together mine.\n  _Recitative._\n  But whence, when joy should brighten o\u2019er the land,\n  This sullen gloom in Judah\u2019s captive band?\n  Ye sons of Judah, why the lute unstrung?\n  Or why those harps on yonder willows hung?\n  Come, take the lyre, and pour the strain along,\n  The day demands it; sing us Sion\u2019s song,\n  Dismiss your griefs, and join our tuneful choir;\n  For who like you can wake the sleeping lyre?\n  SECOND PROPHET.\n  Chain\u2019d as we are, the scorn of all mankind,\n  To want, to toil, and every ill consign\u2019d--\n  Is this a time to bid us raise the strain,\n  Or mix in rites that Heaven regards with pain?\n  No, never! May this hand forget each art\n  That wakes to finest joys the human heart,\n  Ere I forget the land that gave me birth,\n  Or join to sounds profane its sacred mirth!\n  FIRST PRIEST.\n  Rebellious slaves! if soft persuasion fail,\n  More formidable terrors shall prevail.\n  FIRST PROPHET.\n  Why, let them come; one good remains to cheer--\n  We fear the Lord, and know no other fear.\n  CHORUS OF ISRAELITES.\n  Can chains or tortures bend the mind\n  On God\u2019s supporting breast reclin\u2019d?\n  Stand fast,--and let our tyrants see\n  That fortitude is victory.\nACT THE SECOND.\n  CHORUS OF PRIESTS.\n  O Peace of Mind, angelic guest!\n  Thou soft companion of the breast!\n    Dispense thy balmy store;\n  Wing all our thoughts to reach the skies,\n  Till earth, receding from our eyes,\n    Shall vanish as we soar.\n  FIRST PRIEST.\n  _Recitative._\n  No more! Too long has justice been delay\u2019d--\n  The king\u2019s commands must fully be obey\u2019d;\n  Compliance with his will your peace secures--\n  Praise but our gods, and every good is yours.\n  But if, rebellious to his high command,\n  You spurn the favours offer\u2019d at his hand--\n  Think, timely think, what ills remain behind;\n  Reflect, nor tempt to rage the royal mind.\n  SECOND PRIEST.\n  Fierce is the tempest rolling\n    Along the furrow\u2019d main,\n  And fierce the whirlwind howling,\n    O\u2019er Afric\u2019s sandy plain:\n      But storms that fly\n      To rend the sky,\n  Every ill presaging--\n      Less dreadful show\n      To world\u2019s below,\n  Than angry monarch\u2019s raging.\n[Illustration]\n  ISRAELITISH WOMAN.\n  _Recitative._\n  Ah, me! what angry terrors round us grow!\n  How shrinks my soul to meet the threaten\u2019d blow!\n  Ye prophets, skill\u2019d in Heaven\u2019s eternal truth,\n  Forgive my sex\u2019s fears, forgive my youth,\n  If shrinking thus, when frowning power appears,\n  I wish for life, and yield me to my fears.\n  Ah! let us one, one little hour obey;\n  To-morrow\u2019s tears may wash the stain away.\n  The wretch condemn\u2019d with life to part,\n    Still, still on hope relies;\n  And every pang that rends the heart,\n    Bids expectation rise.\n  Hope, like the glimmering taper\u2019s light,\n    Adorns and cheers the way;\n  And still, as darker grows the night,\n    Emits a brighter ray.\n  SECOND PRIEST.\n  _Recitative._\n  Why this delay? At length for joy prepare;\n  I read your looks, and see compliance there.\n  Come on, and bid the warbling rapture rise,\n  Our monarch\u2019s name the noblest theme supplies.\n  Begin, ye captive bands, and strike the lyre;\n  The time, the theme, the place, and all conspire.\n  CHALDEAN WOMAN.\n  See the ruddy morning smiling,\n  Hear the grove to bliss beguiling;\n  Zephyrs through the woodland playing,\n  Streams along the valley straying.\n  FIRST PRIEST.\n  While these a constant revel keep,\n  Shall Reason only teach to weep?\n  Hence, intruder! we\u2019ll pursue\n  Nature--a better guide than you.\n  SECOND PRIEST.\n  Every moment, as it flows,\n  Some peculiar pleasure owes;\n  Come, then, providently wise,\n  Seize the debtor ere it flies.\n  Think not to-morrow can repay\n  The debt of pleasure lost to-day.\n  Alas! to-morrow\u2019s richest store\n  Can but pay its proper score.\n  FIRST PRIEST.\n  _Recitative._\n  But, hush! see foremost of the captive choir,\n  The master-prophet grasps his full-ton\u2019d lyre;\n  Mark where he sits, with executing art,\n  Feels for each tone, and speeds it to the heart.\n  See, how prophetic rapture fills his form,\n  Awful as clouds that nurse the growing storm!\n  And now his voice, accordant to the string,\n  Prepares our monarch\u2019s victories to sing.\n  FIRST PROPHET.\n  From north, from south, from east, from west,\n    Conspiring nations come;\n  Tremble, thou vice-polluted breast;\n    Blasphemers, all be dumb.\n  The tempest gathers all around--\n    On Babylon it lies;\n  Down with her! down--down to the ground:\n    She sinks, she groans, she dies.\n  SECOND PROPHET.\n  Down with her, Lord, to lick the dust,\n    Before yon setting sun;\n  Serve her as she hath serv\u2019d the just:\n    \u2019Tis fix\u2019d--it shall be done.\n  FIRST PRIEST.\n  _Recitative._\n  No more! when slaves thus insolent presume,\n  The king himself shall judge, and fix their doom.\n  Short-sighted wretches! have not you and all\n  Beheld our power in Zedekiah\u2019s fall?\n  To yonder gloomy dungeon turn your eyes--\n  See, where dethron\u2019d your captive monarch lies;\n  Depriv\u2019d of sight, and rankling in his chain,\n  See where he mourns his friends and children slain.\n  Yet know, ye slaves, that still remain behind\n  More ponderous chains, and dungeons more confin\u2019d.\n  CHORUS.\n  Arise, All-potent Ruler, rise,\n    And vindicate thy people\u2019s cause,--\n  Till every tongue, in every land,\n    Shall offer up unfeign\u2019d applause.\n[Illustration]\nACT THE THIRD.\nSCENE, _as before_.\n  FIRST PRIEST.\n  _Recitative._\n  Yes, my companions, Heaven\u2019s decrees are past,\n  And our fix\u2019d empire shall for ever last:\n  In vain the madd\u2019ning prophet threatens woe--\n  In vain Rebellion aims her secret blow;\n  Still shall our name and growing power be spread,\n  And still our justice crush the traitor\u2019s head.\n  Coeval with man\n  Our empire began,\n  And never shall fall,\n  Till ruin shakes all;\n  With the ruin of all,\n  Then shall Babylon fall.\n  FIRST PROPHET.\n  _Recitative._\n  \u2019Tis thus that pride triumphant rears the head--\n  A little while, and all her power is fled.\n  But, ha! what means yon sadly plaintive train,\n  That onward slowly bends along the plain?\n  And now, behold, to yonder bank they bear\n  A pallid corse, and rest the body there.\n  Alas! too well mine eyes indignant trace\n  The last remains of Judah\u2019s royal race:\n  Fall\u2019n is our king, and all our fears are o\u2019er;\n  Unhappy Zedekiah is no more.\n  Ye wretches who, by fortune\u2019s hate,\n    In want and sorrow groan--\n  Come, ponder his severer fate,\n    And learn to bless your own.\n  Ye vain, whom youth and pleasure guide,\n    Awhile the bliss suspend;\n  Like yours, his life began in pride;\n    Like his, your lives may end.\n  SECOND PROPHET.\n  _Recitative._\n  Behold his wretched corse, with sorrow worn,\n  His squalid limbs by ponderous fetters torn;\n  Those eyeless orbs which shook with ghastly glare,\n  Those ill-becoming rags, that matted hair.\n  And shall not Heaven for this avenge the foe,\n  Grasp the red bolt, and lay the guilty low?\n  How long, how long, Almighty Lord of all,\n  Shall wrath vindictive threaten ere it fall!\n[Illustration]\n  ISRAELITISH WOMAN.\n  As panting flies the hunted hind,\n    Where brooks refreshing stray;\n  And rivers through the valley wind,\n    That stop the hunter\u2019s way:\n  Thus we, O Lord, alike distrest,\n    For streams of mercy long;\n  Streams which can cheer the sore-opprest,\n    And overwhelm the strong.\n  FIRST PROPHET.\n  _Recitative._\n  But, whence that shout? Good heavens! Amazement all!\n  See yonder tower just nodding to the fall:\n  Behold, an army covers all the ground;\n  \u2019Tis Cyrus here that pours destruction round:\n  The ruin smokes, the torrent pours along--\n  How low the great, how feeble are the strong!\n  And now, behold, the battlements recline--\n  O God of hosts, the victory is Thine!\n  CHORUS OF ISRAELITES.\n  Down with her, Lord, to lick the dust--\n    Thy vengeance be begun;\n  Serve her as she hath serv\u2019d the just:\n    And let Thy will be done.\n  FIRST PRIEST.\n  _Recitative._\n  All, all is lost! The Syrian army fails;\n  Cyrus, the conqueror of the world, prevails!\n  Save us, O Lord! to Thee, though late, we pray;\n  And give repentance but an hour\u2019s delay.\n  SECOND PRIEST.\n  Thrice happy, who in happy hour\n    To Heaven their praise bestow,\n  And own His all-consuming power\n    Before they feel the blow!\n  FIRST PROPHET.\n  _Recitative._\n  Now, now\u2019s our time! ye wretches bold and blind,\n  Brave but to God, and cowards to mankind;\n  Ye seek in vain the Lord, unsought before--\n  Your wealth, your lives, your kingdom, are no more!\n  O Lucifer! thou son of morn,\n  Of Heaven alike and man the foe--\n      Heaven, men, and all,\n      Now press thy fall,\n  And sink thee lowest of the low.\n[Illustration]\n  FIRST PROPHET.\n  O Babylon! how art thou fallen--\n  Thy fall more dreadful from delay!\n      Thy streets forlorn\n      To wilds shall turn,\n  Where toads shall pant, and vultures prey!\n  SECOND PROPHET.\n  _Recitative._\n  Such be her fate! But, hark! how from afar\n  The clarion\u2019s note proclaims the finish\u2019d war!\n  Cyrus, our great restorer, is at hand,\n  And this way leads his formidable band.\n  Now give your songs of Zion to the wind,\n  And hail the benefactor of mankind:\n  He comes, pursuant to Divine decree,\n  To chain the strong, and set the captive free.\n  CHORUS OF YOUTHS.\n  Rise to raptures past expressing,\n    Sweeter from remember\u2019d woes;\n  Cyrus comes, our wrongs redressing,\n    Comes to give the world repose.\n  CHORUS OF VIRGINS.\n  Cyrus comes, the world redressing,\n    Love and pleasure in his train;\n  Comes to heighten every blessing,\n    Comes to soften every pain.\n  SEMI-CHORUS.\n  Hail to him, with mercy reigning,\n    Skill\u2019d in every peaceful art;\n  Who, from bonds our limbs unchaining,\n    Only binds the willing heart.\n  THE LAST CHORUS.\n  But chief to Thee, our God, our Father, Friend,\n    Let praise be given to all eternity;\n  O Thou, without beginning, without end--\n    Let us, and all, begin and end in Thee!\n[Illustration]\n[Illustration: THE HAUNCH OF VENISON\nAN EPISTLE TO LORD CLARE.]\n  Thanks, my lord, for your venison, for finer or fatter\n  Ne\u2019er rang\u2019d in a forest, or smok\u2019d in a platter:\n  The haunch was a picture for painters to study--\n  The fat was so white, and the lean was so ruddy.\n  Though my stomach was sharp, I could scarce help regretting\n  To spoil such a delicate picture by eating:\n  I had thoughts in my chamber to place it in view,\n  To be shown to my friends as a piece of _virt\u00f9_;\n  As in some Irish houses, where things are so-so,\n  One gammon of bacon hangs up for a show;--\n  But, for eating a rasher of what they take pride in,\n  They\u2019d as soon think of eating the pan it is fried in.\n  But hold--let me pause--Don\u2019t I hear you pronounce\n  This tale of the bacon a damnable bounce?\n  Well, suppose it a bounce--sure a poet may try,\n  By a bounce now and then, to get courage to fly.\n  But, my lord, it\u2019s no bounce: I protest in my turn,\n  It\u2019s a truth--and your lordship may ask Mr. Byrne.[8]\n    To go on with my tale--as I gaz\u2019d on the Haunch,\n  I thought of a friend that was trusty and staunch--\n  So I cut it, and sent it to Reynolds undrest,\n  To paint it, or eat it, just as he lik\u2019d best.\n  Of the neck and the breast I had next to dispose;\n  \u2019Twas a neck and a breast that might rival Monroe\u2019s[9]--\n  But in parting with these I was puzzled again,\n  With the how, and the who, and the where, and the when:\n  There\u2019s Coley,[10] and Williams, and H----rth, and Hiff--\n  I think they love ven\u2019son--I know they love beef;\n  There\u2019s my countryman, Higgins--Oh! let him alone\n  For making a blunder, or picking a bone.\n  But, hang it--to poets, who seldom can eat,\n  Your very good mutton \u2019s a very good treat;\n  Such dainties to them, their health it might hurt,\n  It\u2019s like sending them ruffles, when wanting a shirt.\n  While thus I debated, in reverie centred,\n  An acquaintance, a friend as he call\u2019d himself, enter\u2019d;\n  An under-bred, fine-spoken fellow was he,\n  And he smil\u2019d as he look\u2019d at the venison and me.\n  \u201cWhat have we got here?--Why, this is good eating!\n  Your own, I suppose--or is it in waiting?\u201d\n  \u201cWhy, whose should it be, sir?\u201d cried I, with a flounce;\n  \u201cI get these things often\u201d--but that was a bounce:\n  \u201cSome lords, my acquaintance, that settle the nation,\n  Are pleas\u2019d to be kind--but I hate ostentation.\u201d\n    \u201cIf that be the case, then,\u201d cried he, very gay,\n  \u201cI\u2019m glad I have taken this house in my way.\n  To-morrow you take a poor dinner with me:\n  No words--I insist on\u2019t--precisely at three.\n  We\u2019ll have Johnson, and Burke; all the wits will be there;\n  My acquaintance is slight, or I\u2019d ask my Lord Clare.\n  And now that I think on\u2019t, as I am a sinner!\n  We wanted this venison to make out the dinner.\n  What say you?--a pasty?--it shall, and it must;\n  And my wife, little Kitty, is famous for crust.\n  Here, porter!--this venison with me to Mile End;\n  No stirring, I beg--my dear friend--my dear friend!\u201d\n  Thus snatching his hat, he brush\u2019d off like the wind,\n  And the porter and eatables follow\u2019d behind.\n    Left alone to reflect, having emptied my shelf,\n  And \u201cnobody with me at sea but myself;\u201d[11]\n  Though I could not help thinking my gentleman hasty,\n  Yet Johnson, and Burke, and a good venison pasty,\n  Were things that I never dislik\u2019d in my life--\n  Though clogg\u2019d with a coxcomb, and Kitty his wife;\n  So next day, in due splendour to make my approach,\n  I drove to his door in my own hackney-coach.\n    When come to the place where we all were to dine,\n  (A chair-lumber\u2019d closet, just twelve feet by nine)--\n  My friend bade me welcome, but struck me quite dumb\n  With tidings that Johnson and Burke would not come;\n  \u201cFor I knew it,\u201d he cried, \u201cboth eternally fail,\n  The one with his speeches, and t\u2019 other with Thrale.\n  But no matter, I\u2019ll warrant we\u2019ll make up the party\n  With two full as clever, and ten times as hearty.\n  The one is a Scotchman, the other a Jew,\n  They\u00a0\u2019re both of them merry, and authors, like you;\n  The one writes the _Snarler_, the other the _Scourge_;\n  Some think he writes _Cinna_--he owns to _Panurge_.\u201d\n  While thus he describ\u2019d them by trade and by name,\n  They enter\u2019d, and dinner was serv\u2019d as they came.\n    At the top a fried liver and bacon were seen,\n  At the bottom was tripe, in a swinging tureen;\n  At the sides there was spinach and pudding made hot;\n  In the middle a place where the pasty--was not.\n  Now, my lord, as for tripe, it\u2019s my utter aversion,\n  And your bacon I hate like a Turk or a Persian;\n  So there I sat stuck like a horse in a pound,\n  While the bacon and liver went merrily round.\n  But what vex\u2019d me most was that d--d Scottish rogue,\n  With his long-winded speeches, his smiles, and his brogue;\n  And, \u201cMadam,\u201d quoth he, \u201cmay this bit be my poison,\n  A prettier dinner I never set eyes on:\n  Pray a slice of your liver, though may I be curst,\n  But I\u2019ve eat of your tripe till I\u2019m ready to burst.\u201d\n  \u201cThe tripe,\u201d quoth the Jew, \u201cif the truth I may speak,\n  I could dine on this tripe seven days in a week;\n  I like these here dinners so pretty and small--\n  But your friend there, the Doctor, eats nothing at all.\u201d\n  \u201cOh, oh!\u201d quoth my friend, \u201che\u2019ll come on in a trice--\n  He\u2019s keeping a corner for something that\u2019s nice.\n  There\u2019s a Pasty\u201d--\u201cA Pasty!\u201d repeated the Jew;\n  \u201cI don\u2019t care if I keep a corner for \u2019t too.\u201d\n  \u201cWhat the De\u2019il, mon, a Pasty!\u201d re-echoed the Scot;\n  \u201cThough splitting, I\u2019ll still keep a corner for that.\u201d\n  \u201cWe\u2019ll all keep a corner,\u201d the lady cried out;\n  \u201cWe\u2019ll all keep a corner,\u201d was echo\u2019d about.\n  While thus we resolv\u2019d, and the Pasty delay\u2019d,\n  With looks that quite petrified, enter\u2019d the maid;\n  A visage so sad, and so pale with affright,\n  Wak\u2019d Priam, in drawing his curtains by night.\n  But we quickly found out--for who could mistake her?--\n  That she came with some terrible news from the baker:\n  And so it fell out; for that negligent sloven\n  Had shut out the Pasty on shutting his oven.\n  Sad Philomel thus--but let similes drop--\n  And now that I think on\u2019t, the story may stop.\n  To be plain, my good lord, it\u2019s but labour misplac\u2019d,\n  To send such good verses to one of your taste.\n  You\u2019ve got an odd something--a kind of discerning--\n  A relish--a taste--sicken\u2019d over by learning;\n  At least, it\u2019s your temper, as very well known,\n  That you think very slightly of all that\u2019s your own;\n  So, perhaps, in your habits of thinking amiss,\n  You may make a mistake, and think slightly of this.\n[Illustration]\nFOOTNOTES:\n[8] Lord Clare\u2019s nephew.\n[9] Miss Dorothy Monroe.\n[10] Colman.\n[11] From a letter of the Duke of Cumberland.\n[Illustration: RETALIATION]\n  Of old, when Scarr\u00f2n[12] his companions invited,\n  Each guest brought his dish, and the feast was united;\n  If our landlord supplies us with beef, and with fish,\n  Let each guest bring himself--and he brings the best dish;\n  Our Dean[13] shall be venison, just fresh from the plains;\n  Our Burke[14] shall be tongue, with a garnish of brains;\n  Our Will[15] shall be wild-fowl, of excellent flavour;\n  And Dick[16] with his pepper shall heighten their savour;\n  Our Cumberland\u2019s[17] sweet-bread its place shall obtain;\n  And Douglas[18] is pudding, substantial and plain;\n  Our Garrick\u2019s[19] a salad, for in him we see\n  Oil, vinegar, sugar, and saltness agree;\n  To make out the dinner, full certain I am\n  That Ridge[20] is anchovy, and Reynolds[21] is lamb;\n  That Hickey\u2019s[22] a capon, and, by the same rule,\n  Magnanimous Goldsmith a gooseberry fool.\n  At a dinner so various, at such a repast,\n  Who\u2019d not be a glutton, and stick to the last?\n  Here, waiter, more wine, let me sit while I\u2019m able,\n  Till all my companions sink under the table;\n  Then, with chaos and blunders encircling my head,\n  Let me ponder, and tell what I think of the dead.\n    Here lies the good Dean, re-united to earth,\n  Who mix\u2019d reason with pleasure, and wisdom with mirth;\n  If he had any faults, he has left us in doubt--\n  At least, in six weeks I could not find them out;\n  Yet some have declar\u2019d, and it can\u2019t be denied them,\n  That sly-boots was cursedly cunning to hide them.\n    Here lies our good Edmund, whose genius was such,\n  We scarcely can praise it, or blame it too much;\n  Who, born for the universe, narrow\u2019d his mind,\n  And to party gave up what was meant for mankind.\n  Though fraught with all learning, yet straining his throat\n  To persuade Tommy Townshend[23] to lend him a vote;\n  Who, too deep for his hearers, still went on refining,\n  And thought of convincing, while they thought of dining:\n  Though equal to all things, for all things unfit:\n  Too nice for a statesman, too proud for a wit;\n  For a patriot too cool; for a drudge disobedient;\n  And too fond of the _right_, to pursue the _expedient_.\n  In short, \u2019twas his fate, unemploy\u2019d, or in place, sir,\n  To eat mutton cold, and cut blocks with a razor.\n    Here lies honest William, whose heart was a mint,\n  While the owner ne\u2019er knew half the good that was in \u2019t;\n  The pupil of impulse, it forc\u2019d him along,\n  His conduct still right, with his argument wrong;\n  Still aiming at honour, yet fearing to roam--\n  The coachman was tipsy, the chariot drove home;\n  Would you ask for his merits? alas! he had none;\n  What was good was spontaneous, his faults were his own.\n    Here lies honest Richard,[24] whose fate I must sigh at;\n  Alas! that such frolic should now be so quiet!\n  What spirits were his! what wit and what whim!\n  Now breaking a jest--and now breaking a limb;\n  Now wrangling and grumbling to keep up the ball;\n  Now teasing and vexing--yet laughing at all!\n  In short, so provoking a devil was Dick,\n  That we wish\u2019d him full ten times a day at Old Nick;\n  But, missing his mirth and agreeable vein,\n  As often we wish\u2019d to have Dick back again.\n    Here Cumberland lies, having acted his parts,\n  The Terence of England, the mender of hearts;\n  A flattering painter, who made it his care\n  To draw men as they ought to be, not as they are.\n  His gallants are all faultless, his women divine,\n  And comedy wonders at being so fine!\n  Like a tragedy queen he has dizen\u2019d her out,\n  Or rather like tragedy giving a rout.\n  His fools have their follies so lost in a crowd\n  Of virtues and feelings, that folly grows proud;\n  And coxcombs, alike in their failings alone,\n  Adopting his portraits, are pleas\u2019d with their own.\n  Say, where has our poet this malady caught?\n  Or wherefore his characters thus without fault?\n  Say, was it that mainly directing his view\n  To find out men\u2019s virtues, and finding them few,\n  Quite sick of pursuing each troublesome elf,\n  He grew lazy at last, and drew from himself?\n    Here Douglas[25] retires from his toils to relax,\n  The scourge of impostors, the terror of quacks:\n  Come, all ye quack bards, and ye quacking divines--\n  Come, and dance on the spot where your tyrant reclines!\n  When satire and censure encircled his throne,\n  I fear\u2019d for your safety, I fear\u2019d for my own;\n  But now he is gone, and we want a detector,\n  Our Dodds[26] shall be pious, our Kenricks[27] shall lecture--\n  Macpherson[28] write bombast, and call it a style--\n  Our Townshend make speeches, and I shall compile;\n  New Lauders and Bowers the Tweed shall cross over,\n  No countryman living their tricks to discover;\n  Detection her taper shall quench to a spark,\n  And Scotchman meet Scotchman, and cheat in the dark.\n    Here lies David Garrick--describe me, who can,\n  An abridgment of all that was pleasant in man:\n  As an actor, confess\u2019d without rival to shine;\n  As a wit, if not first, in the very first line;\n  Yet, with talents like these, and an excellent heart,\n  The man had his failings--a dupe to his art.\n  Like an ill-judging beauty, his colours he spread,\n  And beplaster\u2019d with rouge his own natural red.\n  On the stage he was natural, simple, affecting;\n  \u2019Twas only that when he was off he was acting.\n  With no reason on earth to go out of his way,\n  He turn\u2019d and he varied full ten times a day;\n  Though secure of our hearts, yet confoundedly sick,\n  If they were not his own by finessing and trick:\n  He cast off his friends, as a huntsman his pack,\n  For he knew when he pleas\u2019d he could whistle them back.\n  Of praise a mere glutton, he swallow\u2019d what came,\n  And the puff of a dunce he mistook it for fame;\n  Till, his relish grown callous almost to disease,\n  Who pepper\u2019d the highest was surest to please.\n  But let us be candid, and speak out our mind--\n  If dunces applauded, he paid them in kind.\n  Ye Kenricks, ye Kellys,[29] and Woodfalls[30] so grave,\n  What a commerce was yours, while you got and you gave!\n  How did Grub Street re-echo the shouts that you rais\u2019d,\n  While he was be-Roscius\u2019d, and you were be-prais\u2019d!\n  But peace to his spirit, wherever it flies,\n  To act as an angel, and mix with the skies:\n  Those poets, who owe their best fame to his skill,\n  Shall still be his flatterers, go where he will;\n  Old Shakspere receive him with praise and with love,\n  And Beaumonts and Bens be his Kellys above.\n    Here Hickey reclines, a most blunt pleasant creature,\n  And slander itself must allow him good-nature;\n  He cherish\u2019d his friend, and he relish\u2019d a bumper;\n  Yet one fault he had, and that one was a thumper!\n  Perhaps you may ask, if the man was a miser?\n  I answer, no, no--for he always was wiser;\n  Too courteous, perhaps, or obligingly flat?\n  His very worst foe can\u2019t accuse him of that;\n  Perhaps he confided in men as they go,\n  And so was too foolishly honest? Ah, no!\n  Then what was his failing? come, tell it, and burn ye!\n  He was--could he help it?--a special attorney.\n    Here Reynolds is laid; and, to tell you my mind,\n  He has not left a wiser or better behind:\n  His pencil was striking, resistless, and grand;\n  His manners were gentle, complying, and bland;\n  Still born to improve us in every part--\n  His pencil our faces, his manners our heart:\n  To coxcombs averse, yet most civilly steering,\n  When they judg\u2019d without skill, he was still hard of hearing;\n  When they talk\u2019d of their Raphaels, Coreggios, and stuff,\n  He shifted his trumpet,[31] and only took snuff.\n[Illustration: POSTSCRIPT]\n  Here Whitefoord[32] reclines, and deny it who can,\n  Though he merrily liv\u2019d, he is now a _grave_ man:\n  Rare compound of oddity, frolic, and fun--\n  Who relish\u2019d a joke, and rejoic\u2019d in a pun;\n  Whose temper was generous, open, sincere--\n  A stranger to flattery, a stranger to fear;\n  Who scatter\u2019d around wit and humour at will;\n  Whose daily _bon mots_ half a column might fill;\n  A Scotchman, from pride and from prejudice free;\n  A scholar, yet surely no pedant was he.\n    What pity, alas! that so liberal a mind\n  Should so long be to newspaper essays confin\u2019d;\n  Who perhaps to the summit of science could soar,\n  Yet content \u201cif the table he set in a roar;\u201d--\n  Whose talents to fill any station were fit,\n  Yet happy if Woodfall[33] confess\u2019d him a wit.\n    Ye newspaper witlings! ye pert scribbling folks!\n  Who copied his squibs, and re-echoed his jokes:\n  Ye tame imitators, ye servile herd, come,\n  Still follow your master, and visit his tomb:\n  To deck it, bring with you festoons of the vine,\n  And copious libations bestow on his shrine;\n  Then strew all around it--you can do no less--\n  _Cross-readings_, _Ship-news_, and _Mistakes of the Press_.[34]\n    Merry Whitefoord, farewell! for thy sake I admit\n  That a Scot may have humour, I had almost said wit:\n  This debt to thy memory I cannot refuse--\n  \u201cThou best-humour\u2019d man, with the worst-humour\u2019d muse.\u201d\n[Illustration]\nFOOTNOTES:\n[12] Paul Scarr\u00f2n, a popular French writer, who died in 1660.\n[13] Dr. Barnard, Dean of Derry, in Ireland.\n[14] Edmund Burke.\n[15] Mr. William Burke, secretary to General Conway.\n[16] Mr. Richard Burke.\n[17] Richard Cumberland, author of \u201cThe West Indian,\u201d and other\ndramatic pieces.\n[18] Dr. Douglas, Canon of Windsor, and Bishop of Salisbury.\n[19] David Garrick, the actor.\n[20] An Irish barrister.\n[21] Sir Joshua Reynolds.\n[22] An eminent attorney.\n[23] Thomas Townshend, Member for Whitchurch, afterwards Lord Sydney.\n[24] Richard Burke had broken a leg, about seven years before this poem\nwas written.\n[25] Douglas had vindicated Milton from the insolence of Lauder,\ningeniously refuted the cavils of Hume, and exposed Bower.\n[26] The Rev. Dr. Dodd.\n[27] Dr. Kenrick, who read lectures, under the title of \u201cThe School of\nShakspere.\u201d\n[28] James Macpherson, the translator of Ossian.\n[29] Hugh Kelly, author of \u201cFalse Delicacy,\u201d \u201cSchool for Wives,\u201d &c.\n[30] Mr. W. Woodfall, printer of the _Morning Chronicle_.\n[31] Sir Joshua Reynolds used an ear-trumpet in company.\n[32] Mr. Caleb Whitefoord, author of many humorous essays. He was so\nfond of punning, that Goldsmith used to say it was impossible to be in\nhis company without being infected with the disorder.\n[33] Mr. H.\u00a0S. Woodfall, printer of the _Public Advertiser_.\n[34] Mr. Whitefoord contributed papers on these subjects to the _Public\nAdvertiser_.\n[Illustration: THE DOUBLE TRANSFORMATION\nA TALE]\n  Secluded from domestic strife,\n  Jack Book-Worm led a college life;\n  A fellowship at twenty-five\n  Made him the happiest man alive;\n  He drank his glass, and crack\u2019d his joke,\n  And freshmen wonder\u2019d as he spoke.\n    Such pleasures, unalloy\u2019d with care,\n  Could any accident impair?\n  Could Cupid\u2019s shaft at length transfix\n  Our swain, arriv\u2019d at thirty-six?\n  Oh! had the Archer ne\u2019er come down\n  To ravage in a country town;\n  Or Flavia been content to stop\n  At triumphs in a Fleet Street shop!\n  Oh! had her eyes forgot to blaze!\n  Or Jack had wanted eyes to gaze.\n  Oh!--but let exclamation cease;\n  Her presence banish\u2019d all his peace!\n  So, with decorum all things carried,\n  Miss frown\u2019d, and blush\u2019d, and then was--married.\n    The honey-moon like lightning flew;\n  The second brought its transports, too;\n  A third, a fourth, were not amiss;\n  The fifth was friendship mix\u2019d with bliss:\n  But when a twelvemonth pass\u2019d away,\n  Jack found his goddess made of clay--\n  Found half the charms that deck\u2019d her face\n  Arose from powder, shreds, or lace;\n  But still the worst remain\u2019d behind--\n  That very face had robb\u2019d her mind.\n    Skill\u2019d in no other arts was she,\n  But dressing, patching, repartee;\n  And, just as humour rose or fell,\n  By turns a slattern or a belle.\n  \u2019Tis true she dress\u2019d with modern grace--\n  Half naked at a ball or race;\n  But when at home, at board or bed,\n  Five greasy night-caps wrapp\u2019d her head.\n  Could so much beauty condescend\n  To be a dull domestic friend?\n  Could any curtain-lectures bring\n  To decency so fine thing?\n  In short--by night, \u2019twas fits or fretting;\n  By day, \u2019twas gadding or coquetting.\n  Fond to be seen, she kept a bevy\n  Of powder\u2019d coxcombs at her levee;\n  The \u2019squire and captain took their stations,\n  And twenty other near relations.\n  Jack suck\u2019d his pipe, and often broke\n  A sigh in suffocating smoke;\n  While all their hours were pass\u2019d between\n  Insulting repartee or spleen.\n[Illustration]\n    Thus, as her faults each day were known,\n  He thinks her features coarser grown:\n  He fancies every vice she shows\n  Or thins her lip, or points her nose;\n  Whenever rage or envy rise,\n  How wide her mouth, how wild her eyes!\n  He knows not how, but so it is,\n  Her face is grown a knowing phiz--\n  And, though her fops are wondrous civil,\n  He thinks her ugly as the devil.\n  Now, to perplex the ravell\u2019d noose,\n  As each a different way pursues--\n  While sullen or loquacious strife\n  Promis\u2019d to hold them on for life--\n  That dire disease, whose ruthless power\n  Withers the beauty\u2019s transient flower,\n  Lo! the small-pox, whose horrid glare\n  Levell\u2019d its terrors at the fair;\n  And, rifling every youthful grace,\n  Left but the remnant of a face.\n    The glass, grown hateful to her sight,\n  Reflected now a--perfect fright.\n  Each former art she vainly tries,\n  To bring back lustre to her eyes;\n  In vain she tries her pastes and creams,\n  To smooth her skin, or hide its seams:\n  Her country beaux and city cousins,\n  Lovers no more, flew off by dozens;\n  The \u2019squire himself was seen to yield,\n  And even the captain quit the field.\n    Poor madam, now condemn\u2019d to hack\n  The rest of life with anxious Jack,\n  Perceiving others fairly flown,\n  Attempted pleasing him alone.\n  Jack soon was dazzled to behold\n  Her present face surpass the old.\n  With modesty her cheeks are dy\u2019d;\n  Humility displaces pride:\n  For tawdry finery is seen,\n  A person ever neatly clean:\n  No more presuming on her sway,\n  She learns good-nature every day:\n  Serenely gay, and strict in duty,\n  Jack finds his wife a--perfect beauty.\n[Illustration]\n[Illustration: THE GIFT TO IRIS]\nIN BOW STREET, COVENT GARDEN.\n  Say, cruel Iris, pretty rake,\n    Dear mercenary beauty,\n  What annual offering shall I make,\n    Expressive of my duty?\n  My heart, a victim to thine eyes,\n    Should I at once deliver--\n  Say, would the angry fair-one prize\n    The gift, who slights the giver?\n  A bill, a jewel, watch, or toy,\n    My rivals give; and let them:\n  If gems or gold impart a joy,\n    I\u2019ll give them--when I get them.\n  I\u2019ll give--but not the full-blown rose,\n    Or rose-bud, more in fashion--\n  Such short-liv\u2019d offerings but disclose\n    A transitory passion--\n  I\u2019ll give thee something yet unpaid,\n    Not less sincere than civil:\n  I\u2019ll give thee--ah! too charming maid,\n    I\u2019ll give thee to the devil!\n[Illustration: THE LOGICIANS REFUTED]\nIN IMITATION OF DEAN SWIFT.\n  Logicians have but ill defin\u2019d\n  As rational, the human mind;\n  Reason, they say, belongs to man--\n  But let them prove it, if they can.\n  Wise Aristotle and Smiglecius,[35]\n  By ratiocinations specious,\n  Have strove to prove with great precision,\n  With definition and division,\n  _Homo est ratione pr\u00e6ditum_--\n  But for my soul I cannot credit \u2019em:\n  And must in spite of them maintain\n  That man and all his ways are vain,\n  And that this boasted child of nature\n  Is both a weak and erring creature--\n  That instinct is a surer guide\n  Than reason--boasting mortals\u2019 pride,\n  And that brute beasts are far before \u2019em:\n  _Deus est anima brutorum._\n  Who ever knew an honest brute\n  At law his neighbour prosecute;\n  Bring action for assault and battery,\n  Or friend beguile with lies and flattery?\n  O\u2019er plains they ramble unconfin\u2019d,\n  No politics disturb their mind;\n  They eat their meals, and take their sport,\n  Nor know who\u2019s in or out at court:\n  They never to the levee go,\n  To treat as dearest friend, a foe;\n  They never importune his Grace;\n  Nor ever cringe to men in place;\n  Nor undertake a dirty job,\n  Nor draw the quill to write for Bob;[36]\n  Fraught with invective they ne\u2019er go\n  To folks at Paternoster Row:\n  No jugglers, fiddlers, dancing-masters,\n  No pickpockets, or poetasters,\n  Are known to honest quadrupeds;\n  No single brute his fellow leads.\n  Brutes never meet in bloody fray,\n  Nor cut each others\u2019 throats for pay.\n  Of beasts, it is confess\u2019d, the ape\n  Comes nearest us in human shape:\n  Like man he imitates each fashion,\n  And malice is his ruling passion;\n  But both in malice and grimaces,\n  A courtier any ape surpasses.\n  Behold him, humbly cringing, wait\n  Upon the minister of state;\n  View him soon after to inferiors\n  Aping the conduct of superiors:\n  He promises with equal air,\n  And to perform takes equal care.\n  He in his turn finds imitators:\n  At court, the porters, lackeys, waiters,\n  Their masters\u2019 manners still contract--\n  And footmen, lords and dukes can act.\n  Thus at the court, both great and small\n  Behave alike--for all ape all.\n[Illustration]\nFOOTNOTES:\n[35] Smiglecius, a native of Poland, wrote a Treatise on Logic, which\nGoldsmith had probably seen at the University.\n[36] Sir Robert Walpole.\n[Illustration: AN ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF A MAD DOG.[37]]\n  Good people of all, of every sort,\n    Give ear unto my song;\n  And if you find it wondrous short,\n    It cannot hold you long.\n  In Islington there lived a man,\n    Of whom the world might say,\n  That still a godly race he ran,\n    Whene\u2019er he went to pray.\n  A kind and gentle heart he had,\n    To comfort friends and foes;\n  The naked every day he clad,\n    When he put on his clothes.\n  And in that town a dog was found:\n    As many dogs there be--\n  Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound,\n    And curs of low degree.\n[Illustration]\n  This dog and man at first were friends;\n    But, when a pique began,\n  The dog, to gain some private ends,\n    Went mad, and bit the man.\n  Around from all the neighbouring streets\n    The wondering neighbours ran;\n  And swore the dog had lost his wits,\n    To bite so good a man.\n  The wound it seem\u2019d both sore and sad\n    To every christian eye;\n  And while they swore the dog was mad,\n    They swore the man would die.\n  But soon a wonder came to light,\n    That show\u2019d the rogues they lied--\n  The man recover\u2019d of the bite;\n    The dog it was that died.\nFOOTNOTES:\n[37] \u201c\u2018My brother Dick,\u2019 cried Bill, my youngest, \u2018is just gone out\nwith sister Livy; but Mr. Williams has taught me two songs, and I\u2019ll\nsing them for you, Papa. Which song do you choose, the Dying Swan, or\nthe Elegy on the Mad Dog?\u2019 \u2018The Elegy, child, by all means,\u2019 said I: \u2018I\nnever heard that yet.\u2019\u201d--VICAR OF WAKEFIELD, Chap. XVII.\n[Illustration: THRENODIA AUGUSTALIS]\nSACRED TO THE MEMORY OF HER LATE ROYAL HIGHNESS,\nTHE PRINCESS DOWAGER OF WALES.[38]\nPART I.\n_Overture._--_A solemn dirge._\n  _Air._--_Trio._\n  Arise, ye sons of worth, arise,\n    And waken every note of woe;\n  When truth and virtue reach the skies,\n    \u2019Tis ours to weep the want below!\n  _Chorus._\n  When truth and virtue reach the skies, &c.\n  MAN _Speaker_.\n  The praise attending pomp and power,\n    The incense given to kings,\n  Are but the trappings of an hour--\n    Mere transitory things!\n  The base bestow them; but the good agree\n    To spurn the venal gifts as flattery.\n  But, when to pomp and power are join\u2019d\n  An equal dignity of mind--\n    When titles are the smallest claim--\n  When wealth, and rank, and noble blood,\n  But aid the power of doing good--\n    Then all their trophies last; and flattery turns to fame.\n  Blest spirit thou, whose fame, just born to bloom,\n  Shall spread and flourish from the tomb,\n    How hast thou left mankind for heaven!\n  Even now reproach and faction mourn,\n  And, wondering how their rage was borne,\n    Request to be forgiven.\n  Alas! they never had thy hate;\n    Unmov\u2019d, in conscious rectitude,\n    Thy towering mind self-centred stood,\n  Nor wanted man\u2019s opinion to be great.\n  In vain, to charm thy ravish\u2019d sight,\n    A thousand gifts would fortune send;\n  In vain, to drive thee from the right,\n    A thousand sorrows urg\u2019d thy end:\n  Like some well-fashion\u2019d arch thy patience stood,\n  And purchas\u2019d strength from its increasing load.\n  Pain met thee like a friend that set thee free\n  Affliction still is virtue\u2019s opportunity!\n  _Song.--By a_ MAN.\n  Virtue, on herself relying,\n    Every passion hush\u2019d to rest,\n  Loses every pain in dying,\n    In the hope of being blest.\n  Every added pang she suffers,\n    Some increasing good bestows;\n  Every shock that malice offers,\n    Only rocks her to repose.\n  WOMAN _Speaker_.\n  Yet, ah! what terrors frown\u2019d upon her fate--\n    Death, with its formidable band,\n  Fever and pain and pale consumptive care,\n    Determin\u2019d took their stand:\n  Nor did the cruel ravagers design\n    To finish all their efforts at a blow;\n    But, mischievously slow,\n  They robb\u2019d the relic and defac\u2019d the shrine.\n    With unavailing grief,\n    Despairing of relief,\n  Her weeping children round\n    Beheld each hour\n    Death\u2019s growing power,\n  And trembled as he frown\u2019d.\n  As helpless friends, who view from shore\n  The labouring ship, and hear the tempest roar,\n    While winds and waves their wishes cross--\n  They stood, while hope and comfort fail,\n  Not to assist, but to bewail\n    The inevitable loss.\n  Relentless tyrant! at thy call\n  How do the good, the virtuous fall!\n  Truth, beauty, worth, and all that most engage,\n  But wake thy vengeance, and provoke thy rage.\n  _Song._--_By a_ MAN.\n  When vice my dart and scythe supply,\n  How great a king of terrors I!\n  If folly, fraud, your hearts engage,\n  Tremble, ye mortals, at my rage!\n  Fall, round me fall, ye little things;\n  Ye statesmen, warriors, poets, kings;\n  If virtue fail her counsel sage,\n  Tremble, ye mortals, at my rage!\n  MAN _Speaker_.\n  Yet let that wisdom, urg\u2019d by her example,\n  Teach us to estimate what all must suffer;\n  Let us prize death as the best gift of nature--\n  As a safe inn, where weary travellers,\n  When they have journey\u2019d through a world of cares,\n  May put off life, and be at rest for ever.\n  Groans, weeping friends, indeed, and gloomy sables,\n  May oft distract us with their sad solemnity:\n  The preparation is the executioner.\n  Death, when unmask\u2019d, shows me a friendly face,\n  And is a terror only at a distance;\n  For as the line of life conducts me on\n  To death\u2019s great court, the prospect seems more fair:\n  \u2019Tis Nature\u2019s kind retreat, that\u2019s always open\n  To take us in, when we have drain\u2019d the cup\n  Of life, or worn our days to wretchedness.\n  In that secure, serene retreat,\n  Where all the humble, all the great,\n    Promiscuously recline;\n  Where, wildly huddled to the eye,\n  The beggar\u2019s pouch and prince\u2019s purple lie,\n    May every bliss be thine.\n  And, ah! blest spirit, wheresoe\u2019er thy flight,\n  Through rolling worlds, or fields of liquid light,\n  May cherubs welcome their expected guest;\n  May saints with songs receive thee to their rest:\n  May peace, that claim\u2019d while here thy warmest love--\n  May blissful, endless peace be thine above!\n  _Song.--By a_ WOMAN.\n  Lovely, lasting peace below,\n  Comforter of every woe,\n  Heavenly born, and bred on high,\n  To crown the favourites of the sky--\n  Lovely, lasting peace appear;\n  This world itself, if thou art here,\n  Is once again with Eden blest,\n  And man contains it in his breast.\n  WOMAN _Speaker_.\n  Our vows are heard! long, long to mortal eyes,\n  Her soul was fitting to its kindred skies:\n  Celestial-like her bounty fell,\n  Where modest want and patient sorrow dwell;\n  Want pass\u2019d for merit at her door,\n    Unseen the modest were supplied;\n  Her constant pity fed the poor--\n    Then only poor, indeed, the day she died.\n  And, oh! for this, while sculpture decks thy shrine,\n    And art exhausts profusion round,\n  The tribute of a tear be mine,\n    A simple song, a sigh profound.\n  There Faith shall come, a pilgrim grey,[39]\n  To bless the tomb that wraps thy clay;\n  And calm Religion shall repair,\n  To dwell a weeping hermit there.\n  Truth, Fortitude, and Friendship shall agree\n  To blend their virtues, while they think of thee.\n  _Air.--Chorus.--Pomposo._\n  Let us, let all the world agree\n  To profit by resembling thee.\nPART II.\n_Overture._--_Pastorale._\n  MAN _Speaker_.\n  Fast by that shore where Thames\u2019 translucent stream\n    Reflects new glories on his breast,\n  Where, splendid as the youthful poet\u2019s dream,\n    He forms a scene beyond Elysium blest--\n  Where sculptur\u2019d elegance and native grace\n  Unite to stamp the beauties of the place,\n    While sweetly blending still are seen\n    The wavy lawn, the sloping green--\n  While novelty, with cautious cunning,\n  Through every maze of fancy running,\n    From China borrows aid to deck the scene--\n  There, sorrowing by the river\u2019s glassy bed,\n    Forlorn, a rural band complain\u2019d,\n  All whom Augusta\u2019s bounty fed,\n    All whom her clemency sustain\u2019d;\n  The good old sire, unconscious of decay,\n  The modest matron, clad in home-spun grey,\n  The military boy, the orphan\u2019d maid,\n  The shatter\u2019d veteran, now first dismay\u2019d:\n  These sadly join beside the murmuring deep;\n        And, as they view\n        The towers of Kew,\n  Call on their Mistress--now no more--and weep.\n[Illustration]\n  _Chorus._\n  Ye shady walks, ye waving greens,\n  Ye nodding towers, ye fairy scenes--\n  Let all your echoes now deplore,\n  That she who form\u2019d your beauties is no more!\n  MAN _Speaker._\n  First of the train, the patient rustic came,\n    Whose callous hand had form\u2019d the scene,\n  Bending at once with sorrow and with age,\n    With many a tear and many a sigh between;\n  \u201cAnd where,\u201d he cried, \u201cshall now my babes have bread,\n    Or how shall age support its feeble fire?\n  No lord will take me now, my vigour fled,\n    Nor can my strength perform what they require;\n  Each grudging master keeps the labourer bare--\n  A sleek and idle race is all their care.\n  My noble Mistress thought not so:\n    Her bounty, like the morning dew,\n  Unseen, though constant, us\u2019d to flow;\n    And as my strength decay\u2019d, her bounty grew.\u201d\n  WOMAN _Speaker_.\n  In decent dress, and coarsely clean,\n  The pious matron next was seen--\n  Clasp\u2019d in her hand a godly book was borne,\n  By use and daily meditation worn;\n  That decent dress, this holy guide,\n  Augusta\u2019s care had well supplied.\n    \u201cAnd, ah!\u201d she cries, all woe-begone,\n      \u201cWhat now remains for me?\n    Oh! where shall weeping want repair,\n      To ask for charity?\n    Too late in life for me to ask,\n      And shame prevents the deed;\n    And tardy, tardy are the times\n      To succour, should I need.\n    But all my wants, before I spoke,\n      Were to my Mistress known;\n    She still reliev\u2019d, nor sought for praise,\n      Contented with her own.\n    But every day her name I\u2019ll bless--\n      My morning prayer, my evening song;\n    I\u2019ll praise her while my life shall last,\n      A life that cannot last me long.\u201d\n  _Song.--By a_ WOMAN.\n  Each day, each hour, her name I\u2019ll bless,\n    My morning and my evening song;\n  And when in death my vows shall cease,\n    My children shall the note prolong.\n  MAN _Speaker._\n  The hardy veteran, after struck the sight,\n    Scarr\u2019d, mangled, maim\u2019d in every part;\n  Lopp\u2019d of his limbs in many a gallant fight,\n    In nought entire--except his heart;\n  Mute for a while, and sullenly distrest,\n  At last the impetuous sorrow fir\u2019d his breast:\n      \u201cWild is the whirlwind rolling\n        O\u2019er Afric\u2019s sandy plain,\n      And wild the tempest howling\n        Along the billow\u2019d main;\n    But every danger felt before--\n    The raging deep, the whirlwind\u2019s roar--\n    Less dreadful struck me with dismay,\n    Than what I feel this fatal day.\n  Oh! let me fly a land that spurns the brave--\n  Oswego\u2019s dreary shores shall be my grave;\n  I\u2019ll seek that less inhospitable coast,\n  And lay my body where my limbs were lost.\u201d\n  _Song.--By a_ MAN.\n  Old Edward\u2019s sons, unknown to yield,\n  Shall crowd from Cr\u00e9cy\u2019s laurell\u2019d field,\n  To do thy memory right;\n  For thine and Britain\u2019s wrongs they feel,\n  Again they snatch the gleamy steel,\n    And wish the avenging fight.\n  WOMAN _Speaker_.\n  In innocence and youth complaining,\n    Next appear\u2019d a lovely maid--\n  Affliction o\u2019er each feature reigning,\n    Kindly came in beauty\u2019s aid;\n  Every grace that grief dispenses,\n    Every glance that warms the soul,\n  In sweet succession charm\u2019d the senses,\n    While pity harmoniz\u2019d the whole.\n  \u201cThe garland of beauty\u201d--\u2019tis thus she would say--\n    \u201cNo more shall my crook or my temples adorn;\n  I\u2019ll not wear a garland--Augusta\u2019s away,\n    I\u2019ll not wear a garland until she return.\n  \u201cBut, alas! that return I never shall see,\n    The echoes of Thames shall my sorrows proclaim;\n  There promis\u2019d a lover to come--but, O me!\n    \u2019Twas death--\u2019twas the death of my Mistress that came.\n  \u201cBut ever, for ever, her image shall last,\n    I\u2019ll strip all the spring of its earliest bloom;\n  On her grave shall the cowslip and primrose be cast,\n    And the new-blossom\u2019d thorn shall whiten her tomb.\u201d\n  _Song._--_By a_ WOMAN.--_Pastorale._\n  With garlands of beauty the Queen of the May\n    No more will her crook or her temples adorn;\n  For who\u2019d wear a garland when she is away,\n    When she is remov\u2019d, and shall never return?\n  On the grave of Augusta these garlands be plac\u2019d,\n    We\u2019ll rifle the spring of its earliest bloom;\n  And there shall the cowslip and primrose be cast,\n    And the new-blossom\u2019d thorn shall whiten her tomb.\n  _Chorus._--_Altro modo._\n  On the grave of Augusta this garland be plac\u2019d,\n    We\u2019ll rifle the spring of its earliest bloom;\n  And there shall the cowslip and primrose be cast,\n    And the tears of her country shall water her tomb.[40]\n[Illustration]\nFOOTNOTES:\n[38] Mother of King George III.; she died February 8th, 1772.\n[39] From Collins.\n[40] _Advertisement prefixed to_ THRENODIA AUGUSTALIS:--\u201cThe following\nmay more properly be termed a compilation than a poem. It was prepared\nfor the composer in little more than two days; and may therefore rather\nbe considered as an industrious effort of gratitude, than of genius. In\njustice to the composer, it may likewise be right to inform the public,\nthat the music was composed in a period of time equally short.\u201d\n[Illustration: A NEW SIMILE]\nIN THE MANNER OF SWIFT.\n  Long had I sought in vain to find\n  A likeness for the scribbling kind--\n  The modern scribbling kind, who write\n  In wit, and sense, and nature\u2019s spite--\n  Till reading, I forgot what day on,\n  A chapter out of Tooke\u2019s Pantheon,[41]\n  I think I met with something there,\n  To suit my purpose to a hair.\n  But let us not proceed too furious:\n  First please to turn to god Mercurius:\n  You\u2019ll find him pictur\u2019d at full length,\n  In book the second, page the tenth.\n  The stress of all my proofs on him I lay;\n  And now proceed we to our simile.\n    Imprimis, pray observe his hat;\n  Wings upon either side--mark that.\n  Well! what is it from thence we gather?\n  Why, these denote a brain of feather.\n  A brain of feather! very right--\n  With wit that\u2019s flighty, learning light,\n  Such as to modern bards decreed;\n  A just comparison--proceed.\n    In the next place, his feet peruse:\n  Wings grow again from both his shoes;\n  Design\u2019d, no doubt, their part to bear,\n  And waft his godship through the air.\n  And here my simile unites--\n  For, in a modern poet\u2019s flights,\n  I\u2019m sure it may be justly said,\n  His feet are useful as his head.\n    Lastly, vouchsafe t\u2019 observe his hand,\n  Fill\u2019d with a snake-encircled wand,\n  By classic authors term\u2019d Caduceus,\n  And highly fam\u2019d for several uses:\n  To wit, most wondrously endued,\n  No poppy-water half so good;\n  For let folks only get a touch,\n  Its soporific virtue\u2019s such,\n  Though ne\u2019er so much awake before,\n  That quickly they begin to snore:\n  Add, too, what certain writers tell,\n  With this he drives men\u2019s souls to hell.\n    Now to apply, begin we then;\n  His wand \u2019s a modern author\u2019s pen;\n  The serpents round about it twin\u2019d\n  Denote him of the reptile kind--\n  Denote the rage with which he writes,\n  His frothy slaver, venom\u2019d bites.\n  An equal semblance still to keep,\n  Alike, too, both conduce to sleep--\n  This difference only, as the god\n  Drove souls to Tartarus with his rod,\n  With his goose-quill the scribbling elf,\n  Instead of others, damns himself.\n    And here my simile almost tript--\n  Yet grant a word by way of postscript.\n  Moreover, Mercury had a failing;\n  Well! what of that? out with it--stealing;\n  In which all modern bards agree,\n  Being each as great a thief as he.\n  But even this deity\u2019s existence\n  Shall lend my simile assistance:\n  Our modern bards! why, what a-pox\n  Are they--but senseless stones and blocks?\n[Illustration]\nFOOTNOTES:\n[41] A popular school-book, by Andrew Tooke, Head Master of the\nCharter-house.\n[Illustration: ON A BEAUTIFUL YOUTH STRUCK BLIND BY LIGHTNING]\n[Illustration]\n  Sure, \u2019twas by Providence design\u2019d,\n    Rather in pity than in hate,\n  That he should be, like Cupid, blind,\n    To save him from Narcissus\u2019 fate.\n[Illustration: STANZAS ON WOMAN]\n  When lovely Woman stoops to folly,\n    And finds, too late, that men betray--\n  What charm can soothe her melancholy?\n    What art can wash her guilt away?\n  The only art her guilt to cover,\n    To hide her shame from every eye,\n  To give repentance to her lover,\n    And wring his bosom--is, to die.\n[Illustration: TRANSLATION FROM SCARR\u00d2N.]\n  Thus, when soft Love subdues the heart,\n    With smiling hopes and chilling fears,\n  The soul rejects the aid of art,\n    And speaks in moments more than years.\n[Illustration: STANZAS ON THE TAKING OF QUEBEC]\nSEPTEMBER 13, 1759.\n  Amidst the clamour of exulting joys,\n    Which triumph forces from the patriot heart,\n  Grief dares to mingle her soul-piercing voice,\n    And quells the raptures which from pleasure start.\n  O Wolfe! to thee a streaming flood of woe\n    Sighing we pay, and think e\u2019en conquest dear;\n  Quebec in vain shall teach our breasts to glow,\n    Whilst thy sad fate extorts the heart-wrung tear.\n  Alive, the foe thy dreadful vigour fled,\n    And saw thee fall with joy-pronouncing eyes:\n  Yet they shall know thou conquerest, though dead,\n    Since from thy tomb a thousand heroes rise.\n[Illustration: EPITAPH ON EDWARD PURDON.[42]]\n  Here lies poor Ned Purdon, from misery freed,\n    Who long was a booksellers\u2019 hack;\n  He led such a damnable life in this world,\n    I don\u2019t think he\u2019ll wish to come back.\nFOOTNOTES:\n[42] Edward Purdon was educated at Trinity College, Dublin; but having\nwasted his patrimony, he enlisted as a foot soldier. Growing tired of\nthe army, he obtained his discharge, and became a scribbler in the\nnewspapers. He translated Voltaire\u2019s Henriade, and died in 1767.\n[Illustration: TRANSLATION OF A SOUTH AMERICAN ODE.]\n  In all my Enna\u2019s beauties blest,\n    Amidst profusion still I pine;\n  For though she gives me up her breast,\n    Its panting tenant is not mine.\n[Illustration: EPITAPH ON THOMAS PARNELL.]\n  This tomb, inscrib\u2019d to gentle Parnell\u2019s name,\n  May speak our gratitude, but not his fame.\n  What heart but feels his sweetly-moral lay,\n  That leads to truth through pleasure\u2019s flowery way!\n  Celestial themes confess\u2019d his tuneful aid;\n  And Heaven, that lent him genius, was repaid.\n  Needless to him the tribute we bestow--\n  The transitory breath of fame below;\n  More lasting rapture from his works shall rise,\n  While converts thank their poet in the skies.\n[Illustration: DESCRIPTION OF AN AUTHOR\u2019S BED-CHAMBER.]\n  Where the Red Lion, flaring o\u2019er the way,\n  Invites each passing stranger that can pay--\n  Where Calvert\u2019s butt, and Parsons\u2019 black champagne,\n  Regale the drabs and bloods of Drury Lane--\n  There, in a lonely room, from bailiffs snug,\n  The muse found Scroggen, stretch\u2019d beneath a rug.\n  A window, patch\u2019d with paper, lent a ray,\n  That dimly show\u2019d the state in which he lay:\n  The sanded floor that grits beneath the tread;\n  The humid wall with paltry pictures spread;\n  The royal game of goose was there in view,\n  And the twelve rules the royal martyr drew;\n  The seasons, fram\u2019d with listing, found a place,\n  And brave Prince William show\u2019d his lamp-black face.[43]\n  The morn was cold--he views with keen desire\n  The rusty grate, unconscious of a fire;\n  With beer and milk arrears the frieze was scor\u2019d,\n  And five crack\u2019d tea-cups dress\u2019d the chimney-board;\n  A night-cap deck\u2019d his brows instead of bay,\n  A cap by night--a stocking all the day!\nFOOTNOTES:\n[43] The Duke of Cumberland.\n[Illustration: SONG FROM THE COMEDY OF \u201cSHE STOOPS TO CONQUER.\u201d]\nSCENE.--_A Room in the Alehouse, \u201cThe Three Pigeons.\u201d_\n  Let schoolmasters puzzle their brain,\n    With grammar, and nonsense, and learning--\n  Good liquor, I stoutly maintain,\n    Gives _genus_ a better discerning.\n  Let them brag of their heathenish gods--\n    Their Lethes, and Styxes, and Stygians;\n  Their Quis, and their Qu\u00e6s, and their Quods:\n    They\u00a0\u2019re all but a parcel of Pigeons.\n                      To-roddle, to-roddle, to-rol.\n  When methodist preachers come down,\n    A-preaching that drinking is sinful,\n  I\u2019ll wager the rascals a crown,\n    They always preach best with a skinful.\n  But when you come down with your pence,\n    For a slice of their scurvy religion,\n  I\u2019ll leave it to all men of sense--\n    But you, my good friend, are the Pigeon.\n[Illustration]\n  Then, come, put the jorum about,\n    And let us be merry and clever;\n  Our hearts and our liquors are stout--\n    Here\u2019s the \u201cThree Jolly Pigeons\u201d for ever!\n  Let some cry up woodcock or hare,\n    Your bustards, your ducks, and your widgeons;\n  But of all the gay birds in the air--\n    Here\u2019s a health to the \u201cThree Jolly Pigeons.\u201d\n[Illustration]\n[Illustration: ANSWER TO AN INVITATION TO DINNER.]\n\u201cThis _is_ a poem! This _is_ a copy of verses!\u201d\n  Your mandate I got--\n  You may all go to pot:\n  Had your senses been right,\n  You\u2019d have sent before night.\n  As I hope to be sav\u2019d,\n  I put off being shav\u2019d,\n  For I could not make bold,\n  While the matter was cold,\n  To meddle in suds,\n  Or to put on my duds.\n  So tell Horneck and Nesbitt,\n  And Baker and his bit,\n  And Kauffman beside,\n  And the Jessamy[44] bride,\n  With the rest of the crew,\n  The Reynoldses two,\n  Little Comedy\u2019s[45] face,\n  And the Captain[46] in lace.\n  --(By the by, you may tell him\n  I have something to sell him;\n  Of use, I insist,\n  When he comes to enlist.\n  Your worships must know,\n  That a few days ago\n  An order went out,\n  For the foot-guards so stout\n  To wear tails in high taste--\n  Twelve inches at least:\n  Now, I\u2019ve got him a scale\n  To measure each tail;\n  To lengthen a short tail,\n  And a long one to curtail.)\n    Yet how can I, when vext,\n  Thus stray from my text!\n  Tell each other to rue\n  Your Devonshire crew.\n  For sending so late\n  To one of my state.\n  But \u2019tis Reynolds\u2019s way,\n  From wisdom to stray,\n  And Angelica\u2019s whim\n  To be frolick like him--\n  But, alas! your good worships, how could they be wiser,\n  When both have been spoil\u2019d in to-day\u2019s _Advertiser_?[47]\n            OLIVER GOLDSMITH.\nFOOTNOTES:\n[44] Miss Mary Horneck.\n[45] Miss Catherine Horneck, afterwards Mrs. Bunbury.\n[46] Ensign Horneck.\n[47] The allusion is to some complimentary verses, in the _Advertiser_,\non Kauffman and Reynolds.\n[Illustration: A SONG\n[Intended to have been sung in the comedy of \u201cShe Stoops to Conquer.\u201d\nAdapted to the Irish air, \u201cThe Humours of Ballamaguiry.\u201d]]\n  Ah, me! when shall I marry me?\n    Lovers are plenty, but fail to relieve me;\n  He, fond youth, that could carry me,\n    Offers to love, but means to deceive me.\n  But I will rally, and combat the ruiner:\n    Not a look, not a smile, shall my passion discover;\n  She that gives all to the false one pursuing her,\n    Makes but a penitent--loses a lover.\n[Illustration: FROM THE LATIN OF VIDA.]\n  Say, heavenly muse, their youthful frays rehearse;\n  Begin, ye daughters of immortal verse.\n  Exulting rocks have own\u2019d the power of song,\n  And rivers listen\u2019d as they flow\u2019d along.\n[Illustration: AN ELEGY ON THAT GLORY OF HER SEX, MRS. MARY BLAIZE.]\n  Good people all, with one accord,\n    Lament for Madam Blaize,\n  Who never wanted a good word--\n    From those who spoke her praise.\n  The needy seldom pass\u2019d her door,\n    And always found her kind;\n  She freely lent to all the poor--\n    Who left a pledge behind.\n  She strove the neighbourhood to please,\n    With manners wondrous winning,\n  And never follow\u2019d wicked ways--\n    Unless when she was sinning.\n  At church, in silks and satins new,\n    With hoop of monstrous size,\n  She never slumber\u2019d in her pew--\n    But when she shut her eyes.\n  Her love was sought, I do aver,\n    By twenty beaux and more;\n  The king himself has follow\u2019d her--\n    When she has walk\u2019d before.\n  But now, her wealth and finery fled,\n    Her hangers-on cut short all;\n  The doctors found, when she was dead--\n    Her last disorder mortal.\n  Let us lament, in sorrow sore,\n    For Kent Street well may say,\n  That, had she liv\u2019d a twelvemonth more--\n    She had not died to-day.\n[Illustration]\n[Illustration: ANSWER TO AN INVITATION TO PASS THE CHRISTMAS AT\nBARTON.[48]]\n  First, let me suppose, what may shortly be true,\n  The company set, and the word to be--loo;\n  All smirking, and pleasant, and big with adventure,\n  And ogling the stake which is fix\u2019d in the centre.\n  Round and round go the cards, while I inwardly damn,\n  At never once finding a visit from Pam.\n  I lay down my stake, apparently cool,\n  While the harpies about me all pocket the pool;\n  I fret in my gizzard--yet, cautious and sly,\n  I wish all my friends may be bolder than I:\n  Yet still they sit snug; not a creature will aim,\n  By losing their money, to venture at fame.\n  \u2019Tis in vain that at niggardly caution I scold,\n  \u2019Tis in vain that I flatter the brave and the bold;\n  All play their own way, and they think me an ass:\n  \u201cWhat does Mrs. Bunbury?\u201d \u201cI, sir? I pass.\u201d\n  \u201cPray what does Miss Horneck? Take courage, come, do!\u201d\n  \u201cWho--I? Let me see, sir; why, I must pass, too.\u201d\n  Mr. Bunbury frets, and I fret like the Devil,\n  To see them so cowardly, lucky, and civil;\n  Yet still I sit snug, and continue to sigh on,\n  Till, made by my losses as bold as a lion,\n  I venture at all, while my avarice regards\n  The whole pool as my own, \u201cCome, give me five cards.\u201d\n  \u201cWell done!\u201d cry the ladies; \u201cah! Doctor, that\u2019s good--\n  The pool\u2019s very rich. Ah! the Doctor is loo\u2019d.\u201d\n  Thus foil\u2019d in my courage, on all sides perplext.\n  I ask for advice from the lady that\u2019s next.\n  \u201cPray, Ma\u2019am, be so good as to give your advice:\n  Don\u2019t you think the best way is to venture for \u2019t twice?\u201d\n  \u201cI advise,\u201d cries the lady, \u201cto try it, I own--\n  Ah! the Doctor is loo\u2019d: come, Doctor, put down.\u201d\n  Thus playing and playing, I still grow more eager,\n  And so bold, and so bold, I\u2019m at last a bold beggar,\n  Now, ladies, I ask--if law matters you\u00a0\u2019re skill\u2019d in,\n  Whether crimes such as yours should not come before Fielding?\n  For, giving advice that is not worth a straw,\n  May well be call\u2019d picking of pockets in law;\n  And picking of pockets, with which I now charge ye,\n  Is, by _Quinto Elizabeth_--death without clergy.\n  What justice! when both to the Old Bailey brought;\n  By the gods! I\u2019ll enjoy it, though \u2019tis but in thought,\n  Both are plac\u2019d at the bar with all proper decorum,\n  With bunches of fennel and nosegays before \u2019em;\n  Both cover their faces with mobs and all that,\n  But the judge bids them, angrily, take off their hat.\n  When uncover\u2019d, a buzz of inquiry runs round:\n  \u201cPray what are their crimes?\u201d \u201cThey\u2019ve been pilfering found.\u201d\n  \u201cBut, pray, whom have they pilfer\u2019d?\u201d \u201cA Doctor, I hear.\u201d\n  \u201cWhat, that solemn-fac\u2019d, odd-looking man that stands near?\u201d\n  \u201cThe same.\u201d \u201cWhat a pity! How does it surprise one:\n  Two handsomer culprits I never set eyes on!\u201d\n  Then their friends all come round me, with cringing and leering,\n  To melt me to pity, and soften my swearing.\n  First, Sir Charl\u00e8s advances, with phrases well strung:\n  \u201cConsider, dear Doctor, the girls are but young.\u201d\n  \u201cThe younger the worse,\u201d I return him again;\n  \u201cIt shows that their habits are all dyed in grain.\u201d\n  \u201cBut then they\u00a0\u2019re so handsome; one\u2019s bosom it grieves.\u201d\n  \u201cWhat signifies handsome, when people are thieves?\u201d\n  \u201cBut where is your justice? their cases are hard.\u201d\n  \u201cWhat signifies justice? I want the reward.\n\u201cThere\u2019s the parish of Edmonton offers forty pounds--there\u2019s the parish\nof St. Leonard, Shoreditch, offers forty pounds--there\u2019s the parish of\nTyburn offers forty pounds: I shall have all that, if I convict them.\u201d\n  \u201cBut consider their case, it may yet be your own;\n  And see how they kneel: is your heart made of stone?\u201d\n  This moves: so at last I agree to relent,\n  For ten pounds in hand, and ten pounds to be spent.\nI challenge you all to answer this. I tell you, you cannot: it cuts\ndeep. But now for the rest of the letter: and next--but I want room--so\nI believe I shall battle the rest out at Barton some day next week. I\ndon\u2019t value you all!\nFOOTNOTES:\n[48] To Mrs. Bunbury.\n[Illustration: ON SEEING A LADY PERFORM A CERTAIN CHARACTER.]\n  For you, bright fair, the Nine address their lays,\n  And tune my feeble voice to sing thy praise;\n  The heartfelt power of every charm divine,\n  Who can withstand their all-commanding shine?\n  See how she moves along with every grace,\n  While soul-brought tears steal down each shining face.\n  She speaks! \u2019tis rapture all, and nameless bliss;\n  Ye gods! what transport e\u2019er compar\u2019d to this?\n  As when, in Paphian groves, the Queen of Love\n  With fond complaint address\u2019d the listening Jove--\n  \u2019Twas joy and endless blisses all around,\n  And rocks forgot their hardness at the sound.\n  Then first, at last, even Jove was taken in,\n  And felt her charms, without disguise, within.\n[Illustration]\n[Illustration: BIRDS]\n  Chaste are their instincts, faithful is their fire,\n  No foreign beauty tempts to false desire;\n  The snow-white vesture, and the glittering crown,\n  The simple plumage, or the glossy down,\n  Prompt not their love: the patriot bird pursues\n  His well-acquainted tints, and kindred hues.\n  Hence, through their tribes no mix\u2019d polluted flame,\n  No monster-breed to mark the groves with shame;\n  But the chaste blackbird, to its partner true,\n  Thinks black alone is beauty\u2019s favourite hue;\n  The nightingale, with mutual passion blest,\n  Sings to its mate, and nightly charms the nest;\n  While the dark owl to court his partner flies,\n  And owns his offspring in their yellow eyes.[49]\nFOOTNOTES:\n[49] From the Latin lines of Addison (_Spectator_, No. 412), who\nremarks:--\u201cIn birds, we often see the male determined in his courtship\nby the single grain, or tincture of a feather, and never discovering\nany charms but in the colour of its species.\u201d\n[Illustration: A PROLOGUE WRITTEN AND SPOKEN BY THE POET LABERIUS, A\nROMAN KNIGHT.]\n_From the Latin, preserved by Macrobius._\n  What! no way left to shun th\u2019 inglorious stage,\n  And save from infamy my sinking age?\n  Scarce half alive, opprest with many a year,\n  What, in the name of dotage, drives me here?\n  A time there was, when glory was my guide,\n  Nor force nor fraud could turn my steps aside;\n  Unaw\u2019d by power, and unappall\u2019d by fear,\n  With honest thrift I held my honour dear:\n  But this vile hour disperses all my store,\n  And all my hoard of honour is no more--\n  For, ah! too partial to my life\u2019s decline,\n  C\u00e6sar persuades--submission must be mine!\n  Him I obey, whom Heaven itself obeys;\n  Hopeless of pleasing, yet inclin\u2019d to please.\n  Here, then, at once I welcome every shame,\n  And cancel at threescore a life of fame.\n  No more my titles shall my children tell--\n  The old buffoon will fit my name as well;\n  This day beyond its term my fate extends,\n  For life is ended when our honour ends.\n[Illustration: PROLOGUE TO \u201cZOBEIDE,\u201d A TRAGEDY.[50]]\n_Spoken by Mr. Quick._\n  In these bold times, when Learning\u2019s sons explore\n  The distant climates, and the savage shore--\n  When wise Astonomers[51] to India steer,\n  And quit for _Venus_ many a brighter here--\n  While botanists,[52] all cold to smiles and dimpling,\n  Forsake the fair, and patiently go simpling--\n  When every bosom swells with wondrous scenes,\n  Priests, cannibals, and _hoity-toity_ queens----\n  Our bard into the general spirit enters,\n  And fits his little frigate for adventures.\n  With Scythian stores, and trinkets, deeply laden,\n  He this way steers his course, in hopes of trading--\n  Yet ere he lands, he\u2019s ordered me before,\n  To make an observation on the shore.\n  Where are we driven? Our reckoning sure is lost!\n  This seems a barren and a dangerous coast.\n  Lord! what a sultry climate am I under!\n  Yon ill-foreboding cloud seems big with thunder--\n  There mangroves spread, and larger than I\u2019ve seen em--\n  Here trees of stately size, and turtles in \u2019em--\n  Here ill-conditioned oranges abound--\n  And apples [_takes up one, and tastes it_], _bitter_ apples,\n          strew the ground.\n  The place is uninhabited, I fear!\n  I heard a hissing--there are serpents here;\n  O, there the natives are--a dreadful race;\n  The men have tails, the women paint the face.\n  No doubt they\u00a0\u2019re all barbarians--yes, \u2019tis so;\n  I\u2019ll try to make palaver with them, though;\n  \u2019Tis best, however, keeping at a distance.\n  Good savages, our Captain craves assistance;\n  Our ship\u2019s well stor\u2019d--in yonder creek we\u2019ve laid her:\n  His honour is no mercenary trader:\n  This is his first adventure; lend him aid,\n  And we may chance to drive a thriving trade.\n  His goods, he hopes, are prime, and brought from far--\n  Equally fit for gallantry and war.\n  What! no reply to promises so ample?\n  I\u2019d best step back, and order up a sample.\n[Illustration]\nFOOTNOTES:\n[50] By Joseph Cradock.\n[51] Cook and Green.\n[52] Banks and Solander.\n[Illustration: EPILOGUE TO \u201cTHE SISTER,\u201d A COMEDY.[53]]\n_Spoken by Mrs. Bulkley._\n  What! five long acts--and all to make us wiser!\n  Our Authoress sure has wanted an adviser.\n  Had she consulted me, she should have made\n  Her moral play a speaking masquerade;\n  Warm\u2019d up each bustling scene, and in her rage\n  Have emptied all the green-room on the stage:\n  My life on\u2019t, this had kept her play from sinking,\n  Have pleas\u2019d our eyes, and sav\u2019d the pain of thinking.\n  Well, since she thus has shown her want of skill,\n  What if I give a masquerade?--I will.\n  But how? ay, there\u2019s the rub! [_pausing_]--I\u2019ve got my cue:\n  The world\u2019s a masquerade! the maskers--you, you, you.\n  Lud! what a group the motley scene discloses--\n  False wits, false wives, false virgins, and false spouses!\n  Statesmen with bridles on; and, close beside them,\n  Patriots, in party-colour\u2019d suits, that ride them.\n  There Hebes, turn\u2019d of fifty, try once more\n  To raise a flame in Cupids of threescore.\n  These, in their turn, with appetites as keen,\n  Deserting fifty, fasten on fifteen.\n  Miss, not yet full fifteen, with fire uncommon,\n  Flings down her sampler, and takes up the woman;\n  The little urchin smiles, and spreads her lure,\n  And tries to kill, ere she\u2019s got power to cure.\n  Thus \u2019tis with all--their chief and constant care\n  Is to seem everything but what they are.\n  Yon broad, bold, angry spark I fix my eye on,\n  Who seems to have robb\u2019d his vizor from the lion;\n  Who frowns, and talks, and swears, with round parade,\n  Looking, as who should say, Dam\u2019me! who\u2019s afraid?\n  Strip but this vizor off, and sure I am\n  You\u2019ll find his lionship a very lamb.\n  Yon politician, famous in debate,\n  Perhaps, to vulgar eyes, bestrides the state;\n  Yet, when he deigns his real shape to assume,\n  He turns old woman, and bestrides a broom.\n  Yon patriot, too, who presses on your sight,\n  And seems to every gazer all in white,\n  If with a bribe his candour you attack,\n  He bows, turns round, and whip--the man\u2019s a black.\n  Yon critic, too--but whither do I run?\n  If I proceed, our bard will be undone!\n  Well, then, a truce, since she requests it too:\n  Do you spare her, and I\u2019ll for once spare you.\n[Illustration]\nFOOTNOTES:\n[53] Written by Mrs. Charlotte Lennox.\n[Illustration: EPILOGUE INTENDED FOR \u201cSHE STOOPS TO CONQUER.\u201d]\n    _Enter Mrs. Bulkley, who curtsies very low, as beginning to\n        speak; then enter Miss Catley, who stands full before her,\n        and curtsies to the Audience._\n  MRS. BULKLEY.\n  Hold, Ma\u2019am! your pardon. What\u2019s your business here?\n  MISS CATLEY.\n  The Epilogue.\n  MRS. BULKLEY.\n  MISS CATLEY.\n  MRS. BULKLEY.\n  Sure you mistake, Ma\u2019am. The Epilogue? _I_ bring it.\n  MISS CATLEY.\n  Excuse me, Ma\u2019am. The Author bid _me_ sing it.\n  _Recitative._\n  Ye beaux and belles, that form this splendid ring,\n  Suspend your conversation while I sing.\n  MRS. BULKLEY.\n  Why, sure the girl\u2019s beside herself! an Epilogue of singing?\n  A hopeful end indeed to such a blest beginning!\n  Besides, a singer in a comic set!\n  Excuse me, Ma\u2019am, I know the etiquette.\n  MISS CATLEY.\n  What if we leave it to the House?\n  MRS. BULKLEY.\n  MISS CATLEY.\n  MRS. BULKLEY.\n  And she, whose party\u2019s largest, shall proceed.\n  And first, I hope, you\u2019ll readily agree,\n  I\u2019ve all the critics and the wits for me:\n  They, I am sure, will answer my commands;\n  Ye candid-judging few, hold up your hands;\n  What, no return? I find too late, I fear,\n  That modern judges seldom enter here.\n  MISS CATLEY.\n  I\u2019m for a different set,--old men, whose trade is\n  Still to gallant and dangle with the ladies--\n  _Recitative._\n  Who mump their passion, and who, grimly smiling,\n  Still thus address the fair, with voice beguiling:\n  _Air._--_Cotillon._\n      Turn, my fairest, turn, if ever\n        Strephon caught thy ravish\u2019d eye;\n      Pity take on your swain so clever,\n        Who without your aid must die.\n                Yes, I shall die, hu, hu, hu, hu,\n  MRS. BULKLEY.\n  Let all the old pay homage to your merit:\n  Give me the young, the gay, the men of spirit.\n  Ye travell\u2019d tribe, ye maccaroni train,\n  Of French friseurs and nosegays justly vain,\n  Who take a trip to Paris once a year,\n  To dress and look like awkward Frenchmen here;\n  Lend me your hands.--O, fatal news to tell!\n  Their hands are only lent to the Heinel.[54]\n  MISS CATLEY.\n  Ay, take your travellers--travellers, indeed!\n  Give me the bonny Scot, that travels from the Tweed.\n  Where are the chiels? Ah! ah! I well discern\n  The smiling looks of each bewitching bairn.\n  _Air._--_A bonnie young Lad is my Jockey._\n  I\u2019ll sing to amuse you by night and by day,\n  And be unco merry when you are but gay;\n  When you with your bagpipes are ready to play,\n  My voice shall be ready to carol away,\n                    With Sandie, and Sawnie, and Jockey,\n                    With Sawnie, and Jarvie, and Jockey.\n  MRS. BULKLEY.\n  Ye gamesters, who, so eager in pursuit,\n  Make but of all your fortune one _va toute_:\n  Ye jockey tribe, whose stock of words are few--\n  \u201cI hold the odds--done, done, with you, with you:\u201d\n  Ye barristers, so fluent with grimace--\n  \u201cMy Lord, your Lordship misconceives the case:\u201d\n  Doctors, who cough, and answer every misfortuner--\n  \u201cI wish I\u2019d been call\u2019d in a little sooner:\u201d\n  Assist my cause with hands and voices hearty;\n  Come, end the contest here, and aid my party.\n  MISS CATLEY.\n  _Air._--_Ballinamony._\n  Ye brave Irish lads, hark away to the crack,\n  Assist me, I pray, in this woful attack;\n  For sure I don\u2019t wrong you, you seldom are slack,\n  When the ladies are calling, to blush and hang back;\n      For you\u00a0\u2019re always polite and attentive,\n      Still to amuse us inventive,\n      And death is your only preventive:\n        Your hands and your voices for me.\n  MRS. BULKLEY.\n  Well, Madam, what if, after all this sparring,\n  We both agree, like friends, to end our jarring?\n  MISS CATLEY.\n  And, that our friendship may remain unbroken,\n  What if we leave the Epilogue unspoken?\n  MRS. BULKLEY.\n  Agreed.\n  MISS CATLEY.\n  MRS. BULKLEY.\n                  And now, with late repentance,\n  Un-epilogu\u2019d the Poet waits his sentence:\n  Condemn the stubborn fool who can\u2019t submit\n  To thrive by flattery--though he starves by wit.\n[Illustration]\nFOOTNOTES:\n[54] A popular dancer at the Opera House, in 1773.\n[Illustration: ANOTHER INTENDED EPILOGUE]\n_To be spoken by Mrs. Bulkley._\n  There is a place--so Ariosto sings--\n  A treasury for lost and missing things;\n  Lost human wits have places there assign\u2019d them--\n  And they who lose their senses, there may find them.\n  But where\u2019s this place, this storehouse of the age?\n  The Moon, says he; but _I_ affirm, the Stage--\n  At least, in many things, I think I see\n  His lunar and our mimic world agree:\n  Both shine at night--for, but at Foote\u2019s alone.\n  We scarce exhibit till the sun goes down:\n  Both prone to change, no settled limits fix,\n  And sure the folks of both are lunatics.\n  But, in this parallel, my best pretence is,\n  That mortals visit both to find their senses:\n  To this strange spot, rakes, maccaronies, cits,\n  Come thronging to collect their scatter\u2019d wits.\n  The gay coquette, who ogles all the day,\n  Comes here at night, and goes a prude away.\n  Hither the affected city dame advancing,\n  Who sighs for operas, and dotes on dancing,\n  Taught by our art her ridicule to pause on,\n  Quits the _Ballet_, and calls for _Nancy Dawson_.\n  The gamester, too, whose wit\u2019s all high or low,\n  Oft risks his fortune on one desperate throw,\n  Comes here to saunter, having made his bets,\n  Finds his lost senses out, and pays his debts.\n  The Mohawk,[55] too, with angry phrases stor\u2019d--\n  As, \u201cDam\u2019me, Sir!\u201d and \u201cSir, I wear a sword!\u201d--\n  Here lesson\u2019d for a while, and hence retreating,\n  Goes out, affronts his man, and takes a beating.\n  Here come the sons of scandal and of news,\n  But find no sense--for they had none to lose.\n  Of all the tribes here wanting an adviser,\n  Our Author\u2019s the least likely to grow wiser;\n  Has he not seen how you your favour place\n  On sentimental queens and lords in lace?\n  Without a star, a coronet, or garter,\n  How can the piece expect or hope for quarter?\n  No high-life scenes, no sentiment--the creature\n  Still stoops among the low to copy nature:\n  Yes, he\u2019s far gone: and yet some pity fix;\n  The English laws forbid to punish lunatics.\n[Illustration]\nFOOTNOTES:\n[55] The ruffian of the streets, in the 18th century.\n[Illustration: EPILOGUE TO THE COMEDY OF \u201cSHE STOOPS TO CONQUER.\u201d]\n_Spoken by Mrs. Bulkley, in the character of Miss Hardcastle._\n  Well! having STOOPED TO CONQUER with success,\n  And gain\u2019d a husband without aid from dress,--\n  Still, as a barmaid, I could wish it too,\n  As I have conquer\u2019d him, to conquer you:\n  And let me say, for all your resolution,\n  That pretty barmaids have done execution.\n  Our life is all a play, compos\u2019d to please;\n  \u201cWe have our _exits_ and our _entrances_.\u201d\n  The first Act shows the simple country maid,\n  Harmless and young, of everything afraid;\n  Blushes when hir\u2019d, and with unmeaning action:\n  \u201cI hopes as how to give you satisfaction.\u201d\n  Her second Act displays a livelier scene,--\n  The unblushing barmaid of a country inn,\n  Who whisks about the house, at market caters,\n  Talks loud, coquets the guests, and scolds the waiters.\n  Next, the scene shifts to town, and there she soars,\n  The chop-house toast of ogling _connoisseurs_.\n  On \u2019squires and cits she there displays her arts,\n  And on the gridiron broils her lovers\u2019 hearts--\n  And as she smiles, her triumphs to complete,\n  Even common-councilmen forget to eat.\n  The fourth Act shows her wedded to the \u2019squire,\n  And Madam now begins to hold it higher;\n  Pretends to taste, at operas cries _caro_,\n  And quits her _Nancy Dawson_ for _Che faro_;\n  Dotes upon dancing, and in all her pride,\n  Swims round the room, the Heinel of Cheapside\n  Ogles and leers with artificial skill,\n  Till, having lost in age the power to kill,\n  She sits all night at cards, and ogles at spadille.\n  Such, through our lives the _eventful history_--\n  The fifth and last Act still remains for me:\n  The barmaid now for your protection prays,\n  Turns female barrister, and pleads for Bayes.[56]\n[Illustration]\nFOOTNOTES:\n[56] The name of \u201cBayes,\u201d which Buckingham (1671) bestowed upon Dryden,\nbecame a synonyme for a dramatic critic.\n[Illustration: EPILOGUE TO \u201cTHE GOOD-NATURED MAN.\u201d[57]]\n  As puffing quacks some caitiff wretch procure,\n  To swear the pill, or drop, has wrought a cure--\n  Thus, on the stage, our play-wrights still depend,\n  For epilogues and prologues, on some friend,\n  Who knows each art of coaxing up the town,\n  And make full many a bitter pill go down:\n  Conscious of this, our bard has gone about,\n  And teas\u2019d each rhyming friend to help him out.\n  \u201cAn Epilogue--things can\u2019t go on without it;\n  It could not fail, would you but set about it.\u201d\n  \u201cYoung man,\u201d cries one--a bard laid up in clover--\n  \u201cAlas! young man, my writing days are over;\n  Let boys play tricks, and kick the straw; not I:\n  Your brother Doctor there, perhaps may try.\u201d\n  \u201cWhat, I? dear Sir,\u201d the Doctor interposes;\n  \u201cWhat, plant my thistle, Sir, among his roses!\n  No, no, I\u2019ve other contests to maintain;\n  To-night I head our troops at Warwick Lane.[58]\n  Go, ask your Manager.\u201d \u201cWho? me? Your pardon;\n  These things are not our forte at Covent Garden.\u201d[59]\n  Our Author\u2019s friends, thus plac\u2019d at happy distance,\n  Give him good words, indeed, but no assistance.\n  As some unhappy wight, at some new play,\n  At the pit door stands elbowing away;\n  While oft, with many a smile, and many a shrug,\n  He eyes the centre, where his friends sit snug;\n  His simpering friends, with pleasure in their eyes,\n  Sink as he sinks, and as he rises rise;\n  He nods, they nod; he cringes, they grimace;\n  But not a soul will budge to give him place.\n  Since, then, unhelp\u2019d, our bard must now conform\n  \u201cTo \u2019bide the pelting of this pitiless storm,\u201d\n  Blame where you must, be candid where you can,\n  And be each critic the GOOD-NATURED MAN.\n[Illustration]\nFOOTNOTES:\n[57] \u201cThe Author, in expectation of an Epilogue from a friend at\nOxford, deferred writing one himself till the very last hour. What is\nhere offered owes all its success to the graceful manner of the Actress\nwho spoke it.\u201d\n[58] Where the College of Physicians formerly stood.\n[59] Mr. B. Corney says:--\u201cColman, the manager of Covent Garden\nTheatre, had then written about ten prologues and epilogues: Garrick,\nthe joint-patentee of Drury Lane Theatre, had written about sixty.\u201d\n[Illustration: ON THE DEATH OF THE RIGHT HON. ----.[60]]\n  Ye muses, pour the pitying tear,\n    For Pollio snatch\u2019d away;\n  Oh! had he liv\u2019d another year--\n    He had not died to-day.\n  Oh! were he born to bless mankind,\n    In virtuous times of yore,\n  Heroes themselves had fall\u2019n behind--\n    Whene\u2019er he went before.\n  How sad the groves and plains appear,\n    And sympathetic sheep;\n  Even pitying hills would drop a tear--\n    If hills could learn to weep.\n  His bounty in exalted strain\n    Each bard might well display,\n  Since none implor\u2019d relief in vain--\n    That went reliev\u2019d away.\n  And, hark! I hear the tuneful throng\n    His obsequies forbid;\n  He still shall live, shall live as long--\n    As ever dead man did.\nFOOTNOTES:\n[60] A burlesque elegy.\n[Illustration: EPILOGUE WRITTEN FOR MR. CHARLES LEE LEWES.]\n_To be spoken in the character of Harlequin, at his Benefit._\n  Hold! Prompter, hold! a word before your nonsense;\n  I\u2019d speak a word or two, to ease my conscience.\n  My pride forbids it ever should be said,\n  My heels eclips\u2019d the honours of my head;\n  That I found humour in a piebald vest,\n  Or ever thought that jumping was a jest.\n  Whence, and what art thou, visionary birth?\n  Nature disowns, and reason scorns thy mirth;\n  In thy black aspect every passion sleeps--\n  The joy that dimples, and the woe that weeps.\n  How hast thou fill\u2019d the scene with all thy brood\n  Of fools pursuing, and of fools pursu\u2019d!\n  Whose ins and outs no ray of sense discloses;\n  Whose only plot it is to break our noses;\n  Whilst from below, the trap-door demons rise,\n  And from above, the dangling deities.\n  And shall I mix in this unhallow\u2019d crew?\n  May rosin\u2019d lightning blast me, if I do![61]\n  No--I will act--I\u2019ll vindicate the stage;\n  Shakspere himself shall feel my tragic rage.\n  Off! off! vile trappings! a new passion reigns!\n  The madd\u2019ning monarch revels in my veins!\n  Oh! for a Richard\u2019s voice to catch the theme:\n  \u201cGive me another horse! bind up my wounds--soft--\u2019twas but a dream,\u201d\n  Ay, \u2019twas but a dream--for now there\u2019s no retreating;\n  If I cease Harlequin, I cease from eating.\n  \u2019Twas thus that \u00c6sop\u2019s stag--a creature blameless,\n  Yet something vain, like one that shall be nameless--\n  Once on the margin of a fountain stood,\n  And cavill\u2019d at his image in the flood.\n  \u201cThe deuce confound,\u201d he cries, \u201cthese drumstick shanks;\n  They neither have my gratitude nor thanks;\n  They\u00a0\u2019re perfectly disgraceful! strike me dead!\n  But for a head--yes, yes, I have a head.\n  How piercing is that eye! how sleek that brow!\n  My horns!--I\u2019m told horns are the fashion now.\u201d\n  Whilst thus he spoke, astonish\u2019d, to his view,\n  Near, and more near, the hounds and huntsmen drew;\n  \u201cHoicks! hark forward!\u201d came thundering from behind;\n  He bounds aloft, outstrips the fleeting wind;\n  He quits the woods, and tries the beaten ways;\n  He starts, he pants, he takes the circling maze.\n  At length, his silly head, so priz\u2019d before,\n  Is taught his former folly to deplore;\n  Whilst his strong limbs conspire to set him free,\n  And at one bound he saves himself--like me.\n                                [_Taking a jump through the stage door._\n[Illustration]\nFOOTNOTES:\n[61] Stage-lightning.\nTHE END.\nEDMUND EVANS, ENGRAVER AND PRINTER, RAQUET COURT, FLEET STREET\nTranscriber\u2019s Notes\nPunctuation, hyphenation, and spelling were made consistent when a\npredominant preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not\nchanged.\nSimple typographical errors were corrected.\nEnd of Project Gutenberg's The Poems of Oliver Goldsmith, by Oliver Goldsmith\n*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE POEMS OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH ***\n***** This file should be named 49723-0.txt or 49723-0.zip *****\nThis and all associated files of various formats will be found in:\nProduced by Chris Curnow, Charlie Howard, and the Online\nUpdated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will\nbe renamed.\nCreating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright\nlaw means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works,\nso the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United\nStates without permission and without paying copyright\nroyalties. 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{"source_document": "", "creation_year": 1754, "culture": " English\n", "content": "Produced by David Widger\nCompiled by David Widger\nCONTENTS\n## SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER\n## THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD\n## THE HISTORY OF ROME\nDEATH OF A MAD DOG\nELEGY ON THE GLORY OF HER SEX\n## DALZIELS' ILLUSTRATED GOLDSMITH\n## THE POEMS OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH\n## THE DESERTED VILLAGE\n## COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH\nTABLES OF CONTENTS OF VOLUMES\n\"SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER\" By Oliver Goldsmith\nCONTENTS\nPROLOGUE,\nDRAMATIS PERSONAE.\nACT THE FIRST.\nACT THE SECOND.\nACT THE THIRD.\nACT THE FOURTH.\nACT THE FIFTH.\nTHE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD A TALE By Oliver Goldsmith\nCONTENTS\nADVERTISEMENT\nCHAPTER 1 -- The description of the family of Wakefield; in which a\nkindred likeness prevails as well of minds as of persons\nCHAPTER 2 -- Family misfortunes. The loss of fortune only serves to\nencrease the pride of the worthy\nCHAPTER 3 -- A migration. The fortunate circumstances of our lives are\ngenerally found at last to be of our own procuring\nCHAPTER 4 -- A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness,\nwhich depends not on circumstance, but constitution\nCHAPTER 5 -- A new and great acquaintance introduced. What we place most\nhopes upon, generally proves most fatal\nCHAPTER 6 -- The happiness of a country fire-side\nCHAPTER 7 -- A town wit described. The dullest fellows may learn to be\ncomical for a night or two\nCHAPTER 8 -- An amour, which promises little good fortune, yet may be\nproductive of much\nCHAPTER 9 -- Two ladies of great distinction introduced. Superior finery\never seems to confer superior breeding\nCHAPTER 10 -- The family endeavours to cope with their betters.\nThe miseries of the poor when they attempt to appear above their\ncircumstances\nCHAPTER 11 -- The family still resolve to hold up their heads\nCHAPTER 12 -- Fortune seems resolved to humble the family of Wakefield.\nMortifications are often more painful than real calamities\nCHAPTER 13 -- Mr Burchell is found to be an enemy; for he has the\nconfidence to give disagreeable advice\nCHAPTER 14 -- Fresh mortifications, or a demonstration that seeming\ncalamities may be real blessings\nCHAPTER 15 -- All, Mr Burchell's villainy at once detected. The folly of\nbeing over-wise\nCHAPTER 16 -- The family use art, which is opposed with, still greater\nCHAPTER 17 -- Scarce any virtue found to resist the power of long and\npleasing temptation\nCHAPTER 18 -- The pursuit of a father to reclaim a lost child to virtue\nCHAPTER 19 -- The description of a person discontented with the present\ngovernment, and apprehensive of the loss of our liberties\nCHAPTER 20 -- The history of a philosophic vagabond, pursuing novelty,\nbut losing content\nCHAPTER 21 -- The short continuance of friendship amongst the vicious,\nwhich is coeval only with mutual satisfaction\nCHAPTER 22 -- Offences are easily pardoned where there is love at bottom\nCHAPTER 23 -- None but the guilty can be long and completely miserable\nCHAPTER 24 -- Fresh calamities\nCHAPTER 25 -- No situation, however wretched it seems, but has some sort\nof comfort attending it\nCHAPTER 26 -- A reformation in the gaol. To make laws complete, they\nshould reward as well as punish\nCHAPTER 27 -- The same subject continued\nCHAPTER 28 -- Happiness and misery rather the result of prudence than\nof virtue in this life. Temporal evils or felicities being regarded by\nheaven as things merely in themselves trifling and unworthy its care in\nthe distribution\nCHAPTER 29 -- The equal dealings of providence demonstrated with regard\nto the happy and the miserable here below. That from the nature of\npleasure and pain, the wretched must be repaid the balance of their\nsufferings in the life hereafter\nCHAPTER 30 -- Happier prospects begin to appear. Let us be inflexible,\nand fortune will at last change in our favour\nCHAPTER 31 -- Former benevolence now repaid with unexpected interest\nCHAPTER 32. -- The Conclusion\nHISTORY OF ROME: By Oliver Goldsmith\nCONTENTS\nINTRODUCTION. CHAPTER PAGE I. Geographical Outline of Italy 11 II.\nThe Latin Language and People\u2014Credibility of the Early History 18 III.\nTopography of Rome 23 IV. The Roman Constitution 30 V. The Roman Tenure\nof Land\u2014Colonial Government 37 VI. The Roman Religion 39 VII. The Roman\nArmy and Navy 43 VIII. Roman Law.\u2014Finance 51 IX. The public Amusements\nand private Life of the Romans 55 X. Geography of the empire at the time\nof its greatest extent 59\nHISTORY.\nI. Of the Origin of the Romans 63 II. From the building of Rome to the\ndeath of Romulus 66 III. From the death of Romulus to the death of Numa\n71 IV. From the death of Numa to the death of Tullus Hostilius 73 V.\nFrom the death of Tullus Hostilius to the death of Ancus Martius 75 VI.\nFrom the death of Ancus Martius to the death of Taiquinius Priscus\n77 VII. From the death of Tarquinius Priscus to the death of Servius\nTullius 80 VIII. From the death of Servius Tullius to the banishment of\nTarquinius Superbus 83 IX. From the banishment of Tarquinius Superbus\nto the appointment of the first Dictator 88 X. From the Creation of the\nDictator to the election of the Tribunes 93 XI. From the Creation of the\nTribunes to the appointment of the Decemviri, viz. Section 1.\u2014The great\nVolscian war 96 \u2014\u2014 2.\u2014Civil commotions on account of the Agrarian law\n101 XII. From the creation of the Decemviri to the destruction of the\ncity by the Gauls, viz. Section 1.\u2014Tyranny of the Decemviri 106 \u2014\u2014\n2.\u2014Crimes of Appius\u2014Revolt of the army 110 \u2014\u2014 3.\u2014Election of Military\nTribunes\u2014 Creation of the Censorship 115 \u2014\u2014 4.\u2014Siege and capture of\nVeii\u2014Invasion of the Gauls 119 \u2014\u2014 5.\u2014Deliverance of Rome from the Gauls\n125 XIII. From the wars with the Samnites to the First Punic war, viz.\nSection 1.\u2014The Latin war 131 \u2014\u2014 2.\u2014Invasion of Italy by Pyrrhus, king\nof Epirus 135 \u2014\u2014 3.\u2014Defeat and departure of Pyrrhus 140 XIV. From the\nbeginning of the First Punic war to the beginning of the Second, viz.\nSection 1.\u2014Causes and commencement of the war\u2014Invasion of Africa by\nRegulus 144 \u2014\u2014 2.\u2014Death of Regulus\u2014Final Triumph of the Romans 149 XV.\nThe Second Punic war, viz. Section 1.\u2014Commencement of the war\u2014Hannibal's\ninvasion of Italy 151 \u2014\u2014 2.\u2014Victorious career of Hannibal 155\n\u2014\u2014 3.\u2014Retrieval of the Roman affairs\u2014Invasion of Africa by\nScipio\u2014Conclusion of the war 160 XVI. Macedonian, Syrian, Third Punic,\nand Spanish wars 164 XVII. From the Destruction of Carthage to the\nend of the Sedition of the Gracchi, viz. Section 1.\u2014Murder of Tiberius\nGracchus 170 \u2014\u2014 2.\u2014Slaughter of Caius Gracchus and his adherents 174\nXVIII. From the Sedition of Gracchus to the perpetual Dictatorship of\nSylla, viz. Section 1.\u2014The Jugurthine and Social wars 178 \u2014\u2014 2.\u2014The\ncruel massacres perpetrated by Marius and Sylla 183 XIX. From the\nperpetual Dictatorship of Sylla to the first Triumvirate 188 XX. From\nthe First Triumvirate to the death of Pompey, viz. Section 1.\u2014C\u00e6sar's\nwars in Gaul\u2014Commencement of the Civil war 194 \u2014\u2014 2.\u2014C\u00e6sar's victorious\ncareer 199 \u2014\u2014 3.\u2014The campaign in Thessaly and Epirus 204 \u2014\u2014 4.\u2014The\nbattle of Pharsalia 208 \u2014\u2014 5.\u2014Death of Pompey 212 XXI. From the\nDestruction of the Commonwealth to the establishment of the first\nEmperor, Augustus, viz. Section 1.\u2014C\u00e6sar's Egyptian campaign 218 \u2014\u2014\n2.\u2014The African campaign 223 \u2014\u2014 3.\u2014Death of C\u00e6sar 228 \u2014\u2014 4.\u2014The Second\nTriumvirate 234 \u2014\u2014 5.\u2014The Battle of Philippi 239 \u2014\u2014 6.\u2014Dissensions\nof Antony and Augustus 244 \u2014\u2014 7.\u2014The Battle of Actium 249 \u2014\u2014 8.\u2014The\nConquest of Egypt 255 XXII. From the accession of Augustus to the death\nof Domitian, viz. Section 1.\u2014The beneficent Administration of Augustus\n262 \u2014\u2014 2.\u2014Death of Augustus 267 \u2014\u2014 3.\u2014The reign of Tiberius\u2014Death of\nGermanicus 271 \u2014\u2014 4.\u2014Death of Sejanus and Tiberius\u2014Accession of Caligula\n276 \u2014\u2014 5.\u2014Extravagant cruelties of Caligula\u2014His death 281 \u2014\u2014 6.\u2014The\nReign of Claudius 285 \u2014\u2014 7.\u2014The reign of Nero 291 \u2014\u2014 8.\u2014Death of\nNero\u2014Reigns of Galba and Otho 296 \u2014\u2014 9.\u2014The reigns of Vitellius and\nVespasian\u2014The siege of Jerusalem by Titus 301 \u2014\u2014 10.\u2014The Reigns of Titus\nand Domitian 307 \u2014\u2014 11.\u2014The assassination of Domitian 312 XXIII. The\nFive good emperors of Rome, viz. Section 1.\u2014The Reigns of Nerva and\nTrajan 316 \u2014\u2014 2.\u2014The Reign of Adrian 321 \u2014\u2014 3.\u2014The Reign of Antoninus\nPius 325 \u2014\u2014 4.\u2014The reign of Marcus Aurelius 330 XXIV. From the accession\nof Commodus to the change of the seat of Government, from Rome to\nConstantinople, viz. Section 1.\u2014The Reigns of Commodus, Pertinax,\nand Didius 333 \u2014\u2014 2.\u2014The Reigns of Severus, Caracalla, Maximus, and\nHeliogabalus 337 \u2014\u2014 3.\u2014The reigns of Alexander, Maximin, and Gordian\n342 \u2014\u2014 4.\u2014The Reigns of Philip, Decius, Gallus, Valerian, Claudius,\nAurelian, Tacitus, and Probus 346 \u2014\u2014 5.\u2014The reigns of Carus, Carinus,\nDioclesian, and Constantius\u2014Accession of Constantine 350 \u2014\u2014 6.\u2014The reign\nof Constantine 355 XXV. From the death of Constantine, to the reunion of\nthe Roman empire under Theodosius the Great, viz. Section 1.\u2014The Reign\nof Constantius 358 \u2014\u2014 2.\u2014The Reigns of Julian Jovian, the Valentinians,\nand Theodosius 365 XXVI. From the death of Theodosius to the subversion\nof the Western Empire, viz. Section 1.\u2014The division of the Roman\ndominions into the Eastern and Western empires 373 \u2014\u2014 2.\u2014Decline\nand fall of the Western empire 377 XXVII. Historical notices of the\ndifferent barbarous tribes that aided in overthrowing the Roman empire\nDALZIELS' ILLUSTRATED GOLDSMITH AND A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF OLIVER\nGOLDSMITH One Hundred Pictures Drawn By G. J. Pinwell CONTENTS PAGE\nA SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH 1\nTHE TRAVELLER 189\nTHE HAUNCH OF VENISON 205\nRETALIATION 225\nTHE GOOD-NATURED MAN 361\nTHE POEMS OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH Illustrations By Birket Foster And H. N.\nHumphreys, Printed In Colours By Edmund Evans. FOOTNOTES:\n1 Miscellaneous Prose Works of Goldsmith, vol. i., p. 79.\n2 \"The year of Dr. Goldsmith's birth had been universally mistaken, till\nhis family, some time after his death, furnished correct information\nof the circumstance.\"\u2014Percy. CONTENTS PAGE The Traveller 1 The Deserted\nVillage 29 The Hermit 57 The Captivity 67 The Haunch of Venison 85\nRetaliation 91 The Double Transformation 99 The Gift to Iris 104 The\nLogicians Refuted 105 An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog 108 Threnodia\nAugustalis 110 A New Simile 122 On a Beautiful Youth struck Blind by\nLightning 125 Stanzas on Woman 126 Translation from Scarr\u00f2n 126 Stanzas\non the Taking of Quebec 127 Epitaph on Edward Purdon 128xix Translation\nof a South American Ode 128 Epitaph on Thomas Parnell 129 Description\nof an Author's Bed-chamber 130 Song, from the Comedy of \"She Stoops to\nConquer\" 131 Answer to an Invitation to Dinner. 133 Song, intended to\nhave been sung in \"She Stoops to Conquer\" 135 From the Latin of Vida\n135 An Elegy on Mrs. Mary Blaize 136 Answer to an Invitation to pass the\nChristmas at Barton 138 On Seeing a Lady Perform a Certain Character 141\nBirds 142 Prologue written and spoken by the Poet Laberius 143 Prologue\nto \"Zobeide\" 144 Epilogue to \"The Sister\" 146 Epilogue intended for \"She\nStoops to Conquer\" 148 Another Intended Epilogue 153 Epilogue to \"She\nStoops to Conquer\" 155 Epilogue to \"The Good-natured Man\" 157 On the\nDeath of the Right Hon. \u2014\u2014 159 Epilogue Written for Mr. Charles Lee\nLewes 163\nxx ILLUSTRATIONS\nENGRAVED BY EDMUND EVANS, FROM DRAWINGS BY BIRKET FOSTER. MILL AT LISSOY\n(Frontispiece). PAGE GOLDSMITH'S TOMB IN THE TEMPLE CHURCHYARD xvii THE\nTRAVELLER. Or where Campania's plain forsaken lies 5 Bless'd that abode,\nwhere want and pain repair 6 Even now, where Alpine solitudes ascend 7\nYe lakes, whose vessels catch the busy gale 8 The shuddering tenant of\nthe frigid zone 9 Basks in the glare, or stems the tepid wave 10 While\noft some temple's mouldering tops between 12 In florid beauty groves and\nfields appear 13 A mistress or a saint in every grove 14xxi Where the\nbleak Swiss their stormy mansions tread 16 With patient angle trolls\nthe finny deep 17 How often have I led thy sportive choir 18 The\nwillow-tufted bank, the gliding sail 21 There gentle music melts on\nevery spray 24 Where wild Oswego spreads her swamps around 27 THE\nDESERTED VILLAGE. The never-failing brook, the busy mill 32 The\nshelter'd cot, the cultivated farm 33 And many a gambol frolick'd o'er\nthe ground 34 The hollow-sounding bittern guards its nest 35 Where once\nthe cottage stood, the hawthorn grew 37 The swain responsive as the\nmilk-maid sung 38 And fill'd each pause the nightingale had made 39 To\npick her wintry faggot from the thorn 40 The village preacher's modest\nmansion rose 41 Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride 42 At church,\nwith meek and unaffected grace 43 Low lies that house, where nut-brown\ndraughts inspir'd 45 No more the farmer's news, the barber's tale\n45 Space for his lake, his park's extended bounds 48 Where the poor\nhouseless, shivering female lies 50 Her modest looks the cottage might\nadorn 51 Where crouching tigers wait their hapless prey 52 The cooling\nbrook, the grassy-vested green 53 And left a lover's for a father's arms\n54xxii Downward they move, a melancholy band 56 THE HERMIT. Then turn,\nto-night, and freely share whate'er my cell bestows 58 The hermit\ntrimm'd his little fire, and cheer'd his pensive guest 61 And when,\nbeside me in the dale; he caroll'd lays of love 64 THE CAPTIVITY. Ye\nhills of Lebanon, with cedars crown'd 69 Fierce is the tempest rolling\nalong the furrow'd main 74 As panting flies the hunted hind, where\nbrooks refreshing stray 80 O Babylon! how art thou fall'n 83 THE HAUNCH\nOF VENISON 90 THE DOUBLE TRANSFORMATION 102 AN ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF A\nMAD DOG 109 THRENODIA AUGUSTALIS 116 ON A BEAUTIFUL YOUTH STRUCK BLIND\nBY LIGHTNING 125 SONG\u2014\"THE THREE PIGEONS\" 130 BIRDS 142 EPILOGUE WRITTEN\nFOR MR. CHARLES LEE LEWES 162\nTHE DESERTED VILLAGE By Oliver Goldsmith Illustrated by the Etching Club\nMDCCCLVII ILLUSTRATIONS\nPage\nSweet Auburn! loveliest milage of the plain...T. Creswick, R.A.....007\nThe never-failing brook, the busy mill........T. Creswick, R.A.....008\nThe hawthorn bush, with seals in shade........C. W. Cope, R.A......009\nThe matron's glance that would reprove........H. J. Townsend.......010\nThe hollow sounding bittern guards its nest...F. Tayler............012\nThese, far departing, seek a kinder shore.....C. Stonhouse.........014\nAmidst the swains show my book-learn'd skill..J. C. Horsley........015\nAnd, as a hare, whom hounds and horns pursue..F. Tayler............016\nTo spurn imploring famine from the gale.......C. W. Cope, R.A......017\nWhile resignation gently slopes the way.......T. Creswick, R.A.....018\nThe playful children let loose from school....T. Webster, R.A......019\nAll but yon widow'd solitary thing............F. Tayler............020\nThe village preacher's modest mansion rose....T. Creswick, R.A.....021\nHe chid their wanderings; relieved pain.......C. W. Cope, R.A......022\nShoulder'd his crutch, and show'd fields won..C. W. Cope, R.A......023\nBeside the bed where parting life was laid....R. Redgrave, R.A.....025\nAnd pluck'd his gown, share the man's smile...J. C. Horsley........026\nThe village master taught his little school...T. Webster, R.A......027\nFull well they laugh'd with glee..............T. Webster, R.A......028\nConvey'd the dismal tidings when he frown'd...T. Webster, R.A......028\nIn arguing too the parson own'd his skill.....C. W. Cope, R.A......029\nNear yonder thorn, that lifts its head high...T. Creswick, R.A.....030\nWhere village statesmen with looks profound...F. Tayler............031\nBut the long pomp, the midnight masquerade....J. C. Horsley........033\nProud swells the tide with loads of ore.......T. Creswick, R.A.....034\nIf to some common's fenceless limit stray'd...C. Stonhouse.........036\nWhere the poor houseless female lies..........J. C. Horsley........037\nShe left her wheel and robes of brown.........J. C. Horsley........038\nThe rattling terrors of the vengeful snake....T. Creswick, R.A.....040\nThe cooling brookt the grassy-vested green....T. Creswick, R.A.....041\nThe good old sire the first prepared to go....C. W. Cope, R.A......042\nWhilst her husband strove to lend relief......R. Redgrave, R.A.....043\nDown where yon vessel spreads the sail........T. Creswick, R.A.....044\nOr winter wraps the polar world in snow.......T. Creswick, R.A.....045\nAs rocks resist the billows aNd the sky.......T. Creswick, R.A.....046\nTHE COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS Of Oliver Goldsmith\nCONTENTS\nIntroduction Chronology of Goldsmith's Life and Poems\nPOEMS Descriptive Poems The Traveller; or, A Prospect of Society page 3\nThe Deserted Village page 23 Lyrical and Miscellaneous Pieces Prologue\nof Laberius page 41 On a Beautiful Youth struck Blind with Lightning\npage 42 The Gift. To Iris, in Bow Street page 43 The Logicians Refuted\npage 44 A Sonnet page 46 Stanzas on the Taking of Quebec page 46 An\nElegy on Mrs. Mary Blaize page 47 Description of an Author's Bedchamber\npage 48 On seeing Mrs. *** perform in the Character of **** page 49\nOn the Death of the Right Hon.*** page 50 An Epigram. Addressed to the\nGentlemen reflected on in 'The Rosciad', a Poem, by the Author page 51\nTo G. C. and R. L. page 51 Translation of a South American Ode page 51\nThe Double Transformation. A Tale page 52 A New Simile, in the Manner of\nSwift page 56 Edwin and Angelina page 59 Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog\npage 65 Song ('When Lovely Woman,' etc.) page 67 Epilogue to The Good\nNatur'd Man page 68 Epilogue to The Sister page 70 Prologue to Zobeide\npage 72 Threnodia Augustalis: Sacred to the Memory of Her Late Royal\nHighness the Princess Dowager of Wales page 74 Song ('Let school-\nmasters,' etc.) page 84 Epilogue to She Stoops to Conquer page 85\nRetaliation page 87 Song ('Ah, me! when shall I marry me?') page 94\nTranslation ('Chaste are their instincts') page 94\npage v\nThe Haunch of Venison page 95 Epitaph on Thomas Parnell page 100 The\nClown's Reply page 100 Epitaph on Edward Purdon page 100 Epilogue for\nLee Lewes page 101 Epilogue written for She Stoops to Conquer (1)\npage 103 Epilogue written for She Stoops to Conquer (2) page 108 The\nCaptivity. An Oratorio Verses in Reply to an Invitation to Dinner page\n128 Letter in Prose and Verse to Mrs. Bunbury page 130 Vida's Game of\nChess page 135\nNOTES Introduction to the Notes page 159 Editions of the Poems page\n161 The Traveller page 162 The Deserted Village page 177 Prologue of\nLaberius page 190 On a Beautiful Youth struck Blind with Lightning page\n192 The Gift page 193 The Logicians Refuted page 194 A Sonnet page 196\nStanzas on the Taking of Quebec page 196 An Elegy on Mrs. Mary Blaize\npage 197 Description of an Author's Bedchamber page 199 On seeing Mrs.\n*** perform in the Character of **** page 202 On the Death of the\nRight Hon. *** page 202 An Epigram page 203 To G. C. and R. L. page 203\nTranslation of a South American Ode page 203 The Double Transformation\npage 203 A New Simile page 205 Edwin and Angelina page 206 Elegy on the\nDeath of a Mad Dog page 212 Song (from The Vicar of Wakefield) page 213\nEpilogue (The Good Natur'd Man) page 214 Epilogue (The Sister) page 215\nPrologue (Zobeide) page 216 Threnodia Augustalis page 218 Song (from She\nStoops to Conquer) page 219\npage vi\nEpilogue (She Stoops to Conquer) page 220 Retaliation page 222 Song\nintended for She Stoops to Conquer page 235 Translation page 236 The\nHaunch of Venison page 236 Epitaph on Thomas Parnell page 243 The\nClown's Reply page 244 Epitaph on Edward Purdon page 244 Epilogue for\nLee Lewes's Benefit page 245 Epilogue (She Stoops to Conquer) (1) page\n246 Epilogue (She Stoops to Conquer) (2) page 248 The Captivity page 249\nVerses in Reply to an Invitation to Dinner page 250 Letter in Prose and\nVerse to Mrs. Bunbury page 252 Vida's Game of Chess page 255\nAPPENDIXES Portraits of Goldsmith page 259 Descriptions of Newell's\nViews of Lissoy, etc. page 262 The Epithet 'Sentimental' page 264\nFragments of Translations, etc., by Goldsmith page 266 Goldsmith\non Poetry under Anne and George the First page 268 Criticisms from\nGoldsmith's Beauties of English Poesy page 270\npage vii\nLIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS OLIVER GOLDSMITH. From Joseph Marchi's mezzotint\nof 1770 after the portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds. PANE OF GLASS with\nGoldsmith's autograph signature, dated March, 1746, now at Trinity\nCollege, Dublin. VIGNETTE TO THE TRAVELLER. Drawn by Samuel Wale, and\nengraved by Charles Grignion. HEADPIECE TO THE TRAVELLER. Engraved on\nwood by Charlton Nesbit for Bulmer's Poems of Goldsmith and Parnell,\n1795. THE TRAVELLER. From a design by Richard Westall, R. A., engraved\non wood by Thomas Bewick for Bulmer's Poems of Goldsmith and Parnell,\n1795. VIGNETTE TO THE DESERTED VILLAGE, 1770. Drawn and engraved by\nIsaac Taylor. HEADPIECE TO THE DESERTED VILLAGE. Engraved on wood by\nCharlton Nesbit for Bulmer's Poems of Goldsmith and Parnell, 1795. THE\nWATER-CRESS GATHERER. Drawn and engraved on wood by John Bewick\nfor Bulmer's Poems of Goldsmith and Parnell, 1795. {This picture is\nunavailable.] THE DEPARTURE. Drawn by Robert Johnson, and engraved on\nwood by Thomas Bewick for Bulmer's Poems of Goldsmith and Parnell,\n1795. EDWIN AND ANGELINA. From an original washed drawing made by Thomas\nStothard, R.A., for Aikin's Goldsmith's Poetical Works, 1805. PORTRAIT\nOF GOLDSMITH, after Sir Joshua Reynolds. From an etching by James\nBasire on the title-page of Retaliation, 1774. SONG FROM THE CAPTIVITY.\nFacsimile of Goldsmith's writing and signature, from Prior's Life of\nOliver Goldsmith, M.B., 1837, ii, frontispiece. GREEN ARBOUR COURT, OLD\nBAILEY. From an engraving in the European Magazine for January, 1803.\npage viii\nKILKENNY WEST CHURCH. From an aquatint by S. Alken of a sketch by R. H.\nNewell (Goldsmith's Poetical Works, 1811). HAWTHORN TREE. From the same.\nSOUTH VIEW FROM GOLDSMITH'S MOUNT. From the same . . . To face p. 183.\n[This picture is unavailable.] THE SCHOOL HOUSE. From the same. PORTRAIT\nOF GOLDSMITH. Drawn by Henry William Bunbury and etched by James\nBretherton. From the Haunch of Venison, 1776. PORTRAIT OF GOLDSMITH.\nFrom a silhouette by Ozias Humphry, R.A., in the National Portrait\nGallery. LISSOY (OR LISHOY) MILL. From an aquatint by S. Alken of\na sketch by R. H. Newell (Goldsmith's Poetical Works, 1811). THE\nPARSONAGE. From the same.\nof Oliver Goldsmith, by Oliver Goldsmith\n***** This file should be named 58029-0.txt or 58029-0.zip *****\nThis and all associated files of various formats will be found in:\nProduced by David Widger\nUpdated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will\nbe renamed.\nCreating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright\nlaw means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works,\nso the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United\nStates without permission and without paying copyright\nroyalties. 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{"source_document": "", "creation_year": 1754, "culture": " English\n", "content": "Produced by Suzanne Shell, Sigal Alon and the Online\nDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net\nThe MAD DOG\nONE OF R. CALDECOTT'S PICTURE BOOKS\nFrederick Warne and Co. Ltd.\n[Illustration]\nAn ELEGY\non the DEATH of\na MAD DOG.\nWRITTEN\n  By\nDr GOLDSMITH\nPICTURED\n  By\nR. CALDECOTT\nSUNG\n  By\nMaster BILL PRIMROSE\n                    Good people all, of every sort,\n                    And if you find it wondrous short,\n                      It cannot hold you long.\n                    In Islington there lived a man,\n                      Of whom the world might say,\n                    That still a godly race he ran,\n                      Whene'er he went to pray.\n                    A kind and gentle heart he had,\n                      To comfort friends and foes;\n                    The naked every day he clad,\n                      When he put on his clothes\n                    And in that town a dog was found:\n                    Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound,\n                      And curs of low degree.\n                    This dog and man at first were friends;\n                    The dog, to gain some private ends,\n                    Around from all the neighbouring streets\n                      The wondering neighbours ran;\n                    And swore the dog had lost his wits,\n                    The wound it seem'd both sore and sad\n                      To every christian eye;\n                    And while they swore the dog was mad,\n                      They swore the man would die\n                    But soon a wonder came to light,\n                      That show'd the rogues they lied--\n                    The man recover'd of the bite;\n                      The dog it was that died.\nRandolph Caldecott's\nPicture Books\n\"The humour of Randolph Caldecott's drawings is simply irresistible, no\nhealthy-minded man, woman, or child could look at them without laughing.\"\n_In square crown 4to, picture covers, with numerous coloured plates._\n1 John Gilpin\n2 The House that Jack Built\n3 The Babes in the Wood\n4 The Mad Dog\n5 Three Jovial Huntsmen\n6 Sing a Song for Sixpence\n7 The Queen of Hearts\n8 The Farmer's Boy\n9 The Milkmaid\n10 Hey-Diddle-Diddle and Baby Bunting\n11 A Frog He Would a-Wooing Go\n12 The Fox Jumps over the Parson's Gate\n13 Come Lasses and Lads\n14 Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury\nCross, &c.\n15 Mrs. Mary Blaize\n16 The Great Panjandrum Himself\n_The above selections are also issued in Four Volumes, square crown 4to,\nattractive binding. Each containing four different books, with their\nColoured Pictures and innumerable Outline Sketches._\n1 R. Caldecott's Picture Book No. 1\n2 R. Caldecott's Picture Book No. 2\n3 Hey-Diddle-Diddle-Picture Book\n4 The Panjandrum Picture Book\n     RANDOLPH CALDECOTT'S\n     Collection of Pictures and Songs No. 1 containing the first 8 books\n     listed above with their Colour Pictures and numerous Outline\n     Sketches\n     RANDOLPH CALDECOTT'S\n     Collection of Pictures and Songs No. 2 containing the second 8\n     books listed above with their Colour Pictures and numerous Outline\n     Sketches\nFrederick Warne & Co. Ltd.\nLONDON & NEW YORK.\n_The Published Prices of the above Picture Books can be obtained of all\nBooksellers or from the illustrated Catalogue of the Publishers._\nENGRAVED AND PRINTED BY EDMUND EVANS, LTD., 154 CLERKENWELL ROAD, LONDON,\nPRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN.", "source_dataset": "gutenberg", "source_dataset_detailed": "gutenberg -  An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog\n"},
{"source_document": "", "creation_year": 1754, "culture": " English\n", "content": "SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER\nby Oliver Goldsmith\nShe Stoops To Conquer; Or, The Mistakes Of A Night.\nA Comedy.\nTo Samuel Johnson, LL.D.\nDear Sir,--By inscribing this slight performance to you, I do not mean\nso much to compliment you as myself.  It may do me some honour to\ninform the public, that I have lived many years in intimacy with you.\nIt may serve the interests of mankind also to inform them, that the\ngreatest wit may be found in a character, without impairing the most\nunaffected piety.\nI have, particularly, reason to thank you for your partiality to this\nperformance.  The undertaking a comedy not merely sentimental was very\ndangerous; and Mr. Colman, who saw this piece in its various stages,\nalways thought it so.  However, I ventured to trust it to the public;\nand, though it was necessarily delayed till late in the season, I have\nevery reason to be grateful.\nI am, dear Sir, your most sincere friend and admirer,\nOLIVER GOLDSMITH.\nPROLOGUE,\nBy David Garrick, Esq.\nEnter MR. WOODWARD, dressed in black, and holding a handkerchief\nto his eyes.\n     Excuse me, sirs, I pray--I can\u2019t yet speak--\n     I\u2019m crying now--and have been all the week.\n     \u201c\u2019Tis not alone this mourning suit,\u201d good masters:\n     \u201cI\u2019ve that within\u201d--for which there are no plasters!\n     Pray, would you know the reason why I\u2019m crying?\n     The Comic Muse, long sick, is now a-dying!\n     And if she goes, my tears will never stop;\n     For as a player, I can\u2019t squeeze out one drop:\n     I am undone, that\u2019s all--shall lose my bread--\n     I\u2019d rather, but that\u2019s nothing--lose my head.\n     When the sweet maid is laid upon the bier,\n     Shuter and I shall be chief mourners here.\n     To her a mawkish drab of spurious breed,\n     Who deals in sentimentals, will succeed!\n     Poor Ned and I are dead to all intents;\n     We can as soon speak Greek as sentiments!\n     Both nervous grown, to keep our spirits up.\n     We now and then take down a hearty cup.\n     What shall we do?  If Comedy forsake us,\n     They\u2019ll turn us out, and no one else will take us.\n     But why can\u2019t I be moral?--Let me try--\n     My heart thus pressing--fixed my face and eye--\n     With a sententious look, that nothing means,\n     (Faces are blocks in sentimental scenes)\n     Thus I begin: \u201cAll is not gold that glitters,\n     \u201cPleasure seems sweet, but proves a glass of bitters.\n     \u201cWhen Ignorance enters, Folly is at hand:\n     \u201cLearning is better far than house and land.\n     \u201cLet not your virtue trip; who trips may stumble,\n     \u201cAnd virtue is not virtue, if she tumble.\u201d\n     I give it up--morals won\u2019t do for me;\n     To make you laugh, I must play tragedy.\n     One hope remains--hearing the maid was ill,\n     A Doctor comes this night to show his skill.\n     To cheer her heart, and give your muscles motion,\n     He, in Five Draughts prepar\u2019d, presents a potion:\n     A kind of magic charm--for be assur\u2019d,\n     If you will swallow it, the maid is cur\u2019d:\n     But desperate the Doctor, and her case is,\n     If you reject the dose, and make wry faces!\n     This truth he boasts, will boast it while he lives,\n     No poisonous drugs are mixed in what he gives.\n     Should he succeed, you\u2019ll give him his degree;\n     If not, within he will receive no fee!\n     The College YOU, must his pretensions back,\n     Pronounce him Regular, or dub him Quack.\nDRAMATIS PERSONAE.\n     SIR CHARLES MARLOW           Mr. Gardner.\n     YOUNG MARLOW (His Son)       Mr. Lee Lewes.\n     HARDCASTLE                   Mr. Shuter.\n     TONY LUMPKIN                 Mr. Quick.\n     WOMEN.\n     MRS. HARDCASTLE              Mrs. Green.\n     MISS HARDCASTLE              Mrs. Bulkley.\n     MISS NEVILLE                 Mrs. Kniveton.\n     LANDLORD, SERVANTS, Etc. Etc.\nACT THE FIRST.\nSCENE--A Chamber in an old-fashioned House.\nEnter MRS. HARDCASTLE and MR. HARDCASTLE.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  I vow, Mr. Hardcastle, you\u2019re very particular.  Is\nthere a creature in the whole country but ourselves, that does not take\na trip to town now and then, to rub off the rust a little?  There\u2019s the\ntwo Miss Hoggs, and our neighbour Mrs. Grigsby, go to take a month\u2019s\npolishing every winter.\nHARDCASTLE.  Ay, and bring back vanity and affectation to last them the\nwhole year.  I wonder why London cannot keep its own fools at home!  In\nmy time, the follies of the town crept slowly among us, but now they\ntravel faster than a stage-coach.  Its fopperies come down not only as\ninside passengers, but in the very basket.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Ay, your times were fine times indeed; you have been\ntelling us of them for many a long year.  Here we live in an old\nrumbling mansion, that looks for all the world like an inn, but that we\nnever see company.  Our best visitors are old Mrs. Oddfish, the\ncurate\u2019s wife, and little Cripplegate, the lame dancing-master; and all\nour entertainment your old stories of Prince Eugene and the Duke of\nMarlborough.  I hate such old-fashioned trumpery.\nHARDCASTLE.  And I love it.  I love everything that\u2019s old: old\nfriends, old times, old manners, old books, old wine; and I believe,\nDorothy (taking her hand), you\u2019ll own I have been pretty fond of an old\nwife.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Lord, Mr. Hardcastle, you\u2019re for ever at your\nDorothys and your old wifes.  You may be a Darby, but I\u2019ll be no Joan,\nI promise you.  I\u2019m not so old as you\u2019d make me, by more than one good\nyear.  Add twenty to twenty, and make money of that.\nHARDCASTLE.  Let me see; twenty added to twenty makes just fifty and\nseven.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  It\u2019s false, Mr. Hardcastle; I was but twenty when I\nwas brought to bed of Tony, that I had by Mr. Lumpkin, my first\nhusband; and he\u2019s not come to years of discretion yet.\nHARDCASTLE.  Nor ever will, I dare answer for him.  Ay, you have\ntaught him finely.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  No matter.  Tony Lumpkin has a good fortune.  My son\nis not to live by his learning.  I don\u2019t think a boy wants much\nlearning to spend fifteen hundred a year.\nHARDCASTLE.  Learning, quotha! a mere composition of tricks and\nmischief.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Humour, my dear; nothing but humour.  Come, Mr.\nHardcastle, you must allow the boy a little humour.\nHARDCASTLE.  I\u2019d sooner allow him a horse-pond.  If burning the\nfootmen\u2019s shoes, frightening the maids, and worrying the kittens be\nhumour, he has it.  It was but yesterday he fastened my wig to the back\nof my chair, and when I went to make a bow, I popt my bald head in Mrs.\nFrizzle\u2019s face.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  And am I to blame?  The poor boy was always too\nsickly to do any good.  A school would be his death.  When he comes to\nbe a little stronger, who knows what a year or two\u2019s Latin may do for\nhim?\nHARDCASTLE.  Latin for him!  A cat and fiddle.  No, no; the alehouse\nand the stable are the only schools he\u2019ll ever go to.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Well, we must not snub the poor boy now, for I\nbelieve we shan\u2019t have him long among us.  Anybody that looks in his\nface may see he\u2019s consumptive.\nHARDCASTLE.  Ay, if growing too fat be one of the symptoms.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  He coughs sometimes.\nHARDCASTLE.  Yes, when his liquor goes the wrong way.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  I\u2019m actually afraid of his lungs.\nHARDCASTLE.  And truly so am I; for he sometimes whoops like a\nspeaking trumpet--(Tony hallooing behind the scenes)--O, there he\ngoes--a very consumptive figure, truly.\nEnter TONY, crossing the stage.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Tony, where are you going, my charmer?  Won\u2019t you\ngive papa and I a little of your company, lovee?\nTONY.  I\u2019m in haste, mother; I cannot stay.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  You shan\u2019t venture out this raw evening, my dear; you\nlook most shockingly.\nTONY.  I can\u2019t stay, I tell you.  The Three Pigeons expects me down\nevery moment.  There\u2019s some fun going forward.\nHARDCASTLE.  Ay; the alehouse, the old place: I thought so.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  A low, paltry set of fellows.\nTONY.  Not so low, neither.  There\u2019s Dick Muggins the exciseman, Jack\nSlang the horse doctor, Little Aminadab that grinds the music box, and\nTom Twist that spins the pewter platter.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Pray, my dear, disappoint them for one night at\nleast.\nTONY.  As for disappointing them, I should not so much mind; but I\ncan\u2019t abide to disappoint myself.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  (detaining him.)  You shan\u2019t go.\nTONY.  I will, I tell you.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  I say you shan\u2019t.\nTONY.  We\u2019ll see which is strongest, you or I.  [Exit, hauling her\nout.]\nHARDCASTLE.  (solus.)  Ay, there goes a pair that only spoil each\nother.  But is not the whole age in a combination to drive sense and\ndiscretion out of doors?  There\u2019s my pretty darling Kate! the fashions\nof the times have almost infected her too.  By living a year or two in\ntown, she is as fond of gauze and French frippery as the best of them.\nEnter MISS HARDCASTLE.\nHARDCASTLE.  Blessings on my pretty innocence! drest out as usual, my\nKate.  Goodness!  What a quantity of superfluous silk hast thou got\nabout thee, girl!  I could never teach the fools of this age, that the\nindigent world could be clothed out of the trimmings of the vain.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  You know our agreement, sir.  You allow me the\nmorning to receive and pay visits, and to dress in my own manner; and\nin the evening I put on my housewife\u2019s dress to please you.\nHARDCASTLE.  Well, remember, I insist on the terms of our agreement;\nand, by the bye, I believe I shall have occasion to try your obedience\nthis very evening.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  I protest, sir, I don\u2019t comprehend your meaning.\nHARDCASTLE.  Then to be plain with you, Kate, I expect the young\ngentleman I have chosen to be your husband from town this very day.  I\nhave his father\u2019s letter, in which he informs me his son is set out,\nand that he intends to follow himself shortly after.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Indeed!  I wish I had known something of this\nbefore.  Bless me, how shall I behave?  It\u2019s a thousand to one I\nshan\u2019t like him; our meeting will be so formal, and so like a thing of\nbusiness, that I shall find no room for friendship or esteem.\nHARDCASTLE.  Depend upon it, child, I\u2019ll never control your choice; but\nMr. Marlow, whom I have pitched upon, is the son of my old friend, Sir\nCharles Marlow, of whom you have heard me talk so often.  The young\ngentleman has been bred a scholar, and is designed for an employment in\nthe service of his country.  I am told he\u2019s a man of an excellent\nunderstanding.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Is he?\nHARDCASTLE.  Very generous.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  I believe I shall like him.\nHARDCASTLE.  Young and brave.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  I\u2019m sure I shall like him.\nHARDCASTLE.  And very handsome.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  My dear papa, say no more, (kissing his hand), he\u2019s\nmine; I\u2019ll have him.\nHARDCASTLE.  And, to crown all, Kate, he\u2019s one of the most bashful and\nreserved young fellows in all the world.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Eh! you have frozen me to death again.  That word\nRESERVED has undone all the rest of his accomplishments.  A reserved\nlover, it is said, always makes a suspicious husband.\nHARDCASTLE.  On the contrary, modesty seldom resides in a breast that\nis not enriched with nobler virtues.  It was the very feature in his\ncharacter that first struck me.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  He must have more striking features to catch me, I\npromise you.  However, if he be so young, so handsome, and so\neverything as you mention, I believe he\u2019ll do still.  I think I\u2019ll have\nhim.\nHARDCASTLE.  Ay, Kate, but there is still an obstacle.  It\u2019s more than\nan even wager he may not have you.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  My dear papa, why will you mortify one so?--Well, if\nhe refuses, instead of breaking my heart at his indifference, I\u2019ll only\nbreak my glass for its flattery, set my cap to some newer fashion, and\nlook out for some less difficult admirer.\nHARDCASTLE.  Bravely resolved!  In the mean time I\u2019ll go prepare the\nservants for his reception: as we seldom see company, they want as much\ntraining as a company of recruits the first day\u2019s muster.  [Exit.]\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  (Alone).  Lud, this news of papa\u2019s puts me all in a\nflutter.  Young, handsome: these he put last; but I put them foremost.\nSensible, good-natured; I like all that.  But then reserved and\nsheepish; that\u2019s much against him.  Yet can\u2019t he be cured of his\ntimidity, by being taught to be proud of his wife?  Yes, and can\u2019t\nI--But I vow I\u2019m disposing of the husband before I have secured the\nlover.\nEnter MISS NEVILLE.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  I\u2019m glad you\u2019re come, Neville, my dear.  Tell me,\nConstance, how do I look this evening?  Is there anything whimsical\nabout me?  Is it one of my well-looking days, child?  Am I in face\nto-day?\nMISS NEVILLE.  Perfectly, my dear.  Yet now I look again--bless\nme!--sure no accident has happened among the canary birds or the gold\nfishes.  Has your brother or the cat been meddling? or has the last\nnovel been too moving?\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  No; nothing of all this.  I have been threatened--I\ncan scarce get it out--I have been threatened with a lover.\nMISS NEVILLE.  And his name--\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Is Marlow.\nMISS NEVILLE.  Indeed!\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  The son of Sir Charles Marlow.\nMISS NEVILLE.  As I live, the most intimate friend of Mr. Hastings, my\nadmirer.  They are never asunder.  I believe you must have seen him\nwhen we lived in town.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Never.\nMISS NEVILLE.  He\u2019s a very singular character, I assure you.  Among\nwomen of reputation and virtue he is the modestest man alive; but his\nacquaintance give him a very different character among creatures of\nanother stamp: you understand me.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  An odd character indeed.  I shall never be able to\nmanage him.  What shall I do?  Pshaw, think no more of him, but trust\nto occurrences for success.  But how goes on your own affair, my dear?\nhas my mother been courting you for my brother Tony as usual?\nMISS NEVILLE.  I have just come from one of our agreeable\ntete-a-tetes.  She has been saying a hundred tender things, and setting\noff her pretty monster as the very pink of perfection.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  And her partiality is such, that she actually thinks\nhim so.  A fortune like yours is no small temptation.  Besides, as she\nhas the sole management of it, I\u2019m not surprised to see her unwilling\nto let it go out of the family.\nMISS NEVILLE.  A fortune like mine, which chiefly consists in jewels,\nis no such mighty temptation.  But at any rate, if my dear Hastings be\nbut constant, I make no doubt to be too hard for her at last.  However,\nI let her suppose that I am in love with her son; and she never once\ndreams that my affections are fixed upon another.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  My good brother holds out stoutly.  I could almost\nlove him for hating you so.\nMISS NEVILLE.  It is a good-natured creature at bottom, and I\u2019m sure\nwould wish to see me married to anybody but himself.  But my aunt\u2019s\nbell rings for our afternoon\u2019s walk round the improvements.  Allons!\nCourage is necessary, as our affairs are critical.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  \u201cWould it were bed-time, and all were well.\u201d\n[Exeunt.]\nSCENE--An Alehouse Room.  Several shabby Fellows with punch and\ntobacco.  TONY at the head of the table, a little higher than the\nrest, a mallet in his hand.\nOMNES.  Hurrea! hurrea! hurrea! bravo!\nFIRST FELLOW  Now, gentlemen, silence for a song.  The \u2019squire is\ngoing to knock himself down for a song.\nOMNES.  Ay, a song, a song!\nTONY.  Then I\u2019ll sing you, gentlemen, a song I made upon this\nalehouse, the Three Pigeons.\nSONG.\n     Let schoolmasters puzzle their brain\n          With grammar, and nonsense, and learning,\n     Good liquor, I stoutly maintain,\n          Gives GENUS a better discerning.\n     Let them brag of their heathenish gods,\n          Their Lethes, their Styxes, and Stygians,\n     Their Quis, and their Quaes, and their Quods,\n          They\u2019re all but a parcel of Pigeons.\n               Toroddle, toroddle, toroll.\n     When methodist preachers come down,\n          A-preaching that drinking is sinful,\n     I\u2019ll wager the rascals a crown,\n          They always preach best with a skinful.\n     But when you come down with your pence,\n          For a slice of their scurvy religion,\n     I\u2019ll leave it to all men of sense,\n          But you, my good friend, are the Pigeon.\n               Toroddle, toroddle, toroll.\n     Then come, put the jorum about,\n          And let us be merry and clever,\n     Our hearts and our liquors are stout,\n          Here\u2019s the Three Jolly Pigeons for ever.\n     Let some cry up woodcock or hare,\n          Your bustards, your ducks, and your widgeons;\n     But of all the GAY birds in the air,\n          Here\u2019s a health to the Three Jolly Pigeons.\n               Toroddle, toroddle, toroll.\nOMNES.  Bravo, bravo!\nFIRST FELLOW.  The \u2019squire has got spunk in him.\nSECOND FELLOW.  I loves to hear him sing, bekeays he never gives us\nnothing that\u2019s low.\nTHIRD FELLOW.  O damn anything that\u2019s low, I cannot bear it.\nFOURTH FELLOW.  The genteel thing is the genteel thing any time: if so\nbe that a gentleman bees in a concatenation accordingly.\nTHIRD FELLOW.  I likes the maxum of it, Master Muggins.  What, though I\nam obligated to dance a bear, a man may be a gentleman for all that.\nMay this be my poison, if my bear ever dances but to the very\ngenteelest of tunes; \u201cWater Parted,\u201d or \u201cThe minuet in Ariadne.\u201d\nSECOND FELLOW.  What a pity it is the \u2019squire is not come to his own.\nIt would be well for all the publicans within ten miles round of him.\nTONY.  Ecod, and so it would, Master Slang.  I\u2019d then show what it was\nto keep choice of company.\nSECOND FELLOW.  O he takes after his own father for that.  To be sure\nold \u2019Squire Lumpkin was the finest gentleman I ever set my eyes on.\nFor winding the straight horn, or beating a thicket for a hare, or a\nwench, he never had his fellow.  It was a saying in the place, that he\nkept the best horses, dogs, and girls, in the whole county.\nTONY.  Ecod, and when I\u2019m of age, I\u2019ll be no bastard, I promise you.  I\nhave been thinking of Bet Bouncer and the miller\u2019s grey mare to begin\nwith.  But come, my boys, drink about and be merry, for you pay no\nreckoning.  Well, Stingo, what\u2019s the matter?\nEnter Landlord.\nLANDLORD.  There be two gentlemen in a post-chaise at the door.  They\nhave lost their way upo\u2019 the forest; and they are talking something\nabout Mr. Hardcastle.\nTONY.  As sure as can be, one of them must be the gentleman that\u2019s\ncoming down to court my sister.  Do they seem to be Londoners?\nLANDLORD.  I believe they may.  They look woundily like Frenchmen.\nTONY.  Then desire them to step this way, and I\u2019ll set them right in a\ntwinkling. (Exit Landlord.)  Gentlemen, as they mayn\u2019t be good enough\ncompany for you, step down for a moment, and I\u2019ll be with you in the\nsqueezing of a lemon.  [Exeunt mob.]\nTONY.  (solus).  Father-in-law has been calling me whelp and hound this\nhalf year.  Now, if I pleased, I could be so revenged upon the old\ngrumbletonian.  But then I\u2019m afraid--afraid of what?  I shall soon be\nworth fifteen hundred a year, and let him frighten me out of THAT if he\ncan.\nEnter Landlord, conducting MARLOW and HASTINGS.\nMARLOW.  What a tedious uncomfortable day have we had of it!  We were\ntold it was but forty miles across the country, and we have come above\nthreescore.\nHASTINGS.  And all, Marlow, from that unaccountable reserve of yours,\nthat would not let us inquire more frequently on the way.\nMARLOW.  I own, Hastings, I am unwilling to lay myself under an\nobligation to every one I meet, and often stand the chance of an\nunmannerly answer.\nHASTINGS.  At present, however, we are not likely to receive any\nanswer.\nTONY.  No offence, gentlemen.  But I\u2019m told you have been inquiring for\none Mr. Hardcastle in these parts.  Do you know what part of the\ncountry you are in?\nHASTINGS.  Not in the least, sir, but should thank you for\ninformation.\nTONY.  Nor the way you came?\nHASTINGS.  No, sir: but if you can inform us----\nTONY.  Why, gentlemen, if you know neither the road you are going, nor\nwhere you are, nor the road you came, the first thing I have to inform\nyou is, that--you have lost your way.\nMARLOW.  We wanted no ghost to tell us that.\nTONY.  Pray, gentlemen, may I be so bold so as to ask the place from\nwhence you came?\nMARLOW.  That\u2019s not necessary towards directing us where we are to go.\nTONY.  No offence; but question for question is all fair, you know.\nPray, gentlemen, is not this same Hardcastle a cross-grained,\nold-fashioned, whimsical fellow, with an ugly face, a daughter, and a\npretty son?\nHASTINGS.  We have not seen the gentleman; but he has the family you\nmention.\nTONY.  The daughter, a tall, trapesing, trolloping, talkative maypole;\nthe son, a pretty, well-bred, agreeable youth, that everybody is fond\nof.\nMARLOW.  Our information differs in this.  The daughter is said to be\nwell-bred and beautiful; the son an awkward booby, reared up and\nspoiled at his mother\u2019s apron-string.\nTONY.  He-he-hem!--Then, gentlemen, all I have to tell you is, that you\nwon\u2019t reach Mr. Hardcastle\u2019s house this night, I believe.\nHASTINGS.  Unfortunate!\nTONY.  It\u2019s a damn\u2019d long, dark, boggy, dirty, dangerous way.  Stingo,\ntell the gentlemen the way to Mr. Hardcastle\u2019s!  (Winking upon the\nLandlord.)  Mr. Hardcastle\u2019s, of Quagmire Marsh, you understand me.\nLANDLORD.  Master Hardcastle\u2019s!  Lock-a-daisy, my masters, you\u2019re come\na deadly deal wrong!  When you came to the bottom of the hill, you\nshould have crossed down Squash Lane.\nMARLOW.  Cross down Squash Lane!\nLANDLORD.  Then you were to keep straight forward, till you came to\nfour roads.\nMARLOW.  Come to where four roads meet?\nTONY.  Ay; but you must be sure to take only one of them.\nMARLOW.  O, sir, you\u2019re facetious.\nTONY.  Then keeping to the right, you are to go sideways till you come\nupon Crackskull Common: there you must look sharp for the track of the\nwheel, and go forward till you come to farmer Murrain\u2019s barn.  Coming\nto the farmer\u2019s barn, you are to turn to the right, and then to the\nleft, and then to the right about again, till you find out the old\nmill--\nMARLOW.  Zounds, man! we could as soon find out the longitude!\nHASTINGS.  What\u2019s to be done, Marlow?\nMARLOW.  This house promises but a poor reception; though perhaps the\nlandlord can accommodate us.\nLANDLORD.  Alack, master, we have but one spare bed in the whole\nhouse.\nTONY.  And to my knowledge, that\u2019s taken up by three lodgers already.\n(After a pause, in which the rest seem disconcerted.)  I have hit it.\nDon\u2019t you think, Stingo, our landlady could accommodate the gentlemen\nby the fire-side, with----three chairs and a bolster?\nHASTINGS.  I hate sleeping by the fire-side.\nMARLOW.  And I detest your three chairs and a bolster.\nTONY.  You do, do you? then, let me see--what if you go on a mile\nfurther, to the Buck\u2019s Head; the old Buck\u2019s Head on the hill, one of\nthe best inns in the whole county?\nHASTINGS.  O ho! so we have escaped an adventure for this night,\nhowever.\nLANDLORD.  (apart to TONY).  Sure, you ben\u2019t sending them to your\nfather\u2019s as an inn, be you?\nTONY.  Mum, you fool you.  Let THEM find that out.  (To them.)  You\nhave only to keep on straight forward, till you come to a large old\nhouse by the road side.  You\u2019ll see a pair of large horns over the\ndoor.  That\u2019s the sign.  Drive up the yard, and call stoutly about you.\nHASTINGS.  Sir, we are obliged to you.  The servants can\u2019t miss the\nway?\nTONY.  No, no: but I tell you, though, the landlord is rich, and going\nto leave off business; so he wants to be thought a gentleman, saving\nyour presence, he! he! he!  He\u2019ll be for giving you his company; and,\necod, if you mind him, he\u2019ll persuade you that his mother was an\nalderman, and his aunt a justice of peace.\nLANDLORD.  A troublesome old blade, to be sure; but a keeps as good\nwines and beds as any in the whole country.\nMARLOW.  Well, if he supplies us with these, we shall want no farther\nconnexion.  We are to turn to the right, did you say?\nTONY.  No, no; straight forward.  I\u2019ll just step myself, and show you a\npiece of the way.  (To the Landlord.)  Mum!\nLANDLORD.  Ah, bless your heart, for a sweet, pleasant--damn\u2019d\nmischievous son of a whore.  [Exeunt.]\nACT THE SECOND.\nSCENE--An old-fashioned House.\nEnter HARDCASTLE, followed by three or four awkward Servants.\nHARDCASTLE.  Well, I hope you are perfect in the table exercise I have\nbeen teaching you these three days.  You all know your posts and your\nplaces, and can show that you have been used to good company, without\never stirring from home.\nOMNES.  Ay, ay.\nHARDCASTLE.  When company comes you are not to pop out and stare, and\nthen run in again, like frightened rabbits in a warren.\nOMNES.  No, no.\nHARDCASTLE.  You, Diggory, whom I have taken from the barn, are to make\na show at the side-table; and you, Roger, whom I have advanced from the\nplough, are to place yourself behind my chair.  But you\u2019re not to stand\nso, with your hands in your pockets.  Take your hands from your\npockets, Roger; and from your head, you blockhead you.  See how Diggory\ncarries his hands.  They\u2019re a little too stiff, indeed, but that\u2019s no\ngreat matter.\nDIGGORY.  Ay, mind how I hold them.  I learned to hold my hands this\nway when I was upon drill for the militia.  And so being upon drill----\nHARDCASTLE.  You must not be so talkative, Diggory.  You must be all\nattention to the guests.  You must hear us talk, and not think of\ntalking; you must see us drink, and not think of drinking; you must see\nus eat, and not think of eating.\nDIGGORY.  By the laws, your worship, that\u2019s parfectly unpossible.\nWhenever Diggory sees yeating going forward, ecod, he\u2019s always wishing\nfor a mouthful himself.\nHARDCASTLE.  Blockhead!  Is not a belly-full in the kitchen as good as\na belly-full in the parlour?  Stay your stomach with that reflection.\nDIGGORY.  Ecod, I thank your worship, I\u2019ll make a shift to stay my\nstomach with a slice of cold beef in the pantry.\nHARDCASTLE.  Diggory, you are too talkative.--Then, if I happen to say\na good thing, or tell a good story at table, you must not all burst out\na-laughing, as if you made part of the company.\nDIGGORY.  Then ecod your worship must not tell the story of Ould\nGrouse in the gun-room: I can\u2019t help laughing at that--he! he!\nhe!--for the soul of me.  We have laughed at that these twenty\nyears--ha! ha! ha!\nHARDCASTLE.  Ha! ha! ha!  The story is a good one.  Well, honest\nDiggory, you may laugh at that--but still remember to be attentive.\nSuppose one of the company should call for a glass of wine, how will\nyou behave?  A glass of wine, sir, if you please (to DIGGORY).--Eh, why\ndon\u2019t you move?\nDIGGORY.  Ecod, your worship, I never have courage till I see the\neatables and drinkables brought upo\u2019 the table, and then I\u2019m as bauld\nas a lion.\nHARDCASTLE.  What, will nobody move?\nFIRST SERVANT.  I\u2019m not to leave this pleace.\nSECOND SERVANT.  I\u2019m sure it\u2019s no pleace of mine.\nTHIRD SERVANT.  Nor mine, for sartain.\nDIGGORY.  Wauns, and I\u2019m sure it canna be mine.\nHARDCASTLE.  You numskulls! and so while, like your betters, you are\nquarrelling for places, the guests must be starved.  O you dunces!  I\nfind I must begin all over again----But don\u2019t I hear a coach drive into\nthe yard?  To your posts, you blockheads.  I\u2019ll go in the mean time and\ngive my old friend\u2019s son a hearty reception at the gate.  [Exit\nHARDCASTLE.]\nDIGGORY.  By the elevens, my pleace is gone quite out of my head.\nROGER.  I know that my pleace is to be everywhere.\nFIRST SERVANT.  Where the devil is mine?\nSECOND SERVANT.  My pleace is to be nowhere at all; and so I\u2019ze go\nabout my business.  [Exeunt Servants, running about as if frightened,\ndifferent ways.]\nEnter Servant with candles, showing in MARLOW and HASTINGS.\nSERVANT.  Welcome, gentlemen, very welcome!  This way.\nHASTINGS.  After the disappointments of the day, welcome once more,\nCharles, to the comforts of a clean room and a good fire.  Upon my\nword, a very well-looking house; antique but creditable.\nMARLOW.  The usual fate of a large mansion.  Having first ruined the\nmaster by good housekeeping, it at last comes to levy contributions as\nan inn.\nHASTINGS.  As you say, we passengers are to be taxed to pay all these\nfineries.  I have often seen a good sideboard, or a marble\nchimney-piece, though not actually put in the bill, inflame a\nreckoning confoundedly.\nMARLOW.  Travellers, George, must pay in all places: the only\ndifference is, that in good inns you pay dearly for luxuries; in bad\ninns you are fleeced and starved.\nHASTINGS.  You have lived very much among them.  In truth, I have been\noften surprised, that you who have seen so much of the world, with your\nnatural good sense, and your many opportunities, could never yet\nacquire a requisite share of assurance.\nMARLOW.  The Englishman\u2019s malady.  But tell me, George, where could I\nhave learned that assurance you talk of?  My life has been chiefly\nspent in a college or an inn, in seclusion from that lovely part of the\ncreation that chiefly teach men confidence.  I don\u2019t know that I was\never familiarly acquainted with a single modest woman--except my\nmother--But among females of another class, you know----\nHASTINGS.  Ay, among them you are impudent enough of all conscience.\nMARLOW.  They are of US, you know.\nHASTINGS.  But in the company of women of reputation I never saw such\nan idiot, such a trembler; you look for all the world as if you wanted\nan opportunity of stealing out of the room.\nMARLOW.  Why, man, that\u2019s because I do want to steal out of the room.\nFaith, I have often formed a resolution to break the ice, and rattle\naway at any rate.  But I don\u2019t know how, a single glance from a pair of\nfine eyes has totally overset my resolution.  An impudent fellow may\ncounterfeit modesty; but I\u2019ll be hanged if a modest man can ever\ncounterfeit impudence.\nHASTINGS.  If you could but say half the fine things to them that I\nhave heard you lavish upon the bar-maid of an inn, or even a college\nbed-maker----\nMARLOW.  Why, George, I can\u2019t say fine things to them; they freeze,\nthey petrify me.  They may talk of a comet, or a burning mountain, or\nsome such bagatelle; but, to me, a modest woman, drest out in all her\nfinery, is the most tremendous object of the whole creation.\nHASTINGS.  Ha! ha! ha!  At this rate, man, how can you ever expect to\nmarry?\nMARLOW.  Never; unless, as among kings and princes, my bride were to be\ncourted by proxy.  If, indeed, like an Eastern bridegroom, one were to\nbe introduced to a wife he never saw before, it might be endured.  But\nto go through all the terrors of a formal courtship, together with the\nepisode of aunts, grandmothers, and cousins, and at last to blurt out\nthe broad staring question of, Madam, will you marry me?  No, no,\nthat\u2019s a strain much above me, I assure you.\nHASTINGS.  I pity you.  But how do you intend behaving to the lady you\nare come down to visit at the request of your father?\nMARLOW.  As I behave to all other ladies.  Bow very low, answer yes or\nno to all her demands--But for the rest, I don\u2019t think I shall venture\nto look in her face till I see my father\u2019s again.\nHASTINGS.  I\u2019m surprised that one who is so warm a friend can be so\ncool a lover.\nMARLOW.  To be explicit, my dear Hastings, my chief inducement down was\nto be instrumental in forwarding your happiness, not my own.  Miss\nNeville loves you, the family don\u2019t know you; as my friend you are sure\nof a reception, and let honour do the rest.\nHASTINGS.  My dear Marlow!  But I\u2019ll suppress the emotion.  Were I a\nwretch, meanly seeking to carry off a fortune, you should be the last\nman in the world I would apply to for assistance.  But Miss Neville\u2019s\nperson is all I ask, and that is mine, both from her deceased father\u2019s\nconsent, and her own inclination.\nMARLOW.  Happy man!  You have talents and art to captivate any woman.\nI\u2019m doom\u2019d to adore the sex, and yet to converse with the only part of\nit I despise.  This stammer in my address, and this awkward\nprepossessing visage of mine, can never permit me to soar above the\nreach of a milliner\u2019s \u2019prentice, or one of the duchesses of Drury-lane.\nPshaw! this fellow here to interrupt us.\nEnter HARDCASTLE.\nHARDCASTLE.  Gentlemen, once more you are heartily welcome.  Which is\nMr. Marlow?  Sir, you are heartily welcome.  It\u2019s not my way, you see,\nto receive my friends with my back to the fire.  I like give them a\nhearty reception in the old style at my gate.  I like to see their\nhorses and trunks taken care of.\nMARLOW.  (Aside.)  He has got our names from the servants already.  (To\nhim.)  We approve your caution and hospitality, sir.  (To HASTINGS.)  I\nhave been thinking, George, of changing our travelling dresses in the\nmorning.  I am grown confoundedly ashamed of mine.\nHARDCASTLE.  I beg, Mr. Marlow, you\u2019ll use no ceremony in this house.\nHASTINGS.  I fancy, Charles, you\u2019re right: the first blow is half the\nbattle.  I intend opening the campaign with the white and gold.\nHARDCASTLE.  Mr. Marlow--Mr. Hastings--gentlemen--pray be under no\nconstraint in this house.  This is Liberty-hall, gentlemen.  You may do\njust as you please here.\nMARLOW.  Yet, George, if we open the campaign too fiercely at first, we\nmay want ammunition before it is over.  I think to reserve the\nembroidery to secure a retreat.\nHARDCASTLE.  Your talking of a retreat, Mr. Marlow, puts me in mind of\nthe Duke of Marlborough, when we went to besiege Denain.  He first\nsummoned the garrison----\nMARLOW.  Don\u2019t you think the ventre d\u2019or waistcoat will do with the\nplain brown?\nHARDCASTLE.  He first summoned the garrison, which might consist of\nabout five thousand men----\nHASTINGS.  I think not: brown and yellow mix but very poorly.\nHARDCASTLE.  I say, gentlemen, as I was telling you, be summoned the\ngarrison, which might consist of about five thousand men----\nMARLOW.  The girls like finery.\nHARDCASTLE.  Which might consist of about five thousand men, well\nappointed with stores, ammunition, and other implements of war.  Now,\nsays the Duke of Marlborough to George Brooks, that stood next to\nhim--you must have heard of George Brooks--I\u2019ll pawn my dukedom, says\nhe, but I take that garrison without spilling a drop of blood.  So----\nMARLOW.  What, my good friend, if you gave us a glass of punch in the\nmean time; it would help us to carry on the siege with vigour.\nHARDCASTLE.  Punch, sir!  (Aside.)  This is the most unaccountable kind\nof modesty I ever met with.\nMARLOW.  Yes, sir, punch.  A glass of warm punch, after our journey,\nwill be comfortable.  This is Liberty-hall, you know.\nHARDCASTLE.  Here\u2019s a cup, sir.\nMARLOW.  (Aside.)  So this fellow, in his Liberty-hall, will only let\nus have just what he pleases.\nHARDCASTLE.  (Taking the cup.)  I hope you\u2019ll find it to your mind.  I\nhave prepared it with my own hands, and I believe you\u2019ll own the\ningredients are tolerable.  Will you be so good as to pledge me, sir?\nHere, Mr. Marlow, here is to our better acquaintance.  [Drinks.]\nMARLOW.  (Aside.)  A very impudent fellow this! but he\u2019s a character,\nand I\u2019ll humour him a little.  Sir, my service to you.  [Drinks.]\nHASTINGS.  (Aside.)  I see this fellow wants to give us his company,\nand forgets that he\u2019s an innkeeper, before he has learned to be a\ngentleman.\nMARLOW.  From the excellence of your cup, my old friend, I suppose you\nhave a good deal of business in this part of the country.  Warm work,\nnow and then, at elections, I suppose.\nHARDCASTLE.  No, sir, I have long given that work over.  Since our\nbetters have hit upon the expedient of electing each other, there is no\nbusiness \u201cfor us that sell ale.\u201d\nHASTINGS.  So, then, you have no turn for politics, I find.\nHARDCASTLE.  Not in the least.  There was a time, indeed, I fretted\nmyself about the mistakes of government, like other people; but finding\nmyself every day grow more angry, and the government growing no better,\nI left it to mend itself.  Since that, I no more trouble my head about\nHyder Ally, or Ally Cawn, than about Ally Croker.  Sir, my service to\nyou.\nHASTINGS.  So that with eating above stairs, and drinking below, with\nreceiving your friends within, and amusing them without, you lead a\ngood pleasant bustling life of it.\nHARDCASTLE.  I do stir about a great deal, that\u2019s certain.  Half the\ndifferences of the parish are adjusted in this very parlour.\nMARLOW.  (After drinking.)  And you have an argument in your cup, old\ngentleman, better than any in Westminster-hall.\nHARDCASTLE.  Ay, young gentleman, that, and a little philosophy.\nMARLOW.  (Aside.)  Well, this is the first time I ever heard of an\ninnkeeper\u2019s philosophy.\nHASTINGS.  So then, like an experienced general, you attack them on\nevery quarter.  If you find their reason manageable, you attack it with\nyour philosophy; if you find they have no reason, you attack them with\nthis.  Here\u2019s your health, my philosopher.  [Drinks.]\nHARDCASTLE.  Good, very good, thank you; ha! ha!  Your generalship puts\nme in mind of Prince Eugene, when he fought the Turks at the battle of\nBelgrade.  You shall hear.\nMARLOW.  Instead of the battle of Belgrade, I believe it\u2019s almost time\nto talk about supper.  What has your philosophy got in the house for\nsupper?\nHARDCASTLE.  For supper, sir!  (Aside.)  Was ever such a request to a\nman in his own house?\nMARLOW.  Yes, sir, supper, sir; I begin to feel an appetite.  I shall\nmake devilish work to-night in the larder, I promise you.\nHARDCASTLE.  (Aside.)  Such a brazen dog sure never my eyes beheld.\n(To him.)  Why, really, sir, as for supper I can\u2019t well tell.  My\nDorothy and the cook-maid settle these things between them.  I leave\nthese kind of things entirely to them.\nMARLOW.  You do, do you?\nHARDCASTLE.  Entirely.  By the bye, I believe they are in actual\nconsultation upon what\u2019s for supper this moment in the kitchen.\nMARLOW.  Then I beg they\u2019ll admit me as one of their privy council.\nIt\u2019s a way I have got.  When I travel, I always chose to regulate my\nown supper.  Let the cook be called.  No offence I hope, sir.\nHARDCASTLE.  O no, sir, none in the least; yet I don\u2019t know how; our\nBridget, the cook-maid, is not very communicative upon these\noccasions.  Should we send for her, she might scold us all out of the\nhouse.\nHASTINGS.  Let\u2019s see your list of the larder then.  I ask it as a\nfavour.  I always match my appetite to my bill of fare.\nMARLOW.  (To HARDCASTLE, who looks at them with surprise.)  Sir, he\u2019s\nvery right, and it\u2019s my way too.\nHARDCASTLE.  Sir, you have a right to command here.  Here, Roger,\nbring us the bill of fare for to-night\u2019s supper: I believe it\u2019s drawn\nout--Your manner, Mr. Hastings, puts me in mind of my uncle, Colonel\nWallop.  It was a saying of his, that no man was sure of his supper\ntill he had eaten it.\nHASTINGS.  (Aside.)  All upon the high rope!  His uncle a colonel! we\nshall soon hear of his mother being a justice of the peace.  But let\u2019s\nhear the bill of fare.\nMARLOW.  (Perusing.)  What\u2019s here?  For the first course; for the\nsecond course; for the dessert.  The devil, sir, do you think we have\nbrought down a whole Joiners\u2019 Company, or the corporation of Bedford,\nto eat up such a supper?  Two or three little things, clean and\ncomfortable, will do.\nHASTINGS.  But let\u2019s hear it.\nMARLOW.  (Reading.)  For the first course, at the top, a pig and prune\nsauce.\nHASTINGS.  Damn your pig, I say.\nMARLOW.  And damn your prune sauce, say I.\nHARDCASTLE.  And yet, gentlemen, to men that are hungry, pig with\nprune sauce is very good eating.\nMARLOW.  At the bottom, a calf\u2019s tongue and brains.\nHASTINGS.  Let your brains be knocked out, my good sir, I don\u2019t like\nthem.\nMARLOW.  Or you may clap them on a plate by themselves.  I do.\nHARDCASTLE.  (Aside.)  Their impudence confounds me.  (To them.)\nGentlemen, you are my guests, make what alterations you please.  Is\nthere anything else you wish to retrench or alter, gentlemen?\nMARLOW.  Item, a pork pie, a boiled rabbit and sausages, a Florentine,\na shaking pudding, and a dish of tiff--taff--taffety cream.\nHASTINGS.  Confound your made dishes; I shall be as much at a loss in\nthis house as at a green and yellow dinner at the French ambassador\u2019s\ntable.  I\u2019m for plain eating.\nHARDCASTLE.  I\u2019m sorry, gentlemen, that I have nothing you like, but if\nthere be anything you have a particular fancy to----\nMARLOW.  Why, really, sir, your bill of fare is so exquisite, that any\none part of it is full as good as another.  Send us what you please.\nSo much for supper.  And now to see that our beds are aired, and\nproperly taken care of.\nHARDCASTLE.  I entreat you\u2019ll leave that to me.  You shall not stir a\nstep.\nMARLOW.  Leave that to you!  I protest, sir, you must excuse me, I\nalways look to these things myself.\nHARDCASTLE.  I must insist, sir, you\u2019ll make yourself easy on that\nhead.\nMARLOW.  You see I\u2019m resolved on it.  (Aside.)  A very troublesome\nfellow this, as I ever met with.\nHARDCASTLE.  Well, sir, I\u2019m resolved at least to attend you.  (Aside.)\nThis may be modern modesty, but I never saw anything look so like\nold-fashioned impudence.  [Exeunt MARLOW and HARDCASTLE.]\nHASTINGS.  (Alone.)  So I find this fellow\u2019s civilities begin to grow\ntroublesome.  But who can be angry at those assiduities which are meant\nto please him?  Ha! what do I see?  Miss Neville, by all that\u2019s happy!\nEnter MISS NEVILLE.\nMISS NEVILLE.  My dear Hastings!  To what unexpected good fortune, to\nwhat accident, am I to ascribe this happy meeting?\nHASTINGS.  Rather let me ask the same question, as I could never have\nhoped to meet my dearest Constance at an inn.\nMISS NEVILLE.  An inn! sure you mistake: my aunt, my guardian, lives\nhere.  What could induce you to think this house an inn?\nHASTINGS.  My friend, Mr. Marlow, with whom I came down, and I, have\nbeen sent here as to an inn, I assure you.  A young fellow, whom we\naccidentally met at a house hard by, directed us hither.\nMISS NEVILLE.  Certainly it must be one of my hopeful cousin\u2019s tricks,\nof whom you have heard me talk so often; ha! ha! ha!\nHASTINGS.  He whom your aunt intends for you? he of whom I have such\njust apprehensions?\nMISS NEVILLE.  You have nothing to fear from him, I assure you.  You\u2019d\nadore him, if you knew how heartily he despises me.  My aunt knows it\ntoo, and has undertaken to court me for him, and actually begins to\nthink she has made a conquest.\nHASTINGS.  Thou dear dissembler!  You must know, my Constance, I have\njust seized this happy opportunity of my friend\u2019s visit here to get\nadmittance into the family.  The horses that carried us down are now\nfatigued with their journey, but they\u2019ll soon be refreshed; and then,\nif my dearest girl will trust in her faithful Hastings, we shall soon\nbe landed in France, where even among slaves the laws of marriage are\nrespected.\nMISS NEVILLE.  I have often told you, that though ready to obey you, I\nyet should leave my little fortune behind with reluctance.  The\ngreatest part of it was left me by my uncle, the India director, and\nchiefly consists in jewels.  I have been for some time persuading my\naunt to let me wear them.  I fancy I\u2019m very near succeeding.  The\ninstant they are put into my possession, you shall find me ready to\nmake them and myself yours.\nHASTINGS.  Perish the baubles!  Your person is all I desire.  In the\nmean time, my friend Marlow must not be let into his mistake.  I know\nthe strange reserve of his temper is such, that if abruptly informed of\nit, he would instantly quit the house before our plan was ripe for\nexecution.\nMISS NEVILLE.  But how shall we keep him in the deception?  Miss\nHardcastle is just returned from walking; what if we still continue to\ndeceive him?----This, this way----[They confer.]\nEnter MARLOW.\nMARLOW.  The assiduities of these good people teaze me beyond bearing.\nMy host seems to think it ill manners to leave me alone, and so he\nclaps not only himself, but his old-fashioned wife, on my back.  They\ntalk of coming to sup with us too; and then, I suppose, we are to run\nthe gantlet through all the rest of the family.--What have we got here?\nHASTINGS.  My dear Charles!  Let me congratulate you!--The most\nfortunate accident!--Who do you think is just alighted?\nMARLOW.  Cannot guess.\nHASTINGS.  Our mistresses, boy, Miss Hardcastle and Miss Neville.\nGive me leave to introduce Miss Constance Neville to your\nacquaintance.  Happening to dine in the neighbourhood, they called on\ntheir return to take fresh horses here.  Miss Hardcastle has just stept\ninto the next room, and will be back in an instant.  Wasn\u2019t it lucky?\neh!\nMARLOW.  (Aside.)  I have been mortified enough of all conscience, and\nhere comes something to complete my embarrassment.\nHASTINGS.  Well, but wasn\u2019t it the most fortunate thing in the world?\nMARLOW.  Oh! yes.  Very fortunate--a most joyful encounter--But our\ndresses, George, you know are in disorder--What if we should postpone\nthe happiness till to-morrow?--To-morrow at her own house--It will be\nevery bit as convenient--and rather more respectful--To-morrow let it\nbe.  [Offering to go.]\nMISS NEVILLE.  By no means, sir.  Your ceremony will displease her.\nThe disorder of your dress will show the ardour of your impatience.\nBesides, she knows you are in the house, and will permit you to see\nher.\nMARLOW.  O! the devil! how shall I support it?  Hem! hem!  Hastings,\nyou must not go.  You are to assist me, you know.  I shall be\nconfoundedly ridiculous.  Yet, hang it!  I\u2019ll take courage.  Hem!\nHASTINGS.  Pshaw, man! it\u2019s but the first plunge, and all\u2019s over.\nShe\u2019s but a woman, you know.\nMARLOW.  And, of all women, she that I dread most to encounter.\nEnter MISS HARDCASTLE, as returned from walking, a bonnet, etc.\nHASTINGS.  (Introducing them.)  Miss Hardcastle, Mr. Marlow.  I\u2019m\nproud of bringing two persons of such merit together, that only want to\nknow, to esteem each other.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  (Aside.)  Now for meeting my modest gentleman with a\ndemure face, and quite in his own manner.  (After a pause, in which he\nappears very uneasy and disconcerted.)  I\u2019m glad of your safe arrival,\nsir.  I\u2019m told you had some accidents by the way.\nMARLOW.  Only a few, madam.  Yes, we had some.  Yes, madam, a good many\naccidents, but should be sorry--madam--or rather glad of any\naccidents--that are so agreeably concluded.  Hem!\nHASTINGS.  (To him.)  You never spoke better in your whole life.  Keep\nit up, and I\u2019ll insure you the victory.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  I\u2019m afraid you flatter, sir.  You that have seen so\nmuch of the finest company, can find little entertainment in an obscure\ncorner of the country.\nMARLOW.  (Gathering courage.)  I have lived, indeed, in the world,\nmadam; but I have kept very little company.  I have been but an\nobserver upon life, madam, while others were enjoying it.\nMISS NEVILLE.  But that, I am told, is the way to enjoy it at last.\nHASTINGS.  (To him.)  Cicero never spoke better.  Once more, and you\nare confirmed in assurance for ever.\nMARLOW.  (To him.)  Hem!  Stand by me, then, and when I\u2019m down, throw\nin a word or two, to set me up again.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  An observer, like you, upon life were, I fear,\ndisagreeably employed, since you must have had much more to censure\nthan to approve.\nMARLOW.  Pardon me, madam.  I was always willing to be amused.  The\nfolly of most people is rather an object of mirth than uneasiness.\nHASTINGS.  (To him.)  Bravo, bravo.  Never spoke so well in your whole\nlife.  Well, Miss Hardcastle, I see that you and Mr. Marlow are going\nto be very good company.  I believe our being here will but embarrass\nthe interview.\nMARLOW.  Not in the least, Mr. Hastings.  We like your company of all\nthings.  (To him.)  Zounds!  George, sure you won\u2019t go? how can you\nleave us?\nHASTINGS.  Our presence will but spoil conversation, so we\u2019ll retire to\nthe next room.  (To him.)  You don\u2019t consider, man, that we are to\nmanage a little tete-a-tete of our own.  [Exeunt.]\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  (after a pause).  But you have not been wholly an\nobserver, I presume, sir: the ladies, I should hope, have employed some\npart of your addresses.\nMARLOW.  (Relapsing into timidity.)  Pardon me, madam, I--I--I--as yet\nhave studied--only--to--deserve them.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  And that, some say, is the very worst way to obtain\nthem.\nMARLOW.  Perhaps so, madam.  But I love to converse only with the more\ngrave and sensible part of the sex.  But I\u2019m afraid I grow tiresome.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Not at all, sir; there is nothing I like so much as\ngrave conversation myself; I could hear it for ever.  Indeed, I have\noften been surprised how a man of sentiment could ever admire those\nlight airy pleasures, where nothing reaches the heart.\nMARLOW.  It\u2019s----a disease----of the mind, madam.  In the variety of\ntastes there must be some who, wanting a relish----for----um--a--um.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  I understand you, sir.  There must be some, who,\nwanting a relish for refined pleasures, pretend to despise what they\nare incapable of tasting.\nMARLOW.  My meaning, madam, but infinitely better expressed.  And I\ncan\u2019t help observing----a----\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  (Aside.)  Who could ever suppose this fellow\nimpudent upon some occasions?  (To him.)  You were going to observe,\nsir----\nMARLOW.  I was observing, madam--I protest, madam, I forget what I was\ngoing to observe.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  (Aside.)  I vow and so do I.  (To him.)  You were\nobserving, sir, that in this age of hypocrisy--something about\nhypocrisy, sir.\nMARLOW.  Yes, madam.  In this age of hypocrisy there are few who upon\nstrict inquiry do not--a--a--a--\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  I understand you perfectly, sir.\nMARLOW.  (Aside.)  Egad! and that\u2019s more than I do myself.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  You mean that in this hypocritical age there are few\nthat do not condemn in public what they practise in private, and think\nthey pay every debt to virtue when they praise it.\nMARLOW.  True, madam; those who have most virtue in their mouths, have\nleast of it in their bosoms.  But I\u2019m sure I tire you, madam.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Not in the least, sir; there\u2019s something so\nagreeable and spirited in your manner, such life and force--pray, sir,\ngo on.\nMARLOW.  Yes, madam.  I was saying----that there are some occasions,\nwhen a total want of courage, madam, destroys all the----and puts\nus----upon a--a--a--\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  I agree with you entirely; a want of courage upon\nsome occasions assumes the appearance of ignorance, and betrays us when\nwe most want to excel.  I beg you\u2019ll proceed.\nMARLOW.  Yes, madam.  Morally speaking, madam--But I see Miss Neville\nexpecting us in the next room.  I would not intrude for the world.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  I protest, sir, I never was more agreeably\nentertained in all my life.  Pray go on.\nMARLOW.  Yes, madam, I was----But she beckons us to join her.  Madam,\nshall I do myself the honour to attend you?\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Well, then, I\u2019ll follow.\nMARLOW.  (Aside.)  This pretty smooth dialogue has done for me.\n[Exit.]\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  (Alone.)  Ha! ha! ha!  Was there ever such a sober,\nsentimental interview?  I\u2019m certain he scarce looked in my face the\nwhole time.  Yet the fellow, but for his unaccountable bashfulness, is\npretty well too.  He has good sense, but then so buried in his fears,\nthat it fatigues one more than ignorance.  If I could teach him a\nlittle confidence, it would be doing somebody that I know of a piece of\nservice.  But who is that somebody?--That, faith, is a question I can\nscarce answer.  [Exit.]\nEnter TONY and MISS NEVILLE, followed by MRS. HARDCASTLE and HASTINGS.\nTONY.  What do you follow me for, cousin Con?  I wonder you\u2019re not\nashamed to be so very engaging.\nMISS NEVILLE.  I hope, cousin, one may speak to one\u2019s own relations,\nand not be to blame.\nTONY.  Ay, but I know what sort of a relation you want to make me,\nthough; but it won\u2019t do.  I tell you, cousin Con, it won\u2019t do; so I beg\nyou\u2019ll keep your distance, I want no nearer relationship.  [She\nfollows, coquetting him to the back scene.]\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Well!  I vow, Mr. Hastings, you are very\nentertaining.  There\u2019s nothing in the world I love to talk of so much\nas London, and the fashions, though I was never there myself.\nHASTINGS.  Never there!  You amaze me!  From your air and manner, I\nconcluded you had been bred all your life either at Ranelagh, St.\nJames\u2019s, or Tower Wharf.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  O! sir, you\u2019re only pleased to say so.  We country\npersons can have no manner at all.  I\u2019m in love with the town, and that\nserves to raise me above some of our neighbouring rustics; but who can\nhave a manner, that has never seen the Pantheon, the Grotto Gardens,\nthe Borough, and such places where the nobility chiefly resort?  All I\ncan do is to enjoy London at second-hand.  I take care to know every\ntete-a-tete from the Scandalous Magazine, and have all the fashions, as\nthey come out, in a letter from the two Miss Rickets of Crooked Lane.\nPray how do you like this head, Mr. Hastings?\nHASTINGS.  Extremely elegant and degagee, upon my word, madam.  Your\nfriseur is a Frenchman, I suppose?\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  I protest, I dressed it myself from a print in the\nLadies\u2019 Memorandum-book for the last year.\nHASTINGS.  Indeed!  Such a head in a side-box at the play-house would\ndraw as many gazers as my Lady Mayoress at a City Ball.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  I vow, since inoculation began, there is no such\nthing to be seen as a plain woman; so one must dress a little\nparticular, or one may escape in the crowd.\nHASTINGS.  But that can never be your case, madam, in any dress.\n(Bowing.)\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Yet, what signifies my dressing when I have such a\npiece of antiquity by my side as Mr. Hardcastle: all I can say will\nnever argue down a single button from his clothes.  I have often wanted\nhim to throw off his great flaxen wig, and where he was bald, to\nplaster it over, like my Lord Pately, with powder.\nHASTINGS.  You are right, madam; for, as among the ladies there are\nnone ugly, so among the men there are none old.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  But what do you think his answer was?  Why, with his\nusual Gothic vivacity, he said I only wanted him to throw off his wig,\nto convert it into a tete for my own wearing.\nHASTINGS.  Intolerable!  At your age you may wear what you please, and\nit must become you.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Pray, Mr. Hastings, what do you take to be the most\nfashionable age about town?\nHASTINGS.  Some time ago, forty was all the mode; but I\u2019m told the\nladies intend to bring up fifty for the ensuing winter.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Seriously.  Then I shall be too young for the\nfashion.\nHASTINGS.  No lady begins now to put on jewels till she\u2019s past forty.\nFor instance, Miss there, in a polite circle, would be considered as a\nchild, as a mere maker of samplers.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  And yet Mrs. Niece thinks herself as much a woman,\nand is as fond of jewels, as the oldest of us all.\nHASTINGS.  Your niece, is she?  And that young gentleman, a brother of\nyours, I should presume?\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  My son, sir.  They are contracted to each other.\nObserve their little sports.  They fall in and out ten times a day, as\nif they were man and wife already.  (To them.)  Well, Tony, child, what\nsoft things are you saying to your cousin Constance this evening?\nTONY.  I have been saying no soft things; but that it\u2019s very hard to be\nfollowed about so.  Ecod! I\u2019ve not a place in the house now that\u2019s left\nto myself, but the stable.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Never mind him, Con, my dear.  He\u2019s in another story\nbehind your back.\nMISS NEVILLE.  There\u2019s something generous in my cousin\u2019s manner.  He\nfalls out before faces to be forgiven in private.\nTONY.  That\u2019s a damned confounded--crack.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Ah! he\u2019s a sly one.  Don\u2019t you think they are like\neach other about the mouth, Mr. Hastings?  The Blenkinsop mouth to a T.\nThey\u2019re of a size too.  Back to back, my pretties, that Mr. Hastings\nmay see you.  Come, Tony.\nTONY.  You had as good not make me, I tell you.  (Measuring.)\nMISS NEVILLE.  O lud! he has almost cracked my head.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  O, the monster!  For shame, Tony.  You a man, and\nbehave so!\nTONY.  If I\u2019m a man, let me have my fortin.  Ecod! I\u2019ll not be made a\nfool of no longer.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Is this, ungrateful boy, all that I\u2019m to get for the\npains I have taken in your education?  I that have rocked you in your\ncradle, and fed that pretty mouth with a spoon!  Did not I work that\nwaistcoat to make you genteel?  Did not I prescribe for you every day,\nand weep while the receipt was operating?\nTONY.  Ecod! you had reason to weep, for you have been dosing me ever\nsince I was born.  I have gone through every receipt in the Complete\nHuswife ten times over; and you have thoughts of coursing me through\nQuincy next spring.  But, ecod! I tell you, I\u2019ll not be made a fool of\nno longer.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Wasn\u2019t it all for your good, viper?  Wasn\u2019t it all\nfor your good?\nTONY.  I wish you\u2019d let me and my good alone, then.  Snubbing this way\nwhen I\u2019m in spirits.  If I\u2019m to have any good, let it come of itself;\nnot to keep dinging it, dinging it into one so.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  That\u2019s false; I never see you when you\u2019re in\nspirits.  No, Tony, you then go to the alehouse or kennel.  I\u2019m never\nto be delighted with your agreeable wild notes, unfeeling monster!\nTONY.  Ecod! mamma, your own notes are the wildest of the two.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Was ever the like?  But I see he wants to break my\nheart, I see he does.\nHASTINGS.  Dear madam, permit me to lecture the young gentleman a\nlittle.  I\u2019m certain I can persuade him to his duty.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Well, I must retire.  Come, Constance, my love.  You\nsee, Mr. Hastings, the wretchedness of my situation: was ever poor\nwoman so plagued with a dear sweet, pretty, provoking, undutiful boy?\n[Exeunt MRS. HARDCASTLE and MISS NEVILLE.]\nTONY.  (Singing.)  \u201cThere was a young man riding by, and fain would\nhave his will.  Rang do didlo dee.\u201d----Don\u2019t mind her.  Let her cry.\nIt\u2019s the comfort of her heart.  I have seen her and sister cry over a\nbook for an hour together; and they said they liked the book the better\nthe more it made them cry.\nHASTINGS.  Then you\u2019re no friend to the ladies, I find, my pretty\nyoung gentleman?\nTONY.  That\u2019s as I find \u2019um.\nHASTINGS.  Not to her of your mother\u2019s choosing, I dare answer?  And\nyet she appears to me a pretty well-tempered girl.\nTONY.  That\u2019s because you don\u2019t know her as well as I.  Ecod! I know\nevery inch about her; and there\u2019s not a more bitter cantankerous toad\nin all Christendom.\nHASTINGS.  (Aside.)  Pretty encouragement this for a lover!\nTONY.  I have seen her since the height of that.  She has as many\ntricks as a hare in a thicket, or a colt the first day\u2019s breaking.\nHASTINGS.  To me she appears sensible and silent.\nTONY.  Ay, before company.  But when she\u2019s with her playmate, she\u2019s as\nloud as a hog in a gate.\nHASTINGS.  But there is a meek modesty about her that charms me.\nTONY.  Yes, but curb her never so little, she kicks up, and you\u2019re\nflung in a ditch.\nHASTINGS.  Well, but you must allow her a little beauty.--Yes, you must\nallow her some beauty.\nTONY.  Bandbox!  She\u2019s all a made-up thing, mun.  Ah! could you but see\nBet Bouncer of these parts, you might then talk of beauty.  Ecod, she\nhas two eyes as black as sloes, and cheeks as broad and red as a pulpit\ncushion.  She\u2019d make two of she.\nHASTINGS.  Well, what say you to a friend that would take this bitter\nbargain off your hands?\nTONY.  Anon.\nHASTINGS.  Would you thank him that would take Miss Neville, and leave\nyou to happiness and your dear Betsy?\nTONY.  Ay; but where is there such a friend, for who would take her?\nHASTINGS.  I am he.  If you but assist me, I\u2019ll engage to whip her off\nto France, and you shall never hear more of her.\nTONY.  Assist you!  Ecod I will, to the last drop of my blood.  I\u2019ll\nclap a pair of horses to your chaise that shall trundle you off in a\ntwinkling, and may he get you a part of her fortin beside, in jewels,\nthat you little dream of.\nHASTINGS.  My dear \u2019squire, this looks like a lad of spirit.\nTONY.  Come along, then, and you shall see more of my spirit before you\nhave done with me.\n(Singing.)\n\u201cWe are the boys\nThat fears no noise\nWhere the thundering cannons roar.\u201d  [Exeunt.]\nACT THE THIRD.\nEnter HARDCASTLE, alone.\nHARDCASTLE.  What could my old friend Sir Charles mean by recommending\nhis son as the modestest young man in town?  To me he appears the most\nimpudent piece of brass that ever spoke with a tongue.  He has taken\npossession of the easy chair by the fire-side already.  He took off his\nboots in the parlour, and desired me to see them taken care of.  I\u2019m\ndesirous to know how his impudence affects my daughter.  She will\ncertainly be shocked at it.\nEnter MISS HARDCASTLE, plainly dressed.\nHARDCASTLE.  Well, my Kate, I see you have changed your dress, as I\nbade you; and yet, I believe, there was no great occasion.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  I find such a pleasure, sir, in obeying your\ncommands, that I take care to observe them without ever debating their\npropriety.\nHARDCASTLE.  And yet, Kate, I sometimes give you some cause,\nparticularly when I recommended my modest gentleman to you as a lover\nto-day.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  You taught me to expect something extraordinary, and\nI find the original exceeds the description.\nHARDCASTLE.  I was never so surprised in my life!  He has quite\nconfounded all my faculties!\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  I never saw anything like it: and a man of the world\ntoo!\nHARDCASTLE.  Ay, he learned it all abroad--what a fool was I, to think\na young man could learn modesty by travelling.  He might as soon learn\nwit at a masquerade.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  It seems all natural to him.\nHARDCASTLE.  A good deal assisted by bad company and a French\ndancing-master.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Sure you mistake, papa!  A French dancing-master\ncould never have taught him that timid look--that awkward address--that\nbashful manner--\nHARDCASTLE.  Whose look?  whose manner, child?\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Mr. Marlow\u2019s: his mauvaise honte, his timidity,\nstruck me at the first sight.\nHARDCASTLE.  Then your first sight deceived you; for I think him one of\nthe most brazen first sights that ever astonished my senses.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Sure, sir, you rally!  I never saw any one so\nmodest.\nHARDCASTLE.  And can you be serious?  I never saw such a bouncing,\nswaggering puppy since I was born.  Bully Dawson was but a fool to him.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Surprising!  He met me with a respectful bow, a\nstammering voice, and a look fixed on the ground.\nHARDCASTLE.  He met me with a loud voice, a lordly air, and a\nfamiliarity that made my blood freeze again.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  He treated me with diffidence and respect; censured\nthe manners of the age; admired the prudence of girls that never\nlaughed; tired me with apologies for being tiresome; then left the room\nwith a bow, and \u201cMadam, I would not for the world detain you.\u201d\nHARDCASTLE.  He spoke to me as if he knew me all his life before;\nasked twenty questions, and never waited for an answer; interrupted my\nbest remarks with some silly pun; and when I was in my best story of\nthe Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, he asked if I had not a good\nhand at making punch.  Yes, Kate, he asked your father if he was a\nmaker of punch!\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  One of us must certainly be mistaken.\nHARDCASTLE.  If he be what he has shown himself, I\u2019m determined he\nshall never have my consent.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  And if he be the sullen thing I take him, he shall\nnever have mine.\nHARDCASTLE.  In one thing then we are agreed--to reject him.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Yes: but upon conditions.  For if you should find him\nless impudent, and I more presuming--if you find him more respectful,\nand I more importunate--I don\u2019t know--the fellow is well enough for a\nman--Certainly, we don\u2019t meet many such at a horse-race in the country.\nHARDCASTLE.  If we should find him so----But that\u2019s impossible.  The\nfirst appearance has done my business.  I\u2019m seldom deceived in that.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  And yet there may be many good qualities under that\nfirst appearance.\nHARDCASTLE.  Ay, when a girl finds a fellow\u2019s outside to her taste, she\nthen sets about guessing the rest of his furniture.  With her, a smooth\nface stands for good sense, and a genteel figure for every virtue.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  I hope, sir, a conversation begun with a compliment\nto my good sense, won\u2019t end with a sneer at my understanding?\nHARDCASTLE.  Pardon me, Kate.  But if young Mr. Brazen can find the art\nof reconciling contradictions, he may please us both, perhaps.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  And as one of us must be mistaken, what if we go to\nmake further discoveries?\nHARDCASTLE.  Agreed.  But depend on\u2019t I\u2019m in the right.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  And depend on\u2019t I\u2019m not much in the wrong.\n[Exeunt.]\nEnter Tony, running in with a casket.\nTONY.  Ecod! I have got them.  Here they are.  My cousin Con\u2019s\nnecklaces, bobs and all.  My mother shan\u2019t cheat the poor souls out of\ntheir fortin neither.  O! my genus, is that you?\nEnter HASTINGS.\nHASTINGS.  My dear friend, how have you managed with your mother?  I\nhope you have amused her with pretending love for your cousin, and that\nyou are willing to be reconciled at last?  Our horses will be refreshed\nin a short time, and we shall soon be ready to set off.\nTONY.  And here\u2019s something to bear your charges by the way (giving the\ncasket); your sweetheart\u2019s jewels.  Keep them: and hang those, I say,\nthat would rob you of one of them.\nHASTINGS.  But how have you procured them from your mother?\nTONY.  Ask me no questions, and I\u2019ll tell you no fibs.  I procured them\nby the rule of thumb.  If I had not a key to every drawer in mother\u2019s\nbureau, how could I go to the alehouse so often as I do?  An honest man\nmay rob himself of his own at any time.\nHASTINGS.  Thousands do it every day.  But to be plain with you; Miss\nNeville is endeavouring to procure them from her aunt this very\ninstant.  If she succeeds, it will be the most delicate way at least of\nobtaining them.\nTONY.  Well, keep them, till you know how it will be.  But I know how\nit will be well enough; she\u2019d as soon part with the only sound tooth in\nher head.\nHASTINGS.  But I dread the effects of her resentment, when she finds\nshe has lost them.\nTONY.  Never you mind her resentment, leave ME to manage that.  I\ndon\u2019t value her resentment the bounce of a cracker.  Zounds! here they\nare.  Morrice! Prance!  [Exit HASTINGS.]\nEnter MRS. HARDCASTLE and MISS NEVILLE.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Indeed, Constance, you amaze me.  Such a girl as you\nwant jewels!  It will be time enough for jewels, my dear, twenty years\nhence, when your beauty begins to want repairs.\nMISS NEVILLE.  But what will repair beauty at forty, will certainly\nimprove it at twenty, madam.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Yours, my dear, can admit of none.  That natural\nblush is beyond a thousand ornaments.  Besides, child, jewels are quite\nout at present.  Don\u2019t you see half the ladies of our acquaintance, my\nLady Kill-daylight, and Mrs. Crump, and the rest of them, carry their\njewels to town, and bring nothing but paste and marcasites back.\nMISS NEVILLE.  But who knows, madam, but somebody that shall be\nnameless would like me best with all my little finery about me?\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Consult your glass, my dear, and then see if, with\nsuch a pair of eyes, you want any better sparklers.  What do you think,\nTony, my dear? does your cousin Con. want any jewels in your eyes to\nset off her beauty?\nTONY.  That\u2019s as thereafter may be.\nMISS NEVILLE.  My dear aunt, if you knew how it would oblige me.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  A parcel of old-fashioned rose and table-cut things.\nThey would make you look like the court of King Solomon at a\npuppet-show.  Besides, I believe, I can\u2019t readily come at them.  They\nmay be missing, for aught I know to the contrary.\nTONY.  (Apart to MRS. HARDCASTLE.)  Then why don\u2019t you tell her so at\nonce, as she\u2019s so longing for them?  Tell her they\u2019re lost.  It\u2019s the\nonly way to quiet her.  Say they\u2019re lost, and call me to bear witness.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  (Apart to TONY.)  You know, my dear, I\u2019m only\nkeeping them for you.  So if I say they\u2019re gone, you\u2019ll bear me\nwitness, will you?  He! he! he!\nTONY.  Never fear me.  Ecod! I\u2019ll say I saw them taken out with my own\neyes.\nMISS NEVILLE.  I desire them but for a day, madam.  Just to be\npermitted to show them as relics, and then they may be locked up\nagain.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  To be plain with you, my dear Constance, if I could\nfind them you should have them.  They\u2019re missing, I assure you.  Lost,\nfor aught I know; but we must have patience wherever they are.\nMISS NEVILLE.  I\u2019ll not believe it! this is but a shallow pretence to\ndeny me.  I know they are too valuable to be so slightly kept, and as\nyou are to answer for the loss--\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Don\u2019t be alarmed, Constance.  If they be lost, I must\nrestore an equivalent.  But my son knows they are missing, and not to\nbe found.\nTONY.  That I can bear witness to.  They are missing, and not to be\nfound; I\u2019ll take my oath on\u2019t.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  You must learn resignation, my dear; for though we\nlose our fortune, yet we should not lose our patience.  See me, how\ncalm I am.\nMISS NEVILLE.  Ay, people are generally calm at the misfortunes of\nothers.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Now I wonder a girl of your good sense should waste a\nthought upon such trumpery.  We shall soon find them; and in the mean\ntime you shall make use of my garnets till your jewels be found.\nMISS NEVILLE.  I detest garnets.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  The most becoming things in the world to set off a\nclear complexion.  You have often seen how well they look upon me.  You\nSHALL have them.  [Exit.]\nMISS NEVILLE.  I dislike them of all things.  You shan\u2019t stir.--Was\never anything so provoking, to mislay my own jewels, and force me to\nwear her trumpery?\nTONY.  Don\u2019t be a fool.  If she gives you the garnets, take what you\ncan get.  The jewels are your own already.  I have stolen them out of\nher bureau, and she does not know it.  Fly to your spark, he\u2019ll tell\nyou more of the matter.  Leave me to manage her.\nMISS NEVILLE.  My dear cousin!\nTONY.  Vanish.  She\u2019s here, and has missed them already.  [Exit MISS\nNEVILLE.] Zounds! how she fidgets and spits about like a Catherine\nwheel.\nEnter MRS. HARDCASTLE.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Confusion! thieves! robbers! we are cheated,\nplundered, broke open, undone.\nTONY.  What\u2019s the matter, what\u2019s the matter, mamma?  I hope nothing has\nhappened to any of the good family!\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  We are robbed.  My bureau has been broken open, the\njewels taken out, and I\u2019m undone.\nTONY.  Oh! is that all?  Ha! ha! ha!  By the laws, I never saw it\nacted better in my life.  Ecod, I thought you was ruined in earnest,\nha! ha! ha!\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Why, boy, I AM ruined in earnest.  My bureau has been\nbroken open, and all taken away.\nTONY.  Stick to that: ha! ha! ha! stick to that.  I\u2019ll bear witness,\nyou know; call me to bear witness.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  I tell you, Tony, by all that\u2019s precious, the jewels\nare gone, and I shall be ruined for ever.\nTONY.  Sure I know they\u2019re gone, and I\u2019m to say so.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  My dearest Tony, but hear me.  They\u2019re gone, I say.\nTONY.  By the laws, mamma, you make me for to laugh, ha! ha!  I know\nwho took them well enough, ha! ha! ha!\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Was there ever such a blockhead, that can\u2019t tell the\ndifference between jest and earnest?  I tell you I\u2019m not in jest,\nbooby.\nTONY.  That\u2019s right, that\u2019s right; you must be in a bitter passion, and\nthen nobody will suspect either of us.  I\u2019ll bear witness that they are\ngone.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Was there ever such a cross-grained brute, that\nwon\u2019t hear me?  Can you bear witness that you\u2019re no better than a\nfool?  Was ever poor woman so beset with fools on one hand, and\nthieves on the other?\nTONY.  I can bear witness to that.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Bear witness again, you blockhead you, and I\u2019ll turn\nyou out of the room directly.  My poor niece, what will become of her?\nDo you laugh, you unfeeling brute, as if you enjoyed my distress?\nTONY.  I can bear witness to that.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Do you insult me, monster?  I\u2019ll teach you to vex\nyour mother, I will.\nTONY.  I can bear witness to that.  [He runs off, she follows him.]\nEnter Miss HARDCASTLE and Maid.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  What an unaccountable creature is that brother of\nmine, to send them to the house as an inn! ha! ha!  I don\u2019t wonder at\nhis impudence.\nMAID.  But what is more, madam, the young gentleman, as you passed by\nin your present dress, asked me if you were the bar-maid.  He mistook\nyou for the bar-maid, madam.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Did he?  Then as I live, I\u2019m resolved to keep up the\ndelusion.  Tell me, Pimple, how do you like my present dress?  Don\u2019t\nyou think I look something like Cherry in the Beaux Stratagem?\nMAID.  It\u2019s the dress, madam, that every lady wears in the country, but\nwhen she visits or receives company.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  And are you sure he does not remember my face or\nperson?\nMAID.  Certain of it.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  I vow, I thought so; for, though we spoke for some\ntime together, yet his fears were such, that he never once looked up\nduring the interview.  Indeed, if he had, my bonnet would have kept him\nfrom seeing me.\nMAID.  But what do you hope from keeping him in his mistake?\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  In the first place I shall be seen, and that is no\nsmall advantage to a girl who brings her face to market.  Then I shall\nperhaps make an acquaintance, and that\u2019s no small victory gained over\none who never addresses any but the wildest of her sex.  But my chief\naim is, to take my gentleman off his guard, and, like an invisible\nchampion of romance, examine the giant\u2019s force before I offer to\ncombat.\nMAID.  But you are sure you can act your part, and disguise your voice\nso that he may mistake that, as he has already mistaken your person?\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Never fear me.  I think I have got the true bar\ncant--Did your honour call?--Attend the Lion there--Pipes and tobacco\nfor the Angel.--The Lamb has been outrageous this half-hour.\nMAID.  It will do, madam.  But he\u2019s here.  [Exit MAID.]\nEnter MARLOW.\nMARLOW.  What a bawling in every part of the house!  I have scarce a\nmoment\u2019s repose.  If I go to the best room, there I find my host and\nhis story: if I fly to the gallery, there we have my hostess with her\ncurtsey down to the ground.  I have at last got a moment to myself, and\nnow for recollection.  [Walks and muses.]\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Did you call, sir?  Did your honour call?\nMARLOW.  (Musing.)  As for Miss Hardcastle, she\u2019s too grave and\nsentimental for me.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Did your honour call?  (She still places herself\nbefore him, he turning away.)\nMARLOW.  No, child.  (Musing.)  Besides, from the glimpse I had of her,\nI think she squints.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  I\u2019m sure, sir, I heard the bell ring.\nMARLOW.  No, no.  (Musing.)  I have pleased my father, however, by\ncoming down, and I\u2019ll to-morrow please myself by returning.  [Taking\nout his tablets, and perusing.]\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Perhaps the other gentleman called, sir?\nMARLOW.  I tell you, no.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  I should be glad to know, sir.  We have such a\nparcel of servants!\nMARLOW.  No, no, I tell you.  (Looks full in her face.)  Yes, child, I\nthink I did call.  I wanted--I wanted--I vow, child, you are vastly\nhandsome.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  O la, sir, you\u2019ll make one ashamed.\nMARLOW.  Never saw a more sprightly malicious eye.  Yes, yes, my dear,\nI did call.  Have you got any of your--a--what d\u2019ye call it in the\nhouse?\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  No, sir, we have been out of that these ten days.\nMARLOW.  One may call in this house, I find, to very little purpose.\nSuppose I should call for a taste, just by way of a trial, of the\nnectar of your lips; perhaps I might be disappointed in that too.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Nectar! nectar!  That\u2019s a liquor there\u2019s no call for\nin these parts.  French, I suppose.  We sell no French wines here, sir.\nMARLOW.  Of true English growth, I assure you.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Then it\u2019s odd I should not know it.  We brew all\nsorts of wines in this house, and I have lived here these eighteen\nyears.\nMARLOW.  Eighteen years!  Why, one would think, child, you kept the bar\nbefore you were born.  How old are you?\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  O! sir, I must not tell my age.  They say women and\nmusic should never be dated.\nMARLOW.  To guess at this distance, you can\u2019t be much above forty\n(approaching).  Yet, nearer, I don\u2019t think so much (approaching).  By\ncoming close to some women they look younger still; but when we come\nvery close indeed--(attempting to kiss her).\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Pray, sir, keep your distance.  One would think you\nwanted to know one\u2019s age, as they do horses, by mark of mouth.\nMARLOW.  I protest, child, you use me extremely ill.  If you keep me at\nthis distance, how is it possible you and I can ever be acquainted?\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  And who wants to be acquainted with you?  I want no\nsuch acquaintance, not I.  I\u2019m sure you did not treat Miss Hardcastle,\nthat was here awhile ago, in this obstropalous manner.  I\u2019ll warrant\nme, before her you looked dashed, and kept bowing to the ground, and\ntalked, for all the world, as if you was before a justice of peace.\nMARLOW.  (Aside.)  Egad, she has hit it, sure enough!  (To her.)  In\nawe of her, child?  Ha! ha! ha!  A mere awkward squinting thing; no,\nno.  I find you don\u2019t know me.  I laughed and rallied her a little; but\nI was unwilling to be too severe.  No, I could not be too severe, curse\nme!\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  O! then, sir, you are a favourite, I find, among the\nladies?\nMARLOW.  Yes, my dear, a great favourite.  And yet hang me, I don\u2019t see\nwhat they find in me to follow.  At the Ladies\u2019 Club in town I\u2019m called\ntheir agreeable Rattle.  Rattle, child, is not my real name, but one\nI\u2019m known by.  My name is Solomons; Mr. Solomons, my dear, at your\nservice.  (Offering to salute her.)\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Hold, sir; you are introducing me to your club, not\nto yourself.  And you\u2019re so great a favourite there, you say?\nMARLOW.  Yes, my dear.  There\u2019s Mrs. Mantrap, Lady Betty Blackleg, the\nCountess of Sligo, Mrs. Langhorns, old Miss Biddy Buckskin, and your\nhumble servant, keep up the spirit of the place.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Then it\u2019s a very merry place, I suppose?\nMARLOW.  Yes, as merry as cards, supper, wine, and old women can make\nus.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  And their agreeable Rattle, ha! ha! ha!\nMARLOW.  (Aside.)  Egad! I don\u2019t quite like this chit.  She looks\nknowing, methinks.  You laugh, child?\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  I can\u2019t but laugh, to think what time they all have\nfor minding their work or their family.\nMARLOW.  (Aside.)  All\u2019s well; she don\u2019t laugh at me.  (To her.)  Do\nyou ever work, child?\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Ay, sure.  There\u2019s not a screen or quilt in the\nwhole house but what can bear witness to that.\nMARLOW.  Odso! then you must show me your embroidery.  I embroider and\ndraw patterns myself a little.  If you want a judge of your work, you\nmust apply to me.  (Seizing her hand.)\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Ay, but the colours do not look well by candlelight.\nYou shall see all in the morning.  (Struggling.)\nMARLOW.  And why not now, my angel?  Such beauty fires beyond the\npower of resistance.--Pshaw! the father here!  My old luck: I never\nnicked seven that I did not throw ames ace three times following.\n[Exit MARLOW.]\nEnter HARDCASTLE, who stands in surprise.\nHARDCASTLE.  So, madam.  So, I find THIS is your MODEST lover.  This is\nyour humble admirer, that kept his eyes fixed on the ground, and only\nadored at humble distance.  Kate, Kate, art thou not ashamed to deceive\nyour father so?\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Never trust me, dear papa, but he\u2019s still the modest\nman I first took him for; you\u2019ll be convinced of it as well as I.\nHARDCASTLE.  By the hand of my body, I believe his impudence is\ninfectious!  Didn\u2019t I see him seize your hand?  Didn\u2019t I see him haul\nyou about like a milkmaid?  And now you talk of his respect and his\nmodesty, forsooth!\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  But if I shortly convince you of his modesty, that he\nhas only the faults that will pass off with time, and the virtues that\nwill improve with age, I hope you\u2019ll forgive him.\nHARDCASTLE.  The girl would actually make one run mad!  I tell you,\nI\u2019ll not be convinced.  I am convinced.  He has scarce been three hours\nin the house, and he has already encroached on all my prerogatives.\nYou may like his impudence, and call it modesty; but my son-in-law,\nmadam, must have very different qualifications.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Sir, I ask but this night to convince you.\nHARDCASTLE.  You shall not have half the time, for I have thoughts of\nturning him out this very hour.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Give me that hour then, and I hope to satisfy you.\nHARDCASTLE.  Well, an hour let it be then.  But I\u2019ll have no trifling\nwith your father.  All fair and open, do you mind me.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  I hope, sir, you have ever found that I considered\nyour commands as my pride; for your kindness is such, that my duty as\nyet has been inclination.  [Exeunt.]\nACT THE FOURTH.\nEnter HASTINGS and MISS NEVILLE.\nHASTINGS.  You surprise me; Sir Charles Marlow expected here this\nnight!  Where have you had your information?\nMISS NEVILLE.  You may depend upon it.  I just saw his letter to Mr.\nHardcastle, in which he tells him he intends setting out a few hours\nafter his son.\nHASTINGS.  Then, my Constance, all must be completed before he\narrives.  He knows me; and should he find me here, would discover my\nname, and perhaps my designs, to the rest of the family.\nMISS NEVILLE.  The jewels, I hope, are safe?\nHASTINGS.  Yes, yes, I have sent them to Marlow, who keeps the keys of\nour baggage.  In the mean time, I\u2019ll go to prepare matters for our\nelopement.  I have had the \u2019squire\u2019s promise of a fresh pair of horses;\nand if I should not see him again, will write him further directions.\n[Exit.]\nMISS NEVILLE.  Well! success attend you.  In the mean time I\u2019ll go and\namuse my aunt with the old pretence of a violent passion for my cousin.\n[Exit.]\nEnter MARLOW, followed by a Servant.\nMARLOW.  I wonder what Hastings could mean by sending me so valuable a\nthing as a casket to keep for him, when he knows the only place I have\nis the seat of a post-coach at an inn-door.  Have you deposited the\ncasket with the landlady, as I ordered you?  Have you put it into her\nown hands?\nSERVANT.  Yes, your honour.\nMARLOW.  She said she\u2019d keep it safe, did she?\nSERVANT.  Yes, she said she\u2019d keep it safe enough; she asked me how I\ncame by it; and she said she had a great mind to make me give an\naccount of myself.  [Exit Servant.]\nMARLOW.  Ha! ha! ha!  They\u2019re safe, however.  What an unaccountable set\nof beings have we got amongst!  This little bar-maid though runs in my\nhead most strangely, and drives out the absurdities of all the rest of\nthe family.  She\u2019s mine, she must be mine, or I\u2019m greatly mistaken.\nEnter HASTINGS.\nHASTINGS.  Bless me!  I quite forgot to tell her that I intended to\nprepare at the bottom of the garden.  Marlow here, and in spirits too!\nMARLOW.  Give me joy, George!  Crown me, shadow me with laurels!\nWell, George, after all, we modest fellows don\u2019t want for success\namong the women.\nHASTINGS.  Some women, you mean.  But what success has your honour\u2019s\nmodesty been crowned with now, that it grows so insolent upon us?\nMARLOW.  Didn\u2019t you see the tempting, brisk, lovely little thing, that\nruns about the house with a bunch of keys to its girdle?\nHASTINGS.  Well, and what then?\nMARLOW.  She\u2019s mine, you rogue you.  Such fire, such motion, such\neyes, such lips; but, egad! she would not let me kiss them though.\nHASTINGS.  But are you so sure, so very sure of her?\nMARLOW.  Why, man, she talked of showing me her work above stairs, and\nI am to improve the pattern.\nHASTINGS.  But how can you, Charles, go about to rob a woman of her\nhonour?\nMARLOW.  Pshaw! pshaw!  We all know the honour of the bar-maid of an\ninn.  I don\u2019t intend to rob her, take my word for it; there\u2019s nothing\nin this house I shan\u2019t honestly pay for.\nHASTINGS.  I believe the girl has virtue.\nMARLOW.  And if she has, I should be the last man in the world that\nwould attempt to corrupt it.\nHASTINGS.  You have taken care, I hope, of the casket I sent you to\nlock up?  Is it in safety?\nMARLOW.  Yes, yes.  It\u2019s safe enough.  I have taken care of it.  But\nhow could you think the seat of a post-coach at an inn-door a place of\nsafety?  Ah! numskull!  I have taken better precautions for you than\nyou did for yourself----I have----\nHASTINGS.  What?\nMARLOW.  I have sent it to the landlady to keep for you.\nHASTINGS.  To the landlady!\nMARLOW.  The landlady.\nHASTINGS.  You did?\nMARLOW.  I did.  She\u2019s to be answerable for its forthcoming, you know.\nHASTINGS.  Yes, she\u2019ll bring it forth with a witness.\nMARLOW.  Wasn\u2019t I right?  I believe you\u2019ll allow that I acted\nprudently upon this occasion.\nHASTINGS.  (Aside.)  He must not see my uneasiness.\nMARLOW.  You seem a little disconcerted though, methinks.  Sure\nnothing has happened?\nHASTINGS.  No, nothing.  Never was in better spirits in all my life.\nAnd so you left it with the landlady, who, no doubt, very readily\nundertook the charge.\nMARLOW.  Rather too readily.  For she not only kept the casket, but,\nthrough her great precaution, was going to keep the messenger too.  Ha!\nha! ha!\nHASTINGS.  He! he! he!  They\u2019re safe, however.\nMARLOW.  As a guinea in a miser\u2019s purse.\nHASTINGS.  (Aside.)  So now all hopes of fortune are at an end, and we\nmust set off without it.  (To him.)  Well, Charles, I\u2019ll leave you to\nyour meditations on the pretty bar-maid, and, he! he! he! may you be as\nsuccessful for yourself, as you have been for me!  [Exit.]\nMARLOW.  Thank ye, George: I ask no more.  Ha! ha! ha!\nEnter HARDCASTLE.\nHARDCASTLE.  I no longer know my own house.  It\u2019s turned all\ntopsy-turvy.  His servants have got drunk already.  I\u2019ll bear it no\nlonger; and yet, from my respect for his father, I\u2019ll be calm.  (To\nhim.)  Mr. Marlow, your servant.  I\u2019m your very humble servant.\n(Bowing low.)\nMARLOW.  Sir, your humble servant.  (Aside.)  What\u2019s to be the wonder\nnow?\nHARDCASTLE.  I believe, sir, you must be sensible, sir, that no man\nalive ought to be more welcome than your father\u2019s son, sir.  I hope you\nthink so?\nMARLOW.  I do from my soul, sir.  I don\u2019t want much entreaty.  I\ngenerally make my father\u2019s son welcome wherever he goes.\nHARDCASTLE.  I believe you do, from my soul, sir.  But though I say\nnothing to your own conduct, that of your servants is insufferable.\nTheir manner of drinking is setting a very bad example in this house,\nI assure you.\nMARLOW.  I protest, my very good sir, that is no fault of mine.  If\nthey don\u2019t drink as they ought, they are to blame.  I ordered them not\nto spare the cellar.  I did, I assure you.  (To the side scene.)  Here,\nlet one of my servants come up.  (To him.)  My positive directions\nwere, that as I did not drink myself, they should make up for my\ndeficiencies below.\nHARDCASTLE.  Then they had your orders for what they do?  I\u2019m\nsatisfied!\nMARLOW.  They had, I assure you.  You shall hear from one of\nthemselves.\nEnter Servant, drunk.\nMARLOW.  You, Jeremy!  Come forward, sirrah!  What were my orders?\nWere you not told to drink freely, and call for what you thought fit,\nfor the good of the house?\nHARDCASTLE.  (Aside.)  I begin to lose my patience.\nJEREMY.  Please your honour, liberty and Fleet-street for ever!\nThough I\u2019m but a servant, I\u2019m as good as another man.  I\u2019ll drink for\nno man before supper, sir, damme!  Good liquor will sit upon a good\nsupper, but a good supper will not sit upon----hiccup----on my\nconscience, sir.\nMARLOW.  You see, my old friend, the fellow is as drunk as he can\npossibly be.  I don\u2019t know what you\u2019d have more, unless you\u2019d have the\npoor devil soused in a beer-barrel.\nHARDCASTLE.  Zounds! he\u2019ll drive me distracted, if I contain myself any\nlonger.  Mr. Marlow--Sir; I have submitted to your insolence for more\nthan four hours, and I see no likelihood of its coming to an end.  I\u2019m\nnow resolved to be master here, sir; and I desire that you and your\ndrunken pack may leave my house directly.\nMARLOW.  Leave your house!----Sure you jest, my good friend!  What?\nwhen I\u2019m doing what I can to please you.\nHARDCASTLE.  I tell you, sir, you don\u2019t please me; so I desire you\u2019ll\nleave my house.\nMARLOW.  Sure you cannot be serious?  At this time o\u2019 night, and such a\nnight?  You only mean to banter me.\nHARDCASTLE.  I tell you, sir, I\u2019m serious! and now that my passions are\nroused, I say this house is mine, sir; this house is mine, and I\ncommand you to leave it directly.\nMARLOW.  Ha! ha! ha!  A puddle in a storm.  I shan\u2019t stir a step, I\nassure you.  (In a serious tone.)  This your house, fellow!  It\u2019s my\nhouse.  This is my house.  Mine, while I choose to stay.  What right\nhave you to bid me leave this house, sir?  I never met with such\nimpudence, curse me; never in my whole life before.\nHARDCASTLE.  Nor I, confound me if ever I did.  To come to my house, to\ncall for what he likes, to turn me out of my own chair, to insult the\nfamily, to order his servants to get drunk, and then to tell me, \u201cThis\nhouse is mine, sir.\u201d  By all that\u2019s impudent, it makes me laugh.  Ha!\nha! ha!  Pray, sir (bantering), as you take the house, what think you\nof taking the rest of the furniture?  There\u2019s a pair of silver\ncandlesticks, and there\u2019s a fire-screen, and here\u2019s a pair of\nbrazen-nosed bellows; perhaps you may take a fancy to them?\nMARLOW.  Bring me your bill, sir; bring me your bill, and let\u2019s make no\nmore words about it.\nHARDCASTLE.  There are a set of prints, too.  What think you of the\nRake\u2019s Progress, for your own apartment?\nMARLOW.  Bring me your bill, I say; and I\u2019ll leave you and your\ninfernal house directly.\nHARDCASTLE.  Then there\u2019s a mahogany table that you may see your own\nface in.\nMARLOW.  My bill, I say.\nHARDCASTLE.  I had forgot the great chair for your own particular\nslumbers, after a hearty meal.\nMARLOW.  Zounds! bring me my bill, I say, and let\u2019s hear no more on\u2019t.\nHARDCASTLE.  Young man, young man, from your father\u2019s letter to me, I\nwas taught to expect a well-bred modest man as a visitor here, but now\nI find him no better than a coxcomb and a bully; but he will be down\nhere presently, and shall hear more of it.  [Exit.]\nMARLOW.  How\u2019s this?  Sure I have not mistaken the house.  Everything\nlooks like an inn.  The servants cry, coming; the attendance is\nawkward; the bar-maid, too, to attend us.  But she\u2019s here, and will\nfurther inform me.  Whither so fast, child?  A word with you.\nEnter MISS HARDCASTLE.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Let it be short, then.  I\u2019m in a hurry.  (Aside.)  I\nbelieve he begins to find out his mistake.  But it\u2019s too soon quite to\nundeceive him.\nMARLOW.  Pray, child, answer me one question.  What are you, and what\nmay your business in this house be?\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  A relation of the family, sir.\nMARLOW.  What, a poor relation.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Yes, sir.  A poor relation, appointed to keep the\nkeys, and to see that the guests want nothing in my power to give them.\nMARLOW.  That is, you act as the bar-maid of this inn.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Inn!  O law----what brought that in your head?  One\nof the best families in the country keep an inn--Ha! ha! ha! old Mr.\nHardcastle\u2019s house an inn!\nMARLOW.  Mr. Hardcastle\u2019s house!  Is this Mr. Hardcastle\u2019s house,\nchild?\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Ay, sure!  Whose else should it be?\nMARLOW.  So then, all\u2019s out, and I have been damnably imposed on.  O,\nconfound my stupid head, I shall be laughed at over the whole town.  I\nshall be stuck up in caricatura in all the print-shops.  The DULLISSIMO\nMACCARONI.  To mistake this house of all others for an inn, and my\nfather\u2019s old friend for an innkeeper!  What a swaggering puppy must he\ntake me for!  What a silly puppy do I find myself!  There again, may I\nbe hanged, my dear, but I mistook you for the bar-maid.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Dear me! dear me!  I\u2019m sure there\u2019s nothing in my\nBEHAVIOUR to put me on a level with one of that stamp.\nMARLOW.  Nothing, my dear, nothing.  But I was in for a list of\nblunders, and could not help making you a subscriber.  My stupidity saw\neverything the wrong way.  I mistook your assiduity for assurance, and\nyour simplicity for allurement.  But it\u2019s over.  This house I no more\nshow MY face in.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  I hope, sir, I have done nothing to disoblige you.\nI\u2019m sure I should be sorry to affront any gentleman who has been so\npolite, and said so many civil things to me.  I\u2019m sure I should be\nsorry (pretending to cry) if he left the family upon my account.  I\u2019m\nsure I should be sorry if people said anything amiss, since I have no\nfortune but my character.\nMARLOW.  (Aside.)  By Heaven! she weeps.  This is the first mark of\ntenderness I ever had from a modest woman, and it touches me.  (To\nher.)  Excuse me, my lovely girl; you are the only part of the family I\nleave with reluctance.  But to be plain with you, the difference of our\nbirth, fortune, and education, makes an honourable connexion\nimpossible; and I can never harbour a thought of seducing simplicity\nthat trusted in my honour, of bringing ruin upon one whose only fault\nwas being too lovely.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  (Aside.)  Generous man!  I now begin to admire him.\n(To him.)  But I am sure my family is as good as Miss Hardcastle\u2019s; and\nthough I\u2019m poor, that\u2019s no great misfortune to a contented mind; and,\nuntil this moment, I never thought that it was bad to want fortune.\nMARLOW.  And why now, my pretty simplicity?\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Because it puts me at a distance from one that, if I\nhad a thousand pounds, I would give it all to.\nMARLOW.  (Aside.)  This simplicity bewitches me, so that if I stay, I\u2019m\nundone.  I must make one bold effort, and leave her.  (To her.)  Your\npartiality in my favour, my dear, touches me most sensibly: and were I\nto live for myself alone, I could easily fix my choice.  But I owe too\nmuch to the opinion of the world, too much to the authority of a\nfather; so that--I can scarcely speak it--it affects me.  Farewell.\n[Exit.]\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  I never knew half his merit till now.  He shall not\ngo, if I have power or art to detain him.  I\u2019ll still preserve the\ncharacter in which I STOOPED TO CONQUER; but will undeceive my papa,\nwho perhaps may laugh him out of his resolution.  [Exit.]\nEnter Tony and MISS NEVILLE.\nTONY.  Ay, you may steal for yourselves the next time.  I have done my\nduty.  She has got the jewels again, that\u2019s a sure thing; but she\nbelieves it was all a mistake of the servants.\nMISS NEVILLE.  But, my dear cousin, sure you won\u2019t forsake us in this\ndistress?  If she in the least suspects that I am going off, I shall\ncertainly be locked up, or sent to my aunt Pedigree\u2019s, which is ten\ntimes worse.\nTONY.  To be sure, aunts of all kinds are damned bad things.  But what\ncan I do?  I have got you a pair of horses that will fly like\nWhistle-jacket; and I\u2019m sure you can\u2019t say but I have courted you\nnicely before her face.  Here she comes, we must court a bit or two\nmore, for fear she should suspect us.  [They retire, and seem to\nfondle.]\nEnter MRS. HARDCASTLE.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Well, I was greatly fluttered, to be sure.  But my\nson tells me it was all a mistake of the servants.  I shan\u2019t be easy,\nhowever, till they are fairly married, and then let her keep her own\nfortune.  But what do I see? fondling together, as I\u2019m alive.  I never\nsaw Tony so sprightly before.  Ah! have I caught you, my pretty doves?\nWhat, billing, exchanging stolen glances and broken murmurs?  Ah!\nTONY.  As for murmurs, mother, we grumble a little now and then, to be\nsure.  But there\u2019s no love lost between us.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  A mere sprinkling, Tony, upon the flame, only to make\nit burn brighter.\nMISS NEVILLE.  Cousin Tony promises to give us more of his company at\nhome.  Indeed, he shan\u2019t leave us any more.  It won\u2019t leave us, cousin\nTony, will it?\nTONY.  O! it\u2019s a pretty creature.  No, I\u2019d sooner leave my horse in a\npound, than leave you when you smile upon one so.  Your laugh makes you\nso becoming.\nMISS NEVILLE.  Agreeable cousin!  Who can help admiring that natural\nhumour, that pleasant, broad, red, thoughtless (patting his cheek)--ah!\nit\u2019s a bold face.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Pretty innocence!\nTONY.  I\u2019m sure I always loved cousin Con.\u2019s hazle eyes, and her\npretty long fingers, that she twists this way and that over the\nhaspicholls, like a parcel of bobbins.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Ah! he would charm the bird from the tree.  I was\nnever so happy before.  My boy takes after his father, poor Mr.\nLumpkin, exactly.  The jewels, my dear Con., shall be yours\nincontinently.  You shall have them.  Isn\u2019t he a sweet boy, my dear?\nYou shall be married to-morrow, and we\u2019ll put off the rest of his\neducation, like Dr. Drowsy\u2019s sermons, to a fitter opportunity.\nEnter DIGGORY.\nDIGGORY.  Where\u2019s the \u2019squire?  I have got a letter for your worship.\nTONY.  Give it to my mamma.  She reads all my letters first.\nDIGGORY.  I had orders to deliver it into your own hands.\nTONY.  Who does it come from?\nDIGGORY.  Your worship mun ask that o\u2019 the letter itself.\nTONY.  I could wish to know though (turning the letter, and gazing on\nit).\nMISS NEVILLE.  (Aside.)  Undone! undone!  A letter to him from\nHastings.  I know the hand.  If my aunt sees it, we are ruined for\never.  I\u2019ll keep her employed a little if I can.  (To MRS.\nHARDCASTLE.)  But I have not told you, madam, of my cousin\u2019s smart\nanswer just now to Mr. Marlow.  We so laughed.--You must know,\nmadam.--This way a little, for he must not hear us.  [They confer.]\nTONY.  (Still gazing.)  A damned cramp piece of penmanship, as ever I\nsaw in my life.  I can read your print hand very well.  But here are\nsuch handles, and shanks, and dashes, that one can scarce tell the head\nfrom the tail.--\u201cTo Anthony Lumpkin, Esquire.\u201d  It\u2019s very odd, I can\nread the outside of my letters, where my own name is, well enough; but\nwhen I come to open it, it\u2019s all----buzz.  That\u2019s hard, very hard; for\nthe inside of the letter is always the cream of the correspondence.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Ha! ha! ha!  Very well, very well.  And so my son was\ntoo hard for the philosopher.\nMISS NEVILLE.  Yes, madam; but you must hear the rest, madam.  A\nlittle more this way, or he may hear us.  You\u2019ll hear how he puzzled\nhim again.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  He seems strangely puzzled now himself, methinks.\nTONY.  (Still gazing.)  A damned up and down hand, as if it was\ndisguised in liquor.--(Reading.)  Dear Sir,--ay, that\u2019s that.  Then\nthere\u2019s an M, and a T, and an S, but whether the next be an izzard, or\nan R, confound me, I cannot tell.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  What\u2019s that, my dear?  Can I give you any\nassistance?\nMISS NEVILLE.  Pray, aunt, let me read it.  Nobody reads a cramp hand\nbetter than I. (Twitching the letter from him.)  Do you know who it is\nfrom?\nTONY.  Can\u2019t tell, except from Dick Ginger, the feeder.\nMISS NEVILLE.  Ay, so it is.  (Pretending to read.)  Dear \u2019Squire,\nhoping that you\u2019re in health, as I am at this present.  The gentlemen\nof the Shake-bag club has cut the gentlemen of Goose-green quite out of\nfeather.  The odds--um--odd battle--um--long fighting--um--here, here,\nit\u2019s all about cocks and fighting; it\u2019s of no consequence; here, put it\nup, put it up.  (Thrusting the crumpled letter upon him.)\nTONY.  But I tell you, miss, it\u2019s of all the consequence in the world.\nI would not lose the rest of it for a guinea.  Here, mother, do you\nmake it out.  Of no consequence!  (Giving MRS. HARDCASTLE the letter.)\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  How\u2019s this?--(Reads.)  \u201cDear \u2019Squire, I\u2019m now\nwaiting for Miss Neville, with a post-chaise and pair, at the bottom of\nthe garden, but I find my horses yet unable to perform the journey.  I\nexpect you\u2019ll assist us with a pair of fresh horses, as you promised.\nDispatch is necessary, as the HAG (ay, the hag), your mother, will\notherwise suspect us!  Yours, Hastings.\u201d  Grant me patience.  I shall\nrun distracted!  My rage chokes me.\nMISS NEVILLE.  I hope, madam, you\u2019ll suspend your resentment for a few\nmoments, and not impute to me any impertinence, or sinister design,\nthat belongs to another.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  (Curtseying very low.)  Fine spoken, madam, you are\nmost miraculously polite and engaging, and quite the very pink of\ncourtesy and circumspection, madam.  (Changing her tone.)  And you, you\ngreat ill-fashioned oaf, with scarce sense enough to keep your mouth\nshut: were you, too, joined against me?  But I\u2019ll defeat all your plots\nin a moment.  As for you, madam, since you have got a pair of fresh\nhorses ready, it would be cruel to disappoint them.  So, if you please,\ninstead of running away with your spark, prepare, this very moment, to\nrun off with ME.  Your old aunt Pedigree will keep you secure, I\u2019ll\nwarrant me.  You too, sir, may mount your horse, and guard us upon the\nway.  Here, Thomas, Roger, Diggory!  I\u2019ll show you, that I wish you\nbetter than you do yourselves.  [Exit.]\nMISS NEVILLE.  So now I\u2019m completely ruined.\nTONY.  Ay, that\u2019s a sure thing.\nMISS NEVILLE.  What better could be expected from being connected with\nsuch a stupid fool,--and after all the nods and signs I made him?\nTONY.  By the laws, miss, it was your own cleverness, and not my\nstupidity, that did your business.  You were so nice and so busy with\nyour Shake-bags and Goose-greens, that I thought you could never be\nmaking believe.\nEnter HASTINGS.\nHASTINGS.  So, sir, I find by my servant, that you have shown my\nletter, and betrayed us.  Was this well done, young gentleman?\nTONY.  Here\u2019s another.  Ask miss there, who betrayed you.  Ecod, it was\nher doing, not mine.\nEnter MARLOW.\nMARLOW.  So I have been finely used here among you.  Rendered\ncontemptible, driven into ill manners, despised, insulted, laughed at.\nTONY.  Here\u2019s another.  We shall have old Bedlam broke loose\npresently.\nMISS NEVILLE.  And there, sir, is the gentleman to whom we all owe\nevery obligation.\nMARLOW.  What can I say to him, a mere boy, an idiot, whose ignorance\nand age are a protection?\nHASTINGS.  A poor contemptible booby, that would but disgrace\ncorrection.\nMISS NEVILLE.  Yet with cunning and malice enough to make himself\nmerry with all our embarrassments.\nHASTINGS.  An insensible cub.\nMARLOW.  Replete with tricks and mischief.\nTONY.  Baw! damme, but I\u2019ll fight you both, one after the\nother----with baskets.\nMARLOW.  As for him, he\u2019s below resentment.  But your conduct, Mr.\nHastings, requires an explanation.  You knew of my mistakes, yet would\nnot undeceive me.\nHASTINGS.  Tortured as I am with my own disappointments, is this a time\nfor explanations?  It is not friendly, Mr. Marlow.\nMARLOW.  But, sir----\nMISS NEVILLE.  Mr. Marlow, we never kept on your mistake till it was\ntoo late to undeceive you.\nEnter Servant.\nSERVANT.  My mistress desires you\u2019ll get ready immediately, madam.  The\nhorses are putting to.  Your hat and things are in the next room.  We\nare to go thirty miles before morning.  [Exit Servant.]\nMISS NEVILLE.  Well, well: I\u2019ll come presently.\nMARLOW.  (To HASTINGS.)  Was it well done, sir, to assist in rendering\nme ridiculous?  To hang me out for the scorn of all my acquaintance?\nDepend upon it, sir, I shall expect an explanation.\nHASTINGS.  Was it well done, sir, if you\u2019re upon that subject, to\ndeliver what I entrusted to yourself, to the care of another sir?\nMISS NEVILLE.  Mr. Hastings!  Mr. Marlow!  Why will you increase my\ndistress by this groundless dispute?  I implore, I entreat you----\nEnter Servant.\nSERVANT.  Your cloak, madam.  My mistress is impatient.  [Exit\nServant.]\nMISS NEVILLE.  I come.  Pray be pacified.  If I leave you thus, I\nshall die with apprehension.\nEnter Servant.\nSERVANT.  Your fan, muff, and gloves, madam.  The horses are waiting.\nMISS NEVILLE.  O, Mr. Marlow! if you knew what a scene of constraint\nand ill-nature lies before me, I\u2019m sure it would convert your\nresentment into pity.\nMARLOW.  I\u2019m so distracted with a variety of passions, that I don\u2019t\nknow what I do.  Forgive me, madam.  George, forgive me.  You know my\nhasty temper, and should not exasperate it.\nHASTINGS.  The torture of my situation is my only excuse.\nMISS NEVILLE.  Well, my dear Hastings, if you have that esteem for me\nthat I think, that I am sure you have, your constancy for three years\nwill but increase the happiness of our future connexion.  If----\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  (Within.)  Miss Neville.  Constance, why Constance, I\nsay.\nMISS NEVILLE.  I\u2019m coming.  Well, constancy, remember, constancy is the\nword.  [Exit.]\nHASTINGS.  My heart! how can I support this?  To be so near happiness,\nand such happiness!\nMARLOW.  (To Tony.)  You see now, young gentleman, the effects of your\nfolly.  What might be amusement to you, is here disappointment, and\neven distress.\nTONY.  (From a reverie.)  Ecod, I have hit it.  It\u2019s here.  Your\nhands.  Yours and yours, my poor Sulky!--My boots there, ho!--Meet me\ntwo hours hence at the bottom of the garden; and if you don\u2019t find Tony\nLumpkin a more good-natured fellow than you thought for, I\u2019ll give you\nleave to take my best horse, and Bet Bouncer into the bargain.  Come\nalong.  My boots, ho!  [Exeunt.]\nACT THE FIFTH.\n(SCENE continued.)\nEnter HASTINGS and Servant.\nHASTINGS.  You saw the old lady and Miss Neville drive off, you say?\nSERVANT.  Yes, your honour.  They went off in a post-coach, and the\nyoung \u2019squire went on horseback.  They\u2019re thirty miles off by this\ntime.\nHASTINGS.  Then all my hopes are over.\nSERVANT.  Yes, sir.  Old Sir Charles has arrived.  He and the old\ngentleman of the house have been laughing at Mr. Marlow\u2019s mistake this\nhalf hour.  They are coming this way.\nHASTINGS.  Then I must not be seen.  So now to my fruitless\nappointment at the bottom of the garden.  This is about the time.\n[Exit.]\nEnter SIR CHARLES and HARDCASTLE.\nHARDCASTLE.  Ha! ha! ha!  The peremptory tone in which he sent forth\nhis sublime commands!\nSIR CHARLES.  And the reserve with which I suppose he treated all your\nadvances.\nHARDCASTLE.  And yet he might have seen something in me above a common\ninnkeeper, too.\nSIR CHARLES.  Yes, Dick, but he mistook you for an uncommon innkeeper,\nha! ha! ha!\nHARDCASTLE.  Well, I\u2019m in too good spirits to think of anything but\njoy.  Yes, my dear friend, this union of our families will make our\npersonal friendships hereditary; and though my daughter\u2019s fortune is\nbut small--\nSIR CHARLES.  Why, Dick, will you talk of fortune to ME?  My son is\npossessed of more than a competence already, and can want nothing but a\ngood and virtuous girl to share his happiness and increase it.  If they\nlike each other, as you say they do--\nHARDCASTLE.  IF, man!  I tell you they DO like each other.  My\ndaughter as good as told me so.\nSIR CHARLES.  But girls are apt to flatter themselves, you know.\nHARDCASTLE.  I saw him grasp her hand in the warmest manner myself; and\nhere he comes to put you out of your IFS, I warrant him.\nEnter MARLOW.\nMARLOW.  I come, sir, once more, to ask pardon for my strange conduct.\nI can scarce reflect on my insolence without confusion.\nHARDCASTLE.  Tut, boy, a trifle!  You take it too gravely.  An hour or\ntwo\u2019s laughing with my daughter will set all to rights again.  She\u2019ll\nnever like you the worse for it.\nMARLOW.  Sir, I shall be always proud of her approbation.\nHARDCASTLE.  Approbation is but a cold word, Mr. Marlow; if I am not\ndeceived, you have something more than approbation thereabouts.  You\ntake me?\nMARLOW.  Really, sir, I have not that happiness.\nHARDCASTLE.  Come, boy, I\u2019m an old fellow, and know what\u2019s what as well\nas you that are younger.  I know what has passed between you; but mum.\nMARLOW.  Sure, sir, nothing has passed between us but the most\nprofound respect on my side, and the most distant reserve on hers.  You\ndon\u2019t think, sir, that my impudence has been passed upon all the rest\nof the family.\nHARDCASTLE.  Impudence!  No, I don\u2019t say that--not quite\nimpudence--though girls like to be played with, and rumpled a little\ntoo, sometimes.  But she has told no tales, I assure you.\nMARLOW.  I never gave her the slightest cause.\nHARDCASTLE.  Well, well, I like modesty in its place well enough.  But\nthis is over-acting, young gentleman.  You may be open.  Your father\nand I will like you all the better for it.\nMARLOW.  May I die, sir, if I ever----\nHARDCASTLE.  I tell you, she don\u2019t dislike you; and as I\u2019m sure you\nlike her----\nMARLOW.  Dear sir--I protest, sir----\nHARDCASTLE.  I see no reason why you should not be joined as fast as\nthe parson can tie you.\nMARLOW.  But hear me, sir--\nHARDCASTLE.  Your father approves the match, I admire it; every\nmoment\u2019s delay will be doing mischief.  So--\nMARLOW.  But why won\u2019t you hear me?  By all that\u2019s just and true, I\nnever gave Miss Hardcastle the slightest mark of my attachment, or even\nthe most distant hint to suspect me of affection.  We had but one\ninterview, and that was formal, modest, and uninteresting.\nHARDCASTLE.  (Aside.)  This fellow\u2019s formal modest impudence is beyond\nbearing.\nSIR CHARLES.  And you never grasped her hand, or made any\nprotestations?\nMARLOW.  As Heaven is my witness, I came down in obedience to your\ncommands.  I saw the lady without emotion, and parted without\nreluctance.  I hope you\u2019ll exact no farther proofs of my duty, nor\nprevent me from leaving a house in which I suffer so many\nmortifications.  [Exit.]\nSIR CHARLES.  I\u2019m astonished at the air of sincerity with which he\nparted.\nHARDCASTLE.  And I\u2019m astonished at the deliberate intrepidity of his\nassurance.\nSIR CHARLES.  I dare pledge my life and honour upon his truth.\nHARDCASTLE.  Here comes my daughter, and I would stake my happiness\nupon her veracity.\nEnter MISS HARDCASTLE.\nHARDCASTLE.  Kate, come hither, child.  Answer us sincerely and\nwithout reserve: has Mr. Marlow made you any professions of love and\naffection?\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  The question is very abrupt, sir.  But since you\nrequire unreserved sincerity, I think he has.\nHARDCASTLE.  (To SIR CHARLES.)  You see.\nSIR CHARLES.  And pray, madam, have you and my son had more than one\ninterview?\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Yes, sir, several.\nHARDCASTLE.  (To SIR CHARLES.)  You see.\nSIR CHARLES.  But did be profess any attachment?\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  A lasting one.\nSIR CHARLES.  Did he talk of love?\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Much, sir.\nSIR CHARLES.  Amazing!  And all this formally?\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Formally.\nHARDCASTLE.  Now, my friend, I hope you are satisfied.\nSIR CHARLES.  And how did he behave, madam?\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  As most profest admirers do: said some civil things\nof my face, talked much of his want of merit, and the greatness of\nmine; mentioned his heart, gave a short tragedy speech, and ended with\npretended rapture.\nSIR CHARLES.  Now I\u2019m perfectly convinced, indeed.  I know his\nconversation among women to be modest and submissive: this forward\ncanting ranting manner by no means describes him; and, I am confident,\nhe never sat for the picture.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Then, what, sir, if I should convince you to your\nface of my sincerity?  If you and my papa, in about half an hour, will\nplace yourselves behind that screen, you shall hear him declare his\npassion to me in person.\nSIR CHARLES.  Agreed.  And if I find him what you describe, all my\nhappiness in him must have an end.  [Exit.]\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  And if you don\u2019t find him what I describe--I fear my\nhappiness must never have a beginning.  [Exeunt.]\nSCENE changes to the back of the Garden.\nEnter HASTINGS.\nHASTINGS.  What an idiot am I, to wait here for a fellow who probably\ntakes a delight in mortifying me.  He never intended to be punctual,\nand I\u2019ll wait no longer.  What do I see?  It is he! and perhaps with\nnews of my Constance.\nEnter Tony, booted and spattered.\nHASTINGS.  My honest \u2019squire!  I now find you a man of your word.\nThis looks like friendship.\nTONY.  Ay, I\u2019m your friend, and the best friend you have in the world,\nif you knew but all.  This riding by night, by the bye, is cursedly\ntiresome.  It has shook me worse than the basket of a stage-coach.\nHASTINGS.  But how? where did you leave your fellow-travellers?  Are\nthey in safety?  Are they housed?\nTONY.  Five and twenty miles in two hours and a half is no such bad\ndriving.  The poor beasts have smoked for it: rabbit me, but I\u2019d rather\nride forty miles after a fox than ten with such varment.\nHASTINGS.  Well, but where have you left the ladies?  I die with\nimpatience.\nTONY.  Left them!  Why where should I leave them but where I found\nthem?\nHASTINGS.  This is a riddle.\nTONY.  Riddle me this then.  What\u2019s that goes round the house, and\nround the house, and never touches the house?\nHASTINGS.  I\u2019m still astray.\nTONY.  Why, that\u2019s it, mon.  I have led them astray.  By jingo,\nthere\u2019s not a pond or a slough within five miles of the place but they\ncan tell the taste of.\nHASTINGS.  Ha! ha! ha! I understand: you took them in a round, while\nthey supposed themselves going forward, and so you have at last brought\nthem home again.\nTONY.  You shall hear.  I first took them down Feather-bed Lane, where\nwe stuck fast in the mud.  I then rattled them crack over the stones of\nUp-and-down Hill.  I then introduced them to the gibbet on Heavy-tree\nHeath; and from that, with a circumbendibus, I fairly lodged them in\nthe horse-pond at the bottom of the garden.\nHASTINGS.  But no accident, I hope?\nTONY.  No, no.  Only mother is confoundedly frightened.  She thinks\nherself forty miles off.  She\u2019s sick of the journey; and the cattle can\nscarce crawl.  So if your own horses be ready, you may whip off with\ncousin, and I\u2019ll be bound that no soul here can budge a foot to follow\nyou.\nHASTINGS.  My dear friend, how can I be grateful?\nTONY.  Ay, now it\u2019s dear friend, noble \u2019squire.  Just now, it was all\nidiot, cub, and run me through the guts.  Damn YOUR way of fighting, I\nsay.  After we take a knock in this part of the country, we kiss and be\nfriends.  But if you had run me through the guts, then I should be\ndead, and you might go kiss the hangman.\nHASTINGS.  The rebuke is just.  But I must hasten to relieve Miss\nNeville: if you keep the old lady employed, I promise to take care of\nthe young one.  [Exit HASTINGS.]\nTONY.  Never fear me.  Here she comes.  Vanish.  She\u2019s got from the\npond, and draggled up to the waist like a mermaid.\nEnter MRS. HARDCASTLE.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Oh, Tony, I\u2019m killed!  Shook!  Battered to death.  I\nshall never survive it.  That last jolt, that laid us against the\nquickset hedge, has done my business.\nTONY.  Alack, mamma, it was all your own fault.  You would be for\nrunning away by night, without knowing one inch of the way.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  I wish we were at home again.  I never met so many\naccidents in so short a journey.  Drenched in the mud, overturned in a\nditch, stuck fast in a slough, jolted to a jelly, and at last to lose\nour way.  Whereabouts do you think we are, Tony?\nTONY.  By my guess we should come upon Crackskull Common, about forty\nmiles from home.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  O lud! O lud!  The most notorious spot in all the\ncountry.  We only want a robbery to make a complete night on\u2019t.\nTONY.  Don\u2019t be afraid, mamma, don\u2019t be afraid.  Two of the five that\nkept here are hanged, and the other three may not find us.  Don\u2019t be\nafraid.--Is that a man that\u2019s galloping behind us?  No; it\u2019s only a\ntree.--Don\u2019t be afraid.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  The fright will certainly kill me.\nTONY.  Do you see anything like a black hat moving behind the thicket?\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Oh, death!\nTONY.  No; it\u2019s only a cow.  Don\u2019t be afraid, mamma; don\u2019t be afraid.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  As I\u2019m alive, Tony, I see a man coming towards us.\nAh!  I\u2019m sure on\u2019t.  If he perceives us, we are undone.\nTONY.  (Aside.)  Father-in-law, by all that\u2019s unlucky, come to take one\nof his night walks.  (To her.)  Ah, it\u2019s a highwayman with pistols as\nlong as my arm.  A damned ill-looking fellow.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Good Heaven defend us!  He approaches.\nTONY.  Do you hide yourself in that thicket, and leave me to manage\nhim.  If there be any danger, I\u2019ll cough, and cry hem.  When I cough,\nbe sure to keep close.  (MRS. HARDCASTLE hides behind a tree in the\nback scene.)\nEnter HARDCASTLE.\nHARDCASTLE.  I\u2019m mistaken, or I heard voices of people in want of\nhelp.  Oh, Tony! is that you?  I did not expect you so soon back.  Are\nyour mother and her charge in safety?\nTONY.  Very safe, sir, at my aunt Pedigree\u2019s.  Hem.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  (From behind.)  Ah, death!  I find there\u2019s danger.\nHARDCASTLE.  Forty miles in three hours; sure that\u2019s too much, my\nyoungster.\nTONY.  Stout horses and willing minds make short journeys, as they say.\nHem.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  (From behind.)  Sure he\u2019ll do the dear boy no harm.\nHARDCASTLE.  But I heard a voice here; I should be glad to know from\nwhence it came.\nTONY.  It was I, sir, talking to myself, sir.  I was saying that forty\nmiles in four hours was very good going.  Hem.  As to be sure it was.\nHem.  I have got a sort of cold by being out in the air.  We\u2019ll go in,\nif you please.  Hem.\nHARDCASTLE.  But if you talked to yourself you did not answer\nyourself.  I\u2019m certain I heard two voices, and am resolved (raising his\nvoice) to find the other out.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  (From behind.)  Oh! he\u2019s coming to find me out.  Oh!\nTONY.  What need you go, sir, if I tell you?  Hem.  I\u2019ll lay down my\nlife for the truth--hem--I\u2019ll tell you all, sir.  [Detaining him.]\nHARDCASTLE.  I tell you I will not be detained.  I insist on seeing.\nIt\u2019s in vain to expect I\u2019ll believe you.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  (Running forward from behind.)  O lud! he\u2019ll murder\nmy poor boy, my darling!  Here, good gentleman, whet your rage upon me.\nTake my money, my life, but spare that young gentleman; spare my child,\nif you have any mercy.\nHARDCASTLE.  My wife, as I\u2019m a Christian.  From whence can she come? or\nwhat does she mean?\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  (Kneeling.)  Take compassion on us, good Mr.\nHighwayman.  Take our money, our watches, all we have, but spare our\nlives.  We will never bring you to justice; indeed we won\u2019t, good Mr.\nHighwayman.\nHARDCASTLE.  I believe the woman\u2019s out of her senses.  What, Dorothy,\ndon\u2019t you know ME?\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Mr. Hardcastle, as I\u2019m alive!  My fears blinded me.\nBut who, my dear, could have expected to meet you here, in this\nfrightful place, so far from home?  What has brought you to follow us?\nHARDCASTLE.  Sure, Dorothy, you have not lost your wits?  So far from\nhome, when you are within forty yards of your own door!  (To him.)\nThis is one of your old tricks, you graceless rogue, you.  (To her.)\nDon\u2019t you know the gate, and the mulberry-tree; and don\u2019t you remember\nthe horse-pond, my dear?\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Yes, I shall remember the horse-pond as long as I\nlive; I have caught my death in it.  (To TONY.)  And it is to you, you\ngraceless varlet, I owe all this?  I\u2019ll teach you to abuse your mother,\nI will.\nTONY.  Ecod, mother, all the parish says you have spoiled me, and so\nyou may take the fruits on\u2019t.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  I\u2019ll spoil you, I will.  [Follows him off the stage.\nExit.]\nHARDCASTLE.  There\u2019s morality, however, in his reply.  [Exit.]\nEnter HASTINGS and MISS NEVILLE.\nHASTINGS.  My dear Constance, why will you deliberate thus?  If we\ndelay a moment, all is lost for ever.  Pluck up a little resolution,\nand we shall soon be out of the reach of her malignity.\nMISS NEVILLE.  I find it impossible.  My spirits are so sunk with the\nagitations I have suffered, that I am unable to face any new danger.\nTwo or three years\u2019 patience will at last crown us with happiness.\nHASTINGS.  Such a tedious delay is worse than inconstancy.  Let us fly,\nmy charmer.  Let us date our happiness from this very moment.  Perish\nfortune!  Love and content will increase what we possess beyond a\nmonarch\u2019s revenue.  Let me prevail!\nMISS NEVILLE.  No, Mr. Hastings, no.  Prudence once more comes to my\nrelief, and I will obey its dictates.  In the moment of passion fortune\nmay be despised, but it ever produces a lasting repentance.  I\u2019m\nresolved to apply to Mr. Hardcastle\u2019s compassion and justice for\nredress.\nHASTINGS.  But though he had the will, he has not the power to relieve\nyou.\nMISS NEVILLE.  But he has influence, and upon that I am resolved to\nrely.\nHASTINGS.  I have no hopes.  But since you persist, I must reluctantly\nobey you.  [Exeunt.]\nSCENE changes.\nEnter SIR CHARLES and MISS HARDCASTLE.\nSIR CHARLES.  What a situation am I in!  If what you say appears, I\nshall then find a guilty son.  If what he says be true, I shall then\nlose one that, of all others, I most wished for a daughter.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  I am proud of your approbation, and to show I merit\nit, if you place yourselves as I directed, you shall hear his explicit\ndeclaration.  But he comes.\nSIR CHARLES.  I\u2019ll to your father, and keep him to the appointment.\n[Exit SIR CHARLES.]\nEnter MARLOW.\nMARLOW.  Though prepared for setting out, I come once more to take\nleave; nor did I, till this moment, know the pain I feel in the\nseparation.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  (In her own natural manner.)  I believe sufferings\ncannot be very great, sir, which you can so easily remove.  A day or\ntwo longer, perhaps, might lessen your uneasiness, by showing the\nlittle value of what you now think proper to regret.\nMARLOW.  (Aside.)  This girl every moment improves upon me.  (To her.)\nIt must not be, madam.  I have already trifled too long with my heart.\nMy very pride begins to submit to my passion.  The disparity of\neducation and fortune, the anger of a parent, and the contempt of my\nequals, begin to lose their weight; and nothing can restore me to\nmyself but this painful effort of resolution.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Then go, sir:  I\u2019ll urge nothing more to detain you.\nThough my family be as good as hers you came down to visit, and my\neducation, I hope, not inferior, what are these advantages without\nequal affluence?  I must remain contented with the slight approbation\nof imputed merit; I must have only the mockery of your addresses, while\nall your serious aims are fixed on fortune.\nEnter HARDCASTLE and SIR CHARLES from behind.\nSIR CHARLES.  Here, behind this screen.\nHARDCASTLE.  Ay, ay; make no noise.  I\u2019ll engage my Kate covers him\nwith confusion at last.\nMARLOW.  By heavens, madam! fortune was ever my smallest\nconsideration.  Your beauty at first caught my eye; for who could see\nthat without emotion?  But every moment that I converse with you steals\nin some new grace, heightens the picture, and gives it stronger\nexpression.  What at first seemed rustic plainness, now appears refined\nsimplicity.  What seemed forward assurance, now strikes me as the\nresult of courageous innocence and conscious virtue.\nSIR CHARLES.  What can it mean?  He amazes me!\nHARDCASTLE.  I told you how it would be.  Hush!\nMARLOW.  I am now determined to stay, madam; and I have too good an\nopinion of my father\u2019s discernment, when he sees you, to doubt his\napprobation.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  No, Mr. Marlow, I will not, cannot detain you.  Do\nyou think I could suffer a connexion in which there is the smallest\nroom for repentance?  Do you think I would take the mean advantage of a\ntransient passion, to load you with confusion?  Do you think I could\never relish that happiness which was acquired by lessening yours?\nMARLOW.  By all that\u2019s good, I can have no happiness but what\u2019s in your\npower to grant me!  Nor shall I ever feel repentance but in not having\nseen your merits before.  I will stay even contrary to your wishes; and\nthough you should persist to shun me, I will make my respectful\nassiduities atone for the levity of my past conduct.\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Sir, I must entreat you\u2019ll desist.  As our\nacquaintance began, so let it end, in indifference.  I might have\ngiven an hour or two to levity; but seriously, Mr. Marlow, do you\nthink I could ever submit to a connexion where I must appear\nmercenary, and you imprudent?  Do you think I could ever catch at the\nconfident addresses of a secure admirer?\nMARLOW.  (Kneeling.)  Does this look like security?  Does this look\nlike confidence?  No, madam, every moment that shows me your merit,\nonly serves to increase my diffidence and confusion.  Here let me\ncontinue----\nSIR CHARLES.  I can hold it no longer.  Charles, Charles, how hast thou\ndeceived me!  Is this your indifference, your uninteresting\nconversation?\nHARDCASTLE.  Your cold contempt; your formal interview!  What have you\nto say now?\nMARLOW.  That I\u2019m all amazement!  What can it mean?\nHARDCASTLE.  It means that you can say and unsay things at pleasure:\nthat you can address a lady in private, and deny it in public: that you\nhave one story for us, and another for my daughter.\nMARLOW.  Daughter!--This lady your daughter?\nHARDCASTLE.  Yes, sir, my only daughter; my Kate; whose else should she\nbe?\nMARLOW.  Oh, the devil!\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  Yes, sir, that very identical tall squinting lady you\nwere pleased to take me for (courtseying); she that you addressed as\nthe mild, modest, sentimental man of gravity, and the bold, forward,\nagreeable Rattle of the Ladies\u2019 Club.  Ha! ha! ha!\nMARLOW.  Zounds! there\u2019s no bearing this; it\u2019s worse than death!\nMISS HARDCASTLE.  In which of your characters, sir, will you give us\nleave to address you?  As the faltering gentleman, with looks on the\nground, that speaks just to be heard, and hates hypocrisy; or the loud\nconfident creature, that keeps it up with Mrs. Mantrap, and old Miss\nBiddy Buckskin, till three in the morning?  Ha! ha! ha!\nMARLOW.  O, curse on my noisy head.  I never attempted to be impudent\nyet, that I was not taken down.  I must be gone.\nHARDCASTLE.  By the hand of my body, but you shall not.  I see it was\nall a mistake, and I am rejoiced to find it.  You shall not, sir, I\ntell you.  I know she\u2019ll forgive you.  Won\u2019t you forgive him, Kate?\nWe\u2019ll all forgive you.  Take courage, man.  (They retire, she\ntormenting him, to the back scene.)\nEnter MRS. HARDCASTLE and Tony.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  So, so, they\u2019re gone off.  Let them go, I care not.\nHARDCASTLE.  Who gone?\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  My dutiful niece and her gentleman, Mr. Hastings,\nfrom town.  He who came down with our modest visitor here.\nSIR CHARLES.  Who, my honest George Hastings?  As worthy a fellow as\nlives, and the girl could not have made a more prudent choice.\nHARDCASTLE.  Then, by the hand of my body, I\u2019m proud of the connexion.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Well, if he has taken away the lady, he has not\ntaken her fortune; that remains in this family to console us for her\nloss.\nHARDCASTLE.  Sure, Dorothy, you would not be so mercenary?\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Ay, that\u2019s my affair, not yours.\nHARDCASTLE.  But you know if your son, when of age, refuses to marry\nhis cousin, her whole fortune is then at her own disposal.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Ay, but he\u2019s not of age, and she has not thought\nproper to wait for his refusal.\nEnter HASTINGS and MISS NEVILLE.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  (Aside.)  What, returned so soon!  I begin not to\nlike it.\nHASTINGS.  (To HARDCASTLE.)  For my late attempt to fly off with your\nniece let my present confusion be my punishment.  We are now come back,\nto appeal from your justice to your humanity.  By her father\u2019s consent,\nI first paid her my addresses, and our passions were first founded in\nduty.\nMISS NEVILLE.  Since his death, I have been obliged to stoop to\ndissimulation to avoid oppression.  In an hour of levity, I was ready\nto give up my fortune to secure my choice.  But I am now recovered from\nthe delusion, and hope from your tenderness what is denied me from a\nnearer connexion.\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  Pshaw, pshaw! this is all but the whining end of a\nmodern novel.\nHARDCASTLE.  Be it what it will, I\u2019m glad they\u2019re come back to reclaim\ntheir due.  Come hither, Tony, boy.  Do you refuse this lady\u2019s hand\nwhom I now offer you?\nTONY.  What signifies my refusing?  You know I can\u2019t refuse her till\nI\u2019m of age, father.\nHARDCASTLE.  While I thought concealing your age, boy, was likely to\nconduce to your improvement, I concurred with your mother\u2019s desire to\nkeep it secret.  But since I find she turns it to a wrong use, I must\nnow declare you have been of age these three months.\nTONY.  Of age!  Am I of age, father?\nHARDCASTLE.  Above three months.\nTONY.  Then you\u2019ll see the first use I\u2019ll make of my liberty.  (Taking\nMISS NEVILLE\u2019s hand.)  Witness all men by these presents, that I,\nAnthony Lumpkin, Esquire, of BLANK place, refuse you, Constantia\nNeville, spinster, of no place at all, for my true and lawful wife.  So\nConstance Neville may marry whom she pleases, and Tony Lumpkin is his\nown man again.\nSIR CHARLES.  O brave \u2019squire!\nHASTINGS.  My worthy friend!\nMRS. HARDCASTLE.  My undutiful offspring!\nMARLOW.  Joy, my dear George!  I give you joy sincerely.  And could I\nprevail upon my little tyrant here to be less arbitrary, I should be\nthe happiest man alive, if you would return me the favour.\nHASTINGS.  (To MISS HARDCASTLE.)  Come, madam, you are now driven to\nthe very last scene of all your contrivances.  I know you like him, I\u2019m\nsure he loves you, and you must and shall have him.\nHARDCASTLE.  (Joining their hands.)  And I say so too.  And, Mr.\nMarlow, if she makes as good a wife as she has a daughter, I don\u2019t\nbelieve you\u2019ll ever repent your bargain.  So now to supper.  To-morrow\nwe shall gather all the poor of the parish about us, and the mistakes\nof the night shall be crowned with a merry morning.  So, boy, take her;\nand as you have been mistaken in the mistress, my wish is, that you may\nnever be mistaken in the wife.  [Exeunt Omnes.]", "source_dataset": "gutenberg", "source_dataset_detailed": "gutenberg -  She Stoops to Conquer\n"},
{"source_document": "", "creation_year": 1754, "culture": " English\n", "content": "Produced by Alicia Williams, Jayam Subramanian and the\nOnline Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net\n  PINNOCK'S\n  IMPROVED EDITION OF\n  DR. GOLDSMITH'S\n  HISTORY OF ROME:\n  TO WHICH IS PREFIXED AN\n  INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF ROMAN HISTORY,\n  AND\n  A GREAT VARIETY OF VALUABLE INFORMATION ADDED THROUGHOUT THE WORK, ON\n  THE\n  MANNERS, INSTITUTIONS, AND ANTIQUITIES OF THE ROMANS;\n  WITH\n  NUMEROUS BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL NOTES;\n  AND\n  QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION\n  AT THE END OF EACH SECTION.\n  ILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS.\n  [Illustration: Coliseum.]\n  BY\n  WM. C. TAYLOR, LL.D.,\n  OF TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN.\n  AUTHOR OF MANUAL OF ANCIENT AND MODERN HISTORY, ETC. ETC.\n  THIRTY-FIFTH AMERICAN, FROM THE TWENTY-THIRD ENGLISH EDITION\n  PHILADELPHIA:\n  THOMAS, COWPERTHWAIT & CO.\n  Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1848, by\n  THOMAS, COWPERTHWAIT & CO.\n  In the clerk's office of the District Court of the United States for\n  the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.\n  PRINTED BY SMITH & PETERS,\n  Franklin Buildings, Sixth Street below Arch, Philadelphia.\nPREFACE.\nThe researches of Niebuhr and several other distinguished German\nscholars have thrown a new light on Roman History, and enabled us to\ndiscover the true constitution of that republic which once ruled the\ndestinies of the known world, and the influence of whose literature\nand laws is still powerful in every civilized state, and will probably\ncontinue to be felt to the remotest posterity. These discoveries have,\nhowever, been hitherto useless to junior students in this country; the\nworks of the German critics being unsuited to the purposes of schools,\nnot only from their price, but also from the extensive learning\nrequisite to follow them through their laborious disquisitions. The\neditor has, therefore, thought that it would be no unacceptable\nservice, to prefix a few Introductory Chapters, detailing such results\nfrom their inquiries as best elucidate the character and condition of\nthe Roman people, and explain the most important portion of the\nhistory. The struggles between the patricians and plebeians,\nrespecting the agrarian laws have been so strangely misrepresented,\neven by some of the best historians, that the nature of the contest\nmay, with truth, be said to have been wholly misunderstood before the\npublication of Niebuhr's work: a perfect explanation of these\nimportant matters cannot be expected in a work of this kind; the\nEditors trust that the brief account given here of the Roman tenure of\nland, and the nature of the agrarian laws, will be found sufficient\nfor all practical purposes. After all the researches that have been\nmade, the true origin of the Latin people, and even of the Roman city,\nis involved in impenetrable obscurity; the legendary traditions\ncollected by the historians are, however, the best guides that we can\nnow follow; but it would be absurd to bestow implicit credit on all\nthe accounts they have given, and the editor has, therefore, pointed\nout the uncertain nature of the early history, not to encourage\nscepticism, but to accustom students to consider the nature of\nhistorical evidence, and thus early form the useful habit of\ncriticising and weighing testimony.\nThe authorities followed in the geographical chapters, are principally\nHeeren and Cramer; the treatise of the latter on ancient Italy is one\nof the most valuable aids acquired by historical students within the\npresent century. Much important information respecting the peculiar\ncharacter of the Roman religion has been derived from Mr. Keightley's\nexcellent Treatise on Mythology; the only writer who has, in our\nlanguage, hitherto, explained the difference between the religious\nsystems of Greece and Rome. The account of the barbarians in the\nconclusion of the volume, is, for the most part, extracted from\n\"Koch's Revolutions of Europe;\" the sources of the notes, scattered\nthrough the volume, are too varied for a distinct acknowledgment of\neach.\nCONTENTS.\nINTRODUCTION.\nCHAPTER\nI. Geographical Outline of Italy\nII. The Latin Language and People--Credibility of the Early History\nIII. Topography of Rome\nIV. The Roman Constitution\nV. The Roman Tenure of Land--Colonial Government\nVI. The Roman Religion\nVII. The Roman Army and Navy\nVIII. Roman Law.--Finance\nIX. The public Amusements and private Life of the Romans\nX. Geography of the empire at the time of its greatest extent\nHISTORY.\nI. Of the Origin of the Romans\nII. From the building of Rome to the death of Romulus\nIII. From the death of Romulus to the death of Numa\nIV. From the death of Numa to the death of Tullus Hostilius\nV. From the death of Tullus Hostilius to the death of Ancus Martius\nVI. From the death of Ancus Martius to the death of Taiquinius Priscus\nVII. From the death of Tarquinius Priscus to the death of Servius Tullius\nVIII. From the death of Servius Tullius to the banishment of Tarquinius\n  Superbus\nIX. From the banishment of Tarquinius Superbus to the appointment of the\n  first Dictator\nX. From the Creation of the Dictator to the election of the Tribunes\nXI. From the Creation of the Tribunes to the appointment of the Decemviri,\n  viz.\nSection 1.--The great Volscian war\n ----   2.--Civil commotions on account of the Agrarian law\nXII. From the creation of the Decemviri to the destruction of the city\n  by the Gauls, viz.\nSection 1.--Tyranny of the Decemviri\n ----   2.--Crimes of Appius--Revolt of the army\n ----   3.--Election of Military Tribunes--Creation of the\n  Censorship\n ----   4.--Siege and capture of Veii--Invasion of the Gauls\n ----   5.--Deliverance of Rome from the Gauls\nXIII. From the wars with the Samnites to the First Punic war, viz.\nSection 1.--The Latin war\n ----   2.--Invasion of Italy by Pyrrhus, king of Epirus\n ----   3.--Defeat and departure of Pyrrhus\nXIV. From the beginning of the First Punic war to the beginning of the\n  Second, viz.\nSection 1.--Causes and commencement of the war--Invasion of Africa by\n  Regulus\n ----   2.--Death of Regulus--Final Triumph of the Romans\nXV. The Second Punic war, viz.\nSection 1.--Commencement of the war--Hannibal's invasion of Italy\n ----   2.--Victorious career of Hannibal\n ----   3.--Retrieval of the Roman affairs--Invasion of Africa by\n  Scipio--Conclusion of the war\nXVI. Macedonian, Syrian, Third Punic, and Spanish wars\nXVII. From the Destruction of Carthage to the end of the Sedition of the\n  Gracchi, viz.\nSection 1.--Murder of Tiberius Gracchus\n ----   2.--Slaughter of Caius Gracchus and his adherents\nXVIII. From the Sedition of Gracchus to the perpetual Dictatorship of\n  Sylla, viz.\nSection 1.--The Jugurthine and Social wars\n ----   2.--The cruel massacres perpetrated by Marius and Sylla\nXIX. From the perpetual Dictatorship of Sylla to the first Triumvirate\nXX. From the First Triumvirate to the death of Pompey, viz.\nSection 1.--C\u00e6sar's wars in Gaul--Commencement of the Civil war\n ----   2.--C\u00e6sar's victorious career\n ----   3.--The campaign in Thessaly and Epirus\n ----   4.--The battle of Pharsalia----5.--Death of Pompey\nXXI. From the Destruction of the Commonwealth to the establishment of the\n  first Emperor, Augustus, viz.\nSection 1.--C\u00e6sar's Egyptian campaign\n ----   2.--The African campaign\n ----   3.--Death of C\u00e6sar\n ----   4.--The Second Triumvirate\n ----   5.--The Battle of Philippi\n ----   6.--Dissensions of Antony and Augustus\n ----   7.--The Battle of Actium\n ----   8.--The Conquest of Egypt\nXXII. From the accession of Augustus to the death of Domitian, viz.\nSection 1.--The beneficent Administration of Augustus\n ----   2.--Death of Augustus\n ----   3.--The reign of Tiberius--Death of Germanicus\n ----   4.--Death of Sejanus and Tiberius--Accession of Caligula\n ----   5.--Extravagant cruelties of Caligula--His death\n ----   6.--The Reign of Claudius\n ----   7.--The reign of Nero\n ----   8.--Death of Nero--Reigns of Galba and Otho\n ----   9.--The reigns of Vitellius and Vespasian--The siege of\n  Jerusalem by Titus\n ----  10.--The Reigns of Titus and Domitian\n ----  11.--The assassination of Domitian\nXXIII. The Five good emperors of Rome, viz.\nSection 1.--The Reigns of Nerva and Trajan\n ----   2.--The Reign of Adrian\n ----   3.--The Reign of Antoninus Pius\n ----   4.--The reign of Marcus Aurelius\nXXIV. From the accession of Commodus to the change of the seat of\n  Government, from Rome to Constantinople, viz.\nSection 1.--The Reigns of Commodus, Pertinax, and Didius\n ----   2.--The Reigns of Severus, Caracalla, Maximus, and Heliogabalus\n ----   3.--The reigns of Alexander, Maximin, and Gordian\n ----   4.--The Reigns of Philip, Decius, Gallus, Valerian, Claudius,\n  Aurelian, Tacitus, and Probus\n ----   5.--The reigns of Carus, Carinus, Dioclesian, and\n  Constantius--Accession of Constantine\n ----   6.--The reign of Constantine XXV.\nXXV. From the death of Constantine, to the reunion of the Roman empire\n  under Theodosius the Great, viz.\nSection 1.--The Reign of Constantius\n ----   2.--The Reigns of Julian Jovian, the Valentinians, and\n  Theodosius\nXXVI. From the death of Theodosius to the subversion of the Western Empire,\n  viz.\nSection 1.--The division of the Roman dominions into the Eastern and\n  Western empires\n ----   2.--Decline and fall of the Western empire\nXXVII. Historical notices of the different barbarous tribes that aided in\n  overthrowing the Roman empire\nXXVIII. The progress of Christianity\n  HISTORY OF ROME\nINTRODUCTION.\nCHAPTER I.\nGEOGRAPHICAL OUTLINE OF ITALY.\n  Italia! oh, Italia! thou who hast\n  The fatal gift of beauty, which became\n  A funeral dower of present woes and past,\n  On thy sweet brow is sorrow plough'd by shame,\n  And annals traced in characters of flame.--_Byron_.\n1. The outline of Italy presents a geographical unity and completeness\nwhich naturally would lead us to believe that it was regarded as a\nwhole, and named as a single country, from the earliest ages. This\nopinion would, however, be erroneous; while the country was possessed\nby various independent tribes of varied origin and different customs,\nthe districts inhabited by each were reckoned separate states, and it\nwas not until these several nations had fallen under the power of one\npredominant people that the physical unity which the peninsula\npossesses was expressed by a single name. Italy was the name\noriginally given to a small peninsula in Brut'tium, between the\nScylacean and Napetine gulfs; the name was gradually made to\ncomprehend new districts, until at length it included the entire\ncountry lying south of the Alps, between the Adriatic and Tuscan seas.\n2. The names Hesp\u00e9ria, Sat\u00farnia, and Oenot'ria have also been given\nto this country by the poets; but these designations are not properly\napplicable; for Hesp\u00e9ria was a general name for all the countries\nlying to the west of Greece, and the other two names really belonged\nto particular districts.\n3. The northern boundary of Italy, in its full extent, is the chain of\nthe Alps, which forms a kind of crescent, with the convex side towards\nGaul. The various branches of these mountains had distinct names; the\nmost remarkable were, the Maritime Alps, extending from the Ligurian\nsea to Mount V\u00e9sulus, _Veso_; the Collian, Graian, Penine, Rhoetian,\nTridentine, Carnic, and Julian Alps, which nearly complete the\ncrescent; the Euganean, Venetian, and Pannonian Alps, that extend the\nchain to the east.\n4. The political divisions of Italy have been frequently altered, but\nit may be considered as naturally divided into Northern, Central, and\nSouthern Italy.\nThe principal divisions of Northern Italy were Ligu'ria and Cisalpine\nGaul.\n5. Only one half of Liguria was accounted part of Italy; the remainder\nwas included in Gaul. The Ligurians originally possessed the entire\nline of sea-coast from the Pyrennees to the Tiber, and the mountainous\ndistrict now called _Piedmont_; but before the historic age a great\npart of their territory was wrested from them by the Iberians, the\nCelts, and the Tuscans, until their limits were contracted nearly to\nthose of the present district attached to Genoa. Their chief cities\nwere Gen\u00faa, _Genoa_; Nicoe'a, _Nice_, founded by a colony from\nMarseilles; and As'ta, _Asti_. The Ligurians were one of the last\nItalian states conquered by the Romans; on account of their inveterate\nhostility, they are grossly maligned by the historians of the\nvictorious people, and described as ignorant, treacherous, and\ndeceitful; but the Greek writers have given a different and more\nimpartial account; they assure us that the Ligurians were eminent for\nboldness and dexterity, and at the same time patient and contented.\n6. Cisalpine Gaul extended from Liguria to the Adriatic or Upper Sea,\nand nearly coincides with the modern district of Lombardy. The country\nis a continuous plain divided by the Pa'dus, _Po_, into two parts; the\nnorthern, Gallia Transpada'na, was inhabited by the tribes of the\nTauri'ni, In'subres, and Cenoma'nni; the southern, Gallia Cispada'na,\nwas possessed by the Boi'i, Leno'nes, and Lingo'nes. 7. These plains\nwere originally inhabited by a portion of the Etrurian or Tuscan\nnation, once the most powerful in Italy; but at an uncertain period a\nvast horde of Celtic Gauls forced the passage of the Alps and spread\nthemselves over the country, which thence received their name.\n8. It was sometimes called Gallia Toga'ta, because the invaders\nconformed to Italian customs, and wore the toga. Cisalpine Gaul was\nnot accounted part of Italy in the republican age; its southern\nboundary, the river Rubicon, being esteemed by the Romans the limit of\ntheir domestic empire.\n9. The river Pa'dus and its tributary streams fertilized these rich\nplains. The principal rivers falling into the Padus were, from the\nnorth, the Du'ria, _Durance_; the Tici'nus, _Tessino_; the Ad'dua,\n_Adda_; the Ol'lius, _Oglio_; and the Min'tius, _Minzio_: from\nthe south, the Ta'narus, _Tanaro_, and the Tre'bia. The Ath'esis,\n_Adige_; the Pla'vis, _Paive_; fall directly into the Adriatic.\n10. The principal cities in Cisalpine Gaul were Roman colonies with\nmunicipal rights; many of them have preserved their names unchanged to\nthe present day. The most remarkable were; north of the Pa'dus,\nTerge'ste, _Trieste_; Aquilei'a; Pata'vium, _Padua_; Vincen'tia,\nVero'na, all east of the Athe'sis: Mantua; Cremo'na; Brix'ia,\n_Brescia_; Mediola'num, _Milan_; Tici'num, _Pavia_; and Augusta\nTurino'rum, _Turin_; all west of the Athe'sis. South of the Po we find\nRaven'na; Bono'nia, _Bologna_; Muti'na, _Modena_; Par'ma, and\nPlacen'tia. 11. From the time that Rome was burned by the Gauls (B.C.\n390), the Romans were harassed by the hostilities of this warlike\npeople; and it was not until after the first Punic war, that any\nvigorous efforts were made for their subjugation. The Cisalpine Gauls,\nafter a fierce resistance, were overthrown by Marcell'us (B.C. 223)\nand compelled to submit, and immediately afterwards military colonies\nwere sent out as garrisons to the most favourable situations in their\ncountry. The Gauls zealously supported An'nibal when he invaded Italy,\nand were severely punished when the Romans finally became victorious.\n12. North-east of Cisalpine Gaul, at the upper extremity of the\nAdriatic, lay the territory of the Venetians; they were a rich and\nunwarlike people, and submitted to the Romans without a struggle, long\nbefore northern Italy had been annexed to the dominions of the\nrepublic.\n13. Central Italy comprises six countries, Etru'ria, La'tium, and\nCampa'nia on the west; Um'bria, Pice'num, and Sam'nium, on the east.\n14. Etru'ria, called also Tus'cia (whence the modern name _Tuscany_)\nand Tyrrhe'nia, was an extensive mountainous district, bounded on the\nnorth by the river Mac'ra, and on the south and east by the Tiber. The\nchain of the Apennines, which intersects middle and Lower Italy,\ncommences in the north of Etru'ria. The chief river is the Ar'nus,\n_Arno_. 15. The names Etruscan and Tyrrhenian, indifferently applied\nto the inhabitants of this country, originally belonged to different\ntribes, which, before the historic age, coalesced into one people. The\nEtruscans appear to have been Celts who descended from the Alps; the\nTyrrhenians were undoubtedly a part of the Pelas'gi who originally\npossessed the south-east of Europe. The circumstances of the\nPelasgic migration are differently related by the several historians,\nbut the fact is asserted by all.[1] These Tyrrhenians brought with\nthem the knowledge of letters and the arts, and the united people\nattained a high degree of power and civilization, long before the name\nof Rome was known beyond the precincts of Latium. They possessed a\nstrong naval force, which was chiefly employed in piratical\nexpeditions, and they claimed the sovereignty of the western seas. The\nfirst sea-fight recorded in history was fought between the fugitive\nPhocians,[2] and the allied fleets of the Tyrrhenians and the\nCarthaginians (B.C. 539.)\n16. To commerce and navigation the Etruscans were indebted for their\nopulence and consequent magnificence; their destruction was owing to\nthe defects of their political system. There were twelve Tuscan cities\nunited in a federative alliance. Between the Mac'ra and Arnus were,\nPi's\u00e6, _Pisa_; Floren'tia, _Florence_; and F\u00e6'sul\u00e6: between the Arnus\nand the Tiber, Volate'rr\u00e6, _Volterra_; Volsin'ii, _Bolsena_; Clu'sium,\n_Chiusi_; Arre'tium, _Arrezzo_; Corto'na; Peru'sia, _Perugia_, (near\nwhich is the Thrasamene lake); Fale'rii, and Ve'ii.\n17. Each of these cities was ruled by a chief magistrate called\n_lu'cumo_, chosen for life; he possessed regal power, and is\nfrequently called a king by the Roman historians. In enterprises\nundertaken by the whole body, the supreme command was committed to one\nof the twelve _lucumones_, and he received a lictor from each city.\nBut from the time that Roman history begins to assume a regular form,\nthe Tuscan cities stand isolated, uniting only transiently and\ncasually; we do not, however, find any traces of intestine wars\nbetween the several states.\n18. The Etrurian form of government was aristocratical, and the\ncondition of the people appears to have been miserable in the extreme;\nthey were treated as slaves destitute of political rights, and\ncompelled to labour solely for the benefit of their taskmasters. A\nrevolution at a late period took place at Volsin'ii, and the exclusive\nprivileges of the nobility abolished after a fierce and bloody\nstruggle; it is remarkable that this town, in which the people had\nobtained their rights, alone made an obstinate resistance to the\nRomans.\n19. The progress of the Tuscans in the fine arts is attested by the\nmonuments that still remain; but of their literature we know\nnothing; their language is unknown, and their books have perished. In\nthe first ages of the Roman republic, the children of the nobility\nwere sent to Etru'ria for education, especially in divination and the\nart of soothsaying, in which the Tuscans were supposed to excel. The\nform of the Roman constitution, the religious ceremonies, and the\nensigns of civil government, were borrowed from the Etrurians.\n20. La'tium originally extended along the coast from the Tiber to the\npromontory of Circe'ii; hence that district was called, old La'tium;\nthe part subsequently added, called new La'tium, extended from Circeii\nto the Li'ris, _Garigliano_. The people were called Latins; but\neastward, towards the Apennines, were the tribes of the Her'nici, the\n\u00c6'qui, the Mar'si, and the Sabines; and on the south were the Vols'ci,\nRu'tuli, and Aurun'ci. The chief rivers in this country were the\nA'nio, _Teverone_; and Al'lia, which fall into the Tiber; and the\nLiris, _Garigliano_; which flows directly into the Mediterranean.\n21. The chief cities in old Latium were ROME; Ti'bur, _Tivoli_;\nTus'culum, _Frescati_; Al'ba Lon'ga, of which no trace remains;\nLavin'ium; An'tium; Ga'bii; and Os'tia, _Civita Vecchia_; the chief\ntowns in new Latium were Fun'di, Anx'ur or Terraci'na, Ar'pinum,\nMintur'n\u00e6, and For'mi\u00e6.\n22. CAMPA'NIA included the fertile volcanic plains that lie between\nthe Liris on the north, and the Si'lanus, _Selo_, on the south; the\nother most remarkable river was the Voltur'nus, _Volturno_. The chief\ncities were, Ca'pua the capital, Linter'num, Cu'm\u00e6, Neapo'lis,\n_Naples_; Hercula'neum, Pompe'ii, Surren'tum, Saler'num, &c. The\noriginal inhabitants of Campa'nia, were the Auso'nes and Op'ici or\nOsci, the most ancient of the native Italian tribes. The Tyrrhenian\nPelas'gi made several settlements on the coast, and are supposed to\nhave founded Cap'ua. The Etruscans were afterwards masters of the\ncountry, but their dominion was of brief duration, and left no trace\nbehind. Campa'nia was subdued by the Romans after the Volscian war.\n23. The soil of Campa'nia is the most fruitful, perhaps, in the world,\nbut it is subject to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Mount\nVesu'vius in the early ages of Italy was not a volcano; its first\neruption took place A.D. 79.\n24. UM'BRIA extended along the middle and east of Italy, from the\nriver Rubicon in the north, to the \u00c6'sis, _Gesano_, dividing it\nfrom Pise'num, and the Nar, _Nera_, separating it from Sam'nium in the\nsouth. The Umbrians were esteemed one of the most ancient races in\nItaly, and were said to have possessed the greater part of the\nnorthern and central provinces. They were divided into several tribes,\nwhich seem to have been semi-barbarous, and they were subject to the\nGauls before they were conquered by the Romans. Their chief towns were\nArimi'nium, _Rimini_; Spole'tium, _Spoleto_; Nar'nia, _Narni_; and\nOcricu'lum, _Otriculi_.\n25. PICE'NUM was the name given to the fertile plain that skirts the\nAdriatic, between the \u00c6'sis, _Gesano_, and the Atar'nus, _Pescara_.\nThe chief cities were Anco'na and Asc'ulum Pice'num, _Ascoli_. The\nPicentines were descended from the Sabines, and observed the strict\nand severe discipline of that warlike race, but they were destitute of\ncourage or vigour.\n26. SAM'NIUM included the mountainous tract which stretches from the\nAtar'nus in the north, to the Fren'to in the south. It was inhabited\nby several tribes descended from the Sabines[3] and Ma'rsi, of which\nthe Samnites were the most distinguished; the other most remarkable\nsepts were the Marruci'ni and Pelig'ni in the north, the Frenta'ni in\nthe east, and the Hirpi'ni in the south.\n27. The Samnites were distinguished by their love of war, and their\nunconquerable attachment to liberty; their sway at one time extended\nover Campa'nia, and the greater part of central Italy; and the Romans\nfound them the fiercest and most dangerous of their early enemies. The\nchief towns in the Samnite territory were Alli'f\u00e6, Beneventum, and\nCau'dium.\n28. Lower Italy was also called Magna Gr\u00e6'cia, from the number of\nGreek[4] colonies that settled on the coast; it comprised four\ncountries; Luca'nia and Brut'tium on the west, and Apu'lia and\nCala'bria on the east.\n29. LUCA'NIA was a mountainous country between the Sil'arus, _Selo_,\non the north, and the L\u00e4'us, _Lavo_, on the south. The Lucanians were\nof Sabine origin, and conquered the Oenotrians, who first\npossessed the country: they also subdued several Greek cities on the\ncoast. The chief cities were Posido'nia or P\u00e6stum, He'lia or Ve'lia,\nSib'aris and Thu'rii.\n30. Brut'tium is the modern Cala'bria, and received that name when the\nancient province was wrested from the empire. It included the tongue\nof land from the river L\u00e4us to the southern extremity of Italy at\nRhe'gium. The mountains of the interior were inhabited by the\nBruta'tes or Brut'tii, a semi-barbarous tribe, at first subject to the\nSibarites, and afterwards to the Lucanians. In a late age they\nasserted their independence, and maintained a vigorous resistance to\nthe Romans. As the Brut'tii used the Oscan language, they must have\nbeen of the Ausonian race. The chief towns were the Greek settlements\non the coast, Consen'tia, _Cosenza_; Pando'sia, _Cirenza_; Croto'na,\nMame'rtum, Petil'ia, and Rhe'gium, _Reggio_.\n31. Apu'lia extended along the eastern coast from the river Fren'to,\nto the eastern tongue of land which forms the foot of the boot, to\nwhich Italy has been compared. It was a very fruitful plain, without\nfortresses or harbours, and was particularly adapted to grazing\ncattle. It was divided by the river Au'fidus, _Ofanto_, into Apu'lia\nDau'nia, and Apu'lia Peuce'tia, or pine-bearing Apu'lia. The chief\ntowns were, in Dau'nia, Sipon'tum and Luce'ria: in Peuce'tia, Ba'rium,\nCan'n\u00e6, and Venu'sia.\n32. Cala'bria, or Messa'pia, is the eastern tongue of land which\nterminates at Cape Japy'gium, _Santa Maria_; it was almost wholly\noccupied by Grecian colonies. The chief towns were Brundu'sium,\n_Brindisi_: Callipolis, _Gallipoli_: and Taren'tum.\n33. The islands of Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia, which are now\nreckoned as appertaining to Italy, were by the Romans considered\nseparate provinces.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. How is Italy situated?\n2. By what names was the country known to the ancients?\n3. How is Italy bounded on the north?\n4. What districts were in northern Italy?\n5. What was the extent of Liguria, and the character of its\ninhabitants?\n6. How was Cisalpine Gaul divided?\n7. By whom was Cisalpine Gaul inhabited?\n8. Why was it called Togata?\n9. What are the principal rivers in northern Italy?\n10. What are the chief cities in Cisalpine Gaul?\n11. When did the Romans subdue this district?\n12. Did the Venetians resist the Roman power?\n13. What are the chief divisions of central Italy?\n14. How is Etruria situated?\n15. By what people was Etruria colonized?\n16. What were the Tuscan cities?\n17. How were the cities ruled?\n18. What was the general form of Tuscan government?\n19. For what were the Tuscans remarkable?\n20. What was the geographical situation of Latium?\n21. What were the chief towns in Latium?\n22. What towns and people were in Campania?\n23. For what is the soil of Campania remarkable?\n24. What description is given of Umbria?\n25. What towns and people were in Picenum?\n26. From whom were the Samnites descended?\n27. What was the character of this people?\n28. How was southern Italy divided?\n29. What description is given of Lucania?\n30. By what people was Bruttium inhabited?\n31. What is the geographical situation of Apulia?\n32. What description is given of Calabria?\n33. What islands belong to Italy?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] See Pinnock's History of Greece, Chap. I.\n[2] See Historical Miscellany, Part II. Chap. I.\n[3] These colonies, sent out by the Sabines, are said to have\noriginated from the observance of the Ver sacrum (_sacred spring_.)\nDuring certain years, every thing was vowed to the gods that was born\nbetween the calends (first day) of March and May, whether men or\nanimals. At first they were sacrificed; but in later ages this cruel\ncustom was laid aside, and they were sent out as colonists.\n[4] The history of these colonies is contained in the Historical\nMiscellany, Part II. Chap. ii.\nCHAPTER II.\nTHE LATIN LANGUAGE AND PEOPLE--CREDIBILITY OF THE EARLY HISTORY.\n  Succeeding times did equal folly call.\n  Believing nothing, or believing all.--_Dryden._\nThe Latin language contains two primary elements, the first intimately\nconnected with the Grecian, and the second with the Oscan tongue; to\nthe former, for the most part, belong all words expressing the arts\nand relations of civilized life; to the latter, such terms as express\nthe wants of men before society has been organized. We are therefore\nwarranted in conjecturing that the Latin people was a mixed race; that\none of its component parts came from some Grecian stock, and\nintroduced the first elements of civilization, and that the other was\nindigenous, and borrowed refinement from the strangers. The traditions\nrecorded by the historians sufficiently confirm this opinion; they\nunanimously assert that certain bodies of Pelasgi came into the\ncountry before the historic age, and coalesced with the ancient\ninhabitants. The traditions respecting these immigrations are so\nvaried, that it is impossible to discover any of the circumstances;\nbut there is one so connected with the early history of Rome, that it\ncannot be passed over without notice. All the Roman historians\ndeclare, that after the destruction of Troy, \u00c6neas, with a body of the\nfugitives, arrived in Latium, and having married the daughter of king\nLati'nus, succeeded him on the throne. It would be easy to show that\nthis narrative is so very improbable, as to be wholly unworthy of\ncredit; but how are we to account for the universal credence which it\nreceived? To decide this question we must discuss the credibility of\nthe early Roman history, a subject which has of late years attracted\nmore than ordinary attention.\nThe first Roman historian of any authority, was Fa'bius Pic'tor, who\nflourished at the close of the second Punic war; that is, about five\ncenturies and a half after the foundation of the city, and nearly a\nthousand years after the destruction of Troy. The materials from which\nhis narrative was compiled, were the legendary ballads, which are in\nevery country the first record of warlike exploits; the calendars and\nannals kept by the priests, and the documents kept by noble families\nto establish their genealogy. Imperfect as these materials must\nnecessarily have been under any circumstances, we must remember that\nthe city of Rome was twice captured; once by Porsenna, and a second\ntime by the Gauls, about a century and a half before Fabius was born.\nOn the latter occasion the city was burned to the ground, and the\ncapital saved only by the payment of an immense ransom. By such a\ncalamity it is manifest that the most valuable documents must have\nbeen dispersed or destroyed, and the part that escaped thrown into\ngreat disorder. The heroic songs might indeed have been preserved in\nthe memory of the public reciters; but there is little necessity for\nproving that poetic historians would naturally mingle so much fiction\nwith truth, that few of their assertions could be deemed authentic.\nThe history of the four first centuries of the Roman state is\naccordingly full of the greatest inconsistences and improbabilities;\nso much so, that many respectable writers have rejected the whole as\nunworthy of credit; but this is as great an excess in scepticism, as\nthe reception of the whole would be of credulity. But if the\nfounders of the city, the date of its erection, and the circumstances\nunder which its citizens were assembled be altogether doubtful, as\nwill subsequently be shown, assuredly the history of events that\noccurred four centuries previous must be involved in still greater\nobscurity. The legend of \u00c6neas, when he first appears noticed as a\nprogenitor of the Romans, differs materially from that which\nafterwards prevailed. Romulus, in the earlier version of the story, is\ninvariably described as the son or grandson of \u00c6neas. He is the\ngrandson in the poems of N\u00e6vius and Ennius, who were both nearly\ncontemporary with Fabius Pictor. This gave rise to an insuperable\nchronological difficulty; for Troy was destroyed B.C. 1184, and Rome\nwas not founded until B.C. 753. To remedy this incongruity, a list of\nLatin kings intervening between \u00c6ne'as and Rom'ulus, was invented; but\nthe forgery was so clumsily executed, that its falsehood is apparent\non the slightest inspection. It may also be remarked, that the actions\nattributed to \u00c6neas are, in other traditions of the same age and\ncountry, ascribed to other adventurers; to Evander, a Pelasgic leader\nfrom Arcadia, who is said to have founded a city on the site\nafterwards occupied by Rome; or to Uly'sses, whose son Tele'gonus is\nreported to have built Tus'culum.\nIf then we deny the historical truth of a legend which seems to have\nbeen universally credited by the Romans, how are we to account for the\norigin of the tale? Was the tradition of native growth, or was it\nimported from Greece when the literature of that country was\nintroduced into Latium? These are questions that can only be answered\nby guess; but perhaps the following theory may in some degree be found\nsatisfactory. We have shown that tradition, from the earliest age,\ninvariably asserted that Pelasgic colonies had formed settlements in\ncentral Italy; nothing is more notorious than the custom of the\nPelasgic tribes to take the name of their general, or of some town in\nwhich they had taken up their temporary residence; now \u00c6ne'a and \u00c6'nus\nwere common names of the Pelasgic towns; the city of Thessaloni'ca was\nerected on the site of the ancient \u00c6ne'a; there was an \u00c6'nus in\nThrace,[A] another in Thessaly,[A] another among the Locrians, and\nanother in Epi'rus:[1] hence it is not very improbable but that some\nof the Pelasgic tribes which entered Latium may have been called\nthe \u00c6ne'ad\u00e6; and the name, as in a thousand instances, preserved after\nthe cause was forgotten. This conjecture is confirmed by the fact,\nthat temples traditionally said to have been erected by a people\ncalled the \u00c6ne'ad\u00e6, are found in the Macedonian peninsula of\nPall'ene,[2] in the islands of De'los, Cythe'ra, Zacy'nthus,\nLeuca'dia, and Sicily, on the western coasts of Ambra'cia and Epi'rus,\nand on the southern coast of Sicily.\nThe account of several Trojans, and especially \u00c6ne'as, having survived\nthe destruction of the city, is as old as the earliest narrative of\nthat famous siege; Homer distinctly asserts it when he makes Neptune\ndeclare,\n    --Nor thus can Jove resign\n  The future father of the Dardan line:\n  The first great ancestor obtain'd his grace,\n  And still his love descends on all the race.\n  For Priam now, and Priam's faithless kind,\n  At length are odious, to the all-seeing mind;\n  On great \u00c6neas shall devolve the reign,\n  And sons succeeding sons the lasting line sustain.\n    ILIAD, xx.\nBut long before the historic age, Phrygia and the greater part of the\nwestern shores of Asia Minor were occupied by Grecian colonies, and\nall remembrance of \u00c6ne'as and his followers lost. When the narrative\nof the Trojan war, with other Greek legends, began to be circulated in\nLati'um, it was natural that the identity of name should have led to\nthe confounding of the \u00c6ne'ad\u00e6 who had survived the destruction of\nTroy, with those who had come to La'tium from the Pelasgic \u00c6'nus. The\ncities which were said to be founded by the \u00c6ne'ad\u00e6 were, Latin Troy,\nwhich possessed empire for three years; Lavinium, whose sway lasted\nthirty; Alba, which was supreme for three hundred years; and Rome,\nwhose dominion was to be interminable, though some assign a limit of\nthree thousand years. These numbers bear evident traces of\nsuperstitious invention; and the legends by which these cities are\nsuccessively deduced from the first encampment of \u00c6ne'as, are at\nvariance with these fanciful periods. The account that Alba was built\nby a son of \u00c6ne'as, who had been guided to the spot by a white sow,\nwhich had farrowed thirty young, is clearly a story framed from\nthe similarity of the name to Albus (_white_,) and the circumstance of\nthe city having been the capital of the thirty Latin tribes. The city\nderived its name from its position on the Alban mountain; for _Alb_,\nor _Alp_, signifies lofty in the ancient language of Italy, and the\nemblem of a sow with thirty young, may have been a significant emblem\nof the dominion which it unquestionably possessed over the other Latin\nstates. The only thing that we can establish as certain in the early\nhistory of La'tium is, that its inhabitants were of a mixed race, and\nthe sources from whence they sprung Pelasgic and Oscan; that is, one\nconnected with the Greeks, and the other with some ancient Italian\ntribe. We have seen that this fact is the basis of all their\ntraditions, that it is confirmed by the structure of their language,\nand, we may add, that it is further proved by their political\ninstitutions. In all the Latin cities, as well as Rome, we find the\npeople divided into an aristocracy and democracy, or, as they are more\nproperly called, Patricians and Plebeians. The experience of all ages\nwarrants the inference, which may be best stated in the words of Dr.\nFaber: \"In the progress of the human mind there is an invariable\ntendency not to introduce into an undisturbed community a palpable\ndifference between lords and serfs, instead of a legal equality of\nrights; but to abolish such difference by enfranchising the serfs.\nHence, from the universal experience of history, we may be sure that\nwhenever this distinction is found to exist, the society must be\ncomposed of two races differing from each other in point of origin.\"\nThe traditions respecting the origin of Rome are innumerable; some\nhistorians assert that its founder was a Greek; others, \u00c6neas and his\nTrojans; and others give the honour to the Tyrrhenians: all, however,\nagree, that the first inhabitants were a Latin colony from Alba. Even\nthose who adopted the most current story, which is followed by Dr.\nGoldsmith, believed that the city existed before the time of Rom'ulus,\nand that he was called the founder from being the first who gave it\nstrength and stability. It seems probable that several villages might\nhave been formed at an early age on the different hills, which were\nafterwards included in the circuit of Rome; and that the first of them\nwhich obtained a decided superiority, the village on the Palatine\nhill, finally absorbed the rest, and gave its name to \"the eternal\ncity\".\nThere seems to be some uncertainty whether Romulus gave his name\nto the city, or derived his own from it; the latter is asserted by\nseveral historians, but those who ascribe to the city a Grecian\norigin, with some show of probability assert that Romus (another form\nof Romulus) and Roma are both derived from the Greek [Greek: r\u00f4m\u00ea],\n_strength_. The city, we are assured, had another name, which the\npriests were forbidden to divulge; but what that was, it is now\nimpossible to discover.\nWe have thus traced the history of the Latins down to the period when\nRome was founded, or at least when it became a city, and shown how\nlittle reliance can be placed on the accounts given of these periods\nby the early historians. We shall hereafter see that great uncertainty\nrests on the history of Rome itself during the first four centuries of\nits existence.\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] It is scarcely necessary to remark that the Pelas'gi were the\noriginal settlers in these countries.\n[2] In all these places we find also the Tyrrhenian Pelas'gi.\nCHAPTER III.\nTHE TOPOGRAPHY OF ROME.\n  Full in the centre of these wondrous works\n  The pride of earth! Rome in her glory see.--_Thomson._\n1. The city of Rome, according to _Varro_, was founded in the fourth\nyear of the sixth _Olympiad_, B.C. 753; but Cato, the censor, places\nthe event four years later, in the second year of the seventh\nOlympiad. The day of its foundation was the 21st of April, which was\nsacred to the rural goddess Pa'les, when the rustics were accustomed\nto solicit the increase of their flocks from the deity, and to purify\nthemselves for involuntary violation of the consecrated places. The\naccount preserved by tradition of the ceremonies used on this\noccasion, confirms the opinion of those who contend that Rome had a\nprevious existence as a village, and that what is called its\nfoundation was really an enlargement of its boundaries, by taking in\nthe ground at the foot of the Palatine hill. The first care of\nRo'mulus was to mark out the Pomoe'rium; a space round the walls of\nthe city, on which it was unlawful to erect buildings.\n2. The person who determined the Pomoe'rium yoked a bullock and\nheifer to a plough, having a copper-share, and drew a furrow to mark\nthe course of the future wall; he guided the plough so that all the\nsods might fall inwards, and was followed by others, who took\ncare that none should lie the other way. 3. When he came to the place\nwhere it was designed to erect a gate, the plough was taken up,[1] and\ncarried to where the wall recommenced. The next ceremony was the\nconsecration of the commit'ium, or place of public assembly. A vault\nwas built under ground, and filled with the firstlings of all the\nnatural productions that sustain human life, and with earth which each\nforeign settler had brought from his own home. This place was called\n_Mun'dus_, and was supposed to become the gate of the lower world; it\nwas opened on three several days of the year, for the spirits of the\ndead.\n4. The next addition made to the city was the Sabine town,[2] which\noccupied the Quirinal and part of the Capitoline hills. The name of\nthis town most probably was Qui'rium, and from it the Roman people\nreceived the name Quirites. The two cities were united on terms of\nequality, and the double-faced Ja'nus stamped on the earliest Roman\ncoins was probably a symbol of the double state. They were at first so\ndisunited, that even the rights of intermarriage did not exist between\nthem, and it was probably from Qui'rium that the Roman youths obtained\nthe wives[3] by force, which were refused to their entreaties. 5. The\nnext addition was the Coelian hill,[4] on which a Tuscan colony\nsettled; from these three colonies the three tribes of Ram'nes,\nTi'ties, and Lu'ceres were formed. 6. The Ram'nes, or Ram'nenses,\nderived their name from Rom'ulus; the Tities, or Titien'ses, from\nTitus Tatius, the king of the Sabines; and the Lu'ceres, from\nLu'cumo, the Tuscan title of a general or leader.[5] From this it\nappears that the three tribes[6] were really three distinct nations,\ndiffering in their origin, and dwelling apart.\n7. The city was enlarged by Tullus Hostilius,[7] after the destruction\nof Alba, and the Viminal hill included within the walls; Ancus Martius\nadded mount Aventine, and the Esquiline and Capitoline[8] being\nenclosed in the next reign, completed the number of the seven hills on\nwhich the ancient city stood.\n8. The hill called Jani'culum, on the north bank of the Tiber, was\nfortified as an outwork by Ancus Martius, and joined to the city by\nthe bridge; he also dug a trench round the newly erected buildings,\nfor their greater security, and called it the ditch of the Quirites.\n9. The public works erected by the kings were of stupendous magnitude,\nbut the private buildings were wretched, the streets narrow, and the\nhouses mean. It was not until after the burning of the city by the\nGauls that the city was laid out on a better plan; after the Punic\nwars wealth flowed in abundantly, and private persons began to erect\nmagnificent mansions. From the period of the conquest of Asia until\nthe reign of Augustus, the city daily augmented its splendour, but so\nmuch was added by that emperor, that he boasted that \"he found Rome a\ncity of brick, and left it a city of marble.\"\n10. The circumference of the city has been variously estimated, some\nwriters including in their computation a part of the suburbs;\naccording to Pliny it was near twenty miles round the walls. In\nconsequence of this great extent the city had more than thirty gates,\nof which the most remarkable were the Carmental, the Esquiline, the\nTriumphal, the Naval, and those called Tergem'ina and Cape'na.\n11. The division of the city into four tribes continued until the\nreign of Augustus; a new arrangement was made by the emperor, who\ndivided Rome into fourteen wards, or regions.[9] The magnificent\npublic and private buildings in a city so extensive and wealthy were\nvery numerous, and a bare catalogue of them would fill a volume;[10]\nour attention must be confined to those which possessed some\nhistorical importance.\n12. The most celebrated and conspicuous buildings were in the eighth\ndivision of the city, which contained the Capitol and its temples, the\nSenate House, and the Forum. The Capitoline-hill was anciently called\nSaturnius, from the ancient city of Satur'nia, of which it was the\ncitadel; it was afterwards called the Tarpeian mount, and finally\nreceived the name of Capitoline from a human head[11] being found on\nits summit when the foundations of the temple of Jupiter were laid. It\nhad two summits; that on the south retained the name Tarpeian;[12] the\nnorthern was properly the Capitol. 13. On this part of the hill\nRomulus first established his asylum, in a sacred grove, dedicated to\nsome unknown divinity; and erected a fort or citadel[13] on the\nTarpeian summit. The celebrated temple of Jupiter Capitoli'nus,\nerected on this hill, was begun by the elder Tarquin, and finished by\nTarquin the Proud. It was burned down in the civil wars between\nMa'rius and Syl'la,  but restored by the latter, who adorned it\nwith pillars taken from the temple of Jupiter at Olympia. It was\nrebuilt after similar accidents by Vespa'sian and Domitian, and on\neach occasion with additional splendour. The rich ornaments and gifts\npresented to this temple by different princes and generals amounted to\na scarcely credible sum. The gold and jewels given by Augustus alone\nare said to have exceeded in value four thousand pounds sterling. A\nnail was annually driven into the wall of the temple to mark the\ncourse of time; besides this chronological record, it contained the\nSibylline books, and other oracles supposed to be pregnant with the\nfate of the city. There were several other temples on this hill, of\nwhich the most remarkable was that of Jupiter Feretrius, erected by\nRomulus, where the spolia opima were deposited.\n14. The Forum, or place of public assembly, was situated between the\nPalatine and Capitoline hills. It was surrounded with temples,\nbasilicks,[14] and public offices, and adorned with innumerable\nstatues.[15] On one side of this space were the elevated seats from\nwhich the Roman magistrates and orators addressed the people; they\nwere called Rostra, because they were ornamented with the beaks of\nsome galleys taken from the city of Antium. In the centre of the forum\nwas a place called the Curtian Lake, either from a Sabine general\ncalled Curtius, said to have been smothered in the marsh which was\nonce there; or from[16] the Roman knight who plunged into a gulf that\nopened suddenly on the spot. The celebrated temple of Ja'nus, built\nentirely of bronze, stood in the Forum; it is supposed to have been\nerected by Numa. The gates of this temple were opened in time of war,\nand shut during peace. So continuous we're the wars of the Romans,\nthat the gates were only closed three times during the space of eight\ncenturies. In the vicinity stood the temple of Concord, where the\nsenate frequently assembled, and the temple of Vesta, where the\npalla'dium was said to be deposited.\n15. Above the rostra was the Senate-house, said to have been\nfirst erected by Tullus Hostilius; and near the Comitium, or place of\nmeeting for the patrician Curi\u00e6.[17] This area was at first uncovered,\nbut a roof was erected at the close of the second Pu'nic war.\n16. The Cam'pus Mar'tius, or field of Mars, was originally the estate\nof Tarquin the Proud, and was, with his other property, confiscated\nafter the expulsion of that monarch. It was a large space, where\narmies were mustered, general assemblies of the people held, and the\nyoung nobility trained in martial exercises. In the later ages, it was\nsurrounded by several magnificent structures, and porticos were\nerected, under which the citizens might take their accustomed exercise\nin rainy weather. These improvements were principally made by Marcus\nAgrippa, in the reign of Augustus. 17. He erected in the\nneighbourhood, the Panthe'on, or temple of all the gods, one of the\nmost splendid buildings in ancient Rome. It is of a circular form, and\nits roof is in the form of a cupola or dome; it is used at present as\na Christian church. Near the Panthe'on were the baths and gardens\nwhich Agrippa, at his death, bequeathed to the Roman people.\n18. The theatres and circi for the exhibition of public spectacles\nwere very numerous. The first theatre was erected by Pompey the Great;\nbut the Circus Maximus, where gladiatorial combats were displayed, was\nerected by Tarquinus Priscus; this enormous building was frequently\nenlarged, and in the age of Pliny could accommodate two hundred\nthousand spectators. A still more remarkable edifice was the\namphitheatre erected by Vespasian, called, from its enormous size, the\nColosse'um.\n19. Public baths were early erected for the use of the people, and in\nthe later ages were among the most remarkable displays of Roman luxury\nand splendour. Lofty arches, stately pillars, vaulted ceilings, seats\nof solid silver, costly marbles inlaid with precious stones, were\nexhibited in these buildings with the most lavish profusion.\n20. The aqueducts for supplying the city with water, were still more\nworthy of admiration; they were supported by arches, many of them a\nhundred feet high, and carried over mountains and morasses that might\nhave appeared insuperable. The first aqueduct was erected by Ap'pius\nClo'dius, the censor, four hundred years after the foundation\nof the city; but under the emperors there were not less than twenty of\nthese useful structures, and such was the supply of water, that rivers\nseemed to flow through the streets and sewers. Even now, though only\nthree of the aqueducts remain, such are their dimensions that no city\nin Europe has a greater abundance of wholesome water than Rome.\n21. The Cloa'c\u00e6, or common sewers, attracted the wonder of the\nancients themselves; the largest was completed by Tarquin the Proud.\nThe innermost vault of this astonishing structure forms a semicircle\neighteen Roman palms wide, and as many high: this is inclosed in a\nsecond vault, and that again in a third, all formed of hewn blocks of\npepenno, fixed together without cement. So extensive were these\nchannels, that in the reign of Augustus the city was subterraneously\nnavigable.\n22. The public roads were little inferior to the aqueducts and Cloa'c\u00e6\nin utility and costliness; the chief was the Appian road from Rome to\nBrundu'sium; it extended three hundred and fifty miles, and was paved\nwith huge squares through its entire length. After the lapse of\nnineteen centuries many parts of it are still as perfect as when it\nwas first made.\n23. The Appian road passed through the following towns; Ari'cia,\nFo'rum Ap'pii, An'xur or Terraci'na, Fun'di, Mintur'n\u00e6, Sinue'ssa,\nCap'ua, Can'dium, Beneven'tum, Equotu'ticum, Herdo'nia, Canu'sium,\nBa'rium, and Brundu'sium. Between Fo'rum Ap'pii and Terraci'na lie the\ncelebrated Pomptine marshes, formed by the overflowing of some small\nstreams. In the flourishing ages of Roman history these pestilential\nmarshes did not exist, or were confined to a very limited space; but\nfrom the decline of the Roman empire, the waters gradually encroached,\nuntil the successful exertions made by the Pontiffs in modern times to\narrest their baleful progress. Before the drainage of Pope Sixtus, the\nmarshes covered at least thirteen thousand acres of ground, which in\nthe earlier ages was the most fruitful portion of the Italian soil.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. When was Rome founded?\n2. What ceremonies were used in determining the pomcerium?\n3. How was the comitium consecrated?\n4. What was the first addition made to Rome?\n5. What was the next addition?\n6. Into what tribes were the Romans divided?\n7. What were the hills added in later times to Rome?\n8. Had the Romans any buildings north of the Tiber?\n9. When did Rome become a magnificent city?\n10. What was the extent of the city?\n11. How was the city divided?\n12. Which was the most remarkable of the seven hills?\n13. What buildings were on the Capitoline hill?\n14. What description is given of the forum?\n15. Where was the senate-house and comitium?\n16. What use was made of the Campus Martius?\n17. What was the Pantheon?\n18. Were the theatres and circii remarkable?\n19. Had the Romans public baths?\n20. How was the city supplied with water?\n21. Were the cloac\u00e6 remarkable for their size?\n22. Which was the chief Italian road?\n23. What were the most remarkable places on the Appian road?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] Hence a gate was called _porta_, from _porta're_, to carry. The\nreason of this part of the ceremony was, that the plough being deemed\nholy, it was unlawful that any thing unclean should pollute the place\nwhich it had touched; but it was obviously necessary that things clean\nand unclean should pass through the gates of the city. It is\nremarkable that all the ceremonies here mentioned were imitated from\nthe Tuscans.\n[2] This, though apparently a mere conjecture, has been so fully\nproved by Niebuhr, (vol. i. p. 251,) that it may safely be assumed as\nan historical fact.\n[3] See Chapter II. of the following history.\n[4] All authors are agreed that the Coelian hill was named from\nCoeles Viben'na, a Tuscan chief; but there is a great variety in the\ndate assigned to his settlement at Rome. Some make him cotemporary\nwith Rom'ulus, others with the elder Tarquin, or Servius Tullius. In\nthis uncertainty all that can be satisfactorily determined is, that at\nsome early period a Tuscan colony settled in Rome.\n[5] Others say that they were named so in honour of Lu'ceres, king of\nArdea, according to which theory the third would have been a\nPelasgo-Tyrrhenian colony.\n[6] We shall hereafter have occasion to remark, that the Lu'ceres were\nsubject to the other tribes.\n[7] See History, Chapter IV.\n[8] The Pincian and Vatican hills were added at a much later period\nand these, with Janiculum, made the number ten.\n[9] They were named as follow:\n1. Porta Cape'na 2. Coelimon'tium 3. I'sis and Sera'pis 4. Via\nSa'cra 5. Esquili'na 6. Acta Se'mita 7. Vita Lata 8. Forum Roma'num 9.\nCircus Flamin'ius 10. Pala'tium 11. Circus Max'imus 12. Pici'na\nPub'lica 13. Aventinus 14. Transtiberi'na.\nThe divisions made by Servius were named: the Suburan, which comprised\nchiefly the Coelian mount; the Colline, which included the Viminal\nand Quirinal hills; the Esquiline and Palatine, which evidently\ncoincided with the hills of the same name.\n[10] Among the public buildings of ancient Rome, when in her zenith,\nare numbered 420 temples, five regular theatres, two amphitheatres,\nand seven circusses of vast extent; sixteen public baths, fourteen\naqueducts, from which a prodigious number of fountains were constantly\nsupplied; innumerable palaces and public halls, stately columns,\nsplendid porticos, and lofty obelisks.\n[11] From _caput_, \"a head.\"\n[12] State criminals were punished by being precipitated from the\nTarpeian rock; the soil has been since so much raised by the\naccumulation of ruins, that a fall from it is no longer dangerous.\n[13] In the reign of Numa, the Quirinal hill was deemed the citadel of\nRome; an additional confirmation of Niebuhr's theory, that Quirium was\na Sabine town, which, being early absorbed in Rome, was mistaken by\nsubsequent, writers for Cu'res.\n[14] Basilicks were spacious halls for the administration of justice.\n[15] It is called _Templum_ by Livy; but the word templum with the\nRomans does not mean an edifice, but a consecrated inclosure. From its\nposition, we may conjecture that the forum was originally a place of\nmeeting common to the inhabitants of the Sabine town on the Quirinal,\nand the Latin town on the Palatine hill.\n[16] See Chap. XII. Sect. V. of the following History.\n[17] See the following chapter.\nCHAPTER IV.\nTHE ROMAN CONSTITUTION.\n  As once in virtue, so in vice extreme,\n  This universal fabric yielded loose,\n  Before ambition still; and thundering down,\n  At last beneath its ruins crush'd a world.--_Thomson_.\nI. The most remarkable feature in the Roman constitution is the\ndivision of the people into Patricians and Plebeians, and our first\ninquiry must be the origin of this separation. It is clearly\nimpossible that such a distinction could have existed from the very\nbeginning, because no persons would have consented in a new community\nto the investing of any class with peculiar privileges. We find that\nall the Roman kings, after they had subdued a city, drafted a portion\nof its inhabitants to Rome; and if they did not destroy the subjugated\nplace, garrisoned it with a Roman colony. The strangers thus brought\nto Rome were not admitted to a participation of civic rights; they\nwere like the inhabitants of a corporate town who are excluded from\nthe elective franchise: by successive immigrations, the number of\npersons thus disqualified became more numerous than that of the first\ninhabitants or old freemen, and they naturally sought a share in the\ngovernment, as a means of protecting their persons and properties. On\nthe other hand, the men who possessed the exclusive power of\nlegislation, struggled hard to retain their hereditary privileges, and\nwhen forced to make concessions, yielded as little as they\npossibly could to the popular demands. Modern history furnishes us\nwith numerous instances of similar struggles between classes, and of a\nseparation in interests and feelings between inhabitants of the same\ncountry, fully as strong as that between the patricians and plebeians\nat Rome.\n2. The first tribes were divided by Ro'mulus into thirty _cu'ri\u00e6,_ and\neach cu'ria contained ten _gentes_ or associations. The individuals of\neach gens were not in all cases, and probably not in the majority of\ninstances, connected by birth;[1] the attributes of the members of a\n_gens_, according to Cicero, were, a common name and participation in\nprivate religious rites; descent from free ancestors; the absence of\nlegal disqualification. 3. The members of these associations were\nunited by certain laws, which conferred peculiar privileges, called\njura gentium; of these the most remarkable were, the succession to the\nproperty of every member who died without kin and intestate, and the\nobligation imposed on all to assist their indigent fellows under any\nextraordinary burthen.[2] 4. The head of each gens was regarded as a\nkind of father, and possessed a paternal authority over the members;\nthe chieftancy was both elective and hereditary;[3] that is, the\nindividual was always selected from some particular family.\n5. Besides the members of the gens, there were attached to it a number\nof dependents called clients, who owed submission to the chief as\ntheir patron, and received from him assistance and protection. The\nclients were generally foreigners who came to settle at Rome, and not\npossessing municipal rights, were forced to appear in the courts of\nlaw, &c. by proxy. In process of time this relation assumed a feudal\nform, and the clients were bound to the same duties as vassals[4] in\nthe middle ages.\n6. The chiefs of the gentes composed the senate, and were called\n\"fathers,\" (patres.) In the time of Romulus, the senate at first\nconsisted only of one hundred members, who of course represented the\nLatin tribe Ramne'nses; the number was doubled after the union with\nthe Sabines, and the new members were chosen from the Titienses. The\nTuscan tribe of the Lu'ceres remained unrepresented in the senate\nuntil the reign of the first Tarquin, when the legislative body\nreceived another hundred[5] from that tribe. Tarquin the elder was,\naccording to history, a Tuscan Iticumo, and seems to have owed his\nelevation principally to the efforts of his compatriots settled at\nRome. It is to this event we must refer, in a great degree, the number\nof Tuscan ceremonies which are to be found in the political\ninstitutions of the Romans.\n7. The gentes were not only represented in the senate, but met also in\na public assembly called \"comitia curiata.\" In these comitia the kings\nwere elected and invested with royal authority. After the complete\nchange of the constitution in later ages, the \"comitia curiata\"[6]\nrarely assembled, and their power was limited to religious matters;\nbut during the earlier period of the republic, they claimed and\nfrequently exercised the supreme powers of the state, and were named\nemphatically, The People.\n8. The power and prerogatives of the kings at Rome, were similar to\nthose of the Grecian sovereigns in the heroic ages. The monarch was\ngeneral of the army, a high priest,[7] and first magistrate of the\nrealm; he administered justice in person every ninth day, but an\nappeal lay from his sentence, in criminal cases, to the general\nassemblies of the people. The pontiffs and augurs, however, were\nin some measure independent of the sovereign, and assumed the\nuncontrolled direction of the religion of the state.\n9. The entire constitution was remodelled by Ser'vius Tul'lius, and a\nmore liberal form of government introduced. His first and greatest\nachievement was the formation of the plebeians into an organized order\nof the state, invested with political rights. He divided them into\nfour cities and twenty-six rustic tribes, and thus made the number of\ntribes the same as that of the curi\u00e6. This was strictly a geographical\ndivision, analagous to our parishes, and had no connection with\nfamilies, like that of the Jewish tribes.\n10. Still more remarkable was the institution of the census, and the\ndistribution of the people into classes and centuries proportionate to\ntheir wealth. The census was a periodical valuation of all the\nproperty possessed by the citizens, and an enumeration of all the\nsubjects of the state: there were five classes, ranged according to\nthe estimated value of their possessions, and the taxes they\nconsequently paid. The first class contained eighty centuries out of\nthe hundred and seventy; the sixth class, in which those were included\nwho were too poor to be taxed, counted but for one. We shall,\nhereafter have occasion to see that this arrangement was also used for\nmilitary purposes; it is only necessary to say here, that the sixth\nclass were deprived of the use of arms, and exempt from serving in\nwar.\n11. The people voted in the comitia centuriata by centuries; that is,\nthe vote of each century was taken separately and counted only as one.\nBy this arrangement a just influence was secured to property; and the\nclients of the patricians in the sixth class prevented from\nout-numbering the free citizens.\n12. Ser'vius Tul'lius undoubtedly intended that the comitia centuriata\nshould form the third estate of the realm, and during his reign they\nprobably held that rank; but when, by an aristocratic insurrection he\nwas slain in the senate-house, the power conceded to the people was\nagain usurped by the patricians, and the comitio centuriata did not\nrecover the right[8] of legislation before the laws[9] of the twelve\ntables were established.\n13. The law which made the debtor a slave to his creditor was repealed\nby Ser'vius, and re-enacted by his successor; the patricians preserved\nthis abominable custom during several ages, and did not resign it\nuntil the state had been brought to the very brink of ruin.\n14. During the reign of Ser'vius, Rome was placed at the head of the\nLatin confederacy, and acknowledged to be the metropolitan city. It\nwas deprived of this supremacy after the war with Porsen'na, but soon\nrecovered its former greatness.\n15. The equestrian rank was an order in the Roman state from the very\nbeginning. It was at first confined to the nobility, and none but the\npatricians had the privilege of serving on horseback. But in the later\nages, it became a political dignity, and persons were raised to the\nequestrian rank by the amount of their possessions.\n16. The next great change took place after the expulsion of the kings;\nannual magistrates, called consuls, were elected in the comitia\ncenturiata, but none but patricians could hold this office. 17. The\nliberties of the people were soon after extended and secured by\ncertain laws, traditionally attributed to Vale'rius Public'ola, of\nwhich the most important was that which allowed[10] an appeal to a\ngeneral assembly of the people from the sentence of a magistrate. 18.\nTo deprive the plebeians of this privilege was the darling object of\nthe patricians, and it was for this purpose alone that they instituted\nthe dictatorship. From the sentence of this magistrate there was no\nappeal to the tribes or centuries, but the patricians kept their own\nprivilege of being tried before the tribunal of the curi\u00e6. 19. The\npower of the state was now usurped by a factious oligarchy, whose\noppressions were more grievous than those of the worst tyrant; they at\nlast became so intolerable, that the commonalty had recourse to arms,\nand fortified that part of the city which was exclusively inhabited by\nthe plebeians, while others formed a camp on the Sacred Mount at some\ndistance from Rome. A tumult of this kind was called a secession; it\nthreatened to terminate in a civil war, which would have been both\nlong and doubtful; for the patricians and their clients were probably\nas numerous as the people. A reconciliation was effected, and the\nplebeians placed under the protection of magistrates chosen from their\nown body, called tribunes of the people.\n20. The plebeians, having now authorised leaders, began to struggle\nfor an equalization of rights, and the patricians resisted them with\nthe most determined energy. In this protracted contest the popular\ncause prevailed, though the patricians made use of the most violent\nmeans to secure their usurped powers. The first triumph obtained by\nthe people was the right to summon patricians before the comitia\ntributa, or assemblies of people in tribes; soon after they obtained\nthe privilege of electing their tribunes at these comitia, instead of\nthe centuria'ta; and finally, after a fierce opposition, the\npatricians were forced to consent that the state should be governed by\na written code.\n21. The laws of the twelve tables did not alter the legal relations\nbetween the citizens; the struggle was renewed with greater violence\nthan ever after the expulsion of the decem'viri, but finally\nterminated in the complete triumph of the people. The Roman\nconstitution became essentially democratical; the offices of the state\nwere open to all the citizens; and although the difference between the\npatrician and plebeian families still subsisted, they soon ceased of\nthemselves to be political parties. From the time that equal rights\nwere granted to all the citizens, Rome advanced rapidly in wealth and\npower; the subjugation of Italy was effected within the succeeding\ncentury, and that was soon followed by foreign conquests.\n22. In the early part of the struggle between the patricians and\nplebeians, the magistracy, named the censorship, was instituted. The\ncensors were designed at first merely to preside over the taking of\nthe census, but they afterwards obtained the power of punishing, by a\ndeprivation of civil rights, those who were guilty of any flagrant\nimmorality. The patricians retained exclusive possession of the\ncensorship, long after the consulship had been opened to the\nplebeians.\n23. The senate,[11] which had been originally a patrician\ncouncil, was gradually opened to the plebeians; when the free\nconstitution was perfected, every person possessing a competent\nfortune that had held a superior magistracy, was enrolled as a senator\nat the census immediately succeeding the termination of his office.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What is the most probable account given of the origin of the\ndistinction between the patricians and the plebeians at Rome?\n2. How did Romulus subdivide the Roman tribes?\n3. By what regulations were the gentes governed?\n4. Who were the chiefs of the gentes?\n5. What was the condition of the clients?\n6. By whom were alterations made in the number and constitution of the\nsenate?\n7. What assembly was peculiar to the patricians?\n8. What were the powers of the Roman kings?\n9. What great change was made in the Roman constitution by Servius\nTullius?\n10. For what purpose was the census instituted?\n11. How were votes taken in the comitia centuriata?\n12. Were the designs of Servius frustrated?\n13. What was the Roman law respecting debtors?\n14. When did the Roman power decline?\n15. What changes were made in the constitution of the equestrian rank?\n16. What change was made after the abolition of royalty?\n17. How were the liberties of the people secured?\n18. Why was the office of dictator appointed?\n19. How did the plebeians obtain the protection of magistrates chosen\nfrom their own order?\n20. What additional triumphs were obtained by the plebeians?\n21. What was the consequence of the establishment of freedom?\n22. For what purpose was the censorship instituted?\n23. What change took place in the constitution of the senate?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] The same remark may be applied to the Scottish clans and the\nancient Irish septs, which were very similar to the Roman _gentes_.\n[2] When the plebeians endeavoured to procure the repeal of the laws\nwhich prohibited the intermarriage of the patricians and plebeians,\nthe principal objection made by the former was, that these rights and\nobligations of the gentes (jura gentium) would be thrown into\nconfusion.\n[3] This was also the case with the Irish tanists, or chiefs of septs;\nthe people elected a tanist, but their choice was confined to the\nmembers of the ruling family.\n[4] See Historical Miscellany Part III. Chap. i.\n[5] They were called \"patres nunorum gentium,\" the senators of the\ninferior gentes.\n[6] The \"comitia curiata,\" assembled in the comi'tium, the general\nassemblies of the people were held in the forum. The patrician curi\u00e6\nwere called, emphatically, the council of the people; (concilium\npopuli;) the third estate was called plebeian, (plebs.) This\ndistinction between _populus_ and _plebs_ was disregarded after the\nplebeians had established their claim to equal rights. The English\nreader will easily understand the difference, if he considers that the\npatricians were precisely similar to the members of a close\ncorporation, and the plebeians to the other inhabitants of a city. In\nLondon, for example, the common council may represent the senate, the\nlivery answer for the populus, patricians, or comitia curiata, and the\ngeneral body of other inhabitants will correspond with the plebs.\n[7] There were certain sacrifices which the Romans believed could only\nbe offered by a king; after the abolition of royalty, a priest, named\nthe petty sacrificing king, (rex sacrificulus,) was elected to perform\nthis duty.\n[8] Perhaps it would be more accurate to say the _exclusive_ right of\nlegislation; for it appears that the comitia centuriata were sometimes\nsummoned to give their sanction to laws which had been previously\nenacted by the curi\u00e6.\n[9] See Chap. XII.\n[10] The Romans were previously acquainted with that great principle\nof justice, the right of trial by a person's peers. In the earliest\nages the patricians had a right of appeal to the curi\u00e6; the Valerian\nlaws extended the same right to the plebeians.\n[11] The senators were called conscript fathers, (patres conscripti,)\neither from their being enrolled on the censor's list, or more\nprobably from the addition made to their numbers after the expulsion\nof the kings, in order to supply the places of those who had been\nmurdered by Tarquin. The new senators were at first called conscript,\nand in the process of time the name was extended to the entire body.\nCHAPTER V.\nTHE ROMAN TENURE OF LAND--COLONIAL GOVERNMENT.\n  Each rules his race, his neighbour not his care,\n  Heedless of others, to his own severe.--_Homer_.\n[As this chapter is principally designed for advanced students, it has\nnot been thought necessary to add questions for examination.]\nThe contests respecting agrarian laws occupy so large a space in Roman\nhistory, and are so liable to be misunderstood, that it is necessary\nto explain their origin at some length. According to an almost\nuniversal custom, the right of conquest was supposed to involve the\nproperty of the land. Thus the Normans who assisted William I. were\nsupposed to have obtained a right to the possessions of the Saxons;\nand in a later age, the Irish princes, whose estates were not\nconfirmed by a direct grant from the English crown, were exposed to\nforfeiture when legally summoned to prove their titles. The extensive\nacquisitions made by the Romans, were either formed into extensive\nnational domains, or divided into small lots among the poorer classes.\nThe usufruct of the domains was monopolized by the patricians who\nrented them from the state; the smaller lots were assigned to the\nplebeians, subject to a tax called tribute, but not to rent. An\nagrarian law was a proposal to make an assignment of portions of the\npublic lands to the people, and to limit the quantity of national land\nthat could be farmed by any particular patrician.[1] Such a law may\nhave been frequently impolitic, because it may have disturbed ancient\npossessions, but it could never have been unjust; for the property of\nthe land was absolutely fixed in the state. The lands held by the\npatricians, being divided into extensive tracts, were principally used\nfor pasturage; the small lots assigned to the plebeians were, of\nnecessity, devoted to agriculture. Hence arose the first great cause\nof hostility between the two orders; the patricians were naturally\neager to extend their possessions in the public domains, which enabled\nthem to provide for their numerous clients, and in remote districts\nthey frequently wrested the estates from the free proprietors in their\nneighbourhood; the plebeians, on the other hand, deemed that they\nhad the best right to the land purchased by their blood, and saw with\njust indignation, the fruits of victory monopolized by a single order\nin the state. The tribute paid by the plebeians increased this\nhardship, for it was a land-tax levied on estates, and consequently\nfell most heavily on the smaller proprietors; indeed, in many cases,\nthe possessors of the national domains paid nothing.\nFrom all this it is evident that an agrarian law only removed tenants\nwho held from the state at will, and did not in any case interfere\nwith the sacred right of property; but it is also plain that such a\nchange must have been frequently inconvenient to the individual in\npossession. It also appears, that had not agrarian laws been\nintroduced, the great body of the plebeians would have become the\nclients of the patricians, and the form of government would have been\na complete oligarchy.\nThe chief means to which the Romans, even from the earliest ages, had\nrecourse for securing their conquests, and at the same time relieving\nthe poorer classes of citizens, was the establishment of colonies in\nthe conquered states. The new citizens formed a kind of garrison, and\nwere held together by a constitution formed on the model of the parent\nstate. From what has been said above, it is evident that a law for\nsending out a colony was virtually an agrarian law, since lands were\ninvariably assigned to those who were thus induced to abandon their\nhomes.\nThe relations between Rome and the subject cities in Italy were very\nvarious. Some, called _municipia_, were placed in full possession of\nthe rights of Roman citizens, but could not in all cases vote in the\ncomitia. The privileges of the colonies were more restricted, for they\nwere absolutely excluded from the Roman comitia and magistracies. The\nfederative[2] states enjoyed their own constitutions, but were bound\nto supply the Romans with tribute and auxiliary forces. Finally, the\nsubject states were deprived of their internal constitutions, and were\ngoverned by annual prefects chosen in Rome.\nBefore discussing the subject of the Roman constitution, we must\nobserve that it was, like our own, gradually formed by practice; there\nwas no single written code like those of Athens and Sparta, but\nchanges were made whenever they were required by circumstances; before\nthe plebeians obtained an equality of civil rights, the state neither\ncommanded respect abroad, nor enjoyed tranquillity at home. The\npatricians sacrificed their own real advantages, as well as the\ninterests of their country, to maintain an ascendancy as injurious to\nthemselves, as it was unjust to the other citizens. But no sooner had\nthe agrarian laws established a more equitable distribution of\nproperty, and other popular laws opened the magistracy to merit\nwithout distinction of rank, than the city rose to empire with\nunexampled rapidity.\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] The Licinian law provided that no one should rent at a time more\nthan 500 acres of public land.\n[2] The league by which the Latin states were bound (jus Latii) was\nmore favourable than that granted to the other Italians (jus\nItalicum.)\nCHAPTER VI.\nTHE ROMAN RELIGION.\n  First to the gods 'tis fitting to prepare\n  The due libation, and the solemn prayer;\n  For all mankind alike require their grace,\n  All born to want; a miserable race.--_Homer_.\n1. We have shown that the Romans were, most probably, a people\ncompounded of the Latins, the Sabines, and the Tuscans; and that the\nfirst and last of these component parts were themselves formed from\nPelasgic and native tribes. The original deities[1] worshipped by the\nRomans were derived from the joint traditions of all these tribes; but\nthe religious institutions and ceremonies were almost wholly borrowed\nfrom the Tuscans. Unlike the Grecian mythology, with which, in later\nages, it was united, the Roman system of religion had all the gloom\nand mystery of the eastern superstitions; their gods were objects of\nfear rather than love, and were worshipped more to avert the\nconsequences of their anger than to conciliate their favour. A\nconsequence of this system was, the institution of human sacrifices,\nwhich were not quite disused in Rome until a late period of the\nrepublic.\n2. The religious institutions of the Romans form an essential part of\ntheir civil government; every public act, whether of legislation or\nelection, was connected with certain determined forms, and thus\nreceived the sanction of a higher power. Every public assembly was\nopened by the magistrate and augurs taking the auspices, or signs\nby which they believed that the will of the gods could be determined;\nand if any unfavourable omen was discovered, either then or at any\nsubsequent time, the assembly was at once dismissed. 3. The right of\ntaking auspices was long the peculiar privilege of the patricians, and\nfrequently afforded them pretexts for evading the demands of the\nplebeians; when a popular law was to be proposed, it was easy to\ndiscover some unfavourable omen which prohibited discussion; when it\nwas evident that the centuries were about to annul some patrician\nprivilege, the augurs readily saw or heard some signal of divine\nwrath, which prevented the vote from being completed. It was on this\naccount that the plebeians would not consent to place the comitia\ntributa under the sanction of the auspices.\n4. The augurs were at first only three in number, but they were in\nlater ages increased to fifteen, and formed into a college. Nothing of\nimportance was transacted without their concurrence in the earlier\nages of the republic, but after the second punic war, their influence\nwas considerably diminished.[2] 5. They derived omens from five\nsources: 1, from celestial phenomena, such as thunder, lightning,\ncomets, &c.; 2, from the flight of birds; 3, from the feeding of the\nsacred chickens; 4, from the appearance of a beast in any unusual\nplace; 5, from any accident that occurred unexpectedly.\n6. The usual form of taking an augury was very solemn; the augur\nascended a tower, bearing in his hand a curved stick called a lituus.\nHe turned his face to the east, and marked out some distant objects as\nthe limits within which he would make his observations, and\ndivided mentally the enclosed space into four divisions. He next, with\ncovered head, offered sacrifices to the gods, and prayed that they\nwould vouchsafe some manifestation of their will. After these\npreliminaries he made his observations in silence, and then announced\nthe result to the expecting people.\n7. The Arusp'ices were a Tuscan order of priests, who attempted to\npredict futurity by observing the beasts offered in sacrifice. They\nformed their opinions most commonly from inspecting the entrails, but\nthere was no circumstance too trivial to escape their notice, and\nwhich they did not believe in some degree portentous. The arusp'ices\nwere most commonly consulted by individuals; but their opinions, as\nwell as those of the augurs, were taken on all important affairs of\nstate. The arusp'ices seem not to have been appointed officially, nor\nare they recognised as a regular order of priesthood.\n8. The pontiffs and fla'mens, as the superior priests were designated,\nenjoyed great privileges, and were generally men of rank. When the\nrepublic was abolished, the emperors assumed the office of pontifex\nmaximus, or chief pontiff, deeming its powers too extensive to be\nentrusted to a subject.\n9. The institution of vestal virgins was older than the city itself,\nand was regarded by the Romans as the most sacred part of their\nreligious system. In the time of Numa there were but four, but two\nmore were added by Tarquin; probably the addition made by Tarquin was\nto give the tribe of the Lu'ceres a share in this important\npriesthood. The duty of the vestal virgins was to keep the sacred fire\nthat burned on the altar of Vesta from being extinguished; and to\npreserve a certain sacred pledge on which the very existence of Rome\nwas supposed to depend. What this pledge was we have no means of\ndiscovering; some suppose that it was the Trojan Palla'dium, others,\nwith more probability, some traditional mystery brought by the\nPelas'gi from Samothrace.\n10. The privileges conceded to the vestals were very great; they had\nthe most honourable seats at public games and festivals; they were\nattended by a lictor with fasces like the magistrates; they were\nprovided with chariots when they required them; and they possessed the\npower of pardoning any criminal whom they met on the way to execution,\nif they declared that the meeting was accidental. The magistrates\nwere obliged to salute them as they passed, and the fasces of the\nconsul were lowered to do them reverence. To withhold from them marks\nof respect subjected the offender to public odium; a personal insult\nwas capitally punished. They possessed the exclusive privilege of\nbeing buried within the city; an honour which the Romans rarely\nextended to others.\n11. The vestals were bound by a vow of perpetual virginity, and a\nviolation of this oath was cruelly punished. The unfortunate offender\nwas buried alive in a vault constructed beneath the Fo'rum by the\nelder Tarquin. The terror of such a dreadful fate had the desired\neffect; there were only eighteen instances of incontinence among the\nvestals, during the space of a thousand years.\n12. The mixture of religion with civil polity, gave permanence and\nstability to the Roman institutions; notwithstanding all the changes\nand revolutions in the government the old forms were preserved; and\nthus, though the city was taken by Porsenna, and burned by the Gauls,\nthe Roman constitution survived the ruin, and was again restored to\nits pristine vigour.\n13. The Romans always adopted the gods of the conquered nations, and,\nconsequently, when their empire became very extensive, the number of\ndeities was absurdly excessive, and the variety of religious worship\nperfectly ridiculous. The rulers of the world wanted the taste and\ningenuity of the lively Greeks, who accommodated every religious\nsystem to their own, and from some real or fancied resemblance,\nidentified the gods of Olym'pus with other nations. The Romans never\nused this process of assimilation, and, consequently, introduced so\nmuch confusion into their mythology, that philosophers rejected the\nentire system. This circumstance greatly facilitated the progress of\nChristianity, whose beautiful simplicity furnished a powerful contrast\nto the confused and cumbrous mass of divinities, worshipped in the\ntime of the emperors.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. How did the religion of the Romans differ from that of the Greeks?\n2. Was the Roman religion connected with the government?\n3. How was the right of taking the Auspices abused?\n4. Who were the augurs?\n5. From what did the augurs take omens?\n6. What were the forms used in taking the auspices?\n7. Who were the aruspices?\n8. What other priests had the Romans?\n9. What was the duty of the vestal virgins?\n10. Did the vestals enjoy great privileges?\n11. How were the vestals punished for a breach of their vows?\n12. Why was the Roman constitution very permanent?\n13. Whence arose the confusion in the religious system of the Romans?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] The reader will find an exceedingly interesting account of the\ndeities peculiar to the Romans, in Mr. Keightley's very valuable work\non Mythology.\n The poet Ennius, who was of Grecian descent, ridiculed\nvery successfully the Roman superstitions; the following fragment,\ntranslated by Dunlop, would, probably, have been punished as\nblasphemous in the first ages of the republic:--\n  For no Marsian augur (whom fools view with awe,)\n  Nor diviner, nor star-gazer, care I a straw;\n  The Isis-taught quack, an expounder of dreams,\n  Is neither in science nor art what he seems;\n  Superstitious and shameless they prowl through our streets,\n  Some hungry, some crazy, but all of them cheats.\n  Impostors, who vaunt that to others they'll show\n  A path which themselves neither travel nor know:\n  Since they promise us wealth if we pay for their pains,\n  Let them take from that wealth and bestow what remains\nCHAPTER VII.\nTHE ROMAN ARMY AND NAVY.\n                     Is the soldier found\n  In the riot and waste which he spreads around?\n  The sharpness makes him--the dash, the tact,\n  The cunning to plan, and the spirit to act.--_Lord L. Gower_.\n1. It has been frequently remarked by ancient writers that the\nstrength of a free state consists in its infantry; and, on the other\nhand, that when the infantry in a state become more valuable than the\ncavalry, the power of the aristocracy is diminished, and equal rights\ncan no longer be withheld from the people. The employment of mercenary\nsoldiers in modern times renders these observations no longer\napplicable; but in the military states of antiquity, where the\ncitizens themselves served as soldiers, there are innumerable examples\nof this mutual connection between political and military systems. It\nis further illustrated in the history of the middle ages; for we can\nunquestionably trace the origin of free institutions in Europe to the\ntime when the hardy infantry of the commons were first found able to\nresist the charges of the brilliant chivalry of the nobles. 2. Rome\nwas, from the very commencement, a military state; as with the\nSpartans, all their civil institutions had a direct reference to\nwarlike affairs; their public assemblies were marshalled like armies;\nthe order of their line of battle was regulated by the distinction of\nclasses in the state. It is, therefore, natural to conclude, that the\ntactics of the Roman armies underwent important changes when the\nrevolutions mentioned in the preceding chapters were effected, though\nwe cannot trace the alterations with precision, because no historians\nappeared until the military system of the Romans had been brought to\nperfection.\n3. The strength of the Tuscans consisted principally in their cavalry;\nand if we judge from the importance attributed to the equestrian rank\nin the earliest ages, we may suppose that the early Romans\nesteemed this force equally valuable. It was to Ser'vius Tul'lius, the\ngreat patron of the commonalty, that the Romans were indebted for the\nformation of a body of infantry, which, after the lapse of centuries,\nreceived so many improvements that it became invincible.\n4. The ancient battle array of the Greeks was the phalanx; the troops\nwere drawn up in close column, the best armed being in front. The\nimprovements made in this system of tactics by Philip, are recorded in\nGrecian history; they chiefly consisted in making the evolutions of\nthe entire body more manageable, and counteracting the difficulties\nwhich attended the motions of this cumbrous mass.\n5. The Romans originally used the phalanx; and the lines were formed\naccording to the classes determined by the centuries. Those who were\nsufficiently wealthy to purchase a full suit of armour, formed the\nfront ranks; those who could only purchase a portion of the defensive\nweapons, filled the centre; and the rear was formed by the poorer\nclasses, who scarcely required any armour, being protected by the\nlines in front. From this explanation, it is easy to see why, in the\nconstitution of the centuries by Servius Tullius, the first class were\nperfectly covered with mail, the second had helmets and breast-plates\nbut no protection for the body, the third, neither a coat of mail, nor\ngreaves. 6. The defects of this system are sufficiently obvious; an\nunexpected attack on the flanks, the breaking of the line by rugged\nand uneven ground, and a thousand similar accidents exposed the\nunprotected portions of the army to destruction besides, a line with\nfiles ten deep was necessarily slow in its movements and evolutions.\nAnother and not less important defect was, that the whole should act\ntogether; and consequently, there were few opportunities for the\ndisplay of individual bravery.\n7. It is not certainly known who was the great commander that\nsubstituted the living body of the Roman legion for this inanimate\nmass; but there is some reason to believe that this wondrous\nimprovement was effected by Camil'lus. Every legion was in itself an\narmy, combining the advantages of every variety of weapon, with the\nabsolute perfection of a military division.\n8. The legion consisted of three lines or battalions; the _Hasta'ti_,\nthe _Prin'cipes_, and the _Tria'rii_; there were besides two classes,\nwhich we may likewise call battalions, the _Rora'rii_, or _Velites_,\nconsisting of light armed troops, and the _Accen'si_, or\nsupernumeraries, who were ready to supply the place of those that fell.\nEach of the two first battalions contained fifteen manip'uli, consisting\nof sixty privates, commanded by two centurions, and having each a\nseparate standard (_vexil'lum_) borne by one of the privates called\nVexilla'rius; the manip'uli in the other battalions were fewer in\nnumber, but contained a greater portion of men; so that, in round\nnumbers, nine hundred men may be allowed to each battalion, exclusive of\nofficers. If the officers and the troop of three hundred cavalry be\ntaken into account, we shall find that the legion, as originally\nconstituted, contained about five thousand men. The Romans, however, did\nnot always observe these exact proportions, and the number of soldiers\nin a legion varied at different times of their history.[1]\n9. A cohort was formed by taking a manipulus from each of the\nbattalions; more frequently two manipuli were taken, and the cohort\nthen contained six hundred men. The cavalry were divided into tur'm\u00e6,\nconsisting each of thirty men.\n10. A battle was usually commenced by the light troops, who skirmished\nwith missile weapons; the hasta'ti then advanced to the charge, and if\ndefeated, fell back on the prin'cipes; if the enemy proved still\nsuperior, the two front lines retired to the ranks of the tria'rii,\nwhich being composed of veteran troops, generally turned the scale.\nBut this order was not always observed; the number of divisions in the\nlegion made it extremely flexible, and the commander-in-chief could\nalways adapt the form of his line to circumstances.\n11. The levies of troops were made in the Cam'pus Mar'tius, by the\ntribunes appointed to command the legions. The tribes which were to\nsupply soldiers were determined by lot, and as each came forward, the\ntribunes, in their turn, selected such as seemed best fitted for war.\nFour legions was most commonly the number in an army. When the\nselected individuals had been enrolled as soldiers, one was chosen\nfrom each legion to take the military oath of obedience to the\ngenerals; the other soldiers swore in succession, to observe the oath\ntaken by their foreman.\n12. Such was the sacredness of this obligation, that even in the midst\nof the political contests by which the city was distracted, the\nsoldiers, though eager to secure the freedom of their country, would\nnot attempt to gain it by mutiny against their commanders. On this\naccount the senate frequently declared war, and ordered a levy as an\nexpedient to prevent the enactment of a popular law, and were of\ncourse opposed by the tribunes of the people.\n13. There was no part of the Roman discipline more admirable than\ntheir form of encampment. No matter how fatigued the soldiers might be\nby a long march, or how harassed by a tedious battle, the camp was\nregularly measured out and fortified by a rampart and ditch, before\nany one sought sleep or refreshment. Careful watch was kept during the\nnight, and frequent picquets sent out to guard against a surprise, and\nto see that the sentinels were vigilant. As the arrangement in every\ncamp was the same, every soldier knew his exact position, and if an\nalarm occurred, could easily find the rallying point of his division.\nTo this excellent system Polyb'ius attributes the superiority of the\nRomans over the Greeks; for the latter scarcely ever fortified their\ncamp, but chose some place naturally strong, and did not keep their\nranks distinct.\n14. The military age extended from the sixteenth to the forty-sixth\nyear; and under the old constitution no one could hold a civic office\nwho had not served ten campaigns. The horsemen were considered free\nafter serving through ten campaigns, but the foot had to remain during\ntwenty. Those who had served out their required time were free for the\nrest of their lives, unless the city was attacked, when all under the\nage of sixty were obliged to arm in its defence.\n15. In the early ages, when wars were begun and ended in a few days,\nthe soldiers received no pay; but when the conquest of distant\ncountries became the object of Roman ambition, it became necessary to\nprovide for the pay and support of the army. This office was given to\nthe qu\u00e6stors, who were generally chosen from the younger nobility, and\nwere thus prepared for the higher magistracies by acquiring a\npractical acquaintance with finance.\n16. The soldiers were subject to penalties of life and limb at the\ndiscretion of the commander-in-chief, without the intervention of a\ncourt-martial; but it deserves to be recorded that this power was\nrarely abused. 17. There were several species of rewards to excite\nemulation; the most honourable were, the civic crown of gold to\nhim who had saved the life of a citizen; the mural crown to him who\nhad first scaled the wall of a besieged town; a gilt spear to him who\nhad severely wounded an enemy; but he who had slain and spoiled his\nfoe, received, if a horseman, an ornamental trapping; if a foot\nsoldier, a goblet.\n18. The lower classes of the centuries were excused from serving in\nthe army, except on dangerous emergencies; but they supplied sailors\nto the navy. We learn, from a document preserved by Polyb'ius, that\nthe Romans were a naval power at a very early age. 19. This\ninteresting record is the copy of a treaty concluded with the\nCarthaginians, in the year after the expulsion of the kings. It is not\nmentioned by the Roman historians, because it decisively establishes a\nfact which they studiously labour to conceal, that is, the weakness\nand decline of the Roman power during the two centuries that followed\nthe abolition of royalty, when the power of the state was monopolized\nby a vile aristocracy. In this treaty Rome negociates for the cities\nof La'tium, as her dependencies, just as Carthage does for her subject\ncolonies. But in the course of the following century, Rome lost her\nsupremacy over the Latin cities, and being thus nearly excluded from\nthe coast, her navy was ruined.\n20. At the commencement of the first Punic war, the Romans once more\nbegan to prepare a fleet, and luckily obtained an excellent model in a\nCarthaginian ship that had been driven ashore in a storm. 21. The\nvessels used for war, were either long ships or banked galleys; the\nformer were not much used in the Punic wars, the latter being found\nmore convenient. The rowers of these sat on banks or benches, rising\none above the other, like stairs; and from the number of these\nbenches, the galleys derived their names; that which had three rows of\nbenches was called a _trireme_; that which had four, a _quadrireme_;\nand that which had five, a _quinquireme_. Some vessels had turrets\nerected in them for soldiers and warlike engines; others had sharp\nprows covered with brass, for the purpose of dashing against and\nsinking their enemies.\n22. The naval tactics of the ancients were very simple; the ships\nclosed very early, and the battle became a contest between single\nvessels. It was on this account that the personal valour of the Romans\nproved more than a match for the naval skill of the\nCarthaginians, and enabled them to, add the empire of the sea to that\nof the land.\n23. Before concluding this chapter, we must notice the triumphal\nprocessions granted to victorious commanders. Of these there are two\nkinds; the lesser triumph, called an ovation,[2] and the greater,\ncalled, emphatically, the triumph. In the former, the victorious\ngeneral entered the city on foot, wearing a crown of myrtle; in the\nlatter, he was borne in a chariot, and wore a crown of laurel. The\novation was granted to such generals as had averted a threatened war,\nor gained some great advantage without inflicting great loss on the\nenemy. The triumph was allowed only to those who had gained some\nsignal victory, which decided the fate of a protracted war. The\nfollowing description, extracted from Plutarch, of the great triumph\ngranted to Paulus \u00c6milius, for his glorious termination of the\nMacedonian war, will give the reader an adequate idea of the splendour\ndisplayed by the Romans on these festive occasions.\nThe people erected scaffolds in the forum and circus, and all other\nparts of the city where they could best behold the pomp. The\nspectators were clad in white garments; all the temples were open, and\nfull of garlands and perfumes; and the ways cleared and cleansed by a\ngreat many officers, who drove away such as thronged the passage, or\nstraggled up and down.\nThe triumph lasted three days; on the first, which was scarce long\nenough for the sight, were to be seen the statues, pictures, and\nimages of an extraordinary size, which were taken from the enemy,\ndrawn upon seven hundred and fifty chariots. On the second was\ncarried, in a great many _wains_, the fairest and richest armour of\nthe Macedonians, both of brass and steel, all newly furbished and\nglittering: which, although piled up with the greatest art and order,\nyet seemed to be tumbled on heaps carelessly and by chance; helmets\nwere thrown on shields, coats of mail upon greaves; Cretan targets and\nThracian bucklers, and quivers of arrows, lay huddled among the\nhorses' bits; and through these appeared the points of naked swords,\nintermixed with long spears. All these arms were tied together with\nsuch a just liberty, that they knocked against one another as they\nwere drawn along, and made a harsh and terrible noise, so that\nthe very spoils of the conquered could not be beheld without dread.\nAfter these wagons loaded with armour, there followed three thousand\nmen, who carried the silver that was coined, in seven hundred and\nfifty vessels, each of which weighed three talents, and was carried by\nfour men. Others brought silver bowls, and goblets, and cups, all\ndisposed in such order as to make the best show, and all valuable, as\nwell for their magnitude as the thickness of their engraved work. On\nthe third day, early in the morning, first came the trumpeters, who\ndid not sound as they were wont in a procession or solemn entry, but\nsuch a charge as the Romans use when they encourage their soldiers to\nfight. Next followed young men, girt about with girdles curiously\nwrought, who led to the sacrifice one hundred and twenty stalled oxen,\nwith their horns gilded, and their heads adorned with ribbons and\ngarlands, and with these were boys that carried dishes of silver and\ngold. After these was brought the gold coin, which was divided into\nvessels that weighed three talents each, similar to those that\ncontained the silver; they were in number fourscore, wanting three.\nThese were followed by those that brought the consecrated bowl which\nEmil'ius caused to be made, that weighed ten talents, and was adorned\nwith precious stones. Then were exposed to view the cups of Antig'onus\nand Seleu'cus, and such as were made after the fashion invented by\nThe'ricles, and all the gold plate that was used at Per'seus's table.\nNext to these came Per'seus's chariot, in which his armour was placed,\nand on that his diadem. After a little intermission the king's\nchildren were led captives, and with them a train of nurses, masters,\nand governors, who all wept, and stretched forth their hands to the\nspectators, and taught the little infants to beg and intreat their\ncompassion. There were two sons and a daughter, who, by reason of\ntheir tender age, were altogether insensible of the greatness of their\nmisery; which insensibility of their condition rendered it much more\ndeplorable, insomuch that Per'seus himself was scarce regarded as he\nwent along, whilst pity had fixed the eyes of the Romans upon the\ninfants, and many of them could not forbear tears; all beheld the\nsight with a mixture of sorrow and joy until the children were past.\nAfter his children and attendants came Per'seus himself, clad in\nblack, and wearing slippers after the fashion of his country; he\nlooked like one altogether astonished, and deprived of reason, through\nthe greatness of his misfortune. Next followed a great company\nof his friends and familiars, whose countenances were disfigured with\ngrief, and who testified, to all that beheld them, by their tears and\ntheir continual looking upon Per'seus, that it was his hard fortune\nthey so much lamented, and that they were regardless of their own.\nAfter these were carried four hundred crowns of gold, sent from the\ncities by their respective ambassadors to Emil'ius, as a reward due to\nhis valour. Then he himself came, seated on a chariot magnificently,\nadorned, (a man worthy to be beheld even without these ensigns of\npower) clad in a garland of purple interwoven with gold, and with a\nlaurel branch in his right hand. All the army in like manner, with\nboughs of laurel in their hands, and divided into bands and companies,\nfollowed the chariot of their commander; some singing odes according\nto the usual custom, mingled with raillery; others songs of triumph\nand the praises of Emil'ius's deeds, who was admired and accounted\nhappy by all men, yet unenvied by every one that was good.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What political change has frequently resulted from improved\nmilitary tactics?\n2. Was Rome a military state?\n3. Why are we led to conclude that the Romans considered cavalry an\nimportant force?\n4. By whom was the phalanx instituted?\n5. How was the phalanx formed?\n6. What were the defects of the phalanx?\n7. By whom was the legion substituted for the phalanx?\n8. Of what troops was a legion composed?\n9. What was a cohort?\n10. What was the Roman form of battle?\n11. In what manner was an army levied?\n12. How was the sanctity of the military oath proved?\n13. What advantages resulted from the Roman form of encampment?\n14. How long was the citizens liable to be called upon as soldiers?\n15. How was the army paid?\n16. What power had the general?\n17. On what occasion did the soldiers receive rewards?\n18. How was the navy supplied with sailors?\n19. What fact concealed by the Roman historians is established by\nPolybius?\n20. How did the Romans form a fleet?\n21. What were the several kinds of ships?\n22. What naval tactics did the Romans use?\n23. How did an ovation differ from a triumph?\n24. Can you give a general description of a triumph?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] This is virtually the same account as that given by Niebuhr, but\nhe excludes the accensi and cavalry from his computation, which brings\ndown the amount to 3600 soldiers.\n[2] From _ovis_, a sheep, the animal on this occasion offered in\nsacrifice; in the greater triumph the victim was a milk-white bull\nhung over with garlands, and having his horns tipped with gold.\nCHAPTER VIII.\nROMAN LAW--FINANCE.\n  Then equal laws were planted in the state,\n  To shield alike the humble and the great.--_Cooke_.\n1. In the early stages of society, little difficulty is felt in\nproviding for the administration of justice, because the subjects of\ncontroversy are plain and simple, such as any man of common sense may\ndetermine; but as civilization advances, the relations between men\nbecome more complicated, property assumes innumerable forms, and the\ndetermination of questions resulting from these changes, becomes a\nmatter of no ordinary difficulty. In the first ages of the republic,\nthe consuls were the judges in civil and criminal matters, as the\nkings had previously been;[1] but as the state increased, a new class\nof magistrates, called pr\u00e6tors, was appointed to preside in the courts\nof law. Until the age of the decemvirs, there was no written code to\nregulate their decisions; and even after the laws of the twelve tables\nhad been established, there was no perfect system of law, for the\nenactments in that code were brief, and only asserted a few leading\nprinciples. 2. The Roman judges did not, however, decide altogether\naccording to their own caprice; they were bound to regard the\nprinciples that had been established by the decisions of former\njudges; and consequently, a system of law was formed similar to the\ncommon law of England, founded on precedent and analogy. In the later\nages of the empire, the number of law-books and records became so\nenormous, that it was no longer possible to determine the law with\naccuracy, and the contradictory decisions made at different periods,\ngreatly increased the uncertainty. To remedy this evil, the emperor\nJustinian caused the entire to be digested into a uniform system, and\nhis code still forms the basis of the civil law in Europe.\n3. The trials in courts refer either to the affairs of the\nstate, or to the persons or properties of individuals, and are called\nstate, criminal, or civil trials. The two former are the most\nimportant in regard to history.\n4. The division of the Roman people into two nations, made the\nclassification of state offences very difficult. In general, the\ncouncil of the patricians judged any plebeian who was accused of\nconspiring against their order; and the plebeians on the other hand,\nbrought a patrician accused of having violated their privileges before\ntheir own tribunal. 5. Disobedience to the commands of the chief\nmagistrate was punished by fine and imprisonment, and from his\nsentence there was no appeal; but if the consul wished to punish any\nperson by stripes or death, the condemned man had the right of\nappealing to the general assembly of his peers.[2] 6. To prevent\nusurpation, it was established that every person who exercised an\nauthority not conferred on him by the people, should be devoted as a\nvictim to the gods.[3] This, was at once a sentence of outlawry and\nexcommunication; the Criminal might be slain by any person-with\nimpunity, and all connection with him was shunned as pollution. 7. No\nmagistrate could legally be brought to trial during the continuance of\nhis office, but when his time was expired, he could be accused before\nthe general assembly of the people, if he had transgressed the legal\nlimits of his authority. The punishment in this case was banishment;\nthe form of the sentence declared that the criminal \"should be\ndeprived of fire and water;\" that is, the citizens, were prohibited\nfrom supplying him with the ordinary necessaries of life.\n8. In all criminal trials, and in all cases where damages were sought\nto be recovered for wrongs or injuries, the pr\u00e6tor impanelled a jury,\nbut the number of which it was to consist seems to have been left\nto his discretion. The jurors were called ju'dices, and the opinion of\nthe majority decided the verdict. Where the votes were equal, the\ntraverser or defendant escaped; and when half the jury assessed\ndamages at one amount, and half at another, the defendant paid only\nthe lesser sum. In disputes about property, the pr\u00e6tor seldom called\nfor the assistance of a jury.\n9. The general form of all trials was the same; the prosecutor or\nplaintiff made his complaint, and the defendant was compelled either\nto find sufficient bail, or to go into prison until the day of trial.\nOn the appointed day, the plaintiff, or his advocate, stated his case,\nand proceeded to establish it by evidence; the defendant replied; and\nthe jury then gave their verdict by ballot.\n10. In cases tried before the general assembly of the people, it was\nallowed to make use of artifices in order to conciliate the popular\nfavour. The accused and his friends put on mourning robes to excite\npity; they went into the most public places and took every opportunity\nof showing their respect for popular power. When Cicero was accused by\nClo'dius for having illegally put to death the associates of Cataline,\nthe entire senatorian rank changed their robes to show the deep\ninterest they felt in his fate. At these great trials, the noblest\nspecimens of forensic eloquence were displayed by the advocates of the\naccuser and the accused; but the decisions were usually more in\naccordance with the spirit of party than strict justice.\n11. The accused, however, might escape, if he could prevail on any of\nthe tribunes to interpose in his behalf, or the accuser to relinquish\nhis charge; if unfavourable omens appeared during the trial, it was\nusually adjourned, or sometimes the accusation withdrawn; and up to\nthe very moment of the commencement of the trial, the criminal had the\noption of escaping a heavier penalty by going into voluntary exile.\n12. The punishments to which state criminals were sentenced, were\nusually, in capital cases, precipitation from the Tarpeian rock,\nbeheading, or strangulation in prison; when life was spared, the\npenalties were either exile or fine. Under the emperors severer\npunishments were introduced, such as exposure to wild beasts, or\nburning alive; and torture, which, under the republic, could not be\ninflicted on free citizens, was exercised unsparingly.\n13. The punishment of parricides was curious; the criminal having\nbeen beaten with rods, was sown up in a sack together with a serpent,\nan ape and a cock, and thrown either into the sea or a river, as if\neven the inanimate carcase of such a wretch would pollute the earth.\n14. Masters had an absolute, authority over their slaves, extending to\nlife or limb; and in the earlier ages patrons had similar power over\ntheir clients. The condition of slaves in Rome was most miserable,\nespecially in the later ages; they were subject to the most\nexcruciating tortures, and when capitally punished, were generally\ncrucified. Except in this single particular, the Roman criminal code,\nwas very lenient and sparing of human life. This was chiefly owing to\nthe exertions of the plebeians, for the patricians always patronized a\nmore sanguinary policy; and could do so the more easily, as the\naristocracy retained their monopoly of the administration of justice\nmuch longer than that of civil government.\n15. The Roman system of finance was at first very simple, the public\nrevenue being derived from a land-tax on Quiritary property,[4] and\nthe tithes of the public lands; but after the conquest of Macedon, the\nrevenues from other sources were so abundant, that tribute was no\nlonger demanded from Roman citizens. These sources were:--\n1. The tribute of the allies, which was a property tax, differing in\ndifferent places according to the terms of their league.\n2. The tribute of the provinces, which was both a property and\npoll-tax.\n3. Revenue of the national domains leased out by the censors.\n4. Revenue from the mines, especially from the Spanish silver-mines.\n5. Duties on imports and exports. And,\n6. A duty on enfranchised slaves.\nThe receipts were all paid into the national treasury, and the senate\nhad the uncontrolled direction of the general expenditure, as well as\nthe regulation of the amount of imposts. The officers employed to\nmanage the affairs of the revenue, were the qu\u00e6stors, chosen annually,\nand under them the scribes, who held their situations for life. Those\nwho farmed the public revenue were called-publicans, and were\ngenerally persons of equestrian dignity; but in the remote provinces\nthey frequently sublet to other collectors, who were guilty of great\nextortion. The latter are the publicans mentioned in the New\nTestament.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. When did the Romans first appoint judges?\n2. How were the decisions of the pr\u00e6tors regulated?\n3. How are trials divided?\n4. In what manner were offences against the classes of patricians and\nplebeians tried?\n5. How was disobedience to the chief magistrate punished?\n6. What was the penalty for usurpation?\n7. How was mal-administration punished?\n8. When did the pr\u00e6tors impannel a jury?\n9. What was the form of a trial?\n10. Were there any other forms used, in trials before the people?\n11. Had the criminal any chances of escape?\n12. What were the usual punishments?\n13. How was parricide punished?\n14. In what respect alone was the criminal law of the Romans severe?\n15. What were the sources of the Roman revenue?\n16. To whom was the management of the finances entrusted?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] Niebuhr, however, is of opinion, that judicial officers were\nelected by the \"comitia curiata,\" from the earliest ages.\n[2] This privilege was conceded to the plebeians by the Valerian law,\nbut must have been possessed by the patricians from the earliest\ntimes; for Horatius, when condemned for the murder of his sister, in\nthe reign of Tullus Hostilius, escaped by appealing to the comitia\ncuriata. The Valerian law had no sanction, that is, no penalty was\nannexed to its transgression; and during the two centuries of\npatrician usurpation and tyranny, was frequently and flagrantly\nviolated. On this account the law, though never repealed, was\nfrequently re-enacted.\n[3] The formula \"to devote his head to the gods,\" used to express the\nsentence of capital punishment, was derived from the human sacrifices\nanciently used in Rome; probably, because criminals were usually\nselected for these sanguinary offerings.\n[4] The lands absolutely assigned to the plebeians free from rent,\nwere the most remarkable species of Quiritary property. It was so\ncalled from the Quirites, who formed a constituent part of the Roman\npeople, and whose name was subsequently given to the entire.\nCHAPTER IX.\nTHE PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS AND PRIVATE LIFE OF THE ROMANS.\nButchered to make a Roman holiday.--_Byron_.\nThe inferiority of the Romans to the Greeks in intellectual\nacquirements, was no where more conspicuous than in their public\namusements. While the refined Grecians sought to gratify their taste\nby music, the fine arts, and dramatic entertainments, the Romans\nderived their chief pleasure from contemplating the brutal and bloody\nfights of gladiators; or at best, such rich shows and processions as\ngratify the uneducated vulgar. The games in the circus, with which the\nRomans were so delighted, that they considered them of equal\nimportance, with the necessaries of life, consisted of athletic\nexercises, such as boxing, racing, wrestling, and gladiatorial\ncombats. To these, chariot-racing was added under the emperors, and\nexhibitions of combats between wild beasts, and, in numerous\ninstances, between men and beasts.\n2. After the establishment of the naval power of Rome, naumachi\u00e6, or\nnaval combats, were frequently exhibited in circi built for the\npurpose. These were not always sham fights; the contests were, in many\ninstances, real engagements displaying all the horrors of a sanguinary\nbattle.\n3. The custom of exhibiting shows of gladiators, originated in the\nbarbarous sacrifices of human beings, which prevailed in remote ages.\nIn the gloomy superstition of the Romans, it was believed that the\nmanes, or shades of the dead, derived pleasure from human blood, and\nthey therefore sacrificed, at the tombs of their ancestors, captives\ntaken in war, or wretched slaves. It was soon found that sport to the\nliving might be combined with this horrible offering to the dead; and\ninstead of giving up the miserable victims to the executioner, they\nwere compelled to fight with each other, until the greater part was\nexterminated.\n4. The pleasure that the people derived from this execrable amusement,\ninduced the candidates for office to gratify, them frequently with\nthis spectacle. The exhibitions were no longer confined to funerals;\nthey formed an integrant part of every election, and were found more\npowerful than merit in opening a way to office. The utter\ndemoralization of the Roman people, and the facility with which the\ntyranny of the emperors was established, unquestionably was owing, in\na great degree to the pernicious prevalence of these scandalous\nexhibitions.\n5. To supply the people with gladiators, schools were, established in\nvarious parts of Italy, each under the controul of a _lanis'ta_, or\nfencing-master, who instructed them in martial exercises. The victims\nwere either prisoners of war, or refractory slaves, sold by their\nmasters; but in the degenerate ages of the empire, freemen, and even\nsenators, ventured their lives on the stage along with the regular\ngladiators. Under the mild and merciful influence of Christianity\nthese combats were abolished, and human blood was no longer shed to\ngratify a cruel and sanguinary populace.\n6. So numerous were the gladiators, that Spar'tacus, one of their\nnumber, having escaped from a school, raised an army of his\nfellow-sufferers, amounting to seventy thousand men; he was finally\nsubdued by Cras'sus, the colleague of Pompey. Ju'lius C\u00e6sar,\nduring his \u00e6dileship, exhibited at one time three hundred and twenty\npairs of gladiators; but even this was surpassed by the emperor\nTrajan, who displayed no less than one thousand.\n7. The gladiators were named from their peculiar arms; the most common\nwere the _retiarius_, who endeavoured to hamper his antagonist with a\nnet; and his opponent the _secutor_.\n8. When a gladiator was wounded, or in any way disabled, he fled to\nthe extremity of the stage, and implored the pity of the spectators;\nif he had shown good sport, they took him under their protection by\npressing down their thumbs; but if he had been found deficient in\ncourage or activity, they held the thumb back, and he was instantly\nmurdered by his adversary.\n9. The Roman theatre was formed after the model of the Greeks, but\nnever attained equal eminence. The populace always paid more regard to\nthe dresses of the actors, and the richness of the decoration, than to\ningenious structure of plot, or elegance of language. Scenic\nrepresentations do not appear to have been very popular at Rome,\ncertainly never so much as the sports of the circus. Besides comedies\nand tragedies, the Romans had a species of drama peculiar to their\ncountry, called the Atellane farces, which were, in general, low\npieces of gross indecency and vulgar buffoonery, but sometimes\ncontained spirited satires on the character and conduct of public men.\n10. We should be greatly mistaken if we supposed that the theatres in\nancient Rome at all resembled those of modern times; they were\nstupendous edifices, some of which could accommodate thirty thousand\nspectators, and an army could perform its evolutions on the stage. To\nremedy the defects of distance, the tragic actors wore a buskin with\nvery thick soles, to raise them above their natural size, and covered\ntheir faces with a mask so contrived as to render the voice more clear\nand full.[1] Instead of the buskin, comic actors wore a sort of\nslipper called a sock.\n11. The periodical festivals of the Romans were celebrated with\ntheatrical entertainments and sports in the circus at the public\nexpense. The most remarkable of these festivals was the secular,\nwhich occurred only at periods of one hundred and ten years. The\nothers occurred annually, and were named from the gods to whose honour\nthey were dedicated.\n12. The Romans were a more grave and domestic people than the lively\nGreeks; their favourite dress, the toga or gown, was more formal and\nstately than the Grecian short cloak; their demeanour was more stern,\nand their manners more imposing. The great object of the old Roman\nwas, to maintain his dignity under all circumstances, and to show that\nhe could controul the emotions to which ordinary men too readily\nyield. Excessive joy or grief, unqualified admiration, or intense\nsurprise, were deemed disgraceful; and even at a funeral, the duty of\nlamenting the deceased was entrusted to hired mourners. Temperance at\nmeals was a leading feature in the character of the Romans during the\nearly ages of the republic; but after the conquest of Asia, their\nluxuries were more extravagant than those of any nation recorded in\nhistory. But there was more extravagance than refinement in the Roman\nluxury; and though immense sums were lavished on entertainments, they\nwere destitute of that taste and elegance more delightful than the\nmost costly delicacies.\n13. The Roman ladies, enjoyed more freedom than those in any other,\nancient nation. They visited all places of public amusement\nuncontrolled, and mingled in general society. The power of the\nhusband, however, was absolute, and he could divorce his wife at\npleasure without assigning any cause. In the early ages of the\nrepublic this privilege was rarely exercised, and the Roman ladies\nwere strictly virtuous; but at a later period divorces were\nmultiplied, and the most shocking depravity was the consequence.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What were the national amusements of the Romans?\n2. What were the naumachi\u00e6?\n3. Whence arose the custom of gladiatorial combats?\n4. Why were these exhibitions of frequent occurrence?\n5. How was the supply of gladiators kept up?\n6. From what circumstances do we learn the great numbers of the\ngladiators?\n7. What names were given to the gladiators?\n8. How were these combats terminated?\n9. What pieces were exhibited on the Roman stage?\n10. How did the dramatic entertainments in Rome differ from those of\nmodern times?\n11. Which were the most remarkable Roman festivals?\n12. What was the general character of the Roman people?\n13. How were women treated in Rome?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] Hence the mask was called _persona_, from _personare_, to sound\nthrough. From _persona_ the English word _person_ is derived, which\nproperly signifies not so much an individual, as the aspect of that\nindividual in relation to civil society.\nCHAPTER X.\nGEOGRAPHY OF THE EMPIRE AT THE TIME OF ITS GREATEST EXTENT.\n  The Roman eagle seized\n  The double prey, and proudly perch'd on high\n  And here a thousand years he plumed his wing\n  Till from his lofty eyry, tempest-tost,\n  And impotent through age, headlong he plunged,\n  While nations shuddered as they saw him fall.--_Anon._\n1. The ordinary boundaries of the Roman empire, over which, however,\nit sometimes passed, were, in Europe, the two great rivers of the\nRhine and Danube; in Asia, the Euphrates and the Syrian deserts; in\nAfrica, the tracts of arid sand which fence the interior of that\ncontinent. It thus contained those fertile and rich countries which\nsurround the Mediterranean sea, and constitute the fairest portion of\nthe earth.\n2. Beginning at the west of Europe,[1] we find, first, Hispa'nia,\n_Spain_. Its boundaries are, on the east, the chain of the Pyrenees;\non every other side, the sea. It was divided into three provinces: 1.\nLusita'nia, _Portugal_, bounded on the north by the Du'rius, _Douro_,\nand on the south by the Anas; _Guadiana_: 2. Bo'etica, bounded on the\nnorth and west by the A'nas, and on the east by the mountains of\nOrospe'da, _Sierra Moreno_: 3. Tarracone'nsis, which includes the\nremainder of the Spanish peninsula. 3. Spain was annexed to the Roman\nempire after the conclusion of the second _Punic_ war; Lusitania,\nafter a desperate resistance, was added at a later period.\n4. Transalpine Gaul was the name given to the entire country between\nthe Pyrenees and the Rhine; it consequently included France,\nSwitzerland, and Belgium.\n5. Gaul was divided in four provinces: 1. Narbonen'sis or Bracca'ta,\nbounded on the west by the Pyrenees; on the north by the Cevennian\nmountains, and on the east by the Va'rus, _Var_: 2. Lugdunen'sis or\nCel'tica, bounded on the south and west by the Li'ger, _Loire_; on the\nnorth by the Sequa'na, _Seine_, and on the east by the A'rar,\n_Saone_: 3. Aquita'nica, bounded by the Pyrenees on the south,\nand the Li'ger on the north and east: 4. Bel'gica, bounded on the\nnorth and east by the Rhe'nus, _Rhine;_ on the west by the Arar, and\non the south by the Rhoda'nus, _Rhone_, as far as the city Lugdu'num,\n_Lyons_. Helve'tia, the modern Switzerland, was included in Belgic\nGaul. This extensive country was not totally subdued before the time\nof Julius C\u00e6sar.\n6. Italy has been already mentioned in the first chapter; we shall\ntherefore pass it over and come to the islands in the Mediterranean.\nSici'lia or Trinac'ria, _Sicily_, was the first province that the\nRomans gained beyond the confines of Italy. The cities on its coast\nwere founded by Phoenician and Grecian colonies, but the native\ninhabitants retained possession of the interior; one tribe, named the\nSic'uli, are said to have migrated from Italy, and to have given their\nname to the island. The Greeks and Carthaginians long contended for\nsupremacy in this island, but it was wrested from both by the Romans\ntowards the close of the second _Punic_ war. Nearly at the same time,\nthe islands of Corsica and Sardinia were annexed to the empire.\n7. Britan'nia, divided into Britan'nia Roma'na, which contained\nEngland and the south of Scotland; and Britannia Bar'bara or\nCaledo'nia, the northern part of Scotland, into which the Romans never\npenetrated. Britain was first invaded by Julius C\u00e6sar, but was not\nwholly subdued before the time of Nero. As for Hiber'nia or Ier'ne,\n_Ireland_, it was visited by Roman merchants, but never by Roman\nlegions.\n8. The countries south of the Danube, were subdued and divided into\nprovinces during the reign of Augustus. The number of these provinces\nwas seven: 1. Vindeli'cia, bounded on the north by the Danube; on the\neast by the \u00c6'nus, _Inn_; on the west by Helve'tia, and on the south\nby Rh\u00e6'tia: 2. Rh\u00e6tia, lying between Helve'tia, Vindeli'cia, and the\neastern chain of the Alps: 3. Novi'cum, bounded on the north by the\nDanube, on the west by the \u00c6'nus, _Inn_, on the east by mount Ce'tius\n_Kahlenberg_, and on the south by the Julian Alps and the Sa'vus,\n_Save_: 4. Panno'nia Superior, having as boundaries, the Danube on the\nnorth and east; the Ar'rabo, _Raab_, on the south; and the Cetian\nmountains on the west: 5. Panno'nia Inferior, having the Ar'rabo on\nthe north; the Ar'rabo on the east; and the Sa'vus on the south: 6.\nMoe'sia Superior, bounded on the north by the Danube, on the\nsouth by Mount Scar'dus. _Tihar-dag_; on the west by the Pan'nonia,\nand on the east by the river Ce'brus, _Isker_: 7. Moe'sia Inferior,\nhaving the Danube on the north; the Ce'brus on the west; the chain of\nmount H\u00e6'mus on the south, and the Pon'tus Eux'imus, _Black Sea_, on\nthe east.\n9. Illyricum included the districts along the eastern coast of the\nAdriatic, from Rh\u00e6'tia to the river Dri'nus, _Drino Brianco_, in the\nsouth, and the Sa'vus, _Save_, on the east. It was subdued by the\nRomans about the time of the Macedonian war.\n10. Macedon and Greece were subdued after the conquest of Carthage;\nfor the particulars of their geography, the student is referred to the\nintroduction prefixed to the last edition of the Grecian History.\nThrace was governed by its own kings, who were tributary to the Romans\nuntil the reign of the emperor Claudian, when it was made a province.\n11. Da'cia was first subdued by the emperor Trajan, and was the only\nprovince north of the Danube; its boundaries were, the Carpathian\nmountains on the north, the Tibis'eus, _Theiss_, on the west, the\nHiera'sus, _Pruth_, on the east, and the Danube on the south.\n12. The principal Asiatic provinces were, Asia Minor, Syria, and\nPhoeni'cia. Beyond the Euphra'tes, Arme'nia and Mesopota'mia were\nreduced to provinces by Trajan, but abandoned by his successor Adrian.\n13. The African provinces were, Egypt, Cyrena'ica, Namidia, and\nMaurita'nia.\n14. The principal states on the borders of the empire were, Germa'nia\nand Sarma'tia in Europe, Arme'nia and Par'thia in Asia, and \u00c6thio'pia\nin Africa.\n15. Eastern Asia, or India, was only known to the Romans by a\ncommercial intercourse, which was opened with that country soon after\nthe conquest of Egypt.\nIt was divided into India on this side the Ganges, and India beyond\nthe Ganges, which included Se'rica, a country of which the Romans\npossessed but little knowledge. India at the western side of the\nGanges contained, 1. The territory between the In'dus and Gan'ges: 2.\nThe western coast, now called Malabar, which was the part best known,\nand, 3. The island of Taproba'ne, _Ceylon_.\n16. The commerce between Europe and southern Asia became important in\nthe reign of Alexan'der the Great; the greater part of the towns\nfounded by that mighty conqueror were intended to facilitate this\nlucrative trade.[2] After his death, the Ptol'emys of Egypt became the\npatrons of Indian traffic, which was unwisely neglected by the kings\nof Syria. When Egypt was conquered by the Romans, the commerce with\nIndia was not interrupted, and the principal mart for Indian commerce\nunder the Roman emperors, was always Alexandria. The jealousy of the\nParthians excluded strangers from their territories, and put an end to\nthe trade that was carried on between northern India, the shores of\nthe Caspian sea, and thence to the \u00c6gean. In consequence of this\ninterruption, Palmy'ra and Alexandri'a became the great depots of\neastern commerce, and to this circumstance they owed their enormous\nwealth and magnificence.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What were the boundaries of the Roman empire?\n2. How was Spain divided?\n3. When was Spain annexed to the Roman empire?\n4. What countries were included in Transalpine Gaul?\n5. How was Gaul divided?\n6. What islands in the Mediterranean were included in the Roman\nempire?\n7. When was Britain invaded by the Romans, and how much of the country\ndid they subdue?\n8. Into what provinces were the countries south of the Danube divided?\n9. What was the extent of Illyricum?\n10. What were the Roman provinces in the east of Europe?\n11. By whom was Dacia conquered?\n12. What were the Asiatic provinces?\n13. What were the African provinces?\n14. What were the principal states bordering on the empire?\n15. Was India known to the Romans?\n16. What cities under the Romans enjoyed the greatest commerce with\nIndia?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] The student will find the particulars of the ancient state of\nthese countries detailed more fully in Mitchell's Ancient Geography.\n[2] See Pinnock's Grecian History.\nEND OF THE INTRODUCTION.\nHISTORY OF ROME\nCHAPTER I.\nOF THE ORIGIN OF THE ROMANS.\nIn Alba he shall fix his royal seat.--_Dryden_.\n1. The Romans were particularly desirous of being thought descendants\nof the gods, as if to hide the meanness of their real ancestry.\n_\u00c6ne'as_, the son of _Venus_ and _Anchi'ses_, having escaped from the\ndestruction of Troy, after many adventures and dangers, arrived in\nItaly, A.M. 2294, where he was kindly received by Lati'nus, king of\nthe Latins, who promised him his daughter Lavin'ia in marriage.\n2. Turnus, king of the _Ru'tuli_, was the first who opposed \u00c6ne'as, he\nhaving long made pretensions to her himself. A war ensued, in which\nthe Trojan hero was victorious, and Turnus slain. In consequence of\nthis, Lavin'ia became the wife of \u00c6ne'as, who built a city to her\nhonour, and called it Lavin'ium. Some time after, engaging in a war\nagainst _Mezen'tius_, one of the petty kings of the country, he was\nvanquished in turn, and died in battle, after a reign of four years.\n3. Asca'nius his son, succeeded to the kingdom; and to him Sil'vius, a\nsecond son, whom he had by Lavin'ia. It would be tedious and\nuninteresting to recite a dry catalogue of the kings that followed, of\nwhom we know little more than the names; it will be sufficient to say,\nthat the succession continued for nearly four hundred years in the\nsame family, and that Nu'mitor, the fifteenth from \u00c6ne'as, was the\nlast king of Alba.\nNu'mitor, who took possession of the kingdom in consequence of his\nfather's will, had a brother named Amu'lius, to whom were left the\ntreasures which had been brought from Troy. 4. As riches too generally\nprevail against right, Amu'lius made use of his wealth to supplant his\nbrother, and soon found means to possess himself of the kingdom. Not\ncontented with the crime of usurpation, he added that of murder also.\nNu'mitor's sons first fell a sacrifice to his suspicions; and to\nremove all apprehensions of being one day disturbed in his\nill-gotten power, he caused Rhe'a Sil'via, his brother's only\ndaughter, to become a vestal.\n5. His precautions, however, were all frusrtrated in the event. Rhe'a\nSil'via, and, according to tradition, Mars the god of war, were the\nparents of two boys, who were no sooner born, than devoted by the\nusurper to destruction. 7. The mother was condemned to be buried\nalive, the usual punishment for vestals who had violated their vows,\nand the twins were ordered to be flung into the river Tiber. 8. It\nhappened, however, at the time this rigorous sentence was put into\nexecution, that the river had, more than usual, overflowed its banks,\nso that the place where the children were thrown being distant from\nthe main current, the water was too shallow to drown them. It is said\nby some, that they were exposed in a cradle, which, after floating for\na time, was, by the water's retiring, left on dry ground; that a wolf,\ndescending from the mountains to drink, ran, at the cry of the\nchildren, and fed them under a fig-tree, caressing and licking them as\nif they had been her own young, the infants hanging on to her as if\nshe had been their mother, until Faus'tulus, the king's shepherd,\nstruck with so surprising a sight, conveyed them home, and delivered\nthem to his wife, Ac'ca Lauren'tia, to nurse, who brought them up as\nher own. 9. Others, however, assert, that from the vicious life of\nthis woman, the shepherds had given her the nickname of Lupa, or wolf,\nwhich they suppose might possibly be the occasion of this marvellous\nstory.\n10. Romu'lus and Re'mus, the twins, in whatever manner preserved,\nseemed early to discover abilities and desires above the meanness of\ntheir supposed origin. From their very infancy, an air of superiority\nand grandeur seemed to discover their rank. They led, however, the\nshepherd's life like the rest; worked for their livelihood, and built\ntheir own huts. But pastoral idleness displeased them, and, from\ntending their flocks, they betook themselves to the chase. Then, no\nlonger content with hunting wild beasts, they turned their strength\nagainst the robbers of their country, whom they often stripped of\ntheir plunder, and divided it among the shepherds. 11. The youths who\ncontinually joined them so increased in number, as to enable them to\nhold assemblies, and celebrate games. In one of their excursions, the\ntwo brothers were surprised. Re'mus was taken prisoner, carried before\nthe king, and accused of being a plunderer and robber on Nu'mitor's\nlands. Rom'ulus had escaped; but Re'mus, the king sent to\nNu'mitor, that he might do himself justice.\n12. From many circumstances, Faus'tulus suspected the twins under his\ncare to be the same that Amu'lius had exposed on the Ti'ber, and at\nlength divulged his suspicions to Rom'ulus. Nu'mitor made the same\ndiscovery to Re'mus. From that time nothing was thought of but the\ntyrant's destruction. He was beset on all sides; and, during the\namazement and distraction that ensued, was taken and slain; while\nNu'mitor, who had been deposed for forty years, recognised his\ngrandsons, and was once more placed on the throne.\n13. The two brothers, leaving Nu'mitor the kingdom of Alba, determined\nto build a city upon the spot where they had been exposed and\npreserved. But a fatal desire of reigning seized them both, and\ncreated a difference between these noble youths, which terminated\ntragically. Birth right in the case of twins could claim no\nprecedence; they therefore were advised by the king to take an omen\nfrom the flight of birds, to know to which of them the tutelar gods\nwould decree the honour of governing the rising city, and,\nconsequently, of being the director of the other. 14. In compliance\nwith this advice, each took his station on a different hill. To Re'mus\nappeared six vultures; in the moment after, Rom'ulus saw twelve. Two\nparties had been formed for this purpose; the one declared for Re'mus,\nwho first saw the vultures; the other for Rom'ulus, who saw the\ngreater number. Each party called itself victorious; the one having\nthe first omen, the other that which was most complete. This produced\na contest which ended in a battle, wherein Re'mus was slain. It is\neven said, that he was killed by his brother, who, being provoked at\nhis leaping contemptuously over the city wall, struck him dead upon\nthe spot.\n15. Rom'ulus being now sole commander and eighteen years of age, began\nthe foundation of a city that was one day to give laws to the world.\nIt was called Rome, after the name of the founder, and built upon the\nPalatine hill, on which he had taken his successful omen, A.M. 3252;\nANTE c. 752. The city was at first nearly square, containing about a\nthousand houses. It was almost a mile in circumference, and commanded\na small territory round it of eight miles over. 16. However, small as\nit appears, it was yet worse inhabited; and the first method made use\nof to increase its numbers, was the opening of a sanctuary for\nall malefactors and slaves, and such as were desirous of novelty;\nthese came in great multitudes, and contributed to increase the number\nof our legislator's new subjects.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What was the origin of the Romans?\n2. Who first opposed \u00c6neas, and what was the result?\n3. Who were the successors of \u00c6neas?\n4. What was the conduct of Amulius?\n5. What event frustrated his precautions?\n6. What followed?\n7. What was the sentence on Rhea Silvia and her children?\n8. How were the children preserved?\n9. What is supposed to have occasioned this marvellous story?\n10. What was the character and conduct of Romulus and Remus?\n11. In what manner were they surprised?\n12. How was the birth of Romulus and Remus discovered, and what\nconsequences followed?\n13. What caused a difference between the brothers?\n14. Relate the circumstances which followed?\n15. By whom was Rome built, and what was then its situation?\n16. By what means was the new city peopled?\nCHAPTER II.\nFROM THE BUILDING OF ROME TO THE DEATH OF ROMULUS.\n  See Romulus the great, born to restore\n  The crown that once his injured grandsire wore.\n  This prince a priestess of our blood shall bear;\n  And like his sire in arms he shall appear.--_Dryden_.\n1. Scarcely was the city raised above its foundation, when its rude\ninhabitants began to think of giving some form to their constitution.\nRom'ulus, by an act of great generosity, left them at liberty to\nchoose whom they would for their king; and they, in gratitude,\nconcurred to elect him for their founder. He, accordingly, was\nacknowledged as chief of their religion, sovereign magistrate of Rome,\nand general of the army. Beside a guard to attend his person, it was\nagreed, that he should be preceded wherever he went, by twelve\nlictors, each armed with an axe tied up in a bundle of rods;[1] these\nwere to serve as executioners of the law, and to impress his new\nsubjects with an idea of his authority.\n2. The senate, who were to act as counsellors to the king, was\ncomposed of a hundred of the principal citizens of Rome, consisting of\nmen whose age, wisdom, or valour, gave them a natural authority over\ntheir fellow-subjects. The king named the first senator, who was\ncalled prince of the senate, and appointed him to the government of\nthe city, whenever war required his own absence.\n3. The patricians, who composed the third part of the legislature,\nassumed to themselves the power of authorising those laws which were\npassed by the king, or the senate. All things relative to peace or\nwar, to the election of magistrates, and even to the choosing a king,\nwere confirmed by suffrages in their assemblies.\n4. The plebeians were to till the fields, feed cattle, and follow\ntrades; but not to have any share in the government, to avoid the\ninconveniences of a popular power.\n5. The first care of the new-created king was, to attend to the\ninterests of religion. The precise form of their worship is unknown;\nbut the greatest part of the religion of that age consisted in a firm\nreliance upon the credit of their soothsayers, who pretended, from\nobservation on the flight of birds, and the entrails of beasts, to\ndirect the present, and to dive into futurity. Rom'ulus, by an express\nlaw, commanded that no election should be made, nor enterprise\nundertaken, without first consulting them.\n6. Wives were forbidden, upon any pretext whatsoever, to separate from\ntheir husbands; while, on the contrary, the husband was empowered to\nrepudiate the wife, and even, in some cases, to put her to death. The\nlaws between children and their parents were still more severe; the\nfather had entire power over his offspring, both of fortune and life;\nhe could imprison and sell them at any time of their lives, or in any\nstations to which they were arrived.\n7. After endeavouring to regulate his subjects by law, Rom'ulus next\ngave orders to ascertain their numbers. The whole amounted to no more\nthan three thousand foot, and about as many hundred horsemen, capable\nof bearing arms. These, therefore, were divided equally into three\ntribes, and to each he assigned a different part of the city. Each of\nthese tribes was subdivided into ten curi\u00e6, or companies, consisting of\na hundred men each, with a centurion to command it; a priest called\ncurio, to perform the sacrifices, and two of the principal inhabitants,\ncalled duumviri, to distribute justice.\n8. By these judicious regulations, each day added strength to the new\ncity; multitudes of people flocked in from all the adjacent towns, and\nit only seemed to want women to insure its duration. In this exigence,\nRom'ulus, by the advice of the senate, sent deputies among the\nSab'ines, his neighbours, entreating their alliance; and, upon these\nterms, offering to cement the strictest confederacy with them. The\nSab'ines, who were at that time considered as the most warlike people\nof Italy, rejected the proposal with disdain. 9. Rom'ulus, therefore,\nproclaimed a feast, in honour of Neptune,[2] throughout all the\nneighbouring villages, and made the most magnificent preparations for\ncelebrating it. These feasts were generally preceded by sacrifices,\nand ended in shows of wrestlers, gladiators, and chariot-courses. The\nSab'ines, as he had expected, were among the foremost who came to be\nspectators, bringing their wives and daughters with them, to share the\npleasures of the sight. 10. In the mean time the games began, and\nwhile the strangers were most intent upon the spectacle, a number of\nthe Roman youth rushed in among them with drawn swords, seized the\nyoungest and most beautiful women, and carried them off by violence.\nIn vain the parents protested against this breach of hospitality; the\nvirgins were carried away and became the wives of the Romans.\n11. A bloody war ensued. The cities of C\u00e6'nina,[3] Antem'n\u00e6,[4] and\nCrustumi'num,[5] were the first who resolved to avenge the common\ncause, which the Sab'ines seemed too dilatory in pursuing. But all\nthese, by making separate inroads, became an easy conquest to\nRom'ulus, who made the most merciful use of his victories; instead of\ndestroying their towns, or lessening their numbers, he only placed\ncolonies of Romans in them, to serve as a frontier to repress more\ndistant invasions.\n12. Ta'tius, king of Cures, a Sabine city, was the last, although the\nmost formidable, who undertook to revenge the disgrace his\ncountry had suffered. He entered the Roman territories at the head of\ntwenty-five thousand men, and not content with a superiority of\nforces, he added stratagem also. 13. Tarpe'ia, who was daughter to the\ncommander of the Capit'oline hill, happened to fall into his hands, as\nshe went without the walls of the city to fetch water. Upon her he\nprevailed, by means of large promises, to betray one of the gates to\nhis army. The reward she engaged for, was what the soldiers wore on\ntheir arms, by which she meant their bracelets. They, however, either\nmistaking her meaning, or willing to punish her perfidy, threw their\nbucklers upon her as they entered, and crushed her to death. 14. The\nSab'ines being thus possessed of the Capit'oline, after some time a\ngeneral engagement ensued, which was renewed for several days, with\nalmost equal success, and neither army could think of submitting; it\nwas in the valley between the Capit'oline and Quiri'nal hills that the\nlast engagement was fought between the Romans and the Sab'ines. 15.\nThe battle was now become general, and the slaughter prodigious; when\nthe attention of both sides was suddenly turned from the scene of\nhorror before them to another. The Sab'ine women, who had been carried\noff by the Romans, flew in between the combatants, with their hair\nloose, and their ornaments neglected, regardless of their own danger;\nand, with loud outcries, implored their husbands and their fathers to\ndesist. Upon this the combatants, as if by natural impulse, let fall\ntheir weapons. 16. An accommodation ensued, by which it was agreed,\nthat Rom'ulus and Ta'tius should reign jointly in Rome, with equal\npower and prerogative; that a hundred Sab'ines should be admitted into\nthe senate; that the city should retain its former name, but the\ncitizens, should be called Qui'rites, after Cu'res, the principal town\nof the Sab'ines; and that both nations being thus united, such of the\nSab'ines as chose it, should be admitted to live in and enjoy all the\nprivileges of citizens of Rome. 17. The conquest of Came'ria was the\nonly military achievement under the two kings, and Ta'tius was killed\nabout five years after by the Lavin'ians, for having protected some of\nhis servants who had plundered them and slain their ambassadors; so\nthat, by this accident, Rom'ulus once more saw himself sole monarch of\nRome. 18. Soon after the death of Ta'tius, a cruel plague and famine\nhaving broken out at Rome, the Camerini embraced the opportunity to\nlay waste the Roman territory. But Rom'ulus gave them battle,\nkilled six thousand on the spot, and returned in triumph to Rome. He\ntook likewise Fiden\u00e6, a city about forty furlongs distant from his\ncapital, and reduced the Veien'tes to submission.\n19. Successes like these produced an equal share of pride in the\nconqueror. From being contented with those limits which had been\nwisely assigned to his power, he began to affect absolute sway, and to\ncontroul those laws to which he had himself formerly professed\nimplicit obedience. The senate was particularly displeased at his\nconduct, as they found themselves used only as instruments to ratify\nthe rigour of his commands. 20. We are not told the precise manner\nwhich they employed to get rid of the tyrant. Some say that he was\ntorn in pieces in the senate-house; others, that he disappeared while\nreviewing his army; certain it is, that, from the secrecy of the fact,\nand the concealment of the body, they took occasion to persuade the\nmultitude that he was taken up into heaven; thus, him whom they could\nnot bear as a king, they were contented to worship as a god. Rom'ulus\nreigned thirty-seven years; and, after his death, had a temple built\nto him, under the name of Quiri'nus.\n_Questions for Examination._\n1. What were the first proceedings of the rude inhabitants of Rome?\n2. Of whom was the senate composed?\n3. Who were the patricians?\n4. Who were the plebeians?\n5. What was the first care of the new king? In what did the Religion\nof Rome consist?\n6. What were the laws between husband and wife, and between parents\nand children?\n7. What were the regulations directed by Romulus?\n8. What was the result of these regulations?\n9. What conduct did Romulus adopt in consequence?\n10. What treatment did the Sabines experience?\n11. Did they tamely acquiesce in this outrage?\n12. Who undertook to revenge the disgrace of the Sabines?\n13. What was this stratagem, and how was its perpetrator rewarded?\n14. Did the possession of the Capitoline put an end to the war?\n15. What put a stop to this sanguinary conflict?\n16. What were the terms of accommodation?\n17. Was this joint sovereignty of long continuance?\n18. Was Romulus successful in military affairs?\n19. What was the consequence?\n20. What was the manner of his death?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] This symbol of authority was borrowed from his neighbours, the\nIstrurians.\n[2] More properly in honour of Con'sus, a deity of Sabine origin, whom\nthe Romans, in a later age, confounded with Neptune. (See Keightley's\nMythology.)\n[3] A town of Latium, near Rome. (Livy.)\n[4] A city of the Sabines, between Rome and the Anio, from whence its\nname,--Ante Amnem. (Dionys. Hal.)\n[5] A town of Etruria, near Veii. (Virg.)\nCHAPTER III.\nFROM THE DEATH OF ROMULUS TO THE DEATH OF NUMA POMPILIUS, THE SECOND\nKING OF ROME.--U.C. 38.\n  When pious Numa reigned, Bellona's voice\n    No longer called the Roman youth to arms;\n  In peaceful arts he bid her sons rejoice,\n    And tranquil live, secure from war's alarms.--_Brooke._\n1. Upon the death of Rom'ulus, the city seemed greatly divided in the\nchoice of a successor. The Sab'ines were for having a king chosen from\ntheir body; but the Romans could not endure the thoughts of advancing\na stranger to the throne. In this perplexity, the senators undertook\nto supply the place of the king, by taking the government each of them\nin turn, for five days, and during that time enjoying all the honours\nand all the privileges of royalty. 2. This new form of government\ncontinued for a year; but the plebeians, who saw this method of\ntransferring power was only multiplying their masters, insisted upon\naltering that mode of government. The senate being thus driven to an\nelection, at length pitched upon Nu'ma Pompil'ius, a Sab'ine, and\ntheir choice was received with universal approbation by the people.[1]\n3. Nu'ma Pompil'ius, who was now about forty, had long been eminent\nfor his piety, his justice, his moderation, and exemplary life. He was\nskilled in all the learning and philosophy of the Sab'ines, and lived\nat home at Cu'res,[2] contented with a private fortune; unambitious of\nhigher honours. It was not, therefore, without reluctance, that he\naccepted the dignity; which, when he did so, produced such joy, that\nthe people seemed not so much to receive a king as a kingdom.\n4. No monarch could be more proper for them than Nu'ma, at a\nconjuncture when the government was composed of various petty states\nlately subdued, and but ill united to each other: they wanted a master\nwho could, by his laws and precepts, soften their fierce dispositions;\nand, by his example, induce them to a love of religion, and every\nmilder virtue. 5. Numa's whole time, therefore, was spent in\ninspiring his subjects with a love of piety, and a veneration for the\ngods. He built many new temples, instituted sacred offices and feasts;\nand the sanctity of his life gave strength to his assertion--that he\nhad a particular correspondence with the goddess _Ege'ria_. By her\nadvice he built the temple of _Janus_, which was to be shut in time of\npeace, and open in war. He regulated the appointment of the vestal\nvirgins, and added considerably to the privileges which they had\npreviously enjoyed.\n6. For the encouragement of agriculture, he divided those lands, which\nRomulus had gained in war, among the poorer part of the people; he\nregulated the calendar, and abolished the distinction between Romans\nand Sabines, by dividing the people according to their several trades,\nand compelling them to live together. Thus having arrived at the age\nof fourscore years, and having reigned forty-three in profound peace,\nhe died, ordering his body, contrary to the custom of the times, to be\nburied in a stone coffin; and his books of ceremonies, which consisted\nof twelve in Latin, and as many in Greek, to be buried by his side in\nanother.[3]\n_Questions for Examination._\n1. Upon the death of Romulus, what took place in regard to his\nsuccessor?\n2. How long did this order of things continue?\n3. What was the character of Numa Pompilius?\n4. Was Numa a monarch suited to this peculiar conjuncture?\n5. Relate the acts of Numa?\n6. What were the further acts of Numa?\n7. What orders did he leave at his death?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] Nu'ma Pompil'ius was the fourth son of Pompil'ius Pom'po, an\nillustrious Sab'ine. He had married Ta'tia, the daughter of Ta'tius,\nthe colleague of Rom'ulus, and on the death of his wife, gave himself\nup entirely to solitude and study. (Plutarch--Livy.)\n[2] More probably at Quirium, the Sabine town which was united with\nRome. (See Introduction, Chap. II.)\n[3] The age of Nu'ma is scarcely more historical than that of\nRom'ulus, but the legends respecting it are fewer and partake less of\nextravagance. Indeed, he had himself discouraged the songs of the\nbards, by ordering the highest honours to be paid to Tac'ita, the\nCame'na or Muse of Silence. His memory was best preserved by the\nreligious ceremonies ascribed to him by universal tradition. The later\npoets loved to dwell on his peaceful virtues, and on the pure\naffection that existed between him and the nymph Egeria. They tell us\nthat when the king served up a moderate repast to his guests on\nearthen-ware, she suddenly changed the dishes into gold, and the plain\nfood into the most sumptuous viands. They also add, that when he died,\nEgeria melted away in tears for his loss, and was changed into a\nfountain.\nCHAPTER IV.\nFROM THE DEATH OF NUMA TO THE DEATH OF TULLUS HOSTILIUS THE THIRD KING\nOF ROME.--U.C. 82.\n  From either army shall be chose three champions,\n  To fight the cause alone.--_Whitehead._\n1. At the death of Nu'ma, the government once more devolved upon the\nsenate, and so continued, till the people elected Tullus Hostil'ius\nfor their king, which choice had also the concurrence of the other\npart of the constitution. This monarch, the grandson of a noble\nRoman,[1] who had formerly signalized himself against the Sab'ines,\nwas every way unlike his predecessor, being entirely devoted to war,\nand more fond of enterprise than even the founder of the empire\nhimself had been; so that he only sought a pretext for leading his\nforces to the field.\n2. The _Albans_, by committing some depredations on the Roman\nterritory, were the first people that gave him an opportunity of\nindulging his favourite inclinations. The forces of the two states met\nabout five miles from Rome, prepared to decide the fate of their\nrespective kingdoms; for, in these times, a single battle was\ngenerally decisive. The two armies were for some time drawn out in\narray, awaiting the signal to begin, both chiding the length of that\ndreadful suspense, when an unexpected proposal from the Alban general\nput a stop to the onset. 3. Stepping in between both armies, he\noffered the Romans to decide the dispute by single combat; adding,\nthat the side whose champion was overcome, should submit to the\nconqueror. A proposal like this, suited the impetuous temper of the\nRoman king, and was embraced with joy by his subjects, each of whom\nhoped that he himself should be chosen to fight the cause of his\ncountry. 4. There were, at that time, three twin brothers in each\narmy; those of the Romans were called Hora'tii, and those of the\nAlbans Curia'tii; all six remarkable for their courage, strength, and\nactivity, and to these it was resolved to commit the management of the\ncombat.[2] At length the champions met, and each, totally\nregardless of his own safety, only sought the destruction of his\nopponent. The spectators, in horrid silence, trembled at every blow,\nand wished to share the danger, till fortune seemed to decide the\nglory of the field. 5. Victory, that had hitherto been doubtful,\nappeared to declare against the Romans: they beheld two of their\nchampions lying dead upon the plain, and the three Curia'tii, who were\nwounded, slowly endeavouring to pursue the survivor, who seemed by\nflight to beg for mercy. Too soon, however, they perceived that his\nflight was only pretended, in order to separate his three antagonists,\nwhom he was unable to oppose united; for quickly after, stopping his\ncourse, and turning upon the first, who followed closely behind, he\nlaid him dead at his feet: the second brother, who was coming up to\nassist him that had already fallen, shared the same fate. 6. There now\nremained but the last Curia'tius to conquer, who, fatigued and\ndisabled by his wounds, slowly advanced to offer an easy victory. He\nwas killed, almost unresisting, while the conqueror, exclaiming, \"Two\nhave I already sacrificed to the manes of my brothers, the third I\nwill offer up to my country,\" despatched him as a victim to the\nsuperiority of the Romans, whom now the Alban army consented to\nobey.[3]\n7. But the virtues of that age were not without alloy; that very hand\nthat in the morning was exerted to save his country, was, before\nnight, imbrued in the blood of a sister: for, returning triumphant\nfrom the field, it raised his indignation to behold her bathed in\ntears, and lamenting the loss of her lover, one of the Curia'tii, to\nwhom she had been betrothed. This so provoked him beyond the powers of\nsufferance, that in a rage he slew her: but the action displeased the\nsenate, and drew after it the condemnation of the magistrate. He was,\nhowever, pardoned, by making his appeal to the people, but obliged to\npass under the yoke; an ignominious punishment, usually inflicted on\nprisoners of war.[4]\n8. Tullus having greatly increased the power and wealth of Rome by\nrepeated victories, now thought proper to demand satisfaction of the\nSab'ines for the insults which had been formerly offered to some Roman\ncitizens at the temple of the goddess Fero'nia, which was common\nto both nations A war ensued, which lasted some years, and ended in\nthe total overthrow of the Sab'ines.\n[Illustration: The victorious Horatius killing his sister.]\nHostil'ius died after a reign of thirty-two years; some say by\nlightning; others, with more probability, by treason.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. On whom devolved the government on the death of Numa, and what is\nthe character of his successor?\n2. What opportunity first offered of indulging the new king's\ninclinations?\n3. What proposal was offered, and accepted for deciding the dispute?\n4-6. Relate the circumstances which attended the combat, and the\nresult of it.\n7. What act followed the victory?\n8. What conquest was next achieved?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] It seems to have been part of the compact between the Romans and\nSabines, that a king of each people should reign alternately.\n[2] The Hora'tii and Curia'tii were, according to Diony'sius of\nHalicarnas'sus, the sons of two sisters, daughters of Sequin'ius, an\nillustrious citizen of Alba. One married to Curia'tius, a citizen of\nAlba, and the other to Hora'tius, a Roman: so that the champions were\nnear relatives.\n[3] This obedience of the Albans was of short duration; they soon\nrebelled and were defeated by Tullus, who razed the city of Alba to\nthe ground, and transplanted the inhabitants to Rome, where he\nconferred on them the privileges of citizens.\n[4] Livy, lib. i. cap. 26. Dion. Hal. l. 3.\nCHAPTER V.\nFROM THE DEATH OF TULLUS HOSTILIUS TO THE DEATH OF ANCUS MARTIUS THE\nFOURTH KING OF ROME.--U.C. 115.\n  Of Alba, still her ancient rights retains,\n  Still worships Vesta, though an humbler way,\n  Nor lets the hallow'd Trojan fire decay.--_Juvenal_.\n1. After an interregnum, as in the former case, Ancus Mar'tius, the\ngrandson of Numa, was elected king by the people, and their choice was\nafterwards confirmed by the senate. As this monarch was a lineal\ndescendant from Numa, so he seemed to make him the great object\nof his imitation. He instituted the sacred ceremonies, which were to\nprecede a declaration of war;[1] but he took every occasion to advise\nhis subjects to return to the arts of agriculture, and to lay aside\nthe less useful stratagems of war.\n2. These institutions and precepts were considered by the neighbouring\npowers rather as marks of cowardice than of wisdom. The Latins\ntherefore began to make incursions upon his territories, but their\nsuccess was equal to their justice. An'cus conquered the Latins,\ndestroyed their cities, removed their inhabitants to Rome, and\nincreased his dominions by the addition of part of theirs. He quelled\nalso an insurrection of the _Ve'ii_, the _Fiden'ates_, and the\n_Vol'sci_; and over the Sab'ines he obtained a second triumph.\n3. But his victories over the enemy were by no means comparable to his\nworks at home, in raising temples, fortifying the city, making a\nprison for malefactors, and building a sea-port at the mouth of the\nTi'ber, called Os'tia, by which he secured to his subjects the trade\nof that river, and that of the salt-pits adjacent. Thus having\nenriched his subjects, and beautified the city, he died, after a reign\nof twenty-four years.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. Who was elected by the people after the interregnum, and what\nmeasures did he pursue?\n2. In what light did his enemies consider his institutions? With what\nsuccess did they oppose him?\n3. What were the other acts of Ancus? How many years did he reign?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] First an ambassador was sent to demand satisfaction for the\nalleged injury; if this were not granted within thirty-three days,\nheralds were appointed to proclaim the war in the name of the gods and\npeople of Rome. At the conclusion of their speech, they threw their\njavelins into the enemy's confines, and departed.\nCHAPTER VI.\nFROM THE DEATH OF ANCUS MARTIUS, TO THE DEATH OF TARQUINIUS PRISCUS\nTHE FIFTH KING OF ROME.--U.C. 130.\n  The first of Tarquin's hapless race was he,\n  Who odium tried to cast on augury;\n  But N\u00e6vius Accius, with an augur's skill.\n  Preserved its fame, and raised it higher still.--_Robertson_.\n1. Lu'cius Tarquin'ius Pris'cus was appointed guardian to the sons of\nthe late king, and took the surname of Tarquin'ius from the city of\n_Tarquin'ia_, whence he last came. His father was a merchant of\nCorinth,[1] who had acquired considerable wealth by trade, and had\nsettled in Italy, upon account of some troubles at home. His son, who\ninherited his fortune, married a woman of family in the city of\nTarquin'ia.\n2. His birth, profession, and country, being contemptible to the\nnobles of the place, he, by his wife's persuasion, came to settle at\nRome, where merit also gave a title to distinction. On his way\nthither, say the historians, as he approached the city gate, an eagle,\nstooping from above, took off his hat, and flying round his chariot\nfor some time, with much noise, put it on again. This his wife\nTan'aquil, who it seems was skilled in augury, interpreted as a\npresage that he should one day wear the crown. Perhaps it was this\nwhich first fired his ambition to pursue it.\n3. Ancus being dead, and the kingdom, as usual, devolving upon the\nsenate, Tarquin used all his power and arts to set aside the children\nof the late king, and to get himself elected in their stead. For this\npurpose, upon the day appointed for election, he contrived to have\nthem sent out of the city; and in a set speech, in which he urged his\nfriendship for the people, the fortune he had spent among them, and\nhis knowledge of their government, he offered himself for their king.\nAs there was nothing in this harangue that could be contested, it had\nthe desired effect, and the people, with one consent, elected him as\ntheir sovereign.\n4. A kingdom thus obtained by _intrigue_, was, notwithstanding,\ngoverned with equity. In the beginning of his reign, in order to\nrecompense his friends, he added a hundred members more to the senate,\nwhich made them, in all, three hundred.\n5. But his peaceful endeavours were soon interrupted by the inroads of\nhis restless neighbours, particularly the Latins, over whom he\ntriumphed, and whom he forced to beg for peace. He then turned his\narms against the Sabines, who had risen once more, and had passed the\nriver Ti'ber; but attacking them with vigour, Tarquin routed their\narmy; so that many who escaped the sword, were drowned in attempting\nto cross over, while their bodies and armour, floating down to Rome,\nbrought news of the victory, even before the messengers could arrive\nthat were sent with the tidings. These conquests were followed by\nseveral advantages over the Latins, from whom he took many towns,\nthough without gaining any decisive victory.\n6. Tarquin, having thus forced his enemies into submission, was\nresolved not to let his subjects grow corrupt through indolence. He\ntherefore undertook and perfected several public works for the\nconvenience and embellishment of the city.[2]\n7. In his time it was, that the augurs came into a great increase of\nreputation. He found it his interest to promote the superstition of\nthe people; for this was, in fact, but to increase their obedience.\nTan'aquil, his wife, was a great pretender to this art; but Ac'cius\nN\u00e6'vius was the most celebrated adept of the kind ever known in Rome.\n8. Upon a certain occasion, Tarquin, being resolved to try the augur's\nskill, asked him, whether what he was then pondering in his mind could\nbe effected? N\u00e6'vius, having consulted his auguries, boldly affirmed\nthat it might: \"Why, then,\" cries the king, with an insulting smile,\n\"I had thoughts of cutting this whetstone with a razor.\" \"Cut boldly,\"\nreplied the augur; and the king cut it through accordingly.\nThenceforward nothing was undertaken in Rome without consulting the\naugurs, and obtaining their advice and approbation.\n9. Tarquin was not content with a kingdom, without having also the\nensigns of royalty. In imitation of the Lyd'ian kings, he assumed a\ncrown of gold, an ivory throne, a sceptre with an eagle on the top,\nand robes of purple. It was, perhaps, the splendour of these royalties\nthat first raised the envy of the late king's sons, who had now,\nfor above thirty-seven years, quietly submitted to his government. His\ndesign also of adopting Ser'vius Tul'lius, his son-in-law, for his\nsuccessor, might have contributed to inflame their resentment. 10.\nWhatever was the cause of their tardy vengeance, they resolved to\ndestroy him; and, at last, found means to effect their purpose, by\nhiring two ruffians, who, demanding to speak with the king, pretending\nthat they came for justice, struck him dead in his palace with the\nblow of an axe. The lictors, however, who waited upon the person of\nthe king, seized the murderers as they were attempting to escape, and\nput them to death: but the sons of Ancus, who were the instigators,\nfound safety in flight.\n11. Thus fell Lu'cius Tarquin'ius, surnamed Pris'cus, to distinguish\nhim from one of his successors of the same name. He was eighty years\nof age, and had reigned thirty-eight years.[3]\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. Who was Lucius Tarquinius Priscus?\n2. What occasioned his removal to Rome, and what circumstances\nattended it?\n3. Was this presage fulfilled, and by what means?\n4. In what manner did he govern?\n5. Was Tarquin a warlike prince?\n6. How did he improve his victories?\n7. By what act did he insure the obedience of his subjects?\n8. What contributed to increase the reputation of the augurs?\n9. What part of his conduct is supposed, to have raised the envy of\nthe late king's sons?\n10. What was the consequence of this envy and resentment?\n11. What was his age, and how long did he reign?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] Corinth (now Corito) was a celebrated city of ancient Greece,\nsituated on the isthmus of that name, about sixty stadia or furlongs\nfrom the sea. Its original name was Ephy're.\n[2] Preparations for building the Capitol were made in this reign. The\ncity was likewise fortified with stone walls, and the cloac\u00e6, or\ncommon sewers, constructed by the munificence of this prince. (See\nIntrod.)\n[3] The history of the elder Tarquin presents insuperable\ndifficulties. We are told that his original name was Lu'cumo; but\nthat, as has been mentioned in the Introduction, was the Etrurian\ndesignation of a chief magistrate. One circumstance, however, is\nunquestionable, that with him began the greatness and the splendour of\nthe Roman city. He commenced those vaulted sewers which still attract\nthe admiration of posterity; he erected the first circus for the\nexhibition of public spectacles; he planned the Capitol, and\ncommenced, if he did not complete, the first city wall. The tradition\nthat he was a Tuscan prince, appears to be well founded; but the\nCorinthian origin of his family is very improbable.\nCHAPTER VII.\nFROM THE DEATH OF TARQUINIUS PRISCUS TO THE DEATH OF SERVIUS TULLIUS\nTHE SIXTH KING OF ROME.--U.C. 176.\n  Servius, the king, who laid the solid base\n  On which o'er earth the vast republic spread.--_Thomson_.\n1. The report of the murder of Tarquin filled all his subjects with\ncomplaint and indignation; while the citizens ran from every quarter\nto the palace, to learn the truth of the account, or to take vengeance\non the assassins. 2. In this tumult, Tan'aquil, widow of the late\nking, considering the danger she must incur, in case the conspirators\nshould succeed to the crown, and desirous of seeing her son-in-law his\nsuccessor, with great art dissembled her sorrow, as well as the king's\ndeath. She assured the people, from one of the windows of the palace,\nthat he was not killed, but only stunned by the blow; that he would\nshortly recover; and that in the meantime he had deputed his power to\nSer'vius Tul'lius, his son-in-law. Ser'vius, accordingly, as it had\nbeen agreed upon between them, issued from the palace, adorned with\nthe ensigns of royalty, and, preceded by his lictors, went to despatch\nsome affairs that related to the public safety, still pretending that\nhe took all his instructions from the king. This scene of\ndissimulation continued for some days, till he had made his party good\namong the nobles; when, the death of Tarquin being publicly\nascertained, Ser'vius came to the crown, solely at the senate's\nappointment, and without attempting to gain the suffrages of the\npeople.\n3. Ser'vius was the son of a bondwoman, who had been taken at the\nsacking of a town belonging to the Latins, and was born whilst his\nmother was a slave. While yet an infant in his cradle, a lambent\nflame[1] is said to have played round his head, which Tan'aquil\nconverted into an omen of future greatness.\n4. Upon being acknowledged king, he determined to make a great change\nin the Roman constitution by admitting the plebeians to a\nparticipation in the civil government. The senate was too weak to\nresist the change when it was proposed, but it submitted with great\nreluctance. 5. Ser'vius divided all the Romans into classes and\ncenturies according to their wealth and the amount of taxes paid\nto the state. The number of centuries in the first class nearly\nequalled that of all the others; a great advantage to the plebeians;\nfor the lower classes being chiefly clients of the patricians, were\nalways inclined to vote according to the prejudices or interests of\ntheir patrons.\n6. The classification by centuries was also used for military\npurposes; the heavy armed infantry being selected from the richer\nclasses; the light troops, whose arms and armour could be obtained at\nless expense, were levied among the lower centuries.\n7. In order to ascertain the increase or decay of his subjects, and\ntheir fortunes, he instituted another regulation, which he called a\n_lustrum_. By this, all the citizens were to assemble in the Cam'pus\nMar'tius,[2] in complete armour, and in their respective classes, once\nin five years, and there to give an exact account of their families\nand fortune.\n8. Having enjoyed a long reign, spent in settling the domestic policy\nof the state, and also not inattentive to foreign concerns, he\nconceived reasonable hopes of concluding it with tranquillity and\nease. He even had thoughts of laying down his power; and, having\nformed the kingdom into a republic, to retire into obscurity; but so\ngenerous a design was frustrated ere it could be put into execution.\n9. In the beginning of his reign, to secure the throne by every\nprecaution, he had married his two daughters to the two grandsons of\nTarquin; and as he knew that the women, as well as their intended\nhusbands, were of opposite dispositions, he resolved to cross their\ntempers, by giving each to him of a contrary turn of mind; her that\nwas meek and gentle to him that was bold and furious; her that was\nungovernable and proud, to him that was remarkable for a contrary\ncharacter; by this he supposed that each would correct the failings of\nthe other, and that the mixture would be productive of concord. 10.\nThe event, however, proved otherwise. Lu'cius, the haughty son-in-law,\nsoon grew displeased with the meekness of his consort, and placed his\nwhole affections upon his brother's wife, Tul'lia, who answered his\npassion with sympathetic ardour. As their wishes were ungovernable,\nthey soon resolved to break through every restraint that\nprevented their union; they both undertook to murder their respective\nconsorts; they succeeded, and were soon after married together. 11. A\nfirst crime ever produces a second; from the destruction of their\nconsorts, they proceeded to conspiring that of the king. They began by\nraising factions against him, alleging his illegal title to the crown,\nand Lu'cius claiming it as his own, as heir to Tarquin. At length,\nwhen he found the senate ripe for seconding his views, he entered the\nsenate-house, adorned with all the ensigns of royalty, and, placing\nhimself upon the throne, began to harangue them on the obscurity of\nthe king's birth, and the injustice of his title. 12. While he was yet\nspeaking, Ser'vius entered, attended by a few followers, and seeing\nhis throne thus rudely invaded, offered to push the usurper from his\nseat; but Tarquin, being in the vigour of youth, threw the old king\ndown the steps which led to the throne; some of his adherents, who\nwere instructed for that purpose, followed him, as he was feebly\nattempting to get to the palace, dispatched him by the way, and threw\nhis body, all mangled and bleeding, as a public spectacle, into the\nstreet. 13. In the mean time, Tul'lia, burning with impatience for the\nevent, was informed of what her husband had done, and, resolving to be\namong the first who should salute him as monarch, ordered her chariot\nto the senate-house. But as her charioteer approached the place where\nthe body of the old king, her father, lay exposed and bloody; the man,\namazed at the inhuman spectacle, and not willing to trample upon it\nwith his horses, offered to turn another way; this serving only to\nincrease the fierceness of her anger, she threw the foot-stool at his\nhead, and ordered him to drive over the body without hesitation.[3]\n14. This was the end of Ser'vius Tul'lius, a prince of eminent justice\nand moderation, after an useful and prosperous reign of forty-four\nyears.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What effect had the murder of Tarquin on his subjects?\n2. By what means was the succession assured to Servius Tullius?\n3. Who was Servius?\n4. What was the chief object of his reign?\n5. What was the nature of the change made by Servius in the Roman\nconstitution?\n6. Was the classification by centuries used for civil purposes only?\n7. What other important measure did he adopt?\n8. What hopes did he entertain in his old age?\n9. By what means did he hope to secure tranquil possession of the\nthrone?\n10. How was it that the event failed to answer his expectations?\n11. To what farther crimes did the commencement lead?\n12. What followed?\n13. What was the conduct of his daughter on this melancholy occasion?\n14. What was the character of Servius, and how long did he reign?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] A flame of fire gliding about without doing any harm.\n[2] A large plain at Rome, without the walls of the city, where the\nRoman youth performed their exercises. Cam'pus is the Latin word for\nfield; and this field or plain was called Mar'tius, because it was\ndedicated to Mars, the god of war.\n[3] The blood of the good old king is said to have dyed the chariot\nwheels, and even the clothes of the inhuman daughter; from that time\nthe street where it happened was called _vicus sceleratus_, the wicked\nor accursed street.\nCHAPTER VIII.\nFROM THE DEATH OF SERVIUS TULLIUS TO THE BANISHMENT OF TARQUINIUS\nSUPERBUS THE SEVENTH AND LAST KING OF ROME U.C. 220.\n  A nobler spirit warm'd\n  Her sons; and roused by tyrants, nobler still\n  It burn'd in Brutus.--_Thomson_.\n1. LU'CIUS TARQUIN'IUS, afterwards called Super'bus, or the Proud,\nhaving placed himself upon the throne, in consequence of this horrid\ndeed, was resolved to support his dignity with the same violence with\nwhich it was acquired. Regardless of the senate or the people's\napprobation, he seemed to claim the crown by an hereditary right, and\nrefused burial to the late king's' body, under pretence of his being\nan usurper. 2. All the good part of mankind, however, looked upon his\naccession with detestation and horror: and this act of inefficient\ncruelty only served to confirm their hatred. 3. Conscious of this, he\nordered all such as he suspected to have been attached to Ser'vius, to\nbe put to death; and fearing the natural consequences of his tyranny,\nhe increased the guard round his person.\n4. His chief policy seems to have been to keep the people always\nemployed either in wars or public works, by which means he diverted\ntheir attention from his unlawful method of coming to the crown. He\nfirst marched against the Sab'ines, who refused to pay him obedience;\nand he soon reduced them to submission. 5. In the meantime, many of\nthe discontented patricians, abandoning their native country, took\nrefuge in Ga'bii, a city of Latium, about twelve miles from Rome,\nwaiting an opportunity to take up arms, and drive Tarquin from his\nthrone. To escape this danger. Tarquin had recourse to the following\nstratagem. 6. He caused his son Sextus to counterfeit desertion, upon\npretence of barbarous usage, and to seek refuge among the inhabitants\nof the place. There, by artful complaints and studied lamentations,\nSextus so prevailed upon the pity of the people, as to be chosen their\ngovernor, and, soon after, general of their army. 7. At first, in\nevery engagement, he appeared successful; till, at length, finding\nhimself entirely possessed of the confidence of the state, he sent a\ntrusty messenger to his father for instructions. Tarquin made no\nanswer; but taking the messenger to the garden, he cut down before him\nthe tallest poppies. Sextus readily understood the meaning of this\nreply, and found means to destroy or remove, one by one, the principal\nmen of the city; taking care to confiscate their effects among the\npeople. 8. The charms of this dividend kept the giddy populace blind\nto their approaching ruin, till they found themselves at last without\ncounsellors or head; and, in the end, fell under the power of Tarquin,\nwithout even striking a blow.[1]\n9. But, while he was engaged in wars abroad, he took care not to\nsuffer the people to continue in idleness at home. He undertook to\nbuild the Capitol, the foundation of which had been laid in a former\nreign; and an extraordinary event contributed to hasten the execution\nof his design. A woman, in strange attire, made her appearance at\nRome, and came to the king, offering to sell nine books, which, she\nsaid, were of her own composing. 10. Not knowing the abilities of the\nseller, or that she was, in fact, one of the celebrated _Sybils_,\nwhose prophecies were never found to fail, Tarquin refused to buy\nthem. Upon this she departed, and burning three of her books, returned\nagain, demanding the same price for the six remaining. 11. Being once\nmore despised as an impostor, she again departed, and burning three\nmore, she returned with the remaining three, still asking the same\nprice as at first. Tarquin, surprised at the inconsistency of her\nbehaviour, consulted the augurs, to be advised what to do. These much\nblamed him for not buying the nine, and commanded him to take the\nthree remaining, at whatsoever price they were to be had. 12. The\nwoman, says the historian, after thus selling and delivering the three\nprophetic volumes, and advising him to have a special attention to\nwhat they contained, vanished from before him, and was never seen\nafter. A trick this, invented probably by Tarquin himself, to impose\nupon the people; and to find in the Sybil's leaves whatever the\ngovernment might require. However this was, he chose proper persons to\nkeep them, who, though but two at first, were afterwards increased to\nfifteen, under the name of _Quindecemviri_. The important volumes were\nput into a stone chest, and a vault in the newly designed building was\nthought the properest place to secure them.[2]\n13. The people, having been now for four years together employed in\nbuilding the Capitol, began, at last, to wish for something new to\nengage them; Tarquin, therefore, to satisfy their wishes, proclaimed\nwar against the Ru'tuli, upon a frivolous pretence of their having\nentertained some malefactors, whom he had banished; and invested their\nchief city, Ar'dea, which lay about sixteen miles from Rome. 14. While\nthe army was encamped before this place, the king's son Sextus\nTarquinius, Collati'nus a noble Roman, and some others, sitting in a\ntent drinking together, the discourse turned upon wives, each man\npreferring the beauty and virtue of his own. Collati'nus offered to\ndecide the dispute by putting it to an immediate trial, whose wife\nshould be found possessed of the greatest beauty, and most sedulously\nemployed at that very hour: being heated with wine, the proposal was\nrelished by the whole company; and, taking horse without delay, they\nposted to Rome, though the night was already pretty far advanced.\n15. There they found Lucre'tia, the wife of Collati'nus, not like the\nother women of her age, spending the time in ease and luxury, but\nspinning in the midst of her maids, and cheerfully portioning out\ntheir tasks. Her modest beauty, and the easy reception she gave her\nhusband and his friends, so charmed them all, that they unanimously\ngave her the preference, but kindled, in the breast of Sextus\nTarquin'ius, a detestable passion, which occasioned the grossest\ninsult and injury to Lucre'tia, who, detesting the light, and\nresolving to destroy herself for the crime of another, demanded her\nhusband Collati'nus, and Spu'rius, her father, to come to her; an\nindelible disgrace having befallen the family. 16. They instantly\nobeyed the summons, bringing with them Valerius, a kinsman of her\nfather, and Junius Bru'tus, a reputed idiot, whose father Tarquin had\nmurdered, and who had accidentally met the messenger by the way. 17.\nTheir arrival only served to increase Lucre'tia's poignant anguish;\nthey found her in a state of the deepest desperation, and vainly\nattempted to give her relief. After passionately charging Sextus\nTarquin'ius with the basest perfidy towards her husband and injury to\nherself, she drew a poinard from beneath her robe, and instantly\nplunging it into her bosom, expired without a groan. 18. Struck with\nsorrow, pity, and indignation, Spu'rius and Collati'nus gave vent to\ntheir grief; but Bru'tus, drawing the poinard, reeking, from\nLucre'tia's wound, and lifting it up towards heaven, \"Be witness, ye\ngods,\" he cried, \"that, from this moment, I proclaim myself the\navenger of the chaste Lucretia's cause; from this moment I profess\nmyself the enemy of Tarquin and his wicked house; from henceforth this\nlife, while life continues, shall be employed in opposition to\ntyranny, and for the happiness and freedom of my much-loved country.\"\n19. A new amazement seized the hearers: he, whom they had hitherto\nconsidered as an idiot, now appearing, in his real character, the\nfriend of justice, and of Rome. He told them, that tears and\nlamentations were unmanly, when vengeance called so loudly; and,\ndelivering the poinard to the rest, imposed the same oath upon them\nwhich he himself had just taken.\n20. Ju'nius Brutus was the son of Marcus Ju'nius, who was put to death\nby Tarquin the Proud, and the grandson of Tarquin the elder. He had\nreceived an excellent education from his father, and had, from nature,\nstrong sense and an inflexible attachment to virtue; but knowing that\nTarquin had murdered his father and his eldest brother, he\ncounterfeited a fool, in order to escape the same danger, and thence\nobtained the surname of Bru'tus. Tarquin, thinking his folly real,\ndespised the man; and having possessed himself of his estate, kept him\nas an idiot in his house, merely with a view of making sport for his\nchildren.\n21. Brutus, however, only waited this opportunity to avenge the cause\nof his family. He ordered Lucre'tia's dead body to be brought out\nto view, and exposing it in the public forum, inflamed the ardour of\nthe citizens by a display of the horrid transaction. He obtained a\ndecree of the senate, that Tarquin and his family should be for ever\nbanished from Rome, and that it should be capital for any to plead\nfor, or to attempt his future return. 22. Thus this monarch, who had\nnow reigned twenty-five years, being expelled his kingdom, went to\ntake refuge with his family at Ci'ra, a little city of _Etru'ria_. In\nthe mean time the Roman army made a truce with the enemy, and Bru'tus\nwas proclaimed deliverer of the people.\nThus ended with Tarquin, after a continuance of two hundred and\nforty-five years, the regal state of Rome.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What was the conduct of Lucius Tarquinius at the commencement of\nhis reign?\n2. Was his claim quietly acquiesced in?\n3. What means did he adopt for his security?\n4. By what means did he divert the people's attention from the\nunlawful manner in which he acquired the crown?\n5. What happened in the mean time?\n6. To what mean artifice did he have recourse?\n7. How did Sextus accomplish his father's design?\n8. What were the effects of this measure?\n9. In what way did he employ his subjects at home during his absence,\nand what extraordinary event occurred?\n10. Did he accept her offer?\n11. Was her second application successful, and what followed?\n12. What became of the Sybil, and what is the general opinion\nrespecting this transaction?\n13. Upon what pretence did Tarquin proclaim war against the Rutuli?\n14. What remarkable event took place at the siege of Ardea?\n15. What was the consequence of this intemperate frolic?\n16. How did Lucretia support the loss of her honour?\n17. Did they obey her summons, and who did they bring with them?\n18. What was the consequence of their arrival?\n19. What effect had this dreadful catastrophe on those present?\n20. How was this unexpected resolution received?\n21. Give some account of Brutus.\n22. For what reason, and by what means, did Brutus endeavour the\nabolition of royalty?\n23. What became of Tarquin after his expulsion?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] This story is manifestly a fiction formed from the Greek\ntraditions respecting Zopy'nus and Thrasybu'lus. It is decisively\ncontradicted by the fact, that a treaty for the union of the Romans\nand Gabians, on equitable terms, was preserved in the Capitol. It was\npainted on a shield covered with the hide of the bull which had been\nsacrificed at the ratification of the league.\n[2] The Capitol, or temple of Jupiter Capitoli'nus.\nCHAPTER IX.\nTHE COMMONWEALTH.\nFROM THE BANISHMENT OF TARQUIN TO THE APPOINTMENT OF THE\nDICTATOR--U.C. 245.\n  The great republic seek that glowed, sublime,\n  With the mixt freedom of a thousand states.--_Thomson_.\n1. The regal power being overthrown, a republican form of government\nwas substituted in its room. The senate, however, reserved by far the\ngreatest share of the authority to themselves, and decorated their own\nbody with all the spoils of deposed monarchy. The centuries of the\npeople chose from among the senators, instead of a king, two annual\nmagistrates, whom they called CONSULS,[1] with power equal to that of\nthe regal, and with the same privileges and the same ensigns of\nauthority.\n2. Brutus, the deliverer of his country, and Collati'nus, the husband\nof Lucre'tia, were chosen the first consuls in Rome.\n3. But this new republic, however, which seemed so grateful to the\npeople, had like to have been destroyed in its very commencement. A\nparty was formed in favour of Tarquin. Some young men of the principal\nfamilies in the state, who had been educated about the king, and had\nshared in all the luxuries and pleasures of the court, undertook to\nre-establish monarchy. 4. This party secretly increased every day; and\nwhat may create surprise, the sons of Bru'tus himself, and the\nAqui'lii, the nephews of Collati'nus, were among the number, 5.\nTarquin, who was informed of these intrigues in his favour, sent\nambassadors from Etru'ria to Rome, under a pretence of reclaiming the\nestates of the exiles; but, in reality, with a design to give spirit\nto his faction. 6. The conspiracy was discovered by a slave who had\naccidentally hid himself in the room where the conspirators used to\nassemble. 7. Few situations could have been more terribly affecting\nthan that of Bru'tus: a father placed as a judge upon the life and\ndeath of his own children, impelled by justice to condemn, and by\nnature to spare them. 8. The young men pleaded nothing for themselves;\nbut, with conscious guilt, awaited their sentence in silence and\nagony. 9. The other judges who were present felt all the pangs of\nnature; Collati'nus wept, and Vale'rius could not repress his\nsentiments of pity. Brutus, alone, seemed to have lost all the\nsoftness of humanity; and, with a stern countenance and a tone of\nvoice that marked his gloomy resolution, demanded of his sons if they\ncould make any defence, to the crimes with which they had been\ncharged. This demand he made three several times; but receiving no\nanswer, he at length turned himself to the executioner: \"Now,\" cried\nhe, \"it is your part to perform the rest.\" 10. Thus saying, he again\nresumed his seat with an air of determined majesty; nor could all the\nsentiments of paternal pity, the imploring looks of the people, nor\nyet the tears of his sons, who were preparing for execution, alter the\ntenor of his resolution. Bru'tus, unmoved by any motive but the public\ngood, pronounced upon them the sentence of death, and by his office\nwas obliged to see it put in execution. The prisoners were scourged\nand then beheaded, and Bru'tus beheld the cruel spectacle; but, in\nspite of his stoic firmness, could not stifle the sentiments of nature\nwhich he sacrificed to the necessity of his office.\n11. Tarquin's hopes of an insurrection in his favour being thus\noverset, he now resolved to force himself upon his former throne by\nforeign assistance. He prevailed upon the _Veians_ to assist him, and,\nwith a considerable army, advanced towards Rome.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 246.]\n12. The consuls were not remiss in preparations to oppose him.\nVale'rius commanded the foot, and Bru'tus being appointed to head the\ncavalry, went out to meet him on the Roman border. 13. A'runs, the son\nof Tarquin, who commanded the cavalry for his father, seeing Bru'tus\nat a distance, resolved, by one great attempt, to decide the fate of\nthe day before the engaging of the armies, when, spurring his horse he\nflew to him with fury. Bru'tus perceived his approach, and singled out\nfrom the ranks, they met with such ungoverned rage, that, eager only\nto assail, and thoughtless of defending, they both fell dead upon the\nfield together. 14. A bloody battle ensued, with equal slaughter on\nboth sides: but the Romans, remaining in possession of the field of\nbattle, claimed the victory. In consequence, Vale'rius returned in\ntriumph to Rome.  15. In the mean time Tarquin, no way\nintimidated by his misfortunes, prevailed upon Porsen'na, one of the\nkings of Etruria, to espouse his cause, and in person to undertake his\nquarrel. 16. This prince, equally noted for courage and conduct\nmarched directly to Rome, with a numerous army, and laid siege to the\ncity; while the terror of his name and arms filled all ranks of the\npeople with dismay The siege was carried on with vigour; a furious\nattack was made upon the place; the consuls opposed in vain, and were\ncarried off wounded from the field; while the Romans, flying in great\nconsternation, were pursued by the enemy to the bridge, over which\nboth victors and vanquished were about to enter the city in the\nconfusion. 17. All now appeared lost, when Hora'tius Co'cles, who had\nbeen placed there as sentinel to defend it, opposed himself to the\ntorrent of the enemy, and, assisted only by two more, for some time\nsustained the whole fury of the assault, till the bridge was broken\ndown behind him. When he found the communication thus cut off,\nplunging with his arms into the torrent of the Tiber, he swam back\nvictorious to his fellow-soldiers, and was received with just\napplause.[2]\n18. Still, however, Porsen'na was determined upon taking the city; and\nthough five hundred of his men were slain in a sally of the Romans, he\nreduced it to the greatest straits, and turning the siege into a\nblockade, resolved to take it by famine. 19. The distress of the\nbesieged soon began to be insufferable, and all things seemed to\nthreaten a speedy surrender, when another act of fierce bravery, still\nsuperior to that which had saved the city before again brought about\nits safety and freedom.\n20. Mu'tius, a youth of undaunted courage, was resolved to rid his\ncountry of an enemy that so continued to oppress it; and, for this\npurpose, disguised in the habit of an Etru'rian peasant, entered the\ncamp of the enemy, resolving to die or to kill the king. 21. With this\nresolution he made up to the place where Porsen'na was paying his\ntroops, with a secretary by his side; but mistaking the latter for the\nking, he stabbed him to the heart, and was immediately apprehended and\nbrought into the royal presence. 22. Upon Porsen'na's demanding\nwho he was, and the cause of so heinous an action, Mu'tius, without\nreserve, informed him of his country and his design, and at the same\ntime thrusting his right hand into a fire that was burning upon the\naltar before him, \"You see,\" cried he, \"how little I regard the\nseverest punishment your cruelty can inflict. A Roman knows not only\nhow to act, but how to suffer; I am not the only person you have to\nfear; three hundred Roman youths, like me, have conspired your\ndestruction; therefore prepare for their attempts.\" 23. Porsen'na,\namazed at so much intrepidity, had too noble a mind not to acknowledge\nmerit, though found in an enemy; he therefore ordered him to be safely\nconducted back to Rome, and offered the besieged conditions of\npeace.[3] 24. These were readily accepted on their side, being neither\nhard nor disgraceful, except that twenty hostages were demanded; ten\nyoung men, and as many virgins, of the best families in Rome. 25. But\neven in this instance also, as if the gentler sex were resolved to be\nsharers in the desperate valour of the times, Cle'lia, one of the\nhostages, escaping from her guards, and pointing out the way to the\nrest of her female companions, swam over the Tiber on horseback,\namidst showers of darts from the enemy, and presented herself to the\nconsul. 26. This magistrate, fearing the consequences of detaining\nher, sent her back; upon which Porsen'na, not to be outdone in\ngenerosity, not only gave her liberty, but permitted her to choose\nsuch of the hostages of the opposite sex as she should think fit, to\nattend her. 27. On her part, she, with all the modesty of a Roman\nvirgin, chose only such as were under fourteen, alleging, that their\ntender age was least capable of sustaining the rigours of slavery.[4]\n28. The year after the departure of Porsen'na, the Sab'ines invading\nthe Roman territories, committed great devastations. The war that\nensued was long and bloody; but at length the Sab'ines were\ncompelled to purchase a peace, with corn, money, and the cession of\npart of their territory.\n29. Tarquin, by means of his son-in-law, Man'lius, once more stirred\nup the Latins to espouse his interest, and took the most convenient\nopportunity when the plebeians were at variance with the senators\nconcerning the payment of their debts.[5] These refused to go to war,\nunless their debts were remitted upon their return: so that the\nconsuls, finding their authority insufficient, offered the people to\nelect a temporary magistrate, who should have absolute power, not only\nover all ranks of the state, but even over the laws themselves. To\nthis the plebeians readily consented, willing to give up their own\npower for the sake of abridging that of their superiors. 30. In\nconsequence of this, Lar'tius was created the first dictator of Rome,\nfor so was this high office called, being nominated to it by his\ncolleague in the consulship. 31. Thus the people, who could not bear\nthe very name of king, readily submitted to a magistrate possessed of\nmuch greater power; so much do the names of things mislead us, and so\nlittle is any form of government irksome to the people, when it\ncoincides with their prejudices.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What form of government was substituted for the regal?\n2. Who were the first consuls?\n3. Did this new government appear stable at its commencement?\n4. Was this party formidable, and who were the most remarkable of its\nmembers?\n5. What share had Tarquin in this conspiracy?\n6. By what means was it discovered?\n7. In what unhappy situation was Brutus placed?\n8. What had the criminals to say in extenuation of their offences?\n9. What effect had this scene on the judges?\n10. Did not paternal affection cause him to relent?\n11. What measures did Tarquin next pursue?\n12. What steps were taken to resist him?\n13. What remarkable event attended the meeting of the armies?\n14. Did this decide the fate of the day?\n15. Did Tarquin relinquish his hopes?\n16. In what manner did Porsenna attempt the restoration of Tarquin?\n17. By what heroic action was the city saved?\n18. Did Porsenna persevere in his attempt?\n19. What was the consequence?\n20. What was this act of heroism?\n21. Did he succeed?\n22. What followed?\n23. How did Porsenna act on the occasion?\n24. Were these conditions accepted?\n25. What remarkable circumstance attended the delivery of the\nhostages?\n26. How did the consul act on the occasion?\n27. Whom did she choose?\n28. What happened after the departure of Porsenna?\n29. What measures did Tarquin next resort to?\n30. What was the consequence?\n31. What inference may be drawn from this?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] These were first called Pr\u00e6tors, next Judices, and afterwards\nConsuls: a Consulendo, from their consulting the good of the Common\nwealth. They had the royal ornaments, as the golden crown, sceptre,\npurple robes, lictors, and the ivory and curule chairs. The crowns and\nsceptres were, however, used only on extraordinary days of\ntriumph.--See Introduction.\n[2] For this heroic act, Hora'tius was crowned on his return; his\nstatus was erected in the temple of Vulcan; as much land was given him\nas a plough could surround with a furrow in one day, and a tax was\nvoluntarily imposed to make him a present in some degree suitable to\nthe service he had performed.\n[3] From this time he obtained the additional name of Sc\u00e6vola, or\nleft-handed, from his having lost the use of his right hand by the\nfire.\n[4] National pride induced the Romans to conceal the fact that the\ncity was surrendered to Porsenna; Tacitus, however, expressly declares\nthat it was, and Pliny informs us of the severe conditions imposed by\nthe conqueror; one of the articles prohibited them from using iron\nexcept for the purposes of agriculture. Plutarch, in his Roman\nQuestions, declares that there was a time when the Romans paid a tenth\nof their produce to the Etrurians, but that they were freed from the\ndisgraceful tribute by Hercules; this tradition appears to refer to\nthe conquest of the city by Porsenna.\n[5] Besides this, by his emissaries, he engaged the meaner sort of\ncitizens and the slaves in a conspiracy. The former were, at an\nappointed time, to seize the ramparts, and the latter to murder their\nmasters at the same instant. The gates were then to be opened to the\nTar'quins, who were to enter Rome while it was yet reeking with the\nblood of the senators. This conspiracy was discovered to the consul by\ntwo of Tarquin's principal agents.\nCHAPTER X.\nFROM THE CREATION OF THE DICTATOR TO THE ELECTION OF THE\nTRIBUNES.--U.C. 255.\n  And add the Tribunes, image of the people--_Anon_.\n1. LAR'TIUS, being created dictator,[1] entered upon his office,\nsurrounded with lictors and all the ensigns of ancient royalty; and,\nseated upon a throne in the midst of the people, ordered the levies to\nbe made, in the manner of the kings of Rome. 2. The populace looked\nwith terror upon a magistrate whom they had invested with\nuncontrollable power, and each went peaceably to range himself under\nhis respective standard. 3. Thus going forth to oppose the enemy, he,\nafter concluding a truce for a year, returned with his army, and, in\nsix months, laid down the dictatorship, with the reputation of having\nexercised it with blameless lenity.\n4. But, though for this time the people submitted to be led forth,\nthey yet resolved to free themselves from the yoke; and, though\nthey could not get their grievances redressed, yet they determined to\nfly from those whom they could not move to compassion. The grievances,\ntherefore, continuing, they resolved to quit a city which gave them no\nshelter, and to form a new establishment without its limits. They,\ntherefore, under the conduct of a plebe'ian, named Sicin'ius\nBellu'tus, retired to a mountain, hence called the Mons Sacer, within\nthree miles of Rome.\n5. Upon the news of this defection, the city was filled with tumult\nand consternation: those who wished well to the people made every\nattempt to scale the walls, in order to join it.[2] 6. The senate was\nnot less agitated than the rest; some were for violent measures, and\nrepelling force by force; others were of opinion that gentler arts\nwere to be used, and that even a victory over such enemies would be\nworse than a defeat. At length, it was resolved to send a messenger,\nentreating the people to return home, and declare their grievances;\npromising, at the same time, an oblivion of all that had passed.\n7. This message not succeeding, Mene'nias Agrip'pa, one of the wisest\nand best of the senators, was of opinion, that the demands of the\npeople were to be complied with. It was resolved, therefore, to enter\ninto a treaty, and to make them such offers as should induce them to\nreturn. 8. Ten commissioners were deputed. The dignity and popularity\nof the ambassadors procured them a very respectful reception among the\nsoldiers, and a conference began. They employed all their oratory;\nwhile Sicin'ius and Lu'cius Ju'nius, who were speakers for the\nsoldiery, aggravated their distresses with all that masculine\neloquence which is the child of nature.\n9. The conference had now continued for a long time, when Mene'nius\nAgrip'pa, who had been originally a plebe'ian himself, a shrewd man,\nand who, consequently, knew what kind of eloquence was most likely to\nplease the people, addressed them with that celebrated fable of the\nbody and the members, which is so finely told by Livy.[3]\n10. This fable, the application of which is obvious, had an\ninstantaneous effect upon the people. They unanimously cried out, that\nAgrip'pa should lead them back to Rome; and were making preparations\nto follow him, when Lu'cius Junius withheld them; alleging, that\nthough they ought gratefully to acknowledge the kind offers of the\nsenate, yet they had no safeguard against their future resentments;\nthat therefore it was necessary, for the security of the people, to\nhave certain officers created annually from among themselves, who\nshould have power to give redress to such of them as should be\ninjured, and plead the cause of the community. 11. The people, who are\ngenerally of opinion with the last speaker,[4] highly applauded this\nproposal, with which, however, the commissioners had not power to\ncomply; they, therefore, sent to Rome to take the instructions of the\nsenate, who, distracted with divisions among themselves, and harassed\nby complaints from without, were resolved to have peace, at whatever\nprice it should be obtained; accordingly, as if with one voice, they\nconsented to the creation of these new officers, who were called\n_Tribunes[5] of the People_.\n12. The tribunes of the people were at first five in number, though\nafterwards their body was increased by five more. They were always\nannually elected by the people, and almost always from their body.\nThey at first had their seats placed before the doors of the senate\nhouse, and, when called in, they were to examine every decree,\nannulling it by the word _Veto_, \"I forbid it;\" or confirming it by\nsigning the letter _T_, which gave it validity. 13. This new office\nbeing thus instituted, all things were adjusted both on the one side\nand the other, and the people, after having sacrificed to the gods of\nthe mountain, returned back once more in triumph to Rome.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What were the first acts of the dictator?\n2. Were his decrees peaceably obeyed?\n3. What were his exploits?\n4. Were the discontents of the people entirely appeased?\n5. How was the news of this defection received?\n6. What was its effect on the senate?\n7. Was this offer accepted?\n8. In what manner was this done, and how were they received?\n9. What was the result of this conference?\n10. What fable was addressed to the people?\n11. What effect did this apology produce?\n12. How was this obstacle removed?\n13. Who were the tribunes of the people, and what was their authority?\n14. Did this new regulation answer the desired end?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] The power of the dictator was absolute; he could, of his own will,\nmake peace or war, levy forces, lead them forth, disband them, and\neven dispense with the existing laws, at his pleasure, without\nconsulting the senate.\n[2] The gates had been shut by order of the senate, to prevent further\ndefection.\n[3] Titus Livius was born at Pad'ua (the ancient Patavi'nus) in the\nyear of Rome, 695. He wrote the Roman history, from the foundation of\nthe city to the year 744, in 140 books, of which only 35 remain and\nsome of them are still imperfect. Though Livy was treated with great\nmarks of respect by the emperor Augustus, in whose reign he\nflourished, yet he extolled Pompey so highly, that Augustus used to\ncall him a Pompeian: and though he was by no means backward in\nbestowing praises on Brutus and Cassius, the enemies of Augustus, yet\nit did not interrupt their friendship. Livy died at his native city,\nin the fourth year of the reign of Tiberius, aged 76 years.\n[4] This is a severe satire upon the judgment of the multitude;\nindeed, it seems intended to show, that when the passions are appealed\nto, the judgment is not much consulted; and therefore, that little\nreliance ought to be placed on acts resulting from popular\nacclamation.\n[5] They were called tribunes, because chosen by the tribes. The first\ntribunes were L. Ju'nius Bru'tus, C. Sicin'ius Mellu'tus, Pub'lius\nLicin'ius, C. Licin'ius, and Sp. Ici'lius Ruga.\nCHAPTER XI.\nSECTION I.\nFROM THE CREATION OF THE TRIBUNES, TO THE APPOINTMENT OF THE\nDECEMVIRI--U.C. 260.\n  Welcome to Rome, renowned Coriolanus!--_Shakspeare_.\n1. During the late separation, all tillage had been entirely\nneglected, and a famine was the consequence the ensuing season. 2. The\nsenate did all that lay in their power to remedy the distress; but the\npeople, pinched with want and willing to throw the blame on any but\nthemselves, ascribed the whole of their distress to the avarice of the\npatricians, who, having purchased all the corn, as was alleged,\nintended to indemnify themselves for the abolition of debts, by\nselling it out to great advantage. 3. But plenty soon after appeased\nthem for a time. A fleet of ships, laden with corn, from Sicily, once\nmore raised their spirits.\n4. But Coriola'nus[1] incurred their resentment, by insisting that the\ncorn should not be distributed till the grievances of the senate were\nremoved. For this, the tribunes summoned him to a trial before\nthe people.\n[Illustration: Banishment of Coriola'nus.]\n5. When the appointed day was come, all persons were filled with the\ngreatest expectations, and a vast concourse from the adjacent country\nassembled and filled the forum. Coriola'nus presented himself before\nthe people, with a degree of intrepidity that merited better fortune.\nHis graceful person, his persuasive eloquence, and the cries of those\nwhom he had saved from the enemy, inclined the auditors to relent. 6.\nBut, being unable to answer what was alleged against him to the\nsatisfaction of the people, and utterly confounded with a new charge,\nof having embezzled the plunder of _Antium_, the tribunes immediately\ntook the votes, and Coriola'nus was condemned to perpetual exile.\n7. This sentence against their bravest defender struck the senate with\nsorrow, consternation and regret. Coriola'nus alone, in the midst of\nthe tumult, seemed an unconcerned spectator. 8. He returned home,\nfollowed by the lamentations of the most respectable senators and\ncitizens, to take leave of his wife, his children, and his mother,\nVetu'ria. Thus, recommending all to the care of Heaven, he left the\ncity, without followers or fortune, to take refuge with Tullus\nAt'tius,[2] a man of great power among the _Volsci_, who took him\nunder his protection, and espoused his quarrel.\n9. Some pretence was necessary to induce the Volsci to break the\nleague which had been made with Rome; and, for this purpose, Tullus\nsent many of his citizens thither, apparently for the purpose of\nseeing some games at that time celebrating; but gave the senate\nprivate information, that the strangers had dangerous intentions of\nburning the city. 10. This had the desired effect; the senate issued\nan order, that all strangers, whoever they were, should depart from\nRome before sun-set. 11. This order Tullus represented to his\ncountrymen as an infraction of the treaty, and procured an embassy to\nRome, complaining of the breach, and redemanding all the territories\nbelonging to the Volsci, of which they had been violently\ndispossessed; declaring war in case of refusal. This message, however,\nwas treated by the senate with contempt. 12. War being, in\nconsequence, declared on both sides, Coriola'nus and Tullus were made\ngenerals of the Volsci, and accordingly invaded the Roman territories,\nravaging and laying waste all such lands as belonged to the plebeians,\nbut letting those of the senators remain untouched. 13. In the mean\ntime, the levies went on but slowly at Rome; the two consuls, who were\nre-elected by the people, seemed but little skilled in war, and even\nfeared to encounter a general whom they knew to be their superior in\nthe field. The allies also showed their fears, and slowly brought in\ntheir succours: so that Coriola'nus continued to take their towns one\nafter the other. 14. Fortune followed him in every expedition, and he\nwas now so famous for his victories, that the Volsci left their towns\ndefenceless to follow him into the field. The very soldiers of his\ncolleague's army came over to him, and would acknowledge no other\ngeneral. 15. Thus finding himself unopposed in the field, and at the\nhead of a numerous army, he at length invested the city of Rome\nitself, fully resolved to besiege it. 16. It was then the senate and\nthe people unanimously agreed to send deputies to him, with proposals\nfor his restoration, in case he would draw off his army. 17.\nCoriola'nus received these proposals at the head of his principal\nofficers, and, with the sternness of a general that was to give the\nlaw, refused their offers.\n18. Another embassy was now sent, conjuring him not to exact from his\nnative city aught but what became Romans to grant. Coriola'nus,\nhowever, naturally severe, still persisted in his former demands, and\ngranted them only three days for deliberation. 19. In this exigence,\nall that was left to be done was another deputation, still more\nsolemn than either of the former, composed of the pontiffs,\npriests, and augurs. These, clothed in their habits of ceremony, and\nwith a grave and mournful deportment, issued from the city, and\nentered the camp of the conqueror: but all in vain, they found him\nsevere and inflexible.\n[Illustration: Coriolanus yielding to the entreaties of his Mother.]\n20. When the people saw them return without success, they began to\ngive up the commonwealth as lost. Their temples were filled with old\nmen, with women and children, who, prostrate at the altars, put up\ntheir ardent prayers for the preservation of their country. Nothing\nwas to be heard but anguish and lamentation; nothing to be seen but\nscenes of affright and distress. 21. At length it was suggested to\nthem, that what could not be effected by the intercession of the\nsenate, or the adjuration of the priests, might be brought about by\nthe tears of a wife, or the commands of a mother. 22. This deputation\nseemed to be approved by all, and even the senate themselves gave it\nthe sanction of their authority. Vetu'ria, the mother of Coriola'nus,\nat first hesitated to undertake so pious a work; knowing the\ninflexible temper of her son, and fearing only to show his\ndisobedience in a new point of light, by his rejecting the commands of\na parent; however, she at last undertook the embassy, and set forward\nfrom the city, accompanied by many of the principal matrons of Rome,\nwith Volum'nia his wife, and his two children. 23. Coriola'nus, who at\na distance discovered this mournful train of females, was resolved to\ngive them a denial, and called his officers round him to be witnesses\nof his resolution; but, when told that his mother and his wife were\namong the number, he instantly came down from his tribunal to\nmeet and embrace them. 24. At first, the women's tears and embraces\ntook away the power of words, and the rough soldier himself, hardy as\nhe was, could not refrain, from sharing their distress. Coriola'nus\nnow seemed much agitated by contending passions; while his mother, who\nsaw him moved, seconded her words by the most persuasive eloquence,\nthat of tears: his wife and children hung around him, entreating for\nprotection and pity: while the female train, her companions, added\ntheir lamentations, and deplored their own and their country's\ndistress. 25. Coriola'nus for a moment was silent, feeling the strong\nconflict between honour and inclination; at length, as if roused from\na dream, he flew to raise his mother, who had fallen at his feet,\ncrying out, \"O, my mother, thou hast saved Rome, but lost thy son!\" He\naccordingly gave orders to draw off the army, pretending to the\nofficers that the city was too strong to be taken. 26. Tullus, who had\nlong envied Coriola'nus, was not remiss in aggravating the lenity of\nhis conduct to his countrymen. Upon their return, Coriola'nus is said\nto have been slain by an insurrection of the people, and honourably\nburied, after a late and ineffectual repentance.\n27. Great and many were the public rejoicings at Rome upon the retreat\nof the Volscian army;[3] but they were clouded soon after by the\nintrigues of Spu'rius Cas'sius, who, wanting to make himself despotic\nby means of the people, was found guilty of a number of crimes, all\ntending towards altering the constitution; and was thrown headlong\nfrom the Tarpei'an rock,[4] by those very people whose interests he\nhad endeavoured to extend.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What were the consequences of the late separation?\n2. What measures were taken to remedy these misfortunes, and to whom\nwas the blame of them attributed?\n3. What happened to remove the popular discontent?\n4. What circumstances raised a fresh commotion?\n5. Did Coriolanus obey the summons?\n6. What was the issue of the trial?\n7. To what sensations did this sentence give rise?\n8. What circumstance attended his departure?\n9. In what manner did he commence his revenge?\n10. Was this information believed?\n11. What use did Tullus make of this order?\n12. To whom was the conduct of the war committed?\n13. Was this invasion vigorously opposed?\n14. Was Coriolanus uniformly successful?\n15. What did this good fortune induce him to undertake?\n16. What measures did the senate adopt on this emergency?\n17. How were these proposals received?\n18. Were they repeated?\n19. What was the next step adopted?\n20. Did the Romans boldly resolve to oppose force by force?\n21. What new expedient was proposed?\n22. Was this proposal adopted?\n23. What was the conduct of Coriola'nus on the occasion?\n24. Describe this interview.\n25. What was the result?\n26. Did the Volscians approve of this measure?\n27. What followed this happy deliverance?\nSECTION II.\nLike rigid Cincinnatus, nobly poor.--_Thomson_.\n1. The year following, the two consuls of the former year, Man'lius\nand Fa'bius, were cited by the tribunes to appear before the people.\nThe Agra'rian law, which had been proposed some time before, for\nequally dividing the lands of the commonwealth among the people, was\nthe object invariably pursued, and they were accused of having made\nunjustifiable delays in putting it off.\n2. The Agra'rian law was a grant the senate could not think of making\nto the people. The consuls, therefore, made many delays and excuses,\ntill at length they were once more obliged to have recourse to a\ndictator; and they fixed upon Quintus Cincinna'tus, a man who had for\nsome time, given up all views of ambition, and retired to his little\nfarm, where the deputies of the senate found him holding the plough,\nand dressed in the mean attire of a labouring husbandman. 3. He\nappeared but little elevated with the addresses of ceremony, and the\npompous habits they brought him; and, upon declaring to him the\nsenate's pleasure, he testified rather a concern that his aid should\nbe wanted. He naturally preferred the charms of a country retirement\nto the fatiguing splendors of office, and only said to his wife,\nas they were leading him away, \"I fear, my Atti'lia, that for this\nyear our little fields must remain unsown.\" 4. Then, taking a tender\nleave, he departed for the city, where both parties were strongly\ninflamed against each other. However, he resolved to side with\nneither; but, by a strict attention to the interests of his country,\ninstead of gaining the confidence of faction, to seize the esteem of\nall. 5. Thus, by threats and well-timed submission, he prevailed upon\nthe tribunes to put off their law for a time, and conducted himself so\nas to be a terror to the multitude whenever they refused to enlist,\nand their greatest encourager whenever their submission deserved it.\n6. Having, by these means, restored that tranquillity to the people\nwhich he so much loved himself, he again gave up the splendors of\nambition, to enjoy it with a greater relish on his little farm.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 295.] 7. Cincinna'tus had not long retired from his\noffice, when a fresh exigence of the state once more required his\nassistance; and the \u00c6'qui and the Vol'sci, who, although always\nworsted, were still for renewing the war, made new inroads into the\nterritories of Rome. 8. Minu'tius, one of the consuls who succeeded\nCincinna'tus, was sent to oppose them; but being naturally timid, and\nrather more afraid of being conquered than desirous of victory, his\narmy was driven into a defile between two mountains, from which,\nexcept through the enemy, there was no egress. 9. This, however, the\n\u00c6'qui had the precaution to fortify, by which the Roman army was so\nhemmed in on every side, that nothing remained but submission to the\nenemy, famine, or immediate death. 10. Some knights who found means of\ngetting away privately through the enemy's camp, were the first that\nbrought the account of this disaster to Rome. 11. Nothing could exceed\nthe consternation of all ranks of people when informed of it: the\nsenate at first thought of the other consul; but not having sufficient\nexperience of his abilities, they unanimously turned their eyes upon\nCincinna'tus, and resolved to make him dictator. 12. Cincinna'tus, the\nonly person on whom Rome could now place her whole dependence, was\nfound, as before, by the messengers of the senate, labouring in his\nfield with cheerful industry. 13. He was at first astonished at the\nensigns of unbounded power, with which the deputies came to invest\nhim; but still more at the approach of the principal of the senate,\nwho came out to attend him.\n[Illustration: Cincinnatus called to the Dictatorship.]\n14. A dignity so unlooked for, however, had no effect upon the\nsimplicity or integrity of his manners; and being now possessed of\nabsolute power, and called upon to nominate his master of the horse,\nhe chose a poor man named Tarqui'tius, one who, like himself, despised\nriches when they led to dishonour. Thus the saving a great nation was\ndevolved upon a husbandman taken from the plough, and an obscure\nsentinel found among the dregs of the army. 15. Upon entering the\ncity, the dictator put on a serene look, and entreated all those who\nwere able to bear arms, to repair, before sunset, to the Cam'pus\nMar'tius (the place where the levies were made) with necessary arms,\nand provisions for five days. 16. He put himself at the head of these,\nand, marching all night with great expedition, arrived early the next\nday within sight of the enemy. Upon his approach, he ordered his\nsoldiers to raise a loud shout, to apprise the consul's army of the\nrelief that was at hand. 17. The \u00c6'qui were not a little amazed when\nthey saw themselves between two enemies; but still more when they\nperceived Cincinna'tus making the strongest entrenchments beyond them,\nto prevent their escape, and enclosing them as they had enclosed the\nconsul. 18. To prevent this, a furious combat ensued; but the \u00c6'qui,\nbeing attacked on both sides, and unable longer to resist or fly,\nbegged a cessation of arms. 19. They offered the dictator his own\nterms: he gave them their lives, and obliged them, in token of\nservitude, to pass under the yoke, which was two spears set upright,\nand another across, in the form of a gallows, beneath which the\nvanquished were to march. Their captains and generals he made\nprisoners of war, being reserved to adorn his triumph. 20. As\nfor the plunder of the enemy's camp, that he gave entirely up to his\nown soldiers, without reserving any part for himself, or permitting\nthose of the delivered army to have a share. 21. Thus having rescued a\nRoman army from inevitable destruction, having defeated a powerful\nenemy, having taken and fortified their city, and still more, having\nrefused any part of the spoil, he resigned his dictatorship, after\nhaving enjoyed it but fourteen days. The senate would have enriched\nhim, but he declined their proffers, choosing to retire once more to\nhis farm and his cottage, content with competency and fame.\n22. But this repose from foreign invasion did not lessen the tumults\nof the city within. The clamours for the Agra'rian law still\ncontinued, and still more fiercely, when Sic'cius Denta'tus, a\nplebeian advanced in years, but of an admirable person and military\ndeportment, came forward to enumerate his hardships and his merits.\nThis old soldier made no scruple of extolling the various achievements\nof his youth; indeed, his merits more than supported his ostentation.\n23. He had served his country in the wars forty years: he had been an\nofficer thirty, first a centurion, and then a tribune; he had fought\none hundred and twenty battles, in which, by the force of his single\narm, he had saved a multitude of lives; he had gained fourteen\ncivic,[5] three mural,[6] and eight golden crowns; besides\neighty-three chains, sixty bracelets, eighteen gilt spears, and\ntwenty-three horse-trappings, whereof nine were for killing the enemy\nin single combat; moreover, he had received forty-five wounds in\nfront, and none behind. 24. These were his honours; yet,\nnotwithstanding all these, he had never received any share of those\nlands which were won from the enemy, but continued to drag on a life\nof poverty and contempt, while others were possessed of those very\nterritories which his valour had won, without any merit to deserve\nthem, or ever having contributed to the conquest.[7] 25. A case\nof so much hardship had a strong effect upon the multitude; they\nunanimously demanded that the law might be passed, and that such merit\nshould not go unrewarded. It was in vain that some of the senators\nrose up to speak against it, their voices were drowned by the cries of\nthe people. 26. When reason, therefore, could no longer be heard,\npassion, as usual, succeeded; and the young patricians, running\nfuriously into the throng, broke the balloting urns, and dispersed the\nmultitude that offered to oppose them. 27. For this they were, some\ntime after, fined by the tribunes; their resolution, however, for the\npresent, put off the Agra'rian law.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. On what accusation were Manlius and Fabius cited to appear before,\nthe people?\n2. What measure did the consuls adopt? Where, and in what employment\nwas Cincinnatus found?\n3. What effect had this dignity on Cincinnatus?\n4. How did he conduct himself?\n5. Were his measures successful?\n6. Did Cincinnatus continue in office?\n7. Was he permitted to continue in retirement?\n8. What was the exigence that required his return to office?\n9. What prevented the Romans from forcing their way through?\n10. How was this news received at Rome?\n11. Whom did they resolve to appoint dictator?\n12. How was Cincinnatus now employed when the messengers arrived?\n13. What was his behaviour on the occasion?\n14. How was he affected by this exaltation?\n15. What were his first measures?\n16. What followed?\n17. How were the enemy affected by his approach?\n18. What was the consequence?\n19. What were the terms of peace?\n20. What became of the plunder?\n21. What were his rewards for this important service?\n22. Was domestic tranquillity the consequence of foreign conquest?\n23. What were these achievements?\n24. How was he rewarded?\n25. What was the consequence of his appeal to the people?\n26. Did the people obtain their demand?\n27. How was this outrage punished?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] This man's name was originally Ca'ius Mar'cius. He received the\nsurname of Coriola'nus as a reward for having, by his valour,\noccasioned the taking of Cori'oli, the capital of the Vol'sci.\nPrevious to the occurrence mentioned in the text, he had been\ncondemned to death by the tribunes, but saved by the interference of\nhis friends.\n[2] Tullus At'tius was a most determined enemy to the Romans, and to\nCoriola'nus in particular, for the share he had in humbling the power\nof the Vol'sci. It was probably more from a hope of revenge, by means\nof this valiant soldier, than any noble principle, that he offered him\nhis countenance and protection.\n[3] The senate commanded a temple to be erected on the spot where the\ninterview between Coriola'nus and his mother took place, which saved\nRome, and dedicated it to maternal influence?\n[4] Tarpe'ian Rock, or Tarpei'us Mons, a hill at Rome, about eighty\nfeet in perpendicular height, whence the Romans threw down their\ncondemned criminals.\n[5] A civic crown among the Romans, was made of oaken leaves, and\ngiven to those who had saved the life of a citizen.\n[6] A mural crown was an honorary reward, given by the ancient Romans\nto the soldiers who first scaled the walls of an enemy's city.\n[7] \"These military toys,\" said he, \"are the only rewards I have\nhitherto received. No lands, no share of the conquered countries.\nUsurpers, without any title but that of a patrician extraction,\npossess them. Is this to be endured? Shall they alone possess the\nfruits of our conquests? The purchase of our blood?\"\nCHAPTER XII.\nSECTION I.\nFROM THE CREATION OF THE DECEMVIRI TO THE EXTINCTION OF THAT\nOFFICE.--U.C. 302.\n  She's gone, forever gone! The king of terrors\n  Lays his rude hands upon her lovely limbs.\n  And blasts her beauty with his icy breath.--_Dennis_.\n1. The commonwealth of Rome had now, for nearly sixty years, been\nfluctuating between the contending orders that composed it, till at\nlength each side, as if weary, was willing to respire awhile from the\nmutual exertions of its claims. The citizens, of every rank, began to\ncomplain of the arbitrary decisions of their magistrates, and wished\nto be guided by a written body of laws which, being known, might\nprevent wrongs, as well as punish them. 2. In this both the senate and\nthe people concurred, as hoping that such laws would put an end to the\ncommotions that so long had harassed the state. 3. It was thereupon\nagreed that ambassadors should be sent to the Greek cities in Italy,\nand to Athens, to bring home such laws from thence, as, by experience,\nhad been found most equitable and useful. For this purpose three\nsenators, Posthu'mus, Sulpi'cius, and Man'lius, were fixed upon, and\ngalleys assigned to convoy them, agreeably to the majesty of the Roman\npeople. 4. While they were upon this commission abroad, a dreadful\nplague depopulated the city at home, and supplied the interval of\ntheir absence with other anxiety than that of wishes for their return.\n5. In about a year the plague ceased, and the ambassadors returned,\nbringing home a body of laws, collected from the most civilised states\nof Greece and Italy, which, being afterwards formed into ten tables,\nand two more being added, made that celebrated code, called, The Laws\nof the Twelve Tables.[1]\n6. The ambassadors were no sooner returned, than the tribunes required\nthat a body of men should be chosen to digest their new laws into\nproper form, and to give weight to the execution of them. 7. After\nlong debate, whether this choice should not be made from the people,\nas well as the patricians, it was at last agreed that ten of the\nprincipal senators should be elected, whose power, continuing for\na year, should be equal to that of kings and consuls, and that without\nany appeal. 8. Thus the whole constitution of the state at once took a\nnew form, and a dreadful experiment was about to be tried, of\ngoverning one nation by laws formed from the manners and customs of\nanother.\n9. These _Decemviri_, being now invested with absolute power, agreed\nto take the reins of government by turns, each to administer justice\nfor a day. 10. For the first year, they wrought with extreme\napplication: and their work being finished, it was expected that they\nwould be content to give up their office; but, having known the charms\nof power, they were unwilling to resign: they pretended that some laws\nwere yet wanting to complete their design, and entreated the senate\nfor a continuance in office; which request was readily granted.\n11. But they soon threw off the mask of moderation, and, regardless of\nthe approbation of the senate or the people, resolved to continue,\nagainst all order, in the decemvirate. 12. A conduct so tyrannical\nproduced discontents, and these were as sure to produce fresh acts of\ntyranny. The city was become almost a desert, with respect to all who\nhad any thing to lose, and the rapacity of the decemvirs was then only\ndiscontinued when they wanted fresh subjects to exercise it upon. 13.\nIn this state of slavery, proscription, and mutual distrust, not one\ncitizen was found to strike for his country's freedom; these tyrants\ncontinued to rule without controul, being constantly guarded, not by\nthe lictors alone, but by a numerous crowd of dependents, clients, and\neven patricians, whom their vices had confederated round them.\n14. In this gloomy situation of the state, the \u00c6'qui and Vol'sci,\nthose constant enemies of the Romans, renewed their incursions, and,\nresolving to profit by the intestine divisions of the people, advanced\nwithin about ten miles of Rome.\n15. The decemviri, being in possession of all the military as well as\nof the civil power, divided their army into three parts; whereof one\ncontinued with Ap'pius in the city, to keep it in awe; the other two\nwere commanded by his colleagues, and were led, one against the \u00c6'qui,\nand the other against the Vol'sci. 16. The Roman soldiers had now\nadopted a method of punishing the generals whom they disliked, by\nsuffering themselves to be vanquished in the field. They put it\nin practice upon this occasion, and shamefully abandoned their camp\nupon the approach of the enemy, 17. Never was victorious news more\njoyfully received at Rome, than the tidings of this defeat; the\ngenerals, as is always the case, were blamed for the treachery of\ntheir men; some demanded that they should be deposed, others cried out\nfor a dictator to lead the troops to conquest. 18. Among the rest, old\nSic'cius Denta'tus, the tribune, spoke his sentiments with his usual\nopenness; and, treating the generals with contempt, pointed out the\nfaults of their discipline in the camp, and their conduct in the\nfield. 19. Ap'pius, in the mean time, was not remiss in observing the\ndispositions of the people. Denta'tus, in particular, was marked out\nfor vengeance; and, under pretence of doing him particular honour, he\nwas appointed legate, and put at the head of the supplies which were\nsent from Rome, to reinforce the army. 20. The office of legate was\nheld sacred among the Romans, as in it was united the authority of a\ngeneral, with the reverence due to the priesthood. 21. Denta'tus, no\nway suspecting the design, went to the camp with alacrity, where he\nwas received with all the external marks of respect. But the generals\nsoon found means of indulging their desire of revenge. 22. He was\nappointed at the head of a hundred men to go and examine a more\ncommodious place for encampment, as he had very candidly assured the\ncommanders, that their present situation was wrong. 23. The soldiers,\nhowever, who were given as his attendants, were assassins; wretches\nwho had long been ministers of the vengeance of the decemviri, and who\nhad now engaged to murder him, though with all those apprehensions\nwhich his reputation (for he was called the Roman _Achilles_) might be\nsupposed to inspire. 24. With these designs they led him into the\nhollow bosom of a retired mountain, where they began to set upon him\nbehind. 25. Denta'tus too late perceived the treachery of the\ndecemviri, and was resolved to sell his life as dearly as he could; he\ntherefore set his back against a rock, and defended himself against\nthose who pressed most closely. Though now grown old, he had still the\nremains of his former valour, and, with his own hand, killed no less\nthan fifteen of the assailants, and wounded thirty. 26. The assassins\nnow, therefore, terrified at his amazing bravery, showered their\njavelins upon him at a distance, all which he received in his shield\nwith undaunted resolution.\n[Illustration: Death of Dentatus.]\n27. The combat, though so unequal in numbers, was managed for\nsome time with doubtful success, till at length the assailants\nbethought themselves of ascending the rock, against which he stood,\nand pouring down stones upon him from above. 28. This succeeded: the\nold soldier fell beneath their united efforts; after having shown, by\nhis death, that he owed to his fortitude, and not his fortune, that he\nhad come off so many times victorious. 29. The decemviri pretended to\njoin in the general sorrow for so brave a man, and decreed him a\nfuneral with the first military honours; but their pretended grief,\ncompared with their known hatred, only rendered them still more\ndetestable to the people.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. Of what did the Roman citizens complain, and what did they wish?\n2. Was this assented to by the nation at large?\n3. What means were adopted for this purpose?\n4. What happened during their absence?\n5. How long did this calamity last?\n6. What steps were taken on the return of the ambassadors?\n7. Who were chosen for this purpose?\n8. Was this proceeding an important one?\n9. In what manner did the decemviri govern?\n10. How did they discharge the duties of their office?\n11. Did they continue in the conscientious discharge of their duties?\n12. What was the consequence of this conduct?\n13. Was no patriot to be found bold enough to be a champion in his\ncountry's cause?\n14. What added to the miseries of the Romans?\n15. What steps were taken to oppose them?\n16. What was the conduct of the Roman soldiers on this occasion?\n17. How was this news received at Rome?\n18. Who appeared most conspicuous on this occasion?\n19. How was this honest sincerity received?\n20. Was the office of legate a respectable one?\n21. Did Dentatus suspect treachery?\n22. What plan of revenge was adopted?\n23. What was the character of his attendants?\n24. How did they commence their base design?\n25. Was Dentatus aware of their treachery, and what resistance did he\nmake?\n26. Did the assassins boldly engage the hero?\n27. What new method of attack did they attempt?\n28. Was this plan successful?\n29. What was the conduct of the decemviri on this occasion?\nSECTION II.\n  That chastity of look which seems to hang\n  A veil of purest light o'er all her beauties.\n  And, by forbidding, most inflames!--_Young_.\n1. But a transaction still more atrocious than the former, served to\ninspire the citizens with a resolution to break all measures of\nobedience, so as at last to restore freedom.\n2. Ap'pius, sitting one day on his tribunal to dispense justice, saw a\nmaiden of exquisite beauty, aged about fifteen, passing to one of the\npublic schools, attended by a matron, her nurse. The charms of the\ndamsel, heightened by all the innocence of virgin modesty, caught his\nattention, and fired his heart. The day following, as she passed, he\nfound her still more beautiful, and his breast still more inflamed. 3.\nHe now, therefore, resolved to obtain the gratification of his\npassion, whatever should be the consequence, and found means to inform\nhimself of the maiden's name and family. 4. Her name was Virgin'ia;\nshe was the daughter of Virgin'ius, a centurion, then with the army in\nthe field, and had been contracted to Icil'ius, formerly a tribune of\nthe people, who had agreed to marry her at the end of the present\ncampaign.\n5. Ap'pius at first resolved to break off this match, and to espouse\nher himself; but the laws of the Twelve Tables had forbidden the\npatricians to intermarry with the plebeians, and he could not infringe\nthese, as he was the enactor of them. 6. He determined, therefore, to\nmake her his slave. 7. After having vainly tried to corrupt the\nfidelity of her nurse, he had recourse to another expedient, still\nmore wicked. He fixed upon one Clau'dius, who had long been the\nminister of his crimes, to assert that the beautiful maid was his\nslave, and to refer the cause to Ap'pius's tribunal for decision. 8.\nClau'dius behaved exactly according to his instructions; for, taking\nwith him a band of ruffians like himself, he entered into the public\nschool, where Virginia was found among her female companions, and\nseizing upon her under pretence that she was the daughter of one of\nhis slaves, was dragging her away, when he was prevented by the\npeople, drawn together by her cries. 9. At length, after the first\nheat of opposition was over, he led the weeping virgin to the tribunal\nof Ap'pius, and there plausibly exposed his pretensions. 10. Clau'dius\nasserted that she was born in his house, of a female slave, who sold\nher to the wife of Virgin'ius, who had been childless. That he had\ncredible evidences to prove the truth of what he had advanced; but\nthat, until they could come together, it was but reasonable the slave\nshould be delivered into his custody, he being her proper master. 11.\nAp'pius pretended to be struck with the justice of his claim; he\nobserved, that if the reputed father himself were present, he might\nindeed be willing to delay the delivery of the maid; but that it was\nnot lawful for him, in the present case, to detain her from her\nmaster. He, therefore, adjudged her to Clau'dius, as his slave, to be\nkept by him till Virgin'ius should arrive, and be able to prove his\npaternity. 12. This sentence was received with loud clamours and\nreproaches by the multitude, particularly by the women, who came round\nthe innocent Virgin'ia, desirous to protect her from the judge's fury;\nwhile Icil'ius, her lover, boldly opposed the decree, and obliged\nClau'dius to take refuge under the tribunal of the decemvir. 13. All\nthings now threatened an open insurrection, when Ap'pius, fearing the\nevent, thought proper to suspend his judgment, under pretence of\nwaiting the arrival of Virgin'ius, who was then about eleven miles\nfrom Rome, with the army. 14. The day following was fixed for the\ntrial. In the mean time Ap'pius privately sent letters to the general\nto confine Virgin'ius, as his arrival in town might only serve to\nkindle sedition among the people. 15. These letters, however, being\nintercepted by the centurion's friends, they sent him a full relation\nof the design laid against his liberty and the honour of his only\ndaughter. 16. Virgin'ius, upon this, pretending the death of a near\nrelation, got permission to leave the camp, and hastened to Rome,\ninspired with indignation and revenge. 17. Accordingly, the next\nday, to the astonishment of Ap'pius, he appeared before the tribunal,\nleading his weeping daughter by the hand, both of them habited in deep\nmourning. 18. Clau'dius, the accuser, began by making his demand.\nVirgin'ius next spoke in turn: he represented, that, if he had had\nintentions of adopting a suppositious child, he should have fixed upon\na boy rather than a girl; that it was notorious to all, that his wife\nhad herself nursed this daughter; and that it was surprising such a\nclaim should be made after a fifteen years' silence; and not till\nVirginia was become marriageable, and acknowledged to be exquisitely\nbeautiful. 19. While the father spoke this, with a stern air, the eyes\nof all were turned on Virgin'ia, who stood trembling, with looks of\npersuasive eloquence and excessive grief, which added weight to his\nremonstrances, and excited compassion. 20. The people, satisfied of\nthe cruelty of his case, raised an outcry, expressive of their\nindignation. 21. Ap'pius, fearing that what had been said might have a\ndangerous effect upon the multitude, and under a pretence of being\nsufficiently instructed in the merits of the cause, with rage\ninterrupted him. \"Yes,\" said he, \"my conscience obliges me to declare,\nthat I, myself, am a witness to the truth of the deposition of\nClau'dius. Most of this assembly know that I was left guardian to him.\nI was early apprised that he had a right to this young slave; but\npublic affairs, and the dissensions of the people, have prevented my\ndoing him justice. However, it is not now too late; and by the power\nvested in me for the general good, I adjudge Virgin'ia to be the\nproperty of Clau'dius, the plaintiff. Go, therefore, lictors, disperse\nthe multitude, and make room for the master to repossess himself of\nhis slave.\" 22. The lictors, in obedience to his command, drove off\nthe throng that pressed round the tribunal; they seized upon\nVirgin'ia, and were delivering her up into the hands of Clau'dius: the\nmultitude were terrified and withdrew; and Virgin'ius, who found that\nall was over, seemed to acquiesce in the sentence. 22. He, however,\nmildly entreated of Ap'pius to be permitted to take a last farewell of\na child whom he had at least considered as his own, and so satisfied,\nhe would return to his duty with fresh alacrity. 24. Ap'pius granted\nthe favour, upon condition that their endearments should pass in his\npresence. But Virgin'ius was then meditating a dreadful resolution.\n[Illustration: Death of Virginia.]\n25. The crowd made way, and Virgin'ius, with the most poignant\nanguish, taking his almost expiring daughter in his arms, for a while\nsupported her head upon his breast, and wiped away the tears that\ntrickled down her cheeks. 26. He most tenderly embraced her, and\ndrawing her insensibly to some shops which were on the side of the\nforum, snatched up a butcher's knife: \"My dearest lost child,\" cried\nVirgin'ius, \"thus, thus alone is it in my power to preserve your\nhonour and your freedom!\" So saying, he plunged the weapon into her\nheart. Then drawing it out, reeking with her blood, he held it up to\nAp'pius: \"Tyrant,\" cried he, \"by this blood I devote thy head to the\ninfernal gods!\" 27. Thus saying, and covered with his daughter's\nblood, the knife remaining in his hand, threatening destruction to\nwhomsoever should oppose him, he ran through the city, wildly calling\nupon the people to strike for freedom. By the favour of the multitude\nhe then mounted his horse, and rode directly to the camp.\n28. He no sooner arrived, followed by a number of his friends, than he\ninformed the army of all that had been done, still holding the bloody\nknife in his hand. He asked their pardon and the pardon of the gods,\nfor having committed so rash an action, but ascribed it to the\ndreadful necessity of the times. 29. The army, already predisposed to\nrevolt by the murder of Denta'tus, and other acts of tyranny and\noppression, immediately with shouts echoed their approbation, and\ndecamping, left the generals behind, to take their station once more\nupon mount Aven'tine, whither they had retired about, forty years\nbefore. The other army, which had been to oppose the Sab'ines, felt a\nlike resentment, and came over in large parties to join them.\n30. Ap'pius, in the mean time, did all he could to quell the\ndisturbances in the city; but finding the tumult incapable of\ncontroul, and perceiving that his mortal enemies, Vale'rius and\nHora'tius, were the most active in opposition, at first attempted to\nfind safety by flight; nevertheless, being encouraged by Op'pius, who\nwas one of his colleagues, he ventured to assemble the senate, and\nurged the punishment of all deserters. 31. The senate, however, was\nfar from giving him the relief he sought for; they foresaw the dangers\nand miseries that threatened the state, in case of opposing the\nincensed army; they therefore despatched messengers to them, offering\nto restore their former mode of government. 32. To this proposal all\nthe people joyfully assented, and the army gladly obeying, now\nreturned to the city, if not with the ensigns, at least with the\npleasure of a triumphant entry. 33. Ap'pius and Op'pius both died by\ntheir own hands in prison. The other eight decemvirs went into exile;\nand Clau'dius, the pretended master of Virgin'ia, was ignominiously\nbanished.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. Did the Romans tamely submit to the tyranny of the decemviri?\n2. Relate the particulars of this transaction.\n3. What resolution did Appius form?\n4. Who was this maiden?\n5. What was Appius's first determination?\n6. On what did he next resolve?\n7. To what means did he have recourse for the accomplishment of his\npurpose?\n8. Did Claudius undertake this base?\n9. Was the opposition of the people ultimately successful?\n10. How did Claudius attempt to make good his claims?\n11. What was the conduct of Appius on this occasion?\n12. How was this sentence received?\n13. What consequences were likely to ensue, and how were they averted?\n14. Was not this pretence a false one?\n15. By what means were his designs frustrated?\n16. Under what pretence did Virginius obtain leave of absence?\n17 What measures did he take on his arrival?\n18. How was the trial conducted?\n19. How did Virginia support this trying scene?\n20. What was the general opinion of the auditors?\n21. Did the arguments of Virginius induce Appius to forego his\niniquitous designs?\n22. Were his commands obeyed?\n23. What was the request of Virginius?\n24. Was this favour granted?\n25. Describe this affecting scene?\n26. What was the catastrophe?\n27. What followed?\n28. What use did he make of this dreadful circumstance?\n29. What was the effect of his address on the army?\n30. How was Appius employed in the mean time?\n31. Did the senate second his designs?\n32. Did the people accede to this proposal?\n33. What was the fate of the tyrants?\nSECTION III.\n  Rose her dictators; fought, o'ercame return'd.\n  Yes, to the plough returned, and nail'd their peers.--_Dyer_.\n1. In the mean time, these intestine tumults produced weakness within\nthe state, and confidence in the enemy abroad. The wars with the \u00c6'qui\nand the Vol'sci still continued; and, as each year some trifling\nadvantage was obtained over the Romans, they, at last, advanced so\nfar, as to make their incursions to the very walls of Rome.[2]\n[Sidenote: U.C. 309]\n2. But not the courage only of the Romans, their other virtues also,\nparticularly their justice, seemed diminished by these contests.\n3. The tribunes of the people now grew more turbulent; they proposed\ntwo laws: one to permit plebeians to intermarry with the patricians;\nand the other, to permit them to be admitted to the consulship also.\n4. The senators received these proposals with indignation, and seemed\nresolved to undergo the utmost extremities, rather than submit to\nenact these laws. However, finding their resistance only increased the\ncommotions of the state, they, at last, consented to pass that\nconcerning marriages, hoping that this concession would satisfy the\npeople. 5. But they were to be appeased for a very short time only;\nfor, returning, to their old custom of refusing to enlist upon the\napproach of an enemy, the consuls were obliged to hold a private\nconference with the chief of the senate, where, after many debates,\nClau'dius proposed an expedient, as the most probable means of\nsatisfying the people in the present conjuncture. 6. This was to\ncreate six or eight governors in the room of consuls, whereof one\nhalf, at least, should be patricians. 7. This project, which was, in\nfact, granting what the people demanded, pleased the whole meeting,\nand it was agreed, that the consuls should, contrary to their usual\ncustom, begin by asking the opinion of the youngest senator. 8. Upon\nassembling the senate, one of the tribunes accused them of holding\nsecret meetings, and managing dangerous designs against the people.\nThe consuls, on the other hand, averred their innocence; and to\ndemonstrate their sincerity, gave leave to any of the younger members\nof the house to propound their opinions. 9. These remaining silent,\nsuch of the older senators, as were known to be popular, began by\nobserving that the people ought to be indulged in their request; that\nnone so well deserved power, as those who were most instrumental in\ngaining it; and that the city could not be free until all were reduced\nto perfect equality. Clau'dius spoke next, and broke out into bitter\ninvectives against the people; asserting that it was his opinion that\nthe law should not pass. 10. This produced some disturbance among the\nplebeians; at length, Genu'tius proposed, as had been preconcerted,\nthat six governors should be annually chosen, with consular authority;\nthree from the senate, and three from the people; and that, when the\ntime of their magistracy should be expired, it would be seen whether\nthey would have the same office continued, or whether the consulship\nshould be established upon its former footing. 11. This project was\neagerly embraced by the people; yet so fickle were the multitude,\nthat, though many of the plebeians stood candidates, the choice wholly\nfell upon the patricians who had offered themselves.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 310.]\n12. These new magistrates were called Military Tribunes; they were, at\nfirst, but three: afterwards they were increased to four, and at\nlength to six; and they had the power and ensigns of consuls: yet,\nthat power being divided among a number, each singly was of less\nauthority. 13. The first that were chosen continued in office only\nabout three months, the augurs having found something amiss in the\nceremonies of their election.\n14. The military tribunes being deposed, the consuls once more came\ninto office; and in order to lighten the weight of business which they\nwere obliged to sustain, a new office was created; namely, that of\nCensors, who were to be chosen every fifth, year.[3] 15. Their\nbusiness was to take an estimate of the number and estates of the\npeople, and to distribute them into their proper classes: to inspect\ninto the lives and manners of their fellow citizens; to degrade\nsenators for misconduct; to dismount knights, and to remove plebeians\nfrom their tribes into an inferior class, in case of misdemeanor. 16.\nThe first censors were Papir'ius and Sempro'nius, both patricians; and\nfrom this order censors continued to be elected for nearly a hundred\nyears.\n17. This new creation served to restore peace for some time among the\norders; and a triumph gained over the Vol'scians, by Gega'nius the\nconsul, added to the universal satisfaction that reigned among the\npeople.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 313.]\n18. This calm, however, was but of short continuance; for, some time\nafter, a famine pressing hard upon the poor, the usual complaints\nagainst the rich were renewed; and these, as before, proving\nineffectual, produced new seditions. 19. The consuls were accused of\nneglect, in not having laid in proper quantities of corn: they,\nhowever, disregarded the murmurs of the populace, content with using\nevery exertion to supply the pressing necessity.[4] 20. But, though\nthey did all that could be expected from active magistrates in\nprocuring provisions, and distributing them to the poor: yet Spu'rius\nM\u00e6'lius, a rich knight, who had bought up all the corn of Tuscany, by\nfar outshone them in liberality. 21. This demagogue, inflamed with a\nsecret desire of becoming powerful by the contentions in the state,\ndistributed corn in great quantities among the poorer sort each day,\ntill his house became the asylum of all such as wished to exchange a\nlife of labour for one of lazy dependence. 22. When he had thus gained\na sufficient number of partisans, he procured large quantities of arms\nto be brought into his house by night, and formed a conspiracy, by\nwhich he was to obtain the command, while some of the tribunes, whom\nhe had found means to corrupt, were to act under him, in seizing\nupon the liberties of his country. 23. Minu'tius soon discovered the\nplot, and, informing the senate, they immediately resolved to create a\ndictator, who should have the power of quelling the conspiracy without\nappealing to the people. 24. Cincinna'tus, who was now eighty years\nold, was chosen once more to rescue his country from impending danger.\n25. He began by summoning M\u00e6'lius to appear, who refused to obey. He\nnext sent Aha'la, the master of the horse, to compel his attendance;\nwhen, meeting him in the forum, Aha'la, on his refusal, killed him\nupon the spot. The dictator applauded the resolution of his officer,\nand commanded the conspirator's goods to be sold, his house to be\ndemolished, and his stores to be distributed among the people.[5]\n26. The tribunes of the people were much enraged at the death of\nM\u00e6'lius. In order, therefore, to punish the senate at the next\nelection, instead of consuls, they insisted upon restoring the\nmilitary tribunes, and the senate were obliged to comply.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 315.]\nThe next year, however, the government returned to its ancient\nchannel, and consuls were chosen.\n_Questions for Examination._\n1. What was the consequence of those intestine tumults related in the\npreceding section?\n2. Was it their courage only that was impaired by them?\n3. How did the tribunes conduct themselves?\n4. How were these proposals received?\n5. Did it answer the desired end?\n6. What expedient was resorted to?\n7. How was it received?\n8. What happened on assembling the senate?\n9. Did they avail themselves of this permission, and what farther\npassed on this occasion?\n10. Was his opinion agreeable to the people? What new proposition was\noffered by Genutius?\n11. Was this plan adopted and acted upon?\n12. What were the name, number, and powers of these new magistrates?\n13. How long did they continue in office?\n14. What government was substituted?\n15. What were the duties of the censors?\n16. Who were the first censors?\n17. What was the consequence of this new creation?\n18. Was this satisfaction lasting?\n19. How were the consuls affected by it?\n20, 21. Through what means did Spurius Manlius obtain credit for being\nmore liberal than the consuls? And what was his real object?\n22. How did he proceed in his designs against the liberties of his\ncountry?\n23. By what means was the plot frustrated?\n24. Who was appointed dictator?\n25. What steps did he take?\n26. How were these rigorous measures received?\nSECTION IV.\n  Hence every passion, e'en the proudest, stoop'd\n  To common good; Camillus, thy revenge,\n  Thy glory, Fabius.--_Thomson._\n1. The Ve'ians had long been the rivals of Rome: they had even taken\nthe opportunity of internal distresses to ravage its territories, and\nhad even threatened its ambassadors sent to complain of these\ninjuries, with outrage. 2. It seemed, now, therefore, determined that\nthe city of Ve'ii, whatever it might cost, should fall; and the Romans\naccordingly sat down regularly before it, and prepared for a long and\npainful resistance. 3. The strength of the place may be inferred from\nthe continuance of the siege, which lasted for ten years; during which\ntime, the army continued encamped round it, lying, in winter, under\ntents made of the skins of beasts, and, in summer, driving on the\noperations of the attack. 4. Various were the successes, and many were\nthe commanders that directed the siege; sometimes all their works were\ndestroyed, and many of their men cut off by sallies from the town;\nsometimes they were annoyed by an army of Veians, who attempted to\nbring assistance from without. 5. A siege so bloody seemed to\nthreaten depopulation to Rome itself, by a continual drain of its\nforces; so that a law was obliged to be made, for all bachelors to\nmarry the widows of the soldiers who were slain. 6. Fu'rius Camil'lus\nwas now created dictator, and to him was entrusted the sole power of\nmanaging the long protracted war. 7. Camil'lus, who, without intrigue\nor solicitation, had raised himself to the first eminence in the\nstate, had been made one of the censors some time before, and was\nconsidered as the head of that office; he was afterwards made a\nmilitary tribune, and had, in this post, gained several advantages\nover the enemy. 8. It was his great courage and abilities in the above\noffices that made him be thought most worthy to serve his country on\nthis pressing occasion. 9. Upon his appointment, numbers of the people\nflocked to his standard, confident of success under so experienced a\ncommander. 10. Conscious, however, that he was unable to take the city\nby storm, he, with vast labour, opened a passage under ground, which\nled into the very midst of the citadel. 11. Certain thus of success,\nand finding the city incapable of relief, he sent to the senate\ndesiring, that all who chose to share in the plunder of Ve'ii, should\nimmediately repair to the army. 12. Then, giving his directions how to\nenter at the breach, the city was instantly filled with his legions,\nto the amazement and consternation of the besieged, who, but a moment\nbefore, had rested in perfect security. 13. Thus, like a second\nTroy,[6] was the city of Ve'ii taken, after a ten years' siege, and,\nwith its spoils, enriched the conquerors; while Camil'lus himself,\ntransported with the honour of having subdued the rival of his native\ncity, triumphed after the manner of the kings of Rome, having his\nchariot drawn by four milk-white horses; a distinction which did not\nfail to disgust the majority of the spectators, as they considered\nthose as sacred, and more proper for doing honour to their gods than\ntheir generals.\n14. His usual good fortune attended Camil'lus in another expedition\nagainst the Falis'ci. He routed their army, and besieged their capital\ncity Fale'rii, which threatened a long and vigorous resistance. 15.\nThe reduction of this little place would have been scarcely worth\nmentioning in this scanty page, were it not for an action of the\nRoman general, that has done him more credit with posterity than all\nhis other triumphs united. 16. A school-master, who had the care of\nthe children belonging to the principal men in the city, having found\nmeans to decoy them into the Roman camp, offered to put them into the\nhands of Camil'lus, as the surest means of inducing the citizens to a\nspeedy surrender. 17. The general, struck with the treachery of a\nwretch whose duty it was to protect innocence, and not to betray it,\nfor some time regarded the traitor with a stern silence: but, at last,\nfinding words, \"Execrable villain!\" cried the noble Roman, \"offer thy\nabominable proposals to creatures like thyself, and not to me; what,\nthough we are the enemies of your city, are there not natural ties\nthat bind all mankind, which should never be broken? There are duties\nrequired from us in war, as well as in peace: we fight not against the\nage of innocence, but against men--men who have used us ill indeed;\nbut yet, whose crimes are virtues, when compared to thine. Against\nsuch base acts, let it be my duty to use only the Roman ones--valour\nand arms.\" 18. So saying, he ordered him to be stript, his hands to be\ntied behind him, and, in that ignominious manner, to be whipped into\nthe town by his own scholars. 19. This generous behaviour in Camil'lus\neffected more than his arms could do; the magistrates of the town\nsubmitted to the senate, leaving to Camil'lus the condition of their\nsurrender; who only fined them a sum of money to satisfy the army, and\nreceived them under the protection, and into the alliance, of Rome.\n20. Notwithstanding the veneration which the virtues of Camil'lus had\nexcited abroad, they seemed but little adapted to command the respect\nof the turbulent tribunes at home, who raised fresh accusations\nagainst him every day. 21. To the charge of being an opposer of their\nintended emigration from Rome to Ve'ii, they added that of his having\nconcealed a part of the plunder of that city, particularly two brazen\ngates, for his own use; and appointed him a day on which to appear\nbefore the people. 22. Camil'lus, finding the multitude exasperated\nagainst him on many accounts, and detesting their ingratitude,\nresolved not to await the ignominy of a trial; but embracing his wife\nand children, prepared to depart from Rome. 23. He had already passed\nas far as one of the gates, unattended and unlamented. There he could\nsuppress his indignation no longer, but, turning his face to the\nCapitol, and lifting up his hands to heaven, he entreated all the\ngods, that his countrymen might one day be sensible of their injustice\nand ingratitude. So saying, he passed forward to take refuge at\nAr'dea, a town at a little distance from Rome, where he afterwards\nlearned that he had been fined fifteen thousand ases[7] by the\ntribunes at Rome.\n24. The tribunes were not a little pleased with their triumphs over\nthis great man; but they soon had reason to repent their injustice,\nand to wish for the assistance of one, who alone was able to protect\ntheir country from ruin: for now a more terrible and redoubtable enemy\nthan the Romans had ever yet encountered, began to make their\nappearance. 25. The Gauls, a barbarous nation, had, about two\ncenturies before, made an irruption from beyond the Alps, and settled\nin the northern parts of Italy. They had been invited over by the\ndeliciousness of the wines, and the mildness of the climate. 26.\nWherever they came they dispossessed the original inhabitants, as they\nwere men of superior courage, extraordinary stature, fierce in aspect,\nbarbarous in their manners, and prone to emigration. 27. A body of\nthese, wild from their original habitations, was now besieging\nClu'sium, a city of Etru'ria, under the conduct of Brennus, their\nking. 28. The inhabitants of Clu'sium, frightened at their numbers,\nand still more at their savage appearance, entreated the assistance,\nor, at least, the mediation of the Romans. 29. The senate, who had\nlong made it a maxim never to refuse succour to the distressed, were\nwilling, previously, to send ambassadors to the Gauls, to dissuade\nthem from their enterprise, and to show the injustice of the\nirruption. 30. Accordingly, three young senators were chosen out of\nthe family of the Fabii, to manage the commission, who seemed more\nfitted for the field than the cabinet. 31. Brennus received them with\na degree of complaisance that argued but little of the barbarian, and\ndesiring to know the business of their embassy, was answered,\naccording to their instructions, that it was not customary in Italy to\nmake war, but on just grounds of provocation, and that they desired to\nknow what offence the citizens of Clu'sium had given to the king of\nthe Gauls. 32. To this Brennus sternly replied, that the rights of\nvaliant men lay in their swords; that the Romans themselves had no\nright to the many cities they, had conquered; and that he had\nparticular reasons of resentment against the people of Clu'sium,\nas they refused to part with those lands, which they had neither hands\nto till, nor inhabitants to occupy. 33. The Roman ambassadors, who\nwere but little used to hear the language of a conqueror, for a while\ndissembled their resentment at this haughty reply; but, upon entering\nthe besieged city, instead of acting as ambassadors, and forgetful of\ntheir sacred character, they headed the citizens in a sally against\nthe besiegers. In this combat Fa'bius Ambus'tus killed a Gaul with his\nown hand, but was discovered in the act of despoiling him of his\narmour. 34. A conduct so unjust and unbecoming excited the resentment\nof Brennus, who, having made his complaint by a herald to the senate,\nand finding no redress, broke up the siege and marched away with his\nconquering army directly for Rome. 35. The countries through which the\nGauls made their rapid progress, gave up all hopes of safety upon\ntheir approach; being terrified at their numbers, the fierceness of\ntheir natures, and their dreadful preparations for war. 36. But the\nrage and impetuosity of this wild people were directed solely against\nRome. They went on without doing the least injury in their march,\nbreathing vengeance only against the Romans. A terrible engagement\nsoon after ensued, in which the Romans were defeated near the river\nAl'lia, with the loss of about forty thousand men.[8]\n37. Rome, thus deprived of succour, prepared for every extremity. The\ninhabitants endeavoured to hide themselves in the neighbouring towns,\nor resolved to await the conqueror's fury, and end their lives with\nthe ruin of their native city.[9] 38. But, more particularly, the\nancient senators and priests, struck with a religious enthusiasm, on\nthis occasion resolved to devote their lives to atone for the crimes\nof the people, and, habited in their robes of ceremony, placed\nthemselves in the forum, on their ivory chairs. 39. The Gauls, in the\nmean time, were giving a loose to their triumph, in sharing and\nenjoying the plunder of the enemy's camp. Had they immediately marched\nto Rome, upon gaining the victory, the Capitol would, in all\nprobability, have been taken; but they continued two days feasting\nupon the field of battle, and, with barbarous pleasure, exulting\namidst their slaughtered enemies. 40. On the third day after this easy\nvictory, Brennus appeared with all his forces before the city. He was\nat first much surprised to find the gates open to receive him, and the\nwalls defenceless; so that he began to impute the unguarded situation\nof the place to a Roman stratagem. After proper precaution, he entered\nthe city, and, marching into the forum, beheld there the ancient\nsenators sitting in their order, observing a profound silence, unmoved\nand undaunted. 41. The splendid habits, the majestic gravity, and the\nvenerable looks of these old men, who, in their time, had all borne\nthe highest offices of state, awed the barbarous enemy into reverence;\nthey mistook them for the tutelar deities of the place, and began to\noffer blind adoration; till one, more forward than the rest, putting\nforth his hand to stroke the beard of Papyr'ius, an insult the noble\nRoman could not endure, he lifted up his ivory sceptre, and struck the\nsavage to the ground. 42. This proved to be a signal for general\nslaughter. Papyr'ius fell first, and all the rest shared his fate\nwithout mercy or distinction.[10] The fierce invaders pursued their\nslaughter for three days successively, sparing neither sex nor age;\nthen, setting fire to the city, burnt every house to the ground.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What was the conduct of the Veians?\n2. What resolution was adopted in consequence?\n3. Was Veii a strong place?\n4. Did the besieged make a vigorous resistance?\n5. What consequences were likely to ensue, and how were they obviated?\n6. To whom was the conduct of the war now committed?\n7. Who was Camillus?\n8. By what means did he attain his present dignity?\n9. What was the consequence of his appointment?\n10. What plan did he adopt to take the city?\n11. How did he next proceed?\n12. What followed?\n13. What was the consequence of this capture, and how did Camillus\ncomport himself?\n14. What was Camillus's next exploit?\n15. Was this a conquest of importance?\n16. Relate the particulars?\n17. How was his proposal received?\n18. How was the traitor punished?\n19. What was the consequence of this conduct?\n20. Was Camillus universally respected?\n21. What charges were brought against him?\n22. Did Camillus abide the event of a trial?\n23. Was he resigned to his fate, and whither did he retire?\n24. What followed his departure?\n25. Who was the enemy?\n26. What were the conduct and character of the Gauls?\n27. How were they employed at this conjuncture?\n28. What measure did the Clusians adopt for their defence?\n29. Was their application successful?\n30. Who were appointed for this purpose?\n31. How were they received?\n32. What was the reply of Brennus?\n33. What was the conduct of the ambassadors?\n34. What was the consequence of this improper conduct?\n35. What sensations were excited in the countries through which they\npassed?\n36. Did the Gauls commit any ravages on their march?\n37. What measures were adopted at Rome?\n38. Who more particularly displayed their devotedness on this\noccasion?\n39. What use did the Gauls make of their victory?\n40. What happened on their arrival before the city?\n41. What was the effect of this spectacle?\n42. What was the consequence of this boldness?\nSECTION V.\n  This is true courage, not the brutal force\n  Of vulgar heroes, but the firm resolve\n  Of virtue and of reason.--_Whitehead._\n1. All the hopes of Rome were now placed in the Capitol; every thing\nwithout that fortress formed an extensive scene of misery, desolation,\nand despair.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 361.]\n2. Brennus first summoned it, with threats, to surrender, but in vain;\nthen resolving to besiege it in form, hemmed it round with his army.\nThe Romans, however, repelled the attempt with great bravery: despair\nhad supplied them with that perseverance and vigour which they seemed\nto want when in prosperity.\n3. In the meanwhile, Brennus carried on the siege with extreme ardour.\nHe hoped to starve the garrison into a capitulation; but they,\nsensible of his intent, although in actual want, caused loaves to be\nthrown into his camp, to convince him of the futility of such\nexpectations. 4. His hopes were soon after revived, when some of his\nsoldiers came to inform him, that they had discovered footsteps,[11]\nwhich led up to the rock, by which they supposed the Capitol might be\nsurprised. 5. Accordingly, a chosen body of his men were ordered by\nnight upon this dangerous service, which, with great labour and\ndifficulty, they almost effected. 6. They were got upon the very wall;\nthe Roman sentinel was fast asleep; their dogs within gave no signal,\nand all promised an instant victory, when the garrison was awakened by\nthe gabbling of some sacred geese, that had been kept in the temple of\nJuno. 7. The besieged soon perceived the imminence of their danger,\nand each, snatching the weapon that first presented itself, ran to\noppose the assailants. 8. M. Man'lius, a patrician of acknowledged\nbravery, was the first who opposed the foe, and inspired courage by\nhis example. He boldly mounted the rampart, and, at one effort, threw\ntwo Gauls headlong down the precipice; his companions soon came to his\nassistance, and the walls were cleared of the enemy with a most\nincredible celerity.[12]\n9. From this time the hopes of the barbarians began to decline, and\nBrennus wished for an opportunity of raising the siege with\ncredit.[13] His soldiers had often conferences with the besieged while\nupon duty, and proposals for an accommodation were wished for by the\ncommon men, before the chiefs thought of a congress. At length, the\ncommanders on both sides came to an agreement, that the Gauls should\nimmediately quit the city and territories, upon being paid a thousand\npounds weight of gold.\n[Illustration: Manlius defending the Capitol.]\n10. This agreement being confirmed by oath on either side, the\ngold was brought forth. But, upon weighing, the Gauls fraudulently\nattempted to kick the beam, of which the Romans complaining, Brennus\ninsultingly cast his sword and belt into the scale, crying out that\nthe only portion of the vanquished was to suffer. 11. By this reply,\nthe Romans saw that they were at the victor's mercy, and knew it was\nin vain to expostulate against any conditions he should please to\nimpose. 12. But while they were thus debating upon the payment, it was\ntold them that Camil'lus, their old general, was at the head of a\nlarge army, hastening to their relief, and entering the gates of Rome.\n13. Camil'lus actually appeared soon after, and entering the place of\ncontroversy, with the air of one who was resolved not to suffer\nimposition, demanded the cause of the contest; of which being\ninformed, he ordered the gold to be taken and carried back to the\nCapitol. \"For it has ever been,\" cried he, \"the manner with us Romans,\nto ransom our country, not with gold, but with iron; it is I only that\nam to make peace, as being the dictator of Rome, and my sword alone\nshall purchase it.\" 14. Upon this a battle ensued, the Gauls were\nentirely routed, and such a slaughter followed, that the Roman\nterritories were soon cleared of the invaders. Thus, by the bravery of\nCamil'lus, was Rome delivered from its enemy.[14]\n15. The city being one continued heap of ruins, except the Capitol,\nand the greatest number of its former inhabitants having gone to take\nrefuge in Ve'ii, the tribunes of the people urged for the removal of\nthe poor remains of Rome to that city, where they might have houses to\nshelter, and walls to defend them. 16. On this occasion Camil'lus\nattempted to appease them with all the arts of persuasion; observing,\nthat it was unworthy of them, both as Romans and men, to desert the\nvenerable seat of their ancestors, where they had been encouraged by\nrepeated marks of divine approbation, in order to inhabit a city which\nthey had conquered, and which wanted even the good fortune of\ndefending itself. 17. By these, and such like remonstrances, he\nprevailed upon the people to go contentedly to work; and Rome soon\nbegan to rise from its ashes.[15]\n18. We have already seen the bravery of Man'lius in defending the\nCapitol, and saving the last remains of Rome. For this the people were\nby no means ungrateful. They built him a house near the place where\nhis valour was so conspicuous, and appointed him a public fund for his\nsupport. 19. But he aspired at being more than equal to Camil'lus, and\nto be sovereign of Rome. With this view he laboured to ingratiate\nhimself with the populace, paid their debts, and railed at the\npatricians, whom he called their oppressors. 20. The senate was not\nignorant of his speeches or his designs, and created Corne'lius Cossus\ndictator, with a view to curb the ambition of Man'lius. 21. The\ndictator soon called Man'lius to an account for his conduct. Man'lius,\nhowever, was too much the darling of the populace to be affected by\nthe power of Cossus, who was obliged to lay down his office, and\nMan'lius was carried from confinement in triumph through the city. 22.\nThis success only served to inflame his ambition. He now began to talk\nof a division of the lands among the people, insinuated that there\nshould be no distinctions in the state; and, to give weight to his\ndiscourses, always appeared at the head of a large body of the dregs\nof the people, whom largesses had[15] made his followers. 23. The\ncity being thus filled with sedition and clamour, the senate had\nrecourse to another expedient, which was, to oppose the power of\nCamil'lus to that of the demagogue. Camil'lus, accordingly, being made\none of the military tribunes, appointed Man'lius a day to answer for\nhis life. 24. The place in which he was tried was near the Capitol,\nwhither, when he was accused of sedition, and of aspiring to\nsovereignty, he turned his eyes, and pointing to that edifice, put\nthem in mind of what he had there done for his country. 25. The\nmultitude, whose compassion or whose justice seldom springs from\nrational motives, refused to condemn him, so long as he pleaded in\nsight of the Capitol; but when he was brought from thence to the\nPe'teline grove, where the Capitol was no longer in view, they\ncondemned him to be thrown headlong from the Tarpe'ian rock.[16] 26.\nThus, the place which had been the theatre of his glory, became that\nof his punishment and infamy. His house, in which his conspiracies had\nbeen secretly carried on, and which had been built as the reward of\nhis valour, was ordered to be razed to the ground, and his family were\nforbidden ever after to assume the name of Man'lius.\n27. Thus the Romans went gradually forward, with a mixture of\nturbulence and superstition within their walls, and successful\nenterprises without.\n28. With what implicit obedience they submitted to their pontiffs, and\nhow far they might be impelled to encounter even death itself, at\ntheir command, will evidently appear from the behaviour of Cur'tius,\nabout this time.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 392.]\nUpon the opening of the gulf in the forum, which the augurs affirmed\nwould never close till the most precious things in Rome were thrown\ninto it, this heroic man, clad in complete armour, and mounted on\nhorseback, boldly leaped into the midst, declaring, that nothing was\nmore truly valuable than patriotism and military virtue. 29. The gulf,\nsay the historians, closed immediately upon this, and Cur'tius was\nseen no more.[17]\n[Sidenote: U.C. 396]\n30. This year died the great Camil'lus, deservedly regretted by all.\nHe was styled a second Romulus, the first having founded, and he\nhaving restored the city. He is said never to have fought a battle\nwithout gaining a victory; never to have besieged a city without\ntaking it. He was a zealous patriot, ever ready to dismiss his just\nresentments for the affronts he received, when the necessities of his\ncountry required his services.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What was the state of Rome at this period?\n2. What was the next step taken by Brennus, and how did it succeed?\n3. In what manner was the siege carried on?\n4. Did he consider the attempt as hopeless?\n5. What advantage did he take of this information?\n6. Was the attempt successful?\n7. What was the consequence?\n8. Was there any particular instance of valour?\n9. What effect had this failure on the mind of Brennus?\n10. In what manner was this agreement carried into execution?\n11. What inference did the Romans draw from this insolent speech?\n12. What agreeable news did they now hear?\n13. Was this information correct?\n14. What followed?\n15. What was the first measure proposed after this deliverance?\n16. Was this proposal carried into effect?\n17. Were his remonstrances successful?\n18. Was the bravery of Manlius rewarded?\n19. Was he content with these favours?\n20. What measures were taken to oppose his designs?\n21. Was this expedient attended with success?\n22. What was the conduct of Manlius after this?\n23. What farther measures were taken to punish his ambition?\n24. What defence did he set up?\n25. Was his plea successful?\n26. What is remarkable in his punishment?\n27. How did the Roman affairs proceed at this time?\n28. Relate a memorable instance of the obedience paid by the Romans to\ntheir pontiffs or priests?\n29. What was the consequence of this heroic act?\n30. What happened this year, and what was the character of\nCamil'lus?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] These laws were engraven on brass, and hung up in the most\nconspicuous part of the Forum.\n[2] They were, however, defeated, first by the consul Vale'rius, and\nnext still more decisively by the consuls Quinc'tius and Fu'rius.\n[3] The duty of the censors, at first, was merely to perform the\ncensus, or numbering of the people. It was by degrees that they became\n_Magistri Morum_, or inspectors and regulators of men's lives and\nmanners.\n[4] They appointed an extraordinary magistrate, under the title of\n_superintendent of provisions_, and the person named for this office,\nL. Minutius, an active and prudent man, immediately sent his agents\ninto the neighbouring countries to buy corn; but little, however was\nprocured, as M\u00e6lius had been beforehand with him. (Liv. l. iv. c. 13,\n[5] The guilt of M\u00e6'lius was never proved, and no arms were found when\nhis house was searched. The charge of aiming at royalty is more than\nabsurd; it is morally impossible. He seems to have aimed at opening\nthe higher offices of state to the plebeians, and to have looked upon\nthe consulship with too eager desire. He fell a sacrifice, to deter\nthe plebeians from aiming at breaking up a patrician monopoly of\npower. It is painful to see Cincinna'tus, at the close of a long and\nillustrious life, countenancing, if not suggesting this wanton murder.\nBut, as Niebuhr remarks, \"no where have characters been more cruel, no\nwhere has the voice of conscience against the views of faction been so\ndefied, as in the aristocratic republics, and not those of antiquity\nonly. Men, otherwise of spotless conduct, have frequently shed the\npurest and noblest blood, influenced by fanaticism, and often without\nany resentment, in the service of party.\"\n[6] The account of the siege of Ve'ii is full of improbabilities, and\nthe story of the mine is utterly impossible, for without a compass and\na good plan of the city, such a work could not have been formed. That\nVe'ii, however, was besieged and taken at this time is very certain,\nbut that is the only part of the legend on which we can rely.\n[7] The _as_ was a brass coin, about three farthings of our money.\n[8] This day was from henceforth marked as unlucky in their calendar,\nand called Allien'sis.\n[9] Among others, the Vestals fled from the city, carrying with them\nthe two Palladiums and the sacred fire. They took shelter at C\u00e6re, a\ntown of Etru'ria, where they continued to celebrate their religious\nrites; from this circumstance religious rites acquired the name of\nceremonies.\n[10] This self-devotion was in consequence of a vow made by these\nbrave old men, which Fa'bius, the Pontifex Maximus, pronounced in\ntheir names. The Romans believed that, by thus devoting themselves to\nthe internal gods, disorder and confusion were brought among the\nenemy.\n[11] These were the footsteps of Pon'tius Comin'ius, who, with great\nprudence and bravery, found means to carry a message from Camil'lus to\nthe Romans in the Capi'tol, and to return with the appointment of\ndictator for Camil'lus.\n[12] As a reward for this essential service, every soldier gave\nMan'lius a small quantity of corn and a little measure of wine, out of\nhis scanty allowance; a present of no mean value in their then\ndistressed situation. On the other hand, the captain of the guard, who\nought to have kept the sentinels to their duty, was thrown headlong\nfrom the Capitol. In memory of this event, a goose was annually\ncarried in triumph on a soft litter, finely adorned; whilst dogs were\nheld in abhorrence, and were impaled every year on a branch of elder.\n[13] As the Gauls suffered the bodies of the Romans, who were slain in\ntheir frequent encounters, to lie unburied, the stench of their\nputrefaction occasioned a plague to break out, which carried off great\nnumbers of the army of Brennus.\n[14] The authenticity of this narrative is more than suspicious.\nPolyb'ius, the most accurate of the Roman historians, says that the\nGauls carried their old home with them. Sueto'nius confirms this\naccount, and adds that it was recovered at a much later period from\nthe Galli Seno'nes, by Liv'ius Dru'sus; and that on this occasion\nDru'sus first became a name in the Livian family, in consequence of\nthe victorious general having killed Drau'sus, the Gallic leader.\n[15] So little taste, however, for order and beauty, did those display\nwho had the direction of the works, that the city, when rebuilt, was\neven less regular than in the time of Romulus.\n[16] This account appears so absurd as to be scarcely credible; in\nfact, Manlius was first tried by the \"comitia centuriata,\" and\nacquitted. His second trial was before the \"comitia curiata,\" where\nhis enemies, the patricians, alone had the right of voting. See\nIntroduction, Chap. III.\n[17] Some judicious writers, however, acknowledge that the chasm was\nafterwards filled up with earth and rubbish. (Livy, l. 7. c. 6. Val.\nMaximus, l. 5. c. 6. et alli.)\nCHAPTER XIII.\nSECTION I.\nFROM THE WARS WITH THE SAMNITES AND THOSE WITH PYRRHUS, TO THE\nBEGINNING OF THE FIRST PUNIC WAR; WHEN THE ROMANS BEGAN TO EXTEND\nTHEIR CONQUESTS BEYOND ITALY.\n  The brave man is not he who feels no fear\n  For that were stupid and irrational;\n  But he, whose noble soul his fear subdues,\n  And bravely dares the danger nature shrinks from.--_Baillie_.\n1. The Romans had triumphed over the Sab'ines, the Etru'rians, the\nLatins, the Her'nici, the \u00c6'qui, and the Volsci; and now began to look\nfor greater conquests. They accordingly turned their arms against the\nSam'nites, a people descended from the Sab'ines, and inhabiting a\nlarge tract of southern Italy, which at this day makes, a considerable\npart of the kingdom of Naples. 2. Vale'rius Cor'vus, and Corne'lius,\nwere the two consuls to whose care it first fell to manage this\ndreadful contention between the rivals.\n3. Vale'rius was one of the greatest commanders of his time; he was\nsurnamed Cor'vus, from the strange circumstance of being assisted by a\ncrow in a single combat, in which he killed a Gaul of gigantic\nstature. 4. To his colleague's care it was consigned to lead an army\nto Sam'nium, the enemy's capital, while Cor'vus was sent to relieve\nCap'ua, the capital of the Capin'ians. 5. Never was a captain more\nfitted for command than he. To a habit naturally robust and athletic,\nhe joined the gentlest manners; he was the fiercest, and yet the most\ngood-natured man in the army; and, while the meanest sentinel was his\ncompanion, no man kept them more strictly to their duty; but to\ncomplete his character, he constantly endeavoured to preserve his\ndignity by the same arts by which he gained it. 6. Such soldiers as\nthe Romans then were, hardened by their late adversity, and led on by\nsuch a general, were unconquerable. The Samnites were the bravest men\nthey ever yet had encountered, and the contention between the two\nnations was managed on both sides with the most determined resolution.\n7. But the fortune of Rome prevailed; the Samnites at length fled,\naverring, that they were not able to withstand the fierce looks, and\nthe fire-darting eye of the Romans. 8. Corne'lius, however, was not at\nfirst so fortunate; for having unwarily led his army into a\ndefile, he was in danger of being cut off, had not De'cius\npossessed himself of a hill which commanded the enemy; so that the\nSamnites, being attacked on both sides, were defeated with great\nslaughter; not less than thirty thousand of them being left dead upon\nthe field.\n9. Some time after this victory, the forces stationed at Cap'ua\nmutinying, compelled Quin'tinus, an eminent old soldier, to be their\nleader; and, conducted by their rage, more than by their general, came\nwithin six miles of the city. 10. So terrible an enemy, almost at the\ngates, not a little alarmed the senate, who immediately created\nVale'rius dictator, and sent him forth with an army to oppose them.\n11. The two armies were now drawn up against each other, while fathers\nand sons beheld themselves prepared to engage in opposite causes. 12.\nAny other general than Corvus would, perhaps, have brought this civil\nwar to extremity; but he, knowing his influence among the soldiery,\ninstead of going forward to meet the mutineers in a hostile manner,\nwent with the most cordial friendship to embrace, and expostulate with\nhis old acquaintances. 13. His conduct had the desired effect.\nQuin'tius, as their speaker, solicited no more than to have their\ndefection from their duty forgiven; and for himself, as he was\ninnocent of their conspiracy, he had no reason to solicit pardon for\noffences. 14. Thus this defection, which threatened danger to Rome,\nwas repaired by the prudence and moderation of a general, whose\nambition it was to be gentle to his friends, and formidable only to\nhis enemies.\n15. A war between the Romans and Latins followed soon after. 16. As\ntheir habits, arms, and language were the same, the exactest\ndiscipline was necessary to prevent confusion in the engagement.\nOrders, therefore, were issued, that no soldier should leave his ranks\non pain of death. 17. With these injunctions, both armies were drawn\nout and ready, when Me'tius, the general of the enemy's cavalry,\npushed forward from his lines, and challenged any knight in the Roman\narmy to single combat. 18. For some time there was a general pause, no\nsoldier daring to disobey his orders, till Ti'tus Man'lius, son of the\nconsul Man'lius, burning with shame to see the whole body of the\nRomans intimidated, boldly advanced against his adversary. 19. The\nsoldiers, on both sides, for a while suspended the general engagement,\nto be spectators of this fierce encounter. The two champions drove\ntheir horses against each other with great violence: Me'tius\nwounded his adversary's horse in the neck; but Man'lius, with better\nfortune, killed that of Me'tius. The Latin general, fallen to the\nground, for a while attempted to support himself upon his shield; but\nthe Roman followed his blows, and laid him dead as he was endeavouring\nto rise; then despoiling him of his armour, returned in triumph to his\nfather's tent, where he was preparing for, and giving orders relative\nto, the engagement. 20. However he might have been applauded by his\nfellow-soldiers, being as yet doubtful what reception he should find\nwith his father, he came with hesitation, to lay the enemy's spoils at\nhis feet, and with a modest air insinuated, that what he had done was\nentirely from a spirit of hereditary virtue. 21. Alas! he was soon\ndreadfully made sensible of his error; when his father, turning away,\nordered him to be led publicly forth before his army. Being brought\nforward, the consul, with a stern countenance, and yet with tears,\nspoke as follows: \"Ti'tus Man'lius, as thou hast regarded neither the\ndignity of the consulship, nor the commands of a father; as thou hast\ndestroyed military discipline, and set a pattern of disobedience by\nthy example, thou hast reduced me to the deplorable extremity of\nsacrificing my son or my country. But let us not hesitate in this\ndreadful alternative; a thousand lives were well lost in such a cause;\nnor do I think that thou thyself wilt refuse to die, when thy country\nis to reap the advantage of thy sufferings. Lictor, bind him, and let\nhis death be our future example.\" 22. At this unnatural mandate the\nwhole army was struck with horror; fear, for a while, kept them in\nsuspense; but when they saw their young champion's head struck off,\nand his blood streaming upon the ground, they could no longer contain\ntheir execrations and their groans. His dead body was carried forth\nwithout the camp, and, being adorned with the spoils of the vanquished\nenemy, was buried with all the pomp of military solemnity.\n23. In the mean time, the battle began with mutual fury; and as the\ntwo armies had often fought under the same leaders, they combated with\nall the animosity of a civil war. The Latins chiefly depended on\nbodily strength; the Romans on their invincible courage and conduct.\n24. Forces so nearly matched, seemed only to want the aid of their\ndeities to turn the scale of victory; and in fact the augurs had\nforetold, that whatever part of the Roman army should be distressed,\nthe commander of that part should devote himself for his country,\nand die as a sacrifice to the immortal gods. Man'lius commanded the\nright wing, and De'cius the left. 25. Both sides fought with doubtful\nsuccess, as their courage was equal; but, after a time, the left wing\nof the Roman army began to give ground. 26. It was then that De'cius\nresolved to devote himself for his country; and to offer his own life,\nas an atonement, to save his army.\n27. Thus determined, he called out to Man'lius with a loud voice, and\ndemanded his instructions, as he was the chief pontiff, how to devote\nhimself, and what form of words he should use. 28. By his directions,\ntherefore, being clothed in a long robe, his head covered, and his\narms stretched forward, standing upon a javelin, he devoted himself to\nthe celestial and infernal gods for the safety of Rome. Then arming\nhimself, and mounting his horse, he drove furiously into the midst of\nthe enemy, striking terror and consternation wherever he came, till he\nfell covered with wounds. 29. In the mean time the Roman army\nconsidered his devoting himself in this manner, as an assurance of\nsuccess; nor was the superstition of the Latins less powerfully\ninfluenced by his resolution; a total route began to ensue: the Romans\npressed them on every side, and so great was the carnage, that\nscarcely a fourth part of the enemy survived the defeat.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. Against whom did the Romans next turn their arms?\n2. Who were appointed commanders in this war?\n3. Who was Valerius?\n4. What separate commands were entrusted to the consuls?\n5. What was the character of Valerius?\n6. What was the character of the hostile armies?\n7. To whom did the advantage belong?\n8. Was not the division under Cornelius led into a difficulty, and how\nwas it extricated?\n9. What important event next occurred?\n10. How were the senate affected by their approach?\n11. What are the peculiar evils attendant on civil wars?\n12. What steps did Corvus take on this occasion?\n13. What was the consequence of this mildness?\n14. What reflection may be drawn from this incident?\n15. What was the next occurrence of note?\n16. What precautions were necessary in this war?\n17. In what way was the discipline of the Romans put to the proof?\n18. Was his challenge disregarded?\n19. Relate the particulars of the combat?\n20. What reception did he expect from his father?\n21. What was the consequence of his rashness?\n22. How was this sentence received by the army?\n23. Did a battle ensue?\n24. What was wanting to insure the victory?\n25. To whom did success incline?\n26 What heroic resolution did Decius make?\n27. In what way did he do this?\n28. What followed?\n29. What effect had this sacrifice on the hostile armies?\nSECTION II.\n  Absurd the fumed advice to Pyrrhus given,\n  More praised than pander'd, specious, but unsound;\n  Sooner that hero's sword the world had quell'd,\n  Than reason, his ambition.--_Young_\n1. But a signal disgrace which the Romans sustained about this time,\nin their contest with the Samnites, made a pause in their usual good\nfortune, and turned the scale for a while in the enemy's favour.[1] 2.\nThe senate having denied the Samnites peace, Pon'tius, their general,\nwas resolved to gain by stratagem, what he had frequently lost by\nforce. 3. Accordingly, leading his army into the neighbourhood of a\ndefile, called Cau'dium, and taking possession of all its outlets, he\nsent ten of his soldiers, habited like shepherds, with directions to\nthrow themselves into the way which the Romans were to march. 4.\nExactly to his wishes, the Roman consul, Posthu'mius, met them, and\ntaking them for what they appeared, demanded the route the Samnite\narmy had taken: they, with seeming indifference, replied, that\nthey were going to Luce'ria, a town in Apulia, and were then actually\nbesieging it. 5 The Roman general, not suspecting the stratagem that\nwas laid against him, marched directly by the shortest road, which lay\nthrough the defile, to relieve that city; and was not undeceived till\nhe saw his army surrounded, and blocked up on every side.[2] 6.\nPon'tius, thus having the Romans entirely in his power, first obliged\nthe army to pass under the yoke, after having stript them of all but\ntheir under garments. He then stipulated, that they should wholly quit\nthe territories of the Samnites, and that they should continue to live\nupon the terms of their former confederacy. 7. The Romans were\nconstrained to submit to this ignominious treaty, and marched into\nCap'ua disarmed, half naked, and burning with a desire of _retrieving_\ntheir lost honour. 8. When the army arrived at Rome, the whole city\nwas most sensibly affected at their shameful return; nothing but grief\nand resentment were to be seen, and the whole city was put into\nmourning.\n9. This was a transitory calamity; the state had suffered a diminution\nof its glory, but not of its power.[3] The war was carried on as\nusual, for many years; the power of the Samnites declining every day,\nwhile that of the Romans gained fresh vigour from every victory. 10.\nUnder the conduct of Papir'ius Cursor, repeated triumphs were gained.\nFa'bius Max'imus also had his share in the glory of conquering the\nSamnites; and De'cius, the son of that Decius whom we saw devoting\nhimself, for his country about forty years before, followed the\nexample of his noble father, and, rushing into the midst of the enemy,\nsaved the lives of his countrymen with the loss of his own.[4]\n11. The Samnites being driven to the most extreme distress, and unable\nto defend themselves, were obliged to call in the assistance of a\nforeign power, and have recourse to Pyr'rhus, king of Epi'rus,[5]\nto save them from impending ruin. 12. Pyr'rhus, a man of great\ncourage, ambition, and power, who had always kept the example of\nAlexan'der, his great predecessor, before his eyes, promised to come\nto their assistance; and, in the mean time, despatched a body of three\nthousand men, under the command of Cin'eas, an experienced soldier,\nand a scholar of the great orator Demos'thenes.[6] 13. Nor did he\nhimself remain long behind, but soon after put to sea with three\nthousand horse, twenty thousand foot, and twenty elephants, in which\nthe commanders of that time began to place very great confidence. 14.\nHowever, only a small part of this great armament arrived in Italy\nwith him; for many of his ships were dispersed, and some were totally\nlost in a storm.\n15. Upon his arrival at Taren'tum,[7] his first care was to reform the\npeople whom he came to succour. Observing a total dissoluteness of\nmanners in this luxurious city, and that the inhabitants were rather\noccupied with the pleasures of bathing, feasting, and dancing, than\nthe care of preparing for war, he gave orders to have all their places\nof public entertainment shut up, and that they should be restrained in\nsuch amusements as rendered soldiers unfit for battle. 16. In the mean\ntime the Romans did all which prudence could suggest, to oppose so\nformidable an enemy; and the consul L\u00e6vi'nus was sent with a numerous\nforce to interrupt his progress. 17. Pyr'rhus, though his whole army\nwas not yet arrived, drew out to meet him; but previously sent an\nambassador, desiring to be permitted to mediate between the Romans and\nthe people of Tarentum. 18. To this L\u00e6vi'nus answered, that _he\nneither esteemed him as a mediator, nor feared him as an enemy_: and\nthen leading the ambassador through the Roman camp, desired him to\nobserve diligently what he saw, and to report the result to his\nmaster.\n19. In consequence of this, both armies approaching, pitched their\ntents in sight of each other, upon the opposite banks of the river\nLy'ris. Pyr'rhus was always extremely careful in directing the\nsituation of his own camp, and in observing that of the enemy. 20.\nWalking along the banks of the river, and surveying the Roman method\nof encamping, he was heard to observe, that these barbarians seemed to\nbe no way barbarous, and that he should too soon find their actions\nequal to their resolution. 21. In the mean time he placed a body of\nmen in readiness to oppose the Romans, in case they should attempt to\nford the stream before his whole army was brought together. 22. Things\nturned out according to his expectations; the consul, with an\nimpetuosity that marked his inexperience, gave orders for passing the\nriver where it was fordable; and the advanced guard, having attempted\nto oppose him in vain, was obliged to retire to the whole body of the\narmy. 23. Pyr'rhus being apprised of the enemy's attempt, at first\nhoped to cut off their cavalry, before they could be reinforced by the\nfoot, which were not as yet got over; and led on in person a chosen\nbody of horse against them. 24. The Roman legions having, with much\ndifficulty, advanced across the river, the engagement became general;\nthe Greeks fought with a consciousness of their former fame, and the\nRomans with a desire of gaining fresh glory: mankind had seldom seen\ntwo such differently disciplined armies opposed to each other; nor is\nit to this day determined whether the Greek phalanx, or the Roman\nlegion were preferable. 25. The combat was long in suspense; the\nRomans had seven times repulsed the enemy, and were as often driven\nback themselves; but at length, while the success seemed doubtful,\nPyr'rhus sent his elephants into the midst of the engagement, and\nthese turned the scale of victory in his favour. 26. The Romans, who\nhad never before encountered creatures of such magnitude, were\nterrified not only at their intrepid fierceness, but at the castles\nthat were fastened on their backs, filled with armed men. 27. It was\nthen that Pyr'rhus saw the day was his own; and, sending his\nThessalian cavalry to charge the enemy in disorder, the route became\ngeneral. A dreadful slaughter of the Romans ensued, fifteen thousand\nmen being killed on the spot, and eighteen hundred taken prisoners.\n28. Nor were the conquerors in a much better state than the\nvanquished, Pyr'rhus himself being wounded, and thirteen thousand of\nhis forces slain. Night coming on, put an end to the slaughter on both\nsides, and Pyr'rhus was heard to exclaim, that one such victory more\nwould ruin his whole army. 29. The next day, as he walked to view\nthe field of battle, he could not help regarding with admiration the\nbodies of the Romans who were slain. Upon seeing them all with their\nwounds in front, their countenances, even in death, marked with noble\nresolution, and a sternness that awed him into respect, he was heard\nto cry out, in the true spirit of a military adventurer, \"Oh! with\nwhat ease could I conquer the world, had I the Romans for soldiers, or\nhad they me for their king!\"\n30. Pyr'rhus, after this victory, was still unwilling to drive them to\nan extremity, and considering that it was best to treat with an\nhumbled enemy, he resolved to send his friend Cin'eas,[8] the orator,\nto negociate a peace; of whom he often asserted, that he had won more\ntowns by the eloquence of Cin'eas, than by his own arms. 31. But\nCin'eas, with all his art, found the Romans incapable of being\nseduced, either by private bribery, or public persuasion; with a\nhaughtiness little expected from a vanquished enemy, they insisted\nthat Pyr'rhus should evacuate Italy, previous to a commencement of a\ntreaty of peace.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. Were the Romans uniformly successful?\n2. Who resolved to use stratagem, and why?\n3. By what means did he effect it?\n4. What followed?\n5. Was the Roman general deceived by this stratagem?\n6. What advantage did the Samnite commander take of the situation of\nthe Romans?\n7. Were these terms accepted?\n8. How was this news received at Rome?\n9. Did this event put an end to the war?\n10. Who signalized themselves against the Samnites?\n11. What measure did the Samnites adopt in this extremity?\n12. What was the character of Pyrrhus, and what effort did he make for\ntheir relief?\n13. Did he follow in person?\n14. Did this great force arrive in safety?\n15. What was his first care?\n16. What measures did the Romans adopt?\n17. Did Pyrrhus immediately commence hostilities?\n18. What answer was returned?\n19. What followed?\n20. What opinion did Pyrrhus form of the Romans?\n21. What were his first measures?\n22. Were his precautions justified?\n23. In what way did Pyrrhus resist this attack?\n24. What is worthy of observation in this engagement?\n25. To whom did the victory fall?\n26. On what account were the Romans terrified by the appearance of the\nelephants?\n27. What completed the route?\n28. Was this victory cheaply purchased?\n29. What were the sensations of Pyrrhus on viewing the field of\nbattle?\n30. What measures did he adopt after this victory?\n31. Were the arts of Cineas successful?\nSECTION III.\n                In public life, severe,\n  To virtue still inexorably firm;\n  But when, beneath his low illustrious roof,\n  Sweet peace and happy wisdom smoothed his brow.\n  Not friendship softer was, nor love more kind.--_Thomson._\n1. Being frustrated, therefore, in his expectations, Cin'eas returned\nto his master, extolling both the virtues and the grandeur of the\nRomans. The senate, he said, appeared a reverend assembly of\ndemi-gods; and the city, a temple for their reception. 2. Of this\nPyr'rhus soon after became sensible, by an embassy from Rome,\nconcerning the ransom and exchange of prisoners. 3. At the head of\nthis venerable deputation was Fabri'cius, an ancient senator, who had\nlong been a pattern to his countrymen of the most extreme poverty,\njoined to the most cheerful content. 4. Pyr'rhus received this\ncelebrated old man with great kindness; and willing to try how far\nfame had been just in his favour, offered him rich presents; but the\nRoman refused. 5. The day after, he was desirous of examining the\nequality of his temper, and ordered one of his largest elephants to be\nplaced behind the tapestry, which, upon a signal given, being drawn\naside, the huge animal raised its trunk above the ambassador's head,\nmaking a hideous noise, and using other arts to intimidate him. 6. But\nFabri'cius, with an unchanged countenance, smiled upon the king, and\ntold him, that he looked with an equal eye on the terrors of that day,\nas he had upon the allurements of the preceding. 7. Pyr'rhus, pleased\nto find so much virtue in one he had considered as a barbarian, was\nwilling to grant him the only favour which he knew could make him\nhappy; he released the Roman prisoners, entrusting them to Fabri'cius\nalone, upon his promise, that, in case the senate were determined to\ncontinue the war, he might reclaim them whenever he thought\nproper.\n8. By this time the Roman army was recovered from its late defeat, and\nSulpi'cius and De'cius, the consuls for the following year, were\nplaced at its head.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 474.]\n9. The panic which had formerly seized it from the elephants, now\nbegan to wear off, and both armies met near the city of As'culum,\npretty nearly equal in numbers. 10. Here again, after a long and\nobstinate fight, the Grecian discipline prevailed. The Romans, pressed\non every side, particularly by the elephants, were obliged to retire\nto their camp, leaving six thousand men upon the field of battle. 11.\nBut the enemy had no great reason to boast of their triumph, as they\nhad four thousand slain. Pyr'rhus again observed, to a soldier who was\ncongratulating him upon his victory, \"Another such a triumph, and I\nshall be undone.\" This battle finished the campaign. 12. The next\nseason began with equal vigour on both sides; Pyr'rhus having received\nnew succours from home. 13. While the two armies were approaching, and\nyet but a small distance, from each other, a letter was brought to old\nFabri'cius, the Roman general, from the king's physician, importing\nthat, for a proper reward, he would take him off by poison, and thus\nrid the Romans of a powerful enemy, and a dangerous war. 14.\nFabri'cius felt all the honest indignation at this base proposal that\nwas consistent with his former character; he communicated it to his\ncolleague, and instantly gave it as his opinion, that Pyr'rhus should\nbe informed of the treachery that was plotted against him. 15.\nAccordingly, letters were despatched for that purpose, informing\nPyr'rhus of the affair, and alleging his unfortunate choice of friends\nand enemies; that he had trusted and promoted murderers, while he\ndirected his resentment against the generous and brave. 16. Pyr'rhus\nnow began to find that these bold barbarians were, by degrees,\nschooled into refinement, and would not suffer him to be their\nsuperior, even in generosity. He received the message with as much\namazement at their candour, as indignation at his physician's\ntreachery. \"Admirable Fabri'cius!\" cried he, \"it would be as easy to\nturn the sun from its course, as thee from the path of honour.\" 17.\nThen, making the proper inquiry among his servants, and having\ndiscovered the treason, he ordered his physician to be executed. 18.\nNot to be outdone in magnanimity, he immediately sent to Rome all his\nprisoners without ransom, and again desired to negociate a peace:\nbut the Romans still refused, upon any other conditions than had been\noffered before.\n19. After an interval of two years, Pyr'rhus, having increased his\narmy by new levies, sent one part of it to oppose the march of\nLen'tulus, while he, with the other, went to attack Cu'rius Denta'tus,\nbefore his colleague could come up. 20. His principal aim was to\nsurprise the enemy by night; but unfortunately, passing through woods,\nand the light failing him, his men lost their way; so that at the\napproach of morning, he saw himself in sight of the Roman camp, with\nthe enemy drawn out ready to receive him. The vanguard of both armies\nsoon met, in which the Romans had the advantage. 21. Soon after, a\ngeneral engagement ensuing, Pyr'rhus, finding the balance of the\nvictory turning still against him, had once more recourse to his\nelephants. 22. These, however, the Romans were now too well acquainted\nwith, to feel any vain terrors from; and having found that fire was\nthe most effectual means to repel them, they caused a number of balls\nto be made, composed of flax and rosin, which were lighted and thrown\nagainst them as they approached the ranks. 23. The elephants, rendered\nfurious by the flame, and boldly opposed by the soldiers, could no\nlonger be brought on; but ran back on their own army, bearing down\ntheir ranks, and filling all places with terror and confusion: thus\nvictory, at length, declared in favour of Rome. 24. Pyr'rhus, in vain,\nattempted to stop the flight and slaughter of his troops; he lost not\nonly twenty-three thousand of his best soldiers, but his camp was also\ntaken. 25. This served as a new lesson to the Romans, who were ever\nopen to improvement. They had formerly pitched their tents without\norder; but, by this new capture, they were taught to measure out their\nground, and fortify the whole with a trench; so that many of their\nsucceeding victories are to be ascribed to their improved method of\nencamping.\n26. Pyr'rhus, thus finding all hopes fruitless, resolved to leave\nItaly, where he found only desperate enemies, and faithless allies;\naccordingly, calling together the Taren'tines, he informed them that\nhe had received assurances from Greece of speedy assistance, and\ndesiring them to await the event with tranquillity, the night\nfollowing he embarked his troops, and returned, undisturbed, into his\nnative kingdom, with the remains of his shattered forces, leaving\na garrison in Taren'tum merely to save appearances: and in this manner\nended the war with Pyr'rhus, after six years' continuance.\n27. As for the poor luxurious Taren'tines, who were the original\npromoters of the war, they soon began to find a worse enemy in the\ngarrison that was left for their defence, than in the Romans who\nattacked them from without. The hatred between them and Mi'lo, who\ncommanded their citadel for Pyr'rhus, was become so great, that\nnothing but the fear of their old inveterate enemies, the Romans,\ncould equal it. 28. In this distress they applied to the\nCarthaginians, who, with a large fleet, came and blocked up the port\nof Taren'tum; so that this unfortunate people, once famous through\nItaly for their refinements and pleasures, now saw themselves\ncontended for by three different armies, without a choice of a\nconqueror. 29. At length, however, the Romans found means to bring\nover the garrison to their interest; after which they easily became\nmasters of the city, and demolished its walls, granting the\ninhabitants liberty and protection.\n_Questions for Examination._\n1. What report did Cineas give of the Romans?\n2. By what means did Pyrrhus become convinced of its truth?\n3. Who headed this deputation?\n4. What reception did he experience?\n5. What farther trial was made of his disposition?\n6. What effect did this produce in Fabricius?\n7. In what way did Pyrrhus evince his satisfaction?\n8. In what state was the Roman army at this time?\n9. Where did the rival armies meet?\n10. What was the event of the engagement?\n11. Did it cost the enemy dear?\n12. Was the war continued?\n13. What proposal was made to Fabricius?\n14. How was this proposal received?\n15. How was this done?\n16. What effect had this conduct on Pyrrhus?\n17. What followed?\n18. What return did he make to the Romans?\n19. How was this war carried on?\n20. What views had he in this, and how did they succeed?\n21. What expedient did Pyrrhus have recourse to, to insure the\nvictory?\n22. How did the Romans endeavour to counteract it?\n23. What was the consequence?\n24. What loss did Pyrrhus sustain?\n25. What advantage did the Romans gain from this victory?\n26. What resolution did Pyrrhus form, and how did he effect it?\n27. What became of the Tarentines?\n28. To whom did they have recourse?\n29. How did this terminate?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] An additional instance of the severity with which military\ndiscipline was maintained among the Romans, happened a short time\nprevious to this: L. Papir'ius Cursor, the dictator, having occasion\nto quit the army and repair to Rome, strictly forbade Q. Fa'bius\nRullia'nus, his master of the horse, to venture a battle in his\nabsence. This order Fa'bius disobeyed, and gained a complete victory.\nInstead, however, of finding success a palliation of his offence, he\nwas immediately condemned by the stern dictator to expiate his breach\nof discipline by death. In spite of the mutinous disposition of the\narmy--in spite of the intercessions and threats, both of the senate\nand people, Papir'ius persisted in his resolution: but what menaces\nand powerful interposition could not obtain, was granted to the\nprayers and tears of the criminal's relatives; and Fa'bius lived to\nfill some of the highest offices of the state, with honour to himself\nand infinite advantage to his country. (Liv. l. 8. c. 30. 35.)\n[2] This gives but an indifferent idea of the military skill of those\nages.\n[3] It appears, however, to have suffered a diminution of its honour\non this occasion, by breaking every article of the treaty of peace\nextorted from Posthu'mius. As some atonement for this breach of faith,\nthey delivered Posthu'mius, and those who signed the treaty, into the\nhands of the Samnites, to do with them as they thought fit; but this\ngenerous people instantly set them at liberty. Liv. l. 9. c. 8-11.\n[4] U.C. 447. About this time Appius Claudius, the censor,\nconstructed an aqueduct, seven miles long, for supplying Rome with\nwater, and that famous road from Rome to Capua, which still remains,\nthe admiration of all Europe.\n[5] Epi'rus, a country situated between Macedonia, Achaia, and the\nIonian sea. (Strabo.)\n[6] Demos'thenes, famous for his bold and nervous style of oratory,\nflourished at Athens about 320 years before the Christian era.\n[7] Taren'tum, now Taren'to, was a town of Calabria, in Italy, situate\non a bay of the same name, near the mouth of the river Gale'sus: it\nwas celebrated for its fine harbour. (Strabo.)\n[8] Cin'eas is said to have possessed so retentive a memory, that the\nday after his arrival at Rome, he could salute every senator and\nknight by name.\nCHAPTER XIV.\nSECTION I.\nFROM THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST PUNIC WAR, TO THE BEGINNING OF THE\nSECOND, WHEN THE ROMANS BEGAN TO GROW POWERFUL BY SEA.--U.C. 493.\n  Are sown the sparks that kindle fiery war,\n  Occasion needs but fan them, and they blaze.--_Cowper_.\n1. The Romans having destroyed all rival pretensions at home, began to\npant after foreign conquests. 2. The Carthagin'ians were at that time\nin possession of the greatest part of Sicily, and, like the Romans,\nonly wanted an opportunity of embroiling the natives, in order to\nbecome masters of the whole island. 3. This opportunity at length\noffered. Hi'ero, king of Sy'racuse, one of the states of that island,\nwhich was as yet unconquered, entreated their aid against the\nMam'ertines, an insignificant people of the same country, and they\nsent him supplies both by sea and land. 4. The Mam'ertines, on the\nother hand, to shield off impending ruin, put themselves under the\nprotection of Rome. 5. The Romans, not thinking the Mam'ertines worthy\nof the name of allies, instead of professing to assist them, boldly\ndeclared war against Carthage; alleging as a reason, the assistance\nwhich Carthage had lately sent to the southern parts of Italy against\nthe Romans. In this manner a war was declared between two powerful\nstates, both too great to continue patient spectators of each other's\nincrease.\n6. Carthage, a colony of the Phoeni'cians, was built on the coast of\nAfrica, near the place where Tunis now stands, about a hundred and\nthirty-seven years before the foundation of Rome. 7. As it had been\nlong growing into power, so it had extended its dominions all along\nthe coasts: but its chief strength lay in its fleets and commerce. 8.\nThus circumstanced, these two great powers began what is called the\nFirst Punic war. The Carthagin'ians were possessed of gold and\nsilver, which might be exhausted; the Romans were famous for\nperseverance, patriotism, and poverty, which gathered strength by\nevery defeat.\n9. But there seemed to be an insurmountable obstacle to the ambitious\nviews of Rome, as they had no fleet, or at least none that deserved\nthe title; while the Carthagin'ians had the entire command at sea, and\nkept all the maritime towns in obedience.[1] 10. In such a situation,\nunder disadvantages which nature seemed to have imposed, any people\nbut the Romans would have rested; but nothing could conquer or\nintimidate them. 11. A Carthagin'ian vessel happened to be driven on\nshore, in a storm, and this was sufficient to serve as a model. They\nbegan to apply themselves to maritime affairs; and though without\nshipwrights to build, or seamen to navigate a fleet, they resolved to\nsurmount every obstacle with inflexible perseverance. 12. The consul\nDuil'ius was the first who ventured to sea with his new-constructed\narmament; he proceeded in quest of the enemy, whom he met near the\nLipari islands; and by means of grappling-irons, he so connected the\nships of the Carthaginians with his own, that the combat became a sort\nof land-fight. By this manoeuvre, though his own force was far\ninferior to that of the enemy, he gained for Rome her first naval\ntriumph, taking from the Carthaginians fifty ships, and what they\nvalued still more, the undisturbed sovereignty of the sea. At Rome\nmedals were struck and a column was erected in commemoration of the\nvictory. This column, called Columna Rostrata, because adorned with\nthe beaks of ships, was struck down by lightning in the interval\nbetween the second and third Punic wars. A new column was erected by\nthe Emperor Claudius, and the inscription restored, though probably\nmodernized. It still exists in a state of partial preservation.\n13. The Romans soon invaded Sicily, and gained some signal successes,\nprincipally by the aid of their ally, king Hi'ero. On one occasion the\nconsul Calati'nus was entrapped by the Carthaginians in a defile, and\nwould certainly have been destroyed but for the bravery of the\nmilitary tribune Calpur'nius Flem'ma, who, with three hundred resolute\nmen, possessed himself of a neighbouring eminence, and so engaged the\nattention of the Carthaginians, that the Roman army escaped with very\nlittle opposition. This band of heroes was slaughtered to a man, and\nCalpur'nius himself fell dreadfully wounded, but afterwards recovered,\nand was rewarded with a corona graminis, or crown made of grass. But\nnotwithstanding their repeated triumphs, the Romans discovered that\nthe conquest of Sicily was only to be obtained by humbling the power\nof Carthage at home. For this reason the senate resolved to carry the\nwar into Africa itself, and accordingly they sent Reg'ulus and\nMan'lius, with a fleet of three hundred sail, to make the invasion.\n14. Reg'ulus was reckoned the most consummate warrior that Rome could\nthen produce, and a professed example of frugal severity. His\npatriotism was still greater than his temperance: all private passions\nseemed extinguished in him; at least they were swallowed up in one\ngreat ruling affection, the love of his country. 15. The two generals\nset sail with their fleet, which was the greatest that had ever yet\nleft an Italian port, carrying a hundred and forty thousand men. They\nwere met by the Carthagin'ians with a fleet equally powerful, and men\nmore used to the sea. 16. While the fight continued at a distance, the\nCarthagin'ians seemed successful; but when the Romans came to grapple\nwith them, the difference between a mercenary army and one that fought\nfor fame, was apparent. 17. The resolution of the Romans was crowned\nwith success; the enemy's fleet was dispersed, and fifty-four of their\nvessels taken. 18. The consequence of this victory was an immediate\ndescent upon the coast of Africa, and the capture of the city Clu'pea,\ntogether with twenty thousand men, who were made prisoners of war.\nWhile Reg'ulus lay encamped here, near the river Bagra'da, he is said\nto have slain a monstrous serpent by the help of his battering\nengines. Its skin, which was one hundred and twenty feet long, was\nsent to Rome and preserved for a long time with great care.\n19. The senate being informed of these great successes, and applied to\nfor fresh instructions, commanded Man'lius back to Italy, in order to\nsuperintend the Sicilian war, and directed that Reg'ulus should\ncontinue in Africa to prosecute his victories there.\n[Illustration: The army of Regulus destroying the serpent.]\n20. A battle ensued, in which Carthage was once more defeated, and\n17,000 of its best troops were cut off. This fresh victory contributed\nto throw them into the utmost despair; for more than eighty of their\ntowns submitted to the Romans. 21. In this distress, the\nCarthagin'ians, destitute of generals at home, were obliged to send to\nLaced\u00e6'mon, offering the command of their armies to Xantip'pus, a\ngeneral of great experience, who undertook to conduct them.\n22. This general began by giving the magistrates proper instructions\nfor levying their men; he assured them that their armies were hitherto\noverthrown, not by the strength of the enemy, but by the ignorance of\ntheir own commanders; he, therefore, required a ready obedience to his\norders, and assured them of an easy victory. 23. The whole city seemed\nonce more revived from despondence by the exhortations of a single\nstranger, and soon from hope grew into confidence. 24. This was the\nspirit the Grecian general wished to excite in them; so that when he\nsaw them thus ripe for the engagement, he joyfully took the field. 25.\nThe Laced\u00e6mo'nian made the most skilful disposition of his forces; he\nplaced his cavalry in the wings; he disposed the elephants at proper\nintervals, behind the line of the heavy-armed infantry, and bringing\nup the light-armed troops before, he ordered them to retire through\nthe line of infantry, after they had discharged their weapons. 26. At\nlength both armies engaged; after a long and obstinate resistance the\nRomans were overthrown with dreadful slaughter, the greatest part of\ntheir army destroyed, and Reg'ulus himself taken prisoner. 27.\nSeveral other distresses of the Romans followed soon after. They lost\ntheir fleet in a storm, and Agrigen'tum, their principal town in\nSicily, was taken by Karth'alo, the Carthagin'ian general. They built\na new fleet, which shared the fate of the former; for the mariners, as\nyet unacquainted with the Mediterranean shores, drove upon quicksands,\nand soon after the greater part perished in a storm.[2]\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What did the Romans now desire?\n2. What state afforded them an opportunity for this purpose?\n3. Were their wishes gratified, and how?\n4. What measures did the Mamertines adopt?\n5. Did the Romans afford them the assistance they requested?\n6. Where was Carthage situated, and when was it built?\n7. Was it a powerful state?\n8. Had the Romans or the Carthaginians the means most likely to insure\nsuccess?\n9. Were Rome and Carthage on an equal footing in other respects?\n10. Did the Romans attempt to overcome this obstacle?\n11. What assisted their endeavours?\n12. Who was their first naval commander, and what was his success?\n13. What were the means adopted to conquer Sicily?\n14. What was the character of Regulus?\n15. What was the amount of the force on both sides?\n16. On what side did the advantage lie?\n17. With whom did the victory remain?\n18. What was the consequence of this victory?\n19. What were the orders of the senate?\n20. What was the next event deserving notice, and its consequences?\n21. To what expedient were the Carthaginians obliged to have recourse?\n22. What were the first acts of this general?\n23. What were the effects his arrival produced?\n24. What was the consequence?\n25. In what way was the Carthaginian army drawn up?\n26. What was the event of the battle?\n27. What other disasters did the Romans encounter?\nSECTION II.\n  Who has not heard the Fulvian heroes sung\n  Dentatus' scars, or Mutius' flaming hand?\n  How Manlius saved the capitol? the choice\n  Of steady Regulus?--_Dyer._\n1. The Carthagin'ians being thus successful, were desirous of a new\ntreaty for peace, hoping to have better terms than those insisted upon\nby Reg'ulus. They supposed that he, whom they had now for four years\nkept in a dungeon, confined and chained, would be a proper solicitor.\nIt was expected that, being wearied with imprisonment and bondage, he\nwould gladly endeavour to persuade his countrymen to a discontinuance\nof the war which prolonged his captivity. 2. He was accordingly sent\nwith their ambassadors to Rome, under a promise, previously exacted\nfrom him, to return in case of being unsuccessful. He was even given\nto understand that his life depended upon the success of his\nnegociation.\n3. When this old general, together with the ambassadors of Carthage,\napproached Rome, numbers of his friends came out to meet him, and\ncongratulate him on his return. 4. Their acclamations resounded\nthrough the city; but Reg'ulus refused, with settled melancholy, to\nenter the gates. In vain he was entreated on every side to visit once\nmore his little dwelling, and share in that joy which his return had\ninspired. He persisted in saying that he was now a slave belonging to\nthe Carthagin'ians, and unfit to partake in the liberal honours of his\ncountry. 5. The senate assembling without the walls, as usual, to give\naudience to the ambassadors, Reg'ulus opened his commission as he had\nbeen directed by the Carthagin'ian council, and their ambassadors\nseconded his proposals. 6. The senate themselves, who were weary of a\nwar which had been protracted above fourteen years, were no way\ndisinclinable to a peace. It only remained for Reg'ulus himself to\ngive his opinion. 7. When it came to his turn to speak, to the\nsurprise of the whole, he gave his voice for continuing the war. 8. So\nunexpected an advice not a little disturbed the senate: they pitied as\nwell as admired a man who had used such eloquence against his private\ninterest, and could conclude upon a measure which was to\nterminate in his own ruin. 9. But he soon relieved their embarrassment\nby breaking off the treaty, and by rising, in order to return to his\nbonds and his confinement. 10. In vain did the senate and his dearest\nfriends entreat his stay; he still repressed their solicitations.\nMarcia, his wife, with her children, vainly entreated to be permitted\nto see him: he still obstinately persisted in keeping his promise; and\nthough sufficiently apprised of the tortures that awaited his return,\nwithout embracing his family, or taking leave of his friends, he\ndeparted with the ambassadors for Carthage.\n11. Nothing could equal the fury and the disappointment of the\nCarthagin'ians, when they, were informed by their ambassadors that\nRegulus, instead of hastening a peace, had given his opinion for\ncontinuing the war. 12. They accordingly prepared to punish his\nconduct with the most studied tortures. His eye-lids were cut off, and\nhe was remanded to prison. After some days, he was again brought out\nfrom his dark and dismal dungeon, and exposed with, his face opposite\nthe burning sun. At last, when malice was fatigued studying all the\narts of torture, he was put into a sort of barrel, stuck full of\nspikes, and in this painful position he continued till he died.\n13. Both sides now took up arms with more than former animosity. At\nlength, Roman perseverance was crowned with success; and one victory\nfollowed on the back of another. Fa'bius Bu'teo, the consul, once more\nshowed them the way to naval victory, by defeating a large squadron of\nthe enemy's ships; but Luta'tius Cat'ulus gained a victory still more\ncomplete, in which the power of Carthage seemed totally destroyed at\nsea, by the loss of a hundred and twenty ships. 14. This loss\ncompelled the Carthagin'ians again to sue for peace, which Rome\nthought proper to grant; but still inflexible in its demands, exacted\nthe same conditions which Reg'ulus had formerly offered at the gates\nof Carthage. 15. These were, that they should lay down a thousand\ntalents of silver, to defray the charge of the war, and should pay two\nthousand two hundred more within ten years; that they should quit\nSicily, with all such islands as they possessed near it; that they\nshould never make war against the allies of Rome, nor come with any\nvessels of war within the Roman dominions; and lastly, that all their\nprisoners and deserters should be delivered up without ransom.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 513.]\n16. To these hard conditions, the Carthagin'ians, now exhausted,\nreadily subscribed; and thus ended the first Punic war, which had\nlasted twenty-four years; and, in some measure, had drained both\nnations of their resources.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What were the Carthaginians now desirous of obtaining?\n2. Was Regulus employed for this purpose?\n3. How was Regulus received by the Romans?\n4. What was the conduct of Regulus on this occasion?\n5. How did the negociation commence?\n6. Were the Romans inclined for peace?\n7. What was the opinion of Regulus?\n8. What was the effect of this advice?\n9. How did Regulus put an end to their embarrassment?\n10. Could he not be prevailed on to remain at Rome?\n11. How did the Carthaginians receive an account of his conduct?\n12. In what way did they punish him?\n13. With what success was the war continued?\n14. What was the consequence of this loss?\n15. What were these terms?\n16. Were they agreed to? What was the duration of the first Punic war?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] The vessels in which they had hitherto transported their troops,\nwere principally hired from their neighbours the Locrians, Tarentines,\n&c. It is certain that the Romans had ships of war before this period;\nbut from the little attention they had hitherto paid to naval affairs,\nthey were, probably, badly constructed and ill managed.\n[2] The Romans considering these two disasters as indications of the\nwill of the gods that they should not contend by sea, made a decree\nthat no more than fifty galleys should, for the future, be equipped.\nThis decree, however, did not continue long in force.\nCHAPTER XV.\nSECTION I.\nFROM THE END OF THE FIRST PUNIC WAR TO THE END OF THE SECOND.\n  Spain first he won, the Pyrenieans pass'd,\n  And sleepy Alps, the mounds that nature cast;\n  And with corroding juices, as he went,\n  A passage through the living rocks he rent,\n  Then, like a torrent rolling from on high,\n  He pours his headlong rage on Italy.--_Juvenal_.\n1. The war being ended between the Carthagin'ians and Romans, a\nprofound peace ensued, and in about six years after, the temple of\nJa'nus was shut for the second time since the foundation of the\ncity.[1] 2. The Romans being thus in friendship with all nations, had\nan opportunity of turning to the arts of peace; they now began to have\na relish for poetry, the first liberal art which rises in every\ncivilized nation, and the first also that decays. 3. Hitherto they had\nbeen entertained only with the rude drolleries of their lowest\nbuffoons, who entertained them with sports called Fescen'nine, in\nwhich a few debauched actors invented their own parts, while raillery\nand indecency supplied the place of humour. 4. To these a composition\nof a higher kind succeeded, called satire; a sort of dramatic poem, in\nwhich the characters of the great were particularly, pointed out, and\nmade an object of derision to the vulgar.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 514.]\n5. After these, came tragedy and comedy, which were borrowed from the\nGreeks: indeed, the first dramatic poet of Rome, whose name was\nLiv'ius Andronicus, was a native of one of the Greek colonies in\nsouthern Italy. 6. The instant these finer kinds of composition\nappeared, this great people rejected their former impurities with\ndisdain. From thenceforward they laboured upon the Grecian model; and\nthough they were never able to rival their masters in dramatic\ncomposition, they soon surpassed them in many of the more soothing\nkinds of poetry. Elegiac, pastoral, and didactic compositions began to\nassume new beauties in the Roman language; and satire, not that rude\nkind of dialogue already mentioned, but a nobler sort, was all their\nown.\n7. While they were thus cultivating the arts of peace, they were not\nunmindful of making fresh preparations for war; intervals of ease\nseemed to give fresh vigour for new designs, rather than relax their\nformer intrepidity.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 527.]\n8. The Illyr'ians were the first people upon whom they tried their\nstrength. That nation happened to make depredations upon some of the\ntrading subjects of Rome, which being complained of to Teuta, the\nqueen of the country, she, instead of granting redress, ordered the\nambassadors, who were sent to demand restitution, to be murdered. 9. A\nwar ensued, in which the Romans were victorious; most of the Illy'ric\ntowns were surrendered to the consuls, and a peace at last concluded,\nby which the greatest part of the country was ceded to Rome; a yearly\ntribute was exacted for the rest, and a prohibition added, that the\nIllyr'ians should not sail beyond the river Lissus with more than two\nbarks, and those unarmed.\n10. The Gauls were the next people that incurred the displeasure of\nthe Romans. 11. A time of peace, when the armies were disbanded, was\nthe proper season for new irruptions; accordingly, these barbarians\ninvited fresh forces from beyond the Alps, and entering Etru'ria,\nwasted all with fire and sword, till they came within about three\ndays' journey of Rome. 12. A pr\u00e6tor and a consul were sent to\noppose them, who, now instructed in the improved arts of war, were\nenabled to surround the Gauls. 13. It was in vain that those hardy\ntroops, who had nothing but courage to protect them, formed two fronts\nto oppose their adversaries; their naked bodies and undisciplined\nforces were unable to withstand the shock of an enemy completely\narmed, and skilled in military evolutions. 14. A miserable slaughter\nensued, in which forty thousand were killed, and ten thousand taken\nprisoners. 15. This victory was followed by another, gained by\nMarcel'lus, in which he killed Viridoma'rus, their king, with his own\nhand. 16. These conquests forced them to beg for peace, the conditions\nof which served greatly to enlarge the empire. Thus the Romans went on\nwith success; retrieved their former losses, and only wanted an enemy\nworthy of their arms to begin a new war.\n17. The Carthagin'ians had made peace solely because they were no\nlonger able to continue the war. They, therefore, took the earliest\nopportunity of breaking the treaty, and besieged Sagun'tum, a city of\nSpain, which had been in alliance with Rome; and, though desired to\ndesist, prosecuted their operations with vigour. 18. Ambassadors were\nsent, in consequence, from Rome to Carthage, complaining of the\ninfraction of their articles, and required that Han'nibal, the\nCarthagin'ian general, who had advised this measure, should be\ndelivered up: which being refused, both sides prepared for a second\nPunic war.\n19. The Carthaginians trusted the management of it to Han'nibal. 20.\nThis extraordinary man had been made the sworn foe of Rome, almost\nfrom his infancy; for, while yet very young, his father brought him\nbefore the altar, and obliged him to take an oath, that he would never\nbe in friendship with the Romans, nor desist from opposing their\npower, until he or they should be no more. 21. On his first appearance\nin the field, he united in his own person the most masterly method of\ncommanding, with the most perfect obedience to his superiors. Thus he\nwas equally beloved by his generals, and the troops he was appointed\nto lead. 22. He was possessed of the greatest courage in opposing\ndanger, and the greatest presence of mind in retiring from it. No\nfatigue was able to subdue his body, nor any misfortune to break his\nspirit; he was equally patient of heat and cold, and he took\nsustenance merely to content nature, not to delight his appetite.\nHe was the best horseman and the swiftest runner, of the time. 23.\nThis great general, who is considered as the most skilful commander of\nantiquity, having overrun all Spain, and levied a large army composed\nof various nations, resolved to carry the war into Italy itself, as\nthe Romans had before carried it into the dominions of Carthage. 24.\nFor this purpose, leaving Hanno with a sufficient force to guard his\nconquests in Spain, he crossed the Pyrene'an mountains into Gaul, with\nan army of fifty thousand foot, and nine thousand horse. He quickly\ntraversed that country, which was then wild and extensive, and filled\nwith nations that were his declared enemies.\n25. In vain its forests and rivers appeared to intimidate; in vain the\nRhone, with its rapid current, and its banks covered with enemies, or\nthe Dura branched out into numberless channels, opposed his way; he\npassed them all with undaunted spirit, and in ten days arrived at the\nfoot of the Alps, over which he was to explore a new passage into\nItaly. 26. It was in the midst of winter when this astonishing project\nwas undertaken. The season added new horrors to the scene. The\nprodigious height and tremendous steepness of these mountains, capped\nwith snow; the people barbarous and fierce, dressed in skins, and with\nlong shaggy hair, presented a picture that impressed the beholders\nwith astonishment and terror. 27. But nothing was capable of subduing\nthe courage of the Carthaginian general. At the end of fifteen days,\nspent in crossing the Alps, he found himself in the plains of Italy,\nwith about half his army; the other half having died of cold, or been\ncut off by the natives.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What was the consequence of the conclusion of the first Punic war?\n2. What advantages did the Romans derive from this interval of peace?\n3. What species of entertainment had they hitherto enjoyed?\n4. What succeeded these low buffooneries?\n5. What was the next species, and from whom was it borrowed?\n6. Did their former amusements still continue to please?\n7. Were the Romans attentive only to the arts of peace?\n8. Who first incurred their resentment, and what was their offence?\n9. What was the consequence?\n10. Who next incurred the displeasure of the Romans? 11. What was\ntheir offence, and what favourable opportunity did they choose?\n12. What steps were taken to oppose them?\n13. Did the Gauls make any effectual resistance?\n14. What was the result of the battle?\n15. Did this victory decide the contest?\n16. What advantages occurred to the Romans from this war?\n17. Were the Carthaginians sincere in their overture for peace?\n18. What was the consequence of this refusal?\n19. To whom was the conduct of the war committed by the Carthaginians?\n20. What rendered Hannibal particularly eligible to this post?\n21. Was he a favourite with the army?\n22. Describe his corporeal and mental qualifications?\n23. What resolution did he adopt?\n24. What measures did he take for that purpose?\n25. Was he not deterred by the dangers of the way?\n26. What rendered this passage peculiarly difficult?\n27. Did these horrors render the attempt unsuccessful?\nSECTION II.\n  With Hannibal I cleft yon Alpine rocks.\n  With Hannibal choked Thrasymene with slaughter;\n  But, O the night of Cann\u00e6's raging field!\n  When half the Roman senate lay in blood.--_Young_.\n1. As soon as it was known at Rome, that Han'nibal, at the head of an\nimmense army, was crossing the Alps, the senate sent Scip'io to oppose\nhim; the armies met near the little river Tici'nus, and the Roman\ngeneral was obliged to retreat with considerable loss. 2. In the mean\ntime, Han'nibal, thus victorious, took the most prudent precautions to\nincrease his army; giving orders always to spare the possessions of\nthe Gauls, while depredations were committed upon those of Rome; and\nthis so pleased that simple people, that they declared for him in\ngreat numbers, and flocked to his standard with alacrity.\n3. The second battle was fought upon the banks of the river Tre'bia.\n4. The Carthaginian general, being apprised of the Roman impetuosity,\nof which he availed himself in almost every engagement, had sent off a\nthousand horse, each with a foot soldier behind, to cross the river,\nto ravage the enemy's country, and provoke them to engage. The Romans\nquickly routed this force. Seeming to be defeated, they took the\nriver, and were as eagerly pursued by Sempro'nius, the consul. No\nsooner had his army attained the opposite bank, than he perceived\nhimself half-conquered, his men being fatigued with wading up to their\narm-pits, and quite benumbed by the intense coldness of the water\n5. A total route ensued; twenty-six thousand of the Romans were either\nkilled by the enemy, or drowned in attempting to repass the river. A\nbody of ten thousand men were all that survived; who, finding\nthemselves enclosed on every side, broke desperately through the\nenemy's ranks, and fought, retreating, till they found shelter in the\ncity of Placentia.\n6. The third defeat the Romans sustained was at the lake of\nThrasyme'ne, near to which was a chain of mountains, and between these\nand the lake, a narrow passage leading to a valley that was embosomed\nin hills. It was upon these hills that Han'nibal disposed his best\ntroops and it was into this valley that Flamin'ius, the Roman general,\nled his men to attack him. 7. A disposition every way so favourable\nfor the Carthaginians, was also assisted by accident; for a mist\nrising from the lake, kept the Romans from seeing their enemies; while\nthe army upon the mountains, being above its influence, saw the whole\ndisposition of their opponents. 8. The fortune of the day was such as\nmight be expected from the conduct of the two generals. The Roman army\nwas slaughtered, almost before they could perceive the enemy that\ndestroyed them. About fifteen thousand Romans, with Flamin'ius\nhimself, fell in the valley, and six thousand more were obliged to\nyield themselves prisoners of war.\n9. Upon the news of this defeat, after the general consternation was\nallayed, the senate resolved to elect a commander with absolute\nauthority, in whom they might repose their last and greatest\nexpectations. 10. The choice fell upon Fa'bius Max'imus, a man of\ngreat courage, with a happy mixture of caution. 11. He was apprised\nthat the only way to humble the Carthaginians at such a distance from\nhome, was rather by harassing than fighting. For this purpose, he\nalways encamped upon the highest grounds, inaccessible to the enemy's\ncavalry. Whenever they moved, he watched their motions, straitened\ntheir quarters, and cut off their provisions.\n12. By these arts, Fa'bius had actually, at one time, enclosed\nHan'nibal among mountains, where it was impossible to winter, and from\nwhich it was almost impracticable to extricate his army without\nimminent danger. 13. In this exigence, nothing but one of those\nstratagems of war, which only men of great abilities invent, could\nsave him. 14. He ordered a number of small faggots and lighted torches\nto be tied to the horns of two thousand oxen, which should be\ndriven towards the enemy. These, tossing their heads, and funning up\nthe sides of the mountain, seemed to fill the whole neighbouring\nforest with fire; while the sentinels that were placed to guard the\napproaches to the mountain, seeing such a number of flames advancing\ntowards their posts, fled in consternation, supposing the whole body\nof the enemy was in arms to overwhelm them. 15. By this stratagem\nHan'nibal drew off his army, and escaped through the defiles that led\nbeneath the hills, though with considerable damage to his rear.\n16. Fa'bius, still pursuing the same judicious measures, followed\nHan'nibal in all his movements, but at length received a letter from\nthe senate, recalling him to Rome, on pretence of a solemn sacrifice,\nrequiring his presence. 17. On his departure from the army, he\nstrictly charged Minu'tius, his general of the horse, not to hazard an\nengagement in his absence. This command he disobeyed, and Fa'bius\nexpressed his determination to punish so flagrant a breach of military\ndiscipline. 18. The senate, however, favouring Minu'tius, gave him an\nequal authority with the dictator. 19. On the arrival of Fa'bius at\nthe camp, he divided the army with Minu'tius, and each pursued his own\nseparate plan. 20. By artful management, Han'nibal soon brought the\ntroops of the latter to an engagement, and they would have been cut\noff to a man, had not Fa'bius sacrificed his private resentment to the\npublic good, and hastened to the relief of his colleague. 21. By their\nunited forces Han'nibal was repulsed, and Minu'tius, conscious of his\nrashness, resigned the supreme command into the hands of the dictator.\n22. On the expiration of his year of office, Fa'bius resigned, and\nTaren'tius Varro was chosen to the command. 23. Varro was a man sprung\nfrom the dregs of the people, with nothing but confidence and riches\nto recommend him. 24. With him was joined \u00c6mil'ius Paulus, of a\ndisposition entirely opposite; experienced, in the field, cautious in\naction, and impressed with a thorough contempt for the abilities of\nhis plebeian colleague.\n25. The Romans finding themselves enabled to bring a competent force\ninto the field, being almost ninety thousand strong, now again\nresolved to meet Han'nibal, who was at this time encamped near the\nvillage of Cann\u00e6, with a wind in his rear, that, for a certain season,\nblows constantly one way, which, raising great clouds of dust\nfrom the parched plains behind, he knew must greatly distress an\napproaching enemy. In this situation he waited the coming of the\nRomans with an army of forty thousand foot, and half that number of\ncavalry. 26. The consuls soon appeared to his wish, dividing their\nforces into two parts, and agreeing to take the command each day by\nturns. 27. On the first day of their arrival, \u00c6mil'ius was entirely\naverse to engaging. The next day, however, it being Varro's turn to\ncommand, he, without asking his colleague's concurrence, gave the\nsignal for battle: and passing the river Au'fidus, that lay between\nboth armies, put his forces in array. 28. The battle began with the\nlight-armed infantry; the horse engaged soon after; but the cavalry\nbeing unable to stand against those of Numid'ia, the legions came up\nto reinforce them. It was then that the conflict became general; the\nRoman soldiers endeavoured, in vain, to penetrate the centre, where\nthe Gauls and Spaniards fought; which Han'nibal observing, he ordered\npart of those troops to give way, and to permit the Romans to embosom\nthemselves within a chosen body of his Africans, whom he had placed on\ntheir wings, so as to surround them; upon that a terrible slaughter of\nthe Romans ensued, fatigued with repeated attacks of the Africans, who\nwere fresh and vigorous. 29. At last the rout became general in every\npart of the Roman army; the boastings of Varro were now no longer\nheard: while \u00c6mil'ius, who had been wounded by a slinger, feebly led\non his body of horse, and did all that could be done to make head\nagainst the enemy. 30. Unable to sit on horseback, he was forced to\ndismount. It was in these deplorable circumstances, that one\nLen'tulus, a tribune of the army, flying from the enemy, who at some\ndistance pursued him, met \u00c6mil'ius, sitting upon a stone, covered with\nblood and wounds, and waiting for the coming up of the pursuers. 31.\n\"\u00c6mil'ius,\" cried the generous tribune, \"you, at least, are guiltless\nof this day's slaughter; take my horse and fly.\" \"I thank thee,\nLen'tulus,\" cried the dying consul, \"all is over, my part is chosen.\nGo, and tell the senate to fortify Rome against the approach of the\nconqueror. Tell Fa'bius, that \u00c6mil'ius, while living, ever remembered\nhis advice; and now, dying, approves it.\" 32. While he was yet\nspeaking, the enemy approached; and Len'tulus at some distance saw the\nconsul expire, feebly fighting in the midst of hundreds. 33. In this\nbattle the Romans lost fifty thousand men, and so many knights,\nthat it is said that Han'nibal sent three bushels of gold rings to\nCarthage, which those of this order wore on their fingers.[2]\n_Questions for Examination._\n1. What measures were adopted by the Romans when they heard of\nHannibal's approach?\n2. What precautions did Hannibal take?\n3. Where was the next battle fought?\n4. What was the stratagem employed by Hannibal?\n5. What followed?\n6. Where was the next engagement?\n7. Was this a judicious disposition of the Roman general?\n8. What was the result?\n9. What expedient did the senate adopt on this occasion?\n10. Who was chosen to this office?\n11. What method of fighting did he adopt?\n12. What was the success of this plan?\n13. Was his situation hopeless?\n14. Describe his stratagem and its consequences?\n15. Did it answer his purpose?\n16. Was Fabius continued in office?\n17, 18. Of what disobedience was Minutius guilty? Was he punished?\n19. How was the army divided?\n20, 21. What plan did Fabius pursue? How was its superiority proved?\n22, 23, 24. Who succeeded Fabius? What was his character, and that of\nhis colleague?\n25. How were the Carthaginians posted at Cann\u00e6?\n26, 27. How did the consuls behave? How did Varro act?\n28. What were the circumstances of the engagement?\n29. How did the battle terminate?\n30. What was the fate of \u00c6milius?\n31. What generous offer was made by Lentulus?\n32. Did the consul accept the tribune's offer?\n33. Was the loss of the Romans severe?\nSECTION III.\n                  The storming Hannibal\n  In vain the thunder of the battle rolled.\n  The thunder of the battle they returned\n  Back on his Punic shores.--_Dyer_.\n1. When the first consternation was abated after this dreadful blow,\nthe senate came to a resolution to create a dictator, in order to give\nstrength to their government. 2. A short time after Varro arrived,\nhaving left behind him the wretched remains of his army. As he had\nbeen the principal cause of the late calamity, it was natural to\nsuppose, that the senate would severely reprimand the rashness of his\nconduct. But far otherwise! The Romans went out in multitudes to meet\nhim; and the senate returned him thanks that he had not despaired of\nthe safety of Rome. 3. Fa'bius, who was considered as the shield, and\nMarcellus, as the sword of Rome, were appointed to lead the armies:\nand though Hannibal once more offered them peace, they refused it, but\nupon condition that he should quit Italy--a measure similar to that\nthey had formerly insisted upon from Pyrrhus.\n4. Han'nibal finding the impossibility of marching directly to Rome,\nor willing to give his forces rest after so mighty a victory, led them\nto Cap'ua, where he resolved to winter. 5. This city had long been\nconsidered as the nurse of luxury, and the corrupter of all military\nvirtue. 6. Here a new scene of pleasure opened to his barbarian\ntroops: they at once gave themselves up to intoxication; and from\nbeing hardy veterans, became infirm rioters.\n7. Hitherto we have found this great man successful; but now we are to\nreverse the picture, and survey him struggling with accumulated\nmisfortunes, and, at last, sinking beneath them.\n8. His first loss was at the siege of Nola, where Marcel'lus, the\npr\u00e6tor, made a successful sally. He some time after attempted to raise\nthe siege of Cap'ua, attacked the Romans in their trenches, and was\nrepulsed with considerable loss. He then made a feint to besiege Rome,\nbut finding a superior army ready to receive him, was obliged to\nretire. 9. For many years he fought with varied success; Marcel'lus,\nhis opponent, sometimes gaining, and sometimes losing the advantage,\nwithout coming to any decisive engagement.\n10. The senate of Carthage at length came to a resolution of\nsending his brother As'drubal to his assistance, with a body of forces\ndrawn out of Spain. 11. As'drubal's march being made known to the\nconsuls Liv'ius and Nero, they went against him with great expedition;\nand, surrounding him in a place into which he was led by the treachery\nof his guides, they cut his whole army to pieces. 12. Han'nibal had\nlong expected these succours with impatience; and the very night on\nwhich he had been assured of his brother's arrival, Nero ordered\nAs'drubal's head to be cut off, and thrown into his brother's camp.\n13. The Carthaginian general now began to perceive the downfall of\nCarthage; and, with a sigh, observed to those about him, that fortune\nseemed fatigued with granting her favours.\n14. In the mean time, the Roman arms seemed to be favoured in other\nparts; Marcel'lus took the city of Syr'acuse, in Sicily, defended by\nthe machines and the fires of Archime'des,[3] the mathematician. 15.\nThe inhabitants were put to the sword, and among the rest, Archime'des\nhimself, who was found, by a Roman soldier, meditating in his study.\n16. Marcel'lus, the general, was not a little grieved at his death. A\nlove of literature at that time began to prevail among the higher\nranks at Rome. Marcel'lus ordered Archime'des to be honourably buried,\nand a tomb to be erected to his memory.\n17. As to their fortunes in Spain, though for a while doubtful, they\nsoon recovered their complexion under the conduct of Scip'io\nAfrica'nus, who sued for the office of proconsul to that kingdom, at a\ntime when every one else was willing to decline it. 18. Scip'io, now\nno more than twenty-four years old, had all the qualifications\nrequisite for forming a great general, and a good man; he united\ncourage with tenderness, was superior to Hannibal in the arts of\npeace, and almost his equal in those of war. 19. His father had been\nkilled in Spain, so that he seemed to have an hereditary claim to\nattack that country. He, therefore, appeared irresistible, obtaining\nmany great victories, yet subduing more by his generosity,\nmildness, and benevolent disposition, than by the force of arms.[4]\n20. He returned with an army from the conquest of Spain, and was made\nconsul at the age of twenty-nine. It was at first supposed he intended\nmeeting Hannibal in Italy, and that he would attempt driving him from\nthence: but he had formed a wiser plan, which was, to carry the war\ninto Africa; and, while the Carthaginians kept an army near Rome, to\nmake them tremble for their own capital.\n21. Scip'io was not long in Africa without employment; Hanno opposed\nhim, but was defeated and slain. Sy'phax, the usurper of Numid'ia, led\nup a large army against him. 22. The Roman general, for a time,\ndeclined fighting, till finding an opportunity, he set fire to the\nenemy's tents, and attacking them in the midst of the confusion,\nkilled forty thousand, and took six thousand prisoners.\n23. The Carthaginians, terrified at their repeated defeats, and at the\nfame of Scip'io's successes, determined to recall Hannibal, their\ngreat champion, out of Italy, in order to oppose the Romans at home.\nDeputies were accordingly despatched with a positive command for him\nto return and oppose the Roman general, who at that time threatened\nCarthage with a siege. 24. Nothing could exceed the regret and\ndisappointment of Hannibal; but he obeyed the orders of his infatuated\ncountry with the submission of the meanest soldier; and took leave of\nItaly with tears, after having kept possession of its most beautiful\nparts above fifteen years.\n25. Upon his arrival at Leptis, in Africa, he set out for Adrume'tum,\nand at last approached Za'ma, a city about seventy-five miles from\nCarthage. 26. Scip'io, in the mean time, led his army to meet him,\njoined by Massinis'sa, with six thousand horse; and to show his rival\nhow little he feared his approach, sent back the spies which were\nsent to explore his camp, having previously shown them the whole, with\ndirections to inform Hannibal of what they had seen. 27. The\nCarthaginian general, conscious of his inferiority, endeavoured to\ndiscontinue the war by negociation, and desired a meeting with.\nScip'io to confer upon terms of peace; to which the Roman general\nassented. 28. But after a long conference, both sides parting\ndissatisfied, they returned to their camps, to prepare for deciding\nthe controversy by the sword. 29. Never was a more memorable battle\nfought, whether we regard the generals, the armies, the two states\nthat contended, or the empire that was in dispute. The disposition\nHannibal made of his men, is said to be superior to any even of his\nformer arrangements. 30. The battle began with the elephants on the\nside of the Carthaginians, which being terrified at the cries of the\nRomans, and wounded by the slingers and archers, turned upon their\ndrivers, and caused much confusion in both wings of their army, where\nthe cavalry were placed. 31. Being thus deprived of the assistance of\nthe horse, in which their greatest strength consisted, the heavy\ninfantry joined on both sides; but the Romans being stronger of body,\nthe Carthaginians gave ground. 32. In the mean time, Massinissa, who\nhad been in pursuit of their cavalry, returning and attacking them in\nthe rear, completed their-defeat. A total rout ensued, twenty thousand\nmen were killed, and as many taken prisoners. 33. Hannibal, who had\ndone all that a great and undaunted general could perform, fled with a\nsmall body of horse to Adrume'tum; fortune seeming to delight in\nconfounding his ability, his valour, and experience.\n34. This victory brought on a peace. The Carthaginians, by Hannibal's\nadvice, submitted to the conditions which the Romans dictated, not as\nrivals, but as sovereigns. 35. By this treaty the Carthaginians were\nobliged to quit Spain, and all the islands in the Mediterranean. They\nwere bound to pay ten thousand talents in fifty years; to give\nhostages for the delivery of their ships and their elephants; to\nrestore to Massanis'sa all the territories that had been taken from\nhim; and not to make war in Africa but by the permission of the\nRomans. Thus ended the second Punic war, seventeen years after it had\nbegun.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. By what measure did the senate attempt to retrieve this disaster?\n2. Did Varro venture to return, and what was his reception?\n3. Who were appointed to carry on the war?\n4. What was Hannibal's next step?\n5. What was the character of this city?\n6. What was the consequence to the Carthaginian army?\n7. Was Hannibal uniformly successful?\n8. What was his first reverse?\n9. What happened to him afterwards?\n10. What resolution did the senate of Carthage adopt?\n11. Did he effect a junction with his brother?\n12. Was Hannibal apprised of these intended succours?\n13. What inference did Hannibal draw from this?\n14. Were the Romans successful in other parts?\n15. What was the fate of its inhabitants?\n16. Was his loss deplored?\n17. What was the success of the Romans in Spain?\n18. What was the character of Scipio?\n19. What rendered him particularly eligible for this command?\n20. Were his exploits confined to Spain?\n21. Had he any formidable opposition to encounter?\n22. What was the conduct of Scipio?\n23. What measures did the Carthaginians have recourse to on this\noccasion?\n24. Was Hannibal pleased at his recall?\n25. Whither did he repair on his arrival in Africa?\n26. What was the conduct of Scipio?\n27. Was Hannibal desirous of continuing hostilities?\n28. What was the result?\n29. Was the battle of consequence?\n30. How did it commence?\n31. What followed?\n32. What completed the defeat of the Carthaginians?\n33. What became of Hannibal?\n34. What was the result of the victory?\n35. What were the conditions of the treaty?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] The first was in the reign of Numa.\n[2] Hannibal has been blamed for not having marched to Rome\nimmediately after this victory; but his army was by no means adequate\nto the siege of the city; and the allies of the Romans would have been\nable to curtail his quarters and intercept his convoys. He was,\nbesides, badly provided with provisions and the munitions of war, both\nof which he could procure by invading Campania, the course which he\nactually pursued.\n[3] This great man was equal to an army for the defence of the place.\nHe invented engines which threw enormous stones against the Romans,\nhoisted their ships in the air, and then dashed them against the rocks\nbeneath, and dismounted their battering engines. He also set fire to\nsome of the Roman ships by the use of reflectors, or looking-glasses,\ndirecting the sun's rays from a great number of them on the same spot\nat the same time.\n[4] During his command in Spain, a circumstance occurred which has\ncontributed more to the fame and glory of Scipio than all his military\nexploits. At the taking of New Carthage, a lady of extraordinary\nbeauty was brought to Scipio, who found himself greatly affected by\nher charms. Understanding, however, that she was betrothed to a\nCeltibe'rian prince, named Allu'cius, he generously resolved to\nconquer his rising passion, and sending for her lover, restored her\nwithout any other recompence than requesting his friendship to the\nrepublic. Her parents had brought a large sum of money for her ransom,\nwhich they earnestly entreated Scipio to accept; but he generously\nbestowed it on Allu'cius, as the portion of his bride. (Liv. l. xxvi.\nCHAPTER XVI.\n     Beauteous Greece,\n  Torn from her joys, in vain, with languid arm,\n  Half raised her lusty shield.--_Dyer_.\n1. While the Romans were engaged with Hannibal, they carried on also a\nvigorous war against Philip, king of Ma'cedon, not a little incited\nthereto by the prayers of the Athe'nians; who, from once controlling\nthe powers of Persia, were now unable to defend themselves. The\nRho'dians with At'talus, king of Per'gamus, also entered into the\nconfederacy against Philip. 2. He was more than once defeated by\nGalba, the consul. He attempted to besiege Athens, but the Romans\nobliged him to raise the siege. He tried to take possession of the\nStraits of Thermop'yl\u00e6, but was driven from thence by Quin'tus\nFlamin'ius, with great slaughter. He attempted to take refuge in\nThes'saly, where he was again defeated, with considerable loss, and\nobliged to beg a peace, upon condition of paying a thousand talents.\n3. Peace with Philip gave the Romans an opportunity of showing their\ngenerosity, by restoring liberty to Greece.\n4. Antio'chus, king of Syria, was next brought to submit to the Roman\narms: after embassies on the one side and on the other, hostilities\nwere commenced against him five years after the conclusion of the\nMacedo'nian war. 5. After many mistakes and great misconduct, he\nattempted to obtain a peace, by offering to quit all his places in\nEurope, and such in Asia as professed alliance to Rome. 6. But it was\nnow too late; Scip'io perceived his own superiority, and was resolved\nto avail himself of it. 7. Antio'chus, thus driven into resistance,\nfor some time retreated before the enemy, till, being pressed hard,\nnear the city of Magnesia he was forced to draw out his men, to the\nnumber of seventy thousand foot, and twelve thousand horse.\n8. Scip'io opposed him with forces as much inferior in number, as they\nwere superior in courage and discipline. Antio'chus, therefore, was in\na short time entirely defeated; his own chariots, armed with scythes,\nbeing driven back upon his men, contributed much to his overthrow. 9.\nBeing thus reduced to the last extremity, he was glad to procure peace\nfrom the Romans, upon their own terms; which were, to pay fifteen\nthousand talents; to quit his possessions in Europe, and in Asia, on\nthe hither side of Mount Taurus; to give twenty hostages, as pledges\nof his fidelity; and to deliver up Hannibal, the inveterate enemy of\nRome, who had taken refuge at his court.\n10. In the mean time Hannibal, whose destruction was one of the\narticles of this extorted treaty, endeavoured to avoid the threatened\nruin. 11. This consummate general had long been a wanderer, and an\nexile from his ungrateful country. He had taken refuge at the court of\nAntio'chus who, at first, gave him a sincere welcome, and made\nhim admiral of his fleet, in which station he showed his usual\nskill in stratagem.\n[Illustration: Death of Hannibal]\n12. But he soon sunk in the Syrian's esteem for projecting schemes\nwhich that monarch had neither genius to understand, nor talents to\nexecute. 13. Sure, therefore, to find no safety or protection, he\ndeparted by stealth; and, after wandering for a time among the petty\nstates, which had neither power nor generosity to protect him, he took\nrefuge at the court of Pru'sias, king of Bythin'ia. 14. In the mean\ntime, the Romans, with a vindictive spirit utterly unworthy of them,\nsent \u00c6mil'ius, one of their most celebrated generals, to demand him of\nthis king; who, fearing the resentment of Rome, and willing to\nconciliate their friendship by this breach of hospitality, ordered a\nguard to be placed upon Hannibal, with an intent to deliver him up.\n15. The poor old general, thus implacably persecuted from one country\nto another, and finding every method of safety cut off, determined to\ndie. He, therefore, desired one of his followers to bring him poison;\nand drinking it, he expired as he had lived, with intrepid bravery.\n[Sidenote: U. C 513]\n16. A second Macedo'nian war was soon after proclaimed against\nPer'seus, the son of that Philip who had been obliged to beg peace of\nthe Romans. 17. Perseus, in order to secure the crown, had murdered\nhis brother Deme'trius; and, upon the death of his father, pleased\nwith the hopes of imaginary triumphs, made war against Rome. 18,\nDuring the course of this war, which continued about three years,\nopportunities were offered him of cutting off the Roman army; but\nbeing ignorant how to take advantage of their rashness, he spent the\ntime in empty overtures for peace. 19. At length \u00c6mil'ius gave\nhim a decisive overthrow. He attempted to procure safety by flying\ninto Crete: but being abandoned by all, he was obliged to surrender\nhimself, and to grace the splendid triumph of the Roman general.[1]\n20. About this time Massinis'sa, the Numidian, having made some\nincursions into a territory claimed by the Carthaginians, they\nattempted to repel the invasion. 21. This brought on a war between\nthat monarch and them; while the Romans, who pretended to consider\nthis conduct of theirs as an infraction of the treaty, sent to make a\ncomplaint. 22. The ambassadors who were employed upon this occasion,\nfinding the city very rich and flourishing, from the long interval of\npeace which it had now enjoyed for nearly fifty years, either from\nmotives of avarice to possess its plunder, or from fear of its growing\ngreatness, insisted much on the necessity of a war, which was soon\nafter proclaimed, and the consuls set out with a thorough resolution\nutterly to demolish Carthage.\nThe territory thus invaded by Massinis'sa, was Tysca, a rich province,\nundoubtedly belonging to the Carthaginians. One of the ambassadors\nsent from Rome was the celebrated Cato, the censor, who, whatever his\nvirtues may have been, appears to have imbibed an inveterate hatred to\nCarthage. For, on whatever subject he debated in the senate, he never\nfailed to conclude in these words, \"I am also of opinion that Carthage\nshould be destroyed.\" The war, however, which had broken out in Spain,\nand the bad success of the Roman arms in that quarter, for some time\ndelayed the fate of that devoted city; and it might, perhaps, have\nstood much longer, had not some seditious demagogues incited the\npopulace to insult the Roman ambassador, and to banish those senators\nwho voted for peace.\nTo account for the apparent pusillanimity of the Carthaginians, it is\nnecessary to observe, that they had suffered repeated defeats in their\nwar with Massinis'sa; and that fifty thousand of their troops, after\nhaving been blocked up in their camp till from want they were obliged\nto submit to the most humiliating conditions, were inhumanly massacred\nby Gulus'sa, the son of the Numidian king. The Romans chose this\ndistressing juncture to declare war against them.\nAs one proof of their sincere desire for peace, they had\npreviously delivered up to the Romans all their arms and warlike\nengines, of which they possessed prodigious magazines; thus leaving\nthemselves still more defenceless than before.\n23. The wretched Carthaginians, finding that the conquerors would not\ndesist from making demands, while the vanquished had any thing to\ngive, attempted to soften the victors by submission; but they received\norders to leave the city, which was to be levelled with the ground.\n24. This severe command they received with all the distress of a\ndespairing people: they implored for a respite from such a hard\nsentence: they used tears and lamentations; but finding the consuls\ninexorable, they departed with a gloomy resolution, prepared to suffer\nthe utmost extremities, and fight to the last for their seat of\nempire.\n25. Those vessels, therefore, of gold and silver, which their luxury\nhad taken such pride in, were converted into arms. The women parted\nalso with their ornaments, and even cut off their hair to be converted\ninto strings for the bowmen. As'drubal, who had been lately condemned\nfor opposing the Romans, was now taken from prison to head their army;\nand such preparations were made, that when the consuls came before the\ncity, which they expected to find an easy conquest, they met with such\nresistance as quite dispirited their forces and shook their\nresolution. 26. Several engagements were fought before the walls, with\ndisadvantage to the assailants; so that the siege would have been\ndiscontinued, had not Scip'io \u00c6milia'nus, the adopted son of\nAfrica'nus, who was now appointed to command it, used as much skill to\nsave his forces after a defeat, as to inspire them with fresh hopes of\na victory. 27. But all his arts would have failed, had he not found\nmeans to seduce Phar'nes, the master of the Carthaginian horse, who\ncame over to his side. The unhappy townsmen soon saw the enemy make\nnearer approaches; the wall which led to the haven was quickly\ndemolished; soon after the forum itself was taken, which offered to\nthe conquerors a deplorable spectacle of houses nodding to their fall,\nheaps of men lying dead, hundreds of the wounded struggling to emerge\nfrom the carnage around them, and deploring their own and their\ncountry's ruin. The citadel soon after surrendered at discretion. 28.\nAll now but the temple was subdued, and that was defended by deserters\nfrom the Roman army, and those who had been most forward to undertake\nthe war. These expected no mercy, and finding their condition desperate,\nset fire to the building, and voluntarily perished in the flames. This\nwas the end of one of the most renowned cities in the world, for arts,\nopulence, and extent of dominion; it had rivalled Rome for above a\nhundred years, and, at one time, was thought to have the superiority.\n[Illustration: Destruction of Carthage.]\n29. The conquest of Carthage was soon followed by many others. The\nsame year Corinth, one of the noblest cities of Greece, was levelled\nto the ground. Scip'io also having laid siege to Numan'tia, the\nstrongest city in Spain, the wretched inhabitants, to avoid falling\ninto the hands of the enemy, fired the city, over their own heads; and\nall, to a man, expired in the flames. Thus Spain became a Roman\nprovince, and was governed thenceforward by two annual pr\u00e6tors.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. With whom were the Romans at war besides Carthage, and who assisted\nin it?\n2. What was the success of Philip in this war?\n3. What was the consequence of peace with Philip?\n4. Who next fell under the displeasure of the Romans?\n5. What was the result?\n6. Were his offers accepted?\n7. Did Antiochus boldly face the Romans?\n8. What were the strength and character of the Roman army, and what\nthe result of the battle?\n9. Was he able to make further resistance?\n10. Was Hannibal delivered up?\n11. What occasioned Hannibal to put himself in the power of Antiochus?\n12. Was this kindness lasting?\n13. Whither did he next betake himself?\n14. Was he in safety at this court?\n15. How did Hannibal escape his persecution?\n16. Against whom did the Romans next direct their arms?\n17. What occasioned it?\n18. Was Perseus a skilful general?\n19. What was the result of the war?\n20. What farther happened about this time?\n21. What was the consequence?\n22. Was this misunderstanding peaceably accommodated?\n23. By what means did the Carthaginians endeavour to avert their fate?\n24. Did they obey these orders?\n25. What extraordinary efforts were made for the defence of the city?\n26. Were the Romans successful in their attempts?\n27. Describe the progress of the siege.\n28. Was the city now completely in the power of the Romans?\n29. What other conquests were made by the Romans?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] From this time, Macedon became a Roman province.\nCHAPTER XVII.\nSECTION I.\nFROM THE DESTRUCTION OF CARTHAGE TO THE END OF THE SEDITION OF THE\nGRACCHI.--U.C. 621.\n  Seldom is faction's ire in haughty minds\n  Extinguished but by death; it oft, like flame\n  Suppressed, breaks forth again, and blazes higher.--_May._\n1. The Romans being now left without a rival, the triumphs and the\nspoils of Asia introduced a taste for splendid expense, and this\nproduced avarice and inverted ambition. 2. The two Gracchi were the\nfirst who saw this strange corruption among the great, and resolved to\nrepress it, by renewing the Licinian law, which had enacted that no\nperson in the state should possess above five hundred acres of land.\n3. Tibe'rius Gracchus, the elder of the two, was, both for the\nadvantages of his person and the qualities of his mind, very different\nfrom Scipio, of whom he was the grandson. He seemed more ambitious of\npower than desirous of glory; his compassion for the oppressed was\nequal to his animosity against the oppressors; but unhappily his\npassions, rather than his reason, operated even in his pursuits\nof virtue; and these always drove him beyond the line of duty. 4. This\nwas the disposition of the elder Gracchus, who found the lower orders\nof people ready to second all his proposals. 5. The above law, though\nat first carried on with proper moderation, greatly disgusted the\nrich, who endeavoured to persuade the people that the proposer only\naimed at disturbing the government, and throwing all things into\nconfusion. 6. But Gracchus, who was a man of the greatest eloquence of\nhis time, easily wiped off these impressions from the minds of the\npeople, already irritated by their wrongs, and at length the law was\npassed.\n7. The death of At'talus, king of Per'gamus, furnished Gracchus with a\nnew opportunity of gratifying the meaner part of the people at the\nexpense of the great. 8. This king had by his last will made the\nRomans his heirs; and it was now proposed, that the money so left\nshould be divided among the poor, in order to furnish them with proper\nutensils for cultivating the lands which became theirs by the late law\nof partition. 9. This caused still greater disturbances than before,\nand the senate assembled upon the occasion, in order to concert the\nmost proper methods of securing these riches to themselves, which they\nnow valued above the safety of the commonwealth. 10. They had numerous\ndependents, who were willing to give up liberty for plenty and ease.\nThese, therefore, were commanded to be in readiness to intimidate the\npeople, who expected no such opposition, and who were now attending to\nthe harangues of Gracchus in the capitol. 11. Here, as a clamour was\nraised by the clients of the great on one side, and by the favourers\nof the law on the other, Gracchus found his speech entirely\ninterrupted, and begged in vain to be attended to; till at last,\nraising his hand to his head, to intimate that his life was in danger,\nthe partisans of the senate gave out that he wanted a diadem. 12. In\nconsequence of this an universal uproar spread itself through all\nranks of the people; the corrupt part of the senate were of opinion\nthat the consul should defend the commonwealth by force of arms; but\nthis prudent magistrate declining such violence, Scip'io Nas'ica,\nkinsman to Gracchus, immediately rose up, and preparing himself for\nthe contest, desired that all who would defend the dignity and\nauthority of the laws, should follow him. 13. Upon this, attended by a\nlarge body of senators and clients armed with clubs, he went directly\nto the Capitol, striking down all who ventured to resist.\n14. Tibe'rius Gracchus, perceiving by the tumult that his life was in\ndanger, endeavoured to fly; and throwing away his robe to expedite his\nescape, attempted to get through the throng; but happening to fall\nover a person already on the ground, Sature'ius, one of his colleagues\nin the tribuneship, who was of the opposite faction, struck him dead\nwith a piece of a seat; and not less than three hundred of his hearers\nshared the same fate, being killed in the tumult. 15. Nor did the\nvengeance of the senate rest here, but extended to numbers of those\nwho seemed to espouse his cause; many of them were put to death, many\nwere banished, and nothing was omitted to inspire the people with an\nabhorrence of his pretended crimes. Soon after the death of Gracchus a\nrebellion broke out in Sicily among the slaves, who, exasperated by\nthe cruelties exercised upon them by their masters, revolted, and\nhaving seized Enna, chose one Eunus for their king. This new monarch\ngained considerable advantages over the Romans, took the strong city\nof Tauromin'ium, and protracted the war upwards of six years. At\nlength he was completely defeated by the consul Rupil'ius, and his\nfollowers slaughtered or executed: as for Eunus, he died in prison.\n16. Ca'ius Gracchus was but twenty-one upon the death of Tibe'rius his\nbrother; and as he was too young to be much dreaded by the great, so\nhe was at first unwilling to incur their resentment by aims beyond his\nreach; he therefore lived in retirement, unseen and forgotten. 17.\nBut, while he thus seemed desirous of avoiding popularity, he was\nemployed in his solitude in the study of eloquence, which was the\nsurest means to obtain it. 18. At length, when he thought himself\nqualified to serve his country, he offered himself a candidate for the\n_qu\u00e6storship_ to the army in Sardin'ia, which he easily obtained. His\nvalour, affability, and temperance in this office were remarked by\nall. 19. The king of Numid'ia sending a present of corn to the Romans,\nordered his ambassadors to say, that it was a tribute to the virtues\nof Ca'ius Gracchus. 20. This the senate treated with scorn, and\nordered the ambassadors to be treated with contempt, as ignorant\nbarbarians, which so inflamed the resentment of young Gracchus, that\nhe immediately came from the army to complain of the indignity thrown\nupon his reputation, and to offer himself for the tribuneship of the\npeople. 21. It was then that this youth, who had been hitherto\nneglected, proved a more formidable enemy than even his brother\nhad been. Notwithstanding the warmest opposition from the senate, he\nwas declared tribune by a very large majority; and he now prepared for\nthe career which his brother had run before him.\n22. His first effort was to have Pompil'ius, one of the most\ninveterate of his brother's enemies, cited before the people; but\nrather than stand the event of a trial, he chose to go into voluntary\nbanishment. 23. He next procured an edict, granting the freedom of the\ncity to the inhabitants of La'tium, and soon after to all the people\non the hither side of the Alps. 24. He afterwards fixed the price of\ncorn at a moderate standard, and procured a monthly distribution of it\namong the people. 25. He then proceeded to an inspection into the late\ncorruptions of the senate; in which the whole body being convicted of\nbribery, extortion, and the sale of offices (for at that time a total\ndegeneracy seemed to have taken place,) a law was made, transferring\nthe power of judging corrupt magistrates from the senate to the\nknights, which made a great alteration in the constitution.\n26. Gracchus, by these means, being grown not only popular, but\npowerful, was become an object at which the senate aimed all their\nresentment. 27. But he soon found the populace a faithless and\nunsteady support. They began to withdraw all their confidence from\nhim, and to place it upon Drusus, a man insidiously set up against him\nby the senate. 28. It was in vain that he revived the Licin'ian law in\ntheir favour, and called up several of the inhabitants of the\ndifferent towns of Italy to his support; the senate ordered all to\ndepart from Rome, and even sent one stranger to prison whom Gracchus\nhad invited to live with him, and honoured with his table and\nfriendship. 29. To this indignity was shortly after added a disgrace\nof a more fatal tendency; for, standing for the tribuneship a third\ntime, he was rejected. It was supposed that the officers, whose duty\nit was to make the return, were bribed to reject him, though fairly\nchosen.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What consequences followed this great prosperity of the Roman arms?\n2. Who first resolved to repress the corruption which had taken place\nin the manners of the people?\n3. What was the character of Tiberius Gracchus?\n4. Had he any influence with the people?\n5. How was the Licinian law received?\n6. Did the people believe them?\n7. What furthered his views?\n8. What advantages occurred to the Romans by his death?\n9. What was the effect of this will?\n10. What measures did they adopt for this purpose?\n11. What was the consequence of their interference?\n12. Was this insinuation believed?\n13. Did Scipio use violence?\n14. What was the fate of Gracchus and his friends?\n15. Were his enemies satisfied with this vengeance?\n16. What became of Caius Gracchus in the mean time?\n17. Was he really desirous of avoiding popularity?\n18. In what way did he bring himself into notice?\n19. What proof of esteem was given him?\n20. How was this compliment received?\n21. What was the consequence of this resentment?\n22. What was his first effort?\n23. What was his next act?\n24. What was the next?\n25. What followed?\n26. What was the consequence of these acts?\n27. Did he find steady friends?\n28. Were his measures of precaution successful?\n29. What farther indignities did he experience?\nSECTION II.\n  Say, Romans, whence so dire a fury rose,\n  To glut with Latin blood your barbarous foes?\n  Could you in wars like these provoke your fate?\n  Wars, where no triumphs on the victors wait?--_Rowe's Lucan_.\n1. It was now seen that the fate of Gracchus was resolved on.\nOpim'ius, the consul, was not contented with the protection of the\nsenate, the knights, and a numerous retinue of slaves and clients; he\nordered a body of Candians, who were mercenaries in the Roman service,\nto follow and attend him. 2. Thus guarded, and conscious of the\nsuperiority of his forces, he insulted Gracchus whereever he met him,\ndoing all in his power to produce a quarrel, in which he might have a\npretence for despatching his enemy in the fray. 3. Gracchus avoided\nall recrimination, and, as if apprised of the consul's designs, would\nnot even wear any arms for his defence. 4. His friend Ful'vius\nFlaccus, however, a zealous tribune, was not so remiss, but resolved\nto oppose party against party, and for this purpose brought up several\ncountrymen to Rome, who came under pretence of desiring\nemployment. 5. When the day for determining the controversy was\narrived, the two parties, early in the morning, attended at the\nCapitol, where, while the consul was sacrificing, according to custom,\none of the lictors taking up the entrails of the beast that was slain\nin order to remove them, could not forbear crying out to Flac'cus and\nhis party, \"Make way, ye factious citizens, for honest men.\" 6. This\ninsult so provoked, the party to whom it was addressed, that they\ninstantly fell upon him, and pierced him to death with the instruments\nthey used in writing, which they then happened to have in their hands.\n7. This murder caused a great disturbance in the assembly. Gracchus,\nwho saw the consequences that were likely to ensue, reprimanded his\nparty for giving his enemies such advantage over him; and now prepared\nto lead his followers to Mount Av'entine. 8. It was there he learned,\nthat a proclamation had been made by the consuls, that whosoever\nshould bring either his head, or that of Flaccus, should receive its\nweight in gold as a reward. 9. It was to no purpose that he sent the\nyoungest son of Flaccus, who was yet a child, with proposals for an\naccommodation. The senate and the consuls, who were sensible of their\nsuperiority, rejected all his offers, and resolved to punish his\noffence with nothing less than death; and they offered pardon also to\nall who should leave him immediately. 10. This produced the desired\neffect; the people fell from him by degrees, and left him with very\ninferior forces. 11. In the meantime, Opim'ius, the consul, who\nthirsted for slaughter, leading his forces up to Mount Av'entine, fell\nin among the crowd with ungovernable fury. A terrible slaughter of the\nscarcely resisting multitude ensued, and not less than three thousand\ncitizens were slain upon the spot. 12. Flaccus attempted to find\nshelter in a ruinous cottage; but, being discovered, was slain, with\nhis eldest son. Gracchus, at first, retired to the temple of Dian'a,\nwhere he resolved to die by his own hand, but was prevented by two of\nhis faithful friends and followers, Pompo'nius and Lucin'ius, who\nforced him to seek safety by flight. Thence he made the best of his\nway across a bridge that led from the city, still attended by his two\ngenerous friends, and a Grecian slave, whose name was Philoc'rates.\n13. But his pursuers still pressed upon him from behind, and when come\nto the foot of the bridge, he was obliged to turn and face the enemy.\nHis two friends were soon slain, defending him against the crowd; and\nhe was forced to take refuge, with his slave, in a grove beyond\nthe Ti'ber, which had long been dedicated to the Furies. 14. Here,\nfinding himself surrounded on every side, and no way left of escaping,\nhe prevailed upon his slave to despatch him. The slave immediately\nafter killed himself, and fell down upon the body of his beloved\nmaster. The pursuers coming up, cut off the head of Gracchus, and\nplaced it for a while as a trophy on a spear. 15. Soon after, one\nSeptimule'ius carried it home, and taking out the brain artfully\nfilled it with lead, in order to increase its weight, and then\nreceived of the consul seventeen pounds of gold as his recompence.\n16. Thus died Cai'us Gracchus. He is usually impeached by historians,\nas guilty of sedition; but from what we see of his character, the\ndisturbance of public tranquillity was rather owing to his opposers\nthan to him; so that, instead of calling the tumults of that time the\nsedition of the Gracchi, we should rather call them the sedition of\nthe senate against the Gracchi; since the efforts of the latter were\nmade in vindication of a law to which the senate had assented; and the\ndesigns of the former were supported by an extraneous armed power from\nthe country, that had never before meddled in the business of\nlegislation, and whose introduction gave a most irrecoverable blow to\nthe constitution. 17. Whether the Gracchi were actuated by motives of\nambition or of patriotism, in the promulgation of the law, it is\nimpossible to determine; but from what appears, justice was on their\nside, and all injury on that of the senate. 18. In fact, this body was\nnow changed from that venerable assembly, which we have seen\noverthrowing Pyr'rhus and Hannibal, as much by their virtues as their\narms. They were now only to be distinguished from the rest of the\npeople by their superior luxuries; and ruled the commonwealth by the\nweight of an authority gained from riches and mercenary dependents.\n19. The venal and the base were attached to them from motives of\nself-interest; and they who still ventured to be independent, were\nborne down, and entirely lost in an infamous majority. 20. In short,\nthe empire at this period came under the government of a hateful\naristocracy; the tribunes, who were formerly accounted protectors of\nthe people, becoming rich themselves, and having no longer opposite\ninterests from those of the senate, concurred in their oppressions;\nfor the struggle was not now between patricians and plebeians, who\nonly nominally differed, but between the rich and the poor. 21.\nThe lower orders of the state being by these means reduced to a degree\nof hopeless subjection, instead of looking after liberty, only sought\nfor a leader; while the rich, with all the suspicion of tyrants,\nterrified at the slightest appearance of opposition, entrusted men\nwith uncontrollable power, from whom they had not strength to withdraw\nit when the danger was over. 22. Thus both parties of the state\nconcurred in giving up their freedom; the fears of the senate first\nmade the dictator, and the hatred of the people kept him in his\noffice. Nothing can be more dreadful to a thinking mind than the\ngovernment of Rome from this period, till it found refuge under the\nprotection of Augus'tus.[1]\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What appearances now threatened the life of Gracchus?\n2. How did he commence hostilities?\n3. How did Gracchus attempt to divert the storm?\n4. Were his friends equally prudent?\n5. What unhappy incident increased the animosity?\n6. How was this insult revenged?\n7. What was the consequence of this outrage?\n8. What news did he hear on his arrival?\n9. Did he attempt to conciliate his enemies, and were his attempts\nsuccessful?\n10. Was this offer accepted?\n11. What was the conduct of the consul?\n12. What was the fate of the chiefs?\n13. Did Gracchus effect his escape?\n14. Did he fall into the hands of his enemies?\n15. What artifice did avarice contrive?\n16.' Was the conduct of Gracchus deserving of praise or blame?\n17. By what motives were the Gracchi supposed to be actuated?\n18. What was the character of the senate at this period?\n19. What was the character of their adherents?\n20. What was the nature of their government?\n31. What concurred to perpetuate this tyranny?\nFOOTNOTE:\n[1] From the death of Gracchus until the first consulship of Marius,\nRome was governed by a venal and profligate oligarchy, formed from a\ncoalition of the most powerful families. Shame was unknown to this\nbody; the offices of state were openly sold to the highest bidder,\nredress of grievances was to be obtained only by paying a heavier sum\nfor vengeance than the oppressor would give for impunity: advocacy of\npopular rights was punished as treason, and complaints were treated as\ncriminal acts of sedition. The young patricians, under such a system,\nbecame the scourge of the state, for nothing remained safe from their\nviolence or their lust, when the monopoly of judicial office by their\nfriends and relatives insured them impunity for every excess, however\nflagrant or disgraceful.\nCHAPTER XVIII.\nSECTION I.\nFROM THE SEDITION OF GRACCHUS TO THE PERPETUAL DICTATORSHIP OF SYLLA,\nWHICH WAS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS THE RUIN OF THE COMMONWEALTH.--U.C.\n  By brutal Marius, and keen Sylla, first\n  Effused the deluge dire of civil blood,\n  Unceasing woes began.--_Thomson_.\n1. While the Romans were in this state of deplorable corruption at\nhome, they nevertheless were very successful in their transactions\nwith foreign powers.\n2. Among other victories, a signal one was gained over Jugur'tha, king\nof Numid'ia. He was grandson to Massinis'sa, who sided with Rome\nagainst Hannibal, and educated with the two young princes, who were\nleft to inherit the kingdom. 3. Being superior in abilities to both,\nand greatly in favour with the people, he murdered Hiemp'sal, the\neldest son, but Adher'bal, the younger, escaped, and fled to the\nRomans for succour. 4. Jugur'tha, sensible how much avarice and\ninjustice had crept into the senate, sent his ambassadors to Rome with\nlarge presents, which so successfully prevailed, that the senate\ndecreed him half the kingdom thus acquired by murder and usurpation,\nand sent ten commissioners to divide it between him and Adher'bal. 5.\nThe commissioners, of whom Opim'ius, the enemy of Gracchus, was one,\nwilling to follow the example which the senate had set them, were also\nbribed to bestow the richest and most populous parts of that kingdom\nupon the usurper. 6. But Jugur'tha resolved to possess himself of the\nwhole: and willing to give a colour to his ambition, he only made, in\nthe beginning, incursions in order to provoke reprisals, which he knew\nhow to convert into seeming aggression. 7. This scheme failing, he\nresolved to throw off the mask, and besieging Adher'bal in Cirta, his\ncapital, he at length got him into his power, and murdered him. 8. The\nRoman people, who had still some generosity remaining, unanimously\ncomplained of this treachery, and procured a decree that Jugur'tha\nshould be summoned in person before them, to give an account of all\nsuch as had accepted bribes. 9. Jugur'tha made no difficulty of\nthrowing himself upon the clemency of Rome; but not giving the\npeople satisfaction, he had orders to depart the city.[1] 10. In the\nmeantime, Alba'nus, the consul, was sent with an army to follow him,\nwho giving up the direction of it to Au'lus, his brother; a person who\nwas every way unqualified for the command, the Romans were compelled\nto hazard a battle upon disadvantageous terms; and the whole army, to\navoid being cut to pieces, was obliged to pass under the yoke.\n11. In this condition Metel'lus, the succeeding consul, found affairs\nupon his arrival in Numid'ia; officers in whom the soldiers had no\nconfidence, an army without discipline, and an enemy ever watchful and\nintriguing. 12. However, by his great attention to business, and by\nintegrity that shuddered at corruption, he soon began to retrieve the\naffairs of Rome, and the credit of the army. In the space of two\nyears, Jugur'tha was overthrown in several battles, forced out of his\nown dominions, and constrained to beg a peace. 13. Thus all things\npromised Metel'lus a happy termination of the war; but he was\nfrustrated in his expectations by the intrigues of Ca'ius Ma'rius, his\nlieutenant, who came in to reap that harvest of glory which the\nother's industry had sown. 14. Ca'ius Ma'rius was born in a village\nnear Apin'ium, of poor parents, who gained their living by their\nlabour. As he had been bred up in a participation of their toils, his\nmanners were as rude as his countenance was frightful. He was a man of\nextraordinary stature, incomparable strength, and undaunted bravery.\n15. When Metel'lus was obliged to solicit at Rome for a continuance of\nhis command, Ma'rius, whose ambition knew no bounds, was resolved to\nobtain it for himself, and thus gain all the glory of putting an end\nto the war. 16. To that end he privately inveighed against Metel'lus\nby his emissaries at Rome, and having excited a spirit of discontent\nagainst him, he had leave granted him to go there to stand for the\nconsulship, which he obtained, contrary to the expectation and\ninterest of the nobles.\n17. Marius, being thus invested with the supreme power of managing the\nwar, showed himself every way fit for the commission. His vigilance\nwas equal to his valour, and he quickly made himself master of the\ncities which Jugur'tha had yet remaining in Numid'ia.[2] 18. This\nunfortunate prince, finding himself unable to make opposition singly\nwas obliged to have recourse for assistance to Bocchus, king of\nMaurita'nia, to whose daughter he was married. A battle soon after\nensued, in which the Numid'ians surprised the Roman camp by night, and\ngained a temporary advantage. However, it was but of short\ncontinuance, for Ma'rius soon after overthrew them in two signal\nengagements, in one of which not less than ninety thousand of the\nAfrican army were slain. 19. Bocchus now finding the Romans too\npowerful to be resisted, did not think it expedient to hazard his own\ncrown, to protect that of his ally; he, therefore, determined to make\npeace, upon whatever conditions he might obtain it; and accordingly\nsent to Rome, imploring protection. 20. The senate received the\nambassadors with their usual haughtiness, and without complying with\ntheir request, granted the suppliant, not their friendship, but their\npardon. Notwithstanding, after some time, he was given to understand,\nthat the delivering up of Jugur'tha to the Romans would, in some\nmeasure, conciliate their favour, and soften their resentment. 21. At\nfirst the pride of Bocchus struggled against such a proposal; but a\nfew interviews with Sylla reconciled him to this treacherous measure,\nand Jugur'tha was given up, being drawn into an ambuscade by the\nspecious pretences of his ally, who deluded him by desiring a\nconference; and being made a prisoner, he was loaded with chains, and\ncarried by Ma'rius to Rome, a deplorable instance of blighted\nambition. 22. He did not long survive his overthrow, being condemned\nby the senate to be starved to death in prison, a short time after he\nhad been made to adorn the triumph of the conqueror.[3]\n23. Ma'rius, by this and two succeeding victories over the Gauls,\nhaving become very formidable to distant nations in war, became soon\nafter much more dangerous to his fellow-citizens in peace. 24. The\nstrength which he had given to the popular party every day grew more\nconspicuous, and the Italians, being frustrated by the intrigues of\nthe senate in their aims of gaining the freedom of Rome, resolved upon\nobtaining by force, what was refused them as a favour. This gave rise\nto the Social War, in which most of the states of Italy entered into a\nconfederacy against Rome, in order to obtain a redress of their\ngrievances.\n25. After a lapse of two years, this war having continued to rage with\ndoubtful success, the senate began to reflect that, whether conquered\nor conquerors, the power of the Romans was in danger of being\ndestroyed. 26. To soften, therefore, their compliance by degrees, they\nbegan by giving the freedom of the city to such of the Italian states\nas had not revolted. They then offered it to such as would lay down\ntheir arms. 27. This unexpected bounty had its effect; the allies,\nwith mutual distrust, offered each a separate treaty; the senate took\nthem one by one into favour, but gave the freedom of the city in such\na manner, that, not being empowered to vote until all the other tribes\nhad given their suffrages, they had very little weight in the\nconstitution.\n28. This destructive war being concluded, the senate began to think of\nturning their arms against Mithrida'tes, the most powerful and warlike\nmonarch of the east.[4] 29. For this expedition Ma'rius had long been\npreparing, but Sylla had interest enough to get himself appointed to\nthe expedition. Ma'rius, however, tried all his arts with the people\nto get his appointment reversed; and the command of the army, intended\nto oppose Mithrida'tes, was ordered to be transferred from Sylla to\nMa'rius. 30. In consequence of this, Ma'rius immediately sent officers\nfrom Rome, to take the command in his name. But instead of being\nobeyed, the officers were slain, and Sylla was entreated by the army\nto lead them directly to take signal vengeance upon all his enemies at\nRome.\n31. Accordingly, his soldiers entered the city sword in hand, as\na place taken by storm. Ma'rius and Sulpi'cius, at the head of a\ntumultuary body of their partisans, attempted to oppose their\nentrance; and the citizens themselves, who feared the sackage of the\nplace, threw down stones and tiles from the houses upon the intruders.\n32. So unequal a conflict lasted longer than could have been expected;\nat length Ma'rius and his party were obliged to seek safety by flight,\nafter having vainly offered liberty to the slaves who would assist\nthem.\n_Questions for Examination._\n1. Was this internal degeneracy of the Roman people accompanied by ill\nsuccess abroad?\n2. What signal victory did they obtain, and who was Jugurtha?\n3. By what means did he obtain the crown?\n4. How did he propitiate the Romans?\n5. How did these commissoners? discharge their trust?\n6. Was Jugurtha satisfied with this allotment?\n7. Did this answer his purpose?\n8. Did the Romans suffer this treachery to pass unpunished?\n9. Did Jugurtha obey this summons?\n10. Were hostilities commenced against him, and what was the result?\n11. What was the condition of the army when Metellus assumed the\ncommand?\n12. Did this deplorable state continue?\n13. Did Metellus enjoy the fruits of his victories?\n14. Who was Caius Marius?\n15. What resolution did he adopt?\n16. By what artifices did he succeed in his design?\n17. What was the conduct of Marius in his new command?\n18. To whom did Jugurtha have recourse in his extremity?\n19. Did Bocchus continue to befriend Jugurtha?\n20. Was his request complied with?\n21. Did Bocchus submit to this condition?\n22. What became of Jugurtha after this?\n23. How did Marius conduct himself after his victories?\n24. What was the consequence of his attempts at popularity?\n25. Was this war of long continuance?\n26. What measure did the senate adopt to end it?\n27. What was the consequence of this measure?\n28. Against whom did the senate next turn their arms?\n29. Who was appointed to command this expedition?\n30. What was the consequence of this order?\n31. Did Sylla comply with their request?\n32. What was the issue of the contest?\n[Illustration: Marius sitting among the Ruins of Carthage.]\nSECTION II.\n  To bind th' ambitious and unjust by treaties.--_Thomson_.\n1. Sylla, now finding himself master of the city, began by modelling\nthe laws so as to favour his outrages; while Ma'rius, driven out of\nRome and declared a public enemy at the age of seventy, was obliged to\nsave himself, unattended and on foot, from the pursuit of those who\nsought his life. 2. After having wandered for some time in this\ndeplorable condition, he found every day his dangers increase, and his\npursuers making nearer advances. In this distress he concealed himself\nin the marshes of Mintur'n\u00e6, where he continued a night up to the chin\nin a quagmire. 3. At break of day he left this dismal place, and made\ntowards the seaside, in hopes of finding a ship to facilitate his\nescape; but being known and discovered by some of the inhabitants, he\nwas conducted to a neighbouring town, with a halter round his neck,\nwithout clothes, and covered with mud; and in this condition was sent\nto prison. 4. The governor of the place, willing to conform to the\norders of the senate, soon after sent a Cim'brian slave to despatch\nhim; but the barbarian no sooner entered the dungeon for this purpose\nthan he stopped short, intimidated by the dreadful visage and awful\nvoice of the fallen general, who sternly demanded if he had the\npresumption to kill Ca'ius Ma'rius? The slave, unable to reply, threw\ndown his sword, and rushing back from the prison, cried\nout, that he found it impossible to kill him! 5. The governor,\nconsidering the fear of the slave as an omen in the unhappy exile's\nfavour, gave him his freedom; and, commending him to his fortune,\nprovided him with a ship to convey him from Italy. 6. He was forced by\na tempest on the coast of Sicily. A Roman qu\u00e6stor, who happened to be\nthere, resolved to seize him; and he lost sixteen of his crew, who\nwere killed in their endeavours to cover his retreat to the ship. He\nafterwards landed in Africa, near Carthage, and, overwhelmed with\nmelancholy, sat himself down amongst the ruins of that desolate place.\nHe soon, however had orders from the pr\u00e6tor to retire. 7. Marius, who\nremembered his having once served this very man in necessity, could\nnot suppress his indignation at finding ingratitude every where: and,\npreparing to obey, bid the messenger tell his master, that he had seen\nMa'rius sitting among the ruins of Carthage; intimating the greatness\nof his fall, by the desolation that was around him. 8. He once more\nembarked, and not knowing where to land without encountering an enemy,\nhe spent the winter at sea, expecting every hour the return of a\nmessenger from his son, whom he had sent to solicit protection from\nthe African prince, Mandras'tal. 9. After long expectation, instead of\nthe messenger, his son himself arrived, having escaped from the\ninhospitable court of that monarch, where he had been kept, not as a\nfriend, but as a prisoner, and had returned just time enough to\nprevent his father from sharing the same fate. 10. In this situation\nthey were informed that Cinna, one of their party who had remained at\nRome, had put himself at the head of a large army, collected out of\nthe Italian states, who had espoused his cause. Nor was it long before\nthey joined their forces at the gates of Rome. Sylla was at that time\nabsent in his command against Mithri'dates. 11. Cinna marched into the\ncity; but Ma'rius stopped, and refused to enter, alleging, that having\nbeen banished by a public decree, it was necessary to have another to\nauthorise his return. It was thus that he desired to give his\nmeditated cruelties the appearance of justice; and while he was about\nto destroy thousands, to pretend an implicit veneration for the laws.\n12. An assembly of the people being called, they began to reverse his\nbanishment; but they had scarcely gone through three of the tribes,\nwhen, incapable of restraining his desire of revenge, he entered the\ncity at the head of his guards, and massacred all who had been\nobnoxious to him, without remorse or pity. 13. Several who sought to\npropitiate the tyrant's rage, were murdered by his command in his\npresence; many even of those who had never offended him were put to\ndeath; and, at last, even his own officers never approached him but\nwith terror. 14. Having in this manner satiated his revenge, he next\nabrogated all the laws which were enacted by his rival, and then made\nhimself consul with Cinna. 15. Thus gratified in his two favourite\npassions, vengeance and ambition, having once saved his country, and\nnow deluged it with blood, at last, as if willing to crown the pile of\nslaughter which he had made, with his own body, he died the month\nafter, not without suspicion of having hastened his end. 16. In the\nmean time these accounts were brought to Sylla, who had been sent\nagainst Mithrida'tes, and who was performing many signal exploits\nagainst him; hastily concluding a peace, therefore, he returned home\nto take vengeance on his enemies at Rome. 17. Nothing could intimidate\nCinna from attempting to repel his opponent. Being joined by Car'bo,\n(now elected in the room of Vale'rius, who had been slain) together\nwith young Ma'rius, who inherited all the abilities and the ambition\nof his father, he determined to send over part of the forces he had\nraised in Dalma'tia to oppose Sylla before he entered Italy. Some\ntroops were accordingly embarked; but being dispersed by a storm, the\nothers that had not yet put to sea, absolutely refused to go. 18. Upon\nthis, Cinna, quite furious at their disobedience, rushed forward to\npersuade them to their duty. In the mean time one of the most mutinous\nof the soldiers being struck by an officer, returned the blow, and was\napprehended for his crime. This ill-timed severity produced a tumult\nand a mutiny through the whole army; and, while Cinna did all he could\nto appease it, he was run through the body by one of the crowd. 19.\nScip'io, the consul, who commanded against Sylla, was soon after\nallured by proposals for a treaty; but a suspension of arms being\nagreed upon, Sylla's soldiers went into the opposite camp, displaying\nthose riches which they had acquired in their expeditions, and\noffering to participate with their fellow-citizens, in case they\nchanged their party. 20. In consequence of this the whole army\ndeclared unanimously for Sylla; and Scip'io scarcely knew that he was\nforsaken and deposed, till he was informed of it by a party of the\nenemy, who, entering his tent, made him and his son prisoners.\n21. In this manner both factions, exasperated to the highest\ndegree, and expecting no mercy on either part, gave vent to their fury\nin several engagements. The forces on the side of young Ma'rius, who\nnow succeeded his father in command, were the most numerous, but those\nof Sylla better united, and more under subordination. 22. Carbo, who\ncommanded for Ma'rius in the field, sent eight legions to Pr\u00e6nes'te,\nto relieve his colleague, but they were met by Pompey, afterwards\nsurnamed the Great, in a defile, who slew many of them, and dispersed\nthe rest. Carbo soon after engaged Metel'lus, but was overcome, with\nthe loss of ten thousand slain, and six thousand taken prisoners. 23.\nIn consequence, Urba'nus, one of the consuls, killed himself, and\nCarbo fled to Africa, where, after wandering a long time, he was at\nlast delivered up to Pompey, who, to please Sylla, ordered him to be\nbeheaded. 24. Sylla, now become undisputed master of his country,\nentered Rome at the head of his army. Happy, had he supported in peace\nthe glory which he had acquired in war; or, had he ceased to live when\nhe ceased to conquer!\n25. Eight thousand men, who had escaped the general carnage,\nsurrendered themselves to the conqueror; he ordered them to be put\ninto the Villa Pub'lica, a large house in the Campus Mar'tius; and, at\nthe same time, convoked the senate: there, without discovering the\nleast emotion, he spoke with great fluency of his own exploits, and,\nin the mean time, gave private directions that all those wretches whom\nhe had confined, should be slain. 26. The senate, amazed at the horrid\noutcries of the sufferers, at first thought that the city was given up\nto plunder; but Sylla, with an unembarrassed air, informed them, that\nit was only some criminals who were punished by his order, and that\nthe senate ought not to make themselves uneasy at their fate. 27. The\nday after he proscribed forty senators, and sixteen hundred knights;\nand after an intermission of two days, forty senators more, with an\ninfinite number of the richest citizens. 28. He next resolved to\ninvest himself with the dictatorship, and that for a perpetuity; and\nthus uniting all civil as well as military power in his own person, he\nthought he might thence give an air of justice to every oppression.\n29. Thus he continued to govern with capricious tyranny, none daring\nto resist his power, until, contrary to the expectation of all\nmankind, he laid down the dictatorship, after having held it not quite\nthree years.\n[Illustration: Sylla reproaching the little image of Apollo with his\ndefeat.]\n30 After this, he retired into the country, and abandoned himself to\ndebauchery; but he did not long survive his abdication; he was seized\nwith a horrible distemper, and died a loathsome and mortifying object,\nand a melancholy proof of the futility of human ambition.[5]\nThe character of Sylla exhibits a singular compound of great and mean\nqualities. Superstition was one of its features. It is said that\nhaving suffered a defeat in the course of the Social War, in Italy, he\ndrew from his bosom a little image of Apollo, which he had stolen from\nthe temple of Delphi, and had ever since carried about him when\nengaged in war. Kissing it with great devotion, he expostulated with\nthe god, for having brought him to perish dishonourably, with his\ncountrymen, at the gates of his native city, after having raised him\nby many victories to such a height of glory and greatness.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What were the first acts of Sylla?\n2. What became of Marius?\n3. To what dangers was he exposed?\n4. Was an attempt made on his life?\n5. How did the governor treat the fugitive general?\n6. What ingratitude was shown to Marius?\n7. What was his reply?\n8. From what African prince did he ask aid?\n9. Was it granted?\n10. What opportunity was taken by the Marian party to renew the\nstruggle?\n11. To what scruple did Marius pretend?\n12. What proves it a pretence?\n13. What cruelties were practised by Marius?\n14. What laws did he change? 15. How did Marius die?\n16. How did Sylla act when he learned the news of the change?\n17. What caused a tumult in Cinna's army?\n18. How did it end?\n19. What artifice was practised on Scipio?\n20. What was the result?\n21. Describe the relative condition of the rival forces?\n22. Did Pompey obtain any victory?\n23. What was the consequence?\n24. Which faction finally prevailed?\n25. What massacre was perpetrated by Sylla?\n26. How did he excuse it? 27. Were these his only cruelties?\n28. What magistracy did Sylla usurp?\n29. How did he govern?\n30. In what manner did the tyranny of Sylla terminate?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] So astonished was Jugur'tha at the mercenary disposition\ndiscovered by the Romans, that he is said to have exclaimed, on\nleaving the city, \"Oh, Rome! thou wouldst thyself be sold, could a\nchapman be found to purchase thee.\"\n[2] It has been said with great truth, that \"the wicked have no\nfriends.\" Jugur'tha experienced this. Bomil'car, who professed the\nwarmest attachment to Jugur'tha, was gained over by the proconsul\nMetel'lus to persuade his master, that submission to the Romans was\nabsolutely necessary. Jugur'tha accordingly sent an embassy to the\nproconsul, professing his readiness to submit to any terms. Upon this\nhe was required to send to the Romans 200,000 pounds weight of silver,\nall his elephants, a certain number of horses and arms, and all\ndeserters. The king complied exactly with these hard conditions; but\nafter thus weakening his resources, he found himself still obliged to\ncontinue the war, or submit to such farther impositions as would have\nendangered, not only his crown, but his life.\n[3] Never did any one more deservedly suffer than this treacherous and\ncruel man.\n[4] This king incurred the resentment of the Romans by making war on\nsome of their allies, and by putting Op'pius and Aquil'ius to death.\nUpbraiding the Romans with their avarice and corruption, he caused\nmelted gold to be poured down the throat of the latter.\n[5] Two events, important in the history of Rome, occurred about this\ntime. Serto'rius, a Roman general, in Spain, had rebelled against the\ngovernment of Syl'la, and defeated every army sent against him, till\nPompey took the command; and even then the result appeared doubtful,\ntill Serto'rius, being assassinated by his own officers put an end to\nthe war. Spar'tacus, a gladiator, having escaped from confinement, and\nassembled a number of his followers, commenced what is called the\nsecond Servile War. His army gradually increasing, he became a\nformidable enemy to the Roman state; overthrew the pr\u00e6tors and consuls\nsent against him; but was at length defeated by Crassus, and the\nremains of his army cut in pieces by Pompey, who met them on his\nreturn from Spain.\nCHAPTER XIX.\nFROM THE PERPETUAL DICTATORSHIP OF SYLLA TO THE TRIUMVIRATE OF C\u00c6SAR,\nPOMPEY, AND CRASSUS.--U.C. 680.\n  With Tully she her wide reviving light\n  To senates holds, a Catiline confounds.\n  And saves awhile from C\u00e6sar sinking Rome.--_Thomson_.\n1. Upon the death of Sylla, the jealousies of Pompey and Crassus, the\ntwo most powerful men in the empire, began to excite fresh\ndissensions. Pompey was the most beloved general, but Crassus the\nrichest man in Rome.\n2. The first opportunity that was offered of discovering their mutual\njealousy, was upon disbanding their troops. Neither chose to begin; so\nthat the most fatal consequences were likely to arise from their\ndissension. At length Crassus, stifling his resentment, laid down his\ncommand; and the other followed his example immediately after. 3.\nThe next trial between them was, who should be foremost in obtaining\nthe favour of the people. Crassus entertained the populace at a\nthousand tables, distributed corn to the families of the poor, and fed\nthe greatest part of the citizens for nearly three months. Pompey, on\nthe other hand, laboured to abrogate the laws made against the\nauthority of the people by Sylla; restored to the knights the power of\njudging, which had been formerly granted them by Gracchus; and gave\nback to the tribunes all their former privileges. 4. Thus each gave\nhis private aims an appearance of zeal for the public good; so that\nwhat was in reality ambition in both, took with one the name of\nliberality; with the other, that of a love of freedom.\n5. An expedition, in which Pompey cleared the Mediterranean, which was\ninfested by pirates, having added greatly to his reputation, the\ntribunes of the people hoped it would be easy to advance their\nfavourite still higher. 6. Man'lius, therefore, one of the number,\npreferred a law, that all the armies of the empire, the government of\nAsia, and the management of the war which was renewed against\nMithrida'tes, should be committed to Pompey alone. The law passed,\nwith little opposition, and the decree was confirmed.\n7. Being thus appointed to the command of that important war, he\ndeparted for Asia. 8. Mithrida'tes had been obliged by Lucul'lus to\ntake refuge in Lesser Armenia, and thither that general was preparing\nto follow him, when his whole army abandoned him; so that it remained\nfor Pompey to terminate the war, which he effected with great ease and\nexpedition, adding a large extent of dominion to the Roman empire, and\nreturning to Rome in triumph at the head of his conquering army.\n9. But the victories of Pompey rather served to heighten the glory\nthan to increase the power of Rome; they made it more a glaring object\nof ambition, and exposed its liberties to greater danger. Those\nliberties, indeed, seemed devoted to ruin on every side; for, even\nwhile he was pursuing his conquests abroad, Rome was at the verge of\nruin from a conspiracy at home. 10. This conspiracy was projected and\ncarried on by Ser'gius Cat'iline, a patrician by birth, who resolved\nto build his own power on the downfall of his country. 11. He was\nsingularly formed, both by art and nature, to conduct a conspiracy: he\nwas possessed of courage equal to the most desperate attempts, and of\neloquence to give a colour to his ambition: ruined in his\nfortunes, profligate in his manners, vigilant in pursuing his aims, he\nwas insatiable after wealth, only with a view to lavish it on his\nguilty pleasures. 12. Cat'iline having contracted debts in consequence\nof such an ill-spent life, was resolved to extricate himself from them\nby any means, however unlawful. Accordingly, he assembled about thirty\nof his debauched associates, and informed them of his aims, his hopes,\nand his settled plans of operations. 13. It was resolved among them,\nthat a general insurrection should be raised throughout Italy, the\ndifferent parts of which he assigned to different leaders. Rome was to\nbe fired at several places at once; and Cat'iline, at the head of an\narmy raised in Etru'ria, was, in the general confusion, to possess\nhimself of the city, and massacre all the senators. Len'tulus, one of\nhis profligate assistants, who had been pr\u00e6tor, or judge in the city,\nwas to preside in their general councils; Cethe'gus, a man who\nsacrificed the possession of great present power to the hopes of\ngratifying his revenge against Cicero,[1] was to direct the massacre\nthrough the city; and Cas'sius was to conduct those who fired it.\n14. But the vigilance of Ci'cero being the chief obstacle to their\ndesigns, Catiline was very desirous to see him taken off before he\nleft Rome; upon which two knights of the company undertook to kill him\nthe next morning in his bed, in an early visit, on pretence of\nbusiness. 15. But the meeting was no sooner over, than Ci'cero had\ninformation of all that passed in it; for, by the intrigues of a woman\nnamed Ful'via, he had gained over Cu'rius, her lover, one of the\nconspirators, to send him a punctual account of all their\ndeliberations. 16. Having taken proper precautions to guard himself\nagainst the designs of his morning visitors, who were punctual to the\nappointment, he next took care to provide for the defence of the city;\nwhen, assembling the senate, he consulted what was best to be done in\nsuch a time of danger.\n[Illustration: Curius, disclosing Catiline's conspiracy to Fulvia.]\n17. The first step taken was to offer considerable rewards for farther\ndiscoveries, and then to prepare for the defence of the state.\n18. Cat'iline, to show how well he could dissemble, or justify any\ncrime, went boldly to the senate, declaring his innocence;[2] but,\nwhen confronted by the eloquence of Ci'cero, he hastily withdrew,\ndeclaring aloud, that since he was denied a vindication of himself,\nand driven headlong into rebellion by his enemies, he would extinguish\nthe flame which was raised about him in universal ruin. 19. After a\nshort conference with Len'tulus and Cethe'gus, he left Rome by night,\nwith a small retinue, to hasten towards Etru'ria, where Man'lius, one\nof the conspirators, was raising an army to support him.[3]\n20. In the mean time Ci'cero took proper precautions to secure all\nthose of the conspiracy who remained in Rome. Len'tulus, Cethe'gus,\nCas'sius, and several others, were put into confinement; and soon\nafter strangled in prison.\n21. While his associates were put to death in the city, Cat'iline had\nraised an army of twelve thousand men, of which a fourth part only\nwere completely armed, the rest being furnished with such weapons as\nchance afforded; darts, lances, and clubs. 22. He refused, at first,\nto enlist slaves, who flocked to him in great numbers, trusting to the\nstrength of the conspiracy; but upon the approach of the consul, who\nwas sent against him, and upon the arrival of the news that his\nconfederates were put to death, the face of affairs altered. 23.\nHis first attempt, therefore, was, by long marches, to make his escape\nover the Appenines into Gaul; but in this his hopes were disappointed;\nall the passes being guarded by an army superior to his own. 24. Being\nthus hemmed in on every side, and seeing all things desperate, with\nnothing left him but either to die or conquer, he resolved to make one\nvigorous effort against that army which pursued him. Anto'nius, the\nconsul, being sick, the command devolved upon Petrei'us, who, after a\nfierce and bloody action in which he lost a considerable part of his\nbest troops, put Cat'iline's forces to the rout, and destroyed his\nwhole army.[4]\n25. The extinction of this conspiracy seemed only to leave an open\ntheatre for the ambition of the great men to display itself in. Pompey\nwas now returned in triumph from conquering the east, as he had before\nbeen victorious in Europe and Africa.\n26. Crassus was the richest man in Rome, and next to Pompey, possessed\nthe greatest authority; his party in the senate was even greater than\nthat of his rival, and the envy raised against him was less. He and\nPompey had long been disunited by an opposition of interests and of\ncharacters; however, it was from a continuance of their mutual\njealousies that the state was in some measure to expect its future\nsafety. 27. It was in this situation of things that Julius C\u00e6sar, who\nhad lately gone, as pr\u00e6tor, into Spain, and had returned with great\nriches and glory, resolved to convert their mutual jealousy to his own\nadvantage. 28. This celebrated man was descended from popular and\nillustrious ancestors. He warmly espoused the side of the people, and\nshortly after the death of Sylla, procured the recall of those whom\nSylla had banished. He had all along declared for the populace against\nthe senate, and became their most favourite magistrate. 29. This\nconsummate statesman began by offering his services to Pompey,\npromising to assist him in getting all his acts passed,\nnotwithstanding the senate's opposition. Pompey, pleased at the\nacquisition of a person of so much merit, readily granted him his\nconfidence and protection. 30. He next applied to Crassus, who, from\nformer connections, was disposed to become still more nearly his\nfriend. 31. At length, finding them not averse to an union of\ninterests, he took an opportunity of bringing them together; and,\nremonstrating with them on the advantages as well as the necessity of\na reconciliation, he had art enough to persuade them to forget former\nanimosities. 32. A combination was thus formed, by which they agreed\nthat nothing should be done in the commonwealth without their mutual\nconcurrence and approbation. This was called the first Trium'virate,\nby which we find the constitution weakened by a new interest which had\nnot hitherto taken place, very different from that of the senate or\nthe people, and yet dependent on both.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What followed on the death of Sylla?\n2. What first discovered their mutual jealousy?\n3. What was the next trial between them?\n4. Under what pretences did they hide their real views?\n5. What farther raised the reputation of Pompey?\n6. What means were had recourse to for this purpose?\n7, 8. What was the state of the war in Asia?\n9. What were the consequences of Pompey's victories?\n10. Who was the author, and what was the object of this conspiracy?\n11. What was the character of Catiline?\n12. What occasioned this conspiracy?\n13. How was it to be carried into execution?\n14. What was the chief obstacle to its accomplishment, and how was\nthis obstacle to be removed?\n15. Was Cicero informed of their proceedings?\n16. What precautions did he take in consequence?\n17. What was the first step taken?\n18. What was the conduct of Catiline on this occasion?\n19. Did he continue in Rome?\n20. Did the other conspirators escape?\n21. How was Catiline employed in the mean time?\n22. Had he a fair prospect of success?\n23. Did he boldly face his opponents?\n24. What followed?\n25. Did the extinction of this conspiracy give peace to Rome?\n26. Who were the contending parties, and what was the consequence of\nthis dissension?\n27. Who profited by these jealousies?\n28. Who was Julius C\u00e6sar, and by what means did he acquire popularity?\n29. What was his first step towards power?\n30. To whom did he next apply?\n31. What consequence resulted from his application?\n32. What agreement was entered into by them, and what were they\ncalled?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] Ci'cero, the first of Roman orators, as Demos'thenes was of the\nGreek, was born at Arpin'um, a town of the Volsci, and studied under\nthe most celebrated orators and philosophers of Greece. His style of\neloquence was copious, highly ornamented, and addressed more to the\npassions than to the judgment of his hearers. He was consul at the\ntime of Cat'iline's conspiracy; and, for his eminent services in\ndetecting and frustrating it, was honoured with the title of Pater\nPatri\u00e6.\n[2] On his entrance, the senators near whom he attempted to seal\nhimself, quitting their places, left him quite alone.\n[3] On his arrival, he assumed all the insignia of a supreme\nmagistrate being preceded by lictors carrying the axes and fasces.\n[4] Cataline himself, finding his affairs desperate, threw himself\ninto the midst of the enemy, and there found the death he sought.\n(Sallust.)\nCHAPTER XX.\nSECTION I.\nFROM THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST TRIUMVIRATE, TO THE DEATH OF\nPOMPEY.--U.C. 694.\n  How happy was I, in my lawful wars\n  In Germany, in Gaul, and Brittany!\n  When every night with pleasure I set down\n  What the day ministered; then sleep came sweetly.\n                    _Beaumont and Fletcher_.\n1. The first thing that C\u00e6sar did, upon forming the Trium'virate, was\nto avail himself of the interest of his confederates to obtain the\nconsulship. 2. The senate had still some influence left; and though\nthey were obliged to concur in choosing him, yet they gave him for a\ncolleague one Bib'ulus, whom they supposed would be a check upon his\npower. 3. But the opposition was too strong for even superior\nabilities to resist; so that Bib'ulus, after a slight attempt in\nfavour of the senate, remained inactive. 4. C\u00e6sar began his schemes\nfor empire by ingratiating himself with the people; he procured a law\nfor dividing certain lands in Campa'nia among such of the poor\ncitizens as had at least three children. This proposal was just enough\nin itself, and it was criminal only from the views of the proposer.\n5. Having thus strengthened himself at home, he deliberated with his\nconfederates about sharing the foreign provinces of the empire. 6. The\npartition was soon made: Pompey chose Spain; for, being fatigued with\nconquest, and satiated with military fame, he was willing to take his\npleasures at Rome. Crassus chose Syria; which province, as it had\nhitherto enriched the generals who had subdued it, would, he hoped,\ngratify him in this his favourite pursuit. To C\u00e6sar were left the\nprovinces of Gaul, composed of fierce and powerful nations, most of\nthem unsubdued, and the rest only professing a nominal subjection. 7.\nAs this was appointing him rather to conquer than command, the\ngovernment was granted him for five years, as if by its continuance to\ncompensate for its danger.\n8. It would be impossible, in this narrow compass, to enumerate the\nbattles C\u00e6sar fought, and the states he subdued, in his expeditions\ninto Gaul and Britain, which continued eight years.\n[Illustration: C\u00e6sar landing in Britain.]\n9. The Helvetians[1] were the first that were brought into subjection,\nwith the loss of nearly two hundred thousand men; those who\nremained after the carnage were sent by C\u00e6sar in safety to the forests\nwhence they had issued.[2] 10. The Germans, with Ariovis'tus at their\nhead, were next cut off, to the number of eighty thousand, their\nmonarch himself narrowly escaping in a little boat across the Rhine.\nThe Belg\u00e6[3] suffered such a terrible overthrow, that marshes and\nrivers were rendered impassable from the heaps of slain. 11. The\nNer'vians,[4] who were the most warlike of those barbarous nations,\nmade head for a short time, and fell upon the Romans with such fury,\nthat their army was in danger of being utterly routed; but C\u00e6sar\nhimself, hastily catching up a buckler, rushed through his troops into\nthe midst of the enemy; by which means he so turned the fate of the\nday, that the barbarians were all cut off to a man. 12. The Celtic\nGauls were next brought under subjection. After them, the Sue'vi, the\nMena'pii, and all the nations from the Mediterranean to the British\nsea. 13. Thence, stimulated by the desire of conquest, he crossed over\ninto Britain, upon pretence that the natives had furnished his enemies\nwith continual supplies. 14. Upon approaching the shores, he found\nthem covered with men to oppose his landing, and his forces were in\ndanger of being driven back, till the standard-bearer of the\ntenth legion boldly leapt ashore, and being well assisted by C\u00e6sar,\nthe natives were put to flight. 15. The Britons being terrified at\nC\u00e6sar's power, sent to desire a peace, which was granted them, and\nsome hostages delivered. A storm, however, soon after destroying great\npart of his fleet, they resolved to take advantage of the disaster,\nand marched against him with a powerful army. But what could naked\nundisciplined troops do against forces that had been exercised under\nthe greatest generals, and hardened by the conquest of the greatest\npart of the world? Being overthrown, they were obliged once more to\nsue for peace. C\u00e6sar granted it, and returned to the continent.\n16. While C\u00e6sar was thus increasing his reputation and riches abroad,\nPompey, who remained in Rome, steadily co-operated with his ambition,\nand advanced his interests, while he vainly supposed he was forwarding\nhis own. By this means C\u00e6sar was continued five years longer in Gaul.\n17. Nor was Pompey roused from his lethargy till the fame of that\ngreat commander's valour, riches, and humanity, began to make him\nsuspect they would soon eclipse his own. 18. He now therefore did all\nin his power to diminish C\u00e6sar's reputation; obliging the magistrates\nnot to publish any letters they received till he had diminished the\ncredit of them, by spreading disadvantageous reports. 19. One or two\naccidents, also, helped to widen the separation; namely, the death of\nJulia,[5] Pompey's wife, who had not a little contributed to improve\nthe harmony that subsisted between them; and the destruction of\nCrassus, who had conducted the war against the Parthians with so\nlittle prudence, that he suffered them to get the advantage of him in\nalmost every skirmish; when, incapable of extricating himself, he fell\na sacrifice to his own rashness in trusting himself to a perfidious\nenemy.[6]\nIt was at this period that T. Maurius Milo, being a candidate for the\noffice of consul, during the heat of the canvassing happened, when\nriding into the country, to meet Clodius, a turbulent man, who\nfavoured his opponent.\n[Illustration: Exposure of Clodius's body in the Forum.]\nThe meeting was accidental, but a skirmish between their\nattendants drew on a contest which terminated in the death of\nClodius. The body was brought into Rome where it was exposed, all\ncovered with blood and wounds, to the view of the populace, who\nflocked around it in crowds to lament the miserable fate of their\nleader. The next day the mob, headed by a kinsman of the deceased,\ncarried the body, with the wounds exposed, into the forum; and the\nenemies of Milo, addressing the crowd with inflammatory speeches,\nwrought them up to such a frenzy that they carried the body into the\nsenate-house, and, tearing up the benches and tables, made a funeral\npile, and, together with the body, burnt the house itself, and then\nstormed the house of Milo, but were repulsed. This violence, and the\neloquence of Cicero in his defence, saved Milo from the punishment\nwhich he had good reason to fear for the assassination of Clodius.\n20. C\u00e6sar, who now began to be sensible of the jealousies of Pompey,\ntook occasion to solicit for the consulship, together with a\nprolongation of his government in Gaul, desirous of trying whether\nPompey would thwart or promote his pretensions. 21. In this Pompey\nseemed to be quite inactive; but, at the same time, privately employed\ntwo of his creatures, who alleged in the senate that the laws did not\npermit a person who was absent to offer himself as a candidate for\nthat high office. 22. Pompey's view in this was to allure C\u00e6sar from\nhis government, in order to stand for the consulship in person. 23.\nC\u00e6sar, however, perceiving his artifice, chose to remain in his\nprovince, convinced that while he headed an army devoted to him, he\ncould give law as well as magistrates to the state.\n24. The senate, which was devoted to Pompey, because he had for some\ntime attempted to defend them from the encroachments of the people,\nordered home the two legions which were in C\u00e6sar's army belonging to\nPompey, as it was pretended, to oppose the Parthians, but in reality\nto diminish C\u00e6sar's power. 25. C\u00e6sar saw their motive: but as his\nplans were not yet ripe for execution, he sent them home in pursuance\nof the orders of the senate, having previously attached the officers\nto him by benefits, and the soldiers by bounties. 26. The next step\nthe senate took, was to recall C\u00e6sar from his government, as his time\nwas very near expiring. But Cu'rio, his friend in the senate, proposed\nthat C\u00e6sar should not leave his army till Pompey had set him the\nexample. 27. This for a while perplexed Pompey; however, during the\ndebate, one of the senate declaring that C\u00e6sar had passed the Alps,\nand was marching with his whole army directly towards Rome, the\nconsul, immediately quitting the senate, went with his colleagues to a\nhouse where Pompey at that time resided. He there presented him with a\nsword, commanding him to march against C\u00e6sar, and fight in defence of\nthe commonwealth. 28. Pompey declared he was ready to obey, but with\nan air of pretended moderation added, that it was only in case more\ngentle expedients could not be employed. 29. C\u00e6sar, who was instructed\nin all that passed, though he was still in Gaul, was willing to give\nhis aims all the appearance of justice. He agreed to lay down his\nemployment when Pompey should do the same. But the senate rejected his\npropositions, blindly confident of their power, and relying on the\nassurances of Pompey. C\u00e6sar, still unwilling to come to an open\nrupture with the state, at last was content to ask the government of\nIllyr'ia, with two legions; but this also was refused him. 30. Finding\nall attempts at an accommodation fruitless, and conscious, if not of\nthe goodness of his cause, at least of the goodness of his troops, he\nbegan to draw them down towards the confines of Italy; and passing the\nAlps with his third legion, stopped at Raven'na, whence he once more\nwrote to the consuls, declaring that he was ready to resign all\ncommand in case Pompey would do so. 31. On the other hand, the senate\ndecreed, that C\u00e6sar should lay down his government, and disband\nhis forces within a limited time; and, if he refused obedience, that\nhe should be declared an enemy to the commonwealth.\n_Questions for Examination._\n1. What was C\u00e6sar's first act after the Triumvirate had been formed?\n2. Whom did the senate appoint as C\u00e6sar's colleague, and why?\n3. Had Bibulus any controul over C\u00e6sar?\n4. How did C\u00e6sar commence his schemes?\n5. How did he farther promote his views?\n6. How were the provinces allotted?\n7, 8. Was C\u00e6sar's a desirable allotment?\n9. Who were the first that submitted to C\u00e6sar's arms?\n10. Who were the next?\n11. Who made the most formidable resistance?\n12. What other nations were subdued by C\u00e6sar?\n13. Did these conquests content him?\n14. What opposition did he experience on the British coast?\n15. What followed this defeat?\n16. In what way were C\u00e6sar's views promoted?\n17. Did not Pompey suspect his intentions?\n18. When undeceived, what measures did he pursue?\n19. What contributed to widen the breach?\n20. How did C\u00e6sar ascertain the disposition of Pompey towards him?\n21. Did Pompey take an active part?\n22. What was Pompey's view in this?\n23. Did C\u00e6sar fall into the snare?\n24. Which side did the senate favour?\n25. Did C\u00e6sar give up the legions?\n26. What was the next step they took?\n27. What was the consequence of this proposal?\n28. Did Pompey obey this command?\n29. What was C\u00e6sar's conduct on this occasion?\n30. How did he next proceed?\n31. What measure did the senate adopt?\nSECTION II.\n  On him thy hate, on him thy curse bestow.\n  Who would persuade thee C\u00e6sar is thy foe;\n  And since to thee I consecrate my toil,\n  Oh! favour thou my cause, and on thy soldier smile.--_Lucan._\n1. C\u00e6sar, however, seemed no way disturbed at these violent\nproceedings; the night before his intended expedition into Italy, he\nsat down to table cheerfully, conversing with his friends on subjects\nof literature and philosophy; and apparently disengaged from every\nambitious concern. After some time, rising up, he desired the\ncompany to make themselves joyous in his absence, and that he would be\nwith them in a moment: in the mean time, having ordered his chariot to\nbe prepared, he immediately set out, attended by a few friends, for\nArim'inum, a city upon the confines of Italy, whither he had\ndespatched a part of his army the morning before. 2. This journey by\nnight, which was very fatiguing, he performed with great diligence,\nsometimes walking, and sometimes on horseback; till at the break of\nday, he came up with his army, which consisted of about five thousand\nmen, near the Ru'bicon, a little river which separates Italy from\nGaul, and which marked the limits of his command. 3. The Romans had\never been taught to consider this river as the sacred boundary of\ntheir domestic empire. 4. C\u00e6sar, therefore, when he advanced at the\nhead of his army to the side of it, stopped short upon the bank, as if\nimpressed with terror at the greatness of his enterprise. He could not\npass it without transgressing the laws; he therefore pondered for some\ntime in fixed melancholy, looking and debating with himself whether he\nshould venture in. \"If I pass this river,\" said he to one of his\ngenerals, \"what miseries shall I bring upon my country! and if I now\nstop short I am undone.\" 5. After a pause he exclaimed, \"Let us go\nwhere the gods and the injustice of our enemies call us.\" Thus saying,\nand renewing all his former alacrity, he plunged in, crying out, \"The\ndie is cast.\" His soldiers followed him with equal promptitude, and\nhaving passed the Ru'bicon, quickly arrived at Arim'inum, and made\nthemselves masters of the place without any resistance.\n6. This unexpected enterprise excited the utmost terror in Rome; every\none imagining that C\u00e6sar was leading his army to lay the city in\nruins. At the same time were to be seen the citizens flying into the\ncountry for safety, and the inhabitants of the country coming to seek\nshelter in the city. 7. In this universal confusion, Pompey felt all\nthat repentance and self-condemnation, which must necessarily arise\nfrom the remembrance of having advanced his rival to his present pitch\nof power: wherever he appeared, many of his former friends were ready\nto tax him with his supineness, and sarcastically to reproach his\nill-grounded presumption. 8. \"Where is now,\" cried Favo'nius, a\nridiculous senator of this party, \"the army that is to rise at your\ncommand? let us see if it will appear by stamping.\"[7] Cato\nreminded him of the many warnings he had given him; which, however, as\nhe was continually boding nothing but calamities, Pompey might very\njustly be excused from attending to. 9. Being at length wearied with\nthese reproaches, which were offered under colour of advice, he did\nall that lay in his power to encourage and confirm his followers: he\ntold them that they should not want an army, for that he would be\ntheir leader. He confessed, indeed, that he had all along mistaken\nC\u00e6sar's aims, judging only from what they ought to have been; however,\nif his friends were still inspired with the love of freedom, they\nmight yet enjoy it in whatever place their necessities should happen\nto conduct them. 16. He let them know that their affairs were in a\nvery promising situation: that his two lieutenants were at the head of\na very considerable army in Spain, composed of veteran troops that had\nmade a conquest of the east: besides these, there were infinite\nresources, both in Asia and Africa, together with the succours they\nwere sure to receive from all the kingdoms that were in alliance with\nRome. 11. This speech served in some measure to revive the hopes of\nthe confederacy. The greatest part of the senate, his private friends\nand dependents, with all those who expected to make their fortunes by\nespousing his cause, agreed to follow him. But being in no capacity to\nresist C\u00e6sar at Rome, he resolved to lead his forces to Cap'ua, where\nthe two legions that served under C\u00e6sar in Gaul were stationed.\n12. C\u00e6sar in the mean time, after having vainly attempted to bring\nPompey to an accommodation, resolved to pursue him into Cap'ua before\nhe could collect his forces. Accordingly, he marched on to take\npossession of the cities that lay between him and his rival, not\nregarding Rome, which he knew would fall of course to the conqueror.\n13. Corfin'ium was the first city that attempted to stop the rapidity\nof his march. It was defended by Domi'tius, who had been appointed by\nthe senate to succeed him in Gaul. C\u00e6sar quickly invested it; and\nthough Domi'tius sent frequently to Pompey, exhorting him to come and\nraise the siege, he was at length obliged to endeavour to escape\nprivately. 14. His intentions being divulged, the garrison resolved to\nconsult their own safety by delivering him up to the besiegers. C\u00e6sar\nreadily accepted their offers, but kept his men from immediately\nentering the town. 15. After some time, Len'tulus the consul, who was\none of the besieged, came out to implore forgiveness for himself and\nthe rest of his confederates, putting C\u00e6sar in mind of their ancient\nfriendship, and acknowledging the many favours he had received at his\nhands. 16. To this C\u00e6sar, who would not wait the conclusion of his\nspeech, generously replied, that he came into Italy not to injure the\nliberties of Rome and its citizens, but to restore them. 17. This\nhumane reply being quickly carried into the city, the senators and the\nknights, with their children, and some officers of the garrison, came\nout to claim the conqueror's protection, who, just glancing at their\ningratitude, gave them their liberty, with permission to go\nwheresoever they should think proper. 18. But while he dismissed the\nleaders, he took care upon this, as upon all other occasions, to\nattach the common soldiers to his interest, sensible that he might\nstand in need of the army; but that while he lived, the army could\nnever stand in need of a commander.\n19. Pompey, who was unable to continue in Rome, having intelligence of\nwhat had passed upon this occasion, retreated to Brundu'sium, where he\nresolved to stand a siege, in order to retard the enemy, until the\nforces of the empire should be united to oppose him. 20. His aim in\nthis succeeded to his wish; and after having employed C\u00e6sar for some\ntime in a fruitless siege, he privately carried his forces over to\nDyrrach'ium, where the consul had levied a body of troops for his\nassistance. 21. However, though he made good his escape, he was\ncompelled to leave all Italy at the mercy of his rival, without a town\nor an army that had strength to oppose his progress.\n22. C\u00e6sar, who could not follow Pompey for want of shipping, went back\nto Rome, to take possession of the public treasures, which his\nopponent, by a most unaccountable oversight, had neglected to take\nwith him. 23. Upon his coming up to the door of the treasury,\nMetel'lus, the tribune, who guarded it, refused to let him pass; but\nC\u00e6sar, with emotion, laying his hand upon his sword, threatened to\nstrike him dead. \"Know, young man,\" cried he, \"it is easier to do this\nthan say it.\" This menace had its effect; Metel'lus retired, and\nC\u00e6sar took out of the treasury three hundred thousand pounds weight of\ngold, and an immense quantity of silver.\n24. Having thus provided for continuing the war, he departed from\nRome, resolved to subdue Pompey's lieutenants, Afra'nius and\nPetrei'us, who had been long in Spain at the head of a veteran army,\nwhich had ever been victorious. 25. C\u00e6sar, however, who knew the\nabilities of its present commanders, jocosely said, as he was\npreparing to march, \"I am going to fight an army without a general,\nand return to fight a general without an army.\"\n26. The first conflict which he had with Afra'nius and Petrei'us was\nrather unfavourable. It was fought near the city of Ilerda,[8] and\nboth sides claimed the honour of the victory. But, by various\nstratagems, he reduced them at last to such extremity of hunger and\ndrought, that they were obliged to yield at discretion. 27. Clemency\nwas his favourite virtue; he dismissed them all with the kindest\nprofessions, and then sent them home to Rome loaded with shame, and\nwith obligations to publish his virtues, and confirm the affections of\nhis adherents. 28. Thus, in the space of about forty days, he became\nmaster of Spain, and returned again victorious to Rome. The citizens\non this occasion received him with fresh demonstrations of joy, and\ncreated him dictator and consul. But the first of these offices he\nlaid down when he had held it eleven days.\n_Questions for Examination._\n1. How did C\u00e6sar conduct himself on the night previous to his intended\njourney to Italy?\n2. Did he accomplish his journey in safety?\n3. What rendered this little river of consequence?\n4. Did C\u00e6sar pass it without hesitation?\n5. How did he determine?\n6. What effect was produced at Rome by this enterprise?\n7. How was Pompey affected by it?\n8. What taunting expressions were used on this occasion?\n9. What was Pompey's conduct in reply?\n10. How did he represent the state of affairs?\n11. What was the consequence of this statement?\n12. How was C\u00e6sar employed in the mean while?\n13. What city first arrested his progress?\n14. Did he succeed in his endeavour?\n15. What attempt was made to incline C\u00e6sar to mercy?\n16. What was C\u00e6sar's reply?\n17. What was the consequence of this reply?\n18. Did he dismiss the soldiers likewise?\n19. Whither did Pompey retreat, and with what view?\n20. Did he succeed in his aims?\n21. What was the consequence of his retreat?\n22. Did C\u00e6sar follow Pompey?\n23. Was he opposed in his attempt?\n24. What was his next enterprise?\n25. What was C\u00e6sar's opinion of these commanders?\n26. Were they easily conquered?\n27. What use did he make of his victory?\n28. What was the duration of this campaign, and what were its\nconsequences?\nSECTION III.\n  At once the proof and scourge of man's fall'n state!\n  After the brightest conquest, what appears\n  Of all thy glories? for the vanquish'd, chains!\n  For the proud victors, what? Alas! to reign\n  O'er desolated nations.--_H. More_.\n1. While C\u00e6sar was thus employed, Pompey was active in making\npreparations in Epi'rus and Greece to oppose him. 2. All the monarchs\nof the East had declared in his favour, and sent very large supplies.\nHe was master of nine effective Italian legions, and had a fleet of\nfive hundred large ships, under the conduct of Bib'ulus, an active and\nexperienced commander. Added to these, he was supplied with large sums\nof money, and all the necessaries for an army, from the tributary\nprovinces round him. 3. He had attacked Antony and Dolabel'la, who\ncommanded for C\u00e6sar in that part of the empire, with such success,\nthat the former was obliged to fly, and the latter was taken prisoner.\nCrowds of the most distinguished citizens and nobles from Rome came\nevery day to join him. He had at one time above two hundred senators\nin his camp, among whom were Ci'cero and Ca'to, whose approbation of\nhis cause was equivalent to an army.\n4. Notwithstanding these preparations, C\u00e6sar shipped off five of his\ntwelve legions at Brundu'sium, and fortunately steered through the\nmidst of his enemies, timing it so well that he made his passage in\none day.\n[Illustration: C\u00e6sar embarking in a fishing boat.]\n5. Still, however, convinced that the proper time for making proposals\nfor a peace was after gaining advantage, he sent one Ru'fus, whom he\nhad taken prisoner, to effect an accommodation with Pompey,\noffering to refer all to the senate and people of Rome; but Pompey\nonce more rejected the overture, considering the people of Rome too\nmuch in C\u00e6sar's interest to be relied on.\n6. Pompey had been raising supplies in Macedo'nia when he was first\ninformed of C\u00e6sar's landing upon the coast of Epi'rus: he now resolved\nimmediately to march to Dyrrach'ium, in order to cover that place from\nC\u00e6sar's attempts, as all his ammunition and provisions were deposited\nthere. 7. The first place where both armies came in sight of each\nother was on the opposite banks of the river Ap'sus; and as both were\ncommanded by the two greatest generals then in the world; the one\nrenowned for his conquests in the East, and the other celebrated for\nhis victories over the western parts of the empire, a battle was\neagerly desired by the soldiers on either side. 8. But neither of the\ngenerals was willing to hazard it upon this occasion: Pompey could not\nrely upon his new levies; and C\u00e6sar would not venture an engagement\ntill he was joined by the rest of his forces.\n9. C\u00e6sar had waited some time with extreme impatience for the coming\nup of the remainder of his army, and even ventured alone in an open\nfishing-boat to hasten its arrival; but he was driven back by a\nstorm.[9] 10. However, his disappointment was soon relieved by an\ninformation of the landing of the troops at Apollo'nia; he,\ntherefore, decamped in order to meet them; and to prevent Pompey, with\nhis army, from engaging them on their march, as he lay on that side of\nthe river where the succours had been obliged to come on shore.\n11. Pompey, being compelled to retreat, led his forces to Aspara'gium,\nwhere he was sure of being supplied with every thing necessary for his\narmy, by the numerous fleets which he employed along the coasts of\nEpi'rus: there he pitched his camp upon a tongue of land (as mariner's\nexpress it) that jutted into the sea, where also was a small shelter\nfor his ships. 12. In this place, being most advantageously situated,\nhe began immediately to intrench his camp; which C\u00e6sar perceiving, and\nfinding that he was not likely soon to quit so advantageous a post,\nbegan also to intrench behind him. 13. As all beyond Pompey's camp\ntowards the land side was hilly and steep, C\u00e6sar built redoubts upon\nthe hills, stretching from shore to shore, and then caused lines of\ncommunication to be drawn from hill to hill, by which he blocked up\nthe camp of the enemy. 14. He hoped by this blockade to force his\nopponent to a battle, which he ardently desired, and which the other\nwith equal industry declined. Thus both sides continued for some time\nemployed in designs and stratagems, the one to annoy and the other to\ndefend. 15. C\u00e6sar's men daily carried on their works to straiten the\nenemy; those of Pompey, having the advantage of numbers, did the same\nto enlarge themselves, and severely galled the enemy by their slingers\nand archers. 16. C\u00e6sar, however, was indefatigable; he caused blinds\nor mantalets to be made of the skins of beasts, to cover his men while\nat work; he cut off all the water that supplied the enemy's camp, and\nthe forage from the horses, so that there remained no more subsistence\nfor them. 17. But Pompey at last resolved to break through his lines,\nand gain some other part of the country more convenient for\nencampment. Accordingly, having informed himself of the condition of\nC\u00e6sar's fortifications from some deserters who came over to him, he\nordered the light infantry and archers on board his ships to attack\nC\u00e6sar's entrenchments by sea, where they were least defended. 18. This\nwas done with such effect, that though C\u00e6sar and his officers used\ntheir utmost endeavours to hinder Pompey's designs, yet by means of\nreiterated attempts, he at last effected his purpose of extricating\nhis army from its present camp, and of encamping in another place\nby the sea, where he had the convenience both of forage and shipping.\n19. C\u00e6sar being thus frustrated in his views of blocking up the enemy,\nand perceiving the loss he had sustained, resolved at last to force\nPompey to a battle, though upon disadvantageous terms. 20. The\nengagement began by attempting to cut off a legion which was posted in\na wood; and this brought on a general battle. The conflict was for\nsome time carried on with great ardour, and with equal fortune; but\nC\u00e6sar's army being entangled in the entrenchments of the old camps\nlately abandoned, began to fall into disorder; upon which Pompey\npressing his advantage, they at last fled with precipitation. Great\nnumbers perished in the trenches and on the banks of the river, or\nwere pressed to death by their fellows. 21. Pompey pursued his success\nto the very camp of C\u00e6sar; but either from surprise, under the\nsuddenness of his victory, or fearful of an ambuscade, he with drew\nhis troops into his own camp, and thus lost an opportunity of\ncompleting his victory.\n22. After this defeat, which was by no means decisive, C\u00e6sar marched,\nwith all his forces united in one body, directly to Gom'phi, a town in\nthe province of Thes'saly. But the news of his defeat at Dyr'rachium\nhad reached this place before him; the inhabitants, therefore, who had\nbefore promised him obedience, now changed their minds, and, with a\ndegree of baseness equal to their imprudence, shut their gates against\nhim. 23. C\u00e6sar was not to be injured with impunity. Having represented\nto his soldiers the great advantage of forcing a place so very rich,\nhe ordered the scaling ladders to be got ready, and causing an assault\nto be made, proceeded with such vigour that, notwithstanding the\nheight of the walls, the town was taken in a few hours. 24. C\u00e6sar left\nit to be plundered, and, without delaying his march, went forward to\nMetrop'olis, another town of the same province, which yielded at his\napproach. By this means he soon became possessed of all Thes'saly,\nexcept Laris'sa, which was garrisoned by Scip'io, with his legion who\ncommanded for Pompey. 25. During this interval, Pompey's officers\ncontinually soliciting their commander to come to a battle, he, at\nlength, resolved to renounce his own judgment in compliance with those\nabout him, and gave up all schemes of prudence for those dictated by\navarice and passion. 26. Advancing, therefore, into Thes'saly, within\na few days after the taking of Gom'phi, he drew down upon the\nplains of Pharsa'lia, where he was joined by Scip'io, his lieutenant,\nand the troops under his command. There, waiting the coming of C\u00e6sar,\nhe resolved to engage, and, by a single battle, decide the fate of\nkingdoms.\n_Questions for Examination._\n1. How was Pompey engaged at this time?\n2. What advantages did he possess?\n3. What farther contributed to give him hopes of success?\n4. Was C\u00e6sar discouraged by these formidable preparations?\n5. Was he resolutely bent on hostilities?\n6. What was Pompey's first measure?\n7. Where did the armies first come in sight of each other?\n8. Was an immediate engagement the consequence?\n9. Was this junction soon effected?\n10. What was the consequence?\n11. What was Pompey's next measure?\n12. Did he remain long in this place?\n13. What means did C\u00e6sar adopt to distress the enemy?\n14. What did he promise himself from the adoption of this plan?\n15. How were both armies employed?\n16. What was the conduct of C\u00e6sar on this occasion?\n17. How did Pompey frustrate his designs?\n18. Was he successful in his attempts?\n19. What was C\u00e6sar's resolution on this occasion?\n20. By what means did he effect this?\n21. Did Pompey make the most of his victory?\n22. Whither did C\u00e6sar betake himself, and what was the consequence of\nhis defeat?\n23. Did he quietly submit to this insult?\n24. What revenge did he take?\n25. How did Pompey act on this occasion?\n26. Where was this great contest about to be decided?\nSECTION IV.\n  Each had proposed an empire to be won;\n  Had each once known a Pompey for his son,\n  Had C\u00e6sar's soul informed each private breast.\n  A fiercer fury could not be expressed.--_Lucan_.\n1. C\u00e6sar had employed all his art for some time in sounding the\ninclinations of his men; and finding his army once more resolute and\nvigorous, he advanced towards the plains of Pharsa'lia, where Pompey\nwas encamped.\n2. The approach of two armies, composed of the best and bravest troops\nin the world, together with the greatness of the prize for which they\ncontended, filled every mind with anxiety, though with different\nexpectations. 3. Pompey's army, being most numerous, turned all their\nthoughts to the enjoyment of the victory; C\u00e6sar's considered only the\nmeans of obtaining it; Pompey's army depended upon their numbers, and\ntheir many generals; C\u00e6sar's upon their discipline, and the conduct of\ntheir single commander. 4. Pompey's partisans hoped much from the\njustice of their cause; C\u00e6sar's alleged the frequent proposals which\nthey had made for peace without effect. Thus the views, hopes and\nmotives of both seemed different, whilst their hatred and ambition\nwere the same. 5. C\u00e6sar, who was ever foremost in offering battle, led\nout his army to meet the enemy; but Pompey, either suspecting his\ntroops, or dreading the event, kept his advantageous situation at the\nfoot of the hill near which he was posted. 6. C\u00e6sar, unwilling to\nattack him at a disadvantage, resolved to decamp the next day, hoping\nto weary out his antagonist, who was not a match for him in sustaining\nthe fatigues of duty. 7. Accordingly the order for marching was given,\nand the tents were struck, when word was brought him that Pompey's\narmy had now quitted their intrenchments, and advanced farther into\nthe plain than usual; so that he might engage them at less\ndisadvantage. 8. Upon this he caused his troops to halt, and, with a\ncountenance of joy, informed them that the happy time was at last\ncome, which they had so long wished for, and which was to crown their\nglory, and terminate their fatigues. He then drew up his troops in\norder, and advanced towards the place of battle. 9. His forces did not\namount to above half those of Pompey; the army of the one was about\nforty-five thousand foot, and seven thousand horse: that of the other\nnot exceeding twenty-two thousand foot, and about a thousand horse.\n10. This disproportion, particularly in the cavalry, had filled C\u00e6sar\nwith apprehensions; he therefore had some days before picked out the\nstrongest and nimblest of his foot soldiers, and accustomed them to\nfight between the ranks of his cavalry. By their assistance, his\nthousand horse was a match for Pompey's seven thousand, and had\nactually got the better in a skirmish that happened between them some\ndays before.\n11. Pompey, on the other hand, had a strong expectation of success; he\nboasted that he could put C\u00e6sar's legions to flight without striking a\nsingle blow; presuming that as soon as the armies formed, his cavalry,\non which he placed his greatest expectations, would out-flank and\nsurround the enemy. In this disposition Pompey led his troops to\nbattle. 12. As the armies approached, the two generals went from rank\nto rank, encouraging their men, exciting their hopes, and lessening\ntheir apprehensions. 13. Pompey represented to his men that the\nglorious occasion which they had long besought him to grant was now\nbefore them. \"What advantages,\" said he, \"could you wish, that you are\nnot now possessed of. Your numbers, your vigour, a late victory, all\nassure us of a speedy and an easy conquest of those harassed and\nbroken troops, composed of men worn out with age, and impressed with\nthe terrors of a recent defeat; but there is still a stronger bulwark\nfor our protection than the superiority of our strength; and that is,\nthe justice of our cause. You are engaged in the defence of liberty\nand of your country; you are supported by its laws, and followed by\nits magistrates; the world are spectators of your conduct, and wish\nyou success: on the contrary, he whom you oppose is a robber, an\noppressor of his country, already nearly sunk with the consciousness\nof his crimes, as well as the ill success of his arms. Show then, on\nthis occasion, all that ardour and detestation of tyranny which should\nanimate Romans, and do justice to mankind.\"\n14. C\u00e6sar, on his part, went among his men with that steady serenity\nfor which he was so much admired in the midst of danger. He insisted\non nothing so strongly, as his frequent and unsuccessful endeavours\nfor peace. He spoke with terror of the blood he was about to shed, and\npleaded the necessity that urged him to it. He deplored the many brave\nmen that were to fall on both sides, and the wounds of his country,\nwhoever might be victorious. 15. His soldiers answered only with looks\nof ardour and impatience. He gave the signal to begin. The word on\nPompey's side was, \"Her'cules the Invincible:\" that on C\u00e6sar's,\n\"Ve'nus the Victorious.\" 16. There was no more space between both\narmies than to give room for the charge: Pompey therefore ordered his\nmen to receive the first shock without moving from their places,\nexpecting the enemy's ranks to be put into disorder. C\u00e6sar's soldiers\nwere now rushing on with their usual impetuosity, when, perceiving the\nenemy motionless, they all stopt short, as if by general consent, and\nhalted in the midst of their career. 17. A terrible pause ensued, in\nwhich both armies continued to gaze upon each other with mutual terror\nand dreadful serenity. At length, C\u00e6sar's men having taken breath, ran\nfuriously upon the enemy, first discharging their javelins, and\nthen drawing their swords. The same method was observed by Pompey's\ntroops, who as firmly sustained the attack. His cavalry also were\nordered to charge at the very onset, which, with the multitude of\narchers and slingers, soon obliged C\u00e6sar's men to give ground. 18.\nC\u00e6sar instantly ordered the six cohorts, that were placed as a\nreinforcement, to advance, and to strike at the enemy's faces. 19.\nThis had its desired effect: Pompey's cavalry, that were just before\nsure of the victory, received an immediate check. The unusual method\nof fighting pursued by the cohorts, their aiming entirely at the\nvisages of the assailants, and the horrible disfiguring wounds they\nmade, all contributed to intimidate them so much, that instead of\ndefending their persons, they endeavoured only to save their\nfaces.[10] 20. A total rout ensued; they fled to the neighbouring\nmountains, while the archers and slingers, who were thus abandoned,\nwere cut to pieces. 21. C\u00e6sar now commanded the cohorts to pursue\ntheir success, and charge Pompey's troops upon the flank: this charge\nthe enemy withstood for some time with great bravery, till C\u00e6sar\nbrought up his third line, which had not yet engaged. 22. Pompey's\ninfantry being thus doubly attacked, in front by fresh troops, and in\nthe rear by the victorious cohorts, could no longer resist, but fled\nto their camp. The flight began among the strangers. Pompey's right\nwing still valiantly maintained their ground. 23. C\u00e6sar, however,\nconvinced that the victory was certain, with his usual clemency cried\nout to pursue the strangers, but to spare the Romans; upon which they\nall laid down their arms and received quarter. The greatest slaughter\nwas among the auxiliaries, who fled on all sides. 24. The battle had\nnow lasted from break of day till noon, and the weather was extremely\nhot; nevertheless, the conquerors remitted not their ardour, being\nencouraged by the example of a general, who thought his victory\nincomplete till he should become master of the enemy's camp.\nAccordingly, marching on foot at their head, he called upon them to\nfollow and strike the decisive blow. 25. The cohorts which were left\nto defend the camp, for some time made a formidable resistance;\nparticularly a great number of Thra'cians and other barbarians, who\nwere appointed for that purpose; but nothing could resist the\nardour of C\u00e6sar's victorious army; the enemy were at last driven from\nthe trenches, and compelled to fly to the mountains.\n_Questions for Examination._\n1. What was the state of C\u00e6sar's army immediately before the battle of\nPharsalia?\n2. What effect had the approaching event on the minds of men?\n3. What were the respective advantages of each army?\n4. On what did they principally build their hopes?\n5. Who was the first to offer battle?\n6. How did C\u00e6sar act on this occasion?\n7. What followed?\n8. What effect had this intelligence on C\u00e6sar's plan?\n9. Of what number of troops were each of the armies composed?\n10. What did C\u00e6sar consider necessary to be done to remedy this\ndis-proportion?\n11. What were Pompey's expectations and boasts?\n12. What was the conduct of the generals?\n13. Repeat Pompey's address to his troops?\n14. How did C\u00e6sar encourage his men?\n15. What effect had this speech, and what was the word on both sides?\n16. In what manner did the attack commence?\n17. Describe the progress of the battle?\n18. What means did C\u00e6sar adopt to prevent a defeat?\n19. Was this measure successful?\n20. What was the consequence?\n21. What were C\u00e6sar's farther commands?\n22. What followed?\n23. What use did C\u00e6sar make of his victory?\n24. Did not fatigue abate the ardour of C\u00e6sar's troops?\n25. Did they attempt to defend the camp?\nSECTION V.\n  Sad Pompey's soul uneasy thoughts infest,\n  And his Cornelia pains his anxious breast,\n  To distant Lesbos fain he would remove.\n  Far from the war, the partner of his love.--_Lucan._\n1. C\u00e6sar, seeing the field and camp strewed with his fallen\ncountrymen, was strongly affected at the melancholy prospect, and\ncried out to one that stood near him, \"They would have it so.\" 2. In\nthe camp, every object presented fresh instances of the blind\npresumption and madness of his adversaries. On all sides were to be\nseen tents adorned with ivy and myrtle, couches covered with purple,\nand sideboards loaded with plate. Every thing gave proof of the\nhighest luxury, and seemed rather the preparatives for a banquet, or\nthe rejoicings for a victory, than dispositions for a battle. 3. A\ncamp so richly furnished would have engaged the attention of any\ntroops but C\u00e6sar's; but there was still something to be done, and he\npermitted them not to pursue any other object than their enemies. 4. A\nconsiderable body having retired to the adjacent mountains, he\nprevailed on his soldiers to join him in the pursuit, in order to\noblige these to surrender. He began by inclosing them with a line\ndrawn at the foot of the mountain; but they quickly abandoned a post\nwhich was untenable for want of water, and endeavoured to reach the\ncity of Laris'sa. 5. C\u00e6sar, leading a part of his army by a shorter\nway, intercepted their retreat. However, these unhappy fugitives again\nfound protection from a mountain, at the foot of which ran a rivulet\nthat supplied them with water. 6. Night approaching, C\u00e6sar's men were\nalmost spent, and fainting with their incessant toil since morning;\nyet still he prevailed upon them to renew their labours, and cut off\nthe rivulet that supplied the defendants. 7. The fugitives, thus\ndeprived of all hopes of succour or subsistence, sent deputies to the\nconqueror, offering to surrender at discretion. During this interval\nof negociation, a few senators that were among them, took the\nadvantage of the night to escape, and the rest, next morning, gave up\ntheir arms, and experienced the conqueror's clemency. In fact, he\naddressed them with great gentleness, and forbade the soldiers to\noffer violence, or to take any thing from them. 8. Thus C\u00e6sar gained\nthe most complete victory that had ever been obtained; and by his\ngreat clemency after the battle, seemed to have deserved it. His loss\namounted only to two hundred men; that of Pompey to fifteen thousand;\ntwenty-four thousand men surrendered themselves prisoners of war, and\nthe greatest part of these entered into C\u00e6sar's army, and were\nincorporated with the rest of his forces. 9. To the senators and Roman\nknights, who fell into his hands, he generously gave liberty to retire\nwherever they thought proper; and as for the letters which Pompey had\nreceived from those who wished to be thought neutral, C\u00e6sar burnt them\nall without reading, as Pompey had done on a former occasion. 10. Thus\nhaving performed all the duties of a general and a statesman, he sent\nfor the legions which had passed the night in camp, to relieve those\nwhich had accompanied him in the pursuit, and arrived the same day at\nLaris'sa.\n11. As for Pompey, who had formerly shown such instances of courage\nand conduct, when he saw his cavalry routed, on which he had placed\nhis sole dependence, he absolutely lost his reason. 12. Instead of\nthinking how to remedy this disorder by rallying such troops as fled,\nor by opposing fresh forces to stop the progress of the conqueror,\nbeing totally amazed by this first blow, he returned to the camp, and\nin his tent waited the issue of an event which it was his duty to have\ndirected, not to follow. There he remained for some moments\nspeechless, till being told that the camp was attacked--\"What!\" says\nhe, \"are we pursued to our very intrenchments?\" when, immediately\nquitting his armour for a habit more suited to his circumstances, he\nfled on horseback to Laris'sa: thence, perceiving that he was not\npursued, he slackened his pace, giving way to all the agonizing\nreflections which his deplorable situation must naturally suggest. 13.\nIn this melancholy manner he passed along the vale of Tempe, and\npursuing the course of the river Pe'neus, at last arrived at a\nfisherman's hut; here he passed the night, and then went on board a\nlittle bark, keeping along the sea-shore, till he descried a ship of\nsome burden, which seemed preparing to sail. In this he embarked; the\nmaster of the vessel still paying him that homage which was due to his\nformer station.\n14. From the mouth of the river Pe'neus he sailed to Amphip'olis,\nwhere, finding his affairs desperate, he steered to Les'bos, to take\nwith him his wife Corne'lia, whom he had left there, at a distance\nfrom the dangers and distresses of war. 15. She, who had long\nflattered herself with the hopes of victory, now felt the agonizing\nreverse of fortune: she was desired by the messenger, whose tears more\nthan his words proclaimed her unspeakable misfortunes, to hasten away\nif she expected to see Pompey, who had but one ship, and even that not\nhis own. 16. Her grief, which before was violent, became now\ninsupportable: she fainted, and lay without signs of life. At length\nrecovering, and reflecting that it was no time for vain lamentations,\nshe fled through the city to the seaside.\n17. Pompey received and embraced her, and in silent despair supported\nher in his arms. \"Alas!\" said Corne'lia, \"you who, before our\nmarriage, appeared in these seas as the commander of five hundred\nsail, are now reduced to make your escape in a single vessel. Why come\nyou in search of an unfortunate woman? Why was I not left to a\nfate which now you are under the necessity of sharing with me? Happy\nfor me had I executed, long since, my design of quitting this life!\nBut fatally have I been reserved to add to Pompey's sorrows.\"\n[Illustration: Death of Pompey.]\n18. Pompey instanced the uncertainty of all human affairs, and\nendeavoured by every argument to give her comfort; then, taking her\nunder his protection, he continued his course, stopping no longer than\nwas necessary for a supply of provisions at the ports which occurred\nin his passage. 19. He now determined upon applying to Ptol'emy, king\nof Egypt, to whose father he had been a considerable benefactor.\nPtol'emy was yet a minor, and had not the government in his own hands,\nbut was under the direction of an administration. 20. His council\ninsidiously contrived that Pompey should be invited on shore, and\nmurdered before he should come into the king's presence. Achil'las,\ncommander of the forces, and Septim'ius, a Roman, who had formerly\nbeen a centurion in Pompey's army, undertook to carry the treacherous\ndesign into execution. Attended by three or four more, they put off in\na little bark, and rowed to Pompey's ship, that lay about a mile from\nthe shore.\n21. Pompey now took leave of Corne'lia, repeating to her a verse of\nSoph'ocles, signifying, that \"he who trusts his freedom to a tyrant,\nfrom that moment becomes a slave.\" He then gave his hand to Achil'las,\nand, with only two of his own attendants, stepped into the bark. 22.\nThe frantic Corne'lia hung over the side of the deck, weeping and\nexclaiming against his separation from her. \"Alas!\" said she,\n\"whither art thou going?\"\n  He spoke; but she, unmoved at his commands,\n  Thus loud exclaiming, stretch'd her eager hands;\n  \"Whither, inhuman! whither art thou gone?\n  Still must I weep our common griefs alone?\"\nIn wild astonishment she followed him with her eyes, and uttering to\nthe winds her fruitless lamentations.\n23. The mariners, regardless of her sorrows, rowed towards land,\nwithout a word passing among them, till Pompey, by way of breaking\nsilence, looking at Septim'ius, whose face he recollected. \"Methinks,\nfriend,\" said he, \"you once served under me.\" Septim'ius noticing\nthese words only by a contemptuous nod of the head, Pompey betook\nhimself to a paper, on which he had minuted a speech intended to be\nmade to the king, and began reading it. In this manner they approached\nthe shore; whilst Corne'lia, whose insufferable sorrow had never let\nher lose sight of her husband, began to conceive hopes, perceiving\nthat the people on the strand crowded down along the coast as if eager\nto receive him. 24. Alas! these hopes were soon destroyed. At the\ninstant that Pompey rose, supporting himself upon his freedman's arm,\nSeptim'ius stabbed him in the back, and Achil'las instantly seconded\nthe blow. 25. Pompey, perceiving his death inevitable, calmly disposed\nhimself to meet it with decency; and covering his face with his robe,\nwithout a word resigned himself to his fate. 26. At this horrid sight,\nCorne'lia and her attendants shrieked, so as to be heard to the very\nshore. But the danger they were in allowing no time to look on, they\nimmediately set sail, and, the wind proving favourable, fortunately\nescaped the pursuit of the Egyptian galleys. 27. In the mean time,\nPompey's murderers, having taken off his head, embalmed it for a\npresent to C\u00e6sar, whilst the body was thrown naked on the strand, and\nexposed to the view of those whose curiosity was to be satisfied. 28.\nBut his faithful freedman, Philip, still kept near it; and when the\ncrowd dispersed, he washed it in the sea, and looking round for\nmaterials to burn it, perceived the wrecks of a fishing-boat, of which\nhe composed a pile. 29. While he was thus piously employed, he was\naccosted by an old Roman soldier, who had served under Pompey in his\nyouth. \"Who art thou?\" said he  \"that art making these humble\npreparations for Pompey's funeral?\"--\"One of his freedmen,\" answered\nPhilip.--\"Alas,\" replied the soldier, \"permit me to share with you the\nhonour of this sacred action. Among all the miseries of my exile, it\nwill be my last sad comfort, that I have been able to assist at the\nfuneral of my old commander, and to touch the body of the bravest\ngeneral that ever Rome produced.\"\n30. Thus were the last rites performed to Pompey. But his ashes\n(according to Plutarch) were carefully collected, and carried to\nCorne'lia, who deposited them at his villa near Alba, in Italy. 31. We\nare told, too, that the Egyptians afterwards erected a monument to\nhim, on the spot on which his funeral pile had been raised, with an\ninscription to this purpose:--\"How poor a tomb covers the man who once\nhad temples erected to his honour!\"\n32. From Pompey's death we may date the extinction of the republic.\nFrom this period the senate was dispossessed of its power; and Rome\nhenceforward was never without master.\n_Questions for Examination._\n1. How was C\u00e6sar affected by the result of the battle?\n2. What appearance did Pompey's camp present?\n3. Did C\u00e6sar's troops immediately begin to plunder?\n4. What became of the fugitives?\n5. Did they succeed in the attempt?\n6. Were the labours of C\u00e6sar's soldiers now at an end?\n7. What effect had this on the fugitives?\n8. Was this victory of importance, and what was the loss on both\nsides?\n9. In what manner did C\u00e6sar behave to the vanquished?\n10. What followed?\n11. What was the conduct of Pompey on this occasion?\n12. Mention your reasons for this assertion?\n13. Proceed in relating farther particulars?\n14. Whither did he next steer his course?\n15, 16. What effect had the tidings on Cornelia?\n17. Relate what passed at their interview?\n18. How did Pompey attempt to comfort her?\n19. What determination did he now form? 20. What was his intended\nreception?\n21. Did Pompey fall into the snare?\n22. Was his separation from his wife a painful one?\n23. What passed in the boat?\n24. Were Cornelia's hopes well founded?\n25. Did Pompey resist this treacherous attack?\n26. Was Cornelia a witness to this horrid transaction?\n27. How was the body of Pompey treated?\n28. Had he no friend to perform the last offices for him?\n29. By whom was he assisted?\n30. What became of his remains?\n31. What respect did the Egyptians afterwards pay to his memory?\n32. What was the face of affairs after Pompey's death?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] The inhabitants of the country now called Switzerland.\n[2] The Helvetians, finding their country too narrow for their\nincreased population, had determined on emigration. Being denied by\nC\u00e6sar a passage through his province, hostilities commenced, which\nterminated us above. (C\u00e6sar de Bel. Gal.)\n[3] Inhabitants of the country between the Rhine and the Loire.\n[4] Inhabitants of the modern province of Hainault.\n[5] She was the daughter of C\u00e6sar.\n[6] Crassus was inveigled into the power of Surena, the Parthian\ngeneral, under the pretence of treating for peace. His head was cut\noff and sent to Orodes, the king of Parthia, who poured molten gold\ndown his throat.\n[7] This alludes to a boasting speech made some time before by Pompey,\nwhen he told the senate not to be alarmed at the news of C\u00e6sar's\napproach, for that he had only to stamp, and an army would rise at his\ncommand.\n[8] Now Lerida in Catalonia.\n[9] It was on this occasion that he encouraged the master of the\nvessel, to whom he had not before made himself known, with these\nmemorable words--\"Fear nothing, for thou carriest C\u00e6sar and all his\nfortunes.\"\n[10] C\u00e6sar calls the young patricians that composed Pompey's cavalry\n\"pretty young dancers.\"\nCHAPTER XXI.\nSECTION I.\nFROM THE DESTRUCTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE\nFIRST EMPEROR, AUGUSTUS.--U.C. 706.\n                    When our ear is pierced\n  With the sad notes which mournful beauty yields,\n  Our manhood melts in sympathizing tears.--_Fenton_.\n1. C\u00e6sar has been much celebrated for his good fortune, but his\nabilities seem equal to the highest success. He possessed shining\nqualities, tarnished by ambition only. His talents were such as would\nhave rendered him victorious at the head of any army; and he would\nhave governed in any republic that had given him birth. 2. Having now\ngained a most complete victory, his success seemed only to increase\nhis activity, and inspire him with fresh resolution to face new\ndangers. He determined, therefore, to pursue his last advantage, and\nfollow Pompey to whatever country he had retired; convinced that,\nthough he might gain new triumphs, he should never enjoy security\nuntil his rival was in his power.\n3. Accordingly, losing no time, he set sail for Egypt, and arrived at\nAlexandria with about four thousand men: a very inconsiderable force\nto keep so powerful a kingdom under subjection. 4. The first accounts\nhe received were of Pompey's miserable end; and soon after, one of the\nmurderers came with his head and his ring, as a most grateful present\nto the conqueror. 5. But C\u00e6sar had too much humanity to be pleased\nwith so horrid a spectacle--with the sad remains of the man he once\nloved; his partner in power. He turned from it with disgust; and,\nafter a short pause, gave vent to his pity in a flood of tears. He\nordered the head to be burned with the most costly perfumes, and\nplaced the ashes in a temple, which he built and dedicated to the\ngoddess Nem'esis, the avenger of cruel and inhuman deeds.\n6. It should seem that the Egyptians, by this time, had some hopes of\nbreaking off all alliance with the Romans, which they considered, as\nin fact it was, only another name for subjection. They first took\noffence at C\u00e6sar's carrying the ensigns of Roman power before him as\nhe entered the city. Photi'nus also treated him with great disrespect,\nand even attempted his life. 7. C\u00e6sar, however, concealed his\nresentment till he had a force sufficient to punish his treachery;\nsending, therefore, privately, for the legions which he had formerly\nenrolled for Pompey's service, as being the nearest to Egypt, he, in\nthe mean time, pretended to repose an entire confidence in the king's\nministers, making great entertainments, and assisting at the\nconferences of the philosophers, who were numerous at Alexandria. 8.\nHowever, he soon changed his manner, when he found himself in no\ndanger from the ministers' attempts: and declared, that, being a Roman\nconsul, it was his duty to settle the succession of the Egyptian\ncrown.\n9. There were at that time two pretenders to the crown of Egypt;\nPtol'emy, the acknowledged king, and the celebrated Cleopa'tra, his\nsister, to whom, by the custom of the country, he was married; and\nwho, by his father's will, shared jointly in the succession. 10. Not\ncontented with the participation of power, Cleopa'tra aimed at\ngoverning alone; but being opposed in her views by the Roman senate,\nwho confirmed her brother's title to the crown, she was banished into\nSy'ria, with Arsin'oe, her younger sister. 11. C\u00e6sar gave her new\nhopes of aspiring to the kingdom, and sent both to her and her brother\nto plead their cause before him. But Photi'nus, the young king's\nguardian, disdaining to accept this proposal, backed his refusal by\nsending an army of twenty thousand men to besiege him in Alexandria.\n12. C\u00e6sar bravely repulsed the enemy; but finding the city of too\ngreat extent to be defended by so small an army as his, he retired to\nthe palace, which commanded the harbour, and there purposed to make\nhis stand. 13. Achil'las, who commanded the Egyptians, attacked him\nwith great vigour, and aimed at making himself master of the fleet\nthat lay before the palace. 14. C\u00e6sar, however, too well knew the\nimportance of those ships in the hands of an enemy; and therefore\nburnt them all, in spite of every effort to prevent him. He next\npossessed himself of the isle of Pha'ros, by which he was enabled to\nreceive supplies; and, in this situation, determined to withstand the\nunited force of the Egyptians.[1]\n15. In the mean time, Cleopa'tra, having heard of the present turn in\nher favour, resolved to depend on C\u00e6sar's patronage for gaining the\ngovernment, rather than on her own forces. But no arts, as she justly\nconceived, were so likely to influence C\u00e6sar as the charms of her\nperson, which were irresistible. 16. She was now in the bloom of youth\nand beauty, while every feature borrowed grace from the lively turn of\nher temper. To the most enchanting address she joined the most\nharmonious voice. With all these accomplishments, she possessed a\ngreat share of the learning of the times, and could give audience to\nthe ambassadors of seven different nations without an interpreter. 17.\nThe difficulty was, how to gain admission to C\u00e6sar, as her enemies\nwere in possession of all the avenues that led to the palace. For this\npurpose she went on board a small vessel, and, in the evening, landed\nnear the palace; where, being wrapt up in a coverlet, she was carried\nas a bundle of clothes into the very presence of C\u00e6sar. 18. Her\naddress instantly struck him; her wit and understanding fanned the\nflame; but her affability entirely brought him over to second her\nclaims.\n19. While Cleopa'tra was thus employed in forwarding her own views,\nher sister, Arsin'oe was also strenuously engaged in the camp, in\npursuing a separate interest. She had found means, by the assistance\nof one Gan'ymede, her confidant, to make a large division in the\nEgyptian army in her favour; and, soon after, by one of those sudden\nrevolutions which are common in barbarian camps to this day, she\ncaused Achil'las to be murdered, and Gan'ymede to take the command in\nhis stead, and to carry on the siege with greater vigour than before.\n20. Gan'ymede's principal effort was by letting in the sea upon those\ncanals which supplied the palace with fresh water; but this\ninconvenience C\u00e6sar remedied by digging a great number of wells. His\nnext endeavour was to prevent the junction of C\u00e6sar's twenty-fourth\nlegion, which he twice attempted in vain. He soon after made himself\nmaster of a bridge which joined the isle of Pha'ros to the\ncontinent, from which post C\u00e6sar was resolved to dislodge him. 21. In\nthe heat of the action, some mariners, partly through curiosity, and\npartly through ambition, came and joined the combatants; but, being\nseized with a panic, instantly fled, and spread a general terror\nthrough the army. All C\u00e6esar's endeavours to rally his forces were in\nvain, the confusion was past remedy, and numbers were drowned or put\nto the sword in attempting to escape. 22. Now, therefore, seeing the\nirremediable disorder of his troops, he fled to a ship, in order to\nget to the palace that was just opposite; but he was no sooner on\nboard, than such crowds entered after him, that being apprehensive of\nthe ship's sinking, he jumped into the sea, and swam two hundred paces\nto the fleet which lay before the palace, all the time holding his\nCommentaries in his left hand above the water, and his coat of mail in\nhis teeth.\n23. The Alexandrians, finding their efforts to take the palace\nineffectual, endeavoured at least to get their king out of C\u00e6sar's\npower, as he had seized upon his person in the beginning of their\ndisputes. For this purpose they made use of their customary arts of\ndissimulation, professing the utmost desire of peace, and only wanting\nthe presence of their lawful prince to give a sanction to the treaty.\n24. C\u00e6sar was sensible of their perfidy, but concealed his suspicions,\nand gave them their king, as he was under no apprehensions from the\nabilities of a boy. Ptol'emy, however, the instant he was set at\nliberty, instead of promoting the peace, made every effort to give\nvigour to his hostilities.\n25. In this manner was C\u00e6sar hemmed in for some time by an artful and\ninsidious enemy, and surrounded with almost insurmountable\ndifficulties; but he was at last relieved from this mortifying\nsituation by Mithrida'tes Pergame'nus, one of his most faithful\npartizans, who came with an army to his assistance. This general\nmarched into Egypt, took the city of Pelu'sium, repulsed the Egyptian\narmy with loss, and, at last, joining with C\u00e6sar, attacked their camp\nwith a great slaughter of the Egyptians. Ptol'emy himself, attempting\nto escape on board a vessel, was drowned by the ship's sinking. 26.\nC\u00e6sar thus became master of all Egypt, without any farther opposition.\nHe appointed Cleopa'tra, with her younger brother, who was then an\ninfant, joint governors, according to the intent of their father's\nwill, and drove out Arsin'oe, with Gan'ymede, to banishment.\n27. Having thus given away kingdoms, he now, for a while, seemed\nto relax from the usual activity of his conduct, being captivated with\nthe charms of Cleopa'tra. Instead of quitting Egypt to go and quell\nthe remains of Pompey's party, he abandoned himself to his pleasures,\npassing whole nights in feasting with the young queen. He even\nresolved on attending her up the Nile, into Ethiopia; but the brave\nveterans, who had long followed his fortune, boldly reprehended his\nconduct, and refused to be partners in so infamous an expedition. 23.\nThus at length roused from his lethargy, he resolved to prefer the\ncall of ambition to that of love; and to leave Cleopa'tra, in order to\noppose Pharna'ces, the king of Bosphorus, who had made some inroads\nupon the dominions of Rome in the East.\n29. This prince, who had cruelly deposed his father, the great\nMithrida'tes, being ambitious of conquering those dominions, seized\nupon Arme'nia and Col'chis, and overcame Domit'ius, who had been sent\nagainst him. 30. Upon C\u00e6sar's march to oppose him, Pharna'ces, who was\nas much terrified at the name of the general as at the strength of his\narmy, laboured, by all the arts of negociation, to avert the impending\ndanger. 31. C\u00e6sar, exasperated at his crimes and ingratitude, at first\ndissembled with the ambassadors; and using all expedition, fell upon\nthe enemy unexpectedly, and, in a few hours, obtained an easy and\ncomplete victory. Pharna'ces attempting to take refuge in his capital,\nwas slain by one of his own commanders--a just punishment for his\nformer parricide. C\u00e6sar achieved this conquest with so much ease, that\nin writing to a friend at Rome, he expressed the rapidity of his\nvictory in three words, \"VENI, VIDI, VICI.\"[2] A man so accustomed to\nconquest might, perhaps, think a slight battle scarcely worth a long\nletter; though it is more probable that these memorable words were\ndictated rather by vanity than indifference.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What were the abilities and character of C\u00e6sar?\n2. Did he rest satisfied with his present successes?\n3. Whither did he steer his course?\n4. What occurred on his arrival?\n5. Was C\u00e6sar pleased with this spectacle?\n6. What was the conduct of the Egyptians towards C\u00e6sar?\n7. Did C\u00e6sar resent this conduct?\n8. Did he continue this appearance of confidence?\n9. Who were at this time the sovereigns of Egypt?\n10. What rendered C\u00e6sar's interference necessary?\n11. Was this interference agreeable to the Egyptians?\n12. How did C\u00e6sar conduct himself on this occasion?\n13. Was the attack formidable?\n14. How did C\u00e6sar prevent the designs of the enemy?\n15. What was the conduct of Cleopatra?\n16. What attractions did she possess?\n17. What obstacles presented themselves, and how were they overcome?\n18. Was C\u00e6sar captivated by her charms?\n19. What measures did Arsinoe pursue?\n20. What attempts did the enemy make to annoy C\u00e6sar, and how were they\nfrustrated?\n21. What unlucky accident occasioned the miscarriage of C\u00e6sar's\ndesign?\n22. How did C\u00e6sar escape?\n23. What did the Alexandrians next attempt?\n24. Did C\u00e6sar comply with their wishes?\n25. How was C\u00e6sar delivered from this dangerous situation?\n26. What was the consequence of this victory?\n27. Did C\u00e6sar pursue his career of victory?\n28. What was the consequence of this boldness?\n29. What farther cause of offence had Pharnaces given?\n30. Did Pharnaces boldly oppose the invader?\n31. Did he succeed?\nSECTION II.\n  Oh, my friends,\n  How is the toil of fate, the work of ages,\n  The Roman empire fallen! Oh, cursed ambition!\n  Fallen into C\u00e6sar's hand: our great forefathers\n  Had left him nought to conquer but his country.--_Addison's Cato._\n1. C\u00e6sar, having settled affairs in this part of the empire, embarked\nfor Italy, where he arrived sooner than his enemies could expect, but\nnot before his presence there was absolutely required. 2. During his\nabsence, he had been created consul for five years, dictator for one\nyear, and tribune of the people for life. 3. But Antony, who in the\nmean time governed for him in Rome, had filled the city with riot and\ndebauchery, and many commotions ensued, which nothing but the arrival\nof C\u00e6sar could appease. 4. By his moderation and humanity he soon\nrestored tranquillity to the city, scarcely making any distinction\nbetween those of his own and the opposite party. 5. Having, by gentle\nmeans, restored his authority at home, he prepared to march into\nAfrica, where Pompey's party had found time to rally under Scipio\nand Cato, assisted by Juba, king of Maurita'nia; and, with his usual\ndiligence, landed with a small party in Africa, while the rest of his\narmy followed him. 6. Scipio coming to a battle soon after, received a\ncomplete and final overthrow, with little, or no loss on the side of\nthe victor. Juba, and Petrei'us his general, killed each other in\ndespair. Scipio, attempting to escape by sea into Spain, fell in among\nthe enemy, and was slain; so that of all the generals of that undone\nparty, Cato was now the only one that remained.\n7. This extraordinary man, whom prosperity could not elate, nor\nmisfortunes depress, having retired into Africa, after the battle of\nPharsa'lia, had led the wretched remains of Pompey's army through\nburning deserts, and tracts infested with serpents of various\nmalignity, and was now in the city of Utica, which he had been left to\ndefend. 8. In love, however, with the show of Roman government, Cato\nhad formed the principal citizens into a senate, and conceived a\nresolution of holding out the town. But the enthusiasm for liberty\nsubsiding among his followers, he was resolved no longer to force men\nto be free, who seemed naturally prone to slavery. 9. He now,\ntherefore, desired some of his friends to save themselves by sea, and\nbade others submit to C\u00e6sar's clemency; observing, that, as to\nhimself, he was at last victorious. After this, supping cheerfully\namong his friends, he retired to his apartment, where he behaved with\nunusual tenderness to his son, and to all his friends. When he came\ninto his bed-chamber, laying himself down, he took up Plato's Dialogue\non the Immortality of the Soul, and read for some time. Casting his\neyes to the head of his bed, he wondered much not to see his sword\nthere, which had been conveyed away by his son's order while they were\nat supper. Calling to one of his domestics to know what was become of\nit, and receiving no answer, he resumed his studies; and some time\nafter asked again for his sword. When he had done reading, and\nperceived that nobody obeyed him, he called for his domestics one\nafter the other, and with a peremptory air again demanded his sword.\n10. His son, with tears, besought him to change his resolution; but,\nreceiving a stern reprimand, desisted from his persuasions. His sword\nbeing at length brought to him, he seemed satisfied, and cried out,\n\"Now, again, I am master of myself.\" He took up the book again, which\nhaving pursued, he fell into a sound sleep. Upon awaking, he\ncalled to one of his freedmen to know if his friends were embarked, or\nif any thing yet remained that could be done to serve them. The\nfreedman, assuring him that all was quiet, was ordered to leave the\nroom. Cato no sooner found himself alone, than, seizing his sword, he\nstabbed himself below his chest. The blow not despatching him, he fell\nfrom his bed and overturned a table, on which he had been drawing some\ngeometrical figures. At the noise of the fall, his servants shrieked,\nand his son and friends immediately flew to the room. They found him\nweltering in his blood, with his bowels appearing through the wound.\n11. The surgeon, perceiving that his intestines were not wounded, was\nreplacing them; but Cato recovering himself, and understanding their\nintention was to preserve his life, forced the surgeon from him, and,\nwith a fierce resolution, tore out his bowels and expired.\n12. Upon the death of Cato, the war in Africa being completed, C\u00e6sar\nreturned in such triumph to Rome, as if he had abridged all his former\ntriumphs only to increase the splendour of this. The citizens were\nastonished at the magnificence of the procession, and at the number of\nthe countries he had subdued. 13. It lasted four days: the first was\nfor Gaul, the second for Egypt, the third for his victories in Asia,\nand the fourth for that over Juba in Africa. His veteran soldiers,\nscarred with wounds, and now laid up for life, followed their\ntriumphant general, crowned with laurels, and conducted him to the\nCapitol. 14. To every one of those he gave a sum equivalent to about a\nhundred and fifty pounds sterling, double that sum to the centurions,\nand four times as much to the superior officers. The citizens also\nshared his bounty: to every one he distributed ten bushels of corn,\nten pounds of oil, and a sum of money equal to about two pounds\nsterling. After this he entertained the people at above twenty\nthousand tables, treated them with combats of gladiators, and filled\nRome with a concourse of spectators from every part of Italy.\n15. The people, intoxicated with pleasure, thought their freedom too\nsmall a return for such benefits. They seemed eager only to find out\nnew modes of homage, and unusual epithets of adulation for their great\nenslaver. He was created, by a new title, _Magis'ter Mo'rum_, or\nMaster of the Morals of the People. He received the title of Emperor\nand father of his country. His person was declared sacred; and, in\nshort, upon him alone were devolved for life all the great\ndignities of the state. 16. It must be owned, that so much power could\nnever have been entrusted to better keeping. He immediately began his\nempire by repressing vice and encouraging virtue. He committed the\npower of judicature to the senators and knights alone; and by many\nsumptuary laws restrained the scandalous luxuries of the rich. He\nproposed rewards to all such as had many children, and took the most\nprudent method of re-peopling the city, which had been exhausted in\nthe late commotions.\n17. Having thus restored prosperity once more to Rome, he again found\nhimself under a necessity of going into Spain to oppose an army which\nhad been raised there under the two sons of Pompey, and Labie'nus his\nformer general. 18. He proceeded in this expedition with his usual\ncelerity, and arrived in Spain before the enemy thought him yet\ndeparted from Rome. Cne'ius Pompey, and Sextus, Pompey's sons,\nprofiting by their unhappy father's example, resolved, as much as\npossible, to protract the war; so that the first operations of the two\narmies were spent in sieges and fruitless attempts to surprise each\nother. 19. However, C\u00e6sar, after taking many cities from the enemy,\nand pursuing his adversary with unwearied perseverance, at last\ncompelled him to come to a battle upon the plain of Munda. 20. Pompey\ndrew up his men, by break of day, upon the declivity of a hill, with\ngreat exactness and order. C\u00e6sar drew up likewise in the plains below;\nand after advancing a little way from his trenches, ordered his men to\nmake a halt, expecting the enemy to come down from the hill. This\ndelay made C\u00e6sar's soldiers begin to murmur; while Pompey's with full\nvigour poured down upon them, and a dreadful conflict ensued. 21. The\nfirst shock was so dreadful, that C\u00e6sar's men, who had hitherto been\nused to conquer, now began to waver. C\u00e6sar was never in so much danger\nas now; he threw himself several times into the very thickest of the\nbattle. \"What,\" cried he, \"are you going to give up to a parcel of\nboys your general, who is grown grey in fighting at your head?\" 22.\nUpon this, his tenth legion exerted themselves with more than usual\nbravery; and a party of horse being detached by Labie'nus from the\ncamp in pursuit of a body of Numid'ian cavalry, C\u00e6sar cried aloud that\nthey were flying. This cry instantly spread itself through both\narmies, exciting the one as much as it depressed the other. 23. Now,\ntherefore, the tenth legion pressed forward, and a total rout soon\nensued. Thirty thousand men were killed on Cne'ius Pompey's side,\nand amongst them Labie'nus, whom C\u00e6sar ordered to be buried with the\nfuneral honours of a general officer. Cne'ius Pompey escaped with a\nfew horsemen to the seaside; but finding his passage intercepted by\nC\u00e6sar's lieutenant, he was obliged to seek for a retreat in an obscure\ncavern. He was quickly discovered by some of C\u00e6sar's troops, who\npresently cut off his head, and brought it to the conqueror. His\nbrother Sextus, however, concealed himself so well, that he escaped\nall pursuit; and afterwards, from his piracies, became noted and\nformidable to the people of Rome.\n24. C\u00e6sar, by this last blow, subdued all his avowed enemies; and the\nrest of his life was employed for the advantage of the state. He\nadorned the city with magnificent buildings; he rebuilt Carthage and\nCorinth, sending colonies to both cities: he undertook to level\nseveral mountains in Italy, to drain the Pontine marshes near Rome;\nand he designed to cut through the Isthmus of Peloponne'sus. 25. Thus,\nwith a mind that could never remain inactive, he pondered mighty\nprojects and schemes, beyond the limits of the longest life; but the\ngreatest of all was his intended expedition against the Parthians, by\nwhich he designed to revenge the death of Crassus, who having\npenetrated too far into their country, was overthrown, taken prisoner,\nand put to a cruel death, by having molten gold poured down his\nthroat, as a punishment for his former avarice. From Parthia, C\u00e6sar\nintended to pass through Hyrca'nia, and enter Scyth'ia, along the\nbanks of the Caspian sea; then to open a way through the immeasurable\nforests of Germany into Gaul, and so to return to Rome. These were the\naims of ambition; but the jealousy of a few individuals put an end to\nthem all.\n_Questions for Examination._\n1. What was C\u00e6sar's next step?\n2. What honours were awarded him in his absence?\n3. What was the conduct of his deputy?\n4. How did he put an end to these disturbances?\n5. What was his next enterprise?\n6. What was the success of the campaign?\n7. How was Cato situated?\n8. What measure had he pursued?\n9. When all hope had forsaken him, what was his conduct?\n10. Was no effort made to change his resolution, and what\nfollowed?\n11. Was the wound mortal?\n12. What happened after the death of Cato?\n13. Describe the triumph.\n14. Was not C\u00e6sar extremely liberal?\n15. What returns were made for this extraordinary liberality?\n16. Was he deserving of these honours?\n17. Was he destined to pass the rest of his life in tranquillity?\n18. Describe the opening of the campaign?\n19. Were the sons of Pompey successful in their attempts?\n20. What were the dispositions of the two armies?\n21. What memorable expression did the danger of the conflict draw from\nC\u00e6sar?\n22. What was the consequence of this exclamation?\n23. What was the result of the battle?\n24. In what manner did C\u00e6sar employ himself at this time?\n25. What were his most important resolutions?\nSECTION III.\n  O mighty C\u00e6sar! dost thou lie so low?\n  Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,\n  Shrunk to this little measure?--_Shakspeare._\n1. C\u00e6sar having been made perpetual dictator, and received from the\nsenate accumulated honours, it began to be rumoured that he intended\nto make himself king. In fact, he was possessed of the power; but the\npeople, who had an aversion to the name, could not bear his assuming\nthe title. 2. Whether he really designed to assume that empty honour,\nmust for ever remain a secret; but certain it is, that the\nunsuspecting openness of his conduct created something like confidence\nin the innocence of his intentions. 3. When informed by those about\nhim of the jealousies of many who envied his power, he was heard to\nsay, that he would rather die once by treason, than live continually\nin the apprehension of it. When advised by some to beware of Brutus,\nin whom he had for some time reposed the greatest confidence, he\nopened his breast, all scarred with wounds, saying, \"Do you think\nBrutus cares for such poor pillage as this?\" and, being one night at\nsupper, as his friends disputed among themselves what death was\neasiest, he replied, \"That which is most sudden and least foreseen.\"\nBut, to convince the world how little he apprehended from his enemies,\nhe disbanded his Spanish guards, and thus facilitated the enterprise\nagainst his life.\n4. A deep conspiracy was now laid against him, into which no less than\nsixty senators entered. They were still the more formidable, as the\ngenerality of them were of his own party; and, having been raised\nabove other citizens, felt more strongly the weight of a single\nsuperior.\n[Illustration: Brutus and Cassius conspiring against C\u00e6sar.]\nAt the head of this conspiracy were Brutus, whose life C\u00e6sar had\nspared after the battle of Pharsalia, and Cassius, who was pardoned\nsoon after; both pr\u00e6tors for the present year. 5. Brutus made it his\nchief glory to have descended from that Brutus who first gave liberty\nto Rome. The passion for freedom seemed to have been transmitted to\nhim with the blood of his ancestors. But, though he detested tyranny,\nyet could he not forbear loving the tyrant from whom he had received\nthe most signal benefits.\n6. The conspirators, to give a colour of justice to their proceedings,\nput off the execution of their design to the ides of March,[3] the day\non which C\u00e6sar was to be offered the crown. 7. The augurs had foretold\nthat this day would be fatal to him. The night preceding he heard his\nwife, Calphur'nia, lamenting in her sleep. Being awakened, she\nconfessed to him, that she dreamt of his being assassinated in her\narms. 8. These omens, in some measure, began to change his intention\nof going to the senate; but one of the conspirators coming in,\nprevailed upon him to keep his resolution, telling him of the reproach\nthat would attend his staying at home till his wife should have lucky\ndreams, and of the preparations that were made for his appearance. 9.\nAs he went along to the senate, a slave who hastened to him with\ninformation of the conspiracy, attempted to come near him, but was\nprevented by the crowd. Artemido'rus, a Greek philosopher, who had\ndiscovered the whole plot, delivered him a memorial, containing the\nheads of his information; but C\u00e6sar gave it, with other papers, to one\nof his secretaries, without reading, as was visual in matters of this\nnature. Having at length entered the senate-house, where the\nconspirators were prepared to receive him, he met one Spuri'na, an\naugur, who had foretold his danger, to whom he said smiling, \"Well,\nSpuri'na, the ides of March are come.\"--\"Yes,\" replied the augur, \"but\nthey are not yet gone.\" 10. No sooner had he taken his place, than the\nconspirators approached, under pretence of saluting him: Cimber, who\nwas one of them, in a suppliant posture, pretended to sue for his\nbrother's pardon, who had been banished by C\u00e6sar's order. The\nconspirators seconded him with great earnestness; and Cimber, seeming\nto sue with still greater submission, took hold of the bottom of his\nrobe; holding him, so as to prevent his rising. 11. This was the\nsignal agreed on; when Casca, who was behind, instantly stabbed him in\nthe shoulder, C\u00e6sar sprung around, and, with the steel of his tablet,\nwounded him in the arm. The conspirators were all alarmed; when, being\ninclosed round, he received a second stab, from an unseen hand, in the\nbreast; while Cassius wounded him in the face. He still defended\nhimself with great vigour, rushing among them, and throwing down such\nas opposed him, till he saw Brutus among the conspirators, who, coming\nup, struck his dagger into his thigh. 12. C\u00e6sar, from that moment,\nthought no more of defending himself; but, looking upon Brutus, cried\nout, \"_Et tu Brute!_\"--And you too, O Brutus! Then covering his head,\nand spreading his robe before him, in order to fall with decency, he\nsunk down at the base of Pompey's statue: after having received three\nand twenty wounds, from those whom he vainly supposed he had disarmed\nby his benefits.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 709.]\n13. C\u00e6sar was killed in his fifty-sixth year, and about fourteen years\nafter he had begun the conquest of the world.\n[Illustration: Death of Julius C\u00e6sar.]\n14. If we examine his history, we shall be at a loss whether most\nto admire his great abilities, or his wonderful fortune. To pretend to\nsay, that from the beginning he planned the subjection of his native\ncountry, is doing no great credit to his well-known penetration, as a\nthousand obstacles lay in his way, which fortune, rather than conduct,\nwas to surmount; no man, therefore, of his sagacity, would have begun\na scheme in which the chances of succeeding were so many against him.\nIt is most probable that, like all very successful men, he made the\nbest of every occurrence; and his ambition rising with his good\nfortune, from at first being content with humbler aims, he at last\nbegan to think of governing the world, when he found scarcely any\nobstacle to oppose his designs. Such is the disposition of man, whose\ncravings after power are then most insatiable when he enjoys the\ngreatest share.[4]\n16. As soon as the conspirators had despatched C\u00e6sar, they retired to\nthe Capitol, and guarded its accesses by a body of gladiators which\nBrutus had in pay.\n17. The friends of the late dictator now began to find that this was\nthe time for coming into greater power than before, and for satisfying\ntheir ambition under the pretence of promoting justice: of this number\nwas Antony. 18. He was a man of moderate abilities, of excessive\nvices, ambitious of power only because it gave his pleasures a\nwider range to riot in; but skilled in war, to which he had been\ntrained from his youth.[5] He was consul for this year, and resolved,\nwith Lep'idus, who like himself was fond of commotions, to seize this\nopportunity of gaining a power which C\u00e6sar had died for usurping.\nLep'idus, therefore, took possession of the Forum,[6] with a band of\nsoldiers at his devotion; and Antony, being consul, was permitted to\ncommand them. 19. Their first step was to possess themselves of\nC\u00e6sar's papers and money, and the next to assemble the senate. 20.\nNever had this august assembly been convened upon so delicate an\noccasion, as to determine whether C\u00e6sar had been a legal magistrate,\nor a tyrannical usurper; and whether those who killed him merited\nrewards or punishments. Many of them had received all their promotions\nfrom C\u00e6sar, and had acquired large fortunes in consequence of his\nappointments: to vote him an usurper, therefore, would be to endanger\ntheir property; and yet, to vote him innocent, might endanger the\nstate. In this dilemma they seemed willing to reconcile extremes; they\napproved all the acts of C\u00e6sar, and yet granted a general pardon to\nthe conspirators.\n21. This decree was very far from giving Antony satisfaction, as it\ngranted security to a number of men who were the avowed enemies of\ntyranny, and who would be foremost in opposing his schemes of\nrestoring absolute power. As, therefore, the senate had ratified all\nC\u00e6sar's acts without distinction, he formed a plan of making him rule\nwhen dead as imperiously as he had done when living. 22. Being\npossessed of C\u00e6sar's books of accounts, he so far gained over his\nsecretary as to make him insert whatever he thought proper. By these\nmeans, great sums of money, which C\u00e6sar would never have bestowed,\nwere distributed among the people; and every man who had any seditious\ndesigns against the government was there sure to find a gratuity. 23.\nThings being in this situation, Antony demanded of the senate that\nC\u00e6sar's funeral obsequies should be performed. This they could not\ndecently forbid, as they had never declared him a tyrant:\naccordingly, the body was brought forth into the Forum with the utmost\nsolemnity; and Antony, who charged himself with these last duties of\nfriendship, began his operations upon the passions of the people by\nthe prevailing motives of private interest. 24. He first read to them\nC\u00e6sar's will, in which he made Octavius, his sister's grandson, his\nheir, permitting him to take the name of C\u00e6sar, and bequeathed him\nthree parts of his private fortune; which, in case of his death,\nBrutus was to have inherited. To the Roman people were left the\ngardens which he possessed on the other side of the Tiber; and to\nevery citizen three hundred sesterces. Unfolding C\u00e6sar's bloody robe,\npierced by the daggers of the conspirators, he observed to them the\nnumber of stabs in it. He also displayed a waxen image, representing\nthe body of C\u00e6sar, all covered with wounds. 25. The people could no\nlonger retain their indignation, but unanimously cried out for\nrevenge, and ran, with flaming brands from the pile, to set fire to\nthe houses of the conspirators. In this rage of resentment, meeting\nwith one Cinna, whom they mistook for another of the same name that\nwas in the conspiracy, they tore him in pieces. 26. The conspirators\nthemselves, however, being well guarded, repulsed the multitude with\nno great trouble; but perceiving the general rage of the people, they\nthought it safest to retire from the city.\n27. In the mean time, Antony, who had excited this flame, resolved to\nmake the most of the occasion. But an obstacle to his ambition seemed\nto arise from a quarter in which he least expected it, namely, from\nOcta'vius, afterwards called Augus'tus, who was the grand-nephew and\nadopted son of C\u00e6sar. A third competitor also for power appeared in\nLep'idus, a man of some authority and great riches. 28. At first, the\nambition of these three seemed to threaten fatal consequences to each\nother; but, uniting in the common cause, they resolved to revenge the\ndeath of C\u00e6sar, and dividing their power, they formed what is called\nthe Second Triumvirate.\n_Questions for Examination._\n1. What design was C\u00e6sar supposed to entertain?\n2. Was this rumour well founded?\n3. When hints of danger were given him, what was his conduct?\n4. What was the consequence of this imprudence?\n5. What was the character of Brutus?\n6. What time was fixed for the conspiracy to take place?\n7. Had C\u00e6sar any intimations of his danger?\n8. Was he at all influenced by them?\n9. Were no other attempts made to warn him of his approaching fate?\n10. In what way did the conspirators commence their attempt?\n11. What followed?\n12. What was the consequence of this?\n13. What was C\u00e6sar's age?\n14. Did C\u00e6sar plan the conquest of his country from the first?\n15. By what means did he accomplish it?\n16. How did the conspirators escape the vengeance of the people?\n17. What advantage was taken of this event?\n18. What was the character of Antony, and what resolution did he form?\n19. What were his first acts?\n20. How were the seriate situated on this occasion?\n21. Was Antony satisfied with this decree?\n22. How did he accomplish this?\n23. What was his next measure?\n24. By what means did he effect his purpose?\n25. What was the consequence of this artful conduct?\n26. Did the conspirators fall victims to their fury?\n27. Had Antony no rivals in his attempts to acquire power?\n28. What was the result of this rivalship?\nSECTION IV.\n  Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come,\n  Revenge yourself alone on Cassius,\n  For Cassius is aweary of the world.--_Shakspeare._\n1. The meeting of these three usurpers of their country's freedom, was\nupon a little island of the river Rhenus.[7] Their mutual suspicions\nwere the cause of their meeting in a place where they had no fear of\ntreachery; for, even in their union, they could not divest themselves\nof mutual diffidence. 2. Lep'idus first entered; and, finding all\nthings safe, made the signal for the other two to approach. At their\nfirst meeting, after saluting each other, Augustus began the\nconference, by thanking Antony for putting Dec'imus Brutus to death;\nwho, being abandoned by his army, had been taken, as he was\nendeavouring to escape into Macedo'nia, and was beheaded by Antony's\nsoldiers. 3. They then entered upon the business that lay before them,\nwithout any retrospection to the past.\n[Illustration: The Second Triumvirate preparing their Proscription\nList.]\nTheir conference lasted three days; and, in this period, they\nsettled a division of the government, and determined the fate of\nthousands. 4. The result of this conference was, that the supreme\nauthority should be lodged in their hands, under the title of the\nTrium'virate, for the space of five years; that Antony should have\nGaul; Lep'idus, Spain, and Augustus, Africa and the Mediterranean\nislands. As for Italy, and the eastern provinces, they were to remain\nin common, until their general enemy should be subdued; and, among\nother articles of union, it was agreed that all their enemies should\nbe destroyed, of which each presented a list. 5. In these were\ncomprised, not only the enemies but the friends of the Trium'virate,\nsince the partisans of the one were found among the opposers of the\nother. Thus Lep'idus gave up his brother \u00c6mil'ius Paulus to the\nvengeance of his colleague; Antony permitted the proscription of his\nuncle Lucius; and Augustus delivered up the great Ci'cero, who was\nassassinated shortly after by Antony's command.[8]\n6. In the mean time Brutus and Cassius, the principal of the\nconspirators against C\u00e6sar, being compelled to quit Rome, went into\nGreece, where they persuaded the Roman students at Athens to declare\nin the cause of freedom; then parting, the former raised a powerful\narmy in Macedonia, while the latter went into Syria, where he soon\nbecame master of twelve legions, and reduced his opponent, Dolabella,\nto such straits as to force him to lay violent hands on himself. 7.\nBoth armies joined at Smyr'na: the sight of such a formidable force\nbegan to revive the declining spirits of the party, and to reunite the\ntwo generals still more closely, between whom there had been, some\ntime before, a slight misunderstanding. In short, having quitted Italy\nlike distressed exiles, without having one soldier or one town that\nowned their command, they now found themselves at the head of a\nflourishing army, furnished with every necessary for carrying on the\nwar, and in a condition to support a contest on which the empire of\nthe world depended.\n8. It was in this flourishing state of their affairs that the\nconspirators formed a resolution of marching against Cleopatra, who\nhad made great preparations to assist their opponents. 9. However,\nthey were diverted from this purpose by information that Augustus and\nAntony were now upon their march, with forty legions, to oppose them.\nBrutus, therefore, moved to have their army pass over into Greece and\nMacedonia, and there meet the enemy: but Cassius so far prevailed as\nto have the Rho'dians and Ly'cians first reduced, who had refused\ntheir usual contributions. 10. This expedition was immediately put in\nexecution, and extraordinary contributions were thus raised, the\nRho'dians having scarcely anything left them but their lives. The\nLy'cians suffered still more severely; for having shut themselves up\nin their capital town Nanthus, they defended the place against Brutus\nwith so much fury, that neither his arts nor entreaties could prevail\nupon them to surrender. [11]. At length, the town being set on fire by\ntheir attempting to burn the works of the Romans, Brutus, instead of\nlaying hold of this opportunity to storm the place, made every effort\nto preserve it, entreating his soldiers to try all means of\nextinguishing the fire; but the desperate frenzy of the citizens\nwas not to be mollified. 12. Far from thinking themselves obliged to\nthe generous enemy for the efforts which they made to save them, they\nresolved to perish in the flames. Instead of extinguishing, therefore,\nthey did all in their power to augment the fire, by throwing in wood,\ndry reeds, and all kinds of fuel. 13. Nothing could exceed the\ndistress of Brutus upon seeing the townsmen thus resolutely bent on\ndestroying themselves. He rode about the fortifications, stretching\nout his hands to the Xan'thians, and conjuring them to have pity on\nthemselves and their city; but, insensible to his expostulations, they\nrushed into the flames with desperate obstinacy, and the whole soon\nbecame a heap of undistinguishable ruin. 14. At this horrid spectacle\nBrutus melted into tears, offering a reward to every soldier who\nshould bring him a Ly'cian alive. The number of those whom it was\npossible to save from their own fury amounted to no more than one\nhundred and fifty. 15. Some writers, however, affirm that the town was\nburnt to the ground, and the inhabitants destroyed, by the command of\nBrutus; and that those who surrendered at discretion, he deprived of\nall their public and private property.\n16. Brutus and Cassius met once more at Sardis where they resolved to\nhave a private conference together. They shut themselves up in the\nfirst convenient house, with express orders to their servants to give\nadmission to no one. 17. Brutus began by reprimanding Cassius for\nhaving disposed of offices for money, which should ever be the reward\nof merit, and for having overtaxed the tributary states. Cassius\nrepelled the imputation of avarice with the more bitterness, as he\nknew the charge to be groundless. The debate grew warm; till, from\nloud speaking, they burst into tears. 18. Their friends, who were\nstanding at the door, overheard the increasing vehemence of their\nvoices, and began to tremble for the consequences, till Favo'nius, who\nvalued himself upon a cynical boldness, that knew no restraint,\nentering the room with a jest, calmed their mutual animosity. 19.\nCassius was ready enough to forego his anger, being a man of great\nabilities, but of an uneven disposition; not averse to pleasure in\nprivate company, and, upon the whole, of morals not quite correct. But\nthe conduct of Brutus was perfectly steady. An even gentleness, a\nnoble elevation of sentiment, a strength of mind over which neither\nvice nor pleasure could have an influence, and an inflexible firmness\nin the cause of justice, composed the character of this great\nman. 20. After their conference night coming on, Cassius invited\nBrutus and his friends to an entertainment, where freedom and\ncheerfulness, for a while, took place of political anxiety, and\nsoftened the severity of wisdom. Upon retiring home it was that Brutus\nthought he saw a spectre in his tent. 21. He naturally slept but\nlittle, and was capable of bearing want of rest by long habit and\ngreat sobriety. He never allowed himself to sleep in the daytime, as\nwas common in Rome; and only gave so much of the night to repose as\ncould barely renew the functions of nature. But now, oppressed with\nvarious cares, he allowed himself a still shorter time after his\nnightly repast; and, waking about midnight, generally read or studied\ntill morning. 22. It was in the dead of night, says Plutarch, when the\nwhole camp was perfectly quiet, that Brutus was thus employed; reading\nby a lamp that was just expiring. On a sudden he thought he heard a\nnoise, as if somebody was approaching, and looking towards the door,\nperceived it open. A gigantic figure of frightful aspect stood before\nhim, and continued to gaze upon him with silent severity. 23. Brutus\nis reported to have asked, \"Art thou a d\u00e6mon or a mortal? and why\ncomest thou to me?\" \"Brutus,\" answered the phantom, \"I am thy evil\ngenius--thou shalt see me again at Philippi.\"[9] \"Well, then,\" replied\nBrutus, without being discomposed, \"we shall meet again.\" Upon this\nthe phantom vanished; when Brutus, calling to his servants, asked if\nthey had seen anything; to which they answering in the negative, he\nresumed his studies. 24. Struck with so strange an occurrence, he\nmentioned it to Cassius, who rightly considered it as the effect of an\nimagination disordered by vigilance and anxiety. 25. Brutus appeared\nsatisfied with this solution; and as Antony and Augustus were now\nadvanced into Macedonia, he and his colleague passed over into Thrace,\nand drew near to Philippi, where the forces of the Trium'viri were\nposted to receive them.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. Where was the first meeting of the Triumvirate, and why was it\nchosen?\n2. What precautions did they take?\n3. What farther was done?\n4. What was the result of the conference?\n5. Who were the proscribed?\n6. What became of Brutus and Cassius?\n7. What effect had this success on the minds of their party?\n8. What was their first resolution?\n9. Did they put it in execution?\n10. What was the consequence to the Rhodians and Lycians?\n11. What unfortunate accident hastened the fate of the town?\n12. Did they not second the efforts of Brutus?\n13. By what means did Brutus attempt to divert them from their\npurpose?\n14, 15. By what method did he endeavour to save some of the Lycians?\n16. Where did Brutus and Cassius meet, and what ensued?\n17. Was their interview an amicable one?\n18. Did no one interpose?\n19. What were the characters of these great men?\n20. What happened after the conference?\n21. What were the peculiar habits of Brutus?\n22. What happened to him while thus employed?\n23. What conversation passed between them?\n24. Did he mention the circumstance to any one?\n25. Did Brutus assent to this opinion, and what followed?\nSECTION V.\n  I dare assure you that no enemy\n  Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus.--_Shakspeare_.\n1. Mankind now began to regard the approaching armies with terror and\nsuspense. The empire of the world depended upon the fate of a battle.\nFrom victory, on the one side, they had to expect freedom; on the\nother, a sovereign with absolute command. 2. Brutus was the only man\nwho looked upon these great events with calmness and tranquillity.\nIndifferent as to success, and satisfied with having done his duty, he\nsaid to one of his friends, \"If I am victorious, I shall restore\nliberty to my country: if not, by dying, I shall myself be delivered\nfrom slavery. My condition is fixed; I run no hazards.\" 3. The\nrepublican army consisted of fourscore thousand foot, and twenty\nthousand horse. The army of the Trium'viri amounted to a hundred\nthousand foot and thirteen thousand horse. 4. Thus complete on both\nsides, they met and encamped near each other upon the plains of\nPhilip'pi. Near the town were two little hills, about a mile distant\nfrom each other; upon these hills, Brutus and Cassius fixed their\ncamps, and kept up a free communication, which mutually defended each\nother. 5. In this commodious situation they could act as they thought\nproper, and give battle just when it was thought to their advantage to\nengage. Behind was the sea, which furnished them with all kinds of\nprovisions; and, at twelve miles distance, the island of Thasos, which\nserved them for a general magazine. 6. The Trium'viri, on the other\nhand, were encamped on the plain below, and were obliged to bring\nprovisions from fifteen leagues' distance; so that their scheme and\ninterest were to forward a battle as soon as possible. This they\noffered several times, drawing out their men from the camp, and\nprovoking the enemy to engage. 7. On the contrary, the enemy contented\nthemselves with drawing up their troops at the head of their camps,\nwithout descending to the plain. This resolution of postponing the\nbattle, was the chance that the republican army had for victory; and\nCassius, sensible of his advantage, resolved to harass rather than\nengage the enemy. 8. But Brutus, who began to suspect the fidelity of\nsome of his officers, used all his influence to persuade Cassius to\nchange his resolution. \"I am impatient,\" said he, \"to put an end to\nthe miseries of mankind; and in this I hope to succeed whether I\nconquer or fall.\" 9. His wishes were soon gratified; for Antony's\nsoldiers having, with great labour, made a road through the marsh\nwhich lay to the left of Cassius's camp, by that means opened a\ncommunication with the island of Thasos, which lay behind him. Both\narmies, after several attempts to possess themselves of this road,\nresolved at length to come to a general engagement. 10. This, however,\nwas contrary to the advice of Cassius, who found himself forced, as\nPompey had formerly been, to expose the liberty of Rome to the hazard\nof a battle. On the ensuing morning, the two generals gave the signal\nfor engaging, and conferred together a little while before the battle\nbegan. 11. Cassius desired to be informed how Brutus intended to act\nin case they should be unsuccessful. To this Brutus replied,\n\"Formerly, in my writings, I condemned the death of Cato, and\nmaintained, that avoiding calamities by suicide is an insolent attempt\nagainst Heaven, that allotted them: but I have altered my opinion; I\nhave given up my life to my country, and I think I have a right to my\nown way of ending it.[10] I am resolved, therefore, to change a\nmiserable being here for a better hereafter, if fortune turn against\nme.\" 12. \"My friend,\" cried Cassius, embracing him, \"now may we\nventure to face the enemy; for either we shall be conquerors, or we\nshall have no cause to fear those that be so.\" 13. Augustus being\nsick, the forces of the Triumviri were commanded by Antony alone, who\nbegan the engagement by a victorious attack upon the lines of Cassius.\nBrutus, on the other side, made a dreadful irruption on the army of\nAugustus, and drove forward with so much intrepidity, that he broke\nthem upon the very first charge. Upon this, he penetrated as far as\nthe camp, and slaughtering those that were left for its defence, his\ntroops immediately began to plunder. 14. In the mean time, however,\nthe lines of Cassius were forced, and his cavalry put to flight. There\nwas no effort that this unfortunate general did not exert to make his\ninfantry stand; stopping those that fled, and himself seizing the\ncolours to rally them. But the valour of an individual was\ninsufficient to inspire a timorous army. 15. At length, despairing of\nsuccess, Cassius retired to his tent and killed himself. Brutus was\nsoon informed of the defeat of Cassius, and in a little time after, of\nhis death; scarcely able to restrain the excess of his grief for a man\nwhom he lamented as the last of the Romans.\n16. Brutus, now become sole general, assembled the dispersed troops of\nCassius, and animated them with fresh hopes of victory. As they had\nlost their all from the plundering of their camp, he promised two\nthousand denarii to each man to make them amends. 17. Inspired with\nnew ardour, they admired the liberality of their general, and, with\nloud shouts, proclaimed his intrepidity. Still, however, he wanted\nconfidence to face the adversary, who offered him battle the ensuing\nday. His aim was to starve the enemy, who were in extreme want of\nprovisions, from their fleet having been lately defeated. 18. But his\nsingle opinion was overruled by the army, who now grew every day more\nconfident of their strength, and more arrogant to their general. At\nlast, therefore, after a respite of twenty days, he was obliged to\ncomply with their solicitations to try the fate of a battle. Both\narmies were drawn out, and they remained a long while opposite\nto each other without offering to engage. It is said, that he himself\nhad lost much of his ardour by having again seen, or fancied that he\nsaw, the spectre, in the night preceding. However, he encouraged his\nmen, and gave the signal for battle. As usual, he had the advantage\nwhere he commanded in person; bearing down the enemy at the head of\nhis infantry, and supported by his cavalry, making great slaughter.\n19. But the forces which had belonged to Cassius were seized with a\npanic, and communicating their terror to the rest, the whole army at\nlast gave way. Brutus, surrounded by the most valiant of his officers,\nfought long with amazing valour. The son of Cato, and the brother of\nCassius, fell fighting by his side. At last, he was obliged to yield\nto necessity, and fled. 20. In the mean time, the two Triumviri,\nassured of victory, expressly ordered that the general should by no\nmeans be suffered to escape. Thus the whole body of the enemy being\nintent on the person of Brutus alone, his capture seemed inevitable.\n21. In this deplorable exigence, Lucil'ius, his friend, resolved, by\nhis own death, to effect his general's delivery. 22. Seeing a body of\nThracian horse closely pursuing Brutus, and just upon the point of\ntaking him, he boldly threw himself in their way, telling them that\n_he_ was Brutus. The Thra'cians overjoyed with so great a prize,\nimmediately despatched some of their companions with the news of their\nsuccess to the army. 23. Upon this, the ardour of the pursuit abating,\nAntony marched out to meet his prisoner, either to hasten his death,\nor insult his misfortunes. He was followed by a great number of\nofficers and soldiers, some silently deploring the fate of so virtuous\na man, others reproaching that mean desire of life far which he\nconsented to undergo captivity. 24. Antony now seeing the Thracians\napproach, began to prepare himself for the interview; but the faithful\nLucilius, advancing with a cheerful air--\"It is _not_ Brutus,\" said\nhe, \"that is taken; fortune has not yet had the power of committing so\ngreat an outrage upon virtue. As for my life, it is well lost in\npreserving his honour; take it, for I have deceived you.\" Antony,\nstruck with so much fidelity, pardoned him, loaded him with benefits,\nand honoured him with his friendship.\n25. In the mean time, Brutus, with a small number of friends, passed\nover a rivulet; and night coming on, sat down under a rock, which\nconcealed him from the pursuit of the enemy. After taking breath, and\ncasting his eyes to heaven, he repeated a line from Eurip'ides,\ncontaining a wish to the gods, \"That guilt should not pass in this\nlife without punishment.\" To this he added another from the same poet:\n\"O unhappy virtue! I have worshipped thee as a real good; but thou art\na vain empty name, and the slave of fortune.\" He then called to mind,\nwith great tenderness, those whom he had seen perish in battle. 26. He\nsent out one Statil'ius to give him information of those that\nremained; but Statil'ius never returned, being killed by a party of\nthe enemy's horse. Brutus, judging rightly of his fate, now resolved\nto die likewise; and entreated those who stood round him to give him\ntheir last sad assistance: but they all refused so melancholy a\nservice. 27. He then retired aside with his friend Strato, requesting\nhim to perform the last office of friendship. Upon Strato's refusal,\nhe ordered one of his slaves to execute what he so ardently desired;\nbut Strato crying out, \"that it never should be said that Brutus, in\nhis last extremity, stood in need of a slave for want of a friend,\"\nturned aside his head, and presenting the sword's point, Brutus threw\nhimself upon it, and immediately expired, in the forty-third year of\nhis age. A.U. 711.\n_Questions for Examination._\n1. What great event was now depending?\n2. What were Brutus's feelings on this occasion?\n3. What was the respective strength of the armies?\n4. Where did they meet and encamp?\n5. What were the advantages of this situation?\n6. Were the Triumviri equally well situated?\n7. Were the enemy equally ready to engage?\n8. What induced Brutus to combat this resolution?\n9. Did he obtain his wish?\n10. Did Cassius wish to engage?\n11. What passed between the generals on this occasion?\n12. What was the reply of Cassius?\n13. What happened at the commencement of the battle?\n14. Was Cassius equally successful?\n15. What did he do in his extremity, and what effect had it on Brutus?\n16. Did Brutus attempt to recover the victory?\n17. What followed?\n18. Were his intentions agreeable to his troops, and what was the\nconsequence?\n19. What decided the victory against him?\n20. What orders were issued by the Triumviri or this occasion?\n21. By whom was his deliverance attempted?\n22. How did he accomplish this?\n23. What was the consequence?\n24. Relate the circumstances of their interview?\n25. What happened to Brutus in the mean time?\n26. How did he attempt to gain intelligence, and what followed his\ndisappointment?\n27. Relate the manner of his death?\nSECTION VI.\n  But anxious cares already seized the queen;\n  She fed within her veins a flame unseen:\n  The hero's valour, acts, and birth, inspire\n  Her soul with love, and fan the secret fire.--_Dryden_.\n1. From the moment of Brutus's death, the Trium'viri began to act as\nsovereigns, and to divide the Roman dominions among them as their own\nby right of conquest. 2. However, though there were apparently three\nwho participated all power, yet, in fact, only two were actually\npossessed of it, since Lep'idus was admitted at first merely to curb\nthe mutual jealousy of Antony and Augustus, and was possessed neither\nof interest in the army, nor authority among the people. 3. Their\nearliest care was to punish those whom they had formerly marked for\nvengeance. Horten'sius, Dru'sus, and Quintil'ius Va'rus, all men of\nthe first rank in the commonwealth, either killed themselves or were\nslain. A senator and his son were ordered to cast lots for their\nlives, but both refused; the father voluntarily gave himself up to the\nexecutioner, and the son stabbed himself before his face. Another\nbegged to have the rites of burial after his death: to which Augus'tus\nreplied, \"that he would soon find a grave in the vultures that would\ndevour him.\" 4. But chiefly the people lamented to see the head of\nBrutus sent to Rome to be thrown at the foot of C\u00e6sar's statue. His\nashes, however, were sent to his wife Portia, Cato's daughter, who,\nfollowing the examples of both her husband and father, killed herself,\nby swallowing coals. 5. It is observed, that of all those who had a\nhand in the death of C\u00e6sar, not one died a natural death.\n6. The power of the Triumviri being thus established upon the ruin of\nthe commonwealth, they now began to think of enjoying that homage to\nwhich they had aspired. 7. Antony went into Greece to receive the\nflattery of that refined people, and spent some time at A'thens,\nconversing with the philosophers, and assisting at their disputes in\nperson.\n[Illustration: Antony with Cleopatra In Egypt]\nThence he passed over into Asia, where all the monarchs of the\neast, who acknowledged the Roman power, came to pay him their\nobedience; while the fairest princesses strove to gain his favour by\nthe greatness of their presents or the allurements of their beauty. 8.\nIn this manner he proceeded from kingdom to kingdom, attended by a\nsuccession of sovereigns, exacting contributions, distributing\nfavours, and giving away crowns with capricious insolence. He\npresented the kingdom of Cappado'cia to Sy'senes, in prejudice of\nAriara'thes, only because he was pleased with the beauty of Glaph'yra,\nthe mother of the former. He settled Herod in the kingdom of Judea,\nand supported him. But among all the sovereigns of the east, who\ndepended upon Antony, Cleopatra, the celebrated queen of Egypt, was\nthe most distinguished.\n9. It happened that Sera'pion, her governor in the isle of Cyprus, had\nformerly furnished some succours to Cassius and the conspirators; and\nit was thought proper she should answer for his conduct. Accordingly,\nhaving received orders from Antony to clear herself of the imputation\nof infidelity, she readily complied, equally conscious of the goodness\nof her cause and the power of her beauty. 10. She was now in her\ntwenty-seventh year, and consequently had improved those allurements\nby art, which in earlier age are seldom attended to Her address and\nwit were still farther heightened; and though there were some women in\nRome that were her equals in beauty, none could rival her in the\npowers of conversation; 11. Antony was in Tarsus, a city of Cili'cia,\nwhen Cleopatra resolved to attend his court in person. She sailed down\nthe river Cydnus to meet him, with the most sumptuous pageantry. The\nstern of her galley was covered with gold, its sails were purple\nsilk, its oars silver, and they kept time to the sound of flutes and\ncymbals. She exhibited herself reclining on a couch spangled with\nstars of gold, and such other ornaments as poets and painters had\nusually ascribed to Venus. On each side were boys like cupids, fanning\nher by turns, while beautiful nymphs, dressed like Nereids and Graces,\nwere placed at proper distances around her: the sweets that were\nburning on board her galley perfumed the banks of the river as she\npassed, while an infinite number of people gazed upon the exhibition\nwith delight and admiration. 12. Antony soon became captivated with\nher beauty, and found himself unable to defend his heart against that\npassion which proved the cause of his future misfortunes. When\nCleopa'tra had thus secured her power, she set out on her return to\nEgypt. Antony, quitting every other object, presently hastened after\nher, and there gave himself up to all that case and softness to which\nhis vicious heart was prone, and which that luxurious people were able\nto supply.\n13. While he remained thus idle in Egypt, Augustus, who took upon him\nto lead back the veteran troops, and settle them in Italy, was\nassiduously employed in providing for their subsistence. 14. He had\npromised them lands at home, as a recompense for their past services;\nbut they could not receive their new grants without turning out the\nformer inhabitants. 15. In consequence of this, multitudes of women,\nwith their children in their arms, whose tender years and innocence\nexcited compassion, daily filled the temples and the streets with\ntheir lamentations. Numbers of husbandmen and shepherds came to\ndeprecate the conqueror's intention, or to obtain a habitation in some\nother part of the world. 16. Among this number was Virgil, the poet,\nto whom mankind owe more obligations than to a thousand conquerors,\nwho, in an humble manner, begged permission to retain his patrimonial\nfarm. 17. Virgil obtained his request;[11] but the rest of his\ncountrymen at Mantua,[12] and Cremo'na, were turned out without mercy.\n18. Italy and Rome now felt the most extreme miseries.  The\ninsolent soldiers plundered at will; while Sextus Pompey, being master\nof the sea, cut off all foreign communication, and prevented the\npeople from receiving their usual supplies of corn. To these mischiefs\nwere added the commencement of another civil war. 19. Fulvia, the wife\nof Antony, whom he had left behind at Rome, felt for some time all the\nrage of jealousy, and resolved to try every method of bringing back\nher husband from Cleopa'tra. 20. She considered a breach with Augustus\nas the only probable means of rousing him from his lethargy; and,\naccordingly, with the assistance of Lucius, her brother-in-law, she\nbegan to sow the seeds of dissension. The pretext was, that Antony\nshould have a share in the distribution of lands as well as Augustus.\n21. This produced negotiations between them, and Augustus offered to\nmake the veterans themselves umpires in this dispute. Lucius refused\nto acquiesce; and being at the head of more than six legions, mostly\ncomposed of such as were dispossessed of their lands, he resolved to\ncompel Augustus to accept of whatever terms he should offer. Thus a\nnew war was excited between Augustus and Antony; or, at least, the\ngenerals of Antony assumed the sanction of his name. 22. Augustus was\nvictorious; Lucius was hemmed in between two armies, and constrained\nto retreat to Peru'sia, where he was closely besieged by the opposite\nparty. He made many desperate sallies, and Fulvia did all in her power\nto relieve him, but without success, so that, being at last reduced to\nextremity by famine, he delivered himself up to the mercy of the\nconqueror. Augustus received him honourably, and generously pardoned\nhim and all his followers.[13]\n23. Antony having heard of his brother's overthrow, and of his wife\nbeing compelled to leave Italy, was resolved to oppose Augustus. He\naccordingly sailed at the head of a considerable fleet, and had an\ninterview with Fulvia at Athens. 24. He much blamed her for\noccasioning the late disorders, testified the utmost contempt for her\nperson, and, leaving her upon her death-bed, hastened into Italy to\nfight Augustus. They both met at Brundu'sium, and it was now thought\nthat the flames of civil war were going to blaze out once more. 25.\nThe forces of Antony were numerous, but mostly newly raised;\nhowever, he was assisted by Sextus Pompei'us, who, in those\noppositions of interest, was daily coming into power. Augustus was at\nthe head of those veterans who had always been irresistible, but who\nseemed no way disposed to fight against Antony, their former general.\n26. A negociation was therefore proposed, and a reconciliation was\neffected: all offences and affronts were mutually forgiven; and, to\ncement the union, a marriage was concluded between Antony and Octavia,\nthe sister of Augustus. 27. A new division of the Roman empire was\nmade between them; Augustus was to have command of the West--Antony of\nthe East; while Lepidus was obliged to content himself with the\nprovinces in Africa. As for Sextus Pompei'us, he was permitted to\nretain all the islands he already possessed, together with\nPeloponnesus; he was also granted the privilege of demanding the\nconsulship, though absent, and of discharging that office by a friend.\nIt was stipulated to leave the sea open, and to pay the people what\ncorn was due out of Sicily. Thus a general peace was concluded, to the\ngreat satisfaction of the people, who now expected an end to all their\ncalamities.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What ensued on the death of Brutus?\n2. Were the triumviri possessed of equal power?\n3. What were their first measures?\n4. By what were the people most affected?\n5. What observation has been made on these events?\n6. What was the consequence of the establishment of their power?\n7. Whither did Antony betake himself for that purpose?\n8. How was he employed?\n9. By what means did Cleopatra incur his displeasure?\n10. What personal advantages did she possess?\n11. Did she appear before Antony as an humble suppliant?\n12. What was the result of the interview?\n13. How was Augustus employed in the mean time?\n14. What recompense had he promised these troops?\n15. What was the consequence of this tyranny?\n16. What remarkable person was among the sufferers?\n17. Was his request granted?\n18. What was the state of Italy at this time?\n19. What occasioned it?\n20. What did she consider as the most probable means of reclaiming\nhim?\n21. Were terms of accommodation offered and accepted?\n22. What was the event of the war?\n23. What was Antony's conduct on the occasion?\n24. Did he approve of his wife's proceedings?\n25. Were the two armies of nearly equal strength?\n26. What was the consequence?\n27. What further measures were adopted?\nSECTION VII.\n  _Octavia_. --You have been his ruin.\n  Who made him cheap at Rome, but Cleopatra?\n  Who made him scorned abroad, but Cleopatra?\n  At Actium who betrayed him? Cleopatra.--_Dryden_.\n1. The only obstacle to the ambition of Augustus was Antony, whom he\nresolved to remove; and for that purpose rendered his character at\nRome as contemptible as he possibly could. In fact, Antony's conduct\ndid not a little contribute to promote the endeavours of his ambitious\npartner. 2. He had marched against the Parthians with a prodigious\narmy, but was forced to return with the loss of the fourth part of his\nforces, and all his baggage.\n3. However, Antony seemed quite regardless of contempt: alive only to\npleasure, and totally disregarding the business of the state, he spent\nhis whole time in the company of Cleopatra, who studied every art to\nincrease his passion and vary his entertainments. 4. Few women have\nbeen so much celebrated for the art of giving novelty to pleasure, and\nmaking trifles important. Still ingenious in filling up the time with\nsome new strokes of refinement, she was at one time a queen, then a\n_bac'chanal_, and sometimes a huntress. 5. Not contented with sharing\nwith her all the delights which Egypt could afford, Antony was\nresolved to enlarge his sphere of luxury, by granting her some of\nthose kingdoms which belonged to the Roman empire. He gave her all\nPheni'cia, Celo-Syria, and Cy'prus, with a great part of Cili'cia,\nAra'bia, and Jude'a, gifts which he had no right to bestow, but which\nhe pretended to grant in imitation of Hercules. 6. This complication\nof vice and folly at last totally exasperated the Romans, and\nAugus'tus, willing to take the advantage of their resentment, took\ncare to exaggerate all his defects. 7. At length, when he found the\npeople sufficiently irritated against him, he resolved to send\nOcta'via, who was then at Rome, to Antony, as if with a view of\nreclaiming her husband; but, in fact, to furnish a sufficient pretext\nfor declaring war against him, as he knew she would be dismissed with\ncontempt.\n8. Antony was now in the city of Leucop'olis, revelling with\nCleopatra, when he heard that Octa'via was at Athens, upon her journey\nto visit him. This was very unwelcome news both to him and Cleopa'tra;\nthe latter, fearing the charms of her rival, endeavoured to convince\nAntony of the strength of her passion, by her sighs, her looks, and\nwell-feigned melancholy. He frequently caught her in tears, which she\nseemingly attempted to hide, and of which she appeared extremely\nreluctant to tell him the cause. 9. These artifices, together with the\nceaseless flattery and importunity of her creatures, prevailed so much\non Antony's weakness, that he commanded Octa'via to return home\nwithout seeing her; and still more to exasperate the people of Rome,\nhe resolved to repudiate her, and take Cleopa'tra as his wife. 10. He\naccordingly assembled the people of Alexandria in the public theatre,\nwhere was raised an alcove of silver, under which were placed two\nthrones of gold, one for himself, and the other for Cleopa'tra. There\nhe seated himself, dressed as Bacchus, while Cleopatra sat beside him,\nclothed in the ornaments and attributes of I'sis, the principal deity\nof the Egyptians. 11. On that occasion he declared her queen of all\nthe countries which he had already bestowed upon her, while he\nassociated C\u00e6sa'rio, her son by C\u00e6sar, as her partner in the\ngovernment. To the two children of himself by her, he gave the title\nof King of Kings, with very extensive dominions; and, to crown his\nabsurdities, he next sent a minute account of his proceedings to the\ntwo consuls at Rome.\n12. In the mean time, Augustus had a sufficient pretext for declaring\nwar, and informed the senate of his intentions. However, he deferred\nthe execution of his design for a while, being then employed in\nquelling an insurrection of the Illy'rians. 13. The following year was\nchiefly taken up in preparations against Antony, who, perceiving his\nintentions, remonstrated to the senate, that he had many causes of\ncomplaint against his colleague, who had seized upon Sicily without\naffording him a share; alleging that he had also dispossessed\nLep'idus, and kept to himself the province he had commanded; and that\nhe had divided all Italy among his own soldiers, leaving nothing to\nrecompense those in Asia. 14. To this complaint Augustus was content\nto make a sarcastic answer, implying that it was absurd to complain of\nhis distribution of a few trifling districts in Italy, when Antony,\nhaving conquered Par'thia might now reward his soldiers with\ncities and provinces.[14] 15. This sarcasm provoked him to send his\narmy without delay into Europe, to meet Augustus, while he and\nCleopa'tra followed to Sa'mos,[15] in order to prepare for carrying on\nthe war with vigour. 16. When arrived there, it was ridiculous enough\nto behold the odd mixture of preparations for pleasure and for war. On\none side, all the kings and princes from Egypt to the Euxine Sea had\norders to send him supplies of men, provisions, and arms; on the\nother, comedians, dancers, buffoons, and musicians, were ordered to\nattend him.\n17. His delay at Sa'mos, and afterwards at A'thens, where he carried\nCleopa'tra to receive new honours, proved extremely favourable to the\narms of Augustus, who was at first scarcely in a situation to oppose\nhim, had he gone into Italy; but he soon found time to put himself in\na condition for carrying on the war, and shortly after declared it\nagainst him in form. At length both sides found themselves in\nreadiness to begin, and their armies were suitable to the greatness of\nthe empire for which they contended. 18. The one was followed by all\nthe forces of the East; the other drew after him all the strength of\nthe West. Antony's force composed a body of one hundred thousand foot,\nand twelve thousand horse, while his fleet amounted to five hundred\nships of war. Augustus mustered but eighty thousand foot, but equalled\nhis adversary in the number of cavalry; his fleet was but half as\nnumerous as Antony's; however, his ships were better built, and manned\nwith better soldiers.\n19. The great decisive engagement, which was a naval one, was fought\nnear Ac'tium,[16] a city of Epi'rus, at the entrance of the gulf of\nAmbra'cia. Antony ranged his ships before the mouth of the gulf; and\nAugustus drew up his fleet in opposition. Neither general assumed any\nfixed station to command in, but went about from ship to ship,\nwherever his presence was necessary. In the mean time the two land\narmies, on the opposite sides of the gulf, were drawn up, only as\nspectators of the engagement, and couraged the fleets, by their\nshouts, to engage. 20. The battle began on both sides after a manner\nnot practised upon former occasions. The prows of their vessels were\narmed with brazen beaks, with which it was usual to drive furiously\nagainst each other; but Antony's ships being large, unwieldy, and\nbadly manned, were incapable of the necessary swiftness, while those\nof Augustus, from the lightness of their construction, were fearful of\nthe rude encounter: the battle, therefore, rather resembled a land\nfight, the ships being brought alongside each other. They fought with\ngreat ardour, without advantage on either side, except from a small\nappearance of disorder in the centre of Antony's fleet. 21. But, all\non a sudden, Cleopa'tra determined the fortune of the day. She was\nseen flying from the engagement with her sixty sail, struck, perhaps,\nwith the terrors natural to her sex; and, to increase the general\namazement, Antony himself precipitately followed, leaving his fleet at\nthe mercy of the conquerors; while the army on land submitted, being\nthus abandoned by their general.\n22. When Cleopa'tra fled, Antony pursued her in a quinquireme,[17] and\ncoming alongside her ship, entered it without any desire of seeing\nher. She was in the stern, and he went to the prow, where he remained\nsilent and melancholy. In this manner he continued three whole days,\nduring which, either through indignation or shame, he neither saw nor\nspoke to Cleopa'tra. The queen's female attendants, however,\nreconciled them, and every thing went on as before. 23. Still he had\nthe consolation to suppose his army continued faithful to him, and\naccordingly despatched orders to conduct it into Asia. But he was soon\nundeceived when he arrived in Africa, where he was informed of their\nsubmission to his rival.[18] 24. This so transported him with rage,\nthat with difficulty he was prevented from killing him self. At\nlength, at the entreaty of his friends, he returned to Alexandria. 25.\nCleopa'tra seemed to retain that fortitude in her misfortunes, which\nhad utterly abandoned her admirer. Having amassed considerable riches,\nby means of confiscations and other acts of violence, she formed a\nvery singular and unheard of project.\n[Illustration: Sea-fight, near Actium.]\n26. This was to convey her whole fleet over the Isthmus of Su'ez into\nthe Red Sea, and thereby save herself, with all her treasures, in\nanother region beyond the power of Rome. 27. Some of her vessels were\nactually transported thither, pursuant to her orders; but the Arabians\nhaving burnt them, and Antony dissuading her from the design, she\nabandoned it for the more improbable scheme of defending Egypt against\nthe conqueror. 28. She omitted nothing in her power to put this in\npractice, and made all kinds of preparations for war, hoping, at\nleast, by these means to obtain better terms from Augustus. In fact,\nshe had been more in love with Antony's fortune than his person; and\nif she could have fallen upon any method of saving herself, though\neven at his expense, there is little doubt but she would have embraced\nit with gladness. 29. She had still hopes from the power of her\ncharms, though she was almost arrived at the age of forty: and was\ndesirous of trying upon Augustus those arts which had already been so\nsuccessful. Thus, in three embassies which were sent from Antony to\nAugustus in Asia, the queen had always her secret agents, charged with\nproposals in her name. Antony desired no more than that his life might\nbe spared, and to have the liberty of passing the remainder of his\ndays in obscurity. To these requests Augustus made no reply. 30.\nCleopa'tra also sent him public proposals in favour of her children;\nbut at the same time privately resigned to him her crown, with all the\nensigns of royalty. To the queen's public proposal no answer was\ngiven; to her private offer he replied by giving her assurances of his\nfavour, in case she would send away Antony, or put him to death. 31.\nThese private negociations were not so concealed but they came to the\nknowledge of Antony, whose jealousy and rage every occurrence now\ncontributed to heighten. He built a small solitary house upon a mole\nin the sea, and shut himself up, a prey to those passions that are the\ntormentors of unsuccessful tyranny. There he passed his time; shunning\nall commerce with man kind, and professing to imitate Timon,[19] the\nman-hater. 32. However, his furious jealousy drove him from this\nretreat into society; for hearing that Cleopa'tra had secret\nconferences with one Thyrsus, an emissary from Augustus, he seized\nupon him, ordered him to be cruelly scourged, and sent him back to his\npatron. At the same time he sent letters by him importing that Thyrsus\nhad been chastised for insulting a man in misfortunes; but withal he\ngave Augustus permission to revenge himself by scourging Hippar'chus,\nAntony's freedman, in the same manner. The revenge, in this case,\nwould have been highly pleasing to Antony, as Hippar'chus had left\nhim, to join the fortunes of his more successful rival.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What obstacle remained to the ambition of Augustus, and how did he\nattempt its removal?\n2. How was Antony at this time employed?\n3. Did he keenly feel his misfortune?\n4. Was she eminently skilled in the art of pleasing?\n5. Was not Antony lavish in his favours to her?\n6. What was the consequence of this folly?\n7. By what means did he seek a quarrel?\n8. How was this measure approved by Antony and Cleopatra?\n9. What imprudent resolutions did he adopt?\n10. Did he do this publicly?\n11. What farther favours did he bestow on her?\n12. Did Augustus immediately commence hostilities?\n13. What complaints did Antony make of Augustus?\n14. Did Augustus notice these accusations?\n15. What effect had his reply on Antony?\n16. Were these military preparations formidable?\n17. What advantages did Antony offer Augustus?\n18. What was the respective strength of the armies?\n19. Describe the preparations for this great conflict?\n20. Was the engagement well contested?\n21. What extraordinary circumstance decided its fate?\n22. Did he reproach Cleopatra for her timidity?\n23. Had Antony any resources left?\n24. How did he receive this news?\n25. How did Cleopatra act in this exigence?\n26. What was this project?\n27. Was it put in execution?\n28. How did she attempt this, and with what views?\n29. What farther hopes had she of favour?\n30. What proposals did she make, and how were they received?\n31. Was Antony aware of these negociations?\n32. Did he persist in thus secluding himself?\nSECTION VIII.\n  O sun, thy uprise I shall see no more:\n  Fortune and Antony part here.--_Shakspeare_.\n1. Augustus advanced with another army against Pellu'sium,[20] which,\nby its strong situation, might have retarded his progress for some\ntime. But the governor of the city, either wanting courage to defend\nit, or previously instructed by Cleopa'tra to give it up, permitted\nhim to take possession; so that Augus'tus had now no obstacle in his\nway to Alexan'dria, whither he marched with all expedition. 2. Antony,\nupon his arrival, sallied out to oppose him, fighting with\ndesperation, and putting the enemy's cavalry to flight. 3. This slight\nadvantage once more revived his declining hopes; and, being naturally\nvain, he re-entered Alexan'dria in triumph. Then going, armed as he\nwas, to the palace, and embracing Cleopa'tra, he presented to her a\nsoldier who had distinguished himself in the engagement. 4. The queen\nrewarded him very magnificently, presenting him with a helmet and\nbreastplate of gold. With these, however, the soldier deserted in the\nnight to the other army, prudently resolving to secure his riches by\nkeeping on the strongest side. 5. Antony, not able to bear this\ndefection without fresh indignation, resolved to make a bold expiring\neffort by sea and land; but previously offered to fight his\nadversary in single combat. Augus'tus, however, too well knew the\ninequality of their situations to comply with this forlorn proposal;\nhe, therefore, coolly replied, \"Antony has ways enough to die besides\nin single combat.\"\n6. The next day, he posted the few troops he had remaining upon a\nrising ground near the city, whence he sent orders to his galleys to\nengage the enemy. There he waited to be a spectator of the combat; and\nat first he had the satisfaction to see them advance in good order. 7.\nBut his joy was soon turned into rage, when he beheld his ships only\nsaluting those of Augus'tus, and both fleets uniting together and\nsailing back into the harbour, and at the same time his cavalry\ndeserting him. He tried, however, to lead on his infantry; but these\nwere easily vanquished, and he himself compelled to return into the\ntown. 8. His fury was now ungovernable, crying out as he passed that\nhe was betrayed by Cleopa'tra, and delivered up to those who, for her\nsake alone, were his enemies. In these suspicions he was not deceived;\nfor it was by secret orders from the queen that the fleet passed over\nto the enemy.\n9. Cleopa'tra had for a long while dreaded the effects of Antony's\njealousy; and had some time before prepared a method of obviating the\neffects of any sudden sallies it might produce. 10. Near the temple of\nIsis she had erected a building, which was seemingly designed for a\nsepulchre. Hither she moved her treasure and most valuable effects,\ncovering them with torches, fagots, and other combustible matter. 11.\nThis sepulchre she designed to answer a double purpose, as well to\nscreen her from the sudden resentments of Antony, as to make Augustus\nbelieve that she would burn all her treasure, in case he refused\nproper terms of capitulation. Here, therefore, she retired from\nAntony's fury--shutting the fortified gates, and giving orders to have\nit reported that she was dead. 12. This news soon reached Antony, and\nit recalled all his former love and tenderness. Subject to every gust\nof passion, and each of them in the extreme, he now lamented her death\nwith the same violence that he had just before seemed to desire it.\n\"Miserable man!\" exclaimed he, \"what is there now worth living for?\nsince all that could soothe or soften my cares is departed! O\nCleopa'tra! our separation does not so much afflict me, as the\ndisgrace I suffer, in permitting a woman to instruct me in the ways of\ndying.\"\n[Illustration: Death of Eros.]\n13. He now called to him one of his freedmen, named Eros, whom he\nhad engaged, by oath, to kill him, whenever fortune should drive him\nto this last resource, and commanded him to perform his promise. This\nfaithful follower drew his sword, as if going instantly to strike the\nblow, when, turning his face, he plunged it into his own bosom, and\ndropped at his master's feet. 14. Antony, for a while, hung over his\nfaithful servant, charmed with his fidelity. Then snatching up the\nsword he stabbed himself in the belly, and fell backward upon a couch.\n15. The wound was mortal; yet the blood stopping, he recovered his\nspirits, and earnestly conjured those who were come into the room to\nput an end to his life; but they all fled, seized with fright and\nhorror. 16. He continued in this miserable condition till he was\ninformed by one of the queen's secretaries, that his mistress was\nstill alive, and begged that he would suffer himself to be transported\nto the monument where she was. He was accordingly brought to the\nsepulchre; but Cleopa'tra, attended by her two women only, durst by no\nmeans permit the gate to be opened, but from the window threw down\ncords, with which, with great difficulty, they drew him up. 17.\nAntony, bathed in his blood, held out his hands to Cleopa'tra, and\nfaintly endeavoured to raise himself from the couch on which he had\nbeen laid. The queen gave way to sorrow, tore her clothes, beat her\nbreast, and kissing the wound of which he was dying, called him her\nhusband, her lord, her emperor. 18. Antony entreated her to moderate\nthe transports of her grief, and to preserve her life, if she could be\nable to do it with honour. \"As for me, lament not my\nmisfortunes,\" he said; \"but congratulate me upon the happiness which I\nhave enjoyed; I have lived the greatest and most powerful of men; and\nthough I fall, my fate is not ignominious; _a Roman myself, I am, at\nlast, by a Roman overcome_\" Having thus said, he expired.\n19. Proculei'us now made his appearance by command of Augus'tus, who\nhad been informed of Antony's desperate conduct. He was sent to try\nall means of getting Cleopa'tra into his power. 20. Augustus had a\ndouble motive for his solicitude on this occasion; one was--to prevent\nher destroying the treasures she had taken with her into the tomb; the\nother--to preserve her person, as an ornament to grace his triumph.\n21. Cleopa'tra, however, was upon her guard, and rejected any\nconference with Proculei'us, except through the gate, which was well\nsecured. At length, having procured a ladder, he, with two of\nAugustus's soldiers, entered by the same window through which Antony\nhad been drawn up. Cleopa'tra, perceiving what had happened, drew a\npoinard, that hung at her girdle, to stab herself; but Proculei'us\nforced it from her. 22. Augustus, pleased to find her in his power,\nsent Epaphrodi'tus to bring her to his palace, and to watch her with\nthe utmost circumspection. He was ordered to use her, in every\nrespect, with that deference and submission which were due to her\nrank, and to do every thing in his power to render her captivity\ntolerable.\n23. Though kings and generals made interest for Antony's body, in\norder to pay the last honours to it, this consolation was reserved for\nCleopa'tra. She alone was permitted to have the honour of granting\nAntony the rites of burial, and was furnished with every thing\nbecoming his dignity to receive, or her love to offer. 24. Yet still\nshe languished under her new confinement. Her many losses, her frantic\nsorrow, the blows which she had given her bosom, produced a fever,\nwhich she wished to increase. She resolved, by abstaining from\nnourishment, to starve herself to death, under the pretence of a\nregimen necessary for her disorder. 25. But Augus'tus, being made\nacquainted with the real motive by her physicians, began to threaten\nher, with regard to the safety of her children, in case she should\nperish. The fear of being the cause of their death was a motive she\ncould not resist. Cleopa'tra, therefore, allowed herself to be treated\nas was thought proper, and she recovered.\n26. In the mean time Augustus made his entry into Alexandria, taking\ncare to mitigate the fears of the inhabitants,  by conversing\nfamiliarly with Ar'cus, a philosopher, and a native of the place. The\ncitizens, however, trembled at his approach. And when he placed\nhimself upon the tribunal, they prostrated themselves, with their\nfaces to the ground, before him, like criminals who waited the\nsentence for their execution. 27. Augus'tus presently ordered them to\nrise, telling them that three motives induced him to pardon them: his\nrespect for Alexander, who was the founder of their city; his\nadmiration of its beauty; and his friendship for Ar'cus, their fellow\ncitizen. 28. Two only of particular note were put to death upon this\noccasion; Antony's eldest son, Antyl'lus, and C\u00e6sa'rio, the son of\nJulius C\u00e6sar, both betrayed into his hands by their respective tutors,\nwho themselves suffered for their perfidy shortly after. As for the\nrest of Cleopa'tra's children, he treated them with great gentleness,\nleaving them to the care of those who were intrusted with their\neducation, to whom he gave orders to provide them with every thing\nsuitable to their birth. 29. Cleopa'tra, being recovered, Augus'tus\nvisited her in person: she received him lying on a couch; but, upon\nhis entering the apartment, rose up, habited in a loose robe, and\nprostrated herself before him. Her misfortunes had given an air of\nseverity to her features; her hair was dishevelled, her voice\ntrembling, her complexion pale, and her eyes swollen with weeping;\nyet, still, her natural beauty seemed to gleam through the distresses\nthat surrounded her; and the grace of her motions, and the alluring\nsoftness of her looks, still bore testimony to the former power of her\ncharms. 30. Augus'tus raised her with his usual complaisance, and,\ndesiring her to sit, placed himself beside her. 31. Cleopa'tra had\nbeen prepared for this interview, and made use of every art to\npropitiate the conqueror. She tried apologies, entreaties and\nallurements, to obtain his favour and soften his resentment. She began\nby attempting to justify her conduct; but when her skill failed\nagainst manifest proofs, she turned her defence into supplications.\nShe reminded him of C\u00e6sar's humanity to those in distress; she read\nsome of his letters to her, full of tenderness, and expatiated upon\nthe intimacy that subsisted between them. \"But of what service,\" cried\nshe, \"are now all his benefits to me! Why did I not die with him! Yet,\nstill he lives--methinks I see him still before me! he revives in\nyou.\" 32. Augus'tus, who was no stranger to this method of address,\nremained firm against all attacks; answering with a cold\nindifference which obliged her to give her attempts a different\nturn. 33. She now addressed his avarice, presenting him with an\ninventory of her treasure and jewels. This gave occasion to a very\nsingular scene, that may serve to show that the little decorums of\nbreeding were then by no means attended to as in modern times. 34. One\nof her stewards having alleged, that the inventory was defective, and\nthat she had secreted a part of her effects, she fell into the most\nextravagant passion, started from her couch, and snatching him by the\nhair, gave him repeated blows on the face. Augus'tus, smiling at her\nindignation, led her to the couch, and desired her to be pacified. To\nthis she replied, that it was insufferable to be insulted in the\npresence of one whom she so highly esteemed. \"And admitting,\" cried\nshe, \"that I have secreted a few ornaments, am I to blame, when they\nare reserved, not for myself, but for Liv'ia and Octa'via, whom I hope\nto make my intercessors with you?\" 35. The apology, which intimated a\ndesire of living, was not disagreeable to Augustus, who politely\nassured her she was at liberty to keep whatever she had reserved, and\nthat in everything she should be indulged to the height of her\nexpectations. He then took leave, and departed, imagining he had\nreconciled her to life, and to the indignity of being shown in the\nintended triumph, which he was preparing for his return to Rome; but\nin this he was deceived. 36. Cleopa'tra had all this time corresponded\nwith Dolabel'la, a young Roman of high birth in the camp of Augustus,\nwho, from compassion, or perhaps from stronger motives, was interested\nin her misfortunes. By him she was secretly informed that Augustus\ndetermined to send her and her children, within three days, to Rome,\nto grace his triumphant entry. 37. She, at length, therefore,\ndetermined upon dying; but first throwing herself upon Antony's\ncoffin, bewailed her captivity, and renewed her protestations not to\nsurvive him. Having bathed, and ordered a sumptuous banquet, she\nattired herself in the most splendid manner. After partaking of the\nbanquet, she commanded all, except her two women, to leave the\napartment. She had contrived to have an asp secretly conveyed to her\nin a basket of fruit, and then wrote to Augustus, to inform him of her\nfatal purpose, desiring to be buried in the same tomb with Antony. 38.\nAugustus, upon receiving the letter, instantly despatched messengers\nin hopes to stop the fulfilment of her intentions; but they arrived\ntoo late.\n[Illustration: Death of Cleopatra.]\nUpon entering the chamber, they beheld Cleopa'tra lying dead upon\nher couch, arrayed in royal robes. Near her, I'ras, one of her\nfaithful attendants, was stretched at the feet of her mistress; and\nChar'mion,[21] the other, scarcely alive, was settling the diadem upon\nCleopa'tra's head. \"Alas!\" cried one of the messengers, \"is this well\ndone, Charmion?\" \"Yes,\" replied she, \"it is well done--such a death\nbecome a glorious queen, descended from a race of glorious ancestors.\"\nPronouncing these words, she dropped and expired with her much loved\nmistress.[22]\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What new conquest was achieved by Augustus?\n2. What was Antony's conduct on his arrival?\n3. Was he elated by this slight success?\n4. How was he rewarded, and in what manner did he evince his\ngratitude?\n5. What were Antony's feelings and conduct on the occasion?\n6. Did he attempt farther hostilities?\n7. Was this satisfaction well founded?\n8. How was he affected by this ill success?\n9. Was Cleopatra prepared for these misfortunes?\n10. What precautions had she taken?\n11 What was her design in building this sepulchre?\n12. Was Antony affected by this news?\n13. What followed?\n14. Did Antony persist in his purpose?\n15. Did he immediately expire?\n16. Had he another interview with Cleopatra?\n17, 18. Relate the particulars of this interview?\n19. How did Augustus act on this occasion?\n20. Why was Augustus anxious to preserve this life of Cleopatra?\n21. Did he obtain ready admittance to her, and what was the\nconsequence?\n22. How was she treated?\n23. By whom were the last honours paid to Antony?\n24. Did this kindness reconcile her to her situation?\n25. By what means did Augustus overcome her resolution?\n26. What circumstance attended the entrance of Augustus into\nAlexandria?\n27. Were their fears realized?\n28. Who fell victims on the occasion?\n29. Did Augustus visit Cleopatra, and how was he received?\n30. What was his conduct towards her?\n31. How did Cleopatra conduct herself at this interview?\n32. Was Augustus moved by her artifices?\n33. Mention her next attempt and its consequence.\n34. Relate the particulars.\n35. Was the apology accepted?\n36. With whom did Cleopatra correspond, and what did she learn?\n37. What resolution did she form, and how did she accomplish it?\n38. Did not Augustus attempt to prevent her resolution, and was he\nsuccessful?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] In this contest the famous Alexan'drian library, consisting, it is\nsaid, of 700,000 volumes, was accidentally burnt.\n[2] I came, I saw, I conquered.\n[3] The Romans divided their months into three parts; namely, Calends,\nNones, and Ides; all which they reckoned backwards. The Ides were\nalways eight in number. The Nones sometimes four, at others six. The\nCalends varied according to the length of the month, and also with the\nNones, as they were four or six. The Calends always began on the first\nof every month, and were counted backwards to the Ides, which fell on\nthe 15th of March, May, July, and October; and on the 13th of other\nmonths; so that the Nones began on the 5th of each month when four,\nand on the 7th when six in number. The Nones, therefore, always ended\non the 2d day of the month.\n[4] Though C\u00e6sar's ambition led him to usurp a power to which the\nRomans were not willing to submit, it appears that he used it with\nunexampled moderation. He was beloved and revered by the people,\nhonoured and almost adored by his friends, and esteemed and admired\neven by his enemies. Absolute power could not have been in better\nhands.\n[5] It was the general opinion of the conspirators that Antony should\nbe cut off with C\u00e6sar; but Brutus pleaded for and obtained his safety.\nThis kindness was ill repaid.\n[6] The Forum was a public place at Rome, where lawyers and orators\nmade their speeches in matters of property of the state, or in\ncriminal cases.\n[7] Now the Rheno, which runs through Bologna and falls into the Po.\n[8] It is impossible to paint the horrors of this dreadful\nproscription. Nothing was to be seen but blood and slaughter; the\nstreets were covered with dead bodies; the heads of the most\nillustrious senators were exposed on the rostra, and their bodies left\nto be devoured by dogs and birds of prey; three hundred senators, and\nabove two thousand knights, besides a vast number of others of\nconsiderable rank, fell victims on this occasion. Many noble instances\nof fidelity were displayed by slaves at this terrible conjuncture,\nseveral chose rather to die on the rack, in the most exquisite\ntorments, than betray the place where their masters were concealed.\n[9] A city on the confines of Macedonia, noted for the battle between\nBrutus and Cassius, and Mark Antony and Augustus, B.C. 42; and also\nthe Epistle of Paul to the people of Philip'pi.\n[10] This is very erroneous reasoning: suicide is, no doubt a heinous\ncrime: but Brutus appears to have been governed by his apprehension of\ndanger, instead of being convinced by the sober dictates of his\njudgment.\n[11] On showing the order for the restoration of his property, he was\nnearly killed by the centurion who was in possession, and escaped only\nby swimming across a river. To these melancholy events he alludes in\nhis first Eclogue.\n[12] Mantua was a very ancient town, supposed to be older than Rome.\nIt is still called Mantua, and is the capital of a duchy of the same\nname.\n[13] He, however, displayed his usual cruelty towards the inhabitants,\ncausing three hundred senators to be sacrificed at an altar erected to\nthe memory of Julius C\u00e6sar, and delivering up the city to plunder and\nthe flames.\n[14] The severity of this sarcasm lay in its being directly contrary\nto truth, as Antony had been defeated by the Par'thians.\n[15] Samos, a celebrated island in the Archipel'ago. It has been\nrendered famous for the worship and a temple of Juno, with a noted\nAsylum. Its capital was of the same name, and is memorable for the\nbirth of Pythag'oras.\n[16] Actium is famous for a temple of Apollo.\n[17] A galley with five banks of oars.\n[18] They continued unshaken in their fidelity for seven days after\nthe battle of Actium, notwithstanding the advantageous offers made\nthem by Augustus, in hopes Antony would return and put himself at\ntheir head, but finding themselves disappointed, and abandoned by\ntheir principal officers, they at length surrendered.\n[19] Ti'mon, the misanthrope, was born near Athens, B.C. 420. He\ndeclared himself the enemy of the human race, and had a companion\nnamed Apeman'tus, who possessed a similar disposition. The latter\nasking him one day why he paid such respect to Alcibi'ades, \"It is,\"\nsaid the churl, \"because I foresee he will prove the ruin of the\nAthe'nians, my countrymen.\"(Plutarch.)\n[20] A strong city of Egypt.\n[21] Pronounced Kar'mion.\n[22] Cleopatra was forty years old at the time of her death, and had\nwed twelve years with Antony.\nCHAPTER XXII.\nSECTION I.\n  Happy Augustus! who so well inspired,\n  Couldst throw thy pomp and royalties aside.\n  Attentive to the wise, the great of soul.\n  And dignify thy mind. Thrice glorious days.\n  Auspicious to the muses!--_Dyer_.\n1. By the death of Antony, Augus'tus having become master of the Roman\nempire, returned to Rome in triumph; where, by feasts and magnificent\nshows, he began to obliterate the impressions of his former cruelty;\nand thenceforward resolved to secure, by his clemency, a throne, the\nfoundations of which were laid in blood. 2. He was now at the head of\nthe most extensive empire that mankind had ever beheld. The former\nspirit of the Romans, and those characteristic marks that\ndistinguished them from others, were now totally lost. The city was\ninhabited by a concourse from all the countries of the world; and\nbeing consequently divested of all just patriotic principles, perhaps\na monarchy is the best form of government that could be found to\nunite its members. 3. However, it was very remarkable, that during\nthese long contentions among themselves, and these horrid devastations\nby civil war, the state was daily growing more formidable and\npowerful, and completed the destruction of all the kings who presumed\nto oppose it.\n4. The first care of Augus'tus was to assure himself of the friends of\nAntony; to which end he publickly reported that he had burnt all\nAntony's letters and papers without reading them, convinced that,\nwhile any thought themselves suspected, they would be fearful of even\noffering him their friendship.\n5. He had gained the kingdom by his army, but he resolved to govern it\nby the senate. This body, though greatly fallen from its ancient\nsplendor, he knew to be the best constituted, and most remarkable for\nwisdom and justice. To the senate, therefore, he gave the chief power\nin the administration of his government, while he himself secured the\nfidelity of the people and the army by donatives, and acts of favour.\n6. By these means the odium of severity fell upon the senate, and the\npopularity of pardon was solely his own. Thus restoring splendor to\nthe senate and discountenancing corruption, he pretended to reserve to\nhimself a very moderate share of authority, to which none could\nobject: namely, power to compel all ranks of the state to do their\nduty. 7. This was, in fact, reserving absolute dominion in his own\nhands; but the misguided people began to look upon his moderation with\nastonishment: they considered themselves as restored to their former\nfreedom, except the capacity of promoting sedition; and the senate\nsupposed their power re-established in all things but their tendency\nto injustice. It was even said that the Romans, by such a government,\nlost nothing of the happiness that liberty could produce, and were\nexempt from all the misfortunes it could occasion. 8. This observation\nmight have some truth under such a monarch as Augustus now appeared to\nbe; but they were afterwards taught to change their sentiments under\nhis successors, when they found themselves afflicted with all the\npunishments that tyranny could inflict, or sedition make necessary.\n9. After having established this admirable order, Augustus found\nhimself agitated by different passions; and considered, a long time,\nwhether he should keep the empire, or restore the people to their\nancient liberty. 10. But he adopted the advice of M\u00e6ce'nas,\nwhich was, to continue in power: and he was afterwards swayed by him\non every occasion. By the advice of that minister, he became gentle,\naffable, and humane: he encouraged men of learning, and gave them much\nof his time and his friendship. These in their turn relieved his most\nanxious hours, and circulated his praise throughout the empire.\n11. Thus having given peace and happiness to his subjects, and being\nconvinced of the attachment of all orders of the state to his person,\nhe resolved upon impressing the people with an idea of his\nmagnanimity, by making a show of resigning his authority. 12. To this\nend, having previously instructed his creatures in the senate how to\nact, he addressed them in a studied speech, importing the difficulty\nof governing so extensive an empire; a task to which, he said, none\nbut the immortal gods were equal. He modestly urged his own inability,\nthough impelled by every motive to undertake it; and then, with a\ndegree of seeming generosity, freely gave up all that power which his\narms had gained, and which the senate had confirmed, giving them to\nunderstand, that the true spirit of the Romans was not lost in him.\n13. This speech operated upon the senate variously, as they were more\nor less in the secret. Many believed the sincerity of his conduct as\nan act of heroism unequalled by any thing that had hitherto appeared;\nothers, though ignorant of his motives, distrusted his designs. Some\nthere were, who, having greatly suffered during the popular\ncommotions, were fearful of their being renewed; but the majority, who\nwere properly instructed by his ministers, frequently attempted to\ninterrupt him while speaking, and received his proposals with\npretended indignation. 14. These unanimously besought him not to\nresign the administration; and, upon his continuing to decline their\nrequest, they in a manner compelled him to comply. However, that his\nperson might be in greater security, they immediately decreed that the\npay of his guard should be doubled. 15. On the other hand, that he\nmight seem to make concessions on his side, he permitted the senate to\ngovern the weak, internal provinces, while the most powerful\nprovinces, and those that required the greatest armies for their\ndefence, were taken entirely under his own command. Over these he\nassumed the government for ten years only, leaving the people still in\nhopes of regaining their ancient freedom; at the same tune, however,\nlaying his measures so well,  that his government was renewed\nevery ten years, to his death.\n16. This show of resignation only served to confirm him in the empire,\nand in the hearts of the people. New honours were heaped upon him. He\nwas now first called Augustus (a name I have hitherto used as that by\nwhich he is best known in history.) A laurel was ordered to be planted\nat his gates. That house was called the palace wherever he made his\nabode. He was confirmed in the title of father of his country, and his\nperson declared sacred and inviolable. 17. In short, flattery seemed\non the rack to find out new modes of pleasing him; but, though he\ndespised the arts of the senate, he permitted their homage, well\nknowing that, among mankind, titles produce a respect which enforces\nauthority.\n18. Upon entering into his tenth consulship, the senate, by oath,\napproved of all his acts, and set him wholly above the power of the\nlaws. They, some time after, offered to swear not only to all the laws\nhe had made, but such as he should make for the future. 19. It was\ncustomary with fathers, upon their death-beds, to command their\nchildren to carry oblations to the Capitol, with an inscription, that\nat the day of their deaths they left Augustus in health. It was\ndetermined that no man should be put to death on such days as the\nemperor entered the city. Upon a dearth of provisions, the people\nentreated him to accept of the dictatorship; but he would by no means\nassume the title of dictator, which had been abolished by law.\n20. An accumulation of titles and employments did not in the least\ndiminish his assiduity in fulfilling the duties of each. Several very\nwholesome edicts were passed by his command, tending to suppress\ncorruption in the senate, and licentiousness in the people. 21. He\nordained that none should exhibit a show of gladiators without an\norder from the senate; and then not oftener than twice a year, nor\nwith more than a hundred and twenty at a time. This law was extremely\nnecessary at so corrupt a period of the empire, when armies of these\nunfortunate men were brought at once upon the stage, and compelled to\nfight, often, till half of them were slain. 22. It had been usual also\nwith the knights, and women of the first distinction, to exhibit\nthemselves as dancers upon the theatre; he ordered that not only\nthese, but their children and grand-children should be restrained from\nsuch exercises for the future. 23. He fined many that had refused\nto marry at a certain age, and rewarded such as had many children. He\nenacted that the senators should be held in great reverence; adding to\ntheir dignity what he had taken from their power. 24. He made a law,\nthat no man should have the freedom of the city without a previous\nexamination into his merit and character. He appointed new rules and\nlimits to the manumission of slaves, and was himself very strict in\nthe observance of them. With regard to dramatic performers, of whom he\nwas very fond, he severely examined their morals, not allowing\nlicentiousness in their lives, nor indecency in their actions. Though\nhe encouraged the athletic exercises, he would not permit women to be\npresent at them. 25. In order to prevent bribery in suing for offices,\nhe took considerable sums of money from the candidates by way of\npledge; and if any indirect practices were proved against them, they\nwere obliged to forfeit all. 26. Slaves had been hitherto disallowed\nto confess anything against their own masters; but he abolished the\npractice, and first sold the slave to another, which altering the\nproperty, his examination became free. 27. These and other laws, all\ntending to extirpate vice or deter from crimes, gave the manners of\nthe people another complexion; and the rough character of the Roman\nsoldier was now softened into that of the refined citizen.[1]\n_Questions for Examination._\n1. What was the consequence of the death of Antony?\n2. What was the character of the Roman people at this time?\n3. Did these convulsions weaken the empire?\n4. What was the first care of Augustus?\n5. In what way did he propose to govern?\n6. What were the consequences of this conduct?\n7. What advantages did the Romans fancy they enjoyed?\n8. Was this observation correct?\n9. What conflicting passions agitated the mind of Augustus?\n10. Whose advice did he adopt, and what was that advice?\n11. What artifice did he employ to confirm his power?\n12. How did he make his intentions known?\n13. What effect was produced by this proposal?\n14. What was their conduct on this occasion?\n15. What farther artifices did he employ?\n16. What were the consequences of this affected moderation?\n17. Was he imposed upon by these arts?\n18. What farther instances of abject servility did the senate display?\n19. What else was done to his honour?\n20. Did these honours render him remiss?\n21. What salutary law did he enact?\n22. What next?\n23. What regulations concerning marriage, and respect to senators, did\nhe enforce?\n24. How did he improve the morals of the people?\n25. How did he prevent bribery?\n26. By what means did he promote justice?\n27. What was the consequence of these regulations?\nSECTION II.\n  The death of those distinguished by their station,\n  But by their virtue more, awakes the mind\n  To solemn dread, and strikes a saddening awe.--_Young_.\n1. Augustus, by his own example, tended greatly to humanize his\nfellow-citizens; for being placed above all equality, he had nothing\nto fear from condescension. He was familiar with all, and suffered\nhimself to be reprimanded with the most patient humility. Though, by\nhis sole authority, he could condemn or acquit whomsoever he thought\nproper, he gave the laws their proper course, and even pleaded for\npersons he desired to protect. 2. When the advocate for Pri'mus[2]\ndesired to know, with an insolent air, what brought Augustus into\ncourt, the emperor calmly replied, \"The public good.\" When one of his\nveteran soldiers entreated his protection, Augustus bid him apply to\nan advocate. \"Ah!\" replied the soldier, \"it was not by proxy that I\nserved you at the battle of Ac'tium.\" Augustus was so pleased that he\npleaded his cause and gained it for him. One day a petition was\npresented to him with so much awe as to displease him. \"Friend,\" cried\nhe, \"you seem as if you were offering something to an elephant rather\nthan to a man; be bolder.\" 3. Once as he was sitting in judgment,\nM\u00e6ce'nas perceiving that he was inclined to be severe, and not being\nable to get to him through the crowd, he threw a paper into his lap,\non which was written, \"Arise, executioner!\" Augustus read it without\ndispleasure, and immediately rising, pardoned those whom he was\ndisposed to condemn. 4. But what most of all showed a total\nalteration, was his treatment of Corne'lius Cinna, Pompey's grandson.\nThis nobleman had entered into a conspiracy against him: Augustus sent\nfor the other conspirators, reprimanded them, and dismissed them. But\nresolving to mortify Cinna by the greatness of his generosity--\"I have\ntwice,\" says he, \"given you your life, as an enemy and as a\nconspirator: I now give you the consulship; let us therefore be\nfriends for the future; let us contend only in showing whether my\nconfidence or your fidelity shall be victorious.\"\n5. In the practice of such virtues he passed a long reign. In fact, he\nseemed the first Roman who aimed at gaining a character by the arts of\npeace, and who obtained the affections of the soldiers without any\nmilitary talents of his own: nevertheless, the Roman arms, under his\nlieutenants, were crowned with success.\n6. But he had uneasiness of a domestic nature that distressed him. He\nhad married Liv'ia, the wife of Tibe'rius Nero, by the consent of her\nhusband, when she was six months advanced in her pregnancy. She was an\nimperious woman, and, conscious of being beloved, controlled him at\nher pleasure. 7. She had two sons, Tibe'rius the elder, and Dru'sus,\nwho was born three months after she had been married to Augustus, and\nwho was thought to be his own son. The elder of these, Tibe'rius, whom\nhe afterwards adopted, and who succeeded him in the empire, was a good\ngeneral, but of a suspicious and obstinate temper, and of a conduct so\nturbulent and restless, that he was at last exiled for five years to\nthe island of Rhodes, where he chiefly spent his time in a retired\nmanner, conversing with the Greeks, and addicting himself to\nliterature, of which, however he afterwards made but a bad use.\n8. But the greatest affliction that Augustus experienced was from the\nconduct of his daughter Julia, whom he had by Scribo'nia, his former\nwife. Julia, whom he married to his general Agrip'pa, and afterwards\nto Tibe'rius, set no bounds to her misconduct. She was arrived at that\nexcess of wickedness, that the very court where her father presided\nwas not exempt from her infamies. 9. Augustus, at first, had thoughts\nof putting her to death: but, after consideration, he banished her to\nPandata'ria.[3] He ordered that no person should come near her\nwithout his permission, and sent her mother Scribo'nia along with her,\nto bear her company. When any one attempted to intercede for Julia,\nhis answer was, \"that fire and water should sooner unite than he with\nher.\" 10. Augustus, having survived most of his contemporaries, at\nlength, in the seventy-fourth year of his age, began to think of\nretiring from the fatigues of state, and of constituting Tibe'rius his\npartner in the throne. He desired the senate to salute him no longer\nat the palace, nor take it amiss, if, for the future, he could not\nconverse with them, as formerly.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 762.]\n11. From that time Tibe'rius was joined in the government of the\nprovinces with him, and invested with nearly the same authority.\nHowever, Augustus could not entirely forsake the administration, which\nhabit had rendered a source of pleasure; and he still continued a\nwatchful guardian, and showed himself, to the last, a lover of his\npeople. 12. Finding it now, therefore, very inconvenient to come to\nthe senate, by reason of his age, he desired to have twenty\nprivy-counsellors assigned him for a year; and it was decreed, that\nwhatever measures were resolved upon by them and the consuls, should\nhave entirely the force of a law. 13. He seemed apprehensive of his\napproaching end, for he made his will, and delivered it to the vestal\nvirgins. He then solemnized the census, or numbering the people, whom\nhe found to amount to four millions one hundred and thirty-seven\nthousand; which shows Rome to be equal to four of the greatest cities\nof modern times. 14. While these ceremonies were performing, in the\nmidst of a mighty concourse of people in the Cam'pus Mar'tius, it is\nsaid that an eagle flew round the emperor several times, and,\ndirecting its flight to a neighbouring temple, perched over the name\nof Agrippa: this omen was, by the augurs, conceived to portend the\ndeath of the emperor. 15. Shortly after, having accompanied Tibe'rius\nin his march into Illyr'ia, he was taken ill. Returning thence, he\nsent for Tibe'rius and his most intimate friends. A few hours before\nhis death he ordered a looking-glass to be brought, and his hair to be\nadjusted with more than usual care. He then addressed his friends,\nwhom he beheld surrounding his bed, and desired to know whether he had\nproperly played his part in life; to which, being answered in the\naffirmative, he cried out with his last breath, \"Then give me your\napplause.\" Thus, at the age of seventy-six, after reigning forty-four\nyears, he expired in the arms of Liv'ia, bidding her remember\ntheir marriage and their last farewell.[4]\n16. The death of the emperor caused inexpressible grief throughout the\nwhole empire. It was, by some, supposed that his wife Liv'ia had some\nhand in hastening it, with a view to procure the succession more\nspeedily for her son. However this was, she took care, for a time, to\nkeep the important event concealed, by guarding all the passages to\nthe palace; sometimes giving out that he was recovered, and then\npretending a relapse. At length, having settled the succession to her\nmind, she published the emperor's death; and at the same time, the\nadoption of Tibe'rius to the empire. 17. The emperor's funeral was\nperformed with great magnificence. The senators being in their places,\nTibe'rius, on whom that care devolved, pronounced a consolatory\noration. After this his will was read, wherein he made Tibe'rius and\nLiv'ia his heirs. 18. He was studious of serving his country to the\nvery last, and the sorrow of the people seemed equal to his assiduity.\nIt was decreed, that all the women should mourn for him a whole year.\nTemples were erected to him, divine honours were allowed him, and one\nNume'rius At'ticus, a senator, willing to convert the adulation of the\ntimes to his own benefit, received a large sum of money for swearing\nthat he saw him ascending into heaven; so that no doubt remained among\nthe people concerning his divinity.\n19. Such were the honours paid to Augustus, whose power began in the\nslaughter, and terminated in the happiness of his subjects; so that it\nwas said of him, \"that it had been good for mankind if he had never\nbeen born, or if he had never died.\" 20. It is possible that the\ncruelties exercised in his triumvirate were suggested by his\ncolleagues. In the case of C\u00e6sar's death, he might think that revenge\nwas virtue. Certain it is, that severities were necessary to restore\npublic tranquillity; for, until the Roman spirit should be eradicated,\nno monarchy could be secure. 21. He indulged his subjects in the\nappearance of a republic, while he made them really happy in the\neffects of a most absolute monarchy, administered with the most\nconsummate prudence. In this last quality he seems to have excelled\nmost monarchs; and indeed, could we separate Octavius from Augustus,\nhe was one of the most faultless princes in history. 22. About this\ntime our Saviour was born in Jude'a.[5]\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What was the general conduct of Augustus?\n2. Mention some instances of his moderation?\n3. What farther instance of his moderation is on record?\n4. How did he most decidedly show the alteration in his disposition?\n5. In what was he particularly remarkable?\n6. Was he happy in domestic life?\n7. What family had she, and what was the character of her son?\n8. Had he no other domestic trials?\n9. In what way was she punished?\n10. Was the reign of Augustus of considerable length?\n11. Did he associate Tiberius with him in the government?\n12. By what means did he lighten the burden of government?\n13. By what measure did he prepare for his approaching end?\n14. What omen portended his death?\n15. How did he meet his end?\n16. How were the people affected by his death, and why was it for a\ntime concealed?\n17. How was his funeral celebrated?\n18. What honours were decreed him?\n19. Were those honours deserved?\n20. What excuses may be made for his early cruelties?\n21. By what means did he secure his power?\n22. What remarkable event happened in his reign?\nSECTION III.\n  Thy fame, Germanicus, will long outlive\n  The venomed shafts of envy; and the praise\n  Of patriot tongues shall follow thee in death.--_Clarke._\n[Sidenote: U.C. 762. A.D. 10.]\n1. Tibe'rius was fifty-six years old when he took upon him the\ngovernment of the Roman empire. He had lived in a state of profound\ndissimulation under Augustus, and was not yet hardy enough to show\nhimself in his real character. In the beginning of his reign nothing\nappeared but prudence, generosity, and clemency.[6] 2. But the\nsuccesses of his nephew, German'icus, son of his late brother Dru'sus,\nover the Germans, first brought his natural disposition to light, and\ndiscovered the malignity of his mind without disguise. 3. He was\nhardly settled on his throne, when he received intelligence that the\nlegions in Panno'nia, hearing of the death of Augustus, and desirous\nof novelty, had revolted; but these were soon quieted, and\nPercen'nius, their leader, slain. 4. A commotion in Germany was\nattended with much more important consequences. The legions in that\npart of the empire were conducted by German'icus, a youth of most\nadmirable qualities, who had been at the late emperor's request,\nadopted, in order to succeed to the empire. These forces had taken the\nopportunity of his absence to revolt, and now began to affirm that the\nwhole Roman empire was in their power, and that its principal grandeur\nwas owing to the success of their arms; when German'icus returned,\ntherefore, they unanimously resolved to choose him emperor. 5. This\ngeneral was the darling of the soldiers, and almost idolized, so that\nhe might, with very little difficulty, have raised himself to the\nhighest dignity in the state; but his duty prevailed over his\nambition; he rejected their offers with the utmost indignation, and\nused the most indefatigable endeavours to quell the sedition. This he\neffected, though with extreme hazard, by cutting off many of the\nprincipal revolters, and then by leading the troops against the\nGermans, who were considered as the common enemies of the empire.\n6. Tiberius was as much pleased with the loyalty of German'icus, as he\nwas distressed at his superior popularity; his success, also,\nimmediately after, against the Germans, still more excited the\nemperor's envy and private disgust. He overthrew the enemy in several\nbattles, subduing many wild and extensive countries. 7. These\nvictories, however, only served to inflame the emperor's jealousy: and\nevery virtue in the general now became a new cause of offence. This\ndislike began to appear by Tiberius's making use of every pretence to\ndraw German'icus from the legions: but he was obliged to postpone his\npurpose on account of a domestic insurrection made in Italy by one\nCle'mens, whom he put to death by a private execution in a secret\napartment of the palace.\n9. Having thus got rid of his domestic enemy, he turned his thoughts\nto the most specious means of bringing home German'icus from the\nlegions in Germany. He began by procuring him a triumph for his late\nvictories, and when writing to him to return in order to enjoy those\nhonours which the senate had decreed; adding, that he had reaped\nenough of glory in a country to which he had been sent nine times, and\nbeen each time victorious; concluding, that so great a number of\ntriumphs was sufficient; and the most signal vengeance which could be\ninflicted on this turbulent people was to permit them to continue\ntheir intestine divisions. 10. German'icus was met on his return, many\nmiles from the city, by a vast multitude, who received him with marks\nof adoration rather than respect. The gracefulness of his person; his\ntriumphal chariot, in which were carried his five children; and the\nrecovered standards of the army of Va'rus, threw the people into a\nphrenzy of joy and admiration.[7]\n11. German'icus was now appointed to a new dignity. He departed from\nRome on an expedition to the east, carrying with him his wife\nAgrippi'na, and his children. 12. But Tibe'rius, to restrain his\npower, had sent Cne'ius Pi'so governor into Syr'ia. This Pi'so was a\nperson of furious and headstrong temper, and, in every respect, fit to\nexecute those fatal purposes for which he was designed. 13. His\ninstructions were, to oppose German'icus upon every occasion, to\nexcite hatred against him, and even to procure his death if an\nopportunity should offer. He accordingly took every opportunity of\nabusing German'icus; and taxed him with diminishing the Roman glory,\nby his peculiar protection of the Athe'nians. 14. German'icus\ndisregarded his invectives, being more intent on executing the\nbusiness of his commission, than on counteracting the private designs\nof Pi'so. 15. Piso, however, and his wife Planci'na, who is recorded\nas a woman of an implacable and cruel disposition, continued to defame\nhim. German'icus opposed only patience and condescension to all their\ninvectives, and, with that gentleness which was peculiar to him,\nrepaid their resentments by courtesy. 16. He was not ignorant of their\nmotives, and was rather willing to evade than oppose their\nenmity. He, therefore, took a voyage into Egypt, under pretence of\nviewing the celebrated antiquities of that country; but, in reality,\nto avoid the machinations of Pi'so, and those of his wife, which were\nstill more dangerous. 17. Upon his return he fell sick, and, whether\nfrom a mind previously alarmed, or from more apparent marks of\ntreachery, he sent to let Pi'so know, that he broke off all further\nconnections. Growing daily worse, his death appeared to be inevitable.\n18. Finding his end approaching, he addressed his friends, who stood\naround his bed, to the following effect: \"Had my death been natural, I\nmight have reason to complain of being thus snatched away from all the\nendearments of life, at so early an age; but my complaints are\naggravated, in falling the victim of Pi'so's and Planci'na's\ntreachery. Let the emperor, therefore, I conjure you, know the manner\nof my death, and the tortures I suffer. Those who loved me when\nliving--those who even envied my fortune--will feel some regret, when\nthey hear of a soldier, who had so often escaped the rage of the\nenemy, falling a sacrifice to the treachery of a woman. Plead then my\ncause before the people--you will be heard with pity--and if my\nmurderers should pretend to have acted by command, they will either\nreceive no credit or no pardon.\" 19. As he spoke these words, he\nstretched forth his hand, which his weeping friends tenderly pressing,\nmost earnestly vowed that they would lose their lives rather than\ntheir revenge. The dying prince, then turning to his wife, conjured\nher, by her regard to his memory, and by all the bonds of nuptial\nlove, to submit to the necessity of the times, and to evade the\nresentment of her more powerful enemies by not opposing it.[8] 20.\nNothing could exceed the distress of the whole empire, upon hearing of\nthe death of German'icus, and the people of Rome seemed to set no\nbounds to it. 21. In this universal confusion, Pi'so seemed marked for\ndestruction. He and his wife stood charged with the death of\nGerman'icus, by giving him a slow poison. Indeed, even the emperor\nhimself, with his mother Liv'ia, incurred a share of the general\nsuspicion. 22. This was soon after greatly increased by the arrival of\nAgrippi'na, the widow of German'icus, a woman of invincible courage,\nand in high esteem for her virtue. She appeared bearing the urn\ncontaining the ashes of her husband, and, attended by all her\nchildren, went to the tomb of Augustus. 23. When she approached the\ncity, she was met by the senate and people of Rome, both with\nacclamations and expressions of sorrow. The veteran soldiers, who had\nserved under German'icus, gave the sincerest testimonies of their\nconcern. The multitude, while the ashes were depositing, regarded the\nceremony in profound silence; but presently broke out into loud\nlamentations, crying out, The commonwealth is now no more.\n24. Tibe'rius permitted the accusation of Pi'so, though he was justly\nsupposed to be merely the instrument of his own vengeance. This\ngeneral was accused before the senate of the death of German'icus, and\nof other crimes.\n25. He put an end to his trial, which had been drawn out to a great\nlength, by committing suicide.[9] His wife Planci'na, who was\nuniversally believed to be most culpable, escaped punishment by the\ninterest of Liv'ia.\n26. Tibe'rius, having now no object of jealousy to keep him in awe,\nbegan to pull off the mask, and appear more in his natural character\nthan before. 27. In the beginning of his cruelties, he took into his\nconfidence Seja'nus, a Roman knight, who found out the method of\ngaining his affection by the most refined degree of dissimulation, and\nwas an overmatch for his master in his own arts.[10] It is not well\nknown whether he was the adviser of all the cruelties that ensued; but\ncertain it is, that from the beginning of his ministry, Tibe'rius\nseemed to become more fatally suspicious.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What were the age and character of Tiberius on his accession?\n2. What first showed him in his true colours?\n3. What was the first news he heard?\n4. Was there not a more formidable revolt?\n5. Did Germanicus accept this dignity?\n6. Did Tiberius properly appreciate this conduct?\n7. Was he pleased with his success?\n8. How did this appear?\n9. What followed this execution?\n10. How was Germanicus received?\n11. How was he next employed?\n12. What restraints were imposed on him?\n13. What were Piso's instructions, and how did he execute them?\n14. How did Germanicus act on the occasion?\n15. Did Piso persevere in his base attempts?\n16. Was Germanicus aware of their design?\n17. What happened on his return?\n18. Repeat his speech on his death-bed.\n19. What farther passed on this occasion?\n20. Was his untimely end lamented?\n21. Who incurred the popular hatred on this occasion?\n22. How was this increased?\n23. What honours were paid her?\n24. Was the tyrant's vile agent rewarded for his services?\n25. What was the issue?\n26. How did Tiberius conduct himself after this?\n27. Who was his prime minister?\nSECTION IV.\n  Some ask for envied power; which public hate\n  Pursues, and hurries headlong to their fate;\n  Down go the titles; and the statue crowned,\n  Is by base hands in the next river drowned.--_Juvenal_.\n1. Seja'nus began his administration by using all his address to\npersuade Tiberius to retire to some agreeable retreat, remote from\nRome; from this he expected many advantages, since there could be no\naccess to the emperor but through him. 2. The emperor, either\nprevailed upon by his persuasions, or pursuing the natural turn of his\ntemper, left Rome and went into Campa'nia, under pretence of\ndedicating temples to Ju'piter and Augustus. Growing weary, however,\nof places where mankind might follow him with their complaints and\ndistresses, he withdrew himself into the delightful island of Ca'pre\u00e6;\nand buried in this retreat, gave himself up to abandoned pleasures,\nregardless of the miseries of his subjects. 3. From this time he\nbecame more cruel, and Seja'nus increased his distrusts. Secret spies\nand informers were placed in all parts of the city, who converted the\nmost harmless actions into subjects of offence. 4. In consequence of\nthis, Ne'ro and Dru'sus, the children of German'icus, were declared\nenemies to the state, and afterwards starved to death in prison;\nwhile Agrippi'na, their mother, was sent into banishment. Sabi'nus,\nAsin'ius, Gal'lus, and Syria'eus, were, upon slight pretences,\ncondemned and executed. 5. In this manner Seja'nus proceeded, removing\nall who stood between him and the empire; and every day increasing his\nconfidence with Tibe'rius, and his power with the senate. The number\nof his statues exceeded even those of the emperor; people swore by his\nfortune, in the same manner as they would have done had he been upon\nthe throne; and he was more dreaded than even the tyrant who actually\nenjoyed the empire. 6. But the rapidity of his rise seemed only\npreparatory to the greatness of his downfall. All we know of his first\ndisgrace with the emperor is, that Sati'rus Secun'dus was the man who\nhad the boldness to accuse him of treason; and Anto'nia, the mother of\nGerman'icus, seconded the accusation. 7. The senate, who had long been\njealous of his power, and dreaded his cruelty, immediately took this\nopportunity of going beyond the orders of Tibe'rius; instead of\nsentencing him to imprisonment, they directed his execution.[11] 8.\nWhilst he was conducting to his fate, the people loaded him with\ninsult and execration; pursued him with sarcastic reproaches; and\nthrew down his statues. He himself was strangled by the executioner.\n9. His death only lighted up the emperor's rage for farther\nexecutions. Planci'na, the wife of Pi'so, and others, were put to\ndeath for being attached to Seja'nus. He began to grow weary of single\nexecutions, and gave orders that all the accused should be put to\ndeath together, without further examination. The whole city was, in\nconsequence, filled with slaughter and mourning. 10. When one\nCarnu'lius killed himself, to avoid the torture, \"Ah!\" cried\nTibe'rius, \"how has that man been able to escape me!\" When a prisoner\nhad earnestly entreated that he would not defer his death: \"Know,\"\nsaid the tyrant, \"I am not sufficiently your friend to shorten your\ntorments.\"\n11. In this manner he lived, odious to the world, and troublesome to\nhimself; an enemy to the lives of others, a tormentor of his own.[12]\nAt length, in the 22d year of his reign, he began to feel the\napproaches of dissolution, and his appetite totally forsook him. 12.\nHe now, therefore, found it was time to think of a successor, and\nfixed upon Calig'ula:[13] willing, perhaps, by the enormity of\nCalig'ula's conduct, with which he was well acquainted, to lessen the\nobloquy of his own.\n13. Still, however, he seemed desirous to avoid his end; and strove,\nby change of place, to cut off the inquietude of his own reflections.\nHe left his favourite island, and went upon the continent; and at\nlast, fixed at the promontory of Mise'num.[14] There he fell into\nfaintings, which all believed to be fatal. 14. Calig'ula supposing him\nactually dead, caused himself to be acknowledged by the Pr\u00e6torian\nsoldiers,[15] and went forth from the emperor's apartment amidst the\napplauses of the multitude; when, all of a sudden, he was informed\nthat the emperor was likely to recover. 15. This unexpected account\nfilled the whole court with terror and alarm; every one who had before\nbeen earnestly testifying his joy, now reassumed his pretended sorrow,\nand forsook the new emperor, through a feigned solicitude for the fate\nof the old. 16, Calig'ula seemed thunderstruck; he preserved a gloomy\nsilence, expecting nothing but death, instead of the empire at which\nhe aspired. 17. Marco, however, who was hardened in crimes, ordered\nthat the dying emperor should be despatched, by smothering him with\npillows; or, as some will have it, by poison. Thus died Tibe'rius in\nthe seventy-eighth year of his age, after reigning twenty-two\nyears.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 780 A.D. 37.]\n18. It was in the eighteenth year of this emperor's reign that Christ,\n(after having spent two years in the public ministry, instructing the\nmultitude in the way of salvation,) was crucified; as if the universal\ndepravity of mankind wanted no less a sacrifice than this to reclaim\nthem. Pi'late sent to Tibe'rius an account of Christ's passion,\nresurrection, and miracles, and the emperor made a report of the whole\nto the senate, desiring that Christ might be accounted a god by the\nRomans. 19. But the senate, displeased that the proposal had not come\nfirst from themselves, refused to allow of his apotheosis; alleging an\nancient law, which gave them the superintendence in all matters of\nreligion. They even went so far as to command, by an edict, that all\nChristians should leave the city; but Tibe'rius, by another edict,\nthreatened death to such as should accuse them; by which means they\ncontinued unmolested during the rest of his reign.\n20. The vices of Calig'ula were concealed under the appearance of\nvirtue in the beginning of his reign. In less than eight months,\nhowever, every trace of moderation and clemency vanished; while\nfurious passions, unexampled avarice, and capricious cruelty, reigned\nuncontrolled; and pride, impiety, lust, and avarice, appeared in all\ntheir native deformity.\n21. Calig'ula's pride first appeared in his assuming to himself the\ntitle of ruler; which was usually granted only to kings. He would also\nhave taken the crown and diadem, had he not been advised, that he was\nalready superior to all the monarchs of the world. 22. Not long after\nhe assumed divine honours, and gave himself the names of such\ndivinities as he thought most agreeable to his nature. For this\npurpose he caused the heads of the statues of Jupiter, and some other\ngods, to be struck off, and his own to be put in their places. He\nfrequently seated himself between Castor and Pollux, and ordered that\nall who came to this temple to worship should pay their adorations\nonly to himself. 23. However, such was the extravagant inconsistency\nof this unaccountable idiot, that he changed his divinity as often as\nhe changed his clothes; being at one time a male deity, at another a\nfemale; sometimes Jupiter or Mars; and not unfrequently Venus or\nDiana. 24. He even built and dedicated a temple to his own divinity,\nin which his statue of gold was every day dressed in robes similar to\nthose which he himself wore, and worshipped by crowds of adorers.\nHis priests were numerous; the sacrifices made to him were of the most\nexquisite delicacies that could be procured; and the dignity of the\npriesthood was sought by the most opulent men of the city. However, he\nadmitted his wife and his horse to that honour; and to give a\nfinishing stroke to his absurdities, became a priest to himself. 25.\nHis method of assuming the manners of a deity was not less ridiculous;\nhe often went out at full moon, and courted it in the style of a\nlover. He employed many inventions to imitate thunder, and would\nfrequently defy Jupiter, crying out with a speech of Homer, \"Do you\nconquer me, or I will conquer you.\" He frequently pretended to\nconverse in whispers with the statue of Jupiter, and usually seemed\nangry at its replies, threatening to send it back into Greece, whence\nit came. Sometimes, however, he would assume a better temper, and seem\ncontented that Jupiter and he should dwell together in amity.\n26. Of all his vices, prodigality was the most remarkable, and that\nwhich in some measure gave rise to the rest. The luxuries of former\nemperors were simplicity itself when compared to those which he\npractised. He contrived new ways of bathing, when the richest oils and\nmost precious perfumes were lavished with the utmost profusion. His\nluxuries of the table were of immense value, and even jewels, as we\nare told, were dissolved in his sauces. He sometimes had services of\npure gold presented before his guests, instead of meat, observing that\na man should be an economist or an emperor.\n27. The manner in which he maintained his horse will give some idea of\nhis domestic extravagance. He built a stable of marble, and a manger\nof ivory; and whenever the animal, which he called Incita'tus, was to\nrun in the race, he placed sentinels near its stable, the night\npreceding, to prevent its slumbers from being broken.[16]\n_Questions for Examination._\n1. What was the first measure of Sejanus?\n2. Did the emperor yield to his persuasions?\n3. What consequences ensued from this measure?\n4. Who were the first sufferers?\n5. Did Sejanus increase his influence?\n6. Was this elevation permanent?\n7. To what punishment was he condemned?\n8. What occurred at his execution?\n9. Was this the only victim to the cruelty of Tiberius?\n10. How did Tiberius aggravate his cruelties?\n11. Did these cruelties long continue?\n12. How did he act on this?\n13. Was he resigned to his fate?\n14. What followed on this?\n15. How was this news received?\n16. Did Caligula boldly meet the consequences?\n17. How was this averted?\n18. What highly remarkable event happened in this reign?\n19. Was his desire gratified?\n20. What was the conduct of Caligula on this occasion?\n21. By what acts did he display his pride?\n22. Did his arrogance carry him farther than this?\n23. Under what name did he assume divine honours?\n24. Of what farther absurdities was he guilty?\n25. Relate other follies of his?\n26. What was his principal vice?\n27. Give an instance of his domestic extravagance?\nSECTION V.\n  For him no prayers are poured, no p\u00e6ans sung,\n  No blessings chanted from a nation's tongue.--_Brereton._\n1. The impiety, however, of Calig'ula was but subordinate to his\ncruelties. He slew many of the senate, and afterwards cited them to\nappear. He cast great numbers of old and infirm men to the wild\nbeasts, to free the state from such unserviceable citizens. He usually\nfed his wild beasts with the bodies of those wretches whom he\ncondemned; and every tenth day sent off numbers of them to be thus\ndevoured, which he jocosely called clearing his accounts. One of those\nwho was thus exposed, crying out that he was innocent,[17] Calig'ula\nordered him to be taken up, his tongue to be cut out, and then\nthrown into the amphitheatre as before. 2. He took delight in killing\nmen with slow tortures, that, as he expressed it, they might feel\nthemselves dying, being always present at such executions himself,\ndirecting the duration of the punishment, and mitigating the tortures\nmerely to prolong them. 3. In fact, he valued himself for no quality\nmore than his unrelenting temper, and inflexible severity, when he\npresided at an execution. 4. Upon one occasion, being incensed with\nthe citizens, he wished that the Roman people had but one neck, that\nhe might dispatch them at one blow.\n5. Such insupportable and capricious cruelties produced many secret\nconspiracies against him; but they were for a while deferred upon\naccount of his intended expedition against the Germans and Britons.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 793. A.D. 41]\n6. For this purpose he caused numerous levies to be made, and talked\nwith so much resolution, that it was universally believed he would\nconquer all before him. 7. His march perfectly indicated the\ninequality of his temper; sometimes it was so rapid that the cohorts\nwere obliged to leave their standards behind them; at other times it\nwas so slow, that it more resembled a pompous procession than a\nmilitary expedition. 8. In this disposition he would cause himself to\nbe carried on a litter, on eight men's shoulders, and ordered all the\nneighbouring cities to have their streets well swept and watered, that\nhe might not be annoyed with dust. 9 However, all these mighty\npreparations ended in nothing. Instead of conquering Britain, he\nmerely gave refuge to one of its banished princes; and this he\ndescribed, in his letter to the senate, as taking possession of the\nwhole island. 10. Instead of conquering Germany, he only led his army\nto the seashore in Gaul: there, disposing his engines and warlike\nmachines with great solemnity, and drawing up his men in order of\nbattle, he went on board his galley, with which coasting along, he\ncommanded his trumpets to sound, and the signal to be given as if for\nan engagement. 11. His men, who had previous orders, immediately fell\nto gathering the shells that lay upon the shore into their helmets, as\ntheir spoils of the conquered ocean, worthy of the palace and the\ncapitol. 12. After this doughty expedition, calling his army together,\nlike a general after victory, he harangued them in a pompous manner,\nand highly extolled their achievements; then, distributing money among\nthem, and congratulating them upon their riches, he dismissed them,\nwith orders to be joyful: and, that such exploits should not pass\nwithout a memorial, he ordered a lofty tower to be erected by the\nseaside.[18]\n13. Cassius Cher'ea, a tribune of the Pr\u00e6torian bands, was the person\nwho at last freed the world from this tyrant. Besides the motives\nwhich he had in common with other men, he had received repeated\ninsults from Calig'ula, who took all occasions of turning him into\nridicule, and impeaching him with cowardice, merely because he\nhappened to have an effeminate voice. Whenever Cher'ea came to demand\nthe watch-word from the emperor, according to custom, he always gave\nhim either Venus, Adonis, or some such, implying softness and\neffeminacy.\n14. Cher'ea secretly imparted his design to several senators and\nknights, whom he knew to have received personal injuries from\nCalig'ula. While these were deliberating upon the most certain and\nspeedy method of destroying the tyrant, an unexpected incident gave\nnew strength to the conspiracy. 15. Pempe'dius, a senator of\ndistinction, being accused before the emperor of having spoken of him\nwith disrespect, the informer cited one Quintil'ia, an actress, to\nconfirm the accusation. 16. Quintil'ia, however, was possessed of a\ndegree of fortitude not frequently found even in the other sex. She\ndenied the fact with obstinacy; and, being put to the torture, bore\nthe severest tortures of the rack with unshaken constancy. 17. Indeed,\nso remarkable was her resolution, that though acquainted with all the\nparticulars of the conspiracy, and although Cher'ea was the person\nappointed to preside at her torture, she revealed nothing; on the\ncontrary, when she was led to the rack, she trod upon the toe of one\nof the conspirators, intimating at once her knowledge of their\nconspiracy, and her resolution not to divulge it. 18. Thus she\nsuffered, until all her limbs were dislocated; and, in that deplorable\nstate, was presented to the emperor, who ordered her a gratuity for\nwhat she had endured.\n19. Cher'ea could no longer contain his indignation, at being thus\nmade the instrument of a tyrant's cruelty. After several deliberations\nof the conspirators, it was at last resolved to attack him during the\nPalatine games, which lasted four days,[19] and to strike the\nblow when his guards should not have the opportunity to defend him.\n20. The first three days of the games passed. Cher'ea began to\napprehend that deferring the completion of the conspiracy might be the\nmeans of divulging it; he even dreaded that the honour of killing the\ntyrant might fall to the lot of some other person bolder than himself.\nAt last he resolved to defer the execution of his plot only to the day\nfollowing, when Calig'ula should pass through a private gallery, to\nsome baths near the palace.\n21. The last day of the games was more splendid than the rest; and\nCalig'ula seemed more sprightly and condescending than usual. He\nenjoyed the amusement of seeing the people scramble for the fruits and\nother rarities by his order thrown among them, being no way\napprehensive of the plot formed for his destruction. 22. In the mean\ntime the conspiracy began to transpire: and, had he any friends\nremaining, it could not have failed of being discovered. A senator who\nwas present, asking one of his acquaintance if he had heard any thing\nnew, and the other replying in the negative, said \"you must know, that\nthis day will be represented the death of a tyrant.\" The other\nimmediately understood him, but desired him to be cautious. 23. The\nconspirators waited many hours with extreme anxiety; and Calig'ula\nseemed resolved to spend the whole day without any refreshment. So\nunexpected a delay exasperated Cher'ea; and, had he not been\nrestrained, he would suddenly have perpetrated his design in the midst\nof all the people. 24. At that instant, while he was hesitating,\nAspore'nus,[20] one of the conspirators, persuaded Calig'ula to go to\nthe bath, and take some slight refreshment, that he might the better\nenjoy the rest of the entertainment. 25. The emperor, rising up, the\nconspirators used every precaution to keep off the throng, and to\nsurround him themselves, under pretence of great assiduity. Upon his\nentering a little vaulted gallery that led to the bath, Cher'ea struck\nhim to the ground with his dagger, crying out, \"Tyrant, think\nupon this.\" The other conspirators closed in upon him; and while\nthe emperor was resisting, and crying out that he was not yet dead,\nthey dispatched him with thirty wounds.\n26. Such was the merited death of Calig'ula, in the 29th year of his\nage, after a short reign of not four years. His character may be\nsummed up in the words of Sen'eca; namely, \"Nature seemed to have\nbrought him forth, to show what mischief could be effected by the\ngreatest vices supported by the greatest authority.\"\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. Of what enormities was Caligula guilty?\n2. How did he heighten his cruelties?\n3. On what did he chiefly value himself?\n4. What monstrous wish did he express?\n5. What was the consequence of such atrocities?\n6. What preparations did he make?\n7. How did his disposition display itself on this occasion?\n8. How did he sometimes travel?\n9. What exploits did he perform?\n10. Did he not make a show of some great enterprise?\n11. How did it end?\n12. Of what farther follies was he guilty?\n13. By whom was he assassinated, and by what provocations was his fate\nhastened?\n14. Were others made privy to the design?\n15. Relate this incident.\n16. Did Quintilia confirm the accusation?\n17. What rendered this resolution more remarkable?\n18. What was the result?\n19. Was the _crisis_ much longer deferred?\n20. Was this resolution put in practice?\n21. Was Caligula at all apprehensive of what was in agitation?\n22. Was the secret inviolably kept?\n23. How was the design nearly frustrated?\n24. What induced Caligula to alter his intention?\n25. Relate the manner of his death.\n26. Repeat the summary of his character as given by Seneca.\nSECTION VI.\n  And withered as you see these war-worn limbs,\n  Trust me, they shall support the mightiest load\n  Injustice dares impose.--_Mason's Caractacus_.\n1. As soon as the death of Calig'ula was made public it produced the\ngreatest confusion. The conspirators, who only aimed at destroying a\ntyrant, without attending to the appointment of a successor, had\nall sought safety by retiring to private places. 2. Some soldiers\nhappening to wander about the palace, discovered Clau'dius,\nCalig'ula's uncle, lurking in a secret place where he had hid himself.\nOf this person, who had hitherto been despised for his imbecility,\nthey resolved to make an emperor: and accordingly they carried him\nupon their shoulders to the camp, where they proclaimed him at a time\nwhen he expected nothing but death.\n3. Clau'dius was now fifty years old. The complicated diseases of his\ninfancy had, in some measure, affected all the faculties of his mind\nas well as body, and he seemed, both in public and domestic life,\nincapable of conducting himself with propriety.[21]\n4. The commencement of his reign, however, as had been the case with\nall the bad emperors, gave the most promising hopes. It began by an\nact of oblivion for all former words and actions, and by disannulling\nall the cruel edicts of Calig'ula. 5. He showed himself more moderate\nthan his predecessors with regard to titles and honours. He forbade\nall persons, under severe penalties, to sacrifice to him, as they had\ndone to Calig'ula. He was assiduous in hearing and examining\ncomplaints; and frequently administered justice in person with great\nmildness. To his solicitude for the internal advantages of the state,\nhe added that of a watchful guardianship over the provinces. He\nrestored Jude'a to Her'od Agrip'pa,[22] which Calig'ula had taken from\nHer'od Antipas, his uncle, the man who had put John the Baptist to\ndeath, and who was banished by order of the present emperor.[23]\n[Illustration: Triumph of Claudius.]\n6. He even undertook to gratify the people by foreign conquest.\nThe Britons, who had for nearly a hundred years been left in quiet\npossession of their own island, began to seek the mediation of Rome,\nto quell their intestine commotions. 7. The principal man who desired\nto subject his native country to the Roman dominion, was one Ber'icus,\nwho persuaded the emperor to make a descent upon the island,\nmagnifying the advantages that would attend the conquest of it. 8. In\npursuance of his advice, therefore, Plau'tius, the pr\u00e6tor, was ordered\nto go into Gaul, and make preparations for this great expedition. At\nfirst, indeed, his soldiers seemed backward to embark, declaring that\nthey were unwilling to make war beyond the limits of the world; for so\nthey judged Britain to be. However, they were at last persuaded to go,\nand the Britons were several times overthrown.\n[Sidenote: A.D. 46.]\n9. These successes soon after induced Claud'ius to go into Britain in\nperson, under pretence that the natives were still seditious, and had\nnot delivered up some Roman fugitives, who had taken shelter among\nthem. 10. However, this exhibition seemed rather calculated for show\nthan service: the time he continued in Britain, which was in all but\nsixteen days, was more taken up in receiving homage than extending his\nconquests. 11. Great rejoicings were made upon his return to Rome: the\nsenate decreed him a splendid triumph; triumphal arches were erected\nto his honour, and annual games instituted to commemorate his\nvictories. 12. In the mean time the war was vigorously prosecuted by\nPlau'tius, and his lieutenant Vespasian, who, according to\nSueto'nius, fought thirty battles, and reduced a part of the island\ninto the form of a Roman province.\n[Sidenote: A.D. 51]\n13. However, this war broke out afresh under the government of\nOsto'rius, who succeeded Plau'tius. The Britons, either despising him\nfor want of experience, or hoping to gain advantages over a person\nnewly come to command, rose up in arms, and disclaimed the Roman\npower. 14. The Ice'ni, who inhabited Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridge, and\nHuntingdonshire; the Can'gi, in Wiltshire and Somersetshire; and the\nBrigan'tes, in Yorkshire, &c. made a powerful resistance, though they\nwere at length overcome; but the Silu'res, or inhabitants of South\nWales, under their king Carac'tacus, were the most formidable\nopponents the Roman generals had ever yet encountered. 15. This brave\nbarbarian not only made a gallant defence, but often claimed a\ndoubtful victory. He, with great conduct, removed the seat of war into\nthe most inaccessible parts of the country, and for nine years kept\nthe Romans in continued alarm.\n16. Upon the approach of Osto'rius, however, Carac'tacus, finding\nhimself obliged to come to a decisive engagement, addressed his\ncountrymen with calm resolution, telling them that this battle would\neither establish their liberty, or confirm their servitude; that they\nought to remember the bravery of their ancestors, by whose valour they\nwere delivered from taxes and tribute; and that this was the time to\nshow themselves equal to their progenitors. 17. But nothing that\nundisciplined valour could perform availed against the conduct of the\nRoman legions. After an obstinate fight, the Britons were entirely\nrouted: the wife and daughter of Carac'tacus were taken prisoners; and\nhe himself, seeking refuge from Cartisman'dua, queen of the\nBrigan'tes, was treacherously delivered up to the conquerors. 18. When\nhe was brought to Rome, nothing could exceed the curiosity of the\npeople to behold a man who had, for so many years, braved the power of\nthe empire. Carac'tacus testified no marks of base dejection. When he\nwas led through the streets, and observed the splendor of every object\naround him--\"Alas!\" cried he, \"how is it possible that people\npossessed of such magnificence at home, could think of envying\nCarac'tacus a humble cottage in Britain!\" 19. When he was brought\nbefore the emperor, while the other prisoners sued for pity with the\nmost abject lamentations, Carac'tacus stood before the tribunal with\nan intrepid air, and though he was willing to accept of pardon,\nwas not mean enough to sue for it. \"If,\" said he, \"I had yielded\nimmediately, and without opposing you, neither would my fortune have\nbeen remarkable, nor your glory memorable; you could not have been\nvictorious, and I had been forgotten. If now, therefore, you spare my\nlife, I shall continue a perpetual example of your clemency.\"\nClau'dius generously pardoned him, and Osto'rius was decreed a\ntriumph.\n20. In the beginning of his reign Clau'dius gave the highest hopes of\na happy continuance; but he soon began to lessen his care for the\npublic, and to commit to his favourites all the concerns of the\nempire. This prince, weak from his infancy, was little able, when\ncalled to govern, to act but under the direction of others. 21. One of\nhis chief instructors was his wife Messa'lina: whose name is become a\ncommon appellation for women of abandoned character. By her was\nClau'dius urged on to commit cruelties, which he considered only as\nwholesome severities; while her crimes became every day more\nnotorious, and exceeded what had ever been in Rome. For her crimes and\nenormities, however, she, together with her accomplice Cai'us Sil'ius,\nsuffered that death they both had so justly deserved.\n22. Clau'dius afterwards married Agrippi'na, the daughter of his\nbrother German'icus, a woman of a cruel and ambitious spirit, whose\nonly aim being to procure the succession of Nero, her son by a former\nmarriage, she treated Claudius with such haughtiness, that he was\nheard to declare, when heated with wine, that it was his fate to smart\nunder the disorders of his wives, and to be their executioner. 23.\nThis expression sunk deep in her mind, and engaged all her faculties\nto prevent the blow; she therefore resolved not to defer a deed which\nshe had meditated long before, which was to poison him. She for some\ntime debated within herself in what quantity the poison should be\nadministered, as she feared that too strong a dose would discover the\ntreachery, while one too weak would fail of its effect. 24. At length\nshe determined upon a poison of singular efficacy to destroy his\nintellects, and yet not suddenly to terminate his life; it was given\namong mushrooms, a dish the emperor was particularly fond of. 25.\nShortly after he had eaten, he dropped down insensible; but this\ncaused no alarm, as it was usual with him to eat till he had stupified\nhis facilities, and been obliged to be carried from the table to his\nbed. 26. His constitution, however, seemed to overcome the\neffects of the potion; but Agrippi'na resolving to make sure of him,\ndirected a wretch of a physician, her creature, to introduce a\npoisoned feather into his throat, under pretence of making him vomit,\nand thus to dispatch him, which had its intended effect. Thus died\nClau'dius the First, the complicated diseases of whose infancy seemed\nto have affected and perverted all the faculties of his mind. He was\nsucceeded by Nero, the son of Agrippi'na by her first husband. Nero\nhad been adopted by Clau'dius.\n_Questions for Examination._\n1. What happened on the death of Caligula?\n2. Who was appointed his successor?\n3. What was the character of Claudius?\n4. How did he conduct himself?\n5. By what farther acts did he distinguish his accession?\n6. Did he adopt any warlike measure?\n7. By whom was he persuaded to interfere?\n8. Who was sent into that country, and what occurred in consequence?\n9. What resolution did Claudius form?\n10. Did he perform any memorable exploits?\n11. Was his return celebrated?\n12. Was the war in Britain now at an end?\n13. Did this finish the war?\n14. Who were the most formidable adversaries of the Romans?\n15. How did he distinguish himself?\n16. By what means did he strengthen the courage of his troops?\n17. Were his efforts successful?\n18. What happened on his arrival in Rome?\n19. What was his behaviour before the emperor?\n20. Did Claudius continue to govern well?\n21. Who was the chief instigator of his cruelties?\n22. Who was the second wife of Claudius, and what was her conduct\ntowards him?\n23. What was the consequence of this unguarded expression?\n24. On what did she at length resolve?\n25. What effect did it produce?\n26. Did he recover?\n[Illustration: Rome set on fire, by order of Nero.]\nSECTION VII.\n  That so, obstructing those that quenched the fire,\n  He might at once destroy rebellious Rome.--_Lee_.\n1. Nero, though but seventeen years old, began his reign with the\ngeneral approbation of mankind. He appeared just, liberal, and humane.\nWhen a warrant for the execution of a criminal was brought to be\nsigned, he would cry out with compassion, \"Would to heaven that I had\nnever learned to write!\"\n2. But as he increased in years, his native disposition began to show\nitself. The execution of his mother Agrippi'na was the first alarming\ninstance he gave of his cruelty. After attempting to get her drowned\nat sea, he ordered her to be put to death in her palace; and coming to\ngaze upon the dead body, was heard to say, that he had never thought\nhis mother so handsome a woman.\nThe manner of his attempt to drown her was extremely singular. He\ncaused a vessel to be constructed that, by withdrawing some bolts,\nwould separate in the open sea, and thus give her death the appearance\nof a shipwreck. Agrippi'na, naturally suspicious, at first refused to\ngo on board; but, lulled into security by the artful blandishments of\nher son, she embarked. The attempt was made; but Agrippi'na was taken\nup by some fisher-boats, and conveyed to her own villa. The very great\ncalmness of the sea prevented the possibility of its being\nconsidered as an accident. Agrippi'na, however, dissembled her\nsuspicions, and informed the emperor of her wonderful escape. Three\nyears after the death of his mother, he murdered his tutor Burrhus,\nand also his wife Octavia, a young princess of admirable virtue and\nbeauty that he might marry the infamous Popp\u00e6'a.\n3. The mounds of virtue being thus broken down, Nero gave a loose to\nappetites that were not only sordid, but inhuman. There was a sort of\nodd contrast in his disposition: for while he practised cruelties\nsufficient to make the mind shudder with horror, he was fond of those\namusing arts which soften and refine the heart. He was particularly\naddicted, even from childhood, to music, and not totally ignorant of\npoetry; chariot-driving was his favourite pursuit; and all these he\nfrequently exhibited in public.\n4. Happy had it been for mankind, had he confined himself to these;\nand contented with being contemptible, sought not to become formidable\nalso. His cruelties exceeded all his other extravagancies. 5. A great\npart of the city of Rome was consumed by fire in his time, and to him\nmost historians ascribe the conflagration. It is said that he stood\nupon a high tower, during the continuance of the flames, enjoying the\nsight, and singing, in a theatrical manner to his harp, verses upon\nthe burning of Troy. Of the fourteen quarters into which Rome was\ndivided, only four remained entire. None were permitted to lend\nassistance towards extinguishing the flames; and several persons were\nseen setting fire to the houses, alleging that they had orders for so\ndoing. 6. However this be, the emperor used every art to throw the\nodium of so detestable an action from himself, and fix it upon the\nChristians, who were at that time gaining ground in Rome.\n7. Nothing could be more dreadful than the persecution raised against\nthem upon this false accusation. Some were covered with the skins of\nwild beasts, and, in that disguise, devoured by the dogs; some were\ncrucified, and others burnt alive. \"When the day was not sufficient\nfor their tortures, the flames in which, they perished,\" says\nTa'citus, \"served to illuminate the night:\" while Nero, dressed in the\nhabit of a charioteer, regaled himself with a view of their tortures\nfrom his gardens, and entertained the people at one time with their\nsufferings, at another with the games of the circus. 8. In this\npersecution St. Paul was beheaded, and St. Peter crucified, with his\nhead downwards; a mode of death he chose, as being more dishonourable\nthan that of his divine master. Upon the ruins of the demolished\ncity, Nero founded a palace, which he called his Golden House. It\ncontained within its inclosure, artificial lakes, large wildernesses,\nspacious parks, gardens, orchards, vineyards, &c. &c. The entrance of\nthe stately edifice was sufficiently lofty to admit a colossal statue\nof Nero, 120 feet high. The galleries, erected on three rows of tall\npillars, were each a mile in length. The palace itself was tiled with\ngold (probably gilding), the walls covered with the same metal, and\nrichly adorned with precious stones and mother-of-pearl: and the\nceiling of one of the banqueting rooms represented the firmament beset\nwith, stars, turning about incessantly night and day, and showering\nsweet waters on the guests.\n9. A conspiracy formed against Nero, by Piso, a man of great power and\nintegrity, which was prematurely discovered, opened a train of\nsuspicions that destroyed many of the principal families in Rome. 10.\nThe two most remarkable personages who fell on this occasion, were\nSen'eca[24], the philosopher, and Lucan the poet, his nephew.\nEpicha'ris, a woman of infamous character, who by some means was\nimplicated in the conspiracy, deserves to be mentioned as an instance\nof female fortitude. She was condemned to the torture, but the united\nforce of racks, stripes and fire, could not extort a word from her.\nThe next day she was conducted in a chair to be tortured afresh, (for\nher limbs were so mangled and disjointed, that she could not stand,)\nshe hung herself with her girdle to the top of the chair, voluntarily\nsuspending the whole weight of her body to the noose: thus a woman\nonce a slave, cheerfully endured the most exquisite torture, and even\ndeath, to save persons she scarcely knew, and from whom she had never\nreceived any favours.\nNero, either having real testimony, or else hating him for his\nvirtues, sent a tribune to Sen'eca[24], informing him that he was\nsuspected as an accomplice. The tribune found the philosopher at table\nwith Pauli'na, his wife; and informing him of his business, Sen'eca\nreplied without emotion, that his welfare depended upon no man; that\nhe had never beenaccustomed to indulge the errors of the emperor,\nand would not do it now. 11. When this answer was brought to Nero, he\ndemanded whether Sen'eca seemed afraid to die; the tribune replying\nthat he did not appear in the least terrified; \"Then go to him again,\"\ncried the emperor, \"and give him my orders to die.\" Accordingly he\nsent a centurion to Sen'eca, signifying that it was the emperor's plea\nsure that he should die. Sen'eca seemed no way discomposed, but\ndisplayed the fortitude of conscious integrity. He endeavoured to\nconsole his wife, and exhorted her to a life of persevering virtue.\n12. She seemed resolved, however, not to survive him, and pressed her\nrequest to die with him so earnestly, that Sen'eca, who had long\nlooked upon death as a benefit, at last gave his consent; and the\nveins of both their arms were opened at the same time. 13. As Sen'eca\nwas old, and much enfeebled by the austerities of his life, the blood\nflowed but slowly; so that he caused the veins of his legs and thighs\nto be opened also. His pains were long and violent, but they were not\ncapable of repressing his fortitude or his eloquence. He dictated a\ndiscourse to two secretaries, which was read with great avidity after\nhis death, but which has since perished in the lapse of time. 14. His\nagonies being now drawn out to a great length, he at last demanded\npoison from his physician; but this also failed of its effect, his\nbody being already exhausted, and incapable of exciting its operation.\nHe was from this carried into a warm bath, which only served to\nprolong his sufferings; at length, therefore, he was put in a stove,\nthe vapour of which quickly dispatched him. 15. In the mean time his\nwife, Pauli'na, having fallen into a swoon with the loss of blood, had\nher arms bound up by her domestics, and by this means survived her\nhusband for some years; but by her conduct during the rest of her\nlife, she seemed never to forget her affection and his example.\n16. The death of Lucan was not less remarkable. After he had lost a\ngreat quantity of blood from the veins of his arms, perceiving his\nhands and legs already dead, while the vital parts still continued\nwarm and vigorous, he called to mind the description of his own poem\nof the Pharsa'lia, of a person dying in similar circumstances, and\nexpired while he was repeating the passage.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 817. A.D. 66.]\n17. The death of C. Petro'nius, about this time, is too remarkable to\nbe passed over in silence. This person, whom some historians suppose\nto be the author of the piece entitled T. Petro'nii Arbi'tri\nSaty'ricon, was an Epicu'rean, both in principle and practice. In a\ncourt like that of Nero, he was esteemed for his refinements in\nluxury, and became the emperor's tutor in this exquisite art. 18.\nAccused of being privy to Piso's conspiracy, he was committed to\nprison. Petro'nius, who could not endure the anxiety of suspense,\nresolved upon putting himself to death, by causing his veins to be\nopened. 19. In the mean time, he conversed with his friends, not upon\nmaxims of philosophy, or grave subjects, but upon such topics as had\namused his gayest revels. He listened while they recited the lightest\npoems; and by no action, no word, no circumstance, showed the\nperplexity of a dying person. 20. Shortly after him, Numi'cius\nThermus, Bare'a Sora'nus, and Pe'tus Thra'sea, were put to death. The\nvaliant Cor'bulo, who had gained Nero so many victories over the\nParthians, followed next. Nor did the empress Popp\u00e6'a herself escape.\n21. At length human nature grew weary of bearing her persecutor; and\nthe whole world seemed to rouse, as if by common consent, to rid the\nearth of a monster.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What was Nero's conduct at the commencement of his reign?\n2. Did this disposition continue?\n3. What was there peculiar in his disposition?\n4. Were these his greatest faults?\n5. Of what heinous crime is he accused?\n6. On whom was the odium of this barbarous action cast?\n7. What was the consequence to these unhappy men?\n8. What eminent persons suffered on this occasion?\n9. Did not these cruelties give birth to conspiracies?\n10. What persons of note suffered in consequence?\n11. Did this defence save his life?\n12. Were his exhortations effectual?\n13. Relate the circumstances of Seneca's death?\n14. Were not other means resorted to?\n15. Did not Paulina survive him?\n16. Describe the death of Lucan.\n17. What other victim of Nero's cruelty deserves mention?\n18. What brought him into danger?\n19. How did he meet death?\n20. Were not other illustrious persons sacrificed?\n21. Were these cruelties committed with impunity?\nSECTION VIII.\n  O breath of public praise,\n  Short-lived and vain; oft gained without desert,\n  As often lost unmerited: composed\n  But of extremes---_Havard._\n1. Ser'vius Galba, at that time governor of Spain, was remarkable for\nhis wisdom in peace, and his courage in war; but as a display of\ntalents under corrupt princes is dangerous, he, for some years, had\nseemed to court obscurity and an inactive life. 2. Willing, however,\nto rid his country of the monster that now occupied the throne, he\naccepted the invitation of Vindex, to march with an army towards Rome.\n3. From the moment he declared against Nero, the tyrant considered\nhimself as fallen. He received the account as he was at supper, and\ninstantly struck with terror, overturned the table with his foot,\nbreaking two crystal vases of immense value. He fell into a swoon, and\non his recovery tore his clothes and struck his head, crying out,\n\"that he was utterly undone.\" 4. He now called for the assistance of\nLocus'ta, a woman famous in the art of poisoning, to furnish him with\nthe means of death; but being prevented in this, and the revolt\nbecoming general, he went in person from house to house; but the doors\nwere shut against him. Being reduced to a state of desperation, he\ndesired that one of his favourite gladiators might dispatch him; but\neven in this request not one would obey. \"Alas,\" cried he, \"have I\nneither friend nor enemy?\" then running desperately forth, he seemed\nresolved to plunge headlong into the Ti'ber. 5. But his courage failed\nhim; he made a sudden stop, as if willing to re-collect his reason,\nand asked for some sacred place where he might reassume his courage,\nand meet death with becoming fortitude. 6. In this distress, Pha'on,\none of his freedmen, offered him his country-house, about four miles\ndistant, where he might for some time remain concealed. Nero accepted\nthe offer; and, with his head covered, hiding his face with his\nhandkerchief, he mounted on horseback, attended by four of his\ndomestics, of whom the wretched Sporus was one. 7. His journey, though\nshort, was crowded with adventures. An earthquake gave him the first\nalarm. The lightning from heaven next flashed in his face. Round him\nhe heard nothing but confused noises from the camp, the cries of the\nsoldiers imprecating a thousand evils upon his head. 8. A traveller,\nmeeting him on the way, cried, \"Those men are in pursuit of Nero.\"\nAnother asked him if there was any news of Nero in the city. His horse\ntaking fright at a dead body that lay near the road, he dropped\nhis handkerchief, when a soldier addressing him by name, he quitted\nhis horse, and forsaking the highway, entered a thicket that led\ntowards the back part of Pha'ron's house, making the best of his way\namong the reeds and brambles with which the place was overgrown. 9.\nDuring this interval, the senate, finding the Pr\u00e6to'rian guards had\ntaken part with Galba, declared him emperor, and condemned Nero to\ndie, _mo're majo'rum;_ that is, according to the rigour of the ancient\nlaws. 10. When he was told of the resolution of the senate, he asked\nwhat was meant by being punished according to the rigour of the\nancient laws? To this it was answered, that the criminal was to be\nstripped naked, his head fixed in a pillory, and in that posture he\nwas to be scourged to death. 11. Nero was so terrified at this, that\nhe seized two poniards, which he had brought with him: after examining\ntheir points, he returned them, however, to their sheaths, pretending\nthat the fatal moment was not yet arrived. 12. He then desired Sporus\nto begin the lamentations which were used at funerals; he next\nentreated that one of his attendants would die, to give him courage by\nhis example, and afterwards began to reproach his own cowardice,\ncrying out, \"Does this become Nero? Is this trifling well-timed?\nNo!--let me be courageous!\" In fact, he had no time to spare; for the\nsoldiers who had been sent in pursuit of him, were just then\napproaching the house. 13. Upon hearing, therefore, the sound of the\nhorses' feet, he set a dagger to his throat, with which, by the\nassistance of Epaphrod'itus, his freedman and secretary, he gave\nhimself a mortal wound. 14. However, he was not yet dead when one of\nthe centurions, entering the room and pretending that he came to his\nrelief, attempted to stop the blood with his cloak. But Nero,\nregarding him with a stern countenance, said, \"It is now too late! Is\nthis your fidelity?\" Upon which, with his eyes fixed and frightfully\nstaring, he expired; exhibiting, even after death, a ghastly spectacle\nof innoxious tyranny. 15. He reigned thirteen years, seven months, and\ntwenty-eight days, and died in the thirty-second year of his age.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 820, A.D. 69]\n16. Galba was seventy-two years old when he was declared emperor, and\nwas then in Spain with his legions. He soon found that his being\nraised to the throne was but an inlet to new disquietudes. 17. He\nseemed to have three objects in view: to curb the insolence of the\nsoldiers; to punish those vices which had risen to an enormous\nheight in the last reign; and to replenish the exchequer, which had\nbeen drained by the prodigality of his predecessors. 18. However,\npermitting himself to be governed by favourites, he at one time showed\nhimself severe and frugal; at another remiss and prodigal; condemning\nsome illustrious persons without any hearing, and pardoning others,\nthough guilty. In consequence of this, seditions were kindled, and\nfactions promoted. 19. Galba was sensible that, besides his age, his\nwant of an heir rendered him less respected: he resolved, therefore,\nto adopt a person whose virtues might deserve such advancement, and\nprotect his declining age from danger; but his favourites wished to\ngive him an heir of their own choosing; so that there arose a great\ncontention among them upon this occasion. 20. Otho made earnest\napplication for himself, alleging the great services he had done the\nemperor, as being the first man of note who came to his assistance\nwhen he declared against Nero. 21. However, Galba, being fully\nresolved to consult the public good alone, rejected his suit; and, on\na day appointed, ordered Piso Lucia'nus to attend him. The character\ngiven by historians of Piso is, that he was every way worthy of the\nhonour designed him. 22. Taking this youth by the hand, Galba adopted\nhim to succeed in the empire, giving him the most wholesome lessons\nfor guiding his future conduct. Piso showed that he was highly\ndeserving this distinction, in all his deportment there appeared such\nmodesty, firmness, and equality of mind as bespoke him rather capable\nof discharging than ambitious of obtaining his present dignity. 23.\nBut the army and the senate did not seem equally disinterested upon\nthis occasion; they had been so long used to bribery and corruption,\nthat they could now bear no emperor who was not in a capacity of\nsatisfying their avarice. The adoption, therefore, of Piso, was coldly\nreceived; for his virtues were no recommendation in a time of\nuniversal depravity. 24. Otho, who had long been a favourite of Galba,\nand hoped to be adopted a successor in the empire, finding himself\ndisappointed, and stimulated by the immense load of debt which he had\ncontracted by his riotous way of living, resolved upon obtaining the\nempire by force, since he could not do it by peaceable succession.\nHaving corrupted the fidelity of the army, he stole secretly from the\nemperor while he was sacrificing, and, assembling the soldiers,\nhe, in a short speech, urged the cruelties and the avarice of\nGalba. 25. Finding his invectives received with universal shouts by\nthe army, he entirely threw off the mask, and avowed his intention of\ndethroning him. The soldiers being ripe for sedition, immediately\nseconded his views, and taking Otho upon their shoulders, declared him\nemperor; and to strike the citizens with terror, carried him, with\ntheir swords drawn, into the camp.\n26. Soon after, finding Galba in some measure deserted by his\nadherents, the soldiers rushed in upon him, trampling under foot the\ncrowds of people that then filled the forum. 27. Galba seeing them\napproach, seemed to recollect all his former fortitude; and bending\nhis head forward, bid the assassins strike it off, if it were for the\ngood of the people. 28. The command was quickly obeyed. The soldier\nwho struck it off stuck it upon the point of a lance, and\ncontemptuously carried it round the camp; his body remaining unburied\nin the streets till it was interred by one of his slaves. His short\nreign of seven months was as illustrious by his own virtues as it was\ncontaminated by the vices of his favourites, who shared in his\ndownfall.\n29. Otho, who was now elected emperor, began his reign by a signal\ninstance of clemency, in pardoning Marius Celsus, who had been highly\nfavoured by Galba; and not content with barely forgiving, he advanced\nhim to the highest honours, asserting that \"fidelity deserved every\nreward.\"\n30. In the mean time, the legions in Lower Germany having been\npurchased by the large gifts and specious promises of Vitel'lius their\ngeneral, were at length induced to proclaim him emperor; and,\nregardless of the senate, they declared that they had an equal right\nto appoint to that high station, with the cohorts at Rome.\n31. Otho departed from Rome with all haste to give Vitel'lius battle.\nThe army of Vitel'lius, which consisted of seventy thousand men, was\ncommanded by his generals Va'lens and Cecin'na, he himself remaining\nin Gaul, in order to bring up the rest of his forces. Both sides\nhastened to meet each other with so much animosity and precipitation,\nthat three considerable battles were fought in the space of three\ndays, in all of which Otho and the Romans had the advantage. 32. These\nsuccesses, however, were but of short continuance, for Va'lens and\nCecin'na, who had hitherto acted separately, joining their forces, and\nstrengthening their armies with fresh supplies, resolved to come\nto a general engagement. Otho's forces were partially over thrown\nat Bedria'cum, a village near Cremo'na, in Lombardy, in Italy; and\nthough he had still numerous armies at his devotion, he killed himself\nshortly after, having reigned three months and five days, and was\nsucceeded by Vitel'lius.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What was the character of Sergius Galba?\n2. Did he at length emerge from his obscurity?\n3. Was he formidable to Nero?\n4. What was the conduct of Nero on this emergency?\n5. Did he actually do so?\n6. Was his request complied with?\n7. What befell him by the way?\n8. What farther happened?\n9. What occurred in the interval?\n10. How did Nero receive this intelligence?\n11. Did he resolve to await this terrible punishment?\n12. How did he contrive to put off the fatal moment?\n13. What at length put an end to this irresolution?\n14. Was he dead when the soldiers arrived?\n15. How long did he reign?\n16. What was the age of Galba on his accession?\n17. What were his principal views?\n18. Was his conduct regular and consistent?\n19. What important measure did he adopt?\n20. Who was the chief candidate on the occasion?\n21. Was he chosen?\n22. Was Piso the chosen successor, and what was his character?\n23. Was this adoption generally approved?\n24. Did not Otho attempt to set him aside?\n25. Was he favourably received?\n26. Did Galba suppress this rebellion?\n27. What was his behaviour on the occasion?\n28. Was this command obeyed, and what treatment did Galba experience?\n29. How did Otho commence his reign?\n30. Did he reign without a rival?\n31. What was the consequence of this rivalship?\n32. Was Otho finally successful?\nSECTION IX.\n  Afflicted Israel shall sit weeping down,\n  Fast by the stream where Babel's waters run;\n  Their harps upon the neighbouring willows hung.\n  Nor joyous hymn encouraging their tongue.\n  Nor cheerful dance their feet; with toil oppressed,\n  Their wearied limbs aspiring but to rest.--_Prior._\n1. Vitel'lius was declared emperor by the senate, and received the\nmarks of distinction which were now accustomed to follow the\nappointments of the strongest side.\n2. He had been accustomed from his youth to dissipation and applause.\nCaligula was pleased with his skill in driving a chariot; Claudius\nloved him because he was a great gamester; and he gained the favour of\nNero by wishing him to sing publicly in the theatre. Upon his arrival\nat Rome, he entered the city, not as a place he came to govern with\njustice, but as a town that was become his own by the laws of\nconquest.\n3. Vitel'lius soon gave himself up to all kinds of luxury and\nprofuseness; but gluttony was his favourite vice. His entertainments,\nseldom indeed at his own cost, were prodigiously expensive. He\nfrequently invited himself to the tables of his subjects; in the same\nday breakfasting with one, dining with another, and supping with a\nthird. 4. By such vices and by enormous cruelties, he became a burthen\nto himself, and odious to all mankind. Having become insupportable to\nthe inhabitants of Rome, the legions of the east unanimously resolved\nto make Vespa'sian emperor.\nVespa'sian was by no means of an illustrious family, his father being\nonly a collector of the tax called quadragesima. Nor was his conduct,\nprevious to his accession to the imperial throne, calculated to do him\nhonour, as he was guilty of the meanest flattery and servility to\ningratiate himself with men in power. Yet, as a general, he was\nindefatigable in his duties, and of unquestionable valour; abstemious\nin his diet, and plain in his dress. On attaining to the imperial\ndignity he appears to have laid aside every vice except avarice. His\nelevation neither induced him to assume arrogant and lofty airs, nor\nto neglect those friends who had shown themselves deserving of\nhis favour.\n[Illustration: Coliseum.]\nDesirous of convincing the world that he owed his good fortune to\nmerit alone, he disdained to court the soldiers by largesses; in\nshort, he displayed a nobleness of disposition worthy of the most\nillustrious birth, and befitting the exalted station to which he had\narrived. This prince was the founder of the noble amphitheatre, called\nthe Coliseum, which remains to this day. Twelve thousand Jewish\ncaptives were employed in its erection, and it was capable of\ncontaining 80,000 spectators seated, and 30,000 standing. It is now in\nruins.\n5. During the preparations against him, Vitel'lius, though buried in\nsloth and luxury, resolved to make an effort to defend the empire; and\nhis chief commanders, Va'lens and Cecin'na, were ordered to make all\npossible preparations to resist the invaders. 6. The first army that\nentered Italy with a hostile intention was under the command of\nAnto'nius Pri'mus, who was met by Cecin'na, near Cremo'na. A battle\nwas expected to ensue; but a negociation taking place, Cecin'na was\nprevailed upon to change sides, and declared for Vespa'sian.[25] His\narmy, however, quickly repented of what they had done, and,\nimprisoning their general, attacked Anto'nius, though without a\nleader. 7. The engagement continued the whole night; and in the\nmorning, after a short repast, both armies engaged a second time; when\nthe soldiers of Anto'nius saluting the rising sun, according to\ncustom, the Vitel'lians supposed that they had received new\nreinforcements, and betook themselves to flight, with the loss of\nthirty thousand men.\n8. In the mean time, Vitel'lius made offers to Vespa'sian of resigning\nthe empire in his favour, provided his life were spared, and a\nsufficient revenue allotted for his support. In order to enforce this\nproposal, he issued from his palace in deep mourning, with all his\ndomestics weeping round him. 9. He then went to offer the sword of\njustice to Cecil'ius, the consul, which he refusing, the abject\nemperor prepared to lay down the ensigns of empire in the Temple of\nConcord; but being interrupted by some who cried out, that he himself\nwas Concord, he resolved, upon so weak an encouragement, still to\nmaintain his power, and immediately prepared for his defence.\n10. During this fluctuation of counsels, one Sabi'nus, who had advised\nVitel'lius to resign, perceiving his desperate situation, resolved, by\na bold step, to favour Vespa'sian; and accordingly seized upon the\ncapitol. But he was premature in his attempt; for the soldiers of\nVitel'lius attacked him with great fury; and prevailing by their\nnumbers, soon laid that beautiful building in ashes. 11. During this\ndreadful conflagration, Vitel'lius was feasting in the palace of\nTibe'rius, and beheld all the horrors of the assault with\nsatisfaction. 12. Sabi'nus was taken prisoner, and shortly after\nexecuted by the emperor's command. Young Domi'tian, his nephew, who\nwas afterwards emperor, escaped by flight, in the habit of a priest;\nand the rest, who survived the fire, were put to the sword.\n13. But Anto'nius, Vespa'sian's commander, being arrived before the\nwalls of the city, the forces of Vitel'lius resolved upon defending it\nto the utmost extremity. It was attacked with fury; while the army\nwithin, sallying out upon the besiegers, defended it with equal\nobstinacy. The battle lasted the whole day; the besieged were driven\nback into the city, and a dreadful slaughter made of them in the\nstreets which they vainly attempted to defend.\n14. Vitel'lius was soon found hidden in an obscure corner, whence he\nwas taken by a party of the conquering soldiers. Still, however,\ndesirous of adding a few hours to his miserable life, he begged to be\nkept in prison till the arrival of Vespa'sian at Rome, pretending that\nhe had secrets of importance to discover. 15. But his entreaties were\nvain; the soldiers binding his hands behind him, and throwing a halter\nround his neck, led him along, half naked, into the public forum,\nloading him with all the bitter reproaches their malice could suggest,\nor his cruelty might deserve. At length, being come to the place of\npunishment, they put him to death with blows: and then dragging the\ndead body through the streets with a hook, they threw it, with\nall possible ignominy, into the river Tiber.\n[Sidenote: A.D. 70.]\n16. Vespa'sian was now declared emperor by the unanimous consent both\nof the senate and the army; and dignified with all those titles which\nnow followed rather the power than the merit of those who were\nappointed to govern. 17. Having continued some months at Alexan'dria,\nin Egypt, where it is said he cured a blind man and a cripple by\ntouching them, he set out for Rome. Giving his son, Ti'tus, the\ncommand of the army that was to lay siege to Jerusalem, he himself\nwent forward, and was met many miles from Rome by all the senate, and\nthe inhabitants, who gave the sincerest testimony of their joy, in\nhaving an emperor of such great and experienced virtue. 18. Nor did he\nin the least disappoint their expectations; as he showed himself\nequally assiduous in rewarding merit and pardoning his adversaries; in\nreforming the manners of the citizens, and setting them the best\nexample in his own.\n19. In the mean time Titus carried on the war against the Jews with\nvigour. This obstinate and infatuated people had long resolved to\nresist the Roman power, vainly hoping to find protection from heaven,\nwhich their impieties had utterly offended. 20. Their own historian\nrepresents them as arrived at the highest pitch of iniquity; while\nfamines, earthquakes, and prodigies, all conspired to forebode their\napproaching ruin. 21. Nor was it sufficient that heaven and earth\nseemed combined against them; they had the most bitter dissensions\namong themselves, and were divided into two parties, who robbed and\ndestroyed each other with impunity: constantly pillaging, yet boasting\ntheir zeal for the religion of their ancestors.\n22. At the head of one of these parties was an incendiary, whose name\nwas John. This fanatic affected sovereign power, and filled the whole\ncity of Jeru'salem, and all the towns around, with tumult and pillage.\nIn a short time a new faction arose, headed by one Si'mon, who,\ngathering together multitudes of robbers and murderers who had fled to\nthe mountains, attacked many cities and towns, and reduced all Idume'a\nunder his power. 23. Jeru'salem, at length, became the theatre in\nwhich these two demagogues exercised their mutual animosity: John was\npossessed of the temple, while Si'mon was admitted into the city; both\nequally enraged against each other; while slaughter and devastation\nwere the consequence of their pretensions. Thus did a city\nformerly celebrated for peace and unity, become the seat of tumult and\nconfusion.\n24. In this miserable situation, Ti'tus began his operations within\nsix furlongs of Jeru'salem, during the feast of the passover, when the\nplace was filled with an infinite multitude of people, who had come\nfrom all parts to celebrate that great solemnity. 25. The approach of\nthe Romans produced a temporary reconciliation between the contending\nfactions within the city; so that they unanimously resolved to oppose\nthe common enemy, and decide their domestic quarrels at a more\nconvenient season. 26. Their first sally, which was made with much\nfury and resolution, put the besiegers into great disorder, and\nobliged them to abandon their camp, and fly to the mountains; however,\nrallying immediately after, the Jews were forced back into the city,\nwhile Ti'tus, in person, showed surprising instances of valour and\nconduct.\n27. The city was strongly fortified with three walls on every side,\nexcept where it was fenced by precipices. Ti'tus began by battering\ndown the outward wall, which, after much fatigue and danger, he\neffected; in the mean time showing the greatest clemency to the Jews,\nand offering them repeated assurances of pardon. Five days after the\ncommencement of the siege, Ti'tus broke through the second wall; and\nthough driven back by the besieged, he recovered his ground, and made\npreparations for battering the third wall, which was their last\ndefence. 28. But first he sent Jose'phus, their countryman, into the\ncity, to exhort them to yield; who using all his eloquence to persuade\nthem, was answered only with scoffs and reproaches. 29. The siege was\nnow therefore carried on with greater vigour than before; formidable\nengines for throwing darts and stones were constructed, and as quickly\ndestroyed by the enemy. At length it was resolved in council to\nsurround the whole city with a trench, and thus prevent all relief and\nall succours from abroad. 30. This, which was quickly executed, seemed\nno way to intimidate the Jews. Though famine, and pestilence its\nnecessary attendant, began now to make the most horrid ravages among\nthem, yet this desperate people still resolved to hold out. 31. Ti'tus\nnow cut down all the woods within a considerable distance of the city;\nand causing more batteries to be raised, he at length beat down the\nwall, and in five days entered the citadel by force. 32. The Jews,\nhowever, continued to deceive themselves with absurd expectations,\nwhile many false prophets deluded the multitude, by declaring that\nthey should soon have assistance from God. The heat of the battle was\nnow gathered round the inner wall of the temple, while the defendants\ndesperately combatted from the top. 33. Ti'tus was desirous of saving\nthis beautiful structure; but a soldier casting a brand into some\nadjacent buildings, the fire communicated to the temple; and\nnotwithstanding the utmost endeavours on both sides, the whole edifice\nwas quickly consumed. 34. The sight of the temple in ruins effectually\nserved to damp the ardour of the Jews. They now began to suppose that\nheaven had forsaken them, while their cries and lamentations echoed\nfrom the adjacent mountains. Even those who were almost expiring,\nlifted up their dying eyes to bewail the loss of their temple, which\nthey valued more than life itself. 35. The most resolute, however,\nstill endeavoured to defend the upper and stronger part of the city,\nnamed Sion; but Ti'tus, with his battering engines, soon made himself\nentire master of the place. 36. John and Simon were taken from the\nvaults where they had concealed themselves; the former was condemned\nto perpetual imprisonment, and the latter reserved to grace the\nconqueror's triumph. The greatest part of the populace were put to\nthe sword; and the city was, after a six month's siege, entirely\nrazed, and its site ploughed up; so that according to our Saviour's\nprophecy, not one stone remained upon another. Those who perished in\nthis siege amounted to about a million; the captives to almost a\nhundred thousand.[26]\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. Who succeeded Otho?\n2. In what way did he assume the sovereignty?\n3. How did he conduct himself in his new station?\n4. What were the consequences of this conduct?\n5. Did Vitellius tamely submit to his rival?\n6. Who first commenced hostilities?\n7. What followed?\n8. What was the conduct of Vitellius on this occasion?\n9. What farther measures did he adopt?\n10. Were the friends of Vespasian idle at this juncture?\n11. How was Vitellius engaged at the time of this disaster?\n12. What became of Sabinus?\n13. What was the consequence of this success on the part of Vitellius?\n14. What became of the fallen emperor?\n15. Was his request granted?\n16. Did Vespasian quietly succeed?\n17. What were his first measures?\n18. Were they disappointed in their expectations?\n19. What was the state of the Jewish war?\n20. What was the state of the Jewish nation?\n21. Were they united among themselves?\n22. Who were at the head of these factions?\n23. What was the chief theatre of their enormities?\n24. At what remarkable season did Titus commence his attack?\n25. What effect did this attack produce?\n26. Did the Jews bravely defend their city?\n27. What progress did Titus make in the siege?\n28. Did he make no attempt to persuade the Jews to surrender?\n29. What measures were then adopted?\n30. Did these formidable measures terrify the Jews?\n31. By what means did Titus gain the city?\n32. Was all opposition now at an end?\n33. Was the temple destroyed?\n34. What effect did this sad event produce?\n35. Were there none who attempted farther resistance?\n36. What became of the inhabitants and their chiefs?\nSECTION X.\n  This world, 'tis true.\n  Was made for C\u00e6sar--but for Titus too;\n  And which more blest? who chain'd his country, say,\n  Or, he whose virtue sigh'd to lose a day!--_Pope_.\n1. Upon the taking of Jerusalem, the soldiers would have crowned Titus\nas conqueror; but he modestly refused the honour, alleging, that he\nwas only an instrument in the hand of heaven, that manifestly declared\nits wrath against the Jews. 2. At Rome, however, all men's mouths were\nfilled with the praises of the conqueror, who had not only showed\nhimself an excellent general, but a courageous combatant. His return,\ntherefore, in triumph, with Vespa'sian his father, was marked with all\nthe magnificence and joy in the power of men to express. All things\nthat were esteemed valuable or beautiful were brought to adorn this\ngreat occasion. 3. Among the rich spoils were exposed vast quantities\nof gold, taken out of the temple; but the Book of the Holy Law was not\nthe least remarkable among the magnificent profusion. 4. This was the\nfirst time that ever Rome saw the father and the son triumphant\ntogether. A triumphal arch was erected upon this occasion, on which\nwere described the victories of Titus over the Jews; and it remains\nalmost entire to this day.\n5. Few emperors have received a better character from historians than\nVespasian; yet his numerous acts of generosity and magnificence could\nnot preserve his character from the imputation of rapacity and\navarice; for it is well known that he descended to some very unusual\nand dishonourable imposts.\n6. Having reigned ten years, beloved by his subjects, and deserving\ntheir affection, he was seized with an indisposition at Campa'nia,\nwhich he perceived would be fatal. 7. Finding his end approaching, he\nexerted himself, and cried out, \"An emperor ought to die standing;\"\nwhereupon, raising himself upon his feet, he expired in the arms of\nthose who sustained him.\n[Sidenote: A.D. 79.]\n8. Titus was joyfully received as emperor, and began his reign with\nthe practice of every virtue that became a sovereign and a man. During\nthe life of his father, there had been many imputations against him\nboth for cruelty, lust, and prodigality; but upon his exaltation to\nthe throne, he seemed to have entirely taken leave of his former\nvices, and became an example of the greatest moderation and humanity.\n9. His first step towards gaining the affections of his subjects, was\nthe moderating of his passions, and bridling his inclinations. 10. He\ndiscarded those who had been the ministers of his pleasures, though he\nhad formerly taken great pains in the selection. 11. This moderation,\nadded to his justice and generosity, procured him the love of all good\nmen, and the appellation of the _Delight of Mankind_; which all his\nactions seemed calculated to insure.\n12. Ti'tus took particular care to punish all informers, false\nwitnesses, and promoters of dissension. Wretches who had their rise in\nthe licentiousness and impunity of former reigns, were now become so\nnumerous, that their crimes called loud for punishment. 13. Of these\nhe daily made public example, condemning them to be scourged in the\npublic streets, dragged through the theatre, and then banished into\nthe uninhabited parts of the empire, or sold as slaves. 14. His\ncourtesy and readiness to do good have been celebrated even by\nChristian writers; his principal rule being, not to send away a\npetitioner dissatisfied. One night, recollecting that he had done\nnothing beneficial to mankind during the day, he cried out, \"I have\nlost a day!\" A sentence too remarkable not to be had in remembrance.\n15. In the first year of his reign, an eruption of Mount\nVesu'vius overwhelmed many towns,[27] throwing its ashes into\ncountries more than a hundred miles distant. Upon this memorable\noccasion, Pliny, the naturalist, lost his life; being impelled by too\neager a curiosity to observe the eruption, he was suffocated in the\nflames. 16. This and other disasters were, in some measure,\ncounterbalanced by the successes in Britain, under Agrico'la. This\nexcellent general, having been sent into Britain towards the latter\nend of Vespasian's reign, showed himself equally expert in quelling\nthe refractory, and civilizing those who had formerly submitted to the\nRoman power. 17. The Ordovi'ces, or inhabitants of North Wales, were\nthe first that were subdued. He then made a descent upon the isle of\nAn'glesey, which surrendered at discretion. 18. Having thus rendered\nhimself master of the whole country, he took every method to restore\ndiscipline to his whole army, and to introduce politeness among those\nwhom he had conquered. He exhorted them, both by advice and example,\nto build temples, theatres, and stately houses. He caused the sons of\ntheir nobility to be instructed in the liberal arts, and to be taught\nthe Latin language; and induced them to imitate the Roman modes of\ndress and living. 19. Thus, by degrees, this barbarous people began to\nassume the luxurious manners of their conquerors, and even to\noutdo them in all the refinements of sensual pleasure. 20. Upon\naccount of the successes in Britain, Titus was saluted Impera'tor[28]\nfor the fifteenth time; but he did not long survive this honour, being\nseized with a violent fever at a little distance from Rome. He expired\nshortly after, but not without suspicion of treachery from his brother\nDomi'tian, who had long wished to govern. He died in the forty-first\nyear of his age, having reigned two years, two months, and twenty\ndays.\n[Sidenote: A.D. 81.]\n21. The beginning of Domi'tian's reign was universally acceptable to\nthe people, as he appeared equally remarkable for his clemency,\nliberality and justice.[29] 22. But he soon began to show the natural\ndeformity of his mind. Instead of cultivating literature, as his\nfather and brother had done, he neglected all kinds of study,\naddicting himself wholly to meaner pursuits, particularly archery and\ngaming. 23. He was so very expert an archer, that he would frequently\ncause one of his slaves to stand at a great distance, with his hand\nspread as a mark, and would shoot his arrows with such exactness, as\nto stick them all between his fingers. 24. He instituted three sorts\nof contests to be observed every five years, in music, horsemanship\nand wrestling; but at the same time he banished all philosophers and\nmathematicians from Rome. 25. No emperor before him entertained the\npeople with such various and expensive shows. During these diversions\nhe distributed great rewards, sitting as president himself, adorned\nwith a purple robe and crown, with the priests of Ju'piter, and the\ncollege of Fla'vian priests about him. 26. The meanness of his\noccupations in solitude, was a just contrast to his exhibitions of\npublic ostentation. He usually spent his hours of retirement in\ncatching flies, and sticking them through with a bodkin; so that one\nof his servants, being asked if the emperor were alone, answered, that\nhe had not so much as a fly to bear him company. 27. His vices seemed\nevery day to increase, and his ungrateful treatment of Agrico'la\nafforded a convincing proof of his natural malevolence. 28.\nDomi'tian was always particularly fond of obtaining a military\nreputation, and therefore felt jealous of it in others. He had marched\nsome time before into Gaul, upon a pretended expedition against the\nCatti, a people of Germany, and without even seeing the enemy,\nresolved to have the honour of a triumph upon his return to Rome. For\nthat purpose he purchased a number of slaves, whom he dressed in\nGerman habits, and at the head of this miserable procession he entered\nthe city, amid the apparent acclamations and concealed contempt of all\nhis subjects.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. How did Titus conduct himself after this important conquest?\n2. How was he received at Rome?\n3. What were the most remarkable among the spoils?\n4. What peculiarity attended this triumph?\n5. What was the character of Vespasian?\n6. How many years did Vespasian reign?\n7. Did he not display great resolution at the hour of death?\n8. How did Titus commence his reign?\n9. By what means did he gain the love of his subjects?\n10. What sacrifices did he make for this purpose?\n11. Did he succeed in his views?\n12. What class of delinquents met his most decided disapprobation?\n13. What punishment was inflicted on them?\n14. What were his chief virtues?\n15. What remarkable event occurred in this reign, and what eminent\npersonage became its victim?\n16. By what successes was this disaster counterbalanced?\n17. What were his first enterprizes?\n18. What methods did he take to civilize the conquered countries?\n19. Were his measures successful?\n20. Did Titus long enjoy the glory of this conquest?\n21. How did Domitian commence his reign?\n22. Did he persevere in his meritorious conduct?\n23. In what exercise did he excel?\n24. Did he encourage the arts and sciences?\n25. Was he magnificent in his exhibitions?\n26. How did he employ himself in private?\n27. Did time render him less vicious?\n28. By what means did he attempt to acquire military fame?\nSECTION XI.\n                 What wretch would groan\n  Beneath the galling load of power, or walk\n  Upon the slippery pavements of the great!--_Somerville._\n1. The success of Agric'ola in Britain affected Domit'ian, with an\nextreme degree of envy. This excellent general pursued the advantages\nwhich he had already obtained; he subdued the Caledo'nians, and\novercame Gal'gacus, the British chief, who commanded an army of thirty\nthousand men; afterwards sending out a fleet to scour the coast, he\ndiscovered Great Britain to be an island. He likewise discovered and\nsubdued the Orkneys; and thus reduced the whole into a civilized\nprovince of the Roman empire. 2. When the account of these successes\nwas brought to Domitian, he received it with a seeming pleasure, but\nreal uneasiness. He thought Agric'ola's rising reputation a tacit\nreproach upon his own inactivity; and instead of attempting to\nemulate, he resolved to suppress the merits of his services. 3. He\nordered him, therefore, external marks of approbation, and took care\nthat triumphal ornaments, statues, and other honours should be decreed\nhim; but at the same time he removed him from his command, under a\npretence of appointing him to the government of Syria. 4. By these\nmeans Agric'ola surrendered up his province to Sallus'tius Lucul'lus,\nbut soon found that Syria was otherwise disposed of. Upon his return\nto Rome, which was privately and by night, he was coolly received by\nthe emperor; and dying some time after in retirement, it was generally\nsupposed that his end was hastened by Domi'tian's direction.\n5. Domi'tian soon found the want of so experienced a commander, in the\nmany irruptions of the barbarous nations that surrounded the empire.\nThe Sarma'tians in Europe, joined with those of Asia, made a\nformidable invasion, at once destroying a whole legion, and a general\nof the Romans. The Da'cians, under the conduct of Dece'balus, their\nking, made an irruption, and overthrew the Romans in several\nengagements. 6. At last, however, the barbarians were repelled, partly\nby force, and partly by the assistance of money, which only served to\nenable them to make future invasions with greater advantage. 7. But in\nwhatever manner the enemy might have been repelled, Domi'tian was\nresolved not to lose the honours of a triumph. He returned in great\nsplendour to Rome; and, not contented with thus triumphing twice\nwithout a victory, he resolved to take the surname of German'icus,\nfor his conquests over a people with whom he never contended.\n8. In proportion as the ridicule increased against him, his pride\nseemed every day to demand greater homage. He would permit his statues\nto be made only of gold and silver; he assumed to himself divine\nhonours; and ordered that all men should address him by the same\nappellations which they gave to the Divinity. 9. His cruelty was not\ninferior to his arrogance; he caused numbers of the most illustrious\nsenators and others to be put to death, upon the most trifling\npretences. One \u00c6'lius La'ma was condemned and executed only for\njesting, though there was neither novelty nor poignancy in his humour.\nOccea'nus was murdered only for celebrating the nativity of O'tho.\nPomposia'nus shared the same fate, because it was foretold by an\nastrologer that he should be emperor. Sallus'tius Lucul'lus his\nlieutenant in Britain, was destroyed only for having given his name to\na new sort of lances of his own invention. Ju'nius Rus'ticus died for\npublishing a book, in which he commended Thra'sea and Pris'cus, two\nphilosophers, who opposed Vespa'sian's coming to the throne.\n10. Lu'cius Anto'nius, governor of Upper Germany, knowing how much the\nemperor was detested at home, resolved upon striking for the throne;\nand accordingly assumed the ensigns of imperial dignity. 11. As he was\nat the head of a formidable army, his success remained a long time\ndoubtful; but a sudden overflow of the Rhine dividing his army, he was\nset upon at that juncture by Norman'dus, the emperor's general, and\ntotally routed. The news of this victory, we are told, was brought to\nRome by supernatural means, on the same day that the battle was\nfought. 12. Domi'tian's severity was greatly increased by this\nshort-lived success. In order to discover the accomplices of the\nadverse party, he invented new tortures: sometimes cutting off the\nhands--at other times thrusting fire into the bodies of those whom he\nsuspected of being his enemies. 13. In the midst of these severities,\nhe aggravated his guilt by hypocrisy--never pronouncing sentence\nwithout a preamble full of gentleness and mercy. The night before he\ncrucified the comptroller of his household, he treated him with the\nmost flattering marks of friendship, and ordered him a dish of meat\nfrom his own table. He carried Areti'nus Cle'mens with him in his own\nlitter the day he resolved upon his death. 14. He was particularly\nterrible to the senate and nobility, the whole body of whom he\nfrequently threatened to extirpate entirely. At one time he surrounded\nthe senate-house with his troops, to the great consternation of the\nsenators. At another, he resolved to amuse himself with their terrors\nin a different manner. 15. Having invited them to a public\nentertainment, he received them all very formally at the entrance of\nhis palace, and conducted them into a spacious hall, hung round with\nblack, and illuminated by a few melancholy lamps, that diffused no\nmore light than was just sufficient to show the horrors of the place.\nAll around were to be seen coffins, with the names of each of the\nsenators written upon them, together with other objects of terror, and\ninstruments of execution. 16. While the company beheld all these\npreparations with silent agony, several men having their bodies\nblackened, each with a drawn sword in one hand, and a flaming torch in\nthe other, entered the hall, and danced round them. 17. After some\ntime, when, from the knowledge of Domi'tian's capricious cruelty, the\nguests expected nothing less than instant death, the doors were set\nopen, and one of the servants came to inform them, that the emperor\ngave all the company leave to withdraw.\n18. His cruelties were rendered still more odious by his avarice. 19.\nThe last part of the tyrant's reign was more insupportable than any of\nthe preceding. Ne'ro exercised his cruelties without being a\nspectator; but a principal part of the Roman miseries, during his\nreign, was to behold the stern air and fiery visage of the tyrant,\nwhich he had armed against sensibility by continued intemperance,\ndirecting the tortures, and maliciously pleased with adding poignance\nto every agony.\n20. But a period was soon to be put to this monster's cruelties. Among\nthe number of those whom he at once caressed and suspected, was his\nwife, Domi'tia, whom he had taken from \u00c6'lius La'ma, her former\nhusband. 21. It was the tyrant's method to put down the names of all\nsuch as he intended to destroy, in his tablets, which he kept about\nhim with great circumspection. Domi'tia fortunately happening to get a\nsight of them, was struck at finding her own name in the catalogue of\nthose destined to destruction. 22. She showed the fatal list to\nNorba'nus and Petro'nius, pr\u00e6fects of the pr\u00e6torian bands, who found\nthemselves among the number of devoted victims; as likewise to\nSteph'anus, the comptroller of the household, who came into the\nconspiracy with alacrity. They fixed upon the eighteenth day of\nSeptember for the completion of their great attempt. 23. Upon the\nemperor's preparing to go to the bath on the morning of that day,\nPetro'nius his chamberlain came to inform him that Steph'anus desired\nto speak upon an affair of the utmost importance. The emperor having\ngiven orders that his attendants should retire, Steph'anus entered\nwith his hand in a scarf, which he had worn thus for some days, the\nbetter to conceal a dagger, as none were permitted to approach the\nemperor with arms. 24. He began by giving information of a pretended\nconspiracy, and exhibited a paper, in which the particulars were\nspecified. While Domi'tian was reading the contents with eager\ncuriosity, Steph'anus drew his dagger and struck him with much\nviolence; but the wound not being mortal, Domi'tian caught hold of the\nassassin and threw him upon the ground, calling out for assistance.\nBut Parthe'nius, with his freedman, a gladiator, and two subaltern\nofficers, now coming in, they ran furiously upon the emperor and\ndispatched him: Steph'anus, however, was slain by the guards, but the\nother conspirators escaped in the tumult.\n25. It is rather incredible, what some writers relate concerning\nApollo'nius Tyane'us, who was then at Ephesus. This person, whom some\ncall a magician, and some a philosopher, but who more probably was\nonly an impostor, was, just at the minute in which Domi'tian was\nslain, lecturing in one of the public gardens of the city; but\nstopping short, on a sudden he cried out, \"Courage, Steph'anus, strike\nthe tyrant!\" then, after a pause, \"Rejoice, my friends, the tyrant\ndies this day;--this day do I say?--the very moment in which I kept\nsilence he suffered for his crimes! He dies!\"\n26. Many prodigies are said to have portended his death; and if the\nRoman historians are to be credited, more preternatural appearances\nand predictions announced this event, than its importance\ndeserved.[30] The truth seems to be, that a belief in omens and\nprodigies was again become prevalent, as the people were evidently\nrelapsing into pristine barbarity, ignorance being ever the proper\nsoil for a harvest of imposture.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What advantages did Agricola gain in Britain?\n2. How did Domitian receive the account of Agricola's success?\n3. In what way did the emperor treat him?\n4. To whom did Agricola surrender up his province?\n5. What nations afterwards made irruptions into the Roman provinces?\n6. By what means were the barbarians at length repelled?\n7. What surname did Domitian assume?\n8. To what extravagance did his pride lead him?\n9. What trifling pretexts were made use of by Domitian to put to death\nsome of the most illustrious Romans?\n10. Who now assumed the ensigns of the imperial dignity?\n11. By what general was Lucius Antonius defeated?\n12. What new cruelties were resorted to by the emperor?\n13. By what hypocritical conduct was he distinguished?\n14. To whom was he particularly terrible?\n15, 16, 17. What terrific ceremonies did he invent on one occasion?\n18. Was the result fatal to them?\n19. Did not his cruelties become still more insupportable at the\nlatter part of his reign?\n20. Who was among the number that he at the same time caressed and\nsuspected?\n21. Whose name did Domitia discover among his list of victims?\n22. To whom did she show the fatal list, and what was resolved on?\n23. What means were used by Stephanus to assassinate the emperor?\n24. Relate the particulars of the assassination.\n25. What exclamation is Apollonius Tyaneus said to have made at\nEphesus, at the time of Domitian's death?\n26. Did not the Romans relapse into their pristine state of barbarity\nabout this period?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] In his sixth consulship Augustus commanded a census to be made,\nwhen there was found the astonishing number of 4,060,000 inhabitants\nin Rome, which was fifty miles in circumference.\n[2] M. Primus, while governor of Macedon, had made an irruption into\nthe country of the Odrysians; for this he was prosecuted, and pleaded\nthat it was by the emperor's orders. Augustus denying this, L. Murena\nput the impudent question to him mentioned in the text.\n[3] An island on the coast of Lucania, in Italy; now called Santa\nMaria.\n[4] The date of Augustus's reign is here reckoned from the death of\nAntony, when he became sole monarch; but if it be reckoned from his\nfirst coming into power, soon after the death of Julius C\u00e6sar, it is\nnearly 56 years. Augustus carried on his wars principally by his\nlieutenants, but he went personally into Spain and Gaul. His bravery,\nhowever, has been greatly called in question, and many flagrant\ninstances of his cowardice recorded. How true they may be is not easy\nto determine.\n[5] The temple of Janus was now shut for the third time since the\nfoundation of the city.\n[6] He began his reign, however, with the murder of Agrippa Posthumus,\nthe grandson of Augustus.\n[7] Varus had been surprised by the Germans, defeated, and his whole\narmy cut to pieces. Augustus was so grieved at this disgrace and loss,\nthat, for a long time, he wore mourning, and frequently was heard to\ncry out, in the agony of his grief, \"Restore me my legions, Varus.\"\n[8] Germanicus died in the 34th year of his age, and was universally\nmourned for, not only by the Roman people, but by the princes in\nalliance with Rome, and even by the proud monarch of Parthia. (Suet.\n[9] He was found in the morning with his throat cut, and his sword\nlying by him; but whether this was done by his own hand, or by the\norders of Tiberius, is not known. (Tacitus.)\n[10] Sejanus, though simply a Roman knight, was descended from an\nillustrious family, and was, in the very beginning of Tiberius's\nreign, associated with his father in the command of the pr\u00e6torian\nguards. By removing these from their usual quarters in the city, and\nuniting them in one body in a camp, he laid the foundation of that\npower, which they afterwards usurped, of disposing of the empire at\ntheir pleasure.\n[11] To such a pitch of meanness were the Roman senators arrived, that\nwhen the emperor's letter arrived, the senators, thinking it contained\norders for bestowing on Sejanus the tribunitial power, crowded around\nhim, each striving to be foremost in congratulating him on his new\ndignity; but they no sooner learned the real contents of the fatal\nletter than all forsook him; even those who sat near him removed to\nanother part of the house, lest they should be accounted his friends.\n(Dio.) The populace likewise broke in pieces those very statues which,\na few hours before, they had adored.\n[12] It has been well said of Tiberius, \"This great prince--this\nsovereign of Rome--with his numerous armies, his pr\u00e6torian bands, and\nhis unlimited power, was in hourly fear of secret assassins,\nincessantly prompted by his own apprehensions; with all the eclat of\nempire, the most miserable being in his dominions. His power, indeed,\nwas unlimited, but so was his misery; the more he made others suffer,\nthe faster he supplied his own torments. Such was his situation and\nlife, and such were the natural consequences of the abuse of power.\"\n[13] He was so named from _caliga_, a sort of military boot which he\nusually wore.\n[14] A promontory, port, and town in Italy, near Naples.\n[15] The Pr\u00e6torian bands were instituted by Augustus, to guard his\nperson, and maintain his authority. Under bold and warlike emperors,\nthey were kept in tolerable subjection: but when the reins of\ngovernment were held by feeble hands, they became the disturbers,\ninstead of preservers, of the public peace; and, at length, deposed\nand set up emperors at their pleasure.\n[16] Some still more extraordinary accounts are given of this horse:\nit is said that he appointed it a house, furniture, and kitchen, in\norder to treat all its visitors with proper respect. Sometimes he\ninvited Incita'tus to his own table, and presented it with gilt oats,\nand wine in a golden cup. He would often swear, \"by the safety of his\nhorse!\" and it is even said that it was his intention to have\nappointed it to the consul-ship, had not his death prevented it.\n[17] One day on visiting the amphitheatre, finding there were no\ncriminals condemned to fight with wild beasts, he ordered numbers of\nthe spectators to be thrown to them, previously causing their tongues\nto be cut out, that they might not, by their cries, disturb his\ninhuman diversions.\n[18] It is said that the tower which stands at the entry of the port\nof Bologne, called La tour d'ordre, is that built by Calig'ula on this\noccasion.\n[19] Palatine games were so called from their being celebrated on the\nPalatine Hill, which was the most considerable of the seven hills on\nwhich Rome was built. This was the first hill occupied by Rom'ulus,\nand where he fixed his residence, and kept his court; as also did\nTul'lus, Hostil'ius, Augus'tus, and all the succeeding emperors; and\nhence it is that the residence of princes is called Palatium or\nPalace.\n[20] He is by some called Am'pronus.\n[21] His mother Anto'nia, used to call him a human monster; and his\nnephew, Calig'ula, when he had butchered many of his kindred, saved\nhim merely for a laughing-stock. The kindest word Agustus gave him was\nthat of Misel'lus, (poor wretch.) This example was followed by others.\nIf he happened to come to table when the guests had taken their\nplaces, no one showed him the least civility; and when he slept, as he\nsometimes did, after meals, they would divert themselves by throwing\nthe stones of fruit at him, or by wakening him with a blow of a rod or\nwhip.\n[22] Her'od Agrip'pa was the grandson of Herod the Great; who, at the\nbirth of our Saviour, caused all the infants of Bethlehem to be\nmassacred, in hopes that he would fall in the number. Her'od Agrip'pa\nto please the Jews, also persecuted the Christians; and put to death\nSt. James the Great.\n[23] He put to death Cher'ea and some others of the murderers of his\nnephew.\n[24] Sen'eca, a celebrated philosopher, and a son of Sen'eca the\norator, was born at Corduba, in Spain, A.D. 8. This town was also the\nbirthplace of his father. (Strabo and Lucan.) Corduba was founded by\nthe Romans, B.C. 150, and in process of time it became the residence\nof the Moorish kings, and where they continued till their expulsion\ninto Africa. It was in the vicinity of this city that C\u00e6sar fought his\nlast battle with the sons of Pompey.\n[25] Vespasian was at that time conducting the war in Jude'a, in Asia.\n[26] The destruction of Jerusalem happened in the year of our Lord 70.\n[27] Hercula'neum, Pompe'ii, &c. This eruption happened August 24,\nA.D. 79. These towns, after having been buried under the lava for more\nthan 1600 years, were discovered in the beginning of the last century:\nHercula'neum, in 1713, about 24 feet under ground, by labourers\ndigging a well, and Pompe'ii 40 years after, about 12 feet below the\nsurface; and from the houses and streets which, in a great measure,\nremain perfect, have been drawn busts, statues, manuscripts,\npaintings, &c. which contribute much to enlarge our notions concerning\nthe ancients, and develope many classical obscurities. (Mala.) In the\nyear following this dreadful eruption, a fire happened at Rome, which\nconsumed the capitol, the pantheon, the library of Augustus, the\ntheatre of Pompey, and a great many other buildings. In the ruins of\nHercula'neum there have lately been found loaves which were baked\nunder the reign of Titus, and which still bear the baker's mark,\nindicating the quality of the flour, which was probably prescribed by\nthe regulation of the police. There have also been found utensils of\nbronze, which, instead of being tinned, like ours, are all silvered;\nthe ancients doubtless preferred this method, as more wholesome and\nmore durable. The excavations at Pompe'ii continue to furnish the\nroyal museum at Naples with all kinds of valuable objects: some\nbuildings have lately been discovered at Pompe'ii, remarkable for the\nrichness of their architecture. At Paggo'ia, another town buried by\nthe lava from Vesuvius, some sepulchres have been found, which are\nstated to be magnificently adorned with sculpture of the finest kind.\n[28] Impera'tor, a title of honour among the Romans, conferred on\nvictorious generals by their armies, and afterwards by the senate.\n[29] It is a remarkable fact, that the most odious tyrants that ever\nsat on the Roman throne, commenced their reigns with a display of all\nthe virtues that adorn humanity: on the contrary, Augustus, who was\ntruly the father of his people, began his reign with cruelties that\nafforded but a melancholy presage of his future administration.\n[30] In the reign of Domi'tian, a violent persecution raged against\nthe Christians. During this persecution St. John was confined to the\nIsle of Patmos, in the Archipelago, where he wrote the Apoc'alypse, or\nRevelation.\nCHAPTER XXIII.\nSECTION I.\nTHE FIVE GOOD EMPERORS OF ROME.\n  These slaves, whom I have nurtur'd, pamper'd, fed.\n  And swoln with peace, and gorg'd with plenty, till\n  They reign themselves--all monarchs in their mansions.\n  Now swarm forth in rebellion, and demand\n  His death, who made their lives a jubilee.--_Byron_.\n1. When it was publicly known that Domi'tian[1] was slain, the senate\nbegan to load his memory with every reproach. His statues were\ncommanded to be taken down, and a decree was made, that all his\ninscriptions should be erased, his name struck out of the registers of\nfame, and his funeral obsequies omitted. 2. The people, who now\ntook but little part in the affairs of government, looked on his death\nwith indifference; the soldiers alone, whom he had loaded with\nfavours, and enriched by largesses, sincerely regretted their\nbenefactor.\n3. The senate, therefore, resolved to provide a successor before the\narmy could have an opportunity of taking the appointment upon itself,\nand Cocce'ius Ner'va was chosen to the empire the same day on which\nthe tyrant was slain. 4. He is said to have been of an illustrious\nfamily in Spain, and above sixty-five years old when he was called to\nthe throne, an elevation which he owed solely to his virtues,\nmoderation, respect to the laws, and the blameless tenor of his life.\n5. The people, long accustomed to tyranny, regarded Nerva's gentle\nreign with rapture, and even gave to his imbecility (for his humanity\nwas carried too far for justice) the name of benevolence. 6. Upon\ncoming to the throne he solemnly swore, that no senator of Rome should\nbe put to death by his command during his reign, though guilty of the\nmost heinous crimes. 7. This oath he so religiously observed, that\nwhen two senators had conspired his death, he used no kind of severity\nagainst them; but, sending for them to let them see he was not\nignorant of their designs, he carried them with him to the public\ntheatre; there presenting each a dagger, he desired them to strike,\nassuring them that he should make no resistance. 8. He had so little\nregard for money, that when one of his subjects found a large\ntreasure, and wrote to the emperor for instructions how to dispose of\nit, he received for answer, that he might use it; the finder however\nreplying, that it was a fortune too large for a private person to use,\nNerva, admiring his honesty, wrote him word that then he might abuse\n9. A sovereign of such generosity and mildness was not, however,\nwithout his enemies. Vigil'ius Ru'fus, who had opposed his accession,\nwas not only pardoned, but made his colleague in the consulship.\nCalpur'nius Cras'sus also, with some others, formed a conspiracy to\ndestroy him; but Nerva was satisfied with banishing those who were\nculpable, though the senate were for inflicting more rigorous\npunishments. 10. But the most dangerous insurrection was that of\nthe pr\u00e6torian bands, who, headed by Caspa'rius Olia'nus, insisted upon\nrevenging the late emperor's death, whose memory was still dear to\nthem, from his frequent liberalities. 11. Nerva, whose kindness to\ngood men rendered him more obnoxious to the vicious, did all in his\npower to stop the progress of this insurrection; he presented himself\nto the mutinous soldiers, and laying bare his bosom, desired them to\nstrike there rather than be guilty of so much injustice. 12. The\nsoldiers, however, paid no regard to his remonstrances; but seizing\nupon Petro'nius and Parthe'nius, slew them in the most ignominious\nmanner. Not content with this, they even compelled the emperor to\napprove of their sedition, and to make a speech to the people, in\nwhich he thanked the cohorts for their fidelity.\n13. So disagreeable a constraint upon the emperor's inclinations was\nin the end attended with the most happy effects, as it caused the\nadoption of Trajan[3] to succeed him; for, perceiving that in the\npresent turbulent disposition of the times, he stood in need of an\nassistant in the empire, setting aside all his own relations, he fixed\nupon Ul'pius Tra'jan, an utter stranger to his family, who was then\ngovernor in Upper Germany, as his successor. 14. About three months\nafter this, having put himself into a violent passion with one\nReg'ulus, a senator, he was seized with a fever of which he died,\nafter a reign of one year, four months, and nine days.\n15. He was the first foreigner that ever reigned in Rome, and justly\nreputed a prince of great generosity and moderation. He is also\ncelebrated for his wisdom, though with less reason; the greatest\ninstance given of it during his reign, being the choice of his\nsuccessor.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 851. A.D. 98.]\n16. On hearing of the death of Nerva, Trajan prepared to come to Rome\nfrom Germany, where he was governor. He received upon his arrival a\nletter from Plu'tarch, the philosopher, who had the honour of being\nhis master, to the following purport:--\"Since your merits and not your\nimportunities, have advanced you to the empire, permit me to\ncongratulate you on your virtues, and my own good fortune. If your\nfuture government proves answerable to your former worth, I shall\nbe happy; but if you become worse for power, yours will be the danger,\nand mine the ignominy of your conduct. The errors of the pupil will be\ncharged upon his instructor. Sen'eca is reproached for the enormities\nof Nero; and Soc'rates and Quintil'ian have not escaped censure for\nthe misconduct of their respective scholars. But you have it in your\npower to make me the most honoured of men, by continuing what you are.\nRetain the command of your passions; and make virtue the rule of all\nyour actions. If you follow these instructions, then will I glory in\nhaving presumed to give them: if you neglect what I advise, then will\nthis letter be my testimony that you have not erred through the\ncounsel and authority of Plu'tarch.\" I insert this letter, because it\nis a striking picture of this great philosopher's manner of addressing\nthe best of princes.\n17. This good monarch's application to business, his moderation\ntowards his enemies, his modesty in exaltation, his liberality to the\ndeserving, and his frugal management of the resources of the state,\nwere the subjects of panegyric among his contemporaries, and continue\nto be the admiration of posterity.\n18. The first war he was engaged in after his coming to the throne was\nwith the Da'cians, who, during the reign of Domi'tian, had committed\nnumberless ravages upon the provinces of the empire. To revenge these,\nhe raised a powerful army, and with great expedition marched into\nthose barbarous countries, where he was vigorously opposed by\nDeceb'alus, the Da'cian king, who for some time withstood his boldest\nefforts. 19. At length, however, this monarch being constrained to\ncome to a general battle, and no longer able to protract the war, was\nrouted with great slaughter. The Roman soldiers upon this occasion\nwanting linen to bind up their wounds, the emperor tore his own robes\nto supply them. 20. This victory compelled the enemy to sue for peace,\nwhich they obtained upon very disadvantageous terms; their king coming\ninto the Roman camp, and acknowledging himself a vassal of the Roman\nempire.\n21. Upon Trajan's return, after the usual triumphs and rejoicings, he\nwas surprised with an account that the Da'cians had renewed\nhostilities. Deceb'alus, their king, was a second time adjudged an\nenemy to the Roman state, and Tra'jan again entered his dominions. 22.\nIn order to be enabled to invade the enemy's territories at pleasure,\nhe undertook a most stupendous work, which was no less than\nbuilding a bridge across the Dan'ube. 23. This amazing structure,\nwhich was built over a deep, broad, and rapid river, consisted of more\nthan twenty-two arches; the ruins, which remain to this day, show\nmodern architects how far they were surpassed by the ancients, both in\nthe greatness and boldness of their designs. 24. Upon finishing this\nwork, Tra'jan continued the war with great vigour, sharing with the\nmeanest of his soldiers the fatigues of the campaign, and continually\nencouraging them to their duty by his own example. 25. By these means,\nnotwithstanding the country was spacious and uncultivated, and the\ninhabitants brave and hardy, he subdued the whole, and added the\nkingdom of Da'cia as a province to the Roman empire. Deceb'alus made\nsome attempts to escape; but being surrounded, he slew himself. 26.\nThese successes seemed to advance the empire to a greater degree of\nsplendor than it had hitherto acquired. Ambassadors came from the\ninterior parts of India, to congratulate Trajan on his successes, and\nsolicit his friendship. On his return, he entered Rome in triumph, and\nthe rejoicings for his victories lasted a hundred and twenty days.\n27. Having given peace and prosperity to the empire, he was loved,\nhonoured, and almost adored. He adorned the city with public\nbuildings; he freed it from such men as lived by their vices; he\nentertained persons of merit with familiarity; and so little did he\nfear his enemies, that he could scarcely be induced to suppose he had\nany.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. How was the account of Domitian's death received?\n2. Was he regretted by any description of his subjects?\n3. What consequences ensued from this regret?\n4. Who was Cocceius Nerva?\n5. Was his government acceptable to the people?\n6. What afforded a presage of his future mild administration?\n7. Did he keep this oath inviolate?\n8. Was Nerva avaricious?\n9. Was his reign free from disturbances?\n10. Were all conspiracies repressed from this time?\n11. Did Nerva exert himself to quell it?\n12. Were his endeavours successful?\n13. What important consequences ensued from these commotions?\n14. What occasioned his death?\n15. What was his character?\n16. How did Trajan act on his accession, and what advice did he\nreceive?\n17. What sentiments did his subjects entertain of their new emperor?\n18. With whom did he commence hostilities?\n19. What was the event of the campaign?\n20. What was the consequence of this victory?\n21. Did peace continue long?\n22. What great undertaking did he accomplish in this expedition?\n23. Was it a difficult work?\n24. What followed the building of the bridge?\n25. What was the event of this second campaign?\n26. What advantages arose from this conquest?\n27. Did Trajan suffer prosperity to make him neglectful of his duties?\nSECTION II.\n  With fatal heat impetuous courage glows.--_Johnson_.\n1. It had been happy for Trajan's memory, had he shown equal clemency\nto all his subjects; but about the ninth year of his reign, he was\npersuaded to look upon the Christians with a suspicious eye, and great\nnumbers of them were put to death by popular tumults and judicial\nproceedings. 2. However, the persecution ceased after some time; for\nthe emperor, finding that the Christians were an innocent and\ninoffensive people, suspended their punishments.\n3. During this emperor's reign there was a dreadful insurrection of\nthe Jews in all parts of the empire. This wretched people, still\ninfatuated, and ever expecting some signal deliverance, took the\nadvantage of Tra'jan's expedition to the east, to massacre all the\nGreeks and Romans whom they could get into their power. 4. This\nrebellion first began in Cyre'ne, a Roman province in Africa; from\nthence the flame extended to Egypt, and next to the island of Cyprus.\nDreadful were the devastations committed by these infatuated people,\nand shocking the barbarities exercised on the unoffending inhabitants.\n5. Some were sawn asunder, others cast to wild beasts, or made to kill\neach other, while the most unheard-of torments were invented and\nexercised on the unhappy victims of their fury. Nay, to such a pitch\nwas their animosity carried, that they actually ate the flesh of their\nenemies, and even wore their skins. 6. However, these cruelties were\nof no long duration: the governors of the respective provinces making\nhead against their tumultuous fury, caused them to experience the\nhorrors of retaliation, and put them to death, not as human beings,\nbut as outrageous pests of society. In Cy'prus it was made capital for\nany Jew to set foot on the island.\n7. During these bloody transactions, Tra'jan was prosecuting his\nsuccesses in the east, where he carried the Roman arms farther than\nthey had ever before penetrated; but resolving to visit Rome once\nmore, he found himself too weak to proceed in his usual manner. He\ntherefore determined to return by sea; but on reaching the city of\nSeleu'cia, he died of an apoplexy, in the sixty-third year of his age,\nafter a reign of nineteen years, six months, and fifteen days.\n[Sidenote: A.D. 117.]\n8. A'drian, the nephew of Trajan, was chosen to succeed him. He began\nhis reign by pursuing a course opposite to that of his predecessor,\ntaking every method of declining war, and promoting the arts of peace.\nHis first care was to make peace with the Par'thians, and to restore\nChos'roes, for he was satisfied with preserving the ancient limits of\nthe empire, and seemed no way ambitious of extensive conquest.\n9. A'drian was one of the most remarkable of the Roman emperors for\nthe variety of his endowments. He was highly skilled in all the\naccomplishments both of body and mind. He composed with great beauty,\nboth in prose and verse, he pleaded at the bar, and was one of the\nbest orators of his time. 10. Nor were his virtues fewer than his\naccomplishments. His moderation and clemency appeared by pardoning the\ninjuries which he had received when he was yet but a private man. One\nday meeting a person who had formerly been his most inveterate\nenemy--\"My good friend,\" said he, \"you have escaped; for I am made\nemperor.\" He was affable to his friends, and gentle to persons of\nmeaner stations; he relieved their wants, and visited them in\nsickness; it being his constant maxim, that he had been elected\nemperor, not for his own good, but for the benefit of mankind at\nlarge.\n11. These virtues were, however, contrasted by vices of considerable\nmagnitude; or rather, he wanted strength of mind to preserve his\nrectitude of character without deviation.\n12. He was scarcely settled on the throne, when several of the\nnorthern barbarians began to devastate the frontier provinces of the\nempire. These hardy nations, who now found the way to conquer by\nissuing from their forests, and then retiring on the approach of\na superior force, began to be truly formidable to Rome. 13. A'drian\nhad thoughts of contracting the limits of the empire, by giving up\nsome of the most remote and least defensible provinces; in this,\nhowever, he was overruled by friends, who wrongly imagined that an\nextensive frontier would intimidate an invading enemy. 14. But though\nhe complied with their remonstrances, he broke down the bridge over\nthe Dan'ube, which his predecessor had built, sensible that the same\npassage which was open to him, was equally convenient to the\nincursions of his barbarous neighbours.\n15. Having staid a long time at Rome, to see that all things were\nregulated and established for the safety of the public, he prepared to\nmake a progress through his whole empire. 16. It was one of his\nmaxims, that an emperor ought to imitate the sun, which diffuses\nwarmth and vigour over all parts of the earth. He, therefore, took\nwith him a splendid court, and a considerable force, and entered the\nprovince of Gaul, where he caused the inhabitants to be numbered. 17.\nFrom Gaul he went into Germany, thence to Holland, and afterwards\npassed over into Britain; where, reforming many abuses, and\nreconciling the natives to the Romans, he, for the better security of\nthe southern parts of the kingdom, built a wall of wood and earth,\nextending from the river E'den, in Cumberland, to the Tyne, in\nNorthumberland, to prevent the incursions of the Picts, and other\nbarbarous nations of the north. 18. From Britain, returning through\nGaul, he directed his journey to Spain, his native country, where he\nwas received with great joy. 19. Returning to Rome, he continued there\nfor some time, in order to prepare for his journey into the east,\nwhich was hastened by a new invasion of the Par'thians. His approach\ncompelling the enemy to peace, he pursued his travels without\nmolestation. He visited the famous city of Athens; there making a\nconsiderable stay, he was initiated into the Eleusin'ian mysteries,\nwhich were accounted the most sacred in the Pagan mythology, and took\nupon him the office of archon or chief magistrate. 20. In this place,\nalso, he remitted the severity of the Christian persecution. He was\neven so far reconciled to their sect, as to think of introducing\nChrist among the number of the gods. 21. From thence he crossed over\ninto Africa, and spent much time in reforming abuses, regulating the\ngovernment, deciding controversies, and erecting magnificent\nbuildings. Among the rest, he ordered Carthage[4] to be rebuilt,\ncalling it after his own name, Adrian'ople.[5] 22. Again he returned\nto Rome; travelled a second time into Greece; passed over into Asia\nMinor; from thence into Syr'ia; gave laws and instructions to all the\nneighbouring kings; entered Pal'estine, Arabia, and Egypt, where he\ncaused Pompey's tomb, that had been long neglected, and almost covered\nwith sand, to be repaired and beautified. 23. He gave orders for the\nrebuilding of Jerusalem; which was performed with great expedition by\nthe assistance of the Jews, who now began to conceive hopes of being\nrestored to their long lost kingdom. 24. But these expectations only\nserved to aggravate their calamities: for, being incensed at the\nprivileges which were granted the Pagan worshippers in their new city,\nthey fell upon the Romans and Christians that were dispersed\nthroughout Jude'a, and unmercifully put them all to the sword. 25.\nA'drian, sending a powerful body of men against them, obtained many\nsignal, though bloody victories, over the insurgents. The war was\nconcluded in two years, by the demolition of above one thousand of\ntheir best towns, and the destruction of nearly six hundred thousand\nmen in battle.\n26. Having thus effectually quelled this dangerous insurrection, he\nbanished all those who remained in Judea; and by a public decree\nforbade them to come within view of their native soil. But he was soon\nafter alarmed by a dangerous irruption of the barbarous nations to the\nnorthward of the empire; who, entering Me'dia with great fury and\npassing through Arme'nia, carried their devastations as far as\nCappado'cia. Preferring peace, however, upon any terms, to an\nunprofitable war, A'drian bought them off by large sums of money; so\nthat they returned peaceably into their native wilds, to enjoy their\nplunder, and to meditate fresh invasions.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. Was Trajan uniformly merciful?\n2. Was the persecution of long duration?\n3. What remarkable event happened in this reign?\n4. Where did the rebellion principally rage?\n5. What were these barbarities?\n6. Were no steps taken to repress this insurrection?\n7. How was Trajan employed at this time, and what was his end?\n8. Who succeeded him?\n9. What was the character of Adrian?\n10. Was he a virtuous character?\n11. Were not his virtues counterbalanced?\n12. By whom was the empire now invaded?\n13. What wise measure did Adrian contemplate?\n14. What remarkable edifice did he destroy?\n15. Was he attentive to the concerns of the empire?\n16. Why did he do this?\n17. What places did he next visit?\n18. Whither did he next proceed?\n19. Mention his further progress, and the incidents that occurred.\n20. Was he merciful to the Christians?\n21. Whither did he next repair, and how did he employ himself?\n22. Proceed in the description of his route.\n23. Did he not favour the Jews?\n24. Did they profit by this favourable disposition in the emperor?\n25. Was this cruelty punished?\n26. What followed this dangerous insurrection?\nSECTION III.\n  Trajan and he,[6] with the mild sire and son\n  His son of virtue; eased awhile mankind;\n  And arts revived beneath their gentle beam.--_Thomson_.\n1. Having spent thirteen years in travelling and reforming the abuses\nof the empire, A'drian at last resolved to end his fatigues at Rome.\n2. Nothing could be more grateful to the people than his resolution of\ncoming to reside for the rest of his days among them; they received\nhim with the loudest demonstrations of joy; and though he now began to\ngrow old and unwieldy, he remitted not the least of his former\nassiduity and attention to the public welfare. 3. His chief amusement\nwas in conversing with the most celebrated men in every art and\nscience, frequently asserting, that he thought no kind of knowledge\ninconsiderable, or to be neglected, either in his private or public\ncapacity. 4. He ordered the knights and senators never to appear in\npublic, but in the proper habits of their orders. He forbade\nmasters to kill their slaves, as had been before allowed; but\nordained that they should be tried by the laws. 5. He still further\nextended the lenity of the laws to those unhappy men, who had long\nbeen thought too mean for justice: if a master was found killed in his\nhouse, he would not allow all his slaves to be put to the torture as\nformerly, but only such as might have perceived and prevented the\nmurder.\n6. In such employments he spent the greatest part of his time; but at\nlast finding the duties of his station daily increasing, and his own\nstrength proportionally upon the decline, he resolved on adopting a\nsuccessor, and accordingly chose Antoni'nus to that important station.\n7. While he was thus careful in providing for the future welfare of\nthe state, his bodily infirmities became so insupportable, that he\nvehemently desired some of his attendants to dispatch him. 8.\nAntoni'nus, however, would by no means permit any of the domestics to\nbe guilty of so great an impiety, but used all the arts in his power\nto reconcile the emperor to sustain life. 9. His pain daily\nincreasing, he was frequently heard to cry out, \"How miserable a thing\nit is to seek death, and not to find it!\" After enduring some time\nthese excruciating tortures, he at last resolved to observe no\nregimen, saying, that kings sometimes died merely by the multitude of\ntheir physicians. 10. This conduct served to hasten that death he\nseemed so ardently to desire; and it was probably joy upon its\napproach which dictated the celebrated stanzas that are so well\nknown;[7] and while repeating which he expired, in the sixty-second\nyear of his age, after a prosperous reign of twenty-one years and\neleven months.\n11. Titus Antoni'nus, his successor, was born at Lavin'ium, near Rome,\nbut his ancestors came originally from Nismes, in Gaul. His father was\na nobleman, who had enjoyed the highest honours of the empire.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 891]\nAt the time of his succeeding to the throne he was above fifty years\nold, and had passed through many of the most important offices of the\nstate with great integrity and application. 12. His virtues in private\nlife were no way impaired by his exaltation, as he showed himself one\nof the most excellent princes for justice, clemency, and moderation;\nhis morals were so pure, that he was usually compared to Numa, and was\nsurnamed the Pious, both for his tenderness to his predecessor\nA'drian, when dying, and his particular attachment to the religion of\nhis country.\n13. He was an eminent rewarder of learned men, to whom he gave large\npensions and great honours, collecting them around him from all parts\nof the world. 14. Among the rest, he sent for Apollo'nius, the famous\nstoic philosopher, to instruct his adopted son, Mar'cus Aure'lius.\nApollo'nius being arrived, the emperor desired his attendance; but the\nother arrogantly answered, that it was the scholar's duty to wait upon\nthe master, not the master upon the scholar. 15. To this reply,\nAntoni'nus only returned with a smile, \"That it was surprising how\nApollo'nius, who made no difficulty of coming from Greece to Rome,\nshould think it hard to walk from one part of Rome to another;\" and\nimmediately sent Mar'cus Aure'lius to him.[8] 16. While the good\nemperor was thus employed in making mankind happy, in directing their\nconduct by his own example, or reproving their follies by the keenness\nof rebuke, he was seized with a violent fever, and ordered his friends\nand principal officers to attend him. 17. In their presence he\nconfirmed the adoption of Mar'cus Aure'lius; then commanding the\ngolden statue of Fortune, which was always in the chamber of the\nemperors, to be removed to that of his successor, he expired in the\nseventy-fourth year of his age, after a prosperous reign of\ntwenty-two years and almost eight months.[9]\n[Sidenote: U.C. 914.]\n18. Mar'cus Aure'lius, though left sole successor to the throne, took\nLu'cius Ve'rus as his associate and equal, in governing the state. 19.\nAure'lius was the son of An'nius Ve'rus, of an ancient and illustrious\nfamily, which claimed its origin from Nu'ma. Lu'cius Ve'rus was the\nson of Com'modus, who had been adopted by A'drian, but died before he\nsucceeded to the throne. 20. Aure'lius was as remarkable for his\nvirtues and accomplishments, as his partner in the empire was for his\nungovernable passions and debauched morals. The one was an example of\nthe greatest goodness and wisdom; the other of ignorance, sloth, and\nextravagance.\n21. The two emperors were scarcely settled on the throne, when the\nempire was attacked on every side, from the barbarous nations by which\nit was surrounded. The Cat'ti invaded Germany and Rhoe'tia, ravaging\nall with fire and sword; but were repelled by Victori'nus. The Britons\nlikewise revolted, but were repressed by Capur'nius. 22. But the\nParthians, under their king Volog'esus, made an irruption still more\ndreadful than either of the former; destroying the Roman legions in\nArme'nia; then entering Syria, they drove out the Roman governor, and\nfilled the whole country with terror and confusion. To repel this\nbarbarous eruption, Ve'rus went in person, being accompanied by\nAure'lius part of the way.\n23. Ve'rus, however, proceeded no farther than An'tioch, and there\ngave an indulgence to every appetite, rioting in excesses unknown even\nto the voluptuous Greeks; leaving all the glory of the field to his\nlieutenants, who were sent to repress the enemy. 24. These, however,\nfought with great success; for in the four years that the war lasted,\nthe Romans entered far into the Parthian country, and entirely subdued\nit; but upon their return their army was wasted to less than half its\noriginal number by pestilence and famine. 25. This, however, was no\nimpediment to the vanity of Ve'rus, who resolved to enjoy the honours\nof a triumph, so hardly earned by others. Having appointed a king over\nthe Arme'nians, and finding the Parthians entirely subdued, he assumed\nthe titles of Arme'nius and Parthi'cus; and on his return to Rome, he\npartook of a triumph with Aure'lius, which was solemnized with great\npomp and splendour.\n26. While Ve'rus was engaged in this expedition, Aure'lius was\nsedulously intent upon distributing justice and happiness to his\nsubjects at home. He first applied himself to the regulation of\npublic affairs, and to the correcting of such faults as he found in\nthe laws and policy of the state. 27. In this endeavour he showed a\nsingular respect for the senate, often permitting them to determine\nwithout appeal; so that the commonwealth seemed in a manner once more\nrevived under his equitable administration. 28. Besides, such was his\napplication to business, that he often employed ten days together on\nthe same subject, maturely considering it on all sides, and seldom\ndeparting from the senate-house till the assembly was dismissed by the\nconsul. 29. But he was daily mortified with accounts of the enormities\nof his colleague; being repeatedly assured of his vanity and\nextravagance. 30. However, feigning himself ignorant of these\nexcesses, he judged marriage to be the best method of reclaiming him;\nand, therefore, sent him his daughter Lucil'la, a woman of great\nbeauty, whom Ve'rus married at Antioch. 31. But even this was found\nineffectual, for Lucil'la proved of a disposition very unlike her\nfather; and, instead of correcting her husband's extravagances only\ncontributed to inflame them. 32. Aure'lius still hoped that, upon the\nreturn of Ve'rus to Rome, his presence would keep him in awe, and that\nhappiness would at length be restored to the state. In this he was\nalso disappointed. His return seemed fatal to the empire; for his army\ncarried back the plague from Par'thia, and disseminated the infection\ninto the provinces through which it passed.\n33. Nothing could exceed the miserable state of things upon the return\nof Ve'rus. In this horrid picture were represented an emperor, unawed\nby example or the calamities surrounding him, giving way to unheard-of\ncrimes; a raging pestilence spreading terror and desolation through\nall parts of the western world; earthquakes, famines, inundations,\nalmost unexampled in history; the products of the earth through all\nItaly devoured by locusts; the barbarous nations around the empire\ntaking advantage of its various calamities, and making their\nirruptions even into Italy itself. 34. The priests doing all they\ncould to put a stop to the miseries of the state, by attempting to\nappease the gods, vowing and offering numberless sacrifices;\ncelebrating all the sacred rites that had ever been known in Rome. 35.\nTo crown the whole, these enthusiasts, as if the impending calamities\nhad not been sufficient, ascribed the distresses of the state to the\nimpieties of the Christians. A violent persecution ensued in all\nparts of the empire; and Justin Martyr, Polycarp'us, and a prodigious\nnumber of less note, suffered martyrdom.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. Did Adrian enjoy repose from this time?\n2. Was this resolution agreeable to the people?\n3. How did he amuse himself?\n4. What new edicts did he issue?\n5. Did he not ameliorate the condition of slaves?\n6. Was he still equal to the fatigues of the empire?\n7. Were not his sufferings great?\n8. Were his wishes complied with?\n9. Were these arts successful?\n10. What was the consequence of this conduct?\n11. Who was his successor?\n12. Did he preserve his virtue on his exaltation?\n13. Was he a favourer of learning?\n14. What anecdote is related of one of these?\n15. What was the emperor's reply?\n16. Did he experience a long and prosperous reign?\n17. Whom did he appoint as his successor?\n18. Was Marcus Aurelius sole emperor?\n19. Who were Aurelius and Lucius Verus?\n20. Were their characters similar?\n21. Was their reign peaceable?\n22. Was there not a more formidable invasion still?\n23. Did Verus show himself worthy of the trust?\n24. Were they successful?\n25. Did Verus appear to feel this misfortune?\n26. How was Aurelius employed in the mean time?\n27. Did he do this solely by his own authority?\n28. Was he hasty in his decisions?\n29. Was he acquainted with the follies of his colleague?\n30. How did he attempt his reformation?\n31. Was this effectual?\n32. What farther hopes did Aurelius entertain?\n33. What was the state of the empire at this period?\n34. What were the means made use of to avert these calamities?\n35. To whom were they imputed?\nSECTION IV.\n  And wise Aurelius, in whose well-taught mind,\n  With boundless power unbounded virtue join'd.\n  His own strict judge, and patron of mankind.--_Pope._\n1. In this scene of universal tumult, desolation and distress, there\nwas nothing left but the virtues and the wisdom of one man to restore\ntranquillity and happiness to the empire. 2. Aure'lius began his\nendeavours by marching against the Marcoman'ni and Qua'di, taking\nVe'rus with him, who reluctantly left the sensual delights of Rome for\nthe fatigues of a camp. 3. They came up with the Marcoman'ni near the\ncity of Aquile'ia, and after a furious engagement, routed their whole\narmy; then pursuing them across the Alps, overcame them in several\ncontests; and, at last, entirely defeating them, returned into Italy\nwithout any considerable loss.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 022 A.D. 169.]\n4. As the winter was far advanced, Ve'rus was determined on going to\nRome, in which journey he was seized with an apoplexy that put an end\nto his life, at the age of thirty-nine, having reigned in conjunction\nwith Aure'lius nine years.\n5. Aure'lius, who had hitherto sustained the fatigues of governing,\nnot only an empire, but his colleague, began to act with greater\ndiligence, and more vigour than ever. After thus subduing the\nMarcoman'ni, he returned to Rome, where he resumed his attempts to\nbenefit mankind by a farther reformation.\n6. But his good endeavours were soon interrupted by a renewal of the\nformer wars. In one of the engagements that ensued, he is said to have\nbeen miraculously relieved when his army was perishing with thirst, by\nthe prayers of a Christian legion[10] which had been levied in his\nservice; for we are told, that there fell such a shower of rain, as\ninstantly refreshed the fainting army. The soldiers were seen holding\ntheir mouths and their helmets towards heaven, to catch the water\nwhich came so wonderfully to their relief. 7. The same clouds which\nserved for their rescue, discharged so terrible a storm of hail,\naccompanied with thunder, against the enemy, as astonished and\nconfused them. By this unlooked-for aid, the Romans, recovering\nstrength and courage, renewed the engagement with fresh vigour, and\ncut the enemy to pieces. 8. Such are the circumstances of an event,\nacknowledged by Pagan as well as Christian writers; only with this\ndifference, that the latter ascribe the miracle to their own, the\nformer to the prayers of their emperor. However this be, Aure'lius\nseemed so sensible of miraculous assistance, that he immediately\nrelaxed the persecution against the Christians, and wrote to the\nsenate in their favour.\n9. Soon after this event, Avid'ius Cas'sius, one of the generals\nwho had fought with such success against the Parthians, assumed the\nimperial purple, but was shortly after killed in an engagement. When\nhis head was brought to Aure'lius, he expressed great sorrow, turned\nhis eyes away, and caused it to be honourably interred, complaining\nthat he had been robbed of an opportunity of showing mercy. On being\nblamed for his too great lenity to the relatives and friends of\nCas'sius, he sublimely replied, \"We have not lived nor served the gods\nso ill, as to think that they would favour Cas'sius.\"\n10. He usually called philosophy his mother, in opposition to the\ncourt, which he considered as his step-mother. He also frequently\nsaid, \"the people are happy whose kings are philosophers.\" He was,\nindependent of his dignity, one of the most considerable men then\nexisting; and, though he had been born in the meanest station, his\nmerits as a writer (for his works remain to this day) would have\ninsured him immortality.\n11. Having thus restored prosperity to his subjects, and peace to\nmankind, news was brought him that the Scyth'ians, and other barbarous\nnations of the north, were up in arms, and invading the empire. 12. He\nonce more, therefore, resolved to expose his aged person in the\ndefence of his country, and made speedy preparations to oppose\nthem.--He went to the senate, and desired to have money out of the\npublic treasury. He then spent three days in giving the people\nlectures on the regulation of their lives; and, having finished,\ndeparted upon his expedition, amidst the prayers and lamentations of\nhis subjects. Upon going to open his third campaign, he was seized at\nVienna with the plague, which stopped his farther progress. Nothing,\nhowever, could abate his desire of being beneficial to mankind. 14.\nHis fears for the youth and unpromising disposition of Com'modus, his\nson and successor, seemed to give him great uneasiness. He therefore\naddressed his friends and the principal officers that were gathered\nround his bed, expressing his hope, that as his son was now losing his\nfather, he would find many in them. 15. While thus speaking, he was\nseized with a weakness which stopped his utterance, and brought on\ndeath. He died in the fifty-ninth year of his age, having reigned\nnineteen years. It seemed as if the glory and prosperity of the empire\ndied with this greatest of the Roman emperors.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. To whom did the Romans look for a restoration of the tranquillity\nof the empire?\n2. Against whom did Aurelius march, and who accompanied him?\n3. Where did they come up with the Marcomanni, and what was the result\nof the engagement?\n4. What was the fate of Verus?\n5. How did Aurelius act on his return to Rome?\n6. What miraculous event was ascribed to the prayers of a Christian\nlegion?\n7. How did it operate on the enemy?\n8. Did not Aurelius, in consequence, interest himself in favour of the\nChristians?\n9. What reply did Aurelius make to these who blamed him for his lenity\nto the friends of Cassius?\n10. What sayings are recorded of him, and what was his character?\n11. What news was brought to Aurelius soon after peace had been\nrestored?\n12. In what way did he occupy himself previous to his departure to\noppose the enemy?\n13. At what place was he seized with the plague?\n14. What seemed to give him great uneasiness?\n15. How old was Aurelius when he died, and how many years had he\nreigned?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] Domi'tian was the last of those emperors commonly called the\nTwelve C\u00e6sars.\n[2] Nerva, the most remarkable man in Rome for his virtues, recalled\nall the Christians who had been banished or had emigrated under the\npersecution of Domi'tian.\n[3] It was customary among the Romans, for a person destitute of a son\nto adopt one from another family; and the son thus adopted became\nimmediately invested with the same rights and privileges as if he had\nbeen born to that station; but he had no longer any claim on the\nfamily to which he originally belonged.\n[4] Car'thage, the celebrated capital of Africa Pro'pria, was built by\nthe Tyr'ians, under Dido. This city, the mistress of Spain, Si'cily,\nand Sardin'ia, was long the rival of Rome, till it was totally\ndestroyed by Scip'io the Second, surnamed Africa'nus, B.C. 147. In its\nheight of prosperity, it contained upwards of 700,000 inhabitants.\n[5] This must be distinguished from Adrian'ople, the second city of\nEuropean Turkey, which was founded about A.M. 2782, and repaired by\nthe emperor Adrian, A.D. 122. Hence, its name.\n[6] The poet here alludes to Titus, whom he has before been\ncommending; his actions are described in Chap. XXII. Sect X.\n[7] These stanzas are--\n  Animula, vagula, blandula,\n  Hospes, comesque corporis\n  Qu\u00e6 nonc abibis in loca,\n  Pallidula, rigida, nudula?\n  Nec, ut soles, dabis jocos.\nThus imitated by Prior:\n    Poor little pretty fluttering thing,\n      Must we no longer live together?\n    And dost thou prune thy trembling wing\n      To take thy flight thou know'st not whither?\n    Thy hum'rous vein, thy pleasing folly,\n      Lie all neglected, all forgot;\n  And pensive, wav'ring, melancholy,\n      Thou dread'st and hop'st thou know'st not what\n[8] Antoni'nus being made a model of wisdom and virtue, he was as much\nrespected by foreigners as by his own people?\n[9] This emperor was remarkably favourable to the Christians, and\nwrote thus to his governors in Asia:--\"If any one shall, for the\nfuture, molest the Christians, and accuse them merely on account of\ntheir religion, let the person who is arraigned be discharged, though\nhe is found to be a Christian, and the accuser be punished according\nto the rigour of the law.\"\n[10] Legion, a body of soldiers in the Roman army, consisting of 300\nhorse and 4000 foot. Figuratively, an army, a military force, or a\ngreat number.\nCHAPTER XXIV.\nSECTION I.\nFROM COMMODUS TO THE TRANSFERRING OF THE SEAT OF EMPIRE UNDER\nCONSTANTINE, FROM ROME TO CONSTANTINOPLE.--U.C. 933. A.D. 180.\n  O name of country, once how sacred deem'd!\n  O sad reverse of manners, once esteem'd!\n  While Rome her ancient majesty maintain'd,\n  And in his capitol while Jove imperial reign'd.--_Horace_.\n1. The merits of Aurelius procured Commodus an easy accession to the\nthrone.[1] He was acknowledged emperor by the army, by the senate and\npeople, and afterwards by all the provinces.\n2. But his whole reign was a tissue of wantonness and folly, cruelty\nand injustice, rapacity and corruption. So strong a similitude was\nthere between his conduct and that of Domi'tian, that a reader might\nimagine he was going over the history of the same reign. 3. He spent\nthe day in feasting, and the night in the most abominable\nwickedness. He would sometimes go about the markets in a frolic, with\nsmall wares, as a petty chapman; sometimes he affected to be a\nhorse-courser; at other times he drove his own chariot, in a slave's\nhabit. Those he promoted resembled himself, being the companions of\nhis pleasures, or the ministers of his cruelties.\n4. If any person desired to be revenged on an enemy, by bargaining\nwith Com'modus for a sum of money, he was permitted to destroy him in\nany manner he thought proper. He commanded a person to be cast to the\nwild beasts for reading the life of Calig'ula in Sueto'nius. He\nordered another to be thrown into a burning furnace, for accidentally\noverheating his bath. He would sometimes, when he was in a pleasant\nhumour, cut off men's noses, under pretence of shaving their beards;\nand yet he was himself so jealous of all mankind, that he thought it\nnecessary to be his own barber.\n5. At length, upon the feast of Janus, resolving to fence before the\npeople, as a common gladiator, three of his friends remonstrated with\nhim upon the indecency of such behaviour: these were L\u00e6'tus, his\ngeneral; Elec'tus, his chamberlain; and Mar'cia, of whom he always\nappeared excessively fond. 6. Their advice was attended with no other\neffect than that of exciting him to resolve upon their destruction. 7.\nIt was his method, like that of Domi'tian, to set down the names of\nall such as he intended to put to death in a roll, which he carefully\nkept by him. However, at this time, happening to lay the roll on his\nbed, while he was bathing a another room, it was taken up by a little\nboy whom he passionately loved. The child, after playing with it some\ntime brought it to Mar'cia, who was instantly alarmed at the contents.\n8. She immediately discovered her terror to L\u00e6'tus and Elec'tus, who,\nperceiving their dangerous situation, instantly resolved upon the\ntyrant's death. 9. After some deliberation, it was agreed to dispatch\nhim by poison; but this not succeeding, Mar'cia hastily introduced a\nyoung man, called Narcis'sus, whom she prevailed upon to assist in\nstrangling the tyrant. Com'modus died in the thirty-first year of his\nage, after an impious reign of twelve years and nine months.\n10. Such were the secrecy and expedition with which Com'modus was\nassassinated, that few were acquainted with the real circumstances of\nhis death. His body was wrapt up as a bale of useless furniture,\nand carried through the guards, most of whom were either drunk or\nasleep.\n11. Hel'vius Per'tinax, whose virtues and courage rendered him worthy\nof the most exalted station, and who had passed through many changes\nof fortune, had been previously fixed upon to succeed him. When,\ntherefore, the conspirators repaired to his house, to salute him\nemperor, he considered it as a command from the emperor Com'modus for\nhis death. 12. Upon L\u00e6'tus entering his apartment, Per'tinax, without\nany show of fear, cried out, that for many days he had expected to end\nhis life in that manner, wondering that the emperor had deferred it so\nlong. He was not a little surprised when informed of the real cause of\ntheir visit; and being strongly urged to accept of the empire, he at\nlast complied. 13. Being carried to the camp, Per'tinax was proclaimed\nemperor, and soon after was acknowledged by the senate and citizens.\nThey then pronounced Com'modus a parricide, an enemy to the gods, his\ncountry, and all mankind; and commanded that his corpse should rot\nupon a heap of dirt. 14. In the mean time they saluted Per'tinax as\nemperor and C\u00e6sar, with numerous acclamations, and cheerfully took the\noaths of obedience. The provinces soon after followed the example of\nRome; so that he began his reign with universal satisfaction to the\nwhole empire, in the sixty-eighth year of his age.\n15. Nothing could exceed the justice and wisdom of this monarch's\nreign, during the short time it continued. But the pr\u00e6torian soldiers,\nwhose manners he attempted to reform, having been long corrupted by\nthe indulgence and profusion of their former monarch, began to hate\nhim for his parsimony, and the discipline he had introduced among\nthem. 16. They therefore resolved to dethrone him; and accordingly, in\na tumultuous manner, marched through the streets of Rome, entered his\npalace without opposition, where a Tungrian soldier struck him dead\nwith a blow of his lance. 17. From the number of his adventures he was\ncalled the tennis-ball of fortune; and certainly no man ever went\nthrough such a variety of situations with so blameless a character. He\nreigned but three months.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 954. A.D. 201]\n18. The soldiers having committed this outrage, made proclamation,\nthat they would sell the empire to whoever would purchase it at the\nhighest price. 19. In consequence of this proclamation, two\nbidders were found, namely, Sulpicia'nus and Did'ius. The former\na consular person, prefect of the city, and son-in-law to the late\nemperor Per'tinax. The latter a consular person likewise, a great\nlawyer, and the wealthiest man in the city. 20. Sulpicia'nus had\nrather promises than treasure to bestow. The offers of Did'ius, who\nproduced immense sums of ready money, prevailed. He was received into\nthe camp, and the soldiers instantly swore to obey him as emperor. 21.\nUpon being conducted to the senate-house, he addressed the few that\nwere present in a laconic speech, \"Fathers, you want an emperor, and I\nam the fittest person you can choose.\" The choice of the soldiers was\nconfirmed by the senate, and Did'ius was acknowledged emperor, in the\nfifty-seventh year of his age. 22. It should seem, by this weak\nmonarch's conduct when seated on the throne, that he thought the\ngovernment of an empire rather a pleasure than a toil. Instead of\nattempting to gain the hearts of his subjects, he gave himself up to\nease and inactivity, utterly regardless of the duties of his station.\nHe was mild and gentle indeed, neither injuring any, nor expecting to\nbe injured. 23. But that avarice by which he became opulent, still\nfollowed him in his exaltation; so that the very soldiers who elected\nhim soon began to detest him, for qualities so opposite to a military\ncharacter. 24. The people also, against whose consent he was chosen,\nwere not less his enemies. Whenever he issued from his palace, they\nopenly poured forth their imprecations against him, crying out, that\nhe was a thief, and had stolen the empire. 25. Did'ius, however,\npatiently bore all their reproach, and testified his regard by every\nkind of submission. 26. Soon after Seve'rus, an African by birth,\nbeing proclaimed by his army, began his reign by promising to revenge\nthe death of Per'tinax.\n27. Did'ius upon being informed of his approach towards Rome, obtained\nthe consent of the senate to send him ambassadors, offering to make\nhim a partner in the empire. 28. But Seve'rus rejected this offer,\nconscious of his own strength, and of the weakness of the proposer.\nThe senate appeared to be of the same sentiment; and perceiving the\ntimidity and weakness of their present master, abandoned him. 29.\nBeing called together, as was formerly practised in the times of the\ncommonwealth, by the consuls, they unanimously decreed, that Did'ius\nshould be deprived of the empire, and that Severus should be\nproclaimed in his stead. They then commanded Did'ius to be slain, and\nsent messengers for this purpose to the palace, who, having found\nhim, with a few friends that still adhered to his interest, they\nstruck off his head.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. Did Commodus succeed peaceably?\n2. Did he imitate his father's virtues?\n3. Mention some of his follies?\n4. Mention some of his wanton cruelties?\n5. Who remonstrated with him on this conduct?\n6. What effect did this remonstrance produce?\n7. How was this discovered?\n8. What was the consequence?\n9. How was it affected?\n10. Were the circumstances of his death generally known?\n11. Who succeeded him?\n12. Did Pertinax discover any signs of fear?\n13. What ensued on his compliance?\n14. Was he acceptable to the Roman people?\n15. How did he govern?\n16. What was the consequence?\n17. By what appellation was he distinguished, and why?\n18. How was the imperial purple next disposed of?\n19. Who were the candidates?\n20. Who was the successful candidate?\n21. Was he acknowledged by the senate?\n22. What was his conduct as emperor?\n23. What gained him the hatred of the soldiers?\n24. Was he a favourite of the people?\n25. How did Didius bear this?\n26. What new competitor for the throne appeared?\n27. How did Didius act on this occasion?\n28. Was his offer accepted?\n29. What was the event?\nSECTION II.\n  There's nought so monstrous but the mind of man,\n  In some conditions, may be brought to approve;\n  Theft, sacrilege, treason, and parricide,\n  When flattering opportunity enticed,\n  And desperation drove, have been committed\n  By those who once would start to hear them named.--_Lillo_.\n1. Seve'rus having overcome Niger, A.D. 194, and Albinus, A.D. 198,\nwho were his competitors for the empire, assumed the reins of\ngovernment, uniting great vigour with the most refined policy; yet his\nAfrican cunning was considered as a singular defect in him. 2. He is\ncelebrated for his wit, learning, and prudence; but execrated for\nhis perfidy and cruelty. In short, he seemed equally capable of\nthe greatest acts of virtue, and the most bloody severities. 3. He\nloaded his soldiers with rewards and honours, giving them such\nprivileges as strengthened his own power, while they destroyed that of\nthe senate; for the soldiers, who had hitherto showed the strongest\ninclination to an abuse of power, were now made arbiters of the fate\nof emperors. 4. Being thus secure of his army he resolved to give way\nto his natural desire of conquest, and to turn his arms against the\nParthians, who were then invading the frontiers of the empire. 5.\nHaving, therefore, previously given the government of domestic policy\nto one Plau'tian, a favourite, to whose daughter he married his son\nCaracal'la, he set out for the east, and prosecuted the war with his\nusual expedition and success. 6. He compelled submission from the king\nof Arme'nia, destroyed several cities of Ara'bia Felix, landed on the\nParthian coast, took and plundered the famous city of Ctes'iphon,\nmarched back through Pal'estine and Egypt, and at length returned to\nRome in triumph. 7. During this interval, Plau'tian, who was left to\ndirect the affairs of Rome, began to think of aspiring to the empire\nhimself. Upon the emperor's return, he employed a tribune of the\npr\u00e6torian cohorts, of which he was commander, to assassinate him, and\nhis son Caracal'la. 8. The tribune informed Seve'rus of his\nfavourite's treachery. He at first received the intelligence as an\nimprobable story, and as the artifices of one who envied his\nfavourite's fortune. However, he was at last persuaded to permit the\ntribune to conduct Plau'tian to the emperor's apartments to be a\ntestimony against himself. 9. With this intent the tribune went and\namused him with a pretended account of his killing the emperor and his\nson; desiring him, if he thought fit to see them dead, to go with him\nto the palace. 10. As Plau'tian ardently desired their death, he\nreadily gave credit to the relation, and, following the tribune, was\nconducted at midnight into the innermost apartments of the palace. But\nwhat must have been his surprise and disappointment, when, instead of\nfinding the emperor lying dead, as he expected, he beheld the room\nlighted up with torches, and Seve'rus surrounded by his friends,\nprepared in array to receive him. 11. Being asked by the emperor, with\na stern countenance, what had brought him there at that unseasonable\ntime, he ingenuously confessed the whole, entreating forgiveness\nfor what he had intended. 12. The emperor seemed inclined to pardon;\nbut Caracal'la, his son, who from the earliest age showed a\ndisposition to cruelty, ran him through the body with his sword. 13.\nAfter this, Seve'rus spent a considerable time in visiting some cities\nin Italy, permitting none of his officers to sell places of trust or\ndignity, and distributing justice with the strictest impartiality. He\nthen undertook an expedition into Britain, where the Romans were in\ndanger of being destroyed, or compelled to fly the province. After\nappointing his two sons, Caracal'la and Ge'ta, joint successors in the\nempire, and taking them with him, he landed in Britain, A.D. 208, to\nthe great terror of such as had drawn down his resentment. 14. Upon\nhis progress into the country, he left his son Ge'ta in the southern\npart of the province, which had continued in obedience, and marched,\nwith his son Caracal'la, against the Caledo'nians. 15. In this\nexpedition, his army suffered prodigious hardships in pursuing the\nenemy; they were obliged to hew their way through intricate forests,\nto drain extensive marshes, and form bridges over rapid rivers; so\nthat he lost fifty thousand men by fatigue and sickness. 16. However,\nhe surmounted these inconveniences with unremitting bravery, and\nprosecuted his successes with such vigour, that he compelled the enemy\nto beg for peace; which they did not obtain without the surrender of a\nconsiderable part of their country. 17. It was then that, for its\nbetter security, he built the famous wall, which still goes by his\nname, extending from Solway Frith on the west, to the German Ocean on\nthe east. He did not long survive his successes here, but died at\nYork, in the sixty-sixth year of his age, after an active, though\ncruel reign of about eighteen years.\n[Sidenote: U.C.964 A.D.211]\n18. Caracal'la and Ge'ta, his sons, being acknowledged as emperors by\nthe army, began to show a mutual hatred to each other, even before\ntheir arrival at Rome. But this opposition was of no long continuance;\nfor Caracal'la, being resolved to govern alone, furiously entered\nGe'ta's apartment, and, followed by ruffians, slew him in his mother's\narms. 19. Being thus sole emperor, he went on to mark his course with\nblood. Whatever was done by Domi'tian or Ne'ro, fell short of this\nmonster's barbarities.[2]\n[Illustration: Massacre of the Alexandrians.]\n20. His tyrannies at length excited the resentment of Macri'nus, the\ncommander of the forces in Mesopota'mia who employed one Mar'tial, a\nman of great strength, and a centurion of the guards, to dispatch him.\n21. Accordingly, as the emperor was riding out one day, near a little\ncity called Carr\u00e6, he happened to withdraw himself privately, upon a\nnatural occasion, with only one page to hold his horse. This was the\nopportunity Mar'tial had so long and ardently desired: when, running\nto him hastily, as if he had been called, he stabbed the emperor in\nthe back, and killed him instantly. 22. Having performed this hardy\nattempt, he, with apparent unconcern, returned to his troop; but,\nretiring by insensible degrees, he endeavoured to secure himself by\nflight. His companions, however, soon missing him, and the page giving\ninformation of what had been done, he was pursued by the German horse,\nand cut in pieces.\n23. During the reign of this execrable tyrant, which continued six\nyears, the empire was every day declining; the soldiers were entirely\nmasters of every election; and as there were various armies in\ndifferent parts, so there were as many interests opposed to each\nother.\n[Sidenote: U.C.970 A.D.217]\n24. The soldiers, after remaining without an emperor two days, fixed\nupon Macri'nus, who took all possible methods to conceal his being\nprivy to Caracal'la's murder. The senate confirmed their choice\nshortly after; and likewise that of his son, Diadumenia'nus, whom he\ntook as partner in the empire. 25. Macri'nus was fifty-three\nyears old when he entered upon the government. He was of obscure\nparentage; some say by birth a Moor, who, by the mere gradation of\noffice, being made first prefect of the pr\u00e6torian bands, was now, by\ntreason and accident, called to fill the throne.\n26. He was opposed by the intrigues of Mosa, and her grandson\nHeliogaba'lus; and being conquered by some seditious legions of his\nown army, he fled to Chalcedon,[3] where those who were sent in\npursuit overtook him, and put him to death, together with his son\nDiadumenia'nus, after a short reign of one year and two months.\n[Sidenote: U.C.971 A.D.218]\n27. The senate and citizens of Rome being obliged to submit, as usual,\nto the appointment of the army, Heliogaba'lus ascended the throne at\nthe age of fourteen. His short life was a mixture of effeminacy, lust,\nand extravagance. 28. He married six wives in the short space of four\nyears, and divorced them all. He was so fond of the sex, that he\ncarried his mother with him to the senate-house, and demanded that she\nshould always be present when matters of importance were debated. He\neven went so far as to build a senate-house for women, appointing them\nsuitable orders, habits and distinctions, of which his mother was made\npresident. 29. They met several times; all their debates turned upon\nthe fashions of the day, and the different formalities to be used at\ngiving and receiving visits. To these follies he added cruelty and\nboundless prodigality; he used to say, that such dishes as were\ncheaply obtained were scarcely worth eating.\n30. However, his soldiers mutinying, as was now usual with them, they\nfollowed him to his palace, pursuing him from apartment to apartment,\ntill at last he was found concealed in a closet. Having dragged him\nfrom thence through the streets, with the most bitter invectives, and\ndispatched him, they attempted once more to squeeze his pampered body\ninto a closet; but not easily effecting this, they threw it into the\nTiber, with heavy weights, that none might afterwards find it, or give\nit burial. This was the ignominious death of Heliogaba'lus, in the\neighteenth year of his age, after a detestable reign of four\nyears.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. Who succeeded Didius Julianus?\n2. What was the character of Severus?\n3. By what means did he strengthen his power?\n4. What were his first acts?\n5. To whom did he commit the government in his absence?\n6. What were his exploits?\n7. How did Plautian conduct himself in this important post?\n8. How was this treachery discovered?\n9. How was this effected?\n10. Did Plautian fall into the snare?\n11. How did he act on the occasion?\n12. Was he pardoned?\n13. How did Severus next employ himself?\n14. What were his first measures in Britain?\n15. Was it a difficult campaign?\n16. Did he overcome these difficulties?\n17. What famous work did he execute, and where did he die?\n18. Who succeeded him, and how did the two emperors regard each\nother?\n19. What was the conduct of Caracalla on thus becoming sole\nemperor?\n20. Were these cruelties tamely suffered?\n21. How was this effected?\n22. Did the assassin escape?\n23. What was the state of the empire during this reign?\n24. Who succeeded Caracalla?\n25. Who was Macrinus?\n26. By whom was he opposed, and what was his fate?\n27. How did Heliogabalus govern?\n28. Give a few instances of his folly?\n29. Did they enter into his views, and of what farther follies and vices\nwas he guilty?\n30. What was his end?\nSECTION III.\n  I know that there are angry spirits\n  And turbulent mutterers of stifled treason,\n  Who lurk in narrow places, and walk out\n  Muffled, to whisper curses in the night;\n  Disbanded soldiers, discontented ruffians,\n  And desperate libertines who brawl in taverns.--_Byron_.\n[Sidenote: U.C. 975 A.D. 222]\n1. Heliogaba'lus was succeeded by Alexander, his cousin-german,[4]\nwho, being declared emperor without opposition, the senate, with their\nusual adulation, were for conferring new titles upon him; but he\nmodestly declined them all. 2. To the most rigid justice he added the\ngreatest humanity. He loved the good, and was a severe reprover of the\nlewd and infamous. His accomplishments were equal to his virtues. He\nwas an excellent mathematician, geometrician, and musician; he\nwas equally skilful in painting and sculpture; and in poetry few of\nhis time could equal him. In short, such were his talents, and such\nthe solidity of his judgment, that though but sixteen years of age, he\nwas considered equal in wisdom to a sage old man.\n3. About the thirteenth year of his reign the Upper Germans, and other\nnorthern nations, began to pour down in immense swarms upon the more\nsouthern parts of the empire. They passed the Rhine and the Danube\nwith such fury, that all Italy was thrown into the most extreme\nconsternation. 4. The emperor, ever ready to expose his person for the\nsafety of his people, made what levies he could, and went in person to\nstem the torrent, which he speedily effected. It was in the course of\nhis successes against the enemy that he was cut off by a mutiny among\nhis own soldiers. He died in the twenty-ninth year of his age, after a\nprosperous reign of thirteen years and nine days.\n[Sidenote: U.C.988 A.D.235]\n5. The tumults occasioned by the death of Alexander being appeased,\nMax'imin, who had been the chief promoter of the sedition, was chosen\nemperor. 6. This extraordinary man, whose character deserves a\nparticular attention, was born of very obscure parentage, being the\nson of a poor herdsman of Thrace. He followed his father's humble\nprofession, and had exercised his personal courage against the robbers\nwho infested that part of the country in which he lived. Soon after,\nhis ambition increasing, he left his poor employment and enlisted in\nthe Roman army, where he soon became remarkable for his great\nstrength, discipline, and courage. 7. This gigantic man, we are told,\nwas eight feet and a half high; he had strength corresponding to his\nsize, being not more remarkable for the magnitude than the symmetry of\nhis person. His wife's bracelet usually served him for a thumb ring,\nand his strength was so great that he was able to draw a carriage\nwhich two oxen could not move. He could strike out the teeth of a\nhorse with a blow of his fist, and break its thigh with a kick. 8. His\ndiet was as extraordinary as his endowments: he generally ate forty\npounds weight of flesh every day, and drank six gallons of wine,\nwithout committing any debauch in either. 9. With a frame so athletic,\nhe was possessed of a mind undaunted in danger, neither fearing nor\nregarding any man. 10. The first time he was made known to the emperor\nSeve'rus, was while he was celebrating games on the birth day of\nhis son Ge'ta. He overcame sixteen in running, one after the other; he\nthen kept up with the emperor on horseback, and having fatigued him in\nthe course, he was opposed to seven of the most active soldiers, and\novercame them with the greatest ease. 11. These extraordinary exploits\ncaused him to be particularly noticed; he had been taken into the\nemperor's body guard, and by the usual gradation of preferment came to\nbe chief commander. In this situation he had been equally remarkable\nfor his simplicity, discipline, and virtue; but, upon coming to the\nempire, he was found to be one of the greatest monsters of cruelty\nthat had ever disgraced power; fearful of nothing himself, he seemed\nto sport with the terrors of all mankind.\n12. However, his cruelties did not retard his military operations,\nwhich were carried on with a spirit becoming a better monarch. He\noverthrew the Germans in several battles, wasted all their country\nwith fire and sword for four hundred miles together, and formed a\nresolution of subduing all the northern nations, as far as the ocean.\n13. In these expeditions, in order to attach the soldiers more firmly\nto him, he increased their pay; and in every duty of the camp he\nhimself took as much pains as the meanest sentinel in his army,\nshowing incredible courage and assiduity. In every engagement, where\nthe conflict was hottest, Max'imin was seen fighting in person, and\ndestroying all before him; for, being bred a barbarian, he considered\nit his duty to combat as a common soldier, while he commanded as a\ngeneral.\n14. In the mean time his cruelties had so alienated the minds of his\nsubjects, that secret conspiracies were secretly aimed against him.\nNone of them, however, succeeded, till at last his own soldiers, long\nharassed by famine and fatigue, and hearing of revolts on every side,\nresolved to terminate their calamities by the tyrant's death. 15. His\ngreat strength, and his being always armed, at first deterred them\nfrom assassinating him; but at length the soldiers, having made his\nguards accomplices in their designs, set upon him while he slept at\nnoon in his tent, and without opposition slew both him and his son,\nwhom he had made his partner in the empire. 16. Thus died this most\nremarkable man, after an usurpation of about three years, in the\nsixty-fifth year of his age. His assiduity when in a humble station,\nand his cruelty when in power, serve to evince, that there are some\nmen whose virtues are fitted for obscurity, as there are others\nwho only show themselves great when placed in an exalted station.\n17. The tyrant being dead, and his body thrown to dogs and birds of\nprey, Pupie'nus and Balbie'nus, who had usurped the imperial purple,\ncontinued for some time emperors, without opposition. 18. But,\ndiffering between themselves, the pr\u00e6torian soldiers, who were the\nenemies of both, set upon them in their palace, at a time when their\nguards were amused with seeing the Capit'oline games; and dragging\nthem from the palace towards the camp, slew them both, leaving their\ndead bodies in the street, as a dreadful instance of unsuccessful\nambition.\n19. In the midst of this sedition, as the mutineers were proceeding\nalong, they by accident met Gor'dian, the grandson of him who was\nslain in Africa: him they declared emperor on the spot. 20. This\nprince was but sixteen years old when he began to reign, but his\nvirtues seemed to compensate for his want of experience. His principal\naims were to unite the opposing members of government, and to\nreconcile the soldiers and citizens to each other. 21. The army,\nhowever, began as usual to murmur; and their complaints were artfully\nfomented by Philip, an Arabian, who was pr\u00e6torian prefect, and aspired\nto the sovereignty. Things thus proceeded from bad to worse. 22.\nPhilip was at first made equal to Gor'dian in the command of the\nempire; shortly after he was invested with the sole power; and at\nlength, finding himself capable of perpetrating his long meditated\ncruelty, Gor'dian was by his order slain, in the twenty-second year of\nhis age, after a successful reign of nearly six years.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. Who succeeded Heliogabalus?\n2. What was his character?\n3. Was his reign peaceable?\n4. How did Alexander act on the occasion?\n5. Who succeeded Alexander?\n6. Who was Maximin?\n7. Describe his person.\n8. What farther distinguished him?\n9. Was his mind proportioned to his body?\n10. How did he attract the notice of Severus?\n11. By what means did he attain rank in the army?\n12. Was he equally a terror to his foreign enemies?\n13. By what means did he gain the confidence of his soldiers?\n14. What effect had his cruelties on the minds of his subjects?\n15. How did they accomplish their purpose?\n16. How long did he reign, and what inference may be drawn from his\nconduct?\n17. Who next mounted the imperial throne?\n18. What was their end?\n19. Who succeeded Pupienus and Balbienus?\n20. What were the character and views of this prince?\n21. Was his administration approved of by all?\n22. Did Philip accomplish his ambitious design?\nSECTION IV. U.C. 996.--A.D. 243.\n  What rein can hold licentious wickedness,\n  When down the hill he holds his fierce career--_Shakspeare_.\n1. Philip having thus murdered his benefactor, was so fortunate as to\nbe immediately acknowledged emperor by the army. Upon his exaltation\nhe associated his son, a boy of six years of age, as his partner in\nthe empire; and, in order to secure his power at home, made peace with\nthe Persians, and marched his army towards Rome. 2. However, the army\nrevolting in favour of De'cius, his general, and setting violently\nupon him, one of his sentinels at a blow cut off his head, or rather\ncleft it asunder, separating the under jaw from the upper. He died in\nthe forty-fifth year of his age, after a short reign of about five\nyears.\n3. De'cius was universally acknowledged as his successor. His activity\nand wisdom seemed, in some measure, to stop the hastening decline of\nthe Roman empire. The senate seemed to think so highly of his merits,\nthat they voted him not inferior to Tra'jan; and indeed he appeared in\nevery instance to consult their dignity, and the welfare of all the\ninferior ranks of people. 4. But no virtues could now prevent the\napproaching downfall of the state; the obstinate disputes between the\nPagans and the Christians within the empire, and the unceasing\nirruptions of barbarous nations from without, enfeebled it beyond the\npower of remedy. 5. He was killed in an ambuscade of the enemy, in the\nfiftieth year of his age, after a short reign of two years and six\nmonths.\n6. Gal'lus, who had betrayed the Roman army, had address enough to get\nhimself declared emperor by that part of it which survived the\ndefeat; he was forty-five years old when he began to reign, and\nwas descended from an honourable family in Rome. 7. He was the first\nwho bought a dishonourable peace from the enemies of the state,\nagreeing to pay a considerable annual tribute to the Goths, whom it\nwas his duty to repress. He was regardless of every national calamity,\nand was lost in debauchery and sensuality. The Pagans were allowed a\npower of persecuting the Christians through all parts of the state. 8.\nThese calamities were succeeded by a pestilence from heaven, that\nseemed to have spread over every part of the earth, and continued\nraging for several years, in an unheard-of manner; as well as by a\ncivil war, which followed shortly after between Gallus and his general\n\u00c6milia'nus, who, having gained a victory over the Goths, was\nproclaimed emperor by his conquering army. 9. Gallus hearing this,\nsoon roused from the intoxications of pleasure, and prepared to oppose\nhis dangerous rival: but both he and his son were slain by \u00c6milia'nus,\nin a battle fought in Mossia. His death was merited, and his vices\nwere such as to deserve the detestation of posterity. He died in the\nforty-seventh year of his age, after an unhappy reign of two years and\nfour months, in which the empire suffered inexpressible calamities.\n10. The senate refused to acknowledge the claims of \u00c6milia'nus; and an\narmy that was stationed near the Alps chose Vale'rian, who was their\ncommander, to succeed to the throne. 11. He set about reforming the\nstate with a spirit that seemed to mark a good and vigorous mind. But\nreformation was now grown almost impracticable. 12. The Persians under\ntheir king Sapor, invading Syr'ia, took the unfortunate Vale'rian\nprisoner, as he was making preparations to oppose them; and the\nindignities as well as the cruelties, which were practised upon this\nunhappy monarch, thus fallen into the hands of his enemies, are almost\nincredible. 13. Sapor, we are told, used him as a footstool for\nmounting his horse; he added the bitterness of ridicule to his\ninsults, and usually observed, that an attitude like that to which\nVale'rian was reduced, was the best statue that could be erected in\nhonour of his victory. 14. This horrid life of insult and sufferance\ncontinued for seven years; and was at length terminated by the cruel\nPersian commanding his prisoner's eyes to be plucked out, and\nafterwards causing him to be flayed alive.\n15. When Vale'rian was taken prisoner, Galie'nus, his son, promising\nto revenge the insult, was chosen emperor, being then about\nforty-one years old. However, it was soon discovered that he sought\nrather the splendours than the toils of empire; for, after having\noverthrown Ingen'uus, who had assumed the title of emperor, he sat\ndown, as if fatigued with conquest, and gave himself up to ease and\nluxury. 16. At this time, no less than thirty pretenders were seen\ncontending with each other for the dominion of the state, and adding\nthe calamities of civil war to the rest of the misfortunes of this\ndevoted empire. These are usually mentioned in history by the name of\nthe thirty tyrants. 17. In this general calamity, Galie'nus, though at\nfirst seemingly insensible, was at length obliged for his own security\nto take the field, and led an army to besiege the city of Milan, which\nhad been taken by one of the thirty usurping tyrants. In this\nexpedition he was slain by his own soldiers: Mar'tian, one of his\ngenerals, having conspired against him.\n18. Fla'vius Clau'dius being nominated to succeed, was joyfully\naccepted by all orders of the state, and his title confirmed by the\nsenate and the people. 19. He was a man of great valour and conduct,\nhaving performed the most excellent services against the Goths, who\nhad long continued to make irruptions into the empire; but, after a\ngreat victory over that barbarous people, he was seized with a\npestilential fever at Ser'mium in Panno'nia, of which he died, to the\ngreat regret of his subjects, and the irreparable loss of the Roman\nempire.\n20. Upon the death of Clau'dius, Aure'lian was acknowledged by all the\nstates of the empire, and assumed the command with a greater share of\npower than his predecessors had enjoyed for a long time before. 21.\nThis active monarch was of mean and obscure parentage in Da'cia, and\nabout fifty-five years old at the time of his coming to the throne. He\nhad spent the early part of his life in the army, and had risen\nthrough all the gradations of military rank. He was of unshaken\ncourage and amazing strength. He, in one engagement, killed forty of\nthe enemy with his own hand; and at different times above nine\nhundred. In short, his valour and expedition were such, that he was\ncompared to Julius C\u00e6sar; and, in fact, only wanted mildness and\nclemency to be every way his equal. 22. Among those who were compelled\nto submit to his power, was the famous Zeno'bia, queen of Palmy'ra. He\nsubdued her country, destroyed her city, and took her prisoner.\nLongi'nus, the celebrated critic, who was secretary to the queen, was\nby Aure'lian's order put to death. Zeno'bia was reserved to grace his\ntriumph; and afterwards was allotted such lands, and such an income,\nas served to maintain her in almost her former splendour. 23. But the\nemperor's severities were at last the cause of his own destruction.\nMnes'theus, his principal secretary, having been threatened by him for\nsome fault which he had committed, formed a conspiracy against him,\nand as the emperor passed, with a small guard, from Ura'clea, in\nThrace, towards Byzan'tium, the conspirators set upon him at once and\nslew him, in the sixtieth year of his age, after a very active reign\nof almost five years.\n24. After some time the senate made choice of Ta'citus, a man of great\nmerit, and no way ambitious of the honours that were offered him,\nbeing at that time seventy-five years old. 25. A reign begun with much\nmoderation and justice, only wanted continuance to have made his\nsubjects happy: but after enjoying the empire about six months, he\ndied of a fever in his march to oppose the Persians and Scyth'ians,\nwho had invaded the eastern parts of the empire. 26. During this short\nperiod the senate seemed to have possessed a large share of authority,\nand the histories of the times are liberal of their praises to such\nemperors as were thus willing to divide their power.\n27. Upon the death of Ta'citus, his half-brother took upon himself the\ntitle of emperor, in Cile'sia: but being twice defeated by Pro'bus, he\nkilled himself in despair, when the whole army, as if by common\nconsent, cried out that Pro'bus should be emperor. 28. He was then\nforty-four years old; was born of noble parentage, and bred a soldier.\nHe began early to distinguish himself for his discipline and valour:\nbeing frequently the first man that scaled the walls, or that burst\ninto the enemy's camp. He was equally remarkable for single combat,\nand for having saved the lives of many eminent citizens. Nor were his\nactivity and courage when elected to the empire less apparent than in\nhis private station. 29. Every year now produced new calamities to the\nstate; and fresh irruptions on every side threatened universal\ndesolation. Perhaps at this time no abilities, except those of\nPro'bus, were capable of opposing such united invasions. 30. However,\nin the end, his own mutinous soldiers, taking their opportunity, as he\nwas marching into Greece, seized and slew him, after he had reigned\nsix years and four months with general approbation. He was\nsucceeded by Ca'rus.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. Did Philip succeed without opposition?\n2. Was his reign of long duration?\n3. What was the character of Decius?\n4. Did he restore the empire to its former grandeur?\n5. What was his end?\n6. Who succeeded him?\n7. What was his character?\n8. What farther calamities distinguished this reign?\n9. What effect had this news on Gallus?\n10. Who succeeded Gallus?\n11. What were his first acts and their effects?\n12. What disaster befel him?\n13. How was he treated in captivity?\n14. Did he long survive this cruelty?\n15. Who succeeded him?\n16. Was Galienus the only pretender to the throne?\n17. What measures did Galienus adopt on this?\n18. Who succeeded Galienus?\n19. What were his character and end?\n20. Who succeeded Claudius?\n21. Who was Aurelian?\n22. Over whom did he triumph?\n23. What occasioned his destruction?\n24. Who succeeded Aurelian?\n25. Did he govern well?\n26. What distinguished his reign?\n27. Who succeeded Tacitus?\n28. What were the qualifications of Probus?\n29. What was the state of the empire at this time?\n30. What was the end of Probus?\nSECTION V.\n  Forbid it, gods! when barbarous Scythians come\n  From their cold north to prop declining Rome.\n  That I should see her fall, and sit secure at home.--_Lucan_.\n1. Ca'rus, who was pr\u00e6torian prefect to the deceased emperor, was\nchosen by the army to succeed him; and he, to strengthen his\nauthority, united his two sons, Cari'nus and Nume'rian, with him in\ncommand; the elder of whom was as much sullied by his vices, as the\nyounger was remarkable for his virtues, his modesty, and courage.\n2. The next object of Ca'rus was to punish the murderers of\nPro'bus, and procure public tranquillity. Several nations of the west\nhaving revolted, he sent his son Cari'nus against them, and advanced\nhimself against the Sarma'tians, whom he defeated, with the loss of\nsixteen thousand men killed, and twenty thousand prisoners. Soon after\nthis he entered Persia, and removed to Mesopota'mia. Vera'nes the\nsecond, king of Persia, advancing against him, was defeated, and lost\nCtes'iphon, his capital. This conquest gained Ca'rus the surname of\nPer'sieus; but he had not enjoyed it long, when he was struck dead, by\nlightning, in his tent, with many of his attendants, after a reign of\nabout sixteen months. Upon the death of Ca'rus, the imperial power\ndevolved on his sons Cari'nus and Nume'rian, who reigned jointly. In\nthe first year of their accession, having made peace with the\nPersians, Cari'nus advanced against Ju'lian, who had caused himself to\nbe proclaimed in Vene'tia,[5] and whom he defeated; when he returned\nagain into Gaul.\n3. Cari'nus was at this time in Gaul, but Nume'rian, the younger son,\nwho accompanied his father in his expedition was inconsolable for his\ndeath, and brought such a disorder upon his eyes, with weeping, that\nhe was obliged to be carried along with the army, shut up in a close\nlitter. 4. The peculiarity of his situation, after some time, excited\nthe ambition of A'per, his father-in-law, who supposed that he could\nnow, without any great danger, aim at the empire himself. He therefore\nhired a mercenary villain to murder the emperor in his litter; and,\nthe better to conceal the fact, gave out that he was still alive, but\nunable to endure the light. 5. The offensive smell, however, of the\nbody, at length discovered the treachery, and excited an universal\nuproar throughout the whole army. 6. In the midst of this tumult,\nDiocle'sian, one of the most noted commanders of his time, was chosen\nemperor, and with his own hand slew A'per, having thus, as it is said,\nfulfilled a prophecy, that Diocle'sian should be emperor after he had\nslain a boar.[6]\n7. Diocle'sian was a person of mean birth; he received his name from\nDio'clea, the town in which he was born, and was about forty years old\nwhen he was elected to the empire. He owed his exaltation entirely to\nhis merit; having passed through all the gradations of office with\nsagacity, courage, and success.\n8. In his time, the northern hive, as it was called poured down\nits swarms of barbarians upon the Roman empire. Ever at war with the\nRomans, they issued forth whenever that army that was to repress their\ninvasions was called away; and upon its return, they as suddenly\nwithdrew into their cold, barren, and inaccessible retreats, which\nthemselves alone could endure. 9. In this manner the Scyth'ians,\nGoths, Sarma'tians, Ala'ni, Car'sii, and Qua'di, came down in\nincredible numbers, while every defeat seemed but to increase their\nstrength and perseverance. 10. After gaining many victories over\nthese, and in the midst of his triumphs, Diocle'sian and Maxim'ian,\nhis partners in the empire, surprised the world by resigning their\ndignities on the same day, and both retiring into private stations.\n11. In this manner Diocle'sian lived some time, and at length died\neither by poison or madness, but by which of them is uncertain. His\nreign of twenty years was active and useful; and his authority, which\nwas tinctured with severity, was adapted to the depraved state of\nmorals at that time.\n12. Upon the resignation of the two emperors, the two C\u00e6sars, whom\nthey had before chosen, were universally acknowledged as their\nsuccessors, namely, Constan'tius Chlo'rus, so called from the paleness\nof his complexion, a man virtuous, valiant, and merciful; and\nGele'rius, who was brave, but brutal, incontinent and cruel. 13. As\nthere was such a disparity in their tempers, they readily agreed, upon\ncoming into full power, to divide the empire. Constan'tius was\nappointed to govern the western parts, and died at York, in Britain,\nA.D. 396, appointing Con'stantine, his son, as his successor.\nGale'rius was seized with a very extraordinary disorder, which baffled\nthe skill of his physicians, and carried him off.\n14. Con'stantine, afterwards surnamed the Great, had some competitors\nat first for the throne.--Among the rest was Maxen'tius, who was at\nthat time in possession of Rome, and a stedfast assertor of Paganism.\n15. It was in Constantine's march against that usurper, we are told,\nthat he was converted to Christianity, by a very extraordinary\nappearance. 16. One evening, the army being on its march towards Rome,\nConstantine was intent on various considerations upon the fate of\nsublunary things, and the dangers of his approaching expedition.\nSensible of his own incapacity to succeed without divine assistance,\nhe employed his meditations upon the opinions that were then\nagitated among mankind, and sent up his ejaculations to heaven to\ninspire him with wisdom to choose the path he should pursue. As the\nsun was declining, there suddenly appeared a pillar of light in the\nheavens, in the fashion of a cross, with this inscription, EN TOTTO\nNIKA, IN THIS OVERCOME. 17. So extraordinary an appearance did not\nfail to create astonishment, both in the emperor and his whole army,\nwho reflected on it as their various dispositions led them to believe.\nThose who were attached to Paganism, prompted by their aruspices,\npronounced it to be a most inauspicious omen, portending the most\nunfortunate events; but it made a different impression on the\nemperor's mind; who, as the account goes, was farther encouraged by\nvisions the same night. 18. He, therefore, the day following, caused a\nroyal standard to be made, like that which he had seen in the heavens,\nand commanded it to be carried before him in his wars, as an ensign of\nvictory and celestial protection. After this he consulted with the\nprincipal teachers of Christianity, and made a public avowal of that\nholy religion.\n19. Con'stantine having thus attached his soldiers to his interest,\nwho were mostly of the Christian persuasion, lost no time in entering\nItaly, with ninety thousand foot and eight thousand horse, and soon\nadvanced almost to the very gates of Rome. Maxen'tius advanced from\nthe city with an army of a hundred and seventy thousand foot, and\neighteen thousand horse. 20. The engagement was fierce and bloody,\ntill the cavalry of the latter being routed, victory declared upon the\nside of his opponent, and he himself was drowned in his flight by the\nbreaking down of a bridge, as he attempted to cross the Tiber.\n21. In consequence of this victory, Con'stantine entered the city, but\ndisclaimed all the praises which the senate and people were ready to\noffer; and ascribed his successes to a superior power. He even caused\nthe cross, which he was said to have seen in the heavens, to be placed\nat the right hand of all his statues, with this inscription: \"That\nunder the influence of that Victorious Cross, Con'stantine had\ndelivered the city from the yoke of tyrannical power, and had restored\nthe senate, and people of Rome to their ancient authority.\" He\nafterwards ordained that no criminal should, for the future, suffer\ndeath upon the cross, which had formerly been the most usual way of\npunishing slaves convicted of capital offences. 22. Edicts were soon\nafter issued, declaring that the Christians should be eased of\nall their grievances, and received into places of trust and authority.\n23. Things continued in this state for some time. Con'tantine\ncontributing every thing in his power to the interest of religion, and\nthe revival of learning, which had long been upon the decline, and was\nalmost wholly extinct in his dominions. 24. But, in the midst of these\nassiduities, the peace of the empire was again disturbed by the\npreparations of Maxim'ian, who governed in the east; and who, desirous\nof a full participation of power, marched against Licin'ius with a\nvery numerous army. 25. In consequence of this step, after many\nconflicts, a general engagement ensued, in which Maxim'ian suffered a\ntotal defeat; many of his troops were cut to pieces, and those that\nsurvived submitted to the conqueror. Having, however, escaped the\ngeneral carnage, he put himself at the head of another army, resolving\nto try the fortune of the field; but his death prevented the design.\n26. As he died by a very extraordinary kind of madness, the\nChristians, of whom he was the declared enemy, did not fail to ascribe\nhis end to a judgment from heaven. But this was the age in which false\nopinions and false miracles made up the bulk of every history.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. Who succeeded Probus?\n2. Mention the actions of Carus, and the manner of his death.\n3. How were his sons affected by this catastrophe?\n4. What was the consequence?\n5. How was this atrocious act discovered?\n6. Did Aper reap the reward of his treachery?\n7. Who was Dioclesian?\n8. By whom was the empire now invaded?\n9. Were they effectually repelled?\n10. What remarkable event now occurred?\n11. What was the end of Dioclesian?\n12. Who succeeded Dioclesian and Maximian?\n13. How did they conduct the administration?\n14. Did Constantine succeed without any opposition?\n15. Did not a remarkable occurrence happen about this time?\n16. Repeat the particulars.\n17. What effect had this appearance on the emperor and his men?\n18. What orders did he issue in consequence?\n19. What was the respective strength of the hostile armies?\n20. What was the result of the engagement?\n21. What use did Constantine make of his victory?\n22. What edicts did he publish on the occasion?\n23. How was Constantine employed after this?\n24. Did the peace long continue?\n25. What was the consequence?\n26. To what was his death ascribed?\nSECTION VI.\n  It is to bear the miseries of a people!\n  To hear their murmurs, feel their discontents,\n  And sink beneath a load of splendid care!\n  To have your best success ascribed to Fortune.\n  And Fortune's failures all ascribed to you!\n  It is to sit upon a joyless height,\n  To every blast of changing fate exposed!\n  Too high for hope! too great for happiness!--_H. More_.\n1. Con'stantine and Licin'ius thus remaining undisputed possessors of,\nand partners in the empire, all things promised a peaceable\ncontinuance of friendship and power. 2. However, it was soon found\nthat the same ambition that aimed after a part, would be content with\nnothing less than the whole. Pagan writers ascribe the rupture between\nthese two potentates to Con'stantine; while the Christians, on the\nother hand, impute it wholly to Licin'ius. 3. Both sides exerted all\ntheir power to gain the ascendancy; and at the head of very formidable\narmies came to an engagement near Cy'balis, in Panno'nia. 4.\nCon'stantine, previous to the battle, in the midst of his Christian\nbishops, begged the assistance of heaven; while Licin'ius, with equal\nzeal, called upon the Pagan priests to intercede with the gods in\ntheir favour. 5. The success was on the side of truth. Con'stantine,\nafter experiencing an obstinate resistance, became victorious, took\nthe enemy's camp, and after some time compelled Licin'ius to sue for a\ntruce, which was agreed upon. 6. But this was of no long continuance;\nfor, soon after, the war breaking out afresh, the rivals came once\nmore to a general engagement, and it proved decisive. Licin'ius was\nentirely defeated, and pursued by Con'stantine into Nicome'dia, where\nhe surrendered himself up to the victor; having first obtained an oath\nthat his life should be spared, and that he should be permitted to\npass the remainder of his days in retirement. 7. This, however,\nCon'stantine shortly after broke; for either fearing his designs, or\nfinding him actually engaged in fresh conspiracies, he commanded him\nto be put to death, together with Mar'tian, his general, who some time\nbefore had been created C\u00e6sar.\n8. Con'stantine being thus become sole monarch, resolved to establish\nChristianity on so sure a basis that no new revolution should shake\nit. He commanded that, in all the provinces of the empire, the orders\nof the bishops should he implicitly obeyed. He called also a general\ncouncil, in order to repress the heresies that had already crept\ninto the church, particularly that of A'rius. 9. To this council, at\nwhich he presided in person, repaired about three hundred and eighteen\nbishops, besides a multitude of presbyters and deacons; who all,\nexcept about seventeen, concurred in condemning the tenets of A'rius,\nwho, with his associates, was banished into a remote part of the\nempire.\n10. Thus he restored universal tranquillity to his dominions, but was\nnot able to ward off calamities of a more domestic nature. As the\nwretched historians of this period are entirely at variance with each\nother, it is not easy to explain the motives which induced him to put\nhis wife Faus'ta, and his son Cris'pus, to death.\n11. But it is supposed, that all the good he did was not equal to the\nevil the empire sustained by his transferring the imperial seat from\nRome to Byzan'tium, or Constantino'ple, as it was afterwards called.\n12. Whatever might have been the reasons which induced him to this\nundertaking; whether it was because he was offended at some affronts\nhe had received at Rome, or that he supposed Constantino'ple more in\nthe centre of the empire, or that he thought the eastern parts more\nrequired his presence, experience has shown that they were all weak\nand groundless. 13. The empire had long before been in a most\ndeclining state: but this, in a great measure, gave precipitation to\nits downfall. After this, it never resumed its former splendour, but,\nlike a flower transplanted into a foreign clime, languished by\ndegrees, and at length sunk into nothing.\n14. At first, his design was to build a city, which he might make the\ncapital of the world: and for this purpose he made choice of a\nsituation at Chal'cedon, in Asia Minor; but we are told that, in\nlaying out the ground plan, an eagle caught up the line, and flew with\nit over to Byzan'tium, a city which lay on the opposite side of the\nBosphorus. 15. Here, therefore, it was thought expedient to fix the\nseat of empire; and, indeed, nature seemed to have formed it with all\nthe conveniences, and all the beauties which might induce power to\nmake it the seat of residence.\n16. It was situated on a plain, that rose gently from the water: it\ncommanded that strait which unites the Mediterranean with the Euxine\nsea, and was furnished with all the advantages which the most\nindulgent climate could bestow.\n17. The city, therefore, he beautified with the most magnificent\nedifices; he divided it into fourteen regions; built a capitol,\nan amphitheatre, many churches, and other public works; and having\nthus rendered it equal to the magnificence of his first idea, he\ndedicated it in a very solemn manner to the God of martyrs; and in\nabout two years after repaired thither with his whole court.\n18. This removal produced no immediate alteration in the government of\nthe empire. The inhabitants of Rome, though with reluctance, submitted\nto the change; nor was there, for two or three years, any disturbance\nin the state, until at length the Goths, finding that the Romans had\nwithdrawn all their garrisons along the Danube, renewed their inroads,\nand ravaged the country with unheard-of cruelty. 19. Con'stantine,\nhowever, soon repressed their incursions, and so straitened them, that\nnearly a hundred thousand of their number perished by cold and hunger.\n20. Another great error ascribed to him is, the dividing the empire\namong his sons. Con'stantine, the emperor's eldest son, commanded in\nGaul and the western provinces; Constan'tius, the second, governed\nAfrica and Illyr'icum; and Con'stans, the youngest, ruled in Italy.\n21. This division of the empire still further contributed to its\ndownfall; for the united strength of the state being no longer brought\nto repress invasion, the barbarians fought with superior numbers, and\nconquered at last, though often defeated. When Con'stantine was above\nsixty years old, and had reigned about thirty, he found his health\ndecline.\n22. His disorder, which was an ague, increasing, he went to\nNicome'dia, where, finding himself without hopes of a recovery, he\ncaused himself to be baptised. He soon after received the sacrament,\nand expired.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What was the state of the empire at this period?\n2. Was this peace lasting, and by whom was it broken?\n3. Was the contest likely to be vigorous?\n4. In what way did the two emperors prepare for the conflict?\n5. What was the result?\n6. Was this truce religiously observed?\n7. Did Constantine fulfil his engagement?\n8. What was Constantine's resolution on becoming sole monarch, and\nwhat steps did he take?\n9. By whom was it attended, and what was the result?\n10. Was he happy in his domestic relations? 11. Was the removal\nof the seat of the empire beneficial to the state?\n12. Were his reasons for doing so well grounded?\n13. What was the consequence?\n14. What was his original intention, and what induced him to alter it?\n15. Was it a Convenient spot?\n16. Describe its situation.\n17. What alteration did he make, and to whom was it dedicated?\n18. What was the immediate effect of this transfer?\n19. Were they vigorously opposed?\n20. Of what error is Constantine accused besides?\n21. What was the consequence of this division?\n22. Relate the particulars of his death.\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] Com'modus was the first emperor that was born in his father's\nreign, and the second that succeeded his father in the empire.\n[2] Being offended by the Alexan'drians, he commanded them to be put\nto the sword without distinction of sex, age, or condition; every\nhouse was filled with carcases, and the streets were obstructed with\ndead bodies; this was merely in revenge for some lampoons they had\npublished against him.\n[3] A city of Bithyn'ia, in Asia Minor, opposite to Constantinople.\n[4] A Term generally applied to the children of brothers or sisters.\n[5] Now called Venice.\n[6] A'per signifies a boar.\n_Dr. Goldsmith having concluded his History too abruptly, it has been\nthought advisable to cancel his last Chapter, and substitute the\nfollowing brief notice of the events which occurred from the death of\nConstantine to the final extinction of the Empire of the West._\nCHAPTER XXV.\nSECTION I.\nFROM THE DEATH OF CONSTANTINE TO THE RE-UNION OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE\nUNDER THEODOSIUS THE GREAT.\n  If wanting worth, are shining instruments\n  In false ambition's hands, to finish faults\n  Illustrious, and give infamy renown.--_Young_.\n1. The character of the prince who removed the seat of empire and made\na complete revolution in the civil and religious institutions of his\ncountry, is naturally one on which the opinions of historians are\ndivided, according to their sentiments respecting the great changes\nthat he effected. The heathen writers describe him as a monster of\ntyranny; the Christian fathers are anxious to conceal his faults and\nexaggerate his virtues, as if the nature of Christianity was in some\ndegree affected by the character of its first and greatest patron. The\ntruth is, that the character of Constantine, like that of other great\nconquerors, varied with the circumstances of his life. While engaged\nin the contest for empire, while employed in making unparalleled\npolitical changes, he displayed the fortitude of a hero, and wisdom of\na legislator; but when complete success reduced him to inactivity,\nwhen his vigorous mind was no longer stimulated by fear or hope,\nprosperity roused all his bad passions by affording an opportunity for\ntheir indulgence; and the virtues which had insured victory\ndisappeared when there was no longer any stimulus to rouse them into\naction. The fourteen years of profound peace that preceded the\nemperor's death, form a period of great external splendour, but of\nreal and rapid decay; the court was distinguished at once by avarice\nand prodigality; the money raised by heavy taxes, unknown in former\nages, was lavished on unworthy favourites or wasted in idle\nexhibitions of magnificence. 2. A mind relaxed by prosperity is\npeculiarly open to suspicion; the ears of the monarch were greedily\nlent to every tale brought to him by malignant spies and informers;\nsuch encouragement increased the number of those wretches; every\nstreet and almost every house in the capital, contained some one ever\non the watch to pick up any unguarded expression which might be\ndistorted into treason or sedition. It was not likely that a monarch\nwho had consented to the murder of his own son, on the most groundless\ncharges, would be more merciful to those who had no natural claims\nupon his forbearance; execution followed execution with fearful\nrapidity, until the bonds of society were broken, and every man\ndreaded his neighbour, lest by misinterpreting a word or look, he\nshould expose him to the indiscriminate cruelty of the sovereign.\n3. The example of their father's tyranny produced an effect on the\nminds of his sons, which no education, however excellent or judicious,\ncould remove. Pious Christian pastors, learned philosophers, and\nvenerable sages of the law, were employed to instruct the three\nprinces, Constanti'ne, Constan'tius, and Con'stans; but the effects of\ntheir labours never appeared in the lives of their pupils.\n4. For some reasons which it is now impossible to discover, the great\nConstantine had raised two of his nephews to the rank of princes, and\nplaced them on an equality with his own children. Before the emperor's\nbody was consigned to the tomb, this impolitic arrangement brought\ndestruction on the entire Flavian family. A forged scroll was produced\nby the bishop of Nicome'dia, purporting to be Constantine's last will,\nin which he accused his brothers of having given him poison, and\nbesought his sons to avenge his death. 5. Constan'tius eagerly\nembraced such an opportunity of destroying the objects of his\njealousy; his two uncles, seven of his cousins, the patrician\nOpta'lus, who married the late emperor's sister, and the prefect\nAbla'vius, whose chief crime was enormous wealth, were subjected to a\nmock trial, and delivered to the executioner. Of so numerous a\nfamily Gal'lus and Julian alone were spared; they owed their\nsafety to their concealment, until the rage of the assassins had\nabated. 6. After this massacre, the three brothers, similar in name,\nand more alike in crime, proceeded to divide their father's dominions:\nConstantine took for his share the new capital and the central\nprovinces; Thrace and the East were assigned to Constan'tius;\nCon'stans received Italy, Africa, and the western Illy'ricum.\n7. The weakness produced by this division encouraged the enemies of\nthe Romans, whom the dread of Constantine's power had hitherto kept\nquiet, to take up arms. Of these the most formidable was Sa'por king\nof Persia. 8. The abilities of Sapor showed that he merited a throne;\nhe had scarcely arrived at maturity when he led an army against Tha'ir\nking of Arabia, who had harassed Persia during his minority; the\nexpedition was completely successful. Tha'ir was slain, and the\nkingdom subdued. The young conqueror did not abuse his victory; he\ntreated the vanquished with such clemency, that the Arabs gave him the\ntitle of _Doulacnaf_ or protector of the nation.\n[Sidenote: A.D. 338.]\n9. On the death of Constantine, Sa'por invaded the eastern provinces\nof the Roman empire; he was vigorously opposed by Constan'tius, and\nthe war was protracted during several years with varying fortune. At\nthe battle of Sin'gara, the Romans surprised the Persian camp, but\nwere in their turn driven from it with great slaughter by the troops\nwhich Sapor had rallied. The eldest son of the Persian king was,\nhowever, brought off as a prisoner by the Romans, and the barbarous\nConstan'tius ordered him to be scourged, tortured, and publicly\nexecuted. 10. Though Sa'por had been victorious in the field, he\nfailed in his chief design of seizing the Roman fortresses in\nMesopota'mia; during twelve years he repeatedly besieged Ni'sibis,\nwhich had been long the great eastern bulwark of the empire, but was\ninvariably baffled by the strength of the place, and the valour of the\ngarrison. At length both parties became wearied of a struggle which\nexhausted their resources, and new enemies appearing, they resolved to\nconclude a peace. Sa'por returned home to repel an invasion of the\nScythians; Constan'tius, by the death of his two brothers, found\nhimself involved in a civil war which required his undivided\nattention.\n11. Constan'tine had scarcely been seated on his throne, when he\nattempted to wrest from Con'stans some of the provinces which had\nbeen assigned as his portion. He rashly led his army over the Julian\nAlps, and devastated the country round Aquile'ia where, falling into\nan ambuscade, he perished ingloriously. Con'stans seized on the\ninheritance of the deceased prince, and retained it during ten years,\nobstinately refusing to give any share to his brother Constan'tius.\n12. But the tyranny of Con'stans at last became insupportable.\nMagnen'tius, an enterprising general, proclaimed himself emperor, and\nhis cause was zealously embraced by the army. Con'stans was totally\nunprepared for this insurrection; deserted by all except a few\nfavourites, whom dread of the popular hatred they had justly incurred\nprevented from desertion, he attempted to escape into Spain, but was\novertaken at the foot of the Pyrenees, and murdered. 13. The\nprefectures of Gaul and Italy cheerfully submitted to the usurpation\nof Magnen'tius; but the legions of Illyr'icum elected their general,\nVetra'nio, emperor, and his usurpation was sanctioned by the princess\nConstanti'na, who, regardless of her brother's rights, placed the\ndiadem upon his head with her own hands. 14. The news of these events\nhastened the return of Constan'tius to Europe; on his arrival at the\ncapital, he received embassies from the two usurpers, offering terms\nof accommodation; he rejected the terms of Magnen'tius with disdain,\nbut entered into a negociation with Vetra'nio. The Illyrian leader,\nthough a good general, was a bad politician; he allowed himself to be\nduped by long discussions, until the greater part of his army had been\ngained over by Constan'tius; he then consented to a personal\ninterview, and had the mortification to see his soldiers, with one\naccord, range themselves under the banners of their lawful sovereign.\nVetra'nio immediately fell at the feet of Constan'tius, and tendered\nhis homage, which was cheerfully accepted; he was not only pardoned,\nbut rewarded; the city of Pru'sa, in Bythnia, was allotted to him as a\nresidence, and a pension assigned for his support. 15. The war against\nMagnen'tius was maintained with great obstinacy, but at first with\nlittle success; the emperor was confined in his fortified camp, while\nthe troops of the usurper swept the surrounding country, and captured\nseveral important posts. Constan'tius was so humbled, that he even\nproposed a treaty, but the terms on which Magnen'tius insisted were so\ninsulting, that the emperor determined to encounter the hazard of a\nbattle. Scarcely had he formed this resolution, when his army was\nstrengthened by the accession of Sylva'nus, a general of some\nreputation, who, with a large body of cavalry, deserted from the\nenemy.\n16. The decisive battle between the competitors for the empire, was\nfought under the walls of Mur'sa, a city on the river Drave.\nMagnen'tius attempted to take the place by storm, but was repulsed;\nand almost at the same moment, the imperial legions were seen\nadvancing to raise the siege. The army of Magnen'tius consisted of the\nwestern legions that had already acquired fame in the wars of Gaul;\nwith battalions of Germans and other barbarous tribes, that had of\nlate years been incorporated with the regular forces. In addition to\nthe imperial guards, Constan'tius had several troops of those oriental\narchers, whose skill with the bow was so justly celebrated; but far\nthe most formidable part of his army were his mail-clad cuirassiers,\nwhose scaly armour, and ponderous lances, made their charge almost\nirresistible. The cavalry on the emperor's left wing commenced the\nengagement, and broke through the Gallic legions in the first charge;\nthe hardy veterans again rallied, were again charged, and again\nbroken; at length, before they could form their lines, the light\ncavalry of the second rank rode, sword in hand, through the gaps made\nby the cuirassiers, and completed their destruction. Meantime, the\nGermans and barbarians stood exposed, with almost naked bodies, to the\ndestructive shafts of the oriental archers; whole troops, stung with\nanguish and despair, threw themselves into the rapid stream of the\nDrave, and perished. Ere the sun had set, the army of Magnen'tius was\nirretrievably ruined; fifty-four thousand of the vanquished were\nslain, and the loss of the conquerors is said to have been even\ngreater.\n17. From this battle the ruin of the Roman empire may be dated; the\nloss of one hundred thousand of its best and bravest soldiers could\nnot be repaired, and never again did any emperor possess a veteran\narmy equal to that which fell on the fatal plains of Mur'sa. The\ndefeat of Magnen'tius induced the Italian and African provinces to\nreturn to their allegiance; the Gauls, wearied out by the exactions\nwhich distress forced the usurper to levy, refused to acknowledge his\nauthority, and at length his own soldiers raised the cry of \"God save\nConstan'tius.\" To avoid the disgrace of a public execution,\nMagnen'tius committed suicide, and several members of his family\nimitated his example. The victor punished with relentless severity all\nwho had shared in the guilt of this rebellion; and several who had\nbeen compelled to join in it by force shared the fate of those by\nwhom it had been planned.\n18. The Roman, empire was now once more united under a single monarch;\nbut as that prince was wholly destitute of merit, his victory served\nonly to establish the reign of worthless favourites. Of these the most\ndistinguished was the chamberlain, Euse'bius, whose influence was so\ngreat that he was considered the master of the emperor; and to whose\ninstigation many of the crimes committed by Constan'tius must be\nattributed.\n19 Gal'lus and Ju'lian, who had escaped in the general massacre of the\nFlavian family, were detained as prisoners of state in a strong\ncastle, which had once been the residence of the kings of Cappado'cia.\nTheir education had not been neglected, and they had been assigned a\nhousehold proportionate to the dignity of their birth. At length the\nemergencies of the state compelled Constan'tius to nominate an\nassociate in the government of the empire; and Gal'lus now in the\ntwenty-fifth year of his age, was summoned from his retirement,\ninvested with the title of C\u00e6sar, and married to the princess\nConstan'tina. 20. The latter circumstance proved his ruin; stimulated\nby the cruel ambition of his wife, he committed deeds of tyranny,\nwhich alienated the affections of his subjects, and acts bordering on\ntreason, that roused the jealousy of Constan'tius. He was summoned to\nappear at the imperial court to explain his conduct, but was seized on\nhis journey, made a close prisoner, and transmitted to Po'la a town in\nIst'ria, where he was put to death.\n21. Julian, the last remnant of the Flavian family, was, through the\npowerful intercession of the empress, spared, and permitted to\npursue his studies in Athens. In that city, where the Pagan philosophy\nwas still publicly taught, the future emperor imbibed the doctrines of\nthe heathens, and thus acquired the epithet of Apostate, by which he\nis unenviably known to posterity. Julian was soon recalled from his\nretirement, and elevated to the station which his unfortunate brother\nhad enjoyed. His investiture with the royal purple took place at\nMilan, whither Constantius had proceeded to quell a new insurrection\nin the western provinces.\n22. Before the emperor returned to the east, he determined to revisit\nthe ancient capital; and Rome, after an interval of more than thirty\nyears, became for a brief space the residence the sovereign. He\nsignalized his visit by presenting to the city an obelisk, which at a\nvast expense he procured to be transported from Egypt. 23. The\nrenewed efforts of the Persians and other enemies of the empire in the\nEast, recalled Constan'tius to Constantinople, while Julian was\nemployed in driving from Gaul the barbarous tribes by which it had\nbeen invaded. The conduct of the young C\u00e6sar, both as a soldier and a\nstatesman, fully proved that literary habits do not disqualify a\nperson from discharging the duties of active life; he subdued the\nenemies that devastated the country, and forced them to seek refuge in\ntheir native forests; he administered the affairs of state with so\nmuch wisdom, temperance, and equity, that he acquired the enthusiastic\nlove of his subjects, and richly earned the admiration of posterity.\n24. The unexpected glory obtained by Julian, awakened the jealousy of\nConstan'tius; he sent to demand from him a large body of forces, under\nthe pretence that reinforcements were wanting in the East; but the\nsoldiers refused to march, and Julian, after some affected delays,\nsanctioned their disobediance. A long negociation, in which there was\nlittle sincerity on either side, preceded any hostile step; both at\nlength began to put their armies in motion, but the horrors of civil\nwar were averted by the timely death of Constan'tius, who fell a\nvictim to fever, aggravated by his impatience, at a small village near\nTar'sus in Cili'cia.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What was the character of Constantine the Great?\n2. Did any evil result from the employment of spies?\n3. In what manner were the sons of Constantine educated?\n4. What conspiracy was formed against part of the imperial family?\n5. Did any of the Flavian family escape from the massacre?\n6. How was the empire divided between the sons of Constantine?\n7. Who was the most formidable enemy of the empire?\n8. How did the king of Persia behave in the Arabian war?\n9. What were the chief events in the war between Sapor and\nConstantius? 10. How were Sapor and Constantius forced to make peace?\n11. What was the fate of the younger Constantine?\n12. By whom was Constans dethroned?\n13. What parties embraced the cause of Vetranio?\n14. How did Constantius treat the Illyrian general?\n15. Was Magnentius deserted by any of his forces?\n16. What were the circumstances of the battle of Mursa?\n17. What important results were occasioned by this great battle?\n18. Who was the prime minister of Constantius?\n19. Whom did the emperor select as an associate?\n20. How was Gallus brought to an untimely end?\n21. Where was Julian educated?\n22. Did Constantius visit Rome?\n23. How did Julian conduct himself in Gaul?\n24. What led to the war between Julian and Constantius?\nSECTION II.\n  To him, as to the bursting levin,\n  Brief, bright, resistless course was given,\n  Till burst the bolt on yonder shore,\n  Burn'd, blaz'd, destroy'd--and was no more.--_Scott_.\n1. Julian was in his thirty-second year when by the death of his\ncousin he became undisputed sovereign of the Roman empire; his worst\nerror was his apostacy from Christianity; he hated the religion he had\ndeserted, and laboured strenuously to substitute in its place an idle\nsystem which combined the most rational part of the old heathen system\nwith the delusive philosophy of the schools. Vanity was his besetting\nsin; he chose to be considered a philosopher rather than a sovereign,\nand to acquire that title he thought fit to reject the decencies of\nthis life, and the best guide to that which is to come. A treatise is\nextant from Julian's pen, in which he expatiates with singular\ncomplacency on the filth of his beard, the length of his nails, and\nthe inky blackness of his hands, as if cleanliness was inconsistent\nwith the philosophic character! In every other respect, the conduct of\nJulian merits high praise; he was just, merciful, and tolerant; though\nfrequently urged to become a persecutor, he allowed his subjects that\nfreedom of opinion which he claimed for himself, unlike Constan'tius,\nwho, having embraced the Arian heresy, treated his Catholic subjects\nwith the utmost severity. 2. But, though Julian would not inflict\npunishment for a difference of opinion, he enacted several\ndisqualifying laws, by which he laboured to deprive the Christians of\nwealth, of knowledge, and of power; he ordered their schools to be\nclosed, and he jealously excluded them from all civil and military\noffices. 3. To destroy the effects of that prophecy in the Gospel to\nwhich Christians may appeal as a standing miracle in proof of\nrevelation,--the condition of the Jews,--Julian determined to rebuild\nthe temple of Jerusalem, and restore the children of Israel to the\nland of their fathers. Historians worthy of credit inform us, that his\nplan was defeated by a direct miraculous interposition, and there are\nfew historical facts supported by more decisive testimony; but even if\nthe miracle be denied, the prophecy must be considered as having\nreceived decisive confirmation, from the acknowledged fact, that the\nemperor entertained such a design, and was unable to effect its\naccomplishment.\n[Illustration: Julian the Apostate, ordering the Christian schools to\nbe closed.]\n4. The mutual hatred of the Pagans and Christians would probably have\nrekindled the flames of civil war, had not Julian fallen in an\nexpedition against the Persians. 5. The emperor triumphantly advanced\nthrough the dominions of Sa'por as far as the Ti'gris; but the\nAsiatics, though defeated in the field, adopted means of defence more\nterrible to an invader than arms. They laid waste the country,\ndestroyed the villages, and burned the crops in the Roman line of\nmarch; a burning sun weakened the powers of the western veterans, and\nwhen famine was added to the severity of the climate, their sufferings\nbecame intolerable. 6. With a heavy heart Julian at last gave orders\nto commence a retreat, and led his exhausted soldiers back over the\ndesert plains which they had already passed with so much difficulty.\nThe retrograde march was terribly harassed by the light cavalry of the\nPersians, a species of troops peculiarly fitted for desultory warfare.\nThe difficulties of the Romans increased at every step, and the\nharassing attacks of their pursuers became more frequent and more\nformidable; at length, in a skirmish which almost deserved the name of\na battle, Julian was mortally wounded, and with his loss the Romans\ndearly purchased a doubtful victory.\n7. In the doubt and dismay which followed the death of Ju'lian, a few\nvoices saluted Jo'vian, the first of the imperial domestics, with the\ntitle of emperor, and the army ratified the choice. The new sovereign\nsuccessfully repelled some fresh attacks of the Persians, but\ndespairing of final success, he entered into a treaty with\nSa'por, and purchased a peace, or rather a long truce of thirty years,\nby the cession of several frontier provinces.\n[Illustration: Jovian issuing the edict in favour of Christianity.]\n8. The first care of Jo'vian was to fulfil the stipulated articles;\nthe Roman garrisons and colonies so long settled in the frontier towns\nthat they esteemed them as their native soil, were withdrawn; and the\nRomans beheld with regret the omen of their final destruction in the\nfirst dismemberment of the empire. The first edict in the new reign\ncontained a repeal of Julian's disqualifying laws, and a grant of\nuniversal toleration. This judicious measure at once showed how\nineffectual had been the efforts of the late emperor to revive the\nfallen spirit of paganism; the temples were immediately deserted, the\nsacrifices neglected, the priests left alone at their altars; those\nwho, to gratify the former sovereign assumed the dress and title of\nphilosophers, were assailed by such storms of ridicule, that they laid\naside the designation, shaved their beards, and were soon\nundistinguished in the general mass of society. 9. Jo'vian did not\nlong survive this peaceful triumph of Christianity; after a reign of\neight months, he was found dead in his bed, having been suffocated by\nthe mephitic vapours which a charcoal fire extracted from the fresh\nplaster, on the walls of his apartment.\n[Sidenote: A.D. 364.]\n10. During ten days the Roman empire remained without a sovereign, but\nfinally the soldiers elevated to the imperial purple, Valentinian, the\nson of count Gratian, an officer of distinguished merit. He chose as\nhis associate in the government his brother Valens, whose only claim\nseems to have rested on fraternal affection; to him he entrusted the\nrich prefecture of the East, while he himself assumed the\nadministration of the western provinces, and fixed the seat of his\ngovernment at Milan. 11. Though in other respects cruel, Valentinian\nwas remarkable for maintaining a system of religious toleration; but\nValens was far from pursuing such a laudable course. He had imbibed\nthe errors of Arius, and bitterly persecuted all who remained faithful\nto the Catholic doctrines. By this unwise conduct he provoked a\nformidable rebellion, which was headed by Proco'pius, an able general,\nwhom unjust persecution had stimulated to revolt. 12. The success of\nthe usurper was at first so great, that Va'lens was ready to yield up\nhis throne; but being dissuaded from this inglorious resolution, he\nentrusted the conduct of the war to the aged prefect Sallust, who had\ntwice refused the imperial diadem. The followers of Proco'pius soon\ndeserted to those leaders whose names were endeared to their\nrecollections by the remembrance of former glories; and the\nunfortunate leader, forsaken by all, was made prisoner and delivered\nto the executioner.\n13. In the mean time, Valenti'nian was engaged in a desperate warfare\nwith the German and other barbarous nations, who had recovered from\nthe losses which they had suffered under Ju'lian. On every frontier of\nthe western empire hordes of enemies appeared, eager for plunder,\nregardless of their own lives, and merciless to those of others. 14.\nThe Picts and Scots rushed from the mountains of Caledo'nia upon the\ncolonies of North Britain, and devastated the country with fire and\nsword, almost to the walls of London. The task of quelling these\nincursions was entrusted to the gallant Theodo'sius, and the event\nproved that Valentinian could not have made a better choice. In the\ncourse of two campaigns, the invaders were driven back to their\nforests, and a Roman fleet sweeping the coasts of Britain, made them\ntremble for the safety of their own retreats.\n15. The success of the emperor against the Saxons, the Franks, the\nAlleman'ni[1], the Qua'di, and other tribes on the Rhine and Danube,\nwas not less conspicuous than that of Theodo'sius in Britain. 16. The\nQua'di, humbled by a severe defeat, sent ambassadors to deprecate his\ndispleasure; but while Valenti'nian was angrily upbraiding the\ndeputies for their unprovoked hostility, he ruptured a blood-vessel\nand died almost instantaneously. He was succeeded by his sons Gra'tian\nand Valenti'nian II.\n17. A much more important change took place in the eastern world; the\nfirst admission of the barbarian tribes into the empire, which\nthey finally destroyed.\n[Illustration: The body of Valens, found upon the field of battle.]\n[Sidenote: A.D. 376.]\nThe nation of the Goths had been from remote ages settled on the banks\nof the Danube, and were by that river divided into two nations, the\nOstrogoths on the east, and the Visigoths on the west. They had for\nmany years enjoyed the blessings of profound peace under the\ngovernment of their king Herman'ric, when they were suddenly alarmed\nby the appearance of vast hordes of unknown enemies on their northern\nand eastern frontiers. These were the Huns, a branch of the great\nMongolian race, which, from the earliest time, had possessed the vast\nand wild plains of Tartary. Terrified by the numbers, the strength,\nthe strange features and implacable cruelty of such foes, the Goths\ndeserted their country, almost without attempting opposition, and\nsupplicated the emperor Va'lens to grant them a settlement in the\nwaste lands of Thrace. This request was cheerfully granted, and the\neastern empire was supposed to be strengthened by the accession of a\nmillion of valiant subjects, bound both by interest and gratitude to\nprotect its frontiers.\n18. But the avarice of Va'lens and his ministers defeated these\nexpectations; instead of relieving their new subjects, the Roman\ngovernors took advantage of their distress to plunder the remains of\ntheir shattered fortunes, and to reduce their children to slavery.\nMaddened by such oppression, the Goths rose in arms, and spread\ndesolation over the fertile plains of Thrace. Va'lens summoned his\nnephew, Gratian, to his assistance; but before the emperor of the west\narrived, he imprudently engaged the Goths near Adrianople, and with\nthe greater part of his army fell on the field. 19. This was the\nmost disastrous defeat which the Romans had sustained for several\ncenturies; and there was reason to dread that it would encourage a\nrevolt of the Gothic slaves in the eastern provinces, which must\nterminate in the ruin of the empire. To prevent such a catastrophe,\nthe senate of Constantinople ordered a general massacre of these\nhelpless mortals, and their atrocious edict was put into immediate\nexecution. 20. The Goths attempted to besiege both Adrianople and\nConstantinople, but, ignorant of the art of attacking fortified\nplaces, they were easily repelled; but they however succeeded in\nforcing their way through the Thracian mountains, and spread\nthemselves over the provinces to the west, as far as the Adriatic sea\nand the confines of Italy. The march of the emperor Gratian had been\ndelayed by the hostility of the Alleman'ni, whom he subdued in two\nbloody engagements; but as he advanced towards Adrianople, fame\nbrought the news of his uncle's defeat and death, which he found\nhimself unable to revenge.\n21. Feeling that the affairs of the East required the direction of a\nmind more energetic than his own, he determined to invest with the\nimperial purple, Theodo'sius, the son of that general who had rescued\nBritain from the barbarians. How great must have been his confidence\nin the fidelity of his new associate, who had a father's death to\nrevenge; for the elder Theodo'sius, notwithstanding his splendid\nservices, had fallen a victim to the jealous suspicions of the\nemperor!\n22. The reign of Theodo'sius in the East lasted nearly sixteen years,\nand was marked by a display of unusual vigour and ability. He broke\nthe power of the Goths by many severe defeats, and disunited their\nleading tribes by crafty negociations. But the continued drain on the\npopulation, caused by the late destructive wars, compelled him to\nrecruit his forces among the tribes of the barbarians, and a change\nwas thus made in the character and discipline of the Roman army, which\nin a later age produced the most calamitous consequences. The\nexuberant zeal, which led him to persecute the Arians and the pagans,\noccasioned some terrible convulsions, which distracted the empire, and\nwere not quelled without bloodshed. He, however, preserved the\nintegrity of the empire, and not a province was lost during his\nadministration.\n23. The valour which Gratian had displayed in the early part of his\nlife, rendered the indolence and luxury to which he abandoned himself,\nafter the appointment of Theodo'sius, more glaring. The general\ndiscontent of the army induced Max'imus, the governor of Britain, to\nraise the standard of revolt, and, passing over to the continent, he\nwas joined by the greater part of the Gallic legions. When this\nrebellion broke out Gratian was enjoying the sports of the field in\nthe neighbourhood of Paris, and did not discover his danger until it\nwas too late to escape. He attempted to save his life by flight, but\nwas overtaken by the emissaries of the usurper, near Lyons, and\nassassinated. 24. Theodo'sius was induced to make peace with Max'imus,\non condition that the latter should content himself with the\nprefecture of Gaul, and should not invade the territories of the\nyounger Valentin'ian. 25. Ambition hurried the faithless usurper to\nhis ruin; having by perfidy obtained possession of the passes of the\nAlps, he led an overwhelming army into Italy, and Valenti'nian, with\nhis mother Justi'na, were scarcely able, by a hasty flight, to escape\nto the friendly court of Theodo'sius.\n26. The emperor of the East readily embraced the cause of the\nfugitives; the numerous troops of barbarian cavalry which he had taken\ninto pay, enabled him to proceed with a celerity which baffled all\ncalculation. 27. Before Maximus could make any preparations for his\nreception, Theodosius had completely routed his army, and was already\nat the gates of Aquilei'a, where the usurper had taken refuge. The\ngarrison, secretly disinclined to the cause of Maximus, made but a\nfaint resistance, the town was taken, and the unfortunate ruler led as\na captive into the presence of his conqueror, by whom he was delivered\nto the executioner.\nTheodo'sius, having re-established the authority of the youthful\nValentin'ian, returned home. But the emperor of the West did not long\nenjoy his restored throne; he was murdered by Arbogas'tes, his prime\nminister, who dreaded that the abilities displayed by the young prince\nwould enable him, when arrived to maturity, to shake off the authority\nof an unprincipled servant. 28. The assassin was afraid himself to\nassume the purple, but he procured the election of Euge'nius, a man\nnot wholly unworthy of empire. Theodo'sius was called by these events\na second time to Italy; he passed the Alps, but found his further\nprogress impeded by the judicious disposition which Arbogas'tes had\nmade of his forces. Defeated in his first attack, Theodo'sius renewed\nthe engagement on the following day, and being aided by the seasonable\nrevolt of some Italian legions, obtained a complete victory.\nEuge'nius was taken prisoner, and put to death by the soldiers.\nArbogas'tes, after wandering some time in the mountains, lost all hope\nof escape, and terminated his life by suicide.\n29. The empire was thus once more reunited under the government of a\nsingle sovereign; but he was already stricken by the hand of death.\nThe fatigues of the late campaign proved too much for a constitution\nalready broken by the alternate pleasures of the palace and the toils\nof the camp; four months after the defeat of Euge'nius, he died at\nMilan, universally lamented.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What was the character of Julian?\n2. To what disqualifications did he subject the Christians?\n3. How was Julian frustrated in his attempt to weaken the prophetic\nevidence of Christianity?\n4. How was a civil contest between the Pagans and Christians averted?\n5. What success had Julian in the Persian invasion?\n6. How did Julian die?\n7. Who succeeded Julian?\n8. What were the most important occurrences in the reign of Jovian?\n9. What caused Jovian's death?\n10. Who were the successors of Jovian?\n11. How did Valens provoke a revolt?\n12. By what means was the rebellion of Procopius suppressed?\n13. What barbarous nations attacked the Roman empire?\n14. In what state was Britain at this period?\n15. Over what enemies did the emperor triumph?\n16. What occasioned the death of Valentinian?\n17. What caused the introduction of the Goths into the Roman empire?\n18. How did the imprudence of Valens cause his destruction?\n19. What atrocious edict was issued by the senate of Constantinople?\n20. How was Gratian prevented from avenging his uncle's death?\n21. To whom did Gratian entrust the eastern provinces?\n22. How did Theodosius administer the government of the East?\n23. By whom was Gratian deposed and slain?\n24. On what conditions did Theodosius make peace with Maximus?\n25. Were these conditions observed?\n26. How did the war between Theodosius and Maximus terminate?\n27. Did Valentinian long survive his restoration?\n28. How did Theodosius act on the news of Valentinian's murder?\n29. What caused the death of Theodosius?\nFOOTNOTE:\n[1] From this powerful tribe Germany is still called, by the French,\n_Allemagne_.\nCHAPTER XXVI.\nSECTION I.\nFROM THE DEATH OF THEODOSIUS TO THE SUBVERSION OF THE WESTERN EMPIRE.\n  With eye of flame, and voice of fear,\n  He comes, the breaker of the spear,\n  The scorner of the shield!--_Anon._\n1. The memory of their father's virtues protected the feeble youth of\nArca'dius and Hono'rius, the sons of Theodo'sius; by the unanimous\nconsent of mankind, they were saluted emperors of the East and West,\nand between them was made the final and permanent division of the\nRoman empire. Though both parts were never re-united under a single\nruler, they continued for several centuries to be considered as one\nempire, and this opinion produced important consequences even in a\nlate period of the middle ages. The dominions of Arca'dius extended\nfrom the lower Danube to the confines of Ethiopia and Persia;\nincluding Thrace, Greece, Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt. Hono'rius, a\nyouth in his eleventh year, received the nominal sovereignty of Italy,\nAfrica, Gaul, Spain, and Britain, with the provinces of No'ricum,\nPanno'nia, and Dalma'tia. The great and martial prefecture of\nIllyr'icum was divided equally between the two princes, the boundary\nline of whose dominions consequently nearly coincided with that which\nseparates the Austrian states from the Turkish provinces. 2. The\nWestern empire, to the history of which we must now confine ourselves,\nthough equal to the Eastern in extent, wealth, and population, was\nincomparably weaker, and already appeared rapidly tending to decay.\nThe Caledonians in Britain, and the German tribes on the northern\nfrontiers, harassed the imperial troops by frequent incursions; on the\neast, the Goths were hourly becoming more formidable, and the African\nprovinces were threatened by the Moors. 3. The internal state of the\nempire furnished little ground for hope that these various enemies\ncould be subdued; the principle of union no longer existed; the proud\ntitle of Roman citizen was an empty name, Rome itself had ceased to be\nthe metropolis, and was now only protected by the memory of her former\ngreatness.\n4. Stil'icho, a general of superior abilities, and a statesman of\nprofound wisdom, acted as the guardian of Hono'rius. He was descended\nfrom the perfidious race of the Vandals, and unfortunately possessed,\nin an eminent degree, the cunning, treachery, and cruelty that\ncharacterised his nation. The administration of the Eastern empire was\nentrusted by Arca'dius, to Rufi'nus, who possessed all the bad\nqualities of Stil'icho without his redeeming virtues. The ministers of\nthe two empires hated each other most cordially, and each secretly\nsought to remove his powerful rival; but the superior craft of\nStil'icho, and his great influence over the soldiers, made him\nconqueror. 5. He was ordered to lead into the East a fair proportion\nof the army which Theodo'sius had assembled, and in obedience to the\nrequisition, he marched towards Constantinople, at the head of the\nGothic legions. The approach of his great rival with a powerful army\nalarmed the timid Rufi'nus; he obtained a peremptory edict from\nArca'dius, commanding Stil'icho to return to Italy, and the\npromptitude with which the order was obeyed lulled the Eastern\nminister into fatal negligence. The troops arrived near\nConstantinople, under the guidance of Gai'nas a Gothic leader, and the\nemperor, accompanied by his minister, came out to welcome and review\nthe soldiers. As Rufi'nus rode along the ranks, endeavouring to\nconciliate favour by studied courtesy, the wings gradually advanced,\nand enclosed the devoted victim within the fatal circle of their arms.\nBefore he was aware of his danger, Gai'nas gave the signal of death; a\nsoldier rushing forward plunged his sword into his breast, and the\nbleeding corpse fell at the very feet of the alarmed emperor. 6. His\nmangled body was treated with shocking indignity, and his wife and\ndaughter would have shared his fate, had they not placed themselves\nunder the protection of religion, and sought refuge in the sanctuary.\n7. Stil'icho derived no advantage from this crime which he had\nplanned, but not executed; Arca'dius chose for his new minister,\nEutro'pius, one of his servants, and Gai'nas declared himself the\ndetermined enemy of his former general.\n8. The national hatred between the Greeks and the Romans was excited\nby the rival ministers, and thus at a moment when union alone would\ndelay ruin, the subjects of Arca'dius and Hono'rius were induced to\nregard each other not only as foreigners, but as enemies. 9. The\nrevolt of Gil'do, in Africa, under the pretence of transferring his\nallegiance from the Western to the Eastern empire, was sanctioned by\nthe court of Constantinople. Such an event was peculiarly alarming, as\nItaly at the time imported most of the corn necessary to the\nsubsistence of the people, from the African provinces. The vigour of\nStil'icho warded off the danger; he sent a small but veteran army\ninto Africa, before which Gildo's hosts of unarmed and undisciplined\nbarbarians fled almost without a blow. The usurper was taken and\nexecuted; his partizans were persecuted with merciless impolicy.\n10. The Goths, who had remained quiet during the reign of the great\nTheodo'sius, disdained submission to his unwarlike successors; under\nthe pretence that the subsidy prudently paid them by the late emperor\nwas withheld, they raised the standard of revolt, and chose for their\nleader Al'aric, the most formidable enemy that the Romans had hitherto\nencountered. Instead of confining his depredations to the northern\nprovinces, already wasted by frequent incursions, Alaric resolved to\ninvade Greece, where the din of arms had not been heard for centuries.\n11. The barbarian encountered little or no resistance, the memorable\npass of Thermop'yl\u00e6 was abandoned by its garrison; Athens purchased\ninglorious safety by the sacrifice of the greater part of its wealth;\nthe Corinthian isthmus was undefended, and the Goths ravaged without\nopposition the entire Peloponne'sus. Unable to protect themselves, the\nGreeks sought the aid of Stilicho, and that great leader soon sailed\nto their assistance; he inflicted a severe defeat on the Goths, but\nneglected to improve his advantages; and before he could retrieve his\nerror, news arrived that the faithless court of Constantinople had\nconcluded a treaty of peace with Al'aric. Stilicho, of course,\nreturned to Italy; while the eastern emperor, with incomprehensible\nfolly, nominated the Gothic leader, master-general of eastern\nIllyr'icum.\n12. Italy soon excited the ambition and cupidity of Alaric; he\ndetermined to invade that country, and, after surmounting all\nimpediments, appeared with his forces before the imperial city of\nMilan. The feeble Hono'rius would have fled with his effeminate court\ninto some remote corner of Gaul, had not the indignant remonstrances\nof Stil'icho induced him to remain, until he could assemble forces\nsufficient to protect the empire. For this purpose the brave general\nhurried into Gaul, assembled the garrisons from the frontier towns,\nrecalled a legion from Britain, and strengthened his forces by taking\nseveral German tribes into pay. 13. But before Stil'icho could return,\nthe empire had been brought to the very brink of ruin; Hono'rius,\naffrighted by the approach of the Goths, fled from Milan to As'ta, and\nwas there closely besieged. When the town was on the point of\ncapitulating, the emperor was saved by the opportune arrival of\nStil'icho, before whom Alaric retired. He was closely pursued, and the\narmies of the Romans and barbarians came to an engagement nearly on\nthe same ground where Marius had so many years before defeated the\nCimbri. 14. The Goths were completely beaten, and a second victory\nobtained over them near Vero'na seemed to insure the deliverance of\nItaly; but Al'aric was still formidable, and the favourable terms\ngranted him by Stil'icho, proved, that in the opinion of that general,\nthe Gothic king, though defeated, was unconquered.\n15. The late invasion so alarmed the timid Hono'rius, that he resolved\nto fix his residence in some remote and strong fortress; and for this\npurpose he selected Raven'na, an ancient city, but which had not\npreviously obtained notoriety. 16. Before Italy had recovered from the\nterrors of the Gothic invasion, a new host of barbarians rushed from\nthe shores of the Baltic, bore down before them all opposition in\nGermany and Gaul; and had passed the Alps, the Po, and the Apennines,\nere an army could be assembled to resist them. 17. Radagai'sus, the\nleader of these hordes, was a more formidable enemy even than Alaric;\nthe Goths had embraced Christianity, and their fierce passions were in\nsome degree moderated by the mild precepts of the gospel; but\nRadagai'sus was a stranger to any religion but the cruel creed of his\nfathers, which taught that the favour of the gods could only be\npropitiated by human sacrifices. 18. The wealthy city of Florence was\nbesieged by the barbarians, but its bishop, St. Ambrose, by his\nzealous exhortations, and by holding out the hope of divine\nassistance, prevented the garrison from yielding to despair. Stil'icho\na second time earned the title of the deliverer of Italy; Radagai'sus\nwas defeated and slain; but the remains of his forces escaped into\nGaul, and spread desolation over that entire province, from which the\ngarrisons had been withdrawn for the defence of Italy. 19. An usurper,\nnamed Constantine, about this time appeared in Britain, and soon\nestablished his minority both in Gaul and Spain, which had been\nvirtually deserted by the emperor. Al'aric offered his services to\nrepress the rebellion, and to purchase either his assistance or his\nforbearance, a large subsidy was voted to him by the senate, through\nthe influence of Stil'icho. 20. But the reign of this great man was\ndrawing fast to a close; Olym'pius, a miserable favourite, who owed\nhis first elevation to Stil'icho, filled the emperor's mind with\nsuspicion, and a secret resolution to destroy the minister was\nadopted. 21. By exciting the jealousy of the legions against the\nauxiliary forces that Stil'icho employed, Olym'pius was enabled to\ngain the army to his side, and the last great supporter of the Roman\nname fell by the swords of those soldiers whom he had so often led to\nvictory. His friends, including the best and bravest generals of the\narmy, shared his fate; many of them were racked, to extort from them a\nconfession of a conspiracy which never existed; and their silence\nunder the tortures at once proved their own innocence and that of\ntheir leader.\n_Questions for Examination_.\n1. What division was made of the Roman empire between the sons of\nTheodosius?\n2. By what enemies was the Western empire assailed?\n3. What was the internal condition of the state?\n4. To what ministers did the emperors trust the administration?\n5. How did Stilicho prevail over Rufinus?\n6. What instances of savage cruelty were exhibited by the murderers of\nRufinus?\n7. Did Stilicho derive any advantage from the death of his rival?\n8. What rivalry broke out between the subjects of the eastern and\nwestern empire?\n9. How did the revolt of Gildo in Africa end?\n10. Why did the Goths attack the eastern empire?\n11. How did the Gothic invasion of Greece end?\n12. Did the western emperor display any courage when Italy was\ninvaded?\n13. How was Honorius saved from ruin?\n14. Was this defeat destructive of the Gothic power?\n15. Where did Honorius fix the seat of his government?\n16. What new hordes invaded Italy?\n17. Why were the northern barbarians more formidable than the Goths?\n18. How was Florence saved?\n19. On what occasion was a subsidy voted to Alaric?\n20. Who conspired against Stilicho?\n21. In what manner was Stilicho slain?\nSECTION II.\n      Time's immortal garlands twine\n  O'er desolation's mournful shrine.\n  Like youth's embrace around decline.--_Malcolm_.\n1. Al'aric, posted on the confines of Italy, watched the distractions\nof the peninsula with secret joy; he had been unwisely irritated by\nthe delay of the subsidy which had formerly been promised him,\nand when payment was finally refused, he once more led his followers\ninto Italy.\n[Sidenote: A.D. 408.]\n2. The feeble successors of Stil'icho had made no preparations for\nresistance; they retired with their master into the fortress of\nRaven'na, while the Goths, spreading ruin in their march, advanced to\nthe very walls of Rome. Six hundred years had now elapsed since an\nenemy had appeared to threaten THE ETERNAL CITY; a worse foe than\nHannibal was now at their gates, and the citizens were more disabled\nby luxury from attempting a defence, than their ancestors had been by\nthe carnage of Can'n\u00e6.[1] 3. The strength of the walls deterred the\nGoth from attempting a regular siege, but he subjected the city to a\nstrict blockade. Famine, and its usual attendant, pestilence, soon\nbegan to waste the miserable Romans; but even the extreme of misery\ncould not induce them to sally forth, and try their fortune in the\nfield. They purchased the retreat of Al'aric by the sacrifice of their\nwealth; and the victorious Goth formed his winter quarters in Tuscany,\nwhere his army was reinforced by more than forty thousand of his\ncountrymen who had been enslaved by the Romans.\n4. The presence of a victorious leader, with one hundred thousand men,\nin the very centre of Italy, ought to have taught the imperial court\nat Raven'na prudence and moderation; but such was their incredible\nfolly that they not only violated their engagements with Al'aric, but\nadded personal insult to injury. Rome was once more besieged, and as\nAl'aric had seized the provisions at Os'tia, on which the citizens\ndepended for subsistence, the Romans were forced to surrender at\ndiscretion. 5. At the instigation of the Gothic king, At'talus, the\nprefect of the city, was invested with the imperial purple, and\nmeasures were taken to compel Hono'rius to resign in his favour. But\nAt'talus proved utterly unworthy of a throne, and after a brief reign\nwas publicly degraded; the rest of his life was passed in obscurity\nunder the protection of the Goths. 6. A favourable opportunity of\neffecting a peace was now offered, but it was again insolently\nrejected by the wretched Hono'rius, and a herald publicly proclaimed\nthat in consequence of the guilt of Al'aric, he was for ever excluded\nfrom the friendship and alliance of the emperor.\n7. For the third time Al'aric proceeded to revenge the insults of\nthe emperor on the unfortunate city of Rome. The trembling senate made\nsome preparations for defence but they were rendered ineffectual by\nthe treachery of a slave, who betrayed one of the gates to the Gothic\nlegions. That city which had been for ages the mistress of the world,\nbecame the prey of ruthless barbarians, who spared, indeed, the\nchurches and sanctuaries, but placed no other bound to their savage\npassions. For six successive days the Goths revelled in the sack of\nthe city; at the end of that period they followed Al'aric to new\nconquests and new devastations. 8. The entire south of Italy rapidly\nfollowed the fate of the capital, and Al'aric determined to add Sicily\nto the list of his triumphs. Before, however, his army could pass the\nStrait, he was seized with an incurable disease, and his premature\ndeath protracted for a season the existence of the Western empire.[2]\n9. Al'aric was succeeded by his brother Adol'phus, who immediately\ncommenced negociations for a treaty; the peace was cemented by a\nmarriage between the Gothic king and Placid'ia, the sister of the\nemperor. The army of the invaders evacuated Italy, and Adol'phus,\nleading his soldiers into Spain, founded the kingdom of the Visigoths.\n10. Adolphus did not long survive his triumphs; Placid'ia returned to\nher brother's court, and was persuaded to bestow her hand on\nConstan'tius, the general who had suppressed the rebellion of\nConstan'tine. Britain, Spain, and part of Gaul had been now\nirrecoverably lost; Constan'tius, whose abilities might have checked\nthe progress of ruin, died, after the birth of his second child;\nPlacid'ia retired to the court of Constantinople, and at length\nHono'rius, after a disgraceful reign of twenty-eight years, terminated\nhis wretched life.\n11. The next heir to the throne was Valenti'nian, the son of\nPlacid'ia; but John, the late emperor's secretary, took advantage of\nPlacid'ia's absence in the east, to seize on the government. The\ncourt of Constantinople promptly sent a body of troops against the\nusurper, and John was surprised and taken prisoner at Raven'na. 12.\nValenti'nian III., then in the sixth year of his age, was proclaimed\nemperor, and the regency entrusted to his mother, Placid'ia. The two\nbest generals of the age, \u00c6'tius and Bon'iface, were at the head of\nthe army, but, unfortunately, their mutual jealousies led them to\ninvolve the empire in civil war.\n13. Bon'iface was recalled from the government of Africa through the\nintrigues of his rival, and when he hesitated to comply, was\nproclaimed a traitor. Unfortunately the African prefect, unable to\ndepend on his own forces, invited the Vandals to his assistance.\nGen'seric, the king of that nation, passed over from Spain, which his\nbarbarous forces had already wasted, and the African provinces were\nnow subjected to the same calamities that afflicted the rest of the\nempire. 14. Bon'iface became too late sensible of his error; he\nattempted to check the progress of the Vandals, but was defeated, and\nAfrica finally wrested from the empire. He returned to Italy, and was\npardoned by Placid'ia; but the jealous \u00c6'tius led an army to drive\nhis rival from the court; a battle ensued, in which \u00c6'tius was\ndefeated; but Bon'iface died in the arms of victory. Placid'ia was at\nfirst determined to punish \u00c6'tius as a rebel; but his power was too\nformidable, and his abilities too necessary in the new dangers that\nthreatened the empire; he was not only pardoned, but invested with\nmore than his former authority.\n15. The hordes of Huns that had seized on the ancient territory of the\nGoths, had now become united under the ferocious At'tila, whose\ndevastations procured him the formidable name of \"The Scourge of God.\"\nThe Eastern empire, unable to protect itself from his ravages,\npurchased peace by the payment of a yearly tribute, and he directed\nhis forces against the western provinces, which promised richer\nplunder. He was instigated also by secret letters from the princess\nHono'ria, the sister of the emperor, who solicited a matrimonial\nalliance with the barbarous chieftain. \u00c6'tius being supported by the\nking of the Goths, and some other auxiliary forces, attacked the Huns\nin the Catalaunian plains, near the modern city of Chalons in France.\n16. After a fierce engagement the Huns were routed, and it was not\nwithout great difficulty that At'tila effected his retreat. The\nfollowing year he invaded Italy with more success; peace, however, was\npurchased by bestowing on him the hand of the princess Hono'ria,\nwith an immense dowry. Before the marriage could be consummated,\nAt'tila was found, dead in his bed, having burst a blood-vessel during\nthe night.\n17. The brave \u00c6'tius was badly rewarded by the wretched emperor for\nhis eminent services; Valentinian, yielding to his cowardly\nsuspicions, assassinated the general with his own hand. 18. This crime\nwas followed by an injury to Max'imus, an eminent senator, who, eager\nfor revenge, joined in a conspiracy with the friends of \u00c6'tius; they\nattacked the emperor publicly, in the midst of his guards, and slew\nhim.\n19. The twenty years which intervened between the assassination of\nValentinian, and the final destruction of the Western empire, were\nnearly one continued series of intestine revolutions. 20. Even in the\nage of Cicero, when the empire of Rome, seemed likely to last for\never, it was stated by the augurs that the _twelve vultures_ seen by\nRomulus,[3] represented the _twelve centuries_ assigned for the fatal\nperiod of the city. This strange prediction, forgotten in ages of\npeace and prosperity, was recalled to the minds of men when events, at\nthe close of the twelfth century, showed that the prophecy was about\nto be accomplished. It is not, of course, our meaning, that the\nominous flight of birds, the prophetic interpretation, and its almost\nliteral fulfilment, were any thing more than an accidental\ncoincidence; but, it must be confessed, that it was one of the most\nremarkable on record.\n21. Maximus succeeded to the imperial throne, and found that the first\nday of his reign was the last of his happiness. On the death of his\nwife, whose wrongs he had so severely revenged, he endeavoured to\ncompel Eudox'ia, the widow of the murdered emperor, to become his\nspouse. In her indignation at this insulting proposal, Eudox'ia did\nnot hesitate to apply for aid to Gen'seric, king of those Vandals that\nhad seized Africa; and the barbarian king, glad of such a fair\npretence, soon appeared with a powerful fleet in the Tiber. 22.\nMax'imus was murdered in an insurrection, occasioned by these tidings;\nand Gen'seric, advancing to Rome, became master of the city, which\nwas, for fourteen days pillaged by the Moors and Vandals. Eudox'ia had\nreason to lament her imprudent conduct; she was carried off a captive\nby the ferocious Vandal, along with her two daughters, the last\nof the family of the great Theo'dosius and many thousand Romans were\nat the same time dragged into slavery.\n23. The army in Gaul saluted their general, Avi'tus, emperor, and the\nRoman senate and people at first acquiesced in the choice. Rut Avi'tus\nwas soon found unfit to hold the reins of power at a time of so much\ndanger and difficulty; the senate, influenced by Ri'cimer, the\ncommander of the barbarian auxiliaries, voted his deposition. He died\nshortly after, whether by disease or violence is uncertain.\n24. The powerful Ri'cimer now placed upon the throne Ju'lian\nMajo'rian, who united in an eminent degree the qualities of a brave\nsoldier and a wise statesman. The coasts of Italy had long been wasted\nby Gen'seric, king of the Vandals, and in order to put an end to their\nincursions, the emperor determined to attack the pirates in Africa,\nthe seat of their power. The judicious preparations which he made were\ndisconcerted by treason; Ri'cimer, who had hoped to rule the empire\nwhile Majo'rian enjoyed the empty title of monarch, was disappointed\nby the abilities which the new emperor displayed. Some of his\ncreatures betrayed the Roman fleet to the torches of the Vandals; and\nRi'cimer took advantage of the popular discontent occasioned by this\ndisaster, to procure the dethronement of his former friend. Majo'rian\ndied five years after his deposition, and the humble tomb which\ncovered his remains was consecrated by the respect and gratitude of\nsucceeding generations.\n25. Ri'cimer's next choice was more prudent; at his instigation the\nobsequious senate raised to the throne Lib'ius Sev'erus, of whom\nhistory records little more than his elevation, and his death, which\noccurred in the fifth year after his election. During the nominal\nreign of Sev'erus and the interregnum that followed, the entire power\nof the state was possessed by Ri'cimer, whom barbarian descent alone\nprevented from being acknowledged emperor. He was unable, however, to\nprotect Italy from the devastations of the Vandals; and to obtain the\naid of Le'o, the Eastern emperor, he was forced to acknowledge\nAnthe'mius, who was nominated to the throne of the West by the court\nof Constantinople.\n[Illustration: Fall of Constantinople.]\n26. The perfidious Ricimer soon became dissatisfied with Anthe'mius,\nand raised the standard of revolt. Marching to Rome he easily became\nmaster of the city, and Anthe'mius was slain in the tumult. The\nunhappy Romans were again subjected to all the miseries that military\nlicentiousness could inflict; for forty days Ricimer exulted in the\nhavoc and ruin of the imperial city; but a disease, occasioned by\nexcessive intemperance, seized on his vitals, and death freed Rome\nfrom the tyrant.\n27. Olyb'ius, the successor of Anthe'mius, dying after a short reign\nof three months, Glyce'rius, an obscure soldier, assumed the purple at\nRaven'na, but was soon dethroned by Ju'lius Ne'pos, whom the court of\nConstantinople supported. A treaty by which the most faithful\nprovinces of Gaul were yielded to the Visigoths, produced so much\npopular discontent, that Ores'tes, a general of barbarian auxiliaries,\nwas encouraged to revolt, and Ne'pos, unable to defend the throne,\nabdicated, and spent the remainder of his unhonoured life in\nobscurity.\n[Sidenote: A.D. 476.]\n28. Ores'tes placed the crown on the head of his son Rom'ulus\nMomyl'lus, better known in history by the name of Augus'tulus. He was\nthe last of the emperors; before he had enjoyed his elevation many\nmonths, he was dethroned by Odoa'cer, a leader, of the barbarian\ntroops, and banished to a villa that once belonged to the wealthy\nLucul'lus, where he was supported by a pension allowed him by the\nconqueror[4]. 29. Odoa'cer assumed the title of king of Italy, but\nafter a reign of fourteen years, he was forced to yield to the\nsuperior genius of Theod'oric, king of the Ostrogoths, under whose\nprudent government Italy enjoyed the blessings of peace and\nprosperity, to which the country had been long a stranger.\n30. Thus finally fell the Roman empire of the west, while that of the\neast survived a thousand years, notwithstanding its fierce internal\ndissensions, which alone would have sufficed to destroy any other; and\nthe hosts of barbarians by which it was assailed. The almost\nimpregnable situation of its capital, whose fate usually decides that\nof such empires, joined to its despotism, which gave unity to the\nlittle strength it retained, can alone explain a phenomenon\nunparalleled in the annals of history. At length, on the 29th of May,\n1453, Constantinople was taken by Mohammed the Second, and the\ngovernment and religion established by the great Constantine, trampled\nin the dust by the Moslem conquerors.\n_Questions for Examination._\n1. What induced Alaric to invade Italy a second time?\n2. Did the emperor and his ministers make adequate preparations for\nresistance?\n3. How was Alaric induced to raise the siege of Rome?\n4. Why did Alaric besiege Rome a second time?\n5. Whom did the Goths make emperor?\n6. What favourable opportunity of making peace did Honorius lose?\n7. By what means did the Goths become masters of Rome?\n8. Where did Alaric die?\n9. What events marked the reign of Adolphus?\n10. What remarkable persons died nearly at the same time?\n11. What was the fate of the usurper John?\n12. To whom was the government entrusted during Valentinian's\nminority?\n13. By whom were the Vandals invited to Africa?\n14. What was the fate of Boniface?\n15. How were the Huns instigated to invade Italy?\n16. Under what circumstances did Attila die?\n17. Of what great crimes was Valentinian III. guilty?\n18. How was Valentinian slain?\n19. 20. What strange prophecy was now about to be fulfilled?\n21. What terminated the brief reign of Maximus?\n22. Had Eudoxia reason to lament her invitation to the Vandals?\n23. Why was the emperor Avitus dethroned?\n24. How did Ricimer procure the deposition of Majorian?\n25. What changes followed on the death of Majorian?\n26. How did Ricimer terminate his destructive career?\n27. What changes took place after the death of Arthemius?\n28. Who was the last Roman emperor?\n29. What kingdoms were founded on the ruins of the western empire?\n20. How was the existence of the eastern empire prolonged?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] See Chapter xv. Sect. ii.\n[2] The ferocious character of the barbarians was displayed in the\nfuneral of their chief. The unhappy captives were compelled to divert\nthe stream of the river Busenti'nus, which washed the walls of\nConsen'tia, (now Cosenza, in farther Cala'bria, Italy,) in the bed of\nwhich the royal sepulchre was formed: with the body were deposited\nmuch of the wealth, and many of the trophies obtained at Rome. The\nriver was then permitted to return to its accustomed channel, and the\nprisoners employed in the work were inhumanly massacred, to conceal\nthe spot in which the deceased hero was entombed. A beautiful poem on\nthis subject, entitled, The Dirge of Alaric the Visigoth, has\nappeared, which is attributed to the honourable Edward Everett.\n[3] See Chapter i.\n[4] See Chapter xxvii.\nCHAPTER XXVII.\nHISTORICAL NOTICES OF THE DIFFERENT BARBAROUS TRIBES THAT AIDED IN\nDESTROYING THE ROMAN EMPIRE.\n  Lo! from the frozen forests of the north,\n  The sons of slaughter pour in myriads forth!\n  Who shall awake the mighty? Will thy woe,\n  City of thrones, disturb the world below?\n  Call on the dead to hear thee! let thy cries\n  Summon their shadowy legions to arise,\n  Array the ghosts of conquerors on thy walls\n  Barbarians revel in their ancient halls!\n  And their lost children bend the subject knee,\n  Amidst the proud tombs and trophies of the free!--_Anon._\n1. We have already mentioned that the barbarous nations which joined\nin the destruction of the Roman empire, were invited to come within\nits precincts through the weakness or folly of successive sovereigns\nwho recruited their armies from those hardy tribes, in preference to\ntheir own subjects, enervated by luxury and indolence. The grants of\nland, and the rich donations by which the emperors endeavoured to\nsecure the fidelity of these dangerous auxiliaries, encouraged them to\nregard the Roman territories as their prey; and being alternately the\nobjects of lavish extravagance and wanton insult, their power was\nincreased at the same time that their resentment was provoked. 2.\nTowards the close of the year 406, the Vandals, the Suevi, and the\nAlans, first sounded the tocsin of invasion, and their example was\nfollowed by the Goths, the Burgundians, the Alleman'ni, the Franks,\nthe Huns, the Angli, the Saxons, the Heruli, and the Longobar'di, or\nLombards. The chief of these nations, with the exception of the Huns\nwere of German origin. It is not easy in every instance to discover\nthe original seat of these several tribes, and trace their successive\nmigrations, because, being ignorant of letters, they only retained\nsome vague traditions of their wanderings.\nTHE VANDALS AND ALANS\n3. This tribe was, like the Burgundians and Lombards, a branch of the\nancient Sue'vi, and inhabited that part of Germany which lies between\nthe Elbe and the Vis'tula. Being joined by some warriors from\nScandinavia, they advanced towards the south, and established\nthemselves in that part of Da'cia which included the modern province\nof Transylva'nia, and part of Hungary. Being oppressed in their\nnew settlement by the Goths, they sought the protection of Constantine\nthe Great, and obtained from him a grant of lands in Pannonia, on\ncondition of their rendering military service to the Romans. 4. About\nthe commencement of the fifth century, they were joined by the ALANS,\na people originally from mount Cau'casus, and the ancient Scythia: a\nbranch of which having settled in Sarma'tia, near the source of the\nBorysthenes _(Dnieper)_, had advanced as far as the Danube, and there\nmade a formidable stand against the Romans. In their passage through\nGermany, the Vandals and Alans were joined by a portion of the Suevi,\nand the confederate tribes entering Gaul, spread desolation over the\nentire country.\n5. From thence the barbarians passed into Spain and settled in the\nprovince, from them named Vandalu'sia, since corrupted to Andalusia.\nOn the invitation of Count Boniface, the Vandals proceeded from Spain\nto Africa, where they founded a formidable empire. After remaining\nmasters of the western Mediterranean for nearly a century, the eastern\nemperor Justinian sent a formidable force against them under the\ncommand of the celebrated Belisa'rius. This great leader not only\ndestroyed the power of these pirates, but erased the very name of\nVandals from the list of nations.\nTHE GOTHS.\n6. The Goths, the most powerful of these destructive nations, are said\nto have come originally from Scandina'via; but when they first began\nto attract the notice of historians, we find them settled on the banks\nof the Danube. Those who inhabited the districts towards the east, and\nthe Euxine sea, between the Ty'ras _(Dniester)_ the Borys'thenes\n_(Dnieper)_ and the Tan'ais _(Don)_ were called Ostrogoths; the\nVisigoths extended westwards over ancient Dacia, and the regions\nbetween the Ty'ras, the Danube, and the Vistula.\n7. Attacked in these vast countries by the Huns, as has been mentioned\nin a preceding chapter, some were subjugated, and others compelled to\nabandon their habitations. They obtained settlements from the\nemperors, but being unwisely provoked to revolt, they became the most\nformidable enemies of the Romans. After having twice ravaged Italy and\nplundered Rome, they ended their conquests by establishing themselves\nin Gaul and Spain.\n8. The Spanish monarchy of the Visigoths, which in its flourishing\nstate comprised, besides the entire peninsula, the province of\nSeptima'nia (_Langucaoc_) in Gaul, and Mauritania, Tingeta'na,\n(_north-western Africa_) on the opposite coasts of the Mediterranean,\nlasted from the middle of the fifth to the commencement of the eighth\ncentury, when it was overthrown by the Moors. 9. The Thuringians, whom\nwe find established in the heart of Germany, in the middle of the\nfifth century, appear to have been a branch of the Visigoths.\nTHE FRANKS.\n10. A number of petty German tribes having entered into a confederacy\nto maintain their mutual independence, took the name of Franks, or\nFreemen. The tribes which thus associated, principally inhabited the\ndistricts lying between the Rhine and the Weser, including the greater\npart of Holland and Westphalia. 11. In the middle of the third\ncentury, they invaded Gaul, but were defeated by Aurelian, who\nafterwards became emperor. In the fourth, and towards the beginning of\nthe fifth century, they permanently established themselves as a\nnation, and gave the name of _Francia_, or _France_, to the provinces\nlying between the Rhine, the Weser, the Maine, and the Elbe; but about\nthe sixth century that name was transferred to ancient Gaul, when it\nwas conquered by the Franks.\nTHE ALLEMANNI.\n12. The Alleman'ni were another confederation of German tribes, which\ntook its name from including a great variety of nations. It is\nscarcely necessary to remark, that the name is compounded of the words\n_all_ and _man_ which still continue unchanged in our language. Their\nterritories extended between the Danube, the Rhine, and the Maine, and\nthey rendered themselves formidable to the Romans by their frequent\ninroads into Gaul and Italy during the third and fourth centuries.\nTHE SAXONS AND ANGLES.\n13. The Saxons began to be conspicuous about the close of the second\ncentury. They were then settled beyond the Elbe, in modern Holstein;\nhaving for their neighbours the ANGLI, or ANGLES, inhabiting Sleswick.\nThese nations were early distinguished as pirates, and their\nplundering expeditions kept the shores of western Europe in constant\nalarm. Being invited by the Britons to assist in repelling the\ninvasions of the Picts, they subdued the southern part of the island,\nwhich has ever since retained the name of England, from its conquerors\nthe An'gli. When the Franks penetrated into Gaul, the Saxons passed\nthe Elbe, and seizing on the vacated territory, gave the name of\nSaxony to ancient France.\nTHE HUNS.\n14. The Huns were the most ferocious and sanguinary of the barbarians.\nThey seem to have been originally Kalmuck or Mongolian Tartars, and,\nduring the period of their supremacy, seem never to have laid aside\nthe savage customs which they brought from their native deserts. 15.\nAfter having expelled the Goths from the banks of the Danube, they\nfell upon the eastern empire, and compelled the court of\nConstantinople to pay them tribute. They then, under the guidance of\nAttila, invaded Italy, and after devastating the peninsula, captured\nand plundered Rome. After the death of Attila, the Huns were broken up\ninto a number of petty states, which maintained their independence\nuntil the close of the eighth century, when they were subdued by\nCharlemagne.\nTHE BURGUNDIANS.\n16. The Burgundians were originally inhabitants of the countries\nsituated between the Oder and the Vistula. They followed nearly the\ntrack of the Visigoths, and at the beginning of the fifth century had\nestablished themselves on the Upper Rhine and in Switzerland. On the\ndissolution of the empire, they seized on that part of Gaul, which\nfrom them retains the name of Burgundy.\nTHE LOMBARDS, THE GEPID\u00c6, AND THE AVARS.\n17. The Lombards, more properly called Longo-bardi, from the length of\ntheir beards, are supposed by some to have been a branch of the\nSue'vi, and by others to have migrated from Scandina'via. They joined\nwith the Avars, a fierce Asiatic people, in attacking the Gep'id\u00e6,\nthen in possession of that part of Dacia lying on the left bank of the\nDanube, but who are supposed to have come thither from some more\nnorthern country. The Avars and Lombards triumphed, but the former\nsoon turned their arms against their allies, and compelled them to\nseek new habitations. 18. About the middle of the sixth century they\ninvaded Italy, which the Eastern emperors had just before wrested\nfrom the Turks, and made themselves masters of the northern part;\nwhich has since borne the name of Lombardy.\nTHE SLA'VI.\n19. These were the last of the barbarian hordes, and are not mentioned\nby any author before the sixth century. They first appeared in the\neast of Europe, and spreading themselves over the central provinces,\noccupied the greater part of the countries that now constitute the\ndominions of Austria. The Sla'vi warred chiefly against the Eastern\nempire, and their contest with the Grecian forces on the Danube, in\nthe sixth and seventh centuries, shook the throne of Constantinople.\nThe VENE'DI and the AN'TES were tribes of the Slavi.\nTHE NORMANS.\n20. The piratical inhabitants of Norway and Denmark were called by the\nFranks, Normans, or, Men of the North; in Ireland they were named\nOstmen, or, Men of the East. Their depredations began to attract\nnotice early in the seventh century, but did not become formidable\nbefore the ninth: when they obtained possession of that part of France\nnow called Normandy. In the two following centuries they wrested\nEngland from the Saxons, and established kingdoms in Sicily and\nsouthern Italy.\nTHE BULGARIANS.\n21. The Bulgarians were of Scythian or Tartar origin, and became\nformidable to the Eastern empire in the latter part of the seventh\ncentury. In the beginning of the ninth, Cruni'nus, their king,\nadvanced to the gates of Constantinople; but the city proving too\nstrong, he seized Adrianople, and returned home loaded with booty. The\nsuccessors of Cruni'nus did not inherit his abilities, and the\nBulgarians soon sunk into comparative insignificance.\nTHE SARACENS MOORS AND TURKS.\n22. In concluding this chapter, it may be proper to give some account\nof the subverters of the Eastern empire, and of their irruption into\nEurope. The Arabs, called in the middle ages Saracens, are supposed to\nbe descended from Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar. During all\nthe changes of dynasties and empires in the eastern and western\nworld, they retained their independence, though almost constantly at\nwar with the surrounding states. \"Their hand was against every man,\nand every man's hand was against them.\" In the beginning of the\nseventh century, Mohammed, a native of Mecca, descended from a noble\nfamily, laid claim to the title of a prophet, and being aided by a\nrenegade Christian, formed a religious system, which, after\nencountering great opposition, was finally adopted by the principal\ntribes of Arabia. The successors of Mohammed, called Caliphs, resolved\nto propagate the new religion by the sword, and conquered an empire,\nmore extensive than that of the Romans had been. The entire of central\nand southern Asia, including Persia, India, and the provinces of the\nEastern empire owned their sway; northern Africa was soon after\nsubdued, and in the beginning of the eighth century, the Saracenic\nMoors established their dominion in Spain. 23. It is probable, even,\nthat all Europe would have submitted to their yoke, if the French\nhero, Charles Martel,[1] had not arrested their victorious career, and\ndefeated their numerous armies on the plains of _Poitiers_, A.D.\n24. The empire of the Caliphs soon declined from its original\nsplendour, and its ruin finally proceeded from the same cause that\nproduced the downfall of Rome, the employment of barbarian\nmercenaries. The soldiers levied by the Caliphs, were selected from\nthe Tartar tribes that had embraced the religion of Mohammed; they\nwere called Turcomans or Turks, from Turkistan, the proper name of\nwestern Tartary. These brave, but ferocious warriors, soon wrested the\nsceptre from the feeble caliphs, and completed the conquest of western\nAsia. The crusades for a time delayed the fate of the Greek empire,\nbut finally the Turks crossed the Hellespont, and having taken\nConstantinople, (A.D. 1453,) established their cruel despotism over\nthe fairest portion of Europe.\n_Questions for Examination._\n1. How were the barbarians first brought into the Roman empire?\n2. When did the first great movement of the Northern tribes take\nplace?\n3. Where did the Vandals first settle?\n4. From whence did the Alans come?\n5. In what countries did the Vandals establish their power?\n6. Where did we first find the Goths settled?\n7. To what countries did the Goths remove?\n8. How long did the kingdom of the Visigoths continue?\n9. What branch of the Goths settled in Germany?\n10. From what did the Franks derive their name?\n11. Which was the ancient, and which the modern France?\n12. What is the history of the Allemanni?\n13. In what countries did the Saxons and Angles settle?\n14. Whence did the Huns come?\n15. How far did their ravages extend?\n16. What territory did the Burgundians seize?\n17. How did the alliance between the Lombards and Avars injure the\nformer people?\n18. Where was the kingdom of the Lombards established?\n19. What is told respecting the Slavi?\n20. Who were the Normans?\n21. What is the history of the Bulgarians?\n22. What great conquests were achieved by the Arabs under Mohammed and\nhis successors?\n23. By whom was the Saracenic career of victory checked?\n24. How was the empire of the Turks established?\nFOOTNOTES:\n[1] See Taylor's History of France.\n[2] Here also the heroic Black Prince took John, king of France,\nprisoner. See Taylor's France.\nCHAPTER XXVIII.\nTHE PROGRESS OF CHRISTIANITY.\n  Waft, waft, ye winds, his story,\n    And you, ye oceans, roll,\n  Till, like a sea of glory,\n    It spreads from pole to pole.--_Heber_.\n1. Judea became a Roman province some years before the birth of Jesus\nChrist, and the Jews, who had hitherto been conspicuous for their\nattachment to their native land, were induced, by the spirit of trade,\nto spread themselves over the empire. 2. The exclusive nature of their\nreligion kept them in a marked state of separation from their fellow\nsubjects; the worshipper of Osi'ris scrupled not to offer sacrifices\nto Jupiter; the Persian, the Indian, and the German, bowed before the\nRoman altars; but the sons of Abraham refused to give the glory of\ntheir God to graven images, and were regarded by their idolatrous\nneighbours at first with surprise, and afterwards with contempt. 3.\nThe appearance of the Messiah in Palestine, and the miraculous\ncircumstances of his life, death, and resurrection, did not fill the\nworld with their fame, because his preaching was principally addressed\nto his countrymen, the first object of his mission being \"the lost\nsheep of the house of Israel.\"\n4. The disciples, after their Divine Master was taken from them,\nproceeded to fulfil his last commandments, by preaching the gospel \"to\nevery nation,\" and an opportunity of spreading its blessings was\nafforded by Jewish synagogues having been previously established in\nmost of the great cities through the empire. Independent of the\nsustaining providence of its Almighty Author, there were many\ncircumstances that facilitated the progress and prepared the way for\nthe final triumph of Christianity. 5. In the first place, Paganism had\nlost its influence; men secretly laughed at the fabulous legends about\nJupiter and Rom'ulus, the sacrifices had become idle forms, and the\nprocessions a useless mockery. Philosophers had not scrupled to cover\nwith ridicule the whole system of Heathenism, and there were not a few\nwho professed themselves Atheists. 6. Without some system of religion\nsociety cannot exist; for a sanction stronger than human laws is\nnecessary to restrain the violence of passion and ardent desires. The\ninnate feeling that our existence is not dependent on our mortal\nframe, disposes men to search for some information respecting a future\nstate; the heathen system was at once obscure and absurd; the\nphilosophers avowedly spoke from conjecture; but by the Gospel, \"life\nand immortality were brought to light.\" 7. The influence of a purer\nfaith was discernible in the lives and actions of the first\nChristians; they lived in an age of unparalleled iniquity and\ndebauchery, yet they kept themselves \"unspotted from the world;\" those\nwho were once conspicuous for violence, licentiousness, and crime,\nbecame, when they joined the new sect, humble, temperate, chaste, and\nvirtuous; the persons who witnessed such instances of reformation were\nnaturally anxious to learn something of the means by which so great a\nchange had been effected. 8. A fourth cause was, that Christianity\noffered the blessings of salvation to men of every class; it was its\nmost marked feature, that \"to the poor the gospel was preached,\" and\nthe wretch who dared not come into the pagan temple, because he had no\nrich offering to lay upon the altar, was ready to obey the call of him\nwho offered pardon and love \"without money and without price.\"\n9. In the course of the first century of the Christian era churches\nwere established in the principal cities of the empire, but more\nespecially in Asia Minor; and the progress of Christianity, which had\nbeen at first disregarded, began to attract the notice of the ruling\npowers. Too indolent to investigate the claims of Christianity,\nand by no means pleased with a system which condemned their vices, the\nRoman rulers viewed the rapid progress of the new religion with\nundisguised alarm. The union of the sacerdotal and magisterial\ncharacter in the Roman policy, added personal interest to the motives\nthat urged them to crush this rising sect; and the relentless Ne'ro at\nlength kindled the torch of persecution. 10. But \"the blood of the\nmartyrs proved the seed of the Church;\" the constancy with which they\nsupported the most inhuman tortures, their devotion and firm reliance\non their God in the moments of mortal agony, increased the number of\nconverts to a religion which could work such a moral miracle.\nPersecution also united the Christians more closely together, and when\nthe reign of terror ended with the death of Nero, it was found that\nChristianity had derived additional strength from the means taken to\ninsure its destruction.\n11. The successive persecutions inflicted by the policy or the bigotry\nof the following emperors had precisely the same results; and at\nlength the Christians had acquired such strength, that their aid, as a\nbody, became a matter of importance in contests for the empire.\n12. The mild administration of Constantino, while he was only prefect\nof Gaul, the protection which he afforded to the Christians, and the\nfavour that he showed to their religion, induced them to aid him with\nall their might in his struggle for the throne. Brought thus into\ncontact with the professors of the new doctrine, Constantine was\ninduced to examine the foundations of its high claims--perfect\nconviction was the result, and on his accession to the imperial\npurple, the Christian church was legally established. 13. During the\nreign of the apostate Julian, Christianity was discouraged, but not\npersecuted; his premature death, however, removed the last impediment\nto its final triumph, which was consummated in the reign of the great\nTheodo'sius. 14. Under that emperor the last vestiges of the pagan\nworship were destroyed, its idols overthrown, its altars demolished,\nand its temples closed. The world had become ripe for such a\nrevolution, as the temples had been long before almost universally\nabandoned.\n15. Since that period Christianity has prevailed in Europe, and formed\nthe great bond of the social happiness and the great source of the\nintellectual eminence enjoyed in that quarter of the globe. Let us\nhope that the exertions now made to diffuse its blessings over\nthe benighted portions of the earth will prove successful, and that\n\"peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety\" will\nprevail from pole to pole.\n_Questions for Examination._\n1. What was the state of the Jews at the coming of Christ?\n2. How were the Jews preserved separate from other nations?\n3. What probable cause may be assigned for the neglect of the\nChristian miracles?\n4. How did the dispersion of the Jews afford an opportunity for the\npropagation of Christianity?\n5. What was the state of paganism when Christianity was first\npreached?\n6. What great mystery is brought to light by the gospel?\n7. How did the lives of the first Christians contribute to the rapid\nprogress of Christianity?\n8. To what class of people was the gospel more particularly addressed?\n9. What induced the rulers of the Roman empire to persecute\nChristianity?\n10. Was Christianity crushed by persecution?\n11. What proves the great strength early acquired by Christians?\n12. By whom was Christianity legally established?\n13. Under whose government did it receive a slight check?\n14. When were the last vestiges of paganism abolished?\n15. What have been the political effects of the establishment of\nChristianity?\n  1230 (Supposed) Pelasgic migration to Italy.\n  1184 (Supposed) Arrival of \u00c6neas in Latium.\n  753  (Supposed) foundation of the city of Rome.\n  750  Union of the Romans and Sabines.\n  716  Death of Romulus.\n  714  Virtuous Administration of Numa.\n  671  Accession of Tullus Hostilius.\n  665  Duel between the Horatii and Curiatii--Destruction of Alba.\n  639  Accession of Ancus Martius.\n  616  {---- ---- Tarquinius Priscus.\n       {The Augurs acquire importance in the state.\n  578  {Death of Tarquinius Priscus.\n       {Accession of Servius Tullius.\n       {The establishment of the Centuries.\n  534  {Murder of Servius Tullius.\n       {Accession of Tarquinius Superbus.\n       {Gabii taken by stratagem.\n  509  {Expulsion of Tarquinius Superbus.\n       {Establishment of Consuls.\n  508  {Conspiracy for the restoration of the Tarquinii.\n       {Death of Brutus.\n  507  War with Porsenna.\n  498  Lartius the first Dictator created.\n  493  {The Roman populace retire to Mons Sacer.\n       {Tribunes of the people appointed.\n  487  {Exile of Coriolanus.\n       {Rome besieged by Coriolanus.\n       {His retreat and death.\n  484  Condemnation and death of Cassius.\n  459  First Dictatorship of Cincinnatus.\n  457  Second ditto.\n  454  The Romans send to Athens for Solon's laws.\n  451  The laws of the Twelve Tables--The Decemviri.\n  449  The expulsion of the Decemviri.\n  443  Military Tribunes chosen instead of Consuls.\n  442  The Censorship instituted.\n  439  M\u00e6lius murdered by Ahala.\n  406  The siege of Veii begun.\n  396  Veii taken by Camillus.\n  391  The Gauls invade Italy.\n  390  {The battle of Allia. Rome sacked by the Gauls.\n       {The Gauls defeated by Camillus.\n  383  Manlius put to death on a charge of treason.\n  361  Curtius devotes himself in the Forum.\n  342  Beginning of the Samnite war.\n  339  {Manlius puts his son to death for disobedience.\n       {Decius devotes himself for his country.\n  320  A Roman army forced to surrender to the Samnites in the\n         Caudine Forks.\n  280  Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, invades Italy.\n  272  ---- finally defeated by Curius Dentatus.\n  270  Tarentum surrendered to the Romans.\n  264  Commencement of the first Punic war.\n  260  The Carthaginian fleet defeated by Duilius.\n  256  Regulus defeated by Xantippus.\n  252  Regulus sent to negociate peace. His death.\n  241  End of the first Punic war.\n  234  {The temple of Janus shut, and Rome at peace, for\n          the first time since the death of Numa.\n       {Literature cultivated at Rome.\n  229  War with the Illyrians.\n  225  {The Gauls invade Italy a second time.\n       {---- ---- are defeated by Marcellus, who\n       gains the spolia opima.\n  218  {The second Punic war begins.\n       {Hanniball invades Italy.\n       {Battle of the Ticenus.\n  217  ---- of the lake Thrasymene.\n  214  The Romans begin an auxiliary war against Philip of Macedon.\n  212  Syracuse taken by Marcellus.\n  207  Asdrubal defeated and slain.\n  202  Battle of Zama and end of the second Punic war.\n  197  Philip conquered by the Romans.\n  192  The Romans wage war against Antiochus.\n  189  Death of Hannibal.\n  171  Commencement of the second Macedonian war.\n  168  Macedon became a Roman province.\n  149  The third Punic war begins.\n  147  Carthage destroyed by Scipio, and Corinth by Munimius.\n  132  Sedition of Trius Gracchus.\n  126  Revolt of the slaves in Sicily.\n  122  Seditions of Caius Gracchus.\n  121  Murder of Caius Gracchus. Persecution of the popular party.\n  111  The Jugurthine war begins, and lasts five years.\n  91   The social war begins, and lasts three years.\n  89   The Mithridatic war begins, and lasts twenty-six years.\n  88   The civil war between Marius and Sylla.\n  86   {Cruelties of Marius.\n       {Death of Marius.\n  82   Sylla created dictator.\n  78   Death of Sylla.\n  73   The insurrection of the slaves under Spartacus  _note_.\n  66   Mithridates conquered by Pompey.\n  63   Catiline's conspiracy detected.\n  60   The first Triumvirate. C\u00e6sar, Pompey, and Crassus.\n  55   C\u00e6sar invades Britain.\n  53   Crassus slain in Parthia.\n  50   Civil war between C\u00e6sar and Pompey.\n  48   {The battle of Pharsalia.\n       {Death of Pompey.\n  47   Alexandria taken by C\u00e6sar.\n  46   {The war in Africa.\n       {Death of Cato.\n  45   {The war in Spain.\n       {The battle of Munda.\n  44   C\u00e6sar murdered in the senate house.\n  43   {Formation of the second Triumvirate--Antony.\n          Octavius (Augustus) and Lepidus.\n       {The Proscription.  The murder of Cicero.\n  42   The battle of Philippi.\n  32   Octavius (Augustus) and Antony prepare for war.\n  31   The battle of Actium.\n  30   {The death of Antony.\n       {Alexandria surrendered.\n       {Death of Cleopatra.\n  27   The title of Augustus given to Octavius.\n  4    Birth of JESUS CHRIST (four years before the vulgar era).\n  14   Death of Augustus.\n  19   Death of Germanicus by poison.\n  26   The retreat of Trius to Capre\u00e6.\n  31   Disgrace and downfall of Sejanus.\n  33   The Crucifixion.\n  37   The Accession of Caligula.\n  41   Caligula murdered by Cherea.\n  43   Claudius invades Britain.\n  51   Caractacus carried captive to Rome.\n  54   Nero succeeds Claudius.\n  59   Nero murders his mother.\n  64   First general persecution of the Christians.\n  65   Seneca, Lucan, and others, executed for conspiracy.\n  68   Suicide of Nero. Accession of Galba.\n  69   {Death of Galba.\n       {Defeat and death of Otho.\n       {Defeat and death of Vitellius. Accession of Vespasian.\n  70   Siege and capture of Jerusalem.\n  79   {Death of Vespasian. Accession of Titus.\n       {Eruption of Vesuvius: destruction of Herculaneum.\n  81   Death of Titus. Accession of Domitian.\n  88   The Dacian war.\n  96   {Assassination of Domitian.\n       {Accession of Nerva.\n  98   Death of Nerva. Accession of Trajan.\n  107  Third general persecution of the Christians.\n  117  Death of Trajan. Accession of Adrian.\n  121  A wall to restrain the incursions of the Picts\n        and Scots erected in Britain by Adrian.\n  131  Great rebellion of the Jews.\n  136  Death of Adrian. Accession of Antoninus Pius.\n  161  Accession of Marcus Aurelius, and Lucius Verus.\n  162  The Parthian war.\n  169  The war with the Marcomanni.\n  180  {Death of Marcus Aurelius.\n       {Accession of Commodus.\n  192  {Commodus murdered by Marcia and L\u00e6tus.\n       {Assassination of Pertinax.\n  200  {Roman empire offered for sale.\n       {Severus subdues the Parthians.\n  211  Death of Severus at York. Accession of Caracalla and Geta.\n  217  Assassination of Caracalla.\n  218  Accession of Heliogabalus.\n  222  {His miserable death.\n       {Accession of Alexander Severus.\n  235  Death of Alexander. Maximin elected emperor.\n  236  Assassination of Maximin.\n  238  Accession of Gordian.\n  244  His murder by Philip.\n  248  Philip killed by his soldiers: succeeded by Decius.\n  251  Decius slain in an ambuscade: succeeded by Gallus.\n  254  Death of Gallus: a disputed succession.\n  270  Accession of Aurelian.\n  275  Brief reign of Tacitus.\n  282  Assassination of the emperor Probus.\n  284  Accession of Dioclesian.\n  304  The reign of Constantius and Galerius.\n  312  Victory of Constantino over Maxentius.\n  319  Favour showed to the Christians.\n  324  Defeat of Licinius.\n  325  Legal establishment of Christianity.\n  328  The seat of government removed from Rome to\n        Byzantium, which city from thenceforward takes\n        the name of Constantinople, from the\n        emperor Constantine.\n  337  {Death of Constantine, and division of\n         the empire among his sons.\n       {Destruction of the Flavian Family.\n  338  War between Constantius and Sapor.\n  340  Constantine the younger defeated and slain by his\n        brother Constans.\n  350  Constans killed by Magnentius.\n  351  Magnentius totally defeated at the fatal battle of Mursa.\n  354  Gallas put to death by Constantius.\n  360  The civil war between Constantius and Julian\n         prevented by the death of the former.\n  362  Julian's attempt to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem defeated.\n  363  Death of Julian in the Persian war. Brief reign of Jovian.\n  364  The empire divided between Valenlinian and Valens.\n  376  {The Goths permitted to settle in Thrace.\n       {First appearance of the Huns in Europe.\n  378  The emperor Valens defeated by the Goths at Adrianople.\n  379  Theodosius becomes emperor of the East.\n  388  The usurper Maximus defeated and slain.\n  392  Reunion of the Eastern and Western empires, under Theodosius.\n  395  Death of Theodosius, and final separation of the\n        Eastern and Western empires.\n  398  Revolt of Gildo in Africa.\n  405  Stilicho obtains two victories over the Goths.\n  406  The Vandals and Alans settle in Gaul.\n  408  Alaric, king of the Goths, besieges Rome.\n  410  Rome taken and plundered by the Goths.\n  412  Beginning of the Vandal kingdom in Spain.\n  415  Commencement of the kingdom of the Visigoths.\n  423  Death of Honorius. Accession of Valentinian.\n  430  The Vandals invited to Africa by count Boniface.\n  447  The Huns under the guidance of Attila, ravage Europe.\n  449  The Britons, deserted by the Romans, invite the Sarons and Angles\n         to their assistance.\n  455  Rome taken and plundered by Genseric, the king of the African\n         Vandals.\n  476  Augustulus, the last emperor of the West deposed, Odoacer takes\n         the title of king of Italy.\n  453  Subversion of the Eastern empire.\n  THE END\nMITCHELL'S GEOGRAPHICAL SERIES.\n[Illustration]\nTHOMAS, COWPERTHWAIT & CO.,\nPUBLISH\nMITCHELL'S AMERICAN SYSTEM\nOF\nSTANDARD SCHOOL GEOGRAPHY,\nIN A SERIES,\nADAPTED TO THE PROGRESSIVELY DEVELOPING CAPACITIES OF YOUTH.\nThe series comprise the following works, viz.\nMITCHELL'S PRIMARY GEOGRAPHY. MITCHELL'S INTERMEDIATE GEOGRAPHY.\nMITCHELL'S SCHOOL GEOGRAPHY AND ATLAS. MITCHELL'S ATLAS OF OUTLINE MAPS.\nMITCHELL'S KEY TO THE STUDY OF THE MAPS. MITCHELL'S ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY\nAND ATLAS. MITCHELL'S ANCIENT ATLAS. MITCHELL'S BIBLICAL AND\nSABBATH-SCHOOL GEOGRAPHY. MITCHELL'S HIGH-SCHOOL GEOGRAPHY.\n_(Preparing.)_ MITCHELL'S VIEW OF THE HEAVENS.\nONE VOLUME QUARTO, HANDSOMELY ILLUSTRATED. _(Preparing.)_\nMITCHELL'S GEOGRAPHICAL SERIES.\nThere are no works published in this country that are more in demand, or\nthat have a wider circulation than those of Mr. Mitchell. There are\nupwards of 350,000 copies of his geographical works sold annually, and\nmore than 250 workmen are constantly employed upon them. The\narrangements of the publishers are such, that they are enabled to give\nthe most correct and latest geographical discoveries and improvements of\nany firm in the United States. They publish the only full series of\ngeographics in the country, and having in constant employ a strong\ngeographical force of map engravers, &c., and being very largely engaged\nin the publication of the various State and other maps, they are enabled\nto present the school series correct, both in maps and matter, up to the\ndate of publication.\nDESCRIPTION OF THE SERIES\nMITCHELL'S PRIMARY GEOGRAPHY.\nSECOND REVISED EDITION.\nAN EASY INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GEOGRAPHY.\nDESIGNED FOR THE INSTRUCTION OF CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES.\nIllustrated by 120 Engravings and 14 coloured Maps.\nBY S. AUGUSTUS MITCHELL.\nThe publishers have embraced the opportunity of a new revision of the\nwork to augment its size, so that the book is now a third larger than\nany of the preceding editions.\nThe Maps for the present edition have all been redrawn and re-engraved.\nThey are on a much larger scale, more distinct, and fuller in\ninformation than those of the previous editions, or any similar work\nextant. The true boundaries of all the Western States and Territories\nare exhibited, California, Utah, &c., and proper attention given to all\npolitical changes up to the present time.\nMITCHELL'S GEOGRAPHICAL SERIES.\n[Illustration]\nMITCHELL'S INTERMEDIATE OR SECONDARY GEOGRAPHY.\nA SYSTEM OF MODERN GEOGRAPHY;\nComprising a Description of the present state of the World, and its five\ngreat Divisions,\nAMERICA, EUROPE, ASIA, AFRICA, AND OCEANICA,\nWITH THEIR SEVERAL EMPIRES, KINGDOMS, STATES, TERRITORIES, ETC.\nILLUSTRATED BY FORTY MAPS AND NUMEROUS WOOD-CUT ENGRAVINGS.\nDesigned for the instruction of Youth in Schools and Families.\nBY S. AUGUSTUS MITCHELL.\nMitchell's Intermediate Geography, the last published book of the\nseries, has been before the public but a short time, yet it has been\nextensively introduced and is now largely used in public and private\nschools throughout the Union. It has been adopted independently, or in\nconnection with other numbers of the series, by the Public School\nDirectors of the cities of\n  New York,    Philadelphia,   Baltimore,\n  Washington,  St. Louis,      Albany,\n  Rochester,   Cleveland,      Syracuse,\n  Utica,       Schenectady,    Oswego, &c. &c.\nBy numerous county boards in the various States, and a great number of\nthe towns and villages of the whole country.\nMITCHELL'S GEOGRAPHICAL SERIES.\nThis work is designed to occupy a medium place between the Author's\nPrimary, and the well known School Geography and Atlas, of which last\nbook it contains about two-thirds of the amount of matter.\nLike the Primary Geography, the Map Questions are upon the same or\nopposite page to the map itself, so that in no case have the leaves to\nbe turned to find an answer to the question.\nSuperior excellence is claimed for this book, on account of the natural\nand progressive order of the lessons,--of the conciseness and\ntruthfulnes of the descriptive matter,--of the number, correctness, and\nuniform excellence of the Maps,--from the fact that the book is\nfaithfully revised as often as political changes in our own or other\ncountries require it,--that the pronunciations of the difficult\ngeographical names are given,--and finally, on account of the superior\nmechanical execution of the work.\nAs a specimen of numerous recommendations the publishers have received,\nthey submit the following:\n_Copy of a petition of the Public School Teachers of the City of Troy,\nNew York, addressed to the Board of Education of said city._\nGENTLEMEN,--Having examined Mitchell's Intermediate and Primary\nGeographies, and faithfully compared them with Smith's, in regard to\naccuracy of definitions, reliability of topography, and faithfulness of\nthe descriptive part, we, the undersigned, teachers, are respectively of\nopinion that the interests of your public schools require that the\nformer geographies be substituted, to be used in our schools in the room\nof the latter, and we respectfully request that this change may be made.\n_Signed,_\n    EDWARD WILSON, JR.\n    HENRY ROBBINS,\n    HORACE BACON,\n    P.W. ROBERTSON,\n    N.H. BENSON,\n    P.S. CRANDALL,\n    JNO. PRENTICE,\n    J.A. PETERS,\n    ROXANA CARMICHAEL,\n    RICHARD DAVIDSON.\n  _Principals of the Public Schools of the City of Troy._\nHISTORICAL SERIES.\n[Illustration]\nPINNOCK'S HISTORICAL SERIES.\nPINNOCK'S ENGLAND.\nREVISED EDITION.\nPINNOCK'S IMPROVED EDITION OF DR. GOLDSMITH'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND,\nFROM THE INVASION OF JULIUS C\u00c6SAR\nTO THE DEATH OF GEORGE THE II.\nWITH A CONTINUATION TO THE YEAR 1845:\nWITH QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION AT THE END OF EACH SECTION;\nBESIDES A VARIETY OF VALUABLE INFORMATION ADDED THROUGHOUT THE WORK,\nConsisting of Tables of Contemporary Sovereigns and eminent Persons,\ncopious Explanatory Notes, Remarks on the Politics, Manners and\nLiterature of the Age, and an Outline of the Constitution.\nILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS.\nFORTY-FIFTH AMERICAN, CORRECTED AND REVISED FROM THE THIRTY-FIFTH\nENGLISH EDITION.\nBY W.C. TAYLOR, LL.D., OF TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN,\nAuthor of a Manual of Ancient and Modern History, &c. &c.\nHISTORICAL SERIES.\nPINNOCK'S FRANCE,\nHISTORY OF FRANCE AND NORMANDY, FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE\nREVOLUTION OF 1848,\nWITH QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION AT THE END OF EACH SECTION,\nBY W.C. TAYLOR, LL.D., OF TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN,\nAuthor of a Manual of Ancient and Modern History, &c. &c., and Editor of\nPinnock's Improved editions of Goldsmith's Greece, Rome, and England.\nILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS.\nFIRST AMERICAN FROM THE THIRD ENGLISH EDITION.\nPINNOCK'S ROME,\nREVISED EDITION,\nPINNOCK'S IMPROVED EDITION OF DR. GOLDSMITH'S HISTORY OF ROME,\nTO WHICH IS PREFIXED\nAN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF ROMAN HISTORY,\nAND A GREAT VARIETY OF INFORMATION THROUGHOUT THE WORK,\nON THE MANNERS, INSTITUTIONS, AND ANTIQUITIES OF THE ROMANS;\nWITH QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION AT THE END OF EACH SECTION.\nTWENTY-FIFTH AMERICAN, FROM THE NINETEENTH LONDON EDITION, IMPROVED\nBY W.C. TAYLOR, LL.D.,\nWITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS BY ATHERTON AND OTHERS.\nPINNOCK'S GREECE,\nREVISED EDITION,\nPINNOCK'S IMPROVED EDITION OF DR. GOLDSMITH'S HISTORY OF GREECE,\nREVISED, CORRECTED, AND VERY CONSIDERABLY ENLARGED, BY THE ADDITION OF\nSEVERAL NEW CHAPTERS, AND NUMEROUS USEFUL NOTES.\nWITH QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION AT THE END OF EACH SECTION.\nTWENTY-FIFTH AMERICAN, FROM THE NINETEENTH LONDON EDITION, IMPROVED\nBY W.C. TAYLOR, LL.D.,\nWITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS, BY ATHERTON AND OTHERS.\nHISTORICAL SERIES.\nPinnock's England, Greece, Rome, and France, have become school\nclassics. In order to make this series more complete, the volumes have\nbeen revised by that well-known historian, W.C. Taylor, LL.D., of\nTrinity College, Dublin.\nThe popularity of these books is almost without a parallel. Teachers\nunacquainted with them, will on examination give them a decided\npreference to any other historical series published.\n_From the Pennsylvania Inquirer, Philadelphia_.\nPINNOCK'S GOLDSMITH'S GREECE, ROME, AND ENGLAND.--The popularity of\nthese histories is almost without a parallel among our school books.\nTheir use is co-extensive with the English language, and their names are\nfamiliar to all who have received an English education. But if permitted\nto remain as they came from the hands of the author, they would soon be\nantiquated; for not only is the stream of modern history flowing onward,\nbut numerous scholars are constantly making researches into that of\nancient times. These works are therefore frequently revised, and thus\nthe labours of successive individuals are added to those of the gifted\nman who wrote them. The present edition is quite an improvement on the\nformer ones. Several important matters which had before been omitted,\nhave been introduced into the text, numerous notes and several new cuts\nhave been added, and every chapter commences with one or more well\nselected poetical lines, which express the subject of the chapter, and\nwill assist the memory as well as improve the taste of the student. We\nfeel assured that these additions will increase the reputation which\nthese works have hitherto so deservedly sustained.\n_From_ JOHN M. KEAGY, _Friends' Academy, Philadelphia._\nI consider Pinnock's edition of Goldsmith's History of England as the\nbest edition of that work which has as yet been published for the use of\nschools. The tables of contemporary sovereigns and eminent persons, at\nthe end of each chapter, afford the means of many useful remarks and\ncomparisons with the history of other nations. With these views, I\ncheerfully recommend it as a book well adapted to school purposes.\n_From_ MR. J.F. GOULD, _Teacher, Baltimore._\nHaving examined Pinnock's improved edition of Dr. Goldsmith's History of\nRome, I unhesitatingly say, that the style and elegance of the language,\nthe arrangement of the chapters, and the questions for examination,\nrender it, in my estimation, a most valuable school book:--I therefore\nmost cheerfully recommend it to teachers, and do confidently trust that\nit will find an extensive introduction into the schools of our country.\nHISTORICAL SERIES.\n_From the New York Evening Post._\nA well written and authentic History of France possesses unusual\ninterest at the present time. It becomes especially valuable when, as in\nthe present case, it has been prepared with questions as a text-book for\ncommon schools and seminaries, by a scholar so accomplished as Dr.\nTaylor. The work has passed through three editions in England. The\nAmerican editor has added one chapter on the late revolutions, bringing\nthe history down to 1848, and has added to its value by illustrations\nthroughout, portraying the costume and the principal events of the\nreigns of which it treats.\nThis treatise goes back to the origin of the Celtic race, or the\nCimbrians, as the offspring of Gomer, peopling the north and east of\nEurope on the one hand, and to the descendants of Cush--under the names\nof Scythians, Tartars, Goths, and Scots, warlike, wandering tribes, on\nthe other, tracing the migrations of the latter till they drove the\nCelts westward, and the Rhine forms the boundary between the two\nnations. From the Gauls it goes on to the reign of the Franks,\nCharlemagne, the Carlovingian race, the history of Normandy, and the\nhistory of France from the first crusade through its lines of monarchies\nand its revolutions, to 1848. The style is clear and forcible, and from\nthe compactness of the work, forming, as it does, a complete chain of\nevents in a most important part of the history of Europe, it will be\nfound interesting and valuable for general readers, or as a text-book in\nour schools. It is comprised in 444 pages, 12mo., and contains a\nchronological index and genealogy of the kings of France.\nWant of space prevents us from inserting all the recommendations\nreceived: we however present the names of the following gentlemen, who\nhave given their recommendations to the Histories:\n  SIMEON HART, Jr., _Farmington, Conn._\n  REV. D.R. AUSTIN, _Principal of Monmouth Academy, Monson, Mass._\n  T.L. WRIGHT, A.M., _Prin. E. Hartford Classical and English School._\n  REV. N.W. FISKE, A.M., _Professor Amherst College, Mass._\n  E.S. SNELL, A.M., _Professor Amherst College, Mass._\n  REV. S. NORTH, _Professor Languages, Hamilton College, N.Y._\n  W.H. SCRAM, A.M., _Prin. Classical and English Academy, Troy, N.Y._\n  JAMES F. GOULD, _Principal of Classical School, Baltimore._\n  A.B. MYERS, _Principal of Whitehall, Academy, New York._\n  HORACE WEBSTER, _Professor Geneva College, N.Y._\n  W.C. FOWLER, _Professor Middlebury College, Vermont._\n  B.S. NOBLE, _Bridgeport, Conn._\n  REV. S.B. HOWE, _Late President of Dickenson College._\n  B.F. JOSLIN, _Professor Union College, N.Y._", "source_dataset": "gutenberg", "source_dataset_detailed": "gutenberg -  Pinnock's improved edition of Dr. Goldsmith's History of Rome\n"},
{"source_document": "", "creation_year": 1754, "culture": " English\n", "content": "Produced by Chris Curnow, readbueno and the Online\nfile was produced from images generously made available\nby The Internet Archive)\n[Illustration]\n[Illustration: Oliver Goldsmith]\n                         DALZIELS' ILLUSTRATED\n                         THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD\n                       THE CAPTIVITY: AN ORATORIO\n                          MISCELLANEOUS POEMS\n                       LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH,\n                   ENGRAVED BY THE BROTHERS DALZIEL.\n             LONDON: WARWICK HOUSE, SALISBURY SQUARE, E.C.\n[Illustration: Publisher]\n           A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH       vi\n                       LIFE OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH.\nThe middle of the last century was an evil time, in England, for\nliterature and for literary men. The period was eminently one of\ntransition; and transition periods are always times of trial to all\nwhose interests they affect. The old system passes away, bearing with it\nthose who cling to it; the new system requires time until it is in\nworking order, and those who depend upon its advent for their\nsubsistence are sorely harassed while the turmoil lasts. Thus it was\nwith literature at the time when Goldsmith began to write. The age in\nwhich literary men depended upon patrons had passed away. No more snug\ngovernment berths, no more secretaryships, as in the time of Addison and\nPrior and Steele\u2014and the time when the public was to support literature\nhad not yet come.\nThus the author was compelled either to depend entirely on the\nbooksellers, or to sell his pen, in true hireling fashion, to the\ngovernment of the day, or to the opposition, and to scribble approval or\ninvective at his master's dictation. Happily for his own fame, happily\nfor English literature, the author of the \"Vicar of Wakefield\" chose the\nformer alternative.\nOliver Goldsmith was born at Pallas, or Pallasmore, county Longford,\nIreland, on the 10th of November, 1728. He was one of a numerous family,\nof whom he alone attained celebrity. His father, the Rev. Charles\nGoldsmith, a clergyman of the Established Church, was in very poor\ncircumstances at the time of the birth of his famous son; but little\nOliver was only two years old when the sunshine of prosperity descended\nupon his house, with what must have appeared to the inmates quite a\nblaze of noonday splendour. The small income of forty pounds a-year,\nupon which the Rev. Charles Goldsmith had managed painfully and\npenuriously to struggle on with his family, was suddenly increased to\ntwo hundred, when the rectory of Kilkenny-west was obtained by that\nfortunate divine; and the Goldsmiths removed to Lissoy, near Athlone.\nThe Rev. Charles Goldsmith seems to have possessed, in a very large\ndegree, certain traits of character by which all the Goldsmiths were\nmore or less distinguished. Almost culpably careless in worldly matters,\nhis easy good-nature and kindly generous disposition frequently made him\nthe dupe of the designing and ungrateful. Himself incapable of cunning\nand deceit, he imagined that all men were frank and open. The last man\nin the world to take an unfair advantage of his neighbour, he never\nsuspected that any man could possibly take advantage of him. Goldsmith\nhimself under the guise of the Man in Black, gives us an insight into\naffairs at the Rectory in these early days. \"My father's education,\" the\nMan in Black tells us, \"was above his fortune, and his generosity\ngreater than his education.\" Then we hear of numerous guests entertained\nat the hospitable parson's table, and paying for their dinner by\nlaughing at the host's oft-repeated jests and time-honoured anecdotes.\n\"He told the story of the ivy tree, and that was laughed at; he repeated\nthe jest of the two scholars and one pair of breeches, and the company\nlaughed at that; but the story of Taffy in the sedan chair was sure to\nset the table in a roar; thus his pleasure increased in proportion to\nthe pleasure he gave; he loved all the world; and he fancied all the\nworld loved him. We were told that universal benevolence was what first\ncemented society; we were taught to consider all the wants of mankind as\nour own; to regard the human face divine with affection and esteem; he\nwound us up to be mere machines of pity, and rendered us incapable of\nwithstanding the slightest impulse made either by real or fictitious\ndistress; in a word, we were perfectly instructed in the art of giving\naway thousands before we were taught the more necessary qualifications\nof getting a farthing.\"\n[Illustration:\n  _The Man in Black_\u2014(_Citizen of the World._)\nIn fact, this inimitable Man in Black, who appears as one of the\ncharacters in Goldsmith's \"Citizen of the World,\" is, in many respects,\na counterpart of Goldsmith himself. Like our author, he is overreached\nby every knave, and an object of contemptuous pity to all the worldly\nwise. He tries one position after another, and fails in each, chiefly\nthrough his honesty and credulity. He cannot succeed as follower to a\ngreat man, because he will not flatter where he disapproves; he loses\nhis mistress because he believes her sincere when she expresses\nadmiration of him, and detestation of his rival's high-heeled shoes.\nEverywhere he is snubbed and elbowed away by men more versed than\nhimself in the ways of the world; but, like Goldsmith again, he has an\neasy, good-humoured philosophy, that carries him gaily through trials\nand troubles that would have swamped other men. As he cannot be rich and\nhappy, he resolves to be poor and contented. He does not \"invoke gods\nand men to see him dining upon a ha'porth of radishes;\" but rather tries\nto persuade himself and others that a vegetable diet suits him. And he\nhas his reward in the verdict universally pronounced upon him\u2014that he\n\"is very good-natured, and has not the least harm in him.\"\nOn a lad of ordinary disposition, the Rev. Charles Goldsmith's peculiar\nideas would, perhaps, have had little effect. The small world of the\nschool-room, and the larger world in which he would afterwards have to\nplay his part, could scarcely fail to teach him to distinguish between\nreal and fictitious distress, and to give him the prudence which makes\ncharity begin at home, and, indeed, too often causes it to end there.\nBut the Goldsmiths were not ordinary people. Warm-hearted, and of large\nsympathy\u2014anxious to relieve the distress of all who sued to them for\naid\u2014they were the very persons whom the prudent and prosperous are ever\nholding up to ridicule, as dupes and simpletons, utterly deficient in\nwisdom\u2014as though there existed no other than _worldly_ wisdom; as though\n\"our being's end and aim\" were the attainment of wealth. And here, at\nthe very outset, we come upon the cause of many of the troubles and\ncares that beset Oliver Goldsmith throughout his entire career. His\nkindly nature led him to relieve distress wherever he found it; and, as\nhis disposition became known, there is no doubt that distress\u2014real and\nfeigned\u2014sought him out pertinaciously enough.\nThe words he wrote of his brother Henry, the benevolent\nclergyman\u2014\"passing rich on forty pounds a year\"\u2014and whose \"pride\" was to\n\"relieve the wretched,\" might be equally applied to himself. When\napplicants for succour came to him\u2014\n            \"Careless their merits, or their faults to scan,\n            His pity gave ere charity began.\"\nBut the wish to relieve was so largely in excess of the power, that\nfrequently when Justice called to present a claim for payment Generosity\nhad been beforehand, and had carried away the money; and Justice had to\nwait, or, alas, in too many cases, to go away unsatisfied. Thus the most\nhumiliating position in which Goldsmith was ever placed in the days of\nhis direst poverty, arose from his hastily obeying an impulse to relieve\nthe landlord of his miserable lodgings, who had been arrested for debt,\nand whose wife came to Goldsmith, weeping and wringing her hands.\nThinking only how he could liberate the poor man by the only means in\nhis power, the poet rushed off and pledged some books, and a suit of\nclothes, procured on the credit of Ralph Griffiths, a bookseller, that\nGoldsmith might appear decently at an examination, which he failed to\npass, and dire was the wrath of Griffiths on the occasion.\nThe young days of Oliver Goldsmith offer nothing very remarkable to\nrecord. He was considered a dull boy by his first instructors, though\nthere are indications at times of poetical talent. One of his sisters\nmarried a gentleman of fortune of the name of Hodson, to whom Henry\nGoldsmith, Oliver's eldest brother, was tutor. In order that his\ndaughter might not enter this family without a suitable marriage\nportion, the Rev. Charles Goldsmith made a sacrifice, which, while it\nimpoverished the whole family, was peculiarly detrimental to the\nfortunes of Oliver. He executed a bond, pledging himself to pay four\nhundred pounds as the marriage portion of his daughter Catherine. The\nimmediate effect of this proceeding was that Oliver was obliged to\nenter, in the humblest possible manner, upon the college career he was\nabout to commence. On the 11th of June, 1745, Oliver Goldsmith was\nadmitted as a sizar of Trinity College, Dublin.\nVery wretched and very unsatisfactory was his life at that seat of\nlearning. The menial duties exacted in return for the reduced expense of\nthe sizar's education disgusted him. The brutalities of his tutor\nWilder, a man at once ferocious and pedantic, and totally unable to\nappreciate the young scholar's genius, caused him the keenest\nmortification; and to these ills were added the grinding poverty with\nwhich he now first became familiar; a poverty occasionally alleviated by\ngifts from his uncle, the Rev. Mr. Contarine, a truly kind-hearted and\nbenevolent man, to whom our poet was bound to the last by ties of\naffectionate gratitude. Now also his father died, and his necessities\nbecame greater than ever. We hear of him, writing ballads, and selling\nthe copyrights at five shillings each; then stealing out at night to\nhear these, the earliest efforts of his muse, sung through the streets.\nA small triumph, in the shape of an exhibition, worth some thirty\nshillings, induced the young awkward student to give a very humble kind\nof ball at his rooms. To this ball came an unexpected visitor in the\nshape of Wilder the tutor, who put the guests to flight, and publicly\nbeat the host. Smarting under the disgrace, Goldsmith quitted the\ncollege, and was only induced, after a time, to return by the\npersuasions of his brother Henry, who brought about a reconciliation, or\nrather a truce, between Oliver and his tyrant. On the 27th of February,\n1749, he obtained his B.A. degree, and, returning home, remained for a\ntime idle and unemployed, looking out for the chance of a career. He\npresented himself for ordination and was refused; was a tutor in a\nprivate family, and left in consequence of a quarrel; was furnished with\nfunds by Uncle Contarine to study law, lost his money, and appeared\nagain at home destitute. At length, with some last assistance from the\nfriendly uncle's purse, he started on a tour through Europe; travelling,\nnot like the majority of British tourists in coach and on horseback, but\non foot and alone, making his way from place to place, and studying men\nrather than science. Important, and rich in results for his whole future\nlife, was this remarkable journey. And, among the most memorable of its\neffects was, that it suggested the poem of the \"Traveller.\" Marvellously\ntrue were the views taken by the poor student of the various lands\nthrough which he passed; and remarkable were the words in which, in one\nof his early essays, he predicted the change that was coming upon\nFrance. Clearly and distinctly he heard the first far-off mutterings of\nthe great revolutionary storm. He saw the growth and spread of the\nspirit of freedom among the people, and while others cried \"peace\" when\nthere was no peace, he distinctly and clearly foresaw the great crash of\nrevolution that was coming.\nEarly in the year 1756 Oliver Goldsmith found himself alone in London.\nHe was in his twenty-eighth year\u2014without a profession, almost utterly\nfriendless, and destitute of all means of subsistence. Of this part of\nhis life he could be scarcely ever induced to speak in his later and\nhappier days; but here and there we get a glimpse which shows us that it\nmust have been dreary in the extreme. At Sir Joshua Reynolds's he once\nstartled the company by commencing an anecdote with \"When I lived among\nthe beggars in Axe Lane;\" and there is something very significant in the\nway in which the pangs of starvation are described in his \"Natural\nHistory.\" He must have felt those pangs himself to describe them so\ngraphically.\nBy various means he made a shift to live. At one time he pounded drugs\nfor an apothecary near London Bridge; at another, he attempted to\npractise physic amongst the poorest of the poor. Now we find him\ncorrecting press proofs for a printer; and now he is settled for a time\nas usher in Dr. Milner's boys' school at Peckham. We have a picture of\nhim here, drawn by Miss Milner, the principal's daughter. He is\ndescribed as exceedingly good-natured, always ready to amuse the boys\nwith his flute, giving away his money, or spending it in tarts and\nsweetmeats for the boys as soon as he received it, and generally\nrecommending himself by his amiability and kindliness of heart. But\nGoldsmith himself considered this servitude at the Peckham Academy as\nthe most dreary period of his life. The position of an usher was at that\ntime, if possible, worse than it is now; and the mortifications he\nexperienced at Peckham helped to throw a shadow over his later life.\nBut on a certain day in April, 1757, Ralph Griffiths, a prosperous\nLondon bookseller, dined at Peckham, with the Milners. He was the\nproprietor of a critical magazine; and, as the conversation turned on\nthe literature of the day, Griffiths became aware that the remarks made\nby the poor usher were not those of an ordinary man. He took him aside,\nand asked if he would undertake to write some literary notices and\nreviews. The offer was accepted, as was also the very moderate salary\nGriffiths offered in return for the daily services of the writer; and\nthus at last Goldsmith was fairly started in authorship, and beginning\nto serve his apprenticeship to letters.\nA dreary apprenticeship it was. Griffiths, and Griffiths' wife, ruled\nover their \"hack\" author with a rod of iron; curtailed his leisure,\ncarped at the amount of \"work\" done, and ruthlessly altered his\narticles. He began with some reviews, which, for their elegance of\nstyle, facility of expression, and gracefulness of fancy, must have\nastonished the readers of the ordinarily dull and common-place \"Monthly\nReview.\" Soon, however, the tyranny of the Griffiths pair became\nintolerable; a quarrel ensued, and the connexion between master and\nservant was broken off. Goldsmith established himself in a garret in a\ncourt near Fleet Street, and began the almost hopeless attempt to\nsupport himself independently by miscellaneous writing.\nVery hard and bitter was the struggle through which he had to pass; and\nnow and then he made efforts to emancipate himself entirely from the\nthraldom of literature. Indeed, we even find him once more at his desk\nat Dr. Milner's school, at Peckham. He obtained an appointment as\nmedical officer in the East India Company's service on the Coromandel\ncoast, but lost it, probably through inability to pay his passage and\nprocure the necessary outfit. Then, as a last resource, he presented\nhimself for examination at Surgeons' Hall, intending to become a\n\"hospital mate;\" but was rejected, as the books of the society record,\nas \"not qualified.\" Thus, perforce driven back to literature, he girded\nhimself up manfully for the struggle; and gradually the dawn of a better\nday began to break. The long and hard battle he had fought had at length\nproduced one gain for him. He was known to the bookselling fraternity;\nand, as they would have phrased it, \"his value in the market began to\nrise.\" A number of new magazines were started simultaneously, and the\nproprietors were naturally anxious to secure the services of Goldsmith's\ngraceful pen. We find him writing for several magazines at once, and\nreceiving a respectable price for his work. Thus, with the year 1759,\nthe shadow of squalid poverty and grinding want passes away from\nGoldsmith's life. Happy would it have been for him had his distresses\ntaught him prudence. But the prosperity came too late. His habits were\nformed; the unfortunate custom of living from hand to mouth, of flying\nfrom the thoughts of the dark future by heedless indulgence in any\npleasure that could be snatched in the present\u2014the inveterate\ndisposition to alternate periods of over-work with intervals of thorough\ninaction\u2014these were the marks which the hard conflict had left upon\nhim\u2014wounds which were seared over, indeed, but never thoroughly healed.\n[Illustration:\n  _Goldsmith wandering among the streets\n  of the great, cold, wicked city._\nBut these years of adversity had also taught him lessons whose memory\nremained with him to the last day of his life\u2014lessons which he was among\nthe first to teach to the unthinking world around him. Poverty and pain\nhad spoilt him to some extent for society\u2014had brought upon him a\nmelancholy which he would strive vainly to banish with fits of strained\nand forced hilarity\u2014had rendered him abrupt in speech and uncouth in\ngesture\u2014but never hardened his heart. He had been poor himself\u2014miserably\npoor\u2014and his sympathies were with the poor, and his voice was honestly\nuplifted in their behalf. Long before Sir Samuel Romilly had arisen to\ndenounce the harshness and cruelty of our penal code\u2014long before the\neagle glance of Howard had pierced into the gloom of the debtor's fetid\nprison, Goldsmith pointed out the effects of harsh legislation, and the\nevils and contamination of our gaols.He would leave his home at night to\nwander among the streets of the great, cold, wicked city, taking note of\nthe misery and destitution he found there, and sympathising with the\ndistress of the wretched outcasts whom none else would succour or\nbefriend. And manfully was his voice raised against those who, having\ncaused much of that wretchedness, were suffered, by a false and\nheartless system of mock morality, to escape the penalty of infamy they\nhad justly incurred.\nIn a publication called the \"Bee,\" which he edited, there is a paper of\nmatchless pathos, entitled a \"City Nightpiece,\" in which he indignantly\ndraws attention to poor houseless girls, who have been flattered and\ncozened into sin, and then left desolate in their misery. He concludes\nwith the following withering denunciation of the authors of all this\nmisery:\u2014\n\"But let me turn from a scene of such distress to the sanctified\nhypocrite, who has been 'talking of virtue till the time of bed',[1] and\nnow steals out, to give a loose to his vices under the protection of\nmidnight\u2014vices more atrocious because he attempts to conceal them. See\nhow he pants down the dark alley; and, with hastening steps, fears an\nacquaintance in every face. He has passed the whole day in company he\nhates, and now goes to prolong the night among company that as heartily\nhate him. May his vices be detected! may the morning rise upon his\nshame! Yet I wish to no purpose: villany, when detected, never gives up,\nbut boldly adds impudence to imposture.\"\nGoldsmith's Essays, afterwards collected by himself into a volume, were\nchiefly written between 1758 and 1762. In this kind of writing he\npeculiarly excelled; and his friend Dr. Johnson allowed him to be\nunrivalled in it. As a specimen of his humourous style, the following\nextract from the \"History of a Strolling Player\" may be taken as\ndisplaying the quaint drollery and quiet fun he could infuse in this\nstyle of composition. Goldsmith has picked up in one of the parks a\njocose, talkative, hungry man, who proposes that the two should dine at\nthe expense of his new acquaintance, promising that he himself will\nreturn the favour at some future time not accurately defined. Stimulated\nby a good dinner, and by a tankard which he takes care shall be\nfrequently replenished, the talkative man tells his history, of which\nthe following is a part. He has been a soldier, and finds the profession\nnot at all to his liking. He says:\n\"The life of a soldier soon, therefore, gave me the spleen. I asked\nleave to quit the service; but, as I was tall and strong, my captain\nthanked me for my kind intention, and said, because he had a regard for\nme, we should not part. I wrote to my father a very dismal penitent\nletter, and desired that he would raise money to pay for my discharge;\nbut, as the good old man was as fond of drinking as I was, (sir, my\nservice to you), and those who are fond of drinking never pay for other\npeople's discharges; in short, he never answered my letter. What could\nbe done? If I have not money, said I to myself, to pay for my discharge,\nI must find an equivalent some other way; and that must be by running\naway. I deserted; and that answered my purpose every bit as well as if I\nhad bought my discharge.\nFootnote 1:\n  Parnell.\n\"Well, I was now fairly rid of my military employment. I sold my\nsoldier's clothes, bought worse, and, in order not to be overtaken, took\nthe most unfrequented roads possible. One evening, as I was entering a\nvillage, I perceived a man, whom I afterwards found to be the curate of\nthe parish, thrown from his horse in a miry road, and almost smothered\nin the mud. He desired my assistance: I gave it, and drew him out with\nsome difficulty. He thanked me for my trouble, and was going off; but I\nfollowed him home, for I loved always to have a man thank me at his own\ndoor. The curate asked a hundred questions; as whose son I was, from\nwhence I came, and whether I would be faithful. I answered him greatly\nto his satisfaction, and gave myself one of the best characters in the\nworld for sobriety (sir, I have the honour of drinking your health),\ndiscretion, and fidelity. To make a long story short, he wanted a\nservant, and hired me. With him I lived but two months: we did not much\nlike each other. I was fond of eating, and he gave me but little to eat:\nI loved a pretty girl, and the old woman, my fellow-servant, was\nill-natured and ugly. As they endeavoured to starve me between them, I\nmade a pious resolution to prevent their committing murder: I stole the\neggs as soon as they were laid: I emptied every unfinished bottle that I\ncould lay my hands on: whatever eatable came in my way was sure to\ndisappear. In short, they found I would not do; so I was discharged one\nmorning, and paid three shillings and sixpence for two months' wages.\n[Illustration: _The Strolling Player._]\n\"While my money was getting ready, I employed myself in making\npreparations for my departure. Two hens were hatching in an outhouse\u2014I\nwent and took the eggs from habit; and not to separate the parents from\nthe children, I lodged hens and all in my knapsack. After this piece of\nfrugality, I returned to receive my money, and with my knapsack on my\nback, and a staff in my hand, I bade adieu, with tears in my eyes, to my\nold benefactor. I had not gone far from the house when I heard behind me\na cry of 'stop thief!' but this only increased my dispatch: it would\nhave been foolish to stop, as I knew the voice could not be levelled at\nme\u2014but hold, I think I passed those two months at the curate's without\ndrinking. Come, the times are dry, and may this be my poison, it ever I\nspent two more pious, stupid months in all my life.\n\"Well, after travelling some days, whom should I light upon but a\ncompany of strolling players. The moment I saw them at a distance, my\nheart warmed to them; I had a sort of natural love for everything of the\nvagabond order. They were employed in settling their baggage, which had\nbeen overturned in a narrow way: I offered my assistance, which they\naccepted; and we soon became so well acquainted, that they took me as a\nservant. This was a paradise to me; they sang, danced, drank, ate, and\ntravelled, all at the same time. By the blood of all the Mirabels! I\nthought I had never lived till then; I grew as merry as a grig, and\nlaughed at every word that was spoken. They liked me as much as I liked\nthem: I was a very good figure, as you may see; and though I was poor, I\nwas not modest.\n\"I love a straggling life above all things in the world; sometimes good,\nsometimes bad; to be warm to-day, and cold to-morrow; to eat when one\ncan get it, and drink when (the tankard is out) it stands before me. We\narrived that evening at Tenterden, and took a large room at the\n'Greyhound,' where we resolved to exhibit Romeo and Juliet, with the\nfuneral procession, the grave, and the garden scene. Romeo was to be\nperformed by a gentleman from the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane; Juliet,\nby a lady who had never appeared on any stage before; and I was to snuff\nthe candles: all excellent in our way. We had figures enough, but the\ndifficulty was to dress them.\"\nEqually humourous is the account of Mr. Jack Spindle, the \"good-natured\nman,\" who has been pestered during his prosperity with offers of\nservice, which he finds suddenly and unaccountably withdrawn when the\nsun no longer shines upon him. His friends have, one and all, been\nimportunate with him, that he should use their name and credit if ever\nthe time should come when he needed them; and now that this time had\nmost certainly arrived, Jack proceeded with the most perfect good faith\nto put some of these assertions to the proof. To quote our author:\u2014\n\"Jack, therefore, thought he might use his old friend without any\nceremony; and, as a man confident of not being refused, requested the\nuse of a hundred guineas for a few days, as he just then had an occasion\nfor money. 'And pray, Mr. Spindle,' replied the scrivener, 'do you want\nall this money?'\u2014'Want it, sir,' says the other, 'if I did not want it I\nshould not have asked it.'\u2014'I am sorry for that,' says the friend; 'for\nthose who want money when they come to borrow, will want when they\nshould come to pay. To say the truth, Mr. Spindle, money is money\nnow-a-days. I believe it is all sunk in the bottom of the sea, for my\npart; and he that has got a little is a fool if he does not keep what he\nhas got.'\n\"Not quite disconcerted by this refusal, our adventurer was resolved to\napply to another, whom he knew to be the very best friend he had in the\nworld. The gentleman whom he now addressed received his proposal with\nall the affability that could be expected from generous friendship. 'Let\nme see,\u2014you want a hundred guineas; and, pray, dear Jack, would not\nfifty answer?'\u2014'If you have but fifty to spare, sir, I must be\ncontented.'\u2014'Fifty to spare! I do not say that, for I believe I have but\ntwenty about me.'\u2014'Then I must borrow the other thirty from some other\nfriend.'\u2014'And pray,' replied the friend, 'would it not be the best way\nto borrow the whole money from that other friend, and then one note will\nserve for all, you know? Lord, Mr. Spindle, make no ceremony with me at\nany time; you know I'm your friend, when you choose a bit of dinner, or\nso. You, Tom, see the gentleman down. You won't forget to dine with us\nnow and then? Your very humble servant.'\n\"Distressed, but not discouraged at this treatment, he was at last\nresolved to find that assistance from love, which he could not have from\nfriendship. Miss Jenny Dismal had a fortune in her own hands, and she\nhad already made all the advances that her sex's modesty would permit.\nHe made his proposal, therefore, with confidence, but soon perceived,\n'No bankrupt ever found the fair one kind.' Miss Jenny and Master Billy\nGaloon were lately fallen deeply in love with each other, and the whole\nneighbourhood thought it would soon be a match.\n\"Every day now began to strip Jack of his former finery: his clothes\nflew piece by piece to the pawnbrokers'; and he seemed at length\nequipped in the genuine mourning of antiquity. But still he thought\nhimself secure from starving; the numberless invitations he had received\nto dine, even after his losses, were yet unanswered; he was, therefore,\nnow resolved to accept of a dinner, because he wanted one; and in this\nmanner he actually lived among his friends a whole week without being\nopenly affronted.\"\n[Illustration: _Jack Spindle and the Scrivener._]\nPoor Jack also tries to retrieve his fortunes by marriage, but finds\nthat a penniless wooer has but small chance with the fair.\nIn the \"Citizen of the World\" are to be found some of the best essays of\nGoldsmith. It was a happy idea that of pourtraying our national\npeculiarities and customs in the light in which they might strike a\nforeigner; and the series contain, moreover, besides the inimitable \"Man\nin Black,\" a portrait which would in itself be enough to make it\nimmortal\u2014the fussy, pleasant, consequential, little Beau Tibbs. Was\nthere ever such a perseveringly happy man? He speaks of his own\nmiserable poverty as if it were wealth, affects to prefer a bit of ox\ncheek and some \"brisk beer\" to ortolans and claret, and gives himself\nthe airs of a lord while Mrs. Tibbs is laboriously seeing his second\nshirt through the washing tub. After all, there may be more true\nphilosophy in the cheerfulness of little Tibbs than in the querulous\ngrumbling of greater men on whom the keen wind of adversity blows and\nwho shout vociferous complaints as they shiver in the keen blast. Beau\nTibbs' hilarious cheerfulness is, after all, but an exaggerated phase of\nthe equanimity of the \"Man in Black.\"\n[Illustration: _Jack Spindle rejected by Miss Jenny Dismal._]\nIt was a day in the poet's life to be marked with a white stone when he\nmade the acquaintance of Johnson. The \"great cham of literature,\" as\nSmollett called him, understood and appreciated Goldsmith better than\ndid the shallow witlings who laughed at the poet's eccentricities and\nawkwardness, but had not the sense to discover his genius. And who,\nbetter than Goldsmith, could value and respect the great qualities that\nlay hidden under Johnson's brusque manners and overbearing roughness?\nTheir acquaintance soon ripened into friendship\u2014a friendship that was a\njoy and solace to Goldsmith until the day of his death. Just at this\ntime Johnson, after many years' hard and unproductive toil had been\nrewarded with a well-earned pension. Thus lifted above the struggling\ncrowd of his literary brethren, he filled a sort of dictatorial throne\namong them. In Goldsmith he took quite a peculiar interest, and quickly\nbecame what Washington Irving, in his \"Life of Goldsmith,\" happily\ndesignates a kind of \"growling supervisor of the poet's affairs.\"\nSuch a supervision was but too urgently needed. Increased means had not\nimproved the poet's habits, or taught him self-denial. The pay for his\nliterary labour was almost invariably drawn and spent before the task\nwas completed, and already poor Goldsmith was becoming involved in that\nnet of embarrassment from which he never extricated himself; and thus\nthe following scene was one day enacted, which shall be told in\nJohnson's own words, as reported by the indefatigable Boswell:\u2014\"I\nreceived one morning,\" said Johnson, \"a message from poor Goldsmith that\nhe was in great distress, and as it was not in his power to come to me,\nbegged that I would come to him as soon as possible. I sent him a\nguinea, and promised to come to him directly. I accordingly went as soon\nas I was dressed, and found that his landlady had arrested him for his\nrent, at which he was in a violent passion. I perceived that he had\nalready changed my guinea, and had got a bottle of madeira and a glass\nbefore him. I put the cork into the bottle, desired he would be calm,\nand began to talk to him of the means by which he might be extricated.\nHe then told me that he had a novel ready for the press, which he\nproduced to me. I looked into it, and saw its merit; told the landlady I\nshould soon return; and having gone to a bookseller, sold it for sixty\npounds. I brought Goldsmith the money, and he discharged his rent, not\nwithout rating his landlady in a high tone for having used him so ill.\"\nThe book thus sold for sixty pounds was the \"Vicar of Wakefield,\" a work\nnever surpassed for wonderful vitality of character and for beauty of\ncolouring. The old vicar, loveable in his very weakness, and indulgent\nas a Christian priest should be towards the weaknesses of others\u2014the\ndownright honest buxom wife, whose maternal vanity at times tempts her\nso sorely to disobedience against the behests of her lord and\nmaster\u2014Olivia the coquette, and Sophia the prude\u2014Moses the honest and\nsimple\u2014and Burchell with his grand monosyllabic commentary of\n\"Fudge,\"\u2014these will live so long as English Literature lasts, and be\nremembered with delight when the pretentious effusions of the Richardson\nschool have vanished into the limbo of obscurity. But the outcry that\nhas since been raised against the bookseller who only gave sixty pounds\nfor the manuscript appears somewhat unjust. Francis Newbery gave the sum\ndemanded by Johnson, evidently without reading the book, and on\nJohnson's recommendation alone. That he had no great hopes of profit\nfrom his bargain is proved by the length of time he allowed it to lie\nunpublished in his desk. It was not Newbery's fault that the manuscript\nwas sent out at a pinch, to be sold for what it would bring, before it\nhad even been read to a few discerning friends who might have given a\ndeliberate opinion on its merits. Johnson spoke sensibly enough when he\nreplied to the indignant protest,\u2014\" A sufficient price, too, when it was\nsold; for then the fame of Goldsmith had not been elevated, as it\nafterwards was, by his 'Traveller;' and the bookseller had faint hopes\nof profit by his bargain. After the 'Traveller,' to be sure, it was\naccidentally worth more money.\"\nThe \"Traveller\" was now completed, and was published very shortly after\nthe bailiff episode. It took the circle who surrounded Goldsmith\ncompletely by surprise; some of the members of the Literary Club even\naffected to doubt that he could have written it, and declared that the\nmost striking passages were the work of Johnson. But Johnson himself\nlaughed at all this, and openly and honestly proclaimed his belief in\nthe great merits of the poem, and declared that since the death of Pope\nnothing equal to it had been written. The touches which describe the\nvarious shades of character in the different nations are exquisite, and\ncan only be the result of personal observation aided by mature thought.\nAnd now our poet resolved to try his powers in a new field\u2014to write a\ncomedy, the remuneration for which should pay off the debts that were\nfast accumulating round him. But here fresh vexation and new care\nawaited him. Garrick, the great actor and prosperous manager, to whom he\noffered the play, took upon himself the office of critic and emendator,\nauthoritatively suggested the entire omission of _Lofty_, one of the\nbest characters, and, to use an expressive vulgarism, seemed inclined to\n\"burke\" the comedy altogether. Goldsmith, smarting under the actor's\npatronizing criticism, became angry, refused to alter or amend the play,\nand finally took the manuscript out of Garrick's hands, and transferred\nit to the rival management of Colman at Covent Garden. But Colman,\nthough he accepted the piece, had little or no hope that it would be a\nsuccess; and he contrived to impart his own doubts and misgivings to the\nwhole company. The fact was, that, at this period, sentimental comedy,\nshowing men and women as they appear in the pages of novelists of a\ncertain school, but not as they walk and talk in real life, was in the\nascendant; and Hugh Kelly\u2014a man with some ingenuity, but without a spark\nof genius\u2014was the great representative of this school of writing. Now\nGoldsmith held that a comedy should be comic\u2014that it should, above all\nthings, amuse the spectators by humourous dialogue and startling action;\nand, in his dramatic creed, the enunciation of moral platitudes had no\nplace. In fact, the lines Goldsmith afterwards wrote concerning\nCumberland, Kelly's successor in the Sentimental School of Comedy, might\nwell have been applied to Kelly himself:\n[Illustration: _Goldsmith and his Landlady._]\n           \"A flattering painter, who made it his care,\n           To draw men as they ought to be, not as they are,\n           His gall\u00e0nts are all faultless, his women divine;\n           And Comedy wonders at being so fine!\n           Like a tragedy queen he has dizened her out,\n           Or rather like Tragedy giving a rout.\"\nNow this Hugh Kelly had just produced a stupid comedy, insipid and full\nof mawkish sentimentality, and entitled \"False Delicacy.\" It was acted\nat Drury Lane, while Goldsmith's \"Good-Natured Man\" was in rehearsal,\nand proved a complete success. This triumph of Kelly's further damaged\nthe hopes of Colman and his actors. Goldsmith had made his hero, not an\nimpossible monster of virtue, but an easy-going, kindly gentleman, who\nshows that excessive good-nature is, after all, only a kind of weakness.\nThe fun was broad and hearty, and the characters were drawn in a style\nthat differed from Kelly's as widely as a picture by Hogarth would\ndiffer from a pastoral piece by Watteau. At last the comedy was\nperformed; and though it brought nearly five hundred pounds to the\ndistressed poet, it was at first not successful. The taste of the town\nhad been too much spoiled by the sentimentalisms of Kelly and his\nschool, to appreciate at once the strong, hearty fare now offered; and\nespecially was public opinion divided on the subject of the introduction\nof two bailiffs, who were then considered \"low,\" and whose appearance is\nnow acknowledged to be one of the best \"points\" in the whole play.\nGoldsmith declared he would write for the theatre no more: but\nfortunately he did not keep to his determination. Once again, in 1772,\nhe wrote a comedy\u2014one of the very best of our English plays\u2014\"She Stoops\nto Conquer,\" which was performed at Covent Garden, for the first time,\non the 15th of March, 1773. Again was Goldsmith harassed by the\nmisgivings of Colman, though sentimental comedy was no longer in the\nascendant. It had never recovered the blow inflicted by a burlesque of\nFoote's, entitled \"The Virtuous Housemaid; or Piety in Pattens,\" in\nwhich the mawkish platitudes of the sentimental school were turned into\npitiless ridicule. But the laughter and cheers of a crowded house\ncompletely took Colman and the croakers by surprise; and so utter was\ntheir astonishment, that the town made sport of the doubters whose\nprognostications had proved so false. Colman was obliged to run away to\nBath, from the shower of lampoons that hailed down upon him. One of the\nbest of these bade him take comfort from the idea that though\nGoldsmith's present play succeeded, his next might fail; and advised\nColman to bring about that desirable consummation, if all other methods\nfailed, by writing the best play he could himself, and printing it in\nGoldsmith's name. \"She Stoops to Conquer\" has kept the stage for nearly\na century, and bids fair long to retain its place. It was a triumph for\nour poet, but it was his last.\nFor now money troubles and embarrassments thickened more and more around\nhim. His fame, indeed, was established; but his habits of\nprocrastination and unthrift were but too well known. The \"Deserted\nVillage\" had silenced those even who carped at the \"Traveller;\" his\ncharming \"Animated Nature\" had brought him profit and reputation as a\nscientific writer; but his dilatoriness and want of method spoiled all.\nEarly in 1774 he was attacked by an illness to which he was subject, and\nas a remedy for which he obstinately insisted on dosing himself with\n\"James's Powders.\" He grew rapidly worse, and to the question asked by\nhis medical man: \"Is your mind at ease?\" replied with a mournful \"No, it\nis not.\" For some days he fluctuated between life and death; but at\nlast, on the morning of the 4th of April, strong convulsions came on,\nunder which he expired.\nHis death was mourned by a circle of friends comprising some of the most\nillustrious names in the land. A public funeral was proposed for him,\nbut negatived in consideration of his embarrassed circumstances. For,\nalas! in spite of the success of his later years, he owed nearly two\nthousand pounds. \"Was ever poet so trusted before!\" exclaimed sturdy old\nJohnson. \"But,\" added the same honest friend, pronouncing a verdict\nwhich a century has since endorsed, \"let not his failings be\nremembered\u2014he was a very great man!\"\n                         ILLUSTRATED GOLDSMITH.\n[Illustration: Facsimile of the book cover.]\n              _The description of the family of Wakefield,\n                  in which a kindred likeness prevails\n                    as well of minds as of persons._\nI was ever of opinion that the honest man, who married and brought up a\nlarge family, did more service than he who continued single, and only\ntalked of population. From this motive, I had scarcely taken orders a\nyear, before I began to think seriously of matrimony, and chose my wife,\nas she did her wedding gown, not for a fine glossy surface, but such\nqualities as would wear well. To do her justice, she was a good-natured,\nnotable woman; and as for breeding, there were few country ladies who\ncould show more. She could read any English book without much spelling;\nbut for pickling, preserving, and cookery, none could excel her. She\nprided herself also upon being an excellent contriver in housekeeping,\nthough I could never find that we grew richer with all her contrivances.\nHowever, we loved each other tenderly, and our fondness increased as we\ngrew old. There was, in fact, nothing that could make us angry with the\nworld or each other. We had an elegant house, situated in a fine country\nand a good neighbourhood. The year was spent in moral or rural\namusement; in visiting our rich neighbours, and relieving such as were\npoor. We had no revolutions to fear, nor fatigues to undergo; all our\nadventures were by the fireside, and all our migrations from the blue\nbed to the brown.\nAs we lived near the road, we often had the traveller or stranger visit\nus to taste our gooseberry-wine, for which we had great reputation; and\nI profess, with the veracity of an historian, that I never knew one of\nthem find fault with it. Our cousins too, even to the fortieth remove,\nall remembered their affinity, without any help from the heralds'\noffice, and came very frequently to see us. Some of them did us no great\nhonour by these claims of kindred; as we had the blind, the maimed, and\nthe halt amongst the number. However, my wife always insisted that, as\nthey were the same _flesh and blood_, they should sit with us at the\nsame table: so that if we had not very rich, we generally had very happy\nfriends about us; for this remark will hold good through life, that the\npoorer the guest the better pleased he ever is with being treated; and\nas some men gaze with admiration at the colours of a tulip, or the wing\nof a butterfly, so I was by nature an admirer of happy human faces.\nHowever, when any one of our relations was found to be a person of a\nvery bad character, a troublesome guest, or one we desired to get rid\nof, upon his leaving my house I ever took care to lend him a\nriding-coat, or a pair of boots, or sometimes a horse of small value,\nand I always had the satisfaction of finding he never came back to\nreturn them. By this the house was cleared of such as we did not like;\nbut never was the family of Wakefield known to turn the traveller or the\npoor dependent out of doors.\nThus we lived several years in a state of much happiness; not but that\nwe sometimes had those little rubs which Providence sends to enhance the\nvalue of its favours. My orchard was often robbed by school-boys, and my\nwife's custards plundered by the cats or the children. The squire would\nsometimes fall asleep in the most pathetic parts of my sermon, or his\nlady return my wife's civilities at church with a mutilated curtsey. But\nwe soon got over the uneasiness caused by such accidents, and usually in\nthree or four days began to wonder how they vexed us.\nMy children, the offspring of temperance, as they were educated without\nsoftness, so they were at once well-formed and healthy; my sons hardy\nand active, my daughters beautiful and blooming. When I stood in the\nmidst of the little circle, which promised to be the support of my\ndeclining age, I could not avoid repeating the famous story of Count\nAbensberg, who, in Henry the Second's progress through Germany, while\nother courtiers came with their treasures, brought his thirty-two\nchildren, and presented them to his sovereign as the most valuable\noffering he had to bestow. In this manner, though I had but six, I\nconsidered them as a very valuable present made to my country, and\nconsequently looked upon it as my debtor. Our eldest son was named\nGeorge, after his uncle, who left us ten thousand pounds. Our second\nchild, a girl, I intended to call after her aunt Grissel; but my wife,\nwho during her pregnancy had been reading romances, insisted upon her\nbeing called Olivia. In less than another year we had another daughter,\nand now I was determined that Grissel should be her name; but a rich\nrelation taking a fancy to stand godmother, the girl was by her\ndirections called Sophia; so that we had two romantic names in the\nfamily; but I solemnly protest I had no hand in it. Moses was our next,\nand after an interval of twelve years we had two sons more.\nIt would be fruitless to deny my exultation when I saw my little ones\nabout me; but the vanity and the satisfaction of my wife were even\ngreater than mine. When our visitors would say, \"Well, upon my word,\nMrs. Primrose, you have the finest children in the whole country;\"\u2014\"Ay,\nneighbour,\" she would answer, \"they are as heaven made them\u2014handsome\nenough, if they be good enough; for handsome is that handsome does.\" And\nthen she would bid the girls hold up their heads; who, to conceal\nnothing, were certainly very handsome. Mere outside is so very trifling\na circumstance with me, that I should scarcely have remembered to\nmention it, had it not been a general topic of conversation in the\ncountry. Olivia, now about eighteen, had that luxuriancy of beauty with\nwhich painters generally draw Hebe: open, sprightly, and commanding.\nSophia's features were not so striking at first, but often did more\ncertain execution; for they were soft, modest, and alluring. The one\nvanquished by a single blow, the other by efforts successively repeated.\n[Illustration: _Olivia and Sophia._]\nThe temper of a woman is generally formed from the turn of her features;\nat least it was so with my daughters. Olivia wished for many lovers;\nSophia to secure one. Olivia was often affected, from too great a desire\nto please; Sophia even repressed excellence, from her fear to offend.\nThe one entertained me with her vivacity when I was gay, the other with\nher sense when I was serious. But these qualities were never carried to\nexcess in either, and I have often seen them exchange characters for a\nwhole day together. A suit of mourning has transformed my coquette into\na prude, and a new set of ribands has given her younger sister more than\nnatural vivacity. My eldest son, George, was bred at Oxford, as I\nintended him for one of the learned professions. My second boy, Moses,\nwhom I designed for business, received a sort of miscellaneous education\nat home. But it is needless to attempt describing the particular\ncharacters of young people that had seen but very little of the world.\nIn short, a family likeness prevailed through all; and, properly\nspeaking, they had but one character\u2014that of being all equally generous,\ncredulous, simple, and inoffensive.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_And having got it copied fair, with an elegant\n  frame, it was placed over the chimney-piece._\"\n         _Family misfortunes._\u2014_The loss of fortune only serves\n                 to increase the pride of the worthy._\nThe temporal concerns of our family were chiefly committed to my wife's\nmanagement; as to the spiritual, I took them entirely under my own\ndirection. The profits of my living, which amounted to about thirty-five\npounds a year, I made over to the orphans and widows of the clergy of\nour diocese; for, having a sufficient fortune of my own, I was careless\nof temporalities, and felt a secret pleasure in doing my duty without\nreward. I also set a resolution of keeping no curate, and of being\nacquainted with every man in the parish, exhorting the married men to\ntemperance, and the bachelors to matrimony; so that in a few years it\nwas a common saying, that there were three strange wants at Wakefield\u2014a\nparson wanting pride, young men wanting wives, and alehouses wanting\ncustomers.\nMatrimony was always one of my favourite topics, and I wrote several\nsermons to prove its happiness; but there was a peculiar tenet which I\nmade a point of supporting: for I maintained, with Whiston, that it was\nunlawful for a priest of the Church of England, after the death of his\nfirst wife, to take a second: or, to express it in one word, I valued\nmyself upon being a strict monogamist.\nI was early initiated into this important dispute, on which so many\nlaborious volumes have been written. I published some tracts upon the\nsubject myself, which, as they never sold, I have the consolation of\nthinking were read only by the happy _few_. Some of my friends called\nthis my weak side; but, alas! they had not, like me, made it the subject\nof long contemplation. The more I reflected upon it, the more important\nit appeared. I even went a step beyond Whiston in displaying my\nprinciples: as he had engraven upon his wife's tomb that she was the\n_only_ wife of William Whiston; so I wrote a similar epitaph for my\nwife, though still living, in which I extolled her prudence, economy,\nand obedience till death; and, having got it copied fair, with an\nelegant frame, it was placed over the chimney-piece, where it answered\nseveral very useful purposes. It admonished my wife of her duty to me\nand my fidelity to her; it inspired her with a passion for fame, and\nconstantly put her in mind of her end.\nIt was thus, perhaps, from hearing marriage so often recommended, that\nmy eldest son, just upon leaving college, fixed his affections upon the\ndaughter of a neighbouring clergyman, who was a dignitary in the church,\nand in circumstances to give her a large fortune; but fortune was her\nsmallest accomplishment. Miss Arabella Wilmot was allowed by all (except\nmy two daughters) to be completely pretty. Her youth, health, and\ninnocence were still heightened by a complexion so transparent, and such\na happy sensibility of look, as even age could not gaze on with\nindifference. As Mr. Wilmot knew that I could make a very handsome\nsettlement on my son, he was not averse to the match; so both families\nlived together in all that harmony which generally precedes an expected\nalliance. Being convinced, by experience, that the days of courtship are\nthe most happy of our lives, I was willing enough to lengthen the\nperiod; and the various amusements which the young couple every day\nshared in each other's company seemed to increase their passion. We were\ngenerally awakened in the morning by music, and on fine days rode\na-hunting. The hours between breakfast and dinner the ladies devoted to\ndress and study: they usually read a page, and then gazed at themselves\nin the glass, which even philosophers might own often presented the page\nof greatest beauty. At dinner my wife took the lead; for, as she always\ninsisted upon carving everything herself, it being her mother's way, she\ngave us, upon these occasions, the history of every dish. When we had\ndined, to prevent the ladies leaving us I generally ordered the table to\nbe removed; and sometimes, with the music-master's assistance, the girls\nwould give us a very agreeable concert. Walking out, drinking tea,\ncountry-dances, and forfeits shortened the rest of the day, without the\nassistance of cards, as I hated all manner of gaming, except backgammon,\nat which my old friend and I sometimes took a twopenny hit. Nor can I\nhere pass over an ominous circumstance that happened the last time we\nplayed together: I only wanted to fling a quatre, and yet I threw\ndeuce-ace five times running.\nSome months were elapsed in this manner, till at last it was thought\nconvenient to fix a day for the nuptials of the young couple, who seemed\nearnestly to desire it. During the preparations for the wedding, I need\nnot describe the busy importance of my wife, nor the sly looks of my\ndaughters: in fact my attention was fixed on another object\u2014the\ncompleting a tract which I intended shortly to publish in defence of my\nfavourite principle. As I looked upon this as a masterpiece, both for\nargument and style, I could not in the pride of my heart avoid showing\nit to my old friend Mr. Wilmot, as I made no doubt of receiving his\napprobation: but not till too late I discovered that he was violently\nattached to the contrary opinion, and with good reason; for he was at\nthat time actually courting a fourth wife. This, as may be expected,\nproduced a dispute attended with some acrimony, which threatened to\ninterrupt our intended alliance; but, on the day before that appointed\nfor the ceremony, we agreed to discuss the subject at large.\nIt was managed with proper spirit on both sides: he asserted that I was\nheterodox; I retorted the charge; he replied, and I rejoined. In the\nmeantime, while the controversy was hottest, I was called out by one of\nmy relations, who, with a face of concern, advised me to give up the\ndispute, at least till my son's wedding was over. \"How!\" cried I,\n\"relinquish the cause of truth, and let him be a husband, already driven\nto the very verge of absurdity? You might as well advise me to give up\nmy fortune as my argument.\" \"Your fortune,\" returned my friend, \"I am\nnow sorry to inform you, is almost nothing. The merchant in town in\nwhose hands your money was lodged, has gone off, to avoid a statute of\nbankruptcy, and is thought not to have left a shilling in the pound. I\nwas unwilling to shock you or the family with the account till after the\nwedding; but now it may serve to moderate your warmth in the argument;\nfor I suppose your own prudence will enforce the necessity of\ndissembling, at least till your son has the young lady's fortune\nsecure.\" \"Well,\" returned I, \"if what you tell me be true, and if I am\nto be a beggar, it shall never make me a rascal, or induce me to disavow\nmy principles. I'll go this moment and inform the company of my\ncircumstances: and as for the argument, I even here retract my former\nconcessions in the old gentleman's favour, nor will I allow him now to\nbe a husband in any sense of the expression.\"\nIt would be useless to describe the different sensations of both\nfamilies, when I divulged the news of our misfortune; but what others\nfelt was slight to what the lovers appeared to endure. Mr. Wilmot, who\nseemed before sufficiently inclined to break off the match, was by this\nblow soon determined: one virtue he had in perfection, which was\nprudence\u2014too often the only one that is left us at seventy-two.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_And take this book too, it will be your comfort on the way._\"\n              _A migration.\u2014The fortunate circumstances of\n                    our lives are generally found at\n                   last to be of our own procuring._\nThe only hope of our family now was, that the report of our misfortune\nmight be malicious or premature: but a letter from my agent in town soon\ncame with a confirmation of every particular. The loss of fortune to\nmyself alone would have been trifling: the only uneasiness I felt was\nfor my family, who were to be humbled, without an education to render\nthem callous to contempt.\nNear a fortnight had passed before I attempted to restrain their\naffliction; for premature consolation is but the remembrancer of sorrow.\nDuring this interval, my thoughts were employed on some future means of\nsupporting them; and at last a small cure of fifteen pounds a year was\noffered me in a distant neighbourhood, where I could still enjoy my\nprinciples without molestation. With this proposal I joyfully closed,\nhaving determined to increase my salary by managing a little farm.\nHaving taken this resolution, my next care was to get together the\nwrecks of my fortune; and, all debts collected and paid, out of fourteen\nthousand pounds we had but four hundred remaining. My chief attention,\ntherefore, was now to bring down the pride of my family to their\ncircumstances; for I well knew that aspiring beggary is wretchedness\nitself. \"You cannot be ignorant, my children,\" cried I, \"that no\nprudence of ours could have prevented our late misfortune; but prudence\nmay do much in disappointing its effects. We are now poor, my fondlings,\nand wisdom bids us to conform to our humble situation. Let us, then,\nwithout repining, give up those splendours with which numbers are\nwretched, and seek, in humbler circumstances, that peace with which all\nmay be happy. The poor live pleasantly without our help; why then should\nnot we learn to live without theirs? No, my children, let us from this\nmoment give up all pretensions to gentility; we have still enough left\nfor happiness if we are wise, and let us draw upon content for the\ndeficiencies of fortune.\"\nAs my eldest son was bred a scholar, I determined to send him to town,\nwhere his abilities might contribute to our support and his own. The\nseparation of friends and families is, perhaps, one of the most\ndistressful circumstances attendant on penury. The day soon arrived on\nwhich we were to disperse for the first time. My son, after taking leave\nof his mother and the rest, who mingled their tears with their kisses,\ncame to ask a blessing from me. This I gave him from my heart, and\nwhich, added to five guineas, was all the patrimony I had now to bestow.\n\"You are going, my boy,\" cried I, \"to London on foot, in the manner\nHooker, your great ancestor, travelled there before you. Take from me\nthe same horse that was given him by the good Bishop Jewel, this staff;\nand take this book too\u2014it will be your comfort on the way; these two\nlines in it are worth a million\u2014_I have been young, and now am old; yet\nnever saw I the righteous man forsaken, nor his seed begging their\nbread_. Let this be your consolation as you travel on. Go, my boy;\nwhatever be thy fortune, let me see thee once a year; still keep a good\nheart, and farewell.\" As he was possessed of integrity and honour, I was\nunder no apprehensions from throwing him naked into the amphitheatre of\nlife; for I knew he would act a good part, whether vanquished or\nvictorious.\nHis departure only prepared the way for our own, which arrived a few\ndays afterwards. The leaving a neighbourhood in which we had enjoyed so\nmany hours of tranquillity was not without a tear, which scarcely\nfortitude itself could suppress. Besides, a journey of seventy miles, to\na family that had hitherto never been above ten from home, filled us\nwith apprehension; and the cries of the poor, who followed us for some\nmiles, contributed to increase it. The first day's journey brought us in\nsafety within thirty miles of our future retreat, and we put up for the\nnight at an obscure inn in a village by the way. When we were shown a\nroom, I desired the landlord, in my usual way, to let us have his\ncompany, with which he complied, as what he drank would increase the\nbill next morning. He knew, however, the whole neighbourhood to which I\nwas removing, particularly Squire Thornhill, who was to be my landlord,\nand who lived within a few miles of the place. This gentleman he\ndescribed as one who desired to know little more of the world than its\npleasures, being particularly remarkable for his attachment to the fair\nsex. He observed, that no virtue was able to resist his arts and\nassiduity, and that there was scarcely a farmer's daughter within ten\nmiles round but what had found him successful and faithless. Though this\naccount gave me some pain, it had a very different effect upon my\ndaughters, whose features seemed to brighten with the expectation of an\napproaching triumph; nor was my wife less pleased and confident of their\nallurements and virtue. While our thoughts were thus employed, the\nhostess entered the room to inform her husband that the strange\ngentleman, who had been two days in the house, wanted money, and could\nnot satisfy them for his reckoning. \"Want money!\" replied the host,\n\"that must be impossible; for it was no later than yesterday he paid\nthree guineas to our beadle to spare an old broken soldier that was to\nbe whipped through the town for dog-stealing.\" The hostess, however,\nstill persisting in her first assertion, he was preparing to leave the\nroom, swearing that he would be satisfied one way or another, when I\nbegged the landlord would introduce me to a stranger of so much charity\nas he described. With this he complied, showing in a gentleman who\nseemed to be about thirty, dressed in clothes that once were laced. His\nperson was well-formed, and his face marked with the lines of thinking.\nHe had something short and dry in his address, and seemed not to\nunderstand ceremony, or to despise it. Upon the landlord's leaving the\nroom, I could not avoid expressing my concern to the stranger at seeing\na gentleman in such circumstances, and offered him my purse to satisfy\nthe present demand. \"I take it with all my heart, sir,\" replied he, \"and\nam glad that a late oversight, in giving what money I had about me, has\nshown me that there are still some men like you. I must, however,\npreviously entreat being informed of the name and residence of my\nbenefactor, in order to repay him as soon as possible.\" In this I\nsatisfied him fully, not only mentioning my name and late misfortune,\nbut the place to which I was going to remove. \"This,\" cried he, \"happens\nstill more luckily than I hoped for, as I am going the same way myself,\nhaving been detained here two days by the floods, which I hope, by\nto-morrow, will be found passable.\" I testified the pleasure I should\nhave in his company, and my wife and daughters joining in entreaty, he\nwas prevailed upon to stay supper. The stranger's conversation, which\nwas at once pleasing and instructive, induced me to wish for a\ncontinuance of it; but it was now high time to retire and take\nrefreshment against the fatigues of the following day.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_My wife and daughters joining in entreaty,\n  he was prevailed upon to stay supper._\"\nThe next morning we all set forward together: my family on horseback,\nwhile Mr. Burchell, our new companion, walked along the foot-path by the\nroad-side, observing, with a smile, that as we were ill mounted he would\nbe too generous to attempt leaving us behind. As the floods were not yet\nsubsided, we were obliged to hire a guide, who trotted on before, Mr.\nBurchell and I bringing up the rear. We lightened the fatigues of the\nroad with philosophical disputes, which he seemed to understand\nperfectly. But what surprised me most was, that though he was a\nmoney-borrower, he defended his opinions with as much obstinacy as if he\nhad been my patron. He now and then also informed me to whom the\ndifferent seats belonged that lay in our view as we travelled the road.\n\"That,\" cried he, pointing to a very magnificent house which stood at\nsome distance, \"belongs to Mr. Thornhill, a young gentleman who enjoys a\nlarge fortune, though entirely dependent on the will of his uncle, Sir\nWilliam Thornhill, a gentleman who, content with a little himself,\npermits his nephew to enjoy the rest, and chiefly resides in town.\"\n\"What!\" cried I, \"is my young landlord then the nephew of a man whose\nvirtues, generosity, and singularities are so universally known? I have\nheard Sir William Thornhill represented as one of the most generous, yet\nwhimsical men in the kingdom; a man of consummate benevolence.\"\n\"Something, perhaps, too much so,\" replied Mr. Burchell; \"at least, he\ncarried benevolence to an excess when young, for his passions were then\nstrong, and as they were all upon the side of virtue, they led it up to\na romantic extreme. He early began to aim at the qualifications of the\nsoldier and the scholar; was soon distinguished in the army, and had\nsome reputation among men of learning. Adulation ever follows the\nambitious; for such alone receive most pleasure from flattery. He was\nsurrounded with crowds, who showed him only one side of their character;\nso that he began to lose a regard for private interest in universal\nsympathy. He loved all mankind; for fortune prevented him from knowing\nthat there were rascals. Physicians tell us of a disorder in which the\nwhole body is so exquisitely sensible, that the slightest touch gives\npain: what some have thus suffered in their persons, this gentleman felt\nin his mind. The slightest distress, whether real or fictitious, touched\nhim to the quick, and his soul laboured under a sickly sensibility of\nthe miseries of others. Thus disposed to relieve, it will be easily\nconjectured he found numbers disposed to solicit: his profusion began to\nimpair his fortune, but not his good-nature; that, indeed, was seen to\nincrease as the other seemed to decay; he grew improvident as he grew\npoor; and though he talked like a man of sense, his actions were those\nof a fool. Still, however, being surrounded with importunity, and no\nlonger able to satisfy every request that was made him, instead of\n_money_ he gave _promises_. They were all he had to bestow, and he had\nnot resolution enough to give any man pain by a denial. By this he drew\nround him crowds of dependents, whom he was sure to disappoint, yet\nwished to relieve. These hung upon him for a time, and left him with\nmerited reproaches and contempt. But in proportion as he became\ncontemptible to others, he became despicable to himself. His mind had\nleaned upon their adulation, and, that support taken away, he could find\nno pleasure in the applause of his heart, which he had never learned to\nreverence. The world now began to wear a different aspect; the flattery\nof his friends began to dwindle into simple approbation. Approbation\nsoon took the more friendly form of advice; and advice, when rejected,\nproduced their reproaches. He now, therefore, found that such friends as\nbenefits had gathered round him were little estimable; he now found that\na man's own heart must be ever given to gain that of another. I now\nfound, that\u2014that\u2014I forget what I was going to observe; in short, sir, he\nresolved to respect himself, and laid down a plan of restoring his\nfalling fortune. For this purpose, in his own whimsical manner, he\ntravelled through Europe on foot, and now, though he has scarcely\nattained the age of thirty, his circumstances are more affluent than\never. At present his bounties are more rational and moderate than\nbefore; but he still preserves the character of a humourist, and finds\nmost pleasure in eccentric virtues.\"\nMy attention was so much taken up by Mr. Burchell's account, that I\nscarcely looked forward as we went along, till we were alarmed by the\ncries of my family; when, turning, I perceived my youngest daughter in\nthe midst of a rapid stream, thrown from her horse, and struggling with\nthe torrent. She had sunk twice, nor was it in my power to disengage\nmyself in time to bring her relief. My sensations were even too violent\nto permit my attempting her rescue: she must have certainly perished,\nhad not my companion, perceiving her danger, instantly plunged in to her\nrelief, and, with some difficulty, brought her in safety to the opposite\nshore. By taking the current a little farther up, the rest of the family\ngot safely over, where we had an opportunity of joining our\nacknowledgments to hers. Her gratitude may be more readily imagined than\ndescribed: she thanked her deliverer more with looks than words, and\ncontinued to lean upon his arm, as if still willing to receive\nassistance. My wife also hoped one day to have the pleasure of returning\nhis kindness at her own house. Thus, after we were refreshed at the next\ninn, and had dined together, as Mr. Burchell was going to a different\npart of the country, he took leave; and we pursued our journey, my wife\nobserving, as he went, that she liked him extremely, and protesting\nthat, if he had birth and fortune to entitle him to match into such a\nfamily as ours, she knew no man she would sooner fix upon. I could not\nbut smile to hear her talk in this lofty strain; but I was never much\ndispleased with those harmless delusions that tend to make us more\nhappy.\n      _A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness,\n         which depends not on circumstances, but constitution._\nThe place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of\nfarmers who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to\nopulence and poverty. As they had almost all the conveniences of life\nwithin themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities in search of\nsuperfluities. Remote from the polite, they still retained the primeval\nsimplicity of manners; and, frugal by habit, they scarcely knew that\ntemperance was a virtue. They wrought with cheerfulness on days of\nlabour; but observed festivals as intervals of idleness and pleasure.\nThey kept up the Christmas carol, sent true-love knots on Valentine\nmorning, ate pancakes on Shrovetide, showed their wit on the first of\nApril, and religiously cracked nuts on Michaelmas-eve. Being apprised of\nour approach, the whole neighbourhood came out to meet their minister,\ndressed in their finest clothes, and preceded by a pipe and tabor; a\nfeast also was provided for our reception, at which we sat cheerfully\ndown; and what the conversation wanted in wit was made up in laughter.\nOur little habitation was situated at the foot of a sloping hill,\nsheltered with a beautiful underwood behind, and a prattling river\nbefore; on one side a meadow, on the other a green. My farm consisted of\nabout twenty acres of excellent land, having given a hundred pounds for\nmy predecessor's goodwill. Nothing could exceed the neatness of my\nlittle enclosures, the elms and hedgerows appearing with inexpressible\nbeauty. My house consisted of but one storey, and was covered with\nthatch, which gave it an air of great snugness; the walls on the inside\nwere nicely whitewashed, and my daughters undertook to adorn them with\npictures of their own designing. Though the same room served us for\nparlour and kitchen, that only made it the warmer. Besides, as it was\nkept with the utmost neatness, the dishes, plates, and coppers being\nwell scoured, and all disposed in bright rows on the shelves, the eye\nwas agreeably relieved, and did not want richer furniture. There were\nthree other apartments\u2014one for my wife and me, another for our two\ndaughters within our own, and the third with two beds for the rest of\nour children.\nThe little republic to which I gave laws was regulated in the following\nmanner: by sunrise we all assembled in our common apartment, the fire\nbeing previously kindled by the servant; after we had saluted each other\nwith proper ceremony\u2014for I always thought fit to keep up some mechanical\nforms of good breeding, without which, freedom ever destroys\nfriendship\u2014we all bent in gratitude to that Being who gave us another\nday. This duty being performed, my son and I went to pursue our usual\nindustry abroad, while my wife and daughters employed themselves in\nproviding breakfast, which was always ready at a certain time. I allowed\nhalf an hour for this meal, and an hour for dinner; which time was taken\nup in innocent mirth between my wife and daughters, and in philosophical\narguments between my son and me.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_Sometimes Farmer Flamborough, our talkative neighbour,\n  and often the blind piper, would pay us a visit._\"\nAs we rose with the sun, so we never pursued our labours after it was\ngone down, but returned home to the expecting family; where smiling\nlooks, a neat hearth, and pleasant fire were prepared for our reception.\nNor were we without guests; sometimes Farmer Flamborough, our talkative\nneighbour, and often the blind piper, would pay us a visit, and taste\nour gooseberry-wine, for the making of which we had lost neither the\nrecipe nor the reputation. These harmless people had several ways of\nbeing good company; for while one played, the other would sing some\nsoothing ballad\u2014Johnny Armstrong's Last Good-night, or the Cruelty of\nBarbara Allen. The night was concluded in the manner we began the\nmorning, my youngest boys being appointed to read the lessons of the\nday; and he that read loudest, distinctest, and best, was to have a\nhalfpenny on Sunday to put into the poor's-box.\nWhen Sunday came, it was indeed a day of finery, which all my sumptuary\nedicts could not restrain. How well soever I fancied my lectures against\npride had conquered the vanity of my daughters, yet I still found them\nsecretly attached to all their former finery; they still loved laces,\nribands, bugles, and catgut; my wife herself retained a passion for her\ncrimson paduasoy, because I formerly happend to say it became her.\nThe first Sunday, in particular, their behaviour served to mortify me. I\nhad desired my girls the preceding night to be dressed early the next\nday; for I always loved to be at church a good while before the rest of\nthe congregation. They punctually obeyed my directions; but when we were\nassembled in the morning at breakfast, down came my wife and daughters,\ndressed out in all their former splendour; their hair plastered up with\npomatum, their faces patched to taste, their trains bundled up into a\nheap behind, and rustling at every motion. I could not help smiling at\ntheir vanity, particularly that of my wife, from whom I expected more\ndiscretion. In this exigence, therefore, my only resource was to order\nmy son, with an important air, to call our coach. The girls were amazed\nat the command; but I repeated it with more solemnity than before.\n\"Surely, my dear, you jest,\" cried my wife; \"we can walk it perfectly\nwell: we want no coach to carry us now.\" \"You mistake, child,\" returned\nI, \"we do want a coach; for if we walk to church in this trim, the very\nchildren in the parish will hoot after us.\" \"Indeed,\" replied my wife,\n\"I always imagined that my Charles was fond of seeing his children neat\nand handsome about him.\" \"You may be as neat as you please,\" interrupted\nI, \"and I shall love you the better for it; but all this is not\nneatness, but frippery. These rufflings, and pinkings, and patchings,\nwill only make us hated by all the wives of our neighbours. No, my\nchildren,\" continued I, more gravely, \"those gowns may be altered into\nsomething of a plainer cut; for finery is very unbecoming in us, who\nwant the means of decency. I do not know whether such flouncing and\nshredding is becoming even in the rich, if we consider, upon a moderate\ncalculation, that the nakedness of the indigent world may be clothed\nfrom the trimmings of the vain.\"\nThis remonstrance had the proper effect: they went with great composure,\nthat very instant, to change their dress; and the next day I had the\nsatisfaction of finding my daughters, at their own request, employed in\ncutting up their trains into Sunday waistcoats for Dick and Bill, the\ntwo little ones; and, what was still more satisfactory, the gowns seemed\nimproved by this curtailing.\n      _A new and great acquaintance introduced.\u2014What we place most\n                hopes upon generally proves most fatal._\nAt a small distance from the house my predecessor had made a seat\novershaded by a hedge of hawthorn and honeysuckle. Here, when the\nweather was fine, and our labour soon finished, we usually sat together\nto enjoy an extensive landscape in the calm of the evening. Here, too,\nwe drank tea, which was now become an occasional banquet; and as we had\nit but seldom, it diffused a new joy, the preparation for it being made\nwith no small share of bustle and ceremony. On these occasions our two\nlittle ones always read for us, and they were regularly served after we\nhad done. Sometimes, to give a variety to our amusements, the girls sung\nto the guitar; and while they thus formed a little concert, my wife and\nI would stroll down the sloping field, that was embellished with\nblue-bells and centaury, talk of our children with rapture, and enjoy\nthe breeze that wafted both health and harmony.\nIn this manner we began to find that every situation in life may bring\nits own peculiar pleasures; every morning waked us to a repetition of\ntoil; but the evening repaid it with vacant hilarity.\nIt was about the beginning of autumn, on a holiday\u2014for I kept such as\nintervals of relaxation from labour\u2014that I had drawn out my family to\nour usual place of amusement, and our young musicians began their usual\nconcert. As we were thus engaged, we saw a stag bound nimbly by, within\nabout twenty paces of where we were sitting, and, by its panting, it\nseemed pressed by the hunters. We had not much time to reflect upon the\npoor animal's distress, when we perceived the dogs and horsemen come\nsweeping along at some distance behind, and making the very path it had\ntaken. I was instantly for returning in with my family; but either\ncuriosity or surprise, or some more hidden motive, held my wife and\ndaughters to their seats. The huntsman, who rode foremost, passed us\nwith great swiftness, followed by four or five persons more, who seemed\nin equal haste. At last, a young gentleman, of a more genteel appearance\nthan the rest, came forward, and for a while regarding us, instead of\npursuing the chase stopped short, and, giving his horse to a servant who\nattended, approached us with a careless, superior air. He seemed to want\nno introduction, but was going to salute my daughters as one certain of\na kind reception; but they had early learned the lesson of looking\npresumption out of countenance. Upon which he let us know that his name\nwas Thornhill, and that he was the owner of the estate that lay for some\nextent around us. He again, therefore, offered to salute the female part\nof the family; and such was the power of fortune and fine clothes, that\nhe found no second repulse. As his address, though confident, was easy,\nwe soon became more familiar; and perceiving musical instruments lying\nnear, he begged to be favoured with a song. As I did not approve of such\ndisproportioned acquaintances, I winked upon my daughters in order to\nprevent their compliance; but my hint was counteracted by one from their\nmother, so that with a cheerful air they gave us a favourite song of\nDryden's. Mr. Thornhill seemed highly delighted with their performance\nand choice, and then took up the guitar himself. He played but very\nindifferently; however, my eldest daughter repaid his former applause\nwith interest, and assured him that his tones were louder than even\nthose of her master. At this compliment he bowed, which she returned by\na curtsey. He praised her taste, and she commended his understanding: an\nage could not have made them better acquainted: while the fond mother\ntoo, equally happy, insisted upon her landlord's stepping in, and taking\na glass of her gooseberry. The whole family seemed earnest to please\nhim: my girls attempted to entertain him with topics they thought most\nmodern; while Moses, on the contrary, gave him a question or two from\nthe ancients, for which he had the satisfaction of being laughed at; my\nlittle ones were no less busy, and fondly stuck close to the stranger.\nAll my endeavours could scarcely keep their dirty fingers from handling\nand tarnishing the lace on his clothes, and lifting up the flaps of his\npocket-holes, to see what was there. At the approach of evening he took\nleave; but not till he had requested permission to renew his visit,\nwhich, as he was our landlord, we most readily agreed to.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_Mr. Thornhill was highly delighted with their\n  performance and choice, and then took the guitar himself._\"\nAs soon as he was gone, my wife called a council on the conduct of the\nday. She was of opinion that it was a most fortunate hit; for she had\nknown even stranger things than that brought to bear. She hoped again to\nsee the day in which we might hold up our heads with the best of them;\nand concluded, she protested she could see no reason why the two Miss\nWrinkles should marry great fortunes, and her children get none. As this\nlast argument was directed to me, I protested I could see no reason for\nit neither; nor why Mr. Simkins got the ten thousand pound prize in the\nlottery, and we set down with a blank. \"I protest, Charles,\" cried my\nwife, \"this is the way you always damp my girls and me when we are in\nspirits. Tell me, Sophy, my dear, what do you think of our new visitor?\nDon't you think he seemed to be good-natured?\" \"Immensely so, indeed,\nmamma,\" replied she; \"I think he has a great deal to say upon\neverything, and is never at a loss; and the more trifling the subject,\nthe more he has to say.\" \"Yes,\" cried Olivia, \"he is well enough for a\nman; but, for my part, I don't much like him, he is so extremely\nimpudent and familiar; but on the guitar he is shocking.\" These two last\nspeeches I interpreted by contraries. I found by this, that Sophia\ninternally despised as much as Olivia secretly admired him. \"Whatever\nmay be your opinions of him, my children,\" cried I, \"to confess the\ntruth, he has not prepossessed me in his favour. Disproportioned\nfriendships ever terminate in disgust; and I thought, notwithstanding\nall his ease, that he seemed perfectly sensible of the distance between\nus. Let us keep to companions of our own rank. There is no character\nmore contemptible than a man that is a fortune-hunter; and I can see no\nreason why fortune-hunting women should not be contemptible too. Thus,\nat best, we shall be contemptible if his views be honourable; but if\nthey be otherwise! I should shudder but to think of that! It is true, I\nhave no apprehensions from the conduct of my children, but I think there\nare some from his character.\" I would have proceeded, but for the\ninterruption of a servant from the squire, who, with his compliments,\nsent us a side of venison, and a promise to dine with us some days\nafter. This well-timed present pleaded more powerfully in his favour\nthan anything I had to say could obviate. I therefore continued silent,\nsatisfied with just having pointed out danger, and leaving it to their\nown discretion to avoid it. That virtue which requires to be ever\nguarded is scarcely worth the sentinel.\n                   _Happiness of a country fireside._\nAs we carried on the former dispute with some degree of warmth, in order\nto accommodate matters it was universally agreed that we should have a\npart of the venison for supper, and the girls undertook the task with\nalacrity. \"I am sorry,\" cried I, \"that we have no neighbour or stranger\nto take part in this good cheer: feasts of this kind acquire a double\nrelish from hospitality.\" \"Bless me!\" cried my wife, \"here comes our\ngood friend, Mr. Burchell, that saved our Sophia, and that run you down\nfairly in the argument.\" \"Confute me in argument, child!\" cried I, \"you\nmistake there, my dear; I believe there are but few that can do that: I\nnever dispute your abilities at making a goose-pie, and I beg you'll\nleave argument to me.\" As I spoke poor Mr. Burchell entered the house,\nand was welcomed by the family, who shook him heartily by the hand,\nwhile little Dick officiously reached him a chair.\nI was pleased with the poor man's friendship for two reasons: because I\nknew that he wanted mine, and I knew him to be friendly as far as he was\nable. He was known in our neighbourhood by the character of the poor\ngentleman that would do no good when he was young, though he was not yet\nthirty. He would at intervals talk with great good sense; but in general\nhe was fondest of the company of children, whom he used to call harmless\nlittle men. He was famous, I found, for singing them ballads and telling\nthem stories; and seldom went out without something in his pockets for\nthem\u2014a piece of gingerbread, or a halfpenny whistle. He generally came\nfor a few days into our neighbourhood once a year, and lived upon the\nneighbours' hospitality. He sat down to supper among us, and my wife was\nnot sparing of her gosseberry-wine. The tale went round; he sung us old\nsongs, and gave the children the story of the Buck of Beverland, with\nthe History of Patient Grizzel, the Adventures of Catskin, and then Fair\nRosamond's Bower. Our cock, which always crew at eleven, now told us it\nwas time for repose; but an unforeseen difficulty started about lodging\nthe stranger: all our beds were already taken up, and it was too late to\nsend him to the next alehouse. In this dilemma, little Dick offered him\nhis part of the bed, if his brother Moses would let him lie with him.\n\"And I,\" cried Bill, \"will give Mr. Burchell my part, if my sisters will\ntake me to theirs.\" \"Well done, my good children,\" cried I, \"hospitality\nis one of the first Christian duties. The beast retires to its shelter,\nand the bird flies to its nest; but helpless man can only find refuge\nfrom his fellow-creature. The greatest stranger in this world was He\nthat came to save it: He never had a house, as if willing to see what\nhospitality was left remaining amongst us. Deborah, my dear,\" cried I to\nmy wife, \"give those boys a lump of sugar each; and let Dick's be the\nlargest, because he spoke first.\"\nIn the morning early, I called out my whole family to help at saving an\nafter-growth of hay, and our guest offering his assistance, he was\naccepted among the number. Our labours went on lightly; we turned the\nswath to the wind; I went foremost, and the rest followed in due\nsuccession. I could not avoid, however, observing the assiduity of Mr.\nBurchell in aiding my daughter Sophia in her part of the task. When he\nhad finished his own, he would join in hers, and enter into a close\nconversation: but I had too good an opinion of Sophia's understanding,\nand was too well convinced of her ambition, to be under any uneasiness\nfrom a man of broken fortune. When we were finished for the day, Mr.\nBurchell was invited as on the night before, but he refused, as he was\nto lie that night at a neighbour's, to whose child he was carrying a\nwhistle. When gone, our conversation at supper turned upon our late\nunfortunate guest. \"What a strong instance,\" said I, \"is that poor man\nof the miseries attending a youth of levity and extravagance! He by no\nmeans wants sense, which only serves to aggravate his former folly. Poor\nforlorn creature! where are now the revellers, the flatterers, that he\ncould once inspire and command? Gone, perhaps, to attend the bagnio\npandar, grown rich by his extravagance. They once praised him, and now\nthey applaud the pandar: their former raptures at his wit are now\nconverted into sarcasms at his folly: he is poor, and perhaps deserves\npoverty; for he has neither the ambition to be independent nor the skill\nto be useful.\" Prompted perhaps by some secret reasons, I delivered this\nobservation with too much acrimony, which my Sophia gently reproved.\n\"Whatsoever his former conduct may have been, papa, his circumstances\nshould exempt him from censure now. His present indigence is a\nsufficient punishment for former folly: and I have heard my papa himself\nsay, that we should never strike one unnecessary blow at a victim over\nwhom Providence holds the scourge of its resentment.\" \"You are right,\nSophy,\" cried my son Moses; \"and one of the ancients finely represents\nso malicious a conduct, by the attempts of a rustic to flay Marsyas,\nwhose skin, the fable tells us, had been wholly stripped off by another;\nbesides, I don't know if this poor man's situation be so bad as my\nfather would represent it. We are not to judge of the feelings of others\nby what we might feel if in their place. However dark the habitation of\nthe mole to our eyes, yet the animal itself finds the apartments\nsufficiently lightsome. And, to confess the truth, this man's mind seems\nfitted to his station; for I never heard any one more sprightly than he\nwas to-day, when he conversed with you.\" This was said without the least\ndesign: however, it excited a blush, which she strove to cover by an\naffected laugh; assuring him that she scarcely took any notice of what\nhe said to her, but that she believed he might once have been a very\nfine gentleman. The readiness with which she undertook to vindicate\nherself, and her blushing, were symptoms I did not internally approve;\nbut I repressed my suspicions.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_I could not avoid, however, observing\n  the assiduity of Mr. Burchell in aiding my\n  daughter Sophia in her part of the task._\"\nAs we expected our landlord the next day, my wife went to make the\nvenison-pasty; Moses sat reading, while I taught the little ones: my\ndaughters seemed equally busy with the rest; and I observed them for a\ngood while cooking something over the fire. I at first supposed they\nwere assisting their mother; but little Dick informed me, in a whisper,\nthat they were making a wash for the face. Washes of all kinds I had a\nnatural antipathy to; for I knew that, instead of mending the\ncomplexion, they spoiled it. I therefore approached my chair by slow\ndegrees to the fire, and grasping the poker, as if it wanted mending,\nseemingly by accident overturned the whole composition, and it was too\nlate to begin another.\n          _A town wit described.\u2014The dullest fellows may learn\n                   to be comical for a night or two._\nWhen the morning arrived on which we were to entertain our young\nlandlord, it may be easily supposed what provisions were exhausted to\nmake an appearance. It may be also conjectured, that my wife and\ndaughters expanded their gayest plumage on this occasion. Mr. Thornhill\ncame with a couple of friends, his chaplain and feeder. The servants,\nwho were numerous, he politely ordered to the next alehouse: but my\nwife, in the triumph of her heart, insisted on entertaining them all;\nfor which, by the bye, our family was pinched for three weeks after. As\nMr. Burchell had hinted to us, the day before, that he was making some\nproposals of marriage to Miss Wilmot, my son George's former mistress,\nthis a good deal damped the heartiness of his reception: but accident in\nsome measure relieved our embarrassment; for one of the company\nhappening to mention her name, Mr. Thornhill observed with an oath, that\nhe never knew anything more absurd than calling such a fright a beauty.\n\"For, strike me ugly!\" continued he, \"if I should not find as much\npleasure in choosing my mistress by the information of a lamp under the\nclock of St. Dunstan's.\" At this he laughed, and so did we: the jests of\nthe rich are ever successful. Olivia, too, could not avoid whispering,\nloud enough to be heard, that he had an infinite fund of humour.\nAfter dinner, I began with my usual toast, the Church; for this I was\nthanked by the chaplain, as he said the Church was the only mistress of\nhis affections. \"Come, tell us honestly, Frank,\" said the squire, with\nhis usual archness, \"suppose the Church, your present mistress, dressed\nin lawn sleeves, on one hand, and Miss Sophia, with no lawn about her,\non the other, which would you be for?\" \"For both, to be sure,\" cried the\nchaplain, \"Right, Frank!\" cried the squire; \"for may this glass\nsuffocate me, but a fine girl is worth all the priestcraft in the\ncreation; for what are tithes and tricks but an imposition, all a\nconfounded imposture? and I can prove it.\" \"I wish you would,\" cried my\nson Moses; \"and I think,\" continued he, \"that I should be able to answer\nyou.\" \"Very well, sir,\" cried the squire, who immediately smoked him,\nand winked on the rest of the company to prepare us for the sport: \"if\nyou are for a cool argument upon the subject, I am ready to accept the\nchallenge. And first, whether are you for managing it analogically or\ndialogically?\" \"I am for managing it rationally,\" cried Moses, quite\nhappy at being permitted to dispute. \"Good again!\" cried the squire;\n\"and, firstly, of the first I hope you'll not deny that whatever is, is:\nif you don't grant me that, I can go no further.\" \"Why,\" returned Moses,\n\"I think I may grant that, and make the best of it.\" \"I hope, too,\"\nreturned the other, \"you will grant that a part is less than the whole?\"\n\"I grant that too,\" cried Moses: \"it is but just and reasonable.\" \"I\nhope,\" cried the squire, \"you will not deny, that the three angles of a\ntriangle are equal to two right ones?\" \"Nothing can be plainer,\"\nreturned t'other, and looked round him with his usual importance. \"Very\nwell,\" cried the squire, speaking very quick; \"the premises being thus\nsettled, I proceed to observe, that the concatenation of\nself-existences, proceeding in a reciprocal duplicate ratio, naturally\nproduce a problematical dialogism, which, in some measure, proves that\nthe essence of spirituality may be referred to the second predicable.\"\n\"Hold, hold!\" cried the other, \"I deny that. Do you think I can thus\ntamely submit to such heterodox doctrines?\" \"What!\" replied the squire,\nas if in a passion, \"not submit! Answer me one plain question. Do you\nthink Aristotle right when he says that relatives are related?\"\n\"Undoubtedly,\" replied the other. \"If so, then,\" cried the squire,\n\"answer me directly to what I propose: Whether do you judge the\nanalytical investigation of the first part of my enthymem deficient\n_secundum quoad_, or _quoad minus_? and give me your reasons, I say,\ndirectly.\" \"I protest,\" cried Moses, \"I don't rightly comprehend the\nforce of your reasoning; but if it be reduced to one single,\nproposition, I fancy it may then have an answer.\" \"Oh, sir,\" cried the\nsquire, \"I am your most humble servant: I find you want me to furnish\nyou with argument and intellects too. No, sir! there I protest you are\ntoo hard for me.\" This effectually raised the laugh against poor Moses,\nwho sat the only dismal figure in a group of merry faces; nor did he\noffer a single syllable more during the whole entertainment.\nBut though all this gave me no pleasure, it had a very different effect\nupon Olivia, who mistook it for humour, though but a mere act of memory.\nShe thought him, therefore, a very fine gentleman; and such as consider\nwhat powerful ingredients a good figure, fine clothes, and fortune are\nin that character, will easily forgive her. Mr. Thornhill,\nnotwithstanding his real ignorance, talked with ease, and could\nexpatiate upon the common topics of conversation with fluency. It is not\nsurprising, then, that such talents should win the affections of a girl\nwho, by education, was taught to value an appearance in herself, and\nconsequently to set a value upon it in another.\nUpon his departure, we again entered into a debate upon the merits of\nour young landlord. As he directed his looks and conversation to Olivia,\nit was no longer doubted but that she was the object that induced him to\nbe our visitor. Nor did she seem to be much displeased at the innocent\nraillery of her brother and sister upon this occasion. Even Deborah\nherself seemed to share the glory of the day, and exulted in her\ndaughter's victory, as if it were her own. \"And now, my dear,\" cried she\nto me, \"I'll fairly own that it was I who instructed my girls to\nencourage our landlord's addresses. I had always some ambition, and you\nnow see that I was right; for who knows how this may end?\" \"Ay, who\nknows that, indeed!\" answered I, with a groan: \"for my part, I don't\nmuch like it; and I could have been better pleased with one that was\npoor and honest, than this fine gentleman with his fortune and\ninfidelity; for, depend on't, if he be what I suspect him, no\nfreethinker shall ever have a child of mine.\"\n\"Sure, father,\" cried Moses, \"You are too severe in this; for Heaven\nwill never arraign him for what he thinks, but for what he does. Every\nman has a thousand vicious thoughts, which arise without his power to\nsuppress. Thinking freely of religion may be involuntary with this\ngentleman; so that, allowing his sentiments to be wrong, yet, as he is\npurely passive in his assent, he is no more to be blamed for his errors\nthan the governor of a city without walls for the shelter he is obliged\nto afford an invading enemy.\"\n\"True, my son,\" cried I; \"but if the governor invites the enemy there,\nhe is justly culpable; and such is always the case with those who\nembrace error. The vice does not lie in assenting to the proofs they\nsee, but in being blind to many of the proofs that offer. So that,\nthough our erroneous opinions be involuntary when formed, yet, as we\nhave been wilfully corrupt or very negligent in forming them, we deserve\npunishment for our vice, or contempt for our folly.\"\n[Illustration:\n  \"_And when he bought each of the girls a\n  set of ribands, hers was the finest._\"\u2014_p._ 30.\nMy wife now kept up the conversation, though not the argument: she\nobserved, that several very prudent men of our acquaintance were\nfreethinkers, and made very good husbands; and she knew some sensible\ngirls that had had skill enough to make converts of their spouses. \"And\nwho knows, my dear,\" continued she, \"what Olivia may be able to do? The\ngirl has a great deal to say upon every subject, and, to my knowledge,\nis very well skilled in controversy.\"\n\"Why, my dear, what controversy can she have read? \"cried I. \"It does\nnot occur to me that I ever put such books into her hands: you certainly\nover-rate her merit.\" \"Indeed, papa,\" replied Olivia, \"she does not; I\nhave read a great deal of controversy. I have read the disputes between\nThwackum and Square; the controversy between Robinson Crusoe and Friday\nthe savage; and I am now employed in reading the controversy in\n'Religious Courtship.'\" \"Very well,\" cried I: \"that's a good girl; I\nfind you are perfectly qualified for making converts, and so go help\nyour mother to make the gooseberry-pie.\"\n             _An amour, which promises little good fortune,\n                    yet may be productive of much._\nThe next morning we were again visited by Mr. Burchell, though I began,\nfor certain reasons, to be displeased with the frequency of his return;\nbut I could not refuse him my company and my fireside. It is true, his\nlabour more than requited his entertainment; for he wrought among us\nwith vigour, and, either in the meadow or at the hay-rick, put himself\nforemost. Besides, he had always something amusing to say that lessened\nour toil, and was at once so out of the way, and yet so sensible, that I\nloved, laughed at, and pitied him. My only dislike arose from an\nattachment he discovered to my daughter: he would, in a jesting manner,\ncall her his little mistress; and when he bought each of the girls a set\nof ribands, hers was the finest. I knew not how, but he every day seemed\nto become more amiable, his wit to improve, and his simplicity to assume\nthe superior airs of wisdom.\nOur family dined in the field, and we sat, or rather reclined, round a\ntemperate repast, our cloth spread upon the hay, while Mr. Burchell gave\ncheerfulness to the feast. To heighten our satisfaction, two blackbirds\nanswered each other from the opposite hedges, the familiar redbreast\ncame and pecked the crumbs from our hands, and every sound seemed but\nthe echo of tranquillity. \"I never sit thus,\" says Sophia, \"but I think\nof the two lovers, so sweetly described by Mr. Gay, who were struck dead\nin each other's arms. There is something so pathetic in the description,\nthat I have read it a hundred times with new rapture.\" \"In my opinion,\"\ncried my son, \"the finest strokes in that description are much below\nthose in the 'Acis and Galatea' of Ovid. The Roman poet understands the\nuse of _contrast_ better, and upon that figure, artfully managed, all\nstrength in the pathetic depends.\" \"It is remarkable,\" cried Mr.\nBurchell, \"that both the poets you mention have equally contributed to\nintroduce a false taste into their respective countries, by loading all\ntheir lines with epithet. Men of little genius found them most easily\nimitated in their defects; and English poetry, like that in the latter\nempire of Rome, is nothing at present but a combination of luxuriant\nimages, without plot or connection\u2014a string of epithets that improve the\nsound without carrying on the sense. But perhaps, madam, while I thus\nreprehend others, you'll think it just that I should give them an\nopportunity to retaliate; and, indeed, I have made this remark only to\nhave an opportunity of introducing to the company a ballad, which,\nwhatever be its other defects, is, I think, at least free from those I\nhave mentioned.\"\nA BALLAD.\n \"Turn, gentle hermit of the dale,\n   And guide my lonely way\n To where yon taper cheers the vale\n   With hospitable ray.\n \"For here forlorn and lost I tread,\n   With fainting steps and slow;\n Where wilds, immeasurably spread,\n   Seem lengthening as I go.\"\n \"Forbear, my son,\" the hermit cries,\n   \"To tempt the dangerous gloom;\n For yonder faithless phantom flies\n   To lure thee to thy doom.\n \"Here to the houseless child of want\n   My door is open still\n And though my portion is but scant,\n   I give it with good will.\n \"Then turn to-night, and freely share\n   Whate'er my cell bestows;\n My rushy couch and frugal fare,\n   My blessing, and repose.\n \"No flocks that range the valley free\n   To slaughter I condemn;\n Taught by that Power that pities me,\n   I learn to pity them.\n \"But from the mountain's grassy side\n   A guiltless feast I bring;\n A scrip with herbs and fruits supplied,\n   And water from the spring.\n \"Then, pilgrim, turn, thy cares forego;\n   All earth-born cares are wrong;\n Man wants but little here below,\n   Nor wants that little long.\"\n Soft as the dew from heaven descends,\n   His gentle accents fell:\n The modest stranger lowly bends,\n   And follows to the cell.\n Far in a wilderness obscure\n   The lonely mansion lay;\n A refuge to the neighbouring poor,\n   And strangers led astray.\n No stores beneath its humble thatch\n   Required a master's care;\n The wicket, opening with a latch,\n   Received the harmless pair.\n And now, when busy crowds retire,\n   To take their evening rest,\n The hermit trimmed his little fire\n   And cheered his pensive guest;\n And spread his vegetable store,\n   And gaily pressed, and smiled;\n And skilled in legendary lore\n   The lingering hours beguiled.\n Around, in sympathetic mirth,\n   Its tricks the kitten tries;\n The cricket chirrups in the hearth\n   The crackling faggot flies.\n But nothing could a charm impart\n   To soothe the stranger's woe;\n For grief was heavy at his heart,\n   And tears began to flow.\n His rising cares the hermit spied,\n   With answering care opprest:\n \"And whence, unhappy youth,\" he cried,\n   \"The sorrows of thy breast?\n \"From better habitations spurned,\n   Reluctant dost thou rove?\n Or grieve for friendship unreturned,\n   Or unregarded love?\n \"Alas! the joys that fortune brings\n   Are trifling and decay;\n And those who prize the paltry things,\n   More trifling still than they.\n \"And what is friendship but a name,\n   A charm that lulls to sleep,\n A shade that follows wealth or fame,\n   But leaves the wretch to weep?\n \"And love is still an emptier sound,\n   The modern fair one's jest;\n On earth unseen, or only found\n   To warm the turtle's nest.\n \"For shame, fond youth, thy sorrows hush,\n   And spurn the sex,\" he said:\n But while he spoke, a rising blush\n   His love-lorn guest betrayed.\n Surprised he sees new beauties rise,\n   Swift mantling to the view;\n Like colours o'er the morning skies,\n   As bright, as transient too.\n The bashful look, the rising breast,\n   Alternate spread alarms:\n The lovely stranger stands confest\n   A maid in all her charms!\n And \"Ah, forgive a stranger rude,\n   A wretch forlorn,\" she cried;\n \"Whose feet unhallowed thus intrude\n   Where heaven and you reside.\n \"But let a maid thy pity share,\n   Whom love has taught to stray;\n Who seeks for rest, but finds despair\n   Companion of her way.\n \"My father lived beside the Tyne,\n   A wealthy lord was he:\n And all his wealth was marked as mine;\n   He had but only me.\n \"To win me from his tender arms,\n   Unnumbered suitors came;\n Who praised me for imputed charms,\n   And felt or feigned a flame.\n \"Each hour a mercenary crowd\n   With richest proffers strove;\n Among the rest young Edwin bowed,\n   But never talked of love.\n \"In humble, simplest habit clad,\n   No wealth nor power had he;\n Wisdom and worth were all he had,\n   But these were all to me.\n \"The blossom opening to the day,\n   The dews of heaven refined,\n Could nought of purity display\n   To emulate his mind.\n \"The dew, the blossom on the tree,\n   With charms inconstant shine;\n Their charms were his, but, woe is me!\n   Their constancy was mine!\n \"For still I tried each fickle art,\n   Importunate and vain;\n And while his passion touched my heart,\n   I triumphed in his pain.\n \"Till quite dejected with my scorn,\n   He left me to my pride;\n And sought a solitude forlorn,\n   In secret where he died.\n \"But mine the sorrow, mine the fault,\n   And well my life shall pay;\n I'll seek the solitude he sought,\n   And stretch me where he lay.\n \"And there forlorn, despairing, hid,\n   I'll lay me down and die;\n 'Twas so for me that Edwin did,\n   And so for him will I.\"\u2014\n \"Forbid it, Heaven!\" the hermit cried,\n   And clasped her to his breast:\n The wond'ring fair one turned to chide,\u2014\n   'Twas Edwin's self that prest!\n \"Turn, Angelina, ever dear,\n   My charmer, turn to see\n Thy own, thy long-lost Edwin here,\n   Restored to love and thee!\n \"Thus let me hold thee to my heart,\n   And every care resign:\n And shall we never, never part,\n   My life\u2014my all that's mine?\n \"No, never from this hour to part,\n   We'll live and love so true;\n The sigh that rends thy constant heart\n   Shall break thy Edwin's too.\"\n[Illustration:\n  \"_Two young ladies richly dressed, whom\n  he introduced as women of very great\n  distinction and fashion from town._\"\u2014_p._ 35.\nWhile this ballad was reading, Sophia seemed to mix an air of tenderness\nwith her approbation. But our tranquillity was soon disturbed by the\nreport of a gun just by us; and, immediately after, a man was seen\nbursting through the hedge to take up the game he had killed. This\nsportsman was the squire's chaplain, who had shot one of the blackbirds\nthat so agreeably entertained us. So loud a report, and so near,\nstartled my daughters; and I could perceive that Sophia, in the fright,\nhad thrown herself into Mr. Burchell's arms for protection. The\ngentleman came up, and asked pardon for having disturbed us, affirming\nthat he was ignorant of our being so near. He therefore sat down by my\nyoungest daughter, and, sportsman like, offered her what he had killed\nthat morning. She was going to refuse, but a private look from her\nmother soon induced her to correct the mistake, and accept his present,\nthough with some reluctance. My wife, as usual, discovered her pride in\na whisper; observing that Sophy had made a conquest of the chaplain, as\nwell as her sister had of the squire. I suspected, however, with more\nprobability, that her affections were placed upon a different object.\nThe chaplain's errand was to inform us that Mr. Thornhill had provided\nmusic and refreshments, and intended that night giving the young ladies\na ball by moonlight on the grass-plot before our door. \"Nor can I deny,\"\ncontinued he, \"that I have an interest in being first to deliver this\nmessage, as I expect for my reward to be honoured with Miss Sophia's\nhand as a partner.\" To this my girl replied that she should have no\nobjection, \"if she could do it with honour. But here,\" continued she,\n\"is a gentleman,\" looking at Mr. Burchell, \"who has been my companion in\nthe task of the day, and it is fit he should share in its amusements.\"\nMr. Burchell returned her a compliment for her intentions, but resigned\nher up to the chaplain, adding, that he was to go that night five miles,\nbeing invited to a harvest supper. His refusal appeared to me a little\nextraordinary; nor could I conceive how so sensible a girl as my\nyoungest could thus prefer a man of broken fortunes to one whose\nexpectations were much greater. But as men are most capable of\ndistinguishing merit in women, so the ladies often form the truest\njudgment of us. The two sexes seem placed as spies upon each other, and\nare furnished with different abilities, adapted for mutual inspection.\n         _Two ladies of great distinction introduced.\u2014Superior\n            finery ever seems to confer superior breeding_.\nMr. Burchell had scarcely taken leave, and Sophia consented to dance\nwith the chaplain, when my little ones came running out to tell us that\nthe squire was come with a crowd of company. Upon our return, we found\nour landlord with a couple of under-gentlemen and two young ladies\nrichly dressed, whom he introduced as women of very great distinction\nand fashion from town. We happened not to have chairs enough for the\nwhole company; but Mr. Thornhill immediately proposed that every\ngentleman should sit in a lady's lap. This I positively objected to,\nnotwithstanding a look of disapprobation from my wife. Moses was\ntherefore despatched to borrow a couple of chairs; and, as we were in\nwant of ladies to make up a set at country-dances, the two gentlemen\nwent with him in quest of a couple of partners. Chairs and partners were\nsoon provided. The gentlemen returned with my neighbour Flamborough's\nrosy daughters, flaunting with red top-knots. But an unlucky\ncircumstance was not adverted to: though the Miss Flamboroughs were\nreckoned the very best dancers in the parish, and understood the jig and\nthe round-about to perfection, yet they were totally unacquainted with\ncountry-dances. This at first discomposed us; however, after a little\nshoving and dragging, they at last went merrily on. Our music consisted\nof two fiddles, with a pipe and tabor. The moon shone bright: Mr.\nThornhill and my eldest daughter led up the ball, to the great delight\nof the spectators; for the neighbours, hearing what was going forward,\ncame flocking about us. My girl moved with so much grace and vivacity,\nthat my wife could not avoid discovering the pride of her heart, by\nassuring me that, though the little chit did it so cleverly, all the\nsteps were stolen from herself. The ladies of the town strove hard to be\nequally easy, but without success. They swam, sprawled, languished, and\nfrisked; but all would not do: the gazers, indeed, owned that it was\nfine; but neighbour Flamborough observed that Miss Livy's feet seemed as\npat to the music as its echo. After the dance had continued about an\nhour, the two ladies, who were apprehensive of catching cold, moved to\nbreak up the ball. One of them, I thought, expressed her sentiments upon\nthis occasion in a very coarse manner, when she observed, that, by the\n_living jingo, she was all of a muck of sweat_. Upon our return to the\nhouse we found a very elegant cold supper, which Mr. Thornhill had\nordered to be brought with him. The conversation at this time was more\nreserved than before. The two ladies threw my girls quite into the\nshade: for they would talk of nothing but high life and high-lived\ncompany; with other fashionable topics, such as pictures, taste,\nShakespeare, and the musical glasses. 'Tis true, they once or twice\nmortified us sensibly by slipping out an oath; but that appeared to me\nas the surest symptom of their distinction (though I am since informed\nthat swearing is perfectly unfashionable). Their finery, however, threw\na veil over any grossness in their conversation. My daughters seemed to\nregard their superior accomplishments with envy; and whatever appeared\namiss was ascribed to tip-top quality breeding. But the condescension of\nthe ladies was still superior to their other accomplishments. One of\nthem observed, that, had Miss Olivia seen a little more of the world, it\nwould greatly improve her. To which the other added, that a single\nwinter in town would make her little Sophia quite another thing. My wife\nwarmly assented to both; adding that there was nothing she more ardently\nwished than to give her girls a single winter's polishing. To this I\ncould not help replying that their breeding was already superior to\ntheir fortune; and that greater refinement would only serve to make\ntheir poverty ridiculous, and give them a taste for pleasures they had\nno right to possess. \"And what pleasures,\" cried Mr. Thornhill, \"do they\nnot deserve to possess, who have so much in their power to bestow? As\nfor my part,\" continued he, \"my fortune is pretty large; love, liberty,\nand pleasure are my maxims; but, curse me! if a settlement of half my\nestate could give my charming Olivia pleasure, it should be hers; and\nthe only favour I would ask in return would be to add myself to the\nbenefit.\" I was not such a stranger to the world as to be ignorant that\nthis was the fashionable cant to disguise the insolence of the basest\nproposal; but I made an effort to suppress my resentment. \"Sir,\" cried\nI, \"the family which you now condescend to favour with your company has\nbeen bred with as nice a sense of honour as you. Any attempts to injure\nthat may be attended with very dangerous consequences. Honour, sir, is\nour only possession at present, and of that last treasure we must be\nparticularly careful.\" I was soon sorry for the warmth with which I had\nspoken this, when the young gentleman, grasping my hand, swore he\ncommended my spirit, though he disapproved my suspicions. \"As to your\npresent hint,\" continued he, \"I protest nothing was further from my\nheart than such a thought. No, by all that's tempting, the virtue that\nwill stand a regular siege was never to my taste; for all my amours are\ncarried by a _coup-de-main_.\"\n[Illustration:\n  \"_The tawny sybil no sooner appeared than\n  my girls came running to me for a shilling\n  a-piece to cross her hand with silver._\"\u2014_p._ 38.\nThe two ladies, who affected to be ignorant of the rest, seemed highly\ndispleased with this last stroke of freedom, and began a very discreet\nand serious dialogue upon virtue. In this my wife, the chaplain, and I\nsoon joined; and the squire himself was at last brought to confess a\nsense of sorrow for his former excesses. We talked of the pleasures of\ntemperance, and of the sunshine in the mind unpolluted with guilt. I was\nso well pleased, that my little ones were kept up beyond the usual time\nto be edified by so much good conversation. Mr. Thornhill even went\nbeyond me, and demanded if I had any objection to giving prayers. I\njoyfully embraced the proposal; and in this manner the night was passed\nin a most comfortable way, till at length the company began to think of\nreturning. The ladies seemed very unwilling to part with my daughters,\nfor whom they had conceived a particular affection, and joined in a\nrequest to have the pleasure of their company home. The squire seconded\nthe proposal, and my wife added her entreaties; the girls, too, looked\nupon me as if they wished to go. In this perplexity I made two or three\nexcuses, which my daughters as readily removed; so that at last I was\nobliged to give a peremptory refusal; for which we had nothing but\nsullen looks and short answers for the whole day ensuing.\n         _The family endeavour to cope with their betters.\u2014The\n         miseries of the poor when they attempt to appear above\nI now began to find that all my long and painful lectures upon\ntemperance, simplicity, and contentment, were entirely disregarded. The\ndistinctions lately paid us by our betters awakened that pride which I\nhad laid asleep, but not removed. Our windows again, as formerly, were\nfilled with washes for the neck and face. The sun was dreaded as an\nenemy to the skin without doors, and the fire as a spoiler of the\ncomplexion within. My wife observed, that rising too early would hurt\nher daughters' eyes, that working after dinner would redden their noses,\nand she convinced me that the hands never looked so white as when they\ndid nothing. Instead, therefore, of finishing George's shirts, we now\nhad them new-modelling their old gauzes, or flourishing upon catgut. The\npoor Miss Flamboroughs, their former gay companions, were cast off as\nmean acquaintance, and the whole conversation now ran upon high life and\nhigh-lived company, with pictures, taste, Shakespeare, and the musical\nglasses.\nBut we could have borne all this had not a fortune-telling gipsy come to\nraise us into perfect sublimity. The tawny sybil no sooner appeared than\nmy girls came running to me for a shilling a-piece to cross her hand\nwith silver. To say the truth, I was tired of being always wise, and\ncould not help gratifying their request, because I loved to see them\nhappy. I gave each of them a shilling; though, for the honour of the\nfamily, it must be observed that they never went without money\nthemselves, as my wife always generously let them have a guinea each to\nkeep in their pockets, but with strict injunctions never to change it.\nAfter they had been closeted up with the fortune-teller for some time, I\nknew by their looks, upon their returning, that they had been promised\nsomething great. \"Well, my girls, how have you sped? Tell me, Livy, has\nthe fortune-teller given thee a pennyworth?\" \"I protest, papa,\" says the\ngirl, \"I believe she deals with somebody that's not right; for she\npositively declared that I am to be married to a squire in less than a\ntwelvemonth!\" \"Well, now, Sophy, my child,\" said I, \"and what sort of a\nhusband are you to have?\" \"Sir,\" replied she, \"I am to have a lord soon\nafter my sister has married the squire.\" \"How!\" cried I, \"is that all\nyou are to have for your two shillings? Only a lord and a squire for two\nshillings? You fools, I could have promised you a prince and a nabob for\nhalf the money.\"\nThis curiosity of theirs, however, was attended with very serious\neffects: we now began to think ourselves designed by the stars to\nsomething exalted, and already anticipated our future grandeur.\nIt has been a thousand times observed, and I must observe it once more,\nthat the hours we pass with happy prospects in view are more pleasing\nthan those crowned with fruition. In the first case, we cook the dish to\nour own appetite; in the latter, nature cooks it for us. It is\nimpossible to repeat the train of agreeable reveries we called up for\nour entertainment. We looked upon our fortunes as once more rising; and\nas the whole parish asserted that the squire was in love with my\ndaughter, she was actually so with him; for they persuaded her into the\npassion. In this agreeable interval my wife had the most lucky dreams in\nthe world, which she took care to tell us every morning with great\nsolemnity and exactness. It was one night a coffin and cross-bones, the\nsign of an approaching wedding; at another time she imagined her\ndaughters' pockets filled with farthings, a certain sign that they would\nshortly be stuffed with gold. The girls themselves had their omens: they\nfelt strange kisses on their lips; they saw rings in the candle; purses\nbounced from the fire; and true-love knots lurked in the bottom of every\ntea-cup.\nTowards the end of the week we received a card from the town ladies, in\nwhich, with their compliments, they hoped to see all our family at\nchurch the Sunday following. All Saturday morning I could perceive, in\nconsequence of this, my wife and daughters in close conference together,\nand now and then glancing at me with looks that betrayed a latent plot.\nTo be sincere, I had strong suspicions that some absurd proposal was\npreparing for appearing with splendour the next day. In the evening they\nbegan their operations in a very regular manner, and my wife undertook\nto conduct the siege. After tea, when I seemed in spirits, she began\nthus: \"I fancy, Charles, my dear, we shall have a great deal of good\ncompany at our church to-morrow.\" \"Perhaps we may, my dear,\" returned I;\n\"though you need be under no uneasiness about that\u2014you shall have a\nsermon whether there be or not.\" \"That is what I expect,\" returned she;\n\"but I think, my dear, we ought to appear there as decently as possible,\nfor who knows what may happen?\" \"Your precautions,\" replied I, \"are\nhighly commendable. A decent behaviour and appearance at church is what\ncharms me. We should be devout and humble, cheerful and serene.\" \"Yes,\"\ncried she, \"I know that; but I mean we should go there in as proper a\nmanner as possible; not altogether like the scrubs about us.\" \"You are\nquite right, my dear,\" returned I, \"and I was going to make the very\nsame proposal. The proper manner of going is, to go there as early as\npossible, to have time for meditation before the service begins.\" \"Phoo!\nCharles,\" interrupted she, \"all that is very true, but not what I would\nbe at. I mean, we should go there genteelly. You know the church is two\nmiles off, and I protest I don't like to see my daughters trudging up to\ntheir pew all blowzed and red with walking, and looking for all the\nworld as if they had been winners at a smock-race. Now, my dear, my\nproposal is this\u2014there are our two plough-horses, the colt that has been\nin our family these nine years, and his companion Blackberry, that has\nscarcely done an earthly thing for this month past; they are both grown\nfat and lazy: why should they not do something as well as we? And let me\ntell you, when Moses has trimmed them a little they will cut a very\ntolerable figure.\"\nTo this proposal I objected that walking would be twenty times more\ngenteel than such a paltry conveyance, as Blackberry was wall-eyed, and\nthe colt wanted a tail; that they had never been broke to the rein, but\nhad a hundred vicious tricks; and that we had but one saddle and pillion\nin the whole house. All these objections, however, were overruled; so\nthat I was obliged to comply. The next morning I perceived them not a\nlittle busy in collecting such materials as might be necessary for the\nexpedition; but, as I found it would be a work of time, I walked on to\nthe church before, and they promised speedily to follow. I waited near\nan hour in the reading desk for their arrival; but, not finding them\ncome as was expected, I was obliged to begin, and went through the\nservice, not without some uneasiness at finding them absent.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_But a thing of this kind, madam,\" cried she, addressing\n  my spouse, \"requires a thorough examination into characters,\n  and a more perfect knowledge of each other._\"\u2014_p._ 46.\nThis was increased when all was finished, and no appearance of the\nfamily. I therefore walked back by the horse-way, which was five miles\nround, though the footway was but two; and when I got about half way\nhome, perceived the procession marching slowly forward towards the\nchurch\u2014my son, my wife, and the two little ones exalted upon one horse,\nand my two daughters upon the other. I demanded the cause of their\ndelay; but I soon found by their looks they had met with a thousand\nmisfortunes on the road. The horses had at first refused to move from\nthe door, till Mr. Burchell was kind enough to beat them forward for\nabout two hundred yards with his cudgel. Next the straps of my wife's\npillion broke down, and they were obliged to stop to repair them before\nthey could proceed. After that, one of the horses took it into his head\nto stand still, and neither blows nor entreaties could prevail with him\nto proceed. They were just recovering from this dismal situation when I\nfound them; but perceiving everything safe, I own their present\nmortification did not much displease me, as it would give me many\nopportunities of future triumph, and teach my daughters more humility.\n           _The family still resolve to hold up their heads._\nMichaelmas-Eve happening on the next day, we were invited to burn nuts\nand play tricks at neighbour Flamborough's. Our late mortifications had\nhumbled us a little, or it is probable we might have rejected such an\ninvitation with contempt: however, we suffered ourselves to be happy.\nOur honest neighbour's goose and dumplings were fine; and the\nlamb's-wool, even in the opinion of my wife, who was a connoisseur, was\nexcellent. It is true, his manner of telling stories was not quite so\nwell. They were very long and very dull, and all about himself, and we\nhad laughed at them ten times before; however, we were kind enough to\nlaugh at them once more.\nMr. Burchell, who was of the party, was always fond of seeing some\ninnocent amusement going forward, and set the boys and girls to\nblindman's buff. My wife too was persuaded to join in the diversion, and\nit gave me pleasure to think that she was not yet too old. In the\nmeantime, my neighbour and I looked on, laughed at every feat, and\npraised our own dexterity when we were young. Hot cockles succeeded\nnext, questions and commands followed that, and, last of all, they sat\ndown to hunt the slipper. As every person may not be acquainted with\nthis primeval pastime, it may be necessary to observe, that the company\nat this play plant themselves in a ring upon the ground, all except one\nwho stands in the middle, whose business it is to catch a shoe which the\ncompany shove about under their hams from one to another, something like\na weaver's shuttle. As it is impossible, in this case, for the lady who\nis up to face all the company at once, the great beauty of the play lies\nin hitting her a thump with the heel of the shoe on that side least\ncapable of making a defence. It was in this manner that my eldest\ndaughter was hemmed in, and thumped about, all blowzed, in spirits, and\nbawling for fair play with a voice that might deafen a ballad-singer,\nwhen, confusion on confusion! who should enter the room but our two\ngreat acquaintances from town, Lady Blarney and Miss Carolina Wilhelmina\nAmelia Skeggs! Description would but beggar, therefore it is unnecessary\nto describe this new mortification.\u2014Death! to be seen by ladies of such\nhigh breeding in such vulgar attitudes! Nothing better could ensue from\nsuch a vulgar play of Mr. Flamborough's proposing. We seemed stuck to\nthe ground for some time, as if actually petrified with amazement.\nThe two ladies had been at our house to see us, and finding us from\nhome, came after us hither, as they were uneasy to know what accident\ncould have kept us from church the day before. Olivia undertook to be\nour prolocutor, and delivered the whole in a summary way, only saying,\n\"We were thrown from our horses.\" At which account the ladies were\ngreatly concerned; but being told the family received no hurt, they were\nextremely glad; but being informed that we were almost killed with\nfright, they were vastly sorry; but hearing that we had a very good\nnight, they were extremely glad again. Nothing could exceed their\ncomplaisance to my daughters: their professions the last evening were\nwarm, but now they were ardent. They protested a desire of having a more\nlasting acquaintance. Lady Blarney was particularly attached to Olivia;\nMiss Carolina Wilhelmina Amelia Skeggs (I love to give the whole name)\ntook a greater fancy to her sister. They supported the conversation\nbetween themselves, while my daughters sat silent, admiring their\nexalted breeding. But as every reader, however beggarly himself, is fond\nof high-lived dialogues, with anecdotes of lords, ladies, and knights of\nthe garter, I must beg leave to give him the concluding part of the\npresent conversation.\n\"All that I know of the matter,\" cried Miss Skeggs, \"is this, that it\nmay be true, or it may not be true: but this I can assure your ladyship,\nthat the whole rout was in amaze; his lordship turned all manner of\ncolours, my lady fell into a swoon; but Sir Tomkyn, drawing his sword,\nswore he was hers to the last drop of his blood.\"\n\"Well,\" replied our peeress, \"this I can say, that the duchess never\ntold me a syllable of the matter, and I believe her grace would keep\nnothing a secret from me. This you may depend upon as fact, that the\nnext morning my lord duke cried out three times to his valet-de-chambre,\n'Jernigan! Jernigan! Jernigan! bring me my garters.'\"\nBut previously I should have mentioned the very impolite behaviour of\nMr. Burchell, who, during this discourse, sat with his face turned to\nthe fire, and at the conclusion of every sentence would cry out _Fudge!_\nan expression which displeased us all, and in some measure damped the\nrising spirit of the conversation.\n\"Besides, my dear Skeggs,\" continued our peeress, \"there is nothing of\nthis in the copy of verses that Dr. Burdock made upon the\noccasion.\"\u2014_Fudge!_\n\"I am surprised at that,\" cried Miss Skeggs; \"for he seldom leaves\nanything out, as he writes only for his own amusement. But can your\nladyship favour me with a sight of them?\"\u2014_Fudge!_\n\"My dear creature,\" replied our peeress, \"do you think I carry such\nthings about me? Though they are very fine to be sure, and I think\nmyself something of a judge: at least I know what pleases myself.\nIndeed, I was ever an admirer of all Dr. Burdock's little pieces; for\nexcept what he does, and our dear countess at Hanover-square, there's\nnothing comes out but the most lowest stuff in nature; not a bit of high\nlife among them.\"\u2014_Fudge!_\n\"Your ladyship should except,\" says t'other, \"your own things in the\n'Lady's Magazine.' I hope you'll say there's nothing low-lived there!\nBut I suppose we are to have no more from that quarter?\"\u2014_Fudge!_\n\"Why, my dear,\" says the lady, \"you know my reader and companion has\nleft me to be married to Captain Roach, and as my poor eyes won't suffer\nme to write myself, I have been for some time looking out for another. A\nproper person is no easy matter to find, and to be sure thirty pounds a\nyear is a small stipend for a well-bred girl of character that can read,\nwrite, and behave in company; as for the chits about town, there is no\nbearing them about one.\"\u2014_Fudge!_\n\"That I know,\" cried Miss Skeggs, \"by experience; for of the three\ncompanions I had this last half-year, one of them refused to do plain\nwork an hour in a day; another thought twenty-five guineas a year too\nsmall a salary; and I was obliged to send away the third, because I\nsuspected an intrigue with the chaplain. Virtue, my dear Lady Blarney,\nvirtue is worth any price; but where is that to be found?\"\u2014_Fudge!_\n[Illustration:\n  \"_We had at last the satisfaction of seeing\n  him mounted upon the colt, with a deal box\n  before him to bring home groceries in._\"\u2014_p._ 48.\nMy wife had been for a long time all attention to this discourse, but\nwas particularly struck with the latter part of it. Thirty pounds and\ntwenty-five guineas a year, made fifty-six pounds five shillings English\nmoney; all which was in a manner going a begging, and might easily be\nsecured in the family. She for a moment studied my looks of approbation;\nand, to own the truth, I was of opinion that two such places would fit\nour two daughters exactly. Besides, if the squire had any real affection\nfor my eldest daughter, this would be the way to make her every way\nqualified for her fortune. My wife, therefore, was resolved that we\nshould not be deprived of such advantages for want of assurance, and\nundertook to harangue for the family. \"I hope,\" cried she, \"your\nladyship will pardon my present presumption. It is true, we have no\nright to pretend to such favours, but yet it is natural for me to wish\nputting my children forward in the world. And I will be bold to say, my\ntwo girls have had a pretty good education, and capacity; at least the\ncountry can't show better. They can read, write, and cast accounts; they\nunderstand their needle, broad-stitch, cross, and change, and all manner\nof plain work; they can pink, point, and frill; and know something of\nmusic; they can do up small clothes and work upon catgut; my eldest can\ncut paper, and my youngest has a very pretty manner of telling fortunes\nupon the cards?\"\u2014_Fudge!_\nWhen she had delivered this pretty piece of eloquence, the two ladies\nlooked at each other a few minutes in silence, with an air of doubt and\nimportance. At last Miss Carolina Wilhelmina Amelia Skeggs condescended\nto observe, that the young ladies, from the opinion she could form of\nthem from so slight an acquaintance, seemed very fit for such\nemployments: \"but a thing of this kind, madam,\" cried she, addressing my\nspouse, \"requires a thorough examination into characters, and a more\nperfect knowledge of each other. Not, madam,\" continued she, \"that I in\nthe least suspect the young ladies' virtue, prudence, and discretion;\nbut there is a form in these things, madam; there is a form.\"\u2014_Fudge!_\nMy wife approved her suspicions very much, observing that she was very\napt to be suspicious herself; but referred her to all the neighbours for\na character; but this our peeress declined as unnecessary, alleging that\nher cousin Thornhill's recommendation would be sufficient, and upon this\nwe rested our petition.\n            _Fortune seems resolved to humble the family of\nWakefield.\u2014Mortifications are often more painful than real calamities._\nWhen we returned home, the night was dedicated to schemes of future\nconquest. Deborah exerted much sagacity in conjecturing which of the two\ngirls was likely to have the best place and most opportunities of seeing\ngood company. The only obstacle to our preferment was in obtaining the\nsquire's recommendation; but he had already shown us too many instances\nof his friendship to doubt of it now. Even in bed my wife kept up the\nusual theme. \"Well, faith, my dear Charles, between ourselves, I think\nwe have made an excellent day's work of it.\" \"Pretty well,\" cried I, not\nknowing what to say. \"What, only pretty well!\" returned she, \"I think it\nis very well. Suppose the girls should come to make acquaintance of\ntaste in town? This I am assured of, that London is the only place in\nthe world for all manner of husbands. Besides, my dear, stranger things\nhappen every day; and as ladies of quality are so taken with my\ndaughters, what will not men of quality be? _Entre nous_, I protest I\nlike my Lady Blarney vastly: so very obliging. However, Miss Carolina\nWilhelmina Amelia Skeggs has my warm heart. But yet, when they came to\ntalk of places in town, you saw at once how I nailed them. Tell me, my\ndear, don't you think I did for my children there?\" \"Ay,\" returned I,\nnot knowing well what to think of the matter; \"Heaven grant they may be\nboth the better for it this day three months!\" This was one of those\nobservations I usually made to impress my wife with an opinion of my\nsagacity; for if the girls succeeded, then it was a pious wish\nfulfilled; but if anything unfortunate ensued, then it might be looked\nupon as a prophecy. All this conversation, however, was only preparatory\nto another scheme, and indeed I dreaded as much. This was nothing less\nthan that, as we were now to hold up our heads a little higher in the\nworld, it would be proper to sell the colt, which was grown old, at a\nneighbouring fair, and buy us a horse that would carry single or double\nupon an occasion, and make a pretty appearance at church or upon a\nvisit. This at first I opposed stoutly, but it was as stoutly defended.\nHowever, as I weakened, my antagonists gained strength, till at last it\nwas resolved to part with him.\nAs the fair happened on the following day, I had intentions of going\nmyself; but my wife persuaded me that I had got a cold, and nothing\ncould prevail upon her to permit me from home. \"No, my dear,\" said she,\n\"our son Moses is a discreet boy, and can buy and sell to very good\nadvantage; you know all our great bargains are of his purchasing. He\nalways stands out and higgles, and actually tires them till he gets a\nbargain.\"\nAs I had some opinion of my son's prudence, I was willing enough to\nentrust him with this commission; and the next morning I perceived his\nsisters mighty busy in fitting out Moses for the fair; trimming his\nhair, brushing his buckles, and cocking his hat with pins. The business\nof the toilet being over, we had at last the satisfaction of seeing him\nmounted upon the colt, with a deal box before him to bring home\ngroceries in. He had on a coat made of that cloth called\nthunder-and-lightning, which, though grown too short, was much too good\nto be thrown away. His waistcoat was of gosling green, and his sisters\nhad tied his hair with a broad black riband. We all followed him several\npaces from the door, bawling after him, \"Good luck! good luck!\" till we\ncould see him no longer.\nHe was scarcely gone, when Mr. Thornhill's butler came to congratulate\nus upon our good fortune, saying that he overheard his young master\nmention our names with great commendation.\nGood fortune seemed resolved not to come alone. Another footman from the\nsame family followed, with a card for my daughters, importing that the\ntwo ladies had received such pleasing accounts from Mr. Thornhill of us\nall, that after a few previous inquiries they hoped to be perfectly\nsatisfied. \"Ay,\" cried my wife, \"I now see it is no easy matter to get\ninto the families of the great, but when one once gets in, then, as\nMoses says, one may go to sleep.\" To this piece of humour, for she\nintended it for wit, my daughters assented with a loud laugh of\npleasure. In short, such was her satisfaction at this message, that she\nactually put her hand in her pocket, and gave the messenger\nsevenpence-halfpenny.\nThis was to be our visiting day. The next that came was Mr. Burchell,\nwho had been at the fair. He brought my little ones a pennyworth of\ngingerbread each, which my wife undertook to keep for them, and give\nthem by letters at a time. He brought my daughters also a couple of\nboxes, in which they might keep wafers, snuff, patches, or even money,\nwhen they got it. My wife was usually fond of a weasel-skin purse, as\nbeing the most lucky; but this by the bye. We had still a regard for Mr.\nBurchell, though his late rude behaviour was in some measure\ndispleasing; nor could we now avoid communicating our happiness to him,\nand asking his advice: although we seldom followed advice, we were all\nready enough to ask it. When he read the note from the two ladies he\nshook his head, and observed that an affair of this sort demanded the\nutmost circumspection. This air of diffidence highly displeased my wife.\n\"I never doubted, sir,\" cried she, \"your readiness to be against my\ndaughters and me. You have more circumspection than is wanted. However,\nI fancy when we come to ask advice, we shall apply to persons who seem\nto have made use of it themselves.\" \"Whatever my conduct may have been,\nmadam,\" replied he, \"is not the present question; though, as I have made\nno use of advice myself, I should in conscience give it to those that\nwill.\" As I was apprehensive this answer might draw on a repartee,\nmaking up by abuse what it wanted in wit, I changed the subject, by\nseeming to wonder what could keep our son so long at the fair, as it was\nnow almost nightfall. \"Never mind our son,\" cried my wife; \"depend upon\nit he knows what he is about; I'll warrant we'll never see him sell his\nhen on a rainy day. I have seen him buy such bargains as would amaze\none. I'll tell you a good story about that, that will make you split\nyour sides with laughing. But, as I live, yonder comes Moses, without a\nhorse, and the box at his back.\"\n[Illustration:\n  \"_You need be under no uneasiness,\" cried I,\n  \"about selling the rims, for they are not worth\n  sixpence, for I perceive they are only\n  copper varnished over._\"\u2014_p._ 50.\nAs she spoke, Moses came slowly on foot, and sweating under the deal\nbox, which he had strapped round his shoulders like a pedlar. \"Welcome!\nwelcome, Moses! Well, my boy, what have you brought us from the fair?\"\n\"I have brought you myself,\" cried Moses, with a sly look, and resting\nthe box on the dresser. \"Ay, Moses,\" cried my wife, \"that we know, but\nwhere is the horse?\" \"I have sold him,\" cried Moses, \"for three pounds\nfive shillings and twopence.\" \"Well done! my good boy,\" returned she; \"I\nknew you would touch them off. Between ourselves, three pounds five\nshillings and twopence is no bad day's work. Come, let us have it then.\"\n\"I have brought back no money,\" cried Moses again, \"I have laid it all\nout in a bargain, and here it is,\" pulling out a bundle from his breast;\n\"here they are: a gross of green spectacles, with silver rims and\nshagreen cases.\" \"A gross of green spectacles!\" repeated my wife, in a\nfaint voice. \"And you have parted with the colt, and brought us back\nnothing but a gross of green paltry spectacles!\" \"Dear mother,\" cried\nthe boy, \"why won't you listen to reason? I had them a dead bargain, or\nI should not have bought them. The silver rims alone will sell for\ndouble the money.\" \"A fig for the silver rims!\" cried my wife in a\npassion: \"I dare swear they won't sell for above half the money at the\nrate of broken silver, five shillings an ounce.\" \"You need be under no\nuneasiness,\" cried I, \"about selling the rims, for they are not worth\nsixpence, for I perceive they are only copper varnished over.\" \"What!\"\ncried my wife, \"not silver! the rims not silver!\" \"No,\" cried I, \"no\nmore silver than your saucepan. \"And so,\" returned she, \"we have parted\nwith the colt, and have only got a gross of green spectacles, with\ncopper rims and shagreen cases! A murrain take such trumpery! The\nblockhead has been imposed upon, and should have known his company\nbetter!\" \"There, my dear,\" cried I, \"you are wrong; he should not have\nknown them at all.\" \"Marry, hang the idiot!\" returned she, \"to bring me\nsuch stuff; if I had them I would throw them in the fire.\" \"There again\nyou are wrong, my dear,\" cried I, \"for though they be copper, we will\nkeep them by us, as copper spectacles, you know, are better than\nnothing.\"\nBy this time the unfortunate Moses was undeceived. He now saw that he\nhad indeed been imposed upon by a prowling sharper, who, observing his\nfigure, had marked him for an easy prey. I therefore asked him the\ncircumstances of his deception. He sold the horse, it seems, and walked\nthe fair in search of another. A reverend-looking man brought him to a\ntent, under pretence of having one to sell. \"Here,\" continued Moses, \"we\nmet another man, very well dressed, who desired to borrow twenty pounds\nupon these, saying that he wanted money, and would dispose of them for a\nthird of their value. The first gentleman, who pretended to be my\nfriend, whispered me to buy them, and cautioned me not to let so good an\noffer pass. I sent for Mr. Flamborough, and they talked him up as finely\nas they did me; and so at last we were persuaded to buy the two gross\nbetween us.\"\n_Mr. Burchell is found to be an enemy; for he has the confidence to give\nOur family had now made several attempts to be fine; but some unforeseen\ndisaster demolished each as soon as projected. I endeavoured to take the\nadvantage of every disappointment to improve their good sense, in\nproportion as they were frustrated in ambition. \"You see, my children,\"\ncried I, \"how little is to be got by attempts to impose upon the world,\nin coping with our betters. Such as are poor, and will associate with\nnone but the rich, are hated by those they avoid, and despised by those\nthey follow. Unequal combinations are always disadvantageous to the\nweaker side; the rich having the pleasure, the poor the inconveniences,\nthat result from them. But come, Dick, my boy, repeat the fable you were\nreading to-day, for the good of the company.\"\n\"Once upon a time,\" cried the child, \"a giant and a dwarf were friends,\nand kept together. They made a bargain that they never would forsake\neach other, but go seek adventures. The first battle they fought was\nwith two Saracens; and the dwarf, who was very courageous, dealt one of\nthe champions a most angry blow. It did the Saracen but very little\ninjury, who, lifting up his sword, fairly struck off the poor dwarf's\narm. He was now in a woful plight; but the giant, coming to his\nassistance, in a short time left the two Saracens dead on the plain, and\nthe dwarf cut off the dead man's head out of spite. They then travelled\non to another adventure. This was against three bloody-minded satyrs,\nwho were carrying away a damsel in distress. The dwarf was not quite so\nfierce now as before, but for all that struck the first blow, which was\nreturned by another that knocked out his eye; but the giant was soon up\nwith them, and, had they not fled, would certainly have killed them\nevery one. They were all very joyful for this victory, and the damsel\nwho was relieved fell in love with the giant, and married him. They now\ntravelled far, and farther than I can tell, till they met with a company\nof robbers. The giant, for the first time, was foremost now; but the\ndwarf was not far behind. The battle was stout and long. Wherever the\ngiant came all fell before him; but the dwarf had like to have been\nkilled more than once. At last the victory declared for the two\nadventurers; but the dwarf lost his leg. The dwarf had now lost an arm,\na leg, and an eye, while the giant was without a single wound. Upon\nwhich he cried out to his little companion, 'My little hero, this is\nglorious sport; let us get one victory more, and then we shall have\nhonour for ever.' 'No,' cries the dwarf, who by this time was grown\nwiser, 'no; I declare off; I'll fight no more, for I find, in every\nbattle, that you get all the honour and rewards, but all the blows fall\nupon me.'\"\nI was going to moralise upon this fable, when our attention was called\noff to a warm dispute between my wife and Mr. Burchell, upon my\ndaughters' intended expedition to town. My wife very strenuously\ninsisted upon the advantages that would result from it. Mr. Burchell, on\nthe contrary, dissuaded her with great ardour, and I stood neuter. His\npresent dissuasions seemed but the second part of those which were\nreceived with so ill a grace in the morning. The dispute grew high,\nwhile poor Deborah, instead of reasoning stronger, talked louder, and\nwas at last obliged to take shelter from a defeat in clamour. The\nconclusion of her harangue, however, was highly displeasing to us all:\nshe knew, she said, of some who had their secret reasons for what they\nadvised; but for her part, she wished such to stay away from her house\nfor the future.\n[Illustration:\n  _\"No,\" cries the dwarf, who by this time was grown wiser,\n  \"no; I declare off; I'll fight no more.\"_\u2014_p._ 52.\n \"Madam,\" cried Burchell, with looks of great composure, which tended to\ninflame her the more, \"as for secret reasons, you are right; I have\nsecret reasons which I forbear to mention, because you are not able to\nanswer those of which I make no secret. But I find my visits here are\nbecome troublesome; I'll take my leave therefore now, and perhaps come\nonce more to take a final farewell when I am quitting the country.\" Thus\nsaying, he took up his hat; nor could the attempts of Sophia, whose\nlooks seemed to upbraid his precipitancy, prevent his going.\nWhen gone, we all regarded each other for some minutes with confusion.\nMy wife, who knew herself to be the cause, strove to hide her concern\nwith a forced smile and an air of assurance, which I was willing to\nreprove. \"How, woman!\" cried I to her, \"is it thus we treat strangers?\nIs it thus we return their kindness? Be assured, my dear, that these\nwere the harshest words, and to me the most unpleasing, that ever\nescaped your lips!\" \"Why would he provoke me then?\" replied she; \"but I\nknow the motives of his advice perfectly well. He would prevent my girls\ngoing to town, that he may have the pleasure of my youngest daughter's\ncompany here at home. But whatever happens, she shall choose better\ncompany than such low-lived fellows as he.\" \"Low-lived, my dear, do you\ncall him?\" cried I; \"it is very possible we may mistake this man's\ncharacter; for he seems, upon some occasions, the most finished\ngentleman I ever knew. Tell me, Sophia, my girl, has he ever given you\nany secret instances of his attachment?\" \"His conversation with me,\nsir,\" replied my daughter, \"has ever been sensible, modest, and\npleasing. As to aught else, no; never. Once indeed I remember to have\nheard him say, he never knew a woman who could find merit in a man that\nseemed poor.\" \"Such, my dear,\" cried I, \"is the common cant of all the\nunfortunate or idle. But I hope you have been taught to judge properly\nof such men, and that it would be even madness to expect happiness from\none who has been so very bad an economist of his own. Your mother and I\nhave now better prospects for you. The next winter, which you will\nprobably spend in town, will give you opportunities of making a more\nprudent choice.\"\nWhat Sophia's reflections were upon this occasion I cannot pretend to\ndetermine; but I was not displeased at the bottom that we were rid of a\nguest from whom I had much to fear. Our breach of hospitality went to my\nconscience a little; but I quickly silenced that monitor by two or three\nspecious reasons, which served to satisfy and reconcile me to myself.\nThe pain which conscience gives the man who has already done wrong is\nsoon got over. Conscience is a coward, and those faults it has not\nstrength enough to prevent, it seldom has justice enough to accuse.\n               _Fresh mortifications, or a demonstration\n            that seeming calamities may be real blessings._\nThe journey of my daughters to town was now resolved upon, Mr. Thornhill\nhaving kindly promised to inspect their conduct himself, and inform us\nby letter of their behaviour. But it was thought indispensably necessary\nthat their appearance should equal the greatness of their expectations,\nwhich could not be done without expense. We debated, therefore, in full\ncouncil, what were the easiest methods of raising money; or, more\nproperly speaking, what we could most conveniently sell. The\ndeliberation was soon finished. It was found that our remaining horse\nwas utterly useless for the plough without his companion, and equally\nunfit for the road, as wanting an eye: it was therefore determined that\nwe should dispose of him, for the purpose above mentioned, at the\nneighbouring fair; and, to prevent imposition, that I should go with him\nmyself. Though this was one of the first mercantile transactions of my\nlife, yet I had no doubt of acquitting myself with reputation. The\nopinion a man forms of his own prudence is measured by that of the\ncompany he keeps, and as mine was mostly in the family way, I had\nconceived no unfavourable sentiments of my worldly wisdom. My wife,\nhowever, next morning at parting, after I had got some paces from the\ndoor, called me back, to advise me, in a whisper, to have all my eyes\nabout me.\nI had, in the usual forms, when I came to the fair, put my horse through\nall his paces, but for some time had no bidders. At last a chapman\napproached, and, after he had for a good while examined the horse round,\nfinding him blind of one eye, he would have nothing to say to him; a\nsecond came up, but observing he had a spavin, declared he would not\nhave him for the driving home; a third perceived he had a windgall, and\nwould bid no money; a fourth knew by his eye that he had the bots; a\nfifth wondered what the plague I could do at the fair with a blind,\nspavined, galled hack, that was only fit to be cut up for a dog-kennel.\nBy this time I began to have a most hearty contempt for the poor animal\nmyself, and was almost ashamed at the approach of every customer; for\nthough I did not entirely believe all the fellows told me, yet I\nreflected that the number of witnesses was a strong presumption that\nthey were right; and St. Gregory, upon good works, professes himself to\nbe of the same opinion.\nI was in this mortifying situation, when a brother clergyman, an old\nacquaintance, who had also business at the fair, came up, and shaking me\nby the hand, proposed adjourning to a public-house, and taking a glass\nof whatever we could get. I readily closed with the offer, and entering\nan alehouse, we were shown into a little back room, where there was only\na venerable old man, who sat wholly intent over a very large book which\nhe was reading. I never in my life saw a figure that prepossessed me\nmore favourably. His locks of silver grey venerably shaded his temples,\nand his green old age seemed to be the result of health and benevolence.\nHowever, his presence did not interrupt our conversation: my friend and\nI discoursed on the various turns of fortune we had met; the Whistonian\ncontroversy, my last pamphlet, the archdeacon's reply, and the hard\nmeasure that was dealt me. But our attention was in a short time taken\noff by the appearance of a youth, who, entering the room, respectfully\nsaid something softly to the old stranger. \"Make no apologies, my\nchild,\" said the old man: \"to do good is a duty we owe to all our\nfellow-creatures: take this. I wish it were more; but five pounds will\nrelieve your distress, and you are welcome.\" The modest youth shed tears\nof gratitude, and yet his gratitude was scarcely equal to mine. I could\nhave hugged the good old man in my arms, his benevolence pleased me so.\nHe continued to read, and we resumed our conversation, until my\ncompanion, after some time, recollecting that he had business to\ntransact in the fair, promised to be soon back; adding that he always\ndesired to have as much of Dr. Primrose's company as possible. The old\ngentleman, hearing my name mentioned, seemed to look at me with\nattention for some time, and when my friend was gone, most respectfully\ndemanded if I was any way related to the great Primrose, that courageous\nmonogamist, who had been the bulwark of the Church. Never did my heart\nfeel sincerer rapture than at that moment. \"Sir,\" cried I, \"the applause\nof so good a man as I am sure you are adds to that happiness in my\nbreast which your benevolence has already excited. You behold before\nyou, sir, that Dr. Primrose, the monogamist, whom you have been pleased\nto call great. You here see that unfortunate divine, who has so long,\nand it would ill become me to say successfully, fought against the\ndeuterogamy of the age.\" \"Sir,\" cried the stranger, struck with awe, \"I\nfear I have been too familiar; but you'll forgive my curiosity, sir; I\nbeg pardon.\"\n[Illustration:\n  \"_But, sir, I ask pardon, I am straying\n  from the question._\"\u2014_p._ 58.\n\"Sir,\" cried I, grasping his hand, \"you are so far from displeasing me\nby your familiarity, that I must beg you'll accept my friendship, as you\nalready have my esteem.\" \"Then with gratitude I accept the offer,\" cried\nhe, squeezing me by the hand, \"thou glorious pillar of unshaken\northodoxy. And do I behold\u2014\" I here interrupted what he was going to\nsay; for though, as an author, I could digest no small share of\nflattery, yet now my modesty would permit no more. However, no lovers in\nromance ever cemented a more instantaneous friendship. We talked upon\nseveral subjects. At first I thought him rather devout than learned, and\nbegan to think he despised all human doctrines as dross. Yet this no way\nlessened him in my esteem; for I had for some time begun privately to\nharbour such an opinion myself. I therefore took occasion to observe,\nthat the world in general began to be blamably indifferent as to\ndoctrinal matters, and followed human speculations too much. \"Ay, sir,\"\nreplied he, as if he had reserved all his learning to that moment, \"ay,\nsir, the world is in its dotage; and yet the cosmogony or creation of\nthe world has puzzled philosophers of all ages. What a medley of\nopinions have they not broached upon the creation of the world!\nSanchoniathon, Manetho, Berosus, and Ocellus Lucanus, have all attempted\nit in vain. The latter has these words, _Anarchon ara kai atelutaion to\npan_, which imply that all things have neither beginning nor end.\nManetho also, who lived about the time of Nebuchadon-Asser,\u2014Asser being\na Syriac word usually applied as a surname to the kings of that country,\nas Teglet Phael-Asser; Nabon-Asser,\u2014he, I say, formed a conjecture\nequally absurd; for as we usually say, _ek to biblion kubernetes_, which\nimplies that books will never teach the world, so he attempted to\ninvestigate\u2014\u2014But, sir, I ask pardon, I am straying from the question.\"\nThat he actually was; nor could I for my life see how the creation of\nthe world had anything to do with the business I was talking of; but it\nwas sufficient to show me that he was a man of letters, and I now\nreverenced him the more. I was resolved therefore to bring him to the\ntouchstone; but he was too gentle to contend for victory. Whenever I\nmade any observation that looked like a challenge to controversy, he\nwould smile, shake his head, and say nothing; by which I understood he\ncould say much if he thought proper. The subject, therefore, insensibly\nchanged from the business of antiquity to that which brought us both to\nthe fair: mine, I told him, was to sell a horse; and, very luckily\nindeed, his was to buy one for one of his tenants. My horse was soon\nproduced, and in fine we struck a bargain. Nothing now remained but to\npay me, and he accordingly pulled out a thirty-pound note, and bade me\nchange it. Not being in a capacity of complying with his demand, he\nordered his footman to be called up, who made his appearance in a very\ngenteel livery. \"Here, Abraham,\" cried he, \"go and get gold for this;\nyou'll do it at neighbour Jackson's, or anywhere.\" While the fellow was\ngone, he entertained me with a pathetic harangue on the great scarcity\nof silver, which I undertook to improve by deploring also the great\nscarcity of gold; so that, by the time Abraham returned, we had both\nagreed that money was never so hard to be come at as now. Abraham\nreturned to inform us, that he had been over the whole fair and could\nnot get change, though he had offered half-a-crown for doing it. This\nwas a very great disappointment to us all; but the old gentlemen having\npaused a little, asked me if I knew one Solomon Flamborough in my part\nof the country; upon replying that he was my next-door neighbour, \"If\nthat be the case then,\" returned he, \"I believe we shall deal. You shall\nhave a draft upon him, payable at sight; and let me tell you, he is as\nwarm a man as any within five miles round him. Honest Solomon and I have\nbeen acquainted for many years together. I remember I always beat him at\nthree jumps; but he could hop upon one leg further than I.\" A draft upon\nmy neighbour was to me the same as money; I was sufficiently convinced\nof his ability. The draft was signed and put into my hands, and Mr.\nJenkinson, the old gentleman, his man Abraham, and my horse, old\nBlackberry, trotted off very well pleased with each other.\nAfter a short interval, being left to reflection, I began to recollect\nthat I had done wrong in taking a draft from a stranger, and so\nprudently resolved upon following the purchaser, and having back my\nhorse. But this was now too late; I therefore made directly homewards,\nresolving to get the draft changed into money at my friend's as fast as\npossible. I found my honest neighbour smoking his pipe at his own door;\nand informing him that I had a small bill upon him, he read it twice\nover. \"You can read the name, I suppose,\" cried I\u2014\"Ephraim Jenkinson.\"\n\"Yes,\" returned he, \"the name is written plain enough, and I know the\ngentleman too, the greatest rascal under the canopy of heaven. This is\nthe very same rogue who sold us the spectacles. Was he not a\nvenerable-looking man, with grey hair, and no flaps to his pocket-holes?\nand did he not talk a long string of learning about Greek, cosmogony,\nand the world?\" To this I replied with a groan. \"Ay,\" continued he, \"he\nhas but that one piece of learning in the world, and he always talks it\naway whenever he finds a scholar in company: but I know the rogue, and\nwill catch him yet.\"\nThough I was already sufficiently mortified, my greatest struggle was to\ncome, in facing my wife and daughters. No truant was ever more afraid of\nreturning to school, there to behold the master's visage, than I was of\ngoing home. I was determined, however, to anticipate their fury, by\nfirst falling into a passion myself.\nBut, alas! upon entering, I found the family no way disposed for battle.\nMy wife and girls were all in tears, Mr. Thornhill having been there\nthat day to inform them that their journey to town was entirely over.\nThe two ladies, having heard reports of us from some malicious person\nabout us, were that day set out for London. He could neither discover\nthe tendency nor the author of these; but, whatever they might be, or\nwhoever might have broached them, he continued to assure our family of\nhis friendship and protection. I found, therefore, that they bore my\ndisappointment with great resignation, as it was eclipsed in the\ngreatness of their own. But what perplexed us most, was to think who\ncould be so base as to asperse the character of a family so harmless as\nours\u2014too humble to excite envy, and too inoffensive to create disgust.\n             _All Mr. Burchell's villany at once detected.\u2014\n                     The folly of being over-wise._\nThat evening, and part of the following day, was employed in fruitless\nattempts to discover our enemies: scarcely a family in the neighbourhood\nbut incurred our suspicions, and each of us had reasons for our opinion\nbest known to ourselves. As we were in this perplexity, one of our\nlittle boys, who had been playing abroad, brought in a letter-case which\nhe found on the green. It was quickly known to belong to Mr. Burchell,\nwith whom it had been seen; and, upon examination, contained some hints\nupon different subjects; but what particularly engaged our attention was\na sealed note, superscribed, \"The copy of a letter to be sent to the two\nladies at Thornhill Castle.\" It instantly occurred that he was the base\ninformer: and we deliberated whether the note should not be broken open.\nI was against it; but Sophia, who said she was sure that of all men he\nwould be the last to be guilty of so much baseness, insisted upon its\nbeing read. In this she was seconded by the rest of the family; and at\ntheir joint solicitation, I read as follows:\u2014\n[Illustration:\n  \"_So saying, I threw him his pocket-book,\n  which he took up with a smile._\"\u2014_p._ 64.\n\"LADIES,\n \"The bearer will sufficiently satisfy you as to the person from whom\nthis comes: one at least the friend of innocence, and ready to prevent\nits being seduced. I am informed for a truth, that you have some\nintention of bringing two young ladies to town, whom I have some\nknowledge of, under the character of companions. As I would neither have\nsimplicity imposed upon nor virtue contaminated, I must offer it as my\nopinion that the impropriety of such a step will be attended with\ndangerous consequences. It has never been my way to treat the infamous\nor the lewd with severity; nor should I now have taken this method of\nexplaining myself, or reproving folly, did it not aim at guilt. Take,\ntherefore, the admonition of a friend, and seriously reflect on the\nconsequences of introducing infamy and vice into retreats where peace\nand innocence have hitherto resided.\"\nOur doubts were now at an end. There seemed indeed something applicable\nto both sides in this letter, and its censures might as well be referred\nto those to whom it was written as to us; but the malicious meaning was\nobvious, and we went no farther. My wife had scarcely patience to hear\nme to the end, but railed at the writer with unrestrained resentment.\nOlivia was equally severe, and Sophia seemed perfectly amazed at his\nbaseness. As for my part, it appeared to me one of the vilest instances\nof unprovoked ingratitude I had ever met with. Nor could I account for\nit in any other manner than by imputing it to his desire of detaining my\nyoungest daughter in the country, to have the more frequent\nopportunities of an interview. In this manner we all sat ruminating upon\nschemes of vengeance, when our other little boy came running in to tell\nus that Mr. Burchell was approaching at the other end of the field. It\nis easier to conceive than describe the complicated sensations which are\nfelt from the pain of a recent injury, and the pleasure of approaching\nvengeance. Though our intentions were only to upbraid him with his\ningratitude, yet it was resolved to do it in a manner that would be\nperfectly cutting. For this purpose we agreed to meet him with our usual\nsmiles, to chat in the beginning with more than ordinary kindness, to\namuse him a little; and then, in the midst of the flattering calms to\nburst upon him like an earthquake, and overwhelm him with the sense of\nhis own baseness. This being resolved upon, my wife undertook to manage\nthe business herself, as she really had some talents for such an\nundertaking. We saw him approach; he entered, drew a chair, and sat\ndown. \"A fine day, Mr. Burchell.\" \"A very fine day, doctor; though I\nfancy we shall have some rain, by the shooting of my corns.\" \"The\nshooting of your horns!\" cried my wife, in a loud fit of laughter, and\nthen asked pardon for being fond of a joke. \"Dear madam,\" replied he, \"I\npardon you with all my heart; for I protest I should not have thought it\na joke had you not told me.\" \"Perhaps not, sir,\" cried my wife, winking\nat us: \"and yet I dare say you can tell us how many jokes go to an\nounce.\" \"I fancy, madam,\" returned Burchell, \"you have been reading a\njest-book this morning, that ounce of jokes is so very good a conceit;\nand yet, madam, I had rather see half an ounce of understanding.\" \"I\nbelieve you might,\" cried my wife, still smiling at us, though the laugh\nwas against her; \"and yet I have seen some men pretend to understanding\nthat have very little.\" \"And no doubt,\" replied her antagonist, \"you\nhave known ladies set up for wit that had none.\" I quickly began to find\nthat my wife was likely to gain but little at this business; so I\nresolved to treat him in a style of more severity myself. \"Both wit and\nunderstanding,\" cried I, \"are trifles without integrity; it is that\nwhich gives value to every character. The ignorant peasant without\nfault, is greater than the philosopher with many; for what is genius or\ncourage without a heart?\n              'An honest man's the noblest work of God.'\"\n\"I always held that hackneyed maxim of Pope's,\" returned Mr. Burchell,\n\"as very unworthy of a man of genius, and a base desertion of his own\nsuperiority. As the reputation of books is raised, not by their freedom\nfrom defect, but the greatness of their beauties; so should that of men\nbe prized, not for their exemption from fault, but the size of those\nvirtues they are possessed of. The scholar may want prudence; the\nstatesman may have pride, and the champion ferocity; but shall we prefer\nto these the low mechanic, who laboriously plods on through life without\ncensure or applause? We might as well prefer the tame, correct paintings\nof the Flemish school to the erroneous, but sublime animations of the\nRoman pencil.\"\n\"Sir,\" replied I, \"your present observation is just, when there are\nshining virtues and minute defects; but when it appears that great vices\nare opposed in the same mind to as extraordinary virtues, such a\ncharacter deserves contempt.\"\n\"Perhaps,\" cried he, \"there may be some such monsters as you describe,\nof great vices joined to great virtues; yet, in my progress through\nlife, I never yet found one instance of their existence; on the\ncontrary, I have ever perceived that where the mind was capacious the\naffections were good. And indeed Providence seems kindly our friend in\nthis particular, thus to debilitate the understanding where the heart is\ncorrupt, and diminish the power where there is the will to do mischief.\nThis rule seems to extend even to other animals: the little vermin race\nare ever treacherous, cruel, and cowardly; whilst those endowed with\nstrength and power are generous, brave, and gentle.\"\n\"These observations sound well,\" returned I, \"and yet it would be easy\nthis moment to point out a man,\" and I fixed my eye steadfastly upon\nhim, \"whose head and heart form a most detestable contrast. Ay, sir,\"\ncontinued I, raising my voice, \"and I am glad to have this opportunity\nof detecting him in the midst of his fancied security. Do you know this,\nsir\u2014this pocket-book?\" \"Yes, sir,\" returned he, with a face of\nimpenetrable assurance; \"that pocket-book is mine, and I am glad you\nhave found it.\" \"And do you know,\" cried I, \"this letter? Nay, never\nfalter, man; but look me full in the face. I say, do you know this\nletter?\" \"That letter?\" replied he; \"yes, it was I that wrote that\nletter.\" \"And how could you,\" said I, \"so basely, so ungratefully,\npresume to write this letter?\" \"And how came you,\" replied he, with\nlooks of unparalleled effrontery, \"so basely to presume to break open\nthis letter? Don't you know, now, I could hang you all for this? All\nthat I have to do is to swear at the next justice's that you have been\nguilty of breaking open the lock of my pocket-book, and so hang you all\nup at this door.\" This piece of unexpected insolence raised me to such a\npitch, that I could scarcely govern my passion. \"Ungrateful wretch!\nbegone, and no longer pollute my dwelling with thy baseness. Begone! and\nnever let me see thee again: go from my door! and the only punishment I\nwish thee is an alarmed conscience, which will be a sufficient\ntormentor!\" So saying, I threw him his pocket-book, which he took up\nwith a smile, and shutting the clasps with the utmost composure, left us\nquite astonished at the serenity of his assurance. My wife was\nparticularly enraged that nothing could make him angry, or make him seem\nashamed of his villanies. \"My dear,\" cried I, willing to calm those\npassions that had been raised too high among us, \"we are not to be\nsurprised that bad men want shame; they only blush at being detected in\ndoing good, but glory in their vices.\n\"Guilt and Shame (says the allegory) were at first companions, and in\nthe beginning of their journey inseparably kept together. But their\nunion was soon found to be disagreeable and inconvenient to both: Guilt\ngave Shame frequent uneasiness, and Shame often betrayed the secret\nconspiracies of Guilt. After long disagreement, therefore, they at\nlength consented to part for ever. Guilt boldly walked forward alone, to\novertake Fate, that went before in the shape of an executioner; but\nShame, being naturally timorous, returned back to keep company with\nVirtue, which in the beginning of their journey they had left behind.\nThus, my children, after men have travelled through a few stages in\nvice, shame forsakes them, and returns back to wait upon the few virtues\nthey have still remaining.\"\n[Illustration: _p._ 67.]\n        _The family use art, which is opposed by still greater._\nWhatever might have been Sophia's sensations, the rest of the family\nwere easily consoled for Mr. Burchell's absence by the company of our\nlandlord, whose visits now became more frequent and longer. Though he\nhad been disappointed in procuring my daughters the amusements of the\ntown, as he designed, he took every opportunity of supplying them with\nthose little recreations which our retirement would admit of. He usually\ncame in the morning, and while my son and I followed our occupations\nabroad, he sat with the family at home, and amused them by describing\nthe town, with every part of which he was particularly acquainted. He\ncould repeat all the observations that were retailed in the atmosphere\nof the play-houses, and had all the good things of the high wits by\nrote, long before they made their way into the jest-books. The intervals\nbetween conversation were employed in teaching my daughters piquet; or,\nsometimes, in setting my two little ones to box, to make them _sharp_,\nas he called it: but the hopes of having him for a son-in-law in some\nmeasure blinded us to all his imperfections. It must be owned, that my\nwife laid a thousand schemes to entrap him; or, to speak it more\ntenderly, used every art to magnify the merit of her daughter. If the\ncakes at tea ate short and crisp, they were made by Olivia; if the\ngooseberry-wine was well knit, the gooseberries were of her gathering:\nit was her fingers which gave the pickles their peculiar green; and in\nthe composition of a pudding it was her judgment that mixed the\ningredients. Then the poor woman would sometimes tell the squire, that\nshe thought him and Olivia extremely of a size, and would bid both stand\nup to see which was the tallest. These instances of cunning, which she\nthought impenetrable, yet which everybody saw through, were very\npleasing to our benefactor, who gave every day some new proofs of his\npassion, which, though they had not arisen to proposals of marriage,\nyet, we thought, fell but little short of it; and his slowness was\nsometimes attributed to native bashfulness, and sometimes to his fear of\noffending his uncle. An occurrence, however, which happened soon after,\nput it beyond a doubt that he designed to become one of our family; my\nwife even regarded it as an absolute promise.\nMy wife and daughters, happening to return a visit at neighbour\nFlamborough's, found that family had lately got their pictures drawn by\na limner who travelled the country, and took likenesses for fifteen\nshillings a head. As this family and ours had long a sort of rivalry in\npoint of taste, our spirit took the alarm at this stolen march upon us,\nand, notwithstanding all I could say, and I said much, it was resolved\nthat we should have our pictures done too. Having, therefore, engaged\nthe limner (for what could I do?), our next deliberation was to show the\nsuperiority of our taste in the attitudes. As for our neighbour's\nfamily, there were seven of them, and they were drawn with seven\noranges: a thing quite out of taste\u2014no variety in life\u2014no composition in\nthe world. We desired to have something in a brighter style, and, after\nmany debates, at length came to an unanimous resolution of being drawn\ntogether in one large historical family-piece. This would be cheaper,\nsince one frame would serve for all, and it would be infinitely more\ngenteel; for all families of any taste were now drawn in the same\nmanner. As we did not immediately recollect an historical subject to hit\nus, we were contented each with being drawn as independent historical\nfigures. My wife desired to be represented as Venus, and the painter was\nrequested not to be too frugal of his diamonds in her stomacher and\nhair. Her two little ones were to be as Cupids by her side; while I, in\nmy gown and band, was to present her with my books on the Whistonian\ncontroversy. Olivia would be drawn as an Amazon, sitting upon a bank of\nflowers, dressed in a green joseph, richly laced with gold, and a whip\nin her hand. Sophia was to be a shepherdess, with as many sheep as the\npainter could put in for nothing; and Moses was to be dressed out with a\nhat and white feather.\nOur taste so much pleased the squire that he insisted on being put in as\none of the family, in the character of Alexander the Great, at Olivia's\nfeet. This was considered by us all as an indication of his desire to be\nintroduced into the family; nor could we refuse his request. The painter\nwas therefore set to work, and, as he wrought with assiduity and\nexpedition, in less than four days the whole was completed. The piece\nwas large, and it must be owned he did not spare his colours; for which\nmy wife gave him great encomiums. We were all perfectly satisfied with\nhis performance; but an unfortunate circumstance, which had not occurred\ntill the picture was finished, now struck us with dismay. It was so very\nlarge that we had no place in the house to fix it. How we all came to\ndisregard so material a point is inconceivable; but certain it is, we\nhad all been greatly remiss. This picture, therefore, instead of\ngratifying our vanity, as we hoped, leaned in a most mortifying manner\nagainst the kitchen wall, where the canvas was stretched and painted,\nmuch too large to be got through any of the doors, and the jest of all\nour neighbours. One compared it to Robinson Crusoe's longboat, too large\nto be removed; another thought it more resembled a reel in a bottle;\nsome wondered how it could be got out, but still more were amazed how it\never got in.\nBut though it excited the ridicule of some, it effectually raised more\nmalicious suggestions in many. The squire's portrait being found united\nwith ours was an honour too great to escape envy. Scandalous whispers\nbegan to circulate at our expense, and our tranquillity was continually\ndisturbed by persons who came as friends to tell us what was said of us\nby enemies. These reports were always resented with becoming spirit; but\nscandal ever improves by opposition.\nWe once again, therefore, entered into consultation upon obviating the\nmalice of our enemies, and at last came to a resolution which had too\nmuch cunning to give me entire satisfaction. It was this: as our\nprincipal object was to discover the honour of Mr. Thornhill's\naddresses, my wife undertook to sound him, by pretending to ask his\nadvice in the choice of a husband for her eldest daughter. If this was\nnot found sufficient to induce him to a declaration, it was then\nresolved to terrify him with a rival. To this last step, however, I\nwould by no means give my consent, till Olivia gave me the most solemn\nassurances that she would marry the person provided to rival him upon\nthis occasion, if he did not prevent it by taking her himself. Such was\nthe scheme laid, which, though I did not strenuously oppose, I did not\nentirely approve.\nThe next time, therefore, that Mr. Thornhill came to see us, my girls\ntook care to be out of the way, in order to give their mamma an\nopportunity of putting her scheme in execution; but they only retired to\nthe next room, from whence they could overhear the whole conversation.\nMy wife artfully introduced it by observing, that one of the Miss\nFlamboroughs was like to have a very good match of it in Mr. Spanker. To\nthis the squire assenting, she proceeded to remark, that they who had\nwarm fortunes were always sure of getting good husbands: \"But heaven\nhelp,\" continued she, \"the girls that have none! What signifies beauty,\nMr. Thornhill? or what signifies all the virtue and all the\nqualifications in the world, in this age of self-interest? It is not,\nWhat is she? but, What has she? is all the cry.\"\n\"Madam,\" returned he, \"I highly approve the justice, as well as the\nnovelty, of your remarks; and if I were a king it should be otherwise.\nIt should then, indeed, be fine times for the girls without fortunes:\nour two young ladies should be the first for whom I would provide.\"\n\"Ah! sir,\" returned my wife, \"you are pleased to be facetious: but I\nwish I were a queen, and then I know where my eldest daughter should\nlook for a husband. But now that you have put it into my head,\nseriously, Mr. Thornhill, can't you recommend me a proper husband for\nher? she is now nineteen years old, well grown, and well educated; and,\nin my humble opinion, does not want for parts.\"\n[Illustration:\n   _\"Madam,\" returned he, \"I highly approve the justice,\n  as well as the novelty, of your remarks; and if I were a\n  king it should be otherwise.\"_\u2014_p._ 68.\n\"Madam,\" replied he, \"if I were to choose, I would find out a person\npossessed of every accomplishment that can make an angel happy; one with\nprudence, fortune, taste, and sincerity: such, madam, would be, in my\nopinion, the proper husband.\" \"Ay, sir,\" said she, \"but do you know of\nany such person?\" \"No, madam,\" returned he, \"it is impossible to know\nany person that deserves to be her husband: she's too great a treasure\nfor one man's possession: she's a goddess. Upon my soul, I speak what I\nthink: she is an angel.\" \"Ah, Mr. Thornhill, you only flatter my poor\ngirl: but we have been thinking of marrying her to one of your tenants,\nwhose mother is lately dead, and who wants a manager; you know whom I\nmean\u2014Farmer Williams; a warm man, Mr. Thornhill, able to give her good\nbread; and who has several times made her proposals\" (which was actually\nthe case). \"But, sir,\" concluded she, \"I should be glad to have your\napprobation of our choice.\" \"How, madam!\" replied he, \"my approbation!\nMy approbation of such a choice! Never. What! sacrifice so much beauty,\nand sense, and goodness, to a creature insensible of the blessing!\nExcuse me, I can never approve of such a piece of injustice! And I have\nmy reasons.\" \"Indeed, sir,\" cried Deborah, \"if you have your reasons,\nthat's another affair; but I should be glad to know those reasons.\"\n\"Excuse me, madam,\" returned he, \"they lie too deep for discovery,\"\n(laying his hand upon his bosom,) \"they remain buried, riveted here.\"\nAfter he was gone, upon a general consultation, we could not tell what\nto make of these fine sentiments. Olivia considered them as instances of\nthe most exalted passion; but I was not quite so sanguine: it seemed to\nme pretty plain that they had more of love than matrimony in them; yet,\nwhatever they might portend, it was resolved to prosecute the scheme of\nFarmer Williams, who, from my daughter's first appearance in the\ncountry, had paid her his addresses.\n         _Scarcely any virtue found to resist the power of long\n                       and pleasing temptation._\nAs I only studied my child's real happiness, the assiduity of Mr.\nWilliams pleased me, as he was in easy circumstances, prudent and\nsincere. It required but very little encouragement to revive his former\npassion; so that in an evening or two he and Mr. Thornhill met at our\nhouse, and surveyed each other for some time with looks of anger; but\nWilliams owed his landlord no rent, and little regarded his indignation.\nOlivia, on her side, acted the coquette to perfection, if that might be\ncalled acting which was her real character, pretending to lavish all her\ntenderness on her new lover. Mr. Thornhill appeared quite dejected at\nthis preference, and with a pensive air took leave; though I own it\npuzzled me to find him in so much pain as he appeared to be, when he had\nit in his power so easily to remove the cause, by declaring an\nhonourable passion. But whatever uneasiness he seemed to endure, it\ncould easily be perceived that Olivia's anguish was much greater. After\nany of these interviews between her lovers, of which there were several,\nshe usually retired to solitude, and there indulged her grief. It was in\nsuch a situation I found her one evening, after she had been for some\ntime supporting a fictitious gaiety. \"You now see, my child,\" said I,\n\"that your confidence in Mr. Thornhill's passion was all a dream: he\npermits the rivalry of another, every way his inferior, though he knows\nit lies in his power to secure you to himself by a candid declaration.\"\n\"Yes, papa,\" returned she, \"but he has his reasons for this delay; I\nknow he has. The sincerity of his looks and words convinces me of his\nreal esteem. A short time, I hope, will discover the generosity of his\nsentiments, and convince you that my opinion of him has been more just\nthan yours.\" \"Olivia, my darling,\" returned I, \"every scheme that has\nbeen hitherto pursued to compel him to a declaration has been proposed\nand planned by yourself, nor can you in the least say that I have\nconstrained you. But you must not suppose, my dear, that I will ever be\ninstrumental in suffering his honest rival to be the dupe of your\nill-placed passion. Whatever time you require to bring your fancied\nadmirer to an explanation shall be granted; but at the expiration of\nthat term, if he is still regardless, I must absolutely insist that\nhonest Mr. Williams shall be rewarded for his fidelity. The character\nwhich I have hitherto supported in life demands this from me; and my\ntenderness as a parent shall never influence my integrity as a man.\nName, then, your day: let it be as distant as you think proper, and in\nthe meantime take care to let Mr. Thornhill know the exact time on which\nI design delivering you up to another. If he really loves you, his own\ngood sense will readily suggest that there is but one method alone to\nprevent his losing you for ever.\" This proposal, which she could not\navoid considering as perfectly just, was readily agreed to. She again\nrenewed her most positive promise of marrying Mr. Williams in case of\nthe other's insensibility; and at the next opportunity, in Mr.\nThornhill's presence, that day month was fixed upon for her nuptials\nwith his rival.\nSuch vigorous proceedings seemed to redouble Mr. Thornhill's anxiety:\nbut what Olivia really felt gave me some uneasiness. In this struggle\nbetween prudence and passion, her vivacity quite forsook her, and every\nopportunity of solitude was sought, and spent in tears. One week passed\naway; but Mr. Thornhill made no efforts to restrain her nuptials. The\nsucceeding week he was still assiduous, but not more open. On the third\nhe discontinued his visits entirely; and instead of my daughter\ntestifying any impatience, as I expected, she seemed to retain a pensive\ntranquillity, which I looked upon as resignation. For my own part, I was\nnow sincerely pleased with thinking that my child was going to be\nsecured in a continuance of competence and peace, and frequently\napplauded her resolution in preferring happiness to ostentation.\nIt was within about four days of her intended nuptials, that my little\nfamily at night were gathered round a charming fire, telling stories of\nthe past, and laying schemes for the future; busied in forming a\nthousand projects, and laughing at whatever folly came uppermost. \"Well,\nMoses,\" cried I, \"we shall soon, my boy, have a wedding in the family;\nwhat is your opinion of matters and things in general?\" \"My opinion,\nfather, is, that all things go on very well; and I was just now\nthinking, that when sister Livy is married to Farmer Williams, we shall\nthen have the loan of the cider-press and brewing-tubs for nothing.\"\n\"That we shall, Moses,\" cried I, \"and he will sing us _Death and the\nLady_, to raise our spirits, into the bargain.\" \"He has taught that song\nto our Dick,\" cried Moses; \"and I think he goes through it very\nprettily.\" \"Does he so?\" cried I, \"then let us have it: where is little\nDick? let him up with it boldly.\" \"My brother Dick,\" cried Bill, my\nyoungest, \"is just gone out with his sister Livy; but Mr. Williams has\ntaught me two songs, and I'll sing them for you, papa. Which song do you\nchoose\u2014_The Dying Swan_, or the _Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog_?\" \"The\nelegy, child, by all means,\" said I; \"I never heard that yet. And\nDeborah, my life, grief, you know, is dry; let us have a bottle of the\nbest gooseberry-wine, to keep up our spirits. I have wept so much at all\nsorts of elegies of late, that, without an enlivening glass, I am sure\nthis will overcome me. And Sophy, love, take your guitar, and thrum in\nwith the boy a little.\"\n Good people all, of every sort,\n   Give ear unto my song;\n And if you find it wondrous short,\n   It cannot hold you long.\n In Islington there was a man\n   Of whom the world might say,\n That still a godly race he ran\n   Whene'er he went to pray.\n A kind and gentle heart he had\n   To comfort friends and foes;\n The naked every day he clad,\n   When he put on his clothes.\n And in that town a dog was found,\n   As many dogs there be,\n Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound,\n   And curs of low degree.\n This dog and man at first were friends;\n   But when a pique began,\n The dog, to gain some private ends,\n   Went mad, and bit the man!\n Around from all the neighb'ring streets\n   The wond'ring neighbours ran,\n And swore the dog had lost his wits,\n   To bite so good a man.\n The wound it seemed both sore and sad\n   To every Christian eye;\n And while they swore the dog was mad,\n   They swore the man would die.\n But soon a wonder came to light,\n   That showed the rogues they lied\n The man recovered of the bite,\n   The dog it was that died.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_After any of these interviews between her lovers,\n  of which there were several, she usually retired to\n  solitude, and there indulged her grief._\"\u2014_p._ 71.\n\"A very good boy, Bill, upon my word; and an elegy that may be truly\ncalled tragical. Come, my children, here's Bill's health, and may he one\nday be a bishop!\"\n\"With all my heart,\" cried my wife; \"and if he but preaches as well as\nhe sings, I make no doubt of him. The most of his family, by the\nmother's side, could sing a good song. It was a common saying in our\ncountry, that the family of the Blenkinsops could never look straight\nbefore them; nor the Hugginsons blow out a candle; and there were none\nof the Grograms but could sing a song, or of the Marjorams but could\ntell a story.\" \"However that be,\" cried I, \"the most vulgar ballad of\nall generally pleases me better than the fine modern odes, and things\nthat petrify us in a single stanza: productions that we at once detest\nand praise. Put the glass to your brother, Moses. The great fault of\nthese elegiasts is, that they are in despair for griefs that give the\nsensible part of mankind very little pain. A lady loses her muff, her\nfan, or her lap-dog; and so the silly poet runs home to versify the\ndisaster.\"\n\"That may be the mode,\" cried Moses, \"in sublimer compositions; but the\nRanelagh songs that come down to us are perfectly familiar, and all cast\nin the same mould: Colin meets Dolly, and they hold a dialogue together;\nhe gives her a fairing to put in her hair, and she presents him with a\nnosegay; and then they go together to church, where they give good\nadvice to young nymphs and swains to get married as fast as they can.\"\n\"And very good advice too,\" cried I; \"and I am told there is not a place\nin the world where advice can be given with so much propriety as there:\nfor, as it persuades us to marry, it also furnishes us with a wife; and\nsurely that must be an excellent market, my boy, where we are told what\nwe want, and supplied with it when wanting.\"\n\"Yes, sir,\" returned Moses, \"and I know but of two such markets for\nwives in Europe, Ranelagh in England, and Fontarabia in Spain. The\nSpanish market is open once a year, but our English wives are saleable\nevery night.\"\n\"You are right, my boy,\" cried his mother; \"Old England is the only\nplace in the world for husbands to get wives.\" \"And for wives to manage\ntheir husbands,\" interrupted I. \"It is a proverb abroad, that if a\nbridge were built across the sea, all the ladies of the continent would\ncome over to take pattern from ours; for there are no such wives in\nEurope as our own. But let us have one bottle more, Deborah, my life,\nand, Moses, give us a good song. What thanks do we not owe to Heaven for\nthus bestowing tranquillity, health, and competence! I think myself\nhappier now than the greatest monarch upon earth. He has no such\nfireside, nor such pleasant faces about it. Yes, Deborah, we are now\ngrowing old; but the evening of our life is likely to be happy. We are\ndescended from ancestors that knew no stain, and we shall leave a good\nand virtuous race of children behind us. While we live they will be our\nsupport and our pleasure here, and when we die they will transmit our\nhonour untainted to posterity. Come, my son, we wait for a song; let us\nhave a chorus. But where is my darling Olivia? That little cherub's\nvoice is always sweetest in the concert.\" Just as I spoke, Dick came\nrunning in. \"O papa, papa, she is gone from us! she is gone from us; my\nsister Livy is gone from us for ever!\" \"Gone, child!\" \"Yes; she is gone\noff with two gentlemen in a post-chaise, and one of them kissed her, and\nsaid he would die for her; and she cried very much, and was for coming\nback; but he persuaded her again, and she went into the chaise, and\nsaid, 'Oh! what will my poor papa do when he knows I am undone!'\" \"Now,\nthen,\" cried I, \"my children, go and be miserable; for we shall never\nenjoy one hour more. And Oh, may Heaven's everlasting fury light upon\nhim and his! Thus to rob me of my child! And sure it will\u2014for taking\nback my sweet innocent that I was leading up to heaven! Such sincerity\nas my child was possessed of! But all our earthly happiness is now over!\nGo, my children, go and be miserable and infamous\u2014for my heart is broken\nwithin me!\" \"Father,\" cried my son, \"is this your fortitude?\"\n\"Fortitude, child! Yes, he shall see I have fortitude. Bring me my\npistols\u2014I'll pursue the traitor\u2014while he is on earth, I'll pursue him!\nOld as I am, he shall find I can sting him yet\u2014the villain\u2014the\nperfidious villain!\" I had by this time reached down my pistols, when my\npoor wife, whose passions were not so strong as mine, caught me in her\narms. \"My dearest, dearest husband,\" cried she, \"the Bible is the only\nweapon that is fit for your old hands now. Open that, my love, and read\nour anguish into patience, for she has vilely deceived us.\" \"Indeed,\nsir,\" resumed my son, after a pause, \"your rage is too violent and\nunbecoming. You should be my mother's comforter, and you increase her\npain. It ill suited you and your reverend character, thus to curse your\ngreatest enemy; you should not have cursed him, villain as he is.\" \"I\ndid not curse him, child, did I?\" \"Indeed, sir, you did; you cursed him\ntwice.\" \"Then may Heaven forgive me and him if I did. And now, my son, I\nsee it was more than human benevolence that first taught us to bless our\nenemies. Blessed be His holy name for all the good He hath given, and\nfor all He hath taken away. But it is not\u2014it is not a small distress\nthat can wring tears from these old eyes, that have not wept for so many\nyears. My child\u2014to undo my darling! May confusion seize\u2014Heaven forgive\nme!\u2014what am I about to say? You may remember, my love, how good she was,\nand how charming: till this vile moment all her care was to make us\nhappy. Had she but died! But she is gone; the honour of our family is\ncontaminated, and I must look out for happiness in other worlds than\nhere. But, my child, you saw them go off: perhaps he forced her away? If\nhe forced her, she may yet be innocent.\" \"Ah! no, sir,\" cried the child;\n\"he only kissed her, and called her his angel, and she wept very much,\nand leaned upon his arm, and they drove off very fast.\" \"She's an\nungrateful creature,\" cried my wife, who could scarcely speak for\nweeping, \"to use us thus; she never had the least constraint put upon\nher affections. The vile strumpet has basely deserted her parents\nwithout any provocation\u2014thus to bring your grey hairs to the grave, and\nI must shortly follow.\"\nIn this manner that night, the first of our real misfortunes, was spent\nin the bitterness of complaint and ill-supported sallies of enthusiasm.\nI determined, however, to find out our betrayer, wherever he was, and\nreproach his baseness. The next morning we missed our wretched child at\nbreakfast, where she used to give life and cheerfulness to us all. My\nwife, as before, attempted to ease her heart by reproaches. \"Never,\"\ncried she, \"shall that vilest stain of our family again darken these\nharmless doors. I will never call her daughter more. No! let the\nstrumpet live with her vile seducer: she may bring us to shame, but she\nshall never more deceive us.\"\n\"Wife,\" said I, \"do not talk thus hardly: my detestation of her guilt is\nas great as yours; but ever shall this house and this heart be open to a\npoor returning repentant sinner. The sooner she returns from her\ntransgressions, the more welcome shall she be to me. For the first time\nthe very best may err; art may persuade, and novelty spread out its\ncharm. The first fault is the child of simplicity, but every other the\noffspring of guilt. Yes, the wretched creature shall be welcome to this\nheart and this house, though stained with ten thousand vices. I will\nagain hearken to the music of her voice, again will I hang fondly on her\nbosom, if I find but repentance there. My son, bring hither my Bible and\nmy staff; I will pursue her, wherever she is; and, though I cannot save\nher from shame, I may prevent the continuance of her iniquity.\"\n      _The pursuit of a father to reclaim a lost child to virtue._\n[Illustration:\n  \"_But she is gone; the honour of our family\n  is contaminated, and I must look out for happiness\n  in other worlds than here._\"\u2014_p._ 75.\nThough the child could not describe the gentleman's person who handed\nhis sister into the post-chaise, yet my suspicions fell entirely upon\nour young landlord, whose character for such intrigues was but too well\nknown. I therefore directed my steps towards Thornhill Castle, resolving\nto upbraid him, and, if possible, to bring back my daughter; but before\nI had reached his seat I was met by one of my parishioners, who said he\nsaw a young lady resembling my daughter in a post-chaise with a\ngentleman, whom, by the description, I could only guess to be Mr.\nBurchell, and that they drove very fast. This information, however, did\nby no means satisfy me; I therefore went to the young squire's, and,\nthough it was yet early, insisted upon seeing him immediately; he soon\nappeared with the most open, familiar air, and seemed perfectly amazed\nat my daughter's elopement, protesting upon his honour that he was quite\na stranger to it. I now therefore condemned my former suspicions, and\ncould turn them only on Mr. Burchell, who I recollected had of late\nseveral private conferences with her; but the appearance of another\nwitness left me no room to doubt of his villainy, who averred that he\nand my daughter were actually gone towards the Wells, about thirty miles\noff, where there was a great deal of company. Being driven to that state\nof mind in which we are more ready to act precipitately than to reason\nright, I never debated with myself whether these accounts might not have\nbeen given by persons purposely placed in my way to mislead me, but\nresolved to pursue my daughter and her fancied deluder thither. I walked\nalong with earnestness, and inquired of several by the way; but received\nno accounts, till entering the town, I was met by a person on horseback,\nwhom I remembered to have seen at the squire's, and he assured me that\nif I followed them to the races, which were but thirty miles further, I\nmight depend upon overtaking them; for he had seen them dance there the\nnight before, and the whole assembly seemed charmed with my daughter's\nperformance. Early the next day I walked forward to the races, and about\nfour in the afternoon I came upon the course. The company made a very\nbrilliant appearance, all earnestly employed in one pursuit, that of\npleasure: how different from mine, that of reclaiming a lost child to\nvirtue! I thought I perceived Mr. Burchell at some distance from me;\nbut, as if he dreaded an interview, upon my approaching him he mixed\namong a crowd, and I saw him no more.\nI now reflected, that it would be to no purpose to continue my pursuit\nfarther, and resolved to return home to an innocent family, who wanted\nmy assistance. But the agitations of my mind, and the fatigues I had\nundergone, threw me into a fever, the symptoms of which I perceived\nbefore I came off the course. This was another unexpected stroke, as I\nwas more than seventy miles distant from home; however, I retired to a\nlittle alehouse by the road-side; and in this place, the usual retreat\nof indigence and frugality, I laid me down patiently to wait the issue\nof my disorder. I languished here for nearly three weeks; but at last my\nconstitution prevailed, though I was unprovided with money to defray the\nexpenses of my entertainment. It is possible the anxiety from this last\ncircumstance alone might have brought on a relapse, had I not been\nsupplied by a traveller who stopped to take a cursory refreshment. This\nperson was no other than the philanthropic bookseller in St. Paul's\nChurchyard, who has written so many little books for children: he called\nhimself their friend, but he was the friend of all mankind. He was no\nsooner alighted, but he was in haste to be gone; for he was ever on\nbusiness of the utmost importance, and was at that time actually\ncompiling materials for the history of one Mr. Thomas Trip. I\nimmediately recollected this good-natured man's red pimpled face; for he\nhad published for me against the Deuterogamists of the age; and from him\nI borrowed a few pieces, to be paid at my return. Leaving the inn,\ntherefore, as I was yet but weak, I resolved to return home by easy\njourneys of ten miles a day.\nMy health and usual tranquillity were almost restored, and I now\ncondemned that pride which had made me refractory to the hand of\ncorrection. Man little knows what calamities are beyond his patience to\nbear till he tries them; as in ascending the heights of ambition, which\nlook bright from below, every step we rise shows us some new and gloomy\nprospect of hidden disappointment; so in our descent from the summits of\npleasure, though the vale of misery below may appear at first dark and\ngloomy, yet the busy mind, still attentive to its own amusement, finds,\nas we descend, something to flatter and to please. Still as we approach\nthe darkest objects appear to brighten, and the mental eye becomes\nadapted to its gloomy situation.\nI now proceeded forward, and had walked about two hours, when I\nperceived what appeared at a distance like a waggon, which I was\nresolved to overtake: but when I came up with it found it to be a\nstrolling company's cart, that was carrying their scenes and other\ntheatrical furniture to the next village, where they were to exhibit.\nThe cart was attended only by the person who drove it, and one of the\ncompany; as the rest of the players were to follow the ensuing day.\n\"Good company upon the road,\" says the proverb, \"is the shortest cut.\" I\ntherefore entered into conversation with the poor player; and, as I once\nhad some theatrical powers myself, I descanted on such topics with my\nusual freedom; as I was but little acquainted with the present state of\nthe stage, I demanded who were the present theatrical writers in vogue,\nwho the Drydens and Otways of the day? \"I fancy, sir,\" cried the player,\n\"few of our modern dramatists would think themselves much honoured by\nbeing compared to the writers you mention. Dryden's and Rowe's manner,\nsir, are quite out of fashion: our taste has gone back a whole century;\nFletcher, Ben Jonson, and all the plays of Shakespeare are the only\nthings that go down.\" \"How!\" cried I, \"is it possible the present age\ncan be pleased with that antiquated dialect, that obsolete humour, those\novercharged characters, which abound in the works you mention?\" \"Sir,\"\nreturned my companion, \"the public think nothing about dialect, or\nhumour, or character; for that is none of their business; they only go\nto be amused, and find themselves happy when they can enjoy a pantomime,\nunder the sanction of Jonson's or Shakespeare's name.\" \"So then, I\nsuppose,\" cried I, \"that our modern dramatists are rather imitators of\nShakespeare than nature?\" \"To say the truth,\" returned my companion, \"I\ndon't know that they imitate anything at all; nor indeed does the public\nrequire it of them: it is not the composition of the piece, but the\nnumber of starts and attitudes that may be introduced, that elicits\napplause. I have known a piece, with not one jest in the whole, shrugged\ninto popularity, and another saved by the poet's throwing in a fit of\nthe gripes. No, sir, the works of Congreve and Farquhar have too much\nwit in them for the present taste; our modern dialect is much more\nnatural.\"\nBy this time the equipage of the strolling company was arrived at the\nvillage, which, it seems, had been apprised of our approach, and was\ncome out to gaze at us; for my companion observed, that strollers always\nhave more spectators without doors than within. I did not consider the\nimpropriety of my being in such company, till I saw a mob gather about\nme. I therefore took shelter, as fast as possible, in the first alehouse\nthat offered; and being shown into the common-room, was accosted by a\nvery well-dressed gentleman, who demanded whether I was the real\nchaplain of the company, or whether it was only to be my masquerade\ncharacter in the play? Upon my informing him of the truth, and that I\ndid not belong in any sort to the company, he was condescending enough\nto desire me and the player to partake in a bowl of punch, over which he\ndiscussed modern politics with great earnestness and interest. I set him\ndown in my own mind for nothing less than a parliament man at least; but\nwas almost confirmed in my conjectures, when, upon asking what there was\nin the house for supper, he insisted that the player and I should sup\nwith him at his house; with which request, after some entreaties, we\nwere prevailed on to comply.\n[Illustration: Interior Scene]\n       _The description of a person discontented with the present\n      government, and apprehensive of the loss of our liberties._\nThe house where we were to be entertained lying at a small distance from\nthe village, our inviter observed, that, as the coach was not ready, he\nwould conduct us on foot; and we soon arrived at one of the most\nmagnificent mansions I had seen in that part of the country. The\napartment into which we were shown was perfectly elegant and modern. He\nwent to give orders for supper, while the player, with a wink, observed\nthat we were perfectly in luck. Our entertainer soon returned, an\nelegant supper was brought in, two or three ladies in easy dishabille\nwere introduced, and the conversation began with some sprightliness.\nPolitics, however, was the subject on which our entertainer chiefly\nexpatiated; for he asserted that liberty was at once his boast and his\nterror. After the cloth was removed, he asked me if I had seen the last\nMonitor; to which replying in the negative, \"What! nor the Auditor, I\nsuppose?\" cried he. \"Neither, sir,\" returned I. \"That's strange, very\nstrange,\" replied my entertainer. \"Now I read all the politics that come\nout. The Daily, the Public, the Ledger, the Chronicle, the London\nEvening, the Whitehall Evening, the seventeen magazines, and the two\nreviews; and, though they hate each other, I love them all. Liberty,\nsir, liberty is the Briton's boast, and, by all my coal-mines in\nCornwall, I reverence its guardians.\" \"Then it is to be hoped,\" cried I,\n\"you reverence the king?\" \"Yes,\" returned my entertainer, \"when he does\nwhat we would have him; but if he goes on as he has done of late, I'll\nnever trouble myself more with his matters. I say nothing. I think only\nI could have directed some things better. I don't think there has been a\nsufficient number of advisers; he should advise with every person\nwilling to give him advice, and then we should have things done in\nanother guess manner.\"\n\"I wish,\" cried I, \"that such intruding advisers were fixed in the\npillory. It should be the duty of honest men to assist the weaker side\nof our constitution, that sacred power that has for some years been\nevery day declining and losing its due share of influence in the state.\nBut these ignorants still continue the same cry of liberty, and if they\nhave any weight, basely throw it into the subsiding scale.\"\n\"How!\" cried one of the ladies, \"do I live to see one so base, so\nsordid, as to be an enemy to liberty, and a defender of tyrants?\nLiberty, that sacred gift of heaven, that glorious privilege of\nBritons!\"\n\"Can it be possible,\" cried our entertainer, \"that there should be any\nfound, at present, advocates for slavery? Any who are for meanly giving\nup the privileges of Britons? Can any, sir, be so abject?\"\n\"No, sir,\" replied I, \"I am for liberty, that attribute of gods!\nGlorious liberty! that theme of modern declamation! I would have all men\nkings. I would be a king myself. We have all naturally an equal right to\nthe throne; we are all originally equal. This is my opinion, and was\nonce the opinion of a set of honest men who were called levellers. They\ntried to erect themselves into a community where all should be equally\nfree. But, alas! it would never answer; for there were some among them\nstronger, and some more cunning than others, and these became masters of\nthe rest; for as sure as your groom rides your horses, because he is a\ncunninger animal than they, so surely will the animal that is cunninger\nor stronger than he sit upon his shoulders in turn. Since, then, it is\nentailed upon humanity to submit, and some are born to command, and\nothers to obey, the question is, as there must be tyrants, whether it is\nbetter to have them in the same house with us, or in the same village,\nor still farther off, in the metropolis. Now, sir, for my own part, as I\nnaturally hate the face of a tyrant, the farther off he is removed from\nme, the better pleased am I. The generality of mankind also are of my\nway of thinking, and have unanimously created one king, whose election\nat once diminishes the number of tyrants, and puts tyranny at the\ngreatest distance from the greatest number of people. Now the great, who\nwere tyrants themselves before the election of one tyrant, are naturally\naverse to a power raised over them, and whose weight must ever lean\nheaviest on the subordinate orders. It is the interest of the great,\ntherefore, to diminish kingly power as much as possible; because\nwhatever they take from that is naturally restored to themselves: and\nall they have to do in the state is to undermine the single tyrant, by\nwhich they resume their primeval authority. Now the state may be so\ncircumstanced, or its laws may be so disposed, or its men of opulence so\nminded, as all to conspire in carrying on this business of undermining\nmonarchy. For, in the first place, if the circumstances of our state be\nsuch as to favour the accumulation of wealth, and make the opulent still\nmore rich, this will increase their ambition. An accumulation of wealth,\nhowever, must necessarily be the consequence, when, as at present, more\nriches flow in from external commerce than arise from internal industry:\nfor external commerce can only be managed to advantage by the rich, and\nthey have also at the same time all the emoluments arising from internal\nindustry; so that the rich, with us, have two sources of wealth, whereas\nthe poor have but one. For this reason, wealth in all commercial states\nis found to accumulate; and all such have hitherto in time become\naristocratical. Again, the very laws also of the country may contribute\nto the accumulation of wealth; as when, by their means, the natural ties\nthat bind the rich and poor together are broken; and it is ordained that\nthe rich shall only marry with the rich; or when the learned are held\nunqualified to serve their country as councillors, merely from a defect\nof opulence; and wealth is thus made the object of a wise man's\nambition: by these means, I say, and such means as these, riches will\naccumulate. Now the possessor of accumulated wealth, when furnished with\nthe necessaries and pleasures of life, has no other method to employ the\nsuperfluity of his fortune but in purchasing power; that is, differently\nspeaking, in making dependants by purchasing the liberty of the needy or\nthe venal, of men who are willing to bear the mortification of\ncontiguous tyranny for bread. Thus each very opulent man generally\ngathers round him a circle of the poorest of the people, and the polity\nabounding in accumulated wealth may be compared to a Cartesian system,\neach orb with a vortex of its own. Those, however, who are willing to\nmove in a great man's vortex, are only such as must be slaves, the\nrabble of mankind, whose souls and whose education are adapted to\nservitude, and who know nothing of liberty except the name. But there\nmust still be a large number of the people without the sphere of the\nopulent man's influence, namely, that order of men which subsists\nbetween the very rich and the very rabble; those men who are possessed\nof too large fortunes to submit to the neighbouring man in power, and\nyet are too poor to set up for tyranny themselves. In this middle order\nof mankind are generally to be found all the arts, wisdom, and virtues\nof society. This order alone is known to be the true preserver of\nfreedom, and may be called THE PEOPLE. Now it may happen, that this\nmiddle order of mankind may lose all its influence in a state, and its\nvoice be in a manner drowned in that of the rabble; for if the fortune\nsufficient for qualifying a person at present to give his voice in state\naffairs be ten times less than was judged sufficient upon forming the\nconstitution, it is evident that greater numbers of the rabble will thus\nbe introduced into the political system, and they, ever moving in the\nvortex of the great, will follow where greatness shall direct. In such a\nstate, therefore, all that the middle order has left is, to preserve the\nprerogative and privileges of the one principal governor with the most\nsacred circumspection. For he divides the power of the rich, and calls\noff the great from falling with tenfold weight on the middle order\nplaced beneath them. The middle order may be compared to a town, of\nwhich the opulent are forming the siege, and of which the governor from\nwithout is hastening the relief.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_He was going to begin, when,\n  turning his eyes upon the audience, he\n  perceived Miss Wilmot and me, and stood\n  at once speechless and immoveable._\"\u2014_p._ 88.\nWhile the besiegers are in dread of an enemy over them, it is but\nnatural to offer the townsmen the most specious terms: to flatter them\nwith sounds, and amuse them with privileges; but if they once defeat the\ngovernor from behind, the walls of the town will be but a small defence\nto its inhabitants. What they may then expect may be seen by turning our\neyes to Holland, Genoa, or Venice, where the laws govern the poor, and\nthe rich govern the laws. I am then for, and would die for, monarchy,\nsacred monarchy; for if there be anything sacred amongst men, it must be\nthe anointed _sovereign_ of his people; and every diminution of his\npower, in war or peace, is an infringement upon the real liberties of\nthe subject. The sounds of liberty, patriotism, and Britons, have\nalready done much; it is to be hoped that the true sons of freedom will\nprevent their ever doing more. I have known many of these pretended\nchampions for liberty in my time, yet do I not remember one that was not\nin his heart and in his family a tyrant.\"\nMy warmth, I found, had lengthened this harangue beyond the rules of\ngood breeding; but the impatience of my entertainer, who often strove to\ninterrupt it, could be restrained no longer. \"What!\" cried he, \"then I\nhave been all this while entertaining a Jesuit in parson's clothes? but,\nby all the coal-mines of Cornwall, out he shall pack, if my name be\nWilkinson.\" I now found I had gone too far, and asked pardon for the\nwarmth with which I had spoken. \"Pardon!\" returned he, in a fury; \"I\nthink such principles demand ten thousand pardons. What! give up\nliberty, property, and, as the Gazetteer says, lie down to be saddled\nwith wooden shoes! Sir, I insist upon your marching out of this house\nimmediately, to prevent worse consequences. Sir, I insist upon it.\" I\nwas going to repeat my remonstrances; but just then we heard a footman's\nrap at the door, and the two ladies cried out, \"As sure as death, there\nis our master and mistress come home!\" It seems my entertainer was all\nthis while only the butler, who, in his master's absence, had a mind to\ncut a figure, and be for a while the gentleman himself; and, to say the\ntruth, he talked politics as well as most country gentlemen do. But\nnothing could now exceed my confusion upon seeing the gentleman and his\nlady enter; nor was their surprise, at finding such company and good\ncheer, less than ours. \"Gentlemen,\" cried the real master of the house\nto me and my companion, \"my wife and I are your most humble servants;\nbut I protest this is so unexpected a favour, that we almost sink under\nthe obligation.\" However unexpected our company might be to them,\ntheirs, I am sure, was still more so to us, and I was struck dumb with\nthe apprehensions of my own absurdity, when whom should I next see enter\nthe room but my dear Miss Arabella Wilmot, who was formerly designed to\nbe married to my son George; but whose match was broken off, as already\nrelated! As soon as she saw me, she flew to my arms with the utmost joy.\n\"My dear sir,\" cried she, \"to what happy accident is it that we owe so\nunexpected a visit? I am sure my uncle and aunt will be in raptures when\nthey find they have got the good Dr. Primrose for their guest.\" Upon\nhearing my name, the old gentleman and lady very politely stepped up,\nand welcomed me with most cordial hospitality. Nor could they forbear\nsmiling on being informed of the nature of my present visit; but the\nunfortunate butler, whom they at first seemed disposed to turn away, was\nat my intercession forgiven.\nMr. Arnold and his lady, to whom the house belonged, now insisted upon\nhaving the pleasure of my stay for some days; and as their niece, my\ncharming pupil, whose mind, in some measure, had been formed under my\nown instructions, joined in their entreaties, I complied. That night I\nwas shown to a magnificent chamber, and the next morning early, Miss\nWilmot desired to walk with me in the garden, which was decorated in the\nmodern manner. After some time spent in pointing out the beauties of the\nplace, she inquired, with seeming unconcern, when last I had heard from\nmy son George. \"Alas! madam,\" cried I, \"he has now been nearly three\nyears absent, without ever writing to his friends or me. Where he is I\nknow not; perhaps I shall never see him or happiness more. No, my dear\nmadam, we shall never more see such pleasing hours as were once spent by\nour fireside at Wakefield. My little family are now dispersing very\nfast, and poverty has brought not only want, but infamy, upon us.\" The\ngood-natured girl let fall a tear at this account; but as I saw her\npossessed of too much sensibility, I forbore a more minute detail of our\nsufferings. It was, however, some consolation to me to find that time\nhad made no alteration in her affections, and that she had rejected\nseveral offers that had been made her since our leaving her part of the\ncountry. She led me round all the extensive improvements of the place,\npointing to the several walks and arbours, and at the same time catching\nfrom every object a hint for some new question relative to my son. In\nthis manner we spent the forenoon, till the bell summoned us to dinner,\nwhere we found the manager of the strolling company that I mentioned\nbefore, who was come to dispose of tickets for the _Fair Penitent_,\nwhich was to be acted that evening: the part of Horatio by a young\ngentleman who had never appeared on any stage. He seemed to be very warm\nin the praise of the new performer, and averred that he never saw any\none who bade so fair for excellence. Acting, he observed, was not\nlearned in a day; \"but this gentleman,\" continued he, \"seems born to\ntread the stage. His voice, his figure, and attitudes, are all\nadmirable. We caught him up accidentally in our journey down.\" This\naccount in some measure excited our curiosity, and, at the entreaty of\nthe ladies, I was prevailed upon to accompany them to the play-house,\nwhich was no other than a barn. As the company with which I went was\nincontestably the chief of the place, we were received with the greatest\nrespect, and placed in the front seat of the theatre; where we sat for\nsome time with no small impatience to see Horatio make his appearance.\nThe new performer advanced at last; and let parents think of my\nsensations by their own, when I found it was my unfortunate son! He was\ngoing to begin, when, turning his eyes upon the audience, he perceived\nMiss Wilmot and me, and stood at once speechless and immoveable.\nThe actors behind the scenes, who ascribed this pause to his natural\ntimidity, attempted to encourage him; but, instead of going on, he burst\ninto a flood of tears, and retired off the stage. I don't know what were\nmy feelings on this occasion, for they succeeded with too much rapidity\nfor description; but I was soon awakened from this disagreeable reverie\nby Miss Wilmot, who, pale and with a trembling voice, desired me to\nconduct her back to her uncle's. When got home, Mr. Arnold, who was as\nyet a stranger to our extraordinary behaviour, being informed that the\nnew performer was my son, sent his coach and an invitation for him; and,\nas he persisted in his refusal to appear again upon the stage, the\nplayers put another in his place, and we soon had him with us. Mr.\nArnold gave him the kindest reception, and I received him with my usual\ntransport; for I could never counterfeit false resentment. Miss Wilmot's\nreception was mixed with seeming neglect, and yet I could perceive she\nacted a studied part. The tumult in her mind seemed not yet abated; she\nsaid twenty giddy things that looked like joy, and then laughed loud at\nher own want of meaning. At intervals she would take a sly peep at the\nglass, as if happy in the consciousness of irresistible beauty; and\noften would ask questions, without giving any manner of attention to the\nanswers.\n        _The History of a Philosophic Vagabond pursuing novelty,\nAfter we had supped, Mrs. Arnold politely offered to send a couple of\nher footmen for my son's baggage, which he at first seemed to decline;\nbut, upon her pressing the request, he was obliged to inform her, that a\nstick and a wallet were all the moveable things upon this earth which he\ncould boast of.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_As I was one day sitting on a bench in\n  St. James's Park, a young gentleman of\n  distinction, who had been my intimate\n  acquaintance at the university, approached me._\"\u2014_p._ 93.\n\"Why, ay, my son,\" cried I, \"you left me but poor; and poor, I find, you\nare come back; and yet, I make no doubt, you have seen a great deal of\nthe world.\" \"Yes, sir,\" replied my son; \"but travelling after fortune is\nnot the way to secure her: and, indeed, of late I have desisted from the\npursuit.\"\n\"I fancy, sir,\" cried Mrs. Arnold, \"that the account of your adventures\nwould be amusing: the first part of them I have often heard from my\nniece; but could the company prevail for the rest, it would be an\nadditional obligation.\" \"Madam,\" replied my son, \"I promise you the\npleasure you have in hearing will not be half so great as my vanity in\nrepeating them; and yet in the whole narrative I can scarcely promise\nyou one adventure, as my account is rather of what I saw than what I\ndid. The first misfortune of my life, which you all know, was great; but\nthough it distressed, it could not sink me. No person ever had a better\nknack of hoping than I. The less kind I found Fortune at one time, the\nmore I expected from her at another; and being now at the bottom of her\nwheel, every new revolution might lift, but could not depress me. I\nproceeded, therefore, towards London on a fine morning, no way uneasy\nabout to-morrow, but cheerful as the birds that carolled by the road;\nand comforted myself with reflecting that London was the mart where\nabilities of every kind were sure of meeting distinction and reward.\n\"Upon my arrival in town, sir, my first care was to deliver your letter\nof recommendation to our cousin, who was himself in little better\ncircumstances than I. My first scheme, you know, sir, was to be usher at\nan academy, and I asked his advice on the affair. Our cousin received\nthe proposal with a true sardonic grin. 'Ay,' cried he, 'this is,\nindeed, a very pretty career that has been chalked out for you. I have\nbeen an usher to a boarding-school myself; and may I die by an anodyne\nnecklace, but I had rather be an under-turnkey in Newgate! I was up\nearly and late: I was browbeat by the master, hated for my ugly face by\nthe mistress, worried by the boys within, and never permitted to stir\nout to meet civility abroad. But are you sure you are fit for a school?\nLet me examine you a little. Have you been bred apprentice to the\nbusiness?' 'No.' 'Then you won't do for a school. Can you dress the\nboys' hair?' 'No.' 'Then you won't do for a school. Have you had the\nsmall-pox?' 'No.' 'Then you won't do for a school. Can you lie three in\na bed?' 'No.' 'Then you will never do for a school. Have you got a good\nstomach?' 'Yes.' 'Then you will by no means do for a school. No, sir; if\nyou are for a genteel, easy profession, bind yourself seven years as an\napprentice to turn a cutler's wheel; but avoid a school by any means.\nYet come,' continued he, 'I see you are a lad of spirit and some\nlearning; what do you think of commencing author, like me? You have read\nin books, no doubt, of men of genius starving at the trade; at present\nI'll show you forty very dull fellows about town that live by it in\nopulence\u2014all honest jog-trot men, who go on smoothly and dully, write\nhistory and politics, and are praised: men, sir, who, had they been bred\ncobblers, would all their lives have only mended shoes, but never made\nthem.'\n\"Finding that there was no great degree of gentility affixed to the\ncharacter of an usher, I resolved to accept his proposal; and, having\nthe highest respect for literature, hailed the _Antiqua Mater_ of\nGrub-street with reverence. I thought it my glory to pursue a track\nwhich Dryden and Otway trod before me. I considered the goddess of this\nregion as the parent of excellence; and, however an intercourse with the\nworld might give us good sense, the poverty she entailed I supposed to\nbe the nurse of genius. Big with these reflections I sat down, and,\nfinding that the best things remained to be said on the wrong side, I\nresolved to write a book that should be wholly new. I therefore dressed\nup three paradoxes with some ingenuity. They were false, indeed, but\nthey were new. The jewels of truth have been so often imported by\nothers, that nothing was left for me to import but some splendid things\nthat, at a distance, looked every bit as well. Witness, you powers, what\nfancied importance sat perched upon my quill while I was writing! The\nwhole learned world, I made no doubt, would rise to oppose my systems;\nbut then I was prepared to oppose the whole learned world. Like the\nporcupine, I sat self-collected, with a quill pointed against every\nopposer.\"\n\"Well said, my boy!\" cried I; \"and what subject did you treat upon? I\nhope you did not pass over the importance of monogamy? But I interrupt:\ngo on. You published your paradoxes; well, and what did the learned\nworld say to your paradoxes?\"\n\"Sir,\" replied my son, \"the learned world said nothing to my paradoxes;\nnothing at all, sir. Every man of them was employed in praising his\nfriends and himself, or condemning his enemies; and, unfortunately, as I\nhad neither, I suffered the cruellest mortification\u2014neglect.\n\"As I was meditating one day, in a coffee-house, on the fate of my\nparadoxes, a little man happening to enter the room, placed himself in\nthe box before me; and, after some preliminary discourse, finding me to\nbe a scholar, drew out a bundle of proposals, begging me to subscribe to\na new edition he was going to give the world of Propertius, with notes.\nThis demand necessarily produced a reply that I had no money; and that\nconcession led him to inquire into the nature of my expectations.\nFinding that my expectations were just as great as my purse, 'I see,'\ncried he, 'you are unacquainted with the town. I'll teach you a part of\nit.\u2014Look at these proposals; upon these very proposals I have subsisted\nvery comfortably for twelve years. The moment a nobleman returns from\nhis travels, a Creolian arrives from Jamaica, or a dowager from her\ncountry-seat, I strike for a subscription. I first besiege their hearts\nwith flattery, and then pour in my proposals at the breach. If they\nsubscribe readily the first time, I renew my request to beg a dedication\nfee; if they let me have that, I smite them once more for engraving\ntheir coat of arms at the top. Thus,' continued he, 'I live by vanity,\nand laugh at it. But, between ourselves, I am now too well known; I\nshould be glad to borrow your face a bit: a nobleman of distinction has\njust returned from Italy; my face is familiar to his porter: but, if you\nbring this copy of verses, my life for it, you succeed, and we divide\nthe spoil.'\"\n\"Bless us! George,\" cried I, \"and is this the employment of poets now?\nDo men of their exalted talents thus stoop to beggary? Can they so far\ndisgrace their calling as to make a vile traffic of praise for bread?\"\n\"Oh, no, sir,\" returned he; \"a true poet can never be so base; for,\nwherever there is genius there is pride. The creatures I now describe\nare only beggars in rhyme. The real poet, as he braves every hardship\nfor fame, so is he equally a coward to contempt: and none but those who\nare unworthy of protection condescend to solicit it.\n\"Having a mind too proud to stoop to such indignities, and yet a fortune\ntoo humble to hazard a second attempt for fame, I was now obliged to\ntake a middle course, and write for bread. But I was unqualified for a\nprofession where mere industry alone was to insure success. I could not\nsuppress my lurking passion for applause; but usually consumed that time\nin efforts after excellence, which takes up but little room, when it\nshould have been more advantageously employed in the diffusive\nproductions of fruitful mediocrity. My little piece would, therefore,\ncome forth in the midst of periodical publications, unnoticed and\nunknown. The public were more importantly employed than to observe the\neasy simplicity of my style, or the harmony of my periods. Sheet after\nsheet was thrown off to oblivion. My essays were buried among the essays\nupon liberty, eastern tales, and cures for the bite of a mad dog; while\nPhilautos, Philalethes, and Philelutheros, and Philanthropos, all wrote\nbetter, because they wrote faster than I.\n\"Now, therefore, I began to associate with none but disappointed authors\nlike myself, who praised, deplored, and despised each other. The\nsatisfaction we found in every celebrated writer's attempts was\ninversely as their merits. I found that no genius in another could\nplease me: my unfortunate paradoxes had entirely dried up that source of\ncomfort. I could neither read nor write with satisfaction; for\nexcellence in another was my aversion, and writing was my trade.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_And without taking further notice\n  he went out of the room._\"\u2014_p._ 95\n\"In the midst of these gloomy reflections, as I was one day sitting on a\nbench in St. James's Park, a young gentleman of distinction, who had\nbeen my intimate acquaintance at the university, approached me. We\nsaluted each other with some hesitation: he almost ashamed of being\nknown to one who made so shabby an appearance, and I afraid of a\nrepulse. But my suspicions soon vanished; for Ned Thornhill was at the\nbottom a very good-natured fellow.\"\n\"What did you say, George?\" interrupted I. \"Thornhill! was not that his\nname? It can certainly be no other than my landlord.\" \"Bless me!\" cried\nMrs. Arnold, \"is Mr. Thornhill so near a neighbour of yours? He has long\nbeen a friend in our family, and we expect a visit from him shortly.\"\n\"My friend's first care,\" continued my son, \"was to alter my appearance\nby a very fine suit of his own clothes, and then I was admitted to his\ntable upon the footing of half friend, half underling. My business was\nto attend him at auctions, to put him in spirits when he sat for his\npicture, to take the left hand in his chariot when not filled by\nanother, and to assist at tattering a kip, as the phrase was, when he\nhad a mind for a frolic. Besides this, I had twenty other little\nemployments in the family. I was to do many small things without\nbidding; to carry the corkscrew; to stand godfather to all the butler's\nchildren; to sing when I was bid; to be never out of humour; always to\nbe humble; and, if I could, to be very happy.\n\"In this honourable post, however, I was not without a rival. A captain\nof marines, who was formed for the place by nature, opposed me in my\npatron's affections. His mother had been laundress to a man of quality,\nand thus he early acquired a taste for pimping and pedigree. As this\ngentleman made it the study of his life to be acquainted with lords,\nthough he was dismissed from several for his stupidity, yet he found\nmany of them, who were as dull as himself, that permitted his\nassiduities. As flattery was his trade, he practised it with the easiest\naddress imaginable; but it came awkward and stiff from me; and as every\nday my patron's desire of flattery increased, so every hour, being\nbetter acquainted with his defects, I became more unwilling to give it.\nThus I was once more fairly going to give up the field to the captain,\nwhen my friend found occasion for my assistance. This was nothing less\nthan to fight a duel for him with a gentleman whose sister it was\npretended he had used ill. I readily complied with his request, and\nthough I see you are displeased at my conduct, yet, as it was a debt\nindispensably due to friendship, I could not refuse. I undertook the\naffair, disarmed my antagonist, and soon after had the pleasure of\nfinding that the lady was only a woman of the town, and the fellow her\nbully and a sharper. This piece of service was repaid with the warmest\nprofessions of gratitude; but as my friend was to leave town in a few\ndays, he knew no other method of serving me but by recommending me to\nhis uncle, Sir William Thornhill, and another nobleman of great\ndistinction, who enjoyed a post under the government. When he was gone,\nmy first care was to carry his recommendatory letter to his uncle, a man\nwhose character for every virtue was universal, yet just. I was received\nby his servants with the most hospitable smiles, for the looks of the\ndomestics ever transmit their master's benevolence. Being shown into a\ngrand apartment, where Sir William soon came to me, I delivered my\nmessage and letter, which he read, and after pausing some minutes,\n'Pray, sir,' cried he, 'inform me what you have done for my kinsman to\ndeserve this warm recommendation. But I suppose, sir, I guess your\nmerits: you have fought for him; and so you would expect a reward from\nme for being the instrument of his vices. I wish, sincerely wish, that\nmy present refusal may be some punishment for your guilt; but still more\nthat it may be some inducement to your repentance.' The severity of this\nrebuke I bore patiently, because I knew that it was just. My whole\nexpectations now, therefore, lay in my letter to the great man. As the\ndoors of the nobility are almost ever beset with beggars, all ready to\nthrust in some sly petition, I found it no easy matter to gain\nadmittance. However, after bribing the servants with half my worldly\nfortune, I was at last shown into a spacious apartment, my letter being\npreviously sent up for his lordship's inspection. During this anxious\ninterval I had full time to look around me. Everything was grand and of\nhappy contrivance: the paintings, the furniture, the gildings, petrified\nme with awe, and raised my idea of the owner. Ah! thought I to myself,\nhow very great must the possessor of all these things be, who carries in\nhis head the business of the state, and whose house displays half the\nwealth of a kingdom; sure his genius must be unfathomable! During these\nawful reflections I heard a step come heavily forward. Ah, this is the\ngreat man himself! No, it was only a chambermaid. Another foot was heard\nsoon after. This must be he! No, it was only the great man's\n_valet-de-chambre_. At last his lordship actually made his appearance.\n'Are you,' cried he, 'the bearer of this here letter?' I answered with a\nbow. 'I learn by this,' continued he, 'as how that\u2014' But just at that\ninstant a servant delivered him a card; and without taking further\nnotice he went out of the room, and left me to digest my own happiness\nat leisure. I saw no more of him, till told by a footman that his\nlordship was going to his coach at the door. Down I immediately\nfollowed, and joined my voice to that of three or four more, who came\nlike me to petition for favours. His lordship, however, went too fast\nfor us, and was gaining his chariot-door with large strides, when I\nhallooed out to know if I was to have any reply. He was by this time got\nin, and muttered an answer, half of which only I heard, the other half\nwas lost in the rattling of his chariot-wheels. I stood for some time\nwith my neck stretched out, in the posture of one that was listening to\ncatch the glorious sounds, till, looking round me, I found myself alone\nat his lordship's gate.\n\"My patience,\" continued my son, \"was now quite exhausted. Stung with\nthe thousand indignities I had met with, I was willing to cast myself\naway, and only wanted the gulf to receive me. I regarded myself as one\nof those vile things that Nature designed should be thrown by into her\nlumber-room, there to perish in obscurity. I had still, however,\nhalf-a-guinea left, and of that I thought Fortune herself should not\ndeprive me; but, in order to be sure of this, I was resolved to go\ninstantly and spend it while I had it, and then trust to occurrences for\nthe rest. As I was going along with this resolution, it happened that\nMr. Crispe's office seemed invitingly open to give me a welcome\nreception. In this office Mr. Crispe kindly offers all his majesty's\nsubjects a generous promise of thirty pounds a-year, for which promise\nall they give in return is their liberty for life, and permission to let\nhim transport them to America as slaves. I was happy at finding a place\nwhere I could lose my fears in desperation, and entered this cell, for\nit had the appearance of one, with the devotion of a monastic. Here I\nfound a number of poor creatures, all in circumstances like myself,\nexpecting the arrival of Mr. Crispe, presenting a true epitome of\nEnglish impatience. Each untractable soul at variance with fortune\nwreaked her injuries on their own hearts; but Mr. Crispe at last came\ndown, and all our murmurs were hushed. He deigned to regard me with an\nair of peculiar approbation, and indeed he was the first man who, for a\nmonth past, talked to me with smiles. After a few questions, he found I\nwas fit for everything in the world. He paused awhile upon the properest\nmeans of providing for me, and slapping his forehead as if he had found\nit, assured me that there was at that time an embassy talked of from the\nsynod of Pennsylvania to the Chickasaw Indians, and that he would use\nhis interest to get me made secretary. I knew in my own heart that the\nfellow lied, and yet his promise gave me pleasure, there was something\nso magnificent in the sound. I fairly, therefore, divided my\nhalf-guinea, one-half of which went to be added to his thirty thousand\npounds, and with the other half I resolved to go to the next tavern, to\nbe there more happy than he.\n\"As I was going out with that resolution, I was met at the door by the\ncaptain of a ship, with whom I had formerly some little acquaintance,\nand he agreed to be my companion over a bowl of punch. As I never chose\nto make a secret of my circumstances, he assured me that I was upon the\nvery point of ruin, in listening to the office-keeper's promises; for\nthat he only designed to sell me to the plantations. 'But,' continued\nhe, 'I fancy you might by a much shorter voyage be very easily put into\na genteel way of bread. Take my advice. My ship sails to-morrow for\nAmsterdam; what if you go in her as a passenger? The moment you land,\nall you have to do is to teach the Dutchmen English, and I warrant\nyou'll get pupils and money enough. I suppose you understand English,'\nadded he, 'by this time, or the deuce is in it.'\n[Illustration:\n  \"_Whenever I approached a peasant's house\n  towards nightfall, I played one of my most\n  merry tunes, and this procured me not only\n  a lodging, but subsistence for the next day._\"\u2014_p._ 99.\nI confidently assured him of that; but expressed a doubt whether the\nDutch would be willing to learn English. He affirmed, with an oath, that\nthey were fond of it to distraction; and upon that affirmation I agreed\nwith his proposal, and embarked with him the next day to teach the Dutch\nEnglish in Holland. The wind was fair, our voyage short; and, after\nhaving paid my passage with half my moveables, I found myself, as fallen\nfrom the skies, a stranger in one of the principal streets of Amsterdam.\nIn this situation I was unwilling to let any time pass unemployed in\nteaching. I addressed myself, therefore, to two or three of those I met,\nwhose appearance seemed most promising; but it was impossible to make\nourselves mutually understood. It was not till this very moment I\nrecollected that, in order to teach Dutchmen English, it was necessary\nthat they should first teach me Dutch. How I came to overlook so obvious\nan objection is to me amazing; but certain it is I overlooked it.\n\"This scheme thus blown up, I had some thoughts of fairly shipping back\nto England again; but falling into company with an Irish student who was\nreturning from Louvain, our conversation turning upon topics of\nliterature (for by the way, it may be observed, that I always forgot the\nmeanness of my circumstances when I could converse on such subjects),\nfrom him I learned that there were not two men in his whole university\nwho understood Greek. This amazed me: I instantly resolved to travel to\nLouvain, and there live by teaching Greek; and in this design I was\nheartened by my brother-student, who threw out some hints that a fortune\nmight be got by it.\n\"I set boldly forward the next morning. Every day lessened the burthen\nof my moveables, like \u00c6sop and his basket of bread; for I paid them for\nmy lodgings to the Dutch as I travelled on. When I came to Louvain, I\nwas resolved not to go sneaking to the lower professors, but openly\ntendered my talents to the principal himself. I went, had admittance,\nand offered him my service as a master of the Greek language, which I\nhad been told was a desideratum in his university. The principal seemed,\nat first, to doubt of my abilities; but of these I offered to convince\nhim, by turning a part of any Greek author he should fix upon into\nLatin. Finding me perfectly earnest in my proposal, he addressed me\nthus: 'You see me, young man: I never learned Greek, and I don't find\nthat I have ever missed it. I have had a doctor's cap and gown without\nGreek; I have ten thousand florins a-year without Greek; I eat heartily\nwithout Greek; and, in short,' continued he, 'as I don't know Greek, I\ndo not believe there is any good in it.'\n\"I was now too far from home to think of returning, so I resolved to go\nforward. I had some knowledge of music, with a tolerable voice; I now\nturned what was once my amusement into a present means of subsistence. I\npassed among the harmless peasants of Flanders, and among such of the\nFrench as were poor enough to be very merry; for I ever found them\nsprightly in proportion to their wants. Whenever I approached a\npeasant's house towards nightfall, I played one of my most merry tunes,\nand that procured me not only a lodging, but subsistence for the next\nday. I once or twice attempted to play for people of fashion; but they\nalways thought my performance odious, and never rewarded me even with a\ntrifle. This was to me the more extraordinary, as whenever I used in\nbetter days to play for company, when playing was my amusement, my music\nnever failed to throw them into raptures, and the ladies especially;\nbut, as it was now my only means, it was received with contempt: a proof\nhow ready the world is to underrate those talents by which a man is\nsupported.\n\"In this manner I proceeded to Paris, with no design but just to look\nabout me, and then to go forward. The people of Paris are much fonder of\nstrangers that have money than of those that have wit. As I could not\nboast much of either, I was no great favourite. After walking about the\ntown four or five days, and seeing the outsides of the best houses, I\nwas preparing to leave this retreat of venal hospitality; when, passing\nthrough one of the principal streets, whom should I meet but our cousin,\nto whom you first recommended me! This meeting was very agreeable to me,\nand I believe not displeasing to him. He inquired into the nature of my\njourney to Paris, and informed me of his own business there, which was\nto collect pictures, medals, intaglios, and antiques of all kinds, for a\ngentleman in London, who had just stepped into taste and a large\nfortune. I was the more surprised at seeing our cousin pitched upon for\nthis office, as he himself had often assured me he knew nothing of the\nmatter. Upon asking how he had been taught the art of a _cognoscento_ so\nvery suddenly, he assured me that nothing was more easy. The whole\nsecret consisted in a strict adherence to two rules: the one, always to\nobserve that the picture might have been better if the painter had taken\nmore pains; and the other, to praise the works of Pietro Perugino.\n'But,' says he, 'as I once taught you how to be an author in London,\nI'll now undertake to instruct you in the art of picture-buying in\nParis.'\n\"With this proposal I very readily closed, as it was a living; and now\nall my ambition was to live. I went therefore to his lodgings, improved\nmy dress by his assistance; and, after some time, accompanied him to\nauctions of pictures, where the English gentry were expected to be\npurchasers. I was not a little surprised at his intimacy with people of\nthe best fashion, who referred themselves to his judgment upon every\npicture or medal, as to an unerring standard of taste. He made very good\nuse of my assistance upon these occasions; for when asked his opinion,\nhe would gravely take me aside and ask mine, shrug, look wise, return,\nand assure the company that he could give no opinion upon an affair of\nso much importance. Yet there was sometimes an occasion for a more\nsupported assurance. I remember to have seen him, after giving his\nopinion that the colouring of a picture was not mellow enough, very\ndeliberately take a brush with brown varnish that was accidentally lying\nby, and rub it over the piece with great composure before all the\ncompany, and then ask if he had not improved the tints.\n\"When he had finished his commission in Paris, he left me strongly\nrecommended to several men of distinction, as a person very proper for a\ntravelling tutor; and, after some time, I was employed in that capacity\nby a gentleman who brought his ward to Paris in order to set him forward\non his tour through Europe. I was to be the young gentleman's governor,\nbut with a proviso that he should always be permitted to govern himself.\nMy pupil, in fact, understood the art of guiding in money concerns much\nbetter than I. He was heir to a fortune of about two hundred thousand\npounds, left him by an uncle in the West Indies; and his guardians, to\nqualify him for the management of it, had bound him apprentice to an\nattorney. Thus avarice was his prevailing passion: all his questions on\nthe road were, how much money might be saved; which was the least\nexpensive course of travelling; whether anything could be bought that\nwould turn to account when disposed of again in London. Such curiosities\non the way as could be seen for nothing he was ready enough to look at;\nbut if the sight of them was to be paid for, he usually asserted that he\nhad been told they were not worth seeing. He never paid a bill that he\nwould not observe how amazingly expensive travelling was! And all this\nthough he was not yet twenty-one. When arrived at Leghorn, as we took a\nwalk to look at the port and shipping, he inquired the expense of the\npassage by sea home to England. This he was informed was but a trifle\ncompared to his returning by land: he was therefore unable to withstand\nthe temptation; so, paying me the small part of my salary that was due,\nhe took leave, and embarked with only one attendant for London.\n\"I now therefore was left once more upon the world at large; but then it\nwas a thing I was used to. However, my skill in music could avail me\nnothing in a country where every peasant was a better musician than I;\nbut by this time I had acquired another talent which answered my purpose\nas well, and this was a skill in disputation. In all the foreign\nuniversities and convents there are, upon certain days, philosophical\ntheses maintained against every adventitious disputant; for which, if\nthe champion opposes with any dexterity, he can claim a gratuity in\nmoney, a dinner, and a bed for one night. In this manner, therefore, I\nfought my way towards England; walked along from city to city; examined\nmankind more nearly; and, if I may so express it, saw both sides of the\npicture. My remarks, however, are but few; I found that monarchy was the\nbest government for the poor to live in, and commonwealths for the rich.\nI found that riches in general were in every country another name for\nfreedom; and that no man is so fond of liberty himself as not to be\ndesirous of subjecting the will of some individuals in society to his\nown.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_Walked along from city to city._\"\u2014_p._ 101.\n\"Upon my arrival in England, I resolved to pay my respects first to you,\nand then to enlist as a volunteer in the first expedition that was going\nforward; but on my journey down my resolutions were changed by meeting\nan old acquaintance, who I found belonged to a company of comedians that\nwere going to make a summer campaign in the country. The company seemed\nnot much to disapprove of me for an associate. They all, however,\napprised me of the importance of the task at which I aimed; that the\npublic was a many-headed monster, and that only such as had very good\nheads could please it; that acting was not to be learnt in a day; and\nthat without some traditional shrugs, which had been on the stage, and\nonly on the stage, these hundred years, I could never pretend to please.\nThe next difficulty was in fitting me with parts, as almost every\ncharacter was in keeping. I was driven for some time from one character\nto another, till at last Horatio was fixed upon, which the presence of\nthe present company has happily hindered me from acting.\"\n        _The short continuance of friendship among the vicious,\n            which is coeval only with mutual satisfaction._\nMy son's account was too long to be delivered at once; the first part of\nit was begun that night, and he was concluding the rest after dinner the\nnext day, when the appearance of Mr. Thornhill's equipage at the door\nseemed to make a pause in the general satisfaction. The butler, who was\nnow become my friend in the family, informed me in a whisper that the\nsquire had already made some overtures to Miss Wilmot, and that her aunt\nand uncle seemed highly to approve the match. Upon Mr. Thornhill's\nentering, he seemed, at seeing my son and me, to start back: but I\nreadily imputed that to surprise, and not displeasure. However, upon our\nadvancing to salute him, he returned our greeting with the most apparent\ncandour; and after a short time his presence served only to increase the\ngeneral good humour.\nAfter tea, he called me aside to inquire after my daughter; but upon my\ninforming him that my inquiry was unsuccessful, he seemed greatly\nsurprised, adding that he had since been frequently at my house in order\nto comfort the rest of my family, whom he left perfectly well. He then\nasked if I had communicated her misfortune to Miss Wilmot or my son; and\nupon my replying that I had not told them as yet, he greatly approved my\nprudence and precaution, desiring me by all means to keep it a secret.\n\"For at best,\" cried he, \"it is but divulging one's own infamy; and\nperhaps Miss Livy may not be so guilty as we all imagine.\" We were here\ninterrupted by a servant, who came to ask the squire in, to stand up at\ncountry-dances, so that he left me quite pleased with the interest he\nseemed to take in my concerns. His addresses, however, to Miss Wilmot,\nwere too obvious to be mistaken; and yet she seemed not perfectly\npleased, but bore them rather in compliance to the will of her aunt than\nfrom real inclination. I had even the satisfaction to see her lavish\nsome kind looks upon my unfortunate son, which the other could neither\nextort by his fortune nor assiduity. Mr. Thornhill's seeming composure,\nhowever, not a little surprised me. We had now continued here a week, at\nthe pressing instances of Mr. Arnold; but each day, the more tenderness\nMiss Wilmot showed my son, Mr. Thornhill's friendship seemed\nproportionably to increase for him.\nHe had formerly made us the most kind assurances of using his interest\nto serve the family; but now his generosity was not confined to promises\nalone. The morning I designed for my departure Mr. Thornhill came to me\nwith looks of real pleasure, to inform me of a piece of service he had\ndone for his friend George. This was nothing less than his having\nprocured him an ensign's commission in one of the regiments that were\ngoing to the West Indies, for which he had promised but one hundred\npounds, his interest having been sufficient to get an abatement of the\nother two. \"As for this trifling piece of service,\" continued the young\ngentleman, \"I desire no other reward but the pleasure of having served\nmy friend; and as for the hundred pounds to be paid, if you are unable\nto raise it yourselves, I will advance it, and you shall repay me at\nyour leisure.\" This was a favour we wanted words to express our sense\nof; I readily, therefore, gave my bond for the money, and testified as\nmuch gratitude as if I never intended to pay.\nGeorge was to depart for town the next day to secure his commission, in\npursuance of his generous patron's directions, who judged it highly\nexpedient to use despatch, lest in the meantime another should step in\nwith more advantageous proposals. The next morning, therefore, our young\nsoldier was early prepared for his departure, and seemed the only person\namong us that was not affected by it. Neither the fatigues and dangers\nhe was going to encounter, nor the friends and mistress (for Miss Wilmot\nactually loved him) he was leaving behind, any way damped his spirits.\nAfter he had taken leave of the rest of the company, I gave him all that\nI had\u2014my blessing. \"And now, my boy,\" cried I, \"thou art going to fight\nfor thy country, remember how thy brave grandfather fought for his\nsacred king, when loyalty among Britons was a virtue. Go, my boy, and\nimitate him in all but his misfortunes\u2014if it was a misfortune to die\nwith Lord Falkland. Go, my boy, and if you fall, though distant,\nexposed, and unwept by those that love you, the most precious tears are\nthose with which Heaven bedews the unburied head of a soldier.\"\nThe next morning I took leave of the good family that had been kind\nenough to entertain me so long, not without several expressions of\ngratitude to Mr. Thornhill for his late bounty. I left them in the\nenjoyment of all that happiness which affluence and good breeding\nprocure, and returned towards home, despairing of ever finding my\ndaughter more, but sending a sigh to Heaven to spare and to forgive her.\nI was now come within about twenty miles of home, having hired a horse\nto carry me, as I was yet but weak, and comforted myself with the hopes\nof soon seeing all I held dearest upon earth. But the night coming on, I\nput up at a little public-house by the road-side, and asked for the\nlandlord's company over a pint of wine. We sat beside his kitchen fire,\nwhich was the best room in the house, and chatted on politics and the\nnews of the country. We happened, among other topics, to talk of young\nSquire Thornhill, who, the host assured me, was hated as much as his\nuncle, Sir William, who sometimes came down to the country, was loved.\nHe went on to observe that he made it his whole study to betray the\ndaughters of such as received him to their houses, and after a fortnight\nor three weeks' possession turned them out unrewarded and abandoned to\nthe world. As we continued our discourse in this manner, his wife, who\nhad been out to get change, returned, and perceiving that her husband\nwas enjoying a pleasure in which she was not a sharer, she asked him in\nan angry tone what he did there, to which he only replied in an ironical\nway by drinking her health. \"Mr. Symonds,\" cried she, \"you use me very\nill, and I'll bear it no longer. Here three parts of the business is\nleft for me to do, and the fourth left unfinished, while you do nothing\nbut soak with the guests all day long; whereas, if a spoonful of liquor\nwere to cure me of a fever, I never touch a drop.\" I now found what she\nwould be at, and immediately poured her out a glass, which she received\nwith a courtesy, and drinking towards my good health.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_Out, I say; pack out this moment_!\"\u2014_p._ 106.\n\"Sir,\" resumed she, \"it is not so much for the value of the liquor I am\nangry, but one cannot help it when the house is going out of the\nwindows. If the customers or guests are to be dunned, all the burden\nlies upon my back: he'd as leave eat that glass as budge after them\nhimself. There, now, above stairs we have a young woman who has come to\ntake up her lodgings here, and I don't believe she has got any money, by\nher over-civility. I am certain she is very slow of payment, and I wish\nshe were put in mind of it.\" \"What signifies minding her?\" cried the\nhost; \"if she be slow she's sure.\" \"I don't know that,\" replied the\nwife, \"but I know that I am sure she has been here a fortnight, and we\nhave not yet seen the cross of her money.\" \"I suppose, my dear,\" cried\nhe, \"we shall have it all in a lump.\" \"In a lump!\" cried the other, \"I\nhope we may get it any way; and that I am resolved we will this very\nnight, or out she tramps, bag and baggage.\" \"Consider, my dear,\" cried\nthe husband, \"she is a gentlewoman, and deserves more respect.\" \"As for\nthe matter of that,\" returned the hostess, \"gentle or simple, out she\nshall pack with a sassarara. Gentry may be good things where they take;\nbut for my part, I never saw much good of them at the sign of the\nHarrow.\" Thus saying, she ran up a narrow flight of stairs that went\nfrom the kitchen to a room overhead, and I soon perceived by the\nloudness of her voice, and the bitterness of her reproaches, that no\nmoney was to be had from her lodger. I could hear her remonstrances very\ndistinctly. \"Out, I say; pack out this moment! tramp, thou infamous\nstrumpet, or I'll give thee a mark thou won't be the better for these\nthree months. What! you trumpery, to come and take up an honest house\nwithout cross or coin to bless yourself with! Come along, I say.\" \"Oh,\ndear madam,\" cried the stranger, \"pity me, pity a poor abandoned\ncreature for one night, and death will soon do the rest.\" I instantly\nknew the voice of my poor ruined child Olivia. I flew to her rescue,\nwhile the woman was dragging her along by the hair, and I caught the\ndear forlorn wretch in my arms. \"Welcome, any way welcome, my dearest\nlost one, my treasure, to your poor old father's bosom! Though the\nvicious forsake thee, there is yet one in the world that will never\nforsake thee; though thou hadst ten thousand crimes to answer for, he\nwill forgive them all.\" \"Oh, my own dear\"\u2014for minutes she could say no\nmore\u2014\"my own dearest, good papa! Could angels be kinder? How do I\ndeserve so much? The villain, I hate him and myself, to be a reproach to\nso much goodness. You can't forgive me\u2014I know you cannot.\" \"Yes, my\nchild, from my heart I do forgive thee: only repent, and we both shall\nyet be happy. We shall see many pleasant days yet, my Olivia.\" \"Ah!\nnever, sir, never! The rest of my wretched life must be infamy abroad,\nand shame at home. But alas! papa, you look much paler than you used to\ndo. Could such a thing as I am give you so much uneasiness? surely you\nhave too much wisdom to take the miseries of my guilt upon yourself!\"\n\"Our wisdom, young woman\u2014\" replied I. \"Ah! why so cold a name, papa?\"\ncried she, \"this is the first time you ever called me by so cold a\nname.\" \"I ask pardon, my darling,\" returned I; \"but I was going to\nobserve, that wisdom makes but a slow defence against trouble, though at\nlast a sure one.\"\nThe landlady now returned to know if we did not choose a more genteel\napartment; to which assenting, we were shown to a room where we could\nconverse more freely. After we had talked ourselves into some\ntranquillity, I could not avoid desiring some account of the gradations\nthat led to her present wretched situation. \"That villain, sir,\" said\nshe, \"from the first day of our meeting, made me honourable though\nprivate proposals.\"\n\"Villain, indeed!\" cried I; \"and yet it in some measure surprises me how\na person of Mr. Burchell's good sense and seeming honour could be guilty\nof such deliberate baseness, and thus step into a family to undo it.\"\n\"My dear papa,\" returned my daughter, \"you labour under a strange\nmistake. Mr. Burchell never attempted to deceive me. Instead of that, he\ntook every opportunity of privately admonishing me against the artifices\nof Mr. Thornhill, who, I now find, was even worse than he represented\nhim.\" \"Mr. Thornhill!\" interrupted I, \"can it be?\" \"Yes, sir,\" returned\nshe, \"it was Mr. Thornhill who seduced me; who employed the two ladies,\nas he called them, but who in fact were abandoned women of the town\nwithout breeding or pity, to decoy us up to London. Their artifices, you\nmay remember, would certainly have succeeded, but for Mr. Burchell's\nletter, who directed those reproaches at them which we all applied to\nourselves. How he came to have so much influence as to defeat their\nintentions, still remains a secret to me; but I am convinced he was ever\nour warmest, sincerest friend.\"\n\"You amaze me, my dear,\" cried I; \"but now I find my first suspicions of\nMr. Thornhill's baseness were too well grounded: but he can triumph in\nsecurity; for he is rich and we are poor. But tell me, my child; sure it\nwas no small temptation that could thus obliterate all the impressions\nof such an education and so virtuous a disposition as thine?\"\n\"Indeed, sir,\" replied she, \"he owes all his triumph to the desire I had\nof making him, and not myself, happy. I knew that the ceremony of our\nmarriage, which was privately performed by a popish priest, was no way\nbinding, and that I had nothing to trust to but his honour.\" \"What!\"\ninterrupted I, \"and were you indeed married by a priest, and in orders?\"\n\"Indeed, sir, we were,\" replied she, \"though we were both sworn to\nconceal his name.\" \"Why then, my child, come to my arms again; and now\nyou are a thousand times more welcome than before; for you are his wife\nto all intents and purposes; nor can all the laws of man, though written\nupon tables of adamant, lessen the force of that sacred connexion.\"\n\"Alas! papa,\" replied she, \"you are but little acquainted with his\nvillainies; he has been married already, by the same priest, to six or\neight wives more, whom, like me, he has deceived and abandoned.\"\n\"Has he so?\" cried I, \"then we must hang the priest, and you shall\ninform against him to-morrow.\" \"But, sir,\" returned she, \"will that be\nright, when I am sworn to secresy?\" \"My dear,\" I replied, \"if you have\nmade such a promise, I cannot, nor will I tempt you to break it. Even\nthough it may benefit the public, you must not inform against him. In\nall human institutions, a smaller evil is allowed to procure a greater\ngood: as, in politics, a province may be given away to secure a kingdom;\nin medicine, a limb may be lopped off to preserve the body. But in\nreligion the law is written and inflexible, _never_ to do evil. And,\nthis law, my child, is right; for otherwise, if we commit a smaller evil\nto procure a greater good, certain guilt would be thus incurred in\nexpectation of contingent advantage. And though the advantage should\ncertainly follow, yet the interval between commission and advantage,\nwhich is allowed to be guilty, may be that in which we are called away\nto answer for the things we have done, and the volume of human actions\nis closed for ever. But I interrupt you, my dear: go on.\"\n\"The very next morning,\" continued she, \"I found what little\nexpectations I was to have from his sincerity. That very morning he\nintroduced me to two unhappy women more, whom, like me, he had deceived,\nbut who lived in contented prostitution. I loved him too tenderly to\nbear such rivals in his affections, and strove to forget my infamy in a\ntumult of pleasures. With this view, I danced, dressed, and talked, but\nstill was unhappy. The gentlemen who visited there told me every moment\nof the power of my charms, and this only contributed to increase my\nmelancholy, as I had thrown all their power quite away. Thus each day I\ngrew more pensive and he more insolent, till at last the monster had the\nassurance to offer me to a young baronet of his acquaintance. Need I\ndescribe, sir, how this ingratitude stung me? My answer to this proposal\nwas almost madness. I desired to part. As I was going, he offered me a\npurse; but I flung it at him with indignation, and burst from him in a\nrage that for a while kept me insensible of the miseries of my\nsituation. But I soon looked round me, and saw myself a vile, abject,\nguilty thing, without one friend in the world to apply to. Just in that\ninterval a stage-coach happening to pass by, I took a place, it being my\nonly aim to be driven to a distance from a wretch I despised and\ndetested. I was set down here; where, since my arrival, my own anxiety,\nand this woman's unkindness, have been my only companions. The hours of\npleasure that I have passed with my mamma and sister now grow painful to\nme. Their sorrows are much; but mine are greater than theirs; for mine\nare mixed with guilt and infamy.\"\n[Illustration:\n  _\"My dear papa,\" returned my daughter,\n  \"you labour under a strange mistake.\n  Mr. Burchell never attempted to deceive me.\"_\u2014_p._ 107.\n\"Have patience, my child,\" cried I, \"and I hope things will yet be\nbetter. Take some repose to-night, and to-morrow I'll carry you home to\nyour mother and the rest of the family, from whom you will receive a\nkind reception. Poor woman! this has gone to her heart; but she loves\nyou still, Olivia, and will forget it.\"\n     _Offences are easily pardoned where there is love at bottom._\nThe next morning I took my daughter behind me, and set out on my return\nhome. As we travelled along, I strove by every persuasion to calm her\nsorrows and fears, and to arm her with resolution to bear the presence\nof her offended mother. I took every opportunity, from the prospect of a\nfine country through which we passed, to observe how much kinder Heaven\nwas to us than we to each other; and that the misfortunes of nature's\nmaking were but very few. I assured her that she should never perceive\nany change in my affections, and that during my life, which yet might be\nlong, she might depend upon a guardian and an instructor. I armed her\nagainst the censures of the world, showed her that books were sweet\nunreproaching companions to the miserable, and that, if they could not\nbring us to enjoy life, they would at least teach us to endure it.\nThe hired horse that we rode was to be put up that night at an inn by\nthe way, within about five miles from my house; and as I was willing to\nprepare my family for my daughter's reception, I determined to leave her\nthat night at the inn, and to return for her, accompanied by my daughter\nSophia, early the next morning. It was night before we reached our\nappointed stage; however, after seeing her provided with a decent\napartment, and having ordered the hostess to prepare proper\nrefreshments, I kissed her, and proceeded towards home. And now my heart\ncaught new sensations of pleasure, the nearer I approached that peaceful\nmansion. As a bird that had been frightened from its nest, my affections\noutwent my haste, and hovered round my little fireside with all the\nrapture of expectation. I called up the many fond things I had to say,\nand anticipated the welcome I was to receive. I already felt my wife's\ntender embrace, and smiled at the joy of my little ones. As I walked but\nslowly, the night waned apace; the labourers of the day were all retired\nto rest; the lights were out in every cottage; no sounds were heard but\nof the shrilling cock and the deep-mouthed watch-dog, at hollow\ndistance. I approached my little abode of pleasure, and, before I was\nwithin a furlong of the place, our honest mastiff came running to\nwelcome me.\nIt was now near midnight that I came to knock at my door: all was still\nand silent\u2014my heart dilated with unutterable happiness: when to my\namazement, I saw the house bursting out into a blaze of fire, and every\naperture red with conflagration! I gave a loud convulsive outcry, and\nfell upon the pavement insensible. This alarmed my son, who had till\nthis been asleep, and he, perceiving the flames, instantly awakened my\nwife and daughter, and all running out, naked and wild with\napprehension, recalled me to life with their anguish. But it was only to\nobjects of new terror, for the flames had by this time caught the roof\nof our dwelling, part after part continuing to fall in, while the family\nstood with silent agony looking on as if they enjoyed the blaze. I gazed\nupon them and upon it by turns, and then looked round me for my two\nlittle ones; but they were not to be seen. \"O misery! where,\" cried I,\n\"where are my little ones?\" \"They are burnt to death in the flames,\"\nsaid my wife, calmly, \"and I will die with them.\" That moment I heard\nthe cry of the babes within, who were just awakened by the fire, and\nnothing could have stopped me. \"Where, where are my children?\" cried I,\nrushing through the flames, and bursting the door of the chamber in\nwhich they were confined; \"where are my little ones?\" \"Here, dear papa,\nhere we are!\" cried they together, while the flames were just catching\nthe bed where they lay. I caught them both in my arms, and conveyed them\nthrough the fire as fast as possible, while, just as I was going out,\nthe roof sunk in. \"Now,\" cried I, holding up my children, \"now let the\nflames burn on, and all my possessions perish; here they are\u2014I have\nsaved my treasure: here, my dearest, here are our treasures, and we\nshall yet be happy.\" We kissed our little darlings a thousand times;\nthey clasped us round the neck, and seemed to share our transports,\nwhile their mother laughed and wept by turns.\nI now stood a calm spectator of the flames, and after some time began to\nperceive that my arm to the shoulder was scorched in a terrible manner.\nIt was, therefore, out of my power to give my son any assistance, either\nin attempting to save our goods, or preventing the flames spreading to\nour corn. By this time the neighbours were alarmed, and came running to\nour assistance; but all they could do was to stand, like us, spectators\nof the calamity. My goods, among which were the notes I had reserved for\nmy daughters' fortunes, were entirely consumed, except a box with some\npapers that stood in the kitchen, and two or three things more of little\nconsequence, which my son brought away in the beginning. The neighbours\ncontributed, however, what they could to lighten our distress. They\nbrought us clothes, and furnished one of our outhouses with kitchen\nutensils; so that by daylight we had another, though a wretched,\ndwelling to retire to. My honest next neighbour and his children were\nnot the least assiduous in providing us with everything necessary, and\noffering whatever consolation untutored benevolence could suggest.\nWhen the fears of my family had subsided, curiosity to know the cause of\nmy long stay began to take place; having, therefore, informed them of\nevery particular, I proceeded to prepare them for the reception of our\nlost one; and, though we had nothing but wretchedness now to impart, I\nwas willing to procure her a welcome to what we had. This task would\nhave been more difficult but for our own recent calamity, which had\nhumbled my wife's pride, and blunted it by more poignant afflictions.\nBeing unable to go for my poor child myself, as my arm grew very\npainful, I sent my son and daughter, who soon returned, supporting the\nwretched delinquent, who had not the courage to look up at her mother,\nwhom no instructions of mine could persuade to a perfect reconciliation;\nfor women have a much stronger sense of female error than men. \"Ah,\nmadam!\" cried her mother, \"this is but a poor place you are come to\nafter so much finery. My daughter Sophy and I can afford but little\nentertainment to persons who have kept company only with people of\ndistinction: yes, Miss Livy, your poor father and I have suffered very\nmuch of late; but I hope Heaven will forgive you.\" During this\nreception, the unhappy victim stood pale and trembling, unable to weep\nor to reply; but I could not continue a silent spectator of her\ndistress; wherefore, assuming a degree of severity in my voice and\nmanner, which was ever followed with instant submission, \"I entreat,\nwoman, that my words may be now marked once for all: I have here brought\nyou back a poor deluded wanderer\u2014her return to duty demands the revival\nof our tenderness. The real hardships of life are now coming fast upon\nus; let us not, therefore, increase them by dissensions among each\nother: if we live harmoniously together, we may yet be contented, as\nthere are enough of us to shut out the censuring world, and keep each\nother in countenance. The kindness of Heaven is promised to the\npenitent, and let ours be directed by the example. Heaven, we are\nassured, is much more pleased to view a repentant sinner than\nninety-nine persons who have supported a course of undeviating\nrectitude: and this is right; for that single effort by which we stop\nshort in the down-hill path to perdition, is of itself a greater\nexertion of virtue than a hundred acts of justice.\"\n[Illustration:\n  _\"Ah, madam\" cried her mother,\n  \"this is but a poor place you are\n  come to after so much finery.\"_\u2014_p._ 112.\n      _None but the guilty can be long and completely miserable._\nSome assiduity was now required to make our present abode as convenient\nas possible, and we were soon again qualified to enjoy our former\nserenity. Being disabled myself from assisting my son in our usual\noccupations, I read to my family from the few books that were saved, and\nparticularly from such as, by amusing the imagination, contributed to\nease the heart. Our good neighbours, too, came every day with the\nkindest condolence, and fixed a time in which they were all to assist in\nrepairing my former dwelling. Honest Farmer Williams was not last among\nthese visitors, but heartily offered his friendship. He would even have\nrenewed his addresses to my daughter; but she rejected them in such a\nmanner as totally repressed his future solicitations. Her grief seemed\nformed for continuing, and she was the only person in our little society\nthat a week did not restore to cheerfulness. She now lost that\nunblushing innocence which once taught her to respect herself, and to\nseek pleasure by pleasing. Anxiety had now taken strong possession of\nher mind; her beauty began to be impaired with her constitution, and\nneglect still more contributed to diminish it. Every tender epithet\nbestowed on her sister brought a pang to her heart and a tear to her\neye; and as one vice, though cured, ever plants others where it has\nbeen, so her former guilt, though driven out by repentance, left\njealousy and envy behind. I strove a thousand ways to lessen her care,\nand even forgot my own pain in a concern for hers, collecting such\namusing passages of history as a strong memory and some reading could\nsuggest. \"Our happiness, my dear,\" I would say, \"is in the power of One\nwho can bring it about by a thousand unforeseen ways that mock our\nforesight. If example be necessary to prove this, I'll give you a story,\nmy child, told us by a grave, though sometimes a romancing, historian.\n\"Matilda was married very young to a Neapolitan nobleman of the first\nquality, and found herself a widow and a mother at the age of fifteen.\nAs she stood one day caressing her infant son in the open window of an\napartment which hung over the river Volturna, the child, with a sudden\nspring, leaped from her arms into the flood below, and disappeared in a\nmoment. The mother, struck with instant surprise, and making an effort\nto save him, plunged in after; but, far from being able to assist the\ninfant, she herself with great difficulty escaped to the opposite shore,\njust when some French soldiers were plundering the country on that side,\nwho immediately made her their prisoner.\n\"As the war was then carried on between the French and Italians with the\nutmost inhumanity, they were going at once to perpetrate those two\nextremes suggested by appetite and cruelty. This base resolution,\nhowever, was opposed by a young officer, who, though their retreat\nrequired the utmost expedition, placed her behind him, and brought her\nin safety to his native city. Her beauty at first caught his eye: her\nmerit, soon after, his heart. They were married; he rose to the highest\nposts; they lived long together, and were happy. But the felicity of a\nsoldier can never be called permanent: after an interval of several\nyears, the troops which he commanded having met with a repulse, he was\nobliged to take shelter in the city where he had lived with his wife.\nHere they suffered a siege, and the city at length was taken. Few\nhistories can produce more various instances of cruelty than those which\nthe French and Italians at that time exercised upon each other. It was\nresolved by the victors, upon this occasion, to put all the French\nprisoners to death; but particularly the husband of the unfortunate\nMatilda, as he was principally instrumental in protracting the siege.\nTheir determinations were, in general, executed almost as soon as\nresolved upon. The captive soldier was led forth, and the executioner\nwith his sword stood ready, while the spectators, in gloomy silence,\nawaited the fatal blow, which was only suspended till the general, who\npresided as judge, should give the signal. It was in this interval of\nanguish and expectation that Matilda came to take the last farewell of\nher husband and deliverer, deploring her wretched situation, and the\ncruelty of fate that had saved her from perishing by a premature death\nin the river Volturna, to be the spectator of still greater calamities.\nThe general, who was a young man, was struck with surprise at her beauty\nand pity at her distress; but with still stronger emotions when he heard\nher mention her former dangers. He was her son, the infant for whom she\nhad encountered so much danger; he acknowledged her at once as his\nmother, and fell at her feet. The rest may be easily supposed; the\ncaptive was set free, and all the happiness that love, friendship, and\nduty could confer on earth, were united.\"\nIn this manner I would attempt to amuse my daughter; but she listened\nwith divided attention; for her own misfortunes engrossed all the pity\nshe once had for those of another, and nothing gave her ease. In company\nshe dreaded contempt; and in solitude she only found anxiety. Such was\nthe colour of her wretchedness, when we received certain information\nthat Mr. Thornhill was going to be married to Miss Wilmot; for whom I\nalways suspected he had a real passion, though he took every opportunity\nbefore me to express his contempt both of her person and fortune. This\nnews served only to increase poor Olivia's affliction; for such a\nflagrant breach of fidelity was more than her courage could support. I\nwas resolved, however, to get more certain information; and to defeat,\nif possible, the completion of his designs, by sending my son to old Mr.\nWilmot's, with instructions to know the truth of the report, and to\ndeliver Miss Wilmot a letter intimating Mr. Thornhill's conduct in my\nfamily. My son went, in pursuance of my directions, and in three days\nreturned, assuring us of the truth of the account; but that he had found\nit impossible to deliver the letter, which he was therefore obliged to\nleave, as Mr. Thornhill and Miss Wilmot were visiting round the country.\nThey were to be married, he said, in a few days, having appeared\ntogether at church, the Sunday before he was there, in great splendour,\nthe bride attended by six young ladies, and he by as many gentlemen.\nTheir approaching nuptials filled the whole country with rejoicing, and\nthey usually rode out together in the grandest equipage that had been\nseen in the country for many years. All the friends of both families, he\nsaid, were there, particularly the squire's uncle, Sir William\nThornhill, who bore so good a character. He added, that nothing but\nmirth and feasting were going forward; that all the country praised the\nyoung bride's beauty and the bridegroom's fine person, and that they\nwere immensely fond of each other; concluding that he could not help\nthinking Mr. Thornhill one of the most happy men in the world.\n\"Why, let him if he can,\" returned I; \"but, my son, observe this bed of\nstraw and unsheltering roof; those mouldering walls and humid floor; my\nwretched body thus disabled by fire, and my children weeping round me\nfor bread: you have come home, my child, to all this; yet here, even\nhere, you see a man that would not for a thousand worlds exchange\nsituations. Oh, my children, if you could but learn to commune with your\nown hearts, and know what noble company you can make them, you would\nlittle regard the elegance and splendour of the worthless. Almost all\nmen have been taught to call life a passage, and themselves the\ntravellers. The similitude still may be improved, when we observe that\nthe good are joyful and serene, like travellers that are going towards\nhome; the wicked but by intervals happy, like travellers that are going\ninto exile.\"\nMy compassion for my poor daughter, overpowered by this new disaster,\ninterrupted what I had further to observe. I bade her mother support\nher, and after a short time she recovered. She appeared from that time\nmore calm, and I imagined had gained a new degree of resolution; but\nappearances deceived me; for her tranquillity was the languor of\noverwrought resentment. A supply of provisions, charitably sent us by my\nkind parishioners, seemed to diffuse new cheerfulness among the rest of\nmy family, nor was I displeased at seeing them once more sprightly and\nat ease. It would have been unjust to damp their satisfaction, merely to\ncondole with resolute melancholy, or to burden them with a sadness they\ndid not feel. Thus, once more, the tale went round, and a song was\ndemanded, and cheerfulness condescended to hover round our little\nhabitation.\n[Illustration:\n  _\"Go,\" cried I, \"thou art a wretch; a poor,\n  pitiful wretch, and every way a liar.\"_\u2014_p._ 118.\nThe next morning the sun arose with peculiar warmth for the season, so\nthat we agreed to breakfast together on the honeysuckle bank; where,\nwhile we sat, my youngest daughter, at my request, joined her voice to\nthe concert on the trees about us. It was in this place my poor Olivia\nfirst met her seducer, and every object served to recall her sadness.\nBut that melancholy which is excited by objects of pleasure, or inspired\nby sounds of harmony, soothes the heart instead of corroding it. Her\nmother, too, upon this occasion felt a pleasing distress, and wept, and\nloved her daughter as before. \"Do, my pretty Olivia,\" cried she, \"let us\nhave that little melancholy air your papa was so fond of; your sister\nSophy has already obliged us. Do, child; it will please your old\nfather.\" She complied in a manner so exquisitely pathetic, as moved me.\n When lovely woman stoops to folly,\n   And finds, too late, that men betray,\n What charm can soothe her melancholy?\n   What art can wash her guilt away?\n The only art her guilt to cover,\n   To hide her shame from every eye,\n To give repentance to her lover,\n   And wring his bosom, is\u2014to die.\nAs she was concluding the last stanza, to which an interruption in her\nvoice, from sorrow, gave peculiar softness, the appearance of Mr.\nThornhill's equipage at a distance alarmed us all, but particularly\nincreased the uneasiness of my eldest daughter, who, desirous of\nshunning her betrayer, returned to the house with her sister. In a few\nminutes he was alighted from his chariot, and, making up to the place\nwhere I was still sitting, inquired after my health with his usual air\nof familiarity. \"Sir,\" replied I, \"your present assurance only serves to\naggravate the baseness of your character; and there was a time when I\nwould have chastised your insolence for presuming thus to appear before\nme. But now you are safe; for age has cooled my passions, and my calling\nrestrains them.\"\n\"I vow, my dear sir,\" returned he, \"I am amazed at all this; nor can I\nunderstand what it means! I hope you do not think your daughter's late\nexcursion with me had anything criminal in it.\"\n\"Go,\" cried I, \"thou art a wretch, a poor pitiful wretch, and every way\na liar; but your meanness secures you from my anger. Yet, sir, I am\ndescended from a family that would not have borne this! And so, thou\nvile thing! to gratify a momentary passion thou hast made one poor\ncreature wretched for life, and polluted a family that had nothing but\nhonour for their portion.\"\n\"If she, or you,\" returned he, \"are resolved to be miserable, I cannot\nhelp it. But you may still be happy; and whatever opinion you may have\nformed of me, you shall ever find me ready to contribute to it. We can\nmarry her to another in a short time; and, what is more, she may keep\nher lover beside; for I protest I shall ever continue to have a true\nregard for her.\"\nI found all my passions alarmed at this new degrading proposal; for\nthough the mind may often be calm under great injuries, little villainy\ncan at any time get within the soul, and sting it into rage. \"Avoid my\nsight, thou reptile!\" cried I, \"nor continue to insult me with thy\npresence. Were my brave son at home, he would not suffer this; but I am\nold and disabled, and every way undone.\"\n\"I find,\" cried he, \"you are bent upon obliging me to talk in a harsher\nmanner than I intended. But, as I have shown you what may be hoped from\nmy friendship, it may not be improper to represent what may be the\nconsequences of my resentment. My attorney, to whom your late bond has\nbeen transferred, threatens hard; nor do I know how to prevent the\ncourse of justice, except by paying the money myself; which as I have\nbeen at some expenses lately, previous to my intended marriage, is not\nso easy to be done. And then my steward talks of driving for the rent:\nit is certain he knows his duty; for I never trouble myself with affairs\nof that nature. Yet still I could wish to serve you, and even to have\nyou and your daughter present at my marriage, which is shortly to be\nsolemnised, with Miss Wilmot; it is even the request of my charming\nArabella herself, whom I hope you will not refuse.\"\n\"Mr. Thornhill,\" replied I, \"hear me once for all: as to your marriage\nwith any but my daughter, that I never will consent to; and though your\nfriendship could raise me to a throne, or your resentment sink me to the\ngrave, yet would I despise both. Thou hast once woefully, irreparably\ndeceived me. I reposed my heart upon thine honour, and have found it\nbaseness. Never more, therefore, expect friendship from me. Go, and\npossess what fortune has given thee\u2014beauty, riches, health, and\npleasure. Go, and leave me to want, infamy, disease, and sorrow. Yet,\nhumbled as I am, shall my heart still vindicate its dignity; and though\nthou hast my forgiveness, thou shalt ever have my contempt.\"\n\"If so,\" returned he, \"depend upon it you shall feel the effects of this\ninsolence, and we shall shortly see which is the fittest object of\nscorn, you or me.\" Upon which he departed abruptly.\nMy wife and son, who were present at this interview, seemed terrified\nwith apprehension. My daughters also, finding that he was gone, came out\nto be informed of the result of our conference; which, when known,\nalarmed them not less than the rest. But as to myself, I disregarded the\nutmost stretch of his malevolence\u2014he had already struck the blow, and I\nnow stood prepared to repel every new effort, like one of those\ninstruments used in the act of war, which, however thrown, still present\na point to receive the enemy.\nWe soon, however, found that he had not threatened in vain; for the very\nnext morning his steward came to demand my annual rent, which, by the\ntrain of accidents already related, I was unable to pay. The consequence\nof my incapacity was, his driving my cattle that evening, and their\nbeing appraised and sold the next day for less than half their value. My\nwife and children now, therefore, entreated me to comply upon any terms,\nrather than incur certain destruction. They even begged of me to admit\nhis visits once more, and used all their little eloquence to paint the\ncalamities I was going to endure\u2014the terrors of a prison in so rigorous\na season as the present, with the danger that threatened my health from\nthe late accident that happened by the fire. But I continued inflexible.\n\"Why, my treasures,\" cried I, \"why will you thus attempt to persuade me\nto the thing that is not right? My duty has taught me to forgive him,\nbut my conscience will not permit me to approve. Would you have me\napplaud to the world what my heart must internally condemn? Would you\nhave me tamely sit down and flatter our infamous betrayer; and, to avoid\na prison, continually suffer the more galling bonds of mental\nconfinement? No, never! If we are to be taken from this abode, only let\nus hold to the right, and, wherever we are thrown, we can still retire\nto a charming apartment, where we can look round our own hearts with\nintrepidity and with pleasure.\"\nIn this manner we spent that evening. Early the next morning, as the\nsnow had fallen in great abundance in the night, my son was employed in\nclearing it away, and opening a passage before the door. He had not been\nthus engaged long, when he came running in, with looks all pale, to tell\nus that two strangers, whom he knew to be officers of justice, were\nmaking towards the house.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_I then turned to my wife and children,\n  and directed them to get together what few\n  things were left us, and to prepare immediately\n  for leaving this place._\"\u2014_p._ 122.\nJust as he spoke they came in, and approaching the bed where I lay,\nafter previously informing me of their employment and business, made me\ntheir prisoner, bidding me prepare to go with them to the county gaol,\nwhich was eleven miles off.\n\"My friends,\" said I, \"this is severe weather in which you are come to\ntake me to a prison; and it is particularly unfortunate at this time, as\none of my arms has lately been burnt in a terrible manner, and it has\nthrown me into a slight fever, and I want clothes to cover me; and I am\nnow too weak and old to walk far in such deep snow; but if it must be\nso\u2014\u2014\"\nI then turned to my wife and children, and directed them to get together\nwhat few things were left us, and to prepare immediately for leaving\nthis place. I entreated them to be expeditious; and desired my son to\nassist his eldest sister, who, from a consciousness that she was the\ncause of all our calamities, was fallen, and had lost anguish in\ninsensibility. I encouraged my wife, who, pale and trembling, clasped\nour affrighted little ones in her arms, that clung to her bosom in\nsilence, dreading to look round at the strangers. In the meantime my\nyoungest daughter prepared for our departure, and as she received\nseveral hints to use despatch, in about an hour we were ready to depart.\n               _No situation, however wretched it seems,\n              but has some sort of comfort attending it._\nWe set forward from this peaceful neighbourhood, and walked on slowly.\nMy eldest daughter being enfeebled by a slow fever, which had begun for\nsome days to undermine her constitution, one of the officers who had a\nhorse kindly took her behind him; for even these men cannot entirely\ndivest themselves of humanity. My son led one of the little ones by the\nhand, and my wife the other; while I leaned upon my youngest girl, whose\ntears fell not for her own but my distresses.\nWe were now got from my late dwelling about two miles, when we saw a\ncrowd running and shouting behind us, consisting of about fifty of my\npoorest parishioners. These, with dreadful imprecations, soon seized\nupon the two officers of justice, and swearing they would never see\ntheir minister go to a gaol while they had a drop of blood to shed in\nhis defence, were going to use them with great severity. The consequence\nmight have been fatal had I not immediately interposed, and with some\ndifficulty rescued the officers from the hands of the enraged multitude.\nMy children, who looked upon my delivery now as certain, appeared\ntransported with joy, and were incapable of containing their raptures.\nBut they were soon undeceived upon hearing me address the poor deluded\npeople, who came, as they imagined, to do me service.\n\"What! my friends,\" cried, I, \"and is this the way you love me? Is this\nthe manner you obey the instructions I have given you from the pulpit?\nthus to fly in the face of justice, and bring down ruin on yourselves\nand me? Which is your ringleader? Show me the man that has thus seduced\nyou. As sure as he lives he shall feel my resentment. Alas! my dear\ndeluded flock, return back to the duty you owe to God, to your country,\nand to me. I shall yet, perhaps, one day see you in greater felicity\nhere, and contribute to make your lives more happy. But let it at least\nbe my comfort, when I pen my fold for immortality, that not one here\nshall be wanting.\"\nThey now seemed all repentance, and melting into tears, came, one after\nthe other, to bid me farewell. I shook each tenderly by the hand, and\nleaving them my blessing, proceeded forward without meeting any further\ninterruption. Some hours before night we reached the town, or rather\nvillage, for it consisted but of a few mean houses, having lost all its\nformer opulence, and retaining no marks of its ancient superiority but\nthe gaol.\nUpon entering we put up at an inn, where we had such refreshments as\ncould most readily be procured, and I supped with my family with my\nusual cheerfulness. After seeing them properly accommodated for that\nnight, I next attended the sheriff's officers to the prison, which had\nformerly been built for the purposes of war, and consisted of one large\napartment, strongly grated, and paved with stone, common to both felons\nand debtors at certain hours in the four-and-twenty. Besides this, every\nprisoner had a separate cell, where he was locked in for the night.\nI expected upon my entrance to find nothing but lamentations and various\nsounds of misery; but it was very different. The prisoners seemed all\nemployed in one common design, that of forgetting thought in merriment\nor clamour. I was apprised of the usual perquisite required upon these\noccasions; and immediately complied with the demand, though the little\nmoney I had was very near being all exhausted. This was immediately sent\naway for liquor, and the whole prison was soon filled with riot,\nlaughter, and profaneness.\n\"How!\" cried I to myself, \"shall men so very wicked be cheerful, and\nshall I be melancholy? I feel only the same confinement with them, and I\nthink I have more reason to be happy.\"\nWith such reflections I laboured to become more cheerful: but\ncheerfulness was never yet produced by effort, which is itself painful.\nAs I was sitting, therefore, in a corner of the gaol, in a pensive\nposture, one of my fellow-prisoners came up, and sitting by me, entered\ninto conversation. It was my constant rule in life never to avoid the\nconversation of any man who seemed to desire it; for if good, I might\nprofit by his instructions; if bad, he might be assisted by mine. I\nfound this to be a knowing man, of strong unlettered sense, but a\nthorough knowledge of the world, as it is called; or, more properly\nspeaking, of human nature on the wrong side. He asked me if I had taken\ncare to provide myself with a bed, which was a circumstance I had never\nonce attended to.\n\"That's unfortunate,\" cried he, \"as you are allowed nothing but straw,\nand your apartment is very large and cold. However, you seem to be\nsomething of a gentleman, and as I have been one myself in my time, part\nof my bed-clothes are heartily at your service.\"\nI thanked him, professing my surprise at finding such humanity in a gaol\nin misfortunes; adding, to let him see that I was a scholar, \"that the\nsage ancient seemed to understand the value of company in affliction,\nwhen he said, _ton kosmon aire, ei dos ton etairon_; and, in fact,\"\ncontinued I, \"what is the world if it affords only solitude?\"\n\"You talk of the world, sir,\" returned my fellow-prisoner: \"the world is\nin its dotage, and yet the cosmogony, or creation of the world, has\npuzzled the philosophers of every age. What a medley of opinions have\nthey not broached upon the creation of the world! Sanchoniathon,\nManetho, Berosus, and Ocellus Lucanus, have all attempted it in vain.\nThe latter has these words: _Anarchon ara kai atelutaion to pan_, which\nimplies\u2014\" \"I ask pardon, sir,\" cried I, \"for interrupting so much\nlearning; but I think I have heard all this before. Have I not had the\npleasure of once seeing you at Welbridge fair, and is not your name\nEphraim Jenkinson?\" At this demand he only sighed. \"I suppose you must\nrecollect,\" resumed I, \"one Doctor Primrose, from whom you bought a\nhorse?\"\nHe now at once recollected me, for the gloominess of the place and the\napproaching night prevented his distinguishing my features before. \"Yes,\nsir,\" returned Mr. Jenkinson, \"I remember you perfectly well; I bought a\nhorse, but forgot to pay for him. Your neighbour Flamborough is the only\nprosecutor I am any way afraid of at the next assizes; for he intends to\nswear positively against me as a coiner. I am heartily sorry, sir, I\never deceived you, or indeed any man: for you see,\" continued he,\npointing to his shackles, \"what my tricks have brought me to.\"\n[Illustration:\n  \"_The execrations, lewdness, and brutality\n  that invaded me on every side, drove me back\n  to my apartment again._\"\u2014_p._ 127.\n\"Well, sir,\" replied I, \"your kindness in offering me assistance, when\nyou could expect no return, shall be repaid with my endeavours to soften\nor totally suppress Mr. Flamborough's evidence, and I will send my son\nto him for that purpose the first opportunity: nor do I in the least\ndoubt but he will comply with my request: and as to my own evidence, you\nneed be under no uneasiness about that.\"\n\"Well, sir,\" cried he, \"all the return I can make shall be yours. You\nshall have more than half my bed-clothes to-night, and I'll take care to\nstand your friend in the prison, where I think I have some influence.\"\nI thanked him, and could not avoid being surprised at the present\nyouthful change in his aspect; for at the time I had seen him before he\nappeared at least sixty. \"Sir,\" answered he, \"you are little acquainted\nwith the world. I had at that time false hair, and have learned the art\nof counterfeiting every age from seventeen to seventy. Ah, sir! had I\nbut bestowed half the pains in learning a trade that I have in learning\nto be a scoundrel, I might have been a rich man at this day. But, rogue\nas I am, still I may be your friend, and that, perhaps, when you least\nexpect it.\"\nWe were now prevented from further conversation by the arrival of the\ngaoler's servants, who came to call over the prisoners' names, and lock\nup for the night. A fellow also with a bundle of straw for my bed\nattended, who led me along a dark narrow passage into a room paved like\nthe common prison, and in one corner of this I spread my bed, and the\nclothes given me by my fellow-prisoner; which done, my conductor, who\nwas civil enough, bade me a good night. After my usual meditations, and\nhaving praised my Heavenly Corrector, I laid myself down, and slept with\nthe utmost tranquillity until morning.\n           _A reformation in the gaol.\u2014To make laws complete,\n                 they should reward as well as punish._\nThe next morning early I was awakened by my family, whom I found in\ntears at my bedside. The gloomy appearance of everything about us, it\nseems, had daunted them. I gently rebuked their sorrow, assuring them I\nhad never slept with greater tranquillity, and next inquired after my\neldest daughter, who was not among them. They informed me that\nyesterday's uneasiness and fatigue had increased her fever, and it was\njudged proper to leave her behind. My next care was to send my son to\nprocure a room or two to lodge my family in, as near the prison as\nconveniently could be found. He obeyed, but could only find one\napartment, which was hired at a small expense for his mother and\nsisters, the gaoler with humanity consenting to let him and his two\nlittle brothers lie in the prison with me. A bed was therefore prepared\nfor them in a corner of the room, which I thought answered very\nconveniently. I was willing, however, previously to know whether my\nlittle children chose to lie in a place which seemed to fright them upon\nentrance.\n\"Well,\" cried I, \"my good boys, how do you like your bed? I hope you are\nnot afraid to lie in this room, dark as it appears.\"\n\"No, papa,\" says Dick, \"I am not afraid to lie anywhere where you are.\"\n\"And I,\" says Bill, who was yet but four years old, \"love every place\nbest that my papa is in.\"\nAfter this I allotted to each of the family what they were to do. My\ndaughter was particularly directed to watch her sister's declining\nhealth; my wife was to attend me; my little boys were to read to me.\n\"And as for you, my son,\" continued I, \"it is by the labour of your\nhands we must all hope to be supported. Your wages as a day-labourer\nwill be fully sufficient, with proper frugality, to maintain us all, and\ncomfortably too. Thou art now sixteen years old, and hast strength, and\nit was given thee, my son, for very useful purposes; for it must save\nfrom famine your helpless parents and family. Prepare then this evening\nto look out for work against to-morrow, and bring home every night what\nmoney you earn for our support.\"\nHaving thus instructed him, and settled the rest, I walked down to the\ncommon prison, where I could enjoy more air and room. But I was not long\nthere when the execrations, lewdness, and brutality that invaded me on\nevery side, drove me back to my apartment again. Here I sat for some\ntime pondering upon the strange infatuation of wretches who, finding all\nmankind in open arms against them, were labouring to make themselves a\nfuture and a tremendous enemy.\nTheir insensibility excited my highest compassion, and blotted my own\nuneasiness from my mind. It even appeared a duty incumbent upon me to\nattempt to reclaim them. I resolved, therefore, once more to return,\nand, in spite of their contempt, to give them my advice, and conquer\nthem by perseverance. Going therefore among them again, I informed Mr.\nJenkinson of my design, at which he laughed heartily, but communicated\nit to the rest. The proposal was received with the greatest good humour,\nas it promised to afford a new fund of entertainment to persons who had\nnow no other resource for mirth but what could be derived from ridicule\nor debauchery.\nI therefore read them a portion of the service, with a loud, unaffected\nvoice, and found my audience perfectly merry upon the occasion. Lewd\nwhispers, groans of contrition burlesqued, winking, and coughing,\nalternately excited laughter. However, I continued with my natural\nsolemnity to read on, sensible that what I did might amend some, but\ncould itself receive no contamination from any.\nAfter reading, I entered upon my exhortation, which was rather\ncalculated at first to amuse them than to reprove. I previously observed\nthat no other motive but their welfare could induce me to this; that I\nwas their fellow-prisoner, and now got nothing by preaching. I was\nsorry, I said, to hear them so very profane; because they got nothing by\nit, and might lose a great deal. \"For be assured, my friends,\" cried I,\n(\"for you are my friends, however the world may disclaim your\nfriendship,) though you swore twelve thousand oaths in a day, it would\nnot put one penny in your purse. Then what signifies calling every\nmoment upon the devil, and courting his friendship, since you find how\nscurvily he uses you? He has given you nothing here, you find, but a\nmouthful of oaths and an empty belly; and, by the best accounts I have\nof him, he will give you nothing that's good hereafter.\n\"If used ill in our dealings with one man, we naturally go elsewhere.\nWere it not worth your while, then, just to try how you may like the\nusage of another Master, who gives you fair promises, at least, to come\nto Him? Surely, my friends, of all stupidity in the world, his must be\nthe greatest, who, after robbing a house, runs to the thief-takers for\nprotection. And yet how are you more wise? You are all seeking comfort\nfrom one that has already betrayed you, applying to a more malicious\nbeing than any thief-taker of them all; for they only decoy and then\nhang you; but he decoys and hangs, and, what is worst of all, will not\nlet you loose after the hangman has done.\"\nWhen I had concluded, I received the compliments of my audience, some of\nwhom came and shook me by the hand, swearing that I was a very honest\nfellow, and that they desired my further acquaintance. I therefore\npromised to repeat my lecture next day, and actually conceived some hope\nof making a reformation here; for it had ever been my opinion, that no\nman was past the hour of amendment, every heart lying open to the shafts\nof reproof, if the archer could but take a proper aim. When I had thus\nsatisfied my mind, I went back to my apartment, where my wife prepared a\nfrugal meal, while Mr. Jenkinson begged leave to add his dinner to ours,\nand partake of the pleasure, as he was kind enough to express it, of my\nconversation. He had not yet seen my family, for as they came to my\napartment by a door in the narrow passage already described, by this\nmeans they avoided the common prison. Jenkinson at the first interview,\ntherefore, seemed not a little struck with the beauty of my youngest\ndaughter, which her pensive air contributed to heighten, and my little\nones did not pass unnoticed.\n[Illustration:\n  _\"Alas! doctor,\" cried he, \"these children\n  are too handsome and too good for such a\n  place as this.\"_\u2014_p._ 130.\n\"Alas! doctor,\" cried he, \"these children are too handsome and too good\nfor such a place as this.\"\n\"Why, Mr. Jenkinson,\" replied I, \"thank Heaven, my children are pretty\ntolerable in morals; and if they be good, it matters little for the\nrest.\"\n\"I fancy, sir,\" returned my fellow-prisoner, \"that it must give you a\ngreat comfort to have all this little family about you.\"\n\"A comfort, Mr. Jenkinson!\" replied I, \"yes, it is indeed a comfort, and\nI would not be without them for all the world; for they can make a\ndungeon seem a palace. There is but one way in this life of wounding my\nhappiness, and that is by injuring them.\"\n\"I am afraid then, sir,\" cried he, \"that I am in some measure culpable;\nfor I think I see here (looking at my son Moses) one that I have\ninjured, and by whom I wish to be forgiven.\"\nMy son immediately recollected his voice and features, though he had\nbefore seen him in disguise, and taking him by the hand, with a smile\nforgave him. \"Yet,\" continued he, \"I can't help wondering at what you\ncould see in my face to think me a proper mark for deception.\"\n\"My dear sir,\" returned the other, \"it was not your face, but your white\nstockings and the black riband in your hair, that allured me. But, no\ndisparagement to your parts, I have deceived wiser men than you in my\ntime; and yet with all my tricks the blockheads have been too many for\nme at last.\"\n\"I suppose,\" cried my son, \"that the narrative of such a life as yours\nmust be extremely instructive and amusing.\"\n\"Not much of either,\" returned Mr. Jenkinson. \"Those relations which\ndescribe the tricks and vices only of mankind, by increasing our\nsuspicion in life, retard our success. The traveller that distrusts\nevery person he meets, and turns back upon the appearance of every man\nthat looks like a robber, seldom arrives in time at his journey's end.\n\"Indeed, I think, from my own experience, that the knowing one is the\nsilliest fellow under the sun. I was thought cunning from my very\nchildhood; when but seven years old the ladies would say that I was a\nperfect little man; at fourteen I knew the world, cocked my hat, and\nloved the ladies; at twenty, though I was perfectly honest, yet every\none thought me so cunning, that no one would trust me. Thus, I was at\nlast obliged to turn sharper in my own defence, and have lived ever\nsince, my head throbbing with schemes to deceive, and my heart\npalpitating with fears of detection. I used often to laugh at your\nhonest simple neighbour Flamborough, and one way or another generally\ncheated him once a year. Yet still the honest man went forward without\nsuspicion, and grew rich, while I still continued tricksy and cunning,\nand was poor without the consolation of being honest. However,\"\ncontinued he, \"let me know your case, and what has brought you here;\nperhaps, though I have not skill to avoid a gaol myself, I may extricate\nmy friends.\"\nIn compliance with his curiosity, I informed him of the whole train of\naccidents and follies that had plunged me into my present troubles, and\nmy utter inability to get free.\nAfter hearing my story, and pausing some minutes, he slapped his\nforehead, as if he had hit upon something material, and took his leave,\nsaying he would try what could be done.\n                     _The same subject continued._\nThe next morning I communicated to my wife and children the schemes I\nhad planned of reforming the prisoners, which they received with\nuniversal disapprobation, alleging the impossibility and impropriety of\nit; adding that my endeavours would no way contribute to their\namendment, but might probably disgrace my calling.\n\"Excuse me,\" returned I, \"these people, however fallen, are still men;\nand that is a very good title to my affections. Good counsel rejected\nreturns to enrich the giver's bosom; and though the instruction I\ncommunicate may not mend them, yet it will assuredly mend myself. If\nthese wretches, my children, were princes, there would be thousands\nready to offer their ministry; but in my opinion, the heart that is\nburied in a dungeon is as precious as that seated upon a throne. Yes, my\ntreasures, if I can mend them, I will; perhaps they will not all despise\nme: perhaps I may catch up even one from the gulf, and that will be\ngreat gain; for is there upon earth a gem so precious as the human\nsoul?\"\nThus saying, I left them and descended to the common prison, where I\nfound the prisoners very merry, expecting my arrival; and each prepared\nwith some gaol-trick to play upon the doctor. Thus, as I was going to\nbegin, one turned my wig awry, as if by accident, and then asked my\npardon. A second, who stood at some distance, had a knack of spitting\nthrough his teeth, which fell in showers upon my book. A third would cry\n\"Amen!\" in such an affected tone as gave the rest great delight. A\nfourth had slily picked my pocket of my spectacles. But there was one\nwhose trick gave more universal pleasure than all the rest; for\nobserving the manner in which I had disposed my books on the table\nbefore me, he very dexterously displaced one of them, and put an obscene\njest-book of his own in the place. However, I took no notice of all that\nthis mischievous group of little beings could do, but went on, perfectly\nsensible that what was ridiculous in my attempt would excite mirth only\nthe first or second time, while what was serious would be permanent. My\ndesign succeeded, and in less than six days some were penitent, and all\nwere attentive.\nIt was now that I applauded my perseverance and address at thus giving\nsensibility to wretches divested of every moral feeling, and now began\nto think of doing them temporal services also, by rendering their\nsituation somewhat more comfortable. Their time had hitherto been\ndivided between famine and excess, tumultuous riot and bitter repining.\nTheir only employment was quarrelling among each other, playing at\ncribbage, and cutting tobacco-stoppers. From this last mode of idle\nindustry I took the hint of setting such as chose to work at cutting\npegs for tobacconists and shoemakers, the proper wood being bought by a\ngeneral subscription, and, when manufactured, sold by my appointment; so\nthat each earned something every day: a trifle, indeed, but sufficient\nto maintain him.\nI did not stop here, but instituted fines for the punishment of\nimmorality, and rewards for peculiar industry. Thus in less than a\nfortnight I had formed them into something social and humane, and had\nthe pleasure of regarding myself as a legislator, who had brought men\nfrom their native ferocity into friendship and obedience.\n[Illustration:\n  _Olivia and Sophia leaving the Prison._\nAnd it were highly to be wished, that legislative power would thus\ndirect the law rather to reformation than severity; that it would seem\nconvinced that the work of eradicating crimes is not by making\npunishments familiar, but formidable. Then, instead of our present\nprisons, which find or make men guilty, which enclose wretches for the\ncommission of one crime, and return them, if returned alive, fitted for\nthe perpetration of thousands, we should see, as in other parts of\nEurope, places of penitence and solitude, where the accused might be\nattended by such as could give them repentance if guilty, or new motives\nto virtue if innocent. And this, but not the increasing punishments, is\nthe way to mend a state: nor can I avoid even questioning the validity\nof that right which social combinations have assumed of capitally\npunishing offences of a slight nature. In cases of murder their right is\nobvious, as it is the duty of us all, from the law of self-defence, to\ncut off that man who has shown a disregard for the life of another.\nAgainst such, all nature rises in arms; but it is not so against him who\nsteals my property. Natural law gives me no right to take away his life,\nas by that the horse he steals is as much his property as mine. If,\nthen, I have any right, it must be from a compact made between us, that\nhe who deprives the other of his horse shall die. But this is a false\ncompact; because no man has a right to barter his life any more than to\ntake it away, as it is not his own. And besides, the compact is\ninadequate, and would be set aside even in a court of modern equity, as\nthere is a great penalty for a trifling inconvenience, since it is far\nbetter that two men should live than that one man should ride. But a\ncompact that is false between two men is equally so between a hundred\nand a hundred thousand; for as ten millions of circles can never make a\nsquare, so the united voice of myriads cannot lend the smallest\nfoundation to falsehood. It is thus that reason speaks, and untutored\nnature says the same thing. Savages that are directed by natural law\nalone are very tender of the lives of each other; they seldom shed blood\nbut to retaliate former cruelty.\nOur Saxon ancestors, fierce as they were in war, had but few executions\nin times of peace; and in all commencing governments, that have the\nprint of nature still strong upon them, scarcely any crime is held\ncapital.\nIt is among the citizens of a refined community that penal laws, which\nare in the hands of the rich, are laid upon the poor. Government, while\nit grows older, seems to acquire the moroseness of age; and as if our\nproperty were become dearer in proportion as it increased\u2014as if the more\nenormous our wealth, the more extensive our fears\u2014all our possessions\nare paled up with new edicts every day, and hung round with gibbets to\nscare every invader.\nI cannot tell whether it is from the number of our penal laws, or the\nlicentiousness of our people, that this country should show more\nconvicts in a year than half the dominions of Europe united. Perhaps it\nis owing to both; for they mutually produce each other. When by\nindiscriminate penal laws a nation beholds the same punishment affixed\nto dissimilar degrees of guilt, from perceiving no distinction in the\npenalty, the people are led to lose all sense of distinction in the\ncrime, and this distinction is the bulwark of all morality. Thus the\nmultitude of laws produce new vices, and new vices call for fresh\nrestraints.\nIt were to be wished, then, that power, instead of contriving new laws\nto punish vice, instead of drawing hard the cords of society till a\nconvulsion come to burst them, instead of cutting away wretches as\nuseless before we have tried their utility, instead of converting\ncorrection into vengeance\u2014it were to be wished that we tried the\nrestrictive arts of government, and made law the protector, but not the\ntyrant, of the people. We should then find that creatures whose souls\nare held as dross, only wanted the hand of a refiner; we should then\nfind that wretches, now stuck up for long tortures, lest luxury should\nfeel a momentary pang, might, if properly treated, serve to sinew the\nstate in times of danger; that as their faces are like ours, their\nhearts are so too; that few minds are so base as that perseverance\ncannot amend; that a man may see his last crime without dying for it;\nand that very little blood will serve to cement our security.\n   _Happiness and misery rather the result of prudence than of virtue\n       in this life; temporal evils or felicities being regarded\n           by Heaven as things merely in themselves trifling,\n              and unworthy its care in the distribution._\nI had now been confined more than a fortnight, but had not since my\narrival been visited by my dear Olivia, and I greatly longed to see her.\nHaving communicated my wishes to my wife, the next morning the poor girl\nentered my apartment leaning on her sister's arm. The change which I saw\nin her countenance struck me. The numberless graces that once resided\nthere were now fled, and the hand of death seemed to have moulded every\nfeature to alarm me. Her temples were sunk, her forehead was tense, and\na fatal paleness sat upon her cheek.\n\"I am glad to see thee, my dear,\" cried I; \"but why this dejection,\nLivy? I hope, my love, you have too great a regard for me to permit\ndisappointment thus to undermine a life which I prize as my own. Be\ncheerful, child, and we may yet see happier days\"\n\"You have ever, sir,\" replied she, \"been kind to me, and it adds to my\npain that I shall never have an opportunity of sharing that happiness\nyou promise. Happiness, I fear, is no longer reserved for me here, and I\nlong to be rid of a place where I have only found distress. Indeed, sir,\nI wish you would make a proper submission to Mr. Thornhill: it may in\nsome measure induce him to pity you, and it will give me relief in\ndying.\"\n\"Never, child!\" replied I, \"never will I be brought to acknowledge my\ndaughter a prostitute; for though the world may look upon your offence\nwith scorn, let it be mine to regard it as a mark of credulity, not of\nguilt. My dear, I am no way miserable in this place, however dismal it\nmay seem; and be assured that, while you continue to bless me by living,\nhe shall never have my consent to make you more wretched by marrying\nanother.\"\nAfter the departure of my daughter, my fellow-prisoner, who was by at\nthis interview, sensibly enough expostulated upon my obstinacy in\nrefusing a submission which promised to give me freedom. He observed\nthat the rest of my family were not to be sacrificed to the peace of one\nchild alone, and she the only one who had offended me. \"Besides,\" added\nhe, \"I don't know if it be just thus to obstruct the union of man and\nwife, which you do at present, by refusing to consent to a match which\nyou cannot hinder, but may render unhappy.\"\n\"Sir,\" replied I, \"you are unacquainted with the man that oppresses us.\nI am very sensible that no submission I can make could procure me\nliberty even for an hour. I am told that even in this very room a debtor\nof his, no later than last year, died for want. But though my submission\nand approbation could transfer me from hence to the most beautiful\napartment he is possessed of, yet I would grant neither, as something\nwhispers me that it would be giving a sanction to adultery. While my\ndaughter lives, no other marriage of his shall ever be legal in my eye.\nWere she removed, indeed, I should be the basest of men, from any\nresentment of my own, to attempt putting asunder those who wish for a\nunion. No; villain as he is, I should then wish him married, to prevent\nthe consequences of his future debaucheries. But now should I not be the\nmost cruel of all fathers to sign an instrument which must send my child\nto the grave, merely to avoid a prison myself; and thus, to escape one\npang, break my child's heart with a thousand?\"\nHe acquiesced in the justice of this answer, but could not avoid\nobserving that he feared my daughter's life was already too much wasted\nto keep me long a prisoner. \"However,\" continued he, \"though you refuse\nto submit to the nephew, I hope you have no objection to laying your\ncase before the uncle, who has the first character in the kingdom for\neverything that is just and good. I would advise you to send him a\nletter by the post, intimating all his nephew's ill-usage, and, my life\nfor it, that in three days you shall have an answer.\" I thanked him for\nthe hint, and instantly set about complying; but I wanted paper, and,\nunluckily, all our money had been laid out that morning in provisions:\nhowever, he supplied me.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_My children, however, sat by me, and, while\n  I was stretched on my straw, read to me by turns,\n  or listened and wept at my instructions._\"\u2014_p._ 137.\nFor the three ensuing days I was in a state of anxiety to know what\nreception my letter might meet with; but in the meantime was frequently\nsolicited by my wife to submit to any conditions rather than remain\nhere, and every hour received repeated accounts of the decline of my\ndaughter's health. The third day and the fourth arrived, but I received\nno answer to my letter: the complaints of a stranger against a favourite\nnephew were no way likely to succeed; so that these hopes soon vanished\nlike all my former. My mind, however, still supported itself, though\nconfinement and bad air began to make a visible alteration in my health,\nand my arm that had suffered in the fire grew worse. My children,\nhowever, sat by me, and, while I was stretched on my straw, read to me\nby turns, or listened and wept at my instructions. But my daughter's\nhealth declined faster than mine; every message from her contributed to\nincrease my apprehensions and pain. The fifth morning after I had\nwritten the letter which was sent to Sir William Thornhill, I was\nalarmed with an account that she was speechless. Now it was that\nconfinement was truly painful to me; my soul was bursting from its\nprison to be near the pillow of my child, to comfort, to strengthen her,\nto receive her last wishes, and teach her soul the way to heaven!\nAnother account came\u2014she was expiring, and yet I was debarred the small\ncomfort of weeping by her. My fellow-prisoner, some time after, came\nwith the last account. He bade me be patient\u2014she was dead! The next\nmorning he returned, and found me with my two little ones, now my only\ncompanions, who were using all their innocent efforts to comfort me.\nThey entreated to read to me, and bade me not to cry, for I was now too\nold to weep. \"And is not my sister an angel now, papa?\" cried the\neldest, \"and why then are you sorry for her? I wish I were an angel, out\nof this frightful place, if my papa were with me.\" \"Yes,\" added my\nyoungest darling, \"heaven, where my sister is, is a finer place than\nthis, and there are none but good people there, and the people here are\nvery bad.\"\nMr. Jenkinson interrupted their harmless prattle, by observing that, now\nmy daughter was no more, I should seriously think of the rest of my\nfamily, and attempt to save my own life, which was every day declining\nfor want of necessaries and wholesome air. He added that it was now\nincumbent on me to sacrifice any pride or resentment of my own to the\nwelfare of those who depended on me for support; and that I was now,\nboth by reason and justice, obliged to try to reconcile my landlord.\n\"Heaven be praised!\" replied I, \"there is no pride left me now. I should\ndetest my own heart if I saw either pride or resentment lurking there.\nOn the contrary, as my oppressor has been once my parishioner, I hope\none day to present him up an unpolluted soul at the eternal tribunal.\nNo, sir, I have no resentment now; and though he has taken from me what\nI held dearer than all his treasures, though he has wrung my heart\u2014for I\nam sick almost to fainting, very sick, my fellow-prisoner\u2014yet that shall\nnever inspire me with vengeance. I am now willing to approve his\nmarriage; and if this submission can do him any pleasure, let him know\nthat if I have done him any injury I am sorry for it.\" Mr. Jenkinson\ntook pen and ink, and wrote down my submission nearly as I have\nexpressed it, to which I signed my name. My son was employed to carry\nthe letter to Mr. Thornhill, who was then at his seat in the country. He\nwent, and in about six hours returned with a verbal answer. He had some\ndifficulty, he said, to get a sight of his landlord, as the servants\nwere insolent and suspicious; but he accidentally saw him as he was\ngoing out upon business, preparing for his marriage, which was to be in\nthree days. He continued to inform us that he stepped up in the humblest\nmanner, and delivered the letter, which, when Mr. Thornhill had read, he\nsaid that all submission was now too late and unnecessary; that he had\nheard of our application to his uncle, which met with the contempt it\ndeserved; and, as for the rest, that all future applications should be\ndirected to his attorney, not to him. He observed, however, that as he\nhad a very good opinion of the discretion of the two young ladies, they\nmight have been the most agreeable intercessors.\n\"Well, sir,\" said I to my fellow-prisoner, \"you now discover the temper\nof the man that oppresses me. He can at once be facetious and cruel; but\nlet him use me as he will, I shall soon be free, in spite of all his\nbolts to restrain me. I am now drawing towards an abode that looks\nbrighter as I approach it: this expectation cheers my afflictions; and\nthough I leave a helpless family of orphans behind me, yet they will not\nbe utterly forsaken; some friend, perhaps, will be found to assist them\nfor the sake of their poor father, and some may charitably relieve them\nfor the sake of their Heavenly Father.\"\nJust as I spoke, my wife, whom I had not seen that day before, appeared\nwith looks of terror, and making efforts, but unable, to speak. \"Why, my\nlove,\" cried I, \"why will you thus increase my afflictions by your own?\nWhat though no submission can turn our severe master, though he has\ndoomed me to die in this place of wretchedness, and though we have lost\na darling child, yet still you will find comfort in your other children\nwhen I shall be no more.\" \"We have indeed lost,\" returned she, \"a\ndarling child!\u2014My Sophia, my dearest, is gone\u2014snatched from us, carried\noff by ruffians!\"\n\"How, madam!\" cried my fellow-prisoner, \"Miss Sophia carried off by\nvillains! Sure it cannot be!\"\nShe could only answer with a fixed look and a flood of tears. But one of\nthe prisoners' wives, who was present, and came in with her, gave us a\nmore distinct account: she informed us that as my wife, my daughter, and\nherself were taking a walk together on the great road a little way out\nof the village, a post-chaise and pair drove up to them, and instantly\nstopped. Upon which a well-dressed man, but not Mr. Thornhill, stepping\nout, clasped my daughter round the waist, and forcing her in, bid the\npostilion drive on, so that they were out of sight in a moment.\"\n\"Now,\" cried I, \"the sum of my miseries is made up; nor is it in the\npower of anything on earth to give me another pang. What! not one left!\nnot to leave me one! The monster! The child that was next my heart! She\nhad the beauty of an angel, and almost the wisdom of an angel. But\nsupport that woman, nor let her fall.\u2014Not to leave me one!\" \"Alas, my\nhusband!\" said my wife, \"you seem to want comfort even more than I. Our\ndistresses are great; but I could bear this and more if I saw you but\neasy. They may take away my children, and all the world, if they leave\nme but you.\"\nMy son who was present, endeavoured to moderate her grief. He bade us\ntake comfort, for he hoped that we might still have reason to be\nthankful. \"My child,\" cried I, \"look round the world, and see if there\nbe any happiness left me now. Is not every ray of comfort shut out,\nwhile all our bright prospects only lie beyond the grave?\" \"My dear\nfather,\" returned he, \"I hope there is still something that will give\nyou an interval of satisfaction, for I have a letter from my brother\nGeorge.\" \"What of him, child?\" interrupted I. \"Does he know our misery?\nI hope my boy is exempt from any part of what his wretched family\nsuffers.\" \"Yes, sir,\" returned he, \"he is perfectly gay, cheerful, and\nhappy. His letter brings nothing but good news: he is the favourite of\nhis colonel, who promises to procure him the very next lieutenancy that\nbecomes vacant.\"\n\"But are you sure of all this?\" cried my wife, \"are you sure that\nnothing ill has befallen my boy?\" \"Nothing, indeed, madam,\" returned my\nson; \"you shall see the letter, which will give you the highest\npleasure: and if anything can procure you comfort, I am sure that will.\"\n\"But are you sure,\" still repeated she, \"that the letter is from\nhimself, and that he is really so happy?\" \"Yes, madam,\" replied he, \"it\nis certainly his, and he will one day be the credit and the support of\nour family.\" \"Then I thank Providence,\" cried she, \"that my last letter\nto him has miscarried. Yes, my dear,\" continued she, turning to me, \"I\nwill now confess that though the hand of Heaven is sore upon us in other\ninstances, it has been favourable here. By the last letter I wrote my\nson, which was in the bitterness of anger, I desired him, upon his\nmother's blessing, and if he had the heart of a man, to see justice done\nhis father and sister, and avenge our cause. But, thanks to Him who\ndirects all things, it has miscarried, and I am at rest.\"\n[Illustration:\n  \"_What! not one left! not to leave me one!\n  The monster!_\"\u2014_p._ 140.\n\"Woman,\" cried I, \"thou hast done very ill, and at another time my\nreproaches might have been more severe. Oh! what a tremendous gulf hast\nthou escaped, that would have buried both thee and him in endless ruin!\nProvidence, indeed, has here been kinder to us than we to ourselves. It\nhas reserved that son to be the father and protector of my children when\nI shall be away. How unjustly did I complain of being stripped of every\ncomfort, when still I hear that he is happy, and insensible of our\nafflictions; still kept in reserve to support his widowed mother, and to\nprotect his brothers and sisters! But what sisters has he left? He has\nno sisters now: they are all gone, robbed from me, and I am undone!\"\n\"Father,\" interrupted my son, \"I beg you will give me leave to read this\nletter: I know it will please you.\" Upon which, with my permission, he\nread as follows:\u2014\n\"HONOURED SIR,\n\"I have called off my imagination a few moments from the pleasures that\nsurround me, to fix it upon objects that are still more pleasing\u2014the\ndear little fireside at home. My fancy draws that harmless group as\nlistening to every line of this with great composure. I view those faces\nwith delight, which never felt the deforming hand of ambition or\ndistress. But whatever your happiness may be at home, I am sure it will\nbe some addition to it to hear that I am perfectly pleased with my\nsituation, and every way happy here.\n\"Our regiment is countermanded, and is not to leave the kingdom; the\ncolonel, who professes himself my friend, takes me with him to all\ncompanies where he is acquainted, and, after my first visit, I generally\nfind myself received with increased respect upon repeating it. I danced\nlast night with Lady G\u2014\u2014, and, could I forget you know whom, I might\nperhaps be successful. But it is my fate still to remember others, while\nI am myself forgotten by most of my absent friends; and in this number I\nfear, sir, that I must consider you, for I have long expected the\npleasure of a letter from home to no purpose. Olivia and Sophia, too,\npromised to write, but seem to have forgotten me. Tell them that they\nare two arrant little baggages, and that I am at this moment in a most\nviolent passion with them\u2014yet still, I know not how, though I want to\nbluster a little, my heart is respondent only to softer emotions. Then\ntell them, sir, that after all I love them affectionately; and be\nassured of my ever remaining\n\"In all our miseries,\" cried I, \"what thanks have we not to return, that\none at least of our family is exempted from what we suffer! Heaven be\nhis guard, and keep my boy thus happy, to be the support of his widowed\nmother and the father of these two babes, which is all the patrimony I\ncan now bequeath him! May he keep their innocence from the temptations\nof want, and be their conductor in the paths of honour! \"I had scarcely\nsaid these words, when a noise like that of a tumult seemed to proceed\nfrom the prison below; it died away soon after, and a clanking of\nfetters was heard along the passage that led to my apartment. The keeper\nof the prison entered, holding a man all bloody, wounded, and fettered\nwith the heaviest irons. I looked with compassion upon the wretch as he\napproached me, but with horror when I found it was my own son! \"My\nGeorge! my George! and do I behold thee thus? wounded! fettered! Is this\nthy happiness! Is this the manner you return to me! Oh that this sight\nwould break my heart at once, and let me die!\"\n\"Where, sir, is your fortitude?\" returned my son, with an intrepid\nvoice; \"I must suffer; my life is forfeited, and let them take it.\"\nI tried to restrain my passion for a few minutes in silence, but I\nthought I should have died with the effort. \"O my boy, my heart weeps to\nbehold thee thus, and I cannot, cannot help it! In the moment that I\nthought thee blest, and prayed for thy safety, to behold thee thus\nagain, chained, wounded! And yet the death of the youthful is happy. But\nI am old, a very old man, and have lived to see this day; to see my\nchildren all untimely falling about me, while I continue a wretched\nsurvivor in the midst of ruin! May all the curses that ever sunk a soul\nfall heavy upon the murderer of my children! May he live, like me, to\nsee\u2014\u2014\"\n\"Hold, sir!\" replied my son, \"or I shall blush for thee. How, sir!\nforgetful of your age, your holy calling, thus to arrogate the justice\nof Heaven, and fling those curses upward that must soon descend to crush\nthy own grey head with destruction! No, sir, let it be your care now to\nfit me for that vile death I must shortly suffer, to arm me with hope\nand resolution, to give me courage to drink of that bitterness which\nmust shortly be my portion.\"\n\"My child, you must not die! I am sure no offence of thine can deserve\nso vile a punishment. My George could never be guilty of any crime to\nmake his ancestors ashamed of him.\"\n\"Mine, sir,\" returned my son, \"is, I fear, an unpardonable one. When I\nreceived my mother's letter from home, I immediately came down,\ndetermined to punish the betrayer of our honour, and sent him an order\nto meet me, which he answered, not in person, but by despatching four of\nhis domestics to seize me. I wounded one who first assaulted me, and I\nfear desperately; but the rest made me their prisoner. The coward is\ndetermined to put the law in execution against me; the proofs are\nundeniable: I have sent a challenge, and as I am the first aggressor\nupon the statute, I see no hopes of pardon. But you have often charmed\nme with your lessons of fortitude; let me now, sir, find them in your\nexample.\"\n\"And, my son, you shall find them. I am now raised above this world, and\nall the pleasures it can produce. From this moment I break from my heart\nall the ties that held it down to earth, and will prepare to fit us both\nfor eternity. Yes, my son, I will point out the way, and my soul shall\nguide yours in the ascent, for we will take our flight together. I now\nsee and am convinced you can expect no pardon here, and I can only\nexhort you to seek it at that greatest tribunal where we both shall\nshortly answer. But let us not be niggardly in our exhortations, but let\nall our fellow-prisoners have a share. Good gaoler, let them be\npermitted to stand here, while I attempt to improve them.\" Thus saying,\nI made an effort to rise from my straw, but wanted strength, and was\nable only to recline against the wall. The prisoners assembled\nthemselves according to my directions, for they loved to hear my\ncounsel; my son and his mother supported me on either side; I looked and\nsaw that none were wanting, and then addressed them with the following\nexhortation.\n             _The equal dealings of Providence demonstrated\n         with regard to the happy and the miserable here below,\n                   that, from the nature of pleasure\n       and pain, the wretched must be repaid the balance of their\n                   sufferings in the life hereafter._\n\"My friends, my children, and fellow-sufferers, when I reflect on the\ndistribution of good and evil here below, I find that much has been\ngiven man to enjoy, yet still more to suffer. Though we should examine\nthe whole world, we shall not find one man so happy as to have nothing\nleft to wish for: but we daily see thousands who by suicide show us they\nhave nothing left to hope. In this life, then, it appears that we cannot\nbe entirely blest; but yet we may be completely miserable.\n\"Why man should thus feel pain; why our wretchedness should be requisite\nin the formation of universal felicity; why, when all other systems are\nmade perfect by the perfection of their subordinate parts, the great\nsystem should require for its perfection parts that are not only\nsubordinate to others, but imperfect in themselves\u2014these are questions\nthat never can be explained, and might be useless if known. On this\nsubject Providence has thought fit to elude our curiosity, satisfied\nwith granting us motives to consolation.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_The prisoners assembled themselves according\n  to my directions, for they loved to hear my counsel._\"\u2014_p._ 144.\n\"In this situation man has called in the friendly assistance of\nphilosophy; and Heaven, seeing the incapacity of that to console him,\nhas given him the aid of religion. The consolations of philosophy are\nvery amusing, but often fallacious. It tells us that life is filled with\ncomforts, if we will but enjoy them; and on the other hand, that though\nwe unavoidably have miseries here, life is short, and they will soon be\nover. Thus do these consolations destroy each other; for if life is a\nplace of comfort, its shortness must be misery; and if it be long, our\ngriefs are protracted. Thus philosophy is weak; but religion comforts in\na higher strain. Man is here, it tells us, fitting up his mind, and\npreparing it for another abode. When the good man leaves the body, and\nis all a glorious mind, he will find he has been making himself a heaven\nof happiness here; while the wretch that has been maimed and\ncontaminated by his vices, shrinks from his body with terror, and finds\nthat he has anticipated the vengeance of Heaven. To religion, then, we\nmust hold in every circumstance of life for our truest comfort; for, if\nalready we are happy, it is a pleasure to think that we can make that\nhappiness unending; and, if we are miserable, it is very consoling to\nthink that there is a place of rest. Thus, to the fortunate, religion\nholds out a continuance of bliss; to the wretched, a change from pain.\n\"But though religion is very kind to all men, it has promised peculiar\nrewards to the unhappy. The sick, the naked, the houseless, the\nheavy-laden, and the prisoner, have ever most frequent promises in our\nsacred law. The Author of our religion everywhere professes Himself the\nwretch's friend; and, unlike the false ones of this world, bestows all\nHis caresses upon the forlorn. The unthinking have censured this as\npartiality, as a preference without merit to deserve it. But they never\nreflect, that it is not in the power even of Heaven itself to make the\noffer of unceasing felicity as great a gift to the happy as to the\nmiserable. To the first, eternity is but a single blessing, since, at\nmost, it but increases what they already possess. To the latter, it is a\ndouble advantage; for it diminishes their pain here, and rewards them\nwith heavenly bliss hereafter.\n\"But Providence is in another respect kinder to the poor than to the\nrich; for as it thus makes the life after death more desirable, so it\nsmooths the passage there. The wretched have had a long familiarity with\nevery face of terror. The man of sorrow lays himself quietly down, with\nno possessions to regret, and but few ties to stop his departure; he\nfeels only nature's pang in the final separation, and this is no way\ngreater than he has often fainted under before; for, after a certain\ndegree of pain, every new breach that death opens in the constitution,\nnature kindly covers with insensibility.\n\"Thus Providence has given to the wretched two advantages over the happy\nin this life\u2014greater felicity in dying, and in heaven all that\nsuperiority of pleasure which arises from contrasted enjoyment. And this\nsuperiority, my friends, is no small advantage, and seems to be one of\nthe pleasures of the poor man in the parable; for though he was already\nin heaven, and felt all the raptures it could give, yet it was mentioned\nas an addition to his happiness, that he had once been wretched, and now\nwas comforted; that he had known what it was to be miserable, and now\nfelt what it was to be happy.\n\"Thus, my friends, you see religion does what philosophy could never do:\nit shows the equal dealings of Heaven to the happy and the unhappy, and\nlevels all human enjoyments to nearly the same standard. It gives to\nboth rich and poor the same happiness hereafter, and equal hopes to\naspire after it; but if the rich have the advantage of enjoying pleasure\nhere, the poor have the endless satisfaction of knowing what it was once\nto be miserable, when crowned with endless felicity hereafter; and even\nthough this should be called a small advantage, yet, being an eternal\none, it must make up by duration what the temporal happiness of the\ngreat may have exceeded by intenseness.\n\"These are, therefore, the consolations which the wretched have peculiar\nto themselves, and in which they are above the rest of mankind; in other\nrespects they are below them. They who would know the miseries of the\npoor, must see life and endure it. To declaim on the temporal advantages\nthey enjoy is only repeating what none either believe or practise. The\nmen who have the necessaries of living are not poor; and they who want\nthem must be miserable. Yes, my friends, we must be miserable. No vain\nefforts of a refined imagination can soothe the wants of nature, can\ngive elastic sweetness to the dank vapour of a dungeon, or ease to the\nthrobbings of a broken heart. Let the philosopher from his couch of\nsoftness tell us that we can resist all these. Alas! the effort by which\nwe resist them is still the greatest pain. Death is slight, and any man\nmay sustain it; but torments are dreadful, and these no man can endure.\n\"To us, then, my friends, the promises of happiness in heaven should be\npeculiarly dear; for if our reward be in this life alone, we are,\nindeed, of all men the most miserable. When I look round these gloomy\nwalls, made to terrify as well as to confine us; this light, that only\nserves to show the horrors of the place; those shackles, that tyranny\nhas imposed or crime made necessary; when I survey these emaciated\nlooks, and hear those groans; Oh, my friends, what a glorious exchange\nwould heaven be for these! To fly through regions unconfined as air\u2014to\nbask in the sunshine of eternal bliss\u2014to carol over endless hymns of\npraise\u2014to have no master to threaten or insult us, but the form of\nGoodness Himself for ever in our eyes: when I think of these things,\ndeath becomes the messenger of very glad tidings; when I think of these\nthings, his sharpest arrow becomes the staff of my support; when I think\nof these things, what is there in life worth having? when I think of\nthese things, what is there that should not be spurned away? Kings in\ntheir palaces should groan for such advantages; but we, humbled as we\nare, should yearn for them.\n\"And shall these things be ours? Ours they will certainly be, if we but\ntry for them; and what is a comfort, we are shut out from many\ntemptations that would retard our pursuit. Only let us try for them, and\nthey will certainly be ours; and what is still a comfort, shortly too;\nfor if we look back on a past life, it appears but a very short span;\nand whatever we may think of the rest of life, it will yet be found of\nless duration: as we grow older the days seem to grow shorter, and our\nintimacy with Time ever lessens the perception of his stay. Then let us\ntake comfort now, for we shall soon be at our journey's end; we shall\nsoon lay down the heavy burden laid by Heaven upon us; and though death,\nthe only friend of the wretched, for a little while mocks the weary\ntraveller with the view, and, like the horizon, flies before him, yet\nthe time will certainly and shortly come when we shall cease from our\ntoil; when the luxurious great ones of the world shall no more tread us\nto the earth; when we shall think with pleasure of our sufferings below;\nwhen we shall be surrounded with all our friends, or such as deserved\nour friendship; when our bliss shall be unutterable, and still, to crown\nall, unending.\"\n       _Happier prospects begin to appear.\u2014Let us be inflexible,\n            and fortune will at last change in our favour._\nWhen I had thus finished, and my audience was retired, the gaoler, who\nwas one of the most humane of his profession, hoped I would not be\ndispleased, as what he did was but his duty; observing, that he must be\nobliged to remove my son into a stronger cell, but that he should be\npermitted to visit me every morning. I thanked him for his clemency, and\ngrasping my boy's hand, bade him farewell, and be mindful of the great\nduty that was before him.\nI again therefore laid me down, and one of my little ones sat by my\nbedside reading, when Mr. Jenkinson entering, informed me that there was\nnews of my daughter; for that she was seen by a person about two hours\nbefore in a strange gentleman's company, and that they had stopped at a\nneighbouring village for refreshment, and seemed as if returning to\ntown. He had scarcely delivered his news, when the gaoler came with\nlooks of haste and pleasure to inform me that my daughter was found!\nMoses came running in a moment after, crying out that his sister Sophy\nwas below, and coming up with our old friend Mr. Burchell.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_Mr. Burchell running up, shivered his sword\n  to pieces, and then pursued him for near a quarter\n  of a mile; but he made his escape._\"\u2014_p._ 150.\nJust as he delivered this news my dearest girl entered, and, with looks\nalmost wild with pleasure, ran to kiss me in a transport of affection.\nHer mother's tears and silence also showed her pleasure.\n\"Here, papa,\" cried the charming girl, \"here is the brave man to whom I\nowe my delivery; to this gentleman's intrepidity I am indebted for my\nhappiness and safety\u2014\u2014.\" A kiss from Mr. Burchell, whose pleasure seemed\neven greater than hers, interrupted what she was going to add.\n\"Ah, Mr. Burchell!\" cried I, \"this is but a wretched habitation you find\nus in; and we are now very different from what you last saw us. You were\never our friend: we have long discovered our errors with regard to you,\nand repented of our ingratitude. After the vile usage you then received\nat my hands, I am almost ashamed to behold your face; yet I hope you\nwill forgive me, as I was deceived by a base, ungenerous wretch, who,\nunder the mask of friendship, has undone me.\"\n\"It is impossible,\" replied Mr. Burchell, \"that I should forgive you, as\nyou never deserved my resentment. I partly saw your delusion then, and,\nas it was out of my power to restrain, I could only pity it.\"\n\"It was ever my conjecture,\" cried I, \"that your mind was noble; but now\nI find it so. But tell me, my dear child, how thou hast been relieved,\nor who the ruffians were that carried thee away?\"\n\"Indeed, sir,\" replied she, \"as to the villain who carried me off I am\nyet ignorant. For as my mamma and I were walking out, he came behind us,\nand almost before I could call for help forced me into the post-chaise,\nand in an instant the horses drove away. I met several on the road to\nwhom I cried out for assistance, but they disregarded my entreaties. In\nthe meantime the ruffian himself used every art to hinder me from crying\nout: he flattered and threatened me by turns, and swore that, if I\ncontinued but silent, he intended no harm. In the meantime I had broken\nthe canvas that he had drawn up, and whom should I perceive at some\ndistance but your old friend Mr. Burchell, walking along with his usual\nswiftness, with the great stick for which we used so much to ridicule\nhim! As soon as we came within hearing, I called out to him by name, and\nentreated his help. I repeated my exclamations several times, upon\nwhich, with a very loud voice, he bade the postilion stop; but the boy\ntook no notice, but drove on with still greater speed. I now thought he\ncould never overtake us, when in less than a minute I saw Mr. Burchell\ncome running up by the side of the horses, and with one blow knocked the\npostilion to the ground. The horses, when he was fallen, soon stopped of\nthemselves, and the ruffian stepping out, with oaths and menaces, drew\nhis sword, and ordered him at his peril to retire; but Mr. Burchell\nrunning up, shivered his sword to pieces, and then pursued him for near\na quarter of a mile; but he made his escape. I was by this time come out\nmyself, willing to assist my deliverer; but he soon returned to me in\ntriumph. The postilion, who was recovered, was going to make his escape\ntoo; but Mr. Burchell ordered him at his peril to mount again, and drive\nback to town. Finding it impossible to resist, he reluctantly complied,\nthough the wound he had received seemed to me at least to be dangerous.\nHe continued to complain of the pain as we drove along, so that he at\nlast excited Mr. Burchell's compassion, who, at my request, exchanged\nhim for another at an inn where we called on our return.\"\n\"Welcome, then,\" cried I, \"my child; and thou, her gallant deliverer, a\nthousand welcomes. Though our cheer is but wretched, yet our hearts are\nready to receive you. And now, Mr. Burchell, as you have delivered my\ngirl, if you think her a recompense, she is yours: if you can stoop to\nan alliance with a family so poor as mine, take her, obtain her consent,\nas I know you have her heart, and you have mine. And let me tell you,\nsir, that I give you no small treasure: she has been celebrated for\nbeauty, it is true, but that is not my meaning\u2014I give you a treasure in\nher mind.\"\n\"But I suppose, sir,\" cried Mr. Burchell, \"that you are apprised of my\ncircumstances, and of my incapacity to support her as she deserves?\"\n\"If your present objection,\" replied I, \"be meant as an evasion of my\noffer, I desist; but I know no man so worthy to deserve her as you; and\nif I could give her thousands, and thousands sought her from me, yet my\nhonest brave Burchell should be my dearest choice.\"\nTo all this his silence alone seemed to give a mortifying refusal; and\nwithout the least reply to my offer, he demanded if we could not be\nfurnished with refreshments from the next inn; to which being answered\nin the affirmative, he ordered them to send in the best dinner that\ncould be provided upon such short notice. He bespoke also a dozen of\ntheir best wine, and some cordials for me; adding, with a smile, that he\nwould stretch a little for once; and, though in a prison, asserted he\nwas never better disposed to be merry. The waiter soon made his\nappearance with preparations for dinner; a table was lent us by the\ngaoler, who seemed remarkably assiduous; the wine was disposed in order,\nand two very well-dressed dishes were brought in.\nMy daughter had not yet heard of her poor brother's melancholy\nsituation, and we all seemed unwilling to damp her cheerfulness by the\nrelation. But it was in vain that I attempted to appear cheerful; the\ncircumstances of my unfortunate son broke through all efforts to\ndissemble; so that I was at last obliged to damp our mirth by relating\nhis misfortunes, and wishing he might be permitted to share with us in\nthis little interval of satisfaction. After my guests were recovered\nfrom the consternation my account had produced, I requested also that\nMr. Jenkinson, a fellow-prisoner, might be admitted; and the gaoler\ngranted my request with an air of unusual submission. The clanking of my\nson's irons was no sooner heard along the passage, than his sister ran\nimpatiently to meet him; while Mr. Burchell, in the meantime, asked me\nif my son's name was George; to which replying in the affirmative, he\nstill continued silent. As soon as my boy entered the room, I could\nperceive he regarded Mr. Burchell with a look of astonishment and\nreverence. \"Come on,\" cried I, \"my son; though we are fallen very low,\nyet Providence has been pleased to grant us some small relaxation from\npain. Thy sister is restored to us, and there is her deliverer; to that\nbrave man it is that I am indebted for yet having a daughter; give him,\nmy boy, the hand of friendship\u2014he deserves our warmest gratitude.\"\nMy son seemed all this while regardless of what I said, and still\ncontinued fixed at a respectful distance. \"My dear brother,\" cried his\nsister, \"why don't you thank my good deliverer? The brave should ever\nlove each other.\"\nHe still continued his silence and astonishment; till our guest at last\nperceived himself to be known, and assuming all his native dignity,\ndesired my son to come forward. Never before had I seen anything so\ntruly majestic as the air he assumed upon this occasion. The greatest\nobject in the universe, says a certain philosopher, is a good man\nstruggling with adversity; yet there is a still greater, which is the\ngood man that comes to relieve it. After he had regarded my son for some\ntime with a superior air, \"I again find,\" said he, \"unthinking boy, that\nthe same crime\u2014\". But here he was interrupted by one of the gaoler's\nservants, who came to inform us that a person of distinction, who had\ndriven into town with a chariot and several attendants, sent his\nrespects to the gentleman that was with us, and begged to know when he\nshould think proper to be waited upon. \"Bid the fellow wait,\" cried our\nguest, \"till I shall have leisure to receive him:\" and then turning to\nmy son, \"I again find, sir,\" proceeded he, \"that you are guilty of the\nsame offence for which you once had my reproof, and for which the law is\nnow preparing its justest punishments. You imagine, perhaps, that a\ncontempt for your own life gives you a right to take that of another:\nbut where, sir, is the difference between the duellist, who hazards a\nlife of no value, and the murderer, who acts with greater security? Is\nit any diminution of the gamester's fraud, when he alleges that he has\nstaked a counter?\"\n\"Alas, sir!\" cried I, \"whoever you are, pity the poor misguided\ncreature; for what he has done was in obedience to a deluded mother, who\nin the bitterness of her resentment required him, upon her blessing, to\navenge her quarrel. Here, sir, is the letter which will serve to\nconvince you of her imprudence, and diminish his guilt.\"\n[Illustration:\n  _\"What, Bill, you chubby rogue!\" cried he,\n  \"do you remember your old friend Burchell?\"_\u2014_p._ 155.\nHe took the letter, and hastily read it over. \"This,\" said he, \"though\nnot a perfect excuse, is such a palliation of his fault as induces me to\nforgive him. And now, sir,\" continued he, kindly taking my son by the\nhand, \"I see you are surprised at finding me here; but I have often\nvisited prisons upon occasions less interesting. I am now come to see\njustice done a worthy man, for whom I have the most sincere esteem. I\nhave long been a disguised spectator of thy father's benevolence. I have\nat his little dwelling enjoyed respect uncontaminated by flattery, and\nhave received that happiness which courts could not give, from the\namusing simplicity round his fireside. My nephew has been apprised of my\nintention of coming here, and I find he is arrived: it would be wronging\nhim and you to condemn him without examination; if there be injury there\nshall be redress; and this I may say without boasting, that none have\never taxed the injustice of Sir William Thornhill.\"\nWe now found that the personage whom we had so long entertained as a\nharmless, amusing companion, was no other than the celebrated Sir\nWilliam Thornhill, to whose virtues and singularities scarcely any were\nstrangers. The poor Mr. Burchell was in reality a man of large fortune\nand great interest, to whom senates listened with applause, and whom\nparty heard with conviction; who was the friend of his country, but\nloyal to his king. My poor wife, recollecting her former familiarity,\nseemed to shrink with apprehension; but Sophia, who a few moments before\nthought him her own, now perceiving the immense distance to which he was\nremoved by fortune, was unable to conceal her tears.\n\"Ah, sir,\" cried my wife, with a piteous aspect, \"how is it possible\nthat I can ever have your forgiveness? The slights you received from me\nthe last time I had the honour of seeing you at our house, and the jokes\nwhich I so audaciously threw out\u2014these, sir, I fear, can never be\nforgiven.\"\n\"My dear, good lady,\" returned he, with a smile, \"if you had your joke,\nI had my answer. I'll leave it to all the company if mine were not as\ngood as yours. To say the truth, I know nobody whom I am disposed to be\nangry with at present, but the fellow who so frightened my little girl\nhere! I had not even time to examine the rascal's person, so as to\ndescribe him in an advertisement. Can you tell me, Sophia, my dear,\nwhether you should know him again?\"\n\"Indeed, sir,\" replied she, \"I cannot be positive; yet, now I recollect,\nhe had a large mark over one of his eyebrows.\" \"I ask pardon, madam,\"\ninterrupted Jenkinson, who was by, \"but be so good as to inform me if\nthe fellow wore his own red hair.\" \"Yes; I think so,\" cried Sophia. \"And\ndid your honour,\" continued he, turning to Sir William, \"observe the\nlength of his legs?\" \"I can't be sure of their length,\" cried the\nbaronet, \"but I am convinced of their swiftness; for he outran me, which\nis what I thought few men in the kingdom could have done.\" \"Please your\nhonour,\" cried Jenkinson, \"I know the man; it is certainly the same: the\nbest runner in England; he has beaten Pinwire, of Newcastle. Timothy\nBaxter is his name: I know him perfectly, and the very place of his\nretreat at this moment. If your honour will bid Mr. Gaoler let two of\nhis men go with me, I'll engage to produce him to you in an hour at\nfarthest.\" Upon this the gaoler was called, who instantly appearing, Sir\nWilliam demanded if he knew him. \"Yes, please your honour,\" replied the\ngaoler, \"I know Sir William Thornhill well; and everybody that knows\nanything of him, will desire to know more of him.\" \"Well, then,\" said\nthe baronet, \"my request is, that you will permit this man and two of\nyour servants to go upon a message by my authority, and, as I am in the\ncommission of the peace, I undertake to secure you.\" \"Your promise is\nsufficient,\" replied the other, \"and you may, at a minute's warning,\nsend them over England whenever your honour thinks fit.\"\nIn pursuance of the gaoler's compliance, Jenkinson was despatched in\npursuit of Timothy Baxter, while we were amused with the assiduity of\nour youngest boy, Bill, who had just come in, and climbed up to Sir\nWilliam's neck in order to kiss him. His mother was immediately going to\nchastise his familiarity, but the worthy man prevented her; and taking\nthe child, all ragged as he was, upon his knee, \"What, Bill, you chubby\nrogue!\" cried he, \"do you remember your old friend Burchell? And Dick,\ntoo, my honest veteran, are you here? You shall find I have not forgot\nyou.\" So saying, he gave each a large piece of gingerbread, which the\npoor fellows ate very heartily, as they had got that morning but a very\nscanty breakfast.\nWe now sat down to dinner, which was almost cold: but previously, my arm\nstill continuing painful, Sir William wrote a prescription, for he had\nmade the study of physic his amusement, and was more than moderately\nskilled in the profession: this being sent to an apothecary who lived in\nthe place, my arm was dressed, and I found almost instantaneous relief.\nWe were waited upon at dinner by the gaoler himself, who was willing to\ndo our guest all the honour in his power. But before we had well dined,\nanother message was brought from his nephew, desiring permission to\nappear, in order to vindicate his innocence and honour; with which\nrequest the baronet complied, and desired Mr. Thornhill to be\nintroduced.\n       _Former benevolence now repaid with unexpected interest._\nMr. Thornhill made his entrance with a smile, which he seldom wanted,\nand was going to embrace his uncle, which the other repulsed with an air\nof disdain. \"No fawning, sir, at present,\" cried the baronet, with a\nlook of severity; \"the only way to my heart is by the road of honour;\nbut here I only see complicated instances of falsehood, cowardice, and\noppression. How is it, sir, that this poor man, for whom I know you\nprofessed a friendship, is used thus hardly? His daughter vilely seduced\nas a recompense for his hospitality, and he himself thrown into prison,\nperhaps but for resenting the insult. His son, too, whom you feared to\nface as a man\u2014\u2014\"\n\"Is it possible, sir,\" interrupted his nephew, \"that my uncle should\nobject that as a crime which his repeated instructions alone have\npersuaded me to avoid?\"\n\"Your rebuke,\" cried Sir William, \"is just: you have acted in this\ninstance prudently and well, though not quite as your father would have\ndone: my brother, indeed, was the soul of honour; but thou\u2014\u2014yes, you\nhave acted in this instance perfectly right, and it has my warmest\napprobation.\"\n\"And I hope,\" said his nephew, \"that the rest of my conduct will not be\nfound to deserve censure. I appeared, sir, with this gentleman's\ndaughter at some places of public amusement; thus, what was levity\nscandal called by a harsher name, and it was reported that I had\ndebauched her. I waited on her father in person, willing to clear the\nthing to his satisfaction, and he received me only with insult and\nabuse. As for the rest, with regard to his being here, my attorney, and\nsteward can best inform you, as I commit the management of business\nentirely to them. If he has contracted debts, and is unwilling, or even\nunable, to pay them, it is their business to proceed in this manner; and\nI see no hardship or injustice in pursuing the most legal means of\nredress.\"\n\"If this,\" cried Sir William, \"be as you have stated it, there is\nnothing unpardonable in your offences; and though your conduct might\nhave been more generous in not suffering this gentleman to be oppressed\nby subordinate tyranny, yet it has been at least equitable.\"\n[Illustration:\n  _\"And I hope,\" said his nephew, \"that\n  the rest of my conduct will not be found\n  to deserve censure.\"_\u2014_p._ 156.\n\"He cannot contradict a singular particular,\" replied the squire; \"I\ndefy him to do so; and several of my servants are ready to attest what I\nsay. Thus, sir,\" continued he, finding that I was silent, for in fact I\ncould not contradict him: \"thus, sir, my own innocence is vindicated:\nbut though at your entreaty I am ready to forgive this gentleman every\nother offence, yet his attempts to lessen me in your esteem excite a\nresentment that I cannot govern; and this, too, at a time when his son\nwas actually preparing to take away my life; this, I say, was such\nguilt, that I am determined to let the law take its course. I have here\nthe challenge that was sent me, and two witnesses to prove it; one of my\nservants has been wounded dangerously; and even though my uncle himself\nshould dissuade me, which I know he will not, yet I will see public\njustice done, and he shall suffer for it.\"\n\"Thou monster!\" cried my wife, \"hast thou not had vengeance enough\nalready, but must my poor boy feel thy cruelty? I hope that good Sir\nWilliam will protect us, for my son is as innocent as a child; I am sure\nhe is, and never did harm to man.\"\n\"Madam,\" replied the good man, \"your wishes for his safety are not\ngreater than mine; but I am sorry to find his guilt too plain; and if my\nnephew persists\u2014\u2014\" But the appearance of Jenkinson and the gaolers two\nservants now called off our attention, who entered hauling in a tall\nman, very genteelly dressed, and answering the description already given\nof the ruffian who had carried off my daughter. \"Here,\" cried Jenkinson,\npulling him in, \"Here we have him: and, if ever there was a candidate\nfor Tyburn, this is one.\"\nThe moment Mr. Thornhill perceived the prisoner, and Jenkinson who had\nhim in custody, he seemed to shrink backward with terror. His face\nbecame pale with conscious guilt, and he would have withdrawn; but\nJenkinson, who perceived his design, stopped him. \"What, squire!\" cried\nhe, \"are you ashamed of your two old acquaintances, Jenkinson and\nBaxter? But this is the way that all great men forget their friends,\nthough I am resolved we will not forget you. Our prisoner, please your\nhonour,\" continued he, turning to Sir William, \"has already confessed\nall. This is the gentleman reported to be so dangerously wounded; he\ndeclares that it was Mr. Thornhill who first put him upon this affair;\nthat he gave him the clothes he now wears to appear like a gentleman,\nand furnished him with the post-chaise. The plan was laid between them,\nthat he should carry off the young lady to a place of safety, and that\nthere he should threaten and terrify her; but Mr. Thornhill was to come\nin in the meantime, as if by accident, to her rescue, and that they\nshould fight awhile, and then he was to run off, by which Mr. Thornhill\nwould have the better opportunity of gaining her affections himself\nunder the character of her defender.\"\nSir William remembered the coat to have been frequently worn by his\nnephew, and all the rest the prisoner himself confirmed by a more\ncircumstantial account; concluding, that Mr. Thornhill had often\ndeclared to him that he was in love with both sisters at the same time.\n\"Heavens!\" cried Sir William, \"what a viper have I been fostering in my\nbosom! And so fond of public justice, too, as he seemed to be! But he\nshall have it. Secure him, Mr. Gaoler. Yet hold; I fear there is no\nlegal evidence to detain him.\"\nUpon this, Mr. Thornhill, with the utmost humility, entreated that two\nsuch abandoned wretches might not be admitted as evidence against him,\nbut that his servants should be examined. \"Your servants!\" replied Sir\nWilliam; \"wretch! call them yours no longer: but come, let us hear what\nthose fellows have to say: let his butler be called.\"\nWhen the butler was introduced, he soon perceived by his former master's\nlooks that all his power was now over. \"Tell me,\" cried Sir William,\nsternly, \"have you ever seen your master and that fellow dressed up in\nhis clothes in company together?\" \"Yes, please your honour,\" cried the\nbutler, \"a thousand times: he was the man that always brought him his\nladies.\" \"How!\" interrupted young Mr. Thornhill, \"this to my face?\"\n\"Yes,\" replied the butler; \"or to any man's face. To tell you a truth,\nMaster Thornhill, I never either loved you or liked you, and I don't\ncare if I tell you now a piece of my mind.\" \"Now then,\" cried Jenkinson,\n\"tell his honour whether you know anything of me.\" \"I can't say,\"\nreplied the butler, \"that I know much good of you. The night that\ngentleman's daughter was deluded to our house, you were one of them.\"\n\"So then,\" cried Sir William, \"I find you have brought a very fine\nwitness to prove your innocence; thou stain to humanity! to associate\nwith such wretches! But,\" continuing his examination, \"you tell me, Mr.\nButler, that this was the person who brought him this old gentleman's\ndaughter.\" \"No, please your honour,\" replied the butler, \"he did not\nbring her, for the squire himself undertook that business; but he\nbrought the priest that pretended to marry them.\"\n\"It is but too true,\" cried Jenkinson; \"I cannot deny it; that was the\nemployment assigned to me, and I confess it to my confusion.\"\n\"Good Heavens!\" exclaimed the worthy baronet, \"how every new discovery\nof his villainy alarms me! All his guilt is now too plain, and I find\nhis present prosecution was dictated by tyranny, cowardice, and revenge:\nat my request, Mr. Gaoler, set this young officer, now your prisoner,\nfree, and trust to me for the consequences. I'll make it my business to\nset the affair in a proper light to my friend the magistrate who has\ncommitted him. But where is the unfortunate young lady herself? Let her\nappear to confront this wretch. I long to know by what arts he has\nseduced her. Entreat her to come in. Where is she?\"\n\"Ah, sir!\" said I, \"that question stings me to the heart. I was once\nindeed happy in a daughter, but her miseries\u2014\u2014\" Another interruption\nhere prevented me; for who should make her appearance but Miss Arabella\nWilmot, who was the next day to have been married to Mr. Thornhill.\nNothing could equal her surprise at seeing Sir William and his nephew\nhere before her; for her arrival was quite accidental. It happened that\nshe and the old gentleman, her father, were passing through the town on\ntheir way to her aunt's, who had insisted that her nuptials with Mr.\nThornhill should be consummated at her house; but, stopping for\nrefreshment, they put up at an inn at the other end of the town. It was\nthere, from the window, that the young lady happened to observe one of\nmy little boys playing in the street, and, instantly sending a footman\nto bring the child to her, she learnt from him some account of our\nmisfortunes, but was still kept ignorant of young Mr. Thornhill's being\nthe cause. Though her father made several remonstrances on the\nimpropriety of her going to a prison to visit us, yet they were\nineffectual: she desired the child to conduct her, which he did, and it\nwas thus she surprised us at a juncture so unexpected.\nNor can I go on without a reflection on those accidental meetings,\nwhich, though they happen every day, seldom excite our surprise but upon\nsome extraordinary occasion. To what a fortuitous concurrence do we not\nowe every pleasure and convenience of our lives! How many seeming\naccidents must unite before we can be clothed or fed! The peasant must\nbe disposed to labour, the shower must fall, the wind fill the\nmerchant's sail, or numbers must want the usual supply.\nWe all continued silent for some moments, while my charming pupil, which\nwas the name I generally gave this young lady, united in her looks\ncompassion and astonishment, which gave new finishings to her beauty.\n\"Indeed, my dear Mr. Thornhill,\" cried she to the squire, who she\nsupposed was come here to succour and not to oppress us, \"I take it a\nlittle unkindly that you should come here without me, or never inform me\nof the situation of a family so dear to us both: you know I should take\nas much pleasure in contributing to the relief of my reverend old master\nhere, whom I shall ever esteem, as you can. But I find that, like your\nuncle, you take a pleasure in doing good in secret.\"\n\"He find pleasure in doing good!\" cried Sir William, interrupting her:\n\"no, my dear, his pleasures are as base as he is. You see in him, madam,\nas complete a villain as ever disgraced humanity. A wretch, who, after\nhaving deluded this poor man's daughter, after plotting against the\ninnocence of her sister, has thrown the father into prison, and the\neldest son into fetters, because he had the courage to face her\nbetrayer! And give me leave, madam, now to congratulate you upon an\nescape from the embraces of such a monster.\"\n[Illustration:\n  \"_We had now, therefore, the satisfaction\n  of seeing them fly into each other's arms\n  in a transport._\"\u2014_p._ 164.\n\"O goodness!\" cried the lovely girl, \"how have I been deceived! Mr.\nThornhill informed me, for certain, that this gentleman's eldest son,\nCaptain Primrose, was gone off to America with his new-married lady.\"\n\"My sweetest miss,\" cried my wife, \"he has told you nothing but\nfalsehoods. My son George never left the kingdom, nor ever was married.\nThough you have forsaken him, he has always loved you too well to think\nof anybody else; and I have heard him say he would die a bachelor for\nyour sake.\" She then proceeded to expatiate upon the sincerity of her\nson's passion; she set his duel with Mr. Thornhill in a proper light;\nfrom thence she made a rapid digression to the squire's debaucheries,\nhis pretended marriages, and ended with a most insulting picture of his\ncowardice.\n\"Good Heaven!\" cried Miss Wilmot, \"how very near have I been to the\nbrink of ruin! but how great is my pleasure to have escaped it! Ten\nthousand falsehoods has this gentleman told me! He had at last art\nenough to persuade me that my promise to the only man I esteemed was no\nlonger binding, since he had been unfaithful. By his falsehoods I was\ntaught to detest one equally brave and generous.\"\nBut by this time my son was freed from the incumbrances of justice, as\nthe person supposed to be wounded was detected to be an impostor. Mr.\nJenkinson also, who had acted as his valet-de-chambre, had dressed up\nhis hair, and furnished him with whatever was necessary to make a\ngenteel appearance. He now, therefore, entered, handsomely dressed in\nhis regimentals, and without vanity (for I am above it) he appeared as\nhandsome a fellow as ever wore a military dress. As he entered, he made\nMiss Wilmot a modest and distant bow, for he was not as yet acquainted\nwith the change which the eloquence of his mother had wrought in his\nfavour. But no decorums could restrain the impatience of his blushing\nmistress to be forgiven. Her tears, her looks, all contributed to\ndiscover the real sensations of her heart, for having forgotten her\nformer promise, and having suffered herself to be deluded by an\nimpostor. My son appeared amazed at her condescension, and could\nscarcely believe it real. \"Sure, madam,\" cried he, \"this is but\ndelusion; I can never have merited this! To be blessed thus, is to be\ntoo happy!\" \"No sir,\" replied she, \"I have been deceived, basely\ndeceived, else nothing could have ever made me unjust to my promise. You\nknow my friendship, you have long known it: but forget what I have done;\nand, as you once had my warmest vows of constancy, you shall now have\nthem repeated; and be assured, that if your Arabella cannot be yours,\nshe shall never be another's.\" \"And no other's you shall be,\" cried Sir\nWilliam, \"if I have any influence with your father.\"\nThis hint was sufficient for my son Moses, who immediately flew to the\ninn where the old gentleman was, to inform him of every circumstance\nthat had happened. But in the meantime the squire, perceiving that he\nwas on every side undone, now finding that no hopes were left from\nflattery or dissimulation, concluded that his wisest way would be to\nturn and face his pursuers. Thus, laying aside all shame, he appeared\nthe open, hardy villain. \"I find, then,\" cried he, \"that I am to expect\nno justice here; but I am resolved it shall be done me. You shall know,\nsir,\" turning to Sir William, \"I am no longer a poor dependant upon your\nfavours. I scorn them. Nothing can keep Miss Wilmot's fortune from me,\nwhich, I thank her father's assiduity, is pretty large. The articles and\na bond for her fortune are signed, and safe in my possession. It was her\nfortune, not her person, that induced me to wish for this match; and,\npossessed of the one, let who will take the other.\"\nThis was an alarming blow: Sir William was sensible of the justice of\nhis claims, for he had been instrumental in drawing up the\nmarriage-articles himself. Miss Wilmot, therefore, perceiving that her\nfortune was irretrievably lost, turning to my son, asked if the loss of\nfortune could lessen her value to him. \"Though fortune,\" said she, \"is\nout of my power, at least I have my hand to give.\"\n\"And that, madam,\" cried her real lover, \"was indeed all that you ever\nhad to give; at least, all that I ever thought worth the acceptance. And\nI now protest, my Arabella, by all that's happy, your want of fortune\nthis moment increases my pleasure, as it serves to convince my sweet\ngirl of my sincerity.\"\nMr. Wilmot now entering, he seemed not a little pleased at the danger\nhis daughter had just escaped, and readily consented to a dissolution of\nthe match. But finding that her fortune, which was secured to Mr.\nThornhill by bond, would not be given up, nothing could exceed his\ndisappointment. He now saw that his money must all go to enrich one who\nhad no fortune of his own. He could bear his being a rascal, but to want\nan equivalent to his daughter's fortune was wormwood. He sat, therefore,\nfor some minutes employed in the most mortifying speculations, till Sir\nWilliam attempted to lessen his anxiety. \"I must confess, sir,\" cried\nhe, \"that your present disappointment does not entirely displease me.\nYour immoderate passion for wealth is now justly punished. But though\nthe young lady cannot be rich, she has still a competence sufficient to\ngive content. Here you see an honest young soldier, who is willing to\ntake her without fortune: they have long loved each other, and for the\nfriendship I bear his father, my interest shall not be wanting in his\npromotion. Leave, then, that ambition which disappoints you, and for\nonce admit that happiness which courts your acceptance.\"\n\"Sir William,\" replied the old gentleman, \"be assured I never yet forced\nher inclinations, nor will I now. If she still continues to love this\nyoung gentleman, let her have him with all my heart. There is still,\nthank Heaven, some fortune left, and your promise will make it something\nmore. Only let my old friend here\" (meaning me) \"give me a promise of\nsettling six thousand pounds upon my girl, if ever he should come to his\nfortune, and I am ready this night to be the first to join them\ntogether.\"\nAs it now remained with me to make the young couple happy, I readily\ngave a promise of making the settlement he required; which, to one who\nhad such little expectations as I, was no great favour. We had now,\ntherefore, the satisfaction of seeing them fly into each other's arms in\na transport. \"After all my misfortunes,\" cried my son George, \"to be\nthus rewarded! Sure this is more than I could ever have presumed to hope\nfor. To be possessed of all that's good, and after such an interval of\npain! my warmest wishes could never rise so high!\" \"Yes, my George,\"\nreturned his lovely bride, \"now let the wretch take my fortune: since\nyou are happy without it, so am I. Oh, what an exchange have I made from\nthe basest of men to the dearest, best! Let him enjoy our fortune; I now\ncan be happy even in indigence.\" \"And I promise you,\" cried the squire,\nwith a malicious grin, \"that I shall be very happy with what you\ndespise.\" \"Hold, hold, sir!\" cried Jenkinson; \"there are two words to\nthat bargain. As for that lady's fortune, sir, you shall never touch a\nsingle stiver of it. Pray, your honour,\" continued he to Sir William,\n\"can the squire have this lady's fortune if he be married to another?\"\n\"How can you make such a simple demand?\" replied the baronet:\n\"undoubtedly he cannot.\" \"I am sorry for that,\" cried Jenkinson; \"for as\nthis gentleman and I have been old fellow-sporters, I have a friendship\nfor him. But I must declare, well as I love him, that his contract is\nnot worth a tobacco-stopper, for he is married already.\" \"You lie, like\na rascal!\" returned the squire, who seemed roused by this insult; \"I\nnever was legally married to any woman.\" \"Indeed, begging your honour's\npardon,\" replied the other, \"you were; and I hope you will show a proper\nreturn of friendship to your own honest Jenkinson, who brings you a\nwife; and if the company restrain their curiosity a few minutes, they\nshall see her.\" So saying, he went off with his usual celerity, and left\nus all unable to form any probable conjecture as to his design. \"Aye,\nlet him go,\" cried the squire: \"whatever else I may have done, I defy\nhim there. I am too old now to be frightened with squibs.\"\n[Illustration:\n  \"_So saying, he put the license into the\n  baronet's hands, who read it, and found it\n  perfect in every respect._\"\u2014_p._ 166.\n\"I am surprised,\" said the baronet, \"what the fellow can intend by this.\nSome low piece of humour, I suppose.\" \"Perhaps, sir,\" replied I, \"he may\nhave a more serious meaning. For when we reflect on the various schemes\nthis gentleman has laid to seduce innocence, perhaps some one, more\nartful than the rest, has been found able to deceive him. When we\nconsider what numbers he has ruined, how many parents now feel with\nanguish the infamy and the contamination which he has brought into their\nfamilies, it would not surprise me if some one of them\u2014Amazement! Do I\nsee my lost daughter? Do I hold her? It is, it is\u2014my life, my happiness!\nI thought thee lost, my Olivia, yet still I hold thee, and still thou\nshalt live to bless me.\" The warmest transports of the fondest lover\nwere not greater than mine, when I saw him introduce my child, and held\nmy daughter in my arms, whose silence only spoke her raptures. \"And art\nthou returned to me, my darling,\" cried I, \"to be my comfort in age?\"\n\"That she is,\" cried Jenkinson; \"and make much of her, for she is your\nown honourable child, and as honest a woman as any in the whole room,\nlet the other be who she will. And as for you, squire, as sure as you\nstand there, this young lady is your lawful wedded wife: and to convince\nyou that I speak nothing but the truth, here is the license by which you\nwere married together.\" So saying, he put the license into the baronet's\nhands, who read it, and found it perfect in every respect. \"And now,\ngentlemen,\" continued he, \"I find you are surprised at all this; but a\nvery few words will explain the difficulty. That there squire of renown,\nfor whom I have a great friendship (but that's between ourselves) has\noften employed me in doing odd little things for him. Among the rest he\ncommissioned me to procure him a false license, and a false priest, in\norder to deceive this young lady. But as I was very much his friend,\nwhat did I do, but went and got a true license and a true priest, and\nmarried them both as fast as the cloth could make them. Perhaps you'll\nthink it was generosity made me do all this. But no. To my shame I\nconfess it, my only design was to keep the license, and let the squire\nknow that I could prove it upon him whenever I thought proper, and so\nmake him come down whenever I wanted money.\" A burst of pleasure now\nseemed to fill the whole apartment; our joy even reached the\ncommon-room, where the prisoners themselves sympathised,\n                         And shook their chains\n                     In transport and rude harmony.\nHappiness was expanded upon every face, and even Olivia's cheeks seemed\nflushed with pleasure. To be thus restored to reputation, to friends,\nand fortune at once, was a rapture sufficient to stop the progress of\ndecay, and restore former health and vivacity. But, perhaps, among all,\nthere was not one who felt sincerer pleasure than I. Still holding the\ndear-loved child in my arms, I asked my heart if these transports were\nnot delusion. \"How could you,\" cried I, turning to Jenkinson, \"how could\nyou add to my miseries by the story of her death? But it matters not: my\npleasure at finding her again is more than a recompense for the pain.\"\n\"As to your question,\" replied Jenkinson, \"that is easily answered. I\nthought the only probable means of freeing you from prison, was by\nsubmitting to the squire, and consenting to his marriage with the other\nyoung lady. But these you had vowed never to grant while your daughter\nwas living; there was, therefore, no other method to bring things to\nbear, but by persuading you that she was dead. I prevailed on your wife\nto join in the deceit, and we have not had a fit opportunity of\nundeceiving you till now.\"\nIn the whole assembly there now appeared only two faces that did not\nglow with transport. Mr. Thornhill's assurance had entirely forsaken\nhim; he now saw the gulf of infamy and want before him, and trembled to\ntake the plunge. He therefore fell on his knees before his uncle, and in\na voice of piercing misery implored compassion. Sir William was going to\nspurn him away, but at my request he raised him, and after pausing a few\nmoments, \"Thy vices, crimes, and ingratitude,\" cried he, \"deserve no\ntenderness; yet thou shalt not be entirely forsaken; a bare competence\nshall be supplied to support the wants of life, but not its follies.\nThis young lady, thy wife, shall be put in possession of a third part of\nthat fortune which once was thine; and from her tenderness alone thou\nart to expect any extraordinary supplies for the future.\" He was going\nto express his gratitude for such kindness in a set speech; but the\nbaronet prevented him, by bidding him not aggravate his meanness, which\nwas already but too apparent. He ordered him at the same time to be\ngone, and from all his former domestics to choose one, and such as he\nshould think proper, which was all that should be granted to attend him.\nAs soon as he left us, Sir William very politely stepped up to his new\nniece with a smile, and wished her joy. His example was followed by Miss\nWilmot and her father; my wife too kissed her daughter with much\naffection, as, to use her own expression, she was now made an honest\nwoman of. Sophia and Moses followed in turn, and even our benefactor\nJenkinson desired to be admitted to that honour. Our satisfaction seemed\nscarcely capable of increase. Sir William, whose greatest pleasure was\nin doing good, now looked round with a countenance open as the sun, and\nsaw nothing but joy in the looks of all except that of my daughter\nSophia, who, for some reasons we could not comprehend, did not seem\nperfectly satisfied. \"I think now,\" cried he, with a smile, \"that all\nthe company, except one or two, seem perfectly happy. There only remains\nan act of justice for me to do. You are sensible, sir,\" continued he,\nturning to me, \"of the obligations we both owe to Mr. Jenkinson; and it\nis but just we should both reward him for it. Miss Sophia will, I am\nsure, make him very happy, and he shall have five hundred pounds as her\nfortune; and upon this, I am sure, they can live very comfortably\ntogether. Come, Miss Sophia, what say you to this match of my making?\nwill you have him?\" My poor girl seemed almost sinking into her mother's\narms at the hideous proposal. \"Have him, sir!\" cried she, faintly; \"no,\nsir, never!\" \"What!\" cried he again, \"not Mr. Jenkinson, your\nbenefactor; a handsome young fellow, with five-hundred pounds and good\nexpectations?\" \"I beg, sir,\" returned she, scarcely able to speak, \"that\nyou'll desist, and not make me so very wretched.\" \"Was ever such\nobstinacy known?\" cried he again, \"to refuse the man whom the family has\nsuch infinite obligations to\u2014who has preserved your sister, and who has\nfive hundred pounds? What! not have him!\" \"No, sir, never,\" replied she,\nangrily; \"I'd sooner die first!\" \"If that be the case, then,\" cried he,\n\"if you will not have him\u2014I think I must have you myself.\" And so\nsaying, he caught her to his breast with ardour. \"My loveliest, my most\nsensible of girls,\" cried he, \"how could you ever think your own\nBurchell could deceive you, or that Sir William Thornhill could ever\ncease to admire a mistress that loved him for himself alone? I have for\nsome years sought for a woman, who, a stranger to my fortune, could\nthink I had merit as a man. After having tried in vain, even among the\npert and ugly, how great at last must be my rapture, to have made a\nconquest over such sense and such heavenly beauty!\" Then turning to\nJenkinson, \"As I cannot, sir, part with this young lady myself, for she\nhas taken a fancy to the cut of my face, all the recompense I can make\nis, to give you her fortune, and you may call upon my steward to-morrow\nfor five hundred pounds.\" Thus we had all our compliments to repeat, and\nLady Thornhill underwent the same round of ceremony that her sister had\ndone before. In the meantime Sir William's gentleman appeared to tell us\nthat the equipages were ready to carry us to the inn, where everything\nwas prepared for our reception. My wife and I led the van, and left\nthose gloomy mansions of sorrow. The generous baronet ordered forty\npounds to be distributed among the prisoners, and Mr. Wilmot, induced by\nhis example, gave half that sum. We were received below by the shouts of\nthe villagers, and I saw and shook by the hand two or three of my honest\nparishioners, who were among the number. They attended us to our inn,\nwhere a sumptuous entertainment was provided, and coarser provisions\nwere distributed in great quantities among the populace.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_Will you have him?_\"\u2014_p._ 168.\nAfter supper, as my spirits were exhausted by the alternation of\npleasure and pain which they had sustained during the day, I asked\npermission to withdraw; and leaving the company in the midst of their\nmirth, as soon as I found myself alone, I poured out my heart in\ngratitude to the Giver of joy as well as sorrow, and then slept\nundisturbed till morning.\nThe next morning, as soon as I awaked, I found my eldest son sitting by\nmy bedside, who came to increase my joy with another turn of fortune in\nmy favour. First having released me from the settlement that I had made\nthe day before in his favour, he let me know that my merchant, who had\nfailed in town, was arrested at Antwerp, and there had given up effects\nto a much greater amount than what was due to his creditors. My boy's\ngenerosity pleased me almost as much as this unlooked-for good fortune.\nBut I had some doubts whether I ought in justice to accept his offer.\nWhile I was pondering upon this, Sir William entered the room, to whom I\ncommunicated my doubts. His opinion was, that as my son was already\npossessed of a very affluent fortune by his marriage, I might accept his\noffer without hesitation. His business, however, was to inform me that,\nas he had the night before sent for the licenses, and expected them\nevery hour, he hoped that I would not refuse my assistance in making all\nthe company happy that morning. A footman entered while we were\nspeaking, to tell us that the messenger was returned; and as I was by\nthis time ready, I went down, where I found the whole company as merry\nas affluence and innocence could make them. However, as they were now\npreparing for a very solemn ceremony, their laughter entirely displeased\nme. I told them of the grave, becoming, and sublime deportment they\nshould assume upon this mystical occasion, and read them two homilies\nand a thesis of my own composing, in order to prepare them. Yet they\nstill seemed perfectly refractory and ungovernable. Even as we were\ngoing along to church, to which I led the way, all gravity had quite\nforsaken them, and I was often tempted to turn back in indignation. In\nchurch a new dilemma arose, which promised no easy solution. This was,\nwhich couple should be married first: my son's bride warmly insisted\nthat Lady Thornhill (that was to be) should take the lead; but this the\nother refused with equal ardour, protesting she would not be guilty of\nsuch rudeness for the world. The argument was supported for some time\nbetween both with equal obstinacy and good breeding. But as I stood all\nthis time with my book ready, I was at last quite tired of the contest,\nand shutting it, \"I perceive,\" cried I, \"that none of you have a mind to\nbe married, and I think we had as good go back again; for I suppose\nthere will be no business done here to-day.\" This is once reduced them\nto reason. The baronet and his lady were first married, and then my son\nand his lovely partner.\nI had previously that morning given orders that a coach should be sent\nfor my honest neighbour Flamborough and his family, by which means, upon\nour return to the inn, we had the pleasure of finding the two Miss\nFlamboroughs alighted before us. Mr. Jenkinson gave his hand to the\neldest, and my son Moses led up the other; and I have since found that\nhe has taken a real liking to the girl, and my consent and bounty he\nshall have, whenever he thinks proper to demand them. We were no sooner\nreturned to the inn, but numbers of my parishioners, hearing of my\nsuccess, came to congratulate me; but among the rest were those who rose\nto rescue me, and whom I formerly rebuked with such sharpness. I told\nthe story to Sir William, my son-in-law, who went out and reproved them\nwith great severity; but, finding them quite disheartened by his harsh\nreproof, he gave them half-a-guinea a-piece to drink his health and\nraise their dejected spirits.\nSoon after this we were called to a very genteel entertainment, which\nwas dressed by Mr. Thornhill's cook. And it may not be improper to\nobserve, with respect to that gentleman, that he now resides in quality\nof companion at a relation's house, being very well liked, and seldom\nsitting at the side-table, except when there is no room at the other,\nfor they make no stranger of him. His time is pretty much taken up in\nkeeping his relation, who is a little melancholy, in spirits, and in\nlearning to blow the French horn. My eldest daughter, however, still\nremembers him with regret; and she has even told me, though I make a\ngreat secret of it, that when he reforms she may be brought to relent.\nBut to return, for I am not apt to digress thus: when we were to sit\ndown to dinner our ceremonies were going to be renewed. The question\nwas, whether my eldest daughter, as being a matron, should not sit above\nthe two young brides; but the debate was cut short by my son George, who\nproposed that the company should sit indiscriminately, every gentleman\nby his lady. This was received with great approbation by all, excepting\nmy wife, who, I could perceive, was not perfectly satisfied, as she\nexpected to have had the pleasure of sitting at the head of the table,\nand carving all the meat for all the company. But, notwithstanding this,\nit is impossible to describe our good-humour. I can't say whether we had\nmore wit among us now than usual, but I am certain we had more laughing,\nwhich answered the end as well. One jest I particularly remember: old\nMr. Wilmot drinking to Moses, whose head was turned another way, my son\nreplied, \"Madam, I thank you;\" upon which the old gentleman, winking\nupon the rest of the company, observed that he was thinking of his\nmistress. At which jest I thought the two Miss Flamboroughs would have\ndied with laughing. As soon as dinner was over, according to my old\ncustom, I requested that the table might be taken away, to have the\npleasure of seeing all my family assembled once more by a cheerful\nfireside. My two little ones sat upon each knee, the rest of the company\nby their partners. I had nothing now on this side of the grave to wish\nfor\u2014all my cares were over: my pleasure was unspeakable. It now only\nremained that my gratitude in good fortune should exceed my former\nsubmission in adversity.\n THE TRAVELLER; OR, A PROSPECT OF SOCIETY.\n THE DESERTED VILLAGE.\n THE HAUNCH OF VENISON. A POETICAL EPISTLE TO LORD CLARE.\n THE CAPTIVITY. AN ORATORIO.\n RETALIATION. \u2014\u2014 POSTSCRIPT.\n THE HERMIT. A BALLAD.\n THE DOUBLE TRANSFORMATION. A TALE.\n THE GIFT: TO IRIS, IN BOW STREET, COVENT GARDEN.\n THE LOGICIANS REFUTED. IMITATION OF DEAN SWIFT.\n ON A BEAUTIFUL YOUTH STRUCK BLIND BY LIGHTNING.\n A NEW SIMILE, IN THE MANNER OF SWIFT.\n AN ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF A MAD DOG.\n THE CLOWN'S REPLY.\n STANZAS ON WOMAN.\n DESCRIPTION OF AN AUTHOR'S BED-CHAMBER.\n SONG, INTENDED TO HAVE BEEN SUNG IN THE COMEDY OF \"SHE STOOPS TO\n    CONQUER.\"\n STANZAS ON THE TAKING OF QUEBEC.\n EPITAPH ON DR. PARNELL.\n EPITAPH ON EDWARD PURDON.\n AN ELEGY ON MRS. MARY BLAIZE.\n STANZAS.\n SONGS.\n A PROLOGUE BY THE POET LABERIUS, WHOM C\u00c6SAR FORCED UPON THE STAGE.\n PROLOGUE TO \"ZOBEIDE,\" A TRAGEDY.\n EPILOGUE, SPOKEN BY MR. LEE LEWIS.\n EPILOGUE TO THE COMEDY OF \"THE SISTERS.\"\n THRENODIA AUGUSTALIS, SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE\n PRINCESS OF WALES.\n EPILOGUE TO THE \"GOOD-NATURED MAN.\"\n EPILOGUE TO \"SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER.\"\n AN EPILOGUE, INTENDED FOR MRS. BULKLEY.\n EPILOGUE TO \"SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER:\" INTENDED TO BE SPOKEN BY MRS.\n    BULKLEY\n AND MISS CATLEY.\n THE GOOD-NATURED MAN.\n SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER.\n                       OR, A PROSPECT OF SOCIETY.\n                      TO THE REV. HENRY GOLDSMITH\nDEAR SIR,\nI am sensible that the friendship between us can acquire no new force\nfrom the ceremonies of a dedication; and perhaps it demands an excuse\nthus to prefix your name to my attempts, which you decline giving with\nyour own. But as a part of this poem was formerly written to you from\nSwitzerland, the whole can now, with propriety, be only inscribed to\nyou. It will also throw a light upon many parts of it, when the reader\nunderstands that it is addressed to a man who, despising fame and\nfortune, has retired early to happiness and obscurity, with an income of\nforty pounds a-year.\nI now perceive, my dear brother, the wisdom of your humble choice. You\nhave entered upon a sacred office, where the harvest is great, and the\nlabourers are but few; while you have left the field of ambition, where\nthe labourers are many, and the harvest not worth carrying away. But of\nall kinds of ambition\u2014what from the refinement of the times, from\ndifferent systems of criticism, and from the divisions of party\u2014that\nwhich pursues poetical fame is the wildest.\nPoetry makes a principal amusement among unpolished nations; but in a\ncountry verging to the extremes of refinement, painting and music come\nin for a share. As these offer the feeble mind a less laborious\nentertainment, they at first rival poetry, and at length supplant her:\nthey engross all that favour once shown to her, and, though but younger\nsisters, seize upon the elder's birthright.\nYet, however this art may be neglected by the powerful, it is still in\ngreater danger from the mistaken efforts of the learned to improve it.\nWhat criticisms have we not heard of late in favour of blank verse and\nPindaric odes, choruses, anapests and iambics, alliterative care and\nhappy negligence! Every absurdity has now a champion to defend it; and\nas he is generally much in the wrong, so he has always much to say; for\nerror is ever talkative.\nBut there is an enemy to this art still more dangerous,\u2014I mean Party.\nParty entirely distorts the judgment and destroys the taste. When the\nmind is once infected with this disease, it can only find pleasure in\nwhat contributes to increase the distemper. Like the tiger, that seldom\ndesists from pursuing man after having once preyed upon human flesh, the\nreader who has once gratified his appetite with calumny, makes, ever\nafter, the most agreeable feast upon murdered reputation. Such readers\ngenerally admire some half-witted thing, who wants to be thought a bold\nman, having lost the character of a wise one. Him they dignify with the\nname of poet: his tawdry lampoons are called satires; his turbulence is\nsaid to be force, and his frenzy fire.\nWhat reception a poem may find which has neither abuse, party, nor blank\nverse to support it, I cannot tell, nor am I solicitous to know. My aims\nare right. Without espousing the cause of any party, I have endeavoured\nto moderate the rage of all. I have attempted to show, that there may be\nequal happiness in states that are differently governed from our own;\nthat every state has a particular principle of happiness, and that this\nprinciple in each may be carried to a mischievous excess. There are few\ncan judge better than yourself how far these positions are illustrated\nin this poem.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_Remote, unfriended, melancholy, slow, Or\n  by the lazy Scheld, or wandering Po._\"\u2014_p._ 176.\n                       OR, A PROSPECT OF SOCIETY.\n Remote, unfriended, melancholy, slow,\n Or by the lazy Scheld, or wandering Po;\n Or onward, where the rude Carinthian boor\n Against the houseless stranger shuts the door;\n Or where Campania's plain forsaken lies,\n A weary waste expanding to the skies;\n Where'er I roam, whatever realms to see,\n My heart untravell'd fondly turns to thee:\n Still to my Brother turns, with ceaseless pain,\n And drags at each remove a lengthening chain.\n   Eternal blessings crown my earliest friend,\n And round his dwelling guardian saints attend!\n Blest be that spot, where cheerful guests retire\n To pause from toil, and trim their evening fire;\n Blest that abode, where want and pain repair,\n And every stranger finds a ready chair;\n[Illustration:\n  \"_Or sigh with pity at some mournful tale._\"\u2014_p._ 177.\n Blest be those feasts, with simple plenty crown'd,\n Where all the ruddy family around\n Laugh at the jests or pranks that never fail,\n Or sigh with pity at some mournful tale;\n Or press the bashful stranger to his food,\n And learn the luxury of doing good.\n   But me, not destined such delights to share,\n My prime of life in wandering spent and care;\n Impell'd, with steps unceasing, to pursue\n Some fleeting good, that mocks me with the view;\n That, like the circle bounding earth and skies,\n Allures from far, yet, as I follow, flies;\n My fortune leads to traverse realms alone,\n And find no spot of all the world my own.\n   Even now, where Alpine solitudes ascend,\n I sit me down a pensive hour to spend;\n And, placed on high above the storm's career,\n Look downward where a hundred realms appear;\n Lakes, forests, cities, plains extending wide,\n The pomp of kings, the shepherd's humbler pride.\n   When thus Creation's charms around combine,\n Amidst the store should thankless pride repine?\n Say, should the philosophic mind disdain\n That good which makes each humbler bosom vain?\n Let school-taught pride dissemble all it can,\n These little things are great to little man;\n And wiser he, whose sympathetic mind\n Exults in all the good of all mankind.\n Ye glittering towns, with wealth and splendour crown'd;\n Ye fields, where summer spreads profusion round;\n Ye lakes, whose vessels catch the busy gale;\n Ye bending swains, that dress the flowery vale;\n For me your tributary stores combine:\n Creation's heir, the world, the world is mine!\n   As some lone miser, visiting his store,\n Bends at his treasure, counts, recounts it o'er;\n Hoards after hoards his rising raptures fill,\n Yet still he sighs, for hoards are wanting still:\n Thus to my breast alternate passions rise,\n Pleased with each good that Heaven to man supplies;\n Yet oft a sigh prevails, and sorrows fall,\n To see the hoard of human bliss so small;\n And oft I wish, amidst the scene to find\n Some spot to real happiness consign'd,\n Where my worn soul, each wandering hope at rest,\n May gather bliss to see my fellows blest.\n   But where to find that happiest spot below,\n Who can direct, when all pretend to know?\n The shuddering tenant of the frigid zone\n Boldly proclaims that happiest spot his own;\n Extols the treasures of his stormy seas,\n And his long nights of revelry and ease:\n The naked negro, panting at the line,\n Boasts of his golden sands and palmy wine,\n Basks in the glare, or stems the tepid wave,\n And thanks his gods for all the good they gave.\n Such is the patriot's boast where'er we roam,\n His first, best country, ever is at home.\n And yet, perhaps, if countries we compare,\n And estimate the blessings which they share,\n Though patriots flatter, still shall wisdom find\n An equal portion dealt to all mankind;\n As different good, by art or nature given\n To different nations, makes their blessings even.\n   Nature, a mother kind alike to all,\n Still grants her bliss at labour's earnest call!\n With food as well the peasant is supplied\n On Idra's cliffs as Arno's shelvy side;\n And though the rocky-crested summits frown,\n These rocks, by custom, turn to beds of down.\n From art more various are the blessings sent,\n Wealth, commerce, honour, liberty, content;\n Yet these each other's power so strong contest,\n That either seems destructive of the rest.\n Where wealth and freedom reign contentment fails,\n And honour sinks where commerce long prevails.\n Hence every state, to one loved blessing prone,\n Conforms and models life to that alone;\n Each to the fav'rite happiness attends,\n And spurns the plan that aims at other ends;\n Till, carried to excess in each domain,\n This fav'rite good begets peculiar pain.\n   But let us try these truths with closer eyes,\n And trace them through the prospect as it lies:\n Here for a while, my proper cares resign'd,\n Here let me sit in sorrow for mankind;\n Like yon neglected shrub, at random cast,\n That shades the steep, and sighs at every blast.\n   Far to the right, where Appenine ascends,\n Bright as the summer, Italy extends;\n Its uplands sloping deck the mountain's side,\n Woods over woods in gay theatric pride;\n While oft some temple's mouldering tops between\n With venerable grandeur mark the scene.\n   Could Nature's bounty satisfy the breast,\n The sons of Italy were surely blest.\n Whatever fruits in different climes are found,\n That proudly rise, or humbly court the ground;\n Whatever blooms in torrid tracts appear,\n Whose bright succession decks the varied year;\n Whatever sweets salute the northern sky\n With vernal lives, that blossom but to die;\n These, here disporting, own the kindred soil,\n Nor ask luxuriance from the planter's toil;\n While sea-born gales their gelid wings expand\n To winnow fragrance round the smiling land.\n   But small the bliss that sense alone bestows,\n And sensual bliss is all the nation knows.\n In florid beauty groves and fields appear,\u2014\n Man seems the only growth that dwindles here.\n Contrasted faults through all his manners reign;\n Though poor, luxurious; though submissive, vain;\n Though grave, yet trifling; zealous, yet untrue;\n And even in penance planning sins anew.\n All evils here contaminate the mind,\n That opulence departed leaves behind;\n For wealth was theirs, not far removed the date,\n When commerce proudly flourish'd through the state;\n At her command the palace learned to rise,\n Again the long-fallen column sought the skies;\n The canvas glow'd beyond e'en nature warm;\n The pregnant quarry teem'd with human form;\n Till, more unsteady than the southern gale,\n Commerce on other shores display'd her sail;\n While nought remained of all that riches gave,\n But towns unmann'd, and lords without a slave:\n And late the nation found, with fruitless skill,\n Its former strength was but plethoric ill.\n   Yet still the loss of wealth is here supplied\n By arts, the splendid wrecks of former pride:\n From these the feeble heart and long-fallen mind\n An easy compensation seem to find.\n Here may be seen, in bloodless pomp array'd,\n The pasteboard triumph and the cavalcade;\n Processions form'd for piety and love,\u2014\n A mistress or a saint in every grove.\n By sports like these are all their cares beguiled,\u2014\n The sports of children satisfy the child;\n Each nobler aim, repress'd by long control,\n Now sinks at last, or feebly mans the soul;\n While low delights, succeeding fast behind,\n In happier meanness occupy the mind.\n As in those domes where C\u00e6sars once bore sway,\n Defaced by time and tottering in decay,\n There in the ruin, heedless of the dead,\n The shelter-seeking peasant builds his shed:\n And, wondering man could want the larger pile,\n Exults, and owns his cottage with a smile.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_Here may be seen, in bloodless pomp array'd,\n  The pasteboard triumph and the cavalcade._\"\u2014_p._ 180.\n   My soul, turn from them; turn we to survey\n Where rougher climes a nobler race display,\n Where the bleak Swiss their stormy mansion tread,\n And force a churlish soil for scanty bread:\n No product here the barren hills afford,\n But man and steel, the soldier and his sword;\n No vernal blooms their torpid rocks array,\n But winter lingering chills the lap of May;\n No zephyr fondly sues the mountain's breast,\n But meteors glare, and stormy glooms invest.\n   Yet still, even here, content can spread a charm,\n Redress the clime, and all its rage disarm.\n Though poor the peasant's hut, his feast though small,\n He sees his little lot the lot of all;\n Sees no contiguous palace rear its head,\n To shame the meanness of his humble shed;\n No costly lord the sumptuous banquet deal,\n To make him loathe his vegetable meal;\n But calm, and bred in ignorance and toil,\n Each wish contracting, fits him to the soil.\n Cheerful, at morn, he wakes from short repose,\n Breathes the keen air, and carols as he goes;\n With patient angle trolls the finny deep,\n Or drives his venturous ploughshare to the steep;\n Or seeks the den where snow-tracks mark the way,\n And drags the struggling savage into day.\n At night returning, every labour sped.\n He sits him down the monarch of a shed;\n Smiles by his cheerful fire, and round surveys\n His children's looks, that brighten at the blaze;\n While his loved partner, boastful of her hoard,\n Displays her cleanly platter on the board:\n And haply too some pilgrim, thither led,\n With many a tale repays the nightly bed.\n   Thus every good his native wilds impart\n Imprints the patriot passion on his heart;\n And e'en those ills that round his mansion rise,\n Enhance the bliss his scanty fund supplies.\n Dear is that shed to which his soul conforms,\n And dear that hill which lifts him to the storms;\n And as a child, when scaring sounds molest,\n Clings close and closer to the mother's breast,\n So the loud torrent, and the whirlwind's roar,\n But bind him to his native mountains more.\n   Such are the charms to barren states assign'd;\n Their wants but few, their wishes all confined.\n Yet let them only share the praises due;\n If few their wants, their pleasures are but few:\n For every want that stimulates the breast\n Becomes a source of pleasure when redrest;\n Whence from such lands each pleasing science flies\n That first excites desire, and then supplies;\n Unknown to them, when sensual pleasures cloy,\n To fill the languid pause with finer joy;\n Unknown those powers that raise the soul to flame,\n Catch every nerve, and vibrate through the frame;\n Their level life is but a smouldering fire,\n Unquench'd by want, unfann'd by strong desire;\n Unfit, for raptures, or, if raptures cheer\n On some high festival of once a year,\n In wild excess the vulgar breast takes fire,\n Till, buried in debauch, the bliss expire.\n   But not their joys alone thus coarsely flow;\n Their morals, like their pleasures, are but low:\n For, as refinement stops, from sire to son\n Unalter'd, unimproved the manners run;\n And love's and friendship's finely-pointed dart\n Fall blunted from each indurated heart.\n Some sterner virtues o'er the mountain's breast\n May sit, like falcons cowering on the nest;\n But all the gentler morals, such as play\n Through life's more cultured walks, and charm the way,\n These, far dispersed, on timorous pinions fly,\n To sport and flutter in a kinder sky.\n   To kinder skies, where gentler manners reign,\n I turn; and France displays her bright domain.\n Gay, sprightly land of mirth and social ease,\n Pleased with thyself, whom all the world can please!\n How often have I led thy sportive choir,\n With tuneless pipe, beside the murmuring Loire;\n Where shading elms along the margin grew,\n And, freshen'd from the wave, the zephyr flew;\n And haply, though my harsh touch, faltering still,\n But mock'd all tune and marr'd the dancer's skill,\n Yet would the village praise my wondrous power,\n And dance, forgetful of the noontide hour.\n Alike all ages. Dames of ancient days\n Have led their children through the mirthful maze,\n And the gay grandsire, skill'd in gestic lore,\n Has frisk'd beneath the burden of threescore.\n   So blest a life these thoughtless realms display,\n Thus idly busy rolls their world away:\n Theirs are those arts that mind to mind endear,\n For honour forms the social temper here.\n Honour, that praise which real merit gains,\n Or e'en imaginary worth obtains,\n Here passes current; paid from hand to hand,\n It shifts in splendid traffic round the land;\n From courts to camps, to cottages it strays,\n And all are taught an avarice of praise:\n They please, are pleased; they give to get esteem,\n Till, seeming blest, they grow to what they seem.\n   But while this softer art their bliss supplies,\n It gives their follies also room to rise;\n For praise too dearly loved, or warmly sought,\n Enfeebles all internal strength of thought:\n And the weak soul, within itself unblest,\n Leans for all pleasure on another's breast.\n Hence ostentation here, with tawdry art,\n Pants for the vulgar praise which fools impart;\n Here vanity assumes her pert grimace,\n And trims her robes of frieze with copper lace;\n Here beggar pride defrauds her daily cheer,\n To boast one splendid banquet once a year:\n The mind still turns where shifting fashion draws,\n Nor weighs the solid worth of self-applause.\n   To men of other minds my fancy flies,\n Embosom'd in the deep where Holland lies;\n Methinks her patient sons before me stand,\n Where the broad ocean leans against the land,\n And, sedulous to stop the coming tide,\n Lift the tall rampire's artificial pride.\n Onward, methinks, and diligently slow,\n The firm-connected bulwark seems to grow,\n Spreads its long arms amidst the watery roar,\n Scoops out an empire, and usurps the shore,\n While the pent ocean, rising o'er the pile,\n Sees an amphibious world beneath him smile;\n The slow canal, the yellow-blossom'd vale,\n The willow-tufted bank, the gliding sail,\n The crowded mart, the cultivated plain,\u2014\n A new creation rescued from his reign.\n   Thus, while around the wave-subjected soil\n Impels the native to repeated toil,\n Industrious habits in each bosom reign,\n And industry begets a love of gain.\n Hence all the good from opulence that springs,\n With all those ills superfluous treasure brings,\n Are here display'd. Their much-loved wealth imparts\n Convenience, plenty, elegance, and arts:\n But view them closer, craft and fraud appear,\n Even liberty itself is barter'd here:\n At gold's superior charms all freedom flies,\n The needy sell it, and the rich man buys;\n A land of tyrants, and a den of slaves,\n Here wretches seek dishonourable graves,\n And calmly bent, to servitude conform,\n Dull as their lakes that slumber in the storm.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_Here vanity assumes her pert grimace,\n  And trims her robes of frieze with copper lace._\"\u2014_p._ 184.\n Heavens! how unlike their Belgic sires of old!\n Rough, poor, content, ungovernably bold;\n War in each breast, and freedom on each brow;\u2014\n How much unlike the sons of Britain now!\n   Fired at the sound, my genius spreads her wing,\n And flies where Britain courts the western spring;\n Where lawns extend that scorn Arcadian pride,\n And brighter streams than famed Hydaspes glide;\n There all around the gentlest breezes stray,\n There gentle music melts on every spray;\n Creation's mildest charms are there combined,\n Extremes are only in the master's mind!\n Stern o'er each bosom reason holds her state,\n With daring aims irregularly great;\n Pride in their port, defiance in their eye,\n I see the lords of human kind pass by;\n Intent on high designs, a thoughtful band,\n By forms unfashion'd, fresh from Nature's hand,\n Fierce in their native hardiness of soul,\n True to imagined right, above control,\n While e'en the peasant boasts these rights to scan,\n And learns to venerate himself as man.\n   Thine, Freedom, thine the blessings pictured here,\n Thine are those charms that dazzle and endear;\n Too blest, indeed, were such without alloy,\n But, foster'd e'en by Freedom, ills annoy:\n That independence Britons prize too high\n Keeps man from man, and breaks the social tie;\n The self-dependent lordlings stand alone,\n All claims that bind and sweeten life unknown;\n Here by the bonds of nature feebly held,\n Minds combat minds, repelling and repell'd:\n Ferments arise, imprison'd factions roar,\n Repress'd ambition struggles round her shore,\n Till, overwrought, the general system feels\n Its motion stop, or frenzy fire the wheels.\n   Nor this the worst. As Nature's ties decay,\n As duty, love, and honour fail to sway,\n Fictitious bonds, the bonds of wealth and law,\n Still gather strength and force unwilling awe.\n Hence all obedience bows to these alone,\n And talent sinks, and merit weeps unknown:\n Till time may come, when, stript of all her charms,\n The land of scholars, and the nurse of arms,\n Where noble stems transmit the patriot flame,\n Where kings have toil'd, and poets wrote far fame,\n One sink of level avarice shall lie,\n And scholars, soldiers, kings, unhonour'd die.\n   Yet think not, thus when Freedom's ills I state,\n I mean to flatter kings or court the great:\n Ye powers of truth that bid my soul aspire,\n Far from my bosom drive the low desire;\n And thou, fair Freedom, taught alike to feel\n The rabble's rage, and tyrant's angry steel;\n Thou transitory flower, alike undone\n By proud contempt, or favour's fostering sun,\n Still may thy blooms the changeful clime endure,\n I only would repress them to secure:\n For just experience tells, in every soil,\n That those that think must govern those that toil;\n And all that Freedom's highest aims can reach,\n Is but to lay proportion'd loads on each.\n Hence, should one order disproportion'd grow,\n Its double weight must ruin all below.\n   Oh, then, how blind to all that truth requires,\n Who think it freedom when a part aspires!\n Calm is my soul, nor apt to rise in arms,\n Except when fast-approaching danger warms:\n But when contending chiefs blockade the throne,\n Contracting regal power to stretch their own;\n When I behold a factious band agree\n To call it freedom when themselves are free;\n Each wanton judge new penal statutes draw,\n Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law;\n The wealth of climes where savage nations roam\n Pillaged from slaves, to purchase slaves at home;\n Fear, pity, justice, indignation start,\n Tear off reserve, and bare my swelling heart;\n Till half a patriot, half a coward grown,\n I fly from petty tyrants to the throne.\n   Yes, Brother, curse with me that baleful hour,\n When first ambition struck at regal power;\n And, thus polluting honour in its source,\n Gave wealth to sway the mind with double force.\n Have we not seen, round Britain's peopled shore,\n Her useful sons exchanged for useless ore?\n Seen all her triumphs but destruction haste,\n Like flaring tapers brightening as they waste?\n Seen opulence, her grandeur to maintain,\n Lead stern depopulation in her train,\n And over fields where scatter'd hamlets rose,\n In barren solitary pomp repose?\n Have we not seen at pleasure's lordly call\n The smiling long-frequented village fall?\n Beheld the duteous son, the sire decay'd,\n The modest matron, and the blushing maid,\n Forced from their homes, a melancholy train,\n To traverse climes beyond the western main;\n Where wild Oswego spreads her swamps around,\n And Niagara stuns with thundering sound?\n   E'en now, perhaps, as there some pilgrim strays\n Through tangled forests and through dangerous ways;\n Where beasts with man divided empire claim,\n And the brown Indian marks with murderous aim;\n There, while above the giddy tempest flies,\n And all around distressful yells arise,\n The pensive exile, bending with his woe,\n To stop too fearful, and too faint to go,\n Casts a long look where England's glories shine,\n And bids his bosom sympathise with mine.\n   Vain, very vain, my weary search to find\n That bliss which only centres in the mind:\n Why have I stray'd from pleasure and repose,\n To seek a good each government bestows?\n In every government, though terrors reign,\n Though tyrant kings or tyrant laws restrain,\n How small, of all that human hearts endure,\n That part which laws or kings can cause or cure!\n Still to ourselves in every place consign'd,\n Our own felicity we make or find:\n With secret course, which no loud storms annoy,\n Glides the smooth current of domestic joy.\n The lifted axe, the agonising wheel,\n Luke's iron crown, and Damiens' bed of steel,\n To men remote from power but rarely known,\n Leave reason, faith, and conscience, all our own.\n                        TO SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS.\nDEAR SIR,\nI can have no expectations, in an address of this kind, either to add to\nyour reputation or to establish my own. You can gain nothing from my\nadmiration, as I am ignorant of that art in which you are said to excel;\nand I may lose much by the severity of your judgment, as few have a\njuster taste in poetry than you. Setting interest therefore aside, to\nwhich I never paid much attention, I must be indulged at present in\nfollowing my affections. The only dedication I ever made was to my\nbrother, because I loved him better than most other men. He is since\ndead. Permit me to inscribe this poem to you.\nHow far you may be pleased with the versification and mere mechanical\nparts of this attempt, I do not pretend to inquire; but I know you will\nobject (and indeed several of our best and wisest friends concur in the\nopinion), that the depopulation it deplores is nowhere to be seen, and\nthe disorders it laments are only to be found in the poet's own\nimagination. To this I can scarcely make any other answer than that I\nsincerely believe what I have written; that I have taken all possible\npains in my country excursions, for these four or five years past, to be\ncertain of what I allege; and that all my views and inquiries have led\nme to believe those miseries real which I here attempt to display. But\nthis is not the place to enter into an inquiry, whether the country be\ndepopulating or not; the discussion would take up much room, and I\nshould prove myself, at best, an indifferent politician, to tire the\nreader with a long preface, when I want his unfatigued attention to a\nlong poem.\nIn regretting the depopulation of the country, I inveigh against the\nincrease of our luxuries; and here also I expect the shout of modern\npoliticians against me. For twenty or thirty years past, it has been the\nfashion to consider luxury as one of the greatest national advantages,\nand all the wisdom of antiquity, in that particular, as erroneous.\nStill, however, I must remain a professed ancient on that head, and\ncontinue to think those luxuries prejudicial to states by which so many\nvices are introduced, and so many kingdoms have been undone. Indeed, so\nmuch has been poured out of late on the other side of the question,\nthat, merely for the sake of novelty and variety, one would sometimes\nwish to be in the right.\n                                 Your sincere friend and ardent admirer,\n[Illustration:\n  \"_The bashful virgin's sidelong looks of love,\n  The matron's glance that would those looks reprove._\"\u2014_p._ 191.\n Sweet Auburn! loveliest village of the plain,\n Where health and plenty cheer'd the labouring swain,\n Where smiling spring its earliest visit paid,\n And parting summer's lingering blooms delay'd:\n Dear lovely bowers of innocence and ease,\n Seats of my youth, when every sport could please,\n How often have I loiter'd o'er thy green,\n Where humble happiness endear'd each scene!\n How often have I paused on every charm,\u2014\n The shelter'd cot, the cultivated farm,\n The never-failing brook, the busy mill,\n The decent church that topp'd the neighbouring hill,\n The hawthorn bush, with seats beneath the shade,\n For talking age and whispering lovers made!\n How often have I bless'd the coming day,\n When toil remitting lent its turn to play,\n And all the village train, from labour free,\n Led up their sports beneath the spreading tree;\n While many a pastime circled in the shade,\n The young contending as the old survey'd;\n And many a gambol frolick'd o'er the ground,\n And sleights of art and feats of strength went round;\n And still as each repeated pleasure tired,\n Succeeding sports the mirthful band inspired:\n The dancing pair that simply sought renown,\n By holding out to tire each other down;\n The swain, mistrustless of his smutted face,\n While secret laughter titter'd round the place;\n The bashful virgin's sidelong looks of love,\n The matron's glance that would those looks reprove.\n These were thy charms, sweet village! sports like these,\n With sweet succession, taught e'en toil to please;\n These round thy bowers their cheerful influence shed,\n These were thy charms\u2014but all these charms are fled.\n   Sweet smiling village, loveliest of the lawn,\n Thy sports are fled, and all thy charms withdrawn;\n Amidst thy bowers the tyrant's hand is seen,\n And desolation saddens all thy green:\n One only master grasps the whole domain,\n And half a tillage stints thy smiling plain;\n No more thy glassy brook reflects the day,\n But, choked with sedges, works its weedy way;\n Along thy glades a solitary guest,\n The hollow-sounding bittern guards its nest;\n Amidst thy desert walks the lapwing flies,\n And tires their echoes with unvaried cries.\n Sunk are thy bowers in shapeless ruin all,\n And the long grass o'ertops the mouldering wall;\n And, trembling, shrinking from the spoiler's hand,\n Far, far away, thy children leave the land.\n   Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey,\n Where wealth accumulates, and men decay:\n Princes and lords may flourish, or may fade\u2014\n A breath can make them, as a breath has made\u2014\n But a bold peasantry, their country's pride,\n When once destroy'd, can never be supplied.\n   A time there was, ere England's griefs began,\n When every rood of ground maintain'd its man:\n For him light labour spread her wholesome store,\n Just gave what life required, but gave no more:\n His best companions, innocence and health,\n And his best riches, ignorance of wealth.\n   But times are alter'd; trade's unfeeling train\n Usurp the land, and dispossess the swain:\n Along the lawn where scatter'd hamlets rose,\n Unwieldy wealth and cumbrous pomp repose;\n And every want to luxury allied,\n And every pang that folly pays to pride.\n Those gentle hours that plenty bade to bloom,\n Those calm desires that ask'd but little room,\n Those healthful sports that graced the peaceful scene,\n Lived in each look, and brighten'd all the green,\n These, far departing, seek a kinder shore,\n And rural mirth and manners are no more.\n   Sweet Auburn! parent of the blissful hour,\n Thy glades forlorn confess the tyrant's power.\n Here, as I take my solitary rounds\n Amidst thy tangling walks and ruin'd grounds,\n And, many a year elapsed, return to view\n Where once the cottage stood, the hawthorn grew,\n Remembrance wakes, with all her busy train,\n Swells at my breast, and turns the past to pain.\n   In all my wanderings round this world of care,\n In all my griefs\u2014and God has given my share\u2014\n I still had hopes my latest hours to crown,\n Amidst these humble bowers to lay me down;\n To husband out life's taper at the close,\n And keep the flame from wasting by repose:\n I still had hopes,\u2014for pride attends us still,\u2014\n Amidst the swains to show my book-learn'd skill;\n Around my fire an evening group to draw,\n And tell of all I felt, and all I saw;\n And, as a hare whom hounds and horns pursue,\n Pants to the place from whence at first he flew,\n I still had hopes, my long vexations past,\n Here to return\u2014and die at home at last.\n   O blest retirement, friend to life's decline,\n Retreats from care, that never must be mine,\n How blest is he who crowns, in shades like these,\n A youth of labour with an age of ease;\n Who quits a world where strong temptations try,\n And, since 'tis hard to combat, learns to fly!\n For him no wretches, born to work and weep,\n Explore the mine, or tempt the dangerous deep;\n Nor surly porter stands in guilty state\n To spurn imploring famine from the gate:\n But on he moves to meet his latter end,\n Angels around befriending virtue's friend;\n[Illustration:\n  \"_The swain responsive as the milk-maid sung._\"\u2014_p._ 193.\n Sinks to the grave with unperceived decay,\n While resignation gently slopes the way;\n And, all his prospects brightening to the last,\n His heaven commences ere the world be past.\n   Sweet was the sound, when oft, at evening's close,\n Up yonder hill the village murmur rose;\n There, as I pass'd with careless steps and slow,\n The mingling notes came soften'd from below:\n The swain responsive as the milk-maid sung,\n The sober herd that low'd to meet their young;\n The noisy geese that gabbled o'er the pool,\n The playful children just let loose from school;\n The watch-dog's voice, that bay'd the whispering wind,\n And the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind;\n These all in sweet confusion sought the shade,\n And fill'd each pause the nightingale had made.\n But now the sounds of population fail,\n No cheerful murmurs fluctuate in the gale;\n No busy steps the grass-grown footway tread,\n But all the bloomy flush of life is fled:\n All but yon widow'd, solitary thing,\n That feebly bends beside the plashy spring;\n She, wretched matron! forced in age, for bread,\n To strip the brook with mantling cresses spread,\n To pick her wintry faggot from the thorn,\n To seek her nightly shed, and weep till morn;\n She only left of all the harmless train,\n The said historian of the pensive plain.\n   Near yonder copse, where once the garden smiled,\n And still where many a garden flower grows wild,\n There, where a few torn shrubs the place disclose,\n The village preacher's modest mansion rose.\n A man he was to all the country dear,\n And passing rich with forty pounds a year;\n Remote from towns he ran his godly race,\n Nor e'er had changed, nor wished to change, his place;\n Unskilful he to fawn, or seek for power\n By doctrines fashion'd to the varying hour;\n Far other aims his heart had learnt to prize,\n More bent to raise the wretched than to rise.\n His house was known to all the vagrant train;\n He chid their wanderings, but relieved their pain:\n The long-remember'd beggar was his guest,\n Whose beard descending swept his aged breast;\n The ruin'd spendthrift, now no longer proud,\n Claim'd kindred there, and had his claims allow'd;\n The broken soldier, kindly bade to stay,\n Sat by his fire, and talk'd the night away;\n Wept o'er his wounds, or, tales of sorrow done,\n Shoulder'd his crutch, and show'd how fields were won.\n Pleased with his guests, the good man learn'd to glow,\n And quite forgot their vices in their woe;\n Careless their merits or their faults to scan,\n His pity gave ere charity began.\n   Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride,\n And e'en his failings lean'd to virtue's side;\n But in his duty prompt at every call,\n He watch'd and wept, he pray'd and felt for all;\n And, as a bird each fond endearment tries\n To tempt its new-fledged offspring to the skies,\n He tried each art, reproved each dull delay,\n Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way.\n   Beside the bed where parting life was laid,\n And sorrow, guilt, and pain, by turns dismay'd,\n The reverend champion stood. At his control\n Despair and anguish fled the struggling soul;\n Comfort came down the trembling wretch to raise,\n And his last faltering accents whisper'd praise.\n   At church, with meek and unaffected grace,\n His looks adorn'd the venerable place;\n Truth from his lips prevail'd with double sway,\n And fools, who came to scoff, remain'd to pray.\n The service past, around the pious man,\n With steady zeal, each honest rustic ran;\n E'en children follow'd with endearing wile,\n And pluck'd his gown, to share the good man's smile.\n His ready smile a parent's warmth express'd,\n Their welfare pleased him, and their cares distress'd;\n To them his heart, his love, his griefs were given,\n But all his serious thoughts had rest in heaven.\n As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form,\n Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm,\n Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread,\n Eternal sunshine settles on its head.\n   Beside yon straggling fence, that skirts the way\n With blossom'd furze unprofitably gay,\n There, in his noisy mansion, skill'd to rule,\n The village master taught his little school:\n A man severe he was, and stern to view,\u2014\n I knew him well, and every truant knew;\n Well had the boding tremblers learn'd to trace\n The day's disasters in his morning face;\n Full well they laugh'd with counterfeited glee\n At all his jokes, for many a joke had he;\n Full well the busy whisper circling round,\n Convey'd the dismal tidings when he frown'd:\n Yet he was kind, or, if severe in aught,\n The love he bore to learning was in fault.\n The village all declared how much he knew,\n 'Twas certain he could write, and cipher too;\n Lands he could measure, terms and tides presage,\n And e'en the story ran\u2014that he could gauge:\n In arguing, too, the parson own'd his skill,\n For e'en though vanquish'd, he could argue still;\n While words of learned length and thundering sound\n Amazed the gazing rustics ranged around;\n And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew\n That one small head could carry all he knew.\n But past is all his fame. The very spot\n Where many a time he triumph'd is forgot.\n   Near yonder thorn, that lifts its head on high,\n Where once the sign-post caught the passing eye,\n Low lies that house where nut-brown draughts inspired,\n Where grey-beard mirth, and smiling toil retired,\n Where village statesmen talk'd with looks profound,\n And news much older than their ale went round.\n Imagination fondly stoops to trace\n The parlour splendours of that festive place:\n The white-wash'd wall, the nicely sanded floor;\n The varnish'd clock that click'd behind the door;\n The chest contrived a double debt to pay,\n A bed by night, a chest of drawers by day;\n The pictures placed for ornament and use;\n The Twelve Good Rules, the royal game of goose;\n The hearth, except when winter chill'd the day,\n With aspen boughs, and flowers, and fennel gay;\n While broken tea-cups, wisely kept for show,\n Ranged o'er the chimney, glisten'd in a row.\n Vain transitory splendours! could not all\n Reprieve the tottering mansion from its fall?\n Obscure it sinks, nor shall it more impart\n An hour's importance to the poor man's heart;\n Thither no more the peasant shall repair,\n To sweet oblivion of his daily care;\n No more the farmer's news, the barber's tale,\n No more the woodman's ballad shall prevail;\n No more the smith his dusky brow shall clear,\n Relax his ponderous strength, and learn to hear:\n The host himself no longer shall be found\n Careful to see the mantling bliss go round;\n Nor the coy maid, half willing to be press'd,\n Shall kiss the cup to pass it to the rest.\n   Yes! let the rich deride, the proud disdain,\n These simple blessings of the lowly train;\n To me more dear, congenial to my heart,\n One native charm, than all the gloss of art.\n Spontaneous joys, where nature has its play,\n The soul adopts, and owns their first-born sway;\n Lightly they frolic o'er the vacant mind,\n Unenvied, unmolested, unconfined.\n But the long pomp, the midnight masquerade,\n With all the freaks of wanton wealth array'd,\n In these, ere triflers half their wish obtain,\n The toiling pleasure sickens into pain;\n[Illustration:\n  \"_But in his duty prompt at every call._\"\u2014_p._ 194.\n And e'en while fashion's brightest arts decoy,\n The heart, distrusting, asks if this be joy?\n   Ye friends to truth, ye statesmen who survey\n The rich man's joys increase, the poor's decay,\n 'Tis yours to judge, how wide the limits stand\n Between a splendid and a happy land.\n Proud swells the tide with loads of freighted ore,\n And shouting folly hails them from the shore;\n Hoards e'en beyond the misers wish abound,\n And rich men flock from all the world around.\n Yet count our gains. This wealth is but a name,\n That leaves our useful products still the same.\n Not so the loss. The man of wealth and pride\n Takes up a space that many poor supplied;\n Space for his lake, his park's extended bounds,\n Space for his horses, equipage, and hounds;\n The robe that wraps his limbs in silken sloth\n Has robb'd the neighbouring fields of half their growth;\n His seat, where solitary sports are seen,\n Indignant spurns the cottage from the green;\n Around the world each needful product flies,\n For all the luxuries the world supplies.\n While thus the land, adorn'd for pleasure all,\n In barren splendour feebly waits the fall.\n   As some fair female, unadorn'd and plain,\n Secure to please while youth confirms her reign,\n Slights every borrow'd charm that dress supplies,\n Nor shares with art the triumph of her eyes;\n But when those charms are past\u2014for charms are frail\u2014\n When time advances, and when lovers fail,\n She then shines forth, solicitous to bless,\n In all the glaring impotence of dress.\n Thus fares the land by luxury betray'd:\n In nature's simplest charms at first array'd,\n But, verging to decline, its splendours rise,\n Its vistas strike, its palaces surprise;\n While, scourged by famine from the smiling land\n The mournful peasant leads his humble band;\n And while he sinks, without one arm to save,\n The country blooms\u2014a garden, and a grave.\n   Where then, ah! where shall poverty reside,\n To 'scape the pressure of contiguous pride?\n If to some common's fenceless limits stray'd,\n He drives his flock to pick the scanty blade,\n Those fenceless fields the sons of wealth divide,\n And e'en the bare-worn common is denied.\n   If to the city sped\u2014what waits him there?\n To see profusion that he must not share;\n To see ten thousand baneful arts combined\n To pamper luxury, and thin mankind;\n To see each joy the sons of pleasure know,\n Extorted from his fellow-creature's woe,\n Here, while the courtier glitters in brocade,\n There the pale artist plies the sickly trade;\n Here, while the proud their long-drawn pomps display,\n There the black gibbet glooms beside the way.\n The dome where pleasure holds her midnight reign,\n Here, richly deck'd, admits the gorgeous train:\n Tumultuous grandeur crowds the blazing square,\n The rattling chariots clash, the torches glare.\n Sure scenes like these no troubles e'er annoy!\n Sure these denote one universal joy!\n Are these thy serious thoughts? Ah! turn thine eyes\n Where the poor houseless shivering female lies.\n She once, perhaps, in village plenty blest,\n Has wept at tales of innocence distrest;\n Her modest looks the cottage might adorn,\n Sweet as the primrose peeps beneath the thorn;\n Now lost to all, her friends, her virtue fled,\n Near her betrayer's door she lays her head,\n And pinch'd with cold, and shrinking from the shower,\n With heavy heart deplores that luckless hour\n When idly first, ambitious of the town,\n She left her wheel and robes of country brown.\n   Do thine, sweet Auburn, thine, the loveliest train,\n Do thy fair tribes participate her pain?\n E'en now, perhaps, by cold and hunger led,\n At proud men's doors they ask a little bread!\n Ah! no. To distant climes, a dreary scene,\n Where half the convex world intrudes between,\n Through torrid tracts with fainting steps they go,\n Where wild Altama murmurs to their woe.\n Far different there from all that charm'd before,\n The various terrors of that horrid shore;\n Those blazing suns that dart a downward ray,\n And fiercely shed intolerable day;\n Those matted woods where birds forget to sing,\n But silent bats in drowsy clusters cling;\n Those poisonous fields, with rank luxuriance crown'd,\n Where the dark scorpion gathers death around;\n Where at each step the stranger fears to wake\n The rattling terrors of the vengeful snake;\n Where crouching tigers wait their hapless prey,\n And savage men, more murderous still than they;\n While oft in whirls the mad tornado flies,\n Mingling the ravaged landscape with the skies.\n Far different these from every former scene,\u2014\n The cooling brook, the grassy-vested green,\n The breezy covert of the warbling grove,\n That only shelter'd thefts of harmless love.\n   Good Heaven! what sorrows gloom'd that parting day,\n That call'd them from their native walks away:\n When the poor exiles, every pleasure past,\n Hung round the bowers, and fondly look'd their last,\n And took a long farewell, and wish'd in vain\n For seats like these beyond the western main;\n And, shuddering still to face the distant deep,\n Return'd and wept, and still return'd to weep.\n The good old sire the first prepared to go\n To new-found worlds, and wept for others' woe;\n But for himself, in conscious virtue brave,\n He only wish'd for worlds beyond the grave.\n His lovely daughter, lovelier in her tears,\n The fond companion of his helpless years,\n Silent went next, neglectful of her charms,\n And left a lover's for a father's arms.\n With louder plaints the mother spoke her woes,\n And blessed the cot where every pleasure rose;\n And kiss'd her thoughtless babes with many a tear,\n And clasp'd them close, in sorrow doubly dear;\n Whilst her fond husband strove to lend relief,\n In all the silent manliness of grief.\n   O luxury! thou curst by Heaven's decree,\n How ill exchanged are things like these for thee!\n How do thy potions, with insidious joy,\n Diffuse their pleasures only to destroy!\n Kingdoms by thee, to sickly greatness grown,\n Boast of a florid vigour not their own:\n At every draught more large and large they grow,\n A bloated mass of rank unwieldy woe;\n Till sapp'd their strength, and every part unsound,\n Down, down they sink, and spread a ruin round.\n   E'en now the devastation is begun,\n And half the business of destruction done;\n E'en now, methinks, as pondering here I stand,\n I see the rural virtues leave the land.\n Down where yon anchoring vessel spreads the sail,\n That idly waiting flaps with every gale,\n Downward they move, a melancholy band,\n Pass from the shore, and darken all the strand.\n Contented toil, and hospitable care,\n And kind connubial tenderness, are there;\n[Illustration:\n  \"_Near her betrayer's door she lays her head._\"\u2014_p._ 199.\n And piety with wishes placed above,\n And steady loyalty, and faithful love.\n And thou, sweet Poetry! thou loveliest maid,\n Still first to fly where sensual joys invade;\n Unfit, in these degenerate times of shame,\n To catch the heart, or strike for honest fame;\n Dear charming nymph, neglected and decried,\n My shame in crowds, my solitary pride;\n Thou source of all my bliss and all my woe,\n That found'st me poor at first, and keep'st me so;\n Thou guide, by which the nobler arts excel,\n Thou nurse of every virtue, fare thee well!\n Farewell; and oh! where'er thy voice be tried,\n On Torno's cliffs or Pambamarca's side,\n Whether where equinoctial fervours glow,\n Or winter wraps the polar world in snow,\n Still let thy voice, prevailing over time,\n Redress the rigours of the inclement clime;\n Aid slighted truth with thy persuasive strain;\n Teach erring man to spurn the rage of gain;\n Teach him that states, of native strength possess'd,\n Though very poor, may still be very blest;\n That trade's proud empire hastes to swift decay,\n As ocean sweeps the labour'd mole away;\n While self-dependent power can time defy,\n As rocks resist the billows and the sky.\n                   A POETICAL EPISTLE TO LORD CLARE.\n Thanks, my Lord, for your Ven'son; for finer or fatter,\n Ne'er ranged in a forest or smoked in a platter.\n The haunch was a picture for painters to study,\n The fat was so white, and the lean was so ruddy;\n Though my stomach was sharp, I could scarce help regretting\n To spoil such a delicate picture by eating:\n I had thoughts in my chamber to place it in view,\n To be shown to my friends as a piece of virt\u00f9;\n As in some Irish houses, where things are so-so,\n One gammon of bacon hangs up for a show;\n But, for eating a rasher of what they take pride in,\n They'd as soon think of eating the pan it is fried in.\n But hold\u2014let me pause\u2014Don't I hear you pronounce\n This tale of the bacon's a damnable bounce?\n Well! suppose it a bounce\u2014sure a poet may try,\n By a bounce now and then, to get courage to fly.\n But, my lord, it's no bounce: I protest in my turn,\n It's a truth\u2014and your lordship may ask Mr. Burn.[2]\n   To go on with my tale\u2014as I gazed on the Haunch,\n I thought of a friend that was trusty and staunch;\n So I cut it, and sent it to Reynolds undrest,\n To paint it, or eat it, just as he liked best.\n Of the neck and the breast I had next to dispose\u2014\n 'Twas a neck and a breast that might rival Monroe's:\n But in parting with these I was puzzled again,\n With the how, and the who, and the where, and the when.\n There's H\u2014d, and C\u2014y, and H\u2014rth, and H\u2014ff,\n I think they love ven'son\u2014I know they love beef;\n There's my countryman, Higgins\u2014Oh! let him alone\n For making a blunder, or picking a bone.\n But, hang it! to poets, who seldom can eat,\n Your very good mutton's a very good treat;\n Such dainties to them their health it might hurt;\n It's like sending them ruffles when wanting a shirt.\n While thus I debated, in reverie centred,\n An acquaintance\u2014a friend as he call'd himself\u2014enter'd:\n An under-bred, fine-spoken fellow was he;\n And he smiled as he look'd at the Ven'son and me.\n \"What have we got here?\u2014Why, this is good eating!\n Your own, I suppose\u2014or is it in waiting?\"\n \"Why, whose should it be?\" cried I, with a flounce;\n \"I get these things often\"\u2014but that was a bounce:\n \"Some lords, my acquaintance, that settle the nation,\n Are pleased to be kind\u2014but I hate ostentation.\"\n \"If that be the case then,\" cried he, very gay,\n \"I'm glad I have taken this house in my way.\n To-morrow you take a poor dinner with me;\n No words\u2014I insist on't\u2014precisely at three:\n We'll have Johnson and Burke; all the wits will be there;\n My acquaintance is slight or I'd ask my Lord Clare.\n And, now that I think on't, as I am a sinner!\n We wanted this Ven'son to make out a dinner.\n What say you\u2014a pasty?\u2014it shall, and it must,\n And my wife, little Kitty, is famous for crust.\n Here, porter!\u2014this Ven'son with me to Mile-end;\n No stirring, I beg,\u2014my dear friend\u2014my dear friend!\"\n Thus, snatching his hat, he brush'd off like the wind,\n And the porter and eatables follow'd behind.\nFootnote 2:\n  Lord Clare's nephew.\n   Left alone to reflect, having emptied my shelf,\n And \"nobody with me at sea but myself,\"[3]\n Though I could not help thinking my gentleman hasty,\n Yet Johnson, and Burke, and a good ven'son pasty,\n Were things that I never disliked in my life,\n Though clogg'd with a coxcomb, and Kitty his wife.\n So next day, in due splendour to make my approach,\n I drove to his door in my own hackney-coach.\n   When come to the place where we all were to dine,\n (A chair-lumber'd closet, just twelve feet by nine,)\n My friend bade me welcome, but struck me quite dumb\n With tidings that Johnson and Burke would not come.\n \"For I knew it,\" he cried; \"both eternally fail,\n The one with his speeches, and t'other with Thrale.\n But no matter, I'll warrant we'll make up the party\n With two full as clever, and ten times as hearty.\n The one is a Scotchman, the other a Jew;\n They're both of them merry, and authors like you.\n The one writes the 'Snarler,' the other the 'Scourge:'\n Some think he writes 'Cinna'\u2014he owns to 'Panurge.'\"\n While thus he described them by trade and by name,\n They entered, and dinner was served as they came.\n   At the top a fried liver and bacon were seen,\n At the bottom was tripe in a swingeing tureen;\n At the sides there was spinach and pudding made hot;\n In the middle a place where the Pasty\u2014was not.\n Now, my Lord, as for tripe, it's my utter aversion,\n And your bacon I hate like a Turk or a Persian;\n So there I sat stuck like a horse in a pound,\n While the bacon and liver went merrily round:\n But what vexed me most was that d\u2014\u2014d Scottish rogue,\n With his long-winded speeches, his smiles, and his brogue;\n And, \"Madam,\" quoth he, \"may this bit be my poison,\n A prettier dinner I never set eyes on!\n Pray, a slice of your liver, though, may I be curst,\n But I've eat of your tripe till I'm ready to burst.\"\n \"The tripe!\" quoth the Jew, with his chocolate cheek,\n \"I could dine on this tripe seven days in a week;\n I like these here dinners, so pretty and small:\n But your friend there, the Doctor, eats nothing at all.\"\n \"Oho!\" quoth my friend, \"he'll come on in a trice:\n He's keeping a corner for something that's nice;\n There's a Pasty\"\u2014\"A Pasty!\" repeated the Jew,\n \"I don't care if I keep a corner for't too.\"\nFootnote 3:\n   See the letters that passed between his Royal Highness Henry Duke of\n   Cumberland, and Lady Grosvenor. 12mo., 1769.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_I had thoughts in my chamber to place it in view._\"\u2014_p._ 202.\n \"What the de'il, mon, a Pasty!\" re-echoed the Scot,\n \"Though splitting, I'll still keep a corner for that.\"\n \"We'll all keep a corner,\" the lady cried out;\n \"We'll all keep a corner,\" was echoed about.\n While thus we resolved, and the Pasty delay'd,\n With looks that quite petrified enter'd the maid;\n A visage so sad and so pale with affright\n Waked Priam in drawing his curtains by night.\n But we quickly found out\u2014for who could mistake her?\u2014\n That she came with some terrible news from the baker:\n And so it fell out; for that negligent sloven\n Had shut out the Pasty on shutting his oven!\n Sad Philomel thus\u2014but let similes drop\u2014\n And, now that I think on't, the story may stop.\n   To be plain, my good Lord, it's but labour misplaced\n To send such good verses to one of your taste:\n You've got an odd something\u2014a kind of discerning\u2014\n A relish\u2014a taste\u2014sicken'd over by learning;\n At least, it's your temper, as very well known,\n That you think very slightly of all that's your own:\n So, perhaps, in your habits of thinking amiss,\n You may make a mistake, and think slightly of this.\n             O Memory! thou fond deceiver,\n               Still importunate and vain,\n             To former joys recurring ever,\n               And turning all the past to pain:\n             Thou, like the world, the oppress'd oppressing,\n               Thy smiles increase the wretch's woe;\n             And he who wants each other blessing,\n               In thee must ever find a foe.\n FIRST JEWISH PROPHET.\n SECOND JEWISH PROPHET.\n ISRAELITISH WOMAN.\n FIRST CHALDEAN PRIEST.\n SECOND CHALDEAN PRIEST.\n CHALDEAN WOMAN.\n                      CHORUS OF YOUTHS AND VIRGINS.\n SCENE\u2014_The Banks of the River Euphrates, near Babylon._\n ISRAELITES _sitting on the banks of the Euphrates_.\n              Ye captive tribes, that hourly work and weep\n              Where flows Euphrates murmuring to the deep,\n              Suspend your woes awhile, the task suspend,\n              And turn to God, your father and your friend:\n              Insulted, chained, and all the world our foe,\n              Our God alone is all we boast below.\n                  Our God is all we boast below,\n                    To him we turn our eyes;\n                  And every added weight of woe\n                    Shall make our homage rise.\n                  And though no temple richly drest,\n                    Nor sacrifice is here;\n                  We'll make his temple in our breast,\n                              _The first stanza repeated by the_ CHORUS.\n ISRAELITISH WOMAN.\n _Recitative._\n That strain once more! it bids remembrance rise,\n And brings my long-lost country to mine eyes.\n Ye fields of Sharon, dress'd in flowery pride;\n Ye plains, where Kedron rolls its glassy tide;\n Ye hills of Lebanon, with cedars crown'd;\n Ye Gilead groves, that fling perfumes around:\n How sweet those groves! those plains how wondrous fair!\n But doubly sweet when Heaven was with us there.\n                O Memory, thou fond deceiver!\n                  Still importunate and vain;\n                To former joys recurring ever,\n                  And turning all the past to pain;\n                Hence, intruder most distressing!\n                  Seek the happy and the free;\n                The wretch who wants each other blessing,\n                  Ever wants a friend in thee.\n                SECOND PROPHET.\n Yet, why complain? What though by bonds confined,\n Should bonds repress the vigour of the mind?\n Have we not cause for triumph, when we see\n Ourselves alone from idol-worship free?\n Are not, this very morn, those feasts begun,\n Where prostrate Error hails the rising sun?\n Do not our tyrant lords this day ordain\n For superstitious rites and mirth profane?\n And should we mourn? Should coward Virtue fly,\n When vaunting Folly lifts her head on high?\n No! rather let us triumph still the more,\n And as our fortune sinks, our spirits soar.\n _Air._\n                  The triumphs that on vice attend\n                  Shall ever in confusion end:\n                  The good man suffers but to gain,\n                  And every virtue springs from pain:\n                  As aromatic plants bestow\n                  No spicy fragrance while they grow;\n                  But crush'd or trodden to the ground,\n                  Diffuse their balmy sweets around.\n But hush, my sons! our tyrant lords are near;\n The sounds of barbarous pleasure strike mine ear;\n Triumphant music floats along the vale;\n Near, nearer still, it gathers on the gale:\n The growing sound their swift approach declares;\u2014\n Desist, my sons, nor mix the strain with theirs.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_Desist, my sons, nor mix the\n  strain with theirs._\"\u2014_p. 209._\n _Enter_ CHALDEAN PRIESTS, _attended_.\n              FIRST PRIEST.\n              Come on, my companions, the triumph display,\n                Let rapture the minutes employ;\n              The sun calls us out on this festival day,\n                And our monarch partakes in the joy.\n SECOND PRIEST.\n          Like the sun, our great monarch all rapture supplies,\n            Both similar blessings bestow:\n          The sun with his splendour illumines the skies,\n            And our monarch enlivens below.\n                A CHALDEAN WOMAN.\n                Haste, ye sprightly sons of pleasure,\n                Love presents the fairest treasure,\n                  Leave all other joys for me.\n                A CHALDEAN ATTENDANT.\n                Or rather, Love's delights despising,\n                Haste to raptures ever rising,\n                  Wine shall bless the brave and free.\n                Wine and beauty thus inviting,\n                Each to different joys exciting,\n                  Whither shall my choice incline?\n                SECOND PRIEST.\n                I'll waste no longer thought in choosing;\n                But neither this nor that refusing,\n                  I'll make them both together mine.\n But whence, when joy should brighten o'er the land,\n This sullen gloom in Judah's captive band?\n Ye sons of Judah, why the lute unstrung?\n Or why those harps on yonder willows hung?\n Come, take the lyre, and pour the strain along,\n The day demands it: sing us Sion's song.\n Dismiss your griefs, and join our warbling choir;\n For who like you can wake the sleeping lyre!\n SECOND PROPHET.\n Chain'd as we are, the scorn of all mankind,\n To want, to toil, and every ill consign'd,\n Is this a time to bid us raise the strain,\n Or mix in rites that Heaven regards with pain?\n No, never! May this hand forget each art\n That wakes to finest joys the human heart,\n Ere I forget the land that gave me birth,\n Or join to sounds profane its sacred mirth!\n FIRST PRIEST.\n Rebellious slaves! if soft persuasions fail,\n More formidable terrors shall prevail.\n FIRST PROPHET.\n Why, let them come! one good remains to cheer\u2014\n We fear the Lord, and scorn all other fear.\n                  _Can chains or tortures bend the mind\n                  On God's supporting breast reclined?\n                  Stand fast, and let our tyrants see\n                  That fortitude is victory._\n                CHORUS OF ISRAELITES.\n                _O peace of mind, angelic guest!\n                Thou soft companion of the breast!\n                  Dispense thy balmy store;\n                Wing all our thoughts to reach the skies,\n                Till earth, receding from our eyes,\n                  Shall vanish as we soar._\n No more! Too long has justice been delay'd;\n The king's commands must fully be obey'd:\n Compliance with his will your peace secures;\n Praise but our gods, and every good is yours.\n But if, rebellious to his high command,\n You spurn the favours offer'd from his hand,\n Think, timely think, what terrors are behind;\n Reflect, nor tempt to rage the royal mind.\n                     Fierce is the whirlwind howling\n                     And fierce the tempest rolling\n                       Along the furrow'd main;\n                       Than angry monarch's raging.\n                     ISRAELITISH WOMAN.\n Ah, me! what angry terrors round us grow;\n How shrinks my soul to meet the threaten'd blow!\n Ye prophets, skill'd in Heaven's eternal truth,\n Forgive my sex's fears, forgive my youth!\n Ah! let us one, one little hour obey;\n To-morrow's tears may wash the stain away.\n                  Fatigued with life, yet loth to part,\n                    On Hope the wretch relies;\n                  And every blow that sinks the heart\n                    Bids the deluder rise.\n                  Hope, like the taper's gleamy light,\n                    Adorns the wretch's way;\n                  And still, as darker grows the night,\n                    Emits a brighter ray.\n Why this delay? At length for joy prepare;\n I read your looks, and see compliance there.\n Come on, and bid the warbling rapture rise:\n Our monarch's fame the noblest theme supplies.\n Begin, ye captive bands, and strike the lyre;\n The time, the theme, the place, and all conspire.\n                  See the ruddy morning smiling,\n                  Hear the grove to bliss beguiling;\n                  Zephyrs through the woodland playing,\n                  Streams along the valley straying.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_The master-prophet grasps his full-toned lyre.\n  Mark where he sits._\"\u2014_p. 214._\n                   While these a constant revel keep,\n                   Shall Reason only teach to weep?\n                   Hence, intruder! we'll pursue\n                   Nature, a better guide than you.\n                   Every moment, as it flows,\n                   Some peculiar pleasure owes;\n                   Then let us, providently wise,\n                   Seize the debtor ere it flies.\n                   Think not to-morrow can repay\n                   The debt of pleasure lost to-day;\n                   Alas! to-morrow's richest store\n                   Can but pay its proper score.\n But, hush! See, foremost of the captive choir,\n The master-prophet grasps his full-toned lyre.\n Mark where he sits, with executing art,\n Feels for each tone, and speeds it to the heart.\n See how prophetic rapture fills his form,\n Awful as clouds that nurse the growing storm;\n And now his voice, accordant to the string,\n Prepares our monarch's victories to sing.\n              FIRST PROPHET.\n              From north, from south, from east, from west,\n                Conspiring nations come;\n              Tremble, thou vice-polluted breast,\n                Blasphemers, all be dumb.\n              The tempest gathers all around,\n                On Babylon it lies;\n              Down with her! down\u2014down to the ground!\n                She sinks, she groans, she dies.\n              SECOND PROPHET.\n              Down with her, Lord, to lick the dust,\n                Ere yonder setting sun;\n              Serve her as she has served the just!\n                'Tis fix'd\u2014it shall be done.\n              FIRST PRIEST.\n No more! When slaves thus insolent presume,\n The king himself shall judge, and fix their doom.\n Unthinking wretches! have not you and all\n Beheld our power in Zedekiah's fall?\n To yonder gloomy dungeon turn your eyes,\n See where dethroned your captive monarch lies;\n Deprived of sight and rankling in his chain,\n See where he mourns his friends and children slain.\n Yet know, ye slaves, that still remain behind\n More ponderous chains, and dungeons more confined.\n                  _Arise, all potent Ruler, rise,\n                    And vindicate thy people's cause:\n                  Till every tongue in every land\n                    Shall offer up unfeigned applause._\n Yes, my companions, Heaven's decrees are passed,\n And our fix'd empire shall for ever last;\n In vain the madd'ning prophet threatens woe,\n In vain Rebellion aims her secret blow;\n Still shall our name and growing power be spread,\n And still our justice crush the traitor's head.\n                        Then shall Babylon fall.\n 'Tis thus that Pride triumphant rears the head;\u2014\n A little while, and all their power is fled.\n But, ah! what means yon sadly plaintive train,\n That this way slowly bend along the plain?\n And now, behold! to yonder bank they bear\n A pallid corse, and rest the body there.\n Alas! too well mine eyes indignant trace\n The last remains of Judah's royal race:\n Fallen is our king, and all our fears are o'er,\n Unhappy Zedekiah is no more!\n                Ye wretches, who by fortune's hate\n                  In want and sorrow groan,\n                Come, ponder his severer fate,\n                  And learn to bless your own.\n                You vain, whom youth and pleasure guide,\n                  Awhile the bliss suspend:\n                Like yours, his life began in pride;\n                  Like his, your lives shall end.\n                SECOND PROPHET.\n Behold his wretched corse with sorrow worn,\n His squalid limbs with ponderous fetters torn;\n Those eyeless orbs that shock with ghastly glare,\n Those unbecoming rags, that matted hair!\n And shall not Heaven for this avenge the foe,\n Grasp the red bolt, and lay the guilty low?\n How long, how long, Almighty God of all,\n Shall wrath vindictive threaten ere it fall?\n              ISRAELITISH WOMAN.\n              As panting flies the hunted hind,\n                Where brooks refreshing stray;\n              And rivers through the valley wind,\n                That stop the hunter's way:\n              Thus we, O Lord, alike distress'd,\n                For streams of mercy long:\n              Those streams which cheer the sore oppress'd,\n                And overwhelm the strong.\n              FIRST PROPHET.\n But whence that shout? Good heavens! amazement all!\n See yonder tower just nodding to the fall:\n Behold, an army covers all the ground!\n 'Tis Cyrus here that pours destruction round!\n The ruin smokes, destruction pours along:\n How low the great, how feeble are the strong!\n And now, behold, the battlements recline\u2014\n O God of hosts, the victory is thine!\n                CHORUS OF CAPTIVES.\n                _Down with them, Lord, to lick the dust!\n                  Thy vengeance be begun:\n                Serve them as they have served the just,\n                  And let thy will be done._\n All, all is lost. The Syrian army fails;\n Cyrus, the conqueror of the world, prevails!\n The ruin smokes, the torrent pours along,\u2014\n How low the proud, how feeble are the strong!\n Save us, O Lord! to thee, though late, we pray,\n And give repentance but an hour's delay.\n                    FIRST AND SECOND PRIESTS.\n                    O happy, who in happy hour\n                      To God their praise bestow,\n                    And own his all-consuming power,\n                      Before they feel the blow.\n Now, now's our time! Ye wretches bold and blind,\n Brave but to God, and cowards to mankind,\n Ye seek in vain the Lord, unsought before:\n Your wealth, your pride, your kingdom are no more!\n                O Lucifer, thou son of morn,\n                Alike of Heaven and man the foe,\u2014\n                  Now press thy fall,\n                And sink thee lowest of the low.\n                FIRST PROPHET.\n                O Babylon, how art thou fallen!\n                Thy fall more dreadful from delay!\n                  Thy streets forlorn\n                  To wilds shall turn,\n                Where toads shall pant and vultures prey.\n                SECOND PROPHET.\n Such be her fate! But hark! how from afar\n The clarion's note proclaims the finish'd war!\n Our great restorer, Cyrus, is at hand,\n And this way leads his formidable band.\n Give, give your songs of Zion to the wind,\n And hail the benefactor of mankind:\n He comes, pursuant to divine decree,\n To chain the strong, and set the captive free.\n             CHORUS OF YOUTHS.\n             _Rise to transports past expressing,\n               Sweeter by remember'd woes;\n             Cyrus comes, our wrongs redressing,\n               Comes to give the world repose._\n             CHORUS OF VIRGINS.\n             _Cyrus comes, the world redressing,\n               Love and pleasure in his train;\n             Comes to heighten every blessing,\n               Comes to soften every pain._\n             SEMI-CHORUS.\n             _Hail to him, with mercy reigning,\n               Skill'd in every peaceful art;\n             Who, from bonds our limbs unchaining,\n               Only binds the willing heart._\n             LAST CHORUS.\n             _But chief to Thee, our God, defender, friend,\n               Let praise be given to all eternity;\n             O Thou, without beginning, without end,\n               Let us, and all, begin and end in Thee._\n         FIRST PRINTED IN MDCCLXXIV., AFTER THE AUTHOR'S DEATH.\n Dr. Goldsmith and some of his friends occasionally dined at the St.\n James's Coffee-house. One day it was proposed to write epitaphs on him.\n His country, dialect, and person furnished subjects of witticism. He\n was called on for retaliation, and at their next meeting produced the\n following poem.\n Of old, when Scarron his companions invited,\n Each guest brought his dish, and the feast was united;\n If our landlord[4] supplies us with beef and with fish,\n Let each guest bring himself, and he brings the best dish.\n Our Dean[5] shall be venison, just fresh from the plains;\n Our Burke[6] shall be tongue, with a garnish of brains;\n Our Will[7] shall be wild-fowl of excellent flavour,\n And Dick[8] with his pepper shall heighten the savour;\n Our Cumberland's[9] sweet-bread its place shall obtain,\n And Douglas[10] is pudding, substantial and plain;\n Our Garrick's[11] a salad; for in him we see\n Oil, vinegar, sugar, and saltness agree:\n To make out the dinner, full certain I am\n That Ridge[12] is anchovy, and Reynolds[13] is lamb;\n That Hickey's[14] a capon, and, by the same rule,\n Magnanimous Goldsmith a gooseberry fool.\n At a dinner so various\u2014at such a repast\n Who'd not be a glutton, and stick to the last?\n Here, waiter, more wine! let me sit while I'm able,\n Till all my companions sink under the table,\n Then, with chaos and blunders encircling my head,\n Let me ponder, and tell what I think of the dead.\nFootnote 4:\n   The master of the St. James's Coffee-house, where the poet, and the\n   friends he has characterised in this poem, occasionally dined.\nFootnote 5:\n   Dr. Barnard, Dean of Derry in Ireland.\nFootnote 6:\n   The Right Hon. Edmund Burke.\nFootnote 7:\n   Mr. William Burke, late secretary to General Conway, member for\n   Bedwin, and afterwards holding office in India.\nFootnote 8:\n   Mr. Richard Burke, collector of Granada; afterwards Recorder of\n   Bristol.\nFootnote 9:\n   Richard Cumberland, Esq., author of the \"West-Indian,\" \"Fashionable\n   Lover,\" \"The Brothers,\" \"Calvary,\" &c., &c.\nFootnote 10:\n   Dr. Douglas, Canon of Windsor (afterwards Bishop of Salisbury), an\n   ingenious Scotch gentleman, who has no less distinguished himself as\n   a citizen of the world, than a sound critic, in detecting several\n   literary mistakes (or rather forgeries) of his countrymen;\n   particularly Lauder on Milton, and Bower's \"History of the Popes.\"\nFootnote 11:\n   David Garrick, Esq.\nFootnote 12:\n   Counsellor John Ridge, a gentleman belonging to the Irish Bar.\nFootnote 13:\n   Sir Joshua Reynolds.\nFootnote 14:\n   An eminent attorney.\n   Here lies the good Dean, reunited to earth,\n Who mix'd reason with pleasure, and wisdom with mirth:\n If he had any faults, he has left us in doubt;\n At least, in six weeks I could not find 'em out;\n Yet some have declared, and it can't be denied 'em,\n That Sly-boots was cursedly cunning to hide 'em.\n Here lies our good Edmund, whose genius was such,\n We scarcely can praise it or blame it too much;\n Who, born for the universe, narrow'd his mind,\n And to party gave up what was meant for mankind.\n Though fraught with all learning, yet straining his throat\n To persuade Tommy Townshend[15] to lend him a vote;\n Who, too deep for his hearers, still went on refining,\n And thought of convincing, while they thought of dining:\n Though equal to all things, for all things unfit,\n Too nice for a statesman, too proud for a wit;\n For a patriot, too cool; for a drudge, disobedient;\n And too fond of the right to pursue the expedient.\n In short, 'twas his fate, unemploy'd or in place, sir,\n To eat mutton cold, and cut blocks with a razor.\n   Here lies honest William, whose heart was a mint,\n While the owner ne'er knew half the good that was in't;\n The pupil of impulse, it forced him along,\n His conduct still right, with his argument wrong;\n Still aiming at honour, yet fearing to roam,\u2014\n The coachman was tipsy, the chariot drove home:\n Would you ask for his merits? alas! he had none:\n What was good was spontaneous, his faults were his own.\n   Here lies honest Richard, whose fate I must sigh at;\n Alas! that such frolic should now be so quiet!\n What spirits were his! what wit and what whim!\n Now breaking a jest, and now breaking a limb![16]\n Now wrangling and grumbling, to keep up the ball!\n Now teasing and vexing, yet laughing at all!\n In short, so provoking a devil was Dick,\n That we wish'd him full ten times a day at Old Nick;\n But missing his mirth and agreeable vein,\n As often we wish'd to have Dick back again.\n   Here Cumberland lies, having acted his parts,\n The Terence of England, the mender of hearts;\n A flattering painter, who made it his care\n To draw men as they ought to be, not as they are.\nFootnote 15:\n   Mr. Thomas Townshend, member for Whitchurch.\nFootnote 16:\n   Mr. Richard Burke. This gentleman having fractured an arm and a leg\n   at different times, the Doctor has rallied him on these accidents, as\n   a kind of retributive justice for breaking his jests upon other\n   people.\n[Illustration:\n  _Dr. Goldsmith and some of his friends at the\n  St. James's Coffee-house._\u2014_p._ 219.\n His gallants are all faultless, his women divine,\n And Comedy wonders at being so fine;\n Like a tragedy queen he has dizen'd her out,\n Or rather like Tragedy giving a rout.\n His fools have their follies so lost in a crowd\n Of virtues and feelings, that Folly grows proud;\n And coxcombs, alike in their failings alone,\n Adopting his portraits, are pleased with their own.\n Say, where has our poet this malady caught,\n Or wherefore his characters thus without fault?\n Say was it, that vainly directing his view\n To find out men's virtues, and finding them few,\n Quite sick of pursuing each troublesome elf,\n He grew lazy at last, and drew from himself?\n   Here Douglas retires from his toils to relax,\n The scourge of impostors, the terror of quacks:\n Come all ye quack bards, and ye quacking divines,\n Come, and dance on the spot where your tyrant reclines:\n When satire and censure encircled his throne,\n I fear'd for your safety, I fear'd for my own:\n But now he is gone, and we want a detector,\n Our Dodds[17] shall be pious, our Kenricks[18] shall lecture;\n Macpherson[19] write bombast, and call it a style;\n Our Townshend make speeches, and I shall compile:\n New Lauders and Bowers the Tweed shall cross over,\n No countryman living their tricks to discover;\n Detection her taper shall quench to a spark,\n And Scotchman meet Scotchman, and cheat in the dark.\n   Here lies David Garrick, describe him who can,\u2014\n An abridgment of all that was pleasant in man;\n As an actor confess'd without rival to shine;\n As a wit, if not first, in the very first line:\n Yet, with talents like these, and an excellent heart,\n The man had his failings,\u2014a dupe to his art.\n Like an ill-judging beauty, his colours he spread,\n And beplaster'd with rouge his own natural red.\n On the stage he was natural, simple, affecting;\n 'Twas only that when he was off he was acting:\n With no reason on earth to go out of his way,\n He turn'd and he varied full ten times a day:\n Though secure of our hearts, yet confoundedly sick\n If they were not his own by finessing and trick:\n He cast off his friends, as a huntsman his pack,\n For he knew when he pleased he could whistle them back.\n Of praise a mere glutton, he swallow'd what came,\n And the puff of a dunce, he mistook it for fame;\nFootnote 17:\n   The Rev. William Dodd.\nFootnote 18:\n   Dr. Kenrick, who read lectures at the Devil Tavern, under the title\n   of \"The School of Shakspeare.\"\nFootnote 19:\n   James Macpherson, Esq., who lately, from the mere force of his style,\n   wrote down the first poet of all antiquity.\n Till his relish grown callous, almost to disease,\n Who pepper'd the highest was surest to please.\n But let us be candid, and speak out our mind,\n If dunces applauded, he paid them in kind.\n Ye Kenricks, ye Kellys,[20] and Woodfalls[21] so grave,\n What a commerce was yours, while you got and you gave!\n How did Grub-street re-echo the shouts that you raised,\n While he was be-Roscius'd, and you were bepraised!\n But peace to his spirit, wherever it flies,\n To act as an angel and mix with the skies:\n Those poets who owe their best fame to his skill\n Shall still be his flatterers, go where he will;\n Old Shakspeare receive him with praise and with love,\n And Beaumonts and Bens be his Kellys above.\n   Here Hickey reclines, a most blunt pleasant creature,\n And slander itself must allow him good-nature;\n He cherish'd his friend, and he relish'd a bumper;\n Yet one fault he had, and that one was a thumper!\n Perhaps you may ask if the man was a miser?\n I answer, No, no, for he always was wiser.\n Too courteous, perhaps, or obligingly flat?\n His very worst foe can't accuse him of that.\n Perhaps he confided in men as they go,\n And so was too foolishly honest? Ah, no!\n Then what was his failing? come, tell it, and burn ye!\n He was\u2014could he help it?\u2014a special attorney.\n   Here Reynolds is laid, and, to tell you my mind,\n He has not left a wiser or better behind;\n His pencil was striking, resistless, and grand;\n His manners were gentle, complying, and bland;\n Still born to improve us in every part,\n His pencil our faces, his manners our heart;\n To coxcombs averse, yet most civilly steering,\n When they judged without skill, he was still hard of hearing:\n When they talk'd of their Raphaels, Correggios, and stuff,\n He shifted his trumpet,[22] and only took snuff.\nFootnote 20:\n   Mr. Hugh Kelly, author of \"False Delicacy,\" \"Word to the Wise,\"\n   \"Clementina,\" \"School for Wives,\" &c., &c.\nFootnote 21:\n   Mr. William Woodfall, printer of the \"Morning Chronicle.\"\nFootnote 22:\n   Sir Joshua Reynolds was so remarkably deaf, as to be under the\n   necessity of using an ear-trumpet in company.\n (After the fourth edition of this poem was printed, the publisher\n received the following epitaph on Mr. Whitefoord,[23] from a friend of\n the late Dr. Goldsmith.)\n Here Whitefoord reclines, and deny it who can,\n Though he merrily lived, he is now a grave[24] man:\n Rare compound of oddity, frolic, and fun;\n Who relish'd a joke, and rejoiced in a pun;\n Whose temper was generous, open, sincere;\n A stranger to flatt'ry, a stranger to fear;\n Who scatter'd around wit and humour at will;\n Whose daily _bons mots_ half a column might fill:\n A Scotchman, from pride and from prejudice free;\n A scholar, yet surely no pedant was he.\n What pity, alas! that so lib'ral a mind\n Should so long be to newspaper essays confined!\n Who perhaps to the summit of science could soar,\n Yet content \"if the table he set in a roar;\"\n Whose talents to fill any station were fit,\n Yet happy if Woodfall[25] confessed him a wit.\n Ye newspaper witlings! ye pert scribbling folks!\n Who copied his squibs and re-echoed his jokes;\n Ye tame imitators, ye servile herd, come,\n Still follow your master, and visit his tomb:\n To deck it, bring with you festoons of the vine,\n And copious libations bestow on his shrine;\n Then strew all around it (you can do no less)\n Cross-readings, Ship-news, and Mistakes of the Press.\n Merry Whitefoord[26], farewell; for thy sake I admit\n That a Scot may have humour: I had almost said wit\u2014\n This debt to thy mem'ry I cannot refuse,\n \"Thou best-humour'd man with the worst-humour'd Muse.\"\nFootnote 23:\n   Mr. Caleb Whitefoord, author of many humorous essays.\nFootnote 24:\n   Mr. Whitefoord was so notorious a punster, that Dr. Goldsmith used to\n   say it was impossible to keep his company without being infected with\n   the itch of punning.\nFootnote 25:\n   Mr. H. S. Woodfall, printer of the \"Public Advertiser.\"\nFootnote 26:\n   Mr. Whitefoord had frequently indulged the town with humorous pieces,\n   under those titles, in the \"Public Advertiser.\"\n[Illustration: A seated woman]\n                     \"AH ME! WHEN SHALL I MARRY ME?\"\n  INTENDED TO HAVE BEEN SUNG IN THE COMEDY OF \"SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER.\"\n          Ah me! when shall I marry me?\n            Lovers are plenty, but fail to relieve me.\n          He, fond youth, that could carry me,\n            Offers to love, but means to deceive me.\n          But I will rally, and combat the ruiner:\n            Not a look, nor a smile shall my passion discover.\n          She that gives all to the false one pursuing her,\n            Makes but a penitent, and loses a lover.\n                \"Turn, gentle hermit of the dale,\n                  And guide my lonely way\n                To where yon taper cheers the vale\n                  With hospitable ray.\n                \"For here forlorn and lost I tread,\n                  With fainting steps and slow;\n                Where wilds immeasurably spread,\n                  Seem lengthening as I go.\"\n                \"Forbear, my son,\" the hermit cries,\n                  \"To tempt the dangerous gloom;\n                For yonder faithless phantom flies\n                  To lure thee to thy doom.\n                \"Here to the houseless child of want\n                  My door is open still;\n                And though my portion is but scant\n                  I give it with good will.\n                \"Then turn to-night, and freely share\n                  Whate'er my cell bestows:\n                My rushy couch and frugal fare,\n                  My blessing, and repose.\n                \"No flocks that range the valley free\n                  To slaughter I condemn;\n                Taught by that Power that pities me,\n                  I learn to pity them.\n                \"But from the mountain's grassy side\n                  A guiltless feast I bring;\n                A scrip with herbs and fruits supplied,\n                  And water from the spring.\n                \"Then, pilgrim, turn, thy cares forego;\n                  All earth-born cares are wrong;\n                Man wants but little here below,\n                  Nor wants that little long.\"\n                Soft as the dew from heaven descends,\n                  His gentle accents fell:\n                The modest stranger lowly bends,\n                  And follows to the cell.\n                Far in a wilderness obscure\n                  The lonely mansion lay;\n                A refuge to the neighbouring poor,\n                  And strangers led astray.\n                No stores beneath its humble thatch\n                  Required a master's care;\n                The wicket, opening with a latch,\n                  Received the harmless pair.\n                And now, when busy crowds retire\n                  To take their evening rest,\n                The hermit trimmed his little fire\n                  And cheered his pensive guest;\n                And spread his vegetable store,\n                  And gaily pressed, and smiled;\n                And skilled in legendary lore\n                  The lingering hours beguiled.\n                Around, in sympathetic mirth,\n                  Its tricks the kitten tries;\n                The cricket chirrups in the hearth,\n                  The crackling faggot flies.\n                But nothing could a charm impart\n                  To soothe the strangers woe;\n                For grief was heavy at his heart,\n                  And tears began to flow.\n                His rising cares the hermit spied,\n                  With answering care opprest:\n                \"And whence, unhappy youth,\" he cried,\n                  \"The sorrows of thy breast?\n                \"From better habitations spurned,\n                  Reluctant dost thou rove?\n                Or grieve for friendship unreturned,\n                  Or unregarded love?\n                \"Alas! the joys that fortune brings\n                  Are trifling and decay;\n                And those who prize the paltry things,\n                  More trifling still than they.\n                \"And what is friendship but a name,\n                  A charm that lulls to sleep,\n                A shade that follows wealth or fame,\n                  But leaves the wretch to weep?\n                \"And love is still an emptier sound,\n                  The modern fair one's jest;\n                On earth unseen, or only found\n                  To warm the turtle's nest.\n                \"For shame, fond youth, thy sorrows hush,\n                  And spurn the sex,\" he said:\n                But while he spoke, a rising blush\n                  His love-lorn guest betrayed.\n                Surprised he sees new beauties rise,\n                  Swift mantling to the view;\n                Like colours o'er the morning skies,\n                  As bright, as transient too.\n                The bashful look, the rising breast,\n                  Alternate spread alarms:\n                The lovely stranger stands confest\n                  A maid in all her charms!\n                And \"Ah, forgive a stranger rude,\n                  A wretch forlorn,\" she cried;\n                \"Whose feet unhallowed thus intrude\n                  Where heaven and you reside.\n                \"But let a maid thy pity share,\n                  Whom love has taught to stray;\n                Who seeks for rest, but finds despair\n                  Companion of her way.\n                \"My father lived beside the Tyne,\n                  A wealthy lord was he:\n                And all his wealth was marked as mine;\n                \"To win me from his tender arms,\n                  Unnumbered suitors came,\n                Who praised me for imputed charms,\n                  And felt or feigned a flame.\n                \"Each hour a mercenary crowd\n                  With richest proffers strove;\n                Among the rest young Edwin bowed,\n                  But never talked of love.\"\n[Illustration: \"_Turn gentle hermit._\"\u2014_p._ 226.]\n                \"In humble, simplest habit clad,\n                  No wealth nor power had he;\n                Wisdom and worth were all he had,\n                  But these were all to me.\n                \"The blossom opening to the day,\n                  The dews of heaven refined,\n                Could nought of purity display\n                  To emulate his mind.\n                \"The dew, the blossom on the tree,\n                  With charms inconstant shine;\n                Their charms were his, but, woe is me!\n                  Their constancy was mine!\n                \"For still I tried each fickle art,\n                  Importunate and vain;\n                And while his passion touched my heart,\n                  I triumphed in his pain.\n                \"Till quite dejected with my scorn,\n                  He left me to my pride;\n                And sought a solitude forlorn,\n                  In secret where he died.\n                \"But mine the sorrow, mine the fault,\n                  And well my life shall pay;\n                I'll seek the solitude he sought,\n                  And stretch me where he lay.\n                \"And there forlorn, despairing, hid,\n                  I'll lay me down and die;\n                'Twas so for me that Edwin did,\n                \"Forbid it, Heaven!\" the hermit cried,\n                  And clasped her to his breast:\n                The wond'ring fair one turned to chide,\u2014\n                  'Twas Edwin's self that prest!\n                \"Turn, Angelina, ever dear,\n                  My charmer, turn to see\n                Thy own, thy long-lost Edwin here,\n                  Restored to love and thee!\n                \"Thus let me hold thee to my heart,\n                  And every care resign:\n                And shall we never, never part,\n                  My life\u2014my all that's mine?\n                \"No, never from this hour to part,\n                  We'll live and love so true;\n                The sigh that rends thy constant heart\n                  Shall break thy Edwin's too.\"\n                       THE DOUBLE TRANSFORMATION.\n               Secluded from domestic strife,\n               Jack Bookworm led a college life;\n               A fellowship at twenty-five\n               Made him the happiest man alive:\n               He drank his glass and crack'd his joke,\n               And freshmen wonder'd as he spoke.\n                 Such pleasures, unalloy'd with care,\n               Could any accident impair?\n               Could Cupid's shaft at length transfix\n               Our swain, arrived at thirty-six?\n               Oh, had the Archer ne'er come down\n               To ravage in a country town!\n               Or Flavia been content to stop\n               At triumphs in a Fleet-street shop!\n               Oh, had her eyes forgot to blaze!\n               Or Jack had wanted eyes to gaze!\n               Oh!\u2014\u2014But let exclamations cease:\n               Her presence banish'd all his peace.\n               So with decorum all things carried,\n               Miss frown'd, and blush'd, and then\u2014was\n                 Need we expose to vulgar sight\n               The raptures of the bridal night?\n               Need we intrude on hallow'd ground,\n               Or draw the curtains closed around?\n               Let it suffice that each had charms;\n               He clasp'd a goddess in his arms;\n               And though she felt his usage rough,\n               Yet in a man 'twas well enough.\n                 The honey-moon like lightning flew;\n               The second brought its transports too;\n               A third, a fourth, were not amiss;\n               The fifth was friendship mix'd with bliss:\n               But, when a twelvemonth pass'd away,\n               Jack found his goddess made of clay;\n               Found half the charms that deck'd her face\n               Arose from powder, shreds, or lace;\n               But still the worst remain'd behind,\u2014\n               That very face had robb'd her mind.\n                 Skill'd in no other arts was she\n               But dressing, patching, repartee;\n               And, just as humour rose or fell,\n               By turns a slattern or a belle.\n               'Tis true she dress'd with modern grace,\u2014\n               Half-naked at a ball or race;\n               But when at home, at board or bed,\n               Five greasy nightcaps wrapp'd her head.\n               Could so much beauty condescend\n               To be a dull domestic friend?\n               Could any curtain lectures bring\n               To decency so fine a thing?\n               In short, by night, 'twas fits or fretting;\n               By day, 'twas gadding or coquetting.\n               Fond to be seen, she kept a bevy\n               Of powder'd coxcombs at her levy;\n               The squire and captain took their stations,\n               And twenty other near relations:\n               Jack suck'd his pipe, and often broke\n               A sigh in suffocating smoke;\n               While all their hours were pass'd between\n               Insulting repartee and spleen.\n                 Thus, as her faults each day were known,\n               He thinks her features coarser grown;\n               He fancies every vice she shows\n               Or thins her lip, or points her nose:\n               Whenever rage or envy rise,\n               How wide her mouth, how wild her eyes!\n               He knows not how, but so it is,\n               Her face is grown a knowing phiz;\n               And, though her fops are wondrous civil,\n               He thinks her ugly as the devil.\n                 Now, to perplex the ravell'd noose,\n               As each a different way pursues,\n               While sullen or loquacious strife\n               Promised to hold them on for life,\n               That dire disease, whose ruthless power\n               Withers the beauty's transient flower,\u2014\n               Lo! the small-pox, with horrid glare,\n               Levell'd its terrors at the fair;\n               And, rifling every youthful grace,\n               Left but the remnant of a face.\n                 The glass, grown hateful to her sight,\n               Reflected now a perfect fright;\n               Each former art she vainly tries\n               To bring back lustre to her eyes;\n               In vain she tries her paste and creams\n               To smooth her skin, or hide its seams;\n               Her country beaux and city cousins,\n               Lovers no more, flew off by dozens;\n               The squire himself was seen to yield,\n               And ev'n the captain quit the field.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_By turns a slattern or a belle._\"\u2014_p._ 232.\n                    Poor madam, now condemn'd to hack\n                  The rest of life with anxious Jack,\n                  Perceiving others fairly flown,\n                  Attempted pleasing him alone.\n                  Jack soon was dazzled to behold\n                  Her present face surpass the old:\n                  With modesty her cheeks are dyed;\n                  Humility displaces pride;\n                  For tawdry finery is seen\n                  A person ever neatly clean;\n                  No more presuming on her sway,\n                  She learns good-nature every day;\n                  Serenely gay, and strict in duty,\n                  Jack finds his wife a perfect beauty.\n                 TO IRIS, IN BOW STREET, COVENT GARDEN.\n                       IMITATED FROM THE FRENCH.\n                Say, cruel Iris, pretty rake,\n                  Dear mercenary beauty,\n                What annual offering shall I make\n                  Expressive of my duty?\n                My heart, a victim to thine eyes,\n                  Should I at once deliver,\n                Say, would the angry fair one prize\n                  The gift, who slights the giver?\n                A bill, a jewel, watch, or toy,\n                  My rivals give\u2014and let 'em;\n                If gems or gold impart a joy,\n                  I'll give them\u2014when I get 'em.\n                I'll give\u2014but not the full-blown rose,\n                  Or rose-bud more in fashion:\n                Such short-lived off'rings but disclose\n                  A transitory passion.\n                I'll give thee something yet unpaid,\n                  Not less sincere than civil,\u2014\n                I'll give thee\u2014ah! too charming maid!\u2014\n                  I'll give thee\u2014to the Devil.\n                         THRENODIA AUGUSTALIS,\n               SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF HER ROYAL HIGHNESS\n                     THE PRINCESS DOWAGER OF WALES.\n(The following may more properly be termed a compilation than a poem. It\nwas prepared for the composer in little more than two days; and may\ntherefore rather be considered as an industrious effort of gratitude\nthan of genius. In justice to the composer it may likewise be right to\ninform the public that the music was composed in a period of time\nequally short.)\n                 OVERTURE.\u2014_A solemn Dirge._\n                 Arise, ye sons of worth, arise,\n                   And waken every note of woe!\n                 When truth and virtue reach the skies,\n                   'Tis ours to weep the want below.\n                 _When truth and virtue, &c._\n       The praise attending pomp and power,\n         The incense given to Kings,\n       Are but the trappings of an hour\u2014\n         Mere transitory things:\n       The base bestow them; but the good agree\n       To spurn the venal gifts as flattery.\n       But when to pomp and power are join'd\n       An equal dignity of mind;\n         When titles are the smallest claim;\n       When wealth, and rank, and noble blood,\n       But aid the power of doing good;\n         Then all their trophies last\u2014and flattery turns to fame.\n       Blest spirit thou, whose fame, just born to bloom,\n       Shall spread and flourish from the tomb;\n         How hast thou left mankind for Heaven!\n       E'en now reproach and faction mourn,\n       And, wondering how their rage was born,\n         Request to be forgiven!\n       Alas! they never had thy hate;\n         Unmoved, in conscious rectitude,\n         Thy towering mind self-centred stood,\n       Nor wanted man's opinion to be great.\n         In vain, to charm thy ravish'd sight,\n       A thousand gifts would fortune send;\n         In vain, to drive thee from the right,\n       A thousand sorrows urged thy end:\n       Like some well-fashion'd arch thy patience stood,\n       And purchased strength from its increasing load.\n       Pain met thee like a friend to set thee free,\n       Affliction still is virtue's opportunity!\n             Virtue, on herself relying,\n               Every passion hush'd to rest,\n             Loses every pain of dying,\n               In the hopes of being blest.\n             Every added pang she suffers,\n               Some increasing good bestows.\n             And every shock that malice offers,\n               Only rocks her to repose.\n             WOMAN SPEAKER.\n             Yet, ah! what terrors frown'd upon her fate\u2014\n                 Death, with its formidable band,\n             Fever, and pain, and pale consumptive care,\n                 Determined took their stand.\n             Nor did the cruel ravagers design\n                 To finish all their efforts at a blow;\n                 But, mischievously slow,\n             They robb'd the relic and defaced the shrine.\n                 With unavailing grief,\n                 Despairing of relief,\n             Her weeping children round\n                 Beheld each hour\n                 Death's growing power,\n             And trembled as he frown'd.\n             As helpless friends who view from shore\n             The labouring ship, and hear the tempest roar,\n[Illustration:\n  \"_As helpless friends who view from shore\n  The labouring ship, and hear the tempest roar._\"\u2014_p._ 236.\n                While winds and waves their wishes cross,\u2014\n            They stood, while hope and comfort fail,\n            Not to assist, but to bewail\n                The inevitable loss.\n            Relentless tyrant, at thy call\n            How do the good, the virtuous fall!\n            Truth, beauty, worth, and all that most engage,\n            But wake thy vengeance and provoke thy rage.\n            When vice my dart and scythe supply,\n            How great a king of terrors I!\n            If folly, fraud, your hearts engage,\n            Tremble, ye mortals, at my rage!\n            Fall, round me fall, ye little things,\n            Ye statesmen, warriors, poets, kings!\n            If virtue fail her counsel sage,\n            Tremble, ye mortals, at my rage!\n            MAN SPEAKER.\n Yet let that wisdom, urged by her example,\n Teach us to estimate what all must suffer;\n Let us prize death as the best gift of nature,\n As a safe inn, where weary travellers,\n When they have journey'd through a world of cares,\n May put off life and be at rest for ever.\n Groans, weeping friends, indeed, and gloomy sables,\n May oft distract us with their sad solemnity:\n The preparation is the executioner.\n Death, when unmask'd, shows me a friendly face,\n And is a terror only at a distance;\n For as the line of life conducts me on\n To Death's great court, the prospect seems more fair.\n 'Tis Nature's kind retreat, that's always open\n To take us in when we have drain'd the cup\n Of life, or worn our days to wretchedness.\n In that secure, serene retreat,\n Where, all the humble, all the great,\n   Promiscuously recline;\n Where, wildly huddled to the eye,\n The beggar's pouch and prince's purple lie,\n   May every bliss be thine.\n And, ah! blest spirit, wheresoe'er thy flight,\n Through rolling worlds, or fields of liquid light,\n May cherubs welcome their expected guest,\n May saints with songs receive thee to their rest;\n May peace, that claim'd while here thy warmest love,\n May blissful, endless peace be thine above!\n                  Lovely, lasting Peace, below,\n                  Comforter of ev'ry woe,\n                  Heav'nly born, and bred on high,\n                  To crown the favourites of the sky;\n                  Lovely, lasting Peace, appear;\n                  This world itself, if thou art here,\n                  Is once again with Eden blest,\n                  And man contains it in his breast.\n Our vows are heard! long, long to mortal eyes,\n Her soul was fitting to its kindred skies;\n Celestial-like her bounty fell,\n Where modest want and silent sorrow dwell:\n Want pass'd for merit at her door,\n Unseen the modest were supplied,\n Her constant pity fed the poor,\u2014\n Then only poor, indeed, the day she died.\n And, oh! for this, while sculpture decks thy shrine,\n   And art exhausts profusion round,\n The tribute of a tear be mine,\n A simple song, a sigh profound.\n There Faith shall come a pilgrim grey,\n To bless the tomb that wraps thy clay;\n And calm Religion shall repair,\n To dwell a weeping hermit there.\n Truth, Fortitude, and Friendship shall agree\n To blend their virtues while they think of thee.\n                    _Let us\u2014let all the world agree,\n                    To profit by resembling thee._\nOVERTURE.\u2014_Pastorale._\nMAN SPEAKER.\n Fast by that shore where Thames' translucent stream\n   Reflects new glories on his breast,\n Where, splendid as the youthful poet's dream,\n   He forms a scene beyond Elysium blest;\n Where sculptured elegance and native grace\n Unite to stamp the beauties of the place;\n While, sweetly blending, still are seen,\n The wavy lawn, the sloping green;\n   While novelty, with cautious cunning,\n   Through every maze of fancy running,\n From China borrows aid to deck the scene:\u2014\n There, sorrowing by the rivers glassy bed,\n   Forlorn a rural band complain'd,\n All whom Augusta's bounty fed,\n   All whom her clemency sustain'd.\n The good old sire, unconscious of decay,\n The modest matron, clad in homespun grey,\n The military boy, the orphan'd maid,\n The shatter'd veteran, now first dismay'd,\u2014\n These sadly join beside the murmuring deep,\n And as they view the towers of Kew,\n Call on their mistress, now no more, and weep.\n             _Ye shady walks, ye waving greens,\n             Ye nodding towers, ye fairy scenes,\n             Let all your echoes now deplore,\n             That she who form'd your beauties is no more._\n             MAN SPEAKER.\n First of the train the patient rustic came,\n   Whose callous hand had form'd the scene,\n Bending at once with sorrow and with age,\n   With many a tear, and many a sigh between:\n \"And where,\" he cried, \"shall now my babes have bread,\n   Or how shall age support its feeble fire?\n No lord will take me now, my vigour fled,\n   Nor can my strength perform what they require;\n Each grudging master keeps the labourer bare,\n A sleek and idle race is all their care.\n My noble mistress thought not so:\n   Her bounty, like the morning dew,\n Unseen, though constant, used to flow,\n   And, as my strength decay'd, her bounty grew.\"\n[Illustration:\n  \"_In decent dress, and coarsely clean,\n  The pious matron next was seen._\"\u2014_p._ 241.\n In decent dress, and coarsely clean,\n   The pious matron next was seen,\n Clasp'd in her hand a godly book was borne,\n   By use and daily meditation worn;\n   That decent dress, this holy guide,\n   Augusta's care had well supplied.\n \"And, ah!\" she cries, all woe-begone,\n   \"What now remains for me?\n Oh! where shall weeping want repair\n   To ask for charity!\n Too late in life for me to ask,\n   And shame prevents the deed,\n And tardy, tardy are the times\n   To succour, should I need.\n But all my wants, before I spoke,\n   Were to my Mistress known;\n She still relieved, nor sought my praise,\n   Contented with her own.\n But every day her name I'll bless,\n   My morning prayer, my evening song;\n I'll praise her while my life shall last,\n   A life that cannot last me long.\"\n SONG.\u2014BY A WOMAN.\n Each day, each hour, her name I'll bless,\n  My morning and my evening song,\n And when in death my vows shall cease,\n   My children shall the note prolong.\n MAN SPEAKER.\n The hardy veteran after struck the sight,\n Scarr'd, mangled, maim'd in every part,\n Lopp'd of his limbs in many a gallant fight,\n In nought entire\u2014except his heart;\n Mute for awhile, and sullenly distress'd,\n At last the impetuous sorrow fired his breast:\u2014\n \"Wild is the whirlwind rolling\n   O'er Afric's sandy plain,\n And wild the tempest howling\n   Along the billow'd main;\n But every danger felt before\n The raging deep, the whirlwind's roar,\n Less dreadful struck me with dismay\n Than what I feel this fatal day.\n Oh, let me fly a land that spurns the brave,\n Oswego's dreary shores shall be my grave;\n I'll seek that less inhospitable coast,\n And lay my body where my limbs were lost.\"\n Old Edward's sons, unknown to yield,\n Shall crowd from Cressy's laurell'd field,\n   To do thy memory right;\n For thine and Britain's wrongs they feel,\n Again they snatch the gleamy steel,\n   And wish the avenging fight.\n WOMAN SPEAKER.\n In innocence and youth complaining,\n   Next appear'd a lovely maid;\n Affliction, o'er each feature reigning,\n   Kindly came in beauty's aid;\n Every grace that grief dispenses,\n   Every glance that warms the soul,\n In sweet succession charms the senses,\n   While pity harmonized the whole.\n \"The garland of beauty,\" 'tis thus she would say,\n   \"No more shall my crook or my temples adorn:\n I'll not wear a garland\u2014Augusta's away,\n   I'll not wear a garland until she return;\n But, alas! that return I never shall see:\n   The echoes of Thames shall my sorrows proclaim,\n There promised a lover to come\u2014but, ah me!\n   'Twas Death\u2014'twas the death of my mistress that came.\n But ever, for ever, her image shall last,\n   I'll strip all the spring of its earliest bloom;\n On her grave shall the cowslip and primrose be cast,\n   And the new blossom'd thorn shall whiten her tomb.\"\n          SONG\u2014BY A WOMAN.\n          _Pastorale._\n          With garlands of beauty the Queen of the May\n            No more will her crook or her temples adorn;\n          For who'd wear a garland when she is away,\n            When she is removed and shall never return?\n          On the grave of Augusta these garlands be placed,\n            We'll rifle the spring of its earliest bloom,\n          And there shall the cowslip and primrose be cast,\n            And the new blossom'd thorn shall whiten her tomb.\n          _On the grave of Augusta this garland be placed,\n            We'll rifle the spring of its earliest bloom,\n          And there shall the cowslip and primrose be cast,\n            The tears of her country shall water her tomb._\n                         THE LOGICIANS REFUTED.\n                      IN IMITATION OF DEAN SWIFT.\n               Logicians have but ill defined\n               As rational the human mind:\n               Reason, they say, belongs to man;\n               But let them prove it if they can.\n               Wise Aristotle and Smiglesius,\n               By ratiocinations specious,\n               Have strove to prove with great precision,\n               With definition and division,\n               _Homo est ratione pr\u00e6ditum_;\n               But for my soul I cannot credit 'em;\n               And must in spite of them maintain\n               That man and all his ways are vain;\n               And that this boasted lord of nature\n               Is both a weak and erring creature;\n               That instinct is a surer guide\n               Than reason, boasting mortals' pride;\n               And that brute beasts are far before 'em\u2014\n               _Deus est anima brutorum_.\n               Who ever knew an honest brute\n               At law his neighbour prosecute?\n               Bring action for assault and battery?\n               Or friends beguile with lies and flattery?\n               O'er plains they ramble unconfined;\n               No politics disturb their mind;\n               They eat their meals and take their sport,\n               Nor know who's in or out at court:\n               They never to the levee go\n               To treat as dearest friend a foe;\n               They never importune his Grace,\n               Nor ever cringe to men in place;\n               Nor undertake a dirty job;\n               Nor draw the quill to write for Bob;[27]\n               Fraught with invective they ne'er go\n               To folks at Paternoster Row:\n               No judges, fiddlers, dancing-masters,\n               No pickpockets or poetasters,\nFootnote 27:\n  Sir Robert Walpole.\n[Illustration:\n  \"_Brutes never meet in bloody fray,\n  Nor cut each other's throats for pay._\"\u2014_p._ 245.\n               Are known to honest quadrupeds:\n               No single brute his fellow leads.\n               Brutes never meet in bloody fray,\n               Nor cut each other's throats for pay.\n               Of beasts, it is confess'd, the ape\n               Comes nearest us in human shape:\n               Like man, he imitates each fashion,\n               And malice is his ruling passion:\n               But both in malice and grimaces\n               A courtier any ape surpasses.\n               Behold him humbly cringing wait\n               Upon the minister of state;\n               View him soon after to inferiors\n               Aping the conduct of superiors:\n               He promises with equal air,\n               And to perform takes equal care.\n               He in his turn finds imitators;\n               At court, the porters, lacqueys, waiters,\n               Their master's manners still contract,\n               And footmen lords and dukes can act.\n               Thus at the court, both great and small\n               Behave alike, for all ape all.\n                DESCRIPTION OF AN AUTHOR'S BED-CHAMBER.\n Where the Red Lion, staring o'er the way,\n Invites each passing stranger that can pay;\n Where Calvert's butt, and Parsons' black champagne,\n Regale the drabs and bloods of Drury Lane;\n There in a lonely room, from bailiffs snug,\n The Muse found Scroggen stretch'd beneath a rug.\n A window, patched with paper, lent a ray\n That dimly show'd the state in which he lay:\n The sanded floor that grits beneath the tread;\n The humid wall with paltry pictures spread;\n The royal Game of Goose was there in view,\n And the Twelve Rules the royal martyr drew;\n The Seasons, framed with listing, found a place;\n And brave Prince William show'd his lamp-black face.\n The morn was cold; he views with keen desire\n The rusty grate unconscious of a fire:\n With beer and milk arrears the frieze was scored,\n And five crack'd tea-cups dress'd the chimney-board;\n A night-cap deck'd his brows instead of bay,\n A cap by night\u2014a stocking all the day!\n                       INTENDED FOR MRS. BULKLEY.\n There is a place\u2014so Ariosto sings\u2014\n A treasury for lost and missing things;\n Lost human wits have places there assign'd them,\n And they who lose their senses, there may find them.\n But where's this place, this storehouse of the age?\n The Moon, says he;\u2014but I affirm, the Stage\u2014\n At least, in many things, I think I see\n His lunar and our mimic world agree:\n Both shine at night, for, but at Foote's alone,\n We scarce exhibit till the sun goes down;\n Both prone to change, no settled limits fix,\n And sure the folks of both are lunatics.\n But in this parallel my best pretence is,\n That mortals visit both to find their senses:\n To this strange spot, rakes, macaronies, cits,\n Come thronging to collect their scatter'd wits.\n The gay coquette, who ogles all the day,\n Comes here at night, and goes a prude away.\n Hither the affected city dame advancing,\n Who sighs for operas, and doats on dancing,\n Taught by our art, her ridicule to pause on,\n Quits the _ballet_, and calls for _Nancy Dawson_.\n The gamester, too, whose wit's all high or low,\n Oft risks his fortune on one desperate throw,\n Comes here to saunter, having made his bets,\n Finds his lost senses out, and pays his debts.\n The Mohawk, too, with angry phrases stor'd\u2014\n As \"Dam'me, Sir!\" and, \"Sir, I wear a sword!\"\n Here lesson'd for awhile, and hence retreating,\n Goes out, affronts his man, and takes a beating.\n Here come the sons of scandal and of news,\n But find no sense\u2014for they had none to lose.\n Of all the tribe here wanting an adviser,\n Our Author's the least likely to grow wiser;\n Has he not seen how you your favour place\n On sentimental queens and lords in lace?\n Without a star, a coronet, or garter,\n How can the piece expect or hope for quarter?\n No high-life scenes, no sentiment:\u2014the creature\n Still stoops among the low to copy nature.\n Yes, he's far gone:\u2014and yet some pity fix,\n The English laws forbid to punish lunatics.\n               A TRAGEDY; WRITTEN BY JOSEPH CRADDOCK, ESQ.\n           SPOKEN BY MR. QUICK, IN THE CHARACTER OF A SAILOR.\n In these bold times, when Learning's sons explore\n The distant climate, and the savage shore;\n When wise astronomers to India steer,\n And quit for Venus many a brighter here;\n While botanists, all cold to smiles and dimpling,\n Forsake the fair, and patiently\u2014go simpling;\n Our bard into the general spirit enters,\n And fits his little frigate for adventures.\n With Scythian stores, and trinkets deeply laden,\n He this way steers his course, in hopes of trading;\n Yet ere he lands he's order'd me before,\n To make an observation on the shore.\n Where are we driven? our reckoning sure is lost\n This seems a rocky and a dangerous coast.\n Lord, what a sultry climate am I under!\n Yon ill-foreboding cloud seems big with thunder:\n There mangroves spread, and larger than I've seen 'em\u2014\n Here trees of stately size\u2014and billing turtles in 'em\u2014\n Here ill-conditioned oranges abound\u2014\n And apples, bitter apples, strew the ground.\n The inhabitants are cannibals, I fear:\n I heard a hissing\u2014there are serpents here!\n O, there the people are\u2014best keep my distance;\n Our Captain, gentle natives! craves assistance;\n Our ship's well-stored;\u2014in yonder creek we've laid her,\n His Honour is no mercenary trader.\n This is his first adventure; lend him aid,\n And we may chance to drive a thriving trade.\n His goods, he hopes, are prime, and brought from far,\n Equally fit for gallantry and war.\n What! no reply to promises so ample?\n I'd best step back\u2014and order up a sample.\n[Illustration:  Victorian London Street view.]\n                Good people all, of every sort,\n                  Give ear unto my song,\n                And if you find it wondrous short\u2014\n                  It cannot hold you long.\n                In Islington there was a man\n                  Of whom the world might say,\n                That still a godly race he ran\u2014\n                  Whene'er he went to pray.\n                A kind and gentle heart he had\n                  To comfort friends and foes;\n                The naked every day he clad\u2014\n                  When he put on his clothes.\n                And in that town a dog was found,\n                  As many dogs there be,\n                Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound,\n                  And curs of low degree.\n                This dog and man at first were friends;\n                  But when a pique began,\n                The dog, to gain some private ends,\n                  Went mad, and bit the man!\n                Around from all the neighbouring streets\n                  The wondering neighbours ran,\n                And swore the dog had lost his wits,\n                  To bite so good a man.\n                The wound it seem'd both sore and sad\n                  To every Christian eye;\n                And while they swore the dog was mad,\n                  They swore the man would die.\n                But soon a wonder came to light,\n                  That show'd the rogues they lied:\n                The man recover'd of the bite\u2014\n                  The dog it was that died.\n                     TO THE COMEDY OF \"THE SISTERS.\"\n What? five long acts\u2014and all to make us wiser!\n Our authoress sure has wanted an adviser.\n Had she consulted me, she should have made\n Her moral play a speaking masquerade;\n Warm'd up each bustling scene, and in her rage\n Have emptied all the green-room on the stage.\n My life on't, this had kept her play from sinking,\n Have pleased our eyes, and saved the pain of thinking.\n Well! since she thus has shown her want of skill,\n What if I give a masquerade?\u2014I will.\n But how? ay, there's the rub! _pausing_ I've got my cue:\n The world's a masquerade! the masquers, you, you, you.\n Lud! what a group the motley scene discloses!\n False wits, false wives, false virgins, and false spouses!\n Statesmen with bridles on; and, close beside 'em,\n Patriots in party-colour'd suits that ride 'em:\n There Hebes, turn'd of fifty, try once more\n To raise a flame in Cupids of threescore;\n These in their turn, with appetites as keen,\n Deserting fifty, fasten on fifteen.\n Miss, not yet full fifteen, with fire uncommon,\n Flings down her sampler, and takes up the woman;\n The little urchin smiles, and spreads her lure,\n And tries to kill, ere she's got power to cure.\n Thus 'tis with all\u2014their chief and constant care\n Is to seem every thing\u2014but what they are.\n Yon broad, bold, angry spark, I fix my eye on,\n Who seems t'have robb'd his vizor from the lion;\n Who frowns and talks and swears, with round parade,\n Looking, as who should say, dam' me! who's afraid?\n Strip but this vizor off, and, sure I am,\n You'll find his lionship a very lamb.\n Yon politician, famous in debate,\n Perhaps, to vulgar eyes, bestrides the state;\n Yet, when he deigns his real shape t'assume,\n He turns old woman, and bestrides a broom.\n Yon patriot, too, who presses on your sight,\n And seems, to every gazer, all in white,\n If with a bribe his candour you attack,\n He bows, turns round, and whip\u2014the man's in black!\n Yon critic, too\u2014but whither do I run?\n If I proceed, our bard will be undone!\n Well, then, a truce, since she requests it too:\n Do you spare her, and I'll for once spare you.\n         WRITTEN AND SPOKEN BY THE POET LABERIUS, A ROMAN KNIGHT\n                    WHOM C\u00c6SAR FORCED UPON THE STAGE.\n                         PRESERVED BY MACROBIUS.\n What! no way left to shun th'inglorious stage,\n And save from infamy my sinking age!\n Scarce half alive, oppress'd with many a year,\n What in the name of dotage drives me here?\n A time there was, when glory was my guide,\n Nor force nor fraud could turn my steps aside;\n Unawed by power, and unappall'd by fear,\n With honest thrift I held my honour dear:\n But this vile hour disperses all my store,\n And all my hoard of honour is no more;\n For, ah! too partial to my life's decline,\n C\u00e6sar persuades, submission must be mine;\n Him I obey, whom Heaven itself obeys,\n Hopeless of pleasing, yet inclined to please.\n Here then at once I welcome every shame,\n And cancel at threescore a life of fame:\n No more my titles shall my children tell;\n The old buffoon will fit my name as well:\n This day beyond its term my fate extends,\n For life is ended when our honour ends.\n          ON THE TAKING OF QUEBEC, AND DEATH OF GENERAL WOLFE.\n          Amidst the clamour of exulting joys,\n            Which triumph forces from the patriot heart,\n          Grief dares to mingle her soul-piercing voice,\n            And quells the raptures which from pleasure start.\n          O Wolfe! to thee a streaming flood of woe,\n            Sighing we pay, and think e'en conquest dear:\n          Quebec in vain shall teach our breast to glow,\n            Whilst thy sad fate extorts the heart-wrung tear.\n          Alive, the foe thy dreadful vigour fled,\n            And saw thee fall with joy-pronouncing eyes;\n          Yet they shall know thou conquerest, though dead!\n            Since from thy tomb a thousand heroes rise.\n[Illustration: Man Sitting at a table writing.]\n               Long had I sought in vain to find\n               A likeness for the scribbling kind\u2014\n               The modern scribbling kind, who write\n               In wit, and sense, and nature's spite\u2014\n               Till reading\u2014I forget what day on,\n               A chapter out of Tooke's \"Pantheon,\"\n               I think I met with something there\n               To suit my purpose to a hair.\n               But let us not proceed too furious,\u2014\n               First please to turn to god Mercurius:\n               You'll find him pictur'd at full length\n               In book the second, page the tenth:\n               The stress of all my proofs on him I lay;\n               And now proceed we to our simile.\n                 _Imprimis_, pray observe his hat:\n               Wings upon either side\u2014mark that.\n               Well! what is it from thence we gather?\n               Why, these denote a brain of feather.\n               A brain of feather? very right,\n               With wit that's flighty, learning light;\n               Such as to modern bard's decreed:\n               A just comparison\u2014proceed.\n                 In the next place, his feet peruse:\n               Wings grow again from both his shoes;\n               Design'd, no doubt, their part to bear,\n               And waft his godship through the air:\n               And here my simile unites;\n               For in a modern poet's flights,\n               I'm sure it may be justly said,\n               His feet are useful as his head.\n                 Lastly, vouchsafe t'observe his hand,\n               Fill'd with a snake-encircled wand,\n               By classic authors termed Caduceus,\n               And highly famed for several uses:\n               To wit,\u2014most wond'rously endued,\n               No poppy-water half so good;\n               For let folks only get a touch,\n               Its soporific virtue's such,\n               Though ne'er so much awake before,\n               That quickly they begin to snore;\n               Add, too, what certain writers tell,\n               With this he drives men's souls to hell.\n                 Now to apply, begin we then:\u2014\n               His wand's a modern author's pen;\n               The serpents round about it twined\n               Denote him of the reptile kind,\n               Denote the rage with which he writes,\n               His frothy slaver, venom'd bites:\n               An equal semblance still to keep,\n               Alike, too, both conduce to sleep;\n               This difference only,\u2014as the god\n               Drove souls to Tart'rus with his rod,\n               With his goose-quill the scribbling elf,\n               Instead of others, damns himself.\n                 And here my simile almost tript;\n               Yet grant a word by way of postscript.\n               Moreover Merc'ry had a failing;\n               Well! what of that? out with it.\u2014Stealing;\n               In which all modern bards agree,\n               Being each as great a thief as he.\n               But even this deity's existence\n               Shall lend my simile assistance:\n               Our modern bards! why, what a pox\n               Are they\u2014but senseless stones and blocks?\n This tomb, inscribed to gentle Parnell's name,\n May speak our gratitude, but not his fame.\n What heart but feels his sweetly moral lay,\n That leads to truth through pleasure's flowery way?\n Celestial themes confess'd his tuneful aid;\n And Heaven, that lent him genius, was repaid.\n Needless to him the tribute we bestow,\n The transitory breath of fame below:\n More lasting rapture from his works shall rise,\n While converts thank their poet in the skies.\n              EPITAPH ON EDWARD PURDON.\n              Here lies poor Ned Purdon, from misery freed,\n                Who long was a bookseller's hack:\n              He led such a damnable life in this world,\n                I don't think he'll wish to come back.\n SPOKEN BY MR. LEE LEWIS, IN THE CHARACTER OF HARLEQUIN, AT HIS BENEFIT.\n Hold! Prompter, hold! a word before your nonsense:\n I'd speak a word or two, to ease my conscience.\n My pride forbids it ever should be said\n My heels eclipsed the honours of my head;\n That I found humour in a piebald vest,\n Or ever thought that jumping was a jest.\n Whence, and what art thou, visionary birth?\n Nature disowns, and reason scorns, thy mirth;\n In thy black aspect every passion sleeps,\n The joy that dimples, and the woe that weeps.\n How hast thou fill'd the scene with all thy brood\n Of fools pursuing, and of fools pursued!\n Whose ins and outs no ray of sense discloses,\n Whose only plot it is to break our noses;\n Whilst from below the trap-door demons rise,\n And from above the dangling deities.\n And shall I mix in this unhallow'd crew?\n May rosin'd lightning blast me if I do!\n No\u2014I will act\u2014I'll vindicate the stage:\n Shakespeare himself shall feel my tragic rage.\n Off! off! vile trappings! a new passion reigns:\n The madd'ning monarch revels in my veins.\n Oh! for a Richard's voice to catch the theme,\u2014\n \"Give me another horse! bind up my wounds!\u2014soft\u2014'twas but a dream.\"\n Ay, 'twas but a dream, for now there's no retreating,\n If I cease Harlequin, I cease from eating.\n 'Twas thus that \u00c6sop's stag, a creature blameless,\n Yet something vain, like one that shall be nameless,\n Once on the margin of a fountain stood,\n And cavill'd at his image in the flood.\n \"The deuce confound,\" he cries, \"these drumstick shanks,\n They never have my gratitude nor thanks;\n They're perfectly disgraceful! strike me dead;\n But for a head, yes, yes, I have a head:\n How piercing is that eye! how sleek that brow!\n My horns!\u2014I'm told horns are the fashion now.\"\n   Whilst thus he spoke, astonish'd, to his view,\n Near, and more near, the hounds and huntsmen drew;\n Hoicks! hark forward! came thundering from behind,\n He bounds aloft, outstrips the fleeting wind:\n He quits the woods, and tries the beaten ways;\n He starts, he pants, he takes the circling maze:\n At length, his silly head, so prized before,\n Is taught his former folly to deplore;\n Whilst his strong limbs conspire to set him free,\n And at one bound he saves himself\u2014like me.\n                [_Taking a jump through the stage door._\n[Illustration: Interior scene of a haberdashery.]\n               ON THE GLORY OF HER SEX, MRS. MARY BLAIZE.\n                 Good people all, with one accord,\n                   Lament for Madam Blaize,\n                 Who never wanted a good word\u2014\n                   From those who spoke her praise.\n                 The needy seldom pass'd her door,\n                   And always found her kind;\n                 She freely lent to all the poor\u2014\n                   Who left a pledge behind.\n                 She strove the neighbourhood to please\n                   With manners wond'rous winning;\n                 And never follow'd wicked ways\u2014\n                   Unless when she was sinning.\n                 At church, in silks and satins new,\n                   With hoop of monstrous size,\n                 She never slumber'd in her pew\u2014\n                   But when she shut her eyes.\n                 Her love was sought, I do aver,\n                   By twenty beaux and more;\n                 The king himself has follow'd her\u2014\n                   When she has walk'd before.\n                 But now, her wealth and finery fled,\n                   Her hangers-on cut short all;\n                 The doctors found, when she was dead\u2014\n                   Her last disorder mortal.\n                 Let us lament in sorrow sore,\n                   For Kent Street well may say,\n                 That had she liv'd a twelvemonth more\u2014\n                   She had not died to-day.\n             ON A BEAUTIFUL YOUTH STRUCK BLIND BY LIGHTNING.\n                  Sure 'twas by Providence design'd,\n                    Rather in pity than in hate,\n                  That he should be, like Cupid, blind,\n                    To save him from Narcissus' fate.\n                       TO \"SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER.\"\n      SPOKEN BY MRS. BULKLEY, IN THE CHARACTER OF MISS HARDCASTLE.\n Well, having stoop'd to conquer with success,\n And gain'd a husband without aid from dress,\n Still, as a bar-maid, I could wish it too,\n As I have conquer'd him to conquer you:\n And let me say, for all your resolution,\n That pretty bar-maids have done execution.\n Our life is all a play, composed to please;\n \"We have our exits and our entrances.\"\n The first act shows the simple country maid,\n Harmless and young, of everything afraid;\n Blushes when hired, and, with unmeaning action,\n \"I hopes as how to give you satisfaction.\"\n Her second act displays a livelier scene,\u2014\n The unblushing bar-maid of a country inn,\n Who whisks about the house, at market caters,\n Talks loud, coquets the guests, and scolds the waiters.\n Next the scene shifts to town, and there she soars,\n The chop-house toast of ogling _connoisseurs_:\n On 'squires and cits she there displays her arts,\n And on the gridiron broils her lovers' hearts;\n And, as she smiles, her triumphs to complete,\n E'en common-councilmen forget to eat.\n The fourth act shows her wedded to the 'squire,\n And madam now begins to hold it higher;\n Pretends to taste, at operas cries _caro!_\n And quits her Nancy Dawson for Che Faro:\n Doats upon dancing, and, in all her pride,\n Swims round the room, the Heinelle of Cheapside;\n Ogles and leers with artificial skill,\n Till, having lost in age the power to kill,\n She sits all night at cards, and ogles at spadille.\n Such through our lives the eventful history\u2014\n The fifth and last act still remains for me:\n The bar-maid now for your protection prays,\n Turns female barrister, and pleads for bays.\n As puffing quacks some caitiff wretch procure\n To swear the pill, or drop, has wrought a cure;\n Thus, on the stage, our play-wrights still depend\n For epilogues and prologues on some friend,\n Who knows each art of coaxing up the town,\n And make full many a bitter pill go down:\n Conscious of this, our bard has gone about,\n And teased each rhyming friend to help him out.\n An epilogue! things can't go on without it;\n It could not fail, would you but set about it:\n \"Young man,\" cries one, (a bard laid up in clover,)\n \"Alas! young man, my writing days are over;\n Let boys play tricks, and kick the straw, not I;\n Your brother doctor there, perhaps, may try,\"\n \"What I! dear Sir,\" the doctor interposes;\n \"What, plant my thistle, Sir, among his roses!\n No, no, I've other contests to maintain;\n To-night I heard our troops at Warwick-lane.\n Go ask your manager\"\u2014\"Who, me! Your pardon,\n Those things are not our forte at Covent Garden.\"\n Our author's friends, thus placed at happy distance,\n Give him good words, indeed, but no assistance.\n As some unhappy wight, at some new play,\n At the pit door stands elbowing a way,\n While oft, with many a smile, and many a shrug,\n He eyes the centre, where his friends sit snug;\n His simpering friends, with pleasure in their eyes,\n Sink as he sinks, and as he rises rise:\n He nods, they nod; he cringes, they grimace;\n But not a soul will budge to give him place.\n Since, then, unhelp'd, our bard must now conform\n \"To 'bide the pelting of this pitiless storm,\"\n Blame where you must, be candid where you can,\n And be each critic the _Good-natured Man_.\n[Illustration: Seated woman reading a book.]\n                  When lovely woman stoops to folly,\n                    And finds too late that men betray,\n                  What charm can soothe her melancholy,\n                    What art can wash her guilt away?\n                  The only art her guilt to cover,\n                    To hide her shame from every eye,\n                  To give repentance to her lover,\n                    And wring his bosom, is\u2014to die.\n        John Trott was desired by two witty peers\n        To tell them the reason why asses had ears.\n        \"An't please you,\" quoth John, \"I'm not given to letters,\n        Nor dare I pretend to know more than my betters;\n        Howe'er, from this time, I shall ne'er see your graces,\n        As I hope to be saved!\u2014without thinking on asses.\"\n                The wretch condemn'd with life to part,\n                  Still, still on Hope relies;\n                And every pang that rends the heart\n                  Bids expectation rise.\n                Hope, like the glimmering taper's light,\n                  Adorns and cheers the way;\n                And still, as darker grows the night,\n                  Emits a brighter ray.\n                Weeping, murmuring, complaining,\n                  Lost to every gay delight,\n                Myra, too sincere for feigning,\n                  Fears th'approaching bridal night.\n                Yet why impair thy bright perfection?\n                  Or dim thy beauty with a tear?\n                Had Myra follow'd my direction,\n                  She long had wanted cause of fear.\n                       TO \"SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER.\"\n         INTENDED TO BE SPOKEN BY MRS. BULKLEY AND MISS CATLEY.\n _Enters_ MRS. BULKLEY, _who curtsies very low as beginning to speak.\n Then enters_ MISS CATLEY, _who stands full before her, and curtsies to\n the Audience_.\n MRS. BULKLEY.\n Hold, Ma'am, your pardon. What's your business here?\n MISS CATLEY.\n The Epilogue.\n MRS. BULKLEY.\n The Epilogue?\n MISS CATLEY.\n  Yes, the Epilogue, my dear.\n MRS. BULKLEY.\n Sure you mistake, Ma'am. The Epilogue, _I_ bring it.\n MISS CATLEY.\n Excuse me, Ma'am. The author bid _me_ sing it.\n _Recitative._\n Ye beaux and belles, that form this splendid ring,\n Suspend your conversation while I sing.\n MRS. BULKLEY.\n Why, sure the girl's beside herself! an Epilogue of singing,\n A hopeful end, indeed, to such a blest beginning.\n Besides, a singer in a comic set\u2014\n Excuse me, Ma'am, I know the etiquette.\n MISS CATLEY.\n What if we leave it to the house?\n MRS. BULKLEY.\n The house!\u2014Agreed.\n MISS CATLEY.\n Agreed.\n MRS. BULKLEY.\n And she whose party's largest shall proceed.\n And first, I hope you'll readily agree\n I've all the critics and the wits for me.\n They, I am sure, will answer my commands;\n Ye candid judging few, hold up your hands.\n What! no return? I find too late, I fear,\n That modern judges seldom enter here.\n MISS CATLEY.\n I'm for a different set:\u2014Old men, whose trade is\n Still to gallant and dangle with the ladies.\n _Recitative._\n Who mump their passion, and who, grimly smiling\n Still thus address the fair with voice beguiling.\n _Air.\u2014Cotillion._\n Turn, my fairest, turn, if ever\n   Strephon caught thy ravish'd eye.\n Pity take on your swain so clever,\n   Who without your aid must die.\n         Yes, I shall die, hu, hu, hu, hu!\n         Yes, I must die, ho, ho, ho, ho!\n MRS. BULKLEY.\n Let all the old pay homage to your merit;\n Give me the young, the gay, the men of spirit.\n Ye travell'd tribe, ye macaroni train,\n Of French friseurs and nosegays justly vain,\n Who take a trip to Paris once a year\n To dress, and look like awkward Frenchmen here,\u2014\n Lend me your hand: O fatal news to tell,\n Their hands are only lent to the Heinelle.\n MISS CATLEY.\n Ay, take your travellers\u2014travellers indeed!\n Give me my bonny Scot, that travels from the Tweed.\n Where are the chiels?\u2014Ah! ah, I well discern\n The smiling looks of each bewitching bairn.\n _Air.\u2014A bonny young Lad is my Jocky._\n I sing to amuse you by night and by day,\n And be unco merry when you are but gay;\n When you with your bagpipes are ready to play,\n My voice shall be ready to carol away\n       With Sandy, and Sawney, and Jockey,\n       With Sawney, and Jarvie, and Jockey.\n MRS. BULKLEY.\n Ye gamesters, who, so eager in pursuit,\n Make but of all your fortune one _va toute_:\n Ye jockey tribe, whose stock of words are few,\n \"I hold the odds.\u2014Done, done, with you, with you.\"\n Ye barristers, so fluent with grimace,\n \"My Lord,\u2014Your Lordship misconceives the case.\"\n Doctors, who cough and answer every misfortuner,\n \"I wish I'd been called in a little sooner:\"\n Assist my cause with hands and voices hearty,\n Come end the contest here, and aid my party.\n MISS CATLEY.\n _Air.\u2014Ballinamony_\n Ye brave Irish lads, hark away to the crack,\n Assist me, I pray, in this woful attack;\n For\u2014sure I don't wrong you\u2014you seldom are slack,\n When the ladies are calling, to blush and hang back.\n     For you're always polite and attentive,\n     Still to amuse us inventive,\n     And death is your only preventive:\n       Your hands and your voices for me.\n MRS. BULKLEY.\n Well, Madam, what if, after all this sparring,\n We both agree, like friends, to end our jarring?\n MISS CATLEY.\n And that our friendship may remain unbroken,\n What if we leave the Epilogue unspoken?\n MRS. BULKLEY.\n Agreed.\n MISS CATLEY.\n MRS. BULKLEY.\n                And now with late repentance,\n Un-epilogued the Poet waits his sentence.\n Condemn the stubborn fool who can't submit\n To thrive by flattery, though he starves by wit.\n When I undertook to write a comedy, I confess I was strongly\n prepossessed in favour of the poets of the last age, and strove to\n imitate them. The term _genteel comedy_ was then unknown amongst us,\n and little more was desired by an audience, than nature and humour, in\n whatever walks of life they were most conspicuous. The author of the\n following scenes never imagined that more would be expected of him, and\n therefore to delineate character has been his principal aim. Those who\n know any thing of composition, are sensible, that in pursuing humour,\n it will sometimes lead us into the recesses of the mean; I was even\n tempted to look for it in the master of a spunging-house: but in\n deference to the public taste, grown of late, perhaps, too delicate,\n the scene of the bailiffs was retrenched in the representation. In\n deference also to the judgment of a few friends, who think in a\n particular way, the scene is here restored. The author submits it to\n the reader in his closet; and hopes that too much refinement will not\n banish humour and character from ours, as it has already done from the\n French theatre. Indeed the French comedy is now become so very elevated\n and sentimental, that it has not only banished humour and _Moli\u00e8re_\n from the stage, but it has banished all spectators too.\n Upon the whole, the author returns his thanks to the public for the\n favourable reception which the Good-Natured Man has met with: and to\n Mr. Colman in particular, for his kindness to it. It may not also be\n improper to assure any who shall hereafter write for the theatre, that\n merit, or supposed merit, will ever be a sufficient passport to his\n protection.\n   Press'd by the load of life, the weary mind\n Surveys the general toil of humankind;\n With cool submission joins the labouring train,\n And social sorrow loses half its pain.\n Our anxious bard, without complaint, may share\n This bustling season's epidemic care;\n Like C\u00e6sar's pilot, dignified by fate,\n Toss'd in one common storm with all the great;\n Distress'd alike, the statesman and the wit,\n When one a borough courts, and one the pit.\n The busy candidates for power and fame,\n Have hopes, and fears, and wishes just the same\n Disabled both to combat, or to fly,\n Must hear all taunts, and hear without reply.\n Uncheck'd, on both, loud rabbles vent their rage,\n As mongrels bay the lion in a cage.\n Th'offended burgess hoards his angry tale,\n For that blessed year when all that vote may rail;\n Their schemes of spite the poet's foes dismiss,\n Till that glad night when all that hate may hiss.\n \"This day the powder'd curls and golden coat,\"\n Says swelling Crispin, \"begged a cobbler's vote!\"\n \"This night our wit\" the pert apprentice cries,\n \"Lies at my feet: I hiss him, and he dies!\"\n The great, 'tis true, can charm th'electing tribe;\n The bard may supplicate, but cannot bribe.\n Yet, judg'd by those whose voices ne'er were sold\n He feels no want of ill-persuading gold;\n But, confident of praise, if praise be due,\n Trusts, without fear, to merit, and to you.\n DRAMATIS PERSON\u00c6.\n MEN.\n MR. HONEYWOOD.\n CROAKER.\n LOFTY.\n SIR WILLIAM HONEYWOOD.\n LEONTINE.\n JARVIS.\n BUTLER.\n BAILIFF.\n DUBARDIEU.\n POSTBOY.\n WOMEN.\n MISS RICHLAND.\n OLIVIA.\n MRS. CROAKER.\n GARNET.\n LANDLADY.\n[Illustration:\n  \"BUTLER.\u2014_Sir, I'll not stay in\n  the family with Jonathan._\"\u2014_p._ 271.\n SCENE I.\u2014_An Apartment in_ YOUNG HONEYWOOD'S _House_.\n _Enter_ SIR WILLIAM HONEYWOOD _and_ JARVIS.\n SIR WILL. Good Jarvis, make no apologies for this honest bluntness.\n Fidelity like yours, is the best excuse for every freedom.\n JARVIS. I can't help being blunt, and being very angry too, when I hear\n you talk of disinheriting so good, so worthy a young gentleman as your\n nephew, my master. All the world loves him.\n SIR WILL. Say rather, that he loves all the world; that is his fault.\n JARVIS. I'm sure there is no part of it more dear to him than you are,\n though he has not seen you since he was a child.\n SIR WILL. What signifies his affection to me? or how can I be proud of\n a place in a heart where every sharper and coxcomb finds an easy\n entrance?\n JARVIS. I grant that he's rather too good-natured; that he's too much\n every man's man; that he laughs this minute with one, and cries the\n next with another; but whose instructions may he thank for all this?\n SIR WILL. Not mine, sure! My letters to him during my employment in\n Italy, taught him only that philosophy which might prevent, not defend,\n his errors.\n JARVIS. Faith, begging your honour's pardon, I'm sorry they taught him\n any philosophy at all; it has only served to spoil him. This same\n philosophy is a good horse in a stable, but an errant jade on a\n journey. For my own part, whenever I hear him mention the name on't,\n I'm always sure he's going to play the fool.\n SIR WILL. Don't let us ascribe his faults to his philosophy, I entreat\n you. No, Jarvis, his good-nature arises rather from his fears of\n offending the importunate, than his desire of making the deserving\n happy.\n JARVIS. What it rises from, I don't know. But, to be sure, every body\n has it, that asks it.\n SIR WILL. Ay, or that does not ask it. I have been now for some time a\n concealed spectator of his follies, and find them as boundless as his\n dissipation.\n JARVIS. And yet, faith, he has some fine name or other for them all. He\n call his extravagance, generosity; and his trusting every body,\n universal benevolence. It was but last week he went security for a\n fellow whose face he scarce knew, and that he called an act of exalted\n mu-mu-munificence; ay, that was the name he gave it.\n SIR WILL. And upon that I proceed, as my last effort, though with very\n little hopes to reclaim him. That very fellow has just absconded, and I\n have taken up the security. Now, my intention is, to involve him in\n fictitious distress, before he has plunged himself into real calamity;\n to arrest him for that very debt, to clap an officer upon him, and then\n let him see which of his friends will come to his relief.\n JARVIS. Well, if I could but any way see him thoroughly vexed, every\n groan of his would be music to me; yet, faith, I believe it impossible.\n I have tried to fret him myself every morning these three years; but,\n instead of being angry, he sits as calmly to hear me scold, as he does\n to his hair-dresser.\n SIR WILL. We must try him once more, however, and I'll go this instant\n to put my scheme into execution; and I don't despair of succeeding, as\n by your means, I can have frequent opportunities of being about him,\n without being known. What a pity it is, Jarvis, that any man's good\n will to others should produce so much neglect of himself, as to require\n correction! Yet, we must touch his weakness with a delicate hand. There\n are some faults so nearly allied to excellence, that we can scarce weed\n out the vice without eradicating the virtue.\n JARVIS. Well, go thy ways, Sir William Honeywood. It is not without\n reason that the world allows thee to be the best of men. But here comes\n his hopeful nephew; the strange, good-natured, foolish,\n open-hearted\u2014And yet, all his faults are such that one loves him still\n the better for them.\n _Enter_ HONEYWOOD.\n HONEYW. Well, Jarvis, what messages from my friends this morning!\n JARVIS. You have no friends.\n HONEYW. Well; from my acquaintance, then?\n JARVIS. (_Pulling out bills._) A few of our usual cards of compliment,\n that's all. This bill from your tailor; this from your mercer; and this\n from the little broker in Crooked-lane. He says he has been at a great\n deal of trouble to get back the money you borrowed.\n HONEYW. That I don't know; but I am sure we were at a great deal of\n trouble in getting him to lend it.\n JARVIS. He has lost all patience.\n HONEYW. Then he has lost a very good thing.\n JARVIS. There's that ten guineas you were sending to the poor gentleman\n and his children in the Fleet. I believe that would stop his mouth for\n a while at least.\n HONEYW. Ay, Jarvis, but what will fill their mouths in the meantime?\n Must I be cruel because he happens to be importunate; and, to relieve\n his avarice, leave them to insupportable distress?\n JARVIS. 'Sdeath, sir, the question now is, how to relieve yourself.\n Yourself\u2014Haven't I reason to be out of my senses, when I see things\n going at sixes and sevens?\n HONEYW. Whatever reason you may have for being out of your senses, I\n hope you'll allow that I'm not quite unreasonable for continuing in\n mine.\n JARVIS. You're the only man alive in your present situation that could\n do so\u2014Every thing upon the waste. There's Miss Richland and her fine\n fortune gone already, and upon the point of being given to your rival.\n HONEYW. I'm no man's rival.\n JARVIS. Your uncle in Italy preparing to disinherit you; your own\n fortune almost spent; and nothing but pressing creditors, false\n friends, and a pack of drunken servants that your kindness has made\n unfit for any other family.\n HONEYW. Then they have the more occasion for being in mine.\n JARVIS. So! What will you have done with him that I caught stealing\n your plate in the pantry? In the fact; I caught him in the fact.\n HONEYW. In the fact? If so, I really think that we should pay him his\n wages, and turn him off.\n JARVIS. He shall be turned off at Tyburn, the dog; we'll hang him, if\n it be only to frighten the rest of the family.\n HONEYW. No, Jarvis: it's enough that we have lost what he has stolen,\n let us not add to the loss of a fellow-creature.\n JARVIS. Very fine; well, here was the footman just now, to complain of\n the butler; he says he does most work, and ought to have most wages.\n HONEYW. That's but just: though perhaps here comes the butler to\n complain of the footman.\n JARVIS. Ay, it's the way with them all, from the scullion to the\n privy-counsellor. If they have a bad master, they keep quarrelling with\n him; if they have a good master they keep quarrelling with one another.\n _Enter_ BUTLER _drunk_.\n BUTLER. Sir, I'll not stay in the family with Jonathan: you must part\n with him, or part with me, that's the ex-ex-position of the matter,\n sir.\n HONEYW. Full and explicit enough. But what's his fault, good Phillip?\n BUTLER. Sir, he's given to drinking, sir, and I shall have my morals\n corrupted, by keeping such company.\n HONEYW. Ha! ha! he has such a diverting way\u2014\n JARVIS. O! quite amusing.\n BUTLER. I find my wines a-going, sir; and liquors don't go without\n mouths, sir; I hate a drunkard, sir.\n HONEYW. Well, well, Philip, I'll hear you upon that another time, so go\n to bed now.\n JARVIS. To bed! Let him go to the devil.\n BUTLER. Begging your honour's pardon, and begging your pardon, master\n Jarvis, I'll not go to bed, nor to the devil neither. I have enough to\n do to mind my cellar. I forgot, your honour, Mr. Croaker is below. I\n came on purpose to tell you.\n HONEYW. Why didn't you show him up, blockhead?\n BUTLER. Show him up, sir? With all my heart, sir. Up or down, all's one\n to me.\n JARVIS. Ay, we have one or other of that family in this house from\n morning till night. He comes on the old affair, I suppose; the match\n between his son, that's just returned from Paris, and Miss Richland,\n the young lady he's guardian to.\n HONEYW. Perhaps so. Mr. Croaker, knowing my friendship for the young\n lady, has got it into his head that I can persuade her to what I\n please.\n JARVIS. Ah! if you loved yourself but half as well as she loves you, we\n should soon see a marriage that would set all things to rights again.\n HONEYW. Love me! Sure, Jarvis, you dream. No, no; her intimacy with me\n never amounted to more than friendship\u2014mere friendship. That she is the\n most lovely woman that ever warmed the human heart with desire, I own.\n But never let me harbour a thought of making her unhappy, by a\n connection with one so unworthy her merits, as I am. No, Jarvis, it\n shall be my study to serve her, even in spite of my wishes; and to\n secure her happiness, though it destroys my own.\n JARVIS. Was ever the like? I want patience.\n HONEYW. Besides, Jarvis, though I could obtain Miss Richland's consent,\n do you think I could succeed with her guardian, or Mrs. Croaker, his\n wife; who, though both very fine in their way, are yet a little\n opposite in their dispositions, you know?\n JARVIS. Opposite enough, Heaven knows; the very reverse of each other;\n she all laugh and no joke, he always complaining and never sorrowful; a\n fretful poor soul, that has a new distress for every hour in the\n four-and-twenty\u2014\n HONEYW. Hush, hush, he's coming up! he'll hear you.\n JARVIS. One whose voice is a passing bell\u2014\n HONEYW. Well, well, go do.\n JARVIS. A raven that bodes nothing but mischief; a coffin and cross\n bones; a bundle of rue; a sprig of deadly nightshade; a\u2014(HONEYWOOD,\n _stopping his mouth, at last pushes him off_.)\n HONEYW. I must own, my old monitor is not entirely wrong. There is\n something in my friend Croaker's conversation that quite depresses me.\n His very mirth is an antidote to all gaiety, and his appearance has a\n stronger effect on my spirits than an undertaker's shop.\u2014Mr. Croaker,\n this is such a satisfaction\u2014\n CROAKER. A pleasant morning to Mr. Honeywood, and many of them. How is\n this? You look most shockingly to-day, my dear friend. I hope this\n weather does not affect your spirits. To be sure, if this weather\n continues\u2014I say nothing\u2014but God send we be all better this day three\n months.\n[Illustration:\n  \"CROAKER.\u2014_A pleasant morning to Mr. Honeywood._\"\u2014_p._ 272.\n HONEYW. I heartily concur in the wish, though, I own, not in your\n apprehensions.\n CROAKER. May be not. Indeed, what signifies what weather we have, in a\n country going to ruin like ours? Taxes rising and trade falling. Money\n flying out of the kingdom, and Jesuits swarming into it. I know at this\n time no less than a hundred and twenty-seven Jesuits between\n Charing-cross and Temple-bar.\n HONEYW. The Jesuits will scarce pervert you or me, I should hope?\n CROAKER. May be not. Indeed what signifies whom they pervert in a\n country that has scarce any religion to lose? I'm only afraid for our\n wives and daughters.\n HONEYW. I have no apprehensions for the ladies, I assure you.\n CROAKER. May be not. Indeed what signifies whether they be perverted or\n not? The women in my time were good for something. I have seen a lady\n dressed from top to toe in her own manufactures formerly. But\n now-a-days the devil a thing of their own manufacture about them,\n except their faces.\n HONEYW. But, however these faults may be practised abroad, you don't\n find them at home, either with Mrs. Croaker, Olivia, or Miss Richland.\n CROAKER. The best of them will never be canonised for a saint when\n she's dead. By the by, my dear friend, I don't find this match between\n Miss Richland and my son much relished, either by one side or t'other.\n HONEYW. I thought otherwise.\n CROAKER. Ah, Mr. Honeywood, a little of your fine serious advice to the\n young lady might go far: I know she has a very exalted opinion of your\n understanding.\n HONEYW. But would not that be usurping an authority that more properly\n belongs to yourself?\n CROAKER. My dear friend, you know but little of my authority at home.\n People think, indeed, because they see me come out in a morning thus,\n with a pleasant face, and to make my friends merry, that all's well\n within. But I have cares that would break a heart of stone. My wife has\n so encroached upon every one of my privileges, that I'm now no more\n than a mere lodger in my own house.\n HONEYW. But a little spirit exerted on your side might perhaps restore\n your authority.\n CROAKER. No, though I had the spirit of a lion. I do rouse sometimes.\n But what then? always haggling and haggling. A man is tired of getting\n the better, before his wife is tired of losing the victory.\n HONEYW. It's a melancholy consideration indeed, that our chief comforts\n often produce our greatest anxieties, and that an increase of our\n possessions is but an inlet to new disquietudes.\n CROAKER. Ah, my dear friend, these were the very words of poor Dick\n Doleful to me not a week before he made away with himself. Indeed, Mr.\n Honeywood, I never see you but you put me in mind of poor Dick. Ah,\n there was merit neglected for you! and so true a friend; we loved each\n other for thirty years, and yet he never asked me to lend him a single\n farthing.\n HONEYW. Pray what could induce him to commit so rash an action at last?\n CROAKER. I don't know, some people were malicious enough to say it was\n keeping company with me; because we used to meet now and then, and open\n our hearts to each other. To be sure I loved to hear him talk, and he\n loved to hear me talk; poor dear Dick! He used to say, that Croaker\n rhymed to joker; and so we used to laugh\u2014Poor Dick!\n HONEYW. His fate affects me.\n CROAKER. Ay, he grew sick of this miserable life, where we do nothing\n but eat and grow hungry, dress and undress, get up and lie down; while\n reason, that should watch like a nurse by our side, falls as fast\n asleep as we do.\n HONEYW. To say truth, if we compare that part of life which is to come,\n by that which we have passed, the prospect is hideous.\n CROAKER. Life at the greatest and best is but a froward child, that\n must be humoured and coaxed a little till it falls asleep, and then all\n the care is over.\n HONEYW. Very true, sir; nothing can exceed the vanity of our existence,\n but the folly of our pursuits. We wept when we came into the world, and\n every day tells us why.\n CROAKER. Ah, my dear friend, it is a perfect satisfaction to be\n miserable with you. My son Leontine shan't lose the benefit of such\n fine conversation. I'll just step home for him. I am willing to show\n him so much seriousness in one scarce older than himself\u2014And what if I\n bring my last letter to the Gazetteer on the increase and progress of\n earthquakes? It will amuse us, I promise you. I there prove how the\n late earthquake is coming round to pay us another visit from London to\n Lisbon, from Lisbon to the Canary Islands, from the Canary Islands to\n Palmyra, from Palmyra to Constantinople, and so from Constantinople\n back to London again.\n HONEYW. Poor Croaker! His situation deserves the utmost pity. I shall\n scarce recover my spirits these three days. Sure, to live upon such\n terms is worse than death itself. And yet, when I consider my own\n situation, a broken fortune, a hopeless passion, friends in distress;\n the wish but not the power to serve them\u2014(_pausing and sighing._)\n _Enter_ BUTLER.\n BUTLER. More company below, sir; Mrs. Croaker and Miss Richland; shall\n I show them up? But they're showing up themselves.\n _Enter_ MRS. CROAKER _and_ MISS RICHLAND.\n MISS RICH. You're always in such spirits.\n MRS. CROAKER. We have just come, my dear Honeywood, from the auction.\n There was the old deaf dowager, as usual, bidding like a fury against\n herself. And then so curious in antiques! herself the most genuine\n piece of antiquity in the whole collection.\n HONEYW. Excuse me, ladies, if some uneasiness from friendship makes me\n unfit to share in this good humour: I know you'll pardon me.\n MRS. CROAKER. I vow, he seems as melancholy as if he had taken a dose\n of my husband this morning. Well, if Richland here can pardon you, I\n must.\n MISS RICH. You would seem to insinuate, madam, that I have particular\n reasons for being disposed to refuse it.\n MRS. CROAKER. Whatever I insinuate, my dear, don't be so ready to wish\n an explanation.\n MISS RICH. I own I should be sorry Mr. Honeywood's long friendship and\n mine should be misunderstood.\n HONEYW. There's no answering for others, madam; but I hope you'll never\n find me presuming to offer more than the most delicate friendship may\n readily allow.\n MISS RICH. And, I shall be prouder of such a tribute from you, than the\n most passionate professions from others.\n HONEYW. My own sentiments, madam: friendship is a disinterested\n commerce between equals; love, an abject intercourse between tyrants\n and slaves.\n MISS RICH. And, without a compliment, I know none more disinterested or\n more capable of friendship than Mr. Honeywood.\n MRS. CROAKER. And indeed I know nobody that has more friends, at least\n among the ladies. Miss Fruzz, Miss Odbody, and Miss Winterbottom,\n praise him in all companies. As for Miss Biddy Bundle, she's his\n professed admirer.\n MISS RICH. Indeed! an admirer! I did not know, sir, you were such a\n favourite there. But is she seriously so handsome? Is she the mighty\n thing talked of?\n HONEYW. The town, madam, seldom begins to praise a lady's beauty, till\n she's beginning to lose it.\n [_Smiling._\n MRS. CROAKER. But she's resolved never to lose it, it seems; for as her\n natural face decays, her skill improves in making the artificial one.\n Well, nothing diverts me more than one of those fine old dressy things,\n who thinks to conceal her age by everywhere exposing her person;\n sticking herself up in the front of a side-box; trailing through a\n minuet at Almack's; and then, in the public gardens, looking for all\n the world like one of the painted ruins of the place.\n HONEYW. Every age has its admirers, ladies. While you, perhaps, are\n trading among the warmer climates of youth, there ought to be some to\n carry on a useful commerce in the frozen latitudes beyond fifty.\n MISS RICH. But then the mortifications they must suffer before they can\n be fitted out for traffic! I have seen one of them fret a whole morning\n at her hair-dresser, when all the fault was her face.\n HONEYW. And yet I'll engage, has carried that face at last to a very\n good market. This good-natured town, madam, has husbands, like\n spectacles, to fit every age, from fifteen to four-score.\n MRS. CROAKER. Well, you're a dear good-natured creature. But you know\n you're engaged with us this morning upon a strolling party. I want to\n show Olivia the town and the things; I believe I shall have business\n for you for the whole day.\n HONEYW. I am sorry, madam, I have an appointment with Mr. Croaker,\n which it is impossible to put off.\n MRS. CROAKER. What! with my husband? Then I'm resolved to take no\n refusal. Nay, I protest you must. You know I never laugh so much as\n with you.\n HONEYW. Why, if I must, I must, I'll swear, you have put me into such\n spirits. Well, do you find jest, and I'll find laugh, I promise you.\n We'll wait for the chariot in the next room.\n _Enter_ LEONTINE _and_ OLIVIA.\n LEONT. There they go, thoughtless and happy. My dearest Olivia, what\n would I give to see you capable of sharing in their amusements, and as\n cheerful as they are!\n OLIVIA. How, my Leontine, how can I be cheerful, when I have so many\n terrors to oppress me? The fear of being detected by this family, and\n the apprehensions of a censuring world, when I must be detected\u2014\u2014\n LEONT. The world! my love, what can it say? At worst, it can only say\n that, being compelled by a mercenary guardian to embrace a life you\n disliked, you formed a resolution of flying with the man of your\n choice; that you confided in his honour, and took refuge in my father's\n house; the only one where yours could remain without censure.\n[Illustration:\n  \"CROAKER.\u2014_Well, and you have both of\n  you a mutual choice._\"\u2014_p._ 279.\n OLIVIA. But consider, Leontine, your disobedience and my indiscretion:\n your being sent to France to bring home a sister; and, instead of a\n sister, bringing home\u2014\u2014\n LEONT. One dearer than a thousand sisters; one that I am convinced will\n be equally dear to the rest of the family, when she comes to be known.\n OLIVIA. And that I fear, will shortly be.\n LEONT. Impossible till we ourselves think proper to make the discovery.\n My sister, you know, has been with her aunt, at Lyons, since she was a\n child; and you find every creature in the family takes you for her.\n OLIVIA. But mayn't she write? mayn't her aunt write?\n LEONT. Her aunt scarce ever writes, and all my sister's letters are\n directed to me.\n OLIVIA. But won't your refusing Miss Richland, for whom you know the\n old gentleman intends you, create a suspicion?\n LEONT. There, there's my masterstroke. I have resolved not to refuse\n her; nay, an hour hence I have consented to go with my father, to make\n her an offer of my heart and fortune.\n OLIVIA. Your heart and fortune!\n LEONT. Don't be alarmed, my dearest. Can Olivia think so meanly of my\n honour, or my love, as to suppose I could ever hope for happiness from\n any but her? No, my Olivia, neither the force, nor permit me to add,\n the delicacy of my passion, leave any room to suspect me. I only offer\n Miss Richland a heart, I am convinced she will refuse; as I am\n confident, that without knowing it, her affections are fixed upon Mr.\n Honeywood.\n OLIVIA. Mr. Honeywood! You'll excuse my apprehensions; but when your\n merits come to be put in the balance\u2014\n LEONT. You view them with too much partiality. However, by making this\n offer, I show a seeming compliance with my father's commands; and\n perhaps, upon her refusal, I may have his consent to choose for myself.\n OLIVIA. Well, I submit. And, yet my Leontine, I own, I shall envy her,\n even your pretended addresses. I consider every look, every expression\n of your esteem, as due only to me. This is folly, perhaps: I allow it;\n but it is natural to suppose, that merit which has made an impression\n on one's own heart, may be powerful over that of another.\n LEONT. Don't, my life's treasure, don't let us make imaginary evils,\n when you know we have so many real ones to encounter. At worst, you\n know, if Miss Richland should consent, or my father refuse his pardon,\n it can but end in a trip to Scotland; and\u2014\u2014\n _Enter_ CROAKER.\n CROAKER. Where have you been, boy? I have been seeking you. My friend\n Honeywood here has been saying such comfortable things. Ah! he's an\n example indeed. Where is he? I left him here.\n LEONT. Sir, I believe you may see him, and hear him too, in the next\n room: he's preparing to go out with the ladies.\n CROAKER. Good gracious, can I believe my eyes or my ears? I'm struck\n dumb with his vivacity, and stunned with the loudness of his laugh. Was\n there ever such a transformation? (_A laugh behind the scenes_; CROAKER\n _mimics it_.) Ha! ha! ha! there it goes: a plague take their\n balderdash; yet I could expect nothing less, when my precious wife was\n of the party. On my conscience, I believe she could spread a\n horse-laugh through the pews of a tabernacle.\n LEONT. Since you find so many objections to a wife, sir, how can you be\n so earnest in recommending one to me?\n CROAKER. I have told you, and tell you again, boy, that Miss Richland's\n fortune must not go out of the family; one may find comfort in the\n money, whatever one does in the wife.\n LEONT. But, sir, though in obedience to your desire, I am ready to\n marry her; it may be possible, she has no inclination to me.\n CROAKER. I'll tell you once for all how it stands. A good part of Miss\n Richland's large fortune consists in a claim upon government, which my\n good friend, Mr. Lofty, assures me the treasury will allow. One half of\n this she is to forfeit, by her father's will, in case she refuses to\n marry you. So if she rejects you, we seize half her fortune; if she\n accepts you, we seize the whole, and a fine girl into the bargain.\n LEONT. But, sir, if you will but listen to reason\u2014\n CROAKER. Come, then produce your reasons. I tell you I'm fixed,\n determined, so now produce your reasons. When I'm determined I always\n listen to reason, because it can then do no harm.\n LEONT. You have alleged that a mutual choice was the first requisite in\n matrimonial happiness\u2014\n CROAKER. Well, and you have both of you a mutual choice. She has her\n choice\u2014to marry you, or lose half her fortune; and you have your\n choice\u2014to marry her, or pack out of doors without any fortune at all.\n LEONT. An only son, sir, might expect more indulgence.\n CROAKER. An only father, sir, might expect more obedience; besides, has\n not your sister here, that never disobliged me in her life, as good a\n right as you? He's a sad dog, Livy my dear, and would take all from\n you. But he shan't, I tell you he shan't, for you shall have your\n share.\n OLIVIA. Dear sir, I wish you'd be convinced that I can never be happy\n in any addition to my fortune, which is taken from his.\n CROAKER. Well, well, it's a good child; so say no more, but come with\n me, and we shall see something that will give us a great deal of\n pleasure, I promise you; old Ruggins, the currycomb maker, lying in\n state: I'm told he makes a very handsome corpse, and becomes his coffin\n prodigiously. He was an intimate friend of mine, and these are friendly\n things we ought to do for each other.\n ACT II.\n SCENE.\u2014CROAKER'S _house_.\n MISS RICHLAND, GARNET.\n MISS RICH. Olivia not his sister? Olivia not Leontine's sister? You\n amaze me!\n GARNET. No more his sister than I am; I had it all from his own\n servant; I can get anything from that quarter.\n MISS RICH. But how? Tell me again, Garnet.\n GARNET. Why madam, as I told you before, instead of going to Lyons to\n bring home his sister, who has been there with her aunt these ten years\n he never went further than Paris; there he saw and fell in love with\n this young lady: by the bye, of a prodigious family.\n MISS RICH. And brought her home to my guardian, as his daughter.\n GARNET. Yes, and daughter she will be. If he don't consent to their\n marriage, they talk of trying what a Scotch parson can do.\n MISS RICH. Well, I own they have deceived me\u2014And so demurely as Olivia\n carried it too!\u2014Would you believe it, Garnet, I told her all my\n secrets; and yet the sly cheat concealed all this from me?\n GARNET. And, upon my word, madam, I don't much blame her; she was loth\n to trust one with her secrets, that was so very bad at keeping her own.\n MISS RICH. But, to add to their deceit, the young gentleman, it seems,\n pretends to make me serious proposals. My guardian and he are to be\n here presently, to open the affair in form. You know I am to lose half\n my fortune if I refuse him.\n GARNET. Yet what can you do? for being, as you are, in love with Mr.\n Honeywood, madam\u2014\n MISS RICH. How, idiot! what do you mean? In love with Mr. Honeywood! Is\n this to provoke me?\n GARNET. That is, madam, in friendship with him; I meant nothing more\n than friendship, as I hope to be married; nothing more.\n MISS RICH. Well, no more of this. As to my guardian and his son, they\n shall find me prepared to receive them; I'm resolved to accept their\n proposal with seeming pleasure, to mortify them by compliance, and so\n throw the refusal at last upon them.\n GARNET. Delicious! and that will secure your whole fortune to yourself.\n Well, who could have thought so innocent a face could cover so much\n cuteness?\n MISS RICH. Why, girl, I only oppose my prudence to their cunning, and\n practise a lesson they have taught me against themselves.\n GARNET. Then you're likely not long to want employment; for here they\n come, and in close conference.\n _Enter_ CROAKER, LEONTINE.\n LEONT. Excuse me, sir, if I seem to hesitate upon the point of putting\n to the lady so important a question.\n CROAKER. Lord, good sir! moderate your fears; you're so plaguy shy,\n that one would think you had changed sexes. I tell you, we must have\n the half or the whole. Come, let me see with what spirit you begin.\n Well, why don't you? Eh? What? Well then\u2014I must, it seems. Miss\n Richland, my dear, I believe you guess at our business; an affair which\n my son here comes to open, that nearly concerns your happiness.\n MISS RICH. Sir, I should be ungrateful not to be pleased with anything\n that comes recommended by you.\n CROAKER. How, boy, could you desire a finer opportunity? Why don't you\n begin, I say?\n [_To_ LEONT.\n LEONT. 'Tis true, madam, my father, madam, has some intentions\u2014hem\u2014of\n explaining an affair\u2014which\u2014himself\u2014can best explain, madam.\n CROAKER. Yes, my dear; it comes entirely from my son; it's all a\n request of his own, madam. And I will permit him to make the best of\n it.\n LEONT. The whole affair is only this, madam; my father has a proposal\n to make, which he insists none but himself shall deliver.\n CROAKER. My mind misgives me, the fellow will never be brought on.\n (_Aside._) In short, madam, you see before you one that loves you; one\n whose whole happiness is all in you.\n MISS RICH. I never had any doubts of your regard, sir; and I hope you\n can have none of my duty.\n[Illustration:\n  GARNET.\u2014\"_For being, as you are,\n  in love with Mr. Honeywood, madam._\"\u2014_p._ 280.\n CROAKER. That's not the thing, my little sweeting, my love. No, no,\n another-guess lover than I, there he stands, madam; his very looks\n declare the force of his passion\u2014Call up a look, you dog\u2014But then, had\n you seen him, as I have, weeping, speaking soliloquies and blank verse,\n sometimes melancholy, and sometimes absent\u2014\n MISS RICH. I fear, sir, he's absent now; or such a declaration would\n have come most properly from himself.\n CROAKER. Himself, madam! He would die before he could make such a\n confession; and if he had not a channel for his passion through me, it\n would ere now have drowned his understanding.\n MISS RICH. I must grant, sir, there are attractions in modest\n diffidence, above the force of words. A silent address is the genuine\n eloquence of sincerity.\n CROAKER. Madam, he has forgot to speak any other language; silence is\n become his mother-tongue.\n MISS RICH. And it must be confessed, sir, it speaks very powerful in\n his favour. And yet, I shall be thought too forward in making such a\n confession; shan't I, Mr. Leontine?\n LEONT. Confusion! my reserve will undo me. But, if modesty attracts\n her, impudence may disgust her. I'll try. (_Aside._) Don't imagine from\n my silence, madam, that I want a due sense of the honour and happiness\n intended me. My father, madam, tells me, your humble servant is not\n totally indifferent to you. He admires you; I adore you; and when we\n come together, upon my soul I believe we shall be the happiest couple\n in all St. James's.\n MISS RICH. If I could flatter myself, you thought as you speak, sir\u2014\n LEONT. Doubt my sincerity, madam? By your dear self I swear. Ask the\n brave if they desire glory, ask cowards if they covet safety\u2014\n CROAKER. Well, well, no more questions about it.\n LEONT. Ask the sick if they long for health, ask misers if they love\n money, ask\u2014\n CROAKER. Ask a fool if he can talk nonsense! What's come over the boy?\n What signifies asking, when there's not a soul to give you an answer?\n If you would ask to the purpose, ask this lady's consent to make you\n happy.\n MISS RICH. Why indeed, sir, his uncommon ardour almost compels me,\n forces me, to comply, And yet I am afraid he'll despise a conquest\n gained with too much ease; won't you Mr. Leontine?\n LEONT. Confusion! (_Aside._) O, by no means, madam, by no means. And\n yet, madam, you talked of force. There is nothing I would avoid so much\n as compulsion in a thing of this kind. No, madam; I will still be\n generous, and leave you at liberty to refuse.\n CROAKER. But I tell you, sir, the lady is not at liberty. It's a match.\n You see she says nothing. Silence gives consent.\n LEONT. But, sir, she talked of force. Consider, sir, the cruelty of\n constraining her inclinations.\n CROAKER. But I say there's no cruelty. Don't you know, blockhead, that\n girls have always a round-about way of saying Yes before company? So\n get you both gone together into the next room, and hang him that\n interrupts the tender explanation. Get you gone, I say; I'll not hear a\n word.\n LEONT. But, sir, I must beg leave to insist\u2014\n CROAKER. Get off, you puppy, or I'll beg leave to insist upon knocking\n you down. Stupid whelp! But I don't wonder; the boy takes entirely\n after his mother.\n                    [_Exeunt_ MISS RICH. _and_ LEONT.\n _Enter_ MRS. CROAKER.\n MRS. CROAKER. Mr. Croaker, I bring you something, my dear, that I\n believe will make you smile.\n CROAKER. I'll hold you a guinea of that, my dear.\n MRS. CROAKER. A letter; and, as I knew the hand, I ventured to open it.\n CROAKER. And how can you expect your breaking open my letters should\n give me pleasure?\n MRS. CROAKER. Pooh, it's from your sister at Lyons, and contains good\n news: read it.\n[Illustration:\n  LEONT.\u2014\"_But, if modesty attracts her,\n  impudence may disgust her. I'll try._\"\u2014_p._ 282.\n CROAKER. What a Frenchified cover is here! That sister of mine has some\n good qualities, but I could never teach her to fold a letter.\n MRS. CROAKER. Fold a fiddlestick! Read what it contains.\n CROAKER. (_reading._) \"Dear Nick,\u2014An English gentleman, of large\n fortune, has for some time made private, though honourable, proposals\n to your daughter Olivia. They love each other tenderly, and I find she\n has consented, without letting any of the family know, to crown his\n addresses. As such good offers don't come every day, your own good\n sense, his large fortune, and family considerations, will induce you to\n forgive her.\u2014Yours ever, Rachel Croaker.\" My daughter Olivia privately\n contracted to a man of large fortune! This is good news indeed. My\n heart never foretold me of this. And yet, how slily the little baggage\n has carried it since she came home! Not a word on't to the old ones,\n for the world! Yet I thought I saw something she wanted to conceal.\n MRS. CROAKER. Well, if they have concealed their amour, they shan't\n conceal their wedding; that shall be public, I'm resolved.\n CROAKER. I tell thee, woman, the wedding is the most foolish part of\n the ceremony. I can never get this woman to think of the more serious\n part of the nuptial engagement.\n MRS. CROAKER. What, would you have me think of their funeral? But come,\n tell me, my dear, don't you owe more to me than you care to confess?\n Would you have ever been known to Mr. Lofty, who has undertaken Miss\n Richland's claim at the Treasury, but for me? Who was it first made him\n an acquaintance at Lady Shabbaroon's rout? Who got him to promise us\n his interest? Is not he a back-stairs favourite, one that can do what\n he pleases with those that do what they please? Isn't he an\n acquaintance that all your groaning and lamentations could never have\n got us?\n CROAKER. He is a man of importance, I grant you; and yet, what amazes\n me is, that while he is giving away places to all the world, he can't\n get one for himself.\n MRS. CROAKER. That perhaps may be owing to his nicety. Great men are\n not easily satisfied.\n _Enter_ FRENCH SERVANT.\n SERVANT. An expresse from Monsieur Lofty. He vil be vait upon your\n honours instamment. He be only giving four five instruction, read two\n tree memorial, call upon von ambassadeur. He vil be vid you in one tree\n minutes.\n MRS. CROAKER. You see now, my dear, what an extensive department. Well,\n friend, let your master know, that we are extremely honoured by this\n honour. Was there any thing ever in a higher style of breeding? All\n messages among the great are now done by express.\n CROAKER. To be sure, no man does little things with more solemnity, or\n claims more respect, than he. But he's in the right on't. In our bad\n world, respect is given where respect is claimed.\n MRS. CROAKER. Never mind the world, my dear; you were never in a\n pleasanter place in your life. Let us now think of receiving him with\n proper respect: (_a loud rapping at the door_) and there he is, by the\n thundering rap.\n CROAKER. Ay, verily, there he is; as close upon the heels of his own\n express, as an endorsement upon the back of a bill. Well, I'll leave\n you to receive him, whilst I go to chide my little Olivia for intending\n to steal a marriage without mine or her aunt's consent. I must seem to\n be angry, or she too may begin to despise my authority.\n _Enter_ LOFTY, _speaking to his_ SERVANT.\n LOFTY. And if the Venetian ambassador, or that teazing creature the\n marquis, should call, I'm not at home. Dam'me, I'll be packhorse to\n none of them. My dear madam, I have just snatched a moment\u2014and if the\n expresses to his grace be ready, let them be sent off; they're of\n importance. Madam, I ask a thousand pardons.\n MRS. CROAKER. Sir, this honour\u2014\n LOFTY. And, Dubardieu, if the person calls about the commission, let\n him know that it is made out. As for Lord Cumbercourt's stale request;\n it can keep cold: you understand me. Madam, I ask ten thousand pardons.\n MRS. CROAKER. Sir, this honour\u2014\n LOFTY. And, Dubardieu, if the man comes from the Cornish borough, you\n must do him; you must do him, I say. Madam, I ask ten thousand pardons.\n And if the Russian ambassador calls; but he will scarce call to-day, I\n believe. And now, madam, I have just got time to express my happiness\n in having the honour of being permitted to profess myself your most\n obedient humble servant.\n MRS. CROAKER. Sir, the happiness and honour are all mine: and yet I'm\n only robbing the public while I detain you.\n LOFTY. Sink the public, madam, when the fair are to be attended. Ah,\n could all my hours be so charmingly devoted! Sincerely, don't you pity\n us poor creatures in affairs? Thus it is eternally; solicited for\n places here, teazed for pensions there, and courted everywhere. I know\n you pity me. Yes, I see you do.\n MRS. CROAKER. Excuse me, sir; \"Toils of empires pleasures are,\" as\n Waller says.\n LOFTY. Waller, Waller; is he of the house?\n MRS. CROAKER. The modern poet of that name, sir.\n LOFTY. Oh, a modern! We men of business despise the moderns; and as for\n the ancients, we have no time to read them. Poetry is a pretty thing\n enough for our wives and daughters; but not for us. Why now, here I\n stand that know nothing of books; I say, madam, I know nothing of\n books; and yet, I believe, upon a land carriage fishery, a stamp act,\n or a jaghire, I can talk my two hours without feeling the want of them.\n MRS. CROAKER. The world is no stranger to Mr. Lofty's eminence in every\n capacity.\n LOFTY. I vow to gad, madam, you make me blush. I'm nothing, nothing,\n nothing, in the world; a mere obscure gentleman. To be sure, indeed,\n one or two of the present ministers are pleased to represent me as a\n formidable man. I know they are pleased to bespatter me at all their\n little dirty levees. Yet, upon my soul, I wonder what they see in me to\n treat me so. Measures, not men, have always been my mark; and I vow, by\n all that's honourable, my resentment has never done the men, as mere\n men, any manner of harm\u2014that is, as mere men.\n MRS. CROAKER. What importance, and yet what modesty!\n LOFTY. Oh, if you talk of modesty, madam; there, I own, I'm accessible\n to praise: modesty is my foible: it was so, the Duke of Brentford used\n to say of me. I love Jack Lofty, he used to say: no man has a finer\n knowledge of things; quite a man of information; and when he speaks\n upon his legs, by the Lord he's prodigious; he scouts them: and yet all\n men have their faults; too much modesty is his, says his grace.\n MRS. CROAKER. And yet, I dare say, you don't want assurance when you\n come to solicit for your friends.\n LOFTY. O, there indeed I'm in bronze. Apropos, I have just been\n mentioning Miss Richland's case to a certain personage; we must name no\n names. When I ask, I am not to be put off, madam. No, no, I take my\n friend by the button. \"A fine girl, sir; great justice in her case. A\n friend of mine. Borough interest. Business must be done, Mr. Secretary.\n I say, Mr. Secretary, her business must be done, sir.\" That's my way,\n madam.\n MRS. CROAKER. Bless me! you said all this to the secretary of state,\n did you?\n LOFTY. I did not say the secretary, did I? Well, curse it, since you\n have found me out I will not deny it. It was to the secretary.\n MRS. CROAKER. This was going to the fountain head at once; not applying\n to the understrappers, as Mr. Honeywood would have had us.\n LOFTY. Honeywood! he-he! He was, indeed, a fine solicitor. I suppose\n you have heard what has just happened to him?\n MRS. CROAKER. Poor dear man! No accident, I hope.\n LOFTY. Undone, madam, that's all. His creditors have taken him into\n custody. A prisoner in his own house.\n MRS. CROAKER. A prisoner in his own house! How! At this very time? I'm\n quite unhappy for him.\n LOFTY. Why, so am I. The man, to be sure, was immensely good-natured;\n but then, I could never find that he had anything in him.\n MRS. CROAKER. His manner, to be sure, was excessive harmless; some,\n indeed, thought it a little dull. For my part I always concealed my\n opinion.\n LOFTY. It can't be concealed, madam: the man was dull, dull as the last\n new comedy! A poor impracticable creature! I tried once or twice to\n know if he was fit for business, but he had scarce talents to be\n groom-porter to an orange barrow.\n MRS. CROAKER. How differently does Miss Richland think of him! for, I\n believe, with all his faults, she loves him.\n LOFTY. Loves him! Does she? You should cure her of that, by all means.\n Let me see: what if she were sent to him this instant, in his present\n doleful situation? My life for it, that works her cure. Distress is a\n perfect antidote to love. Suppose we join her in the next room? Miss\n Richland is a fine girl, has a fine fortune, and must not be thrown\n away. Upon my honour, madam, I have a regard for Miss Richland; and,\n rather than she should be thrown away, I should think it no indignity\n to marry her myself.\n _Enter_ OLIVIA _and_ LEONTINE.\n LEONT. And yet, trust me, Olivia, I had every reason to expect Miss\n Richland's refusal, as I did everything in my power to deserve it. Her\n indelicacy surprises me.\n OLIVIA. Sure, Leontine, there's nothing so indelicate in being sensible\n of your merit. If so, I fear I shall be the most guilty thing alive.\n LEONT. But you mistake, my dear. The same attention I used to advance\n my merit with you, I practised to lessen it with her. What more could I\n do?\n OLIVIA. Let us now rather consider what's to be done. We have both\n dissembled too long. I have always been ashamed, I am now quite weary,\n of it. Sure, I could never have undergone so much for any other but\n you.\n LEONT. And you shall find my gratitude equal to your kindest\n compliance. Though our friends should totally forsake us, Olivia, we\n can draw upon content for the deficiencies of fortune.\n OLIVIA. Then why should we defer our scheme of humble happiness, when\n it is now in our power? I may be the favourite of your father, it is\n true; but can it ever be thought, that his present kindness to a\n supposed child, will continue to a known deceiver?\n LEONT. I have many reasons to believe it will. As his attachments are\n but few, they are lasting. His own marriage was a private one, as ours\n may be. Besides, I have sounded him already at a distance, and find all\n his answers exactly to our wish. Nay by an expression or two that\n dropp'd from him, I am induced to think he knows of this affair.\n OLIVIA. Indeed! But that would be a happiness too great to be expected.\n LEONT. However it be, I'm certain you have power over him; and am\n persuaded, if you informed him of our situation, that he would be\n disposed to pardon it.\n OLIVIA. You had equal expectations, Leontine, from your last scheme\n with Miss Richland, which you find has succeeded most wretchedly.\n LEONT. And that's the best reason for trying another.\n OLIVIA. If it must be so, I submit.\n LEONT. As we could wish, he comes this way. Now, my dearest Olivia, be\n resolute. I'll just retire within hearing, to come in at a proper time,\n either to share your danger, or confirm your victory.\n _Enter_ CROAKER.\n CROAKER. Yes, I must forgive her; and yet not too easily, neither. It\n will be proper to keep up the decorums of resentment a little, if it be\n only to impress her with an idea of my authority.\n OLIVIA. How I tremble to approach him!\u2014Might I presume, sir\u2014If I\n interrupt you\u2014\n CROAKER. No, child; where I have an affection, it is not a little thing\n can interrupt me. Affection gets over little things.\n OLIVIA. Sir, you're too kind. I'm sensible how ill I deserve this\n partiality. Yet Heaven knows there is nothing I would not do to gain\n it.\n CROAKER. And you have but too well succeeded, you little hussy, you.\n With those endearing ways of yours, on my conscience, I could be\n brought to forgive any thing, unless it were a very great offence\n indeed.\n OLIVIA. But mine is such an offence\u2014When you know my guilt\u2014Yes, you\n shall know it, though I feel the greatest pain in the confession.\n CROAKER. Why then, if it be so very great a pain, you may spare\n yourself the trouble, for I know every syllable of the matter before\n you begin.\n OLIVIA. Indeed! Then I'm undone.\n CROAKER. Ay, miss, you wanted to steal a match, without letting me know\n it, did you? But I'm not worth being consulted, I suppose, when there's\n to be a marriage in my own family. No, I'm to have no hand in the\n disposal of my own children. No, I'm nobody. I'm to be a mere article\n of family lumber; a piece of crack'd china to be stuck up in a corner.\n OLIVIA. Dear sir, nothing but the dread of your authority could induce\n us to conceal it from you.\n CROAKER. No, no, my consequence is no more; I'm as little minded as a\n dead Russian in winter, just stuck up with a pipe in his mouth till\n there comes a thaw\u2014It goes to my heart to vex her.\n OLIVIA. I was prepared, sir, for your anger, and despaired of pardon,\n even while I presumed to ask it. But your severity shall never abate my\n affection, as my punishment is but justice.\n CROAKER. And yet you should not despair neither, Livy. We ought to hope\n all for the best.\n OLIVIA. And do you permit me to hope, sir? Can I ever expect to be\n forgiven? But hope has too long deceived me.\n CROAKER. Why then, child, it shan't deceive you now, for I forgive you\n this very moment; I forgive you all; and now you are indeed my\n daughter.\n OLIVIA. O transport! This kindness overpowers me.\n CROAKER. I was always against severity to our children. We have been\n young and giddy ourselves, and we can't expect boys and girls to be old\n before their time.\n OLIVIA. What generosity! But can you forget the many falsehoods, the\n dissimulation\u2014\u2014\n CROAKER. You did indeed dissemble, you urchin you; but where's the girl\n that won't dissemble for a husband? My wife and I had never been\n married, if we had not dissembled a little beforehand.\n OLIVIA. It shall be my future care never to put such generosity to a\n second trial. And as for the partner of my offence and folly, from his\n native honour, and the just sense he has of his duty, I can answer for\n him that\u2014\u2014\n _Enter_ LEONTINE.\n LEONT. Permit him thus to answer for himself. (_Kneeling._) Thus, sir,\n let me speak my gratitude for this unmerited forgiveness. Yes, sir,\n this even exceeds all your former tenderness: I now can boast the most\n indulgent of fathers. The life he gave, compared to this, was but a\n trifling blessing.\n CROAKER. And, good sir, who sent for you, with that fine tragedy face,\n and flourishing manner? I don't know what we have to do with your\n gratitude upon this occasion.\n LEONT. How, sir, is it possible to be silent when so much obliged?\n Would you refuse me the pleasure of being grateful? Of adding my thanks\n to my Olivia's? Of sharing in the transports that you have thus\n occasioned?\n CROAKER. Lord, sir, we can be happy enough, without your coming in to\n make up the party. I don't know what's the matter with the boy all this\n day; he has got into such a rhodomontade manner all the morning!\n LEONT. But, sir, I that have so large a part in the benefit, is it not\n my duty to show my joy? Is the being admitted to your favour so slight\n an obligation? Is the happiness of marrying my Olivia so small a\n blessing?\n CROAKER. Marrying Olivia! marrying Olivia! marrying his own sister!\n Sure the boy is out of his senses! His own sister!\n LEONT. My sister!\n OLIVIA. Sister! How have I been mistaken!\n _Aside._\n LEONT. Some cursed mistake in all this, I find.\n _Aside._\n CROAKER. What does the booby mean, or has he any meaning? Eh, what do\n you mean, you blockhead you?\n LEONT. Mean, sir\u2014why, sir\u2014only when my sister is to be married, that I\n have the pleasure of marrying her, sir; that is, of giving her away,\n sir\u2014I have made a point of it.\n CROAKER. O, is that all? Give her away. You have made a point of it.\n Then you had as good make a point of first giving away yourself, as I'm\n going to prepare the writings between you and Miss Richland this very\n minute. What a fuss is here about nothing! Why, what's the matter now?\n I thought I had made you at least as happy as you could wish.\n[Illustration:\n  BAILIFF.\u2014\"_Look-ye, sir, I have arrested\n  as good men as you in my time._\"\u2014_p._ 290.\n OLIVIA. Oh! yes, sir, very happy.\n CROAKER. Do you foresee anything, child? You look as if you did. I\n think if anything was to be foreseen, I have as sharp a look-out as\n another: and yet I foresee nothing.\n LEONTINE, OLIVIA.\n OLIVIA. What can it mean?\n LEONT. He knows something, and yet for my life I can't tell what.\n OLIVIA. It can't be the connexion between us, I'm pretty certain.\n LEONT. Whatever it be, my dearest, I'm resolved to put it out of\n Fortune's power to repeat our mortification. I'll haste, and prepare\n for our journey to Scotland this very evening. My friend Honeywood has\n promised me his advice and assistance. I'll go to him, and repose our\n distresses on his friendly bosom: and I know so much of his honest\n heart, that if he can't relieve our uneasinesses, he will at least\n share them.\n SCENE.\u2014YOUNG HONEYWOOD'S _House_.\n BAILIFF, HONEYWOOD, FOLLOWER.\n BAILIFF. Look-ye, sir, I have arrested as good men as you in my time;\n no disparagement of you neither. Men that would go forty guineas on a\n game of cribbage. I challenge the town to show a man in more genteeler\n practice than myself.\n HONEYW. Without all question, Mr. \u2014\u2014. I forget your name, sir?\n BAILIFF. How can you forget what you never knew? he, he, he!\n HONEYW. May I beg leave to ask your name?\n BAILIFF. Yes, you may.\n HONEYW. Then, pray, sir, what is your name, sir?\n BAILIFF. That I didn't promise to tell you; he, he, he! A joke breaks\n no bones, as we say among us that practise the law.\n HONEYW. You may have reason for keeping it a secret perhaps.\n BAILIFF. The law does nothing without reason. I'm ashamed to tell my\n name to no man, sir. If you can show cause, as why, upon a special\n capus, that I should prove my name\u2014But, come, Timothy Twitch is my\n name. And, now you know my name, what have you to say to that?\n HONEYW. Nothing in the world, good Mr. Twitch, but that I have a favour\n to ask, that's all.\n BAILIFF. Ay, favours are more easily asked than granted, as we say\n among us that practise the law. I have taken an oath against granting\n favours. Would you have me perjure myself?\n HONEYW. But my request will come recommended in so strong a manner, as,\n I believe, you'll have no scruple. (_Pulling out his purse._) The thing\n is only this: I believe I shall be able to discharge this trifle in two\n or three days at farthest; but as I would not have the affair known for\n the world, I have thought of keeping you, and your good friend here,\n about me till the debt is discharged; for which I shall be properly\n grateful.\n BAILIFF. Oh! that's another maxum, and altogether within my oath. For\n certain, if an honest man is to get anything by a thing, there's no\n reason why all things should not be done in civility.\n HONEYW. Doubtless, all trades must live, Mr. Twitch, and yours is a\n necessary one. (_Gives him money._)\n BAILIFF. Oh! your honour; I hope your honour takes nothing amiss as I\n does, as I does nothing but my duty in so doing. I'm sure no man can\n say I ever give a gentleman, that was a gentleman, ill-usage. If I saw\n that a gentleman was a gentleman, I have taken money not to see him for\n ten weeks together.\n HONEYW. Tenderness is a virtue, Mr. Twitch.\n BAILIFF. Ay, sir, it's a perfect treasure. I love to see a gentleman\n with a tender heart. I don't know, but I think I have a tender heart\n myself. If all that I have lost by my heart was put together, it would\n make a\u2014but no matter for that.\n HONEYW. Don't account it lost, Mr. Twitch. The ingratitude of the world\n can never deprive us of the conscious happiness of having acted with\n humanity ourselves.\n BAILIFF. Humanity, sir, is a jewel. It's better than gold. I love\n humanity. People may say that we, in our way, have no humanity; but\n I'll show you my humanity this moment. There's my follower here, little\n Flanigan, with a wife and four children, a guinea or two would be more\n to him, than twice as much to another. Now, as I can't show him any\n humanity myself, I must beg you'll do it for me.\n HONEYW. I assure you, Mr. Twitch, yours is a most powerful\n recommendation. (_Giving money to the_ FOLLOWER.)\n BAILIFF. Sir, you're a gentleman. I see you know what to do with your\n money. But, to business: we are to be with you here as your friends, I\n suppose. But set in case company comes.\u2014Little Flanigan here, to be\n sure, has a good face; a very good face; but then, he is a little\n seedy, as we say among us that practise the law. Not well in clothes.\n Smoke the pocket-holes.\n HONEYW. Well, that should be remedied without delay.\n _Enter_ SERVANT.\n SERVANT. Sir, Miss Richland is below.\n HONEYW. How unlucky! Detain her a moment. We must improve, my good\n friend, little Mr. Flanigan's appearance first. Here, let Mr. Flanigan\n have a suit of my clothes\u2014quick\u2014the brown and silver\u2014Do you hear?\n SERVANT. That your honour gave away to the begging gentleman that makes\n verses, because it was as good as new.\n HONEYW. The white and gold then.\n SERVANT. That, your honour, I made bold to sell because it was good for\n nothing.\n HONEYW. Well, the first that comes to hand then. The blue and gold. I\n believe Mr. Flanigan will look best in blue.\n BAILIFF. Rabbit me, but little Flanigan will look well in anything. Ah,\n if your honour knew that bit of flesh as well as I do, you'd be\n perfectly in love with him. There's not a prettier scout in the four\n counties after a shy-cock than he. Scents like a hound; sticks like a\n weasel. He was master of the ceremonies to the black queen of Morocco\n when I took him to follow me. [_Re-enter_ FLANIGAN.] Heh, ecod, I think\n he looks so well, that I don't care if I have a suit from the same\n place for myself.\n HONEYW. Well, well, I hear the lady coming. Dear Mr. Twitch, I beg\n you'll give your friend directions not to speak. As for yourself, I\n know you will say nothing without being directed.\n BAILIFF. Never you fear me, I'll show the lady that I have something to\n say for myself as well as another. One man has one way of talking, and\n another man has another, that's all the difference between them.\n _Enter_ MISS RICHLAND _and her_ MAID.\n MISS RICH. You'll be surprised, sir, with this visit. But you know I'm\n yet to thank you for choosing my little library.\n HONEYW. Thanks, madam, are unnecessary, as it was I that was obliged by\n your commands. Chairs here. Two of my very good friends, Mr. Twitch,\n and Mr. Flanigan. Pray, gentlemen, sit without ceremony.\n MISS RICH. Who can these odd-looking men be? I fear it is as I was\n informed. It must be so.\n _Aside._\n BAILIFF (_after a pause_). Pretty weather, very pretty weather, for the\n time of the year, madam.\n FOLLOWER. Very good circuit weather in the country.\n HONEYW. You officers are generally favourites among the ladies. My\n friends, madam, have been upon very disagreeable duty, I assure you.\n The fair should, in some measure, recompense the toils of the brave.\n MISS RICH. Our officers do indeed deserve every favour. The gentlemen\n are in the marine service, I presume, sir?\n HONEYW. Why, madam, they do\u2014occasionally serve in the Fleet, madam. A\n dangerous service.\n MISS RICH. I'm told so. And I own, it has often surprised me, that,\n while we have had so many instances of bravery there, we have had so\n few of wit at home to praise it.\n HONEYW. I grant, madam, that our poets have not written as our soldiers\n have fought; but, they have done all they could, and Hawke or Amherst\n could do no more.\n MISS RICH. I'm quite displeased when I see a fine subject spoiled by a\n dull writer.\n HONEYW. We should not be so severe against dull writers, madam. It is\n ten to one, but the dullest writer exceeds the most rigid French critic\n who presumes to despise him.\n FOLLOWER. Damn the French, the parle vous, and all that belongs to\n them.\n MISS RICH. Sir!\n HONEYW. Ha, ha, ha, honest Mr. Flanigan. A true English officer, madam;\n he's not contented with beating the French, but he will scold them too.\n MISS RICH. Yet, Mr. Honeywood, this does not convince me but that\n severity in criticism is necessary. It was our first adopting the\n severity of French taste, that has brought them in turn to taste us.\n BAILIFF. Taste us! By the Lord, madam, they devour us. Give Monseers\n but a taste, and I'll be damn'd, but they come in for a bellyful.\n MISS RICH. Very extraordinary this.\n FOLLOWER. But very true. What makes the bread rising? the parle vous\n that devour us. What makes the mutton five pence a pound? the parle\n vous that eat it up. What makes the beer threepence halfpenny a pot\u2014\n HONEYW. Ah! the vulgar rogues, all will be out. Right, gentlemen, very\n right upon my word, and quite to the purpose. They draw a parallel,\n madam, between the mental taste, and that of our senses. We are injured\n as much by French severity in the one, as by French rapacity in the\n other. That's their meaning.\n MISS RICH. Though I don't see the force of the parallel, yet, I'll own,\n that we should sometimes pardon books, as we do our friends, that have\n now and then agreeable absurdities to recommend them.\n[Illustration:\n  BAILIFF.\u2014\"_Taste us! By the Lord,\n  madam, they devour us._\"\u2014_p._ 292.\n BAILIFF. That's all my eye. The king only can pardon, as the law says;\n for set in case\u2014\u2014\n HONEYW. I'm quite of your opinion, sir. I see the whole drift of your\n argument. Yes, certainly our presuming to pardon any work, is\n arrogating a power that belongs to another. If all have power to\n condemn, what writer can be free?\n BAILIFF. By his habus corpus. His habus corpus can set him free at any\n time. For set in case\u2014\n HONEYW. I'm obliged to you, sir, for the hint. If madam, as my friend\n observes, our laws are so careful of a gentleman's person, sure we\n ought to be equally careful of his dearer part, his fame.\n FOLLOWER. Ay, but if so be a man's nabbed, you know\u2014\n HONEYW. Mr. Flanigan, if you spoke for ever, you could not improve the\n last observation. For my own part, I think it conclusive.\n BAILIFF. As for the matter of that, mayhap\u2014\u2014\n HONEYW. Nay, sir, give me leave in this instance to be positive. For\n where is the necessity of censuring works without genius, which must\n shortly sink of themselves: what is it, but aiming our unnecessary blow\n against a victim already under the hands of justice?\n BAILIFF. Justice! O, by the elevens, if you talk about justice, I think\n I am at home there; for, in a course of law\u2014\n HONEYW. My dear Mr. Twitch, I discern what you'd be at perfectly, and I\n believe the lady must be sensible of the art with which it is\n introduced. I suppose you perceive the meaning, madam, of his course of\n law?\n MISS RICH. I protest, sir, I do not. I perceive only that you answer\n one gentleman before he has finished, and the other before he has well\n begun.\n BAILIFF. Madam, you are a gentlewoman, and I will make the matter out.\n This here question is about severity and justice, and pardon, and the\n like of they. Now to explain the thing\u2014\n HONEYW. O! curse your explanations.\n _Aside._\n _Enter_ SERVANT.\n SERVANT. Mr. Leontine, sir, below, desires to speak with you upon\n earnest business.\n HONEYW. That's lucky (_aside._) Dear madam, you'll excuse me, and my\n good friends here, for a few minutes. There are books, madam, to amuse\n you. Come, gentlemen, you know I make no ceremony with such friends.\n After you, sir. Excuse me. Well, if I must; but I know your natural\n politeness.\n BAILIFF. Before and behind, you know.\n FOLLOWER. Ay, ay, before and behind, before and behind.\n [_Exeunt_ HONEYWOOD, BAILIFF, _and_ FOLLOWER.\n MISS RICH. What can all this mean, Garnet?\n GARNET. Mean, madam? why, what should it mean, but what Mr. Lofty sent\n you here to see? These people he calls officers, are officers sure\n enough: sheriff's officers; bailiffs, madam.\n MISS RICH. Ay, it is certainly so. Well, though his perplexities are\n far from giving me pleasure; yet I own there's something very\n ridiculous in them, and a just punishment for his dissimulation.\n GARNET. And so they are. But I wonder, madam, that the lawyer you just\n employed to pay his debts and set him free, has not done it by this\n time. He ought at least to have been here before now. But lawyers are\n always more ready to get a man into troubles, than out of them.\n _Enter_ SIR WILLIAM.\n SIR WILL. For Miss Richland to undertake setting him free, I own, was\n quite unexpected. It has totally unhinged my schemes to reclaim him.\n Yet, it gives me pleasure to find, that, among a number of worthless\n friendships, he has made one acquisition of real value; for there must\n be some softer passion on her side that prompts this generosity. Ha!\n here before me: I'll endeavour to sound her affections. Madam, as I am\n the person that have had some demands upon the gentleman of this house,\n I hope you'll excuse me, if, before I enlarged him, I wanted to see\n yourself.\n MISS RICH. The precaution was very unnecessary, sir. I suppose your\n wants were only such as my agent had power to satisfy.\n SIR WILL. Partly, madam. But, I was also willing you should be fully\n apprised of the character of the gentleman you intended to serve.\n MISS RICH. It must come, sir, with a very ill grace from you. To\n censure it, after what you have done, would look like malice; and to\n speak favourably of a character you have oppressed, would be impeaching\n your own. And sure, his tenderness, his humanity, his universal\n friendship, may atone for many faults.\n SIR WILL. That friendship, madam, which is exerted in too wide a\n sphere, becomes totally useless. Our bounty, like a drop of water,\n disappears when diffused too widely. They, who pretend most to this\n universal benevolence, are either deceivers, or dupes\u2014men who desire to\n cover their private ill-nature by a pretended regard for all; or men\n who, reasoning themselves into false feelings, are more earnest in\n pursuit of splendid, than of useful virtues.\n MISS RICH. I am surprised, sir, to hear one who has probably been a\n gainer by the folly of others, so severe in his censure of it.\n SIR WILL. Whatever I may have gained by folly, madam, you see I am\n willing to prevent your losing by it.\n MISS RICH. Your cares for me, sir, are unnecessary. I always suspect\n those services which are denied where they are wanted, and offered,\n perhaps, in hopes of a refusal. No, sir, my directions have been given,\n and I insist upon their being complied with.\n SIR WILL. Thou amiable woman, I can no longer contain the expressions\n of my gratitude\u2014my pleasure. You see before you one who has been\n equally careful of his interest: one, who has for some time been a\n concealed spectator of his follies, and only punished, in hopes to\n reclaim them\u2014His uncle.\n MISS RICH. Sir William Honeywood! You amaze me! How shall I conceal my\n confusion? I fear, sir, you'll think I have been too forward in my\n services. I confess I\u2014\u2014\n SIR WILL. Don't make any apologies, madam. I only find myself unable to\n repay the obligation. And yet, I have been trying my interest of late\n to serve you. Having learnt, madam, that you had some demands upon\n government, I have, though unasked, been your solicitor there.\n MISS RICH. Sir, I am infinitely obliged to your intentions; but my\n guardian has employed another gentleman, who assures him of success.\n SIR WILL. Who, the important little man that visits here? Trust me,\n madam, he's quite contemptible among men in power, and utterly unable\n to serve you. Mr. Lofty's promises are much better known to people of\n fashion than his person, I assure you.\n MISS RICH. How have we been deceived! As sure as can be, here he comes.\n SIR WILL. Does he? Remember I'm to continue unknown. My return to\n England has not as yet been made public. With what impudence he enters!\n _Enter_ LOFTY.\n LOFTY. Let the chariot\u2014let my chariot drive off, I'll visit to his\n grace's in a chair. Miss Richland here before me! Punctual, as usual,\n to the calls of humanity. I'm very sorry, madam, things of this kind\n should happen, especially to a man I have shown every where, and\n carried amongst us as a particular acquaintance.\n MISS RICH. I find, sir, you have the art of making the misfortunes of\n others your own.\n LOFTY. My dear madam, what can a private man like me do? One man can't\n do everything; and then, I do so much in this way every day. Let me\n see, something considerable might be done for him by subscription; it\n could not fail if I carried the list. I'll undertake to set down a\n brace of dukes, two dozen lords, and half the lower house, at my own\n peril.\n SIR WILL. And after all, it is more than probable, sir, he might reject\n the offer, of such powerful patronage.\n LOFTY. Then, madam, what can we do? You know I never make promises. In\n truth, I once or twice tried to do something with him in the way of\n business; but as I often told his uncle, Sir William Honeywood, the man\n was utterly impracticable.\n SIR WILL. His uncle! Then that gentleman, I suppose, is a particular\n friend of yours?\n LOFTY. Meaning me, sir?\u2014Yes, madam, as I often said, My dear Sir\n William, you are sensible I would do anything as far as my poor\n interest goes, to serve your family; but what can be done? there's no\n procuring first-rate places for ninth-rate abilities.\n MISS RICH. I have heard of Sir William Honeywood; he's abroad in\n employment; he confided in your judgment, I suppose.\n LOFTY. Why, yes, madam; I believe Sir William had some reason to\n confide in my judgment; one little reason, perhaps.\n MISS RICH. Pray, sir, what was it?\n LOFTY. Why, madam\u2014but let it go no further\u2014it was I procured him his\n place.\n SIR WILL. Did you, sir?\n LOFTY. Either you or I, sir.\n MISS RICH. This, Mr. Lofty, was very kind, indeed.\n LOFTY. I did love him, to be sure; he had some amusing qualities; no\n man was fitter to be toastmaster to a club, or had a better head.\n MISS RICH. A better head?\n LOFTY. Ay, at a bottle. To be sure he was as dull as a choice spirit;\n but hang it, he was grateful, very grateful; and gratitude hides a\n multitude of faults.\n SIR WILL. He might have reason, perhaps. His place is pretty\n considerable, I'm told.\n LOFTY. A trifle, a mere trifle, among us men of business. The truth is,\n he wanted dignity to fill up a greater.\n SIR WILL. Dignity of person, do you mean sir? I'm told he's much about\n my size and figure, sir.\n LOFTY. Ay, tall enough for a marching regiment; but then he wanted a\n something\u2014a consequence of form\u2014a kind of a\u2014I believe the lady\n perceives my meaning.\n MISS RICH. O perfectly; you courtiers can do any thing, I see.\n LOFTY. My dear madam, all this is but a mere exchange; we do greater\n things for one another every day. Why as thus, now; let me suppose you\n the first lord of the treasury; you have an employment in you that I\n want; I have a place in me that you want; do me here, do you there:\n interest on both sides, few words, flat, done and done, and it's over.\n SIR WILL. A thought strikes me (_aside_). Now you mention Sir William\n Honeywood, madam, and as he seems, sir, an acquaintance of yours,\n you'll be glad to hear he's arrived from Italy; I had it from a friend\n who knows him as well as he does me, and you may depend on my\n information.\n[Illustration:\n  LOFTY.\u2014\"_Either you or I, sir._\"\u2014_p._ 296.\n LOFTY. The devil he is! If I had known that we should not have been\n quite so well acquainted (_aside_).\n SIR WILL. He is certainly returned; and as this gentleman is a friend\n of yours, he can be of signal service to us, by introducing me to him;\n there are some papers relative to your affairs, that require dispatch\n and his inspection.\n MISS RICH. This gentleman, Mr. Lofty, is a person employed in my\n affairs: I know you'll serve us.\n LOFTY. My dear madam, I live but to serve you. Sir William shall even\n wait upon him, if you think proper to command it.\n SIR WILL. That would be quite unnecessary.\n LOFTY. Well, we must introduce you then. Call upon me\u2014let me see\u2014ay, in\n two days.\n SIR WILL. Now, or the opportunity will be lost for ever.\n LOFTY. Well, if it must be now, now let it be. But damn it, that's\n unfortunate; my lord Grig's cursed Pensacola business comes on this\n very hour, and I'm engaged to attend\u2014another time\u2014\n SIR WILL. A short letter to Sir William will do.\n LOFTY. You shall have it; yet, in my opinion, a letter is a very bad\n way of going to work; face to face, that's my way.\n SIR WILL. The letter sir, will do quite as well.\n LOFTY. Zounds, sir, do you pretend to direct me? direct me in the\n business of office? Do you know me, sir? who am I?\n MISS RICH. Dear Mr. Lofty, this request is not so much his as mine; if\n my commands\u2014but you despise my power.\n LOFTY. Delicate creature! your commands could even control a debate at\n midnight; to a power so constitutional, I am all obedience and\n tranquility. He shall have a letter; where is my secretary? Dubardieu!\n And yet, I protest, I don't like this way of doing business. I think if\n I spoke first to Sir William\u2014But you will have it so.\n SIR WILLIAM _alone_.\n SIR WILL. Ha, ha, ha! This too is one of my nephew's hopeful\n associates. O vanity, thou constant deceiver, how do all thy efforts to\n exalt, serve but to sink us! thy false colourings, like those employed\n to heighten beauty, only seem to mend that bloom which they contribute\n to destroy. I'm not displeased at this interview; exposing this\n fellow's impudence to the contempt it deserves, may be of use to my\n design; at least, if he can reflect, it will be of use to himself.\n _Enter_ JARVIS.\n SIR WILL. How now, Jarvis, where's your master my nephew?\n JARVIS. At his wit's end, I believe; he's scarce gotten out of one\n scrape, but he's running his head into another.\n SIR WILL. How so?\n JARVIS. The house has but just been cleared of the bailiffs, and now\n he's again engaging tooth and nail in assisting old Croaker's son to\n patch up a clandestine match with the young lady that passes in the\n house for his sister.\n SIR WILL. Ever busy to serve others.\n JARVIS. Ay, any body but himself. The young couple, it seems, are just\n setting out for Scotland, and he supplies them with money for the\n journey.\n SIR WILL. Money! how is he able to supply others, who has scarce any\n for himself?\n JARVIS. Why, there it is; he has no money, that's true; but then, as he\n never said No to any request in his life, he has given them a bill\n drawn by a friend of his upon a merchant in the city, which I am to get\n changed; for you must know that I am to go with them to Scotland\n myself.\n SIR WILL. How!\n JARVIS. It seems the young gentleman is obliged to take a different\n road from his mistress, as he is to call upon an uncle of his that\n lives out of the way, in order to prepare a place for their reception,\n when they return; so they have borrowed me from my master, as the\n properest person to attend the young lady down.\n SIR WILL. To the land of matrimony! A pleasant journey, Jarvis.\n JARVIS. Ay, but I'm only to have all the fatigues on't.\n SIR WILL. Well, it may be shorter, and less fatiguing, than you\n imagine. I know but too much of the young lady's family and connexions,\n whom I have seen abroad, I have also discovered that Miss Richland is\n not indifferent to my thoughtless nephew; and will endeavour, though I\n fear in vain, to establish that connexion. But, come, the letter I wait\n for must be almost finished; I'll let you further into my intentions in\n the next room.\n ACT IV.\n SCENE.\u2014CROAKER'S _House_.\n LOFTY. Well, sure the devil's in me of late, for running my head in\n such defiles, as nothing but a genius like my own could draw me from. I\n was formerly contented to husband out my places and pensions with some\n degree of frugality; but, curse it, of late I have given away the whole\n Court Register in less time than they could print the title-page; yet,\n hang it, why scruple a lie or two to come at a fine girl, when I every\n day tell a thousand for nothing? Ha! Honeywood here before me. Could\n Miss Richland have set him at liberty?\n _Enter_ HONEYWOOD.\n Mr. Honeywood, I'm glad to see you abroad again. I find my concurrence\n was not necessary in your unfortunate affairs. I had put things in a\n train to do your business; but it is not for me to say what I intended\n doing.\n HONEYW. It was unfortunate indeed, sir. But what adds to my uneasiness\n is, that while you seem to be acquainted with my misfortune, I, myself\n continue still a stranger to my benefactor.\n LOFTY. How! not know the friend that served you?\n HONEYW. Can't guess at the person.\n LOFTY. Inquire.\n HONEYW. I have, but all I can learn is, that he chooses to remain\n concealed, and that all inquiry must be fruitless.\n LOFTY. Must be fruitless?\n HONEYW. Absolutely fruitless.\n LOFTY. Sure of that?\n HONEYW. Very sure.\n LOFTY. Then I'll be damn'd if you shall ever know it from me.\n HONEYW. How, sir!\n LOFTY. I suppose now, Mr. Honeywood, you think my rent-roll very\n considerable, and that I have vast sums of money to throw away; I know\n you do. The world, to be sure says such things of me.\n HONEYW. The world, by what I learn, is no stranger to your generosity.\n But where does this tend?\n LOFTY. To nothing; nothing in the world. The town, to be sure, when it\n makes such a thing as me the subject of conversation, has asserted,\n that I never yet patronised a man of merit.\n HONEYW. I have heard instances to the contrary, even from yourself.\n LOFTY. Yes, Honeywood, and there are instances to the contrary that you\n shall never hear from myself.\n HONEYW. Ha, dear sir, permit me to ask you but one question.\n LOFTY. Sir, ask me no questions; I say, sir, ask me no questions; I'll\n be damn'd if I answer them.\n HONEYW. I will ask no further. My friend, my benefactor, it is, it must\n be here, that I am indebted for freedom for honour. Yes, thou worthiest\n of men, from the beginning I suspected it, but was afraid to return\n thanks; which, if undeserved, might seem reproaches.\n LOFTY. I protest I don't understand all this, Mr. Honeywood. You treat\n me very cavalierly, I do assure you, sir.\u2014Blood, sir, can't a man be\n permitted to enjoy the luxury of his own feelings without all this\n parade?\n HONEYW. Nay, do not attempt to conceal an action that adds to your\n honour. Your looks, your air, your manner, all confess it.\n LOFTY. Confess it sir! Torture itself, sir, shall never bring me to\n confess it. Mr. Honeywood, I have admitted you upon terms of\n friendship. Don't let us fall out; make me happy, and let this be\n buried in oblivion. You know I hate ostentation; you know I do. Come\n come, Honeywood, you know I always loved to be a friend, and not a\n patron. I beg this may make no kind of distance between us. Come, come,\n you and I must be more familiar\u2014indeed we must.\n HONEYW. Heavens! Can I ever repay such friendship? Is there any way?\n Thou best of men, can I ever return the obligation?\n LOFTY. A bagatelle, a mere bagatelle. But I see your heart is labouring\n to be grateful. You shall be grateful. It would be cruel to disappoint\n you.\n HONEYW. How! teach me the manner. Is there any way?\n LOFTY. From this moment you're mine. Yes, my friend you shall know\n it\u2014I'm in love.\n HONEYW. And can I assist you?\n LOFTY. Nobody so well.\n HONEYW. In what manner? I'm all impatience.\n LOFTY. You shall make love for me.\n HONEYW. And to whom shall I speak in your favour?\n LOFTY. To a lady with whom you have great interest, I assure you\u2014Miss\n Richland.\n HONEYW. Miss Richland!\n LOFTY. Yes, Miss Richland. She has struck the blow up to the hilt in my\n bosom, by Jupiter.\n HONEYW. Heavens was ever anything more unfortunate? It is too much to\n be endured.\n LOFTY. Unfortunate indeed! and yet I can endure it, till you have\n opened the affair to her for me. Between ourselves, I think she likes\n me; I'm not apt to boast, but I think she does.\n HONEYW. Indeed! but you know the person you apply to?\n LOFTY. Yes, I know you are her friend, and mine: that's enough. To you,\n therefore, I commit the success of my passion. I'll say no more, let\n friendship do the rest. I have only to add, that if at any time my\n little interest can be of service\u2014but, hang it, I'll make no\n promises\u2014you know my interest is yours at any time. No apologies, my\n friend; I'll not be answered; it shall be so.\n HONEYW. Open, generous, unsuspecting man! He little thinks that I love\n her too; and with such an ardent passion!\u2014But then it was ever but a\n vain and hopeless one; my torment, my persecution! What shall I do?\n Love, friendship, a hopeless passion, a deserving friend! Love that has\n been my tormentor; a friend, that has, perhaps, distressed himself to\n serve me. It shall be so. Yes, I will discard the fondling hope from my\n bosom, and exert all my influence in his favour. And yet to see her in\n the possession of another!\u2014Insupportable. But then to betray a\n generous, trusting friend!\u2014Worse, worse. Yes, I'm resolved. Let me but\n be the instrument of their happiness, and then quit a country, where I\n must for ever despair of finding my own.\n [_Exit._\n[Illustration:\n  OLIVIA.\u2014\"_O, Jarvis, are you come at last?_\"\u2014_p._ 302.\n _Enter_ OLIVIA _and_ GARNET, _who carries a milliner's box_.\n OLIVIA. Dear me, I wish this journey were over. No news of Jarvis yet?\n I believe the old peevish creature delays purely to vex me.\n GARNET. Why, to be sure, madam, I did hear him say, a little snubbing\n before marriage would teach you to bear it the better afterwards.\n OLIVIA. To be gone a full hour, though he had only to get a bill\n changed in the city! How provoking!\n GARNET. I'll lay my life Mr. Leontine, that had twice as much to do, is\n setting off by this time from his inn, and here you are left behind.\n OLIVIA. Well, let us be prepared for his coming, however. Are you sure\n you have omitted nothing, Garnet?\n GARNET. Not a stick, madam\u2014all's here. Yet I wish you could take the\n white and silver to be married in. It's the worst luck in the world, in\n any thing but white. I knew one Bet Stubbs, of our town, that was\n married in red, and, as sure as eggs is eggs, the bridegroom and she\n had a miff before morning.\n OLIVIA. No matter\u2014I'm all impatience till we are out of the house.\n GARNET. Bless me, madam, I had almost forgot the wedding ring!\u2014The\n sweet little thing\u2014I don't think it would go on my little finger. And\n what if I put in a gentleman's night-cap, in case of necessity, madam?\n But here's Jarvis.\n _Enter_ JARVIS.\n OLIVIA. O, Jarvis, are you come at last? We have been ready this half\n hour. Now let's be going\u2014Let us fly!\n JARVIS. Ay, to Jericho; for we shall have no going to Scotland this\n bout, I fancy.\n OLIVIA. How! What's the matter?\n JARVIS. Money, money, is the matter, madam. We have got no money. What\n the plague do you send me of your fool's errand for? My master's bill\n upon the city is not worth a rush. Here it is; Mrs. Garnet may pin up\n her hair with it.\n OLIVIA. Undone! How could Honeywood serve us so! What shall we do?\n Can't we go without it?\n JARVIS. Go to Scotland without money! To Scotland without money! Lord,\n how some people understand geography! We might as well set sail for\n Patagonia upon a cork jacket.\n OLIVIA. Such a disappointment! What a base insincere man was your\n master, to serve us in this manner! Is this his good-nature?\n JARVIS. Nay, don't talk ill of my master, madam: I won't bear to hear\n any body talk ill of him but myself.\n GARNET. Bless us! now I think on't, madam, you need not be under any\n uneasiness: I saw Mr. Leontine receive forty guineas from his father\n just before he set out, and he can't yet have left the inn. A short\n letter will reach him there.\n OLIVIA. Well remembered, Garnet; I'll write immediately. How's this?\n Bless me, my hand trembles so I can't write a word. Do you write,\n Garnet; and, upon second thought, it will be better from you.\n GARNET. Truly, madam, I write and indite but poorly: I never was cute\n at my larning. But I'll do what I can to please you. Let me see. All\n out of my own head, I suppose?\n OLIVIA. Whatever you please.\n GARNET (_writing_). Muster Croaker\u2014Twenty guineas, madam?\n OLIVIA. Ay, twenty will do.\n GARNET. At the bar of the Talbot till called for. Expedition\u2014will be\n blown up\u2014All of a flame\u2014Quick, dispatch\u2014Cupid, the little God of Love\u2014I\n conclude it, madam, with Cupid; I love to see a love-letter end like\n poetry.\n OLIVIA. Well, well, what you please, anything. But how shall we send\n it? I can trust none of the servants of this family.\n GARNET. Odso, Madam, Mr. Honeywood's butler is in the next room; he's a\n dear, sweet man; he'll do anything for me.\n JARVIS. He! the dog, he'll certainly commit some blunder. He's drunk\n and sober ten times a day.\n OLIVIA. No matter. Fly, Garnet; any body we can trust will do. _Exit_\n GARNET. Well, Jarvis, now we can have nothing more to interrupt us. You\n may take up the things, and carry them on to the inn. Have you no\n hands, Jarvis?\n JARVIS. Soft and fair, young lady. You, that are going to be married,\n think things can never be done too fast: but we that are old, and know\n what we are about must elope methodically, madam.\n OLIVIA. Well, sure, if my indiscretions were to be done over again\u2014\n JARVIS. My life for it you would do them ten times over.\n OLIVIA. Why will you talk so? If you knew how unhappy they make me\u2014\n JARVIS. Very unhappy, no doubt: I was once just as unhappy when I was\n going to be married myself. I'll tell you a story about that\u2014\n OLIVIA. A story! when I'm all impatient to be away. Was there ever such\n a dilatory creature?\u2014\n JARVIS. Well, madam, if we must march, why we will march; that's all.\n Though, odds-bobs we have still forgot one thing we should never travel\n without\u2014a case of good razors, and a box of shaving-powder. But no\n matter, I believe we shall be pretty well shaved by the way.\n _Enter_ GARNET.\n GARNET. Undone, undone, madam. Ah, Mr. Jarvis, you said right enough.\n As sure as death, Mr. Honeywood's rogue of a drunken butler dropped the\n letter before he went ten yards from the door. There's old Croaker has\n just picked it up, and is this moment reading it to himself in the\n hall.\n OLIVIA. Unfortunate! we shall be discovered.\n GARNET. No, madam, don't be uneasy, he can make neither head nor tail\n of it. To be sure, he looks as if he was broke loose from Bedlam about\n it, but he can't find what it means for all that. O Lud, he is coming\n this way all in the horrors!\n OLIVIA. Then let us leave the house this instant, for fear he should\n ask farther questions. In the mean time, Garnet, do you write and send\n off just such another.\n CROAKER. Death and destruction! Are all the horrors of air, fire, and\n water, to be levelled only at me? Am I only to be singled out for\n gunpowder-plots, combustibles and conflagration? Here it is\u2014An\n incendiary letter dropped at my door. 'To Muster Croaker, these, with\n speed.' Ay, ay, plain enough the direction: all in the genuine\n incendiary spelling, and as cramp as the devil, 'With speed!' O,\n confound your speed. But let me read it once more. (_Reads_). 'Muster\n Croakar as sone as yoew see this leve twenty gunnes at the bar of the\n Talboot tell caled for or yowe and yower experetion will be al blown\n up.' Ah, but too plain. Blood and gunpowder in every line of it. Blown\n up! murderous dog! All blown up! Heavens! what have I and my poor\n family done, to be all blown up! (_Reads_). 'Our pockets are low, and\n money we must have.' Ay, there's the reason; they'll blow us up,\n because they have got low pockets. (_Reads_). 'It is but a short time\n you have to consider; for if it takes wind, the house will quickly be\n all of a flame.' Inhuman monsters! blow us up, and then burn us. The\n earthquake at Lisbon was but a bonfire to it. (_Reads_). 'Make quick\n dispatch, and so no more at present. But may cupid, the little God of\n Love, go with you wherever you go.' The little God of Love! Cupid, the\n little God of Love go with me! Go you to the devil, you and your little\n Cupid together; I'm so frightened, I scarce know whether I sit, stand,\n or go. Perhaps this moment I'm treading on lighted matches, blazing\n brimstone, and barrels of gunpowder. They are preparing to blow me up\n into the clouds. Murder! We shall be all burnt in our beds; we shall be\n all burnt in our beds.\n _Enter_ MISS RICHLAND\n MISS RICH. Lord, sir, what's the matter?\n CROAKER. Murder's the matter. We shall be all blown up in our beds\n before morning.\n MISS RICH. I hope not, sir.\n CROAKER. What signifies what you hope, madam, when I have a certificate\n of it here in my hand? Will nothing alarm my family? Sleeping and\n eating, sleeping and eating, is the only work from morning till night\n in my house. My insensible crew could sleep, though rocked by an\n earthquake; and fry beef-steaks at a volcano.\n MISS RICH. But, sir, you have alarmed them so often already, we have\n nothing but earthquakes, famines, plagues, and mad dogs, from year's\n end to years' end. You remember, sir, it is not above a month ago you\n assured us of a conspiracy among the bakers, to poison us in our bread;\n and so kept the whole family a week upon potatoes.\n CROAKER. And potatoes were too good for them. But why do I stand\n talking here with a girl, when I should be facing the enemy without?\n Here, John, Nicodemus, search the house. Look into the cellars, to see\n if there be any combustibles below; and above, in the apartments, that\n no matches be thrown in at the windows. Let all the fires be put out,\n and let the engine be drawn out in the yard, to play upon the house in\n case of necessity.\n MISS RICHLAND _alone_.\n MISS RICH. What can he mean by all this? Yet, why should I inquire,\n when he alarms us in this manner almost every day? But Honeywood has\n desired an interview with me in private. What can he mean? or, rather,\n what means this palpitation at his approach? It is the first time he\n ever showed anything in his conduct that seemed particular. Sure he\n cannot mean to\u2014\u2014but he's here.\n _Enter_ HONEYWOOD.\n HONEYW. I presumed to solicit this interview, madam, before I left\n town, to be permitted\u2014\n MISS RICH. Indeed! Leaving town, sir?\u2014\n HONEYW. Yes, madam; perhaps the kingdom. I have presumed, I say, to\n desire the favour of this interview\u2014in order to disclose something\n which our long friendship prompts. And yet my fears\u2014\n[Illustration:\n  CROAKER.\u2014\"_It's your supreme pleasure\n  to give me no better consolation?_\"\u2014_p._ 307.\n MISS RICH. His fears! what are his fears to mine? _Aside._\u2014We have\n indeed been long acquainted, sir; very long. If I remember, our first\n meeting was at the French ambassador's.\u2014Do you recollect how you were\n pleased to rally me upon my complexion there?\n HONEYW. Perfectly, madam; I presumed to reprove you for painting: but\n your warmer blushes soon convinced the company that the colouring was\n all from nature.\n MISS RICH. And yet you only meant it, in your good-natured way, to make\n me pay a compliment to myself. In the same manner you danced the same\n night with the most awkward woman in company, because you saw nobody\n else would take her out.\n HONEYW. Yes; and was rewarded the next night, by dancing with the\n finest woman in company, whom every body wished to take out.\n MISS RICH. Well, sir, if you thought so then, I fear your judgment has\n since corrected the errors of a first impression. We generally show to\n most advantage at first. Our sex are like poor tradesmen, that put all\n their best goods to be seen at the windows.\n HONEYW. The first impression, madam, did, indeed, deceive me. I\n expected to find a woman with all the faults of conscious flattered\n beauty. I expected to find her vain and insolent. But every day has\n since taught me that it is possible to possess sense without pride, and\n beauty without affectation.\n MISS RICH. This, sir, is a style very unusual with Mr. Honeywood; and I\n should be glad to know why he thus attempts to increase that vanity,\n which his own lesson hath taught me to despise.\n HONEYW. I ask pardon, madam, Yet, from our long friendship, I presumed\n I might have some right to offer, without offence, what you may refuse\n without offending.\n MISS RICH. Sir! I beg you'd reflect; though, I fear, I shall scarce\n have any power to refuse a request of yours; yet, you may be\n precipitate: consider, sir.\n HONEYW. I own my rashness; but, as I plead the cause of friendship, of\n one who loves\u2014Don't be alarmed, madam\u2014Who loves you with the most\n ardent passion; whose whole happiness is placed in you\u2014\n MISS RICH. I fear, sir, I shall never find whom you mean, by this\n description of him.\n HONEYW. Ah, madam, it but too plainly points him out; though he should\n be too humble himself to urge his pretensions, or you too modest to\n understand them.\n MISS RICH. Well; it would be affectation any longer to pretend\n ignorance; and, I will own, sir, I have long been prejudiced in his\n favour. It was but natural to wish to make his heart mine, as he seemed\n himself ignorant of its value.\n HONEYW. I see she always loved him (_aside_). I find, madam, you're\n already sensible of his worth, his passion. How happy is my friend, to\n be the favourite of one with such sense to distinguish merit, and such\n beauty to reward it!\n MISS RICH. Your friend, sir! What friend?\n HONEYW. My best friend\u2014my friend Mr. Lofty, madam.\n MISS RICH. He, sir!\n HONEYW. Yes, he, madam. He is, indeed, what your warmest wishes might\n have formed him. And to his other qualities, he adds that of the most\n passionate regard for you.\n MISS RICH. Amazement!\u2014No more of this, I beg you, sir.\n HONEYW. I see your confusion, madam, and know how to interpret it. And\n since I so plainly read the language of your heart, shall I make my\n friend happy, by communicating your sentiments?\n MISS RICH. By no means.\n HONEYW. Excuse me; I must\u2014I know you desire it.\n MISS RICH. Mr. Honeywood, let me tell you, that you wrong my sentiments\n and yourself. When I first applied to your friendship, I expected\n advice and assistance; but now, sir, I see that it is vain to expect\n happiness from him who has been so bad an economist of his own; and\n that I must disclaim his friendship who ceases to be a friend to\n himself.\n HONEYW. How is this? she has confessed she loved him, and yet she\n seemed to part in displeasure. Can I have done anything to reproach\n myself with? No, I believe not; yet, after all, these things should not\n be done by a third person; I should have spared her confusion. My\n friendship carried me a little too far.\n _Enter_ CROAKER, _with the letter in his hand, and_ MRS. CROAKER.\n MRS. CROAKER. Ha, ha, ha! And so my dear, it's your supreme wish that I\n should be quite wretched upon this occasion? Ha, ha!\n CROAKER (_mimicking_). Ha, ha, ha! and so, my dear, it's your supreme\n pleasure to give me no better consolation?\n MRS. CROAKER. Positively, my dear, what is this incendiary stuff and\n trumpery to me? Our house may travel through the air like the house of\n Loretto, for aught I care, if I'm to be miserable in it.\n CROAKER. Would to heaven it were converted into a house of correction\n for your benefit! Have we not everything to alarm us? Perhaps, this\n very moment the tragedy is beginning.\n MRS. CROAKER. Then let us reserve our distress till the rising of the\n curtain, or give them the money they want, and have done with them.\n CROAKER. Give them my money!\u2014and pray what right have they to my money?\n MRS. CROAKER. And pray what right then have you to my good humour?\n CROAKER. And so your good humour advises me to part with my money? Why,\n then, to tell your good humour a piece of my mind, I'd sooner part with\n my wife. Here's Mr. Honeywood, see what he'll say to it. My dear\n Honeywood, look at this incendiary letter dropped at my door. It will\n freeze you with terror; and yet lovey here can read it\u2014can read it, and\n laugh.\n MRS. CROAKER. Yes, and so will Mr. Honeywood.\n CROAKER. If he does, I'll suffer to be hanged the next minute in the\n rogue's place, that's all.\n MRS. CROAKER. Speak, Mr. Honeywood; is there anything more foolish than\n my husband's fright upon this occasion?\n HONEYW. It would not become me to decide, madam; but, doubtless, the\n greatness of his terrors now will but invite them to renew their\n villainy another time.\n MRS. CROAKER. I told you he'd be of my opinion.\n CROAKER. How, sir! do you maintain that I should lie down under such an\n injury, and show, neither by my tears nor complaints, that I have\n something of the spirit of a man in me?\n HONEYW. Pardon me, sir. You ought to make the loudest complaints if you\n desire redress. The surest way to have redress, is to be earnest in the\n pursuit of it.\n CROAKER. Ay, whose opinion is he of now?\n MRS. CROAKER. But don't you think that laughing off our fears is the\n best way?\n HONEYW. What is the best, madam, few can say; but I'll maintain it to\n be a very wise way.\n CROAKER. But we're talking of the best. Surely the best way is to face\n the enemy in the field, and not wait till he plunders us in our very\n bed-chamber.\n HONEYW. Why, sir, as to the best, that\u2014that's a very wise way too.\n MRS. CROAKER. But can anything be more absurd than to double our\n distresses by our apprehensions, and put it in the power of every low\n fellow, that can scrawl ten words of wretched spelling, to torment us?\n HONEYW. Without doubt, nothing more absurd.\n CROAKER. How! would it not be more absurd to despise the rattle till we\n are bit by the snake?\n HONEYW. Without doubt, perfectly absurd.\n CROAKER. Then you are of my opinion?\n HONEYW. Entirely.\n MRS. CROAKER. And you reject mine?\n HONEYW. Heavens forbid, madam. No; sure no reasoning can be more just\n than yours. We ought certainly to despise malice, if we cannot oppose\n it, and not make the incendiary's pen as fatal to our repose as the\n highwayman's pistol.\n MRS. CROAKER. O! then you think I'm quite right?\n HONEYW. Perfectly right.\n CROAKER. A plague of plagues, we can't both be right. I ought to be\n sorry, or I ought to be glad. My hat must be on my head, or my hat must\n be off.\n MRS. CROAKER. Certainly; in two opposite opinions, if one be perfectly\n reasonable, the other can't be perfectly right.\n HONEYW. And why may not both be right, madam; Mr. Croaker in earnestly\n seeking redress, and you in waiting the event with good humour? Pray\n let me see the letter again. I have it. This letter requires twenty\n guineas to be left at the bar of the Talbot inn. If it be indeed an\n incendiary letter, what if you and I, sir, go there; and when the\n writer comes to be paid his expected booty, seize him?\n CROAKER. My dear friend, it's the very thing; the very thing. While I\n walk by the door, you shall plant yourself in ambush near the bar;\n burst out upon the miscreant like a masqued battery; extort a\n confession at once, and so hang him up by surprise.\n HONEYW. Yes; but I would not choose to exercise too much severity. It\n is my maxim, sir, that crimes generally punish themselves.\n CROAKER. Well, but we may upbraid him a little, I suppose?\n (_Ironically._)\n HONEYW. Ay, but not punish him too rigidly.\n CROAKER. Well, well, leave that to my own benevolence.\n HONEYW. Well, I do; but remember that universal benevolence is the\n first law of nature.\n [_Exeunt_ HONEYWOOD _and_ MRS. CROAKER.\n CROAKER. Yes; and my universal benevolence will hang the dog if he had\n as many necks as a hydra.\n ACT V.\n SCENE.\u2014_An Inn._\n _Enter_ OLIVIA, JARVIS.\n OLIVIA. Well, we have got safe to the inn, however. Now, if the\n post-chaise were ready\u2014\n JARVIS. The horses are just finishing their oats; and, as they are not\n going to be married, they choose to take their own time.\n OLIVIA. You are for ever giving wrong motives to my impatience.\n JARVIS. Be as impatient as you will, the horses must take their own\n time; besides, you don't consider we have got no answer from our\n fellow-traveller yet. If we hear nothing from Mr. Leontine, we have\n only one way left us.\n OLIVIA. What way?\n JARVIS. The way home again.\n OLIVIA. Not so. I have made a resolution to go, and nothing shall\n induce me to break it.\n JARVIS. Ay; resolutions are well kept when they jump with inclination.\n However, I'll go hasten things without. And I'll call too at the bar to\n see if anything should be left for us there. Don't be in such a plaguy\n hurry, madam, and we shall go the faster, I promise you.\n [_Exit_ JARVIS.\n _Enter_ LANDLADY.\n LANDLADY. What! Solomon; why don't you move? Pipes and tobacco for the\n Lamb there. Will nobody answer? To the Dolphin; quick. The Angel has\n been outrageous this half-hour. Did your ladyship call, madam?\n OLIVIA. No, madam.\n LANDLADY. I find, as you're for Scotland, madam\u2014but that's no business\n of mine; married or not married, I ask no questions. To be sure, we had\n a sweet little couple set off from this two days ago for the same\n place. The gentleman, for a tailor, was, to be sure, as fine a spoken\n tailor as ever blew froth from a full pot. And the young lady so\n bashful, it was near half an hour before we could get her to finish a\n pint of raspberry between us.\n OLIVIA. But this gentleman and I are not going to be married, I assure\n you\n LANDLADY. May be not. That's no business of mine; for certain, Scotch\n marriages seldom turn out. There was, of my own knowledge, Miss Macfag,\n that married her father's footman. Alack-a-day! she and her husband\n soon parted, and now keep separate cellars in Hedge-lane.\n OLIVIA. A very pretty picture of what lies before me.\n _Aside._\n _Enter_ LEONTINE.\n LEONT. My dear Olivia, my anxiety till you were out of danger, was too\n great to be resisted. I could not help coming to see you set out,\n though it exposes us to a discovery.\n OLIVIA. May everything you do prove as fortunate. Indeed, Leontine, we\n have been most cruelly disappointed. Mr. Honeywood's bill upon the city\n has, it seems, been protested; and we have been utterly at a loss how\n to proceed.\n LEONT. How! An offer of his own too. Sure, he could not mean to deceive\n us.\n OLIVIA. Depend upon his sincerity; he only mistook the desire for the\n power of serving us. But let us think no more of it. I believe the\n post-chaise is ready by this.\n LANDLADY. Not quite yet; and, begging your ladyship's pardon, I don't\n think your ladyship quite ready for the post-chaise. The north road is\n a cold place, madam. I have a drop in the house of as pretty raspberry\n as ever was tipt over tongue. Just a thimblefull, to keep the wind off\n your stomach. To be sure, the last couple we had here, they said it was\n a perfect nosegay. Ecod, I sent them both away as good-natured\u2014Up went\n the blinds, round went the wheels, and, Drive away, postboy! was the\n word.\n _Enter_ CROAKER.\n CROAKER. Well, while my friend Honeywood is upon the post of danger at\n the bar, it must be my business to have an eye about me here. I think I\n know an incendiary's look; for, wherever the devil makes a purchase, he\n never fails to set his mark. Ha! who have we here? My son and daughter!\n What can they be doing here?\n LANDLADY. I tell you, madam, it will do you good; I think I know by\n this time what's good for the north road. It's a raw night, madam.\u2014Sir\u2014\n LEONT. Not a drop more, good madam. I should now take it as a greater\n favour if you hasten the horses; for I am afraid to be seen myself.\n LANDLADY. That shall be done. Wha, Solomon! are you all dead there?\n Wha, Solomon, I say.\n OLIVIA. Well; I dread, lest an expedition begun in fear should end in\n repentance.\u2014Every moment we stay increases our danger, and adds to my\n apprehensions.\n LEONT. There's no danger, trust me, my dear; there can be none. If\n Honeywood has acted with honour, and kept my father, as he promised, in\n employment, till we are out of danger, nothing can interrupt our\n journey.\n OLIVIA. I have no doubt of Mr. Honeywood's sincerity, and even his\n desires to serve us. My fears are from your father's suspicions. A mind\n so disposed to be alarmed without a cause will be but too ready when\n there's a reason.\n LEONT. Why, let him, when we are out of his power. But, believe me,\n Olivia, you have no great reason to dread his resentment. His repining\n temper, as it does no manner of injury to himself, so will it never do\n harm to others. He only frets to keep himself employed, and scolds for\n his private amusement.\n OLIVIA. I don't know that; but I'm sure, on some occasions, it makes\n him look most shockingly.\n CROAKER (_discovering himself_). How does he look now?\u2014How does he look\n now?\n OLIVIA. Ah!\n LEONT. Undone.\n CROAKER. How do I look now? Sir, I am your very humble servant. Madam,\n I am yours. What! you are going off, are you? Then, first, if you\n please, take a word or two from me with you before you go. Tell me\n first where you are going; and when you have told me that, perhaps, I\n shall know as little as I did before.\n[Illustration:\n  CROAKER.\u2014\"_How does he look now?_\"\u2014_p._ 310.\n LEONT. If that be so, our answer might but increase your displeasure,\n without adding to your information.\n CROAKER. I want no information from you, puppy! and you, too, madam,\n what answer have you got? Eh! _A cry without, Stop him!_ I think I\n heard a noise. My friend, Honeywood, without\u2014has he seized the\n incendiary? Ah, no, for now I hear no more on't.\n LEONT. Honeywood without? Then, sir, it was Mr. Honeywood that directed\n you hither.\n CROAKER. No, sir, it was Mr. Honeywood conducted me hither.\n LEONT. Is it possible?\n CROAKER. Possible! why he's in the house now, sir. More anxious about\n me, than my own son, sir.\n LEONT. Then, sir, he's a villain.\n CROAKER. How, sirrah; a villain, because he takes most care of your\n father? I'll not bear it. I tell you I'll not bear it. Honeywood is a\n friend to the family, and I'll have him treated as such.\n LEONT. I shall study to repay his friendship as it deserves.\n CROAKER. Ah, rogue, if you knew how earnestly he entered into my\n griefs, and pointed out the means to detect them, you would love him as\n I do. _A cry without, Stop him!_ Fire and fury! they have seized the\n incendiary: they have the villain, the incendiary in view. Stop him,\n stop an incendiary, a murderer! stop him.\n OLIVIA. Oh, my terrors! What can this new tumult mean?\n LEONT. Some new mark, I suppose, of Mr. Honeywood's sincerity. But we\n shall have satisfaction: he shall give me instant satisfaction.\n OLIVIA. It must not be, my Leontine, if you value my esteem, or my\n happiness. Whatever be our fate, let us not add guilt to our\n misfortunes. Consider that our innocence will shortly be all we have\n left us. You must forgive him.\n LEONT. Forgive him! Has he not in every instance betrayed us? Forced me\n to borrow money from him, which appears a mere trick to delay us:\n promised to keep my father engaged, till we were out of danger, and\n here brought him to the very scene of our escape?\n OLIVIA. Don't be precipitate. We may yet be mistaken.\n _Enter_ POSTBOY, _dragging in_ JARVIS: HONEYWOOD _entering soon after_.\n POSTBOY. Ay, master, we have him fast enough. Here is the incendiary\n dog. I'm entitled to the reward; I'll take my oath I saw him ask for\n the money at the bar, and then run for it.\n HONEYW. Come, bring him along. Let us see him. Let him learn to blush\n for his crimes. (_Discovering his mistake._) Death! what's\n here?\u2014Jarvis, Leontine, Olivia! What can all this mean?\n _Jarvis._ Why, I'll tell you what it means: that I was an old fool, and\n that you are my master\u2014that's all.\n HONEYW. Confusion.\n LEONT. Yes, sir; I find you have kept your word with me. After such\n baseness, I wonder how you can venture to see the man you have injured.\n HONEYW. My dear Leontine, by my life, my honour\u2014\n LEONT. Peace, peace, for shame; and do not continue to aggravate\n baseness by hypocrisy. I know you, sir, I know you.\n HONEYW. Why, won't you hear me? By all that's just, I knew not\u2014\n LEONT. Hear you, sir, to what purpose? I now see through all your low\n arts; your ever complying with every opinion; your never refusing any\n request; your friendship is as common as a prostitute's favours, and as\n fallacious; all these, sir, have long been contemptible to the world,\n and are now perfectly so to me.\n HONEYW. Ha! contemptible to the world! That reaches me.\n _Aside._\n LEONT. All the seeming sincerity of your professions, I now find, were\n only allurements to betray; and all your seeming regret for their\n consequences, only calculated to cover the cowardice of your heart.\n Draw, villain!\n[Illustration:\n  HONEYW.\u2014\"_Madam, you seem at least\n  calm enough to hear reason._\"\u2014_p._ 314.\n _Enter_ CROAKER _out of breath_.\n CROAKER. Where is the villain?\n Where is the incendiary! (_Seizing the_ POSTBOY.) Hold him fast, the\n dog; he has the gallows in his face. Come, you dog, confess; confess\n all, and hang yourself.\n POSTBOY. Zounds, master! what do you throttle me for?\n CROAKER. (_beating him_). Dog, do you resist? do you resist?\n POSTBOY. Zounds, master! I'm not he; there's the man that we thought\n was the rogue, and turns out to be one of the company.\n CROAKER. How!\n HONEYW. Mr. Croaker, we have all been under a strange mistake here: I\n find there is nobody guilty; it was all an error; entirely an error of\n our own.\n CROAKER. And I say, sir, that you're in an error: for there's guilt,\n and double guilt; a plot, a damn'd jesuitical, pestilential plot; and I\n must have proof of it.\n HONEYW. Do but hear me.\n CROAKER. What! you intend to bring 'em off, I suppose? I'll hear\n nothing.\n HONEYW. Madam, you seem at least calm enough to hear reason.\n OLIVIA. Excuse me.\n HONEYW. Good Jarvis, let me then explain it to you.\n JARVIS. What signifies explanation, when the thing is done?\n HONEYW. Will nobody hear me? Was there ever such a set, so blinded by\n passion and prejudice!\u2014(_To the_ POSTBOY). My good friend, I believe\n you'll be surprised when I assure you\u2014\u2014\n POSTBOY. Sure me nothing\u2014I'm sure of nothing but a good beating.\n CROAKER. Come then, you, madam; if you ever hope for any favour or\n forgiveness, tell me sincerely all you know of this affair.\n OLIVIA. Unhappily, sir, I'm but too much the cause of your suspicions;\n you see before you, sir, one, that with false pretences has stept into\n your family, to betray it: not your daughter\u2014\n CROAKER. Not my daughter!\n OLIVIA. Not your daughter\u2014but a mean deceiver\u2014who\u2014support me, I cannot\u2014\n HONEYW. Help, she's going! give her air.\n CROAKER. Ay, ay, take the young woman to the air; I would not hurt a\n hair of her head, whoseever daughter she may be\u2014not so bad as that\n neither.\n CROAKER. Yes, yes, all's out; I now see the whole affair; my son is\n either married, or going to be so, to this lady, whom he imposed upon\n me as his sister. Ay, certainly so; and yet I don't find it afflicts me\n so much as one might think. There's the advantage of fretting away our\n misfortunes beforehand, we never feel them when they come.\n _Enter_ MISS RICHLAND _and_ SIR WILLIAM.\n SIR WILL. But how do you know, madam, that my nephew intends setting\n off from this place?\n MISS RICH. My maid assured me he was come to this inn, and my own\n knowledge of his intending to leave the kingdom, suggested the rest.\n But what do I see? my guardian here before us! Who, my dear sir, could\n have expected meeting you here? to what accident do we owe this\n pleasure?\n CROAKER. To a fool, I believe.\n MISS RICH. But to what purpose did you come?\n CROAKER. To play the fool.\n MISS RICH. But with whom?\n CROAKER. With greater fools than myself.\n MISS RICH. Explain.\n CROAKER. Why, Mr. Honeywood brought me here, to do nothing now I am\n here; and my son is going to be married to I don't know who that is\n here; so now you are as wise as I am.\n MISS RICH. Married! to whom, sir?\n CROAKER. To Olivia; my daughter, as I took her to be; but who the devil\n she is, or whose daughter she is, I know no more than the man in the\n moon.\n SIR WILL. Then, sir, I can inform you; and though a stranger, yet you\n shall find me a friend to your family: it will be enough at present to\n assure you, that, both in point of birth and fortune, the young lady is\n at least your son's equal. Being left by her father, Sir James\n Woodville\u2014\n CROAKER. Sir James Woodville! What of the west!\n SIR WILL. Being left by him, I say, to the care of a mercenary wretch,\n whose only aim was to secure her fortune to himself, she was sent into\n France, under pretence of education; and there every art was tried to\n fix her for life in a convent, contrary to her inclinations. Of this I\n was informed upon my arrival at Paris; and as I had been once her\n father's friend, I did all in my power to frustrate her guardian's base\n intentions. I had even meditated to rescue her from his authority, when\n your son stept in with more pleasing violence, gave her liberty, and\n you a daughter.\n CROAKER. But I intend to have a daughter of my own choosing, sir. A\n young lady, sir, whose fortune, by my interest with those that have\n interest, will be double what my son has a right to expect. Do you know\n Mr. Lofty, sir?\n SIR WILL. Yes, sir; and know that you are deceived in him. But step\n this way, and I'll convince you.\n CROAKER _and_ SIR WILLIAM _seem to confer_.\n _Enter_ HONEYWOOD.\n HONEYW. Obstinate man, still to persist in his outrage! Insulted by\n him, despised by all, I now begin to grow contemptible even to myself.\n How have I sunk, by too great an assiduity to please! How have I\n overtaxed all my abilities, lest the approbation of a single fool\n should escape me! But all is now over; I have survived my reputation,\n my fortune, my friendships; and nothing remains henceforward for me but\n solitude and repentance.\n MISS RICH. Is it true, Mr. Honeywood, that you are setting off, without\n taking leave of your friends? The report is, that you are quitting\n England. Can it be?\n HONEYW. Yes, madam; and though I am so unhappy as to have fallen under\n your displeasure, yet, thank Heaven, I leave you to happiness; to one\n who loves you, and deserves your love; to one who has power to procure\n you affluence, and generosity to improve your enjoyment of it.\n MISS RICH. And are you sure, sir, that the gentleman you mean is what\n you describe him?\n HONEYW. I have the best assurances of it, his serving me. He does,\n indeed, deserve the highest happiness, and that is in your power to\n confer. As for me, weak and wavering as I have been, obliged by all and\n incapable of serving any, what happiness can I find, but in solitude?\n What hope, but in being forgotten?\n MISS RICH. A thousand! to live among friends that esteem you; whose\n happiness it will be to be permitted to oblige you.\n HONEYW. No, madam; my resolution is fixed. Inferiority among strangers\n is easy; but among those that once were equals, insupportable. Nay, to\n show you how far my resolution can go, I can now speak with calmness of\n my former follies, my vanity, my dissipation, my weakness. I will even\n confess, that, among the number of my other presumptions, I had the\n insolence to think of loving you. Yes, madam, while I was pleading the\n passion of another, my heart was tortured with its own. But it is over,\n it was unworthy our friendship, and let it be forgotten.\n MISS RICH. You amaze me!\n HONEYW. But you'll forgive it, I know you will; since the confession\n should not have come from me even now, but to convince you of the\n sincerity of my intention of\u2014never mentioning it more.\n _Going._\n MISS RICH. Stay, sir, one moment\u2014Ha! he here\u2014\n _Enter_ LOFTY.\n LOFTY. Is the coast clear? None but friends. I have followed you here\n with a trifling piece of intelligence: but it goes no farther; things\n are not yet ripe for a discovery. I have spirits working at a certain\n board: your affair at the treasury will be done in less than\u2014a thousand\n years. Mum!\n MISS RICH. Sooner, sir, I should hope.\n LOFTY. Why, yes, I believe it may, if it falls into proper hands, that\n know where to push and where to parry; that know how the land lies\u2014eh,\n Honeywood?\n MISS RICH. It is fallen into yours.\n LOFTY. Well, to keep you no longer in suspense, your thing is done. It\n is done, I say\u2014that's all. I have just had assurances of Lord Neverout,\n that the claim has been examined, and found admissible. _Quietus_ is\n the word, madam.\n HONEYW. But how! his lordship has been at Newmarket these ten days.\n LOFTY. Indeed. Then Sir Gilbert Goose must have been most damnably\n mistaken. I had it of him.\n MISS RICH. He! why Sir Gilbert and his family have been in the country\n this month.\n LOFTY. This month! It must certainly be so\u2014Sir Gilbert's letter did\n come to me from Newmarket, so that he must have met his lordship there;\n and so it came about. I have this letter about me; I'll read it to you\n (_Taking out a large bundle._) That's from Paoli of Corsica; that's\n from the Marquis of Squilachi. Have you a mind to see a letter from\n Count Poniatowski, now king of Poland\u2014Honest Pon\u2014\u2014 (_Searching._) O,\n sir, what are you here too? I'll tell you what, honest friend, if you\n have not absolutely delivered my letter to Sir William Honeywood, you\n may return it. The thing will do without him.\n SIR WILL. Sir, I have delivered it, and must inform you, it was\n received with the most mortifying contempt.\n CROAKER. Contempt! Mr. Lofty, what can that mean?\n LOFTY. Let him go on, let him go on, I say. You'll find it come to\n something presently.\n SIR WILL. Yes, sir, I believe you'll be amazed, if, after waiting some\n time in the ante-chamber; after being surveyed with insolent curiosity\n by the passing servants, I was at last assured, that Sir William\n Honeywood knew no such person, and I must certainly have been imposed\n upon.\n LOFTY. Good; let me die, very good. Ha! ha! ha!\n CROAKER. Now, for my life, I can't find out half the goodness of it.\n LOFTY. You can't. Ha! ha!\n CROAKER. No, for the soul of me; I think it was as confounded a bad\n answer, as ever was sent from one private gentleman to another.\n LOFTY. And so you can't find out the force of the message? Why, I was\n in the house at that very time. Ha! ha! It was I that sent that very\n answer to my own letter. Ha! ha!\n[Illustration:\n  LOFTY.\u2014\"_Ay, stick it where you will;\n  for, by the Lord, it cuts but a very poor figure where\n  it sticks at present._\"\u2014_p._ 318.\n CROAKER. Indeed? How! why!\n LOFTY. In one word, things between Sir William and me, must be behind\n the curtain. A party has many eyes. He sides with Lord Buzzard; I side\n with Sir Gilbert Goose. So that unriddles the mystery.\n CROAKER. And so it does, indeed, and all my suspicions are over.\n LOFTY. Your suspicions? What, then, you have been suspecting, have you?\n Mr. Croaker, you and I were friends; we are friends no longer. Never\n talk to me. It's over; I say, it's over.\n CROAKER. As I hope for your favour, I did not mean to offend. It\n escaped me. Don't be discomposed.\n LOFTY. Zounds, sir, but I am discomposed, and will be discomposed. To\n be treated thus! Who am I? Was it for this I have been dreaded both by\n ins and outs? Have I been libelled in the Gazetteer, and praised in the\n St. James's? Have I been cheered at Wildman's, and a speaker at\n Merchant Tailors' Hall? Have I had my hand to addresses, and my head in\n the print-shops; and talk to me of suspects?\n CROAKER. My dear sir, be pacified. What can you have but asking pardon?\n LOFTY. Sir, I will not be pacified.\u2014Suspects! Who am I? To be used\n thus, have I paid court to men in favour to serve my friends, the lords\n of the treasury, Sir William Honeywood, and the rest of the gang, and\n talk to me of suspects? Who am I, I say? who am I?\n SIR WILL. Since, sir, you're so pressing for an answer, I'll tell you\n who you are\u2014a gentleman, as well acquainted with politics as with men\n in power; as well acquainted with persons of fashion as with modesty;\n with lords of the treasury as with truth; and with all as you are with\n Sir William Honeywood. I am Sir William Honeywood.\n _Discovering his ensigns of the Bath._\n CROAKER. Sir William Honeywood!\n HONEYW. Astonishment! my uncle!\n _Aside._\n LOFTY. So then, my confounded genius has been all this time only\n leading me up to the garret, in order to fling me out of the window.\n CROAKER. What, Mr. Importance, and are these your works? Suspect you!\n You, who have been dreaded by the ins and outs: you, who have had your\n hand to addresses, and your head stuck up in print-shops. If you were\n served right, you should have your head stuck up in the pillory.\n LOFTY. Ay, stick it where you will; for, by the Lord, it cuts but a\n very poor figure where it sticks at present.\n SIR WILL. Well, Mr. Croaker, I hope you now see how incapable this\n gentleman is of serving you, and how little Miss Richland has to expect\n from his influence.\n CROAKER. Ay, sir, too well I see it, and I can't but say I have had\n some boding of it these ten days. So I'm resolved, since my son has\n placed his affections on a lady of moderate fortune, to be satisfied\n with his choice, and not run the hazard of another Mr. Lofty in helping\n him to a better.\n SIR WILL. I approve your resolution; and here they come, to receive a\n confirmation of your pardon and consent.\n _Enter_ MRS. CROAKER, JARVIS, LEONTINE, OLIVIA.\n MRS. CROAKER. Where's my husband? Come, come, lovey, you must forgive\n them. Jarvis here has been to tell me the whole affair; and, I say, you\n must forgive them. Our own was a stolen match, you know, my dear; and\n we never had any reason to repent of it.\n CROAKER. I wish we could both say so: however, this gentleman, Sir\n William Honeywood, has been beforehand with you in obtaining their\n pardon. So, if the two poor fools have a mind to marry, I think we can\n tack them together without crossing the Tweed for it.\n _Joining their hands._\n LEONT. How blest and unexpected! What, what can we say to such\n goodness? But our future obedience shall be the best reply. And as for\n this gentleman, to whom we owe\u2014\u2014\n SIR WILL. Excuse me sir, if I interrupt your thanks, as I have here an\n interest that calls me. (_Turning to_ HONEYWOOD.) Yes, sir, you are\n surprised to see me; and I own that a desire of correcting your follies\n led me hither. I saw with indignation the errors of a mind that only\n sought applause from others; that easiness of disposition which, though\n inclined to the right, had not courage to condemn the wrong. I saw with\n regret those splendid errors, that still took name from some\n neighbouring duty. Your charity, that was but injustice; your\n benevolence, that was but weakness; and your friendship but credulity.\n I saw, with regret, great talents and extensive learning only employed\n to add sprightliness to error, and increase your perplexities. I saw\n your mind, with a thousand natural charms; but the greatness of its\n beauty served only to heighten my pity for its prostitution.\n HONEYW. Cease to upbraid me, sir: I have for some time but too strongly\n felt the justice of your reproaches; but there is one way still left\n me. Yes, sir, I have determined this very hour to quit for ever, a\n place where I have made myself the voluntary slave of all; and to seek\n among strangers that fortitude which may give strength to the mind, and\n marshal all its dissipated virtues. Yet, ere I depart, permit me to\n solicit favour for this gentleman; who, notwithstanding what has\n happened, has laid me under the most signal obligations. Mr. Lofty\u2014\n LOFTY. Mr. Honeywood, I am resolved upon a reformation, as well as you.\n I now begin to find, that the man who first invented the art of\n speaking truth, was a much cunninger fellow than I thought him. And to\n prove that I design to speak truth for the future, I must now assure\n you that you owe your late enlargement to another; as, upon my soul, I\n had no hand in the matter. So now, if any of the company has a mind for\n preferment, he may take my place. I am determined to resign.\n HONEYW. How have I been deceived!\n SIR WILL. No, sir, you have been obliged to a kinder, fairer friend for\n that favour\u2014to Miss Richland. Would she complete our joy, and make the\n man she has honoured by her friendship happy in her love, I should then\n forget all, and be as blest as the welfare of my dearest kinsman can\n make me.\n MISS RICH. After what is past, it would be but affectation to pretend\n to indifference. Yes, I will own an attachment, which, I find, was more\n than friendship. And if my entreaties cannot alter his resolution to\n quit the country, I will even try if my hand has not power to detain\n him.\n _Giving her hand._\n HONEYW. Heavens! how can I have deserved all this? How express my\n happiness, my gratitude! A moment like this overpays an age of\n apprehension.\n CROAKER. Well, now I see content in every face; but Heaven send we be\n all better this day three months.\n SIR WILL. Henceforth, nephew, learn to respect yourself. He who seeks\n only for applause from without, has all his happiness in another's\n keeping.\n HONEYW. Yes, sir, I now too plainly perceive my errors. My vanity, in\n attempting to please all, by fearing to offend any. My meanness in\n approving folly, lest fools should disapprove. Henceforth, therefore,\n it shall be my study to reserve my pity for real distress; my\n friendship for true merit; and my love for her who first taught me what\n it is to be happy.\n SPOKEN BY MRS. BULKLEY.\n As puffing quacks some caitiff wretch procure\n To swear the pill, or drop, has wrought a cure;\n Thus, on the stage, our play-wrights still depend\n For epilogues and prologues on some friend,\n Who knows each art of coaxing up the town,\n And make full many a bitter pill go down:\n Conscious of this, our bard has gone about,\n And teased each rhyming friend to help him out.\n An epilogue! things can't go on without it;\n It could not fail, would you but set about it:\n \"Young man,\" cries one, (a bard laid up in clover,)\n \"Alas! young man, my writing days are over;\n Let boys play tricks, and kick the straw, not I;\n Your brother doctor there, perhaps, may try,\"\n \"What I! dear Sir,\" the doctor interposes;\n \"What, plant my thistle, Sir, among his roses!\n No, no, I've other contests to maintain;\n To-night I heard our troops at Warwick-lane.\n Go ask your manager\"\u2014\"Who, me! Your pardon,\n Those things are not our forte at Covent Garden.\"\n Our author's friends, thus placed at happy distance,\n Give him good words, indeed, but no assistance.\n As some unhappy wight, at some new play,\n At the pit door stands elbowing a way,\n While oft, with many a smile, and many a shrug,\n He eyes the centre, where his friends sit snug;\n His simpering friends, with pleasure in their eyes,\n Sink as he sinks, and as he rises rise:\n He nods, they nod; he cringes, they grimace;\n But not a soul will budge to give him place.\n Since, then, unhelp'd, our bard must now conform\n \"To 'bide the pelting of this pitiless storm,\"\n Blame where you must, be candid where you can,\n And be each critic the _Good-natured Man_.\n                        THE MISTAKES OF A NIGHT\n TO SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D.\n DEAR SIR,\n By inscribing this slight performance to you, I do not mean so much to\n compliment you as myself. It may do me some honour to inform the\n public, that I have lived many years in intimacy with you. It may serve\n the interests of mankind also to inform them, that the greatest wit may\n be found in a character, without impairing the most unaffected piety.\n I have, particularly, reason to thank you for your partiality to this\n performance. The undertaking a Comedy not merely sentimental, was very\n dangerous; and Mr. Colman, who saw this piece in its various stages,\n always thought it so. However, I ventured to trust it to the public;\n and though it was necessarily delayed till late in the season, I have\n every reason to be grateful.\n PROLOGUE,\n BY DAVID GARRICK, ESQ.\n _Enter_ MR. WOODWARD,\n Dressed in black, and holding a handkerchief to his eyes.\n  Excuse me, sirs, I pray\u2014I can't yet speak\u2014\n  I'm crying now\u2014and have been all the week!\n  _'Tis not alone this mourning suit_, good masters;\n  _I've that within_\u2014for which there are no plasters!\n  Pray, would you know the reason why I'm crying?\n  The Comic Muse, long sick, is now a-dying!\n  And if she goes, my tears will never stop;\n  for as a play'r, I can't squeeze out one drop:\n  I am undone, that's all\u2014shall lose my bread\u2014I'd\n  rather\u2014but that's nothing\u2014lose my head\n  When the sweet maid is laid upon the bier,\n  _Shuter_ and _I_ shall be chief mourners here.\n  To her a mawkish drab of spurious breed,\n  Who deals in _sentimentals_ will succeed!\n  Poor _Ned_ and _I_ are dead to all intents,\n  We can as soon speak _Greek_ as _sentiments_!\n  Both nervous grown, to keep our spirits up,\n  We now and then take down a hearty cup.\n  What shall we do?\u2014If Comedy forsake us!\n  _They'll turn us out, and no one else will take us._\n  But why can't I be moral?\u2014Let me try\u2014\n  My heart thus pressing\u2014fixed my face and eye\u2014\n  With a sententious look, that nothing means,\n  (Faces are blocks, in sentimental scenes)\n  Thus I begin\u2014_All is not gold that glitters,\n  Pleasure seems sweet, but proves a glass of bitters.\n  When ignorance enters, folly is at hand;\n  Learning is better far than house and land.\n  Let not your virtue trip, who trips may stumble,\n  And virtue is not virtue, if she tumble._\n    I give it up\u2014morals won't do for me;\n  To make you laugh I must play tragedy.\n  One hope remains: hearing the maid was ill,\n  A _doctor_ comes this night to show his skill.\n  To cheer her heart, and give your muscles motion,\n  He in _five draughts_ prepared, presents a potion:\n  A kind of magic charm\u2014for be assured,\n  If you will _swallow it_, the maid is cured:\n  But desperate the doctor, and her case is,\n  If you reject the dose, and make wry faces!\n  This truth he boasts, will boast it while he lives,\n  No _poisonous drugs_ are mixed with what he gives;\n  Should he succeed, you'll give him his degree;\n  If not, within he will receive no fee!\n  The college _you_, must his pretensions back,\n  Pronounce him _regular_, or dub him _quack_.\n DRAMATIS PERSON\u00c6.\n MEN.\n SIR CHARLES MARLOW.\n YOUNG MARLOW (HIS SON).\n HARDCASTLE.\n HASTINGS.\n TONY LUMPKIN.\n DIGGORY.\n WOMEN.\n MRS. HARDCASTLE.\n MISS HARDCASTLE.\n MISS NEVILLE.\n MAID.\n LANDLORD, SERVANTS, &c. &c.\n[Illustration:\n  MRS. HARDCASTLE.\u2014_\"You shan't go.\"\u2014p. 326_.\n SCENE.\u2014_A scene in an old-fashioned house._\n _Enter_ MRS. HARDCASTLE _and_ MR. HARDCASTLE.\n MRS. HARD. I vow, Mr. Hardcastle, you're very particular. Is there a\n creature in the whole country, but ourselves, that does not take a trip\n to town now and then to rub off the rust a little? There's the two Miss\n Hoggs, and our neighbour Mrs. Grisby, go to take a month's polishing\n every winter.\n HARD. Ay, and bring back vanity and affectation to last them the whole\n year. I wonder why London cannot keep its own fools at home. In my\n time, the follies of the town crept slowly among us, but now they\n travel faster than a stage-coach. Its fopperies come down, not only as\n inside passengers, but in the very basket.\n MRS. HARD. Ay, _your_ times were fine times, indeed; you have been\n telling us of _them_ for many a long year. Here we live in an old\n rambling mansion, that looks for all the world like an inn, but that we\n never see company. Our best visitors are old Mrs. Oddfish, the curate's\n wife, and little Cripplegate, the lame dancing-master; and all our\n entertainment, your old stories of Prince Eugene and the Duke of\n Marlborough. I hate such old-fashioned trumpery.\n HARD. And I love it. I love everything that's old: old friends, old\n times, old manners, old books, old wine; and, I believe, Dorothy\n (_taking her hand_), you'll own I have been pretty fond of an old wife.\n MRS. HARD. Lord, Mr. Hardcastle, you're for ever at your Dorothys, and\n your old wives. You may be a Darby, but I'll be no Joan, I promise you.\n I'm not so old as you'd make me, by more than one good year. Add twenty\n to twenty, and make money of that.\n HARD. Let me see; twenty added to twenty, makes just fifty and seven.\n MRS. HARD. It's false, Mr. Hardcastle: I was but twenty when I was\n brought to bed of Tony, that I had by Mr. Lumpkin, my first husband;\n and he's not come to years of discretion yet.\n HARD. Nor ever will, I dare answer for him. Ay, you have taught _him_\n finely.\n MRS. HARD. No matter, Tony Lumpkin has a good fortune. My son is not to\n live by his learning. I don't think a boy wants much learning to spend\n fifteen hundred a-year.\n HARD. Learning, quotha! a mere composition of tricks and mischief.\n MRS. HARD. Humour, my dear: nothing but humour. Come, Mr. Hardcastle,\n you must allow the boy a little humour.\n HARD. I'd sooner allow him a horse-pond. If burning the footmen's\n shoes, frighting the maids, worrying the kittens\u2014be humour, he has it.\n It was but yesterday he fastened my wig to the back of my chair, and\n when I went to make a bow, I popt my bald head in Mrs. Frizzle's face.\n MRS. HARD. And am I to blame? The poor boy was always too sickly to do\n any good. A school would be his death. When he comes to be a little\n stronger, who knows what a year or two's Latin may do for him!\n HARD. Latin for him! A cat and fiddle. No, no, the alehouse and the\n stable are the only schools he'll ever go to.\n MRS. HARD. Well, we must not snub the poor boy now, for I believe we\n shan't have him long among us. Anybody that looks in his face may see\n he's consumptive.\n HARD. Ay, if growing too fat be one of the symptoms.\n MRS. HARD. He coughs sometimes.\n HARD. Yes, when his liquor goes the wrong way.\n MRS. HARD. I'm actually afraid of his lungs.\n HARD. And truly so am I; for he sometimes whoops like a speaking\n trumpet\u2014(_Tony hallooing behind the scenes_)\u2014O there he goes\u2014A very\n consumptive figure, truly.\n _Enter_ TONY, _crossing the stage_.\n MRS. HARD. Tony, where are you going, my charmer? Won't you give papa\n and I a little of your company, lovee?\n TONY. I'm in haste, mother, I cannot stay.\n MRS. HARD. You shan't venture out this raw evening, my dear; you look\n most shockingly.\n TONY. I can't stay, I tell you. The Three Pigeons expects me down every\n moment. There's some fun going forward.\n HARD. Ay; the alehouse, the old place: I thought so.\n MRS. HARD. A low, paltry set of fellows.\n TONY. Not so low neither. There's Dick Muggins the exciseman, Jack\n Slang the horse-doctor, little Aminadab, that grinds the music-box, and\n Tom Twist, that spins the pewter platter.\n MRS. HARD. Pray, my dear, disappoint them for one night at least.\n TONY. As for disappointing _them_, I should not so much mind; but I\n can't abide to disappoint _myself_.\n MRS. HARD. (_Detaining him._) You shan't go.\n TONY. I will, I tell you.\n MRS. HARD. I say you shan't.\n TONY. We'll see which is the strongest, you or I!\n HARDCASTLE, _solus_.\n HARD. Ay, there goes a pair that only spoil each other; but is not the\n whole age in a combination to drive sense and discretion out of doors?\n There's my pretty darling Kate; the fashions of the times have almost\n infected her too. By living a year or two in town, she is as fond of\n gauze, and French frippery, as the best of them.\n _Enter_ MISS HARDCASTLE.\n HARD. Blessings on my pretty innocence! Drest out as usual, my Kate.\n Goodness! What a quantity of superfluous silk hast thou got about thee,\n girl! I could never teach the fools of this age, that the indigent\n world could be clothed out of the trimmings of the vain.\n MISS HARD. You know our agreement, sir. You allow me the morning to\n receive and pay visits, and to dress in my own manner; and in the\n evening, I put on my housewife's dress to please you.\n HARD. Well, remember I insist on the terms of our agreement; and, by\n the by, I believe I shall have occasion to try your obedience this very\n evening.\n MISS HARD. I protest, sir, I don't comprehend your meaning.\n HARD. Then, to be plain with you, Kate, I expect the young gentleman I\n have chosen to be your husband from town this very day. I have his\n father's letter, in which he informs me his son is set out, and that he\n intends to follow himself shortly after.\n MISS HARD. Indeed! I wish I had known something of this before. Bless\n me, how shall I behave! It's a thousand to one I shan't like him; our\n meeting will be so formal, and so like a thing of business, that I\n shall find no room for friendship or esteem.\n HARD. Depend upon it, child, I'll never control your choice; but Mr.\n Marlow, whom I have pitched upon, is the son of my old friend, Sir\n Charles Marlow, of whom you have heard me talk so often. The young\n gentleman has been bred a scholar, and is designed for an employment in\n the service of his country. I am told he's a man of an excellent\n understanding.\n MISS HARD. Is he?\n HARD. Very generous.\n MISS HARD. I believe I shall like him.\n HARD. Young and brave.\n MISS HARD. I'm sure I shall like him.\n HARD. And very handsome.\n MISS HARD. My dear papa, say no more (_kissing his hand_), he's mine,\n I'll have him!\n[Illustration:\n  MISS HARDCASTLE.\u2014\"_I protest, Sir, I\n  do not comprehend your meaning._\"\u2014_p._ 326.\n HARD. And to crown all, Kate, he's one of the most bashful and reserved\n young fellows in all the world.\n MISS HARD. Eh! you have frozen me to death again. That word _reserved_,\n has undone all the rest of his accomplishments. A reserved lover, it is\n said, always makes a suspicious husband.\n HARD. On the contrary, modesty seldom resides in a breast that is not\n enriched with nobler virtues. It was the very feature in his character\n that first struck me.\n MISS HARD. He must have more striking features to catch me, I promise\n you. However, if he be so young, so handsome, and so everything, as you\n mention, I believe he'll do still. I think I'll have him.\n HARD. Ay, Kate, but there is still an obstacle. It's more than an even\n wager, he may not have _you_.\n MISS HARD. My dear papa, why will you mortify one so!\u2014Well, if he\n refuses, instead of breaking my heart at his indifference, I'll only\n break my glass for its flattery, set my cap to some newer fashion, and\n look out for some less difficult admirer.\n HARD. Bravely resolved! In the meantime I'll go prepare the servants\n for his reception; as we seldom see company, they want as much training\n as a company of recruits the first day's muster.\n MISS HARDCASTLE, _sola_.\n MISS HARD. Lud, this news of papa's puts me all in a flutter.\n Young\u2014handsome: these he put last; but I put them foremost.\n Sensible\u2014good-natured: I like all that. But then\u2014reserved, and\n sheepish: that's much against him. Yet, can't he be cur'd of his\n timidity, by being taught to be proud of his wife? Yes; and can't\n I\u2014But, I vow, I'm disposing of the husband, before I have secured the\n lover.\n _Enter_ MISS NEVILLE.\n MISS HARD. I'm glad you're come, Neville, my dear. Tell me, Constance:\n how do I look this evening? Is there anything whimsical about me? Is it\n one of my well-looking days, child? Am I in face to-day?\n MISS NEV. Perfectly, my dear. Yet, now I look again\u2014bless me!\u2014sure no\n accident has happened among the canary birds, or the gold fishes. Has\n your brother or the cat been meddling? Or, has the last novel been too\n moving?\n MISS HARD. No; nothing of all this. I have been threatened\u2014I can scarce\n get it out\u2014I have been threatened with a lover.\n MISS NEV. And his name\u2014\n MISS HARD. Is Marlow.\n MISS NEV. Indeed!\n MISS HARD. The son of Sir Charles Marlow.\n MISS NEV. As I live, the most intimate friend of Mr. Hastings, _my_\n admirer. They are never asunder. I believe you must have seen him when\n we lived in town.\n MISS HARD. Never.\n MISS NEV. He's a very singular character, I assure you. Among women of\n reputation and virtue, he is the modestest man alive; but his\n acquaintance give him a very different character among creatures of\n another stamp: you understand me.\n MISS HARD. An odd character, indeed. I shall never be able to manage\n him. What shall I do? Pshaw, think no more of him, but trust to\n occurrences for success. But how goes on your own affair, my dear? has\n my mother been courting you for my brother Tony, as usual!\n MISS NEV. I have just come from one of our agreeable t\u00eate-\u00e0-t\u00eates. She\n has been saying a hundred tender things, and setting off her pretty\n monster as the very pink of perfection.\n[Illustration:\n  TONY.\u2014\"_Then I'll sing you,\n  gentlemen, a song._\"\u2014_p._ 330.\n MISS HARD. And her partiality is such, that she actually thinks him so.\n A fortune like yours is no small temptation. Besides, as she has the\n sole management of it, I'm not surprised to see her unwilling to let it\n go out of the family.\n MISS NEV. A fortune like mine, which chiefly consists in jewels, is no\n such mighty temptation. But, at any rate, if my dear Hastings be but\n constant, I make no doubt to be too hard for her at last. However, I\n let her suppose that I am in love with her son, and she never once\n dreams that my affections are fixed upon another.\n MISS HARD. My good brother holds out stoutly. I could almost love him\n for hating you so.\n MISS NEV. It is a good-natured creature at bottom, and I'm sure would\n wish to see me married to anybody but himself. But my aunt's bell rings\n for our afternoon's walk round the improvements. _Allons!_ Courage is\n necessary, as our affairs are critical.\n MISS HARD. Would it were bedtime, and all were well.\n SCENE.\u2014_An ale house room. Several shabby fellows, with punch and\n tobacco._ TONY _at the head of the table, a little higher than the\n rest: a mallet in his hand_.\n OMNES. Hurrea, hurrea, hurrea, bravo!\n 1 FEL. Now, gentlemen, silence for a song. The 'squire is going to\n knock himself down for a song.\n OMNES. Ay, a song, a song!\n TONY. Then I'll sing you, gentlemen, a song I made upon this alehouse,\n the Three Pigeons.\n SONG.\n Let school-masters puzzle their brain,\n   With grammar, and nonsense, and learning;\n Good liquor, I stoutly maintain,\n   Give _genus_ a better discerning.\n Let them brag of their heathenish gods,\n   Their Lethes, their Styxes, and Stygians;\n Their _quis_, and their _qu\u00e6s_, and their _quods_,\n   They're all but a parcel of pigeons.\n                       Toroddle, toroddle, toroll.\n When methodist-preachers come down,\n   A preaching that drinking is sinful,\n I'll wager the rascals a crown,\n   They always preach best with a skin full.\n But when you come down with your pence,\n   For a slice of their scurvy religion,\n I'll leave it to all men of sense,\n   But you, my good friend, are the pigeon.\n                       Toroddle, toroddle, toroll.\n Then come, put the jorum about,\n   And let us be merry and clever;\n Our hearts and our liquors are stout,\n   Here's the Three Jolly Pigeons for ever!\n Let some cry up woodcock or hare,\n   Your bustards, your ducks, and your widgeons;\n But of all the birds in the air,\n   Here's a health to the Three Jolly Pigeons!\n                       Toroddle, toroddle, toroll.\n OMNES. Bravo! bravo!\n 1 FEL. The 'squire has got spunk in him.\n 2 FEL. I loves to hear him sing, bekeays he never gives us nothing\n that's _low_.\n 3 FEL. O damn anything that's _low_, I cannot bear it.\n 4 FEL. The genteel thing, is the genteel thing at any time. If so be\n that a gentleman bees in a concatenation accordingly.\n 3 FEL. I like the maxum of it, Master Muggins. What though I am\n obligated to dance a bear? a man may be a gentleman for all that. May\n this be my poison, if my bear ever dances but to the very genteelest of\n tunes: \"Water parted,\" or \"The minuet in Ariadne.\"\n 2 FEL. What a pity it is the 'squire is not come to his own! It would\n be well for all the publicans within ten miles round of him.\n TONY. Ecod and so it would, Master Slang. I'd then show what it was to\n keep choice of company.\n 2 FEL. O he takes after his own father for that. To be sure, old\n 'squire Lumpkin was the finest gentleman I ever set my eyes on. For\n winding the straight horn, or beating a thicket for a hare, or a wench,\n he never had his fellow. It was a saying in the place, that he kept the\n best horses, dogs, and girls in the whole county.\n TONY. Ecod, and when I'm of age I'll be no bastard, I promise you! I\n have been thinking of Bett Bouncer, and the miller's grey mare to begin\n with. But come, my boys, drink about and be merry, for you pay no\n reckoning.\u2014Well, Stingo, what's the matter?\n _Enter_ LANDLORD.\n LAND. There be two gentlemen in a post-chaise at the door. They have\n lost their way upo' the forest; and they are talking something about\n Mr. Hardcastle.\n TONY. As sure as can be, one of them must be the gentleman that's\n coming down to court my sister.\u2014Do they seem to be Londoners?\n LAND. I believe they may. They look woundily like Frenchmen.\n TONY. Then desire them to step this way, and I'll set them right in a\n twinkling. (_Exit_ LANDLORD.) Gentlemen, as they mayn't be good enough\n company for you, step down for a moment, and I'll be with you in the\n squeezing of a lemon.\n TONY, _solus_.\n TONY. Father-in-law has been calling me whelp, and hound, this half\n year. Now if I pleased, I could be so revenged upon the old\n grumbletonian. But then I'm afraid\u2014afraid of what? I shall soon be\n worth fifteen hundred a-year, and let him frighten me out of _that_ if\n he can.\n _Enter_ LANDLORD, _conducting_ MARLOW _and_ HASTINGS.\n MARL. What a tedious uncomfortable day have we had of it! We were told\n it was but forty miles across the country, and we have come above\n threescore.\n HAST. And all, Marlow, from that unaccountable reserve of yours, that\n would not let us inquire more frequently on the way.\n MARL. I own, Hastings, I am unwilling to lay myself under an obligation\n to every one I meet; and often stand the chance of an unmannerly\n answer.\n HAST. At present, however, we are not likely to receive any answer.\n TONY. No offence, gentlemen; but I'm told you have been inquiring for\n one Mr. Hardcastle, in those parts. Do you know what part of the\n country you are in?\n HAST. Not in the least, sir; but should thank you for information.\n TONY. Nor the way you came?\n HAST. No, sir; but if you can inform us\u2014\u2014\n TONY. Why, gentlemen, if you know neither the road you are going, nor\n where you are, nor the road you came, the first thing I have to inform\n you is, that\u2014you have lost your way.\n MARL. We wanted no ghost to tell us that.\n TONY. Pray, gentlemen, may I be so bold as to ask the place from whence\n you came?\n MARL. That's not necessary towards directing us where we are to go.\n TONY. No offence; but question for question is all fair, you know.\n Pray, gentlemen, is not this same Hardcastle a cross-grained,\n old-fashioned, whimsical fellow, with an ugly face; a daughter, and a\n pretty son?\n HAST. We have not seen the gentleman; but he has the family you\n mention.\n TONY. The daughter, a tall trapesing, trolloping, talkative\n May-pole\u2014\u2014The son, a pretty, well-bred, agreeable youth, that everybody\n is fond of.\n MARL. Our information differs in this. The daughter is said to be\n well-bred and beautiful; the son, an awkward booby, reared up, and\n spoiled at his mother's apron-string.\n TONY. He-he-hem\u2014Then, gentlemen, all I have to tell you is, that you\n won't reach Mr. Hardcastle's house this night, I believe.\n HAST. Unfortunate!\n TONY. It's a damn'd long, dark, boggy, dirty, dangerous way. Stingo,\n tell the gentlemen the way to Mr. Hardcastle's; (_winking upon the\n landlord._) Mr. Hardcastle's, of Quagmire Marsh; you understand me.\n LAND. Master Hardcastle's? Lack-a-daisy, my masters, you're come a\n deadly deal wrong! When you came to the bottom of the hill, you should\n have crossed down Squash-lane.\n MARL. Cross down Squash-lane?\n LAND. Then you were to keep straight forward, till you came to four\n roads.\n MARL. Come to where four roads meet!\n TONY. Aye; but you must be sure to take only one of them.\n MARL. O sir, you're facetious.\n TONY. Then keeping to the right, you are to go sideways till you come\n upon Crack-skull-common: there you must look sharp for the track of the\n wheel, and go forward, till you come to farmer Murrain's barn. Coming\n to the farmer's barn, you are to turn to the right, and then to the\n left, and then to the right-about again, till you find out the old\n mill\u2014\u2014\n MARL. Zounds, man! we could as soon find out the longitude!\n HAST. What's to be done, Marlow?\n MARL. This house promises but a poor reception; though perhaps the\n landlord can accommodate us.\n LAND. Alack, master, we have but one spare bed in the whole house.\n TONY. And, to my knowledge, that's taken up by three lodgers already.\n (_After a pause, in which the rest seem disconcerted._) I have hit it.\n Don't you think, Stingo, our landlady would accommodate the gentlemen\n by the fireside, with\u2014three chairs and a bolster?\n HAST. I hate sleeping by the fireside.\n MARL. And I detest your three chairs and a bolster.\n TONY. You do, do you?\u2014then let me see\u2014what if you go on a mile further,\n to the Buck's Head; the old Buck's Head on the hill, one of the best\n inns in the whole country?\n HAST. O, ho! so we have escaped an adventure for this night, however.\n LAND. (_Apart to_ TONY.) Sure, you ben't sending them to your father's\n as an inn, be you?\n TONY. Mum, you fool you. Let _them_ find that out. (_To them._) You\n have only to keep on straight forward, till you come to a large old\n house by the road-side. You'll see a pair of large horns over the door.\n That's the sign. Drive up the yard, and call stoutly about you.\n HAST. Sir, we are obliged to you. The servants can't miss the way.\n TONY. No, no. But I tell you though, the landlord is rich, and going to\n leave off business; so he wants to be thought a gentleman, saving your\n presence, he! he! he! He'll be for giving you his company, and ecod, if\n you mind him, he'll persuade you that his mother was an alderman, and\n his aunt a justice of the peace.\n LAND. A troublesome old blade, to be sure; but a keeps as good wines\n and beds as any in the whole country.\n MARL. Well, if he supplies us with these, we shall want no further\n connexion. We are to turn to the right, did you say?\n TONY. No, no; straightforward. I'll just step myself, and show you a\n piece of the way. (_To the landlord._) Mum.\n LAND. Ah, bless your heart, for a sweet, pleasant-damn'd mischievous\n son of a whore.\n SCENE.\u2014_An old-fashioned house._\n _Enter_ HARDCASTLE, _followed by three or four awkward Servants_.\n HARD. Well, I hope you're perfect in the table exercise I have been\n teaching you these three days. You all know your posts and your places;\n and can show that you have been used to good company, without stirring\n from home.\n OMNES. Ay, ay.\n HARD. When company comes, you are not to pop out and stare, and then\n run in again, like frighted rabbits in a warren.\n OMNES. No, no.\n HARD. You, Diggory, whom I have taken from the barn, are to make a show\n at the side-table; and you, Roger, whom I have advanced from the\n plough, are to place yourself behind _my_ chair. But you're not to\n stand so, with your hands in your pockets. Take your hands from your\n pockets, Roger; and from your head, you blockhead you. See how Diggory\n carries his hands. They're a little too stiff, indeed, but that's no\n great matter.\n DIGG. Ay; mind how I hold them. I learned to hold my hands this way,\n when I was upon drill for the militia. And so being upon drill\u2014\n HARD. You must not be so talkative, Diggory. You must be all attention\n to the guests. You must hear us talk, and not think of talking; you\n must see us drink, and not think of drinking; you must see us eat, and\n not think of eating.\n DIGG. By the laws, your worship, that's parfectly unpossible. Whenever\n Diggory sees yeating going forward, ecod he's always wishing for a\n mouthful himself.\n HARD. Blockhead! Is not a belly-full in the kitchen as good as a\n belly-full in the parlour? Stay your stomach with that reflection.\n DIGG. Ecod, I thank your worship I'll make a shift to stay my stomach\n with a slice of cold beef in the pantry.\n HARD. Diggory you are too talkative. Then if I happen to say a good\n thing, or tell a good story at table, you must not all burst out\n a-laughing, as if you made part of the company.\n DIGG. Then ecod, your worship must not tell the story of Ould Grouse in\n the gun-room: I can't help laughing at that\u2014he! he! he!\u2014for the soul of\n me. We have laughed at that these twenty years\u2014ha! ha! ha!\n HARD. Ha! ha! ha! The story is a good one. Well, honest Diggory, you\n may laugh at that\u2014but still remember to be attentive. Suppose one of\n the company should call for a glass of wine, how will you behave? A\n glass of wine, sir, if you please. (_To_ DIGGORY.) Eh, why don't you\n move?\n DIGG. Ecod, your worship, I never have courage till I see the eatables\n and drinkables brought upon the table, and then I'm as bauld as a lion.\n[Illustration:\n  HARDCASTLE.\u2014\"_You must not be\n  so talkative, Diggory._\"\u2014_p._ 333.\n HARD. What, will nobody move?\n 1. SERV. I'm not to leave this place.\n 2. SERV. I'm sure it's no place of mine.\n 3. SERV. Nor mine, for sartain.\n DIGG. Wauns, and I'm sure it canna be mine.\n HARD. You numskulls! and so while, like your betters, you are\n quarrelling for places, the guests must be starved. O you dunces! I\n find I must begin all over again.\u2014But don't I hear a coach drive into\n the yard? To your posts, you blockheads. I'll go in the mean time and\n give my old friend's son a hearty welcome at the gate.\n DIGG. By the elevens, my place is gone quite out of my head.\n ROGER. I know that my place is to be everywhere.\n 1. SERV. Where the devil is mine?\n 2. SERV. My place is to be no where at all; and so Ize go about my\n business.\n _Exeunt_ SERVANTS, _running about as if frighted, different ways_.\n _Enter_ SERVANT _with candles, showing in_ MARLOW _and_ HASTINGS.\n SERV. Welcome, gentlemen, very welcome. This way.\n HAST. After the disappointments of the day, welcome once more, Charles,\n to the comforts of a clean room and a good fire. Upon my word, a very\n well-looking house; antique, but creditable.\n MARL. The usual fate of a large mansion. Having first ruined the master\n by good housekeeping, it at last comes to levy contributions as an inn.\n HAST. As you say, we passengers are to be taxed to pay all these\n fineries. I have often seen a good sideboard, or a marble\n chimney-piece, though not actually put in the bill, inflame the bill\n confoundedly.\n MARL. Travellers, George, must pay in all places. The only difference\n is, that in good inns you pay dearly for luxuries; in bad inns you are\n fleeced and starved.\n HAST. You have lived pretty much among them. In truth, I have been\n often surprised, that you, who have seen so much of the world, with\n your natural good sense, and your many opportunities, could never yet\n acquire a requisite share of assurance.\n MARL. The Englishman's malady. But tell me, George, where could I have\n learned that assurance you talk of? My life has been chiefly spent in a\n college, or an inn; in seclusion from that lovely part of the creation\n that chiefly teach men confidence. I don't know that I was ever\n familiarly acquainted with a single modest woman\u2014except my mother\u2014But\n among females of another class, you know\u2014\n HAST. Aye, among them you are impudent enough of all conscience.\n MARL. They are of _us_, you know.\n HAST. But in the company of women of reputation, I never saw such an\n idiot, such a trembler; you look, for all the world, as if you wanted\n an opportunity of stealing out of the room.\n MARL. Why, man, that's because I _do_ want to steal out of the room.\n Faith, I have often formed a resolution to break the ice, and rattle\n away at any rate. But I don't know how, a single glance from a pair of\n fine eyes has totally overset my resolution. An impudent fellow may\n counterfeit modesty; but I'll be hanged if a modest man can ever\n counterfeit impudence.\n HAST. If you could but say half the fine things to them that I have\n heard you lavish upon the bar-maid of an inn, or even a college\n bed-maker\u2014\n MARL. Why, George, I can't say fine things to them. They freeze, they\n petrify me. They may talk of a comet, or a burning mountain, or some\n such bagatelle: but to me, a modest woman, dressed out in all her\n finery, is the most tremendous object of the whole creation.\n HAST. Ha! ha! ha! At this rate, man, how can you ever expect to marry?\n MARL. Never, unless, as among kings and princes, my bride were to be\n courted by proxy. If, indeed, like an eastern bridegroom, one were to\n be introduced to a wife he never saw before, it might be endured. But\n to go through all the terrors of a formal courtship, together with the\n episode of aunts, grandmothers, and cousins, and at last to blurt out\n the broad-star question, of\u2014_madam, will you marry me?_ No, no; that's\n a strain much above me, I assure you.\n HAST. I pity you. But how do you intend behaving to the lady you are\n come down to visit at the request of your father?\n MARL. As I behave to all other ladies: bow very low; answer yes, or no,\n to all her demands\u2014But for the rest, I don' think I shall venture to\n look in her face till I see my father's again.\n HAST. I am surprised that one who is so warm a friend can be so cool a\n lover.\n MARL. To be explicit, my dear Hastings, my chief inducement down, was\n to be instrumental in forwarding your happiness, not my own. Miss\n Neville loves you, the family don't know you, as my friend you are a\n sure of a reception, and let honour do the rest.\n HAST. My dear Marlow!\u2014But I'll suppress the emotion. Were I a wretch,\n meanly seeking to carry off a fortune, you should be the last man in\n the world I would apply to for assistance. But Miss Neville's person is\n all I ask; and that is mine, both from her deceased father's consent,\n and her own inclination.\n MARL. Happy man! You have talents and art to captivate any woman. I am\n doomed to adore the sex, and yet to converse with the only part of it I\n despise. This stammer in my address, and this awkward prepossessing\n visage of mine, can never permit me to soar above the reach of a\n milliner's prentice, or one of the duchesses of Drury-lane.\u2014Pshaw! this\n fellow here to interrupt us.\n _Enter_ HARDCASTLE.\n HARD. Gentlemen, once more you are heartily welcome. Which is Mr.\n Marlow? Sir, you are heartily welcome. It's not my way, you see, to\n receive my friends with my back to the fire. I like to give them a\n hearty reception, in the old style, at my gate. I like to see their\n horses and trunks taken care of.\n MARL. (_Aside._) He has got our names from the servants already. (_To\n him._) We approve your caution and hospitality, sir. (_To_ HASTINGS.) I\n have been thinking, George, of changing our travelling dresses in the\n morning. I am grown confoundedly ashamed of mine.\n HARD. I beg, Mr. Marlow, you'll use no ceremony in this house.\n HAST. I fancy, Charles, you're right: the first blow is half the\n battle. I intend opening the campaign with the white and gold.\n HARD. Mr. Marlow\u2014Mr. Hastings\u2014gentlemen\u2014pray be under no restraint in\n this house. This is Liberty Hall, gentlemen. You may do just as you\n please here.\n MARL. Yet, George, if we open the campaign too fiercely at first we may\n want ammunition before it is over. I think to reserve the embroidery to\n secure a retreat.\n HARD. Your talking of a retreat, Mr. Marlow, puts me in mind of the\n Duke of Marlborough, when he went to besiege Denain. He first summoned\n the garrison.\n MARL. Don't you think the _ventre_ _d'or_ waistcoat will do with the\n plain brown?\n HARD. He first summoned the garrison, which might consist of about five\n thousand men\u2014\n HAST. I think not: brown and yellow mix but very poorly.\n HARD. I say, gentlemen, as I was telling you, he summoned the garrison,\n which might consist of about five thousand men\u2014\n MARL. The girls like finery.\n HARD. Which might consist of about five thousand men, well appointed\n with stores, ammunition, and other implements of war. Now, says the\n Duke of Marlborough, to George Brooks, that stood next to him\u2014you must\n have heard of George Brooks; \"I'll pawn my dukedom,\" says he, \"but I\n take that garrison without spilling a drop of blood.\" So\u2014\u2014\n MARL. What, my good friend, if you gave us a glass of punch in the\n meantime? It would help us to carry on the siege with vigour.\n HARD. Punch, sir! (_Aside._) This is the most unaccountable kind of\n modesty I ever met with.\n MARL. Yes, sir, punch. A glass of warm punch, after our journey, will\n be comfortable. This is Liberty-hall, you know.\n HARD. Here's cup, sir.\n MARL. (_Aside._) So this fellow, in his Liberty-hall, will only let us\n have just what he pleases.\n HARD. (_Taking the cup._) I hope you'll find it to your mind. I have\n prepared it with my own hands, and I believe you'll own the ingredients\n are tolerable. Will you be so good as to pledge me, sir? Here, Mr.\n Marlow, here is to our better acquaintance.\n _Drinks._\n MARL. (_Aside._) A very impudent fellow this! but he's a character, and\n I'll humour him a little. Sir, my service to you.\n _Drinks._\n HAST. (_Aside._) I see this fellow wants to give us his company, and\n forgets that he's an inn-keeper, before he has learned to be a\n gentleman.\n MARL. From the excellence of your cup my old friend, I suppose you have\n a good deal of business in this part of the country. Warm work, now and\n then, at elections, I suppose.\n HARD. No, sir, I have long given that work over. Since our betters have\n hit upon the expedient of electing each other, there's no business _for\n us that sell ale_.\n HAST. So, then you have no turn for politics I see.\n HARD. Not in the least. There was a time, indeed, I fretted myself\n about the mistakes of government, like other people; but, finding\n myself every day grow more angry, and the government growing no better,\n I left it to mend itself. Since that, I no more trouble my head about\n _Heyder Alley_, or _Ally Cawn_, than about _Ally Croaker_.\u2014Sir, my\n service to you.\n HAST. So that with eating above stairs, and drinking below; with\n receiving your friends within, and amusing them without, you lead a\n good pleasant bustling life of it.\n HARD. I do stir about a great deal, that's certain. Half the\n differences of the parish are adjusted in this very parlour.\n MARL. (_After drinking._) And you have an argument in your cup, old\n gentleman, better than any in Westminster Hall.\n HARD. Ay, young gentleman, that, and a little philosophy.\n MARL. (_Aside._) Well, this is the first time I ever heard of an\n inn-keeper's philosophy!\n HAST. So then, like an experienced general, you attack them on every\n quarter. If you find their reason manageable, you attack it with your\n philosophy; if you find they have no reason, you attack them with\n this.\u2014Here's your health, my philosopher.\n _Drinks._\n HARD. Good, very good, thank you; ha! ha! Your generalship puts me in\n mind of Prince Eugene, when he fought the Turks at the battle of\n Belgrade. You shall hear.\n MARL. Instead of the battle of Belgrade, I think it's almost time to\n talk about supper. What has your philosophy got in the house for\n supper?\n HARD. For supper, sir! (_Aside._) Was ever such a request to a man in\n his own house?\n MARL. Yes, sir; supper, sir: I begin to feel an appetite. I shall make\n devilish work to-night in the larder, I promise you.\n HARD. (_Aside._) Such a brazen dog sure never my eyes beheld. (_To\n him._) Why really, sir, as for supper, I can't well tell. My Dorothy,\n and the cook-maid, settle these things between them. I leave these kind\n of things entirely to them.\n MARL. You do, do you?\n HARD. Entirely. By-the-by, I believe they are in actual consultation,\n upon what's for supper, this moment in the kitchen.\n MARL. Then I beg they'll admit _me_ as one of their privy council. It's\n a way I have got. When I travel, I always choose to regulate my own\n supper. Let the cook be called. No offence I hope, sir.\n HARD. O no, sir, none in the least; yet, I don't know how, our Bridget,\n the cook-maid, is not very communicative upon these occasions. Should\n we send for her, she might scold us all out of the house.\n HAST. Let's see the list of the larder then. I ask it as a favour. I\n always match my appetite to my bill of fare.\n MARL. (_To_ HARDCASTLE, _who looks at them with surprise_.) Sir, he's\n very right, and it's my way too.\n HARD. Sir, you have a right to command here. Roger, bring us the bill\n of fare for to-night's supper. I believe it's drawn up. Your manner,\n Mr. Hastings, puts me in mind of my uncle, Colonel Wallop. It was a\n saying of his that no man was sure of his supper till he had eaten it.\n HAST. (_Aside._) All upon the high ropes! His uncle a colonel! we shall\n soon hear of his mother being a justice of peace. But let's hear the\n bill of fare.\n MARL. (_Perusing._) What's here? For the first course; for the second\n course; for the dessert. The devil, sir, do you think we have brought\n down the whole joiner's company, or the corporation of Bedford, to eat\n up such a supper? Two or three little things, clean and comfortable,\n will do.\n HAST. But let's hear it.\n MARL. (_Reading._) For the first course at the top, a pig, and pruin\n sauce.\n HAST. Damn your pig, I say.\n MARL. And damn your pruin sauce, say I.\n HARD. And yet, gentlemen, to men that are hungry, pig, with pruin\n sauce, is very good eating.\n MARL. At the bottom, a calf's tongue and brains.\n HAST. Let your brains be knocked out, my good sir; I don't like them.\n MARL. Or you may clap them on a plate by themselves. I do.\n HARD. (_Aside._) Their impudence confounds me. (_To them._) Gentlemen,\n you are my guests, make what alterations you please. Is there any thing\n else you wish to retrench, or alter, gentlemen?\n MARL. Item, A pork pie, a boiled rabbit and sausages, a florentine, a\n shaking pudding, and a dish of tiff\u2014taff\u2014taffety cream!\n HAST. Confound your made dishes. I shall be as much at a loss in this\n house, as at a green and yellow dinner, at the French ambassador's\n table. I'm for plain eating.\n[Illustration:\n  HASTINGS.\u2014\"_Let your brains be knocked\n  out, my good sir; I don't like them._\"\u2014_p._ 338.\n HARD. I'm sorry, gentlemen, that I have nothing you like; but if there\n be any thing you have a particular fancy to\u2014\u2014\n MARL. Why really, sir, your bill of fare is so exquisite, that any one\n part of it is full as good as another. Send us what you please. So much\n for supper: and now to see that our beds are aired, and properly taken\n care of.\n HARD. I entreat you'll leave all that to me. You shall not stir a step.\n MARL. Leave that to you? I protest, sir, you must excuse me; I always\n look to these things myself.\n HARD. I must insist, sir, you'll make yourself easy on that head.\n MARL. You see I'm resolved on it. (_Aside._) A very troublesome fellow\n this, as ever I met with.\n HARD. Well, sir, I'm resolved at least to attend you. (_Aside._) This\n may be modern modesty, but I never saw anything look so like\n old-fashioned impudence.\n HASTINGS, _solus_.\n HAST. So I find, this fellow's civilities begin to grow troublesome.\n But who can be angry at those assiduities, which are meant to please\n him? Ha! what do I see? Miss Neville, by all that's happy!\n _Enter_ MISS NEVILLE.\n MISS NEV. My dear Hastings! To what unexpected good fortune, to what\n accident am I to ascribe this happy meeting?\n HAST. Rather, let me ask the same question, as I could never have hoped\n to meet my dear Constance at an inn.\n MISS NEV. An inn? sure you mistake! my aunt, my guardian, lives here.\n What could induce you to think this house an inn?\n HAST. My friend, Mr. Marlow, with whom I came down, and I, have been\n sent here as to an inn, I assure you. A young fellow, whom we\n accidentally met at a house hard by, directed us hither.\n MISS NEV. Certainly it must be one of my hopeful cousin's tricks, of\n whom you have heard me talk so often, ha! ha! ha! ha!\n HAST. He whom your aunt intends for you? He of whom I have such just\n apprehensions?\n MISS NEV. You have nothing to fear from him, I assure you. You'd adore\n him, if you knew how heartily he despises me. My aunt knows it too, and\n has undertaken to court me for him; and actually begins to think she\n has made a conquest.\n HAST. Thou dear dissembler! You must know, my Constance, I have just\n seized this happy opportunity of my friend's visit here, to get\n admittance into the family. The horses that carried us down, are now\n fatigued with their journey; but they'll soon be refreshed; and then,\n if my dearest girl will trust in her faithful Hastings, we shall soon\n be landed in France; where, even among slaves, the laws of marriage are\n respected.\n MISS NEV. I have often told you that, though ready to obey you, I yet\n should leave my little fortune behind with reluctance. The greatest\n part of it was left me by my uncle, the India director, and chiefly\n consists in jewels. I have been for some time persuading my aunt to let\n me wear them. I fancy I am very near succeeding. The instant they are\n put into my possession, you shall find me ready to make them and myself\n yours.\n HAST. Perish the baubles! Your person is all I desire. In the meantime,\n my friend Marlow must not be let into his mistake; I know the strange\n reserve of his temper is such, that if abruptly informed of it, he\n would instantly quit the house, before our plan was ripe for execution.\n MISS NEV. But how shall we keep him in the deception? Miss Hardcastle\n is just returned from walking; what if we still continue to deceive\n him?\u2014This, this way\u2014\u2014\n _They confer._\n _Enter_ MARLOW.\n MARL. The assiduities of these good people tease me beyond bearing. My\n host seems to think it ill manners to leave me alone, and so he claps\n not only himself, but his old-fashioned wife on my back. They talk of\n coming to sup with us too; and then, I suppose, we are to run the\n gauntlet through all the rest of the family.\u2014What have we got here?\u2014\n HAST. My dear Charles! Let me congratulate you!\u2014The most fortunate\n accident!\u2014Who do you think is just alighted?\n MARL. Cannot guess.\n HAST. Our mistresses, boy, Miss Hardcastle and Miss Neville. Give me\n leave to introduce Miss Constance Neville to your acquaintance.\n Happening to dine in the neighbourhood, they called, on their return,\n to take fresh horses here. Miss Hardcastle has just stept into the next\n room, and will be back in an instant. Wasn't it lucky, eh?\n MARL. (_Aside._) I have just been mortified enough of all conscience,\n and here comes something to complete my embarrassment.\n HAST. Well, but wasn't it the most fortunate thing in the world?\n MARL. Oh! yes. Very fortunate\u2014a most joyful encounter\u2014But our dresses,\n George, you know, are in disorder\u2014What if we should postpone the\n happiness till to-morrow?\u2014To-morrow, at her own house\u2014It will be every\n bit as convenient\u2014And rather more respectful\u2014To-morrow let it be.\n _Offering to go._\n MISS NEV. By no means, sir. Your ceremony will displease her. The\n disorder of your dress will show the ardour of your impatience:\n besides, she knows you are in the house, and will permit you to see\n her.\n MARL. O! the devil! how shall I support it? Hem! hem! Hastings, you\n must not go. You are to assist me, you know. I shall be confoundedly\n ridiculous. Yet, hang it! I'll take courage. Hem!\n HAST. Pshaw, man! it's but the first plunge, and all's over. She's but\n a woman, you know.\n MARL. And of all women, she that I dread most to encounter.\n _Enter_ MISS HARDCASTLE, _as returning from walking, a bonnet, &c._\n HAST. (_Introducing him._) Miss Hardcastle\u2014Mr. Marlow. I'm proud of\n bringing two persons of such merit together, that only want to know, to\n esteem each other.\n MISS HARD. (_Aside._) Now, for meeting my modest gentleman with a\n demure face, and quite in his own manner. (_After a pause, in which he\n appears very uneasy and disconcerted._) I'm glad of your safe arrival,\n sir\u2014I'm told, you had some accidents by the way.\n MARL. Only a few, madam. Yes, we had some. Yes, madam, a good many\n accidents; but should be sorry\u2014madam\u2014or rather glad of any\n accidents\u2014that are so agreeably concluded. Hem!\n HAST. (_To him._) You never spoke better in your whole life. Keep it\n up, and I'll ensure you the victory.\n MISS HARD. I'm afraid you flatter, sir. You, that have seen so much of\n the finest company, can find little entertainment in an obscure corner\n of the country.\n MARL. (_Gathering courage._) I have lived, indeed, in the world, madam;\n but I have kept very little company. I have been but an observer upon\n life, madam, while others were enjoying it.\n MISS NEV. But that, I am told, is the way to enjoy it at last.\n HAST. (_To him._) Cicero never spoke better. Once more, and you are\n confirmed in assurance for ever.\n MARL. (_To him._) Hem! Stand by me, then, and when I'm down, throw in a\n word or two, to set me up again.\n MISS HARD. An observer, like you, upon life, were, I fear, disagreeably\n employed, since you must have had much more to censure than to approve.\n MARL. Pardon me, madam. I was always willing to be amused. The folly of\n most people is rather an object of mirth than uneasiness.\n HAST. (_To him._) Bravo, bravo. Never spoke so well in your whole life.\n Well! Miss Hardcastle, I see, that you and Mr. Marlow are going to be\n very good company. I believe our being here will but embarrass the\n interview.\n MARL. Not in the least, Mr. Hastings. We like your company of all\n things. (_To him._) Zounds! George, sure you won't go: how can you\n leave us?\n HAST. Our presence will but spoil conversation, so we'll retire to the\n next room. (_To him._) You don't consider, man, that we are to manage a\n little t\u00eate-\u00e0-t\u00eate of our own.\n _Exeunt._\n MISS HARD. (_After a pause._) But you have not been wholly an observer,\n I presume, sir: the ladies, I should hope, have employed some part of\n your addresses.\n MARL. (_Relapsing into timidity._) Pardon me, madam, I\u2014I\u2014I\u2014as yet have\n studied\u2014only\u2014to\u2014deserve them.\n MISS HARD. And that, some say, is the very worst way to obtain them.\n MARL. Perhaps so, madam. But I love to converse only with the more\n grave and sensible part of the sex.\u2014But I'm afraid I grow tiresome.\n MISS HARD. Not at all, sir; there is nothing I like so much as grave\n conversation myself; I could hear it for ever. Indeed\u2014I have often been\n surprised how a man of _sentiment_ could ever admire those light airy\n pleasures, where nothing reaches the heart.\n MARL. It's\u2014a disease\u2014of the mind, madam. In the variety of tastes there\n must be some who, wanting a relish\u2014for\u2014um-a-um.\n MISS HARD. I understand you, sir. There must be some, who, wanting a\n relish for refined pleasures, pretend to despise what they are\n incapable of tasting.\n MARL. My meaning, madam, but infinitely better expressed. And I can't\n help observing\u2014a\u2014\n MISS HARD. (_Aside._) Who could ever suppose this fellow impudent upon\n some occasions? (_To him._) You were going to observe, sir\u2014\u2014\n MARL. I was observing, madam\u2014I protest, madam, I forget what I was\n going to observe.\n MISS HARD. (_Aside._) I vow, and so do I. (_To him._) You were\n observing, sir, that in this age of hypocrisy, something about\n hypocrisy, sir.\n MARL. Yes, madam; in this age of hypocrisy there are few who, upon\n strict inquiry, do not\u2014a\u2014a\u2014a\u2014\n MISS HARD. I understand you perfectly, sir.\n MARL. (_Aside._) Egad! and that's more than I do myself.\n MISS HARD. You mean that, in this hypocritical age, there are few that\n do not condemn in public what they practise in private, and think they\n pay every debt to virtue when they praise it.\n[Illustration:\n  MARLOW.\u2014\"_I was observing, madam._\"\u2014_p._ 342.\n MARL. True, madam; those who have most virtue in their mouths, have\n least of it in their bosoms. But I'm sure I tire you, madam.\n MISS HARD. Not in the least, sir; there's something so agreeable, and\n spirited, in your manner; such life and force\u2014pray, sir, go on.\n MARL. Yes, madam; I was saying\u2014that there are some occasions\u2014when a\n total want of courage, madam, destroys all the\u2014and puts us\u2014upon a\u2014a\u2014a\u2014\n MISS HARD. I agree with you entirely; a want of courage upon some\n occasions, assumes the appearance of ignorance, and betrays us when we\n most want to excel. I beg you'll proceed.\n MARL. Yes, madam; morally speaking, madam\u2014But I see Miss Neville,\n expecting us in the next room. I would not intrude for the world.\n MISS HARD. I protest, sir, I never was more agreeably entertained in\n all my life. Pray go on.\n MARL. Yes, madam; I was\u2014But she beckons us to join her. Madam, shall I\n do myself the honour to attend you?\n MISS HARD. Well then, I'll follow.\n MARL. (_Aside._) This pretty smooth dialogue has done for me.\n MISS HARDCASTLE, _sola_.\n MISS HARD. Ha! ha! ha! Was there ever such a sober sentimental\n interview? I'm certain he scarce looked in my face the whole time. Yet\n the fellow, but for his unaccountable bashfulness, is pretty well too.\n He has good sense; but then, so buried in his fears, that it fatigues\n one more than ignorance. If I could teach him a little confidence, it\n would be doing somebody, that I know of, a piece of service. But who is\n that somebody?\u2014that, faith, is a question I can scarce answer.\n _Enter_ TONY _and_ MISS NEVILLE, _followed by_ MRS. HARDCASTLE _and_\n HASTINGS.\n TONY. What do you follow me for, cousin Con? I wonder you're not\n ashamed, to be so very engaging.\n MISS NEV. I hope, cousin, one may speak to one's own relations, and not\n be to blame?\n TONY. Ay, but I know what sort of a relation you want to make me\n though; but it won't do. I tell you, cousin Con, it won't do, so I beg\n you'll keep your distance; I want no nearer relationship.\n _She follows, coquetting him to the back-scene._\n MRS. HARD. Well! I vow, Mr. Hastings, you are very entertaining.\n There's nothing in the world I love to talk of so much as London, and\n the fashions, though I was never there myself.\n HAST. Never there! You amaze me! From your air and manner, I concluded\n you had been bred all your life either at Ranelagh, St. James's, or\n Tower Wharf.\n MRS. HARD. O! sir, you're only pleased to say so. We country persons\n can have no manner at all. I'm in love with the town, and that serves\n to raise me above some of our neighbouring rustics; but who can have a\n manner, that has never seen the Pantheon, the Grotto Gardens, the\n Borough, and such places, where the nobility chiefly resort? All I can\n do, is to enjoy London at second-hand. I take care to know every\n t\u00eate-\u00e0-t\u00eate from the Scandalous Magazine, and have all the fashions, as\n they come out, in a letter from the two Miss Rickets of Crooked-lane.\n Pray how do you like this head, Mr. Hastings?\n HAST. Extremely elegant and _d\u00e9gag\u00e9e_, upon my word, madam. Your\n friseur is a Frenchman, I suppose?\n MRS. HARD. I protest I dressed it myself from a print in the Ladies'\n Memorandum Book for the last year.\n HAST. Indeed! such a head in a side-box, at the play-house, would draw\n as many gazers, as my lady Mayoress at a city ball.\n MRS. HARD. I vow, since inoculation began, there is no such thing to be\n seen as a plain woman; so one must dress a little particular, or one\n may escape in the crowd.\n HAST. But that can never be your case, madam, in any dress.\n _Bowing._\n[Illustration:\n  HASTINGS.\u2014\"_Extremely elegant and\n  d\u00e9gag\u00e9e, upon my word, madam._\"\u2014_p._ 344.\n MRS. HARD. Yet what signifies _my_ dressing when I have such a piece of\n antiquity by my side as Mr. Hardcastle? all I can say will not argue\n down a single button from his clothes. I have often wanted him to throw\n off his great flaxen wig, and where he was bald, to plaster it over,\n like my lord Pately, with powder.\n HAST. You are right, madam; for as, among the ladies, there are none\n ugly, so, among the men, there are none old.\n MRS. HARD. But what do you think his answer was? Why, with his usual\n gothic vivacity, he said, I only wanted him to throw off his wig, to\n convert it into a t\u00eate for my own wearing.\n HAST. Intolerable! At your age you may wear what you please, and it\n must become you.\n MRS. HARD. Pray, Mr. Hastings, what do you take to be the most\n fashionable age about town?\n HAST. Some time ago, forty was all the mode; but I'm told the ladies\n intend to bring up fifty for the ensuing winter.\n MISS HARD. Seriously! then I shall be too young for the fashion.\n HAST. No lady begins now to put on jewels till she's past forty. For\n instance, Miss there, in a polite circle, would be considered as a\n child, as a mere maker of samplers.\n MRS. HARD. And yet Mrs. Niece thinks herself as much a woman, and is as\n fond of jewels, as the oldest of us all.\n HAST. Your niece, is she? and that young gentleman, a brother of yours,\n I should presume?\n MRS. HARD. My son, sir. They are contracted to each other. Observe\n their little sports. They fall in and out ten times a day, as if they\n were man and wife already. (_To them._) Well, Tony, child, what soft\n things are you saying to your cousin Constance this evening.\n TONY. I have been saying no soft things; but that it's very hard to be\n followed about so. Ecod! I've not a place in the house now, that's left\n to myself, but the stable.\n MRS. HARD. Never mind him, Con my dear. He's in another story behind\n your back.\n MISS NEV. There's something generous in my cousin's manner. He falls\n out before faces to be forgiven in private.\n TONY. That's a damned confounded\u2014crack.\n MRS. HARD. Ah! he's a sly one. Don't you think they're like each other\n about the mouth, Mr. Hastings? The Blenkinsop mouth to a T. They're of\n a size too. Back to back, my pretties, that Mr. Hastings may see you.\n Come, Tony.\n TONY. You had as good not make me, I tell you.\n _Measuring._\n MISS NEV. O lud! he has almost cracked my head.\n MRS. HARD. O, the monster! For shame, Tony. You a man, and behave so!\n TONY. If I'm a man, let me have my fortin. Ecod, I'll not be made a\n fool of no longer.\n MRS. HARD. Is this, ungrateful boy, all that I'm to get for the pains I\n have taken in your education? I that have rocked you in your cradle,\n and fed that pretty mouth with a spoon! Did not I work that waistcoat,\n to make you genteel? Did not I prescribe for you every day, and weep\n while the receipt was operating?\n TONY. Ecod! you had reason to weep, for you have been dosing me ever\n since I was born. I have gone through every receipt in the Complete\n Huswife ten times over; and you have thoughts of coursing me through\n _Quincy_ next spring. But, ecod! I tell you, I'll not be made a fool of\n no longer.\n MRS. HARD. Wasn't it all for your good, viper? Wasn't it all for your\n good?\n TONY. I wish you'd let me and my good alone then. Snubbing this way,\n when I'm in spirits. If I'm to have any good, let it come of itself;\n not to keep dinging it, dinging it into one so.\n MRS. HARD. That's false; I never see you when you're in spirits. No,\n Tony, you then go to the alehouse, or kennel. I'm never to be delighted\n with your agreeable wild notes, unfeeling monster!\n TONY. Ecod! mamma, your own notes are the wildest of the two.\n MRS. HARD. Was ever the like! But I see he wants to break my heart, I\n see he does.\n HAST. Dear madam, permit me to lecture the young gentleman a little.\n I'm certain I can persuade him to his duty.\n MRS. HARD. Well! I must retire. Come, Constance, my love. You see, Mr.\n Hastings, the wretchedness of my situation. Was ever poor woman so\n plagued with a dear, sweet, pretty, provoking, undutiful boy?\n HASTINGS. TONY.\n TONY. (_Singing_)\n There was a young man riding by,\n   And fain would have his will.\n Don't mind her. Let her cry. It's the comfort of her heart. I have seen\n her and sister cry over a book for an hour together; and they said,\n they liked the book the better the more it made them cry.\n HAST. Then you're no friend to the ladies, I find, my pretty young\n gentleman?\n TONY. That's as I find 'um.\n HAST. Not to her of your mother's choosing, I dare answer: and yet she\n appears to me a pretty, well-tempered girl.\n TONY. That's because you don't know her as well as I. Ecod! I know\n every inch about her; and there's not a more bitter cantankerous toad\n in all Christendom.\n HAST. (_Aside._) Pretty encouragement this for a lover!\n TONY. I have seen her since the height of that. She has as many tricks\n as a hare in a thicket, or a colt the first day's breaking.\n HAST. To me she appears sensible and silent.\n TONY. Ay, before company. But when she's with her playmates, she's as\n loud as a hog in a gate.\n HAST. But there is a meek modesty about her that charms me.\n TONY. Yes; but curb her never so little, she kicks up, and you're flung\n in a ditch.\n HAST. Well; but you must allow her a little beauty.\u2014Yes, you must allow\n her some beauty.\n TONY. Bandbox! She's all a made up thing, mun. Ah! could you but see\n Bet Bouncer, of these parts, you might then talk of beauty. Ecod, she\n has two eyes as black as sloes, and cheeks as broad and red as a pulpit\n cushion. She'd make two of she.\n HAST. Well, what say you to a friend that would take this bitter\n bargain off your hands?\n TONY. Anon.\n HAST. Would you thank him that would take Miss Neville, and leave you\n to happiness and your dear Betsy?\n TONY. Ay; but where is there such a friend? for who would take _her_?\n HAST. I am he. If you but assist me, I'll engage to whip her off to\n France, and you shall never hear more of her.\n TONY. Assist you! Ecod, I will, to the last drop of my blood. I'll clap\n a pair of horses to your chaise, that shall trundle you off in a\n twinkling; and may be, get you a part of her fortin beside, in jewels,\n that you little dream of.\n HAST. My dear 'squire, this looks like a lad of spirit.\n TONY. Come along then, and you shall see more of my spirit before you\n have done with me. _Singing._\n We are the boys,\n That fears no noise,\n Where the thundering cannons roar.\n _Enter_ HARDCASTLE, _solus_.\n HARD. What could my old friend Sir Charles mean, by recommending his\n son as the modestest young man in town? To me he appears the most\n impudent piece of brass that ever spoke with a tongue. He has taken\n possession of the easy chair by the fireside already. He took off his\n boots in the parlour, and desired me to see them taken care of. I'm\n desirous to know how his impudence affects my daughter.\u2014She will\n certainly be shocked at it.\n _Enter_ MISS HARDCASTLE, _plainly dressed_.\n HARD. Well, my Kate, I see you have changed your dress, as I bid you;\n and yet, I believe, there was no great occasion.\n MISS HARD. I find such a pleasure, sir, in obeying your commands, that\n I take care to obey them without ever debating their propriety.\n HARD. And yet, Kate, I sometimes give you some cause, particularly when\n I recommended my _modest_ gentleman to you as a lover to-day.\n MISS HARD. You taught me to expect something extraordinary, and I find\n the original exceeds the description.\n HARD. I was never so surprised in my life! He has quite confounded all\n my faculties!\n MISS HARD. I never saw anything like it: and a man of the world too!\n HARD. Ay, he learned it all abroad,\u2014what a fool was I, to think a young\n man could learn modesty by travelling! He might as soon learn wit at a\n masquerade.\n MISS HARD. It seems all natural to him.\n HARD. A good deal assisted by bad company, and a French dancing-master.\n MISS HARD. Sure you mistake, papa! A French dancing-master could never\n have taught him that timid look,\u2014that awkward address,\u2014that bashful\n manner\u2014\n HARD. Whose look? whose manner, child?\n MISS HARD. Mr. Marlow's: his mauvaise honte, his timidity struck me at\n the first sight.\n HARD. Then your first sight deceived you; for I think him one of the\n most brazen first-sights that ever astonished my senses.\n MISS HARD. Sure, sir, you rally! I never saw any one so modest.\n HARD. And can you be serious! I never saw such a bouncing, swaggering\n puppy, since I was born. Bully Dawson was but a fool to him.\n[Illustration:\n  MISS HARDCASTLE.\u2014\"_Yes. But upon conditions._\"\u2014_p._ 350.\n MISS HARD. Surprising! he met me with a respectful bow, a stammering\n voice, and a look fixed on the ground.\n HARD. He met me with a loud voice, a lordly air, and a familiarity that\n made my blood freeze again.\n MISS HARD. He treated me with diffidence and respect; censured the\n manners of the age; admired the prudence of girls that never laughed;\n tired me with apologies for being tiresome; then left the room with a\n bow, and, \"Madam, I would not for the world detain you.\"\n HARD. He spoke to me, as if he knew me all his life before; asked\n twenty questions, and never waited for an answer; interrupted my best\n remarks with some silly pun; and when I was in my best story of the\n Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, he asked if I had not a good\n hand at making punch. Yes, Kate, he asked your father if he was a maker\n of punch!\n MISS HARD. One of us must certainly be mistaken.\n HARD. If he be what he has shown himself, I'm determined he shall never\n have my consent.\n MISS HARD. And if he be the sullen thing I take him, he shall never\n have mine.\n HARD. In one thing then we are agreed\u2014to reject him.\n MISS HARD. Yes. But upon conditions. For if you should find him less\n impudent, and I more presuming; if you find him more respectful, and I\n more importunate\u2014I don't know\u2014the fellow is good enough for a\n man\u2014Certainly we don't meet many such at a horse-race in the country.\n HARD. If we should find him so\u2014but that's impossible. The first\n appearance has done my business. I'm seldom deceived in that.\n MISS HARD. And yet there may be many good qualities under that first\n appearance.\n HARD. Ay, when a girl finds a fellow's outside to her taste, she then\n sets about guessing the rest of his furniture. With her, a smooth face\n stands for good sense, and a genteel figure, for every virtue.\n MISS HARD. I hope, sir, a conversation begun with a compliment to my\n good sense, won't end with a sneer at my understanding.\n HARD. Pardon me, Kate. But if young Mr. Brazen can find the art of\n reconciling contradictions, he may please us both, perhaps.\n MISS HARD. And as one of us must be mistaken, what if we go to make\n further discoveries?\n HARD. But depend on't I'm in the right.\n MISS HARD. And depend on't I'm not much in the wrong.\n _Enter_ TONY _running in with a casket_.\n TONY. Ecod! I have got them. Here they are. My cousin Con's necklaces,\n bobs, and all. My mother shan't cheat the poor souls out of their\n fortin neither. O! my genius, is that you?\n _Enter_ HASTINGS.\n HAST. My dear friend, how have you managed with your mother? I hope you\n have amused her with pretending love for your cousin; and that you are\n willing to be reconciled at last. Our horses will be refreshed in a\n short time, and we shall soon be ready to set off.\n TONY. And here's something to bear your charges by the way. (_Giving\n the casket._) Your sweetheart's jewels. Keep them; and hang those, I\n say, that would rob you of one of them.\n HAST. But how have you procured them from your mother?\n TONY. Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no fibs. I procured them\n by the rule of thumb. If I had not a key to every drawer in mother's\n bureau, how could I go to the alehouse so often as I do? An honest man\n may rob of himself his own at any time.\n HAST. Thousands do it every day. But to be plain with you; Miss Neville\n is endeavouring to procure them from her aunt this very instant. If she\n succeeds, it will be the most delicate way at least of obtaining them.\n TONY. Well, keep them, till you know how it will be. I know how it will\n be well enough; she'd as soon part with the only sound tooth in her\n head.\n HAST. But I dread the effects of her resentment, when she finds she has\n lost them.\n TONY. Never you mind her resentment, leave _me_ to manage that. I don't\n value her resentment the bounce of a cracker. Zounds! here they are.\n Morrice. Prance.\n TONY, MRS. HARDCASTLE, MISS NEVILLE.\n MRS. HARD. Indeed, Constance, you amaze me. Such a girl as you want\n jewels! It will be time enough for jewels, my dear, twenty years hence;\n when your beauty begins to want repairs.\n MISS NEV. But what will repair beauty at forty, will certainly improve\n it at twenty, madam.\n MRS. HARD. Yours, my dear, can admit of none. That natural blush is\n beyond a thousand ornaments. Besides, child, jewels are quite out at\n present. Don't you see half the ladies of our acquaintance, my Lady\n Kill-day-light, and Mr. Crump, and the rest of them, carry their jewels\n to town, and bring nothing but paste and marcasites back?\n MISS NEV. But who knows, madam, but somebody that shall be nameless\n would like me best with all my little finery about me?\n MRS. HARD. Consult your glass, my dear, and then see, if, with such a\n pair of eyes, you want any better sparklers. What do you think, Tony,\n my dear, does your cousin Con want jewels, in your eyes to set off her\n beauty?\n TONY. That's as thereafter may be.\n MISS NEV. My dear aunt, if you knew how it would oblige me.\n MRS. HARD. A parcel of old fashioned rose and table-cut things. They\n would make you look like the court of king Solomon at a puppet-show.\n Besides, I believe I can't readily come at them. They may be missing\n for aught I know to the contrary.\n TONY. (_Apart to_ MRS. HARDCASTLE.) Then why don't you tell her so at\n once, as she's so longing for them? Tell her they're lost. It's the\n only way to quiet her. Say they're lost, and call me to bear witness.\n MRS. HARD. (_Apart to_ TONY.) You know, my dear, I'm only keeping them\n for you. So, if I say they're gone, you'll bear me witness, will you?\n He! he! he!\n TONY. Never fear me. Ecod! I'll say I saw them taken out with mine own\n eyes.\n MISS NEV. I desire them but for a day, madam. Just to be permitted to\n show them as relics, and then they may be locked up again.\n MRS. HARD. To be plain with you, my dear Constance; if I could find\n them, you should have them. They're missing, I assure you. Lost, for\n aught I know; but we must have patience wherever they are.\n MISS NEV. I'll not believe it; this is but a shallow pretence to deny\n me. I know they're too valuable to be so slightly kept, and as you are\n to answer for the loss.\n MRS. HARD. Don't be alarmed, Constance; if they be lost, I must restore\n an equivalent. But my son knows they are missing, and not to be found.\n TONY. That I can bear witness to. They are missing, and not to be\n found, I'll take my oath on't.\n MRS. HARD. You must learn resignation, my dear; for though we lose our\n fortune, yet we should not lose our patience. See me, how calm I am.\n MISS NEV. Ay, people are generally calm at the misfortunes of others.\n MRS. HARD. Now, I wonder a girl of your good sense, should waste a\n thought upon such trumpery. We shall soon find them; and, in the mean\n time, you shall make use of my garnets, till your jewels be found.\n MISS NEV. I detest garnets.\n MRS. HARD. The most becoming things in the world to set off a clear\n complexion. You have often seen how well they look upon me. You _shall_\n have them.\n MISS NEV. I dislike them of all things. You shan't stir.\u2014Was ever\n anything so provoking? to mislay my own jewels, and force me to wear\n her trumpery.\n TONY. Don't be a fool. If she gives you the garnets, take what you can\n get. The jewels are your own already. I have stolen them out of her\n bureau, and she does not know it. Fly to your spark, he'll tell you\n more of the matter. Leave me to manage _her_.\n MISS NEV. My dear cousin!\n TONY. Vanish. She's here, and has missed them already. Zounds! how she\n fidgets, and spits about like a Catherine-wheel!\n _Enter_ MRS. HARDCASTLE.\n MRS. HARD. Confusion! thieves! robbers! We are cheated, plundered,\n broke open, undone.\n TONY. What's the matter, what's the matter, mamma? I hope nothing has\n happened to any of the good family!\n MRS. HARD. We are robbed. My bureau has been broke open, the jewels\n taken out, and I'm undone.\n TONY. Oh! is that all? Ha! ha! ha! By the laws, I never saw it better\n acted in my life. Ecod, I thought you was ruined in earnest; ha, ha,\n ha!\n MRS. HARD. Why, boy, I _am_ ruined in earnest. My bureau has been broke\n open, and all taken away.\n TONY. Stick to that; ha, ha, ha! stick to that; I'll bear witness, you\n know; call me to bear witness.\n MRS. HARD. I tell you, Tony, by all that's precious, the jewels are\n gone, and I shall be ruined for ever.\n TONY. Sure, I know they're gone, and I am to say so.\n MRS. HARD. My dearest Tony, but hear me. They're gone, I say.\n TONY. By the laws, mamma, you make me for to laugh; ha! ha! I know who\n took them well enough, ha! ha! ha!\n MRS. HARD. Was there ever such a blockhead, that can't tell the\n difference between jest and earnest? I tell you I'm not in jest, booby.\n TONY. That's right, that's right. You must be in a bitter passion, and\n then nobody will suspect either of us. I'll bear witness that they are\n gone.\n MRS. HARD. Was there ever such a cross-grained brute, that won't hear\n me! Can you bear witness that you're no better than a fool? Was ever\n poor woman so beset with fools on one hand, and thieves on the other?\n TONY. I can bear witness to that.\n MRS. HARD. Bear witness again, you blockhead you, and I'll turn you out\n of the room directly. My poor niece, what will become of _her_! Do you\n laugh, you unfeeling brute, as if you enjoyed my distress?\n TONY. I can bear witness to that.\n MRS. HARD. Do you insult me, monster? I'll teach you to vex your\n mother, I will.\n TONY. I can bear witness to that.\n _He runs off, she follows him._\n _Enter_ MISS HARDCASTLE _and_ MAID.\n MISS HARD. What an unaccountable creature is that brother of mine, to\n send them to the house as an inn, ha! ha! I don't wonder at his\n impudence.\n MAID. But what is more, madam, the young gentlemen, as you passed by in\n your present dress, asked me if you were the bar-maid? He mistook you\n for the bar-maid, madam.\n MISS HARD. Did he? Then, as I live, I'm resolved to keep up the\n delusion. Tell me, Pimple, how do you like my present dress? Don't you\n think I look something like Cherry in the Beaux' Stratagem?\n MAID. It's the dress, madam, that every lady wears in the country, but\n when she visits or receives company.\n MISS HARD. And are you sure he does not remember my face or person?\n MAID. Certain of it.\n MISS HARD. I vow, I thought so; for though we spoke for some time\n together, yet his fears were such, that he never once looked up during\n the interview. Indeed, if he had, my bonnet would have kept him from\n seeing me.\n MAID. But what do you hope from keeping him in his mistake?\n MISS HARD. In the first place I shall be _seen_, and that is no small\n advantage to a girl who brings her face to market. Then I shall,\n perhaps, make an acquaintance, and that's no small victory gained over\n one, who never addresses any but the wildest of her sex. But my chief\n aim is to take my gentleman off his guard, and, like an invisible\n champion of romance, examine the giant's force before I offer to\n combat.\n MAID. But are you sure you can act your part, and disguise your voice,\n so that he may mistake that, as he has already mistaken your person?\n MISS HARD. Never fear me. I think I have got the true bar-cant\u2014Did your\n honour call?\u2014Attend the Lion there.\u2014Pipes and tobacco for the\n Angel.\u2014The Lamb has been outrageous this half-hour.\n MAID. It will do, madam. But he's here.\n _Enter_ MARLOW.\n MARL. What a bawling in every part of the house! I have scarce a\n moment's repose. If I go to the best room, there I find my host and his\n story. If I fly to the gallery, there we have my hostess, with her\n curtesy down to the ground. I have at last got a moment to myself, and\n now for recollection.\n _Walks and muses._\n MISS HARD. Did you call, sir? Did your honour call?\n MARL. (_Musing_). As for Miss Hardcastle, she's too grave and\n sentimental for me.\n MISS HARD. Did your honour call?\n _She still places herself before him, he turning away._\n MARL. No, child. (_Musing._) Besides, from the glimpse I had of her, I\n think she squints.\n MISS HARD. I'm sure, sir, I heard the bell ring.\n MARL. No, no. (_Musing._) I have pleased my father, however, by coming\n down, and I'll to-morrow please myself by returning.\n _Taking out his tablets, and perusing._\n MISS HARD. Perhaps the other gentleman called, sir.\n MARL. I tell you, no.\n MISS HARD. I should be glad to know, sir. We have such a parcel of\n servants.\n MARL. No, no, I'll tell you. (_Looks full in her face._) Yes, child, I\n think I did call. I wanted\u2014I wanted\u2014I vow, child, you are vastly\n handsome.\n MISS HARD. O la, sir, you'll make one ashamed.\n MARL. Never saw a more sprightly malicious eye. Yes, yes, my dear, I\n did call. Have you got any of your\u2014a\u2014what d'ye call it, in the house?\n MISS HARD. No, sir, we have been out of that these ten days.\n MARL. One may call in this house, I find, to very little purpose.\n Suppose I should call for a taste, just by way of trial, of the nectar\n of your lips; perhaps I might be disappointed in that too.\n MISS HARD. Nectar! nectar! that's a liquor there's no call for in these\n parts. French, I suppose. We keep no French wines here, sir.\n MARL. Of true English growth, I assure you.\n MISS HARD. Then it's odd I should not know it. We brew all sorts of\n wines in this house, and I have lived here these eighteen years.\n MARL. Eighteen years? Why, one would think, child, you kept the bar\n before you were born. How old are you?\n MISS HARD. O! sir, I must not tell my age. They say women and music\n should never be dated.\n MARL. To guess at this distance, you can't be much above forty.\n (_Approaching._) Yet, nearer, I don't think so much. (_Approaching._)\n By coming close to some women they look younger still; but when we come\n very close indeed\u2014\u2014\n _Attempting to kiss her._\n MISS HARD. Pray, sir, keep your distance. One would think you wanted to\n know one's age as they do horses, by mark of mouth.\n MARL. I protest, child, you use me extremely ill. If you keep me at\n this distance, how is it possible you and I can be ever acquainted?\n MISS HARD. And who wants to be acquainted with you? I want no such\n acquaintance, not I. I'm sure you did not treat Miss Hardcastle, that\n was here a while ago, in this obstropalous manner. I'll warrant me,\n before her you looked dashed, and kept bowing to the ground, and\n talked, for all the world, as if you was before a justice of peace.\n MARL. (_Aside._) Egad! she has hit it, sure enough. (_To her._) In awe\n of her, child? Ha! ha! ha! A mere awkward, squinting thing; no, no. I\n find you don't know me. I laughed, and rallied her a little; but I was\n unwilling to be too severe. No, I could not be too severe, _curse me_!\n MISS HARD. O! then, sir, you are a favourite, I find, among the ladies.\n MARL. Yes, my dear, a great favourite. And yet, hang me, I don't see\n what they find in me to follow. At the ladies' club in town, I'm called\n their agreeable Rattle. Rattle, child, is not my real name, but one I'm\n known by. My name is Solomons. Mr. Solomons, my dear, at your service.\n _Offering to salute her._\n[Illustration:\n  MARLOW.\u2014\"_And why not now, my angel?_\"\u2014_p._ 356.\n MISS HARD. Hold, sir; you were introducing me to your club, not to\n yourself. And you're so great a favourite there, you say?\n MARL. Yes, my dear; there's Mrs. Mantrap, lady Betty Blackleg, the\n countess of Sligo, Mrs. Longhorns, old Miss Biddy Buckskin, and your\n humble servant, keep up the spirit of the place.\n MISS HARD. Then it's a very merry place, I suppose.\n MARL. Yes; as merry as cards, suppers, wine, and old women, can make\n us.\n MISS HARD. And their agreeable Rattle; ha! ha! ha!\n MARL. (_Aside._) Egad! I don't quite like this chit. She looks knowing,\n methinks. You laugh, child!\n MISS HARD. I can't but laugh to think what time they all have for\n minding their work or their family.\n MARL. (_Aside._) All's well, she don't laugh at me. (_To her._ ) Do\n _you_ ever work, child?\n MISS HARD. Ay, sure. There's not a screen or a quilt in the whole house\n but what can bear witness to that.\n MARL. Odso! Then you must show me your embroidery. I embroider and draw\n patterns myself a little. If you want a judge of your work, you must\n apply to me.\n _Seizing her hand._\n MISS HARD. Ay, but the colours don't look well by candle-light. You\n shall see all in the morning.\n _Struggling._\n MARL. And why not now, my angel? Such beauty fires beyond the power of\n resistance.\u2014Pshaw! the father here! My old luck: I never nicked seven,\n that I did not throw ames-ace three times following.\n _Enter_ HARDCASTLE, _who stands in surprise_.\n HARD. So, madam! So I find _this_ is your _modest_ lover. This is your\n humble admirer, that kept his eyes, fixed on the ground, and only\n adored at humble distance. Kate, Kate, art thou not ashamed to deceive\n your father so?\n MISS HARD. Never trust me, dear papa, but he's still the modest man I\n first took him for, you'll be convinced of it as well as I.\n HARD. By the hand of my body, I believe his impudence is infectious!\n Didn't I see him seize your hand? Didn't I see him haul you about like\n a milk-maid? and now you talk of his respect and his modesty, forsooth!\n MISS HARD. But if I shortly convince you of his modesty; that he has\n only the faults that will pass off with time, and the virtues that will\n improve with age; I hope you'll forgive him.\n HARD. The girl would actually make one run mad; I tell you, I will not\n be convinced. I am convinced. He has scarcely been three hours in the\n house, and he has already encroached on all my prerogatives. You may\n like his impudence, and call it modesty; but my son-in-law, madam, must\n have very different qualifications.\n MISS HARD. Sir, I ask but this night to convince you.\n HARD. You shall not have half the time; for I have thoughts of turning\n him out this very hour.\n MISS HARD. Give me that hour, then, and I hope to satisfy you.\n HARD. Well, an hour let it be then. But I'll have no trifling with your\n father. All fair and open, do you mind me?\n MISS HARD. I hope, sir, you have ever found that I considered your\n commands as my pride; for your kindness is such, that my duty as yet\n has been inclination.\n _Enter_ HASTINGS _and_ MISS NEVILLE.\n HAST. You surprise me! Sir Charles Marlow expected here this night?\n Where have you had your information?\n MISS NEV. You may depend upon it. I just saw his letter to Mr.\n Hardcastle, in which he tells him he intends setting out a few hours\n after his son.\n HAST. Then, my Constance, all must be completed before he arrives. He\n knows me; and should he find me here, would discover my name, and\n perhaps my designs, to the rest of the family.\n MISS NEV. The jewels, I hope, are safe.\n HAST. Yes, yes. I have sent them to Marlow, who keeps the keys of our\n baggage. In the meantime, I'll go to prepare matters for our elopement.\n I have had the squire's promise of a fresh pair of horses; and, if I\n should not see him again, will write him further directions.\n MISS NEV. Well! success attend you. In the meantime, I'll go amuse my\n aunt with the old pretence of a violent passion for my cousin.\n _Enter_ MARLOW _followed by a_ SERVANT.\n MARL. I wonder what Hastings could mean by sending me so valuable a\n thing as a casket to keep for him, when he knows the only place I have,\n is the seat of a post-coach at an inn-door.\u2014Have you deposited the\n casket with the landlady, as I ordered you? Have you put it into her\n own hands?\n SERV. Yes, your honour.\n MARL. She said she'd keep it safe, did she?\n SERV. Yes, she said she'd keep it safe enough; she asked me how I came\n by it, and she said she had a great mind to make me give an account of\n myself.\n MARL. Ha! ha! ha! They're safe, however. What an unaccountable set of\n beings have we got amongst! This little bar-maid, though, runs in my\n head most strangely, and drives out the absurdities of all the rest of\n the family. She's mine, she must be mine, or I'm greatly mistaken.\n _Enter_ HASTINGS.\n HAST. Bless me! I quite forgot to tell her, that I intended to prepare\n at the bottom of the garden. Marlow here, and in spirits too!\n MARL. Give me joy, George! Crown me, shadow me with laurels! Well,\n George, after all, we modest fellows don't want for success among the\n women.\n HAST. Some women, you mean. But what success has your honour's modesty\n been crowned with now, that it grows so insolent upon us?\n MARL. Didn't you see the tempting, brisk, lovely, little thing, that\n runs about the house, with a bunch of keys to its girdle?\n HAST. Well, and what then?\n MARL. She's mine, you rogue you. Such fire, such motion, such eyes,\n such lips\u2014but, egad! she would not let me kiss them though.\n HAST. But are you so sure, so very sure of her?\n MARL. Why man, she talked of showing me her work above-stairs, and I'm\n to improve the pattern.\n HAST. But how can _you_, Charles, go about to rob a woman of her\n honour?\n MARL. Pshaw! pshaw! We all know the honour of the bar-maid of an inn. I\n don't intend to _rob_ her, take my word for it; there's nothing in this\n house I shan't honestly _pay_ for.\n HAST. I believe the girl has virtue.\n MARL. And if she has, I should be the last man in the world that would\n attempt to corrupt it.\n HAST. You have taken care, I hope, of the casket I sent you to lock up?\n Is it in safety?\n MARL. Yes, yes; it's safe enough. I have taken care of it. But how\n could you think the seat of a post-coach, at an inn-door, a place of\n safety? Ah! numb-skull! I have taken better precautions for you than\n you did for yourself.\u2014I have\u2014\n HAST. What?\n MARL. I have sent it to the landlady, to keep for you.\n HAST. To the landlady!\n MARL. The landlady.\n HAST. You did!\n MARL. I did. She's to be answerable for its forthcoming, you know.\n HAST. Yes, she'll bring it forth, with a witness.\n MARL. Wasn't I right? I believe you'll allow that I acted prudently\n upon this occasion.\n HAST. (_Aside._) He must not see my uneasiness.\n _Marl._ You seem a little disconcerted though, methinks. Sure nothing\n has happened.\n HAST. No, nothing. Never was in better spirits in all my life. And so\n you left it with the landlady, who, no doubt, very readily undertook\n the charge?\n MARL. Rather too readily. For she not only kept the casket; but,\n through her great precaution, was going to keep the messenger too. Ha!\n ha! ha!\n HAST. He! he! he! They are safe, however.\n MARL. As a guinea in a miser'spurse.\n HAST. (_Aside._) So now all hopes of fortune are at an end, and we must\n set off without it. (_To him._ ) Well, Charles, I'll leave you to your\n meditations on the pretty bar-maid; and, he! he! he! may you be as\n successful for yourself as you have been for me.\n MARL. Thank ye, George! I ask no more; ha! ha! ha!\n _Enter_ HARDCASTLE.\n HARD. I no longer know my own house. It's turned all topsy-turvy. His\n servants have got drunk already. I'll bear it no longer; and yet, from\n my respect for his father, I'll be calm. (_To him._ ) Mr. Marlow, your\n servant. I'm your very humble servant.\n _Bowing low._\n MARL. Sir, your humble servant. (_Aside._) What's to be the wonder now?\n HARD. I believe, sir, you must be sensible, sir, that no man alive\n ought to be more welcome than your father's son, sir. I hope you think\n so.\n MARL. I do, from my soul, sir. I don't want much entreaty. I generally\n make my father's son welcome wherever he goes.\n HARD. I believe you do, from my soul, sir. But though I say nothing to\n your own conduct, that of your servants is insufferable. Their manner\n of drinking is setting a very bad example in this house, I assure you.\n[Illustration:\n  HARDCASTLE.\u2014\"_I'm your very humble servant._\"\u2014_p._ 358.\n MARL. I protest, my very good sir, that's no fault of mine. If they\n don't drink as they ought, _they_ are to blame. I ordered them not to\n spare the cellar: I did, I assure you. (_To the side scene._) Here, let\n one of my servants come up. (_To him._) My positive directions were,\n that, as I did not drink myself, they should make up for my\n deficiencies below.\n HARD. Then, they had your orders for what they do! I'm satisfied.\n MARL. They had, I assure you. You shall hear from one of themselves.\n _Enter_ SERVANT, _drunk_.\n MARL. You, Jeremy! Come forward, sirrah! What were my orders? Were you\n not told to drink freely, and call for what you thought fit, for the\n good of the house?\n HARD. (_Aside._) I begin to lose my patience.\n JEREMY. Please your honour, liberty and Fleet-street for ever! Though\n I'm but a servant, I'm as good as another man. I'll drink for no man\n before supper, sir, damme! Good liquor will sit upon a good supper; but\n a good supper will not sit upon\u2014(_Hiccup._)\u2014upon my conscience, sir.\n MARL. You see, my old friend, the fellow is as drunk as he can possibly\n be. I don't know what you'd have more, unless you'd have the poor devil\n soused in a beer-barrel.\n HARD. Zounds! He'll drive me distracted if I contain myself any longer.\n Mr. Marlow, sir; I have submitted to your insolence for more than four\n hours, and I see no likelihood of its coming to an end. I'm now\n resolved to be master here, sir; and I desire that you and your drunken\n pack may leave my house directly.\n MARL. Leave your house?\u2014Sure you jest, my good friend! What, when I'm\n doing what I can to please you?\n HARD. I tell you, sir, you don't please me; so I desire you'll leave my\n house.\n MARL. Sure you cannot be serious! At this time o'night, and such a\n night! You only mean to banter me.\n HARD. I tell you, sir, I'm serious; and, now that my passions are\n roused, I say this house is mine, sir; this house is mine, and I\n command you to leave it directly!\n MARL. Ha! ha! ha! A puddle in a storm. I shan't stir a step, I assure\n you. (_In a serious tone._) This your house, fellow! It's my house.\n This is my house. Mine, while I choose to stay. What right have you to\n bid me leave this house, sir? I never met with such impudence, curse\n me, never in my whole life before.\n HARD. Nor I, confound me if ever I did. To come to my house, to call\n for what he likes, to turn me out of my own chair, to insult the\n family, to order his servants to get drunk, and then to tell me, _This\n house is mine, sir_. By all that's impudent, it makes me laugh. Ha! ha!\n Pray, sir, (_Bantering._) as you take the house, what think you of\n taking the rest of the furniture? There's a pair of silver\n candlesticks, and there's a fire-screen, and here's a pair of\n brazen-nosed bellows, perhaps you may take a fancy to them.\n MARL. Bring me your bill, sir, bring me your bill, and let's make no\n more words about it.\n HARD. There are a set of prints too. What think you of the Rake's\n Progress for your own apartment?\n MARL. Bring me your bill, I say; and I'll leave you and your infernal\n house directly.\n HARD. Then there's a mahogany table, that you may see your own face in.\n MARL. My bill, I say.\n HARD. I had forgot the great chair, for your own particular slumbers,\n after a hearty meal.\n MARL. Zounds! bring me my bill, I say; and let's hear no more on't.\n HARD. Young man, young man, from your father's letter to me, I was\n taught to expect a well-bred, modest man, as a visitor here; but now I\n find him no better than a coxcomb, and a bully. But he will be down\n here presently, and shall hear more of it.\n[Illustration:\n  MISS HARDCASTLE.\u2014\"_Let it be short, then._\"\u2014_p._ 361.\n MARL. How's this? Sure I have not mistaken the house! Everything looks\n like an inn. The servants cry, _Coming._ The attendance is awkward; the\n bar-maid too to attend us. But she's here, and will further inform me.\n Whither so fast, child! A word with you.\n _Enter_ MISS HARDCASTLE.\n MISS HARD. Let it be short then. I'm in a hurry, (_Aside._) I believe\n he begins to find out his mistake; but it's too soon quite to undeceive\n him.\n MARL. Pray, child, answer me one question.\u2014What are you, and what may\n your business in this house be?\n MISS HARD. A relation of the family, sir.\n MARL. What; a poor relation?\n MISS HARD. Yes, sir; a poor relation, appointed to keep the keys, and\n to see that the guests want nothing in my power to give them.\n MARL. That is, you act as the bar-maid of this inn.\n MISS HARD. O law!\u2014What brought that in your head? One of the best\n families in the county keep an inn! Ha! ha! ha! old Mr. Hardcastle's\n house an inn!\n MARL. Mr. Hardcastle's house? Is this house Mr. Hardcastle's house,\n child?\n MISS HARD. Ay, sure. Whose else should it be?\n MARL. So then all's out, and I have been damnably imposed on. O,\n confound my stupid head, I shall be laughed at over the whole town. I\n shall be stuck up in caricatura in all the print-shops: the Dullissimo\n Maccaroni. To mistake this house, of all others, for an inn; and my\n father's old friend for an inn-keeper! What a swaggering puppy must he\n take me for! What a silly puppy do I find myself! There again, may I be\n hanged, my dear, but I mistook you for the bar-maid.\n MISS HARD. Dear me! dear me! I'm sure there's nothing in my _behaviour_\n to put me upon a level with one of that stamp.\n MARL. Nothing, my dear, nothing. But I was in for a list of blunders,\n and could not help making you a subscriber. My stupidity saw everything\n the wrong way. I mistook your assiduity for assurance, and your\n simplicity for allurement. But it's over\u2014This house I no more show _my_\n face in.\n MISS HARD. I hope, sir, I have done nothing to disoblige you. I'm sure\n I should be sorry to affront any gentleman who has been so polite, and\n said so many civil things to me. I'm sure I should be sorry\n (_Pretending to cry._) if he left the family upon my account. I'm sure\n I should be sorry, if people said anything amiss, since I have no\n fortune but my character.\n MARL. (_Aside._) By heaven, she weeps. This is the first mark of\n tenderness I ever had from a modest woman, and it touches me. (_To\n her._) Excuse me, my lovely girl, you are the only part of the family I\n leave with reluctance. But to be plain with you, the difference of our\n birth, fortune, and education, make an honourable connexion impossible;\n and I can never harbour a thought of bringing ruin upon one, whose only\n fault was being too lovely.\n MISS HARD. (_Aside._) Generous man! I now begin to admire him. (_To\n him._) But I'm sure my family is as good as Miss Hardcastle's; and\n though I'm poor, that's no great misfortune to a contented mind; and\n until this moment, I never thought that it was bad to want fortune.\n MARL. And why now, my pretty simplicity?\n MISS HARD. Because it puts me a distance from one, that if I had a\n thousand pound I would give it all too.\n MARL. (_Aside._) This simplicity bewitches me so that if I stay I'm\n undone. I must make one bold effort, and leave her. (_To her._) Your\n partiality in my favour, my dear, touches me most sensibly; and were I\n to live for myself alone, I could easily fix my choice. But I owe too\n much to the opinion of the world, too much to the authority of a\n father, so that\u2014I can scarcely speak it\u2014it affects me. Farewell.\n MISS HARD. I never knew half his merit till now. He shall not go, if I\n have power or art to detain him. I'll still preserve the character in\n which I stooped to conquer; but will undeceive my papa, who, perhaps,\n may laugh him out of his resolution.\n _Enter_ TONY, MISS NEVILLE.\n TONY. Ay, you may steal for yourselves the next time. I have done my\n duty. She has got the jewels again, that's a sure thing; but she\n believes it was all a mistake of the servants.\n MISS NEV. But, my dear cousin, sure you won't forsake us in this\n distress. If she in the least suspects that I am going off, I shall\n certainly be locked up, or sent to my aunt Pedigree's, which is ten\n times worse.\n TONY. To be sure, aunts of all kinds are damn'd bad things; but what\n can I do? I have got you a pair of horses that will fly like\n Whistle-jacket, and I'm sure you can't say but I have courted you\n nicely before her face. Here she comes, we must court a bit or two\n more, for fear she should suspect us.\n _They retire and seem to fondle._\n _Enter_ MRS. HARDCASTLE.\n MRS. HARD. Well, I was greatly fluttered, to be sure. But my son tells\n me it was all a mistake of the servants. I shan't be easy, however,\n till they are fairly married, and then let her keep her own fortune.\n But what do I see? Fondling together, as I'm alive. I never saw Tony so\n sprightly before. Ah! have I caught you, my pretty doves? What!\n billing, exchanging stolen glances, and broken murmurs? Ah!\n TONY. As for murmurs, mother, we grumble a little now and then, to be\n sure. But there's no love lost between us.\n MRS. HARD. A mere sprinkling, Tony, upon the flame, only to make it\n burn brighter.\n MISS NEV. Cousin Tony promises to give us more of his company at home.\n Indeed, he shan't leave us any more. It won't leave us, cousin Tony,\n will it?\n TONY. O! it's a pretty creature. No, I'd sooner leave my horse in a\n pound, than leave you, when you smile upon one so. Your laugh makes you\n so becoming.\n MISS NEV. Agreeable cousin! Who can help admiring that natural humour,\n that pleasant, broad, red, thoughtless, (_patting his cheek_) ah! it's\n a bold face.\n MRS. HARD. Pretty innocence!\n TONY. I'm sure I always loved cousin Con's hazel eyes, and her pretty\n long fingers, that she twists this way and that, over the haspicholls,\n like a parcel of bobbins.\n MRS. HARD. Ah, he would charm the bird from the tree. I was never so\n happy before. My boy takes after his father, poor Mr. Lumpkin, exactly.\n The jewels, my dear Con, shall be yours incontinently. You shall have\n them. Isn't he a sweet boy, my dear? You shall be married to-morrow,\n and we'll put off the rest of his education, like Mr. Drowsy's sermons,\n to a fitter opportunity.\n _Enter_ DIGGORY.\n DIGG. Where's the 'squire? I have got a letter for your worship.\n TONY. Give it to my mamma. She reads all my letters first.\n DIGG. I had orders to deliver it into your own hands.\n TONY. Who does it come from?\n DIGG. Your worship mun ask that o' the letter itself.\n TONY. I could wish to know, though (_turning the letter and gazing on\n MISS NEV. (_Aside._) Undone, undone! A letter to him from Hastings. I\n know the hand. If my aunt sees it, we are ruined for ever. I'll keep\n her employed a little if I can. (_To_ MRS. HARDCASTLE.) But I have not\n told you, madam, of my cousin's smart answer just now to Mr. Marlow. We\n so laughed\u2014You must know, madam\u2014this way a little; for he must not hear\n us.\n _They confer._\n TONY. (_Still gazing._) A damn'd cramp piece of penmanship, as ever I\n saw in my life. I can read your printhand very well. But here there are\n such handles, and shanks, and dashes, that one can scarce tell the head\n from the tail. _To Anthony Lumpkin, Esq._ It's very odd, I can read the\n outside of my letters, where my own name is, well enough. But when I\n come to open it, it is all\u2014buzz. That's hard, very hard; for the inside\n of the letter is always the cream of the correspondence.\n MRS. HARD. Ha! ha! ha! Very well, very well. And so my son was too hard\n for the philosopher.\n MISS NEV. Yes, madam; but you must hear the rest, madam. A little more\n this way, or he may hear us. You'll hear how he puzzled him again.\n MRS. HARD. He seems strangely puzzled now himself, methinks.\n TONY. (_Still gazing._) A damned up and down hand, as if it was\n disguised in liquor. (_Reading._) _Dear Sir_, Ay, that's that. Then\n there's an _M_, and a _T_, and _S_; but whether the next be an _izzard_\n or an _R_, confound me, I cannot tell.\n MRS. HARD. What's that, my dear. Can I give you any assistance?\n MISS NEV. Pray, aunt, let me read it. Nobody reads a cramp hand better\n than I. (_Twitching the letter from her._) Do you know who it is from?\n TONY. Can't tell, except from Dick Ginger, the feeder.\n MISS NEV. Ay, so it is. (_Pretending to read._) Dear 'Squire, Hoping\n that you're in health, as I am at this present. The gentlemen of the\n Shake-bag club has cut the gentlemen of Goose green quite out of\n feather. The odds\u2014um\u2014odd battle\u2014um\u2014long fighting\u2014um\u2014Here, here; it's\n all about cocks, and fighting: it's of no consequence; here, put it up,\n put it up.\n _Thrusting the crumpled letter upon him._\n TONY. But I tell you, miss, it's of all the consequence in the world. I\n would not lose the rest of it for a guinea. Here, mother, do you make\n it out. Of no consequence!\n _Giving_ MRS. HARDCASTLE _the letter_.\n MRS. HARD. How's this? (_Reads._) Dear 'Squire, I'm now waiting for\n Miss Neville, with a post-chaise and pair, at the bottom of the garden,\n but I find my horses yet unable to perform the journey. I expect you'll\n assist us with a pair of fresh horses, as you promised. Dispatch is\n necessary, as the _hag_ (ay the hag), your mother, will otherwise\n suspect us. Yours, Hastings. Grant me patience. I shall run distracted.\n My rage chokes me.\n MISS NEV. I hope, madam, you'll suspend your resentment for a few\n moments, and not impute to me any impertinence, or sinister design that\n belongs to another.\n MRS. HARD. (_Curtseying very low._) Fine-spoken madam, you are most\n miraculously polite and engaging, and quite the very pink of courtesy\n and circumspection, madam. (_Changing_ _her tone._ ) And you, you great\n ill-fashioned oaf, with scarce sense enough to keep your mouth shut.\n Were you too joined against me? But I'll defeat all your plots in a\n moment. As for you, madam, since you have got a pair of fresh horses\n ready, it would be cruel to disappoint them. So, if you please, instead\n of running away with your spark, prepare, this very moment, to run off\n with _me_. Your old aunt Pedigree will keep you secure, I'll warrant\n me. You too, sir, may mount your horse, and guard us upon the way.\n Here, Thomas, Roger, Diggory, I'll show you, that I wish you better\n than you do yourselves.\n MISS NEV. So, now I'm completely ruined.\n TONY. Ay, that's a sure thing.\n MISS NEV. What better could be expected, from being connected with such\n a stupid fool, and after all the nods and signs I made him?\n TONY. By the laws, miss, it was your own cleverness, and not my\n stupidity, that did your business. You were so nice, and so busy, with\n your Shake-bags and Goose-greens, that I thought you could never be\n making believe.\n _Enter_ HASTINGS.\n HAST. So, sir, I find by my servant, that you have shown my letter, and\n betrayed us. Was this well done, young gentleman?\n TONY. Here's another. Ask miss there, who betrayed you. Ecod, it was\n her doing, not mine.\n _Enter_ MARLOW.\n MARL. So, I have been finely used here among you. Rendered\n contemptible, driven into ill manners, despised, insulted, laughed at.\n TONY. Here's another. We shall, have old Bedlam broke loose presently.\n MISS NEV. And there, sir, is the gentleman to whom we all owe every\n obligation.\n MARL. What can I say to him, a mere boy, an idiot, whose ignorance and\n age are a protection?\n HAST. A poor contemptible booby, that would but disgrace correction.\n MISS NEV. Yet with cunning and malice enough to make himself merry with\n all our embarrassments.\n HAST. An insensible cub.\n MARL. Replete with tricks and mischief.\n TONY. Baw! damme, but I'll fight you both, one after the other,\u2014\u2014with\n baskets.\n MARL. As for him, he's below resentment. But your conduct, Mr.\n Hastings, requires an explanation. You knew of my mistakes, yet would\n not undeceive me.\n HAST. Tortured as I am with my own disappointments, is this a time for\n explanations? It is not friendly, Mr. Marlow.\n MARL. But, sir\u2014\u2014\n MISS NEV. Mr. Marlow, we never kept on your mistake, till it was too\n late to undeceive you. Be pacified.\n _Enter_ SERVANT.\n SERV. My mistress desires you'll get ready immediately, madam. The\n horses are putting to. Your hat and things are in the next room. We are\n to go thirty miles before morning.\n MISS NEV. Well, well; I'll come presently.\n MARL. (_To_ HASTINGS.) Was it well done, sir, to assist in rendering me\n ridiculous? To hang me out for the scorn of all my acquaintance? Depend\n upon it, sir, I shall expect an explanation.\n[Illustration:\n  MISS NEVILLE.\u2014\"_Constancy is the word._\"\u2014_p._ 367.\n HAST. Was it well done, sir, if you're upon that subject, to deliver\n what I intrusted to yourself, to the care of another, sir?\n MISS NEV. Mr. Hastings, Mr. Marlow, why will you increase my distress\n by this groundless dispute? I implore, I entreat you\u2014\n _Enter_ SERVANT.\n SERV. Your cloak, madam. My mistress is impatient.\n MISS NEV. I come. Pray be pacified. If I leave you thus, I shall die\n with apprehension.\n _Enter_ SERVANT.\n SERV. Your fan, muff, and gloves, madam. The horses are waiting.\n MISS NEV. O, Mr. Marlow! if you knew what a scene of constraint and\n ill-nature lies before me, I'm sure it would convert your resentment\n into pity.\n MARL. I'm so distracted with a variety of passions, that I don't know\n what I do. Forgive me, madam. George, forgive me. You know my hasty\n temper, and should not exasperate it.\n HAST. The torture of my situation is my only excuse.\n MISS NEV. Well, my dear Hastings, if you have that esteem for me that I\n think, that I am sure you have, your constancy for three years will but\n increase the happiness of our future connexion. If\u2014\n MRS. HARD. (_Within._) Miss Neville\u2014Constance, why Constance, I say.\n MISS NEV. I'm coming. Well, constancy. Remember, constancy is the word.\n HAST. My heart, how can I support this! To be so near happiness, and\n such happiness.\n MARL. (_To_ TONY.) You see now, young gentleman, the effects of your\n folly. What might be amusement to you, is here disappointment, and even\n distress.\n TONY. (_From a reverie._) Ecod, I have hit it. It's here. Your hands.\n Yours and yours, my poor sulky. My boots there, ho! Meet me two hours\n hence at the bottom of the garden; and if you don't find Tony Lumpkin a\n more good-natured fellow than you thought for, I'll give you leave to\n take my best horse, and Bet Bouncer into the bargain. Come along. My\n boots, ho!\n _Scene continues._\n _Enter_ HASTINGS _and_ SERVANT.\n HAST. You saw the old lady and Miss Neville drive off, you say?\n SERV. Yes, your honour; they went off in a post-coach, and the young\n 'squire went on horseback. They're thirty miles off by this time.\n HAST. Then all my hopes are over.\n SERV. Yes, sir. Old Sir Charles is arrived. He and the old gentleman of\n the house have been laughing at Mr. Marlow's mistake this half-hour.\n They are coming this way.\n HAST. Then I must not be seen. So, now to my fruitless appointment, at\n the bottom of the garden. This is about the time.\n _Enter_ SIR CHARLES _and_ HARDCASTLE.\n HARD. Ha! ha! ha! The peremptory tone in which he sent forth his\n sublime commands!\n SIR CHARLES. And the reserve with which I suppose he treated all your\n advances!\n HARD. And yet he might have seen something in me above a common\n inn-keeper too.\n SIR CHARLES. Yes, Dick, but he mistook you for an uncommon inn-keeper,\n ha! ha! ha!\n HARD. Well, I'm in too good spirits to think of anything but joy. Yes,\n my dear friend, this union of our families will make our personal\n friendships hereditary; and though my daughter's fortune is but small\u2014\u2014\n SIR CHARLES. Why, Dick, will you talk of fortune to _me_? My son is\n possessed of more than a competence already, and can want nothing but a\n good and virtuous girl to share his happiness and increase it. If they\n like each other, as you say they do\u2014\u2014\n HARD. _If_, man! I tell you they _do_ like each other. My daughter as\n good as told me so.\n SIR CHARLES. But girls are apt to flatter themselves, you know.\n HARD. I saw him grasp her hand in the warmest manner myself; and here\n he comes to put you out of your _ifs_, I warrant you.\n _Enter_ MARLOW.\n MARL. I come, sir, once more, to ask pardon for my strange conduct. I\n can scarce reflect on my insolence without confusion.\n HARD. Tut, boy, a trifle. You take it too gravely. An hour or two's\n laughing with my daughter will set all to rights again.\u2014She'll never\n like you the worse for it.\n MARL. Sir, I shall be always proud of her approbation.\n HARD. Approbation is but a cold word, Mr. Marlow: if I am not deceived,\n you have something more than approbation thereabouts. You take me.\n MARL. Really, sir, I have not that happiness.\n HARD. Come boy, I'm an old fellow, and know what's what, as well as you\n that are younger. I know what has passed between you; but mum.\n MARL. Sure, sir, nothing has passed between us, but the most profound\n respect on my side, and the most distant reserve on hers. You don't\n think, sir, that my impudence has been passed upon all the rest of the\n family.\n HARD. Impudence! No, I don't say that\u2014Not quite impudence\u2014Though girls\n like to be played with, and rumpled a little too sometimes. But she has\n told no tales I assure you.\n MARL. I never gave her the slightest cause.\n HARD. Well, well, I like modesty in its place well enough. But this is\n over-acting, young gentleman. You _may_ be open. Your father and I will\n like you the better for it.\n MARL. May I die, sir, if I ever\u2014\u2014\n HARD. I tell you, she don't dislike you; and as I'm sure you like her\u2014\u2014\n MARL. Dear sir\u2014I protest, sir\u2014\u2014\n HARD. I see no reason why you should not be joined as fast as the\n parson can tie you.\n MARL. But hear me, sir\u2014\u2014\n HARD. Your father approves the match, I admire it, every moment's delay\n will be doing mischief, so\u2014\u2014\n MARL. But why won't you hear me? By all that's just and true, I never\n gave Miss Hardcastle the slightest mark of my attachment, or even the\n most distant hint to suspect me of affection. We had but one interview,\n and that was formal, modest and uninteresting.\n HARD. (_Aside._). This fellow's formal modest impudence is beyond\n bearing.\n SIR CHARLES. And you never grasped her hand, or made any protestations?\n MARL. As Heaven is my witness, I came down in obedience to your\n commands. I saw the lady without emotion, and parted without\n reluctance. I hope you'll exact no further proofs of my duty, nor\n prevent me from leaving a house in which I suffer so many\n mortifications.\n SIR CHARLES. I'm astonished at the air of sincerity with which he\n parted.\n HARD. And I'm astonished at the deliberate intrepidity of his\n assurance.\n SIR CHARLES. I dare pledge my life and honour upon his truth.\n HARD. Here comes my daughter, and I would stake my happiness upon her\n veracity.\n _Enter_ MISS HARDCASTLE.\n HARD. Kate, come hither, child. Answer us sincerely, and without\n reserve: has Mr. Marlow made you any professions of love and affection?\n MISS HARD. The question is very abrupt, sir! But since you require\n unreserved sincerity, I think he has.\n HARD. (_To_ SIR CHARLES.) You see.\n SIR CHARLES. And pray, madam, have you and my son had more than one\n interview?\n MISS HARD. Yes, sir, several.\n HARD. (_To_ SIR CHARLES.) You see.\n SIR CHARLES. But did he profess any attachment?\n MISS HARD. A lasting one.\n SIR CHARLES. Did he talk of love?\n MISS HARD. Much, sir.\n SIR CHARLES. Amazing! and all this formally?\n MISS HARD. Formally.\n HARD. Now, my friend, I hope you are satisfied?\n SIR CHARLES. And how did he behave, madam?\n MISS HARD. As most professed admirers do. Said some civil things of my\n face: talked much of his want of merit, and the greatness of mine;\n mentioned his heart; gave a short tragedy speech, and ended with\n pretended rapture.\n SIR CHARLES. Now I'm perfectly convinced, indeed. I know his\n conversation among women to be modest and submissive. This forward,\n canting, ranting manner by no means describes him, and I am confident\n he never sat for the picture.\n MISS HARD. Then what, sir, if I should convince you to your face of my\n sincerity? If you and my papa, in about half-an-hour, will place\n yourselves behind that screen, you shall hear him declare his passion\n to me in person.\n SIR CHARLES. Agreed. And if I find him what you describe, all my\n happiness in him must have an end.\n MISS HARD. And if you don't find him what I describe\u2014I fear my\n happiness must never have a beginning.\n _Scene changes to the back of the garden._\n _Enter_ HASTINGS.\n HAST. What an idiot am I, to wait here for a fellow who probably takes\n a delight in mortifying me. He never intended to be punctual, and I'll\n wait no longer. What do I see? It is he, and perhaps with news of my\n Constance.\n _Enter_ TONY, _booted and spattered_.\n HAST. My honest 'squire! I now find you a man of your word. This looks\n like friendship.\n TONY. Ay, I'm your friend, and the best friend you have in the world,\n if you knew but all. This riding by night, by-the-by, is cursedly\n tiresome. It has shook me worse than the basket of a stage-coach.\n HAST. But how? Where did you leave your fellow travellers? Are they in\n safety! Are they housed?\n TONY. Five-and-twenty miles in two hours and a half is no such bad\n driving. The poor beasts have smoked for it. Rabbet me, but I'd rather\n ride forty miles after a fox, than ten with such _varment_.\n HAST. Well, but where have you left the ladies? I die with impatience.\n TONY. Left them? Why where should I leave them but where I found them.\n HAST. This is a riddle.\n TONY. Riddle me this, then. What's that goes round the house, and round\n the house and never touches the house?\n HAST. I'm still astray.\n TONY. Why that's it, mon. I have led them astray. By jingo, there's not\n a pond or slough within five miles of the place, but they can tell the\n taste of.\n HAST. Ha, ha, ha! I understand: you took them in a round, while they\n supposed themselves going forward. And so you have at last brought them\n home again.\n TONY. You shall hear. I first took them down Feather-bed-lane, where we\n stuck fast in the mud. I then rattled them crack over the stones of\n Up-and-down Hill\u2014I then introduced them to the gibbet, on Heavy-tree\n Heath; and from that, with a circumbendibus, I fairly lodged them in\n the horse-pond at the bottom of the garden.\n HAST. But no accident, I hope.\n TONY. No, no. Only mother is confoundedly frightened. She thinks\n herself forty miles off. She's sick of the journey, and the cattle can\n scarce crawl. So if your own horses be ready, you may whip off with\n cousin, and I'll be bound that no soul here can budge a foot to follow\n you.\n HAST. My dear friend, how can I be grateful?\n TONY. Ay, now it's dear friend, noble 'squire. Just now, it was all\n idiot, cub, and run me through the guts. Damn _your_ way of fighting, I\n say. After we take a knock in this part of the country, we kiss and be\n friends. But, if you had run me through the guts, then I should be\n dead, and you might go kiss the hangman.\n HAST. The rebuke is just. But I must hasten to relieve Miss Neville; if\n you keep the old lady employed, I promise to take care of the young\n one.\n TONY. Never fear me. Here she comes. Vanish. She's got from the pond,\n and draggled up to the waist like a mermaid.\n _Enter_ MRS. HARDCASTLE.\n MRS. HARD. Oh, Tony, I'm killed. Shook. Battered to death. I shall\n never survive it. That last jolt, that laid us against the quickset\n hedge, has done my business.\n TONY. Alack, mamma, it was all your own fault. You would be for running\n away by night, without knowing one inch of the way.\n MRS. HARD. I wish we were at home again. I never met so many accidents\n in so short a journey. Drenched in the mud, overturned in a ditch,\n stuck fast in a slough, jolted to a jelly, and at last to lose our way!\n Whereabouts do you think we are, Tony?\n TONY. By my guess we should be upon Crackskull Common, about forty\n miles from home.\n MRS. HARD. O lud! O lud! the most notorious spot in all the country. We\n only want a robbery to make a complete night on't.\n[Illustration:\n  TONY.\u2014\"_Don't be afraid, mamma._\"\u2014_p._ 371.\n TONY. Don't be afraid, mamma, don't be afraid. Two of the five that\n kept here are hanged, and the other three may not find us. Don't be\n afraid. Is that a man that's galloping behind us? No; it's only a tree.\n Don't be afraid.\n MRS. HARD. The fright will certainly kill me.\n TONY. Do you see anything like a black hat moving behind the thicket?\n MRS. HARD. O death!\n TONY. No, it's only a cow. Don't be afraid, mamma: don't be afraid.\n MRS. HARD. As I'm alive, Tony, I see a man coming towards us. Ah! I'm\n sure on't. If he perceives us we are undone.\n TONY (_Aside._) Father-in-law, by all that's unlucky, come to take one\n of his night walks. (_To her._) Ah! it's a highwayman, with pistols as\n long as my arm. A damn'd ill looking fellow.\n MRS. HARD. Good Heaven defend us! He approaches.\n TONY. Do you hide yourself in that thicket, and leave me to manage him.\n If there be any danger I'll cough, and cry\u2014hem! When I cough, be sure\n to keep close.\n MRS. HARDCASTLE _hides behind a tree, in the back scene_.\n _Enter_ HARDCASTLE.\n HARD. I'm mistaken, or I heard voices of people in want of help. O,\n Tony, is that you? I did not expect you so soon back. Are your mother\n and her charge in safety?\n TONY. Very safe, sir, at my aunt Pedigree's. Hem!\n MRS. HARD. (_From behind._). Ah, death! I find there's danger.\n HARD. Forty miles in three hours; sure that's too much, my youngster.\n TONY. Stout horses and willing minds make short journeys, as they say.\n Hem!\n MRS. HARD. (_From behind._) Sure he'll do the dear boy no harm.\n HARD. But I heard a voice here; I should be glad to know from whence it\n came.\n TONY. It was I, sir; talking to myself, sir. I was saying, that forty\n miles in three hours, was very good going\u2014hem! As, to be sure, it\n was\u2014hem! I have got a sort of cold by being out in the air. We'll go\n in, if you please\u2014hem!\n HARD. But if you talked to yourself, you did not answer yourself. I am\n certain I heard two voices, and am resolved (_Raising his voice_) to\n find the other out.\n MRS. HARD. (_From behind._) Oh! he's coming to find me out. Oh!\n TONY. What need you go, sir, if I tell you\u2014hem! I'll lay down my life\n for the truth\u2014hem! I'll tell you all, sir.\n _Detaining him._\n HARD. I tell you, I will not be detained. I insist on seeing. It's in\n vain to expect I'll believe you.\n MRS. HARD. (_Running forward from behind._) O lud, he'll murder my poor\n boy, my darling. Here, good gentleman, whet your rage upon me. Take my\n money, my life; but spare that young gentleman, spare my child, if you\n have any mercy.\n HARD. My wife! as I'm a Christian. From whence can she come, or what\n does she mean?\n MRS. HARD. (_Kneeling._) Take compassion on us, good Mr. Highwayman.\n Take our money, our watches, all we have; but spare our lives. We will\n never bring you to justice; indeed we won't, good Mr. Highwayman.\n HARD. I believe the woman's out of her senses. What, Dorothy, don't you\n know _me_?\n MRS. HARD. Mr. Hardcastle, as I'm alive! My fears blinded me. But who,\n my dear, could have expected to meet you here, in this frightful place,\n so far from home? What has brought you to follow us?\n HARD. Sure, Dorothy, you have not lost your wits? So far from home,\n when you are within forty yards of your own door? (_To him._) This is\n one of your old tricks, you graceless rogue you. (_To her._) Don't you\n know the gate, and the mulberry-tree? and don't you remember the\n horse-pond, my dear?\n MRS. HARD. Yes, I shall remember the horse-pond as long as I live: I\n have caught my death in it. (_To_ TONY.) And is it to you, you\n graceless varlet, I owe all this? I'll teach you to abuse your mother,\n I will.\n TONY. Ecod, mother, all the parish says you have spoiled me, and so you\n may take the fruits on't.\n MRS. HARD. I'll spoil you, I will.\n _Follows him off the stage._ _Exit._\n HARD. There's morality, however, in his reply.\n _Enter_ HASTINGS _and_ MISS NEVILLE.\n HAST. My dear Constance, why will you deliberate thus? If we delay a\n moment, all is lost for ever. Pluck up a little resolution, and we\n shall soon be out of the reach of her malignity.\n MISS NEV. I find it impossible. My spirits are so sunk with the\n agitations I have suffered, that I am unable to face any new danger.\n Two or three years' patience will at last crown us with happiness.\n HAST. Such a tedious delay is worse than inconstancy. Let us fly, my\n charmer. Let us date our happiness from this very moment. Perish\n fortune. Love and content will increase what we possess, beyond a\n monarch's revenue. Let me prevail.\n MISS NEV. No, Mr. Hastings; no. Prudence once more comes to my relief,\n and I will obey its dictates. In the moment of passion, fortune may be\n despised; but it ever produces a lasting repentance. I am resolved to\n apply to Mr. Hardcastle's compassion and justice for redress.\n HAST. But though he had the will, he has not the power, to relieve you.\n MISS NEV. But he has influence, and upon that I am resolved to rely.\n HAST. I have no hopes. But since you persist, I must reluctantly obey\n you.\n _Scene changes._\n _Enter_ SIR CHARLES _and_ MISS HARDCASTLE.\n SIR CHARLES. What a situation am I in! If what you say appears, I shall\n then find a guilty son. If what he says be true, I shall then lose one\n that, of all others, I most wished for a daughter.\n MISS HARD. I am proud of your approbation, and to show I merit it, if\n you place yourselves as I directed, you shall hear his explicit\n declaration. But he comes.\n SIR CHARLES. I'll to your father, and keep him to the appointment.\n _Enter_ MARLOW.\n MARL. Though prepared for setting out, I come once more to take leave;\n nor did I, till this moment, know the pain I feel in the separation.\n MISS HARD. (_In her own natural manner._) I believe these sufferings\n cannot be very great, sir, which you can so easily remove. A day or two\n longer, perhaps, might lessen your uneasiness, by showing the little\n value of what you now think proper to regret.\n MARL. (_Aside._) This girl every moment improves upon me. (_To her._)\n It must not be, madam. I have already trifled too long with my heart.\n My very pride begins to submit to my passion. The disparity of\n education and fortune, the anger of a parent, and the contempt of my\n equals, begin to lose their weight, and nothing can restore me to\n myself, but this painful effort of resolution.\n MISS HARD. Then go, sir. I'll urge nothing more to detain you. Though\n my family be as good as hers you came down to visit; and my education,\n I hope, not inferior, what are these advantages, without equal\n affluence? I must remain contented with the slight approbation of\n imputed merit; I must have only the mockery of your addresses, while\n all your serious aims are fixed on fortune.\n _Enter_ HARDCASTLE _and_ SIR CHARLES, _from behind_.\n SIR CHARLES. Here, behind this screen.\n HARD. Ay, ay, make no noise. I'll engage my Kate covers him with\n confusion at last.\n MARL. By heavens, madam, fortune was ever my smallest consideration.\n Your beauty at first caught my eye; for who could see that without\n emotion? But every moment that I converse with you, steals in some new\n grace, heightens the picture, and gives it stronger expression. What at\n first seemed rustic plainness, now appears refined simplicity. What\n seemed forward assurance, now strikes me as the result of courageous\n innocence and conscious virtue.\n SIR CHARLES. What can it mean? He amazes me!\n HARD. I told you how it would be. Hush!\n MARL. I am now determined to stay, madam; and I have too good an\n opinion of my father's discernment, when he sees you, to doubt his\n approbation.\n MISS HARD. No, Mr. Marlow, I will not, cannot detain you. Do you think\n I could suffer a connexion in which there is the smallest room for\n repentance? Do you think I would take the mean advantage of a transient\n passion, to load you with confusion? Do you think I could ever relish\n that happiness which was acquired by lessening yours?\n MARL. By all that's good, I can have no happiness but what's in your\n power to grant me. Nor shall I ever feel repentance, but in not having\n seen your merits before. I will stay, even contrary to your wishes; and\n though you should persist to shun me, I will make my respectful\n assiduities atone for the levity of my past conduct.\n MISS HARD. Sir, I must entreat you'll desist. As our acquaintance\n began, so let it end, in indifference. I might have given an hour or\n two to levity; but seriously, Mr. Marlow, do you think I could ever\n submit to a connexion where _I_ must appear mercenary, and _you_\n imprudent? Do you think I could ever catch at the confident addresses\n of a secure admirer?\n MARL. (_Kneeling._) Does this look like security? Does this look like\n confidence? No, madam; every moment that shows me your merit, only\n serves to increase my diffidence and confusion. Here let me continue\u2014\n SIR CHARLES. I can hold it no longer. Charles, Charles, how hast thou\n deceived me! Is this your indifference, your uninteresting\n conversation?\n HARD. Your cold contempt; your formal interview? What have you to say\n now?\n[Illustration:\n  MARLOW.\u2014\"_Does this look like security?_\"\u2014_p._ 374.\n MARL. That I'm all amazement! What can it mean?\n HARD. It means, that you can say and unsay things at pleasure. That you\n can address a lady in private, and deny it in public; that you have one\n story for us, and another for my daughter.\n MARL. Daughter!\u2014this lady your daughter!\n HARD. Yes, sir, my only daughter. My Kate, whose else should she be?\n MARL. Oh, the devil!\n MISS HARD. Yes, sir, that very identical tall, squinting lady you were\n pleased to take me for. (_Curtseying._) She that you addressed as the\n mild, modest, sentimental man of gravity, and the bold, forward,\n agreeable rattle of the ladies' club; ha, ha, ha!\n MARL. Zounds, there's no bearing this; it's worse than death.\n MISS HARD. In which of your characters, sir, will you give us leave to\n address you? As the faltering gentleman, with looks on the ground, that\n speaks just to be heard, and hates hypocrisy; or the loud confident\n creature, that keeps it up with Mrs. Mantrap, and old Miss Biddy\n Buckskin, till three in the morning? ha, ha, ha!\n MARL. O, curse on my noisy head! I never attempted to be impudent yet,\n that I was not taken down. I must be gone.\n HARD. By the hand of my body, but you shall not. I see it was all a\n mistake, and I am rejoiced to find it. You shall not, sir, I tell you.\n I know she'll forgive you. Won't you forgive him, Kate? We'll all\n forgive you. Take courage, man.\n _They retire, she tormenting him to the back scene._\n _Enter_ MRS. HARDCASTLE. TONY.\n MRS. HARD. So, so, they're gone off. Let them go, I care not.\n HARD. Who gone?\n MRS. HARD. My dutiful niece and her gentleman, Mr. Hastings, from town.\n He who came down with our modest visitor here.\n SIR CHARLES. Who, my honest George Hastings? As worthy a fellow as\n lives; and the girl could not have made a more prudent choice.\n HARD. Then, by the hand of my body, I'm proud of the connexion.\n MRS. HARD. Well, if he has taken away the lady, he has not taken her\n fortune; that remains in this family to console us for her loss.\n HARD. Sure, Dorothy, you would not be so mercenary.\n MRS. HARD. Ay, that's my affair, not yours. But you know, if your son,\n when of age, refuses to marry his cousin, her whole fortune is then at\n her own disposal.\n HARD. Ay, but he's not of age, and she has not thought proper to wait\n for his refusal.\n _Enter_ HASTINGS _and_ MISS NEVILLE.\n MRS. HARD. (_Aside._) What, returned so soon? I begin not to like it.\n HAST. (_To_ HARDCASTLE.) For my late attempt to fly off with your\n niece, let my present confusion be my punishment. We are now come back,\n to appeal from your justice to your humanity. By her father's consent,\n I first paid her my addresses, and our passions were first founded on\n duty.\n MISS NEV. Since his death, I have been obliged to stoop to\n dissimulation to avoid oppression. In an hour of levity, I was ready\n even to give up my fortune to secure my choice. But I am now recovered\n from the delusion, and hope, from your tenderness, what is denied me\n from a nearer connexion.\n MRS. HARD. Pshaw, pshaw! this is all but the whining end of a modern\n novel.\n HARD. Be it what it will, I'm glad they are come back to reclaim their\n due. Come hither, Tony, boy. Do you refuse this lady's hand whom I now\n offer you?\n TONY. What signifies my refusing? You know I can't refuse her till I'm\n of age, father.\n HARD. While I thought concealing your age, boy, was likely to conduce\n to your improvement, I concurred with your mother's desire, to keep it\n secret. But since I find she turns it to a wrong use, I must now\n declare, you have been of age these three months.\n TONY. Of age! Am I of age, father?\n HARD. Above three months.\n TONY. Then you'll see the first use I'll make of my liberty. (_Taking_\n MISS NEVILLE'S _hand_.) Witness all men by these presents, that I,\n Anthony Lumpkin, Esquire, of _blank_ place, refuse you, Constantia\n Neville, spinster, of no place at all, for my true and lawful wife. So\n Constantia Neville may marry whom she pleases, and Tony Lumpkin is his\n own man again.\n SIR CHARLES. O brave 'squire!\n HAST. My worthy friend!\n MRS. HARD. My undutiful offspring!\n MARL. Joy, my dear George; I give you joy sincerely. And could I\n prevail upon my little tyrant here, to be less arbitrary, I should be\n the happiest man alive, if you would return me the favour.\n HAST. (_To_ MISS HARDCASTLE.) Come, madam, you are now driven to the\n very last scene of all your contrivances. I know you like him, I'm sure\n he loves you, and you must and shall have him.\n HARD. (_Joining their hands._) And I say so too. And, Mr. Marlow, if\n she makes as good a wife as she has a daughter, I don't believe you'll\n ever repent your bargain. So now to supper. To-morrow we shall gather\n all the poor of the parish about us; and the mistakes of the night\n shall be crowned with a merry morning. So, boy, take her; and as you\n have been mistaken in the mistress, my wish is, that you may never be\n mistaken in the wife.\n EPILOGUE,\n BY DR. GOLDSMITH.\n SPOKEN BY MRS. BULKLEY,\n Well, having stoop'd to conquer with success,\n And gain'd a husband without aid from dress,\n Still, as a bar-maid, I could wish it too,\n As I have conquer'd him to conquer you:\n And let me say, for all your resolution,\n That pretty bar-maids have done execution.\n Our life is all a play, composed to please:\n \"We have our exits and our entrances.\"\n The first act shows the simple country maid,\n Harmless and young, of everything afraid;\n Blushes when hired, and, with unmeaning action,\n \"I hopes as how to give you satisfaction.\"\n Her second act displays a livelier scene,\u2014\n The unblushing bar-maid of a country inn,\n Who whisks about the house, at market caters,\n Talks loud, coquets the guests, and scolds the waiters.\n Next the scene shifts to town, and there she soars,\n The chop-house toast of ogling _connoisseurs_:\n On 'squires and cuts she there displays her arts,\n And on the gridiron broils her lovers' hearts;\n And, as she smiles, her triumphs to complete,\n E'en common-councilmen forget to eat.\n The fourth act shows her wedded to the 'squire,\n And madam now begins to hold it higher;\n Pretends to taste, at operas cries _caro!_\n And quits her Nancy Dawson for Che Faro:\n Doats upon dancing, and, in all her pride,\n Swims round the room, the Heinelle of Cheapside:\n Ogles and leers with artificial skill,\n Till, having lost in age the power to kill,\n She sits all night at cards, and ogles at spadille.\n Such through our lives the eventful history\u2014\n The fifth and last act still remains for me:\n The bar-maid now for your protection prays,\n Turns female barrister, and pleads for bays.\n[Illustration: Publisher]\n WARD, LOCK & CO.'S STANDARD BOOKS.\n _Admirably adapted for Presentation._\n =HAYDN'S DICTIONARY OF DATES.= Relating to all Ages and Nations for\n Universal Reference. 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{"source_document": "", "creation_year": 1754, "culture": " English\n", "content": "[Illustration: Oliver Goldsmith]\nOLIVER GOLDSMITH\n (Sir Joshua Reynolds)\n _OXFORD EDITION_\n      THE COMPLETE\n      POETICAL WORKS\n      OLIVER GOLDSMITH\n Edited with Introduction and Notes\n by\n AUSTIN\n      DOBSON\n HON. LL.D. EDIN.\nPREFATORY NOTE\n      This volume is a reprint, extended and revised, of the _Selected Poems_\n      of Goldsmith issued by the Clarendon Press in 1887. It is \u2018extended,\u2019\n      because it now contains the whole of Goldsmith\u2019s poetry: it is \u2018revised\u2019\n      because, besides the supplementary text, a good deal has been added in the\n      way of annotation and illustration. In other words, the book has been\n      substantially enlarged. Of the new editorial material, the bulk has been\n      collected at odd times during the last twenty years; but fresh Goldsmith\n      facts are growing rare. I hope I have acknowledged obligation wherever it\n      has been incurred; I trust also, for the sake of those who come after me,\n      that something of my own will be found to have been contributed to the\n      literature of the subject.\n      AUSTIN DOBSON.\n      Ealing, _September_, 1906.\nCONTENTS\n Introduction\n Chronology of Goldsmith\u2019s Life and Poems\n POEMS\n Descriptive Poems\n The Traveller; or, A Prospect of Society\n The Deserted Village\n Lyrical and Miscellaneous Pieces\n Prologue of Laberius\n On a Beautiful Youth struck Blind with Lightning\n The Gift. To Iris, in Bow Street\n The Logicians Refuted\n A Sonnet\n Stanzas on the Taking of Quebec\n An Elegy on Mrs. Mary Blaize\n Description of an Author\u2019s Bedchamber\n On seeing Mrs. *** perform in the Character of ****\n On the Death of the Right Hon.***\n An Epigram. Addressed to the Gentlemen reflected on in \u2018The Rosciad\u2019, a Poem, by the Author\n To G. C. and R. L.\n Translation of a South American Ode\n The Double Transformation. A Tale\n A New Simile, in the Manner of Swift\n Edwin and Angelina\n Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog\n Song (\u2018When Lovely Woman,\u2019 etc.)\n Epilogue to _The Good Natur\u2019d Man_\n Epilogue to _The Sister_\n Prologue to _Zobeide_\n Threnodia Augustalis: Sacred to the Memory of Her Late Royal Highness the Princess Dowager of Wales\n Song (\u2018Let school-masters,\u2019 etc.)\n Epilogue to _She Stoops to Conquer_\n Retaliation\n Song (\u2018Ah, me! when shall I marry me?\u2019)\n Translation (\u2018Chaste are their instincts\u2019)\n The Haunch of Venison\n Epitaph on Thomas Parnell\n The Clown\u2019s Reply\n Epitaph on Edward Purdon\n Epilogue for Lee Lewes\n Epilogue written for _She Stoops to Conquer_ (1)\n Epilogue written for _She Stoops to Conquer_ (2)\n The Captivity. An Oratorio\n Verses in Reply to an Invitation to Dinner\n Letter in Prose and Verse to Mrs. Bunbury\n Vida\u2019s Game of Chess\n NOTES\n Introduction to the Notes\n Editions of the Poems\n The Traveller\n The Deserted Village\n Prologue of Laberius\n On a Beautiful Youth struck Blind with Lightning\n The Gift\n The Logicians Refuted\n A Sonnet\n Stanzas on the Taking of Quebec\n An Elegy on Mrs. Mary Blaize\n Description of an Author\u2019s Bedchamber\n On seeing Mrs. *** perform in the Character of ****\n On the Death of the Right Hon. ***\n An Epigram\n To G. C. and R. L.\n Translation of a South American Ode\n The Double Transformation\n A New Simile\n Edwin and Angelina\n Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog\n Song (from _The Vicar of Wakefield_)\n Epilogue (_The Good Natur\u2019d Man_)\n Epilogue (_The Sister_)\n Prologue (_Zobeide_)\n Threnodia Augustalis\n Song (from _She Stoops to Conquer_)\n Epilogue (_She Stoops to Conquer_)\n Retaliation\n Song intended for _She Stoops to Conquer_\n Translation\n The Haunch of Venison\n Epitaph on Thomas Parnell\n The Clown\u2019s Reply\n Epitaph on Edward Purdon\n Epilogue for Lee Lewes\u2019s Benefit\n Epilogue (_She Stoops to Conquer_) (1)\n Epilogue (_She Stoops to Conquer_) (2)\n The Captivity\n Verses in Reply to an Invitation to Dinner\n Letter in Prose and Verse to Mrs. Bunbury\n Vida\u2019s Game of Chess\n APPENDIXES\n Portraits of Goldsmith\n Descriptions of Newell\u2019s Views of Lissoy, etc.\n The Epithet \u2018Sentimental\u2019\n Fragments of Translations, etc., by Goldsmith\n Goldsmith on Poetry under Anne and George the First\n Criticisms from Goldsmith\u2019s _Beauties of English Poesy_\nLIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS\n OLIVER GOLDSMITH. From Joseph Marchi\u2019s mezzotint of 1770 after the portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds.\n PANE OF GLASS with Goldsmith\u2019s autograph signature, dated March, 1746, now at Trinity College, Dublin.\n VIGNETTE TO THE TRAVELLER. Drawn by Samuel Wale, and engraved by Charles Grignion.\n HEADPIECE TO THE TRAVELLER. Engraved on wood by Charlton Nesbit for Bulmer\u2019s _Poems of Goldsmith and Parnell_, 1795.\n THE TRAVELLER. From a design by Richard Westall, R. A., engraved on wood by Thomas Bewick for Bulmer\u2019s _Poems of Goldsmith and Parnell_, 1795.\n VIGNETTE TO THE DESERTED VILLAGE, 1770. Drawn and engraved by Isaac Taylor.\n HEADPIECE TO THE DESERTED VILLAGE. Engraved on wood by Charlton Nesbit for Bulmer\u2019s _Poems of Goldsmith and Parnell_, 1795.\n THE WATER-CRESS GATHERER. Drawn and engraved on wood by John Bewick for Bulmer\u2019s _Poems of Goldsmith and Parnell_, 1795.\n THE DEPARTURE. Drawn by Robert Johnson, and engraved on wood by Thomas Bewick for Bulmer\u2019s _ Poems of Goldsmith and Parnell_, 1795.\n EDWIN AND ANGELINA. From an original washed drawing made by Thomas Stothard, R.A., for Aikin\u2019s _Goldsmith\u2019s Poetical Works_, 1805.\n PORTRAIT OF GOLDSMITH, after Sir Joshua Reynolds. From an etching by James Basire on the title-page of _Retaliation_, 1774.\n SONG FROM THE CAPTIVITY. Facsimile of Goldsmith\u2019s writing and signature, from Prior\u2019s _ Life of Oliver Goldsmith, M.B._, 1837, ii, frontispiece.\n GREEN ARBOUR COURT, OLD BAILEY. From an engraving in the _European Magazine_ for January, 1803.\n KILKENNY WEST CHURCH. From an aquatint by S. Alken of a sketch by R. H. Newell (_Goldsmith\u2019s Poetical Works_, 1811).\n HAWTHORN TREE. From the same.\n SOUTH VIEW FROM GOLDSMITH\u2019S MOUNT.  From the same . . . To face p. 183. [This picture is unavailable.]\n THE SCHOOL HOUSE. From the same.\n PORTRAIT OF GOLDSMITH. Drawn by Henry William Bunbury and etched by James Bretherton. From the _Haunch of Venison_, 1776.\n PORTRAIT OF GOLDSMITH. From a silhouette by Ozias Humphry, R.A., in the National Portrait Gallery.\n LISSOY (OR LISHOY) MILL. From an aquatint by S. Alken of a sketch by R. H. Newell (_Goldsmith\u2019s Poetical Works_, 1811).\n THE PARSONAGE. From the same.\nINTRODUCTION\n      Two of the earlier, and, in some respects, more important _Memoirs_\n      of Oliver Goldsmith open with a quotation from one of his minor works, in\n      which he refers to the generally uneventful life of the scholar. His own\n      chequered career was a notable exception to this rule. He was born on the\n      10th of November, 1728, at Pallas, a village in the county of Longford in\n      Ireland, his father, the Rev. Charles Goldsmith, being a clergyman of the\n      Established Church. Oliver was the fifth of a family of five sons and\n      three daughters. In 1730, his father, who had been assisting the rector of\n      the neighbouring parish of Kilkenny West, succeeded to that living, and\n      moved to Lissoy, a hamlet in Westmeath, lying a little to the right of the\n      road from Ballymahon to Athlone. Educated first by a humble relative named\n      Elizabeth Delap, the boy passed subsequently to the care of Thomas Byrne,\n      the village schoolmaster, an old soldier who had fought Queen Anne\u2019s\n      battles in Spain, and had retained from those experiences a wandering and\n      unsettled spirit, which he is thought to have communicated to one at least\n      of his pupils. After an attack of confluent small-pox, which scarred him\n      for life, Oliver was transferred from the care of this not-uncongenial\n      preceptor to a school at Elphin. From Elphin he passed to Athlone; from\n      Athlone to Edgeworthstown, where he remained until he was thirteen or\n      fourteen years of age. The accounts of these early days are contradictory.\n      By his schoolfellows he seems to have been regarded as stupid and heavy,\u2014\u2018little\n      better than a fool\u2019; but they\n      admitted that he was remarkably active and athletic, and that he was an\n      adept in all boyish sports. At home, notwithstanding a variable\n      disposition, and occasional fits of depression, he showed to greater\n      advantage. He scribbled verses early; and sometimes startled those about\n      him by unexpected \u2018swallow-flights\u2019 of repartee. One of these, an\n      oft-quoted retort to a musical friend who had likened his awkward antics\n      in a hornpipe to the dancing of Aesop,\u2014\n        Heralds! proclaim aloud! all saying,\n        See _Aesop_ dancing, and his _monkey_ playing,\u2014\n      reads more like a happily-adapted recollection than the actual impromptu\n      of a boy of nine. But another, in which, after a painful silence, he\n      replied to the brutal enquiry of a ne\u2019er-do-well relative as to when he\n      meant to grow handsome, by saying that he would do so when the speaker\n      grew good,\u2014is characteristic of the easily-wounded spirit and\n      \u2018exquisite sensibility of contempt\u2019 with which he was to enter upon the\n      battle of life.\n      In June, 1744, after anticipating in his own person, the plot of his later\n      play of _She Stoops to Conquer_ by mistaking the house of a\n      gentleman at Ardagh for an inn, he was sent to Trinity College, Dublin.\n      The special dress and semi-menial footing of a sizar or poor scholar\u2014for\n      his father, impoverished by the imprudent portioning of his eldest\n      daughter, could not afford to make him a pensioner\u2014were scarcely\n      calculated to modify his personal peculiarities. Added to these, his tutor\n      elect, Dr. Theaker Wilder, was a violent and vindictive man, with whom his\n      ungainly and unhopeful pupil found little favour. Wilder had a passion for\n      mathematics which was not shared by Goldsmith, who, indeed, spoke\n      contemptuously enough of that science in after life. He could, however, he\n      told Malone, \u2018turn an Ode of Horace into English better than any of them.\u2019\n      But his academic career was not a success.\n[Illustration: Goldsmith\u2019s Autograph]\nPANE OF GLASS WITH GOLDSMITH\u2019S AUTOGRAPH\n (Trinity\nCollege, Dublin)\n      In May, 1747, the year in which his father died,\u2014an event that\n      further contracted his already slender means,\u2014he became involved in\n      a college riot, and was publicly admonished. From this disgrace he\n      recovered to some extent in the following month by obtaining a trifling\n      money exhibition, a triumph which he unluckily celebrated by a party at\n      his rooms. Into these festivities, the heinousness of which was aggravated\n      by the fact that they included guests of both sexes, the exasperated\n      Wilder made irruption, and summarily terminated the proceedings by\n      knocking down the host. The disgrace was too much for the poor lad. He\n      forthwith sold his books and belongings, and ran away, vaguely bound for\n      America. But after considerable privations, including the achievement of a\n      destitution so complete that a handful of grey peas, given him by a girl\n      at a wake, seemed a banquet, he turned his steps homeward, and, a\n      reconciliation having been patched up with his tutor, he was received once\n      more at college. In February, 1749, he took his degree, a low one, as\n      B.A., and quitted the university, leaving behind him, for relics of that\n      time, a scratched signature upon a window-pane, a _folio_ Scapula\n      scored liberally with \u2018promises to pay,\u2019 and a reputation for much\n      loitering at the college gates in the study of passing humanity. Another\n      habit which his associates recalled was his writing of ballads when in\n      want of funds. These he would sell at five shillings apiece; and would\n      afterwards steal out in the twilight to hear them sung to the\n      indiscriminate but applauding audience of the Dublin streets.\n      What was to be done with a genius so unstable, so erratic? Nothing,\n      apparently, but to let him qualify for orders, and for this he is too\n      young. Thereupon ensues a sort of \u2018Martin\u2019s summer\u2019 in his changing life,\u2014a\n      disengaged, delightful time when \u2018Master Noll\u2019 wanders\n      irresponsibly from house to house, fishing and flute-playing, or, of\n      winter evenings, taking the chair at the village inn. When at last the\n      moment came for his presentation to the Bishop of Elphin, that prelate,\n      sad to say, rejected him, perhaps because of his college reputation,\n      perhaps because of actual incompetence, perhaps even, as tradition\n      affirms, because he had the bad taste to appear before his examiner in\n      flaming scarlet breeches. After this rebuff, tutoring was next tried. But\n      he had no sooner saved some thirty pounds by teaching, than he threw up\n      his engagement, bought a horse, and started once more for America, by way\n      of Cork. In six weeks he had returned penniless, having substituted for\n      his roadster a sorry jade, to which he gave the contemptuous name of\n      Fiddleback. He had also the simplicity to wonder, on this occasion, that\n      his mother was not rejoiced to see him again. His next ambition was to be\n      a lawyer; and, to this end, a kindly Uncle Contarine equipped him with\n      fifty pounds for preliminary studies. But on his way to London he was\n      decoyed into gambling, lost every farthing, and came home once more in\n      bitter self-abasement. Having now essayed both divinity and law, his next\n      attempt was physic; and, in 1752, fitted out afresh by his long-suffering\n      uncle, he started for, and succeeded in reaching, Edinburgh. Here more\n      memories survive of his social qualities than of his studies; and two\n      years later he left the Scottish capital for Leyden, rather, it may be\n      conjectured, from a restless desire to see the world than really to\n      exchange the lectures of Monro for the lectures of Albinus. At Newcastle\n      (according to his own account) he had the good fortune to be locked up as\n      a Jacobite, and thus escaped drowning, as the ship by which he was to have\n      sailed to Bordeaux sank at the mouth of the Garonne. Shortly afterwards he\n      arrived in Leyden. Gaubius and other Dutch professors figure\n      sonorously in his future works; but whether he had much experimental\n      knowledge of their instructions may be doubted. What seems undeniable is,\n      that the old seduction of play stripped him of every shilling; so that,\n      like Holberg before him, he set out deliberately to make the tour of\n      Europe on foot. _Haud inexpertus loquor,_ he wrote in after days,\n      when praising this mode of locomotion. He first visited Flanders. Thence\n      he passed to France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, supporting himself\n      mainly by his flute, and by occasional disputations at convents or\n      universities. \u2018Sir,\u2019 said Boswell to Johnson, \u2018he _disputed_ his\n      passage through Europe.\u2019 When on the 1st February, 1756, he landed at\n      Dover, it was with empty pockets. But he had sent home to his brother in\n      Ireland his first rough sketch for the poem of _The Traveller_.\n      He was now seven-and-twenty. He had seen and suffered much, but he was to\n      have further trials before drifting definitely into literature. Between\n      Dover and London, it has been surmised, he made a tentative appearance as\n      a strolling player. His next ascertained part was that of an apothecary\u2019s\n      assistant on Fish Street Hill. From this, with the opportune aid of an\n      Edinburgh friend, he proceeded\u2014to use an eighteenth-century phrase\u2014a\n      poor physician in the Bankside, Southwark, where least of all, perhaps,\n      was London\u2019s fabled pavement to be found. So little of it, in fact, fell\n      to Goldsmith\u2019s share, that we speedily find him reduced to the rank of\n      reader and corrector of the press to Samuel Richardson, printer, of\n      Salisbury Court, author of _Clarissa_. Later still he is acting\n      as help or substitute in Dr. Milner\u2019s \u2018classical academy\u2019 at Peckham.\n      Here, at last, chance seemed to open to him the prospect of a literary\n      life. He had already, says report, submitted a manuscript tragedy to\n      Richardson\u2019s judgement; and something he said at Dr. Milner\u2019s table\n      attracted the attention of an occasional\n      visitor there, the bookseller Griffiths, who was also proprietor of the\n      _Monthly Review._ He invited Dr. Milner\u2019s usher to try his hand\n      at criticism; and finally, in April, 1757, Goldsmith was bound over for a\n      year to that venerable lady whom George Primrose dubs \u2018the _antiqua\n      mater_ of Grub Street\u2019\u2014in other words, he was engaged for bed,\n      board, and a fixed salary to supply copy-of-all-work to his master\u2019s\n      magazine.\n      The arrangement thus concluded was not calculated to endure. After some\n      five months of labour from nine till two, and often later, it came\n      suddenly to an end. No clear explanation of the breach is forthcoming, but\n      mere incompatability of temper would probably supply a sufficient ground\n      for disagreement. Goldsmith, it is said, complained that the bookseller\n      and his wife treated him ill, and denied him ordinary comforts; added to\n      which the lady, a harder taskmistress even than the _ antiqua mater_\n      above referred to, joined with her husband in \u2018editing\u2019 his articles, a\n      course which, hard though it may seem, is not unprecedented. However this\n      may be, either in September or October, 1757, he was again upon the world,\n      existing precariously from hand to mouth. \u2018By a very little practice as a\n      physician, and very little reputation as a poet [a title which, as Prior\n      suggests, possibly means no more than author], I make a shift to live.\u2019 So\n      he wrote to his brother-in-law in December. What his literary occupations\n      were cannot be definitely stated; but, if not prepared before, they\n      probably included the translation of a remarkable work issued by Griffiths\n      and others in the ensuing February. This was the _Memoirs of a\n      Protestant, condemned to the Galleys of France for his Religion,_\n      being the authentic record of the sufferings of one Jean Marteilhe of\n      Bergerac, a book of which Michelet has said that it is \u2018written as if\n      between earth and heaven.\u2019 Marteilhe, who died at Cuylenberg\n      in 1777, was living in Holland in 1758; and it may be that Goldsmith had\n      seen or heard of him during his own stay in that country. The translation,\n      however, did not bear Goldsmith\u2019s name, but that of James Willington, one\n      of his old class-fellows at Trinity College. Nevertheless, Prior says\n      distinctly that Griffiths (who should have known) declared it to be by\n      Goldsmith. Moreover, the French original had been catalogued in Griffiths\u2019\n      magazine in the second month of Goldsmith\u2019s servitude, a circumstance\n      which colourably supplies the reason for its subsequent rendering into\n      English.\n      The publication of Marteilhe\u2019s _Memoirs_ had no influence upon\n      Goldsmith\u2019s fortunes, for, in a short time, he was again installed at\n      Peckham, in place of Dr. Milner invalided, waiting hopefully for the\n      fulfilment of a promise by his old master to procure him a medical\n      appointment on a foreign station. It is probably that, with a view to\n      provide the needful funds for this expatriation, he now began to sketch\n      the little volume afterwards published under the title of _An Enquiry\n      into the Present State of Polite Learning in Europe_, for towards\n      the middle of the year we find him addressing long letters to his\n      relatives in Ireland to enlist their aid in soliciting subscriptions for\n      this book. At length the desired advancement was obtained,\u2014a\n      nomination as a physician and surgeon to one of the factories on the coast\n      of Coromandel. But banishment to the East Indies was not to be his\n      destiny. For some unexplained reason the project came to nothing; and then\u2014like\n      Roderick Random\u2014he presented himself at Surgeons\u2019 Hall for the more\n      modest office of a hospital mate. This was on the 21st of December, 1758.\n      The curt official record states that he was \u2018found not qualified.\u2019 What\n      made matters worse, the necessity for a decent appearance before the\n      examiners had involved him in new obligations to Griffiths,\n      out of which arose fresh difficulties. To pay his landlady, whose husband\n      was arrested for debt, he pawned the suit he had procured by Griffiths\u2019\n      aid; and he also raised money on some volumes which had been sent him for\n      review. Thereupon ensued an angry and humiliating correspondence with the\n      bookseller, as a result of which Griffiths, nevertheless, appears to have\n      held his hand.\n      By this time Goldsmith had moved into those historic but now non-existent\n      lodgings in 12 Green Arbour Court, Old Bailey, which have been\n      photographed for ever in Irving\u2019s _Tales of a Traveller._ It\n      was here that the foregoing incidents took place; and it was here also\n      that, early in 1759, \u2018in a wretched dirty room, in which there was but one\n      chair,\u2019 the Rev. Thomas Percy, afterwards Bishop of Dromore, found him\n      composing (or more probably correcting the proofs of) _The Enquiry._\n      \u2018At least spare invective \u2019till my book with Mr. Dodsley shall be\n      publish\u2019d,\u2019\u2014he had written not long before to the irate Griffiths\u2014\u2018and\n      then perhaps you may see the bright side of a mind when my professions\n      shall not appear the dictates of necessity but of choice.\u2019 _The\n      Enquiry_ came out on the 2nd of April. It had no author\u2019s name, but\n      it was an open secret that Goldsmith had written it; and to this day it\n      remains to the critic one of the most interesting of his works. Obviously,\n      in a duodecimo of some two hundred widely-printed pages, it was impossible\n      to keep the high-sounding promise of its title; and at best its author\u2019s\n      knowledge of the subject, notwithstanding his continental wanderings, can\n      have been but that of an external spectator. Still in an age when critical\n      utterance was more than ordinarily full-wigged and ponderous, it dared to\n      be sprightly and epigrammatic. Some of its passages, besides, bear upon\n      the writer\u2019s personal experiences, and serve to piece the imperfections of\n      his biography. If it brought him no sudden wealth,\n      it certainly raised his reputation with the book-selling world. A\n      connexion already begun with Smollett\u2019s _Critical Review_ was\n      drawn closer; and the shrewd Sosii of the Row began to see the importance\n      of securing so vivacious and unconventional a pen. Towards the end of the\n      year he was writing for Wilkie the collection of periodical essays\n      entitled _The Bee_; and contributing to the same publisher\u2019s\n      _Lady\u2019s Magazine_, as well as to _The Busy Body_ of\n      one Pottinger. In these, more than ever, he was finding his distinctive\n      touch; and ratifying anew, with every fresh stroke of his pen, his bondage\n      to authorship as a calling.\n      He had still, however, to conquer the public. _The Bee_,\n      although it contains one of his most characteristic essays (\u2018A City\n      Night-Piece\u2019), and some of the most popular of his lighter verses (\u2018The\n      Elegy on Mrs. Mary Blaize\u2019), never attained the circulation essential to\n      healthy existence. It closed with its eighth number in November, 1759. In\n      the following month two gentlemen called at Green Arbour Court to enlist\n      the services of its author. One was Smollett, with a new serial, _\n      The British Magazine_; the other was Johnson\u2019s \u2018Jack Whirler,\u2019\n      bustling Mr. John Newbery from the \u2018Bible and Sun\u2019 in St. Paul\u2019s\n      Churchyard, with a new daily newspaper, _The Public Ledger_.\n      For Smollett, Goldsmith wrote the \u2018Reverie at the Boar\u2019s Head Tavern\u2019 and\n      the \u2018Adventures of a Strolling Player,\u2019 besides a number of minor papers.\n      For Newbery, by a happy recollection of the _Lettres Persanes_\n      of Montesquieu, or some of his imitators, he struck almost at once into\n      that charming epistolary series, brimful of fine observation, kindly\n      satire, and various fancy, which was ultimately to become the English\n      classic known as _The Citizen of the World_. He continued to\n      produce these letters periodically until the August of the following year,\n      when they were\n      announced for republication in \u2018two volumes of the usual _Spectator_\n      size.\u2019 In this form they appeared in May, 1762.\n      But long before this date a change for the better had taken place in\n      Goldsmith\u2019s life. Henceforth he was sure of work,\u2014mere journey-work\n      though much of it must have been;\u2014and, had his nature been less\n      improvident, of freedom from absolute want. The humble lodgings in the Old\n      Bailey were discarded for new premises at No. 6 Wine Office Court, Fleet\n      Street; and here, on the 31st of May, 1761, with Percy, came one whose\n      name was often in the future to be associated with Goldsmith\u2019s, the great\n      Dictator of London literary society, Samuel Johnson. Boswell, who made\n      Johnson\u2019s acquaintance later, has not recorded the humours of that supper;\n      but it marks the beginning of Goldsmith\u2019s friendship with the man who of\n      all others (Reynolds excepted) loved him most and understood him best.\n      During the remainder of 1761 he continued busily to ply his pen. Besides\n      his contributions to _The Ledger_ and _The British\n      Magazine_, he edited _The Lady\u2019s Magazine_, inserting in\n      it the _Memoirs of Voltaire_, drawn up some time earlier to\n      accompany a translation of the _Henriade_ by his crony and\n      compatriot Edward Purdon. Towards the beginning of 1762 he was hard at\n      work on several compilations for Newbery, for whom he wrote or edited a\n      _History of Mecklenburgh_, and a series of monthly volumes of\n      an abridgement of _Plutarch\u2019s Lives_. In October of the same\n      year was published the _Life of Richard Nash_, apparently the\n      outcome of special holiday-visits to the then fashionable watering-place\n      of Bath, whence its fantastic old Master of the Ceremonies had only very\n      lately made his final exit. It is a pleasantly gossiping, and not\n      unedifying little book, which still holds a respectable place among its\n      author\u2019s minor works. But a recently discovered entry in an old ledger\n      shows that during the latter half\n      of 1762 he must have planned, if he had not, indeed, already in part\n      composed, a far more important effort, _The Vicar of Wakefield_.\n      For on the 28th of October in this year he sold to one Benjamin Collins,\n      printer, of Salisbury, for 21 pounds, a third in a work with that title,\n      further described as \u20182 vols. 12mo.\u2019 How this little circumstance,\n      discovered by Mr. Charles Welsh when preparing his Life of John Newbery,\n      is to be brought into agreement with the time-honoured story, related\n      (with variations) by Boswell and others, to the effect that Johnson\n      negotiated the sale of the manuscript for Goldsmith when the latter was\n      arrested for rent by his incensed landlady\u2014has not yet been\n      satisfactorily suggested. Possibly the solution is a simple one, referable\n      to some of those intricate arrangements favoured by \u2018the Trade\u2019 at a time\n      when not one but half a score publishers\u2019 names figured in an imprint. At\n      present, the fact that Collins bought a third share of the book from the\n      author for twenty guineas, and the statement that Johnson transferred the\n      entire manuscript to a bookseller for sixty pounds, seem irreconcilable.\n      That _The Vicar of Wakefield_ was nevertheless written, or was\n      being written, in 1762, is demonstrable from internal evidence.\n      About Christmas in the same year Goldsmith moved into lodgings at\n      Islington, his landlady being one Mrs. Elizabeth Fleming, a friend of\n      Newbery, to whose generalship this step seems attributable. From the\n      curious accounts printed by Prior and Forster, it is clear that the\n      publisher was Mrs. Fleming\u2019s paymaster, punctually deducting his\n      disbursements from the account current between himself and Goldsmith, an\n      arrangement which as plainly indicates the foresight of the one as it\n      implies the improvidence of the other. Of the work which Goldsmith did for\n      the businesslike and not unkindly little man, there is no very definite\n      evidence; but various prefaces,\n      introductions, and the like, belong to this time; and he undoubtedly was\n      the author of the excellent _ History of England in a Series of\n      Letters addressed by a Nobleman to his Son_, published anonymously\n      in June, 1764, and long attributed, for the grace of its style, to\n      Lyttelton, Chesterfield, Orrery, and other patrician pens. Meanwhile his\n      range of acquaintance was growing larger. The establishment, at the\n      beginning of 1764, of the famous association known afterwards as the\n      \u2018Literary Club\u2019 brought him into intimate relations with Beauclerk,\n      Reynolds, Langton, Burke, and others. Hogarth, too, is said to have\n      visited him at Islington, and to have painted the portrait of Mrs.\n      Fleming. Later in the same year, incited thereto by the success of\n      Christopher Smart\u2019s _Hannah_, he wrote the Oratorio of _The\n      Captivity_, now to be found in most editions of his poems, but never\n      set to music. Then after the slow growth of months, was issued on the 19th\n      December the elaboration of that fragmentary sketch which he had sent\n      years before to his brother Henry from the Continent, the poem entitled\n      _The Traveller; or, A Prospect of Society_.\n      In the notes appended to _The Traveller_ in the present volume,\n      its origin and progress are sufficiently explained. Its success was\n      immediate and enduring. The beauty of the descriptive passages, the subtle\n      simplicity of the language, the sweetness and finish of the versification,\n      found ready admirers,\u2014perhaps all the more because of the contrast\n      they afforded to the rough and strenuous sounds with which Charles\n      Churchill had lately filled the public ear. Johnson, who contributed a few\n      lines at the close, proclaimed _The Traveller_ to be the best\n      poem since the death of Pope; and it is certainly not easy to find its\n      equal among the works of contemporary bards. It at once raised Goldsmith\n      from the condition of a clever newspaper essayist, or\u2014as men like\n      Sir John\n      Hawkins would have said\u2014a mere \u2018bookseller\u2019s drudge,\u2019 to the\n      foremost rank among the poets of the day. Another result of its success\n      was the revival of some of his earlier work, which, however neglected by\n      the author, had been freely appropriated by the discerning pirate. In\n      June, 1765, Griffin and Newbery published a little volume of _Essays\n      by Mr. Goldsmith_, including some of the best of his contributions\n      to _The Bee, The Busy Body, The Public Ledger_, and _The\n      British Magazine_, besides \u2018The Double Transformation\u2019 and \u2018The\n      Logicians Refuted,\u2019 two pieces of verse in imitation of Prior and Swift,\n      which have not been traced to an earlier source. To the same year belongs\n      the first version of a poem which he himself regarded as his best work,\n      and which still retains something of its former popularity. This was the\n      ballad of _Edwin and Angelina_, otherwise known as _The\n      Hermit_. It originated in certain metrical discussions with Percy,\n      then engaged upon his famous _Reliques of English Poetry_; and\n      in 1765, Goldsmith, who through his friend Nugent (afterwards Lord Clare)\n      had made the acquaintance of the Earl of Northumberland, printed it\n      privately for the amusement of the Countess. In a revised and amended form\n      it was subsequently given to the world in _The Vicar of Wakefield_.\n      With the exception of an abortive attempt to resume his practice as a\n      medical man,\u2014an attempt which seems to have been frustrated by the\n      preternatural strength of his prescriptions,\u2014the next memorable\n      thing in Goldsmith\u2019s life is the publication of _The Vicar of\n      Wakefield_ itself. It made its appearance on the 27th of March,\n      1766. A second edition followed in May, a third in August. Why, having\n      been sold (in part) to a Salisbury printer as far back as October, 1762,\n      it had remained unprinted so long; and why, when published, it was\n      published by Francis Newbery and not by John Newbery, Goldsmith\u2019s\n      employer,\u2014are questions at present unsolved. But the charm of this\n      famous novel is as fresh as when it was first issued. Its inimitable\n      types, its happy mingling of Christianity and character, its wholesome\n      benevolence and its practical wisdom, are still unimpaired. We smile at\n      the inconsistencies of the plot; but we are carried onward in spite of\n      them, captivated by the grace, the kindliness, the gentle humour of the\n      story. Yet it is a mistake to suppose that its success was instantaneous.\n      Pirated it was, of course; but, according to expert investigations, the\n      authorized edition brought so little gain to its first proprietors that\n      the fourth issue of 1770 started with a loss. The fifth, published in\n      April, 1774, was dated 1773; and had apparently been withheld because the\n      previous edition, which consisted of no more than one thousand copies, was\n      not exhausted. Five years elapsed before the sixth edition made its tardy\n      appearance in 1779. These facts show that the writer\u2019s contemporaries were\n      not his most eager readers. But he has long since appealed to the wider\n      audience of posterity; and his fame is not confined to his native country,\n      for he has been translated into most European languages. Dr. Primrose and\n      his family are now veritable \u2018citizens of the world.\u2019\n      A selection of _Poems for Young Ladies_, in the \u2018Moral\u2019\n      division of which he included his own _Edwin and Angelina_; two\n      volumes of _Beauties of English Poesy_, disfigured with strange\n      heedlessness, by a couple of the most objectionable pieces of Prior; a\n      translation of a French history of philosophy, and other occasional work,\n      followed the publication of the _Vicar_. But towards the middle\n      of 1766, he was meditating a new experiment in that line in which\n      Farquhar, Steele, Southerne, and others of his countrymen had succeeded\n      before him. A fervent lover of the stage, he detested the vapid and\n      colourless \u2018genteel\u2019\n      comedy which had gradually gained ground in England; and he determined to\n      follow up _The Clandestine Marriage_, then recently adapted by\n      Colman and Garrick from Hogarth\u2019s _Marriage A-la-Mode_, with\n      another effort of the same class, depending exclusively for its interest\n      upon humour and character. Early in 1767 it was completed, and submitted\n      to Garrick for Drury Lane. But Garrick perhaps too politic to traverse the\n      popular taste, temporized; and eventually after many delays and\n      disappointments, _The Good Natur\u2019d Man_, as it was called, was\n      produced at Covent Garden by Colman on the 29th of January, 1768. Its\n      success was only partial; and in deference to the prevailing craze for the\n      \u2018genteel,\u2019 an admirable scene of low humour had to be omitted in the\n      representation. But the piece, notwithstanding, brought the author 400\n      pounds, to which the sale of the book, with the condemned passages\n      restored, added another 100 pounds. Furthermore, Johnson, whose\n      \u2018Suspirius\u2019 in _The Rambler_ was, under the name of \u2018Croaker,\u2019\n      one of its most prominent personages, pronounced it to be the best comedy\n      since Cibber\u2019s _Provok\u2019d Husband_.\n      During the autumn of 1767, Goldsmith had again been living at Islington.\n      On this occasion he had a room in Canonbury Tower, Queen Elizabeth\u2019s old\n      hunting-lodge, and perhaps occupied the very chamber generally used by\n      John Newbery, whose active life was, in this year, to close. When in\n      London he had modest housing in the Temple. But the acquisition of 500\n      pounds for _The Good Natur\u2019d Man_ seemed to warrant a change of\n      residence, and he accordingly expended four-fifths of that sum for the\n      lease of three rooms on the second floor of No. 2 Brick Court, which he\n      straightway proceeded to decorate sumptuously with mirrors, Wilton\n      carpets, moreen curtains, and Pembroke tables. It was an unfortunate step;\n      and he would have done well to remember the _Nil_\n      _te quaesiveris extra_ with which his inflexible monitor, Johnson,\n      had greeted his apologies for the shortcomings of some earlier lodgings.\n      One of its natural results was to involve him in a new sequence of\n      task-work, from which he never afterwards shook himself free. Hence,\n      following hard upon a _Roman History_ which he had already\n      engaged to write for Davies of Russell Street, came a more ambitious\n      project for Griffin, _A History of Animated Nature_; and after\n      this again, another _History of England_ for Davies. The pay\n      was not inadequate; for the first he was to have 250 guineas, for the\n      second 800 guineas, and for the last 500 pounds. But as employment for the\n      author of a unique novel, an excellent comedy, and a deservedly successful\n      poem, it was surely\u2014in his own words\u2014\u2018to cut blocks with a\n      And yet, apart from the anxieties of growing money troubles, his life\n      could not have been wholly unhappy. There are records of pleasant\n      occasional junketings\u2014\u2018shoe-maker\u2019s holidays\u2019 he called them\u2014in\n      the still countrified suburbs of Hampstead and Edgware; there was the\n      gathering at the Turk\u2019s Head, with its literary magnates, for his severer\n      hours; and for his more pliant moments, the genial \u2018free-and-easy\u2019 or\n      shilling whist-club of a less pretentious kind, where the student of mixed\n      character might shine with something of the old supremacy of George\n      Conway\u2019s inn at Ballymahon. And there must have been quieter and more\n      chastened resting-places of memory, when, softening towards the home of\n      his youth, with a sadness made more poignant by the death of his brother\n      Henry in May, 1768, he planned and perfected his new poem of _The\n      Deserted Village_.\n      In December, 1769, the recent appointment of his friend Reynolds as\n      President of the Royal Academy brought him the honorary office of\n      Professor of History to that\n      institution; and to Reynolds _The Deserted Village_ was\n      dedicated. It appeared on the 26th of May, 1770, with a success equal, if\n      not superior, to that of _The Traveller_. It ran through five\n      editions in the year of its publication; and has ever since retained its\n      reputation. If, as alleged, contemporary critics ranked it below its\n      predecessor, the reason advanced by Washington Irving, that the poet had\n      become his own rival, is doubtless correct; and there is always a\n      prejudice in favour of the first success. This, however, is not an\n      obstacle which need disturb the reader now; and he will probably decide\n      that in grace and tenderness of description _The Deserted Village_\n      in no wise falls short of _The Traveller_; and that its central\n      idea, and its sympathy with humanity, give it a higher value as a work of\n      After _The Deserted Village_ had appeared, Goldsmith made a\n      short trip to Paris, in company with Mrs. and the two Miss Hornecks, the\n      elder of whom, christened by the poet with the pretty pet-name of \u2018The\n      Jessamy Bride,\u2019 is supposed to have inspired him with more than friendly\n      feelings. Upon his return he had to fall again to the old \u2018book-building\u2019\n      in order to recruit his exhausted finances. Since his last poem he had\n      published a short _Life of Parnell_; and Davies now engaged him\n      on a _Life of Bolingbroke_, and an abridgement of the _Roman\n      History_. Thus, with visits to friends, among others to Lord Clare,\n      for whom he wrote the delightful occasional verses called _The Haunch\n      of Venison_, the months wore on until, in December, 1770, the\n      print-shops began to be full of the well-known mezzotint which Marchi had\n      engraved from his portrait by Sir Joshua.\n      His chief publications in the next two years were the above-mentioned\n      _History of England_, 1771; _Threnodia Augustalis_,\n      a poetical lament-to-order on the death of the Princess Dowager of Wales,\n      1772; and the abridgement\n      of the _Roman History_, 1772. But in the former year he had\n      completed a new comedy, _She Stoops to Conquer; or, The Mistakes of a\n      Night_, which, after the usual vexatious negotiations, was brought\n      out by Colman at Covent Garden on Monday, the 15th of March, 1773. The\n      manager seems to have acted Goldsmith\u2019s own creation of \u2018Croaker\u2019 with\n      regard to this piece, and even to the last moment predicted its failure.\n      But it was a brilliant success. More skilful in construction than _The\n      Good Natur\u2019d Man_, more various in its contrasts of character,\n      richer and stronger in humour and _vis comica_, _She Stoops to\n      Conquer_ has continued to provide an inexhaustible fund of laughter\n      to more than three generations of playgoers, and still bids fair to retain\n      the character generally given to it, of being one of the three most\n      popular comedies upon the English stage. When published, it was gratefully\n      inscribed, in one of those admirable dedications of which its author above\n      all men possessed the secret, to Johnson, who had befriended it from the\n      first. \u2018I do not mean,\u2019 wrote Goldsmith, \u2018so much to compliment you as\n      myself. It may do me some honour to inform the public, that I have lived\n      many years in intimacy with you. It may serve the interests of mankind\n      also to inform them, that the greatest wit may be found in a character,\n      without impairing the most unaffected piety.\u2019\n      His gains from _She Stoops to Conquer_ were considerable; but\n      by this time his affairs had reached a stage of complication which nothing\n      short of a miracle could disentangle; and there is reason for supposing\n      that his involved circumstances preyed upon his mind. During the few\n      months of life that remained to him he published nothing, being doubtless\n      sufficiently occupied by the undertakings to which he was already\n      committed. The last of his poetical efforts was the poem entitled\n      _Retaliation_, a group of epitaph-epigrams prompted by some\n      similar _jeux d\u2019esprit_ directed against himself by Garrick and other\n      friends, and left incomplete at his death. In March, 1774, the combined\n      effects of work and worry, added to a local disorder, brought on a nervous\n      fever, which he unhappily aggravated by the use of a patent medicine\n      called \u2018James\u2019s Powder.\u2019 He had often relied upon this before, but in the\n      present instance it was unsuited to his complaint. On Monday, the 4th of\n      April, 1774, he died, in his forty-sixth year, and was buried on the 9th\n      in the burying-ground of the Temple Church. Two years later a monument,\n      with a medallion portrait by Nollekens, and a Latin inscription by\n      Johnson, was erected to him in Westminster Abbey, at the expense of the\n      Literary Club. But although the inscription contains more than one phrase\n      of felicitous discrimination, notably the oft-quoted _affectuum potens,\n      at lenis dominator_, it may be doubted whether the simpler words used\n      by his rugged old friend in a letter to Langton are not a fitter farewell\n      to Oliver Goldsmith,\u2014\u2018Let not his frailties be remembered; he was a\n      very great man.\u2019\n      In person Goldsmith was short and strongly built. His complexion was\n      rather fair, but he was deeply scarred with small-pox; and\u2014if we\n      may believe his own account\u2014the vicissitudes and privations of his\n      early life had not tended to diminish his initial disadvantages. \u2018You\n      scarcely can conceive,\u2019 he writes to his brother in 1759, \u2018how much eight\n      years of disappointment, anguish, and study, have worn me down. . . .\n      Imagine to yourself a pale melancholy visage, with two great wrinkles\n      between the eye-brows, with an eye disgustingly severe, and a big wig; and\n      you may have a perfect picture of my present appearance,\u2019 i.e. at thirty\n      years of age. \u2018I can neither laugh nor drink,\u2019 he goes on; \u2018have\n      contracted an hesitating, disagreeable manner of speaking, and a visage\n      that looks ill-nature itself; in short, I have thought myself into a\n      settled melancholy, and an utter disgust of all that life brings with it.\u2019\n      It is obvious that this description is largely coloured by passing\n      depression. \u2018His features,\u2019 says one contemporary, \u2018were plain, but not\n      repulsive,\u2014certainly not so when lighted up by conversation.\u2019\n      Another witness\u2014the \u2018Jessamy Bride\u2019\u2014declares that \u2018his\n      benevolence was unquestionable, and his countenance bore every trace of\n      it.\u2019 His true likeness would seem to lie midway between the grotesquely\n      truthful sketch by Bunbury prefixed in 1776 to the _Haunch of Venison_,\n      and the portrait idealized by personal regard, which Reynolds painted in\n      1770. In this latter he is shown wearing, in place of his customary wig,\n      his own scant brown hair, and, on this occasion, masquerades in a furred\n      robe, and falling collar. But even through the disguise of a studio\n      \u2018costume,\u2019 the finely-perceptive genius of Reynolds has managed to suggest\n      much that is most appealing in his sitter\u2019s nature. Past suffering,\n      present endurance, the craving to be understood, the mute deprecation of\n      contempt, are all written legibly in this pathetic picture. It has been\n      frequently copied, often very ineffectively, for so subtle is the art that\n      the slightest deviation hopelessly distorts and vulgarizes what Reynolds\n      has done supremely, once and for ever.\n      Goldsmith\u2019s character presents but few real complexities. What seems most\n      to have impressed his contemporaries is the difference, emphasized by the\n      happily-antithetic epigram of Garrick, between his written style and his\n      conversation; and collaterally, between his eminence as a literary man and\n      his personal insignificance. Much of this is easily intelligible. He had\n      started in life with few temporal or physical advantages, and with a\n      native susceptibility that intensified his defects. Until\n      he became a middle-aged man, he led a life of which we do not even now\n      know all the degradations; and these had left their mark upon his manners.\n      With the publication of _The Traveller_, he became at once the\n      associate of some of the best talent and intellect in England,\u2014of\n      fine gentlemen such as Beauclerk and Langton, of artists such as Reynolds\n      and Garrick, of talkers such as Johnson and Burke. Morbidly\n      self-conscious, nervously anxious to succeed, he was at once forced into a\n      competition for which neither his antecedents nor his qualifications had\n      prepared him. To this, coupled with the old habit of poverty, must be\n      attributed his oft-cited passion for fine clothes, which surely arose less\n      from vanity than from a mistaken attempt to extenuate what he felt to be\n      his most obvious shortcomings. As a talker especially he was ill-fitted to\n      shine. He was easily disconcerted by retort, and often discomfited in\n      argument. To the end of his days he never lost his native brogue; and (as\n      he himself tells us) he had that most fatal of defects to a narrator, a\n      slow and hesitating manner. The perspicuity which makes the charm of his\n      writings deserted him in conversation; and his best things were momentary\n      flashes. But some of these were undoubtedly very happy. His telling\n      Johnson that he would make the little fishes talk like whales; his\n      affirmation of Burke that he wound into a subject like a serpent; and\n      half-a-dozen other well-remembered examples\u2014afford ample proof of\n      this. Something of the uneasy jealousy he is said to have exhibited with\n      regard to certain of his contemporaries may also be connected with the\n      long probation of obscurity during which he had been a spectator of the\n      good fortune of others, to whom he must have known himself superior. His\n      improvidence seems to have been congenital, since it is to be traced \u2018even\n      from his boyish days.\u2019 But though it cannot justly be ascribed to any\n      reaction from want to sufficiency, it can still less be supposed to have\n      been diminished by that change. If he was careless of money, it must also\n      be remembered that he gave much of it away; and fortune lingers little\n      with those whose ears are always open to a plausible tale of distress. Of\n      his sensibility and genuine kindheartedness there is no doubt. And it is\n      well to remember that most of the tales to his disadvantage come, not from\n      his more distinguished companions, but from such admitted detractors as\n      Hawkins and Boswell. It could be no mean individuality that acquired the\n      esteem, and deserved the regret, of Johnson and Reynolds.\nIn an edition of Goldsmith\u2019s poems, any extended examination of his\nremaining productions would be out of place. Moreover, the bulk of these is\nconsiderably reduced when all that may properly be classed as hack-work has\nbeen withdrawn. The histories of Greece, of Rome, and of England; the\n_Animated Nature_; the lives of Nash, Voltaire, Parnell, and Bolingbroke,\nare merely compilations, only raised to the highest level in that line because\nthey proceeded from a man whose gift of clear and easy exposition lent a charm\nto everything he touched. With the work which he did for himself, the case is\ndifferent. Into _The Citizen of the World_, _The Vicar of Wakefield_,\nand his two comedies, he put all the best of his knowledge of human nature, his\nkeen sympathy with his kind, his fine common-sense and his genial humour. The\nsame qualities, tempered by a certain grace and tenderness, also enter into the\nbest of his poems. Avoiding the epigram of Pope and the austere couplet of\nJohnson, he yet borrowed something from each, which he combined with a delicacy\nand an amenity that he had learned from neither. He himself, in all\nprobability, would have rested his fame on his three chief metrical efforts,\n_The Traveller_, _The Hermit_, and _The Deserted Village_. But,\nas is often the case, he is remembered even more favourably by some of those\ndelightful familiar verses, unprinted during his lifetime, which he threw off\nwith no other ambition than the desire to amuse his friends.\n_Retaliation_, _ The Haunch of Venison_, the _Letter in Prose and\nVerse to Mrs. Bunbury_, all afford noteworthy exemplification of that\nplayful touch and wayward fancy which constitute the chief attraction of this\nspecies of poetry. In his imitations of Swift and Prior, and his variations\nupon French suggestions, his personal note is scarcely so apparent; but the two\nElegies and some of the minor pieces retain a deserved reputation. His\ningenious prologues and epilogues also serve to illustrate the range and\nversatility of his talent. As a rule, the arrangement in the present edition is\nchronological; but it has not been thought necessary to depart from the\npractice which gives a time-honoured precedence to _The Traveller_ and\n_The Deserted Village_. The true sequence of the poems, in their order of\npublication, is, however, exactly indicated in the table which follows this\nIntroduction.\nCHRONOLOGY OF GOLDSMITH\u2019S LIFE AND POEMS.\n          _November 10._ Born at Pallas, near Ballymahon, in the county of\n          Longford, Ireland.\n          Family remove to Lissoy, in the county of Westmeath.\n          Under Elizabeth Delap.\n          Under Mr. Thomas Byrne of the village school.\n          At school at Elphin (Mr. Griffin\u2019s), Athlone (Mr. Campbell\u2019s),\n          Edgeworthstown (Mr. Hughes\u2019s).\n          _June 11._ Admitted a sizar of Trinity College, Dublin, _\u2018annum\n          Death of his father, the Rev. Charles Goldsmith.\n _May._\n          Takes part in a college riot.\n _June 15._ Obtains a Smythe\n          exhibition.\n Runs away from college.\n          _February 27._ Takes his degree as Bachelor of Arts.\n          Rejected for orders by the Bishop of Elphin.\n Tutor to Mr. Flinn.\n          Sets out for America (via Cork), but returns.\n Letter to Mrs.\n          Goldsmith (his mother).\n          Starts as a law student, but loses his all at play.\n Goes to\n          Edinburgh to become a medical student.\n          _January 13._ Admitted a member of the \u2018Medical Society\u2019 of\n          Edinburgh.\n _May 8._ Letter to his Uncle Contarine.\n _September\n          26._ Letter to Robert Bryanton.\n Letter to his Uncle Contarine.\n          Goes to Leyden. Letter to his Uncle Contarine.\n          _February._ Leaves Leyden.\n Takes degree of Bachelor of\n          Medicine at Louvain (?).\n Travels on foot in France, Germany,\n          Switzerland, and Italy.\n Sketches _The Traveller_.\n          _February 1._ Returns to Dover. Low comedian; usher (?);\n          apothecary\u2019s journeyman; poor physician in Bankside, Southwark.\n          Press corrector to Samuel Richardson, printer and novelist; assistant\n          at Peckham Academy (Dr. Milner\u2019s).\n _April._ Bound over to\n          Griffiths the bookseller. Quarrels with Griffiths.\n _December\n          27._ Letter to his brother-in-law, Daniel Hodson.\n          _February._ Publishes _The Memoirs of a Protestant,\n          condemned to the Galleys of France for his Religion_.\n Gives\n          up literature and returns to Peckham.\n _August._ Leaves\n          Peckham. Letters to Edward Mills, Bryanton, Mrs. Jane Lawder.\n          Appointed surgeon and physician to a factory on the Coast of\n          Coromandel.\n _November (?)._ Letter to Hodson.\n Moves\n          into 12 Green Arbour Court, Old Bailey.\n Coromandel appointment\n          comes to nothing.\n _December 21._ Rejected at Surgeons\u2019 Hall\n          as \u2018not qualified\u2019 for a hospital mate.\n          _February (?)._ Letter to Henry Goldsmith.\n _March._\n          Visited by Percy at 12 Green Arbour Court.\n _April 2._ _Enquiry\n          into the Present State of Polite Learning in Europe_ published.\n          \u2018Prologue of Laberius\u2019 (_Enquiry_).\n _October 6._\n          _The Bee_ commenced. \u2018On a Beautiful Youth struck blind\n          with Lightning\u2019 (_Bee_).\n _October 13._ \u2018The Gift\u2019\n _October 18._ \u2018The Logicians Refuted\u2019 (_Busy\n _October 20._ \u2018A Sonnet\u2019 (_Bee_).\n          _October 22._ \u2018Stanzas on the Taking of Quebec\u2019 (_Busy Body_).\n          _October 27._ \u2018Elegy on Mrs. Mary Blaize\u2019 (_Bee_).\n          _November 24._ _The Bee_ closed.\n          _January 1._ _The British Magazine_ commenced.\n _January\n          12._ _The Public Ledger_ commenced.\n _January 24._\n          First Chinese Letter published (_Citizen of the World_).\n          _May 2._ \u2018Description of an Author\u2019s Bedchamber\u2019 (\u2018Chinese\n          Letter\u2019 in _Public Ledger_).\n _October 21._ \u2018On\n          seeing Mrs. . . . perform,\u2019 etc. (\u2018Chinese Letter\u2019 in _Public\n Editing _Lady\u2019s Magazine_. Compiling\n          Prefaces.\n Moves into 6 Wine Office Court, Fleet Street.\n          _March 4._ \u2018On the Death of the Right Hon. . . . (\u2018Chinese\n          Letter\u2019 in _Public Ledger_).\n          Epigram\u2019; to G. C. and R. L. (\u2018Chinese Letter in _Public Ledger_).\n          _May 13._ \u2018Translation of a South American Ode.\u2019 (\u2018Chinese\n          Letter\u2019 in _Public Ledger_)\n _August 14._ Last\n          Chinese Letter published (_Citizen of the World_).\n          _Memoirs of M. de Voltaire_ published in _Lady\u2019s\n          Magazine_.\n          _February 23._ Pamphlet on Cock Lane Ghost published.\n _February\n          26._ _History of Mecklenburgh_ published.\n          _Citizen of the World_ published.\n _May 1 to Nov. 1._\n          _Plutarch\u2019s Lives_, vol. i to vii, published.\n At Bath\n          and Tunbridge.\n _October 14._ _Life of Richard Nash_\n          published.\n _October 28._ Sells third share of _Vicar of\n          Wakefield_ to B. Collins, printer, Salisbury.\n At Mrs.\n          Fleming\u2019s at Islington.\n          _March 31._ Agrees with James Dodsley to write a _\n          Chronological History of the Lives of Eminent Persons of Great Britain\n          and Ireland_. (Never done.)\n          \u2018The Club,\u2019 afterwards the Literary Club, founded.\n Moves into\n          lodgings on the library staircase of the Temple.\n          _History of England, in a series of Letters from a Nobleman to\n          his Son_ published.\n _October 31._ Oratorio of _The\n          Captivity_ sold to James Dodsley.\n _December 19._ _The\n          Traveller_ published.\n          _June 4._ _Essays by Mr. Goldsmith_ published. \u2018The\n          Double Transformation,\u2019 \u2018A New Simile\u2019 (_Essays_).\n          _Edwin and Angelina_ (_The Hermit_) printed\n          privately for the amusement of the Countess of Northumberland.\n          Resumes practice as a physician.\n          _March 27._ _Vicar of Wakefield_ published. \u2018Elegy on\n          a Mad Dog\u2019; \u2018Olivia\u2019s Song\u2019 (_Vicar of Wakefield_).\n _May\n          31._ _Vicar of Wakefield_, 2nd edition.\n _June._\n          Translation of Formey\u2019s _Concise History of Philosophy and\n          Philosophers_ published.\n _August 29._ _Vicar of\n          Wakefield_, 3rd edition.\n _December 15._ _Poems\n          for Young Ladies_ published.\n          _December 28._ _English Grammar_ written.\n          _April._ _Beauties of English Poesy_ published.\n          _July 19._ Living in Garden Court, Temple.\n          Letter to the _St. James\u2019s Chronicle_.\n _December 22._\n          Death of John Newbery.\n          _February 5._ Publishes _The Good Natur\u2019d Man_, a\n          Comedy, produced at Covent Garden, January 29. \u2018Epilogue to _The\n          Good Natur\u2019d Man_.\u2019\n Moves to 2 Brick Court, Middle Temple.\n          _May._ Death of Henry Goldsmith.\n Living at Edgware.\n          _February 18._ \u2018Epilogue to Mrs. Lenox\u2019s _ Sister_.\u2019\n          _February 29._ Agreement for \u2018a new Natural History of Animals\u2019 (_Animated\n _May 18._ _Roman History_\n          published.\n _June 13._ Agreement for _History of England_.\n          _December._ Appointed Professor of History to the Royal Academy.\n          _January._ Letter to Maurice Goldsmith.\n _April 24\u2013May 26._\n          Portrait by Reynolds exhibited.\n _May 26._ _The Deserted\n          Village_ published.\n _July 13._ _Life of Thomas\n          Parnell_ published.\n _July._ On the Continent with the\n          Hornecks. Letters to Reynolds.\n _September 15._ Agreement for\n          abridgement of _Roman History_.\n _December 1._\n          Marchi\u2019s print from Reynold\u2019s portrait published.\n _December 19._\n          _Life of Bolingbroke_ published.\n _Vicar of\n          Wakefield_, 4th edition.\n          _Haunch of Venison_ written. (?)\n _August 6._\n          _History of England_ published.\n _December 11._\n          \u2018Prologue to Cradock\u2019s _ Zobeide_.\u2019\n          _February 20._ _Threnodia Augustalis_ published.\n          Watson\u2019s Engraving of _Resignation_ published.\n _December._\n          Abridgement of _Roman History_ published.\n          _March 26._ Publishes _She Stoops to Conquer; or, The\n          Mistakes of a Night_, a Comedy, produced at Covent Garden, March\n          15. \u2018Song in _She Stoops to Conquer_,\u2019 \u2018Epilogue to _She\n          Stoops to Conquer_.\u2019\n          _March 24._ Kenrick\u2019s libel in the _London Packet_.\n          _March 31._ Letter in the _Daily Advertiser_.\n _May\n          8._ _The Grumbler_ produced.\n Projects a _Dictionary\n          of Arts and Sciences_.\n          _March 25._ Illness.\n _April 4._ Death.\n _April 9._\n          \u2018Buried 9th April, Oliver Goldsmith, MB, late of Brick-court, Middle\n          Temple\u2019 (Register of Burials, Temple Church).\n _April 19._\n          _Retaliation_ published.\n _April._ _Vicar of\n          Wakefield_, 5th edition (dated 1773).\n _June._ Song\n          (\u2018Ah me, when shall I marry me?\u2019) published.\n          Letters of Administration granted.\n _June._ _An History\n          of the Earth and Animated Nature_ published.\n \u2018Translation\n          from Addison.\u2019 (_History_, etc., 1774.)\n          _The Haunch of Venison_ published. \u2018Epitaph on Thomas\n          Parnell,\u2019 and \u2018Two Songs from _The Captivity_ (_Haunch\n Monument with medallion by Nollekens erected\n          in the south transept of Westminster Abbey.\n          _Poems and Plays_ published. \u2018The Clown\u2019s Reply,\u2019 \u2018Epitaph\n          on Edward Purdon\u2019 (_Poems_, etc., 1777).\n          _Vicar of Wakefield_, 6th edition.\n          _Poetical and Dramatic Works_, Evans\u2019s edition, published.\n          \u2018Epilogue for Lee Lewes\u2019 (_Poetical, etc., Works_, 1780).\n          _Miscellaneous Works_, Percy\u2019s edition, published.\n          \u2018Epilogues (unspoken) to _She Stoops to Conquer_\u2019 (_Misc.\n          _Miscellaneous Works_, \u2018trade\u2019 edition, published. An\n          Oratorio\u2019 (_The Captivity_). (_Misc. Works_,\n          _Miscellaneous Works_, Prior\u2019s edition, published. \u2018Verses\n          in Reply to an Invitation to Dinner\u2019; \u2018Letter in Prose and Verse to\n          Mrs. Bunbury\u2019 (_Misc. Works_, 1837).\n Tablet erected in\n          the Temple Church.\n          _Goldsmith\u2019s Works_, Cunningham\u2019s edition, published.\n          \u2018Translation of Vida\u2019s _Game of Chess_\u2019 (_Works_,\n          _January 5._ J. H. Foley\u2019s statue placed in front of Dublin\n          University.\n[Illustration: Vignette to \u2018The Traveller\u2019]\nVIGNETTE TO \u2018THE TRAVELLER\u2019\n (Samuel Wale)\nDESCRIPTIVE POEMS\n THE TRAVELLER\n OR\n A PROSPECT OF SOCIETY\n DEDICATION\n TO THE REV. HENRY GOLDSMITH\n      DEAR SIR,\n I am sensible that the\n      friendship between us can acquire no new force from the ceremonies of a\n      Dedication; and perhaps it demands an excuse thus to prefix your name to\n      my attempts, which you decline giving with your own. But as a part of this\n      Poem was formerly written to you from Switzerland, the whole can now, with\n      propriety, be only inscribed to you. It will also throw a light upon many\n      parts of it, when the reader understands, that it is addressed to a man,\n      who, despising Fame and Fortune, has retired early to Happiness and\n      Obscurity, with an income of forty pounds a year.\n      I now perceive, my dear brother, the wisdom of your humble choice. You\n      have entered upon a sacred office, where the harvest is great, and the\n      labourers are but few; while you have left the field of Ambition, where\n      the labourers are many, and the harvest not worth carrying away. But of\n      all kinds of ambition, what from the refinement of the times, from\n      different systems of criticism, and from the divisions of party, that\n      which pursues poetical fame is the wildest.\n      Poetry makes a principal amusement among unpolished nations; but in a\n      country verging to the extremes of refinement, Painting and Music come in\n      for a share. As these offer the feeble mind a less laborious\n      entertainment,\n      they at first rival Poetry, and at length supplant her; they engross all\n      that favour once shown to her, and though but younger sisters, seize upon\n      the elder\u2019s birthright.\n      Yet, however this art may be neglected by the powerful, it is still in\n      greater danger from the mistaken efforts of the learned to improve it.\n      What criticisms have we not heard of late in favour of blank verse, and\n      Pindaric odes, choruses, anapaests and iambics, alliterative care and\n      happy negligence! Every absurdity has now a champion to defend it; and as\n      he is generally much in the wrong, so he has always much to say; for error\n      is ever talkative.\n      But there is an enemy to this art still more dangerous, I mean Party.\n      Party entirely distorts the judgment, and destroys the taste. When the\n      mind is once infected with this disease, it can only find pleasure in what\n      contributes to increase the distemper. Like the tiger, that seldom desists\n      from pursuing man after having once preyed upon human flesh, the reader,\n      who has once gratified his appetite with calumny, makes, ever after, the\n      most agreeable feast upon murdered reputation. Such readers generally\n      admire some half-witted thing, who wants to be thought a bold man, having\n      lost the character of a wise one. Him they dignify with the name of poet;\n      his tawdry lampoons are called satires, his turbulence is said to be\n      force, and his frenzy fire.\n      What reception a Poem may find, which has neither abuse, party, nor blank\n      verse to support it, I cannot tell, nor am I solicitous to know. My aims\n      are right. Without espousing the cause of any party, I have attempted to\n      moderate the rage of all. I have endeavoured to show, that there may be\n      equal happiness in states, that are differently governed from our own;\n      that every state has a particular principle of happiness, and that this\n      principle in each may be carried to a mischievous excess. There are few\n      can judge, better than yourself, how far these positions are illustrated\n      in this Poem.\n      I am, dear Sir,\n Your most affectionate Brother,\n           OLIVER GOLDSMITH.\n[Illustration: ]\n      THE TRAVELLER\n OR\n A PROSPECT OF\n      SOCIETY\nREMOTE, unfriended, melancholy, slow,\nOr by the lazy Scheldt, or wandering Po;\nOr onward, where the rude Carinthian boor\nAgainst the houseless stranger shuts the door;\nOr where Campania\u2019s plain forsaken lies,                       5\nA weary waste expanding to the skies:\nWhere\u2019er I roam, whatever realms to see,\nMy heart untravell\u2019d fondly turns to thee;\nStill to my brother turns with ceaseless pain,\nAnd drags at each remove a lengthening chain.                 10\n  Eternal blessings crown my earliest friend,\nAnd round his dwelling guardian saints attend:\nBless\u2019d be that spot, where cheerful guests retire\nTo pause from toil, and trim their ev\u2019ning fire;\nBless\u2019d that abode, where want and pain repair,               15\nAnd every stranger finds a ready chair;\nBless\u2019d be those feasts with simple plenty crown\u2019d,\nWhere all the ruddy family around\nLaugh at the jests or pranks that never fail,\nOr sigh with pity at some mournful tale,                      20\nOr press the bashful stranger to his food,\nAnd learn the luxury of doing good.\n  But me, not destin\u2019d such delights to share,\nMy prime of life in wand\u2019ring spent and care,\nImpell\u2019d, with steps unceasing, to pursue                     25\nSome fleeting good, that mocks me with the view;\nThat, like the circle bounding earth and skies,\nAllures from far, yet, as I follow, flies;\nMy fortune leads to traverse realms alone,\nAnd find no spot of all the world my own.                     30\n  E\u2019en now, where Alpine solitudes ascend,\nI sit me down a pensive hour to spend;\nAnd, plac\u2019d on high above the storm\u2019s career,\nLook downward where a hundred realms appear;\nLakes, forests, cities, plains, extending wide,               35\nThe pomp of kings, the shepherd\u2019s humbler pride.\n  When thus Creation\u2019s charms around combine,\nAmidst the store, should thankless pride repine?\nSay, should the philosophic mind disdain\nThat good, which makes each humbler bosom vain?               40\nLet school-taught pride dissemble all it can,\nThese little things are great to little man;\nAnd wiser he, whose sympathetic mind\nExults in all the good of all mankind.\nYe glitt\u2019ring towns, with wealth and splendour crown\u2019d,       45\nYe fields, where summer spreads profusion round,\nYe lakes, whose vessels catch the busy gale,\nYe bending swains, that dress the flow\u2019ry vale,\nFor me your tributary stores combine;\nCreation\u2019s heir, the world, the world is mine!                50\n  As some lone miser visiting his store,\nBends at his treasure, counts, re-counts it o\u2019er;\nHoards after hoards his rising raptures fill,\nYet still he sighs, for hoards are wanting still:\nThus to my breast alternate passions rise,                    55\nPleas\u2019d with each good that heaven to man supplies:\nYet oft a sigh prevails, and sorrows fall,\nTo see the hoard of human bliss so small;\nAnd oft I wish, amidst the scene, to find\nSome spot to real happiness consign\u2019d,                        60\nWhere my worn soul, each wand\u2019ring hope at rest,\nMay gather bliss to see my fellows bless\u2019d.\n  But where to find that happiest spot below,\nWho can direct, when all pretend to know?\nThe shudd\u2019ring tenant of the frigid zone                      65\nBoldly proclaims that happiest spot his own,\nExtols the treasures of his stormy seas,\nAnd his long nights of revelry and ease;\nThe naked negro, panting at the line,\nBoasts of his golden sands and palmy wine,                    70\nBasks in the glare, or stems the tepid wave,\nAnd thanks his gods for all the good they gave.\nSuch is the patriot\u2019s boast, where\u2019er we roam,\nHis first, best country ever is, at home.\nAnd yet, perhaps, if countries we compare,                    75\nAnd estimate the blessings which they share,\nThough patriots flatter, still shall wisdom find\nAn equal portion dealt to all mankind,\nAs different good, by Art or Nature given,\nTo different nations makes their blessings even.              80\n  Nature, a mother kind alike to all,\nStill grants her bliss at Labour\u2019s earnest call;\nWith food as well the peasant is supplied\nOn Idra\u2019s cliffs as Arno\u2019s shelvy side;\nAnd though the rocky-crested summits frown,                   85\nThese rocks, by custom, turn to beds of down.\nFrom Art more various are the blessings sent;\nWealth commerce, honour, liberty, content.\nYet these each other\u2019s power so strong contest,\nThat either seems destructive of the rest.                    90\nWhere wealth and freedom reign, contentment fails,\nAnd honour sinks where commerce long prevails.\nHence every state to one lov\u2019d blessing prone,\nConforms and models life to that alone.\nEach to the favourite happiness attends,                      95\nAnd spurns the plan that aims at other ends;\nTill, carried to excess in each domain,\nThis favourite good begets peculiar pain.\n  But let us try these truths with closer eyes,\nAnd trace them through the prospect as it lies:              100\nHere for a while my proper cares resign\u2019d,\nHere let me sit in sorrow for mankind,\nLike yon neglected shrub at random cast,\nThat shades the steep, and sighs at every blast.\n  Far to the right where Apennine ascends,                   105\nBright as the summer, Italy extends;\nIts uplands sloping deck the mountain\u2019s side,\nWoods over woods in gay theatric pride;\nWhile oft some temple\u2019s mould\u2019ring tops between\nWith venerable grandeur mark the scene                       110\n[Illustration: ]\nTHE TRAVELLER\n(R. Westall)\n  Could Nature\u2019s bounty satisfy the breast,\nThe sons of Italy were surely blest.\nWhatever fruits in different climes were found,\nThat proudly rise, or humbly court the ground;\nWhatever blooms in torrid tracts appear,                     115\nWhose bright succession decks the varied year;\nWhatever sweets salute the northern sky\nWith vernal lives that blossom but to die;\nThese here disporting own the kindred soil,\nNor ask luxuriance from the planter\u2019s toil;                  120\nWhile sea-born gales their gelid wings expand\nTo winnow fragrance round the smiling land.\n  But small the bliss that sense alone bestows,\nAnd sensual bliss is all the nation knows.\nIn florid beauty groves and fields appear,                   125\nMan seems the only growth that dwindles here.\nContrasted faults through all his manner reign;\nThough poor, luxurious; though submissive, vain;\nThough grave, yet trifling; zealous, yet untrue;\nAnd e\u2019en in penance planning sins anew.                      130\nAll evils here contaminate the mind,\nThat opulence departed leaves behind;\nFor wealth was theirs, not far remov\u2019d the date,\nWhen commerce proudly flourish\u2019d through the state;\nAt her command the palace learn\u2019d to rise,                   135\nAgain the long-fall\u2019n column sought the skies;\nThe canvas glow\u2019d beyond e\u2019en Nature warm,\nThe pregnant quarry teem\u2019d with human form;\nTill, more unsteady than the southern gale,\nCommerce on other shores display\u2019d her sail;                 140\nWhile nought remain\u2019d of all that riches gave,\nBut towns unmann\u2019d, and lords without a slave;\nAnd late the nation found, with fruitless skill,\nIts former strength was but plethoric ill.\n  Yet still the loss of wealth is here supplied              145\nBy arts, the splendid wrecks of former pride;\nFrom these the feeble heart and long-fall\u2019n mind\nAn easy compensation seem to find.\nHere may be seen, in bloodless pomp array\u2019d,\nThe paste-board triumph and the cavalcade;                   150\nProcessions form\u2019d for piety and love,\nA mistress or a saint in every grove.\nBy sports like these are all their cares beguil\u2019d,\nThe sports of children satisfy the child;\nEach nobler aim, repress\u2019d by long control,                  155\nNow sinks at last, or feebly mans the soul;\nWhile low delights, succeeding fast behind,\nIn happier meanness occupy the mind:\nAs in those domes, where Caesars once bore sway,\nDefac\u2019d by time and tottering in decay,                      160\nThere in the ruin, heedless of the dead,\nThe shelter-seeking peasant builds his shed,\nAnd, wond\u2019ring man could want the larger pile,\nExults, and owns his cottage with a smile.\n  My soul, turn from them; turn we to survey                 165\nWhere rougher climes a nobler race display,\nWhere the bleak Swiss their stormy mansions tread,\nAnd force a churlish soil for scanty bread;\nNo product here the barren hills afford,\nBut man and steel, the soldier and his sword;                170\nNo vernal blooms their torpid rocks array,\nBut winter ling\u2019ring chills the lap of May;\nNo Zephyr fondly sues the mountain\u2019s breast,\nBut meteors glare, and stormy glooms invest.\n  Yet still, e\u2019en here, content can spread a charm,          175\nRedress the clime, and all its rage disarm.\nThough poor the peasant\u2019s hut, his feasts though small,\nHe sees his little lot the lot of all;\nSees no contiguous palace rear its head\nTo shame the meanness of his humble shed;                    180\nNo costly lord the sumptuous banquet deal\nTo make him loathe his vegetable meal;\nBut calm, and bred in ignorance and toil,\nEach wish contracting, fits him to the soil.\nCheerful at morn he wakes from short repose,                 185\nBreasts the keen air, and carols as he goes;\nWith patient angle trolls the finny deep,\nOr drives his vent\u2019rous plough-share to the steep;\nOr seeks the den where snow-tracks mark the way,\nAnd drags the struggling savage into day.                    190\nAt night returning, every labour sped,\nHe sits him down the monarch of a shed;\nSmiles by his cheerful fire, and round surveys\nHis children\u2019s looks, that brighten at the blaze;\nWhile his lov\u2019d partner, boastful of her hoard,              195\nDisplays her cleanly platter on the board:\nAnd haply too some pilgrim, thither led,\nWith many a tale repays the nightly bed.\n  Thus every good his native wilds impart,\nImprints the patriot passion on his heart,                   200\nAnd e\u2019en those ills, that round his mansion rise,\nEnhance the bliss his scanty fund supplies.\nDear is that shed to which his soul conforms,\nAnd dear that hill which lifts him to the storms;\nAnd as a child, when scaring sounds molest,                  205\nClings close and closer to the mother\u2019s breast,\nSo the loud torrent, and the whirlwind\u2019s roar,\nBut bind him to his native mountains more.\n  Such are the charms to barren states assign\u2019d;\nTheir wants but few, their wishes all confin\u2019d.              210\nYet let them only share the praises due,\nIf few their wants, their pleasures are but few;\nFor every want that stimulates the breast,\nBecomes a source of pleasure when redrest.\nWhence from such lands each pleasing science flies,          215\nThat first excites desire, and then supplies;\nUnknown to them, when sensual pleasures cloy,\nTo fill the languid pause with finer joy;\nUnknown those powers that raise the soul to flame,\nCatch every nerve, and vibrate through the frame.            220\nTheir level life is but a smould\u2019ring fire,\nUnquench\u2019d by want, unfann\u2019d by strong desire;\nUnfit for raptures, or, if raptures cheer\nOn some high festival of once a year,\nIn wild excess the vulgar breast takes fire,                 225\nTill, buried in debauch, the bliss expire.\n  But not their joys alone thus coarsely flow:\nTheir morals, like their pleasures, are but low;\nFor, as refinement stops, from sire to son\nUnalter\u2019d, unimprov\u2019d the manners run;                       230\nAnd love\u2019s and friendship\u2019s finely pointed dart\nFall blunted from each indurated heart.\nSome sterner virtues o\u2019er the mountain\u2019s breast\nMay sit, like falcons cow\u2019ring on the nest;\nBut all the gentler morals, such as play                     235\nThrough life\u2019s more cultur\u2019d walks, and charm the way,\nThese far dispers\u2019d, on timorous pinions fly,\nTo sport and flutter in a kinder sky.\n  To kinder skies, where gentler manners reign,\nI turn; and France displays her bright domain.               240\nGay sprightly land of mirth and social ease,\nPleas\u2019d with thyself, whom all the world can please,\nHow often have I led thy sportive choir,\nWith tuneless pipe, beside the murmuring Loire!\nWhere shading elms along the margin grew,                    245\nAnd freshen\u2019d from the wave the Zephyr flew;\nAnd haply, though my harsh touch falt\u2019ring still,\nBut mock\u2019d all tune, and marr\u2019d the dancer\u2019s skill;\nYet would the village praise my wondrous power,\nAnd dance, forgetful of the noon-tide hour.                  250\nAlike all ages. Dames of ancient days\nHave led their children through the mirthful maze,\nAnd the gay grandsire, skill\u2019d in gestic lore,\nHas frisk\u2019d beneath the burthen of threescore.\n  So bless\u2019d a life these thoughtless realms display,        255\nThus idly busy rolls their world away:\nTheirs are those arts that mind to mind endear,\nFor honour forms the social temper here:\nHonour, that praise which real merit gains,\nOr e\u2019en imaginary worth obtains,                             260\nHere passes current; paid from hand to hand,\nIt shifts in splendid traffic round the land:\nFrom courts, to camps, to cottages it strays,\nAnd all are taught an avarice of praise;\nThey please, are pleas\u2019d, they give to get esteem,           265\nTill, seeming bless\u2019d, they grow to what they seem.\n  But while this softer art their bliss supplies,\nIt gives their follies also room to rise;\nFor praise too dearly lov\u2019d, or warmly sought,\nEnfeebles all internal strength of thought;                  270\nAnd the weak soul, within itself unblest,\nLeans for all pleasure on another\u2019s breast.\nHence ostentation here, with tawdry art,\nPants for the vulgar praise which fools impart;\nHere vanity assumes her pert grimace,                        275\nAnd trims her robes of frieze with copper lace;\nHere beggar pride defrauds her daily cheer,\nTo boast one splendid banquet once a year;\nThe mind still turns where shifting fashion draws,\nNor weighs the solid worth of self-applause.                 280\n  To men of other minds my fancy flies,\nEmbosom\u2019d in the deep where Holland lies.\nMethinks her patient sons before me stand,\nWhere the broad ocean leans against the land,\nAnd, sedulous to stop the coming tide,                       285\nLift the tall rampire\u2019s artificial pride.\nOnward, methinks, and diligently slow,\nThe firm-connected bulwark seems to grow;\nSpreads its long arms amidst the wat\u2019ry roar,\nScoops out an empire, and usurps the shore;                  290\nWhile the pent ocean rising o\u2019er the pile,\nSees an amphibious world beneath him smile;\nThe slow canal, the yellow-blossom\u2019d vale,\nThe willow-tufted bank, the gliding sail,\nThe crowded mart, the cultivated plain,                      295\nA new creation rescu\u2019d from his reign.\n  Thus, while around the wave-subjected soil\nImpels the native to repeated toil,\nIndustrious habits in each bosom reign,\nAnd industry begets a love of gain.                          300\nHence all the good from opulence that springs,\nWith all those ills superfluous treasure brings,\nAre here displayed. Their much-lov\u2019d wealth imparts\nConvenience, plenty, elegance, and arts;\nBut view them closer, craft and fraud appear,                305\nE\u2019en liberty itself is barter\u2019d here.\nAt gold\u2019s superior charms all freedom flies,\nThe needy sell it, and the rich man buys;\nA land of tyrants, and a den of slaves,\nHere wretches seek dishonourable graves,                     310\nAnd calmly bent, to servitude conform,\nDull as their lakes that slumber in the storm.\n  Heavens! how unlike their Belgic sires of old!\nRough, poor, content, ungovernably bold;\nWar in each breast, and freedom on each brow;                315\nHow much unlike the sons of Britain now!\n  Fir\u2019d at the sound, my genius spreads her wing,\nAnd flies where Britain courts the western spring;\nWhere lawns extend that scorn Arcadian pride,\nAnd brighter streams than fam\u2019d Hydaspes glide.              320\nThere all around the gentlest breezes stray,\nThere gentle music melts on ev\u2019ry spray;\nCreation\u2019s mildest charms are there combin\u2019d,\nExtremes are only in the master\u2019s mind!\nStern o\u2019er each bosom reason holds her state,                325\nWith daring aims irregularly great;\nPride in their port, defiance in their eye,\nI see the lords of human kind pass by,\nIntent on high designs, a thoughtful band,\nBy forms unfashion\u2019d, fresh from Nature\u2019s hand;              330\nFierce in their native hardiness of soul,\nTrue to imagin\u2019d right, above control,\nWhile e\u2019en the peasant boasts these rights to scan,\nAnd learns to venerate himself as man.\n  Thine, Freedom, thine the blessings pictur\u2019d here,         335\nThine are those charms that dazzle and endear;\nToo bless\u2019d, indeed, were such without alloy,\nBut foster\u2019d e\u2019en by Freedom, ills annoy:\nThat independence Britons prize too high,\nKeeps man from man, and breaks the social tie;               340\nThe self-dependent lordlings stand alone,\nAll claims that bind and sweeten life unknown;\nHere by the bonds of nature feebly held,\nMinds combat minds, repelling and repell\u2019d.\nFerments arise, imprison\u2019d factions roar,                    345\nRepress\u2019d ambition struggles round her shore,\nTill over-wrought, the general system feels\nIts motions stop, or frenzy fire the wheels.\n  Nor this the worst. As nature\u2019s ties decay,\nAs duty, love, and honour fail to sway,                      350\nFictitious bonds, the bonds of wealth and law,\nStill gather strength, and force unwilling awe.\nHence all obedience bows to these alone,\nAnd talent sinks, and merit weeps unknown;\nTime may come, when stripp\u2019d of all her charms,              355\nThe land of scholars, and the nurse of arms,\nWhere noble stems transmit the patriot flame,\nWhere kings have toil\u2019d, and poets wrote for fame,\nOne sink of level avarice shall lie,\nAnd scholars, soldiers, kings, unhonour\u2019d die.               360\n  Yet think not, thus when Freedom\u2019s ills I state,\nI mean to flatter kings, or court the great;\nYe powers of truth, that bid my soul aspire,\nFar from my bosom drive the low desire;\nAnd thou, fair Freedom, taught alike to feel                 365\nThe rabble\u2019s rage, and tyrant\u2019s angry steel;\nThou transitory flower, alike undone\nBy proud contempt, or favour\u2019s fostering sun,\nStill may thy blooms the changeful clime endure,\nI only would repress them to secure:                         370\nFor just experience tells, in every soil,\nThat those who think must govern those that toil;\nAnd all that freedom\u2019s highest aims can reach,\nIs but to lay proportion\u2019d loads on each.\nHence, should one order disproportion\u2019d grow,                375\nIts double weight must ruin all below.\n  O then how blind to all that truth requires,\nWho think it freedom when a part aspires!\nCalm is my soul, nor apt to rise in arms,\nExcept when fast-approaching danger warms:                   380\nBut when contending chiefs blockade the throne,\nContracting regal power to stretch their own;\nWhen I behold a factious band agree\nTo call it freedom when themselves are free;\nEach wanton judge new penal statutes draw,                   385\nLaws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law;\nThe wealth of climes, where savage nations roam,\nPillag\u2019d from slaves to purchase slaves at home;\nFear, pity, justice, indignation start,\nTear off reserve, and bare my swelling heart;                390\nTill half a patriot, half a coward grown,\nI fly from petty tyrants to the throne.\n  Yes, brother, curse with me that baleful hour,\nWhen first ambition struck at regal power;\nAnd thus polluting honour in its source,                     395\nGave wealth to sway the mind with double force.\nHave we not seen, round Britain\u2019s peopled shore,\nHer useful sons exchang\u2019d for useless ore?\nSeen all her triumphs but destruction haste,\nLike flaring tapers bright\u2019ning as they waste;               400\nSeen opulence, her grandeur to maintain,\nLead stern depopulation in her train,\nAnd over fields where scatter\u2019d hamlets rose,\nIn barren solitary pomp repose?\nHave we not seen, at pleasure\u2019s lordly call,                 405\nThe smiling long-frequented village fall?\nBeheld the duteous son, the sire decay\u2019d,\nThe modest matron, and the blushing maid,\nForc\u2019d from their homes, a melancholy train,\nTo traverse climes beyond the western main;                  410\nWhere wild Oswego spreads her swamps around,\nAnd Niagara stuns with thund\u2019ring sound?\n  E\u2019en now, perhaps as there some pilgrim strays\nThrough tangled forests, and through dangerous ways;\nWhere beasts with man divided empire claim,                  415\nAnd the brown Indian marks with murd\u2019rous aim;\nThere, while above the giddy tempest flies,\nAnd all around distressful yells arise,\nThe pensive exile, bending with his woe,\nTo stop too fearful, and too faint to go,                    420\nCasts a long look where England\u2019s glories shine,\nAnd bids his bosom sympathise with mine.\n  Vain, very vain, my weary search to find\nThat bliss which only centres in the mind:\nWhy have I stray\u2019d from pleasure and repose,                 425\nTo seek a good each government bestows?\nIn every government, though terrors reign,\nThough tyrant kings, or tyrant laws restrain,\nHow small, of all that human hearts endure,\nThat part which laws or kings can cause or cure.             430\nStill to ourselves in every place consign\u2019d,\nOur own felicity we make or find:\nWith secret course, which no loud storms annoy,\nGlides the smooth current of domestic joy.\nThe lifted axe, the agonising wheel,                         435\nLuke\u2019s iron crown, and Damiens\u2019 bed of steel,\nTo men remote from power but rarely known,\nLeave reason, faith, and conscience all our own.\n[Illustration: Vignette to \u2018The Deserted Village\u2019]\nVIGNETTE TO \u2018THE DESERTED VILLAGE\u2019\n(Isaac Taylor)\nTHE DESERTED VILLAGE\n DEDICATION\n TO SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS\n      DEAR SIR,\n I can have no expectations in\n      an address of this kind, either to add to your reputation, or to establish\n      my own. You can gain nothing from my admiration, as I am ignorant of that\n      art in which you are said to excel; and I may lose much by the severity of\n      your judgment, as few have a juster taste in poetry than you. Setting\n      interest therefore aside, to which I never paid much attention, I must be\n      indulged at present in following my affections. The only dedication I ever\n      made was to my brother, because I loved him better than most other men. He\n      is since dead. Permit me to inscribe this Poem to you.\n      How far you may be pleased with the versification and mere mechanical\n      parts of this attempt, I don\u2019t pretend to enquire; but I know you will\n      object (and indeed several of our best and wisest friends concur in the\n      opinion) that the depopulation it deplores is no where to be seen, and the\n      disorders it laments are only to be found in the poet\u2019s own imagination.\n      To this I can scarce make any other answer than that I sincerely believe\n      what I have written; that I have taken all possible pains, in my country\n      excursions, for these four or five years past, to be certain of what I\n      allege; and that all my views and enquiries have led me to believe those\n      miseries real, which I here attempt to display. But this is not the place\n      to enter into an enquiry, whether the country be depopulating or not; the\n      discussion would take up much room, and I should prove myself, at best, an\n      indifferent politician, to tire the reader with a long preface, when I\n      want his unfatigued attention to a long poem.\n      In regretting the depopulation of the country, I inveigh against the\n      increase of our luxuries; and here also I expect the shout of modern\n      politicians against me. For twenty or thirty years past, it has been the\n      fashion to consider luxury as one of the greatest national advantages; and\n      all the wisdom of antiquity in that particular, as erroneous. Still\n      however, I must remain a professed ancient on that head, and continue to\n      think those luxuries prejudicial to states, by which so many vices are\n      introduced, and so many kingdoms have been undone. Indeed so much has been\n      poured out of late on the other side of the question, that, merely for the\n      sake of novelty and variety, one would sometimes wish to be in the right.\n      I am, Dear Sir,\n      Your sincere friend, and ardent admirer,\n          OLIVER GOLDSMITH.\n[Illustration: ]\nTHE DESERTED VILLAGE\nSWEET AUBURN! loveliest village of the plain,\nWhere health and plenty cheer\u2019d the labouring swain,\nWhere smiling spring its earliest visit paid,\nAnd parting summer\u2019s lingering blooms delay\u2019d:\nDear lovely bowers of innocence and ease,                      5\nSeats of my youth, when every sport could please,\nHow often have I loiter\u2019d o\u2019er thy green,\nWhere humble happiness endear\u2019d each scene;\nHow often have I paus\u2019d on every charm,\nThe shelter\u2019d cot, the cultivated farm,                       10\nThe never-failing brook, the busy mill,\nThe decent church that topp\u2019d the neighbouring hill,\nThe hawthorn bush, with seats beneath the shade,\nFor talking age and whisp\u2019ring lovers made;\nHow often have I bless\u2019d the coming day,                      15\nWhen toil remitting lent its turn to play,\nAnd all the village train, from labour free,\nLed up their sports beneath the spreading tree;\nWhile many a pastime circled in the shade,\nThe young contending as the old survey\u2019d;                     20\nAnd many a gambol frolick\u2019d o\u2019er the ground,\nAnd sleights of art and feats of strength went round;\nAnd still as each repeated pleasure tir\u2019d,\nSucceeding sports the mirthful band inspir\u2019d;\nThe dancing pair that simply sought renown,                   25\nBy holding out to tire each other down;\nThe swain mistrustless of his smutted face,\nWhile secret laughter titter\u2019d round the place;\nThe bashful virgin\u2019s side-long looks of love,\nThe matron\u2019s glance that would those looks reprove:           30\nThese were thy charms, sweet village; sports like these,\nWith sweet succession, taught e\u2019en toil to please;\nThese round thy bowers their cheerful influence shed,\nThese were thy charms\u2014But all these charms are fled.\n  Sweet smiling village, loveliest of the lawn,               35\nThy sports are fled, and all thy charms withdrawn;\nAmidst thy bowers the tyrant\u2019s hand is seen,\nAnd desolation saddens all thy green:\nOne only master grasps the whole domain,\nAnd half a tillage stints thy smiling plain:                  40\nNo more thy glassy brook reflects the day,\nBut chok\u2019d with sedges, works its weedy way.\nAlong thy glades, a solitary guest,\nThe hollow-sounding bittern guards its nest;\nAmidst thy desert walks the lapwing flies,                    45\nAnd tires their echoes with unvaried cries.\nSunk are thy bowers in shapeless ruin all,\nAnd the long grass o\u2019ertops the mould\u2019ring wall;\nAnd trembling, shrinking from the spoiler\u2019s hand,\nFar, far away, thy children leave the land.                   50\n  Ill fares the land, to hast\u2019ning ills a prey,\nWhere wealth accumulates, and men decay:\nPrinces and lords may flourish, or may fade;\nA breath can make them, as a breath has made;\nBut a bold peasantry, their country\u2019s pride,                  55\nWhen once destroy\u2019d, can never be supplied.\n  A time there was, ere England\u2019s griefs began,\nWhen every rood of ground maintain\u2019d its man;\nFor him light labour spread her wholesome store,\nJust gave what life requir\u2019d, but gave no more:               60\nHis best companions, innocence and health;\nAnd his best riches, ignorance of wealth.\n  But times are alter\u2019d; trade\u2019s unfeeling train\nUsurp the land and dispossess the swain;\nAlong the lawn, where scatter\u2019d hamlets rose,                 65\nUnwieldy wealth, and cumbrous pomp repose;\nAnd every want to opulence allied,\nAnd every pang that folly pays to pride.\nThose gentle hours that plenty bade to bloom,\nThose calm desires that ask\u2019d but little room,                70\nThose healthful sports that grac\u2019d the peaceful scene,\nLiv\u2019d in each look, and brighten\u2019d all the green;\nThese, far departing, seek a kinder shore,\nAnd rural mirth and manners are no more.\n  Sweet AUBURN!  parent of the blissful hour,                 75\nThy glades forlorn confess the tyrant\u2019s power.\nHere as I take my solitary rounds,\nAmidst thy tangling walks, and ruin\u2019d grounds,\nAnd, many a year elaps\u2019d, return to view\nWhere once the cottage stood, the hawthorn grew,              80\nRemembrance wakes with all her busy train,\nSwells at my breast, and turns the past to pain.\n  In all my wand\u2019rings round this world of care,\nIn all my griefs\u2014and GOD has given my share\u2014\nI still had hopes my latest hours to crown,                   85\nAmidst these humble bowers to lay me down;\nTo husband out life\u2019s taper at the close,\nAnd keep the flame from wasting by repose.\nI still had hopes, for pride attends us still,\nAmidst the swains to show my book-learn\u2019d skill,              90\nAround my fire an evening group to draw,\nAnd tell of all I felt, and all I saw;\nAnd, as a hare, whom hounds and horns pursue,\nPants to the place from whence at first she flew,\nI still had hopes, my long vexations pass\u2019d,                  95\nHere to return\u2014and die at home at last.\n  O blest retirement, friend to life\u2019s decline,\nRetreats from care, that never must be mine,\nHow happy he who crowns in shades like these,\nA youth of labour with an age of ease;                       100\nWho quits a world where strong temptations try\nAnd, since \u2019tis hard to combat, learns to fly!\nFor him no wretches, born to work and weep,\nExplore the mine, or tempt the dangerous deep;\nNo surly porter stands in guilty state                       105\nTo spurn imploring famine from the gate;\nBut on he moves to meet his latter end,\nAngels around befriending Virtue\u2019s friend;\nBends to the grave with unperceiv\u2019d decay,\nWhile Resignation gently slopes the way;                     110\nAnd, all his prospects bright\u2019ning to the last,\nHis Heaven commences ere the world be pass\u2019d!\n[Illustration: ]\nThe Water-cress gatherer\n(John Bewick)\n  Sweet was the sound, when oft at evening\u2019s close\nUp yonder hill the village murmur rose;\nThere, as I pass\u2019d with careless steps and slow,             115\nThe mingling notes came soften\u2019d from below;\nThe swain responsive as the milk-maid sung,\nThe sober herd that low\u2019d to meet their young;\nThe noisy geese that gabbled o\u2019er the pool,\nThe playful children just let loose from school;             120\nThe watchdog\u2019s voice that bay\u2019d the whisp\u2019ring wind,\nAnd the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind;\nThese all in sweet confusion sought the shade,\nAnd fill\u2019d each pause the nightingale had made.\nBut now the sounds of population fail,                       125\nNo cheerful murmurs fluctuate in the gale,\nNo busy steps the grass-grown foot-way tread,\nFor all the bloomy flush of life is fled.\nAll but yon widow\u2019d, solitary thing\nThat feebly bends beside the plashy spring;                  130\nShe, wretched matron, forc\u2019d in age, for bread,\nTo strip the brook with mantling cresses spread,\nTo pick her wintry faggot from the thorn,\nTo seek her nightly shed, and weep till morn;\nShe only left of all the harmless train,                     135\nThe sad historian of the pensive plain.\n  Near yonder copse, where once the garden smil\u2019d,\nAnd still where many a garden flower grows wild;\nThere, where a few torn shrubs the place disclose,\nThe village preacher\u2019s modest mansion rose.                  140\nA man he was to all the country dear,\nAnd passing rich with forty pounds a year;\nRemote from towns he ran his godly race,\nNor e\u2019er had chang\u2019d, nor wished to change his place;\nUnpractis\u2019d he to fawn, or seek for power,                   145\nBy doctrines fashion\u2019d to the varying hour;\nFar other aims his heart had learned to prize,\nMore skill\u2019d to raise the wretched than to rise.\nHis house was known to all the vagrant train,\nHe chid their wand\u2019rings, but reliev\u2019d their pain;           150\nThe long-remember\u2019d beggar was his guest,\nWhose beard descending swept his aged breast;\nThe ruin\u2019d spendthrift, now no longer proud,\nClaim\u2019d kindred there, and had his claims allow\u2019d;\nThe broken soldier, kindly bade to stay,                     155\nSat by his fire, and talk\u2019d the night away;\nWept o\u2019er his wounds, or tales of sorrow done,\nShoulder\u2019d his crutch, and show\u2019d how fields were won.\nPleas\u2019d with his guests, the good man learn\u2019d to glow,\nAnd quite forgot their vices in their woe;                   160\nCareless their merits, or their faults to scan,\nHis pity gave ere charity began.\n  Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride,\nAnd e\u2019en his failings lean\u2019d to Virtue\u2019s side;\nBut in his duty prompt at every call,                        165\nHe watch\u2019d and wept, he pray\u2019d and felt, for all.\nAnd, as a bird each fond endearment tries\nTo tempt its new-fledg\u2019d offspring to the skies,\nHe tried each art, reprov\u2019d each dull delay,\nAllur\u2019d to brighter worlds, and led the way.                 170\n  Beside the bed where parting life was laid,\nAnd sorrow, guilt, and pain, by turns dismay\u2019d,\nThe reverend champion stood. At his control,\nDespair and anguish fled the struggling soul;\nComfort came down the trembling wretch to raise,             175\nAnd his last falt\u2019ring accents whisper\u2019d praise.\n  At church, with meek and unaffected grace,\nHis looks adorn\u2019d the venerable place;\nTruth from his lips prevail\u2019d with double sway,\nAnd fools, who came to scoff, remain\u2019d to pray.              180\nThe service pass\u2019d, around the pious man,\nWith steady zeal, each honest rustic ran;\nEven children follow\u2019d with endearing wile,\nAnd pluck\u2019d his gown, to share the good man\u2019s smile.\nHis ready smile a parent\u2019s warmth express\u2019d,                 185\nTheir welfare pleas\u2019d him, and their cares distress\u2019d;\nTo them his heart, his love, his griefs were given,\nBut all his serious thoughts had rest in Heaven.\nAs some tall cliff, that lifts its awful form,\nSwells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm,           190\nThough round its breast the rolling clouds are spread,\nEternal sunshine settles on its head.\n  Beside yon straggling fence that skirts the way,\nWith blossom\u2019d furze unprofitably gay,\nThere, in his noisy mansion, skill\u2019d to rule,                195\nThe village master taught his little school;\nA man severe he was, and stern to view;\nI knew him well, and every truant knew;\nWell had the boding tremblers learn\u2019d to trace\nThe day\u2019s disasters in his morning face;                     200\nFull well they laugh\u2019d, with counterfeited glee,\nAt all his jokes, for many a joke had he;\nFull well the busy whisper, circling round,\nConvey\u2019d the dismal tidings when he frown\u2019d;\nYet he was kind; or if severe in aught,                      205\nThe love he bore to learning was in fault;\nThe village all declar\u2019d how much he knew;\n\u2019Twas certain he could write, and cypher too;\nLands he could measure, terms and tides presage,\nAnd e\u2019en the story ran that he could gauge.                  210\nIn arguing too, the parson own\u2019d his skill,\nFor e\u2019en though vanquish\u2019d, he could argue still;\nWhile words of learned length and thund\u2019ring sound\nAmazed the gazing rustics rang\u2019d around,\nAnd still they gaz\u2019d, and still the wonder grew,             215\nThat one small head could carry all he knew.\n  But past is all his fame. The very spot\nWhere many a time he triumph\u2019d, is forgot.\nNear yonder thorn, that lifts its head on high,\nWhere once the sign-post caught the passing eye,             220\nLow lies that house where nut-brown draughts inspir\u2019d,\nWhere grey-beard mirth and smiling toil retir\u2019d,\nWhere village statesmen talk\u2019d with looks profound,\nAnd news much older than their ale went round.\nImagination fondly stoops to trace                           225\nThe parlour splendours of that festive place;\nThe white-wash\u2019d wall, the nicely sanded floor,\nThe varnish\u2019d clock that click\u2019d behind the door;\nThe chest contriv\u2019d a double debt to pay,\nA bed by night, a chest of drawers by day;                   230\nThe pictures plac\u2019d for ornament and use,\nThe twelve good rules, the royal game of goose;\nThe hearth, except when winter chill\u2019d the day,\nWith aspen boughs, and flowers, and fennel gay;\nWhile broken tea-cups, wisely kept for show,                 235\nRang\u2019d o\u2019er the chimney, glisten\u2019d in a row.\n  Vain, transitory splendours! Could not all\nReprieve the tottering mansion from its fall!\nObscure it sinks, nor shall it more impart\nAn hour\u2019s importance to the poor man\u2019s heart;                240\nThither no more the peasant shall repair\nTo sweet oblivion of his daily care;\nNo more the farmer\u2019s news, the barber\u2019s tale,\nNo more the wood-man\u2019s ballad shall prevail;\nNo more the smith his dusky brown shall clear,               245\nRelax his pond\u2019rous strength, and lean to hear;\nThe host himself no longer shall be found\nCareful to see the mantling bliss go round;\nNor the coy maid, half willing to be press\u2019d,\nShall kiss the cup to pass it to the rest.                   250\n  Yes! let the rich deride, the proud disdain,\nThese simple blessings of the lowly train;\nTo me more dear, congenial to my heart,\nOne native charm, than all the gloss of art;\nSpontaneous joys, where Nature has its play,                 255\nThe soul adopts, and owns their first-born sway;\nLightly they frolic o\u2019er the vacant mind,\nUnenvied, unmolested, unconfin\u2019d:\nBut the long pomp, the midnight masquerade,\nWith all the freaks of wanton wealth array\u2019d,                260\nIn these, ere triflers half their wish obtain,\nThe toiling pleasure sickens into pain;\nAnd, e\u2019en while fashion\u2019s brightest arts decoy,\nThe heart distrusting asks, if this be joy.\n  Ye friends to truth, ye statesmen, who survey              265\nThe rich man\u2019s joys increase, the poor\u2019s decay,\n\u2019Tis yours to judge, how wide the limits stand\nBetween a splendid and a happy land.\nProud swells the tide with loads of freighted ore,\nAnd shouting Folly hails them from her shore;                270\nHoards, e\u2019en beyond the miser\u2019s wish abound,\nAnd rich men flock from all the world around.\nYet count our gains. This wealth is but a name\nThat leaves our useful products still the same.\nNor so the loss. The man of wealth and pride                 275\nTakes up a space that many poor supplied;\nSpace for his lake, his park\u2019s extended bounds,\nSpace for his horses, equipage, and hounds;\nThe robe that wraps his limbs in silken sloth\nHas robb\u2019d the neighbouring fields of half their growth,     280\nHis seat, where solitary sports are seen,\nIndignant spurns the cottage from the green;\nAround the world each needful product flies,\nFor all the luxuries the world supplies:\nWhile thus the land adorn\u2019d for pleasure, all                285\nIn barren splendour feebly waits the fall.\n  As some fair female unadorn\u2019d and plain,\nSecure to please while youth confirms her reign,\nSlights every borrow\u2019d charm that dress supplies,\nNor shares with art the triumph of her eyes:                 290\nBut when those charms are pass\u2019d, for charms are frail,\nWhen time advances, and when lovers fail,\nShe then shines forth, solicitous to bless,\nIn all the glaring impotence of dress.\nThus fares the land, by luxury betray\u2019d,                     295\nIn nature\u2019s simplest charms at first array\u2019d;\nBut verging to decline, its splendours rise,\nIts vistas strike, its palaces surprise;\nWhile scourg\u2019d by famine from the smiling land,\nThe mournful peasant leads his humble band;                  300\nAnd while he sinks, without one arm to save,\nThe country blooms\u2014a garden, and a grave.\n  Where then, ah! where, shall poverty reside,\nTo \u2019scape the pressure of continuous pride?\nIf to some common\u2019s fenceless limits stray\u2019d,                305\nHe drives his flock to pick the scanty blade,\nThose fenceless fields the sons of wealth divide,\nAnd e\u2019en the bare-worn common is denied.\n  If to the city sped\u2014What waits him there?\nTo see profusion that he must not share;                     310\nTo see ten thousand baneful arts combin\u2019d\nTo pamper luxury, and thin mankind;\nTo see those joys the sons of pleasure know\nExtorted from his fellow creature\u2019s woe.\nHere, while the courtier glitters in brocade,                315\nThere the pale artist plies the sickly trade;\nHere, while the proud their long-drawn pomps display,\nThere the black gibbet glooms beside the way.\nThe dome where Pleasure holds her midnight reign\nHere, richly deck\u2019d, admits the gorgeous train;              320\nTumultuous grandeur crowds the blazing square,\nThe rattling chariots clash, the torches glare.\nSure scenes like these no troubles e\u2019er annoy!\nSure these denote one universal joy!\nAre these thy serious thoughts?\u2014Ah, turn thine eyes         325\nWhere the poor houseless shiv\u2019ring female lies.\nShe once, perhaps, in village plenty bless\u2019d,\nHas wept at tales of innocence distress\u2019d;\nHer modest looks the cottage might adorn,\nSweet as the primrose peeps beneath the thorn;               330\nNow lost to all; her friends, her virtue fled,\nNear her betrayer\u2019s door she lays her head,\nAnd, pinch\u2019d with cold, and shrinking from the shower,\nWith heavy heart deplores that luckless hour,\nWhen idly first, ambitious of the town,                      335\nShe left her wheel and robes of country brown.\n  Do thine, sweet AUBURN, thine, the loveliest train,\nDo thy fair tribes participate her pain?\nE\u2019en now, perhaps by cold and hunger led,\nAt proud men\u2019s doors they ask a little bread!                340\n  Ah, no. To distant climes, a dreary scene,\nWhere half the convex world intrudes between,\nThrough torrid tracts with fainting steps they go,\nWhere wild Altama murmurs to their woe.\nFar different there from all that charm\u2019d before,            345\nThe various terrors of that horrid shore;\nThose blazing suns that dart a downward ray,\nAnd fiercely shed intolerable day;\nThose matted woods where birds forget to sing,\nBut silent bats in drowsy clusters cling;                    350\nThose pois\u2019nous fields with rank luxuriance crown\u2019d,\nWhere the dark scorpion gathers death around;\nWhere at each step the stranger fears to wake\nThe rattling terrors of the vengeful snake;\nWhere crouching tigers wait their hapless prey,              355\nAnd savage men more murd\u2019rous still than they;\nWhile oft in whirls the mad tornado flies,\nMingling the ravag\u2019d landscape with the skies.\nFar different these from every former scene,\nThe cooling brook, the grassy-vested green,                  360\nThe breezy covert of the warbling grove,\nThat only shelter\u2019d thefts of harmless love.\n[Illustration: ]\nTHE DEPARTURE\n(Thomas Bewick)\n  Good heaven! what sorrows gloom\u2019d that parting day,\nThat call\u2019d them from their native walks away;\nWhen the poor exiles, every pleasure pass\u2019d,                 365\nHung round their bowers, and fondly look\u2019d their last,\nAnd took a long farewell, and wish\u2019d in vain\nFor seats like these beyond the western main;\nAnd shudd\u2019ring still to face the distant deep,\nReturn\u2019d and wept, and still return\u2019d to weep.               370\nThe good old sire, the first prepar\u2019d to go\nTo new-found worlds, and wept for others\u2019 woe;\nBut for himself, in conscious virtue brave,\nHe only wish\u2019d for worlds beyond the grave.\nHis lovely daughter, lovlier in her tears,                   375\nThe fond companion of his helpless years,\nSilent went next, neglectful of her charms,\nAnd left a lover\u2019s for a father\u2019s arms.\nWith louder plaints the mother spoke her woes,\nAnd bless\u2019d the cot where every pleasure rose                380\nAnd kiss\u2019d her thoughtless babes with many a tear,\nAnd clasp\u2019d them close, in sorrow doubly dear;\nWhilst her fond husband strove to lend relief\nIn all the silent manliness of grief.\n  O Luxury! thou curs\u2019d by Heaven\u2019s decree,                  385\nHow ill exchang\u2019d are things like these for thee!\nHow do thy potions, with insidious joy\nDiffuse their pleasures only to destroy!\nKingdoms, by thee, to sickly greatness grown,\nBoast of a florid vigour not their own;                      390\nAt every draught more large and large they grow,\nA bloated mass of rank unwieldy woe;\nTill sapp\u2019d their strength, and every part unsound,\nDown, down they sink, and spread a ruin round.\n  E\u2019en now the devastation is begun,                         395\nAnd half the business of destruction done;\nE\u2019en now, methinks, as pond\u2019ring here I stand,\nI see the rural virtues leave the land:\nDown where yon anchoring vessel spreads the sail,\nThat idly waiting flaps with ev\u2019ry gale,                     400\nDownward they move, a melancholy band,\nPass from the shore, and darken all the strand.\nContented toil, and hospitable care,\nAnd kind connubial tenderness, are there;\nAnd piety, with wishes plac\u2019d above,                         405\nAnd steady loyalty, and faithful love.\nAnd thou, sweet Poetry, thou loveliest maid,\nStill first to fly where sensual joys invade;\nUnfit in these degenerate times of shame,\nTo catch the heart, or strike for honest fame;               410\nDear charming nymph, neglected and decried,\nMy shame in crowds, my solitary pride;\nThou source of all my bliss, and all my woe,\nThat found\u2019st me poor at first, and keep\u2019st me so;\nThou guide by which the nobler arts excel,                   415\nThou nurse of every virtue, fare thee well!\nFarewell, and Oh! where\u2019er thy voice be tried,\nOn Torno\u2019s cliffs, or Pambamarca\u2019s side,\nWhether where equinoctial fervours glow,\nOr winter wraps the polar world in snow,                     420\nStill let thy voice, prevailing over time,\nRedress the rigours of th\u2019 inclement clime;\nAid slighted truth; with thy persuasive strain\nTeach erring man to spurn the rage of gain;\nTeach him, that states of native strength possess\u2019d,         425\nThough very poor, may still be very bless\u2019d;\nThat trade\u2019s proud empire hastes to swift decay,\nAs ocean sweeps the labour\u2019d mole away;\nWhile self-dependent power can time defy,\nAs rocks resist the billows and the sky.                     430\nLYRICAL AND MISCELLANEOUS\nPIECES\nLYRICAL AND MISCELLANEOUS\nPIECES\nPART OF A PROLOGUE WRITTEN AND\nSPOKEN BY THE POET LABERIUS\nA ROMAN KNIGHT, WHOM CAESAR FORCED\nUPON THE STAGE\nPRESERVED BY MACROBIUS.\n    WHAT! no way left to shun th\u2019 inglorious stage,\n    And save from infamy my sinking age!\n    Scarce half alive, oppress\u2019d with many a year,\n    What in the name of dotage drives me here?\n    A time there was, when glory was my guide,             5\n    Nor force nor fraud could turn my steps aside;\n    Unaw\u2019d by pow\u2019r, and unappall\u2019d by fear,\n    With honest thrift I held my honour dear;\n    But this vile hour disperses all my store,\n    And all my hoard of honour is no more.                10\n    For ah! too partial to my life\u2019s decline,\n    Caesar persuades, submission must be mine;\n    Him I obey, whom heaven itself obeys,\n    Hopeless of pleasing, yet inclin\u2019d to please.\n    Here then at once, I welcome every shame,             15\n    And cancel at threescore a life of fame;\n    No more my titles shall my children tell,\n    The old buffoon will fit my name as well;\n    This day beyond its term my fate extends,\n    For life is ended when our honour ends.               20\nON A BEAUTIFUL YOUTH STRUCK BLIND WITH LIGHTNING\n(_Imitated from the Spanish._)\n        SURE \u2019twas by Providence design\u2019d,\n          Rather in pity, than in hate,\n        That he should be, like Cupid, blind,\n          To save him from Narcissus\u2019 fate.\nTHE GIFT\nTO IRIS, IN BOW STREET, CONVENT GARDEN\n        SAY, cruel IRIS, pretty rake,\n          Dear mercenary beauty,\n        What annual offering shall I make,\n          Expressive of my duty?\n        My heart, a victim to thine eyes,               5\n          Should I at once deliver,\n        Say, would the angry fair one prize\n          The gift, who slights the giver?\n        A bill, a jewel, watch, or toy,\n        If gems, or gold, impart a joy,\n          I\u2019ll give them\u2014when I get \u2019em.\n        I\u2019ll give\u2014but not the full-blown rose,\n          Or rose-bud more in fashion;\n        Such short-liv\u2019d offerings but disclose        15\n          A transitory passion.\n        I\u2019ll give thee something yet unpaid,\n          Not less sincere, than civil:\n        I\u2019ll give thee\u2014Ah! too charming maid,\nTHE LOGICIANS REFUTED\n      IN IMITATION OF DEAN SWIFT\n    LOGICIANS have but ill defin\u2019d\n    As rational, the human kind;\n    Reason, they say, belongs to man,\n    But let them prove it if they can.\n    Wise Aristotle and Smiglecius,                         5\n    By ratiocinations specious,\n    Have strove to prove with great precision,\n    With definition and division,\n    _Homo est ratione praeditum,_\u2014\n    But for my soul I cannot credit \u2019em;                  10\n    And must in spite of them maintain,\n    That man and all his ways are vain;\n    And that this boasted lord of nature\n    Is both a weak and erring creature;\n    That instinct is a surer guide                        15\n    Than reason-boasting mortals\u2019 pride;\n    And that brute beasts are far before \u2019em,\n    _Deus est anima brutorum_.\n    Who ever knew an honest brute\n    At law his neighbour prosecute,                       20\n    Bring action for assault and battery,\n    Or friend beguile with lies and flattery?\n    O\u2019er plains they ramble unconfin\u2019d,\n    No politics disturb their mind;\n    They eat their meals, and take their sport,           25\n    Nor know who\u2019s in or out at court;\n    They never to the levee go\n    To treat as dearest friend, a foe;\n    They never importune his grace,\n    Nor ever cringe to men in place;                      30\n    Nor undertake a dirty job,\n    Nor draw the quill to write for B\u2014\u2014b.\n    Fraught with invective they ne\u2019er go\n    To folks at Pater-Noster-Row;\n    No judges, fiddlers, dancing-masters,                 35\n    No pick-pockets, or poetasters,\n    Are known to honest quadrupeds;\n    No single brute his fellow leads.\n    Brutes never meet in bloody fray,\n    Nor cut each others\u2019 throats, for pay.                40\n    Of beasts, it is confess\u2019d, the ape\n    Comes nearest us in human shape;\n    Like man he imitates each fashion,\n    And malice is his ruling passion;\n    But both in malice and grimaces                       45\n    A courtier any ape surpasses.\n    Behold him humbly cringing wait\n    Upon a minister of state;\n    View him soon after to inferiors,\n    Aping the conduct of superiors;                       50\n    He promises with equal air,\n    And to perform takes equal care.\n    He in his turn finds imitators;\n    At court, the porters, lacqueys, waiters,\n    Their master\u2019s manners still contract,                55\n    And footmen, lords and dukes can act.\n    Thus at the court both great an small\n    Behave alike\u2014for all ape all.\nA SONNET\n        WEEPING, murmuring, complaining,\n          Lost to every gay delight;\n        MYRA, too sincere for feigning,\n          Fears th\u2019 approaching bridal night.\n        Yet, why impair thy bright perfection?         5\n          Or dim thy beauty with a tear?\n        Had MYRA followed my direction,\n          She long had wanted cause of fear.\nSTANZAS\nON THE TAKING OF QUEBEC, AND DEATH OF GENERAL WOLFE\n    AMIDST the clamour of exulting joys,\n      Which triumph forces from the patriot heart,\n    Grief dares to mingle her soul-piercing voice,\n      And quells the raptures which from pleasures start.\n    O WOLFE! to thee a streaming flood of woe,             5\n      Sighing we pay, and think e\u2019en conquest dear;\n    QUEBEC in vain shall teach our breast to glow,\n      Whilst thy sad fate extorts the heart-wrung tear.\n    Alive the foe thy dreadful vigour fled,\n      And saw thee fall with joy-pronouncing eyes:        10\n    Yet they shall know thou conquerest, though dead\u2014\n      Since from thy tomb a thousand heroes rise!\nAN ELEGY ON THAT GLORY OF HER SEX,\n MRS. MARY BLAIZE\n        GOOD people all, with one accord,\n          Lament for Madam BLAIZE,\n        Who never wanted a good word\u2014\n          _From those who spoke her praise._\n        The needy seldom pass\u2019d her door,              5\n          And always found her kind;\n        She freely lent to all the poor,\u2014\n          _Who left a pledge behind._\n        She strove the neighbourhood to please,\n          With manners wond\u2019rous winning,             10\n        And never follow\u2019d wicked ways,\u2014\n          _Unless when she was sinning._\n        At church, in silks and satins new,\n          With hoop of monstrous size,\n        She never slumber\u2019d in her pew,\u2014              15\n          _But when she shut her eyes._\n        Her love was sought, I do aver,\n          By twenty beaux and more;\n        The king himself has follow\u2019d her,\u2014\n        But now her wealth and finery fled,\n          Her hangers-on cut short all;\n        The doctors found, when she was dead,\u2014\n          _Her last disorder mortal._\n        Let us lament, in sorrow sore,                25\n          For Kent-street well may say,\n        That had she liv\u2019d a twelve-month more,\u2014\n          _She had not died to-day._\nDESCRIPTION OF AN AUTHOR\u2019S BEDCHAMBER\n    WHERE the Red Lion flaring o\u2019er the way,\n    Invites each passing stranger that can pay;\n    Where Calvert\u2019s butt, and Parsons\u2019 black champagne,\n    Regale the drabs and bloods of Drury-lane;\n    There in a lonely room, from bailiffs snug,             5\n    The Muse found Scroggen stretch\u2019d beneath a rug;\n    A window, patch\u2019d with paper, lent a ray,\n    That dimly show\u2019d the state in which he lay;\n    The sanded floor that grits beneath the tread;\n    The humid wall with paltry pictures spread:            10\n    The royal game of goose was there in view,\n    And the twelve rules the royal martyr drew;\n    The seasons, fram\u2019d with listing, found a place,\n    And brave prince William show\u2019d his lamp-black face:\n    The morn was cold, he views with keen desire           15\n    The rusty grate unconscious of a fire;\n    With beer and milk arrears the frieze was scor\u2019d,\n    And five crack\u2019d teacups dress\u2019d the chimney board;\n    A nightcap deck\u2019d his brows instead of bay,\n    A cap by night\u2014a stocking all the day!                 20\nON SEEING MRS. ** PERFORM IN THE CHARACTER OF ****\n    FOR you, bright fair, the nine address their lays,\n    And tune my feeble voice to sing thy praise.\n    The heartfelt power of every charm divine,\n    Who can withstand their all-commanding shine?\n    See how she moves along with every grace,              5\n    While soul-brought tears steal down each shining face.\n    She speaks! \u2019tis rapture all, and nameless bliss,\n    Ye gods! what transport e\u2019er compared to this.\n    As when in Paphian groves the Queen of Love\n    With fond complaint addressed the listening Jove,     10\n    \u2019Twas joy, and endless blisses all around,\n    And rocks forgot their hardness at the sound.\n    Then first, at last even Jove was taken in,\n    And felt her charms, without disguise, within.\nOF THE DEATH OF THE LEFT HON. ***\n        YE Muses, pour the pitying tear\n          For Pollio snatch\u2019d away;\n        O! had he liv\u2019d another year!\u2014\n          _He had not died to-day._\n        O! were he born to bless mankind,               5\n          In virtuous times of yore,\n        Heroes themselves had fallen behind!\u2014\n          _Whene\u2019er he went before._\n        How sad the groves and plains appear,\n        Even pitying hills would drop a tear!\u2014\n          _If hills could learn to weep._\n        His bounty in exalted strain\n          Each bard might well display;\n        Since none implor\u2019d relief in vain!\u2014           15\n          _That went reliev\u2019d away._\n        And hark! I hear the tuneful throng\n          His obsequies forbid,\n        He still shall live, shall live as long!\u2014\nAN EPIGRAM\n ADDRESSED TO THE GENTLEMEN REFLECTED\n THE ROSCIAD, A POEM, BY THE AUTHOR\n        Worried with debts and past all hopes of bail,\n His pen he\n        prostitutes t\u2019 avoid a gaol.             \n        LET not the _hungry_ Bavius\u2019 angry stroke\n        Awake resentment, or your rage provoke;\n        But pitying his distress, let virtue shine,\n        And giving each your bounty, _let him dine_;\n        For thus retain\u2019d, as learned counsel can,      5\n        Each case, however bad, he\u2019ll new japan;\n        And by a quick transition, plainly show\n        \u2019Twas no defect of yours, but _pocket low_,\n        That caused his _putrid kennel_ to o\u2019erflow.\nTO G. C. AND R. L.\n    \u2019TWAS you, or I, or he, or all together,\n    \u2019Twas one, both, three of them, they know not whether;\n    This, I believe, between us great or small,\n    You, I, he, wrote it not\u2014\u2019twas Churchill\u2019s all.\nTRANSLATION OF A SOUTH AMERICAN ODE\n        IN all my Enna\u2019s beauties blest,\n          Amidst profusion still I pine;\n        For though she gives me up her breast,\n          Its panting tenant is not mine.\nTHE DOUBLE TRANSFORMATION\n A TALE\n    SECLUDED from domestic strife,\n    Jack Book-worm led a college life;\n    A fellowship at twenty-five\n    Made him the happiest man alive;\n    He drank his glass and crack\u2019d his joke,           5\n    And freshmen wonder\u2019d as he spoke.\n      Such pleasures, unalloy\u2019d with care,\n    Could any accident impair?\n    Could Cupid\u2019s shaft at length transfix\n    Our swain, arriv\u2019d at thirty-six?                 10\n    O had the archer ne\u2019er come down\n    To ravage in a country town!\n    Or Flavia been content to stop\n    At triumphs in a Fleet-street shop.\n    O had her eyes forgot to blaze!                   15\n    Or Jack had wanted eyes to gaze.\n    O!\u2014\u2014But let exclamation cease,\n    Her presence banish\u2019d all his peace.\n    So with decorum all things carried;\n    Miss frown\u2019d, and blush\u2019d, and then was\u2014married.  20\n      Need we expose to vulgar sight\n    The raptures of the bridal night?\n    Need we intrude on hallow\u2019d ground,\n    Or draw the curtains clos\u2019d around?\n    Let it suffice, that each had charms;             25\n    He clasp\u2019d a goddess in his arms;\n    And though she felt his usage rough,\n    Yet in a man \u2019twas well enough.\n      The honey-moon like lightning flew,\n    The second brought its transports too.            30\n    A third, a fourth, were not amiss,\n    The fifth was friendship mix\u2019d with bliss:\n    But when a twelvemonth pass\u2019d away,\n    Jack found his goddess made of clay;\n    Found half the charms that deck\u2019d her face        35\n    Arose from powder, shreds, or lace;\n    But still the worst remain\u2019d behind,\n    That very face had robb\u2019d her mind.\n      Skill\u2019d in no other arts was she\n    But dressing, patching, repartee;                 40\n    And, just as humour rose or fell,\n    By turns a slattern or a belle;\n    \u2019Tis true she dress\u2019d with modern grace,\n    Half naked at a ball or race;\n    But when at home, at board or bed,                45\n    Five greasy nightcaps wrapp\u2019d her head.\n    Could so much beauty condescend\n    To be a dull domestic friend?\n    Could any curtain-lectures bring\n    In short, by night, \u2019twas fits or fretting;\n    By day, \u2019twas gadding or coquetting.\n    Fond to be seen, she kept a bevy\n    Of powder\u2019d coxcombs at her levy;\n    The \u2019squire and captain took their stations,      55\n    And twenty other near relations;\n    Jack suck\u2019d his pipe, and often broke\n    A sigh in suffocating smoke;\n    While all their hours were pass\u2019d between\n    Insulting repartee or spleen.                     60\n      Thus as her faults each day were known,\n    He thinks her features coarser grown;\n    He fancies every vice she shows,\n    Or thins her lip, or points her nose:\n    How wide her mouth, how wild her eyes!\n    He knows not how, but so it is,\n    Her face is grown a knowing phiz;\n    And, though her fops are wond\u2019rous civil,\n    He thinks her ugly as the devil.                  70\n      Now, to perplex the ravell\u2019d noose,\n    As each a different way pursues,\n    While sullen or loquacious strife,\n    Promis\u2019d to hold them on for life,\n    That dire disease, whose ruthless power           75\n    Withers the beauty\u2019s transient flower:\n    Lo!  the small-pox, whose horrid glare\n    Levell\u2019d its terrors at the fair;\n    And, rifling ev\u2019ry youthful grace,\n    Left but the remnant of a face.                   80\n      The glass, grown hateful to her sight,\n    Reflected now a perfect fright:\n    Each former art she vainly tries\n    To bring back lustre to her eyes.\n    In vain she tries her paste and creams,           85\n    To smooth her skin, or hide its seams;\n    Her country beaux and city cousins,\n    Lovers no more, flew off by dozens:\n    The \u2019squire himself was seen to yield,\n    And e\u2019en the captain quit the field.              90\n      Poor Madam, now condemn\u2019d to hack\n    The rest of life with anxious Jack,\n    Perceiving others fairly flown,\n    Attempted pleasing him alone.\n    Jack soon was dazzl\u2019d to behold                   95\n    Her present face surpass the old;\n    With modesty her cheeks are dy\u2019d,\n    Humility displaces pride;\n    For tawdry finery is seen\n    No more presuming on her sway,\n    She learns good-nature every day;\n    Serenely gay, and strict in duty,\n    Jack finds his wife a perfect beauty.\nA NEW SIMILE\n IN THE MANNER OF SWIFT\n    LONG had I sought in vain to find\n    A likeness for the scribbling kind;\n    The modern scribbling kind, who write\n    In wit, and sense, and nature\u2019s spite:\n    Till reading, I forget what day on,                5\n    A chapter out of Tooke\u2019s Pantheon,\n    I think I met with something there,\n    To suit my purpose to a hair;\n    But let us not proceed too furious,\n    First please to turn to god Mercurius;            10\n    You\u2019ll find him pictur\u2019d at full length\n    In book the second, page the tenth:\n    The stress of all my proofs on him I lay,\n    And now proceed we to our simile.\n      Imprimis, pray observe his hat,                 15\n    Wings upon either side\u2014mark that.\n    Well! what is it from thence we gather?\n    Why these denote a brain of feather.\n    A brain of feather! very right,\n    With wit that\u2019s flighty, learning light;          20\n    Such as to modern bard\u2019s decreed:\n    A just comparison,\u2014proceed.\n      In the next place, his feet peruse,\n    Wings grow again from both his shoes;\n    Design\u2019d, no doubt, their part to bear,           25\n    And waft his godship through the air;\n    And here my simile unites,\n    For in a modern poet\u2019s flights,\n    I\u2019m sure it may be justly said,\n    His feet are useful as his head.                  30\n      Lastly, vouchsafe t\u2019observe his hand,\n    Filled with a snake-encircl\u2019d wand;\n    By classic authors term\u2019d caduceus,\n    And highly fam\u2019d for several uses.\n    To wit\u2014most wond\u2019rously endu\u2019d,                   35\n    No poppy water half so good;\n    For let folks only get a touch,\n    Its soporific virtue\u2019s such,\n    Though ne\u2019er so much awake before,\n    That quickly they begin to snore.                 40\n    Add too, what certain writers tell,\n    With this he drives men\u2019s souls to hell.\n      Now to apply, begin we then;\n    His wand\u2019s a modern author\u2019s pen;\n    The serpents round about it twin\u2019d                45\n    Denote him of the reptile kind;\n    Denote the rage with which he writes,\n    His frothy slaver, venom\u2019d bites;\n    An equal semblance still to keep,\n    Alike too both conduce to sleep.                  50\n    This diff\u2019rence only, as the god\n    Drove souls to Tart\u2019rus with his rod,\n    With his goosequill the scribbling elf,\n    Instead of others, damns himself.\n      And here my simile almost tript,                55\n    Yet grant a word by way of postscript.\n    Moreover, Merc\u2019ry had a failing:\n    Well! what of that? out with it\u2014stealing;\n    In which all modern bards agree,\n    Being each as great a thief as he:                60\n    But ev\u2019n this deity\u2019s existence\n    Shall lend my simile assistance.\n    Our modern bards! why what a pox\n    Are they but senseless stones and blocks?\n[Illustration: ]\nEDWIN AND ANGELINA\n(T. Stothard)\nEDWIN AND ANGELINA\n A BALLAD\n        \u2018TURN, gentle hermit of the dale,\n           And guide my lonely way,\n         To where yon taper cheers the vale\n           With hospitable ray.\n        \u2018For here, forlorn and lost I tread,           5\n           With fainting steps and slow;\n         Where wilds immeasurably spread,\n           Seem length\u2019ning as I go.\u2019\n        \u2018Forbear, my son,\u2019 the hermit cries,\n          \u2018To tempt the dangerous gloom;              10\n         For yonder faithless phantom flies\n           To lure thee to thy doom.\n        \u2018Here to the houseless child of want\n           My door is open still;\n         And though my portion is but scant,          15\n           I give it with good will.\n        \u2018Then turn to-night, and freely share\n           Whate\u2019er my cell bestows;\n         My rushy couch, and frugal fare,\n        \u2018No flocks that range the valley free\n           To slaughter I condemn:\n         Taught by that power that pities me,\n           I learn to pity them.\n        \u2018But from the mountain\u2019s grassy side          25\n           A guiltless feast I bring;\n         A scrip with herbs and fruits supplied,\n           And water from the spring.\n        \u2018Then, pilgrim, turn, thy cares forgo;\n           All earth-born cares are wrong:            30\n         Man wants but little here below,\n           Nor wants that little long.\u2019\n         Soft as the dew from heav\u2019n descends,\n           His gentle accents fell:\n         The modest stranger lowly bends,             35\n           And follows to the cell.\n         Far in a wilderness obscure\n           The lonely mansion lay;\n         A refuge to the neighbouring poor\n         No stores beneath its humble thatch\n           Requir\u2019d a master\u2019s care;\n         The wicket, opening with a latch,\n           Receiv\u2019d the harmless pair.\n         And now, when busy crowds retire             45\n           To take their evening rest,\n         The hermit trimm\u2019d his little fire,\n           And cheer\u2019d his pensive guest:\n         And spread his vegetable store,\n         And, skill\u2019d in legendary lore,\n           The lingering hours beguil\u2019d.\n         Around in sympathetic mirth\n           Its tricks the kitten tries;\n         The cricket chirrups in the hearth;          55\n           The crackling faggot flies.\n         But nothing could a charm impart\n           To soothe the stranger\u2019s woe;\n         For grief was heavy at his heart,\n         His rising cares the hermit spied,\n           With answ\u2019ring care oppress\u2019d;\n        \u2018And whence, unhappy youth,\u2019 he cried,\n          \u2018The sorrows of thy breast?\n        \u2018From better habitations spurn\u2019d,             65\n           Reluctant dost thou rove;\n         Or grieve for friendship unreturn\u2019d,\n           Or unregarded love?\n        \u2018Alas! the joys that fortune brings\n         And those who prize the paltry things,\n           More trifling still than they.\n        \u2018And what is friendship but a name,\n           A charm that lulls to sleep;\n         A shade that follows wealth or fame,         75\n           But leaves the wretch to weep?\n        \u2018And love is still an emptier sound,\n           The modern fair one\u2019s jest:\n         On earth unseen, or only found\n        \u2018For shame, fond youth, thy sorrows hush,\n           And spurn the sex,\u2019 he said:\n         But, while he spoke, a rising blush\n           His love-lorn guest betray\u2019d.\n         Surpris\u2019d, he sees new beauties rise,        85\n           Swift mantling to the view;\n         Like colours o\u2019er the morning skies,\n           As bright, as transient too.\n         The bashful look, the rising breast,\n         The lovely stranger stands confess\u2019d\n           A maid in all her charms.\n        \u2018And, ah!  forgive a stranger rude,\n           A wretch forlorn,\u2019 she cried;\n        \u2018Whose feet unhallow\u2019d thus intrude           95\n           Where heaven and you reside.\n        \u2018But let a maid thy pity share,\n           Whom love has taught to stray;\n         Who seeks for rest, but finds despair\n        \u2018My father liv\u2019d beside the Tyne,\n           A wealthy lord was he;\n         And all his wealth was mark\u2019d as mine,\n           He had but only me.\n        \u2018To win me from his tender arms              105\n           Unnumber\u2019d suitors came;\n         Who prais\u2019d me for imputed charms,\n           And felt or feign\u2019d a flame.\n         Each hour a mercenary crowd\n           With richest proffers strove:             110\n         Amongst the rest young Edwin bow\u2019d,\n           But never talk\u2019d of love.\n        \u2018In humble, simplest habit clad,\n           No wealth nor power had he;\n         Wisdom and worth were all he had,           115\n           But these were all to me.\n        \u2018And when beside me in the dale\n           He caroll\u2019d lays of love;\n         His breath lent fragrance to the gale,\n        \u2018The blossom opening to the day,\n           The dews of heaven refin\u2019d,\n         Could nought of purity display,\n           To emulate his mind.\n        \u2018The dew, the blossom on the tree,           125\n           With charms inconstant shine;\n         Their charms were his, but woe to me!\n           Their constancy was mine.\n        \u2018For still I tried each fickle art,\n         And while his passion touch\u2019d my heart,\n           I triumph\u2019d in his pain.\n        \u2018Till quite dejected with my scorn,\n           He left me to my pride;\n         And sought a solitude forlorn,              135\n           In secret, where he died.\n        \u2018But mine the sorrow, mine the fault,\n           And well my life shall pay;\n         I\u2019ll seek the solitude he sought,\n        \u2018And there forlorn, despairing, hid,\n           I\u2019ll lay me down and die;\n        \u2019Twas so for me that Edwin did,\n           And so for him will I.\u2019\n        \u2018Forbid it, heaven!\u2019 the hermit cried,       145\n           And clasp\u2019d her to his breast:\n         The wondering fair one turn\u2019d to chide,\n          \u2019Twas Edwin\u2019s self that prest.\n        \u2018Turn, Angelina, ever dear,\n         Thy own, thy long-lost Edwin here,\n           Restor\u2019d to love and thee.\n        \u2018Thus let me hold thee to my heart,\n           And ev\u2019ry care resign;\n         And shall we never, never part,             155\n           My life\u2014my all that\u2019s mine?\n        \u2018No, never from this hour to part,\n           We\u2019ll live and love so true;\n         The sigh that rends thy constant heart\nELEGY ON THE DEATH OF A MAD DOG\n        Good people all, of every sort,\n          Give ear unto my song;\n        And if you find it wond\u2019rous short,\n          It cannot hold you long.\n        In Islington there was a man,                  5\n          Of whom the world might say,\n        That still a godly race he ran,\n          Whene\u2019er he went to pray.\n        A kind and gentle heart he had,\n          To comfort friends and foes;                10\n        The naked every day he clad,\n          When he put on his clothes.\n        And in that town a dog was found,\n          As many dogs there be,\n        Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound,        15\n          And curs of low degree.\n        This dog and man at first were friends;\n          But when a pique began,\n        The dog, to gain some private ends,\n        Around from all the neighbouring streets\n          The wond\u2019ring neighbours ran,\n        And swore the dog had lost his wits,\n          To bite so good a man.\n        The wound it seem\u2019d both sore and sad         25\n          To every Christian eye;\n        And while they swore the dog was mad,\n          They swore the man would die.\n        But soon a wonder came to light,\n          That show\u2019d the rogues they lied:           30\n        The man recover\u2019d of the bite,\n          The dog it was that died.\nSONG\n FROM \u2018THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD\u2019\n        WHEN lovely woman stoops to folly,\n          And finds too late that men betray,\n        What charm can soothe her melancholy,\n          What art can wash her guilt away?\n        The only art her guilt to cover,               5\n          To hide her shame from every eye,\n        To give repentance to her lover,\n          And wring his bosom, is\u2014to die.\nEPILOGUE TO \u2018THE GOOD NATUR\u2019D MAN\u2019\n    As puffing quacks some caitiff wretch procure\n    To swear the pill, or drop, has wrought a cure;\n    Thus on the stage, our play-wrights still depend\n    For Epilogues and Prologues on some friend,\n    Who knows each art of coaxing up the town,             5\n    And make full many a bitter pill go down.\n    Conscious of this, our bard has gone about,\n    And teas\u2019d each rhyming friend to help him out.\n    \u2018An Epilogue\u2014things can\u2019t go on without it;\n    It could not fail, would you but set about it.\u2019       10\n    \u2018Young man,\u2019 cries one\u2014a bard laid up in clover\u2014\n    \u2018Alas, young man, my writing days are over;\n    Let boys play tricks, and kick the straw; not I:\n    Your brother Doctor there, perhaps, may try.\u2019\n    \u2018What I? dear Sir,\u2019 the Doctor interposes             15\n    \u2018What plant my thistle, Sir, among his roses!\n    No, no; I\u2019ve other contests to maintain;\n    To-night I head our troops at Warwick Lane:\n    Go, ask your manager.\u2019 \u2018Who, me? Your pardon;\n    Those things are not our forte at Covent Garden.\u2019     20\n    Our Author\u2019s friends, thus plac\u2019d at happy distance,\n    Give him good words indeed, but no assistance.\n    As some unhappy wight, at some new play,\n    At the Pit door stands elbowing a way,\n    While oft, with many a smile, and many a shrug,       25\n    He eyes the centre, where his friends sit snug;\n    His simp\u2019ring friends, with pleasure in their eyes,\n    Sink as he sinks, and as he rises rise;\n    He nods, they nod; he cringes, they grimace;\n    But not a soul will budge to give him place.          30\n    Since then, unhelp\u2019d, our bard must now conform\n    \u2018To \u2019bide the pelting of this pitiless storm\u2019\u2014\n    Blame where you must, be candid where you can;\n    And be each critic the _Good Natur\u2019d Man._\nEPILOGUE TO \u2018THE SISTER\u2019\n    WHAT! five long acts\u2014and all to make us wiser!\n    Our authoress sure has wanted an adviser.\n    Had she consulted _me_, she should have made\n    Her moral play a speaking masquerade;\n    Warm\u2019d up each bustling scene, and in her rage            5\n    Have emptied all the green-room on the stage.\n    My life on\u2019t, this had kept her play from sinking;\n    Have pleas\u2019d our eyes, and sav\u2019d the pain of thinking.\n    Well! since she thus has shown her want of skill,\n    What if I give a masquerade?\u2014I will.                     10\n    But how? ay, there\u2019s the rub! (_pausing_)\u2014I\u2019ve got my cue:\n    The world\u2019s a masquerade! the maskers, you, you, you.\n    \u2014\u2014, what a group the motley scene discloses!\n    False wits, false wives, false virgins, and false spouses!\n    Statesmen with bridles on; and, close beside \u2019em,        15\n    Patriots, in party-coloured suits, that ride \u2019em.\n    There Hebes, turn\u2019d of fifty, try once more\n    To raise a flame in Cupids of threescore.\n    These in their turn, with appetites as keen,\n    Deserting fifty, fasten on fifteen,                      20\n    Miss, not yet full fifteen, with fire uncommon,\n    Flings down her sampler, and takes up the woman:\n    The little urchin smiles, and spreads her lure,\n    And tries to kill, ere she\u2019s got power to cure.\n    Thus \u2019tis with all\u2014their chief and constant care         25\n    Is to seem everything but what they are.\n    Yon broad, bold, angry spark, I fix my eye on,\n    Who seems to have robb\u2019d his vizor from the lion;\n    Who frowns, and talks, and swears, with round parade,\n    Looking as who should say, D\u2014\u2014! who\u2019s afraid?            30\n    Strip but his vizor off, and sure I am\n    You\u2019ll find his lionship a very lamb.\n    Yon politician, famous in debate,\n    Perhaps, to vulgar eyes, bestrides the state;\n    Yet, when he deigns his real shape t\u2019 assume,            35\n    He turns old woman, and bestrides a broom.\n    Yon patriot, too, who presses on your sight,\n    And seems to every gazer all in white,\n    If with a bribe his candour you attack,\n    He bows, turns round, and whip\u2014the man\u2019s a black!        40\n    Yon critic, too\u2014but whither do I run?\n    If I proceed, our bard will be undone!\n    Well then a truce, since she requests it too:\n    Do you spare her, and I\u2019ll for once spare you.\nPROLOGUE TO \u2018ZOBEIDE\u2019\n    IN these bold times, when Learning\u2019s sons explore\n    The distant climate and the savage shore;\n    When wise Astronomers to India steer,\n    And quit for Venus, many a brighter here;\n    While Botanists, all cold to smiles and dimpling,         5\n    Forsake the fair, and patiently\u2014go simpling;\n    When every bosom swells with wond\u2019rous scenes,\n    Priests, cannibals, and hoity-toity queens:\n    Our bard into the general spirit enters,\n    And fits his little frigate for adventures:              10\n    With Scythian stores, and trinkets deeply laden,\n    He this way steers his course, in hopes of trading\u2014\n    Yet ere he lands he \u2019as ordered me before,\n    To make an observation on the shore.\n    Where are we driven? our reck\u2019ning sure is lost!         15\n    This seems a barren and a dangerous coast.\n    \u2014\u2014 what a sultry climate am I under!\n    Yon ill foreboding cloud seems big with thunder.\n    There Mangroves spread, and larger than I\u2019ve seen \u2019em\u2014\n    Here trees of stately size\u2014and turtles in \u2019em\u2014           20\n    Here ill-condition\u2019d oranges abound\u2014\n    And apples (_takes up one and tastes it_), bitter apples\n      strew the ground.\n    The place is uninhabited, I fear!\n    I heard a hissing\u2014there are serpents here!\n    O there the natives are\u2014a dreadful race!                 25\n    The men have tails, the women paint the face!\n    No doubt they\u2019re all barbarians.\u2014Yes, \u2019tis so,\n    I\u2019ll try to make palaver with them though;\n    \u2019Tis best, however, keeping at a distance.\n    Good Savages, our Captain craves assistance;             30\n    Our ship\u2019s well stor\u2019d;\u2014in yonder creek we\u2019ve laid her;\n    His honour is no mercenary trader;\n    This is his first adventure; lend him aid,\n    Or you may chance to spoil a thriving trade.\n    His goods, he hopes are prime, and brought from far,     35\n    Equally fit for gallantry and war.\n    What! no reply to promises so ample?\n    I\u2019d best step back\u2014and order up a sample.\nTHRENODIA  AUGUSTALIS:\nSACRED TO THE MEMORY\n      OF HER LATE ROYAL HIGHNESS\n THE PRINCESS DOWAGER OF WALES.\n OVERTURE\u2014A SOLEMN DIRGE. AIR\u2014TRIO.\n       ARISE, ye sons of worth, arise,\n         And waken every note of woe;\n       When truth and virtue reach the skies,\n         \u2019Tis ours to weep the want below!\n      CHORUS.\n      MAN SPEAKER.\n        The praise attending pomp and power,\n          The incense given to kings,\n        Are but the trappings of an hour\u2014\n          Mere transitory things!\n      The base bestow them: but the good agree            10\n      To spurn the venal gifts as flattery.\n        But when to pomp and power are join\u2019d\n        An equal dignity of mind\u2014\n    When titles are the smallest claim\u2014\n        When wealth and rank and noble blood,             15\n        But aid the power of doing good\u2014\n    Then all their trophies last; and flattery turns to fame.\n        Bless\u2019d spirit thou, whose fame, just born to bloom\n        Shall spread and flourish from the tomb,\n          How hast thou left mankind for heaven!          20\n        Even now reproach and faction mourn.\n        And, wondering how their rage was borne,\n          Request to be forgiven.\n        Alas! they never had thy hate:\n          Unmov\u2019d in conscious rectitude,                 25\n          Thy towering mind self-centred stood,\n        Nor wanted man\u2019s opinion to be great.\n        In vain, to charm thy ravish\u2019d sight,\n          A thousand gifts would fortune send;\n        In vain, to drive thee from the right,            30\n          A thousand sorrows urg\u2019d thy end:\n    Like some well-fashion\u2019d arch thy patience stood,\n    And purchas\u2019d strength from its increasing load.\n    Pain met thee like a friend that set thee free;\n    Affliction still is virtue\u2019s opportunity!             35\n        Virtue, on herself relying,\n          Ev\u2019ry passion hush\u2019d to rest,\n        Loses ev\u2019ry pain of dying\n          In the hopes of being blest.\n          Some increasing good bestows,\n        Ev\u2019ry shock that malice offers\n          Only rocks her to repose.\n      SONG. BY A MAN\u2014AFFETTUOSO.\n        Virtue, on herself relying,\n        Loses ev\u2019ry pain of dying\n          In the hopes of being blest.\n        Ev\u2019ry added pang she suffers\n          Some increasing good bestows,\n        Ev\u2019ry shock that malice offers,                   50\n          Only rocks her to repose.\n      WOMAN SPEAKER.\n      Yet, ah! what terrors frowned upon her fate\u2014\n        Death, with its formidable band,\n      Fever and pain and pale consumptive care,\n      Nor did the cruel ravagers design\n        To finish all their efforts at a blow;\n        But, mischievously slow,\n      They robb\u2019d the relic and defac\u2019d the shrine.\n        Despairing of relief,\n      Her weeping children round\n        Beheld each hour\n        Death\u2019s growing power,\n      As helpless friends who view from shore\n      The labouring ship, and hear the tempest roar,\n        While winds and waves their wishes cross\u2014\n      They stood, while hope and comfort fail,\n        The inevitable loss.\n      Relentless tyrant, at thy call\n      How do the good, the virtuous fall!\n    Truth, beauty, worth, and all that most engage,\n    But wake thy vengeance and provoke thy rage.          75\n      SONG.  BY A MAN.\u2014BASSO.\u2014STACCATO.\u2014SPIRITOSO.\n      When vice my dart and scythe supply,\n      How great a king of terrors I!\n      If folly, fraud, your hearts engage,\n      Tremble, ye mortals, at my rage!\n      Fall, round me fall, ye little things,              80\n      Ye statesmen, warriors, poets, kings;\n      If virtue fail her counsel sage,\n      Tremble, ye mortals, at my rage!\n      MAN SPEAKER.\n      Yet let that wisdom, urged by her example,\n      Teach us to estimate what all must suffer;          85\n      Let us prize death as the best gift of nature\u2014\n      As a safe inn, where weary travellers,\n      When they have journeyed through a world of cares,\n      May put off life and be at rest for ever.\n      Groans, weeping friends, indeed, and gloomy sables, 90\n      May oft distract us with their sad solemnity:\n      The preparation is the executioner.\n      Death, when unmasked, shows me a friendly face,\n      And is a terror only at a distance;\n      For as the line of life conducts me on              95\n      To Death\u2019s great court, the prospect seems more fair.\n      \u2019Tis Nature\u2019s kind retreat, that\u2019s always open\n      To take us in when we have drained the cup\n      Of life, or worn our days to wretchedness.\n          In that secure, serene retreat,                100\n          Where all the humble, all the great,\n            Promiscuously recline;\n          Where wildly huddled to the eye,\n          The beggar\u2019s pouch and prince\u2019s purple lie,\n      And ah!  bless\u2019d spirit, wheresoe\u2019er thy flight,\n      Through rolling worlds, or fields of liquid light,\n      May cherubs welcome their expected guest;\n      May saints with songs receive thee to their rest;\n      May peace that claimed while here thy warmest love, 110\n      May blissful endless peace be thine above!\n      SONG. BY A WOMAN.\u2014AMOROSO.\n          Lovely, lasting Peace below,\n          Comforter of every woe,\n          Heav\u2019nly born, and bred on high,\n          To crown the favourites of the sky\u2014             115\n          Lovely, lasting Peace, appear;\n          This world itself, if thou art here,\n          Is once again with Eden blest,\n          And man contains it in his breast.\n      WOMAN SPEAKER.\n      Our vows are heard! Long, long to mortal eyes,      120\n      Her soul was fitting to its kindred skies:\n      Celestial-like her bounty fell,\n      Where modest want and patient sorrow dwell;\n      Want pass\u2019d for merit at her door,\n        Unseen the modest were supplied,                  125\n      Her constant pity fed the poor\u2014\n        Then only poor, indeed, the day she died.\n      And oh! for this! while sculpture decks thy shrine,\n        And art exhausts profusion round,\n        A simple song, a sigh profound.\n      There Faith shall come, a pilgrim gray,\n      To bless the tomb that wraps thy clay;\n      And calm Religion shall repair\n      To dwell a weeping hermit there.                    135\n      Truth, Fortitude, and Friendship shall agree\n      To blend their virtues while they think of thee.\n      AIR. CHORUS.\u2014POMPOSO.\n      Let us, let all the world agree,\n      To profit by resembling thee.\n      PART II\n OVERTURE\u2014PASTORALE\n MAN SPEAKER.\n    FAST by that shore where Thames\u2019 translucent stream\n      Reflects new glories on his breast,\n    Where, splendid as the youthful poet\u2019s dream,\n      He forms a scene beyond Elysium blest\u2014\n    Where sculptur\u2019d elegance and native grace              5\n    Unite to stamp the beauties of the place,\n      While sweetly blending still are seen\n      The wavy lawn, the sloping green\u2014\n    While novelty, with cautious cunning,\n    Through ev\u2019ry maze of fancy running,                   10\n      From China borrows aid to deck the scene\u2014\n    There, sorrowing by the river\u2019s glassy bed,\n      Forlorn, a rural bard complain\u2019d,\n    All whom Augusta\u2019s bounty fed,\n      All whom her clemency sustain\u2019d;                     15\n    The good old sire, unconscious of decay,\n    The modest matron, clad in homespun gray,\n    The military boy, the orphan\u2019d maid,\n    The shatter\u2019d veteran, now first dismay\u2019d;\n    These sadly join beside the murmuring deep,            20\n          And, as they view\n          The towers of Kew,\n    Call on their mistress\u2014now no more\u2014and weep.\n      CHORUS.\u2014AFFETTUOSO.\u2014LARGO.\n    Ye shady walks, ye waving greens,\n    Ye nodding towers, ye fairy scenes\u2014                    25\n    Let all your echoes now deplore\n    That she who form\u2019d your beauties is no more.\n      MAN SPEAKER.\n    First of the train the patient rustic came,\n      Whose callous hand had form\u2019d the scene,\n    Bending at once with sorrow and with age,              30\n      With many a tear and many a sigh between;\n    \u2018And where,\u2019 he cried, \u2018shall now my babes have bread,\n      Or how shall age support its feeble fire?\n    No lord will take me now, my vigour fled,\n      Nor can my strength perform what they require;       35\n    Each grudging master keeps the labourer bare\u2014\n    A sleek and idle race is all their care.\n    My noble mistress thought not so:\n      Her bounty, like the morning dew,\n    Unseen, though constant, used to flow;                 40\n      And as my strength decay\u2019d, her bounty grew.\u2019\n      WOMAN SPEAKER.\n    In decent dress, and coarsely clean,\n    The pious matron next was seen\u2014\n    Clasp\u2019d in her hand a godly book was borne,\n    By use and daily meditation worn;                      45\n    That decent dress, this holy guide,\n    Augusta\u2019s care had well supplied.\n    \u2018And ah!\u2019 she cries, all woe-begone,\n      \u2018What now remains for me?\n    Oh!  where shall weeping want repair,                  50\n      To ask for charity?\n    Too late in life for me to ask,\n      And shame prevents the deed,\n    And tardy, tardy are the times\n    But all my wants, before I spoke,\n      Were to my Mistress known;\n    She still reliev\u2019d, nor sought my praise,\n      Contented with her own.\n    But ev\u2019ry day her name I\u2019ll bless,                     60\n      My morning prayer, my evening song,\n    I\u2019ll praise her while my life shall last,\n      A life that cannot last me long.\u2019\n      SONG. BY A WOMAN.\n    Each day, each hour, her name I\u2019ll bless\u2014\n      My morning and my evening song;                      65\n    And when in death my vows shall cease,\n      My children shall the note prolong.\n      MAN SPEAKER.\n    The hardy veteran after struck the sight,\n      Scarr\u2019d, mangled, maim\u2019d in every part,\n    Lopp\u2019d of his limbs in many a gallant fight,           70\n      In nought entire\u2014except his heart.\n    Mute for a while, and sullenly distress\u2019d,\n    At last the impetuous sorrow fir\u2019d his breast.\n        \u2018Wild is the whirlwind rolling\n        And wild the tempest howling\n          Along the billow\u2019d main:\n        But every danger felt before\u2014\n        The raging deep, the whirlwind\u2019s roar\u2014\n        Less dreadful struck me with dismay,               80\n        Than what I feel this fatal day.\n    Oh, let me fly a land that spurns the brave,\n    Oswego\u2019s dreary shores shall be my grave;\n    I\u2019ll seek that less inhospitable coast,\n    And lay my body where my limbs were lost.\u2019             85\n      SONG. BY A MAN.\u2014BASSO. SPIRITOSO.\n      Old Edward\u2019s sons, unknown to yield,\n    Shall crowd from Crecy\u2019s laurell\u2019d field,\n      To do thy memory right;\n    For thine and Britain\u2019s wrongs they feel,\n    Again they snatch the gleamy steel,                    90\n      And wish the avenging fight.\n      WOMAN SPEAKER.\n        In innocence and youth complaining,\n          Next appear\u2019d a lovely maid,\n        Affliction o\u2019er each feature reigning,\n        Every grace that grief dispenses,\n          Every glance that warms the soul,\n        In sweet succession charmed the senses,\n          While pity harmonized the whole.\n    \u2018The garland of beauty\u2019\u2014\u2019tis thus she would say\u2014     100\n      \u2018No more shall my crook or my temples adorn,\n    I\u2019ll not wear a garland\u2014Augusta\u2019s away,\n      I\u2019ll not wear a garland until she return;\n    But alas! that return I never shall see,\n      The echoes of Thames shall my sorrows proclaim,     105\n    There promised a lover to come\u2014but, O me!\n      \u2019Twas death,\u2014\u2019twas the death of my mistress that came.\n    But ever, for ever, her image shall last,\n      I\u2019ll strip all the spring of its earliest bloom;\n    On her grave shall the cowslip and primrose be cast,  110\n      And the new-blossomed thorn shall whiten her tomb.\u2019\n      SONG. BY A WOMAN.\u2014PASTORALE.\n    With garlands of beauty the queen of the May\n      No more will her crook or her temples adorn;\n    For who\u2019d wear a garland when she is away,\n      When she is remov\u2019d, and shall never return.        115\n    On the grave of Augusta these garlands be plac\u2019d,\n      We\u2019ll rifle the spring of its earliest bloom,\n    And there shall the cowslip and primrose be cast,\n      And the new-blossom\u2019d thorn shall whiten her tomb.\n      CHORUS.\u2014ALTRO MODO.\n    On the grave of Augusta this garland be plac\u2019d,       120\n      We\u2019ll rifle the spring of its earliest bloom,\n    And there shall the cowslip and primrose be cast,\n      And the tears of her country shall water her tomb.\nSONG\n FROM \u2018SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER\u2019\n    LET school-masters puzzle their brain,\n      With grammar, and nonsense, and learning;\n    Good liquor, I stoutly maintain,\n      Gives \u2018genus\u2019 a better discerning.\n    Let them brag of their heathenish gods,                5\n      Their Lethes, their Styxes, and Stygians:\n    Their Quis, and their Quaes, and their Quods,\n      They\u2019re all but a parcel of Pigeons.\n                      Toroddle, toroddle, toroll.\n    When Methodist preachers come down\n      A-preaching that drinking is sinful,                10\n    I\u2019ll wager the rascals a crown\n      They always preach best with a skinful.\n    But when you come down with your pence,\n      For a slice of their scurvy religion,\n    I\u2019ll leave it to all men of sense,                    15\n      But you, my good friend, are the pigeon.\n                      Toroddle, toroddle, toroll.\n    Then come, put the jorum about,\n      And let us be merry and clever;\n    Our hearts and our liquors are stout;\n      Here\u2019s the Three Jolly Pigeons for ever.            20\n    Let some cry up woodcock or hare,\n      Your bustards, your ducks, and your widgeons;\n    But of all the birds in the air,\n      Here\u2019s a health to the Three Jolly Pigeons.\n                      Toroddle, toroddle, toroll.\nEPILOGUE TO \u2018SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER\u2019\n    WELL, having stoop\u2019d to conquer with success,\n    And gain\u2019d a husband without aid from dress,\n    Still, as a Bar-maid, I could wish it too,\n    As I have conquer\u2019d him, to conquer you:\n    And let me say, for all your resolution,               5\n    That pretty Bar-maids have done execution.\n    Our life is all a play, compos\u2019d to please,\n    \u2018We have our exits and our entrances.\u2019\n    The First Act shows the simple country maid,\n    Harmless and young, of ev\u2019ry thing afraid;            10\n    Blushes when hir\u2019d, and, with unmeaning action,\n    \u2018I hopes as how to give you satisfaction.\u2019\n    Her Second Act displays a livelier scene\u2014\n    Th\u2019 unblushing Bar-maid of a country inn,\n    Who whisks about the house, at market caters,         15\n    Talks loud, coquets the guests, and scolds the waiters.\n    Next the scene shifts to town, and there she soars,\n    The chop-house toast of ogling connoisseurs.\n    On \u2019Squires and Cits she there displays her arts,\n    And on the gridiron broils her lovers\u2019 hearts:        20\n    And as she smiles, her triumphs to complete,\n    Even Common-Councilmen forget to eat.\n    The Fourth Act shows her wedded to the \u2019Squire,\n    And Madam now begins to hold it higher;\n    Pretends to taste, at Operas cries _caro_,              25\n    And quits her _Nancy Dawson_, for _Che faro_,\n    Doats upon dancing, and in all her pride,\n    Swims round the room, the Heinel of Cheapside;\n    Ogles and leers with artificial skill,\n    \u2019Till having lost in age the power to kill,       30\n    She sits all night at cards, and ogles at spadille.\n    Such, through our lives, the eventful history\u2014\n    The Fifth and Last Act still remains for me.\n    The Bar-maid now for your protection prays.\n    Turns Female Barrister, and pleads for Bayes.     35\n[Illustration: ]\nPORTRAIT OF GOLDSMITH\nAFTER REYNOLDS\n(Vignette to \u2018Retaliation\u2019)\nRETALIATION\n A POEM\nOF old, when Scarron his companions invited,\nEach guest brought his dish, and the feast was united;\nIf our landlord supplies us with beef, and with fish,\nLet each guest bring himself, and he brings the best dish:\nOur Dean shall be venison, just fresh from the plains;      5\nOur Burke shall be tongue, with a garnish of brains;\nOur Will shall be wild-fowl, of excellent flavour,\nAnd Dick with his pepper shall heighten their savour:\nOur Cumberland\u2019s sweet-bread its place shall obtain,\nAnd Douglas is pudding, substantial and plain:             10\nOur Garrick\u2019s a salad; for in him we see\nOil, vinegar, sugar, and saltness agree:\nTo make out the dinner, full certain I am,\nThat Ridge is anchovy, and Reynolds is lamb;\nThat Hickey\u2019s a capon, and by the same rule,               15\nMagnanimous Goldsmith a gooseberry fool.\nAt a dinner so various, at such a repast,\nWho\u2019d not be a glutton, and stick to the last?\nHere, waiter! more wine, let me sit while I\u2019m able,\nTill all my companions sink under the table;               20\nThen, with chaos and blunders encircling my head,\nLet me ponder, and tell what I think of the dead.\n  Here lies the good Dean, re-united to earth,\nWho mix\u2019d reason with pleasure, and wisdom with mirth:\nIf he had any faults, he has left us in doubt,             25\nAt least, in six weeks, I could not find \u2019em out;\nYet some have declar\u2019d, and it can\u2019t be denied \u2019em,\nThat sly-boots was cursedly cunning to hide \u2019em.\n  Here lies our good Edmund, whose genius was such,\nWe scarcely can praise it, or blame it too much;           30\nWho, born for the Universe, narrow\u2019d his mind,\nAnd to party gave up what was meant for mankind.\nThough fraught with all learning, yet straining his throat\nTo persuade Tommy Townshend to lend him a vote;\nWho, too deep for his hearers, still went on refining,     35\nAnd thought of convincing, while they thought of dining;\nThough equal to all things, for all things unfit,\nToo nice for a statesman, too proud for a wit:\nFor a patriot, too cool; for a drudge, disobedient;\nAnd too fond of the _right_ to pursue the _expedient._         40\nIn short, \u2019twas his fate, unemploy\u2019d, or in place, Sir,\nTo eat mutton cold, and cut blocks with a razor.\n  Here lies honest William, whose heart was a mint,\nWhile the owner ne\u2019er knew half the good that was in\u2019t;\nThe pupil of impulse, it forc\u2019d him along,                 45\nHis conduct still right, with his argument wrong;\nStill aiming at honour, yet fearing to roam,\nThe coachman was tipsy, the chariot drove home;\nWould you ask for his merits? alas! he had none;\nWhat was good was spontaneous, his faults were his own.    50\n  Here lies honest Richard, whose fate I must sigh at;\nAlas, that such frolic should now be so quiet!\nWhat spirits were his! what wit and what whim!\nNow breaking a jest, and now breaking a limb;\nNow wrangling and grumbling to keep up the ball,           55\nNow teasing and vexing, yet laughing at all!\nIn short, so provoking a devil was Dick,\nThat we wish\u2019d him full ten times a day at Old Nick;\nBut, missing his mirth and agreeable vein,\nAs often we wish\u2019d to have Dick back again.                60\n  Here Cumberland lies, having acted his parts,\nThe Terence of England, the mender of hearts;\nA flattering painter, who made it his care\nTo draw men as they ought to be, not as they are.\nHis gallants are all faultless, his women divine,          65\nAnd comedy wonders at being so fine;\nLike a tragedy queen he has dizen\u2019d her out,\nOr rather like tragedy giving a rout.\nHis fools have their follies so lost in a crowd\nOf virtues and feelings, that folly grows proud;           70\nAnd coxcombs, alike in their failings alone,\nAdopting his portraits, are pleas\u2019d with their own.\nSay, where has our poet this malady caught?\nOr, wherefore his characters thus without fault?\nSay, was it that vainly directing his view                 75\nTo find out men\u2019s virtues, and finding them few,\nQuite sick of pursuing each troublesome elf,\nHe grew lazy at last, and drew from himself?\n  Here Douglas retires, from his toils to relax,\nThe scourge of impostors, the terror of quacks:            80\nCome, all ye quack bards, and ye quacking divines,\nCome, and dance on the spot where your tyrant reclines:\nWhen Satire and Censure encircl\u2019d his throne,\nI fear\u2019d for your safety, I fear\u2019d for my own;\nBut now he is gone, and we want a detector,                85\nOur Dodds shall be pious, our Kenricks shall lecture;\nMacpherson write bombast, and call it a style,\nOur Townshend make speeches, and I shall compile;\nNew Lauders and Bowers the Tweed shall cross over,\nNo countryman living their tricks to discover;             90\nDetection her taper shall quench to a spark,\nAnd Scotchman meet Scotchman, and cheat in the dark.\n  Here lies David Garrick, describe me, who can,\nAn abridgment of all that was pleasant in man;\nAs an actor, confess\u2019d without rival to shine:             95\nAs a wit, if not first, in the very first line:\nYet, with talents like these, and an excellent heart,\nThe man had his failings, a dupe to his art.\nLike an ill-judging beauty, his colours he spread,\nAnd beplaster\u2019d with rouge his own natural red.           100\nOn the stage he was natural, simple, affecting;\n\u2019Twas only that when he was off he was acting.\nWith no reason on earth to go out of his way,\nHe turn\u2019d and he varied full ten times a day.\nThough secure of our hearts, yet confoundedly sick        105\nIf they were not his own by finessing and trick,\nHe cast off his friends, as a huntsman his pack,\nFor he knew when he pleas\u2019d he could whistle them back.\nOf praise a mere glutton, he swallow\u2019d what came,\nAnd the puff of a dunce he mistook it for fame;           110\nTill his relish grown callous, almost to disease,\nWho pepper\u2019d the highest was surest to please.\nBut let us be candid, and speak out our mind,\nIf dunces applauded, he paid them in kind.\nYe Kenricks, ye Kellys, and Woodfalls so grave,           115\nWhat a commerce was yours, while you got and you gave!\nHow did Grub-street re-echo the shouts you rais\u2019d,\nWhile he was be-Roscius\u2019d, and you were be-prais\u2019d!\nBut peace to his spirit, wherever it flies,\nTo act as an angel, and mix with the skies:               120\nThose poets, who owe their best fame to his skill,\nShall still be his flatterers, go where he will.\nOld Shakespeare, receive him, with praise and with love,\nAnd Beaumonts and Bens be his Kellys above.\n  Here Hickey reclines, a most blunt, pleasant creature,  125\nAnd slander itself must allow him good nature:\nHe cherish\u2019d his friend, and he relish\u2019d a bumper;\nYet one fault he had, and that one was a thumper.\nPerhaps you may ask if the man was a miser!\nI answer, no, no, for he always was wiser:                130\nToo courteous, perhaps, or obligingly flat?\nHis very worst foe can\u2019t accuse him of that:\nPerhaps he confided in men as they go,\nAnd so was too foolishly honest! Ah no!\nThen what was his failing? come, tell it, and burn ye!    135\nHe was, could he help it?\u2014a special attorney.\n  Here Reynolds is laid, and, to tell you my mind,\nHe has not left a better or wiser behind:\nHis pencil was striking, resistless, and grand;\nHis manners were gentle, complying, and bland;            140\nStill born to improve us in every part,\nHis pencil our faces, his manners our heart:\nTo coxcombs averse, yet most civilly steering,\nWhen they judg\u2019d without skill he was still hard of hearing:\nWhen they talk\u2019d of their Raphaels, Correggios, and stuff, 145\nHe shifted his trumpet, and only took snuff.\n POSTSCRIPT\n      After the Fourth Edition of this Poem was printed, the Publisher received\n      an Epitaph on Mr. Whitefoord, from a friend of the late Doctor Goldsmith,\n      inclosed in a letter, of which the following is an abstract:\u2014\n      \u2018I have in my possession a sheet of paper, containing near forty lines in\n      the Doctor\u2019s own hand-writing: there are many scattered, broken verses, on\n      Sir Jos. Reynolds, Counsellor Ridge, Mr. Beauclerk, and Mr. Whitefoord.\n      The Epitaph on the last-mentioned gentleman is the only one that is\n      finished, and therefore I have copied it, that you may add it to the next\n      edition. It is a striking proof of Doctor Goldsmith\u2019s good-nature. I saw\n      this sheet of paper in the Doctor\u2019s room, five or six days before he died;\n      and, as I had got all the other Epitaphs, I asked him if I might take it.\n      \u201c_In truth you may, my Boy_,\u201d (replied he,) \u201c_for it will be of no\n      use to me where I am going._\u201d\u2019\nHERE Whitefoord reclines, and deny it who can,\nThough he _merrily_ liv\u2019d, he is now a \u2018grave\u2019 man;\nRare compound of oddity, frolic, and fun!\nWho relish\u2019d a joke, and rejoic\u2019d in a pun;               150\nWhose temper was generous, open, sincere;\nA stranger to flatt\u2019ry, a stranger to fear;\nWho scatter\u2019d around wit and humour at will;\nWhose daily _bons mots_ half a column might fill;\nA Scotchman, from pride and from prejudice free;          155\nA scholar, yet surely no pedant was he.\n  What pity, alas! that so lib\u2019ral a mind\nShould so long be to news-paper essays confin\u2019d;\nWho perhaps to the summit of science could soar,\nYet content \u2018if the table he set on a roar\u2019;              160\nWhose talents to fill any station were fit,\nYet happy if Woodfall confess\u2019d him a wit.\n  Ye news-paper witlings! ye pert scribbling folks\nWho copied his squibs, and re-echoed his jokes;\nYe tame imitators, ye servile herd, come,                 165\nStill follow your master, and visit his tomb:\nTo deck it, bring with you festoons of the vine,\nAnd copious libations bestow on his shrine:\nThen strew all around it (you can do no less)\n_Cross-readings, Ship-news_, and _Mistakes of the Press._\n  Merry Whitefoord, farewell! for _thy_ sake I admit\nThat a Scot may have humour, I had almost said wit:\nThis debt to thy mem\u2019ry I cannot refuse,\n\u2018Thou best humour\u2019d man with the worst humour\u2019d muse.\u2019\nSONG\n INTENDED TO HAVE BEEN SUNG IN\n\u2018SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER\u2019\n     AH me! when shall I marry me?\n       Lovers are plenty; but fail to relieve me:\n     He, fond youth, that could carry me,\n       Offers to love, but means to deceive me.\n     But I will rally, and combat the ruiner:                5\n       Not a look, not a smile shall my passion discover:\n     She that gives all to the false one pursuing her,\n       Makes but a penitent, loses a lover.\nTRANSLATION\n     CHASTE are their instincts, faithful is their fire,\n     No foreign beauty tempts to false desire;\n     The snow-white vesture, and the glittering crown,\n     The simple plumage, or the glossy down\n     Prompt not their loves:\u2014the patriot bird pursues         5\n     His well acquainted tints, and kindred hues.\n     Hence through their tribes no mix\u2019d polluted flame,\n     No monster-breed to mark the groves with shame;\n     But the chaste blackbird, to its partner true,\n     Thinks black alone is beauty\u2019s favourite hue.           10\n     The nightingale, with mutual passion blest,\n     Sings to its mate, and nightly charms the nest;\n     While the dark owl to court its partner flies,\n     And owns its offspring in their yellow eyes.\nTHE HAUNCH OF VENISON\n A POETICAL EPISTLE TO LORD\n      CLARE\nTHANKS, my Lord, for your venison, for finer or fatter\nNever rang\u2019d in a forest, or smok\u2019d in a platter;\nThe haunch was a picture for painters to study,\nThe fat was so white, and the lean was so ruddy.\nThough my stomach was sharp, I could scarce help regretting  5\nTo spoil such a delicate picture by eating;\nI had thoughts, in my chambers, to place it in view,\nTo be shown to my friends as a piece of _virt\u00f9_;\nAs in some Irish houses, where things are so so,\nOne gammon of bacon hangs up for a show:                    10\nBut for eating a rasher of what they take pride in,\nThey\u2019d as soon think of eating the pan it is fried in.\nBut hold\u2014let me pause\u2014Don\u2019t I hear you pronounce\nThis tale of the bacon a damnable bounce?\nWell, suppose it a bounce\u2014sure a poet may try,              15\nBy a bounce now and then, to get courage to fly.\n  But, my Lord, it\u2019s no bounce:  I protest in my turn,\nIt\u2019s a truth\u2014and your Lordship may ask Mr. Byrne.\nTo go on with my tale\u2014as I gaz\u2019d on the haunch,\nI thought of a friend that was trusty and staunch;          20\nSo I cut it, and sent it to Reynolds undress\u2019d,\nTo paint it, or eat it, just as he lik\u2019d best.\nOf the neck and the breast I had next to dispose;\n\u2019Twas a neck and a breast\u2014that might rival M\u2014r\u2014\u2019s:\nBut in parting with these I was puzzled again,              25\nWith the how, and the who, and the where, and the when.\nThere\u2019s H\u2014d, and C\u2014y, and H\u2014rth, and H\u2014ff,\nI think they love venison\u2014I know they love beef;\nThere\u2019s my countryman H\u2014gg\u2014ns\u2014Oh! let him\nalone,\nFor making a blunder, or picking a bone.                    30\nBut hang it\u2014to poets who seldom can eat,\nYour very good mutton\u2019s a very good treat;\nSuch dainties to them, their health it might hurt,\nIt\u2019s like sending them ruffles, when wanting a shirt.\nWhile thus I debated, in reverie centred,                   35\nAn acquaintance, a friend as he call\u2019d himself, enter\u2019d;\nAn under-bred, fine-spoken fellow was he,\nAnd he smil\u2019d as he look\u2019d at the venison and me.\n\u2018What have we got here?\u2014Why, this is good eating!\nYour own, I suppose\u2014or is it in waiting?\u2019                   40\n\u2018Why, whose should it be?\u2019 cried I with a flounce,\n\u2018I get these things often;\u2019\u2014but that was a bounce:\n\u2018Some lords, my acquaintance, that settle the nation,\nAre pleas\u2019d to be kind\u2014but I hate ostentation.\u2019\n  \u2018If that be the case, then,\u2019 cried he, very gay,          45\n\u2018I\u2019m glad I have taken this house in my way.\nTo-morrow you take a poor dinner with me;\nNo words\u2014I insist on\u2019t\u2014precisely at three:\nWe\u2019ll have Johnson, and Burke; all the wits will be there;\nMy acquaintance is slight, or I\u2019d ask my Lord Clare.        50\nAnd now that I think on\u2019t, as I am a sinner!\nWe wanted this venison to make out the dinner.\nWhat say you\u2014a pasty? it shall, and it must,\nAnd my wife, little Kitty, is famous for crust.\nHere, porter!\u2014this venison with me to Mile-end;             55\nNo stirring\u2014I beg\u2014my dear friend\u2014my dear friend!\nThus snatching his hat, he brush\u2019d off like the wind,\nAnd the porter and eatables follow\u2019d behind.\n  Left alone to reflect, having emptied my shelf,\n\u2018And nobody with me at sea but myself\u2019;                     60\nThough I could not help thinking my gentleman hasty,\nYet Johnson, and Burke, and a good venison pasty,\nWere things that I never dislik\u2019d in my life,\nThough clogg\u2019d with a coxcomb, and Kitty his wife.\nSo next day, in due splendour to make my approach,          65\nI drove to his door in my own hackney coach.\n  When come to the place where we all were to dine,\n(A chair-lumber\u2019d closet just twelve feet by nine:)\nMy friend bade me welcome, but struck me quite dumb,\nWith tidings that Johnson and Burke would not come;         70\n\u2018For I knew it,\u2019 he cried, \u2018both eternally fail,\nThe one with his speeches, and t\u2019other with Thrale;\nBut no matter, I\u2019ll warrant we\u2019ll make up the party\nWith two full as clever, and ten times as hearty.\nThe one is a Scotchman, the other a Jew,                    75\nThey[\u2019re] both of them merry and authors like you;\nThe one writes the _Snarler_, the other the _Scourge_;\nSome think he writes _Cinna_\u2014he owns to _Panurge._\u2019\nWhile thus he describ\u2019d them by trade, and by name,\nThey enter\u2019d and dinner was serv\u2019d as they came.            80\n  At the top a fried liver and bacon were seen,\nAt the bottom was tripe in a swinging tureen;\nAt the sides there was spinach and pudding made hot;\nIn the middle a place where the pasty\u2014was not.\nNow, my Lord as for tripe, it\u2019s my utter aversion,          85\nAnd your bacon I hate like a Turk or a Persian;\nSo there I sat stuck, like a horse in a pound,\nWhile the bacon and liver went merrily round.\nBut what vex\u2019d me most was that d\u2014\u2019d Scottish rogue,\nWith his long-winded speeches, his smiles and his brogue;   90\nAnd, \u2018Madam,\u2019 quoth he, \u2018may this bit be my poison,\nA prettier dinner I never set eyes on;\nPray a slice of your liver, though may I be curs\u2019d,\nBut I\u2019ve eat of your tripe till I\u2019m ready to burst.\u2019\n\u2018The tripe,\u2019 quoth the Jew, with his chocolate cheek,       95\n\u2018I could dine on this tripe seven days in the week:\nI like these here dinners so pretty and small;\nBut your friend there, the Doctor, eats nothing at all.\u2019\n\u2018O\u2014Oh!\u2019 quoth my friend, \u2018he\u2019ll come on in a trice,\nHe\u2019s keeping a corner for something that\u2019s nice:           100\nThere\u2019s a pasty\u2019\u2014\u2018A pasty!\u2019 repeated the Jew,\n\u2018I don\u2019t care if I keep a corner for\u2019t too.\u2019\n\u2018What the de\u2019il, mon, a pasty!\u2019 re-echoed the Scot,\n\u2018Though splitting, I\u2019ll still keep a corner for thot.\u2019\n\u2018We\u2019ll all keep a corner,\u2019 the lady cried out;             105\n\u2018We\u2019ll all keep a corner,\u2019 was echoed about.\nWhile thus we resolv\u2019d, and the pasty delay\u2019d,\nWith look that quite petrified, enter\u2019d the maid;\nA visage so sad, and so pale with affright,\nWak\u2019d Priam in drawing his curtains by night.              110\nBut we quickly found out, for who could mistake her?\nThat she came with some terrible news from the baker:\nAnd so it fell out, for that negligent sloven\nHad shut out the pasty on shutting his oven\nSad Philomel thus\u2014but let similes drop\u2014                    115\nAnd now that I think on\u2019t, the story may stop.\nTo be plain, my good Lord, it\u2019s but labour misplac\u2019d\nTo send such good verses to one of your taste;\nYou\u2019ve got an odd something\u2014a kind of discerning\u2014\nA relish\u2014a taste\u2014sicken\u2019d over by learning;                120\nAt least, it\u2019s your temper, as very well known,\nThat you think very slightly of all that\u2019s your own:\nSo, perhaps, in your habits of thinking amiss,\nYou may make a mistake, and think slightly of this.\nEPITAPH ON THOMAS PARNELL\n     THIS tomb, inscrib\u2019d to gentle Parnell\u2019s name,\n     May speak our gratitude, but not his fame.\n     What heart but feels his sweetly-moral lay,\n     That leads to truth through pleasure\u2019s flowery way!\n     Celestial themes confess\u2019d his tuneful aid;             5\n     And Heaven, that lent him genius, was repaid.\n     Needless to him the tribute we bestow\u2014\n     The transitory breath of fame below:\n     More lasting rapture from his works shall rise,\n     While Converts thank their poet in the skies.          10\nTHE CLOWN\u2019S REPLY\n     JOHN TROTT was desired by two witty peers\n     To tell them the reason why asses had ears?\n     \u2018An\u2019t please you,\u2019 quoth John, \u2018I\u2019m not given to letters,\n     Nor dare I pretend to know more than my betters;\n     Howe\u2019er, from this time I shall ne\u2019er see your graces,  5\n     As I hope to be saved! without thinking on asses.\u2019\nEPITAPH ON EDWARD PURDON\n          HERE lies poor Ned Purdon, from misery freed,\n            Who long was a bookseller\u2019s hack;\n          He led such a damnable life in this world,\u2014\n            I don\u2019t think he\u2019ll wish to come back.\nEPILOGUE FOR MR. LEE LEWES\n     HOLD! Prompter, hold! a word before your nonsense;\n     I\u2019d speak a word or two, to ease my conscience.\n     My pride forbids it ever should be said,\n     My heels eclips\u2019d the honours of my head;\n     That I found humour in a piebald vest,                  5\n     Or ever thought that jumping was a jest.\n     Whence, and what art thou, visionary birth?\n     Nature disowns, and reason scorns thy mirth,\n     In thy black aspect every passion sleeps,\n     The joy that dimples, and the woe that weeps.          10\n     How has thou fill\u2019d the scene with all thy brood,\n     Of fools pursuing, and of fools pursu\u2019d!\n     Whose ins and outs no ray of sense discloses,\n     Whose only plot it is to break our noses;\n     Whilst from below the trap-door Demons rise,           15\n     And from above the dangling deities;\n     And shall I mix in this unhallow\u2019d crew?\n     May rosined lightning blast me, if I do!\n     No\u2014I will act, I\u2019ll vindicate the stage:\n     Shakespeare himself shall feel my tragic rage.         20\n     Off! off! vile trappings! a new passion reigns!\n     The madd\u2019ning monarch revels in my veins.\n     Oh! for a Richard\u2019s voice to catch the theme:\n     \u2018Give me another horse! bind up my wounds!\u2014soft\u2014\n       \u2019twas but a dream.\u2019\n     Aye, \u2019twas but a dream, for now there\u2019s no retreating: 25\n     If I cease Harlequin, I cease from eating.\n     \u2019Twas thus that Aesop\u2019s stag, a creature blameless,\n     Yet something vain, like one that shall be nameless,\n     Once on the margin of a fountain stood,\n     And cavill\u2019d at his image in the flood.                30\n     \u2018The deuce confound,\u2019 he cries, \u2018these drumstick shanks,\n     They never have my gratitude nor thanks;\n     They\u2019re perfectly disgraceful! strike me dead!\n     But for a head, yes, yes, I have a head.\n     How piercing is that eye! how sleek that brow!         35\n     My horns! I\u2019m told horns are the fashion now.\u2019\n     Whilst thus he spoke, astonish\u2019d, to his view,\n     Near, and more near, the hounds and huntsmen drew.\n     \u2018Hoicks! hark forward!\u2019 came thund\u2019ring from behind,\n     He bounds aloft, outstrips the fleeting wind:          40\n     He quits the woods, and tries the beaten ways;\n     He starts, he pants, he takes the circling maze.\n     At length his silly head, so priz\u2019d before,\n     Is taught his former folly to deplore;\n     Whilst his strong limbs conspire to set him free,      45\n     And at one bound he saves himself,\u2014like me.\n                 (_Taking a jump through the stage door._)\nEPILOGUE\n INTENDED TO HAVE BEEN SPOKEN FOR\n\u2018SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER\u2019\n      _Enter_ MRS. BULKLEY, _who curtsies\n      very low as beginning to speak. Then enter_ MISS CATLEY,\n      _who stands full before her, and curtsies to the audience._\n      MRS. BULKLEY.\n    HOLD, Ma\u2019am, your pardon. What\u2019s your business here?\n      MISS CATLEY.\n    The Epilogue.\n      MRS. BULKLEY.\n            The Epilogue?\n      MISS CATLEY.\n      MRS. BULKLEY.\n    Sure you mistake, Ma\u2019am. The Epilogue, _I_ bring it.\n      MISS CATLEY.\n    Excuse me, Ma\u2019am. The Author bid _me_ sing it.\n      _Recitative._\n    Ye beaux and belles, that form this splendid ring,      5\n    Suspend your conversation while I sing.\n      MRS. BULKLEY.\n    Why, sure the girl\u2019s beside herself: an Epilogue of singing,\n    A hopeful end indeed to such a blest beginning.\n    Besides, a singer in a comic set!\u2014\n    Excuse me, Ma\u2019am, I know the etiquette.                10\n      MISS CATLEY.\n    What if we leave it to the House?\n      MRS. BULKLEY.\n      MISS CATLEY.\n      MRS. BULKLEY.\n        And she, whose party\u2019s largest, shall proceed.\n        And first I hope, you\u2019ll readily agree\n        I\u2019ve all the critics and the wits for me.\n        They, I am sure, will answer my commands:              15\n        Ye candid-judging few, hold up your hands.\n        What! no return? I find too late, I fear,\n        That modern judges seldom enter here.\n      MISS CATLEY.\n    I\u2019m for a different set.\u2014Old men, whose trade is\n    Still to gallant and dangle with the ladies;\u2014          20\n      _Recitative._\n    Who mump their passion, and who, grimly smiling,\n    Still thus address the fair with voice beguiling:\u2014\n      _Air\u2014Cotillon._\n          Turn, my fairest, turn, if ever\n            Strephon caught thy ravish\u2019d eye;\n          Pity take on your swain so clever,                   25\n            Who without your aid must die.\n      MRS. BULKLEY.\n          Let all the old pay homage to your merit;\n          Give me the young, the gay, the men of spirit.       30\n          Ye travell\u2019d tribe, ye macaroni train,\n          Of French friseurs, and nosegays, justly vain,\n          Who take a trip to Paris once a year\n          To dress, and look like awkward Frenchmen here,\n          Lend me your hands.\u2014Oh! fatal news to tell:          35\n          Their hands are only lent to the Heinel.\n      MISS CATLEY.\n          Ay, take your travellers, travellers indeed!\n          Give me my bonny Scot, that travels from the Tweed.\n          Where are the chiels? Ah! Ah, I well discern\n          The smiling looks of each bewitching bairn.          40\n      _Air\u2014A bonny young lad is my Jockey._\n          I\u2019ll sing to amuse you by night and by day,\n          And be unco merry when you are but gay;\n          When you with your bagpipes are ready to play,\n          My voice shall be ready to carol away\n                 With Sandy, and Sawney, and Jockey            45\n                 With Sawney, and Jarvie, and Jockey.\n      MRS. BULKLEY.\n          Ye gamesters, who, so eager in pursuit,\n          Make but of all your fortune one _va toute_;\n          Ye jockey tribe, whose stock of words are few,\n          \u2018I hold the odds.\u2014Done, done, with you, with you;\u2019   50\n          Ye barristers, so fluent with grimace,\n          \u2018My Lord,\u2014your Lordship misconceives the case;\u2019\n          Doctors, who cough and answer every misfortuner,\n          \u2018I wish I\u2019d been called in a little sooner:\u2019\n          Assist my cause with hands and voices hearty;        55\n          Come, end the contest here, and aid my party.\n MISS CATLEY.\n _Air\u2014Ballinamony._\n          Ye brave Irish lads, hark away to the crack,\n          Assist me, I pray, in this woful attack;\n          For sure I don\u2019t wrong you, you seldom are slack,\n          When the ladies are calling, to blush and hang back; 60\n              For you\u2019re always polite and attentive,\n              Still to amuse us inventive,\n              And death is your only preventive:\n                Your hands and your voices for me.\n      MRS. BULKLEY.\n          Well, Madam, what if, after all this sparring,       65\n          We both agree, like friends, to end our jarring?\n      MISS CATLEY.\n          And that our friendship may remain unbroken,\n          What if we leave the Epilogue unspoken?\n      MRS. BULKLEY.\n      MISS CATLEY.\n      MRS. BULKLEY.\n                        And now with late repentance,\n          Un-epilogued the Poet waits his sentence.            70\n          Condemn the stubborn fool who can\u2019t submit\n          To thrive by flattery, though he starves by wit.\nEPILOGUE\n INTENDED TO HAVE BEEN SPOKEN FOR\n\u2018SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER\u2019\n     THERE is a place, so Ariosto sings,\n     A treasury for lost and missing things;\n     Lost human wits have places assign\u2019d them,\n     And they, who lose their senses, there may find them.\n     But where\u2019s this place, this storehouse of the age?        5\n     The Moon, says he:\u2014but _I_ affirm the Stage:\n     At least in many things, I think, I see\n     His lunar, and our mimic world agree.\n     Both shine at night, for, but at Foote\u2019s alone,\n     We scarce exhibit till the sun goes down.                 10\n     Both prone to change, no settled limits fix,\n     And sure the folks of both are lunatics.\n     But in this parallel my best pretence is,\n     That mortals visit both to find their senses.\n     To this strange spot, Rakes, Macaronies, Cits             15\n     Come thronging to collect their scatter\u2019d wits.\n     The gay coquette, who ogles all the day,\n     Comes here at night, and goes a prude away.\n     Hither the affected city dame advancing,\n     Who sighs for operas, and dotes on dancing,               20\n     Taught by our art her ridicule to pause on,\n     Quits the _Ballet_, and calls for _Nancy Dawson._\n     The Gamester too, whose wit\u2019s all high or low,\n     Oft risks his fortune on one desperate throw,\n     Comes here to saunter, having made his bets,              25\n     Finds his lost senses out, and pay his debts.\n     The Mohawk too\u2014with angry phrases stored,\n     As \u2018D\u2014 \u2014, Sir,\u2019 and \u2018Sir, I wear a sword\u2019;\n     Here lesson\u2019d for a while, and hence retreating,\n     Goes out, affronts his man, and takes a beating.          30\n     Here come the sons of scandal and of news,\n     But find no sense\u2014for they had none to lose.\n     Of all the tribe here wanting an adviser\n     Our Author\u2019s the least likely to grow wiser;\n     Has he not seen how you your favour place,                35\n     On sentimental Queens and Lords in lace?\n     Without a star, a coronet or garter,\n     How can the piece expect or hope for quarter?\n     No high-life scenes, no sentiment:\u2014the creature\n     Still stoops among the low to copy nature.                40\n     Yes, he\u2019s far gone:\u2014and yet some pity fix,\n     The English laws forbid to punish lunatics.\nTHE CAPTIVITY\n ORATORIO\n      THE PERSONS.\n          FIRST ISRAELITISH PROPHET.\n          SECOND ISRAELITISH PROPHET.\n          ISRAELITISH WOMAN.\n          FIRST CHALDEAN PRIEST.\n          SECOND CHALDEAN PRIEST.\n          CHALDEAN WOMAN.\n          CHORUS  OF YOUTHS  AND VIRGINS.\n SCENE\u2014The Banks of the River Euphrates, near\n      Babylon.\n      THE CAPTIVITY\n ACT I\u2014SCENE I.\n _Israelites sitting on the Banks of the Euphrates._\n      FIRST PROPHET.\n RECITATIVE.\n    YE captive tribes, that hourly work and weep\n    Where flows Euphrates murmuring to the deep,\n    Suspend awhile the task, the tear suspend,\n    And turn to God, your Father and your Friend.\n    Insulted, chain\u2019d, and all the world a foe,             5\n    Our God alone is all we boast below.\n      FIRST PROPHET.\n AIR.\n        Our God is all we boast below,\n          To him we turn our eyes;\n        And every added weight of woe\n      SECOND PROPHET.\n        And though no temple richly drest,\n          Nor sacrifice is here;\n        We\u2019ll make his temple in our breast,\n          And offer up a tear.\n            [_The first stanza repeated by the Chorus._\n      SECOND PROPHET.\n RECITATIVE.\n    That strain once more; it bids remembrance rise,       15\n    And brings my long-lost country to mine eyes.\n    Ye fields of Sharon, dress\u2019d in flow\u2019ry pride,\n    Ye plains where Jordan rolls its glassy tide,\n    Ye hills of Lebanon, with cedars crown\u2019d,\n    Ye Gilead groves, that fling perfumes around,          20\n    These hills how sweet! Those plains how wond\u2019rous fair,\n    But sweeter still, when Heaven was with us there!\n        O Memory, thou fond deceiver,\n          Still importunate and vain;\n        To former joys recurring ever,                 25\n          And turning all the past to pain;\n        Hence intruder, most distressing,\n          Seek the happy and the free:\n        The wretch who wants each other blessing,\n      FIRST PROPHET.\n RECITATIVE.\n    Yet, why complain? What, though by bonds confin\u2019d,\n    Should bonds repress the vigour of the mind?\n    Have we not cause for triumph when we see\n    Ourselves alone from idol-worship free?\n    Are not this very morn those feasts begun?             35\n    Where prostrate error hails the rising sun?\n    Do not our tyrant lords this day ordain\n    For superstitious rites and mirth profane?\n    And should we mourn? Should coward virtue fly,\n    When impious folly rears her front on high?            40\n    No; rather let us triumph still the more,\n    And as our fortune sinks, our wishes soar.\n        The triumphs that on vice attend\n        Shall ever in confusion end;\n        The good man suffers but to gain,              45\n        And every virtue springs from pain:\n        As aromatic plants bestow\n        No spicy fragrance while they grow;\n        But crush\u2019d, or trodden to the ground,\n        Diffuse their balmy sweets around.             50\n      SECOND PROPHET.\n RECITATIVE.\n    But hush, my sons, our tyrant lords are near;\n    The sounds of barb\u2019rous pleasure strike mine ear;\n    Triumphant music floats along the vale;\n    Near, nearer still, it gathers on the gale;\n    The growing sound their swift approach declares;\u2014      55\n    Desist, my sons, nor mix the strain with theirs.\n      _Enter_ CHALDEAN PRIESTS _attended._\n FIRST PRIEST.\n AIR.\n    Come on, my companions, the triumph display;\n      Let rapture the minutes employ;\n    The sun calls us out on this festival day,\n      And our monarch partakes in the joy.                 60\n      SECOND PRIEST.\n    Like the sun, our great monarch all rapture supplies,\n      Both similar blessings bestow;\n    The sun with his splendour illumines the skies,\n      And our monarch enlivens below.\n      A CHALDEAN WOMAN.\n AIR.\n    Haste, ye sprightly sons of pleasure;                  65\n    Love presents the fairest treasure,\n      Leave all other joys for me.\n      A CHALDEAN ATTENDANT.\n    Or rather, Love\u2019s delights despising,\n    Haste to raptures ever rising\n      Wine shall bless the brave and free.                 70\n      FIRST PRIEST.\n    Wine and beauty thus inviting,\n    Each to different joys exciting,\n      Whither shall my choice incline?\n      SECOND PRIEST.\n    I\u2019ll waste no longer thought in choosing;\n    But, neither this nor that refusing,                   75\n      I\u2019ll make them both together mine.\n      RECITATIVE.\n    But whence, when joy should brighten o\u2019er the land,\n    This sullen gloom in Judah\u2019s captive band?\n    Ye sons of Judah, why the lute unstrung?\n    Or why those harps on yonder willows hung?             80\n    Come, take the lyre, and pour the strain along,\n    The day demands it; sing us Sion\u2019s song.\n    Dismiss your griefs, and join our warbling choir,\n    For who like you can wake the sleeping lyre?\n      SECOND PROPHET.\n    Bow\u2019d down with chains, the scorn of all mankind,      85\n    To want, to toil, and every ill consign\u2019d,\n    Is this a time to bid us raise the strain,\n    Or mix in rites that Heaven regards with pain?\n    No, never! May this hand forget each art\n    That speeds the power of music to the heart,           90\n    Ere I forget the land that gave me birth,\n    Or join with sounds profane its sacred mirth!\n      FIRST PRIEST.\n    Insulting slaves! If gentler methods fail,\n    The whips and angry tortures shall prevail.\n      FIRST PROPHET.\n    Why, let them come, one good remains to cheer;         95\n    We fear the Lord, and know no other fear.\n      CHORUS.\n        Can whips or tortures hurt the mind\n        On God\u2019s supporting breast reclin\u2019d?\n        Stand fast, and let our tyrants see\n        That fortitude is victory.\n _Scene as before._ CHORUS OF ISRAELITES.\n        O PEACE of mind, angelic guest!\n        Thou soft companion of the breast!\n          Dispense thy balmy store.\n        Wing all our thoughts to reach the skies,\n        Till earth, receding from our eyes,             5\n          Shall vanish as we soar.\n      FIRST PRIEST.\n RECITATIVE.\n    No more! Too long has justice been delay\u2019d,\n    The king\u2019s commands must fully be obey\u2019d;\n    Compliance with his will your peace secures,\n    Praise but our gods, and every good is yours.          10\n    But if, rebellious to his high command,\n    You spurn the favours offer\u2019d from his hand,\n    Think, timely think, what terrors are behind;\n    Reflect, nor tempt to rage the royal mind.\n      SECOND PRIEST.\n AIR.\n        Fierce is the whirlwind howling               15\n          O\u2019er Afric\u2019s sandy plain,\n        And fierce the tempest rolling\n          Along the furrow\u2019d main:\n            But storms that fly,\n          Every ill presaging,\n            Less dreadful show\n            To worlds below\n          Than angry monarch\u2019s raging.\n[Illustration: ]\nGOLDSMITH\u2019S AUTOGRAPH\n(Stanzas from \u2018The Captivity\u2019)\n      ISRAELITISH WOMAN.\n RECITATIVE.\n    Ah, me! What angry terrors round us grow;              25\n    How shrinks my soul to meet the threaten\u2019d blow!\n    Ye prophets, skill\u2019d in Heaven\u2019s eternal truth,\n    Forgive my sex\u2019s fears, forgive my youth!\n    If, shrinking thus, when frowning power appears,\n    I wish for life, and yield me to my fears.             30\n    Let us one hour, one little hour obey;\n    To-morrow\u2019s tears may wash our stains away.\n        To the last moment of his breath\n          On hope the wretch relies;\n        And e\u2019en the pang preceding death              35\n          Bids expectation rise.\n        Hope, like the gleaming taper\u2019s light,\n          Adorns and cheers our way;\n        And still, as darker grows the night,\n      SECOND PRIEST. RECITATIVE.\n    Why this delay? At length for joy prepare;\n    I read your looks, and see compliance there.\n    Come on, and bid the warbling rapture rise,\n    Our monarch\u2019s fame the noblest theme supplies.\n    Begin, ye captive bands, and strike the lyre,          45\n    The time, the theme, the place, and all conspire.\n      CHALDEAN WOMAN.\n AIR.\n        See the ruddy morning smiling,\n        Hear the grove to bliss beguiling;\n        Zephyrs through the woodland playing,\n        Streams along the valley straying.             50\n      FIRST PRIEST.\n        While these a constant revel keep,\n        Shall Reason only teach to weep?\n        Hence, intruder! We\u2019ll pursue\n        Nature, a better guide than you.\n      SECOND PRIEST.\n        Some peculiar pleasure owes;\n        Then let us, providently wise,\n        Seize the debtor as it flies.\n        Think not to-morrow can repay\n        The pleasures that we lose to-day;             60\n        To-morrow\u2019s most unbounded store\n        Can but pay its proper score.\n      FIRST PRIEST.\n RECITATIVE.\n    But hush! See, foremost of the captive choir,\n    The master-prophet grasps his full-ton\u2019d lyre.\n    Mark where he sits, with executing art,                65\n    Feels for each tone, and speeds it to the heart;\n    See how prophetic rapture fills his form,\n    Awful as clouds that nurse the growing storm;\n    And now his voice, accordant to the string,\n    Prepares our monarch\u2019s victories to sing.              70\n      FIRST PROPHET.\n AIR.\n      From north, from south, from east, from west,\n        Conspiring nations come;\n      Tremble thou vice-polluted breast;\n        Blasphemers, all be dumb.\n      The tempest gathers all around,                      75\n        On Babylon it lies;\n      Down with her! down\u2014down to the ground;\n        She sinks, she groans, she dies.\n      SECOND PROPHET.\n        Down with her, Lord, to lick the dust,\n        Serve her as she hath served the just!\n          \u2019Tis fixed\u2014it shall be done.\n      FIRST PRIEST.\n RECITATIVE.\n    No more! When slaves thus insolent presume,\n    The king himself shall judge, and fix their doom.\n    Unthinking wretches! have not you, and all,            85\n    Beheld our power in Zedekiah\u2019s fall?\n    To yonder gloomy dungeon turn your eyes;\n    See where dethron\u2019d your captive monarch lies,\n    Depriv\u2019d of sight and rankling in his chain;\n    See where he mourns his friends and children slain.    90\n    Yet know, ye slaves, that still remain behind\n    More ponderous chains, and dungeons more confin\u2019d.\n      CHORUS OF ALL.\n        Arise, all potent ruler, rise,\n          And vindicate thy people\u2019s cause;\n        Till every tongue in every land                95\n          Shall offer up unfeign\u2019d applause.\n      ACT III.\n _Scene as before._\n FIRST PRIEST.\n RECITATIVE.\n    YES, my companions, Heaven\u2019s decrees are past,\n    And our fix\u2019d empire shall for ever last;\n    In vain the madd\u2019ning prophet threatens woe,\n    In vain rebellion aims her secret blow;\n    Still shall our fame and growing power be spread,       5\n    And still our vengeance crush the traitor\u2019s head.\n              Coeval with man\n              Our empire began,\n              And never shall fail\n              When ruin shakes all,\n              Then shall Babylon fall.\n      FIRST PROPHET.\n RECITATIVE.\n    \u2019Tis thus that pride triumphant rears the head,\n    A little while, and all their power is fled;\n    But ha! what means yon sadly plaintive train,          15\n    That this way slowly bend along the plain?\n    And now, methinks, to yonder bank they bear\n    A palled corse, and rest the body there.\n    Alas! too well mine eyes indignant trace\n    The last remains of Judah\u2019s royal race:                20\n    Our monarch falls, and now our fears are o\u2019er,\n    Unhappy Zedekiah is no more!\n        Ye wretches who, by fortune\u2019s hate,\n          In want and sorrow groan;\n        Come ponder his severer fate,                  25\n          And learn to bless your own.\n        You vain, whom youth and pleasure guide,\n          Awhile the bliss suspend;\n        Like yours, his life began in pride,\n          Like his, your lives shall end.              30\n      SECOND PROPHET.\n RECITATIVE.\n    Behold his wretched corse with sorrow worn,\n    His squalid limbs with pond\u2019rous fetters torn;\n    Those eyeless orbs that shock with ghastly glare,\n    Those ill-becoming rags\u2014that matted hair!\n    And shall not Heaven for this its terrors show,        35\n    Grasp the red bolt, and lay the guilty low?\n    How long, how long, Almighty God of all,\n    Shall wrath vindictive threaten ere it fall!\n      ISRAELITISH WOMAN.\n AIR.\n        As panting flies the hunted hind,\n          Where brooks refreshing stray;               40\n        And rivers through the valley wind,\n          That stop the hunter\u2019s way:\n        Thus we, O Lord, alike distrest,\n          For streams of mercy long;\n        Those streams which cheer the sore opprest,    45\n          And overwhelm the strong.\n      FIRST PROPHET.\n RECITATIVE.\n    But, whence that shout?  Good heavens! amazement all!\n    See yonder tower just nodding to the fall:\n    See where an army covers all the ground,\n    Saps the strong wall, and pours destruction round;     50\n    The ruin smokes, destruction pours along;\n    How low the great, how feeble are the strong!\n    The foe prevails, the lofty walls recline\u2014\n    O God of hosts, the victory is thine!\n      CHORUS OF ISRAELITES.\n        Down with them, Lord, to lick the dust;        55\n          Thy vengeance be begun:\n        Serve them as they have serv\u2019d the just,\n          And let thy will be done.\n      FIRST PRIEST.\n RECITATIVE.\n    All, all is lost. The Syrian army fails,\n    Cyrus, the conqueror of the world, prevails,           60\n    The ruin smokes, the torrent pours along;\n    How low the proud, how feeble are the strong!\n    Save us, O Lord! to thee, though late, we pray,\n    And give repentance but an hour\u2019s delay.\n      FIRST AND SECOND PRIEST.\n AIR.\n        Thrice happy, who in happy hour                65\n          To Heaven their praise bestow,\n        And own his all-consuming power\n          Before they feel the blow!\n      FIRST PROPHET.\n RECITATIVE.\n    Now, now\u2019s our time! ye wretches bold and blind,\n    Brave but to God, and cowards to mankind,              70\n    Too late you seek that power unsought before,\n    Your wealth, your pride, your kingdom, are no more.\n      O Lucifer, thou son of morn,\n        Alike of Heaven and man the foe;\n          Now press thy fall,\n        And sink thee lowest of the low.\n      FIRST PROPHET.\n      O Babylon, how art thou fallen!\n        Thy fall more dreadful from delay!\n          To wilds shall turn,\n        Where toads shall pant, and vultures prey.\n      SECOND PROPHET.\n RECITATIVE.\n    Such be her fate. But listen! from afar\n    The clarion\u2019s note proclaims the finish\u2019d war!\n    Cyrus, our great restorer, is at hand,                 85\n    And this way leads his formidable band.\n    Give, give your songs of Sion to the wind,\n    And hail the benefactor of mankind:\n    He comes pursuant to divine decree,\n    To chain the strong, and set the captive free.         90\n      CHORUS OF YOUTHS.\n        Rise to transports past expressing,\n          Sweeter from remember\u2019d woes;\n        Cyrus comes, our wrongs redressing,\n          Comes to give the world repose.\n      CHORUS OF VIRGINS.\n        Cyrus comes, the world redressing,             95\n          Love and pleasure in his train;\n        Comes to heighten every blessing,\n          Comes to soften every pain.\n      SEMI-CHORUS.\n        Hail to him with mercy reigning,\n          Skilled in every peaceful art;              100\n        Who from bonds our limbs unchaining,\n          Only binds the willing heart.\n      THE LAST CHORUS.\n    But chief to Thee, our God, defender, friend,\n      Let praise be given to all eternity;\n    O Thou, without beginning, without end,               105\n      Let us, and all, begin and end, in Thee!\nVERSES IN REPLY TO AN INVITATION TO\n DINNER AT DR. BAKER\u2019S.\n \u2018This _is_ a poem! This _is_ a copy of verses!\u2019\n        YOUR mandate I got,\n        You may all go to pot;\n        Had your senses been right,\n        You\u2019d have sent before night;\n        I put off being shaved;\n        For I could not make bold,\n        While the matter was cold,\n        To meddle in suds,\n        So tell Horneck and Nesbitt,\n        And Baker and his bit,\n        And Kauffmann beside,\n        And the Jessamy Bride,\n        The Reynoldses two,\n        Little Comedy\u2019s face,\n        And the Captain in lace,\n        (By-the-bye you may tell him,\n        I have something to sell him;                  20\n        Of use I insist,\n        When he comes to enlist.\n        Your worships must know\n        That a few days ago,\n        For the foot guards so stout\n        To wear tails in high taste,\n        Twelve inches at least:\n        Now I\u2019ve got him a scale\n        To lengthen a short tail,\n        And a long one to curtail.)\u2014\n          Yet how can I when vext,\n        Thus stray from my text?\n        Your Devonshire crew,\n        For sending so late\n        To one of my state.\n        But \u2019tis Reynolds\u2019s way\n        And Angelica\u2019s whim\n        To be frolick like him,\nBut, alas! Your good worships, how could they be wiser,\nWhen both have been spoil\u2019d in to-day\u2019s _Advertiser_?\n      OLIVER GOLDSMITH.      \nLETTER IN PROSE AND VERSE TO MRS. BUNBURY\n      MADAM,\n I read your letter with all that allowance\n      which critical candour could require, but after all find so much to object\n      to, and so much to raise my indignation, that I cannot help giving it a\n      serious answer.\n      I am not so ignorant, Madam, as not to see there are many sarcasms\n      contained in it, and solecisms also. (Solecism is a word that comes from\n      the town of Soleis in Attica, among the Greeks, built by Solon, and\n      applied as we use the word Kidderminster for curtains, from a town also of\n      that name;\u2014but this is learning you have no taste for!)\u2014I say,\n      Madam, there are sarcasms in it, and solecisms also. But not to seem an\n      ill-natured critic, I\u2019ll take leave to quote your own words, and give you\n      my remarks upon them as they occur. You begin as follows:\u2014\n    \u2018I hope, my good Doctor, you soon will be here,\n     And your spring-velvet coat very smart will appear,\n     To open our ball the first day of the year.\u2019\n      Pray, Madam, where did you ever find the epithet \u2018good,\u2019 applied to the\n      title of Doctor? Had you called me \u2018learned Doctor,\u2019 or \u2018grave Doctor,\u2019 or\n      \u2018noble Doctor,\u2019 it might be allowable, because they belong to the\n      profession. But, not to cavil at trifles, you talk of my \u2018spring-velvet\n      coat,\u2019 and advise me to wear it the first day in the year,\u2014that is,\n      in the middle of winter!\u2014a spring-velvet in the middle of winter!!!\n      That would be\n      a solecism indeed! and yet, to increase the inconsistence, in another part\n      of your letter you call me a beau. Now, on one side or other, you must be\n      wrong. If I am a beau, I can never think of wearing a spring-velvet in\n      winter: and if I am not a beau, why then, that explains itself. But let me\n      go on to your two next strange lines:\u2014\n    \u2018And bring with you a wig, that is modish and gay,\n    dance with the girls that are makers of hay.\u2019\n      The absurdity of making hay at Christmas, you yourself seem sensible of:\n      you say your sister will laugh; and so indeed she well may! The Latins\n      have an expression for a contemptuous sort of laughter, \u2018Naso contemnere\n      adunco\u2019; that is, to laugh with a crooked nose. She may laugh at you in\n      the manner of the ancients if she thinks fit. But now I come to the most\n      extraordinary of all extraordinary propositions, which is, to take your\n      and your sister\u2019s advice in playing at loo. The presumption of the offer\n      raises my indignation beyond the bounds of prose; it inspires me at once\n      with verse and resentment. I take advice! and from whom? You shall hear.\nFirst let me suppose, what may shortly be true,\nThe company set, and the word to be, Loo;\nAll smirking, and pleasant, and big with adventure,\nAnd ogling the stake which is fix\u2019d in the centre.\nRound and round go the cards, while I inwardly damn             5\nAt never once finding a visit from Pam.\nI lay down my stake, apparently cool,\nWhile the harpies about me all pocket the pool.\nI fret in my gizzard, yet, cautious and sly,\nI wish all my friends may be bolder than I:                    10\nYet still they sit snug, not a creature will aim\nBy losing their money to venture at fame.\n\u2019Tis in vain that at niggardly caution I scold,\n\u2019Tis in vain that I flatter the brave and the bold:\nAll play their own way, and they think me an ass,\u2014             15\n\u2018What does Mrs. Bunbury?\u2019 \u2018I, Sir? I pass.\u2019\n\u2018Pray what does Miss Horneck? Take courage, come do,\u2019\u2014\n\u2018Who, I? let me see, Sir, why I must pass too.\u2019\nMr. Bunbury frets, and I fret like the devil,\nTo see them so cowardly, lucky, and civil.                     20\nYet still I sit snug, and continue to sigh on,\nTill made by my losses as bold as a lion,\nI venture at all,\u2014while my avarice regards\nThe whole pool as my own\u2014\u2018Come, give me five cards.\u2019\n\u2018Well done!\u2019 cry the ladies; \u2018Ah, Doctor, that\u2019s good!         25\nThe pool\u2019s very rich\u2014ah! the Doctor is loo\u2019d!\u2019\nThus foil\u2019d in my courage, on all sides perplex\u2019d,\nI ask for advice from the lady that\u2019s next:\n\u2018Pray, Ma\u2019am, be so good as to give your advice;\nDon\u2019t you think the best way is to venture for \u2019t twice?\u2019      30\n\u2018I advise,\u2019 cries the lady, \u2018to try it, I own.\u2014\nAh! the Doctor is loo\u2019d! Come, Doctor, put down.\u2019\nThus, playing, and playing, I still grow more eager,\nAnd so bold, and so bold, I\u2019m at last a bold beggar.\nNow, ladies, I ask, if law-matters you\u2019re skill\u2019d in,          35\nWhether crimes such as yours should not come before Fielding?\nFor giving advice that is not worth a straw,\nMay well be call\u2019d picking of pockets in law;\nAnd picking of pockets, with which I now charge ye,\nIs, by quinto Elizabeth, Death without Clergy.                 40\nWhat justice, when both to the Old Bailey brought!\nBy the gods, I\u2019ll enjoy it; though \u2019tis but in thought!\nBoth are plac\u2019d at the bar, with all proper decorum,\nWith bunches of fennel, and nosegays before \u2019em;\nBoth cover their faces with mobs and all that;                 45\nBut the judge bids them, angrily, take off their hat.\nWhen uncover\u2019d, a buzz of enquiry runs round,\u2014\n\u2018Pray what are their crimes?\u2019\u2014\u2018They\u2019ve been pilfering found.\u2019\n\u2018But, pray, whom have they pilfer\u2019d?\u2019\u2014\u2018A Doctor, I hear.\u2019\n\u2018What, yon solemn-faced, odd-looking man that stands near!\u2019    50\n\u2018The same.\u2019\u2014\u2018What a pity! how does it surprise one!\nTwo handsomer culprits I never set eyes on!\u2019\nThen their friends all come round me with cringing and leering,\nTo melt me to pity, and soften my swearing.\nFirst Sir Charles advances with phrases well strung,           55\n\u2018Consider, dear Doctor, the girls are but young.\u2019\n\u2018The younger the worse,\u2019 I return him again,\n\u2018It shows that their habits are all dyed in grain.\u2019\n\u2018But then they\u2019re so handsome, one\u2019s bosom it grieves.\u2019\n\u2018What signifies _handsome_, when people are thieves?\u2019            60\n\u2018But where is your justice? their cases are hard.\u2019\n\u2018What signifies _justice_? I want the _reward_.\n      There\u2019s the parish of Edmonton offers forty pounds;\n      there\u2019s the parish of St. Leonard, Shoreditch, offers forty pounds;\n      there\u2019s the parish of Tyburn, from the Hog-in-the-Pound to St. Giles\u2019s\n      watchhouse, offers forty pounds,\u2014I shall have all that if I convict\n\u2018But consider their case,\u2014it may yet be your own!\nAnd see how they kneel! Is your heart made of stone?\u2019\nThis moves:\u2014so at last I agree to relent,                      65\nFor ten pounds in hand, and ten pounds to be spent.\n      I challenge you all to answer this: I tell you, you cannot. It cuts deep;\u2014but\n      now for the rest of the letter: and next\u2014 but I want room\u2014so I\n      believe I shall battle the rest out at Barton some day next week.\n      I don\u2019t value you all!    \nVIDA\u2019S GAME OF CHESS\n TRANSLATED\nARMIES of box that sportively engage\nAnd mimic real battles in their rage,\nPleased I recount; how, smit with glory\u2019s charms,\nTwo mighty Monarchs met in adverse arms,\nSable and white; assist me to explore,                       5\nYe Serian Nymphs, what ne\u2019er was sung before.\nNo path appears: yet resolute I stray\nWhere youth undaunted bids me force my way.\nO\u2019er rocks and cliffs while I the task pursue,\nGuide me, ye Nymphs, with your unerring clue.               10\nFor you the rise of this diversion know,\nYou first were pleased in Italy to show\nThis studious sport; from Scacchis was its name,\nThe pleasing record of your Sister\u2019s fame.\n  When Jove through Ethiopia\u2019s parch\u2019d extent               15\nTo grace the nuptials of old Ocean went,\nEach god was there; and mirth and joy around\nTo shores remote diffused their happy sound.\nThen when their hunger and their thirst no more\nClaim\u2019d their attention, and the feast was o\u2019er;            20\nOcean with pastime to divert the thought,\nCommands a painted table to be brought.\nSixty-four spaces fill the chequer\u2019d square;\nEight in each rank eight equal limits share.\nAlike their form, but different are their dyes,             25\nThey fade alternate, and alternate rise,\nWhite after black; such various stains as those\nThe shelving backs of tortoises disclose.\nThen to the gods that mute and wondering sate,\nYou see (says he) the field prepared for fate.              30\nHere will the little armies please your sight,\nWith adverse colours hurrying to the fight:\nOn which so oft, with silent sweet surprise,\nThe Nymphs and Nereids used to feast their eyes,\nAnd all the neighbours of the hoary deep,                   35\nWhen calm the sea, and winds were lull\u2019d asleep\nBut see, the mimic heroes tread the board;\nHe said, and straightway from an urn he pour\u2019d\nThe sculptured box, that neatly seem\u2019d to ape\nThe graceful figure of a human shape:\u2014                      40\nEqual the strength and number of each foe,\nSixteen appear\u2019d like jet, sixteen like snow.\nAs their shape varies various is the name,\nDifferent their posts, nor is their strength the same.\nThere might you see two Kings with equal pride              45\nGird on their arms, their Consorts by their side;\nHere the Foot-warriors glowing after fame,\nThere prancing Knights and dexterous Archers came\nAnd Elephants, that on their backs sustain\nVast towers of war, and fill and shake the plain.           50\n  And now both hosts, preparing for the storm\nOf adverse battle, their encampments form.\nIn the fourth space, and on the farthest line,\nDirectly opposite the Monarchs shine;\nThe swarthy on white ground, on sable stands                55\nThe silver King; and then they send commands.\nNearest to these the Queens exert their might;\nOne the left side, and t\u2019other guards the right:\nWhere each, by her respective armour known.\nChooses the colour that is like her own.                    60\nThen the young Archers, two that snowy-white\nBend the tough yew, and two as black as night;\n(Greece call\u2019d them Mars\u2019s favourites heretofore,\nFrom their delight in war, and thirst of gore).\nThese on each side the Monarch and his Queen                65\nSurround obedient; next to these are seen\nThe crested Knights in golden armour gay;\nTheir steeds by turns curvet, or snort or neigh.\nIn either army on each distant wing\nTwo mighty Elephants their castles bring,                   70\nBulwarks immense! and then at last combine\nEight of the Foot to form the second line,\nThe vanguard to the King and Queen; from far\nPrepared to open all the fate of war.\nSo moved the boxen hosts, each double-lined,                75\nTheir different colours floating in the wind:\nAs if an army of the Gauls should go,\nWith their white standards, o\u2019er the Alpine snow\nTo meet in rigid fight on scorching sands\nThe sun-burnt Moors and Memnon\u2019s swarthy bands.             80\n  Then Father Ocean thus; you see them here,\nCelestial powers, what troops, what camps appear.\nLearn now the sev\u2019ral orders of the fray,\nFor e\u2019en these arms their stated laws obey.\nTo lead the fight, the Kings from all their bands           85\nChoose whom they please to bear their great commands.\nShould a black hero first to battle go,          |\nInstant a white one guards against the blow;     |\nBut only one at once can charge or shun the foe. |\nTheir gen\u2019ral purpose on one scheme is bent,                90\nSo to besiege the King within the tent,\nThat there remains no place by subtle flight\nFrom danger free; and that decides the fight.\nMeanwhile, howe\u2019er, the sooner to destroy\nTh\u2019 imperial Prince, remorseless they employ                95\nTheir swords in blood; and whosoever dare\nOppose their vengeance, in the ruin share.\nFate thins their camp; the parti-coloured field\nWidens apace, as they o\u2019ercome or yield,\nBut the proud victor takes the captive\u2019s post;             100\nThere fronts the fury of th\u2019 avenging host\nOne single shock: and (should he ward the blow),\nMay then retire at pleasure from the foe.\nThe Foot alone (so their harsh laws ordain)\nWhen they proceed can ne\u2019er return again.                  105\n  But neither all rush on alike to prove\nThe terror of their arms: The Foot must move\nDirectly on, and but a single square;\nYet may these heroes, when they first prepare\nTo mix in combat on the bloody mead,                       110\nDouble their sally, and two steps proceed;\nBut when they wound, their swords they subtly guide\nWith aim oblique, and slanting pierce his side.\nBut the great Indian beasts, whose backs sustain\nVast turrets arm\u2019d, when on the redd\u2019ning plain            115\nThey join in all the terror of the fight,\nForward or backward, to the left or right,\nRun furious, and impatient of confine\nScour through the field, and threat the farthest line.\nYet must they ne\u2019er obliquely aim their blows;           | 120\nThat only manner is allow\u2019d to those                     |\nWhom Mars has favour\u2019d most, who bend the stubborn bows. |\nThese glancing sidewards in a straight career,\nYet each confin\u2019d to their respective sphere,\nOr white or black, can send th\u2019 unerring dart              125\nWing\u2019d with swift death to pierce through ev\u2019ry part.\nThe fiery steed, regardless of the reins,\nComes prancing on; but sullenly disdains\nThe path direct, and boldly wheeling round,                    |\nLeaps o\u2019er a double space at ev\u2019ry bound:                  130 |\nAnd shifts from white or black to diff\u2019rent colour\u2019d ground.   |\nBut the fierce Queen, whom dangers ne\u2019er dismay,\nThe strength and terror of the bloody day,\nIn a straight line spreads her destruction wide,\nTo left or right, before, behind, aside.                   135\nYet may she never with a circling course\nSweep to the battle like the fretful Horse;\nBut unconfin\u2019d may at her pleasure stray,\nIf neither friend nor foe block up the way;\nFor to o\u2019erleap a warrior, \u2019tis decreed                    140\nThose only dare who curb the snorting steed.\nWith greater caution and majestic state\nThe warlike Monarchs in the scene of fate\nDirect their motions, since for these appear\nZealous each hope, and anxious ev\u2019ry fear.                 145\nWhile the King\u2019s safe, with resolution stern\nThey clasp their arms; but should a sudden turn\nMake him a captive, instantly they yield,\nResolved to share his fortune in the field.\nHe moves on slow; with reverence profound                  150\nHis faithful troops encompass him around,\nAnd oft, to break some instant fatal scheme,\nRush to their fates, their sov\u2019reign to redeem;\nWhile he, unanxious where to wound the foe,\nNeed only shift and guard against a blow.                  155\nBut none, however, can presume t\u2019 appear\nWithin his reach, but must his vengeance fear;\nFor he on ev\u2019ry side his terror throws;\nBut when he changes from his first repose,\nMoves but one step, most awfully sedate,                   160\nOr idly roving, or intent on fate.\nThese are the sev\u2019ral and establish\u2019d laws:\nNow see how each maintains his bloody cause.\n  Here paused the god, but (since whene\u2019er they wage\nWar here on earth the gods themselves engage               165\nIn mutual battle as they hate or love,\nAnd the most stubborn war is oft above),\nAlmighty Jove commands the circling train\nOf gods from fav\u2019ring either to abstain,\nAnd let the fight be silently survey\u2019d;                    170\nAnd added solemn threats if disobey\u2019d.\nThen call\u2019d he Phoebus from among the Powers\nAnd subtle Hermes, whom in softer hours\nFair Maia bore: youth wanton\u2019d in their face;\nBoth in life\u2019s bloom, both shone with equal grace.         175\nHermes as yet had never wing\u2019d his feet;\nAs yet Apollo in his radiant seat\nHad never driv\u2019n his chariot through the air,\nKnown by his bow alone and golden hair.\nThese Jove commission\u2019d to attempt the fray,               180\nAnd rule the sportive military day;\nBid them agree which party each maintains,\nAnd promised a reward that\u2019s worth their pains.\nThe greater took their seats; on either hand\nRespectful the less gods in order stand,                   185\nBut careful not to interrupt their play,\nBy hinting when t\u2019 advance or run away.\n  Then they examine, who shall first proceed\nTo try their courage, and their army lead.\nChance gave it for the White, that he should go            190\nFirst with a brave defiance to the foe.\nAwhile he ponder\u2019d which of all his train\nShould bear his first commission o\u2019er the plain;\nAnd then determined to begin the scene\nWith him that stood before to guard the Queen.             195\nHe took a double step: with instant care\nDoes the black Monarch in his turn prepare\nThe adverse champion, and with stern command\nBid him repel the charge with equal hand.\nThere front to front, the midst of all the field,          200\nWith furious threats their shining arms they wield;\nYet vain the conflict, neither can prevail\nWhile in one path each other they assail.\nOn ev\u2019ry side to their assistance fly\nTheir fellow soldiers, and with strong supply              205\nCrowd to the battle, but no bloody stain\nTinctures their armour; sportive in the plain\nMars plays awhile, and in excursion slight\nHarmless they sally forth, or wait the fight.\n  But now the swarthy Foot, that first appear\u2019d            210\nTo front the foe, his pond\u2019rous jav\u2019lin rear\u2019d\nLeftward aslant, and a pale warrior slays,\nSpurns him aside, and boldly takes his place.\nUnhappy youth, his danger not to spy!\nInstant he fell, and triumph\u2019d but to die.                 215\nAt this the sable King with prudent care\nRemoved his station from the middle square,\nAnd slow retiring to the farthest ground,\nThere safely lurk\u2019d, with troops entrench\u2019d around.\nThen from each quarter to the war advance                  220\nThe furious Knights, and poise the trembling lance:\nBy turns they rush, by turns the victors yield,\nHeaps of dead Foot choke up the crimson\u2019d field:\nThey fall unable to retreat; around\nThe clang of arms and iron hoofs resound.                  225\n  But while young Phoebus pleased himself to view\nHis furious Knight destroy the vulgar crew,\nSly Hermes long\u2019d t\u2019 attempt with secret aim\nSome noble act of more exalted fame.\nFor this, he inoffensive pass\u2019d along                      230\nThrough ranks of Foot, and midst the trembling throng\nSent his left Horse, that free without confine\nRov\u2019d o\u2019er the plain, upon some great design\nAgainst the King himself. At length he stood,\nAnd having fix\u2019d his station as he would,                  235\nThreaten\u2019d at once with instant fate the King\nAnd th\u2019 Indian beast that guarded the right wing.\nApollo sigh\u2019d, and hast\u2019ning to relieve\nThe straiten\u2019d Monarch, griev\u2019d that he must leave\nHis martial Elephant expos\u2019d to fate,                      240\nAnd view\u2019d with pitying eyes his dang\u2019rous state.\nFirst in his thoughts however was his care\nTo save his King, whom to the neighbouring square\nOn the right hand, he snatch\u2019d with trembling flight;\nAt this with fury springs the sable Knight,                245\nDrew his keen sword, and rising to the blow,\nSent the great Indian brute to shades below.\nO fatal loss! for none except the Queen\nSpreads such a terror through the bloody scene.\nYet shall you ne\u2019er unpunish\u2019d boast your prize,           250 |\nThe Delian god with stern resentment cries;                    |\nAnd wedg\u2019d him round with Foot, and pour\u2019d in fresh supplies.  |\nThus close besieg\u2019d trembling he cast his eye\nAround the plain, but saw no shelter nigh,\nNo way for flight; for here the Queen oppos\u2019d,             255\nThe Foot in phalanx there the passage clos\u2019d:\nAt length he fell; yet not unpleas\u2019d with fate,\nSince victim to a Queen\u2019s vindictive hate.\nWith grief and fury burns the whiten\u2019d host,\nOne of their Tow\u2019rs thus immaturely lost.                  260\nAs when a bull has in contention stern\nLost his right horn, with double vengeance burn\nHis thoughts for war, with blood he\u2019s cover\u2019d o\u2019er,\nAnd the woods echo to his dismal roar,\nSo look\u2019d the flaxen host, when angry fate                 265\nO\u2019erturn\u2019d the Indian bulwark of their state.\nFired at this great success, with double rage\nApollo hurries on his troops t\u2019 engage,\nFor blood and havoc wild; and, while he leads\nHis troops thus careless, loses both his steeds:           270\nFor if some adverse warriors were o\u2019erthrown,\nHe little thought what dangers threat his own.\nBut slyer Hermes with observant eyes\nMarch\u2019d slowly cautious, and at distance spies\nWhat moves must next succeed, what dangers next arise.     275\nOften would he, the stately Queen to snare,\nThe slender Foot to front her arms prepare,\nAnd to conceal his scheme he sighs and feigns\nSuch a wrong step would frustrate all his pains.\nJust then an Archer, from the right-hand view,             280\nAt the pale Queen his arrow boldly drew,\nUnseen by Phoebus, who, with studious thought,\nFrom the left side a vulgar hero brought.\nBut tender Venus, with a pitying eye,\nViewing the sad destruction that was nigh,                 285\nWink\u2019d upon Phoebus (for the Goddess sat\nBy chance directly opposite); at that\nRoused in an instant, young Apollo threw\nHis eyes around the field his troops to view:\nPerceiv\u2019d the danger, and with sudden fright          |    290\nWithdrew the Foot that he had sent to fight,          |\nAnd sav\u2019d his trembling Queen by seasonable flight.   |\nBut Maia\u2019s son with shouts fill\u2019d all the coast:\nThe Queen, he cried, the important Queen is lost.\nPhoebus, howe\u2019er, resolving to maintain                    295\nWhat he had done, bespoke the heavenly train.\nWhat mighty harm, in sportive mimic flight,\nIs it to set a little blunder right,\nWhen no preliminary rule debarr\u2019d?\nIf you henceforward, Mercury, would guard                  300\nAgainst such practice, let us make the law:\nAnd whosoe\u2019er shall first to battle draw,\nOr white, or black, remorseless let him go\nAt all events, and dare the angry foe.\n  He said, and this opinion pleased around:                305\nJove turn\u2019d aside, and on his daughter frown\u2019d,\nUnmark\u2019d by Hermes, who, with strange surprise,\nFretted and foam\u2019d, and roll\u2019d his ferret eyes,\nAnd but with great reluctance could refrain\nFrom dashing at a blow all off the plain.                  310\nThen he resolved to interweave deceits,\u2014\nTo carry on the war by tricks and cheats.\nInstant he call\u2019d an Archer from the throng,\nAnd bid him like the courser wheel along:\nBounding he springs, and threats the pallid Queen.         315\nThe fraud, however, was by Phoebus seen;\nHe smiled, and, turning to the Gods, he said:\nThough, Hermes, you are perfect in your trade,\nAnd you can trick and cheat to great surprise,          |\nThese little sleights no more shall blind my eyes;      |  320\nCorrect them if you please, the more you thus disguise. |\nThe circle laugh\u2019d aloud; and Maia\u2019s son\n(As if it had but by mistake been done)\nRecall\u2019d his Archer, and with motion due,\nBid him advance, the combat to renew.                      325\nBut Phoebus watch\u2019d him with a jealous eye,\nFearing some trick was ever lurking nigh,\nFor he would oft, with sudden sly design,\nSend forth at once two combatants to join\nHis warring troops, against the law of arms,               330\nUnless the wary foe was ever in alarms.\n  Now the white Archer with his utmost force\nBent the tough bow against the sable Horse,\nAnd drove him from the Queen, where he had stood\nHoping to glut his vengeance with her blood.               335\nThen the right Elephant with martial pride\nRoved here and there, and spread his terrors wide:\nGlittering in arms from far a courser came,\nThreaten\u2019d at once the King and Royal Dame;\nThought himself safe when he the post had seized,          340\nAnd with the future spoils his fancy pleased.\nFired at the danger a young Archer came,\nRush\u2019d on the foe, and levell\u2019d sure his aim;\n(And though a Pawn his sword in vengeance draws,\nGladly he\u2019d lose his life in glory\u2019s cause).               345\nThe whistling arrow to his bowels flew,\nAnd the sharp steel his blood profusely drew;\nHe drops the reins, he totters to the ground,\nAnd his life issued murm\u2019ring through the wound.\nPierced by the Foot, this Archer bit the plain;     |      350\nThe Foot himself was by another slain;              |\nAnd with inflamed revenge, the battle burns again.  |\nTowers, Archers, Knights, meet on the crimson ground,\nAnd the field echoes to the martial sound.\nTheir thoughts are heated, and their courage fired,        355\nThick they rush on with double zeal inspired;\nGenerals and Foot, with different colour\u2019d mien,    |\nConfusedly warring in the camps are seen,\u2014          |\nValour and fortune meet in one promiscuous scene.   |\nNow these victorious, lord it o\u2019er the field;              360\nNow the foe rallies, the triumphant yield:\nJust as the tide of battle ebbs or flows.\nAs when the conflict more tempestuous grows\nBetween the winds, with strong and boisterous sweep\nThey plough th\u2019 Ionian or Atlantic deep!                   365\nBy turns prevail the mutual blustering roar,\nAnd the big waves alternate lash the shore.\n  But in the midst of all the battle raged\nThe snowy Queen, with troops at once engaged;\nShe fell\u2019d an Archer as she sought the plain,\u2014             370\nAs she retired an Elephant was slain:\nTo right and left her fatal spears she sent,\nBurst through the ranks, and triumph\u2019d as she went;\nThrough arms and blood she seeks a glorious fate,\nPierces the farthest lines, and nobly great                375\nLeads on her army with a gallant show,\nBreaks the battalions, and cuts through the foe.\nAt length the sable King his fears betray\u2019d,\nAnd begg\u2019d his military consort\u2019s aid:\nWith cheerful speed she flew to his relief,                380\nAnd met in equal arms the female chief.\n  Who first, great Queen, and who at last did bleed?\nHow many Whites lay gasping on the mead?\nHalf dead, and floating in a bloody tide,\nFoot, Knights, and Archer lie on every side.               385\nWho can recount the slaughter of the day?\nHow many leaders threw their lives away?\nThe chequer\u2019d plain is fill\u2019d with dying box,\nHavoc ensues, and with tumultuous shocks\nThe different colour\u2019d ranks in blood engage,              390\nAnd Foot and Horse promiscuously rage.\nWith nobler courage and superior might\nThe dreadful Amazons sustain the fight,\nResolved alike to mix in glorious strife,\nTill to imperious fate they yield their life.              395\n  Meanwhile each Monarch, in a neighbouring cell,\nConfined the warriors that in battle fell,\nThere watch\u2019d the captives with a jealous eye,\nLest, slipping out again, to arms they fly.\nBut Thracian Mars, in stedfast friendship join\u2019d           400\nTo Hermes, as near Phoebus he reclined,\nObserved each chance, how all their motions bend,\nResolved if possible to serve his friend.\nHe a Foot-soldier and a Knight purloin\u2019d\nOut from the prison that the dead confined;                405\nAnd slyly push\u2019d \u2019em forward on the plain;               |\nTh\u2019 enliven\u2019d combatants their arms regain,              |\nMix in the bloody scene, and boldly war again.           |\n  So the foul hag, in screaming wild alarms\nO\u2019er a dead carcase muttering her charms,                  410\n(And with her frequent and tremendous yell\nForcing great Hecate from out of hell)\nShoots in the corpse a new fictitious soul;              |\nWith instant glare the supple eyeballs roll,             |\nAgain it moves and speaks, and life informs the whole.   | 415\n  Vulcan alone discern\u2019d the subtle cheat;\nAnd wisely scorning such a base deceit,\nCall\u2019d out to Phoebus.  Grief and rage assail\nPhoebus by turns; detected Mars turns pale.\nThen awful Jove with sullen eye reproved                   420\nMars, and the captives order\u2019d to be moved\nTo their dark caves; bid each fictitious spear\nBe straight recall\u2019d, and all be as they were.\n  And now both Monarchs with redoubled rage\nLed on their Queens, the mutual war to wage.               425\nO\u2019er all the field their thirsty spears they send,\nThen front to front their Monarchs they defend.\nBut lo! the female White rush\u2019d in unseen,\nAnd slew with fatal haste the swarthy Queen;\nYet soon, alas! resign\u2019d her royal spoils,                 430\nSnatch\u2019d by a shaft from her successful toils.\nStruck at the sight, both hosts in wild surprise\nPour\u2019d forth their tears, and fill\u2019d the air with cries;\nThey wept and sigh\u2019d, as pass\u2019d the fun\u2019ral train,\nAs if both armies had at once been slain.                  435\n  And now each troop surrounds its mourning chief,\nTo guard his person, or assuage his grief.\nOne is their common fear; one stormy blast\nHas equally made havoc as it pass\u2019d.\nNot all, however, of their youth are slain;                440\nSome champions yet the vig\u2019rous war maintain.\nThree Foot, an Archer, and a stately Tower,\nFor Phoebus still exert their utmost power.\nJust the same number Mercury can boast,\nExcept the Tower, who lately in his post                   445\nUnarm\u2019d inglorious fell, in peace profound,\nPierced by an Archer with a distant wound;\nBut his right Horse retain\u2019d its mettled pride,\u2014\nThe rest were swept away by war\u2019s strong tide.\n  But fretful Hermes, with despairing moan,                450\nGriev\u2019d that so many champions were o\u2019erthrown,\nYet reassumes the fight; and summons round\nThe little straggling army that he found,\u2014\nAll that had \u2019scaped from fierce Apollo\u2019s rage,\u2014\nResolved with greater caution to engage                    455\nIn future strife, by subtle wiles (if fate\nShould give him leave) to save his sinking state.\nThe sable troops advance with prudence slow,\nBent on all hazards to distress the foe.\nMore cheerful Phoebus, with unequal pace,                  460\nRallies his arms to lessen his disgrace.\nBut what strange havoc everywhere has been!        |\nA straggling champion here and there is seen;      |\nAnd many are the tents, yet few are left within.   |\n  Th\u2019 afflicted Kings bewail their consorts dead,          465\nAnd loathe the thoughts of a deserted bed;\nAnd though each monarch studies to improve\nThe tender mem\u2019ry of his former love,\nTheir state requires a second nuptial tie.\nHence the pale ruler with a love-sick eye                  470\nSurveys th\u2019 attendants of his former wife,\nAnd offers one of them a royal life.\nThese, when their martial mistress had been slain,\nWeak and despairing tried their arms in vain;\nWilling, howe\u2019er, amidst the Black to go,                  475\nThey thirst for speedy vengeance on the foe.\nThen he resolves to see who merits best,\nBy strength and courage, the imperial vest;\nPoints out the foe, bids each with bold design\nPierce through the ranks, and reach the deepest line:      480\nFor none must hope with monarchs to repose\nBut who can first, through thick surrounding foes,\nThrough arms and wiles, with hazardous essay,\nSafe to the farthest quarters force their way.\nFired at the thought, with sudden, joyful pace             485\nThey hurry on; but first of all the race\nRuns the third right-hand warrior for the prize,\u2014\nThe glitt\u2019ring crown already charms her eyes.\nHer dear associates cheerfully give o\u2019er             |\nThe nuptial chase; and swift she flies before,       |     490\nAnd Glory lent her wings, and the reward in store.   |\nNor would the sable King her hopes prevent,\nFor he himself was on a Queen intent,\nAlternate, therefore, through the field they go.\nHermes led on, but by a step too slow,                     495\nHis fourth left Pawn: and now th\u2019 advent\u2019rous White\nHad march\u2019d through all, and gain\u2019d the wish\u2019d for site.\nThen the pleased King gives orders to prepare\nThe crown, the sceptre, and the royal chair,\nAnd owns her for his Queen: around exult                   500\nThe snowy troops, and o\u2019er the Black insult.\n  Hermes burst into tears,\u2014with fretful roar\nFill\u2019d the wide air, and his gay vesture tore.\nThe swarthy Foot had only to advance\nOne single step; but oh! malignant chance!                 505\nA towered Elephant, with fatal aim,\nStood ready to destroy her when she came:\nHe keeps a watchful eye upon the whole,\nThreatens her entrance, and protects the goal.\nMeanwhile the royal new-created bride,                     510\nPleased with her pomp, spread death and terror wide;\nLike lightning through the sable troops she flies,\nClashes her arms, and seems to threat the skies.\nThe sable troops are sunk in wild affright,\nAnd wish th\u2019 earth op\u2019ning snatch\u2019d \u2019em from her sight.    515\nIn burst the Queen, with vast impetuous swing:          |\nThe trembling foes come swarming round the King,        |\nWhere in the midst he stood, and form a valiant ring.   |\nSo the poor cows, straggling o\u2019er pasture land,\nWhen they perceive the prowling wolf at hand,              520\nCrowd close together in a circle full,\nAnd beg the succour of the lordly bull;\nThey clash their horns, they low with dreadful sound,\nAnd the remotest groves re-echo round.\n  But the bold Queen, victorious, from behind              525\nPierces the foe; yet chiefly she design\u2019d\nAgainst the King himself some fatal aim,\nAnd full of war to his pavilion came.\nNow here she rush\u2019d, now there; and had she been\nBut duly prudent, she had slipp\u2019d between,                 530\nWith course oblique, into the fourth white square,\nAnd the long toil of war had ended there,\nThe King had fallen, and all his sable state;\nAnd vanquish\u2019d Hermes cursed his partial fate.\nFor thence with ease the championess might go,             535\nMurder the King, and none could ward the blow.\n  With silence, Hermes, and with panting heart,\nPerceived the danger, but with subtle art,\n(Lest he should see the place) spurs on the foe,\nConfounds his thoughts, and blames his being slow.         540\nFor shame! move on; would you for ever stay?\nWhat sloth is this, what strange perverse delay?\u2014\nHow could you e\u2019er my little pausing blame?\u2014\nWhat! you would wait till night shall end the game?\nPhoebus, thus nettled, with imprudence slew                545\nA vulgar Pawn, but lost his nobler view.\nYoung Hermes leap\u2019d, with sudden joy elate;\nAnd then, to save the monarch from his fate,\nLed on his martial Knight, who stepp\u2019d between,\nPleased that his charge was to oppose the Queen\u2014           550\nThen, pondering how the Indian beast to slay,\nThat stopp\u2019d the Foot from making farther way,\u2014\nFrom being made a Queen; with slanting aim\nAn archer struck him; down the monster came,\nAnd dying shook the earth: while Phoebus tries             555\nWithout success the monarch to surprise.\nThe Foot, then uncontroll\u2019d with instant pride,\nSeized the last spot, and moved a royal bride.\nAnd now with equal strength both war again,\nAnd bring their second wives upon the plain;               560\nThen, though with equal views each hop\u2019d and fear\u2019d,\nYet, as if every doubt had disappear\u2019d,\nAs if he had the palm, young Hermes flies\nInto excess of joy; with deep disguise,\nExtols his own Black troops, with frequent spite           565\nAnd with invective taunts disdains the White.\nWhom Phoebus thus reproved with quick return\u2014\nAs yet we cannot the decision learn\nOf this dispute, and do you triumph now?\nThen your big words and vauntings I\u2019ll allow,              570\nWhen you the battle shall completely gain;\nAt present I shall make your boasting vain.\nHe said, and forward led the daring Queen;\nInstant the fury of the bloody scene\nRises tumultuous, swift the warriors fly                   575\nFrom either side to conquer or to die.\nThey front the storm of war: around \u2019em Fear,\nTerror, and Death, perpetually appear.\nAll meet in arms, and man to man oppose,\nEach from their camp attempts to drive their foes;         580\nEach tries by turns to force the hostile lines;\nChance and impatience blast their best designs.\nThe sable Queen spread terror as she went\nThrough the mid ranks: with more reserved intent\nThe adverse dame declined the open fray,                   585\nAnd to the King in private stole away:\nThen took the royal guard, and bursting in,\nWith fatal menace close besieged the King.\nAlarm\u2019d at this, the swarthy Queen, in haste,\nFrom all her havoc and destructive waste                   590\nBroke off, and her contempt of death to show,          |\nLeap\u2019d in between the Monarch and the foe,             |\nTo save the King and state from this impending blow.   |\nBut Phoebus met a worse misfortune here:\nFor Hermes now led forward, void of fear,                  595\nHis furious Horse into the open plain,\nThat onward chafed, and pranced, and pawed amain.\nNor ceased from his attempts until he stood\nOn the long-wished-for spot, from whence he could\nSlay King or Queen.  O\u2019erwhelm\u2019d with sudden fears,        600\nApollo saw, and could not keep from tears.\nNow all seem\u2019d ready to be overthrown;\nHis strength was wither\u2019d, ev\u2019ry hope was flown.\nHermes, exulting at this great surprise,\nShouted for joy, and fill\u2019d the air with cries;            605\nInstant he sent the Queen to shades below,\nAnd of her spoils made a triumphant show.\nBut in return, and in his mid career,\nFell his brave Knight, beneath the Monarch\u2019s spear.\n  Phoebus, however, did not yet despair,                   610\nBut still fought on with courage and with care.\nHe had but two poor common men to show,\nAnd Mars\u2019s favourite with his iv\u2019ry bow.\nThe thoughts of ruin made \u2019em dare their best\nTo save their King, so fatally distress\u2019d.                 615\nBut the sad hour required not such an aid;\nAnd Hermes breathed revenge where\u2019er he stray\u2019d.\nFierce comes the sable Queen with fatal threat,\nSurrounds the Monarch in his royal seat;\nRushed here and there, nor rested till she slew            620\nThe last remainder of the whiten\u2019d crew.\nSole stood the King, the midst of all the plain,\nWeak and defenceless, his companions slain.\nAs when the ruddy morn ascending high\nHas chased the twinkling stars from all the sky,           625\nYour star, fair Venus, still retains its light,\nAnd, loveliest, goes the latest out of sight.\nNo safety\u2019s left, no gleams of hope remain;\nYet did he not as vanquish\u2019d quit the plain,\nBut tried to shut himself between the foe,\u2014          |     630\nUnhurt through swords and spears he hoped to go,     |\nUntil no room was left to shun the fatal blow.       |\nFor if none threaten\u2019d his immediate fate,\nAnd his next move must ruin all his state,\nAll their past toil and labour is in vain,           |     635\nVain all the bloody carnage of the plain,\u2014           |\nNeither would triumph then, the laurel neither gain. |\nTherefore through each void space and desert tent,\nBy different moves his various course he bent:\nThe Black King watch\u2019d him with observant eye,             640\nFollow\u2019d him close, but left him room to fly.\nThen when he saw him take the farthest line,\nHe sent the Queen his motions to confine,\nAnd guard the second rank, that he could go\nNo farther now than to that distant row.                   645\nThe sable monarch then with cheerful mien\nApproach\u2019d, but always with one space between.\nBut as the King stood o\u2019er against him there,\nHelpless, forlorn, and sunk in his despair,\nThe martial Queen her lucky moment knew,          |        650\nSeized on the farthest seat with fatal view,      |\nNor left th\u2019 unhappy King a place to flee unto.   |\nAt length in vengeance her keen sword she draws,    |\nSlew him, and ended thus the bloody cause:          |\nAnd all the gods around approved it with applause.  |      655\n  The victor could not from his insults keep,\nBut laugh\u2019d and sneer\u2019d to see Apollo weep.\nJove call\u2019d him near, and gave him in his hand\nThe powerful, happy, and mysterious wand\nBy which the Shades are call\u2019d to purer day,               660\nWhen penal fire has purged their sins away;\nBy which the guilty are condemn\u2019d to dwell\nIn the dark mansions of the deepest hell;\nBy which he gives us sleep, or sleep denies,\nAnd closes at the last the dying eyes.                     665\nSoon after this, the heavenly victor brought\nThe game on earth, and first th\u2019 Italians taught.\n  For (as they say) fair Scacchis he espied\nFeeding her cygnets in the silver tide,\n(Sacchis, the loveliest Seriad of the place)               670\nAnd as she stray\u2019d, took her to his embrace.\nThen, to reward her for her virtue lost,\nGave her the men and chequer\u2019d board, emboss\u2019d\nWith gold and silver curiously inlay\u2019d;\nAnd taught her how the game was to be play\u2019d.              675\nEv\u2019n now \u2019tis honour\u2019d with her happy name;\nAnd Rome and all the world admire the game.\nAll which the Seriads told me heretofore,\nWhen my boy-notes amused the Serian shore.\nNOTES\nINTRODUCTION\n      He was born . . . at Pallas. This is the usual\n      account. But it was maintained by the family of the poet\u2019s mother, and has\n      been contended (by Dr. Michael F. Cox in a Lecture on \u2018The Country and\n      Kindred of Oliver Goldsmith,\u2019 published in vol. 1, pt. 2, of the _Journal_\n      of the \u2018National Literary Society of Ireland.\u2019 1900) that his real\n      birth-place was the residence of Mrs. Goldsmith\u2019s parents, Smith-Hill\n      House, Elphin, Roscommon, to which she was in the habit of paying frequent\n      visits. Meanwhile, in 1897, a window was placed to Goldsmith\u2019s memory in\n      Forgney Church, Longford,\u2014the church of which, at the time of his\n      birth, his father was curate.\n      his academic career was not a success. \u2018Oliver\n      Goldsmith is recorded on two occasions as being remarkably diligent at\n      Morning Lecture; again, as cautioned for bad answering at Morning and\n      Greek Lectures; and finally, as put down into the next class for neglect\n      of his studies\u2019 (Dr. Stubbs\u2019s _History of the University of Dublin_,\n      a scratched signature upon a window-pane. This,\n      which is now at Trinity College, Dublin, is here reproduced in facsimile.\n      When the garrets of No. 35, Parliament Square, were pulled down in 1837,\n      it was cut out of the window by the last occupant of the rooms, who broke\n      it in the process. (Dr. J. F. Waller in Cassell\u2019s _Works_ of\n      Goldsmith, [1864\u20135], pp. xiii-xiv n.)\n      a poor physician. Where he obtained his diploma\n      is not known. It was certainly not at Padua (_Athenaeum_, July\n      21, 1894). At Leyden and Louvain Prior made inquiries but, in each case,\n      without success. The annals of the University of Louvain were, however,\n      destroyed in the revolutionary wars. (Prior, _Life_, 1837, i,\n      declared it to be by Goldsmith. Goldsmith\u2019s\n      authorship of this version has now been placed beyond a doubt by the\n      publication in facsimile of his signed receipt to Edward Dilly for\n      third share of \u2018my translation,\u2019 such third share amounting to 6 pounds\n      13s. 4d. The receipt, which belongs to Mr. J. W. Ford of Enfield Old Park,\n      is dated \u2018January 11th, 1758.\u2019 (_Memoirs of a Protestant_,\n      etc., Dent\u2019s edition, 1895, i, pp. xii-xviii.)\n      12, Green Arbour Court, Old Bailey. This was a\n      tiny square occupying a site now absorbed by the Holborn Viaduct and\n      Railway Station. No. 12, where Goldsmith lived, was later occupied by\n      Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co. as a printing office. An engraving of the\n      Court forms the frontispiece to the _European Magazine_ for\n      or some of his imitators. The proximate cause of\n      the _Citizen of the World_, as the present writer has suggested\n      elsewhere, _ may_ have been Horace Walpole\u2019s _Letter from XoHo_\n      [Soho?], _a Chinese Philosopher at London, to his friend Lien Chi, at\n      Peking_. This was noticed as \u2018in Montesquieu\u2019s manner\u2019 in the May issue\n      of the _Monthly Review_ for 1757, to which Goldsmith was a\n      contributor (_Eighteenth Century Vignettes_, first series,\n       demonstrable from internal evidence. e.g.\u2014The\n      references to the musical glasses (ch. ix), which were the rage in 1761\u20132;\n      and to the _Auditor_ (ch. xix) established by Arthur Murphy in\n      June of the latter year. The sale of the \u2018Vicar\u2019 is discussed at length in\n      chapter vii of the editor\u2019s _Life of Oliver Goldsmith_ (\u2018Great\n      started with a loss. This, which to some critics\n      has seemed unintelliglble, rests upon the following: \u2018The first three\n      editions, . . . resulted in a loss, and the fourth, which was not issued\n      until eight [four?] years after the first, started with a balance against\n      it of \u00a32 16s. 6d., and it was not until that fourth edition had been\n      sold that the balance came out on the right side\u2019 (_A Bookseller of\n      the Last Century_ [John Newbery] by Charles Welsh, 1885, p. 61). The\n      writer based his statement upon Collins\u2019s \u2018Publishing book, account of\n      books printed and shares therein, No. 3, 1770 to 1785.\u2019\n      James\u2019s Powder. This was a famous patent\n      panacea, invented by Johnson\u2019s Lichfield townsman, Dr. Robert James of the\n      _Medicinal Dictionary_. It was sold by John Newbery, and had an\n      extraordinary vogue. The King dosed Princess Elizabeth with it; Fielding,\n      Gray, and Cowper all swore by it, and Horace Walpole, who wished to try it\n      upon Mme. du Deffand _in extremis_,\n      said he should use it if the house were on fire. William Hawes, the Strand\n      apothecary who attended Goldsmith, wrote an interesting _Account of the\n      late Dr. Goldsmith\u2019s Illness, so far as relates to the Exhibition of Dr.\n      James\u2019s Powders,_ etc., 1774, which he dedicated to Reynolds and Burke.\n      To Hawes once belonged the poet\u2019s worn old wooden writing-desk, now in the\n      South Kensington Museum, where are also his favourite chair and cane.\n      Another desk-chair, which had descended from his friend, Edmund Bott, was\n      recently for sale at Sotheby\u2019s (July, 1906).\n[Illustration:\nGreen Arbour Court, Little Old Bailey.]\nGREEN ARBOUR COURT,\nLITTLE OLD BAILEY\n(as it appeared in 1803)\nEDITIONS OF THE POEMS.\n      No collected edition of Goldsmith\u2019s poetical works appeared until after\n      his death. But, in 1775, W. Griffin, who had published the _Essays_\n      of ten years earlier, issued a volume entitled _The Miscellaneous\n      Works of Oliver Goldsmith, M.B., containing all his Essays and Poems_.\n      The \u2018poems\u2019 however were confined to \u2018The Traveller,\u2019 \u2018The Deserted\n      Village,\u2019 \u2018Edwin and Angelina,\u2019 \u2018The Double Transformation,\u2019 \u2018A New\n      Simile,\u2019 and \u2018Retaliation,\u2019\u2014an obviously imperfect harvesting. In\n      the following year G. Kearsly printed an eighth edition of _Retaliation_,\n      with which he included \u2018The Hermit\u2019 (\u2018Edwin and Angelina\u2019), \u2018The Gift,\u2019\n      \u2018Madam Blaize,\u2019 and the epilogues to _The Sister_ and _She\n      stoops to Conquer_;* while to an edition of _The Haunch of\n      Venison_, also put forth in 1776, he added the \u2018Epitaph on Parnell\u2019\n      and two songs from the oratorio of _The Captivity_. The next\n      collection appeared in a volume of _Poems and Plays_ published\n      at Dublin in 1777, where it was preceded by a \u2018Life,\u2019 written by W.\n      Glover, one of Goldsmith\u2019s \u2018Irish clients.\u2019 Then, in 1780, came vol. i of\n      T. Evans\u2019s _ Poetical and Dramatic Works, etc., now first collected_,\n      also having a \u2018Memoir,\u2019 and certainly fuller than anything which had gone\n      before. Next followed the long-deferred _Miscellaneous Works,_\n      etc., of 1801, in four volumes, vol. ii of which comprised the plays and\n      poems. Prefixed to this edition is the important biographical sketch,\n      compiled under the direction of Bishop Percy, and usually described as the\n      _Percy Memoir_, by which title it is referred to in the ensuing\n      notes. The next memorable edition was that edited for the Aldine Series in\n      1831, by the Rev. John Mitford. Prior and Wright\u2019s edition in vol. iv of\n      the _Miscellaneous Works_, etc., of 1837, comes after this;\n      then Bolton Corney\u2019s excellent _Poetical Works_ of 1845; and\n      vol. i of Peter Cunningham\u2019s _Works_, etc. of 1854. There are\n      other issues of the poems, the latest of which is to be found in vol. ii\n      (1885) of the complete _Works_, in five volumes, edited for\n      Messrs. George Bell and Sons by J. W. M. Gibbs.\n* Some copies of this are dated 1777, and contain _The Haunch\n      of Venison_ and a few minor pieces.\n      Most of the foregoing editions have been consulted for the following\n      notes; but chiefly those of Mitford, Prior, Bolton Corney, and Cunningham.\n      Many of the illustrations and explanations now supplied will not, however,\n      be found in any of the sources indicated. When an elucidatory or parallel\n      passage is cited, an attempt has been made, as far as possible, to give\n      the credit of it to the first discoverer. Thus, some of the illustrations\n      in Cunningham\u2019s notes are here transferred to Prior, some of Prior\u2019s to\n      Mitford, and so forth. As regards the notes themselves, care has been\n      taken to make them full enough to obviate the necessity, except in rare\n      instances, of further investigation. It is the editor\u2019s experience that\n      references to external authorities are, as a general rule, sign-posts to\n      routes which are seldom travelled.*\n* In this connexion may be recalled the dictum of Hume quoted by Dr.\n      Birkbeck Hill:\u2014\u2018Every book should be as complete as possible within\n      itself, and should never refer for anything material to other books\u2019 (_History\nTHE TRAVELLER.\n      It was on those continental wanderings which occupied Goldsmith between\n      February, 1755 and February, 1756 that he conceived his first idea of\n      this, the earliest of his poems to which he prefixed his name; and he\n      probably had in mind Addison\u2019s _Letter from Italy to Lord Halifax_,\n      a work in which he found \u2018a strain of political thinking that was, at that\n      time [1701]. new in our poetry.\u2019 (_Beauties of English Poesy_,\n      1767, i. III). From the dedicatory letter to his brother\u2014which says\n      expressly, \u2018as a part of this Poem was formerly written to you from\n      Switzerland, the whole can now, with propriety, be only inscribed\n      to you\u2019\u2014it is plain that some portion of it must have been actually\n      composed abroad. It was not, however, actually published until the 19th of\n      December, 1764, and the title-page bore the date of 1765.* The publisher\n      was John Newbery, of St. Paul\u2019s Churchyard, and the price of the book, a\n      quarto of 30 pages, was 1s. 6d. A second, third and fourth edition quickly\n      followed, and a ninth, from which it is here reprinted, was issued in\n      1774, the year of the author\u2019s death. Between the first and the sixth\n      edition of 1770 there were numerous alterations, the more important of\n      which are indicated in the ensuing notes.\n* This is the generally recognized first edition. But the late Mr.\n      Frederick Locker Lampson, the poet and collector, possessed a quarto copy,\n      dated 1764, which had no author\u2019s name, and in which the dedication ran as\n      follows:\u2014\u2018This poem is inscribed to the Rev. Henry Goldsmith, M.A.\n      By his most affectionate Brother Oliver Goldsmith.\u2019 It was, in all\n      probability, unique, though it is alleged that there are octavo copies\n      which present similar characteristics. It has now gone to America with the\n      Rowfant Library.\n    In 1902 an interesting discovery was made by Mr. Bertram Dobell, to\n      whom the public are indebted for so many important literary \u2018finds.\u2019 In a\n      parcel of pamphlets he came upon a number of loose printed leaves entitled\n      _A Prospect of Society_. They obviously belonged to _The\n      Traveller_; but seemed to be its \u2018formless unarranged material,\u2019 and\n      contained many variations from the text of the first edition. Mr. Dobell\u2019s\n      impression was that \u2018the author\u2019s manuscript, written on loose leaves, had\n      fallen into confusion, and was then printed without any attempt at\n      re-arrangement.\u2019 This was near the mark; but the complete solution of the\n      riddle was furnished by Mr. Quiller Couch in an article in the _Daily\n      News_ for March 31, 1902, since recast in his charming volume _From\n      a Cornish Window_, 1906, pp. 86\u201392. He showed conclusively that\n      _The Prospect_ was \u2018merely an early draft of _The\n      Traveller_ printed backwards in fairly regular sections.\u2019 What had\n      manifestly happened was this. Goldsmith, turning over each page as\n      written, had laid it on the top of the preceding page of MS. and forgotten\n      to rearrange them when done. Thus the series of pages were reversed; and,\n      so reversed, were set up in type by a matter-of-fact compositor. Mr.\n      Dobell at once accepted this happy explanation; which\u2014as Mr. Quiller\n      Couch points out\u2014has the advantage of being a \u2018blunder just so\n      natural to Goldsmith as to be almost postulable.\u2019 One or two of the\n      variations of Mr. Dobell\u2019s \u2018find\u2019\u2014variations, it should be added,\n      antecedent to the first edition\u2014are noted in their places.\n      The didactic purpose of _The Traveller_ is defined in the\n      concluding paragraph of the _Dedication_; and, like many of the\n      thoughts which it contains, had been anticipated in a passage\n      of _The Citizen of the World_, 1762, i. 185:\u2014\u2018Every mind\n      seems capable of entertaining a certain quantity of happiness, which no\n      institutions can encrease, no circumstances alter, and entirely\n      independent on fortune.\u2019 But the best short description of the poem is\n      Macaulay\u2019s:\u2014\u2018In the _Traveller_ the execution, though\n      deserving of much praise, is far inferior to the design. No philosophical\n      poem, ancient or modern, has a plan so noble, and at the same time so\n      simple. An English wanderer, seated on a crag among the Alps, near the\n      point where three great countries meet, looks down on the boundless\n      prospect, reviews his long pilgrimage, recalls the varieties of scenery,\n      of climate, of government, of religion, of national character, which he\n      has observed, and comes to the conclusion, just or unjust, that our\n      happiness depends little on political institutions, and much on the temper\n      and regulation of our own minds.\u2019 (_Encyclop. Britannica_,\n      Goldsmith, February, 1856.)\n      The only definite record of payment for _ The Traveller_ is\n      \u2018Copy of the Traveller, a Poem, 21_l_,\u2019 in Newbery\u2019s MSS.; but as the\n      same sum occurs in Memoranda of much later date than 1764, it is possible\n      that the success of the book may have prompted some supplementary fee.\n      A Prospect, i.e. \u2018a view.\u2019 \u2018I went to Putney, and\n      other places on the Thames, to take \u2018prospects\u2019 in crayon, to carry into\n      France, where I thought to have them engraved\u2019 (Evelyn, _Diary_,\n      20th June, 1649). And Reynolds uses the word of Claude in his Fourth\n      Discourse:\u2014\u2018His pictures are a composition of the various draughts\n      which he had previously made from various beautiful scenes and prospects\u2019\n      (_Works_, by Malone, 1798, i. 105). The word is common on old\n      prints, e.g. _An Exact Prospect of the Magnificent Stone Bridge at\n      Westminster_, etc., 1751.\n       Dedication. The Rev. Henry Goldsmith, says the\n      Percy _ Memoir_, 1801, p. 3, \u2018had distinguished himself both at\n      school and at college, but he unfortunately married at the early age of\n      nineteen; which confined him to a Curacy, and prevented his rising to\n      preferment in the church.\u2019\n      with an income of forty pounds a year. Cf. _The\n      Deserted Village_, ll. 141\u20132:\u2014\n    A man he was, to all the country dear,\n    And passing rich with _forty pounds a year_.\n      Cf. also Parson Adams in ch. iii of _Joseph Andrews_, who has\n      twenty-three; and Mr. Rivers, in the _Spiritual Quixote_,\n      1772:\u2014\u2018I do not choose to go into orders to be a curate all my\n      life-time, and work for about fifteen-pence a day, or twenty-five pounds\n      a year\u2019 (bk. vi, ch. xvii). Dr. Primrose\u2019s stipend is thirty-five in the\n      first instance, fifteen in the second (_Vicar of Wakefield_,\n      chapters ii and iii). But Professor Hales (_Longer English Poems_,\n      1885, p. 351) supplies an exact parallel in the case of Churchill, who, he\n      says, when a curate at Rainham, \u2018prayed and starved on _ forty pounds a\n      year_.\u2019 The latter words are Churchill\u2019s own, and sound like a\n      quotation; but he was dead long before _The Deserted Village_\n      appeared in 1770. There is an interesting paper in the _Gentleman\u2019s\n      Magazine_ for November, 1763, on the miseries and hardships of the\n      \u2018inferior clergy.\u2019\n      But of all kinds of ambition, etc. In the first\n      edition of 1765, p. ii, this passage was as follows:\u2014\u2018But of all\n      kinds of ambition, as things are now circumstanced, perhaps that which\n      pursues poetical fame, is the wildest. What from the encreased refinement\n      of the times, from the diversity of judgments produced by opposing systems\n      of criticism, and from the more prevalent divisions of opinion influenced\n      by party, the strongest and happiest efforts can expect to please but in a\n      very narrow circle. Though the poet were as sure of his aim as the\n      imperial archer of antiquity, who boasted that he never missed the heart;\n      yet would many of his shafts now fly at random, for the heart is too often\n      in the wrong place.\u2019 In the second edition it was curtailed; in the sixth\n      it took its final form.\n      they engross all that favour once shown to her.\n      First version\u2014\u2018They engross all favour to themselves.\u2019\n      the elder\u2019s birthright. Cunningham here aptly\n      compares Dryden\u2019s epistle _To Sir Godfrey Kneller_, II. 89\u201392:\u2014\n    Our arts are sisters, though not twins in birth;\n    For hymns were sung in Eden\u2019s happy earth:\n    But oh, the painter muse, though last in place,\n    Has seized the blessing first, like Jacob\u2019s race.\n      _Party_=faction. Cf. lines 31\u20132 on Edmund Burke in\n      _ Retaliation_:\u2014\n    Who, born for the Universe, narrow\u2019d his mind,\n    And to _party_ gave up what was meant for mankind.\n      Such readers generally admire, etc. \u2018I suppose this\n      paragraph to be directed against Paul Whitehead, or Churchill,\u2019 writes\n      Mitford. It was clearly aimed at Churchill, since Prior (_Life_,\n      1837, ii. 54) quotes a portion of a contemporary article in the _St.\n      James\u2019s Chronicle_ for February 7\u20139, 1765, attributed to Bonnell\n      Thornton, which leaves little room for doubt upon the question. \u2018The\n      latter part of this paragraph,\u2019 says the writer, referring to the passage\n      now annotated, \u2018we cannot help considering as a reflection on the memory\n      of the late Mr. Churchill, whose talents as a poet were so greatly and so\n      deservedly admired, that during his short reign, his merit in great\n      measure eclipsed that of others; and we think it no mean acknowledgment of\n      the excellencies of this poem [_The Traveller_] to say that,\n      like the stars, they appear the more brilliant now that the sun of our\n      poetry is gone down.\u2019 Churchill died on the 4th of November, 1764, some\n      weeks before the publication of _The Traveller_. His powers, it\n      may be, were misdirected and misapplied; but his rough vigour and his\n      manly verse deserved a better fate at Goldsmith\u2019s hands.\n      tawdry was added in the sixth edition of 1770.\n      blank verse. Cf. _The Present State of Polite\n      Learning_, 1759, p. 150\u2014\u2018From a desire in the critic of\n      grafting the spirit of ancient languages upon the English, has proceeded\n      of late several disagreeable instances of pedantry. Among the number, I\n      think we may reckon _blank verse_. Nothing but the greatest sublimity\n      of subject can render such a measure pleasing; however, we now see it used\n      on the most trivial occasions\u2019\u2014by which last remark Goldsmith\n      probably, as Cunningham thinks, intended to refer to the efforts of\n      Akenside, Dyer, and Armstrong. His views upon blank verse were shared by\n      Johnson and Gray. At the date of the present dedication, the latest\n      offender in this way had been Goldsmith\u2019s old colleague on _The\n      Monthly Review_, Dr. James Grainger, author of _The Sugar Cane_,\n      which was published in June, 1764. (Cf. also _The Bee_ for 24th\n      November, 1759, \u2018An account of the Augustan Age of England.\u2019)\n      and that this principle, etc. In the first edition\n      this read\u2014\u2018and that this principle in each state, and in our own in\n      particular, may be carried to a mischievous excess.\u2019\n      Remote, unfriended, melancholy, slow. Mitford\n      (Aldine edition, 1831, p. 7) compares the following lines from Ovid:\u2014\n        Solus, inops, exspes, leto poenaeque relictus.\n        Exsul, inops erres, alienaque limina lustres, etc.\n      slow. A well-known passage from Boswell must here be\n      reproduced:\u2014\u2018Chamier once asked him [Goldsmith], what he meant by _slow_,\n      the last word in the first line of _The Traveller_,\n          Remote, unfriended, melancholy, slow.\n      Did he mean tardiness of locomotion? Goldsmith, who would say something\n      without consideration, answered \u201cyes.\u201d I [Johnson] was sitting by, and\n      said, \u201cNo, Sir, you do not mean tardiness of locomotion; you mean, that\n      sluggishness of mind which comes upon a man in solitude.\u201d Chamier believed\n      then that I had written the line as much as if he had seen me write it.\u2019\n      [Birkbeck Hill\u2019s _Boswell_, 1887, iii. 252\u20133.) It is quite\n      possible, however, that Goldsmith meant no more than he said.\n      the rude Carinthian boor. \u2018Carinthia,\u2019 says\n      Cunningham, \u2018was visited by Goldsmith in 1755, and still (1853) retains\n      its character for inhospitality.\u2019\n      Campania. \u2018Intended,\u2019 says Bolton Corney, \u2018to denote\n      _La campagna di Roma_. The portion of it which extends from Rome to\n      Terracina is scarcely habitable.\u2019\n      a lengthening chain. Prior compares Letter iii of\n      _The Citizen of the World_, 1762, i. 5:\u2014\u2018The farther I\n      travel I feel the pain of separation with stronger force, those ties that\n      bind me to my native country, and you, are still unbroken. By every\n      remove, I only drag a greater length of chain.\u2019 But, as Mitford points\n      out, Cibber has a similar thought in his _Comical Lovers_,\n      1707, Act v:\u2014\u2018When I am with Florimel, it [my heart] is still your\n      prisoner, _it only draws a longer chain after it_.\u2019 And earlier still\n      in Dryden\u2019s \u2018All for Love\u2019, 1678, Act ii, Sc. 1:\u2014\n        My life on\u2019t, he still drags a chain along,\n        That needs must clog his flight.\n      with simple plenty crown\u2019d. In the first edition\n      this read \u2018where mirth and peace abound.\u2019\n      the luxury of doing good. Prior compares Garth\u2019s\n      _Claremont_, 1715, where he speaks of the Druids:\u2014\n        Hard was their Lodging, homely was their Food,\n        For all their _Luxury was doing Good_.\n      my prime of life. He was seven-and-twenty when he\n      landed at Dover in February, 1756.\n      That, like the circle bounding, etc. Cf. _Vicar\n      of Wakefield_, 1766, ii. 160\u20131 (ch. x):\u2014\u2018Death, the only\n      friend of the wretched, for a little while mocks the weary traveller with\n      the view, and like his horizon, still flies before him.\u2019 [Prior.]\n      And find no spot of all the world my own. Prior\n      compares his namesake\u2019s lines _In the Beginning of_ [Jacques] _Robbe\u2019s\n        My destin\u2019d Miles I shall have gone,\n        By THAMES or MAESE, by PO or RHONE,\n        And _found no Foot of Earth my own._\n      above the storm\u2019s career. Cf. 1. 190 of _The\n      Deserted Village._\n      should thankless pride repine? First edition,\n      \u2018\u2019twere thankless to repine.\u2019\n      Say, should the philosophic mind, etc. First\n      edition:\u2014\n        \u2019Twere affectation all, and school-taught pride,\n        To spurn the splendid things by heaven supply\u2019d\n      hoard. \u2018Sum\u2019 in the first edition.\n      Boldly proclaims that happiest spot his own. In the\n      first version this was\u2014\n        Boldly asserts that country for his own.\n      And yet, perhaps, etc. In the first edition, for\n      this and the following five lines appeared these eight:\u2014\n        And yet, perhaps, if states with states we scan,\n        Or estimate their bliss on Reason\u2019s plan,\n        Though patriots flatter, and though fools contend,\n        We still shall find uncertainty suspend;\n        Find that each good, by Art or Nature given,\n        To these or those, but makes the balance even:\n        Find that the bliss of all is much the same,\n        And patriotic boasting reason\u2019s shame!\n      On Idra\u2019s cliffs. Bolton Corney conjectures that\n      Goldsmith meant \u2018Idria, a town in Carniola, noted for its mines.\u2019\n      \u2018Goldsmith in his \u201cHistory of Animated Nature\u201d makes mention of the mines,\n      and spells the name in the same way as here.\u2019 (Mr. J. H. Lobban\u2019s _Select\n      Poems of Goldsmith_, 1900, p. 87). Lines 84\u20135, it may be added, are\n      not in the first edition.\n      And though the rocky-crested summits frown. In the\n      first edition:\u2014\n        And though rough rocks or gloomy summits frown.\n      lines 91\u20132. are not in the first editions.\n      peculiar, i.e. \u2018proper,\u2019 \u2018appropriate.\u2019\n      winnow, i.e. \u2018waft,\u2019 \u2018disperse.\u2019 John Evelyn refers\n      to these \u2018sea-born gales\u2019 in the \u2018Dedication\u2019 of his _Fumifugium_,\n      1661:\u2014 \u2018Those who take notice of the scent of the orange-flowers\n      from the rivage of Genoa, and St. Pietro dell\u2019 Arena; the blossomes of the\n      rosemary from the Coasts of Spain, many leagues off at sea; or the\n      manifest, and odoriferous wafts which flow from Fontenay and Vaugirard,\n      even to Paris in the season of roses, with the contrary effect of those\n      less pleasing smells from other accidents, will easily consent to what I\n      suggest [i.e. the planting of sweet-smelling trees].\u2019 (_Miscellaneous\n      Till, more unsteady, etc. In the first edition:\u2014\n        But, more unsteady than the southern gale,\n        Soon Commerce turn\u2019d on other shores her sail.\n      There is a certain resemblance between this passage and one of the later\n      paradoxes of Smollett\u2019s Lismahago;\u2014\u2018He affirmed, the nature of\n      commerce was such, that it could not be fixed or perpetuated, but, having\n      flowed to a certain height, would immediately begin to ebb, and so\n      continue till the channels should be left almost dry; but there was no\n      instance of the tide\u2019s rising a second time to any considerable influx in\n      the same nation\u2019 (_Humphry Clinker_, 1771, ii. 192. Letter of\n      Mr. Bramble to Dr. Lewis).\n      lines 141\u20132. are not in the first edition.\n      Its former strength was but plethoric ill. Cf.\n      _The Citizen of the World_, 1762, i. 98:\u2014\u2018In short, the\n      state resembled one of those bodies bloated with disease, whose bulk is\n      only a symptom of its wretchedness.\u2019 [Mitford.]\n      Yet still the loss, etc. In the first edition:\u2014\n        Yet, though to fortune lost, here still abide\n        Some splendid arts, the wrecks of former pride.\n      The paste-board triumph and the cavalcade. \u2018Happy\n      Country [he is speaking of Italy], where the pastoral age begins to\n      revive! Where the wits even of Rome are united into a rural groupe of\n      nymphs and swains, under the appellation of modern Arcadians [i.e. the\n      Bolognese Academy of the _Arcadi_]. Where in the midst of porticos,\n      processions, and cavalcades, abbes turn\u2019d into shepherds, and\n      shepherdesses without sheep, indulge their innocent _ divertimenti_.\u2019\n      (_Present State of Polite Learning_, 1759, pp. 50\u20131.) Some of\n      the \u2018paste-board triumphs\u2019 may be studied in the plates of Jacques Callot.\n      By sports like these, etc. A pretty and well-known\n      story is told with regard to this couplet. Calling once on Goldsmith,\n      Reynolds, having vainly tried to attract attention, entered unannounced.\n      \u2018His friend was at his desk, but with hand uplifted, and a look directed\n      to another part of the room; where a little dog sat with difficulty on his\n      haunches, looking imploringly at his teacher, whose rebuke for toppling\n      over he had evidently just received. Reynolds advanced, and looked past\n      Goldsmith\u2019s shoulder at the writing on his desk. It seemed to be some\n      portions of a poem; and looking more closely, he was able to read a\n      couplet which had been that instant written. The ink of the second line\n      was wet:\u2014\n        By sports like these are all their cares beguil\u2019d;\n        The sports of children satisfy the child.\n      The sports of children. This line, in the first\n      edition, was followed by:\u2014\n        At sports like these, while foreign arms advance,\n        In passive ease they leave the world to chance.\n      Each nobler aim, etc. The first edition reads:\u2014\n        When struggling Virtue sinks by long controul,\n        She leaves at last, or feebly mans the soul.\n      This was changed in the second, third, fourth, and fifth editions to:\u2014\n        When noble aims have suffer\u2019d long controul,\n        They sink at last, or feebly man the soul.\n      No product here, etc. The Swiss mercenaries, here\n      referred to, were long famous in European warfare.\n        They parted with a thousand kisses,\n        And fight e\u2019er since for pay, like Swisses.\n      breasts This fine use of \u2018breasts\u2019\u2014as\n      Cunningham points out\u2014is given by Johnson as an example in his\n      Dictionary.\n      With patient angle, trolls the finny deep. \u2018Troll,\u2019\n      i.e. as for pike. Goldsmith uses \u2018finny prey\u2019 in _The Citizen of the\n      World_, 1762, ii. 99:\u2014\u2018The best manner to draw up the _finny\n      prey_.\u2019 Cf. also \u2018warbling grove,\u2019 _Deserted Village_, l.\n      361, as a parallel to \u2018finny deep.\u2019\n      the struggling savage, i.e. wolf or bear. Mitford\n      compares the following:\u2014\u2018He is a beast of prey, and the laws should\n      make use of as many stratagems and as much force to drive the _\n      reluctant savage_ into the toils, as the Indians when they hunt the\n      hyena or the rhinoceros.\u2019 (_Citizen of the World_, 1762, i.\n      112.) See also Pope\u2019s _Iliad_, Bk. xvii:\u2014\n        But if the _savage_ turns his glaring eye,\n        They howl aloof, and round the forest fly.\n      lines 201\u20132 are not in the first edition.\n      For every want, etc. Mitford quotes a parallel\n      passage in _Animated Nature_, 1774, ii. 123:\u2014\u2018Every want\n      thus becomes a means of pleasure, in the redressing.\u2019\n      Their morals, like their pleasures, are but low.\n      Probably Goldsmith only uses \u2018low\u2019 here in its primitive sense, and not in\n      that which, in his own day, gave so much umbrage to so many\n      eighteenth-century students of humanity in the rough. Cf. Fielding, _Tom\n      Jones_, 1749, iii. 6:\u2014 \u2018Some of the Author\u2019s Friends cry\u2019d\u2014\u201cLook\u2019e,\n      Gentlemen, the Man is a Villain; but it is Nature for all that.\u201d And all\n      the young Critics of the Age, the Clerks, Apprentices, etc., called it _Low_\n      and fell a Groaning.\u2019 See also _Tom Jones_, iv. 94, and 226\u201330.\n      \u2018There\u2019s nothing comes out but the \u2018most lowest\u2019 stuff in nature\u2019\u2014says\n      Lady Blarney in ch. xi of the _ Vicar_, whose author is\n      eloquent on this topic in _The Present State of Polite Learning_,\n      _She Stoops to Conquer_, 1773 (Act i); while Graves (_Spiritual\n      Quixote_, 1772, bk. i, ch. vi) gives the fashion the scientific\n      appellation of _ tapino-phoby,_ which he defines as \u2018a dread of\n      everything that is _low_, either in writing or in conversation.\u2019 To\n      Goldsmith, if we may trust George Colman\u2019s _Prologue_ to Miss\n      Lee\u2019s _Chapter of Accidents_, 1780, belongs the credit of\n      exorcising this particular form of depreciation:\u2014\n        When Fielding, Humour\u2019s fav\u2019rite child, appear\u2019d,\n        _Low_ was the word\u2014a word each author fear\u2019d!\n        Till chas\u2019d at length, by pleasantry\u2019s bright ray,\n        Nature and mirth resum\u2019d their legal sway;\n        And Goldsmith\u2019s genius bask\u2019d in open day.\n      According to Borrow\u2019s _Lavengro_, ch. xli, Lord Chesterfield\n      considered that the speeches of Homer\u2019s heroes were frequently\n      \u2018exceedingly low.\u2019\n      How often, etc. This and the lines which\n      immediately follow are autobiographical. Cf. George Primrose\u2019s story in\n      _The Vicar of Wakefield_, 1766, ii. 24\u20135 (ch. i):\u2014\u2018I\n      passed among the harmless peasants of Flanders, and among such of the\n      French as were poor enough to be very merry; for I ever found them\n      sprightly in proportion to their wants. Whenever I approached a peasant\u2019s\n      house towards night-fall, I played one of my most merry tunes, and that\n      procured me not only a lodging, but subsistence for the next day.\u2019\n      gestic lore, i.e. traditional gestures or motions.\n      Scott uses the word \u2018gestic\u2019 in _Peveril of the Peak_, ch. xxx,\n      where King Charles the Second witnesses the dancing of Fenella:\u2014\u2018He\n      bore time to her motions with the movement of his foot\u2014applauded\n      with head and with hand\u2014and seemed, like herself, carried away by\n      the enthusiasm of the _gestic_ art.\u2019 [Hales.]\n      Thus idly busy rolls their world away. Pope has\n      \u2018Life\u2019s _idle business_\u2019 (_Unfortunate Lady_, l. 81), and\u2014\n        The _busy, idle_ blockheads of the ball.\n      And all are taught an avarice of praise. Professor\n      Hales (_Longer English Poems_) compares Horace of the Greeks:\u2014\n        Praeter laudem, nullius avaris.\n      copper lace. \u2018St Martin\u2019s lace,\u2019 for which, in\n      Strype\u2019s day, Blowbladder St. was famous. Cf. the actress\u2019s \u2018copper tail\u2019\n      in _Citizen of the World_, 1762, ii. 60.\n      To men of other minds, etc. Prior compares with the\n      description that follows a passage in vol. i. p. 276 of _Animated\n      Nature_, 1774:\u2014\u2018But we need scarce mention these, when we find\n      that the whole kingdom of Holland seems to be a conquest upon the sea, and\n      in a manner rescued from its bosom. The surface of the earth, in this\n      country, is below the level of the bed of the sea; and I remember, upon\n      approaching the coast, to have looked down upon it from the sea, as into a\n      valley.\u2019\n      Where the broad ocean leans against the land. Cf.\n      Dryden in _Annus Mirabilis_, 1666, st. clxiv. l. 654:\u2014\n        And view the ocean leaning on the sky.\n      the tall rampire\u2019s, i.e. rampart\u2019s (Old French, _rempart,\n      rempar_). Cf. _Timon of Athens_, Act v. Sc. 4:\u2014\u2018Our\n      rampir\u2019d gates.\u2019\n      bosom reign in the first edition was \u2018breast\n      obtain.\u2019\n      Even liberty itself is barter\u2019d here. \u2018Slavery,\u2019\n      says Mitford, \u2018was permitted in Holland; children were sold by their\n      parents for a certain number of years.\u2019\n      A land of tyrants, and a den of slaves. Goldsmith\n      uses this very line as prose in Letter xxxiv of _The Citizen of the\n      dishonourable graves. _Julius Caesar_,\n      Heavens! how unlike, etc. Prior compares a passage\n      from a manuscript _ Introduction to the History of the Seven Years\u2019\n      War_:\u2014\u2018How unlike the brave peasants their ancestors, who\n      spread terror into either India, and always declared themselves the allies\n      of those who drew the sword in defence of freedom.\u2019*\n* J. W. M. Gibbs (_Works_, v. 9) discovered that parts of\n      this _History_, hitherto supposed to have been written in 1761, were\n      published in the _Literary Magazine_, 1757\u20138.\n      famed Hydaspes, i.e. the _fabulosus Hydaspes_\n      of Horace, Bk. i. Ode xxii, and the _Medus Hydaspes_ of Virgil,\n      _ Georg_, iv. 211, of which so many stores were told. It is now\n      known as the Jhilum, one of the five rivers which give the Punjaub its\n      Pride in their port, etc. In the first edition\n      these two lines were inverted.\n      Here by the bonds of nature feebly held. In the\n      first edition\u2014\n        See, though by circling deeps together held.\n      Nature\u2019s ties was \u2018social bonds\u2019 in the first\n      edition.\n      Where kings have toil\u2019d, and poets wrote for fame.\n      In the first edition this line read:\u2014\n        And monarchs toil, and poets pant for fame.\n      Yet think not, etc. \u2018In the things I have hitherto\n      written I have neither allured the vanity of the great by flattery, nor\n      satisfied the malignity of the vulgar by scandal, but I have endeavoured\n      to get an honest reputation by liberal pursuits.\u2019 (Preface to _\n      English History._) [Mitford.]\n      Ye powers of truth, etc. The first version has:\u2014\n        Perish the wish; for, inly satisfy\u2019d,\n        Above their pomps I hold my ragged pride.\n      Mr. Forster thinks (_Life_, 1871, i. 375) that Goldsmith\n      altered this (i.e. \u2018ragged pride\u2019) because, like the omitted _Haud\n      inexpertus loquor_ of the _ Enquiry_, it involved an\n      undignified admission.\n      lines 365\u201380 are not in the first edition.\n      Contracting regal power to stretch their own. \u2018It\n      is the interest of the great, therefore, to diminish kingly power as much\n      as possible; because whatever they take from it is naturally restored to\n      themselves; and all they have to do in a state, is to undermine the single\n      tyrant, by which they resume their primaeval authority.\u2019 (_Vicar of\n      When I behold, etc. Prior compares a passage in\n      Letter xlix of _ The Citizen of the World_, 1762, i. 218, where\n      the Roman senators are spoken of as still flattering the people \u2018with a\n      shew of freedom, while themselves only were free.\u2019\n      Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law.\n      Prior notes a corresponding utterance in _The Vicar of Wakefield_,\n      1766, i. 206, ch. xix:\u2014\u2018What they may then expect, may be seen by\n      turning our eyes to Holland, Genoa, or Venice, where the laws govern the\n      poor, and the rich govern the law.\u2019\n      I fly from petty tyrants to the throne. Cf. Dr.\n      Primrose, _ut supra_, p. 201:\u2014\u2018The generality of mankind also\n      are of my\n      way of thinking, and have unanimously created one king, whose election at\n      once diminishes the number of tyrants, and puts tyranny at the greatest\n      distance from the greatest number of people.\u2019 Cf. also Churchill, _The\n        Let not a Mob of Tyrants seize the helm,\n        Nor titled upstarts league to rob the realm...\n        Let us, some comfort in our griefs to bring,\n        Be slaves to one, and be that one a King.\n      lines 393\u20134. Goldsmith\u2019s first thought was\u2014\n        Yes, my lov\u2019d brother, cursed be that hour\n        When first ambition toil\u2019d for foreign power,\u2014\n      an entirely different couplet to that in the text, and certainly more\n      logical. (Dobell\u2019s _Prospect of Society_, 1902, pp. xi, 2, and\n      Notes, v, vi). Mr. Dobell plausibly suggests that this Tory substitution\n      is due to Johnson.\n      Have we not seen, etc. These lines contain the\n      first idea of the subsequent poem of _The Deserted Village_ (_q.v._).\n      Where wild Oswego spreads her swamps around. The\n      Oswego is a river which runs between Lakes Oneida and Ontario. In the\n      _Threnodia Augustalis_, 1772, Goldsmith writes:\u2014\n        Oswego\u2019s dreary shores shall be my grave.\n      The \u2018desarts of Oswego\u2019 were familiar to the eighteenth-century reader in\n      connexion with General Braddock\u2019s ill-fated expedition of 1755, an\n      account of which Goldsmith had just given in _An History of England,\n      in a Series of Letters from a Nobleman to his Son_, 1764, ii. 202\u20134.\n      marks with murderous aim. In the first edition\n      \u2018takes a deadly aim.\u2019\n      pensive exile. This, in the version mentioned in\n      the next note, was \u2018famish\u2019d exile.\u2019\n      To stop too fearful, and too faint to go. This\n      line, upon Boswell\u2019s authority, is claimed for Johnson (Birkbeck Hill\u2019s\n      _ Boswell_, 1887, ii. 6). Goldsmith\u2019s original ran:\u2014\n        And faintly fainter, fainter seems to go.\n      (Dobell\u2019s _Prospect of Society_, 1902, p. 3).\n      How small, of all, etc. Johnson wrote these\n      concluding\n      ten lines with the exception of the penultimate couplet. They and line 420\n      were all\u2014he told Boswell\u2014of which he could be sure (Birkbeck\n      Hill\u2019s _Boswell_, _ut supra_). Like Goldsmith, he\n      sometimes worked his prose ideas into his verse. The first couplet is\n      apparently a reminiscence of a passage in his own _Rasselas_,\n      1759, ii. 112, where the astronomer speaks of \u2018the task of a king . . .\n      who has the care only of a few millions, to whom he cannot do much good or\n      harm.\u2019 (Grant\u2019s _Johnson_, 1887, p. 89.) \u2018I would not give half\n      a guinea to live under one form of government rather than another,\u2019 he\n      told that \u2018vile Whig,\u2019 Sir Adam Fergusson, in 1772. \u2018It is of no moment to\n      the happiness of an individual\u2019 (Birkbeck Hill\u2019s _ Boswell_,\n      The lifted axe. Mitford here recalls Blackmore\u2019s\n        Some the sharp axe, and some the painful wheel.\n      The \u2018lifted axe\u2019 he also traces to Young and Blackmore, with both of whom\n      Goldsmith seems to have been familiar; but it is surely not necessary to\n      assume that he borrowed from either in this instance.\n      Luke\u2019s iron crown. George and Luke Dosa, or Doscha,\n      headed a rebellion in Hungary in 1513. The former was proclaimed king by\n      the peasants; and, in consequence suffered, among other things, the\n      torture of the red-hot iron crown. Such a punishment took place at\n      Bordeaux when Montaigne was seventeen (Morley\u2019s Florio\u2019s _ Montaigne_,\n      1886, p. xvi). Much ink has been shed over Goldsmith\u2019s lapse of \u2018Luke\u2019 for\n      George. In the book which he cited as his authority, the family name of\n      the brothers was given as Zeck,\u2014hence Bolton Corney, in his edition\n      of the _ Poetical Works_, 1845, p. 36, corrected the line to\u2014\n        _Zeck\u2019s_ iron crown, etc.,\n      an alteration which has been adopted by other editors. (See also Forster\u2019s\n      Damien\u2019s bed of steel. Robert-Francois Damiens,\n      1714\u201357. Goldsmith writes \u2018Damien\u2019s.\u2019 In the _Gentlemen\u2019s Magazine_\n      for 1757, vol. xxvii. pp. 87 and 151, where there is an account of this\n      poor half-witted wretch\u2019s torture and execution for attempting to\n      assassinate Louis XV, the name is thus spelled, as also in other\n      contemporary records and caricatures. The following passage explains the\n      \u2018bed of steel\u2019:\u2014\u2018Being conducted\n      to the Conciergerie, an \u2018iron bed\u2019, which likewise served for a chair, was\n      prepared for him, and to this he was fastened with chains. The torture was\n      again applied, and a physician ordered to attend to see what degree of\n      pain he could support,\u2019 etc. (Smollett\u2019s _History of England_,\n      1823, bk. iii, ch. 7, \u00a7 xxv.) Goldsmith\u2019s own explanation\u2014according\n      to Tom Davies, the bookseller\u2014was that he meant the rack. But Davies\n      may have misunderstood him, or Goldsmith himself may have forgotten the\n      facts. (See Forster\u2019s _Life_, 1871, i. 370.) At pp. 57\u201378 of\n      the _ Monthly Review_ for July, 1757 (upon which Goldsmith was\n      at this date employed), is a summary, \u2018from our correspondent at Paris,\u2019\n      of the official record of the Damiens\u2019 Trial, 4 vols. 12 mo.; and his deed\n      and tragedy make a graphic chapter in the remarkable _Strange\n      Adventures of Captain Dangerous_, by George Augustus Sala, 1863,\n      line 438. In the first edition of \u2018The Traveller\u2019\n      there are only 416 lines.\nTHE DESERTED VILLAGE.\n      After having been for some time announced as in preparation, _The\n      Deserted Village_ made its first appearance on May 26, 1770.* It was\n      received with great enthusiasm. In June a second, third, and fourth\n      edition followed, and in August a fifth was published. The text here given\n      is that of the fourth edition, which was considerably revised. Johnson, we\n      are told, thought _The Deserted Village_ inferior to _The\n      Traveller_: but \u2018time,\u2019 to use Mr. Forster\u2019s words, \u2018has not\n      confirmed _that_ judgment.\u2019 Its germ is perhaps to be found in ll.\n      397\u2013402 of the earlier poem.\n* In the American _Bookman_ for February, 1901, pp.\n      563\u20137, Mr. Luther S. Livingston gives an account (with facsimile\n      title-pages) of three _octavo_ (or rather duodecimo) editions all\n      dated 1770; and ostensibly printed for \u2018W. Griffin, at Garrick\u2019s Head, in\n      Catherine-street, Strand.\u2019 He rightly describes their existence as \u2018a\n      bibliographical puzzle.\u2019 They afford no important variations; are not\n      mentioned by the early editors; and are certainly not in the form in which\n      the poem was first advertised and reviewed, as this was a quarto. But they\n      are naturally of interest to the collector; and the late Colonel Francis\n      Grant, a good Goldsmith scholar, described one of them in the _Athenaeum_\n      Much research has been expended in the endeavour to identify the scene\n      with Lissoy, the home of the poet\u2019s youth (see _Introduction_, p.\n      ix); but the result has only been partially successful. The truth seems\n      that Goldsmith, living in England, recalled in a poem that was English in\n      its conception many of the memories and accessories of his early life in\n      Ireland, without intending or even caring to draw an exact picture. Hence,\n      as Lord Macaulay has observed, in a much criticized and characteristic\n      passage, \u2018it is made up of incongruous parts. The village in its happy\n      days is a true English village. The village in its decay is an Irish\n      village. The felicity and the misery which Goldsmith has brought close\n      together belong to two different countries, and to two different stages in\n      the progress of society. He had assuredly never seen in his native island\n      such a rural paradise, such a seat of plenty, content, and tranquillity,\n      as his \u201cAuburn.\u201d He had assuredly never seen in England all the\n      inhabitants of such a paradise turned out of their homes in one day and\n      forced to emigrate in a body to America. The hamlet he had probably seen\n      in Kent; the ejectment he had probably seen in Munster; but, by joining\n      the two, he has produced something which never was and never will be seen\n      in any part of the world.\u2019 (_Encyclop. Britannica_, 1856.) It\n      is obvious also that in some of his theories\u2014the depopulation of the\n      kingdom, for example\u2014Goldsmith was mistaken. But it was not for its\n      didactic qualities then, nor is it for them now, that _The Deserted\n      Village_\u2019 delighted and delights. It maintains its popularity by its\n      charming _genre_-pictures, its sweet and tender passages, its\n      simplicity, its sympathetic hold upon the enduring in human nature. To\n      test it solely with a view to establish its topographical accuracy, or to\n      insist too much upon the value of its ethical teaching, is to mistake its\n      real mission as a work of art.\n      Dedication. I am ignorant of that art in which you are\n      said to excel. This modest confession did not prevent Goldsmith from\n      making fun of the contemporary connoisseur. See the letter from the young\n      virtuoso in _The Citizen of the World_, 1762, i. 145,\n      announcing that a famous \u2018torse\u2019 has been discovered to be not \u2018a\n      Cleopatra bathing\u2019 but \u2018a Hercules spinning\u2019; and Charles Primrose\u2019s\n      experiences at Paris (_Vicar of Wakefield_, 1766, ii. 27\u20138).\n      He is since dead. Henry Goldsmith died in May,\n      1768, at the age of forty-five, being then curate of Kilkenny West. (See\n      a long poem. \u2018I might dwell upon such thoughts . .\n      . were I not afraid of making this preface too tedious; especially since I\n      shall want all the patience of the reader, for having enlarged it with the\n      following verses.\u2019 (Tickell\u2019s Preface to Addison\u2019s _ Works_, at\n      the increase of our luxuries. The evil of luxury\n      was a \u2018common topick\u2019 with Goldsmith. (Birkbeck Hill\u2019s _Boswell_,\n      1887, ii. 217\u20138.) Smollett also, speaking with the voice of Lismahago, and\n      continuing the quotation on p. 169, was of the opinion that \u2018the sudden\n      affluence occasioned by trade, forced open all the sluices of luxury, and\n      overflowed the land with every species of profligacy and corruption.\u2019 (_Humphry\n      Clinker_, 1771, ii. 192.\u2014Letter of Mr. Bramble to Dr. Lewis.)\n      Sweet AUBURN. Forster, _Life_, 1871, ii.\n      206, says that Goldsmith obtained this name from Bennet Langton. There is\n      an Aldbourn or Auburn in Wiltshire, not far from Marlborough, which Prior\n      thinks may have furnished the suggestion.\n      Seats of my youth. This alone would imply that\n      Goldsmith had in mind the environment of his Irish home.\n      The decent church that topp\u2019d the neighbouring hill.\n      This corresponds with the church of Kilkenny West as seen from the house\n      at Lissoy.\n[Illustration: ]\nKILKENNY WEST CHURCH\n(R. H. Newell)\n      The hawthorn bush. The Rev. Annesley Strean, Henry\n      Goldsmith\u2019s successor at Kilkenny West, well remembered the hawthorn bush\n      in front of the village ale-house. It had originally three trunks; but\n      when he wrote in 1807 only one remained, \u2018the other two having been cut,\n      from time to time, by persons carrying pieces of it away to be made into\n      toys, etc., in honour of the bard, and of the celebrity of his poem.\u2019 (_Essay\n      on Light Reading_, by the Rev. Edward Mangin, M.A., 1808, 142\u20133.)\n      Its remains were enclosed by a Captain Hogan previously to 1819; but\n      nevertheless when Prior visited the place in 1830, nothing was apparent\n      but \u2018a very tender shoot [which] had again forced its way to the surface.\u2019\n      (Prior, _ Life_, 1837, ii. 264.) An engraving of the tree by S.\n      Alken, from a sketch made in 1806\u20139, is to be\n      found at p. 41 of Goldsmith\u2019s _Poetical Works_, R. H. Newell\u2019s\n      edition, 1811, and is reproduced in the present volume.\n[Illustration: ]\nHAWTHORN TREE\n(R. H. Newell)\n      How often have I bless\u2019d the coming day. Prior,\n      _Life_, 1837, ii. 261, finds in this an allusion \u2018to the\n      Sundays or numerous holidays, usually kept in Roman Catholic countries.\u2019\n      Amidst thy bowers the tyrant\u2019s hand is seen.\n      Strean\u2019s explanation (Mangin, _ut supra_, pp. 140\u20131) of this is as\n      follows:\u2014\u2018The poem of _The Deserted Village_, took its\n      origin from the circumstance of general Robert Napper [Napier or Naper],\n      (the grandfather of the gentleman who now [1807] lives in the house,\n      within half a mile of Lissoy, and built by the general) having purchased\n      an extensive tract of the country surrounding Lissoy, or _Auburn_; in\n      consequence of which many families, here called _cottiers_, were\n      removed, to make room for the intended improvements of what was now to\n      become the wide domain of a rich man, warm with the idea of changing the\n      face of his new acquisition; and were forced, \u201c_with fainting steps,_\u201d\n      to go in search of \u201c_torrid tracts_\u201d and \u201c_distant climes._\u201d\u2019\n      Prior (_Life_, 1837, i. 40\u20133) points out that Goldsmith was not\n      the first to give poetical expression to the wrongs of the dispossessed\n      Irish peasantry; and he quotes a long extract from the _Works_\n      (1741) of a Westmeath poet, Lawrence Whyte, which contains such passages\n      as these:\u2014\n        Their native soil were forced to quit,\n        So Irish landlords thought it fit;\n        Who without ceremony or rout,\n        For their improvements turn\u2019d them out ...\n        How many villages they razed,\n        How many parishes laid waste ...\n        Whole colonies, to shun the fate\n        Of being oppress\u2019d at such a rate,\n        By tyrants who still raise their rent,\n        Sail\u2019d to the Western Continent.\n      The hollow-sounding bittern guards its nest. \u2018Of\n      all those sounds,\u2019 says Goldsmith, speaking of the cries of waterfowl,\n      \u2018there is none so dismally hollow as the booming of the bittern.\u2019 . . . \u2018I\n      remember in the place where I was a boy with what terror this bird\u2019s note\n      affected the whole village; they\n      considered it as the presage of some sad event; and generally found or\n      made one to succeed it.\u2019 (_Animated Nature_, 1774, vi. 1\u20132, 4.)\n      Bewick, who may be trusted to speak of a bird which he has drawn with such\n      exquisite fidelity, refers (_Water Birds_, 1847, p. 49) to \u2018the\n      hollow booming noise which the bittern makes during the night, in the\n      breeding season, from its swampy retreats.\u2019 Cf. also that close observer\n      Crabbe (_The Borough_, Letter xxii, ll. 197\u20138):\u2014\n        And the loud bittern, from the bull-rush home,\n        Gave from the salt-ditch side the bellowing boom.\n      Princes and lords may flourish, or may fade;\n      A breath can make them, as a breath has made.\n      Mitford compares _Confessio Amantis_, fol. 152:\u2014\n            A kynge may make a lorde a knave,\n              And of a knave a lord also;\n      and Professor Hales recalls Burns\u2019s later line in the _Cotter\u2019s\n      Saturday Night_, 1785:\u2014\n        Princes and lords are but the breath of kings.\n      But Prior finds the exact equivalent of the second line in the verses of\n      an old French poet, De. Caux, upon an hour-glass:\u2014\n                    C\u2019est un verre qui luit,\n        Qu\u2019un souffle peut d\u00e9truire, et qu\u2019un souffle a\nproduit.\n      A time there was, ere England\u2019s griefs began. Here\n      wherever the locality of Auburn, the author had clearly England in mind. A\n      caustic commentator has observed that the \u2018time\u2019 indicated must have been\n      a long while ago.\n      opulence. In the first edition the word is\n      \u2018luxury.\u2019\n      And, many a year elapsed, return to view. \u2018It is\n      strongly contended at Lishoy, that \u201c_the Poet_,\u201d as he is usually\n      called there, after his pedestrian tour upon the Continent of Europe,\n      returned to and resided in the village some time. . . . It is moreover\n      believed, that the havock which had been made in his absence among those\n      favourite scenes of his youth, affected his mind so deeply, that he\n      actually composed great part of the Deserted Village \u2018at\u2019 Lishoy.\u2019 (_Poetical\n      Works, with Remarks_, etc., by the Rev. R. H. Newell, 1811, p. 74.)\n      Notwithstanding the above, there is no evidence that Goldsmith ever\n      returned to his native island. In a letter to his brother-in-law, Daniel\n      Hodson, written in 1758, he spoke of hoping to do so \u2018in five or six\n      years.\u2019 (_Percy Memoir_, 1801, i. 49). But in another letter,\n      written towards the close of his life, it is still a thing to come. \u2018I am\n      again,\u2019 he says, \u2018just setting out for Bath, and I honestly say I had much\n      rather it had been for Ireland with my nephew, but that pleasure I hope to\n      have before I die.\u2019 (Letter to Daniel Hodson, no date, in possession of\n      the late Frederick Locker Lampson.)\n      Where once the cottage stood, the hawthorn grew.\n      Here followed, in the first edition:\u2014\n        Here, as with doubtful, pensive steps I range,\n        Trace every scene, and wonder at the change,\n        Remembrance, etc.\n      In all my griefs\u2014and God has given my share.\n      Prior notes a slight similarity here to a line of Collins:\u2014\n        Ye mute companions of my toils, that bear,\n        _In all my griefs_, a more than equal share!\n      In _The Present State of Polite Learning_, 1759, p. 143,\n      Goldsmith refers feelingly to \u2018the neglected author of the Persian\n      eclogues, which, however inaccurate, excel any in our language.\u2019 He\n      included four of them in _The Beauties of English Poesy_, 1767,\n      To husband out, etc. In the first edition this ran:\u2014\n        My anxious day to husband near the close,\n        And keep life\u2019s flame from wasting by repose.\n      Here to return\u2014and die at home at last.\n      Forster compares a passage in _The Citizen of the World_, 1762,\n      ii. 153:\u2014\u2018There is something so seducing in that spot in which we\n      first had existence, that nothing but it can please; whatever vicissitudes\n      we experience in life, however we toil, or wheresoever we wander, our\n      fatigued wishes still recur to home for tranquillity, we long to die in\n      that spot which gave us birth, and in that pleasing expectation opiate\n      every calamity.\u2019 The poet Waller too\u2014he adds\u2014wished to die\n      \u2018like the stag where he was roused.\u2019 (_Life_, 1871, ii. 202.)\n[Illustration: ]\nSouth View from Goldsmith\u2019s Mount\n(R.H. Newell)\n      How happy he. \u2018How blest is he\u2019 in the first\n      edition.\n      And, since \u2019tis hard to combat, learns to fly.\n      Mitford compares _The Bee_ for October 13, 1759, p. 56:\u2014\u2018By\n      struggling with misfortunes, we are sure to receive some wounds in the\n      conflict. The only method to come off victorious, is by running away.\u2019\n      surly porter. Mr. J. M. Lobban compares the _Citizen\n      of the World_, 1762, i. 123:\u2014\u2018I never see a nobleman\u2019s door\n      half opened that some surly porter or footman does not stand full in the\n      breach.\u2019 (_Select Poems of Goldsmith_, 1900, p. 98.)\n      Bends. \u2018Sinks\u2019 in the first edition. _unperceived\n      decay_. Cf. Johnson, _Vanity of Human Wishes_, 1749, l. 292:\u2014\n        An age that melts with unperceiv\u2019d decay,\n        And glides in modest innocence away;\n      and _Irene_, Act ii, Sc. 7:\u2014\n        And varied life steal unperceiv\u2019d away.\n      While Resignation, etc. In 1771 Sir Joshua\n      exhibited a picture of \u2018An Old Man,\u2019 studied from the beggar who was his\n      model for Ugolino. When it was engraved by Thomas Watson in 1772, he\n      called it \u2018Resignation,\u2019 and inscribed the print to Goldsmith in the\n      following words:\u2014\u2018This attempt to express a Character in _The\n      Deserted Village_, is dedicated to Dr. Goldsmith, by his sincere\n      Friend and admirer, JOSHUA REYNOLDS.\u2019\n      Up yonder hill. It has been suggested that\n      Goldsmith was here thinking of the little hill of Knockaruadh (Red Hill)\n      in front of Lissoy parsonage, of which there is a sketch in Newell\u2019s _Poetical\n      Works_, 1811. When Newell wrote, it was already known as\n      \u2018Goldsmith\u2019s mount\u2019; and the poet himself refers to it in a letter to his\n      brother-in-law Hodson, dated Dec. 27, 1757:\u2014\u2018I had rather be placed\n      on the little mount before Lishoy gate, and there take in, to me, the most\n      pleasing horizon in nature.\u2019 (_Percy Memoir_, 1801, p. 43.)\n      And fill\u2019d each pause the nightingale had made. In\n      _Animated Nature_, 1774, v. 328, Goldsmith says:\u2014\u2018The\n      nightingale\u2019s pausing song would be the proper epithet for this bird\u2019s\n      music.\u2019 [Mitford.]\n      No cheerful murmurs fluctuate in the gale. (Cf.\n      Goldsmith\u2019s Essay on _ Metaphors_ (_British Magazine_):\u2014\u2018Armstrong\n      has used the word \u2018fluctuate\u2019 with admirable efficacy, in his\n      philosophical poem entitled _The Art of Preserving Health_.\n        Oh! when the growling winds contend, and all\n        The sounding forest \u2018fluctuates\u2019 in the storm,\n        To sink in warm repose, and hear the din\n        Howl o\u2019er the steady battlements.\n      The sad historian of the pensive plain. Strean (see\n      note to l. 13) identified the old watercress gatherer as a certain\n      Catherine Giraghty (or Geraghty). Her children (he said) were still living\n      in the neighbourhood of Lissoy in 1807. (Mangin\u2019s _Essay on Light\n      The village preacher\u2019s modest mansion rose. \u2018The\n      Rev. Charles Goldsmith is allowed by all that knew him, to have been\n      faithfully represented by his son in the character of the Village\n      Preacher.\u2019 So writes his daughter, Catharine Hodson (_Percy Memoir_,\n      1801, p. 3). Others, relying perhaps upon the \u2018forty pounds a year\u2019 of the\n      Dedication to _The Traveller_, make the poet\u2019s brother Henry\n      the original; others, again, incline to kindly Uncle Contarine (_vide\n      Introduction_). But as Prior justly says (_Life_, 1837, ii.\n      249), \u2018the fact perhaps is that he fixed upon no one individual, but\n      borrowing like all good poets and painters a little from each, drew the\n      character by their combination.\u2019\n      with forty pounds a year. Cf. Dedication to _The\n       Unpractis\u2019d. \u2018Unskilful\u2019 in the first edition.\n      More skilled. \u2018More bent\u2019 in the first edition.\n      The long remember\u2019d beggar. \u2018The same persons,\u2019\n      says Prior, commenting upon this passage, \u2018are seen for a series of years\n      to traverse the same tract of country at certain intervals, intrude into\n      every house which is not defended by the usual outworks of wealth, a gate\n      and a porter\u2019s lodge, exact their portion of the food of the family, and\n      even find an occasional resting-place for the night, or from severe\n      weather, in the chimney-corner of respectable farmers.\u2019 (_Life_,\n      1837, ii. 269.) Cf. Scott on the Scottish mendicants in the\n      \u2018Advertisement\u2019 to _The Antiquary_, 1816, and Leland\u2019s _Hist.\n      The broken soldier. The disbanded soldier let loose\n      upon the country at the conclusion of the \u2018Seven Years\u2019 War\u2019 was a\n      familiar figure at this period. Bewick, in his _Memoir_\n      (\u2018Memorial Edition\u2019), 1887, pp. 44\u20135, describes some of these ancient\n      campaigners with their battered old uniforms and their endless stories of\n      Minden and Quebec; and a picture of two of them by T. S. Good of Berwick\n      belonged to the late Mr. Locker Lampson. Edie Ochiltree (_Antiquary_)\u2014it\n      may be remembered\u2014had fought at Fontenoy.\n      Allur\u2019d to brighter worlds. Cf. Tickell on Addison\u2014\u2018Saints\n      who taught and led the way to Heaven.\u2019\n      And fools, who came to scoff, remained to pray.\n      Prior compares the opening lines of Dryden\u2019s _Britannia Rediviva_:\u2014\n        Our vows are heard betimes, and heaven takes care\n        To grant, before we can conclude the prayer;\n        Preventing angels met it half the way,\n        And sent us back to praise, who came to pray.\n      As some tall cliff, etc. Lucan, Statius, and\n      Claudian have been supposed to have helped Goldsmith to this fine and\n      deservedly popular simile. But, considering his obvious familiarity with\n      French literature, and the rarity of his \u2018obligations to the ancients,\u2019 it\n      is not unlikely that, as suggested by a writer in the _Academy_\n      for Oct. 30, 1886, his source of suggestion is to be found in the\n      following passage of an Ode addressed by Chapelain (1595\u20131674) to\n      Richelieu:\u2014\n        Dans un paisible mouvement\n        Tu t\u2019\u00e9l\u00e8ves au firmament,\nEt laisses contre toi murmurer cette terre;\n    Ainsi le haut Olympe, \u00e0 son pied sablonneux,\nLaisse fumer la foudre et gronder le tonnerre,\n    Et garde son sommet tranquille et lumineux.\n      Or another French model\u2014indicated by Mr. Forster (_Life_,\n      1871, ii. 115\u201316) by the late Lord Lytton\u2014may have been these lines\n      from a poem by the Abb\u00e9 de Chaulieu (1639\u20131720):\u2014\n        Au milieu cependant de ces peines cruelles\n        De notre triste hiver, compagnes trop fid\u00e8les,\n        Je suis tranquille et gai.  Quel bien plus pr\u00e9cieux\n        Puis-je esp\u00e9rer jamais de la bont\u00e9 des dieux!\n            Tel qu\u2019un rocher dont la t\u00eate,\n            \u00c9galant le Mont Athos,\n            Voit \u00e0 ses pieds la temp\u00eate\n            Troubler le calme des flots,\n            La mer autour bruit et gronde;\n            Malgr\u00e9 ses emotions,\n        Sur son front \u00e9lev\u00e9 r\u00e8gne une paix profonde,\n            Que tant d\u2019agitations\n            Et que ses fureurs de l\u2019onde\n        Respectent \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9gal du nid des alcyons.\n      On the other hand, Goldsmith may have gone no further than Young\u2019s _Complaint:\n      Night the Second_, 1742, p. 42, where, as Mitford points out, occur\n      these lines:\u2014\n        As some tall Tow\u2019r, or lofty Mountain\u2019s Brow,\n        Detains the Sun, Illustrious from its Height,\n        While rising Vapours, and descending Shades,\n        With Damps, and Darkness drown the Spatious Vale:\n        Undampt by Doubt, Undarken\u2019d by Despair,\n        _Philander_, thus, augustly rears his Head.\n      Prior also (_Life_, 1837, ii. 252) prints a passage from _Animated\n      Nature_, 1774, i. 145, derived from Ulloa, which perhaps served as\n      the raw material of the simile.\n      Full well they laugh\u2019d, etc. Steele, in _Spectator_,\n      No. 49 (for April 26, 1711) has a somewhat similar thought:\u2014\u2018_Eubulus_\n      has so great an Authority in his little Diurnal Audience, that when he\n      shakes his Head at any Piece of publick News, they all of them appear\n      dejected; and, on the contrary, go home to their Dinners with a good\n      Stomach and chearful Aspect, when _Eubulus_ seems to intimate\n      that Things go well.\u2019\n      Yet he was kind, etc. For the rhyme of \u2018fault\u2019 and\n      \u2018aught\u2019 in this couplet Prior cites the precedent of Pope:\u2014\n        Before his sacred name flies ev\u2019ry fault,\n        And each exalted stanza teems with thought!\n      (_Essay on Criticism_, l. 422). He might also have cited\n      Waller, who elides the \u2018l\u2019:\u2014\n        Were we but less indulgent to our fau\u2019ts,\n        And patience had to cultivate our thoughts.\n      Goldsmith uses a like rhyme in _Edwin and Angelina_, Stanza\nBut mine the sorrow, mine the fault,\n    And well my life shall pay;\nI\u2019ll seek the solitude he sought,\n    And stretch me where he lay.\n      Cf. also _Retaliation_, ll. 73\u20134. Perhaps\u2014as indeed Prior\n      suggests\u2014he pronounced \u2018fault\u2019 in this fashion.\n[Illustration: ]\nTHE SCHOOL HOUSE\n(R. H. Newell)\n      That one small head could carry all he knew. Some\n      of the traits of this portrait are said to be borrowed from Goldsmith\u2019s\n      own master at Lissoy:\u2014\u2018He was instructed in reading, writing, and\n      arithmetic\u2019\u2014says his sister Catherine, Mrs. Hodson\u2014\u2018by a\n      schoolmaster in his father\u2019s village, who had been a quartermaster in the\n      army in Queen Anne\u2019s wars, in that detachment which was sent to Spain:\n      having travelled over a considerable part of Europe and being of a very\n      romantic turn, he used to entertain Oliver with his adventures; and the\n      impressions these made on his scholar were believed by the family to have\n      given him that wandering and unsettled turn which so much appeared in his\n      future life.\u2019 (_Percy Memoir_, 1801, pp. 3\u20134.) The name of this\n      worthy, according to Strean, was Burn (Byrne). (Mangin\u2019s _ Essay on\n      Near yonder thorn. See note to l. 13.\n      The chest contriv\u2019d a double debt to pay. Cf. the\n      _Description of an Author\u2019s Bedchamber_, p. 48, l. ult.:\u2014\nA cap by night\u2014a stocking all the day!\n      The twelve good rules. \u2018A constant one\u2019 (i.e.\n      picture) \u2018in every house was \u201cKing Charles\u2019 Twelve Good Rules.\u201d\u2019 (Bewick\u2019s\n      _Memoir_, \u2018Memorial Edition,\u2019 1887, p. 262.) This old\n      broadside, surmounted by a rude woodcut of the King\u2019s execution, is still\n      prized by collectors. The rules, as \u2018found in the study of King Charles\n      the First, of Blessed Memory,\u2019 are as follow:\u2014 \u20181. Urge no healths;\n      2. Profane no divine ordinances; 3. Touch no state matters; 4. Reveal no\n      secrets; 5. Pick no quarrels; 6. Make no comparisons; 7. Maintain no ill\n      opinions; 8. Keep no bad company; 9. Encourage no vice; 10. Make no long\n      meals; 11. Repeat no grievances; 12. Lay no Wagers.\u2019 Prior, _Misc.\n      Works_, 1837, iv. 63, points out that Crabbe also\n      makes the \u2018Twelve Good Rules\u2019 conspicuous in the _Parish Register_\n        There is King Charles, and all his Golden Rules,\n        Who proved Misfortune\u2019s was the best of schools.\n      Her late Majesty, Queen Victoria, kept a copy of these rules in the\n      servants\u2019 hall at Windsor Castle.\n      the royal game of goose. The \u2018Royal and\n      Entertaining Game of the Goose\u2019 is described at length in Strutt\u2019s _Sports\n      and Pastimes_, bk. iv, ch. 2 (xxv). It may be briefly defined as a\n      game of compartments with different titles through which the player\n      progresses according to the numbers he throws with the dice. At every\n      fourth or fifth compartment is depicted a goose, and if the player\u2019s cast\n      falls upon one of these, he moves forward double the number of his throw.\n      While broken tea-cups. Cf. the _Description of\n      an Author\u2019s Bedchamber_, p. 48, l. 18:\u2014\n        And five crack\u2019d teacups dress\u2019d the chimney board.\n      Mr. Hogan, who repaired or rebuilt the ale-house at Lissoy, did not\n      forget, besides restoring the \u2018Royal Game of Goose\u2019 and the \u2018Twelve Good\n      Rules,\u2019 to add the broken teacups, \u2018which for better security in the frail\n      tenure of an Irish publican, or the doubtful decorum of his guests, were\n      embedded in the mortar.\u2019 (Prior, _Life_, 1837, ii. 265.)\n      Shall kiss the cup. Cf. Scott\u2019s _Lochinvar_:\u2014\n        The bride kissed the goblet: the knight took it up,\n        He quaff\u2019d off the wine and he threw down the cup.\n      Cf. also _The History of Miss Stanton_ (_British Magazine_,\n      July, 1760).\u2014\u2018The earthen mug went round. _Miss touched the cup_,\n      the stranger pledged the parson,\u2019 etc.\n      Between a splendid and a happy land. Prior compares\n      _The Citizen of the World_, 1762, i. 98:\u2014\u2018Too much\n      commerce may injure a nation as well as too little; and . . . there is a\n      wide difference between a conquering and a flourishing empire.\u2019\n      To see profusion that he must not share. Cf. _Animated\n      Nature_, iv. p. 43:\u2014\u2018He only guards those luxuries he is not\n      fated to share.\u2019 [Mitford.]\n      To see those joys. Up to the third edition the\n      words were _each joy_.\n      There the black gibbet glooms beside the way. The\n      gallows, under the savage penal laws of the eighteenth century, by which\n      horse-stealing, forgery, shop-lifting, and even the cutting of a hop-bind\n      in a plantation were punishable with death, was a common object in the\n      landscape. Cf. _Vicar of Wakefield_, 1706, ii. 122:\u2014\u2018Our\n      possessions are paled up with new edicts every day, and hung round with\n      gibbets to scare every invader\u2019; and _ Citizen of the World_,\n      1762, ii. 63\u20137. Johnson, who wrote eloquently on capital punishment in\n      _The Rambler_ for April 20, 1751, No. 114, also refers to the\n      ceaseless executions in his _London_, 1738, ll. 238\u201343:\u2014\n        Scarce can our fields, such crowds at Tyburn die,\n        With hemp the gallows and the fleet supply.\n        Propose your schemes, ye senatorian band,\n        Whose ways and means support the sinking land:\n        Lest ropes be wanting in the tempting spring,\n        To rig another convoy for the king.\n      Where the poor houseless shivering female lies.\n      Mitford compares Letter cxiv of _The Citizen of the World_,\n      1762, ii. 211:\u2014\u2018These _poor shivering females_ have once seen\n      happier days, and been flattered into beauty. They have been prostituted\n      to the gay luxurious villain, and are now turned out to meet the severity\n      of winter. Perhaps now lying at the doors of their betrayers, they sue to\n      wretches whose hearts are insensible, or debauchees who may curse, but\n      will not relieve them.\u2019 The same passage occurs in _The Bee_,\n      Near her betrayer\u2019s door, etc. Cf. the foregoing\n      quotation.\n      wild Altama, i.e. the Alatamaha, a river in\n      Georgia, North America. Goldsmith may have been familiar with this name in\n      connexion with his friend Oglethorpe\u2019s expedition of 1733.\n      crouching tigers, a poetical licence, as there are\n      no tigers in the locality named. But Mr. J. H. Lobban calls attention to a\n      passage from _Animated Nature_ [1774, iii. 244], in which\n      Goldsmith seems to defend himself:\u2014\u2018There is an animal of\n      America, which is usually called the Red Tiger, but Mr. Buffon calls it\n      the Cougar, which, no doubt, is very different from the tiger of the east.\n      Some, however, have thought proper to rank both together, and I will take\n      leave to follow their example.\u2019\n      The good old sire. Cf. _Threnodia Augustalis_,\n        The good old sire, unconscious of decay,\n        The modest matron, clad in homespun gray\n      a father\u2019s. \u2018Her father\u2019s\u2019 in the first edition.\n      silent. \u2018Decent\u2019 in the first edition.\n      On Torno\u2019s cliffs, or Pambamarca\u2019s side.\n      \u2018Torno\u2019=Tornea, a river which falls into the Gulf of Bothnia; Pambamarca\n      is a mountain near Quito, South America. \u2018The author\u2019\u2014says Bolton\n      Corney\u2014\u2018bears in memory the operations of the French philosophers in\n      the arctic and equatorial regions, as described in the celebrated\n      narratives of M. Maupertuis and Don Antonio de Ulloa.\u2019\n      That trade\u2019s proud empire, etc. These last four\n      lines are attributed to Johnson on Boswell\u2019s authority:\u2014\u2018Dr. Johnson\n      . . . favoured me by marking the lines which he furnished to Goldsmith\u2019s\n      _ Deserted Village_, which are only the \u2018last four\u2019.\u2019 (Birkbeck\nPROLOGUE OF LABERIUS.\n      This translation, or rather imitation, was first published at pp. 176\u20137 of\n      _An Enquiry into the Present State of Polite Learning in Europe_,\n      1759 (Chap. xii, \u2018Of the Stage\u2019), where it is prefaced as follows:\u2014\n      \u2018MACROBIUS has preserved a prologue, spoken and written by\n      the poet [Decimus] Laberius, a Roman knight, whom Caesar forced upon the\n      stage, written with great elegance and spirit, which shews what opinion\n      the Romans in general entertained of the profession of an actor.\u2019 In the\n      second edition of 1774 the prologue was omitted. The original lines, one\n      of which Goldsmith quotes, are to found in the _Saturnalia_ of\n      Macrobius, lib. ii, cap. vii (_Opera_, London, 1694). He seems\n      to have confined himself to imitating the first fifteen:\u2014\n    Necessitas, cujus cursus transversi impetum\n    Voluerunt multi effugere, pauci potuerunt,\n    Quo me detrusit paene extremis sensibus?\n    Quem nulla ambitio, nulla umquam largitio,\n    Nullus timor, vis nulla, nulla auctoritas\n    Movere potuit in juventa de statu;\n    Ecce in senecta ut facile labefecit loco\n    Viri Excellentis mente clemente edita\n    Submissa placide blandiloquens oratio!\n    Etenim ipsi di negare cui nihil potuerunt,\n    Hominem me denegare quis posset pati?\n    Ergo bis tricenis annis actis sine tota\n    Eques Romanus Lare egressus meo\n    Domum revertar mimus.  nimirum hoc die\n    Uno plus vixi mihi quam vivendum fuit.\n      Rollin gives a French translation of this prologue in his _Trait\u00e9\n      des \u00c9tudes_. It is quoted by Bolton Corney in his _Poetical\n      Works of Oliver Goldsmith_, 1845, pp. 203\u20134. In his Aldine edition\n      of 1831, p. 114, Mitford completed Goldsmith\u2019s version as follows:\u2014\n    Too lavish still in good, or evil hour,\n    To show to man the empire of thy power,\n    If fortune, at thy wild impetuous sway,\n    The blossoms of my fame must drop away,\n    Then was the time the obedient plant to strain\n    When life was warm in every vigorous vein,\n    To mould young nature to thy plastic skill,\n    And bend my pliant boyhood to thy will.\n    So might I hope applauding crowds to hear,\n    Catch the quick smile, and HIS attentive ear.\n    But ah!  for what has thou reserv\u2019d my age?\n    Say, how can I expect the approving stage;\n    Fled is the bloom of youth\u2014the manly air\u2014\n    The vigorous mind that spurn\u2019d at toil and care;\n    Gone is the voice, whose clear and silver tone\n    The enraptur\u2019d theatre would love to own.\n    As clasping ivy chokes the encumber\u2019d tree,\n    So age with foul embrace has ruined me.\n    Thou, and the tomb, Laberius, art the same,\n    Empty within, what hast thou but a name?\n      Macrobius, it may be remembered, was the author, with a quotation from\n      whom Johnson, after a long silence, electrified the company upon his first\n      arrival at Pembroke College, thus giving (says Boswell) \u2018the first\n      impression of that more extensive reading in which he had indulged\n      himself\u2019 (Birkbeck Hill\u2019s _Boswell_, 1887, i. 59). If the study\n      of Macrobius is to be regarded as a test of \u2018more extensive reading\u2019 that\n      praise must therefore be accorded to Goldsmith, who cites him in his first\nON A BEAUTIFUL YOUTH STRUCK BLIND WITH LIGHTNING.\n      This quatrain, the original of which does not appear to have been traced,\n      was first published in _The Bee_ for Saturday, the 6th of\n      October, 1759, p. 8. It is there succeeded by the following Latin epigram,\n      \u2018in the same spirit\u2019:\u2014\nLUMINE Acon dextro capta est Leonida sinistro\n    Et poterat forma vincere uterque Deos.\nParve puer lumen quod habes concede puellae\n    Sic tu caecus amor sic erit illa Venus.\n      There are several variations of this in the _Gentleman\u2019s Magazine_\n      for 1745, pp. 104, 159, 213, 327, one of which is said to be \u2018By a monk of\n      Winchester,\u2019 with a reference to \u2018Cambden\u2019s _Remains_, p. 413.\u2019\n      None of these corresponds exactly with Goldsmith\u2019s text; and the lady\u2019s\n      name is uniformly given as \u2018Leonilla.\u2019 A writer in the _ Quarterly\n      Review_, vol. 171, p. 296, prints the \u2018original\u2019 thus\u2014\nLumine Acon dextro, capta est Leonilla sinistro,\n    Et potis est forma vincere uterque Deos.\nBlande puer, lumen quod habes concede sorori;\n    Sic tu caecus Amor, sic erit illa Venus;\n      and says \u2018it was written by Girolamo Amalteo, and will be found in any of\n      the editions of the _Trium Fratrum Amaltheorum Carmina_, under\n      the title of \u2018De gemellis, fratre et sorore, luscis.\u2019 According to Byron\n      on Bowles (_Works_, 1836, vi. p. 390), the persons referred to\n      are the Princess of Eboli, mistress of Philip II of Spain, and Maugiron,\n      minion of Henry III of France, who had each of them lost an eye. But for\n      this the reviewer above quoted had found no authority.\nTHE GIFT.\n      This little trifle, in which a French levity is wedded to the language of\n      Prior, was first printed in _The Bee_, for Saturday, the 13th\n      of October, 1759. Its original, which is as follows, is to be found where\n      Goldsmith found it, namely in Part iii of the _M\u00e9nagiana_,\n      (ed. 1729, iii, 397), and not far from the ditty of _le fameux la\n      Galisse_. (See _An Elegy on Mrs. Mary Blaize_, _ infra_,\n      ETRENE A IRIS.\n            Pour t\u00e9moigner de ma flame,\n            Iris, du meilleur de mon ame\n            Je vous donne \u00e0 ce nouvel an\n            Non pas dentelle ni ruban,\n            Non pas essence, ni pommade,\n            Quelques boites de marmelade,\n            Un manchon, des gans, un bouquet,\n            Non pas heures, ni chapelet.\n            Quoi donc?  Attendez, je vous donne\n            O fille plus belle que bonne ...\n            Je vous donne: Ah! le puis-je dire?\n            Oui, c\u2019est trop souffrir le martyre,\n            Il est tems de s\u2019\u00e9manciper,\n            Patience va m\u2019\u00e9chaper,\n            Fussiez-vous cent fois plus aimable,\n            Belle Iris, je vous donne ... au Diable.\n      In Bolton Corney\u2019s edition of Goldsmith\u2019s _ Poetical Works_,\n      1845, p. 77, note, these lines are attributed to Bernard de la Monnoye\n      (1641\u20131728), who is said to have included them in a collection of _\u00c9trennes\n      en vers_, published in 1715.\n      I\u2019ll give thee. See an anecdote _\u00e0 propos_\n      of this anticlimax in Trevelyan\u2019s _Life and Letters of Lord Macaulay_,\n      ed. 1889, p. 600:\u2014\u2018There was much laughing about Mrs. Beecher Stowe\n      [then (16th March, 1853) expected in England], and what we were to give\n      her. I referred the ladies to Goldsmith\u2019s poems for what I should give.\n      Nobody but Hannah understood me; but some of them have since been thumbing\n      Goldsmith to make out the riddle.\u2019\nTHE LOGICIANS REFUTED.\n      These lines, which have often, and even of late years, been included among\n      Swift\u2019s works, were first printed as Goldsmith\u2019s by T. Evans at vol. i.\n      pp. 115\u201317 of _The Poetical and Dramatic Works of Oliver Goldsmith,\n      M.B._, 1780. They originally appeared in _The Busy Body_\n      for Thursday, October the 18th, 1759 (No. v), having this notification\n      above the title: \u2018The following Poem written by DR. SWIFT,\n      is communicated to the Public by the BUSY BODY,\n      to whom it was presented by a Nobleman of distinguished Learning and\n      Taste.\u2019 In No. ii they had already been advertised as forthcoming. The\n      sub-title, \u2018In imitation of Dean Swift,\u2019 seems to have been added by\n      Evans. The text here followed is that of the first issue.\n      Wise Aristotle and Smiglecius. Cf. _The Life\n      of Parnell_, 1770, p. 3:\u2014\u2018His imagination might have been too\n      warm to relish the cold logic of Burgersdicius, or the dreary subtleties\n      of _ Smiglesius_; but it is certain that as a classical scholar, few\n      could equal him.\u2019 Martin Smiglesius or Smigletius, a Polish Jesuit,\n      theologian and logician, who died in 1618, appears to have been a special\n      _b\u00eate noire_ to Goldsmith; and the reference to him here would\n      support the ascription of the poem to Goldsmith\u2019s pen, were it not that\n      Swift seems also to have cherished a like antipathy:\u2014\u2018He told me\n      that he had made many efforts, upon his entering the College [i.e. Trinity\n      College, Dublin], to read some of the old treatises on logic writ by _Smeglesius_,\n      Keckermannus, Burgersdicius, etc., and that he never had patience to go\n      through three pages of any of them, he was so disgusted at the stupidity\n      of the work.\u2019 (Sheridan\u2019s _Life of Swift_, 2nd ed., 1787, p.\n      Than reason-boasting mortal\u2019s pride. So in _The\n      Busy Body_. Some editors\u2014Mitford, for example\u2014print the\n        Than reason,\u2014boasting mortals\u2019 pride.\n      _Deus est anima brutorum_. Cf. Addison in\n      _Spectator_, No. 121 (July 19, 1711): \u2018A modern Philosopher,\n      quoted by Monsieur _ Bale_ in his Learned Dissertation on the Souls\n      of Brutes delivers the same Opinion [i.e.\u2014That Instinct is the\n      immediate direction of Providence], tho\u2019 in a bolder form of words where\n      he says _Deus est Anima Brutorum_, God himself is the Soul of\n      Brutes.\u2019 There is much in \u2018Monsieur Bayle\u2019 on this theme. Probably Addison\n      had in mind the following passage of the _Dict. Hist. et Critique_\n      (3rd ed., 1720, 2481_b_.) which Bayle cites from M. Bernard:\u2014\u2018Il\n      me semble d\u2019avoir lu quelque part cette Th\u00e8se, _Deus est anima\n      brutorum_: l\u2019expression est un peu dure; mais elle peut recevoir un\n      fort bon sens.\u2019\n B\u2014b=Bob, i.e. Sir Robert Walpole, the Prime\nMinister, for whom many venal \u2018quills were drawn\u2019 _circa_\n1715\u201342. Cf. Pope\u2019s _Epilogue to the Satires_, 1738, Dialogue i, ll.\n        Go see Sir ROBERT\u2014\n             P. See Sir ROBERT!\u2014hum\u2014\n        And never laugh\u2014for all my life to come?\n        Seen him I have, but in his happier hour\n        Of Social Pleasure, ill-exchang\u2019d for Pow\u2019r;\n        Seen him, uncumber\u2019d with the Venal tribe,\n        Smile without Art, and win without a Bribe.\n      A courtier any ape surpasses. Cf. Gay\u2019s _Fables,\n      passim_. Indeed there is more of Gay than Swift in this and the\n      lines that follow. Gay\u2019s life was wasted in fruitless expectations of\n      court patronage, and his disappointment often betrays itself in his\n      writings.\n      And footmen, lords and dukes can act. Cf. _Gil\n      Blas_, 1715\u201335, liv. iii, chap. iv:\u2014\u2018Il falloit voir comme\n      nous nous portions des sant\u00e9s \u00e0 tous moments, en nous\n      donnant les uns aux autres les surnoms de nos ma\u00eetres. Le valet de\n      don Antonio appeloit Gamb celuiet nous nous enivrions peu \u00e0 peu\n      sous ces noms emprunt\u00e9s, tout aussi bien que les seigneurs qui les\n      portoient v\u00e9ritablement.\u2019 But Steele had already touched this\n      subject in _Spectator_, No. 88, for June 11, 1711, \u2018On the\n      Misbehaviour of Servants,\u2019 a paper supposed to have afforded the hint for\n      Townley\u2019s farce of _High Life below Stairs_, which, about a\n      fortnight after _The Logicians Refuted_ appeared, was played\n      for the first time at Drury Lane, not much to the gratification of the\n      gentlemen\u2019s gentlemen in the upper gallery. Goldsmith himself wrote \u2018A\n      Word or two on the late Farce, called _High Life below Stairs_,\u2019\n      in _ The Bee_ for November 3, 1759, pp. 154\u20137.\nA SONNET.\n      This little piece first appears in _The Bee_ for October 20,\n      1759 (No. iii). It is there called \u2018A Sonnet,\u2019 a title which is only\n      accurate in so far as it is \u2018a little song.\u2019 Bolton Corney affirms that it\n      is imitated from the French of Saint-Pavin (i.e. Denis Sanguin de\n      Saint-Pavin, d. 1670), whose works were edited in 1759, the year in which\n      Goldsmith published the collection of essays and verses in which it is to\n      be found. The text here followed is that of the \u2018new edition\u2019 of _The\n      Bee_, published by W. Lane, Leadenhall Street, no date, p. 94.\n      Neither by its motive nor its literary merits\u2014it should be added\u2014did\n      the original call urgently for translation; and the poem is here included\n      solely because, being Goldsmith\u2019s, it cannot be omitted from his complete\n      works.\n      This and the following line in the first version\n        Yet, why this killing soft dejection?\n          Why dim thy beauty with a tear?\nSTANZAS ON THE TAKING OF QUEBEC.\n      Quebec was taken on the 13th September, 1759. Wolfe was wounded pretty\n      early in the action, while leading the advance of the Louisbourg\n      grenadiers. \u2018A shot shattered his wrist. He wrapped his handkerchief about\n      it and kept on. Another shot struck him, and he still advanced, when a\n      third lodged in his breast. He staggered, and sat on the ground.\n      Lieutenant Brown, of the grenadiers, one Henderson, a volunteer in the\n      same company, and a private soldier, aided by an officer of artillery who\n      ran to join them, carried him in their arms to the rear. He begged them to\n      lay him down. They did so, and asked if he would have a surgeon. \u201cThere\u2019s\n      no need,\u201d he answered; \u201cit\u2019s all over with me.\u201d A moment after, one of\n      them cried out, \u201cThey run; see how they run!\u201d \u201cWho run?\u201d Wolfe demanded,\n      like a man roused from sleep. \u201cThe enemy, sir. They give way everywhere!\u201d\n      \u201cGo, one of you, to Colonel Burton,\u201d returned the dying man; \u201ctell him to\n      march Webb\u2019s regiment down to Charles River, to cut off their retreat from\n      the bridge.\u201d Then, turning on his side, he\n      murmured, \u201cNow, God be praised, I will die in peace!\u201d and in a few moments\n      his gallant soul had fled.\u2019 (Parkman\u2019s _Montcalm and Wolfe_,\n      1885, ii. 296\u20137.) In his _ History of England in a Series of Letters_,\n      1764, ii. 241, Goldsmith says of this event:\u2014\u2018Perhaps the loss of\n      such a man was greater to the nation than the conquering of all Canada was\n      advantageous; but it is the misfortune of humanity, that we can never know\n      true greatness till the moment when we are going to lose it.\u2019* The present\n      stanzas were first published in _The Busy Body_ (No. vii) for\n      Tuesday, the 22nd October, 1759, a week after the news of Wolfe\u2019s death\n      had reached this country (Tuesday the 16th). According to Prior (_Life_,\n      1837, i. 6), Goldsmith claimed to be related to Wolfe by the father\u2019s\n      side, the maiden name of the General\u2019s mother being Henrietta Goldsmith.\n      It may be noted that Benjamin West\u2019s popular rendering of Wolfe\u2019s death\n      (1771)\u2014a rendering which Nelson never passed in a print shop without\n      being stopped by it\u2014was said to be based upon the descriptions of an\n      eye-witness. It was engraved by Woollett and Ryland in 1776. A key to the\n      names of those appearing in the picture was published in the _Army\n      and Navy Gazette_ of January 20, 1893.\n* He repeats this sentiment, in different words, in the later _History\nAN ELEGY ON MRS. MARY BLAIZE.\n      The publication in February, 1751, of Gray\u2019s _Elegy Wrote in a\n      Country Church Yard_ had set a fashion in poetry which long\n      continued. Goldsmith, who considered that work \u2018a very fine poem, but\n      overloaded with epithet\u2019 (_Beauties of English Poesy_, 1767, i.\n      53), and once proposed to amend it \u2018by leaving out an idle word in every\n      line\u2019 [!] (Cradock\u2019s _ Memoirs_, 1826, i. 230), resented these\n      endless imitations, and his antipathy to them frequently reveals itself.\n      Only a few months before the appearance of Mrs. Blaize in _The Bee_\n      for October 27, 1759, he had written in the _Critical Review_,\n      vii. 263, when noticing Langhorne\u2019s _Death of Adonis_, as\n      follows:\u2014\u2018It is not thus that many of our moderns have composed what\n      they call elegies; they seem scarcely to have known its real character. If\n      an hero or a poet\n      happens to die with us, the whole band of elegiac poets raise the dismal\n      chorus, adorn his herse with all the paltry escutcheons of flattery, rise\n      into bombast, paint him at the head of his thundering legions, or reining\n      Pegasus in his most rapid career; they are sure to strew cypress enough\n      upon the bier, dress up all the muses in mourning, and look themselves\n      every whit as dismal and sorrowful as an undertaker\u2019s shop.\u2019 He returned\n      to the subject in a _Chinese Letter_ of March 4, 1761, in the\n      _Public Ledger_ (afterwards Letter ciii of _The Citizen of\n      the World_, 1762, ii. 162\u20135), which contains the lines _On the\n      Death of the Right Honourable ***_; and again, in _The Vicar of\n      Wakefield_, 1766, i. 174, _ \u00e0 propos_ of the _Elegy\n      on the Death of a Mad Dog_, he makes Dr. Primrose say, \u2018I have wept\n      so much at all sorts of elegies of late, that without an enlivening glass\n      I am sure this will overcome me.\u2019\n      The model for _An Elegy on Mrs. Mary Blaize_ is to be found in\n      the old French popular song of Monsieur de la Palisse or Palice, about\n      fifty verses of which are printed in Larousse\u2019s _Grand Dictionnaire\n      Universel du XIX_ me _Si\u00e8cle_, x. p. 179. It is\n      there stated to have originated in some dozen stanzas suggested to la\n      Monnoye (_v. supra_, p. 193) by the extreme artlessness of a military\n      quatrain dating from the battle of Pavia, and the death upon that occasion\n      of the famous French captain, Jacques de Chabannes, seigneur de la Palice:\u2014\nMonsieur d\u2019La Palice est mort,\n    Mort devant Pavie;\nUn quart d\u2019heure avant sa mort,\n    _Il \u00e9tait encore en vie._\n      The remaining verses, i.e. in addition to those of la Monnoye, are the\n      contributions of successive generations. Goldsmith probably had in mind\n      the version in Part iii of the _M\u00e9nagiana_, (ed. 1729,\n      iii, 384\u2013391) where apparently by a typographical error, the hero is\n      called _\u2018le fameux la Galisse, homme imaginaire.\u2019_ The verses he\n      imitated most closely are reproduced below. It may be added that this poem\n      supplied one of its last inspirations to the pencil of Randolph Caldecott,\n      who published it as a picture-book in October, 1885. (See also _An\n      Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog_, p. 212.)\n      Who left a pledge behind. Caldecott cleverly\n      converted this line into the keynote of the poem, by making the heroine a\n      pawnbroker.\n      When she has walk\u2019d before. Cf. the French:\u2014\nOn dit que dans ses amours\n    Il fut caresse des belles,\nQui le suivirent toujours,\n    _Tant qu\u2019il marcha devant elles._\n      Her last disorder mortal. Cf. the French:\u2014\nIl fut par un triste sort\n    Blesse d\u2019une main cruelle.\nOn croit, puis qu\u2019il en est mort,\n    _Que la plaie \u00e9toit mortelle._\n      Kent Street, Southwark, \u2018chiefly inhabited,\u2019 said\n      Strype, \u2018by Broom Men and Mumpers\u2019; and Evelyn tells us (_Diary_\n      5th December, 1683) that he assisted at the marriage, to her fifth\n      husband, of a Mrs. Castle, who was \u2018the daughter of one Burton, a\n      broom-man . . . in Kent Street\u2019 who had become not only rich, but Sheriff\n      of Surrey. It was a poor neighbourhood corresponding to the present \u2018old\n      Kent-road, from Kent to Southwark and old London Bridge\u2019 (Cunningham\u2019s\n      _London_).* Goldsmith himself refers to it in _The Bee_\n      for October 20, 1759, being the number immediately preceding that in which\n      _Madam Blaize_ first appeared:\u2014\u2018You then, O ye beggars of\n      my acquaintance, whether in rags or lace; whether in _Kent-street_\n      or the Mall; whether at the Smyrna or St. Giles\u2019s, might I advise as a\n      friend, never seem in want of the favour which you solicit\u2019 (p. 72). Three\n      years earlier he had practised as \u2018a physician, in a humble way\u2019 in\n      Bankside, Southwark, and was probably well acquainted with the humours of\n      Kent Street.\n* In contemporary maps Kent (now Tabard) Street is shown extending\n      between the present New Kent Road and Blackman Street.\nDESCRIPTION OF AN AUTHOR\u2019S BEDCHAMBER.\n      In a letter written to the Rev. Henry Goldsmith in 1759 (_Percy\n      Memoir_, 1801, pp. 53\u20139), Goldsmith thus refers to the first form of\n      these verses:\u2014\u2018Your last letter, I repeat it, was\n      too short; you should have given me your opinion of the design of the\n      heroicomical poem which I sent you: you remember I intended to introduce\n      the hero of the poem, as lying in a paltry alehouse. You may take the\n      following specimen of the manner, which I flatter myself is quite\n      original. The room in which he lies, may be described somewhat this way:\u2014\n        The window, patch\u2019d with paper, lent a ray,\n        That feebly shew\u2019d the state in which he lay.\n        The sanded floor, that grits beneath the tread:\n        The humid wall with paltry pictures spread;\n        The game of goose was there expos\u2019d to view\n        And the twelve rules the royal martyr drew:\n        The seasons, fram\u2019d with listing, found a place,\n        And Prussia\u2019s monarch shew\u2019d his lamp-black face\n        The morn was cold; he views with keen desire,\n        A rusty grate unconscious of a fire.\n        An unpaid reck\u2019ning on the frieze was scor\u2019d,\n        And five crack\u2019d tea-cups dress\u2019d the chimney board.\n      And now imagine after his soliloquy, the landlord to make his appearance,\n      in order to dun him for the reckoning:\u2014\n        Not with that face, so servile and so gay,\n        That welcomes every stranger that can pay,\n        With sulky eye he smoak\u2019d the patient man,\n        Then pull\u2019d his breeches tight, and thus began, etc.\n      All this is taken, you see, from nature. It is a good remark of\n      Montaign[e]\u2019s, that the wisest men often have friends, with whom they do\n      not care how much they play the fool. Take my present follies as instances\n      of regard. Poetry is a much easier, and more agreeable species of\n      composition than prose, and could a man live by it, it were no unpleasant\n      employment to be a poet.\u2019\n      In Letter xxix of _The Citizen of the World_, 1762, i. 119\u201322,\n      which first appeared in _The Public Ledger_ for May 2, 1760,\n      they have a different setting. They are read at a club of authors by a\n      \u2018poet, in shabby finery,\u2019 who asserts that he has composed them the day\n      before. After some preliminary difficulties, arising from the fact that\n      the laws of the club do not permit any author to inflict his own works\n      upon the assembly without a money payment, he introduces them as\n      follows:\u2014\u2018Gentlemen, says he,\n      the present piece is not one of your common epic\n      poems, which come from the press like paper kites in summer; there are\n      none of your Turnuses or Dido\u2019s in it; it is an heroical description of\n      nature. I only beg you\u2019ll endeavour to make your souls unison* with mine,\n      and hear with the same enthusiasm with which I have written. The poem\n      begins with the description of an author\u2019s bedchamber: the picture was\n      sketched in my own apartment; for you must know, gentlemen, that I am\n      myself the heroe. Then putting himself into the attitude of an orator,\n      with all the emphasis of voice and action, he proceeded.\n        Where the Red Lion, etc.\u2019\n* i.e. accord, conform.\n      The verses then follow as they are printed in this volume; but he is\n      unable to induce his audience to submit to a further sample. In a slightly\n      different form, some of them were afterwards worked into _The\n      Deserted Village_, 1770. (See ll. 227\u201336.)\n      Where Calvert\u2019s butt, and Parsons\u2019 black champagne.\n      The Calverts and Humphrey Parsons were noted brewers of \u2018entire butt beer\u2019\n      or porter, also known familiarly as \u2018British Burgundy\u2019 and \u2018black\n      Champagne.\u2019 Calvert\u2019s \u2018Best Butt Beer\u2019 figures on the sign in Hogarth\u2019s\n      The humid wall with paltry pictures spread. Bewick\n      gives the names of some of these popular, if paltry, decorations:\u2014\u2018In\n      cottages everywhere were to be seen the \u201cSailor\u2019s Farewell\u201d and his \u201cHappy\n      Return,\u201d \u201cYouthful Sports,\u201d and the \u201cFeats of Manhood,\u201d \u201cThe Bold Archers\n      Shooting at a Mark,\u201d \u201cThe Four Seasons,\u201d etc.\u2019 (_Memoir_,\n      \u2018Memorial Edition,\u2019 1887, p. 263.)\n      The royal game of goose was there in view. (See\n      And the twelve rules the royal martyr drew. (See\n      The Seasons, fram\u2019d with listing. See note to l. 10\n      above, as to \u2018The Seasons.\u2019 Listing, ribbon, braid, or tape is still used\n      as a primitive _encadrement_. In a letter dated August 15, 1758, to\n      his cousin, Mrs. Lawder (Jane Contarine), Goldsmith again refers to this\n      device. Speaking of some \u2018maxims of frugality\u2019 with which he intends to\n      adorn his room, he adds\u2014\u2018my\n      landlady\u2019s daughter shall frame them with the parings of my black\n      And brave Prince William. William Augustus, Duke of\n      Cumberland, 1721\u201365. The \u2018lamp-black face\u2019 would seem to imply that the\n      portrait was a silhouette. In the letter quoted on p. 200 it is \u2018Prussia\u2019s\n      monarch\u2019 (i.e. Frederick the Great).\n      With beer and milk arrears. See the lines relative\n      to the landlord in Goldsmith\u2019s above-quoted letter to his brother. In\n      another letter of August 14, 1758, to Robert Bryanton, he describes\n      himself as \u2018in a garret writing for bread, and expecting to be dunned for\n      a milk score.\u2019 Hogarth\u2019s _Distrest Poet_, 1736, it will be\n      remembered, has already realized this expectation.\n      A cap by night\u2014a stocking all the day. \u2018With\n      this last line,\u2019 says _The Citizen of the World_, 1762, i. 121,\n      \u2018he [the author] seemed so much elated, that he was unable to proceed:\n      \u201cThere gentlemen, cries he, there is a description for you; Rab[e]lais\u2019s\n      bed-chamber is but a fool to it:\n        _A cap by night\u2014a stocking all the day!_\n      There is sound and sense, and truth, and nature in the trifling compass of\n      ten little syllables.\u201d\u2019 (Letter xxix.) Cf. also _The Deserted Village_,\n        A bed by night, a chest of drawers by day.\n      If Goldsmith\u2019s lines did not belong to 1759, one might suppose he had in\n      mind the later _Pauvre Diable_ of his favourite Voltaire. (See\n      also APPENDIX B.)\nON SEEING MRS. ** PERFORM IN THE CHARACTER OF ****.\n      These verses, intended for a specimen of the newspaper Muse, are from\n      Letter lxxxii of _The Citizen of the World_, 1762, ii. 87,\n      first printed in _The Public Ledger_, October 21, 1760.\nON THE DEATH OF THE RIGHT HON. ***\n      From Letter ciii of _The Citizen of the World_, 1762, ii. 164,\n      first printed in _The Public Ledger_, March 4, 1761. The verses\n      given as a \u2018specimen of a poem on the decease of a great man.\u2019 Goldsmith\n      had already used the trick of the final line of the quatrain in _An\n      Elegy on Mrs. Mary Blaize_, ante, p. 198.\nAN EPIGRAM.\n      From Letter cx of _The Citizen of the World_, 1762, ii. 193,\n      first printed in _The Public Ledger_, April 14, 1761. It had,\n      however, already been printed in the \u2018Ledger\u2019, ten days before.\n      Goldsmith\u2019s animosity to Churchill (cf. note to l. 41 of the dedication to\n      _The Traveller_) was notorious; but this is one of his doubtful\n      pieces.\n      virtue. \u2018Charity\u2019 (_Author\u2019s note_).\n      bounty. \u2018Settled at One Shilling\u2014the Price of\n      the Poem\u2019 (_Author\u2019s note_).\nTO G. C. AND R. L.\n      From the same letter as the preceding. George Colman and Robert Lloyd of\n      the _St. James\u2019s Magazine_ were supposed to have helped\n      Churchill in _The Rosciad_, the \u2018it\u2019 of the epigram.\nTRANSLATION OF A SOUTH AMERICAN ODE.\n      From Letter cxiii of _The Citizen of the World_, 1762, ii. 209,\n      first printed in _The Public Ledger_, May 13, 1761.\nTHE DOUBLE TRANSFORMATION.\n      _The Double Transformation_ first appeared in _Essays: By\n      Mr. Goldsmith_, 1765, where it figures as Essay xxvi, occupying pp.\n      229\u201333. It was revised for the second edition of 1766, becoming Essay\n      xxviii, pp. 241\u201345. This is the text here followed. The poem is an obvious\n      imitation of what its author calls (_Letters from a Nobleman to his\n      Son_, 1764, ii. 140) that \u2018French elegant easy manner of telling a\n      story,\u2019 which Prior had caught from La Fontaine. But the inherent\n      simplicity of Goldsmith\u2019s style is\n      curiously evidenced by the absence of those illustrations and ingenious\n      allusions which are Prior\u2019s chief characteristic. And although Goldsmith\n      included _The Ladle_ and _Hans Carvel_ in his _Beauties\n      of English Poesy_, 1767, he refrained wisely from copying the\n      licence of his model.\n      Jack Book-worm led a college life. The version of\n      1765 reads \u2018liv\u2019d\u2019 for \u2018led\u2019.\n      And freshmen wonder\u2019d as he spoke. The earlier\n      version adds here\u2014\n        Without politeness aim\u2019d at breeding,\n        And laugh\u2019d at pedantry and reading.\n      Her presence banish\u2019d all his peace. Here in the\n      first version the paragraph closes, and a fresh one is commenced as\n      follows:\u2014\n    Our alter\u2019d Parson now began\n        To be a perfect ladies\u2019 man;\n        Made sonnets, lisp\u2019d his sermons o\u2019er,\n        And told the tales he told before,\n        Of bailiffs pump\u2019d, and proctors bit,\n        At college how he shew\u2019d his wit;\n        And, as the fair one still approv\u2019d,\n        He fell in love\u2014or thought he lov\u2019d.\n        So with decorum, etc.\n      The fifth line was probably a reminiscence of the college riot in which\n      Goldsmith was involved in May, 1747, and for his part in which he was\n      publicly admonished. (See _Introduction_,\n      usage. This word, perhaps by a printer\u2019s error, is\n      \u2018visage\u2019 in the first version.\n      Skill\u2019d in no other arts was she. Cf. Prior:\u2014\n        For in all Visits who but She,\n        To Argue, or to Repartee.\n      Five greasy nightcaps wrapp\u2019d her head. Cf. _Spectator_,\n      No. 494\u2014 \u2018At length the Head of the Colledge came out to him, from\n      an inner Room, with half a Dozen Night-Caps upon his Head.\u2019 See also\n      Goldsmith\u2019s essay on the Coronation (_Essays_, 1766, p. 238),\n      where Mr. Grogan speaks of his wife as habitually\n      \u2018mobbed up in flannel night caps, and trembling at a breath of air.\u2019\n      By day, \u2019twas gadding or coquetting. The first\n      version after \u2018coquetting\u2019 begins a fresh paragraph with\u2014\n        Now tawdry madam kept, etc.\n      A sigh in suffocating smoke. Here in the first\n      version follows:\u2014\n        She, in her turn, became perplexing,\n        And found substantial bliss in vexing.\n        Thus every hour was pass\u2019d, etc.\n      Thus as her faults each day were known. First\n      version: \u2018Each day, the more her faults,\u2019 etc.\n      Now, to perplex. The first version has \u2018Thus.\u2019 But\n      the alteration in line 61 made a change necessary.\n      paste. First version \u2018pastes.\u2019\n      condemn\u2019d to hack, i.e. to hackney, to plod.\nA NEW SIMILE.\n      The _New Simile_ first appears in _Essays: By Mr.\n      Goldsmith_, 1765, pp. 234\u20136, where it forms Essay xxvii. In the\n      second edition of 1766 it occupies pp. 246\u20138 and forms Essay xix. The\n      text here followed is that of the second edition, which varies slightly\n      from the first. In both cases the poem is followed by the enigmatical\n      initials \u2018*J. B.,\u2019 which, however, as suggested by Gibbs, may simply stand\n      for \u2018Jack Bookworm\u2019 of _The Double Transformation_. (See p.\n      Long had I sought in vain to find. The text of 1765\n      reads\u2014\n        \u2018I long had rack\u2019d my brains to find.\u2019\n      Tooke\u2019s Pantheon. Andrew Tooke (1673\u20131732) was\n      first usher and then Master at the Charterhouse. In the latter capacity he\n      succeeded Thomas Walker, the master of Addison and Steele. His _\n      Pantheon_, a revised translation from the Latin of the Jesuit,\n      Francis Pomey, was a popular school-book of mythology, with copper-plates.\n      Wings upon either side\u2014mark that. The petasus\n      of Mercury, like his sandals (l. 24), is winged.\nNo poppy-water half so good. Poppy-water, made by\nboiling the heads of the white, black, or red poppy, was a favourite\neighteenth-century soporific:\u2014\u2018Juno shall give her peacock\n_poppy-water_, that he may fold his ogling tail.\u2019 (Congreve\u2019s\n_Love for Love_, 1695, iv. 3.)\n      With this he drives men\u2019s souls to hell.\n        ....virgaque levem coerces\n        Aurea turbam.\u2014Hor. _Od_. i. 10.\n      Moreover, Merc\u2019ry had a failing.\n        Callidum, quidquid placuit, iocoso\n        Condere furto.\u2014Hor. _Od_. i. 10.\n      Goldsmith, it will be observed, rhymes \u2018failing\u2019 and \u2018stealing.\u2019 But Pope\n      does much the same:\u2014\n        That Jelly\u2019s rich, this Malmsey healing,\n        Pray dip your Whiskers and your tail in.\n                  (_Imitation of Horace_, Bk. ii, Sat. vi.)\n      Unless this is to be explained by poetical licence, one of these words\n      must have been pronounced in the eighteenth century as it is not\n      pronounced now.\n      In which all modern bards agree. The text of 1765\n      reads \u2018our scribling bards.\u2019\nEDWIN AND ANGELINA.\n      This ballad, usually known as _The Hermit_, was written in or\n      before 1765, and printed privately in that year \u2018for the amusement of the\n      Countess of Northumberland,\u2019 whose acquaintance Goldsmith had recently\n      made through Mr. Nugent. (See the prefatory note to _The Haunch of\n      Venison_.) Its title was \u2018_Edwin and Angelina. A Ballad_.\n      By Mr. Goldsmith.\u2019 It was first published in _The Vicar of Wakefield_,\n      1766, where it appears at pp. 70\u20137, vol. i. In July, 1767, Goldsmith was\n      accused [by Dr. Kenrick] in the _St. James\u2019s Chronicle_ of\n      having taken it from Percy\u2019s _ Friar of Orders Gray_. Thereupon\n      he addressed a letter to the paper, of which the following is the material\n      portion:\u2014\u2018Another Correspondent of yours accuses me of having\n      taken a Ballad, I published some Time ago, from one by the ingenious Mr.\n      Percy. I do not think there is any great Resemblance between the two\n      Pieces in Question. If there be any, his Ballad is taken from mine. I read\n      it to Mr. Percy some Years ago, and he (as we both considered these Things\n      as Trifles at best) told me, with his usual Good Humour, the next Time I\n      saw him, that he had taken my Plan to form the fragments of Shakespeare\n      into a Ballad of his own. He then read me his little Cento, if I may so\n      call it, and I highly approved it. Such petty Anecdotes as these are\n      scarce worth printing, and were it not for the busy Disposition of some of\n      your Correspondents, the Publick should never have known that he owes me\n      the Hint of his Ballad, or that I am obliged to his Friendship and\n      Learning for Communications of a much more important Nature.\u2014I am,\n      Sir, your\u2019s etc. OLIVER GOLDSMITH.\u2019 (_St.\n      James\u2019s Chronicle_, July 23\u20135, 1767.) No contradiction of this\n      statement appears to have been offered by Percy; but in re-editing his\n      _Reliques of Ancient English Poetry_ in 1775, shortly after\n      Goldsmith\u2019s death, he affixed this note to _The Friar of Orders Gray_:\u2014\u2018As\n      the foregoing song has been thought to have suggested to our late\n      excellent poet, Dr. Goldsmith, the plan of his beautiful ballad of _Edwin\n      and Emma_ [_Angelina_], first printed [published?] in his\n      _ Vicar of Wakefield_, it is but justice to his memory to\n      declare, that his poem was written first, and that if there is any\n      imitation in the case, they will be found both to be indebted to the\n      beautiful old ballad, _Gentle Herdsman, etc._, printed in the\n      second volume of this work, which the doctor had much admired in\n      manuscript, and has finely improved\u2019 (vol. i. p. 250). The same story is\n      told, in slightly different terms, at pp. 74\u20135 of the _Memoir_\n      of Goldsmith drawn up under Percy\u2019s superintendence for the _Miscellaneous\n      Works_ of 1801, and a few stanzas of _Gentle Herdsman_,\n      which Goldsmith is supposed to have had specially in mind, are there\n      reproduced. References to them will be found in the ensuing notes. The\n      text here adopted (with exception of ll. 117\u201320) is that of the fifth\n      edition of _The Vicar of Wakefield_, 1773[4], i. pp. 78\u201385; but\n      the variations of the earlier version of 1765 are duly chronicled,\n      together with certain hitherto neglected differences between the first and\n      later editions of the novel. The poem was also printed in the _Poems\n      for Young Ladies_, 1767, pp. 91\u20138.* The author himself, it may be added,\n      thought highly of it. \u2018As to my \u201cHermit,\u201d that poem,\u2019 he is reported to\n      have said, \u2018cannot be amended.\u2019 (Cradock\u2019s _Memoirs_, 1828, iv.\n* This version differs considerably from the others, often following\n      that of 1765; but it has not been considered necessary to record the\n      variations here. That Goldsmith unceasingly revised the piece is\n      sufficiently established.\n      Turn, etc. The first version has\u2014\nDeign saint-like tenant of the dale,\n    To guide my nightly way,\nTo yonder fire, that cheers the vale\n    With hospitable ray.\n      For yonder faithless phantom flies. _The Vicar\n      of Wakefield_, first edition, has\u2014\n        \u2018For yonder phantom only flies.\u2019\n      All. _ Vicar of Wakefield_, first\n      edition, \u2018For.\u2019\n      Man wants but little here below. Cf. Young\u2019s _Complaint_,\n      1743, _Night_ iv. 9, of which this and the next line are a\n      recollection. According to Prior (_Life_, 1837, ii. 83), they\n      were printed as a quotation in the version of 1765. Young\u2019s line is\u2014\n        Man wants but Little; nor that Little, long.\n      modest. _Vicar of Wakefield_, first\n      edition, \u2018grateful.\u2019\n      Far in a wilderness obscure. First version, and\n      _Vicar of Wakefield_, first edition:\u2014\n        Far shelter\u2019d in a glade obscure\n          The modest mansion lay.\n      The wicket, opening with a latch. First version,\n      and _Vicar of Wakefield_, first edition:\u2014\n        The door just opening with a latch.\n      And now, when busy crowds retire. First version,\n      and _Vicar of Wakefield_, first edition:\u2014\n        And now, when worldly crowds retire\n          To revels or to rest.\n      But nothing, etc. In the first version this stanza\n      runs as follows:\u2014\nBut nothing mirthful could assuage\n    The pensive stranger\u2019s woe;\nFor grief had seized his early age,\n    And tears would often flow.\n      modern. _Vicar of Wakefield_, first\n      edition, reads \u2018haughty.\u2019\n      His love-lorn guest betray\u2019d. First version, and\n      _Vicar of Wakefield_, first edition:\u2014\n        The bashful guest betray\u2019d.\n      Surpris\u2019d, he sees, etc. First version, and _Vicar\n      of Wakefield_, first edition:\u2014\nHe sees unnumber\u2019d beauties rise,\n    Expanding to the view;\nLike clouds that deck the morning skies,\n    As bright, as transient too.\n      The bashful look, the rising breast. First version,\n      and _Vicar of Wakefield_, first edition:\u2014\n        Her looks, her lips, her panting breast.\n      But let a maid, etc. For this, and the next two\n      stanzas, the first version substitutes:\u2014\nForgive, and let thy pious care\n    A heart\u2019s distress allay;\nThat seeks repose, but finds despair\n    Companion of the way.\nMy father liv\u2019d, of high degree,\n    Remote beside the Tyne;\nAnd as he had but only me,\n    Whate\u2019er he had was mine.\nTo win me from his tender arms,\n    Unnumber\u2019d suitors came;\nTheir chief pretence my flatter\u2019d charms,\n    My wealth perhaps their aim.\n      a mercenary crowd. _Vicar of Wakefield_,\n      first edition, has:\u2014\u2018the gay phantastic crowd.\u2019\n      Amongst the rest young Edwin bow\u2019d. First version:\u2014\nAmong the rest young Edwin bow\u2019d,\n    Who offer\u2019d only love.\n      Wisdom and worth, etc. First version, and _Vicar\n      of Wakefield_, first edition:\u2014\nA constant heart was all he had,\n    But that was all to me.\n      And when beside me, etc. For this \u2018additional\n      stanza,\u2019 says the _Percy Memoir_, p. 76, \u2018the reader is\n      indebted to Richard Archdal, Esq., late a member of the Irish Parliament,\n      to whom it was presented by the author himself.\u2019 It was first printed in\n      the _Miscellaneous Works_, 1801, ii. 25. In Prior\u2019s edition of\n      the _Miscellaneous Works_, 1837, iv. 41, it is said to have\n      been \u2018written some years after the rest of the poem.\u2019\n      The blossom opening to the day, etc. For this and\n      the next two stanzas the first version substitutes:\u2014\nWhene\u2019er he spoke amidst the train,\n    How would my heart attend!\nAnd till delighted even to pain,\n    How sigh for such a friend!\nAnd when a little rest I sought\n    In Sleep\u2019s refreshing arms,\nHow have I mended what he taught,\n    And lent him fancied charms!\nYet still (and woe betide the hour!)\n    I spurn\u2019d him from my side,\nAnd still with ill-dissembled power\n    Repaid his love with pride.\n      For still I tried each fickle art, etc. Percy finds\n      the prototype of this in the following stanza of _Gentle Herdsman_:\u2014\nAnd grew soe coy and nice to please,\n    As women\u2019s lookes are often soe,\nHe might not kisse, nor hand forsoothe,\n    Unlesse I willed him soe to doe.\n      Till quite dejected with my scorn, etc. The first\n      edition reads this stanza and the first two lines of the next thus:\u2014\nTill quite dejected by my scorn,\n    He left me to deplore;\nAnd sought a solitude forlorn,\n    And ne\u2019er was heard of more.\nThen since he perish\u2019d by my fault,\n    This pilgrimage I pay, etc.\n      And sought a solitude forlorn. Cf. _Gentle\n      Herdsman_:\u2014\nHe gott him to a secrett place,\n    And there he dyed without releeffe.\n      And there forlorn, despairing, hid, etc. The first\n      edition for this and the next two stanzas substitutes the following:\u2014\nAnd there in shelt\u2019ring thickets hid,\n    I\u2019ll linger till I die;\n\u2019Twas thus for me my lover did,\n    And so for him will I.\n\u2018Thou shalt not thus,\u2019 the Hermit cried,\n    And clasp\u2019d her to his breast;\nThe astonish\u2019d fair one turned to chide,\u2014\n    \u2019Twas Edwin\u2019s self that prest.\nFor now no longer could he hide,\n    What first to hide he strove;\nHis looks resume their youthful pride,\n    And flush with honest love.\n      \u2019Twas so for me, etc. Cf. _Gentle Herdsman_:\u2014\nThus every day I fast and pray,\n    And ever will doe till I dye;\nAnd gett me to some secret place,\n    For soe did hee, and soe will I.\n      Forbid it, Heaven. _Vicar of Wakefield_,\n      first edition, like the version of 1765, has \u2018Thou shalt not thus.\u2019\n      My life. _Vicar of Wakefield_, first\n      edition, has \u2018O thou.\u2019\n      No, never from this hour, etc. The first edition\nNo, never, from this hour to part,\n    Our love shall still be new;\nAnd the last sigh that rends thy heart,\n    Shall break thy Edwin\u2019s too.\n      The poem then concluded thus:\u2014\nHere amidst sylvan bowers we\u2019ll rove,\n    From lawn to woodland stray;\nBlest as the songsters of the grove,\n    And innocent as they.\nTo all that want, and all that wail,\n    Our pity shall be given,\nAnd when this life of love shall fail,\n    We\u2019ll love again in heaven.\n      These couplets, with certain alterations in the first and last lines, are\n      to be found in the version printed in _Poems for Young Ladies_,\nAN ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF A MAD DOG.\n      This poem was first published in _The Vicar of Wakefield_,\n      1766, i. 175\u20136, where it is sung by one of the little boys. In common\n      with the _Elegy on Mrs. Mary Blaize_ (p. 47) it owes something\n      of its origin to Goldsmith\u2019s antipathy to fashionable elegiacs, something\n      also to the story of M. de la Palisse. As regards mad dogs, its author\n      seems to have been more reasonable than many of his contemporaries, since\n      he ridiculed, with much common sense, their exaggerated fears on this\n      subject (_v. Chinese Letter_ in _The Public Ledger_\n      for August 29, 1760, afterwards Letter lxvi of _ The Citizen of the\n      World_, 1762, ii. 15). But it is ill jesting with hydrophobia. Like\n      _Madam Blaize_, these verses have been illustrated by Randolph\n      Caldecott.\n      In Islington there was a man. Goldsmith had\n      lodgings at Mrs. Elizabeth Fleming\u2019s in Islington (or \u2018Isling town\u2019 as the\n      earlier editions have it) in 1763\u20134; and the choice of the locality may\n      have been determined by this circumstance. But the date of the composition\n      of the poem is involved in the general obscurity which hangs over the _Vicar_\n      in its unprinted state. (See _Introduction_,\n      pp. xviii-xix.)\n      The dog, to gain some private ends. The first\n      edition reads \u2018his private ends.\u2019\n      The dog it was that died. This catastrophe suggests\n      the couplet from the _Greek Anthology_, ed. Jacobs, 1813\u20137, ii.\n        Kappadoken pot exidna kake daken alla kai aute\n          katthane, geusamene aimatos iobolou.\n      Goldsmith, however, probably went no farther back than Voltaire on Fr\u00e9ron:\u2014\n        L\u2019autre jour, au fond d\u2019un vallon,\n        Un serpent mordit Jean Fr\u00e9ron.\n        Devinez ce qu\u2019il arriva?\n        Ce fut le serpent qui creva.\n      This again, according to M. Edouard Fournier (_L\u2019Esprit des Autres_,\n      sixth edition, 1881, p. 288), is simply the readjustment of an earlier\n      quatrain, based upon a Latin distich in the _Epigrammatum delectus_,\n        Un gros serpent mordit Aurelle.\n        Que croyez-vous qu\u2019il arriva?\n        Qu\u2019Aurelle en mourut?\u2014Bagatelle!\n        Ce fut le serpent qui creva.\nSONG\nFROM \u2018THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD.\u2019\n      First published in _The Vicar of Wakefield_, 1766, ii. 78\n      (chap. v). It is there sung by Olivia Primrose, after her return home with\n      her father. \u2018Do, my pretty Olivia,\u2019 says Mrs. Primrose, let us have that\n      little melancholy air your pappa was so fond of, your sister Sophy has\n      already obliged us. Do child, it will please your old father.\u2019 \u2018She\n      complied in a manner so exquisitely pathetic,\u2019 continues Dr. Primrose, \u2018as\n      moved me.\u2019 The charm of the words, and the graceful way in which they are\n      introduced, seem to have blinded criticism to the impropriety, and even\n      inhumanity, of requiring poor Olivia to sing a song so completely\n      applicable to her own case. No source has been named for this piece; and\n      its perfect conformity with the text would appear to indicate that\n      Goldsmith was not indebted to any earlier writer for his idea.\n      His well-known obligations to French sources seem, however, to have\n      suggested that, if a French original could not be discovered for the\n      foregoing lyric, it might be desirable to invent one. A clever\n      paragraphist in the _St. James\u2019s Gazette_ for January 28th,\n      1889, accordingly reproduced the following stanzas, which he alleged, were\n      to be found in the poems of Segur, \u2018printed in Paris in 1719\u2019:\u2014\nLorsqu\u2019une femme, apr\u00e8s trop de tendresse,\n    D\u2019un homme sent la trahison,\nComment, pour cette si douce foiblesse\n    Peut-elle trouver une gu\u00e9rison?\nLe seul rem\u00e8de qu\u2019elle peut ressentir,\n    La seul revanche pour son tort,\nPour faire trop tard l\u2019amant repentir,\n    Helas! trop tard\u2014est la mort.\n      As a correspondent was not slow to point out, Goldsmith, if a copyist, at\n      all events considerably improved his model (see in particular lines 7 and\n      8 of the French). On the 30th of the month the late Sir William Fraser\n      gave it as his opinion, that, until the volume of 1719 should be produced,\n      the \u2018very inferior verses quoted\u2019 must be classed with the fabrications of\n      \u2018Father Prout,\u2019 and he instanced that very version of the _ Burial of\n      Sir John Moore_ (_Les Fun\u00e9railles de Beaumanoir_)\n      which has recently (August 1906) been going the round of the papers once\n      again. No S\u00e9gur volume of 1719 was, of course, forthcoming.\n      Kenrick, as we have already seen, had in 1767 accused Goldsmith of taking\n      _Edwin and Angelina_ from Percy (p. 206). Thirty years later,\n      the charge of plagiarism was revived in a different way when _Raimond\n      and Ang\u00e9line_, a French translation of the same poem,\n      appeared, as Goldsmith\u2019s original, in a collection of Essays called _The\n      Quiz_, 1797. It was eventually discovered to be a translation \u2018from\u2019\n      Goldsmith by a French poet named L\u00e9onard, who had included it in a\n      volume dated 1792, entitled _Lettres de deux Amans, Habitans de Lyon_\n      (Prior\u2019s _Life_, 1837, ii. 89\u201394). It may be added that,\n      according to the _ Biographie Universelle_, 1847, vol. 18 (Art.\n      \u2018Goldsmith\u2019), there were then no fewer than at least three French\n      imitations of _The Hermit_ besides L\u00e9onard\u2019s.\nEPILOGUE TO \u2018THE GOOD NATUR\u2019D MAN.\u2019\n      Goldsmith\u2019s comedy of _The Good Natur\u2019d Man_ was produced by\n      Colman, at Covent Garden, on Friday, January 29, 1768. The following note\n      was appended to the Epilogue when printed:\u2014\u2018The Author, in\n      expectation of an Epilogue from a friend at Oxford, deferred writing one\n      himself till the very last hour. What is here offered, owes all its\n      success to the graceful manner of the Actress who spoke it.\u2019 It was spoken\n      by Mrs. Bulkley, the \u2018Miss Richland\u2019 of the piece. In its first form it is\n      found in _The Public Advertiser_ for February 3. Two days later\n      the play was published, with the version here followed.\n      As puffing quacks. Goldsmith had devoted a Chinese\n      letter to this subject. See _Citizen of the World_, 1762, ii.\n      10 (Letter lxv).\n      No, no: I\u2019ve other contests, etc. This couplet is\n      not in the first version. The old building of the College of Physicians\n      was in Warwick Lane; and the reference is to the long-pending dispute,\n      occasionally enlivened by personal collision, between the Fellows and\n      Licentiates respecting the exclusion of certain of the latter from\n      Fellowships. On this theme Bonnell Thornton, himself an M.B. like\n      Goldsmith, wrote a satiric additional canto to Garth\u2019s _ Dispensary_,\n      entitled _The Battle of the Wigs_, long extracts from which are\n      printed in _The Gentleman\u2019s Magazine_ for March, 1768, p. 132.\n      The same number also reviews _The Siege of the Castle of \u00c6sculapius,\n      an heroic Comedy, as it is acted in Warwick-Lane_. Goldsmith\u2019s\n      couplet is, however, best illustrated by the title of one of Sayer\u2019s\n      caricatures, _The March of the Medical Militants to the Siege of\n      Warwick-Lane-Castle in the Year_ 1767. The quarrel was finally\n      settled in favour of the college in June, 1771.\n      Go, ask your manager. Colman, the manager of Covent\n      Garden, was not a prolific, although he was a happy writer of prologues\n      and epilogues.\n      The quotation is from _King Lear_, Act\n      In the first version the last line runs:\u2014\n        And view with favour, the \u2018Good-natur\u2019d Man.\u2019\nEPILOGUE TO \u2018THE SISTER.\u2019\n      _The Sister_, produced at Covent Garden February 18, 1769, was\n      a comedy by Mrs. Charlotte Lenox or Lennox, \u2018an ingenious lady,\u2019 says\n      _The Gentleman\u2019s Magazine_ for April in the same year, \u2018well\n      known in the literary world by her excellent writings, particularly the\n      Female Quixote, and Shakespeare illustrated. . . . The audience expressed\n      their disapprobation of it with so much clamour and appearance of\n      prejudice, that she would not suffer an attempt to exhibit it a second\n      time (p. 199).\u2019 According to the\n      same authority it was based upon one of the writer\u2019s own novels, _Henrietta_,\n      published in 1758. Though tainted with the prevailing sentimentalism,\n      _The Sister_ is described by Forster as \u2018both amusing and\n      interesting\u2019; and it is probable that it was not fairly treated when it\n      was acted. Mrs. Lenox (1720\u20131804), daughter of Colonel Ramsay,\n      Lieut.-Governor of New York, was a favourite with the literary magnates of\n      her day. Johnson was half suspected of having helped her in her book on\n      Shakespeare; Richardson admitted her to his readings at Parson\u2019s Green;\n      Fielding, who knew her, calls her, in the _Journal of a Voyage to\n      Lisbon_, 1755, p. 35 (first version), \u2018the inimitable author of the\n      Female Quixote\u2019; and Goldsmith, though he had no kindness for genteel\n      comedy (see _ post_, p. 228), wrote her this lively epilogue, which\n      was spoken by Mrs. Bulkley, who personated the \u2018Miss Autumn\u2019 of the piece.\n      Mrs. Lenox died in extremely reduced circumstances, and was buried by the\n      Right Hon. George Ross, who had befriended her later years. There are\n      several references to her in Boswell\u2019s _Life of Johnson_. (See\nPROLOGUE TO \u2018ZOBEIDE.\u2019\n      _Zobeide_, a play by Joseph Cradock (1742\u20131826), of Gumley, in\n      Leicestershire, was produced by Colman at Covent Garden on Dec. 11, 1771.\n      It was a translation from three acts of _Les Scythes_, an\n      unfinished tragedy by Voltaire. Goldsmith was applied to, through the\n      Yates\u2019s, for a prologue, and sent that here printed to the author of the\n      play with the following note:\u2014\u2018Mr. Goldsmith presents his best\n      respects to Mr. Cradock, has sent him the Prologue, such as it is. He\n      cannot take time to make it better. He begs he will give Mr. Yates the\n      proper instructions; and so, even so, commits him to fortune and the\n      publick.\u2019 (Cradock\u2019s _Memoirs_, 1826, i. 224.) Yates, to the\n      acting of whose wife in the character of the heroine the success of the\n      piece, which ran for thirteen nights, was mainly attributable, was to have\n      spoken the prologue, but it ultimately fell to Quick, later the \u2018Tony\n      Lumpkin\u2019 of _She Stoops to Conquer_, who delivered it in the\n      character of a sailor. Cradock seems\n      subsequently to have sent a copy of _ Zobeide_ to Voltaire, who\n      replied in English as follows:\u2014\n          Thanks to yr muse a foreign copper shines\n          Turn\u2019d in to gold, and coin\u2019d in sterling lines.\n          You have done to much honour to an old sick man of eighty.\n             I am with the most sincere esteem and gratitude\n                     Yr. obdt. Servt. Voltaire.\n        A Monsieur Monsieur J. Cradock.\n      The text of the prologue is here given as printed in Cradock\u2019s _Memoirs_,\n      1828, iii. 8\u20139. It is unnecessary to specify the variations between this\n      and the earlier issue of 1771.\n      In these bold times, etc. The reference is to Cook,\n      who, on June 12, 1771, had returned to England in the _Endeavour_,\n      after three years\u2019 absence, having gone to Otaheite to observe the transit\n      Botanists. Mr. (afterward Sir Joseph) Banks and Dr.\n      Solander, of the British Museum, accompanied Cook.\n      go simpling, i.e. gathering simples, or herbs. Cf.\n      _Merry Wives of Windsor_, Act iii, Sc. 3:\u2014\n\u2018\u2014These lisping hawthorn buds that ... smell like Bucklersbury\nin _simple_-time.\u2019\n      In the caricatures of the day Solander figured as \u2018The _simpling_\n      With Scythian stores. The scene of the play was\n      laid in Scythia (_v. supra_).\n      to make palaver, to hold a parley, generally with\n      the intention of cajoling. Two of Goldsmith\u2019s notes to Garrick in 1773 are\n      endorsed by the actor\u2014\u2018Goldsmith\u2019s parlaver.\u2019 (Forster\u2019s _ Life_,\n      mercenary. Cradock gave the profits of _Zobeide_\n      to Mrs. Yates. \u2018I mentioned the disappointment it would be to you\u2019\u2014she\n      says in a letter to him dated April 26, 1771\u2014\u2018as you had generously\n      given the emoluments of the piece to me.\u2019 (_Memoirs_, 1828, iv.\nTHRENODIA AUGUSTALIS.\n      Augusta, widow of Frederick, Prince of Wales, and mother of George the\n      Third, died at Carlton House, February 8, 1772. This piece was spoken and\n      sung in Mrs. Teresa Cornelys\u2019s Great Room in Soho Square, on the Thursday\n      following (the 20th), being sold at the door as a small quarto pamphlet,\n      printed by William Woodfall. The author\u2019s name was not given; but it was\n      prefaced by this \u2018advertisement,\u2019 etc.:\u2014\n      \u2018The following may more properly be termed a compilation than a poem. It\n      was prepared for the composer in little more than two days: and may be\n      considered therefore rather as an industrious effort of gratitude than of\n      genius. In justice to the composer it may likewise be right to inform the\n      public, that the music was adapted in a period of time equally short.\n      SPEAKERS.\n _Mr. Lee and Mrs. Bellamy._\n      SINGERS.\n      _Mr. Champnes, Mr. Dine, and Miss Jameson;\n      with twelve chorus singers. The music prepared and adapted by Signor\nIt is\u2014as Cunningham calls it\u2014a \u2018hurried and unworthy\noff-spring of the muse of Goldsmith.\u2019\n Celestial-like her bounty fell. The\n      Princess\u2019s benefactions are not exaggerated. \u2018She had paid off the whole\n      of her husband\u2019s debts, and she had given munificent sums in charity. More\n      than 10,000 pounds a year were given away by her in pensions to\n      individuals whom she judged deserving, very few of whom were aware, until\n      her death, whence the bounty came. The whole of her income she spent in\n      England, and very little on herself\u2019 (_Augusta: Princess of Wales_,\n      by W. H. Wilkins, _ Nineteenth Century_, October, 1903, p.\n      There faith shall come. This, and the three lines\n      that follow, are borrowed from Collins\u2019s _Ode written in the\n      beginning of the year_ 1746.\n The towers of Kew. \u2018The\n      embellishments of Kew palace and gardens, under the direction of [Sir\n      William] Chambers, and others, was the favourite object of her [Royal Highness\u2019s]\n      widowhood\u2019 (Bolton Corney).\n      Along the billow\u2019d main. Cf. _The Captivity_,\n      Oswego\u2019s dreary shores. Cf. _The Traveller_,\n      And with the avenging fight. Varied from Collins\u2019s\n      _Ode on the Death of Colonel Charles Ross at Fontenoy_.\n      Its earliest bloom. Cf. Collins\u2019s _Dirge in\n      Cymbeline_.\nSONG\nFROM \u2018SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER.\u2019\n      This thoroughly characteristic song, for a parallel to which one must go\n      to Congreve, or to the \u2018Here\u2019s to the maiden of bashful fifteen\u2019 of _The\n      School for Scandal_, has one grave defect,\u2014it is too good to\n      have been composed by Tony Lumpkin, who, despite his inability to read\n      anything but \u2018print-hand,\u2019 declares, in Act i. Sc. 2 of _She Stoops\n      to Conquer_, 1773, that he himself made it upon the ale-house (\u2018The\n      Three Pigeons\u2019) in which he sings it, and where it is followed by the\n      annexed comments, directed by the author against the sentimentalists, who,\n      in _The Good Natur\u2019d Man_ of five years before, had insisted\n      upon the omission of the Bailiff scene:\u2014\n      Bravo, bravo!\n      _First_ FELLOW.\n      The \u2019Squire has got spunk in him.\n      _Second_ FELLOW.\n      I loves to hear him sing, bekeays he never gives us nothing that\u2019s _low_\n      _Fourth_ FELLOW.\n      The genteel thing is the genteel thing at any time. If so be that a\n      gentleman bees in a concatenation accordingly.\n      _Third_ FELLOW.\n      I like the maxum of it, Master Muggins. What, tho\u2019 I am obligated to dance\n      a bear, a man may be a gentleman for all that. May this be my poison if my\n      bear ever dances but to\n      the very genteelest of tunes. _Water Parted_,* or the minuet in\n      _Ariadne_.\u2019\n* i.e. Arne\u2019s _Water Parted from the Sea_,\u2014the song\n      of Arbaces in the opera of _ Artaxerxes_ 1762. The minuet in\n      _Ariadne_ was by Handel. It came at the end of the overture,\n      and is said to have been the best thing in the opera.\n      When Methodist preachers, etc. Tony Lumpkin\u2019s\n      utterance accurately represents the view of this sect taken by some of his\n      contemporaries. While moderate and just spectators of the Johnson type\n      could recognize the sincerity of men, who, like Wesley, travelled \u2018nine\n      hundred miles in a month, and preached twelve times a week\u2019 for no\n      ostensibly adequate reward, there were others who saw in Methodism, and\n      especially in the extravagancies of its camp followers, nothing but cant\n      and duplicity. It was this which prompted on the stage Foote\u2019s _Minor_\n      (1760) and Bickerstaffe\u2019s _ Hypocrite_ (1768); in art the _Credulity,\n      Superstition, and Fanaticism_ of Hogarth (1762); and in literature\n      the _New Bath Guide_ of Anstey (1766), the _Spiritual\n      Quixote_ of Graves, 1772, and the sarcasms of Sterne, Smollett and\n      Walpole.\n      It is notable that the most generous contemporary portrait of these much\n      satirised sectaries came from one of the originals of the _Retaliation_\n      gallery. Scott highly praises the character of Ezekiel Daw in Cumberland\u2019s\n      _ Henry_, 1795, adding, in his large impartial fashion, with\n      reference to the general practice of representing Methodists either as\n      idiots or hypocrites, \u2018A very different feeling is due to many, perhaps to\n      most, of this enthusiastic sect; nor is it rashly to be inferred, that he\n      who makes religion the general object of his life, is for that sole reason\n      to be held either a fool or an impostor.\u2019 (Scott\u2019s _Miscellaneous\n      But of all the birds in the air. Hypercriticism may\n      object that \u2018the hare\u2019 is not a bird. But exigence of rhyme has to answer\n      for many things. Some editors needlessly read \u2018the _gay_ birds\u2019 to\n      lengthen the line. There is no sanction for this in the earlier editions.\nEPILOGUE TO \u2018SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER.\u2019\n      This epilogue was spoken by Mrs. Bulkley in the character of Miss\n      Hardcastle. It is probably the epilogue described by\n      Goldsmith to Cradock, in the letter quoted at p. 246, as \u2018a very mawkish\n      thing,\u2019 a phrase not so incontestable as Bolton Corney\u2019s remark that it is\n      \u2018an obvious imitation of Shakespere.\u2019\n      That pretty Bar-maids have done execution. Cf.\n      _The Vicar of Wakefield_, 1766, i. 7:\u2014\u2018Sophia\u2019s features\n      were not so striking at first; but often did more certain execution.\u2019\n      coquets the guests. Johnson explains this word \u2018to\n      entertain with compliments and amorous tattle,\u2019 and quotes the following\n      illustration from Swift, \u2018You are _coquetting_ a maid of honour, my\n      lord looking on to see how the gamesters play, and I railing at you both.\u2019\n      Nancy Dawson. Nancy Dawson was a famous \u2018toast\u2019 and\n      horn-pipe dancer, who died at Haverstock Hill, May 27, 1767, and was\n      buried behind the Foundling, in the burial-ground of St. George the\n      Martyr. She first appeared at Sadler\u2019s Wells, and speedily passed to the\n      stage of Covent Garden, where she danced in the _Beggar\u2019s Opera_.\n      There is a portrait of her in the Garrick Club, and there are several\n      contemporary prints. She was the heroine of a popular song, here referred\n      to, beginning:\u2014\nOf all the girls in our town,\nThe black, the fair, the red, the brown,\nWho dance and prance it up and down,\n    There\u2019s none like Nancy Dawson:\nHer easy mien, her shape so neat,\nShe foots, she trips, she looks so sweet,\nHer ev\u2019ry motion is complete;\n    I die for Nancy Dawson.\n      Its tune\u2014says J. T. Smith (_Book for a Rainy Day_,\n      Whitten\u2019s ed., 1905, p. 10) was \u2018as lively as that of \u201cSir Roger de\n      Coverley.\u201d\u2019\n      Che far\u00f2, i.e. _Che far\u00f2 senza\n      Euridice_, the lovely lament from Gl\u00fcck\u2019s _Orfeo_,\n      the Heinel of Cheapside. The reference is to\n      Mademoiselle Anna-Frederica Heinel, 1752\u20131808, a beautiful Prussian,\n      subsequently the wife of Gaetano Apollino Balthazar Vestris, called\n      \u2018Vestris the First.\u2019 After extraordinary success as a _danseuse_ at\n      Stuttgard and Paris, where Walpole saw her in 1771\n      (Letter to the Earl of Strafford 25th August), she had come to London;\n      and, at this date, was the darling of the Macaronies (cf. the note on p.\n      247, l. 31), who, from their club, added a _regallo_ (present) of six\n      hundred pounds to the salary allowed her at the Haymarket. On April 1,\n      1773, Metastasio\u2019s _Artaserse_ was performed for her benefit,\n      when she was announced to dance a minuet with Monsieur Fierville, and\n      \u2018Tickets were to be hand, at her house in Piccadilly, two doors from Air\n      Street.\u2019\n      spadille, i.e. the ace of spades, the first trump\n      in the game of Ombre. Cf. Swift\u2019s _Journal of a Modern Lady in a\n      Letter to a Person of Quality_, 1728:\u2014\n        She draws up card by card, to find\n        Good fortune peeping from behind;\n        With panting heart, and earnest eyes,\n        In hope to see _spadillo_ rise;\n        In vain, alas! her hope is fed;\n        She draws an ace, and sees it red.\n      Bayes. The chief character in Buckingham\u2019s _Rehearsal_,\n      1672, and intended for John Dryden. Here the name is put for the \u2018poet\u2019 or\n      \u2018dramatist.\u2019 Cf. Murphy\u2019s Epilogue to Cradock\u2019s _ Zobeide_,\n        Not e\u2019en poor \u2018Bayes\u2019 within must hope to be\n        Free from the lash:\u2014His Play he writ for me\n        \u2019Tis true\u2014and now my gratitude you\u2019ll see;\n      and Colman\u2019s Epilogue to _The School for Scandal_, 1777:\u2014\n        So wills our virtuous bard\u2014the motley _Bayes_\n        Of crying epilogues and laughing plays!\nRETALIATION.\n      _Retaliation: A Poem. By Doctor Goldsmith. Including Epitaphs on the\n      Most Distinguished Wits of this Metropolis_, was first published by\n      G. Kearsly in April, 1774, as a 4to pamphlet of 24 pp. On the title-page\n      is a vignette head of the author, etched by James Basire, after Reynolds\u2019s\n      portrait; and the verses are prefaced by an anonymous letter to the\n      publisher, concluding as follows:\u2014\u2018Dr. Goldsmith _belonged to a\n      Club of_ Beaux Esprits, _where Wit sparkled sometimes at the Expence\n      of Good-nature.It was proposed to write Epitaphs on the Doctor; his Country, Dialect\n      and Person, furnished Subjects of Witticism.\u2014The Doctor was called\n      on for\u2019 Retaliation, \u2018and at their next Meeting produced the following\n      Poem, which I think adds one Leaf to his immortal Wreath._ This account\n      seems to have sufficed for Evans, Percy, and the earlier editors. But in\n      vol. i. p. 78 of his edition of Goldsmith\u2019s _Works_, 1854, Mr.\n      Peter Cunningham published for the first time a fuller version of the\n      circumstances, derived from a manuscript lent to him by Mr. George Daniel\n      of Islington; and (says Mr. Cunningham) \u2018evidently designed as a preface\n      to a collected edition of the poems which grew out of Goldsmith\u2019s trying\n      his epigrammatic powers with Garrick.\u2019 It is signed \u2018D. Garrick.\u2019 \u2018At a\n      meeting\u2019\u2014says the writer\u2014\u2018of a company of gentlemen, who were\n      well known to each other, and diverting themselves, among many other\n      things, with the peculiar oddities of Dr. Goldsmith, who would never allow\n      a superior in any art, from writing poetry down to dancing a horn-pipe,\n      the Dr. with great eagerness insisted upon trying his epigrammatic powers\n      with Mr. Garrick, and each of them was to write the other\u2019s epitaph. Mr.\n      Garrick immediately said that his epitaph was finished, and spoke the\n      following distich extempore:\u2014\n        Here lies NOLLY Goldsmith, for shortness call\u2019d Noll,\n        Who wrote like an angel, but talk\u2019d like poor Poll.\n      Goldsmith, upon the company\u2019s laughing very heartily, grew very\n      thoughtful, and either would not, or could not, write anything at that\n      time: however, he went to work, and some weeks after produced the\n      following printed poem called _ Retaliation_, which has been\n      much admired, and gone through several editions.\u2019 This account, though\n      obviously from Garrick\u2019s point of view, is now accepted as canonical, and\n      has superseded those of Davies, Cradock, Cumberland, and others, to which\n      some reference is made in the ensuing notes. A few days after the\n      publication of the first edition, which appeared on the 18th or 19th of\n      April, a \u2018new\u2019 or second edition was issued, with four pages of\n      \u2018Explanatory Notes, Observations, etc.\u2019 At the end came the following\n      announcement:\u2014\u2018G. Kearsly, the Publisher, thinks it his duty to\n      declare, that\n      Dr. Goldsmith wrote the Poem as it is here printed, a few errors of the\n      press excepted, which are taken notice of at the bottom of this page.\u2019\n      From this version _ Retaliation_ is here reproduced. In the\n      third edition, probably in deference to some wounded susceptibilities, the\n      too comprehensive \u2018most Distinguished Wits of the Metropolis\u2019 was\n      qualified into \u2018_some of the most_ Distinguished Wits,\u2019 etc., but no\n      further material alteration was made in the text until the suspicious\n      lines on Caleb Whitefoord were added to the fifth edition.\n      With the exception of Garrick\u2019s couplet, and the fragment of Whitefoord\n      referred to at p. 234, none of the original epitaphs upon which Goldsmith\n      was invited to \u2018retaliate\u2019 have survived. But the unexpected ability of\n      the retort seems to have prompted a number of _ex post facto_\n      performances, some of which the writers would probably have been glad to\n      pass off as their first essays. Garrick, for example, produced three short\n      pieces, one of which (\u2018Here, Hermes! says Jove, who with nectar was\n      mellow\u2019) hits off many of Goldsmith\u2019s contradictions and foibles with\n      considerable skill (_v._ Davies\u2019s _Garrick_, 2nd ed.,\n      parodied the poorest part of _ Retaliation_, the comparison of\n      the guests to dishes, by likening them to liquors, and Dean Barnard in\n      return rhymed upon Cumberland. He wrote also an apology for his first\n      attack, which is said to have been very severe, and conjured the poet to\n      set his wit at Garrick, who, having fired his first shot, was keeping out\n      of the way:\u2014\nOn him let all thy vengeance fall;\n    On me you but misplace it:\nRemember how he called thee _Poll_\u2014\n    But, ah! he dares not face it.\n      For these, and other forgotten pieces arising out of _Retaliation_,\n      Garrick had apparently prepared the above-mentioned introduction. It may\n      be added that the statement, prefixed to the first edition, that\n      _Retaliation_, as we now have it, was produced at the \u2018next meeting\u2019 of\n      the Club, is manifestly incorrect. It was composed and circulated in\n      detached fragments, and Goldsmith was still working at it when he was\n      seized with his last illness.\n      Of old, when Scarron, etc. Paul Scarron (1610\u201360),\n      the author _inter alia_ of the _Roman Comique_, 1651\u20137,\n      upon a translation\n      of which Goldsmith was occupied during the last months of his life. It was\n      published by Griffin in 1776.\n      Each guest brought his dish. \u2018Chez Scarron,\u2019\u2014says\n      his editor, M. Charles Baumet, when speaking of the poet\u2019s entertainments,\u2014\u2018venait\n      d\u2019ailleurs l\u2019\u00e9lite des dames, des courtisans & des hommes de\n      lettres. On y dinait joyeusement. _Chacun apportait son plat_.\u2019 (_\u0152uvres\n      de Scarron_, 1877, i. viii.) Scarron\u2019s company must have been as\n      brilliant as Goldsmith\u2019s. Villarceaux, Vivonne, the Mar\u00e9chal\n      d\u2019Albret, figured in his list of courtiers; while for ladies he had\n      Mesdames Deshouli\u00e8res, de Scud\u00e9ry, de la Sabli\u00e8re,\n      and de S\u00e9vign\u00e9, to say nothing of Ninon de Lenclos and\n      Marion Delorme. (Cf. also Guizot, _ Corneille et son Temps_,\n      If our landlord. The \u2018explanatory note\u2019 to the\n      second edition says\u2014\u2018The master of the St. James\u2019s coffee-house,\n      where the Doctor, and the friends he has characterized in this Poem, held\n      an occasional club.\u2019 This, it should be stated, was not the famous\n      \u2018Literary Club,\u2019 which met at the Turk\u2019s Head Tavern in Gerrard Street.\n      The St. James\u2019s Coffee-house, as familiar to Swift and Addison at the\n      beginning, as it was to Goldsmith and his friends at the end of the\n      eighteenth century, was the last house but one on the south-west corner\n      of St. James\u2019s Street. It now no longer exists. Cradock (_Memoirs_,\n      1826, i. 228\u201330) speaks of dining _at the bottom of St. James\u2019s Street_\n      with Goldsmith, Percy, the two Burkes (_v. infra_), Johnson, Garrick,\n      Dean Barnard, and others. \u2018We sat very late;\u2019 he adds in conclusion, \u2018and\n      the conversation that at last ensued, was the direct cause of my friend\n      Goldsmith\u2019s poem, called \u201c_Retaliation._\u201d\u2019\n      Our Dean. Dr. Thomas Barnard, an Irishman, at this\n      time Dean of Derry. He died at Wimbledon in 1806. It was Dr. Barnard who,\n      in reply to a rude sally of Johnson, wrote the charming verses on\n      improvement after the age of forty-five, which end\u2014\nIf I have thoughts, and can\u2019t express them,\nGibbon shall teach me how to dress them,\n    In terms select and terse;\nJones teach me modesty and Greek,\nSmith how to think, Burke how to speak,\n    And Beauclerk to converse.\nLet Johnson teach me how to place\nIn fairest light, each borrow\u2019d grace,\n    From him I\u2019ll learn to write;\nCopy his clear, familiar style,\nAnd from the roughness of his file\n    Grow like himself\u2014polite.\n      (Northcote\u2019s _Life of Reynolds_, 2nd ed., 1819, i. 221.)\n      According to Cumberland (_Memoirs_, 1807, i. 370), \u2018The dean\n      also gave him [Goldsmith] an epitaph, and Sir Joshua illuminated the\n      dean\u2019s verses with a sketch of his bust in pen and ink inimitably\n      caricatured.\u2019 What would collectors give for that sketch and epitaph!\n      Unfortunately in Cumberland\u2019s septuagenarian recollections the \u2018truth\n      severe\u2019 is mingled with an unusual amount of \u2018fairy fiction.\u2019 However Sir\n      Joshua _did_ draw caricatures, for a number of them were exhibited at\n      the Grosvenor Gallery (by the Duke of Devonshire) in the winter of 1883\u20134.\n      Our Burke. The Right Hon. Edmund Burke, 1729\u201397.\n      Our Will. \u2018Mr. William Burke, late Secretary to\n      General Conway, and member for Bedwin, Wiltshire\u2019 (Note to second\n      edition). He was a kinsman of Edmund Burke, and one of the supposed\n      authors of Junius\u2019s _ Letters_. He died in 1798. \u2018It is said\n      that the notices Goldsmith first wrote of the Burkes were so severe that\n      Hugh Boyd persuaded the poet to alter them, and entirely rewrite the\n      character of William, for he was sure that if the Burkes saw what was\n      originally written of them the peace of the Club would be disturbed.\u2019\n      (Rev. W. Hunt in _Dict. Nat. Biography_, Art. \u2018William Burke.\u2019)\n      And Dick. Richard Burke, Edmund Burke\u2019s younger\n      brother. He was for some years Collector to the Customs at Grenada, being\n      on a visit to London when _Retaliation_ was written (Forster\u2019s\n      _ Life_, 1871, ii. 404). He died in 1794, Recorder of Bristol.\n      Our Cumberland\u2019s sweetbread. Richard Cumberland,\n      the poet, novelist, and dramatist, 1731\u20131811, author of _The West\n      Indian_, 1771, _The Fashionable Lover_, 1772, and many\n      other more or less sentimental plays. In his _Memoirs_, 1807,\n      i. 369\u201371, he gives an account of the origin of _ Retaliation_,\n      which adds a few dubious particulars to that of Garrick. But it was\n      written from memory long after the events it records.\n      Douglas. \u2018Dr. Douglas, since Bishop of Salisbury,\u2019\n      says Cumberland. He died in 1807 (_v. infra_).\n      Ridge. \u2018Counsellor John Ridge, a gentleman\n      belonging to the Irish Bar\u2019 (Note to second edition). \u2018Burke,\u2019 says Bolton\n      Corney, \u2018in 1771, described him as \u201cone of the honestest and best-natured\n      men living, and inferior to none of his profession in ability.\u201d\u2019 (See also\n      note to line 125.)\n      Hickey. The commentator of the second edition of\n      _Retaliation_ calls this gentleman \u2018honest Tom Hickey\u2019. His\n      Christian name, however, was _Joseph_ (Letter of Burke, November 8,\n      1774). He was a jovial, good-natured, over-blunt Irishman, the legal\n      adviser of both Burke and Reynolds. Indeed it was Hickey who drew the\n      conveyance of the land on which Reynolds\u2019s house \u2018next to the Star and\n      Garter\u2019 at Richmond (Wick House) was built by Chambers the architect.\n      Hickey died in 1794. Reynolds painted his portrait for Burke, and it was\n      exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1772 (No. 208). In 1833 it belonged to\n      Mr. T. H. Burke. Sir Joshua also painted Miss Hickey in 1769\u201373. Her\n      father, not much to Goldsmith\u2019s satisfaction, was one of the Paris party\n      in 1770. See also note to l. 125.\n      Magnanimous Goldsmith. According to Malone\n      (Reynolds\u2019s _Works_, second edition, 1801, i. xc), Goldsmith\n      intended to have concluded with his own character.\n      Tommy Townshend, M.P. for Whitchurch, Hampshire,\n      afterwards first Viscount Sydney. He died in 1800. Junius says Bolton\n      Corney, gives a portrait of him as _still life_. His presence in\n      _ Retaliation_ is accounted for by the fact that he had\n      commented in Parliament upon Johnson\u2019s pension. \u2018I am well assured,\u2019 says\n      Boswell, \u2018that Mr. Townshend\u2019s attack upon Johnson was the occasion of his\n      \u201chitching in a rhyme\u201d; for, that in the original copy of Goldsmith\u2019s\n      character of Mr. Burke, in his _ Retaliation_ another person\u2019s\n      name stood in the couplet where Mr. Townshend is now introduced.\u2019\n      (Birkbeck Hill\u2019s _ Boswell_, 1887, iv. 318.)\n      too deep for his hearers. \u2018The emotion to which he\n      commonly appealed was that too rare one, the love of wisdom, and he\n      combined his thoughts and knowledge in propositions of wisdom so weighty\n      and strong, that the minds of ordinary hearers\n      were not on the instant prepared for them.\u2019 (Morley\u2019s _Burke_,\n      And thought of convincing, while they thought of\n      dining. For the reason given in the previous note, many of Burke\u2019s\n      hearers often took the opportunity of his rising to speak, to retire to\n      dinner. Thus he acquired the nickname of the \u2018Dinner Bell.\u2019\n      To eat mutton cold. There is a certain resemblance\n      between this character and Gray\u2019s lines on himself written in 1761,\n      beginning \u2018Too poor for a bribe, and too proud to importune.\u2019 (See Gosse\u2019s\n      _Gray\u2019s Works_, 1884, i. 127.) But both Gray and Goldsmith may\n      have been thinking of a line in the once popular song of _Ally\n      Croaker_:\u2014\n        Too dull for a wit, too grave for a joker.\n      honest William, i.e. William Burke (_v. supra_).\n      Now breaking a jest, and now breaking a limb. A\n      note to the second edition says\u2014\u2018The above Gentleman [Richard Burke,\n      _v. supra_] having slightly fractured one of his arms and legs, at\n      different times, the Doctor [i.e. Goldsmith] has rallied him on those\n      accidents, as a kind of _retributive_ justice for breaking his jests\n      on other people.\u2019\n      Here Cumberland lies. According to Boaden\u2019s _Life\n      of Kemble_, 1825, i. 438, Mrs. Piozzi rightly regarded this portrait\n      as wholly ironical; and Bolton Corney, without much expenditure of acumen,\n      discovers it to have been written in a spirit of _persiflage_.\n      Nevertheless, Cumberland himself (_Memoirs_, 1807, i. 369)\n      seems to have accepted it in good faith. Speaking of Goldsmith he says\u2014I\n      conclude my account of him with gratitude for the epitaph he bestowed on\n      me in his poem called _ Retaliation_.\u2019 From the further details\n      which he gives of the circumstances, it would appear that his own\n      performance, of which he could recall but one line\u2014\n        All mourn the poet, I lament the man\u2014\n      was conceived in a less malicious spirit than those of the others, and had\n      predisposed the sensitive bard in his favour. But no very genuine\n      cordiality could be expected to exist between the rival authors of _The\n      West Indian_ and _She Stoops to Conquer_.\n      And Comedy wonders at being so fine. It is\n      instructive\n      here to transcribe Goldsmith\u2019s serious opinion of the kind of work which\n      Cumberland essayed:\u2014\u2018A new species of Dramatic Composition has been\n      introduced, under the name of _ Sentimental_ Comedy, in which the\n      virtues of Private Life are exhibited, rather than the Vices exposed; and\n      the Distresses rather than the Faults of Mankind, make our interest in the\n      piece. . . . In these Plays almost all the Characters are good, and\n      exceedingly generous; they are lavish enough of their _Tin_ Money on\n      the Stage, and though they want Humour, have abundance of Sentiment and\n      Feeling. If they happen to have Faults or Foibles, the Spectator is taught\n      not only to pardon, but to applaud them, in consideration of the goodness\n      of their hearts; so that Folly, instead of being ridiculed, is commended,\n      and the Comedy aims at touching our Passions without the power of being\n      truly pathetic.\u2019 (_Westminster Magazine_, 1772, i. 5.) Cf. also\n      the _Preface to The Good Natur\u2019d Man_, where he \u2018hopes that too\n      much refinement will not banish humour and character from our\u2019s, as it has\n      already done from the French theatre. Indeed the French comedy is now\n      become so very elevated and sentimental, that it has not only banished\n      humour and _Moliere_ from the stage, but it has banished all\n      spectators too.\u2019\n      The scourge of impostors, the terror of quacks. Dr.\n      John Douglas (_v. supra_) distinguished himself by his exposure of\n      two of his countrymen, Archibald Bower, 1686\u20131766, who, being secretly a\n      member of the Catholic Church, wrote a _History of the Popes_;\n      and William Lauder 1710\u20131771, who attempted to prove Milton a plagiarist.\n      Cf. Churchill\u2019s _Ghost_, Bk. ii:\u2014\n        By TRUTH inspir\u2019d when _Lauder\u2019s_ spight\n        O\u2019er MILTON cast the Veil of Night,\n        DOUGLAS arose, and thro\u2019 the maze\n        Of intricate and winding ways,\n        Came where the subtle Traitor lay,\n        And dragg\u2019d him trembling to the day.\n      \u2018Lauder on Milton\u2019 is one of the books bound to the trunk-maker\u2019s in\n      Hogarth\u2019s _Beer Street_, 1751. He imposed on Johnson, who wrote\n      him a \u2018Preface\u2019 and was consequently trounced by Churchill (_ut supra_)\n      as \u2018_our Letter\u2019d_ POLYPHEME.\u2019\n      Our Dodds shall be pious. The reference is to the\n      Rev. Dr. William Dodd, who three years after the publication of _Retaliation_\n      (i.e. June 27, 1777) was hanged at Tyburn for forging the signature of the\n      fifth Earl of Chesterfield, to whom he had been tutor. His life previously\n      had long been scandalous enough to justify Goldsmith\u2019s words. Johnson made\n      strenuous and humane exertions to save Dodd\u2019s life, but without avail.\n      (See Birkbeck Hill\u2019s _Boswell_, 1887, iii. 139\u201348.) There is an\n      account of Dodd\u2019s execution at the end of vol. i of Angelo\u2019s _Reminiscences_,\n      our Kenricks. Dr. William Kenrick\u2014say the\n      earlier annotators\u2014who \u2018read lectures at the Devil Tavern, under the\n      Title of \u201cThe School of Shakespeare.\u201d\u2019 The lectures began January 19,\n      1774, and help to fix the date of the poem. Goldsmith had little reason\n      for liking this versatile and unprincipled Ishmaelite of letters, who,\n      only a year before, had penned a scurrilous attack upon him in _The\n      London Packet_. Kenrick died in 1779.\n      Macpherson. \u2018David [James] Macpherson, Esq.; who\n      lately, from the mere _force of his style_, wrote down the first poet\n      of all antiquity.\u2019 (Note to second edition.) This was \u2018Ossian\u2019 Macpherson,\n      1738\u201396, who, in 1773, had followed up his Erse epics by a prose\n      translation of Homer, which brought him little but opprobrium. \u2018Your\n      abilities, since your Homer, are not so formidable,\u2019 says Johnson in the\n      knockdown letter which he addressed to him in 1775. (Birkbeck Hill\u2019s _Boswell_,\n      Our Townshend. See note to line 34.\n      New Lauders and Bowers. See note to l. 80.\n      And Scotchman meet Scotchman, and cheat in the dark.\n      Mitford compares Farquhar\u2019s _Love and a Bottle_, 1699, Act iii\u2014\n        But gods meet gods and jostle in the dark.\n      But Farquhar was quoting from Dryden and Lee\u2019s _Oedipus_, 1679,\n      Act iv (at end).\n      Here lies David Garrick. \u2018The sum of all that can\n      be said for and against Mr. Garrick, some people think, may be found in\n      these lines of Goldsmith,\u2019 writes Davies in his _Life of Garrick_,\n      2nd ed., 1780, ii. 159. Posterity has been less hesitating in its verdict.\n      \u2018The lines on Garrick,\u2019 says Forster, _Life of Goldsmith_,\n      1871, ii. 409, \u2018are quite perfect writing. Without anger, the satire is\n      finished, keen, and uncompromising; the wit is adorned by most\n      discriminating praise; and the truth is\n      only the more unsparing for its exquisite good manners and good taste.\u2019\n      Ye Kenricks. See note to line 86.\n      ye Kellys. Hugh Kelly (1739\u20131777), an Irishman,\n      the author of _False Delicacy_, 1768; _A Word to the Wise_,\n      1770; _The School for Wives_, 1774, and other _sentimental\n      dramas,_ is here referred to. His first play, which is described in\n      Garrick\u2019s prologue as a \u2018Sermon,\u2019 \u2018preach\u2019d in Acts,\u2019 was produced at\n      Drury Lane just six days before Goldsmith\u2019s comedy of _The Good\n      Natur\u2019d Man_ appeared at Covent Garden, and obtained a success which\n      it ill deserved. _False Delicacy_\u2014said Johnson truly\n      (Birkbeck Hill\u2019s _ Boswell_, 1887, ii. 48)\u2014\u2018was totally\n      void of character,\u2019\u2014a crushing accusation to make against a drama.\n      But Garrick, for his private ends, had taken up Kelly as a rival to\n      Goldsmith; and the _com\u00e9die s\u00e9rieuse_ or _ larmoyante_\n      of La Chauss\u00e9e, Sedaine, and Diderot had already found votaries in\n      England. _False Delicacy_, weak, washy, and invertebrate as it\n      was, completed the transformation of \u2018genteel\u2019 into \u2018sentimental\u2019 comedy,\n      and establishing that _genre_ for the next few years, effectually retarded\n      the wholesome reaction towards humour and character which Goldsmith had\n      tried to promote by _The Good Natur\u2019d Man_. (See note to l.\n      Woodfalls. \u2018William Woodfall\u2019\u2014says Bolton\n      Corney\u2014\u2018successively editor of _The London Packet_ and\n      _The Morning Chronicle_, was matchless as a reporter of\n      speeches, and an able theatrical critic. He made lofty pretensions to\n      editorial impartiality\u2014but the actor [i.e. Garrick] was not _\n      always_ satisfied.\u2019 He died in 1803. He must not be confounded with\n      Henry Sampson Woodfall, the editor of Junius\u2019s _ Letters_. (See\n      To act as an angel. There is a sub-ironic touch in\n      this phrase which should not be overlooked. Cf. l. 102.\n      Here Hickey reclines. See note to l. 15. In\n      Cumberland\u2019s _Poetical Epistle to Dr. Goldsmith; or Supplement to his\n      Retaliation_ (_Gentleman\u2019s Magazine_, Aug. 1778, p. 384)\n      Hickey\u2019s genial qualities are thus referred to:\u2014\n        Give RIDGE and HICKY, generous souls!\n        Of WHISKEY PUNCH convivial bowls.\n      a special attorney. A special attorney was merely\n      an attorney who practised in one court only. The species is now said to be\n      extinct.\n      burn ye. The annotator of the second edition,\n      apologizing for this \u2018forced\u2019 rhyme to \u2018attorney,\u2019 informs the English\n      reader that the phrase of \u2018burn ye\u2019 is \u2018a familiar method of salutation in\n      Ireland amongst the lower classes of the people.\u2019\n      Here Reynolds is laid. This shares the palm with\n      the admirable epitaphs on Garrick and Burke. But Goldsmith loved Reynolds,\n      and there are no satiric strokes in the picture. If we are to believe\n      Malone (Reynolds\u2019s _Works_, second edition, 1801, i. xc),\n      \u2018these were the last lines the author wrote.\u2019\n      bland. Malone (_ut supra_, lxxxix) notes this\n      word as \u2018eminently happy, and characteristick of his [Reynolds\u2019s] easy and\n      placid manners.\u2019 Boswell (Dedication of _Life of Johnson_)\n      refers to his \u2018equal and placid temper.\u2019 Cf. also Dean Barnard\u2019s verses\n      (Northcote\u2019s _Life of Reynolds_, 2nd ed., 1819, i. 220), and\n      Mrs. Piozzi\u2019s lines in her _Autobiography_, 2nd ed., 1861, ii.\n      He shifted his trumpet. While studying Raphael in\n      the Vatican in 1751, Reynolds caught so severe a cold \u2018as to occasion a\n      deafness which obliged him to use an ear-trumpet for the remainder of his\n      life.\u2019 (Taylor and Leslie\u2019s _Reynolds_, 1865, i. 50.) This\n      instrument figures in a portrait of himself which he painted for Thrale\n      about 1775. See also Zoffany\u2019s picture of the \u2018Academicians gathered about\n      the model in the Life School at Somerset House,\u2019 1772, where he is shown\n      employing it to catch the conversation of Wilton and Chambers.\n      and only took snuff. Sir Joshua was a great\n      snuff-taker. His snuff-box, described in the Catalogue as the one\n      \u2018immortalized in Goldsmith\u2019s _Retaliation_,\u2019 was exhibited,\n      with his spectacles and other personal relics, at the Grosvenor Gallery in\n      1883\u20134. In the early editions this epitaph breaks off abruptly at the word\n      \u2018snuff.\u2019 But Malone says that half a line more had been written. Prior\n      gives this half line as \u2018By flattery unspoiled\u2014,\u2019 and affirms that\n      among several erasures in the manuscript sketch devoted to Reynolds it\n      \u2018remained unaltered.\u2019 (_Life_, 1837, ii. 499.) See notes to ll.\n      53, 56, and 91 of _The Haunch of Venison_.\n      Here Whitefoord reclines. The circumstances which\n      led to the insertion of these lines in the fifth edition are detailed in\n      the prefatory words of the publisher given at p. 92. There is more than a\n      suspicion that Whitefoord wrote them himself; but they have too long been\n      accepted as an appendage to the poem to be now displaced. Caleb Whitefoord\n      (born 1734) was a Scotchman, a wine-merchant, and an art connoisseur, to\n      whom J. T. Smith, in his _Life of Nollekens_, 1828, i. 333\u201341,\n      devotes several pages. He was one of the party at the St. James\u2019s\n      Coffee-house. He died in 1810. There is a caricature of him in\n      \u2018Connoisseurs inspecting a Collection of George Morland,\u2019 November, 16,\n      1807; and Wilkie\u2019s _Letter of Introduction_, 1814, was a\n      reminiscence of a visit which, when he first came to London, he paid to\n      Whitefoord. He was also painted by Reynolds and Stuart. Hewins\u2019s _Whitefoord\n      Papers_, 1898, throw no light upon the story of the epitaph.\n      a grave man. Cf. _Romeo and Juliet_, Act\n      iii, Sc. 1:\u2014\u2018Ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me _a grave\n      man_.\u2019 This Shakespearean recollection is a little like Goldsmith\u2019s\n      way. (See note to _The Haunch of Venison_, l. 120.)\n      and rejoic\u2019d in a pun. \u2018Mr. W. is so notorious a\n      punster, that Doctor Goldsmith used to say, it was impossible to keep him\n      company, without being _infected_ with the _itch of punning_.\u2019\n      (Note to fifth edition.)\n      \u2018if the table he set on a roar.\u2019 Cf. _Hamlet_,\n      Woodfall, i.e. Henry Sampson Woodfall, printer of\n      _The Public Advertiser_. He died in 1805. (See note to l. 115.)\n      Cross-Readings, Ship-News, and Mistakes of the Press.\n      Over the _nom de guerre_ of \u2018Papyrius Cursor,\u2019 a real Roman name, but\n      as happy in its applicability as Thackeray\u2019s \u2018Manlius Pennialinus,\u2019\n      Whitefoord contributed many specimens of this mechanic wit to _The\n      Public Advertiser_. The \u2018Cross Readings\u2019 were obtained by taking two\n      or three columns of a newspaper horizontally and \u2018onwards\u2019 instead of\n      \u2018vertically\u2019 and downwards, thus:\u2014\n        Colds caught at this season are\n        The Companion to the Playhouse.\n        To be sold to the best Bidder,\n        My seat in Parliament being vacated.\n      A more elaborate example is\n        On Tuesday an address was presented;\n        it unhappily missed fire and the villain made off,\n        when the honour of knighthood was conferred on him\n        to the great joy of that noble family\n      Goldsmith was hugely delighted with Whitefoord\u2019s \u2018lucky inventions\u2019 when\n      they first became popular in 1766. \u2018He declared, in the heat of his\n      admiration of them, it would have given him more pleasure to have been the\n      author of them than of all the works he had ever published of his own\u2019\n      (Northcote\u2019s _Life of Reynolds_, 2nd ed., 1819, i. 217). What\n      is perhaps more remarkable is, that Johnson spoke of Whitefoord\u2019s\n      performances as \u2018ingenious and diverting\u2019 (Birkbeck Hill\u2019s _Boswell_,\n      1887, iv. 322); and Horace Walpole laughed over them till he cried (Letter\n      to Montagu, December 12, 1766). To use Voltaire\u2019s witticism, he is _bien\n      heureux_ who can laugh now. It may be added that Whitefoord did not, as\n      he claimed, originate the \u2018Cross Readings.\u2019 They had been anticipated in\n      No. 49 of Harrison\u2019s spurious _Tatler_, vol. v [1720].\n      The fashion of the \u2018Ship-News\u2019 was in this wise: \u2018August 25 [1765]. We\n      hear that his Majestys Ship _Newcastle_ will soon have a new\n      figurehead, the old one being almost worn out.\u2019 The \u2018Mistakes of the\n      Press\u2019 explain themselves. (See also Smith\u2019s _Life of Nollekens_,\n      1828, i. 336\u20137; Debrett\u2019s _New Foundling Hospital for Wit_,\n      1784, vol. ii, and _Gentleman\u2019s Magazine_, 1810, p. 300.)\n      That a Scot may have humour, I had almost said wit.\n      Goldsmith,\u2014if he wrote these verses,\u2014must have forgotten that\n      he had already credited Whitefoord with \u2018wit\u2019 in l. 153.\n      Thou best humour\u2019d man with the worst humour\u2019d muse.\n      Cf. Rochester of Lord Buckhurst, afterwards Earl of Dorset:\u2014\n        The best good man, with the worst-natur\u2019d muse.\n      Whitefoord\u2019s contribution to the epitaphs on Goldsmith is said to have\n      been unusually severe,\u2014so severe that four only of its eight lines\n      are quoted in the _ Whitefoord Papers_, 1898, the rest being\n      \u2018unfit for publication\u2019 (p. xxvii). He afterwards addressed a metrical\n      apology to Sir Joshua, which is printed at pp. 217\u20138 of Northcote\u2019s _\n      Life_, 2nd ed., 1819. See also Forster\u2019s _ Goldsmith_,\nSONG FOR \u2018SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER.\u2019\n      Boswell, to whom we are indebted for the preservation of this lively song,\n      sent it to _The London Magazine_ for June, 1774 (vol. xliii, p.\n      295), with the following:\u2014\n      \u2018To the Editor of _The London Magazine_.\n      SIR,\u2014I send you a small production of the late Dr. _Goldsmith_,\n      which has never been published, and which might perhaps have been totally\n      lost had I not secured it. He intended it as a song in the character of\n      Miss _ Hardcastle_, in his admirable comedy, _She stoops to\n      conquer_; but it was left out, as Mrs. _Bulkley_ who played the\n      part did not sing. He sung it himself in private companies very agreeably.\n      The tune is a pretty Irish air, called _The Humours of Balamagairy_,\n      to which, he told me, he found it very difficult to adapt words; but he\n      has succeeded happily in these few lines. As I could sing the tune, and\n      was fond of them, he was so good as to give me them about a year ago, just\n      as I was leaving London, and bidding him adieu for that season, little\n      apprehending that it was a last farewell. I preserve this little relick in\n      his own handwriting with an affectionate care.\n      Your humble Servant,\n JAMES BOSWELL.\u2019 \n      When, seventeen years later, Boswell published his _Life of Samuel\n      Johnson, LL.D._, he gave an account of his dining at General\n      Oglethorpe\u2019s in April, 1773, with Johnson and Goldsmith; and he says that\n      the latter sang the _Three Jolly Pigeons_, and this song, to\n      the ladies in the tea-room. Croker, in a note, adds that the younger\n      Colman more appropriately employed the \u2018essentially low comic\u2019 air for\n      Looney Mactwolter in the [_Review; or the_] _Wags of Windsor_,\n      1808 [i.e. in that character\u2019s song beginning\u2014\u2018Oh, whack! Cupid\u2019s a\n      mannikin\u2019], and that Moore tried to bring it into good company in the\n      ninth number of the _Irish Melodies_. But Croker did not admire\n      the tune, and thought poorly of Goldsmith\u2019s words. Yet they are certainly\n      fresher than Colman\u2019s or Moore\u2019s:\u2014\nSing\u2014sing\u2014Music was given,\n    To brighten the gay, and kindle the loving;\nSouls here, like planets in Heaven,\n    By harmony\u2019s laws alone are kept moving, etc.\nTRANSLATION.\n      These lines, which appear at p. 312 of vol. V of the _History of the\n      Earth and Animated Nature_, 1774, are freely translated from some\n      Latin verses by Addison in No 412 of the _Spectator_, where\n      they are introduced as follows:\u2014\u2018Thus we see that every different\n      Species of sensible Creatures has its different Notions of Beauty, and\n      that each of them is most affected with the Beauties of its own kind. This\n      is nowhere more remarkable than in Birds of the same Shape and Proportion,\n      where we often see the Male determined in his Courtship by the single\n      Grain or Tincture of a Feather, and never discovering any Charms but in\n      the Colour of its own Species.\u2019 Addison\u2019s lines, of which Goldsmith\n      translated the first fourteen only, are printed from his corrected MS. at\n      p. 4 of _Some Portions of Essays contributed to the Spectator by Mr.\n      Joseph Addison_ [by the late J. Dykes Campbell], 1864.\nTHE HAUNCH OF VENISON.\n      It is supposed that this poem was written early in 1771, although it was\n      not printed until 1776, when it was published by G. Kearsly and J. Ridley\n      under the title of _The Haunch of Venison, a Poetical Epistle to the\n      Lord Clare. By the late Dr. Goldsmith. With a Head of the Author, Drawn by\n      Henry Bunbury, Esq; and Etched by_ [_James_] _ Bretherton._\n      A second edition, the text of which is here followed, appeared in the same\n      year \u2018With considerable Additions and Corrections, Taken from the Author\u2019s\n      _last_ Transcript.\u2019 The Lord Clare to whom the verses are addressed\n      was Robert Nugent, of Carlanstown, Westmeath, M.P. for St. Mawes in\n      1741\u201354. In 1766 he was created Viscount Clare; in 1776 Earl Nugent. In\n      his youth he had himself been an easy if not very original versifier; and\n      there are several of his performances in the second volume of Dodsley\u2019s\n      _Collection of Poems by Several Hands_, 4th ed., 1755. One of\n      the Epistles, beginning \u2018Clarinda, dearly lov\u2019d, attend The Counsels of a\n      faithful friend,\u2019 seems to have betrayed Goldsmith into the blunder of\n      confusing it, in the _Poems for Young Ladies_. 1767, p. 114,\n      with Lyttelton\u2019s better-known _ Advice to a Lady_ (\u2018The\n      counsels of\n      a friend, Belinda, hear\u2019), also in Dodsley\u2019s miscellany; while another\n      piece, an _Ode to William Pultney, Esq._, contains a stanza so\n      good that Gibbon worked it into his character of Brutus:\u2014\nWhat tho\u2019 the good, the brave, the wise,\nWith adverse force undaunted rise,\n    To break th\u2019 eternal doom!\nTho\u2019 CATO liv\u2019d, tho\u2019 TULLY spoke,\nTho\u2019 BRUTUS dealt the godlike stroke,\n    Yet perish\u2019d fated ROME.\n      Detraction, however, has insinuated that Mallet, his step-son\u2019s tutor, was\n      Nugent\u2019s penholder in this instance. \u2018Mr. Nugent sure did not write his\n      own Ode,\u2019 says Gray to Walpole (Gray\u2019s _Works_, by Gosse, 1884,\n      ii. 220). Earl Nugent died in Dublin in October, 1788, and was buried at\n      Gosfield in Essex, a property he had acquired with his second wife. A _\n      Memoir_ of him was written in 1898 by Mr. Claud Nugent. He is described\n      by Cunningham as \u2018a big, jovial, voluptuous Irishman, with a loud voice, a\n      strong Irish accent, and a ready though coarse wit.\u2019 According to Percy (_Memoir_,\n      1801, p. 66), he had been attracted to Goldsmith by the publication of\n      _The Traveller_ in 1764, and he mentioned him favourably to the\n      Earl of Northumberland, then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. A note in\n      Forster\u2019s _Life_, 1871, ii. 329\u201330, speaks of Goldsmith as a\n      frequent visitor at Gosfield, and at Nugent\u2019s house in Great George\n      Street, Westminster, where he had often for playmate his host\u2019s daughter,\n      Mary, afterwards Marchioness of Buckingham.\n      Scott and others regarded _The Haunch of Venison_ as\n      autobiographical. To what extent this is the case, it is difficult to say.\n      That it represents the actual thanks of the poet to Lord Clare for an\n      actual present of venison, part of which he promptly transferred to\n      Reynolds, is probably the fact. But, as the following notes show, it is\n      also clear that Goldsmith borrowed, if not his entire fable, at least some\n      of its details from Boileau\u2019s third satire; and that, in certain of the\n      lines, he had in memory Swift\u2019s _Grand Question Debated_, the\n      measure of which he adopts. This throws more than a doubt upon the truth\n      of the whole. \u2018His genius\u2019 (as Hazlitt says) \u2018was a mixture of originality\n      and imitation\u2019; and fact and fiction often mingle inseparably\n      in his work. The author of the bailiff scene in the _Good Natur\u2019d Man_\n      was quite capable of inventing for the nonce the tragedy of the unbaked\n      pasty, or of selecting from the Pilkingtons and Purdons of his\n      acquaintance such appropriate guests for his Mile End Amphitryon as the\n      writers of the _Snarler_ and the _Scourge_. It may\n      indeed even be doubted whether, if _The Haunch of Venison_ had\n      been absolute personal history, Goldsmith would ever have retailed it to\n      his noble patron at Gosfield, although it may include enough of real\n      experience to serve as the basis for a _jeu d\u2019esprit_.\n      The fat was so white, etc. The first version reads\u2014\u2018The\n      white was so white, and the red was so ruddy.\u2019\n      Though my stomach was sharp, etc. This couplet is\n      not in the first version.\n      One gammon of bacon. Prior compared a passage from\n      Goldsmith\u2019s _Animated Nature_, 1774, iii. 9, _\u00e0 propos_\n      of a similar practice in Germany, Poland, and Switzerland. \u2018A piece of\n      beef,\u2019 he says, \u2018hung up there, is considered as an elegant piece of\n      furniture, which, though seldom touched, at least argues the possessor\u2019s\n      opulence and ease.\u2019\n      a bounce, i.e. a braggart falsehood. Steele, in No.\n      16 of _The Lover_, 1715, p. 110, says of a manifest piece of\n      brag, \u2018But this is supposed to be only a _Bounce_.\u2019\n      Mr. Byrne, spelled \u2018Burn\u2019 in the earlier editions,\n      was a relative of Lord Clare.\n       M\u2014r\u2014\u2019s. MONROE\u2019s in the\n      first version. \u2018Dorothy Monroe,\u2019 says Bolton Corney, \u2018whose various charms\n      are celebrated in verse by Lord Townshend.\u2019\n      There\u2019s H\u2014d, and C\u2014y, and H\u2014rth, and\n      H\u2014ff. In the first version\u2014\n     \u2018There\u2019s\n      COLEY, and WILLIAMS, and HOWARD,\n      and HIFF.\u2019\u2014Hiff was Paul Hiffernan, M.B., 1719\u201377, a\n      Grub Street author and practitioner. Bolton Corney hazards some\n      conjectures as to the others; but Cunningham wisely passes them over.\n       H\u2014gg\u2014ns. Perhaps, suggests Bolton\n      Corney, this was the Captain Higgins who assisted at Goldsmith\u2019s absurd\n      \u2018fracas\u2019 with Evans the bookseller, upon the occasion of Kenrick\u2019s letter\n      in _The London Packet_ for March 24, 1773. Other accounts,\n      however, state that his companion was Captain Horneck (Prior, _Life_,\n      1837, ii. 411\u201312). This couplet is not in the first version.\n      Such dainties to them, etc. The first version\nSuch dainties to them! It _would_ look like a flirt,\nLike sending \u2019em Ruffles when wanting a Shirt.\n      Cunningham quotes a similar idea from T. Brown\u2019s _Laconics, Works_,\n      1709, iv. 14. \u2018To treat a poor wretch with a bottle of Burgundy, or fill\n      his snuff-box, is like giving a pair of lace ruffles to a man that has\n      never a shirt on his back.\u2019 But Goldsmith, as was his wont, had already\n      himself employed the same figure. \u2018Honours to one in my situation,\u2019 he\n      says in a letter to his brother Maurice, in January, 1770, when speaking\n      of his appointment as Professor of Ancient History to the Royal Academy,\n      \u2018are something like ruffles to a man that wants a shirt\u2019 (_Percy\n      Memoir_, 1801, 87\u20138). His source was probably, not Brown\u2019s _Laconics_,\n      but those French \u2018ana\u2019 he knew so well. According to M. J. J. Jusserand (_English\n      Essays from a French Pen_, 1895, pp. 160\u20131), the originator of this\n      conceit was M. Samuel de Sorbieres, the traveller in England who was\n      assailed by Bishop Sprat. Considering himself inadequately rewarded by his\n      patrons, Mazarin, Louis XIV, and Pope Clement IX, he said bitterly\u2014\u2018They\n      give lace cuffs to a man without a shirt\u2019; a \u2018consolatory witticism\u2019 which\n      he afterwards remodelled into, \u2018I wish they would send me bread for the\n      butter they kindly provided me with.\u2019 In this form it appears in the\n      Preface to the _Sorberiana_, Toulouse, 1691.\n      _a flirt_ is a jibe or jeer. \u2018He would sometimes . . . cast out a\n      jesting _flirt_ at me.\u2019 (Morley\u2019s _History of Thomas Ellwood_,\n      1895, p. 104.) Swift also uses the word.\n      An under-bred, fine-spoken fellow, etc. The first\n      version reads\u2014\n        A fine-spoken Custom-house Officer he,\n        Who smil\u2019d as he gaz\u2019d on the Ven\u2019son and me.\n      but I hate ostentation. Cf. Beau Tibbs:\u2014\u2018She\n      was bred, _but that\u2019s between ourselves_, under the inspection of the\n      Countess of All-night.\u2019 (_Citizen of the World_, 1762, i.\n      We\u2019ll have Johnson, and Burke. Cf. Boileau, _Sat._\n      iii. ll. 25\u20136, which Goldsmith had in mind:\u2014\n        Moli\u00e8re avec Tartufe y doit jouer son r\u00f4le,\n        Et Lambert, qui plus est, m\u2019a donn\u00e9 sa parole.\n      What say you\u2014a pasty? It shall, and it must.\n      The first version reads\u2014\n        I\u2019ll take no denial\u2014you shall, and you must.\n      Mr. J. H. Lobban, _Goldsmith, Select Poems_, 1900, notes a\n      hitherto undetected similarity between this and the \u2018It _must_, and\n      it _shall_ be a barrack, my life\u2019 of Swift\u2019s _Grand Question\n      Debated_. See also ll. 56 and 91.\n      No stirring, I beg\u2014my dear friend\u2014my dear\n      friend. In the first edition\u2014\n        No words, my dear GOLDSMITH! my very good Friend!\n      Mr. Lobban compares:\u2014\n        \u2018Good morrow, good captain.\u2019 \u2018I\u2019ll wait on you down,\u2019\u2014\n        \u2018You shan\u2019t stir a foot.\u2019 \u2018You\u2019ll think me a clown.\u2019\n      \u2018And nobody with me at sea but myself.\u2019 This is\n      almost a textual quotation from one of the letters of Henry Frederick,\n      Duke of Cumberland, to Lady Grosvenor, a correspondence which in 1770 gave\n      great delight to contemporary caricaturists and scandal-mongers. Other\n      poets besides Goldsmith seem to have been attracted by this particular\n      lapse of his illiterate Royal Highness, since it is woven into a ballad\n      printed in _The Public Advertiser_ for August 2 in the above\n        The Miser who wakes in a Fright for his Pelf,\n        And finds _no one by him except his own Self_, etc.\n      When come to the place, etc. Cf. Boileau, _ut\n        A peine \u00e9tais-je entr\u00e9, que ravi de me voir,\n        Mon homme, en m\u2019embrassant, m\u2019est venu recevoir;\n        Et montrant \u00e0 mes yeux une all\u00e9gresse enti\u00e8re,\n        Nous n\u2019avons, m\u2019a-t-il dit, ni Lambert ni Moli\u00e8re.\n      Lambert the musician, it may be added, had the special reputation of\n      accepting engagements which he never kept.\n      and t\u2019other with Thrale. Henry Thrale, the\n      Southwark brewer, and the husband of Mrs. Thrale, afterwards Mrs. Piozzi.\n      Johnson first made his acquaintance in 1765. Strahan complained to Boswell\n      that, by this connexion, Johnson \u2018was in a great measure absorbed from the\n      society of his old friends.\u2019\n      (Birkbeck Hill\u2019s _Boswell_, 1887, iii. 225.) Line 72 in the\n      first edition reads\u2014\n        The one at the House, and the other with THRALE.\n      They both of them merry and authors like you.\n      \u2018They\u2019 should apparently be \u2018they\u2019re.\u2019 The first version reads\u2014\n        Who dabble and write in the Papers\u2014like you.\n      Some think he writes Cinna\u2014he owns to Panurge.\n      \u2018Panurge\u2019 and \u2018Cinna\u2019 are signatures which were frequently to be found at\n      the foot of letters addressed to the _Public Advertiser_ in\n      1770\u20131 in support of Lord Sandwich and the Government. They are said to\n      have been written by Dr. W. Scott, Vicar of Simonburn, Northumberland, and\n      chaplain of Greenwich Hospital, both of which preferments had been given\n      him by Sandwich. In 1765 he had attacked Lord Bute and his policy over the\n      signature of \u2018Anti-Sejanus.\u2019 \u2018Sandwich and his parson Anti-Sejanus [are]\n      hooted off the stage\u2019\u2014writes Walpole to Mann, March 21, 1766.\n      According to Prior, it was Scott who visited Goldsmith in his Temple\n      chambers, and invited him to \u2018draw a venal quill\u2019 for Lord North\u2019s\n      administration. Goldsmith\u2019s noble answer, as reported by his reverend\n      friend, was\u2014\u2018I can earn as much as will supply my wants without\n      writing for any party; the assistance therefore you offer is unnecessary\n      to me.\u2019 (_Life_, 1837, ii. 278.) There is a caricature portrait\n      of Scott at p. 141 of _The London Museum_ for February, 1771,\n      entitled \u2018Twitcher\u2019s Advocate,\u2019 \u2018Jemmy Twitcher\u2019 being the nickname of\n      Lord Sandwich.\n      Swinging, great, huge. \u2018Bishop Lowth has just\n      finished the Dramas, and sent me word, that although I have paid him the\n      most _swinging_ compliment he ever received, he likes the whole book\n      more than he can say.\u2019 (_Memoirs of Hannah More_, 1834, i.\n      pasty. The first version has Ven\u2019son.\u2019\n      So there I sat, etc. This couplet is not in the\n      first version.\n      And, \u2018Madam,\u2019 quoth he. Mr. Lobban again quotes\n      Swift\u2019s _Grand Question Debated_:\u2014\n        And \u2018Madam,\u2019 says he, \u2018if such dinners you give\n        You\u2019ll ne\u2019er want for parsons as long as you live.\u2019\n      These slight resemblances, coupled with the more obvious likeness of the\n      \u2018Raphaels, Correggios, and stuff\u2019 of _ Retaliation_ (ll. 145\u20136)\n      to the _Noueds_ and _ Bluturks_ and _Omurs_ and stuff\u2019\n      (also pointed out by Mr. Lobban) are interesting, because they show\n      plainly that Goldsmith remembered the works of Swift far better than _The\n      New Bath Guide_, which has sometimes been supposed to have set the\n      tune to the _Haunch_ and _Retaliation_.\n      \u2018may this bit be my poison.\u2019 The gentleman in _She\n      Stoops to Conquer_, Act i, who is \u2018obligated to dance a bear.\u2019 Uses\n      the same asseveration. Cf. also Squire Thornhill\u2019s somewhat similar\n      formula in chap. vii of _The Vicar of Wakefield_, 1766, i. 59.\n      \u2018The tripe,\u2019 quoth the Jew, etc. The first version\n      reads\u2014\n        \u2018Your Tripe!\u2019 quoth the _Jew_, \u2018if the truth I may speak,\n        I could eat of this Tripe seven days in the week.\u2019\n      Re-echoed, i.e. \u2018returned\u2019 in the first edition.\n      thot. This, probably by a printer\u2019s error, is\n      altered to \u2018that\u2019 in the second version. But the first reading is the more\n      in keeping, besides being a better rhyme.\n      Wak\u2019d Priam. Cf. 2 _Henry IV_, Act I,\n        Even such a man, so faint, so spiritless,\n        So dull, so dead in look, so woe-begone,\n        Drew Priam\u2019s curtain in the dead of night.\n        And would have told him half his Troy was burnt.\n      sicken\u2019d over by learning. Cf. _Hamlet_,\n        And thus the native hue of resolution\n        Is _sicklied o\u2019er_ with the pale cast of thought.\n      Notwithstanding the condemnation of Shakespeare in the _Present State\n      of Polite Learning_, and elsewhere, Goldsmith frequently weaves\n      Shakespearean recollections into his work. Cf. _She Stoops to Conquer_,\n      1773, Act i, p. 13, \u2018We wanted no ghost to tell us that\u2019 (_Hamlet_,\n      Act i, Sc. 5); and Act i, p. 9, where he uses Falstaff\u2019s words (1 _Henry\n        Would it were bed-time and all were well.\n      as very well known. The first version has, \u2018\u2019tis\n      very well known.\u2019\nEPITAPH ON THOMAS PARNELL.\n      This epitaph, apparently never used, was published with _The Haunch\n      of Venison_, 1776; and is supposed to have been written about 1770.\n      In that year Goldsmith wrote a _Life of Thomas Parnell, D.D._,\n      to accompany an edition of his poems, printed for Davies of Russell\n      Street. Parnell was born in 1679, and died at Chester in 1718, on his way\n      to Ireland. He was buried at Trinity Church in that town, on the 24th of\n      October. Goldsmith says that his father and uncle both knew Parnell (_Life\n      of Parnell_, 1770, p. v), and that he received assistance from the\n      poet\u2019s nephew, Sir John Parnell, the singing gentleman who figures in\n      Hogarth\u2019s _Election Entertainment_. Why Goldsmith should write\n      an epitaph upon a man who died ten years before his own birth, is not easy\n      to explain. But Johnson also wrote a Latin one, which he gave to Boswell.\n      (Birkbeck Hill\u2019s _Life_, 1887, iv. 54.)\n      gentle Parnell\u2019s name. Mitford compares Pope on\n      Parnell [_Epistle to Harley_, l. iv]:\u2014\n        With softest manners, gentlest Arts adorn\u2019d.\n      Pope published Parnell\u2019s _Poems_ in 1722, and his sending them\n      to Harley, Earl of Oxford, after the latter\u2019s disgrace and retirement, was\n      the occasion of the foregoing epistle, from which the following lines\n      respecting Parnell may also be cited:\u2014\n        For him, thou oft hast bid the World attend,\n        Fond to forget the statesman in the friend;\n        For SWIFT and him despis\u2019d the farce of state,\n        The sober follies of the wise and great;\n        Dext\u2019rous the craving, fawning crowd to quit,\n        And pleas\u2019d to \u2019scape from Flattery to Wit.\n      his sweetly-moral lay. Cf. _The Hermit_,\n      the _Hymn to Contentment_, the _Night Piece on Death_\u2014which\n      Goldsmith certainly recalled in his own _City Night-Piece_. Of\n      the last-named Goldsmith says (_Life of Parnell_, 1770, p.\n      xxxii), not without an obvious side-stroke at Gray\u2019s too-popular _Elegy_,\n      that it \u2018deserves every praise, and I should suppose with very little\n      amendment, might be made to surpass all those night pieces and church yard\n      scenes that have since appeared.\u2019 This is certainly (as Longfellow sings)\n    rustling hear in every breeze\nThe laurels of Miltiades.\n      Of Parnell, Hume wrote (_Essays_, 1770, i. 244) that \u2018after the\n      fiftieth reading; [he] is as fresh as at the first.\u2019 But Gray (speaking\u2014it\n      should be explained\u2014of a dubious volume of his posthumous works)\n      said: \u2018Parnell is the dung-hill of Irish Grub Street\u2019 (Gosse\u2019s Gray\u2019s\n      _Works_, 1884, ii. 372). Meanwhile, it is his fate to-day to be\n      mainly remembered by three words (not always attributed to him) in a\n      couplet from what Johnson styled \u2018perhaps the meanest\u2019 of his\n      performances, the _Elegy\u2014 to an Old Beauty_:\u2014\n        And all that\u2019s madly wild, or oddly gay,\n        We call it only _pretty Fanny\u2019s way_.\nTHE CLOWN\u2019S REPLY.\n      This, though dated \u2018Edinburgh 1753,\u2019 was first printed in _Poems and\n      John Trott is a name for a clown or commonplace\n      character. Miss Burney (_Diary_, 1904, i. 222) says of Dr.\n      Delap:\u2014\u2018As to his person and appearance, they are much in the _John-trot_\n      style.\u2019 Foote, Chesterfield, and Walpole use the phrase; Fielding\n      Scotticizes it into \u2018John Trott-Plaid, Esq.\u2019; and Bolingbroke employs it\n      as a pseudonym.\n      I shall ne\u2019er see your graces. \u2018I shall never see\n      a Goose again without thinking on Mr. _Neverout_,\u2019\u2014says the\n      \u2018brilliant Miss Notable\u2019 in Swift\u2019s _Polite Conversation_,\nEPITAPH ON EDWARD PURDON.\n      The occasion of this quatrain, first published as Goldsmith\u2019s* in _Poems\n      and Plays_, 1777, p. 79, is to be found in Forster\u2019s _Life and\n      Times of Oliver Goldsmith_, 1871, ii. 60. Purdon died on March 27,\n      1767 (_Gentleman\u2019s Magazine_, April, 1767, p. 192). \u2018\u201cDr.\n      Goldsmith made this epitaph,\u201d says William Ballantyne [the author of _Mackliniana_],\n      \u201cin his way from his chambers in the Temple to the Wednesday evening\u2019s\n      club at the Globe. _I think he will never come back_, I believe he\n      said. I was\n      sitting by him, and he repeated it more than twice. (I think he will never\n      come back.)\u201d\u2019 Purdon had been at Trinity College, Dublin, with Goldsmith;\n      he had subsequently been a foot soldier; ultimately he became a\n      \u2018bookseller\u2019s hack.\u2019 He wrote an anonymous letter to Garrick in 1759, and\n      translated the _ Henriade_ of Voltaire. This translation\n      Goldsmith is supposed to have revised, and his own life of Voltaire was to\n      have accompanied it, though finally the Memoir and Translation seem to\n      have appeared separately. (Cf. prefatory note to _Memoirs of M. de\n      Voltaire_ in Gibbs\u2019s _Works of Oliver Goldsmith_, 1885,\n* It had previously appeared as an extempore by a correspondent in\n      the _Weekly Magazine_, Edin., August 12, 1773 (_Notes and\n      Queries_, February 14, 1880).\n      Forster says further, in a note, \u2018The original . . . is the epitaph on \u201cLa\n      Mort du Sieur Etienne\u201d:\u2014\nIl est au bout de ses travaux,\n    Il a pass\u00e9, le Sieur Etienne;\nEn ce monde il eut tant des maux\n    Qu\u2019on ne croit pas qu\u2019il revienne.\n      With this perhaps Goldsmith was familiar, and had therefore less scruple\n      in laying felonious hands on the epigram in the _Miscellanies_\nWell, then, poor G\u2014\u2014 lies underground!\n    So there\u2019s an end of honest Jack.\nSo little justice here he found,\n    \u2019Tis ten to one he\u2019ll ne\u2019er come back.\u2019\n      Mr. Forster\u2019s \u2018felonious hands\u2019 recalls a passage in Goldsmith\u2019s _Life\n      of Parnell_, 1770, in which, although himself an habitual sinner in\n      this way, he comments gravely upon the practice of plagiarism:\u2014\u2018It\n      was the fashion with the wits of the last age, to conceal the places from\n      whence they took their hints or their subjects. A trifling acknowledgment\n      would have made that lawful prize, which may now be considered as plunder\u2019\nEPILOGUE FOR LEE LEWES\u2019S BENEFIT.\n      This benefit took place at Covent Garden on May 7, 1773, the pieces\n      performed being Rowe\u2019s _Lady Jane Grey_, and a popular\n      pantomimic after-piece by Theobald, called _Harlequin Sorcerer_,\n      Charles Lee Lewes (1740\u20131803) was the original \u2018Young Marlow\u2019 of _She\n      Stoops to Conquer_. When that part was thrown up by\n      \u2018Gentleman\u2019 Smith, Shuter, the \u2018Mr. Hardcastle\u2019 of the comedy, suggested\n      Lewes, who was the harlequin of the theatre, as a substitute, and the\n      choice proved an admirable one. Goldsmith was highly pleased with his\n      performance, and in consequence wrote for him this epilogue. It was first\n      in thy black aspect, i.e. the half-mask of\n      harlequin, in which character the Epilogue was spoken.\n      rosined lightning, stage-lightning, in which\n      rosin is an ingredient.\nEPILOGUE INTENDED FOR\n\u2018SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER.\u2019\n      This epilogue was first printed at pp. 82\u20136, vol. ii, of the _Miscellaneous\n      Works of_ 1801. Bolton Corney says it had been given to Percy by\n      Goldsmith. It is evidently the \u2018quarrelling Epilogue\u2019 referred to in the\n      following letter from Goldsmith to Cradock (_Miscellaneous Memoirs_,\n      \u2018MY DEAR SIR,\n The Play [_She\n      Stoops to Conquer_] has met with a success much beyond your\n      expectations or mine. I thank you sincerely for your Epilogue, which,\n      however could not be used, but with your permission, shall be printed.*\n      The story in short is this; Murphy sent me rather the outline of an\n      Epilogue than an Epilogue, which was to be sung by Mrs. Catley, and which\n      she approved. Mrs. Bulkley hearing this, insisted on throwing up her part,\n      unless according to the custom of the theatre, she were permitted to speak\n      the Epilogue. In this embarrassment I thought of making a quarrelling\n      Epilogue between Catley and her, debating who should speak the Epilogue,\n      but then Mrs. Catley refused, after I had taken the trouble of drawing it\n      out. I was then at a loss indeed; an Epilogue was to be made, and for none\n      but Mrs. Bulkley. I made one, and Colman thought it too bad to be spoken;\n      I was obliged therefore to try a fourth time, and I made a very mawkish\n      thing, as you\u2019ll shortly see. Such is the history of my Stage adventures,\n      and which I have at last done with. I cannot help saying that I am very\n      sick of the\n      stage; and though I believe I shall get three tolerable benefits, yet I\n      shall upon the whole be a loser, even in a pecuniary light; my ease and\n      comfort I certainly lost while it was in agitation.\n      I am, my dear Cradock,\n your obliged, and obedient servant,\n OLIVER GOLDSMITH.\n      P.S.\u2014Present my most humble respects to Mrs. Cradock.\u2019\n* It is so printed with the note\u2014\u2018This came too late to be Spoken.\u2019\n      According to Prior (_Miscellaneous Works_, 1837, iv. 154),\n      Goldsmith\u2019s friend, Dr. Farr, had a copy of this epilogue which still,\n      when Prior wrote, remained in that gentleman\u2019s family.\n      Who mump their passion, i.e. grimace their\n      passion.\n      ye macaroni train. The Macaronies were the\n      foplings, fribbles, or beaux of Goldsmith\u2019s day. Walpole refers to them as\n      early as 1764; but their flourishing time was 1770\u20133, when the\n      print-shops, and especially Matthew Darly\u2019s in the Strand, No. 39, swarmed\n      with satirical designs of which they were the subject. Selwyn, March\u2014many\n      well-known names\u2014are found in their ranks. Richard Cosway figured as\n      \u2018The Macaroni Painter\u2019; Angelica Kauffmann as \u2018The Paintress of\n      Maccaroni\u2019s\u2019; Thrale as \u2018The Southwark Macaroni.\u2019 Another caricature (\u2018The\n      Fluttering Macaroni\u2019) contains a portrait of Miss Catley, the singing\n      actress of the present epilogue; while Charles Horneck, the brother of\n      \u2018The Jessamy Bride\u2019 (see p. 251, l. 14) is twice satirized as \u2018The Martial\n      Macaroni\u2019 and \u2018The Military Macaroni.\u2019 The name, as may be guessed, comes\n      from the Italian dish first made fashionable by the \u2018Macaroni Club,\u2019 being\n      afterwards applied by extension to \u2018the younger and gayer part of our\n      nobility and gentry, who, at the same time that they gave in to the\n      luxuries of eating, went equally into the extravagancies of dress.\u2019 (_Macaroni\n      and Theatrical Magazine_, Oct. 1772.) Cf. Sir Benjamin Backbite\u2019s\n      later epigram in _The School for Scandal_, 1777, Act ii, Sc. 2:\u2014\n        Sure never was seen two such beautiful ponies;\n        Other horses are clowns, but these _macaronies_:\n        To give them this title I\u2019m sure can\u2019t be wrong,\n        Their legs are so slim and their tails are so long.\n      Their hands are only lent to the Heinel. See note\nEPILOGUE INTENDED FOR\n\u2018SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER.\u2019\n      This epilogue, given by Goldsmith to Dr. Percy in MS., was first published\n      in the _Miscellaneous Works_ of 1801, ii. 87\u20138, as _An\n      Epilogue intended for Mrs. Bulkley_. Percy did not remember for what\n      play it was intended; but it is plainly (see note to l. 40) the second\n      epilogue for _She Stoops to Conquer_ referred to in the letter\n      printed in this volume.\n      There is a place, so Ariosto sings. \u2018The poet\n      alludes to the thirty-fourth canto of _The Orlando furioso_.\n      Ariosto, as translated by Mr. Stewart Rose, observes of the _lunar world_;\n        There thou wilt find, if thou wilt thither post,\n        Whatever thou on earth beneath hast lost.\n      Astolpho undertakes the journey; discovers a portion of his own sense;\n      and, in an ample flask, the lost wits of Orlando.\u2019 (Bolton Corney.) Cf.\n      also _Rape of the Lock_, Canto v, ll. 113\u201314:\n        Some thought it mounted to the Lunar sphere,\n        Since all things lost on earth are treasur\u2019d there.\n      Lord Chesterfield also refers to the \u2018happy extravagancy\u2019 of Astolpho\u2019s\n      journey in his _Letters_, 1774, i. 557.\n      at Foote\u2019s Alone. \u2018Foote\u2019s\u2019 was the Little Theatre\n      in the Haymarket, where, in February, 1773, he brought out what he\n      described as a \u2018Primitive Puppet Show,\u2019 based upon the Italian Fantoccini,\n      and presenting a burlesque sentimental Comedy called _The Handsome\n      Housemaid; or, Piety in Pattens_, which did as much as _ She\n      Stoops_ to laugh false sentiment away. Foote warned his audience\n      that they would not discover \u2018much wit or humour\u2019 in the piece, since \u2018his\n      brother writers had all agreed that it was highly improper, and beneath\n      the dignity of a mixed assembly, to show any signs of joyful satisfaction;\n      and that creating a laugh was forcing the higher order of an audience to a\n      vulgar and mean use of their muscles\u2019\u2014for which reason, he\n      explained, he had, like them, given up the sensual for the sentimental\n      style. And thereupon followed the story of a maid of low degree who, \u2018by\n      the mere effects of morality and virtue, raised herself [like Richardson\u2019s\n      _Pamela_], to riches and honours.\u2019 The\n      public, who for some time had acquiesced in the new order of things under\n      the belief that it tended to the reformation of the stage, and who were\n      beginning to weary of the \u2018moral essay thrown into dialogue,\u2019 which had\n      for some time supplanted humorous situation, promptly came round under the\n      influence of Foote\u2019s Aristophanic ridicule, and the _ com\u00e9die\n      larmoyante_ received an appreciable check. Goldsmith himself had\n      prepared the way in a paper contributed to the _Westminster Magazine_\n      for December, 1772 (vol. i. p. 4), with the title of \u2018An Essay on the\n      Theatre; or, A Comparison between Laughing and Sentimental Comedy.\u2019 The\n      specific reference in the Prologue is to the fact that Foote gave morning\n      performances of _The Handsome Housemaid_. There was one, for\n      instance, on Saturday, March 6, 1773.\n      The Mohawk. This particular species of the genus\n      \u2018rake\u2019 belongs more to Swift\u2019s than Goldsmith\u2019s time, though the race is\n      eternal. There is an account of the \u2018Mohock Club\u2019 in _Spectator_,\n      No. 324. See also _Spectator_, No. 347; Gay\u2019s _ Trivia_,\n      1716, Book iii. p. 74; Swift\u2019s _Journal to Stella_, March 8 and\n      Still stoops among the low to copy nature. This\n      line, one would think, should have helped to convince Percy that the\n      epilogue was intended for _She Stoops to Conquer_, and for no\n      other play.\nTHE CAPTIVITY.\n      The Oratorio of the _Captivity_ was written in 1764; but never\n      set to music. It was first printed in 1820 at pp. 451\u201370 of vol. ii of the\n      octavo edition of the _ Miscellaneous Works_ issued by the\n      trade in that year. Prior reprinted it in 1837 (_Works_, iv.\n      Pp. 79\u201395) from the \u2018original manuscript\u2019 in Mr. Murray\u2019s possession; and\n      Cunningham again in 1854 (_Works_, i. pp. 63\u201376). It is here\n      reproduced from Prior. James Dodsley, who bought the MS. for Newbery and\n      himself, gave Goldsmith ten guineas. Murray\u2019s copy was the one made for\n      Dodsley, October 31, 1764; the one printed in 1820, that made for Newbery.\n      The latter, which once belonged to the autograph collector, William\n      Upcott, was in the market in 1887.\n      AIR. Act i. This song had been published in the\n      first edition\n      of _The Haunch of Venison_, 1776, with the second stanza varied\nThou, like the world, th\u2019 opprest oppressing,\n    Thy smiles increase the wretch\u2019s woe\u2019\nAnd he who wants each other blessing,\n    In thee must ever find a foe.\n      AIR. Act ii. This song also had appeared in the\n      first edition of _The Haunch of Venison_, 1776, in a different\nThe Wretch condemn\u2019d with life to part,\n    Still, still on Hope relies;\nAnd ev\u2019ry pang that rends the heart,\n    Bids Expectation rise.\nHope, like the glim\u2019ring taper\u2019s light,\n    Adorns and chears the way;\nAnd still, as darker grows the night,\n    Emits a brighter ray.\n      Mitford, who printed _The Captivity_ from Newbery\u2019s version,\n      records a number of \u2018first thoughts\u2019 afterwards altered or improved by the\n      author in his MS. Modern editors have not reproduced them, and their\n      example has been followed here. _The Captivity_ is not, in any\n      sense, one of Goldsmith\u2019s important efforts.\nVERSES IN REPLY TO AN INVITATION TO DINNER.\n      These were first published in the _ Miscellaneous Works_ of\n      1837, iv. 132\u20133, having been communicated to the editor by Major-General\n      Sir H. E. Bunbury, Bart., the son of Henry William Bunbury, the well-known\n      comic artist, and husband of Catherine Horneck, the \u2018Little Comedy\u2019 to\n      whom Goldsmith refers. Dr. Baker, to whose house the poet was invited, was\n      Dr. (afterwards Sir George) Baker, 1722\u20131809. He was Sir Joshua\u2019s doctor;\n      and in 1776 became physician to George III, whom he attended during his\n      illness of 1788\u20139. He is often mentioned by Fanny Burney and Hannah More.\n      Horneck, i.e. Mrs. Hannah Horneck\u2014the\n      \u2018Plymouth Beauty\u2019\u2014widow of Captain Kane William Horneck, grandson\n      of Dr. Anthony Horneck of the Savoy, mentioned in Evelyn\u2019s _Diary_,\n      for whose _Happy Ascetick_, 1724, Hogarth designed a\n      frontispiece. Mrs. Horneck died in 1803. Like Sir Joshua, the Hornecks\n      came from Devonshire; and through him, had made the acquaintance of\n      Goldsmith.\n      Nesbitt. Mr. Nesbitt was the husband of one of Mr.\n      Thrale\u2019s handsome sisters. He was a member of the Devonshire Club, and\n      twice (1759\u201361) sat to Reynolds, with whom he was intimate. He died in\n      1779, and his widow married a Mr. Scott.\n      Kauffmann. Angelica Kauffmann, the artist,\n      1741\u20131807. She had come to London in 1766. At the close of 1767 she had\n      been cajoled into a marriage with an impostor, Count de Horn, and had\n      separated from him in 1768. In 1769 she painted a \u2018weak and\n      uncharacteristic\u2019 portrait of Reynolds for Mr. Parker of Saltram\n      (afterwards Baron Boringdon), which is now in the possession of the Earl\n      of Morley. It was exhibited at the Royal Academy in the winter of 1876,\n      and is the portrait referred to at l. 44 below.\n      the Jessamy Bride. This was Goldsmith\u2019s pet-name\n      for Mary, the elder Miss Horneck. After Goldsmith\u2019s death she married\n      Colonel F. E. Gwyn (1779). She survived until 1840. \u2018Her own picture with\n      a turban,\u2019 painted by Reynolds, was left to her in his will (_Works_\n      by Malone, 2nd ed., 1798, p. cxviii). She was also painted by Romney and\n      Hoppner. \u2018Jessamy,\u2019 or \u2018jessimy,\u2019 with its suggestion of jasmine flowers,\n      seems in eighteenth-century parlance to have stood for \u2018dandified,\u2019\n      \u2018superfine,\u2019 \u2018delicate,\u2019 and the whole name was probably coined after the\n      model of some of the titles to Darly\u2019s prints, then common in all the\n      shops.\n      The Reynoldses two, i.e. Sir Joshua and his\n      sister, Miss Reynolds.\n      Little Comedy\u2019s face. \u2018Little Comedy\u2019 was\n      Goldsmith\u2019s name for the younger Miss Horneck, Catherine, and already\n      engaged to H. W. Bunbury (_v. supra_), to whom she was married in\n      1771. She died in 1799, and had also been painted by Reynolds.\n      the Captain in lace. This was Charles Horneck,\n      Mrs. Horneck\u2019s son, an officer in the Foot-guards. He afterwards became a\n      general, and died in 1804. (See note, p. 247, l. 31.)\n      to-day\u2019s Advertiser. The lines referred to are\n      said by Prior to have been as follows:\u2014\n        While fair Angelica, with matchless grace,\n        Paints Conway\u2019s lovely form and Stanhope\u2019s face;\n        Our hearts to beauty willing homage pay,\n        We praise, admire, and gaze our souls away.\n        But when the likeness she hath done for thee,\n        O Reynolds! with astonishment we see,\n        Forced to submit, with all our pride we own,\n        Such strength, such harmony, excell\u2019d by none,\n        And thou art rivall\u2019d by thyself alone.\n      They probably appeared in the newspaper at some date between 1769, when\n      the picture was painted, and August 1771, when \u2018Little Comedy\u2019 was\n      married, after which time Goldsmith would scarcely speak of her except as\nLETTER IN PROSE AND VERSE TO MRS. BUNBURY.\n      This letter, which contains some of the brightest and easiest of\n      Goldsmith\u2019s familiar verses, was addressed to Mrs. Bunbury (the \u2018Little\n      Comedy\u2019 of the _Verses in Reply to an Invitation to Dinner_,\n      pp. 250\u20132), in answer to a rhymed summons on her part to spend Christmas\n      at Great Barton in Suffolk, the family seat of the Bunburys. It was first\n      printed by Prior in the _Miscellaneous Works_ of 1837, iv.\n      148\u201351, and again in 1838 in Sir Henry Bunbury\u2019s _Correspondence of\n      Sir Thomas Hanmer, Bart._, pp. 379\u201383. The text of the latter issue\n      is here followed. When Prior published the verses, they were assigned to\n      the year 1772; in the _Hanmer Correspondence_ it is stated that\n      they were \u2018probably written in 1773 or 1774.\u2019\n      your spring velvet coat. Goldsmith\u2019s pronounced\n      taste in dress, and his good-natured simplicity, made his costume a\n      fertile subject for playful raillery,\u2014sometimes, for rather\n      discreditable practical jokes. (See next note.)\n      a wig, that is modish and gay. \u2018He always wore a\n      wig\u2019\u2014said the \u2018Jessamy Bride\u2019 in her reminiscences to Prior\u2014\u2018a\n      peculiarity which those who judge of his appearance only from the fine poetical head\n      of Reynolds, would not suspect; and on one occasion some person contrived\n      to seriously injure this important adjunct to dress. It was the only one\n      he had in the country, and the misfortune seemed irreparable until the\n      services of Mr. Bunbury\u2019s valet were called in, who however performed his\n      functions so indifferently that poor Goldsmith\u2019s appearance became the\n      signal for a general smile\u2019 (Prior\u2019s _Life_, 1837, ii. 378\u20139).\n      Naso contemnere adunco. Cf. Horace, _Sat_.\n          naso suspendis adunco\n        Ignotos,\n        Et pueri nasum Rhinocerotis habent.\n      Loo, i.e. Lanctre- or Lanterloo, a popular\n      eighteenth-century game, in which _Pam_, l. 6, the knave of clubs, is\n      the highest card. Cf. Pope, _Rape of the Lock_, 1714, iii. 61:\u2014\n        Ev\u2019n might _Pam_, that Kings and Queens o\u2019erthrew,\n        And mow\u2019d down armies in the fights of Lu;\n      and Colman\u2019s epilogue to _The School for Scandal_, 1777:\u2014\n        And at backgammon mortify my soul,\n        That pants for _loo_, or flutters at a vole?\n      Miss Horneck. Miss Mary Horneck, the \u2018Jessamy\n      Fielding. Sir John Fielding, d. 1780, Henry\n      Fielding\u2019s blind half-brother, who succeeded him as a Justice of the Peace\n      for the City and Liberties of Westminster. He was knighted in 1761. There\n      are two portraits of him by Nathaniel Hone.\n      by quinto Elizabeth, Death without Clergy. Legal\n      authorities affirm that the Act quoted should be 8 Eliz. cap. iv, under\n      which those who stole more than twelvepence \u2018privately from a man\u2019s\n      person\u2019 were debarred from benefit of clergy. But \u2018quint. Eliz.\u2019 must have\n      offered some special attraction to poets, since Pope also refers to it in\n      the _Satires and Epistles_, i. 147\u20138:\u2014\n        Consult the Statute: _quart_. I think, it is,\n        _Edwardi sext._ or _prim. et quint. Eliz._\n      With bunches of fennel, and nosegays before \u2019em.\n      This was a custom dating from the fearful jail fever of 1750, which\n      carried off, not only prisoners, but a judge (Mr. Justice Abney) \u2018and many\n      jurymen and witnesses.\u2019 \u2018From that time up to this day [i.e. 1855] it has\n      been usual to place sweet-smelling herbs in the prisoner\u2019s dock, to\n      prevent infection.\u2019 (Lawrence\u2019s _Life of Henry Fielding_, 1855,\n      p. 296.) The close observation of Cruikshank has not neglected this detail\n      in the Old Bailey plate of _The Drunkard\u2019s Children_, 1848, v.\n      mobs. The mob was a loose undress or _d\u00e8shabill\u00e8_,\n      sometimes a hood. \u2018When we poor souls had presented ourselves with a\n      contrition suitable to our worthlessness, some pretty young ladies in _mobs_,\n      popped in here and there about the church.\u2019 (_Guardian_, No.\n      65, May 26, 1713.) Cf. also Addison\u2019s \u2018Fine Lady\u2019s Diary\u2019 (_Spectator_,\n      No. 323); \u2018Went in our _Mobbs_ to the Dumb Man\u2019 (Duncan Campbell).\n      yon solemn-faced. Cf. _Introduction_,\n      p. xxvii. According to the \u2018Jessamy Bride,\u2019 Goldsmith sometimes aggravated\n      his plainness by an \u2018assumed frown of countenance\u2019 (Prior, _Life_,\n      Sir Charles, i.e. Sir Thomas Charles Bunbury,\n      Bart., M. P., Henry Bunbury\u2019s elder brother. He succeeded to the title in\n      1764, and died without issue in 1821. Goldsmith, it may be observed, makes\n      \u2018Charles\u2019 a disyllable. Probably, like many of his countrymen, he so\n      pronounced it. (Cf. Thackeray\u2019s _Pendennis_, 1850, vol. ii,\n      chap. 5 [or xliii], where this is humorously illustrated in Captain\n      Costigan\u2019s \u2018Sir _Chorlus_, I saw your neem at the Levee.\u2019 Perhaps\n      this accounts for \u2018failing\u2019 and \u2018stealing,\u2019\u2014\u2018day on\u2019 and \u2018Pantheon,\u2019\n      in the _New Simile_. Cooke (_European Magazine_, October, 1793,\n      p. 259) says that Goldsmith \u2018rather cultivated (than endeavoured to get\n      rid of) his brogue.\u2019\n      dy\u2019d in grain, i.e. fixed, ineradicable. To \u2018dye\n      in grain\u2019 means primarily to colour with the scarlet or purple dye\n      produced by the _kermes_ insect, called _granum_ in Latin, from\n      its similarity to small seeds. Being what is styled a \u2018fast\u2019 dye the\n      phrase is used by extension to signify permanence.\n      VIDA\u2019S GAME OF CHESS.\n      Forster thus describes the MS. of this poem in his _Life of Goldsmith_:\u2014\u2018It\n      is a small quarto manuscript of thirty-four pages, containing 679 lines,\n      to which a fly-leaf is appended in which Goldsmith notes the differences\n      of nomenclature between Vida\u2019s chessmen and our own. It has occasional\n      interlineations and corrections, but such as would occur in transcription\n      rather than in a first or original copy. Sometimes indeed choice appears\n      to have been made (as at page 29) between two words equally suitable to\n      the sense and verse, as \u201cto\u201d for \u201ctoward\u201d; but the insertions and erasures\n      refer almost wholly to words or lines accidentally omitted and replaced.\n      The triplet is always carefully marked; and seldom as it is found in any\n      other of Goldsmith\u2019s poems. I am disposed to regard its frequent\n      recurrence here as even helping, in some degree, to explain the motive\n      which had led him to the trial of an experiment in rhyme comparatively new\n      to him. If we suppose him, half consciously, it may be, taking up the\n      manner of the great master of translation, Dryden, who was at all times so\n      much a favourite with him, he would at least, in so marked a peculiarity,\n      be less apt to fall short than to err perhaps a little on the side of\n      excess. Though I am far from thinking such to be the result in the present\n      instance. The effect of the whole translation is pleasing to me, and the\n      mock-heroic effect I think not a little assisted by the reiterated use of\n      the triplet and alexandrine. As to any evidence of authorship derivable\n      from the appearance of the manuscript, I will only add another word. The\n      lines in the translation have been carefully counted, and the number is\n      marked in Goldsmith\u2019s hand at the close of his transcription. Such a fact\n      is, of course, only to be taken in aid of other proof; but a man is not\n      generally at the pains of counting, still less, I should say in such a\n      case as Goldsmith\u2019s, of elaborately transcribing, lines which are not his\n      own.\u2019 (Forster\u2019s _Goldsmith_, 1871, ii. 235\u20136).\n      When Forster wrote the above, the MS. was in the possession of Mr. Bolton\n      Corney, who had not been aware of its existence when he edited Goldsmith\u2019s\n      Poems in 1845. In 1854 it was, with his permission, included in vol. iv of\n      Cunningham\u2019s _ Works_ of 1854, and subsequently in the Aldine\n      Mark Jerome Vida of Cremona, 1490\u20131566, was Bishop of Alba, and favourite\n      of Leo the Magnificent. Several translators had tried their hand at his\n      _Game of Chess_ before Goldsmith. Lowndes mentions Rowbotham,\n      1562; Jeffreys, 1736; Erskine, 1736; Pullin, 1750; and _Anon_.\n      (Eton), 1769 (who may have preceded Goldsmith). But after his\n      (Goldsmith\u2019s) death appeared another Oxford anonymous version, 1778, and\n      one by Arthur Murphy, 1786.\nAPPENDIXES\n A. PORTRAITS OF GOLDSMITH.\n B. DESCRIPTIONS OF NEWELL\u2019S VIEWS OF LISSOY, ETC.\n C. THE EPITHET \u2018SENTIMENTAL.\u2019\n D. FRAGMENTS OF TRANSLATIONS, ETC. BY GOLDSMITH.\n E. GOLDSMITH ON POETRY UNDER ANNE AND GEORGE THE FIRST.\n F. CRITICISMS FROM GOLDSMITH\u2019S \u2018BEAUTIES OF ENGLISH POESY.\u2019\n[Illustration: ]\nOLIVER GOLDSMITH\n(M. W. Bunbury)\n      APPENDIX A\n PORTRAITS OF GOLDSMITH. \n      PORTRAITS of Goldsmith are not numerous; and the best known\n      are those of Reynolds and H. W. Bunbury. That by Sir Joshua was painted in\n      1766\u201370, and exhibited in the Royal Academy (No. 151) from April 24th to\n      May 28th in the latter year. It represents the poet in a plain white\n      collar, furred mantle open at the neck, and holding a book in his right\n      hand. Its general characteristics are given at p. xxviii of the\n      \u2018Introduction.\u2019 It was scraped in mezzotint in 1770 by Reynolds\u2019s Italian\n      pupil, Giuseppe, or Joseph Marchi; and it is dated 1st December.*\n      Bunbury\u2019s portrait first appeared, after Goldsmith\u2019s death, as a\n      frontispiece to the _Haunch of Venison_; and it was etched in\n      facsimile by James Bretherton. The plate is dated May 24, 1776. In his\n      loyal but despotic _Life of Goldsmith_ (Bk. iv, ch. 6), Mr.\n      John Forster reproduces these portraits side by side; in order, he\n      professes, to show \u2018the distinction between truth and a caricature of it.\u2019\n      Bunbury, it may be, was primarily a caricaturist, and possibly looked at\n      most things from a more or less grotesque point of view; but this sketch\u2014it\n      should be observed\u2014was meant for a likeness, and we have the express\n      testimony of one who, if she was Bunbury\u2019s sister-in-law, was also\n      Goldsmith\u2019s friend, that it rendered Goldsmith accurately. It \u2018gives the\n      head with admirable fidelity\u2019\u2014says the \u2018Jessamy Bride\u2019 (afterwards\n      Mrs. Gwyn)\u2014\u2018as he actually lived among us; nothing can exceed its\n      truth\u2019 (Prior\u2019s _Life_, 1837, ii. 380). In other words, it\n      delineates Goldsmith as his contemporaries saw him, with bulbous\n      forehead, indecisive chin, and long protruding upper lip,\u2014awkward,\n      insignificant, ill at ease,\u2014restlessly burning \u2018to get in and\n      shine.\u2019 It enables us moreover to understand how people who knew nothing\n      of his better and more lovable qualities, could speak of him as an\n      \u2018inspired idiot,\u2019 as \u2018silly Dr. Goldsmith,\u2019 as \u2018talking like poor Poll.\u2019\n      It is, in short, his external, objective presentment. The picture by Sir\n      Joshua, on the contrary, is almost wholly subjective. Draped judiciously\n      in a popular studio costume, which is not that of the sitter\u2019s day, it\n      reveals to us the author of _The Deserted Village_ as Reynolds\n      conceived him to be at his best, serious, dignified, introspective, with\n      his physical defects partly extenuated by art, partly over-mastered by his\n      intellectual power. To quote the \u2018Jessamy Bride\u2019 once more\u2014it is \u2018a\n      fine poetical head for the admiration of posterity, but as it is divested\n      of his wig and with the shirt collar open, it was not the man as seen in\n      daily life\u2019 (_Ib_. ii. 380). Had Goldsmith lived in our era of\n      photography, photography would doubtless have given us something which\n      would have been neither the one nor the other, but more like Bunbury than\n      Reynolds. Yet we may be grateful for both. For Bunbury\u2019s sketch and\n      Reynolds\u2019s portrait are alike indispensable to the true comprehension of\n      Goldsmith\u2019s curiously dual personality.**\n* This was the print to which Goldsmith referred in a well-known\n      anecdote. Speaking to his old Peckham pupil, Samuel Bishop, whom, after\n      many years, he met accidentally in London, he asked him eagerly whether he\n      had got an engraving of the new portrait, and finding he had not, \u2018said\n      with some emotion, \u201cif your picture had been published, I should not have\n      suffered an hour to elapse without procuring it.\u201d\u2019 But he was speedily\n      \u2018appeased by apologies.\u2019 (Prior\u2019s _Life_, 1837, i. 219\u201320.)\n** There is in existence another undated etching by Bretherton after\n      Bunbury on a larger scale, which comes much nearer to Reynolds; and it is\n      of course possible, though not in our opinion probable, that Mrs. Gwyn may\n      have referred to this. But Forster selected the other for his comparison;\n      it is prefixed to the _Haunch of Venison_; it is certainly the\n      better known; and (as we believe) cannot ever have been intended for a\n      caricature.\nThe portrait by Reynolds, above referred to, was painted for the Thrale Gallery\nat Streatham, on the dispersion of which, in May, 1816, it was bought for the\nDuke of Bedford for \u00a3133 7s. It is now at Woburn Abbey (Cat. No. 254). At\nKnole, Lord Sackville possesses another version (Cat. No. 239), which was\npurchased in 1773 by the Countess Delawarr, and was shown at South Kensington\nin 1867. Here the dress is a black coat and a brown mantle with fur. The\npresent owner exhibited it at the Guelph Exhibition of 1891. A third version,\nnow in the Irish National Gallery, once belonged to Goldsmith himself, and then\nto his brother-in-law, Daniel Hodson. Finally there is a copy, by a pupil of\nReynolds, in the National Portrait Gallery, to which it was bequeathed in 1890\nby Dr. Leifchild, having formerly been the property of Caleb Whitefoord. Caleb\nWhitefoord also had an \u2018admirable miniature\u2019 by Reynolds, which\nbelongs to the Rev. Benjamin Whitefoord, Hon. Canon of Salisbury (_Whitefoord\nPapers_, 1898, p. xxvii). A small circular print, based upon Reynolds, and\netched by James Basire, figures on the title-page of _Retaliation_. Some\nof the plates are dated April 18, 1774.* The National Portrait Gallery has also\na silhouette, attributed to Ozias Humphry, R.A., which was presented in 1883 by\nSir Theodore Martin, K.C.B. Then there is the portrait by Hogarth shown at\nSouth Kensington in 1867 by the late Mr. Studley Martin of Liverpool. It\ndepicts the poet writing at a round table in a black cap, claret-coloured coat\nand ruffles. Of this there is a wood-cut in the later editions of\nForster\u2019s _ Life_ (Bk. iii, ch. 14). The same exhibition of 1867\ncontained a portrait of Goldsmith in a brown coat and red waistcoat, \u2018as\na young man.\u2019 It was said to be extremely like him in face, and was\nattributed to Gainsborough. In Evans\u2019s edition of the _Poetical and\nDramatic Works_ is another portrait engraved by Cook, said, on some copies,\nto be \u2018from an original drawing\u2019; and there is in the Print Room at\nthe British Museum yet another portrait still, engraved by William Ridley\n\u2018from a painting in the possession of the Rev. Mr. Williams,\u2019 no\ndoubt Goldsmith\u2019s friend, the Rev. David Williams, founder of the Royal\nLiterary Fund. One of these last may have been the work to which the poet\nrefers in a letter to his brother Maurice in January, 1770. \u2018I have sent\nmy cousin Jenny [Jane Contarine] a miniature picture of myself . . . The face\nyou well know, is ugly enough, but it is finely painted\u2019 (_Misc.\n* There is also a sketch by Reynolds (?) at the British Museum.\n[Illustration: ]\nSILHOUETTE OF GOLDSMITH\n(Ozias Humphry)\n      In front of Dublin University is a bronze statue of Goldsmith by J. H.\n      Foley, R.A., erected in 1864.** Of this there is a good engraving by\n      G. Stodart. On the memorial in Westminster Abbey erected in 1776 is a\n      medallion by Joseph Nollekens.\n** Goldsmith\u2019s traditional ill-luck pursued him after death. During\n      some public procession in front of Trinity College, a number of\n      undergraduates climbed on the statue, with the result that the thin metal\n      of the poet\u2019s head was flattened or crushed in, requiring for its\n      readjustment very skilful restorative treatment. The Editor is indebted\n      for this item of information to the kindness of Mr. Percy Fitzgerald, who\n      was present at the subsequent operation.\n      APPENDIX B\nDESCRIPTIONS OF NEWELL\u2019S VIEWS OF LISSOY, ETC.\n      In 1811, the Rev. R. H. Newell, B.D. and Fellow of St. John\u2019s College,\n      Cambridge, issued an edition of the _ Poetical Works_ of\n      Goldsmith. The distinctive feature of this lay in the fact that it was\n      illustrated by a number of aquatints \u2018by Mr. Alkin\u2019 (i.e. Samuel Alken),\n      after drawings made by Newell in 1806\u20139, and was accompanied by a series\n      of \u2018Remarks, attempting to ascertain, chiefly from local observation, the\n      actual scene of _The Deserted Village_.\u2019 Some quotations from\n      these \u2018Remarks\u2019 have already been made in the foregoing notes; but as\n      copies of six of the drawings are given in this volume, it may be well, in\n      each case, to reproduce Newell\u2019s \u2018descriptions.\u2019\nLISHOY, OR LISSOY MILL.\n      The west end of it, as seen from a field near the road; to the north the\n      country slopes away in coarsely cultivated enclosures, and the distance\n      eastward is bounded by the Longford hills. The stream ran from the south\n      side of the mill (where it is still of some width though nearly choked\n      up), and fell over the once busy wheel, into a deep channel, now overgrown\n      with weeds. Neglect and poverty appear all around. The farm house and\n      barn-like buildings, which fill up the sketch, seem to have no\n      circumstances of interest attached to them (p. 83).\n[Illustration: ]\nLISSOY MILL\n(R. H. Newell)\nKILKENNY WEST CHURCH.\n      This south-west view was taken from the road, which passes by the church,\n      towards Lishoy, and overlooks the adjacent country to the west. The church\n      appears neat, its exterior having been lately repaired. The tree added to\n      the foreground is the only liberty taken with the subject (p. 83).\nHAWTHORN TREE.\n      An east view of the tree, as it stood in August, 1806. The Athlone road\n      occupies the centre of the sketch, winding round\n      the stone wall to the right, into the village, and to the left leading\n      toward the church. The cottage and tree opposite the hawthorn, adjoin the\n      present public-house; the avenue before the parsonage tops the distant\nSOUTH VIEW FROM GOLDSMITH\u2019S MOUNT.\n      In this sketch \u2018the decent church,\u2019 at the top of the hill in the\n      distance, is an important object, from its exact correspondence with the\n      situation given it in the poem. Half-way up stands the solitary ruin of\n      Lord Dillon\u2019s castle. The hill in shadow, on the left, is above the\n      village, and is supposed to be alluded to in the line\u2014\n        Up yonder hill the distant murmur rose.\n      A flat of bogland extends from the narrow lake in the centre to the mount\n      on the right of the foreground (p. 84).\nTHE PARSONAGE.\n      A south view from the Athlone road, which runs parallel with the stone\n      wall, and nearly east and west: the gateway is that mentioned in\n      Goldsmith\u2019s letter,* the mount being directly opposite, in a field\n      contiguous with the road.\n* See note to l. 114 of _The Deserted Village_.\n      The ruinous stone wall in this and three other sketches, which is a\n      frequent sort of fence in the neighbourhood, gives a characteristic\n      propriety to the line (48)\n        And the long grass o\u2019ertops the mould\u2019ring wall.\n[Illustration: ]\nTHE PARSONAGE\n(R. H. Newell)\nTHE SCHOOL-HOUSE.\n      This cottage is situated, as the poem describes it, by the road-side, just\n      where it forms a sharp angle by branching out from the village eastward:\n      at this point a south-west view was taken (p. 85).\n      Newell\u2019s book was reissued in 1820; but no alterations were made in the\n      foregoing descriptions which, it must be borne in\n      mind, refer to 1806\u20139. His enthusiastic identifications will no doubt be\n      taken by the reader with the needful grain of salt. Goldsmith probably\n      remembered the hawthorn bush, the church upon the hill, the watercress\n      gatherer, and some other familiar objects of the \u2018seats of his youth.\u2019 But\n      distance added charm to the regretful retrospect; and in the details his\n      fancy played freely with his memories. It would be unwise, for example, to\n      infer\u2014as Mr. Hogan did\u2014the decorations of the _Three\n      Pidgeons_ at Lissoy from the account of the inn in the poem.* Some\n      twelve years before its publication, when he was living miserably in Green\n      Arbour Court, Goldsmith had submitted to his brother Henry a sample of a\n      heroi-comic poem describing a Grub Street writer in bed in \u2018a paltry\n      ale-house.\u2019 In this \u2018the sanded floor,\u2019 the \u2018twelve good rules\u2019 and the\n      broken tea-cups all played their parts as accessories, and even the\n      double-dealing chest had its prototype in the poet\u2019s night-cap, which was\n      \u2018a cap by night\u2014a stocking all the day.\u2019 A year or two later he\n      expanded these lines in the _Citizen of the World_, and the\n      scene becomes the Red Lion in Drury Lane. From this second version he\n      adapted, or extended again, the description of the inn parlour in _The\n      Deserted Village_. It follows therefore, either that he borrowed for\n      London the details of a house in Ireland, or that he used for Ireland the\n      details of a house in London. If, on the other hand, it be contended that\n      those details were common to both places, then the identification in these\n      particulars of Auburn with Lissoy falls hopelessly to the ground.\n* What follows is taken from the writer\u2019s \u2018Introduction\u2019 to Mr.\n      Edwin Abbey\u2019s illustrated edition of _ The Deserted Village_,\nAPPENDIX C\nTHE EPITHET \u2018SENTIMENTAL.\u2019\n      Goldsmith\u2019s use of \u2018sentimental\u2019 in the \u2018prologue\u2019 to _She Stoops to\n      Conquer_ (p. 109, l. 36)\u2014the only occasion upon which he seems\n      to have employed it in his _Poems_\u2014affords an excuse for\n      bringing together one or two dispersed illustrations of the rise and\n      growth of this once highly-popular adjective, not as yet\n      reached in the _N. E. D._ Johnson, who must often have heard it,\n      ignores it altogether; and in Todd\u2019s edition of his _Dictionary_\n      (1818) it is expressly marked with a star as one of the modern words which\n      are \u2018not\u2019 to be found in the Doctor\u2019s collection. According to Mr. Sidney\n      Lee\u2019s admirable article in the _Dictionary of National Biography_\n      on Sterne, that author is to be regarded as the \u2018only begetter\u2019 of the\n      epithet. Mr. Lee says that it first occurs in a letter of 1740 written by\n      the future author of _Tristram Shandy_ to the Miss Lumley he\n      afterwards married. Here is the precise and characteristic passage:\u2014\u2018I\n      gave a thousand pensive, penetrating looks at the chair thou hadst so\n      often graced, in those quiet and _sentimental_ repasts\u2014then\n      laid down my knife and fork, and took out my handkerchief, and clapped it\n      across my face, and wept like a child\u2019 (Sterne\u2019s _Works_ by\n      Saintsbury, 1894, v. 25). Nine years later, however circulated,\n      \u2018sentimental\u2019 has grown \u2018so much in vogue\u2019 that it has reached from London\n      to the provinces. \u2018Mrs. Belfour\u2019 (Lady Bradshaigh) writing from\n      Lincolnshire to Richardson says:\u2014\u2018Pray, Sir, give me leave to ask\n      you . . . what, in your opinion, is the meaning of the word _sentimental_,\n      so much in vogue amongst the polite, both in town and country? In letters\n      and common conversation, I have asked several who make use of it, and have\n      generally received for answer, it is\u2014it is\u2014_sentimental_.\n      Every thing clever and agreeable is comprehended in that word; but [I] am\n      convinced a wrong interpretation is given, because it is impossible every\n      thing clever and agreeable can be so common as this word. I am frequently\n      astonished to hear such a one is a _sentimental_ man; we were a _sentimental_\n      party; I have been taking a _ sentimental_ walk. And that I might be\n      reckoned a little in the fashion, and, as I thought, show them the proper\n      use of the word, about six weeks ago, I declared I had just received a _\n      sentimental_ letter. Having often laughed at the word, and found fault\n      with the application of it, and this being the first time I ventured to\n      make use of it, I was loudly congratulated upon the occasion: but I should\n      be glad to know your interpretation of it\u2019 (Richardson\u2019s _Correspondence_,\n      1804, iv. pp. 282\u20133). The reply of the author of _Clarissa_,\n      which would have been interesting, is not given; but it is clear that by\n      this date (1749) \u2018sentimental\u2019 must already have been rather overworked by\n      \u2018the polite.\u2019 Eleven years after this we meet with it in the Prologue to\n      Colman\u2019s\n      \u2018Dramatick Novel\u2019 of _Polly Honeycombe_. \u2018And then,\u2019 he says,\n      commenting upon the fiction of the period,\u2014\n        And then so _sentimental_ is the Stile,\n        So chaste, yet so bewitching all the while!\n        Plot, and elopement, passion, rape, and rapture,\n        The total sum of ev\u2019ry dear\u2014dear\u2014Chapter.\n      With February, 1768, came Sterne\u2019s _ Sentimental Journey_ upon\n      which Wesley has this comment:\u2014\u2018I casually took a volume of what is\n      called, \u201cA Sentimental Journey through France and Italy.\u201d _Sentimental_!\n      what is that? It is not English: he might as well say, _ Continental_\n      [!]. It is not sense. It conveys no determinate idea; yet one fool makes\n      many. And this nonsensical word (who would believe it?) is become a\n      fashionable one!\u2019 (_Journal_, February 11, 1772). In 1773,\n      Goldsmith puts it in the \u2018Dedication\u2019 to _She Stoops_:\u2014\u2018The\n      undertaking a comedy, not merely _sentimental_, was very dangerous;\u2019 and\n      Garrick (forgetting Kelly and _False Delicacy_) uses it more\n      than once in his \u2018Prologue\u2019 to the same play, e.g.\u2014\u2018Faces are blocks\n      in _sentimental_ scenes.\u2019 Further examples might easily be multiplied, for\n      the word, in spite of Johnson, had now come to stay. Two years\n      subsequently we find Sheridan referring to\n        The goddess of the woful countenance,\n        The _sentimental_ Muse!\u2014\n      in an occasional \u2018Prologue\u2019 to _The Rivals_. It must already\n      have passed into the vocabulary of the learned. Todd gives examples from\n      Shenstone and Langhorne. Warton has it more than once in his _History\n      of English Poetry_; and it figures in the _Essays_ of\n      Vicesimus Knox. Thus academically launched, we need no longer follow its\n      fortunes.\nAPPENDIX D\nFRAGMENTS OF TRANSLATIONS, ETC., BY GOLDSMITH.\n      To the Aldine edition of 1831, the Rev. John Mitford added several\n      fragments of translation from Goldsmith\u2019s _Essays_. About a\n      third of these were traced by Bolton Corney in 1845 to the _Horace_\n      of Francis. He therefore compiled a fresh collection, here given.\n      _From a French version of Homer_.\n        The shouting army cry\u2019d with joy extreme,\n        He sure must conquer, who himself can tame!\n      The next is also from Homer, and is proposed as an improvement of Pope:\u2014\n        They knew and own\u2019d the monarch of the main:\n        The sea subsiding spreads a level plain:\n        The curling waves before his coursers fly:\n        The parting surface leaves his brazen axle dry.\n          _Miscellaneous Works_, 1801, iv. 410.\n      From the same source comes number three, a quatrain from Vida\u2019s _Eclogues_:\u2014\n        Say heavenly muse, their youthful frays rehearse;\n        Begin, ye daughters of immortal verse;\n        Exulting rocks have crown\u2019d the power of song!\n        And rivers listen\u2019d as they flow\u2019d along.\n          _Miscellaneous Works_, 1801, iv. 427.\n      Another is a couplet from Ovid, the fish referred to being the _scarus_\n      or bream:\u2014\n        Of all the fish that graze beneath the flood,\n        He, _only_, ruminates his former food.\n          _History of the Earth,_ etc., 1774, iii. 6.\n      Bolton Corney also prints the translation from the _Spectator_,\n      already given in this volume. His last fragment is from the posthumous\n      translation of Scarron\u2019s _ Roman Comique_:\u2014\nThus, when soft love subdues the heart\n    With smiling hopes and chilling fears,\nThe soul rejects the aid of art,\n    And speaks in moments more than years.\n          _The Comic Romance of Monsieur Scarron_, 1775, ii. 161.\n      It is unnecessary to refer to any other of the poems attributed to\n      Goldsmith. Mitford included in his edition a couple of quatrains inserted\n      in the _Morning Chronicle_ for April 3, 1800, which were said\n      to be by the poet; but they do not resemble his manner. Another piece with\n      the title of _The Fair Thief_ was revived in July, 1893, by an\n      anonymous writer in the _Daily_\n      _Chronicle_, as being possibly by Goldsmith, to whom it was\n      assigned in an eighteenth-century anthology (1789\u201380). Its discoverer,\n      however, subsequently found it given in Walpole\u2019s _Noble Authors_\n      (Park\u2019s edition, 1806) to Charles Wyndham, Earl of Egremont. It has no\n      great merit; and may safely be neglected as an important addition to\n      Goldsmith\u2019s _Works_, already burdened with much which that\n      critical author would never have reprinted.\nAPPENDIX E\nGOLDSMITH ON POETRY UNDER ANNE AND  GEORGE THE FIRST.\n      In Letter xvi, vol. ii. pp.139\u201341, of _An History of England in a\n      Series of Letters from a Nobleman to his Son_, 1764, Goldsmith gives\n      the following short account of the state of poetry in the first quarter of\n      the Eighteenth Century.\n      \u2018But, of all the other arts, poetry in this age was carried to the\n      greatest perfection. The language, for some ages, had been improving, but\n      now it seemed entirely divested of its roughness and barbarity. Among the\n      poets of this period we may place John Philips, author of several poems,\n      but of none more admired than that humourous one, entitled, _The\n      Splendid Shilling_; he lived in obscurity, and died just above want.\n      William Congreve deserves also particular notice; his comedies, some of\n      which were but coolly received upon their first appearance, seemed to mend\n      upon repetition; and he is, at present, justly allowed the foremost in\n      that species of dramatic poesy. His wit is ever just and brilliant; his\n      sentiments new and lively; and his elegance equal to his regularity. Next\n      him Vanbrugh is placed, whose humour seems more natural, and characters\n      more new; but he owes too many obligations to the French, entirely to pass\n      for an original; and his total disregard to decency, in a great measure,\n      impairs his merit. Farquhar is still more lively, and, perhaps more\n      entertaining than either; his pieces still continue the favourite\n      performances of the stage, and bear frequent repetition without satiety;\n      but he often mistakes pertness for wit, and seldom strikes his characters\n      with proper force or originality. However, he died very young; and it is\n      remarkable, that he\n      continued to improve as he grew older; his last play, entitled _The\n      Beaux\u2019 Strategem_, being the best of his productions. Addison, both\n      as a poet and prose writer, deserves the highest regard and imitation. His\n      _Campaign_, and _Letter to Lord Halifax from Italy_,\n      are masterpieces in the former, and his _Essays_ published in\n      the _ Spectator_ are inimitable specimens of the latter.\n      Whatever he treated of was handled with elegance and precision; and that\n      virtue which was taught in his writings, was enforced by his example.\n      Steele was Addison\u2019s friend and admirer; his comedies are perfectly\n      polite, chaste, and genteel; nor were his other works contemptible; he\n      wrote on several subjects, and yet it is amazing, in the multiplicity of\n      his pursuits, how he found leisure for the discussion of any. Ever\n      persecuted by creditors, whom his profuseness drew upon him, or pursuing\n      impracticable schemes, suggested by ill-grounded ambition. Dean Swift was\n      the professed antagonist both of Addison and him. He perceived that there\n      was a spirit of romance mixed with all the works of the poets who preceded\n      him; or, in other words, that they had drawn nature on the most pleasing\n      side. There still therefore was a place left for him, who, careless of\n      censure, should describe it just as it was, with all its deformities; he\n      therefore owes much of his fame, not so much to the greatness of his\n      genius, as to the boldness of it. He was dry, sarcastic, and severe; and\n      suited his style exactly to the turn of his thought, being concise and\n      nervous. In this period also flourished many of subordinate fame. Prior\n      was the first who adopted the French elegant easy manner of telling a\n      story; but if what he has borrowed from that nation be taken from him,\n      scarce anything will be left upon which he can lay any claim to applause\n      in poetry. Rowe was only outdone by Shakespeare and Otway as a tragic\n      writer; he has fewer absurdities than either; and is, perhaps, as pathetic\n      as they; but his flights are not so bold, nor his characters so strongly\n      marked. Perhaps his coming later than the rest may have contributed to\n      lessen the esteem he deserves. Garth had success as a poet; and, for a\n      time, his fame was even greater than his desert. In his principal work,\n      _The Dispensary_, his versification is negligent; and his plot\n      is now become tedious; but whatever he may lose as a poet, it would be\n      improper to rob him of the merit he deserves for having written the prose\n      dedication, and preface, to the poem already mentioned; in which he\n      has shown the truest wit, with the most refined elegance. Parnell, though\n      he has written but one poem, namely, _The Hermit_, yet has\n      found a place among the English first rate poets. Gay, likewise, by his\n      _Fables_ and _Pastorals_, has acquired an equal\n      reputation. But of all who have added to the stock of English Poetry,\n      Pope, perhaps, deserves the first place. On him, foreigners look as one of\n      the most successful writers of his time; his versification is the most\n      harmonious, and his correctness the most remarkable of all our poets. A\n      noted contemporary of his own calls the English the finest writers on\n      moral topics, and Pope the noblest moral writer of all the English. Mr.\n      Pope has somewhere named himself the last English Muse; and, indeed, since\n      his time, we have seen scarce any production that can justly lay claim to\n      immortality; he carried the language to its highest perfection; and those\n      who have attempted still farther to improve it, instead of ornament, have\n      only caught finery.\u2019\nAPPENDIX F\nCRITICISMS FROM GOLDSMITH\u2019S \u2018BEAUTIES OF ENGLISH POESY.\u2019\n      To _The Beauties of English Poesy_, 2 vols., 1767, Goldsmith\n      prefixed, in each case, \u2018short introductory criticisms.\u2019 They are, as he\n      says, \u2018rather designed for boys than men\u2019; and aim only at being \u2018obvious\n      and sincere\u2019; but they carry his views on the subject somewhat farther\n      than the foregoing account from the _History of England_.\nTHE RAPE OF THE LOCK.\n      This seems to be Mr. Pope\u2019s most finished production, and is, perhaps, the\n      most perfect in our language. It exhibits stronger powers of imagination,\n      more harmony of numbers, and a greater knowledge of the world, than any\n      other of this poet\u2019s works; and it is probable, if our country were called\n      upon to show a specimen of their genius to foreigners, this would be the\n      work here fixed upon.\nTHE HERMIT.\n      This poem is held in just esteem, the versification being chaste, and\n      tolerably harmonious, and the story told with perspicuity and conciseness.\n      It seems to have cost great labour, both to Mr. Pope and Parnell himself,\n      to bring it to this perfection.* It may not be amiss to observe that the\n      fable is taken from one of Dr. Henry More\u2019s Dialogues.\n*Parnell\u2019s _Poems_, 1770, xxiv.\nIL PENSEROSO.\n      I have heard a very judicious critic say, that he had an higher idea of\n      Milton\u2019s style in poetry, from the two following poems [_Il Penseroso_\n      and _ l\u2019Allegro_], than from his _Paradise Lost_. It\n      is certain the imagination shown in them is correct and strong. The\n      introduction to both in irregular measure is borrowed from the Italian,\n      and hurts an English ear.\nAN ELEGY, WRITTEN IN A COUNTRY CHURCH YARD.\n      This is a very fine poem, but overloaded with epithet.\u2020 The heroic\n      measure with alternate rhyme is very properly adapted to the solemnity of\n      the subject, as it is the slowest movement that our language admits of.\n      The latter part of the poem is pathetic and interesting.\n\u2020This is a\n      strange complaint to come from Goldsmith, whose own _Hermit_,\n      as was pointed out to the present Editor by the late Mr. Kegan Paul, is\n      certainly open to this impeachment.\nLONDON. IN IMITATION OF THE THIRD SATIRE\n OF JUVENAL.\n      This poem of Mr. Johnson\u2019s is the best imitation of the original that has\n      appeared in our language, being possessed of all the force and satirical\n      resentment of Juvenal. Imitation gives us a much truer idea of the\n      ancients than even translation could do.\nTHE SCHOOL-MISTRESS. IN IMITATION OF SPENSER.\n      This poem is one of those happinesses in which a poet excels himself, as\n      there is nothing in all Shenstone which in any way approaches it in merit;\n      and, though I dislike the imitations of\n      our old English poets in general, yet, on this minute subject, the\n      antiquity of the style produces a very ludicrous solemnity.\nCOOPER\u2019S HILL.\n      This poem, by Denham, though it may have been exceeded by later attempts\n      in description, yet deserves the highest applause, as it far surpasses all\n      that went before it: the concluding part, though a little too much\n      crowded, is very masterly.\nELOISA TO ABELARD.\n      The harmony of numbers in this poem is very fine. It is rather drawn out\n      to too tedious a length, although the passions vary with great judgement.\n      It may be considered as superior to anything in the epistolary way; and\n      the many translations which have been made of it into the modern\n      languages, are in some measure a proof of this.\nAN EPISTLE FROM MR. PHILIPS [Ambrose Philips] TO THE EARL OF DORSET.\n      The opening of this poem is incomparably fine. The latter part is tedious\n      and trifling.\nA LETTER FROM ITALY, TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLECHARLES LORD HALIFAX.\n In the Year MDCCI.\n      Few poems have done more honour to English genius than this. There is in\n      it a strain of political thinking that was, at that time, new in our\n      poetry. Had the harmony of this been equal to that of Pope\u2019s\n      versification, it would be incontestably the finest poem in our language;\n      but there is a dryness in the numbers which greatly lessens the pleasure\n      excited both by the poet\u2019s judgement and imagination.*\n* See introductory note to _The Traveller_, p. 162.\n      ALEXANDER\u2019S FEAST; OR, THE POWER OF MUSIC.\n      AN ODE, IN HONOUR OF ST. CECILIA\u2019S DAY.\n      This ode [by Mr. Dryden] has been more applauded, perhaps, than it has\n      been felt, however, it is a very fine one, and gives its beauties rather\n      at a third, or fourth, than at a first perusal.\nODE FOR MUSIC ON ST. CECILIA\u2019S DAY.\n      This ode [by Mr. Pope] has by many been thought equal to the former. As it\n      is a repetition of Dryden\u2019s manner, it is so far inferior to him. The\n      whole hint of Orpheus, and many of the lines, have been taken from an\n      obscure Ode upon Music, published in Tate\u2019s Miscellanies.*\n*_A Pindaric Essay upon Musick_\u2014says Gibbs\u2014by\n      \u2018Mr. Wilson\u2019,\u2019 which appears at p. 401 of Tate\u2019s Collection of 1685.\nTHE SHEPHERD\u2019S WEEK. IN SIX PASTORALS.\n      These are Mr. Gay\u2019s principal performances. They were originally intended,\n      I suppose, as a burlesque on those of [Ambrose] Philips; but, perhaps\n      without designing it, he has hit the true spirit of pastoral poetry. In\n      fact, he more resembles Theocritus than any other English pastoral writer\n      whatsoever. There runs through the whole a strain of rustic pleasantry\n      which should ever distinguish this species of composition; but how far the\n      antiquated expressions used here may contribute to the humour, I will not\n      determine; for my own part, I could wish the simplicity were preserved,\n      without recurring to such obsolete antiquity for the manner of expressing\nMAC FLECKNOE.\n      The severity of this satire, and the excellence of its versification give\n      it a distinguished rank in this species of composition. At present, an\n      ordinary reader would scarce suppose that Shadwell, who is here meant by\n      Mac Flecknoe, was worth being chastised, and that Dryden\u2019s descending to\n      such game was like an eagle\u2019s stooping to catch flies.\u2020 The truth\n      however is, Shadwell, at one time, held divided reputation with this great\n      poet. Every\n      age produces its fashionable dunces, who, by following the transient\n      topic, or humour, of the day, supply talkative ignorance with materials\n      for conversation.\n      \u2020\u2018Aquila non capit muscas\u2019 (Apostolius).\nON POETRY. A RHAPSODY.\n      Here follows one of the best versified poems in our language, and the most\n      masterly production of its author. The severity with which Walpole is here\n      treated, was in consequence of that minister having refused to provide for\n      Swift in England, when applied to for that purpose in the year 1725 (if I\n      remember right). The severity of a poet, however, gave Walpole very little\n      uneasiness. A man whose schemes, like this minister\u2019s, seldom extended\n      beyond the exigency of the year, but little regarded the contempt of\n      posterity.\nOF THE USE OF RICHES.\n      This poem, as Mr. Pope tells us himself, cost much attention and labour;\n      and, from the easiness that appears in it, one would be apt to think as\nFROM THE DISPENSARY.\n      This sixth canto of the _Dispensary_, by Dr. Garth, has more\n      merit than the whole preceding part of the poem, and, as I am told, in the\n      first edition of this work it is more correct than as here exhibited; but\n      that edition I have not been able to find. The praises bestowed on this\n      poem are more than have been given to any other; but our approbation, at\n      present, is cooler, for it owed part of its fame to party.*\n* Cf. Dedication of _The Traveller_, ll. 34\u201345.\n ECLOGUE I.\n SELIM: OR, THE SHEPHERD\u2019S\n      MORAL.\n      The following eclogues,\u2020 written by Mr. Collins, are very pretty:\n      the images, it must be owned, are not very local; for the pastoral subject\n      could not well admit of it. The description\n      of Asiatic magnificence, and manners, is a subject as yet unattempted\n      amongst us, and I believe, capable of furnishing a great variety of\n      poetical imagery.\n      \u2020 i.e.\u2014Selim, Hassan, Agib and Secander, and Abra. Goldsmith\n      admired Collins, whom he calls in the _ Enquiry_, 1759, p. 143,\n      \u2018the neglected author of the Persian eclogues, which, however inaccurate,\n      excel any in our language.\u2019 He borrowed freely from him in the _Threnodia\n      Augustalis_, q.v.\nTHE SPLENDID SHILLING.\n BY MR.\n      J. PHILIPS.\n      This is reckoned the best parody of Milton in our language: it has been an\n      hundred times imitated, without success. The truth is, the first thing in\n      this way must preclude all future attempts; for nothing is so easy as to\n      burlesque any man\u2019s manner, when we are once showed the way.\nA PIPE OF TOBACCO:\n IN IMITATION OF\n      SIX SEVERAL AUTHORS.\n      Mr. Hawkins Browne, the author of these, as I am told, had no good\n      original manner of his own, yet we see how well he succeeded when he turns\n      an imitator; for the following are rather imitations than ridiculous\n      parodies.\nA NIGHT-PIECE ON DEATH.\n      The great fault of this piece, written by Dr. Parnell, is that it is in\n      eight-syllable lines, very improper for the solemnity of the subject;\n      otherwise, the poem is natural, and the reflections just.\nA FAIRY TALE.\nBY DR. PARNELL.\n      Never was the old manner of speaking more happily applied, or a tale\n      better told, than this.\nPALEMON AND LAVINIA.\n [From _The Seasons_.]\n      Mr. Thomson, though, in general, a verbose and affected poet, has told\n      this story with unusual simplicity: it is rather given here for being much\n      esteemed by the public, than by the editor.\nTHE BASTARD.\n      Almost all things written from the heart, as this certainly was, have some\n      merit. The poet here describes sorrows and misfortunes which were by no\n      means imaginary; and, thus, there\n      runs a truth of thinking through this poem, without which it would be of\n      little value, as Savage is, in other respects, but an indifferent poet.\nTHE POET AND HIS PATRON.\n      Mr. Mo[o]re was a poet that never had justice done him while living; there\n      are few of the moderns have a more correct taste, or a more pleasing\n      manner of expressing their thoughts. It was upon these fables [Nos. v, vi,\n      and xvi of the _Fables for the Ladies_] he chiefly founded his\n      reputation; yet they are, by no means, his best production.\nAN EPISTLE TO A LADY.\n      This little poem, by Mr. Nugent [afterwards Lord Clare] is very pleasing.\n      The easiness of the poetry, and the justice of the thoughts, constitute\n      its principal beauty.\nHANS CARVEL.\n      This bagatelle, for which, by the by, Mr. Prior has got his greatest\n      reputation, was a tale told in all the old Italian collections of jests,\n      and borrowed from thence by Fontaine. It had been translated once or twice\n      before into English, yet was never regarded till it fell into the hands of\n      Mr. Prior. A strong instance how everything is improved in the hands of a\n      man of genius.\nBAUCIS AND PHILEMON.\n      This poem [by Swift] is very fine; and though in the same strain with the\n      preceding [Prior\u2019s _Ladle_] is yet superior.\nTO THE EARL OF WARWICK, ON THE DEATH\n OF MR. ADDISON.\n      This elegy (by Mr. Ticknell) is one of the finest in our language; there\n      is so little new that can be said upon the death of a friend, after the\n      complaints of Ovid and the Latin Italians, in this way, that one is\n      surprised to see so much novelty in this to strike us, and so much\n      interest to affect.\n      COLIN AND LUCY.\n      Through all Tickell\u2019s works there is a strain of ballad-thinking, if I may\n      so express it; and, in this professed ballad, he seems to have surpassed\n      himself. It is, perhaps, the best in our language in this way.\nTHE TEARS OF SCOTLAND.\n WRITTEN IN THE YEAR\n      MDCCXLVI.\n      This ode, by Dr. Smollett, does rather more honour to the author\u2019s\n      feelings than his taste. The mechanical part, with regard to numbers and\n      language, is not so perfect as so short a work as this requires; but the\n      pathetic it contains, particularly in the last stanza but one, is\n      exquisitely fine.\nON THE DEATH OF THE LORD PROTECTOR.\n      Our poetry was not quite harmonized in Waller\u2019s time; so that this, which\n      would be now looked upon as a slovenly sort of versification, was, with\n      respect to the times in which it was written, almost a prodigy of harmony.\n      A modern reader will chiefly be struck with the strength of thinking, and\n      the turn of the compliments bestowed upon the usurper. Everybody has heard\n      the answer our poet made Charles II; who asked him how his poem upon\n      Cromwell came to be finer than his panegyric upon himself. \u2018Your majesty,\u2019\n      replies Waller, \u2018knows, that poets always succeed best in fiction.\u2019\nTHE STORY OF PHOEBUS AND DAPHNE APPLIED.\n      The French claim this [by Mr. Waller] as belonging to them. To whomsoever\n      it belongs the thought is finely turned.\n NIGHT THOUGHTS.\n BY DR. YOUNG.\n      These seem to be the best of the collection; from whence only the two\n      first are taken. They are spoken of differently, either with exaggerated\n      applause or contempt, as the reader\u2019s disposition is either turned to\n      mirth or melancholy.\n      SATIRE I.\n      Young\u2019s Satires were in higher reputation when published, than they stand\n      in at present. He seems fonder of dazzling than pleasing; of raising our\n      admiration for his wit, than our dislike of the follies he ridicules.\nA PASTORAL BALLAD.\n      These ballads of Mr. Shenstone are chiefly commended for the natural\n      simplicity of the thoughts and the harmony of the versification. However,\n      they are not excellent in either.\nPHOEBE. A PASTORAL.\n      This, by Dr. Byrom, is a better effort than the preceding [a ballad by\n      Shenstone].\nA SONG.\n      This [\u2018Despairing beside a clear stream\u2019] by Mr. Rowe, is better than\n      anything of the kind in our language.\nAN ESSAY ON POETRY.\n      This work, by the Duke of Buckingham, is enrolled among our great English\n      productions. The precepts are sensible, the poetry not indifferent, but it\n      has been praised more than it deserves.\nCADENUS AND VANESSA.\n      This is thought one of Dr. Swift\u2019s correctest pieces; its chief merit,\n      indeed, is the elegant ease with which a story, but ill-conceived in\n      itself, is told.\nALMA: OR, THE PROGRESS OF THE MIND.\n      What Prior meant by this poem I can\u2019t understand; by the Greek motto to it\n      one would think it was either to laugh at the subject or the reader. There\n      are some parts of it very fine; and let them save the badness of the rest.", "source_dataset": "gutenberg", "source_dataset_detailed": "gutenberg -  The Complete Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith\n"},
{"source_document": "", "creation_year": 1754, "culture": " Finnish\n", "content": "Produced by Juhani K\u00e4rkk\u00e4inen and Tapio Riikonen\nWAKEFIELDIN KAPPALAINEN\nKirj.\nOliver Goldsmith\nEnglanninkielest\u00e4 suomensi Samuli S.\nOtava, Helsinki, 1905.\nK. Malmstr\u00f6min kirjapaino, Kuopio.\n      Senssuurin hyv\u00e4ksym\u00e4 27 p. huhtik. 1905, Kuopiossa.\nENSIMM\u00c4INEN LUKU\nPerhe Wakefieldissa.[1] Yht\u00e4l\u00e4isyytt\u00e4 ihmisiss\u00e4 sek\u00e4 mielipiteiss\u00e4.\nAina min\u00e4 olen ollut sit\u00e4 mielt\u00e4, ett\u00e4 kunnon mies, jolla on vaimo ja\npaljo lapsia, tekee enemm\u00e4n hy\u00f6ty\u00e4 kuin se, joka edelleen naimatonna\nel\u00e4\u00e4 ja v\u00e4kiluvusta vaan puhella osaa. Ja niinp\u00e4 min\u00e4, tuskin\nvuottakaan virassa oltuani, rupesin t\u00e4ydell\u00e4 todella miettim\u00e4\u00e4n\navioliittoa ja katselemaan itselleni vaimoa, niinkuin vaimonikin\nvalitsi kangasta h\u00e4\u00e4hameesen: ei siin\u00e4 katsottu, mik\u00e4 olisi koreata\np\u00e4\u00e4lt\u00e4 n\u00e4hden, vaan mik\u00e4 laadultaan lujaa.\nH\u00e4n olikin -- se minun on my\u00f6nt\u00e4minen s\u00e4vyis\u00e4 ja ahkera ihminen,\nja mit\u00e4 taas hyv\u00e4\u00e4n kasvatukseen tulee, ei maalla montakaan naista\nollut h\u00e4nt\u00e4 etev\u00e4mp\u00e4\u00e4. H\u00e4n pystyi lukemaan mit\u00e4 englanninkielist\u00e4\nkirjaa hyv\u00e4ns\u00e4, kovinkaan paljoa tavailematta,[2] mutta vihanneksien\nsuolaamisessa ja hedelm\u00e4in s\u00e4il\u00f6\u00f6npanossa ja keittotaidossa ei\nh\u00e4nell\u00e4 ollut vertaistansa ensink\u00e4\u00e4n. Kehui h\u00e4n olevansa erinomaisen\nkekseli\u00e4s em\u00e4nt\u00e4kin, vaikk'en min\u00e4 milloinkaan huomannut meid\u00e4n talon\ntulleen yht\u00e4\u00e4n rikkaammaksi mist\u00e4\u00e4n h\u00e4nen keksinn\u00f6ist\u00e4ns\u00e4.\nMe rakastimme kumminkin toisiamme kaikesta syd\u00e4mest\u00e4, ja\nmolemmanpuolinen hellyys se kasvoi kasvamistaan vuodesta vuoteen.\nEik\u00e4 toden totta ollutkaan meill\u00e4 mit\u00e4\u00e4n syyt\u00e4 suuttua maailmaan\ntai toisiimme. Meill\u00e4 oli siev\u00e4 asunto kauniissa seudussa ja hyv\u00e4t\nnaapurit. Aika kului mielt\u00e4 ylent\u00e4viss\u00e4 haasteluissa tai hauskoissa\nmaalaishuvituksissa. K\u00e4ytiin vieraisilla rikkaissa naapureissa\nja avusteltiin k\u00f6yhi\u00e4. Ei meid\u00e4n tarvinnut kovia kohtaloniskuja\npelj\u00e4t\u00e4 eik\u00e4 rasituksia kest\u00e4\u00e4. Mink\u00e4 meill\u00e4 vaiheita oli, kaikki ne\nkotilieden \u00e4\u00e4ress\u00e4 tapahtuivat.\nMe kun asuimme vallantien varrella, poikkesi meille usein matkustajia\nja vieraita maistamaan meid\u00e4n karvikkoviini\u00e4, joka oli laajalti\ntunnettua, eik\u00e4 ollut kell\u00e4\u00e4n mit\u00e4\u00e4n moittimisen syyt\u00e4 siin\u00e4 kohden,\nsen min\u00e4 vakuutan kaikella historioitsijan luotettavaisuudella.\nPer\u00e4ti usein pist\u00e4ysi meill\u00e4 serkkuja, toisia, jopa nelj\u00e4nsi\u00e4kin\nserkkuja, jotka muistivat sukulaisuutensa meid\u00e4n kanssamme ilman\nsuku- ja kantakirjojakin. Paljohan n\u00e4iss\u00e4 heimolaisissa oli\nsellaisiakin, joista ei meille kovinkaan suurta kunniata tullut,\nniiss\u00e4 kun oli viljalti sokeita, rampoja ja raajarikkoja, mutta\nvaimoni se vaati vain, ett\u00e4 koska he kerran ovat samaa lihaa ja verta\nkuin mekin, niin pit\u00e4\u00e4 heid\u00e4n istuman yhden p\u00f6yd\u00e4n \u00e4\u00e4ress\u00e4 meid\u00e4n\nkanssamme. Ja niinp\u00e4 oli meill\u00e4, elleih\u00e4n vallan rikkaita, niin\nainakin varsin tyytyv\u00e4isi\u00e4 yst\u00e4vi\u00e4 ymp\u00e4rill\u00e4.\nT\u00e4ss\u00e4 kohden pit\u00e4\u00e4 paikkansa vanha sananparsi: mit\u00e4 k\u00f6yhempi\nvieras, sit\u00e4 helpompi kestitt\u00e4\u00e4; ja niinkuin muutamat mielell\u00e4\u00e4n\nkatselevat tulppanin v\u00e4rej\u00e4 tai perhosen siipi\u00e4, samoin olin min\u00e4\njo luonnostanikin onnellisten kasvojen ihailija. Mutta jos joukkoon\njoutui sellainenkin sukulainen, jonka huomasin luonteeltaan kehnoksi\nja josta kernaasti tahdoin p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4, niin lainasin h\u00e4nelle ratsutakin\ntai parin saappaita, v\u00e4liin huononp\u00e4iv\u00e4isen hevosenkin, ja silloin\nmin\u00e4 mielihyvikseni huomasin, ett'ei moinen orpana milloinkaan\npalannut tuomaan lainaansa takaisin. Sill\u00e4 tavoin me p\u00e4\u00e4simme\nvastenmielisist\u00e4 vieraista, mutta sen sijaan ei saanut kenk\u00e4\u00e4n syyt\u00e4\nsanoa, ett\u00e4 matkamiehen tai k\u00f6yh\u00e4n sukulaisen on t\u00e4ytynyt k\u00e4\u00e4nty\u00e4\ntakaisin Wakefieldin pappilan kynnykselt\u00e4.\nN\u00e4in sit\u00e4 sitten elettiin monta vuotta varsin onnellisissa oloissa,\nei kumminkaan ihan ilman niit\u00e4 h\u00e4iri\u00f6it\u00e4, joita sallimus ihmisille\nl\u00e4hett\u00e4\u00e4, osoittaakseen h\u00e4nelle antimiensa arvon suuruutta.\nKoulupojat ne usein k\u00e4viv\u00e4t h\u00e4vitysretkill\u00e4 minun hedelm\u00e4tarhassani,\nja kissat ja lapset pitiv\u00e4t hyv\u00e4n\u00e4\u00e4n vaimoni kermapyttyj\u00e4. Sattui\nsemmoistakin, ett\u00e4 hovinherra nukahti kirkossa kesken kaikkein\nliikuttavimpia kohtia saarnassani, tai ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nen rouvansa varsin\nv\u00e4h\u00e4isell\u00e4 niiauksella vastasi vaimoni kohteliaasen tervehdykseen.\nPian ne kumminkin meniv\u00e4t ohitse tuollaiset mieliharmit, ja parin\nkolmen p\u00e4iv\u00e4n per\u00e4st\u00e4 me itsekin ihmettelimme, mitenk\u00e4 tuosta\ntuommoisesta saattaa ensink\u00e4\u00e4n onkeensa ottaa.\nLapseni, kohtuullisuudessa ja hemmottelematta kasvatetut, olivat\nruumiiltaan solakoita ja terveit\u00e4, pojat rotevia, toimeliaita,\ntytt\u00e4ret kauniita ja kukoistavia. Seistess\u00e4ni pienen perhepiirini\nkeskell\u00e4, mieleeni v\u00e4liin v\u00e4kisinkin muistui kuuluisan Abensbergin\nkreivin tarina. Kun Henrik H:n matkustaessa halki Saksanmaan, muut\nhoviherrat kantoivat hallitsijallensa tervetuliaisiksi kauniita\nlahjoja, toi Abensbergin kreivi h\u00e4nen eteens\u00e4 kaksinelj\u00e4tt\u00e4 lastansa,\nesitt\u00e4en ne h\u00e4nelle arvokkaimpina antiminaan. Minulla ei heit\u00e4 ollut\nkuin kuusi, mutta pidin heit\u00e4 kumminkin varsin kallis-arvoisena\nlahjana maalleni, joka niinmuodoin oli mielest\u00e4ni minun velalliseni.\nVanhin poika oli ristitty Yrj\u00f6ksi, set\u00e4ns\u00e4 kaimaksi, sen, joka oli\nj\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt meille perinn\u00f6ksi kymmenentuhatta puntaa. Toinen lapsi oli\ntyt\u00e4r, ja h\u00e4nen nimekseen min\u00e4 olisin tahtonut panna Griseldan,\nt\u00e4tins\u00e4 mukaan, mutta vaimoni, joka tytt\u00f6\u00e4 odotellessaan oli lukenut\nromaaneja, sai kuin saikin tingityksi h\u00e4nelle Olivian nimen. Ei\nkulunut vuottakaan, niin syntyi toinen tyt\u00e4r, ja t\u00e4st\u00e4 oli nyt minun\narveluni mukaan tuleva Griselda, mutta kun muuan rikas sukulainen\nsai p\u00e4\u00e4h\u00e4ns\u00e4 ruveta kummiksi tyt\u00f6lle, niin pantiin h\u00e4nen neuvostansa\nlapselle nimeksi Sofia. Ja n\u00e4in tuli perheesen kaksi romantillista\nnime\u00e4, mutta minun ei ollut siihen osaa v\u00e4h\u00e4\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n, sen min\u00e4\njuhlallisesti vakuutan. L\u00e4hinn\u00e4 seurasi sitten Moses niminen poika,\nja kahdentoista vuoden per\u00e4st\u00e4 lis\u00e4\u00e4ntyi perhe j\u00e4lleen kahdella\npojalla.\nTurhaa olisi minun salata sit\u00e4 riemahtelua, mill\u00e4 min\u00e4 katselin\npienosia ymp\u00e4rill\u00e4ni, mutta sit\u00e4kin suurempi oli vaimoni ylpeys\nja mielihyv\u00e4. Vieraat ne v\u00e4listi puhuivat: \"Totta maarian, mrs\nPrimrose,[3] n\u00e4in kauniita lapsia ei ole koko t\u00e4ll\u00e4 paikkakunnalla.\"\nJa siihen oli vaimoni tapa vastata: \"Niin, naapuri; sellaisiahan\nne ovat, miksi taivas ne teki; somia kyll\u00e4, kunhan vaan olisivat\nkilttej\u00e4, sill\u00e4 kaunis k\u00e4yt\u00f6sh\u00e4n se ihmisen kauniiksi tekee.\"\nJa sitten h\u00e4n k\u00e4ski tyt\u00e4rten istua suorassa, ja kielt\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00e4 he\nhyvin kauniita olivatkin. Ulkomuoto on minun mielest\u00e4ni niin\nv\u00e4h\u00e4p\u00e4t\u00f6inen asia, ett\u00e4 tuskin olisin t\u00e4t\u00e4 tullut maininneeksikaan,\nellei tuo samainen seikka olisi meid\u00e4n seudulla ollut yleisen\u00e4\npuheen-aiheena. Olivia, noin kahdeksantoista vuoden ijiss\u00e4, oli\nuhkuvan kaunis, jollaiseksi maalarit kuvaavat Hebe\u00e4, avomielinen,\nvilkas, k\u00e4skev\u00e4inen. Sofian piirteet eiv\u00e4t olleet ensi katsannolta\nsilm\u00e4\u00e4npist\u00e4v\u00e4isi\u00e4, mutta tekiv\u00e4t usein sit\u00e4 varmemman vaikutuksen:\nne olivat pehme\u00e4t, kainot, miellytt\u00e4v\u00e4t. Toinen voitti yhdell\u00e4\niskulla, toinen yh\u00e4 uudistuvilla yrityksill\u00e4.\nNaisen luonne kuvastuu tavallisesti h\u00e4nen kasvojensa piirteiss\u00e4.\nNiin oli ainakin minun tytt\u00e4rieni laita. Olivia toivoi useampia\nrakastajia: Sofia tahtoi pit\u00e4\u00e4 kiinni vain yhdest\u00e4. Olivia keikaili\nja koristelihe pelk\u00e4st\u00e4 miellytt\u00e4misen halusta; Sofia se oikein\npiilotteli sulojansa, jottei n\u00e4ytt\u00e4isi vastenmieliselt\u00e4. Toinen\noli minun rattonani, iloisena ollessani; toinen kannatti minua\nj\u00e4rkevyydell\u00e4\u00e4n vakavina hetkin\u00e4ni. N\u00e4m\u00e4 ominaisuudet eiv\u00e4t sent\u00e4\u00e4n\nkumpaisessakaan menneet liiallisuuksiin, ja usein min\u00e4 n\u00e4in heid\u00e4n\nvaihtaneen koko p\u00e4iv\u00e4ksi luonteita kesken\u00e4\u00e4n. Surupuku saattoi\nmuuttaa kokettini aivan hempe\u00e4mieliseksi ja kimpullinen nauhoja tehd\u00e4\nh\u00e4nen sisarensa tavallista vilkkaammaksi.\nYrj\u00f6 poikani oli saanut kasvatuksensa Oxfordissa, min\u00e4 kun toivoin\nh\u00e4nest\u00e4 tiedemiest\u00e4. Toinen poikani, Moses, jota aioin valmistaa\nk\u00e4yt\u00e4nn\u00f6lliselle uralle, oli saanut opiskella kotona erillaisia\naineita. Tarpeetonta kumminkin on yritt\u00e4\u00e4 kuvailemaan nuorten\nihmisten luonteita, sellaisten, jotka varsin v\u00e4h\u00e4n viel\u00e4 ovat\nmaailmassa liikkuneet. Lyhyesti sanoen: yht\u00e4l\u00e4isyys heiss\u00e4 oli\nsilm\u00e4\u00e4npist\u00e4v\u00e4\u00e4, niinkuin ainakin saman perheen j\u00e4seniss\u00e4; tarkemmin:\nyht\u00e4l\u00e4isi\u00e4 he olivat luonteeltaan jokainen, yht\u00e4 ylev\u00e4mielisi\u00e4,\nherkk\u00e4uskoisia, vilpitt\u00f6mi\u00e4 ja s\u00e4veit\u00e4.\nTOINEN LUKU\nKovan onnen kohtauksia perheess\u00e4. -- Onnen antimien menett\u00e4minen\nvahvistaa vain oikeamielisen ihmisen itsetuntoa.\nMaalliset toimet talossa olivat p\u00e4\u00e4asiallisesti vaimoni huolena,\nhenkiset yksinomaa minun hallussani. Tulot virastani, jotka nousivat\nnoin viiteennelj\u00e4tt\u00e4 puntaan vuodessa, min\u00e4 lahjoitin papiston\nleskille ja orvoille meid\u00e4n hiippakunnassa. Minulla kun oli itsell\u00e4ni\nomaisuutta kyll\u00e4, ei minun tarvinnut murehtia toimeentulostani.\nTunsinpa salaista mielihyv\u00e4\u00e4kin, saadessani t\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 velvollisuuteni\npalkatta. Senvuoksi olin p\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt hoitaa virkaani ilman apulaista ja\np\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 personallisesti tuntemaan jokaisen seurakuntalaiseni. Naineita\nmiehi\u00e4 min\u00e4 kehoitin pysym\u00e4\u00e4n kohtuudessa, naimattomia nuorukaisia\nmenem\u00e4\u00e4n naimisiin, ja niinp\u00e4 muutaman vuoden per\u00e4st\u00e4 oli yleisen\u00e4\nsananpartena, ett\u00e4 Wakefieldissa on kolme kovaa puutetta: papilta\npuuttuu ylpeytt\u00e4, nuorilta miehilt\u00e4 vaimoja ja krouveilta vieraita.\nAvioliitto oli aina ollut minulle mieluisimpia puheen-aineita, ja\nmonta saarnaa min\u00e4 kirjoitinkin onnellisen avioliiton ylistykseksi.\nYhteen kohtaan varsinkin min\u00e4 siin\u00e4 kiinnyin: v\u00e4itin n\u00e4et, samoin\nkuin Whistonkin, ett'ei Englannin kirkon papin sovi vaimonsa kuoltua\nmenn\u00e4 uusiin naimisiin. Sanalla sanoen, otin teht\u00e4v\u00e4kseni esiinty\u00e4\nankarana monogamistina.\nOlin jo aikaisin takertunut v\u00e4ittelyihin t\u00e4st\u00e4 t\u00e4rke\u00e4st\u00e4 asiasta,\njosta niin monta paksua nidosta on kirjoitettu. Julkaisin siit\u00e4\nitsekin muutamia kirjasia. Ei niit\u00e4 montakaan kaupaksi mennyt, mutta\nmin\u00e4 lohdutin itse\u00e4ni sill\u00e4, ett\u00e4 tulihan edes joku asian-ymm\u00e4rt\u00e4v\u00e4\nlukeneeksi niit\u00e4. Yksi ja toinen yst\u00e4v\u00e4 piti t\u00e4t\u00e4 intoilemista\nheikkona puolena minussa, mutta voi! eiv\u00e4tp\u00e4 he olleet t\u00e4t\u00e4 asiata\nniin kauan ja niin syv\u00e4lti mietiskelleetk\u00e4\u00e4n kuin min\u00e4. Mit\u00e4 enemm\u00e4n\nmin\u00e4 sit\u00e4 ajattelin, sit\u00e4 t\u00e4rke\u00e4mm\u00e4lt\u00e4 se mielest\u00e4ni tuntui.\nMeninp\u00e4 periaatteissani askelta kauemmaksikin kuin Whiston: h\u00e4n oli\nvaimonsa hautakiveen piirr\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt, ett\u00e4 vainaja oli ollut William\nWhistonin _ainoa_ vaimo; min\u00e4 sepitin jo vaimoni el\u00e4iss\u00e4 samallaisen\nhautakirjoituksen, jossa puhutaan h\u00e4nen ymm\u00e4rt\u00e4v\u00e4isyydest\u00e4\u00e4n,\ns\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4v\u00e4isyydest\u00e4\u00e4n ja kuuliaisuudestaan kuolemaan asti. T\u00e4m\u00e4\npiirrettiin kauniilla kirjaimilla ja pantiin komeissa puitteissa\nkaminin olalle, jossa siit\u00e4 oli paljonkin hy\u00f6ty\u00e4. Se huomautti\nvaimolleni, mit\u00e4 velvollisuuksia h\u00e4nell\u00e4 on minua kohtaan, ja kuinka\nuskollinen min\u00e4 olen h\u00e4nelle; se kehoitti h\u00e4nt\u00e4 toimimaan niin,\nett'ei ihmisill\u00e4 olisi h\u00e4nest\u00e4 muuta kuin hyv\u00e4\u00e4 puhuttavana, ja\nmuistutti h\u00e4nt\u00e4 alati kuolemasta.\nT\u00e4m\u00e4 alinomainen avioliiton ylist\u00e4minen se kaiketi vaikutti sen,\nett\u00e4 vanhin poikani, yliopistosta palattuansa, rupesi katselemaan\ner\u00e4\u00e4n l\u00e4hiseudulla asuvan papin tyt\u00e4rt\u00e4. T\u00e4ll\u00e4 papilla oli korkea\nhengellinen virka-arvo ja niin hyv\u00e4 taloudellinenkin asema, ett\u00e4\ntytt\u00e4rell\u00e4 oli melkoiset my\u00f6t\u00e4j\u00e4iset odotettavissa. Mutta t\u00e4m\u00e4 oli\nv\u00e4hin neidon edullisia puolia. Kaikki ihmiset, kahta tyt\u00e4rt\u00e4ni lukuun\nottamatta, kehuivat miss Arabella Wilmotia kerrassaan kauniiksi\nimmeksi. H\u00e4n oli niin nuori, terve, kukoistava, kasvojen iho niin\nhelakan kuultava, katse niin henkev\u00e4, ett'ei vanhakaan saattanut\nkylm\u00e4kiskoisesti h\u00e4nt\u00e4 katsella. Mr Wilmot,[4] kuultuaan, ett\u00e4\nmin\u00e4kin kykenen s\u00e4\u00e4t\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n pojalleni melkoisen summan, oli nuorten\nliittoon taipuvainen. Ja siit\u00e4 pit\u00e4in eliv\u00e4t molemmat perhekunnat\nkaikessa sovussa, niinkuin konsanaankin ne, joista pian tulee\nl\u00e4heisi\u00e4 sukulaisia.\nKokemuksesta jo tiet\u00e4en, ett\u00e4 kihloissa-olo on onnellisinta aikaa\nel\u00e4m\u00e4ss\u00e4, min\u00e4 mielell\u00e4nikin pitkitin t\u00e4t\u00e4 aikaa, ja monenmoiset\nyhteiset huvitukset n\u00e4yttiv\u00e4t vaan p\u00e4iv\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4lt\u00e4 yh\u00e4 enemm\u00e4n\nkiinnitt\u00e4v\u00e4n rakastuneita toisiinsa. Aamulla tavallisesti her\u00e4ttiin\nsoitons\u00e4veliin, ja kauniilla ilmalla l\u00e4hdettiin ratsain mets\u00e4st\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n.\nAamiaisen ja p\u00e4iv\u00e4llisen v\u00e4linen aika meni naisilta pukeutumiseen\nja lukemiseen: tavallisesti he lukivat yhden sivun ja peilailivat\nitse\u00e4ns\u00e4 sitten, ja t\u00e4m\u00e4 -- se t\u00e4ytyy filosofienkin my\u00f6nt\u00e4\u00e4 -- oli\nuseinkin se kauniin sivu.\nP\u00e4iv\u00e4llisp\u00f6yd\u00e4ss\u00e4 oli vaimoni puheenjohtajana. H\u00e4n kun tahtoi,\n\u00e4idilt\u00e4\u00e4n perim\u00e4ns\u00e4 tavan mukaan, omin k\u00e4sin leikell\u00e4 annokset\nkullekin, saimme me kuulla jok'ainoan ruokalajin historian.\nEst\u00e4\u00e4kseni p\u00e4iv\u00e4llisen j\u00e4lkeen naisia l\u00e4htem\u00e4st\u00e4 pois, k\u00e4skin\ntavallisesti siirt\u00e4\u00e4 p\u00f6yd\u00e4n syrj\u00e4\u00e4n, ja usein silloin tytt\u00e4ret,\nmusikkiopettajansa avulla, pitiv\u00e4t meille oikeita konsertteja.\nK\u00e4velyretkiin, teenjuontiin, panttileikkeihin kului sitten loput\np\u00e4iv\u00e4\u00e4. Kortinly\u00f6ntiin ei tarvinnut koskaan turvautua. Min\u00e4 vihasin\nkaikkea muutakin rahapeli\u00e4, paitsi puffi- eli triktraklautaa, jota\nv\u00e4list\u00e4 pelasimme vanhan yst\u00e4v\u00e4ni kanssa kahden pennyn panoksilla.[5]\nN\u00e4in kului muutamia kuukausia, kunnes arveltiin parhaaksi m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4t\u00e4\nh\u00e4\u00e4p\u00e4iv\u00e4, jota jo nuoretkin n\u00e4kyiv\u00e4t hartaasti halajavan. Minun\nei tarvitse ruveta kuvailemaan vaimoni hy\u00f6rimist\u00e4 ja py\u00f6rimist\u00e4\nh\u00e4itten valmisteluissa eik\u00e4 tytt\u00e4rienik\u00e4\u00e4n salaper\u00e4isi\u00e4 silm\u00e4yksi\u00e4.\nMinun huomioni oli sit\u00e4 paitsi nyt kiintynyt kokonaan toisaalle:\nvalmistelin n\u00e4et painoon er\u00e4st\u00e4 kirjoitusta, lempiaatettani\npuolustaakseni. Min\u00e4 kun pidin t\u00e4t\u00e4 kirjoitustani mestariteoksena\nsek\u00e4 todisteluun ett\u00e4 stiiliin n\u00e4hden, niin en malttanut syd\u00e4meni\nylpeydess\u00e4 olla n\u00e4ytt\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00e4 sit\u00e4 vanhalle yst\u00e4v\u00e4lleni, mr Wilmotille,\njonka hyv\u00e4ksyv\u00e4\u00e4 lausuntoa en lainkaan osannut ep\u00e4ill\u00e4. Mutta\nliianpa my\u00f6h\u00e4\u00e4n huomasin h\u00e4nen olevan sielustaan ja syd\u00e4mest\u00e4\u00e4n\naivan p\u00e4invastaista mielipidett\u00e4, eik\u00e4 kummakaan, h\u00e4n kun paraillaan\nkosiskeli itselleen nelj\u00e4tt\u00e4 vaimoa. Tuosta syntyi -- arvaahan\nsen -- jotenkin kiivas v\u00e4ittely, joka oli v\u00e4h\u00e4ll\u00e4 tehd\u00e4 tyhj\u00e4ksi\npuuhanalaiset h\u00e4\u00e4t. P\u00e4\u00e4tettiin kumminkin ottaa asia perinpohjaisen\nharkinnan alaiseksi h\u00e4itten aattona.\nKeskustelu oli innokasta puolelta sek\u00e4 toiselta. H\u00e4n syytti minua\nv\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4uskoiseksi; min\u00e4 ty\u00f6nsin syyt\u00f6ksen takaisin ja -- sana sanasta,\nkaksi paraasta. V\u00e4ittelyn ollessa kuumimmillaan, tuli muuan\nsukulainen kutsumaan minua ulos. Huolestuneen n\u00e4k\u00f6isen\u00e4 h\u00e4n kehoitti\nminua lopettamaan kiistat ainakin siksi kunnes poikani h\u00e4\u00e4t on\npidetty.\n-- My\u00f6nt\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4 h\u00e4nen olevan aviomiehen, koska h\u00e4n niin tahtoo.\n-- Mitenk\u00e4? -- huudahdin min\u00e4. -- Ett\u00e4k\u00f6 antaisin per\u00e4\u00e4 oikeassa\nasiassa? My\u00f6nt\u00e4\u00e4 h\u00e4nen tekev\u00e4n oikein, kun vast'ik\u00e4\u00e4n olen saanut\nh\u00e4nelle selv\u00e4ksi, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nen v\u00e4itteens\u00e4 on melkein sulaa hulluutta?\nEnnen min\u00e4 luovun omaisuudestani kuin periaatteestani.\n-- Mieleni on paha, -- vastasi yst\u00e4v\u00e4, mutta minun t\u00e4ytyy ilmoittaa\nteille, ett\u00e4 teid\u00e4n omaisuutenne on melkein ollutta ja mennytt\u00e4. Se\nkauppias kaupungissa, jonka huostaan te olitte uskoneet varanne, on\nmennyt karkuteille, v\u00e4ltt\u00e4\u00e4kseen konkurssia, ja luultava on, ett'ei\nsaamamiehille j\u00e4\u00e4 shillingi\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n puntaa kohti. S\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4\u00e4kseni teit\u00e4\nja perhett\u00e4nne, aioin ilmoittaa t\u00e4m\u00e4n ik\u00e4v\u00e4n uutisen vasta h\u00e4itten\nj\u00e4ljest\u00e4, mutta nyt se kenties hiukan hillitsee v\u00e4ittely-intoanne.\nKaiketi olette siksi ymm\u00e4rt\u00e4v\u00e4inen, ett\u00e4 huomaatte parhaaksi olla\npuhumatta asiasta yht\u00e4\u00e4n mit\u00e4\u00e4n, ainakin siksi kunnes poikanne on\nsaanut nuoren vaimonsa omaisuuden turvalliseen paikkaan.\n-- Vai niin! -- virkoin min\u00e4. -- Jos se, mit\u00e4 sanoitte, on totta,\nja jos minusta nyt tulee kerj\u00e4l\u00e4inen, niin en min\u00e4 silti roistoksi\nrupea, joka periaatteistaan moisen syyn takia luopuu. Min\u00e4 menen heti\npaikalla sis\u00e4\u00e4n ilmoittamaan, mill\u00e4 kannalla minun asiani ovat, ja\nmit\u00e4 taas minun v\u00e4itteeseni tulee, niin otan takaisin senkin v\u00e4h\u00e4n,\nmit\u00e4 tuolle vanhalle herralle olin antanut per\u00e4\u00e4, enk\u00e4 my\u00f6nn\u00e4 h\u00e4nen\nolevan aviomiehen, en t\u00e4m\u00e4n sanan pienimm\u00e4ss\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n merkityksess\u00e4.\nEi tulisi loppua lainkaan, jos rupeaisin kuvailemaan, kuinka\nerillaisen vaikutuksen minun ilmoitukseni teki kumpaankin perheesen.\nMutta rakastuneitten tuskaan ei muitten tunteita k\u00e4y vertaaminenkaan.\nMr Wilmot, joka jo ennenkin oli n\u00e4ytt\u00e4nyt olevansa taipuvainen kaupan\npurkamiseen, teki t\u00e4m\u00e4n iskun j\u00e4lleen empim\u00e4tt\u00e4 lopullisen p\u00e4\u00e4t\u00f6ksen.\nYksi avu h\u00e4ness\u00e4 oli t\u00e4ydess\u00e4 voimassa, ja se oli k\u00e4yt\u00e4nn\u00f6llinen \u00e4ly,\nliiankin usein ainoa, mik\u00e4 meiss\u00e4 viel\u00e4 on j\u00e4ljell\u00e4, kun olemme jo\nkahdennella kahdeksatta.\nKOLMAS LUKU\nMuutto. Lopulti k\u00e4y tavallisesti selville, ett\u00e4 ihminen on oman\nonnensa sepp\u00e4.\nMeid\u00e4n perheen ainoana toivona oli nyt, ett\u00e4 sanoma meit\u00e4\nkohdanneesta iskusta oli pahan-ilkist\u00e4 tai ennen-aikaista huhua.\nMutta pian sain asiamiehelt\u00e4ni kaupungista kirjeen, joka vahvisti\ntodeksi koko asian. Itse puolestani olisin kyll\u00e4 kest\u00e4nyt omaisuuteni\nmenett\u00e4misen, mutta minua huolestutti perheeni, joka ei ollut\nkasvatettu siet\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n ihmisten ylenkatseen tuottamaa n\u00f6yryytyst\u00e4.\nKului pari viikkoa, ennenkuin yritin k\u00e4yd\u00e4 heid\u00e4n suruansa\nsuistamaan, sill\u00e4 ennen-aikainen lohdutus se vain lis\u00e4\u00e4 tuskaa.\nSill\u00e4 v\u00e4lin koetin keksi\u00e4 keinoja perheeni toimeentulolle. Vihdoin\ntarjottiin minulle kaukaisessa seudussa pieni seurakunta, jossa oli\noleva palkkaa viisitoista puntaa vuodessa, ja jossa h\u00e4iritsem\u00e4tt\u00e4\nsaisin pysy\u00e4 mielipiteiss\u00e4ni. Ilomielin suostuin tarjoukseen ja\np\u00e4\u00e4tin, tuloja lis\u00e4t\u00e4kseni, ottaa vuokralle pienen maatilan.\nT\u00e4m\u00e4n p\u00e4\u00e4t\u00f6ksen tehty\u00e4ni, oli l\u00e4hinn\u00e4 huolena ker\u00e4t\u00e4 kokoon\nloput omaisuuttani. Kaikki velat maksettuani, oli minulla\nnelj\u00e4st\u00e4kymmenest\u00e4 tuhannesta punnasta j\u00e4ljell\u00e4 en\u00e4\u00e4 nelj\u00e4sataa.\nT\u00e4rkein teht\u00e4v\u00e4ni oli nyt saada perheeni entinen ylpeys taivutetuksi\nalas nykyisten olojen tasalle, sill\u00e4 -- sen kyll\u00e4 tiesin --\nkorskeileva k\u00f6yhyys on mit\u00e4 viheli\u00e4isint\u00e4.\n-- Te tied\u00e4tte kyll\u00e4, rakkaat lapset, -- lausuin min\u00e4, -- ett'ei\ntaitavinkaan menettely olisi voinut est\u00e4\u00e4 t\u00e4t\u00e4 onnettomuutta, mutta\nnyt saatamme, taitavasti menetellen, torjua sen seurauksia. Me olemme\nnyt k\u00f6yhi\u00e4, armaani, ja meid\u00e4n pit\u00e4\u00e4 ymm\u00e4rt\u00e4\u00e4 mukautua n\u00f6yryytettyyn\ntilaamme. Meid\u00e4n t\u00e4ytyy nyt nurkumatta luopua ylellisyydest\u00e4, joka\nniin monen on saattanut kurjuuteen, ja hakea yksinkertaisissa oloissa\nsit\u00e4 rauhaa, jossa kaikki saattavat olla onnellisia. K\u00f6yh\u00e4t el\u00e4v\u00e4t\ntyytyv\u00e4isin\u00e4 ilman meid\u00e4n apuamme; emmek\u00f6 me sitten oppisi el\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n\nilman heid\u00e4n apuansa? Niin, lapset, meid\u00e4n on t\u00e4st\u00e4 hetkest\u00e4 alkaen\nluopuminen kaikista ylh\u00e4isten vaatimuksista. Meill\u00e4 riitt\u00e4\u00e4 varoja\nsen verran viel\u00e4, ett\u00e4 voimme olla onnellisia, jos ymm\u00e4rt\u00e4v\u00e4isi\u00e4\nolemme. Rikkaita emme ole; olkaamme sen sijaan tyytyv\u00e4isi\u00e4.\nVanhimman poikani, joka oli k\u00e4ynyt opinnoilla yliopistossa, p\u00e4\u00e4tin\nl\u00e4hett\u00e4\u00e4 kaupunkiin hankkimaan tulonlisi\u00e4 sek\u00e4 meille ett\u00e4 itselleen.\nYst\u00e4vist\u00e4 ja perheist\u00e4 eroaminen on kenties tuskallisinta, mink\u00e4\nk\u00f6yhyys mukanaan tuo.\nP\u00e4iv\u00e4 l\u00e4heni, jolloin meid\u00e4n oli m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4 ensi kertaa hajaantua.\nPoikani sanoi j\u00e4\u00e4hyv\u00e4iset \u00e4idilleen ja muille perheenj\u00e4senille,\njotka kyynel\u00f6iden h\u00e4nt\u00e4 syleiliv\u00e4t ja suutelivat. Viimeksi h\u00e4n tuli\npyyt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n minulta siunausta. Sen min\u00e4 annoinkin h\u00e4nelle kaikesta\nsyd\u00e4mest\u00e4ni. T\u00e4m\u00e4 siunaus ja viisi guineata[6] oli ainoa is\u00e4n\nperint\u00f6, mik\u00e4 minulta h\u00e4nelle riitti.\n-- Poikani! -- lausuin min\u00e4. -- Sin\u00e4 l\u00e4hdet nyt Lontoosen jalkaisin,\nsamaan tapaan kuin Hooker vainaakin, suuri esi-is\u00e4si, ennen sinua\nvaelsi. Ota minulta sama ratsu, mink\u00e4 hyv\u00e4 piispa Jewel antoi h\u00e4nelle\nmukaan, t\u00e4m\u00e4 sauva. Ja ota t\u00e4m\u00e4 kirja ratoksesi matkalle; n\u00e4m\u00e4 kaksi\nrivi\u00e4 siin\u00e4 ovat miljonan arvoiset: _\"Min\u00e4 olin nuori ja vanhennuin,\nja en ik\u00e4n\u00e4 n\u00e4hnyt vanhurskasta hylj\u00e4tyksi enk\u00e4 h\u00e4nen siemenens\u00e4\nkerj\u00e4\u00e4v\u00e4n leip\u00e4\u00e4.\"_ T\u00e4m\u00e4 olkoon lohdutuksena sinun matkoillasi. Mene,\npoikani, ja millainen lieneek\u00e4\u00e4n osasi, k\u00e4y kotona kerran vuodessa.\nOle rohkealla mielin ja j\u00e4\u00e4 hyv\u00e4sti.\nH\u00e4n kun oli rehellinen ja kunnon poika, en ollut ensink\u00e4\u00e4n\nhuolissani, l\u00e4hett\u00e4ess\u00e4ni h\u00e4nt\u00e4 n\u00e4in alastonna maailman n\u00e4ytt\u00e4m\u00f6lle,\nsill\u00e4 min\u00e4 olin vakuutettu h\u00e4nen n\u00e4yttelev\u00e4n siell\u00e4 hyv\u00e4\u00e4 roolia,\njoko voitettuna tai voittajana.\nMuutaman p\u00e4iv\u00e4n per\u00e4st\u00e4 tapahtui meid\u00e4n muittenkin siirtyminen\nkotoa pois. Raskasta oli j\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4 se seutu, miss\u00e4 niin monta\nrauhan hetke\u00e4 olimme saaneet nauttia. Ei siin\u00e4 lujinkaan mieli\njaksanut kyyneli\u00e4 pid\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4. Sit\u00e4 paitsi tuo seitsem\u00e4nkymmenen\npeninkulman matka[7] sellaiselle perheelle, joka ei siihen saakka\nollut viel\u00e4 kymment\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n matkustanut kotoa kauemmas, oli omiansa\nher\u00e4tt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n meiss\u00e4 levottomuutta. Ja sit\u00e4kin apeammaksi k\u00e4vi mieli,\nkun pit\u00e4j\u00e4n k\u00f6yh\u00e4t, valittaen ja vaikeroiden saattoivat meit\u00e4\nmuutaman peninkulman. P\u00e4\u00e4sty\u00e4mme ensimm\u00e4isen\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4n\u00e4 onnellisesti\nkolmenkymmenen peninkulman p\u00e4\u00e4h\u00e4n tulevasta olopaikastamme, j\u00e4imme\ny\u00f6ksi v\u00e4h\u00e4p\u00e4t\u00f6iseen majataloon er\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4 kyl\u00e4ss\u00e4 maantien varrella.\nSaatuamme huoneen, min\u00e4 tapani mukaan pyysin is\u00e4nt\u00e4\u00e4 seuraksi meille,\nja siihen h\u00e4n mielell\u00e4\u00e4n suostuikin, sill\u00e4 olihan h\u00e4nenkin osansa\ntuleva lis\u00e4ksi huomiseen laskuun. H\u00e4n se sit\u00e4 paitsi tunsi koko\nsen paikkakunnan, minne min\u00e4 olin siirtym\u00e4ss\u00e4, varsinkin squire\nThornhillin,[8] joka oli minut kutsunut papiksi omistamallensa\nkirkkoalueelle ja asui moniaan peninkulman p\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4 t\u00e4st\u00e4. T\u00e4m\u00e4 herra\noli is\u00e4nn\u00e4n puheen mukaan mies, joka ei maailmassa juuri muusta\nv\u00e4litt\u00e4nyt kuin huvituksista ja oli liiatenkin kiintynyt kauniimpaan\nsukupuoleen. Ei niin kunnollista naista, ett\u00e4 pystyisi vastustamaan\nh\u00e4nen v\u00e4sym\u00e4tt\u00f6mi\u00e4 vehkeit\u00e4\u00e4n, kertoi is\u00e4nt\u00e4, ja tuskin on, lis\u00e4si\nh\u00e4n, kymmenen peninkulman alalla sit\u00e4 vuokraajan tyt\u00e4rt\u00e4, joka\nei olisi saanut kokea h\u00e4nen kujeittensa onnistumista ja h\u00e4nen\nuskottomuuttaan. Minut t\u00e4llainen kertomus pani joissain m\u00e4\u00e4rin\nhuolehtimaan, mutta kokonaan toisin se vaikutti tytt\u00e4riin: heill\u00e4\nihan kasvot loistivat tulevan voitonriemun toivosta. Vaimoni ei ollut\nv\u00e4hemmin hyvill\u00e4ns\u00e4 h\u00e4nk\u00e4\u00e4n, lujasti kun luotti tyt\u00e4rtens\u00e4 suloihin\nja siveyteen.\nN\u00e4it\u00e4 seikkoja miettiess\u00e4mme astui em\u00e4nt\u00e4 huoneesen, ilmoittaen,\nett\u00e4 se vieras, joka on asunut heill\u00e4 kaksi p\u00e4iv\u00e4\u00e4, ei jaksa maksaa\nlaskuansa, ei sano olevan rahaa.\n-- Eik\u00f6! -- huudahti is\u00e4nt\u00e4. -- Se on mahdotonta! Vastahan h\u00e4n\neilisp\u00e4iv\u00e4n\u00e4 antoi piiskurille kolme guineata, jotta armahtaisi\nvanhaa virkaheittoa sotamiest\u00e4, joka oli varastanut koiran ja siit\u00e4\nsyyst\u00e4 tuomittu kujanjuoksuun kyl\u00e4n kautta.\nKun em\u00e4nt\u00e4 yh\u00e4 vaan pysyi v\u00e4itteess\u00e4\u00e4n, vannoi is\u00e4nt\u00e4 kirist\u00e4v\u00e4ns\u00e4\nomansa tavalla tai toisella takaisin ja oli juuri l\u00e4htem\u00e4isill\u00e4\u00e4n\nulos, mutta min\u00e4 pid\u00e4tin h\u00e4net ja pyysin esitt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n itse\u00e4ni tuolle\noudolle vieraalle, joka oli osoittanut niin suurta laupeutta\nl\u00e4himm\u00e4ist\u00e4ns\u00e4 kohtaan. H\u00e4n suostui siihen ja saattoi vieraan\nsis\u00e4\u00e4n. T\u00e4m\u00e4 oli noin kolmekymment\u00e4 vuotta vanha gentleman, solakka\nherra, yll\u00e4\u00e4n nuttu, joka n\u00e4kyi olleen aikoinaan kultakalunoilla\nkirjailtu. Kasvojen piirteet tiesiv\u00e4t syv\u00e4\u00e4 mietint\u00e4\u00e4; jotain kuivaa\nja kulmikasta oli h\u00e4nen olennossaan; mielistely\u00e4 h\u00e4n ei n\u00e4kynyt\nymm\u00e4rt\u00e4v\u00e4n tai halveksi sellaista.\nIs\u00e4nn\u00e4n l\u00e4hdetty\u00e4 huoneesta, min\u00e4 en saattanut olla lausumatta\nosan-ottoani kunnon miest\u00e4 kohtaan, joka on joutunut t\u00e4llaiseen\npulaan, ja tarjosin h\u00e4nelle kukkaroni.\n-- Min\u00e4 otan tarjouksenne vastaan, arvoisa herra, kaikesta\nsyd\u00e4mest\u00e4ni, -- lausui h\u00e4n. -- Kovin olin ajattelematon, antaessani\npois viimeiset rahani, mutta mieleni on hyv\u00e4, kun siten sain n\u00e4hd\u00e4,\nett\u00e4 viel\u00e4 on olemassa teid\u00e4n kaltaisianne miehi\u00e4. Pyyt\u00e4isin vain\nsit\u00e4 ennen saada tiet\u00e4\u00e4 minun hyv\u00e4ntekij\u00e4ni nimen ja asuinpaikan,\nvoidakseni suorittaa h\u00e4nelle velkani niin pian kuin mahdollista.\nMin\u00e4 ilmoitin h\u00e4nelle sek\u00e4 nimeni ett\u00e4 \u00e4skeiset vastoink\u00e4ymiseni kuin\nmy\u00f6s seudun, minne olen siirtym\u00e4ss\u00e4.\n-- Seh\u00e4n sopii paremmin kuin olisi osannut odottaakaan! -- huudahti\nh\u00e4n, -- sill\u00e4 minullakin on matka sinnep\u00e4in. T\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 olen viipynyt\nkaksi p\u00e4iv\u00e4\u00e4 tulvain t\u00e4hden, mutta huomenna toivoakseni p\u00e4\u00e4semme\nkyll\u00e4 kulkemaan.\nMin\u00e4 vakuutin olevani hyvill\u00e4ni h\u00e4nen seurastaan, ja minun sek\u00e4\nvaimoni ja tyt\u00e4rteni yhteisest\u00e4 pyynn\u00f6st\u00e4 h\u00e4n suostui j\u00e4\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n\nillalliselle meid\u00e4n kanssamme. Vieraan puhelut olivat sek\u00e4 hauskoja\nett\u00e4 opettavaisia, ja min\u00e4 olisin kernaasti haastellut h\u00e4nen kanssaan\nkauemminkin, mutta ilta oli jo kulunut my\u00f6h\u00e4ksi, ja meid\u00e4n t\u00e4ytyi\nk\u00e4yd\u00e4 levolle, hankkiaksemme voimia huomisp\u00e4iv\u00e4n matkan varalle.\nHuomenissa l\u00e4hdettiin yhdess\u00e4 liikkeelle. Meik\u00e4l\u00e4iset kulkivat\nratsain, mutta mr Burchell -- se oli matkakumppalimme nimi -- astui\njalan tienviereist\u00e4 polkua, sanoen leikill\u00e4\u00e4n, ett\u00e4 koska me olemme\nniin huonoja ratsastajia, niin h\u00e4n ei tahdo j\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4 meit\u00e4 j\u00e4ljelle.\nKoska joki oli yh\u00e4 viel\u00e4kin tulvillaan, t\u00e4ytyi meid\u00e4n palkata\nopas. H\u00e4n kulki matkueen etunen\u00e4ss\u00e4, mr Burchell ja min\u00e4 astuimme\nviimeisin\u00e4. Matkan vaivoja me koetimme lievent\u00e4\u00e4 filosofillisilla\nkeskusteluilla, joihin h\u00e4n n\u00e4kyi olevan t\u00e4ysin perehtynyt. Kovin\nminua kummastutti se seikka, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n, vaikka oli lainannut minulta\nrahoja, kumminkin puolusti mielipiteit\u00e4\u00e4n niin itsepintaisesti,\nik\u00e4\u00e4nkuin olisi ollut minun patronani.\nTuon tuostakin h\u00e4n selitti, kenenk\u00e4 oma mikin maatila tien varrella\noli.\n-- Tuo tuolla, -- sanoi h\u00e4n, osoittaen er\u00e4st\u00e4 varsin komeata taloa\njonkun matkan p\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4, -- on mr Thornhillin talo. Sen omistaja on\nmuuan nuori gentleman, varsin rikas mies. H\u00e4n on tosin kokonaan\nriippuvainen sed\u00e4st\u00e4\u00e4n, sir William Thornhillista, joka itse tyytyy\nsangen v\u00e4h\u00e4\u00e4n ja el\u00e4\u00e4 enimm\u00e4kseen kaupungissa.\n-- Mitenk\u00e4? -- huudahdin min\u00e4. -- Onko minun nuoren patronani set\u00e4\nse mies, joka on niin laajalti tuttu hyvist\u00e4 avuistaan, ylev\u00e4st\u00e4\nmielest\u00e4\u00e4n ja omituisuuksistaan? Min\u00e4 olen kuullut kerrottavan, ett\u00e4\nsir William Thornhill on jaloimpia ja samalla kummallisimpia miehi\u00e4\nkoko kuningaskunnassa, kauttaaltaan hyv\u00e4ntahtoinen herra.\n-- Kenties v\u00e4h\u00e4n liiaksikin, -- arveli mr Burchell. -- Nuorempana h\u00e4n\nainakin oli ylenm\u00e4\u00e4rin hyv\u00e4ntahtoinen. H\u00e4nell\u00e4 oli ankarat intohimot,\nja koska ne kaikki olivat siveellist\u00e4 laatua, niin liittyi niihin\njotain hyvin romantillista. Aikaisin jo miellytty\u00e4ns\u00e4 sek\u00e4 sotilaan\nett\u00e4 tiedemiehen toimiin, h\u00e4n ennen pitk\u00e4\u00e4 kunnostikin itsens\u00e4\narmeijassa ja sai jonkun verran mainetta oppineitten joukossa.\nKoska h\u00e4nnystely aina kulkee kunnianhimoisten ihmisten j\u00e4ljiss\u00e4,\nsellaiset kun juuri ovat ylistyksille herk\u00e4t, niin oli h\u00e4nell\u00e4kin\nalati ymp\u00e4rill\u00e4\u00e4n joukko miehi\u00e4, jotka toivat n\u00e4kyviin ainoastaan\nyhden puolen luonnettansa, niin ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n my\u00f6t\u00e4tuntoisuudessansa\nmuita kohtaan laiminl\u00f6i omat etunsa. H\u00e4n rakasti kaikkia ihmisi\u00e4,\nsill\u00e4 onnelliset olot estiv\u00e4t h\u00e4nt\u00e4 n\u00e4kem\u00e4st\u00e4, ett\u00e4 joukossa on\nkonniakin. L\u00e4\u00e4k\u00e4rit kertovat sellaisesta taudista, jossa koko ruumis\non niin sanomattoman hell\u00e4, ett\u00e4 pieninkin kosketus tekee kipe\u00e4t\u00e4.\nMit\u00e4 muut t\u00e4ten ruumiillisesti k\u00e4rsiv\u00e4t, sit\u00e4 h\u00e4n k\u00e4rsi henkisesti.\nPieninkin h\u00e4t\u00e4, joko todellinen tai luuloteltu, koski h\u00e4neen ihan\nsisimpi\u00e4 my\u00f6ten, ja sairasmielisell\u00e4 hell\u00e4tuntoisuudella h\u00e4n k\u00e4rsi\nmuitten tuskia. T\u00e4m\u00e4 saattoi h\u00e4net hyvin auliiksi, ja niinp\u00e4 on\nhelppo ymm\u00e4rt\u00e4\u00e4, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nen ymp\u00e4rill\u00e4\u00e4n oli ylt\u00e4 kyllin mankujoita.\nAnteliaisuus alkoi tehd\u00e4 lovia h\u00e4nen omaisuuteensa, vaikk'ei h\u00e4nen\nhyv\u00e4ntahtoisuuteensa: t\u00e4m\u00e4 n\u00e4ytti yh\u00e4 vaan lis\u00e4\u00e4ntyv\u00e4n, mik\u00e4li\nomaisuus hupeni. Ajattelemattomuus kasvoi tasak\u00e4tt\u00e4 k\u00f6yhyyden kera.\nH\u00e4nen puheensa olivat viisaan miehen puheita, mutta ty\u00f6t hupsun\nt\u00f6it\u00e4. Kun tunkeilevaisuus oli viimein k\u00e4ynyt kovin suureksi, niin\nett'ei h\u00e4n en\u00e4\u00e4 voinut t\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 kaikkia pyynt\u00f6j\u00e4, silloin h\u00e4n rupesi\n_rahan_ asemesta antamaan _lupauksia_. Siin\u00e4 kaikki, mihin h\u00e4n\nkykeni, eik\u00e4 h\u00e4n viel\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n saattanut pahoittaa kenenk\u00e4\u00e4n mielt\u00e4\nkiellollansa. Sill\u00e4 tavoin h\u00e4n sai niskoilleen koko joukon v\u00e4ke\u00e4,\njoitten t\u00e4ytyi lopultikin joutua pettymykseen, niin mielell\u00e4\u00e4n\nkuin h\u00e4n olisi heit\u00e4 auttanutkin. Jonkun aikaa n\u00e4m\u00e4 riippuivat\nh\u00e4ness\u00e4 viel\u00e4 kiinni, mutta hylk\u00e4siv\u00e4t h\u00e4net sitten, sadatellen\nja halveksien, niinkuin h\u00e4n ansaitsikin. Samassa m\u00e4\u00e4rin kuin\nmuitten kunnioitus h\u00e4nt\u00e4 kohtaan v\u00e4heni, samassa m\u00e4\u00e4rin h\u00e4n rupesi\nhalveksimaan omaa itse\u00e4ns\u00e4. Heid\u00e4n imartelunsa olivat t\u00e4h\u00e4n saakka\nkannatelleet h\u00e4nen mielens\u00e4 rohkeutta, mutta nyt, kun t\u00e4m\u00e4 tuki oli\notettu pois, ei h\u00e4nell\u00e4 ollut iloa syd\u00e4mens\u00e4 hyv\u00e4ksymisest\u00e4, h\u00e4n\nkun ei ollut koskaan oppinut syd\u00e4nt\u00e4ns\u00e4 kunnioittamaan. Maailma\nalkoi esiinty\u00e4 h\u00e4nelle toisellaisena; yst\u00e4v\u00e4in entinen mielistely\nrupesi kutistumaan pelk\u00e4ksi my\u00f6nt\u00e4miseksi, my\u00f6nt\u00e4minen pukeutui\npian yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisen kehoituksen muotoon, ja kun kehoitusta ei\nnoudatettu, syntyi moitteita. H\u00e4n huomasi, ett\u00e4 sellaiset yst\u00e4v\u00e4t,\njoita hyv\u00e4ntekev\u00e4isyys oli ker\u00e4nnyt h\u00e4nen ymp\u00e4rilleen, ovat varsin\nv\u00e4h\u00e4n-arvoisia. H\u00e4n huomasi, ett\u00e4 jos toisen syd\u00e4nt\u00e4 omakseen\ntahtoo, pit\u00e4\u00e4 h\u00e4nelle antaa oma syd\u00e4mens\u00e4. Min\u00e4 huomasin nyt, ett\u00e4...\nett\u00e4... niin, mit\u00e4s min\u00e4 aioin kertoakaan?... Sanalla sanoen,\nhyv\u00e4 herra: h\u00e4n p\u00e4\u00e4tti ruveta taas kunnioittamaan omaa itse\u00e4ns\u00e4 ja\nteki suunnitelman, mill\u00e4 saada rappeutunut omaisuutensa j\u00e4lleen\nentiselleen. Siin\u00e4 tarkoituksessa h\u00e4n, omituinen kun oli, vaelsi\njalkaisin halki Europan, ja vaikk'ei h\u00e4n ole kuin kolmekymment\u00e4\nvuotta vanha, on h\u00e4nen taloudellinen asemansa parempi kuin koskaan\nennen. H\u00e4nen anteliaisuutensa on nyt j\u00e4rkev\u00e4mp\u00e4\u00e4 ja kohtuullisempaa;\nmutta yh\u00e4 edelleenkin h\u00e4n on luonteeltaan oikullinen, ja yh\u00e4 viel\u00e4kin\nh\u00e4nen suurimpana huvituksenaan on tehd\u00e4 hyv\u00e4\u00e4 per\u00e4ti omituisella\ntavalla.\nMin\u00e4 olin niin kokonaan kiintynyt mr Burchellin kertomukseen, ett\u00e4\ntuskin tulin katsoneeksi eteenp\u00e4in, kunnes \u00e4kki\u00e4 kuulin omaisteni\nhuutoja. Katsahdettuani ymp\u00e4rilleni, huomasin nuorimman tytt\u00e4reni\nolevan keskell\u00e4 vuolasta virtaa. H\u00e4n oli pudonnut hevosen selj\u00e4st\u00e4\nja taisteli parhaillaan virtaa vasten. Kahdesti h\u00e4n jo vaipui\nveden alle, mutta min\u00e4 olin niin h\u00e4mm\u00e4stynyt, ett'en kyennyt\najattelemaankaan h\u00e4nen pelastamistansa. Ehdottomasti h\u00e4n olisi ollut\nhukassa, ellei minun matkatoverini, vaaran huomattuansa, olisi\nsilm\u00e4nr\u00e4p\u00e4yksess\u00e4 sy\u00f6ssyt veteen ja suurella vaivalla pelastanut\nh\u00e4nt\u00e4 joen toiselle rannalle.\nHiukan ylemp\u00e4n\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4simme me muutkin virran yli, jossa nyt yhdess\u00e4\ntytt\u00e4reni kanssa lausuimme syd\u00e4melliset kiitoksemme pelastajalle.\nTytt\u00e4reni kiitollisuutta on helpompi kuvailla mieless\u00e4\u00e4n kuin sanoin\nkertoa. H\u00e4n kiitti enemm\u00e4n katseilla kuin sanoilla, yh\u00e4 edelleen\nnojautuen h\u00e4nen k\u00e4sivarteensa, ik\u00e4\u00e4nkuin viel\u00e4kin apua odotellen.\nVaimonikin toivoi saavansa joskus tilaisuuden palkita h\u00e4nt\u00e4 meid\u00e4n\nomassa kodissamme.\nPoikkesimme sitten l\u00e4himp\u00e4\u00e4n majataloon ja s\u00f6imme siell\u00e4 yhdess\u00e4\np\u00e4iv\u00e4llist\u00e4. Siit\u00e4 k\u00e4\u00e4ntyi mr Burchellin tie toiselle suunnalle, ja\nh\u00e4n sanoi meille j\u00e4\u00e4hyv\u00e4iset.\nMe l\u00e4ksimme jatkamaan matkaamme. Tiell\u00e4 minun vaimoni virkkoi\nminulle, ett\u00e4 mr Burchell miellytt\u00e4\u00e4 h\u00e4nt\u00e4 suuresti, ja vakuutti,\nett\u00e4 jos vaan se mies syntyper\u00e4ns\u00e4 ja varallisuutensa puolesta on\nmahdollinen pyyt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n vaimoa meid\u00e4n perheest\u00e4, niin ei h\u00e4n puolestaan\nsen sopivampaa v\u00e4vy\u00e4 toista tied\u00e4 ket\u00e4\u00e4n. Min\u00e4 en saattanut olla\nmyh\u00e4ht\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00e4, kuullessani vaimoni puhuvan noin korkealentoisesti,\nmutta enp\u00e4 milloinkaan pannut kovin pahakseni moisia viattomia onnen\nhaaveiluja.\nNELJ\u00c4S LUKU\nTodistus siit\u00e4, kuinka v\u00e4hiss\u00e4kin varoissa saattaa olla onnea, joka\nei riipu oloista, vaan mielentilasta.\nUusi olopaikkamme oli tienoossa, miss\u00e4 maalaiset asuivat omilla\ntiluksillaan. Yht\u00e4 outoa oli heille ylellisyys kuin puutekin. Kaikkia\nelintarpeita oli heill\u00e4 itsell\u00e4\u00e4n riitt\u00e4v\u00e4sti, jonka vuoksi he\nharvoin k\u00e4viv\u00e4t kaupungeissa ja kauppaloissa, noutamassa sellaista,\njota ilmankin toimeen tulee. Asuen kaukana sivistyneest\u00e4 maailmasta,\nhe olivat pysyneet vanhan-aikuisissa yksinkertaisissa tavoissa. He\nolivat jo pienest\u00e4, pit\u00e4in tottuneet tyytym\u00e4\u00e4n v\u00e4h\u00e4\u00e4n, ja siksip\u00e4\nhe tuskin tiesiv\u00e4tk\u00e4\u00e4n, ett\u00e4 kohtuullisuus on hyv\u00e4 avu. Uutterasti\nhe tekiv\u00e4t ty\u00f6t\u00e4 arkina, mutta pyh\u00e4p\u00e4ivi\u00e4 he pitiv\u00e4t lomahetkin\u00e4,\njotka on suotu lepoa ja huvitusta varten. Siell\u00e4 veisattiin viel\u00e4\nvanhoja jouluvirsi\u00e4, l\u00e4heteltiin Valentinin p\u00e4iv\u00e4n\u00e4 lempinauhoja\ntalosta taloon, sy\u00f6tiin pannukakkuja laskiaisena, laskettiin pilaa\nensimm\u00e4isen\u00e4 huhtikuussa ja hurskaasti sy\u00f6d\u00e4 naksuteltiin p\u00e4hkin\u00f6it\u00e4\nMikonp\u00e4iv\u00e4n aattona.\nSaatuaan tiet\u00e4\u00e4 meid\u00e4n tulostamme, saapui koko naapuristo uutta\npappiansa vastaan, puhtaissa kirkkovaatteissaan, pillipiiparit ja\nrumpali etunen\u00e4ss\u00e4. Tuliaiskemutkin oli meille valmistettu, ja\nkernaasti me niihin vieraiksi k\u00e4vimmekin. Ellei keskustelu siin\u00e4 niin\nhenkev\u00e4\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n ollut, niin iloista naurua ainakin riitti.\nPieni pappila sijaitsi viett\u00e4v\u00e4n m\u00e4en alla, takana kaunis viidakko,\nedess\u00e4 kirkasvesinen joki; toisella puolella niitty, toisella vihanta\nketo. Minun farmissani oli vain kaksikymment\u00e4 acrea[9] eritt\u00e4in hyv\u00e4\u00e4\nmaata, josta olin edelliselle omistajalle suorittanut sata puntaa.\nYlen oli soma t\u00e4m\u00e4 pieni alueeni, upeine jalavineen ja siroine\npensas-aitoineen. Talo oli ainoastaan yksikerroksinen, olkikattoinen,\nja semmoisenaan varsin miellytt\u00e4v\u00e4n n\u00e4k\u00f6inen. Sein\u00e4t oli sis\u00e4puolelta\nsomiksi valkaistu, ja tytt\u00e4reni koristivat ne viel\u00e4 omatekoisilla\npiirroksillaan.\nYksi ainoa suoja toimitti sek\u00e4 asuinhuoneen ett\u00e4 keitti\u00f6n virkaa,\nmutta sit\u00e4 l\u00e4mp\u00f6isempih\u00e4n siin\u00e4 oli olla. Ja kun siin\u00e4 sit\u00e4 paitsi\nvallitsi hyv\u00e4 j\u00e4rjestys, kun vadit, lautaset ja vaskiastiat aina\nolivat kirkkaina ja puhtaina hyllyill\u00e4 samassa riviss\u00e4, niin oli\nsiin\u00e4 silm\u00e4llekin miellytt\u00e4v\u00e4 n\u00e4ky; runsaampaa koristusta ei\nosannut kaivatakaan. Paitsi t\u00e4t\u00e4 suojaa oli talossa viel\u00e4 kolme\nmakuuhuonetta: yksi vaimoani ja minua varten, sen takana tytt\u00e4rieni\nmakuuhuone ja viel\u00e4 kolmas, kahdella vuoteella varustettu, muita\nlapsia varten.\nT\u00e4ss\u00e4 pieness\u00e4 tasavallassa, jossa min\u00e4 olin lains\u00e4\u00e4t\u00e4j\u00e4n\u00e4, vallitsi\nseuraava j\u00e4rjestys: Auringon noustessa kokoonnuttiin yhteiseen\nasuinsuojaan, johon palvelija jo ennalta oli viritt\u00e4nyt takkavalkean.\nSiell\u00e4 tervehdimme toisiamme s\u00e4\u00e4nn\u00f6n mukaan, -- min\u00e4 nimitt\u00e4in\npidin sopivana s\u00e4ilytt\u00e4\u00e4 ulkonaisia s\u00e4\u00e4dyllisi\u00e4 tapoja, sill\u00e4 jos\nkukin saisi menetell\u00e4 mielinm\u00e4\u00e4rin, niin joutuisivat yst\u00e4vyyden\nsiteet h\u00f6llemm\u00e4lle. -- Senj\u00e4lkeen laskeusimme kaikki polvillemme\nkiitt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n H\u00e4nt\u00e4, joka meille oli j\u00e4lleen uuden p\u00e4iv\u00e4n antanut. T\u00e4m\u00e4n\nvelvollisuuden t\u00e4ytetty\u00e4mme min\u00e4 l\u00e4ksin poikani kanssa tavallisille\nulkoaskareille, siksi aikaa kuin vaimoni tytt\u00e4rinens\u00e4 laitteli\naamiaista, joka aina valmistui m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4tyll\u00e4 hetkell\u00e4. Aamiainen kesti\nminun m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4ykseni mukaan puoli tuntia ja p\u00e4iv\u00e4llinen koko tunnin,\nja ateriain aikoina lasketeltiin viattomia pilapuheita em\u00e4nn\u00e4n ja\ntyt\u00e4rten kanssa tai pidin min\u00e4 filosofillisia keskusteluja poikani\nkanssa.\nPoikani ja min\u00e4 kun her\u00e4simme auringon noustessa, niin emme koskaan\njatkaneet t\u00f6it\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4nlaskun j\u00e4lkeen, vaan palasimme kotia, jossa\nmuu perhe meit\u00e4 hymyillen odotteli l\u00e4mp\u00f6isen ja kirkkaan kotilieden\n\u00e4\u00e4ress\u00e4. Vieraita meilt\u00e4 ei puuttunut: v\u00e4listi pist\u00e4ysi farmari\nFlamborough, puhelias naapuri, vuoroin sokea pillipiipari maistamaan\nmeid\u00e4n karvikkoviini\u00e4, jonka sek\u00e4 resepti ett\u00e4 maine oli s\u00e4ilynyt\nmeill\u00e4 entisell\u00e4\u00e4n. Monella muotoa n\u00e4m\u00e4 kunnon miehet huvittivat\nmeit\u00e4, toinen soitti ja toinen lauloi somia ballaadeja, sellaisia\nkuin \"Johnny Armstrongin viimeinen tervehdys\" tai \"Julmasta\nBarbara Allenista.\" P\u00e4iv\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4tettiin niinkuin oli aloitettukin.\nNuorimpien poikain teht\u00e4v\u00e4n\u00e4 oli lukea p\u00e4iv\u00e4n raamatunteksti, ja ken\n\u00e4\u00e4nekk\u00e4\u00e4mmin, selvemmin ja parhaiten luki, se sai sunnuntaina panna\npuoli penny\u00e4 vaivaisten haaviin.\nSunnuntain koittaessa alkoi naisv\u00e4en pukeutuminen ja koristeleiminen,\nja voimattomia silloin olivat kaikki minun s\u00e4\u00e4t\u00e4m\u00e4ni pukuasetukset.\nLuulin kyll\u00e4, ett\u00e4 minun saarnani el\u00e4m\u00e4nkoreutta vastaan olivat\nhillinneet tytt\u00e4rieni turhamaisuuden, mutta yh\u00e4 vaan huomasin heid\u00e4n\nsalaisesti pysyv\u00e4n entisess\u00e4 koristelemisen halussa: aina heille vaan\nolivat mieluisia pitsit ja nauhat ja ny\u00f6rit ja soljet. Vaimonikin\noli yh\u00e4 edelleen ihastunut tulipunaiseen paduasilkkiseen leninkiins\u00e4\nsiit\u00e4 saakka kuin min\u00e4 ennen vanhaan olin kerran tullut sanoneeksi,\nett\u00e4 se sopii h\u00e4nellen vallan hyvin.\nEnsimm\u00e4isen\u00e4 sunnuntaina varsinkin heid\u00e4n k\u00e4yt\u00f6ksens\u00e4 loukkasi minua\nkovin. Olin edellisen\u00e4 iltana jo pyyt\u00e4nyt heit\u00e4 olemaan varhain\naamulla valmiina, min\u00e4 kun tahdon joutua kirkkoon hyviss\u00e4 ajoin ennen\nseurakuntaa. T\u00e4sm\u00e4lleen he k\u00e4skyni t\u00e4yttiv\u00e4tkin. Mutta aamiaiselle\ntultuani huomasin vaimoni ja tytt\u00e4rieni pukeutuneen t\u00e4yteen entiseen\njuhla-asuunsa: tukka oli kankeana pomadasta, kasvoilla korut\u00e4pli\u00e4\nja liepeiss\u00e4 laahukset, jotka kahisivat, kun hiukankin liikahti.\nEn saattanut olla myh\u00e4ht\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00e4, n\u00e4hdess\u00e4ni mointa turhamaisuutta\nvarsinkin vaimossani, jolta olisin odottanut enemm\u00e4n ymm\u00e4rryst\u00e4.\nT\u00e4ss\u00e4 pulmassa oli minulla vain yksi neuvo j\u00e4ljell\u00e4. Varsin vakavan\nn\u00e4k\u00f6isen\u00e4 min\u00e4 pyysin poikani k\u00e4skem\u00e4\u00e4n vaunut kuistin eteen.\nTytt\u00e4ret h\u00e4mm\u00e4styiv\u00e4t sellaista m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4yst\u00e4, mutta min\u00e4 uudistin sen\nentist\u00e4 juhlallisemmin.\n-- Mit\u00e4s pilaa tuo nyt on! -- huudahti vaimoni. -- Saattaahan sinne\nvallan hyvin menn\u00e4 jalkaisinkin: ei meid\u00e4n tarvitse vaunuissa ajaa.\n-- Erehdyst\u00e4, lapsi kulta! -- vastasin min\u00e4. -- Nyt niit\u00e4 vaunuja\ntarvitaankin, sill\u00e4 jos me n\u00e4iss\u00e4 koruissa menisimme jalkaisin\nkirkolle, niin kyl\u00e4n lapset ne kirkuen per\u00e4ss\u00e4 juoksisi.\n-- Vai niin! -- virkkoi vaimoni. -- Min\u00e4p\u00e4 luulin, ett\u00e4 sinun,\nrakas Charles,[10] olisi mieluista n\u00e4hd\u00e4 lapsesi sievin\u00e4 ja somina\nymp\u00e4rill\u00e4si.\n-- Niin sievin\u00e4 ja somina kuin suinkin keskeytin min\u00e4; -- sit\u00e4\nrakkaampia te minulle olette; mutta tuo tuollainen ei ole sievyytt\u00e4\neik\u00e4 somuutta, se on turhamaista koristelua. Nuo r\u00f6yhykset ja\nrinnukset ja korut\u00e4pl\u00e4t saavat aikaan sen, ett\u00e4 kaikki naapurin\nnaisv\u00e4ki rupeaa meit\u00e4 vihaamaan. Ei, lapsi kullat, -- jatkoin min\u00e4\nvakavammin, nuo tamineet pit\u00e4\u00e4 muuttaa yksinkertaisempaan kuosiin,\nsill\u00e4 koristeleminen ei sovi meille, joilla ei ole varoja s\u00e4\u00e4dynk\u00e4\u00e4n\nmukaiseen pukuun. En tied\u00e4, sopinevatko tuollaiset hesut ja hetaleet\nrikkaillekaan, kun ajattelee, ett\u00e4 turhamaisten koristeiden hinnalla,\nkohtuullisenkin laskun mukaan, k\u00f6yh\u00e4in alastomuus kyll\u00e4kin saisi\nverhon ylleen.\nT\u00e4m\u00e4 huomautus oli osunut oikeaan: tyynell\u00e4 mielin he heti kohta\nmeniv\u00e4t muuttamaan pukuansa. Ja seuraavana p\u00e4iv\u00e4n\u00e4 min\u00e4 mielikseni\nhuomasin tytt\u00e4rieni, kenenk\u00e4\u00e4n pyyt\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00e4, leikkelev\u00e4n liepeist\u00e4ns\u00e4\nkirkkoliivej\u00e4 Dickille ja Billille, nuoremmille pojilleni,[11] ja,\nmik\u00e4 viel\u00e4 hauskempaa, heid\u00e4n leninkins\u00e4 tulivat siten entist\u00e4\u00e4n\nsomemmiksi.\nVIIDES LUKU\nUusia, ylh\u00e4issukuisia tuttavia. Parastakin toivoa seuraa usein\npettymys.\nV\u00e4h\u00e4n matkan p\u00e4\u00e4h\u00e4n pappilasta oli entinen pappi laittanut\nistuinpaikan orapihlajain ja kuusamojen suojaan. Siell\u00e4 me, kun\nilma oli kaunis ja ty\u00f6t p\u00e4\u00e4tetty, usein istuimme yhdess\u00e4, ihaillen\nillan viile\u00e4ss\u00e4 laajaa maisemaa edess\u00e4mme. Siell\u00e4 juotiin v\u00e4listi\nteet\u00e4kin, ja silloin oli meill\u00e4 aina jonkinmoiset tilap\u00e4iset kemut,\nja niit\u00e4 kun sattui harvoin, aiheutui niist\u00e4 yh\u00e4 uutta iloa,\nsill\u00e4 valmistukset niihin tapahtuivat aina melkoisilla puuhilla\nja menoilla. N\u00e4iss\u00e4 tilaisuuksissa lukivat nuorimmat pojat meille\njotain \u00e4\u00e4neen ja saivat s\u00e4\u00e4nn\u00f6llisesti hekin teet\u00e4, sittenkuin muut\nolivat juoneet. V\u00e4liin tytt\u00e4ret, vaihetuksen vuoksi, lauloivat\nkitaran s\u00e4estyksell\u00e4. T\u00e4llaisten pikku konserttien aikana min\u00e4 l\u00e4ksin\nvaimoni kera nurmikolle m\u00e4en rinteell\u00e4, miss\u00e4 kasvoi sinisi\u00e4 kelloja\nja ruiskukkia. Siell\u00e4 me ihastuksella haastelimme lapsistamme,\nhengitt\u00e4en raitista ilmaa, josta tuulahteli sek\u00e4 terveytt\u00e4 ett\u00e4\nmielenrauhaa.\nT\u00e4ten me huomasimme, kuinka kaikkinaisilla el\u00e4m\u00e4n oloilla on omat\nilonsa: aamu her\u00e4tti meid\u00e4t aina uusiin puuhiin ja ponnistuksiin,\nmutta ilta palkitsi ne mieluisilla joutohetkill\u00e4.\nSyyskes\u00e4st\u00e4 kerran, er\u00e4\u00e4n\u00e4 juhlap\u00e4iv\u00e4n\u00e4, jonka olin m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4nnyt\nlepop\u00e4iv\u00e4ksi t\u00f6itten v\u00e4lill\u00e4, istuttiin taasen tavallisella\npaikalla ulkona. Nuoret soittotaiteilijat olivat juuri aloittaneet\nkonserttinsa. Kesken kaikkea n\u00e4imme hirven kiit\u00e4v\u00e4n noin\nparinkymmenen askeleen p\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4 meist\u00e4. L\u00e4\u00e4h\u00e4tyksest\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4en oli\nmets\u00e4st\u00e4ji\u00e4 sen kintereill\u00e4.\nEmme olleet enn\u00e4tt\u00e4neet viel\u00e4 paljoakaan p\u00e4ivitell\u00e4 el\u00e4in paran\nh\u00e4t\u00e4\u00e4, niin jo n\u00e4imme koirain ja ratsumiesten rient\u00e4v\u00e4n t\u00e4ytt\u00e4\nvauhtia sen per\u00e4ss\u00e4.\nAikomukseni oli heti siirty\u00e4 taloon takaisin, mutta uteliaisuudesta\ntai h\u00e4mm\u00e4styksest\u00e4 tai jostain salaisesta syyst\u00e4 vaimoni ja tytt\u00e4reni\neiv\u00e4t liikahtaneet paikoiltaankaan. Etummainen mets\u00e4st\u00e4j\u00e4 ratsastaa\nkarautti meid\u00e4n ohitsemme, per\u00e4ss\u00e4\u00e4n nelj\u00e4 viisi muuta herraa\nhevosen selj\u00e4ss\u00e4. Vihdoin tuli esille muuan nuori gentleman, muita\nhienomman n\u00e4k\u00f6inen, silm\u00e4ili meit\u00e4 hetkisen ja pys\u00e4htyi sitten, j\u00e4tti\nratsunsa palvelijalle ja l\u00e4hestyi meit\u00e4. Huoleton ryhti tiesi h\u00e4ness\u00e4\nylh\u00e4ist\u00e4 herraa. H\u00e4n ei n\u00e4kynyt kaipaavan mit\u00e4\u00e4n esittely\u00e4, vaan\nl\u00e4heni tytt\u00e4ri\u00e4ni, suudellakseen heit\u00e4, niinkuin konsanaankin mies,\njoka on varma yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisest\u00e4 vastaan-otosta, mutta tytt\u00e4reni olivat\njo aikaisin oppineet pelk\u00e4ll\u00e4 katseella saamaan h\u00e4mille liiallisen\nrohkeuden. Silloin h\u00e4n ilmoitti olevansa nimelt\u00e4\u00e4n Thornhill,\nymp\u00e4rill\u00e4 olevain tilusten omistaja. Senj\u00e4lkeen h\u00e4n uudestaan\nl\u00e4hestyi suutelemaan perheen naispuolisia j\u00e4seni\u00e4, ja niin suuri\noli rikkauden ja hienon puvun voima, ett'ei h\u00e4n toista kertaa en\u00e4\u00e4\nkieltoa saanutkaan.\nH\u00e4nen k\u00e4yt\u00f6ksens\u00e4 kun oli luontevaa, vaikkapa itseens\u00e4 luottavaakin,\nmuuttui v\u00e4limme pian tuttavallisemmaksi. Huomattuaan soittimia,\nh\u00e4n pyysi, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nelle suosiollisesti esitett\u00e4isiin joku laulu.\nTuollaiset tuttavuudet eris\u00e4\u00e4tyisten kesken eiv\u00e4t minua miellyt\u00e4,\nja senvuoksi annoinkin tytt\u00e4rilleni ep\u00e4\u00e4v\u00e4n merkin, mutta \u00e4iti oli\nenn\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt antaa toisen viittauksen, joka teki minun yritykseni\ntyhj\u00e4ksi. Ja niinp\u00e4 he iloisesti hymyillen lauloivat er\u00e4\u00e4n Drydenin\nlempilauluista. Mr Thornhill n\u00e4kyi olevan eritt\u00e4in hyvill\u00e4\u00e4n laulun\nsek\u00e4 valinnasta ett\u00e4 suorittamisesta ja k\u00e4vi sitten itsekin kitaraan.\nH\u00e4nen laulunsa oli varsin keskinkertaista, mutta siit\u00e4 huolimatta\nmaksoi vanhin tytt\u00e4reni h\u00e4nen \u00e4skeiset kiitoksensa korkojen kanssa\ntakaisin, vakuuttaen, ett'ei h\u00e4nen laulun-opettajansakaan \u00e4\u00e4ni ole\nniin voimakas kuin mr Thornhillin. T\u00e4m\u00e4n mielistelyn kuultuansa,\nmr Thornhill kumarsi, ja tytt\u00e4reni vastasi siihen niiauksella.\nVieras kiitteli h\u00e4nen hyv\u00e4\u00e4 aistiansa, toinen taas mr Thornhillin\nhyv\u00e4\u00e4 k\u00e4sityst\u00e4. Tuskin he kokonaisen ihmis-i\u00e4n kuluessa olisivat\nsaattaneet tulla sen paremmiksi tuttaviksi. Heikko \u00e4iti se oli yht\u00e4\nonnellinen h\u00e4nkin ja pyysi vierasta sis\u00e4\u00e4n, juomaan lasillisen\nkarvikkoviini\u00e4.\nKoko perhe n\u00e4kyi kaikin voiminsa tahtovan olla h\u00e4nelle mieliksi.\nTytt\u00e4ret koettivat h\u00e4nen huviksensa k\u00e4\u00e4nt\u00e4\u00e4 puhetta sellaisiin\nasioihin, jotka heid\u00e4n mielest\u00e4\u00e4n olivat ajanmukaisia. Moses sit\u00e4\nvastoin teki h\u00e4nelle pari kolme kysymyst\u00e4 vanhan ajan klassikoista\nja sai palkakseen sen mielihyv\u00e4n, ett\u00e4 toinen nauroi h\u00e4nelle\nvasten kasvoja. Toimessa olivat pienetkin pojat ja hierautuivat\ntuttavallisesti vieraan luokse. Tuskin sain parhaimmillakaan\nyrityksill\u00e4ni estetyksi heit\u00e4 koskettelemasta ja himment\u00e4m\u00e4st\u00e4\nh\u00e4nen takkinsa kalunoita ja nostelemasta h\u00e4nen taskujensa l\u00e4ppi\u00e4,\nn\u00e4hd\u00e4kseen, mit\u00e4 taskuissa on.\nIllan pimetess\u00e4 h\u00e4n sanoi j\u00e4\u00e4hyv\u00e4iset, pyydetty\u00e4ns\u00e4 lupaa saada\ntulla toistekin, ja seh\u00e4n h\u00e4nelle, meid\u00e4n patronalle, mit\u00e4 auliimmin\nannettiinkin.\nHeti h\u00e4nen l\u00e4hdetty\u00e4ns\u00e4, vaimoni kutsui perheen j\u00e4senet\nneuvottelemaan p\u00e4iv\u00e4n tapahtumista. H\u00e4nen mielest\u00e4\u00e4n se oli mit\u00e4\nonnellisin sattuma: on h\u00e4n muka n\u00e4hnyt kummallisempiakin asioita,\nja selville vesille ne vaan ovat vieneet. H\u00e4n toivoi viel\u00e4 sen\np\u00e4iv\u00e4n koittavan, jolloin me saatamme pit\u00e4\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4t\u00e4 yht\u00e4 korkealla\nkuin mitk\u00e4 ylh\u00e4issukuiset hyv\u00e4ns\u00e4. Eik\u00e4 h\u00e4n saata k\u00e4sitt\u00e4\u00e4 --\nsiihen loppup\u00e4\u00e4t\u00f6kseen h\u00e4n tuli, -- miks'eiv\u00e4t h\u00e4nen tytt\u00e4rens\u00e4\nsaattaisi joutua rikkaisin naimisiin yht\u00e4 hyvin kuin molemmat miss\nWrinkleritkin. T\u00e4m\u00e4 viimeinen lause kun oli tarkoitettu minulle,\nvastasin min\u00e4, ett'en min\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n sit\u00e4 saata k\u00e4sitt\u00e4\u00e4 enemp\u00e4\u00e4 kuin\nsit\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n, miksik\u00e4 mr Simpkins voitti arpajaisissa kymmenentuhatta\npuntaa ja me tyhj\u00e4\u00e4 kouran t\u00e4yden.\n-- Charles! -- huudahti vaimoni. -- Sinun tapasi on aina masentaa\nlapsia ja minua, jos me kerrankin olemme iloisella mielell\u00e4. Sano,\nSofia kulta, mit\u00e4 sin\u00e4 pidit uudesta vieraasta? Eik\u00f6 h\u00e4n sinun\nmielest\u00e4si ole hyv\u00e4nluontoinen mies?\n-- Kerrassaan, \u00e4iti! -- vastasi toinen. -- H\u00e4n pystyy puhumaan mist\u00e4\nhyv\u00e4ns\u00e4 eik\u00e4 joudu ymm\u00e4lle milloinkaan; mit\u00e4 mit\u00e4tt\u00f6m\u00e4mpi asia, sit\u00e4\nenemm\u00e4n on h\u00e4nell\u00e4 siit\u00e4 sanomista, ja ennen kaikkea h\u00e4n on varsin\nkaunis mies.\n-- Niin! -- arveli Olivia. -- Laatuun k\u00e4yp\u00e4 mies kyll\u00e4, mutta ei h\u00e4n\nminua puolestani sanottavaksi miellyt\u00e4: h\u00e4n on niin ujostelematon ja\ntunkeileva; kitaraa h\u00e4n soittaa ihan kauheasti.\nMolemmat viimeiset puheet min\u00e4 tulkitsin ihan p\u00e4invastaisiin\nsuuntiin. Huomasin n\u00e4et, ett\u00e4 Sofia h\u00e4nt\u00e4 sisimmiss\u00e4\u00e4n halveksii yht\u00e4\npaljon kuin Olivia salaisesti ihailee.\n-- Mit\u00e4 h\u00e4nest\u00e4 arvellettekaan, lapsi kullat, virkoin min\u00e4, --\nei h\u00e4n minuun edullista vaikutusta tehnyt. Ep\u00e4suhtainen yst\u00e4vyys\nmuuttuu lopulti aina vastenmielisyydeksi. Minusta tuntuu, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n\nkaikessa luontevuudessaan kumminkin tiesi, kuinka suuri juopa h\u00e4nen\nja meid\u00e4n v\u00e4lill\u00e4mme on. Paras on hakea seuraa oman s\u00e4\u00e4dyn piiriss\u00e4.\nEi sen halveksittavampaa ihmist\u00e4 kuin mies onnen-onkija, enk\u00e4\nymm\u00e4rr\u00e4, miksik\u00e4 ei onnen-onkija nainenkin olisi yht\u00e4 halveksittava.\nParhaimmassa tapauksessa me saamme halveksimista osaksemme, jos h\u00e4nen\naikomuksensa ovat rehellisi\u00e4, mutta elleiv\u00e4t ole? Minua kauhistaa\njo ajatellessanikin tuota! Enh\u00e4n min\u00e4 tosin ole huolissani lasteni\nk\u00e4yt\u00f6ksen t\u00e4hden, mutta h\u00e4nen luonteessaan on jotain huolestuttavaa.\nOlisin viel\u00e4 puhunut enemm\u00e4nkin, mutta minut keskeytti muuan squiren\npalvelija, joka toi herraltansa terveisi\u00e4 ja samalla palasen\nmets\u00e4nriistaa, ilmoittaen sen ohella, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nen herransa saapuu\nn\u00e4in\u00e4 p\u00e4ivin\u00e4 meille p\u00e4iv\u00e4llisille. T\u00e4m\u00e4 otolliseen aikaan l\u00e4hetetty\nlahja puhui h\u00e4nen edukseen paljoa tehokkaammin kuin min\u00e4 olisin\nosannut sanoa h\u00e4nt\u00e4 vastaan. Siksip\u00e4 en en\u00e4\u00e4 mit\u00e4\u00e4n virkkanutkaan,\ntyydyin vain siihen, ett\u00e4 olin osoittanut heille, mik\u00e4 vaara on\nuhkaamassa, toivoen heid\u00e4n olevan niin ymm\u00e4rt\u00e4v\u00e4isi\u00e4, ett\u00e4 osaavat\nsen v\u00e4ltt\u00e4\u00e4. Sellaiselle siveydelle, joka alituista valvomista\nvaatii, tuskin kannattaa vartijata \u00e4\u00e4reen asettaa.\nKUUDES LUKU\nOnnellisen kotilieden \u00e4\u00e4ress\u00e4 maalla.\n\u00c4skeinen v\u00e4ittely kun oli ollut jotenkin kiivasta, niin p\u00e4\u00e4tettiin,\nsaadaksemme v\u00e4lit taas hyv\u00e4lle kannalle, laittaa yksi osa\nmets\u00e4nriistaa illalliseksi. Tytt\u00e4ret ryhtyiv\u00e4tkin hilpe\u00e4ll\u00e4 mielin\ntoimiin.\n-- Mieleni on paha, -- virkoin min\u00e4, -- ett'ei meill\u00e4 ole naapuria\ntai vierasta mukana t\u00e4llaisen herkun \u00e4\u00e4ress\u00e4, sill\u00e4 vieraanvaraisuus\ntekee moiset ateriat kahta maukkaammiksi.\n-- Hyv\u00e4inen aika! -- huudahti vaimoni. Tuossahan tulee meid\u00e4n hyv\u00e4\nyst\u00e4v\u00e4mme, mr Burchell, joka pelasti meid\u00e4n Sofian ja pani sinut\nv\u00e4ittelyss\u00e4 pussiin!\n-- Minutko, lapsi? -- huudahtin min\u00e4. Erehdyst\u00e4, kultaseni,\nerehdyst\u00e4! Ei siihen monikaan pysty, luullakseni. Enh\u00e4n min\u00e4\nmilloinkaan kiell\u00e4 sinun taitoasi hanhenmaksa-piiraitten\npaistamisessa; j\u00e4t\u00e4 sin\u00e4kin v\u00e4itteleminen minun huolekseni.\nT\u00e4t\u00e4 puhuessani astui k\u00f6yh\u00e4 yst\u00e4v\u00e4ni mr Burchell sis\u00e4\u00e4n. Me\ntervehdimme h\u00e4nt\u00e4 l\u00e4mpim\u00e4ll\u00e4 k\u00e4denpuristuksella. Pikku Dick siirsi\nh\u00e4nelle kohteliaasti tuolin.\nTuon k\u00f6yh\u00e4n miehen yst\u00e4vyys oli minulle mieluista kahdestakin syyst\u00e4:\ntiesin h\u00e4nen ensinn\u00e4kin tarvitsevan minun yst\u00e4vyytt\u00e4ni ja toiseksi\nosoittavan voimiansa my\u00f6ten yst\u00e4vyytt\u00e4 minuakin kohtaan. H\u00e4n oli\nn\u00e4ill\u00e4 seuduin tunnettu k\u00f6yh\u00e4n\u00e4 gentlemanina, joka nuoruudessaan\nei ollut tahtonut tehd\u00e4 mit\u00e4\u00e4n hyv\u00e4\u00e4, vaikk'ei h\u00e4n viel\u00e4 ollut\nkolmenkaankymmenen vanha. V\u00e4liin h\u00e4n haasteli varsin j\u00e4rkev\u00e4sti,\nmutta viihtyi enimm\u00e4kseen vaan lasten seurassa, joita h\u00e4nen tapansa\noli sanoa kiltiksi pikku v\u00e4eksi. Lapset pitiv\u00e4t h\u00e4nt\u00e4, mik\u00e4li\nhuomasin, kuuluisana ballaadien laulajana ja satujen kertojana,\nja melkein joka kerta h\u00e4nell\u00e4 oli taskussaan jotain heit\u00e4 varten,\nmilloin palanen mesileip\u00e4\u00e4, milloin puolen pennyn pilli.\nTavallisesti h\u00e4n tuli kerran vuodessa n\u00e4ille seuduin moniaaksi\np\u00e4iv\u00e4ksi naapurien vieraanvaraisuuden turviin. H\u00e4n istahti\nillastamaan meid\u00e4n kanssamme, ja silloin ei vaimoni karvikkoviini\u00e4ns\u00e4\ns\u00e4\u00e4stellyt, eik\u00e4 pakinoistakaan puutetta tullut. Mr Burchell lauleli\nmeille vanhoja lauluja ja kertoi lapsille satuja Beverlandin pukista,\nk\u00e4rsiv\u00e4llisest\u00e4 Grisselist\u00e4, Catskinin seikkailuista ja ihanan\nRosamundan m\u00f6kist\u00e4.\nTalon kukko, joka tavallisesti kiekahti yhdentoista aikaan, ilmoitti\nmaatapanon-ajan tulleen, ja nyt tuli odottamaton pula eteen: mihin\npanna vieras nukkumaan? Kaikki talon vuoteet olivat k\u00e4yt\u00e4nn\u00f6ss\u00e4,\nja my\u00f6h\u00e4 oli l\u00e4hett\u00e4\u00e4 h\u00e4nt\u00e4 l\u00e4himp\u00e4\u00e4n majataloonkaan. Sen pulman\nratkaisi pikku Dick, tarjoten h\u00e4nelle oman tilansa, jos itse p\u00e4\u00e4see\nMoses veljens\u00e4 viereen.\n-- Ja min\u00e4, -- huudahti Bill, -- min\u00e4 annan tilani mr Burchellille,\njos siskot ottavat minut s\u00e4nkyyns\u00e4.\n-- Kas se oli oikein! -- virkoin min\u00e4. Vieraanvaraisuus on kristityn\nensimm\u00e4isi\u00e4 velvollisuuksia. Mets\u00e4npeto vet\u00e4ytyy tyyssijaansa,\nlintu lent\u00e4\u00e4 pes\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4, mutta avuttoman ihmisen t\u00e4ytyy turvautua\nl\u00e4himm\u00e4iseens\u00e4. Suurin vieras maailmassa oli H\u00e4n, joka tuli maailmaa\npelastamaan. H\u00e4nell\u00e4 ei ollut omaa kotia, H\u00e4n ik\u00e4\u00e4nkuin tahtoi n\u00e4hd\u00e4,\nmink\u00e4 verran vieraanvaraisuutta meiss\u00e4 viel\u00e4 on j\u00e4ljell\u00e4. Debora\nkulta, -- sanoin min\u00e4 sitten vaimolleni, -- anna pojille sokeripala\nkummallekin, Dickille suurempi, h\u00e4n kun teki ensimm\u00e4isen ehdotuksen.\nSeuraavana aamuna varhain min\u00e4 vein koko perheeni niitylle,\nj\u00e4lkihein\u00e4\u00e4 korjaamaan. Vieras tarjosi apuansa ja otettiin joukkoon\nh\u00e4nkin. Helposti k\u00e4vi luokojen k\u00e4\u00e4nt\u00e4minen: min\u00e4 astuin edell\u00e4,\nmuut asianmukaisessa j\u00e4rjestyksess\u00e4 per\u00e4ss\u00e4. Huomasin sent\u00e4\u00e4n,\nkuinka hartaasti mr Burchell avusti Sofia tyt\u00e4rt\u00e4ni. Oman osansa\nsuoritettuaan h\u00e4n ryhtyi Sofian osaan, vilkkaasti puhellen h\u00e4nen\nkanssaan. Niin vakuutettu kumminkin olin tytt\u00e4reni terveest\u00e4 \u00e4lyst\u00e4\nja kunniantunnosta, ett'ei tuommoinen taloudellisesti rappiolle\njoutunut mies minussa lainkaan her\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt levottomuutta. Illan tullen\npyydettiin mr Burchellia j\u00e4\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n meille, niinkuin edellisen\u00e4kin\niltana, mutta h\u00e4n kielt\u00e4ytyi, sanoen aikovansa olla y\u00f6t\u00e4 naapurissa;\nh\u00e4nell\u00e4 oli pillikin viet\u00e4v\u00e4n\u00e4 sen talon lapsille.\nH\u00e4n l\u00e4ksi. Illallisp\u00f6yd\u00e4ss\u00e4 meid\u00e4n keskustelumme koski \u00e4skeist\u00e4\nkovaosaista vierasta.\n-- Mik\u00e4 rep\u00e4isev\u00e4 esimerkki tuo mies onkaan -- lausuin min\u00e4 --\nsiit\u00e4 kovasta onnesta, joka seuraa kevytmielist\u00e4 ja huimap\u00e4ist\u00e4\nnuoruutta! Ei h\u00e4n ole \u00e4ly\u00e4 vailla, mutta sep\u00e4 asettaa h\u00e4nen entiset\nmielett\u00f6m\u00e4t tekonsa vain sit\u00e4 r\u00e4ike\u00e4mp\u00e4\u00e4n valoon. Mies parka! Miss\u00e4\novat nyt k\u00e4rkkyj\u00e4t ja imartelijat, nuo h\u00e4nen entiset johdettavansa\nja k\u00e4skett\u00e4v\u00e4ns\u00e4? Poissa ne ovat, mielistelem\u00e4ss\u00e4 kenties sit\u00e4\nparittajaa, joka h\u00e4nen hurjistelujensa kautta on rikastunut. T\u00e4t\u00e4 he\nnyt ylistelev\u00e4t, nuo samaiset, jotka ennen ylisteliv\u00e4t h\u00e4nt\u00e4. Ennen\nvanhaan he ihastelivat h\u00e4nen \u00e4lyns\u00e4 ter\u00e4vyytt\u00e4, nyt he ivaavat h\u00e4nen\nmielett\u00f6myytt\u00e4\u00e4n. H\u00e4n on k\u00f6yh\u00e4, ja lienee siihen h\u00e4nen oma syyns\u00e4,\nsill\u00e4 h\u00e4nelt\u00e4 puuttuu sek\u00e4 kunniantuntoa, ollakseen itsen\u00e4inen, ett\u00e4\ntaitoakin, ollakseen hy\u00f6dyllinen.\nLienee minulla ollut salaisia syit\u00e4, jotka saattoivat minut tekem\u00e4\u00e4n\nn\u00e4m\u00e4 huomautukseni liiankin jyrk\u00e4ss\u00e4 muodossa. Sofia nuhteli minua\nlempein sanoin.\n-- Olipa h\u00e4nen entinen k\u00e4yt\u00f6ksens\u00e4 millainen hyv\u00e4ns\u00e4, is\u00e4, -- virkkoi\nh\u00e4n, -- ei h\u00e4nt\u00e4 pit\u00e4isi h\u00e4nen nykyisiss\u00e4 oloissaan en\u00e4\u00e4 moittia.\nSe puutteen-alainen asema, mihin h\u00e4n nyt on joutunut, on riitt\u00e4v\u00e4\nrangaistus entisist\u00e4 hurjisteluista, ja olenhan min\u00e4 is\u00e4n itsens\u00e4kin\nkuullut sanovan, ett'ei milloinkaan saa ly\u00f6d\u00e4 tarpeetonta iskua\nsiihen uhriin, jota sallimuksen vihan vitsa kurittaa.\n-- Sin\u00e4 olet oikeassa, Sofia, -- huudahti Moses, -- ja sattuvastipa\ner\u00e4s muinais-ajan kirjailijoista esitt\u00e4\u00e4kin mointa menettely\u00e4,\nkuvaillessaan, kuinka muuan talonpoika yritti nylke\u00e4 Marsyasta,\njolta sadun mukaan toinen jo oli nahan kett\u00e4nyt. Enk\u00e4 min\u00e4 sit\u00e4\npaitsi tied\u00e4, lieneek\u00f6 t\u00e4m\u00e4n k\u00f6yh\u00e4n miehen tila niin huono kuin is\u00e4\nkuvailee. Emme me saa tuomita toisten tunteita sen mukaan, mit\u00e4 me\nitse tuntisimme heid\u00e4n tilassansa. Myyr\u00e4n pes\u00e4 on meist\u00e4 per\u00e4ti\npime\u00e4, mutta el\u00e4in itse pit\u00e4\u00e4 sit\u00e4 tarpeeksi valoisana. Ja totta\npuhuen, tuo mies n\u00e4kyy olevan tyytyv\u00e4inen tilaansa, enk\u00e4 ole kuullut\nkenenk\u00e4\u00e4n puhelevan niin vilkkaasti kuin h\u00e4n, haastellessaan sinun\nkanssasi.\nTuo oli lausuttu ilman mit\u00e4\u00e4n tarkoitusta, mutta se sai kumminkin\ntyt\u00f6n punastumaan, vaikka h\u00e4n koetti sit\u00e4 peitt\u00e4\u00e4 pakotetulla\nmyh\u00e4yksell\u00e4, vakuuttaen, ett\u00e4 tuskin h\u00e4n oli huomannutkaan, mit\u00e4 mr\nBurchell sanoi. Vieras, liitti h\u00e4n, n\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 aikoinaan olleen eritt\u00e4in\nhieno gentleman.\nTuo kiire, jolla tytt\u00f6 koetti puolusteleida, ja h\u00e4nen punastumisensa\neiv\u00e4t minua sisimmiss\u00e4ni oikein miellytt\u00e4neet, mutta min\u00e4 en lausunut\nep\u00e4luulojani julki.\nHuomiseksi kun odotimme vieraisille meid\u00e4n hovinherraa, niin ryhtyi\nvaimoni valmistamaan hirvenpasteijaa. Moses istui lukemaan, min\u00e4\nk\u00e4vin opettamaan pieni\u00e4 poikia. Tytt\u00e4ret olivat t\u00e4ydess\u00e4 puuhassa,\nniinkuin muutkin. Min\u00e4 n\u00e4in heid\u00e4n kauan aikaa h\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4ilev\u00e4n valkean\n\u00e4\u00e4ress\u00e4. Luulin ensin heid\u00e4n auttavan \u00e4iti\u00e4ns\u00e4, kunnes pikku Dick\nkuiskaten ilmoitti minulle siskojen keitt\u00e4v\u00e4n kauneusvett\u00e4. Minulla\non luontainen vastenmielisyys kaikkia sellaisia vesi\u00e4 vastaan, ne\nkun eiv\u00e4t lainkaan ihoa paranna, vaan p\u00e4invastoin turmelevat sen.\nSenp\u00e4vuoksi min\u00e4 siirsin tuoliani v\u00e4hitellen l\u00e4hemm\u00e4s takkaa, tartuin\nhiilirautaan, ik\u00e4\u00e4nkuin kohentaakseni valkeata, mutta kaasinkin aivan\nkuin vahingoissa koko keitoksen tuhkaan, ja nyt oli jo kovin my\u00f6h\u00e4\nruveta laittamaan uutta.\nSEITSEM\u00c4S LUKU\nLontoolainen keikari. Suurinkin tyhmeliini saattaa oppia sen verran,\nett\u00e4 h\u00e4nest\u00e4 on hauskuutta illaksi tai pariksi.\nHelppo on ymm\u00e4rt\u00e4\u00e4, ett\u00e4 seuraavana p\u00e4iv\u00e4n\u00e4, jolloin nuori hovinherra\noli oleva vieraana meid\u00e4n talossa, meill\u00e4 pantiin liikkeelle kaikki,\nmit\u00e4 suinkin saatiin, jotta esiinnytt\u00e4isiin niin komeasti kuin\nmahdollista. Arvattava niinik\u00e4\u00e4n on, ett\u00e4 vaimoni ja tytt\u00e4reni\npukeutuivat heleimpiin h\u00f6yheniins\u00e4.\nMr Thornhill tuli, mukanaan pari vierasta, kotisaarnaaja ja\nhovimestari. Monilukuiset palvelijansa h\u00e4n aikoi, hienotuntoisesti\nkyll\u00e4, l\u00e4hett\u00e4\u00e4 l\u00e4heiseen majataloon, mutta minun vaimoni vaati,\nsulassa syd\u00e4mens\u00e4 riemussa, saada kestitt\u00e4\u00e4 heid\u00e4t kaikki tyyni.\nSiit\u00e4 oli, ohimennen sanoen, se seuraus, ett\u00e4 meill\u00e4 sen j\u00e4lkeen\nsaatiin olla kolme viikkoa laihemmalla muonalla.\nMr Burchellin viittaus edellisen\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4n\u00e4, ett\u00e4 mr Thornhill\nkosiskelee miss Wilmotia, Yrj\u00f6 poikani entist\u00e4 morsianta, teki\nvastaan-oton koko lailla pense\u00e4mm\u00e4ksi. Sattuma se kumminkin\njoissain m\u00e4\u00e4rin selvitti t\u00e4m\u00e4n pulman, sill\u00e4 kun joku seurasta tuli\nmaininneeksi neiden nimen, niin mr Thornhill kiroten vakuutti,\nett'ei h\u00e4nen mielest\u00e4\u00e4n saata sen typer\u00e4mp\u00e4\u00e4 olla kuin sanoa mointa\nlinnunpelj\u00e4tti\u00e4 kaunottareksi.\n-- Viek\u00f6\u00f6n minut hitto! -- jatkoi h\u00e4n, ellen min\u00e4 yht\u00e4 mielell\u00e4ni\nkatso itselleni morsianta lampun valossa St. Dunstanin kirkonkellon\nalla!\nJa sitten h\u00e4n nauroi, ja me nauroimme kanssa: rikkaitten pilapuheilla\non aina tehokas vaikutus. Oliviakaan ei malttanut olla kuiskaamatta,\nkyllin kuuluvasti kumminkin, ett\u00e4 mr Thornhill on sanomattoman\nleikillinen.\nIllallisen j\u00e4lkeen min\u00e4 tapani mukaan esitin maljan kirkolle.\nKotisaarnaaja kiitti minua siit\u00e4, sanoen, ett\u00e4 kirkko on kaikkien\nh\u00e4nen harrastustensa valtijatar.\n-- Kuules, Frank, -- virkkoi squire tavallisella\nveitikkamaisuudellaan, -- aatteles, ett\u00e4 kirkko, sinun nykyinen\nvaltijattaresi, seisoisi batistihihoissa[12] toisella puolen ja miss\nSofia ilman batisteja toisella, kumpaisenko k\u00e4skyj\u00e4 noudattaisit?\n-- Kumpaisenkin tietysti! -- huudahti kotisaarnaaja.\n-- Oikein, Frank! -- vastasi squire. -- L\u00e4k\u00e4ytt\u00e4k\u00f6\u00f6n t\u00e4m\u00e4 viini\nminut t\u00e4h\u00e4n paikkaan, ellei kaunis tytt\u00f6 ole arvokkaampi kuin kaikki\npappien valheet koko maailmassa, sill\u00e4 mit\u00e4 ovat kymmenykset ja muut\nvehkeet muuta kuin petosta, hiidest\u00e4 heitetyit\u00e4 juonia? Ja sen min\u00e4\notan todistaakseni.\n-- Sit\u00e4 sopisi kuulla! -- huudahti poikani Moses. -- Luulisinpa\npystyv\u00e4n vastaamaan teit\u00e4.\n-- Oli menneeksi, sir! -- virkkoi squire, ryhtyen heti v\u00e4ittelyyn\nja viitaten muille, ett\u00e4 nyt muka saadaan hauskaa. -- Jos mielitte\nt\u00e4t\u00e4 asiaa tyynesti pohtia, niin min\u00e4 nostan kyll\u00e4 kintaanne. Ja\nensinn\u00e4kin: k\u00e4yd\u00e4\u00e4nk\u00f6 asiaan -- analogillisesti vai dialogillisesti?\n-- J\u00e4rkevill\u00e4 syill\u00e4, -- vastasi Moses riemuissaan siit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4see\nv\u00e4ittelem\u00e4\u00e4n.\n-- No niin, -- lausui squire. -- Ensiksikin te toivoakseni ette\nkiell\u00e4, ett\u00e4 mit\u00e4 ikin\u00e4ns\u00e4 on, se on. Ellette sit\u00e4 my\u00f6nn\u00e4, en k\u00e4y\njatkamaan keskusteluja.\n-- Totta kai min\u00e4 sen my\u00f6nn\u00e4n, -- vastasi Moses, -- ja k\u00e4yt\u00e4n sit\u00e4\nhyv\u00e4ksenikin.\n-- Toivoakseni, -- puhui squire edelleen, te my\u00f6nn\u00e4tte my\u00f6skin, ett\u00e4\nosa on kokonaistansa pienempi.\n-- My\u00f6nn\u00e4n, -- vastasi Moses. -- Seh\u00e4n on oikeus ja kohtuus.\n-- Toivoakseni, -- jatkoi squire, -- te ette kiell\u00e4 sit\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n, ett\u00e4\nkolmion kulmat yhteens\u00e4 ovat yht\u00e4 suuret kuin kaksi suoraa kulmaa.\n-- Se on selv\u00e4 kuin p\u00e4iv\u00e4! -- vastasi toinen, katsahtaen ymp\u00e4rilleen\nvakavana kuin tavallisestikin.\n-- No niin, -- lausui Squire, puhuen hyvin nopeasti. -- Nyt ollaan\npremisseist\u00e4 yht\u00e4 mielt\u00e4, ja min\u00e4 jatkan. Itse-eksistensien\nyhteenliitt\u00e4minen, joka tapahtuu molemmanpuolisessa duplikaatisessa\nrationissa, matkaansaattaa luonnollisestikin problematillisen\ndialogismin, joka joissain m\u00e4\u00e4rin todistaa, ett\u00e4 spiritualiteetin\nessensille sopii antaa toinen predicabile.\n-- Malttakaa, malttakaa! -- huusi toinen. Min\u00e4 kiell\u00e4n sen.\nLuuletteko, ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 noin vaan ilman muuta my\u00f6nt\u00e4isin oikeaksi\nmoisen harhaopin?\n-- Mitenk\u00e4! -- tiuskasi squire, ollen kiivastuvinaan. -- Ette\nmy\u00f6nn\u00e4 vainen! Vastatkaas minulle verukkeitta t\u00e4h\u00e4n kysymykseen:\noliko Aristoteles oikeassa, v\u00e4itt\u00e4ess\u00e4\u00e4n, ett\u00e4 relativi kuuluu\nkorrelatiinsa?\n-- Ep\u00e4ilem\u00e4tt\u00e4, -- vastasi toinen.\n-- Ja koska niin on, -- jatkoi squire, niin vastatkaas suoraan\nminun kysymykseeni: pid\u00e4ttek\u00f6 te minun enthymemani edellisen osan\nanalytillist\u00e4 pohtimista riitt\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00f6m\u00e4n\u00e4 _secundum quoad_ vai\n_secundum minus?_ Tuokaa esiin syyt ja perusteet! Syyt ja perusteet,\nsanon min\u00e4, suoraan!\n-- Minun t\u00e4ytyy sanoa, -- lausui Moses, ett'en min\u00e4 oikein k\u00e4sit\u00e4\nteid\u00e4n ajatuksenne juoksua. Mutta lausukaapas v\u00e4itteenne yhdess\u00e4\nyksinkertaisessa lauseessa, niin luulenpa voivani vastata.\n-- Ohoo, sir! -- virkkoi squire. -- N\u00f6yrin palvelijanne! Vai pit\u00e4isi\nminun hankkia teille viel\u00e4 todistuksia, jopa j\u00e4rkevi\u00e4 syit\u00e4kin! Ehei,\nsir, minun t\u00e4ytyy sanoa, ett\u00e4 te vaaditte liikoja.\nSeuraus oli se, ett\u00e4 kaikki rupesivat nauramaan, ja Moses parka\nn\u00e4ytti varsin surkealta muitten iloisten kasvojen joukossa eik\u00e4 en\u00e4\u00e4\nkoko seurustelun aikana virkkanut halaistua sanaakaan.\nMinua t\u00e4m\u00e4 kohtaus ei lainkaan huvittanut, mutta Oliviaan se oli\ntehnyt aivan toisellaisen vaikutuksen. H\u00e4n piti sukkeluutena sit\u00e4,\nmik\u00e4 oli pelkk\u00e4\u00e4 ulkomuistista lukemista. Mr Thornhill oli kuin\nolikin h\u00e4nen mielest\u00e4\u00e4n eritt\u00e4in hieno gentleman, ja kun ottaa\nlukuun, kuinka paljon hely\u00e4 solakka vartalo, soreat vaatteet ja\nrikkaus ylh\u00e4iseen nimeen lis\u00e4\u00e4v\u00e4t, niin t\u00e4ytyy antaa tyt\u00f6lle\nanteeksi. Mr Thornhill oli kyll\u00e4 oppia ja tietoja vailla, mutta\nliukas h\u00e4n silti oli kielelt\u00e4\u00e4n ja pystyi sujuvasti keskustelemaan\nmist\u00e4 yleisest\u00e4 asiasta hyv\u00e4ns\u00e4. Ei siis ihme eik\u00e4 mik\u00e4\u00e4n, ett\u00e4 niin\nvikkel\u00e4 mies saattaa kiinnitt\u00e4\u00e4 puoleensa tyt\u00f6n, joka on kasvatettu\npit\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n arvossa omaa ulkonaista esiintymist\u00e4\u00e4n ja niinmuodoin\nantamaan sille arvoa muissakin.\nMr Thornhillin l\u00e4hdetty\u00e4 syntyi meid\u00e4n v\u00e4lill\u00e4 j\u00e4lleen keskustelu\nnuoren hovinherran ansioista. H\u00e4n kun alinomaa oli k\u00e4\u00e4ntynyt\nsek\u00e4 katseillaan ett\u00e4 puheillaan Olivian puoleen, ei ollut en\u00e4\u00e4\nep\u00e4ilemist\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n, ett\u00e4 Olivia se juuri oli syyn\u00e4 h\u00e4nen k\u00e4ynteihins\u00e4.\nEik\u00e4 tytt\u00f6 kovin pahakseen pannutkaan veljens\u00e4 ja sisarensa viattomia\nhokemisia siihen suuntaan. Deborakin n\u00e4kyi omistavan itselleen jonkun\nosan p\u00e4iv\u00e4n kunniata ja riemuitsi tytt\u00e4rens\u00e4 voitosta ihan kuin\nomastaan.\n-- Ja nyt, kultaseni, -- virkkoi h\u00e4n minulle, -- nyt tahdon\nsuoraan tunnustaa, ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 se juuri neuvoin tytt\u00f6j\u00e4 rohkaisemaan\nhovinherraa h\u00e4nen hienosteluissaan. Minussa on alati asunut\nkunnianhimoisia pyyteit\u00e4, ja nyt n\u00e4et, ett\u00e4 olen ollut oikeassa,\nsill\u00e4 kukapa ties, mik\u00e4 t\u00e4st\u00e4 lopuksi tulee?\n-- Kukapa sen vainenkin ties! -- vastasin min\u00e4 huoaisten. -- Minua\npuolestani tuo ei kovin ilahduta: mieluumpi olisi minulle k\u00f6yh\u00e4\nkunnon mies kuin tuo hieno gentleman, rikas ja jumalaton, sill\u00e4 jos\nminun ep\u00e4luuloni h\u00e4nest\u00e4 ovat oikeat, niin, sen min\u00e4 vakuutan, ei\nvapauskoinen ikin\u00e4 minun lastani saa.\n-- Kuulepas, is\u00e4, -- huudahti Moses, -- sin\u00e4 olet liian ankara. Ei\nJumala h\u00e4nt\u00e4 ajatuksista ole tuomitseva, vaan teoista. Itsekussakin\non tuhat v\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4\u00e4 ajatusta, joita h\u00e4ness\u00e4 her\u00e4\u00e4, mutta joita h\u00e4n ei\nkykene poistamaan. Vapauskoisuus on tuossa gentlemanissa kukaties\njotain ehdotonta, niin ett\u00e4, vaikkapa pit\u00e4isi h\u00e4nen ajatuksiansa\nvaarinakin, h\u00e4nen mielipiteens\u00e4 sittenkin ovat vain pakollisia. H\u00e4nt\u00e4\nei niinmuodoin saata erehdyksist\u00e4 syytt\u00e4\u00e4 enemp\u00e4\u00e4 kuin sellaista\nkuvern\u00f6\u00f6ri\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n, jonka on t\u00e4ytynyt p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4\u00e4 rynt\u00e4\u00e4v\u00e4 vihollinen\nkaupunkiin, koskapa sill\u00e4 ei ole ollut suojelevaa muuria ymp\u00e4rill\u00e4\u00e4n.\n-- Aivan niin, poikani, -- vastasin min\u00e4, mutta jos tuo kuvern\u00f6\u00f6ri\nkutsumalla kutsuu vihollisen kaupunkiinsa, silloin h\u00e4n tekee\nv\u00e4\u00e4rin. Ja n\u00e4in on aina laita niitten, jotka erehdyksen valtaan\nantautuvat. Ei heid\u00e4n vikansa siin\u00e4 ole, ett\u00e4 he n\u00e4kem\u00e4ns\u00e4\ntodistukset oikeiksi my\u00f6nt\u00e4v\u00e4t, vaan siin\u00e4, ett\u00e4 he sulkevat silm\u00e4ns\u00e4\nniin monelta todistukselta, mit\u00e4 tarjona on. Olkoon niinkin, ett\u00e4\nihmisen v\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4t mielipiteet ovat muodostuneet h\u00e4ness\u00e4 vastoin h\u00e4nen\ntahtoansa, mutta kun h\u00e4n ehdoin tahdoin pysyy erehdyksess\u00e4 tai on\nhuolimaton mielipiteit\u00e4 muodostaessaan, niin h\u00e4n on edesvastauksessa\nvirheist\u00e4ns\u00e4 tai ansaitsee ylenkatsetta mielett\u00f6myytens\u00e4 t\u00e4hden.\nVaimoni ryhtyi nyt keskusteluun, syit\u00e4 ja perustuksia tosin esiin\ntuomatta. H\u00e4n huomautti, kuinka meid\u00e4n tuttavissamme on paljo\nviisaita miehi\u00e4, jotka ovat vapauskoisia, mutta hyvi\u00e4 aviomiehi\u00e4\nsilti. Ja sanoi h\u00e4n tuntevansa semmoisia \u00e4lykk\u00e4it\u00e4 tytt\u00f6j\u00e4kin, jotka\nkyll\u00e4 pystyv\u00e4t k\u00e4\u00e4nt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n miehens\u00e4 oikeaan uskoon.\n-- Ja kuka tiet\u00e4\u00e4, kultaseni, -- jatkoi h\u00e4n, mihin kaikkeen Olivia\nkykeneek\u00e4\u00e4n? Tytt\u00f6 pystyy puhumaan varsin monenlaisista asioista ja\non minun mielest\u00e4ni hyvinkin perehtynyt riidan-alaisiin kysymyksiin.\n-- Hyv\u00e4 yst\u00e4v\u00e4, mist\u00e4p\u00e4 riidan-alaisista kysymyksist\u00e4 h\u00e4n olisi\nlukenut? En muista milloinkaan pist\u00e4neeni sellaisia kirjoja h\u00e4nelle\nk\u00e4teen. Sin\u00e4 arvaat kuin arvaatkin h\u00e4nen ansionsa liian suuriksi.\n-- Eip\u00e4 niink\u00e4\u00e4n, is\u00e4! -- puuttui Olivia puheesen. -- Min\u00e4 olen\nlukenut koko joukon sellaisia kirjoja, niinp\u00e4 Thwackumin ja Squaren\nv\u00e4liset riidat ja Robinson Crusoen ja pakanallisen Perjantain\nkiistelyt, ja paraillaan min\u00e4 luen v\u00e4ittelyj\u00e4 \"Taivaallisesta\nYlj\u00e4st\u00e4.\"\n-- Verratonta! -- virkoin min\u00e4. -- Sin\u00e4 olet kelpo tytt\u00f6, ihan kuin\nluotu k\u00e4\u00e4nt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n ihmisi\u00e4 oikeaan uskoon, mutta menep\u00e4s nyt auttamaan\n\u00e4iti\u00e4 karvikkopiiraitten paistannassa.\nKAHDEKSAS LUKU\nLemmenjuttu, joka ei suurtakaan onnea ennusta, mutta josta saattaa\nolla paljokin seurauksia.\nSeuraavana aamuna tuli mr Burchell taaskin meille. Nuo h\u00e4nen tihe\u00e4t\nk\u00e4yntins\u00e4 eiv\u00e4t minua oikein miellytt\u00e4neet, ja siihen minulla oli\nomat syyni, mutta enh\u00e4n kumminkaan saattanut kielt\u00e4\u00e4 h\u00e4nelt\u00e4 seuraa\nja sijaa takkani \u00e4\u00e4ress\u00e4. Ty\u00f6t\u00e4 h\u00e4n tosin teki enemm\u00e4n kuin mink\u00e4\nh\u00e4nen kestitt\u00e4misens\u00e4 maksoi, sill\u00e4 ripe\u00e4sti h\u00e4n puuhasi yhdess\u00e4\nmeid\u00e4n kanssamme, oli nenimm\u00e4isen\u00e4 niitt\u00e4m\u00e4ss\u00e4 ja p\u00e4\u00e4llimm\u00e4isn\u00e4\npieleksell\u00e4. Sit\u00e4 paitsi oli h\u00e4nell\u00e4 aina jotain hauskaa sanottavana\najan ratoksi ja ty\u00f6ss\u00e4 virvoitukseksi. H\u00e4n oli kerrassaan niin\nomituinen ja j\u00e4rkev\u00e4, ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 pidin h\u00e4nest\u00e4, nauraen ja\ns\u00e4\u00e4lien h\u00e4nt\u00e4 samalla. Ainoa, mik\u00e4 minusta oli vastenmielist\u00e4,\noli h\u00e4nen kernas silm\u00e4ns\u00e4 minun tytt\u00e4reeni. H\u00e4n tapasi sanoa\nh\u00e4nt\u00e4 leikill\u00e4\u00e4n pikku morsiamekseen, ja milloin h\u00e4n kummallekin\ntytt\u00f6selle nauhakimpun toi, sai Sofia aina kauniimman. En tied\u00e4,\nmik\u00e4 lienee syyn\u00e4 ollutkaan, mutta p\u00e4iv\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4lt\u00e4 h\u00e4n vaan k\u00e4vi\nmiellytt\u00e4v\u00e4mm\u00e4ksi, h\u00e4nen \u00e4lyns\u00e4 esiintyi yh\u00e4 loistavampana ja h\u00e4nen\nyksinkertaisuutensa tiesi yh\u00e4 enemm\u00e4n syv\u00e4\u00e4 el\u00e4m\u00e4n viisautta.\nMe s\u00f6imme ateriat ulkona niityll\u00e4. P\u00f6yt\u00e4liina levitettiin kahisevain\nhein\u00e4in p\u00e4\u00e4lle, ja siin\u00e4 sit\u00e4 sitten istuttiin tai paremmin sanoen\nloiottiin yksinkertaisen aterian ymp\u00e4rill\u00e4. Mr Burchell piti huolta\nsiit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 kaikki olivat hilpe\u00e4ll\u00e4 mielin. Hauskuuden lis\u00e4ksi\nviserteli rastaspari kilpaa l\u00e4heisiss\u00e4 pensaissa, kesy punakerttu\ntuli noukkimaan murenoita k\u00e4sist\u00e4, ja jok'ainoa \u00e4\u00e4ni oli kuin rauhan\nkajahdusta.\n-- Aina kun t\u00e4ll\u00e4 tapaa istutaan, -- virkkoi Sofia, -- aina johtuvat\nmieleeni ne kaksi lempiv\u00e4ist\u00e4, jotka, niinkuin mr Gay niin kauniisti\nkuvailee, toisiansa syleillen kuolivat salaman iskemin\u00e4. Siin\u00e4 on\njotain niin liikuttavaa tuossa kuvauksessa, ett\u00e4 olen satakin kertaa\nlukenut sen yh\u00e4 uudestaan ja aina yht\u00e4 suurella ihastuksella.\n-- Minun mielest\u00e4ni, -- virkkoi poikani, ovat kauniimmatkin kohdat\nsiin\u00e4 koko joukon heikommat kuin Ovidion Acis ja Galateassa.\nRoomalainen runoilija osaa paremmin k\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 _vastakohtia_, ja t\u00e4st\u00e4,\njos se vain taiteellisesti k\u00e4sitell\u00e4\u00e4n, riippuu liikuttavan kuvauksen\nkoko voima.\n-- Merkillist\u00e4, -- arveli mr Burchell, -- kuinka nuo teid\u00e4n\nmainitsemanne runoilijat ovat, kumpikin kotimaassansa, samalla\ntavalla kehitt\u00e4neet runoaistia v\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4\u00e4n suuntaan, sullomalla s\u00e4keet\nt\u00e4yteen epiteetej\u00e4. V\u00e4hempikykyiset ovat huomanneet helpoksi matkia\nheid\u00e4n puutteitansa, ja runous Englannissa, niinkuin keisarikunnan\nviimeisin\u00e4 aikoina Roomassakin, ei ole muuta kuin kokoelma loistavia\nkuvia, vailla suunnitelmaa ja keskin\u00e4ist\u00e4 yhteytt\u00e4, kokonainen jono\nepiteetej\u00e4, jotka hel\u00e4ht\u00e4v\u00e4t kauniilta, mutta eiv\u00e4t kohota tunnetta.\nMutta, hyv\u00e4 neiti, muita t\u00e4ss\u00e4 moittiessani, te kenties katsotte\nasianmukaiseksi, ett\u00e4 annan teille tilaisuutta maksaa samalla\nmitalla. Enk\u00e4 min\u00e4 t\u00e4t\u00e4 huomautusta olisi tehnytk\u00e4\u00e4n, ellei olisi\ntarkoitukseni siten p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 esitt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n t\u00e4lle seuralle ballaadia,\njossa, niin virheellinen kuin se muutoin onkaan, ei ainakaan ole\nedell\u00e4 mainituita vikoja.\n    \"K\u00e4y kanssain laaksoon, erakko,\n    Ja tuonne n\u00e4yt\u00e4 tie,\n    Miss' s\u00e4de tuikkain viittoaa.\n    Siell' armasta niin lie...\n    \"Ma v\u00e4syksiss\u00e4 harhailen,\n    Mua painaa, uuvuttaa...\n    T\u00e4\u00e4ll' er\u00e4maata seuraa vain\n    Taas uusi er\u00e4maa.\"\n    -- Ei sinne, poikain! -- vanhus huus.\n    -- Siell' on niin synkk\u00e4\u00e4, voi!\n    -- Se virvatult' on pett\u00e4v\u00e4\u00e4.\n    -- Sielt' turmios \u00e4\u00e4ni soi.\n    -- Kas tuolla mulla maja pien'.\n    -- K\u00e4y vieraakseni vaan!\n    -- On v\u00e4h\u00e4t siell\u00e4 varat, mut\n    -- Ne mielin hyvin jaan.\n    -- Y\u00f6ks sinne j\u00e4\u00e4, ja mink\u00e4 voi,\n    -- Sen talo tarjookin:\n    -- Olk'vuoteen, leip\u00e4\u00e4, lepoa\n    -- Ja siunaukseinkin.\n    -- Tuoll' laitumilla laumat k\u00e4y.\n    -- Ne multa rauhan saa.\n    -- Minua Herra armahti:\n    -- Niit' tahdon armahtaa.\n    -- M\u00e4 vuorten rintehilt\u00e4 vain\n    -- Saan niukan ravinnon.\n    -- On yrtit, heelm\u00e4t ruokanain,\n    -- Ves' juomanani on.\n    -- K\u00e4y, vieras, huoles heit\u00e4 pois\n    -- Ja mustat murehet!\n    -- Maan lapsen tarpeet v\u00e4h\u00e4t on\n    -- Ja lyhyt-aikaiset.\n    Niin lempeet oli sanat nuo\n    Kuin kaste taivainen,\n    Ja n\u00f6yrin mielin matkamies\n    Nyt seuras m\u00f6killen.\n    Syv\u00e4ll\u00e4 syliss' er\u00e4maan\n    Pien' m\u00f6kki piilee tuo.\n    Ja turvan, levon rauhaisan\n    Se eksyneelle suo.\n    Ei vartijoita varastot\n    V\u00e4h\u00e4iset kaipaakaan:\n    Siell' oven aukas vieraillen\n    Puusalpa heikko vaan.\n    Jo lepoon kutsuu illansuu.\n    Nyt tulta takkahan!\n    Ja ehtoollista erakko\n    K\u00e4y rakentamahan.\n    H\u00e4n leip\u00e4\u00e4, hedelmi\u00e4 tuo\n    Hymyillen p\u00f6yt\u00e4h\u00e4n,\n    Ja pitk\u00e4n illan ratoksi\n    Satuja kertoo h\u00e4n.\n    Ja lattialla leikki\u00e4\u00e4n\n    Ly\u00f6 kissa kehr\u00e4ten,\n    Ja sirkka laulaa raossaan,\n    Tuli r\u00e4iskii iloinen.\n    Mut vieraan kasvot yh\u00e4 vaan\n    Hymy\u00e4 vaille j\u00e4\u00e4.\n    Suru painaa h\u00e4nt\u00e4 syv\u00e4 niin...\n    H\u00e4n itkuun hyr\u00e4ht\u00e4\u00e4.\n    Ja syv\u00e4 suru t\u00e4ytti my\u00f6s\n    Erakon syd\u00e4men.\n    -- Mik\u00e4 huoli rintaas rasittaa?\n    -- Oi virka, poikanen!\n    -- L\u00e4ksitk\u00f6 linnain loistavain\n    -- S\u00e4 huolta karkuhun?\n    -- Vai yst\u00e4v\u00e4tk\u00f6 pettiv\u00e4t,\n    -- Vai petti armas sun?\n    -- Voi, rakkauden riemu on\n    -- Niin halpaa, haihtuvaa.\n    -- Mut kahta halvempi on h\u00e4n,\n    -- Ken sit\u00e4 armastaa.\n    -- On nimi vain tuo \"yst\u00e4vyys\",\n    -- Se tyyten tenhoo sun,\n    -- Ihanaan uneen painaa, mut\n    -- Her\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4 itkuhun.\n    -- Ja rakkaus pelkk\u00e4 hely on,\n    -- On lelu tytt\u00f6jen.\n    -- Kenties se viihty\u00e4 viel\u00e4 vois\n    -- Pes\u00e4ss\u00e4 kyyhkysten.\n    -- Hyi poika! Huoles heit\u00e4 pois!\n    -- \u00c4l\u00e4 luota naisiin! -- Sen\n    Kun lausui h\u00e4n, niin puna nous\n    Jo pojan poskillen.\n    Ja kas! Uus kauneus el\u00e4hti\n    Nyt vieraan kasvoihin,\n    Niin ihana kuin aamun koi\n    Ja yht\u00e4 kerkeekin.\n    Mit\u00e4 tiet\u00e4\u00e4 katse karttava\n    Ja povi aaltoisa?\n    Kas! Poika lempiv\u00e4inen tuo\n    On -- impi ihana!\n    \"Voi, kurjalle s\u00e4 anteeks suo!\"\n    Huus' impi tuskissans'.\n    \"T\u00e4n huoneen saastutin m\u00e4, voi,\n    Miss' asut Herras kanss'!\n    \"Mun tytt\u00f6 raukan lempi vain\n    Se saattoi kulkemaan.\n    Ha'in rauhaa, mutta l\u00f6ysinkin\n    M\u00e4 ep\u00e4toivoa vaan.\n    \"Rannalla Tynen asuttiin\n    Kanss' armaan taattosein.\n    Kaikk' aarteet linnan s\u00e4\u00e4detty\n    Mun oli omaksein.\n    \"Mua kodist' armaast' ottamaan\n    Moni ritar' uljas riens.\n    Ken lemmest\u00e4, ken rikkaun vuoks\n    Se sinne ohjas tiens.\n    \"Muassa muitten usein n\u00e4in\n    My\u00f6s nuoren Edwinin,\n    Mut lempe\u00e4\u00e4n ei pukenut\n    H\u00e4n koskaan sanoihin.\n    \"Varoja, valtaa vailla h\u00e4n,\n    Ja halp' ol' pukukin,\n    Mut viisas, uljas oli h\u00e4n --\n    Siks' mulle rakkahin.\n    \"On armas aamun aurinko\n    Ja kaste hiljainen,\n    Mut armahampi Edwinin\n    Olj syd\u00e4n herttainen\n    \"Puu v\u00e4ikkyy kasteen helmiss\u00e4,\n    Mut v\u00e4ikkyy hetken vaan:\n    H\u00e4n kaste oli, mut mua voi!\n    M\u00e4 v\u00e4ikyin hetken vaan.\n    \"Ma liehuin kevytmiell\u00e4 niin,\n    Mun sy\u00f6men' ilkamoi:\n    Kun lemmen tuskaa k\u00e4rsi h\u00e4n,\n    Se mulle riemun toi.\n    \"H\u00e4n pilkkaan vihdoin v\u00e4s\u00e4htyi,\n    Mun j\u00e4tti, ylpe\u00e4n,\n    Ja er\u00e4maihin poistui pois\n    Ja siell\u00e4 kuoli h\u00e4n.\n    \"Mun syyni on, ja hengell\u00e4in\n    Sen tahdon sovittaa:\n    Niin, siihen, miss\u00e4 lep\u00e4\u00e4 h\u00e4n,\n    Ma tahdon nukahtaa.\n    \"N\u00e4in p\u00e4\u00e4ttyk\u00f6\u00f6n t\u00e4\u00e4 toivoton,\n    T\u00e4\u00e4 kurja el\u00e4m\u00e4,\n    Mun t\u00e4hten' Edwin kuoli, -- nyt\n    M\u00e4 h\u00e4nen t\u00e4htens\u00e4.\"\n    -- Luoja varjelkoon! -- huus toinen\n    H\u00e4net syliins' sulkikin:\n    T\u00e4\u00e4 h\u00e4mm\u00e4styi, mut -- olikin\n    Syliss\u00e4 Edwinin.\n    -- Mun Angelinan', katsohan,\n    -- Tunnethan, armaisen'?\n    -- Sun Edwinis taas kutsuttiin\n    -- Elohon, lempehen.\n    -- Lep\u00e4j\u00e4 taas mun rinnallain,\n    -- K\u00e4y onnen nautintaan. --\n    \"Emmeh\u00e4n en\u00e4\u00e4, armas oi,\n    Eroa milloinkaan?\"\n    -- Ei, emme koskaan! Lemmellen\n    -- El\u00e4mme yksin ain'.\n    -- Ja koska viime hetkes ly\u00f6,\n    -- Se mullekin ly\u00f6 vain.\nT\u00e4t\u00e4 ballaadia n\u00e4kyi Sofia kuuntelevan mielihyv\u00e4ll\u00e4, jopa hellin\ntuntein.\nMutta \u00e4kki\u00e4 h\u00e4iritsi meid\u00e4n rauhaamme pyssyn laukaus aivan l\u00e4hell\u00e4.\nHeti sen j\u00e4lkeen sy\u00f6ksi muuan mies pensas-aidan l\u00e4pi saalistaan\nnoutamaan. Se oli squiren kotisaarnaaja. H\u00e4n oli ampunut yhden niit\u00e4\nrastaita, jotka niin monasti olivat meid\u00e4n ratoksemme laulelleet.\nNiin l\u00e4heinen kova laukaus oli s\u00e4ik\u00e4ytt\u00e4nyt meid\u00e4n tytt\u00e4remme. Sofian\nmin\u00e4 huomasin painautuneen peloissaan mr Burchellin syliin suojaa\nhakemaan. Mets\u00e4st\u00e4j\u00e4 tuli esiin ja pyysi anteeksi, ett\u00e4 oli h\u00e4irinnyt\nmeit\u00e4, vakuuttaen, ett'ei h\u00e4n tiennyt meid\u00e4n olevan niin l\u00e4hell\u00e4. H\u00e4n\nistahti nuoremman tytt\u00e4reni viereen ja, mets\u00e4miehen tapaan, tarjosi\nh\u00e4nelle t\u00e4n'aamuisen saaliinsa. Toinen oli jo kielt\u00e4ym\u00e4isill\u00e4\u00e4n,\nmutta salainen silm\u00e4ys \u00e4idilt\u00e4 sai h\u00e4net korjaamaan erehdyksens\u00e4 ja\nvastaan-ottamaan tarjouksen, vaikka jonkunlaisella ep\u00e4r\u00f6imisell\u00e4kin.\nVaimoni ei malttanut taaskaan olla ilmituomatta ylpeytt\u00e4\u00e4n: h\u00e4n\nkuiskasi n\u00e4et minulle huomanneensa, kuinka Sofia oli tehnyt\nkotisaarnaajaan yht\u00e4 valtavan vaikutuksen kuin Olivia squireen. Min\u00e4\npuolestani luulin, ja paremmallakin syyll\u00e4, Sofian huomion k\u00e4\u00e4ntyneen\naivan toisaanne.\nKotisaarnaajan asiana oli tehd\u00e4 meille tiedoksi, ett\u00e4 mr Thornhill\noli hankkinut soittoniekkoja ja virvoituksia ja aikoo t\u00e4n\u00e4 iltana\ntoimittaa nuorille neitosille tanssiaiset kuutamossa nurmikolla\npappilan edustalla.\n-- T\u00e4ytyy tunnustaa, -- jatkoi h\u00e4n, -- ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 erityisist\u00e4 syist\u00e4\ntahdoin olla ensimm\u00e4inen t\u00e4m\u00e4n sanan saatannassa. Toivon n\u00e4et, ett\u00e4\npalkinnoksi saan miss Sofian lupautumaan minun tanssikumppalikseni.\nTytt\u00e4reni vastasi, ett'ei h\u00e4nell\u00e4 ole mit\u00e4\u00e4n sit\u00e4 vastaan, jos se\nvaan kunnialla tapahtua taitaa.\n-- Mutta kas t\u00e4ss\u00e4, -- lis\u00e4si h\u00e4n, katsahtaen mr Burchelliin, --\nt\u00e4ss\u00e4 on muuan gentleman, joka on ollut minun toverinani p\u00e4iv\u00e4n\nt\u00f6iss\u00e4, ja kohtuullistahan on, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n tulee osalle p\u00e4iv\u00e4n\nhuvituksiinkin.\nMr Burchell kiitti h\u00e4nt\u00e4 h\u00e4nen yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisyydest\u00e4\u00e4n, mutta luovutti\nh\u00e4net kotisaarnaajalle, lis\u00e4ten, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nen t\u00e4ytyy t\u00e4n\u00e4 iltana astua\nviel\u00e4 viisi peninkulmaa er\u00e4\u00e4sen taloon, jonne h\u00e4net on kutsuttu\nuutisjuhlan viettoon.\nTuo kielt\u00e4ytyminen tuntui minusta hiukan omituiselta. Enk\u00e4 saattanut\nsit\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n k\u00e4sitt\u00e4\u00e4, kuinka minun ymm\u00e4rt\u00e4v\u00e4inen Sofiani saattaa noin\ntaloudellisesti rappiolla olevalle miehelle antaa etusijan sellaisen\nrinnalla, jolla on paljoa suurempia tulevaisuuden toiveita. Mutta\nsamoin kuin miehet useimmiten osaavat oikeaan, naisten ansioita\narvostellessansa, samoin naisetkin usein arvostelevat meit\u00e4 oikein.\nEri sukupuolet n\u00e4kyv\u00e4t olevan m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4tyt toistensa t\u00e4hystelij\u00f6iksi ja\nkumpikin omalla tavallaan parhaiten pystyv\u00e4n tarkastelemaan toistansa.\nYHDEKS\u00c4S LUKU\nKaksi ylh\u00e4ist\u00e4 naista seuraan. Hienompi asu n\u00e4kyy tiet\u00e4v\u00e4n aina\nhienompaa sivistyst\u00e4kin.\nTuskin oli mr Burchell sanonut j\u00e4\u00e4hyv\u00e4iset ja Sofia lupautunut\nkotisaarnaajan tanssitoveriksi, kun jo pienet poikani juoksujalassa\nriensiv\u00e4t ilmoittamaan, ett\u00e4 squire on tulossa meille, mukanaan suuri\nseura.\nPappilaan palattuamme, oli hovinherra jo siell\u00e4, mukanaan kaksi h\u00e4nen\ntalouteensa kuuluvaa herraa ja kaksi nuorta lady\u00e4 upeissa puvuissa.\nN\u00e4m\u00e4 h\u00e4n esitti meille ylh\u00e4isin\u00e4 ja hienoina naisina p\u00e4\u00e4kaupungista.\nMeill\u00e4 ei sattunut olemaan tarpeeksi istuimia koko seuralle, mutta\nmr Thornhill ehdotti heti, ett\u00e4 kukin herra istuisi naisen syliss\u00e4.\nMin\u00e4 panin kerrassaan t\u00e4t\u00e4 vastaan, huolimatta vaimoni moittivasta\nsilm\u00e4yksest\u00e4. Moses l\u00e4hetettiin senvuoksi lainaamaan pari tuolia,\nja kosk'ei meill\u00e4 ollut tarpeeksi naisia kontratanssia varten, niin\nl\u00e4ksi kaksi herraa h\u00e4nen kerallaan, saamaan tanssijoille pareja.\nPian oli tuolit ja tanssitoverit hankittu. Herrain mukana n\u00e4et\npalasivat naapurini Flamboroughin ruusunpunaiset tytt\u00e4ret, prameillen\npunaisissa nauhoissa.\nYht\u00e4 kovan onnen kohtaa ei oltu otettu lukuun: miss Flamboroughit\nolivat tunnetut parhaimpina tanssijoina koko pit\u00e4j\u00e4ss\u00e4, osasivat sek\u00e4\nhypikkeet ett\u00e4 py\u00f6rikkeet perinpohjin, mutta olivat aivan outoja\nkontratanssissa. Se saattoi meid\u00e4t ensi alussa hiukan h\u00e4mille,\nmutta muutaman sys\u00e4yksen ja nyk\u00e4yksen per\u00e4st\u00e4 se heilt\u00e4kin vihdoin\nsujui varsin hyvin. Musikkina oli kaksi viulua, pilli ja k\u00e4sirumpu.\nKuu paistoi hele\u00e4sti. Mr Thornhill ja vanhin tytt\u00e4reni alkoivat\ntanssiaiset, katsojain ihastella, sill\u00e4 naapureita oli tullut suurin\nm\u00e4\u00e4rin, saatuaan kuulla tanssihankkeista. Tytt\u00e4reni se liikkui\nniin keve\u00e4sti ja notkeasti, ett'ei \u00e4iti voinut salata syd\u00e4mens\u00e4\nylpeytt\u00e4, vaan vakuutti minulle, ett\u00e4 niin nokkelasti kuin tuo tyt\u00f6n\ntynk\u00e4 tuossa py\u00f6riikin, niin \u00e4idilt\u00e4 ne on varastettu jok'ikinen\naskel. Lontoolaiset ladyt panivat parastansa, liikkuakseen yht\u00e4\nkeve\u00e4sti, mutta turhaan. Siin\u00e4 he uiskentelivat ja hytk\u00e4hteliv\u00e4t\nja hiueskelivat ja hyp\u00e4hteliv\u00e4t, mutta ei ottanut mik\u00e4\u00e4n oikein\nonnistuakseen. T\u00f6llistelij\u00e4t tosin sanoivat tuota kauniiksi, mutta\nnaapuri Flamborough huomautti, ett\u00e4 miss Livyn jalkain tapsutus se on\nkuin musikin kaikua vaan.\nKun tanssia oli kest\u00e4nyt tunnin verran, ehdottivat lontoolaiset\nladyt, ett\u00e4 lakattaisiin; pelk\u00e4siv\u00e4t n\u00e4et vilustumista. Toinen\nheist\u00e4 ilmaisi ajatuksensa minun mielest\u00e4ni jotenkin karkein sanoin,\nlausuen, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n on _\"totta toisen kerran, niin hiess\u00e4, ett\u00e4 vaikka\nvett\u00e4 kierr\u00e4.\"_ Sis\u00e4\u00e4n tultuamme oli siell\u00e4 valmiina upea illallinen,\nkylmi\u00e4 ruokia, jotka mr Thornhill oli tuottanut mukanaan. Keskustelu\noli v\u00e4hemm\u00e4n vilkasta kuin t\u00e4h\u00e4n saakka. Lontoolaiset ladyt sys\u00e4siv\u00e4t\nnyt Sofian ja Olivian kokonaan varjoon, sill\u00e4 heid\u00e4n puheensa aineina\noli yksinomaa ylh\u00e4isen maailman el\u00e4m\u00e4, korkeasukuisten seurat\nja muut hienot asiat, niinkuin taidemaalaukset, kauneudenaisti,\nShakespeare ja sointuvat lasit. Pari kertaa heilt\u00e4 tosin, meid\u00e4n\nsuureksi kauhuksemme, p\u00e4\u00e4si kirous, mutta sit\u00e4 min\u00e4 luulin vaan yh\u00e4\nvarmemmaksi merkiksi ylh\u00e4isest\u00e4 syntyper\u00e4st\u00e4. (My\u00f6hemmin min\u00e4 vasta\nsain tiet\u00e4\u00e4, ett\u00e4 kiroilemista pidet\u00e4\u00e4n hienoimmissakin piireiss\u00e4\nper\u00e4ti sopimattomana.) Heid\u00e4n upea pukunsa se kumminkin k\u00e4tki\nsuojelevaan harsoonsa kaikki karkeudet heid\u00e4n puheessaan.\nTytt\u00e4reni katselivat ilmeisell\u00e4 kateudella heid\u00e4n hienoa k\u00e4yt\u00f6st\u00e4\u00e4n,\nja jos siin\u00e4 mik\u00e4 nurinkuriselta n\u00e4ytti, niin heti se pantiin\nkaikkein korkeimman sivistyksen laskuun. Mutta heid\u00e4n alentuvainen\nkohteliaisuutensa se se k\u00e4vi yli kaiken muun. Toinen heist\u00e4 arveli,\nett\u00e4 miss Olivialle olisi ollut suureksi eduksi, jos h\u00e4n olisi\nhiukan enemm\u00e4n liikkunut maailmassa. Ja toinen lis\u00e4si, ett\u00e4 yksi\nainoa talvi Lontoossa tekisi miss Sofiasta ihan uuden ihmisen.\nVaimoni oli yht\u00e4 mielt\u00e4 kumpaisenkin kanssa eik\u00e4 sanonut mit\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n\nniin hartaasti halajavansa kuin ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nen tytt\u00e4rens\u00e4 saisivat edes\nyhden talvikauden oppia hienoja tapoja. Tuohon en min\u00e4 saattanut olla\nhuomauttamatta, ett\u00e4 heid\u00e4n sivistyksens\u00e4 on nytkin jo suurempi kuin\nvarat sallivat, ja ett\u00e4 runsaampi m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4 hienostumista tekisi vain\nvaaran-alaiseksi heid\u00e4n k\u00f6yhyytens\u00e4 ja her\u00e4tt\u00e4isi heiss\u00e4 pyyteit\u00e4,\njoihin heill\u00e4 ei ole oikeutta.\n-- Ja mist\u00e4, -- huudahti mr Thornhill, mist\u00e4p\u00e4 huvituksesta\ntarvitsisi kielt\u00e4yty\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n niitten, jotka voivat sellaisia itselleen\nhankkia? Minulla puolestani on varoja tarpeeksi; rakkaus, vapaus\nja huvit -- siin\u00e4 minun el\u00e4m\u00e4ni ohjeet. Mutta - hiisi viek\u00f6\u00f6n! --\njos puolet minun omaisuuttani saattaisi vieh\u00e4tt\u00e4v\u00e4lle Olivialleni\ntehd\u00e4 mielihyv\u00e4n, niin se olisi h\u00e4nen omansa, enk\u00e4 vaatisi muuta\nvastalahjaa kuin saada liitt\u00e4\u00e4 itseni lahjan lis\u00e4ksi.\nTunsin sen verran maailmaa, tiet\u00e4\u00e4kseni, ett\u00e4 tuo on vaan turhaa\nkorupuhetta, jonka takana piilee mit\u00e4 kehnoin tarkoitus, mutta min\u00e4\nhillitsin suuttumukseni.\n-- Sir, -- virkoin min\u00e4, -- se perhe, jota te nyt alentuvasti\nkunnioitatte l\u00e4sn\u00e4olollanne, on kasvatettu yht\u00e4 herkk\u00e4\u00e4n\nkunniantuntoon kuin tekin. Jok'ainoa yritys sen loukkaamiseen\ntuottaisi mukanaan mit\u00e4 turmiollisimmat seuraukset. Kunnia, sir,\non ainoa omaisuus, mit\u00e4 meill\u00e4 nykyj\u00e4\u00e4n on, ja t\u00e4t\u00e4 viimeist\u00e4\naarrettamme meid\u00e4n t\u00e4ytyy vaalia erityisen tarkalla huolella.\nPian minun kumminkin tuli paha mieli siit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 niin innokkaasti\nolin n\u00e4m\u00e4 sanat lausunut, sill\u00e4 squire otti minua k\u00e4dest\u00e4 ja vannoi\nk\u00e4sitt\u00e4v\u00e4ns\u00e4 minun kiivauteni, vaikk'ei sanonut voivansa hyv\u00e4ksy\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n\nminun ep\u00e4luulojani.\n-- Ja mit\u00e4 teid\u00e4n viittaukseenne tulee, -- jatkoi h\u00e4n, -- niin min\u00e4\nvakuutan, ett'ei mik\u00e4\u00e4n ollut mielest\u00e4ni kauempana kuin moinen\najatus. Ei, kaiken sen nimess\u00e4, mik\u00e4 vieh\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4 ja lumoaa! Sellainen\nsiveys, joka kysyy s\u00e4\u00e4nn\u00f6llist\u00e4 piirityst\u00e4, ei ole milloinkaan minua\nmiellytt\u00e4nyt, sill\u00e4 kaikki minun lemmenseikkailuni ovat k\u00e4yneet k\u00e4den\nk\u00e4\u00e4nt\u00e4m\u00e4ss\u00e4.\nLontoolaiset ladyt eiv\u00e4t olleet kuulevinaankaan viimeisi\u00e4 sanoja,\nja n\u00e4yttiv\u00e4t panneen kovin pahakseen moisen ujostelemattomuuden;\nhe rupesivat varsin ymm\u00e4rt\u00e4v\u00e4isesti ja vakavasti puhelemaan\nsiveellisest\u00e4 hyv\u00e4st\u00e4 avusta. Siihen puheeseen yhdyin pian min\u00e4kin\nvaimoni ja kotisaarnaajan kanssa. Lopulti t\u00e4ytyi squirekin tunnustaa\nkatuvansa entisi\u00e4 huimap\u00e4isyyksi\u00e4\u00e4n. Me puhelimme kohtuullisen el\u00e4m\u00e4n\ntuottamasta ilosta ja puhtaan omantunnon p\u00e4iv\u00e4npaisteisesta rauhasta.\nMin\u00e4 olin hyvill\u00e4ni siit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 pienetkin pojat saivat olla valveilla\nyli m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4ajan, sill\u00e4 t\u00e4llainen mielt\u00e4 ylent\u00e4v\u00e4 keskustelu tekee,\narvelin min\u00e4, heid\u00e4nkin hyv\u00e4\u00e4.\nMr Thornhill meni sit\u00e4kin kauemmas ja kysyi, enk\u00f6 min\u00e4 ottaisi\npit\u00e4\u00e4kseni iltarukousta. Siihen min\u00e4 suostuin ilomielin. Ja\nn\u00e4in vietettiin ilta mit\u00e4 hauskimmasti, kunnes vieraat vihdoin\nrupesivat tekem\u00e4\u00e4n l\u00e4ht\u00f6\u00e4. Ladyjen n\u00e4kyi olevan varsin haikea erota\nminun tytt\u00e4rist\u00e4ni, joihin he sanoivat kiintyneens\u00e4 erityisell\u00e4\nmielihyv\u00e4ll\u00e4, ja pyysiv\u00e4t yhdess\u00e4, ett\u00e4 tytt\u00e4reni tulisivat\nsaattamaan heit\u00e4 kotia. Squire yhtyi t\u00e4h\u00e4n pyynt\u00f6\u00f6n, saaden siihen\nvaimoltanikin kannatusta. Tyt\u00e4rten katseista min\u00e4 huomasin, ett\u00e4\nheid\u00e4nkin hyvin mielens\u00e4 tekee. T\u00e4ss\u00e4 pulmallisessa tilassa min\u00e4\nkoetin vet\u00e4\u00e4 esiin moniaita vastasyit\u00e4, mutta kun tytt\u00e4reni yks kaks\nkumosivat ne, niin t\u00e4ytyi minun vihdoin lausua jyrkk\u00e4 kielto. Ja\nsiit\u00e4 oli seurauksena, ett'en min\u00e4 koko seuraavana p\u00e4iv\u00e4n\u00e4 saanut\nosakseni kuin nyrpeit\u00e4 katseita ja lyhyit\u00e4 vastauksia.\nKYMMENES LUKU\nPerhe koettaa j\u00e4ljitell\u00e4 ylh\u00e4isi\u00e4. Kuinka kurjasti sen k\u00e4yk\u00e4\u00e4n, joka\nyritt\u00e4\u00e4 esiinty\u00e4 toisin kuin olot sallivat.\nMin\u00e4 aloin huomata, ett\u00e4 kaikki minun pitk\u00e4t ja hartaat puheeni\nkohtuullisuudesta, yksinkertaisista tavoista ja tyytyv\u00e4isyydest\u00e4\nolivat kaikuneet kuuroille korville. Ylh\u00e4isten puolelta meid\u00e4n\nosaksemme tullut huomio oli her\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt sen ylpeyden, jonka min\u00e4 olin\nvain uneen uuvuttanut, kykenem\u00e4tt\u00e4 sit\u00e4 poistamaan. Ikkunalaudat\nmeill\u00e4 olivat j\u00e4lleen, kuten entis-aikoinakin, t\u00e4ynn\u00e4\u00e4n koruvesi\u00e4\nkaulaa ja kasvoja varten. Aurinkoa ruvettiin pelk\u00e4\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n vihollisena\nulko-ilmassa ja tulta kasvojen v\u00e4rin turmelijana sis\u00e4ss\u00e4. Vaimoni\narveli, ett\u00e4 aikaisin nouseminen t\u00e4rvelee tyt\u00e4rten silmi\u00e4, ett\u00e4\niltap\u00e4iv\u00e4ll\u00e4 ty\u00f6skentelemisest\u00e4 nen\u00e4 tulee punaiseksi, ja vakuutti,\nett\u00e4 k\u00e4det pysyv\u00e4t valkoisina ainoastaan silloin kuin ei niill\u00e4\ntee mit\u00e4\u00e4n ty\u00f6t\u00e4. Ja niinp\u00e4 Yrj\u00f6 pojan paidat j\u00e4iv\u00e4tkin kesken,\nja naisv\u00e4ki ryhtyi j\u00e4lleen neulomaan gaasejansa ja kirjaamaan\nkanevoitansa. Flamboroughin tytt\u00f6 parat, heid\u00e4n entiset iloiset\nkumppalinsa, j\u00e4iv\u00e4t nyt syrj\u00e4\u00e4n: he olivat liian v\u00e4h\u00e4p\u00e4t\u00f6isi\u00e4\ntuttavia. Nyky\u00e4\u00e4n oli puheen-aineena yksinomaa ylh\u00e4isen maailman\nel\u00e4m\u00e4, korkeasukuisten seurat ja taidemaalaukset, kauneuden aisti,\nShakespeare, sointuvat lasit.\nOlisi t\u00e4m\u00e4 kaikki viel\u00e4 k\u00e4ynyt laatuun, ellei muuan mustalais-akka\nolisi povauksillaan nostanut meit\u00e4 ihan huipuille saakka. Tuskin oli\ntuo ruskeaihoinen sibilla saapunut taloon, niin jo riensiv\u00e4t tyt\u00f6t\nminun luokseni pyyt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n shillingi\u00e4 kumpikin, vet\u00e4\u00e4kseen hopearistin\nakan kouraan. Min\u00e4 olin, totta puhuen, jo v\u00e4synyt olemasta yht\u00e4mittaa\nymm\u00e4rt\u00e4v\u00e4isen\u00e4, ja niinp\u00e4 en osannut nytk\u00e4\u00e4n heid\u00e4n pyynt\u00f6\u00e4ns\u00e4\nkielt\u00e4\u00e4, minua kun miellyttti n\u00e4hd\u00e4 heid\u00e4t onnellisina. Shillingin\nsaivat kumpainenkin, vaikka -- se olkoon perheen kunniaksi sanottu\neiv\u00e4t he milloinkaan rahatta olleet, sill\u00e4 kumpaisellakin oli \u00e4idilt\u00e4\nsaatu guinea taskussa, kannettavana sill\u00e4 nimenomaisella ehdolla,\nett'ei sit\u00e4 milloinkaan saa s\u00e4rke\u00e4.\nOltuaan jonkun aikaa lukon takana mustalaisakan kanssa, tytt\u00e4ret\npalasivat, ja min\u00e4 n\u00e4in jo heid\u00e4n silmist\u00e4\u00e4n, ett\u00e4 jotain\nsuurenmoista heille oli ennustettu.\n-- No, tytt\u00f6set, mitenk\u00e4s k\u00e4vi? Virkapas, Livy, hyv\u00e4tk\u00f6 teit kaupat\npovarin kanssa?\n-- Kuules, is\u00e4 hyv\u00e4! -- vastasi h\u00e4n. -- Mink\u00e4h\u00e4n henkien kanssa h\u00e4n\noikein lieneek\u00e4\u00e4n liitossa? H\u00e4n vakuutti kivenkovaa, ett'ei kulu\nvuottakaan, niin min\u00e4 joudun naimisiin squiren kanssa.\n-- No niin. Ent\u00e4s sin\u00e4, Sofia lapseni? kys\u00e4isin min\u00e4. -- Mink\u00e4s\nmiehen sin\u00e4 saat?\n-- Min\u00e4 saan lordin, heti kuin sisareni on viett\u00e4nyt h\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4 squiren\nkanssa.\n-- Mitenk\u00e4? -- huudahdin min\u00e4. -- Senk\u00f6 verran te vain saittekin\nkahdella shillingill\u00e4! Ette muuta kuin yhden lordin ja yhden squiren\nkahdella shillingill\u00e4! Tytt\u00f6 hupakot! Min\u00e4 olisin puolta v\u00e4hemm\u00e4st\u00e4\nluvannut teille prinssin ja indialaisen nabobin.\nTytt\u00f6jen uteliaisuudesta oli kumminkin varsin vakavia seurauksia.\nMeill\u00e4 ruvettiin n\u00e4et ajattelemaan, ett\u00e4 t\u00e4hdiss\u00e4 on meille s\u00e4\u00e4detty\njotain erinomaisen korkeata, ja niinp\u00e4 jo ennakolta nautittiin\ntulevasta mahtavuudesta.\nTuhansia kertoja on jo huomattu, ja min\u00e4 vakuutan sen kerran viel\u00e4,\nett\u00e4 onnellisessa toivossa eletyt hetket ovat ihanammat kuin ne,\njolloin onnea jo todella nautitaan. Edellisess\u00e4 tapauksessa me\nlaitamme ruuat oman ruokahalumme mukaan, j\u00e4lkimm\u00e4isess\u00e4 ne meille\nluonto laittaa.\nMahdoton on uudestaan kuvata kaikkia niit\u00e4 kauniita unelmia,\njoihin me itsemme uuvutimme. Me n\u00e4imme jo, kuinka meid\u00e4n olomme\nparanemistaan paranevat, ja koska koko pit\u00e4j\u00e4 vakuutti squiren olevan\nrakastuneen minun tytt\u00e4reeni, niin rakastui Oliviakin h\u00e4neen: tuo\ntunne se puhumalla puhuttiin tytt\u00f6\u00f6n. N\u00e4in\u00e4 ihanina aikoina vaimoni\nn\u00e4ki my\u00f6t\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4 mit\u00e4 suloisimpia unia, joita h\u00e4n sitten aamulla\nkertoi meille suurella juhlallisuudella ja tyyten tarkoin. V\u00e4liin\nh\u00e4n oli n\u00e4hnyt ruumis-arkun ja p\u00e4\u00e4kallon ja sen alla kaksi luuta\nristiss\u00e4: se tiesi, ett\u00e4 ennen pitk\u00e4\u00e4 saadaan h\u00e4it\u00e4; vuoroin taas\noli tyt\u00e4rten taskut t\u00e4ynn\u00e4 vaskirahoja: se oli ihan varma merkki,\nett\u00e4 taskut v\u00e4h\u00e4n ajan per\u00e4st\u00e4 ovat pullollaan kultarahoja. Enteit\u00e4\noli tytt\u00e4rill\u00e4 itsell\u00e4\u00e4nkin. He tunsivat kummallisia suuteloita\nhuulillaan; he n\u00e4kiv\u00e4t renkaita kynttil\u00f6iss\u00e4; kukkaroita s\u00e4v\u00e4hteli\nilmaan takkavalkeasta, ja oikeita lemmenkuplia pulppuili jok'ikisen\nteekupin pohjalta.\nViikon lopulla tuli lontoolaisilta ladyilt\u00e4 kirje, jossa he\nl\u00e4hett\u00e4v\u00e4t meille terveisi\u00e4 ja toivovat saavansa n\u00e4hd\u00e4 koko meid\u00e4n\nperheemme ensi sunnuntaina kirkolla. Koko lauantai-aamun n\u00e4kyi\nvaimollani ja tytt\u00e4rill\u00e4 olevan sen johdosta pitki\u00e4 yhteisi\u00e4\nneuvotteluja. Silloin t\u00e4ll\u00f6in luotiin minuun katseita, jotka tiesiv\u00e4t\nsalaisia hankkeita. Minussa nousi, suoraan sanoen, kovia ep\u00e4luuloja:\njotain hassua tietenkin mietit\u00e4\u00e4n siihen suuntaan, mitenk\u00e4 huomenna\nesiinnytt\u00e4isi oikein prameasti. Illalla he aloittivat sotaretkens\u00e4\nminua vastaan kaikkien s\u00e4\u00e4nt\u00f6jen mukaan, ja vaimoni otti ollakseen\npiirityksen johtajana.\nTeet\u00e4 juotuamme ja huomattuaan minun olevan hyv\u00e4ll\u00e4 tuulella, he\nryhtyiv\u00e4t rynn\u00e4kk\u00f6\u00f6n.\n-- Huomenna, Charles kulta, mahtaa kirkolle tulla hyvin hienoa v\u00e4ke\u00e4.\n-- Kukaties, -- vastasin min\u00e4, -- vaikka mit\u00e4p\u00e4s sin\u00e4 siit\u00e4\nhuolehdit? Saarnan saatte kuulla, tulkoon sinne v\u00e4ke\u00e4 tai olkoon\ntulematta.\n-- Sit\u00e4h\u00e4n min\u00e4 juuri toivon, -- virkkoi h\u00e4n, -- mutta katsos,\nkultaseni, meid\u00e4n t\u00e4ytyy esiinty\u00e4 niin siev\u00e4sti kuin mahdollista,\nsill\u00e4 kukas sen tiet\u00e4\u00e4, mit\u00e4 tapahtuukaan?\n-- Sinun varovaisuutesi, -- vastasin min\u00e4, on kaikin puolin\nkiitett\u00e4v\u00e4. Siev\u00e4 k\u00e4yt\u00f6s ja esiintyminen kirkossa, seh\u00e4n se minua\nmiellytt\u00e4\u00e4kin. Rakkaus ja n\u00f6yryys, ilo ja tyyneys, sit\u00e4 meilt\u00e4\nvaaditaan ennen kaikkea.\n-- Niin juuri! -- huudahti h\u00e4n; -- sit\u00e4h\u00e4n min\u00e4kin. Mutta pit\u00e4\u00e4h\u00e4n\nmeid\u00e4n menn\u00e4 kirkolle niin sopivalla tavalla kuin suinkin eik\u00e4\nniinkuin mitk\u00e4 moukat.\n-- Sin\u00e4 olet aivan oikeassa, armaani, -- vastasin min\u00e4. -- Olin juuri\nehdottamaisillani ihan samaa. Sopiva kirkonk\u00e4ynnin tapa on se, ett\u00e4\nmenn\u00e4\u00e4n kirkkoon niin varhain kuin mahdollista. Sitenh\u00e4n saa aikaa\nhurskaisin tutkistelemuksiin, ennenkuin jumalanpalvelus alkaa.\n-- No mutta, Charles! -- keskeytti h\u00e4n. -- Onhan se totta kaikki tuo,\nmutta en min\u00e4 nyt sit\u00e4. Min\u00e4 tarkoitan, ett\u00e4 meid\u00e4n pit\u00e4\u00e4 menn\u00e4 sinne\nhienolla tavalla. Kirkollehan on, niinkuin tied\u00e4t, kaksi peninkulmaa,\nja minun t\u00e4ytyy sanoa, ett'ei minua ensink\u00e4\u00e4n miellytt\u00e4isi n\u00e4hd\u00e4\ntytt\u00e4rieni kulkea laahustavan penkkiins\u00e4 ihan palavissaan ja\ntulipunaisina, niinkuin vast'ik\u00e4\u00e4n olisivat voittaneet palkinnon\nkilpajuoksussa. Ei, kultaseni, vaan n\u00e4in min\u00e4 ehdotan: meill\u00e4h\u00e4n on\nkaksi kynt\u00f6hevosta; s\u00e4lk\u00f6 se on ollut meid\u00e4n talossa jo yhdeks\u00e4n\nvuotta, ja sen pari, Vaapukka, ei ole tehnyt mit'ikisen mit\u00e4\u00e4n\nkokonaiseen kuukauteen. Laiskuuttaan vaan ovat lihonneet kumpikin.\nMiks'ei ne sais tehd\u00e4 ty\u00f6t\u00e4 niinkuin mekin? Ja annas, kun Moses\nhiukan siivoaa niit\u00e4 ja sukii, niin ne v\u00e4ltt\u00e4v\u00e4t viel\u00e4 vallan hyvin,\nsen min\u00e4 sanon.\nMin\u00e4 v\u00e4itin, ett\u00e4 paljoa hienompaa on menn\u00e4 jalan kuin moisilla\nviheli\u00e4isill\u00e4 juhdilla, sill\u00e4 Vaapukka on kaihisilm\u00e4 ja s\u00e4l\u00f6ll\u00e4 ei\nole h\u00e4nt\u00e4\u00e4. Eik\u00e4 niill\u00e4 ole milloinkaan ratsastettu, ja niill\u00e4 on\nsenkin tuhannet oikut. Eik\u00e4 meill\u00e4 ole kuin yksi ainoa satula ja\nratsutyyny koko talossa. Kaikki n\u00e4m\u00e4 v\u00e4itteet kumottiin, niin ett'ei\nminun auttanut muuta kuin antaa per\u00e4\u00e4.\nSeuraavana aamuna min\u00e4 huomasin heid\u00e4n t\u00e4ydess\u00e4 hommassa ker\u00e4ilev\u00e4n\nretkelle tarvittavia esineit\u00e4, mutta kun kaikki tuo n\u00e4kyi kysyv\u00e4n\nviel\u00e4 paljonkin aikaa, niin min\u00e4 l\u00e4ksin edelt\u00e4 yksin\u00e4ni kirkolle.\nMuut lupasivat heti tulla per\u00e4ss\u00e4.\nTurhaan odottelin heit\u00e4 tunnin verran kuorip\u00f6yd\u00e4n \u00e4\u00e4ress\u00e4, mutta\nkun ei heit\u00e4 kuulunut, t\u00e4ytyi minun aloittaa, ja sitten toimitin\njumalanpalveluksen loppuun asti, hiukan levotonna kotiv\u00e4en viipymisen\nt\u00e4hden. Levottomuuteni kasvoi kasvamistaan, kunnes kirkonmenot\np\u00e4\u00e4tetty\u00e4ni l\u00e4ksin astumaan ajotiet\u00e4, jota oli viisi peninkulmaa.\n(Jalkatiet\u00e4 ei olisi ollut kuin kaksi.) Puolimatkassa n\u00e4in kulkueen\nverkalleen liikkuvan kirkolle p\u00e4in: vaimoni, Moses ja pikku pojat\ntoisen ja tytt\u00e4ret toisen hevosen selj\u00e4ss\u00e4. Min\u00e4 tiedustelemaan syyt\u00e4\nheid\u00e4n viipymiseens\u00e4, mutta huomasin pian heid\u00e4n katseistaankin,\nett\u00e4 heill\u00e4 oli mahtanut olla senkin seitsem\u00e4n vastusta matkalla.\nEnsinn\u00e4kin eiv\u00e4t hevoset olleet tahtoneet l\u00e4hte\u00e4 liikkeelle\nollenkaan, kunnes mr Burchell yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisesti kyll\u00e4 oli ruoskalla\nsaanut ne kulkemaan pari sataa yardia eteenp\u00e4in. Sitten olivat\nvaimoni ratsutyynyn hihnat katkenneet, niin ett\u00e4 t\u00e4ytyi pys\u00e4hty\u00e4\nlaittamaan niit\u00e4 kuntoon. Senj\u00e4lkeen oli toisen hevosen p\u00e4\u00e4h\u00e4n\npist\u00e4nyt seisahtua keskelle tiet\u00e4, josta sit\u00e4 ei saatu liikkeelle\nhyv\u00e4ll\u00e4 eik\u00e4 pahalla. T\u00e4ss\u00e4 surkuteltavassa tilassa he paraillaan\nolivat, minun saapuessani heid\u00e4n luokseen. Kosk'ei kumminkaan mit\u00e4\u00e4n\nvarsinaista vahinkoa ollut tapahtunut, niin en tuota vastoink\u00e4ymist\u00e4\ntodellakaan kovin pahakseni pannut, sill\u00e4 siin\u00e4 oli minulla oleva\nmonta aihetta voitonriemuun ja tytt\u00e4rilleni hyv\u00e4 opetus n\u00f6yryyteen.\nYHDESTOISTA LUKU\nPerhe p\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4 kumminkin pit\u00e4\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4t\u00e4\u00e4n pystyss\u00e4.\nHuomenna, Mikonp\u00e4iv\u00e4n aattona, oli meid\u00e4t kutsuttu Flamboroughiin\np\u00e4hkin\u00f6it\u00e4 paahtamaan ja leikkim\u00e4\u00e4n. Viimeiset kolaukset olivat meit\u00e4\nhiukan n\u00f6yryytt\u00e4neet; muutoin me olisimme halveksien hylj\u00e4nneet\nmoiset kutsut, mutta nyt koetimme olla tyytyv\u00e4isi\u00e4.\nArvoisan naapurin hanhenpaisti ja puddingi olivat varsin maukkaita\nja kotiolut, semmoisenkin tuntijan mielest\u00e4 kuin vaimoni, aivan\nerinomaista. Juttujen kertominen sit\u00e4 vastoin ei onnistunut\nnaapurilta yht\u00e4 hyvin. H\u00e4nen kertomuksensa olivat pitki\u00e4 ja kuivia\nja koskivat yksinomaa h\u00e4nt\u00e4 itse\u00e4ns\u00e4. Jo me senkin seitsem\u00e4n kertaa\nolimme niit\u00e4 kuulleet ja nauraneet niille, mutta kohteliaisuudesta\nt\u00e4ytyi nauraa kerta viel\u00e4.\nMr Burchell, joka oli mukana h\u00e4nkin, ja jota viattomat ajanvietot\naina huvittivat, pani tyt\u00f6t ja pojat sokkosille. Vaimonikin taipui\nyhtym\u00e4\u00e4n joukkoon, ja minun oli mieleni hyv\u00e4, n\u00e4hdess\u00e4ni, ett'ei\nh\u00e4n viel\u00e4 ole liian vanha. Me naapurin kanssa katselimme muitten\niloa ja nauroimme jokaiselle sukkelalle tempulle, muistellen, kuinka\nnokkelia ja vikkeli\u00e4 me olimme olleet nuorina. Sitten he leikkiv\u00e4t\n\"arvaa, kuka l\u00f6i\", ja sitten seurasi kysymyksi\u00e4 ja vastauksia, ja\nvihdoin ruvettiin \"tohvelia ajamaan.\" Koska t\u00e4m\u00e4 vanhan-aikuinen\nleikki lienee monellekin tuntematon, niin selitett\u00e4k\u00f6\u00f6n se muutamalla\nsanalla. Seura k\u00e4y lattialle istumaan piiriin. Yksi seisoo keskell\u00e4\nja koettaa tavoittaa tohvelia, jota muut siirt\u00e4v\u00e4t miehest\u00e4 mieheen\ntoistensa jalkain alitse, niinkuin sukkulaa. Ja kosk'ei piirin\nkeskell\u00e4 seisoja saata yht'aikaa n\u00e4hd\u00e4 joka puolelle, niin ilmenee\nt\u00e4m\u00e4n leikin suuri kauneus juuri siin\u00e4, ett\u00e4 se, kell\u00e4 tohveli\nkulloinkin sattuu olemaan, koettaa sen korolla ly\u00f6d\u00e4 etsij\u00e4\u00e4 siihen\nkohtaan, jota h\u00e4n kaikista v\u00e4himmin osaa varoa.\nOlivia oli paraillaan keskell\u00e4 piiri\u00e4, saaden lopsauksia milloin\npuolelta, milloin toiselta ja tulipunaisena, harmissaan huutaen kuin\nparas huutor\u00e4tt\u00e4ri: \"ei saa tehd\u00e4 vilppi\u00e4, ei saa tehd\u00e4 vilppi\u00e4\",\nkun -- voi kauhistus ja h\u00e4pe\u00e4! -- kukapas muu tuli sis\u00e4\u00e4n, kuin\njuuri meid\u00e4n ylh\u00e4iset lontoolaiset tuttavamme, lady Blarney ja miss\nCarolina Wilhelmina Amelia Skeggs! Ei maksa kuvatakaan t\u00e4t\u00e4 uutta\nmasennusta: kovin tulisi kuva laiha. Hyv\u00e4inen aika! Esiinty\u00e4 niin\nkorkeasti sivistyneitten ladyjen n\u00e4hden n\u00e4in alentavassa asemassa!\nMutta mit\u00e4p\u00e4s sen parempaa saattoi odottaakaan moisesta moukkain\nleikist\u00e4, mink\u00e4 mr Flamborough oli esitt\u00e4nyt! Hetken aikaa me olimme\nkuin pilvist\u00e4 pudonneita, h\u00e4mm\u00e4styksest\u00e4 ihan kivettyneit\u00e4.\nLadyt olivat k\u00e4yneet meill\u00e4 ja tulleet sitten t\u00e4nne meit\u00e4 tapaamaan,\nhe kun kaikin mokomin tahtoivat saada tiet\u00e4\u00e4, mik\u00e4 oli eilen\nest\u00e4nyt meid\u00e4n naisia tulemasta kirkolle. Olivia otti ollakseen\npuhemiehen\u00e4 ja selitti koko sattuman syyt, rakasta kreivit\u00e4rt\u00e4mme\nHanover-squaren varrella, ei nykyj\u00e4\u00e4n en\u00e4\u00e4 kirjoiteta muuta kuin\npelkk\u00e4\u00e4 jokap\u00e4iv\u00e4ist\u00e4; hienoa maailmaa niiss\u00e4 ei kuulu, ei n\u00e4y.\n(\"H\u00f6r\u00f6nt\u00f6r\u00f6\u00e4!\")\n-- Armollinen neiti, -- virkkoi toinen, -- \"teh\u00e4n unohditte omat\nrunonne Lady's Magazinessa. My\u00f6nt\u00e4nette toki, ett'ei niiss\u00e4 ole\nmit\u00e4\u00e4n halpamaista. Vai eik\u00f6 meill\u00e4 siit\u00e4 l\u00e4hteest\u00e4 ole en\u00e4\u00e4 mit\u00e4\u00e4n\nodotettavissa?\"\n(\"H\u00f6r\u00f6nt\u00f6r\u00f6\u00e4!\")\n-- No mutta, rakas yst\u00e4v\u00e4! -- puhui lady. -- Tied\u00e4tteh\u00e4n te, ett\u00e4\nminun lukijani ja seuranaiseni on j\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt minut, mennen naimisiin\nkapteeni Roachin kanssa, ja kosk'en min\u00e4 heikoilta silmilt\u00e4ni\nsaata kirjoittaa itse, niin olen jonkun aikaa tiedustellut, mist\u00e4\nsaisin toisen kirjurin. Sopivaa henkil\u00f6\u00e4 ei ole helppo l\u00f6yt\u00e4\u00e4, ja\neih\u00e4n kolmekymment\u00e4 puntaa mik\u00e4\u00e4n suuri palkka ole sivistyneelle\nkunnon tyt\u00f6lle, joka osaa lukea, kirjoittaa ja k\u00e4ytt\u00e4yty\u00e4 hienosti\nseuroissa. Ja mit\u00e4 Lontoon nuoriin tytt\u00f6ihin tulee, niin niit\u00e4h\u00e4n ei\nvoi siet\u00e4\u00e4 ensink\u00e4\u00e4n.\n(\"H\u00f6r\u00f6nt\u00f6r\u00f6\u00e4!\")\n-- Sen min\u00e4 kyll\u00e4 tied\u00e4n kokemuksestanikin! -- huudahti miss Skeggs,\n-- sill\u00e4 kolmesta seuranaisesta viimeisen puolenvuoden kuluessa yksi\nei ottanut ommellakseen liinavaatteita edes tuntiakaan p\u00e4iv\u00e4ss\u00e4;\ntoisen mielest\u00e4 oli viisikolmatta guineaa liian pieni palkka, ja\nkolmas minun piti panna pois, koska ep\u00e4ilin h\u00e4nen seikkailevan\nkotisaarnaajan kanssa. Siveys, rakas lady Blarney, siveys on\nerinomainen avu, mutta mist\u00e4p\u00e4 sit\u00e4 nykyaikana l\u00f6yt\u00e4\u00e4?\n(\"H\u00f6r\u00f6nt\u00f6r\u00f6\u00e4!\")\nVaimoni oli hyvin tarkasti kuunnellut keskustelua ja kiintynyt\nvarsinkin sen loppuosaan. Kolmekymment\u00e4 puntaa ja viisikolmatta\nguineata on yhteens\u00e4 viisikymment\u00e4kuusi Englannin puntaa. Tuo kaikki\ntarjoutuu kuin itsest\u00e4\u00e4n ja olisi helposti saatavissa perheen\nhy\u00f6dyksi. H\u00e4n katsahti minuun, mit\u00e4 muka min\u00e4 arvelen, ja, totta\npuhuen, min\u00e4kin olin sit\u00e4 mielt\u00e4, ett\u00e4 kaksi sellaista paikkaa\nsopisi tytt\u00e4rilleni vallan hyvin. Ja sit\u00e4 paitsi, jos squire on\ntodellakin vilpitt\u00f6m\u00e4sti mielistynyt tytt\u00e4reeni, niin t\u00e4ss\u00e4h\u00e4n olisi\nkeino valmistaa h\u00e4nt\u00e4 h\u00e4nen uuteen s\u00e4\u00e4tyyns\u00e4. Vaimoni p\u00e4\u00e4tti kuin\np\u00e4\u00e4ttikin, ett'ei t\u00e4llaista etua pid\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4\u00e4 k\u00e4sist\u00e4\u00e4n luottamuksen\npuutteessa, ja otti ollakseen perheen puhemiehen\u00e4.\n-- Arvoisat ladyt, -- lausui h\u00e4n, -- suokaa minun rohkeuteni\nanteeksi. Meill\u00e4 tosin ei ole oikeutta vaatia niin suurta suosiota\nosaksemme, mutta onhan luonnollista, ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 toivon tyt\u00e4rteni\np\u00e4\u00e4sev\u00e4n eteenp\u00e4in maailmassa, ja sallittakoon minun sanoa, ett\u00e4\nkumpikin tytt\u00e4reni on saanut varsin hyv\u00e4n kasvatuksen, ja yhteen\nja toiseen asiaan he kanssa pystyv\u00e4t ainakin yht\u00e4 hyvin kuin joku\ntoinenkaan maaseudulla. Lukea he osaavat ja kirjoittaa ja laskea,\nja k\u00e4tevi\u00e4 he ovat neulan k\u00e4yt\u00e4nn\u00f6ss\u00e4, tuntevat t\u00e4ytepisteet ja\nristipisteet ja ketjupisteet ja osaavat kaikenlaista valko-ompelusta.\nHe osaavat laittaa rimsuja ja hesuja ja laskoksia, tuntevatpa\nmusikkiakin; osaavat p\u00e4\u00e4rm\u00e4t\u00e4 ja neuloa kanevalla; vanhempi tytt\u00e4reni\nosaa leikell\u00e4 kuvia paperista, ja nuorempi on aivan erinomaisen\ntaitava panemaan kortteja.\n(\"H\u00f6r\u00f6nt\u00f6r\u00f6\u00e4!\")\nSittenkuin vaimoni oli lopettanut t\u00e4m\u00e4n soman palasen\nkaunopuheliaisuutta, katselivat ladyt toisiinsa moniaan minutin\nep\u00e4ilevin silmin ja hyvin t\u00e4rke\u00e4n n\u00e4k\u00f6isin\u00e4. Vihdoin suvaitsi miss\nCarolina Wilhelmin Amelia Skeggs suosiollisesti lausua, ett\u00e4 nuoret\nneidet, mik\u00e4li h\u00e4n n\u00e4in lyhyen tuttavuuden j\u00e4lkeen osaa p\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4, ovat\nvarsin sopivia sellaisiin toimiin.\n-- Mutta, madame, -- lausui h\u00e4n, k\u00e4\u00e4ntyen aviopuolisooni, --\nsenkaltainen asia kysyy perinpohjaista luonteen tutkistelua ja\nl\u00e4hemp\u00e4\u00e4 molemmanpuolista tuttavuutta. Ei niin, madame, -- lis\u00e4si\nh\u00e4n, -- ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 lainkaan ep\u00e4ilisin nuorten neitien siveytt\u00e4,\nviisautta ja hienotuntoisuutta, mutta t\u00e4llaisissa asioissa on\nmuotoja, n\u00e4hk\u00e4\u00e4s, muotoja.\nVaimoni piti h\u00e4nen ep\u00e4r\u00f6imisi\u00e4ns\u00e4 varsin oikeutettuina, sanoen\nitsekin olevansa yleens\u00e4 taipuvainen ep\u00e4ilem\u00e4\u00e4n, mutta mit\u00e4 tytt\u00f6jen\nmaineesen tulee, vetosi h\u00e4n naapurien todistukseen. Sellaista piti\narmollinen neiti tarpeettomana, vakuuttaen, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nen serkkunsa\nThornhillin puolustus riitt\u00e4\u00e4 vallan hyvin, ja sen nojaan me sitten\nhakemuksemme j\u00e4timmekin.\nKAHDESTOISTA LUKU\nKohtalo n\u00e4kyy p\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4neen n\u00f6yryytt\u00e4\u00e4 Wakefieldin perhett\u00e4. Loukkaukset\ntuottavat usein enemm\u00e4n tuskaa kuin varsinaiset kohtalon iskut.\nKotia tultuamme, rakenneltiin meill\u00e4 sen iltaa suunnitelmia tuleville\nvalloituksille. Debora osoitti varsin ter\u00e4v\u00e4\u00e4 \u00e4ly\u00e4, harkitessaan,\nkumpainenko tyt\u00e4r oli omiansa saamaan parhaimman paikan ja enemm\u00e4n\ntilaisuutta p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 ylh\u00e4iseen seuraan. Kysymys oli vain, antaako\nsquire puoltosanansa. Mutta olihan h\u00e4n osoittanut meille niin monta\nkertaa yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisyytt\u00e4ns\u00e4, ett'ei sit\u00e4 ollut ep\u00e4ilemist\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n.\nVuoteessakin vaimoni puhui samasta mieluisasta asiasta:\n-- Charles kulta! Me olemme, n\u00e4in meid\u00e4n kesken sanoen, t\u00e4n\u00e4\u00e4n\nsuorittaneet kelpo p\u00e4iv\u00e4ty\u00f6n.\n-- Kutakuinkin, -- vastasin min\u00e4, tiet\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00e4 oikein, mit\u00e4 sanoa.\n-- Vai kutakuinkin vaan! -- huudahti h\u00e4n. -- Minun mielest\u00e4ni\neritt\u00e4in hyv\u00e4nkin. Aatteles, ett\u00e4 meid\u00e4n tytt\u00e4ret p\u00e4\u00e4sev\u00e4t ylh\u00e4isiin\ntuttavuuksiin Lontoossa! Ja Lontoo, usko pois, on ainoa paikka,\nmist\u00e4 saa miehen jos millaisen. Sit\u00e4 paitsi, kultaseni, maailmassa\ntapahtuu kummallisempaakin. Ja jos ylh\u00e4iss\u00e4\u00e4tyiset ladyt ovat niin\nmielistyneet meid\u00e4n tytt\u00f6ihin, niin mit\u00e4s sitten ylh\u00e4iset herrat!\n_Entre nous_, min\u00e4 pid\u00e4n lady Blarneysta sanomattomasti; h\u00e4n on niin\nherttainen, vaikka -- tunnenhan min\u00e4 syd\u00e4men l\u00e4mp\u00f6\u00e4 miss Carolina\nWilhelmina Skeggsi\u00e4kin kohtaan. Mutta kun rupesivat puhumaan\npaikoista Lontoossa, niin huomasithan, mitenk\u00e4 min\u00e4 sidoin heid\u00e4t\nheid\u00e4n omiin sanoihinsa! Etk\u00f6 luule, ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 eritt\u00e4in hyvin ajoin\nlasten asiaa?\n-- Niin, niin, -- virkoin min\u00e4, k\u00e4sitt\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00e4 oikein, mit\u00e4 t\u00e4st\u00e4\nseikasta pit\u00e4isi ajatella. -- Suokoon taivas, ett\u00e4 kumpaisenkin asiat\nolisivat kolmen kuukauden per\u00e4st\u00e4 paremmalla kannalla.\nT\u00e4m\u00e4 oli taas yksi niit\u00e4 lauseita, joita tavallisesti toin esiin,\nosoittaakseni vaimolleni ter\u00e4v\u00e4\u00e4 \u00e4ly\u00e4ni: jos tyt\u00e4rten onnistuu,\nsilloinhan on hurskas toivomus k\u00e4ynyt toteen; jos kova onni kohtaa,\nniin silloinhan min\u00e4 olen profeteerannut!\nKoko t\u00e4m\u00e4 keskustelu oli kumminkin vaan valmistusta toiseen\npuheen-aineesen, jota min\u00e4 kovasti pelk\u00e4sin. Eik\u00e4 harkittavaksi\ntullutkaan sen v\u00e4hempi seikka kuin t\u00e4m\u00e4: koska meid\u00e4n t\u00e4st\u00e4 puolin\nsopii ja tulee pit\u00e4\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4t\u00e4 hiukan pystymm\u00e4ss\u00e4, niin olisi aivan\nasianmukaista, ett\u00e4 s\u00e4lk\u00f6, joka jo alkaa k\u00e4yd\u00e4 vanhaksi, my\u00f6t\u00e4isiin\npois l\u00e4heisill\u00e4 markkinoilla ja sijaan ostettaisiin toinen hevonen,\njonka selj\u00e4ss\u00e4 saattaisi tarpeen tullessa istua yksi tai pari\nihmist\u00e4, ja seh\u00e4n se joltain n\u00e4ytt\u00e4isi, kun menn\u00e4\u00e4n kirkolle tai\nkyl\u00e4\u00e4n.\nMin\u00e4 vastustin ensin mointa ehdotusta kivenkovaa, mutta yht\u00e4\nkivenkovaa sit\u00e4 puolustettiinkin. Ja kun min\u00e4 hiukankin hellitin,\nniin sit\u00e4 kireemm\u00e4lle min\u00e4 jouduin, ja niin min\u00e4 vihdoin p\u00e4\u00e4tin\nluopua s\u00e4l\u00f6st\u00e4.\nHuomenna sattui juuri olemaan torip\u00e4iv\u00e4, ja aikomukseni oli l\u00e4hte\u00e4\nsinne itse, mutta vaimoni v\u00e4itti minun saaneen nuhan, jonka vuoksi\nh\u00e4n ei mill\u00e4\u00e4n muotoa p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 minua ulos.\n-- Ei, kultaseni! -- puhui h\u00e4n. -- Moses on n\u00e4pp\u00e4r\u00e4 poika ja osaa\nkyll\u00e4 ostaa ja my\u00f6d\u00e4. H\u00e4nh\u00e4n se on kaikki hyv\u00e4t kaupat talossa\ntehnyt. H\u00e4n osaa hieroa ja tinki\u00e4 niin kauan, ett\u00e4 toinen v\u00e4syy\npahanp\u00e4iv\u00e4iseksi, ja silloin menee asia lukkoon.\nJonkun verran min\u00e4kin luotin poikani hyv\u00e4\u00e4n \u00e4lyyn ja siksip\u00e4\nuskoinkin t\u00e4m\u00e4n teht\u00e4v\u00e4n h\u00e4nelle.\nSeuraavana aamuna n\u00e4kyiv\u00e4t siskot olevan t\u00e4ydess\u00e4 hommassa,\nlaitellessaan Mosesta markkinoille. He suorivat h\u00e4nen tukkansa,\nkiillottivat keng\u00e4nsoljet ja p\u00f6nkittiv\u00e4t nuppineuloilla pojan hatun.\nKun sitten n\u00e4m\u00e4 toalettihommat vihdoin oli suoritettu, oli meid\u00e4n\nvihdoinkin mielihyv\u00e4 n\u00e4hd\u00e4 Moseksen nousevan s\u00e4l\u00f6n selk\u00e4\u00e4n, iso\nlipas edess\u00e4\u00e4n, johon oli ostettava maustimia. H\u00e4nen yll\u00e4\u00e4n oli\ntakki siit\u00e4 kankaasta, jolla on nimen\u00e4 \"tuli ja leimaus.\" Olihan se\nk\u00e4ynyt pojalle jo ahtaanpuoleiseksi, mutta liian hyv\u00e4 se viel\u00e4 oli\npoiskaan viskattavaksi. Liivit olivat vaalean vihre\u00e4t kuin ankanpojan\nh\u00f6yhenet, ja tukan olivat sisaret sitaisseet leve\u00e4ll\u00e4 mustalla\nnauhalla. Miehiss\u00e4 saatoimme h\u00e4nt\u00e4 muutamia askeleita ja huusimme\nh\u00e4nelle: \"onnea matkalle! onnea matkalle!\" kunnes emme h\u00e4nt\u00e4 en\u00e4\u00e4\nn\u00e4hneet.\nTuskin h\u00e4n oli l\u00e4htenyt, niin jo saapui mr Thornhillin kellarimestari\nonnittelemaan meit\u00e4: h\u00e4n oli n\u00e4et kuullut nuoren herransa puhelevan\nmeist\u00e4 paljon hyv\u00e4\u00e4.\nOnni ei n\u00e4ht\u00e4v\u00e4stik\u00e4\u00e4n ollut aikonut tulla yksin. Pian saapui\ntoinenkin palvelija samasta talosta, tuoden tytt\u00e4rille kirjeen, jossa\nladyt ilmoittavat kuulleensa mr Thornhillilt\u00e4 niin paljon hyv\u00e4\u00e4\nmeist\u00e4 kaikista, ett\u00e4 he toivovat, moniaan tiedustelun per\u00e4st\u00e4,\nolevansa t\u00e4ysin tyytyv\u00e4iset.\n-- Nyt, -- huudahti vaimoni, -- nyt min\u00e4 huomaan, ett'ei ole niink\u00e4\u00e4n\nhelppo p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 ylh\u00e4isiin perheisin, mutta kun kerran on p\u00e4\u00e4ssyt, niin\nsitten sopii, niinkuin Moses sanoo, menn\u00e4 rauhassa nukkumaan.\nT\u00e4m\u00e4 leikillinen lause oli olevinaan sukkeluutta, ja tytt\u00e4ret\nlausuivat mielihyv\u00e4ns\u00e4 siit\u00e4 kovalla naurulla. Sanalla sanoen,\nvaimoni oli niin hyvill\u00e4\u00e4n t\u00e4st\u00e4 ilmoituksesta, ett\u00e4 pisti k\u00e4tens\u00e4\ntaskuun ja antoi sanansaattajalle seitsem\u00e4n puolipence\u00e4.\nT\u00e4m\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4 oli oleva vieraitten k\u00e4ynnin p\u00e4iv\u00e4. Ensimm\u00e4isen\u00e4 tuli\nmr Burchell, joka oli ollut markkinoilla. H\u00e4n toi pienille pojille\nkummallekin kirjainten muotoisia mesileipi\u00e4, jotka \u00e4iti otti\nhuostaansa, antaakseen niit\u00e4 pojille kirjaimen kerrassaan. Tytt\u00e4rille\nh\u00e4n toi kaksi rasiaa, joissa heid\u00e4n sopi s\u00e4ilytt\u00e4\u00e4 oblatteja,\nnuuskaa, kauneuslaastaria ja rahaakin, milloin sit\u00e4 saavat. Vaimoni\nsai lumikonnahkaisen kukkaron, ja siit\u00e4 h\u00e4n oli hyvin mieliss\u00e4\u00e4n,\nse kun on semmoinen onnen kukkaro. Mutta t\u00e4m\u00e4 olkoon mainittu vain\nohimennen.\nMe pidimme yh\u00e4 edelleen mr Burchellia arvossa, vaikka h\u00e4nen eilinen\nt\u00f6rke\u00e4 k\u00e4yt\u00f6ksens\u00e4 oli meit\u00e4 kutakuinkin harmittanut. Emme saattaneet\nolla ilmaisematta h\u00e4nelle meid\u00e4n onneamme ja kysym\u00e4tt\u00e4 h\u00e4nelt\u00e4\nneuvoa. Harvoin kyll\u00e4 meill\u00e4 muitten neuvoja noudatettiin, mutta\nalttiita oltiin kumminkin niit\u00e4 kysym\u00e4\u00e4n. Luettuansa ladyjen kirjeen,\nh\u00e4n puisteli p\u00e4\u00e4t\u00e4\u00e4n, sanoen, ett\u00e4 t\u00e4llainen asia vaatii per\u00e4ti\nsuurta varovaisuutta. T\u00e4m\u00e4 ep\u00e4luulo suututti vaimoani.\n-- Min\u00e4 en ole milloinkaan ep\u00e4illyt, sir, huudahti h\u00e4n, -- ett'ette\nte olisi aina altis asettumaan minun tytt\u00e4ri\u00e4ni ja minua vastaan.\nTe olette liiaksikin ep\u00e4luuloinen. Tahtoisin kumminkin sanoa, ett\u00e4\nkun me neuvoja tarvitsemme, niin osaamme k\u00e4\u00e4nty\u00e4 sellaisten puoleen,\njoitten tied\u00e4mme itsens\u00e4kin aikoinaan osanneen muitten neuvoja\nnoudattaa.\n-- Hyv\u00e4 rouva, -- vastasi mr Burchell, nyth\u00e4n ei ole kysymys siit\u00e4,\nmillainen minun k\u00e4yt\u00f6kseni ennen on ollut. Ellen itse ole muitten\nneuvoja kuunnellut, niin eih\u00e4n se est\u00e4 minua antamasta omantuntoni\nmukaan neuvoja niille, jotka tahtovat neuvoista vaarin ottaa.\nPelj\u00e4ten, ett\u00e4 t\u00e4t\u00e4 vastausta seuraa toinen, joka on oleva saman\nverran loukkausta t\u00e4ynn\u00e4 kuin \u00e4lykk\u00e4isyytt\u00e4 vailla, min\u00e4 k\u00e4\u00e4nsin\npuheen toisaanne. Sanoin kummastelevani, ett\u00e4 meid\u00e4n vanhin poikamme\nniin kauan viipyy markkinoilla; iltakin jo alkaa k\u00e4yd\u00e4 my\u00f6h\u00e4ksi.\n-- \u00c4l\u00e4 ole pojasta huolissasi, -- virkkoi vaimoni. -- Ole varma\nsiit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n kyll\u00e4 osaa olla miest\u00e4 puolestaan. Ei se poika\nkoskaan porsasta s\u00e4kiss\u00e4 osta. Muistan min\u00e4 yhdenkin jutun, jolle\npiti nauraa ihan haljetakseen. Mutta, totta maarian, tuoltahan Moses\ntulee ilman hevosta ja lipas selj\u00e4ss\u00e4.\nH\u00e4nen puhuessaan astui Moses verkalleen kotia kohti, hikoillen\nraskaan kantamuksensa alla, jonka h\u00e4n oli sitonut selk\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4 kuin\nlaukkumies.\n-- Tervetuloa Moses, tervetuloa! Kas niin, poikaseni, mit\u00e4s toit\ntuomisia markkinoilta?\n-- Itseni min\u00e4 vaan toin, -- virkkoi poika, viekkaasti silm\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4\niskien, ja laski lippaansa ky\u00f6kkip\u00f6yd\u00e4lle.\n-- Kyll\u00e4h\u00e4n me sen n\u00e4emme, huudahti vaimoni, -- mutta miss\u00e4s hevonen\non?\n-- My\u00f6ty se on, -- vastasi Moses, -- ja hinnaksi tuli kolme puntaa\nviisi shillingi\u00e4 ja kaksi pence\u00e4.\n-- Sep\u00e4 hyv\u00e4 se, poikaseni! -- puhui \u00e4iti.\n-- Puoliasi olet pit\u00e4nyt, tiesinh\u00e4n min\u00e4 sen. Eik\u00e4 tuo hinta, n\u00e4in\nmeid\u00e4n kesken sanoen, mik\u00e4\u00e4n polkuhinta olekaan. Annahan t\u00e4nne.\n-- En min\u00e4 rahoja tuonut! -- huudahti Moses. -- Niill\u00e4 tehtiin hyv\u00e4t\nkaupat, ja t\u00e4ss\u00e4 ne on, -- lis\u00e4si h\u00e4n, vet\u00e4en k\u00e4\u00e4r\u00f6n poveltaan.\n-- T\u00e4ss\u00e4 ne on: krossi viheri\u00e4it\u00e4 silm\u00e4laseja, sangat hopeata ja\ns\u00e4\u00e4mysk\u00e4st\u00e4 kotelot.\n-- Krossi silm\u00e4laseja! -- virkkoi vaimoni hiljaisella \u00e4\u00e4nell\u00e4. --\nS\u00e4lk\u00f6 sinulla oli l\u00e4htiess\u00e4si ja nyt ei ole tullessasi kuin krossi\nviheri\u00e4it\u00e4 silm\u00e4lasin r\u00e4hji\u00e4!\n-- \u00c4iti kulta! -- puhui poika. -- Kuuntelehan toki j\u00e4rkev\u00e4\u00e4 puhetta.\nMit\u00e4tt\u00f6m\u00e4st\u00e4 hinnasta ne sain; enh\u00e4n niit\u00e4 muutoin olisi ostanut.\nPelk\u00e4st\u00e4 hopeasta sangoissa saadaan kaksin verroin.\n-- Palttua min\u00e4 hopeasangoille! -- huudahti \u00e4iti kiivaasti. -- Ei\nikip\u00e4ivin\u00e4 niist\u00e4 saa puoltakaan hintaa: vanhaa romuhopeata, viisi\nshillingi\u00e4 unssi.[13]\n-- \u00c4l\u00e4 yht\u00e4\u00e4n niitten my\u00f6misest\u00e4 itsellesi huolta tee, -- lausuin\nmin\u00e4; -- ei ne maksa kuuttakaan pence\u00e4; n\u00e4enh\u00e4n min\u00e4, ett'ei sangat\nole kuin vaskea, vernissaa p\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4.\n-- Mitenk\u00e4! -- huusi vaimoni. -- Ett'eik\u00f6 hopeata? Ett'eik\u00f6 hopeata\nsangat!\n-- Yht\u00e4 v\u00e4h\u00e4n kuin sinun paistinpannusi.\n-- Vai niin vainen! -- virkkoi h\u00e4n. -- S\u00e4l\u00f6n selj\u00e4ss\u00e4 sit\u00e4 l\u00e4hdettiin\neik\u00e4 takaisin tuotu kuin krossi viheri\u00e4it\u00e4 silm\u00e4laseja, sangat vaskea\nja s\u00e4\u00e4mysk\u00e4st\u00e4 kotelot. Tontuille tuollainen t\u00f6rky! Tomppelia on\nvedetty nen\u00e4st\u00e4. Ei sen vertaa silmi\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4!\n-- Nyt olet ihan v\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4ss\u00e4, -- sanoin min\u00e4.\n-- Paras olisi ollut, ett'ei olisi silmi\u00e4\u00e4n avannut ensink\u00e4\u00e4n.\n-- Voi tolvanaa kuitenkin! -- kiihkoili vaimoni. -- Tuoda minulle\ntuollaista roskaa! Tuleen min\u00e4 ne viskaisin.\n-- Ja v\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4ss\u00e4 olet taaskin, armas em\u00e4nt\u00e4, -- huomautin min\u00e4. --\nOlkoot vaikka vaskea, niin ei niit\u00e4 pois viskata. Onhan vaskisetkin\nsilm\u00e4lasit paremmat kuin ei silm\u00e4laseja lainkaan.\nMoses paralle oli t\u00e4ll\u00e4 v\u00e4lin asia selvinnyt. H\u00e4n huomasi nyt,\nett\u00e4 sukkela veijari oli h\u00e4net puijannut, huomattuaan h\u00e4nen\nulkomuodostaan, kuinka sellaista on helppo nen\u00e4st\u00e4 vet\u00e4\u00e4.\nTiedusteltuani asiasta l\u00e4hemmin, saimme tiet\u00e4\u00e4, ett\u00e4 Moses, my\u00f6ty\u00e4ns\u00e4\nhevosen, oli l\u00e4htenyt katselemaan toista. Muuan rehellisen n\u00e4k\u00f6inen\nmies oli vienyt h\u00e4net telttaan, sanoen, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nell\u00e4 on hevonen\nmy\u00f6t\u00e4v\u00e4n\u00e4.\n-- Siell\u00e4 -- kertoi Moses edelleen -- tuli sitten muuan toinen mies,\nhyviss\u00e4 vaatteissa, sanoi tahtovansa lainata kaksikymment\u00e4 puntaa\nnoita silm\u00e4laseja vastaan. Rahojen puutteessa sanoi antavansa niitten\nmenn\u00e4 kolmannesta osasta hintaa. Tuo ensimm\u00e4inen herra, joka oli\nolevinaan minun yst\u00e4v\u00e4ni, kuiskasi minulle, ett'ei pit\u00e4isi p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4\u00e4\nn\u00e4in hyv\u00e4\u00e4 kauppaa k\u00e4dest\u00e4\u00e4n. Min\u00e4 haetin paikalle mr Flamboroughin,\nja h\u00e4nelle he puhua liverteliv\u00e4t yht\u00e4 liukkaasti kuin minullekin,\nkunnes vihdoin p\u00e4\u00e4timme ostaa krossin mieheen.\nKOLMASTOISTA LUKU\nMr Burchell onkin vihamies, h\u00e4n kun julkeaa antaa vastenmielisi\u00e4\nneuvoja.\nMeill\u00e4 oli nyt tehty useampia yrityksi\u00e4, jotta kyett\u00e4isiin\nesiintym\u00e4\u00e4n hienolla tavalla. Odottamaton kova onni oli kumminkin\ntehnyt ne tyhjiksi jo heti alussa. Minun oli tapani k\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4\nhy\u00f6dykseni jokaista pettymyst\u00e4 ja ottaa ne opikseni, mik\u00e4li ne\nmilloinkin kunnianhimoisia pyyteit\u00e4 maahan l\u00f6iv\u00e4t.\n-- Siit\u00e4 te nyt n\u00e4ette, lapsi kullat, -- puhelin min\u00e4, -- kuinka\nhuonosti ihmisen onnistuu pett\u00e4\u00e4 maailmaa, koettaessaan matkia\nylh\u00e4isi\u00e4. Kun k\u00f6yh\u00e4 pyrkii seurustelemaan pelkk\u00e4in rikkaitten kanssa,\nniin h\u00e4n joutuu niitten vihanpidoksi, joita h\u00e4n karttelee, ja niitten\nhalveksimaksi, joitten per\u00e4ss\u00e4 h\u00e4n juoksee. Ep\u00e4suhtaisissa liitoissa\njoutuu heikompi puoli aina tappiolle: rikkaita se huvittaa, k\u00f6yhille\nsiit\u00e4 on mieliharmia. Mutta tulepas t\u00e4nne, Dick poikaseni, ja kerro\nmeille, opiksi ja huviksi kaikille, se satu, jonka t\u00e4n\u00e4\u00e4n luit.\n-- Oli kerran, -- alkoi poika, -- oli kerran j\u00e4ttil\u00e4inen ja k\u00e4\u00e4pi\u00f6.\nHyvi\u00e4 olivat yst\u00e4vi\u00e4 ja yhdess\u00e4 aina kulkivat. Sellaiset tekiv\u00e4t\nkaupat kesken\u00e4\u00e4n, ett'eiv\u00e4t koskaan toisistaan eroa, vaan yhdess\u00e4\naina seikkailuilla k\u00e4yv\u00e4t. Ensinn\u00e4kin he joutuivat taisteluun kahden\nSaraseenin kanssa, ja k\u00e4\u00e4pi\u00f6, uljasmielinen mies, antoi toiselle\nheist\u00e4 ankaran iskun. Siit\u00e4 ei Saraseeni suuriakaan v\u00e4litt\u00e4nyt, vaan\nnosti miekkansa ja l\u00f6i k\u00e4\u00e4pi\u00f6lt\u00e4 koreasti k\u00e4den poikki olkavartta\nmy\u00f6ten. T\u00e4lle nyt h\u00e4t\u00e4 ja tuska, mutta j\u00e4ttil\u00e4inen tuli avuksi,\neik\u00e4 aikaakaan, niin jo makasi kumpainenkin Saraseeni kuolijana\nmaassa. Harmissaan l\u00f6i k\u00e4\u00e4pi\u00f6 heilt\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4n poikki kummaltakin. Yhdess\u00e4\nsitten l\u00e4hdettiin uusille yrityksille. Pian k\u00e4ytiin tappelemaan\nkolmen verenhimoisen satyrin kanssa, jotka raahasivat mukanaan\nmuuatta neitt\u00e4 poloista. K\u00e4\u00e4pi\u00f6 ei ollut aivan yht\u00e4 raivoisa kuin\nedellisell\u00e4 kerralla; sivalsi sent\u00e4\u00e4n kuin sivalsikin aika iskun,\nmutta sai itse toisen, joka puhkaisi h\u00e4nelt\u00e4 silm\u00e4n. Joutui silloin\ntaas j\u00e4ttil\u00e4inen avuksi, ja pakoon t\u00e4ytyi p\u00f6tki\u00e4 satyrien, muutoin\nh\u00e4n olisi tappanut ne joka miehen. Riemuissaan nyt olivat yst\u00e4vykset\nvoitostaan, ja vapautettu impi rakastui j\u00e4ttil\u00e4iseen ja rupesi h\u00e4nen\nvaimokseen. Yhdess\u00e4 sit\u00e4 sitten astuttiin, astuttiin, miten kauan\nlie astuttukaan, kunnes kohdattiin rosvojoukko. J\u00e4ttil\u00e4inen se t\u00e4ll\u00e4\nkertaa ensimm\u00e4isen\u00e4 vihollisten kimppuun karkasi, mutta ei ollut\nkaukana k\u00e4\u00e4pi\u00f6k\u00e4\u00e4n. Tuima oli taistelu ja kesti kauan aikaa. Miss\u00e4\nj\u00e4ttil\u00e4inen vaan k\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4n k\u00e4\u00e4nn\u00e4ytti, siin\u00e4 aina mies maahan kellahti,\nmutta k\u00e4\u00e4pi\u00f6 se oli jo senkin seitsem\u00e4n kertaa surman suussa.\nYst\u00e4vykset p\u00e4\u00e4siv\u00e4t vihdoin voitolle, mutta k\u00e4\u00e4pi\u00f6 oli nyt toista\njalkaa vailla. H\u00e4nelt\u00e4 oli siis mennyt toinen k\u00e4sivarsi, toinen jalka\nja toinen silm\u00e4; j\u00e4ttil\u00e4isell\u00e4 ei haavaakaan. J\u00e4ttil\u00e4inen huusi nyt\npienelle kumppalilleen: Kuules, pikku sankari! T\u00e4\u00e4 on lysti\u00e4 menoa\nt\u00e4\u00e4. Kun viel\u00e4 yksi voitto saadaan, niin jo meill\u00e4 sitten on kunniata\nkyll\u00e4lti ikip\u00e4iviksi. -- \"Ei maar,\" huusi k\u00e4\u00e4pi\u00f6, joka oli t\u00e4ll\u00e4\nv\u00e4lin jo viisastunut, \"pois luovun min\u00e4 koko liitosta; ei tappele\nen\u00e4\u00e4 t\u00e4m\u00e4 mies, sill\u00e4 sinullepa yksin kaikki kunnia tulee ja saalis\nsaa, minulle vaan iskuja ja kolauksia.\"\nOlin juuri ruveta selitt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n t\u00e4m\u00e4n sadun opettavaista puolta, kun\nhuomioni kiintyi kiivaaseen kiistaan, johon vaimoni oli joutunut\nmr Burchellin kanssa tytt\u00e4rien aiotun matkan johdosta Lontoosen.\nVaimoni v\u00e4itti kivenkovaa, ett\u00e4 siit\u00e4 on oleva paljo hy\u00f6ty\u00e4, mr\nBurchell sit\u00e4 vastoin kiivaasti varoitti h\u00e4nt\u00e4 siihen suostumasta.\nMin\u00e4 olin puolueetonna. H\u00e4nen varoituksensa tuntuivat vain jatkolta\nniihin, mit\u00e4 aamulla oli saatu, ja jotka olivat tuntuneet niin\nkarvailta. V\u00e4ittely kiihtyi kiihtymist\u00e4\u00e4n. Debora parka, kykenem\u00e4tt\u00e4\nesiintuomaan vaikuttavampia syit\u00e4 ja perusteita, rupesi puhumaan yh\u00e4\nkovemmalla ja kovemmalla \u00e4\u00e4nell\u00e4 ja oli vihdoin pakotettu k\u00e4tkem\u00e4\u00e4n\ntappionsa huutoon. Loppujen lopussa h\u00e4n rupesi puhumaan sellaista,\nmit\u00e4 meid\u00e4n kaikkien oli varsin ik\u00e4v\u00e4 kuulla. H\u00e4n sanoi tiet\u00e4v\u00e4ns\u00e4,\nett\u00e4 muutamilla ihmisill\u00e4 on omia salaisia syit\u00e4 neuvon-antoihinsa;\nmutta h\u00e4n puolestaan toivoo, ett\u00e4 sellaiset vast'edes pysyisiv\u00e4t\nt\u00e4st\u00e4 talosta loitompana.\n-- Hyv\u00e4 rouva, -- virkkoi mr Burchell varsin tyynesti, mik\u00e4 viel\u00e4\nenemm\u00e4n \u00e4rsytti toista, -- mit\u00e4 salaisiin syihin tulee, niin olette\ntodellakin oikeassa. Minulla on salaisia syit\u00e4, mutta niist\u00e4 en huoli\npuhua, koskapa te ette kykene vastaamaan niihink\u00e4\u00e4n, joita min\u00e4 en\nsalassa pid\u00e4. Min\u00e4 huomaan kumminkin, ett\u00e4 minun k\u00e4ynnist\u00e4ni t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4\non vastusta. Siksip\u00e4 min\u00e4 l\u00e4hden nyt ja palajan kenties viel\u00e4 kerran\nsanomaan j\u00e4\u00e4hyv\u00e4isi\u00e4, kun kokonaan l\u00e4hden n\u00e4ilt\u00e4 tienoin pois.\nSen sanottuaan h\u00e4n sieppasi hattunsa. Sofia koetti katseillansa\nhillit\u00e4 h\u00e4nen kiivauttansa, mutta ei voinut est\u00e4\u00e4 h\u00e4nt\u00e4 l\u00e4htem\u00e4st\u00e4.\nH\u00e4nen menty\u00e4ns\u00e4 me katselimme jonkun aikaa neuvottomina toisiamme.\nVaimoni, tiet\u00e4ess\u00e4\u00e4n olevansa syyp\u00e4\u00e4, koetti peitt\u00e4\u00e4 rauhattomuuttaan\npakotetulla hymyll\u00e4 ja n\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 olevansa vallan varma asiassaan. Siit\u00e4\nmin\u00e4 otin h\u00e4nt\u00e4 nuhdellakseni.\n-- Kuules, em\u00e4nt\u00e4iseni! -- virkoin min\u00e4 h\u00e4nelle. -- T\u00e4ll\u00e4k\u00f6 tapaa me\nkohtelemme vieraita? N\u00e4ink\u00f6 me palkitsemme heid\u00e4n yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisyytt\u00e4\u00e4n?\nUsko minua, kultaseni, ett'ei sinun huuliltasi viel\u00e4 ikin\u00e4 ole\np\u00e4\u00e4ssyt niin tylyj\u00e4 ja minulle niin vastenmielisi\u00e4 sanoja kuin \u00e4sken.\n-- Miksik\u00e4s h\u00e4n \u00e4rsytti minua? -- huudahti Debora. -- Kyll\u00e4\nmin\u00e4 varsin hyvin tied\u00e4n, miksik\u00e4 h\u00e4n moisia neuvoja antoi. H\u00e4n\ntahtoi est\u00e4\u00e4 tytt\u00f6j\u00e4 l\u00e4htem\u00e4st\u00e4 Lontoosen, saadakseen t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 vain\nmieliksens\u00e4 liverrell\u00e4 ja laverrella Sofian kanssa. Mutta k\u00e4vi kuinka\ntahansa, kyll\u00e4 Sofia osaa l\u00f6yt\u00e4\u00e4 parempaa seuraa kuin mokomankin\nhalvan miehen kanssa.\n-- Halvanko? -- sanoin min\u00e4. -- Mahdollista kyll\u00e4, ett\u00e4 olemme\nerehtyneet h\u00e4ness\u00e4, sill\u00e4 v\u00e4listi h\u00e4n esiintyy hienoimpana\ngentlemanina mit\u00e4 milloinkaan olen n\u00e4hnyt. Sano, Sofia tytt\u00f6seni,\nonko h\u00e4n milloinkaan tehnyt salaisia viittauksia kiintymyksest\u00e4ns\u00e4\nsinuun?\n-- H\u00e4nen puheensa, -- vastasi Sofia, -- ovat aina olleet j\u00e4rkevi\u00e4,\nhienotuntoisia ja miellytt\u00e4vi\u00e4, ei koskaan muuta. Muistan tosin h\u00e4nen\nkerran sanoneen, ett'ei h\u00e4n ole milloinkaan tuntenut naista, joka\nulkomuodolta k\u00f6yh\u00e4ss\u00e4 miehess\u00e4 huomaisi mit\u00e4\u00e4n hyv\u00e4\u00e4.\n-- Tuota virtt\u00e4, -- huudahtin min\u00e4, -- tuota virtt\u00e4 ne kaikki\nkovaosaiset ja laiskurit veisaavat. Sin\u00e4 olet toivoakseni\nkumminkin oppinut oikealla tavalla arvostelemaan moisia miehi\u00e4.\nJa mielet\u00f6nt\u00e4h\u00e4n olisikin odottaa onnea sellaiselta, joka on niin\nhuonosti hoitanut omaa onneaan. \u00c4idill\u00e4si ja minulla on nyt muuta\nmieless\u00e4 sinuun n\u00e4hden. Ensi talvena, jonka kaiketi viett\u00e4net\nLontoossa, on sinulla oleva tilaisuus saada parempiakin kosijoita.\nMit\u00e4 Sofia t\u00e4m\u00e4n johdosta lienee ajatellut, en k\u00e4y ratkaisevasti\nsanomaan. Mutta ei minun oikeastaan ollut ensink\u00e4\u00e4n mieleni paha,\nett\u00e4 olimme p\u00e4\u00e4sseet vieraasta, joka tuotti minulle paljon huolta.\nVieraanvaraisuuden loukkaaminen se tosin v\u00e4h\u00e4n rasitti omaatuntoani,\nmutta pian min\u00e4 sain parilla kolmella tekosyyll\u00e4 t\u00e4m\u00e4n muistuttajan\nvaikenemaan. Ja ne ne tyydyttiv\u00e4t ja rauhoittivat minut kyll\u00e4.\nNELJ\u00c4STOISTA LUKU\nUusia n\u00f6yryytyksi\u00e4 eli todistus siit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 n\u00e4enn\u00e4isest\u00e4\nonnettomuudesta saattaa olla todellista siunausta.\nTytt\u00e4ret l\u00e4htev\u00e4t Lontoosen -- se nyt oli p\u00e4\u00e4tetty asia, koskapa mr\nThornhill oli yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisesti luvannut itse pit\u00e4\u00e4 silm\u00e4ll\u00e4 heid\u00e4n\nk\u00e4yt\u00f6st\u00e4ns\u00e4 ja antaa meille siit\u00e4 tietoja. Samalla huomattiin\nv\u00e4ltt\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00f6m\u00e4n tarpeelliseksi, ett\u00e4 heid\u00e4n esiintymisens\u00e4 olisi\nheid\u00e4n toiveittensa suuruuden mukaista, mutta se taas kysyi\nkulunkeja. Siksip\u00e4 pidettiin t\u00e4ysi-istunnossa neuvoa, mill\u00e4 keinoin\nhelpoimmin saada rahoja, elikk\u00e4, suoraan sanoen, mit\u00e4 parhaiten\nliikenisi my\u00f6t\u00e4v\u00e4ksi.\nKeskusteluja ei kauan kest\u00e4nyt. Selv\u00e4ksi n\u00e4et huomattiin, ett'ei\nmeid\u00e4n toista, viel\u00e4 j\u00e4ljell\u00e4 olevaa hevosta saata ensink\u00e4\u00e4n k\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4\nauran edess\u00e4, silt\u00e4 kun puuttuu pari, ja ett'ei se, silm\u00e4puolena,\nkelpaa ratsuksikaan. P\u00e4\u00e4t\u00f6kseksi niinmuodoin tuli, ett\u00e4 se on\nk\u00e4ytett\u00e4v\u00e4 vastamainittuun tarkoitukseen ja my\u00f6t\u00e4v\u00e4 l\u00e4heisill\u00e4\nmarkkinoilla. Ja jott'ei taaskin jouduttaisi veijarin puijattaviksi,\nniin p\u00e4\u00e4tettiin, ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 itse l\u00e4hden sit\u00e4 viem\u00e4\u00e4n. T\u00e4m\u00e4 oli tosin\noleva minun ensimm\u00e4inen kauppatoimeni koko el\u00e4m\u00e4ss\u00e4ni; mutta min\u00e4\nolin varma suoriutuvani siit\u00e4 kunnialla.\nKuinka korkealle mies oman kykyns\u00e4 arvaa, riippuu siit\u00e4, miss\u00e4\nseurassa h\u00e4n liikkuu, ja koska min\u00e4 enimm\u00e4kseen olin oleskellut\nvain oman perheen keskuudessa, niin olin min\u00e4 saanut jotenkin\nedullisia k\u00e4sityksi\u00e4 taitavuudestani maallisissa asioissa. Huomenissa\nkumminkin, kun j\u00e4\u00e4hyv\u00e4iset oli sanottu, ja min\u00e4 jo olin astunut\nmuutamia askeleita kotoa, kutsui vaimoni minut takaisin ja kuiskasi\nminulle, ett\u00e4 pit\u00e4isin silm\u00e4t kaikin mokomin auki.\nMarkkinoille tultuani olin pannut hevoseni tekem\u00e4\u00e4n kaikki hypyt\nja keikaukset, niinkuin tapa on, mutta ei vaan kuulunut halukkaita\nostajia pitk\u00e4\u00e4n aikaan. Vihdoin tuli muuan hevoshuijari, tarkasti\nhetken aikaa hevosta joka puolelta ja huomattuaan sen silm\u00e4puoleksi,\nmeni tiehens\u00e4 niine hyvineen. Tuli toinen, n\u00e4ki siin\u00e4 patteja eik\u00e4\nsanonut huolivansa siit\u00e4 kyytirahoistakaan. Kolmas l\u00f6ysi siin\u00e4\npaisumia eik\u00e4 tarjonnut penni\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n. Nelj\u00e4s n\u00e4ki jo silm\u00e4st\u00e4, ett\u00e4\nhevosessa on matoja. Viides ihmetteli, mit\u00e4 kurkoja min\u00e4 muka\nmarkkinoille laahasin sellaista luuskaa, joka on silm\u00e4puoli ja t\u00e4ynn\u00e4\npatteja ja paisumia; eih\u00e4n siit\u00e4 semmoisesta muuksi kuin koirille\nruuaksi.\nV\u00e4hitellen rupesin min\u00e4kin syd\u00e4meni pohjasta halveksimaan t\u00e4t\u00e4 elukka\nparkaa. Ihan h\u00e4vetti, kun jokukaan ostaja astui l\u00e4helle. Enh\u00e4n min\u00e4\ntosin kaikkea uskonut, mit\u00e4 minulle oli sanottu, mutta, arvelin min\u00e4,\nei se totuus kovinkaan kaukana mahda olla, koska vieraita miehi\u00e4 on\nniin monta. Ja samaa mielt\u00e4h\u00e4n se on Pyh\u00e4 Yrj\u00e4n\u00e4kin, hyv\u00e4in t\u00f6itten\nsuojelija.\nT\u00e4ss\u00e4 harmillisessa tilassa ollessani sattui tulemaan luokseni\nmuuan virkaveli, vanha tuttava, jolla oli niinik\u00e4\u00e4n asioita\nmarkkinoilla. H\u00e4n tervehti k\u00e4dest\u00e4 pit\u00e4in ja ehdotti, ett\u00e4 ment\u00e4isiin\nravintolaan saamaan lasillinen mit\u00e4 sielt\u00e4 sattuu olemaan. Min\u00e4\nsuostuin ehdotukseen, ja niin menimme olutmyym\u00e4l\u00e4\u00e4n, miss\u00e4\np\u00e4\u00e4simme per\u00e4huoneesen. Siell\u00e4 ei ollut muita kuin muuan vanha,\narvoisann\u00e4k\u00f6inen herra, joka oli kokonaan syventynyt lukemaan jotain\npaksua kirjaa. En ollut viel\u00e4 ikin\u00e4 n\u00e4hnyt niin kerrassaan puoleensa\nvet\u00e4v\u00e4\u00e4 olentoa. Hopeiset hapset varjostivat kunnioitusta vaativasti\nh\u00e4nen ohimoitaan, ja reipas vanhuus n\u00e4kyi olevan hyv\u00e4n terveyden ja\ns\u00e4vyis\u00e4n luonteen hedelmi\u00e4. H\u00e4nen l\u00e4sn\u00e4olonsa ei kumminkaan est\u00e4nyt\nmeit\u00e4 keskustelemasta. Me haastelimme yst\u00e4v\u00e4ni kanssa, mit\u00e4 kaikkia\nonnen vaiheita kumpikin meist\u00e4 oli saanut kokea, whistonilaisista\nriidoista, minun viimeisest\u00e4 lentokirjastani, arkkidiakonin\nvastauksesta siihen ja ankarista toimenpiteist\u00e4 minua vastaan. Hetken\nkuluttua her\u00e4tti huomiomme muuan nuori mies, joka astui huoneesen ja\nkunnioittavasti sanoi jotain hiljaisella \u00e4\u00e4nell\u00e4 vanhalle herralle.\n-- Ei mit\u00e4\u00e4n anteeksi-pyytelemisi\u00e4, poikani, -- sanoi vanhus. --\nKukin meist\u00e4 on velvollinen tekem\u00e4\u00e4n hyv\u00e4\u00e4 l\u00e4himm\u00e4isellens\u00e4. Ota\nt\u00e4m\u00e4. Olisin suonut, ett\u00e4 siin\u00e4 olisi enemm\u00e4nkin, mutta viisi puntaa\nauttanee sinut pulasta, ja ne annan kernaasti.\nSiev\u00e4 nuorukainen vuodatti kiitollisuuden kyyneleit\u00e4, ja tuskin\nh\u00e4nen kiitollisuutensa oli sittenk\u00e4\u00e4n niin suuri kuin minun. Olisin\ntahtonut sulkea syliini tuon vanhan herran: niin kovin minua\nmiellytti h\u00e4nen hyv\u00e4ntahtoisuutensa.\nH\u00e4n rupesi sitten j\u00e4lleen lukemaan, me jatkoimme keskusteluamme.\nJonkun ajan per\u00e4st\u00e4 kumppalini nousi, sanoen pikimm\u00e4lt\u00e4\u00e4n\npist\u00e4ytyv\u00e4ns\u00e4 asioillaan markkinoilla ja tulevansa kohta takaisin,\nsill\u00e4, kuten h\u00e4nen sanansa kuuluivat, h\u00e4nen on hauska olla tohtori\nPrimrosen seurassa niin kauan kuin mahdollista.\nKuultuaan nime\u00e4ni mainittavan, vanha herra katseli minua tarkasti\njonkun aikaa ja yst\u00e4v\u00e4ni l\u00e4hdetty\u00e4 kysyi suurella kunnioituksella,\nolinko min\u00e4 jollain tavoin sukuja sen suuren Primrosen kanssa,\nsen miehekk\u00e4\u00e4n monogamistin ja kirkon lujan tukipylv\u00e4\u00e4n. Ei ollut\nsyd\u00e4meni milloinkaan tuntenut puhtaampaa ihastusta kuin t\u00e4ss\u00e4\nsilm\u00e4nr\u00e4p\u00e4yksess\u00e4.\n-- Sir! -- huudahdin min\u00e4. -- Te olette hyv\u00e4 mies, siit\u00e4 olen varma,\nja teid\u00e4n suosiollinen puheenne lis\u00e4\u00e4 syd\u00e4mess\u00e4ni sit\u00e4 iloa, mink\u00e4\nteid\u00e4n hyv\u00e4ntahtoisuutenne jo ennest\u00e4\u00e4n on siin\u00e4 her\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt. Te\nn\u00e4ette edess\u00e4nne, sir, sen t:ri Primrosen, monagamistin, jota olette\nsuvainneet sanoa suureksi. Te n\u00e4ette t\u00e4ss\u00e4 sen kovaonnisen teologin,\njoka niin kauan ja -- minunhan ei oikein sopisi sanoa niin hyv\u00e4ll\u00e4\nmenestyksell\u00e4 on taistellut nykyajan deuterogamiaa vastaan.\n-- Sir, -- lausui vieras, t\u00e4ynn\u00e4 syv\u00e4\u00e4 kunnioitusta, -- pelk\u00e4\u00e4np\u00e4\nolleeni liian tuttavallinen; suokaa anteeksi, sir, minun\nuteliaisuuteni, suokaa anteeksi.\n-- Sir, -- huudahdin min\u00e4, tarttuen h\u00e4nen k\u00e4teens\u00e4, -- teid\u00e4n\ntuttavallisuutenne on minulle kaikkea muuta kuin vastenmielist\u00e4, ja\nniinp\u00e4 pyyd\u00e4n teit\u00e4 vastaan-ottamaan minun yst\u00e4vyyteni, niinkuin jo\nolette saaneet osaksenne minun kunnioitukseni.\n-- Kiitollisena otan t\u00e4m\u00e4n tarjouksenne vastaan, -- lausui h\u00e4n,\nk\u00e4tt\u00e4ni puristaen, -- sin\u00e4 j\u00e4rk\u00e4ht\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00f6m\u00e4n oikeauskoisuuden\ntukipylv\u00e4s, ja n\u00e4enk\u00f6 min\u00e4...\nT\u00e4ss\u00e4 min\u00e4 keskeytin h\u00e4net enemp\u00e4\u00e4 puhumasta, sill\u00e4 vaikka min\u00e4\nkirjailijana jaksoin sulattaa mielistely\u00e4 suurinkin suupaloin, ei\nkainouteni t\u00e4ll\u00e4 kertaa siet\u00e4nyt sen enemp\u00e4\u00e4. Se sittenkin on varma,\nett'eiv\u00e4t romaaninsankarit ole milloinkaan solmineet niin nopeita\nyst\u00e4vyydenliittoja.\nHaasteltiin sitten erillaisista asioista. Ensi alussa h\u00e4n tuntui\nenemm\u00e4n hurskaalta kuin oppineelta. Luulin jo h\u00e4nen pit\u00e4v\u00e4n kaikkea\nmaallista oppia joutavana. Se ei kumminkaan v\u00e4hent\u00e4nyt minun\nkunnioitustani h\u00e4nt\u00e4 kohtaan, sill\u00e4 minussa itsess\u00e4nikin oli jo viime\naikoina alkanut her\u00e4t\u00e4 samallaisia mielipiteit\u00e4. Siksip\u00e4 huomautinkin\nnyt, ett\u00e4 maailma yleens\u00e4 alkaa minun mielest\u00e4ni olla moitittavan\nv\u00e4linpit\u00e4m\u00e4t\u00f6n kirkon-opin asioissa ja kuuntelee liiankin paljon\ninhimillist\u00e4 j\u00e4rkeilemist\u00e4.\n-- Niin, niin, sir! -- vastasi h\u00e4n, ik\u00e4\u00e4nkuin olisi kaiken oppinsa\ns\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4nyt t\u00e4ksi hetkeksi. Niin, sir, maailma on muuttunut lapseksi\nj\u00e4lleen, ja kumminkin on kosmogonia, eli oppi maailman luomisesta,\npannut kaikkina aikoina filosofien p\u00e4\u00e4t py\u00f6r\u00e4lle. Mik\u00e4 sekamelska\nmielipiteit\u00e4 maailman luomisesta! Sanconiathonit, Manethot,\nBerosus'et ja Ocellus Lucanus'et -- kaikki he ovat yritelleet,\nmutta turhaan. Viimeksi mainittu lausuu n\u00e4in: _\"Anarchon ara kai\nateleuteeton to pan\"_, se on: ei mill\u00e4\u00e4n asialla ole alkua eik\u00e4\nloppuakaan. Manethokin, joka oli Nebuchadon-asserin aikuisia asser on\nsyrialainen sana, joka liitettiin liikanimen\u00e4 sen puolen kuninkaitten\nnimen per\u00e4\u00e4n, niinkuin Teglat Phael-asser, Nabon-asser -- h\u00e4n, sanon\nmin\u00e4, v\u00e4itti yht\u00e4 per\u00e4tt\u00f6mi\u00e4, sill\u00e4, niinkuin me sanomme: _\"ek tu\nbibliu kyberneetees\"_, joka on niin paljo kuin: ei maailma kirjoista\nviisastu, niin koetti h\u00e4n saada selville... Mutta, sir, suokaa\nanteeksi, min\u00e4h\u00e4n olen joutunut syrj\u00e4\u00e4n p\u00e4\u00e4asiasta...\nJa niin h\u00e4n todella olikin. En suuriksi surmiksenikaan voinut\nk\u00e4sitt\u00e4\u00e4, mit\u00e4 maailman luomisella on tekemist\u00e4 sen asian kanssa,\njosta me olimme ruvenneet keskustelemaan, mutta huomasinhan siit\u00e4\nsent\u00e4\u00e4n, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n on oppinut mies, ja kunnioitukseni h\u00e4nt\u00e4 kohtaan\nkasvoi yh\u00e4 suuremmaksi. P\u00e4\u00e4tin senvuoksi panna h\u00e4net koetukselle;\nmutta h\u00e4n oli liian s\u00e4ve\u00e4 ja kohtelias, pyrki\u00e4kseen p\u00e4\u00e4sem\u00e4\u00e4n\nvoitolle minusta. Milloin vaan lausuin sellaista, mik\u00e4 n\u00e4ytti\ntaisteluun vaativalta v\u00e4itteelt\u00e4, silloin h\u00e4n myh\u00e4hti vain, pudisti\np\u00e4\u00e4t\u00e4\u00e4n eik\u00e4 puhunut mit\u00e4\u00e4n. Siit\u00e4 min\u00e4 huomasin, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nell\u00e4 olisi\npaljokin sanomista, jos vaan tahtoisi ajatuksensa lausua. Ja niinp\u00e4\npuheen-aihe v\u00e4hitellen siirtyi muinais-ajasta nykyisiin. Ennenkuin\nhuomasinkaan, keskustelimme siit\u00e4, mik\u00e4 meid\u00e4t kumpaisenkin oli\nsaattanut markkinoille. Min\u00e4 sanoin tulleeni my\u00f6m\u00e4\u00e4n hevosta ja --\nonnellinen sattuma -- h\u00e4n oli tullut ostamaan hevosta lampuodilleen.\nMinun hevoseni tuotiin n\u00e4ytteille, eik\u00e4 aikaakaan niin jo teimme\nkaupat.\nNyt oli vain hinta suoritettava minulle. H\u00e4n veti esille\nkolmenkymmenen punnan setelin ja pyysi antamaan siit\u00e4 takaisin. Kun\nen sit\u00e4 voinut tehd\u00e4, kutsutti h\u00e4n palvelijansa, joka ilmestyikin,\nvarsin soma livrea yll\u00e4\u00e4n.\n-- Kas t\u00e4ss\u00e4, Abraham, -- sanoi vanha herra. -- K\u00e4y vaihtamassa t\u00e4m\u00e4\nkultarahoiksi joko t\u00e4ss\u00e4 naapurissa Jacksonilla tai jossain muualla.\nPalvelijan menty\u00e4 h\u00e4n rupesi sangen innokkaasti puhumaan siit\u00e4,\nkuinka kova puute nykyj\u00e4\u00e4n on hopeasta; min\u00e4 puolestani valitin\nviel\u00e4 innokkaammin nykyist\u00e4 kullan puutetta, ja niinp\u00e4 me, Abrahamin\npalatessa, olimme yht\u00e4 mielt\u00e4 siit\u00e4, ett'ei raha ole milloinkaan\nollut niin ahtaalla kuin nyt.\nAbraham toi sen tiedon tullessaan, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n oli k\u00e4ynyt joka paikassa,\nmutta ei ollut saanut miss\u00e4\u00e4n vaihdetuksi, vaikka oli tarjonnut puoli\nkruunua s\u00e4rki\u00e4isi\u00e4kin. Se oli sangen harmillista meille kaikille.\nHetken kulutta vanha gentleman kys\u00e4isi, tunnenko min\u00e4 siell\u00e4 meid\u00e4n\npuolella er\u00e4st\u00e4 Salomon Flamboroughia. Min\u00e4 vastasin, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nh\u00e4n on\nminun l\u00e4hin naapurini.\n-- No sitten, -- sanoi h\u00e4n, -- sitten on asia luullakseni selv\u00e4.\nTe saatte vekselin, joka on h\u00e4nen maksettavansa n\u00e4ytett\u00e4ess\u00e4. Ja\nsen min\u00e4 sanon, ett'ei ole toista niin tanakkaa miest\u00e4 viiden\npeninkulman alalla yht\u00e4\u00e4n ainoaa. Arvoisa Salomon ja min\u00e4 olemme\ntunteneet toisiamme jo monta vuotta. Min\u00e4 muistan ennen vanhaan aina\nvoittaneeni h\u00e4net kolmihypyss\u00e4; mutta toisella jalalla h\u00e4n hyppi aina\nkovemmin minua.\nNaapurini suoritettavaksi asetettu vekseli oli minulle aivan samaa\nkuin raha, min\u00e4 kun olin aivan varma h\u00e4nen maksukykyisyydest\u00e4\u00e4n.\nVekseli varustettiin allekirjoituksella ja pistettiin minulle k\u00e4teen.\nJa sitten mr Jenkinson (se vanha gentleman), h\u00e4nen palvelijansa\nAbraham ja minun hevoseni, vanha Vaapukka, l\u00e4ksiv\u00e4t laputtamaan pois,\ntyytyv\u00e4isin\u00e4 toisiinsa kukin. Tuokion kuluttua rupesin tarkemmin\nmiettim\u00e4\u00e4n asiata ja tulin ajatelleeksi, ett\u00e4 v\u00e4\u00e4rin oli sittenkin\nmenn\u00e4 ottamaan oudolta vekseli\u00e4. Ja niinp\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4tin kuin p\u00e4\u00e4tinkin\nl\u00e4hte\u00e4 ostajan per\u00e4\u00e4n vaatimaan hevostani takaisin. Mutta se oli\nmy\u00f6h\u00e4ist\u00e4. L\u00e4ksin siis kotiani, p\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4en saada yst\u00e4v\u00e4lt\u00e4ni rahat\nvekselill\u00e4 niin pian kuin mahdollista. Naapuri istui ovellaan, piippu\nhampaissa. Kerroin h\u00e4nelle, ett\u00e4 minulla olisi h\u00e4nelle pieni paperi\nja vedin sen esille. H\u00e4n luki sen kahteen kertaan.\n-- Saatte te kai nimest\u00e4 selv\u00e4n? -- huudahdin min\u00e4. -- Efraim\nJenkinson.\n-- Kyll\u00e4, -- vastasi h\u00e4n. -- Nimi on selv\u00e4, ja tunnen min\u00e4 miehenkin:\nsuurin roisto taivaan kannen alla. Sama lurjus, joka m\u00f6i meille\nsilm\u00e4lasit. Eik\u00f6s se ollut varsin arvoisan n\u00e4k\u00f6inen mies, tukka\nharmaa ja takintaskut ilman lappuja? Ja eik\u00f6s h\u00e4n puhua paasunnut\ntuvan t\u00e4ydelt\u00e4 kreikankielt\u00e4 ja kosmogoniasta ja maailmasta?\nSiihen min\u00e4 vastasin huokauksella.\n-- Niin -- jatkoi naapuri, -- siin\u00e4 se ainoa opin simare, mik\u00e4\nh\u00e4nell\u00e4 on, ja sill\u00e4 h\u00e4n ratsastaa aina, kun tulee jonkun oppineen\nmiehen seuraan. Kyll\u00e4 min\u00e4 sen ry\u00f6k\u00e4leen tunnen, eik\u00e4 h\u00e4n minulta nyt\nen\u00e4\u00e4 karkuun p\u00e4\u00e4se.\nTarpeeksi olin jo n\u00f6yryytetty, mutta pahin paikka oli viel\u00e4 j\u00e4ljell\u00e4:\nmitenk\u00e4 tulla vaimoni ja tytt\u00e4rieni n\u00e4kyviin? Ei ole karkuteill\u00e4\nk\u00e4ynyt koulupoika milloinkaan niin kovasti pelj\u00e4nnyt palata takaisin\nja astua koulumestarin kasvojen eteen kuin min\u00e4 nyt kotia tuloa.\nP\u00e4\u00e4tin kumminkin enn\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4 heid\u00e4n vihansa edelle ja esiinty\u00e4 itse jo\nalun pit\u00e4in hyvin kiivaana.\nMutta voi! Kotia tultuani tapasin meik\u00e4l\u00e4iset kaikkea muuta kuin\ntaistelunhaluisina. Vaimoni ja tytt\u00e4reni olivat kyyneleihin\nsulamassa. Mr Thornhill oli n\u00e4et sill\u00e4 v\u00e4lin k\u00e4ynyt sanomassa, ett'ei\nheid\u00e4n matkastansa Lontoosen tule mit\u00e4\u00e4n. Ladyt, saatuaan joltakin\npahan-ilkiselt\u00e4 ep\u00e4edullisia tietoja meist\u00e4, olivat samana p\u00e4iv\u00e4n\u00e4\nl\u00e4hteneet Lontoosen. H\u00e4n ei ollut saanut tiet\u00e4\u00e4, mit\u00e4 meist\u00e4 oli\nsanottu ja kuka oli sanonut, mutta olipa se nyt kuka hyv\u00e4ns\u00e4, ja\nolipa puheet millaisia tahansa, h\u00e4n puolestaan vakuutti tahtovansa\nyh\u00e4 edelleen olla meid\u00e4n perheen yst\u00e4v\u00e4 ja suojelija.\nN\u00e4in ollen he kestiv\u00e4t sanoman minunkin kovasta kohtalostani tyynell\u00e4\nmielin: se himmeni heid\u00e4n omaan suruunsa. Mutta pahimmin meit\u00e4\nhuolestutti, ajatellessamme, kuka mahtoi ollakaan niin h\u00e4jy, ett\u00e4 oli\niljennyt loukata n\u00e4in viattoman perheen mainetta kuin meid\u00e4n. Olihan\nmeid\u00e4n asemamme niin alhainen, ett'ei olisi luullut sit\u00e4 kenenk\u00e4\u00e4n\nkadehtivan, ja olimmehan me niin s\u00e4ve\u00e4t\u00e4 v\u00e4ke\u00e4, ett'ei kenenk\u00e4\u00e4n\nolisi pit\u00e4nyt olla meille suutuksissa.\nVIIDESTOISTA LUKU\nMr Burchell kaikessa halpamaisuudessaan. Hulluutta on olla ylen\nviisas.\nKoko se ilta ja osa seuraavaa p\u00e4iv\u00e4\u00e4kin kului turhissa yrityksiss\u00e4\nsaada selville, ket\u00e4 vihamiehi\u00e4 meill\u00e4 on. Tuskin sit\u00e4 naapuria,\njohon ep\u00e4luulomme ei olisi kohdistunut, ja jokaisella meist\u00e4 oli omat\nsyyns\u00e4 siihen.\nNeuvottomina tuossa tuumaillessamme, tuli sis\u00e4\u00e4n toinen pikku\npojistamme, joka oli ollut ulkona leikkim\u00e4ss\u00e4, ja toi nurmelta\nl\u00f6yt\u00e4m\u00e4ns\u00e4 taskukirjan. Se tunnettiin heti mr Burchellin omaksi.\nOlihan se n\u00e4hty h\u00e4nell\u00e4. L\u00e4hemmin tarkastettaessa huomattiin\nsiin\u00e4 muistiinpanoja kaikenlaisista asioista. Eritt\u00e4inkin kiintyi\nmeid\u00e4n huomiomme er\u00e4\u00e4sen sinetill\u00e4 suljettuun kirjelappuun, jonka\np\u00e4\u00e4llyksell\u00e4 luki: _J\u00e4ljenn\u00f6s kirjeest\u00e4, joka on l\u00e4hetett\u00e4v\u00e4 ladyille\nThornhill Castle'ssa_. Heti kohta iski meid\u00e4n mieleen, ett\u00e4 siin\u00e4h\u00e4n\nse h\u00e4jy panettelija onkin. Kysymys oli nyt vaan, avataanko kirje.\nMin\u00e4 panin vastaan, Sofia puolestaan v\u00e4itti olevansa vakuutettu\nsiit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 mr Burchell se viimeisen\u00e4 tekisi itsens\u00e4 syyp\u00e4\u00e4ksi niin\nkehnoon menettelyyn, jonka vuoksi h\u00e4n vaati kirjett\u00e4 avattavaksi.\nJa koska nyt muutkin perheen j\u00e4senet yhtyiv\u00e4t h\u00e4neen, niin, heid\u00e4n\nyhteisille pyynn\u00f6illens\u00e4 per\u00e4\u00e4 antaen, min\u00e4 luin seuraavaa:\n    'Ladies!\n    Kirjeentuoja on antava Teille riitt\u00e4vi\u00e4 tietoja t\u00e4m\u00e4n\n    kirjoittajasta. Ainakin h\u00e4n on viattomuuden yst\u00e4v\u00e4 ja valmis\n    ehk\u00e4isem\u00e4\u00e4n sen viettelemist\u00e4. Totena on minulle kerrottu Teid\u00e4n\n    aikovan vied\u00e4 seuranaisten nimell\u00e4 Lontoosen kaksi nuorta lady\u00e4,\n    jotka min\u00e4 joissain m\u00e4\u00e4rin tunnen. Kosk'en milloinkaan soisi\n    yksinkertaisuutta petett\u00e4v\u00e4n enk\u00e4 viattomuutta saastutettavan,\n    niin t\u00e4ytyy minun mielipiteen\u00e4ni lausua, ett\u00e4 senkaltaisesta\n    sopimattomasta toimenpiteest\u00e4 saattaa olla turmiollisia\n    seurauksia. Minun ei ole koskaan ollut tapana ankarasti\n    kohdella kunniattomia ja siveett\u00f6mi\u00e4 ihmisi\u00e4, enk\u00e4 olisi\n    nytk\u00e4\u00e4n t\u00e4h\u00e4n keinoon ryhtynyt, mielipidett\u00e4ni lausuakseni tahi\n    ajattelemattomuutta moittiakseni, ellei t\u00e4ss\u00e4 lopulta olisi rikos\n    pelj\u00e4tt\u00e4viss\u00e4. Ottakaa senvuoksi vastaan yst\u00e4v\u00e4n varoitus ja\n    punnitkaa tarkoin, mit\u00e4 seurauksia on oleva siit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4pe\u00e4t\u00e4\n    ja pahetta saatetaan niihin majoihin, miss\u00e4 rauha ja viattomuus\n    ovat t\u00e4h\u00e4n saakka asuntoansa pit\u00e4neet.'\nNyt ei en\u00e4\u00e4 ep\u00e4ilemist\u00e4. Olihan kirjeess\u00e4 tosin sellaistakin,\nmink\u00e4 saattoi k\u00e4sitt\u00e4\u00e4 puolin ja toisin; moitteet siin\u00e4 saattoivat\nkoskea yht\u00e4 hyvin kirjeen vastaan-ottajia kuin meit\u00e4kin, mutta\npahan-ilkinen tarkoitus oli aivan ilmeinen, ja muusta me v\u00e4h\u00e4t.\nVaimoni tuskin malttoi kuulla minua loppuun asti, vaan s\u00e4tti\nkirjoittajaa hillitt\u00f6m\u00e4ss\u00e4 vihassa. Olivia oli yht\u00e4 ankara, Sofia\naivan h\u00e4mm\u00e4styksiss\u00e4\u00e4n moisesta h\u00e4jyydest\u00e4. Minun mielest\u00e4ni se oli\nhalpamaisinta, aiheetonta kiitt\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00f6myytt\u00e4, mit\u00e4 ikin\u00e4 olin n\u00e4hnyt,\nenk\u00e4 voinut keksi\u00e4 siihen muuta syyt\u00e4 kuin ett\u00e4 kirjoittaja oli siten\ntahtonut pid\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4 nuorimman tytt\u00e4reni maalla, saadakseen vaan sit\u00e4\nparemmin tilaisuutta seurustelemaan h\u00e4nen kanssaan.\nSiin\u00e4 sit\u00e4 yhdess\u00e4 sitten istuttiin, koston-aikeita hautoen, kun\n\u00e4kki\u00e4 toinen pikku pojista juoksi sis\u00e4\u00e4n, ilmoittaen, ett\u00e4 mr\nBurchell on kedon toisessa p\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4, matkalla t\u00e4nnep\u00e4in. Helpompi on\nmieless\u00e4\u00e4n kuvailla kuin kertoa erillaisia tunteita meiss\u00e4: toisella\npuolen tuska \u00e4sken k\u00e4rsityn v\u00e4\u00e4ryyden t\u00e4hden ja toisella l\u00e4heisen\nkoston tuottama mielihyv\u00e4. Ensin oli kyll\u00e4 aikomus vain nuhdella\nh\u00e4nt\u00e4 h\u00e4nen kiitt\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00f6myydess\u00e4\u00e4n, mutta nyt p\u00e4\u00e4tettiin se tehd\u00e4\nniin, ett\u00e4 kerrassaan tuntuu.\nNiinp\u00e4 sovittiin siit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4net otamme vastaan hymyillen, niinkuin\nennenkin, ja haastelemme h\u00e4nen kanssaan ensi alussa tavallista\nyst\u00e4v\u00e4llisemmin h\u00e4nen mielihyvikseen ja sitten, kesken mairittelevaa\nhiljaisuutta, \u00e4kki\u00e4 r\u00e4j\u00e4hd\u00e4mme h\u00e4nen ylitsens\u00e4 kuin maanj\u00e4ristys ja\nmuserramme h\u00e4net h\u00e4nen oman ilkeytens\u00e4 tunnolla. Sittenkuin t\u00e4m\u00e4 oli\np\u00e4\u00e4tetty, otti vaimoni ollaksensa toimivana henken\u00e4, h\u00e4nell\u00e4 kun oli\njonkun verran taipumustakin sellaiseen.\nMe n\u00e4imme mr Burchellin l\u00e4henev\u00e4n. H\u00e4n astui sis\u00e4\u00e4n, otti tuolin ja\nistui.\n-- Kaunis ilma t\u00e4n\u00e4\u00e4n, mr Burchell.\n-- Kaunis on, tohtori; mutta luulenpa, ett\u00e4 saadaan sadetta, sill\u00e4\n\u00e4sken minulla s\u00e4\u00e4ri\u00e4 vihloi ja...\n-- V\u00e4\u00e4ri\u00e4k\u00f6 kihloja! -- huudahti vaimoni, purskahtaen nauramaan ja\npyyt\u00e4en sitten anteeksi, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n mielell\u00e4\u00e4n laskettelee sukkeluuksia.\n-- Hyv\u00e4 rouva, -- vastasi mr Burchell, min\u00e4 suon sen kaikesta\nsyd\u00e4mest\u00e4ni anteeksi, sill\u00e4, sen vakuutan, en olisi sit\u00e4\nsukkeluudeksi huomannutkaan, ellette te olisi sanonut.\n-- Kenties ette, sir, -- virkkoi vaimoni, iskien meille silm\u00e4\u00e4, --\nmutta osannette kai sent\u00e4\u00e4n sanoa, kuinka monta sukkeluutta unssiin\nmenee.\n-- Minusta n\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4, madame, -- vastasi Burchell, -- kuin olisitte\nt\u00e4n'aamuna lukenut jonkun kompakirjan. Tuo \"luoti sukkeluutta\" oli\nvarsin n\u00e4pp\u00e4r\u00e4\u00e4, vaikka kyll\u00e4 min\u00e4, madame, olisin kernaammin n\u00e4hnyt\npuoli unssia j\u00e4rke\u00e4.\n-- Kyll\u00e4 kaiketi, -- virkkoi vaimoni, yh\u00e4 myh\u00e4illen meihin p\u00e4in,\nvaikk'ei tuo hymy oikein ottanut onnistuakseen; -- ja kumminkin olen\nmin\u00e4 n\u00e4hnyt miehi\u00e4, jotka mielell\u00e4\u00e4n pyrkiv\u00e4t j\u00e4rkev\u00e4in kirjoihin,\nvaikka heiss\u00e4 on varsin v\u00e4h\u00e4n j\u00e4rke\u00e4.\n-- Ja te, -- puhui h\u00e4nen vastustajansa, -- te olette ep\u00e4ilem\u00e4tt\u00e4\ntuntenut naisia, jotka luulevat olevansa sukkelia, vaikk'eiv\u00e4t\nolekaan.\nMin\u00e4 huomasin kohta, ett'ei vaimoni p\u00e4\u00e4se kovinkaan pitk\u00e4lle\nyrityksess\u00e4\u00e4n, ja p\u00e4\u00e4tin sanoa Burchellille pari hiukan vakavampaa\nsanaa.\n-- Sukkeluus ja j\u00e4rki, -- huudahdin min\u00e4, -- tyhj\u00e4\u00e4 tyyni ne ovat\nkumpikin, ellei ole rehellisyytt\u00e4, joka kullekin oikean arvon\nantaa. Tuhma talonpoika virheit\u00e4 vailla on suurempi kuin filosofi\nvirheit\u00e4 t\u00e4ynn\u00e4, sill\u00e4 mit\u00e4 on nero tai urhoollisuus ilman syd\u00e4nt\u00e4?\n_Kunniallinen mies on Jumalan ihanin teos!_\n-- Tuota Popen lauselmaa -- vastasi Burchell -- min\u00e4 olen aina\npit\u00e4nyt neron miehelle arvottomana ja h\u00e4nen oman etevyytens\u00e4\nhalventamisena. Samoin kuin kirjan arvoa ei kohota se, ett\u00e4 se on\nvapaa painovirheist\u00e4, vaan se, ett\u00e4 siin\u00e4 on paljon kaunista ja\nhyv\u00e4\u00e4, samoin ei pit\u00e4isi miest\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n arvostella virheett\u00f6myytt\u00e4\nmy\u00f6ten, vaan h\u00e4nen hyv\u00e4in avujensa m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4n mukaan. Oppineelta saattaa\npuuttua k\u00e4yt\u00e4nn\u00f6llist\u00e4 \u00e4ly\u00e4, valtiomiehess\u00e4 saattaa olla ylpeytt\u00e4,\nsotilaassa julmuutta, mutta pit\u00e4isik\u00f6 meid\u00e4n asettaa heid\u00e4n edellens\u00e4\nhalpa k\u00e4sity\u00f6l\u00e4inen, joka vaivalla ponnistelekse el\u00e4m\u00e4n l\u00e4pi,\nkenenk\u00e4\u00e4n moittimatta, tai kiittelem\u00e4tt\u00e4? Samoinhan meid\u00e4n pit\u00e4isi\nantaa flamandilaisen koulun kilteille, s\u00e4\u00e4nn\u00f6nmukaisille tauluille\nsuurempi arvo kuin roomalaisen, siveltimen virheellisille, mutta ylen\nkauniille teoksille.\n-- Sir, -- virkoin min\u00e4, -- teid\u00e4n huomautuksenne on kohdallaan, kun\npuhe on loistavista hyvist\u00e4 avuista ja v\u00e4h\u00e4p\u00e4t\u00f6isist\u00e4 vioista, mutta\nhalveksia t\u00e4ytyy sellaista henkil\u00f6\u00e4, jossa erinomaisten hyv\u00e4in avujen\nvastakohtina on suuria virheit\u00e4.\n-- Kenties, -- lausui h\u00e4n, -- on sellaisiakin hirvi\u00f6it\u00e4 olemassa,\njoissa suurten hyv\u00e4in avujen rinnalla on suuria virheit\u00e4; min\u00e4\npuolestani en ole el\u00e4m\u00e4ss\u00e4ni niit\u00e4 milloinkaan n\u00e4hnyt. P\u00e4invastoin\nolen huomannut, ett\u00e4 miss\u00e4 mieliala on oikea, siin\u00e4 harrastuskin on\nhyv\u00e4. Kaitselmuskin n\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 t\u00e4ss\u00e4 kohden olevan ihmiskunnan yst\u00e4v\u00e4,\nse kun heikontaa j\u00e4rke\u00e4, milloin syd\u00e4n on turmeltunut, ja laimentaa\nvoiman, jos tahto on taipuvainen pahaa tekem\u00e4\u00e4n. Sama laki n\u00e4kyy\nulottuvan muihinkin luotuihin: pienet, hy\u00f6nteisrotuihin kuuluvaiset\nel\u00e4imet ovat kavalia, julmia, pelkurimaisia, jota vastoin v\u00e4kev\u00e4t ja\nvoimalliset el\u00e4imet ovat jaloja, ylev\u00e4mielisi\u00e4, rohkeita.\n-- Tuo kuuluu hyv\u00e4lt\u00e4, -- vastasin min\u00e4; -- ja kumminkin olisi t\u00e4ll\u00e4\nhetkell\u00e4 helppo vet\u00e4\u00e4 esille sellainen mies -- min\u00e4 loin h\u00e4neen\ntuikean katseen, -- jonka p\u00e4\u00e4 ja syd\u00e4n ovat inhottavia vastakohtia\ntoisilleen. Niin, sir, -- jatkoin min\u00e4, \u00e4\u00e4nt\u00e4ni korottaen -- ja min\u00e4\niloitsen, saadessani tilaisuuden paljastaa h\u00e4net ilmi juuri kuin\nh\u00e4n parhaillaan luulee olevansa k\u00e4tk\u00f6ss\u00e4. Tunnetteko, sir, t\u00e4t\u00e4\ntaskukirjaa?\n-- Kyll\u00e4, -- vastasi h\u00e4n siet\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00f6m\u00e4n tyynesti, -- seh\u00e4n on minun,\nja hauskaa, ett\u00e4 te sen olette l\u00f6yt\u00e4neet.\n-- Ja, tunnetteko, -- huusin min\u00e4, -- tunnetteko t\u00e4t\u00e4 kirjett\u00e4?\nEi yht\u00e4\u00e4n verukkeita, mies, vaan katsokaa minua suoraan silmiin.\nTunnetteko t\u00e4t\u00e4 kirjett\u00e4? kysyn min\u00e4.\n-- T\u00e4t\u00e4k\u00f6? -- vastasi h\u00e4n. -- Itseh\u00e4n min\u00e4 olen sen kirjoittanut.\n-- Ja kuinka te, -- sanoin min\u00e4, -- kuinka te olette saattanut olla\nniin halpamainen, niin kiitt\u00e4m\u00e4t\u00f6n, ett\u00e4 olette rohjennut t\u00e4m\u00e4n\nkirjoittaa?\n-- Ja kuinka te, -- vastasi h\u00e4n, verrattomalla julkeudella katsoen\nminuun, -- kuinka te saatatte olla niin halpamainen, ett\u00e4 olette\nrohjennut avata t\u00e4m\u00e4n kirjeen? Ettek\u00f6 tied\u00e4, ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 voisin\nhirt\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4 teid\u00e4t t\u00e4m\u00e4n oven eteen joka miehen? Minun ei tarvitse\nmuuta kuin l\u00e4himm\u00e4n tuomarin edess\u00e4 vannoa, ett\u00e4 te olette\nrikoksellisella tavalla murtanut minun taskukirjani lukon, ja teid\u00e4t\nhirtet\u00e4\u00e4n jok'ikinen t\u00e4m\u00e4n oven kamanaani.\nT\u00e4m\u00e4 odottamaton h\u00e4vytt\u00f6myys saattoi minua sellaiseen raivoon, ett\u00e4\ntuskin jaksoin hillit\u00e4 itse\u00e4ni.\n-- Ulos, kiitt\u00e4m\u00e4t\u00f6n konna, \u00e4l\u00e4k\u00e4 en\u00e4\u00e4 minun majaani h\u00e4jyydell\u00e4si\nsaastuta! Ulos, ja laita niin, ett'en sinua en\u00e4\u00e4 koskaan t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 n\u00e4e!\nUlos ovesta! Ainoana rangaistuksenasi olkoon rauhaton omatunto; kyll\u00e4\nse sinua tarpeeksesi kiduttaa.\nNiin sanottuani viskasin taskukirjan h\u00e4nen eteens\u00e4. H\u00e4n otti sen\nmyh\u00e4illen yl\u00f6s, pani per\u00e4ti tyynesti lukot kiinni ja l\u00e4ksi pois.\nMe seisoimme h\u00e4mm\u00e4stynein\u00e4 h\u00e4nen tavattomasta levollisuudestaan.\nVaimoni varsinkin oli raivoissaan siit\u00e4, ett'ei mik\u00e4\u00e4n ollut saanut\nh\u00e4nt\u00e4 suuttumaan tai h\u00e4pe\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n h\u00e4nen konnant\u00f6it\u00e4ns\u00e4.\n-- Armas em\u00e4nt\u00e4ni, -- virkoin min\u00e4, -- tyynnytt\u00e4\u00e4kseni kiihkoa, joka\noli meiss\u00e4 jo noussut liiankin kiivaaksi, -- emme me saa h\u00e4mm\u00e4sty\u00e4\nsit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 kelvottomat ihmiset ovat h\u00e4py\u00e4 vailla. He punastuvat\nvain, kun heid\u00e4t yll\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4 hyv\u00e4\u00e4 tekem\u00e4st\u00e4, mutta kerskaavat pahoista\nteoistaan.\n-- Rikos ja h\u00e4py -- jatkoin min\u00e4, -- olivat ennen vanhaan hyvi\u00e4\ntoveruksia ensi alussa, niin kertoo satu. Yhdess\u00e4 aina olivat\nja yhdess\u00e4 vaelsivat. Mutta pian he pitk\u00e4styiv\u00e4t liittoonsa\nkumpainenkin, siit\u00e4 kun oli haittaa niin toiselle kuin toisellekin:\nRikos teki usein mielipahaa H\u00e4vylle, ja H\u00e4py sai usein ilmi Rikoksen\nsalaiset vehkeet. Riiteliv\u00e4t ja v\u00e4itteliv\u00e4t jonkun aikaa ja p\u00e4\u00e4ttiv\u00e4t\nsitten erota. Rikos vaelsi julkeasti edelleen, saavuttaakseen\nKohtalon, joka kulki edell\u00e4 py\u00f6velin muodossa, mutta H\u00e4py, arka kun\noli luonnostaankin, k\u00e4\u00e4ntyi takaisin ja liittyi Hyveesen, jonka\nhe matkalle l\u00e4htiess\u00e4\u00e4n olivat j\u00e4tt\u00e4neet j\u00e4lkeens\u00e4. -- -- Niinp\u00e4,\nlapset, kun ihminen on kulkenut jonkun matkaa paheitten tiell\u00e4,\nsilloin h\u00e4py h\u00e4net hylk\u00e4\u00e4 ja palajaa palvelemaan niit\u00e4 harvoja\nhyveit\u00e4, joita ihmisell\u00e4 viel\u00e4 on j\u00e4ljell\u00e4.\nKUUDESTOISTA LUKU\nPerhe k\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 kavaluutta, mutta kohtaa viel\u00e4 suurempaa.\nMit\u00e4 lienee Sofia tuntenutkaan, mutta me muut saimme mr Burchellin\npoissaolosta piankin korvauksen: hovinherra alkoi n\u00e4et k\u00e4yd\u00e4 meill\u00e4\nyh\u00e4 useammin ja viipyi talossa entist\u00e4 kauemmin. H\u00e4nen ei tosin\nollut onnistunut hankkia tytt\u00e4rilleni mahdollisuutta p\u00e4\u00e4kaupungin\nhuvituksiin, niinkuin olisi tahtonut, mutta nyt h\u00e4n sen sijaan koetti\ntoimittaa heille kaikenlaisia pieni\u00e4 mielihyvi\u00e4, mik\u00e4li meid\u00e4n\nsyrj\u00e4inen asemamme salli.\nTavallisesti h\u00e4n tuli aamuisin. Minun ja poikani ollessa ulkot\u00f6iss\u00e4,\nh\u00e4n istui muitten perheenj\u00e4senten kanssa tuvassa, jutteli heid\u00e4n\nhuviksensa Lontoosta, jonka h\u00e4n tunsi pitkin ja poikki. H\u00e4n\ntiesi kaikki, mit\u00e4 teatterimaailmassa oli tapahtunut, ja osasi\nulkoa kaikki n\u00e4pp\u00e4rimm\u00e4t sukkeluudet ennenkuin ne olivat tulleet\nkompakirjoihinkaan. Vuoroin h\u00e4n taas opetti tytt\u00e4ri\u00e4ni ly\u00f6m\u00e4\u00e4n\npiketti\u00e4 tai pani pienet pojat boksailemaan, jotta heist\u00e4 tulisi\nnotkeita poikia, niinkuin h\u00e4n sanoi. Ja koska h\u00e4nest\u00e4 toivottiin\nv\u00e4vy\u00e4 taloon, niin oltiin joissain m\u00e4\u00e4rin sokeita kaikille h\u00e4nen\npuutteellisuuksilleen.\nT\u00e4ytyy tunnustaa, ett\u00e4 vaimoni yritteli tuhansilla keinoin saada\nh\u00e4net ansaan elikk\u00e4, lievemmin sanoen, koetti kaikin tavoin ylist\u00e4\u00e4\ntytt\u00e4riens\u00e4 ansioita. Jos teeleip\u00e4 oli makuisaa ja murevaa, niin ne\nolivat Olivian paistamia; jos karvikkoviini oli hyvin valmistettua,\nniin h\u00e4nh\u00e4n se oli marjat poiminut; Olivian sormissa kasviss\u00e4ilykkeet\nolivat saaneet oikean viheri\u00e4n v\u00e4rins\u00e4; h\u00e4nh\u00e4n se oli puddingin\nainekset m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4nnyt. Ja vuoroin vaimo parka sanoi squirelle, ett\u00e4\nh\u00e4nen mielest\u00e4\u00e4n mr Thornhill ja Olivia ovat aivan yht\u00e4 kokoa ja\npyysi heit\u00e4 nousemaan seisaalleen, jotta saataisiin n\u00e4hd\u00e4, kumpiko on\npitempi.\nT\u00e4llaiset juonet, jotka vaimoni mielest\u00e4 olivat aivan salaiset,\nmutta jotka jokainen sittenkin selv\u00e4\u00e4n huomasi, olivat meid\u00e4n\nhyv\u00e4ntekij\u00e4llemme varsin mieleisi\u00e4. Joka p\u00e4iv\u00e4 saatiin uusia\ntodistuksia h\u00e4nen palavista tunteistaan, ja vaikk'eivat ne viel\u00e4\nolleet kypsyneet varsinaiseksi kosimiseksi, niin eiv\u00e4t ne meid\u00e4n\nmielest\u00e4mme siit\u00e4 en\u00e4\u00e4 kaukanakaan olleet. Viivyttelyn syyksi me\npanimme v\u00e4listi h\u00e4nen luontaisen arkuutensa, vuoroin taas sen, ett\u00e4\nh\u00e4n pelk\u00e4\u00e4 enoansa. Mutta pian sattui muuan seikka, joka p\u00e4iv\u00e4n\nselv\u00e4\u00e4n osoitti, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nell\u00e4 on vakaa aikomus tulla meid\u00e4n perheen\nj\u00e4seneksi. Vaimoni piti sit\u00e4 ilmeisen\u00e4 lupauksena.\nVaimoni ja tytt\u00e4reni olivat kerran, k\u00e4ydess\u00e4\u00e4n vuorovierailuilla\nFlamboroughissa, n\u00e4hneet, ett\u00e4 talonv\u00e4ki siell\u00e4 oli \u00e4skett\u00e4in\nteett\u00e4nyt muotokuvansa er\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 kulkevalla maalarilla, viidest\u00e4toista\nshillingist\u00e4 hengelt\u00e4. Kun nyt n\u00e4itten naapurien ja meid\u00e4n talon\nv\u00e4lill\u00e4 oli jo ammoisista ajoista ollut olemassa jonkunlainen\nkilpailu kauneuden-aistia koskevissa asioissa, niin loukkasi\nt\u00e4llainen salainen yll\u00e4tys heid\u00e4n puoleltaan meid\u00e4n itserakkauttamme,\nja niinp\u00e4, vaikka min\u00e4 mit\u00e4 olisin puhunut -- ja paljon min\u00e4\npuhuinkin -- p\u00e4\u00e4tettiin kuin p\u00e4\u00e4tettiinkin, ett\u00e4 meist\u00e4kin pit\u00e4\u00e4\nsaataman muotokuvat.\nEnsinn\u00e4kin tilattiin maalari -- ja mink\u00e4p\u00e4s min\u00e4 sille taisin? --\nja toiseksi ruvettiin neuvottelemaan, mill\u00e4 tavalla meid\u00e4n makumme\netev\u00e4mmyys tulisi n\u00e4kyviin henkil\u00f6itten asemissa. Heit\u00e4 oli seitsem\u00e4n\nhenke\u00e4, ja heid\u00e4t oli maalattu seitsem\u00e4\u00e4n oransinv\u00e4riin: -- niin\nkerrassaan aistitonta, ei vaihtelua ilmeiss\u00e4, ei kompositionia tuon\nenemp\u00e4\u00e4. Meid\u00e4n muotokuvissamme piti olla loistavampi stiili, ja\nniinp\u00e4, monen pohdinnan ja harkinnan per\u00e4st\u00e4, tultiin vihdoin siihen\nyksimieliseen p\u00e4\u00e4t\u00f6kseen, ett\u00e4 meist\u00e4 maalataan yksi ainoa suuri\nhistoriallinen perhetaulu. Helpommaksi se k\u00e4y kanssa, arveltiin,\nsiihen kun ei tarvitse kuin yhdet ainoat puitteet, ja on se samalla\nmonta vertaa hienompikin, sill\u00e4 siihen tapaan sit\u00e4 nykyj\u00e4\u00e4n kaikki ne\nkuvansa maalauttavat, joilla hiukankin makua on.\nKosk'ei meille ensi iskulta johtunut mieleen mit\u00e4\u00e4n sopivaa\nhistoriallista aihetta, niin tyydyimme kukin osaltaan esitt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n\nyksityist\u00e4 historiallista henkil\u00f6\u00e4. Ja t\u00e4llaiseksi se kuva\nsuunniteltiin: Vaimoni on Veneri -- ja maalaria neuvottiin panemaan\nrunsaanpuoleisella k\u00e4dell\u00e4 timantteja t\u00e4m\u00e4n jumalattaren liiveihin\nja tukkaan; pikku pojat seisovat lemmenjumalina h\u00e4nen kummallakin\npuolellaan; min\u00e4, t\u00e4ysiss\u00e4 tamineissa ja liperit kaulassa, ojennan\nh\u00e4nelle viimeksi ilmestynytt\u00e4 teostani, joka koskee whistonilaista\nopinriitaa; Olivia, amazonina, istuu kukkalavalla, yll\u00e4\u00e4n viheri\u00e4\nratsupuku, runsaasti kullalla kirjailtu, ja k\u00e4dess\u00e4 raippa; Sofia on\nlammaspaimen, ymp\u00e4rill\u00e4\u00e4n niin monta lammasta kuin maalari ilmaiseksi\nottaa pannakseen; Moseksella on p\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4\u00e4n h\u00f6yhenill\u00e4 koristettu hattu.\nT\u00e4m\u00e4 aistikas sommittelu miellytti squirea niin kovin, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n\npyyt\u00e4m\u00e4ll\u00e4 pyysi p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 meid\u00e4n perheemme j\u00e4senten joukkoon, nimitt\u00e4in\nAleksander Suurena Olivian jalkain juuressa. T\u00e4m\u00e4 oli kaikkein meid\u00e4n\nmielest\u00e4 viittausta siihen, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n todella pyrkii meille perheen\nj\u00e4seneksi; eih\u00e4n siis sellaista pyynt\u00f6\u00e4 k\u00e4ynyt hylk\u00e4\u00e4minen.\nMaalari ryhtyi toimeen, ja h\u00e4n kun teki ty\u00f6t\u00e4 ahkerasti ja\njoutuisaan, niin oli koko kuva vajaassa nelj\u00e4ss\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4ss\u00e4 valmis.\nTaulu oli suurenl\u00e4nt\u00e4, ja tunnustettava on, ett'ei maalari suinkaan\nollut v\u00e4rej\u00e4 surkoillut. Siit\u00e4 h\u00e4n saikin vaimoltani monet suuret\nkiitokset. Kaikki me olimme per\u00e4ti tyytyv\u00e4isi\u00e4 h\u00e4nen ty\u00f6h\u00f6ns\u00e4, mutta\nyksi kovan onnen seikka ei ollut johtunut meille mieleen, ennenkuin\nkuva jo oli valmis. Ja siit\u00e4 meille suru ja murhe. Kuva oli niin\niso, ett'ei tuvassa ollut sijaa sille. Mitenk\u00e4 n\u00e4in t\u00e4rke\u00e4 asia oli\nmeilt\u00e4 j\u00e4\u00e4nyt huomaamatta, on kerrassaan k\u00e4sitt\u00e4m\u00e4t\u00f6nt\u00e4; merkillisen\nhuolimattomia me vaan olimme olleet. Ja niinp\u00e4 nyt, sen sijaan,\nett\u00e4 kuva olisi ollut mielistelem\u00e4ss\u00e4 meid\u00e4n turhamaisuuttamme, se\nseisoikin ihan mielt\u00e4 masentavassa asemassa ky\u00f6kin sein\u00e4\u00e4 vasten,\nsamassa paikassa, miss\u00e4 palttina oli pingotettu ja maalattu. Ei\nmahtunut se ulos yhdest\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n ovesta. Naapurit ne laskettelivat\nsukkeluuksia sen johdosta. Muutamat vertasivat sit\u00e4 Robinson Crusoen\nlaivasluupiin, jota ei jaksanut liikutella; toisten mielest\u00e4 se oli\nkuin kerinpuut pullossa; kuka kummasteli, mitenk\u00e4 se saatanee ulos,\nuseampi viel\u00e4, mitenk\u00e4 lienee koko kapine saatu sis\u00e4\u00e4n.\nMutta jos se muutamissa her\u00e4tti naurua, niin viel\u00e4 enemm\u00e4n se\nsaattoi aihetta kaikenlaisiin pahanilkisiin huomautuksiin. Squiren\nmuotokuva meid\u00e4n kuvaimme joukossa oli niin suuri kunnia, ett\u00e4 se\noli omiaan her\u00e4tt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n kateutta. H\u00e4jyj\u00e4 juoruja alkoi kierrell\u00e4\nmeist\u00e4, ja my\u00f6t\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4 oli meid\u00e4n kotirauhallemme h\u00e4irityst\u00e4 ihmisist\u00e4,\njotka yst\u00e4vin\u00e4 tulivat kertomaan, mit\u00e4 kaikkea vihamiehet meist\u00e4\npuhuvat. N\u00e4rk\u00e4styen me osoitimme moisten huhujen per\u00e4tt\u00f6myyden, mutta\nh\u00e4v\u00e4istysjutut ne saavat vaan uutta vauhtia vastustamisesta.\nSenp\u00e4vuoksi meill\u00e4 kerrankin taas pidettiin neuvoa, miten ehk\u00e4ist\u00e4\nvihamiesten pahan-ilkisyys, ja vihdoin p\u00e4\u00e4tettiin ryhty\u00e4 toimiin,\njoissa minun mielest\u00e4ni oli niin paljo juonia, ett'en min\u00e4 saattanut\nkokonaan hyv\u00e4ksy\u00e4 niit\u00e4.\nT\u00e4llainen oli tuuma: Koska p\u00e4\u00e4tarkoituksena meill\u00e4 oli saada\nselville, miss\u00e4 m\u00e4\u00e4rin mr Thornhill tarkoittaa hienosteluillaan\nt\u00e4ytt\u00e4 totta, niin p\u00e4\u00e4tti vaimoni, p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4kseen h\u00e4nen aikeittensa\nperille, kysy\u00e4 h\u00e4nen neuvoansa, millainen mies muka olisi meid\u00e4n\nvanhimmalle tytt\u00e4rellemme kaikkein sopivin. Ellei h\u00e4n senk\u00e4\u00e4n\njohdosta viel\u00e4 puhu suutansa puhtaaksi, niin s\u00e4ik\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 vaimoni\nh\u00e4nt\u00e4 kilpakosijalla. T\u00e4t\u00e4 toimenpidett\u00e4 min\u00e4 vastustin viimeisiin\nasti, kunnes Olivia juhlallisesti vakuutti menev\u00e4ns\u00e4 naimisiin sen\nmiehen kanssa, joka asetetaan squiren kilpakosijaksi, ellei squire\nest\u00e4 sit\u00e4, ottamalla h\u00e4net. T\u00e4llainen oli aie. En min\u00e4 sit\u00e4 en\u00e4\u00e4\nkivenkovaa vastustanut, ellenh\u00e4n kokonaan hyv\u00e4ksynytk\u00e4\u00e4n.\nKun sitten mr Thornhill seuravan kerran tuli meille, siirtyiv\u00e4t\ntytt\u00e4ret syrj\u00e4\u00e4n, jotta \u00e4idill\u00e4 olisi tilaisuus panna aikomuksensa\ntoimeen. He vet\u00e4ytyiv\u00e4t kumminkin vain viereisen huoneesen, johon\npuhe kuului varsin selv\u00e4sti. Asiaan tullakseen, vaimoni ensiksikin,\nviekkaasti kyll\u00e4, mainitsi, ett\u00e4 toinen miss Flamborough kuuluu\njoutuvan naimisiin mr Spankerin kanssa, ja ett\u00e4 heist\u00e4 toivotaan\nonnellista pariskuntaa. Kuultuaan squiren olevan samaa mielt\u00e4, h\u00e4n\njatkoi puhetta, sanoen, ett\u00e4 kell\u00e4 on kelpo varat, se aina kelpo\nmiehenkin saa.\n-- Mutta, -- lis\u00e4si vaimoni, -- taivas armahtakoon niit\u00e4 tytt\u00f6j\u00e4,\njoilla ei ole mit'ik\u00e4\u00e4n! Mit\u00e4 on hy\u00f6ty\u00e4 kauneudesta, mr Thornhill?\nMit\u00e4 hy\u00f6ty\u00e4 on siveydest\u00e4 ja kaikista hyvist\u00e4 avuista t\u00e4ss\u00e4\nitsekk\u00e4isyyden maailmassa? Ei nykyj\u00e4\u00e4n kukaan kysy: mik\u00e4 h\u00e4n on?\nvaan: mit\u00e4 h\u00e4nell\u00e4 on?\n-- Teid\u00e4n huomautuksenne ovat yht\u00e4 oikeita kuin uusiakin, ja min\u00e4\nolen aivan samaa mielt\u00e4, ja jos min\u00e4 olisin kuningas, niin toisin\nolisivat asiat. Silloin koittaisi herttaiset p\u00e4iv\u00e4t k\u00f6yhille\ntyt\u00f6ille: t\u00e4m\u00e4n talon nuorista ladyist\u00e4 min\u00e4 ensinkin huolen pit\u00e4isin.\n-- Sir, -- virkkoi vaimoni, -- te suvaitsette laskea leikki\u00e4; mutta\njos min\u00e4 olisin kuningatar, kyll\u00e4 vainenkin tiet\u00e4isin, mist\u00e4 minun\nvanhin tytt\u00e4reni miest\u00e4 katselisi. Mutta koska te nyt johditte t\u00e4m\u00e4n\nasian mieleeni, niin, mr Thornhill, vakavasti puhuen, ettek\u00f6 te voisi\nehdottaa jotain sopivaa miest\u00e4 h\u00e4nelle? H\u00e4n on nyt yhdeks\u00e4ntoista\nvuotta vanha, kookas, hyvin kasvatettu, eik\u00e4 h\u00e4nelt\u00e4, sen uskallan\nsanoa, puutu luonnonlahjojakaan.\n-- Hyv\u00e4 rouva, -- vastasi puhuteltu, -- jos minun tulisi valita,\nniin hankkisin miehen, joka olisi niin kaikin puolin t\u00e4ydellinen,\nett\u00e4 pystyisi tekem\u00e4\u00e4n enkelinkin onnelliseksi. Viisas, rikas,\nhienoaistinen, rehellinen, kas sellainen olisi minun mielest\u00e4ni\nsopivin mies h\u00e4nelle, rouva hyv\u00e4.\n-- Oo, sir, -- virkkoi vaimoni, -- mutta tied\u00e4ttek\u00f6 sellaista miest\u00e4?\n-- En, rouva, -- vastasi toinen. -- Mahdoton on l\u00f6yt\u00e4\u00e4 mist\u00e4\u00e4n\nsellaista, joka ansaitsisi tulla h\u00e4nen miehekseen. Teid\u00e4n tytt\u00e4renne\non liian suuri aarre miehen omistaa: h\u00e4nh\u00e4n on jumalatar. Niin totta\nkuin min\u00e4 el\u00e4n, min\u00e4 en puhu turhia; h\u00e4n on enkeli.\n-- Voi, mr Thornhill, te imartelette vain tytt\u00f6 raukkaa. Meill\u00e4 on\nollut aikeissa naittaa h\u00e4net er\u00e4\u00e4lle teid\u00e4n lampuodeistanne, jolta\n\u00e4skett\u00e4in kuoli \u00e4iti, ja joka tarvitsee em\u00e4nt\u00e4\u00e4 taloon. Te tunnette\nh\u00e4net; se on farmari Williams, varakas mies, mr Thornhill, ja kykenee\nkyll\u00e4 el\u00e4tt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n vaimonsa. H\u00e4n on jo monasti kosinut tyt\u00e4rt\u00e4ni (ja\ntotta t\u00e4m\u00e4 olikin), mutta, sir, -- virkkoi vaimoni lopuksi, minun\nolisi mieleni hyv\u00e4, jos tekin t\u00e4m\u00e4n vaalin hyv\u00e4ksyisitte.\n-- Kuinka, rouva! -- huudahti mr Thornhill. -- Min\u00e4k\u00f6 hyv\u00e4ksyisin!\nMin\u00e4k\u00f6 hyv\u00e4ksyisin moisen vaalin? En milloinkaan. Mitenk\u00e4! Uhrata\nniin paljon kauneutta, \u00e4ly\u00e4, hyvyytt\u00e4 miehelle, joka ei sellaiselle\nsiunaukselle osaisi arvoa antaa ensink\u00e4\u00e4n! Suokaa anteeksi, mutta\nniin suuri v\u00e4\u00e4rinteko ei ole milloinkaan saava minun suostumustani.\nJa minulla on siihen omat syyni.\n-- No, niin, -- lausui vaimoni, -- jos teill\u00e4 on siihen omat syynne,\nniin se on toinen asia, mutta olisihan hauska tiet\u00e4\u00e4, mit\u00e4 syit\u00e4\nteill\u00e4 on.\n-- Suokaa anteeksi, rouva, -- vastasi mr Thornhill, -- ne ovat liian\nsyv\u00e4ll\u00e4, ilmi tullakseen; ne -- ja h\u00e4n pani k\u00e4den povelleen -- ne\novat haudatut, kiinnikotkatut t\u00e4nne.\nMr Thornhillin l\u00e4hdetty\u00e4 pidettiin taas neuvottelu, mutta ei osannut\nkukaan sanoa, mit\u00e4 ajatella noista kauniista tunteenpurkauksista.\nOlivian mielest\u00e4 ne olivat mit\u00e4 kiihkeimm\u00e4n lemmen osoitteita; min\u00e4\nen ollut niin kovin herkk\u00e4uskoinen. Minusta oli p\u00e4iv\u00e4n selv\u00e4, ett\u00e4\nnoissa tunteissa oli enemm\u00e4n lempe\u00e4 kuin avioliittoa. Mutta oli miten\noli, p\u00e4\u00e4t\u00f6kseksi tuli kumminkin pit\u00e4\u00e4 kiinni farmari Williamsin\naikeista, h\u00e4nen, joka oli osoittanut kohteliaisuuksia Olivialle\nhamasta siit\u00e4 saakka kuin olimme t\u00e4h\u00e4n paikkakuntaan siirtyneet.\nSEITSEM\u00c4STOISTA LUKU\nTuskin lienee miss\u00e4\u00e4n sellaista siveytt\u00e4, joka ajan pitk\u00e4\u00e4n jaksaisi\nvastustaa miellytt\u00e4v\u00e4n kiusauksen voimaa.\nMr Williams pysyi yh\u00e4 edelleen entisiss\u00e4 aikeissaan, ja, lasteni\ntodelliseen onneen n\u00e4hden, t\u00e4m\u00e4 seikka minua miellyttikin, h\u00e4n kun\noli varakas, \u00e4lyk\u00e4s ja rehellinen mies. H\u00e4nen rakkautensa elpyminen\nei tarvinnut kuin hiukan rohkaisua.\nPari p\u00e4iv\u00e4\u00e4 my\u00f6hemmin h\u00e4n ja mr Thornhill kohtasivatkin toisensa\ner\u00e4\u00e4n\u00e4 iltana meill\u00e4. Hetken aikaa he heitteliv\u00e4t toisiinsa tuimia\nsilm\u00e4yksi\u00e4, mutta Williams ei ollut hovinherrallensa vuokrasta\nvelassa ja siksip\u00e4 varsin v\u00e4h\u00e4n valittikin t\u00e4m\u00e4n jyr\u00e4\u00e4vist\u00e4\nkatseista. Olivia puolestaan n\u00e4ytteli eritt\u00e4in onnistuneesti\nkoketin osaa -- jos n\u00e4yttelemiseksi saattanee sanoa sit\u00e4, mik\u00e4\noli h\u00e4nelle aivan luonteenomaista, -- ja tuhlaamalla tuhlasi\nyst\u00e4v\u00e4llisyyden osoituksia uudelle rakastajalleen. Mr Thornhill\nn\u00e4ytti aivan masentuneelle t\u00e4st\u00e4 tois-arvoisesta asemastaan ja\nsanoi synk\u00e4nn\u00e4k\u00f6isen\u00e4 hyv\u00e4stit. T\u00e4ytyy kumminkin tunnustaa, ett'en\nmin\u00e4 oikein voinut k\u00e4sitt\u00e4\u00e4 tuota tuskaa, jota h\u00e4n n\u00e4ytti k\u00e4rsiv\u00e4n,\nsill\u00e4 eih\u00e4n h\u00e4nen olisi tarvinnut muuta kuin ilmoittaa rehellisesti\naikomuksensa, niin olisi tuskastakin heti tullut loppu.\nMutta niin suurta levottomuutta kuin h\u00e4n n\u00e4kyi tunteneenkaan, oli\nOlivian tuska ilmeisesti sit\u00e4kin suurempi. Joka kerta kuin rakastajat\nmy\u00f6hemminkin kohtasivat toisiaan meill\u00e4, ja se tapahtui usein, h\u00e4n\ntavallisesti vet\u00e4ytyi yksin\u00e4isyyteen surujansa suremaan.\nSellaisessa tilassa tapasin h\u00e4net illalla kerran. H\u00e4n oli jonkun\naikaa koettamalla koettanut n\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 iloiselta.\n-- Siin\u00e4 nyt n\u00e4et, lapseni, -- virkoin min\u00e4, -- ett\u00e4 sinun uskosi\nmr Thornhillin rakkauteen on ollut pelkk\u00e4\u00e4 unelmaa vain: h\u00e4n siet\u00e4\u00e4\nrinnallaan toista kosijaa, kaikin puolin alempiarvoista, vaikka h\u00e4n\ntiet\u00e4\u00e4 voivansa selv\u00e4ll\u00e4 kosinnalla saada sinut omaksesi.\n-- Niin, is\u00e4, -- vastasi h\u00e4n, -- mutta h\u00e4nell\u00e4 on omat syyns\u00e4\nt\u00e4h\u00e4n vitkastelemiseen, min\u00e4 tied\u00e4n sen. H\u00e4nen silm\u00e4yksens\u00e4 ja\npuheensa ovat niin vilpitt\u00f6m\u00e4t, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n aivan varmaan todellisesti\nkunnioittaa minua, min\u00e4 olen vakuutettu siit\u00e4. Ennen pitk\u00e4\u00e4 h\u00e4nen\ntunteittensa ylevyys tulee toivoakseni ilmi, ja silloin huomaat, ett\u00e4\nmin\u00e4 olen arvostellut h\u00e4nt\u00e4 oikeammin kuin te.\n-- Olivia kulta, -- sanoin min\u00e4, -- kaikki t\u00e4h\u00e4n-astiset yritykset,\nsaada h\u00e4net puhumaan suunsa puhtaaksi, ovat olleet sinun keksimi\u00e4si\nja ehdottamisiasi, etk\u00e4 suinkaan saata sanoa minun pakottaneen\nsinua mihink\u00e4\u00e4n. Mutta \u00e4l\u00e4 luule, ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 ajan pitk\u00e4\u00e4n sied\u00e4n\nolla mukana n\u00e4kem\u00e4ss\u00e4, kuinka sin\u00e4 nurinp\u00e4isell\u00e4 lemmell\u00e4si ved\u00e4t\nnen\u00e4st\u00e4 h\u00e4nen kunniallista kilpakosijaansa. M\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4\u00e4 siis niin pitk\u00e4\naika kuin suinkin tahdot, saadaksesi luulottelemasi ihastelijan\ntuomaan aikeensa julki, mutta ellei siit\u00e4 sittenk\u00e4\u00e4n mit\u00e4\u00e4n ehj\u00e4\u00e4\ntule, niin t\u00e4ytyy minun kivenkovaa vaatia, ett\u00e4 kunnon mr William saa\nuskollisuudestaan palkinnon. Sit\u00e4 vaatii t\u00e4h\u00e4n-astinen hyv\u00e4 maineeni,\neik\u00e4 is\u00e4n hellyys ole milloinkaan laimentava minussa miehen mielt\u00e4.\nM\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4\u00e4 siis aika, niin pitk\u00e4 kuin suinkin sopivaksi n\u00e4et, ja pid\u00e4\nsill\u00e4 v\u00e4lin huolta, ett\u00e4 mr Thornhill saa tarkoin tiet\u00e4\u00e4, milloinka\nsinun aikomuksesi on ruveta toisen omaksi. Jos h\u00e4n todellakin sinua\nrakastaa, niin h\u00e4n j\u00e4rkev\u00e4n\u00e4 miehen\u00e4 pian huomaa, ett'ei h\u00e4nell\u00e4 ole\nkuin yksi ainoa keino, est\u00e4\u00e4kseen sinun kadottamisiasi.\nT\u00e4m\u00e4 ehdotus, jota h\u00e4n ei saattanut olla pit\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00e4 kaikin puolin\noikeana, hyv\u00e4ksyttiinkin samassa. Olivia puolestaan teki uudestaan\nlujat lupaukset menn\u00e4 naimisiin mr Williamsin kanssa siin\u00e4\ntapauksessa, ett\u00e4 toinen pysyy v\u00e4linpit\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00f6m\u00e4n\u00e4. Ja niinp\u00e4\nseuraavalla kertaa, mr Thornhillin l\u00e4sn\u00e4ollessa, m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4ttiin tytt\u00e4reni\nja mr Williamsin h\u00e4\u00e4t tapahtuviksi ummelleen kuukauden kuluttua.\nMoiset ripe\u00e4t toimenpiteet n\u00e4yttiv\u00e4t tekev\u00e4n mr Thornhillin kaksin\nverroin rauhattomammaksi, mutta Olivian tuska se vasta minulle huolta\ntuotti. T\u00e4m\u00e4 taistelu j\u00e4rjen ja tunteitten v\u00e4lill\u00e4 teki kokonaan\nlopun h\u00e4nen iloisuudestaan. Milloin vaan suinkin sopi, vet\u00e4ytyi h\u00e4n\nyksin\u00e4isyyteen ja vuodatti katkeria kyyneli\u00e4.\nViikko kului, eik\u00e4 mr Thornhill yritt\u00e4nytk\u00e4\u00e4n panna h\u00e4ille\nesteit\u00e4 eteen. Seuraavalla viikolla h\u00e4n k\u00e4vi meill\u00e4, mutta oli\nyht\u00e4 umpimielinen kuin ennenkin. Kolmannella h\u00e4n lakkasi kokonaan\nk\u00e4ym\u00e4st\u00e4. Olisi luullut tytt\u00e4reni osoittavan jonkunlaista\nmaltittomuutta, mutta sen sijaan h\u00e4n esiintyikin mietiskelev\u00e4n\ntyynen\u00e4, ja sit\u00e4 min\u00e4 pidin alistumisen merkkin\u00e4. Itse puolestani\nmin\u00e4 iloitsin, ajatellessani lapseni nyt l\u00e4htev\u00e4n rauhallista ja\nturvallista tulevaisuutta kohti, ja monasti kiittelin h\u00e4nt\u00e4, joka oli\np\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt pit\u00e4\u00e4 onnea suuremmassa arvossa kuin kerskausta.\nIllalla kerran, kolme nelj\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4\u00e4 ennen h\u00e4it\u00e4, istuimme me\ntakkavalkean \u00e4\u00e4ress\u00e4, haastellen menneist\u00e4 asioista ja rakennellen\ntulevaisuuden suunnitelmia. Tehtiin siin\u00e4 tuhansiakin tuulentupia\nja naurettiin hassunkurisille p\u00e4\u00e4h\u00e4npistoille, joita tuon tuostakin\nsukelsi esiin.\n-- No niin, Moses! -- huudahdin min\u00e4, pian saadaan h\u00e4it\u00e4 taloon,\npoikaseni; mit\u00e4s sanot niist\u00e4 ylimalkaan?\n-- Sit\u00e4 vaan, ett\u00e4 kaikki k\u00e4y hyvin. Aattelin t\u00e4ss\u00e4 justiin, ett\u00e4\nkun Livy sisko on mennyt naimisiin farmari Williamsin kanssa, niin\nsaadaan ilmaiseksi lainata heid\u00e4n olutkuurnaansa ja imellysastiaansa.\n-- Tietysti, -- virkoin min\u00e4, -- ja kaupanp\u00e4\u00e4llisiksi h\u00e4n viel\u00e4\nmeid\u00e4n mieliksemme laulaa Kuoleman ja Immen laulun.\n-- Sen laulun h\u00e4n on opettanut meid\u00e4n Dickille, -- huudahti Moses, --\nja poika osaa sen luullakseni vallan hyvin.\n-- Osaako? -- kys\u00e4isin min\u00e4. -- No antaapas kuulua. Miss\u00e4 pikku Dick\non? Joutuun nyt!\n-- Dick, -- selitti Bill, nuorin poika, -- Dick l\u00e4ksi juuri Livy\nsiskon kanssa ulos, mutta mr Williams on opettanut minulle kaksikin\nlaulua; min\u00e4 laulan ne sinulle, is\u00e4. Kumpaisenko: \"Kuolleesta\njoutsenesta,\" vaiko \"Surulaulun hullun koiran kuolemasta\"?\n-- Laula surulaulu kaikin mokomin, poikaseni, -- sanoin min\u00e4; --\nsit\u00e4 en ole viel\u00e4 kuullutkaan. Debora, mun armaani! Suru, niinkuin\ntied\u00e4t, on kuivaa; annapas siis meille mielen virkistykseksi\nparasta karvikkoviini\u00e4si. Olen viime aikoina itkenyt kaikenlaisten\nsurulaulujen johdosta, niin ett\u00e4 itkuun min\u00e4 tillahdan nytkin,\npelk\u00e4\u00e4n m\u00e4, ellei avuksi tule lasillinen elvytyst\u00e4. Sofia, kultaseni,\notas kitara ja rimputtele pojalle v\u00e4h\u00e4n s\u00e4esteiksi.\n          Surulaulu\n    hullun koiran kuolemasta.\n    Nyt kansa kaikki kuulkaatten\n    Sanoja laulun t\u00e4n,\n    Ja jos sen lyhyeks' huomaa ken,\n    H\u00e4n v\u00e4ltt\u00e4\u00e4 ik\u00e4v\u00e4n.\n    Oli Islingiss\u00e4 muinoisin\n    Mies, josta tiedet\u00e4\u00e4n:\n    H\u00e4n oli hurskas, ainakin\n    Kirkossa k\u00e4ydess\u00e4\u00e4n.\n    Syd\u00e4nt\u00e4 kaikki kiitteli\n    Sen miehen laupian;\n    H\u00e4n alastoman vaatetti,\n    Kun vaatteet p\u00e4lleen pan'.\n    Ja Islingiss' oli koiria\n    Jos mihin lajihin,\n    Oli piha-, syli-, mets\u00e4- ja\n    Yks kaikkein parahin.\n    Ja se ja mies ne aikomaan\n    Tuli hyviks' yst\u00e4viks'.\n    Mut kerran koira kiukuissaan\n    Jo h\u00e4nt\u00e4 puri -- miks?\n    Koko kyl\u00e4n v\u00e4ki kummissaan\n    Nyt rient\u00e4\u00e4 miehen luo:\n    \"N\u00e4in miest\u00e4 hyv\u00e4\u00e4 kerrassaan\n    N\u00e4et puri h\u00e4jy tuo!\"\n    Ja haavaa suurta katsellaan:\n    \"Mies park' on toivoton!\"\n    Ja miehiss\u00e4 jo vannotaan:\n    \"Tuo koira hullu on.\"\n    Mut ihme suuri tapahtui.\n    Ken sit\u00e4 luullut ois? --\n    Mies kuolemasta pelastui,\n    Mut -- koira kuoli pois.\n-- Sin'olet kelpo poika, Bill, kerrassaan kelpo poika, ja tuo\nsurulaulu se vasta oikea surulaulu onkin. No lapset, Billin malja!\nTulkoon pojasta viel\u00e4 piispa!\n-- Tulkoon vainenkin! -- huudahti vaimoni. -- Jos h\u00e4n vaan suurena\nsaarnaa yht\u00e4 hyvin kuin pienen\u00e4 laulaa, niin en ep\u00e4ile ensink\u00e4\u00e4n.\nUseimmat meid\u00e4n perheen j\u00e4senist\u00e4, nimitt\u00e4in \u00e4idin puolelta, osasivat\nlaulaa kauniita lauluja. Yleisen\u00e4 puheenpartena meid\u00e4n puolella\noli, ett\u00e4 Blenkinsopit eiv\u00e4t koskaan osaa katsoa suoraan eteens\u00e4,\nHugginsonit eiv\u00e4t osaa sammuttaa kynttil\u00e4\u00e4; mutta Grogrameista osasi\nlaulaa jok'ainoa, ja Marjoramit olivat hyvi\u00e4 sadunkertojia kaikki.\n-- Olkoon miten hyv\u00e4ns\u00e4 -- virkoin min\u00e4, -- tavallisinkin ballaadi\nmiellytt\u00e4\u00e4 minua yleens\u00e4 enemm\u00e4n kuin nykyaikaiset hienot oodit, ne\nsellaiset, joista kivettyy, yhdenkin s\u00e4keen kuultuaan, ne sellaiset,\njoita me halveksimme ja kiittelemme yht'aikaa. Siirr\u00e4s lasi\nveljellesi, Moses. N\u00e4itten nykyisten surulaulujen tekij\u00f6iss\u00e4 on se\nsuuri vika, ett\u00e4 he kuvaavat ihan ep\u00e4toivoista tuskaa siin\u00e4, miss\u00e4\nj\u00e4rkev\u00e4 ihminen ei n\u00e4e h\u00e4t\u00e4\u00e4 likimainkaan. Ladylt\u00e4 katosi puuhka\ntai viuhka tai sylikoira, ja heti rient\u00e4\u00e4 tuommoinen runoilijan\nviikkoinen kotiansa ja tekaisee tapauksesta haikean suruveisun.\n-- Lienee sellainen laita ylev\u00e4in runoelmain, -- virkkoi Moses,\n-- mutta Ranelaghin laulut, mit\u00e4 meille saakka on tullut, ovat\nkerrassaan kodikkaita ja kaikki samaan kuosiin valituita. Colin\nkohtaa Dollyn, he haastelevat, poika antaa tyt\u00f6lle markkinalahjan,\ntukkaan pistett\u00e4v\u00e4ksi, ja tytt\u00f6 antaa pojalle kukkakimpun, ja sitte\nhe menev\u00e4t yhdess\u00e4 kirkkoon, ja siell\u00e4 he antavat nuorille immille ja\nnuorille pojille hyvi\u00e4 neuvoja ja kehoittavat menem\u00e4\u00e4n naimisiin niin\npian kuin mahdollista.\n-- Ja hyvi\u00e4 antavatkin neuvoja, -- sanoin min\u00e4, -- eik\u00e4 kuulu\nmaailmassa miss\u00e4\u00e4n muualla osattavan antaakaan neuvoja sen\nsuuremmalla menestyksell\u00e4, sill\u00e4 samalla kuin siell\u00e4 naimisiin\nneuvotaan, samalla vaimokin hankitaan. Erinomaisia markkinoita nuo;\npoikaseni: siell\u00e4 saa tiet\u00e4\u00e4 mit\u00e4 minulta puuttuu ja mitenk\u00e4 sen\npuutteen poistaa.\n-- Niin on, -- my\u00f6nsi Moses. -- Europassa ei tiet\u00e4\u00e4kseni ole kuin\nkahdet sellaiset markkinat: Ranelaghin Englannissa ja Fontarabian\nEspanjassa. Viimeksi mainitussa paikassa niit\u00e4 pidet\u00e4\u00e4n noin kerta\nvuodessa, mutta Englannissa on vaimoja kaupan joka ilta.\n-- Sin\u00e4 olet oikeassa, poikaseni! - huudahti \u00e4iti. -- Vanha Englanti\non ainoa paikka maailmassa miesten saada vaimoja.\n-- Ja vaimojen, -- puutuin min\u00e4 puheesen, -- valita miehi\u00e4. Muualla\nmaailmassa on semmoinen sananparsi, ett\u00e4 jos silta rakennettaisiin\nmerensalmen poikki, niin kaikki mannermaan naiset tulisivat ottamaan\nmallia meid\u00e4n naisista, sill\u00e4 ei ole Europassa miss\u00e4\u00e4n sellaisia\nnaisia kuin meill\u00e4... Mutta tuopas pullo viel\u00e4, Debora kultaseni,\nja sin\u00e4, Moses, laula meille jotain hauskaa. Kuinka kiitollisia\nmeid\u00e4n pit\u00e4isik\u00e4\u00e4n olla taivaalle, joka on suonut meille rauhaa,\nterveytt\u00e4 ja toimeentuloa! Min\u00e4 olen mielest\u00e4ni onnellisempi maailman\nmahtavintakin hallitsijaa. Ei h\u00e4nell\u00e4 ole t\u00e4llaista kotiliett\u00e4 eik\u00e4\nn\u00e4in tyytyv\u00e4isi\u00e4 kasvoja ymp\u00e4rill\u00e4\u00e4n. Niin, Debora, vanhoiksi me\nt\u00e4ss\u00e4 alamme jo k\u00e4yd\u00e4, mutta el\u00e4m\u00e4n ilta n\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 tulevan onnellinen.\nTahratonta olemme sukua kumpainenkin, ja hyv\u00e4t ja sive\u00e4t lapset\nmeilt\u00e4kin j\u00e4lkeen j\u00e4\u00e4v\u00e4t. Niin kauan kuin me el\u00e4mme, on meill\u00e4 heist\u00e4\ntuki ja turva ja mielihyv\u00e4, ja kun meist\u00e4 aika j\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4, niin meid\u00e4n\nkunniallisen nimemme he seuraaviin sukupolviin viev\u00e4t. No niin,\npoikani, ent\u00e4s se laulu? Kajautetaanpa kuorossa oikein! Mutta miss\u00e4\nOlivia, mun syd\u00e4nk\u00e4pyni? H\u00e4nen ihana \u00e4\u00e4nens\u00e4 se heleimmin kuorossa\nsoi.\nN\u00e4in puhuessani, juoksi Dick poika sis\u00e4\u00e4n.\n-- Is\u00e4, is\u00e4! H\u00e4n on l\u00e4htenyt pois, h\u00e4n on l\u00e4htenyt, Livy sisko on\nl\u00e4htenyt kotoa pois ainaiseksi!\n-- L\u00e4htenyt? Niink\u00f6, lapsi?\n-- Niin, h\u00e4n l\u00e4ksi kahden herran kanssa kyytirattailla, ja toinen\nheist\u00e4 suuteli Livya ja sanoi tahtovansa kuolla h\u00e4nen edest\u00e4\u00e4n, ja\nsisko huusi kovasti ja yritti k\u00e4\u00e4ntym\u00e4\u00e4n takaisin, mutta herra puheli\nh\u00e4nelle taas, ja Livy nousi rattaille ja sanoi, ett\u00e4 mit\u00e4h\u00e4n se is\u00e4\nparka sanonee, kun kuulee minun joutuneen hukkaan!\n-- No niin, lapset! -- huudahdin min\u00e4. Menk\u00e4\u00e4 ja olkaa onnettomia,\nsill\u00e4 ei meill\u00e4 t\u00e4st\u00e4 puolin ole onnea hetke\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n! Ja leimutkoon\ntaivaan ikuinen kiivaus tuon miehen ja h\u00e4nen k\u00e4tyriens\u00e4 ylitse!\nRy\u00f6st\u00e4\u00e4 t\u00e4ll\u00e4 tavalla lapseni! Ja kosto kyll\u00e4 kohtaa h\u00e4nt\u00e4, joka\nvei minulta armaan lapsen, sen, jota min\u00e4 ohjasin taivasta kohti.\nNiin sive\u00e4 kuin h\u00e4n oli! Mutta nyt on minulta kaikki maallinen onni\nkadonnut. Menk\u00e4\u00e4, lapset, olkaa onnettomia ja kunniattomia nyt, sill\u00e4\nminulta on syd\u00e4n murtunut!\n-- Is\u00e4! -- lausui poikani. -- Siin\u00e4k\u00f6 sinun miehuutesi?\n-- Miehuuteniko, lapsi? Kyll\u00e4, h\u00e4n saa n\u00e4hd\u00e4, ett'ei puutu minulta\nmiehuutta. Tuo t\u00e4nne minun pistolini. Min\u00e4 l\u00e4hden ry\u00f6st\u00e4j\u00e4\u00e4 ajamaan\ntakaa. Min\u00e4 seuraan h\u00e4nt\u00e4 niin kauan kuin h\u00e4n maan p\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 vaeltaa.\nVanha vaikka olen, mutta t\u00e4m\u00e4 k\u00e4si on h\u00e4neen sittenkin haavan iskev\u00e4.\nVoi konnaa! Voi petollista konnaa!\nOlin jo ottanut alas pistolini, kun vaimoni, jonka kiihko ei ollut\nniin ankaraa kuin minun, sulki minut syliins\u00e4.\n-- Mieheni, rakas mieheni! -- huudahti h\u00e4n. -- Raamattu on ainoa\nase, mik\u00e4 en\u00e4\u00e4 sinun vanhaan k\u00e4teesi sopii. Avaa se ja lue meid\u00e4n\nmieleemme malttia. Tyt\u00e4r on meid\u00e4t kurjasti pett\u00e4nyt.\n-- Todellakin, is\u00e4, -- liitti poikani tuokion kuluttua, -- sinun\nraivosi on liian hurjaa ja sopimatonta. Sinun pit\u00e4isi lohduttaa\n\u00e4iti\u00e4, mutta sen sijaan sin\u00e4 vaan lis\u00e4\u00e4t h\u00e4nen tuskaansa. Ei sovi\nsinun ja sinun s\u00e4\u00e4tyisesi miehen tuolla tavoin sadatella vihamiest\u00e4.\nSinun ei olisi pit\u00e4nyt sadatella h\u00e4nt\u00e4, vaikka h\u00e4n konna onkin.\n-- Enh\u00e4n sadatellut h\u00e4nt\u00e4, lapsi, enh\u00e4n?\n-- Sadattelit niinkin, kahdestikin.\n-- Antakoon sitten taivas mulle anteeksi, jos niin tein. Ja nyt,\npoikani, min\u00e4 tunnen, ett\u00e4 inhimillist\u00e4 laupeutta korkeampaa oli\nse, joka meit\u00e4 ensiksi opetti siunaamaan vihollisiamme. Kiitetty\nolkoon H\u00e4nen pyh\u00e4 nimens\u00e4 kaikesta hyv\u00e4st\u00e4, mink\u00e4 H\u00e4n antanut on,\nja kaikesta, mink\u00e4 H\u00e4n on ottanut. Mutta ei ole, ei vainkaan ole\nv\u00e4h\u00e4inen t\u00e4m\u00e4 onnettomuus, koskapa on kiert\u00e4nyt kyynelet noihin\nsilmiin, jotka eiv\u00e4t ole itkeneet moneen vuoteen. Mun lapseni!\nSaattaa turmioon minun syd\u00e4nk\u00e4pyni! Surma sille... taivas suokoon\nanteeksi... johan min\u00e4 taas!... Muistathan, armaani, kuinka hyv\u00e4 h\u00e4n\noli ja kuinka herttainen! Hamaan t\u00e4h\u00e4n kovan onnen hetkeen asti oli\nh\u00e4nen ainoana huolenansa tehd\u00e4 meid\u00e4t onnelliseksi. Voi, jospa toki\nh\u00e4n olisi kuollut! Mutta h\u00e4n on mennyt, meid\u00e4n perheemme kunnia on\nsolvaistu; t\u00e4ss\u00e4 maailmassa ei minulla en\u00e4\u00e4 ole onnea odotettavana.\nMutta, pojat, te n\u00e4itte heid\u00e4n l\u00e4htev\u00e4n; kenties se herra vei h\u00e4net\nv\u00e4kisin? Jos h\u00e4n pakkoa k\u00e4ytti, niin saattaa Livy viel\u00e4 olla viaton.\n-- Eik\u00f6 mit\u00e4, is\u00e4! -- selitti poikanen. Herra vain suuteli h\u00e4nt\u00e4 ja\nsanoi h\u00e4nt\u00e4 enkelikseen, ja sisko itki katkerasti ja nojasi h\u00e4nen\nk\u00e4sivarteensa, ja sitten he ajoivat aika vauhtia pois.\n-- Tuota kiitt\u00e4m\u00e4t\u00f6nt\u00e4! -- huudahti vaimoni, -- saaden itkulta\ntuskin puhutuksi, -- tehd\u00e4 meille t\u00e4llaista? Emmeh\u00e4n me mill\u00e4\u00e4n\nmuotoa vastustaneet h\u00e4nen rakkauttansa. Tuo kelvoton heilakka on\nh\u00e4pe\u00e4llisell\u00e4 tavalla, syytt\u00e4 suotta karannut kotoaan, saattaakseen\nsinun harmaan p\u00e4\u00e4si hautaan, johon min\u00e4kin pian sua seuraan.\nJa niin t\u00e4m\u00e4 ilta, todellisten onnettomuuksien ensimm\u00e4inen ilta\nmeid\u00e4n perheess\u00e4, kului katkerissa valituksissa ja pian ohimeneviss\u00e4\nkiihkoisan mielen purkauksissa. Min\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4tin kumminkin saada petturin\nilmi, piilk\u00f6\u00f6n miss\u00e4 hyv\u00e4ns\u00e4, ja osoittaa h\u00e4nelle, kuinka kehnosti\nh\u00e4n on tehnyt.\nPoissa oli seuraavana aamuna suurukselta onneton lapsi parka, h\u00e4n,\njoka tavallisesti teki atrianajat niin vilkkaiksi ja hauskoiksi.\nVaimoni koetti j\u00e4lleen kevent\u00e4\u00e4 syd\u00e4nt\u00e4\u00e4n nuhteilla.\n-- Ei pid\u00e4, -- huudahti h\u00e4n, -- ei pid\u00e4 tuon kurjan h\u00e4pe\u00e4pilkun\nmilloinkaan en\u00e4\u00e4 astuman t\u00e4m\u00e4n talon puhtaan kynnyksen yli. En ole\nen\u00e4\u00e4 koskaan sanova h\u00e4nt\u00e4 tytt\u00e4rekseni. En! El\u00e4k\u00f6\u00f6n liehakka nyt\nkonnamaisen viettelij\u00e4ns\u00e4 kanssa. H\u00e4pe\u00e4t\u00e4 h\u00e4n meille saattoi, mutta\npetetyksi meit\u00e4 h\u00e4n ei milloinkaan saa.\n-- Vaimo! -- virkoin min\u00e4. -- \u00c4l\u00e4 puhu noin kovia sanoja. Minun\nkauhistukseni h\u00e4nen rikoksensa t\u00e4hden on yht\u00e4 syv\u00e4 kuin sinunkin,\nmutta alati on t\u00e4m\u00e4 talo ja t\u00e4m\u00e4 syd\u00e4n oleva avoinna katuvaiselle\nsyntis-paralle, joka takaisin palajaa. Mit\u00e4 pikemmin h\u00e4n\nharharetkilt\u00e4\u00e4n k\u00e4\u00e4ntyy, sit\u00e4 tervetulleempi h\u00e4n on. Ensi hetken\u00e4\nsaattaa parhainkin horjahtaa, viekkaus saattaa vied\u00e4 viettelykseen,\nuutuus lumota. Ensimm\u00e4inen erehdys on yksinkertaisuuden lapsi,\nmutta kaikki muut paheen vesoja. Niin, harhaan joutunut olkoon\ntervetullut t\u00e4h\u00e4n syd\u00e4meen ja t\u00e4h\u00e4n taloon, vaikka tuhansillakin\nvirheill\u00e4 saastutettuna. Tahdon silloin taaskin kuulahdella h\u00e4nen\n\u00e4\u00e4nens\u00e4 sointua, painautua j\u00e4lleen h\u00e4nen rintaansa vasten, jos vaan\nkatumusta siin\u00e4 huomaan. Poikani, k\u00e4y t\u00e4nne Raamattu ja sauvani my\u00f6s.\nMin\u00e4 l\u00e4hden kulkemaan h\u00e4nen j\u00e4lki\u00e4ns\u00e4 my\u00f6ten, ja ellen voi h\u00e4nt\u00e4\nh\u00e4pe\u00e4st\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n temmata pois, niin sen verran toki aikaan saanen, ett'ei\npahe en\u00e4\u00e4 sen pitemm\u00e4lle jatku.\nKAHDEKSASTOISTA LUKU\nIs\u00e4n yritykset saada kadotettu lapsi j\u00e4lleen siveyden tielle.\nVaikk'ei pikku poika osannutkaan tarkoin kuvailla sen herran\nulkomuotoa, joka oli sisaren nostanut rattaille, niin kohdistuivat\nminun ep\u00e4luuloni kokonaan meid\u00e4n nuoreen hovinherraan, joka oli\nliiankin kuuluisa moisista vehkeist\u00e4.\nL\u00e4ksin siis kuin l\u00e4ksinkin Thornhill castlea kohti. Siell\u00e4 oli\naikomukseni panna h\u00e4nelle kovat eteen ja, jos mahdollista, tuoda\ntytt\u00e4reni takaisin. Mutta matkalla jo muuan seurakuntalaisistani\nkertoi n\u00e4hneens\u00e4 nuoren ladyn ja er\u00e4\u00e4n gentlemanin ajavan kovaa\nvauhtia kyytirattailla. Nainen oli ollut minun tytt\u00e4reni n\u00e4k\u00f6inen;\nherraa taas min\u00e4 en h\u00e4nen selityksens\u00e4 mukaan voinut arvata muuksi\nkuin mr Burchelliksi.\nT\u00e4st\u00e4 tiedosta minulle ei kumminkaan mit\u00e4\u00e4n apua. Jatkoin matkaani\nsquiren hoville ja, aikaista vaikka olikin viel\u00e4, pyysin p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 h\u00e4nen\npuheilleen heti. H\u00e4n tulikin kohta saapuville varsin yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisen\u00e4\nja n\u00e4ytti olevan hyvin h\u00e4mm\u00e4stynyt tytt\u00e4reni karkaamisesta,\nkunniasanallaan vakuuttaen, ett'ei h\u00e4n tied\u00e4 koko asiasta mit\u00e4\u00e4n.\nMin\u00e4 hylk\u00e4sin t\u00e4h\u00e4n-astiset ep\u00e4luuloni enk\u00e4 saattanut k\u00e4\u00e4nt\u00e4\u00e4\nniit\u00e4 muihin kuin mr Burchelliin, joka, niinkuin nyt muistin, oli\nviime aikoina usein haastellut kahden kesken tytt\u00e4reni kanssa.\nKohtasin viel\u00e4 toisenkin silminn\u00e4kij\u00e4n, ja silloin poistui pieninkin\nep\u00e4tietoisuus. H\u00e4n kertoi n\u00e4et tytt\u00e4reni l\u00e4hteneen mr Burchellin\nkanssa Wellsiin p\u00e4in, noin kolmekymment\u00e4 peninkulmaa t\u00e4\u00e4lt\u00e4. Siell\u00e4\nkuului heit\u00e4 olevan suuri seura.\nOlin nyt sellaisessa mielentilassa, jossa ihminen on herkempi\ntoimimaan \u00e4kkipikaa kuin j\u00e4rkev\u00e4sti. Niinp\u00e4 en min\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n ottanut\nlainkaan lukuun, ett\u00e4 n\u00e4m\u00e4 tiedon-antajat oli kenties panemalla pantu\nminun tielleni, saattamaan minua harhaan. P\u00e4\u00e4tin vaan l\u00e4hte\u00e4 Wellsiin\netsim\u00e4\u00e4n tyt\u00e4rt\u00e4ni ja h\u00e4nen luuloteltua pett\u00e4j\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4.\nKuljin nyt, joutua pit\u00e4en, yh\u00e4 eteenp\u00e4in, matkan varrella alinomaa\nkysellen ja tiedustellen, mutta mit\u00e4\u00e4n sen enemp\u00e4\u00e4 selville saamatta.\nKaupunkiin vihdoin saapuessani, tuli vastaani ratsain muuan mies,\njonka muistan n\u00e4hneeni squiren seurassa. T\u00e4m\u00e4 vakuutti, ett\u00e4 jos\nmin\u00e4 l\u00e4hden seuraamaan heit\u00e4 kilpa-ajo-paikalle, noin kolmekymment\u00e4\npeninkulmaa t\u00e4st\u00e4 edelleen, niin min\u00e4 aivan varmaan yll\u00e4t\u00e4n heid\u00e4t.\nH\u00e4n sanoi nimitt\u00e4in n\u00e4hneens\u00e4 heid\u00e4n eilis-iltana tanssivan, ja\nkertoi koko seuran olleen ihastuksissaan minun tytt\u00e4reni sievyydest\u00e4.\nHuomenna, aamun koittaessa, l\u00e4ksin taas jatkamaan matkaani ja saavuin\nkilpapaikalle kello nelj\u00e4n maissa iltap\u00e4iv\u00e4ll\u00e4.\nSiell\u00e4 oli loistava seura, jolla ei n\u00e4kynyt olevan muuta mieless\u00e4\nkuin pelkk\u00e4 huvitus. Kuinka toisin oli laita minun, joka olin\nhakemassa kadonnutta lasta siveyden tielle j\u00e4lleen! Olin n\u00e4kevin\u00e4ni\nmr Burchellin jonkun matkan p\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4 ja astuin h\u00e4nt\u00e4 kohti, mutta h\u00e4n\npuikahti v\u00e4kijoukkoon, ik\u00e4\u00e4nkuin pelj\u00e4ten kohtausta minun kanssani.\nSen koommin en h\u00e4nt\u00e4 sitten n\u00e4hnytk\u00e4\u00e4n. Turhaksi huomasin nyt jatkaa\nen\u00e4\u00e4 takaa-ajoani ja p\u00e4\u00e4tin senvuoksi palata takaisin viattomain\nlasteni ja vaimoni luo, jotka kyll\u00e4 minun apuani tarvitsevat. Mutta\nmielenj\u00e4nnitykset ja matkan vaivat olivat saaneet aikaan sen, ett\u00e4\nmin\u00e4 k\u00e4\u00e4nnyin kuumeesen, jota olin tuntenut jo ennen kilpapaikkaan\nsaapumistani.\nSiin\u00e4 nyt uusi, odottamaton isku. Kotiin oli t\u00e4\u00e4lt\u00e4\nkahdeksattakymment\u00e4 peninkulmaa. Poikkesin er\u00e4\u00e4sen pieneen majataloon\ntien varrella, ja siell\u00e4, k\u00f6yhyyden ja v\u00e4h\u00e4\u00e4n tyytymisen tavallisessa\ntyyssijassa, min\u00e4 k\u00e4vin vuoteelle, k\u00e4rsiv\u00e4llisesti odottamaan tautini\nh\u00e4ipymist\u00e4. Siell\u00e4 min\u00e4 k\u00e4\u00e4ntelihe taudin kovissa kourissa l\u00e4hes\nkolme viikkoa, kunnes vihdoin roteva ruumiini p\u00e4\u00e4si voitolle. Rahoja\nminulla ei ollut, mill\u00e4 maksaa hoitoni kulungit, ja mahdollista on,\nett\u00e4 t\u00e4m\u00e4n viimeksi mainitun seikan tuottama huoli olisi pannut\ntaudin uusimaan, ellen olisi saanut apua er\u00e4\u00e4lt\u00e4 matkustavalta, joka\noli poikennut majataloon virvokkeille. T\u00e4m\u00e4 matkustaja ei ollut\nkukaan muu kuin ihmis-yst\u00e4v\u00e4llinen kirjakauppias, joka asui St\nPaulin kirkolla, ja joka oli kirjoittanut niin monta kaunista kirjaa\npikku lapsille. H\u00e4n sanoi itse\u00e4\u00e4n lasten yst\u00e4v\u00e4ksi, mutta oli koko\nihmiskunnan yst\u00e4v\u00e4. Py\u00f6r\u00e4ht\u00e4m\u00e4ll\u00e4 h\u00e4n vaan pist\u00e4ysi majatalossa ja\naikoi heti j\u00e4lleen l\u00e4hte\u00e4 pois, sill\u00e4 h\u00e4nell\u00e4 oli my\u00f6t\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4 kiireit\u00e4\ntoimia. T\u00e4ll\u00e4 kertaa h\u00e4n oli ker\u00e4ilem\u00e4ss\u00e4 aineksia er\u00e4\u00e4n mr Thomas\nTripin el\u00e4m\u00e4kertaan.\nMin\u00e4 tunsin t\u00e4m\u00e4n hyv\u00e4ntahtoisen miehen heti h\u00e4nen punapilkkuisista\nkasvoistaan. H\u00e4n se oli kustantanut minun kirjoitukseni \"Nykyajan\ndeuterogamistoja vastaan\", ja h\u00e4nelt\u00e4 min\u00e4 nyt lainasin hiukan\nrahoja, maksettaviksi palattuani kotia.\nMajatalosta l\u00e4htiess\u00e4ni olin viel\u00e4 heikko ja p\u00e4\u00e4tin kulkea kotia\nkohti v\u00e4hin erin, noin kymmenen peninkulmaa p\u00e4iv\u00e4ss\u00e4. Terveyteni ja\ntavallinen tyyneyteni olivat entisell\u00e4\u00e4n, ja min\u00e4 pahoittelin nyt\nsit\u00e4 korskeata mielt\u00e4, joka oli saanut minut kapinoimaan kohtalon\nkurittavaa k\u00e4tt\u00e4 vastaan. Niin v\u00e4h\u00e4n tiet\u00e4\u00e4 ihminen, mit\u00e4 kaikkea\nh\u00e4n jaksaa kest\u00e4\u00e4, ennenkuin on koettanut. Kun l\u00e4htee kiipe\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n\nkunnianhimon kukkuloille, jotka alas niin kirkkailta n\u00e4ytt\u00e4v\u00e4t,\nhuomaa joka askelelta yh\u00e4 uusia ja synkki\u00e4 n\u00e4kyj\u00e4, t\u00e4ynn\u00e4 salaisia\npettymyksi\u00e4, samoinhan, mielihyv\u00e4n huipulta laskeutuessa, vaikka\nmurheen laakso alhaalla n\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4kin ensin synk\u00e4lt\u00e4 ja kolkolta, tuo\ntoimiva, yh\u00e4 nautintoja t\u00e4hystelev\u00e4 henki havaitsee yht\u00e4 ja toista\nmiellytt\u00e4v\u00e4\u00e4 ja hauskaa. Mit\u00e4 l\u00e4hemm\u00e4s astuu, sit\u00e4 kirkkaammiksi\nk\u00e4yv\u00e4t tummimmatkin esineet, ja hengen silm\u00e4 tottuu pime\u00e4ss\u00e4kin\nn\u00e4kem\u00e4\u00e4n.\nL\u00e4ksin astumaan. Pari tuntia kuljettuani huomasin kaukana jotain\nkuorman tapaista ja p\u00e4\u00e4tin saavuttaa sen. L\u00e4hemm\u00e4s tultuani n\u00e4inkin\nsen olevan kuljeksivan n\u00e4yttelij\u00e4seurueen kuorman. Siin vietiin\nkulisseja ja muita tamineita l\u00e4himp\u00e4\u00e4n kyl\u00e4\u00e4n, jossa oli aikomus\nantaa n\u00e4yt\u00e4nn\u00f6it\u00e4. Kuorman mukana oli yksi ainoa seuran j\u00e4senist\u00e4;\nmuitten oli m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4 tulla vasta huomenissa.\n\"Hyv\u00e4 seura lyhin matka\", sanoo sananlasku. K\u00e4vin senvuoksi\npakinoille k\u00f6yh\u00e4n n\u00e4yttelij\u00e4n kanssa, ja, minussa kun aikoinani oli\nn\u00e4yttelij\u00e4lahjoja minussakin, keskustelin varsin vapaasti teatterista\nja nykyisist\u00e4 n\u00e4ytelmist\u00e4 sek\u00e4 yleis\u00f6n aistista ja vaatimuksista.\nJonkun aikaa astuttuamme saavuttiin kyl\u00e4\u00e4n, jossa n\u00e4ht\u00e4v\u00e4sti oli\njo tiedetty odottaa n\u00e4yttelij\u00e4seuraa, sill\u00e4 koko kyl\u00e4n v\u00e4ki tuli\nulos meit\u00e4 t\u00f6llistelem\u00e4\u00e4n. Matkatoverini huomautti tuon johdosta,\nett\u00e4 kiertelev\u00e4ll\u00e4 teatteriseurueella on aina enemm\u00e4n katsojia\nulkona kuin sis\u00e4ss\u00e4. En tullut lainkaan ajatelleeksi, ett'eih\u00e4n\nminunmoiseni miehen oikein sovi olla t\u00e4llaisessa seurassa, kunnes\nhuomasin uteliaan v\u00e4kijoukon ker\u00e4ytyv\u00e4n ymp\u00e4rilleni. Silloin min\u00e4\nkiiruimman kaupassa puikahdin l\u00e4himp\u00e4\u00e4n majataloon. Vierashuoneessa\ntuli vastaani muuan hienosti puettu gentleman, joka kys\u00e4isi minulta,\nolenko min\u00e4 todellakin t\u00e4m\u00e4n seurueen kotisaarnaaja vai aionko min\u00e4\nt\u00e4llaisena esiinty\u00e4 n\u00e4ytt\u00e4m\u00f6ll\u00e4. Ilmoitettuani asian todellisen\nlaidan ja sanottuani, ett'ei minulla ole n\u00e4yttelij\u00e4seurueen kanssa\nmit\u00e4\u00e4n tekemist\u00e4, oli tuo gentleman niin alentuvainen, ett\u00e4 pyysi\nminua ja n\u00e4yttelij\u00e4\u00e4 juomaan lasillisen punssia kanssansa.\nLasin \u00e4\u00e4ress\u00e4 h\u00e4n sitten varsin vakavasti ja suurella\nasianharrastuksella puheli kaikellaisista politillisista asioista.\nMinun mielest\u00e4ni h\u00e4n n\u00e4ytti olevan vallintakin parlamentin j\u00e4sen.\nYh\u00e4 enemm\u00e4nkin min\u00e4 siin\u00e4 luulossa vakaannuin, kun h\u00e4n, meid\u00e4n\ntiedusteltuamme, mit\u00e4 talossa illalliseksi saataisiin, kutsui minut\nja n\u00e4yttelij\u00e4n illalliselle kotiinsa. H\u00e4nen viel\u00e4 pari kertaa\nuudistamaansa pyynt\u00f6\u00f6n me vihdoin suostuimme.\nYHDEKS\u00c4STOISTA LUKU\nMies, joka ei ole tyytyv\u00e4inen nykyiseen hallitukseen ja pelk\u00e4\u00e4\nvapauden supistumista.\nKoska talo, johon meid\u00e4t oli pyydetty, oli jonkun matkan p\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4\nt\u00e4\u00e4lt\u00e4, ja koska tuon yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisen kutsujan vaunut eiv\u00e4t viel\u00e4 olleet\nsaapuneet, niin l\u00e4ksimme h\u00e4nen kanssaan jalkaisin sinne. Hetkisen\nkuluttua tultiinkin suuren rakennuksen edustalle, uljaimman, mit\u00e4\nn\u00e4ill\u00e4 seuduin viel\u00e4 olin n\u00e4hnyt. Huone, johon meid\u00e4t vietiin, oli\nper\u00e4ti komeassa ja muodinmukaisessa asussa.\nIs\u00e4nt\u00e4 meni k\u00e4skem\u00e4\u00e4n illallista, ja n\u00e4yttelij\u00e4 kuiskasi minulle,\nett\u00e4 meh\u00e4n olemme oikeita onnenmyyri\u00e4. Is\u00e4nt\u00e4 tuli pian takaisin, ja\nheti kannettiin komea illallinen sis\u00e4\u00e4n. Samalla astui huoneesen pari\nkolme lady\u00e4, keveiss\u00e4 puvuissa, ja ennen pitk\u00e4\u00e4 oli varsin vilkas\nkeskustelu k\u00e4ynniss\u00e4. Is\u00e4nt\u00e4 puhui enimm\u00e4kseen pelkk\u00e4\u00e4 politiikaa,\nsill\u00e4 vapaus, sanoi h\u00e4n, on h\u00e4nen sek\u00e4 ylpeytens\u00e4 ett\u00e4 kunniansa. Kun\nillallinen oli korjattu pois, kys\u00e4isi h\u00e4n, olinko lukenut viimeist\u00e4\nMonitoria. Siihen h\u00e4n sai kielt\u00e4v\u00e4n vastauksen.\n-- Mitenk\u00e4? -- huudahti h\u00e4n. -- Ette kai Auditoriakaan?\n-- En, sir, -- vastasin min\u00e4.\n-- Sep\u00e4 kummallista, varsin kummallista! arveli h\u00e4n. -- Min\u00e4\npuolestani luen l\u00e4pi kaikki politilliset lehdet, mit\u00e4 vaan ilmaantuu:\nDailyt, Publicit, Chroniclet, London Eveningit, Whitehall Eveningit,\nkaikki seitsem\u00e4ntoista Magazinea ja molemmat Reviewit. Ja vaikka\nne vihaavat toisiansa, niin min\u00e4 rakastan niit\u00e4 kaikkia. Vapaus,\nsir, vapaus on Brittil\u00e4isen ylpeys, ja -- hiilikaivoksieni kautta\nCornwallisissa! -- min\u00e4 kunnioitan sen puolustajia.\n-- Sittenh\u00e4n, -- virkoin min\u00e4, -- sittenh\u00e4n te toivottavasti\nkunnioitatte kuningastakin?\n-- Kyll\u00e4, -- vastasi h\u00e4n, -- jos h\u00e4n vaan tekee, niinkuin\nme tahdomme, mutta jos h\u00e4n yh\u00e4 edelleen menettelee niinkuin\n\u00e4skett\u00e4inkin, niin sitten min\u00e4 h\u00e4nest\u00e4 viis. Min'en sano mit\u00e4\u00e4n; min\u00e4\najattelen vaan. Paremmin olisin min\u00e4 muutamissa kohdin menetellyt.\nMinun mielest\u00e4ni h\u00e4nell\u00e4 ei ole ollut tarpeeksi neuvon-antajia; h\u00e4nen\npit\u00e4isi kysy\u00e4 neuvoa jokaiselta, ken vaan h\u00e4nelle tahtoo neuvoa\nantaa, -- silloin ne asiat solkenaan sujuisi.\n-- Min\u00e4 puolestani -- lausuin min\u00e4, -- soisin moiset tungettelevaiset\nneuvon-antajat kaakinpuuhun. Kunnon miesten pit\u00e4isi tukea meid\u00e4n\nperustuslakimme heikompaa puolta, sill\u00e4 perustuslaki, tuo pyh\u00e4 voima,\non viime vuosina laimenemistaan laimennut ja my\u00f6t\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4 menett\u00e4nyt\nvaikutustaan valtakunnassa. Mutta n\u00e4m\u00e4 typer\u00e4t miehet ne yh\u00e4 edelleen\nhuutavat vapautta, ja jos heihin jonkun verran painoa ker\u00e4\u00e4ntyy, niin\nhe halpamaisesti heitt\u00e4v\u00e4t sen siihen vaakakuppiin, mik\u00e4 milloinkin\nsattuu olemaan alempana.\n-- Kuinka! -- huudahti yksi ladyist\u00e4, -- pit\u00e4\u00e4k\u00f6 minun viel\u00e4 sekin\nkokea, ett\u00e4 n\u00e4en niin halvan ja kunnottoman miehen, joka vapautta\nvihaa ja tyranneja puolustaa? Vapautta, tuota taivaan pyh\u00e4\u00e4 lahjaa,\ntuota Brittil\u00e4isten mainehikasta etuoikeutta!\n-- Onko mahdollista, -- huudahti is\u00e4nt\u00e4, ett\u00e4 nykyaikoina viel\u00e4\nl\u00f6ytyy orjuuden puolustajia, sellaisia kurjia, jotka ovat valmiit\nluopumaan Brittil\u00e4isten etuoikeuksista? Saattaako, sir, kenk\u00e4\u00e4n olla\nniin kehnomielinen?\n-- Ei, sir, -- vastasin min\u00e4. -- Min\u00e4 puolustan vapautta, tuota\njumalallista avua. Mainehikas vapaus! tuo nykyisen deklamationin\naihe! Min\u00e4 soisin, ett\u00e4 kaikki olisivat kuninkaita. Kuningas\ntahtoisin itsekin olla. Meill\u00e4 on jo luonnosta yht\u00e4l\u00e4inen oikeus\nvalta-istuimeen: alkuper\u00e4isin me olemme kaikki yht\u00e4l\u00e4isi\u00e4. Se on\nminun mielipiteeni, ja sama mielipide oli koko joukolla kunniallisia\nmiehi\u00e4, vaikka heit\u00e4 sanottiin Tasoittajiksi. He koettivat perustaa\nkesken\u00e4ns\u00e4 yhteiskunnan, jossa kaikki olisivat yht\u00e4 vapaita. Mutta\nvoi! Se ei ottanut koskaan onnistuakseen, sill\u00e4 heid\u00e4n joukossaan oli\nsellaisia, jotka olivat muita v\u00e4kev\u00e4mpi\u00e4 ja muita n\u00e4pp\u00e4r\u00e4mpi\u00e4, ja\nn\u00e4ist\u00e4 tuli muitten herroja. Yht\u00e4 varmaan kuin teid\u00e4n tallirenkinne\nratsastaa teid\u00e4n hevostenne selj\u00e4ss\u00e4, koskapa h\u00e4n on hevosta\novelampi el\u00e4in, yht\u00e4 varmaan se el\u00e4in, joka olisi h\u00e4nt\u00e4 ovelampi tai\nv\u00e4kev\u00e4mpi, hypp\u00e4isi vuorostaan h\u00e4nen selk\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4. Koska nyt ihmiskunnan\np\u00e4\u00e4lle pantu on, ett\u00e4 siin\u00e4 t\u00e4ytyy alistua -- ja muutamathan ovat\nsyntyneet k\u00e4skem\u00e4\u00e4n, toiset tottelemaan -- niin kysymys on: jos\ntyranneja kerran pit\u00e4\u00e4 olla olemassa, niin onko parempi, ett\u00e4 he\novat samassa talossa kuin me, vai samassa kyl\u00e4ss\u00e4k\u00f6, vaiko viel\u00e4kin\nkauempana, p\u00e4\u00e4kaupungissa asti? Ja niinp\u00e4, sir, mit\u00e4 minun tulee,\njoka luonnostani vihaan jo tyrannin kasvojakin, niin mit\u00e4 loitompana\nh\u00e4n minusta on, sit\u00e4 mieleni parempi.\n\"Suurin osa ihmiskuntaa ajattelee samoin kuin min\u00e4kin, ja siksip\u00e4 se\non yksimielisesti valinnut itsellens\u00e4 yhden kuninkaan, jonka vaali\nkerrassaan v\u00e4hent\u00e4\u00e4 tyrannien luvun ja siirt\u00e4\u00e4 tyranniuden niin kauas\nkuin mahdollista kansan enemmist\u00f6st\u00e4. Mutta nytp\u00e4 nuo maanmahtavat,\njotka olivat itsekin tyranneja, ennenkuin tuo yksi tyranni valittiin,\neiv\u00e4t sied\u00e4 sit\u00e4 voimaa, joka on noussut heid\u00e4n yl\u00e4puolellensa, ja\njonka paino raskaimmin rasittaa alempina olevia s\u00e4\u00e4tyj\u00e4. Senp\u00e4 vuoksi\nnuo maanmahtavat koettavat supistaa kuninkaan valtaa mink\u00e4 suinkin\nvoivat, koskapa kaikki, mink\u00e4 he h\u00e4nelt\u00e4 riist\u00e4v\u00e4t, tulee tietysti\nj\u00e4lleen heid\u00e4n eduksensa, ja niinp\u00e4 ei heill\u00e4 ole valtiossa muuta\nteht\u00e4v\u00e4n\u00e4 kuin kaivaa kuoppaa tuolle yhdelle tyrannille, saadakseen\ntakaisin alkuper\u00e4isen ylivaltansa. Valtio saattaa ollakin niin\nlaitettu, tai sen lait niin laadittu, tahi sen varakkaat j\u00e4senet sit\u00e4\nmielt\u00e4, ett\u00e4 kaikki yksin neuvoin kaivavat yksinvallalle kuoppaa.\n\"Ensinn\u00e4kin: jos olot valtiossa ovat sellaiset, ett\u00e4 ne edist\u00e4v\u00e4t\nomaisuuden kokoamista ja tekev\u00e4t varakkaat yh\u00e4 rikkaammiksi, silloin\nn\u00e4itten pyyteet kasvamistaan kasvavat. Omaisuuden lis\u00e4ytyminen taas\non v\u00e4ltt\u00e4m\u00e4t\u00f6n seuraus, kun, niinkuin nykyisin, enemm\u00e4n rahoja\ntulee maahan ulkomaisen kaupan kuin kotimaisen teollisuuden kautta.\nUlkomaista kauppaa saattavat nimitt\u00e4in edulla k\u00e4yd\u00e4 vaan rikkaat,\nja heille kertyy samalla my\u00f6s kotimaisen teollisuuden voitot, niin\nett\u00e4 rikkailla on meid\u00e4n maassa kaksi rikkauden l\u00e4hdett\u00e4, k\u00f6yhill\u00e4\nvain yksi. Siit\u00e4p\u00e4 syyst\u00e4 on huomattu omaisuutta kasaantuvan kaikissa\nkauppavaltioissa, ja niist\u00e4p\u00e4 on t\u00e4h\u00e4n saakka kaikista tullut aikaa\nvoittain ylimysvaltaisia.\n\"Edelleen saattavat t\u00e4m\u00e4nkin maan lait edist\u00e4\u00e4 omaisuuden\nkasaantumista, niinp\u00e4 silloin kuin niitten kautta rikkaitten ja\nk\u00f6yhien v\u00e4liset luonnolliset siteet katkeavat, kun s\u00e4\u00e4det\u00e4\u00e4n,\nett'eiv\u00e4t rikkaat saa menn\u00e4 naimisiin muitten kuin rikkaiden kanssa,\ntaikka silloin kuin oppineita yksinomaa varain puutteen t\u00e4hden\nkatsotaan kykenem\u00e4tt\u00f6miksi palvelemaan maatansa neuvon-antajina, ja\nvarallisuuden hankkiminen siis tehd\u00e4\u00e4n viisaan miehen kunnianhimon\nesineeksi. N\u00e4ill\u00e4 ja muilla samankaltaisilla keinoilla, sanon min\u00e4,\nsaadaan rikkaudet kasaantumaan.\n\"Ja kun nyt t\u00e4mm\u00f6isen kasaantuneen rikkauden omistaja on hankkinut\nkaiken sen, mit\u00e4 mukavaan ja hauskaan el\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n tarvitaan, niin ei h\u00e4n\nsaata omaisuutensa ylij\u00e4\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4 k\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 muuhun kuin vallan ostamiseen;\ntoisin sanoen: h\u00e4n hankkii itselleen semmoisia, jotka ovat h\u00e4nest\u00e4\nriippuvia, ostamalla vapauden puutteen-alaisilta ja rahan-alaisilta,\nsellaisilta, jotka leiv\u00e4n t\u00e4hden suostuvat kantamaan yht\u00e4mittaisen\ntyranniuden h\u00e4pe\u00e4llist\u00e4 painoa. T\u00e4ll\u00e4 tavoin jokainen rikas mies\nker\u00e4\u00e4 ymp\u00e4rilleen joukon kansansa k\u00f6yhimpi\u00e4. Valtiota, jossa\nkasaantunutta omaisuutta ylenpalttisissa m\u00e4\u00e4rin on, sopii verrata\nDescartesin systeemaan, jonka mukaan kukin taivaankappale liikkuu\nomassa py\u00f6rteess\u00e4ns\u00e4. Mutta ne, jotka mahtavamman miehen py\u00f6rteess\u00e4\nliikkua tahtovat, ovat vain orjia, ihmiskunnan hylkyj\u00e4; heid\u00e4n\nsielunsa ja kasvatuksensa on orjuuteen menev\u00e4\u00e4; vapautta he tuntevat\nnimelt\u00e4 vain.\n\"Mutta t\u00e4ytyy olla olemassa koko suuri paljous sellaisiakin, jotka\novat ulkopuolella rikkaan miehen vaikutus-alaa, nimitt\u00e4in ne, jotka\novat hyvin rikkaitten ja vihoviimeisen alhaison v\u00e4lill\u00e4, ne, jotka\novat siksi varakkaita, ett'ei heid\u00e4n tarvitse l\u00e4heisens\u00e4 rikkaan\nmiehen vallan alle asettua, ja siksi k\u00f6yhi\u00e4, ett'eiv\u00e4t pysty itse\nnousemaan tyranneiksi. T\u00e4ss\u00e4 keskiluokassa yleens\u00e4 hoidetaan\ntaiteita, tieteit\u00e4 ja kaikkia yhteiskunnallisia avuja. T\u00e4m\u00e4 luokka se\nyksin on tunnettu vapauden todellisena suojelijana, ja se se kansan\nnimen ansaitseekin.\n\"Nyt saattaa k\u00e4yd\u00e4 niin, ett\u00e4 t\u00e4m\u00e4 keskiluokka menett\u00e4\u00e4 kaiken\nvaikutuksensa valtiossa, ja sen \u00e4\u00e4ni ik\u00e4\u00e4nkuin tukahtuu alhaison\n\u00e4\u00e4neen. Selv\u00e4\u00e4 nimitt\u00e4in on, ett\u00e4 jos \u00e4\u00e4nest\u00e4miseen valtion\nasioissa oikeuttaa nyt kymmenen kertaa pienempi omaisuus kuin mik\u00e4\nperustuslakia laadittaissa oli katsottu riitt\u00e4v\u00e4ksi sellaisen\noikeuden saamiseen, niin joutuvat suuret m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4t alhaisoakin\nvaltion-asioihin osallisiksi, ja n\u00e4m\u00e4h\u00e4n, yh\u00e4 liikkuen mahtavain\npy\u00f6rteess\u00e4, kulkevat samaan suuntaankin kuin he. Sellaisessa\nvaltiossa ei keskis\u00e4\u00e4dylle muu neuvoksi kuin mit\u00e4 tunnollisimmin\nkoettaa kannattaa yhden p\u00e4\u00e4hallitsijan etuoikeuksia, sill\u00e4 h\u00e4nh\u00e4n\nse on, joka masentaa rikkaiden voimaa ja est\u00e4\u00e4 heit\u00e4 rasittamasta\nkymmenkertaisella painolla heid\u00e4n alapuolellansa olevaa keskiluokkaa.\n\"Keskiluokkaa sopii verrata rikkaitten piiritt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n kaupunkiin,\njonka avuksi on tulemassa sotajoukko ulkoap\u00e4in. Niin kauan kuin\npiiritt\u00e4j\u00e4t pelk\u00e4\u00e4v\u00e4t hy\u00f6kk\u00e4yst\u00e4 takaap\u00e4in, koettavat he tietystikin\ntarjota kaupunkilaisille mit\u00e4 edullisimpia ehtoja, mielistelev\u00e4t\nheit\u00e4 helysanoilla ja lumoavat heit\u00e4 etuoikeuksien lupauksilla.\nMutta kun kerran takaap\u00e4in uhkaava vihollinen on ly\u00f6ty, silloin ei\nkaupungin muureissa ole en\u00e4\u00e4 paljoakaan suojaa asukkaille. Ja mit\u00e4\nheill\u00e4 silloin on odotettavana, sen huomaa, kun katsahtaa Hollantiin,\nGenovaan tai Venetiaan: siell\u00e4 laki hallitsee k\u00f6yhi\u00e4 ja rikkaat lakia.\n\"Min\u00e4 niinmuodoin puolustan yksinvaltaa ja olen valmis kuolemaan\npyh\u00e4n yksinvallan edest\u00e4, sill\u00e4 jos ihmiskunnassa mit\u00e4\u00e4n pyh\u00e4\u00e4\nlienee, niin se on kansan voideltu hallitsija. Kaikki, mik\u00e4 h\u00e4nen\nvaltaansa v\u00e4hent\u00e4\u00e4, niin sodan kuin rauhankin aikana, supistaa\nsamalla h\u00e4nen alamaistensakin todellisia vapauksia. Nuo helysanat:\nvapaus ja patriotismi ja brittil\u00e4isyys, ovat jo t\u00e4h\u00e4n saakka saaneet\npaljon aikaan! Toivottava on, ett\u00e4 vapauden todelliset lapset\nest\u00e4isiv\u00e4t niit\u00e4 tekem\u00e4st\u00e4 sen enemp\u00e4\u00e4. Olen min\u00e4 aikoinani n\u00e4hnyt\nmontakin tuollaista vapauden ritaria muka, mutta en muista heist\u00e4\nainoatakaan, joka ei olisi niin syd\u00e4mess\u00e4\u00e4n kuin perheens\u00e4kin\nkeskuudessa ollut tyranni.\"\nMin\u00e4 huomasin nyt menneeni innoissani sivistyneitten elintapojen\nrajoja ulommas; mutta minun vastustajani, joka jo monta kertaa oli\nyritt\u00e4nyt keskeytt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n minua, ei en\u00e4\u00e4 malttanut hillit\u00e4 itse\u00e4ns\u00e4.\n-- Mitenk\u00e4! -- huudahti h\u00e4n. -- Min\u00e4 olen siis koko ajan pit\u00e4nyt\nvieraanani jesuittaa papin puvussa! Mutta, kautta kaikkein\nhiilikaivoksieni! -- pellolle semmoinen mies, niin totta kuin nimeni\non Wilkinson!\nHuomasin menneeni liian pitk\u00e4lle ja pyysin anteeksi liian kiihkoisata\npuhettani.\n-- Vai anteeksi! -- riehui h\u00e4n. -- Moisista ajatuksista pit\u00e4isi\nsenkin tuhat kertaa pyyt\u00e4\u00e4 anteeksi. Jaa-a! Antaa palttua vapaudelle\nja omaisuudelle ja, niinkuin sanomalehti-miehet sanovat, panna\npitk\u00e4kseen ja sallia itsens\u00e4 sonnustaa puukengill\u00e4! Sir, min\u00e4 vaadin\nteit\u00e4 heti paikalla l\u00e4htem\u00e4\u00e4n t\u00e4st\u00e4 talosta tiehenne, v\u00e4ltt\u00e4\u00e4ksenne\nviel\u00e4 pahempia seurauksia. Sir, min\u00e4 vaadin sen!\nOlin juuri ruveta j\u00e4lleen selittelem\u00e4\u00e4n, mutta samassa kuului muuan\npalvelija koputtavan oveen, ja samassa ladytkin kirkaisivat:\n-- Hyv\u00e4inen aika! Nyt tuli herrasv\u00e4ki kotia! T\u00e4h\u00e4n-astinen is\u00e4nt\u00e4ni\nolikin ollut vain talon hovimestari, joka herransa poissa ollessa oli\ntahtonut n\u00e4ytell\u00e4 is\u00e4nt\u00e4\u00e4 ja olla jonkun aikaa talon herrana. Ja,\ntotta puhuen, politiikasta h\u00e4n osasi haastella yht\u00e4 hyvin kuin mik\u00e4\naatelismies maalla tahansa. Mutta ylimmilleen nousi h\u00e4mm\u00e4stykseni,\nn\u00e4hdess\u00e4ni hovinherran astuvan rouvineen sis\u00e4\u00e4n. Eik\u00e4 ollut heid\u00e4n\nkummastuksensa pienempi kuin meid\u00e4nk\u00e4\u00e4n, kun n\u00e4kiv\u00e4t t\u00e4ss\u00e4 moisen\nseuran ja herkut kaikenlaiset.\n-- Hyv\u00e4t herrat! -- lausui oikea is\u00e4nt\u00e4 minulle ja seuralaiselleni,\n-- min\u00e4 ja vaimoni olemme teid\u00e4n n\u00f6yrimm\u00e4t palvelijanne, mutta t\u00e4ytyy\ntunnustaa t\u00e4m\u00e4n kunnian tulleen meille niin odottamatta, ett\u00e4 me\nkerrassaan n\u00f6yrrymme meid\u00e4n velvollisuuksiemme alle.\nMutta niin odottamatonta kuin meid\u00e4n seuramme lienee ollutkaan\nheille, viel\u00e4 odottamattomampaa oli meille heid\u00e4n ilmestymisens\u00e4.\nOmaa typeryytt\u00e4ni ajatellessani, en saanut sanaakaan suustani, kun\n\u00e4kki\u00e4 -- kukas heti t\u00e4m\u00e4n j\u00e4lkeen astui sis\u00e4\u00e4n? Kukas muu kuin\narmas miss Arabella Wilmot, Yrj\u00f6 poikani entinen morsian! (Heid\u00e4n\navioliitostaan ei tullut mit\u00e4\u00e4n, kuten jo ennen on kerrottu.) Minut\nhuomattuaan h\u00e4n heti riemuissaan riensi syliini.\n-- Rakas sir! -- huudahti h\u00e4n. -- Mit\u00e4 onnen sattumaa meid\u00e4n on\nkiitt\u00e4minen n\u00e4in odottamattomasta k\u00e4ynnist\u00e4? Eno ja t\u00e4ti ihastuvat,\nsaatuaan tiet\u00e4\u00e4, ett\u00e4 tohtori Primrose on heid\u00e4n vieraanansa.\nMinun nimeni kuultuansa, vanha gentleman ja lady astuivat\nkohteliaasti minun luokseni, mit\u00e4 herttaisimmin lausuen minut\ntervetulleeksi. Mutta myh\u00e4ht\u00e4\u00e4 heid\u00e4n t\u00e4ytyi v\u00e4kisinkin, kuultuaan,\nmitenk\u00e4 min\u00e4 olin t\u00e4nne vieraaksi joutunut. Poloinen hovimestari,\njonka he ensi alussa n\u00e4kyiv\u00e4t aikovan erottaa palveluksesta, sai\nkumminkin minun v\u00e4lityksell\u00e4ni anteeksi.\nMr Arnold rouvinensa, t\u00e4m\u00e4n hovin is\u00e4nt\u00e4v\u00e4ki, pyysiv\u00e4t nyt minua\ntekem\u00e4\u00e4n heille sen mielihyv\u00e4n, ett\u00e4 j\u00e4isin heid\u00e4n luokseen\nmuutamaksi p\u00e4iv\u00e4ksi. Ja koska nyt heid\u00e4n sisarentytt\u00e4rens\u00e4,\nvieh\u00e4tt\u00e4v\u00e4 holhokkini, jonka luonne oli muodostunut minun kasvattavan\nvaikutukseni alaisena, yhdistyi heid\u00e4n pyynt\u00f6ihins\u00e4, niin min\u00e4\nsuostuin.\nY\u00f6ksi minut sijoitettiin upeaan huoneesen, ja jo aikaisin seuraavana\naamuna miss Wilmot pyysi saada keskustella minun kanssani\npuutarhassa, joka oli laitettu uuden-aikaiseen asuun. N\u00e4ytetty\u00e4ns\u00e4\nminulle jonkun aikaa seudun ihanuuksia, h\u00e4n kys\u00e4isi minulta, aivan\nkuin ohimennen vain, milloinka min\u00e4 viimeksi olin saanut tietoja Yrj\u00f6\npojastani.\n-- Voi, neiti hyv\u00e4! -- huudahtin min\u00e4. H\u00e4n on ollut jo l\u00e4hes kolme\nvuotta kotoa poissa, kertaakaan kirjoittamatta yst\u00e4villeen enemp\u00e4\u00e4\nkuin minullekaan. Miss\u00e4 h\u00e4n on, en tied\u00e4. Kenties en en\u00e4\u00e4 milloinkaan\nsaa n\u00e4hd\u00e4 h\u00e4nt\u00e4 enk\u00e4 tuta onnea. Niin, armas neiti, emme me kukaties\nkoskaan n\u00e4e sellaisia hauskoja hetki\u00e4, joita ennen aikaan vietimme\nmeid\u00e4n kotilieden ymp\u00e4rill\u00e4 Wakefieldissa. Meid\u00e4n pieni perheemme\nse hajoaa nyt nopein askelin. K\u00f6yhyys toi muutakin tullessaan kuin\npuutetta; se toi h\u00e4pe\u00e4t\u00e4 ylitsemme.\nHyv\u00e4syd\u00e4minen tytt\u00f6 rupesi vetistelem\u00e4\u00e4n, minun kertomustani\nkuullessansa. Huomattuani h\u00e4net kovin hell\u00e4tuntoiseksi, en\nkertonutkaan h\u00e4nelle juurta jaksain meid\u00e4n k\u00e4rsimyksi\u00e4mme.\nLohdullista kumminkin minun oli n\u00e4hd\u00e4, ett'ei aika ollut ensink\u00e4\u00e4n\nmuuttanut h\u00e4nen tunteitansa, ja saada tiet\u00e4\u00e4 h\u00e4nen hylj\u00e4nneen\nuseampia kosioita siit\u00e4 pit\u00e4in kuin me olimme siirtyneet pois h\u00e4nen\nkotiseuduiltansa. H\u00e4n saattoi minua ylt'ymp\u00e4ri lavean puutarhan,\nosoittaen minulle lehtokujia ja lehtimajoja, ja samalla k\u00e4ytt\u00e4en\njok'ainoata esinett\u00e4 aiheena johonkin uuteen tiedusteluun pojastani.\nN\u00e4in kului meilt\u00e4 aamupuoli, kunnes kello alkoi soida, kutsuen meit\u00e4\np\u00e4iv\u00e4llisille. Siell\u00e4 kohtasimme jo ennen mainitsemani vaeltavan\nn\u00e4yttelij\u00e4seuran johtajan, joka oli tullut tarjoomaan pilettej\u00e4\nt\u00e4n'iltaiseen n\u00e4ytelm\u00e4\u00e4n \"Katuvainen kaunotar.\" Horation osaa oli\nsiin\u00e4 esitt\u00e4v\u00e4 muuan nuori mies, joka ei viel\u00e4 koskaan ollut lavalle\nastunut. Kovin l\u00e4mpim\u00e4sti n\u00e4kyi johtaja kiittelev\u00e4n t\u00e4t\u00e4 nuorta\nn\u00e4yttelij\u00e4\u00e4; ei sanonut tuntevansa ket\u00e4\u00e4n toista, josta olisi niin\nerinomaisia toiveita.\n-- N\u00e4yttelemisen taito, -- huomautti h\u00e4n, ei ole yhdess\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4ss\u00e4\nopittu, mutta t\u00e4m\u00e4 nuori gentleman se n\u00e4kyy olevan syntynyt\nn\u00e4ytt\u00f6lavaa varten. \u00c4\u00e4ni, ulkomuoto, ryhti -- verratonta kaikki\ntyyni. Sattumoisin me h\u00e4net l\u00f6ysimme matkan varrelta.\nT\u00e4m\u00e4 ilmoitus se kiihoitti joissain m\u00e4\u00e4rin meid\u00e4n uteliaisuuttamme,\nja naisten pyynn\u00f6st\u00e4 min\u00e4 suostuin seuraamaan heit\u00e4 teatteriin,\njonka virkaa t\u00e4ll\u00e4 er\u00e4\u00e4 toimitti muuan lato. Koska se seura, jossa\nmin\u00e4 sinne saavuin, oli seudun arvokkain, niin otettiin meid\u00e4t\nvastaan mit\u00e4 suurimmalla kunnioituksella ja sijoitettiin etummaisille\nistuimille. Siin\u00e4 me istuimme hetken aikaa, jotenkin maltittomina\nodotellen Horation esiintymist\u00e4.\nUusi n\u00e4yttelij\u00e4 astui vihdoin lavalle...\nLasten vanhemmat kuvailkoot mieless\u00e4ns\u00e4, mit\u00e4 min\u00e4 t\u00e4ll\u00e4 haavaa\ntunsin, n\u00e4hdess\u00e4ni tuossa n\u00e4yttelij\u00e4ss\u00e4 onnettoman poikani!\nH\u00e4n oli juuri alkamaisillaan, mutta sattui samassa luomaan katseensa\nyleis\u00f6\u00f6n ja huomasi miss Wilmotin ja minut, ja siin\u00e4 h\u00e4n seisoi,\nsanaakaan sanomatta, liikahtamatta. N\u00e4yttelij\u00e4t kulissien takana,\nluullen pys\u00e4yksen syyksi luonnollista arkailemista, koettivat h\u00e4nt\u00e4\nrohkaista, mutta sen sijaan, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nen olisi pit\u00e4nyt jatkaa, h\u00e4n\npurskahti itkem\u00e4\u00e4n ja astui n\u00e4ytt\u00e4m\u00f6lt\u00e4 pois.\nEn tied\u00e4, mit\u00e4 lienen silloin tuntenutkaan, sill\u00e4 mielenliikutukset\nseurasivat liian kiivaasti toisiansa, mutta pian minut her\u00e4tti\nt\u00e4st\u00e4 tuskallisesta horrostilasta miss Wilmot, joka kalpeana ja\nvapisevalla \u00e4\u00e4nell\u00e4 pyysi minua saattamaan h\u00e4nt\u00e4 enonsa kotiin. Sinne\ntultuamme ei mr Arnold ensi alussa voinut k\u00e4sitt\u00e4\u00e4 meid\u00e4n omituista\nk\u00e4yt\u00f6st\u00e4mme, mutta kuultuaan, ett\u00e4 uusi n\u00e4yttelij\u00e4 on minun poikani,\nh\u00e4n l\u00e4hetti heti vaununsa noutamaan h\u00e4nt\u00e4 hoviin.\nPoikani kun jyrk\u00e4sti kielt\u00e4ytyi en\u00e4\u00e4 esiintym\u00e4st\u00e4 lavalla, t\u00e4ytyi\nn\u00e4yttelij\u00e4in panna h\u00e4nen sijaansa joku toinen, ja niin saimme h\u00e4net\nt\u00e4nne.\nMr Arnold otti h\u00e4net vastaan erinomaisen yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisesti, min\u00e4\nt\u00e4ynn\u00e4 riemua, tapani mukaan, min\u00e4 kun en milloinkaan osaa\nteeskennell\u00e4 v\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4\u00e4 suuttumusta. Miss Wilmotin kohtelu oli\nn\u00e4enn\u00e4isesti kylm\u00e4kiskoista, mutta min\u00e4 huomasin h\u00e4nen pakottavan\nitse\u00e4\u00e4n. H\u00e4nen mielens\u00e4 oli ilmeisesti yh\u00e4 viel\u00e4kin kuohuksissa:\nh\u00e4n puhui p\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00f6mi\u00e4, iloissansa muka, ja nauroi sitten kovin\nomaa mielett\u00f6myytt\u00e4\u00e4n. Tuon tuostakin h\u00e4n salavihkaa vilkaisi\npeiliin, ik\u00e4\u00e4nkuin onnellisena siit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 tuntee sulojensa yh\u00e4\nviel\u00e4kin valtavan voiman, ja usein h\u00e4n teki kysymyksi\u00e4, ollenkaan\nv\u00e4litt\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00e4, mit\u00e4 niihin vastattiin.\nKAHDESKYMMENES LUKU\nFilosofillinen kulkuri, joka uutta etsiess\u00e4\u00e4n kadottaa\ntyytyv\u00e4isyytens\u00e4.\nIllallisen j\u00e4lkeen mrs Arnold kohteliaasti ehdotti, ett\u00e4 kaksi\npalvelijaa k\u00e4visi noutamassa poikani matkakapineet. Poikani ep\u00e4si\nensi alussa, mutta kun is\u00e4nt\u00e4 yh\u00e4 uudisti tarjoustaan, t\u00e4ytyi h\u00e4nen\ntunnustaa, ett\u00e4 sauva ja matkareppu -- siin\u00e4 koko se irtain omaisuus,\njosta h\u00e4n t\u00e4ss\u00e4 maailmassa pystyy ylv\u00e4stelem\u00e4\u00e4n.\n-- Niin, niin, poikaseni, -- virkoin min\u00e4, k\u00f6yh\u00e4n\u00e4 sin\u00e4 kotoasi\nl\u00e4ksit ja k\u00f6yh\u00e4n\u00e4, n\u00e4en m\u00e4, palajatkin, mutta olethan ep\u00e4ilem\u00e4tt\u00e4 jo\npaljonkin enn\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt maailmata n\u00e4hd\u00e4.\n-- Olen niinkin, is\u00e4, -- vastasi h\u00e4n, -- vaikk'ei onnea kukaan\ntavoittelemalla kiinni saa, ja niinp\u00e4 min\u00e4 vihdoin moisesta\ntavoittelemisesta luovuinkin.\n-- Olisipa, -- sanoi mrs Arnold, -- hyvin hauska kuulla teid\u00e4n\nseikkailuistanne. Alkupuolen niist\u00e4 on kyll\u00e4 veljeni tyt\u00e4r minulle\nkertonut, mutta me olisimme hyvin kiitollisia, jos saisimme kuulla\nloput.\n-- Hyv\u00e4 rouva, -- vastasi poikani, -- sen sanon ennakolta, ett'ei\nkuulijain mielihyv\u00e4 ole oleva puoltakaan niin suuri kuin kertojan\nturhamaisuus, enk\u00e4 sittenk\u00e4\u00e4n osaa luvata heille yht\u00e4\u00e4n seikkailua,\nsill\u00e4 enimm\u00e4kseen on minulla kerrottavana vaan n\u00e4kemi\u00e4ni eik\u00e4\ntekemi\u00e4ni.\n\"Ensimm\u00e4inen kova onneni, niinkuin kaikki tied\u00e4tte, oli ankara,\nmutta niin tuntuvan kuin se antoikin iskun, ei se minua kumminkaan\nmasentanut. Ei ole toista niin herkk\u00e4\u00e4 toivomaan kuin min\u00e4. Niinp\u00e4\nmin\u00e4 er\u00e4\u00e4n\u00e4 kauniina aamuna l\u00e4ksin astumaan Lontoota kohti,\nhuomisesta yht\u00e4\u00e4n huolimatta, iloisena kuin linnut, jotka tien\nvarsilla viserteliv\u00e4t, ja lohdutellen itse\u00e4ni sill\u00e4 ajatuksella, ett\u00e4\nLontoo se on sellainen markkinapaikka, miss\u00e4 kaikenlainen taito saa\nasianmukaisen tunnustuksen ja palkinnon.\n\"Kaupunkiin saavuttuani oli ensi huolenani vied\u00e4 sinun\nsuosituskirjeesi, is\u00e4, serkulle, joka oli hiukan paremmissa\ntaloudellisissa oloissa kuin min\u00e4. Aikomukseni oli ensi alussa,\nniinkuin tied\u00e4t, p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 apuopettajaksi johonkin kouluun. Siksip\u00e4\nkys\u00e4isin, mit\u00e4 h\u00e4n siit\u00e4 ajattelee. Serkku, t\u00e4t\u00e4 kuullessaan, veti\nsuunsa pilkalliseen irveen.\"\n-- \"Ohhoh!\" -- sanoi h\u00e4n, -- \"Kyll\u00e4p\u00e4 viittoivatkin sinulle\nkoko korean tien! Olin min\u00e4kin aikoinani apuopettajana er\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4\nsis\u00e4oppilas-laitoksessa, ja vet\u00e4k\u00f6\u00f6t minut hirteen, ellen mieluummin\nolisi ollut vartijan-apulaisena Newgaten vankilassa. Liikkeell\u00e4 sai\nolla aamusta varhain iltaan my\u00f6h\u00e4\u00e4n. Esimies katsoa muljotti minuun\nmy\u00f6t\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4 \u00e4k\u00e4isen\u00e4; h\u00e4nen rouvansa vihasi minua rumien kasvojeni\nvuoksi; pojat minua kiduttivat kujeillansa. En p\u00e4\u00e4ssyt pist\u00e4ym\u00e4\u00e4nk\u00e4\u00e4n\nsivistyneitten ihmisten pariin. Mutta oletko varma, ett\u00e4 sin\u00e4 kelpaat\nkoulun-opettajaksi? Annas, kun tutkin sinua hiukan. Oletkos sin\u00e4\nvalmistautunut t\u00e4h\u00e4n toimeen?\"\n-- \"Ei sinusta sitten koulumieheksi. Osaatko k\u00e4hert\u00e4\u00e4 poikien tukkaa?\"\n-- \"Ei sinusta sitten koulumieheksi. Onko sinussa ollut rokkoa?\"\n-- \"Ei sinusta sitten koulumieheksi. Osaatko maata kolmisin yhdess\u00e4\ns\u00e4ngyss\u00e4?\"\n-- \"Ei sinusta sitten ik\u00e4\u00e4n koulumieheksi. Onko sinulle hyv\u00e4\nruokahalu?\"\n-- \"Ei sinusta sitten koulumieheksi, ei sit\u00e4 vastenkaan. Ei, hyv\u00e4\nherra, jos mielesi tekee p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 fiiniin ja helppoon ammattiin, niin\nmene seitsem\u00e4ksi vuodeksi sep\u00e4n-oppiin ja v\u00e4\u00e4nn\u00e4 paljetta h\u00e4nelle,\nmutta \u00e4l\u00e4 suurin surminkaan pyrji koulunopettajaksi. Mutta, \u00e4l\u00e4h\u00e4n\nhuoli\", -- jatkoi h\u00e4n, \"sin\u00e4 n\u00e4yt olevan sukkela ja ymm\u00e4rt\u00e4v\u00e4inen\npoika. Mit\u00e4s arvelet, jos olisi sinun ruveta kirjoja kyh\u00e4\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n,\nniinkuin min\u00e4kin? Olet tietenkin lukenut kirjoja sellaisilta neron\nmiehilt\u00e4, jotka siin\u00e4 ammatissa ovat n\u00e4hneet n\u00e4lk\u00e4\u00e4, mutta min\u00e4\nn\u00e4yt\u00e4n sinulle pitkin kaupunkia puolensataa per\u00e4ti typer\u00e4\u00e4 miest\u00e4,\njotka siin\u00e4 samaisessa toimessa ovat voineet vallan hyvin, --\ntyhj\u00e4np\u00e4iv\u00e4ist\u00e4 v\u00e4ke\u00e4 kaikki tyyni, jotka hiljaisina ja typerin\u00e4\nk\u00e4velev\u00e4t ja kirjoittelevat historiaa ja politiikaa ja saavat\nylistyst\u00e4 osakseen, -- miehi\u00e4 sellaisia, jotka, jos olisivat\nsuutariksi ruvenneet, ik\u00e4ns\u00e4 kaiken olisivat kenki\u00e4 paikkailleet,\nkykenem\u00e4tt\u00e4 kunnon saapasta tekem\u00e4\u00e4n.\n\"Huomattuani, ettei koulun-opettajan toimi kaikkein hienointa laatua\nole, p\u00e4\u00e4tin suostua h\u00e4nen ehdotukseensa, ja koska min\u00e4 kirjallisuutta\npidin mit\u00e4 suurimmassa arvossa, niin tervehdin _antiqua mater'_ia\nGrub-streetin varrella varsin syv\u00e4ll\u00e4 kunnioituksella.[14]\nMainehikastahan olisi, arvelin, l\u00e4hte\u00e4 astumaan niit\u00e4 polkuja, joita\nDryden ja Otway ennen muinoin olivat kulkeneet. T\u00e4m\u00e4n kaupungin-osan\njumalatar oli mielest\u00e4ni etevyyden emonen, ja vaikka maailmassa\nliikkumisen luulisi antavan meille j\u00e4rke\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4h\u00e4n, niin arvelin min\u00e4,\nett\u00e4 t\u00e4m\u00e4n jumalattaren suoma k\u00f6yhyys se se neron el\u00e4tt\u00e4j\u00e4 onkin.\n\"N\u00e4iss\u00e4 miettein min\u00e4 istuin p\u00f6yd\u00e4n \u00e4\u00e4reen, ja huomattuani, ett\u00e4\npaljo hyv\u00e4\u00e4 on viel\u00e4 j\u00e4\u00e4nyt sanomatta nurjalta puolen, p\u00e4\u00e4tin\ntekaista ihan uuden uutukaisen kirjan. Asetin sit\u00e4 varten jotenkin\nn\u00e4pp\u00e4r\u00e4sti kolme paradoksia. V\u00e4\u00e4ri\u00e4h\u00e4n ne olivat, mutta uusia\nsilti. Totuuden helmi\u00e4 olivat nerot niin usein tarjonneet kaupan,\nett'ei minulle j\u00e4\u00e4nyt muuta esille tuotavaa kuin moniaita kiilt\u00e4vi\u00e4\nkapineita, jotka kaukaa n\u00e4yttiv\u00e4t koreilta sent\u00e4\u00e4n nekin. Voi taivaan\nvoimat, sit\u00e4 luuloteltua t\u00e4rkeytt\u00e4, joka kykki mun kyn\u00e4ni k\u00e4rjess\u00e4,\nkun kirjoittaa lykk\u00e4sin! Koko oppinut maailma, ajattelin min\u00e4, nousee\nminun systeematani vastaan, mutta olen sit\u00e4 sitten min\u00e4kin valmis\nnousemaan koko oppinutta maailmaa vastaan. Siin\u00e4 min\u00e4 istuin ker\u00e4n\u00e4\nkuin siili, piikki sojossa jokaisen vastustajan varalle.\"\n-- Kohdalleen sanottu, poikani! -- huudahdin min\u00e4. -- Ja mink\u00e4 asian\notit pohtiaksesi? Et suinkaan j\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt mainitsematta monogamian\nt\u00e4rkeytt\u00e4... mutta min\u00e4 keskeytin sinut. Jatka vaan. No niin,\nsin\u00e4 julkaisit paradoksisi, ja mit\u00e4 sanoi oppinut maailma sinun\nparadokseistasi?\n-- \"Is\u00e4 hyv\u00e4, -- vastasi h\u00e4n, -- oppinut maailma ei sanonut\nparadokseistani yht\u00e4\u00e4n mit\u00e4\u00e4n, ei halaistua sanaakaan. Jokaisella\noli siell\u00e4 t\u00e4ysi ty\u00f6 ja tekeminen yst\u00e4v\u00e4ins\u00e4 ja oman itsens\u00e4\nylist\u00e4misess\u00e4 tai vihamiestens\u00e4 moittimisessa, ja kun minulla\npahaksi onneksi ei ollut kumpaisiakaan, niin t\u00e4ytyi minun k\u00e4rsi\u00e4\nmasennuksista raskainta: minua ei huomattu lainkaan.\n\"Kahvilassa kerran, miettiess\u00e4ni paradoksieni kovaa kohtaloa,\nsattui sis\u00e4\u00e4n tulemaan muuan lyhyenl\u00e4nt\u00e4 mies. H\u00e4n asettui istumaan\nl\u00e4helleni samaan osastoon ja alkoi puhella yht\u00e4 ja toista.\nHuomattuaan minussa oppineen miehen, h\u00e4n veti taskustaan esille\npakallisen prospekteja ja pyysi minua tilaamaan uuden painoksen\nPropertion teoksia selitysten kanssa, jonka h\u00e4n aikoo julaista. T\u00e4m\u00e4\npyynt\u00f6 antoi ehdottomastikin aihetta sellaiseen vastaukseen, ett'ei\nminulla ole rahoja, ja t\u00e4m\u00e4 tunnustus saattoi h\u00e4net tiedustelemaan,\nmit\u00e4 pyrint\u00f6j\u00e4 ja toiveita minulla on. Huomattuaan minun toiveeni\nyht\u00e4 t\u00e4ytel\u00e4isiksi kuin kukkaronikin, h\u00e4n huudahti:\n\"-- Outopa n\u00e4ytte viel\u00e4 olevan Lontoossa. Min\u00e4 otan opastaakseni\nteit\u00e4. Katsokaas n\u00e4it\u00e4 prospekteja. N\u00e4ill\u00e4, juuri n\u00e4ill\u00e4\nprospekteilla min\u00e4 olen el\u00e4nyt varsin mukavasti kaksitoistakymment\u00e4\najast'aikaa. Samassa kuin joku aatelismies palajaa matkoiltaan,\ntai joku kreoli tulee Jamaikasta, tahi ylh\u00e4issukuinen leski saapuu\nmaatilaltaan, heti min\u00e4 tilauksineni sinne. Min\u00e4 piirit\u00e4n ensin\nheid\u00e4n syd\u00e4mens\u00e4 mielistelevill\u00e4 puheilla ja ty\u00f6nn\u00e4n sitten muurin\nmurtumasta prospektini sis\u00e4\u00e4n. Jos he ensi yritykselt\u00e4 panevat\nnimens\u00e4 listalle, niin seuraa uusi tarjous: teoksen omistaminen\nheille. Ja kun siihen on suostuttu, isken kerran viel\u00e4: lupaan panna\nheid\u00e4n vaakunansa nimilehdelle. T\u00e4ll\u00e4 tapaa\", jatkoi h\u00e4n, \"min\u00e4 el\u00e4n\nihmisten turhamaisuudesta ja nauran sille. Mutta, n\u00e4in meid\u00e4n kesken,\nminut tunnetaan jo liiankin hyvin; minun olisi mieluista saada\nlainaksi teid\u00e4n kasvojanne hiukan. Muuan ylh\u00e4inen herra on vast'ik\u00e4\u00e4n\npalanut Italiasta; h\u00e4nen portinvartijansa tuntee minut naamastani,\nmutta jos te ottaisitte vied\u00e4ksenne sinne t\u00e4m\u00e4n runovihkon, niin\npanen p\u00e4\u00e4ni pantiksi, ett\u00e4 teid\u00e4n onnistuu, ja sitten pannaan saalis\nkahtia.\"\n-- Herrainen aika, Yrj\u00f6! -- huudahdin min\u00e4. Sellaistako se\nrunoilijain toimi nykyj\u00e4\u00e4n on? N\u00e4ink\u00f6 he kumartelevat ja kerj\u00e4\u00e4v\u00e4t,\nnuo ylev\u00e4lahjaiset miehet? N\u00e4ink\u00f6 he vainenkin kutsumustansa\nh\u00e4p\u00e4isev\u00e4t, halpamaisesti kaupitellen mainettansa leiv\u00e4n t\u00e4hden?\n-- Ei, is\u00e4, vastasi Yrj\u00f6, -- ei todellinen runoilija milloinkaan niin\nsyv\u00e4lle alennu, sill\u00e4 miss\u00e4 neroa, siell\u00e4 ylpeytt\u00e4kin. Sellaiset kuin\ntuo \u00e4sken mainitsemani ovat kerj\u00e4\u00e4vi\u00e4 sointuseppi\u00e4. Yht\u00e4 uhmaavasti\nkuin oikea runoilija kest\u00e4\u00e4 pahimmatkin vastoink\u00e4ymiset, yht\u00e4 arka\nh\u00e4n on ylenkatseelle, ja ainoastaan ne, jotka eiv\u00e4t kannatusta\nansaitse, ne yksin sit\u00e4 kerj\u00e4\u00e4v\u00e4t.\n\"Minun mieleni kun oli liian ylpe\u00e4, ryhty\u00e4kseni moisiin halpoihin\nkeinoihin, ja varani taas liian v\u00e4h\u00e4iset, uskaltaakseni toista\nkertaa kuunnella maineen kiusauksia, t\u00e4ytyi minun kulkea v\u00e4litiet\u00e4\nja ruveta kirjoittamaan leip\u00e4ni edest\u00e4. Mutta minusta ei ollut\nsellaiseen ammattiin, jossa taidolla yksin on menestyst\u00e4. Min\u00e4\nen voinut hillit\u00e4 salaista himoani, saada ihmisten mielisuosiota\nosakseni. Ja vaikka min\u00e4 olisin voinut paremminkin k\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 aikaani\nedullisen keskinkertaisuuden tuotteisin, kului minulta enin osa\naikaa erinomaisten tuloksien tavoittelemisen, mill\u00e4 ei montakaan\nsivua t\u00e4yteen saa. Pienet kyh\u00e4ykseni saivat sijansa aikakautisten\njulkaisujen sis\u00e4osiin. Ei niit\u00e4 huomattu, eik\u00e4 niist\u00e4 mainittu\nmit\u00e4\u00e4n. Yleis\u00f6ll\u00e4 oli t\u00e4rke\u00e4mpi\u00e4kin teht\u00e4vi\u00e4 kuin kiinty\u00e4 minun\nstiilini keveyteen ja selvyyteen tahi lausejaksojeni sopusointuun.\nKirjoitus toisensa per\u00e4st\u00e4 joutui unohduksiin. Sinne ne hautautuivat,\nnuo tutkielmat vapaudesta, sinne it\u00e4maiset sadut, sinne osoitukset,\nkuinka vesikauhuisen koiran puremia haavoja on hoideltava.\nNiin niitten k\u00e4vi, sill\u00e4 v\u00e4lin kuin Philautoot, Philaletheet,\nPhilelutheroot ja Philanthropoot kirjoittivat jokainen paremmin kuin\nmin\u00e4, koskapa kirjoittivat pikemmin kuin min\u00e4.\n\"Siit\u00e4 pit\u00e4in min\u00e4 pysyttelinkin ainoastaan toivottomain kirjailijain\nseurassa, samanlaisten kuin min\u00e4 itsekin, jotka ylisteliv\u00e4t ja\nsurkuttelivat ja halveksivat toisiansa. Kuuluisain kirjailijain\nteokset miellyttiv\u00e4t meit\u00e4 sit\u00e4 v\u00e4hemmin, mit\u00e4 ansiokkaampia ne\nolivat. Min\u00e4 huomasin, ett'ei nero toisessa ihmisess\u00e4 minua lainkaan\nhuvita. Minun onnettomat paradoksini olivat saaneet t\u00e4m\u00e4n mielihyv\u00e4n\nl\u00e4hteen kokonaan kuivaksi. Luin min\u00e4 tai kirjotin min\u00e4, en ollut\nkoskaan tyytyv\u00e4inen, sill\u00e4 etevyys toisessa minua harmitti, ja\nkirjoittaminen oli minulle orjanty\u00f6t\u00e4.\n\"N\u00e4iss\u00e4 synkiss\u00e4 mietteiss\u00e4 istuin kerran penkill\u00e4 S:t Jamesin\npuistossa. Siin\u00e4 tuli luokseni muuan nuori, ylh\u00e4inen gentleman,\nentisi\u00e4 tuttaviani yliopisto-ajoilta. Me tervehdimme toisiamme hiukan\nep\u00e4r\u00f6iden: h\u00e4nt\u00e4 h\u00e4vetti olla tuttava miehen kanssa, joka esiintyy\nniin viheli\u00e4isess\u00e4 asussa, minua taas pelotti, ett'ei h\u00e4n ole minua\ntuntevinansakaan. Minun ep\u00e4ilyni olivat kumminkin turhia, sill\u00e4 Ned\nThornhill oli pohjaltaan varsin hyv\u00e4luontoinen mies\".[15]\n-- Kuinka sin\u00e4 sanoitkaan, Yrj\u00f6? -- keskeytin min\u00e4. -- Thornhill,\nniink\u00f6? Se ei saata olla muu kuin meid\u00e4n hovinherra.\n-- Herrainen aika! -- huudahti mrs Arnold, -- onko mr Thornhill niin\nl\u00e4heinen naapurinne? H\u00e4n on kauan aikaa ollut meid\u00e4n perheen yst\u00e4v\u00e4,\nja me odotamme h\u00e4nt\u00e4 piakkoin t\u00e4nne.\n\"Yst\u00e4v\u00e4ni\", jatkoi poikani, \"piti ensi ty\u00f6kseen huolen siit\u00e4, ett\u00e4\nmin\u00e4 sain paremman puvun h\u00e4nen hienosta vaatevarastostaan, ja sitten\np\u00e4\u00e4sin h\u00e4nen p\u00f6yt\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4 puoleksi yst\u00e4v\u00e4n\u00e4, puoleksi alustalaisena.\nMinun toimenani oli k\u00e4yd\u00e4 h\u00e4nen kanssaan huutokaupoissa, pit\u00e4\u00e4\nh\u00e4nt\u00e4 hyv\u00e4ll\u00e4 mielell\u00e4, h\u00e4nen maalauttaessaan kuvaansa, istua\nh\u00e4nen vasemmalla puolellaan vaunuissa, ellei ollut ket\u00e4\u00e4n muita\nsille sijalle, ja auttaa h\u00e4nt\u00e4 rintavarustusten kukistamisessa,\nmilloin h\u00e4nell\u00e4 oli hurjia vehkeit\u00e4 mieless\u00e4. Sit\u00e4 paitsi oli\nminulla senkin seitsem\u00e4n muuta pikku hommaa h\u00e4nen talossaan.\nMinun piti k\u00e4skem\u00e4tt\u00e4kin suorittaa kaikenlaisia pieni\u00e4 teht\u00e4vi\u00e4:\npit\u00e4\u00e4 saapuvilla korkin-avainta, olla kummina kaikille h\u00e4nen\nkamaripalvelijainsa lapsille, laulaa milloin vaan pyydettiin, olla\naina hyv\u00e4ll\u00e4 tuulella, aina n\u00f6yr\u00e4 ja, mik\u00e4li mahdollista, varsin\nonnellinen.\n\"T\u00e4ss\u00e4 kunnian-arvoisassa asemassa ei minulta kumminkaan puuttunut\nkilpailijoita. Muuan merikapteeni, luonnostaankin omiansa t\u00e4llaiseen\npaikkaan, koetti saada minua halvennetuksi suosijani silmiss\u00e4. H\u00e4nen\n\u00e4itins\u00e4 oli aikoinaan ollut er\u00e4\u00e4n ylh\u00e4isen herran pesij\u00e4t\u00e4r, ja\nniinp\u00e4 oli poikakin jo aikaisin p\u00e4\u00e4ssyt himollisten v\u00e4litystointen\nja sukutaulujen makuun. T\u00e4m\u00e4 herrasmies oli ottanut el\u00e4m\u00e4ns\u00e4\nteht\u00e4v\u00e4ksi p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 ylh\u00e4isten herrain tuttavuuteen, ja vaikka monetkin\nolivat h\u00e4net sys\u00e4nneet luotaan h\u00e4nen typeryytens\u00e4 t\u00e4hden, l\u00f6ysi h\u00e4n\nkumminkin monta, jotka olivat yht\u00e4 paksup\u00e4isi\u00e4 kuin h\u00e4nkin, niin ett\u00e4\nsietiv\u00e4t h\u00e4nen tungettelevaisuuttaan. Oikeana ammatti-imartelijana\nh\u00e4n osasi liehakoida kaikilla mahdollisilla tavoin. Minulta se sit\u00e4\nvastoin k\u00e4vi kovin k\u00f6mpel\u00f6sti ja kankeasti, ja sit\u00e4 my\u00f6ten kuin\nsuosijani p\u00e4iv\u00e4st\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4\u00e4n alkoi kaivata yh\u00e4 enemm\u00e4n liehakoimista,\nsit\u00e4 my\u00f6ten min\u00e4 puolestani hetkest\u00e4 hetkeen huomasin h\u00e4ness\u00e4 yh\u00e4\nenemm\u00e4n virheit\u00e4, ja samalla k\u00e4vi mielinkielin oleminen minusta yh\u00e4\ninhottavammaksi.\n\"Olin jo v\u00e4h\u00e4ll\u00e4 kokonaan siirty\u00e4 kapteenin tielt\u00e4 syrj\u00e4\u00e4n, kun\nyst\u00e4v\u00e4ni \u00e4kki\u00e4 pyysi minun apuani, ei sen v\u00e4hemp\u00e4\u00e4n kuin k\u00e4ym\u00e4\u00e4n\nkaksintaisteluun er\u00e4\u00e4n gentlemanin kanssa, jonka sisarta h\u00e4n oli\nmuka loukannut. Min\u00e4 suostuin heti h\u00e4nen pyynt\u00f6\u00f6ns\u00e4... Min\u00e4 n\u00e4en\nkyll\u00e4, ett\u00e4 te paheksutte k\u00e4yt\u00f6st\u00e4ni, mutta olihan se yst\u00e4v\u00e4n\nvelvollisuutta, josta en saattanut kielt\u00e4yty\u00e4. Min\u00e4 k\u00e4vin toimeen,\nl\u00f6in aseen vastustajani k\u00e4dest\u00e4 ja pian sain tiet\u00e4\u00e4, ett\u00e4 tytt\u00f6\nolikin kevytmielinen hailakka, ja ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nen ritarinsa oli\nkonnamainen mies. T\u00e4st\u00e4 palveluksestani sain osakseni mit\u00e4 hartaimmat\nkiitokset, mutta koska yst\u00e4v\u00e4ni oli m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4 l\u00e4hte\u00e4 Lontoosta jo moniaan\np\u00e4iv\u00e4n per\u00e4st\u00e4, niin ei h\u00e4n sanonut osaavansa palkita minua sen\nparemmin kuin antamalla minulle suosituskirjeen sed\u00e4llens\u00e4, sir\nWilliam Thornhillille, ja er\u00e4\u00e4lle toiselle ylh\u00e4iselle herralle, joka\noli t\u00e4rke\u00e4ss\u00e4 valtionvirassa.\n\"Yst\u00e4v\u00e4ni l\u00e4hdetty\u00e4 min\u00e4 ensi ty\u00f6kseni vein suosituskirjeen h\u00e4nen\nsed\u00e4lleen, joka yleens\u00e4 oli tunnettu eritt\u00e4in kunnollisena miehen\u00e4\nja t\u00e4ydell\u00e4 syyll\u00e4kin. H\u00e4nen palvelusv\u00e4kens\u00e4 otti minut vastaan mit\u00e4\nyst\u00e4v\u00e4llisimmill\u00e4 hymyill\u00e4, ja palvelijain katseistahan huomaa aina\nis\u00e4nt\u00e4v\u00e4enkin mielialan. Minut osoitettiin suureen huoneesen, jonne\nsir William pian tuli minun luokseni. Min\u00e4 ilmoitin asiani ja annoin\nkirjeen. Luettuaan sen, h\u00e4n oli \u00e4\u00e4neti hetken aikaa.\"\n-- \"Sanokaas\", -- virkkoi h\u00e4n sitten, \"sanokaas, mit\u00e4 te olette\ntehnyt veljeni pojan puolesta, koskapa h\u00e4n n\u00e4in l\u00e4mpim\u00e4sti teit\u00e4\nsuosittelee? Mutta luulenpa tiet\u00e4v\u00e4ni teid\u00e4n ansionne: te olette\nollut miekkasilla h\u00e4nen puolestaan ja nyt tahdotte minulta palkintoa\nsiit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 olette ollut h\u00e4nen virheittens\u00e4 k\u00e4tyrin\u00e4. Min\u00e4 toivoisin,\nsyd\u00e4mest\u00e4ni toivoisin, ett\u00e4 minun kieltoni nyt olisi teille joissain\nm\u00e4\u00e4rin rangaistusta teid\u00e4n v\u00e4\u00e4rinteostanne ja enemm\u00e4nkin: ett\u00e4 se\nantaisi teille aihetta katumaan tekoanne.\"\n\"K\u00e4rsiv\u00e4llisesti min\u00e4 kuuntelin n\u00e4it\u00e4 nuhteita, sill\u00e4 huomasinhan\nh\u00e4nen kyll\u00e4 olevan oikeassa.\n\"Kaiken toivoni panin nyt toiseen kirjeesen, joka oli osoitettu\ntuolle korkealle virkamiehelle. Suurten herrain kynnyksill\u00e4 kun alati\nkuhisee kerj\u00e4l\u00e4isi\u00e4, kell\u00e4 minkinlainen anomuskirja kourassaan,\noli minunkin varsin vaikea p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 h\u00e4nen puheilleen. Sain kumminkin\nluusaneeksi palvelijat puolella maallista omaisuuttani, ja n\u00e4in\ntavoin minut vihdoinkin p\u00e4\u00e4stettiin avaraan huoneesen, sittenkuin\nkirjeeni jo ennakolta oli viety h\u00e4nen lordisuutensa tutkittavaksi.\nT\u00e4m\u00e4n tuskallisen odotuksen aikana oli minulla runsaasti aikaa\nkatsella ymp\u00e4rilleni. Kaikki oli siell\u00e4 suurenmoista ja sirossa\nasussa. Maalaukset, tapetit, kultaus -- kaikki tuo t\u00e4ytti minut\npelvon-alaisella kunnioituksella ja kohotti minun silmiss\u00e4ni is\u00e4nn\u00e4n\nvarsin korkeaan arvoon. Voi kuitenkin, mietin min\u00e4 mieless\u00e4ni, kuinka\nsuuri mies lieneek\u00e4\u00e4n kaiken t\u00e4m\u00e4n omistaja, jolla on valtion asioita\np\u00e4\u00e4 t\u00e4ynn\u00e4\u00e4n, ja jonka talossa n\u00e4kee puolet koko kuningaskunnan\naarteista! Mahtaa olla valtava nero kerrassaan! Kesken n\u00e4it\u00e4\nkunnioittavia mietteit\u00e4ni kuulin \u00e4kki\u00e4 m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4nper\u00e4isi\u00e4 askeleita.\nAha! siin\u00e4 tulee nyt se suuri mies! Eik\u00f6 mit\u00e4, -- se oli vaan\nkamarineitsyt. Pian kuului astuntaa taas. Nyt se on tietenkin h\u00e4n!\nEik\u00f6 mit\u00e4, se oli vain kamaripalvelija.\"\n-- \"Tek\u00f6\", kys\u00e4isi h\u00e4n, -- \"teko olette t\u00e4m\u00e4n kirjeen tuoja?\"\nMin\u00e4 kumarsin vastaukseksi.\n-- \"Min\u00e4 huomaan t\u00e4st\u00e4\", -- jatkoi h\u00e4n, \"ett\u00e4 niinkuin...\"\nMutta samassa antoi muuan palvelija h\u00e4nelle kortin, ja, sen\nenemp\u00e4\u00e4 minusta v\u00e4litt\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00e4, h\u00e4n meni ovesta ulos, j\u00e4tt\u00e4en minut\nratokseni mietiskelem\u00e4\u00e4n omaa onneani. Enk\u00e4 min\u00e4 h\u00e4nt\u00e4 en\u00e4\u00e4 sen\nkoommin n\u00e4hnytk\u00e4\u00e4n. Muuan lakeija ilmoitti minulle vihdoin, ett\u00e4\nh\u00e4nen lordisuutensa on juuri nousemaisillaan vaunuihinsa kuistin\nedustalla. Min\u00e4 seurasin h\u00e4nt\u00e4 heti ulos. Siell\u00e4 oli kolme nelj\u00e4\nhenke\u00e4 t\u00e4ydess\u00e4 \u00e4\u00e4ness\u00e4, pyyt\u00e4en h\u00e4nen suojelustansa. Min\u00e4 muitten\nper\u00e4\u00e4n. Mutta h\u00e4nen lordisuutensa astui liian nopeasti ja, pitkin\naskelin vaunujensa ovelle. Min\u00e4 korotin \u00e4\u00e4neni, tiedustellen,\nsaanko min\u00e4 pyynt\u00f6\u00f6ni mit\u00e4\u00e4n vastausta. H\u00e4n oli sill\u00e4 v\u00e4lin noussut\nvaunuihinsa ja jupisi jotain. Puolet siit\u00e4 min\u00e4 kuulin, toinen puoli\nh\u00e4ipyi py\u00f6r\u00e4in kolinaan. Hetken aikaa seisoin siin\u00e4 kaula kurossa,\nniinkuin ainakin se, joka helisevi\u00e4 sointuja kuulahtelee... Katsahdin\nvihdoin ymp\u00e4rilleni ja huomasin olevani yp\u00f6 yksin h\u00e4nen lordisuutensa\nportilla.\n\"Nyt\", jatkoi poikani, \"nyt oli minun k\u00e4rsiv\u00e4llisyyteni kerrassaan\ntiess\u00e4\u00e4n. Tuhansien masennusten painamana pidin itse\u00e4ni aivan\nhaaksirikkoisena miehen\u00e4: ties mihin kuiluun t\u00e4ss\u00e4 viel\u00e4 sy\u00f6ksyyk\u00e4\u00e4n.\nNyt olin mielest\u00e4ni niit\u00e4 kurjia olentoja, jotka luonto on m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4nnyt\nheitett\u00e4viksi kidutuskomeroihin, kuolemaan sinne, kenenk\u00e4\u00e4n\ntiet\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00e4. Minulla oli sent\u00e4\u00e4n viel\u00e4 puoli guineata j\u00e4ljell\u00e4, ja\nsit\u00e4h\u00e4n, arvelin min\u00e4, ei itse luontokaan saa minulta ry\u00f6st\u00e4neeksi,\nmutta, ollakseni siit\u00e4 ihan varma, p\u00e4\u00e4tin panna sen likoon heti\nkohta, niinkauan kuin se minulla viel\u00e4 on olemassa, ja tyynesti\nodottaa, mit\u00e4 tuleva on. L\u00e4ksin tuosta sitten astumaan, eik\u00e4\naikaakaan, niin satuin huomaamaan mr Crispen toimiston. Se oli\nauki ja tuntui niin houkuttelevasti sanovan minua tervetulleeksi.\nT\u00e4ss\u00e4 toimistossa mr Crispe tarjoaa jalomielisesti kaikille h\u00e4nen\nmajesteetinsa alamaisille kolmekymment\u00e4 puntaa vuodessa, eik\u00e4 heid\u00e4n\nsen summan edest\u00e4 tarvitse antaa h\u00e4nelle muuta kuin elinkautinen\nvapautensa ja sellainen lupa, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n saa l\u00e4hett\u00e4\u00e4 heid\u00e4t Amerikaan\norjiksi. Onnellisena siit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 nyt olin l\u00f6yt\u00e4nyt paikan, miss\u00e4\np\u00e4\u00e4sen kaikista huolistani ep\u00e4toivoisella yrityksell\u00e4, min\u00e4 l\u00e4henin\nt\u00e4t\u00e4 luostarikoppia -- ja semmoiselle se juuri n\u00e4ytti -- hartaana\nkuin munkki.\n\"Siell\u00e4 istui koko joukko samallaisia k\u00f6yhi\u00e4 raukkoja kuin min\u00e4kin,\nodottamassa mr Crispen tuloa. Siin\u00e4 oli englantilaisen maltittomuuden\nilmeinen kuva. Siin\u00e4 pelkki\u00e4 uppiniskaisia sieluja, jotka, taipumatta\nkovan onnen iskujen alle, kostivat sen tekemi\u00e4 v\u00e4\u00e4ryyksi\u00e4 omalle\nsyd\u00e4melleen. Mutta pian tuli mr Crispe sis\u00e4\u00e4n, ja murina taukosi. H\u00e4n\nsuvaitsi luoda minuun katseen t\u00e4ynn\u00e4 erinomaista mielihyv\u00e4\u00e4. Ei ollut\ntodellakaan kukaan jo kuukauden p\u00e4iviin puhutellut minua hymysuin:\nh\u00e4n oli ensimm\u00e4inen. Moniaan kysymyksen per\u00e4st\u00e4 h\u00e4n huomasi, ett\u00e4\nmin\u00e4 kelpaan maailmassa vaikka mihin. H\u00e4n mietiskeli hetken aikaa,\nmit\u00e4 muka parasta minulle keksisi, l\u00f6i sitten otsaansa, hoksattuaan\nmuka jotain, ja ilmoitti minulle, ett\u00e4 parhaillaan on ollut paljo\npuhetta er\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 l\u00e4hetyskunnasta, jonka Pensylvanian synodi aikoo\nl\u00e4hett\u00e4\u00e4 Chickasaw-indiaanien luokse, ja johon h\u00e4n kaikin voiminsa\non koettava hankkia minulle sihteerin paikan. Tunsinhan min\u00e4\nsyd\u00e4meni pohjassa, ett\u00e4 mies valehtelee, mutta h\u00e4nen tarjouksensa\nhuvitti minua kumminkin, sill\u00e4 h\u00e4nen \u00e4\u00e4nens\u00e4 soinnussa oli jotain\nniin ylen uljasta. Ja niinp\u00e4 min\u00e4 panin kuin paninkin kahtia minun\npuoliguineaiseni, josta toinen puoli tuli h\u00e4nen kolmenkymmenen\ntuhannen puntansa lis\u00e4ksi, ja josta toisen puolen olin p\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt\nk\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 l\u00e4himm\u00e4ss\u00e4 ravintolassa, ollakseni sittenkin onnellisempi\nh\u00e4nt\u00e4.\n\"L\u00e4htiess\u00e4ni ulos t\u00e4ss\u00e4 urheassa mieless\u00e4, kohtasin ovella er\u00e4\u00e4n\nlaivankapteenin, jonka kanssa ennen vanhaan olin ollut hiukan\ntuttava, ja joka nyt suostui tulemaan kanssani punssille. Tapani\nmukaan min\u00e4 kerroin h\u00e4nelle suoraan, millaisissa oloissa olen, ja\nh\u00e4n puolestaan vakuutti olevani perikadon partaalla, jos rupean\nkuuntelemaan tuon toimiston is\u00e4nn\u00e4n lupauksia: h\u00e4nell\u00e4 ei ole\nmieless\u00e4 muuta kuin my\u00f6d\u00e4 minut sik\u00e4l\u00e4isten suurten maatilusten\nomistajille orjaksi.\"\n-- \"Mutta\", -- jatkoi h\u00e4n, -- \"p\u00e4\u00e4sette te paljoa lyhemp\u00e4\u00e4kin\ntiet\u00e4 paksuun leip\u00e4kannikkaan kiinni. Noudattakaa minun neuvoani.\nMinun laivani l\u00e4htee huomenna Amsterdamiin. Mit\u00e4h\u00e4n, jos tulisitte\nmatkustajana mukaan? Maihin p\u00e4\u00e4sty\u00e4nne ei teid\u00e4n huoli tehd\u00e4 muuta\nkuin ruveta opettamaan Hollantilaisille englanninkielt\u00e4, ja min\u00e4\ntakaan, ett\u00e4 oppilaita tulee kyll\u00e4 ja rahaa sit\u00e4 mukaa runsaasti,\nsill\u00e4 tottahan te sit\u00e4 kielt\u00e4 osaatte, hitto viek\u00f6\u00f6n!\n\"Min\u00e4 sanoin osaavani sit\u00e4 kyll\u00e4, mutta lausuin samalla ep\u00e4ilykseni,\ntokkohan muka Hollantilaiset ovat kovinkaan k\u00e4rkk\u00e4\u00e4t oppimaan\nenglanninkielt\u00e4. Kirota paukauttaen h\u00e4n vakuutti heid\u00e4n olevan\nihan hurjia sen per\u00e4\u00e4n, ja t\u00e4m\u00e4n kuultuani min\u00e4 suostuin h\u00e4nen\nehdotukseensa ja astuin huomenissa laivaan, l\u00e4hte\u00e4kseni opettamaan\nHollantilaisille englanninkielt\u00e4.\n\"Tuuli oli my\u00f6t\u00e4inen, matka k\u00e4vi joutuun, ja niinp\u00e4 min\u00e4 ennen\npitk\u00e4\u00e4, suoritettuani laivamaksuksi puolen irtainta omaisuuttani,\nhuomasin \u00e4kki\u00e4 seisovani kuin pilvist\u00e4 pudonneena, ventovieraana,\ner\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 Amsterdamin p\u00e4\u00e4katuja. Min\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4tin, hetke\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n kadottamatta,\nryhty\u00e4 opetustoimeeni. K\u00e4\u00e4nnyin senvuoksi parin kolmen sellaisen\nhenkil\u00f6n puoleen, jotka ulkoasultaan n\u00e4yttiv\u00e4t kaikkein\nlupaavimmilta, mutta meid\u00e4n oli mahdoton ymm\u00e4rt\u00e4\u00e4 toisiamme. Nyt\nvasta iski minulle mieleen, ett\u00e4 ennenkuin min\u00e4 pystyn opettamaan\nHollantilaisille englanninkielt\u00e4, heid\u00e4n pit\u00e4isi ensin opettaa\nminulle hollanninkielt\u00e4. En saata k\u00e4sitt\u00e4\u00e4, mitenk\u00e4 n\u00e4in ilmeisen\nselv\u00e4 asia oli j\u00e4\u00e4nyt minulta huomaamatta, mutta ilmeisen selv\u00e4\u00e4 oli,\nett\u00e4 huomaamatta se vaan oli j\u00e4\u00e4nyt.\n\"Yritys oli niinmuodoin mennyt myttyyn, ja jo rupesin miettim\u00e4\u00e4n,\nmill\u00e4 keinoin p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 suoraa p\u00e4\u00e4t\u00e4 Englantiin takaisin. Sattumalta\nkumminkin kohtasin er\u00e4\u00e4n irlantilaisen ylioppilaan, joka oli\npaluumatkalla Lowenin kaupungista. Ennen pitk\u00e4\u00e4 olimme joutuneet\npakinoille kirjallisuutta koskevista asioista -- min\u00e4 n\u00e4et, ohimennen\nsanoen, unohdin aina tukalan tilani, kun vaan puhe k\u00e4\u00e4ntyi sellaisiin.\n\"H\u00e4nelt\u00e4 sain siin\u00e4 tiet\u00e4\u00e4, ett'ei siell\u00e4 koko yliopistossa ole\nkahtakaan miest\u00e4, jotka osaisivat kreikankielt\u00e4. Se oli minusta kovin\nkummallista. Paikalla p\u00e4\u00e4tin l\u00e4hte\u00e4 Loweniin ansaitsemaan leip\u00e4\u00e4ni\nkreikankielen opettamisella, ja t\u00e4h\u00e4n aikomukseeni sain kannatusta\nyliopistokumppaliltani, joka viittasi siihen, ett\u00e4 minua onnistaa\nsiell\u00e4 viel\u00e4 hyvinkin.\n\"Reippain mielin l\u00e4ksin seuraavana aamuna matkalle. Joka p\u00e4iv\u00e4\nminun irtaimeni kantamus keveni, niinkuin Aisopon leip\u00e4kori,\nsill\u00e4 tavaroillani min\u00e4 maksoin Hollantilaisille y\u00f6sijasta ja\nruuasta. Loweniin tultuani, en ruvennutkaan kumartelemaan niit\u00e4\nalempia professoreja, vaan p\u00e4\u00e4tin esitt\u00e4\u00e4 taitoni suoraan p\u00e4\u00e4t\u00e4\nitse rehtorille. Menin, p\u00e4\u00e4sin puheille ja tarjosin palveluksiani\nkreikankielen opettajana, koska olin kuullut yliopistossa sellaista\nkaivattavan. Rehtori n\u00e4ytti ensi alussa ep\u00e4ilev\u00e4n minun taitoani,\nmutta min\u00e4 sanoin olevani valmis kykyni todistukseksi k\u00e4\u00e4nt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n\nlatinaksi mink\u00e4 kreikkalaisen kirjailijan teoksesta hyv\u00e4ns\u00e4.\nHuomattuansa minun tarkoittavan t\u00e4ytt\u00e4 totta, h\u00e4n lausui minulle n\u00e4in:\n\"-- Katsokaas minua, nuori mies. Min'en ole ikin\u00e4 lukenut kreikkaa,\neik\u00e4 ole minun milloinkaan tarvinnut kaivata sit\u00e4. Tohtorinhattu ja\n-kaapu minulla on ilman kreikankin kielt\u00e4; minulla on kymmenentuhatta\nflorinia vuosipalkkaa ilman kreikankin kielt\u00e4; ruokahalu minulla\non hyv\u00e4 ilman kreikankin kielt\u00e4. Sanalla sanoen, kosk'en min\u00e4\nkreikankielt\u00e4 osaa, niin en min\u00e4 usko, ett\u00e4 siit\u00e4 mit\u00e4\u00e4n hyv\u00e4\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n\nl\u00e4htee.\"\n\"Nyt olin niin kaukana kotimaasta, ett'ei palajamista ollut\najatteleminenkaan. Musikkia min\u00e4 ymm\u00e4rsin jonkun verran, ja oli\nminulla \u00e4\u00e4nikin v\u00e4ltt\u00e4v\u00e4, ja niinp\u00e4 siit\u00e4 entisest\u00e4 joutohetkien\nhuvista tuli minulle nyt toimeentulon l\u00e4hde. N\u00e4in min\u00e4 elelin\nhyv\u00e4ntahtoisten talonpoikain luona Flanderissa ja samoin Franskassa,\nyleens\u00e4 siell\u00e4, miss\u00e4 ihmiset olivat niin k\u00f6yhi\u00e4, ett\u00e4 saattoivat\niloisiakin olla. Mit\u00e4 k\u00f6yhemp\u00e4\u00e4 kansa, sit\u00e4 hilpe\u00e4mpi se on\nmielelt\u00e4\u00e4n, sen huomasin. L\u00e4hestyess\u00e4ni iltamy\u00f6h\u00e4ll\u00e4 maalaistaloa,\nmin\u00e4 soitin jonkun hauskimmista liverryksist\u00e4ni ja siten sain\ny\u00f6majan, viel\u00e4p\u00e4 seuraava p\u00e4iv\u00e4kin minua talossa hyv\u00e4n\u00e4 pidettiin.\nYritin kerran tai pari soittaa s\u00e4\u00e4tyl\u00e4isillekin, mutta heid\u00e4n\nmielest\u00e4\u00e4n minun esitykseni oli kovin kehnoa, enk\u00e4 heilt\u00e4 koskaan\nropoakaan saanut. T\u00e4m\u00e4 oli minusta sangen kummallista, sill\u00e4 ennen\nvanhaan, jolloin musikkia huvikseni harjoittelin, kaikki ihmiset\nolivat ihastuksissaan minun soitostani, naiset liiatenkin. Nyt\nsit\u00e4 vastoin, kun soittaminen oli elatuskeinona minulla, nyt sit\u00e4\nylenkatsottiin. Siin\u00e4 todistus, kuinka herkk\u00e4 maailma on pit\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n\nala-arvoisena sellaista taitoa, jolla ihminen leip\u00e4ns\u00e4 ansaitsee.\n\"Sill\u00e4 tapaa saavuin Parisiin, ilman muuta tarkoitusta kuin n\u00e4hd\u00e4\nhiukan maailmaa ja vaeltaa sitten edelleen. Parisilaiset ne pit\u00e4v\u00e4t\npaljoa enemm\u00e4n railakkaista kuin \u00e4lykk\u00e4ist\u00e4 muukalaisista. Ja min\u00e4\nkun en saattanut ylv\u00e4stell\u00e4 kumpaisellakaan, niin ei minun osakseni\nsuurtakaan suosiota tullut. Kuljeskeltuani kaupunkia pitkin ja poikki\nkolme nelj\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4\u00e4 ja n\u00e4hty\u00e4ni parhaimmat talot ulkopuolelta, olin\njuurin l\u00e4htem\u00e4isill\u00e4ni t\u00e4st\u00e4 kaupungista, jossa ei vieraanvaraisuutta\nsaa kuin rahalla, kun \u00e4kki\u00e4, astuessani er\u00e4\u00e4n p\u00e4\u00e4kadun poikki,\nminua vastaan tuli -- kukas muu kuin se serkkumies, jonka luokse\nte ensin olitte minua suosittanut. T\u00e4m\u00e4 kohtaus oli minulle varsin\nmieluista eik\u00e4 luullakseni ep\u00e4hauskaa h\u00e4nellek\u00e4\u00e4n. H\u00e4n tiedusteli,\nmit\u00e4 varten min\u00e4 olin Parisiin tullut, ja kertoi, mit\u00e4 h\u00e4n itse\nsiell\u00e4 toimii. H\u00e4nen teht\u00e4v\u00e4n\u00e4\u00e4n oli ker\u00e4t\u00e4 vanhanaikuisia tauluja,\nrahoja, kivikaiverruksia ja kaikenlaisia muinais-esineit\u00e4 er\u00e4\u00e4lle\nlontoolaiselle gentlemanille, josta \u00e4skett\u00e4in oli tullut rikas mies\nja muinaistieteen suosija.\n\"Minua kummastutti, mitenk\u00e4 meid\u00e4n serkku on ryhtynyt t\u00e4llaiseen\ntoimeen, h\u00e4n, joka usein oli vakuuttanut minulle, ett'ei h\u00e4n moisia\nasioita ymm\u00e4rr\u00e4 ensink\u00e4\u00e4n. Kysytty\u00e4ni, mitenk\u00e4 h\u00e4nest\u00e4 n\u00e4in \u00e4kkipikaa\noli tullut asiantuntija t\u00e4ll\u00e4 alalla, vastasi h\u00e4n, ett'ei mik\u00e4\u00e4n ole\nsen helpompaa. Koko salaisuus piilee siin\u00e4, ett\u00e4 tarkoin noudattaa\nvain kahta s\u00e4\u00e4nt\u00f6\u00e4: ensiksi aina ja joka paikassa huomauttaa, ett\u00e4\nolisi tuosta taulusta parempikin tullut, jos maalari olisi pannut\nsiihen enemm\u00e4n ty\u00f6t\u00e4, ja toiseksi kehua Pietro Peruginon teoksia.\"\n-- \"Mutta\", lis\u00e4si h\u00e4n, -- \"samoin kuin kerran ennen neuvoin sinua\nrupeamaan kirjailijaksi Lontoossa, niin min\u00e4 nytkin otan opettaakseni\nsinulle, mitenk\u00e4 tauluja Parisissa ostellaan.\n\"T\u00e4h\u00e4n ehdotukseen min\u00e4 suostuin kohta, siin\u00e4 kun minulle\nelatuskeino, ja el\u00e4\u00e4 -- siin\u00e4h\u00e4n koko minun kunnianhimoni t\u00e4ll\u00e4,\nkertaa. Niinp\u00e4 l\u00e4hdettiinkin h\u00e4nen asuntoonsa. Sain sitten h\u00e4nen\navullaan kunnollisemman puvun ja hetken kuluttua seurasin h\u00e4nt\u00e4\ntaulujen huutokauppaan, jonne odotettiin ylh\u00e4isi\u00e4 Englantilaisia\nostajiksi. Minua h\u00e4mm\u00e4stytti h\u00e4nen tuttavallisuutensa mit\u00e4\nkorkeas\u00e4\u00e4tyisimp\u00e4in ihmisten kanssa, jotka my\u00f6t\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4 k\u00e4\u00e4ntyiv\u00e4t\nh\u00e4neen, niinkuin mihin erehtym\u00e4tt\u00f6m\u00e4\u00e4n asiantuntijaan, tiedustellen,\nmit\u00e4 h\u00e4n siit\u00e4 ja siit\u00e4 taulusta tai rahasta sanoo. Vallan\nvikkel\u00e4sti h\u00e4n silloin k\u00e4ytti hy\u00f6dykseen minun apuani, sill\u00e4, h\u00e4nen\nmielipidett\u00e4ns\u00e4 tiedusteltaessa, h\u00e4n v\u00e4listi veti minut varsin\nvakavann\u00e4k\u00f6isen\u00e4 syrj\u00e4\u00e4n, saadaksensa muka tiet\u00e4\u00e4 minun ajatukseni,\nkohautteli olkap\u00e4it\u00e4\u00e4n, otti varsin viisaan ilmeen kasvohinsa ja\npalasi muitten luokse, selitt\u00e4en, ett'ei h\u00e4n ota antaakseen mit\u00e4\u00e4n\nlausuntoa n\u00e4in t\u00e4rke\u00e4st\u00e4 asiasta. Oli h\u00e4nell\u00e4 sent\u00e4\u00e4n v\u00e4liin\ntilaisuus antaa rep\u00e4isev\u00e4mpikin arvostelu. Muistan, kuinka h\u00e4n\njoskus, sanottuaan, ett'ei taulun v\u00e4ritys ole tarpeeksi hentoa,\nvarsin varovasti pisti siveltimen saapuvilla olevaan ruskeaan\nterniss\u00e4\u00e4n ja varsin tyynesti voiteli sill\u00e4 koko taulun, kys\u00e4isten\nsitten, eik\u00f6 l\u00e4sn\u00e4olijain mielest\u00e4 v\u00e4ritys tullut koko lailla\nparemmaksi.\n\"Suoritettuaan teht\u00e4v\u00e4ns\u00e4 Parisissa, h\u00e4n l\u00e4ksi pois, mit\u00e4 l\u00e4mpimimmin\nsuositeltuansa minut useammille ylh\u00e4isille henkil\u00f6ille sellaisena\nmiehen\u00e4, joka on eritt\u00e4in sopiva matkustavaksi kotiopettajaksi.\nJonkun ajan per\u00e4st\u00e4 min\u00e4 sainkin t\u00e4llaisen toimen er\u00e4\u00e4lt\u00e4\ngentlemanilta, joka oli tuonut holhottinsa Parisiin, l\u00e4hett\u00e4\u00e4kseen\nh\u00e4net sielt\u00e4 matkustamaan halki Europan. Minun tuli olla t\u00e4m\u00e4n nuoren\nherran ohjaajana sill\u00e4 ehdolla, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n kaikkialla saisi ohjata itse\nitse\u00e4ns\u00e4. Ja holhokillani olikin ohjaamisen taitoa, mit\u00e4 rahoihin\ntulee, paljoa runsaammin kuin minussa. H\u00e4n oli perinyt er\u00e4\u00e4lt\u00e4\nenoltaan L\u00e4nsi-Indiassa kahdenkymmenentuhannen punnan omaisuuden, ja\nholhojat olivat pit\u00e4neet h\u00e4nt\u00e4 asian-ajajan luona opissa, tehd\u00e4kseen\nh\u00e4net taitavaksi niin suuren omaisuuden k\u00e4ytt\u00e4miseen. Ja saituus\nolikin h\u00e4ness\u00e4 silmiinpist\u00e4vin intohimo. Ei h\u00e4n matkan varrella muuta\ntiedustellutkaan kuin: mitenk\u00e4 menisi v\u00e4hemmin rahaa, mitenk\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4sisi\nkulkemaan helpommalla, olisikohan ostaa jotain sellaista, mink\u00e4\nsitten Lontoossa saisi edullisesti my\u00f6dyksi. Kaikkea merkillist\u00e4\ntien varrella h\u00e4n oli valmis katsomaan, ellei vaan tarvinnut maksaa\nmit\u00e4\u00e4n, mutta jos sis\u00e4\u00e4np\u00e4\u00e4sy oli rahalla hankittava, silloin h\u00e4n\naina vakuutti kuulleensa, ett'ei tuota joutavanp\u00e4iv\u00e4ist\u00e4 kehtaa menn\u00e4\nkatsomaankaan. Laskujansa maksaessaan h\u00e4n joka kerta marmatti, kuinka\nh\u00e4mm\u00e4stytt\u00e4v\u00e4n kallista matkustaminen on. T\u00e4llainen h\u00e4n oli, vaikk'ei\nmiehell\u00e4 ik\u00e4\u00e4 viel\u00e4 yht\u00e4kolmattakaan.\n\"Tultiin tuosta Livornoon ja l\u00e4hdettiin katselemaan satamaa ja\nlaivakulkua. Siell\u00e4 h\u00e4n kyseli, paljonko merimatka kotia Lontoosen\ntulisi maksamaan, ja sai tiet\u00e4\u00e4, ett\u00e4 siihen menee vain mit\u00e4tt\u00f6m\u00e4n\nv\u00e4h\u00e4n, niihin kulunkeihin n\u00e4hden, mit\u00e4 palausmatka maitse maksaisi.\nSilloin ei mies en\u00e4\u00e4 kest\u00e4nyt kiusausta: h\u00e4n maksoi sen v\u00e4h\u00e4isen osan\npalkastani, mik\u00e4 minulle oli tuleva, sanoi hyv\u00e4stit ja nousi laivaan,\nyksi ainoa palvelija mukanaan.\n\"N\u00e4in olin taas yksin avarassa maailmassa, mutta siihenh\u00e4n olin\njo tottunut. Soitannollisesta taidostani minulla tosin ei ollut\napua v\u00e4h\u00e4\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n sellaisessa maassa, jossa jok'ikinen talonpoika on\nparempi soittoniekka kuin min\u00e4. Mutta sen sijaan olin sill\u00e4 v\u00e4lin\nhankkinut itselleni toisenlaisen kyvyn, joka sekin vei perille, ja\nse oli v\u00e4ittelemisen taito. Kaikissa yliopistoissa ja luostareissa\nulkomailla julaistaan n\u00e4et m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4p\u00e4ivin\u00e4 muutamia filosofillisia\nteesej\u00e4, joita vastaan saa nousta v\u00e4ittelem\u00e4\u00e4n ken vaan paikalle\nsattuu. Jos sitten v\u00e4ittelij\u00e4 suorittaa teht\u00e4v\u00e4ns\u00e4 jotenkin hyvin,\nniin on h\u00e4n oikeutettu saamaan rahapalkinnon, p\u00e4iv\u00e4llisen ja y\u00f6sijan.\nT\u00e4ll\u00e4 tavoin min\u00e4 v\u00e4ittelin itseni takaisin hamaan Englantiin asti,\nvaeltaen kaupungista kaupunkiin, tutkien ihmiskuntaa l\u00e4hemm\u00e4lt\u00e4\nja, jos niin sopii sanoa, katsellen kuvaa puolelta sek\u00e4 toiselta.\nMuistiinpanoja en sent\u00e4\u00e4n tullut kovinkaan monta tehneeksi. Huomasin\nvain, ett\u00e4 monarkia oli paras hallitusmuoto k\u00f6yhille ja tasavalta\nrikkaille. Tulin yleens\u00e4 siihen havaintoon, ett\u00e4 rikkaus on kaikissa\nmaissa vain vapauden toinen nimi, ja ett'ei kukaan ole niin\npiintynyt vapauden ihailija, ett'ei h\u00e4n mielell\u00e4\u00e4n n\u00e4kisi muutamain\nyhteiskunnan j\u00e4senten tahdon alistuvan h\u00e4nen oman tahtonsa alle.\n\"Englantiin palattuani, aioin ensi ty\u00f6kseni k\u00e4yd\u00e4 teit\u00e4 tervehtim\u00e4ss\u00e4\nja sitten l\u00e4hte\u00e4 vapaehtoisena ensimm\u00e4iseen sotajoukkoon, mik\u00e4\nl\u00e4htee maasta. Mutta matkalla p\u00e4\u00e4t\u00f6kseni muuttuikin, kohdattuani\ner\u00e4\u00e4n vanhan tuttavan. H\u00e4n kuului, kuten sain tiet\u00e4\u00e4, er\u00e4\u00e4sen\nn\u00e4yttelij\u00e4seuraan, joka oli l\u00e4htem\u00e4ss\u00e4 kes\u00e4n\u00e4yt\u00e4nn\u00f6ille maaseuduille.\nSeura ei n\u00e4kynyt olevan aivan vastenmielinen ottamaan minua\njoukkoonsa, vaikka kaikki he selittiv\u00e4t minulle, kuinka monimutkaista\nt\u00e4m\u00e4 toimi on, johon nyt olen ryhtym\u00e4ss\u00e4. Yleis\u00f6, sanoivat he,\non monip\u00e4inen hirvi\u00f6; ken sille aikoo mieliksi olla, sill\u00e4 pit\u00e4\u00e4\nolla eritt\u00e4in hyv\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4; n\u00e4ytteleminen ei ole yhdess\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4ss\u00e4\nopittua taitoa; ellen min\u00e4 osaa muutamia m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4tyit\u00e4 traditionalisia\nliikkeit\u00e4, joita jo vuosisatoja on k\u00e4ytetty n\u00e4ytt\u00f6lavalla, yksinomaa\nn\u00e4ytt\u00f6lavalla, niin en min\u00e4 ikin\u00e4 osaa olla yleis\u00f6n mieliksi. Toinen\nvaikeus, sanoivat he, on saada minulle sopivia osia, ne kun melkein\nkaikki jo ovat toisilla. Jonkun aikaa esitin milloin mit\u00e4kin, kunnes\nminut vihdoin m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4ttiin n\u00e4yttelem\u00e4\u00e4n Horationa, mutta teid\u00e4n\nl\u00e4sn\u00e4olonne, hyv\u00e4 herrasv\u00e4ki, teki sen, ett\u00e4 mainittu osa j\u00e4i minulta\nsuorittamatta.\"\nYHDESKOLMATTA LUKU\nYst\u00e4vyytt\u00e4 kehnomielisten ihraisten kanssa kest\u00e4\u00e4 vain niin kauan\nkuin keskin\u00e4ist\u00e4 tyytyv\u00e4isyytt\u00e4kin.\nPoikani kertomus oli niin pitk\u00e4, ett'ei se yhdell\u00e4 istumalla\np\u00e4\u00e4ttynytk\u00e4\u00e4n. Se alkoi yhten\u00e4 iltana ja oli huomenissa p\u00e4iv\u00e4llisen\nj\u00e4lkeen juuri p\u00e4\u00e4ttym\u00e4isill\u00e4\u00e4n, kun \u00e4kki\u00e4 mr Thornhillin vaunut\nilmestyiv\u00e4t portille, n\u00e4ht\u00e4v\u00e4stikin h\u00e4iriten seuran rauhallisen\nmielialan. Hovimestari josta olin saanut yst\u00e4v\u00e4n t\u00e4ss\u00e4 talossa,\nkuiskasi minulle, ett\u00e4 squire oli jo pari kertaa kosiskellut miss\nWilmotia, ja ett\u00e4 t\u00e4ti ja eno mielell\u00e4\u00e4n n\u00e4kisiv\u00e4t t\u00e4m\u00e4n liiton\nsolmituksi.\nMr Thornhill astui sis\u00e4\u00e4n, mutta, n\u00e4hty\u00e4\u00e4n poikani ja minut, h\u00e4n\nilmeisestikin h\u00e4tk\u00e4hti. Sen min\u00e4 luin h\u00e4mm\u00e4styksen syyksi enk\u00e4\nmieliharmin. Silminn\u00e4ht\u00e4v\u00e4ll\u00e4 vilpitt\u00f6myydell\u00e4 h\u00e4n vastasi meid\u00e4n\ntervehdykseemme, eik\u00e4 aikaakaan, niin sai h\u00e4nen l\u00e4sn\u00e4olonsa meid\u00e4t\nkaikki entist\u00e4 hilpe\u00e4mm\u00e4lle mielelle.\nTeet\u00e4 juotuamme h\u00e4n kutsui minut syrj\u00e4\u00e4n ja tiedusteli tyt\u00e4rt\u00e4ni.\nKovin h\u00e4n n\u00e4kyi h\u00e4mm\u00e4styv\u00e4n, kuultuansa minun turhaan haeskelleen\nh\u00e4nt\u00e4, ja kertoi usein k\u00e4yneens\u00e4 meill\u00e4 lohduttamassa meik\u00e4l\u00e4isi\u00e4.\nTiesi senkin ilmoittaa, ett\u00e4 siell\u00e4 voidaan varsin hyvin. H\u00e4n kys\u00e4isi\nsitten, tiet\u00e4\u00e4k\u00f6 miss Wilmot mit\u00e4\u00e4n tytt\u00e4reni kovasta kohtalosta, ja\nkuultuaan, ett'en ole heille asiasta viel\u00e4 mit\u00e4\u00e4n puhunut, kiitti\nminun hyv\u00e4\u00e4 \u00e4ly\u00e4ni ja varovaisuuttani, toivoen, ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 yh\u00e4\nedelleen pit\u00e4isin asian salassa.\n-- \"Sill\u00e4\", -- sanoi h\u00e4n, -- \"seh\u00e4n olisi parhaimmassakin tapauksessa\nvain oman h\u00e4pe\u00e4n paljastamista. Kenties\", -- lis\u00e4si h\u00e4n, -- \"miss\nOlivia ei olekaan niin syyllinen kuin me luulemme.\"\nT\u00e4ss\u00e4 meid\u00e4t keskeytti talon palvelija, ilmoittaen, ett\u00e4 squirea\nkutsutaan kontratanssiin. H\u00e4n l\u00e4ksi. Min\u00e4 puolestani oli varsin\nmieliss\u00e4ni siit\u00e4 l\u00e4mpim\u00e4st\u00e4 osan-otosta, jota h\u00e4n n\u00e4kyi tuntevan\nmeit\u00e4 kohtaan. Miss Wilmotille h\u00e4n osoitti niin ilmeist\u00e4\nkohteliaisuutta, ett'ei h\u00e4nen tarkoituksiaan k\u00e4ynyt ensink\u00e4\u00e4n\nep\u00e4ileminen, vaikk'ei neiti Wilmot n\u00e4kynyt olevan tuosta kovinkaan\nmieliss\u00e4ns\u00e4. Tuntui kuin h\u00e4n enemmin noudattaisi t\u00e4tins\u00e4 tahtoa kuin\nkuuntelisi oman syd\u00e4mens\u00e4 \u00e4\u00e4nt\u00e4. Mielikseni huomasin my\u00f6skin h\u00e4nen\nusein luovan poloisen poikani puoleen yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisi\u00e4 silm\u00e4yksi\u00e4, joihin\nei suinkaan aihetta antanut t\u00e4m\u00e4n rikkaus eik\u00e4 suosion hakeminen. Mr\nThornhillin n\u00e4enn\u00e4inen tyyneys se kumminkin oli minusta koko lailla\noutoa. Olimme nyt, mr Arnoldin pyynn\u00f6st\u00e4, olleet t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 jo kokonaisen\nviikon, mutta mit\u00e4 enemm\u00e4n hellyytt\u00e4 miss Wilmot osoitti poikaani\nkohtaan, sit\u00e4 suuremmaksi n\u00e4kyi mr Thornhillinkin yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisyys h\u00e4nt\u00e4\nkohtaan k\u00e4yv\u00e4n.\nEnnen vanhaan h\u00e4n oli mit\u00e4 yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisimmin vakuuttanut tahtovansa\nk\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 vaikutusvoimaansa meid\u00e4n hyv\u00e4ksemme, mutta nyt h\u00e4nen\nsuopeutansa ei pys\u00e4htynyt pelkkiin lupauksiin. Sin\u00e4 aamuna, jolloin\nminun oli aikomus l\u00e4hte\u00e4 kotiap\u00e4in, mr Thornhill astui minun luokseni\nper\u00e4ti iloisen n\u00e4k\u00f6isen\u00e4 ja ilmoitti tehneens\u00e4 pienen palveluksen\nYrj\u00f6 yst\u00e4v\u00e4llens\u00e4. Eik\u00e4 t\u00e4m\u00e4 ollutkaan sen v\u00e4hemp\u00e4\u00e4 kuin ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n oli\nhankkinut pojalleni v\u00e4nrikinpaikan er\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4 niit\u00e4 rykmenttej\u00e4, joitten\noli pian m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4 l\u00e4hte\u00e4 L\u00e4nsi-Indiaan. Siit\u00e4 h\u00e4n sanoi luvanneensa vain\nsata puntaa; h\u00e4nell\u00e4 on niin suuri vaikutus, ett'ei toista kahta\nsataa vaadittukaan.\n-- \"T\u00e4st\u00e4 mit\u00e4tt\u00f6m\u00e4st\u00e4 palveluksesta\", -- jatkoi nuori gentleman,\n-- \"en vaadi mit\u00e4\u00e4n palkintoa; riitt\u00e4\u00e4 jo se mielihyv\u00e4, ett\u00e4 olen\nvoinut olla yst\u00e4v\u00e4lleni avullinen. Ja mit\u00e4 taas n\u00e4ihin sataan puntaan\ntulee, niin min\u00e4, ell'ei teill\u00e4 nyt ole tilaisuutta siihen, otan\nsuorittaakseni ne etuk\u00e4teen. Maksatte sitten takaisin, milloin sopii.\"\nT\u00e4m\u00e4 oli niin suurta yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisyytt\u00e4, ett\u00e4 meilt\u00e4 puuttui sanoja,\nlausuaksemme julki tunteitamme. Min\u00e4 annoin h\u00e4nelle velkakirjan\npuheen-alaisesta summasta ja puhkesin niin suliin kiitoksiin,\nik\u00e4\u00e4nkuin ei olisi aikomukseni milloinkaan velkaani suorittaa.\nJalomielisen suosijansa neuvon mukaan oli Yrj\u00f6n m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4 l\u00e4hte\u00e4 heti\nhuomenissa Lontoosen, saamaan virallista vahvistusta toimeensa,\njott'ei edelle enn\u00e4tt\u00e4isi joku toinen, joka tarjoaa viel\u00e4 enemm\u00e4n. Ja\nniinp\u00e4 seuraavana aamuna varhain meid\u00e4n nuori sotilaamme oli valmiina\nmatkalle ja ainoa koko joukossa, joka n\u00e4ytti olevan levollinen. Ei\nh\u00e4nen mielt\u00e4\u00e4n lannistanut mik\u00e4\u00e4n, ei rasitukset eik\u00e4 vaarat, joita\nkohti h\u00e4n nyt l\u00e4ksi k\u00e4ym\u00e4\u00e4n, ei j\u00e4lkeen j\u00e4\u00e4neet yst\u00e4v\u00e4t eik\u00e4 armas\n-- miss Wilmot rakasti h\u00e4nt\u00e4 todellakin --. Sanottuaan kaikille\nj\u00e4\u00e4hyv\u00e4iset, h\u00e4n sai minulta kaikki, mit\u00e4 minulla oli h\u00e4nelle antaa,\nis\u00e4llisen siunauksen.\n-- \"Nyt, poikani\", -- lausuin min\u00e4, -- \"nyt sin\u00e4 l\u00e4hdet taistelemaan\nsynnyinmaasi puolesta. Muista, kuinka sinun urhoollinen iso-is\u00e4si\ntaisteli autuaan kuningas vainajansa puolesta siihen aikaan,\njolloin uskollisuutta viel\u00e4 pidettiin Britteiss\u00e4 miehen kuntona.\nMene, poikani, ja ole h\u00e4nen kaltaisensa kaikessa, paitsi h\u00e4nen\nonnettomuudessaan, jos onnettomuutena on pidett\u00e4v\u00e4 sit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n\nkaatui lordi Falklandin rinnalla. Mene, poikani, ja jos kaadut,\nvaikka kaukanakin t\u00e4\u00e4lt\u00e4, jos vaikka j\u00e4\u00e4t hautaamatta, ja vaikk'eiv\u00e4t\nkyynelt\u00e4 kummullasi itke ne, jotka sinua rakastavat, niin kalliimpia\nkyyneleit\u00e4 ovat ne, joilla taivas kastelee kaatuneen sotilaan p\u00e4\u00e4n.\"\nAamuisissa sitten sanoin j\u00e4\u00e4hyv\u00e4iset n\u00e4ille hyville ihmisille, jotka\nyst\u00e4v\u00e4llisesti olivat niin kauan aikaa pit\u00e4neet minua vieraanansa,\nja lausuin monet kiitokset mr Thornhillille h\u00e4nen viimeisest\u00e4\nhyv\u00e4ntahtoisuudestaan. Min\u00e4 j\u00e4tin heid\u00e4t edelleen nauttimaan kaikkea\nsit\u00e4 onnea, mink\u00e4 rikkaus ja hieno sivistys my\u00f6t\u00e4ns\u00e4 tuo, ja l\u00e4ksin\nastumaan kotia kohti. Tyt\u00e4rt\u00e4ni en osannut toivoa milloinkaan en\u00e4\u00e4\nl\u00f6yt\u00e4v\u00e4ni; huokasin vaan, ett\u00e4 taivas h\u00e4nt\u00e4 armahtaisi ja h\u00e4nelle\nanteeksi antaisi.\nYh\u00e4 viel\u00e4kin heikkona ollen, olin vuokrannut itselleni ratsuhevosen\nja olin jo saapunut kahdenkymmenen peninkulman p\u00e4\u00e4h\u00e4n kotoani,\nlohdutellen itse\u00e4ni sill\u00e4 toivolla, ett\u00e4 pian saan j\u00e4lleen n\u00e4hd\u00e4\nrakkaimpani t\u00e4ss\u00e4 maailmassa. Mutta y\u00f6 yll\u00e4tti minut, ja minun\nt\u00e4ytyi poiketa pieneen majataloon tien varrella. Sinne tultuani\npyysin is\u00e4nn\u00e4n juomaan kanssani lasillisen viini\u00e4. Istuimme sitten\ntakkavalkean \u00e4\u00e4ress\u00e4 ky\u00f6kiss\u00e4, joka olikin paras huone koko talossa,\nja haastelimme politiikasta ja p\u00e4iv\u00e4n uutisista. Muun muassa k\u00e4\u00e4ntyi\npuhe nuoreen Thornhillin squireen. Is\u00e4nt\u00e4 vakuutti, ett\u00e4 se mies on\nyht\u00e4 kovasti vihattu kuin h\u00e4nen set\u00e4ns\u00e4, sir William, on rakastettu,\nh\u00e4n, joka v\u00e4listi pist\u00e4ytyy n\u00e4ill\u00e4 seuduin. H\u00e4n kertoi edelleen,\nett\u00e4 squiren koko el\u00e4m\u00e4n pyrkimyksen\u00e4 on vietell\u00e4 niitten tytt\u00e4ri\u00e4,\njotka h\u00e4net taloonsa ottavat. Pari kolmea viikkoa h\u00e4n heit\u00e4 suosii,\nmutta hylk\u00e4\u00e4 heid\u00e4t sitten muitta mutkitta ulos avaraan maailmaan.\nN\u00e4ist\u00e4 asioista viel\u00e4 parhaillaan puhellessamme, tuli h\u00e4nen vaimonsa,\njoka oli k\u00e4ynyt rahaa vaihtamassa, sis\u00e4\u00e4n ja huomattuaan miehens\u00e4\npit\u00e4m\u00e4ss\u00e4 lysti\u00e4 ilman h\u00e4nt\u00e4, kys\u00e4isi \u00e4k\u00e4isesti, mit\u00e4 h\u00e4n siin\u00e4\ntekee. Toinen ei vastannut siihen mit\u00e4\u00e4n; joihan vaan em\u00e4nt\u00e4ns\u00e4\nmaljan.\n-- Mr Symmonds, -- huudahti em\u00e4nt\u00e4, sin\u00e4 kohtelet minua kehnosti,\nja minulta loppuu vihdoin k\u00e4rsimys kerrassaan. Kolme nelj\u00e4s-osaa\nteht\u00e4vist\u00e4 j\u00e4\u00e4 t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 minun huolekseni, nelj\u00e4s j\u00e4\u00e4 kokonaan\ntekem\u00e4tt\u00e4. Sin\u00e4 et tee mit\u00e4\u00e4n muuta kuin ryypiskelet p\u00e4iv\u00e4t pitk\u00e4t\nvierasten kanssa, ja vaikka lusikallinenkin viini\u00e4 veisi minusta\nhorkan pois, niin ei minulle anneta tippaakaan.\nMin\u00e4 huomasin nyt, mist\u00e4p\u00e4in tuuli puhaltaa, ja tarjosin h\u00e4nelle\nlasin viini\u00e4, josta h\u00e4n kiitti niiaten ja joi minun terveydekseni.\n-- Sir, -- jatkoi h\u00e4n, -- en min\u00e4 t\u00e4m\u00e4n viinin t\u00e4hden niin harmissani\nole, mutta mink\u00e4s t\u00e4ss\u00e4 tekee, kun koko talo menee mullin mallin!\nKun vierailta ja muilta k\u00e4vij\u00f6ilt\u00e4 on maksu vaadittava, silloin on\nkaikki taakka minun hartioillani. Pikemmin h\u00e4n tuon lasin hampaissaan\nhienontaisi, ennenkuin sen verran itse\u00e4\u00e4n vaivaisi. Tuossa nyt on\nyl\u00e4kerrassa meill\u00e4 muuan nuori nainen, joka on asettunut t\u00e4nne\nasumaan, ja min\u00e4 olen varma siit\u00e4, ett'ei h\u00e4nell\u00e4 ole rahaa\nensink\u00e4\u00e4n: niin ylen kohtelias h\u00e4n on. Varmaa vaan se, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n on\nhidas maksamaan, ja se pit\u00e4isi saada h\u00e4nelle sanotuksi.\n-- Mit\u00e4p\u00e4s siit\u00e4 sanomisesta, -- virkkoi is\u00e4nt\u00e4; -- varma on vieras,\nvaikk'ei maksuillaankaan h\u00e4t\u00e4ile.\n-- En tied\u00e4, -- vastasi em\u00e4nt\u00e4, -- se vaan on vissi, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n on\nollut t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 jo kaksi viikkoa, emmek\u00e4 viel\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n ole saaneet n\u00e4hd\u00e4,\nkenenk\u00e4 kuva h\u00e4nen rahassaan on.\n-- Min\u00e4p\u00e4 luulen, kultaseni, -- virkoi toinen, -- ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n ly\u00f6 koko\nsumman yhdell\u00e4 kertaa lautaan.\n-- Vai yhdell\u00e4 kertaa! -- huudahti em\u00e4nt\u00e4.\n-- Tietenkin se h\u00e4nelt\u00e4 jollain tavoin saadaan, ja min\u00e4 olen\np\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt, ett\u00e4 se on saatava jo t\u00e4n\u00e4 iltana, taikka tiehens\u00e4 h\u00e4n saa\nlaputtaa kimpsuineen kampsuineen.\n-- Ajattelehan, muijaseni, -- huudahti is\u00e4nt\u00e4, -- h\u00e4nh\u00e4n on\nherrasnainen, ja h\u00e4nt\u00e4 pit\u00e4\u00e4 kohdella suuremmalla kunnioituksella.\n-- Olkoon herras- tai narris-, -- vastasi em\u00e4nt\u00e4, -- ulos pellolle\nvaan ja aika kyyti\u00e4! Herrass\u00e4\u00e4tyisyys saattaa olla hyv\u00e4 kohdallaan,\nmutta en min\u00e4 puolestani ole siit\u00e4 n\u00e4hnyt mit\u00e4\u00e4n hyv\u00e4\u00e4 heruvan Karhin\nmajatalossa.\nSen sanottuaan h\u00e4n juoksi kapeita portaita my\u00f6ten ky\u00f6kist\u00e4\nyl\u00e4kertaan, eik\u00e4 aikaakaan niin h\u00e4nen \u00e4\u00e4nens\u00e4 kovuudesta ja\nsanojensa ankaruudesta min\u00e4 ymm\u00e4rsin, ett'ei maksua asukkaalta ole\nodottamistakaan. Aivan selv\u00e4\u00e4n kuulin h\u00e4nen uhkauksensa.\n-- Ulos, sanon min\u00e4, tiehesi heti paikalla, senkin h\u00e4vit\u00f6n heiskale,\ntaikka ly\u00f6n sinuun sellaisen leiman, ett\u00e4 kyll\u00e4in\u00e4\u00e4n tuntuu. Senkin\nmaankulkija! Tulla ty\u00f6nt\u00e4ytym\u00e4\u00e4n kunnialliseen taloon taskut tyhj\u00e4\u00e4\nt\u00e4ynn\u00e4. Tiehesi, sanon min\u00e4!\n-- Armahtakaa, hyv\u00e4 rouva, -- sanoi vieras, -- olkaa hylj\u00e4tylle\nraukalle armelias viel\u00e4 yksi y\u00f6; kuolema h\u00e4nest\u00e4 kyll\u00e4 pian lopun\ntekee.\nSilm\u00e4nr\u00e4p\u00e4yksess\u00e4 min\u00e4 tunsin \u00e4\u00e4nest\u00e4 Olivian, onnettoman tyt\u00e4r\nraukkani. Parahiksi enn\u00e4tin h\u00e4nelle apuun, kun em\u00e4nt\u00e4 oli raastamassa\nh\u00e4nt\u00e4 tukasta, ja suljin syliini tuon kalliin, kauan kaivatun\npoloisen.\n-- Tervetultua, tervetultua sittenkin armas, kadotettu lapseni!\nTervetultua, kallis aarteeni, is\u00e4si syliin! Vaikka sinut jumalaton\nhylk\u00e4\u00e4kin, niin on maailmassa kumminkin yksi olento, joka ei koskaan\nsinua hylk\u00e4\u00e4. Vaikka tuhansiin nousisi rikostesi luku, h\u00e4n on ne\nkaikki anteeksi antava.\n-- Oi oma, rakas... -- hetkeen aikaan ei Olivia kyennyt muuta\nsanomaan. -- Oma is\u00e4ni armahin! Saattaako enkelik\u00e4\u00e4n olla sen\nlempe\u00e4mpi! Mill\u00e4 sen olen ansainnut? Tuo konna! Min\u00e4 vihaan h\u00e4nt\u00e4\nsek\u00e4 itse\u00e4ni. T\u00e4m\u00e4k\u00f6 palkintoa niin paljosta hyv\u00e4st\u00e4! Sin\u00e4 et saata\nminulle anteeksi antaa, et mitenk\u00e4\u00e4n, sen tied\u00e4n.\n-- Kyll\u00e4, lapseni, kaikesta syd\u00e4mest\u00e4ni min\u00e4 annan sinulle anteeksi.\nKadu tekojasi vain, niin saatamme viel\u00e4 kumpikin olla onnellisia.\nViel\u00e4 me saamme monta ilon p\u00e4iv\u00e4\u00e4, Olivia.\n-- Emme koskaan is\u00e4, emme koskaan. Minun j\u00e4ljell\u00e4 oleva kurja el\u00e4m\u00e4ni\non saastaa t\u00e4ynn\u00e4 maailman silmiss\u00e4 ja h\u00e4pe\u00e4ksi kodille. Mutta voi,\nis\u00e4! Sin\u00e4 n\u00e4yt\u00e4t tavallista kalpeammalta. Olisiko minun kaltaiseni\nolento saattanut tuottaa sinulle niin suuria suruja? Olethan toki\nsiksi ymm\u00e4rt\u00e4v\u00e4inen, ettes minun rikokseni kurjuutta huoleksesi ota.\n-- Meid\u00e4n ymm\u00e4rt\u00e4v\u00e4isyytemme, hyv\u00e4 neiti, -- yritin vastata.\n-- Voi, miksik\u00e4 noin kylm\u00e4 sana, is\u00e4? huudahti h\u00e4n. -- Ensi kertaa\nsin\u00e4 minua n\u00e4in kylm\u00e4sti puhuttelet!\n-- Suo anteeksi, lapsi kulta, -- virkoin min\u00e4 -- olin vain sanomassa,\nett\u00e4 ymm\u00e4rt\u00e4v\u00e4isyys on hidas, jospa varmakin puolustaja ahdingoissa.\nEm\u00e4nt\u00e4 tuli nyt tarjomaan meille siistimp\u00e4\u00e4 huonetta, ja niinp\u00e4\nsiirryimme sellaiseen, miss\u00e4 meid\u00e4n sopi vapaammin haastella\nkesken\u00e4mme. Puheltuamme jonkun aikaa, kunnes kumpaisenkin mieli\nrauhoittui ja tyyntyi, min\u00e4 en saattanut olla tiedustamatta, mill\u00e4\ntapaa h\u00e4n oli joutunut nykyiseen viheli\u00e4iseen tilaansa.\n-- Tuo konna, -- lausui h\u00e4n, -- oli tuttavuutemme ensi p\u00e4iv\u00e4st\u00e4\nsaakka salaisuudessa tehnyt minulle kummallisia tarjouksia.\n-- Konna vainenkin! -- huudahdin min\u00e4, -- Ja sittenkin k\u00e4y\nkummakseni, kuinka niin viisas ja ulkoa n\u00e4hden niin kunniallinen\nmies, kuin mr Burchell, on saattanut tahallisesti tehd\u00e4 itsens\u00e4\nsyyp\u00e4\u00e4ksi niin ilke\u00e4\u00e4n tekoon ja hiipi\u00e4 perheesen, sys\u00e4t\u00e4kseen sen\nsitten kurjuuteen.\n-- Is\u00e4 kulta, -- vastasi tytt\u00e4reni, -- sin\u00e4 olet kovasti erehtynyt.\nMr Burchell ei milloinkaan yritt\u00e4nyt pett\u00e4\u00e4 minua. P\u00e4invastoin h\u00e4n\njoka tilaisuudessa varoitti minua kahden kesken mr Thornhillista,\njoka, niinkuin nyt olen saanut kokea, oli kehnompi kuin mr Burchellin\nsanoista saattoi p\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n.\n-- Mr Thornhillko? -- huudahdin min\u00e4. Kuinka se on mahdollista?\n-- Niin is\u00e4, -- vastasi h\u00e4n, -- mr Thornhill se juuri on, joka minut\nvietteli; ja mit\u00e4 noihin kahteen naiseen tulee, jotka h\u00e4n esitti\nylh\u00e4isill\u00e4 ladyin\u00e4, mutta jotka olivatkin vain kevytmielisi\u00e4 naisia\nLontoosta, sivistym\u00e4tt\u00f6mi\u00e4, armottomia ihmisi\u00e4, niin h\u00e4n juuri oli\npalkannut heid\u00e4t houkuttelemaan meit\u00e4 Lontoosen. Heid\u00e4n vehkeens\u00e4\nolisivat, niinkuin muistatte, onnistuneetkin, ellei olisi v\u00e4liin\ntullut mr Burchellin kirje, joka sis\u00e4lsi moitteita heit\u00e4 vastaan,\nvaikka me luulimme niitten tarkoittavan meit\u00e4. Mitenk\u00e4 h\u00e4nell\u00e4 oli\nniin suuri vaikutusvalta heihin, ett\u00e4 luopuivat yrityksest\u00e4\u00e4n, se on\nja pysyy minulle salaisuutena, mutta siit\u00e4 olen vakuutettu, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n\noli meid\u00e4n talon todellinen, paras yst\u00e4v\u00e4.\n-- Sin\u00e4 saatat minut kokonaan h\u00e4mille, lapseni, -- huudahdin min\u00e4,\n-- mutta nytp\u00e4 huomaan, ett\u00e4 minun ensimm\u00e4isiss\u00e4 ep\u00e4luuloissani\nmr Thornhillin h\u00e4ijyydest\u00e4 oli liiankin paljo per\u00e4\u00e4. No niin, h\u00e4n\nsaa rauhassa riemuita voitostansa, sill\u00e4 h\u00e4n on rikas, me k\u00f6yhi\u00e4.\nMutta sanos, lapseni, ei vainkaan liene ollut v\u00e4h\u00e4inen se kiusaus,\njoka saattoi j\u00e4rkytt\u00e4\u00e4 kaikki hyv\u00e4n kasvatuksen vaikutukset ja niin\nsiveellisen mielenlaadun kuin sinun?\n-- Todellakin, is\u00e4, -- vastasi Olivia, -- h\u00e4n saa voitostansa kiitt\u00e4\u00e4\nsit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 minun palavin haluni oli tehd\u00e4 onnelliseksi h\u00e4net, ei\nitse\u00e4ni. Min\u00e4 tiesin, ett'ei meid\u00e4n avioliittomme ole lainkaan\nsitova, vihkij\u00e4n\u00e4 kun oli katolilainen pappi, ja ett'ei minun ole\nturvautuminen mihink\u00e4\u00e4n muuhun kuin mr Thornhillin rehellisyyteen.\n-- Mitenk\u00e4? -- keskeytin min\u00e4. -- Vihkik\u00f6 teid\u00e4t todellakin oikea\npappi?\n-- Kyll\u00e4, is\u00e4, -- vastasi h\u00e4n, -- mutta me olemme kumpikin vannoneet\npit\u00e4v\u00e4mme h\u00e4nen nimens\u00e4 salassa.\n-- Tule sitten syliini viel\u00e4 kerta, lapseni! Nyt olet minulle\ntuhannen kertaa enemm\u00e4n tervetullut kuin ennen, sill\u00e4 nyt sin\u00e4 olet\nh\u00e4nen aviovaimonsa, eik\u00e4 mik\u00e4\u00e4n inhimillinen laki, vaikka olisi\ntimanttitauluihin piirretty, kykene t\u00e4m\u00e4n pyh\u00e4n liiton siteit\u00e4\nh\u00f6llent\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n.\n-- Voi, is\u00e4! -- parkasi tytt\u00e4reni. -- V\u00e4h\u00e4n sin\u00e4 viel\u00e4 tunnet h\u00e4nen\nkonnamaisuuttaan: sama pappi on jo t\u00e4t\u00e4 ennen vihkinyt h\u00e4net kuuden,\njopa kahdeksan naisen kanssa, jotka h\u00e4n on pett\u00e4nyt ja hylj\u00e4nnyt\njok'ainoan, niinkuin minutkin.\n-- Onko niin? -- huudahdin min\u00e4. -- Sitten on tuo pappi saatettava\nhirsipuuhun. Huomisp\u00e4iv\u00e4n\u00e4 jo saat nostaa kanteen h\u00e4nt\u00e4 vastaan.\n-- Mutta is\u00e4, -- kys\u00e4isi h\u00e4n, -- tekisink\u00f6 oikein silloin? Min\u00e4h\u00e4n\nolen vannonut olla vaiti?\n-- Lapsi kulta, -- vastasin min\u00e4, -- jos kerran olet sellaisen\nlupauksen tehnyt, niin en saata enk\u00e4 tahdokaan kiusata sinua\nsit\u00e4 rikkomaan. Ja vaikka siit\u00e4 olisi yhteiskunnallekin hy\u00f6ty\u00e4,\net sittenk\u00e4\u00e4n saa nostaa kannetta h\u00e4nt\u00e4 vastaan. Kaikissa\ninhimillisiss\u00e4 laitoksissa on pienempi paha sallittuna suuremman\nhyv\u00e4n saavuttamiseksi: niinp\u00e4 valtiollisissa asioissa pannaan\nv\u00e4listi maakunta altiiksi, jos koko valtakunta saadaan sen kautta\npelastetuksi, ja l\u00e4\u00e4ketieteen alalla leikataan raaja irti,\njott'ei koko ruumis joutuisi vaaraan. Mutta uskonnossa pysyy\nj\u00e4rk\u00e4ht\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00f6m\u00e4n\u00e4 lakina: pahaa ei saa tehd\u00e4 milloinkaan. Ja\nt\u00e4m\u00e4 laki, lapseni, on oikea, sill\u00e4 jos meiss\u00e4 olisi sellainen\nmielipide, ett\u00e4 pienempi paha on luvallinen, milloin suurempi\nhyv\u00e4 on saavutettavissa, niin tulisimme useinkin tehneeksi\nrikoksen, mahdollisia etuja odottaessamme. Ja vaikkapa etu varmaan\nseuraisikin, niin saattaisi k\u00e4yd\u00e4 niin, ett\u00e4, juuri tuota v\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4ll\u00e4\ntavalla saatavaa etua odottaessamme, meid\u00e4t kutsutaankin vastaamaan\nteoistamme, ja silloin on ihmisen t\u00f6itten kirja ikip\u00e4iviksi suljettu.\nMutta min\u00e4 keskeytin sinut, kultaseni. Jatka vaan.\n-- Heti seuraavana aamuna -- kertoi h\u00e4n min\u00e4 huomasin, mink\u00e4 verran\nh\u00e4nen rehellisyyteens\u00e4 on luottamista, sill\u00e4 silloin jo h\u00e4n teki\nminut tuttavaksi kahden muun onnettoman naisen kanssa, jotka h\u00e4n oli\npett\u00e4nyt, niinkuin minutkin, mutta jotka olivat tyytyneet edelleen\nel\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n talossa. Min\u00e4 rakastin h\u00e4nt\u00e4 liian hell\u00e4sti, siet\u00e4\u00e4kseni\nmoisia kilpailijoita rinnallani, ja koetin upottaa h\u00e4pe\u00e4ni huvitusten\nhumuun. Min\u00e4 tanssin, min\u00e4 koreilin, min\u00e4 haastelin lavertelin, mutta\nyh\u00e4 vaan olin onneton. Gentlemanit, joita k\u00e4vi siell\u00e4, puhuivat\nmy\u00f6t\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4 minun sulojeni voimasta, mutta se vaan lis\u00e4si mieleni\nmasennusta, min\u00e4 kun olin tuon voimani kokonaan maahan polkenut. Ja\nniin min\u00e4 k\u00e4vin p\u00e4iv\u00e4st\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4\u00e4n alakuloisemmaksi ja h\u00e4n samalla\nyh\u00e4 enemm\u00e4n h\u00e4vytt\u00f6m\u00e4ksi, kunnes tuo hirvi\u00f6 tuli niin julkeaksi,\nett\u00e4 tarjosi minut er\u00e4\u00e4lle tuttavalleen nuorelle baronetille.[16]\nTarvinneeko minun sanoa, is\u00e4, kuinka syv\u00e4sti t\u00e4m\u00e4 kiitt\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00f6myys\nminua loukkasi? Minun vastaukseni h\u00e4nelle oli melkein hurjaa vimmaa.\nMin\u00e4 vaadin eroa. L\u00e4htiess\u00e4ni h\u00e4n tarjosi minulle rahakukkaron,\nmutta min\u00e4 viskasin sen halveksien h\u00e4nen jalkoihinsa ja l\u00e4ksin\nh\u00e4nen luotaan sellaisessa raivossa, ett\u00e4 hetkeksi kokonaan unohdin\ntilani kurjuuden. Mutta pian aukenivat silm\u00e4ni, ja min\u00e4 n\u00e4in olevani\nviheli\u00e4inen, hylj\u00e4tty, syyllinen olento, ilman yht\u00e4\u00e4n yst\u00e4v\u00e4t\u00e4, jonka\nturviin paeta.\n\"Samassa sattuivat postivaunut kulkemaan ohitseni. Min\u00e4 nousin\nniihin, ajattelematta muuta kuin mitenk\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 kauaksi tuosta\nheitti\u00f6st\u00e4, jota min\u00e4 sek\u00e4 halveksin ett\u00e4 kammosin. T\u00e4h\u00e4n minut\nsitten j\u00e4tettiin, ja t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 on minulla, oman tuskani ohella, ollut\nainoana seuralaisenani talon em\u00e4nn\u00e4n tylyys. Haikeasti olen t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4\nmuistellut niit\u00e4 onnen hetki\u00e4, joita olin kotona viett\u00e4nyt \u00e4itini ja\nsisareni seurassa. Suuri on heid\u00e4n surunsa, suurempi viel\u00e4 minun,\nsiihen kun liittyy syyllisyys ja h\u00e4pe\u00e4.\"\n-- Malttia, lapsi! -- sanoin min\u00e4. -- Toivoakseni asiat viel\u00e4\nmuuttuvat paremmiksi. Koetahan nukkua rauhassa t\u00e4m\u00e4 y\u00f6. Huomenna\nmin\u00e4 vien sinut kotiin \u00e4idin ja sisarustesi luo. He ottavat sinut\nyst\u00e4v\u00e4llisesti vastaan. \u00c4iti parka! Kovin on t\u00e4m\u00e4 k\u00e4ynyt kipe\u00e4sti\nh\u00e4nen syd\u00e4melleen, mutta h\u00e4n rakastaa sinua sittenkin, Olivia, ja\nantaa sinulle anteeksi.\nKAHDESKOLMATTA LUKU\nTodellinen rakkaus antaa erehdykset anteeksi.\nHuomenissa otin tytt\u00e4reni taakseni hevosen selk\u00e4\u00e4n, ja niin\nl\u00e4hdettiin ajamaan kotia kohti. Matkalla koetin kaikin tavoin\nlievitt\u00e4\u00e4 h\u00e4nen suruansa, suistaa h\u00e4nen pelkoansa ja rohkaista\nh\u00e4nen mielt\u00e4\u00e4n, ett'ei h\u00e4n olisi kovin masentunut, astuessaan\nloukatun \u00e4itins\u00e4 eteen. Kauniitten seutujen kautta kulkiessamme,\nmin\u00e4 koetin selitt\u00e4\u00e4, kuinka paljoa laupiaampi taivas on meit\u00e4 kuin\nme l\u00e4himm\u00e4isi\u00e4mme kohtaan, ja kuinka itse luonnossa varsin harvoin\nmit\u00e4\u00e4n onnettomuutta tapahtuu. Min\u00e4 vakuutin h\u00e4nelle, ett'ei h\u00e4n ole\nkoskaan huomaava minun rakkauteni h\u00e4nt\u00e4 kohtaan laimenevan, ja ett\u00e4\nminussa on h\u00e4nell\u00e4 oleva suojelija ja neuvon-antaja niin kauan kuin\nminulle elonp\u00e4ivi\u00e4 on suotu, ja suotakoon niit\u00e4 viel\u00e4 monta. Min\u00e4\nneuvoin h\u00e4nt\u00e4 kest\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n maailman parjauksia, osoitin, kuinka kirjat\novat onnettomien suloisia, lempeit\u00e4 seuralaisia, jotka, elleiv\u00e4th\u00e4n\nel\u00e4m\u00e4n riemujakaan meihin luo, ainakin opettavat meit\u00e4 el\u00e4m\u00e4t\u00e4\nkest\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n.\nVuokrahevonen oli minun m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4 j\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4 t\u00e4n\u00e4 iltana er\u00e4\u00e4sen majataloon\ntien varrella, noin nelj\u00e4 peninkulmaa t\u00e4ll\u00e4 puolen kotiani.\nValmistaakseni perhett\u00e4ni vastaan-ottamaan Oliviaa, p\u00e4\u00e4tin j\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4\nh\u00e4net t\u00e4ksi y\u00f6ksi majataloon ja tulla huomis-aamuna varhain Sofia\ntytt\u00e4reni kanssa h\u00e4nt\u00e4 noutamaan.\nIllalla my\u00f6h\u00e4\u00e4n me saavuimme m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4paikkaamme. Toimitettuani h\u00e4nelle\nsiistin huoneen ja k\u00e4sketty\u00e4ni em\u00e4nn\u00e4n pit\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n huolta h\u00e4nen\nravinnostansa, suutelin h\u00e4nt\u00e4 j\u00e4\u00e4hyv\u00e4isiksi ja l\u00e4ksin astumaan kotia\nkohti. Mit\u00e4 l\u00e4hemm\u00e4s tuota rauhallista asuinsijaani tulin, sit\u00e4\nsuloisemmalta syd\u00e4mess\u00e4 tuntui. Pes\u00e4st\u00e4\u00e4n karkoitetun linnun lailla\nminun kaipaukseni riensi edell\u00e4ni ja liihoitteli pienen kotilieteni\nymp\u00e4rill\u00e4, riemuisaa odotusta t\u00e4ynn\u00e4\u00e4n. Mieless\u00e4ni kuvailin jo,\nkuinka monta suloista sanaa minulla on siell\u00e4 sanottavana, ja\nkuinka iloisesti he tervehtiv\u00e4t minua, kauan poissa ollutta. Olin\ntuntevinani jo vaimoni hell\u00e4n syleilyn ja myh\u00e4ilevin\u00e4ni pikku poikain\nmielihyv\u00e4lle.\nMin\u00e4 kun kuljin verkalleen, niin enn\u00e4tti jo iltakin pimet\u00e4. Ihmiset\nolivat jo ulkoty\u00f6ns\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4neet; m\u00f6keiss\u00e4 ei ollut en\u00e4\u00e4 tultakaan\nmiss\u00e4\u00e4n. Hiljaa oli kaikkialla; kukko vaan kiekahti v\u00e4listi, ja\nsiell\u00e4 t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 kaukana kajahti pihakoiran kumea haukunta.\nOli melkein puoliy\u00f6, kun koputin taloni ovelle. Kaikki oli siell\u00e4\nhiljaista ja rauhaisata. Syd\u00e4meni sykki sanomattoman onnellisissa\ntunteissa, kun \u00e4kki\u00e4 kauhukseni n\u00e4in tulenliekin leimahtavan talosta\nja punaista hehkua jok'ainoassa aukossa! Minulta p\u00e4\u00e4si hirve\u00e4\nh\u00e4t\u00e4huuto, ja samassa kaaduin tajutonna maahan. T\u00e4h\u00e4n huutoon her\u00e4si\npoikani, joka oli nukkunut koko ajan, ja, huomattuaan tulenliekit,\nher\u00e4tti heti kohta vaimoni jo tytt\u00e4reni. Kaikki hypp\u00e4siv\u00e4t v\u00e4hiss\u00e4\nvaatteissa ulos, s\u00e4ik\u00e4yksest\u00e4 melkein mielett\u00f6min\u00e4. Heid\u00e4n\nparkuihinsa min\u00e4kin vihdoin her\u00e4sin tainnoksistani, mutta yh\u00e4\nuusiin kauhuihin vaan. Liekit nuoleksivat jo talon kattoa, palasia\ntoisensa per\u00e4st\u00e4 putoeli jo sis\u00e4\u00e4n, mutta \u00e4\u00e4nett\u00f6m\u00e4ss\u00e4 ep\u00e4toivossa\nhe seisoivat, ik\u00e4\u00e4nkuin lumottuina silm\u00e4illen tulen tuhoisata ty\u00f6t\u00e4.\nMin\u00e4 katselin vuoroin heit\u00e4, vuoroin valkeata ja vilkaisin sitten\nymp\u00e4rilleni, etsien silmill\u00e4ni pikku poikia, mutta heit\u00e4 ei n\u00e4kynyt\nmiss\u00e4\u00e4n. Voi hirmua!\n-- Miss\u00e4? -- parkaisin min\u00e4, -- miss\u00e4 pikku pojat?\n-- Kuolleet liekkeihin, -- vastasi vaimoni kylm\u00e4sti, -- ja min\u00e4\ntahdon kuolla heid\u00e4n kanssaan.\nSamassa silm\u00e4nr\u00e4p\u00e4yksess\u00e4 kuulin sis\u00e4st\u00e4 lasten huutoja. He olivat\nher\u00e4nneet tulen r\u00e4iskin\u00e4\u00e4n hekin. Ja nyt ei minua en\u00e4\u00e4 voinut\npid\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4 mik\u00e4\u00e4n.\n-- Miss\u00e4, miss\u00e4 minun lapseni? -- huusin min\u00e4, hy\u00f6k\u00e4ten liekkeihin ja\nmurtaen oven lasten huoneesen, -- miss\u00e4 poikani pienet?\n-- T\u00e4\u00e4ll'ollaan, is\u00e4, t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4! -- vastasivat he yhdest\u00e4 suusta,\nvalkean tarttuessa jo heid\u00e4n vuoteeseensa.\nMin\u00e4 sieppasin heid\u00e4t syliini ja vein heid\u00e4t liekkien l\u00e4pi niin\njoutuisaan kuin mahdollista. Juuri kuin olin p\u00e4\u00e4ssyt ulos, romahti\nkatto sis\u00e4\u00e4n.\n-- Nyt! -- huudahdin min\u00e4, kohottaen lapsiani korkealle, -- nyt\nleimutkoot liekit ja kuluttakoot omaisuuteni kaiken! T\u00e4ss\u00e4 aarteeni,\njotka olen pelastanut. T\u00e4ss\u00e4, armaani, t\u00e4ss\u00e4 meid\u00e4n aarteemme. Viel\u00e4\nme saatamme olla onnellisia.\nMe suutelimme tuhansia kertoja rakkaitamme. He riippuivat kiinni\nmeid\u00e4n kaulassamme ja n\u00e4yttiv\u00e4t ottavan osaa meid\u00e4n ilomme\nilmauksiin. Ja \u00e4iti se vuoroin nauroi, vuoroin itki.\nTyynen\u00e4 min\u00e4 katselin liekkej\u00e4. Jonkun ajan per\u00e4st\u00e4 rupesin tuntemaan\nkipuja olkavarressa: se oli saanut kauheita palohaavoja. Siksip\u00e4 en\nensink\u00e4\u00e4n kyennyt auttamaan poikaani, joka koetti pelastaa tavaroita\nja samalla est\u00e4\u00e4 tulipaloa levi\u00e4m\u00e4st\u00e4 aittaan. Sill\u00e4 v\u00e4lin olivat\nnaapurit her\u00e4nneet ja riensiv\u00e4t apuun, mutta muuta eiv\u00e4t hek\u00e4\u00e4n\nosanneet tehd\u00e4 kuin neuvottomina katsella tulen tuhot\u00f6it\u00e4.\nKaikki tavaramme, niitten mukana tytt\u00e4rieni my\u00f6t\u00e4j\u00e4isiksi tallelle\npanemani pankkisetelitkin, oli nyt kokonaan poroksi palanut. J\u00e4ljell\u00e4\noli vaan arkullinen papereita, joka oli seisonut keitti\u00f6ss\u00e4, ja pari\nkolme muuta v\u00e4h\u00e4p\u00e4t\u00f6ist\u00e4 esinett\u00e4, jotka poikani oli enn\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt saada\nulos. Naapurit koettivat voimiansa my\u00f6ten lievent\u00e4\u00e4 meid\u00e4n kovaa\nkohtaloamme. He toivat meille vaatteita ja keitti\u00f6kaluja yhteen\ntalon sivurakennuksista, niin ett\u00e4 meill\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4n koittaessa oli edes\njonkunlainen kotimaja, mihin asettua. L\u00e4hin naapurini, kunnon mies,\nlapsineen ei ollut viimeisimpi\u00e4 hankkimassa meille kaikenlaista,\nmik\u00e4 tarpeellista oli, ja lohduttamassa meit\u00e4 niin herttaisesti kuin\nteeskentelem\u00e4t\u00f6n hyv\u00e4nsuopaisuus suinkin saattaa.\nEnsimm\u00e4isest\u00e4 s\u00e4ik\u00e4yksest\u00e4 toinnuttuaan, alkoi kotiv\u00e4keni\nudella, miksik\u00e4 min\u00e4 olin ollut poissa niin kauan. Kerrottuani\nseikkaper\u00e4isesti matkani vaiheet, aloin valmistaa heit\u00e4\nvastaan-ottamaan kadotettua lasta. Vaikk'ei meill\u00e4 nyt ollut kuin\nkurjuutta tarjottavana, tahdoin kumminkin pit\u00e4\u00e4 huolta siit\u00e4,\nett\u00e4 h\u00e4n vastaan-otettaisiin niin hyv\u00e4sti kuin suinkin sopi.\nT\u00e4m\u00e4 olisi k\u00e4ynyt kovinkin vaikeaksi, ellei \u00e4skeinen onnettomuus\nolisi n\u00f6yryytt\u00e4nyt minun vaimoni ylpeytt\u00e4 ja suistanut sit\u00e4 viel\u00e4\nkovemmilla koettelemuksilla.\nK\u00e4tt\u00e4ni kun kivisti ankarasti, en p\u00e4\u00e4ssyt itse tyt\u00e4rt\u00e4ni noutamaan,\nvaan l\u00e4hetin poikani ja nuoremman tytt\u00e4reni, jotka pian palasivatkin,\nmukanaan tuo onneton olento. Tytt\u00f6 raukka ei uskaltanut katsoa\nsilmiin \u00e4iti\u00e4ns\u00e4, joka kaikista minun ponnistuksistani huolimatta\nei ollut taipunut t\u00e4ydellisesti sovinnolliseen mieleen, naiset kun\ntuomitsevat naisen erehdyksi\u00e4 ankarammin kuin miehet.\n-- Oo, madam, -- puheli \u00e4iti, -- kovinhan on halpa t\u00e4m\u00e4 paikka,\njonne te olette suvainnut tulla niin moninaisesta fiineydest\u00e4.\nMinun tytt\u00e4rest\u00e4ni Sofiasta ja minusta ei saata olla kuin sangen\nv\u00e4h\u00e4n huvitusta sellaisille persoonille, jotka ovat seurustelleet\nainoastaan niiss\u00e4 ylh\u00e4isiss\u00e4 piireiss\u00e4. Niin, miss Livy, teid\u00e4n is\u00e4\nparkanne ja min\u00e4 olemme viime aikoina saaneet paljon k\u00e4rsi\u00e4, mutta\nmin\u00e4 toivon taivaan antavan teille anteeksi.\nT\u00e4m\u00e4n vastaanotto-puheen aikana oli onneton tytt\u00f6 seisonut kalpeana\nja vavisten. Ei h\u00e4n jaksanut itke\u00e4, eik\u00e4 h\u00e4n jaksanut mit\u00e4\u00e4n vastata.\nMin\u00e4 en en\u00e4\u00e4 saattanut sen kauemmin \u00e4\u00e4neti katsella h\u00e4nen tuskiansa,\nvaan lausuin, pannen \u00e4\u00e4neeni jonkun verran ankaruutta ja sellaisella\nvakavuudella, joka silm\u00e4nr\u00e4p\u00e4yksess\u00e4 sai muut alistumaan:\n-- Min\u00e4 pyyd\u00e4n, vaimo, ett\u00e4 minun sanani pannaan nyt mieleen kaikiksi\nkerroiksi. Min\u00e4 olen t\u00e4ss\u00e4 tuonut sinulle takaisin eksyneen vaeltaja\nraukan; h\u00e4n palajaa velvollisuuksiansa t\u00e4ytt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n, ja meid\u00e4n tulee\nolla h\u00e4nelle hell\u00e4t kuin ennenkin. El\u00e4m\u00e4n kovia koettelemuksia tulvii\nnyt tulvimalla meid\u00e4n ylitsemme; \u00e4lk\u00e4\u00e4mme siis niitten painoa lis\u00e4tk\u00f6\nkeskin\u00e4isell\u00e4 erimielisyydell\u00e4. Jos sovussa el\u00e4mme, niin saatamme yh\u00e4\nviel\u00e4kin olla tyytyv\u00e4isi\u00e4, sill\u00e4 meit\u00e4 on tarpeeksi monta, ollaksemme\nv\u00e4litt\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00e4 maailman panetteluista ja osataksemme olla toistemme\ntukena. Jumala on luvannut kohdella katuvaista lempe\u00e4sti; tehk\u00e4\u00e4mme\nkuin H\u00e4n. Taivaassa, senh\u00e4n tied\u00e4mme, iloitaan yhdest\u00e4 syntisest\u00e4,\njoka itsens\u00e4 parantaa, enemm\u00e4n kuin yhdeks\u00e4st\u00e4kymmenest\u00e4yhdeks\u00e4st\u00e4\nhurskaasta, jotka eiv\u00e4t parannusta tarvitse. Ja oikein se onkin,\nsill\u00e4 yksi ainoa ponnistus, jolla koetamme pys\u00e4hty\u00e4 kadotukseen\nviett\u00e4v\u00e4ll\u00e4 polulla, on itsess\u00e4\u00e4n suurempi hyv\u00e4 avu kuin sata\noikeamielist\u00e4 tekoa.\nKOLMASKOLMATTA LUKU\nTurmeltu ihminen yksin saattaa olla kauan ja kokonaan onneton.\nJonkun verran toimeliaisuutta kysyttiin meilt\u00e4 nyt, saadaksemme\nnykyisen asuntomme niin mukavaksi kuin mahdollista, eik\u00e4 aikaakaan,\nniin jo vallitsi meiss\u00e4 entinen mielen rauha. Kykenem\u00e4tt\u00e4 auttamaan\npoikaani tavallisissa ulkoaskareissa, min\u00e4 lueskelin perheelleni\n\u00e4\u00e4neen niist\u00e4 moniaista kirjoista, jotka oli saatu pelastetuiksi.\nK\u00e4ytin semminkin sellaisia, jotka vaikuttavat mielikuvitukseen ja\nsamalla syd\u00e4nt\u00e4kin tyynnytt\u00e4v\u00e4t.\nHyvi\u00e4 naapureitakin k\u00e4vi joka p\u00e4iv\u00e4 lausumassa syd\u00e4mellist\u00e4\nosan-ottoansa, ja ennen pitk\u00e4\u00e4 he p\u00e4\u00e4ttiv\u00e4t tulla m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4ttyn\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4n\u00e4\nmiehiss\u00e4 korjaamaan entist\u00e4 asuntoani. Farmari Williams, kunnon\nmies, ei ollut viimeisi\u00e4 joukossa; herttaisesti h\u00e4n tarjosi meille\nyst\u00e4v\u00e4npalveluksia. H\u00e4n olisi kernaasti taaskin ruvennut pit\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n\nhyv\u00e4\u00e4 silm\u00e4\u00e4 tytt\u00e4reeni, mutta t\u00e4m\u00e4 ehk\u00e4isi sen sill\u00e4 tavalla, ett\u00e4\nkaikki yrityksetkin siihen suuntaan raukesivat tyhjiin.\nN\u00e4ytti silt\u00e4 kuin Olivian murhe tulisi kest\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n kauankin, sill\u00e4 h\u00e4n\noli meid\u00e4n pieness\u00e4 piiriss\u00e4 ainoa, joka ei viikon kuluttua ollut\nsaanut takaisin entist\u00e4 hilpeytt\u00e4\u00e4n. H\u00e4ness\u00e4 ei ollut en\u00e4\u00e4 sit\u00e4\npunastumatonta syd\u00e4men yksinkertaisuutta, joka ennen oli opettanut\nh\u00e4net pit\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n arvossa omaa itse\u00e4ns\u00e4 ja hakemaan ilonsa siin\u00e4,\nett\u00e4 tekee muille iloa. Tuskallinen ahdistus painoi alinomaa h\u00e4nen\nmielt\u00e4ns\u00e4. H\u00e4nen kauneutensa lakastui, terveys heikkeni sit\u00e4 mukaa,\nmit\u00e4 v\u00e4hemmin h\u00e4n piti siit\u00e4 huolta. Jokainoa lempe\u00e4 sana, mik\u00e4\nsisaren osaksi talossa tuli, oli pistosta h\u00e4nen syd\u00e4meens\u00e4 ja kiersi\nkyyneleit\u00e4 h\u00e4nen silmiins\u00e4. Ja koska pahe, josta jo on p\u00e4\u00e4sty, alati\ntuo sijaansa muita paheita, niinp\u00e4 h\u00e4nenkin erehdyksens\u00e4, vaikka\nse oli katumuksella sovitettu, j\u00e4tti j\u00e4lkeens\u00e4 luulevaisuuden ja\nkateuden. Min\u00e4 koetin kaikin tavoin lievitt\u00e4\u00e4 h\u00e4nen huoliansa. H\u00e4nen\nsuruiltansa min\u00e4 unohdin omatkin tuskani, ja koska aikoinani olin\nenn\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt lukea verraten paljonkin, niin kerroin h\u00e4nelle lohdullisia\ntapauksia historiasta.\n-- Ihmisen onni, tytt\u00e4reni armas, -- puhelin min\u00e4, -- on Sen k\u00e4dess\u00e4,\njoka voi sit\u00e4 meille antaa tuhannella eri tavalla, h\u00e4pe\u00e4\u00e4n saattaen\nmeid\u00e4n omat puuhamme. Jos t\u00e4m\u00e4 todistusta kaivannee, niin juttelen\nsulle, lapseni, er\u00e4\u00e4n tapauksen, jonka on kertonut muuan vakava,\nvaikka v\u00e4listi hiukan romanttinen historioitsija:\n\"Matilda joutui per\u00e4ti nuorena naimisiin er\u00e4\u00e4n napolilaisen korkean\naatelismiehen kanssa. Mies kuoli, h\u00e4nen ollessa viidentoista vuoden\ni\u00e4ss\u00e4, ja Matilda j\u00e4i yksin pienen poikansa kanssa. Kerran h\u00e4n\nseisoi, lastansa hyv\u00e4illen, avonaisessa akkunassa, jonka alapuolella\nvirtasi vuolas Volturnon joki. \u00c4kki\u00e4 riuhtaisihe lapsi irti h\u00e4nen\nsylist\u00e4\u00e4n, sy\u00f6ksyi jokeen ja katosi silm\u00e4nr\u00e4p\u00e4yksess\u00e4 n\u00e4kym\u00e4tt\u00f6miin.\n\u00c4iti, hurjana s\u00e4ik\u00e4yksest\u00e4, hypp\u00e4si veteen h\u00e4nkin lastaan\npelastamaan. Mutta se oli mahdotonta. T\u00f6in tuskin h\u00e4n itsek\u00e4\u00e4n,\nsuurilla ponnistuksilla, p\u00e4\u00e4si toiselle rannalle, miss\u00e4 franskalaiset\nsotamiehet parhaillaan olivat ry\u00f6st\u00f6retkill\u00e4\u00e4n. He ottivat h\u00e4net heti\nkohta vangiksi.\n\"Franskan ja Italian v\u00e4lill\u00e4 oli sota siihen aikaan paraillaan\nraivoamassa, ja sit\u00e4 k\u00e4ytiin sanomattomalla julmuudella. Sotamiehet\nolivat nytkin tekem\u00e4isill\u00e4\u00e4n kaksi kauheata rikosta, sek\u00e4 himon ett\u00e4\njulmuuden synnytt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4. T\u00e4m\u00e4n h\u00e4ijyn aikomuksen teki tyhj\u00e4ksi muuan\nnuori upseeri, joka otti nuoren rouvan taaksensa hevosen selk\u00e4\u00e4n\nja, vaikka pakoretki oli teht\u00e4v\u00e4 mit\u00e4 suurimmalla kiiruulla, vei\nh\u00e4net turvallisesti omaan kotikaupunkiinsa. Rouvan kauneus lumosi\nensi hetkest\u00e4 h\u00e4nen silm\u00e4ns\u00e4 ja hyv\u00e4t avut kohta sen per\u00e4st\u00e4 h\u00e4nen\nsyd\u00e4mens\u00e4. Heist\u00e4 tuli aviopari. Mies kohosi korkeihin virkoihin, ja\nkauan aikaa he viettiv\u00e4t hyvin onnellista el\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4.\n\"Mutta milloinkapas sotamiehen onni pysyv\u00e4ist\u00e4 on? Jonkun vuoden\nper\u00e4st\u00e4 syttyi sota uudelleen, h\u00e4nen johtamansa joukko ly\u00f6tiin,\nja h\u00e4nen piti hakea turvapaikkaa siin\u00e4 kaupungissa, miss\u00e4 h\u00e4n oli\nvaimonsa kanssa asunut. Siell\u00e4 he saivat kest\u00e4\u00e4 piirityksen, kunnes\nkaupunki vihdoin antautui. Harvoin tiet\u00e4\u00e4 historia kertoa niin\nmonenlaisia esimerkkej\u00e4 julmuudesta kuin juuri t\u00e4m\u00e4n sodan ajoilta.\nSaatuaan kaupungin haltuunsa, Italialaiset p\u00e4\u00e4ttiv\u00e4t tappaa kaikki\nfranskalaiset sotavangit. Liiatenkin he halusivat ottaa hengilt\u00e4\nonnettoman Matildan aviomiehen, h\u00e4net, jonka toimenpiteitten kautta\npiiritys oli kest\u00e4nyt niin kauan. Tuomiot pantiin t\u00e4yt\u00e4nt\u00f6\u00f6n melkein\nsamassa kuin ne oli julistettukin. Vangittu sotaherra tuotiin esiin\nh\u00e4nkin. Py\u00f6veli seisoi miekka k\u00e4dess\u00e4 valmiina, ja kansa odotteli\nsynk\u00e4ss\u00e4 \u00e4\u00e4nett\u00f6myydess\u00e4, milloinkahan toimitusta johtava kenraali\nantaa merkin, ja py\u00f6veli tekee teht\u00e4v\u00e4ns\u00e4.\n\"T\u00e4m\u00e4n tuskallisen odotuksen hetken\u00e4 tuli Matilda sanomaan viimeisi\u00e4\nj\u00e4\u00e4hyv\u00e4isi\u00e4 miehelleen ja pelastajalleen. Siin\u00e4 h\u00e4n vaikeroiden\nvalitti kurjaa tilaansa ja armotonta kohtaloa, joka oli pelastanut\nh\u00e4net ennen-aikaisesta kuolemasta Volturnon virrassa, saattaakseen\nh\u00e4net kokemaan vain yh\u00e4 ankarampia iskuja.\n\"Kenraali, nuori mies, h\u00e4mm\u00e4styi h\u00e4nen kauneuttaan ja rupesi\ns\u00e4\u00e4lim\u00e4\u00e4n tuota kovan onnen sortamaa naista. Yh\u00e4 suurempaa liikutusta\nh\u00e4n tunsi, kuultuaan rouvan mainitsevan entisist\u00e4 vaaroistansa.\nKenraali ei ollutkaan kukaan muu kuin h\u00e4nen poikansa, tuo samainen\nlapsi, jonka t\u00e4hden \u00e4iti oli saanut niin monta kovaa kokea. H\u00e4n tunsi\ntuossa nuoressa rouvassa heti \u00e4itins\u00e4 ja lankesi h\u00e4nen jalkainsa\njuureen. Loput arvaa itsest\u00e4\u00e4nkin: vangit p\u00e4\u00e4stettiin irti, ja heid\u00e4n\nkeskens\u00e4 vallitsi nyt kaikki se onni, mink\u00e4 rakkaus, yst\u00e4vyys ja\nvelvollisuus voi itsekukin aikaansaada.\"\nT\u00e4ll\u00e4 tavoin min\u00e4 koettelin huvittaa tyt\u00e4rt\u00e4ni, mutta\nv\u00e4linpit\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00f6m\u00e4sti h\u00e4n kertomuksiani kuunteli. Tytt\u00f6 rukka oli\nsaanut niin paljon k\u00e4rsi\u00e4 oman kovan kohtalonsa t\u00e4hden, ett'ei\njaksanut en\u00e4\u00e4, kuten ennen, s\u00e4\u00e4li\u00e4 muitten onnettomuutta. Helpotusta\nh\u00e4n ei saanut mist\u00e4\u00e4n. Seuroissa h\u00e4n pelk\u00e4si muitten halveksimista;\nyksin\u00e4isyydess\u00e4 h\u00e4n tunsi ahdistavaa levottomuutta. T\u00e4llainen tuon\npoloisen tila oli, kun huhuna saatiin kuulla, ett\u00e4 mr Thornhill aikoo\nmenn\u00e4 naimisiin miss Wilmotin kanssa. Min\u00e4 olin aina luullutkin mr\nThornhillin olevan todella kiintyneen t\u00e4h\u00e4n neitoon, vaikka h\u00e4n,\nminun l\u00e4sn\u00e4 ollessani, oli aina puhunut halventavasti sek\u00e4 h\u00e4nen\npersonastaan ett\u00e4 rikkaudestaan.\nT\u00e4m\u00e4 uutinen se vaan lis\u00e4si Olivia paran surua, sill\u00e4\nt\u00e4llainen julkea uskollisuuden rikkominen oli enemm\u00e4n kuin h\u00e4nen\nmielenlujuutensa jaksoi kest\u00e4\u00e4. Min\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4tin kumminkin hankkia asiasta\nviel\u00e4 tarkempia tietoja ja, jos suinkin mahdollista, tehd\u00e4 squiren\naikeet tyhjiksi. Sit\u00e4 varten p\u00e4\u00e4tin l\u00e4hett\u00e4\u00e4 poikani vanhan mr\nWilmotin luokse, kysym\u00e4\u00e4n, miss\u00e4 m\u00e4\u00e4rin huhussa on per\u00e4\u00e4, ja samalla\nantamaan miss Wilmotille kirjeen, jossa ilmoitetaan, mill\u00e4 tavoin mr\nThornhill on minun talossani k\u00e4ytt\u00e4ynyt.\nPoikani l\u00e4ksi matkalle toimittamaan minun m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4yksi\u00e4ni. Kolmen p\u00e4iv\u00e4n\nper\u00e4st\u00e4 h\u00e4n palasi, tuoden sen tiedon, ett\u00e4 huhu oli ollut oikeassa,\nmutta kirjett\u00e4 h\u00e4nen oli ollut mahdoton toimittaa perille, koska mr\nThornhill ja miss Wilmot olivat parhaillaan visiteill\u00e4 ymp\u00e4rist\u00f6ss\u00e4.\nH\u00e4\u00e4t pidet\u00e4\u00e4n, tiesi poikani kertoa, moniaan p\u00e4iv\u00e4n per\u00e4st\u00e4.\nEdellisen\u00e4 sunnuntaina he olivat yhdess\u00e4 esiintyneet kirkossa ylen\nprameasti: morsiamella saattajina kuusi nuorta lady\u00e4, sulhasella yht\u00e4\nmonta gentlemania. Koko seudun v\u00e4est\u00f6 se nyt riemuissaan odottelee\npian l\u00e4henevi\u00e4 h\u00e4it\u00e4. Kihlatut ajelevat tavallisesti kahden kesken\nniin upeissa vaunuissa, ett'ei moisia ole n\u00e4ill\u00e4 seuduin n\u00e4hty\nvuosikausiin. Kummankin perheen sukulaiset, kertoi h\u00e4n edelleen, ovat\nsiell\u00e4, huomattavinna niist\u00e4 squiren set\u00e4, sir William Thornhill,\ntuo hyv\u00e4ntahtoinen mies. Pitki\u00e4 pitoja ja upeita juhlia on tulossa.\nKaikki kansa ylist\u00e4\u00e4 nuoren morsiamen kauneutta ja sulhasen hienoa\npersonaa, sanoen heid\u00e4n rakastavan toisiaan ihan \u00e4\u00e4rett\u00f6m\u00e4sti.\n-- Mink\u00e4s min\u00e4 sille voin, -- lopetti poikani, -- mutta kyll\u00e4 minun\nvain t\u00e4ytyy pit\u00e4\u00e4 mr Thornhilli\u00e4 maailman onnellisimpana miehen\u00e4.\n-- Olkoon vaan, jos voinee, -- vastasin min\u00e4. -- Mutta katsos,\npoikani, t\u00e4t\u00e4 olkivuodetta, vuotavaa kattoa tuossa, noita homeisia\nseini\u00e4 ja t\u00e4t\u00e4 kosteata lattiaa, t\u00e4t\u00e4 ruumis raukkaa, jonka\ntulipalo on tehnyt ty\u00f6h\u00f6n kykenem\u00e4tt\u00f6m\u00e4ksi; katso lapsiani, jotka\nymp\u00e4rill\u00e4ni leip\u00e4\u00e4 itkev\u00e4t! -- kaikki tuo on silm\u00e4isi edess\u00e4... Ja\nsittenkin sin\u00e4 n\u00e4et t\u00e4ss\u00e4, juuri t\u00e4ss\u00e4 miehen, joka ei vaihtaisi\nilojaan h\u00e4nen kanssaan, vaikka saisi kaikki maailman aarteet! Voi\narmaat lapset, jospa vain oppisitte seurustelemaan oman syd\u00e4menne\nkanssa ja huomaamaan, kuinka jalo toveri se on, niin v\u00e4h\u00e4n te\nvainenkin v\u00e4litt\u00e4isitte tuon kunnottoman loistosta ja prameudesta!\nMelkein jokainen on oppinut sanomaan el\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4 vaellukseksi ja itse\u00e4\u00e4n\nmatkamieheksi. Ja t\u00e4m\u00e4 vertaus se kyll\u00e4kin pit\u00e4\u00e4 paikkansa,\nn\u00e4hdess\u00e4mme, kuinka hyv\u00e4t ihmiset ovat iloiset ja tyynet, niinkuin\nkonsanaankin matkamiehet kotia kohti kulkiessaan, ja kuinka\nkehnomieliset ovat vain silloin t\u00e4ll\u00f6in onnellisia, niinkuin\nmatkamiehet, jotka maanpakoon vaeltavat.\nUusi isku oli kokonaan masentanut tytt\u00e4reni mielen. S\u00e4\u00e4list\u00e4 h\u00e4nt\u00e4\nkohtaan min\u00e4 j\u00e4tin sanomatta, mit\u00e4 mieless\u00e4ni viel\u00e4 oli. Min\u00e4 pyysin\n\u00e4idin tukemaan h\u00e4nt\u00e4, ja tuokion kuluttua Olivia toipuikin. T\u00e4st\u00e4\npuolin h\u00e4n n\u00e4ytti tyynemm\u00e4lt\u00e4 ja oli, niinkuin luulin, rohkaissut\nmielens\u00e4, mutta ulkomuoto vei minut harhaan, sill\u00e4 h\u00e4nen tyyneytens\u00e4\noli vain ylenm\u00e4\u00e4rin j\u00e4nnitettyjen tunteitten lamausta.\nYst\u00e4v\u00e4lliset pit\u00e4j\u00e4l\u00e4iset toivat meille ruokavarojen lisi\u00e4, ja t\u00e4m\u00e4\nn\u00e4ytti synnytt\u00e4v\u00e4n uutta hilpeytt\u00e4 muihin perheenj\u00e4seniin. Eik\u00e4 ollut\nminunkaan vastenmielist\u00e4 n\u00e4hd\u00e4 heit\u00e4 kerrankin taas reippaina ja\niloisina. Olisinhan tehnyt v\u00e4\u00e4rin, masentaessani heid\u00e4n tyytyv\u00e4ist\u00e4\nmielt\u00e4\u00e4n, pakottamalla heit\u00e4 my\u00f6t\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4 vaan valittelemaan yksin\u00e4isen\n\u00e4\u00e4net\u00f6nt\u00e4 surua, tahi s\u00e4lytt\u00e4ess\u00e4ni heid\u00e4n kannettavakseen huolta,\njota he eiv\u00e4t tunteneet. Ja niinp\u00e4 kerran viel\u00e4kin taas tarinoita\nkerrottiin miehest\u00e4 mieheen, laulamaan pyydettiin ket\u00e4 kulloinkin, ja\nhilpe\u00e4 mieli el\u00e4hteli meid\u00e4n pieness\u00e4 majassamme.\nNELJ\u00c4SKOLMATTA LUKU\nKovia kohtauksia taaskin.\nHuomis-aamu kun oli t\u00e4h\u00e4n vuoden-aikaan n\u00e4hden eritt\u00e4in l\u00e4mmin,\nniin p\u00e4\u00e4tettiin sy\u00f6d\u00e4 aamiainen kuusamomajassa. Siell\u00e4 pyysin\nnuorempaa tyt\u00e4rt\u00e4ni laulamaan, ja pian liittikin h\u00e4n \u00e4\u00e4nens\u00e4 siihen\nkonserttiin, mik\u00e4 raikui puista ylt'ymp\u00e4rill\u00e4. T\u00e4ss\u00e4 majassa oli\nOlivia ensi kerran kohdannut viettelij\u00e4ns\u00e4, ja jok'ainoa esine\nsiin\u00e4 oli omiansa lis\u00e4\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n h\u00e4nen tuskaansa. Mutta sellainen\nhaikeamielisyys, joka her\u00e4j\u00e4\u00e4 henkiin entisist\u00e4 mielihyv\u00e4n aiheista\ntai s\u00e4velten soinnuista, se tyynnytt\u00e4\u00e4 syd\u00e4men eik\u00e4 raasta sit\u00e4.\n\u00c4itikin tunsi t\u00e4ss\u00e4 tilaisuudessa suloista surumielisyytt\u00e4 ja\nvuodatti kyyneleit\u00e4 ja rakasti tyt\u00e4rt\u00e4\u00e4n kuin ennenkin.\n-- Kas niin, armas Olivia, -- virkkoi h\u00e4n, laulahan meille se\nmurheellinen laulu, josta is\u00e4 niin paljon pit\u00e4\u00e4. Sofia on puolestaan\njo laulanut meille. Laula, lapseni, vanhan is\u00e4si mielihyviksi.\nOlivia totteli ja esitti pienen laulunsa niin syv\u00e4ll\u00e4\ntunteellisuudella, ett\u00e4 se liikutti minua.\n    Jos lempi johtais naisen harhaan,\n    Jos pett\u00e4nyt mies h\u00e4net ois,\n    Oi mik\u00e4 suistais surut silloin\n    Ja virheen pesis h\u00e4lt\u00e4 pois?\n    Yks keino virheen voisi pest\u00e4\n    Ja h\u00e4\u00e4t\u00e4\u00e4 h\u00e4pe\u00e4n, ei muu:\n    H\u00e4n hautaan k\u00e4y, ja miehen syd\u00e4n\n    Se tuskiin tuimiin pakahtuu.\nViimeiset s\u00e4keet h\u00e4n lauloi eritt\u00e4in vienosti, surun sortamalla\n\u00e4\u00e4nell\u00e4. Tuskin oli laulu loppunut, kun jonkun matkan p\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4\nhuomattiin mr Thornhillin vaunut. Me s\u00e4ps\u00e4hdimme kaikki, mutta\nvarsinkin kohosi vanhimman tytt\u00e4reni tuska ylimmilleen. V\u00e4ltt\u00e4\u00e4kseen\nn\u00e4kem\u00e4st\u00e4 viettelij\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4, h\u00e4n kiirehti sisarensa kanssa sis\u00e4\u00e4n.\nParin minutin per\u00e4st\u00e4 mr Thornhill oli astunut vaunuistansa ja tuli\nminun luokseni -- min\u00e4 en ollut liikahtanutkaan paikaltani -- ja\ntuttavallisesti kuin ennenkin kysyi, kuinka min\u00e4 jaksan.\n-- Sir, -- vastasin min\u00e4, -- t\u00e4m\u00e4 julkeus todistaa vaan entist\u00e4\nenemm\u00e4n, kuinka kehnomielinen mies te olette. Oli aika, jolloin min\u00e4\nolisin kurittanut teit\u00e4, joka olette niin h\u00e4pe\u00e4m\u00e4t\u00f6n, ett\u00e4 rohkenette\nastua minun silmieni eteen. Mutta olkaa rauhassa: ik\u00e4 on suistanut\nminun intohimoni, ja virkani est\u00e4\u00e4 niit\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4sem\u00e4st\u00e4 valtaan.\n-- No mutta, hyv\u00e4 herra! -- virkkoi h\u00e4n. Te panette minut ihan\nh\u00e4mm\u00e4stym\u00e4\u00e4n. Min\u00e4 en k\u00e4sit\u00e4 yht\u00e4\u00e4n mit\u00e4\u00e4n. Eih\u00e4n toki tytt\u00e4renne\n\u00e4skeinen huviretki minun kanssani liene mielest\u00e4nne mit\u00e4\u00e4n rikollista\nlaatua?\n-- Mene! -- kiljaisin min\u00e4. -- Sin\u00e4 olet konna, halpa, kehno konna\nja kauttaaltasi valhetta t\u00e4ynn\u00e4. Teid\u00e4n kataluutenne suojelee teit\u00e4\nminun vihani vimmasta. Niin, sir, min\u00e4 olen syntyisin sellaisesta\nsuvusta, jossa t\u00e4llaista ei olisi siedetty! Hetken himojen\nt\u00e4hden olet sin\u00e4, kurja mies, sy\u00f6ssyt er\u00e4\u00e4n ihmisparan ainaiseen\nonnettomuuteen ja h\u00e4v\u00e4issyt sen perheen, jolla ei ole maailmassa\nollut mit\u00e4\u00e4n muuta onnen-osaa kuin kunniansa.\n-- Jos h\u00e4n tai te, -- vastasi h\u00e4n, -- tahtomalla tahdotte olla\nonnettomia, niin mink\u00e4s min\u00e4 sille! Mutta te voisitte sittenkin olla\nonnellisia, ja min\u00e4 olen aina oleva altis auttamaan teit\u00e4 siihen,\najatelkaa muutoin minusta mit\u00e4 tahdotte. Me saatamme naittaa h\u00e4net\ntoiselle ennen pitk\u00e4\u00e4 ja -- mik\u00e4 viel\u00e4kin t\u00e4rke\u00e4mp\u00e4\u00e4 -- h\u00e4nen\nsopii pit\u00e4\u00e4 rakastajaa silti, sill\u00e4 min\u00e4 vakuutan yh\u00e4 edelleenkin\nvilpitt\u00f6m\u00e4sti kunnioittavani h\u00e4nt\u00e4.\nMin\u00e4 tunsin, kuinka t\u00e4m\u00e4 kunnoton ehdotus panee minut kuohuksiin.\nMieli saattaa kyll\u00e4 usein pysy\u00e4 tyynen\u00e4 suurtakin v\u00e4\u00e4ryytt\u00e4\nk\u00e4rsiess\u00e4\u00e4n, mutta pienet konnanty\u00f6t ne aina syd\u00e4melle k\u00e4yv\u00e4t ja\nkiihottavat sit\u00e4 raivoon.\n-- Pois n\u00e4kyvist\u00e4ni, kavala k\u00e4rme! -- huudahdin min\u00e4, -- \u00e4l\u00e4k\u00e4\nloukkaa minua en\u00e4\u00e4 l\u00e4sn\u00e4olollasi! Jos uljas poikani olisi kotona, ei\nh\u00e4n t\u00e4t\u00e4 sallisi, mutta min\u00e4 olen vanha, kykenem\u00e4t\u00f6n ja kaikin puolin\nmennyt mies.\n-- No niin, -- huudahti h\u00e4n -- te tahdotte n\u00e4ht\u00e4v\u00e4st\u00e4kin pakottaa\nminut puhumaan ankarammin kuin olin aikonutkaan. Mutta koska min\u00e4\nvast'ik\u00e4\u00e4n viittasin, mit\u00e4 teill\u00e4 on toivomista minun yst\u00e4vyydest\u00e4ni,\nniin sallittanee minun my\u00f6s ilmoittaa, mit\u00e4 seurauksia saattaa olla\nminun suuttumuksestani. Minun asian-ajajani, jolle teid\u00e4n \u00e4skeinen\nvelkakirjanne on siirretty, uhkailee kovin, enk\u00e4 min\u00e4 tied\u00e4, mill\u00e4\nkeinoin voisi est\u00e4\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n oikeutta p\u00e4\u00e4sem\u00e4st\u00e4 voimaansa, ellenh\u00e4n\nnimitt\u00e4in suorita rahoja itse, joka taas ei ole niink\u00e4\u00e4n helppo asia,\nminulla kun pian tapahtuvain h\u00e4itteni t\u00e4hden on ollut viime aikoina\nkoko lailla menoja. Voutikin puhuu vuokramaksujen ker\u00e4\u00e4misest\u00e4; h\u00e4n\ntuntee n\u00e4ht\u00e4v\u00e4sti velvollisuutensa; min\u00e4 puolestani en sekaannu\nmilloinkaan t\u00e4llaisiin asioihin. Mutta sittenkin min\u00e4 tahtoisin\ntarjota teille palvelustani ja soisin n\u00e4kev\u00e4ni teid\u00e4t tytt\u00e4renne\nkanssa miss Wilmotin ja minun h\u00e4iss\u00e4ni; t\u00e4m\u00e4 on my\u00f6s ihastuttavan\nArabellan pyynt\u00f6, jota toivoakseni ette hylj\u00e4nne.\n-- Mr Thornhill! -- virkoin min\u00e4, -- kuunnelkaa minua nyt kerta\nkaikkianne. Teid\u00e4n avioliittoanne kenenk\u00e4\u00e4n muun kuin minun tytt\u00e4reni\nkanssa min\u00e4 en my\u00f6nn\u00e4. Ja vaikka teid\u00e4n yst\u00e4vyytenne nostaisi minut\nvalta-istuimelle tai teid\u00e4n suuttumuksenne minut hautaan painaisi,\nniin min\u00e4 ylenkatson kumpiakin. Olet kerran halpamaisesti pett\u00e4nyt\nminut ja tuottanut minulle korvaamattoman tappion. Syd\u00e4meni luotti\nsinun kunniaasi, mutta l\u00f6ysi siin\u00e4 pelkk\u00e4\u00e4 kataluutta. \u00c4l\u00e4 siis\nmilloinkaan minulta yst\u00e4vyytt\u00e4 odota. Mene ja pid\u00e4 hyv\u00e4n\u00e4si, mit\u00e4\nsinulle suonut on kauneus, rikkaus, terveys ja huvit. Mene ja j\u00e4t\u00e4\nminut puutteesen, h\u00e4pe\u00e4n-alaiseksi, sairaaksi ja murheelliseksi. Ja\nkumminkin, niin masennettu kuin olenkaan, on syd\u00e4meni aina pit\u00e4v\u00e4\nkunniatansa arvossa, ja vaikka min\u00e4 olen antanut sinulle anteeksi,\nniin alati min\u00e4 olen halveksiva sinua.\n-- Vai niin! -- vastasi h\u00e4n. -- Olkaa sitten varma, ett\u00e4 saatte\ntuntea t\u00e4m\u00e4n r\u00f6yhkeytenne seuraukset. Pian saamme n\u00e4hd\u00e4, kumpiko on\nenemm\u00e4n omiansa tulla ylenkatsotuksi, tek\u00f6 vai min\u00e4.\nSen sanottuaan h\u00e4n \u00e4kki\u00e4 l\u00e4ksi pois.\nVaimoni ja poikani, jotka olivat olleet l\u00e4sn\u00e4 t\u00e4ss\u00e4 keskustelussa,\nolivat kauheasti s\u00e4ik\u00e4yksiss\u00e4\u00e4n. Tytt\u00e4ret, n\u00e4hty\u00e4\u00e4n h\u00e4nen l\u00e4hteneen,\ntulivat tiedustelemaan keskustelun tulosta, ja se, niinkuin jokainen\narvaa, teki heid\u00e4t yht\u00e4 levottomiksi kuin muutkin. Min\u00e4 puolestani\nen v\u00e4litt\u00e4nyt tuosta squiren h\u00e4ijyydest\u00e4, joka nyt n\u00e4kyi kiihtyneen\n\u00e4\u00e4rimmilleen. H\u00e4n oli iskun jo ly\u00f6nyt, ja min\u00e4 olin valmis torjumaan\njok'ainoan uuden hy\u00f6kk\u00e4yksen, niinkuin sellainen sodassa k\u00e4ytetty\nkone, joka aina, heittip\u00e4 sen miten p\u00e4in hyv\u00e4ns\u00e4, k\u00e4\u00e4ntyy k\u00e4rki\nedell\u00e4 vihollista kohti.\nPian saatiin tutakin, ett'ei h\u00e4n ollut turhaan uhkaillut, sill\u00e4\nhuomenna sangen varhain saapui vouti hakemaan vuosivuokraa. Kaiken\nsen per\u00e4st\u00e4, mit\u00e4 minulle oli tapahtunut, oli minun mahdoton\nsuorittaa sit\u00e4. Seurauksena siit\u00e4 oli, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n samana iltana ajatti\nkarjani pois. Se arvosteltiin seuraavana p\u00e4iv\u00e4n\u00e4 ja my\u00f6tiin v\u00e4hemp\u00e4\u00e4n\nkuin puoleen hintaansa. Vaimoni ja lapseni koettivat nyt saada minua\nmieluummin my\u00f6ntym\u00e4\u00e4n kuin antaumaan ilmeisen tuhon ja turmion\nalaiseksi. Pyysiv\u00e4tp\u00e4, ett\u00e4 sallisin squiren kerran viel\u00e4kin k\u00e4yd\u00e4\nmeill\u00e4, ja koettivat kaikella v\u00e4h\u00e4isell\u00e4 kaunopuheliaisuudellaan\nkuvailla, mit\u00e4 kaikkia koettelemuksia min\u00e4 viel\u00e4 saan kest\u00e4\u00e4:\nvankeuden kauhut n\u00e4in ankarana vuoden-aikana sek\u00e4 kovan taudin\nkoettelemukset, terveyteni kun jo muutoinkin oli suuresti heikennyt\ntulipalossa sattuneen vamman kautta.\nMutta min\u00e4 olin j\u00e4rk\u00e4ht\u00e4m\u00e4t\u00f6n.\n-- Voi rakkaani, -- huudahdin min\u00e4, miksik\u00e4 te tuolla tavoin koetatte\nkehoittaa minua tekem\u00e4\u00e4n sellaista, mik\u00e4 ei oikeata ole? Velvollisuus\nk\u00e4skee minua antamaan h\u00e4nelle anteeksi, mutta omatuntoni ei salli\nminun hyv\u00e4ksy\u00e4 h\u00e4nen aikeitansa. Tahtoisitteko te minua suostumaan\nmaailman silmiss\u00e4 sellaiseen, mit\u00e4 min\u00e4 omassa itsess\u00e4ni v\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4n\u00e4\npid\u00e4n? Tahtoisitteko, ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 n\u00f6yr\u00e4n\u00e4 vaan istuisin asemillani,\nh\u00e4vyt\u00f6nt\u00e4 petturia imarrellen, ja, vankeutta v\u00e4ltt\u00e4\u00e4kseni,\nlakkaamatta kantaisin henkisen vankeuden viel\u00e4 raskaampia kahleita?\nEn, en milloinkaan! Jos meid\u00e4t h\u00e4\u00e4det\u00e4\u00e4n t\u00e4st\u00e4 asunnosta pois, niin\npit\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4mme vain siit\u00e4 kiinni, mik\u00e4 oikeata on, ja jouduimmepa minne\nhyv\u00e4ns\u00e4, aina meid\u00e4n on oleva hyv\u00e4 olla, jos vaan saatamme pelvotta\nja tyytyv\u00e4isell\u00e4 mielell\u00e4 katsoa omaan syd\u00e4meemme.\nN\u00e4in kului se ilta. Y\u00f6ll\u00e4 oli satanut paljon lunta, ja senvuoksi\nl\u00e4ksi poikani jo aamulla varhain luomaan sit\u00e4 ja avaamaan tiet\u00e4\nportaille. Ei h\u00e4n viel\u00e4 montakaan lapiollista ollut enn\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt ottaa,\nniin jo riensi sis\u00e4\u00e4n aivan kalpeana ja ilmoitti, ett\u00e4 kaksi miest\u00e4,\njotka h\u00e4n tuntee poliseiksi, astuu meid\u00e4n taloa kohti.\nH\u00e4nen viel\u00e4 puhuessaan, he astuivat sis\u00e4\u00e4n, l\u00e4heniv\u00e4t vuodettani ja\nsitten, ilmoitettuansa ket\u00e4 he ovat ja mill\u00e4 asialla, julistivat\nottavansa minut vangiksi. Samalla he k\u00e4skiv\u00e4t minut varustautumaan\nmatkalle heid\u00e4n kanssaan piirikunnan vankilaan, joka oli meilt\u00e4\nyhdentoista peninkulman p\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4.\n-- Hyv\u00e4t yst\u00e4v\u00e4t, -- sanoin min\u00e4, -- kovan s\u00e4\u00e4n aikanapa tulittekin\nviem\u00e4\u00e4n minua vankihuoneesen. Pahinta se, ett\u00e4 olen \u00e4skett\u00e4in\npolttanut toisen k\u00e4sivarteni pahoille haavoille ja olen parast'aikaa\nt\u00e4ydess\u00e4 kuumeessa. Eik\u00e4 minulla ole tarpeeksi vaatteitakaan, ja\nsit\u00e4 paitsi olen liian vanha ja liian heikko viel\u00e4 kulkemaan syv\u00e4ss\u00e4\nlumessa niin pitk\u00e4\u00e4 matkaa. Mutta... jos niin vaaditaan...\nK\u00e4\u00e4nnyin sitten vaimoni ja lasteni puoleen, k\u00e4skien heid\u00e4n panna\nkokoon v\u00e4h\u00e4t kapineemme ja valmistaumaan matkalle heti kohta.\nKehoitin heit\u00e4 joutumaan ja pyysin poikaani auttamaan vanhinta\nsisartaan, joka, tiet\u00e4ess\u00e4\u00e4n olevansa yksin syyp\u00e4\u00e4 kaikkeen t\u00e4h\u00e4n\nonnettomuuteen, oli vaipunut maahan ja tuskissaan py\u00f6rtynyt.\nMin\u00e4 rohkaisin vaimoani, joka kalpeana ja vavisten oli ottanut\ns\u00e4ik\u00e4ht\u00e4neet pikku pojat syliins\u00e4. \u00c4\u00e4neti he piteliv\u00e4t kiinni \u00e4idist\u00e4\neiv\u00e4tk\u00e4 uskaltaneet katsahtaakaan vieraisin. Nuorempi tyt\u00e4r oli sill\u00e4\nv\u00e4lin puuhaillut l\u00e4ht\u00f6valmistuksissa, ja koska h\u00e4n tuon tuostakin\nsai viittauksia pit\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n kiirett\u00e4, olimme me tunnin kuluttua valmiit\nl\u00e4htem\u00e4\u00e4n.\nVIIDESKOLMATTA LUKU\nEi niin kurjaa tilaa, ett'ei siin\u00e4 jonkun verran lohdullistakin.\nL\u00e4ksimme astumaan poisp\u00e4in t\u00e4st\u00e4 rauhallisesta seudusta ja kuljimme\nverkalleen. Hivuttava kuume oli jo muutaman p\u00e4iv\u00e4n ajan rasittanut\nvanhinta tyt\u00e4rt\u00e4ni ja heikontanut h\u00e4nen voimiansa.\nTuon huomasi toinen poliseista, joka oli ratsain, ja otti tytt\u00e4reni\nyst\u00e4v\u00e4llisesti taaksensa hevosen selk\u00e4\u00e4n. T\u00e4llaisetkaan miehet n\u00e4et\neiv\u00e4t voi kokonaan tukauttaa itsess\u00e4\u00e4n inhimillisi\u00e4 tunteita. Poikani\ntalutti toista pikku veikkoa, \u00e4iti toista, min\u00e4 nojasin nuorempaan\ntytt\u00e4reeni, joka itke\u00e4 vetisteli, ei omaansa, vaan minun kovaa\nkohtaloani.\nKuljettuamme pappilasta parin peninkulman verran, n\u00e4imme joukon\nihmisi\u00e4 meluten juoksevan meid\u00e4n per\u00e4ss\u00e4mme. Siin\u00e4 oli noin puoli\nsataa minun k\u00f6yhimpi\u00e4 seurakuntalaisiani. Kauheasti sadatellen\nhe k\u00e4viv\u00e4t heti polisien kimppuun, vannoen, ett'ei heid\u00e4n\npappiansa saa vankeuteen raastaa; he aikovat puolustaa h\u00e4nt\u00e4\nviimeiseen veripisaraan saakka. V\u00e4kijoukko oli v\u00e4h\u00e4ll\u00e4 jo ryhty\u00e4\nv\u00e4kivaltaisuuksiin, josta olisi ollut varsin kamalia seurauksia,\nellen min\u00e4 olisi k\u00e4ynyt v\u00e4liin ja suurella vaivalla saanut\npelastaneeksi poliseita raivostuneen kansan k\u00e4sist\u00e4. Lasten mielest\u00e4\noli nyt aivan varma, ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 t\u00e4m\u00e4n johdosta p\u00e4\u00e4sen vapaaksi,\nja siit\u00e4 heille niin hyv\u00e4 mieli, ett\u00e4 tuskin jaksoivat riemuansa\nhillit\u00e4. Pian he kumminkin pettyiv\u00e4t, kuultuaan, mit\u00e4 minulla oli\nsanomista noille soaistuille mies paroille, jotka n\u00e4ht\u00e4v\u00e4stikin\nolivat tarkoittaneet minun parastani.\n-- Mitenk\u00e4, yst\u00e4v\u00e4t! -- lausuin min\u00e4. T\u00e4ll\u00e4k\u00f6 tavalla te minua\nrakastattekin? N\u00e4ink\u00f6 te noudatatte niit\u00e4 neuvoja, joita min\u00e4 olen\nteille saarnastuolista antanut? Uhmailla lakia ja oikeutta vastaan\nja sy\u00f6st\u00e4 turmioon sek\u00e4 itsenne ett\u00e4 minut! Miss\u00e4 teid\u00e4n johtajanne?\nTuokaa t\u00e4nne se mies, joka teid\u00e4t on harhaan vienyt; h\u00e4nen pit\u00e4\u00e4\ntuntemaan minun n\u00e4rk\u00e4stykseni. Voi sua, rakas, erehtynyt joukko!\nPalaja takaisin t\u00e4ytt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n kaikkea sit\u00e4, mink\u00e4s olet velkap\u00e4\u00e4\nJumalalle, t\u00e4lle piirikunnalle ja minulle. Kenties min\u00e4 kerran viel\u00e4\nn\u00e4en teid\u00e4t entist\u00e4 suotuisammissa oloissa ja koetan puolestani\ntehd\u00e4 teid\u00e4n el\u00e4m\u00e4nne onnellisemmaksi. Mutta sallikaa minun ainakin\nlohduttaa itse\u00e4ni sill\u00e4 toivolla, ett\u00e4 vihdoin, kun laumani johdan\niankaikkisille laitumille, teist\u00e4 ei yht\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n puuttuisi.\nHe n\u00e4yttiv\u00e4t nyt kaikki katuvan tekoansa ja tulivat yksitellen,\nkatkeria kyyneleit\u00e4 vuodattaen, sanomaan minulle j\u00e4\u00e4hyv\u00e4isi\u00e4.\nHell\u00e4sti puristin siin\u00e4 jokaisen k\u00e4tt\u00e4 ja siunasin heit\u00e4. Sitten\nl\u00e4ksimme j\u00e4lleen astumaan eteenp\u00e4in, sen enemp\u00e4\u00e4 esteit\u00e4 en\u00e4\u00e4\nmatkalla kohtaamatta. Illan suussa saavuttiin kaupunkiin tai\noikeammin kyl\u00e4\u00e4n, siin\u00e4 kun ei ollut kuin muutamia huononp\u00e4iv\u00e4isi\u00e4\ntaloja. Kaupunki oli menett\u00e4nyt entisen varallisuutensa. Sen\nmuinaisesta upeudesta ei ollut muuta merkki\u00e4 j\u00e4ljell\u00e4 kuin vankihuone.\nKyl\u00e4\u00e4n tultua poikkesimme majataloon. Tilasimme mit\u00e4 vaan nopeimmin\nsaavat valmiiksi, ja niin min\u00e4 s\u00f6in illallista perheeni kanssa\nhilpe\u00e4ll\u00e4 mielin kuin ennenkin. Pidetty\u00e4ni huolta, ett\u00e4 omaiseni\nsaavat siistin y\u00f6majan, seurasin sheriffin palvelijoita vankilaan.\nSe oli ennen muinoin rakennettu sotatarkoituksia varten ja\nsis\u00e4lsi laajan, ristikkoakkunoilla varustetun ja kivell\u00e4 lasketun\nhuoneen, joka muutamina hetkin\u00e4 vuorokaudesta oli yhteinen sek\u00e4\npahantekij\u00f6ille ett\u00e4 velallisille. Sit\u00e4 paitsi oli jokaisella\nvangilla oma koppinsa, johon h\u00e4n teljettiin y\u00f6ksi.\nLuulin sinne tultuani saavani kuulla pelkki\u00e4 valituksia ja kurjuuden\n\u00e4\u00e4ni\u00e4. P\u00e4invastoin. Vangeilla n\u00e4kyi olevan kaikilla yksi yhteinen\np\u00e4\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4: unohtaa huolensa huvittelemiseen ja r\u00e4yhyyn. Minulle\nilmoitettiin, ett\u00e4 t\u00e4llaisissa tilaisuuksissa laitetaan tavallisesti\ntuliaisia, ja heti min\u00e4 suostuinkin pyynt\u00f6\u00f6n, vaikka siihen ne minun\nv\u00e4h\u00e4t rahani kuluivat melkein loppuun. Kohta l\u00e4hetettiin hakemaan\njuomatavaroita, ja pian vallitsi koko vankihuoneessa melu ja pauhina,\nnaurut ja jumalaton meno.\n-- Mitenk\u00e4! -- ajattelin itsekseni. -- Kehnot ihmiset ovat iloisia,\nja minunko pit\u00e4isi surra! Ei minulla ole heid\u00e4n kanssaan muuta\nyhteist\u00e4 kuin vankina-olo, ja luulenpa kuin luulenkin, ett\u00e4 minulla\non enemm\u00e4n syyt\u00e4 olla onnellinen kuin heill\u00e4.\nN\u00e4iss\u00e4 miettein koetin p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 iloiselle mielelle, mutta iloisuutta ei\nv\u00e4kisin saa; yksin ponnistuksetkin siihen tuottavat tuskaa. Asetuin\nsitten istumaan yhteen nurkkaan ja vaivuin ajatuksiini. Tuokion\nkuluttua tuli luokseni muuan vankeustoveri ja rupesi haastelemaan\nminun kanssani. J\u00e4rk\u00e4ht\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00f6m\u00e4n\u00e4 periaatteena el\u00e4m\u00e4ss\u00e4ni on aina\nollut se, ett'en kielt\u00e4ydy keskustelemasta kenenk\u00e4\u00e4n kanssa, joka\nvaan halajaa: jos h\u00e4n on hyv\u00e4 mies, niin saattaa minulle olla hy\u00f6ty\u00e4\nh\u00e4nen opetuksestaan; jos h\u00e4n on paha, niin saattaa minun opetukseni\nolla eduksi h\u00e4nelle. H\u00e4n n\u00e4kyi olevan \u00e4lyk\u00e4s ja taitava, vaikka\noppimatonkin mies, joka tarkoin tunsi maailman, kuten sanotaan, tahi,\noikeammin puhuen, ihmisluonnon sen nurjalta puolen. H\u00e4n tiedusti,\nolinko varustanut itselleni t\u00e4nne vuodetta. Sit\u00e4 seikkaa en tullut\nedes ajatelleeksikaan.\n-- Sep\u00e4 paha, -- sanoi h\u00e4n, -- sill\u00e4 t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 te ette saa muuta kuin\nolkia, ja teid\u00e4n koppinne on sangen avara ja kolakka. Mutta koska\nteiss\u00e4 n\u00e4kyy olevan jonkun verran gentlemania, jommoinen min\u00e4kin\naikoinani olin, niin vallan kernaasti annan teille osan omia\nmakuuvaatteitani.\nMin\u00e4 kiitin, sanoen olevani varsin h\u00e4mm\u00e4stynyt, kohdatessani niin\npaljon yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisyytt\u00e4 vankihuoneessa, kesken kaikkea kurjuutta. --\nOsoittaakseni olevani oppinut mies, min\u00e4 lis\u00e4sin: -- n\u00e4kyyp\u00e4 tuo\nmuinais-ajan viisas k\u00e4sitt\u00e4neen, kuinka kallis-arvoinen on toveri\nh\u00e4d\u00e4ss\u00e4, sanoessaan: _Ton kosmon aire, ei doos ton hetairon_. Ja\nmit\u00e4p\u00e4s, -- jatkoin sitten, -- mit\u00e4p\u00e4s t\u00e4st\u00e4 maailmasta olisikaan,\njos siin\u00e4 pit\u00e4isi olla yksin kuin er\u00e4maassa?\n-- Te puhutte maailmasta, sir, -- vastasi vankeuskumppalini. --\nMaailma on tullut lapseksi j\u00e4lleen, ja kumminkin on kosmogonia\nelikk\u00e4 oppi maailman luomisesta pannut kaikkina aikoina filosofien\np\u00e4\u00e4t py\u00f6r\u00e4lle. Mik\u00e4 sekamelska mielipiteit\u00e4 maailman luomisesta!\nSanconiathonit, Manethot, Berosus'et ja Ocellus Lucanus'et -- kaikki\nhe ovat yritelleet, mutta turhaan. Viimeksi mainittu lausuu n\u00e4in:\n_Anarkon ara kai ateleuteeton to pan_, joka on niin paljon kuin...\n-- Suokaa anteeksi, sir, -- virkoin min\u00e4, ett\u00e4 keskeyt\u00e4n noin\ntieteelliset mietelm\u00e4t, mutta luulenpa kuulleeni kaiken tuon jo\nennenkin. Eik\u00f6h\u00e4n minulla ollut kerran mielihyv\u00e4 tavata teit\u00e4\nWellbridgen markkinoilla, ja eik\u00f6s teid\u00e4n nimenne ole Efraim\nJenkinson?\nH\u00e4n huokasi vain.\n-- Totta kai, -- jatkoi min\u00e4, -- totta kai te muistatte er\u00e4\u00e4n tohtori\nPrimrosen, jolta te ostitte hevosen?\nH\u00e4n tunsi nyt \u00e4kki\u00e4 minut, sill\u00e4 illan h\u00e4m\u00e4riss\u00e4 ja n\u00e4in huoneen\nper\u00e4ll\u00e4 h\u00e4n ei ollut osannut erottaa minun kasvojani.\n-- Kyll\u00e4, sir, -- vastasi mr Jenkinson. -- Min\u00e4 tunnen teid\u00e4t\nnyt vallan hyvin. Min\u00e4 ostin hevosen, mutta en muistanut maksaa.\nTeid\u00e4n naapurinne Flamborough on ainoa kantaja, jota min\u00e4 ensi\noikeuden-istunnossa pahimmin pelk\u00e4\u00e4nkin, sill\u00e4 h\u00e4n aikoo valallaan\ntodistaa minut v\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4n rahan tekij\u00e4ksi. Mieleni on paha, sir, ett\u00e4\nolen pett\u00e4nyt teid\u00e4t, niinkuin monta muutakin, sill\u00e4 katsokaas,\njatkoi h\u00e4n, n\u00e4ytt\u00e4en minulle kahleitaan, -- katsokaas, mihin\nkonnankoukut ovat minut vieneet!\n-- No niin, sir, -- virkoin min\u00e4, -- koska te yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisesti\ntarjositte minulle apua, vaikk'ette saattanut odottaa siit\u00e4\nkorvaustakaan, niin lupaan min\u00e4 palkita sen siten, ett\u00e4 koetan saada\nmr Flamboroughin lievent\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n kanteensa tai kokonaan peruuttamaan\nsen. Ensi tilassa l\u00e4het\u00e4n poikani sit\u00e4 varten h\u00e4nen luoksensa enk\u00e4\nensink\u00e4\u00e4n ep\u00e4ile h\u00e4nen suostuvan minun pyynt\u00f6\u00f6ni. Minun puolestani\ntaas teid\u00e4n ei tarvitse syyt\u00f6st\u00e4 pelj\u00e4t\u00e4.\n-- No niin, sir, -- sanoi h\u00e4n, -- kaikki, mit\u00e4 minulla on, on oleva\nteid\u00e4n k\u00e4ytett\u00e4viss\u00e4nne. Min\u00e4 annan teille enemm\u00e4n kuin puolet minun\nmakuuvaatteitani y\u00f6ksi ja koetan osoittaa olevani teid\u00e4n yst\u00e4v\u00e4nne\nt\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 vankilassa, jossa minulla luullakseni on jonkun verran\nvaikutusvaltaa.\nKiitt\u00e4ess\u00e4ni h\u00e4nt\u00e4 en saattanut olla lausumatta kummastustani\nsiit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n nyt on niin nuoren n\u00e4k\u00f6inen; viimeksi kohdatessamme\ntoisiamme h\u00e4n oli ainakin kuuskymmen-vuotias.\n-- Sir! -- vastasi h\u00e4n. -- V\u00e4h\u00e4np\u00e4 te viel\u00e4 maailmaa tunnette.\nMinulla oli silloin valetukka. Min\u00e4 olen oppinut laittamaan itsest\u00e4ni\nsek\u00e4 nuoren ett\u00e4 vanhan, seitsentoista vanhasta kuudenkymmenen\nik\u00e4\u00e4n. Voi, sir! Jos min\u00e4 puoletkaan sit\u00e4 aikaa, mik\u00e4 minulta on\nmennyt konnaksi oppimiseen, olisin k\u00e4ytt\u00e4nyt kunnollisen k\u00e4sity\u00f6n\noppimiseen, niin min\u00e4 olisin nyt rikas mies. Mutta niin suuri kuin\nlienenk\u00e4\u00e4n roisto, teid\u00e4n yst\u00e4v\u00e4n\u00e4nne min\u00e4 olen, ja sen saatte\nhuomata kenties pikemmin kuin luulettekaan.\nMeid\u00e4n puhelumme keskeytyi, sill\u00e4 sis\u00e4\u00e4n astuivat vanginvartijat\ntoimittamaan nimihuutoa ja viem\u00e4\u00e4n vankeja koppeihin y\u00f6ksi. Toinen\nvartijoista, sylellinen olkia kainalossaan, vei minut pime\u00e4t\u00e4,\nkapeaa k\u00e4yt\u00e4v\u00e4\u00e4 my\u00f6ten huoneesen, joka sekin oli kivell\u00e4 laskettu.\nSiell\u00e4 min\u00e4 levitin lattialle nurkkaan vankeustoverilta saamani\nmakuuvaatteet, jonka j\u00e4lkeen vartija, yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisesti kyll\u00e4, toivotti\nminulle hyv\u00e4\u00e4 y\u00f6t\u00e4. Siunattuani itseni tapani mukaan ja kiitetty\u00e4ni\ntaivaan Herraa kaikesta kurituksestakin, min\u00e4 laskeusin levolle ja\nmakasin rauhallisesti aamuun saakka.\nKUUDESKOLMATTA LUKU\nK\u00e4\u00e4ntymys vankihuoneessa. Silloin vasta on laki t\u00e4ydellinen, kun se\ns\u00e4\u00e4t\u00e4\u00e4 sek\u00e4 palkintoja ett\u00e4 rangaistuksia.\nVarhain seuraavana aamuna min\u00e4 her\u00e4sin siihen, ett\u00e4 omaiseni itkiv\u00e4t\nvuoteeni \u00e4\u00e4ress\u00e4. Synkk\u00e4 ja kolkko vankihuone n\u00e4kyi masentaneen\nheid\u00e4n mielens\u00e4. Lempe\u00e4sti nuhdeltuani heit\u00e4 turhasta murehtimisesta,\nmin\u00e4 vakuutin, ett'en milloinkaan ole nukkunut sen levollisemmin\nkuin t\u00e4n\u00e4 y\u00f6n\u00e4, ja tiedustelin vanhinta tyt\u00e4rt\u00e4ni, joka ei ollut\nheid\u00e4n mukanaan. He kertoivat eilisp\u00e4iv\u00e4n tapausten ja v\u00e4symyksen\nvaikuttaneen sen, ett\u00e4 kuume oli yltynyt, jonka vuoksi he olivat\nn\u00e4hneet parhaaksi j\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4 h\u00e4net majataloon. Min\u00e4 l\u00e4hetin nyt vanhimman\npoikani hankkimaan heille huonetta, mit\u00e4p\u00e4 kahtakin, niin l\u00e4helt\u00e4\nvankihuonetta kuin suinkin.\nH\u00e4n l\u00e4ksikin kohta, mutta ei saanut kuin yhden huoneen, joka\nvuokrattiin v\u00e4h\u00e4ist\u00e4 maksua vastaan \u00e4idille ja tytt\u00e4rille.\nYlivartija, yst\u00e4v\u00e4llinen mies, salli poikien j\u00e4\u00e4d\u00e4 asumaan minun\nkanssani vankilaan. Heille laitettiin makuutila yhteen nurkkaan, ja\nsiit\u00e4 tulikin minun mielest\u00e4ni varsin laatuunk\u00e4yp\u00e4 y\u00f6sija. Minua\nhuvitti kumminkin saada tiet\u00e4\u00e4, ottaisivatko pikku pojat ollakseen\ny\u00f6t\u00e4 sellaisessa huoneessa, joka ensi alussa n\u00e4kyi hirvitt\u00e4v\u00e4n heit\u00e4.\n-- No niin, pojat, -- kys\u00e4isin min\u00e4, -- milt\u00e4s n\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 y\u00f6sija?\nEtteh\u00e4n toki pelk\u00e4\u00e4 maata t\u00e4ss\u00e4 huoneessa, vaikka se onkin niin pime\u00e4?\n-- Ei, is\u00e4, -- vastasi Dick, -- en min\u00e4 sinun kanssasi pelk\u00e4\u00e4 miss\u00e4\u00e4n.\n-- Ja minusta, -- virkkoi Bill, joka vasta oli nelj\u00e4n vuoden vanha,\n-- minusta on paras paikka siell\u00e4, miss\u00e4 is\u00e4 on.\nMin\u00e4 m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4sin nyt, mit\u00e4 itsekunkin perheenj\u00e4senen tulee tehd\u00e4.\nTytt\u00e4reni tuli eritt\u00e4inkin pit\u00e4\u00e4 huolta vanhemman sisarensa\nheikontuneesta terveydest\u00e4; vaimoni oli m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4 olla minun luonani;\npikku pojat saavat lukea minulle.\n-- Ja sinun, -- lausuin vanhemmalle pojalleni, sinun k\u00e4ttesi t\u00f6ist\u00e4\nriippuu nyt yksinomaa meid\u00e4n elatuksemme. Mink\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4ty\u00f6l\u00e4isen\u00e4 voit\nansaita, sill\u00e4 tulemme me varsin hyvin toimeen, yksinkertaisesti\nel\u00e4en, jopa verraten mukavastikin. Sin\u00e4 olet nyt kuusitoista\nvuotta vanha, ja voimaa sinulle on annettu varsin hy\u00f6dylliseen\ntarkoitukseen: se on pelastava onnettomat vanhempasi ja muut omaisesi\nn\u00e4lk\u00e4\u00e4n kuolemasta. Koeta niinmuodoin t\u00e4n\u00e4 iltana tiedustella\nty\u00f6t\u00e4 huomiseksi ja tuo sitten joka ilta kotia rahat, mitk\u00e4 meid\u00e4n\nelatukseksemme olet ansainnut.\nT\u00e4ten h\u00e4nt\u00e4 neuvottuani ja muutkin asiat j\u00e4rjestetty\u00e4ni, l\u00e4ksin\nalas vankien yhteiseen huoneesen, joka oli sek\u00e4 v\u00e4ljempi ett\u00e4\nilmavampi. Mutta en enn\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt siell\u00e4 viel\u00e4 kauankaan olla, kun jo\nsain kuulla niin paljon sadatuksia ja n\u00e4hd\u00e4 niin paljon riettautta ja\nel\u00e4imellist\u00e4 raakuutta, ett\u00e4 minun t\u00e4ytyi menn\u00e4 huoneeseni takaisin.\nSiell\u00e4 istuin kotvan aikaa mietiskellen, kuinka kauheasti sokaistuja\nnuo poloiset sent\u00e4\u00e4n ovat: he n\u00e4kev\u00e4t koko ihmiskunnan k\u00e4yv\u00e4n\nilmeist\u00e4 sotaa heit\u00e4 vastaan ja kartuttamalla kartuttavat p\u00e4\u00e4llens\u00e4\ntulevaisen, pelottavan vihollisen n\u00e4rk\u00e4styst\u00e4.\nHeid\u00e4n mielett\u00f6myytens\u00e4 her\u00e4tti minussa mit\u00e4 syvint\u00e4 s\u00e4\u00e4li\u00e4 ja\nsaattoi minut unohtamaan oman kovan kohtaloni. Tuntui kuin olisi\nminun velvollisuutenani koettaa saada heit\u00e4 paremmalle tielle.\nP\u00e4\u00e4tin senvuoksi l\u00e4hte\u00e4 j\u00e4lleen heid\u00e4n luokseen ja heid\u00e4n pilkastaan\nv\u00e4litt\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00e4 varottaa heit\u00e4 ja per\u00e4\u00e4 antamatta saada heid\u00e4t\nvoitetuiksi. Alas tultuani ilmoitin aikomukseni mr Jenkinsonille. H\u00e4n\nnauroi sille syd\u00e4mens\u00e4 pohjasta ja julisti sen muille. T\u00e4m\u00e4 ehdotus\nvastaan-otettiin kova\u00e4\u00e4nisill\u00e4 ilohuudoilla: siin\u00e4h\u00e4n oli oleva uutta\najanviettoa ihmisille, jotka eiv\u00e4t miss\u00e4\u00e4n muussa kyenneet l\u00f6yt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n\nhuvitusta kuin pilkkapuheissa ja m\u00e4ss\u00e4\u00e4misess\u00e4.\nMin\u00e4 rupesin kovalla, yksinkertaisella \u00e4\u00e4nell\u00e4 lukemaan\nkirkkorukouksia ja huomasin kuulijakuntani pit\u00e4v\u00e4n t\u00e4t\u00e4 kovasti\nlystin\u00e4. Ruokottomat kuiskutukset, teeskennellyt syv\u00e4n katumuksen\nhuokaukset, silm\u00e4n-iskut ja ryk\u00e4ykset saivat kuulijani tuon\ntuostakin r\u00e4j\u00e4ht\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n nauruun. Min\u00e4 puolestani jatkoin lukemista,\nluonnollisella vakavuudella, tiet\u00e4en, ett\u00e4 t\u00e4m\u00e4 on muutamille oleva\nparannukseksi, ja ett'ei minua itse\u00e4ni kukaan ole t\u00e4st\u00e4 tuomitseva.\nLukemisen j\u00e4lkeen min\u00e4 rupesin puhumaan heille varoitussanoja,\ntarkoittaen niill\u00e4 enemm\u00e4n heid\u00e4n huomionsa kiinnitt\u00e4mist\u00e4 kuin\nnuhteita. Ensinn\u00e4kin selitin heille, ett'en ole t\u00e4h\u00e4n ryhtynyt\nmist\u00e4\u00e4n muusta syyst\u00e4 kuin heid\u00e4n omaa parastansa harrastaen. Sanoin\nolevani heid\u00e4n vankeuskumppalinsa ja virkoin, ett'ei t\u00e4ss\u00e4 ole\naikomus saarnata. Surukseni sanoin kuulleeni, kuinka jumalattomia\npuheita he kesken\u00e4ns\u00e4 pit\u00e4v\u00e4t; siit\u00e4h\u00e4n he eiv\u00e4t mit\u00e4\u00e4n hyv\u00e4\u00e4 saa,\np\u00e4invastoin paljon hyv\u00e4\u00e4 kadottavat.\n-- Hyv\u00e4t yst\u00e4v\u00e4t, -- lausuin min\u00e4, -- sill\u00e4 yst\u00e4vi\u00e4ni te olette,\nvaikka maailma kuinkakin teid\u00e4n yst\u00e4vyytt\u00e4nne hylkisi, olkaa varmat\nsiit\u00e4, ett\u00e4, vaikka te p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4isitte kymmenentuhatta kirousta\np\u00e4iv\u00e4ss\u00e4, ei siit\u00e4 olisi teille pennink\u00e4\u00e4n tuloa. Ja mit\u00e4p\u00e4 hy\u00f6ty\u00e4\nsiit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 joka silm\u00e4nr\u00e4p\u00e4ys kutsuu perkelett\u00e4 ja hieroo yst\u00e4vyytt\u00e4\nh\u00e4nen kanssaan, koskapa h\u00e4n niin kehnosti teit\u00e4 auttaa? N\u00e4etteh\u00e4n te,\nett'ei h\u00e4n ole antanut teille muuta kuin suun t\u00e4ydelt\u00e4 kirouksia ja\nvatsan t\u00e4ydelt\u00e4 tyhj\u00e4\u00e4. Mit\u00e4\u00e4n hyv\u00e4\u00e4 te ette h\u00e4nelt\u00e4 saa, siksi min\u00e4\nh\u00e4net tunnen.\n\"Jos ihmisell\u00e4 kenen kera kaupat huonosti onnistuvat, niin\ntoisaannehan h\u00e4n k\u00e4\u00e4ntyy. Eik\u00f6h\u00e4n teid\u00e4nkin maksaisi koettaa,\nmilt\u00e4 tuntuisi palvella toista herraa, joka antaa ihania lupauksia\nsille, ken h\u00e4nen tyk\u00f6ns\u00e4 tulee? Niin, yst\u00e4v\u00e4t, paljo on maailmassa\nmielett\u00f6mi\u00e4, mutta mielett\u00f6min on se, joka, rosvottuaan ja\nvarastettuaan, juoksee polisilta suojaa hakemaan. Ja tokkopa tek\u00e4\u00e4n\nsen viisaampia olette? Te haette joka mies turvaa sellaiselta,\njoka jo on pett\u00e4nyt teid\u00e4t, ja luotatte sellaiseen olentoon, joka\non h\u00e4ijympi h\u00e4ijyint\u00e4kin polisimiest\u00e4, sill\u00e4 polisimiehet ne vaan\nhoukuttelevat teid\u00e4t ansaan ja hirtt\u00e4v\u00e4t, mutta h\u00e4n sek\u00e4 houkuttelee\nett\u00e4 hirtt\u00e4\u00e4 ja sitten, mik\u00e4 pahin kaikista, pitelee teit\u00e4 kynsiss\u00e4\u00e4n\nviel\u00e4 senkin j\u00e4lkeen kuin py\u00f6veli on teht\u00e4v\u00e4ns\u00e4 tehnyt.\"\nPuheeni j\u00e4lkeen lausuivat kuulijat mielihyv\u00e4ns\u00e4. Muutamat tulivat\noikein k\u00e4dest\u00e4 pit\u00e4in kiitt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n minua, vannoen, ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 olen\nkunnon mies, jonka kanssa he tahtovat yh\u00e4 parempaan tuttavuuteen\np\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4. Min\u00e4 puolestani lupasin huomennakin lukea heille, ja jopa\nrupesin todellakin toivomaan ainakin muutamissa mielenmuutosta. Olen\nnimitt\u00e4in aina ollut sit\u00e4 mielt\u00e4, ett'ei parannus kellenk\u00e4\u00e4n liian\nmy\u00f6h\u00e4ist\u00e4 ole, sill\u00e4 jokaisen syd\u00e4n on avoinna synnin soimausten\nnuolille, jos vaan ampuja osaa t\u00e4hd\u00e4t\u00e4 oikein. Tyytyv\u00e4isen\u00e4 palasin\nhuoneeseni, jossa vaimoni oli valmistanut minulle yksinkertaisen\naterian. Mr Jenkinson pyysi saada sy\u00f6d\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4llisens\u00e4 yhdess\u00e4 meid\u00e4n\nkanssamme, jotta, niinkuin h\u00e4n kohteliaasti lausui, h\u00e4nell\u00e4 olisi\nmielihyv\u00e4 saada haastella minun kanssani. H\u00e4n ei ollut viel\u00e4 n\u00e4hnyt\nminun perheeni j\u00e4seni\u00e4, n\u00e4m\u00e4 kun kulkivat minun huoneeseni tuota\njo ennen mainittua kapeaa k\u00e4yt\u00e4v\u00e4\u00e4 my\u00f6ten suoraan, tarvitsematta\nastua yhteisen huoneen kautta. Ensi kertaa perheeni piiriin tultuaan\nh\u00e4n n\u00e4kyi kovasti h\u00e4mm\u00e4styv\u00e4n nuoremman tytt\u00e4reni kauneutta, jota\nmiettiv\u00e4 ilme kasvoilla viel\u00e4 suuresti lis\u00e4si. Pikku pojat eiv\u00e4t\nj\u00e4\u00e4neet h\u00e4nelt\u00e4 huomaamatta hek\u00e4\u00e4n.\n-- Voi, tohtori! -- huudahti h\u00e4n, -- n\u00e4m\u00e4 lapset ovat liian somat ja\nliian hyv\u00e4t olemaan t\u00e4llaisessa paikassa.\n-- Eik\u00f6 mit\u00e4, -- mr Jenkinson, -- vastasin min\u00e4. -- Minun lapseni\novat, Jumalan kiitos, tarpeeksi siveit\u00e4, ja jos he vaan pysyv\u00e4t\nhyvin\u00e4, niin silloin ei muusta pelkoa.\n-- Teist\u00e4, -- virkkoi h\u00e4n, -- teist\u00e4 mahtaa kaiketikin tuntua sangen\nlohdulliselta se, ett\u00e4 saatte pit\u00e4\u00e4 pienen perheenne ymp\u00e4rill\u00e4nne.\n-- Tuntuupa niinkin, mr Jenkinson, enk\u00e4 tahtoisi olla heit\u00e4\nvailla, en kaiken maailmankaan aarteista, sill\u00e4 he tekev\u00e4t minulle\nvankikopistakin palatsin. Ei minun onneani voi t\u00e4ss\u00e4 maailmassa\nhimment\u00e4\u00e4 mik\u00e4\u00e4n muu kuin lapsilleni tehty v\u00e4\u00e4ryys.\n-- Pahoinpa pelk\u00e4\u00e4n sitten, sir, -- huudahti h\u00e4n, -- ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 olen\nsyyllinen, sill\u00e4, ellen erehdy, -- h\u00e4n katsahti poikaani Moosekseen\n-- on t\u00e4ss\u00e4 yksi, jolle olen v\u00e4\u00e4ryytt\u00e4 tehnyt, ja jolta min\u00e4\ntahtoisin saada pahantekoni anteeksi.\nPoikani tunsi h\u00e4net heti \u00e4\u00e4nest\u00e4 ja kasvoista, vaikka olikin ennen\nn\u00e4hnyt h\u00e4net valepuvussa. H\u00e4n otti mr Jenkinsonin k\u00e4dest\u00e4 ja\nmyh\u00e4illen antoi h\u00e4nelle anteeksi.\n-- Mutta, -- jatkoi Moses, -- olisipa hauska tiet\u00e4\u00e4, mitenk\u00e4 te minun\nkasvoistani osasitte p\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4, ett\u00e4 minua on helppo puijata.\n-- Hyv\u00e4 herra, -- vastasi h\u00e4n, -- en min\u00e4 teid\u00e4n kasvoihinne\nkiintynyt, vaan valkoisiin sukkiinne ja mustaan nauhaan tukassanne.\nMutta olen min\u00e4, aikoinani, \u00e4lk\u00e4\u00e4 panko pahaksenne, puijannut\nviisaampiakin ihmisi\u00e4 kuin te, vaikka, kaikista konnankoukuistani\nhuolimatta, tyhmyrit ne minusta sittenkin aina lopulti voiton veiv\u00e4t.\n-- Luulisinpa, -- virkkoi poikani, -- ett\u00e4 kertomus sellaisesta\nel\u00e4m\u00e4st\u00e4 kun teid\u00e4n, olisi sek\u00e4 opettavaista ett\u00e4 huvittavaa.\n-- Ei sanottavaksi kumpaakaan, -- vastasi mr Jenkinson. --\nTuommoiset kertomukset joissa kuvataan pelkki\u00e4 konnankoukkuja ja\nrikoksia, tekev\u00e4t ihmisen vaan ep\u00e4luuloiseksi ja haittaavat h\u00e4nen\nkehittymist\u00e4ns\u00e4. Matkamies, joka ep\u00e4ilee jokaista vastaantulijaa\nja k\u00e4\u00e4ntyy takaisin heti kuin huomaa yhdenk\u00e4\u00e4n, joka on rosvon\nn\u00e4k\u00f6inen, sellainen matkamies se harvoin ajoissa perille p\u00e4\u00e4see.\nMin\u00e4 puolestani olen tullut siihen kokemukseen, ett\u00e4 kaikki konstit\noppinut mies on typerin mies auringon alla.\n\"Minua pidettiin jo pienest\u00e4 ruveten eritt\u00e4in kekseli\u00e4\u00e4n\u00e4 poikana.\nKun olin seitsenvuotias, silloin naiset sanoivat minua t\u00e4ydelliseksi\npikku mieheksi; nelj\u00e4ntoista vanhana min\u00e4 mielistelin naisia, lakki\nkallella p\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4; kahdenkymmenen vanhana luulin olevani kaikin puolin\nrehellinen mies, mutta muut pitiv\u00e4t minua niin viekkaana, ett'ei\nkukaan minuun luottanut. Minusta tuli v\u00e4hitellen v\u00e4kisinkin konna,\nja siit\u00e4 pit\u00e4in min\u00e4 olen el\u00e4nyt p\u00e4\u00e4 t\u00e4ynn\u00e4 petoksen suunnitteluja\nja syd\u00e4n t\u00e4ynn\u00e4 pelkoa kiinnijoutumisesta. -- Usein min\u00e4 nauroin\nteid\u00e4n kunnon naapurianne Flamboroughia ja puijasin h\u00e4nt\u00e4 kerran\nvuodessa tavalla tai toisella. Mutta yh\u00e4 se kunnon mies vaan tiet\u00e4ns\u00e4\neteenp\u00e4in kulki ja rikastui rikastumistaan, jota vastoin min\u00e4 yh\u00e4\njatkoin vehkeit\u00e4ni ja konnankoukkujani ja pysyin k\u00f6yh\u00e4n\u00e4, eik\u00e4 ollut\nminulla edes sit\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n lohdutusta, ett\u00e4 olen rehellinen mies.\"\n-- Mutta -- jatkoi h\u00e4n -- kertokaahan, mik\u00e4 teid\u00e4t on t\u00e4nne tuonut.\nH\u00e4nen uteliaisuuttaan tyydytt\u00e4\u00e4kseni min\u00e4 kerroin h\u00e4nelle koko\nsen sarjallisen tapauksia ja erehdyksi\u00e4, mik\u00e4 minut oli saattanut\nnykyiseen pulmatilaani. Sanoin senkin, ett\u00e4 minun on aivan mahdoton\nsiit\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4.\nKuultuaan minun historiani, h\u00e4n oli hetken aikaa \u00e4\u00e4neti, l\u00f6i sitten\notsaansa, ik\u00e4\u00e4nkuin jotain t\u00e4rke\u00e4t\u00e4 olisi johtunut mieleen ja j\u00e4tti\nhyv\u00e4sti, sanoen aikovansa katsoa, mit\u00e4 t\u00e4ss\u00e4 olisi teht\u00e4v\u00e4.\nSEITSEM\u00c4SKOLMATTA LUKU\nJatkoa edelliseen.\nHuomenissa min\u00e4 ilmoitin vaimolleni ja lapsilleni, mill\u00e4 tavoin\nmin\u00e4 aion tehd\u00e4 k\u00e4\u00e4nnytysty\u00f6t\u00e4 vankien keskuudessa, mutta minun\nsuunnitelmani hylj\u00e4ttiin kokonaan. Se oli heid\u00e4n mielest\u00e4\u00e4n sek\u00e4\nmahdoton ett\u00e4 sopimaton. Minun yrityksist\u00e4ni -- niin he arvelivat --\nei ole mit\u00e4\u00e4n hy\u00f6ty\u00e4 vankien k\u00e4\u00e4ntymiselle, p\u00e4invastoin ne saattavat\nhelposti tuottaa minun virkas\u00e4\u00e4dylleni h\u00e4pe\u00e4t\u00e4.\n-- Malttakaas! -- vastasin min\u00e4. -- N\u00e4m\u00e4 miehet ovat kyll\u00e4\nlangennutta v\u00e4ke\u00e4, mutta ihmisi\u00e4 silti, ja siin\u00e4 sangen vaikuttava\nsyy minun kiinty\u00e4 heihin. Jos hyv\u00e4 neuvo hylj\u00e4t\u00e4\u00e4n, niin se palajaa\ntakaisin antajansa syd\u00e4meen ja tekee sen entist\u00e4 rikkaammaksi. Ja\nelleiv\u00e4t minun opetukseni tee paremmiksi heit\u00e4, niin ne tekev\u00e4t\nainakin minut itseni paremmaksi. Lapsi kullat, jos n\u00e4m\u00e4 onnettomat\nolisivat prinssej\u00e4, niin tuhannet ja taas tuhannet tarjoaisivat\nheille papillista palvelusta, mutta vankikoppiin kytketty syd\u00e4n\non minun mielest\u00e4ni yht\u00e4 kallis-arvoinen kuin sekin, joka\nvalta-istuimella istuu. Niin, armaani, jos voin heid\u00e4t parantaa, niin\nparannan; kenties eiv\u00e4t kaikki minua hylk\u00e4\u00e4. Saanen kukaties edes\nyhden pelastetuksi kurimuksesta; sekin olisi jo suuri voitto, sill\u00e4\nmik\u00e4 on maan p\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 kalliimpi helmi kuin ihmisen sielu?\nN\u00e4in sanottuani l\u00e4ksin heid\u00e4n luotaan ja menin yhteiseen tupaan.\nSiell\u00e4 minun tuloani odotettiinkin iloisin mielin, kullakin valmiina\ntohtorin varalta koko joukko vankilan-omaisia kujeita. Olin juuri\naloittamaisillani, kun muuan vanki ik\u00e4\u00e4nkuin sattumoisin nyk\u00e4isi\nperuukkini vinoon, pyyt\u00e4en heti kohta anteeksi muka. Toinen, joka\nseisoi jonkun matkan p\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4, osasi syl\u00e4ist\u00e4 hampaittensa v\u00e4litse,\neik\u00e4 aikaakaan, niin tirsahti koko vihma minun kirjalleni. Kolmas\nlausui \"amen\" niin hassunkurisella \u00e4\u00e4nell\u00e4, ett\u00e4 muut purskahtivat\nnauramaan. Nelj\u00e4s oli salaa siepannut silm\u00e4lasit taskustani. Mutta\nviidennen temppu se se vasta seuraa huvitti. H\u00e4n oli huomannut,\nmihin j\u00e4rjestykseen min\u00e4 panen kirjat p\u00f6yd\u00e4lle eteeni, sieppasi\nvarsin vikkel\u00e4sti yhden niist\u00e4 pois ja pani sen sijaan omansa, er\u00e4\u00e4n\nruokottoman kaskukirjan. Min'en ollut tiet\u00e4\u00e4ksenik\u00e4\u00e4n kaikesta\nsiit\u00e4, mit\u00e4 t\u00e4m\u00e4 viheli\u00e4inen joukko kurjia olentoja minulle tekee,\nvaan jatkoin edelleen, varsin hyvin tiet\u00e4en, ett\u00e4 se, mik\u00e4 minun\nyrityksess\u00e4ni on naurettavaa, huvittaa heit\u00e4 kerran tai pari, mutta\nmik\u00e4 siin\u00e4 vakavata, se pysyy. Aikeeni onnistuikin, eik\u00e4 kulunut\nkuuttakaan p\u00e4iv\u00e4\u00e4, niin olivat muutamat jo ruvenneet katumaan entisi\u00e4\npahoja tekojansa. Kaikki olivat tarkkaavaisia.\nMinulla oli nyt kyll\u00e4 syyt\u00e4 olla hyvill\u00e4ni kest\u00e4vyydest\u00e4ni ja\ntaidostani: noissa poloisissa, jotka olivat vailla kaikkea\nsiveellist\u00e4 aistia, oli her\u00e4nnyt tunteita, ja min\u00e4 rupesin\najattelemaan aineellisenkin palveluksen toimittamista heille,\nkoettamalla saada heid\u00e4n olonsa t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 hiukan mukavammaksi. Heid\u00e4n\naikansa oli t\u00e4h\u00e4n saakka kulunut n\u00e4l\u00e4n ja p\u00e4ihtymyksen, rajun riemun\nja katkeran napinan v\u00e4lill\u00e4. Ei heill\u00e4 ollut muuta ty\u00f6t\u00e4 kuin\nriidell\u00e4 kesken\u00e4\u00e4n, ly\u00f6d\u00e4 kortteja ja vuoleskella piipunrasseja.\nT\u00e4st\u00e4 viimeksimainitusta turhanp\u00e4iv\u00e4isest\u00e4 n\u00e4perryksest\u00e4 min\u00e4 sain\naihetta ehdottamaan ty\u00f6h\u00f6n halukkaille, ett\u00e4 rupeaisivat veistelem\u00e4\u00e4n\nvaarnoja tupakankehr\u00e4\u00e4jille ja suutareille. Puuainekset ostettiin\nyhteisen ker\u00e4yksen kautta saaduilla rahoilla. Valmiit tuotteet\nmy\u00f6tiin sitten minun v\u00e4lityksell\u00e4ni, niin ett\u00e4 jokainen ansaitsi\np\u00e4ivitt\u00e4in jonkun verran, hyvin v\u00e4h\u00e4n tietysti, mutta elatukseksi\nsent\u00e4\u00e4n riitt\u00e4v\u00e4sti.\nEn pys\u00e4htynyt t\u00e4h\u00e4nk\u00e4\u00e4n. Sain s\u00e4\u00e4detyksi rangaistuksia riettaasta\nk\u00e4yt\u00f6ksest\u00e4 ja palkintoja uutteruudesta. Eik\u00e4 ollut kulunut t\u00e4ytt\u00e4\nkahtakaan viikkoa, niin jo olin saanut heiss\u00e4 her\u00e4tetyksi jonkun\nverran yhteiskunnallisuuden ja inhimillisyyden aistia, ja mieleni\noli hyv\u00e4, n\u00e4hdess\u00e4ni itsess\u00e4ni lains\u00e4\u00e4t\u00e4j\u00e4n, joka on saanut ihmisi\u00e4\ntaivutetuiksi synnynn\u00e4isest\u00e4 raakuudesta yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisyyteen ja\ntottelevaisuuteen.\nJa ylen olisi toivottava, ett\u00e4 lains\u00e4\u00e4t\u00e4j\u00e4-valta pit\u00e4isi enemm\u00e4n\nhuolta lakien parantavasta vaikutuksesta kuin ankaruudesta.\nRikokset -- olkoon se vakuutettu siit\u00e4 -- eiv\u00e4t h\u00e4vi\u00e4 sill\u00e4, ett\u00e4\ntiedet\u00e4\u00e4n, mink\u00e4 rangaistuksen laki mist\u00e4kin rikoksesta m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4\u00e4,\nvaan sill\u00e4, ett\u00e4 rangaistusta pelj\u00e4t\u00e4\u00e4n. Vankilat meill\u00e4 nykyj\u00e4\u00e4n\novat laitoksia, jotka vastaanottavat pahantekij\u00f6it\u00e4 tai tekev\u00e4t\nihmisist\u00e4 pahantekij\u00f6it\u00e4. Ne sulkevat telkkien taakse poloisia yhden\nainoan rikoksen t\u00e4hden ja p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4v\u00e4t heid\u00e4t, jos hengiss\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4v\u00e4t,\ntuhanteenkin rikokseen pystyvin\u00e4. T\u00e4llaisten laitosten sijalla me\nvoisimme n\u00e4hd\u00e4, niinkuin muualla Europassa on laita, katumuksen ja\nyksin\u00e4isyyden tyyssijoja. Niiss\u00e4 k\u00e4visi syytettyjen luona sellaisia,\njotka pystyv\u00e4t her\u00e4tt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n syyllisiss\u00e4 katumusta ja viattomissa yh\u00e4\nuutta pyrkimyst\u00e4 astumaan hyveen teit\u00e4. T\u00e4m\u00e4 se valtakuntaa kohottaa\neik\u00e4 rangaistusten koventaminen.\nKAHDEKSASKOLMATTA LUKU\nOnni ja kurjuus ovat paremminkin \u00e4lykk\u00e4isyyden kuin hyv\u00e4n avun\ntuloksia t\u00e4ss\u00e4 el\u00e4m\u00e4ss\u00e4.\nKolmatta viikkoa olin nyt jo ollut vankeudessa, mutta rakas Olivia\nei ollut viel\u00e4 kertaakaan k\u00e4ynyt luonani. Kovin jo oli minun ik\u00e4v\u00e4\nh\u00e4nt\u00e4. Puhuin tuosta vaimolleni, ja seuraavana aamuna tytt\u00f6 raukka\nastui huoneeseni, sisarensa k\u00e4sivarteen nojaten. Min\u00e4 h\u00e4mm\u00e4styin,\nn\u00e4hdess\u00e4ni, kuinka kovasti h\u00e4n oli muuttunut. Nuo entiset\nlukemattomat sulot h\u00e4nen kasvoissaan olivat kadonneet, ja kuoleman\nkoura n\u00e4kyi ly\u00f6neen himmeit\u00e4 hipeit\u00e4 jok'ainoaan piirteesen, minua\ns\u00e4ik\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4kseen. Ohimot olivat veltostuneet, otsa pingoillaan, ja\nposkilla asui kamala kalpeus.\n-- Terve, tytt\u00e4reni, -- virkoin min\u00e4, -- mutta mist\u00e4 tuo\nmielenmasennus, Olivia? Luullakseni sin\u00e4 rakastat minua, kultaseni,\nniin paljon, ettes anna alakuloisuuden j\u00e4yt\u00e4\u00e4 sit\u00e4 henke\u00e4, joka on\nminulle yht\u00e4 kallis kuin omanikin. Rohkaise mieles, lapsi: viel\u00e4 me\nsaamme n\u00e4hd\u00e4 onnellisempiakin p\u00e4ivi\u00e4.\n-- Is\u00e4! -- vastasi h\u00e4n. -- Sin\u00e4 olet aina ollut niin hyv\u00e4 minulle,\nja seh\u00e4n se minun murhettani lis\u00e4\u00e4, ett'en milloinkaan p\u00e4\u00e4se sinun\nlupaamaasi onnea nauttimaan. Onnea, pelk\u00e4\u00e4n m\u00e4, ei minulle en\u00e4\u00e4\nole kauaksi sallittu, ja min\u00e4 ik\u00e4v\u00f6itsen pois t\u00e4\u00e4lt\u00e4, miss\u00e4 en ole\nl\u00f6yt\u00e4nyt muuta kuin kurjuutta. Niin is\u00e4, min\u00e4 soisin, ett\u00e4 sin\u00e4\nsuostuisit mr Thornhillin aikeisin; siten h\u00e4net joissain m\u00e4\u00e4rin saisi\ns\u00e4\u00e4lim\u00e4\u00e4n sinua, ja se lohduttaisi minua kuollessani.\n-- En koskaan, -- lausuin min\u00e4, -- en koskaan taivu julistamaan\ntyt\u00e4rt\u00e4ni kunniattomaksi. Vaikka maailma pilkkaisikin sinua\nerehdyksesi t\u00e4hden, niin salli minun pit\u00e4\u00e4 sinun erehdyst\u00e4si\nherkk\u00e4uskoisuuden eik\u00e4 rietasmielisyyden tuloksena. Armas lapsi,\nei minun oloni t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 niin kurjaa ja surullista ole kuin n\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4,\nja ole vakuutettu, ett\u00e4 niin kauan kuin minun suodaan n\u00e4hd\u00e4 sinun\nolevan hengiss\u00e4, niin kauan ei h\u00e4n mill\u00e4\u00e4n ehdoin ole saava minun\nsuostumustani tekem\u00e4\u00e4n sinua viel\u00e4 onnettomammaksi, menem\u00e4ll\u00e4\nnaimisiin toisen kanssa.\nMinun vankeustoverini oli ollut l\u00e4sn\u00e4 t\u00e4ss\u00e4 keskustelussa, ja h\u00e4np\u00e4\ntytt\u00e4reni l\u00e4hdetty\u00e4 lausui, j\u00e4rkev\u00e4sti kyll\u00e4, kummastuksensa siit\u00e4,\nett'en taivu alistumaan, kun sen kautta p\u00e4\u00e4sisin vapaaksi. H\u00e4n\nhuomautti, ett'eih\u00e4n minun sovi panna koko perhett\u00e4 alttiiksi yhden\nainoan lapsen t\u00e4hden, ainoan, joka oli mieleni pahoittanut.\n-- Sit\u00e4 paitsi, -- lis\u00e4si h\u00e4n, -- en tied\u00e4, lieneek\u00f6 oikeinkaan\nest\u00e4\u00e4 miest\u00e4 ja naista menem\u00e4st\u00e4 yhteen, niinkuin te nyt teette,\nkielt\u00e4m\u00e4ll\u00e4 suostumuksenne avioliitolta, jota ette voi est\u00e4\u00e4, mutta\njonka voitte tehd\u00e4 onnettomaksi.\n-- Sir! -- vastasin min\u00e4. -- Te ette tunne sit\u00e4 miest\u00e4, joka meit\u00e4\nsortaa. Min\u00e4 tied\u00e4n varsin hyvin, ett'ei mik\u00e4\u00e4n alistuminen tuottaisi\nminulle vapautta hetkeksik\u00e4\u00e4n. Minulle on kerrottu, ett\u00e4 vasta viime\nvuonna muuan h\u00e4nen velallisistaan kuoli juuri t\u00e4ss\u00e4 samassa huoneessa\npuutteesen. Mutta vaikka min\u00e4 alistumisellani ja hyv\u00e4ksymisell\u00e4ni\np\u00e4\u00e4sisin t\u00e4\u00e4lt\u00e4 kaikkein kauniimpaan kamariin h\u00e4nen linnassaan, en\nsuostuisi sittenk\u00e4\u00e4n, sill\u00e4 \u00e4\u00e4ni rinnassani kuiskaa minulle, ett\u00e4 se\nolisi aviorikoksen vahvistamista. Niin kauan kuin tytt\u00e4reni el\u00e4\u00e4,\nei minun silmiss\u00e4ni mik\u00e4\u00e4n muu avioliitto ole oleva laillinen. Jos\ntyt\u00e4rt\u00e4ni ei olisi olemassa, silloinhan olisin ihmisist\u00e4 ilkein, jos\nkoston t\u00e4hden koettaisin erottaa niit\u00e4, jotka yhty\u00e4 tahtovat. Ei,\nniin suuri konna kuin h\u00e4n onkin, min\u00e4 soisin h\u00e4nen menev\u00e4n naimisiin,\njotta tulisi loppu h\u00e4nen irstaisesta el\u00e4m\u00e4st\u00e4\u00e4n. Mutta nyt, enk\u00f6s\nmin\u00e4 olisi julmin kaikista isist\u00e4, jos menisin panemaan nimeni\nasiakirjan alle, joka ehdottomasti viepi lapseni hautaan, p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4kseni\nvain itse pois vankeudesta ja, yht\u00e4 tuskaa v\u00e4ltt\u00e4\u00e4kseni, murtaisin\nlapseni syd\u00e4men tuhansilla tuskilla!\nH\u00e4n my\u00f6nsi minun olevan oikeassa, mutta lausui kumminkin pelk\u00e4\u00e4v\u00e4ns\u00e4\ntytt\u00e4reni terveyden olevan jo niin piloilla, ett'ei se minua en\u00e4\u00e4\nkovinkaan kauan vankeudessa pid\u00e4.\n-- Mutta, -- jatkoi h\u00e4n, -- ellette tahdo noudattaa veljenpojan\nmielt\u00e4, niin ei teill\u00e4 toivoakseni ole mit\u00e4\u00e4n sit\u00e4 vastaan, ett\u00e4\nvetoaisitte set\u00e4\u00e4n, joka koko valtakunnassa on tunnettu etevimm\u00e4ksi\nmieheksi kaikessa, mik\u00e4 oikeata ja hyv\u00e4\u00e4 on. Min\u00e4 neuvoisin teit\u00e4\nl\u00e4hett\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n h\u00e4nelle postissa kirjeen, jossa ilmoitatte kaiken pahan,\nmit\u00e4 veljenpoika on tehnyt, ja min\u00e4 panen p\u00e4\u00e4ni pantiksi siit\u00e4, ett\u00e4\nkolmen p\u00e4iv\u00e4n per\u00e4st\u00e4 saatte vastauksen.\nMin\u00e4 kiitin h\u00e4nt\u00e4 t\u00e4st\u00e4 viittauksesta ja aioin heti ryhty\u00e4 tuumasta\ntoimeen, mutta minulta puuttui paperia, ja pahaksi onneksi oli\nviimeiset rahat pantu t\u00e4n'aamuna ruokatavarain ostamiseen. H\u00e4nen\navullaan kumminkin sain hankituksi sit\u00e4.\nKolme seuraavaa p\u00e4iv\u00e4\u00e4 min\u00e4 vietin kovassa levottomuudessa,\nep\u00e4tietoisena siit\u00e4, mink\u00e4 vaikutuksen minun kirjeeni lienee\ntehnyt. Samalla aikaa vaimoni minua my\u00f6t\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4 kehoitteli\nkernaammin suostumaan vaikka mihin ehtoihin kuin j\u00e4\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n t\u00e4nne, ja\nhetkest\u00e4 hetkeen tuli vain yh\u00e4 uusia tietoja tytt\u00e4reni terveyden\npahenemisesta. Tuli kolmas p\u00e4iv\u00e4, tuli nelj\u00e4skin, mutta vastausta\nei kirjeesen kuulunut: mit\u00e4p\u00e4s vento vieraan valituksista suosittua\nveljenpoikaa vastaan! Ja niin meni t\u00e4m\u00e4 toivo hukkaan, niinkuin\nentisenikin.\nMieleni pysyi yh\u00e4 viel\u00e4 vire\u00e4n\u00e4, vaikka vankeus ja huono ilma\nalkoivat huomattavissa m\u00e4\u00e4rin heikontaa terveytt\u00e4ni. Tulipalossa\nvioittunut k\u00e4teni k\u00e4vi sekin huonommaksi. Lapset istuivat minun\nluonani ja lukivat minulle vuorotellen, oljilla loikoessani, tahi\nitkien kuuntelivat minun neuvojani. Mutta tytt\u00e4reni terveys heikkeni\nnopeammin kuin minun. Jok'ainoa sanoma h\u00e4nest\u00e4 lis\u00e4si minun huoliani\nja murhettani.\nViidenten\u00e4 aamuna siit\u00e4 lukien, kuin kirje sir William Thornhillille\noli l\u00e4hetetty, sain sen kauhistuttavan tiedon, ett\u00e4 tytt\u00e4reni on\nmenett\u00e4nyt puhelahjansa. Nyt vasta tuntui vankina-olo minusta\ntodellakin tuskalliselta. Minun sieluni pyrki raastamaan itsens\u00e4\nulos vankihuoneesta lapseni sairasvuoteen \u00e4\u00e4reen, lohduttamaan ja\nrohkaisemaan h\u00e4nt\u00e4, kuulemaan h\u00e4nen viimeisi\u00e4 toivomuksiansa ja\nopastamaan h\u00e4nt\u00e4 h\u00e4nen viimeiselle matkallensa. Tuli j\u00e4lleen sanoma:\nh\u00e4n on l\u00e4htem\u00e4isill\u00e4\u00e4n. Minulla ei siis sit\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n v\u00e4h\u00e4ist\u00e4 lohdutusta,\nett\u00e4 saisin itke\u00e4 h\u00e4nen luonansa. Vankeustoverini tuli parin tunnin\nper\u00e4st\u00e4, tuoden viimeisen sanoman. H\u00e4n pyysi minua pysym\u00e4\u00e4n lujana.\nTytt\u00e4reni oli kuollut!\nHuomis-aamuna mr Jenkinson tuli j\u00e4lleen. Pikku pojat, minun ainoa\nseurani nyt, olivat minun luonani, koettaen kaikessa viattomuudessaan\nlohduttaa minua niin hyvin kuin osasivat. He tarjoutuivat lukemaan\nminulle \u00e4\u00e4neen ja pyysiv\u00e4t, ett'en min\u00e4 itkisi ja valittaisi, min\u00e4\nkun olen jo niin vanha.\n-- Eik\u00f6s sisko ole enkelin\u00e4 nyt, is\u00e4? huudahti vanhempi heist\u00e4. --\nMiksik\u00e4s sin\u00e4 sitten suret? Min\u00e4 tahtoisin olla enkelin\u00e4, kaukana\nt\u00e4st\u00e4 kamalasta paikasta, jos is\u00e4 olisi mukana.\n-- Niin, -- lis\u00e4si nuorempi, -- sisko on taivaassa, ja taivas on\npaljoa ihanampi paikka kuin t\u00e4m\u00e4, ja siell\u00e4 on pelkki\u00e4 hyvi\u00e4 ihmisi\u00e4,\nmutta t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 ovat ihmiset kerrassaan pahoja.\nMr Jenkinson keskeytti heid\u00e4n viattomat l\u00f6rp\u00f6tyksens\u00e4, huomauttaen,\nett\u00e4 koska tytt\u00e4reni nyt on l\u00e4htenyt pois, niin minun pit\u00e4isi\nvakavasti mietti\u00e4 muitten perheeni j\u00e4senten kohtaloa ja koettaa\npelastaa oma henkeni, sill\u00e4 terveytenih\u00e4n huononee tarpeellisen\nhoidon ja raittiin ilman puutteessa p\u00e4iv\u00e4st\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4\u00e4n. H\u00e4n lis\u00e4si,\nett\u00e4 nyt minun tulee uhrata oma ylpeyteni ja kostonpyynt\u00f6ni niitten\nmenestykseksi, joitten turva min\u00e4 viel\u00e4 olen. Nyt on, arveli h\u00e4n,\nsek\u00e4 oikeuden ett\u00e4 kohtuuden mukaan, minun velvollisuuteni sopia\nhovinherran kanssa.\n-- Jumalan kiitos, -- vastasin min\u00e4, -- ei ole minussa ylpeytt\u00e4 en\u00e4\u00e4\nj\u00e4ljell\u00e4. Min\u00e4 halveksisin syd\u00e4nt\u00e4ni, jos huomaisin rahtuisenkaan\nylpeytt\u00e4 tai kostonhimoa siin\u00e4 piilev\u00e4n. P\u00e4invastoin min\u00e4 toivon,\nkoska minun sortajani on ollut minun seurakuntani j\u00e4seni\u00e4, ett\u00e4\nkerran saan asettaa h\u00e4netkin puhtaaksi pestyn\u00e4 sieluna Jumalan\ntuomio-istuimen eteen. Ei, sir, ei minussa en\u00e4\u00e4 ole kostonpyyteit\u00e4.\nJa vaikka squire on ottanut minulta sen, mit\u00e4 min\u00e4 pid\u00e4n kalliimpana\nkaikkia h\u00e4nen aarteitaan, vaikka h\u00e4n on syd\u00e4meni rikki repinyt, sill\u00e4\nmin\u00e4 olen menehtym\u00e4isill\u00e4ni, hyv\u00e4 toveri, menehtym\u00e4isill\u00e4ni, niin\nei sittenk\u00e4\u00e4n minussa kostonhimoa ole. Nyt olen suostuvainen h\u00e4nen\navioliittoonsa. T\u00e4m\u00e4 my\u00f6ntyv\u00e4isyys kenties tekee h\u00e4nelle mielihyv\u00e4n,\nja antakaa h\u00e4nen samalla tiet\u00e4\u00e4, ett\u00e4 jos min\u00e4 olen h\u00e4nelle v\u00e4\u00e4ryytt\u00e4\ntehnyt, niin olen pahoillani siit\u00e4.\nMr Jenkinson otti kyn\u00e4n ja paperia ja kirjoitti minun suostumukseni\nmelkein sanasta sanaan niinkuin sen olin lausunut. Min\u00e4 panin nimeni\nsen alle. Poikani sai toimekseen vied\u00e4 kirjeen mr Thornhillille, joka\nt\u00e4h\u00e4n aikaan kuului olevan maatilallansa.\nPoikani meni ja palasi noin kuuden tunnin kuluttua, tuoden mukanaan\nsuullisen vastauksen. H\u00e4nen oli ollut vaikea p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 squiren\npuheille, palvelijat kun olivat olleet tylyj\u00e4 ja ep\u00e4luuloisia.\nSattumoisin h\u00e4n oli vihdoin tavannut mr Thornhillin juuri kuin t\u00e4m\u00e4\noli l\u00e4htem\u00e4isill\u00e4\u00e4n ulos, valmistelemaan h\u00e4it\u00e4ns\u00e4, jotka vietet\u00e4\u00e4n\nkolmen p\u00e4iv\u00e4n per\u00e4st\u00e4. Poikani kertoi astuneensa varsin n\u00f6yr\u00e4sti\nh\u00e4nen luokseen ja antaneensa h\u00e4nelle kirjeen. Luettuaan sen oli\nmr Thornhill sanonut, ett\u00e4 my\u00f6ntyminen on nyt liian my\u00f6h\u00e4ist\u00e4 ja\ntarpeetontakin; h\u00e4n oli maininnut kuulleensa meid\u00e4n valituksestamme\nh\u00e4nen sed\u00e4llens\u00e4, joka halveksien oli sen hylj\u00e4nnyt, niinkuin se\nansaitsikin. Jos meill\u00e4 jotain asiata on, oli h\u00e4n lis\u00e4nnyt, niin\non paras k\u00e4\u00e4nty\u00e4 h\u00e4nen asian-ajajansa puoleen eik\u00e4 h\u00e4nen. Lopuksi\nh\u00e4n oli sanonut olevansa vakuutettu minun molempain tytt\u00e4rieni\n\u00e4lykk\u00e4isyydest\u00e4: he ovat varmaankin olleet h\u00e4nen miellytt\u00e4vi\u00e4\npuolustajiaan. -- No niin, sir, -- virkoin min\u00e4 vankeustoverilleni,\n-- siin\u00e4 te n\u00e4ette, mink\u00e4lainen on luonteeltaan t\u00e4m\u00e4 mies, joka minua\nvainoaa. H\u00e4n saattaa olla samalla kertaa sek\u00e4 leikillinen ett\u00e4 julma.\nMutta kohdelkoonpa minua niinkuin tahtoo! Min\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4sen pian vapaaksi,\nhuolimatta kaikista teljist\u00e4 ja salvoista, joitten takana h\u00e4n koettaa\nminua vankina pit\u00e4\u00e4. Min\u00e4 olen matkalla kohti sellaisia asuinsijoja,\njotka k\u00e4yv\u00e4t sit\u00e4 kirkkaammiksi, mit\u00e4 l\u00e4hemmiksi niit\u00e4 tulee. T\u00e4m\u00e4\ntoivo lievitt\u00e4\u00e4 minun murhettani, ja vaikka min\u00e4 j\u00e4t\u00e4n j\u00e4lkeeni\njoukon turvattomia orpoja, eiv\u00e4t he kumminkaan aivan avuttomiksi j\u00e4\u00e4:\njokunen yst\u00e4v\u00e4 kenties on pit\u00e4v\u00e4 heist\u00e4 huolta is\u00e4 paran t\u00e4hden, ja\njokunen on armeliaasti auttava heit\u00e4 taivaallisen Is\u00e4n t\u00e4hden.\nKesken puhettani tuli sis\u00e4\u00e4n vaimoni, jota en viel\u00e4 sin\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4n\u00e4\nollut n\u00e4hnyt. H\u00e4n oli s\u00e4ik\u00e4ht\u00e4neen n\u00e4k\u00f6inen ja koetti puhua, mutta ei\nsaanut sanaakaan suustaan.\n-- Armaani! -- lausuin min\u00e4. -- Miksik\u00e4s murheellasi viel\u00e4 minun\nhuoliani lis\u00e4\u00e4t? Vaikk'ei mik\u00e4\u00e4n my\u00f6ntymys meid\u00e4n puolelta saakaan\nlepytetyksi ankaraa herraa; vaikka h\u00e4n on tuominnut minut kuolemaan\nt\u00e4ss\u00e4 viheli\u00e4isyyden kodissa, ja vaikka me olemme kadottaneet rakkaan\nlapsen, niin on sinulla kumminkin oleva lohdutusta muissa lapsissasi,\nkun minusta aika j\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4.\n-- Niin, -- vastasi h\u00e4n, -- me olemme todellakin kadottaneet rakkaan\nlapsen. Sofia, mun silm\u00e4ter\u00e4ni on poissa, viety mielt\u00e4. Rosvot ovat\nh\u00e4net ry\u00f6st\u00e4neet.\n-- Mitenk\u00e4, rouva? -- huudahti vankeustoverini, -- ett\u00e4k\u00f6 olisi\nry\u00f6stetty? Seh\u00e4n on mahdotonta!\nTuijottava katse ja kyynelvirta, -- siin\u00e4 vaimoni ainoa vastaus.\nMutta er\u00e4\u00e4n toisen vangin vaimo, joka oli tullut sis\u00e4\u00e4n yhdess\u00e4\nh\u00e4nen kanssaan, osasi antaa l\u00e4hempi\u00e4 tietoja. H\u00e4n oli ollut vaimoni\nja tytt\u00e4reni kanssa k\u00e4velem\u00e4ss\u00e4 vallantiell\u00e4 jonkun matkan p\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4\nkyl\u00e4st\u00e4. Siell\u00e4 olivat heid\u00e4n luokseen \u00e4kki\u00e4 ajaneet postivaunut,\nnelivaljakko edess\u00e4, ja pys\u00e4htyneet. Silloin oli muuan hienosti\npuettu mies, ei kumminkaan mr Thornhill, astunut vaunuista, siepannut\nminun tyt\u00e4rt\u00e4ni vy\u00f6t\u00e4isist\u00e4 ja v\u00e4kivallalla nostanut h\u00e4net vaunuihin,\nk\u00e4skien samassa kuskin ajamaan, ja silm\u00e4nr\u00e4p\u00e4yksess\u00e4 olivat vaunut\ntiess\u00e4\u00e4n.\n-- No niin, -- huudahdin min\u00e4, -- nyt on minun kurjuuteni mitta\nkukkurallaan, eik\u00e4 ole maailmassa mit\u00e4\u00e4n, mik\u00e4 minun tuskani en\u00e4\u00e4\nvoisi sen suuremmaksi tehd\u00e4! Ei yht\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n en\u00e4\u00e4! Ei ainoatakaan\nj\u00e4tetty! Tuo hirvi\u00f6! Lapseni, joka oli syd\u00e4nt\u00e4ni l\u00e4hinn\u00e4, kaunis kuin\nenkeli ja viisaskin melkein kuin enkeli! Mutta auttakaa vaimoani, h\u00e4n\non kaatumaisillaan. Ei ainoatakaan j\u00e4ljell\u00e4 en\u00e4\u00e4!\n-- Mieheni armas! -- virkkoi vaimoni. Sin\u00e4 n\u00e4yt olevan viel\u00e4 enemm\u00e4n\nlohdutuksen puutteessa kuin min\u00e4. Kova on kohdannut meit\u00e4 isku, mutta\nmin\u00e4 kest\u00e4isin sen ja kovemmankin, jos vaan n\u00e4kisin sinun olevan\nrauhallisena. Ottakoot minulta lapseni ja kaikki tyyni, mit\u00e4 minulla\nmaailmassa on, kunhan vaan j\u00e4tt\u00e4v\u00e4t sinut minulle!\nPoikani koetti lievitt\u00e4\u00e4 meid\u00e4n murhettamme. H\u00e4n kehoitti meit\u00e4\ntyyntym\u00e4\u00e4n, sanoen toivovansa, ett\u00e4 meill\u00e4 viel\u00e4 on oleva syyt\u00e4\nolemaan kiitollisia.\n-- Lapsi parka! sanoin min\u00e4. -- Luo silm\u00e4si ymp\u00e4rillesi maailmaan ja\nkatso, onko siell\u00e4 mit\u00e4\u00e4n onnea minulle en\u00e4\u00e4 j\u00e4ljell\u00e4. Eik\u00f6 pieninkin\nlohdutuksen kipin\u00e4 ole sammunut? Valoisat toiveet... ne ovat nyt\nhaudassa kaikki.\n-- Is\u00e4 hyv\u00e4, -- vastasi h\u00e4n, -- on sinulla sent\u00e4\u00e4n edes hetkiseksi\nmielihyv\u00e4nkin syyt\u00e4: min\u00e4 sain kirjeen Yrj\u00f6 veikolta.\n-- Kuinka h\u00e4nen on laitansa, lapsi? -- keskeytin min\u00e4. -- Tiet\u00e4\u00e4k\u00f6\nh\u00e4n mit\u00e4\u00e4n meid\u00e4n onnettomuudestamme? Toivoakseni h\u00e4nen ei ole\ntarvinnut olla osallisena poloisten omaistensa murheessa?\n-- Ei olekaan, -- vastasi Moses; -- h\u00e4n on per\u00e4ti iloinen,\ntyytyv\u00e4inen ja onnellinen. Kirjeess\u00e4 ei ole muuta kuin hyvi\u00e4\nuutisia. \u00d6versti pit\u00e4\u00e4 h\u00e4nest\u00e4 paljon ja on luvannut korottaa h\u00e4net\nluutnantiksi niin kohta kuin sija tulee avonaiseksi.\n-- Ja oletko varma kaikesta tuosta? -- huudahti vaimoni. -- Oletko\nvarma, ett'ei pojalleni ole mit\u00e4\u00e4n pahaa tapahtunut?\n-- Olen niinkin, \u00e4iti, -- vastasi poikani. Saat n\u00e4hd\u00e4 kirjeen, joka\non tekev\u00e4 suuren ilon, ja jos mik\u00e4\u00e4n voi lohduttaa sinua, niin\nainakin se.\n-- Mutta oletko varma, -- jatkoi \u00e4iti, ett\u00e4 kirje on h\u00e4nelt\u00e4\nitselt\u00e4\u00e4n, ja ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n on todellakin niin onnellinen?\n-- Kyll\u00e4, \u00e4iti, -- vastasi poikani, -- ja viel\u00e4 h\u00e4nest\u00e4 kerran tulee\nmeid\u00e4n kaikkien tuki ja turva.\n-- Jumalan kiitos, -- huudahti \u00e4iti, -- ett'ei minun viimeinen\nkirjeeni ole tullut perille! Niin, armas, -- jatkoi h\u00e4n, k\u00e4\u00e4ntyen\nminuun, -- minun t\u00e4ytyy nyt tunnustaa, ett\u00e4 Herran k\u00e4si, joka on\nraskaana painanut meit\u00e4, on t\u00e4ss\u00e4 kohden ollut meille laupias.\nViimeisess\u00e4 kirjeess\u00e4ni, jonka olin kirjoittanut vihan katkeruudessa,\nmin\u00e4 pyysin h\u00e4nt\u00e4, jos \u00e4idin siunaus h\u00e4nelle kallis on ja miehen\nsyd\u00e4n h\u00e4nell\u00e4 rinnassa lienee, pit\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n huolta, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nen is\u00e4lleen\nja sisarelleen tapahtuu oikeus, ja kostamaan meid\u00e4n puolestamme.\nMutta kiitos H\u00e4nen, joka kaikki asiat parhain p\u00e4in k\u00e4\u00e4nt\u00e4\u00e4! Kirje ei\nole tullut perille, ja min\u00e4 olen rauhassa.\n-- Vaimo! -- huudahdin min\u00e4. -- Pahoin sin\u00e4 teit, ja ankarat saisit\nminulta nuhteet, jos toisin olisivat meill\u00e4 asiat. Voi mink\u00e4laisesta\nkuilusta olet pelastunutkaan, kuilusta, joka olisi sy\u00f6ssyt sek\u00e4 sinut\nett\u00e4 h\u00e4net pohjattomaan kurjuuteen! Mutta Jumala on ollut laupiaampi\nmeille kuin me toisillemme. H\u00e4n on asettanut niin, ett\u00e4 pojasta\nsaattaa tulla lasteni is\u00e4 ja suojelija, kun minusta aika j\u00e4tt\u00e4\u00e4.\nKuinka teink\u00e4\u00e4n v\u00e4\u00e4rin, vaikeroidessani, ett'ei minulla en\u00e4\u00e4 mit\u00e4\u00e4n\nlohdutusta ole, koska nyt kumminkin kuulen, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n on onnellinen\neik\u00e4 tied\u00e4 mit\u00e4\u00e4n meid\u00e4n koettelemuksistamme, ja ett\u00e4 h\u00e4net on\nviel\u00e4 s\u00e4\u00e4stetty tukemaan leskeksi j\u00e4\u00e4nytt\u00e4 \u00e4iti\u00e4ns\u00e4 ja suojelemaan\nvelji\u00e4ns\u00e4 ja sisariansa! Mutta mit\u00e4 sisaria? Eih\u00e4n ole h\u00e4nell\u00e4\nsisaria en\u00e4\u00e4. He ovat poissa, ry\u00f6stetyt minulta, ja min\u00e4 kurja ja\nsaamaton.\n-- Is\u00e4! -- keskeytti poikani. -- Salli minun lukea h\u00e4nen kirjeens\u00e4.\nSe tekee kuin tekeekin sinulle mielihyv\u00e4n. -- Ja h\u00e4n luki seuraavaa:\n    'Rakas Is\u00e4!\n    Olen hetkeksi siirt\u00e4nyt ajatukseni kaikesta siit\u00e4 hauskasta ja\n    miellytt\u00e4v\u00e4st\u00e4 kuin ymp\u00e4rill\u00e4ni on, kiinnitt\u00e4\u00e4kseni ne viel\u00e4\n    hauskempiin ja miellytt\u00e4v\u00e4mpiin, armaan pienen kotilieden\n    ymp\u00e4rille siell\u00e4. Kuvailen mieless\u00e4ni tuon pienen, hiljaisen\n    joukon, tarkoin kuuntelemassa jok'ainoata rivi\u00e4 t\u00e4st\u00e4.\n    Ihastellen katselen noita kasvoja, joihin ei kunnianhimo eik\u00e4\n    murhe milloinkaan ole rumentavaa leimaansa ly\u00f6nyt. Mutta niin\n    onnellisia kuin olettekaan siell\u00e4 kotona, yh\u00e4 onnellisemmiksi\n    tulette, kuullessanne minun olevan kaikin puolin tyytyv\u00e4isen\n    oloihini ja el\u00e4v\u00e4n varsin onnellisena t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4.\n    Meid\u00e4n rykmentti on saanut vastak\u00e4skyn: sen ei tarvitse l\u00e4hte\u00e4\n    ulkomaille. \u00d6versti, joka sanoo olevansa yst\u00e4v\u00e4ni, ottaa minut\n    mukaansa kaikkiin seuroihin, miss\u00e4 h\u00e4n on tuttu. Ja mit\u00e4 useammin\n    niiss\u00e4 k\u00e4yn, sit\u00e4 suuremmalla kunnioituksella minua kaikkialla\n    kohdellaan. Eilen tanssin lady G:n kanssa, ja jos saattaisin\n    unhottaa siell\u00e4 kotihuolella h\u00e4net, -- tied\u00e4tte kyll\u00e4, ket\u00e4\n    tarkoitan, niin olisi minulla kenties menestyst\u00e4. Mutta kohtaloni\n    n\u00e4kyy olevan muistella vain muita, vaikka useimmat poissaolevista\n    yst\u00e4vist\u00e4ni ovat minut unhottaneet, ja n\u00e4itten joukkoon, pelk\u00e4\u00e4n\n    m\u00e4, t\u00e4ytyy minun lukea teid\u00e4tkin, sill\u00e4 kauan aikaa olen jo\n    odotellut sit\u00e4 mielihyv\u00e4\u00e4, ett\u00e4 saisin Teilt\u00e4 kirjeen, mutta\n    turhaan. Olivia ja Sofia lupasivat hekin kirjoittaa, mutta\n    n\u00e4kyv\u00e4t unhottaneen minut. Sanokaa heille, ett\u00e4 he ovat kaksi\n    pikkuista pahanilkist\u00e4 tytt\u00f6\u00e4, ja ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 olen t\u00e4ll\u00e4 haavaa\n    hirmuisesti suutuksissani heihin, Ja sittenkin, vaikka minun\n    tekisi mieleni hiukan purpattaa, en tied\u00e4, miksik\u00e4 syd\u00e4meni on\n    altis vain lempeille liikutuksille. Sano niinmuodoin heille, is\u00e4,\n    ett\u00e4 min\u00e4, oli miten oli, rakastan heit\u00e4 syd\u00e4meni pohjasta ja\n    olen aina\n-- Kaikessa t\u00e4ss\u00e4 kurjuudessakin, -- huudahdin min\u00e4, -- kuinka\nkiitollisia meid\u00e4n pit\u00e4isk\u00e4\u00e4n olla siit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 ainakin yksi meid\u00e4n\nperheen j\u00e4senist\u00e4 on s\u00e4\u00e4stetty k\u00e4rsim\u00e4st\u00e4 tuskaa meid\u00e4n kanssamme!\nJumala suojelkoon h\u00e4nt\u00e4 ja suokoon h\u00e4nelle sen onnen, ett\u00e4 saisi,\nolla leskeksi j\u00e4\u00e4neen \u00e4itins\u00e4 tukena ja n\u00e4itten kahden poikasen\nis\u00e4n\u00e4; muuta perint\u00f6\u00e4h\u00e4n en h\u00e4nelle j\u00e4t\u00e4. Suojelkoon h\u00e4n heid\u00e4n\nviatonta mielt\u00e4ns\u00e4 puutteen tuottamilta kiusauksilta ja johtakoon\nheid\u00e4n askeleitansa kunnian polvuille.\nTuskin olin enn\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt n\u00e4m\u00e4 sanat lausua, kun \u00e4kki\u00e4 alhaalta\nvankihuoneesta kuului kovaa meteli\u00e4. Hetken kuluttua melu lakkasi, ja\nk\u00e4yt\u00e4v\u00e4st\u00e4, joka johti minun huoneeseni, kuului kahletten kalinaa.\nYlivartija astui sis\u00e4\u00e4n, taluttaen miest\u00e4, joka oli veriss\u00e4\u00e4n,\njaloissa kaikkein raskaimmat kahleet. T\u00e4ynn\u00e4 s\u00e4\u00e4li\u00e4 min\u00e4 katselin\nonnetonta, joka l\u00e4hestyi minua, mutta kauhistuin samassa, n\u00e4hty\u00e4ni,\nett\u00e4 se oli oma poikani.\n-- Yrj\u00f6! Oma poikani! T\u00e4llaisessako tilassa min\u00e4 sinut n\u00e4en?\nHaavoitettuna! Kahleissa! Siin\u00e4k\u00f6 se sinun onnesi? N\u00e4ink\u00f6 palajat\nluokseni. Voi, jospa t\u00e4m\u00e4 n\u00e4ky s\u00e4rkisi minulta syd\u00e4men ja surmaisi\nminut t\u00e4h\u00e4n paikkaan!\n-- Is\u00e4, miss\u00e4 sinun miehuutesi? -- vastasi poikani lujalla \u00e4\u00e4nell\u00e4.\n-- Minun t\u00e4ytyy k\u00e4rsi\u00e4 rangaistus. Minun henkeni on mennytt\u00e4, ja\nottakoot sen. Minun viimeinen iloni on se, ett'ei minua ole vangittu\nmurhaajana, vaikk'ei minulla olekaan mit\u00e4\u00e4n armahduksen toivoa.\nMin\u00e4 koetin hillit\u00e4 kiihkoani muutaman minutin vaitiololla, mutta tuo\npakko tuntui viev\u00e4n minulta hengen.\n-- Voi poikani! Syd\u00e4meni itkee, n\u00e4hdess\u00e4ni sinut tuossa tilassa,\nenk\u00e4 voi, en voi sit\u00e4 est\u00e4\u00e4 itkem\u00e4st\u00e4. N\u00e4hd\u00e4 sinut tuollaisena juuri\nsiin\u00e4 silm\u00e4nr\u00e4p\u00e4yksess\u00e4, jolloin luulin sinun olevan onnellisen ja\nrukoilin sinun edest\u00e4si! Kahleissa, haavoja t\u00e4ynn\u00e4! Kuolla nuorena,\nse on sittenkin onnellista. Mutta min\u00e4 olen vanha, perin vanha ja\nolen el\u00e4nyt, n\u00e4hd\u00e4kseni moisen p\u00e4iv\u00e4n: kaikki lapseni ovat ennen\naikojansa kaatuneet ymp\u00e4rilt\u00e4ni, ja min\u00e4 el\u00e4n heid\u00e4n j\u00e4lkeens\u00e4\nkeskell\u00e4 raunioita! Kaikki kirous, mik\u00e4 milloinkaan on ihmisen\nsielua painanut, langetkoon raskaana minun lasteni murhaajan p\u00e4\u00e4lle.\nSuotakoon h\u00e4nen el\u00e4\u00e4, niinkuin min\u00e4kin, n\u00e4hd\u00e4kseen...\n-- Riitt\u00e4\u00e4 jo, is\u00e4, -- lausui poikani, -- tahi minun t\u00e4ytyy punastua\nsinun t\u00e4htesi. N\u00e4ink\u00f6 sin\u00e4 unohdat ik\u00e4si ja pyh\u00e4n virkasi, uhmailet\nJumalan oikeamielisyytt\u00e4 ja p\u00e4\u00e4stelet suustasi kirouksia, jotka\npiankin saattavat ponnahtaa takaisin ja musertaa sinun harmaan p\u00e4\u00e4si?\nEi, is\u00e4, varusta itsesi valmistamaan minua h\u00e4pe\u00e4lliseen kuolemaan,\njoka minun piankin pit\u00e4\u00e4 k\u00e4rsim\u00e4n, rohkaisemaan mielt\u00e4ni, jotta\njaksaisin juoda sen katkeran kalkin, joka pian minun osakseni tulee.\n-- Lapseni, ei sinun tarvitse kuolla. Min\u00e4 olen varma siit\u00e4, ettes\nole mit\u00e4\u00e4n sellaista rikosta tehnyt, joka ansaitsisi niin h\u00e4pe\u00e4llisen\nrangaistuksen. Ei saata minun Yrj\u00f6 poikani olla syyllinen sellaiseen\nrikokseen, joka saattaisi h\u00e4nen esi-is\u00e4ns\u00e4 h\u00e4pe\u00e4\u00e4n.\n-- Minun rikokseni, -- vastasi h\u00e4n, -- on, pelk\u00e4\u00e4n m\u00e4, sellainen,\njota ei anteeksi anneta. Saatuani \u00e4idin kirjeen, matkustin heti\nt\u00e4nne. Olin p\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt rangaista meid\u00e4n kunniamme solvaisijaa ja\nl\u00e4hetin h\u00e4nelle vaatimuksen kaksintaisteluun. H\u00e4n ei kumminkaan\ntullut m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4paikalle itse, vaan l\u00e4hetti nelj\u00e4 palvelijaansa, joilla\noli k\u00e4sky ottaa minut kiinni. Min\u00e4 haavoitin yhden, joka ensiksi\noli k\u00e4ynyt minuun k\u00e4sin, ja luullakseni on mies nyt toivottomassa\ntilassa. Muut ottivat minut vangiksensa, ja nyt tuo pelkuri on\np\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt saattaa minut lain m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4\u00e4m\u00e4n rangaistuksen alaiseksi.\nTodistukset ovat kumoamattomat. Min\u00e4 olin se, joka l\u00e4hetin\nvaatimuksen, ja koska min\u00e4 ensimm\u00e4isen\u00e4 rikoin laink\u00e4skyn, niin ei\nminulla ole armahduksesta toivoakaan. Sin\u00e4h\u00e4n olet usein ihastuttanut\nminua opetuksillasi mielenlujuudesta; ole nyt itse esimerkkin\u00e4\nminulle.\n-- Ja niin aion ollakin, poikani. Min\u00e4 olen nyt jo irti maailmasta\nja kaikista sen iloista. T\u00e4st\u00e4 hetkest\u00e4 ruveten olkoot katki kaikki\nsiteet, mitk\u00e4 minua t\u00e4h\u00e4n maailmaan ovat kiinnitt\u00e4neet. Min\u00e4 tahdon\nvalmistaa meit\u00e4 kumpaakin iankaikkisuuteen. Niin, poikani, min\u00e4\nolen n\u00e4ytt\u00e4v\u00e4 sinulle tien, ja minun sieluni on seuraava sinua\nmatkallasi tuonne yl\u00f6s, sill\u00e4 me l\u00e4hdemme sinne yhdess\u00e4. Nyt huomaan\nmin\u00e4kin ja olen varma, ett'ei sinulla ole armoa odottaminen t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4,\nja siksi kehoitan sinua hakemaan sit\u00e4 H\u00e4nen tuomio-istuimensa\ntyk\u00f6n\u00e4, jonka eteen me kumpainenkin ennen pitk\u00e4\u00e4 astumme. Mutta\n\u00e4lk\u00e4\u00e4mme olko itsekk\u00e4it\u00e4 valmistuksissamme; sallikaamme kaikkien\nvankeuskumppaliemme olla siin\u00e4 l\u00e4sn\u00e4. Vartija hyv\u00e4, antakaa heid\u00e4n\ntulla t\u00e4nne; min\u00e4 koetan taivuttaa heit\u00e4 parannukseen.\nN\u00e4in sanottuani min\u00e4 yritin nousta olkivuoteeltani, mutta voimia\npuuttui: en jaksanut kuin nojata sein\u00e4\u00e4 vastan. Vangit tulivat\nkutsuttuina, he kun mielell\u00e4\u00e4n kuuntelivat minun opetuksiani. \u00c4iti\nja poika kannattelivat minua puolelta ja toiselta. N\u00e4hty\u00e4ni, ett'ei\nket\u00e4\u00e4n ole poissa, min\u00e4 k\u00e4\u00e4nnyin heid\u00e4n puoleensa ja pidin heille\nseuraavan kehoituspuheen.\nYHDEKS\u00c4SKOLMATTA LUKU\nTodistus Sallimuksen tasapuolisesta menettelyst\u00e4 onnellisiin ja\nonnettomiin n\u00e4hden maailmassa. Ilo ja tuska ovat jo olennoltaan\nsellaisia, ett\u00e4 onnettoman t\u00e4ytyy saada k\u00e4rsimystens\u00e4 ylim\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4st\u00e4\nkorvausta tulevassa el\u00e4m\u00e4ss\u00e4.\n\"Yst\u00e4v\u00e4t, lapseni ja vankikumppalit! Ajatellessani, mill\u00e4 tavoin hyv\u00e4\nja paha t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 maan p\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 on jaettuna, min\u00e4 huomaan, ett\u00e4 paljo on\nannettu ihmisille riemua, mutta viel\u00e4 enemm\u00e4n k\u00e4rsimyst\u00e4. Jos vaikka\nkoko maailman tutkisi, niin ei l\u00f6yt\u00e4isi ainoatakaan niin onnellista,\nett'ei h\u00e4nell\u00e4 edes jotain olisi toivottavaa, mutta toiselta puolen\ntuhannet itsemurhaajat joka p\u00e4iv\u00e4 todistavat, ett'ei heill\u00e4 en\u00e4\u00e4\nollut mit\u00e4\u00e4n toivomista. N\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 niinmuodoin silt\u00e4, ett'ei ihminen\nt\u00e4ss\u00e4 maailmassa milloinkaan saata tulla t\u00e4ysin onnelliseksi, mutta\nkyll\u00e4 t\u00e4ysin onnettomaksi.\n\"Miksik\u00e4 pit\u00e4\u00e4 ihmisen k\u00e4rsim\u00e4n niin paljon tuskaa? Miksik\u00e4 tarvitaan\nmeid\u00e4n viheli\u00e4isyytt\u00e4mme yleisen onnellisuuden olemassa-oloa varten?\nJos kaikki muu kokonaisuus on t\u00e4ydellinen sen kautta, ett\u00e4 sen\nalaosat ovat t\u00e4ydellisi\u00e4, miksik\u00e4 sitten tuo suuri kokonaisuus\ntarvitsee, t\u00e4ydellinen ollakseen, sellaisia osia, jotka eiv\u00e4t\nainoastaan ole toistensa alaisia, vaan itsess\u00e4\u00e4n ep\u00e4t\u00e4ydellisi\u00e4kin?\nSiin\u00e4 kysymyksi\u00e4, joista emme milloinkaan selville p\u00e4\u00e4se, ja joista\nmeid\u00e4n on tarpeetonkin selville p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4. T\u00e4h\u00e4n asiaan n\u00e4hden on\nSallimus katsonut parhaaksi masentaa meid\u00e4n uteliaisuutemme; se\ntyytyy vaan antamaan meille lohdutuksen aiheita.\n\"T\u00e4ss\u00e4 tilassa on pyydetty filosofialta yst\u00e4v\u00e4llist\u00e4 apua, ja taivas,\nn\u00e4hdess\u00e4\u00e4n kuinka kykenem\u00e4t\u00f6n filosofia on ihmist\u00e4 lohduttamaan,\non antanut h\u00e4nen avukseen uskonnon. Filosofian lohdutukset ovat\nvarsin miellytt\u00e4vi\u00e4, mutta usein harhaan viepi\u00e4. Se sanoo, meille,\nett\u00e4 el\u00e4m\u00e4 on t\u00e4ynn\u00e4 riemuja, jos vaan tahdomme nauttia niit\u00e4, ja\ntoiselta puolen se sanoo, ett\u00e4, vaikka meid\u00e4n t\u00e4ytyy t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 k\u00e4rsi\u00e4\nv\u00e4ltt\u00e4m\u00e4t\u00f6nt\u00e4 kurjuutta, niin el\u00e4m\u00e4h\u00e4n on lyhyt, ja k\u00e4rsimys pian\nloppuu. N\u00e4in n\u00e4m\u00e4 lohdutukset kumoavat toinen toisensa, sill\u00e4 jos\nel\u00e4m\u00e4 on iloa, niin on sen lyhyys tuskaa, ja jos se taas on pitk\u00e4,\nniin sittenh\u00e4n meid\u00e4n k\u00e4rsimyksemme vain jatkuvat.\n\"N\u00e4in horjuvata on filosofia, mutta uskonnon lohdutus on korkeampaa\nlaatua. Ihmisen m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4n\u00e4 t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4, sanoo uskonto, on kehitt\u00e4\u00e4 henke\u00e4ns\u00e4\nja valmistautua toisille asuinsijoille. Kun hyv\u00e4 ihminen on j\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt\nruumiinsa ja on pelkk\u00e4n\u00e4 kirkastettuna henken\u00e4, niin h\u00e4n huomaa\nluoneensa t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 itse itselleen onnen taivaan. Paha ihminen sit\u00e4\nvastoin, joka on rikoksilla typist\u00e4nyt ja saastuttanut itsens\u00e4, eroaa\nruumiistansa kauhistuksella ja huomaa ryhtyneens\u00e4 taivaan kostoon\nennenkuin taivas itse. Ja niinp\u00e4 meid\u00e4n on kaikissa el\u00e4m\u00e4noloissa\nkiinni pit\u00e4minen uskonnosta, parhaimmasta lohduttajasta. Jos me\nnimitt\u00e4in olemme onnelliset, niin on suloista ajatella, ett\u00e4 t\u00e4m\u00e4\nonni saattaa olla loppumaton; jos taas onnettomia olemme, niin\non sangen lohdullista ajatella, ett\u00e4 on olemassa joku rauhan\nsija. Uskonto tarjoaa siis onnelliselle onnellisuuden jatkumista,\nonnettomalle k\u00e4rsimysten p\u00e4\u00e4ttymist\u00e4.\n\"Mutta vaikka uskonto on lempe\u00e4 jokaista kohtaan, on se luvannut\nonnettomalle erityisi\u00e4 korvauksia. Sairas, alaston, koditon, raskaan\ntaakan alainen ja vanki -- kaikilla heill\u00e4 on Jumalan sanassa\nrunsaasti lupauksia. Meid\u00e4n uskontomme perustaja sanoo joka paikassa\nolevansa onnettoman yst\u00e4v\u00e4. Aivan toisin H\u00e4n tekee kuin t\u00e4m\u00e4n\nmaailman v\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4t yst\u00e4v\u00e4t: H\u00e4n omistaa kaiken lempens\u00e4 hylj\u00e4tyille.\nLyhytmielisyys on moittinut t\u00e4t\u00e4 puolueellisuudeksi, ansiottomaksi\netuoikeudeksi. Mutta se ei ole milloinkaan tullut ajatelleeksi, ett\u00e4\nitse taivaankin on mahdoton tarjota loppumatonta onnellisuutta yht\u00e4\nsuurena lahjana onnelliselle kun onnettomallekin. Edelliselle on\niankaikkisuus pelk\u00e4st\u00e4\u00e4n autuutta, koskapa se oikeastaan lis\u00e4\u00e4 vaan\nsit\u00e4, mit\u00e4 h\u00e4nell\u00e4 ennest\u00e4\u00e4nkin jo oli olemassa. J\u00e4lkimm\u00e4iselle se on\nkaksinkertainen etu, sill\u00e4 se p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4\u00e4 h\u00e4net k\u00e4rsimyksist\u00e4 t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 ja\npalkitsee sit\u00e4 sitten taivaan autuudella.\n\"Sallimus on viel\u00e4 toisessakin katsannossa suosiollisempi k\u00f6yhi\u00e4 kuin\nrikkaita kohtaan, sill\u00e4 samalla kuin se saa yh\u00e4 enemm\u00e4n kaipaamaan\nhaudantakaista el\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4, samalla se sinne tiet\u00e4kin tasoittaa. Onneton\non jo pitkin aikaa saanut tutustua kaikenlaatuisiin kauhuihin.\nSurujen mies laskee p\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4 rauhassa lepoon; ei h\u00e4nell\u00e4 ole mit\u00e4\u00e4n,\njosta h\u00e4n ik\u00e4v\u00f6iden luopuisi, ei h\u00e4nell\u00e4 ole kuin moniahta side, joka\nvoisi viivytt\u00e4\u00e4 h\u00e4nen l\u00e4ht\u00f6\u00e4ns\u00e4. Ei h\u00e4n lopullisessa eroamisessa\ntunne muuta kuin luonnonomaista tuskaa, joka ei ole mill\u00e4\u00e4n muotoa\nsuurempi kuin se, mink\u00e4 alle h\u00e4n ennenkin niin usein on n\u00e4\u00e4ntynyt,\nsill\u00e4 kun tuska on saavuttanut vissin m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4n, silloin luonto\nlempeydess\u00e4\u00e4n tekee tunnottomaksi jokaisen uuden iskun, mink\u00e4 kuolema\nruumiisen ly\u00f6.\n\"T\u00e4ten on Sallimus antanut onnettomille t\u00e4ss\u00e4 maailmassa kaksi etua,\njoita ei onnellisilla ole: ensinn\u00e4kin he kuolevat iloisemmalla\nmielell\u00e4, ja toiseksi on heid\u00e4n riemunsa, vastakohtana entisille\nk\u00e4rsimyksille, suurempi. Ja t\u00e4m\u00e4 seikka, yst\u00e4v\u00e4t, ei ole mik\u00e4\u00e4n\nv\u00e4h\u00e4p\u00e4t\u00f6inen etu; se n\u00e4kyy olevan yksi niit\u00e4 nautinnolta, joista\nk\u00f6yh\u00e4n miehen vertauksessa puhutaan, sill\u00e4 vaikka h\u00e4n jo oli\ntaivaassa ja tunsi kaikkia sen tarjoamia riemuja, niin mainitaan\nlis\u00e4yksen\u00e4 h\u00e4nen onnellisuuteensa se, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n on aikoinansa saanut\nkurjuutta n\u00e4hd\u00e4, mutta nyt h\u00e4n lohdutetaan; h\u00e4n on tiennyt, mit\u00e4 on\nolla onneton, ja nyt h\u00e4n tiet\u00e4\u00e4, mit\u00e4 on olla onnellinen.\n\"N\u00e4in, yst\u00e4v\u00e4t, te n\u00e4ette, kuinka uskonto tekee sellaista, mit\u00e4\nfilosofia ei ole milloinkaan tehnyt: se n\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4, kuinka taivas\ntasapuolisesti jakaa lahjansa niin onnelliselle kuin onnettomallekin,\nmitaten kaikki inhimilliset nautinnot suunnilleen samalla mitalla.\nSe antaa sek\u00e4 rikkaalle ett\u00e4 k\u00f6yh\u00e4lle saman autuuden t\u00e4m\u00e4n el\u00e4m\u00e4n\nper\u00e4st\u00e4 ja saattaa heid\u00e4t t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 kaipaamaan sit\u00e4 yht\u00e4l\u00e4isill\u00e4\ntoiveilla. Mutta jos rikkailla on se etu, ett\u00e4 jo t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 saavat\nriemuja nauttia, niin on k\u00f6yhill\u00e4 ilo siit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 he, iankaikkisella\nriemulla kruunattuina, tiet\u00e4v\u00e4t, milt\u00e4 onnettomana olo ennen tuntui.\nJa vaikkapa t\u00e4t\u00e4 etua v\u00e4h\u00e4p\u00e4t\u00f6isen\u00e4 pidett\u00e4isiinkin, niin onhan se\niankaikkinen, ja juuri t\u00e4m\u00e4 k\u00f6yh\u00e4n riemujen loppumattomuus painaa\nyht\u00e4 paljon kuin se ajallisten riemujen suurempi runsaus, jota maan\nmahtavat ovat t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 saaneet osakseen.\n\"N\u00e4m\u00e4 niinmuodoin ovat onnettomain nimenomaisia lohdutuksia, ja\nsiin\u00e4 suhteessa he ovat korkeammalla muita ihmisi\u00e4; muissa suhtein\nhe ovat alempana. Ken tahtoo tiet\u00e4\u00e4, millaista k\u00f6yh\u00e4n kurjuus on,\nh\u00e4n katsokoon ja kest\u00e4k\u00f6\u00f6n el\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4. Kerskailla siit\u00e4 etuoikeudesta,\nett\u00e4 jo t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4kin saa riemuja nauttia, on puhua sellaista, mit\u00e4\nei kukaan usko. Ihmiset, joilla on niin paljo kuin he el\u00e4m\u00e4ss\u00e4\u00e4n\ntarvitsevat, eiv\u00e4t ole k\u00f6yhi\u00e4; joilta taas t\u00e4m\u00e4 puuttuu, heid\u00e4n\nt\u00e4ytyy olla kurjia. Niin, yst\u00e4v\u00e4t, meid\u00e4n t\u00e4ytyy olla kurjia. Ei\nkiihotetun mielikuvituksen ponnistuksilla milloinkaan saa luonnon\nvaatimuksia tukautetuiksi, ei niill\u00e4 milloinkaan saa vankihuoneen\nummehtunutta ilmaa raikkaaksi ja suloiseksi eik\u00e4 murtuneen syd\u00e4men\nsykint\u00e4\u00e4 tyynnytetyksi. Puhukoot vaan filosofit meille pehmoisilta\nleposijoiltaan, ett\u00e4 me pystymme kest\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n kaikkea tuota. Voi!\nPonnistukset tuon kest\u00e4miseen, neh\u00e4n ne suurinta tuskaa ovatkin.\nKuolema on helppoa, sen kest\u00e4\u00e4 jokainen; mutta kituminen on kauheata,\nja sit\u00e4 ei kest\u00e4 kukaan.\n\"Meille, yst\u00e4v\u00e4t, pit\u00e4isi taivaallisen autuuden lupausten olla\neritt\u00e4in kalliita, sill\u00e4 jos meid\u00e4n palkintomme olisi vain t\u00e4ss\u00e4\nmaailmassa, niin me olisimme ihmisist\u00e4 kurjimmat. Katsellessani n\u00e4it\u00e4\nkolkkoja kiviseini\u00e4, jotka on rakennettu meit\u00e4 sek\u00e4 hirvitt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n\nett\u00e4 tallella pit\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n, -- tuota valoa, jonka m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4n\u00e4 on vaan\nn\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4, kuinka kamala t\u00e4m\u00e4 paikka on, -- noita kahleita, joita\ntyrannivalta kytkyin\u00e4 k\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4, tai jotka rikos on tarpeellisiksi\ntehnyt, -- katsellessani noita kuihtuneita kasvoja ja kuullessani\nn\u00e4it\u00e4 huokauksia, -- voi, yst\u00e4v\u00e4t, kuinka ihanata on vaihtaa kaikki\nt\u00e4m\u00e4 taivaasen! Lent\u00e4\u00e4 liidell\u00e4 halki avaruuksien, \u00e4\u00e4ret\u00f6nten\nkuin ilma, lekotella paisteessa iankaikkisen riemun, lakkaamatta\nveisata kiitosvirsi\u00e4, olla ilman tyly\u00e4 is\u00e4nt\u00e4\u00e4, joka my\u00f6t\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4 meit\u00e4\nuhkaa tai r\u00e4\u00e4kk\u00e4\u00e4, hyvyyden alkumuoto vain ikuisesti silm\u00e4imme\nedess\u00e4, -- kaikkea t\u00e4t\u00e4 miettiess\u00e4ni, tuntuu kuolema iloisen\nsanoman saattajalta; -- kaikkea t\u00e4t\u00e4 miettiess\u00e4ni, k\u00e4y kuoleman\nter\u00e4vinkin nuoli nojasauvakseni vaan; kaikkea t\u00e4t\u00e4 miettiess\u00e4ni...\nmit\u00e4 onkaan el\u00e4m\u00e4ss\u00e4 sellaista, jota maksaisi omistaa? -- kaikkea\nt\u00e4t\u00e4 miettiess\u00e4ni... mik\u00e4 ei mielest\u00e4ni olisikaan v\u00e4h\u00e4arvoista?\nKuninkaitten pit\u00e4isi linnoissansa huokaillen toivoa sellaisia etuja,\nmutta meid\u00e4n, miesten masennettujen, pit\u00e4isi kaihoten kaivata niit\u00e4.\n\"Ja saammeko me sitten kaiken t\u00e4m\u00e4n omaksemme? Saamme kyll\u00e4, jos vaan\nsen per\u00e4\u00e4n pyrjimme. Ja -- mik\u00e4 lohdullista on -- me v\u00e4lt\u00e4mme monet\nkiusaukset, jotka saattaisivat meid\u00e4n pyrkimyst\u00e4mme hidastuttaa.\nMeid\u00e4n tulee vain pyrki\u00e4 kaiken sen per\u00e4\u00e4n; silloin taatusti saamme\nsen omaksemme, ja -- mik\u00e4 my\u00f6skin lohdullista on -- piankin. Jos\nnimitt\u00e4in katsahdamme kuluneesen el\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4mme, niin se on kuin kapea\nk\u00e4mmenen leveys, ja n\u00e4ytt\u00e4k\u00f6\u00f6n j\u00e4ljell\u00e4 oleva el\u00e4m\u00e4 millaiselta\nhyv\u00e4ns\u00e4, me huomaamme, ett'ei sit\u00e4 kauankaan kest\u00e4. Mit\u00e4 vanhemmaksi\nihminen tulee, sit\u00e4 lyhyemmiksi n\u00e4kyv\u00e4t p\u00e4iv\u00e4t k\u00e4yv\u00e4n. Mit\u00e4 enemm\u00e4n\nme aikaan tutustumme, sit\u00e4 lyhyemm\u00e4lt\u00e4 sen pituus tuntuu. Olkaamme\nsiis nyt lohdutetut, sill\u00e4 pian me joudumme matkamme p\u00e4\u00e4h\u00e4n. Pian\nlaskemme maahan raskaan taakan, jonka taivas on meid\u00e4n harteillemme\ns\u00e4lytt\u00e4nyt, ja vaikka kuolema, kurjan ainoa yst\u00e4v\u00e4, jonkun aikaa\nkiusotteleekin v\u00e4synytt\u00e4 matkamiest\u00e4, n\u00e4ytt\u00e4ym\u00e4ll\u00e4 silloin t\u00e4ll\u00f6in,\nja vaikka taivaanranta yh\u00e4 kauemmas vaeltajan edest\u00e4 pakenee, niin\ntulee kuin tuleekin ja piankin se aika, jolloin meilt\u00e4 ty\u00f6 lakkaa,\n-- jolloin uljaat maailmanmahtavat eiv\u00e4t en\u00e4\u00e4 meit\u00e4 maahan polje,\n-- jolloin mielihyv\u00e4ll\u00e4 muistelemme k\u00e4rsimyksi\u00e4mme t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4, jolloin\nymp\u00e4rillemme ker\u00e4\u00e4ntyv\u00e4t kaikki yst\u00e4v\u00e4t tahi sellaiset, jotka\nansaitsivat olla yst\u00e4vi\u00e4mme, -- jolloin onni on meill\u00e4 sanomaton ja\n-- kaiken kruununa -- autuus iankaikkinen.\"\nKOLMASKYMMENES KUKU\nAlkaa n\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 valoisemmalta. Olkaamme lujia, niin onni vihdoinkin\nk\u00e4\u00e4ntyy meid\u00e4n puolellemme.\nPuheen p\u00e4\u00e4tetty\u00e4ni, ja kuulijani siirrytty\u00e4 pois, tuli luokseni\nylivartija, inhimillisimpi\u00e4 siin\u00e4 virassa, ja pyysi, ett'en panisi\npahaksi, jos h\u00e4nen on t\u00e4ytt\u00e4minen velvollisuutensa: h\u00e4nen on\nnimitt\u00e4in m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4 vied\u00e4 poikani lujempaan koppiin. H\u00e4n saa kumminkin\nk\u00e4yd\u00e4 joka aamu luonani. Min\u00e4 kiitin h\u00e4nt\u00e4 tuosta yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisyydest\u00e4,\npuristin poikani k\u00e4tt\u00e4 ja sanoin h\u00e4nelle j\u00e4\u00e4hyv\u00e4iset, muistuttaen\nh\u00e4nt\u00e4 siit\u00e4 suuresta velvollisuudesta, joka h\u00e4nen edess\u00e4ns\u00e4 on.\nMin\u00e4 laskin pitk\u00e4kseni. Toinen pikku pojistani istui vuoteeni\nlaidalle ja rupesi minulle lukemaan. Samassa tuli mr Jenkinson\nsis\u00e4\u00e4n, ilmoittaen, ett\u00e4 tietoja oli saatu minun tytt\u00e4rest\u00e4ni:\nmuuan henkil\u00f6 oli pari tuntia sitten n\u00e4hnyt h\u00e4net er\u00e4\u00e4n vieraan\nherran seurassa. He olivat pys\u00e4htyneet l\u00e4heiseen kyl\u00e4\u00e4n aterioimaan\nja n\u00e4kyiv\u00e4t aikovan palata sielt\u00e4 kaupunkiin. Tuskin oli h\u00e4n\nsaanut t\u00e4m\u00e4n kertoneeksi, niin jo riensi ylivartija kiireiss\u00e4\u00e4n ja\nhyvill\u00e4\u00e4n tuomaan sit\u00e4 tietoa, ett\u00e4 tytt\u00e4reni on l\u00f6ydetty. Heti\nkohta senj\u00e4lkeen sy\u00f6ksi Moseskin sis\u00e4\u00e4n, huutaen, ett\u00e4 Sofia sisko\non alhaalla ja tulee heti t\u00e4nne yl\u00f6s vanhan yst\u00e4v\u00e4mme mr Burchellin\nkanssa.\nH\u00e4nen t\u00e4t\u00e4 parast'aikaa kertoessaan, tuli huoneesen mun armas\ntytt\u00e4reni, melkein rajuna ilosta, ja riensi riemuissaan minua\nsuutelemaan. \u00c4iti se \u00e4\u00e4neti itke\u00e4 tihusteli iloissansa.\n-- Is\u00e4! huusi mun oma tytt\u00e4reni, -- t\u00e4ss\u00e4 on se uljas mies, jota\nminun tulee kiitt\u00e4\u00e4 pelastuksestani. T\u00e4m\u00e4n herran pelvottomuus on\ntehnyt minut onnelliseksi ja vapaaksi...\nSuudelmalla h\u00e4net keskeytti mr Burchell, iloisempana kuin tytt\u00f6 itse.\n-- Kas! Mr Burchell! -- huudahdin min\u00e4. -- Kurjassa n\u00e4ette meid\u00e4t\nsuojassa nyt, ja per\u00e4ti toisellaisia olemme nyt kuin silloin,\nviimeksi tavattaessa. Te olitte aina meid\u00e4n yst\u00e4v\u00e4mme. Aikaa\nsitten jo huomasimme v\u00e4\u00e4rink\u00e4sityksemme ja olemme katuneet\nkiitt\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00f6myytt\u00e4, jota silloin teille osoitimme. Minua melkein\nh\u00e4vett\u00e4\u00e4 katsoa teit\u00e4 silmiin, muistaessani, kuinka kehnosti teit\u00e4\nkohtelin. Mutta min\u00e4 toivon, ett\u00e4 te annatte anteeksi minulle, jonka\nmuuan kelvoton konna on pett\u00e4nyt ja sy\u00f6ssyt, yst\u00e4vyyden naamarin\nalla, kurjuuteen.\n-- Mahdotonta, -- vastasi mr Burchell, mahdotonta on minun antaa\nanteeksi, kosk'ette milloinkaan ole minua loukannut. Huomasin\nosittain jo silloinkin teid\u00e4n erehdyksenne, ja koska minun oli\nmahdoton sit\u00e4 ehk\u00e4ist\u00e4, niin en voinut muuta kuin valittaa sit\u00e4.\n-- Se k\u00e4sitys minulla teist\u00e4 aina oli, -- virkoin min\u00e4, -- ett\u00e4 te\nolette ylev\u00e4mielinen mies; nyt min\u00e4 sen n\u00e4en. Mutta kerro, lapsi\nkulta, mitenk\u00e4 sin\u00e4 pelastuit, tahi ket\u00e4 ne rosvot olivat, jotka\nsinut ry\u00f6stiv\u00e4t.\n-- En todellakaan, tied\u00e4 itsek\u00e4\u00e4n, -- vastasi h\u00e4n, -- kuka se\nkunnoton oli, joka minut sieppasi. Olimme \u00e4idin kanssa k\u00e4velem\u00e4ss\u00e4.\nMies astui meid\u00e4n takanamme, ja tuskin enn\u00e4tin huutaa apuakaan, niin\njo h\u00e4n oli ty\u00f6nt\u00e4nyt minut vaunuihin, ja samassa l\u00e4ksiv\u00e4t hevoset\nlaukkaamaan. Min\u00e4 n\u00e4in useampia ihmisi\u00e4 tiell\u00e4 ja huusin heit\u00e4\navuksi, mutta he eiv\u00e4t olleet kuulevinankaan minun pyynn\u00f6ist\u00e4ni.\nSill\u00e4 v\u00e4lin koetti ry\u00f6st\u00e4j\u00e4 kaikin tavoin est\u00e4\u00e4 minua huutamasta;\nvuoroin h\u00e4n mielisteli, vuoroin uhkaili, vannoen, ett\u00e4 jos min\u00e4\nvaan olen hiljaa, ei h\u00e4n tee minulle mit\u00e4\u00e4n pahaa. Hetken kuluttua\nmin\u00e4 l\u00f6in rikki akkunan, jonka h\u00e4n oli vet\u00e4nyt yl\u00f6s, ja kenenk\u00e4\nmin\u00e4 huomasin jonkun matkan p\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4? Kenenk\u00e4s muun kuin meid\u00e4n\nvanhan yst\u00e4v\u00e4mme mr Burchellin astuvan kiireisin askelin, niinkuin\ntavallisestikin, k\u00e4dess\u00e4\u00e4n paksu keppi, josta me ennen niin usein\nnauroimme h\u00e4nelle. Jouduttuamme kuuleman matkan p\u00e4\u00e4h\u00e4n h\u00e4nest\u00e4,\nmin\u00e4 huusin h\u00e4nt\u00e4 nimelt\u00e4 ja pyysin avukseni. Min\u00e4 huusin uudestaan\nuseampia kertoja, kunnes h\u00e4n kovalla \u00e4\u00e4nell\u00e4 k\u00e4ski kuskin pys\u00e4hty\u00e4.\nT\u00e4m\u00e4 ei ollut tiet\u00e4\u00e4kseenk\u00e4\u00e4n, vaan l\u00e4ksi ajamaan yh\u00e4 kovempaa\nvauhtia. Min\u00e4 luulin jo, ett'ei mr Burchell en\u00e4\u00e4 voi saavuttaa\nmeit\u00e4, mutta tuskin oli minuttiakaan kulunut, niin n\u00e4in h\u00e4nen\njuoksevan hevosten rinnalla ja yhdell\u00e4 iskulla ly\u00f6v\u00e4n kuskin\nmaahan. Hevoset pys\u00e4htyiv\u00e4t silloin itsest\u00e4\u00e4n. Rosvo hypp\u00e4si ulos,\nkiroten ja uhaten, veti miekkansa ja k\u00e4ski mr Burchellin menem\u00e4\u00e4n\ntiehens\u00e4, muutoin h\u00e4nen k\u00e4y huonosti. Mutta mr Burchell rynt\u00e4si\nh\u00e4nen p\u00e4\u00e4llens\u00e4, taittoi palasiksi h\u00e4nelt\u00e4 miekan ja ajoi h\u00e4nt\u00e4\nsitten takaa nelj\u00e4nneksen peninkulmaa. Konna p\u00e4\u00e4si kumminkin pakoon.\nSamaan aikaan olin min\u00e4kin astunut vaunuista alas, valmiina auttamaan\npelastajaani, mutta pian h\u00e4n palasi minun suureksi ilokseni. Kuski\ntoipui huumauksistaan ja olisi h\u00e4nkin l\u00e4htenyt pakoon, mutta mr\nBurchell k\u00e4ski h\u00e4nt\u00e4 hengen uhalla nousemaan j\u00e4lleen ja kyyditsem\u00e4\u00e4n\nmeid\u00e4t vaunuissa takaisin kaupunkiin. Huomattuaan vastustamisen\nmahdottomaksi, kuski totteli vastenmielisesti. H\u00e4nen saamansa haava\noli ainakin minun mielest\u00e4ni vaarallinen. Pitkin matkaa h\u00e4n vaikeroi\nhaavaansa, niin ett\u00e4 mr Burchellin k\u00e4vi h\u00e4nt\u00e4 vihdoin s\u00e4\u00e4li ja j\u00e4tti\nh\u00e4net minun pyynn\u00f6st\u00e4ni seuraavaan majataloon, jonne paluumatkalla\npoikkesimme, ja josta otimme toisen kuskin.\n-- Terve tultuasi sitten lapseni! -- huudahdin min\u00e4, -- ja sin\u00e4,\nh\u00e4nen uljas pelastajansa, tuhannesti terve tullut! V\u00e4h\u00e4t ovat meill\u00e4\nvieraanvarat, mutta syd\u00e4memme ovat valmiit vastaan-ottamaan teit\u00e4. Ja\nnyt, mr Burchell, joka olette tytt\u00e4remme pelastanut! Jos aikomuksenne\non saada h\u00e4net palkinnoksi, niin h\u00e4n on teid\u00e4n. Jos saatatte alentua\nheimolaisuuteen niin k\u00f6yh\u00e4n perheen kanssa kuin minun, niin ottakaa\nh\u00e4net. Saakaa h\u00e4nen suostumuksensa, kuten tied\u00e4n teid\u00e4n saaneen h\u00e4nen\nsyd\u00e4mens\u00e4kin, silloin on teill\u00e4 minunkin suostumukseni. Ja sallikaa\nsanoani, sir, ett'en teille v\u00e4h\u00e4ist\u00e4 aarretta annakaan; h\u00e4n on\nkuulu kauneudestaan, se on totta, mutta en nyt sit\u00e4 tarkoita; h\u00e4nen\nsyd\u00e4mens\u00e4 min\u00e4 teille aarteena annan.\n-- Mutta, sir, -- virkkoi h\u00e4n, -- ep\u00e4ilem\u00e4tt\u00e4 te tunnette,\nmillaisissa oloissa min\u00e4 olen, ja ett'en min\u00e4 kykene hoitamaan h\u00e4nt\u00e4\nkyllin ansiollisesti.\n-- Jos tuolla vastav\u00e4itteell\u00e4, -- lausuin min\u00e4, -- aiotaan puikahtaa\nminun tarjoukseni ohitse, niin en sano en\u00e4\u00e4 mit\u00e4\u00e4n; min\u00e4 vaan en\ntunne toista, joka olisi niin arvokas ansaitsemaan h\u00e4net kuin te; ja\njos min\u00e4 voisin antaa h\u00e4nelle tuhansia, ja jos tuhannet h\u00e4nt\u00e4 minulta\npyyt\u00e4isiv\u00e4t, niin kunniallinen, uljas Burchellini olisi minulle\nmieleisin kaikista.\nT\u00e4h\u00e4n kaikkeen n\u00e4kyi h\u00e4nen vaitiolonsa antavan masentavan kiellon,\nja mit\u00e4\u00e4n vastaamatta minun viimeisiin sanoihini h\u00e4n kys\u00e4isi, eik\u00f6\nt\u00e4nne saisi jotain virvokkeita l\u00e4himm\u00e4st\u00e4 ravintolasta. Saatuaan\nmy\u00f6nt\u00e4v\u00e4n vastauksen, h\u00e4n tilasi t\u00e4nne p\u00e4iv\u00e4lliseksi parasta, mit\u00e4\nh\u00e4t\u00e4 pikaa enn\u00e4tt\u00e4v\u00e4t valmistaa. Samoin h\u00e4n k\u00e4ski tuoda tusinallisen\nparasta viini\u00e4, mit\u00e4 heill\u00e4 on, ja minulle jotain syd\u00e4men vahviketta.\nMyh\u00e4ht\u00e4en h\u00e4n sitten virkkoi minulle tahtovansa kerrankin\nhiukan liikahtaa ja vakuutti, ett'ei h\u00e4n, vaikka nyt ollaankin\nvankihuoneessa, milloinkaan ole ollut niin hilpe\u00e4ll\u00e4 mielell\u00e4\nkuin nyt. Ylivartija tuli pian sis\u00e4\u00e4n panemaan ateriata kuntoon.\nP\u00f6yt\u00e4 lainattiin h\u00e4nelt\u00e4, ja huomattavalla tavalla h\u00e4n n\u00e4ytti\navuliaisuuttansa. Viinit pantiin j\u00e4rjestykseen, ja kaksi varsin hyvin\nlaitettua ruokalajia kannettiin sis\u00e4\u00e4n.\nTytt\u00e4reni ei ollut viel\u00e4 kuullut poloisen veljens\u00e4 surullisesta\nkohtalosta, eik\u00e4 kukaan meist\u00e4 n\u00e4ytt\u00e4nyt tahtovan h\u00e4irit\u00e4 sen\nkertomisella h\u00e4nen iloansa. Turhaan min\u00e4 kumminkin koetin pysy\u00e4\nhilpe\u00e4ll\u00e4 mielell\u00e4; onnettoman poikani tila teki tyhj\u00e4ksi kaikki\nteeskelyn yritykset, niin ett\u00e4 minun vihdoin t\u00e4ytyi keskeytt\u00e4\u00e4\nyhteinen ilo ja kertoa, mitenk\u00e4 onnettomasti h\u00e4nen oli k\u00e4ynyt, jonka\nj\u00e4lkeen min\u00e4 pyysin, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nen sallittaisiin p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 osalliseksi\nn\u00e4ist\u00e4 yleisin tyytyv\u00e4isyyden hetkist\u00e4. Sittenkuin vieraat olivat\ntoipuneet h\u00e4mm\u00e4styksest\u00e4ns\u00e4, jonka minun kertomukseni oli heiss\u00e4\nvaikuttanut, pyysin min\u00e4, ett\u00e4 mr Jenkinsoninkin suotaisiin tulla\nt\u00e4nne. T\u00e4m\u00e4n pyynt\u00f6ni t\u00e4ytti ylivartija tavattoman n\u00f6yr\u00e4sti.\nTuskin oli poikani kahleitten kalina alkanut kuulua k\u00e4yt\u00e4v\u00e4st\u00e4, kun\njo sisar maltitonna riensi h\u00e4nt\u00e4 vastaan. Sill\u00e4 v\u00e4lin mr Burchell\nkys\u00e4isi minulta, onko minun poikani Yrj\u00f6 niminen. Min\u00e4 my\u00f6nsin. H\u00e4n\noli edelleen \u00e4\u00e4neti. Heti kuin poikani oli astunut sis\u00e4\u00e4n, min\u00e4\nhuomasin h\u00e4nen luovan mr Burchelliin katseen t\u00e4ynn\u00e4 h\u00e4mm\u00e4styst\u00e4 ja\nkunnioitusta.\n-- Tule, poikani! -- lausuin min\u00e4. -- Vaikka meid\u00e4t on hyvin syv\u00e4lle\npainettu, on Sallimus kuitenkin suvainnut suoda meille hiukan\nhuojennusta vaivoissa. Sisaresi on tullut takaisin, ja t\u00e4ss\u00e4 h\u00e4nen\npelastajansa: t\u00e4lle miehelle min\u00e4 olen velassa siit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 minulla\nviel\u00e4 on tyt\u00e4r. Ly\u00f6 yst\u00e4v\u00e4n\u00e4 k\u00e4tt\u00e4 h\u00e4nelle, poikani: h\u00e4n on ansainnut\nmeid\u00e4n hartaimmat kiitoksemme.\nPoikani ei n\u00e4kynyt lainkaan kuulevan minun sanojani. H\u00e4n oli koko\najan seisonut kunnioittavan matkan p\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4.\n-- Veli rakas, -- huudahti sisar, -- miks'etk\u00e4s kiit\u00e4 minun\npelastajaani? Uljaitten miesten pit\u00e4isi aina rakastaa toisiansa.\nToinen seisoi kumminkin yh\u00e4 edelleen \u00e4\u00e4neti ja h\u00e4mm\u00e4styneen\u00e4, kunnes\nmeid\u00e4n vieraamme huomasi olevansa viimeinkin tunnettu ja luontaisella\narvokkaisuudellaan pyysi poikaani astumaan esille. En ole koskaan\nn\u00e4hnyt mit\u00e4\u00e4n niin todella majesteetillista kuin mr Burchellin ryhti\nsilloin. Ylevin n\u00e4ky maailmassa, sanoo muuan filosofi, on kunnon\nmies, joka taistelee vastoink\u00e4ymisten kanssa. On ylev\u00e4mpi\u00e4kin,\nnimitt\u00e4in kunnon mies, joka tulee h\u00e4nen avukseen.\nKiinnitetty\u00e4\u00e4n poikaani voimakkaan katseen ja silm\u00e4ilty\u00e4\u00e4n h\u00e4nt\u00e4\nhetkisen, h\u00e4n lausui:\n-- Taaskin min\u00e4 huomaan, te ajattelematon poika, ett\u00e4 sama rikos...\nH\u00e4net keskeytti vanginvartijan apulainen, ilmoittaen, ett\u00e4 muuan\nylh\u00e4inen herra, joka oli tullut vaunuissa kaupunkiin useamman\npalvelijan kanssa, l\u00e4hett\u00e4\u00e4 kunnioittavan tervehdyksens\u00e4 t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4\nolevalle gentlemanille ja tiedustaa, milloinka h\u00e4nen sopisi tulla\nh\u00e4nen puheilleen.\n-- Pyyd\u00e4 h\u00e4nt\u00e4 odottamaan, -- sanoi vieras, -- kunnes saan\ntilaisuuden ottamaan h\u00e4net vastaan.\nK\u00e4\u00e4ntyen sitten poikani puoleen, h\u00e4n jatkoi:\n-- Min\u00e4 huomaan teid\u00e4n tehneen itsenne syylliseksi samaan rikokseen,\njosta kerran ennenkin teit\u00e4 nuhtelin, ja josta laki on valmis\nm\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n teille ankarimman rangaistuksen. Te kuvittelette\nkaiketi, ett\u00e4 oman henkenne ylenkatsominen oikeuttaa teit\u00e4 ottamaan\ntoiseltakin ihmiselt\u00e4 hengen. Miss\u00e4p\u00e4s sitten, hyv\u00e4 herra, teid\u00e4n\nmielest\u00e4nne on erotus kaksintaistelijan v\u00e4lill\u00e4, joka oman,\narvottomana pit\u00e4m\u00e4ns\u00e4 hengen panee alttiiksi, ja murhaajan v\u00e4lill\u00e4,\njoka toimii paremmin turvattuna? V\u00e4hent\u00e4\u00e4k\u00f6 se pelurin petosta, ett\u00e4\nh\u00e4n sanoo pelanneensa pelkill\u00e4 luumarkoilla?\n-- Voi, sir, -- huudahdin min\u00e4, -- ken lienettek\u00e4\u00e4n, s\u00e4\u00e4lik\u00e4\u00e4 t\u00e4t\u00e4\nv\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4\u00e4n johdettua poika parkaa, sill\u00e4 mink\u00e4 h\u00e4n teki, sen h\u00e4n teki\nvain totellakseen loukattua \u00e4iti\u00e4ns\u00e4, joka tuskansa katkeruudessa\noli vaatinut h\u00e4nt\u00e4, siunauksen pois-ottamisen uhalla, kostamaan\nh\u00e4nen puolestansa! Kas t\u00e4ss\u00e4, sir, kirje, josta n\u00e4ette, kuinka\nymm\u00e4rt\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00f6m\u00e4sti \u00e4iti teki, ja joka lievent\u00e4\u00e4 poikani rikoksen.\nVieras otti kirjeen ja luki sen h\u00e4t\u00e4pikaa l\u00e4pi.\n-- T\u00e4m\u00e4, -- virkkoi h\u00e4n, -- t\u00e4m\u00e4 tosin ei t\u00e4ydellisesti poista\nsyyllisyytt\u00e4, mutta on siin\u00e4 siksi paljon lievennyst\u00e4 rikokselle,\nett\u00e4 min\u00e4 sen johdosta annan h\u00e4nelle anteeksi. Ja nyt, sir, --\njatkoi h\u00e4n ottaen yst\u00e4v\u00e4llisesti poikaani k\u00e4dest\u00e4; huomaan teid\u00e4n\nolevan h\u00e4mm\u00e4styksiss\u00e4nne, kohdatessanne minut t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4, mutta olenpa\nmin\u00e4 k\u00e4ynyt vankihuoneissa v\u00e4hemm\u00e4nkin t\u00e4rkeiss\u00e4 asioissa. Nyt olen\ntullut t\u00e4nne pit\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n huolta, ett\u00e4 oikeus tapahtuu er\u00e4\u00e4lle arvoisalle\nmiehelle, jota kohtaan min\u00e4 tunnen vilpit\u00f6nt\u00e4 kunnioitusta. Min\u00e4\nolen jo kauan aikaa valepuvussa tarkastanut teid\u00e4n is\u00e4nne hyv\u00e4\u00e4\nsyd\u00e4nt\u00e4. H\u00e4nen matalassa majassaan on minun osakseni tullut\nkunnioitusta, jossa ei ollut imartelua, ja h\u00e4nen yksinkertaisen,\nhauskan kotilietens\u00e4 \u00e4\u00e4ress\u00e4 olen nauttinut sellaista onnea,\njota en ole hoveissa l\u00f6yt\u00e4nyt. Veljeni poika on saanut tiet\u00e4\u00e4,\nett\u00e4 min\u00e4 olen aikonut k\u00e4yd\u00e4 t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4, ja n\u00e4kyy h\u00e4nkin saapuneen\nt\u00e4nne. Olisi kohtuutonta sek\u00e4 h\u00e4neen ett\u00e4 teihin n\u00e4hden, jos h\u00e4net\ntutkimatta tuomitseisin. Jos kelle v\u00e4\u00e4ryytt\u00e4 on tehty, niin se\npit\u00e4\u00e4 oikaistaman, ja sen uskallan kerskailematta sanoa, ett'ei\nkell\u00e4\u00e4n ole milloinkaan ollut syyt\u00e4 moittia sir William Thornhillin\noikeamielisyytt\u00e4.\nTuossa siis oli se mies, jota me olimme kauan aikaa pit\u00e4neet\nhyv\u00e4ns\u00e4vyisen\u00e4, hauskana tuttuna talossa, ja h\u00e4n ei ollut kukaan\nmuu kuin kuuluisa sir William Thornhill, jonka hyv\u00e4t avut ja\nomituisuudet olivat kaikkialla tunnetut. Tuo k\u00f6yh\u00e4 mr Burchell olikin\nhyvin nerokas ja vaikutusvaltainen mies. Neuvoskunnat noudattivat\nmielell\u00e4\u00e4n vastaan h\u00e4nen neuvojansa, ja puolueet ne luottamuksella\nh\u00e4nt\u00e4 kuuntelivat. H\u00e4n oli maansa yst\u00e4v\u00e4 ja kuninkaalleen uskollinen.\nVaimo parkani, muistellen, kuinka ylen tuttavallisesti h\u00e4n oli t\u00e4t\u00e4\nherraa kohdellut, oli v\u00e4h\u00e4ll\u00e4 py\u00f6rty\u00e4 pelk\u00e4st\u00e4 s\u00e4ik\u00e4yksest\u00e4, mutta\nSofia, joka hetki sitten oli pit\u00e4nyt h\u00e4nt\u00e4 omanaan, huomasi nyt,\nkuinka \u00e4\u00e4rett\u00f6m\u00e4n juovan varallisuus on heid\u00e4n v\u00e4lillens\u00e4 asettanut,\neik\u00e4 voinut salata kyyneleit\u00e4ns\u00e4.\n-- Voi, sir! -- huudahti vaimoni, varsin surkean n\u00e4k\u00f6isen\u00e4, -- kuinka\non mahdollista, ett\u00e4 te milloinkaan voisitte antaa minulle anteeksi?\nSit\u00e4 kunnioituksen puutetta, jolla min\u00e4 teit\u00e4 kohtelin, silloin kuin\nminulla viimeksi oli kunnia n\u00e4hd\u00e4 teit\u00e4 meill\u00e4, ja niit\u00e4 pilapuheita,\njoita julkenin lasketella, juuri niit\u00e4 pilapuheita, sir, pelk\u00e4\u00e4n m\u00e4,\nte ette milloinkaan voi anteeksi antaa.\n-- Hyv\u00e4 rouva, -- vastasi toinen myh\u00e4illen, -- mink\u00e4 teill\u00e4 oli\npilapuheita, sen oli minulla vastauksia varalla. P\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4k\u00f6\u00f6n koko t\u00e4m\u00e4\nseura, eiv\u00e4tk\u00f6 minun komppani olleet aivan yht\u00e4 hyvi\u00e4 kuin teid\u00e4nkin.\nEn todellakaan voisi t\u00e4ll\u00e4 haavaa olla suutuksissa kehenk\u00e4\u00e4n muuhun\nkuin siihen ihmiseen, joka s\u00e4ik\u00e4ytti t\u00e4m\u00e4n mun tytt\u00f6ni pienen.\nMinulla ei ollut aikaa tarkastaa rosvoa senk\u00e4\u00e4n vertaa, ett\u00e4 voisin\nyleisess\u00e4 kuulutuksessa ilmoittaa h\u00e4nen tuntomerkkins\u00e4. Sanokaas,\narmas Sofia, voisitteko te tuntea h\u00e4net?\n-- En ole siit\u00e4 aivan varma, -- vastasi Sofia.\n-- Muistelen kumminkin, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nell\u00e4 oli iso arpi toisessa\nsilm\u00e4kulmassa.\n-- Suokaa anteeksi, neiti, -- keskeytti Jenkinson, joka oli\nsaapuvilla, -- mutta olkaa hyv\u00e4 ja sanokaa, oliko miehell\u00e4 oma\npunainen tukka?\n-- Luullakseni oli, -- vastasi Sofia.\n-- Ja te, armollinen herra, -- kys\u00e4isi mr Jenkinson, k\u00e4\u00e4ntyen sir\nWilliamin puoleen, -- huomasitteko, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nell\u00e4 oli hyvin pitk\u00e4t\njalat?\n-- En osaa sanoa, -- virkkoi baronetti, kuinka pitk\u00e4t ne olivat,\nmutta nopeasti ne liikkuivat, sen tied\u00e4n, sill\u00e4 pakoon h\u00e4n minulta\np\u00e4\u00e4si, ja siihen en luulisi koko valtakunnassa kenenk\u00e4\u00e4n muun\npystyv\u00e4n.\n-- No niin, armollinen herra, -- huudahti Jenkinson, -- min\u00e4 tunnen\nh\u00e4net! Se on varmaankin sama mies: Englannin nopein juoksija, joka on\nvoittanut Newcastlen kuuluisan Pinwiren. H\u00e4nen nimens\u00e4 on Timoteus\nBaxter. Min\u00e4 tunnen h\u00e4net perin pohjin ja tied\u00e4n h\u00e4nen nykyisen\nolopaikkansakin. Jos teid\u00e4n armonne suvaitsee k\u00e4ske\u00e4 ylivartijan\nl\u00e4hett\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n kaksi miest\u00e4 minun kanssani, niin min\u00e4 lupaan tuoda h\u00e4net\nteid\u00e4n luoksenne v\u00e4hint\u00e4ns\u00e4 tunnin per\u00e4st\u00e4.\nL\u00e4hetettiin sana ylivartijalle, ja h\u00e4n tuli silm\u00e4nr\u00e4p\u00e4yksess\u00e4. Sir\nWilliam kysyi, tunteeko h\u00e4n h\u00e4nt\u00e4.\n-- Kyll\u00e4, armollinen herra, -- vastasi kysytty, -- hyvinh\u00e4n min\u00e4\ntunnen sir William Thornhillin, ja ken h\u00e4nt\u00e4 osaksikin tuntee, se\ntahtoisi tuntea h\u00e4nt\u00e4 yh\u00e4 enemm\u00e4n.\n-- No niin, -- sanoi baronetti, -- min\u00e4 pyyd\u00e4n nyt, ett\u00e4 te minun\nedesvastauksellanne sallitte t\u00e4m\u00e4n miehen l\u00e4hte\u00e4 kahden palvelijanne\nkanssa asioille. Ja koska min\u00e4 olen valtuutettu rauhatuomariksi, niin\nmin\u00e4 puhun teid\u00e4n puolestanne.\n-- Teid\u00e4n lupauksenne on riitt\u00e4v\u00e4, -- vastasi ylivartija, -- ja jos\nminutinkan verran ennakolta annatte minulle viittauksen, niin saatte\nl\u00e4hett\u00e4\u00e4 heid\u00e4t ymp\u00e4ri koko Englannin, minne vaan suvaitsette.\nYlivartijan suostumuksella l\u00e4hetettiin Jenkinson nyt hakemaan\nTimoteus Baxteria. Sill\u00e4 v\u00e4lin huvitti meit\u00e4 suuresti nuorimman\npoikani Billin toimeliaisuus, h\u00e4n kun nyt juuri sis\u00e4\u00e4n tultuansa\njuoksi sir Williamin kaulaan, suutelemaan h\u00e4nt\u00e4. \u00c4iti yritti menn\u00e4\nkurittamaan poikaansa moisesta tungettelemisesta, mutta tuo kunnon\nmies esti sen. H\u00e4n otti Billin, niin repaleisena kuin poika oli,\npolvelleen.\n-- No Bill, sin\u00e4 paksuposkinen vekkuli, virkkoi h\u00e4n, -- viel\u00e4k\u00f6\nmuistat vanhaa Burchell yst\u00e4v\u00e4\u00e4? Ent\u00e4s sin\u00e4, Dick, arvoisa \u00e4ij\u00e4,\noletko sin\u00e4kin t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4? Katsokaas, min\u00e4 en ole unohtanut teit\u00e4.\nSen sanottuaan h\u00e4n antoi kummallekin suuren palan mesileip\u00e4\u00e4, jonka\npoika parat heti s\u00f6iv\u00e4t makeaan suuhunsa: t\u00e4n'aamuna he olivatkin\nsaaneet varsin niukan suuruksen.\nMe k\u00e4vimme p\u00e4iv\u00e4lliselle, vaikka ruuat olivat jo melkein kylmi\u00e4. Sit\u00e4\nennen sir William kirjoitti l\u00e4\u00e4kkeit\u00e4 minun k\u00e4tt\u00e4ni varten, jota\nyh\u00e4 edelleen pakotti. H\u00e4n oli n\u00e4et aikoinaan huviksensa tutkinut\nl\u00e4\u00e4ketiedett\u00e4 ja oli tavallista enemm\u00e4n perehtynyt siihen. L\u00e4\u00e4kkeet\ntuotiin paikkakunnan apteekista, ja heti kuin ne oli pantu kipe\u00e4lle\nk\u00e4sivarrelle, tunsin ilmeist\u00e4 helpotusta.\nP\u00f6yd\u00e4ss\u00e4 meit\u00e4 passasi ylivartija itse, koettaen kohdella meid\u00e4n\nvierastamme niin syv\u00e4ll\u00e4 kunnioituksella kuin suinkin osasi. Mutta\nennenkuin ateria oli loppunut, tuli jo uudestaan sana veljenpojalta,\njoka pyysi p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 set\u00e4ns\u00e4 puheille, puolustamaan viattomuuttansa ja\nkunniaansa. Baronetti suostui ja k\u00e4ski pyyt\u00e4\u00e4 mr Thornhillia sis\u00e4\u00e4n.\nYHDESNELJ\u00c4TT\u00c4 LUKU\nEntisen hyv\u00e4ntahtoisuuden palkinto korkojen kanssa.\nMr Thornhill astui sis\u00e4\u00e4n hymyillen, kuten ainakin, ja yritti\nsyleill\u00e4 set\u00e4\u00e4ns\u00e4, mutta t\u00e4m\u00e4 esti sen halveksivalla viittauksella.\n-- Pois imartelut nyt, sir! -- huudahti baronetti, luoden tulijaan\ntuikean katseen. -- Ainoa tie minun syd\u00e4meeni k\u00e4y kunnian polkua\npitkin, mutta t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 en n\u00e4e kuin moninkertaista petollisuutta,\npelkuriutta ja sortoa. Mist\u00e4 se tulee, sir, ett\u00e4 t\u00e4t\u00e4 mies parkaa,\njonka yst\u00e4v\u00e4n\u00e4 te, kuten tied\u00e4n, lupasitte olla, on kohdeltu,\nniin tylysti? Tyt\u00e4r on konnamaisesti vietelty, palkinnoksi is\u00e4n\nvieraanvaraisuudesta, ja vanha is\u00e4 heitetty vankihuoneesen, siit\u00e4\nsyyst\u00e4 kaiketi, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n pani loukkauksen pahaksensa! Ja h\u00e4nen\npoikansakin, jota et rohjennut miehen tavalla...\n-- Kuinka, sir! -- keskeytti squire, -- lukeeko minun set\u00e4ni\ntodellakin minulle viaksi sen, ett\u00e4 min\u00e4, mit\u00e4 viimeksi mainittuun\nseikkaan tulee, olin ryhtym\u00e4tt\u00e4 sellaiseen tekoon, mist\u00e4 juuri h\u00e4n\nitse on minua alinoman varoitellut?\n-- Sinun muistutuksesi, -- lausui sir William, -- on oikea. Siin\u00e4\nkohden olet menetellyt ymm\u00e4rt\u00e4v\u00e4isesti ja hyvin, vaikk'et aivan niin\nkuin is\u00e4 vainajasi olisi tehnyt; mutta veljeni oli kunnian mies, jota\nvastoin sin\u00e4... no niin, siin\u00e4 kohden teit oikein, ja min\u00e4 hyv\u00e4ksyn\ntekosi.\n-- Ja niinp\u00e4, toivoakseni, -- jatkoi veljenpoika, -- eiv\u00e4t minun\nmuutkaan toimeni ansaitse moitetta. Min\u00e4 olen esiintynyt t\u00e4m\u00e4n herran\ntytt\u00e4ren kanssa julkisissa huvipaikoissa. T\u00e4lle ajattelemattomalle\nteolle antoivat sitten pahat kielet paljoa h\u00e4ijymm\u00e4n nimen, ja\nminusta levitettiin se huhu, ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 muka olin vietellyt h\u00e4net.\nMin\u00e4 k\u00e4vin h\u00e4nen is\u00e4ns\u00e4 luona, sovittaakseni asian t\u00e4ydellisesti,\nmutta minut vastaan-otettiin pelkill\u00e4 soimauksilla ja solvauksilla.\nJa mit\u00e4 vihdoin siihen tulee, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n on t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4, niin minun\nasian-ajajani ja voutini saattavat parhaiten selitt\u00e4\u00e4 sen seikan,\nsill\u00e4 min\u00e4 olen t\u00e4llaiset asiat antanut kokonaan heid\u00e4n haltuunsa.\nJos h\u00e4n on joutunut velkoihin, joita h\u00e4n ei tahdo tahi voi maksaa,\nniin oli heid\u00e4n velvollisuutensa menetell\u00e4 n\u00e4in, enk\u00e4 min\u00e4 puolestani\nn\u00e4e mit\u00e4\u00e4n tylyytt\u00e4 tai v\u00e4\u00e4ryytt\u00e4 siin\u00e4, ett\u00e4 koettaa laillisella\ntavalla saada omansa takaisin.\n-- Jos asia on niin kuin sanoit, -- virkkoi sir William, -- niin ei\nsinun rikoksessasi ole mit\u00e4\u00e4n anteeksi-antamatonta, ja vaikka sin\u00e4\nolisit menetellyt jalomielisemmin, elles olisi alamaistesi sallinut\nniin tylysti kohdella t\u00e4t\u00e4 herraa, niin on sinulla ainakin laillinen\noikeus puolellasi.\n-- H\u00e4n ei voi kumota ainoatakaan v\u00e4itett\u00e4ni, -- vastasi squire.\n-- Min\u00e4 vaadin h\u00e4nt\u00e4 tekem\u00e4\u00e4n sen, ja monet minun palvelijoistani\novat valmiit todistamaan olevani oikeassa. Niin, sir, -- jatkoi\nh\u00e4n, huomattuaan minun vaikenevan, ja mahdotonhan minun todellakin\noli tehd\u00e4 tyhj\u00e4ksi, mit\u00e4 h\u00e4n oli sanonut, -- niin, sir, nyt olen\nmin\u00e4 todistanut olevani viaton, mutta vaikka olisinkin altis teid\u00e4n\npyynn\u00f6st\u00e4nne antamaan h\u00e4nelle muut solvaukset anteeksi, niin en\nvoi hillit\u00e4 suuttumustani siit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n on yritt\u00e4nyt halventaa\nminua teid\u00e4n silmiss\u00e4nne, tehden sen viel\u00e4 samaan aikaan kuin h\u00e4nen\npoikansa todellakin v\u00e4jyi minun henke\u00e4ni. T\u00e4m\u00e4, sanon min\u00e4, on niin\nkatalaa, ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 olen p\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt antaa lain tehd\u00e4 teht\u00e4v\u00e4ns\u00e4. T\u00e4ss\u00e4\non tuo minulle l\u00e4hetetty vaatimus kaksintaisteluun, ja minulla on\nkaksi vierasta miest\u00e4, jotka vahvistavat todeksi sen, ett\u00e4 yksi minun\npalvelijoistani on vaarallisesti haavoitettu. Ja vaikka set\u00e4 itse\nkehoittaisi minua luopumaan aikeestani -- sit\u00e4 h\u00e4n ei kumminkaan tee,\n-- niin vaadin min\u00e4 kumminkin, ett\u00e4 t\u00e4ss\u00e4 asiassa tapahtuu oikeutta\nmy\u00f6ten, ja ett\u00e4 rikoksentekij\u00e4 saa k\u00e4rsi\u00e4 rangaistuksensa.\n-- Sin\u00e4 sen hirvi\u00f6! -- huudahti vaimoni. Vai et sin\u00e4 vainen viel\u00e4\nole saanut kostoa kyltiksesi? Vai pit\u00e4\u00e4 viel\u00e4 poikani poloisen saada\ntuta sinun julmuuttasi? Min\u00e4 toivon, ett\u00e4 hyv\u00e4ntahtoinen sir William\nsuojelee meit\u00e4, sill\u00e4 minun poikani on viaton kuin lapsi, se on vissi\nse, eik\u00e4 ole tehnyt pahaa kellenk\u00e4\u00e4n.\n-- Hyv\u00e4 rouva! -- vastasi hyv\u00e4ntahtoinen sir William. -- Teid\u00e4n\ntoivonne poikanne pelastumisesta ei saata olla hartaampi kuin\nminunkaan, mutta mielipahakseni huomaan, h\u00e4nen syyllisyytens\u00e4\nliiankin ilmeiseksi. Ja jos vaan veljenpoikana yh\u00e4 edelleen vaatii...\nSamassa kiintyi huomiomme kokonaan toisaanne. Jenkinson ja\nylivartijan kaksi palvelijaa astuivat sis\u00e4\u00e4n, mukanaan muuan pitk\u00e4\nmies hyviss\u00e4 vaatteissa, ennen saadun kuvauksen mukaan juuri sen\nrosvon n\u00e4k\u00f6inen, joka oli tytt\u00e4reni ry\u00f6st\u00e4nyt.\n-- Kas t\u00e4ss\u00e4, -- huudahti Jenkinson, ty\u00f6nt\u00e4en h\u00e4net sis\u00e4\u00e4n, -- kas\nt\u00e4ss\u00e4 h\u00e4n on, ja jos kell\u00e4 lie Tyborniin[17] etuoikeus, niin ainakin\nt\u00e4ll\u00e4 miehell\u00e4.\nTuskin oli mr Thornhill n\u00e4hnyt vangin ja h\u00e4nen vartijanaan\nJenkinsonin, niin jo h\u00e4tk\u00e4hti s\u00e4ik\u00e4yksest\u00e4. H\u00e4n kalpeni, kuten\nkonsanaankin pahantekij\u00e4, joka huomaa joutuneensa kiinni. H\u00e4n olisi\npuikahtanut tiehens\u00e4, mutta Jenkinson arvasi h\u00e4nen aikeensa ja\npys\u00e4ytti h\u00e4net.\n-- Hohoo, squire! -- huudahti h\u00e4n. -- H\u00e4pe\u00e4ttek\u00f6 kahta vanhaa\ntuttuanne, Jenkinsonia ja Baxteria? Mutta niinh\u00e4n ne suuret herrat\naina unohtavat yst\u00e4v\u00e4ns\u00e4. Min\u00e4 puolestani olen p\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt, ett\u00e4 me\nemme unohda teit\u00e4. Teid\u00e4n armonne, -- jatkoi h\u00e4n, k\u00e4\u00e4ntyen sir\nWilliamin puoleen, -- meid\u00e4n vankimme on jo tunnustanut kaikki. T\u00e4ss\u00e4\nse nyt on se gentleman, joka muka oli niin vaarallisesti haavoitettu.\nH\u00e4n sanoo, ett\u00e4 juuri mr Thornhill oli pannut h\u00e4net t\u00e4h\u00e4n leikkiin ja\nantanut h\u00e4nelle n\u00e4m\u00e4 vaatteet, jotta olisi oikein herran n\u00e4k\u00f6inen,\nja toimittanut h\u00e4nelle postivaunut. T\u00e4llainen oli heill\u00e4 ollut\nsuostumus: Baxter viepi neitosen ensin turvalliseen paikkaan ja\nrupeaa h\u00e4nt\u00e4 pelottamaan uhkauksillansa; samassa tulee mr Thornhill\nik\u00e4\u00e4nkuin sattumoisin saapuville ja pelastaa h\u00e4net. Ensin herrat\nkumminkin miekkailevat jonkun aikaa, ja sitten l\u00e4htee Baxter pakoon;\nsiten on mr Thornhillill\u00e4, pelastajana muka, parempi tilaisuus p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4\nneiden suosioon.\nSir William muisti n\u00e4hneens\u00e4 tuon saman takin useinkin veljenpoikansa\np\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4. Kaikki muut seikat vahvisti vanki todeksi, kertoen\ntapaukset juurta jaksain. Lopuksi h\u00e4n sanoi mr Thornhillin useinkin\nvakuuttaneen h\u00e4nelle olevansa yht'aikaa rakastunut kumpaakin sisareen.\n-- Hyv\u00e4 Jumala! -- huudahti sir William. -- Millaista olenkaan\nel\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt k\u00e4\u00e4rmett\u00e4 povessani! Ja niin kiihke\u00e4 kuin h\u00e4n n\u00e4kyi olevan\nsaamaan lain voimaa k\u00e4yt\u00e4nt\u00f6\u00f6n! Mutta h\u00e4n on saapa sen. Ylivartija,\nottakaa talteen h\u00e4net... taikka... malttakaa! Pelk\u00e4\u00e4np\u00e4, ettei\nviel\u00e4 ole laillista syyt\u00e4 h\u00e4nen vangitsemiseensa.\nMr Thornhill pyysi silloin per\u00e4ti n\u00f6yrtyneen\u00e4, ett'ei toki kahta\ntuollaista viheli\u00e4ist\u00e4 hylki\u00f6t\u00e4 p\u00e4\u00e4stett\u00e4isi todistamaan h\u00e4nt\u00e4\nvastaan, vaan ett\u00e4 kuulusteltaisiin h\u00e4nen palvelijoitansa.\n-- Sinun palvelijoitasi! -- vastasi sir William. -- Konna, \u00e4l\u00e4 sano\nheit\u00e4 omiksesi en\u00e4\u00e4! Mutta kuullaanpa, mit\u00e4 heill\u00e4 on sanomista.\nK\u00e4skek\u00e4\u00e4 hovimestari t\u00e4nne.\nSis\u00e4\u00e4n tultuansa, hovimestari huomasi mr Thornhillin katseesta heti\nkohta, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nen entiselt\u00e4 herraltaan on kaikki mahti mennyt.\n-- Sano minulle, -- lausui sir William ankarasti, -- oletko n\u00e4hnyt\nis\u00e4nt\u00e4\u00e4si ja t\u00e4t\u00e4 miest\u00e4 herrasi vaatteissa koskaan yhdess\u00e4?\n-- Kyll\u00e4, armollinen herra, -- vastasi hovimestari, -- senkin\nseitsem\u00e4n kertaa. T\u00e4m\u00e4 miesh\u00e4n se aina meid\u00e4n herralle ladyj\u00e4 toi.\n-- Mitenk\u00e4? -- keskeytti nuori mr Thornhill, -- uskallatko minun\nl\u00e4sn\u00e4ollessani...?\n-- Uskallan, -- vastasi toinen, -- teid\u00e4n ja kenen hyv\u00e4ns\u00e4. Suoraan\npuhuen, nuori herra, en min\u00e4 teist\u00e4 milloinkaan ole pit\u00e4nyt enk\u00e4\nteit\u00e4 suvainnut. Enk\u00e4 min\u00e4 v\u00e4lit\u00e4 v\u00e4h\u00e4\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n, vaikka sanonkin,\nmillainen mies te minusta n\u00e4hden oikeastaan olette.\n-- No niin, -- virkkoi Jenkinson v\u00e4liin, -- kerropas armolliselle\nherralle, tied\u00e4tk\u00f6s minusta mit\u00e4.\n-- Enp\u00e4 saata sinusta kovin paljoa hyv\u00e4\u00e4 sanoa, -- vastasi\nhovimestari. -- Sin\u00e4 iltana kuin vanhan herran tyt\u00e4r houkuteltiin\nmeille, olit sin\u00e4 mukana.\n-- Kas niin! -- huudahti sir William. -- Oletpa saanut aivan\nerinomaisen vieraanmiehen todistamaan viattomuuttasi, sin\u00e4\nihmiskunnan h\u00e4pe\u00e4pilkku! Olla tekemisiss\u00e4 sellaisten roistojen kanssa!\nJatkaen sitten tutkimustaan, h\u00e4n virkkoi hovimestarille:\n-- Sanoitko t\u00e4m\u00e4n miehen tuoneen is\u00e4nt\u00e4si luokse vanhan tohtorin\ntytt\u00e4ren?\n-- En, armollinen herra, -- vastasi hovimestari, -- ei h\u00e4n neitt\u00e4\ntuonut, sill\u00e4 squire toi h\u00e4net itse, mutta papin t\u00e4m\u00e4 toi muka\nvihkim\u00e4\u00e4n heit\u00e4.\n-- Se on ihan totta, -- huudahti Jenkinson; -- minun t\u00e4ytyy\nh\u00e4pe\u00e4kseni tunnustaa, ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 sen toimen sain suorittaakseni.\n-- Hyv\u00e4 Is\u00e4! -- huudahti baronetti. -- Yh\u00e4 uusia kauhistuttavia\nkonnant\u00f6it\u00e4 vaan! H\u00e4nen syyllisyytens\u00e4 on nyt p\u00e4iv\u00e4n selv\u00e4, ja min\u00e4\nhuomaan, ett\u00e4 syyn\u00e4 h\u00e4nen nykyiseen menettelyyns\u00e4 on ollut pelkk\u00e4\njulmuus, pelkurius ja kostonhimo. Ylivartija, p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4 tuo nuori\nupseeri, joka on teid\u00e4n vankinanne, heti kohta vapaaksi. Min\u00e4 vastaan\nseurauksista. Min\u00e4 otan selitt\u00e4\u00e4kseni asiat oikeassa valossa sille\nvirkamiehelle, yst\u00e4v\u00e4lleni, joka l\u00e4hetti h\u00e4net t\u00e4nne. Mutta miss\u00e4\non tuo nuori lady itse? Tulkoon h\u00e4n, jotta saisimme asettaa h\u00e4net\nvastatusten t\u00e4m\u00e4n kurjan miehen kanssa. Minun t\u00e4ytyy saada tiet\u00e4\u00e4,\nmill\u00e4 tavoin t\u00e4m\u00e4 on h\u00e4net vietellyt. Pyyt\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n olisi hyv\u00e4\nja tulisi sis\u00e4\u00e4n. Miss\u00e4 h\u00e4n on?\n-- Voi, sir! -- virkoin min\u00e4. -- Tuo kysymys on pistos syd\u00e4meeni.\nKerran olin niin onnellinen, ett\u00e4 minulla oli tyt\u00e4r, mutta h\u00e4nen kova\nkohtalonsa...\n\u00c4kkin\u00e4inen tapaus keskeytti minut, sill\u00e4 sis\u00e4\u00e4n astui -- kukas muu\nkuin miss Arabella Wilmot, joka parin p\u00e4iv\u00e4n per\u00e4st\u00e4 piti vihitt\u00e4m\u00e4n\nmr Thornhillin kanssa! Sanomattomasti h\u00e4n h\u00e4mm\u00e4styi, n\u00e4hty\u00e4\u00e4n t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4\nsir Williamin ja h\u00e4nen veljenpoikansa, sill\u00e4 h\u00e4nen tulonsa t\u00e4nne oli\naivan satunnaista. H\u00e4n oli nimitt\u00e4in vanhan is\u00e4ns\u00e4 kanssa matkalla\nkaupungin kautta t\u00e4tins\u00e4 luokse, joka oli vaatimalla vaatinut, ett\u00e4\nh\u00e4nen ja mr Thornhillin h\u00e4\u00e4t vietett\u00e4isiin h\u00e4nen talossaan. He\nolivat pys\u00e4htyneet lev\u00e4ht\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n er\u00e4\u00e4sen majataloon toisessa p\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4\nkaupunkia. Siell\u00e4 oli miss Arabella akkunasta n\u00e4hnyt toisen minun\npikku pojistani leikkiv\u00e4n kadulla ja samassa l\u00e4hett\u00e4nyt lakeijansa\nhakemaan pojan luokseen. Pojalta h\u00e4n oli saanut hiukan tietoja meid\u00e4n\nkovasta kohtalostamme, ei kumminkaan sit\u00e4, ett\u00e4 mr Thornhill oli\nollut siihen syyp\u00e4\u00e4. Turhaan oli is\u00e4 koettanut h\u00e4nelle selitt\u00e4\u00e4,\nkuinka sopimatonta on menn\u00e4 vankihuoneesen meit\u00e4 tervehtim\u00e4\u00e4n, mutta\nmiss Wilmot oli pyyt\u00e4nyt pojan saattamaan h\u00e4nt\u00e4 t\u00e4nne, ja n\u00e4in h\u00e4n\noli yll\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt meid\u00e4t niin odottamattomissa oloissa.\nMe olimme kaikki \u00e4\u00e4neti kotvan aikaa, ja s\u00e4\u00e4li\u00e4 sek\u00e4 h\u00e4mm\u00e4styst\u00e4\nt\u00e4ynn\u00e4\u00e4n katseli meit\u00e4 miss Arabella, entist\u00e4ns\u00e4 ihanampana tuossa\ntuo minun vieh\u00e4tt\u00e4v\u00e4 holhokkini, joksi min\u00e4 h\u00e4nt\u00e4 tavallisesti sanoin.\n-- Mutta, hyv\u00e4 mr Thornhill -- virkkoi h\u00e4n squirelle, jonka h\u00e4n\notaksui tulleen meit\u00e4 auttamaan eik\u00e4 sortamaan, -- minun mielest\u00e4ni\nte olitte ep\u00e4yst\u00e4v\u00e4llinen, kun tulitte t\u00e4nne ilman minua ettek\u00e4 edes\nole maininnutkaan minulle t\u00e4m\u00e4n meille kummallekin niin kalliin\nperheen kovasta kohtalosta! Tied\u00e4tteh\u00e4n te, ett\u00e4 min\u00e4kin osaltani\nolisin ollut yht\u00e4 kernaasti kuin tekin auttamassa vanhaa arvoisata\nopettajaani, jota min\u00e4 alati olen pit\u00e4v\u00e4 kunniassa. Mutta min\u00e4\nhuomaan, ett\u00e4 teid\u00e4n, niinkuin set\u00e4nnekin, on mieluista tehd\u00e4 hyv\u00e4\u00e4\nsalassa.\n-- H\u00e4nenk\u00f6 mieluista tehd\u00e4 hyv\u00e4\u00e4! -- huudahti sir William. -- Ei,\narvoisa neiti! H\u00e4nen mielihyv\u00e4ns\u00e4 ovat yht\u00e4 kehnoja kuin h\u00e4n itsekin.\nTe n\u00e4ette tuossa suurimman heitti\u00f6n, mik\u00e4 ikin\u00e4 on ihmiskunnalle\nh\u00e4pe\u00e4t\u00e4 tuottanut, konnan, joka vietelty\u00e4\u00e4n t\u00e4m\u00e4n mies paran\nvanhimman tytt\u00e4ren ja koeteltuaan saada pauloihinsa h\u00e4nen viattoman\nnuoremmankin tytt\u00e4rens\u00e4, on vankihuoneesen saattanut is\u00e4n ja\nkahleisin panettanut vanhimman pojan, joka rohkeni ruveta petturia\nvastustamaan. Ja sallikaa minun nyt, neiti, onnitella teit\u00e4, ett\u00e4\nolette p\u00e4\u00e4ssyt tuollaisen hirvi\u00f6n syleilyist\u00e4.\n-- Voi, hyv\u00e4 Jumala! -- huokasi tuo rakastettava tytt\u00f6. -- N\u00e4ink\u00f6\nminua on petetty! Mr Thornhill vakuutti minulle tohtorin vanhimman\npojan, kapteeni Primrosen, l\u00e4hteneen Amerikaan nuoren rouvansa kanssa.\n-- Armas neiti! -- huudahti vaimoni. -- H\u00e4n on puhunut teille pelkk\u00e4\u00e4\nvalhetta. Yrj\u00f6 poikani ei ole milloinkaan l\u00e4htenyt muille maille eik\u00e4\nole naimisissakaan. Vaikka te olittekin hylj\u00e4nnyt h\u00e4net, niin h\u00e4n on\nkumminkin aina rakastanut teit\u00e4 eik\u00e4 ole muita ajatellutkaan. Min\u00e4\nolen kuullut h\u00e4nen sanovan, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n aikoo teid\u00e4n t\u00e4htenne pysy\u00e4\nnaimatonna ik\u00e4ns\u00e4 kaiken.\nJa sitten alkoi \u00e4iti laveasti selitell\u00e4, kuinka uskollista h\u00e4nen\npoikansa rakkaus on, ja kertoi h\u00e4nen kaksintaistelunsa mr Thornhillin\nkanssa oikeassa valossa. Sitten h\u00e4n piankin siirtyi puhumaan squiren\nirstaisesta el\u00e4m\u00e4st\u00e4, h\u00e4nen v\u00e4\u00e4rist\u00e4 avioliitoistaan, ja p\u00e4\u00e4tti\npuheensa per\u00e4ti herjaavaan kuvaukseen h\u00e4nen pelkurimaisuudestansa.\n-- Voi kuitenkin! -- vaikeroi miss Wilmot. -- Kuinka l\u00e4hell\u00e4 olenkaan\nollut turmiotani! Ja kuinka riemullista on nyt, kun olen siit\u00e4\npelastanut! Tuhansia ep\u00e4totuuksia h\u00e4n on minulle puhunut. Kavalilla\njuonillaan h\u00e4n vihdoin sai aikaan sen, ett'en min\u00e4 en\u00e4\u00e4 pit\u00e4nyt\nsitovana lupaustani sille ainoalle miehelle, jota olen kunnioittanut,\nmutta jonka nyt luulin olleen minulle uskottoman. H\u00e4nen v\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4t\npuheensa saattoivat minut halveksimaan sit\u00e4 miest\u00e4, joka on yht\u00e4\nurhoollinen kuin jalomielinenkin.\nPoikani oli nyt vapaa lain m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4\u00e4m\u00e4st\u00e4 pakosta, koskapa haavoitetuksi\nsanottu henkil\u00f6 oli huomattu petturiksi. Mr Jenkinson oli ottanut\nollaksensa poikani kamaripalvelijana, oli k\u00e4hert\u00e4nyt h\u00e4nen tukkansa\nja hankkinut h\u00e4nelle kaikki, mit\u00e4 tarpeellista oli, jotta nuori\nupseeri voisi esiinty\u00e4 niin s\u00e4\u00e4dyllisess\u00e4 asussa kuin suinkin. H\u00e4n\nastui nyt sis\u00e4\u00e4n rykmenttins\u00e4 somassa uniformussa, ja minun t\u00e4ytyy\nsanoa -- ilman turhamaisuutta, sill\u00e4 sit\u00e4 minussa ei en\u00e4\u00e4 ole -- ett\u00e4\nh\u00e4n oli niin kaunis kuin mies ikin\u00e4 sotilaspuvussa olla saattaa.\nKainosti ja v\u00e4lttelev\u00e4sti h\u00e4n kumarsi miss Wilmotille, h\u00e4n kun ei\nviel\u00e4 tiennyt, mink\u00e4 muutoksen h\u00e4nen \u00e4itins\u00e4 kaunopuheliaisuus oli\nsaanut aikaan h\u00e4nen eduksensa. Mutta nyt eiv\u00e4t mitk\u00e4\u00e4n s\u00e4\u00e4dyllisyyden\ns\u00e4\u00e4nn\u00f6t voineet hillit\u00e4 h\u00e4nen punastuvan armaansa maltittomuutta:\nh\u00e4nen t\u00e4ytyi p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 sovintoon Yrj\u00f6ns\u00e4 kanssa. H\u00e4nen kyynelens\u00e4, h\u00e4nen\nkatseensa -- kaikki ilmaisi, mit\u00e4 h\u00e4n syd\u00e4mens\u00e4 syvimmiss\u00e4 tuntee,\nh\u00e4n, joka oli rikkonut ensimm\u00e4isen lupauksensa ja sallinut petturin\nviekotella h\u00e4net pauloihinsa. Poikani n\u00e4kyi olevan h\u00e4mm\u00e4stynyt h\u00e4nen\nherttaisuudestaan ja tuskin saattoi uskoa sit\u00e4 todeksi.\n-- Neiti! -- huudahti h\u00e4n. -- T\u00e4m\u00e4 on varmaankin harhan\u00e4ky\u00e4.\nMin'en ole t\u00e4t\u00e4 koskaan ansainnut. N\u00e4in suuri onni minulle, se on\nylenpalttista!\n-- Ei, sir, -- vastasi miss Wilmot, -- minut on petetty,\nhalpamaisesti petetty; muutoin en olisi mill\u00e4\u00e4n muotoa lupaustani\nrikkonut. Te tied\u00e4tte, mit\u00e4 min\u00e4 teist\u00e4 ajattelen, ja olette sen jo\nkauan aikaa tiet\u00e4nyt, mutta unohtakaa, mit\u00e4 tehnyt olen, ja niinkuin\nmin\u00e4 kerran ennen lupasin teille uskollisuutta, niin lupajan nyt\nviel\u00e4 kerran, ja olkaa vakuutettu, ett\u00e4, ellei teid\u00e4n Arabellanne\nsaata tulla teid\u00e4n omaksenne, niin ei h\u00e4n toisenkaan omaksi tule.\n-- Ettek\u00e4 te kenenk\u00e4\u00e4n toisen omaksi tulekaan, -- lausui sir William,\n-- jos minulla niit\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n vaikutusvaltaa on teid\u00e4n is\u00e4\u00e4nne.\nT\u00e4m\u00e4n viittauksen kuultuaan, Moses poikani riensi samassa majataloon,\njonne vanha herra oli j\u00e4\u00e4nyt, riensi kertomaan h\u00e4nelle juurta jaksain\nkaikki, mit\u00e4 t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 oli tapahtunut.\nT\u00e4ll\u00e4 v\u00e4lin oli squire huomannut olevansa ahtaalla kaikilta puolin.\nH\u00e4n n\u00e4ki, ett'ei t\u00e4ss\u00e4 imartelulla ja teeskentelyll\u00e4 en\u00e4\u00e4 niit\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n\naikaan saa. Senvuoksi h\u00e4n p\u00e4\u00e4tti astua avoimin kyp\u00e4rin vastustajainsa\neteen. Ja niinp\u00e4 h\u00e4n, pannen pois kaiken h\u00e4vyn, esiintyi julkeana,\npaatuneena konnana.\n-- Min\u00e4 n\u00e4en, -- huudahti h\u00e4n, -- ett'ei minun ole toivomistakaan\nsaada t\u00e4\u00e4ll\u00e4 oikeutta, mutta min\u00e4 olen p\u00e4\u00e4tt\u00e4nyt saada sen. Tiet\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4,\nsir, -- virkkoi h\u00e4n, k\u00e4\u00e4ntyen sir Williamiin, min'en en\u00e4\u00e4 aio olla\nteid\u00e4n suosiostanne riippuvainen raukka; min\u00e4 halveksin sit\u00e4. Kenk\u00e4\u00e4n\nei saata riist\u00e4\u00e4 minun k\u00e4sist\u00e4ni miss Wilmotin omaisuutta, joka\nh\u00e4nen is\u00e4ns\u00e4 toimeliaisuuden kautta on karttunut hyvinkin suureksi.\nAviokontrahti ja s\u00e4\u00e4d\u00f6s h\u00e4nen my\u00f6t\u00e4j\u00e4isist\u00e4\u00e4n on allekirjoitettu ja\nminun huostassani. H\u00e4nen omaisuutensa se on eik\u00e4 h\u00e4nen personansa,\njoka on saattanut minut toivomaan t\u00e4t\u00e4 avioliittoa, ja kun minulla on\nedellinen, niin ottakoon j\u00e4lkimm\u00e4isen ken tahtoo.\nT\u00e4m\u00e4 oli tuntuva isku. Sir Williamin t\u00e4ytyi my\u00f6nt\u00e4\u00e4 h\u00e4nen\nvaatimuksensa oikeutetuiksi, sill\u00e4 h\u00e4n itse oli ollut mukana\naviokontrahtia laadittaessa. Miss Wilmot, n\u00e4hdess\u00e4\u00e4n omaisuutensa\nolevan ehdottomasti mennytt\u00e4, k\u00e4\u00e4ntyi poikani puoleen, kys\u00e4isten,\nonko h\u00e4n omaisuutensa menetetty\u00e4\u00e4nkin viel\u00e4 yht\u00e4 rakas armaallensa.\n-- Omaisuuteni, -- virkkoi h\u00e4n -- ei en\u00e4\u00e4 ole vallassani, mutta oma\nitseni kyll\u00e4 viel\u00e4kin.\n-- Ja seh\u00e4n, neiti, -- vastasi h\u00e4nen uskollinen lempij\u00e4ns\u00e4, -- seh\u00e4n\ntodella olikin kaikki, mit\u00e4 teill\u00e4 milloinkaan on ollut annettavana;\nmin'en ainakaan ole millek\u00e4\u00e4n muulle arvoa pannut. Ja min\u00e4 tunnustan,\nrakas Arabella, kaiken sen nimess\u00e4, mit\u00e4 onneksi sanotaan, ett\u00e4\nteid\u00e4n omaisuutenne kadottaminen tekee minut kaksin verroin\nonnelliseksi, siit\u00e4 kun mun oma lemmittyni saa vakuutuksen minun\nvilpitt\u00f6myydest\u00e4ni.\nMr Wilmot tuli samassa. H\u00e4n n\u00e4ytti olevan sangen iloinen, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4nen\ntytt\u00e4rens\u00e4 vast'ik\u00e4\u00e4n oli v\u00e4ltt\u00e4nyt vaaran, ja suostui heti purkamaan\naikeessa olleen avioliiton. Mutta kuultuaan, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n samalla\nkadottaa omaisuutensa, se kun oli laillisella s\u00e4\u00e4d\u00f6ksell\u00e4 siirtynyt\nmr Thornhillille, h\u00e4n harmistui sanomattomasti. H\u00e4n n\u00e4ki olevansa\npakotettu tekem\u00e4\u00e4n rahoillaan rikkaaksi miehen, jolla itsell\u00e4\u00e4n ei\nole mit\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n. H\u00e4n saattoi viel\u00e4 siet\u00e4\u00e4 sen, ett\u00e4 t\u00e4m\u00e4 mies on roisto,\nmutta j\u00e4\u00e4d\u00e4 ilman mit\u00e4\u00e4n korvausta tytt\u00e4rens\u00e4 omaisuudesta, se h\u00e4nt\u00e4\nmyrkytti. H\u00e4n istuikin hetken aikaa, vaipuneena varsin tuskallisiin\nmietteisin, kunnes sir William k\u00e4vi lievitt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n h\u00e4nen murhettansa.\n-- Minun t\u00e4ytyy tunnustaa, sir, -- lausui h\u00e4n, -- ett'ei teid\u00e4n\nnykyinen harminne ole minulle aivan vastenmielinen. Teid\u00e4n liiallinen\nhimonne ker\u00e4t\u00e4 omaisuutta on nyt saanut oikeanmukaisen rangaistuksen.\nMutta vaikk'ei tytt\u00e4renne voikaan en\u00e4\u00e4 olla rikas, niin saattaa h\u00e4n\nkumminkin olla tyytyv\u00e4inen. T\u00e4ss\u00e4 nuori sotilas, joka on valmis\nottamaan h\u00e4net ilman omaisuutta. He ovat kauan aikaa rakastaneet\ntoisiansa, ja sen yst\u00e4vyyden nojalla, jota tunnen nuoren herran is\u00e4\u00e4\nkohtaan, olen min\u00e4 puolestani oleva avullinen h\u00e4nen pyrinn\u00f6iss\u00e4\u00e4n.\nHeitt\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4 siis pois tuo kunnianhimo, joka teille pelkk\u00e4\u00e4 mieliharmia\ntuottaa, ja tyytyk\u00e4\u00e4 siihen onneen, joka vaan odottaa teid\u00e4n\nvastaan-ottoanne.\n-- Sir William, -- vastasi vanha herra, en ole milloinkaan h\u00e4nen\ntoiveillensa esteit\u00e4 eteenpannut enk\u00e4 nytk\u00e4\u00e4n sit\u00e4 tee. Jos h\u00e4n yh\u00e4\nedelleen rakastaa t\u00e4t\u00e4 nuorta herraa, niin ottakoon h\u00e4net; min\u00e4 suon\nsen syd\u00e4meni pohjasta. Onhan minulla, Jumalan kiitos, jonkun verran\nomaisuutta j\u00e4ljell\u00e4 viel\u00e4, ja teid\u00e4n lupauksenne tekee sen yh\u00e4ti\nsuuremmaksi. Ja jos vaan t\u00e4m\u00e4 vanha yst\u00e4v\u00e4 t\u00e4ss\u00e4 (h\u00e4n tarkoitti\nminua) lupaa panna kuusituhatta puntaa tytt\u00e4reni varalle, siin\u00e4\ntapauksessa nimitt\u00e4in, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n joskus maailmassa omaisuutensa\ntakaisin saa, niin min\u00e4 t\u00e4n'iltana ensimm\u00e4isen\u00e4 liit\u00e4n nuoret yhteen.\nKoska nyt nuorten onni riippui minusta, niin min\u00e4 kernaasti lupasin\ntehd\u00e4 tuon vaaditun s\u00e4\u00e4d\u00f6ksen, ja seh\u00e4n ei ollut kovinkaan suurta\nauliutta sellaiselta, jolla oli niin v\u00e4h\u00e4n rikastumisen toiveita kuin\nminulla. Ja niinp\u00e4 me nyt mielihyviksemme n\u00e4imme nuorten riemuissaan\nrient\u00e4v\u00e4n toistensa syliin.\n-- Saada n\u00e4in paljo suloa, -- huudahti Yrj\u00f6, -- kaikkien kovan onnen\niskujen j\u00e4lkeen... se on enemm\u00e4n kuin olisin milloinkaan voinut\ntoivoa! Saada kaikki, mik\u00e4 hyv\u00e4\u00e4 on, niin monivuotisten k\u00e4rsimysten\nper\u00e4st\u00e4... eiv\u00e4t rohkeimmatkaan pyyteeni olisi voineet kohota niin\nkorkealle!\n-- Niin, armas Yrj\u00f6, -- virkkoi h\u00e4nen herttainen morsiamensa, --\nottakoon tuo kurja mies omaisuuteni kaiken; jos sin\u00e4 vaan olet ilman\nsit\u00e4kin onnellinen, niin olen min\u00e4 my\u00f6s. Oi mik\u00e4 vaihdos: kehnoimman\nmiehen sijaan miehist\u00e4 parhain ja armain! Nauttikoon h\u00e4n vaan\nomaisuudestamme; min\u00e4 olen nyt k\u00f6yh\u00e4n\u00e4kin onnellinen.\n-- Ja min\u00e4, -- virkkoi squire pilkallisella virnistyksell\u00e4, -- min\u00e4\nlupaan onnekseni nauttia kaikkea sit\u00e4, mink\u00e4 te ylenkatsotte.\n-- Malttakaas, malttakaas, sir! -- huudahti Jenkinson. -- On t\u00e4ss\u00e4\nsolmussa viel\u00e4 toinenkin mutka. Ja mit\u00e4 ladyn omaisuuteen tulee,\nsir, niin siit\u00e4 te ette saa ropoakaan. Sallikaas, armollinen herra,\nlis\u00e4si h\u00e4n, k\u00e4\u00e4ntyen sir Williamiin, -- saattaakos squire saada ladyn\nomaisuuden, vaikka olisi naimisissa toisen kanssa?\n-- Mik\u00e4 typer\u00e4 kysymys? -- vastasi baronetti.\n-- Tietysti ei.\n-- Mieleni on paha, -- virkkoi Jenkinson, sill\u00e4 koska me t\u00e4m\u00e4n\ngentlemanin kanssa olemme olleet vanhastaan veijarikumppanuksia, niin\non minussa hiukan yst\u00e4vyytt\u00e4 h\u00e4nt\u00e4 kohtaan. Mutta niin paljon kuin\nh\u00e4nest\u00e4 tyk\u00e4nnenk\u00e4\u00e4n, t\u00e4ytyy minun sanoa, ett'ei tuo aviokontrahti\nmaksa h\u00f6lynp\u00f6ly\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4n, sill\u00e4 h\u00e4n on jo ennest\u00e4\u00e4n naimisissa.\n-- Sin\u00e4 valehtelet, roisto! -- huudahti squire, raivostuneena\nmoisesta syyt\u00f6ksest\u00e4. -- Min'en ole ollut laillisessa avioliitossa\nkenenk\u00e4\u00e4n kanssa.\n-- Olette niinkin, \u00e4lk\u00e4\u00e4 panko pahaksi, herra! -- vastasi toinen.\n-- Ja toivoakseni tekin puolestanne olette kiitollinen vanhalle,\nrehelliselle Jenkinsonillenne, joka tuo teille em\u00e4nt\u00e4nne t\u00e4nne.\nJos arvoisa seura suvaitsee hetkeksi hillit\u00e4 uteliaisuuttaan, niin\nsaadaan n\u00e4hd\u00e4.\nN\u00e4in sanottuaan h\u00e4n py\u00f6r\u00e4hti pois nopeasti kuin konsanaankin. Me emme\nosanneet aavistaakaan, mik\u00e4 miehell\u00e4 mieless\u00e4.\n-- Niin, menk\u00f6\u00f6n vaan! -- virkkoi squire. Mit\u00e4 lienenk\u00e4\u00e4n tehnyt,\nmin\u00e4 en h\u00e4nest\u00e4 v\u00e4lit\u00e4. Olen jo siksi vanha, ett'en joutavia juoruja\ns\u00e4ik\u00e4hd\u00e4.\n-- Kummallista! -- virkkoi baronetti. -- Mit\u00e4h\u00e4n tuo mies\ntarkoittaneekaan? Jotain hupsutuksia kaiketi.\n-- Mutta, -- sanoin min\u00e4, -- kenties h\u00e4nell\u00e4 on jotain vakavatakin\nmieless\u00e4. Kun ajattelee, kuinka moninaisia vehkeit\u00e4 t\u00e4m\u00e4 herra on\nk\u00e4ytt\u00e4nyt, viattomia vietell\u00e4kseen, niin onhan mahdollista, ett\u00e4\njoku, viel\u00e4 h\u00e4nt\u00e4kin kavalampi, on saanut h\u00e4net petetyksi. Kun\najattelee, kuinka monta ihmist\u00e4 h\u00e4n on turmioon saattanut, kuinka\nmonet vanhemmat k\u00e4rsiv\u00e4t tuskaa ja h\u00e4pe\u00e4t\u00e4, jonka h\u00e4n on heid\u00e4n\nperheisins\u00e4 saattanut, niin ei kummakaan, jos jotkut heist\u00e4...\nmutta... n\u00e4enk\u00f6 min\u00e4 aaveita!... N\u00e4enk\u00f6 m\u00e4 kuolleen tytt\u00e4reni j\u00e4lleen?\nH\u00e4nt\u00e4k\u00f6 syliss\u00e4ni pitelen? Niin, h\u00e4nh\u00e4n se on, minun el\u00e4m\u00e4ni, minun\ntoivoni!... Min\u00e4 luulin kadottaneeni sinut, Olivia, mutta t\u00e4ss\u00e4h\u00e4n\nsin\u00e4 olet ja olet el\u00e4v\u00e4 minun ilokseni!\nEi ole hell\u00e4 rakkaus milloinkaan puhjennut sen syd\u00e4mellisemp\u00e4\u00e4n\nriemuun kuin minun nyt, n\u00e4hty\u00e4ni mr Jenkinsonin astuvan sis\u00e4\u00e4n\nOlivian kanssa ja pidelless\u00e4ni syliss\u00e4ni omaa lastani, jonka ihastus\nilmeni pelk\u00e4ss\u00e4 \u00e4\u00e4nett\u00f6myydess\u00e4.\n-- Oletko siis tullut todellakin takaisin, mun oma armaani? --\nhuudahdin min\u00e4. -- Tulitko todellakin vanhain p\u00e4ivieni lohdutukseksi\nminulle?\n-- Niin on, -- virkkoi Jenkinson, -- ja pit\u00e4k\u00e4\u00e4 hyv\u00e4n\u00e4nne, sill\u00e4\nh\u00e4n on teid\u00e4n oma, jalomielinen lapsenne ja kunniallinen vaimo, jos\nkukaan t\u00e4ss\u00e4 huoneessa. Ja nyt, squire, niin totta kuin te seisotte\nt\u00e4ss\u00e4, t\u00e4m\u00e4 nuori lady on teid\u00e4n laillisesti vihitty vaimonne. Ja\ntodistaakseni, ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 puhun pelkk\u00e4\u00e4 totuutta, kas t\u00e4ss\u00e4 lupakirja,\njonka nojalla teid\u00e4t on vihitty.\nN\u00e4in sanoen h\u00e4n pisti lupakirjan baronetin k\u00e4teen. T\u00e4m\u00e4 luki sen ja\nhuomasi sen kaikin puolin t\u00e4ydelliseksi.\n-- Ja nyt, hyv\u00e4t herrat, -- jatkoi Jenkinson, -- te n\u00e4ytte olevan\nkaikki h\u00e4mm\u00e4styneit\u00e4 t\u00e4st\u00e4, mutta min\u00e4 selit\u00e4n koko asian muutamalla\nsanalla. T\u00e4m\u00e4 kuuluisa squire t\u00e4ss\u00e4, jota kohtaan min\u00e4 tunnen suurta\nyst\u00e4vyytt\u00e4, -- mutta se nyt olkoon n\u00e4in meid\u00e4n kesken, -- on usein\nk\u00e4ytt\u00e4nyt minua yhteen ja toiseen pikku teht\u00e4v\u00e4\u00e4n. Muun muassa h\u00e4n\nantoi minun toimekseni hankkia v\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4n lupatodistuksen ja v\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4n\npapin, pett\u00e4\u00e4kseen t\u00e4m\u00e4n nuoren ladyn. Mutta min\u00e4 kun olin niin hyv\u00e4\nyst\u00e4v\u00e4 h\u00e4nen kanssaan, niin mit\u00e4p\u00e4s min\u00e4 muuta kuin hankin h\u00e4nelle\noikean todistuksen ja oikean papin, ja vihitin heid\u00e4t yhteen niin\nlujasti kuin pappi ikin\u00e4 tehd\u00e4 voi. Kenties luulitte minun tehneen\nkaiken t\u00e4m\u00e4n pelk\u00e4st\u00e4 jalomielisyydest\u00e4. Eik\u00f6s ja! H\u00e4pe\u00e4kseni minun\nt\u00e4ytyy tunnustaa, ett'ei minulla muuta tarkoitusta ollut kuin saada\nt\u00e4m\u00e4 todistus k\u00e4siini ja antaa squiren tiet\u00e4\u00e4, ett\u00e4 min\u00e4 voin k\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4\nt\u00e4t\u00e4 asiakirjaa h\u00e4nt\u00e4 vastaan, milloin vaan hyv\u00e4ksi n\u00e4en, ja siten\nkirist\u00e4\u00e4 rahoja milloin vaan tarvis vaatii.\nMielihyv\u00e4n huudahdus p\u00e4\u00e4si kaikilta l\u00e4sn\u00e4olijoilta. Meid\u00e4n ilomme\nenn\u00e4tti jo tulla tiedoksi yhteiseen huoneesenkin, ja siell\u00e4 vangit\nottivat siihen osaa.\n    Rajuin riemuin ja soinnuin nyt\n    Siell\u00e4 kahleet kalskuivat.\nOnni heiastelihe kaikkien kasvoilla, ja mielihyv\u00e4st\u00e4 punoittivat\nOliviankin posket. Saada n\u00e4in yht'\u00e4kki\u00e4 takaisin kunniansa ja\nyst\u00e4v\u00e4ns\u00e4 ja omaisuutensa, -- moinen riemu oli omiansa ehk\u00e4isem\u00e4\u00e4n\nhivutustaudin ja tekem\u00e4\u00e4n h\u00e4net terveeksi ja vilkkaaksi j\u00e4lleen.\nMutta lieneek\u00f6 kenk\u00e4\u00e4n iloinnut siit\u00e4 niin t\u00e4ydellisesti kuin min\u00e4?\nYh\u00e4 pit\u00e4en syliss\u00e4ni armasta lasta, min\u00e4 kyselin syd\u00e4melt\u00e4ni, eik\u00f6\nt\u00e4m\u00e4 kaikki vaan lienekin unta.\n-- Kuinka te saatoittekaan! -- huudahdin min\u00e4 mr Jenkinsonille, --\nkuinka saatoittekaan kaikkien tuskieni lis\u00e4ksi viel\u00e4 kertoa h\u00e4nen\nolevan kuolleen? Mutta mit\u00e4p\u00e4 tuosta! Minun iloni, saatuani h\u00e4net\nj\u00e4lleen, palkitsee minut ylt\u00e4kyllin k\u00e4rsimyksist\u00e4ni.\n-- Mit\u00e4 teid\u00e4n kysymykseenne tulee, -- virkkoi Jenkinson, --\nniin siihen on helppo vastata. Minun mielest\u00e4ni ei teill\u00e4 ollut\nmuuta keinoa, p\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4ksenne vankeudesta pois, kuin taipua squiren\nvaatimuksiin ja suostua h\u00e4nen avioliittoonsa toisen nuoren ladyn\nkanssa. Mutta siihen te ette sanonut suostuvanne niinkauan kuin\ntytt\u00e4renne on hengiss\u00e4. Ei siis ollut muuta neuvoa saada asiata\nlukkoon kuin ilmoittaa teille, ett\u00e4 tytt\u00e4renne on kuollut. Min\u00e4 sain\nvaimonne osalliseksi t\u00e4h\u00e4n tuumaan, eik\u00e4 meill\u00e4 hamaan t\u00e4h\u00e4n asti\nollut sopivaa tilaisuutta tehd\u00e4 teille selkoa asian oikeasta laidasta.\nKoko seurassa oli ainoastaan kaksi henke\u00e4, joitten kasvot eiv\u00e4t\nriemusta loistaneet. Mr Thornhillin varmuus oli kokonaan hervahtunut:\nh\u00e4n n\u00e4ki edess\u00e4\u00e4n pohjattoman kuilun t\u00e4ynn\u00e4 h\u00e4pe\u00e4\u00e4 ja puutetta.\nPutoaminen sinne hirvitti h\u00e4nt\u00e4 niin, ett\u00e4 h\u00e4n lankesi polvilleen\nset\u00e4ns\u00e4 eteen ja pyysi surkealla \u00e4\u00e4nell\u00e4 armoa. Sir William oli\nsys\u00e4\u00e4m\u00e4isill\u00e4\u00e4n h\u00e4net pois, mutta minun pyynn\u00f6st\u00e4ni h\u00e4n k\u00e4ski h\u00e4nen\nnousta ja sanoi tuokion kuluttua:\n-- Sinun ilkeytesi, rikoksesi ja kiitt\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00f6myytesi tosin eiv\u00e4t\nansaitse s\u00e4\u00e4li\u00e4, mutta aivan puille paljaille sin\u00e4 et kumminkaan\nj\u00e4\u00e4. Sen verran sinulla on oleva, ett\u00e4 riitt\u00e4\u00e4 jokap\u00e4iv\u00e4isiin\nel\u00e4m\u00e4ntarpeisin, ei irstailemisiin. T\u00e4lle nuorelle ladylle, sinun\nvaimollesi, on tuleva kolmas osa siit\u00e4, mik\u00e4 kerran oli sinun omaasi,\nja yksin h\u00e4nen hyv\u00e4ntahtoisuudestaan riippuu ylim\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4iset lis\u00e4t\nvast'edes.\nSquire yritti lausumaan kiitollisuuttansa t\u00e4llaisesta\nyst\u00e4v\u00e4llisyydest\u00e4 valituin sanoin, mutta baronetti esti h\u00e4net siit\u00e4:\n-- \u00c4l\u00e4 kehnouttasi en\u00e4\u00e4 entist\u00e4 suuremmaksi tee, -- virkkoi h\u00e4n; --\nkylliksi ilmeist\u00e4 se on jo nytkin.\nH\u00e4n k\u00e4ski sitten h\u00e4nen samassa l\u00e4hte\u00e4 pois ja pit\u00e4\u00e4 entisist\u00e4\npalvelijoistaan yhden vaan, kenet sopivaksi n\u00e4kee, sill\u00e4 muita ei\nh\u00e4nell\u00e4 saa olla.\nHeti h\u00e4nen l\u00e4hdetty\u00e4ns\u00e4 sir William astui kohteliaasti hymyillen\nOlivian luokse ja onnitteli h\u00e4nt\u00e4. H\u00e4nen esimerkki\u00e4\u00e4n noudattivat\nmiss Wilmot ja vanha herra Wilmot. Vaimonikin suuteli tyt\u00e4rt\u00e4\u00e4n\nherttaisesti, koskapa, k\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4kseni h\u00e4nen omia sanojaan, Oliviasta\nnyt oli tullut kunniallinen aviovaimo. Sofia ja Moses samoin. Ja\nmeid\u00e4n hyv\u00e4ntekij\u00e4mme, mr Jenkinson, pyysi h\u00e4nkin saada kunnian\np\u00e4\u00e4st\u00e4 onnittelemaan. Meid\u00e4n riemumme n\u00e4ytti nyt olevan ylimmill\u00e4\u00e4n.\nSir William, jonka suurimpana ilona oli tehd\u00e4 hyv\u00e4\u00e4, katseli nyt\nymp\u00e4rilleen mielihyv\u00e4st\u00e4 loistavin silmin ja n\u00e4ki kaikkialla\nriemullisia katseita. Sofia yksin ei n\u00e4ytt\u00e4nyt t\u00e4ysin tyytyv\u00e4iselt\u00e4,\nemme saattaneet k\u00e4sitt\u00e4\u00e4, miksi.\n-- Minusta n\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4, -- virkkoi sir William hymyillen, -- ett\u00e4\nkaikki ovat varsin onnellisia, paitsi yht\u00e4 tai kahta. Minulla on\nviel\u00e4 yksi oikeudenmukainen ty\u00f6 suoritettavana. Te my\u00f6nn\u00e4tte, --\njatkoi h\u00e4n, k\u00e4\u00e4ntyen minuun, -- kuinka suuressa kiitollisuuden\nvelassa me kumpainenkin olemme mr Jenkinsonille. Oikeus ja kohtuus\nniinmuodoin on, ett\u00e4 me kumpikin h\u00e4net palkitsemmekin. Miss Sofia\ntahtoo tietystikin tehd\u00e4 h\u00e4net onnelliseksi; minulta mr Jenkinson saa\nviisisataa puntaa h\u00e4nen my\u00f6t\u00e4j\u00e4isikseen, ja min\u00e4 olen vakuutettu,\nett\u00e4 he t\u00e4ten tulevat varsin hyvin toimeen. No niin, miss Sofia,\nmit\u00e4s vastaatte t\u00e4llaiselle puhemiehelle?\nTytt\u00f6 rukka oli v\u00e4h\u00e4ll\u00e4 kaatua \u00e4itins\u00e4 syliin, kuultuaan n\u00e4in\ninhottavan ehdotuksen.\n-- Ett\u00e4k\u00f6 ottaisin h\u00e4net, sir? -- virkkoi h\u00e4n heikolla \u00e4\u00e4nell\u00e4. --\nEn, sir, en milloinkaan!\n-- Mitenk\u00e4? -- huudahti toinen, -- ettek\u00f6 huoli mr Jenkinsonista,\nhyv\u00e4ntekij\u00e4st\u00e4nne, pulskasta pojasta, jolla on viisisataa puntaa ja\nhyv\u00e4t toiveet tulevaisuudesta?\n-- Sir, -- virkkoi tytt\u00f6, tuskin kyeten puhumaan. -- Lakatkaa jo,\n\u00e4lk\u00e4\u00e4k\u00e4 tehk\u00f6 minua niin per\u00e4ti onnettomaksi.\n-- Katsos tuota itsep\u00e4ist\u00e4! -- huudahti toinen j\u00e4lleen. -- Hylj\u00e4t\u00e4\nmies, jolle koko perhe on niin suuressa kiitollisuuden velassa,\nsisarenne pelastaja, jolla on viisisataa puntaa! Ettek\u00f6 vainenkaan\nhuoli h\u00e4nest\u00e4?\n-- En, sir! En koskaan, -- vastasi Sofia tuskissaan. -- Ennen kuolen!\n-- Jos niin on, -- virkkoi sir William, ellette h\u00e4nest\u00e4 huoli, niin\nt\u00e4ytynee minun itseni saada teid\u00e4t.\nJa n\u00e4in sanottuaan h\u00e4n painoi tyt\u00f6n kiihke\u00e4sti rintaansa vasten.\n-- Mun armahin tytt\u00f6ni, sin\u00e4 tyt\u00f6ist\u00e4 herttaisin! -- puheli\nh\u00e4n. -- Kuinka saatoit ajatellakaan, ett\u00e4 sinun oma Burchellisi\nmilloinkaan voisi sinua pett\u00e4\u00e4, tahi ett\u00e4 sir William Thornhill\nmilloinkaan lakkaisi lempim\u00e4st\u00e4 armastansa, joka rakastaa h\u00e4nt\u00e4 vain\nh\u00e4nen t\u00e4htens\u00e4? Olen monen vuoden kuluessa etsinyt naista, joka,\nrikkaudestani mit\u00e4\u00e4n tiet\u00e4m\u00e4tt\u00e4, saattaisi pit\u00e4\u00e4 minua muutoinkin\nansiollisena miehen\u00e4. Turhaan min\u00e4 haeskelin nen\u00e4kk\u00e4itten ja\nrumienkin joukosta ja -- kuinka suuri olikaan vihdoin minun riemuni,\nsaatuani omakseni niin paljon \u00e4ly\u00e4 ja immen niin ihanan kuin taivaan\nenkeli!\nK\u00e4\u00e4ntyen sitten mr Jenkinsoniin h\u00e4n jatkoi:\n-- Kosk'en min\u00e4, sir, saata luopua t\u00e4st\u00e4 nuoresta ladyst\u00e4, sill\u00e4 h\u00e4n\non mielistynyt minun kasvojeni kuosiin, niin en saata muuta palkintoa\nteille antaa kuin h\u00e4nen my\u00f6t\u00e4j\u00e4isens\u00e4. Huomenna saatte minun\nvoudiltani nostaa viisisataa puntaa.\nMeid\u00e4n oli nyt syyt\u00e4 ruveta uudestaan onnittelemaan, ja lady\nThornhill sai osakseen samat kohteliaisuuden osoitukset kuin sisarkin\n\u00e4skett\u00e4in. Heti senj\u00e4lkeen tuli sir Williamin kamaripalvelija\nilmoittamaan, ett\u00e4 vaunut ovat valmiina viem\u00e4\u00e4n meit\u00e4 majataloon,\njossa kaikki on jo varustettu meid\u00e4n vastaan-ottoamme varten. Vaimoni\nja min\u00e4 l\u00e4ksimme ulos seurueen etunen\u00e4ss\u00e4, j\u00e4tt\u00e4en n\u00e4m\u00e4 murheen\nmustat asuinsijat. Jalomielinen baronetti m\u00e4\u00e4r\u00e4si nelj\u00e4kymment\u00e4\npuntaa jaettaviksi vankien kesken; mr Wilmot noudatti h\u00e4nen\nesimerkki\u00e4ns\u00e4 ja lahjoitti samaan tarkoitukseen kaksikymment\u00e4 puntaa.\nPortilla oli kyl\u00e4nv\u00e4ki vastaan-ottamassa meit\u00e4 riemuhuudoilla.\nJoukossa oli pari kolme minun seurakuntalaistani, joitten k\u00e4tt\u00e4 nyt\nsain ilomielin puristaa. He seurasivat meit\u00e4 majataloon, jonne oli\nvalmistettu komeat illalliset. Kansalle jaettiin ruokia runsain\nm\u00e4\u00e4rin.\nP\u00e4iv\u00e4n kuluessa kun olin kokenut niin paljon sek\u00e4 iloa ett\u00e4 tuskaa,\ntunsin nyt olevani kovasti v\u00e4synyt ja senvuoksi pyysin illallisen\nj\u00e4lkeen saada vet\u00e4yty\u00e4 pois. J\u00e4tin muut kesken parasta iloa, ja\nheti kuin olin j\u00e4\u00e4nyt yksikseni, puhkesi syd\u00e4meni kiitokseen H\u00e4nt\u00e4\nkohtaan, joka meille jakaa sek\u00e4 iloja ett\u00e4 suruja, ja nukuin sitten\nsike\u00e4sti aamuun asti.\nKAHDESNELJ\u00c4TT\u00c4 LUKU\nLoppu.\nHuomenissa her\u00e4tess\u00e4ni n\u00e4in vanhimman poikani istuvan s\u00e4nkyni\nlaidalla. H\u00e4n oli tullut tuomaan minulle uutta iloista sanomaa.\nP\u00e4\u00e4stetty\u00e4\u00e4n minut ensin siit\u00e4 sitoumuksesta, johon h\u00e4nen edest\u00e4ns\u00e4\nolin k\u00e4ynyt edellisen\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4n\u00e4, h\u00e4n kertoi, ett\u00e4 se kauppias, jonka\nhuostassa minun rahani olivat olleet, ja joka oli kaupungista\nkarannut, oli \u00e4skett\u00e4in saatu kiinni Antwerpeniss\u00e4. H\u00e4nelt\u00e4 oli\nsaatu tavaroita, joitten arvo oli suurempikin kuin h\u00e4nen velkojainsa\nsaamiset. Mutta melkein yht\u00e4 paljon kuin t\u00e4m\u00e4 odottamaton onni,\nilahdutti minua poikani ylev\u00e4mielisyys. Minua vain ep\u00e4ilytti,\nsopisiko minua vastaan-ottaa poikani tarjousta.\nKesken n\u00e4it\u00e4 mietteit\u00e4ni astui sir William huoneeseni, ja h\u00e4nelle\nmin\u00e4 ilmaisin ep\u00e4r\u00f6imiseni. H\u00e4n arveli, ett\u00e4 koska minun pojallani\njo naimisensakin kautta on melkoinen omaisuus, niin saatan min\u00e4\nempim\u00e4tt\u00e4 hyv\u00e4ksy\u00e4 h\u00e4nen esityksens\u00e4. Sir William oli muutoin\ntullut minulle ilmoittamaan l\u00e4hett\u00e4neens\u00e4 jo eilis-iltana hakemaan\nlupakirjoja. Niit\u00e4 h\u00e4n sanoi odottavansa hetkest\u00e4 hetkeen ja lausui\ntoivovansa, ett'en min\u00e4 kiell\u00e4 apuani, tehd\u00e4kseni heid\u00e4t kaikki jo\nt\u00e4n\u00e4 aamuna onnellisiksi.\nH\u00e4nen paraillaan t\u00e4t\u00e4 puhuessansa tuli lakeija sanomaan, ett\u00e4\nl\u00e4hettil\u00e4s oli palannut. Koska min\u00e4 nyt olin jo pukeissani, niin\nl\u00e4ksin alas. Siell\u00e4 huomasin vallitsevan semmoisen riemun kuin\nhyvinvoipaisuus ja viattomuus suinkin voipi synnytt\u00e4\u00e4. Heid\u00e4n\nnaurunsa ei minua kumminkaan miellytt\u00e4nyt, koskapa nyt oltiin\nvalmistautumassa varsin juhlalliseen toimitukseen. Min\u00e4 selitin\nheille, kuinka vakavina, s\u00e4\u00e4dyllisesti ja juhlamielisin\u00e4 heid\u00e4n\ntulisi esiinty\u00e4 t\u00e4ss\u00e4 t\u00e4rke\u00e4ss\u00e4 tilaisuudessa, ja valmistaakseni\nheit\u00e4 siihen luin heille pari saarnaa ja yhden kappaleen minun omaa\nkirjoitustani. Mutta heit\u00e4 vaan ei saanut taipumaan eik\u00e4 talttumaan\nmill\u00e4\u00e4n. Viel\u00e4p\u00e4 matkalla kirkkoonkin, jonne min\u00e4 astuin edelt\u00e4, oli\nvakavuus heist\u00e4 kokonaan tiess\u00e4\u00e4n, ja minun teki usein mieli k\u00e4\u00e4nty\u00e4\nharmistuneena heid\u00e4n puoleensa.\nKirkossa uusi pulma, joka ei helpolla ottanut selvit\u00e4ksens\u00e4.\nNostettiin nimitt\u00e4in kysymys, kumpainenko pari ensiksi vihit\u00e4\u00e4n.\nPoikani morsian tahtoi kiven kovaan, ett\u00e4 alku olisi teht\u00e4v\u00e4 lady\nThornhillista (siksi tulevasta nimitt\u00e4in), mutta toinen pani yht\u00e4\nkiihke\u00e4sti vastaan: h\u00e4n ei tahdo tulla syyp\u00e4\u00e4ksi maailman edess\u00e4\nmoiseen ep\u00e4kohteliaisuuteen. T\u00e4t\u00e4 v\u00e4ittely\u00e4 kesti kotvan aikaa yht\u00e4\nsuurella itsep\u00e4isyydell\u00e4 ja s\u00e4\u00e4dyllisyydell\u00e4 kummaltakin puolen. Min\u00e4\nse sill\u00e4 v\u00e4lin yh\u00e4 vaan seisoin kirja k\u00e4dess\u00e4, valmiina alkamaan\ntoimituksen. Vihdoin min\u00e4 jo kyll\u00e4styin koko kinaan ja paiskasin\nkirjan kiinni, sanoen:\n-- N\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 silt\u00e4 kuin ei teist\u00e4 kukaan tahtoisi tulla vihityksi.\nParasta siis kun l\u00e4hdemme takaisin, sill\u00e4 ei t\u00e4st\u00e4 t\u00e4n\u00e4 p\u00e4iv\u00e4n\u00e4 n\u00e4y\ntulevan mit\u00e4\u00e4n.\nSilloin he tulivat j\u00e4rkiins\u00e4 j\u00e4lleen. Ensin vihittiin baronetti ja\nh\u00e4nen ladyns\u00e4, sitten minun poikani ja h\u00e4nen armaansa.\nOlin jo ennakolta t\u00e4n\u00e4 aamuna l\u00e4hett\u00e4nyt ajoneuvot noutamaan\narvoisata naapuriani Flamboroughia perheineen meille. Ja kirkosta\nmajataloon palatessamme meill\u00e4 olikin ilo n\u00e4hd\u00e4 heid\u00e4t kaikki siell\u00e4.\nMr Jenkinson tarjosi k\u00e4tens\u00e4 vanhimmalle tytt\u00e4relle, ja minun\npoikani talutti nuorempaa. (Sen koommin olen huomannut Moseksen\npit\u00e4v\u00e4n hyvinkin hyv\u00e4\u00e4 silm\u00e4\u00e4 tytt\u00f6\u00f6n, ja minun suostumukseni\nja kannatukseni h\u00e4n saakin, kun vaan tulee pyyt\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n.) Tuskin\nolimme tulleet majatalolle, niin jo saapui sinne koko joukko minun\nseurakuntalaisiani, jotka olivat kuulleet, kuinka hyvin minun oli\nk\u00e4ynyt, ja tulivat nyt minua onnittelemaan. Heid\u00e4n joukossaan oli\nniit\u00e4kin, jotka olivat tahtoneet ry\u00f6st\u00e4\u00e4 minut pois, ja joita\nolin niin kovasti varoittanut. Kerrottuani nyt tuon tapauksen sir\nWilliamille, v\u00e4vylleni, h\u00e4n nuhteli heit\u00e4 hyvin ankarasti, mutta\nhuomattuaan heid\u00e4n k\u00e4yneen kovin alakuloisiksi h\u00e4nen kovista\nsanoistaan, h\u00e4n antoi heille puoli guineata mieheen, k\u00e4skien heid\u00e4n\njuomaan h\u00e4nen terveydeksens\u00e4 ja rohkaisemaan masentuneet mielens\u00e4.\nPian sen j\u00e4lkeen kutsuttiin meid\u00e4t pulskille p\u00e4iv\u00e4llisille, jotka mr\nThornhillin kokki oli laittanut.\n\u00c4lk\u00f6\u00f6nh\u00e4n katsottako sopimattomaksi mainita, ett\u00e4 squire el\u00e4\u00e4 t\u00e4ll\u00e4\nhaavaa seuralaisensa, er\u00e4\u00e4n sukulaisen, luona. H\u00e4nt\u00e4 siedet\u00e4\u00e4n varsin\nhyvin, ja harvoin h\u00e4n saa aterioilla istua sivup\u00f6yd\u00e4n \u00e4\u00e4ress\u00e4, paitsi\nsilloin kuin p\u00e4\u00e4p\u00f6yd\u00e4ss\u00e4 ei ole tilaa. H\u00e4nt\u00e4 nimitt\u00e4in ei pidet\u00e4\nvieraana. H\u00e4nen aikansa kuluu seurustellessa sukulaisensa kanssa,\njoka on hiukan alakuloisuuteen taipuvainen, ja opetellessa torvea\npuhaltamaan. Vanhin tytt\u00e4reni muistelee kumminkin kaipauksella\nh\u00e4nt\u00e4 ja on -- mutta t\u00e4m\u00e4n min\u00e4 pid\u00e4n salassa -- minulle sanonut\nleppyv\u00e4ns\u00e4, jos squire vaan parantaa itsens\u00e4.\nMutta palatkaamme p\u00e4\u00e4asiaan, sill\u00e4 minusta ei ole tuommoisiin\npoikkeamisiin. Olimme juuri p\u00f6yt\u00e4\u00e4n k\u00e4ym\u00e4ss\u00e4, kun taas alkoi\nkursailu. Kysymys oli, eik\u00f6h\u00e4n minun vanhimman tytt\u00e4reni, rouvana,\ntulisi istua kahden nuoren morsiamen vastap\u00e4\u00e4t\u00e4. Kinastelusta teki\nYrj\u00f6 poikani pikaisen lopun, ehdottaen, ett\u00e4 p\u00f6yd\u00e4ss\u00e4 istuttaisi\nmuitta mutkitta: kukin herra naisensa vieress\u00e4. T\u00e4h\u00e4n ehdotukseen\nsuostuivat suurella mielihyv\u00e4ll\u00e4 kaikki, paitsi vaimoani, joka,\nmik\u00e4li min\u00e4 huomasin, ei ollut oikein tyytyv\u00e4inen siihen, ett'ei h\u00e4n,\nniinkuin oli odottanut, saa istua p\u00f6yd\u00e4n p\u00e4\u00e4ss\u00e4 ja tarjota ruokia\nkullekin erikseen. Mutta tuosta huolimatta me olimme sanomattoman\niloisella mielell\u00e4. En saata sanoa, olimmeko sukkelampipuheisia nyt\nkuin ennenk\u00e4\u00e4n, mutta ainakin me nauroimme enemm\u00e4n, ja seh\u00e4n on\nloppujen lopussa yht\u00e4 hyv\u00e4. Yksi hassu kohtaus on j\u00e4\u00e4nyt mieleeni.\nVanha mr Wilmot joi Moses poikani onneksi. T\u00e4m\u00e4 oli sattunut\nk\u00e4\u00e4ntym\u00e4\u00e4n toisaanne ja vastasi: \"Kiitos, hyv\u00e4 neiti!\" Vanha\nherra iski silloin silm\u00e4\u00e4 meille muille, huomauttaen, ett\u00e4 nuori\nmies mahtaa ajatella kultaansa. Tuon pilapuheen kuultuansa olivat\nFlamboroughin neitoset v\u00e4h\u00e4ll\u00e4 kuolla nauruun.\nHeti p\u00e4iv\u00e4llisten j\u00e4lkeen min\u00e4, vanhan tapani mukaan, ehdotin, ett\u00e4\np\u00f6yt\u00e4 siirrett\u00e4isiin pois, jotta mielihyvikseni saisin taaskin\nkerran n\u00e4hd\u00e4 perheeni ymp\u00e4rill\u00e4ni kotilieden \u00e4\u00e4ress\u00e4. Pikku pojat\nistuivat minun polvillani, muut vaimojensa vieress\u00e4. Minulla ei ollut\nen\u00e4\u00e4 mit\u00e4\u00e4n toivomusta t\u00e4ll\u00e4 puolen haudan. Kaikki huoleni olivat\nhaihtuneet. Iloni oli sanomaton.\nPuuttuu vaan, ett\u00e4 kiitollisuuteni hyvin\u00e4 p\u00e4ivin\u00e4 olisi viel\u00e4\nsuurempi kuin k\u00e4rsiv\u00e4llisyyteni vastoink\u00e4ymisiss\u00e4.\nViiteselitykset:\n[1] Wakefield, lue: ueekfiild.\n[2] Lukija ottakoon huomioonsa, ett\u00e4 oikeinkirjoitus\nenglanninkieless\u00e4 on ylen vaikea asia. Suomentajan muistutus.\n[3] Mrs lyhennys sanasta mistress (lue: misis) = rouva. Suom. muist.\n[4] Mr lyhennys sanasta mister = herra. Suom. muist.\n[5] Penny (monikossa pence) = 10,5 Suomen penni\u00e4 Suom. muist.\n[6] Guinea (lue: giine) entinen kultaraha Englannissa, arvoltaan =\n[7] 1 Englannin peninkulma (maili) = 1,6 kilometri\u00e4. Suom. muist.\n[8] Squire lue: (skvair) = maajunkkeri eli aatelismies,\nmaatilan-omistaja.\n[9] 1 acre [lue: eek(e)r] = 2/5 hehtaaria.\n[10] Charles (lue: tshaarls) = Kaarlo.\n[11] Dick lyhennys nimest\u00e4 Richard, Bill samoin nimest\u00e4 William.\nSuom. muist.\n[12] Englantilaisen piispan virkapukuun kuuluva osa. Suom. muist.\n[13] 1 unssi = 28 grammaa. Suom. muist.\n[14] Antiqua mater = yliopisto, korkeakoulu. Grub-street Lontoossa\nsen kadun nimi, jonka varrella asui k\u00f6yhi\u00e4 kirjailijoita.\n[15] Ned on hyv\u00e4ilymuoto nimist\u00e4 Edward, Edmund, Edwin. Suom. muist.\n[16] Baronetti = aatelismies, arvossa baron'in ja knight'in (ritarin)\nv\u00e4lill\u00e4.\n[17] Tyborn (lue: Taib\u00f6(r)n), silloinen mestauspaikka Lontoossa.\nEnd of Project Gutenberg's Wakefieldin kappalainen, by Oliver Goldsmith", "source_dataset": "gutenberg", "source_dataset_detailed": "gutenberg -  Wakefieldin kappalainen\n"},
{"source_document": "", "creation_year": 1754, "culture": " French\n", "content": "Produced by Giovanni Fini, Clarity and the Online\nfile was produced from images generously made available\nby The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)\n                      NOTES SUR LA TRANSCRIPTION:\n\u2014Les erreurs clairement introduites par le typographe ont \u00e9t\u00e9 corrig\u00e9es.\n\u2014On a conserv\u00e9 l\u2019orthographie de l\u2019original, incluant ses variantes.\n\u2014Les lettres \u00e9crites au-dessus ont \u00e9t\u00e9es represent\u00e9es ainsi: a^b et\n                    TRADUCTION NOUVELLE ET COMPL\u00c8TE\n                     A. QUANTIN, IMPRIMEUR-\u00c9DITEUR\n[Illustration]\nPR\u00c9FACE[1]\nOLIVER Goldsmith naquit au village de Pallas, ou Pallasmore, dans le\ncomt\u00e9 de Longford, en Irlande, le 10 novembre 1728. Son p\u00e8re, qui y\n\u00e9tait pasteur, avec un revenu de mille francs par an, se transporta\npeu apr\u00e8s avec sa famille \u00e0 Lissoy, dans le comt\u00e9 de Westmeath, o\u00f9\non offrait de r\u00e9tribuer son minist\u00e8re un peu plus de quarante livres\nsterling.\nLe jeune Goldsmith \u00e9tait petit, gr\u00eal\u00e9 et gauche. A l\u2019\u00e9cole, ses\ncamarades se moquaient de lui et le battaient. Faible de corps et\nd\u00e9pourvu d\u2019argent de poche, il ne pouvait ni se faire craindre ni se\nconcilier des amiti\u00e9s int\u00e9ress\u00e9es. Le ma\u00eetre d\u2019ailleurs le trouvait\nlourd et stupide.\nA dix-huit ans, on l\u2019envoya \u00e0 l\u2019Universit\u00e9 de Dublin, comme _sizar_,\nc\u2019est-\u00e0-dire comme \u00e9tudiant pauvre, payant par des services domestiques\nl\u2019instruction qu\u2019il recevait. Quand le besoin d\u2019argent le talonnait et\nqu\u2019il avait \u00e9puis\u00e9 les ressources qu\u2019une mince garde-robe lui procurait\nchez le pr\u00eateur sur gages, il composait des chansons qu\u2019il allait\nvendre, \u00e0 cinq shillings pi\u00e8ce, et qu\u2019il avait ensuite le chatouillant\nplaisir d\u2019entendre lamentablement crier par les mendiants dans les rues\nde Dublin.\nAu sortir de l\u2019Universit\u00e9, o\u00f9 il ne manqua pas de m\u00e9saventures, il\nv\u00e9cut quelque temps \u00e0 la maison paternelle, ou plut\u00f4t maternelle, car\nson p\u00e8re, le r\u00e9v\u00e9rend Charles Goldsmith, \u00e9tait mort. Mais il fallait\nse cr\u00e9er une position, et le probl\u00e8me de gagner sa vie ne fut pas\nais\u00e9ment r\u00e9solu par Goldsmith. Pr\u00e9cepteur, \u00e9tudiant en droit \u00e0 Dublin,\n\u00e9tudiant en m\u00e9decine \u00e0 \u00c9dimbourg, puis \u00e0 Leyde o\u00f9 il profite des le\u00e7ons\ndes deux illustres professeurs Albinus et Gaubius, que lui seul, je\nsuppose, a connus, il tire le plus d\u2019argent qu\u2019il peut\u2014ce qui ne veut\npas dire beaucoup\u2014de son excellent oncle Contarine, et il fait, dans\ndes conditions dont un chapitre du _Vicaire de Wakefield_ nous donne la\ndescription id\u00e9alis\u00e9e, de longs voyages \u00e0 travers la France, la Suisse\net l\u2019Italie. Toute cette p\u00e9riode de la vie de Goldsmith est racont\u00e9e\npar la plupart de ses biographes avec force d\u00e9tails et anecdotes o\u00f9 la\nl\u00e9gende et l\u2019imagination suppl\u00e9ent les documents pr\u00e9cis, qui souvent\nfont d\u00e9faut. Quelque part en Italie, on ne sait o\u00f9 ni comment, il\nse fit recevoir docteur en m\u00e9decine. Il est vrai que, plus tard, le\ndocteur Goldsmith ayant voulu passer, \u00e0 Londres, un examen d\u2019infirmier\ndes h\u00f4pitaux, fut refus\u00e9 sans h\u00e9sitation.\nC\u2019est probablement au prestige de son titre que Goldsmith, revenu\nmis\u00e9rable \u00e0 Londres, dut de trouver une place chez un pharmacien.\nEncourag\u00e9, il essaya de se faire une client\u00e8le, sans grand succ\u00e8s\nsans doute, car il entra bient\u00f4t comme correcteur dans l\u2019imprimerie\nde Samuel Richardson, l\u2019auteur de _Clarisse Harlowe_. Il y fit une\ntrag\u00e9die. L\u2019imprimeur-romancier, consult\u00e9 sur ce produit de la muse\nde Goldsmith, le lui fit, sagement il faut croire, mettre au panier.\nNous le trouvons ensuite, en qualit\u00e9 de surveillant et de r\u00e9p\u00e9titeur,\nchez un docteur Milner, qui tenait une \u00e9cole \u00e0 Peckham. Il y fut\nmat\u00e9riellement moins malheureux que ne le donne \u00e0 penser le r\u00e9cit de\nGeorge Primrose dans le _Vicaire_. C\u2019est l\u00e0, \u00e0 la table du ma\u00eetre de\nl\u2019\u00e9cole, qu\u2019il rencontra le libraire Griffiths et que sa destin\u00e9e se\nd\u00e9cida. Oliver Goldsmith devait \u00eatre un auteur \u00e0 gages, un _hack_,\ncomme disent les Anglais, qui donnent le m\u00eame nom aux man\u0153uvres\nlitt\u00e9raires qu\u2019aux chevaux de louage.\nGriffiths l\u2019employa (1757) \u00e0 \u00e9crire, pour sa _Monthly Review_, des\ncomptes rendus de livres sur lesquels sa femme, M^{rs} Griffiths, avait\ndroit de censure et de correction. Cet arrangement dura cinq mois.\nLes charmes de son r\u00e9dacteur en chef n\u2019encha\u00een\u00e8rent pas le volage\nGoldsmith, qui laissa l\u00e0 sa pitance et ses comptes rendus, et se\nr\u00e9fugia de nouveau chez le docteur Milner. Il y commen\u00e7a son ouvrage\nintitul\u00e9 _Enquiry into the Present State of polite learning in Europe_,\n\u00abRecherches sur l\u2019\u00e9tat pr\u00e9sent de la culture intellectuelle en Europe\u00bb,\net en m\u00eame temps il se portait candidat pour un poste de m\u00e9decin du\ngouvernement sur la c\u00f4te de Coromandel. Il fut nomm\u00e9; mais, pour toutes\nles raisons que l\u2019on peut supposer, il ne partit pas. Au lieu d\u2019aller \u00e0\nCoromandel, il s\u2019\u00e9tablit dans un grenier de Fleet street et recommen\u00e7a\nson m\u00e9tier de faiseur de copie \u00e0 forfait.\nSon premier livre fut publi\u00e9 anonymement et par souscription le 2 avril\n1759. Il fit du bruit dans Grub street et dans les tavernes litt\u00e9raires\nde Londres, o\u00f9 tout le monde en connaissait l\u2019auteur. Goldsmith y\ndivise l\u2019histoire litt\u00e9raire en trois \u00e2ges: la jeunesse, ou \u00e2ge des\npo\u00e8tes; la maturit\u00e9, ou \u00e2ge des philosophes, et le d\u00e9clin, ou \u00e2ge des\ncritiques. Et il malm\u00e8ne de la bonne fa\u00e7on les critiques et leurs\n\u0153uvres. Pour un homme qui avait v\u00e9cu et qui vivait encore du m\u00e9tier, la\nchose ne manque pas de piquant.\nIl n\u2019en continua pas moins de faire la m\u00eame besogne que les critiques\nqu\u2019il critiquait, avec la diff\u00e9rence qu\u2019il peut y avoir cependant entre\nun \u00e9crivain comme Goldsmith et les pourvoyeurs ordinaires des revues\ndu temps. Le 6 octobre 1759, parut le premier num\u00e9ro de _The Bee_,\n\u00abl\u2019Abeille\u00bb, entreprise du libraire Wilkie, dont il \u00e9tait l\u2019unique\nr\u00e9dacteur. L\u2019aventure ne fut ni profitable ni longue; mais en m\u00eame\ntemps il \u00e9crivait, dans un journal quotidien, _The Public Ledger_,\n\u00able Grand Livre public\u00bb, deux lettres par semaine, que le libraire\nNewbery lui payait une guin\u00e9e la pi\u00e8ce. Ces lettres, comme c\u2019\u00e9tait la\nmode alors (_Lettres siamoises_, _Lettres persanes_, etc.), \u00e9taient\nsuppos\u00e9es \u00e9crites par le Chinois Lien-Chi-Altangi voyageant en Europe.\nElles furent publi\u00e9es ensuite \u00e0 part sous le titre de _The Citizen of\nthe World_, \u00able Citoyen du Monde\u00bb.\nTous ces travaux finirent par le mettre en \u00e9tat de mieux vivre, et il\nse h\u00e2ta de vivre trop bien. Aussi peut-on dire du pauvre Goldsmith\nque, plus il gagna d\u2019argent, plus il eut de dettes. Nous sommes \u00e0\nl\u2019\u00e9poque de sa grande activit\u00e9. Son libraire, Newbery, le pousse,\net il produit trait\u00e9s sur trait\u00e9s, brochures sur brochures, \u00e0 toute\noccasion et sur tout sujet. Il est fort r\u00e9pandu; son ami Johnson, le\ngrand docteur Johnson, l\u2019oracle litt\u00e9raire du si\u00e8cle, le patronne\net le produit. Surmen\u00e9 par le travail et par les exigences de ses\nrelations, qui se font et s\u2019entretiennent surtout dans les tavernes\net les cercles, Goldsmith va vers ce temps (1762) passer une saison \u00e0\nTunbridge et \u00e0 Bath. Il en revient pour publier _The Life of Richard\nNash, Esq._, la Vie du beau Nash, nagu\u00e8re encore le h\u00e9ros de Bath pour\nses excentricit\u00e9s et le grand inspirateur de la mode.\nLe libraire Newbery, qui le tenait en chartre priv\u00e9e et payait pour\nlui sa pension et son loyer, ayant cru pouvoir le laisser \u00e0 lui-m\u00eame,\nil s\u2019endetta tellement vis-\u00e0-vis de sa propri\u00e9taire que celle-ci le\nmena\u00e7a s\u00e9rieusement de le faire arr\u00eater. Johnson, averti par lettre\nde la f\u00e2cheuse occurrence, envoya aussit\u00f4t une guin\u00e9e \u00e0 son ami pour\nlui faire prendre patience, et suivit de pr\u00e8s son envoi. Goldsmith\nprenait patience en effet; il avait d\u00e9j\u00e0, par une recette alchimique\npeu secr\u00e8te, transmu\u00e9 partie de la guin\u00e9e en or potable, et vidait une\nbouteille de vin de Mad\u00e8re lorsque Johnson entra. Celui-ci le ramena \u00e0\ndes id\u00e9es plus pratiques. Goldsmith se souvint qu\u2019il avait, tout pr\u00eat,\nun roman en manuscrit. Johnson le porta \u00e0 Francis Newbery, le neveu\ndu Newbery d\u00e9j\u00e0 nomm\u00e9, et revint porteur de soixante livres sterling,\navec lesquelles Oliver se lib\u00e9ra non sans accabler sa propri\u00e9taire des\n\u00e9pith\u00e8tes les plus indign\u00e9es.\nCe manuscrit \u00e9tait celui du _Vicaire de Wakefield_.\nCeci se passait vers la fin de 1764. Le libraire, peu enchant\u00e9 de\nl\u2019affaire, qu\u2019il n\u2019avait faite qu\u2019\u00e0 la sollicitation de Johnson,\nn\u2019osait, courir les risques de l\u2019impression. Il ne se d\u00e9cida \u00e0 publier\nle roman qu\u2019en mars 1766, apr\u00e8s que le grand succ\u00e8s du premier po\u00e8me de\nGoldsmith, _The Traveller_, se f\u00fbt bien affirm\u00e9.\n_The Traveller_, \u00able Voyageur\u00bb, fut publi\u00e9 par Newbery l\u2019a\u00een\u00e9. C\u2019est\nle premier ouvrage qui porte le nom de l\u2019auteur. Il y avait travaill\u00e9\nlongtemps, et, d\u00e8s l\u2019\u00e9poque de ses p\u00e9destres voyages sur le continent,\nen avait envoy\u00e9 la premi\u00e8re esquisse \u00e0 son fr\u00e8re Henry, auquel il le\nd\u00e9dia. On n\u2019avait rien vu d\u2019aussi parfait depuis Pope, et la r\u00e9putation\nde Goldsmith fut faite du coup.\nIl la soutint par une augmentation de d\u00e9penses que justifiaient\ninsuffisamment les vingt livres sterling que les libraires Griffin\net Newbery lui pay\u00e8rent peu apr\u00e8s pour un volume contenant un choix\nde ses _Essays_. Il voulut chercher des ressources ailleurs que dans\nses labeurs litt\u00e9raires accoutum\u00e9s, et il revint \u00e0 l\u2019exercice de la\nprofession de m\u00e9decin, muni, cette fois, d\u2019un magnifique manteau\n\u00e9carlate et d\u2019une riche canne \u00e0 pomme d\u2019or. Avec une assurance bien\nnaturelle en un tel \u00e9quipage, il r\u00e9digeait des ordonnances qu\u2019aucun\napothicaire n\u2019osait pr\u00e9parer; si bien que, se voyant incompris de ce\nc\u00f4t\u00e9, il se r\u00e9signa d\u00e9finitivement \u00e0 n\u2019\u00eatre que docteur _in partibus_.\nC\u2019est vers ce temps qu\u2019il aborda le th\u00e9\u00e2tre. Le 29 janvier 1768, il\nfit repr\u00e9senter sur la sc\u00e8ne de Covent Garden _The Good natured Man_,\n\u00abl\u2019Homme au bon naturel\u00bb, avec un prologue du D^r Johnson. La com\u00e9die,\ngaie et spirituelle, frisant m\u00eame la farce, eut du succ\u00e8s et rapporta\ncinq cents livres \u00e0 l\u2019auteur. C\u2019\u00e9tait une fortune pour Goldsmith. Il\nn\u2019h\u00e9sita pas: il employa quatre cents livres \u00e0 acheter dans Middle\nTemple un appartement superbe, et le reste \u00e0 inaugurer comme il\nconvenait sa nouvelle installation.\nCe n\u2019\u00e9tait pas ainsi qu\u2019il pouvait se d\u00e9livrer de l\u2019obligation de ramer\nsur sa gal\u00e8re. Il se mit \u00e0 une histoire de Rome (_A Roman History_),\nque lui avait command\u00e9e le libraire Davies. L\u2019histoire parut, et\nJohnson d\u00e9clara qu\u2019elle valait mieux que les abr\u00e9g\u00e9s de Lucius Florus\net d\u2019Eutrope, et qu\u2019elle \u00e9tait sup\u00e9rieure \u00e0 Vertot.\nIl s\u2019\u00e9tait engag\u00e9 en 1769 \u00e0 \u00e9crire pour le libraire Griffin une\nHistoire de la nature anim\u00e9e (_History of animated nature_) en huit\nvolumes, pour huit cents guin\u00e9es, sur lesquelles il avait re\u00e7u cinq\ncents livres d\u2019avance. Goldsmith ne savait distinguer une oie d\u2019un\ncanard que sur la table, et ses connaissances en histoire naturelle\nn\u2019allaient pas au del\u00e0. Aussi le D^r Johnson ne s\u2019avan\u00e7ait-il pas trop\nen pr\u00e9disant que l\u2019Histoire de la nature anim\u00e9e serait aussi amusante\nqu\u2019un conte persan. Cependant il interrompit cette grande \u0153uvre pour\ngagner cinq cents autres livres avec Davies qui, d\u00e9sireux d\u2019exploiter\nla veine ouverte par l\u2019Histoire romaine, le pressait de lui faire une\n\u00abHistoire d\u2019Angleterre, depuis la naissance de l\u2019empire britannique\njusqu\u2019\u00e0 la mort de George II, en quatre volumes in-octavo\u00bb. En m\u00eame\ntemps, il \u00e9crivait une vie de Thomas Parnell, po\u00e8te irlandais, mort\nen 1717, et dont un po\u00e8me, _l\u2019Ermite_, a \u00e9t\u00e9 traduit en fran\u00e7ais par\nHennequin.\nAu milieu de ces soucis d\u2019argent et de ces travaux de librairie,\nGoldsmith polissait d\u2019une main amoureuse un nouveau po\u00e8me, le pendant\ndu _Traveller_, qui parut le 26 mai 1770, sous le titre de _The\nDeserted village_, \u00able Village abandonn\u00e9\u00bb. Les souvenirs de son\nenfance, po\u00e9tis\u00e9s par la distance et l\u2019imagination, donnent un charme\np\u00e9n\u00e9trant \u00e0 ces vers harmonieux et \u00e9mus, qui racontent les malheurs\nde toute une population chass\u00e9e de son riant village par le caprice\ndu seigneur propri\u00e9taire du sol. Il y aurait \u00e0 rapprocher du _Village\nabandonn\u00e9_ de Goldsmith certains passages de l\u2019_Hermann et Doroth\u00e9e_ de\nG\u0153the, et il ne me surprendrait pas que celui-ci d\u00fbt quelque chose \u00e0\ncelui-l\u00e0.\nLe succ\u00e8s fut \u00e9norme et pla\u00e7a Goldsmith au premier rang des\nlitt\u00e9rateurs de son temps. Lanc\u00e9 dans la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 des \u00e9crivains, des\nartistes et des grands seigneurs beaux esprits, entra\u00een\u00e9 \u00e0 d\u00e9penser,\navec l\u2019argent qu\u2019il n\u2019avait pas, son temps si pr\u00e9cieux et ses forces\nqui commen\u00e7aient \u00e0 s\u2019\u00e9puiser, il trouvait encore le moyen d\u2019\u00e9crire de\ngracieux et malins badinages en vers, comme le \u00abCuissot de venaison\u00bb\n(_The Haunch of venison_) adress\u00e9 \u00e0 lord Clare, et _Retaliation_,\namicalement dirig\u00e9 contre Garrick et qui ne fut pas imprim\u00e9 de son\nvivant. Le th\u00e9\u00e2tre lui avait assez bien r\u00e9ussi une fois pour qu\u2019il\ny songe\u00e2t de nouveau. Le 15 mars 1773, il donnait \u00e0 Covent Garden\nune com\u00e9die intitul\u00e9e _She stoops to conquer_, \u00abElle plie pour mieux\nvaincre\u00bb, sup\u00e9rieure \u00e0 la premi\u00e8re, et digne de rester classique.\nCe succ\u00e8s servit \u00e0 ameuter les critiques et \u00e0 aigrir le pauvre\nGoldsmith, enfonc\u00e9 plus que jamais dans les dettes et les engagements\nimpossibles \u00e0 tenir. Une histoire de la Gr\u00e8ce (_History of Greece_),\nque Griffin lui avait pay\u00e9e deux cent cinquante livres, fut, je crois,\nle dernier labeur qu\u2019il ex\u00e9cuta. Exc\u00e9d\u00e9 de toutes mani\u00e8res, l\u2019esprit\ninquiet, d\u00e9sesp\u00e9rant de sortir jamais de cette tourbi\u00e8re de la dette o\u00f9\nil s\u2019\u00e9tait jet\u00e9 avec la confiance et l\u2019\u00e9tourderie de la jeunesse, et\no\u00f9, malgr\u00e9 tous les efforts de son \u00e2ge m\u00fbr, il ne savait que s\u2019enlizer\ndavantage, Oliver Goldsmith mourut le 4 avril 1774. Il fut enterr\u00e9\ndans le cimeti\u00e8re de l\u2019\u00e9glise du Temple, on ne sait au juste \u00e0 quel\nendroit. Quelques ann\u00e9es apr\u00e8s, on lui \u00e9leva un monument \u00e0 Westminster,\net le D^r Johnson composa, pour y \u00eatre grav\u00e9e, l\u2019\u00e9pitaphe de son ami.\nPlut\u00f4t que le pompeux latin lapidaire du docteur, ces paroles, par\nlesquelles il r\u00e9sumait son jugement sur Oliver Goldsmith, m\u00e9ritent\nd\u2019\u00eatre rapport\u00e9es, et l\u2019on peut y souscrire, je pense: \u00abIl gagna de\nl\u2019argent par tous les moyens ing\u00e9nieux qui en procurent et le gaspilla\ndans toutes les folies qui le d\u00e9pensent. Mais ne nous souvenons pas de\nses faiblesses. Ce fut vraiment un tr\u00e8s grand homme.\u00bb\nJ\u2019ajouterai un mot. Goldsmith fut bon. S\u2019il ne parvenait pas \u00e0 payer\nses cr\u00e9anciers, son argent \u00e9tait \u00e0 tous ceux qui le lui demandaient.\nDans le d\u00e9sordre de sa vie, dans la d\u00e9pendance o\u00f9 le mit la n\u00e9cessit\u00e9\net o\u00f9 le maintint l\u2019impr\u00e9voyance, il garda intactes son honn\u00eatet\u00e9\nlitt\u00e9raire et une dignit\u00e9 si simple et si \u00e9loign\u00e9e de l\u2019ostentation\nque beaucoup, qui en eussent \u00e9t\u00e9 incapables, la prenaient pour de la\nniaiserie et s\u2019en moquaient. Le gouvernement veut acheter sa plume;\nil r\u00e9pond \u00e0 l\u2019interm\u00e9diaire envoy\u00e9 pour le sonder: \u00abJe puis gagner\nassez pour satisfaire \u00e0 mes besoins sans \u00e9crire pour aucun parti.\nL\u2019assistance que vous venez m\u2019offrir ne m\u2019est donc pas n\u00e9cessaire.\u00bb Le\ncomte de Northumberland est nomm\u00e9 vice-roi d\u2019Irlande. Il fait venir\nGoldsmith et lui demande en quoi il peut le servir. \u00abJ\u2019ai l\u00e0-bas un\nfr\u00e8re, pasteur et peu fortun\u00e9, r\u00e9pond le po\u00e8te. Je le recommande \u00e0\nvotre bienveillance.\u00bb Ce sont l\u00e0 des traits qui font aimer l\u2019homme,\nquelles que soient ses imperfections.\nJe ne dirai rien de la r\u00e9putation d\u2019esprit lourd et de causeur ridicule\nqu\u2019on lui avait faite de son temps et qui s\u2019est perp\u00e9tu\u00e9e jusqu\u2019\u00e0\nnous. Il n\u2019est gu\u00e8re probable que l\u2019ami de Johnson et de tant d\u2019autres\nbrillants esprits f\u00fbt un sot en conversation, ou m\u00eame, comme l\u2019a dit\nHorace Walpole, un \u00abidiot inspir\u00e9\u00bb. Un de ses derniers biographes,\nM. William Black, a montr\u00e9 clairement qu\u2019il avait l\u2019esprit tr\u00e8s\nfin, et que, le plus souvent, on prenait pour des balourdises des\nsaillies d\u00e9licates ou des \u00e9pigrammes subtiles qu\u2019au milieu de leurs\ngrands \u00e9clats de rire et de leurs plaisanteries \u00e0 l\u2019emporte-pi\u00e8ce ses\ncompagnons ne comprenaient g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement pas. Cette raillerie discr\u00e8te\nde Goldsmith, qui a l\u2019air de se tourner contre soi-m\u00eame pour mieux\natteindre les autres, cette mesure dans la satire, qui indique les\nvices et les ridicules sans avoir l\u2019air de les voir, ne sont pas les\nmoindres charmes de son \u0153uvre et nulle part n\u2019apparaissent mieux que\ndans le _Vicaire de Wakefield_.\nJe n\u2019ai pas \u00e0 porter de jugement ici sur ce chef-d\u2019\u0153uvre qui, comme\ntous les chefs-d\u2019\u0153uvre d\u2019un ordre \u00e9lev\u00e9, appartient \u00e0 l\u2019humanit\u00e9 autant\nqu\u2019au pays o\u00f9 il s\u2019est produit.\nM. \u00c9mile Chasles pr\u00e9pare sur le roman de Goldsmith une \u00e9tude que sa\nsagacit\u00e9, vivifi\u00e9e par son enthousiasme du beau, remplira de vues\nnouvelles et profondes. Pour moi, j\u2019ai cherch\u00e9 dans ma traduction\n\u00e0 obtenir, le plus qu\u2019il m\u2019a \u00e9t\u00e9 possible, par l\u2019exactitude de la\nreproduction, l\u2019identit\u00e9 de l\u2019effet.\nTel qu\u2019il est, je pr\u00e9sente mon travail au public avec le d\u00e9sir tr\u00e8s\nvif qu\u2019il contribue \u00e0 entretenir la popularit\u00e9 de Goldsmith et de son\n\u0153uvre parmi nous. Le moment est bon pour pousser \u00e0 la fr\u00e9quentation des\nesprits nobles et des \u00e9crits sains.\nLE VICAIRE\nDE WAKEFIELD\n[Illustration]\nAVERTISSEMENT\nIL y a cent d\u00e9fauts dans ceci, et l\u2019on pourrait dire cent choses pour\nprouver que ce sont des beaut\u00e9s. Mais il n\u2019est pas besoin. Un livre\npeut \u00eatre amusant avec de nombreuses erreurs, et tr\u00e8s ennuyeux sans une\nseule absurdit\u00e9. Le h\u00e9ros de ce morceau r\u00e9unit les trois plus grands\ncaract\u00e8res qui soient sur terre: il est pr\u00eatre, agriculteur, p\u00e8re de\nfamille. Il est repr\u00e9sent\u00e9 comme pr\u00eat \u00e0 enseigner et pr\u00eat \u00e0 ob\u00e9ir,\ncomme simple dans l\u2019abondance et majestueux dans l\u2019adversit\u00e9. Dans\ncet \u00e2ge d\u2019opulence et de raffinement, \u00e0 qui ce caract\u00e8re pourra-t-il\nplaire? Ceux qui aiment la grande vie se d\u00e9tourneront avec d\u00e9dain de la\nsimplicit\u00e9 de son foyer rustique. Ceux qui prennent la grossi\u00e8ret\u00e9 pour\nune humeur plaisante ne trouveront point d\u2019esprit dans son inoffensif\nentretien, et ceux qui ont appris \u00e0 se moquer de la religion riront\nd\u2019un homme dont les principaux motifs de consolation se puisent dans la\nvie future.\n  OLIVER GOLDSMITH.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE PREMIER\n_Description de la famille de Wakefield, chez laquelle r\u00e8gne un air de\nparent\u00e9, aussi bien dans les esprits que dans les figures._\nJ\u2019AI toujours \u00e9t\u00e9 d\u2019avis que l\u2019honn\u00eate homme qui se marie et \u00e9l\u00e8ve une\ngrande famille rend plus de services que celui qui reste c\u00e9libataire et\nse contente de parler de la population. C\u00e9dant \u00e0 ce motif, il y avait\n\u00e0 peine un an que j\u2019avais pris les Ordres, lorsque je me mis \u00e0 songer\ns\u00e9rieusement au mariage, et je choisis ma femme, comme elle-m\u00eame sa\nrobe de noce, non pour la finesse et le lustre de la surface, mais pour\nces qualit\u00e9s qui supportent bien l\u2019usage. Il faut lui rendre justice:\nc\u2019\u00e9tait une bonne, une remarquable femme; et quant \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9ducation, il y\navait peu de dames de province qui pussent en montrer davantage. Elle\n\u00e9tait capable de lire n\u2019importe quel livre anglais sans trop \u00e9peler;\nmais pour les conserves, les confitures et la cuisine, personne ne la\nsurpassait. Elle se piquait aussi de trouver des id\u00e9es excellentes pour\nle m\u00e9nage, bien que je n\u2019aie jamais r\u00e9ussi \u00e0 m\u2019apercevoir que toutes\nses id\u00e9es nous rendissent plus riches.\nCependant nous nous aimions tendrement, et notre affection grandissait\n\u00e0 mesure que nous vieillissions. De fait, il n\u2019y avait rien qui p\u00fbt\nnous irriter contre le monde, ou l\u2019un contre l\u2019autre. Nous avions\nune maison \u00e9l\u00e9gante, situ\u00e9e dans un beau pays et un bon voisinage.\nL\u2019ann\u00e9e se passait en amusements moraux ou champ\u00eatres, en visites \u00e0\nnos voisins riches, en soulagements donn\u00e9s \u00e0 ceux qui \u00e9taient pauvres.\nNous n\u2019avions point de r\u00e9volutions \u00e0 craindre, point de fatigues \u00e0\nsupporter; toutes nos aventures \u00e9taient au coin du feu, et toutes nos\nmigrations du lit bleu au lit brun.\nComme nous demeurions pr\u00e8s de la route, nous avions souvent la visite\ndu voyageur ou de l\u2019\u00e9tranger, qui go\u00fbtaient notre vin de groseille,\npour lequel nous jouissions d\u2019une grande r\u00e9putation; et je d\u00e9clare\navec la v\u00e9racit\u00e9 de l\u2019historien que je n\u2019ai jamais su qu\u2019aucun d\u2019eux\ny ait trouv\u00e9 \u00e0 redire. Nos cousins \u00e9galement, jusqu\u2019au quaranti\u00e8me\ndegr\u00e9, se rappelaient tous leur consanguinit\u00e9 sans nullement recourir\nau bureau des g\u00e9n\u00e9alogies, et venaient tr\u00e8s fr\u00e9quemment nous voir.\nQuelques-uns ne nous faisaient pas grand honneur par ces revendications\nde parent\u00e9, car nous avions dans le nombre l\u2019aveugle, le manchot et\nle boiteux. Cependant ma femme insistait toujours sur ce qu\u2019\u00e9tant la\nm\u00eame chair et le m\u00eame sang, ils devaient s\u2019asseoir avec nous \u00e0 la m\u00eame\ntable. De sorte que, si nous n\u2019avions pas autour de nous des amis tr\u00e8s\nriches, nous en avions g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement de tr\u00e8s heureux; car cette remarque\nse trouvera juste dans tout le cours de la vie, que plus le convive\nest pauvre, plus il est content d\u2019\u00eatre bien trait\u00e9; et de m\u00eame que\ncertaines gens s\u2019extasient sur les couleurs d\u2019une tulipe ou sur l\u2019aile\nd\u2019un papillon, moi j\u2019\u00e9tais, par nature, admirateur des visages heureux.\n[Illustration]\nCependant lorsqu\u2019un de nos parents se trouvait \u00eatre une personne d\u2019un\ntrop m\u00e9chant caract\u00e8re, ou un convive g\u00eanant, ou quelqu\u2019un dont nous\nd\u00e9sirions nous d\u00e9barrasser, j\u2019avais toujours soin de lui pr\u00eater, \u00e0\nson d\u00e9part de ma maison, un habit de cheval, ou une paire de bottes,\nou quelquefois un cheval de peu de valeur, et j\u2019eus invariablement la\nsatisfaction de voir qu\u2019il ne revenait jamais les rendre. Par ce moyen,\nla maison \u00e9tait purg\u00e9e de ceux que nous n\u2019aimions pas; mais jamais\nla famille de Wakefield n\u2019a eu la r\u00e9putation de mettre \u00e0 la porte le\nvoyageur ou le parent pauvre.\nNous v\u00e9c\u00fbmes ainsi plusieurs ann\u00e9es dans un \u00e9tat de grand bonheur;\nnon que nous n\u2019eussions parfois de ces petits froissements que la\nProvidence envoie pour rehausser le prix de ses faveurs. Mon verger\n\u00e9tait souvent ravag\u00e9 par des \u00e9coliers, et les cr\u00e8mes de ma femme\nmises au pillage par les chats et les enfants. Le seigneur du village\ns\u2019endormait quelquefois aux endroits les plus path\u00e9tiques de mon\nsermon, ou sa noble dame ne r\u00e9pondait aux civilit\u00e9s de ma femme \u00e0\nl\u2019\u00e9glise que par une r\u00e9v\u00e9rence \u00e9court\u00e9e. Mais nous surmontions bient\u00f4t\nla contrari\u00e9t\u00e9 caus\u00e9e par de tels accidents, et, d\u2019ordinaire, au bout\nde trois ou quatre jours, nous nous demandions comment ils avaient pu\nnous \u00e9mouvoir.\nMes enfants, n\u00e9s de parents vertueux et \u00e9lev\u00e9s sans mollesse, \u00e9taient\n\u00e0 la fois bien faits et sains; mes fils robustes et actifs, mes filles\nbelles et d\u2019une fra\u00eecheur \u00e9panouie. Quand je me tenais au milieu de ce\npetit cercle, qui promettait des appuis au d\u00e9clin de mon \u00e2ge, je ne\npouvais m\u2019emp\u00eacher de r\u00e9p\u00e9ter la fameuse histoire du comte Abensberg\nqui, lors du voyage de Henri II \u00e0 travers l\u2019Allemagne, et tandis\nque les autres courtisans accouraient avec leurs tr\u00e9sors, amena ses\ntrente-deux enfants et les pr\u00e9senta \u00e0 son souverain comme la plus\npr\u00e9cieuse offrande qu\u2019il p\u00fbt faire. De la m\u00eame fa\u00e7on, bien que je n\u2019en\neusse que six, je les consid\u00e9rais comme un pr\u00e9sent tr\u00e8s pr\u00e9cieux fait\n\u00e0 mon pays, et cons\u00e9quemment je regardais celui-ci comme mon d\u00e9biteur,\nNotre fils a\u00een\u00e9 fut nomm\u00e9 George, du nom de son oncle, qui nous avait\nlaiss\u00e9 dix mille livres sterling. Notre second enfant \u00e9tait une fille;\nj\u2019avais l\u2019intention de lui donner le nom de sa tante Gris\u00e8le; mais\nma femme qui, durant sa grossesse, avait lu des romans, insista pour\nqu\u2019on l\u2019appel\u00e2t Olivia. Moins d\u2019une ann\u00e9e apr\u00e8s, nous e\u00fbmes une autre\nfille, et j\u2019avais r\u00e9solu cette fois que Gris\u00e8le serait son nom; mais\nune riche parente ayant eu la fantaisie d\u2019\u00eatre marraine, la fille fut,\npar ses instructions, appel\u00e9e Sophia, de sorte que nous e\u00fbmes deux noms\nromanesques dans la famille; mais je proteste solennellement que je n\u2019y\nfus pour rien. Mo\u00efse vint ensuite, et, apr\u00e8s un intervalle de douze\nans, nous e\u00fbmes encore deux fils.\nIl ne servirait de rien de nier mon ravissement quand je voyais toute\nma petite famille autour de moi; mais la vanit\u00e9 et la satisfaction\nde ma femme \u00e9taient encore plus grandes que les miennes. Lorsque nos\nvisiteurs disaient: \u00abEh! sur ma parole, Mrs Primrose, vous avez les\nplus beaux enfants de tout le pays.\u2014Ah! voisin, r\u00e9pondait-elle, ils\nsont comme le ciel les a faits, assez beaux s\u2019ils sont assez bons;\ncar beau est qui bien fait.\u00bb Et alors elle ordonnait de tenir la t\u00eate\ndroite \u00e0 ses filles qui, \u00e0 ne rien cacher, \u00e9taient certainement fort\nbelles. L\u2019ext\u00e9rieur seul est une chose tellement frivole pour moi, que\nje n\u2019aurais gu\u00e8re song\u00e9 \u00e0 en faire mention, si ce n\u2019avait \u00e9t\u00e9 un sujet\ng\u00e9n\u00e9ral de conversation dans le pays. Olivia, alors \u00e2g\u00e9e de dix-huit\nans environ, avait cette luxuriance de beaut\u00e9 avec laquelle les\npeintres ont coutume de repr\u00e9senter H\u00e9b\u00e9: ouverte, anim\u00e9e, dominatrice.\nLes traits de Sophia n\u2019\u00e9taient pas si frappants au premier abord, mais\nsouvent ils produisaient un effet plus s\u00fbr; car ils \u00e9taient doux,\nmodestes et s\u00e9duisants. L\u2019une triomphait d\u2019un seul coup, l\u2019autre par\ndes efforts heureusement r\u00e9p\u00e9t\u00e9s.\nLe caract\u00e8re d\u2019une femme est g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement conforme \u00e0 l\u2019expression de\nses traits, du moins il en \u00e9tait ainsi de mes filles. Olivia souhaitait\nde nombreux amoureux, Sophia aurait voulu s\u2019en attacher un seul. Olivia\n\u00e9tait souvent affect\u00e9e, par suite de son trop grand d\u00e9sir de plaire.\nSophia allait jusqu\u2019\u00e0 dissimuler la sup\u00e9riorit\u00e9 de sa nature, tant elle\ncraignait d\u2019offenser. L\u2019une me r\u00e9cr\u00e9ait par sa vivacit\u00e9 quand j\u2019\u00e9tais\ngai, l\u2019autre par son bon sens quand j\u2019\u00e9tais s\u00e9rieux. Mais ces qualit\u00e9s\nn\u2019\u00e9taient jamais pouss\u00e9es \u00e0 l\u2019exc\u00e8s ni chez l\u2019une ni chez l\u2019autre, et\nje les ai souvent vues changer de caract\u00e8re pendant toute une journ\u00e9e.\nUn v\u00eatement de deuil transformait ma coquette en prude, et une nouvelle\nparure de rubans donnait \u00e0 sa jeune s\u0153ur plus de vivacit\u00e9 qu\u2019elle n\u2019en\navait naturellement.\nMon fils a\u00een\u00e9, George, \u00e9tait \u00e9lev\u00e9 \u00e0 Oxford, car j\u2019avais en vue pour\nlui une des professions savantes. Mon second gar\u00e7on, Mo\u00efse, que je\ndestinais aux affaires, recevait une sorte d\u2019\u00e9ducation mixte \u00e0 la\nmaison. Mais il est inutile d\u2019essayer de d\u00e9crire les caract\u00e8res\nparticuliers de jeunes gens qui n\u2019avaient vu que tr\u00e8s peu du monde.\nEn somme, un air de famille r\u00e9gnait entre eux tous, et, \u00e0 proprement\nparler, ils n\u2019avaient qu\u2019un caract\u00e8re, celui d\u2019\u00eatre tous \u00e9galement\ng\u00e9n\u00e9reux, cr\u00e9dules, simples et inoffensifs.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE II\n_Malheurs de famille.\u2014La perte de la fortune ne fait qu\u2019accro\u00eetre la\nfiert\u00e9 des justes._\nLES int\u00e9r\u00eats temporels de notre famille \u00e9taient principalement commis\n\u00e0 l\u2019administration de ma femme; quant aux spirituels, je les prenais\nenti\u00e8rement sous ma direction. Les revenus de mon b\u00e9n\u00e9fice ne montaient\nqu\u2019\u00e0 trente-cinq livres sterling par an; je les abandonnais aux\norphelins et aux veuves du clerg\u00e9 de notre dioc\u00e8se; car, ayant une\nfortune personnelle, je ne m\u2019inqui\u00e9tais pas du casuel, et je sentais un\nsecret plaisir \u00e0 faire mon devoir sans r\u00e9compense. J\u2019avais aussi pris\nla r\u00e9solution de ne point avoir de desservant et de conna\u00eetre tous les\nhabitants de ma paroisse, exhortant les hommes mari\u00e9s \u00e0 la temp\u00e9rance\net les c\u00e9libataires au mariage; si bien qu\u2019au bout de quelques ann\u00e9es,\nc\u2019\u00e9tait un commun dicton qu\u2019il y avait \u00e0 Wakefield trois \u00e9tranges\nmanques: manque de morgue dans le pasteur, manque de femmes pour les\njeunes gens, et manque de pratiques pour les cabarets.\nLe mariage fut toujours un de mes th\u00e8mes favoris, et j\u2019ai \u00e9crit\nplusieurs sermons pour en prouver la f\u00e9licit\u00e9; mais il y avait un dogme\nparticulier que je me faisais un point d\u2019honneur de d\u00e9fendre; en effet,\nje soutenais avec Whiston qu\u2019il est ill\u00e9gal \u00e0 un pr\u00eatre de l\u2019\u00c9glise\nd\u2019Angleterre, apr\u00e8s la mort de sa premi\u00e8re femme, d\u2019en prendre une\nseconde; ou, pour le dire d\u2019un mot, je me glorifiais d\u2019\u00eatre strictement\nmonogame.\nJe m\u2019\u00e9tais initi\u00e9 de bonne heure \u00e0 cette importante controverse sur\nlaquelle tant de volumes ont \u00e9t\u00e9 laborieusement \u00e9crits. J\u2019ai moi-m\u00eame\npubli\u00e9 quelques trait\u00e9s sur le sujet; et, comme ils ne se sont jamais\nvendus, j\u2019ai la consolation de penser qu\u2019ils n\u2019ont en pour lecteurs que\nl\u2019heureux petit nombre des \u00e9lus. Quelques-uns de mes amis appelaient\ncela mon c\u00f4t\u00e9 faible; mais, h\u00e9las! ils n\u2019en avaient pas fait, comme\nmoi, le sujet de longues m\u00e9ditations. Plus j\u2019y r\u00e9fl\u00e9chissais, plus il\nme paraissait important. J\u2019allai m\u00eame un pas plus loin que Whiston\ndans la manifestation de mes principes: comme il avait fait graver\nsur la tombe de sa femme qu\u2019elle \u00e9tait la _seule_ femme de William\nWhiston, j\u2019avais \u00e9crit pour ma femme, \u00e0 moi, bien qu\u2019elle f\u00fbt encore\nvivante, une \u00e9pitaphe analogue, dans laquelle je vantais sa prudence,\nson \u00e9conomie et son ob\u00e9issance jusqu\u2019\u00e0 la mort; et, en ayant fait\nfaire une belle copie, dans un cadre \u00e9l\u00e9gant, je la pla\u00e7ai au-dessus\nde la chemin\u00e9e, o\u00f9 elle remplissait plusieurs buts fort utiles: elle\nrappelait \u00e0 ma femme ses devoirs envers moi et ma fid\u00e9lit\u00e9 pour elle;\nelle lui inspirait de la passion pour un bon renom et lui remettait\nconstamment en l\u2019esprit sa fin.\nCe fut ainsi peut-\u00eatre, en entendant pr\u00f4ner si souvent le mariage, que\nmon fils a\u00een\u00e9, au sortir de l\u2019Universit\u00e9, fixa ses affections sur la\nfille d\u2019un eccl\u00e9siastique de nos voisins, dignitaire de l\u2019\u00c9glise, et\nen position de lui donner une grande fortune; mais la fortune \u00e9tait sa\nmoindre qualit\u00e9. Tout le monde (except\u00e9 mes deux filles) s\u2019accordait\n\u00e0 d\u00e9clarer que miss Arabella Wilmot \u00e9tait parfaitement jolie. Sa\njeunesse, sa sant\u00e9 et son innocence \u00e9taient encore rehauss\u00e9es par\nun teint si transparent, par une sensibilit\u00e9 de regard si heureuse,\nque la vieillesse m\u00eame ne pouvait la voir avec indiff\u00e9rence. Comme\nM. Wilmot savait que je pouvais constituer \u00e0 mon fils un tr\u00e8s bel\n\u00e9tablissement, il n\u2019\u00e9tait pas contraire au mariage. Les deux familles\nvivaient donc ensemble dans toute l\u2019harmonie qui pr\u00e9c\u00e8de g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement\nune alliance attendue. Convaincu par exp\u00e9rience que le temps o\u00f9 l\u2019on\nfait sa cour est le plus heureux de la vie, j\u2019\u00e9tais assez dispos\u00e9\n\u00e0 en reculer le terme, et les plaisirs vari\u00e9s que les jeunes gens\npartageaient chaque jour dans la compagnie l\u2019un de l\u2019antre semblaient\naugmenter leur passion. Nous \u00e9tions ordinairement r\u00e9veill\u00e9s le matin\npar la musique, et, dans les beaux jours, nous chassions \u00e0 cheval.\nLes dames consacraient les heures qui s\u00e9parent le d\u00e9jeuner du d\u00eener\n\u00e0 la toilette et \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9tude: habituellement elles lisaient une page\net puis se regardaient dans la glace, qui souvent pr\u00e9sentait\u2014des\nphilosophes m\u00eame pourraient eu convenir\u2014la page la plus belle de\ntoutes. A d\u00eener, ma femme prenait la direction: elle tenait \u00e0 toujours\nd\u00e9couper tout elle-m\u00eame, parce que c\u2019\u00e9tait l\u2019habitude de sa m\u00e8re,\net elle en profitait pour nous donner l\u2019historique de chaque plat.\nQuand nous avions d\u00een\u00e9, afin d\u2019emp\u00eacher les dames de nous quitter, je\nfaisais d\u2019ordinaire enlever la table, et quelquefois, avec l\u2019aide du\nma\u00eetre de musique, nos filles nous donnaient un concert tr\u00e8s agr\u00e9able.\nLa promenade, le th\u00e9, les danses champ\u00eatres, les gages touch\u00e9s\nabr\u00e9geaient le reste de la journ\u00e9e, sans le secours des cartes; car je\nha\u00efssais toute esp\u00e8ce de jeu, except\u00e9 le tric-trac, auquel nous jouions\nparfois, mon vieil ami et moi, une partie de quatre sous. Et je ne\npuis omettre ici une circonstance de mauvais augure qui se pr\u00e9senta la\nderni\u00e8re fois que nous jou\u00e2mes ensemble: il ne me fallait qu\u2019amener un\nquatre, et je jetai double as cinq fois de suite.\nQuelques mois s\u2019\u00e9taient \u00e9coul\u00e9s de cette mani\u00e8re, lorsque enfin on\njugea convenable de fixer un jour pour les noces du jeune couple,\nqui semblait le d\u00e9sirer ardemment. Je n\u2019ai pas besoin de d\u00e9crire\nl\u2019importance affair\u00e9e de ma femme pendant les pr\u00e9paratifs du mariage,\nni les coups d\u2019\u0153il furtifs de mes filles; le fait est que mon attention\nse fixait sur un autre objet,\u2014l\u2019ach\u00e8vement d\u2019un trait\u00e9 que je comptais\npublier bient\u00f4t pour d\u00e9fendre mon principe favori. Comme ce trait\u00e9 me\nsemblait un chef-d\u2019\u0153uvre et d\u2019argumentation et de style, je ne pus,\ndans la vanit\u00e9 de mon c\u0153ur, m\u2019emp\u00eacher de le montrer \u00e0 mon vieil ami,\nM. Wilmot, ne doutant aucunement de recevoir son approbation; mais\nce ne fut que trop tard que je d\u00e9couvris qu\u2019il \u00e9tait attach\u00e9 avec la\nplus grande \u00e9nergie \u00e0 l\u2019opinion contraire, et qu\u2019il avait de bonnes\nraisons pour cela. En effet, il faisait, en ce moment m\u00eame, la cour\n\u00e0 une quatri\u00e8me femme. Ceci, comme on peut s\u2019y attendre, amena une\ndiscussion accompagn\u00e9e de quelque aigreur, qui mena\u00e7a de couper court \u00e0\nnos projets d\u2019alliance; mais nous conv\u00eenmes de d\u00e9battre le sujet \u00e0 fond\nla veille du jour arr\u00eat\u00e9 pour la c\u00e9r\u00e9monie.\nTout se passa avec l\u2019ardeur voulue des deux c\u00f4t\u00e9s: il affirma que\nj\u2019\u00e9tais h\u00e9t\u00e9rodoxe, je r\u00e9torquai l\u2019accusation; il r\u00e9pliqua, je\nripostai. Cependant, au plus chaud de la controverse, je fus appel\u00e9\ndehors par un de mes parents qui, d\u2019un visage afflig\u00e9, me conseilla\nd\u2019abandonner la dispute, du moins jusqu\u2019\u00e0 ce que le mariage de mon fils\nf\u00fbt chose faite.\n\u00abComment! m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, d\u00e9serter la cause de la v\u00e9rit\u00e9, et le laisser\nse remarier lorsqu\u2019il est d\u00e9j\u00e0 pouss\u00e9 aux confins de l\u2019absurde! Autant\nvaudrait me conseiller d\u2019abandonner ma fortune que mon argument.\n[Illustration]\n\u2014Votre fortune, reprit mon ami, je regrette de vous en informer \u00e0\npr\u00e9sent, n\u2019est plus rien, ou \u00e0 peu pr\u00e8s. Le n\u00e9gociant de Londres,\naux mains de qui votre argent \u00e9tait plac\u00e9, s\u2019est enfui pour \u00e9viter\nune d\u00e9claration de banqueroute, et l\u2019on croit qu\u2019il ne laisse pas\nun shilling par livre sterling. Je r\u00e9pugnais \u00e0 vous chagriner de\ncette nouvelle, vous et votre famille, avant l\u2019accomplissement du\nmariage; mais elle peut maintenant servir \u00e0 mod\u00e9rer votre chaleur\nd\u2019argumentation; car, je le suppose, votre prudence vous imposera la\nn\u00e9cessit\u00e9 de dissimuler, du moins jusqu\u2019\u00e0 ce que votre fils se soit\nassur\u00e9 la fortune de la jeune fille.\n\u2014Eh bien, r\u00e9pondis-je, si ce que vous me dites est vrai, si je dois\n\u00eatre r\u00e9duit \u00e0 la mendicit\u00e9, cela ne fera jamais de moi un coquin, ni\nne m\u2019induira \u00e0 d\u00e9savouer mes principes. Je vais de ce pas instruire\nla compagnie de ma position; et pour ce qui est de la discussion, je\nr\u00e9tracte ici les premi\u00e8res concessions que j\u2019avais faites au vieux\ngentleman, et je ne lui accorderai pas qu\u2019il puisse \u00eatre un mari dans\naucun sens du mot.\u00bb\nOn n\u2019en finirait pas de d\u00e9crire les diff\u00e9rentes impressions des deux\nfamilles lorsque je divulguai la nouvelle de notre infortune; mais\nce que les autres ressentirent \u00e9tait chose l\u00e9g\u00e8re aupr\u00e8s de ce que\nles amants parurent endurer. M. Wilmot, qui semblait auparavant d\u00e9j\u00e0\nsuffisamment dispos\u00e9 \u00e0 rompre le mariage, fut bient\u00f4t d\u00e9cid\u00e9 par ce\ncoup: il y avait une vertu qu\u2019il poss\u00e9dait en perfection, c\u2019\u00e9tait la\nprudence, trop souvent la seule qui nous reste \u00e0 soixante-douze ans.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE III\n_Abn\u00e9gation.\u2014Les circonstances heureuses de notre vie se trouvent\ng\u00e9n\u00e9ralement \u00eatre, en fin de compte, notre propre ouvrage._\nIL ne restait plus \u00e0 notre famille qu\u2019un espoir: c\u2019\u00e9tait que la\nnouvelle de notre malheur f\u00fbt un rapport malicieux ou pr\u00e9matur\u00e9; mais\nune lettre de mon agent \u00e0 Londres vint bient\u00f4t m\u2019en confirmer tous les\nd\u00e9tails. La perte de la fortune e\u00fbt \u00e9t\u00e9 pour moi bagatelle; la seule\ninqui\u00e9tude que je ressentisse \u00e9tait pour ma famille, destin\u00e9e \u00e0 une\nvie humble sans cette \u00e9ducation qui endurcit aux d\u00e9dains.\nPr\u00e8s d\u2019une semaine se passa avant que je tentasse de mod\u00e9rer leur\naffliction, car des consolations h\u00e2tives ne font que rappeler la\ndouleur. Durant cet intervalle, j\u2019appliquai mes pens\u00e9es \u00e0 trouver\nquelque moyen de les soutenir d\u00e9sormais; \u00e0 la fin, on m\u2019offrit\nune petite cure de quinze livres sterling par an dans une partie\n\u00e9loign\u00e9e du pays, o\u00f9 je pourrais continuer de jouir de mes principes\nsans molestation. J\u2019adh\u00e9rai avec joie \u00e0 cette proposition, d\u00e9cid\u00e9 \u00e0\naugmenter mon traitement en faisant valoir une petite ferme.\nCette r\u00e9solution prise, mon premier soin fut de rassembler les\nd\u00e9bris de ma fortune; et, toutes dettes recouvr\u00e9es et pay\u00e9es, de\nquatorze mille livres sterling il ne nous en resta que quatre cents.\nMa principale pr\u00e9occupation \u00e9tait donc maintenant de ramener les\nsentiments de ma famille au niveau de notre position, car je savais\nbien qu\u2019une indigence pr\u00e9tentieuse est la pire des mis\u00e8res. \u00abVous\nne pouvez ignorer, mes enfants, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, qu\u2019aucune prudence de\nnotre part n\u2019\u00e9tait capable de pr\u00e9venir notre r\u00e9cente infortune; mais\nla prudence peut beaucoup pour en d\u00e9tourner les effets. Nous sommes\npauvres maintenant, mes bien-aim\u00e9s, et la sagesse nous commande de nous\nconformer \u00e0 notre humble situation. Abandonnons donc, sans murmurer, ce\nluxe qui rend tant de gens mis\u00e9rables, et cherchons, dans une condition\nplus humble, cette paix avec laquelle tous peuvent \u00eatre heureux. Les\npauvres vivent contents sans notre aide; pourquoi n\u2019apprendrions-nous\npas \u00e0 vivre sans la leur? Oui, mes enfants; abandonnons d\u00e8s ce moment\ntoute pr\u00e9tention au grand monde. Il nous reste encore assez pour nous\nassurer le bonheur si nous sommes sages. Sachons trouver dans le\ncontentement intime de quoi suppl\u00e9er \u00e0 ce qui nous manque en fortune.\u00bb\nComme mon fils a\u00een\u00e9 avait re\u00e7u une \u00e9ducation savante, je pris le parti\nde l\u2019envoyer \u00e0 la ville, o\u00f9 ses capacit\u00e9s pourraient contribuer \u00e0\nnotre bien-\u00eatre et au sien. La s\u00e9paration des amis et des familles\nest peut-\u00eatre une des plus poignantes circonstances qui accompagnent\nla pauvret\u00e9. Le jour arriva bient\u00f4t o\u00f9 nous d\u00fbmes nous disperser\npour la premi\u00e8re fois. Mon fils, apr\u00e8s avoir pris cong\u00e9 de sa m\u00e8re\net des autres qui m\u00ealaient leurs larmes \u00e0 leurs baisers, vint me\ndemander ma b\u00e9n\u00e9diction. Je la lui donnai du fond du c\u0153ur; c\u2019\u00e9tait,\navec cinq guin\u00e9es, tout le patrimoine que j\u2019eusse maintenant \u00e0 lui\noctroyer.\u2014\u00abVous allez \u00e0 Londres \u00e0 pied, mon gar\u00e7on, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je;\nc\u2019est la mani\u00e8re dont Hooker, votre grand anc\u00eatre, a fait le voyage\navant vous. Recevez de moi le m\u00eame cheval qui lui fut donn\u00e9 par le bon\n\u00e9v\u00eaque Jewel, ce b\u00e2ton; et prenez aussi ce livre, il vous fortifiera\ndans la route: ces deux lignes, qu\u2019il contient, valent des millions:\n_J\u2019ai \u00e9t\u00e9 jeune et aujourd\u2019hui je suis vieux, mais je n\u2019ai jamais vu le\njuste abandonn\u00e9, ni sa prog\u00e9niture mendiant son pain._ Que ceci soit\nvotre consolation pendant votre voyage. Va, mon gar\u00e7on; quelle que soit\nta fortune, fais que je te voie une fois chaque ann\u00e9e; aie toujours\ndu c\u0153ur, et adieu!\u00bb\u2014Comme il avait de l\u2019int\u00e9grit\u00e9 et de l\u2019honneur,\nj\u2019\u00e9tais sans appr\u00e9hensions en le jetant nu dans l\u2019ar\u00e8ne de la vie, car\nje savais qu\u2019il y jouerait un r\u00f4le honn\u00eate, vainqueur ou vaincu.\nSon d\u00e9part ne fit que pr\u00e9parer la voie au n\u00f4tre, qui eut lieu peu\nde jours apr\u00e8s. L\u2019\u00e9loignement d\u2019un pays o\u00f9 nous avions joui de tant\nd\u2019heures de tranquillit\u00e9 ne se fit pas sans des larmes, que la force\nd\u2019\u00e2me elle-m\u00eame avait peine \u00e0 r\u00e9primer. Eu outre, un voyage de\nsoixante-dix milles pour une famille qui, jusque-l\u00e0, n\u2019en avait jamais\nfait plus de dix hors de sa maison, nous remplissait d\u2019appr\u00e9hension;\net les cris des pauvres, qui nous suivirent jusqu\u2019\u00e0 quelque distance,\ncontribuaient \u00e0 l\u2019augmenter. La premi\u00e8re journ\u00e9e de voyage nous mena\nsans accident \u00e0 trente milles de notre future retraite, et nous nous\narr\u00eat\u00e2mes pour la nuit \u00e0 une obscure auberge, dans un village pr\u00e8s de\nla route. Lorsqu\u2019on nous eut montr\u00e9 une chambre, je manifestai le\nd\u00e9sir, suivant mon habitude, que l\u2019h\u00f4te nous accord\u00e2t sa compagnie; ce\n\u00e0 quoi il consentit, car ce qu\u2019il boirait devait grossir la note le\nlendemain matin. Quoi qu\u2019il en soit, il connaissait tout le monde dans\nle pays o\u00f9 je me rendais, particuli\u00e8rement le _squire_[2] Thornhill,\nqui devait \u00eatre mon seigneur, et qui demeurait \u00e0 quelques milles de\nma r\u00e9sidence. Il repr\u00e9senta ce gentilhomme comme une personne qui ne\nse souciait gu\u00e8re de conna\u00eetre du monde que ses plaisirs et qui se\nfaisait particuli\u00e8rement remarquer par son penchant vers le beau sexe.\nIl disait qu\u2019aucune vertu n\u2019\u00e9tait capable de r\u00e9sister \u00e0 ses artifices\net \u00e0 ses assiduit\u00e9s, et qu\u2019il n\u2019y avait gu\u00e8re de fille de fermier \u00e0 dix\nmilles \u00e0 la ronde qui ne l\u2019e\u00fbt vu heureux et infid\u00e8le. Bien que ces\nd\u00e9tails me causassent quelque peine, ils eurent un effet tr\u00e8s diff\u00e9rent\nsur mes filles, dont les traits semblaient briller de l\u2019attente d\u2019un\nprochain triomphe. Ma femme n\u2019\u00e9tait pas moins satisfaite, ni moins\nconfiante dans leurs charmes et leur vertu. Pendant que nous nous\nlaissions aller \u00e0 ces pens\u00e9es, l\u2019h\u00f4tesse entra dans la chambre pour\ninformer son mari que le monsieur \u00e9tranger qui \u00e9tait depuis deux\njours dans la maison manquait d\u2019argent et ne pouvait leur payer son\ncompte.\u2014\u00abManque d\u2019argent! reprit l\u2019h\u00f4te. Ce doit \u00eatre impossible, car,\npas plus tard qu\u2019hier, il a donn\u00e9 trois guin\u00e9es \u00e0 notre bedeau pour\nlui faire m\u00e9nager un vieux soldat estropi\u00e9 qui devait \u00eatre fouett\u00e9 par\nla ville comme voleur de chiens.\u00bb\u2014Mais l\u2019h\u00f4tesse persistant dans son\ndire, l\u2019h\u00f4te se pr\u00e9parait \u00e0 quitter la salle en jurant qu\u2019il se ferait\ndonner satisfaction d\u2019une mani\u00e8re ou d\u2019une autre, lorsque je le priai\nde me pr\u00e9senter \u00e0 un \u00e9tranger qu\u2019il me d\u00e9peignait comme si charitable.\n[Illustration]\nIl se rendit \u00e0 mon d\u00e9sir et fit entrer un gentleman paraissant \u00e2g\u00e9\nd\u2019environ trente ans et v\u00eatu d\u2019habits jadis galonn\u00e9s. Il \u00e9tait bien\nfait de sa personne, et son visage \u00e9tait marqu\u00e9 des plis de la\nm\u00e9ditation. Il avait quelque chose de bref et de sec dans l\u2019abord,\net il semblait ne point comprendre les c\u00e9r\u00e9monies, ou les m\u00e9priser.\nD\u00e8s que l\u2019h\u00f4te eut quitt\u00e9 la salle, je ne pus m\u2019emp\u00eacher d\u2019exprimer \u00e0\ncet \u00e9tranger mon chagrin de voir un gentleman dans un tel embarras,\net je lui offris ma bourse pour parer \u00e0 la n\u00e9cessit\u00e9 pr\u00e9sente. \u00abJe\nla prends de tout mon c\u0153ur, monsieur, r\u00e9pliqua-t-il, et je suis bien\naise qu\u2019une r\u00e9cente \u00e9tourderie, en me faisant donner ce que j\u2019avais\nd\u2019argent sur moi, me montre qu\u2019il y a encore des hommes tels que vous.\nJ\u2019ai cependant \u00e0 demander auparavant d\u2019\u00eatre inform\u00e9 du nom et de la\nr\u00e9sidence de mon bienfaiteur, afin de le rembourser aussit\u00f4t que\npossible.\u00bb Je le satisfis pleinement sur ce point, lui apprenant, non\nseulement mon nom et mes r\u00e9centes infortunes, mais le lieu o\u00f9 j\u2019allais\nm\u2019\u00e9tablir \u00e0 nouveau. \u00abCela tombe encore plus heureusement que je ne\nl\u2019esp\u00e9rais, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-il; car je fais moi-m\u00eame la m\u00eame route, et il\ny a deux jours que je suis retenu ici par la crue des eaux, qui se\ntrouveront gu\u00e9ables demain, je l\u2019esp\u00e8re.\u00bb Je protestai du plaisir que\nj\u2019aurais dans sa compagnie, et ma femme et mes filles unissant leurs\ninstances, il se laissa persuader de rester \u00e0 souper. La conversation\nde l\u2019\u00e9tranger, \u00e0 la fois agr\u00e9able et instructive, m\u2019inspirait le d\u00e9sir\nde la prolonger; mais il \u00e9tait grand temps de se retirer et de prendre\ndes forces pour la fatigue du jour suivant.\nLe lendemain matin, nous part\u00eemes tous ensemble; ma famille \u00e9tait\n\u00e0 cheval, et M. Burchell, notre nouveau compagnon, marchait sur la\nbanquette, le long de la route, d\u00e9clarant, avec un sourire, que,\ncomme nous \u00e9tions mal mont\u00e9s, il \u00e9tait trop g\u00e9n\u00e9reux pour essayer de\nnous laisser derri\u00e8re. Les eaux n\u2019\u00e9tant pas encore basses, nous f\u00fbmes\noblig\u00e9s de louer un guide, qui trottait devant; M. Burchell et moi,\nnous fermions la marche. Nous all\u00e9gions la fatigue de la route par des\ndiscussions philosophiques, qu\u2019il semblait entendre parfaitement. Mais\nce qui me surprenait le plus, c\u2019\u00e9tait que, bien qu\u2019il m\u2019e\u00fbt emprunt\u00e9\nde l\u2019argent, il d\u00e9fendait ses opinions avec autant d\u2019acharnement que\ns\u2019il e\u00fbt \u00e9t\u00e9 mon protecteur. De temps en temps aussi il m\u2019apprenait\n\u00e0 qui appartenaient les diff\u00e9rentes r\u00e9sidences qui se pr\u00e9sentaient\n\u00e0 notre vue \u00e0 mesure que nous avancions.\u2014\u00abCelle-l\u00e0, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-il\nen d\u00e9signant une maison fort magnifique qui se dressait \u00e0 quelque\ndistance, appartient \u00e0 M. Thornhill; ce jeune gentilhomme jouit d\u2019une\nfortune consid\u00e9rable, mais qui d\u00e9pend enti\u00e8rement du bon plaisir de\nson oncle, sir William Thornhill, gentleman qui, se contentant de peu\npour lui-m\u00eame, permet \u00e0 son neveu de jouir du reste et demeure presque\ntoujours \u00e0 Londres.\u2014Quoi! m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, est-ce que mon jeune seigneur\nserait le neveu d\u2019un homme dont les vertus, la g\u00e9n\u00e9rosit\u00e9 et les\nbizarreries sont si universellement connues? J\u2019ai entendu repr\u00e9senter\nsir William Thornhill comme une des personnes les plus g\u00e9n\u00e9reuses,\nmais aussi les plus fantasques du royaume; ce serait un homme d\u2019une\nbienfaisance accomplie.\u2014Un peu exag\u00e9r\u00e9e m\u00eame, peut-\u00eatre, r\u00e9pliqua\nM. Burchell; du moins il a port\u00e9 la bienfaisance au del\u00e0 des bornes\nlorsqu\u2019il \u00e9tait jeune; car ses passions \u00e9taient fortes alors, et comme\nelles \u00e9taient toutes du c\u00f4t\u00e9 de la vertu, elles l\u2019ont conduit \u00e0 de\nromanesques exc\u00e8s. De bonne heure il aspira aux talents du militaire\net du savant: il ne tarda pas \u00e0 \u00eatre distingu\u00e9 dans l\u2019arm\u00e9e, et il\nacquit quelque r\u00e9putation parmi les hommes instruits. L\u2019adulation\nsuit toujours les ambitieux, car seuls ils go\u00fbtent tout le plaisir de\nla flatterie. Une foule de gens l\u2019entour\u00e8rent, qui ne lui montr\u00e8rent\nqu\u2019un c\u00f4t\u00e9 de leur nature, de sorte qu\u2019il se mit \u00e0 oublier dans une\nsympathie universelle le soin de ses int\u00e9r\u00eats particuliers. Il aimait\ntout le genre humain, car sa fortune l\u2019emp\u00eachait de savoir qu\u2019il y a\ndes coquins. Les m\u00e9decins nous parlent d\u2019une maladie dans laquelle\ntout le corps est d\u2019une sensibilit\u00e9 si aigu\u00eb que le plus l\u00e9ger contact\ncause de la douleur: ce que certaines personnes out ainsi souffert\nphysiquement, ce gentilhomme le ressentait dans son esprit. La plus\nl\u00e9g\u00e8re infortune, r\u00e9elle ou feinte, le touchait au vif, et son \u00e2me\n\u00e9tait travaill\u00e9e par une sensibilit\u00e9 maladive pour les mis\u00e8res des\nautres. Ainsi dispos\u00e9 \u00e0 soulager, on peut facilement deviner qu\u2019il\ntrouva quantit\u00e9 de gens dispos\u00e9s \u00e0 solliciter. Sa profusion finit par\nalt\u00e9rer sa fortune, mais non son bon naturel; on voyait, au contraire,\ncelui-ci augmenter \u00e0 mesure que l\u2019autre paraissait d\u00e9cro\u00eetre; il\ndevenait impr\u00e9voyant en devenant pauvre; et, bien qu\u2019il parl\u00e2t comme\nun homme de sens, ses actions \u00e9taient celles d\u2019un fou. Cependant,\ntoujours assi\u00e9g\u00e9 d\u2019importunit\u00e9s et incapable d\u00e9sormais de satisfaire\n\u00e0 toutes les demandes qui lui \u00e9taient faites, au lieu d\u2019_argent_ il\ndonna des _promesses_. C\u2019\u00e9tait tout ce qu\u2019il avait \u00e0 accorder, et il\nn\u2019avait pas assez d\u2019\u00e9nergie pour causer \u00e0 personne le chagrin d\u2019un\nrefus. Par l\u00e0, il attira autour de lui une foule de clients, auxquels\nil \u00e9tait s\u00fbr de manquer de parole et que pourtant il d\u00e9sirait soulager.\nIls s\u2019attach\u00e8rent \u00e0 lui pendant un temps, puis le laiss\u00e8rent avec\ndes reproches et un m\u00e9pris m\u00e9rit\u00e9s. Mais \u00e0 proportion qu\u2019il devenait\nm\u00e9prisable vis-\u00e0-vis des autres, il devenait avili vis-\u00e0-vis de\nlui-m\u00eame. Son esprit s\u2019\u00e9tait repos\u00e9 sur leurs adulations et, cet appui\nenlev\u00e9, il ne savait point trouver de plaisir dans les applaudissements\nde son propre c\u0153ur, qu\u2019il n\u2019avait jamais appris \u00e0 respecter.\n\u00abLe monde commen\u00e7a alors \u00e0 prendre un autre aspect: la flatterie de\nses amis d\u00e9g\u00e9n\u00e9ra en simple approbation. L\u2019approbation prit bient\u00f4t la\nforme plus famili\u00e8re de conseils, et les conseils, une fois rejet\u00e9s,\namen\u00e8rent les reproches. Aussi vit-il alors que ces amis, que les\nbienfaits avaient rassembl\u00e9s autour de lui, \u00e9taient peu estimables; il\nvit alors qu\u2019il faut toujours qu\u2019un homme donne son propre c\u0153ur pour\ngagner celui d\u2019un autre. Je vis alors que... que... Je ne sais plus ce\nque j\u2019allais dire. Bref, monsieur, il r\u00e9solut de se respecter lui-m\u00eame\net forma un plan pour r\u00e9tablir sa fortune \u00e9croul\u00e9e. Dans ce but, et\ntoujours avec ses fa\u00e7ons bizarres, il parcourut l\u2019Europe \u00e0 pied, et\nmaintenant, quoiqu\u2019il ait \u00e0 peine atteint l\u2019\u00e2ge de trente ans, ses\nbiens sont plus abondants que jamais. Ses lib\u00e9ralit\u00e9s, il est vrai,\nsont plus raisonnables et plus mod\u00e9r\u00e9es \u00e0 pr\u00e9sent que jadis; mais il\nconserve encore le caract\u00e8re d\u2019un original, et c\u2019est dans les vertus\nexcentriques qu\u2019il trouve le plus de plaisir.\u00bb\nMon attention \u00e9tait si absorb\u00e9e par le r\u00e9cit de M. Burchell qu\u2019\u00e0 peine\nregardais-je devant moi pendant qu\u2019il allait, lorsque les cris de ma\nfamille me jet\u00e8rent dans l\u2019alarme. Je retournai la t\u00eate et j\u2019aper\u00e7us\nma plus jeune fille an milieu d\u2019un cours d\u2019eau rapide, renvers\u00e9e de\nson cheval et luttant contre le torrent. Elle avait disparu deux fois,\net je ne pouvais me pr\u00e9cipiter \u00e0 temps pour lui porter secours. Mes\nsensations m\u00eames \u00e9taient trop violentes pour me permettre d\u2019essayer de\nla sauver. Elle p\u00e9rissait certainement, si mon compagnon, apercevant\nson danger, n\u2019avait imm\u00e9diatement plong\u00e9 \u00e0 son secours et ne l\u2019avait,\navec quelque difficult\u00e9, port\u00e9e sur l\u2019autre rive. En prenant le courant\nun peu plus haut, le reste de la famille passa en s\u00fbret\u00e9, et nous e\u00fbmes\nalors la possibilit\u00e9 de joindre l\u2019expression de notre reconnaissance\n\u00e0 la sienne. Sa gratitude peut plus facilement s\u2019imaginer que se\nd\u00e9crire: elle remerciait son sauveur par ses regards plut\u00f4t que par ses\nparoles, et elle continuait de s\u2019appuyer sur son bras, comme si elle\ne\u00fbt encore voulu recevoir assistance. Ma femme, de son c\u00f4t\u00e9, manifesta\n\u00e0 M. Burchell l\u2019espoir d\u2019avoir un jour le plaisir de lui rendre ses\nbont\u00e9s chez elle. Cependant, apr\u00e8s nous \u00eatre repos\u00e9s \u00e0 l\u2019auberge la\nplus proche et avoir d\u00een\u00e9 ensemble, M. Burchell, qui allait dans\nune autre partie du pays, prit cong\u00e9, et nous poursuiv\u00eemes notre\nvoyage. Pendant qu\u2019il s\u2019\u00e9loignait, ma femme d\u00e9clara qu\u2019elle l\u2019aimait\nextr\u00eamement, protestant que s\u2019il avait une naissance et une fortune qui\nlui donnassent le droit de s\u2019allier \u00e0 une famille comme la n\u00f4tre, elle\nne connaissait personne capable de fixer plus promptement son choix.\nJe ne pus que sourire de l\u2019entendre parler sur ce ton superbe; mais ces\nillusions innocentes qui tendent \u00e0 nous rendre plus heureux ne m\u2019ont\njamais beaucoup d\u00e9plu.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE IV\n_Preuve que m\u00eame la plus humble fortune peut donner le bonheur, lequel\nd\u00e9pend, non des circonstances, mais du caract\u00e8re._\nLE lieu de notre retraite n\u2019avait pour voisinage qu\u2019un petit nombre\nde fermiers, qui tous cultivaient leurs propres terres et \u00e9taient\n\u00e9galement \u00e9trangers \u00e0 l\u2019opulence et \u00e0 la pauvret\u00e9. Comme ils avaient\npresque toutes les commodit\u00e9s de la vie chez eux, ils allaient\nrarement dans les villes ou les cit\u00e9s chercher le superflu. Loin de\nla soci\u00e9t\u00e9 polie, ils gardaient encore la simplicit\u00e9 primitive des\nm\u0153urs; et, sobres par habitude, \u00e0 peine savaient-ils que la temp\u00e9rance\nest une vertu. Ils travaillaient gaiement les jours ouvriers, mais\nils observaient les f\u00eates comme des intervalles de d\u00e9lassement et\nde plaisir. Ils chantaient l\u2019hymne populaire \u00e0 No\u00ebl, envoyaient des\nlacs d\u2019amour le matin de la Saint-Valentin, mangeaient des cr\u00eapes\nau carnaval, montraient leur esprit le 1^{er} avril et cassaient\nreligieusement des noix la veille de la Saint-Michel. Ayant appris\nnotre approche, la population tout enti\u00e8re sortit \u00e0 la rencontre de son\nministre, rev\u00eatue de ses plus beaux habits et pr\u00e9c\u00e9d\u00e9e d\u2019une fl\u00fbte et\nd\u2019un tambourin. On avait aussi pr\u00e9par\u00e9 pour notre r\u00e9ception un festin\nauquel nous nous ass\u00eemes gaiement; et, dans la conversation, le rire\nsuppl\u00e9a \u00e0 ce qui manquait en esprit.\nNotre petite habitation \u00e9tait situ\u00e9e au pied d\u2019une colline en pente\ndouce, abrit\u00e9e par un beau taillis derri\u00e8re et par une rivi\u00e8re bavarde\ndevant; d\u2019un c\u00f4t\u00e9 une prairie, de l\u2019autre une pelouse. Ma ferme\nconsistait en vingt ares environ d\u2019excellentes terres, pour lesquels\nj\u2019avais donn\u00e9 cent livres de pot-de-vin \u00e0 mon pr\u00e9d\u00e9cesseur. Rien ne\npouvait surpasser la propret\u00e9 de mon petit enclos; les ormes et les\nhaies vives avaient un aspect de beaut\u00e9 indescriptible. Ma maison ne\nse composait que d\u2019un \u00e9tage et \u00e9tait couverte en chaume, ce qui lui\ndonnait un air de calme bien-\u00eatre; les murs \u00e0 l\u2019int\u00e9rieur \u00e9taient\ngentiment blanchis \u00e0 la chaux, et mes filles entreprirent de les orner\nde tableaux de leur composition. La m\u00eame pi\u00e8ce nous servait de salon\net de cuisine, il est vrai; mais cela ne la rendait que plus chaude.\nD\u2019ailleurs, comme elle \u00e9tait tenue avec la plus extr\u00eame propret\u00e9,\u2014les\nplats, les assiettes et les cuivres bien \u00e9cur\u00e9s et dispos\u00e9s en rang\u00e9es\nbrillantes sur les \u00e9tag\u00e8res,\u2014l\u2019\u0153il \u00e9tait agr\u00e9ablement r\u00e9cr\u00e9\u00e9 et\nn\u2019\u00e9prouvait pas le besoin de meubles plus riches. Il y avait trois\nautres pi\u00e8ces, une pour ma femme et pour moi, une pour nos deux filles\nqui donnait dans la n\u00f4tre, et la troisi\u00e8me, avec deux lits, pour le\nreste des enfants.\n[Illustration]\nLa petite r\u00e9publique \u00e0 laquelle je donnais des lois \u00e9tait r\u00e9gl\u00e9e de\nla fa\u00e7on suivante: au lever du soleil, nous nous assemblions tous\ndans notre salle commune, o\u00f9 le feu avait \u00e9t\u00e9 allum\u00e9 d\u2019avance par la\nservante. Apr\u00e8s nous \u00eatre salu\u00e9s les uns les autres avec les formes\nconvenables, car j\u2019ai toujours pens\u00e9 qu\u2019il \u00e9tait bien de maintenir\ncertains signes mat\u00e9riels de bonne \u00e9ducation, sans lesquels la libert\u00e9\nd\u00e9truit infailliblement l\u2019amiti\u00e9,\u2014nous nous inclinions tous avec\nreconnaissance devant cet \u00eatre qui nous donnait encore un jour. Ce\ndevoir accompli, mon fils et moi nous allions nous livrer \u00e0 nos travaux\nhabituels au dehors, tandis que ma femme et mes filles s\u2019occupaient\ndu d\u00e9jeuner, qui \u00e9tait toujours pr\u00eat \u00e0 heure fixe. J\u2019accordais une\ndemi-heure pour ce repas et une heure pour le d\u00eener; ce temps se\npassait en gaiet\u00e9s innocentes entre ma femme et mes filles, et en\nargumentations philosophiques entre mon fils et moi.\nComme nous nous levions avec le soleil, nous ne poursuivions jamais\nnotre labeur apr\u00e8s qu\u2019il \u00e9tait couch\u00e9; mais nous revenions \u00e0 la maison,\no\u00f9 la famille nous attendait avec des visages souriants, et o\u00f9 un foyer\nbrillant et un bon feu \u00e9taient pr\u00e9par\u00e9s pour nous recevoir. Et nous ne\nmanquions pas de convives: quelquefois le fermier Flamborough, notre\nloquace voisin, et souvent le joueur de fl\u00fbte aveugle, nous rendaient\nvisite et go\u00fbtaient notre vin de groseille, pour la fabrication\nduquel nous n\u2019avions perdu ni notre recette ni notre r\u00e9putation.\nCes braves gens avaient plusieurs moyens de faire appr\u00e9cier leur\ncompagnie; pendant que l\u2019un jouait, l\u2019autre chantait quelque touchante\nballade, \u00able Dernier Bonsoir de Johnny Armstrong\u00bb, ou \u00abla Cruaut\u00e9 de\nBarbara Allen\u00bb. La soir\u00e9e se terminait de la mani\u00e8re dont nous avions\ncommenc\u00e9 la matin\u00e9e: mes plus jeunes gar\u00e7ons \u00e9taient d\u00e9sign\u00e9s pour\nlire les pri\u00e8res du jour; et celui qui lisait le plus haut, le plus\ndistinctement et le mieux, devait avoir un sou le dimanche pour mettre\ndans le tronc des pauvres.\nQuand venait le dimanche, oh! c\u2019\u00e9tait jour de grande toilette, et\ntous mes \u00e9dits somptuaires n\u2019y pouvaient rien. En vain m\u2019imaginais-je\nsinc\u00e8rement que mes harangues contre l\u2019orgueil avaient dompt\u00e9 la\nvanit\u00e9 de mes filles: je les trouvais toujours secr\u00e8tement attach\u00e9es\n\u00e0 toutes leurs anciennes parures; elles continuaient \u00e0 aimer les\ndentelles, les rubans, les verroteries et la gaze; ma femme elle-m\u00eame\nconservait de l\u2019amour pour son poult-de-soie cramoisi, parce qu\u2019il\nm\u2019\u00e9tait jadis arriv\u00e9 de lui dire qu\u2019il lui seyait bien.\nLe premier dimanche, en particulier, leur conduite servit \u00e0 me\nmortifier. J\u2019avais, la veille au soir, exprim\u00e9 le d\u00e9sir que mes filles\nfussent habill\u00e9es de bonne heure le lendemain, car j\u2019ai toujours aim\u00e9\n\u00eatre \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9glise longtemps avant le reste de la congr\u00e9gation. Elles\nob\u00e9irent ponctuellement \u00e0 mes instructions; mais quand nous f\u00fbmes pour\nnous r\u00e9unir au d\u00e9jeuner du matin, voil\u00e0 ma femme et mes filles qui\ndescendent habill\u00e9es avec toute leur ancienne splendeur, les cheveux\nplaqu\u00e9s de pommade, le visage marquet\u00e9 de mouches \u00e0 volont\u00e9, les jupes\nramass\u00e9es en paquet par derri\u00e8re et bruissant \u00e0 chaque mouvement. Je ne\npus me retenir de sourire de leur vanit\u00e9, surtout de celle de ma femme,\nde qui j\u2019attendais plus de discr\u00e9tion. Cependant, dans une circonstance\nsi pressante, je ne trouvai d\u2019autre ressource que d\u2019ordonner \u00e0 mon\nfils, d\u2019un air important, de demander notre carrosse. Les filles furent\nstup\u00e9faites du commandement; mais je le r\u00e9p\u00e9tai avec plus de solennit\u00e9\nqu\u2019auparavant. \u00abS\u00fbrement, mon ami, vous plaisantez, s\u2019\u00e9cria ma femme.\nNous pouvons parfaitement aller \u00e0 pied jusque-l\u00e0; nous n\u2019avons pas\nbesoin de carrosse pour nous porter d\u00e9sormais.\u2014Vous vous trompez, mon\nenfant, r\u00e9pliquai-je. Si, nous avons besoin de carrosse; car si nous\nallons \u00e0 pied \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9glise dans cet attirail, les enfants de la paroisse\neux-m\u00eames feront des hu\u00e9es derri\u00e8re nous.\n\u2014Vraiment, reprit ma femme, j\u2019avais toujours cru que mon Charles\naimait \u00e0 voir autour de lui ses enfants propres et de bonne\nmine.\u2014Soyez aussi propres qu\u2019il vous plaira, interrompis-je, et\nje vous en aimerai d\u2019autant mieux; mais tout ceci n\u2019est pas de la\npropret\u00e9, c\u2019est de la friperie. Ces pliss\u00e9s, ces d\u00e9chiquetures,\nces mouchetures ne serviront qu\u2019\u00e0 nous faire ha\u00efr des femmes de nos\nvoisins. Non, mes enfants, continuai-je d\u2019un ton plus grave; ces robes\npeuvent \u00eatre refaites avec une coupe plus simple, car l\u2019\u00e9l\u00e9gance est\nfort d\u00e9plac\u00e9e chez nous, qui avons \u00e0 peine les moyens de nous mettre\nd\u00e9cemment. Je ne sais si ces volants et ces chiffons conviennent m\u00eame\nchez les riches, lorsque je consid\u00e8re que, d\u2019apr\u00e8s un calcul mod\u00e9r\u00e9,\nles colifichets des vaniteux pourraient v\u00eatir la nudit\u00e9 du monde des\nindigents.\u00bb\nCette remontrance eut l\u2019effet qu\u2019elle devait avoir; elles all\u00e8rent,\navec un grand calme et \u00e0 l\u2019instant m\u00eame, changer de costume; le\nlendemain, j\u2019eus la satisfaction de voir mes filles, sur leur d\u00e9sir\nexpr\u00e8s, occup\u00e9es \u00e0 tailler dans leurs tra\u00eenes des gilets du dimanche\npour les deux petits Dick et Bill; et ce qui fut le plus satisfaisant,\nc\u2019est que les robes semblaient avoir gagn\u00e9 \u00e0 cette amputation.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE V\n _Pr\u00e9sentation d\u2019une nouvelle et importante connaissance.\u2014Les choses\n o\u00f9 nous mettons le plus nos esp\u00e9rances se trouvent d\u2019ordinaire \u00eatre\n les plus funestes._\nA UNE petite distance de la maison, mon pr\u00e9d\u00e9cesseur avait fait un\nbanc, ombrag\u00e9 par une baie d\u2019aub\u00e9pine et de ch\u00e8vrefeuille. L\u00e0, lorsque\nle temps \u00e9tait beau et notre travail fini de bonne heure, nous avions\nl\u2019habitude de nous asseoir ensemble pour jouir d\u2019un vaste paysage dans\nle calme du soir. L\u00e0 aussi nous prenions le th\u00e9, qui \u00e9tait devenu\nmaintenant un r\u00e9gal assez rare; et, comme nous n\u2019en avions que de\ntemps en temps, il r\u00e9pandait une joie nouvelle, et les pr\u00e9paratifs ne\ns\u2019en faisaient pas avec peu d\u2019empressement et de c\u00e9r\u00e9monies. Dans ces\noccasions, nos deux petits nous faisaient toujours la lecture, et ils\n\u00e9taient r\u00e9guli\u00e8rement servis apr\u00e8s que nous avions fini. Quelquefois,\npour mettre de la vari\u00e9t\u00e9 dans nos plaisirs, les filles chantaient en\ns\u2019accompagnant sur la guitare; pendant qu\u2019elles formaient ainsi un\npetit concert, ma femme et moi nous descendions, en nous promenant, le\nchamp en pente, embelli de campanules et de centaur\u00e9es, causant de nos\nenfants avec d\u00e9lices et jouissant de la brise qui transportait \u00e0 la\nfois la sant\u00e9 et l\u2019harmonie.\nDe cette fa\u00e7on, nous commencions \u00e0 trouver que toutes les situations\nde la vie peuvent apporter leurs plaisirs propres. Chaque matin nous\n\u00e9veillait pour la reprise du m\u00eame travail, mais le soir nous en\nd\u00e9dommageait par une insoucieuse hilarit\u00e9.\nC\u2019\u00e9tait au commencement de l\u2019automne, un jour f\u00e9ri\u00e9,\u2014car je les\nobservais comme des intervalles de rel\u00e2che dans le travail;\u2014j\u2019avais\namen\u00e9 ma famille \u00e0 notre lieu ordinaire de r\u00e9cr\u00e9ation, et nos jeunes\nmusiciennes commen\u00e7aient leur concert habituel. Pendant que nous nous\noccupions ainsi, nous v\u00eemes un cerf passer en bonds rapides \u00e0 vingt\npas environ de l\u2019endroit o\u00f9 nous \u00e9tions assis. Au pant\u00e8lement de ses\nflancs, il semblait press\u00e9 par les chasseurs. Nous n\u2019avions gu\u00e8re\neu le temps de songer \u00e0 la d\u00e9tresse du pauvre animal, lorsque nous\naper\u00e7\u00fbmes les chiens et les cavaliers arriver \u00e0 toute vitesse \u00e0 quelque\ndistance derri\u00e8re et prendre le m\u00eame sentier qu\u2019il avait pris. Je fus\nsur-le-champ d\u2019avis de rentrer avec ma famille; mais la curiosit\u00e9, ou\nla surprise, ou quelque motif plus cach\u00e9, retinrent ma femme et mes\nfilles \u00e0 leurs places. Le chasseur qui courait en avant passa devant\nnous avec une grande rapidit\u00e9, suivi de quatre ou cinq autres personnes\nqui semblaient emport\u00e9es d\u2019une h\u00e2te \u00e9gale.\n[Illustration]\nEn dernier lieu, un jeune gentilhomme, d\u2019apparence plus distingu\u00e9e\nque les autres, s\u2019avan\u00e7a, et, nous ayant regard\u00e9s un instant, au lieu\nde poursuivre la chasse, il s\u2019arr\u00eata court, donna son cheval \u00e0 un\nserviteur qui suivait, et s\u2019approcha de nous avec un air d\u2019insouciante\nsup\u00e9riorit\u00e9. Il semblait n\u2019avoir pas besoin d\u2019\u00eatre annonc\u00e9, et il\nallait saluer mes filles comme quelqu\u2019un qui est certain d\u2019\u00eatre bien\nre\u00e7u; mais elles avaient appris de bonne heure \u00e0 d\u00e9concerter d\u2019un\nregard la pr\u00e9somption. Il nous fit alors savoir que son nom \u00e9tait\nThornhill, et qu\u2019il \u00e9tait possesseur du domaine qui s\u2019\u00e9tendait \u00e0\nquelque distance autour de nous. En cons\u00e9quence, il se mit en devoir de\nsaluer la partie f\u00e9minine de la famille, et tel est le pouvoir de la\nfortune et des beaux habits qu\u2019il n\u2019\u00e9prouva pas un second refus. Comme\nson abord, quoique suffisant, \u00e9tait facile, nous dev\u00eenmes bient\u00f4t plus\nfamiliers, et, apercevant des instruments de musique d\u00e9pos\u00e9s pr\u00e8s de\nnous, il demanda qu\u2019on lui f\u00eet la faveur de chanter. Peu partisan de\nliaisons si disproportionn\u00e9es, je fis signe de l\u2019\u0153il \u00e0 mes filles pour\nles emp\u00eacher de consentir; mais un autre signe de leur m\u00e8re d\u00e9truisit\nl\u2019effet du mien, si bien qu\u2019elles nous donn\u00e8rent, d\u2019un air joyeux, un\nmorceau \u00e0 la mode de Dryden. M. Thornhill parut ravi du choix et de\nl\u2019ex\u00e9cution; puis il prit la guitare lui-m\u00eame. Il ne jouait que tr\u00e8s\nm\u00e9diocrement; n\u00e9anmoins, ma fille a\u00een\u00e9e lui rendit ses applaudissements\navec usure et l\u2019assura qu\u2019il tirait des sons plus hauts que ne le\nfaisait son ma\u00eetre m\u00eame. A ce compliment il fit un salut, auquel elle\nr\u00e9pondit par une r\u00e9v\u00e9rence. Il loua son go\u00fbt; elle vanta son jugement.\nUn si\u00e8cle n\u2019aurait pas mieux nou\u00e9 leur connaissance. Cependant la\nvaniteuse m\u00e8re, aussi heureuse, insistait de son c\u00f4t\u00e9 pour que\nson seigneur entr\u00e2t et go\u00fbt\u00e2t un verre de sa groseille. Toute la\nfamille semblait avoir \u00e0 c\u0153ur de lui plaire: mes filles essayaient\nde l\u2019int\u00e9resser sur les sujets qu\u2019elles croyaient avoir le plus\nd\u2019actualit\u00e9, tandis que Mo\u00efse, au contraire, lui soumettait une ou deux\nquestions \u00e0 propos des anciens, qui lui valurent la satisfaction de\nse voir rire au nez; mes tout petits n\u2019\u00e9taient pas moins empress\u00e9s et\ns\u2019attachaient avec amour \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9tranger. Tous mes efforts suffisaient \u00e0\npeine \u00e0 emp\u00eacher leurs doigts sales de manier et de ternir les galons\nde ses habits et de lever les pattes de ses poches pour voir ce qu\u2019il\ny avait dedans. A l\u2019approche du soir, il prit cong\u00e9; mais pas avant\nd\u2019avoir demand\u00e9 la permission de renouveler sa visite, ce que nous lui\naccord\u00e2mes avec la plus grande facilit\u00e9, car il \u00e9tait notre seigneur.\nD\u00e8s qu\u2019il fut parti, ma femme tint conseil sur les \u00e9v\u00e9nements du jour.\nElle \u00e9tait d\u2019avis que c\u2019\u00e9tait un coup des plus heureux; car, \u00e0 sa\nconnaissance, des choses plus \u00e9tranges que celle-l\u00e0 avaient r\u00e9ussi.\nElle esp\u00e9rait encore voir le jour o\u00f9 nous pourrions dresser la t\u00eate au\nmilieu des plus hupp\u00e9s et elle conclut en protestant qu\u2019il lui \u00e9tait\nimpossible de voir la raison pour laquelle les deux misses Wrinklers\navaient \u00e9pous\u00e9 de grandes fortunes quand ses enfants, \u00e0 elle, n\u2019en\nauraient pas. Comme ce dernier argument \u00e9tait \u00e0 mon adresse, je\nprotestai \u00e9galement que j\u2019\u00e9tais, comme elle, incapable d\u2019en voir la\nraison, non plus que celle pour laquelle M. Simkins avait gagn\u00e9 le\nlot de dix mille livres \u00e0 la loterie quand nous \u00e9tions rest\u00e9s avec\nun billet nul. \u00abJe le d\u00e9clare, Charles, s\u2019\u00e9cria ma femme, c\u2019est de\ncette fa\u00e7on que vous nous glacez toujours, mes filles et moi, quand\nnous sommes gaies. Dites-moi, Sophie, ma ch\u00e8re, que pensez-vous de\nnotre nouveau visiteur? Ne trouvez-vous pas qu\u2019il semble avoir un bon\nnaturel?\u2014Infiniment bon, en v\u00e9rit\u00e9, maman, r\u00e9pliqua-t-elle. Je crois\nqu\u2019il a beaucoup \u00e0 dire sur tout et qu\u2019il n\u2019est jamais \u00e0 court; et\nplus le sujet est mince, plus il a \u00e0 dire.\u2014Oui, s\u2019\u00e9cria Olivia, il\nest assez bien pour un homme; pourtant, quant \u00e0 moi, je ne l\u2019aime pas\nbeaucoup; il est par trop impudent et familier; mais sur la guitare il\nest r\u00e9voltant.\u00bb J\u2019interpr\u00e9tai ces deux derniers discours par la m\u00e9thode\ndes contraires, et je trouvai ainsi que Sophia le m\u00e9prisait dans son\nfor int\u00e9rieur autant que, secr\u00e8tement, Olivia l\u2019admirait. \u00abQuelles que\nsoient vos opinions sur son compte, mes enfants, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, pour\nconfesser la v\u00e9rit\u00e9, il ne m\u2019a pas pr\u00e9venu en sa faveur. Les amiti\u00e9s\ndisproportionn\u00e9es se terminent toujours par des d\u00e9go\u00fbts, et je crois\nqu\u2019il paraissait, malgr\u00e9 toute sa facilit\u00e9 de mani\u00e8res, parfaitement\nsentir la distance qui est entre nous. Tenons-nous-en \u00e0 des compagnons\nde notre rang. Il n\u2019y a point de caract\u00e8re plus m\u00e9prisable que celui\nde l\u2019homme coureur de fortune, et je ne vois pas pourquoi les femmes\nqui courent apr\u00e8s la fortune ne seraient pas m\u00e9prisables aussi. Ainsi,\n\u00e0 tout le mieux, nous serons m\u00e9prisables si ses vues sont honn\u00eates;\nmais si elles ne le sont pas!... Je fr\u00e9mis rien que d\u2019y songer! Il\nest vrai que je n\u2019ai point d\u2019appr\u00e9hensions quant \u00e0 la conduite de mes\nenfants, mais je pense qu\u2019il y en a quelques-unes \u00e0 avoir quant \u00e0 son\ncaract\u00e8re, \u00e0 lui.\u00bb J\u2019aurais continu\u00e9 si je n\u2019avais \u00e9t\u00e9 interrompu par\nun domestique du squire qui nous envoyait, avec ses compliments, un\nquartier de venaison et la promesse de d\u00eener chez nous quelques jours\nplus tard. Ce pr\u00e9sent opportun plaidait en sa faveur plus puissamment\nque tout ce que j\u2019avais \u00e0 dire n\u2019aurait pu faire contre lui. Je gardai\ndonc le silence, me contentant d\u2019avoir seulement indiqu\u00e9 le danger\net laissant \u00e0 leur discr\u00e9tion le soin de l\u2019\u00e9viter. La vertu, qui a\ntoujours besoin qu\u2019on la garde, vaut \u00e0 peine la sentinelle.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE VI\n_Bonheur d\u2019un foyer rustique._\nLA discussion avait \u00e9t\u00e9 pouss\u00e9e avec nue certaine chaleur. Afin de\nraccommoder les choses, il fut convenu \u00e0 l\u2019unanimit\u00e9 que nous aurions\nun morceau de venaison pour souper, et nos filles s\u2019empress\u00e8rent de se\nmettre \u00e0 l\u2019\u0153uvre.\n\u00abJe suis f\u00e2ch\u00e9, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, que nous n\u2019ayons ni voisin ni \u00e9tranger,\npour prendre part \u00e0 cette bonne ch\u00e8re: l\u2019hospitalit\u00e9 donne aux festins\nde ce genre une double saveur.\u2014Dieu me b\u00e9nisse! dit aussit\u00f4t ma femme.\nVoici venir notre excellent ami M. Burchell, qui a sauv\u00e9 notre Sophia,\net qui vous bat proprement dans la discussion.\u2014Me r\u00e9futer dans la\ndiscussion, moi, enfant! m\u2019\u00e9criai-je. Vous vous trompez en cela, ma\nch\u00e8re; je crois qu\u2019ils ne sont pas nombreux, ceux qui en sont capables.\nJe n\u2019ai jamais discut\u00e9 vos talents pour confectionner les p\u00e2t\u00e9s d\u2019oie,\net je vous prie de me laisser la discussion.\u00bb Pendant que je parlais,\nle pauvre M. Burchell entra dans la maison; toute la famille lui fit\naccueil et lui serra cordialement la main, tandis que le petit Dick lui\npoussait officieusement une chaise.\nL\u2019amiti\u00e9 de ce pauvre homme me plaisait pour deux raisons: je savais\nqu\u2019il avait besoin de la mienne, et je savais de m\u00eame qu\u2019il \u00e9tait\naussi obligeant qu\u2019il pouvait l\u2019\u00eatre. On le connaissait dans notre\nvoisinage sous le nom du pauvre monsieur qui n\u2019avait voulu rien faire\nde bon quand il \u00e9tait jeune, quoiqu\u2019il n\u2019e\u00fbt pas encore trente ans.\nPar intervalles, il causait avec un grand bon sens; mais en g\u00e9n\u00e9ral\nil se plaisait surtout dans la compagnie des enfants, qu\u2019il avait\ncoutume d\u2019appeler de petits hommes inoffensifs. J\u2019appris qu\u2019il \u00e9tait\nfameux pour leur chanter des ballades et leur raconter des histoires.\nIl sortait rarement sans avoir dans ses poches quelque chose pour\neux, un morceau de pain d\u2019\u00e9pice ou un sifflet d\u2019un sou. Il avait\ncoutume de venir passer quelques jours dans notre localit\u00e9, vivant de\nl\u2019hospitalit\u00e9 des habitants. Il prit place au souper au milieu de nous,\net ma femme n\u2019\u00e9pargna pas son vin de groseille. On raconta chacun son\nhistoire; il nous chanta d\u2019anciennes chansons et dit aux enfants le\nconte du Daim de Beverland, avec l\u2019histoire de la patiente Gris\u00e8le, les\naventures de Catskin, et enfin le Bosquet de la belle Rosamonde. Notre\ncoq, qui chantait toujours \u00e0 onze heures, nous dit alors qu\u2019il \u00e9tait\ntemps de reposer; mais une difficult\u00e9 impr\u00e9vue s\u2019\u00e9leva pour le logement\nde l\u2019\u00e9tranger; tous nos lits \u00e9taient d\u00e9j\u00e0 occup\u00e9s, et il \u00e9tait trop\ntard pour l\u2019envoyer \u00e0 l\u2019auberge voisine. Dans cet embarras, le petit\nDick lui offrit sa part de lit si son fr\u00e8re Mo\u00efse voulait le laisser\ncoucher avec lui.\n[Illustration]\n\u00abEt moi, s\u2019\u00e9cria Bill, je donnerai ma part \u00e0 M. Burchell, si mes\ns\u0153urs veulent me prendre avec elles.\u2014Bien cela, mes bons enfants,\nm\u2019\u00e9criai-je. L\u2019hospitalit\u00e9 est un des premiers devoirs du chr\u00e9tien. La\nb\u00eate se retire dans son abri, l\u2019oiseau vole \u00e0 son nid, mais l\u2019homme\nd\u00e9nu\u00e9 ne peut trouver de refuge que chez son semblable. Le plus complet\n\u00e9tranger dans ce monde fut celui qui est venu le sauver. Jamais\nil n\u2019eut une maison \u00e0 lui, comme s\u2019il voulait voir ce qui restait\nd\u2019hospitalit\u00e9 parmi nous. D\u00e9borah, ma ch\u00e8re, dis-je \u00e0 ma femme, donnez\nun morceau de sucre \u00e0 chacun de ces gar\u00e7ons, et que celui de Dick soit\nle plus gros, car il a parl\u00e9 le premier.\u00bb\nAu matin, de bonne heure, j\u2019appelai toute ma famille pour aider \u00e0\nmettre en s\u00fbret\u00e9 une coupe de regain, et notre h\u00f4te offrant son\nconcours, on le laissa se joindre \u00e0 nous. Notre besogne allait\nvivement; nous retournions au vent l\u2019herbe fauch\u00e9e. Je marchais en\nt\u00eate, et le reste suivait en bon ordre. Je ne pus m\u2019emp\u00eacher cependant\nde remarquer l\u2019empressement de M. Burchell \u00e0 assister ma fille Sophia\ndans sa part de travail. Quand il avait fini sa propre t\u00e2che, il allait\ns\u2019associer \u00e0 la sienne et lui causait de pr\u00e8s; mais j\u2019avais trop\nbonne opinion du jugement de Sophia et j\u2019\u00e9tais trop bien convaincu\nde son ambition, pour qu\u2019un homme ruin\u00e9 me caus\u00e2t aucune inqui\u00e9tude.\nLorsque nous e\u00fbmes termin\u00e9 pour la journ\u00e9e, on invita M. Burchell\ncomme le soir pr\u00e9c\u00e9dent; mais il refusa, parce qu\u2019il devait coucher\ncette nuit-l\u00e0 chez un voisin, \u00e0 l\u2019enfant duquel il portait un sifflet.\nIl partit, et notre conversation, \u00e0 souper, tomba sur l\u2019infortun\u00e9\nqui \u00e9tait tout \u00e0 l\u2019heure notre h\u00f4te. \u00abQuel frappant exemple offre\nce pauvre homme, disais-je, des mis\u00e8res qui suivent une jeunesse de\nl\u00e9g\u00e8ret\u00e9 et d\u2019extravagance! Il ne manque nullement de bon sens, et cela\nne sert qu\u2019\u00e0 aggraver ses anciennes folies. Pauvre \u00eatre abandonn\u00e9!\no\u00f9 sont maintenant les festineurs, les flatteurs qui recevaient de\nlui jadis des inspirations et des ordres? Ils courtisent peut-\u00eatre\nle baigneur interlope qu\u2019ont enrichi ses dissipations. Jadis ils lui\ndonnaient des louanges, et maintenant c\u2019est son ancien complaisant\nqu\u2019ils applaudissent; leurs transports d\u2019autrefois \u00e0 propos de son\nesprit se sont chang\u00e9s en sarcasmes sur sa folie: il est pauvre, et\npeut-\u00eatre m\u00e9rite-t-il la pauvret\u00e9, car il n\u2019a ni l\u2019ambition d\u2019\u00eatre\nind\u00e9pendant ni le talent d\u2019\u00eatre utile.\u00bb Pouss\u00e9 peut-\u00eatre par quelques\nraisons secr\u00e8tes, je fis cette observation avec un exc\u00e8s d\u2019acrimonie\nque ma Sophia me reprocha doucement. \u00abQuelle qu\u2019ait \u00e9t\u00e9 son ancienne\nconduite, papa, sa situation devrait aujourd\u2019hui le mettre \u00e0 l\u2019abri de\nla censure. Son indigence actuelle est un ch\u00e2timent suffisant pour sa\nfolie pass\u00e9e, et j\u2019ai entendu papa lui-m\u00eame dire que nous ne devions\njamais frapper sans n\u00e9cessit\u00e9 une victime que la Providence tient sous\nla verge de son courroux.\u2014Vous avez raison, Sophia, s\u2019\u00e9cria mon fils\nMo\u00efse, et un ancien donne un beau symbole de la malice d\u2019une telle\nconduite en repr\u00e9sentant les efforts d\u2019un rustre pour \u00e9corcher Marsyas,\ndont la peau, \u00e0 ce que nous dit la fable, avait \u00e9t\u00e9 d\u00e9j\u00e0 compl\u00e8tement\nenlev\u00e9e par un autre. D\u2019ailleurs, je ne sais pas si la condition de ce\npauvre homme est aussi mauvaise que mon p\u00e8re voudrait la repr\u00e9senter.\nNous ne devons pas juger des sentiments des autres par ce que nous\npourrions sentir \u00e0 leur place. Quelque obscure que soit l\u2019habitation\nde la taupe \u00e0 nos yeux, l\u2019animal n\u2019en trouve pas moins son logement\nsuffisamment \u00e9clair\u00e9. Et pour dire la v\u00e9rit\u00e9, l\u2019esprit de cet homme\npara\u00eet convenir \u00e0 sa situation; car je n\u2019ai jamais entendu personne\nde plus enjou\u00e9 qu\u2019il ne l\u2019\u00e9tait aujourd\u2019hui lorsqu\u2019il conversait avec\nvous.\u00bb Cela fut dit sans la moindre intention et cependant provoqua une\nrougeur qu\u2019elle s\u2019effor\u00e7a de cacher sons un rire affect\u00e9, l\u2019assurant\nqu\u2019elle avait \u00e0 peine fait attention \u00e0 ce que M. Burchell lui disait,\nmais qu\u2019elle croyait qu\u2019il avait bien pu \u00eatre jadis un _gentleman_ tr\u00e8s\ndistingu\u00e9. La h\u00e2te qu\u2019elle mit \u00e0 s\u2019excuser et sa rougeur \u00e9taient des\nsympt\u00f4mes qu\u2019en moi-m\u00eame je n\u2019approuvais point; mais je renfermai mes\nsoup\u00e7ons.\nComme nous attendions notre seigneur pour le lendemain, ma femme alla\nfaire le p\u00e2t\u00e9 de venaison. Mo\u00efse s\u2019assit pour lire pendant que je\ndonnais leur le\u00e7on aux petits; mes filles semblaient aussi affair\u00e9es\nque les autres, et je les observai pendant un bon moment cuisinant\nquelque chose sur le feu. Je supposai d\u2019abord qu\u2019elles aidaient leur\nm\u00e8re; mais le petit Dick m\u2019apprit tout bas qu\u2019elles \u00e9taient en train\nde faire une _eau_ pour le visage. Contre les eaux de toutes sortes\nj\u2019avais une antipathie naturelle, car je savais qu\u2019au lieu de corriger\nle teint, elles le g\u00e2tent. En cons\u00e9quence, je rapprochai par degr\u00e9s\nfurtifs ma chaise du feu, puis, trouvant qu\u2019il avait besoin d\u2019\u00eatre\nattis\u00e9, je pris le tisonnier et renversai comme par accident toute la\ncomposition; et il \u00e9tait trop tard pour en commencer une autre.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE VII\n_Portrait d\u2019un bel esprit de la ville.\u2014Les plus sots peuvent r\u00e9ussir \u00e0\namuser pendant une soir\u00e9e ou deux._\nQUAND arriva le matin o\u00f9 nous devions traiter notre jeune seigneur, on\nn\u2019aura pas de peine \u00e0 imaginer que de provisions l\u2019on \u00e9puisa pour faire\nfigure. On peut aussi supposer que ma femme et mes filles d\u00e9ploy\u00e8rent\npour l\u2019occasion leur plus brillant plumage. M. Thornhill vint avec deux\namis, son chapelain et son \u00e9leveur de coqs de combat. Les domestiques\n\u00e9taient nombreux; il les envoyait poliment \u00e0 la prochaine taverne;\nmais ma femme, dans le triomphe de son c\u0153ur, insista pour les traiter\ntous; en raison de quoi, soit dit en passant, la famille enti\u00e8re dut\nje\u00fbner pendant trois semaines. Comme M. Burchell nous avait donn\u00e9\n\u00e0 entendre, la veille, que le squire faisait des propositions de\nmariage \u00e0 miss Wilmot, l\u2019ancienne pr\u00e9tendue de mon fils George, la\ncordialit\u00e9 avec laquelle on le re\u00e7ut en fut de beaucoup refroidie; mais\nun incident nous d\u00e9livra jusqu\u2019\u00e0 un certain point de cette g\u00eane, car\nquelqu\u2019un de la compagnie ayant par hasard prononc\u00e9 le nom de cette\njeune personne, M. Thornhill d\u00e9clara, avec un juron, qu\u2019il n\u2019avait\njamais rien vu de plus absurde que d\u2019appeler un tel \u00e9pouvantail une\nbeaut\u00e9. \u00abJe veux devenir hideux sur l\u2019heure, continua-t-il, s\u2019il n\u2019est\npas vrai que je trouverais autant de plaisir \u00e0 choisir ma ma\u00eetresse \u00e0\nla lueur d\u2019une lanterne sous l\u2019horloge de Saint-Dunstan.\u00bb L\u00e0-dessus il\nse mit \u00e0 rire, et nous en f\u00eemes autant: les plaisanteries des riches\nont toujours du succ\u00e8s. Olivia m\u00eame ne put s\u2019emp\u00eacher de dire tout bas,\nassez haut pour \u00eatre entendue, qu\u2019il avait un in\u00e9puisable fonds de\ngaiet\u00e9.\nApr\u00e8s d\u00eener, je portai mon toast ordinaire, l\u2019\u00c9glise. J\u2019en fus remerci\u00e9\npar le chapelain, car, d\u00e9clara-t-il, l\u2019\u00c9glise \u00e9tait la seule ma\u00eetresse\nde ses affections. \u00abAllons, Frank, dit le squire avec son sans-g\u00eane\naccoutum\u00e9, parlez-nous sinc\u00e8rement; supposez d\u2019un c\u00f4t\u00e9 l\u2019\u00c9glise, votre\nma\u00eetresse actuelle, en manches de linon, et de l\u2019autre miss Sophia\nsans linon d\u2019aucune esp\u00e8ce, pour laquelle seriez-vous?\u2014Pour les\ndeux, \u00e0 coup s\u00fbr, s\u2019\u00e9cria le chapelain.\u2014Parfait, Frank! reprit le\nsquire. Que ce verre m\u2019\u00e9touffe si une belle fille ne vaut pas toute la\ncl\u00e9ricature de la cr\u00e9ation. Car que sont d\u00eemes et simagr\u00e9es? Imposture,\nmensonge damn\u00e9, tout cela! Et je puis le prouver.\u2014Je le voudrais,\ns\u2019\u00e9cria mon fils Mo\u00efse; et je pense que je serais capable de vous\nr\u00e9pondre.\u2014Tr\u00e8s bien, monsieur, repartit le squire qui, du premier\ncoup, flaira son homme et cligna de l\u2019\u0153il au reste de la compagnie\npour nous pr\u00e9parer au jeu. Si vous d\u00e9sirez argumenter froidement sur\nce sujet, je suis pr\u00eat \u00e0 accepter le d\u00e9fi. Et d\u2019abord, en \u00eates-vous\npour le traiter analogiquement ou dialogiquement\u2014J\u2019en suis pour le\ntraiter raisonnablement, s\u2019\u00e9cria Mo\u00efse, tout heureux qu\u2019on lui perm\u00eet\nde discuter.\u2014Bon encore, reprit le squire. Et pour commencer par le\ncommencement, j\u2019esp\u00e8re que vous ne nierez pas que tout ce qui est, est.\nSi vous ne m\u2019accordez pas cela, je ne saurais aller plus loin.\u2014Mais,\nr\u00e9pondit Mo\u00efse, je crois que je peux vous accorder cela et en tirer\nbon parti.\u2014J\u2019esp\u00e8re aussi, reprit l\u2019autre, que vous accorderez qu\u2019une\npartie est moindre que le tout.\u2014J\u2019accorde cela aussi, s\u2019\u00e9cria Mo\u00efse;\nce n\u2019est que juste et raisonnable.\n\u2014J\u2019esp\u00e8re, continua le squire, que vous ne nierez pas que les deux\nangles d\u2019un triangle sont \u00e9gaux \u00e0 deux droits.\u2014Rien ne peut \u00eatre plus\nclair, r\u00e9pondit l\u2019autre, et il regardait autour de lui avec son air\nd\u2019importance habituel.\u2014Tr\u00e8s bien! s\u2019\u00e9cria le squire en parlant tr\u00e8s\nvite. Les pr\u00e9misses ainsi \u00e9tablies, je poursuis en faisant remarquer\nque la concat\u00e9nation de l\u2019existence individuelle proc\u00e9dant suivant une\nproportion double et r\u00e9ciproque produit naturellement un dialogisme\nprobl\u00e9matique qui, en une certaine mesure, prouve que l\u2019essence de\nla spiritualit\u00e9 peut se rapporter au second pr\u00e9dicable.\u2014Arr\u00eatez,\narr\u00eatez! s\u2019\u00e9cria l\u2019autre. Je le nie. Pensez-vous que je puisse ainsi\nme rendre \u00e0 ces doctrines h\u00e9t\u00e9rodoxes?\u2014Quoi! r\u00e9pliqua le squire,\ncomme s\u2019il s\u2019emportait, ne pas vous rendre! R\u00e9pondez \u00e0 une simple\nquestion: croyez-vous qu\u2019Aristote ait raison quand il dit que les\nrelatifs sont en relation?\u2014Indubitablement, r\u00e9pliqua l\u2019autre.\u2014Si\ndonc il en est ainsi, s\u2019\u00e9cria le squire, r\u00e9pondez directement \u00e0 ce que\nje vous propose, \u00e0 savoir si vous jugez l\u2019investigation analytique de\nla premi\u00e8re partie de mon enthym\u00e8me imparfaite _secundum quoad_ ou\n_quoad minus_, et donnez-moi vos raisons; donnez-moi vos raisons, vous\ndis-je, directement.\u2014Je d\u00e9clare, s\u2019\u00e9cria Mo\u00efse, que je ne comprends\npas tr\u00e8s bien la force de votre raisonnement; mais, s\u2019il \u00e9tait r\u00e9duit\n\u00e0 une proposition simple, j\u2019imagine que je pourrais alors avoir une\nr\u00e9ponse \u00e0 vous donner.\u2014Oh! monsieur, s\u2019\u00e9cria le squire, je suis votre\ntr\u00e8s humble serviteur.\n[Illustration]\nJe vois que vous me demandez de vous fournir \u00e0 la fois l\u2019argument et\nl\u2019entendement. Non, monsieur, je d\u00e9clare ici que vous \u00eates trop fort\npour moi.\u00bb Ceci eut un succ\u00e8s de rire aux d\u00e9pens du pauvre Mo\u00efse, qui\nresta la seule figure sombre dans ce groupe de joyeux visages, et il ne\npronon\u00e7a plus une seule syllabe pendant toute la dur\u00e9e du repas.\nTout cela ne me causait aucun plaisir; mais l\u2019effet en \u00e9tait tr\u00e8s\ndiff\u00e9rent sur Olivia, qui prenait pour de l\u2019esprit ce qui n\u2019\u00e9tait qu\u2019un\npur acte de m\u00e9moire. Aussi trouvait-elle le squire un gentilhomme tr\u00e8s\ndistingu\u00e9; et si l\u2019on consid\u00e8re quels puissants ingr\u00e9dients sont un\nbel air, de beaux habits et de la fortune dans la composition d\u2019un\npersonnage ainsi qualifi\u00e9, on lui pardonnera facilement. M. Thornhill,\nmalgr\u00e9 son ignorance r\u00e9elle, causait avec aisance et savait s\u2019\u00e9tendre\nabondamment sur les lieux communs de la conversation. Il n\u2019est pas\nsurprenant que de tels talents dussent gagner le c\u0153ur d\u2019une jeune fille\n\u00e0 qui son \u00e9ducation avait appris \u00e0 conna\u00eetre la valeur des apparences\nchez elle-m\u00eame, et, par cons\u00e9quent, \u00e0 y attacher aussi de la valeur\nchez les autres.\nApr\u00e8s le d\u00e9part de notre jeune seigneur, nous nous rem\u00eemes \u00e0 discuter\nses m\u00e9rites. Comme il adressait ses regards et ses discours \u00e0 Olivia,\non ne doutait plus qu\u2019elle ne f\u00fbt l\u2019objet qui l\u2019attirait chez nous.\nEt elle ne paraissait pas trop m\u00e9contente des innocentes railleries\nde son fr\u00e8re et de sa s\u0153ur \u00e0 ce propos. D\u00e9borah elle-m\u00eame semblait\npartager la gloire de la journ\u00e9e; elle triomphait dans la victoire de\nsa fille comme si c\u2019e\u00fbt \u00e9t\u00e9 la sienne. \u00abEt maintenant, mon ami, me\ndit-elle, je peux bien avouer que c\u2019est moi qui ai conseill\u00e9 \u00e0 mes\nfilles d\u2019encourager les attentions de notre seigneur. J\u2019ai toujours\neu quelque ambition, et vous voyez maintenant que j\u2019avais raison; car\nqui sait comment ceci peut bien finir?\u2014Oui, en effet, qui le sait?\nr\u00e9pondis-je avec un grand soupir. Pour ma part, je n\u2019en suis pas fort\ncharm\u00e9; j\u2019aurais beaucoup mieux aim\u00e9 quelqu\u2019un qui e\u00fbt \u00e9t\u00e9 pauvre\net honn\u00eate, que ce beau gentilhomme avec sa fortune et son impi\u00e9t\u00e9;\ncar, comptez-y, s\u2019il est ce que je le soup\u00e7onne d\u2019\u00eatre, jamais libre\npenseur n\u2019aura un de mes enfants.\n\u2014Assur\u00e9ment, p\u00e8re, s\u2019\u00e9cria Mo\u00efse, vous \u00eates ici trop rigoureux; car\nle ciel ne le jugera pas sur ce qu\u2019il pense, mais sur ce qu\u2019il fait.\nTout homme a en lui mille pens\u00e9es coupables qui s\u2019\u00e9l\u00e8vent en dehors\nde son contr\u00f4le. Il se peut que penser librement sur la religion\nsoit involontaire chez ce gentleman; de sorte que, tout en admettant\nque ses sentiments soient erron\u00e9s, comme il est purement passif en\nles subissant, il n\u2019est pas plus \u00e0 bl\u00e2mer pour ses erreurs que le\ngouverneur d\u2019une ville sans murailles pour l\u2019abri qu\u2019il est oblig\u00e9 de\nfournir \u00e0 l\u2019ennemi qui l\u2019envahit.\n\u2014C\u2019est vrai, mon fils, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je. Mais si le gouverneur y attire\nl\u2019ennemi, il est bel et bien coupable. Et tel est toujours le cas\nde ceux qui embrassent l\u2019erreur. La faute n\u2019est pas de donner son\nassentiment aux preuves que l\u2019on voit, mais de fermer les yeux devant\nun grand nombre de preuves qui se pr\u00e9sentent. De sorte que, bien que\nnos opinions erron\u00e9es soient involontaires une fois form\u00e9es, comme nous\navons \u00e9t\u00e9 volontairement corrompus ou tr\u00e8s n\u00e9gligents en les formant,\nnous n\u2019en m\u00e9ritons pas moins un ch\u00e2timent pour notre faute, ou du\nm\u00e9pris pour notre folie.\u00bb\nMa femme reprit alors la conversation, mais non le raisonnement. Elle\nfit remarquer que plusieurs tr\u00e8s honn\u00eates gens de notre connaissance\n\u00e9taient des libres penseurs et faisaient de tr\u00e8s bons maris; elle\nconnaissait m\u00eame certaines jeunes filles de sens qui auraient assez\nd\u2019habilet\u00e9 pour faire de leurs \u00e9poux des convertis. \u00abEt qui sait, mon\nami, continua-t-elle, ce qu\u2019Olivia peut \u00eatre capable d\u2019accomplir?\nL\u2019enfant n\u2019est jamais \u00e0 court sur aucun sujet, et, \u00e0 ma connaissance,\nelle est tr\u00e8s forte en controverse.\n\u2014Eh! ma ch\u00e8re, que peut-elle avoir lu en fait de controverse?\nm\u2019\u00e9criai-je. Il ne me souvient pas que j\u2019aie jamais mis des livres de\nce genre entre ses mains. Certainement vous exag\u00e9rez ses m\u00e9rites.\u2014En\nv\u00e9rit\u00e9 non, papa, r\u00e9pondit Olivia. J\u2019ai lu une grande quantit\u00e9 de\ncontroverse. J\u2019ai lu les discussions entre Thwackum et Square[3];\nla controverse entre Robinson Crusoe et Vendredi, le sauvage, et je\nm\u2019occupe en ce moment \u00e0 lire la controverse qui se trouve dans _la Cour\nd\u00e9vote_[4].\u2014Tr\u00e8s bien! m\u2019\u00e9criai-je. Voil\u00e0 une bonne fille. Je vous\ntrouve toutes les qualit\u00e9s requises pour faire des convertis; donc,\nallez aider votre m\u00e8re \u00e0 confectionner la tarte aux groseilles.\u00bb\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE VIII\n_Un amour qui ne promet gu\u00e8re de fortune peut cependant en amener\nbeaucoup._\nLE lendemain matin; nous e\u00fbmes de nouveau la visite de M. Burchell. Je\ncommen\u00e7ais, pour certaines raisons, \u00e0 trouver d\u00e9plaisante la fr\u00e9quence\nde ses retours; mais je ne pouvais lui refuser ma compagnie ni mon\nfoyer. Il est vrai que son travail payait plus que son entretien; car\nil s\u2019employait vigoureusement parmi nous, et, soit dans la prairie,\nsoit \u00e0 la meule, il se mettait au premier rang. En outre, il avait\ntoujours quelque chose d\u2019amusant \u00e0 dire, qui all\u00e9geait notre labeur,\net il \u00e9tait \u00e0 la fois si bizarre et si sens\u00e9 que je l\u2019aimais, riais\nde lui et le prenais en piti\u00e9 tout ensemble. Mon seul grief venait de\nl\u2019attachement qu\u2019il montrait pour ma fille: il l\u2019appelait, en mani\u00e8re\nde plaisanterie, sa petite ma\u00eetresse, et quand il achetait pour chacune\nd\u2019elles une parure de rubans, celle de Sophia \u00e9tait la plus jolie. Je\nne savais comment, mais chaque jour il semblait devenir plus aimable;\nson esprit paraissait augmenter, et sa simplicit\u00e9 prendre l\u2019air\nsup\u00e9rieur de la sagesse.\nNous d\u00een\u00e2mes en famille, dans le champ, assis, ou plut\u00f4t couch\u00e9s,\nautour d\u2019un modeste repas, la nappe \u00e9tendue sur le foin. M. Burchell\ndonnait au festin de la gaiet\u00e9. Pour surcro\u00eet de satisfaction, deux\nmerles se r\u00e9pondaient de deux haies oppos\u00e9es, le rouge-gorge familier\nvenait picorer les miettes dans nos mains, et il n\u2019\u00e9tait pas un bruit\nqui ne par\u00fbt un \u00e9cho de la tranquillit\u00e9. \u00abJe ne me trouve jamais assise\nainsi, dit Sophia, sans penser aux deux amants si suavement d\u00e9crits\npar M. Gay, et que la mort frappa dans les bras l\u2019un de l\u2019autre. Il y\na, dans cette description quelque chose de si path\u00e9tique, que je l\u2019ai\nlue cent fois avec un nouveau ravissement.\u2014A mon avis, s\u2019\u00e9cria mon\nfils, les plus beaux traits de cette description sont bien au-dessous\nde ceux que l\u2019on trouve dans _Acis et Galat\u00e9e_, d\u2019Ovide. Le po\u00e8te\nromain entend mieux l\u2019emploi de l\u2019antith\u00e8se, et c\u2019est de cette figure\nhabilement mise en \u0153uvre que d\u00e9pend toute la force du path\u00e9tique.\u2014Il\nest remarquable, s\u2019\u00e9cria M. Burchell, que les deux po\u00e8tes que vous\ncitez aient \u00e9galement contribu\u00e9 \u00e0 introduire un go\u00fbt faux dans leurs\npays respectifs, en chargeant tous leurs vers d\u2019\u00e9pith\u00e8tes. Des hommes\nd\u2019un m\u00e9diocre g\u00e9nie trouv\u00e8rent que c\u2019\u00e9tait dans leurs d\u00e9fauts qu\u2019on les\npouvait le plus ais\u00e9ment imiter, et la po\u00e9sie anglaise, comme celle\ndes derniers temps de l\u2019empire de Rome, n\u2019est plus rien aujourd\u2019hui\nqu\u2019une combinaison d\u2019images luxuriantes, sans plan et sans lien, qu\u2019un\nchapelet d\u2019\u00e9pith\u00e8tes qui embellissent le son sans exprimer de sens.\nMais peut-\u00eatre, madame, tandis que je reprends ainsi les autres,\ntrouverez-vous juste que je leur donne l\u2019occasion de se venger; et\npr\u00e9cis\u00e9ment je n\u2019ai fait cette remarque que pour avoir l\u2019occasion\nmoi-m\u00eame de pr\u00e9senter \u00e0 la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 une ballade qui, quels que soient\nses autres d\u00e9fauts, est du moins exempte, je le crois, de ceux que j\u2019ai\nindiqu\u00e9s.\u00bb\nBALLADE\n  \u00abViens \u00e0 moi, bon Ermite du vallon,\n  Et guide ma route solitaire\n  L\u00e0-bas, o\u00f9 cette lumi\u00e8re \u00e9gaye le val\n  D\u2019un hospitalier rayon.\n  \u00abCar ici, abandonn\u00e9, perdu, je chemine\n  A pas languissants et lents,\n  Au milieu de d\u00e9serts qui s\u2019\u00e9tendent, incommensurables.\n  Semblant s\u2019allonger \u00e0 mesure que je vais.\n  \u2014Garde-toi, mon fils, s\u2019\u00e9crie l\u2019Ermite,\n  De tenter les dangereuses t\u00e9n\u00e8bres;\n  Car ce fant\u00f4me perfide fuit l\u00e0-bas\n  Pour t\u2019attirer \u00e0 ta perte.\n  \u00abIci, \u00e0 l\u2019enfant du besoin sans abri\n  Ma porte toujours est ouverte;\n  Et quoique ma part soit bien petite,\n  Je la donne de bonne volont\u00e9.\n  \u00abArr\u00eate-toi donc ce soir, et librement partage\n  Tout ce qu\u2019offre ma cellule,\n  Ma couche de joncs et ma ch\u00e8re frugale,\n  Mon bonheur et mon repos.\n  \u00abLes troupeaux qui parcourent en libert\u00e9 la vall\u00e9e.\n  Je ne les condamne pas \u00e0 l\u2019abattoir;\n  Instruit par ce Pouvoir qui a piti\u00e9 de moi,\n  J\u2019apprends \u00e0 avoir piti\u00e9 d\u2019eux.\n  \u00abMais du flanc herbeux de la montagne\n  J\u2019emporte un innocent festin:\n  Une besace garnie d\u2019herbes et de fruits,\n  Avec de l\u2019eau de la source.\n[Illustration]\n  \u00abDonc, p\u00e8lerin, arr\u00eate; oublie tes soucis:\n  Tous les soucis de la terre sont faux;\n  L\u2019homme n\u2019a besoin que de peu ici-bas,\n  Et il n\u2019en a besoin que peu de temps.\u00bb\n  Doucement, comme la ros\u00e9e descend du ciel,\n  Tombaient ses tranquilles accents.\n  L\u2019\u00e9tranger modeste s\u2019incline bas\n  Et le suit dans la cellule.\n  Au loin, dans l\u2019\u00e9tendue obscure et d\u00e9sol\u00e9e,\n  Se trouvait la demeure solitaire,\n  Refuge pour le pauvre du voisinage\n  Et pour l\u2019\u00e9tranger \u00e9gar\u00e9.\n  Nulles richesses sous son humble chaume\n  N\u2019exigeaient la garde d\u2019un ma\u00eetre.\n  La petite porte s\u2019ouvrant au loquet\n  Re\u00e7ut le couple inoffensif.\n  Et, alors que les foules affair\u00e9es se retirent\n  Pour prendre leur repos du soir,\n  L\u2019Ermite attisait son petit feu\n  Et f\u00eatait son h\u00f4te pensif.\n  Il \u00e9talait ses provisions rustiques,\n  Le pressait gaiement et souriait;\n  Et, vers\u00e9 dans la connaissance des l\u00e9gendes,\n  Il trompait les heures tardives.\n  Autour de lui, dans une gaiet\u00e9 sympathique,\n  Le petit chat essayait ses tours,\n  Le grillon gazouillait dans l\u2019\u00e2tre,\n  Le fagot p\u00e9tillant se r\u00e9pandait en flammes.\n  Mais rien ne versait un charme assez puissant\n  Pour calmer la douleur de l\u2019\u00e9tranger,\n  Car la peine \u00e9tait lourde en son c\u0153ur,\n  Et ses larmes se mirent \u00e0 couler.\n  L\u2019Ermite \u00e9piait cette \u00e9motion naissante,\n  Oppress\u00e9 d\u2019un sentiment pareil:\n  \u00abEt d\u2019o\u00f9 viennent, malheureux jeune homme, cria-t-il,\n  Les chagrins de ton c\u0153ur?\n  \u00abChass\u00e9 de demeures plus heureuses,\n  Es-tu donc errant malgr\u00e9 toi?\n  T\u2019affliges-tu pour une amiti\u00e9 sans retour,\n  Ou pour un amour d\u00e9daign\u00e9?\n  \u00abH\u00e9las! les joies que la fortune apporte\n  Sont frivoles et caduques;\n  Et ceux qui prisent ces pauvret\u00e9s,\n  Plus frivoles qu\u2019elles encore.\n  \u00abEt l\u2019amiti\u00e9 qu\u2019est-elle, qu\u2019un nom,\n  Un charme qui berce et endort,\n  Une ombre qui suit la richesse ou la renomm\u00e9e,\n  Mais qui laisse le mis\u00e9rable \u00e0 ses pleurs?\n  \u00abEt l\u2019amour est encore un son plus vide,\n  Le jouet de nos beaut\u00e9s du jour,\n  Invisible sur terre, ou ne s\u2019y trouvant\n  Que pour r\u00e9chauffer le nid de la tourterelle.\n  \u00abFi! tendre jeune homme, fais taire ta douleur,\n  Et m\u00e9prise ce sexe\u00bb, dit-il.\n  Mais tandis qu\u2019il parle, une rougeur montante\n  A trahi son h\u00f4te \u00e9perdu d\u2019amour.\n  Surpris, il voit de nouvelles beaut\u00e9s na\u00eetre,\n  Parure soudaine qui s\u2019\u00e9tale aux yeux,\n  Semblable aux couleurs du ciel au matin,\n  Non moins brillante, non moins passag\u00e8re aussi.\n  Le regard timide, le sein qui se soul\u00e8ve\n  Tour \u00e0 tour \u00e9veillent ses alarmes:\n  L\u2019aimable \u00e9tranger est, de son aveu m\u00eame, reconnu\n  Pour une jeune fille dans tous ses charmes.\n  \u00abAh! oui; pardonnez \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9trang\u00e8re indiscr\u00e8te,\n  A la mis\u00e9rable abandonn\u00e9e, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-elle,\n  A l\u2019importune, dont les pieds impies p\u00e9n\u00e8trent ainsi\n  L\u00e0 o\u00f9 le ciel demeure avec vous.\n  \u00abMais laisse une part de ta piti\u00e9 \u00e0 une jeune fille\n  Que l\u2019amour a faite errante,\n  Qui cherche le repos, et qui trouve le d\u00e9sespoir\n  Pour compagnon de sa route.\n  \u00abMon p\u00e8re vivait sur le bord de la Tyne;\n  C\u2019\u00e9tait un opulent seigneur,\n  Et toute son opulence \u00e9tait marqu\u00e9e d\u2019avance comme mienne:\n  Il n\u2019avait d\u2019enfant que moi.\n  \u00abPour m\u2019enlever \u00e0 ses tendres bras,\n  Des pr\u00e9tendants sans nombre vinrent,\n  Qui me louaient de charmes suppos\u00e9s,\n  Et ressentaient ou feignaient la passion.\n[Illustration]\n\u00abA toute heure une foule\nmercenaire Rivalisait d\u2019offres les plus riches;\nParmi les autres, le jeune Edwin s\u2019inclinait.\nMais jamais ne parlait d\u2019amour.\n\u00abV\u00eatu d\u2019habits modestes et des plus simples,\nIl n\u2019avait ni richesses ni pouvoir;\nSagesse et m\u00e9rite, voil\u00e0 tout ce qu\u2019il avait;\nMais c\u2019\u00e9tait aussi tout pour moi.\n\u00abEt lorsqu\u2019\u00e0 mes c\u00f4t\u00e9s, dans le val,\nIl chantait des lais d\u2019amour,\nSon haleine pr\u00eatait des parfums \u00e0 la brise\nEt de la musique aux bois.\n\u00abLa fleur s\u2019ouvrant au jour,\nLes ros\u00e9es distill\u00e9es du ciel,\nNe pouvaient montrer rien d\u2019assez pur\nPour rivaliser avec son c\u0153ur.\n\u00abLa ros\u00e9e, la fleur sur l\u2019arbre\nBrillent de charmes inconstants:\nLeurs charmes, il les avait; mais, malheur \u00e0 moi!\nMoi, j\u2019avais leur constance.\n\u00abSans cesse j\u2019essayais tous les artifices de la coquetterie\nImportune et vaine;\nEt lorsque sa passion touchait mon c\u0153ur,\nJe triomphais dans ses peines.\n\u00abEnfin, tout accabl\u00e9 de mes m\u00e9pris,\nIl me laissa \u00e0 mon orgueil,\nEt, secr\u00e8tement, chercha une solitude\nAbandonn\u00e9e, o\u00f9 il mourut.\n\u00abMais mienne est la douleur, et mienne la faute,\nEt ma vie doit bien la payer;\nJe chercherai la solitude qu\u2019il a cherch\u00e9e,\nEt m\u2019\u00e9tendrai l\u00e0 o\u00f9 il g\u00eet.\n\u00abOui, l\u00e0, abandonn\u00e9e, d\u00e9sesp\u00e9r\u00e9e, cach\u00e9e,\nJe veux me coucher et mourir;\nC\u2019est ce que pour moi Edwin a fait,\nEt c\u2019est ce que je ferai pour lui.\u00bb\n\u00abEmp\u00eache cela, Ciel!\u00bb cria l\u2019Ermite;\nEt il la pressait contre son sein.\n\u00c9tonn\u00e9e, la belle se retourne en courroux:\nC\u2019\u00e9tait Edwin lui-m\u00eame qui l\u2019embrassait.\n\u00abRegarde, Angelina toujours ch\u00e8re,\nMon enchanteresse, regarde et vois\nIci ton Edwin, ton Edwin longtemps perdu,\nRendu \u00e0 l\u2019amour et \u00e0 toi.\n\u00abLaisse-moi te tenir ainsi sur mon c\u0153ur,\nEt quitter tout souci.\nNe devons-nous donc plus nous s\u00e9parer jamais, jamais,\nO ma vie, \u00f4 seul bien qui soit \u00e0 moi?\n\u00abNon, jamais! \u00e0 partir de cette heure,\nNous vivrons et nous nous aimerons, fid\u00e8les;\nLe dernier soupir qui d\u00e9chirera ton c\u0153ur constant\nBrisera aussi celui de ton Edwin.\u00bb\nPendant la lecture de cette ballade, Sophia semblait m\u00ealer un air\nde tendresse \u00e0 son approbation. Mais notre tranquillit\u00e9 fut bient\u00f4t\ntroubl\u00e9e par le bruit d\u2019un coup de fusil tout pr\u00e8s de nous, et,\nimm\u00e9diatement apr\u00e8s, un homme apparut, traversant violemment la haie\npour ramasser le gibier qu\u2019il venait de tuer. Ce chasseur \u00e9tait\nle chapelain du squire, et il avait abattu un des merles qui nous\nr\u00e9cr\u00e9aient si agr\u00e9ablement. Un bruit tellement fort et rapproch\u00e9 avait\nfait tressaillir mes filles, et je pus remarquer que Sophia, dans son\neffroi, s\u2019\u00e9tait jet\u00e9e dans les bras de M. Burchell pour y chercher\nprotection. Le gentleman s\u2019avan\u00e7a et demanda pardon de nous avoir\nd\u00e9rang\u00e9s, affirmant qu\u2019il ignorait que nous fussions si pr\u00e8s. Il prit\nplace aupr\u00e8s de ma fille cadette, et, en vrai sportsman, il lui offrit\nce qu\u2019il avait tu\u00e9 dans la matin\u00e9e. Elle allait refuser, mais un coup\nd\u2019\u0153il discret de sa m\u00e8re lui fit promptement corriger sa b\u00e9vue et\naccepter le pr\u00e9sent, non sans quelque r\u00e9pugnance toutefois. Ma femme\nlaissa percer, comme \u00e0 l\u2019ordinaire, son orgueil, en faisant tout bas la\nremarque que Sophia avait fait la conqu\u00eate du chapelain, de m\u00eame que sa\ns\u0153ur avait fait celle du squire. Je soup\u00e7onnais toutefois, et avec plus\nde probabilit\u00e9, qu\u2019elle avait plac\u00e9 ses affections sur un autre objet.\nLe chapelain avait pour commission de nous informer que M. Thornhill\navait fait venir de la musique et des rafra\u00eechissements et comptait\ndonner, le soir m\u00eame, \u00e0 ces demoiselles un bal au clair de lune, sur la\npelouse devant notre porte. \u00abEt je ne puis nier, continua-t-il, que je\nn\u2019aie int\u00e9r\u00eat \u00e0 \u00eatre le premier \u00e0 transmettre ce message, car j\u2019esp\u00e8re,\npour ma r\u00e9compense, que miss Sophia me fera l\u2019honneur de m\u2019accepter\npour cavalier.\u00bb A ceci la jeune fille r\u00e9pliqua qu\u2019elle le ferait\nvolontiers si elle le pouvait honn\u00eatement.\n\u00abMais, poursuivit-elle en regardant M. Burchell, voici un gentleman\nqui a \u00e9t\u00e9 mon compagnon dans le travail de la journ\u00e9e, et il convient\nqu\u2019il en partage les amusements.\u00bb M. Burchell la remercia poliment de\nson intention, mais il c\u00e9da ses droits au chapelain et ajouta qu\u2019il\navait cinq milles \u00e0 faire dans la soir\u00e9e, \u00e9tant invit\u00e9 \u00e0 un souper\nde moisson. Son refus me parut un peu extraordinaire; et, d\u2019un autre\nc\u00f4t\u00e9, je ne parvenais pas \u00e0 concevoir comment une jeune personne aussi\nsens\u00e9e que ma fille cadette pouvait ainsi pr\u00e9f\u00e9rer un homme ruin\u00e9 \u00e0\nquelqu\u2019un dont les esp\u00e9rances \u00e9taient beaucoup plus hautes. Mais, de\nm\u00eame que les hommes sont les plus capables de distinguer le m\u00e9rite chez\nles femmes, de m\u00eame les dames forment souvent de nous les jugements les\nplus exacts. Les deux sexes semblent \u00eatre plac\u00e9s comme en observation\nvis-\u00e0-vis l\u2019un de l\u2019autre et sont dou\u00e9s de capacit\u00e9s diff\u00e9rentes\nappropri\u00e9es \u00e0 cet examen mutuel.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE IX\n_Pr\u00e9sentation de deux dames tr\u00e8s distingu\u00e9es.\u2014Il semble toujours que\nla sup\u00e9riorit\u00e9 de la toilette donne la sup\u00e9riorit\u00e9 de l\u2019\u00e9ducation_.\nA PEINE M. Burchell avait-il pris cong\u00e9 et Sophia consenti \u00e0 danser\navec le chapelain, que les petits arriv\u00e8rent en courant nous dire que\nle squire \u00e9tait l\u00e0, avec une grande compagnie. Nous retourn\u00e2mes \u00e0 la\nmaison et trouv\u00e2mes notre seigneur accompagn\u00e9 de deux gentilshommes\nde moindre qualit\u00e9 et de deux jeunes personnes richement habill\u00e9es,\nqu\u2019il nous pr\u00e9senta comme des femmes d\u2019une tr\u00e8s grande distinction et\ntr\u00e8s \u00e0 la mode, venues de Londres. Il se trouva que nous n\u2019avions pas\nassez de chaises pour tout le monde, et aussit\u00f4t M. Thornhill proposa\nque chaque gentleman s\u2019ass\u00eet sur les genoux d\u2019une dame. Je m\u2019y opposai\ncat\u00e9goriquement, malgr\u00e9 un regard improbateur de ma femme. On envoya\ndonc Mo\u00efse emprunter une couple de chaises, et comme nous manquions de\ndames pour compl\u00e9ter une contredanse, les deux messieurs partirent avec\nlui, en qu\u00eate d\u2019une couple de danseuses. Chaises et danseuses furent\nvite trouv\u00e9es. Les messieurs revinrent avec les roses filles de mon\nvoisin Flamborough, superbes sous leurs coiffures de n\u0153uds de ruban\nrouge. Mais on n\u2019avait pas pr\u00e9vu une circonstance malencontreuse: les\ndemoiselles Flamborough avaient, \u00e0 vrai dire, la r\u00e9putation d\u2019\u00eatre\nles meilleures danseuses de la paroisse et entendaient la gigue et la\nronde \u00e0 la perfection; mais elles n\u2019en \u00e9taient pas moins totalement\n\u00e9trang\u00e8res \u00e0 la contredanse. Ceci nous d\u00e9concerta tout d\u2019abord;\ncependant, apr\u00e8s s\u2019\u00eatre fait un peu pousser et tirer, elles finirent\npar aller gaiement. Notre musique se composait de deux violons, d\u2019une\nfl\u00fbte et d\u2019un tambourin. La lune brillait, claire. M. Thornhill et\nma fille a\u00een\u00e9e menaient le bal, au grand plaisir des spectateurs:\nles voisins, en effet, ayant appris ce qui se passait, arriv\u00e8rent en\ntroupes autour de nous. Ma fille avait les mouvements si gracieux et\nsi vifs que ma femme ne put s\u2019emp\u00eacher de d\u00e9couvrir la vanit\u00e9 de son\nc\u0153ur en m\u2019assurant que, si la fillette s\u2019en acquittait si habilement,\nc\u2019est qu\u2019elle lui avait emprunt\u00e9 tous ses pas. Les dames de la ville\ns\u2019\u00e9vertuaient p\u00e9niblement \u00e0 montrer la m\u00eame aisance, mais sans succ\u00e8s.\nElles tournoyaient, s\u2019agitaient, languissaient, se d\u00e9menaient; rien\nn\u2019y faisait. Les spectateurs, il est vrai, d\u00e9claraient que c\u2019\u00e9tait\nfort bien; mais le voisin Flamborough fit remarquer que les pieds de\nmiss Livy semblaient tomber avec la musique aussi juste qu\u2019un \u00e9cho. La\ndanse durait depuis une heure lorsque les deux dames, qui craignaient\nd\u2019attraper un rhume, propos\u00e8rent de cesser le bal. L\u2019une d\u2019elles, \u00e0 ce\nqu\u2019il me sembla, exprima ses sentiments \u00e0 cette occasion d\u2019une fa\u00e7on\nfort grossi\u00e8re, lorsqu\u2019elle d\u00e9clara que _par le bon Dieu vivant, la\nsueur lui d\u00e9gouttait partout_.\n[Illustration]\nEn rentrant \u00e0 la maison, nous trouv\u00e2mes un tr\u00e8s \u00e9l\u00e9gant souper froid\nque M. Thornhill avait fait apporter avec lui. Cette fois-ci, la\nconversation fut plus r\u00e9serv\u00e9e qu\u2019auparavant. Les deux dames rejet\u00e8rent\ntout \u00e0 fait mes filles dans l\u2019ombre, car elles ne voulurent parler de\nrien que de la haute vie et des gens qui la m\u00e8nent, ou d\u2019autres sujets\n\u00e0 la mode, tels que tableaux, bon go\u00fbt, Shakespeare et harmonica. Il\nest vrai que deux ou trois fois elles nous mortifi\u00e8rent sensiblement\nen laissant \u00e9chapper un juron; mais cela me parut \u00eatre la marque la\nplus certaine de leur distinction (j\u2019ai pourtant appris depuis que\njurer n\u2019est nullement \u00e0 la mode). Quoi qu\u2019il en soit, leurs toilettes\njetaient comme un voile sur les grossi\u00e8ret\u00e9s de leur conversation. Mes\nfilles semblaient regarder avec envie leurs talents sup\u00e9rieurs, et l\u2019on\nattribuait ce qui apparaissait de d\u00e9fectueux en elles \u00e0 l\u2019excellence\nm\u00eame de leur \u00e9ducation. Mais la condescendance de ces dames \u00e9tait\nencore plus grande que leurs autres m\u00e9rites. L\u2019une d\u2019elles d\u00e9clara que\nsi miss Olivia avait vu un peu plus de monde, cela lui ferait beaucoup\nde bien. A quoi l\u2019autre ajouta qu\u2019un seul hiver pass\u00e9 \u00e0 la ville ferait\nde la petite Sophia une tout autre personne. Ma femme les approuva\nchaudement l\u2019une et l\u2019autre, ajoutant qu\u2019il n\u2019y avait rien qu\u2019elle\nd\u00e9sir\u00e2t plus ardemment que de donner \u00e0 ses filles l\u2019avantage de se\nperfectionner \u00e0 Londres pendant un seul hiver. Je ne pus me retenir\nde dire l\u00e0-dessus que leur \u00e9ducation \u00e9tait d\u00e9j\u00e0 plus haute que leur\nfortune, et qu\u2019un plus grand raffinement de mani\u00e8res ne ferait que\nrendre leur pauvret\u00e9 ridicule et leur donner du go\u00fbt pour des plaisirs\nqu\u2019elles n\u2019avaient pas le droit de prendre.\n\u00abEt quels plaisirs, s\u2019\u00e9cria M. Thornhill, ne m\u00e9ritent-elles pas de\nprendre, celles qui ont en leur pouvoir d\u2019en accorder tant? Pour ma\npart, ma fortune est assez consid\u00e9rable; amour, libert\u00e9 et plaisir,\nvoil\u00e0 mes maximes; mais, Dieu me maudisse! si le don de la moiti\u00e9\nde mes biens pouvait faire plaisir \u00e0 ma charmante Olivia, ce serait\n\u00e0 elle; et la seule faveur que je lui demanderais en retour serait\nd\u2019ajouter ma propre personne au cadeau.\u00bb Je n\u2019\u00e9tais pas tellement\n\u00e9tranger au monde que j\u2019ignorasse que c\u2019\u00e9tait l\u00e0 le tour \u00e0 la mode\npour d\u00e9guiser l\u2019insolence des plus viles propositions, et je fis un\neffort pour r\u00e9primer ma col\u00e8re. \u00abMonsieur, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, la famille\n\u00e0 laquelle vous voulez bien en ce moment faire la faveur de votre\ncompagnie a \u00e9t\u00e9 \u00e9lev\u00e9e avec un sentiment de l\u2019honneur aussi d\u00e9licat\nque vous. Toute tentative pour y porter atteinte pourrait \u00eatre\nsuivie des plus dangereuses cons\u00e9quences. L\u2019honneur, monsieur, est\naujourd\u2019hui la seule chose que nous poss\u00e9dions, et c\u2019est un dernier\ntr\u00e9sor dont nous devons \u00eatre particuli\u00e8rement soigneux.\u00bb Je ne tardai\npas \u00e0 \u00eatre f\u00e2ch\u00e9 de la chaleur avec laquelle j\u2019avais parl\u00e9, lorsque le\njeune gentilhomme, me saisissant la main, jura qu\u2019il appr\u00e9ciait mes\nsentiments, bien qu\u2019il d\u00e9sapprouv\u00e2t mes soup\u00e7ons. \u00abQuant \u00e0 ce que vous\nvenez de me donner \u00e0 entendre, continua-t-il, je proteste que rien\nn\u2019\u00e9tait plus \u00e9loign\u00e9 de mon c\u0153ur qu\u2019une telle pens\u00e9e. Non, par tout ce\nqui peut tenter, la vertu capable de soutenir un si\u00e8ge r\u00e9gulier ne fut\njamais de mon go\u00fbt, et toutes mes amours sont des coups de main.\u00bb\nLes deux dames, qui avaient affect\u00e9 de ne pas s\u2019apercevoir du reste,\nsembl\u00e8rent souverainement choqu\u00e9es de ce dernier trait de franchise,\net, tr\u00e8s discr\u00e8tement et s\u00e9rieusement, entam\u00e8rent un dialogue sur la\nvertu. Ma femme, le chapelain, bient\u00f4t moi-m\u00eame, nous nous joign\u00eemes \u00e0\nelles, et \u00e0 la fin, nous amen\u00e2mes le squire \u00e0 confesser un sentiment\nde regret sur ses anciens exc\u00e8s. Nous parl\u00e2mes des plaisirs de la\ntemp\u00e9rance et du soleil qui brille dans le c\u0153ur qu\u2019aucune faute\nn\u2019a souill\u00e9. J\u2019\u00e9tais si content, que l\u2019on garda les enfants plus\ntard que l\u2019heure habituelle, pour les \u00e9difier par une si excellente\nconversation. M. Thornhill alla m\u00eame plus loin que moi et demanda si\nje consentais \u00e0 faire la pri\u00e8re. J\u2019embrassai la proposition avec joie,\net la soir\u00e9e passa ainsi de la mani\u00e8re la plus satisfaisante, jusqu\u2019au\nmoment o\u00f9 la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 finit par songer \u00e0 s\u2019en retourner. Les dames\nparaissaient ne se s\u00e9parer qu\u2019\u00e0 regret de mes filles, pour lesquelles\nelles avaient con\u00e7u une affection particuli\u00e8re, et elles unirent\nleurs instances pour avoir le plaisir de leur compagnie jusqu\u2019au\nch\u00e2teau. Le squire appuyait la proposition, et ma femme y ajoutait ses\nsollicitations; les enfants me regardaient, comme si elles d\u00e9siraient\ny aller. Dans cet embarras, je donnai deux ou trois excuses que mes\nfilles \u00e9cart\u00e8rent \u00e0 mesure; de sorte qu\u2019\u00e0 la fin je dus opposer un\nrefus p\u00e9remptoire, ce qui nous valut des mines boudeuses et des\nr\u00e9ponses \u00e9court\u00e9es pour toute la journ\u00e9e du lendemain.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE X\n_La famille s\u2019efforce de faire comme plus riche qu\u2019elle. Mis\u00e8res des\npauvres quand ils veulent para\u00eetre au-dessus de leur \u00e9tat._\nJE commen\u00e7ai d\u00e8s lors \u00e0 m\u2019apercevoir que toutes mes longues et p\u00e9nibles\nexhortations \u00e0 la temp\u00e9rance, \u00e0 la simplicit\u00e9 et au contentement du\nc\u0153ur avaient perdu toute influence. Les attentions que nous avaient\nr\u00e9cemment accord\u00e9es des gens plus riches que nous r\u00e9veillaient\ncet orgueil que j\u2019avais endormi, mais non chass\u00e9. Nos fen\u00eatres se\ngarnirent de nouveau, comme jadis, d\u2019eaux pour le cou et le visage.\nOn redouta le soleil comme un ennemi de la peau an dehors, et le feu\ncomme un destructeur du teint au dedans. Ma femme fit remarquer\nque se lever trop matin faisait du mal aux yeux de ses filles et\nque travailler apr\u00e8s le d\u00eener leur rougissait le nez, et elle me\nconvainquit que jamais les mains ne paraissaient si blanches que\nquand elles ne faisaient rien. Aussi, au lieu de finir les chemises\nde George, nous les voyions maintenant retaillant sur de nouveaux\nmod\u00e8les leurs vieilles gazes et s\u2019escrimant au tambour \u00e0 broder. Les\npauvres demoiselles Flamborough, nagu\u00e8re leurs joyeuses compagnes,\n\u00e9taient mises de c\u00f4t\u00e9 comme des connaissances vulgaires, et toute la\nconversation ne roulait que sur la haute vie et ceux qui la m\u00e8nent, sur\nles tableaux, le bon go\u00fbt, Shakespeare et l\u2019harmonica.\nNous aurions encore pu supporter tout cela, si une boh\u00e9mienne,\ndiseuse de bonne aventure, n\u2019\u00e9tait pas venue nous hisser jusqu\u2019aux\nplus sublimes hauteurs. La sibylle basan\u00e9e n\u2019eut pas plus t\u00f4t paru\nque mes filles accoururent me demander chacune un shilling pour lui\ntracer la croix d\u2019argent dans la main. A dire vrai, j\u2019\u00e9tais fatigu\u00e9\nd\u2019\u00eatre toujours sage, et je ne pus m\u2019emp\u00eacher de satisfaire \u00e0 leur\nrequ\u00eate, parce que j\u2019aimais \u00e0 les voir heureuses. Je leur donnai \u00e0\nchacune un shilling. Cependant, pour l\u2019honneur de la famille, il faut\nfaire observer qu\u2019elles n\u2019allaient jamais sans argent, car ma femme\nleur accordait g\u00e9n\u00e9reusement \u00e0 chacune une guin\u00e9e \u00e0 garder dans leur\npoche, mais avec stricte injonction de ne jamais la changer. Elles\ns\u2019enferm\u00e8rent avec la diseuse de bonne aventure pendant quelque temps,\net je vis \u00e0 leur mine, quand elles revinrent, qu\u2019on leur avait promis\nde grandes choses.\n\u00abEh bien! mes enfants, cela vous a-t-il r\u00e9ussi? Dis-moi, Livy, la\ndiseuse de bonne aventure t\u2019en a-t-elle donn\u00e9 pour quatre sous?\u2014Je\nvous assure, papa, dit l\u2019enfant, que je crois qu\u2019elle trafique avec\ncelui qu\u2019il ne faudrait pas; car elle a positivement d\u00e9clar\u00e9 que\nje devais \u00eatre mari\u00e9e \u00e0 un squire avant un an!\u2014Eh bien, et vous,\nSophia, mon enfant, repris-je, quelle esp\u00e8ce de mari devez-vous\navoir?\u2014Monsieur, r\u00e9pliqua-t-elle, je dois avoir un lord, peu apr\u00e8s que\nma s\u0153ur aura \u00e9pous\u00e9 le squire.\u2014Comment! m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, c\u2019est l\u00e0 tout\nce que vous devez avoir pour vos deux shillings? Bien qu\u2019un lord et un\nsquire pour deux shillings! Sottes que vous \u00eates, je vous aurais promis\nun prince et un nabab pour la moiti\u00e9 de votre argent.\u00bb\nLeur curiosit\u00e9 cependant fut suivie d\u2019effets fort s\u00e9rieux: nous nous\nm\u00eemes \u00e0 nous croire d\u00e9sign\u00e9s par les \u00e9toiles pour quelque chose de tr\u00e8s\n\u00e9lev\u00e9, et \u00e0 nous faire d\u00e9j\u00e0 une id\u00e9e anticip\u00e9e de notre future grandeur.\nOn a remarqu\u00e9 mille fois, et je dois le remarquer une fois de plus,\nque les heures que nous passons \u00e0 attendre un bonheur esp\u00e9r\u00e9 sont plus\nagr\u00e9ables que celles o\u00f9 nous en go\u00fbtons la jouissance. Dans le premier\ncas, nous appr\u00eatons les mets \u00e0 notre app\u00e9tit; dans le second, c\u2019est\nla nature qui les appr\u00eate pour nous. Il est impossible de rappeler la\nsuite des charmantes r\u00eaveries que nous \u00e9voquions pour notre agr\u00e9ment.\nNous voyions notre fortune se relever; et, comme toute la paroisse\naffirmait que le squire \u00e9tait amoureux de ma fille, elle le devint\nr\u00e9ellement de lui; on la rendait passionn\u00e9e par persuasion. Pendant\ncette agr\u00e9able p\u00e9riode, ma femme avait les r\u00eaves les plus heureux du\nmonde, et elle prenait soin de nous les raconter chaque matin avec\nune grande solennit\u00e9 et une grande exactitude. Une nuit, c\u2019\u00e9tait un\ncercueil et des os en croix, signe de mariage prochain; une autre\nfois, elle se figurait les poches de ses filles pleines de liards,\nsigne certain qu\u2019elles seraient \u00e0 courte \u00e9ch\u00e9ance bourr\u00e9es d\u2019or. Les\nenfants eux-m\u00eames avaient leurs pr\u00e9sages. Elles sentaient d\u2019\u00e9tranges\nbaisers sur leurs l\u00e8vres, elles voyaient des anneaux \u00e0 la chandelle;\ndes braises jaillissaient du feu, et des lacs d\u2019amour les guettaient au\nfond de toutes les tasses \u00e0 th\u00e9.\nVers la fin de la semaine, nous re\u00e7\u00fbmes une carte des dames de la\nville, o\u00f9, avec leurs compliments, elles nous exprimaient l\u2019espoir de\nvoir toute notre famille \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9glise le dimanche suivant. A la suite de\nceci, je pus remarquer, pendant toute la matin\u00e9e du samedi, ma femme\net mes filles en grande conf\u00e9rence, et me lan\u00e7ant de temps \u00e0 autre\ndes regards qui trahissaient un complot latent. Pour \u00eatre sinc\u00e8re, je\nsoup\u00e7onnais fortement qu\u2019on pr\u00e9parait quelque plan absurde pour se\nmontrer avec \u00e9clat le lendemain. Dans la soir\u00e9e, elles commenc\u00e8rent\nles op\u00e9rations d\u2019une mani\u00e8re tr\u00e8s r\u00e9guli\u00e8re, et ma femme se chargea\nde conduire le si\u00e8ge. Apr\u00e8s le th\u00e9, lorsque j\u2019eus l\u2019air d\u2019\u00eatre mis\nen bonne humeur, elle commen\u00e7a en ces termes: \u00abJ\u2019imagine, Charles,\nmon ami, que nous aurons beaucoup de beau monde \u00e0 notre \u00e9glise\ndemain.\u2014Cela se peut, ma ch\u00e8re, r\u00e9pondis-je; mais vous n\u2019avez pas\nbesoin d\u2019avoir aucune inqui\u00e9tude \u00e0 ce sujet; qu\u2019il y en ait ou non,\nvous aurez toujours votre sermon.\u2014Je l\u2019esp\u00e8re bien, r\u00e9pliqua-t-elle;\nmais je crois, mon ami, que nous devons nous y montrer aussi d\u00e9cemment\nque possible, car qui sait ce qui peut arriver?\n\u2014Vos pr\u00e9cautions, r\u00e9pondis-je, sont hautement louables. Une conduite\net un ext\u00e9rieur d\u00e9cents dans l\u2019\u00e9glise, voil\u00e0 ce qui me charme. Nous\ndevons \u00eatre d\u00e9vots et humbles, joyeux et sereins.\u2014Oui, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-elle,\nje sais cela; mais je veux dire que nous devrions aller \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9glise de\nla mani\u00e8re la plus convenable qu\u2019il est possible, et non pas tout \u00e0\nfait comme les souillons qui nous entourent.\u2014Vous avez bien raison,\nma ch\u00e8re, r\u00e9pondis-je, et j\u2019\u00e9tais sur le point de faire la m\u00eame\nproposition. La mani\u00e8re convenable d\u2019y aller, c\u2019est d\u2019y aller d\u2019aussi\nbonne heure que possible, pour avoir le temps de m\u00e9diter avant que le\nservice commence.\u2014Bah! Charles, interrompit-elle, tout cela est tr\u00e8s\nvrai, mais ce n\u2019est pas \u00e0 cela que j\u2019en suis. Je veux dire que nous\ndevrions y aller en gens comme il faut. Vous savez que l\u2019\u00e9glise est\n\u00e0 deux milles d\u2019ici, et je d\u00e9clare que je n\u2019aime pas voir mes filles\narriver \u00e0 leur banc, toutes br\u00fbl\u00e9es et rougies par la marche, et ayant\nl\u2019air pour tout le monde de venir de gagner le prix dans une course de\nfemmes. Maintenant, mon ami, voici ce que je propose: il y a nos deux\nchevaux de labour, celui qui est chez nous depuis neuf ans et son\ncompagnon, Blackberry, qui n\u2019a presque rien fait sur terre pendant tout\nce mois. Ils sont devenus tous les deux gras et paresseux. Pourquoi ne\nferaient-ils pas quelque chose aussi bien que nous? Et laissez-moi vous\nle dire, quand Mo\u00efse aura un peu soign\u00e9 leur toilette, ils auront une\nfigure tr\u00e8s pr\u00e9sentable.\u00bb\n[Illustration]\nA cette proposition, j\u2019objectai qu\u2019il serait vingt fois plus comme il\nfaut d\u2019aller \u00e0 pied qu\u2019en un aussi pi\u00e8tre \u00e9quipage, car Blackberry\n\u00e9tait borgne et l\u2019autre n\u2019avait pas de queue; qu\u2019ils n\u2019avaient jamais\n\u00e9t\u00e9 dress\u00e9s \u00e0 la bride et qu\u2019ils avaient cent habitudes vicieuses;\nenfin, que nous ne poss\u00e9dions qu\u2019une selle d\u2019homme et une selle de\nfemme dans toute la maison. Mais toutes ces objections furent rejet\u00e9es,\net je fus oblig\u00e9 de consentir. Le lendemain matin, je les vis non\nm\u00e9diocrement affair\u00e9es \u00e0 recueillir les mat\u00e9riaux qui pouvaient \u00eatre\nn\u00e9cessaires pour l\u2019exp\u00e9dition; mais comme je compris que cette besogne\ndemandait du temps, j\u2019allai \u00e0 pied en avant jusqu\u2019\u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9glise, et elles\npromirent de me suivre sans retard. J\u2019attendis leur arriv\u00e9e pr\u00e8s d\u2019une\nheure au pupitre; mais, voyant qu\u2019elles ne venaient pas comme je m\u2019y\nattendais, je dus commencer et poursuivre tout le service, non sans\nquelque inqui\u00e9tude de les savoir absentes. Cette inqui\u00e9tude s\u2019accrut\nlorsque, tout \u00e9tant fini, rien encore ne les annon\u00e7a. Je m\u2019en retournai\ndonc par la route des cavaliers qui avait cinq milles de long, bien que\nle sentier des pi\u00e9tons n\u2019en e\u00fbt que deux; et lorsque j\u2019eus fait \u00e0 peu\npr\u00e8s la moiti\u00e9 du chemin, j\u2019aper\u00e7us une procession marchant lentement\nvers l\u2019\u00e9glise: mon fils, ma femme et les deux petits juch\u00e9s sur un\ncheval, et mes deux filles sur l\u2019autre. Je demandai la raison de leur\nretard; mais je vis bient\u00f4t \u00e0 leurs figures qu\u2019ils avaient essuy\u00e9\nmille infortunes sur la route. Les chevaux, tout d\u2019abord, refusaient\nde bouger de devant la porte; mais M. Burchell avait \u00e9t\u00e9 assez bon\npour les frapper de son b\u00e2ton pendant deux cents yards. Ensuite, les\ncourroies de la selle de ma femme s\u2019\u00e9taient bris\u00e9es, et l\u2019on avait \u00e9t\u00e9\noblig\u00e9 de s\u2019arr\u00eater pour les r\u00e9parer, avant de pouvoir aller plus loin.\nApr\u00e8s cela, un des chevaux se mit en t\u00eate de rester immobile, et ni\ncoups ni pri\u00e8res ne purent l\u2019engager \u00e0 avancer. Il commen\u00e7ait \u00e0 revenir\nde cette d\u00e9sagr\u00e9able disposition lorsque je les rencontrai. Cependant,\nvoyant que tout \u00e9tait sauf, j\u2019avoue que leur mortification du moment ne\nme d\u00e9plut pas beaucoup, car elle devait me donner maintes occasions de\ntriomphes futurs et enseigner \u00e0 mes filles plus de modestie.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE XI\n_La famille persiste \u00e0 relever la t\u00eate._\nLA veille de la Saint-Michel arrivant le lendemain, nous f\u00fbmes\ninvit\u00e9s \u00e0 br\u00fbler des noix et \u00e0 jouer aux petits jeux chez le voisin\nFlamborough. Nos r\u00e9centes mortifications nous avaient fait un peu\nbaisser le ton; autrement, il est probable que nous aurions rejet\u00e9 une\ntelle invitation avec m\u00e9pris. Quoi qu\u2019il en soit, nous voul\u00fbmes bien\nconsentir \u00e0 avoir du plaisir. L\u2019oie et les puddings de notre honn\u00eate\nvoisin \u00e9taient fins, et sa bi\u00e8re \u00e0 la r\u00f4tie, qu\u2019on appelle dans le\npays _lamb\u2019s wool_, laine d\u2019agneau, \u00e9tait excellente, m\u00eame de l\u2019avis\nde ma femme qui s\u2019y connaissait. Il est vrai que sa fa\u00e7on de raconter\ndes histoires n\u2019\u00e9tait pas tout \u00e0 fait \u00e0 la m\u00eame hauteur. Elles \u00e9taient\ntr\u00e8s longues et tr\u00e8s ennuyeuses, elles roulaient toutes sur lui-m\u00eame,\net nous en avions d\u00e9j\u00e0 ri dix fois; cependant nous f\u00fbmes assez bons\npour en rire une fois de plus.\nM. Burchell, qui \u00e9tait de la r\u00e9union, aimait toujours \u00e0 voir quelque\njeu innocent en train; il organisa, avec les gar\u00e7ons et les filles, une\npartie de colin-maillard. Ma femme se laissa aussi persuader d\u2019entrer\nau jeu, et j\u2019\u00e9prouvai du plaisir \u00e0 penser qu\u2019elle n\u2019\u00e9tait pas encore\ntrop vieille. Pendant ce temps, mon voisin et moi, nous regardions,\nriant \u00e0 chaque bon tour et vantant notre adresse quand nous \u00e9tions\njeunes. La main chaude vint apr\u00e8s, suivie des questions et des gages,\net enfin ils s\u2019assirent pour faire une partie de savate. Comme il se\npeut que tout le monde ne connaisse pas ce tr\u00e8s primitif passe-temps,\nil est peut-\u00eatre n\u00e9cessaire de dire qu\u2019\u00e0 ce jeu la compagnie s\u2019\u00e9tablit\nen cercle par terre, \u00e0 l\u2019exception d\u2019un seul qui se tient debout au\nmilieu, et dont la besogne est d\u2019attraper un soulier que les joueurs\nse passent sous les jarrets de l\u2019un \u00e0 l\u2019autre, \u00e0 peu pr\u00e8s \u00e0 la fa\u00e7on\nd\u2019une navette de tisserand. Comme il est, dans ce cas, impossible \u00e0\nla jeune fille qui est debout de faire face \u00e0 toute la compagnie \u00e0 la\nfois, la grande beaut\u00e9 du jeu consiste \u00e0 lui appliquer un coup du talon\ndu soulier sur le c\u00f4t\u00e9 le moins capable d\u2019offrir de d\u00e9fense. C\u2019est de\ncette mani\u00e8re que ma fille a\u00een\u00e9e \u00e9tait enferm\u00e9e, tap\u00e9e partout, toute\nrouge, excit\u00e9e et hurlant: \u00abFranc jeu! Franc jeu!\u00bb d\u2019une voix qui\naurait rendu sourde une chanteuse de complaintes, lorsque,\u2014confusion\nde la confusion!\u2014que croyez-vous qui entre dans la salle? Nos deux\nhautes connaissances de la ville, lady Blarney et miss Carolina\nWilhelmina Amelia Skeggs. Toute description serait impuissante; il est\ndonc inutile de d\u00e9crire cette nouvelle mortification. Mort de ma vie!\n\u00catre vue par des dames de si bon ton dans des postures si vulgaires!\nRien de mieux ne pouvait r\u00e9sulter d\u2019un jeu d\u2019une telle vulgarit\u00e9,\npropos\u00e9 par M. Flamborough. Nous e\u00fbmes un instant l\u2019air d\u2019\u00eatre fix\u00e9s au\nsol, comme r\u00e9ellement p\u00e9trifi\u00e9s de stupeur.\nLes deux dames \u00e9taient all\u00e9es \u00e0 la maison pour nous voir, et, nous\ntrouvant sortis, elles \u00e9taient venues apr\u00e8s nous jusqu\u2019ici, anxieuses\nqu\u2019elles \u00e9taient de savoir quel accident avait pu nous retenir loin\nde l\u2019\u00e9glise la veille. Olivia se chargea d\u2019\u00eatre notre porte-parole\net exprima le tout d\u2019une fa\u00e7on sommaire, en se contentant de dire\nque \u00abnous avions \u00e9t\u00e9 jet\u00e9es \u00e0 bas de nos chevaux\u00bb. A cette nouvelle,\nles dames furent pleines d\u2019inqui\u00e9tude; mais, apprenant que personne\nn\u2019avait eu de mal, elles furent extr\u00eamement aises; puis, \u00e9tant\ninform\u00e9es que nous \u00e9tions presque mortes d\u2019effroi, elles furent\ngrandement d\u00e9sol\u00e9es; enfin, sachant que nous avions eu une bonne nuit,\nelles furent extr\u00eamement aises de nouveau. Rien ne pouvait surpasser\nleurs complaisances pour mes filles; leurs marques d\u2019amiti\u00e9, l\u2019autre\nsoir, \u00e9taient chaudes, mais maintenant elles \u00e9taient ardentes. Elles\nprotest\u00e8rent de leur d\u00e9sir de nouer connaissance d\u2019une mani\u00e8re plus\ndurable. Lady Blarney \u00e9tait particuli\u00e8rement attach\u00e9e \u00e0 Olivia;\nmiss Carolina Wilhelmina Amelia Skeggs (je me plais \u00e0 donner le nom\ntout entier) avait plus de go\u00fbt pour sa s\u0153ur. Elles entretenaient\nla conversation entre elles deux, tandis que mes filles se tenaient\nassises et silencieuses, admirant leur ton de haute vol\u00e9e. Mais,\ncomme tout lecteur, pour mis\u00e9rable qu\u2019il puisse \u00eatre, est amateur des\nentretiens du grand monde et des anecdotes de lords, de ladies et de\nchevaliers de la Jarreti\u00e8re, il faut que je demande la permission de\nlui donner la derni\u00e8re partie de la pr\u00e9sente conversation.\n\u00abTout ce que je sais de la chose, s\u2019\u00e9criait miss Skeggs, c\u2019est que\ncela peut \u00eatre vrai comme cela peut n\u2019\u00eatre pas vrai; mais je puis\nassurer votre seigneurie de ceci, c\u2019est que tout le raout \u00e9tait dans\nla stup\u00e9faction; milord passa par toutes les couleurs, milady tomba\nen p\u00e2moison; mais sir Tomkyn, tirant son \u00e9p\u00e9e, jura qu\u2019il \u00e9tait \u00e0 elle\njusqu\u2019\u00e0 la derni\u00e8re goutte de son sang.\n\u2014Eh bien, r\u00e9pliqua notre pairesse, moi, je puis dire ceci: c\u2019est que\nla duchesse ne m\u2019a jamais touch\u00e9 une syllabe de la chose, et je crois\nque Sa Gr\u00e2ce ne voudrait tenir rien de secret pour moi.\nQuant \u00e0 ceci, vous pouvez le regarder comme un fait positif, c\u2019est que\nle lendemain matin, milord duc cria trois fois \u00e0 son valet de chambre:\nJernigan, Jernigan, Jernigan, apportez-moi mes jarreti\u00e8res.\u00bb\nMais j\u2019aurais d\u00fb, au pr\u00e9alable, indiquer la conduite tr\u00e8s impolie de M.\nBurchell qui, pendant tous ces discours, se tint assis, le visage vers\nle feu, et qui, \u00e0 la fin de chaque phrase, s\u2019\u00e9criait: _Bah!_ expression\nqui nous d\u00e9plaisait \u00e0 tous, et qui refroidissait jusqu\u2019\u00e0 un certain\npoint l\u2019animation naissante de la conversation.\n\u00abD\u2019ailleurs, ma ch\u00e8re Skeggs, continua notre pairesse, il n\u2019y a rien\nde cela dans la copie des vers que le docteur Burdock a faits sur la\ncirconstance. _Bah!_\n\u2014Je suis surprise de cela, s\u2019\u00e9cria miss Skeggs, car il est rare\nqu\u2019il laisse rien de c\u00f4t\u00e9, n\u2019\u00e9crivant, comme il le fait, que pour son\namusement personnel. Mais votre seigneurie ne pourrait-elle pas me\nfaire la faveur de me les laisser voir? _Bah!_\n\u2014Ma ch\u00e8re enfant, r\u00e9pliqua notre pairesse, croyez-vous que je porte\ndes choses pareilles sur moi? Cependant ils sont fort beaux, \u00e0 coup\ns\u00fbr, et je suis, je pense, un peu connaisseur; je sais, du moins, ce\nqui me pla\u00eet. Mais vraiment, j\u2019ai toujours \u00e9t\u00e9 admiratrice de toutes\nles petites pi\u00e8ces du docteur Burdock; car, hors ce qu\u2019il fait et ce\nque fait notre ch\u00e8re comtesse de Hanover Square, il n\u2019y a rien qui\nsorte du plus vil fatras. Pas une touche de bon ton dans tout cela.\n_Bah!_\n\u2014Votre Seigneurie devrait faire exception, dit l\u2019autre, pour vos\npropres productions dans le _Magasin des Dames_[5]. J\u2019esp\u00e8re que vous\navouerez qu\u2019il n\u2019y a rien l\u00e0 qui sente le mauvais ton? Mais je suppose\nque nous n\u2019en aurons plus de la m\u00eame source? _Bah!_\n[Illustration]\n\u2014Mais, ma ch\u00e8re, dit la grande dame, vous savez que ma lectrice et\ndemoiselle de compagnie m\u2019a laiss\u00e9e pour \u00e9pouser le capitaine Roach;\net comme mes pauvres yeux ne me permettent pas d\u2019\u00e9crire moi-m\u00eame, voil\u00e0\nquelque temps que j\u2019en cherche une autre. Une personne convenable n\u2019est\npas chose facile \u00e0 trouver, et, \u00e0 coup s\u00fbr, trente livres par an sont\nune petite r\u00e9mun\u00e9ration pour une fille honn\u00eate et bien \u00e9lev\u00e9e, qui sait\nlire, \u00e9crire et se tenir en soci\u00e9t\u00e9; quant aux p\u00e9cores qui courent la\nville, il n\u2019y a pas moyen de les supporter. _Bah!_\n\u2014Je sais cela par exp\u00e9rience, s\u2019\u00e9cria miss Skeggs. Car, sur trois\ndemoiselles de compagnie que j\u2019ai eues ces derniers six mois, l\u2019une\nrefusait de faire de la simple couture une heure par jour, l\u2019autre\ntrouvait que vingt-cinq guin\u00e9es par an \u00e9taient un trop mince salaire,\net j\u2019ai \u00e9t\u00e9 oblig\u00e9e de renvoyer la troisi\u00e8me parce que je soup\u00e7onnais\nune intrigue avec le chapelain. La vertu, ma ch\u00e8re lady Blarney, la\nvertu n\u2019a pas de prix; mais o\u00f9 la trouver? _Bah!_\u00bb\nMa femme \u00e9tait depuis longtemps tout oreilles \u00e0 ces discours; mais\nla derni\u00e8re partie la frappa plus particuli\u00e8rement. Trente livres\net vingt-cinq guin\u00e9es par an faisaient cinquante-six livres cinq\nshillings de monnaie anglaise, somme qui, pour ainsi dire, cherchait\nqui voudrait la prendre, et qui pouvait ais\u00e9ment \u00eatre assur\u00e9e \u00e0 la\nfamille. Pendant un moment, elle chercha l\u2019approbation dans mes yeux;\net, pour confesser la v\u00e9rit\u00e9, j\u2019\u00e9tais d\u2019avis que des places semblables\n\u00e9taient juste ce qui conviendrait \u00e0 nos deux filles. D\u2019un autre c\u00f4t\u00e9,\nsi le squire avait r\u00e9ellement quelque affection pour ma fille a\u00een\u00e9e,\nce serait le moyen de la rendre de toute mani\u00e8re digne de sa fortune.\nAussi ma femme prit-elle la r\u00e9solution de ne pas nous laisser priver de\ntels avantages faute d\u2019assurance, et elle se chargea de haranguer pour\nla famille. \u00abJ\u2019esp\u00e8re, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-elle, que vos seigneuries excuseront\nma pr\u00e9somption en ce moment. Il est vrai que je n\u2019ai aucun droit \u00e0\npr\u00e9tendre \u00e0 de telles faveurs, mais cependant il est naturel de ma\npart que je d\u00e9sire pousser mes enfants dans le monde. J\u2019aurai donc\nla hardiesse de dire que mes deux filles ont une \u00e9ducation et des\ncapacit\u00e9s assez bonnes; du moins la province ne peut rien montrer de\nmieux. Elles savent lire, \u00e9crire, faire des comptes; elles s\u2019entendent\n\u00e0 l\u2019aiguille, au point arri\u00e8re, au point crois\u00e9, \u00e0 toute esp\u00e8ce de\ncouture courante; elles savent faire les \u0153illets, le point de broderie\net les ruches; elles connaissent un peu de musique; elles savent faire\nles v\u00eatements de dessous et travailler au tambour; mon a\u00een\u00e9e sait\nd\u00e9couper, et ma cadette a une tr\u00e8s jolie mani\u00e8re de tirer les cartes.\n_Bah!_\u00bb\nLorsqu\u2019elle eut d\u00e9bit\u00e9 ce joli morceau d\u2019\u00e9loquence, les deux dames se\nregard\u00e8rent quelques minutes en silence, avec un air d\u2019h\u00e9sitation et\nd\u2019importance. A la fin, miss Carolina Wilhelmina Amelia Skeggs voulut\nbien d\u00e9clarer que les jeunes personnes, autant qu\u2019elle pouvait se\nformer une opinion sur leur compte d\u2019apr\u00e8s une si l\u00e9g\u00e8re connaissance,\nparaissaient tr\u00e8s convenables \u00e0 de tels emplois. \u00abMais une chose de ce\ngenre, madame, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-elle en s\u2019adressant \u00e0 mon \u00e9pouse, demande une\nenqu\u00eate approfondie des caract\u00e8res et une connaissance mutuelle plus\ncompl\u00e8te. Non pas, madame, continua-t-elle, que je suspecte le moins du\nmonde la vertu, la sagesse et la discr\u00e9tion de ces jeunes personnes,\nmais il y a des formes, dans ces sortes de choses, madame, il y a des\nformes.\u00bb\nMa femme approuva tr\u00e8s fort ces scrupules, faisant remarquer qu\u2019elle\n\u00e9tait tr\u00e8s port\u00e9e aux scrupules elle-m\u00eame; mais, quant au caract\u00e8re\nmoral, elle en appelait \u00e0 tous les voisins. Cependant notre pairesse\nd\u00e9clina ces t\u00e9moignages comme inutiles, all\u00e9guant que la recommandation\nde leur cousin Thornhill suffisait, et l\u00e0-dessus nous arr\u00eat\u00e2mes notre\nrequ\u00eate.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE XII\n _La fortune semble r\u00e9solue \u00e0 humilier la famille de Wakefield.\u2014Les\n mortifications sont souvent plus douloureuses que les calamit\u00e9s\n v\u00e9ritables._\nDE retour \u00e0 la maison, on consacra la nuit \u00e0 des plans de conqu\u00eates\nfutures. D\u00e9borah d\u00e9pensait beaucoup de sagacit\u00e9 \u00e0 conjecturer laquelle\ndes deux enfants aurait vraisemblablement la meilleure place et le\nplus d\u2019occasions de voir la bonne soci\u00e9t\u00e9. Le seul obstacle \u00e0 notre\nnomination \u00e9tait la recommandation qu\u2019il fallait obtenir du squire;\nmais il nous avait d\u00e9j\u00e0 donn\u00e9 trop de t\u00e9moignages de son amiti\u00e9 pour\nen douter maintenant. Nous \u00e9tions au lit que ma femme poursuivait\nencore le m\u00eame sujet: \u00abEh bien, ma foi, mon cher Charles, entre nous,\nje crois que nous avons fait une excellente besogne aujourd\u2019hui.\u2014Assez\nbonne, r\u00e9pondis-je, ne sachant que dire.\u2014Quoi! seulement assez bonne?\nreprit-elle. Je la crois tr\u00e8s bonne. Supposez que les enfants viennent\n\u00e0 faire des connaissances de distinction \u00e0 la ville! Il y a une chose\ndont je suis s\u00fbre, c\u2019est que Londres est le seul lieu du monde pour les\nmaris de toute esp\u00e8ce. D\u2019ailleurs, mon ami, des choses plus \u00e9tranges\narrivent tous les jours; et, si des dames de qualit\u00e9 s\u2019\u00e9prennent ainsi\nde mes filles, les hommes de qualit\u00e9, que ne feront-ils point! Entre\nnous, je d\u00e9clare que j\u2019aime milady Blarney \u00e9norm\u00e9ment; elle est si\nobligeante! Cependant j\u2019ai aussi au c\u0153ur pour miss Carolina Wilhelmina\nAmelia Skeggs une chaude affection. Mais, lorsqu\u2019elles en sont venues \u00e0\nparler de places \u00e0 la ville, vous avez vu comme je les ai mises au pied\ndu mur tout de suite. Dites-moi, mon ami, ne croyez-vous pas que j\u2019ai\ntravaill\u00e9 pour mes enfants dans cette affaire?\u2014Oui, r\u00e9pondis-je, ne\nsachant trop que penser l\u00e0-dessus; le ciel fasse qu\u2019elles s\u2019en trouvent\nmieux l\u2019une et l\u2019autre dans trois mois d\u2019ici.\u00bb C\u2019\u00e9tait une de ces\nr\u00e9flexions que j\u2019avais l\u2019habitude de faire pour p\u00e9n\u00e9trer ma femme de\nl\u2019opinion de ma perspicacit\u00e9; en effet, si les enfants r\u00e9ussissaient,\nc\u2019\u00e9tait un souhait pieux exauc\u00e9; si, au contraire, quelque chose de\nmalheureux en r\u00e9sultait, on pouvait la regarder comme une proph\u00e9tie.\nTonte cette conversation, cependant, n\u2019\u00e9tait qu\u2019une pr\u00e9face pour un\nautre projet; et, \u00e0 la v\u00e9rit\u00e9, c\u2019\u00e9tait juste ce que je redoutais. Il ne\ns\u2019agissait de rien moins, puisque nous devions d\u00e9sormais redresser un\npeu la t\u00eate dans le monde, que de la convenance qu\u2019il y aurait \u00e0 vendre\nle cheval devenu vieux \u00e0 quelque foire du voisinage, et \u00e0 acheter\nune b\u00eate qui p\u00fbt porter une ou deux personnes, suivant l\u2019occasion,\net qui e\u00fbt bonne mine \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9glise ou en visite. Je m\u2019opposai d\u2019abord\n\u00e9nergiquement \u00e0 la chose, mais on la d\u00e9fendit avec une \u00e9nergie \u00e9gale.\nJe faiblis pourtant; mon adversaire en gagna de la force, tant et si\nbien qu\u2019on r\u00e9solut \u00e0 la fin de se s\u00e9parer du vieil animal.\nComme la foire se trouvait \u00eatre le lendemain, j\u2019avais l\u2019intention d\u2019y\naller moi-m\u00eame, mais ma femme me persuada que j\u2019avais attrap\u00e9 un rhume,\net rien ne put l\u2019obliger \u00e0 me permettre de sortir. \u00abNon, mon ami,\ndisait-elle, notre fils Mo\u00efse est un gar\u00e7on prudent; il sait acheter et\nvendre tr\u00e8s avantageusement; vous savez que tous nos bons march\u00e9s sont\nde ses acquisitions. Il r\u00e9siste et marchande toujours, et r\u00e9ellement il\nfatigue les gens jusqu\u2019\u00e0 ce qu\u2019il ait fait une bonne affaire.\u00bb\nComme j\u2019avais assez bonne opinion de la prudence de mon fils, je\nn\u2019\u00e9tais pas \u00e9loign\u00e9 de lui confier cette commission. Le lendemain\nmatin, je vis ses s\u0153urs fort occup\u00e9es \u00e0 le faire beau pour la foire,\nlui arrangeant les cheveux, polissant ses boucles de souliers,\nattachant les rebords de son chapeau avec des \u00e9pingles. La grande\naffaire de la toilette termin\u00e9e, nous e\u00fbmes enfin la satisfaction de\nle voir monter sur le cheval avec un coffre de sapin devant lui pour\nrapporter de l\u2019\u00e9picerie \u00e0 la maison. Il \u00e9tait v\u00eatu d\u2019un habit fait de\nce drap qu\u2019on nomme _tonnerre et \u00e9clair_[6], habit qui, bien que devenu\ntrop court, \u00e9tait encore trop bon pour \u00eatre mis au rebut. Son gilet\n\u00e9tait vert d\u2019oie, et ses s\u0153urs lui avaient attach\u00e9 les cheveux avec un\nlarge ruban noir. Nous le suiv\u00eemes tous \u00e0 quelques pas de la porte,\ncriant derri\u00e8re lui: \u00abBonne chance! bonne chance!\u00bb jusqu\u2019\u00e0 ce que nous\nne pussions plus le voir.\nIl \u00e9tait \u00e0 peine parti que le ma\u00eetre d\u2019h\u00f4tel de M. Thornhill vint nous\nf\u00e9liciter de notre bonne fortune, disant qu\u2019il avait entendu son jeune\nma\u00eetre citer nos noms avec grand \u00e9loge.\nLa bonne fortune semblait d\u00e9cid\u00e9e \u00e0 ne pas venir seule. Un autre\nvalet de la m\u00eame maison arriva apr\u00e8s celui-ci, avec une carte pour\nmes filles, portant que les deux dames avaient eu de M. Thornhill des\nrenseignements si agr\u00e9ables sur nous tous, qu\u2019elles esp\u00e9raient, apr\u00e8s\nquelques informations pr\u00e9alables, se trouver compl\u00e8tement satisfaites.\n\u00abAh! s\u2019\u00e9cria ma femme, je vois maintenant que ce n\u2019est pas chose ais\u00e9e\nque d\u2019entrer dans les familles des grands; mais une fois qu\u2019on y est,\noh! alors, comme dit Mo\u00efse, on peut dormir tranquille.\u00bb\nCette plaisanterie, qu\u2019elle prenait pour de l\u2019esprit, fut accueillie\npar mes filles avec de joyeux \u00e9clats de rire. Bref, le message lui\ncausa tant de satisfaction qu\u2019elle mit bel et bien la main \u00e0 la poche,\net donna au messager sept pence et demi (quinze sous).\nCe devait \u00eatre notre jour de visites. Celui qui arriva ensuite fut M.\nBurchell, revenant de la foire. Il apportait aux petits deux sous de\npain d\u2019\u00e9pice pour chacun; ma femme se chargea de le mettre de c\u00f4t\u00e9 et\nde le leur donner par petits morceaux \u00e0 la fois. Il apportait aussi \u00e0\nmes filles deux bo\u00eetes o\u00f9 elles pourraient serrer des pains \u00e0 cacheter,\ndu tabac \u00e0 priser, des mouches, ou m\u00eame de l\u2019argent, quand elles en\nauraient. Le cadeau que ma femme aimait d\u2019ordinaire, c\u2019\u00e9tait une\nbourse en peau de belette, comme \u00e9tant ce qui porte le plus bonheur;\nmais ceci en passant. Nous avions encore de la consid\u00e9ration pour M.\nBurchell, bien que la r\u00e9cente grossi\u00e8ret\u00e9 de sa conduite nous e\u00fbt\njusqu\u2019\u00e0 un certain point d\u00e9plu; mais nous ne pouvions nous dispenser de\nl\u2019informer de notre bonheur ni de demander son avis, car, tout en ne\nsuivant que rarement les avis des autres, nous \u00e9tions assez dispos\u00e9s \u00e0\nles demander. Lorsqu\u2019il eut lu le billet des deux dames, il hocha la\nt\u00eate et fit remarquer qu\u2019une affaire de ce genre demandait la derni\u00e8re\ncirconspection. Cet air de m\u00e9fiance d\u00e9plut souverainement \u00e0 ma femme.\n\u00abJe n\u2019ai jamais dout\u00e9, monsieur, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-elle, de votre disposition \u00e0\nvous mettre contre mes filles et moi. Vous avez plus de circonspection\nqu\u2019il n\u2019est besoin.\n[Illustration]\nToutefois, quand nous en serons \u00e0 demander conseil, nous nous\nadresserons, j\u2019imagine, \u00e0 des personnes qui sembleront en avoir\nfait meilleur usage pour elles-m\u00eames.\u2014Quelle qu\u2019ait pu \u00eatre ma\npropre conduite, madame, r\u00e9pliqua-t-il, ce n\u2019est pas l\u00e0 la question\npour le moment; et cependant, puisque je n\u2019ai pas moi-m\u00eame profit\u00e9\ndes conseils, je dois bien, en conscience, en donner \u00e0 ceux qui en\nprofiteront.\u00bb Comme j\u2019appr\u00e9hendais que cette r\u00e9ponse n\u2019attir\u00e2t une\nrepartie o\u00f9 l\u2019insulte remplacerait ce qui manquerait en esprit, je\nchangeai le sujet en ayant l\u2019air de me demander ce qui pouvait retenir\nnotre fils si longtemps \u00e0 la foire, car c\u2019\u00e9tait presque d\u00e9j\u00e0 la tomb\u00e9e\nde la nuit. \u00abNe vous inqui\u00e9tez pas de notre fils, s\u2019\u00e9cria ma femme.\nComptez qu\u2019il sait ce qu\u2019il a \u00e0 faire. Je vous garantis que nous ne\nle verrons jamais vendre sa poule un jour de pluie. Je l\u2019ai vu faire\ndes march\u00e9s dont on serait stup\u00e9fait. Je veux vous raconter l\u00e0-dessus\nune bonne histoire qui vous fera vous tenir les c\u00f4tes \u00e0 force de rire.\nMais, sur ma vie, voil\u00e0 Mo\u00efse qui vient l\u00e0-bas, sans cheval, et la\nbo\u00eete sur son dos.\u00bb\nPendant qu\u2019elle parlait, Mo\u00efse arrivait \u00e0 pied et suant sons la bo\u00eete\nde sapin qu\u2019il avait li\u00e9e \u00e0 ses \u00e9paules par des courroies, comme un\ncolporteur. \u00abLa bienvenue, Mo\u00efse! la bienvenue! Eh bien! mon gar\u00e7on,\nque nous rapportez-vous de la foire?\u2014Je vous rapporte, moi, s\u2019\u00e9cria\nMo\u00efse avec un regard malin, en appuyant sa bo\u00eete sur le dressoir.\u2014Ah!\nMo\u00efse, reprit ma femme, nous savons bien cela; mais o\u00f9 est le\ncheval?\u2014Je l\u2019ai vendu, dit Mo\u00efse, pour trois livres cinq shillings et\ndeux pence.\u2014Bonne affaire, mon brave gar\u00e7on, reprit-elle. Je savais\nque vous les toucheriez au bon endroit. Entre nous, trois livres cinq\nshillings et deux pence ne font pas une mauvaise journ\u00e9e. Allons,\nvoyons-les donc!\u2014Je n\u2019ai pas rapport\u00e9 d\u2019argent, s\u2019\u00e9cria Mo\u00efse alors.\nJe l\u2019ai mis tout dans un march\u00e9 que voici.\u2014En m\u00eame temps, il tirait\nun paquet de sa poitrine.\u2014Voici les objets: une grosse de lunettes\nvertes avec montures en argent et \u00e9tuis en chagrin.\u2014Une grosse de\nlunettes vertes! r\u00e9p\u00e9ta ma femme d\u2019une voix d\u00e9faillante. Vous vous\n\u00eates d\u00e9fait du cheval et vous ne nous rapportez rien qu\u2019une grosse de\nmis\u00e9rables lunettes vertes!\u2014Ch\u00e8re m\u00e8re, s\u2019\u00e9cria l\u2019enfant, pourquoi\nne voulez-vous pas entendre raison? Je les ai eues presque pour rien;\nsans cela je ne les aurais pas achet\u00e9es. Les montures d\u2019argent \u00e0 elles\nseules se vendront le double de ce qu\u2019elles ont co\u00fbt\u00e9.\u2014Je me soucie\nbien des montures d\u2019argent! cria ma femme en fureur. Je jurerais\nqu\u2019elles ne se vendront pas plus de la moiti\u00e9 de la somme au prix du\nvieil argent, cinq shillings l\u2019once.\u2014Vous n\u2019avez pas besoin de vous\ntourmenter pour la vente des montures, dis-je \u00e0 mon tour; elles ne\nvalent pas douze sous, car je m\u2019aper\u00e7ois que ce n\u2019est que du cuivre\nverni.\u2014Quoi! s\u2019\u00e9cria ma femme. Ce n\u2019est pas de l\u2019argent, les montures\nne sont pas de l\u2019argent!\u2014Non, r\u00e9pliquai-je; pas plus de l\u2019argent\nque votre casserole.\u2014Et ainsi, reprit-elle, vous vous \u00eates d\u00e9fait\ndu cheval, et vous n\u2019avez re\u00e7u qu\u2019une grosse de lunettes vertes \u00e0\nmontures de cuivre et \u00e0 \u00e9tuis de chagrin! La peste soit d\u2019une telle\nescroquerie! L\u2019imb\u00e9cile s\u2019est laiss\u00e9 mettre dedans! Il aurait d\u00fb mieux\nconna\u00eetre les gens avec lesquels il \u00e9tait.\u2014Ici, ma ch\u00e8re, vous avez\ntort, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je; il n\u2019aurait pas d\u00fb les conna\u00eetre du tout.\u2014Vraiment,\nma foi! quel idiot \u00e0 pendre! reprit-elle. M\u2019apporter une telle drogue!\nSi je les tenais, je les jetterais dans le feu.\u2014Ici encore vous avez\ntort, ma ch\u00e8re, dis-je; quoique ce ne soit que du cuivre, nous les\ngarderons par devers nous; car des lunettes vertes, vous savez, cela\nvaut mieux que rien.\u00bb\nCependant l\u2019infortun\u00e9 Mo\u00efse \u00e9tait d\u00e9tromp\u00e9. Il voyait maintenant qu\u2019il\navait r\u00e9ellement \u00e9t\u00e9 la dupe d\u2019un escroc en chasse qui, au vu de sa\nfigure, l\u2019avait not\u00e9 comme une proie facile. Aussi lui demandai-je\nles d\u00e9tails de la fourberie. Il avait vendu le cheval, para\u00eet-il, et\nparcourait la foire \u00e0 la recherche d\u2019un autre. Un homme ayant l\u2019air\nd\u2019un r\u00e9v\u00e9rend le conduisit \u00e0 une tente sous pr\u00e9texte qu\u2019il en avait un\n\u00e0 vendre. \u00abL\u00e0, poursuivit Mo\u00efse, nous trouv\u00e2mes un antre homme, tr\u00e8s\nbien habill\u00e9, qui d\u00e9sirait emprunter vingt livres sur ces articles,\ndisant qu\u2019il avait besoin d\u2019argent et qu\u2019il les laisserait pour le\ntiers de leur valeur. Le premier gentleman, qui se disait mon ami,\nme souffla \u00e0 l\u2019oreille de les acheter, m\u2019engageant \u00e0 ne pas laisser\npasser une offre si avantageuse. J\u2019envoyai chercher M. Flamborough; ils\nl\u2019endoctrin\u00e8rent aussi finement que moi, si bien qu\u2019\u00e0 la fin ils nous\npersuad\u00e8rent d\u2019acheter les deux grosses entre nous.\u00bb\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE XIII\n  _On s\u2019aper\u00e7oit que M. Burchell est un ennemi, car il a l\u2019audace\n  de donner des avis d\u00e9sagr\u00e9ables._\nAINSI notre famille avait fait plusieurs tentatives d\u2019\u00e9l\u00e9gance; mais\nquelque d\u00e9sastre impr\u00e9vu avait d\u00e9truit chaque projet aussit\u00f4t que\ncon\u00e7u. Je m\u2019effor\u00e7ais de profiter de toutes ces d\u00e9convenues pour\nfortifier leur bon sens dans la proportion m\u00eame o\u00f9 leur ambition\n\u00e9tait frustr\u00e9e. \u00abVous voyez, mes enfants, disais-je, combien il y a\npeu \u00e0 gagner \u00e0 essayer d\u2019en imposer au monde en voulant marcher de\npair avec plus hauts que nous. Ceux-l\u00e0 qui sont pauvres et qui ne\nveulent fr\u00e9quenter que les riches sont ha\u00efs de ceux qu\u2019ils \u00e9vitent et\nm\u00e9pris\u00e9s de ceux qu\u2019ils suivent. Les associations disproportionn\u00e9es\nsont toujours d\u00e9savantageuses pour la partie faible: les riches ont le\nplaisir qui en r\u00e9sulte, et les pauvres, les inconv\u00e9nients. Mais voyons,\nDick, mon gar\u00e7on, r\u00e9p\u00e9tez la fable que vous lisiez aujourd\u2019hui, pour le\nprofit de la compagnie.\n\u2014Il \u00e9tait une fois, commen\u00e7a l\u2019enfant, un G\u00e9ant et un Nain qui \u00e9taient\namis et vivaient ensemble. Ils firent march\u00e9 qu\u2019ils ne se quitteraient\njamais, mais qu\u2019ils iraient chercher aventure. La premi\u00e8re bataille\nqu\u2019ils livr\u00e8rent fut contre deux Sarrasins; et le Nain, qui \u00e9tait tr\u00e8s\nbrave, donna \u00e0 l\u2019un des champions un coup des plus furieux. Cela ne\nfit que tr\u00e8s peu de mal au Sarrasin qui, levant son \u00e9p\u00e9e, fit sauter\nbel et bien le bras du pauvre Nain. Il \u00e9tait alors en vilaine passe;\nmais le G\u00e9ant, venant \u00e0 son aide, eut bient\u00f4t laiss\u00e9 les deux Sarrasins\nmorts sur la plaine, et le Nain, de d\u00e9pit, trancha la t\u00eate de son\nadversaire mort. Ils reprirent ensuite leur voyage en qu\u00eate d\u2019une\nautre aventure. Ce fut cette fois contre trois satyres sanguinaires\nqui enlevaient une infortun\u00e9e damoiselle. Le Nain n\u2019\u00e9tait plus tout \u00e0\nfait aussi imp\u00e9tueux qu\u2019auparavant; n\u00e9anmoins, il frappa le premier\ncoup, pour lequel on lui en rendit un autre qui lui creva l\u2019\u0153il; mais\nle G\u00e9ant fut bient\u00f4t sur eux, et s\u2019ils ne s\u2019\u00e9taient enfuis, il les\naurait certainement tu\u00e9s jusqu\u2019au dernier. Ils furent tous tr\u00e8s joyeux\nde cette victoire, et la damoiselle, qui \u00e9tait sauv\u00e9e, s\u2019\u00e9prit d\u2019amour\npour le G\u00e9ant et l\u2019\u00e9pousa. Ils all\u00e8rent alors loin, plus loin que je ne\npuis dire, et rencontr\u00e8rent une compagnie de voleurs. Le G\u00e9ant, pour\nla premi\u00e8re fois, se trouva en avant; mais le Nain n\u2019\u00e9tait pas loin\nderri\u00e8re. La bataille fut rude et longue. Partout o\u00f9 venait le G\u00e9ant,\ntout tombait devant lui; mais le Nain pensa \u00eatre tu\u00e9 plus d\u2019une fois. A\nla fin, la victoire se d\u00e9clara pour les deux aventuriers; mais le Nain\ny perdit la jambe. Le Nain \u00e9tait maintenant priv\u00e9 d\u2019un bras, d\u2019une\njambe et d\u2019un \u0153il, tandis que le G\u00e9ant \u00e9tait sans une seule blessure.\nSur quoi, celui-ci s\u2019\u00e9cria, en s\u2019adressant \u00e0 son petit compagnon: \u00abMon\npetit h\u00e9ros, c\u2019est l\u00e0 un glorieux passe-temps; remportons encore une\nvictoire, et nous aurons acquis de l\u2019honneur \u00e0 jamais.\u2014Non, r\u00e9pondit\nalors le Nain, qui avait fini par devenir plus sage; non, je le d\u00e9clare\ntout net: je ne me battrai plus, car je vois que dans chaque bataille\nvous avez tout l\u2019honneur et toutes les r\u00e9compenses, mais que tous les\ncoups tombent sur moi.\u00bb\n[Illustration]\nJ\u2019allais tirer la morale de cette fable, lorsque notre attention fut\nd\u00e9tourn\u00e9e par une chaude discussion entre ma femme et M. Burchell,\nau sujet de l\u2019exp\u00e9dition projet\u00e9e de mes filles \u00e0 la ville. Ma femme\ninsistait tr\u00e8s \u00e9nergiquement sur les avantages qui en r\u00e9sulteraient.\nM. Burchell, au contraire, la dissuadait avec une grande ardeur;\nmoi, je restai neutre. Ses objurgations d\u2019alors ne semblaient que la\nseconde partie de celles qui avaient \u00e9t\u00e9 re\u00e7ues de si mauvaise gr\u00e2ce\ndans la matin\u00e9e. La discussion alla loin: la pauvre D\u00e9borah, au lieu\nde raisonner plus solidement, parlait plus haut, et, \u00e0 la fin, pour\n\u00e9viter la d\u00e9faite, elle dut se r\u00e9fugier dans les cris. La conclusion\nde sa harangue, cependant, nous fut grandement d\u00e9sagr\u00e9able \u00e0 tous:\nelle connaissait, dit-elle, certaines gens qui avaient leurs raisons\nparticuli\u00e8res et secr\u00e8tes pour les conseils qu\u2019ils donnaient; mais,\npour sa part, elle d\u00e9sirait que ces gens-l\u00e0 se tinssent \u00e9loign\u00e9s de\nchez elle \u00e0 l\u2019avenir. \u00abMadame, s\u2019\u00e9cria Burchell avec un air de grand\nsang-froid qui tendait \u00e0 l\u2019enflammer davantage, quant aux raisons\nsecr\u00e8tes, vous ne vous trompez pas: j\u2019ai des raisons secr\u00e8tes, que\nje m\u2019abstiens de mentionner parce que vous n\u2019\u00eates pas capable de\nr\u00e9pondre \u00e0 celles dont je ne fais pas secret. Mais je vois que mes\nvisites ici sont devenues importunes; je vais donc prendre cong\u00e9\nmaintenant; peut-\u00eatre reviendrai-je une fois encore dire un dernier\nadieu lorsque je quitterai le pays.\u00bb Ce disant, il prit son chapeau, et\nles tentatives de Sophia, dont les regards semblaient lui reprocher sa\npr\u00e9cipitation, ne purent emp\u00eacher son d\u00e9part.\nLui parti, nous nous regard\u00e2mes tous pendant quelques minutes avec\nconfusion. Ma femme, qui se savait la cause de l\u2019affaire, s\u2019effor\u00e7ait\nde cacher son ennui sons un sourire forc\u00e9 et un air d\u2019assurance que\nj\u2019\u00e9tais dispos\u00e9 \u00e0 r\u00e9prouver. \u00abComment! femme, lui dis-je, est-ce ainsi\nque nous traitons les \u00e9trangers? Est-ce ainsi que nous leur rendons\nleurs bont\u00e9s? Soyez s\u00fbre, ma ch\u00e8re, que ce sont l\u00e0 les paroles les plus\ndures, et pour moi les plus d\u00e9sagr\u00e9ables, qui se soient \u00e9chapp\u00e9es de\nvos l\u00e8vres.\u2014Pourquoi me provoquait-il, alors? r\u00e9pliqua-t-elle. Mais\nje connais parfaitement bien les motifs de ses conseils. Il voudrait\nemp\u00eacher mes filles d\u2019aller \u00e0 la ville, afin d\u2019avoir le plaisir de\nla soci\u00e9t\u00e9 de ma fille cadette ici, \u00e0 la maison. Mais quoi qu\u2019il\narrive, elle choisira meilleure compagnie que celle d\u2019esp\u00e8ces comme\nlui!\u2014Esp\u00e8ce! est-ce ainsi que vous l\u2019appelez, ma ch\u00e8re? m\u2019\u00e9criai-je.\nIl est bien possible que nous nous m\u00e9prenions sur la personnalit\u00e9\nde cet homme, car il semble en certaines occasions le plus accompli\ngentleman que j\u2019aie jamais connu. Dites-moi, Sophia, ma fille, vous\na-t-il jamais donn\u00e9 quelque marque secr\u00e8te de son attachement?\u2014Sa\nconversation avec moi, monsieur, r\u00e9pliqua ma fille, a toujours \u00e9t\u00e9\nsens\u00e9e, modeste et agr\u00e9able. Quant \u00e0 toute autre chose, non, jamais.\nUne fois, il est vrai, je me rappelle lui avoir entendu dire qu\u2019il\nn\u2019avait jamais connu de femme capable de trouver du m\u00e9rite \u00e0 un homme\nqui a l\u2019air pauvre.\u2014Telle est, ma ch\u00e8re, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, le langage\nordinaire de tous les malheureux ou de tous les paresseux. Mais\nj\u2019esp\u00e8re qu\u2019on vous a appris \u00e0 juger comme il convient de tels hommes,\net que ce ne serait rien de moins que de la folie que d\u2019attendre le\nbonheur de quelqu\u2019un qui a \u00e9t\u00e9 si mauvais \u00e9conome du sien. Votre m\u00e8re\net moi, nous avons maintenant des vues plus avantageuses pour vous.\nL\u2019hiver prochain, que vous passerez probablement \u00e0 la ville, vous\ndonnera des occasions de faire un choix plus prudent.\u00bb\nCe que furent les r\u00e9flexions de Sophia dans cette circonstance, je ne\nsaurais pr\u00e9tendre le d\u00e9terminer; mais, au fond, je n\u2019\u00e9tais pas f\u00e2ch\u00e9\nque nous fussions d\u00e9barrass\u00e9s d\u2019un h\u00f4te de qui j\u2019avais beaucoup \u00e0\ncraindre. Notre infraction \u00e0 l\u2019hospitalit\u00e9 m\u2019allait bien un peu \u00e0 la\nconscience; mais j\u2019eus vite fait taire ce mentor avec deux ou trois\nraisons sp\u00e9cieuses qui eurent pour effet de me satisfaire et de me\nr\u00e9concilier avec moi-m\u00eame. La douleur que la conscience cause \u00e0 l\u2019homme\nqui a d\u00e9j\u00e0 fait mal est promptement surmont\u00e9e. La conscience est une\npoltronne, et les fautes qu\u2019elle n\u2019a pas assez de force pour pr\u00e9venir,\nelle a rarement assez de justice pour les proclamer.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE XIV\n_Nouvelles humiliations, ou d\u00e9monstration que des calamit\u00e9s apparentes\npeuvent \u00eatre des b\u00e9n\u00e9dictions r\u00e9elles_.\nLE voyage de mes filles \u00e0 Londres \u00e9tait maintenant chose r\u00e9solue, M.\nThornhill ayant eu la bont\u00e9 de promettre de les surveiller lui-m\u00eame\net de nous informer par lettre de leur conduite. Mais on jugea\nabsolument indispensable de les mettre en \u00e9tat de para\u00eetre au niveau\nde la grandeur de leurs esp\u00e9rances, et ceci ne pouvait pas se faire\nsans qu\u2019il en co\u00fbt\u00e2t. Nous discut\u00e2mes donc, en grand conseil, quelles\n\u00e9taient les m\u00e9thodes les plus faciles de trouver de l\u2019argent, ou,\n\u00e0 parler plus proprement, ce que nous pourrions le plus commod\u00e9ment\nvendre. La d\u00e9lib\u00e9ration fut vite termin\u00e9e; on trouva que le cheval\nqui nous restait \u00e9tait compl\u00e8tement inutile pour la charrue sans son\ncompagnon, et \u00e9galement impropre \u00e0 la promenade, parce qu\u2019il lui\nmanquait un \u0153il; en cons\u00e9quence, on d\u00e9cida qu\u2019on s\u2019en d\u00e9ferait aux fins\nci-dessus mentionn\u00e9es \u00e0 la foire voisine, et que, pour pr\u00e9venir toute\ntromperie, j\u2019irais moi-m\u00eame avec lui. Bien que ce f\u00fbt une des premi\u00e8res\ntransactions commerciales de mon existence, je ne doutais nullement de\nm\u2019en acquitter \u00e0 mon cr\u00e9dit.\nL\u2019opinion qu\u2019on se forme de sa propre prudence se mesure \u00e0 celle des\nrelations qu\u2019on fr\u00e9quente; et comme les miennes \u00e9taient surtout dans\nle cercle de la famille, je n\u2019avais pas con\u00e7u un sentiment d\u00e9favorable\nde ma sagesse mondaine. Toutefois ma femme, le lendemain matin, au\nd\u00e9part, et comme je m\u2019\u00e9tais d\u00e9j\u00e0 \u00e9loign\u00e9 de la porte de quelques pas,\nme rappela pour me recommander tout bas de ne pas avoir les yeux dans\nma poche.\nJ\u2019avais, suivant les formes ordinaires, en arrivant \u00e0 la foire, mis mon\ncheval \u00e0 toutes ses allures, mais pendant quelque temps je n\u2019eus pas de\nchalands. A la fin, un acheteur s\u2019approcha; apr\u00e8s avoir un bon moment\ntourn\u00e9 autour du cheval pour l\u2019examiner, trouvant qu\u2019il \u00e9tait borgne,\nil ne voulut pas dire un mot; un second s\u2019avan\u00e7a, mais, remarquant\nqu\u2019il avait un \u00e9parvin, il d\u00e9clara qu\u2019il n\u2019en voudrait pas pour la\npeine de le conduire chez lui; un troisi\u00e8me s\u2019aper\u00e7ut qu\u2019il avait une\n\u00e9corchure, et ne voulut pas offrir de prix; un quatri\u00e8me connut \u00e0 son\n\u0153il qu\u2019il avait des vers; un cinqui\u00e8me se demanda ce que diable je\npouvais faire \u00e0 la foire avec une haridelle borgne, pleine d\u2019\u00e9parvins\net de rognes, qui n\u2019\u00e9tait bonne qu\u2019\u00e0 \u00eatre d\u00e9pec\u00e9e pour nourrir un\nchenil. Je commen\u00e7ais d\u00e8s lors \u00e0 avoir moi-m\u00eame un m\u00e9pris des plus\nsinc\u00e8res pour le pauvre animal, et j\u2019avais presque honte \u00e0 l\u2019approche\nde chaque amateur; car, encore que je ne crusse pas tout ce que les\ngaillards me disaient, je r\u00e9fl\u00e9chissais cependant que le nombre des\nt\u00e9moins \u00e9tait une forte pr\u00e9somption pour qu\u2019ils eussent raison, et que\nsaint Gr\u00e9goire, traitant des bonnes \u0153uvres, professe justement cette\nopinion.\n[Illustration]\nJ\u2019\u00e9tais dans cette situation mortifiante, lorsqu\u2019un ministre, mon\nconfr\u00e8re, vieille connaissance \u00e0 moi, qui avait aussi des affaires\n\u00e0 la foire, survint et, me donnant une poign\u00e9e de main, me proposa\nde nous rendre \u00e0 une auberge et d\u2019y prendre un verre de ce que nous\npourrions y trouver. J\u2019acceptai volontiers, et, entrant dans un d\u00e9bit\nde bi\u00e8re, nous f\u00fbmes introduits dans une petite salle de derri\u00e8re\no\u00f9 il n\u2019y avait qu\u2019un v\u00e9n\u00e9rable vieillard assis et tout absorb\u00e9 par\nun gros livre qu\u2019il lisait. Je n\u2019ai vu de ma vie une figure qui me\npr\u00e9v\u00eent si favorablement. Ses boucles d\u2019un gris d\u2019argent ombrageaient\nv\u00e9n\u00e9rablement ses tempes, et sa verte vieillesse semblait le fruit\nde la sant\u00e9 et de la bont\u00e9. Cependant sa pr\u00e9sence n\u2019interrompit\npoint notre conversation. Mon ami et moi nous discourions sur les\nvicissitudes que nous avions \u00e9prouv\u00e9es, la controverse whistonienne,\nma derni\u00e8re brochure, la r\u00e9plique de l\u2019archidiacre, la dure mesure\nqui m\u2019avait frapp\u00e9. Mais, au bout d\u2019un moment, notre attention\nfut accapar\u00e9e par un jeune homme qui entra dans la salle et\nrespectueusement dit quelque chose \u00e0 voix basse au vieil \u00e9tranger. \u00abNe\nvous excusez pas, mon enfant, dit le vieillard; faire le bien est un\ndevoir que nous avons \u00e0 accomplir envers tous nos semblables: prenez\nceci; je voudrais que ce f\u00fbt davantage; mais cinq livres soulageront\nvotre mis\u00e8re, et c\u2019est de bon c\u0153ur que je vous les offre.\u00bb Le modeste\njeune homme versait des larmes de gratitude, et cependant sa gratitude\n\u00e9tait \u00e0 peine \u00e9gale \u00e0 la mienne. J\u2019aurais voulu serrer le bon vieillard\nentre mes bras, tant sa bienfaisance me faisait plaisir. Il se remit \u00e0\nlire, et nous repr\u00eemes notre conversation; au bout de quelque temps,\nmon compagnon, se rappelant qu\u2019il avait des affaires \u00e0 faire \u00e0 la\nfoire, me promit d\u2019\u00eatre bient\u00f4t de retour, ajoutant qu\u2019il d\u00e9sirait\ntoujours avoir le plus possible de la compagnie du docteur Primrose.\nLe vieux gentleman, entendant prononcer mon nom, parut un moment me\nregarder avec attention, et, lorsque mon ami fut parti, il me demanda\nle plus respectueusement du monde si j\u2019\u00e9tais alli\u00e9 de pr\u00e8s ou de loin\nau grand Primrose, ce courageux monogame, qui avait \u00e9t\u00e9 le boulevard\nde l\u2019\u00c9glise. Jamais mon c\u0153ur ne sentit ravissement plus sinc\u00e8re qu\u2019en\ncet instant.\n\u00abMonsieur, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, l\u2019applaudissement d\u2019un homme de bien tel que\nje suis s\u00fbr que vous l\u2019\u00eates ajoute au bonheur que votre bienfaisance\na d\u00e9j\u00e0 fait na\u00eetre en mon sein. Vous avez devant vous, monsieur,\nce docteur Primrose, le monogame, qu\u2019il vous a plu d\u2019appeler\ngrand. Vous voyez ici ce th\u00e9ologien infortun\u00e9 qui combat depuis\nsi longtemps, il me si\u00e9rait mal de dire avec succ\u00e8s, contre la\ndeut\u00e9rogamie du si\u00e8cle.\u2014Monsieur, s\u2019\u00e9cria l\u2019\u00e9tranger frapp\u00e9 d\u2019une\ncrainte respectueuse, j\u2019ai peur d\u2019avoir \u00e9t\u00e9 trop familier; mais vous\nexcuserez ma curiosit\u00e9, monsieur; je vous demande pardon.\u2014Monsieur,\ndis-je en lui saisissant la main, vous \u00eates si loin de me d\u00e9plaire\npar votre familiarit\u00e9, qu\u2019il faut que je vous demande d\u2019accepter mon\namiti\u00e9, comme vous avez d\u00e9j\u00e0 mon estime.\u2014C\u2019est donc avec gratitude\nque j\u2019en accepte l\u2019offre, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-il en me serrant la main. O toi,\nglorieux pilier de l\u2019in\u00e9branlable orthodoxie! et contempl\u00e9-je...\u00bb Ici\nj\u2019interrompis ce qu\u2019il allait dire, car, bien qu\u2019en qualit\u00e9 d\u2019auteur\nje pusse dig\u00e9rer une portion non m\u00e9diocre de flatterie, pour le moment\nma modestie n\u2019en voulut pas permettre davantage. Cependant jamais\namoureux de roman ne ciment\u00e8rent amiti\u00e9 plus instantan\u00e9e. Nous caus\u00e2mes\nsur plusieurs sujets; d\u2019abord il me sembla qu\u2019il paraissait plut\u00f4t\nd\u00e9vot que savant, et je commen\u00e7ais \u00e0 croire qu\u2019il m\u00e9prisait toutes\nles doctrines humaines comme un vain fatras. Mais ceci ne l\u2019abaissait\nnullement dans mon estime, car je m\u2019\u00e9tais mis depuis quelque temps\n\u00e0 entretenir secr\u00e8tement moi-m\u00eame une opinion semblable. Aussi en\npris-je occasion de remarquer que le monde en g\u00e9n\u00e9ral commen\u00e7ait \u00e0 \u00eatre\nd\u2019une indiff\u00e9rence bl\u00e2mable en mati\u00e8re de doctrines et se laissait\ntrop guider par les sp\u00e9culations humaines. \u00abOui, certes, monsieur,\nr\u00e9pliqua-t-il, comme s\u2019il avait r\u00e9serv\u00e9 toute sa science pour ce\nmoment, oui, certes, le monde retombe en enfance, et pourtant la\ncosmogonie ou cr\u00e9ation du monde a rendu perplexes les philosophes de\ntous les \u00e2ges. Quelle m\u00eal\u00e9e d\u2019opinions n\u2019ont-ils pas soulev\u00e9e sur la\ncr\u00e9ation du monde! Sanchoniathon, Man\u00e9thon, B\u00e9rose et Ocellus Lucanus\nont tous tent\u00e9 la question, mais en vain. Le dernier a ces paroles:\n_Anarchon ara kai ateleutaion to pan_, ce qui implique que toutes les\nchoses n\u2019ont ni commencement ni fin. Man\u00e9thon aussi, qui vivait environ\nle temps de Nebuchadon-Asser,\u2014Asser \u00e9tant un mot syriaque appliqu\u00e9\nd\u2019ordinaire en surnom aux rois du pays, comme Teglat Phael-Asser,\nNabon-Asser,\u2014lui aussi, dis-je, forma une hypoth\u00e8se \u00e9galement absurde;\ncar, comme nous disons d\u2019ordinaire, _ek to biblion kubernetes_,\u2014ce\nqui implique que les livres n\u2019enseigneront jamais le monde,\u2014ainsi il\nessaya de porter ses investigations... Mais, monsieur, je vous demande\npardon; je m\u2019\u00e9carte de la question.\u00bb Et en effet, il s\u2019en \u00e9cartait;\nsur ma vie, je ne pouvais voir ce que la cr\u00e9ation du monde avait \u00e0\nfaire dans ce dont je parlais; mais cela suffisait pour me montrer que\nc\u2019\u00e9tait un homme qui avait des lettres, et maintenant je l\u2019en r\u00e9v\u00e9rais\ndavantage. Je voulais cependant le soumettre \u00e0 la pierre de touche;\nmais il \u00e9tait trop doux et trop paisible pour disputer la victoire.\nToutes les fois que je faisais une observation qui avait l\u2019air d\u2019un\nd\u00e9fi \u00e0 la controverse, il souriait, secouait la t\u00eate et ne disait rien;\n\u00e0 quoi je comprenais qu\u2019il aurait pu en dire beaucoup s\u2019il l\u2019avait jug\u00e9\nconvenable. Le sujet de la conversation en vint donc insensiblement\ndes affaires de l\u2019antiquit\u00e9 \u00e0 celle qui nous amenait tous les deux, \u00e0\nla foire. La mienne, lui dis-je, \u00e9tait de vendre mon cheval et, par\nune v\u00e9ritable chance, la sienne \u00e9tait d\u2019en acheter un pour un de ses\ntenanciers.\n[Illustration]\nMon cheval fut bient\u00f4t pr\u00e9sent\u00e9, et, \u00e0 la fin, nous f\u00eemes march\u00e9. Il\nne restait plus qu\u2019\u00e0 me payer; en cons\u00e9quence, il tira un billet de\nbanque de trente livres et me pria de lui en faire la monnaie. Comme\nje n\u2019\u00e9tais pas en position de satisfaire \u00e0 sa demande, il ordonna\nd\u2019appeler son valet de pied, qui fit son apparition dans une livr\u00e9e\n\u00e9l\u00e9gante. \u00abTenez, Abraham, dit-il, allez chercher de l\u2019or pour ceci;\nvous en trouverez chez le voisin Jackson, ou n\u2019importe o\u00f9.\u00bb Pendant que\nl\u2019homme \u00e9tait absent, il me r\u00e9gala d\u2019une path\u00e9tique harangue sur la\ngrande raret\u00e9 de l\u2019argent, que j\u2019entrepris de compl\u00e9ter en d\u00e9plorant\naussi la grande raret\u00e9 de l\u2019or; de sorte qu\u2019au moment o\u00f9 Abraham\nrevint, nous \u00e9tions tous les deux tomb\u00e9s d\u2019accord que jamais les\nesp\u00e8ces monnay\u00e9es n\u2019avaient \u00e9t\u00e9 si dures \u00e0 atteindre. Abraham revenait\nnous informer qu\u2019il avait \u00e9t\u00e9 par toute la foire sans pouvoir trouver\nde monnaie, quoiqu\u2019il e\u00fbt offert une demi-couronne pour qu\u2019on lui en\ndonn\u00e2t. Ce fut pour nous tous une contrari\u00e9t\u00e9 tr\u00e8s grande; mais le\nvieux gentleman, ayant r\u00e9fl\u00e9chi un peu, me demanda si je connaissais\ndans mes parages un certain Salomon Flamborough. Sur ma r\u00e9ponse que\nnous habitions porte \u00e0 porte: \u00abS\u2019il en est ainsi, reprit-il, je crois\nalors que nous allons faire affaire. Vous aurez une traite sur lui,\npayable \u00e0 vue, et laissez-moi vous dire que c\u2019est un homme aussi\nsolide que pas un \u00e0 cinq milles \u00e0 la ronde. L\u2019honn\u00eate Salomon et moi,\nil y a bien des ann\u00e9es que nous nous connaissons. Je me rappelle que\nje le battais toujours aux trois sauts, mais il pouvait sauter \u00e0\ncloche-pied plus loin que moi.\u00bb Une traite sur mon voisin \u00e9tait pour\nmoi la m\u00eame chose que de l\u2019argent, car j\u2019\u00e9tais suffisamment convaincu\nde sa solvabilit\u00e9. La traite fut sign\u00e9e et remise en mes mains; et M.\nJenkinson, le vieux gentleman, Abraham, son domestique, et le vieux\nBlackberry, mon cheval, s\u2019\u00e9loign\u00e8rent au trot, tr\u00e8s contents les uns\ndes autres.\nApr\u00e8s un court intervalle, laiss\u00e9 \u00e0 mes r\u00e9flexions, je me mis \u00e0\nsonger que j\u2019avais eu tort d\u2019accepter une traite d\u2019un inconnu, et,\nen cons\u00e9quence, je r\u00e9solus prudemment de poursuivre l\u2019acheteur et de\nreprendre mon cheval. Mais il \u00e9tait trop tard. Je me dirigeai donc\naussit\u00f4t vers la maison, voulant \u00e9changer ma traite pour de l\u2019argent\nle plus t\u00f4t possible. Je trouvai mon honn\u00eate voisin fumant sa pipe \u00e0\nsa porte, et, lorsque je l\u2019eus inform\u00e9 que j\u2019avais un petit effet\nsur lui, il le lut deux fois. \u00abVous pouvez lire le nom, je suppose,\ndis-je; Ephra\u00efm Jenkinson.\u2014Oui, r\u00e9pondit-il, le nom est \u00e9crit tr\u00e8s\nlisiblement, et je connais aussi le gentleman, le plus grand fripon qui\nsoit sous la calotte des cieux. C\u2019est pr\u00e9cis\u00e9ment le m\u00eame coquin qui\nnous a vendu les lunettes. N\u2019\u00e9tait-ce pas un homme d\u2019air v\u00e9n\u00e9rable,\navec des cheveux gris et pas de patte \u00e0 ses poches? Et n\u2019a-t-il pas\nd\u00e9bit\u00e9 une longue tirade de science sur le grec, et la cosmogonie, et\nle monde?\u00bb Je r\u00e9pondis par un g\u00e9missement. \u00abOui, oui, continua-t-il; il\nn\u2019a \u00e0 son service, en fait de science, que ce seul morceau, et il le\nl\u00e2che toujours chaque fois qu\u2019il trouve un savant dans la compagnie;\nmais je connais le coquin, et je le rattraperai.\u00bb\nBien que je fusse suffisamment mortifi\u00e9, le plus grand effort \u00e9tait\nde me pr\u00e9senter en face de ma femme et de mes filles. Jamais gamin\nrevenant de faire l\u2019\u00e9cole buissonni\u00e8re ne fut plus effray\u00e9 de retourner\nen classe, pour y voir le visage du ma\u00eetre, que je ne l\u2019\u00e9tais d\u2019aller \u00e0\nla maison. Cependant je r\u00e9solus de pr\u00e9venir leur fureur en me mettant\nd\u2019abord en col\u00e8re moi-m\u00eame.\nMais, h\u00e9las! en entrant, je trouvai la famille bien \u00e9loign\u00e9e de toute\ndisposition batailleuse. Ma femme et mes filles \u00e9taient en larmes.\nM. Thornhill \u00e9tait venu ce jour m\u00eame les informer que leur voyage\n\u00e0 la ville \u00e9tait enti\u00e8rement manqu\u00e9. Les deux dames, ayant entendu\ndes rapports sur nous de la part de quelque malicieuse personne de\nnotre entourage, \u00e9taient ce jour-l\u00e0 m\u00eame parties pour Londres. Il ne\npouvait d\u00e9couvrir ni la tendance ni l\u2019auteur de ces rapports; mais,\nquels qu\u2019ils fussent, ou quel que f\u00fbt celui qui les avait faits, il\ncontinuait d\u2019assurer notre famille de son amiti\u00e9 et de sa protection.\nJe trouvai donc qu\u2019elles port\u00e8rent ma d\u00e9convenue avec une grande\nr\u00e9signation, \u00e9clips\u00e9e qu\u2019elle \u00e9tait dans la magnitude de la leur. Mais\nce qui nous tourmentait le plus, c\u2019\u00e9tait de savoir qui pouvait \u00eatre\nassez vil pour diffamer le caract\u00e8re d\u2019une famille aussi innocente que\nla n\u00f4tre, trop modeste pour exciter l\u2019envie et trop inoffensive pour\nfaire na\u00eetre l\u2019aversion.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE XV\n_Toute l\u2019infamie de M. Burchell d\u00e9couverte d\u2019un coup. La folie d\u2019\u00eatre\ntrop sage._\nNOUS employ\u00e2mes ce soir-l\u00e0 et une partie du suivant en efforts\ninfructueux pour d\u00e9couvrir nos ennemis: il n\u2019y eut gu\u00e8re aucune famille\ndu voisinage qui n\u2019encour\u00fbt nos soup\u00e7ons, et chacun de nous avait,\nen faveur de ses opinions, des raisons qu\u2019il \u00e9tait seul \u00e0 conna\u00eetre.\nComme nous \u00e9tions dans cet embarras, un de nos petits gar\u00e7ons, qui\njouait dehors, apporta un carnet qu\u2019il avait trouv\u00e9 sur la pelouse.\nOn le reconnut vite pour appartenir \u00e0 M. Burchell, aux mains duquel\non l\u2019avait vu: on l\u2019examina; il contenait des notes sur diff\u00e9rents\nsujets, mais ce qui attira particuli\u00e8rement notre attention, ce fut\nun pli cachet\u00e9, avec cette inscription: _Copie d\u2019une lettre \u00e0 envoyer\naux dames qui sont au ch\u00e2teau de Thornhill_. Imm\u00e9diatement l\u2019id\u00e9e nous\nvint qu\u2019il \u00e9tait le vil d\u00e9nonciateur, et nous d\u00e9lib\u00e9r\u00e2mes si le pli\nne devrait pas \u00eatre ouvert. J\u2019\u00e9tais contre; mais Sophia, qui disait\nqu\u2019elle \u00e9tait s\u00fbre que de tous les hommes il serait le dernier \u00e0 \u00eatre\ncoupable d\u2019une telle bassesse, insista pour qu\u2019on le l\u00fbt. Le reste de\nla famille l\u2019appuya, et, sur leurs sollicitations r\u00e9unies, je lus ce\nqui suit:\n  \u00abMESDAMES,\n \u00abLe porteur vous \u00e9difiera suffisamment sur la personne de qui ceci\n vient: c\u2019est quelqu\u2019un du moins qui est l\u2019ami de l\u2019innocence, et pr\u00eat\n \u00e0 emp\u00eacher qu\u2019elle ne soit s\u00e9duite. Je suis inform\u00e9 \u00e0 n\u2019en pas douter\n que vous avez quelque intention d\u2019emmener \u00e0 la ville, en qualit\u00e9 de\n compagnes, deux jeunes filles que je connais un peu. Comme je ne\n voudrais ni qu\u2019on en impos\u00e2t \u00e0 la simplicit\u00e9, ni qu\u2019on souill\u00e2t la\n vertu, je dois d\u00e9clarer comme mon opinion que l\u2019impropri\u00e9t\u00e9 d\u2019une\n telle d\u00e9marche sera suivie de cons\u00e9quences dangereuses. Ce n\u2019a\n jamais \u00e9t\u00e9 ma mani\u00e8re de traiter les personnes sans honneur et sans\n m\u0153urs avec s\u00e9v\u00e9rit\u00e9, et je n\u2019aurais pas aujourd\u2019hui pris ce moyen\n de m\u2019expliquer ou de r\u00e9prouver une folie, si elle ne tendait pas\n au crime. Recevez donc l\u2019avertissement d\u2019un ami, et r\u00e9fl\u00e9chissez\n s\u00e9rieusement aux cons\u00e9quences que peut avoir l\u2019introduction du\n d\u00e9shonneur et du vice dans des retraites o\u00f9 la paix et l\u2019innocence ont\n jusqu\u2019\u00e0 pr\u00e9sent r\u00e9sid\u00e9.\u00bb\nD\u00e8s lors nos doutes avaient pris fin. Il semblait, il est vrai, qu\u2019il\ny e\u00fbt quelque chose d\u2019applicable aux deux c\u00f4t\u00e9s dans cette lettre, et\nles censures en pouvaient aussi bien se rapporter \u00e0 celles \u00e0 qui elle\n\u00e9tait \u00e9crite qu\u2019\u00e0 nous; mais la malice de l\u2019intention \u00e9tait \u00e9vidente,\net nous n\u2019all\u00e2mes pas plus loin. Ma femme eut \u00e0 peine la patience\nde m\u2019entendre jusqu\u2019au bout; elle se d\u00e9cha\u00eena contre l\u2019auteur avec\nun ressentiment sans frein. Olivia fut \u00e9galement s\u00e9v\u00e8re, et Sophia\nsemblait absolument stup\u00e9faite de la bassesse de cet homme. Pour ma\npart, cela me paraissait un des plus vils exemples d\u2019ingratitude sans\nmotif que j\u2019eusse encore rencontr\u00e9s. Et je ne pouvais m\u2019en rendre\ncompte d\u2019une autre mani\u00e8re qu\u2019en l\u2019attribuant \u00e0 son d\u00e9sir de retenir\nma fille cadette dans le pays, pour avoir des occasions d\u2019entrevue\nplus fr\u00e9quentes. Nous \u00e9tions tous ainsi \u00e0 ruminer des plans de\nvengeance, lorsque notre autre petit gar\u00e7on arriva en courant nous\ndire que M. Burchell approchait, \u00e0 l\u2019autre bout du champ. Il est\nplus facile de concevoir que de d\u00e9crire les sensations compliqu\u00e9es\nque font ressentir la douleur d\u2019une r\u00e9cente injure et le plaisir\nd\u2019une vengeance prochaine. Quoique notre intention f\u00fbt seulement\nde lui reprocher son ingratitude, nous r\u00e9sol\u00fbmes de le faire d\u2019une\nmani\u00e8re qui f\u00fbt parfaitement piquante. Dans ce but, nous conv\u00eenmes de\nl\u2019accueillir avec notre sourire ordinaire, de bavarder au d\u00e9but avec\nune amabilit\u00e9 plus qu\u2019ordinaire, afin de l\u2019amuser un peu; et puis, au\nmilieu de ce calme flatteur, d\u2019\u00e9clater sur lui comme un tremblement de\nterre et de l\u2019\u00e9craser sous le sentiment de sa propre bassesse. Ceci\nd\u00e9cid\u00e9, ma femme entreprit de conduire elle-m\u00eame la man\u0153uvre, car elle\navait r\u00e9ellement un certain talent pour les entreprises de ce genre.\nNous le voyions approcher; il entra, prit une chaise et s\u2019assit.\n\u00abUne belle journ\u00e9e, monsieur Burchell.\u2014Tr\u00e8s belle journ\u00e9e, docteur;\nj\u2019imagine cependant que nous aurons de la pluie, aux \u00e9lancements\nde mes cors.\u2014Les \u00e9lancements de vos cornes! s\u2019\u00e9cria ma femme dans\nun bruyant \u00e9clat de rire, apr\u00e8s lequel elle demanda pardon de ce\nqu\u2019elle aimait la plaisanterie.\u2014Ch\u00e8re madame, r\u00e9pliqua-t-il, je vous\npardonne de tout mon c\u0153ur, car je d\u00e9clare que je n\u2019aurais pas cru que\nc\u2019\u00e9tait une plaisanterie, si vous ne me l\u2019aviez pas dit.\u2014Peut-\u00eatre,\nmonsieur, s\u2019\u00e9cria ma femme en nous lan\u00e7ant un coup d\u2019\u0153il; et cependant\nje gage que vous pourriez nous dire combien il y a de plaisanteries\n\u00e0 l\u2019once.\u2014J\u2019imagine, madame, r\u00e9pliqua Burchell, que vous avez lu un\nrecueil de bons mots ce matin; cette once de plaisanteries est une\nid\u00e9e si d\u00e9licieuse! Et cependant, madame, j\u2019aimerais mieux voir une\ndemi-once de jugement.\n\u2014Je vous crois, reprit ma femme, en nous souriant encore, bien que\nle rire ne f\u00fbt pas de son c\u00f4t\u00e9; et cependant j\u2019ai vu des hommes avoir\ndes pr\u00e9tentions au jugement qui en avaient tr\u00e8s peu.\u2014Et sans doute,\nriposta son antagoniste, vous avez connu des dames se targuer d\u2019esprit\nqui n\u2019en avaient point.\u00bb Je vis bien vite que ma femme ne paraissait\npas devoir gagner grand\u2019chose \u00e0 ce genre d\u2019affaires; aussi r\u00e9solus-je\nde le traiter d\u2019une fa\u00e7on plus s\u00e9v\u00e8re moi-m\u00eame. \u00abL\u2019esprit et le\njugement, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, ne sont l\u2019un et l\u2019autre que des riens sans\nl\u2019int\u00e9grit\u00e9; c\u2019est l\u00e0 ce qui donne de la valeur \u00e0 tout caract\u00e8re. Le\npaysan ignorant, sans d\u00e9faut, est plus grand que le philosophe qui en\na beaucoup; car qu\u2019est le g\u00e9nie, qu\u2019est le courage, sans le c\u0153ur? _Un\nhomme honn\u00eate est le plus noble ouvrage de Dieu._\n\u00abJ\u2019ai toujours tenu cette maxime ressass\u00e9e de Pope, r\u00e9pliqua M.\nBurchell, pour tr\u00e8s indigne d\u2019un homme de g\u00e9nie, et pour une basse\nrenonciation de sa propre sup\u00e9riorit\u00e9. De m\u00eame que la r\u00e9putation des\nlivres ne surgit pas de leur absence de fautes, mais de la grandeur\nde leurs beaut\u00e9s, ainsi celle des hommes devrait s\u2019estimer, non\nd\u2019apr\u00e8s l\u2019absence des d\u00e9fauts, mais d\u2019apr\u00e8s la hauteur des vertus\nqu\u2019ils poss\u00e8dent. Le savant peut manquer de prudence, l\u2019homme d\u2019\u00c9tat\npeut avoir de l\u2019orgueil, et l\u2019athl\u00e8te de la f\u00e9rocit\u00e9; mais leur\npr\u00e9f\u00e8rerions-nous le man\u0153uvre de bas \u00e9tage qui traverse p\u00e9niblement\nla vie sans bl\u00e2me et sans applaudissement? Nous pourrions aussi bien\npr\u00e9f\u00e9rer les tableaux ternes et corrects de l\u2019\u00c9cole flamande aux\ninspirations d\u00e9r\u00e9gl\u00e9es, mais sublimes, du pinceau romain.\n[Illustration]\n\u2014Monsieur, r\u00e9pliquai-je, votre pr\u00e9sente observation est juste\nlorsqu\u2019il y a des vertus brillantes et de petits d\u00e9fauts; mais\nlorsqu\u2019on voit que de grands vices s\u2019opposent dans la m\u00eame \u00e2me \u00e0 des\nvertus aussi extraordinaires, un tel caract\u00e8re m\u00e9rite le m\u00e9pris.\n\u2014Peut-\u00eatre se peut-il, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-il, qu\u2019il y ait des monstres tels que\nvous en d\u00e9crivez, faits de grands vices joints \u00e0 de grandes vertus;\npourtant dans mon passage \u00e0 travers la vie, je n\u2019ai jamais trouv\u00e9 un\nseul exemple de leur existence; au contraire, j\u2019ai toujours remarqu\u00e9\nque l\u00e0 o\u00f9 l\u2019intelligence \u00e9tait vaste, les sentiments \u00e9taient bons.\nEt vraiment la Providence se montre en ce d\u00e9tail notre bienveillante\namie, d\u2019affaiblir ainsi le jugement l\u00e0 o\u00f9 le c\u0153ur est corrompu, et de\ndiminuer le pouvoir l\u00e0 o\u00f9 il y a la volont\u00e9 de faire le mal. Cette\nr\u00e8gle semble s\u2019\u00e9tendre jusqu\u2019aux autres animaux; la race des petites\nvermines est toujours tra\u00eetresse, cruelle et couarde, tandis que les\nanimaux dou\u00e9s de force et de puissance sont g\u00e9n\u00e9reux, braves et doux.\n\u2014Ces observations sonnent bien, repris-je, et cependant il serait\nais\u00e9 en ce moment m\u00eame de d\u00e9signer un homme\u2014et j\u2019attachai fixement\nmon regard sur lui\u2014dont la t\u00eate et le c\u0153ur forment le plus d\u00e9testable\ncontraste. Oui, monsieur, continuai-je en \u00e9levant la voix, et je\nsuis bien aise d\u2019avoir cette occasion de le d\u00e9masquer au milieu\nde son imaginaire s\u00e9curit\u00e9. Connaissez-vous ceci, monsieur, ce\nportefeuille?\u2014Oui, monsieur, r\u00e9pondit-il avec un visage d\u2019une\nassurance imperturbable; ce portefeuille est \u00e0 moi, et je suis bien\naise que vous l\u2019ayez trouv\u00e9.\u2014Et, criai-je, connaissez-vous cette\nlettre? Allons, ne balbutiez pas, mon homme, mais regardez-moi\nbien en face. Dites, connaissez-vous cette lettre?\u2014Cette lettre,\nr\u00e9pliqua-t-il; oui, c\u2019est moi qui ai \u00e9crit cette lettre.\u2014Et comment\navez-vous pu, dis-je, \u00eatre assez bas, assez ingrat pour oser \u00e9crire\ncette lettre?\u2014Et comment en \u00eates-vous venu, reprit-il avec des\nregards d\u2019une effronterie sans pareille, \u00e0 \u00eatre assez bas pour oser\nouvrir cette lettre? Et maintenant, ne savez-vous pas que je pourrais\nvous faire pendre tous pour ceci? Tout ce que j\u2019ai \u00e0 faire, c\u2019est de\njurer entre les mains du juge de paix le plus proche que vous vous\n\u00eates rendus coupables d\u2019avoir forc\u00e9 la serrure de mon portefeuille,\net je vous ferai tous pendre haut et court \u00e0 cette porte.\u00bb Ce trait\ninattendu d\u2019insolence me fit monter \u00e0 un tel point que je pouvais \u00e0\npeine gouverner ma col\u00e8re. \u00abMis\u00e9rable ingrat, va-t\u2019en et ne souille\npas davantage ma demeure de ton ignominie; va-t\u2019en, et ne te montre\njamais plus \u00e0 moi; \u00e9loigne-toi de ma porte. Le seul ch\u00e2timent que je te\nsouhaite est une conscience timor\u00e9e, qui soit un suffisant bourreau!\u00bb\nEn parlant ainsi, je lui jetai son portefeuille qu\u2019il ramassa en\nsouriant, et, en attachant le fermoir avec le plus complet sang-froid,\nil nous laissa tout \u00e9tonn\u00e9s de la s\u00e9r\u00e9nit\u00e9 de son assurance. Ma femme\nparticuli\u00e8rement \u00e9tait furieuse de ce que rien ne pouvait le mettre en\ncol\u00e8re ni le faire para\u00eetre honteux de ses vilenies. \u00abMa ch\u00e8re, dis-je,\nd\u00e9sireux de calmer ces passions qui s\u2019\u00e9taient \u00e9lev\u00e9es trop haut chez\nnous, nous ne devons pas \u00eatre surpris que la honte fasse d\u00e9faut aux\nm\u00e9chants; ils ne rougissent que d\u2019\u00eatre d\u00e9couverts \u00e0 faire le bien, mais\nils se glorifient de leurs vices.\n\u00abLe Crime et la Honte, dit l\u2019all\u00e9gorie, \u00e9taient d\u2019abord compagnons,\net, au d\u00e9but de leur voyage, se tenaient ins\u00e9parablement ensemble.\nMais leur union se trouva bient\u00f4t d\u00e9sagr\u00e9able et g\u00eanante pour l\u2019un et\npour l\u2019autre. Le Crime donnait \u00e0 la Honte de fr\u00e9quentes inqui\u00e9tudes,\net la Honte trahissait souvent les conspirations secr\u00e8tes du Crime.\nAussi, apr\u00e8s un long d\u00e9saccord, ils consentirent \u00e0 la fin \u00e0 se s\u00e9parer\npour toujours. Le Crime marcha hardiment devant lui pour atteindre le\nDestin qui le pr\u00e9c\u00e9dait sous la forme d\u2019un bourreau; mais la Honte,\nnaturellement craintive, retourna tenir compagnie \u00e0 la Vertu qu\u2019au\ncommencement de leur voyage ils avaient laiss\u00e9e en arri\u00e8re. Ainsi, mes\nenfants, apr\u00e8s que les hommes ont fait quelques \u00e9tapes dans le vice,\nla Honte les abandonne et retourne an service des quelques vertus\nqu\u2019ils ont encore de reste.\u00bb\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE XVI\n_La famille use d\u2019artifices auxquels on en oppose d\u2019autres plus grands._\nQUELLES qu\u2019eussent pu \u00eatre les impressions de Sophia, le reste de la\nfamille fut facilement consol\u00e9 de l\u2019absence de M. Burchell par la\ncompagnie de notre seigneur, dont les visites devenaient maintenant\nplus fr\u00e9quentes et plus longues. S\u2019il avait \u00e9t\u00e9 d\u00e9\u00e7u dans son espoir\nde procurer \u00e0 mes filles les plaisirs de la ville, comme il en avait\nle dessein, il saisissait du moins toutes les occasions de leur\nfournir les petits divertissements que permettait notre retraite.\nIl venait habituellement dans la matin\u00e9e, et, tandis que mon fils et\nmoi nous poursuivions nos travaux au dehors, il s\u2019asseyait au milieu\nde la famille, \u00e0 notre foyer, et les amusait en leur d\u00e9crivant la\ngrande ville, avec toutes les parties de laquelle il \u00e9tait familier.\nIl r\u00e9p\u00e9tait couramment toutes les observations qui se d\u00e9bitent dans\nl\u2019atmosph\u00e8re des th\u00e9\u00e2tres, et savait par c\u0153ur les bonnes plaisanteries\ndes beaux esprits longtemps avant qu\u2019elles fussent arriv\u00e9es \u00e0 se faire\nune place dans le Recueil des bons mots. Il employait les intervalles\nque laissait la conversation \u00e0 enseigner le piquet \u00e0 mes filles, ou\nquelquefois \u00e0 faire boxer l\u2019un contre l\u2019autre mes deux plus jeunes,\npour les rendre plus d\u00e9lur\u00e9s, comme il disait; mais l\u2019espoir de l\u2019avoir\npour gendre nous aveuglait jusqu\u2019\u00e0 un certain point sur toutes ses\nimperfections. Il faut avouer que ma femme mettait en \u0153uvre mille\nstratag\u00e8mes pour le faire tomber dans le panneau, ou, pour dire la\nchose plus galamment, qu\u2019elle employait tous les artifices pour\nrehausser le m\u00e9rite de sa fille. Si les g\u00e2teaux, au th\u00e9, \u00e9taient\nsecs et croustillants, c\u2019\u00e9tait Olivia qui les avait faits; si le\nvin de groseille \u00e9tait bien li\u00e9, c\u2019\u00e9tait elle qui avait cueilli les\ngroseilles; c\u2019\u00e9taient ses doigts qui donnaient aux cornichons leur\nvert particulier, et, dans la composition d\u2019un pudding, c\u2019\u00e9tait son\njugement qui mesurait le m\u00e9lange des ingr\u00e9dients. Et puis, quelquefois,\nla pauvre femme disait au squire qu\u2019elle les trouvait, lui et Olivia,\ntout \u00e0 fait de la m\u00eame taille, et elle les priait de se tenir debout\ntous les deux pour voir qui \u00e9tait le plus grand. Ces finesses, qu\u2019elle\ncroyait imp\u00e9n\u00e9trables, et au travers desquelles tout le monde pouvait\nvoir, plaisaient beaucoup \u00e0 notre bienfaiteur; chaque jour il donnait\nde sa passion des preuves nouvelles qui, bien qu\u2019elles ne fussent pas\nencore arriv\u00e9es jusqu\u2019\u00e0 des propositions de mariage, n\u2019en \u00e9taient,\npensions-nous, gu\u00e8re loin; et l\u2019on attribuait sa lenteur \u00e0 se prononcer\ntant\u00f4t \u00e0 une timidit\u00e9 native, tant\u00f4t \u00e0 la crainte d\u2019offenser son oncle.\nUne circonstance, cependant, qui se pr\u00e9senta bient\u00f4t apr\u00e8s, mit hors\nde doute son intention d\u2019entrer dans notre famille; ma femme m\u00eame\nregarda cela comme une promesse formelle.\nMa femme et mes filles, rendant par hasard une visite chez le voisin\nFlamborough, apprirent que les Flamborough avaient r\u00e9cemment fait faire\nleurs portraits par un enlumineur qui voyageait dans le pays et prenait\nles ressemblances \u00e0 quinze shillings par t\u00eate. Comme il y avait depuis\nlongtemps entre cette famille et la n\u00f4tre une sorte de rivalit\u00e9 dans\nles choses de go\u00fbt, notre susceptibilit\u00e9 s\u2019alarma du pas gagn\u00e9 sur\nnous, et, nonobstant tout ce que je pus dire,\u2014et je dis beaucoup,\u2014il\nfut r\u00e9solu que nous ferions faire nos portraits, nous aussi. Ayant\ndonc engag\u00e9 l\u2019enlumineur\u2014car que pouvais-je faire?\u2014nous e\u00fbmes alors\n\u00e0 d\u00e9lib\u00e9rer comment nous montrerions la sup\u00e9riorit\u00e9 de notre go\u00fbt par\nnos attitudes. Quant \u00e0 la famille de notre voisin, ils \u00e9taient sept\net on les avait repr\u00e9sent\u00e9s avec sept oranges, chose d\u2019un go\u00fbt tout \u00e0\nfait surann\u00e9, sans rien de ce qui fait la vari\u00e9t\u00e9 de la vie, sans la\nmoindre trace de composition. Nous d\u00e9sirions avoir quelque chose d\u2019un\nplus brillant style, et, apr\u00e8s bien des d\u00e9bats, nous en arriv\u00e2mes enfin\n\u00e0 la r\u00e9solution unanime de nous faire peindre ensemble dans un grand\nmorceau historique de famille. Ce serait moins cher, puisqu\u2019un seul\ncadre servirait pour tous, et ce serait d\u2019infiniment meilleur ton; car\naujourd\u2019hui toutes les familles d\u2019un peu de go\u00fbt se font peindre de\ncette mani\u00e8re. Ne nous rappelant pas sur-le-champ un sujet historique\nqui s\u2019adapt\u00e2t \u00e0 notre cas, nous nous content\u00e2mes de nous faire peindre\nen figures historiques ind\u00e9pendantes. Ma femme voulut \u00eatre repr\u00e9sent\u00e9e\nen V\u00e9nus, et le peintre fut pri\u00e9 de ne pas \u00eatre trop parcimonieux de\ndiamants dans son corsage et ses cheveux. Les deux petits gar\u00e7ons\ndevaient \u00eatre en Cupidons \u00e0 c\u00f4t\u00e9 d\u2019elle, tandis que moi, avec robe et\nrabat, je lui pr\u00e9senterais mes livres sur la controverse whistonienne.\nOlivia serait peinte en amazone, assise sur un tertre couvert de\nfleurs, v\u00eatue d\u2019un habit de cheval vert, richement galonn\u00e9 d\u2019or, et\nune cravache \u00e0 la main. Sophia devait \u00eatre une berg\u00e8re, avec autant\nde moutons que le peintre en pourrait mettre gratis, et Mo\u00efse serait\npar\u00e9 d\u2019un chapeau \u00e0 plume blanche. Notre bon go\u00fbt plut tant au squire\nqu\u2019il insista pour \u00eatre mis dans le tableau, comme un membre de la\nfamille, dans le personnage d\u2019Alexandre le Grand aux pieds d\u2019Olivia.\nNous consid\u00e9r\u00e2mes tous cela comme une indication de son d\u00e9sir d\u2019entrer\ndans la famille, et nous ne p\u00fbmes refuser sa requ\u00eate. Le peintre se mit\ndonc \u00e0 l\u2019\u0153uvre, et comme il travaillait avec assiduit\u00e9 et diligence, en\nmoins de quatre jours tout fut achev\u00e9. Le morceau \u00e9tait grand, et il\nfaut avouer qu\u2019il n\u2019avait pas \u00e9pargn\u00e9 ses couleurs, ce dont ma femme\nlui fit de grandes louanges. Nous \u00e9tions tous parfaitement satisfaits\nde son travail; mais une malheureuse circonstance, dont on ne s\u2019\u00e9tait\npas aper\u00e7u avant que la peinture f\u00fbt finie, vint nous frapper de\nconsternation. Le tableau \u00e9tait si grand que nous n\u2019avions pas dans la\nmaison de place o\u00f9 le fixer. Comment avions-nous fait pour n\u00e9gliger\ntous un point si essentiel? C\u2019est une chose inconcevable; mais il est\ncertain que nous avions agi tous grandement \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9tourdie. Au lieu donc\nde flatter notre vanit\u00e9, comme nous l\u2019esp\u00e9rions, le tableau resta\nappuy\u00e9 de la plus mortifiante fa\u00e7on contre le mur de la cuisine o\u00f9\nla toile avait \u00e9t\u00e9 tendue et peinte, beaucoup trop grand pour passer\npar aucune des portes, et sujet de plaisanteries pour nos voisins.\nL\u2019un le comparait \u00e0 la chaloupe de Robinson Cruso\u00e9, trop grande pour\n\u00eatre boug\u00e9e de place; un autre trouvait qu\u2019il ressemblait plut\u00f4t \u00e0 un\nd\u00e9vidoir dans une bouteille; quelques-uns se demandaient comment il\npourrait sortir, mais le plus grand nombre \u00e9tait stup\u00e9fait qu\u2019il e\u00fbt\njamais pu entrer.\n[Illustration]\nCependant, s\u2019il excitait la raillerie chez quelques personnes, il eut\npour effet d\u2019inspirer \u00e0 beaucoup d\u2019autres des pens\u00e9es plus malicieuses.\nLe portrait du squire, que l\u2019on voyait m\u00eal\u00e9 aux n\u00f4tres, \u00e9tait un\nhonneur trop grand pour \u00e9chapper \u00e0 l\u2019envie. Des bruits scandaleux\ncommenc\u00e8rent \u00e0 circuler tout bas \u00e0 nos d\u00e9pens, et notre tranquillit\u00e9\n\u00e9tait continuellement troubl\u00e9e par des gens qui venaient en amis nous\nraconter ce que des ennemis avaient dit de nous. Nous r\u00e9pondions\ninvariablement \u00e0 ces rapports avec l\u2019indignation qu\u2019ils m\u00e9ritaient;\nmais la calomnie ne fait jamais qu\u2019augmenter par l\u2019opposition qu\u2019on\nlui pr\u00e9sente.\nNous t\u00eenmes donc une fois de plus conseil pour parer \u00e0 la malice de nos\nennemis, et nous nous arr\u00eat\u00e2mes \u00e0 une r\u00e9solution qui renfermait trop\nde finesse pour me satisfaire enti\u00e8rement. La voici: comme notre objet\nprincipal \u00e9tait de mettre hors de doute l\u2019honn\u00eatet\u00e9 des intentions\nde M. Thornhill, ma femme entreprit de le sonder en feignant de lui\ndemander son avis dans le choix d\u2019un mari pour notre fille a\u00een\u00e9e. Si\nceci ne se trouvait pas suffisant pour l\u2019amener \u00e0 se d\u00e9clarer, on \u00e9tait\nalors r\u00e9solu \u00e0 le terrifier par un rival. Toutefois, je ne voulus\nd\u2019aucune fa\u00e7on accorder mon consentement \u00e0 cette derni\u00e8re mesure, avant\nqu\u2019Olivia m\u2019e\u00fbt donn\u00e9 les assurances les plus solennelles qu\u2019elle\n\u00e9pouserait le rival qu\u2019on lui trouverait pour l\u2019occasion, si le squire\nne l\u2019en emp\u00eachait pas en la prenant lui-m\u00eame pour femme. Tel fut le\nplan dress\u00e9, et auquel, si je ne m\u2019y opposai pas \u00e9nergiquement, je ne\ndonnai pas non plus mon approbation compl\u00e8te.\nEn cons\u00e9quence, la premi\u00e8re fois que M. Thornhill vint nous voir, mes\nfilles eurent soin de se tenir \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9cart, afin de donner \u00e0 leur maman\nl\u2019occasion d\u2019ex\u00e9cuter son plan; mais elles ne se retir\u00e8rent que dans la\nchambre \u00e0 c\u00f4t\u00e9, d\u2019o\u00f9 elles pouvaient entendre toute la conversation.\nMa femme la commen\u00e7a artificieusement en remarquant qu\u2019une des\ndemoiselles Flamborough avait l\u2019air d\u2019avoir trouv\u00e9 un tr\u00e8s bon parti\ndans M. Spanker. Le squire en convint; elle poursuivit par cette\nobservation que celles qui ont de grosses fortunes sont toujours s\u00fbres\nd\u2019avoir de bons maris: \u00abMais que le ciel prot\u00e8ge les filles qui n\u2019en\nont pas! continua-t-elle. Que signifie la beaut\u00e9, monsieur Thornhill,\nou que signifient toutes les vertus et toutes les qualit\u00e9s du monde\ndans ce si\u00e8cle d\u2019int\u00e9r\u00eat personnel? Ce n\u2019est pas: Qu\u2019est-elle? mais:\nQu\u2019a-t-elle? qui est le cri commun.\n\u2014Madame, r\u00e9pliqua-t-il, j\u2019approuve hautement la justesse, en m\u00eame\ntemps que la nouveaut\u00e9 de vos remarques, et si j\u2019\u00e9tais roi, il en\nserait autrement. Ce serait vraiment alors le bon temps pour les filles\nsans fortune; vos deux jeunes demoiselles seraient les premi\u00e8res que je\npourvoirais.\n\u2014Ah! monsieur, reprit ma femme, il vous pla\u00eet de plaisanter.\nMais je voudrais \u00eatre reine, et je sais bien alors o\u00f9 ma fille\na\u00een\u00e9e chercherait un mari. Mais justement, vous m\u2019y faites songer;\ns\u00e9rieusement, monsieur Thornhill, pourriez-vous me recommander un mari\nconvenable pour elle? Elle a maintenant dix-neuf ans, elle est bien\nform\u00e9e et bien \u00e9lev\u00e9e, et, \u00e0 mon humble avis, elle ne manque pas de\ntalents.\n\u2014Madame, r\u00e9pliqua-t-il, si je devais faire ce choix, je voudrais\nd\u00e9couvrir une personne en possession de toutes les perfections qui\npeuvent rendre un ange heureux. Quelqu\u2019un qui aurait de la prudence,\nde la fortune, du go\u00fbt et de la sinc\u00e9rit\u00e9, voil\u00e0, madame, \u00e0 mon avis,\nqui ferait un mari convenable.\u2014Oui, certes, monsieur, dit-elle; mais\nauriez-vous connaissance de quelque personne de ce genre?\u2014Non, madame,\nr\u00e9pondit-il; il est impossible de conna\u00eetre aucune personne qui m\u00e9rite\nd\u2019\u00eatre son mari; c\u2019est un trop grand tr\u00e9sor pour \u00eatre poss\u00e9d\u00e9 par un\nhomme; c\u2019est une d\u00e9esse. Sur mon \u00e2me, je dis ce que je pense, c\u2019est un\nange.\u2014Ah! monsieur Thornhill, c\u2019est pure flatterie \u00e0 l\u2019adresse de ma\npauvre fille; mais nous avons pens\u00e9 \u00e0 la marier \u00e0 un de vos tenanciers,\ndont la m\u00e8re est morte derni\u00e8rement, et qui a besoin d\u2019une m\u00e9nag\u00e8re.\nVous savez qui je veux dire, le fermier Williams, un homme \u00e0 l\u2019aise,\nmonsieur Thornhill, capable de bien lui donner son pain, et qui lui\na fait plusieurs fois des propositions (ce qui \u00e9tait r\u00e9ellement le\ncas); mais, monsieur, conclut-elle, je serais bien aise d\u2019avoir votre\napprobation de notre choix.\u2014Comment! madame, r\u00e9pliqua-t-il, mon\napprobation! Mon approbation d\u2019un tel choix! Jamais. Quoi! sacrifier\ntant de beaut\u00e9, de sens et de bont\u00e9 \u00e0 un \u00eatre incapable de comprendre\nson bonheur! Excusez-moi; je ne saurais jamais approuver un tel acte\nd\u2019injustice. Et j\u2019ai mes raisons.\u2014Certes, monsieur, s\u2019\u00e9cria D\u00e9borah,\nsi vous avez vos raisons, c\u2019est une autre affaire; mais je serais bien\naise de conna\u00eetre ces raisons-l\u00e0.\u2014Excusez-moi, madame, r\u00e9pondit-il,\nelles gisent ici trop profond\u00e9ment pour \u00eatre d\u00e9couvertes (il mettait la\nmain sur son c\u0153ur); elles restent ensevelies, riv\u00e9es ici.\u00bb\nLorsqu\u2019il fut parti, nous t\u00eenmes une consultation g\u00e9n\u00e9rale, et nous ne\ns\u00fbmes que penser de ces beaux sentiments. Olivia les consid\u00e9rait comme\ndes t\u00e9moignages de la passion la plus exalt\u00e9e, mais je n\u2019\u00e9tais pas\naussi enthousiaste. Il me semblait assez clair qu\u2019il y avait l\u00e0 dedans\nplus d\u2019amour que de mariage; n\u00e9anmoins, quoi qu\u2019ils pussent pr\u00e9sager,\non d\u00e9cida de poursuivre le plan avec le fermier Williams, qui, d\u00e8s que\nma fille avait paru dans le pays, lui avait adress\u00e9 ses hommages.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE XVII\n_Il ne se trouve gu\u00e8re de vertu gui r\u00e9siste \u00e0 la puissance d\u2019une\ntentation agr\u00e9able et prolong\u00e9e._\nPOUR moi, qui n\u2019avais en vue que le bonheur r\u00e9el de mon enfant, la\nrecherche de M. Williams m\u2019\u00e9tait agr\u00e9able, car il \u00e9tait \u00e0 l\u2019aise,\nprudent et sinc\u00e8re. Il ne fallait que bien peu d\u2019encouragement pour\nraviver sa premi\u00e8re passion; de sorte qu\u2019un soir ou deux apr\u00e8s, lui\net M. Thornhill se rencontr\u00e8rent dans notre maison et s\u2019examin\u00e8rent\nun moment avec des regards de col\u00e8re; mais Williams ne devait aucun\nloyer \u00e0 son propri\u00e9taire et ne s\u2019inqui\u00e9ta que m\u00e9diocrement de son\nindignation. De son c\u00f4t\u00e9, Olivia joua la coquette \u00e0 la perfection, si\nl\u2019on peut appeler jeu ce qui \u00e9tait son v\u00e9ritable caract\u00e8re, feignant\nde prodiguer toute sa tendresse \u00e0 son nouvel adorateur. Devant cette\npr\u00e9f\u00e9rence, M. Thornhill parut tout \u00e0 fait abattu et prit cong\u00e9 d\u2019un\nair r\u00eaveur. J\u2019avoue cependant que j\u2019\u00e9tais intrigu\u00e9 de le voir aussi\npein\u00e9 qu\u2019il paraissait l\u2019\u00eatre lorsqu\u2019il \u00e9tait en son pouvoir d\u2019\u00e9carter\nsi ais\u00e9ment la cause de sa peine en d\u00e9clarant une honorable passion.\nMais quel que f\u00fbt l\u2019ennui qu\u2019il semblait endurer, on pouvait facilement\ns\u2019apercevoir que l\u2019angoisse d\u2019Olivia \u00e9tait plus grande encore. Apr\u00e8s\nchaque entrevue entre ses deux amants, et il y en eut plusieurs,\nelle avait l\u2019habitude de se retirer \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9cart et de s\u2019abandonner\n\u00e0 son chagrin. Ce fut dans cette situation que je la trouvai, un\nsoir qu\u2019elle avait soutenu pendant quelque temps une gaiet\u00e9 feinte.\n\u00abVous voyez maintenant, mon enfant, lui dis-je, que votre confiance\nen l\u2019amour de M. Thornhill n\u2019\u00e9tait rien qu\u2019un r\u00eave; il admet la\nrivalit\u00e9 d\u2019un autre, son inf\u00e9rieur de toute mani\u00e8re, quoiqu\u2019il sache\nqu\u2019il est en son pouvoir de vous obtenir s\u00fbrement par une franche\nd\u00e9claration.\u2014Oui, papa, r\u00e9pondit-elle; mais il a ses raisons pour\nces d\u00e9lais: je sais qu\u2019il en a. La sinc\u00e9rit\u00e9 de ses regards et de\nses paroles me convainc de la r\u00e9alit\u00e9 de son estime. Un peu de temps\nencore suffira, je l\u2019esp\u00e8re, pour d\u00e9couvrir la g\u00e9n\u00e9rosit\u00e9 de ses\nsentiments et vous prouver que mon opinion sur lui \u00e9tait plus juste que\nla v\u00f4tre.\u2014Olivia, ma bien-aim\u00e9e, repris-je, tous les moyens qu\u2019on a\nemploy\u00e9s jusqu\u2019ici pour l\u2019obliger \u00e0 une d\u00e9claration ont \u00e9t\u00e9 propos\u00e9s\net arrang\u00e9s par vous-m\u00eame, et vous ne pouvez dire que je vous aie le\nmoindrement contrainte. Mais il ne faut pas supposer, ma ch\u00e9rie, que\nje contribuerai jamais \u00e0 faire de son honn\u00eate rival la dupe de votre\namour mal plac\u00e9. Quel que soit le temps que vous demandiez pour amener\nvotre adorateur suppos\u00e9 \u00e0 une explication, je vous l\u2019accorderai;\nmais \u00e0 l\u2019expiration de ce terme, s\u2019il est toujours indiff\u00e9rent, je me\nverrai oblig\u00e9 d\u2019insister absolument pour que l\u2019honn\u00eate M. Williams soit\nr\u00e9compens\u00e9 de sa fid\u00e9lit\u00e9. Le caract\u00e8re que j\u2019ai jusqu\u2019ici soutenu dans\nla vie exige cela de moi, et ma tendresse de p\u00e8re n\u2019influencera jamais\nmon int\u00e9grit\u00e9 d\u2019homme. Fixez donc votre jour; qu\u2019il soit aussi \u00e9loign\u00e9\nque vous le jugerez bon; et, en m\u00eame temps, prenez soin de faire savoir\nexactement \u00e0 M. Thornhill l\u2019\u00e9poque o\u00f9 je compte vous donner \u00e0 un autre.\nSi r\u00e9ellement il vous aime, son bon sens lui sugg\u00e8rera promptement\nqu\u2019il n\u2019y a qu\u2019une seule m\u00e9thode pour emp\u00eacher qu\u2019il ne vous perde \u00e0\njamais.\u00bb Cette proposition, qu\u2019elle ne pouvait pas ne pas consid\u00e9rer\ncomme parfaitement juste, fut accept\u00e9e. Elle renouvela encore ses\npromesses les plus positives d\u2019\u00e9pouser M. Williams au cas o\u00f9 l\u2019autre\nserait insensible; et, la premi\u00e8re fois que l\u2019occasion s\u2019en pr\u00e9senta\ndevant M. Thornhill, on fixa le m\u00eame jour du mois suivant pour ses\nnoces avec le rival.\nDes mesures si rigoureuses sembl\u00e8rent redoubler l\u2019anxi\u00e9t\u00e9 de M.\nThornhill; mais ce qu\u2019Olivia ressentait r\u00e9ellement me donnait quelque\ninqui\u00e9tude. Dans cette lutte entre la prudence et la passion, sa\nvivacit\u00e9 l\u2019abandonna tout \u00e0 fait; elle recherchait toutes les occasions\nd\u2019\u00eatre seule, et alors elle passait son temps dans les larmes. Une\nsemaine s\u2019\u00e9coula, mais M. Thornhill ne fit aucun effort pour arr\u00eater\nson mariage. La semaine suivante, il fut toujours assidu, mais pas plus\nouvert. La troisi\u00e8me, il interrompit ses visites enti\u00e8rement, et ma\nfille, au lieu de t\u00e9moigner aucune impatience, comme je m\u2019y attendais,\nsembla garder une tranquillit\u00e9 pensive que je prenais pour de la\nr\u00e9signation. Pour ma part, j\u2019\u00e9tais sinc\u00e8rement content de penser que\nmon enfant allait avoir la certitude d\u2019un avenir de bien-\u00eatre et de\npaix, et souvent j\u2019applaudissais \u00e0 sa r\u00e9solution de pr\u00e9f\u00e9rer le bonheur\n\u00e0 l\u2019ostentation.\nC\u2019\u00e9tait environ quatre jours avant son mariage projet\u00e9; ma petite\nfamille, le soir, \u00e9tait r\u00e9unie autour d\u2019un bon feu, racontant des\nhistoires du temps pass\u00e9 et faisant des plans pour l\u2019avenir, tr\u00e8s\noccup\u00e9e \u00e0 former mille projets, et riant de toutes les folies qui\nvenaient aux l\u00e8vres.\n\u00abEh bien, Mo\u00efse, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je; nous allons bient\u00f4t avoir un mariage dans\nla famille, mon gar\u00e7on. Quel est votre avis sur cette question et sur\ncette affaire en g\u00e9n\u00e9ral?\u2014Mon avis, p\u00e8re, est que tout va tr\u00e8s bien,\net j\u2019\u00e9tais justement en train de penser que lorsque s\u0153ur Livy sera\nmari\u00e9e au fermier Williams, il nous pr\u00eatera son pressoir \u00e0 cidre et ses\ncuves \u00e0 brasser pour rien.\u2014Il nous les pr\u00eatera, Mo\u00efse, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je,\net il nous chantera _la Mort et la Dame_, pour nous donner du c\u0153ur,\npar-dessus le march\u00e9.\u2014Il a appris cette chanson \u00e0 notre Dick, reprit\nMo\u00efse, et je trouve que Dick s\u2019en tire tr\u00e8s gentiment.\u2014Vraiment!\nm\u2019\u00e9criai-je. Alors, \u00e9coutons-le. O\u00f9 est petit Dick? Qu\u2019il y aille\nhardiment.\u2014Mon fr\u00e8re Dick, cria Bill, mon dernier, vient de sortir\navec s\u0153ur Livy; mais M. Williams m\u2019a appris deux chansons, et je vais\nvous les chanter, papa. Quelle chanson choisissez-vous: le _Cygne\nmourant_, ou l\u2019_\u00c9l\u00e9gie sur la mort d\u2019un chien enrag\u00e9_?\u2014L\u2019\u00e9l\u00e9gie,\nenfant, l\u2019\u00e9l\u00e9gie, assur\u00e9ment, dis-je. Je n\u2019ai encore jamais entendu\ncela. Et, D\u00e9borah, ma femme, la douleur ass\u00e8che, vous savez;\ndonnez-nous une bouteille du meilleur vin de groseille pour soutenir\nnos esprits. J\u2019ai tant pleur\u00e9 \u00e0 toutes sortes d\u2019\u00e9l\u00e9gies dans ces\nderniers temps que, si je n\u2019avais un verre pour me ranimer, je suis s\u00fbr\nque celle-ci m\u2019accablerait; et vous, Sophy, mon amour, prenez votre\nguitare, et pincez-en un peu pour accompagner l\u2019enfant.\u00bb\n\u00c9L\u00c9GIE SUR LA MORT D\u2019UN CHIEN ENRAG\u00c9\n  Bonnes gens de chaque condition,\n  Pr\u00eatez tous l\u2019oreille \u00e0 ma chanson,\n  Et si vous la trouvez merveilleusement courte,\n  Elle ne pourra vous retenir longtemps.\n  Dans Islington, il y avait un homme\n  De qui le monde pouvait dire\n  Qu\u2019il faisait une course d\u00e9vote\n  Chaque fois qu\u2019il allait prier.\n[Illustration]\n  Tendre et doux \u00e9tait son c\u0153ur\n  Pour consoler amis et ennemis;\n  Tous les jours il habillait celui qui est nu,\n  Lorsqu\u2019il mettait ses habits.\n  Or dans cette ville un chien se trouva,\n  Car nombreux sont l\u00e0 les chiens,\n  M\u00e9tis, jeunes chiens, chiennaux, chiens courants\n  Et roquets de bas \u00e9tage.\n  Ce chien et cet homme d\u2019abord furent amis;\n  Mais une pique \u00e9tant survenue,\n  Le chien, dans quelque but secret,\n  Devint enrag\u00e9 et mordit l\u2019homme.\n  Alentour, de toutes les rues avoisinantes,\n  Les voisins inquiets accoururent\n  Et jur\u00e8rent que le chien avait perdu l\u2019esprit\n  De mordre un si brave homme.\n  La blessure, elle, semblait et cruelle et f\u00e2cheuse\n  A tout \u0153il de chr\u00e9tien;\n  Et, tout en jurant que le chien \u00e9tait enrag\u00e9,\n  Ils juraient que l\u2019homme en mourrait.\n  Mais bient\u00f4t une merveille se fit jour,\n  Qui montra qu\u2019ils mentaient, les coquins:\n  L\u2019homme gu\u00e9rit de la morsure;\n  Le chien, ce fut lui qui mourut.\n\u00abVoil\u00e0 un tr\u00e8s bon gar\u00e7on, Bill, sur ma parole, et une \u00e9l\u00e9gie qu\u2019on\npeut appeler v\u00e9ritablement tragique. Allons, mes enfants, \u00e0 la sant\u00e9 de\nBill, et puisse-t-il \u00eatre un jour \u00e9v\u00eaque!\n\u2014De tout mon c\u0153ur, s\u2019\u00e9cria ma femme; et s\u2019il pr\u00eache seulement aussi\nbien qu\u2019il chante, je n\u2019ai pas de crainte pour lui. Presque tous\nceux de sa famille, du c\u00f4t\u00e9 de sa m\u00e8re, savaient bien chanter une\nchanson: c\u2019\u00e9tait un dicton dans notre pays que les Blenkinsop ne\npouvaient jamais regarder droit devant eux, ni les Hugginson souffler\nune chandelle; qu\u2019il n\u2019y avait pas un Grogram qui ne s\u00fbt chanter une\nchanson, ni un Marjoram qui ne s\u00fbt conter une histoire.\u2014Quoi qu\u2019il\nen soit, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, la plus vulgaire de toutes les ballades me pla\u00eet\ng\u00e9n\u00e9ralement mieux que ces belles odes modernes et que ces choses dont\nune seule strophe vous p\u00e9trifie, productions qu\u2019on d\u00e9teste et qu\u2019on\nloue \u00e0 la fois. Passez le verre \u00e0 votre fr\u00e8re, Mo\u00efse. Le grand d\u00e9faut\nde ces \u00e9l\u00e9giaques est qu\u2019ils sont au d\u00e9sespoir pour des infortunes\nqui ne donnent \u00e0 la portion sens\u00e9e du genre humain qu\u2019une peine tr\u00e8s\nm\u00e9diocre. Une dame perd son manchon, son \u00e9ventail, ou son petit chien,\net aussit\u00f4t le po\u00e8te imb\u00e9cile s\u2019encourt chez lui mettre la catastrophe\nen vers.\n\u2014Ce peut \u00eatre la mani\u00e8re, reprit Mo\u00efse, dans des compositions plus\nrelev\u00e9es; mais les chansons du Ranelagh qui viennent jusqu\u2019\u00e0 nous sont\nd\u2019une familiarit\u00e9 parfaite et toutes jet\u00e9es dans le m\u00eame moule: Colin\nrencontre Dolly, et ils ont une conversation tous les deux; il lui\ndonne un cadeau de la foire pour mettre dans ses cheveux, et elle lui\nfait pr\u00e9sent d\u2019un bouquet; puis ils vont ensemble \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9glise o\u00f9 ils\ndonnent aux jeunes nymphes et \u00e0 leurs galants le bon avis de se marier\naussi vite qu\u2019ils le pourront.\n\u2014Et c\u2019est m\u00eame un tr\u00e8s bon avis, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je. Et je me suis laiss\u00e9\ndire qu\u2019il n\u2019y a pas un endroit au monde o\u00f9 un avis puisse \u00eatre donn\u00e9\navec plus de convenance que l\u00e0; car, en m\u00eame temps qu\u2019on nous persuade\nde nous marier, on nous fournit une femme; or il faut assur\u00e9ment que\nce soit un excellent march\u00e9, mon gar\u00e7on, que celui o\u00f9 l\u2019on nous dit ce\nqu\u2019il nous faut et o\u00f9 on nous le procure quand nous ne l\u2019avons pas.\n\u2014Oui, monsieur, riposta Mo\u00efse, et je sais qu\u2019il n\u2019y a que deux\nmarch\u00e9s pareils en Europe pour se procurer des femmes: le Ranelagh en\nAngleterre, et Fontarabie en Espagne. Le march\u00e9 espagnol est ouvert une\nfois par an; mais nos femmes anglaises sont en vente toute l\u2019ann\u00e9e.\n\u2014Vous avez raison, mon gar\u00e7on, s\u2019\u00e9cria sa m\u00e8re. La vieille Angleterre\nest le seul lieu du monde pour les maris qui cherchent des femmes.\u2014Et\npour les femmes qui m\u00e8nent leurs maris, dis-je en interrompant. C\u2019est\nun proverbe \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9tranger que si l\u2019on b\u00e2tissait un pont sur la mer,\ntoutes les dames du continent passeraient l\u2019eau pour prendre mod\u00e8le sur\nles n\u00f4tres. Mais donnez-nous une autre bouteille, D\u00e9borah, mon c\u0153ur,\net vous, Mo\u00efse, chantez-nous quelque chose de bon. Quelles gr\u00e2ces ne\ndevons-nous pas au ciel pour nous accorder ainsi la tranquillit\u00e9, la\nsant\u00e9 et le bien-\u00eatre! Je me trouve plus heureux \u00e0 pr\u00e9sent que le plus\ngrand monarque de la terre. Il n\u2019a point un tel foyer, ni si aimables\nfigures autour de lui. Oui, D\u00e9borah, voil\u00e0 que nous vieillissons;\nmais le soir de notre vie semble devoir \u00eatre heureux. Nous descendons\nd\u2019a\u00efeux qui ne surent point ce qu\u2019est une tache, et nous laissons\nderri\u00e8re nous une bonne et vertueuse race d\u2019enfants. Tant que nous\nvivrons, ils seront notre soutien et notre joie ici-bas, et quand\nnous mourrons, ils transmettront notre honneur sans souillure \u00e0 la\npost\u00e9rit\u00e9. Allons, mon fils, nous attendons que vous chantiez; nous\nreprendrons en ch\u0153ur. Mais o\u00f9 est ma bien-aim\u00e9e Olivia? La voix de ce\npetit ch\u00e9rubin est toujours la plus douce dans le concert.\u00bb\nJe parlais encore lorsque Dick entra en courant. \u00abOh! papa, papa! elle\nest partie, elle est partie! ma s\u0153ur Livy est partie d\u2019avec nous pour\ntoujours!\u2014Partie, enfant!\n\u2014Oui, elle est partie avec deux messieurs dans une chaise de poste,\net l\u2019un d\u2019eux l\u2019a embrass\u00e9e et a dit qu\u2019il mourrait pour elle; et elle\npleurait beaucoup, et elle voulait revenir; mais il l\u2019a persuad\u00e9e de\nnouveau, et elle est mont\u00e9e dans la chaise et a dit: Oh! que fera mon\npauvre papa quand il saura que je suis perdue!\u2014Oh! maintenant, mes\nenfants, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, allez! Pour vous la mis\u00e8re, car nous ne go\u00fbterons\nplus une heure de joie.\n[Illustration]\nMais, oh! que l\u2019\u00e9ternelle fureur du ciel s\u2019abatte sur lui et les siens!\nMe voler ainsi mon enfant! Et s\u00fbrement il lui arrivera cela pour\nm\u2019avoir ravi ma douce innocente que je conduisais au ciel, toute la\ncandeur qu\u2019avait mon enfant! Mais notre bonheur terrestre est \u00e0 jamais\nfini! Allez, mes enfants, allez! Pour vous la mis\u00e8re et l\u2019infamie, car\nmon c\u0153ur s\u2019est bris\u00e9 en moi!\u2014P\u00e8re, s\u2019\u00e9cria mon fils, est-ce l\u00e0 votre\nforce d\u2019\u00e2me?\u2014Ma force d\u2019\u00e2me, enfant! Oui, il verra que j\u2019ai de la\nforce d\u2019\u00e2me! Apportez-moi mes pistolets. Je veux poursuivre le tra\u00eetre.\nTant qu\u2019il sera sur terre, je le poursuivrai. Tout vieux que je suis,\nil s\u2019apercevra que je puis le frapper encore. Le sc\u00e9l\u00e9rat! Le perfide\nsc\u00e9l\u00e9rat!\u00bb\nJ\u2019avais atteint mes pistolets, lorsque ma pauvre femme, dont\nl\u2019emportement n\u2019\u00e9tait pas aussi fort que le mien, me prit dans ses\nbras. \u00abMon cher, mon bien cher mari, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-elle, la Bible est la\nseule arme qui aille maintenant \u00e0 vos mains \u00e2g\u00e9es. Ouvrez le livre,\nvous que j\u2019aime, et changez en le lisant notre angoisse en patience,\ncar elle nous a bassement tromp\u00e9s.\u2014Vraiment, monsieur, reprit mon fils\napr\u00e8s un silence, votre fureur est trop violente et vous messied. Vous\ndevriez \u00eatre le consolateur de ma m\u00e8re, et vous accroissez sa peine.\nIl convenait mal \u00e0 vous et \u00e0 votre r\u00e9v\u00e9rend caract\u00e8re de maudire ainsi\nvotre plus grand ennemi. Vous n\u2019auriez pas d\u00fb le maudire, tout sc\u00e9l\u00e9rat\nqu\u2019il est.\u2014Je ne l\u2019ai pas maudit, enfant. L\u2019ai-je fait?\u2014Vous l\u2019avez\nfait, en v\u00e9rit\u00e9, monsieur; vous l\u2019avez maudit deux fois.\u2014Alors que\nle ciel pardonne \u00e0 moi et \u00e0 lui, si je l\u2019ai fait. Et maintenant, mon\nfils, je vois qu\u2019elle est plus qu\u2019humaine, la bienveillance qui, la\npremi\u00e8re, nous enseigna \u00e0 b\u00e9nir nos ennemis! B\u00e9ni soit son saint nom\npour tous les biens qu\u2019il a donn\u00e9s et pour tout ce qu\u2019il a enlev\u00e9. Mais\nce n\u2019est pas, non, ce n\u2019est pas une petite douleur qui peut arracher\ndes larmes de ces vieux yeux qui, depuis tant d\u2019ann\u00e9es, n\u2019ont pas\npleur\u00e9. Mon enfant! Perdre ma bien-aim\u00e9e! Que la confusion s\u2019empare...\nLe ciel me pardonne! Qu\u2019allais-je dire? Vous pouvez vous souvenir, mon\namour, combien elle \u00e9tait bonne et combien charmante; jusqu\u2019\u00e0 cette\nheure d\u2019ignominie, tous ses soins \u00e9taient de nous rendre heureux. Si\nseulement elle \u00e9tait morte! Mais elle est partie; l\u2019honneur de notre\nfamille est souill\u00e9, et il faut que je cherche le bonheur dans d\u2019autres\nmondes qu\u2019ici-bas. Mais, mon enfant, vous les avez vus s\u2019\u00e9loigner;\npeut-\u00eatre l\u2019entra\u00eenait-il de force? S\u2019il l\u2019a enlev\u00e9e de force, elle\npeut encore \u00eatre innocente.\u2014Ah! non, monsieur, cria l\u2019enfant. Il l\u2019a\nseulement embrass\u00e9e et appel\u00e9e son ange; elle pleurait beaucoup et\ns\u2019appuyait sur son bras, et les chevaux sont partis tr\u00e8s vite.\u2014C\u2019est\nune ingrate cr\u00e9ature, s\u2019\u00e9cria ma femme qui pouvait \u00e0 peine parler \u00e0\ncause de ses larmes, de nous avoir trait\u00e9s ainsi. On ne lui a jamais\nimpos\u00e9 la moindre contrainte dans ses affections. La d\u00e9vergond\u00e9e a\nbassement d\u00e9sert\u00e9 ses parents sans aucune provocation de notre part,\npour mettre vos cheveux gris au tombeau, o\u00f9 je ne tarderai pas \u00e0 vous\nsuivre.\u00bb\nC\u2019est ainsi que cette nuit, la premi\u00e8re de nos v\u00e9ritables malheurs,\nse passa dans l\u2019amertume de la plainte et les emportements d\u2019une\nexaltation mal soutenue. Je r\u00e9solus cependant de d\u00e9couvrir le\ntra\u00eetre, o\u00f9 qu\u2019il f\u00fbt, et de lui reprocher sa bassesse. Le lendemain\nmatin, notre malheureux enfant nous manqua au d\u00e9jeuner, o\u00f9 elle\navait l\u2019habitude de nous donner \u00e0 tous vie et gaiet\u00e9. Ma femme,\ncomme elle l\u2019avait d\u00e9j\u00e0 fait, essaya de se soulager le c\u0153ur par\ndes reproches. \u00abJamais, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-elle, cette ignoble tache de\nnotre famille n\u2019assombrira de nouveau ces portes innocentes. Je ne\nl\u2019appellerai jamais plus ma fille. Non; que la d\u00e9bauch\u00e9e vive avec son\nvil s\u00e9ducteur: elle peut nous causer de la honte, mais elle ne nous\ntrompera jamais plus.\n\u2014Femme, dis-je, ne parlez pas durement ainsi: ma d\u00e9testation de son\ncrime est aussi grande que la v\u00f4tre; mais toujours cette maison et ce\nc\u0153ur seront ouverts \u00e0 une pauvre p\u00e9cheresse qui revient repentante.\nPlus t\u00f4t elle reviendra de son \u00e9garement, plus elle sera la bienvenue\npour moi. Une premi\u00e8re fois les meilleurs de tous peuvent errer;\nl\u2019artifice peut persuader, et la nouveaut\u00e9 \u00e9tendre alentour son charme.\nLa premi\u00e8re faute est fille de la simplicit\u00e9, mais toute autre est la\nprog\u00e9niture du crime. Oui, la mis\u00e9rable cr\u00e9ature sera la bienvenue\ndans ce c\u0153ur et dans cette maison, quand elle porterait la tache de\ndix mille vices. J\u2019\u00e9couterai encore la musique de sa voix, encore je\nm\u2019appuierai tendrement sur son sein, pourvu seulement que j\u2019y trouve le\nrepentir. Mon fils, apportez ici ma Bible et mon b\u00e2ton; je vais \u00e0 sa\npoursuite, o\u00f9 qu\u2019elle soit, et si je ne peux pas la sauver de la honte,\nje pourrai peut-\u00eatre emp\u00eacher la continuation de l\u2019iniquit\u00e9.\u00bb\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE XVIII\n_Poursuite d\u2019un p\u00e8re pour rappeler \u00e0 la vertu un enfant \u00e9gar\u00e9._\nQUOIQUE l\u2019enfant n\u2019e\u00fbt pu donner le signalement du gentleman qui avait\nmis sa s\u0153ur dans la chaise de poste, tous mes soup\u00e7ons tomb\u00e8rent sur\nnotre jeune seigneur dont la r\u00e9putation pour de telles intrigues\nn\u2019\u00e9tait que trop assise. Je dirigeai donc mes pas vers le ch\u00e2teau de\nThornhill, r\u00e9solu \u00e0 l\u2019accabler de reproches, et, s\u2019il se pouvait, \u00e0\nramener ma fille; mais avant que j\u2019eusse atteint sa r\u00e9sidence, je fus\nrencontr\u00e9 par un de mes paroissiens qui me dit qu\u2019il avait vu une\njeune personne ressemblant \u00e0 ma fille dans une chaise de poste avec un\ngentleman qu\u2019\u00e0 la description qu\u2019il m\u2019en fit je ne pus que reconna\u00eetre\npour M. Burchell; il ajouta qu\u2019ils allaient tr\u00e8s vite. Ce renseignement\nne me convainquit pourtant en aucune fa\u00e7on. J\u2019allai donc chez le jeune\nsquire, et bien qu\u2019il f\u00fbt encore de bonne heure, j\u2019insistai pour le\nvoir imm\u00e9diatement; il parut bient\u00f4t, avec l\u2019air le plus ouvert et le\nplus familier, et sembla parfaitement stup\u00e9fait de l\u2019enl\u00e8vement de ma\nfille, protestant sur son honneur qu\u2019il y \u00e9tait tout \u00e0 fait \u00e9tranger.\nEn cons\u00e9quence, je condamnai mes premiers soup\u00e7ons, et je ne pus les\nreporter que sur M. Burchell qui avait eu r\u00e9cemment, je me le rappelai,\nplusieurs entretiens particuliers avec elle; mais l\u2019arriv\u00e9e d\u2019un autre\nt\u00e9moin ne me laissa plus la possibilit\u00e9 de douter de sa sc\u00e9l\u00e9ratesse:\ncette personne affirmait comme un fait que lui et ma fille \u00e9taient\npartis pour les Eaux, \u00e0 environ trente milles de l\u00e0, o\u00f9 il y avait\nalors beaucoup de monde.\nArriv\u00e9 \u00e0 cet \u00e9tat d\u2019esprit o\u00f9 l\u2019on est plus pr\u00eat \u00e0 agir pr\u00e9cipitamment\nqu\u2019\u00e0 raisonner juste, je ne me demandai pas un instant s\u2019il ne se\npouvait pas que ces renseignements me fussent donn\u00e9s par des gens mis\nexpr\u00e8s sur mon chemin pour m\u2019\u00e9garer, mais je r\u00e9solus de poursuivre\njusque-l\u00e0 ma fille et son s\u00e9ducteur suppos\u00e9. Je marchais avec ardeur,\nm\u2019informant \u00e0 plusieurs personnes sur le chemin; je n\u2019appris rien\njusqu\u2019\u00e0 l\u2019entr\u00e9e de la ville, o\u00f9 je fus rencontr\u00e9 par un homme \u00e0 cheval\nque je me souvins d\u2019avoir vu chez le squire, et qui m\u2019assura que, si je\nles suivais jusqu\u2019aux courses, qui n\u2019\u00e9taient qu\u2019\u00e0 trente milles plus\nloin, je pouvais compter les rejoindre; car il les y avait vus danser\nla nuit pr\u00e9c\u00e9dente, et toute la compagnie paraissait charm\u00e9e de la\nmani\u00e8re dont ma fille s\u2019en acquittait. De bonne heure, le lendemain,\nje m\u2019acheminai vers les courses, et \u00e0 quatre heures de l\u2019apr\u00e8s-midi\nenviron j\u2019arrivai sur le champ. L\u2019assembl\u00e9e offrait un tr\u00e8s brillant\ncoup d\u2019\u0153il; tous n\u2019avaient qu\u2019un but qu\u2019ils poursuivaient ardemment,\nle plaisir; combien diff\u00e9rent du mien, qui \u00e9tait de rappeler une enfant\n\u00e9gar\u00e9e \u00e0 la vertu! Je crus apercevoir M. Burchell \u00e0 quelque distance;\nmais, comme s\u2019il redoutait une entrevue, \u00e0 mon approche il se m\u00eala \u00e0\nla foule et je ne le vis plus. Alors je r\u00e9fl\u00e9chis qu\u2019il serait inutile\nde continuer ma poursuite plus loin, et je me d\u00e9terminai \u00e0 revenir \u00e0\nla maison, vers une famille innocente qui avait besoin de mon appui.\nMais les agitations de mon esprit et les fatigues que j\u2019avais subies me\njet\u00e8rent dans une fi\u00e8vre dont je sentis les sympt\u00f4mes avant de sortir\ndu champ de courses. C\u2019\u00e9tait un autre coup impr\u00e9vu, car j\u2019\u00e9tais \u00e0 plus\nde soixante-dix milles de chez moi. Cependant je me r\u00e9fugiai dans une\npetite auberge, sur le bord de la route, et l\u00e0, dans cette retraite\nordinaire de l\u2019indigence et de la frugalit\u00e9, je me couchai pour\nattendre patiemment l\u2019issue de ma maladie. J\u2019y languis pendant pr\u00e8s de\ntrois semaines; mais \u00e0 la fin ma constitution l\u2019emporta, bien que je\nn\u2019eusse pas d\u2019argent pour d\u00e9frayer les d\u00e9penses de mon entretien. Il\nest possible que l\u2019anxi\u00e9t\u00e9 que me causait cette derni\u00e8re circonstance\ne\u00fbt amen\u00e9 une rechute, si je n\u2019avais \u00e9t\u00e9 secouru par un voyageur qui\ns\u2019\u00e9tait arr\u00eat\u00e9 pour prendre un rafra\u00eechissement en passant. Cette\npersonne n\u2019\u00e9tait autre que le libraire philanthrope de Saint-Paul\u2019s\nChurchyard, qui a \u00e9crit tant de petits livres pour les enfants; il\ns\u2019appelait leur ami; mais il \u00e9tait l\u2019ami de tout le genre humain. A\npeine descendu, il avait h\u00e2te d\u2019\u00eatre parti, car il \u00e9tait toujours\noccup\u00e9 d\u2019affaires de la plus haute importance, et, \u00e0 ce moment-l\u00e0 m\u00eame,\nil compilait des mat\u00e9riaux pour l\u2019histoire d\u2019un M. Thomas Trip. Je\nreconnus imm\u00e9diatement la figure rouge et bourgeonn\u00e9e de cet excellent\nhomme, qui avait \u00e9t\u00e9 mon \u00e9diteur contre les deut\u00e9rogamistes du si\u00e8cle,\net je lui empruntai quelques pi\u00e8ces de monnaie, \u00e0 rendre \u00e0 mon retour.\nJe quittai donc l\u2019auberge, et, comme j\u2019\u00e9tais encore faible, je r\u00e9solus\nde revenir chez moi par petites \u00e9tapes de dix milles par jour. Ma sant\u00e9\net mon calme habituel \u00e9taient \u00e0 peu pr\u00e8s r\u00e9tablis, et je condamnais\nmaintenant cet orgueil qui m\u2019avait fait regimber sous la main qui\nch\u00e2tie. L\u2019homme ne sait gu\u00e8re quelles calamit\u00e9s d\u00e9passent la mesure\nde sa patience, avant de les \u00e9prouver. De m\u00eame qu\u2019en gravissant les\nhauteurs de l\u2019ambition qui, d\u2019en bas, paraissent brillantes, chaque\npas qui nous \u00e9l\u00e8ve nous montre quelque nouvelle et sombre perspective\nde d\u00e9ception cach\u00e9e; de m\u00eame, dans notre descente des sommets de la\njoie, bien que la vall\u00e9e de mis\u00e8re, en bas, paraisse d\u2019abord sombre et\nobscure, l\u2019esprit actif, toujours appliqu\u00e9 \u00e0 sa propre satisfaction,\ntrouve, \u00e0 mesure que nous descendons, quelque chose pour le flatter et\nlui plaire. Et toujours, en approchant, les objets les plus sombres\nsemblent s\u2019\u00e9clairer, et l\u2019\u0153il de l\u2019\u00e2me s\u2019adapte \u00e0 son obscur milieu.\nJe poursuivais mon chemin et il y avait deux heures environ que je\nmarchais, lorsque j\u2019aper\u00e7us quelque chose qui, \u00e0 distance, ressemblait\n\u00e0 une charrette de roulier, et que je r\u00e9solus de rejoindre. Mais,\nlorsque je fus parvenu aupr\u00e8s, je vis que c\u2019\u00e9tait la voiture\nd\u2019une troupe ambulante, qui portait les d\u00e9cors et autre mobilier\nth\u00e9\u00e2tral jusqu\u2019au prochain village, o\u00f9 la troupe devait donner une\nrepr\u00e9sentation. La voiture n\u2019\u00e9tait accompagn\u00e9e que de la personne qui\nla conduisait et d\u2019un membre de la troupe, le reste des acteurs devant\nsuivre le lendemain. En route, dit le proverbe, bonne compagnie fait\nle chemin plus court; j\u2019entamai donc la conversation avec le pauvre\ncom\u00e9dien, et comme j\u2019avais eu autrefois moi-m\u00eame quelque go\u00fbt pour le\nth\u00e9\u00e2tre, je dissertai sur le sujet avec ma libert\u00e9 ordinaire; mais,\nassez peu au courant de l\u2019\u00e9tat actuel de la sc\u00e8ne, je demandai quels\n\u00e9taient maintenant les auteurs dramatiques en vogue, les Dryden et les\nOtway du jour.\n[Illustration]\n\u00abJ\u2019imagine, monsieur, s\u2019\u00e9cria le com\u00e9dien, que peu de nos modernes\ndramaturges se croiraient honor\u00e9s d\u2019\u00eatre compar\u00e9s aux \u00e9crivains que\nvous citez. La mani\u00e8re de Dryden et de Rowe, monsieur, est tout \u00e0 fait\nhors de mode; notre go\u00fbt a recul\u00e9 de tout un si\u00e8cle. Fletcher, Ben\nJonson et toutes les pi\u00e8ces de Shakespeare, voil\u00e0 les seules choses\nqui aient cours.\u2014Comment, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, est-il possible que le si\u00e8cle\npr\u00e9sent se plaise \u00e0 un idiome vieilli, \u00e0 un tour d\u2019esprit surann\u00e9, \u00e0\nces caract\u00e8res charg\u00e9s, choses qui abondent dans les ouvrages que vous\ndites?\u2014Monsieur, r\u00e9pondit mon compagnon, le public n\u2019a pas d\u2019opinion\nen fait d\u2019idiome, de tour d\u2019esprit ou de caract\u00e8re, car ce n\u2019est pas\nson affaire; il ne vient que pour \u00eatre amus\u00e9, et il se trouve heureux\nquand il peut se r\u00e9galer d\u2019une pantomime, sous la sanction des noms\nde Jonson ou de Shakespeare.\u2014Ainsi donc, repris-je, nos auteurs\ndramatiques modernes sont plut\u00f4t, je suppose, imitateurs de Shakespeare\nque de la nature.\u2014A dire la v\u00e9rit\u00e9, r\u00e9pliqua mon compagnon, je ne\nsache pas qu\u2019ils imitent rien du tout, ni m\u00eame, il est vrai, que\nle public l\u2019exige d\u2019eux: ce n\u2019est pas la composition de la pi\u00e8ce,\nc\u2019est le nombre des effets et des attitudes qu\u2019on peut y introduire,\nqui attire les applaudissements. J\u2019ai vu une pi\u00e8ce, sans une seule\nplaisanterie d\u2019un bout \u00e0 l\u2019autre, atteindre un succ\u00e8s de popularit\u00e9,\net une autre sauv\u00e9e par un acc\u00e8s de colique que le po\u00e8te y avait jet\u00e9.\nNon, monsieur, les \u0153uvres de Congreve et de Farquhar renferment trop\nd\u2019esprit pour le go\u00fbt du jour; notre langage moderne est beaucoup plus\nnaturel.\u00bb\nCependant l\u2019\u00e9quipage de la troupe ambulante \u00e9tait arriv\u00e9 au village\nqui, semble-t-il, avait \u00e9t\u00e9 instruit de notre approche, et \u00e9tait sorti\npour nous contempler; mon compagnon fit en effet cette remarque que les\ncom\u00e9diens ambulants ont toujours plus de spectateurs dehors que dedans.\nJe ne songeai \u00e0 l\u2019inconvenance qu\u2019il y avait \u00e0 \u00eatre en telle compagnie\nque lorsque je vis la populace se rassembler autour de moi. Je pris\ndonc refuge, aussi promptement que possible, dans la premi\u00e8re taverne\nqui se pr\u00e9senta, et, ayant \u00e9t\u00e9 introduit dans la salle commune, je fus\naccost\u00e9 par un monsieur bien mis qui me demanda si j\u2019\u00e9tais r\u00e9ellement\nle chapelain de la troupe, ou si ce n\u2019\u00e9tait que le d\u00e9guisement que\ncomportait mon r\u00f4le dans la pi\u00e8ce. Lorsque je l\u2019eus inform\u00e9 de la\nv\u00e9rit\u00e9, et que je n\u2019appartenais en aucune fa\u00e7on \u00e0 la compagnie, il\npoussa la condescendance jusqu\u2019\u00e0 nous inviter, le com\u00e9dien et moi,\n\u00e0 prendre notre part d\u2019un bol de punch, devant lequel il discuta la\npolitique moderne avec une grande ardeur et un grand int\u00e9r\u00eat. Je\nfaisais de lui dans mon esprit un membre du parlement pour le moins,\net mes conjectures prirent presque la force de la certitude lorsque,\nau moment o\u00f9 nous demandions ce qu\u2019il y avait dans la maison pour\nsouper, il insista pour nous emmener, le com\u00e9dien et moi, souper chez\nlui, pri\u00e8re \u00e0 laquelle, apr\u00e8s quelques c\u00e9r\u00e9monies, nous nous laiss\u00e2mes\npersuader de nous rendre.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE XIX\n_Portrait d\u2019une personne m\u00e9contente du pr\u00e9sent gouvernement, et\nappr\u00e9hendant la perte de nos libert\u00e9s._\nLA maison o\u00f9 nous devions \u00eatre trait\u00e9s se trouvant \u00e0 une petite\ndistance du village, notre amphitryon nous dit que, comme sa voiture\nn\u2019\u00e9tait pas pr\u00eate, il nous conduirait \u00e0 pied, et nous arriv\u00e2mes\nbient\u00f4t \u00e0 l\u2019une des plus magnifiques demeures que j\u2019eusse vues dans\ncette partie du pays. La pi\u00e8ce o\u00f9 l\u2019on nous fit entrer \u00e9tait d\u2019une\n\u00e9l\u00e9gance et d\u2019une modernit\u00e9 parfaites. Il sortit donner des ordres\npour le souper, et le com\u00e9dien, en clignant de l\u2019\u0153il, d\u00e9clara que\nnous \u00e9tions r\u00e9ellement en veine. Notre h\u00f4te revint bient\u00f4t; on servit\nun \u00e9l\u00e9gant souper; deux ou trois dames en n\u00e9glig\u00e9 coquet furent\nintroduites et la conversation commen\u00e7a avec une certaine animation.\nLa politique, toutefois, \u00e9tait le sujet sur lequel s\u2019\u00e9tendait notre\namphitryon; car il affirmait que la libert\u00e9 \u00e9tait \u00e0 la fois son orgueil\net son \u00e9pouvante. Lorsqu\u2019on eut desservi, il me demanda si j\u2019avais\nvu le dernier _Monitor_. Lui ayant r\u00e9pondu n\u00e9gativement: \u00abQuoi!\nl\u2019_Auditor_ non plus, je suppose? s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-il.\u2014Non plus, monsieur,\nr\u00e9pondis-je.\u2014C\u2019est \u00e9trange, tr\u00e8s \u00e9trange, reprit mon amphitryon. Eh\nbien, je lis tous les journaux politiques qui paraissent. Le _Daily_,\nle _Public_, le _Ledger_, la _Chronicle_, le _London Evening_, le\n_Whitehall Evening_, les dix-sept magazines et les deux revues;\net quoiqu\u2019ils se d\u00e9testent les uns les autres, je les aime tous.\nLa libert\u00e9, monsieur, la libert\u00e9, c\u2019est l\u2019orgueil des fils de la\nGrande-Bretagne, et par toutes nos mines de houille des Cornouailles,\nj\u2019en r\u00e9v\u00e8re les gardiens.\u2014Alors on peut esp\u00e9rer, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, que vous\nr\u00e9v\u00e9rez le roi.\u2014Oui, riposta mon amphitryon, lorsqu\u2019il fait ce que\nnous voulons qu\u2019il fasse; mais s\u2019il continue comme il a fait ces temps\nderniers, je ne m\u2019inqui\u00e9terai plus davantage de ses affaires. Je ne dis\nrien, je me contente de penser. J\u2019aurais su mieux diriger les choses.\nJe ne crois pas qu\u2019il ait eu un nombre suffisant de conseillers; il\ndevrait aviser avec toutes les personnes dispos\u00e9es \u00e0 lui donner un\navis, et alors nous aurions les choses faites d\u2019autre fa\u00e7on.\n\u2014Je voudrais, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, que des conseillers intrus de ce genre\nfussent attach\u00e9s au pilori. Ce devrait \u00eatre le devoir des honn\u00eates gens\nde soutenir le c\u00f4t\u00e9 le plus faible de notre constitution, ce pouvoir\nsacr\u00e9 qui, depuis quelques ann\u00e9es, va chaque jour d\u00e9clinant et perdant\nsa juste part d\u2019influence dans l\u2019\u00c9tat. Mais ces ignorants continuent\ntoujours leur cri de libert\u00e9, et s\u2019ils ont quelque poids, ils le\njettent bassement dans le plateau qui penche d\u00e9j\u00e0.\n\u2014Comment! s\u2019\u00e9cria une des dames. Ai-je v\u00e9cu jusqu\u2019\u00e0 ce jour pour voir\nun homme assez bas, assez vil pour \u00eatre l\u2019ennemi de la libert\u00e9 et le\nd\u00e9fenseur des tyrans? La libert\u00e9, ce don sacr\u00e9 du ciel, ce glorieux\nprivil\u00e8ge des Bretons!\n\u2014Se peut-il bien, reprit notre amphitryon, qu\u2019il se trouve encore\nquelqu\u2019un pour se faire l\u2019avocat de l\u2019esclavage? Quelqu\u2019un qui soit\nd\u2019avis d\u2019abandonner honteusement les privil\u00e8ges des Bretons? Y a-t-il\nquelqu\u2019un, monsieur, qui puisse \u00eatre si abject?\n\u2014Non, monsieur, r\u00e9pliquai-je, je suis pour la libert\u00e9, cet attribut\ndes dieux! La glorieuse libert\u00e9, ce th\u00e8me des d\u00e9clamations modernes!\nJe voudrais tous les hommes rois. Je voudrais \u00eatre roi moi-m\u00eame.\nNous avons tous naturellement un droit \u00e9gal au tr\u00f4ne; nous sommes\ntous originairement \u00e9gaux. C\u2019est l\u00e0 mon opinion, et ce fut jadis\nl\u2019opinion d\u2019une secte d\u2019honn\u00eates gens qu\u2019on appelait les Niveleurs.\nIls essay\u00e8rent de se constituer en une communaut\u00e9 o\u00f9 tous seraient\n\u00e9galement libres. Mais, h\u00e9las! cela ne put jamais aller; en effet, il\ny en avait parmi eux quelques-uns de plus forts et quelques-uns de\nplus fins que les autres, et ceux-l\u00e0 devinrent les ma\u00eetres du reste;\ncar, de m\u00eame qu\u2019il est s\u00fbr que votre groom monte vos chevaux parce que\nc\u2019est un animal plus fin qu\u2019eux, de m\u00eame est-il s\u00fbr aussi que l\u2019animal\nqui sera plus fin on plus fort que lui lui montera sur les \u00e9paules \u00e0\nson tour. Donc, comme il est impos\u00e9 \u00e0 l\u2019humanit\u00e9 de se soumettre, et\nque quelques-uns sont n\u00e9s pour commander et les autres pour ob\u00e9ir,\nla question est, puisqu\u2019il doit y avoir des tyrans, s\u2019il vaut mieux\nles avoir chez nous, dans la m\u00eame maison, ou dans le m\u00eame village,\non encore plus loin, dans la capitale. Or, monsieur, pour mon compte\npersonnel, je hais naturellement la face du tyran; plus il est \u00e9loign\u00e9\nde moi, plus je suis satisfait. La g\u00e9n\u00e9ralit\u00e9 du genre humain est\naussi de mon sentiment et a unanimement cr\u00e9\u00e9 un roi dont l\u2019\u00e9lection\ndiminue le nombre des tyrans en m\u00eame temps qu\u2019elle met la tyrannie \u00e0\nune distance plus grande du plus grand nombre de gens. Maintenant,\nles grands, qui \u00e9taient eux-m\u00eames des tyrans avant l\u2019\u00e9lection d\u2019un\nseul tyran, sont naturellement oppos\u00e9s \u00e0 un pouvoir \u00e9lev\u00e9 au-dessus\nd\u2019eux et dont le poids doit toujours appuyer plus lourdement sur les\nclasses subordonn\u00e9es. C\u2019est l\u2019int\u00e9r\u00eat des grands, par cons\u00e9quent, de\ndiminuer le pouvoir royal autant que possible; car tout ce qu\u2019ils lui\nprennent leur est naturellement rendu \u00e0 eux-m\u00eames, et tout ce qu\u2019ils\nont \u00e0 faire dans l\u2019\u00c9tat est de saper le tyran unique, ce qui est le\nmoyen de recouvrer leur autorit\u00e9 primitive. Maintenant il se peut que\nles circonstances dans lesquelles l\u2019\u00c9tat se trouve, la disposition de\nses lois, l\u2019esprit de ses membres opulents, tout conspire \u00e0 pousser\nen avant ce travail de sape contre la monarchie. Car, en premier\nlien, si notre \u00c9tat est dans des circonstances de nature \u00e0 favoriser\nl\u2019accumulation des richesses et \u00e0 rendre les hommes opulents plus\nriches encore, cela augmentera leur ambition. L\u2019accumulation des\nrichesses, d\u2019ailleurs, doit n\u00e9cessairement \u00eatre une cons\u00e9quence,\nlorsque, comme \u00e0 pr\u00e9sent, le commerce ext\u00e9rieur d\u00e9verse dans l\u2019\u00c9tat\nplus de tr\u00e9sors que n\u2019en produit l\u2019industrie int\u00e9rieure; car le\ncommerce ext\u00e9rieur ne peut se faire avec profit que par les riches, et\nceux-ci ont encore en m\u00eame temps tous les avantages qui d\u00e9rivent de\nl\u2019industrie int\u00e9rieure; de sorte que les riches ont, chez nous, deux\nsources de fortune, tandis que les pauvres n\u2019en ont qu\u2019une. C\u2019est pour\ncette raison qu\u2019on voit, dans tous les \u00c9tats commer\u00e7ants, les richesses\ns\u2019accumuler et que, jusqu\u2019ici, tous sont, avec le temps, devenus\naristocratiques.\n[Illustration]\n\u00abEn outre, les lois m\u00eames de ce pays peuvent aussi contribuer \u00e0\nl\u2019accumulation des richesses; comme, par exemple, lorsque, gr\u00e2ce \u00e0\nelles, les liens naturels qui rattachent les riches et les pauvres sont\nbris\u00e9s et qu\u2019il est prescrit que les riches ne se marieront qu\u2019avec les\nriches, ou lorsque les gens instruits sont regard\u00e9s comme n\u2019ayant pas\nqualit\u00e9 pour servir leur pays de leurs conseils uniquement \u00e0 cause du\nd\u00e9faut de fortune, et que la richesse est ainsi propos\u00e9e comme objet \u00e0\nl\u2019ambition de l\u2019homme sage; par ces moyens, dis-je, et par des moyens\ntels que ceux-l\u00e0, les richesses s\u2019accumulent. Maintenant le possesseur\nde richesses accumul\u00e9es, lorsqu\u2019il est pourvu du n\u00e9cessaire et des\nplaisirs de la vie, n\u2019a pas d\u2019autre m\u00e9thode pour employer le superflu\nde sa fortune que d\u2019acheter du pouvoir, c\u2019est-\u00e0-dire\u2014pour parler en\nd\u2019autres termes, de se faire des d\u00e9pendants en achetant la libert\u00e9 des\ngens besogneux ou \u00e0 vendre\u2014des hommes qui sont dispos\u00e9s \u00e0 supporter\nl\u2019humiliation du contact imm\u00e9diat avec la tyrannie pour un morceau de\npain. C\u2019est ainsi que tous les personnages tr\u00e8s opulents r\u00e9unissent\nautour d\u2019eux un cercle des plus pauvres de la population, et toute\norganisation politique o\u00f9 les richesses abondent peut se comparer au\nsyst\u00e8me cart\u00e9sien, o\u00f9 chaque globe a son tourbillon propre. Ceux-l\u00e0,\ntoutefois, qui seraient dispos\u00e9s \u00e0 se mouvoir dans le tourbillon d\u2019un\nhaut personnage ne sont que ce que doivent \u00eatre les esclaves: le rebut\ndu genre humain, dont les \u00e2mes et dont l\u2019\u00e9ducation sont adapt\u00e9es \u00e0 la\nservitude, et qui ne connaissent rien de la libert\u00e9 que le nom.\n\u00abMais il doit y avoir un nombre plus grand encore de gens en dehors de\nla sph\u00e8re d\u2019influence de l\u2019homme opulent, je veux dire cette classe\nde personnes qui se maintiennent entre les tr\u00e8s riches et la derni\u00e8re\npopulace, ces hommes qui sont en possession de fortunes trop grandes\npour se soumettre au pouvoir du voisin et qui cependant sont trop\npauvres pour s\u2019\u00e9tablir eux-m\u00eames comme tyrans. C\u2019est dans cette classe\nmoyenne de l\u2019humanit\u00e9 que se trouvent g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement tous les arts, toute\nla sagesse, toutes les vertus de la soci\u00e9t\u00e9. On ne conna\u00eet que cette\nclasse seule qui soit la v\u00e9ritable conservatrice de l\u2019ind\u00e9pendance\net qui puisse \u00eatre appel\u00e9e le peuple. Maintenant il peut arriver que\ncette classe moyenne de l\u2019humanit\u00e9 perde toute son influence dans\nun \u00c9tat, et que sa voix soit en quelque sorte noy\u00e9e dans celle de\nla populace; car si la fortune suffisante pour donner aujourd\u2019hui \u00e0\nquelqu\u2019un une voix dans les affaires de l\u2019\u00c9tat est dix fois moindre que\ncelle que l\u2019on avait jug\u00e9e suffisante en faisant la constitution, il\nest \u00e9vident qu\u2019un grand nombre de ceux de la populace sera introduit\nainsi dans le syst\u00e8me politique, et que ceux-ci, se mouvant toujours\ndans le tourbillon des grands, suivront la direction que les grands\npourront donner. Dans un tel \u00c9tat, par cons\u00e9quent, tout ce qu\u2019il reste\n\u00e0 faire \u00e0 la classe moyenne, c\u2019est de conserver la pr\u00e9rogative et les\nprivil\u00e8ges du chef supr\u00eame avec la plus religieuse circonspection. En\neffet, il d\u00e9partage le pouvoir des riches et emp\u00eache les grands de\ntomber d\u2019un poids dix fois plus lourd sur la classe moyenne plac\u00e9e\nau-dessous d\u2019eux. On peut comparer la classe moyenne \u00e0 une ville dont\nles riches font le si\u00e8ge, et au secours de laquelle le gouverneur se\nh\u00e2te du dehors. Tant que les assi\u00e9geants redoutent un ennemi imminent,\nil n\u2019est que naturel qu\u2019ils offrent aux gens de la ville les termes les\nplus engageants, qu\u2019ils les flattent de vaines paroles et les amusent\nde privil\u00e8ges; mais s\u2019ils ont une fois battu le gouverneur sur leurs\nderri\u00e8res, les murs de la ville ne sont plus qu\u2019une faible d\u00e9fense\npour les habitants. Ce qu\u2019ils ont alors \u00e0 esp\u00e9rer, on peut le voir\nen tournant les yeux vers la Hollande, G\u00eanes on Venise, o\u00f9 les lois\nr\u00e8gnent sur le pauvre, et le riche sur les lois. Je suis donc\u2014et je\nmourrais pour elle\u2014pour la monarchie, la monarchie sacr\u00e9e, car s\u2019il\nest quelque chose de sacr\u00e9 parmi les hommes, ce doit \u00eatre le souverain,\nl\u2019oint de son peuple; et toute diminution de son pouvoir, dans la\nguerre ou dans la paix, est un empi\u00e9tement sur les v\u00e9ritables libert\u00e9s\ndes sujets. Les mots de libert\u00e9, de patriotisme et de Bretons ont eu\ntrop d\u2019effet d\u00e9j\u00e0; il faut esp\u00e9rer que les vrais fils de l\u2019ind\u00e9pendance\nemp\u00eacheront d\u00e9sormais qu\u2019ils en aient davantage. J\u2019ai connu beaucoup de\nces pr\u00e9tendus champions de la libert\u00e9 dans mon temps, et pourtant je ne\nme rappelle pas un seul qui ne f\u00fbt au fond du c\u0153ur et dans sa famille\nun tyran.\u00bb\nJe m\u2019aper\u00e7us que, dans ma chaleur, j\u2019avais prolong\u00e9 cette harangue\nau del\u00e0 des bornes de la bonne \u00e9ducation; mais l\u2019impatience de mon\namphitryon, qui avait souvent tent\u00e9 de m\u2019interrompre, ne put se\ncontenir plus longtemps. \u00abQuoi! s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-il, c\u2019\u00e9tait un j\u00e9suite en\nhabit de pasteur que je f\u00eatais ainsi! Mais, par toutes les mines de\nhouille des Cornouailles, il va plier bagage, ou mon nom n\u2019est pas\nWilkinson.\u00bb Je vis alors que j\u2019\u00e9tais all\u00e9 trop loin, et je demandai\npardon de la chaleur avec laquelle j\u2019avais parl\u00e9. \u00abPardon! reprit-il,\nfurieux. Je crois que de tels principes ont besoin de dix mille\npardons. Quoi! abandonner la libert\u00e9, la propri\u00e9t\u00e9, et, comme dit le\n_Gazetteer_, se coucher pour \u00eatre b\u00e2t\u00e9 de sabots[7]! Monsieur, j\u2019exige\nque vous d\u00e9campiez de cette maison imm\u00e9diatement, pour \u00e9viter pire.\nJe l\u2019exige, monsieur.\u00bb J\u2019allais r\u00e9p\u00e9ter mes explications; mais juste\n\u00e0 ce moment nous entend\u00eemes un valet frapper \u00e0 la porte, et les deux\ndames s\u2019\u00e9cri\u00e8rent: \u00abS\u00fbr comme la mort, voil\u00e0 monsieur et madame qui\nrentrent!\u00bb Il para\u00eet que mon amphitryon n\u2019\u00e9tait apr\u00e8s tout que le\nsommelier qui, en l\u2019absence de son ma\u00eetre, avait envie de se donner\ndes airs et d\u2019\u00eatre pour un moment gentleman lui aussi; \u00e0 dire vrai,\nil causait politique aussi bien que la plupart des gentilshommes\ncampagnards. Mais rien ne saurait d\u00e9passer ma confusion lorsque je vis\nentrer le gentleman et sa dame; leur surprise en trouvant cette soci\u00e9t\u00e9\net cette bonne ch\u00e8re ne fut pas moindre que la n\u00f4tre. \u00abMessieurs, nous\ndit le vrai ma\u00eetre de la maison, \u00e0 moi et \u00e0 mon compagnon, ma femme et\nmoi, nous sommes vos serviteurs tr\u00e8s humbles; mais je d\u00e9clare que c\u2019est\nl\u00e0 une faveur si inattendue que nous avons peine \u00e0 ne pas succomber\nsous une telle obligation.\u00bb Quelque inattendue que notre compagnie\np\u00fbt \u00eatre pour eux, la leur, j\u2019en suis s\u00fbr, l\u2019\u00e9tait encore plus pour\nnous; je restais muet \u00e0 l\u2019id\u00e9e de ma propre stupidit\u00e9, lorsque je\nvois entrer imm\u00e9diatement derri\u00e8re eux ma ch\u00e8re miss Arabella Wilmot\nelle-m\u00eame, celle qui avait jadis \u00e9t\u00e9 destin\u00e9e \u00e0 mon fils George, mais\ndont l\u2019alliance s\u2019\u00e9tait rompue comme il a d\u00e9j\u00e0 \u00e9t\u00e9 racont\u00e9. D\u00e8s qu\u2019elle\nme vit, elle vola dans mes bras avec une joie extr\u00eame. \u00abMon cher\nmonsieur, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-elle, \u00e0 quel heureux hasard devons-nous une visite\nsi impr\u00e9vue? Je suis s\u00fbre que mon oncle et ma tante seront ravis quand\nils sauront qu\u2019ils ont pour h\u00f4te le bon docteur Primrose.\u00bb\n[Illustration]\nEn entendant mon nom, le vieux gentleman et la dame s\u2019avanc\u00e8rent\npoliment et me souhait\u00e8rent la bienvenue avec la plus cordiale\nhospitalit\u00e9. Ils ne purent s\u2019emp\u00eacher de sourire en apprenant\nl\u2019occasion de ma pr\u00e9sente visite, et l\u2019infortun\u00e9 sommelier, qu\u2019ils\nparaissaient d\u2019abord dispos\u00e9s \u00e0 mettre dehors, re\u00e7ut sa gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 mon\nintervention.\nM. Arnold et son \u00e9pouse, les ma\u00eetres de la maison, insist\u00e8rent alors\npour avoir le plaisir de me garder quelques jours, et comme leur ni\u00e8ce,\nma charmante \u00e9l\u00e8ve, dont l\u2019esprit s\u2019\u00e9tait en une certaine mesure form\u00e9\nsous ma direction, se joignait \u00e0 leurs instances, je me rendis. Le\nsoir, on me conduisit \u00e0 une chambre magnifique, et le lendemain, de\ngrand matin, miss Wilmot voulut se promener avec moi dans le jardin,\nqui \u00e9tait d\u00e9cor\u00e9 au go\u00fbt moderne. Apr\u00e8s quelque temps pass\u00e9 \u00e0 me\nmontrer les beaut\u00e9s du lieu, elle me demanda, d\u2019un air indiff\u00e9rent,\nquand j\u2019avais eu pour la derni\u00e8re fois des nouvelles de mon fils\nGeorge. \u00abH\u00e9las! mademoiselle, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, voil\u00e0 maintenant pr\u00e8s de\ntrois ann\u00e9es qu\u2019il est absent, et il n\u2019a jamais \u00e9crit ni \u00e0 ses amis ni\n\u00e0 moi. O\u00f9 est-il? je ne sais. Peut-\u00eatre ne le reverrai-je jamais, ni\nlui ni le bonheur. Non, ma ch\u00e8re demoiselle, nous ne reverrons plus\njamais des heures aussi charmantes que celles qui s\u2019\u00e9coulaient jadis\n\u00e0 notre foyer de Wakefield. Ma petite famille se disperse rapidement,\net la pauvret\u00e9 nous a apport\u00e9 non seulement le besoin, mais la honte.\u00bb\nL\u2019excellente fille laissa tomber une larme \u00e0 ce r\u00e9cit; mais, la voyant\ndou\u00e9e d\u2019une sensibilit\u00e9 trop vive, j\u2019\u00e9vitai d\u2019entrer dans un d\u00e9tail\nplus particulier de nos souffrances. Ce me fut, toutefois, quelque\nconsolation que de trouver que le temps n\u2019avait pas op\u00e9r\u00e9 de changement\ndans ses affections, et qu\u2019elle avait rejet\u00e9 plusieurs partis qui lui\navaient \u00e9t\u00e9 propos\u00e9s depuis notre d\u00e9part de son pays. Elle me fit\nfaire le tour de toutes les beaut\u00e9s de ce vaste jardin, me montrant\nchaque all\u00e9e et chaque bosquet, et en m\u00eame temps saisissant partout une\noccasion de me faire quelque nouvelle question relative \u00e0 mon fils.\nNous pass\u00e2mes la matin\u00e9e de cette mani\u00e8re, jusqu\u2019\u00e0 ce que la cloche\nnous rappel\u00e2t pour le d\u00eener, o\u00f9 nous trouv\u00e2mes le directeur de la\ntroupe ambulante dont il a d\u00e9j\u00e0 \u00e9t\u00e9 parl\u00e9. Il venait dans l\u2019intention\nde placer des billets pour la _Belle P\u00e9nitente_ qu\u2019on devait\nrepr\u00e9senter le soir m\u00eame, avec le r\u00f4le d\u2019Horatio tenu par un jeune\ngentleman qui n\u2019avait jamais encore paru sur aucun th\u00e9\u00e2tre. Il faisait\nle plus chaud \u00e9loge du nouvel acteur et affirmait qu\u2019il n\u2019avait jamais\nvu personne approcher si pr\u00e8s de la perfection. \u00abJouer ne s\u2019apprend\npas en un jour, faisait-il observer; mais ce gentleman semble n\u00e9 pour\nmarcher sur les planches. Sa voix, sa figure, ses attitudes, tout est\nadmirable. Nous avons mis la main dessus par hasard, en venant ici.\u00bb\nCes d\u00e9tails excitaient jusqu\u2019\u00e0 un certain point notre curiosit\u00e9, et,\nsur les pri\u00e8res des dames, je me laissai persuader de les accompagner\n\u00e0 la salle de th\u00e9\u00e2tre, qui n\u2019\u00e9tait autre qu\u2019une grange. Comme la\nsoci\u00e9t\u00e9 dans laquelle j\u2019\u00e9tais \u00e9tait incontestablement la premi\u00e8re de\nl\u2019endroit, nous f\u00fbmes re\u00e7us avec le plus grand respect et plac\u00e9s en\navant, aux si\u00e8ges de face, o\u00f9 nous attend\u00eemes quelque temps, avec une\nimpatience non m\u00e9diocre de voir Horatio faire son entr\u00e9e. Le nouvel\nacteur s\u2019avan\u00e7a enfin, et que les p\u00e8res jugent de mes sensations par\nles leurs lorsque je reconnus mon infortun\u00e9 fils! Il allait commencer;\nmais, tournant ses yeux vers la salle, il aper\u00e7ut miss Wilmot et\nmoi, et il resta aussit\u00f4t sans voix et sans mouvement. Les acteurs\nderri\u00e8re le d\u00e9cor, attribuant cet arr\u00eat \u00e0 sa timidit\u00e9 naturelle,\nvoulurent l\u2019encourager; mais, au lieu de continuer, il \u00e9clata en un\ntorrent de larmes et se retira de la sc\u00e8ne. Je ne sais ce que furent\nmes sentiments en cette occasion, car ils se succ\u00e9d\u00e8rent avec trop de\nrapidit\u00e9 pour l\u2019analyse: mais je fus bient\u00f4t r\u00e9veill\u00e9 de ces p\u00e9nibles\nr\u00e9flexions par miss Wilmot qui, p\u00e2le et d\u2019une voix tremblante, me\npriait de la reconduire chez son oncle. Quand nous f\u00fbmes arriv\u00e9s\n\u00e0 la maison, M. Arnold, qui n\u2019avait pas encore le mot de notre\nextraordinaire conduite, apprenant que le nouvel acteur \u00e9tait mon\nfils, lui envoya sa voiture et une invitation; comme le jeune homme\npersistait dans son refus de repara\u00eetre sur la sc\u00e8ne, les com\u00e9diens\nen mirent un autre \u00e0 sa place, et nous ne tard\u00e2mes pas \u00e0 l\u2019avoir avec\nnous. M. Arnold lui fit le plus bienveillant accueil, et je le re\u00e7us\navec mes transports ordinaires, car je n\u2019ai jamais pu feindre un\nressentiment que je n\u2019ai point. L\u2019accueil de miss Wilmot fut marqu\u00e9\nd\u2019un air d\u2019indiff\u00e9rence, mais je pus m\u2019apercevoir qu\u2019elle jouait un\nr\u00f4le \u00e9tudi\u00e9. Le tumulte de son c\u0153ur ne semblait pas apais\u00e9 encore: elle\ndisait vingt \u00e9tourderies qui ressemblaient \u00e0 de la joie, puis elle\nriait tout haut de sa propre extravagance. De temps en temps, elle\njetait un regard furtif \u00e0 la glace, comme heureuse de la conscience de\nson irr\u00e9sistible beaut\u00e9; et souvent elle faisait des questions sans\naccorder aux r\u00e9ponses la moindre attention.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE XX\n_Histoire d\u2019un vagabond philosophe, qui court apr\u00e8s la nouveaut\u00e9 et\nperd le bonheur._\nAPR\u00c8S que nous e\u00fbmes soup\u00e9, M^{rs} Arnold offrit poliment d\u2019envoyer\ndeux de ses domestiques chercher les bagages de mon fils, ce que,\nd\u2019abord, il fit mine de refuser; mais comme elle le pressait, il fut\noblig\u00e9 de lui d\u00e9clarer qu\u2019une canne et une valise \u00e9taient tous les\neffets mobiliers qu\u2019il p\u00fbt se vanter de poss\u00e9der sur cette terre. \u00abEh\noui, mon fils, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, vous m\u2019avez quitt\u00e9 pauvre, et je vois que\npauvre vous \u00eates revenu; cependant je ne fais pas de doute que vous\nn\u2019ayez vu beaucoup du monde.\u2014Oui, monsieur, r\u00e9pliqua mon fils; mais\nvoyager apr\u00e8s la fortune n\u2019est pas le moyen de se l\u2019assurer, et de\nfait, j\u2019en ai depuis quelque temps abandonn\u00e9 la poursuite.\u2014J\u2019imagine,\nmonsieur, dit M^{rs} Arnold, que le r\u00e9cit de vos aventures serait\ndivertissant; la premi\u00e8re partie, je l\u2019ai souvent entendue de la bouche\nde ma ni\u00e8ce, mais si la compagnie pouvait obtenir de vous le reste,\nce serait une obligation de plus qu\u2019on vous aurait.\u2014Madame, r\u00e9pliqua\nmon fils, je vous assure que le plaisir que vous aurez \u00e0 les \u00e9couter\nne sera pas la moiti\u00e9 si grand que ma vanit\u00e9 \u00e0 les dire; et cependant\nc\u2019est \u00e0 peine si, dans toute l\u2019histoire, je puis vous promettre une\nseule aventure, mon r\u00e9cit portant plut\u00f4t sur ce que j\u2019ai vu que sur\nce que j\u2019ai fait. Le premier malheur de ma vie, que vous connaissez\ntous, fut grand; mais s\u2019il me d\u00e9sola, il ne put m\u2019abattre. Personne\nn\u2019a jamais \u00e9t\u00e9 plus habile \u00e0 esp\u00e9rer que moi. Moins je trouvais la\nfortune bienveillante \u00e0 un moment, plus j\u2019attendais d\u2019elle \u00e0 un autre;\net comme j\u2019\u00e9tais au bas de sa roue, chaque tour nouveau pouvait bien\nm\u2019\u00e9lever, mais non pas m\u2019abaisser. Je m\u2019acheminai donc vers Londres un\nbeau matin, nullement inquiet du lendemain, gai comme les oiseaux qui\nchantaient sur la route, et je me donnais du courage en r\u00e9fl\u00e9chissant\nque Londres est le march\u00e9 o\u00f9 les talents de tout genre sont s\u00fbrs de\nrencontrer distinctions et r\u00e9compenses.\nA mon arriv\u00e9e dans la ville, mon premier soin, monsieur, fut de\nremettre votre lettre de recommandation \u00e0 notre cousin qui lui-m\u00eame\nn\u2019\u00e9tait pas dans une position beaucoup plus brillante que moi. Mon\npremier projet, vous le savez, monsieur, \u00e9tait d\u2019\u00eatre surveillant dans\nun coll\u00e8ge, et je lui demandai son avis sur la chose. Notre cousin\nre\u00e7ut l\u2019ouverture avec une grimace vraiment sardonique. \u00abAh! oui,\ns\u2019\u00e9cria-t-il, c\u2019est, en effet, une tr\u00e8s jolie carri\u00e8re, toute trac\u00e9e\npour vous. J\u2019ai moi-m\u00eame \u00e9t\u00e9 surveillant dans une pension, et je veux\nmourir dans une cravate de chanvre, si je n\u2019aimerais pas mieux \u00eatre\nsous-guichetier \u00e0 Newgate. J\u2019\u00e9tais debout t\u00f4t et tard; le ma\u00eetre me\nregardait du haut de ses sourcils; la ma\u00eetresse me ha\u00efssait pour la\nlaideur de mon visage; les enfants me tourmentaient dans la maison, et\njamais je n\u2019avais la permission de bouger pour aller chercher quelque\ntrace de civilisation au dehors. Mais \u00eates-vous s\u00fbr que vous soyez bon\npour une \u00e9cole? Laissez-moi vous examiner un peu. Avez-vous \u00e9t\u00e9 \u00e9lev\u00e9\ndans l\u2019apprentissage du m\u00e9tier? Non. Alors, vous n\u2019avez pas ce qu\u2019il\nfaut pour une \u00e9cole. Savez-vous peigner les enfants? Non. Alors, vous\nn\u2019avez pas ce qu\u2019il faut pour une \u00e9cole. Avez-vous eu la petite v\u00e9role?\nNon. Alors, vous n\u2019avez pas ce qu\u2019il faut pour une \u00e9cole. Savez-vous\ncoucher \u00e0 trois dans un lit? Non. Alors, vous n\u2019aurez jamais ce qu\u2019il\nfaut pour une \u00e9cole. Avez-vous un bon estomac? Oui. Alors, vous n\u2019avez\nen aucune fa\u00e7on ce qu\u2019il faut pour une \u00e9cole. Non, monsieur. Si vous\nd\u00e9sirez une profession facile et de bon go\u00fbt, faites un contrat de\nsept ans d\u2019apprentissage pour tourner la meule d\u2019un coutelier, mais\nfuyez les \u00e9coles par tous les moyens. Cependant voyons! continua-t-il;\nje vois que vous \u00eates un gar\u00e7on d\u2019esprit et de quelque instruction.\nQue diriez-vous de d\u00e9buter par \u00eatre auteur, comme moi? Vous avez lu\ndans les livres, sans doute, que des hommes de g\u00e9nie meurent de faim\ndans le m\u00e9tier; eh bien, je vous montrerai \u00e0 l\u2019heure qu\u2019il est dans\nla ville quarante gaillards fort bouch\u00e9s qui vivent dans l\u2019opulence,\ntous gens honn\u00eates, d\u2019allures r\u00e9gl\u00e9es, qui font tout doucement leur\npetit bonhomme de chemin, \u00e9crivent de l\u2019histoire et de la politique, et\nre\u00e7oivent des louanges; des hommes, monsieur, qui, s\u2019ils avaient \u00e9t\u00e9\n\u00e9lev\u00e9s savetiers, auraient toute leur vie raccommod\u00e9 des souliers, mais\nn\u2019en auraient jamais fait.\nTrouvant qu\u2019il n\u2019attachait pas une bien grande distinction au\npersonnage de surveillant, je r\u00e9solus d\u2019accepter la proposition, et\ncomme j\u2019avais le plus grand respect pour la litt\u00e9rature, je saluai avec\nr\u00e9v\u00e9rence l\u2019_antiqua mater_ de Grub street[8]. Je trouvais glorieux\nde suivre un chemin que Dryden et Otway avaient avant moi foul\u00e9. Je\nconsid\u00e9rais la d\u00e9esse de ces lieux comme la m\u00e8re de la perfection, et,\nquelque bon sens que puisse nous donner l\u2019exp\u00e9rience du monde, cette\npauvret\u00e9 qu\u2019elle accordait, je la supposais la nourrice du g\u00e9nie.\nGros de ces pens\u00e9es, je m\u2019\u00e9tablis sur ma chaise, et, trouvant que les\nmeilleures choses n\u2019avaient pas encore \u00e9t\u00e9 dites du mauvais c\u00f4t\u00e9, je\nr\u00e9solus de faire un livre qui serait totalement neuf. En cons\u00e9quence,\nj\u2019habillai quelques paradoxes ing\u00e9nieusement. Ils \u00e9taient faux, il\nest vrai; mais ils \u00e9taient neufs. Les joyaux de la v\u00e9rit\u00e9 ont \u00e9t\u00e9 si\nsouvent pr\u00e9sent\u00e9s par d\u2019autres, qu\u2019il ne me restait rien, sinon de\npr\u00e9senter de splendides clinquants qui, \u00e0 distance, auraient tout\naussi bonne mine. Vous en \u00eates t\u00e9moins, puissances c\u00e9lestes! Quelle\nimportance imaginaire se tenait perch\u00e9e sur ma plume d\u2019oie pendant que\nj\u2019\u00e9crivais! Le monde savant tout entier, je n\u2019en faisais pas de doute,\nse l\u00e8verait pour combattre mes syst\u00e8mes; mais, en ce cas, j\u2019\u00e9tais\npr\u00eat \u00e0 combattre le monde savant tout entier. Comme le porc-\u00e9pic, je\nme tenais ramass\u00e9 sur moi-m\u00eame, pr\u00e9sentant le dard de ma plume \u00e0 tout\nadversaire.\n\u2014Bien dit! mon gar\u00e7on, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je. Et quel sujet avez-vous trait\u00e9?\nJ\u2019esp\u00e8re que vous n\u2019avez pas pass\u00e9 sous silence l\u2019importance de la\nmonogamie. Mais j\u2019interromps; continuez. Vous publi\u00e2tes vos paradoxes;\neh bien, qu\u2019est-ce que le monde savant a dit de vos paradoxes?\n\u2014Monsieur, r\u00e9pliqua mon fils, le monde savant n\u2019a rien dit de mes\nparadoxes; rien du tout, monsieur. Chacun de ses membres \u00e9tait\noccup\u00e9 \u00e0 louer ses amis et lui-m\u00eame, ou \u00e0 condamner ses ennemis; et\nmalheureusement, comme je n\u2019avais ni amis ni ennemis, je souffris la\nplus cruelle des mortifications, l\u2019indiff\u00e9rence.\n[Illustration]\n\u00abComme je m\u00e9ditais un jour dans un caf\u00e9 sur le sort de mes paradoxes\nun petit homme, entrant par hasard dans la salle, prit place dans un\ncompartiment en face de moi; apr\u00e8s quelques discours pr\u00e9alables, voyant\nque j\u2019\u00e9tais lettr\u00e9, il tira un paquet de prospectus et me pria de\nsouscrire \u00e0 une nouvelle \u00e9dition qu\u2019il allait donner de Properce, avec\nnotes. Cette demande amena naturellement pour r\u00e9ponse que je n\u2019avais\npas d\u2019argent, et cet aveu le conduisit \u00e0 s\u2019enqu\u00e9rir de la nature de\nmes esp\u00e9rances. Reconnaissant que mes esp\u00e9rances \u00e9taient pr\u00e9cis\u00e9ment\naussi consid\u00e9rables que ma bourse: \u00abJe vois, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-il, que vous\nn\u2019\u00eates pas au courant des choses de la ville; je veux vous en enseigner\nun c\u00f4t\u00e9. Regardez ces prospectus; ce sont ces prospectus m\u00eames qui me\nfont vivre fort \u00e0 l\u2019aise depuis douze ans. A l\u2019instant o\u00f9 un noble\nrevient de ses voyages, o\u00f9 un cr\u00e9ole arrive de la Jama\u00efque ou bien une\ndouairi\u00e8re de sa maison de campagne, je frappe pour une souscription.\nJ\u2019assi\u00e8ge d\u2019abord leurs c\u0153urs par la flatterie, et ensuite je fais\npasser mes prospectus par la br\u00e8che. S\u2019ils souscrivent volontiers la\npremi\u00e8re fois, je renouvelle ma requ\u00eate pour obtenir le prix d\u2019une\nd\u00e9dicace. S\u2019ils m\u2019accordent cela, je les enj\u00f4le une fois de plus pour\nfaire graver leur blason en t\u00eate du livre. C\u2019est ainsi, continua-t-il,\nque je vis de la vanit\u00e9 et que j\u2019en ris. Mais, entre nous, je suis\nmaintenant trop bien connu; je serais bien aise d\u2019emprunter un peu\nvotre visage. Un noble de distinction vient justement de revenir\nd\u2019Italie; ma figure est famili\u00e8re \u00e0 son portier; mais si vous lui\nportez cet exemplaire de po\u00e9sies, je gage ma vie que vous r\u00e9ussirez, et\nnous partagerons la d\u00e9pouille.\n\u2014Dieu nous b\u00e9nisse, George! m\u2019\u00e9criai-je. Et c\u2019est l\u00e0 l\u2019emploi des\npo\u00e8tes aujourd\u2019hui? Des hommes comme eux, d\u2019un talent sublime,\ns\u2019abaissent ainsi jusqu\u2019\u00e0 qu\u00e9mander! Peuvent-ils bien d\u00e9shonorer leur\nvocation au point de faire un vil trafic d\u2019\u00e9loges pour un morceau de\npain?\n\u00abOh! non, monsieur, r\u00e9pondit-il. Un vrai po\u00e8te ne saurait jamais aller\nsi bas, car partout o\u00f9 il y a g\u00e9nie il y a fiert\u00e9. Les \u00eatres que je\nsuis en train de d\u00e9crire ne sont que des mendiants en rimes. Le po\u00e8te\nv\u00e9ritable, s\u2019il brave toutes les souffrances pour la gloire, recule\naussi avec effroi devant le m\u00e9pris, et il n\u2019y a que ceux qui sont\nindignes de protection qui condescendent \u00e0 solliciter.\n\u00abAyant l\u2019esprit trop fier pour m\u2019abaisser \u00e0 de telles indignit\u00e9s,\net pourtant une fortune trop humble pour faire une seconde tentative\nvers la gloire, je fus alors oblig\u00e9 de prendre un terme moyen et\nd\u2019\u00e9crire pour gagner mon pain. Mais je ne poss\u00e9dais pas les qualit\u00e9s\nn\u00e9cessaires \u00e0 une profession o\u00f9 l\u2019assiduit\u00e9 pure et simple peut\nseule assurer le succ\u00e8s. J\u2019\u00e9tais incapable de r\u00e9primer mon secret\namour des applaudissements, et je consumais d\u2019ordinaire mon temps \u00e0\nm\u2019efforcer d\u2019atteindre une perfection qui n\u2019occupe pas beaucoup de\nplace, lorsqu\u2019il eut \u00e9t\u00e9 plus avantageux de l\u2019employer aux prolixes\nproductions d\u2019une f\u00e9conde m\u00e9diocrit\u00e9. Mon petit morceau passait ainsi,\nau milieu d\u2019une publication p\u00e9riodique, inaper\u00e7u et inconnu. Le\npublic avait des choses plus importantes \u00e0 faire que de remarquer la\nsimplicit\u00e9 ais\u00e9e de mon style ou l\u2019harmonie de mes p\u00e9riodes. C\u2019\u00e9taient\nautant de feuillets jet\u00e9s \u00e0 l\u2019oubli. Mes essais \u00e9taient ensevelis parmi\nles essais sur la libert\u00e9, les contes orientaux et les rem\u00e8des contre\nla morsure des chiens enrag\u00e9s, tandis que Philanthos, Philal\u00e9th\u00e8s,\nPhil\u00e9leuth\u00e9rios et Philanthropos \u00e9crivaient tous mieux que moi, parce\nqu\u2019ils \u00e9crivaient plus vite.\n\u00abJe me mis alors naturellement \u00e0 ne faire ma soci\u00e9t\u00e9 que d\u2019auteurs\nd\u00e9\u00e7us, comme moi-m\u00eame, qui se louaient, se plaignaient et se\nm\u00e9prisaient les uns les autres. La jouissance que nous trouvions aux\ntravaux de tout \u00e9crivain c\u00e9l\u00e8bre \u00e9tait en raison inverse de leurs\nm\u00e9rites. Je m\u2019aper\u00e7us que nul g\u00e9nie chez autrui ne pouvait me plaire.\nMes infortun\u00e9s paradoxes avaient enti\u00e8rement dess\u00e9ch\u00e9 en moi cette\nsource de plaisir. Je ne pouvais ni lire ni \u00e9crire avec satisfaction,\ncar la perfection chez autrui faisait l\u2019objet de mon aversion, et\n\u00e9crire \u00e9tait mon m\u00e9tier.\n\u00abComme j\u2019\u00e9tais, un jour, au milieu de ces sombres r\u00e9flexions, assis sur\nun banc dans Saint-James\u2019s Park, un jeune gentleman de distinction, que\nj\u2019avais connu intimement \u00e0 l\u2019Universit\u00e9, s\u2019approcha de moi. Nous nous\nsalu\u00e2mes avec quelque h\u00e9sitation; lui, presque honteux d\u2019\u00eatre connu\npar quelqu\u2019un de si pi\u00e8tre mine, et moi craignant d\u2019\u00eatre repouss\u00e9.\nMais mes appr\u00e9hensions s\u2019\u00e9vanouirent promptement, car Ned Thornhill\n\u00e9tait au fond un v\u00e9ritable bon gar\u00e7on.\u00bb\nJe l\u2019interrompis.\n\u00abQue dites-vous, George? Thornhill, n\u2019est-ce pas le nom que vous avez\ndit? Assur\u00e9ment ce ne peut \u00eatre que mon seigneur.\n\u2014Dieu me b\u00e9nisse! s\u2019\u00e9cria M^{rs} Arnold. Avez-vous M. Thornhill pour\nsi proche voisin? C\u2019est depuis longtemps un ami de notre famille, et\nnous attendons bient\u00f4t sa visite.\n\u00abLe premier soin de mon ami, continua mon fils, fut de changer mon\next\u00e9rieur au moyen d\u2019un tr\u00e8s beau costume complet pris dans sa\ngarde-robe, puis je fus admis \u00e0 sa table sur le pied moiti\u00e9 d\u2019un ami,\nmoiti\u00e9 d\u2019un subalterne. Mes fonctions consistaient \u00e0 l\u2019accompagner aux\nventes publiques, \u00e0 le mettre de bonne humeur quand il posait pour son\nportrait, \u00e0 m\u2019asseoir \u00e0 gauche dans sa voiture quand la place n\u2019\u00e9tait\npas prise par un autre, et \u00e0 l\u2019aider \u00e0 courir le guilledou, comme nous\ndisions, quand nous avions envie de faire des farces. Outre cela,\nj\u2019avais vingt autres l\u00e9gers emplois dans la maison. Je devais faire une\nfoule de petites choses sans en \u00eatre pri\u00e9: apporter le tire-bouchon,\ntenir sur les fonts tous les enfants du sommelier, chanter quand on me\nle demandait, n\u2019\u00eatre jamais de mauvaise humeur, \u00eatre toujours modeste,\net, si je pouvais, me trouver tr\u00e8s heureux.\n[Illustration]\n\u00abDans ce poste honorable, je n\u2019\u00e9tais cependant pas sans rival. Un\ncapitaine d\u2019infanterie de marine, que la nature avait form\u00e9 pour la\nplace, me disputait l\u2019affection de mon patron. Sa m\u00e8re avait \u00e9t\u00e9\nrepasseuse chez un homme de qualit\u00e9, et par l\u00e0 il avait acquis de\nbonne heure du go\u00fbt pour le m\u00e9tier de complaisant et de g\u00e9n\u00e9alogiste.\nCe gentleman avait donn\u00e9 pour but \u00e0 sa vie de conna\u00eetre des grands\nseigneurs. Plusieurs l\u2019avaient d\u00e9j\u00e0 renvoy\u00e9 pour sa stupidit\u00e9, mais\nil en trouvait encore beaucoup d\u2019aussi sots que lui, qui tol\u00e9raient\nses assiduit\u00e9s. La flatterie \u00e9tant sa profession, il la pratiquait\navec toute l\u2019aisance et toute l\u2019adresse imaginables, tandis qu\u2019elle\n\u00e9tait gauche et raide, venant de moi; d\u2019ailleurs, comme chaque jour le\nbesoin d\u2019\u00eatre flatt\u00e9 augmentait chez mon patron et qu\u2019\u00e0 chaque heure\nj\u2019\u00e9tais mieux au courant de ses d\u00e9fauts, je devenais de moins en moins\ndispos\u00e9 \u00e0 le satisfaire. Ainsi j\u2019allais, cette fois encore, honn\u00eatement\nc\u00e9der le champ libre au capitaine, lorsque mon ami trouva l\u2019occasion\nd\u2019avoir besoin de moi. Il ne s\u2019agissait de rien moins que de me battre\nen duel pour lui, avec un gentleman dont on pr\u00e9tendait qu\u2019il avait mis\nla s\u0153ur \u00e0 mal. Je me rendis promptement \u00e0 sa requ\u00eate, et, bien que je\nvoie que ma conduite ici vous d\u00e9pla\u00eet, l\u2019amiti\u00e9 m\u2019en faisait un devoir\nimp\u00e9rieux, et je ne pouvais pas refuser. J\u2019entamai l\u2019affaire, d\u00e9sarmai\nmon antagoniste, et eus bient\u00f4t apr\u00e8s le plaisir de reconna\u00eetre que la\ndame n\u2019\u00e9tait qu\u2019une fille de la ville, et l\u2019individu son souteneur et\nun escroc. Ce service me valut pour r\u00e9compense les plus chaleureuses\nassurances de gratitude; mais comme mon ami devait quitter la ville\ndans quelques jours, il ne trouva pas d\u2019autre moyen de me servir que\nde me recommander \u00e0 son oncle, sir William Thornhill, et \u00e0 un autre\nnoble de grande distinction, qui occupait un poste du gouvernement.\nLorsqu\u2019il fut parti, mon premier soin fut de porter sa lettre de\nrecommandation \u00e0 son oncle, homme dont la r\u00e9putation pour toute sorte\nde vertus \u00e9tait universelle et pourtant justifi\u00e9e. Les serviteurs me\nre\u00e7urent avec les sourires les plus hospitaliers, car les visages des\ndomestiques refl\u00e8tent toujours la bienveillance du ma\u00eetre. Introduit\ndans une grande pi\u00e8ce o\u00f9 sir William ne tarda pas \u00e0 venir vers moi, je\nm\u2019acquittai de mon message et remis ma lettre, qu\u2019il lut; et, apr\u00e8s\nquelques minutes de silence: \u00abJe vous prie, monsieur, interrogea-t-il,\napprenez-moi ce que vous avez fait pour mon parent, pour m\u00e9riter cette\nchaude recommandation? Mais j\u2019imagine, monsieur, que je devine vos\ntitres. Vous vous \u00eates battu pour lui. Et ainsi vous attendriez de moi\nune r\u00e9compense pour avoir \u00e9t\u00e9 l\u2019instrument de ses vices? Je d\u00e9sire, je\nd\u00e9sire sinc\u00e8rement que mon refus d\u2019aujourd\u2019hui puisse \u00eatre en quelque\nmani\u00e8re un ch\u00e2timent de votre faute, et plus encore, qu\u2019il puisse avoir\nquelque influence pour vous induire au repentir.\u00bb\n\u00abJe supportai patiemment la s\u00e9v\u00e9rit\u00e9 de cette r\u00e9primande, parce\nque je savais qu\u2019elle \u00e9tait juste. Tout mon espoir reposait donc\nmaintenant sur ma lettre au grand personnage. Comme les portes de la\nnoblesse sont presque toujours assi\u00e9g\u00e9es de mendiants, tout pr\u00eats \u00e0\nglisser quelque p\u00e9tition furtive, je trouvai qu\u2019obtenir entr\u00e9e n\u2019\u00e9tait\npas chose facile. Cependant, ayant achet\u00e9 les domestiques avec la\nmoiti\u00e9 de ma fortune en ce monde, je fus introduit \u00e0 la fin dans une\npi\u00e8ce spacieuse, apr\u00e8s avoir, au pr\u00e9alable, envoy\u00e9 ma lettre pour la\nsoumettre \u00e0 Sa Seigneurie. Pendant cet intervalle plein d\u2019anxi\u00e9t\u00e9,\nj\u2019eus tout le temps de regarder autour de moi. Tout \u00e9tait grandiose\net heureusement ordonn\u00e9; la peinture, l\u2019ameublement, les dorures me\np\u00e9trifi\u00e8rent de respect et \u00e9lev\u00e8rent l\u2019id\u00e9e que je me faisais du\npropri\u00e9taire. Ah! pensais-je en moi-m\u00eame, comme il doit \u00eatre vraiment\ngrand, le possesseur de toutes ces choses, qui porte dans sa t\u00eate\nles affaires de l\u2019\u00c9tat et dont la maison \u00e9tale des richesses qui\nsuffiraient \u00e0 la moiti\u00e9 d\u2019un royaume! Assur\u00e9ment son g\u00e9nie doit \u00eatre\ninsondable! Pendant ces intimidantes r\u00e9flexions, j\u2019entendis un pas\ns\u2019avancer lourdement. Ah! voil\u00e0 le grand homme lui-m\u00eame! Non, ce\nn\u2019\u00e9tait qu\u2019une femme de chambre. Un autre pas s\u2019entendit bient\u00f4t apr\u00e8s.\nCe doit \u00eatre lui! Non, ce n\u2019\u00e9tait que le valet de chambre du grand\nhomme. A la fin, Sa Seigneurie fit en personne son apparition. \u00abEst-ce\nvous, cria-t-il, qui \u00eates le porteur de cette lettre?\u00bb Je r\u00e9pondis par\nune inclination. \u00abCeci m\u2019apprend, continua-t-il, la mani\u00e8re dont il\nse fait que...\u00bb Mais juste \u00e0 cet instant un domestique lui remit une\ncarte, et, sans faire plus attention \u00e0 moi, il sortit de la chambre et\nme laissa savourer mon bonheur \u00e0 loisir. Je ne le revis plus, jusqu\u2019\u00e0\nce qu\u2019un valet de pied m\u2019e\u00fbt dit que Sa Seigneurie se rendait \u00e0 son\ncarrosse \u00e0 la porte. Imm\u00e9diatement je courus en bas et joignis ma voix\n\u00e0 celles de trois ou quatre autres, qui \u00e9taient venus, comme moi, pour\nsolliciter des faveurs. Mais Sa Seigneurie allait trop vite pour nous\net elle gagnait \u00e0 larges enjamb\u00e9es la porte de son carrosse, lorsque je\ncriai apr\u00e8s elle pour savoir si je devais esp\u00e9rer une r\u00e9ponse. Pendant\nce temps, il \u00e9tait mont\u00e9 et il murmura quelques mots dont je n\u2019entendis\nque la moiti\u00e9, l\u2019autre se perdant au milieu du bruit des roues de la\nvoiture. Je restai quelque temps le cou tendu, dans la posture de\nquelqu\u2019un qui \u00e9coute pour saisir des sons pr\u00e9cieux; mais, regardant\nautour de moi, je me trouvai tout seul devant la grande porte de Sa\nSeigneurie.\n\u00abMa patience, poursuivit mon fils, \u00e9tait cette fois tout \u00e0 fait\n\u00e9puis\u00e9e. Exasp\u00e9r\u00e9 des mille indignit\u00e9s que j\u2019avais essuy\u00e9es, j\u2019aurais\nvoulu me pr\u00e9cipiter, et il ne me manquait que le gouffre pour me\nrecevoir. Je me regardais comme un de ces vils objets que la nature a\ndestin\u00e9s \u00e0 \u00eatre jet\u00e9s de c\u00f4t\u00e9 dans sa chambre aux rebuts, pour y p\u00e9rir\ndans l\u2019obscurit\u00e9. Cependant il me restait encore une demi-guin\u00e9e; je\ncrus que c\u2019\u00e9tait une chose dont la nature elle-m\u00eame ne devait pas me\npriver; mais, afin d\u2019en \u00eatre s\u00fbr, je r\u00e9solus d\u2019aller imm\u00e9diatement la\nd\u00e9penser tandis que je l\u2019avais, et puis de me confier aux \u00e9v\u00e9nements\npour le reste. Comme je m\u2019en allais avec cette r\u00e9solution, il se trouva\nque le bureau de M. Crispe \u00e9tait ouvert avec un aspect engageant,\ncomme pour me faire un cordial accueil. Dans ce bureau, M. Crispe veut\nbien offrir \u00e0 tous les sujets de Sa Majest\u00e9 une g\u00e9n\u00e9reuse promesse de\ntrente livres sterling par an, pour laquelle promesse tout ce qu\u2019ils\ndonnent en retour est leur libert\u00e9 pour la vie et la permission de\nse laisser transporter en Am\u00e9rique comme esclaves. Je fus heureux de\ntrouver un lieu o\u00f9 je pouvais engloutir mes craintes dans le d\u00e9sespoir,\net j\u2019entrai dans cette cellule, car elle en avait l\u2019apparence, avec la\nd\u00e9votion d\u2019un moine.\n[Illustration]\nJ\u2019y trouvai une quantit\u00e9 de pauvres h\u00e8res, dans des circonstances\nsemblables aux miennes, attendant l\u2019arriv\u00e9e de M. Crispe et pr\u00e9sentant\nen raccourci un tableau exact de l\u2019impatience anglaise. Tous ces\n\u00eatres intraitables, en querelle avec la fortune, se vengeaient de\nses injustices sur leurs propres c\u0153urs. Mais M. Crispe arriva enfin,\net tous nos murmures firent place au silence. Il daigna me regarder\nd\u2019un air particuli\u00e8rement approbateur, et vraiment c\u2019\u00e9tait, depuis un\nmois, le premier homme qui m\u2019e\u00fbt parl\u00e9 en souriant. Apr\u00e8s quelques\nquestions, il reconnut que j\u2019\u00e9tais apte \u00e0 tout dans le monde. Il\nr\u00e9fl\u00e9chit un instant sur la meilleure mani\u00e8re de me pourvoir, et,\nse frappant le front comme s\u2019il l\u2019avait trouv\u00e9e, il m\u2019assura qu\u2019il\n\u00e9tait question en ce moment d\u2019une d\u00e9putation du synode de Pensylvanie\naux Indiens Chickasaw, et qu\u2019il emploierait son influence \u00e0 m\u2019en\nfaire nommer secr\u00e9taire. J\u2019avais au fond du c\u0153ur la conviction que le\ngaillard mentait, et cependant sa promesse me fit plaisir: le seul son\ndes paroles avait quelque chose de si magnifique! Je partageai donc\nhonn\u00eatement ma demi-guin\u00e9e, dont une moiti\u00e9 alla s\u2019ajouter \u00e0 ses trente\nmille livres, et avec l\u2019autre moiti\u00e9 je d\u00e9cidai d\u2019aller \u00e0 la plus\nproche taverne et de m\u2019y donner le plus de bonheur que je pourrais.\n\u00abJe sortais dans ce dessein, lorsque je fus rencontr\u00e9 \u00e0 la porte par\nun capitaine de navire avec lequel j\u2019avais autrefois li\u00e9 quelque peu\nconnaissance, et il consentit \u00e0 me tenir compagnie devant un bol de\npunch. Comme je n\u2019ai jamais aim\u00e9 \u00e0 faire un secret des circonstances\no\u00f9 je me trouve, il m\u2019assura que j\u2019\u00e9tais sur le bord m\u00eame de ma ruine\nen \u00e9coutant les promesses de l\u2019homme du bureau, parce que son seul\ndessein \u00e9tait de me vendre aux plantations. \u00abMais, continua-t-il,\nje me figure qu\u2019une travers\u00e9e beaucoup plus courte pourrait vous\nmettre tr\u00e8s ais\u00e9ment dans un gentil chemin pour gagner votre vie.\nSuivez mon conseil. Mon navire met \u00e0 la voile demain pour Amsterdam.\nQue diriez-vous d\u2019y monter comme passager? Du moment que vous serez\nd\u00e9barqu\u00e9, tout ce que vous aurez \u00e0 faire, ce sera d\u2019enseigner l\u2019anglais\naux Hollandais, et je garantis que vous trouverez assez d\u2019\u00e9l\u00e8ves et\nd\u2019argent. Je suppose que vous comprenez l\u2019anglais \u00e0 l\u2019heure qu\u2019il est,\najouta-t-il, ou le diable y serait.\u00bb\n\u00abJe lui donnai cette assurance avec confiance, mais j\u2019exprimai le\ndoute que les Hollandais fussent dispos\u00e9s \u00e0 apprendre l\u2019anglais. Il\nm\u2019affirma avec serment qu\u2019ils aimaient la chose \u00e0 la folie, et sur\ncette affirmation j\u2019acceptai sa proposition et m\u2019embarquai le lendemain\npour enseigner l\u2019anglais aux Hollandais. Le vent fut bon, la travers\u00e9e\ncourte, et, apr\u00e8s avoir pay\u00e9 mon passage avec la moiti\u00e9 de mes effets,\nje me trouvai comme un \u00e9tranger tomb\u00e9 du ciel dans une des principales\nrues d\u2019Amsterdam. Dans cette situation, je n\u2019\u00e9tais pas dispos\u00e9 \u00e0\nlaisser passer le temps sans l\u2019employer \u00e0 enseigner. En cons\u00e9quence,\nje m\u2019adressai \u00e0 deux ou trois, parmi ceux que je rencontrai, dont\nl\u2019aspect me semblait promettre le plus; mais il nous fut impossible\nde nous entendre mutuellement. Ce fut \u00e0 ce moment pr\u00e9cis seulement\nque je me rappelai que, pour enseigner l\u2019anglais aux Hollandais, il\n\u00e9tait n\u00e9cessaire qu\u2019ils m\u2019enseignassent le hollandais d\u2019abord. Comment\navais-je fait pour ne pas songer \u00e0 une difficult\u00e9 si \u00e9vidente? Voil\u00e0\nqui me confond; mais il est certain que je n\u2019y avais pas song\u00e9.\n\u00abCe plan ainsi ruin\u00e9, j\u2019eus quelque id\u00e9e de me rembarquer tout uniment\npour l\u2019Angleterre; mais \u00e9tant tomb\u00e9 dans la compagnie d\u2019un \u00e9tudiant\nirlandais qui revenait de Louvain, et notre conversation s\u2019\u00e9tant port\u00e9e\nsur les choses litt\u00e9raires (car on peut observer en passant que j\u2019ai\ntoujours oubli\u00e9 la mis\u00e8re de ma situation quand j\u2019ai pu m\u2019entretenir de\nsujets semblables), j\u2019appris de lui qu\u2019il n\u2019y avait pas, dans toute son\nuniversit\u00e9, deux hommes qui entendissent le grec. J\u2019en fus stup\u00e9fait.\nSur-le-champ je r\u00e9solus d\u2019aller \u00e0 Louvain et d\u2019y vivre en enseignant le\ngrec, et je fus encourag\u00e9 dans ce dessein par mon fr\u00e8re \u00e9tudiant, qui\nme donna \u00e0 entendre qu\u2019on pourrait bien y trouver sa fortune.\n\u00abJe me mis bravement en route le lendemain matin. Chaque jour all\u00e9geait\nle fardeau de mes effets, tel \u00c9sope avec son panier au pain, car je les\ndonnai en payement aux Hollandais pour mon logement tout le long du\nvoyage. Lorsque j\u2019arrivai \u00e0 Louvain, j\u2019avais pris la r\u00e9solution de ne\npas aller ramper aupr\u00e8s des professeurs subalternes, mais de pr\u00e9senter\nouvertement mes talents au principal lui-m\u00eame. J\u2019y allai, j\u2019eus\naudience, et je lui offris mes services comme ma\u00eetre de langue grecque,\nce qui, m\u2019avait-on dit, \u00e9tait un desideratum dans son universit\u00e9.\nLe principal parut d\u2019abord douter de mes talents; mais j\u2019offris de\nl\u2019en convaincre en traduisant en latin un passage d\u2019un auteur grec\nquelconque, qu\u2019il d\u00e9signerait. Voyant que j\u2019\u00e9tais parfaitement de bonne\nfoi dans ce que je proposais, il m\u2019adressa ces paroles: \u00abVous me voyez,\njeune homme; je n\u2019ai jamais appris le grec, et je ne trouve pas que\nj\u2019en aie jamais eu besoin. J\u2019ai eu le bonnet et la robe de docteur sans\ngrec; j\u2019ai dix mille florins par an sans grec; je mange de bon app\u00e9tit\nsans grec; et, en somme, poursuivit-il, comme je ne sais pas le grec,\nje ne crois pas que le grec soit bon \u00e0 rien.\u00bb\n\u00abJ\u2019\u00e9tais maintenant trop loin du pays pour songer \u00e0 m\u2019en retourner; je\nme r\u00e9solus donc \u00e0 aller de l\u2019avant. J\u2019avais quelque connaissance de\nla musique, une voix passable, et je me mis \u00e0 faire de ce qui \u00e9tait\nnagu\u00e8re ma distraction un moyen imm\u00e9diat d\u2019existence. Je passai parmi\nles inoffensifs paysans des Flandres et parmi les Fran\u00e7ais assez\npauvres pour \u00eatre vraiment joyeux, car je les ai toujours trouv\u00e9s gais\nen proportion de leurs besoins. Toutes les fois que j\u2019arrivais pr\u00e8s de\nla maison d\u2019un paysan vers la tomb\u00e9e de la nuit, je jouais un de mes\nairs les plus joyeux, et cela me procurait non seulement un logement,\nmais la subsistance pour le jour suivant. Une ou deux fois, j\u2019essayai\nde jouer pour le beau monde; mais ceux-l\u00e0 trouvaient toujours mon\nex\u00e9cution d\u00e9testable, et ils ne me r\u00e9compens\u00e8rent jamais de la moindre\nbagatelle. Ceci me semblait d\u2019autant plus extraordinaire que, du temps\nque je jouais pour mon plaisir, ma musique ne manquait jamais de jeter\nles gens dans le ravissement, et surtout les dames; mais comme c\u2019\u00e9tait\nmaintenant ma seule ressource, on l\u2019accueillait avec m\u00e9pris; ce qui\nmontre combien le monde est pr\u00eat \u00e0 d\u00e9pr\u00e9cier les talents qui font vivre\nun homme.\n\u00abJe poussai de cette mani\u00e8re jusqu\u2019\u00e0 Paris, sans autre plan que\nde regarder autour de moi et d\u2019aller en avant. Les gens de Paris\naiment beaucoup plus les \u00e9trangers qui ont de l\u2019argent que ceux qui\nont de l\u2019esprit. Comme je ne pouvais me piquer d\u2019avoir beaucoup ni\nde l\u2019un ni de l\u2019autre, on ne me go\u00fbta pas beaucoup. Apr\u00e8s m\u2019\u00eatre\npromen\u00e9 dans la ville quatre ou cinq jours et avoir vu les meilleurs\nh\u00f4tels \u00e0 l\u2019ext\u00e9rieur, je me pr\u00e9parais \u00e0 quitter ce s\u00e9jour de\nl\u2019hospitalit\u00e9 v\u00e9nale, lorsqu\u2019en traversant une des principales rues,\nqui rencontrai-je? notre cousin, \u00e0 qui tout d\u2019abord vous m\u2019aviez\nrecommand\u00e9. Cette rencontre me fut agr\u00e9able, et je crois qu\u2019elle ne\nlui d\u00e9plut pas. Il s\u2019informa de la nature de mon voyage \u00e0 Paris et\nm\u2019apprit ce qu\u2019il avait lui-m\u00eame \u00e0 y faire, qui \u00e9tait de collectionner\ndes peintures, des m\u00e9dailles, des pierres grav\u00e9es et des antiquit\u00e9s\nde toute esp\u00e8ce pour un gentleman de Londres qui venait d\u2019acqu\u00e9rir\ndu go\u00fbt en m\u00eame temps qu\u2019une vaste fortune. Je fus d\u2019autant plus\nsurpris de voir mon cousin choisi pour un tel office que lui-m\u00eame\nm\u2019avait souvent d\u00e9clar\u00e9 qu\u2019il ne connaissait rien \u00e0 la question. Je\nlui demandai comment il s\u2019\u00e9tait instruit dans la science de l\u2019amateur\nsi soudainement, et il m\u2019assura que rien n\u2019\u00e9tait plus facile. Tout le\nsecret consistait \u00e0 s\u2019en tenir strictement \u00e0 deux r\u00e8gles: l\u2019une, de\ntoujours faire remarquer que le tableau aurait pu \u00eatre meilleur si le\npeintre s\u2019\u00e9tait donn\u00e9 plus de peine; et l\u2019autre, de louer les ouvrages\nde Pietro Perugino. \u00abMais, reprit-il, puisque je vous ai jadis enseign\u00e9\n\u00e0 \u00eatre auteur \u00e0 Londres, je vais entreprendre aujourd\u2019hui de vous\ninstruire dans l\u2019art d\u2019acheter des tableaux \u00e0 Paris.\u00bb\n\u00abJ\u2019acceptai sa proposition avec grand empressement, car c\u2019\u00e9tait un\nmoyen de vivre, et vivre \u00e9tait d\u00e8s lors toute mon ambition. J\u2019allai\ndonc \u00e0 son logement, je r\u00e9parai ma toilette gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 son assistance,\net, au bout de quelque temps, je l\u2019accompagnai aux ventes publiques de\ntableaux, o\u00f9 l\u2019on comptait que la haute soci\u00e9t\u00e9 anglaise fournirait\ndes acheteurs. Je ne fus pas peu surpris de son intimit\u00e9 avec des\npersonnes du meilleur monde qui s\u2019en r\u00e9f\u00e9raient \u00e0 son jugement sur\nchaque tableau on chaque m\u00e9daille, comme \u00e0 un guide infaillible du\ngo\u00fbt. Il tirait tr\u00e8s bon parti de mon assistance en ces occasions;\nlorsqu\u2019on lui demandait son avis, il m\u2019emmenait gravement \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9cart,\nme demandait le mien, secouait les \u00e9paules, prenait l\u2019air profond,\nrevenait et d\u00e9clarait \u00e0 la compagnie qu\u2019il ne pouvait donner d\u2019opinion\nsur une affaire de tant d\u2019importance. Cependant il y avait lieu parfois\nde mieux payer d\u2019audace. Je me souviens de l\u2019avoir vu, apr\u00e8s avoir \u00e9mis\nl\u2019opinion qu\u2019une peinture n\u2019avait pas assez de moelleux, prendre tr\u00e8s\nd\u00e9lib\u00e9r\u00e9ment une brosse charg\u00e9e de vernis brun qui se trouvait l\u00e0 par\nhasard, la passer sur le tableau avec un grand sang-froid devant toute\nla compagnie, et demander ensuite s\u2019il n\u2019avait pas am\u00e9lior\u00e9 les teintes.\n\u00abLorsqu\u2019il eut achev\u00e9 sa commission \u00e0 Paris, il me laissa et me\nrecommanda \u00e9nergiquement \u00e0 plusieurs personnes de distinction comme\nquelqu\u2019un de tr\u00e8s apte \u00e0 voyager en qualit\u00e9 de pr\u00e9cepteur. Quelque\ntemps apr\u00e8s, j\u2019\u00e9tais employ\u00e9 dans ces fonctions par un gentleman qui\navait amen\u00e9 son pupille \u00e0 Paris pour lui faire commencer son tour \u00e0\ntravers l\u2019Europe. Je devais \u00eatre le gouverneur du jeune gentleman, mais\n\u00e0 la condition qu\u2019il aurait toujours la permission de se gouverner\nlui-m\u00eame. Et de fait, mon \u00e9l\u00e8ve entendait l\u2019art de se guider dans\nles affaires d\u2019argent beaucoup mieux que moi. Il \u00e9tait l\u2019h\u00e9ritier\nd\u2019une fortune d\u2019environ deux cent mille livres sterling, que lui\navait laiss\u00e9e un oncle aux Indes occidentales; et son tuteur, pour\nle rendre propre \u00e0 administrer cette fortune, l\u2019avait mis clerc chez\nun procureur. Aussi l\u2019avarice \u00e9tait sa passion dominante; toutes ses\nquestions le long de la route tendaient \u00e0 savoir combien on pouvait\n\u00e9conomiser d\u2019argent, quel \u00e9tait l\u2019itin\u00e9raire le moins co\u00fbteux, si l\u2019on\npourrait acheter quelque chose qui donnerait un profit lorsqu\u2019on en\ndisposerait \u00e0 Londres. En chemin, les curiosit\u00e9s qu\u2019il pouvait voir\npour rien, il \u00e9tait assez pr\u00eat \u00e0 les regarder; mais s\u2019il fallait payer\npour en avoir la vue, il affirmait d\u2019ordinaire qu\u2019on lui avait dit\nqu\u2019elles ne valaient pas la peine d\u2019\u00eatre visit\u00e9es. Il ne payait jamais\nune note sans faire observer combien les voyages \u00e9taient horriblement\ndispendieux, et il n\u2019avait pas encore vingt et un ans! Lorsque nous\nf\u00fbmes arriv\u00e9s \u00e0 Livourne, comme nous nous promenions pour voir le\nport et les navires, il s\u2019informa du prix du passage par mer jusqu\u2019en\nAngleterre. Il apprit que ce n\u2019\u00e9tait qu\u2019une bagatelle comparativement\nau retour par terre; aussi fut-il incapable de r\u00e9sister \u00e0 la tentation:\nil me paya la petite partie de mon salaire qui \u00e9tait \u00e9chue, prit cong\u00e9\net s\u2019embarqua pour Londres avec un seul serviteur.\n\u00abJ\u2019\u00e9tais donc une fois de plus tout seul dans le monde; mais c\u2019\u00e9tait\nd\u00e8s lors une chose \u00e0 laquelle j\u2019\u00e9tais fait. Toutefois, mon talent\nen musique ne pouvait me servir de rien dans un pays o\u00f9 tout paysan\n\u00e9tait meilleur musicien que moi. Mais, \u00e0 cette \u00e9poque, j\u2019avais acquis\nun autre talent qui r\u00e9pondait aussi bien \u00e0 mon but: c\u2019\u00e9tait une\nhabilet\u00e9 d\u2019argumentation particuli\u00e8re. Dans toutes les universit\u00e9s et\ntous les couvents de l\u2019\u00e9tranger, il y a \u00e0 certains jours des th\u00e8ses\nphilosophiques soutenues contre tout venant; si le champion combat\nla th\u00e8se avec quelque adresse, il peut r\u00e9clamer une gratification en\nargent, un d\u00eener, et un lit pour une nuit. C\u2019est de cette mani\u00e8re que\nje me conquis un chemin vers l\u2019Angleterre, \u00e0 pied, de ville en ville,\nexaminant de plus pr\u00e8s le genre humain, et, si je puis m\u2019exprimer\nainsi, voyant les deux c\u00f4t\u00e9s du tableau. Mes remarques, toutefois, ne\nsont qu\u2019en petit nombre: j\u2019ai reconnu que la monarchie est le meilleur\ngouvernement pour les pauvres, et la r\u00e9publique, pour les riches. J\u2019ai\nremarqu\u00e9 que richesse est en g\u00e9n\u00e9ral dans tous les pays synonyme de\nlibert\u00e9, et que personne n\u2019est assez ami de la libert\u00e9 lui-m\u00eame pour\nn\u2019\u00eatre pas d\u00e9sireux d\u2019assujettir \u00e0 sa volont\u00e9 propre la volont\u00e9 de\nquelques autres membres de la soci\u00e9t\u00e9.\n\u00abA mon arriv\u00e9e en Angleterre, je voulais d\u2019abord vous rendre mes\ndevoirs et m\u2019enr\u00f4ler ensuite comme volontaire dans la premi\u00e8re\nexp\u00e9dition qui mettrait \u00e0 la voile; mais en chemin mes r\u00e9solutions\nchang\u00e8rent par la rencontre que je fis d\u2019une vieille connaissance qui,\n\u00e0 ce que j\u2019appris, appartenait \u00e0 une troupe de com\u00e9diens sur le point\nde faire une campagne d\u2019\u00e9t\u00e9 dans la province. La troupe ne sembla pas\ntrop m\u00e9contente de m\u2019avoir pour pensionnaire. Mais tous m\u2019avertirent\nde l\u2019importance de la t\u00e2che \u00e0 laquelle j\u2019aspirais; ils me dirent que\nle public \u00e9tait un monstre \u00e0 bien des t\u00eates, et que ceux-l\u00e0 seuls\nqui en avaient une tr\u00e8s bonne pouvaient lui plaire; que le jeu ne\ns\u2019apprenait pas en un jour; et que, sans certains haussements d\u2019\u00e9paule\ntraditionnels qui sont sur la sc\u00e8ne\u2014mais rien que l\u00e0\u2014depuis ces\ncent derni\u00e8res ann\u00e9es, je ne pourrais jamais pr\u00e9tendre au succ\u00e8s. La\ndifficult\u00e9 fut ensuite de me donner des r\u00f4les convenables, car presque\ntous les personnages \u00e9taient en main. On me transporta quelque temps\nd\u2019un caract\u00e8re \u00e0 un autre, jusqu\u2019\u00e0 ce qu\u2019on se f\u00fbt arr\u00eat\u00e9 sur Horatio,\nque la vue de la compagnie ici pr\u00e9sente m\u2019a heureusement emp\u00each\u00e9 de\njouer.\u00bb\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE XXI\n_Courte dur\u00e9e de l\u2019amiti\u00e9 entre les m\u00e9chants; elle ne subsiste qu\u2019aussi\nlongtemps qu\u2019ils y trouvent leur mutuelle satisfaction._\nLE r\u00e9cit de mon fils \u00e9tait trop long pour \u00eatre fait d\u2019un seul coup.\nIl en commen\u00e7a la premi\u00e8re partie ce soir-l\u00e0, et il finissait le\nreste, apr\u00e8s d\u00eener, le lendemain, lorsque l\u2019apparition de l\u2019\u00e9quipage\nde M. Thornhill \u00e0 la porte sembla mettre un temps d\u2019arr\u00eat dans la\nsatisfaction g\u00e9n\u00e9rale. Le sommelier, qui \u00e9tait maintenant mon ami dans\nla maison, m\u2019informa tout bas que le squire avait d\u00e9j\u00e0 fait quelques\nouvertures \u00e0 miss Wilmot, et que sa tante et son oncle avaient l\u2019air\nd\u2019approuver grandement cette alliance. Lorsque M. Thornhill entra, il\nparut, en voyant mon fils et moi, faire un mouvement en arri\u00e8re; mais\nj\u2019attribuai tout de suite cela \u00e0 la surprise et non au m\u00e9contentement.\nD\u2019ailleurs, lorsque nous nous avan\u00e7\u00e2mes pour le saluer, il nous rendit\nnos politesses avec toutes les apparences de la franchise; et, un\nmoment apr\u00e8s, sa pr\u00e9sence ne servait qu\u2019\u00e0 augmenter la gaiet\u00e9 g\u00e9n\u00e9rale.\nApr\u00e8s le th\u00e9, il me prit \u00e0 part pour s\u2019informer de ma fille. Lorsque\nje lui eus fait savoir que mes recherches avaient \u00e9t\u00e9 infructueuses,\nil sembla fort surpris et ajouta qu\u2019il \u00e9tait souvent all\u00e9 chez moi\ndepuis, afin de porter des consolations au reste de ma famille qu\u2019il\navait laiss\u00e9e en parfaite sant\u00e9. Il demanda ensuite si j\u2019avais fait\npart du malheur \u00e0 miss Wilmot ou \u00e0 mon fils; et sur ma r\u00e9ponse que je\nne le leur avais pas dit jusqu\u2019ici, il approuva fortement ma prudence\net mes pr\u00e9cautions, m\u2019engageant \u00e0 garder la chose secr\u00e8te \u00e0 tout prix:\n\u00abCar, \u00e0 le prendre du meilleur c\u00f4t\u00e9, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-il, ce n\u2019est jamais\nque proclamer sa propre honte; et peut-\u00eatre miss Livy n\u2019est-elle pas\naussi coupable que nous l\u2019imaginons tous.\u00bb Ici, nous f\u00fbmes interrompus\npar un domestique qui vint prier le squire de rentrer pour figurer\ndans les contredanses; il me laissa absolument convaincu de l\u2019int\u00e9r\u00eat\nqu\u2019il semblait prendre \u00e0 mes affaires. Cependant ses intentions pour\nmiss Wilmot \u00e9taient trop \u00e9videntes pour qu\u2019on s\u2019y m\u00e9pr\u00eet; mais elle\nn\u2019en semblait pas parfaitement contente et elle les supportait plut\u00f4t\npour se conformer \u00e0 la volont\u00e9 de sa tante que par inclination r\u00e9elle.\nJ\u2019eus m\u00eame la satisfaction de la voir accorder \u00e0 mon infortun\u00e9 fils\nquelques regards bienveillants que l\u2019autre ne pouvait lui arracher ni\npar sa fortune ni par ses assiduit\u00e9s. Le calme apparent de M. Thornhill\nne me surprenait pas peu cependant. Il y avait maintenant une semaine\nque nous \u00e9tions l\u00e0, retenus par les pressantes instances de M. Arnold;\ncependant plus miss Wilmot montrait chaque jour d\u2019affection \u00e0 mon\nfils, plus l\u2019amiti\u00e9 de M. Thornhill pour lui semblait s\u2019accro\u00eetre\nproportionnellement.\nIl nous avait donn\u00e9 jadis les plus bienveillantes assurances qu\u2019il\nemploierait son cr\u00e9dit \u00e0 servir notre famille; mais cette fois\nsa g\u00e9n\u00e9rosit\u00e9 ne se borna pas aux promesses seules. Le matin que\nj\u2019avais fix\u00e9 pour mon d\u00e9part, M. Thornhill vint \u00e0 moi avec un air de\nv\u00e9ritable plaisir, pour m\u2019informer d\u2019un service qu\u2019il avait rendu \u00e0\nson ami George. Ce n\u2019\u00e9tait rien moins que de lui avoir obtenu une\ncommission d\u2019enseigne dans un r\u00e9giment qui allait partir pour les\nIndes occidentales; il n\u2019en avait promis que cent livres sterling,\nson influence ayant \u00e9t\u00e9 suffisante pour faire rabattre les deux cents\nautres. \u00abPour ce service, qui n\u2019est que bagatelle, continua le jeune\ngentilhomme, je ne d\u00e9sire d\u2019autre r\u00e9compense que d\u2019avoir \u00e9t\u00e9 utile \u00e0\nmon ami; et pour les cent livres \u00e0 payer, si vous n\u2019\u00eates pas en \u00e9tat\nde les trouver vous-m\u00eame, je les avancerai, et vous me rembourserez \u00e0\nvotre loisir.\u00bb C\u2019\u00e9tait une faveur telle que les mots nous manquaient\npour exprimer combien nous en \u00e9tions touch\u00e9s; je donnai donc avec\nempressement mon billet de la somme, et je t\u00e9moignai autant de\ngratitude que si j\u2019avais eu l\u2019intention de ne jamais payer.\nGeorge devait partir le lendemain pour Londres afin de s\u2019assurer de sa\ncommission, conform\u00e9ment aux instructions de son g\u00e9n\u00e9reux protecteur,\nqui jugeait tr\u00e8s utile de faire diligence, de peur que, sur les\nentrefaites, quelque autre ne se pr\u00e9sent\u00e2t avec de plus avantageuses\npropositions. Le lendemain donc, de bonne heure, notre jeune soldat\n\u00e9tait pr\u00eat au d\u00e9part et semblait la seule personne parmi nous qui n\u2019en\nf\u00fbt pas affect\u00e9e. Les fatigues et les dangers qu\u2019il allait braver,\nles amis et la ma\u00eetresse\u2014car miss Wilmot l\u2019aimait r\u00e9ellement\u2014qu\u2019il\nlaissait derri\u00e8re lui, ne refroidissaient en rien son ardeur. Apr\u00e8s\nqu\u2019il eut pris cong\u00e9 du reste de la compagnie, je lui donnai tout\nce que j\u2019avais, ma b\u00e9n\u00e9diction. \u00abEt maintenant, mon gar\u00e7on, que tu\nvas combattre pour ta patrie, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, souviens-toi comment ton\nbrave grand-p\u00e8re combattit pour son roi sacr\u00e9, lorsque la fid\u00e9lit\u00e9\nchez les Bretons \u00e9tait une vertu. Va, mon fils, imite-le en tout, hors\nses infortunes, si ce fut une infortune de mourir avec lord Falkland.\nAllez, mon fils, et si vous tombez, au loin, nu et priv\u00e9 des pleurs de\nceux qui vous aiment, souvenez-vous que les larmes les plus pr\u00e9cieuses\nsont celles que le ciel verse en ros\u00e9e sur la t\u00eate sans s\u00e9pulture d\u2019un\nsoldat.\u00bb\nLe matin suivant, je pris cong\u00e9 de la bonne famille qui avait eu\nl\u2019amabilit\u00e9 de me garder si longtemps, non sans exprimer \u00e0 plusieurs\nreprises \u00e0 M. Thornhill ma gratitude pour sa r\u00e9cente g\u00e9n\u00e9rosit\u00e9. Je\nles laissai dans la jouissance de tout le bonheur que l\u2019abondance et\nla bonne \u00e9ducation procurent, et je repris le chemin de la maison,\nd\u00e9sesp\u00e9rant de retrouver jamais ma fille, mais envoyant au ciel mes\nsoupirs pour qu\u2019il l\u2019\u00e9pargn\u00e2t et lui donn\u00e2t pardon. J\u2019\u00e9tais arriv\u00e9 \u00e0\nenviron vingt milles de la maison, ayant lou\u00e9 un cheval pour me porter,\ncar j\u2019\u00e9tais encore faible, et je me consolais dans l\u2019espoir de voir\nbient\u00f4t tout ce qui m\u2019\u00e9tait le plus cher sur la terre. Mais comme la\nnuit venait, je m\u2019arr\u00eatai \u00e0 une petite auberge sur la route et priai le\npatron de me tenir compagnie devant une pinte de vin. Nous nous ass\u00eemes\n\u00e0 c\u00f4t\u00e9 du feu de la cuisine, qui \u00e9tait la plus belle pi\u00e8ce de la\nmaison, et bavard\u00e2mes sur la politique et les nouvelles du pays. Nous\nen v\u00eenmes, entre autres sujets, \u00e0 parler du jeune squire Thornhill qui,\nm\u2019assura l\u2019h\u00f4te, \u00e9tait d\u00e9test\u00e9 autant que son oncle, sir William, qui\nvenait quelquefois au pays, \u00e9tait aim\u00e9. Il poursuivit en disant qu\u2019il\nne s\u2019appliquait qu\u2019\u00e0 trahir les filles de ceux qui le recevaient chez\neux, et qu\u2019apr\u00e8s une quinzaine ou trois semaines de possession, il les\nmettait dehors sans compensation et abandonn\u00e9es dans le monde.\n[Illustration]\nComme nous prolongions ainsi la conversation, sa femme, qui \u00e9tait\nsortie pour faire de la monnaie, rentra, et, s\u2019apercevant que son mari\nprenait un plaisir dont elle n\u2019avait pas sa part, elle lui demanda\nd\u2019une voix irrit\u00e9e ce qu\u2019il faisait l\u00e0; \u00e0 quoi il ne r\u00e9pliqua qu\u2019en\nbuvant ironiquement \u00e0 sa sant\u00e9. \u00abMonsieur Symonds, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-elle, vous\nen usez fort mal avec moi, et je ne le supporterai pas plus longtemps.\nIci les trois quarts de la besogne, c\u2019est moi qui les ai \u00e0 faire, et\nle quatri\u00e8me reste en plan; pendant ce temps vous ne faites que vous\nimbiber avec les clients tout le long du jour, tandis qu\u2019une cuiller\u00e9e\nde liqueur, d\u00fbt-elle me gu\u00e9rir de la fi\u00e8vre, je n\u2019en touche jamais\nune goutte.\u00bb Je vis alors \u00e0 quoi elle en avait, et je lui remplis\nimm\u00e9diatement un verre qu\u2019elle prit avec une r\u00e9v\u00e9rence, et, buvant\n\u00e0 ma bonne sant\u00e9: \u00abMonsieur, reprit-elle, ce n\u2019est pas tant pour la\nvaleur de ce qu\u2019on boit que je me mets en col\u00e8re; mais on ne saurait\ns\u2019en emp\u00eacher, quand la maison s\u2019en va par les fen\u00eatres. S\u2019il faut\npresser les clients ou les voyageurs, tout le fardeau m\u2019en retombe\nsur le dos, et il aimerait autant m\u00e2cher ce verre que de bouger pour\naller r\u00e9clamer lui-m\u00eame. Nous avons maintenant l\u00e0-haut une jeune femme\nqui est venue prendre logement ici, et je crois bien qu\u2019elle n\u2019a\npas d\u2019argent, elle est trop polie pour cela. Je suis s\u00fbre du moins\nqu\u2019elle ne se presse pas de payer, et je voudrais qu\u2019on le lui rem\u00eet\nen l\u2019esprit.\u2014Lui remettre en l\u2019esprit! s\u2019\u00e9cria l\u2019h\u00f4te. Que signifie\ncela? Si elle n\u2019est pas press\u00e9e, elle est s\u00fbre.\u2014C\u2019est ce que je ne\nsais pas, r\u00e9pliqua la femme, mais je sais que je suis s\u00fbre qu\u2019elle est\nici depuis quinze jours et que nous n\u2019avons pas encore vu la couleur de\nson argent.\u2014Je suppose, ma ch\u00e8re, que nous aurons tout en bloc.\u2014En\nbloc! s\u2019\u00e9cria l\u2019autre. J\u2019esp\u00e8re bien que nous l\u2019aurons d\u2019une mani\u00e8re\non de l\u2019autre; et, cela ce soir m\u00eame; j\u2019y suis bien d\u00e9cid\u00e9e; ou dehors\nla coureuse, armes et bagages!\u2014Songe, ma femme, s\u2019\u00e9cria le mari, que\nc\u2019est une femme bien n\u00e9e et qu\u2019elle m\u00e9rite plus de respect.\u2014Pour\nce qui est de cela, riposta l\u2019h\u00f4tesse, bien n\u00e9e ou non, elle pliera\nbagage, et plus vite que \u00e7a. Les gens bien n\u00e9s peuvent \u00eatre bons l\u00e0 o\u00f9\nils prennent; mais, pour ma part, je n\u2019ai jamais vu venir grand profit\nd\u2019eux \u00e0 l\u2019enseigne de la _Herse_.\u00bb\nCe disant, elle monta eu courant un \u00e9troit escalier qui allait de\nla cuisine \u00e0 une chambre au-dessus de nos t\u00eates, et je reconnus\nbient\u00f4t \u00e0 ses \u00e9clats de voix et \u00e0 l\u2019aigreur de ses reproches qu\u2019il\nn\u2019y avait point d\u2019argent \u00e0 obtenir de sa logeuse. Je pouvais entendre\ntr\u00e8s distinctement ses r\u00e9criminations. \u00abDehors, dis-je, plie bagage\n\u00e0 l\u2019instant m\u00eame, coureuse, inf\u00e2me d\u00e9vergond\u00e9e, ou je te fais une\nmarque dont tu ne gu\u00e9riras pas de trois mois! Quoi! vaurienne, venir\nloger dans une honn\u00eate maison sans poss\u00e9der un sou marqu\u00e9 ni un rouge\nliard! Allons! filons! dis-je.\u2014O ch\u00e8re madame! criait l\u2019\u00e9trang\u00e8re,\nayez piti\u00e9 de moi, ayez piti\u00e9 d\u2019une pauvre cr\u00e9ature abandonn\u00e9e, pour\nune nuit seulement, et la mort aura vite fait le reste.\u00bb Je reconnus\nsur-le-champ la voix de ma pauvre enfant perdue, d\u2019Olivia. Je volai \u00e0\nson secours au moment o\u00f9 la femme la tra\u00eenait d\u00e9j\u00e0 par les cheveux,\net je pris en mes bras la pauvre mis\u00e9rable abandonn\u00e9e. \u00abVous \u00eates la\nbienvenue toujours, la bienvenue, ma ch\u00e8re, ch\u00e8re perdue, mon tr\u00e9sor,\ndans le c\u0153ur de votre vieux p\u00e8re. Que les m\u00e9chants t\u2019abandonnent; il y\na quelqu\u2019un dans le monde qui, du moins, ne t\u2019abandonnera jamais. Quand\ntu aurais \u00e0 r\u00e9pondre de dix mille crimes, je veux te les pardonner\ntous.\u2014O mon cher...\u2014pendant quelques minutes elle ne put rien dire\nde plus\u2014mon cher, mon cher papa, \u00e0 moi! Les anges peuvent-ils \u00eatre\nplus tendres? Qu\u2019ai-je fait pour m\u00e9riter tant? Le sc\u00e9l\u00e9rat, je le hais\net me hais moi-m\u00eame. Payer d\u2019opprobre tant de bont\u00e9! Vous ne pouvez\npas me pardonner. Je le sais; vous ne le pouvez pas.\u2014Si, mon enfant;\ndu fond de mon c\u0153ur, je te pardonne! Repens-toi seulement, et l\u2019un et\nl\u2019autre nous serons heureux encore. Nous verrons encore beaucoup de\nbeaux jours, mon Olivia!\u2014Ah! jamais, monsieur, jamais. Le reste de ma\nmis\u00e9rable vie doit \u00eatre ignominie au dehors et honte an foyer. Mais,\nquoi! papa, vous \u00eates plus p\u00e2le que vous n\u2019aviez l\u2019habitude de l\u2019\u00eatre.\nSe peut-il qu\u2019une cr\u00e9ature telle que moi vous cause tant de tourment?\nAssur\u00e9ment, vous avez trop de sagesse pour vous charger des douleurs\nde ma faute.\u2014Notre sagesse, jeune femme...\u2014Ah! pourquoi un nom si\nfroid, papa? s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-elle. C\u2019est la premi\u00e8re fois que vous m\u2019appelez\nd\u2019un nom si froid.\u2014Pardon, ma ch\u00e9rie, repris-je; mais j\u2019allais faire\ncette remarque, c\u2019est que la sagesse ne forme que lentement un abri\ncontre le chagrin, quoique, \u00e0 la fin, ce soit un abri s\u00fbr.\u00bb L\u2019h\u00f4tesse\nrevint \u00e0 ce moment pour savoir si nous ne voudrions pas un appartement\nplus convenable, ce que nous accept\u00e2mes, et elle nous conduisit dans\nune chambre o\u00f9 nous pouvions nous entretenir plus librement, Apr\u00e8s nous\n\u00eatre un peu calm\u00e9s en causant, je ne pus \u00e9viter de lui demander avec\nquelques d\u00e9tails par quels degr\u00e9s elle \u00e9tait arriv\u00e9e \u00e0 sa mis\u00e9rable\nsituation pr\u00e9sente. \u00abCe sc\u00e9l\u00e9rat, monsieur, dit-elle, d\u00e8s le premier\njour de notre rencontre, m\u2019a fait des propositions secr\u00e8tes, mais\nhonorables.\n\u2014Sc\u00e9l\u00e9rat, en v\u00e9rit\u00e9! m\u2019\u00e9criai-je. Et cependant je suis en quelque\nsorte surpris qu\u2019un homme du bon sens de M. Burchell et qui semblait\navoir tant d\u2019honneur ait pu se rendre coupable de cette vilenie\nd\u00e9lib\u00e9r\u00e9e et s\u2019introduire ainsi dans une famille pour la d\u00e9truire.\n\u2014Mon cher papa, r\u00e9pondit ma fille, vous \u00eates victime d\u2019une \u00e9trange\nerreur. M. Burchell n\u2019a jamais essay\u00e9 de me tromper; au lieu de cela,\nil saisissait toutes les occasions de me pr\u00e9venir en particulier contre\nles artifices de M. Thornhill, qui, je le vois maintenant, est encore\npire qu\u2019il ne me le repr\u00e9sentait.\u2014M. Thornhill! interrompis-je. Est-il\npossible?\u2014Oui, monsieur, r\u00e9pondit-elle, c\u2019est M. Thornhill qui m\u2019a\ns\u00e9duite; c\u2019est lui qui employait ces deux dames, comme il les appelait,\nmais qui, en r\u00e9alit\u00e9, n\u2019\u00e9taient que des femmes perdues de la ville sans\n\u00e9ducation ni piti\u00e9, pour nous attirer jusqu\u2019\u00e0 Londres. Ses artifices,\nvous vous le rappelez, auraient r\u00e9ussi sans la lettre de M. Burchell o\u00f9\nil leur adressait ces reproches que nous nous sommes tous appliqu\u00e9s.\nComment il a pu avoir assez d\u2019influence pour d\u00e9jouer leurs intentions,\nc\u2019est encore un secret pour moi; mais je suis convaincue qu\u2019il a\ntoujours \u00e9t\u00e9 notre plus chaud, notre plus sinc\u00e8re ami.\n\u2014Vous me confondez, ma ch\u00e8re, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je. Je vois maintenant que mes\npremiers soup\u00e7ons de la bassesse de M. Thornhill n\u2019\u00e9taient que trop\nbien fond\u00e9s. Mais il peut triompher en s\u00e9curit\u00e9, car il est riche, et\nnous sommes pauvres. Mais dis-moi, mon enfant, assur\u00e9ment il a fallu\nune tentation bien puissante pour an\u00e9antir ainsi les impressions de ton\n\u00e9ducation et des penchants aussi vertueux que les tiens.\n[Illustration]\n\u2014En v\u00e9rit\u00e9, monsieur, r\u00e9pliqua-t-elle, il ne doit son triomphe qu\u2019au\nd\u00e9sir que j\u2019avais de le rendre heureux, lui, et non moi. Je savais\nque la c\u00e9r\u00e9monie de notre mariage, c\u00e9l\u00e9br\u00e9e secr\u00e8tement par un pr\u00eatre\npapiste, ne le liait en aucune fa\u00e7on, et que je n\u2019avais \u00e0 me fier \u00e0\nrien qu\u2019\u00e0 son honneur.\u2014Quoi! l\u2019interrompis-je. Ainsi vous avez \u00e9t\u00e9\nr\u00e9ellement mari\u00e9s par un pr\u00eatre dans les ordres?\u2014Oui, monsieur, nous\nl\u2019avons \u00e9t\u00e9, r\u00e9pliqua-t-elle, quoiqu\u2019il nous ait fait jurer \u00e0 l\u2019un\net \u00e0 l\u2019autre de celer son nom.\u2014Eh bien! alors, mon enfant, revenez\ndans mes bras, et maintenant vous \u00eates mille fois plus la bienvenue\nqu\u2019auparavant; car maintenant vous \u00eates sa femme d\u2019intention et de\nfait; et toutes les lois des hommes, fussent-elles \u00e9crites sur des\ntables de diamant, ne sauraient diminuer la force de ce lien sacr\u00e9.\n\u2014H\u00e9las! papa, r\u00e9pliqua-t-elle, vous ne connaissez gu\u00e8re ses vilenies;\nil s\u2019est fait marier d\u00e9j\u00e0 par le m\u00eame pr\u00eatre \u00e0 six on huit femmes qu\u2019il\na tromp\u00e9es et abandonn\u00e9es.\n\u2014A-t-il fait cela? m\u2019\u00e9criai-je. Alors nous devons faire pendre le\npr\u00eatre, et vous d\u00e9poserez contre lui d\u00e8s demain.\u2014Mais, monsieur,\nr\u00e9pondit-elle, cela sera-t-il bien, ayant jur\u00e9 le secret?\u2014Ma ch\u00e8re,\nr\u00e9pliquai-je, si vous avez fait cette promesse, je ne peux pas, je ne\nveux pas chercher \u00e0 vous la faire violer. Quand m\u00eame cela pourrait\nprofiter au bien g\u00e9n\u00e9ral, il ne faut pas que vous d\u00e9posiez contre\nlui. Dans toutes les institutions humaines on admet un mal moindre\npour procurer un bien plus grand; c\u2019est ainsi qu\u2019en politique on peut\nc\u00e9der une province pour s\u2019assurer d\u2019un royaume, et qu\u2019en m\u00e9decine on\npeut retrancher un membre pour conserver le corps. Mais en religion\nla loi est \u00e9crite et inflexible: ne _jamais_ faire le mal. Et cette\nloi, mon enfant, est juste; car autrement, si l\u2019on commettait un mal\nmoindre pour procurer un bien plus grand, on encourrait ainsi une\nculpabilit\u00e9 certaine dans l\u2019attente d\u2019un avantage al\u00e9atoire. Et quand\nm\u00eame l\u2019avantage devrait certainement s\u2019ensuivre, il se pourrait que\nl\u2019intervalle entre l\u2019acte et l\u2019avantage, intervalle pendant lequel il\nest admis que l\u2019on est coupable, f\u00fbt celui dans lequel nous sommes\nappel\u00e9s \u00e0 r\u00e9pondre des choses que nous avons faites, et o\u00f9 le livre des\nactions humaines est clos \u00e0 jamais. Mais je vous interromps, ma ch\u00e8re;\ncontinuez.\n\u2014D\u00e8s le matin du lendemain, continua-t-elle, je vis quel peu de fond\nje devais faire sur sa sinc\u00e9rit\u00e9. Ce matin-l\u00e0 m\u00eame, il me pr\u00e9senta deux\nautres malheureuses femmes que, comme moi, il avait tromp\u00e9es, mais qui\nvivaient satisfaites dans la prostitution. Je l\u2019aimais trop tendrement\npour supporter de telles rivales dans son affection, et je m\u2019effor\u00e7ai\nd\u2019oublier mon infamie au milieu du tumulte des plaisirs. Dans ce but,\nje dansais, je faisais de la toilette, je parlais beaucoup; mais\nj\u2019\u00e9tais toujours malheureuse. Les messieurs qui venaient en visite\nme parlaient \u00e0 tout moment du pouvoir de mes charmes, et cela ne\nfaisait que contribuer \u00e0 accro\u00eetre ma tristesse, car tout ce pouvoir,\nje l\u2019avais perdu, rejet\u00e9 loin de moi. Ainsi chaque jour je devenais\nplus pensive, et lui plus insolent; tant qu\u2019\u00e0 la fin le monstre eut\nl\u2019effronterie de m\u2019offrir un jeune _baronnet_ de sa connaissance.\nAi-je besoin de dire, monsieur, combien cette ingratitude me per\u00e7a au\nvif? Ma r\u00e9ponse \u00e0 cette proposition fut comme une fureur folle. Je\nvoulus partir. Comme je m\u2019en allais, il m\u2019offrit une bourse; mais je\nla lui jetai \u00e0 la face avec indignation et je m\u2019arrachai de lui dans\nune rage qui pendant un temps me maintint insensible aux mis\u00e8res de ma\nsituation. Mais je ne tardai pas \u00e0 jeter les yeux autour de moi et je\nme vis, cr\u00e9ature vile, abjecte et coupable, sans un ami au monde \u00e0 qui\nm\u2019adresser.\n\u00abJuste \u00e0 ce moment, une voiture publique vint \u00e0 passer et j\u2019y pris\nplace, sans autre but que d\u2019\u00eatre emport\u00e9e loin d\u2019un mis\u00e9rable que je\nm\u00e9prisais et d\u00e9testais. On me descendit ici, o\u00f9, depuis mon arriv\u00e9e, je\nn\u2019ai eu pour compagnes que mes propres anxi\u00e9t\u00e9s et la duret\u00e9 de cette\nfemme. Les heures de joie que j\u2019ai pass\u00e9es avec maman et ma s\u0153ur me\nsont aujourd\u2019hui devenues douloureuses. Leurs chagrins sont grands,\nmais les miens sont plus grands que les leurs, car les miens sont m\u00eal\u00e9s\nde crime et d\u2019infamie.\n\u2014Ayez patience, mon enfant, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, et j\u2019esp\u00e8re encore que les\nchoses s\u2019am\u00e9lioreront. Prenez quelque repos cette nuit; demain je\nvous m\u00e8nerai \u00e0 la maison, vers votre m\u00e8re et le reste de la famille,\nde qui vous recevrez un bienveillant accueil. La pauvre femme! cela\nl\u2019a frapp\u00e9e au c\u0153ur; mais elle vous aime toujours, Olivia, et elle\npardonnera.\u00bb\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE XXII\n_Les offenses se pardonnent ais\u00e9ment lorsqu\u2019il y a l\u2019amour au fond._\nLE lendemain, je pris ma fille on croupe et me remis en route vers\nla maison. Le long du chemin, je m\u2019effor\u00e7ai par tous les moyens de\nl\u2019amener \u00e0 calmer ses chagrins et ses craintes, et de l\u2019armer de\ncourage pour soutenir la pr\u00e9sence de sa m\u00e8re offens\u00e9e. Je saisissais\ntoutes les occasions qu\u2019offrait le spectacle du beau pays que nous\ntraversions pour faire remarquer combien le ciel nous est plus cl\u00e9ment\nque nous ne le sommes les uns envers les autres, et combien les\ninfortunes du fait de la nature sont peu nombreuses. Je l\u2019assurais\nqu\u2019elle ne s\u2019apercevrait jamais d\u2019aucun changement dans mon affection,\net que pendant ma vie, qui pouvait \u00eatre longue encore, elle pourrait\ncompter sur un gardien et un guide. Je l\u2019armais contre les censures du\nmonde, lui faisais voir que les livres sont pour les mis\u00e9rables de bons\ncompagnons, qui ne font point de reproches, et que, s\u2019ils ne peuvent\nnous amener \u00e0 jouir de la vie, ils nous enseignent, du moins, \u00e0 la\nsupporter.\nLe cheval de louage qui nous portait devait \u00eatre mis, le soir, \u00e0 une\nauberge sur la route, \u00e0 environ cinq milles de la maison, et, comme je\nd\u00e9sirais pr\u00e9parer ma famille \u00e0 la r\u00e9ception de ma fille, je me d\u00e9cidai\n\u00e0 la laisser cette nuit-l\u00e0 \u00e0 l\u2019auberge et \u00e0 revenir la chercher,\naccompagn\u00e9 de mon autre fille Sophia, de bonne heure le lendemain\nmatin. Il \u00e9tait nuit avant que nous eussions atteint l\u2019\u00e9tape fix\u00e9e.\nCependant, apr\u00e8s l\u2019avoir vue install\u00e9e dans une chambre convenable et\navoir command\u00e9 \u00e0 l\u2019h\u00f4tesse de quoi la restaurer, je l\u2019embrassai et\ncontinuai mon chemin vers la maison. Et maintenant mon c\u0153ur \u00e9prouvait\nde nouvelles sensations de plaisir \u00e0 mesure que j\u2019approchais de cette\npaisible demeure. Comme un oiseau qu\u2019une alarme a chass\u00e9 de son nid,\nmes affections devan\u00e7aient la h\u00e2te de mes pas et planaient autour\nde mon petit foyer avec tout le ravissement de l\u2019espoir. J\u2019\u00e9voquai\ntoutes les choses tendres que j\u2019avais \u00e0 dire, et jouissais d\u2019avance\nde la bienvenue que j\u2019allais recevoir. Je sentais d\u00e9j\u00e0 l\u2019affectueux\nembrassement de ma femme, et je souriais \u00e0 la joie des petits. Comme je\nne marchais pas vite, la nuit s\u2019avan\u00e7ait rapidement. Les travailleurs\ndu jour s\u2019\u00e9taient tous retir\u00e9s pour prendre leur repos; les lumi\u00e8res\n\u00e9taient \u00e9teintes dans toutes les chaumi\u00e8res; aucun bruit ne se faisait\nentendre que celui du coq per\u00e7ant ou de la puissante gueule du chien de\ngarde, dans les profondeurs du lointain. J\u2019approchais du s\u00e9jour de ma\njoie, et je n\u2019en \u00e9tais pas encore \u00e0 deux cents yards que notre honn\u00eate\ndogue accourut me souhaiter la bienvenue.\nIl \u00e9tait pr\u00e8s de minuit quand j\u2019arrivai frapper \u00e0 ma porte. Tout\n\u00e9tait calme et silencieux; mon c\u0153ur se dilatait, gonfl\u00e9 d\u2019un bonheur\nindicible, lorsque, \u00e9pouvantement! je vis la maison \u00e9clater comme un\njet de flamme, et toutes les ouvertures rouges de feu! Je poussai\nconvulsivement un grand cri et tombai inanim\u00e9 sur la pierre. Ce\nbruit donna l\u2019alarme \u00e0 mon fils, qui \u00e9tait rest\u00e9 endormi jusque-l\u00e0.\nEn voyant les flammes, il r\u00e9veilla aussit\u00f4t ma femme et ma fille;\nils se pr\u00e9cipit\u00e8rent tous dehors, sans v\u00eatements, fous d\u2019effroi, et\nme rappel\u00e8rent \u00e0 la vie par leur angoisse. Mais ce ne fut que pour\ncontempler de nouveaux objets d\u2019horreur, car les flammes s\u2019\u00e9taient\npendant ce temps empar\u00e9es du toit de notre habitation qui s\u2019\u00e9croulait\nmorceau par morceau, tandis que la famille restait l\u00e0 dans un silence\nd\u2019agonie, les yeux fixes, comme si elle jouissait du spectacle de\nl\u2019embrasement. Je les regardai tour \u00e0 tour, eux et l\u2019incendie, puis\nje jetai les yeux autour de moi, cherchant les enfants; mais ils\nne paraissaient pas. O malheur! \u00abO\u00f9 sont, criai-je, o\u00f9 sont mes\npetits enfants?\u2014Ils sont br\u00fbl\u00e9s vifs dans les flammes, dit ma femme\navec calme, et je vais mourir avec eux.\u00bb A ce moment, j\u2019entendis \u00e0\nl\u2019int\u00e9rieur le cri des petits que le feu venait de r\u00e9veiller. Rien\nn\u2019aurait pu m\u2019arr\u00eater. \u00abO\u00f9 sont, o\u00f9 sont mes enfants? criai-je, en me\npr\u00e9cipitant \u00e0 travers les flammes et en faisant sauter la porte de\nla chambre o\u00f9 ils \u00e9taient enferm\u00e9s. O\u00f9 sont mes petits?\u2014Ici, cher\npapa, nous sommes ici\u00bb, criaient-ils ensemble pendant que les flammes\nprenaient au lit o\u00f9 ils \u00e9taient couch\u00e9s. Je les saisis tous deux dans\nmes bras et les emportai \u00e0 travers le feu en courant aussi vite que\npossible; juste comme j\u2019en sortais, le toit s\u2019ab\u00eema. \u00abMaintenant,\nm\u2019\u00e9criai-je en levant mes enfants dans mes bras, maintenant, que les\nflammes continuent de d\u00e9vorer, et que tous mes biens p\u00e9rissent! Les\nvoici! j\u2019ai sauv\u00e9 mon tr\u00e9sor. Voici, ma bien-aim\u00e9e, voici nos tr\u00e9sors,\net nous conna\u00eetrons encore le bonheur.\u00bb Nous bais\u00e2mes nos petits ch\u00e9ris\nmille fois; ils s\u2019attachaient \u00e0 nos cous et semblaient partager nos\ntransports, pendant que leur m\u00e8re riait et pleurait tour \u00e0 tour.\nJe restai d\u00e8s lors calme spectateur des flammes; mais au bout de\nquelque temps, je commen\u00e7ai \u00e0 m\u2019apercevoir que mon bras \u00e9tait br\u00fbl\u00e9\njusqu\u2019\u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9paule d\u2019une terrible fa\u00e7on. Il \u00e9tait donc hors de mon\npouvoir de donner \u00e0 mon fils aucun secours, soit pour essayer de sauver\nnos effets, soit pour emp\u00eacher les flammes de se propager jusqu\u2019\u00e0 notre\nbl\u00e9. Cependant les voisins avaient pris l\u2019alarme et arrivaient en\ncourant \u00e0 notre aide; mais tout ce qu\u2019ils purent faire fut de rester,\ncomme nous, spectateurs de la catastrophe. Mes biens, et entre autres\nles billets de banque que je tenais en r\u00e9serve pour la fortune de\nmes filles, furent enti\u00e8rement consum\u00e9s, except\u00e9 une bo\u00eete contenant\nquelques papiers, qui \u00e9tait dans la cuisine, et deux ou trois autres\nchoses de peu d\u2019importance que mon fils avait emport\u00e9es d\u00e8s le premier\nmoment. Les voisins, toutefois, contribu\u00e8rent en ce qu\u2019ils pouvaient \u00e0\nall\u00e9ger notre d\u00e9tresse.\nIls nous apport\u00e8rent des v\u00eatements et garnirent une de leurs granges\nd\u2019ustensiles de cuisine; de sorte que, lorsque le jour vint, nous\navions une autre habitation, toute mis\u00e9rable qu\u2019elle f\u00fbt, o\u00f9 nous\nretirer. L\u2019honn\u00eate homme, mon plus proche voisin, et ses enfants\nne furent pas les moins z\u00e9l\u00e9s \u00e0 nous pourvoir de toutes les choses\nn\u00e9cessaires et \u00e0 nous offrir toutes les consolations qu\u2019une\nbienfaisance spontan\u00e9e pouvait sugg\u00e9rer.\n[Illustration]\nLorsque les frayeurs de ma famille se furent calm\u00e9es, la curiosit\u00e9\nde conna\u00eetre la raison de ma longue absence se fit jour \u00e0 la place.\nJe leur appris donc tout en d\u00e9tail et continuai en les pr\u00e9parant \u00e0\nrecevoir notre enfant perdue; bien que nous n\u2019eussions plus aujourd\u2019hui\nque la mis\u00e8re \u00e0 offrir, je d\u00e9sirais faire en sorte qu\u2019elle f\u00fbt la\nbienvenue \u00e0 partager ce que nous avions. Cette t\u00e2che e\u00fbt \u00e9t\u00e9 plus\ndifficile sans notre calamit\u00e9 r\u00e9cente, qui avait humili\u00e9 l\u2019orgueil de\nma femme et l\u2019avait \u00e9mouss\u00e9 au contact d\u2019afflictions plus poignantes.\nIncapable d\u2019aller chercher ma pauvre enfant moi-m\u00eame, \u00e0 cause de mon\nbras qui devenait tr\u00e8s douloureux, j\u2019envoyai mon fils et ma fille, qui\nne tard\u00e8rent pas \u00e0 revenir, soutenant la coupable. Elle n\u2019avait pas\nle courage de lever les yeux vers sa m\u00e8re \u00e0 laquelle mes exhortations\nn\u2019avaient pu persuader une r\u00e9conciliation parfaite, car les femmes ont\nun sentiment des erreurs f\u00e9minines beaucoup plus fort que les hommes.\n\u00abAh! madame, lui dit sa m\u00e8re, c\u2019est en un bien pauvre lieu que vous\nvenez, apr\u00e8s tant d\u2019\u00e9l\u00e9gance. Ma fille Sophia et moi ne pouvons offrir\nque bien peu de distraction \u00e0 des personnes qui n\u2019ont eu pour soci\u00e9t\u00e9\nque des gens de distinction. Oui, miss Livy, votre pauvre p\u00e8re et moi,\nnous avons souffert beaucoup derni\u00e8rement; mais j\u2019esp\u00e8re que le ciel\nvous pardonnera.\u00bb Devant cet accueil, la malheureuse victime restait\np\u00e2le et tremblante, ne pouvant ni pleurer ni r\u00e9pondre. Mais je ne\npouvais rester plus longtemps spectateur silencieux de sa d\u00e9tresse;\naussi, donnant \u00e0 ma voix et \u00e0 mes mani\u00e8res un degr\u00e9 de s\u00e9v\u00e9rit\u00e9 qui\navait toujours \u00e9t\u00e9 suivi d\u2019une imm\u00e9diate soumission: \u00abJe demande,\nfemme, que l\u2019on retienne ici mes paroles une fois pour toutes, dis-je:\nje vous ai ramen\u00e9 une pauvre cr\u00e9ature errante et tromp\u00e9e. Son retour\nau devoir appelle la renaissance de votre tendresse. Les v\u00e9ritables\nrigueurs de la vie tombent maintenant sur nous \u00e0 coups press\u00e9s; ne les\naugmentons donc pas par des discussions entre nous. Si nous vivons\nensemble en bonne harmonie, nous pouvons encore avoir du contentement,\ncar nous sommes assez pour fermer la porte aux critiques m\u00e9chantes\ndu monde et pour nous soutenir mutuellement. La cl\u00e9mence du ciel est\npromise \u00e0 qui se repent; laissons-nous guider par cet exemple. Le ciel,\non nous l\u2019assure, se r\u00e9jouit beaucoup plus de voir un p\u00e9cheur repentant\nque quatre-vingt-dix-neuf personnes qui se sont maintenues, sans en\nd\u00e9vier, dans la droite voie. Et c\u2019est chose juste, car le seul effort\npar lequel nous nous arr\u00eatons court sur la pente rapide du sentier de\nla perdition est en lui-m\u00eame une plus \u00e9nergique manifestation de vertu\nque l\u2019accomplissement de cent actes de justice.\u00bb\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE XXIII\n_Nul que le m\u00e9chant ne peut \u00eatre longtemps et compl\u00e8tement mis\u00e9rable._\nIL nous fallait maintenant quelque assiduit\u00e9 au travail pour rendre\nnotre s\u00e9jour du moment aussi convenable que possible, et nous nous\nretrouv\u00e2mes bient\u00f4t en \u00e9tat de jouir de notre ancienne s\u00e9r\u00e9nit\u00e9.\nIncapable d\u2019aider mon fils dans nos occupations habituelles, je faisais\ndes lectures \u00e0 ma famille dans les quelques livres qui avaient \u00e9t\u00e9\nsauv\u00e9s, et particuli\u00e8rement dans ceux qui, en amusant l\u2019imagination,\ncontribuent \u00e0 all\u00e9ger le c\u0153ur. Nos bons voisins venaient aussi chaque\njour avec les meilleures paroles de consolation, et ils fix\u00e8rent une\n\u00e9poque o\u00f9 ils devaient tous se mettre \u00e0 r\u00e9parer mon ancienne demeure.\nL\u2019honn\u00eate fermier William ne fut pas le dernier parmi ces visiteurs, et\ncordialement, il nous offrit son amiti\u00e9. Il aurait m\u00eame renouvel\u00e9 ses\nattentions aupr\u00e8s de ma fille; mais elle le repoussa de mani\u00e8re \u00e0 le\nfaire s\u2019abstenir de toute sollicitation future. Son chagrin semblait\nde ceux qui persistent, et elle \u00e9tait la seule personne de notre\npetite soci\u00e9t\u00e9 qu\u2019une semaine n\u2019avait pas suffi \u00e0 rendre \u00e0 la gaiet\u00e9.\nElle avait d\u00e9sormais perdu cette innocence ignorante du rouge de la\nhonte, qui jadis lui enseignait \u00e0 se respecter elle-m\u00eame et \u00e0 trouver\nson plaisir \u00e0 plaire. L\u2019angoisse avait maintenant profond\u00e9ment pris\npossession de son esprit; sa beaut\u00e9 commen\u00e7ait \u00e0 \u00eatre atteinte en m\u00eame\ntemps que sa sant\u00e9, et toute froideur contribuait encore \u00e0 l\u2019alt\u00e9rer.\nChaque mot tendre \u00e0 l\u2019adresse de sa s\u0153ur lui mettait un serrement\nau c\u0153ur et une larme dans les yeux; et comme un vice, m\u00eame gu\u00e9ri,\nen implante toujours d\u2019autres l\u00e0 o\u00f9 il a exist\u00e9, sa premi\u00e8re faute,\nquoique effac\u00e9e par le repentir, avait laiss\u00e9 la jalousie et l\u2019envie\nderri\u00e8re elle. Je m\u2019effor\u00e7ais en mille fa\u00e7ons de diminuer son souci;\nj\u2019oubliais m\u00eame mes propres douleurs dans ma sollicitude pour elle,\nrecueillant les anecdotes amusantes de l\u2019histoire qu\u2019une bonne m\u00e9moire\net quelque lecture pouvaient me sugg\u00e9rer. \u00abNotre bonheur, ma ch\u00e8re,\ndisais-je, est au pouvoir de quelqu\u2019un qui peut l\u2019amener de mille\nmani\u00e8res inattendues et propres \u00e0 confondre notre pr\u00e9voyance. Si un\nexemple est n\u00e9cessaire pour prouver cela, mon enfant, je vous r\u00e9p\u00e8terai\nune anecdote que nous a racont\u00e9e un grave, quoique parfois romanesque,\nhistorien.\n\u00abMatilda avait \u00e9t\u00e9 mari\u00e9e tr\u00e8s jeune \u00e0 un noble Napolitain du plus\nhaut rang, et, \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e2ge de quinze ans, elle se trouva veuve et m\u00e8re.\nUn jour qu\u2019elle caressait son petit enfant \u00e0 la fen\u00eatre ouverte d\u2019un\nappartement donnant sur le Vulturne, l\u2019enfant, d\u2019un \u00e9lan soudain,\ns\u2019\u00e9chappa de ses bras pour tomber dans l\u2019eau de la rivi\u00e8re o\u00f9 il\ndisparut en un moment. La m\u00e8re, surprise et affol\u00e9e, fait effort pour\nle sauver et plonge apr\u00e8s lui; mais, loin de pouvoir porter aide \u00e0\nl\u2019enfant, elle ne se sauve elle-m\u00eame qu\u2019avec peine sur la rive oppos\u00e9e,\njuste au moment o\u00f9 le pays \u00e9tait, de ce c\u00f4t\u00e9-l\u00e0, pill\u00e9 par des soldats\nfran\u00e7ais qui la firent aussit\u00f4t prisonni\u00e8re.\nComme la guerre se faisait entre les Fran\u00e7ais et les Italiens avec la\nderni\u00e8re inhumanit\u00e9, ils allaient imm\u00e9diatement se porter sur elle\naux deux extr\u00e9mit\u00e9s que l\u2019app\u00e9tit des sens et la cruaut\u00e9 sugg\u00e8rent.\nCe vil projet fut pourtant arr\u00eat\u00e9 par un jeune officier qui, bien que\nleur retraite command\u00e2t la plus grande diligence, la prit en croupe et\nl\u2019emporta saine et sauve jusqu\u2019\u00e0 sa ville natale. La beaut\u00e9 de cette\njeune femme avait d\u2019abord s\u00e9duit ses yeux; son m\u00e9rite bient\u00f4t apr\u00e8s lui\ns\u00e9duisit le c\u0153ur. Ils se mari\u00e8rent; lui s\u2019\u00e9leva \u00e0 la position la plus\nhaute; ils v\u00e9curent longtemps ensemble, et ils \u00e9taient heureux. Mais\nla f\u00e9licit\u00e9 d\u2019un soldat ne peut jamais s\u2019appeler permanente: plusieurs\nann\u00e9es apr\u00e8s, les troupes qu\u2019il commandait ayant subi un \u00e9chec, il fut\noblig\u00e9 de chercher refuge dans la ville o\u00f9 il avait demeur\u00e9 avec sa\nfemme. Ils y soutinrent un si\u00e8ge, et la ville \u00e0 la fin fut prise. Les\nhistoriens ne peuvent gu\u00e8re pr\u00e9senter ailleurs plus d\u2019actes de cruaut\u00e9\nque ceux que les Fran\u00e7ais et les Italiens commirent en ce temps-l\u00e0 les\nuns sur les autres. En cette circonstance, les vainqueurs d\u00e9cid\u00e8rent de\nmettre \u00e0 mort tous les prisonniers fran\u00e7ais, mais particuli\u00e8rement le\nmari de l\u2019infortun\u00e9e Matilda, parce qu\u2019il avait \u00e9t\u00e9 la principale cause\nde la prolongation du si\u00e8ge. Leurs d\u00e9cisions s\u2019ex\u00e9cutaient g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement\nd\u00e8s qu\u2019elles \u00e9taient prises. On amena le soldat captif, et le bourreau\nse tenait tout pr\u00eat avec son glaive, tandis que les spectateurs, dans\nun lugubre silence, attendaient le coup de mort, suspendu seulement\njusqu\u2019\u00e0 ce que le g\u00e9n\u00e9ral, qui pr\u00e9sidait comme juge, e\u00fbt donn\u00e9 le\nsignal. Ce fut dans cet intervalle d\u2019angoisse et d\u2019attente que Matilda\nvint dire le dernier adieu \u00e0 son mari et \u00e0 son sauveur, d\u00e9plorant la\nsituation mis\u00e9rable o\u00f9 elle se trouvait et la cruaut\u00e9 du destin, qui\nl\u2019avait emp\u00each\u00e9e de p\u00e9rir d\u2019une mort pr\u00e9matur\u00e9e dans le Vulturne pour\nla faire assister \u00e0 des calamit\u00e9s encore plus grandes. Le g\u00e9n\u00e9ral,\nqui \u00e9tait un jeune homme, fut frapp\u00e9 d\u2019\u00e9tonnement devant sa beaut\u00e9 et\nde piti\u00e9 devant sa d\u00e9tresse; mais il \u00e9prouva des \u00e9motions plus fortes\nquand il l\u2019entendit parler du p\u00e9ril qu\u2019elle avait autrefois couru. Il\n\u00e9tait son fils, le petit enfant pour lequel elle s\u2019\u00e9tait pr\u00e9cipit\u00e9e\ndans un si grand danger. Il la reconnut sur-le-champ comme sa m\u00e8re et\ntomba \u00e0 ses pieds. Le reste se suppose ais\u00e9ment: le captif fut mis\nen libert\u00e9, et tous les bonheurs que l\u2019amour, l\u2019amiti\u00e9 et le devoir\npouvaient donner \u00e0 chacun se trouv\u00e8rent r\u00e9unis.\u00bb\nC\u2019est ainsi que j\u2019essayais d\u2019amuser ma fille; mais elle \u00e9coutait\nd\u2019une attention distraite, car ses propres infortunes occupaient\ntoute la piti\u00e9 qu\u2019elle avait jadis pour celles des autres, et rien\nne lui donnait du soulagement. En soci\u00e9t\u00e9, elle redoutait le m\u00e9pris;\net dans la solitude, elle ne trouvait que douleur. Telle \u00e9tait la\nnoire profondeur de sa mis\u00e8re, lorsque nous re\u00e7\u00fbmes un avis certain\nque M. Thornhill allait se marier avec miss Wilmot, pour laquelle je\nl\u2019avais toujours soup\u00e7onn\u00e9 d\u2019avoir un r\u00e9el amour, bien qu\u2019il sais\u00eet\ndevant moi toutes les occasions de manifester \u00e0 la fois du m\u00e9pris pour\nsa personne et pour sa fortune. Cette nouvelle ne fit qu\u2019accro\u00eetre\nl\u2019affliction de la pauvre Olivia; une violation de foi si flagrante\n\u00e9tait plus que son courage ne pouvait supporter. Cependant je r\u00e9solus\nde prendre des renseignements plus positifs et d\u2019emp\u00eacher, s\u2019il \u00e9tait\npossible, l\u2019ex\u00e9cution de ses projets en envoyant mon fils chez le\nvieux M. Wilmot, avec mission de savoir la v\u00e9rit\u00e9 sur ces bruits et de\nremettre \u00e0 miss Wilmot une lettre qui lui apprendrait la conduite de M.\nThornhill dans ma famille.\n[Illustration]\nMon fils partit avec mes instructions, et, au bout de trois jours,\nil revint, nous assurant de l\u2019exactitude de mes renseignements; mais\nil lui avait \u00e9t\u00e9 impossible de remettre la lettre, et il avait \u00e9t\u00e9\noblig\u00e9 de la laisser, parce que M. Thornhill et miss Wilmot \u00e9taient\nen tourn\u00e9e de visites dans le pays. Ils devaient \u00eatre mari\u00e9s, nous\ndit-il, sous peu de jours; le dimanche avant son arriv\u00e9e, ils s\u2019\u00e9taient\nmontr\u00e9s ensemble \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9glise en grande pompe, la fianc\u00e9e escort\u00e9e de\nsix demoiselles, et lui d\u2019autant de messieurs. Leurs noces prochaines\nremplissaient toute la contr\u00e9e de r\u00e9jouissances, et ils avaient coutume\nde sortir ensemble \u00e0 cheval dans le plus splendide appareil qu\u2019on e\u00fbt\nvu dans le pays depuis bien des ann\u00e9es. Tous les amis des deux familles\n\u00e9taient l\u00e0, particuli\u00e8rement l\u2019oncle du squire, sir William Thornhill,\nqui avait une si excellente r\u00e9putation. Il ajouta qu\u2019il n\u2019y avait en\ntrain que plaisirs et f\u00eates; que tout le pays vantait la beaut\u00e9 de\nla jeune fianc\u00e9e et la bonne mine du pr\u00e9tendu, et qu\u2019ils s\u2019aimaient\nextr\u00eamement l\u2019un et l\u2019autre; et il conclut qu\u2019il ne pouvait s\u2019emp\u00eacher\nde trouver M. Thornhill un des hommes les plus heureux qui fussent au\nmonde.\n\u00abEh bien, qu\u2019il le soit s\u2019il le peut, repris-je. Mais, mon fils,\nregardez ce lit de paille et ce toit qui n\u2019est m\u00eame pas un abri, ces\nmurs croulants et ce sol humide, mon mis\u00e9rable corps estropi\u00e9 par le\nfeu, et mes enfants pleurant autour de moi pour avoir du pain: c\u2019est\n\u00e0 tout cela que vous \u00eates venu en revenant \u00e0 la maison, mon enfant;\net cependant ici, oui, ici, vous voyez un homme qui, pour tout au\nmonde, ne voudrait pas changer nos situations. O mes enfants! si vous\npouviez seulement apprendre \u00e0 faire communier ensemble vos c\u0153urs, si\nvous saviez quels nobles compagnons vous pouvez en faire, vous vous\nsoucieriez peu des \u00e9l\u00e9gances et des splendeurs des corrompus. Tous les\nhommes, ou \u00e0 peu pr\u00e8s, ont \u00e9t\u00e9 instruits \u00e0 appeler la vie un passage,\net \u00e0 s\u2019appeler eux-m\u00eames des voyageurs. La comparaison pourrait \u00eatre\nmeilleure encore si l\u2019on remarquait que les bons sont joyeux et sereins\ncomme des voyageurs qui reviennent vers leurs foyers, et les m\u00e9chants\nheureux seulement par intervalles, comme des voyageurs qui s\u2019en vont en\nexil.\u00bb\nMa compassion pour ma pauvre fille, que ce nouveau d\u00e9sastre accablait,\ninterrompit ce que j\u2019avais encore \u00e0 dire. Je priai sa m\u00e8re de la\nsoutenir, et, un instant apr\u00e8s, elle revint \u00e0 elle. A partir de ce\nmoment, elle parut plus calme, et je m\u2019imaginai qu\u2019elle avait acquis\nun nouveau degr\u00e9 d\u2019\u00e9nergie; mais l\u2019apparence me trompait, car sa\ntranquillit\u00e9 n\u2019\u00e9tait que l\u2019abattement d\u2019une douleur port\u00e9e au comble.\nUne quantit\u00e9 de provisions, que nous envoyaient charitablement mes\nbons paroissiens, semblait r\u00e9pandre une nouvelle joie dans le reste\nde la famille, et je n\u2019\u00e9tais pas f\u00e2ch\u00e9 de les voir une fois encore\nplus enjou\u00e9s et plus \u00e0 l\u2019aise. Il aurait \u00e9t\u00e9 injuste de troubler leur\ncontentement dans le seul but de m\u00ealer leurs pleurs \u00e0 ceux d\u2019un chagrin\nopini\u00e2tre, ou de leur faire porter le poids d\u2019une tristesse qu\u2019ils ne\nressentaient pas. Ainsi une fois de plus chacun autour de la table\nconta son histoire; on demanda une chanson, et la gaiet\u00e9 voulut bien\nvoltiger autour de notre humble demeure.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE XXIV\n_Nouvelles calamit\u00e9s._\nLE lendemain matin, le soleil se leva particuli\u00e8rement chaud pour la\nsaison; aussi f\u00eemes-nous la partie de d\u00e9jeuner ensemble sur le banc aux\nch\u00e8vrefeuilles. L\u00e0, pendant que nous nous reposions, ma fille cadette,\n\u00e0 ma demande, joignit sa voix au concert qui se donnait dans les arbres\nautour de nous. C\u2019\u00e9tait en ce lieu que ma pauvre Olivia avait vu pour\nla premi\u00e8re fois son s\u00e9ducteur, et tout servait \u00e0 rappeler sa peine.\nMais la m\u00e9lancolie qu\u2019excitent des objets plaisants, ou qu\u2019inspirent\ndes sons harmonieux, calme le c\u0153ur au lieu de le ronger. La m\u00e8re\nressentit \u00e9galement dans cette occasion un doux mouvement de tristesse;\nelle pleura, et elle aima sa fille comme autrefois. \u00abAllons! ma\nmignonne Olivia, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-elle, donnez-nous ce petit air m\u00e9lancolique\nque votre papa aimait tant. Votre s\u0153ur Sophia s\u2019est d\u00e9j\u00e0 ex\u00e9cut\u00e9e.\nAllons, enfant, cela fera plaisir \u00e0 votre p\u00e8re.\u00bb Elle ob\u00e9it avec une\ngr\u00e2ce si path\u00e9tique que j\u2019en fus \u00e9mu.\n  Quand femme descend jusqu\u2019\u00e0 la folie,\n  Et trouve trop tard que les hommes trahissent,\n  Quel charme peut calmer sa m\u00e9lancolie?\n  Quel art peut laver sa faute en l\u2019effa\u00e7ant?\n  Le seul art pour couvrir sa faute,\n  Pour cacher sa honte \u00e0 tous les yeux,\n  Pour donner le repentir \u00e0 son amant\n  Et lui d\u00e9chirer le c\u0153ur, c\u2019est de mourir.\nComme elle terminait la derni\u00e8re strophe, \u00e0 laquelle sa voix\nentrecoup\u00e9e par la douleur donnait une douceur particuli\u00e8re,\nl\u2019apparition de l\u2019\u00e9quipage de M. Thornhill \u00e0 quelque distance nous\njeta tous dans l\u2019alarme et surtout augmenta le malaise de ma fille\na\u00een\u00e9e qui, d\u00e9sireuse d\u2019\u00e9viter le tra\u00eetre, retourna \u00e0 la maison avec\nsa s\u0153ur. Quelques minutes apr\u00e8s, il \u00e9tait descendu de sa voiture, et,\nse dirigeant vers l\u2019endroit o\u00f9 j\u2019\u00e9tais encore assis, il s\u2019informa de\nma sant\u00e9 avec son air de familiarit\u00e9 habituel. \u00abMonsieur, lui dis-je,\nvotre assurance \u00e0 cette heure ne fait qu\u2019ajouter \u00e0 la bassesse de votre\ncaract\u00e8re. Il fut un temps o\u00f9 j\u2019aurais ch\u00e2ti\u00e9 votre insolence d\u2019oser\nainsi para\u00eetre devant moi. Mais aujourd\u2019hui vous \u00eates en s\u00fbret\u00e9, car\nl\u2019\u00e2ge a refroidi mes passions, et ma profession les r\u00e9prime.\n\u2014Je jure, mon cher monsieur, r\u00e9pondit-il, que je suis stup\u00e9fait de\ntout cela, et je ne saurais comprendre ce que cela veut dire! J\u2019esp\u00e8re\nque vous ne croyez pas que la r\u00e9cente excursion de votre fille avec moi\nait eu rien de criminel.\n\u2014Va! criai-je; tu es un mis\u00e9rable, un pauvre mis\u00e9rable, \u00e0 faire\npiti\u00e9, et de toute mani\u00e8re un menteur!... Mais votre avilissement vous\ngarantit de ma col\u00e8re. Pourtant, monsieur, je descends d\u2019une famille o\u00f9\nl\u2019on n\u2019aurait pas support\u00e9 ceci... Et c\u2019est ainsi, vil personnage, que\npour satisfaire une passion d\u2019un moment tu as rendu une pauvre cr\u00e9ature\nmis\u00e9rable pour la vie et souill\u00e9 une famille qui n\u2019avait rien que\nl\u2019honneur pour lot!\n\u2014Si elle ou vous, r\u00e9pliqua-t-il, \u00eates d\u00e9cid\u00e9 \u00e0 \u00eatre mis\u00e9rable, je ne\npuis pas l\u2019emp\u00eacher. Mais vous pouvez encore \u00eatre heureux, et quelque\nopinion que vous ayez form\u00e9e de moi, vous me trouverez toujours pr\u00eat \u00e0\ny contribuer. Nous pourrons la marier \u00e0 un autre dans quelque temps,\net, ce qui est mieux encore, elle pourra garder aussi son amant; car\nje proteste que je continuerai toujours \u00e0 avoir un v\u00e9ritable sentiment\npour elle.\u00bb\nJe sentis toutes mes passions se soulever \u00e0 cette nouvelle proposition\nd\u00e9gradante. En effet, si l\u2019esprit souvent reste calme sous de grands\noutrages, une petite vilenie suffit \u00e0 un moment donn\u00e9 pour toucher\nl\u2019\u00e2me au vif et l\u2019aiguillonner jusqu\u2019\u00e0 la fureur. \u00abFuis ma vue,\nreptile, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, et ne continue pas \u00e0 m\u2019insulter de ta pr\u00e9sence.\nSi mon brave fils \u00e9tait ici, il ne le souffrirait pas; mais je suis\nvieux et impuissant, et, de toute fa\u00e7on, d\u00e9truit.\n\u2014Je vois, dit-il, que vous \u00eates d\u00e9cid\u00e9 \u00e0 m\u2019obliger de parler plus\ndurement que je n\u2019en avais l\u2019intention. Mais comme je vous ai montr\u00e9 ce\nqu\u2019on peut esp\u00e9rer de mon amiti\u00e9, il n\u2019est peut-\u00eatre pas hors de place\nde vous repr\u00e9senter les cons\u00e9quences que peut avoir mon ressentiment.\nMon avou\u00e9, \u00e0 qui votre billet a \u00e9t\u00e9 remis, menace fort, et je ne sais\ncomment arr\u00eater le cours de la justice autrement qu\u2019en payant la somme\nmoi-m\u00eame, ce qui, en raison des d\u00e9penses que j\u2019ai d\u00fb faire derni\u00e8rement\n\u00e0 l\u2019occasion de mon prochain mariage, n\u2019est pas si facile \u00e0 faire. D\u2019un\nautre c\u00f4t\u00e9, mon intendant parle de venir pour le loyer: il est certain\nqu\u2019il conna\u00eet son devoir, car je ne m\u2019inqui\u00e8te jamais d\u2019affaires de\ncette nature. Cependant je voudrais encore pouvoir vous servir, et m\u00eame\nvous avoir, vous et votre fille, \u00e0 mon mariage qui doit bient\u00f4t se\nc\u00e9l\u00e9brer avec miss Wilmot: c\u2019est ma charmante Arabelle elle-m\u00eame qui\nvous le demande, et j\u2019esp\u00e8re que vous ne refuserez pas.\n\u2014Monsieur Thornhill, r\u00e9pliquai-je, \u00e9coutez-moi une fois pour toutes.\nQuant \u00e0 votre mariage avec n\u2019importe qui autre que ma fille, je n\u2019y\nconsentirai jamais, et quand m\u00eame votre amiti\u00e9 pourrait m\u2019\u00e9lever sur un\ntr\u00f4ne, ou votre ressentiment me plonger au tombeau, je les m\u00e9priserais\nl\u2019une et l\u2019autre. C\u2019est que tu m\u2019as une fois douloureusement,\nirr\u00e9parablement tromp\u00e9. Je reposais mon c\u0153ur sur ton honneur, et j\u2019y ai\ntrouv\u00e9 la bassesse. Jamais plus, donc, ne t\u2019attends \u00e0 de l\u2019amiti\u00e9 de ma\npart. Va, jouis de ce que la fortune t\u2019a donn\u00e9, beaut\u00e9, richesse, sant\u00e9\net plaisir. Va, laisse-moi au besoin, \u00e0 l\u2019infamie, \u00e0 la maladie et \u00e0 la\ndouleur. Tout abattu que je suis, mon c\u0153ur saura encore revendiquer sa\ndignit\u00e9, et si tu as mon pardon, tu auras toujours mon m\u00e9pris.\n\u2014S\u2019il en est ainsi, riposta-t-il, comptez-y, vous sentirez les effets\nde cette insolence, et vous verrez promptement lequel est le plus digne\nobjet de m\u00e9pris, de vous ou de moi.\u00bb L\u00e0-dessus il partit brusquement.\nMa femme et mon fils, qui assistaient \u00e0 cette entrevue, semblaient\nterrifi\u00e9s par l\u2019appr\u00e9hension. Mes filles, de leur c\u00f4t\u00e9, voyant qu\u2019il\n\u00e9tait parti, sortirent pour apprendre le r\u00e9sultat de notre conf\u00e9rence,\net quand elles le connurent, elles n\u2019en furent pas moins alarm\u00e9es que\nles autres. Mais quant \u00e0 moi, je d\u00e9daignais les derniers exc\u00e8s de sa\nmalveillance: le coup \u00e9tait d\u00e9j\u00e0 frapp\u00e9, et d\u00e9sormais je me tenais\npr\u00eat \u00e0 repousser tout nouvel effort, semblable \u00e0 un de ces engins\nemploy\u00e9s dans l\u2019art de la guerre, qui, de quelque c\u00f4t\u00e9 qu\u2019on les jette,\npr\u00e9sentent toujours une pointe pour recevoir l\u2019ennemi.\nNous ne tard\u00e2mes pas \u00e0 voir toutefois qu\u2019il n\u2019avait pas menac\u00e9 en\nvain; car, d\u00e8s le lendemain matin, son intendant arrivait pour demander\nmon loyer annuel, que, par suite des accidents d\u00e9j\u00e0 racont\u00e9s, j\u2019\u00e9tais\nincapable de payer. La cons\u00e9quence de cette incapacit\u00e9 fut que le soir\nm\u00eame il emmena mon b\u00e9tail, lequel fut \u00e9valu\u00e9 et vendu le lendemain \u00e0\nmoiti\u00e9 prix de sa r\u00e9elle valeur. Ma femme et mes enfants me suppli\u00e8rent\nalors d\u2019accepter toutes les conditions plut\u00f4t que d\u2019encourir une ruine\ncompl\u00e8te. Elles me pri\u00e8rent m\u00eame de permettre une fois de plus ses\nvisites, et employ\u00e8rent toute leur petite \u00e9loquence \u00e0 peindre les\ncalamit\u00e9s que j\u2019allais endurer,\u2014les horreurs d\u2019une prison par une\nsaison si rigoureuse, et les dangers mena\u00e7ant ma sant\u00e9 par suite de\nl\u2019accident qui m\u2019\u00e9tait derni\u00e8rement arriv\u00e9 dans l\u2019incendie. Mais je\ndemeurai in\u00e9branlable.\n[Illustration]\n\u00abPourquoi, mes tr\u00e9sors, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, pourquoi voulez-vous essayer\nde me persuader ce qui n\u2019est pas juste? Mon devoir m\u2019a enseign\u00e9 \u00e0\nlui pardonner; mais ma conscience n\u2019admettra pas que je l\u2019approuve.\nVoudriez-vous me faire applaudir devant le monde ce qu\u2019int\u00e9rieurement\nmon c\u0153ur doit condamner? Voudriez-vous me voir, tranquillement\nassis, flatter celui qui nous a trahis ignoblement, et, pour \u00e9viter\nune prison, souffrir continuellement les liens plus douloureux d\u2019un\nencha\u00eenement moral? Non, jamais! Si nous devons \u00eatre enlev\u00e9s \u00e0 ce\ns\u00e9jour, tenons-nous-en seulement \u00e0 ce qui est bien; et, o\u00f9 que nous\nsoyons jet\u00e9s, nous aurons toujours une retraite enchant\u00e9e o\u00f9 nous\npourrons, avec une intr\u00e9pidit\u00e9 m\u00eal\u00e9e de plaisir, jeter nos regards\nautour de nos propres c\u0153urs!\u00bb\nC\u2019est ainsi que nous pass\u00e2mes la soir\u00e9e. Le matin suivant, de bonne\nheure, comme il \u00e9tait tomb\u00e9 une neige tr\u00e8s abondante pendant la nuit,\nmon fils s\u2019occupait \u00e0 la d\u00e9blayer et \u00e0 ouvrir un passage devant\nla porte. Il n\u2019y avait pas travaill\u00e9 longtemps lorsqu\u2019il rentra\npr\u00e9cipitamment, la figure toute p\u00e2le, nous dire que deux \u00e9trangers,\nqu\u2019il reconnaissait pour des officiers de justice, se dirigeaient vers\nla maison.\nIl parlait encore qu\u2019ils entr\u00e8rent; ils s\u2019approch\u00e8rent du lit o\u00f9\nj\u2019\u00e9tais couch\u00e9, et, m\u2019ayant au pr\u00e9alable inform\u00e9 de leurs fonctions\net de leur mission, ils m\u2019arr\u00eat\u00e8rent prisonnier, et m\u2019invit\u00e8rent \u00e0 me\npr\u00e9parer \u00e0 aller avec eux \u00e0 la ge\u00f4le du comt\u00e9, qui \u00e9tait \u00e0 onze milles\nde l\u00e0.\n\u00abMes amis, dis-je, vous venez par une temp\u00e9rature bien s\u00e9v\u00e8re pour me\nmener en prison; et la chose est particuli\u00e8rement malheureuse eu ce\nmoment, car je me suis r\u00e9cemment br\u00fbl\u00e9 un bras d\u2019une fa\u00e7on terrible, ce\nqui m\u2019a donn\u00e9 une l\u00e9g\u00e8re fi\u00e8vre; et puis je manque de v\u00eatements pour me\ncouvrir, et je suis maintenant trop faible et trop vieux pour marcher\nloin dans une neige si \u00e9paisse; mais s\u2019il en doit \u00eatre ainsi...\u00bb\nJe me tournai alors vers ma femme et mes enfants, et leur donnai pour\ninstructions de rassembler le peu de choses qui nous restaient et de\nse pr\u00e9parer imm\u00e9diatement \u00e0 quitter ces lieux. Je les conjurai de se\nh\u00e2ter, et je priai mon fils de pr\u00eater assistance \u00e0 sa s\u0153ur a\u00een\u00e9e, qui,\nayant conscience d\u2019\u00eatre la cause de toutes nos calamit\u00e9s, \u00e9tait tomb\u00e9e\n\u00e9vanouie et avait perdu \u00e0 la fois le sentiment de son existence et de\nses maux. J\u2019encourageai ma femme, p\u00e2le et tremblante, qui serrait dans\nses bras nos petits enfants \u00e9pouvant\u00e9s, s\u2019attachant \u00e0 son sein, muets\net craignant de lever les yeux sur les \u00e9trangers. Pendant ce temps, ma\nfille cadette pr\u00e9parait notre d\u00e9part, et comme on lui r\u00e9p\u00e9tait souvent\nde faire diligence, au bout d\u2019une heure environ nous f\u00fbmes pr\u00eats \u00e0 nous\nmettre en route.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE XXV\n_Il n\u2019est pas de situation, quelque mis\u00e9rable qu\u2019elle semble, qui ne\nsoit accompagn\u00e9e de quelque esp\u00e8ce de consolation._\nNOUS quitt\u00e2mes ces lieux paisibles, et nous m\u00eemes \u00e0 marcher lentement.\nMa fille a\u00een\u00e9e \u00e9tait affaiblie par une fi\u00e8vre lente qui commen\u00e7ait,\ndepuis quelques jours, \u00e0 miner sa constitution. Un des officiers, qui\navait un cheval, eut la bont\u00e9 de la prendre derri\u00e8re lui, car ces\nhommes eux-m\u00eames ne peuvent d\u00e9pouiller enti\u00e8rement tout sentiment\nd\u2019humanit\u00e9. Mon fils conduisait un des petits par la main, et ma femme\nl\u2019autre, tandis que je m\u2019appuyais sur ma fille cadette, dont les larmes\ncoulaient, non sur ses propres malheurs, mais sur les miens.\nNous \u00e9tions \u00e0 environ deux milles de mon ancienne demeure, lorsque\nnous v\u00eemes une foule qui courait et criait derri\u00e8re nous, compos\u00e9e\nd\u2019une cinquantaine de mes plus pauvres paroissiens. Ils se furent\nbient\u00f4t, avec d\u2019\u00e9pouvantables impr\u00e9cations, saisis des deux officiers\nde justice, et, jurant qu\u2019ils ne verraient jamais leur ministre aller\nen prison tant qu\u2019ils auraient une goutte de sang \u00e0 verser pour sa\nd\u00e9fense, ils se disposaient \u00e0 les malmener rudement. Les cons\u00e9quences\nauraient pu \u00eatre fatales, si je ne m\u2019\u00e9tais imm\u00e9diatement interpos\u00e9, et\nsi je n\u2019avais, non sans quelque difficult\u00e9, arrach\u00e9 les officiers aux\nmains de cette multitude furieuse. Mes enfants, qui regardaient d\u00e9j\u00e0\nma d\u00e9livrance comme assur\u00e9e, semblaient transport\u00e9s de joie et \u00e9taient\nincapables de contenir leur ravissement. Mais ils ne tard\u00e8rent pas \u00e0 se\nd\u00e9tromper lorsqu\u2019ils m\u2019entendirent parler \u00e0 ces pauvres gens abus\u00e9s,\nqui venaient, croyaient-ils, pour me rendre service.\n\u00abQuoi, mes amis! m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, est-ce l\u00e0 la fa\u00e7on dont vous m\u2019aimez?\nEst-ce la mani\u00e8re dont vous ob\u00e9issez aux instructions que je vous ai\ndonn\u00e9es dans la chaire? D\u00e9fier ainsi la justice en face et apporter la\nruine sur vous-m\u00eames et sur moi! Quel est votre meneur? Montrez-moi\nl\u2019homme qui vous a s\u00e9duits ainsi. Aussi s\u00fbr qu\u2019il existe, il \u00e9prouvera\nmon ressentiment. H\u00e9las! cher troupeau abus\u00e9, revenez \u00e0 votre\ndevoir envers Dieu, envers votre pays et envers moi. Peut-\u00eatre vous\nverrai-je encore un jour ici dans des circonstances plus fortun\u00e9es,\net contribuerai-je \u00e0 vous faire la vie plus heureuse. Mais que ce\nsoit du moins ma consolation, lorsque je parquerai mes brebis pour\nl\u2019immortalit\u00e9, qu\u2019il n\u2019en manque aucune au troupeau.\u00bb\nTous sembl\u00e8rent alors p\u00e9n\u00e9tr\u00e9s de repentir, et, fondant en larmes, ils\nvinrent l\u2019un apr\u00e8s l\u2019autre me dire adieu. Je serrai tendrement la main\nde chacun d\u2019eux, et, leur laissant ma b\u00e9n\u00e9diction, je continuai ma\nroute sans rencontrer aucun autre emp\u00eachement. Quelques heures avant la\nnuit, nous atteign\u00eemes la ville, ou plut\u00f4t le village; car elle ne se\ncomposait que de quelques humbles maisons, ayant enti\u00e8rement perdu son\nopulence d\u2019autrefois, et ne gardant, pour toute marque de son ancienne\nsup\u00e9riorit\u00e9, que la prison.\nA l\u2019entr\u00e9e, nous nous arr\u00eat\u00e2mes \u00e0 une auberge, o\u00f9 nous pr\u00eemes les\nrafra\u00eechissements que l\u2019on pouvait se procurer le plus vite, et je\nsoupai avec ma famille aussi gaiement que de coutume. Apr\u00e8s les avoir\nvus convenablement install\u00e9s pour la nuit, je suivis les officiers\ndu sh\u00e9rif \u00e0 la prison, qui, jadis construite en vue de la guerre,\nconsistait en une vaste salle solidement grill\u00e9e et pav\u00e9e de pierres,\ncommune aux malfaiteurs et aux d\u00e9biteurs \u00e0 certaines heures de la\njourn\u00e9e. Outre cette salle, chaque prisonnier avait une cellule \u00e0 part,\no\u00f9 il \u00e9tait enferm\u00e9 pour la nuit.\nJe m\u2019attendais, en entrant, \u00e0 ne trouver que lamentations et cris\nde mis\u00e8re de toute sorte; mais il en fut bien diff\u00e9remment. Les\nprisonniers semblaient tous conspirer \u00e0 un dessein commun, celui\nd\u2019oublier de penser an milieu de la joie et du bruit. On m\u2019informa\ndu petit tribut requis d\u2019ordinaire en ces occasions, et je me rendis\nimm\u00e9diatement \u00e0 la requ\u00eate, bien que le peu d\u2019argent que j\u2019avais f\u00fbt\nbien pr\u00e8s d\u2019\u00eatre compl\u00e8tement \u00e9puis\u00e9. On l\u2019envoya aussit\u00f4t s\u2019\u00e9changer\ncontre de quoi boire, et la prison tout enti\u00e8re ne tarda pas \u00e0 \u00eatre\npleine de vacarme, de rires et de profanation.\n\u00abComment! m\u2019\u00e9criai-je \u00e0 part moi, des hommes si v\u00e9ritablement vicieux\nseront gais, et moi, je serai triste! Je ne souffre que le m\u00eame\nemprisonnement, et je crois avoir plus de raisons qu\u2019eux d\u2019\u00eatre\nheureux.\u00bb\nC\u2019est par de semblables r\u00e9flexions que je travaillai \u00e0 me rendre gai;\nmais la gaiet\u00e9 n\u2019a jamais \u00e9t\u00e9 produite par l\u2019effort, lequel est, en\nsoi, p\u00e9nible. Comme j\u2019\u00e9tais assis dans un coin de la prison, l\u2019air\npensif, un de mes compagnons de captivit\u00e9 s\u2019avan\u00e7a, s\u2019assit pr\u00e8s de\nmoi et entama la conversation. Ce fut toujours ma r\u00e8gle invariable\ndans la vie de ne jamais \u00e9viter la conversation d\u2019aucune personne\nsemblant vouloir parler avec moi; car, si l\u2019individu \u00e9tait bon, je\npouvais profiter de son instruction, et s\u2019il \u00e9tait mauvais, il pouvait\ntrouver du secours dans la mienne. Je remarquai que celui-ci \u00e9tait un\nhomme d\u2019exp\u00e9rience et d\u2019un \u00e9nergique, mais inculte bon sens; il avait\nune parfaite connaissance du monde, comme on dit, ou pour parler plus\nproprement, de l\u2019esp\u00e8ce humaine vue du mauvais c\u00f4t\u00e9. Il me demanda si\nj\u2019avais pris soin de me pr\u00e9cautionner d\u2019un lit, ce qui \u00e9tait un d\u00e9tail\nauquel je n\u2019avais pas une seule fois song\u00e9.\n\u00abC\u2019est f\u00e2cheux, dit-il; car on ne vous donne ici rien que de la paille,\net votre chambre est tr\u00e8s grande et tr\u00e8s froide. Toutefois, comme vous\navez l\u2019air d\u2019\u00eatre un gentleman, et que j\u2019en ai \u00e9t\u00e9 un moi-m\u00eame dans mon\ntemps, je mets de bon c\u0153ur une partie de ma literie \u00e0 votre service.\u00bb\nJe le remerciai, exprimant mon \u00e9tonnement de trouver dans une ge\u00f4le une\ntelle humanit\u00e9 pour l\u2019infortune, et j\u2019ajoutai, pour lui faire voir que\nj\u2019\u00e9tais un lettr\u00e9, que le sage de l\u2019antiquit\u00e9 avait sembl\u00e9 comprendre\nla valeur d\u2019un compagnon dans l\u2019affliction lorsqu\u2019il avait dit: _Ton\nkosmon aire, ei dos ton etairon_[9]! \u00abEt de fait, continuai-je, qu\u2019est\nle monde s\u2019il n\u2019offre rien que solitude?\n\u2014Vous parlez du monde, monsieur, reprit mon compagnon. Le monde\nretombe en enfance, et pourtant la cosmogonie ou cr\u00e9ation du monde\na rendu perplexes les philosophes de tous les \u00e2ges. Quelle m\u00eal\u00e9e\nconfuse d\u2019opinions n\u2019ont-ils pas soulev\u00e9e sur la cr\u00e9ation du monde!\nSanchoniathon, Man\u00e9thon, B\u00e9rose et Ocellus Lucanus ont tous tent\u00e9\nla question, mais en vain. Le dernier a ces paroles: _Anarchon ara\nkai atelutaion to pan_, ce qui implique.....\u2014Je vous demande pardon\nd\u2019interrompre tant d\u2019\u00e9rudition, monsieur, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je; mais je crois\navoir entendu tout cela d\u00e9j\u00e0. N\u2019ai-je pas eu le plaisir de vous voir\nune fois \u00e0 la foire de Welbridge, et ne vous nommez-vous pas \u00c9phra\u00efm\nJenkinson?\u00bb A cette question, il se contenta de soupirer. \u00abJe suppose\nque vous devez vous rappeler, repris-je, un docteur Primrose, \u00e0 qui\nvous avez achet\u00e9 un cheval?\u00bb\n[Illustration]\nAlors M. Jenkinson se souvint de moi sur-le-champ; l\u2019obscurit\u00e9 du lieu\net l\u2019approche de la nuit l\u2019avaient emp\u00each\u00e9 de distinguer auparavant mes\ntraits. \u00abOui, monsieur, reprit-il, je me souviens de vous parfaitement\nbien. J\u2019ai achet\u00e9 un cheval, mais oubli\u00e9 de le payer. Votre voisin\nFlamborough est le seul plaignant que je redoute en aucune fa\u00e7on aux\nprochaines assises, car il a l\u2019intention de d\u00e9poser positivement contre\nmoi comme faussaire. Je regrette de tout mon c\u0153ur, monsieur, de vous\navoir jamais tromp\u00e9, et, de fait, d\u2019avoir tromp\u00e9 qui que ce soit; car,\nvous voyez, continua-t-il en montrant ses fers, \u00e0 quoi m\u2019ont conduit\nmes tours.\n\u2014Eh bien! monsieur, r\u00e9pliquai-je, votre bont\u00e9 \u00e0 m\u2019offrir un secours\nlorsque vous ne pouviez rien esp\u00e9rer en \u00e9change sera pay\u00e9e par\nles efforts que je ferai pour adoucir ou supprimer tout \u00e0 fait la\nd\u00e9position de M. Flamborough. Je lui enverrai mon fils \u00e0 cet effet \u00e0 la\npremi\u00e8re occasion, et je ne fais pas le moindre doute qu\u2019il ne se rende\n\u00e0 ma requ\u00eate. Pour ce qui est de ma propre d\u00e9position, vous n\u2019avez pas\nbesoin d\u2019avoir aucune inqui\u00e9tude \u00e0 ce sujet.\n\u2014Eh bien! monsieur, r\u00e9pondit-il, tout ce que je pourrai vous rendre en\nretour, je le ferai. Vous aurez plus de la moiti\u00e9 de mes couvertures\ncette nuit, et j\u2019aurai soin de me poser comme votre ami dans la prison,\no\u00f9 je crois avoir quelque influence.\u00bb\nJe le remerciai et ne pus m\u2019emp\u00eacher de manifester ma surprise du\nchangement de son ext\u00e9rieur et de l\u2019air de jeunesse qu\u2019il avait \u00e0\npr\u00e9sent; car, lorsque je l\u2019avais vu auparavant, il paraissait avoir\nsoixante ans au moins.\n\u00abMonsieur, r\u00e9pondit-il, vous \u00eates peu au courant des choses de ce\nmonde. J\u2019avais en ce temps-l\u00e0 de faux cheveux, et j\u2019ai appris l\u2019art\nde contrefaire tous les \u00e2ges, depuis dix-sept jusqu\u2019\u00e0 soixante-dix\nans. Ah! monsieur, si j\u2019avais seulement consacr\u00e9 \u00e0 apprendre un m\u00e9tier\nla moiti\u00e9 de la peine que j\u2019ai prise \u00e0 devenir un coquin, je serais\npeut-\u00eatre un homme riche aujourd\u2019hui. Mais, tout chenapan que je suis,\nje peux toujours me montrer votre ami, et cela peut-\u00eatre au moment o\u00f9\nvous vous y attendez le moins.\u00bb\nNous f\u00fbmes emp\u00each\u00e9s de pousser plus loin cette conversation, par\nl\u2019arriv\u00e9e des aides du ge\u00f4lier, qui venaient faire l\u2019appel nominal des\nprisonniers et les enfermer pour la nuit. Il y avait aussi un homme\navec une botte de paille, lequel me conduisit, le long d\u2019un sombre\net \u00e9troit corridor, dans une chambre pav\u00e9e comme la prison commune.\nDans un coin de cette chambre, j\u2019\u00e9tendis mon lit de paille et les\ncouvertures donn\u00e9es par mon compagnon. Ceci fait, mon conducteur,\nqui \u00e9tait assez poli, me souhaita le bonsoir. Apr\u00e8s mes m\u00e9ditations\nhabituelles et lorsque j\u2019eus lou\u00e9 celui qui me frappait de sa\ncorrection c\u00e9leste, je me couchai et dormis le plus tranquillement du\nmonde jusqu\u2019au matin.\n[Illustration]\nChapitre XXVI\n_R\u00e9formes dans la prison.\u2014Pour rendre les lois compl\u00e8tes, elles\ndevraient r\u00e9compenser aussi bien que punir._\nLE lendemain matin de bonne heure, je fus r\u00e9veill\u00e9 par ma famille, que\nje trouvai en larmes \u00e0 mon chevet. L\u2019aspect lugubre de tout ce qui\n\u00e9tait autour de nous les avait, \u00e0 ce qu\u2019il semble, abattus sous son\ninfluence. Je les grondai doucement de leur chagrin, en leur affirmant\nque je n\u2019avais jamais dormi avec plus de tranquillit\u00e9, et je m\u2019informai\nensuite de ma fille a\u00een\u00e9e, qui n\u2019\u00e9tait pas avec eux. Ils m\u2019apprirent\nque son malaise et sa fatigue de la veille avaient augment\u00e9 sa fi\u00e8vre,\net qu\u2019on avait jug\u00e9 qu\u2019il valait mieux ne pas l\u2019amener. Mon premier\nsoin fut d\u2019envoyer mon fils retenir une chambre ou deux pour y loger la\nfamille, aussi pr\u00e8s de la prison qu\u2019il serait possible d\u2019en trouver. Il\nob\u00e9it; mais il ne put trouver qu\u2019une seule pi\u00e8ce, qu\u2019il loua \u00e0 bas prix\npour sa m\u00e8re et ses s\u0153urs, le ge\u00f4lier ayant l\u2019humanit\u00e9 de consentir \u00e0\nce que lui et ses deux petits fr\u00e8res couchassent dans la prison avec\nmoi. On leur pr\u00e9para donc, dans un coin de la chambre, un lit qui me\nparut \u00eatre tout ce qu\u2019il fallait. Je d\u00e9sirai cependant savoir d\u2019abord\nsi mes jeunes enfants voudraient bien coucher en un lieu qui avait\nsembl\u00e9 les effrayer en entrant.\n\u00abEh bien! mes bons enfants, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, comment trouvez-vous votre\nlit? J\u2019esp\u00e8re que vous n\u2019avez pas peur de coucher dans cette chambre,\ntoute sombre qu\u2019elle paraisse?\n\u2014Non, papa, dit Dick; je n\u2019ai peur de coucher nulle part o\u00f9 vous \u00eates.\n\u2014Et moi, dit Bill, qui n\u2019avait encore que quatre ans, j\u2019aime mieux\ntous les endroits o\u00f9 est mon papa.\u00bb\nJ\u2019assignai ensuite \u00e0 chaque membre de la famille ce qu\u2019il avait \u00e0\nfaire. Ma fille re\u00e7ut pour instruction particuli\u00e8re de veiller \u00e0 la\nsant\u00e9 affaiblie de sa s\u0153ur; ma femme devait s\u2019occuper de moi; mes\npetits gar\u00e7ons auraient \u00e0 me faire la lecture. \u00abEt quant \u00e0 vous, mon\nfils, continuai-je, c\u2019est du labeur de vos mains que nous devons tous\nattendre notre subsistance. Votre salaire d\u2019homme de peine suffira\npleinement, avec la sobri\u00e9t\u00e9 convenable, \u00e0 nous entretenir tous, et\nm\u00eame confortablement. Voil\u00e0 que tu es \u00e2g\u00e9 de seize ans, mon fils; tu\nas de la force, et elle t\u2019a \u00e9t\u00e9 donn\u00e9e dans un but bien utile: elle\ndoit sauver de la faim vos parents et votre famille sans ressources;\npr\u00e9parez-vous donc aujourd\u2019hui m\u00eame \u00e0 chercher de l\u2019ouvrage pour\ndemain, et rapportez chaque soir pour notre entretien l\u2019argent que vous\ngagnerez.\u00bb\nLui ayant ainsi donn\u00e9 ses instructions et ayant r\u00e9gl\u00e9 tout le\nreste, je descendis \u00e0 la prison commune, o\u00f9 je pouvais jouir de plus\nd\u2019air et d\u2019espace. Mais je n\u2019y \u00e9tais pas depuis longtemps que les\nblasph\u00e8mes, l\u2019obsc\u00e9nit\u00e9 et la brutalit\u00e9 qui m\u2019assaillaient de tous\nc\u00f4t\u00e9s me chass\u00e8rent dans ma chambre. J\u2019y restai pendant quelque temps,\nr\u00e9fl\u00e9chissant \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9trange infatuation de ces mis\u00e9rables qui, voyant le\ngenre humain tout entier en guerre ouverte contre eux, travaillaient\nencore \u00e0 se faire pour l\u2019avenir un formidable ennemi.\nLeur endurcissement excitait ma compassion la plus profonde et effa\u00e7ait\nde mon esprit mon propre mal. Il me parut m\u00eame que c\u2019\u00e9tait un devoir\nqui m\u2019incombait que d\u2019essayer de les ramener. Je r\u00e9solus donc de\nredescendre encore, et, en d\u00e9pit de leur m\u00e9pris, de leur donner des\nconseils et de les vaincre par la pers\u00e9v\u00e9rance. M\u2019\u00e9tant rendu au milieu\nd\u2019eux, je fis part de mon dessein \u00e0 M. Jenkinson, qui en rit de bon\nc\u0153ur, mais qui le communiqua aux autres. La proposition fut re\u00e7ue avec\nla plus grande gaiet\u00e9, car elle promettait de fournir un nouveau fonds\nd\u2019amusement \u00e0 des gens qui n\u2019avaient pour s\u2019\u00e9gayer d\u2019autres ressources\nque celles qu\u2019on peut tirer de la moquerie et de la d\u00e9bauche.\nJe leur lus une partie du service d\u2019une voix haute et simple, et je vis\nque mon auditoire s\u2019en divertissait sans r\u00e9serve. D\u2019obsc\u00e8nes murmures,\ndes g\u00e9missements de contrition ironiques, des clignements d\u2019yeux, des\nacc\u00e8s de toux, tour \u00e0 tour excitaient les rires. Je continuai n\u00e9anmoins\n\u00e0 lire avec ma solennit\u00e9 naturelle, sentant que ce que je faisais\nen am\u00e9liorerait peut-\u00eatre quelques-uns, sans pouvoir d\u2019aucun d\u2019eux\nrecevoir la moindre souillure.\nApr\u00e8s la lecture, j\u2019entamai une exhortation calcul\u00e9e au d\u00e9but plut\u00f4t\npour les amuser que pour les condamner. J\u2019ai d\u00e9j\u00e0 fait observer que\nleur bien \u00e9tait le seul motif qui p\u00fbt m\u2019engager \u00e0 agir ainsi, que\nj\u2019\u00e9tais leur compagnon de prison, et que maintenant pr\u00eacher ne me\nrapportait plus rien. J\u2019\u00e9tais afflig\u00e9, leur disais-je, de les entendre\nparler d\u2019une fa\u00e7on si impie, parce qu\u2019ils n\u2019y gagnaient rien et qu\u2019ils\npouvaient y perdre beaucoup. \u00abSoyez-en s\u00fbrs, en effet, mes amis,\nm\u2019\u00e9criai-je\u2014car vous \u00eates mes amis, quoique le monde puisse renier\nvotre amiti\u00e9,\u2014quand m\u00eame vous prononceriez douze mille jurons en un\njour, cela ne mettrait pas un sou dans votre bourse. Que signifie-t-il\ndonc de faire \u00e0 tout moment appel au diable et de courtiser son amiti\u00e9,\npuisque vous voyez qu\u2019il vous traite si indignement? Il ne vous a rien\ndonn\u00e9 ici-bas, vous le voyez, qu\u2019une bouche pleine de jurons et un\nventre vide, et, d\u2019apr\u00e8s les meilleurs renseignements que j\u2019ai de lui,\nil ne vous donnera rien de bon plus tard.\n\u00abSi nous sommes maltrait\u00e9s dans nos relations avec un homme, nous\nnous adressons naturellement ailleurs. Ne vaudrait-il donc pas la\npeine d\u2019essayer seulement comment vous trouveriez le traitement d\u2019un\nautre ma\u00eetre, qui, du moins, nous donne de belles promesses pour nous\nfaire venir \u00e0 lui? Assur\u00e9ment, mes amis, de toutes les stupidit\u00e9s du\nmonde celui-l\u00e0 doit avoir la plus grande qui, apr\u00e8s avoir d\u00e9valis\u00e9 une\nmaison, court demander protection aux agents de police. Et pourtant,\nen quoi \u00eates-vous plus sages? Vous \u00eates tous \u00e0 chercher un appui\naupr\u00e8s de quelqu\u2019un qui vous a trahis d\u00e9j\u00e0, \u00e0 vous adresser \u00e0 un \u00eatre\nplus malicieux qu\u2019aucun de tous les agents de police; car ceux-ci se\ncontentent de vous attirer dans le pi\u00e8ge et de vous perdre; mais lui\nattire et perd, et, ce qui est pire que tout, c\u2019est qu\u2019il ne vous\nl\u00e2chera pas quand le bourreau aura fini.\u00bb\nLorsque j\u2019eus conclu, je re\u00e7us les compliments de mon auditoire;\nquelques-uns vinrent me serrer la main, jurant que j\u2019\u00e9tais un tr\u00e8s\nhonn\u00eate gar\u00e7on et qu\u2019ils d\u00e9siraient faire plus ample connaissance. Je\nleur promis cons\u00e9quemment de reprendre ma harangue le lendemain, et je\ncon\u00e7us r\u00e9ellement quelque espoir d\u2019op\u00e9rer une r\u00e9forme. J\u2019avais toujours\neu pour opinion, en effet, qu\u2019il n\u2019est pas d\u2019homme qui ait pass\u00e9\nl\u2019heure de l\u2019amendement, tous les c\u0153urs \u00e9tant accessibles aux traits\nde la r\u00e9primande si seulement l\u2019archer sait viser juste o\u00f9 il faut.\n[Illustration]\nLorsque j\u2019eus ainsi satisfait mon d\u00e9sir, je retournai \u00e0 ma chambre, o\u00f9\nma femme pr\u00e9parait un frugal repas. Cependant M. Jenkinson pria qu\u2019on\nlui perm\u00eet d\u2019ajouter son d\u00eener au n\u00f4tre, et de jouir\u2014comme il fut\nassez bon pour le dire en termes expr\u00e8s\u2014du plaisir de ma conversation.\nIl n\u2019avait pas encore vu les membres de ma famille, car ils venaient\n\u00e0 ma chambre par une porte donnant sur l\u2019\u00e9troit corridor d\u00e9crit plus\nhaut, et \u00e9vitaient ainsi la prison commune. Aussi, \u00e0 la premi\u00e8re\nrencontre, Jenkinson ne parut pas peu frapp\u00e9 de la beaut\u00e9 de ma plus\njeune fille, que son air pensif contribuait encore \u00e0 rehausser, et mes\npetits gar\u00e7ons ne pass\u00e8rent pas non plus inaper\u00e7us.\n\u00abH\u00e9las! docteur, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-il, ces enfants sont trop bons et trop beaux\npour un endroit comme celui-ci!\n\u2014Eh! monsieur Jenkinson, r\u00e9pliquai-je, gr\u00e2ce au ciel, mes enfants ont\nune \u00e9ducation morale passable, et s\u2019ils sont bons, le reste importe peu.\n\u2014J\u2019imagine, monsieur, reprit mon compagnon de prison, que cela doit\nvous donner une grande consolation d\u2019avoir cette petite famille autour\nde vous?\n\u2014Une consolation, monsieur Jenkinson! r\u00e9pondis-je. Oui, c\u2019est vraiment\nune consolation, et je ne voudrais pas \u00eatre priv\u00e9 d\u2019eux pour tout au\nmonde, car d\u2019un cachot ils peuvent faire un palais. Il n\u2019y a qu\u2019une\nmani\u00e8re en cette vie d\u2019atteindre mon bonheur, ce serait de leur faire\ndu mal.\n\u2014Je crains alors, monsieur, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-il, d\u2019\u00eatre en quelque fa\u00e7on\ncoupable; car je crois que je vois ici\u2014il regardait mon fils\nMo\u00efse\u2014quelqu\u2019un \u00e0 qui j\u2019ai fait du mal, et dont je d\u00e9sire le pardon.\u00bb\nMon fils se rappela imm\u00e9diatement sa voix et ses traits quoiqu\u2019il\nl\u2019e\u00fbt vu auparavant d\u00e9guis\u00e9, et, lui prenant la main, il lui pardonna\nen souriant. \u00abCependant, ajouta-t-il, je ne peux m\u2019emp\u00eacher de vous\ndemander ce que vous avez pu voir dans ma figure, pour croire que je\nferais une bonne cible \u00e0 duperies.\n\u2014Mon cher monsieur, r\u00e9pondit l\u2019autre, ce n\u2019est pas votre figure, ce\nsont vos bas blancs et le ruban noir de vos cheveux qui m\u2019ont tent\u00e9.\nMais, sans rabaisser votre intelligence, j\u2019en ai dup\u00e9 de plus sages que\nvous, de mon temps; et pourtant, malgr\u00e9 tous mes tours, les sots ont\nfini par \u00eatre trop nombreux pour moi.\n\u2014Je suppose, s\u2019\u00e9cria mon fils, que le r\u00e9cit d\u2019une vie comme la v\u00f4tre\ndoit \u00eatre extr\u00eamement instructif et amusant.\n\u2014Ni l\u2019un ni l\u2019autre, r\u00e9pondit M. Jenkinson. Les \u00e9crits qui ne\nd\u00e9peignent que les supercheries et les vices du genre humain entravent\nnotre r\u00e9ussite en augmentant nos soup\u00e7ons dans la vie. Le voyageur qui\nse d\u00e9fie de chaque personne qu\u2019il rencontre et tourne le dos \u00e0 l\u2019aspect\nde tout homme qui a l\u2019air d\u2019un voleur arrive rarement \u00e0 temps \u00e0 la fin\nde son voyage.\n\u00abVraiment je crois, par ma propre exp\u00e9rience, qu\u2019il n\u2019y a pas\nd\u2019individu plus idiot sous le soleil qu\u2019un homme habile. On me trouvait\nrus\u00e9 d\u00e8s ma petite enfance. Je n\u2019avais que sept ans, que les dames\nd\u00e9claraient que j\u2019\u00e9tais un petit homme accompli; \u00e0 quatorze ans, je\nconnaissais le monde, je portais mon chapeau sur l\u2019oreille et j\u2019aimais\nles dames; \u00e0 vingt, bien que je fusse parfaitement honn\u00eate, tout le\nmonde me croyait si rus\u00e9 que personne ne voulait se fier \u00e0 moi. C\u2019est\nainsi qu\u2019\u00e0 la fin je fus oblig\u00e9 de devenir un aigre-fin pour ma d\u00e9fense\npersonnelle, et que j\u2019ai toujours v\u00e9cu depuis, la t\u00eate toute gonfl\u00e9e\net agit\u00e9e de plans pour faire des dupes, et le c\u0153ur palpitant de la\ncrainte d\u2019\u00eatre d\u00e9couvert. Je riais souvent de votre honn\u00eate et simple\nvoisin, Flamborough, et d\u2019une fa\u00e7on ou de l\u2019autre je le filoutais\ng\u00e9n\u00e9ralement une fois par ann\u00e9e. Eh bien, l\u2019honn\u00eate homme n\u2019en a pas\nmoins continu\u00e9 \u00e0 marcher sans m\u00e9fiance et est devenu riche, tandis que\nmoi, je continuais \u00e0 \u00eatre malin et rus\u00e9, et que j\u2019\u00e9tais pauvre sans le\nsoulagement d\u2019\u00eatre honn\u00eate. Mais, ajouta-t-il, faites-moi conna\u00eetre\nvotre cas et ce qui vous a amen\u00e9 ici; peut-\u00eatre, tout en n\u2019ayant pas\nl\u2019adresse d\u2019\u00e9viter la prison moi-m\u00eame, pourrai-je en tirer mes amis.\u00bb\nPour satisfaire \u00e0 sa curiosit\u00e9, je lui appris toute la suite\nd\u2019accidents et de fautes qui m\u2019avaient plong\u00e9 dans mes ennuis\npr\u00e9sents, et ma compl\u00e8te impuissance \u00e0 me lib\u00e9rer.\nApr\u00e8s avoir \u00e9cout\u00e9 mon histoire et \u00eatre rest\u00e9 silencieux quelques\nminutes, il se frappa le front comme s\u2019il avait trouv\u00e9 quelque chose\nd\u2019important, et prit cong\u00e9 en disant qu\u2019il allait voir ce qu\u2019on pouvait\nfaire.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE XXVII\n_Continuation du m\u00eame sujet._\nLE lendemain matin, je fis part \u00e0 ma femme et \u00e0 mes enfants du plan\nque j\u2019avais form\u00e9 pour la r\u00e9forme des prisonniers; ils l\u2019accueillirent\navec une unanime d\u00e9sapprobation, en all\u00e9guant son impossibilit\u00e9 et son\ninconvenance. Ils ajoutaient que mes efforts ne contribueraient en rien\n\u00e0 leur amendement, mais jetteraient probablement du d\u00e9shonneur sur ma\nprofession.\n\u00abExcusez-moi, r\u00e9pliquai-je. Ces gens, tout d\u00e9chus qu\u2019ils sont, sont\nencore des hommes, et c\u2019est l\u00e0 un excellent titre \u00e0 mon affection.\nLes bons conseils repouss\u00e9s reviennent enrichir le c\u0153ur de celui qui\nles donne; et quand m\u00eame l\u2019instruction que je leur communique ne les\namenderait pas, elle m\u2019amendera, moi, certainement. Si ces mis\u00e9rables,\nmes enfants, \u00e9taient des princes, il y en aurait des milliers tout\npr\u00eats \u00e0 leur offrir leur minist\u00e8re; mais, \u00e0 mon avis, le c\u0153ur enfoui\ndans une prison est aussi pr\u00e9cieux que celui qui si\u00e8ge sur un tr\u00f4ne.\nOui, mes tr\u00e9sors, si je peux les amender, je le ferai; peut-\u00eatre ne\nme m\u00e9priseront-ils pas tous. Peut-\u00eatre pourrai-je en arracher un du\ngouffre, et ce sera une grande conqu\u00eate, car y a-t-il sur terre chose\naussi pr\u00e9cieuse que l\u2019\u00e2me de l\u2019homme?\u00bb\nEn disant ces mots, je les laissai, et je descendis \u00e0 la prison\ncommune, o\u00f9 je trouvai les d\u00e9tenus fort en gaiet\u00e9, attendant mon\narriv\u00e9e, et ayant pr\u00e9par\u00e9 chacun quelque bonne farce de prison \u00e0 jouer\nau docteur. Ainsi, au moment o\u00f9 j\u2019allai commencer, l\u2019un d\u2019eux tira,\ncomme par accident, ma perruque de travers et me demanda pardon. Un\nsecond, qui se tenait \u00e0 quelque distance, eut le talent de lancer\nentre ses dents un jet de salive qui tomba en pluie sur mon livre. Un\ntroisi\u00e8me criait _Amen_ d\u2019un ton affect\u00e9 qui amusait grandement les\nautres. Un quatri\u00e8me avait furtivement enlev\u00e9 mes lunettes de ma poche.\nMais il y en eut un dont la farce leur fit \u00e0 tous plus de plaisir que\ntout le reste: ayant remarqu\u00e9 la mani\u00e8re dont j\u2019avais dispos\u00e9 mes\nlivres sur la table devant moi, il en retira un tr\u00e8s adroitement et mit\n\u00e0 la place un volume de plaisanteries obsc\u00e8nes qui lui appartenait.\nCependant je n\u2019accordai aucune attention \u00e0 tout ce que ce groupe\nmalfaisant de petites cr\u00e9atures pouvait faire, mais je poursuivis,\nsentant parfaitement que ce qu\u2019il y avait de ridicule dans ma tentative\nn\u2019exciterait l\u2019hilarit\u00e9 que la premi\u00e8re ou la seconde fois, tandis que\nce qu\u2019il y avait de s\u00e9rieux serait durable. Mon dessein r\u00e9ussit, et,\nen moins de six jours, quelques-uns \u00e9taient p\u00e9nitents et tous attentifs.\nCe fut alors que je m\u2019applaudis de ma pers\u00e9v\u00e9rance et de mon ardeur,\npour avoir ainsi donn\u00e9 de la sensibilit\u00e9 \u00e0 des mis\u00e9rables d\u00e9nu\u00e9s\nde tout sentiment moral. Je me mis \u00e0 songer \u00e0 leur \u00eatre utile\naussi dans l\u2019ordre temporel, en rendant leur situation un peu plus\nconfortable. Jusque-l\u00e0, leur temps se partageait entre la disette et\nles exc\u00e8s, les orgies tumultueuses et les plaintes am\u00e8res. Toutes\nleurs occupations consistaient \u00e0 se quereller les uns les autres, \u00e0\njouer au _cribbage_[10], et \u00e0 tailler des fouloirs \u00e0 tabac. Cette\nderni\u00e8re esp\u00e8ce d\u2019industrie oiseuse me sugg\u00e9ra l\u2019id\u00e9e de mettre ceux\nqui voudraient travailler \u00e0 tailler des formes pour les fabricants\nde tabac et les cordonniers. Le bois convenable \u00e9tait achet\u00e9 par une\nsouscription g\u00e9n\u00e9rale, et, une fois fabriqu\u00e9, vendu par mes soins; de\nsorte que chacun gagnait quelque chose tous les jours, une bagatelle\nsans doute, mais assez pour son entretien.\nJe ne m\u2019arr\u00eatai pas l\u00e0: j\u2019\u00e9tablis des amendes pour punir l\u2019immoralit\u00e9,\net des r\u00e9compenses pour le travail extraordinaire. Ainsi, en moins\nd\u2019une quinzaine, je les avais form\u00e9s en quelque chose de sociable et\nd\u2019humain, et j\u2019eus le plaisir de me regarder comme un l\u00e9gislateur qui\naurait ramen\u00e9 les hommes, de leur f\u00e9rocit\u00e9 native, \u00e0 l\u2019amiti\u00e9 et \u00e0\nl\u2019ob\u00e9issance.\n[Illustration]\nEt il serait grandement \u00e0 d\u00e9sirer que le pouvoir l\u00e9gislatif voul\u00fbt\nainsi diriger la loi vers la r\u00e9forme plut\u00f4t que vers la s\u00e9v\u00e9rit\u00e9, qu\u2019il\npar\u00fbt convaincu que l\u2019\u0153uvre d\u2019extirper les crimes ne s\u2019accomplit pas\nen rendant les ch\u00e2timents familiers, mais en les faisant formidables.\nAlors, au lieu de nos prisons actuelles, qui prennent les hommes\ncoupables ou les rendent tels, qui enferment des mis\u00e9rables pour avoir\ncommis un crime, et les renvoient, s\u2019ils en sortent vivants, propres\n\u00e0 en commettre des milliers, nous verrions, comme dans d\u2019autres pays\nde l\u2019Europe, des lieux de p\u00e9nitence et de solitude, o\u00f9 les accus\u00e9s\nseraient entour\u00e9s de personnes capables de leur inspirer du repentir\ns\u2019ils sont coupables, ou de nouveaux motifs de vertu s\u2019ils sont\ninnocents. C\u2019est l\u00e0, et non en augmentant les ch\u00e2timents, le moyen\nd\u2019amender un \u00e9tat; je ne puis m\u00eame m\u2019emp\u00eacher de mettre en question la\nvalidit\u00e9 de ce droit assum\u00e9 par les soci\u00e9t\u00e9s humaines de punir de la\npeine capitale des fautes d\u2019une nature l\u00e9g\u00e8re. Dans le cas de meurtre,\nle droit est \u00e9vident, car c\u2019est notre devoir \u00e0 nous tous, en vertu\nde la loi de d\u00e9fense personnelle, de retrancher l\u2019homme qui a prouv\u00e9\nqu\u2019il ne respectait pas la vie d\u2019autrui. Contre ceux-l\u00e0 la nature tout\nenti\u00e8re se l\u00e8ve en armes; mais il n\u2019en est pas ainsi vis-\u00e0-vis de celui\nqui vole mon bien. La loi naturelle ne me donne aucun droit de prendre\nsa vie, car, pour elle, le cheval qu\u2019il vole est autant sa propri\u00e9t\u00e9\nque la mienne. Si, donc, j\u2019ai un droit quelconque, ce doit \u00eatre en\nvertu d\u2019un contrat fait entre nous, et stipulant que celui qui privera\nl\u2019autre de son cheval mourra. Mais c\u2019est l\u00e0 un contrat sans valeur, car\nnul homme n\u2019a le droit de faire march\u00e9 de sa vie, non plus que de la\nsupprimer, puisqu\u2019elle ne lui appartient pas. Et d\u2019ailleurs le contrat\nest in\u00e9gal et serait annul\u00e9 m\u00eame dans une cour d\u2019\u00e9quit\u00e9 moderne,\ncar il emporte une grande p\u00e9nalit\u00e9 pour un avantage insignifiant,\npuisqu\u2019il est bien pr\u00e9f\u00e9rable que deux hommes vivent plut\u00f4t qu\u2019un seul\nmonte \u00e0 cheval. Or un contrat qui est sans valeur entre deux hommes\nl\u2019est \u00e9galement entre cent, ou entre cent mille; car, de m\u00eame que dix\nmillions de cercles ne pourront jamais faire un carr\u00e9, de m\u00eame les\nvoix r\u00e9unies de millions de personnes ne sauraient pr\u00eater le moindre\nfondement \u00e0 ce qui est faux. C\u2019est ainsi que la raison parle, et la\nnature laiss\u00e9e \u00e0 elle-m\u00eame dit la m\u00eame chose. Les sauvages, qui sont\ndirig\u00e9s par la loi naturelle seule, sont tr\u00e8s respectueux de la vie\nles uns des autres; ils r\u00e9pandent rarement le sang autrement que par\nrepr\u00e9sailles d\u2019une premi\u00e8re cruaut\u00e9.\nNos anc\u00eatres saxons, tout f\u00e9roces qu\u2019ils \u00e9taient \u00e0 la guerre, n\u2019avaient\nque peu d\u2019ex\u00e9cutions en temps de paix; et, dans tous les gouvernements\nprimitifs qui portent encore, fortement marqu\u00e9e, l\u2019empreinte de la\nnature, presque aucun crime n\u2019est tenu pour capital.\nC\u2019est parmi les citoyens d\u2019un \u00e9tat de civilisation raffin\u00e9e que les\nlois p\u00e9nales, lesquelles sont entre les mains des riches, p\u00e8sent sur\nles pauvres. Les gouvernements, \u00e0 mesure qu\u2019ils vieillissent, semblent\nprendre l\u2019humeur morose du grand \u00e2ge; et, comme si nos biens nous\ndevenaient plus chers \u00e0 mesure qu\u2019ils s\u2019accroissent, comme si, plus\nnotre opulence est \u00e9norme, plus nos craintes s\u2019\u00e9tendaient, toutes nos\npossessions sont chaque jour encloses comme d\u2019une palissade de nouveaux\n\u00e9dits et entour\u00e9es de gibets pour \u00e9pouvanter tous les envahisseurs.\nJe ne saurais dire si c\u2019est \u00e0 cause du nombre de nos lois p\u00e9nales\nou \u00e0 cause de la licence de notre population que ce pays offre plus\nde condamn\u00e9s en un an que la moiti\u00e9 des \u00c9tats de l\u2019Europe pris\nensemble. Peut-\u00eatre est-ce d\u00fb aux deux causes, car elles s\u2019engendrent\nmutuellement l\u2019une l\u2019autre. Lorsque, par des lois p\u00e9nales sans\ndiscernement, une nation voit le m\u00eame ch\u00e2timent attach\u00e9 \u00e0 des degr\u00e9s\nde culpabilit\u00e9 divers, le peuple, n\u2019apercevant pas de distinction dans\nles peines, est conduit \u00e0 perdre tout sentiment de distinction dans\nle crime, et c\u2019est cette distinction qui est le boulevard de toute\nmoralit\u00e9: ainsi la multitude des lois produit des vices nouveaux, et\nles vices nouveaux appellent de nouvelles rigueurs.\nIl serait \u00e0 d\u00e9sirer que le pouvoir, au lieu d\u2019imaginer de nouvelles\nlois pour punir le vice, au lieu de tirer avec duret\u00e9 les cordes de\nla soci\u00e9t\u00e9 jusqu\u2019\u00e0 ce qu\u2019une convulsion vienne les faire se rompre,\nau lieu de retrancher de son sein comme inutiles des mis\u00e9rables avant\nd\u2019avoir essay\u00e9 leur utilit\u00e9, au lieu de transformer la correction\nen vengeance, il serait \u00e0 d\u00e9sirer que nous missions \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9preuve les\nmoyens pr\u00e9ventifs de gouvernement, et que nous fissions de la loi le\nprotecteur, mais non le tyran du peuple. Nous verrions alors que des\ncr\u00e9atures, dont nous regardions les \u00e2mes comme des scories, n\u2019ont\nmanqu\u00e9 que de la main de l\u2019affineur; nous verrions alors que des\ncr\u00e9atures, aujourd\u2019hui attach\u00e9es \u00e0 de longs tourments pour \u00e9viter\nau luxe de ressentir un moment d\u2019angoisse, pourraient, si on les\ntraitait comme il convient, servir \u00e0 donner du nerf \u00e0 l\u2019\u00c9tat dans les\ntemps de danger; que, de m\u00eame que leurs visages, leurs c\u0153urs aussi\nsont semblables aux n\u00f4tres; qu\u2019il y a peu d\u2019esprits si avilis que la\npers\u00e9v\u00e9rance ne puisse amender; qu\u2019il n\u2019est pas besoin de la mort pour\nfaire qu\u2019un homme ait vu son dernier crime, et que le sang ne sert\ngu\u00e8re \u00e0 cimenter notre s\u00e9curit\u00e9.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE XXVIII\n_Le bonheur et le malheur dans cette vie d\u00e9pendent de la prudence\nplut\u00f4t que de la vertu, car le ciel regarde les maux ou les f\u00e9licit\u00e9s\nterrestres comme des choses purement insignifiantes en soi et indignes\nde ses soins dans leur r\u00e9partition._\nD\u00c9J\u00c0 quinze jours s\u2019\u00e9taient \u00e9coul\u00e9s depuis mon arrestation; mais,\ndepuis mon arriv\u00e9e, je n\u2019avais pas eu la visite de ma ch\u00e8re Olivia,\net il me tardait grandement de la voir. Je fis part de mon d\u00e9sir\n\u00e0 ma femme, et le matin suivant la pauvre fille entra dans ma\nchambre, appuy\u00e9e au bras de sa s\u0153ur. Le changement que je vis dans\nsa physionomie fut un coup pour moi. Les gr\u00e2ces sans nombre qui y\nfaisaient nagu\u00e8re leur s\u00e9jour en avaient fui, et la main de la mort\nsemblait avoir model\u00e9 tous ses traits pour m\u2019alarmer. Ses tempes\n\u00e9taient creus\u00e9es, la peau de son front tendue, et une fatale p\u00e2leur\nsi\u00e9geait sur sa joue.\n\u00abJe suis bien aise de te voir, ma ch\u00e9rie, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je. Mais pourquoi\ncet abattement, Livy? J\u2019esp\u00e8re, mon amour, que vous avez trop de\nconsid\u00e9ration pour moi pour laisser le chagrin miner ainsi une vie que\nje prise autant que la mienne. Du courage, enfant, et nous pourrons\nencore voir des jours plus heureux.\n\u2014Vous avez toujours \u00e9t\u00e9 bon pour moi, monsieur, r\u00e9pliqua-t-elle, et la\npens\u00e9e que je n\u2019aurai jamais l\u2019occasion de partager ce bonheur que vous\npromettez ajoute \u00e0 ma peine. Le bonheur, je le crains, ne m\u2019est plus\ndestin\u00e9 ici-bas, et j\u2019ai h\u00e2te d\u2019\u00eatre loin d\u2019un lieu o\u00f9 je n\u2019ai trouv\u00e9\nque le malheur. En v\u00e9rit\u00e9, monsieur, je voudrais que vous fissiez\nvotre soumission \u00e0 M. Thornhill; cela pourrait, jusqu\u2019\u00e0 un certain\npoint, l\u2019induire \u00e0 la piti\u00e9 envers vous, et cela me donnerait quelque\nsoulagement en mourant.\n\u2014Jamais, enfant, jamais on ne m\u2019am\u00e8nera \u00e0 reconna\u00eetre ma fille pour\nune prostitu\u00e9e; car, si le monde regarde votre faute avec m\u00e9pris, qu\u2019il\nm\u2019appartienne du moins de la consid\u00e9rer comme une marque de simplicit\u00e9\ncr\u00e9dule, et non comme un crime. Ma ch\u00e9rie, je ne suis nullement\nmalheureux en ce lieu, quelque lugubre qu\u2019il paraisse, et soyez s\u00fbre\nque tant que vous continuerez \u00e0 vivre pour ma joie, lui n\u2019aura jamais\nmon consentement de vous faire plus mis\u00e9rable en en \u00e9pousant une autre.\u00bb\nApr\u00e8s le d\u00e9part de ma fille, mon compagnon de prison, qui \u00e9tait pr\u00e9sent\n\u00e0 cette entrevue, me fit avec assez de bon sens des remontrances sur\nmon obstination \u00e0 refuser une soumission qui promettait de me donner la\nlibert\u00e9. Il me fit remarquer que le reste de ma famille ne devait pas\n\u00eatre sacrifi\u00e9 \u00e0 la paix d\u2019une seule enfant, et de la seule qui m\u2019e\u00fbt\noffens\u00e9. \u00abD\u2019ailleurs, ajouta-t-il, je ne sais pas s\u2019il est juste de\nmettre ainsi obstacle \u00e0 l\u2019union de l\u2019homme et de la femme, comme vous\nle faites \u00e0 pr\u00e9sent, en refusant de consentir \u00e0 une alliance que vous\nne pouvez pas emp\u00eacher, mais que vous pouvez rendre malheureuse.\n\u2014Monsieur, r\u00e9pliquai-je, vous ne connaissez pas l\u2019homme qui nous\nopprime. Je sens parfaitement qu\u2019aucune soumission de ma part ne\npourrait me procurer la libert\u00e9, m\u00eame pour une heure. On me dit que,\npr\u00e9cis\u00e9ment dans cette chambre-ci, un de ses d\u00e9biteurs, pas plus tard\nque l\u2019ann\u00e9e derni\u00e8re, est mort de besoin. Mais quand ma soumission et\nmon approbation pourraient me transf\u00e9rer d\u2019ici dans le plus beau des\nappartements qu\u2019il poss\u00e8de, je n\u2019accorderais ni l\u2019une ni l\u2019autre, car\nquelque chose me dit \u00e0 l\u2019oreille que ce serait sanctionner un adult\u00e8re.\nTant que ma fille vivra, aucun mariage qu\u2019il puisse contracter ne sera\njamais l\u00e9gal \u00e0 mes yeux. Si elle m\u2019\u00e9tait enlev\u00e9e, je serais, il est\nvrai, le plus vil des hommes d\u2019essayer, par ressentiment personnel,\nde s\u00e9parer ceux qui d\u00e9sirent s\u2019unir. Non, tout sc\u00e9l\u00e9rat qu\u2019il est, je\nvoudrais alors qu\u2019il f\u00fbt mari\u00e9, pour pr\u00e9venir les cons\u00e9quences de ses\nfutures d\u00e9bauches. Mais aujourd\u2019hui, ne serais-je pas le plus cruel de\ntous les p\u00e8res de signer un instrument qui doit mettre mon enfant au\ntombeau, dans le seul but d\u2019\u00e9viter la prison moi-m\u00eame, et ainsi, pour\n\u00e9chapper \u00e0 une douleur, de briser sous mille autres le c\u0153ur de mon\nenfant?\u00bb\nIl reconnut la justesse de cette r\u00e9ponse, mais il ne put s\u2019emp\u00eacher de\nfaire observer qu\u2019il craignait que la vie de ma fille ne f\u00fbt d\u00e9j\u00e0 trop\nattaqu\u00e9e pour me tenir prisonnier longtemps. \u00abToutefois, continua-t-il,\nquoique vous refusiez de vous soumettre au neveu, j\u2019esp\u00e8re que vous\nn\u2019avez rien \u00e0 objecter \u00e0 mettre votre cas devant l\u2019oncle, qui a la plus\nhaute r\u00e9putation du royaume pour tout ce qui est juste et bon. Je vous\nconseillerais de lui envoyer une lettre par la poste, l\u2019informant de\ntous les mauvais traitements de son neveu, et je gage ma vie qu\u2019en\ntrois jours vous aurez une r\u00e9ponse.\u00bb Je le remerciai de l\u2019id\u00e9e, et\nimm\u00e9diatement je me mis en devoir de l\u2019ex\u00e9cuter. Mais je manquais de\npapier, et malheureusement tout notre argent avait \u00e9t\u00e9 d\u00e9pens\u00e9 ce\nmatin-l\u00e0 en provisions. N\u00e9anmoins, il m\u2019en fournit.\nLes trois jours suivants, je fus dans l\u2019anxi\u00e9t\u00e9 de savoir quel\naccueil ma lettre avait bien pu recevoir; mais en m\u00eame temps j\u2019\u00e9tais\nfr\u00e9quemment sollicit\u00e9 par ma femme de me soumettre \u00e0 toutes les\nconditions plut\u00f4t que de rester ici, et \u00e0 chaque heure on me r\u00e9p\u00e9tait\ndes d\u00e9tails sur le d\u00e9clin de la sant\u00e9 de ma fille. Le troisi\u00e8me et le\nquatri\u00e8me jour arriv\u00e8rent, mais je ne recevais point de r\u00e9ponse \u00e0 ma\nlettre: les plaintes d\u2019un \u00e9tranger contre un neveu favori n\u2019avaient\naucune chance de succ\u00e8s, de sorte que ces esp\u00e9rances s\u2019\u00e9vanouirent\nbient\u00f4t comme toutes les pr\u00e9c\u00e9dentes. Mon esprit, toutefois, se\nsoutenait encore, bien que l\u2019emprisonnement et le mauvais air\ncommen\u00e7assent \u00e0 alt\u00e9rer visiblement ma sant\u00e9, et que mon bras qui avait\nsouffert de l\u2019incendie dev\u00eent de plus en plus malade. Cependant mes\nenfants se tenaient assis autour de moi, et tandis que j\u2019\u00e9tais \u00e9tendu\nsur ma paille, ils me faisaient tour \u00e0 tour la lecture ou \u00e9coutaient\nmes conseils en pleurant. Mais la sant\u00e9 de ma fille d\u00e9clinait plus\nvite que la mienne; chaque nouvelle qui me venait d\u2019elle contribuait\n\u00e0 accro\u00eetre mes appr\u00e9hensions et ma peine. Le matin du cinqui\u00e8me\njour, apr\u00e8s avoir \u00e9crit la lettre envoy\u00e9e \u00e0 sir William Thornhill,\nje fus effray\u00e9 d\u2019apprendre qu\u2019elle avait perdu l\u2019usage de la parole.\nCe fut alors que la prison me fut v\u00e9ritablement douloureuse; mon \u00e2me\ns\u2019\u00e9lan\u00e7ait de sa ge\u00f4le vers le chevet de mon enfant pour l\u2019encourager,\npour l\u2019affermir, pour recevoir ses derniers v\u0153ux et enseigner \u00e0 son \u00e2me\nle chemin du ciel! D\u2019autres renseignements arriv\u00e8rent.\n[Illustration]\nElle \u00e9tait expirante, et moi j\u2019\u00e9tais priv\u00e9 de la pauvre consolation de\npleurer \u00e0 ses c\u00f4t\u00e9s. Mon compagnon de prison, un moment apr\u00e8s, vint\nm\u2019apporter la derni\u00e8re nouvelle. Il me recommandait d\u2019\u00eatre patient.\nElle \u00e9tait morte!\u2014Le lendemain matin, il revint et me trouva avec mes\ndeux petits gar\u00e7ons, maintenant ma seule compagnie, qui mettaient en\n\u0153uvre tous leurs innocents efforts pour me consoler. Ils me priaient\nde les laisser me faire la lecture et me demandaient de ne pas pleurer,\nparce que j\u2019\u00e9tais maintenant trop vieux pour verser des larmes. \u00abEt ma\ns\u0153ur n\u2019est-elle pas un ange maintenant, papa? s\u2019\u00e9criait le plus \u00e2g\u00e9.\nEt alors, pourquoi vous chagrinez-vous pour elle? Je voudrais bien\n\u00eatre un ange, hors de ce lieu qui me fait peur, si mon papa \u00e9tait avec\nmoi.\u2014Oui, ajoutait mon mignon le plus jeune, le ciel, o\u00f9 est ma s\u0153ur,\nest un lieu plus beau que celui-ci et o\u00f9 il n\u2019y a rien que de bonnes\ngens, tandis que les gens d\u2019ici sont tr\u00e8s m\u00e9chants.\u00bb\nM. Jenkinson interrompit cet innocent babil en faisant remarquer que\nmaintenant que ma fille n\u2019\u00e9tait plus, je devais songer s\u00e9rieusement au\nreste de ma famille et essayer de conserver ma propre existence, qui\nd\u00e9clinait chaque jour par le manque des choses n\u00e9cessaires et d\u2019un air\nsain. Il ajouta qu\u2019il m\u2019incombait maintenant de sacrifier tout orgueil\nou tout ressentiment personnel au bien-\u00eatre de ceux qui comptaient sur\nmoi pour vivre et que j\u2019\u00e9tais dor\u00e9navant oblig\u00e9, et par la raison et\npar la justice, de me r\u00e9concilier avec mon seigneur.\n\u00abLe ciel soit lou\u00e9! r\u00e9pliquai-je. Il ne me reste aucun orgueil\naujourd\u2019hui. Je ha\u00efrais mon propre c\u0153ur si j\u2019y voyais cach\u00e9 de\nl\u2019orgueil ou du ressentiment. Au contraire, puisque mon oppresseur a\njadis \u00e9t\u00e9 mon paroissien, j\u2019esp\u00e8re un jour lui pr\u00e9senter une \u00e2me sans\nsouillure devant le tribunal \u00e9ternel. Non, monsieur, je n\u2019ai pas de\nressentiment maintenant, et bien qu\u2019il m\u2019ait pris ce que je consid\u00e9rais\ncomme plus cher que tous ses tr\u00e9sors, bien qu\u2019il m\u2019ait tordu le\nc\u0153ur,\u2014car je suis malade presque \u00e0 en perdre le sentiment, bien\nmalade, mon compagnon,\u2014jamais cependant cela ne m\u2019inspirera le d\u00e9sir\nde la vengeance. Je suis maintenant dispos\u00e9 \u00e0 approuver ce mariage, et\nsi cette soumission peut lui faire plaisir, qu\u2019il sache que si je lui\nai fait quelque injure, j\u2019en ai du regret.\u00bb\nM. Jenkinson prit une plume et de l\u2019encre et \u00e9crivit ma soumission\n\u00e0 peu pr\u00e8s telle que je l\u2019ai exprim\u00e9e, et je la signai de mon nom.\nMon fils re\u00e7ut mission de porter la lettre \u00e0 M. Thornhill, qui \u00e9tait\nalors \u00e0 son ch\u00e2teau, \u00e0 la campagne. Il y alla, et six heures apr\u00e8s\nil revint avec une r\u00e9ponse verbale. Il avait eu quelque difficult\u00e9,\ndit-il, \u00e0 r\u00e9ussir \u00e0 voir son seigneur, les domestiques \u00e9tant insolents\net soup\u00e7onneux; mais il l\u2019avait vu par hasard, au moment o\u00f9 il sortait\npour quelque affaire relative aux pr\u00e9paratifs de son mariage qui devait\navoir lieu dans trois jours. Il continua son r\u00e9cit en nous disant qu\u2019il\ns\u2019\u00e9tait avanc\u00e9 de la plus humble mani\u00e8re et avait remis la lettre, et\nque M. Thornhill, apr\u00e8s l\u2019avoir lue, avait d\u00e9clar\u00e9 que toute soumission\nvenait aujourd\u2019hui trop tard et \u00e9tait inutile, qu\u2019il avait appris notre\nd\u00e9marche aupr\u00e8s de son oncle, laquelle avait trouv\u00e9 le m\u00e9pris qu\u2019elle\nm\u00e9ritait, et que, quant au reste, toute demande, \u00e0 l\u2019avenir, devait\n\u00eatre adress\u00e9e \u00e0 son avou\u00e9 et non \u00e0 lui. Il fit remarquer, toutefois,\nque, comme il avait une tr\u00e8s bonne opinion de la discr\u00e9tion des deux\njeunes demoiselles, elles auraient \u00e9t\u00e9 sans doute les intercesseurs les\nmieux agr\u00e9\u00e9s.\n\u00abEh bien! monsieur, dis-je \u00e0 mon compagnon de prison, vous d\u00e9couvrez\nmaintenant le caract\u00e8re de l\u2019homme qui m\u2019opprime. Il sait \u00eatre \u00e0 la\nfois fac\u00e9tieux et cruel. Mais qu\u2019il me traite comme il voudra, je\nserai bient\u00f4t libre, en d\u00e9pit de tous ses verrous pour me retenir.\nJe me dirige vers un s\u00e9jour qui para\u00eet plus brillant \u00e0 mesure que je\nm\u2019en approche. Cette attente me rel\u00e8ve dans mes afflictions, et si je\nlaisse derri\u00e8re moi une famille d\u2019orphelins sans appui, peut-\u00eatre se\ntrouvera-t-il quelque ami qui les aidera pour l\u2019amour de leur pauvre\np\u00e8re, et quelques-uns les soulageront aussi peut-\u00eatre pour l\u2019amour de\nleur p\u00e8re qui est au ciel.\u00bb\nComme je parlais, ma femme, que je n\u2019avais pas encore vue de la\njourn\u00e9e, apparut, l\u2019air terrifi\u00e9, faisant des efforts pour parler\nsans pouvoir y parvenir. \u00abPourquoi, mon amour, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, pourquoi\nvouloir ainsi accro\u00eetre mon affliction par la v\u00f4tre? Eh quoi! si nulle\nsoumission ne peut ramener notre rigoureux ma\u00eetre, s\u2019il m\u2019a condamn\u00e9\n\u00e0 p\u00e9rir en ce lieu de mis\u00e8re, et si nous avons perdu une enfant\nbien-aim\u00e9e, vous trouverez encore de la consolation dans vos autres\nenfants lorsque je ne serai plus.\u2014En effet, reprit-elle, nous avons\nperdu une enfant bien-aim\u00e9e. Ma Sophia, ma plus ch\u00e9rie, est partie,\narrach\u00e9e de nos bras, enlev\u00e9e par des ruffians!\n\u2014Comment, madame! s\u2019\u00e9cria mon compagnon de prison, miss Sophia enlev\u00e9e\npar des sc\u00e9l\u00e9rats! C\u2019est impossible, en v\u00e9rit\u00e9.\u00bb\nElle ne put r\u00e9pondre que par un regard fixe et un flot de larmes. Mais\nla femme d\u2019un des prisonniers, qui \u00e9tait pr\u00e9sente et qui \u00e9tait entr\u00e9e\navec elle, nous fit un r\u00e9cit plus clair: elle nous apprit que, pendant\nque ma femme, ma fille et elle se promenaient ensemble sur la grande\nroute \u00e0 une petite distance du village, une chaise de poste attel\u00e9e\nde deux chevaux \u00e9tait arriv\u00e9e pr\u00e8s d\u2019eux et s\u2019\u00e9tait aussit\u00f4t arr\u00eat\u00e9e.\nAlors, un homme bien v\u00eatu, mais qui n\u2019\u00e9tait pas M. Thornhill, en \u00e9tait\ndescendu, avait saisi ma fille par la taille, et, la poussant de force\ndans la voiture, avait ordonn\u00e9 an postillon de rouler, de sorte qu\u2019ils\navaient \u00e9t\u00e9 hors de vue en un moment.\n\u00abMaintenant, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, la mesure de mes infortunes est comble, et il\nn\u2019est au pouvoir de rien sur terre de me frapper d\u2019un autre coup. Quoi!\npas une de laiss\u00e9e! Ne pas m\u2019en laisser une! Le monstre! Je portais\ncette enfant dans mon c\u0153ur! Elle avait la beaut\u00e9 d\u2019un ange et presque\nla sagesse d\u2019un ange aussi! Mais soutenez cette pauvre femme; ne la\nlaissez pas tomber... Ne pas m\u2019en laisser une!\n\u2014H\u00e9las! mon mari, dit ma femme, vous paraissez avoir besoin d\u2019appui\nplus encore que moi. Nos malheurs sont grands; mais je saurais\nsupporter celui-ci et d\u2019autres encore, si seulement je vous voyais\ntranquille. Ils peuvent me prendre mes enfants, et le monde tout\nentier, si seulement ils me laissent mon mari!\u00bb\nMon fils, qui \u00e9tait l\u00e0, s\u2019effor\u00e7a de mod\u00e9rer notre chagrin; il nous\nsuppliait de prendre courage, car il esp\u00e9rait que nous pouvions encore\navoir lieu d\u2019\u00eatre reconnaissants ici-bas. \u00abMon fils, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je,\nregardez le monde autour de vous, et voyez s\u2019il y a aucun bonheur de\nreste pour moi maintenant. Tout rayon de consolation n\u2019est-il pas\n\u00e9teint pour nous? Ce n\u2019est plus qu\u2019au del\u00e0 du tombeau que peuvent\nbriller nos esp\u00e9rances!\u2014Mon cher p\u00e8re, r\u00e9pondit-il, j\u2019esp\u00e8re qu\u2019il y a\nencore quelque chose qui vous donnera une minute de satisfaction, car\nj\u2019ai une lettre de mon fr\u00e8re George.\u2014Quoi de nouveau pour lui, enfant?\ninterrompis-je. Conna\u00eet-il notre mis\u00e8re? J\u2019esp\u00e8re qu\u2019on a \u00e9pargn\u00e9 \u00e0 mon\ngar\u00e7on jusqu\u2019\u00e0 la plus petite part de tout ce que souffre sa mis\u00e9rable\nfamille!\u2014Oui, monsieur, reprit-il. Il est parfaitement gai, content\net heureux. Sa lettre n\u2019apporte rien que de bonnes nouvelles; il est\nle favori de son colonel, qui promet de lui faire avoir la premi\u00e8re\nlieutenance qui deviendra vacante!\n\u00abEt \u00eates-vous s\u00fbr de tout cela? s\u2019\u00e9cria ma femme. \u00cates-vous s\u00fbr que\nrien de mal n\u2019est arriv\u00e9 \u00e0 mon gar\u00e7on?\u2014Rien du tout, en v\u00e9rit\u00e9,\nmadame, r\u00e9pondit mon fils; vous verrez la lettre, qui vous fera le\nplus grand plaisir; et si quelque chose peut vous procurer de la\nconsolation, je suis s\u00fbr que cela le fera.\u2014Mais \u00eates-vous s\u00fbr,\ninsista-t-elle encore, que la lettre est bien de lui, et qu\u2019il\nest r\u00e9ellement si heureux?\u2014Oui, madame, r\u00e9pliqua-t-il, elle est\ncertainement de lui, et il sera un jour l\u2019honneur et le soutien de\nnotre famille.\u2014Alors je remercie la Providence, cria-t-elle, de ce\nque ma derni\u00e8re lettre n\u2019ait pas \u00e9t\u00e9 \u00e0 son adresse. Oui, mon ami,\ncontinua-t-elle en se tournant vers moi, je confesserai maintenant\nque, si la main du ciel s\u2019est douloureusement appesantie sur nous en\nd\u2019autres circonstances, elle nous a \u00e9t\u00e9 cette fois favorable. Par\nla derni\u00e8re lettre que j\u2019ai \u00e9crite \u00e0 mon fils, lettre \u00e9crite dans\nl\u2019amertume de la col\u00e8re, je lui demandais, au prix de la b\u00e9n\u00e9diction\nde sa m\u00e8re et s\u2019il avait le c\u0153ur d\u2019un homme, de faire en sorte que\njustice f\u00fbt faite \u00e0 son p\u00e8re et \u00e0 sa s\u0153ur, et de venger notre cause.\nMais gr\u00e2ces soient rendues \u00e0 celui qui dirige toutes choses! elle n\u2019est\npas parvenue \u00e0 son adresse, et je suis en repos.\u2014Femme, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je,\ntu as agi tr\u00e8s mal, et en un autre temps mes reproches auraient pu\n\u00eatre plus s\u00e9v\u00e8res. Oh! \u00e0 quel effroyable ab\u00eeme tu as \u00e9chapp\u00e9, un ab\u00eeme\nqui vous aurait engloutis tous les deux, toi et lui, dans une ruine\nsans fin. La Providence, en v\u00e9rit\u00e9, a \u00e9t\u00e9 ici plus bienfaisante pour\nnous que nous ne le sommes pour nous-m\u00eames. Elle a conserv\u00e9 ce fils\npour \u00eatre le p\u00e8re et le protecteur de nos enfants, quand je serai\nparti. Que je me plaignais injustement d\u2019\u00eatre d\u00e9pouill\u00e9 de toute\nconsolation, puisque j\u2019apprends qu\u2019il est heureux et ignorant de\nnos peines! Qu\u2019il reste toujours comme en r\u00e9serve pour soutenir sa\nm\u00e8re dans son veuvage et pour prot\u00e9ger ses fr\u00e8res et ses s\u0153urs! Mais\nquelles s\u0153urs a-t-il qui lui restent? Il n\u2019a plus de s\u0153urs maintenant;\nelles sont toutes parties; on me les a d\u00e9rob\u00e9es, et c\u2019en est fait de\nmoi.\u2014P\u00e8re, interrompit mon fils, je vous prie de me permettre de lire\ncette lettre; je sais qu\u2019elle vous fera plaisir.\u00bb Et, ayant re\u00e7u ma\npermission, il lut ce qui suit:\n  \u00abHONOR\u00c9 MONSIEUR,\n \u00abJ\u2019ai distrait mon imagination pour quelques instants des plaisirs\n qui m\u2019entourent pour les fixer sur des objets plus plaisants encore,\n le cher petit foyer domestique. Mon esprit se repr\u00e9sente ce groupe\n innocent \u00e9coutant avec grande attention chacune de ces lignes. C\u2019est\n avec d\u00e9lices que je vois ces visages qui n\u2019ont jamais senti la main\n fl\u00e9trissante de l\u2019ambition ou de la mis\u00e8re! Mais quel que soit votre\n bonheur \u00e0 la maison, je suis s\u00fbr qu\u2019il sera encore accru quand vous\n apprendrez que je suis parfaitement content de ma position, et de\n toute mani\u00e8re heureux ici.\n [Illustration]\n \u00abNotre r\u00e9giment a re\u00e7u contre-ordre et ne doit pas quitter le royaume;\n le colonel, qui fait profession d\u2019\u00eatre mon ami, me m\u00e8ne avec lui\n dans toutes les maisons o\u00f9 il a des relations, et, apr\u00e8s ma premi\u00e8re\n visite, je me trouve g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement re\u00e7u avec un redoublement d\u2019\u00e9gards\n quand je la renouvelle. J\u2019ai dans\u00e9 la nuit derni\u00e8re avec lady G***,\n et si j\u2019\u00e9tais capable d\u2019oublier vous savez qui, je pourrais peut-\u00eatre\n r\u00e9ussir. Mais c\u2019est ma destin\u00e9e de me rappeler toujours les autres,\n tandis que je suis moi-m\u00eame oubli\u00e9 de la plupart de mes amis absents,\n et dans ce nombre je crains, monsieur, de devoir vous placer; car\n j\u2019ai longtemps attendu le plaisir d\u2019une lettre de la maison, mais\n inutilement. Olivia et Sophia avaient aussi promis de m\u2019\u00e9crire, mais\n elles semblent m\u2019avoir oubli\u00e9. Dites-leur qu\u2019elles sont deux franches\n petites friponnes, et que je suis en ce moment dans la plus violente\n col\u00e8re contre elles; et cependant, je ne sais comment, bien que je\n veuille temp\u00eater un peu, mon c\u0153ur ne r\u00e9pond qu\u2019\u00e0 de plus tendres\n \u00e9motions. Dites-leur donc, monsieur, qu\u2019apr\u00e8s tout je les aime de\n grande affection, et soyez assur\u00e9 que je reste toujours\n  \u00abVotre fils soumis.\u00bb\n\u00abDans toutes nos mis\u00e8res, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, quelles gr\u00e2ces n\u2019avons-nous pas\n\u00e0 rendre de ce qu\u2019un membre de notre famille soit exempt, du moins,\nde ce que nous souffrons! Que le ciel soit son gardien, et qu\u2019il\nconserve ainsi mon gar\u00e7on heureux pour \u00eatre le soutien de sa m\u00e8re\nveuve et le p\u00e8re de ces deux petits, qui font tout le patrimoine que\nj\u2019aie maintenant \u00e0 lui l\u00e9guer! Puisse-t-il pr\u00e9server leur innocence\ndes tentations du besoin, et \u00eatre leur guide dans les sentiers de\nl\u2019honneur!\u00bb\nJ\u2019avais \u00e0 peine dit ces mots qu\u2019un bruit qui ressemblait \u00e0 du tumulte\nparut venir de la prison au-dessous. Il s\u2019\u00e9teignit bient\u00f4t apr\u00e8s, et\nl\u2019on entendit un cliquetis de fers le long du corridor qui conduisait\n\u00e0 ma chambre. Le gardien de la prison entra, tenant un homme tout\nsanglant, bless\u00e9 et charg\u00e9 des plus lourdes cha\u00eenes. Je tournai des\nregards compatissants sur le mis\u00e9rable \u00e0 mesure qu\u2019il approchait; mais\nils se chang\u00e8rent en regards d\u2019horreur lorsque je vis que c\u2019\u00e9tait mon\npropre fils. \u00abMon George! mon George! Est-ce toi que je vois ainsi?\nBless\u00e9! encha\u00een\u00e9! Est-ce l\u00e0 ton bonheur? Est-ce l\u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9tat dans lequel\nvous me revenez? Oh! puisse cette vue briser ici mon c\u0153ur et me faire\nmourir!\u2014O\u00f9 est votre force d\u2019\u00e2me, monsieur? r\u00e9pondit mon fils d\u2019une\nvoix intr\u00e9pide. Je dois souffrir; ma vie est condamn\u00e9e, qu\u2019ils la\nprennent donc!\u00bb\nJ\u2019essayai de contenir mon \u00e9motion pendant quelques minutes en silence,\nmais je pensai mourir de l\u2019effort. \u00abO mon gar\u00e7on, mon c\u0153ur pleure de\nte voir ainsi, et je ne peux pas, je ne peux pas l\u2019emp\u00eacher. Dans le\nmoment o\u00f9 je te croyais heureux et o\u00f9 je priais pour ta pr\u00e9servation,\nte revoir ainsi! Encha\u00een\u00e9! bless\u00e9! Et encore la mort des jeunes est un\nbonheur. Mais moi, je suis vieux, un vieil homme tout \u00e0 fait, et j\u2019ai\nd\u00fb vivre pour voir un tel jour! Voir mes enfants tomber tous avant le\ntemps autour de moi, pendant que je reste, survivant mis\u00e9rable, au\nmilieu des ruines! Puissent toutes les mal\u00e9dictions qui ont jamais\n\u00e9cras\u00e9 une \u00e2me s\u2019abattre lourdes sur le meurtrier de mes enfants!\nPuisse-t-il vivre comme moi, pour voir!...\n\u2014Arr\u00eate, p\u00e8re, reprit mon fils, ou je rougirais pour toi! Comment,\nmonsieur, oublieux de votre \u00e2ge, de votre mission sacr\u00e9e, pouvez-vous\nainsi vous arroger la justice du ciel, et lancer en haut ces\nmal\u00e9dictions qui ne tarderont pas \u00e0 redescendre sur votre t\u00eate grise,\npour l\u2019\u00e9craser et la d\u00e9truire! Non, monsieur; que ce soit votre souci\nmaintenant de me pr\u00e9parer \u00e0 la mort infamante que je dois bient\u00f4t\nsouffrir, de m\u2019armer d\u2019esp\u00e9rance et de r\u00e9solution, et de me donner la\nforce de boire cette amertume qui doit bient\u00f4t \u00eatre mon partage.\n\u2014Mon enfant, vous ne devez pas mourir. Je suis s\u00fbr qu\u2019aucune faute de\nta part ne peut m\u00e9riter un si affreux ch\u00e2timent. Jamais mon George n\u2019a\npu \u00eatre coupable d\u2019un crime tel que ses a\u00efeux aient honte de lui.\n\u2014Mon crime, monsieur, r\u00e9pondit mon fils, est, je le crains, un\ncrime impardonnable. Quand j\u2019ai re\u00e7u de la maison la lettre de ma\nm\u00e8re, je suis venu sur-le-champ, r\u00e9solu \u00e0 punir le larron de notre\nhonneur, et je lui envoyai l\u2019ordre de me rencontrer sur le terrain; au\nlieu d\u2019y r\u00e9pondre en personne, il d\u00e9p\u00eacha quatre de ses domestiques\npour se saisir de moi. Je dus blesser mortellement, je le crains,\nle premier qui m\u2019attaqua; mais les autres me firent prisonnier. Le\nl\u00e2che est d\u00e9cid\u00e9 \u00e0 mettre la loi \u00e0 ex\u00e9cution contre moi; les preuves\nsont ind\u00e9niables: j\u2019ai envoy\u00e9 un cartel, et comme j\u2019ai le premier\ntransgress\u00e9 le statut, je ne vois pas d\u2019espoir de pardon. Mais vous\nm\u2019avez souvent charm\u00e9 par vos le\u00e7ons sur la force d\u2019\u00e2me; faites\nmaintenant, monsieur, que je les retrouve dans l\u2019exemple que vous me\ndonnerez.\n\u2014Et aussi les retrouverez-vous, mon fils. Je suis maintenant \u00e9lev\u00e9\nau-dessus de ce monde et de toutes les joies qu\u2019il peut donner. De ce\nmoment, j\u2019arrache de mon c\u0153ur tous les liens qui le retenaient \u00e0 la\nterre, et je me mets en mesure de nous pr\u00e9parer l\u2019un et l\u2019autre pour\nl\u2019\u00e9ternit\u00e9. Oui, mon fils, je montrerai la voie, et mon \u00e2me guidera\nla v\u00f4tre dans le voyage, car nous prendrons notre essor ensemble.\nJe vois maintenant et je suis convaincu que vous ne pouvez attendre\naucun pardon ici-bas, et je ne peux que vous exhorter \u00e0 le chercher\n\u00e0 ce plus grand des tribunaux o\u00f9 nous aurons bient\u00f4t tous les deux \u00e0\nr\u00e9pondre. Mais ne soyons pas avare dans notre exhortation; que tous\nnos compagnons de prison en aient leur part. Bon ge\u00f4lier, qu\u2019il leur\nsoit permis de se tenir ici pendant que je vais essayer de les rendre\nmeilleurs.\u00bb En disant ces mots, je fis un effort pour me lever de mon\nlit de paille, mais la force me manqua et je ne pus que m\u2019appuyer\ncontre le mur. Les prisonniers s\u2019assembl\u00e8rent suivant mon invitation,\ncar ils aimaient \u00e0 entendre mes conseils. Mon fils et sa m\u00e8re me\nsoutenaient de chaque c\u00f4t\u00e9; je regardai et vis qu\u2019il ne manquait\npersonne. Alors je leur adressai l\u2019exhortation qui suit.\n[Illustration]\nChapitre XXIX\n _\u00c9galit\u00e9 de traitement de la part de la Providence d\u00e9montr\u00e9e vis-\u00e0-vis\n des heureux et des malheureux ici-bas. De la nature du plaisir\n et de la peine il ressort que les mis\u00e9rables doivent recevoir la\n compensation de leurs souffrances dans la vie future._\n\u00abMES amis, mes enfants, et compagnons de souffrance, lorsque je\nr\u00e9fl\u00e9chis \u00e0 la r\u00e9partition du bien et du mal ici-bas, je trouve qu\u2019il\na beaucoup \u00e9t\u00e9 donn\u00e9 \u00e0 l\u2019homme pour jouir, mais encore plus pour\nsouffrir. Quand m\u00eame nous passerions en revue le monde entier, nous ne\ntrouverions pas un seul homme assez heureux pour qu\u2019il ne lui reste\nrien \u00e0 d\u00e9sirer; mais nous en voyons journellement des milliers qui\nnous montrent par leur suicide qu\u2019il ne leur reste rien \u00e0 esp\u00e9rer.\nDans cette vie, donc, il appara\u00eet que nous ne saurions \u00eatre enti\u00e8rement\nsatisfaits, mais que cependant nous pouvons \u00eatre absolument mis\u00e9rables.\n\u00abPourquoi l\u2019homme doit ainsi sentir la douleur, pourquoi notre mis\u00e8re\nest chose n\u00e9cessaire \u00e0 la formation de la f\u00e9licit\u00e9 universelle;\npourquoi, lorsque tous les autres syst\u00e8mes sont rendus parfaits par la\nperfection de leurs parties subordonn\u00e9es, le grand syst\u00e8me exige pour\nsa perfection des parties qui non seulement ne sont pas subordonn\u00e9es\naux autres, mais qui sont en elles-m\u00eames imparfaites? Ce sont l\u00e0 des\nquestions qui ne pourront jamais \u00eatre expliqu\u00e9es et qui seraient\ninutiles si on les savait. Sur ce sujet, la Providence a jug\u00e9 bon\nd\u2019\u00e9luder notre curiosit\u00e9, se contentant de nous accorder des motifs de\nconsolation.\n\u00abDans cette situation, l\u2019homme a invoqu\u00e9 le secours amical de la\nphilosophie, et le ciel, voyant l\u2019inhabilet\u00e9 de celle-ci \u00e0 le consoler,\nlui a donn\u00e9 l\u2019aide de la religion. Les consolations de la philosophie\nsont tr\u00e8s propres \u00e0 distraire, mais elles sont souvent fallacieuses.\nElle nous dit que la vie est remplie de bonnes choses si seulement nous\nen voulons jouir, et d\u2019un autre c\u00f4t\u00e9, que, si nous avons in\u00e9vitablement\ndes mis\u00e8res ici-bas, la vie est courte et qu\u2019elles seront bient\u00f4t\npass\u00e9es. Ainsi ces consolations se d\u00e9truisent mutuellement; car si la\nvie est un lieu de bien-\u00eatre, sa bri\u00e8vet\u00e9 doit \u00eatre un malheur, et si\nelle est longue, nos maux sont prolong\u00e9s. C\u2019est pourquoi la philosophie\nest faible; mais la religion r\u00e9conforte sur un ton plus \u00e9lev\u00e9. L\u2019homme\nest ici, nous dit-elle, pour disposer son esprit et le pr\u00e9parer \u00e0 un\nautre s\u00e9jour. Lorsque l\u2019homme bon quitte le corps et est tout entier\nun esprit glorieux, il trouve qu\u2019il s\u2019est fait ici-bas un ciel de\nf\u00e9licit\u00e9; tandis que le mis\u00e9rable qui a \u00e9t\u00e9 d\u00e9form\u00e9 et souill\u00e9 par ses\nvices se s\u00e9pare de son corps avec terreur et voit qu\u2019il a anticip\u00e9\nla vengeance du ciel. C\u2019est donc \u00e0 la religion qu\u2019il faut se tenir\ndans toutes les circonstances de la vie comme \u00e0 notre consolateur le\nplus v\u00e9ritable; car si nous sommes heureux d\u00e9j\u00e0, c\u2019est un plaisir de\npenser que nous pouvons rendre ce bonheur sans fin; et si nous sommes\nmis\u00e9rables, il est tr\u00e8s consolant de penser qu\u2019il y a un lieu de repos.\nAinsi aux hommes fortun\u00e9s la religion pr\u00e9sente une continuation de\nb\u00e9n\u00e9dictions, et aux mis\u00e9rables un changement qui les tire de peine.\n\u00abMais, bien que la religion soit tr\u00e8s bienfaisante pour tous les\nhommes, elle promet des r\u00e9compenses particuli\u00e8res aux malheureux; les\nmalades, ceux qui sont nus, ceux qui sont sans foyer, ceux dont le\nfardeau est lourd, les prisonniers, sont l\u2019objet des plus fr\u00e9quentes\npromesses dans notre sainte loi. L\u2019auteur de notre religion fait\nsurtout profession d\u2019\u00eatre l\u2019ami des mis\u00e9rables, et, au contraire des\nfaux amis de ce monde, il accorde toutes ses caresses aux abandonn\u00e9s.\nLes \u00e9tourdis ont bl\u00e2m\u00e9 cela comme une partialit\u00e9, comme une pr\u00e9f\u00e9rence\nqu\u2019aucun m\u00e9rite ne justifie. Mais ils n\u2019ont jamais r\u00e9fl\u00e9chi qu\u2019il\nn\u2019est pas au pouvoir du ciel lui-m\u00eame de faire que l\u2019offre d\u2019une\nf\u00e9licit\u00e9 incessante soit un don aussi grand pour les heureux que pour\nles mis\u00e9rables. Pour les premiers, l\u2019\u00e9ternit\u00e9 n\u2019est qu\u2019une simple\nb\u00e9n\u00e9diction, puisqu\u2019elle ne fait \u00e0 tout le plus qu\u2019augmenter ce qu\u2019ils\nposs\u00e8dent d\u00e9j\u00e0. Pour les seconds, c\u2019est un double avantage; car elle\ndiminue leurs peines ici-bas et elle les r\u00e9compense plus tard par la\nf\u00e9licit\u00e9 c\u00e9leste.\n\u00abMais la Providence est encore \u00e0 un autre point de vue plus tendre\naux pauvres qu\u2019aux riches; car, faisant ainsi la vie apr\u00e8s la mort\nplus d\u00e9sirable, elle en adoucit le passage. Les mis\u00e9rables sont depuis\nlongtemps familiers avec tous les aspects de l\u2019horreur. L\u2019homme de\ndouleur se couche tranquillement, sans biens \u00e0 regretter, et peu\nd\u2019attaches seulement retardent son d\u00e9part; il ne sent que l\u2019angoisse de\nla nature dans la s\u00e9paration finale, et celle-ci n\u2019est en aucune fa\u00e7on\nplus grande que celles sous lesquelles il a pli\u00e9 d\u00e9j\u00e0; car, apr\u00e8s un\ncertain degr\u00e9 de souffrance, \u00e0 chaque nouvelle br\u00e8che que la mort\nouvre dans la constitution de l\u2019homme, la nature oppose charitablement\nl\u2019insensibilit\u00e9.\n\u00abAinsi la Providence a donn\u00e9 aux mis\u00e9rables deux avantages sur les\nheureux dans cette vie: une plus grande f\u00e9licit\u00e9 en mourant, et dans\nle ciel toute cette sup\u00e9riorit\u00e9 de bonheur qui na\u00eet du contraste de\nla jouissance avec la peine. Et cette sup\u00e9riorit\u00e9, mes amis, n\u2019est\npas un petit avantage: elle semble \u00eatre une des joies du pauvre dans\nla parabole; car, bien qu\u2019il f\u00fbt d\u00e9j\u00e0 dans le paradis et sent\u00eet tous\nles ravissements que peut donner ce s\u00e9jour, on mentionne cependant,\ncomme un surcro\u00eet \u00e0 ce bonheur, qu\u2019il avait \u00e9t\u00e9 jadis mis\u00e9rable, et\nque maintenant il \u00e9tait consol\u00e9; qu\u2019il avait su ce que c\u2019\u00e9tait que\nd\u2019\u00eatre malheureux, et que maintenant il sentait ce que c\u2019est que d\u2019\u00eatre\nheureux.\n\u00abAinsi, mes amis, vous voyez que la religion fait ce que la philosophie\nne saurait jamais faire: elle montre l\u2019\u00e9galit\u00e9 de traitement de la part\ndu ciel vis-\u00e0-vis des heureux et des malheureux, et ram\u00e8ne toutes les\njouissances humaines \u00e0 peu pr\u00e8s au m\u00eame niveau. Elle donne aux riches\net aux pauvres le m\u00eame bonheur dans la vie future, et des esp\u00e9rances\n\u00e9gales pour y aspirer; mais si les riches ont l\u2019avantage de jouir des\nplaisirs ici-bas, les pauvres ont la satisfaction infinie de savoir ce\nque c\u2019est que d\u2019avoir jadis \u00e9t\u00e9 mis\u00e9rables, lorsqu\u2019ils sont couronn\u00e9s\nd\u2019une f\u00e9licit\u00e9 sans terme d\u00e9sormais; et, quand m\u00eame on appellerait cela\nun avantage l\u00e9ger, comme il est \u00e9ternel, il doit compenser par sa dur\u00e9e\nce que le bonheur temporel des grands a eu de plus en intensit\u00e9.\n[Illustration]\n\u00abTelles sont donc les consolations que les mis\u00e9rables ont sp\u00e9cialement\npour eux, et par lesquelles ils sont au-dessus du reste du genre\nhumain; \u00e0 d\u2019autres \u00e9gards, ils sont au-dessous. Ceux qui veulent\nconna\u00eetre les mis\u00e8res des pauvres doivent voir leur vie et la\nsupporter. D\u00e9clamer sur les avantages mat\u00e9riels dont ils jouissent,\nc\u2019est simplement r\u00e9p\u00e9ter ce que personne ne croit ni ne pratique.\nLes hommes qui ont les choses n\u00e9cessaires \u00e0 l\u2019existence ne sont pas\npauvres, et ceux \u00e0 qui elles manquent ne peuvent pas ne pas \u00eatre\nmis\u00e9rables. Oui, mes amis, nous ne pouvons pas ne pas \u00eatre mis\u00e9rables,\nil n\u2019est point de vains efforts de l\u2019imagination qui puissent calmer\nles besoins de la nature, changer en un air \u00e9lastique et doux les\nhumides vapeurs d\u2019une prison, ou apaiser les sanglots d\u2019un c\u0153ur bris\u00e9.\nQue, de sa couche moelleuse, le philosophe nous dise que nous pouvons\nr\u00e9sister \u00e0 tout cela! H\u00e9las! l\u2019effort par lequel nous y r\u00e9sistons est\nencore la souffrance la plus grande. La mort est peu de chose, et tout\nhomme peut la supporter; mais les tourments sont \u00e9pouvantables, et\nc\u2019est l\u00e0 ce que nul ne sait endurer.\nPour nous, donc, mes amis, les promesses de bonheur dans le ciel\ndevraient nous \u00eatre particuli\u00e8rement ch\u00e8res; car si notre r\u00e9compense\nn\u2019est que dans cette vie seulement, alors nous sommes vraiment de\ntous les hommes les plus mis\u00e9rables. Lorsque je regarde autour de moi\nces sombres murailles faites pour nous terrifier aussi bien que pour\nnous enfermer, cette lumi\u00e8re qui ne sert qu\u2019\u00e0 montrer les horreurs\ndu lieu, ces fers que la tyrannie a impos\u00e9s et que le crime a rendus\nn\u00e9cessaires; lorsque j\u2019examine ces visages \u00e9maci\u00e9s et que j\u2019entends ces\ng\u00e9missements, \u00f4 mes amis, quel glorieux troc le ciel ne serait-il pas\npour tout cela! S\u2019envoler \u00e0 travers des r\u00e9gions illimit\u00e9es comme l\u2019air,\nse chauffer au soleil de l\u2019\u00e9ternelle b\u00e9atitude, chanter et chanter\nencore des hymnes de louanges sans fin, n\u2019avoir point de ma\u00eetre pour\nnous menacer ou nous outrager, mais la face m\u00eame de la supr\u00eame Bont\u00e9\npour toujours devant les yeux! Quand je songe \u00e0 ces choses, la mort\ndevient la messag\u00e8re des plus joyeuses nouvelles; quand je songe \u00e0 ces\nchoses, sa fl\u00e8che la plus aigu\u00eb devient le b\u00e2ton o\u00f9 je m\u2019appuie; quand\nje songe \u00e0 ces choses, quoi dans la vie qui vaille qu\u2019on le poss\u00e8de?\nquand je songe \u00e0 ces choses, quoi qui ne m\u00e9rite d\u2019\u00eatre d\u00e9daigneusement\nrejet\u00e9? Les rois, dans leurs palais, devraient soupirer apr\u00e8s de tels\navantages; mais nous, humili\u00e9s comme nous le sommes, nous devrions nous\n\u00e9lancer ardemment vers eux.\n\u00abEt toutes ces choses sont-elles pour \u00eatre \u00e0 nous? A nous elles seront\n\u00e0 coup s\u00fbr, si seulement nous voulons essayer de les atteindre; et, ce\nqui est un encouragement, bien des tentations nous sont interdites qui\nretarderaient notre poursuite. Essayons seulement de les atteindre,\net elles seront certainement \u00e0 nous; et, ce qui est encore un\nencouragement, elles le seront m\u00eame bient\u00f4t, car si nous jetons un\nregard en arri\u00e8re sur la vie pass\u00e9e, elle ne para\u00eet que comme un bien\ncourt intervalle; quoi que nous pensions du reste de la vie, on la\ntrouvera de moindre dur\u00e9e encore. A mesure que nous devenons plus\nvieux, les jours semblent devenir plus courts, et notre intimit\u00e9 avec\nle temps amoindrit toujours le sentiment que nous avons de son passage.\nPrenons donc courage maintenant, car bient\u00f4t nous serons au bout de\nnotre voyage; nous d\u00e9poserons bient\u00f4t le lourd fardeau dont le ciel\nnous a charg\u00e9s. Si la mort, seule amie des mis\u00e9rables, se rit quelque\ntemps du voyageur fatigu\u00e9 en se faisant voir \u00e0 lui et en fuyant \u00e0 ses\nyeux comme l\u2019horizon, le temps n\u2019en viendra pas moins, certainement et\npromptement, o\u00f9 les grands superbes du monde ne nous fouleront plus\ncontre terre sous leurs pieds, o\u00f9 nous penserons avec plaisir \u00e0 nos\nsouffrances ici-bas, o\u00f9 nous serons entour\u00e9s de tous nos amis et de\nceux qui ont m\u00e9rit\u00e9 notre amiti\u00e9, o\u00f9 notre b\u00e9atitude sera ineffable et,\npour couronner tout, sans fin.\u00bb\n[Illustration]\nChapitre XXX\n_Un avenir meilleur commence \u00e0 para\u00eetre.\u2014Restons in\u00e9branlables, et la\nfortune \u00e0 la fin changera en notre faveur._\nLORSQUE j\u2019eus ainsi termin\u00e9 et que mon auditoire se fut retir\u00e9, mon\nge\u00f4lier, qui \u00e9tait un des plus humains de sa profession, tout en\nexprimant l\u2019espoir que je ne serais pas m\u00e9content, car ce qu\u2019il faisait\nn\u2019\u00e9tait que son devoir, d\u00e9clara qu\u2019il devait absolument transf\u00e9rer mon\nfils dans une cellule plus s\u00fbre; mais il aurait la permission de venir\nme voir tous les matins. Je le remerciai de sa cl\u00e9mence, et, serrant\nla main de mon gar\u00e7on, je lui dis adieu, en lui recommandant de se\nsouvenir du grand devoir qu\u2019il avait devant lui.\nJe me recouchai, et un de mes petits gar\u00e7ons \u00e9tait \u00e0 mon chevet, en\ntrain de lire, lorsque M. Jenkinson entra m\u2019informer qu\u2019on avait des\nnouvelles de ma fille; une personne l\u2019avait vue il y avait environ deux\nheures en compagnie d\u2019un gentleman \u00e9tranger; ils s\u2019\u00e9taient arr\u00eat\u00e9s \u00e0\nun village voisin pour se rafra\u00eechir, et ils semblaient revenir vers\nla ville. Il m\u2019avait \u00e0 peine communiqu\u00e9 cette nouvelle, que le ge\u00f4lier\nsurvint avec un air d\u2019empressement et de plaisir, et m\u2019apprit que ma\nfille \u00e9tait retrouv\u00e9e. Mo\u00efse entra en courant un moment apr\u00e8s, criant\nque sa s\u0153ur Sophia \u00e9tait en bas et montait avec notre vieil ami M.\nBurchell.\nAu moment o\u00f9 il racontait sa nouvelle, ma bien-aim\u00e9e fille entra, et,\nl\u2019air presque \u00e9gar\u00e9 par la joie, accourut m\u2019embrasser dans un transport\nd\u2019affection. Sa m\u00e8re, de son c\u00f4t\u00e9, t\u00e9moignait de son bonheur par ses\nlarmes et son silence. \u00abVoici, papa, s\u2019\u00e9cria ma charmante enfant, voici\nl\u2019homme courageux \u00e0 qui je dois ma d\u00e9livrance; c\u2019est \u00e0 l\u2019intr\u00e9pidit\u00e9 de\nce gentleman que je suis redevable de mon bonheur et de ma s\u00fbret\u00e9.\u00bb Un\nbaiser de M. Burchell, dont le plaisir semblait encore plus grand que\nle sien, interrompit ce qu\u2019elle allait ajouter.\n\u00abAh! monsieur Burchell, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, c\u2019est dans une mis\u00e9rable\ndemeure que vous nous trouvez aujourd\u2019hui, et nous voil\u00e0 maintenant\nbien diff\u00e9rents de ce que vous nous avez vus la derni\u00e8re fois. Vous\navez toujours \u00e9t\u00e9 notre ami; nous avons d\u00e9couvert depuis longtemps\nnos erreurs \u00e0 votre \u00e9gard, et nous nous sommes repentis de notre\ninjustice. Apr\u00e8s l\u2019indigne traitement que vous avez re\u00e7u de moi, j\u2019ai\npresque honte de vous regarder en face. Cependant j\u2019esp\u00e8re que vous\nme pardonnerez, car j\u2019ai \u00e9t\u00e9 tromp\u00e9 par un mis\u00e9rable, vil et sans\ng\u00e9n\u00e9rosit\u00e9, qui, sous le masque de l\u2019amiti\u00e9, m\u2019a d\u00e9shonor\u00e9.\n\u2014Il est impossible, r\u00e9pondit M. Burchell, que je vous pardonne,\ncar vous n\u2019avez jamais m\u00e9rit\u00e9 mon ressentiment. J\u2019ai vu en partie\nvotre illusion \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9poque, et comme il \u00e9tait hors de mon pouvoir de\nl\u2019arr\u00eater, je n\u2019ai pu qu\u2019en prendre piti\u00e9.\n\u00abJ\u2019ai toujours pens\u00e9 que vous aviez un noble esprit; aujourd\u2019hui, je\nvois qu\u2019il en est ainsi r\u00e9ellement. Mais dis-moi, ch\u00e8re enfant, comment\nas-tu \u00e9t\u00e9 secourue, et qui \u00e9taient les ruffians qui t\u2019enlevaient?\n\u2014En v\u00e9rit\u00e9, monsieur, r\u00e9pondit-elle, quant au sc\u00e9l\u00e9rat qui m\u2019enlevait,\nje ne le connais pas encore. Car, pendant que nous nous promenions,\nmaman et moi, il arriva derri\u00e8re nous, et avant que j\u2019eusse eu le temps\nde crier au secours, il me poussa de force dans la chaise de poste, et\nen un instant les chevaux partirent. Je rencontrai plusieurs personnes\nsur la route, \u00e0 qui je criai pour demander assistance; mais elles\nn\u2019\u00e9cout\u00e8rent pas mes supplications. En m\u00eame temps, le coquin usait de\ntous les moyens pour m\u2019emp\u00eacher de crier: il flattait et mena\u00e7ait tour\n\u00e0 tour, il jurait que, si je gardais le silence, il n\u2019avait aucune\nmauvaise intention. Cependant j\u2019avais d\u00e9chir\u00e9 le store qu\u2019il avait\nbaiss\u00e9, et voil\u00e0 que j\u2019aper\u00e7ois \u00e0 quelque distance votre vieil ami, M.\nBurchell, marchant comme \u00e0 l\u2019ordinaire de son pas rapide, avec le grand\nb\u00e2ton \u00e0 propos duquel nous nous moquions tant de lui. D\u00e8s que nous\nf\u00fbmes \u00e0 port\u00e9e de son oreille, je l\u2019appelai par son nom et invoquai\nson aide. Je r\u00e9p\u00e9tai mon cri plusieurs fois, et alors, d\u2019une voix tr\u00e8s\nhaute, il ordonna au postillon d\u2019arr\u00eater; mais le gar\u00e7on n\u2019y prit pas\ngarde et continua d\u2019aller plus vite encore. Je pensais que M. Burchell\nne pourrait jamais nous rattraper, quand, en moins d\u2019une minute, je le\nvis arriver en courant \u00e0 c\u00f4t\u00e9 des chevaux et d\u2019un seul coup renverser\nle postillon \u00e0 terre. Lorsqu\u2019il fut tomb\u00e9, les chevaux s\u2019arr\u00eat\u00e8rent\nbient\u00f4t d\u2019eux-m\u00eames, et le ruffian, descendant de voiture avec des\njurons et des menaces, tira son \u00e9p\u00e9e et lui ordonna de se retirer s\u2019il\nne voulait jouer sa vie; mais M. Burchell s\u2019\u00e9lan\u00e7a, brisa l\u2019\u00e9p\u00e9e en\nmorceaux et le poursuivit pendant pr\u00e8s d\u2019un quart de mille; il parvint\npourtant \u00e0 s\u2019\u00e9chapper. J\u2019\u00e9tais alors descendue moi-m\u00eame, pr\u00eate \u00e0\naider mon lib\u00e9rateur; mais il revint bient\u00f4t triomphant vers moi. Le\npostillon, qui avait repris ses sens, \u00e9tait sur le point de se sauver\naussi; mais M. Burchell lui ordonna d\u2019une fa\u00e7on mena\u00e7ante de remonter\net de retourner \u00e0 la ville. Voyant qu\u2019il \u00e9tait impossible de r\u00e9sister,\nil ob\u00e9it \u00e0 contre-c\u0153ur, bien que la blessure qu\u2019il avait re\u00e7ue sembl\u00e2t\n\u00eatre, \u00e0 moi, du moins, dangereuse. Pendant le retour, il se plaignait\nconstamment, tant qu\u2019\u00e0 la fin il excita la compassion de M. Burchell,\nqui, \u00e0 ma pri\u00e8re, le changea pour un autre \u00e0 une auberge, o\u00f9 nous nous\narr\u00eat\u00e2mes dans le trajet.\n\u2014Sois donc la bienvenue, mon enfant, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, et toi, son vaillant\nlib\u00e9rateur, le bienvenu mille fois. Bien que nous n\u2019ayons qu\u2019une\ntable mis\u00e9rable, nos c\u0153urs sont pr\u00eats \u00e0 vous recevoir. Et maintenant,\nmonsieur Burchell, puisque vous avez sauv\u00e9 ma fille, si vous pensez que\nc\u2019est une r\u00e9compense, elle est \u00e0 vous; si vous pouvez descendre jusqu\u2019\u00e0\nune alliance avec une famille aussi pauvre que la mienne, prenez-la,\nobtenez son consentement, car je sais que vous avez son c\u0153ur, et vous\navez aussi le mien. Et laissez-moi vous dire, monsieur, que ce n\u2019est\npas un petit tr\u00e9sor que je vous donne. On a vant\u00e9 sa beaut\u00e9, il est\nvrai, mais ce n\u2019est pas ce que je veux dire; je vous donne un tr\u00e9sor,\nqui est son c\u0153ur.\n\u2014Mais je suppose, s\u2019\u00e9cria M. Burchell, que vous \u00eates au courant de\nma situation et de l\u2019incapacit\u00e9 o\u00f9 je suis de lui faire l\u2019existence\nqu\u2019elle m\u00e9rite?\n\u2014Si votre objection pr\u00e9sente, r\u00e9pliquai-je, est faite pour \u00e9luder mon\noffre, je la retire; mais je ne connais aucun homme aussi digne de\nm\u00e9riter ma fille que vous; si je pouvais la donner \u00e0 mille et que mille\nme la demandassent, mon honn\u00eate et brave Burchell serait encore le\nchoix de mon c\u0153ur.\u00bb\nA tout ceci son silence seul sembla donner un refus mortifiant, et,\nsans la moindre r\u00e9ponse \u00e0 mon offre, il demanda s\u2019il ne pourrait\navoir des rafra\u00eechissements de l\u2019auberge voisine. On lui r\u00e9pondit\naffirmativement; il ordonna alors d\u2019envoyer le meilleur d\u00eener qui\npourrait se faire en peu de temps. Il commanda aussi une douzaine de\nbouteilles du meilleur vin et quelques cordiaux pour moi, ajoutant avec\nun sourire qu\u2019il voulait se lancer un peu pour une fois; et, quoique\ndans une prison, il affirmait qu\u2019il n\u2019avait jamais \u00e9t\u00e9 mieux dispos\u00e9 \u00e0\nla gaiet\u00e9. Le gar\u00e7on fit bient\u00f4t son apparition avec les pr\u00e9paratifs du\nd\u00eener; le ge\u00f4lier, qui se montrait d\u2019une remarquable assiduit\u00e9, nous\npr\u00eata une table; le vin fut dispos\u00e9 en ordre, et l\u2019on apporta deux\nplats tr\u00e8s bien pr\u00e9par\u00e9s.\n[Illustration]\nMa fille n\u2019avait pas encore appris la triste position de son fr\u00e8re,\net nous \u00e9tions tous d\u00e9sireux de ne pas g\u00e2ter son plaisir par ce\nr\u00e9cit. Mais c\u2019\u00e9tait en vain que je m\u2019effor\u00e7ais de para\u00eetre joyeux; la\nsituation de mon infortun\u00e9 fils me revenait toujours au milieu de tous\nmes efforts pour me contraindre; de sorte qu\u2019\u00e0 la fin je fus oblig\u00e9 de\ntroubler notre r\u00e9jouissance en racontant ses malheurs et en t\u00e9moignant\nle d\u00e9sir qu\u2019on lui perm\u00eet de partager avec nous ce court moment de\nsatisfaction. Lorsque mes convives se furent remis de la consternation\nproduite par mes paroles, je demandai aussi qu\u2019on adm\u00eet mon compagnon\nde prison, M. Jenkinson, et le ge\u00f4lier accorda ma requ\u00eate avec un\nair de soumission inaccoutum\u00e9. Le cliquetis des fers de mon fils ne\nse fit pas plus t\u00f4t entendre le long du corridor, que sa s\u0153ur courut\nimpatiemment \u00e0 sa rencontre: pendant ce temps, M. Burchell me demandait\nsi le nom de mon fils \u00e9tait George; je r\u00e9pondis affirmativement, et il\ncontinua \u00e0 garder le silence. D\u00e8s que mon gar\u00e7on entra dans la chambre,\nje m\u2019aper\u00e7us qu\u2019il regardait M. Burchell avec un air d\u2019\u00e9tonnement et\nde respect. \u00abAllons! mon fils, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je; quoique nous soyons tomb\u00e9s\nbien bas, il a cependant plu \u00e0 la Providence d\u2019accorder quelque rel\u00e2che\n\u00e0 nos douleurs. Ta s\u0153ur nous est rendue, et voici son lib\u00e9rateur;\nc\u2019est \u00e0 cet homme courageux que je dois d\u2019avoir encore une fille.\nDonne-lui, mon gar\u00e7on, la main de l\u2019amiti\u00e9; il m\u00e9rite notre plus chaude\nreconnaissance.\u00bb\nMon fils, pendant tout ce temps, semblait ne pas prendre garde \u00e0 ce\nque je disais et restait immobile \u00e0 une distance respectueuse. \u00abMon\nfr\u00e8re ch\u00e9ri, s\u2019\u00e9cria sa s\u0153ur, pourquoi ne remerciez-vous pas mon bon\nlib\u00e9rateur? Les braves doivent s\u2019aimer les uns les autres.\u00bb\nIl continuait \u00e0 rester dans le silence et l\u2019\u00e9tonnement; enfin notre\nh\u00f4te, s\u2019apercevant qu\u2019il \u00e9tait reconnu, donna \u00e0 son visage toute\nsa dignit\u00e9 naturelle et pria mon fils d\u2019avancer. Jamais je n\u2019avais\nrien vu encore de si vraiment majestueux que l\u2019air qu\u2019il prit en\ncette occasion. Le plus grand spectacle de l\u2019univers, dit certain\nphilosophe, est celui d\u2019un homme juste luttant contre l\u2019adversit\u00e9; il\ny en a pourtant un plus grand encore, c\u2019est celui de l\u2019homme juste qui\nvient \u00e0 l\u2019adversit\u00e9 pour la soulager. Lorsqu\u2019il eut regard\u00e9 quelque\ntemps mon fils d\u2019un air imposant: \u00abJe vois encore, dit-il, enfant\n\u00e9tourdi, que le m\u00eame crime....\u00bb Mais il fut interrompu par un des aides\ndu ge\u00f4lier qui venait nous informer qu\u2019une personne de distinction,\narriv\u00e9e en ville avec un \u00e9quipage et plusieurs serviteurs, envoyait\nses respects au gentleman qui \u00e9tait avec nous, et demandait \u00e0 savoir \u00e0\nquel moment il jugerait bon d\u2019admettre sa visite. \u00abDites \u00e0 cet homme,\ns\u2019\u00e9cria notre h\u00f4te, d\u2019attendre que j\u2019aie le loisir de le recevoir.\u00bb\nPuis, se tournant vers mon fils: \u00abJe vois encore, monsieur, reprit-il,\nque vous \u00eates coupable de la m\u00eame faute pour laquelle vous avez jadis\neu mon bl\u00e2me, et pour laquelle la loi pr\u00e9pare maintenant ses plus\njustes ch\u00e2timents. Vous vous imaginez peut-\u00eatre que le m\u00e9pris de votre\npropre vie vous donne le droit de prendre celle d\u2019un autre; mais o\u00f9\nest, monsieur, la diff\u00e9rence entre un duelliste qui hasarde une vie\nsans valeur et le meurtrier qui agit avec une s\u00e9curit\u00e9 plus grande? Y\na-t-il diminution dans la fraude du joueur, lorsqu\u2019il all\u00e8gue qu\u2019il\navait d\u00e9pos\u00e9 son enjeu?\n\u2014H\u00e9las! monsieur, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, qui que vous soyez, plaignez la pauvre\ncr\u00e9ature \u00e9gar\u00e9e; car ce qu\u2019il a fait, il l\u2019a fait pour ob\u00e9ir \u00e0 une\nm\u00e8re abus\u00e9e, qui, dans l\u2019amertume de son ressentiment, le mettait\nen demeure, au prix de sa b\u00e9n\u00e9diction, de venger sa cause. Voici,\nmonsieur, la lettre qui servira \u00e0 vous convaincre de l\u2019imprudence de la\nm\u00e8re et \u00e0 att\u00e9nuer le crime du fils.\u00bb\nIl prit la lettre et la parcourut rapidement. \u00abCeci, reprit-il,\nbien que ce ne soit pas une compl\u00e8te excuse, amoindrit tellement sa\nfaute que je suis dispos\u00e9 \u00e0 lui pardonner. Et maintenant, monsieur,\ncontinua-t-il en prenant amicalement mon fils par la main, je vois que\nvous \u00eates surpris de me trouver ici; mais j\u2019ai souvent visit\u00e9 des\nprisons en des occasions moins int\u00e9ressantes. Je suis venu pour voir\njustice rendue \u00e0 un digne homme pour qui j\u2019ai la plus sinc\u00e8re estime.\nJe suis depuis longtemps le spectateur d\u00e9guis\u00e9 de la bont\u00e9 de votre\np\u00e8re. J\u2019ai, dans sa petite demeure, joui d\u2019un respect que ne souillait\npoint la flatterie, et j\u2019y ai re\u00e7u dans l\u2019aimable simplicit\u00e9 de son\nfoyer domestique le bonheur que les cours ne sauraient donner. Mon\nneveu a \u00e9t\u00e9 inform\u00e9 de mon intention de venir ici, et je vois qu\u2019il est\narriv\u00e9. Ce serait faire tort \u00e0 lui et \u00e0 vous que de le condamner sans\nexamen. S\u2019il y a offense, il doit y avoir r\u00e9paration; et, je puis le\ndire sans me vanter, personne n\u2019a jamais tax\u00e9 d\u2019injustice sir William\nThornhill.\u00bb\nNous d\u00e9couvrions maintenant que le personnage que nous avions si\nlongtemps re\u00e7u comme un compagnon amusant et sans cons\u00e9quence n\u2019\u00e9tait\nautre que le c\u00e9l\u00e8bre sir William Thornhill, dont personne, pour ainsi\ndire, n\u2019ignorait les vertus et les singularit\u00e9s. Le pauvre M. Burchell\n\u00e9tait en r\u00e9alit\u00e9 un homme de grande fortune et de puissant cr\u00e9dit,\nque les assembl\u00e9es politiques \u00e9coutaient et applaudissaient, et dont\nla parole avait la confiance des partis; un homme qui \u00e9tait l\u2019ami\nde son pays, mais en restant fid\u00e8le \u00e0 son roi. Ma pauvre femme, se\nrappelant son ancienne familiarit\u00e9, paraissait trembler de confusion;\nmais Sophia, qui, quelques moments auparavant, le croyait \u00e0 elle,\nvoyant maintenant la distance immense o\u00f9 le mettait sa fortune, \u00e9tait\nincapable de cacher ses larmes.\n\u00abAh! monsieur, s\u2019\u00e9cria ma femme, avec un visage constern\u00e9, comment\nsera-t-il possible que j\u2019aie jamais votre pardon? Le manque d\u2019\u00e9gards\nque je vous ai t\u00e9moign\u00e9 la derni\u00e8re fois que j\u2019ai eu l\u2019honneur de vous\nvoir dans notre maison, et les plaisanteries que j\u2019ai audacieusement\nlanc\u00e9es, ces plaisanteries, monsieur, je le crains, ne pourront jamais\nm\u2019\u00eatre pardonn\u00e9es.\n\u2014Ma ch\u00e8re bonne dame, r\u00e9pondit-il avec un sourire, si vous avez eu\nvotre plaisanterie, j\u2019ai eu ma r\u00e9ponse; je laisserai \u00e0 juger \u00e0 toute la\ncompagnie si la mienne n\u2019\u00e9tait pas aussi bonne que la v\u00f4tre. A dire la\nv\u00e9rit\u00e9, je ne sais personne contre qui je sois dispos\u00e9 \u00e0 avoir de la\ncol\u00e8re \u00e0 pr\u00e9sent, sauf l\u2019individu qui a tellement \u00e9pouvant\u00e9 ma petite\nfillette ici. Je n\u2019ai m\u00eame pas eu le temps d\u2019examiner assez l\u2019ext\u00e9rieur\ndu coquin pour afficher son signalement. Pouvez-vous me dire, Sophia,\nma ch\u00e9rie, si vous le reconna\u00eetriez?\n[Illustration]\n\u2014Vraiment, monsieur, r\u00e9pliqua-t-elle, je ne saurais l\u2019affirmer;\ncependant je me rappelle maintenant qu\u2019il avait une large marque\nau-dessus d\u2019un des sourcils.\u2014Je vous demande pardon, mademoiselle,\ninterrompit Jenkinson, qui \u00e9tait pr\u00e9sent; mais soyez assez bonne pour\nme dire si l\u2019individu montrait ses propres cheveux rouges.\u2014Oui,\ncertes, dit Sophia.\u2014Et Votre Honneur, continua-t-il en se tournant\nvers sir William, a-t-il observ\u00e9 la longueur de ses jambes?\u2014Je ne\nsaurais \u00eatre s\u00fbr de leur longueur, s\u2019\u00e9cria le baronnet, mais je suis\nconvaincu de leur vitesse; car il m\u2019a laiss\u00e9 en arri\u00e8re, chose que\nje croyais peu d\u2019hommes capables de faire dans le royaume.\u2014Avec la\npermission de Votre Honneur, s\u2019\u00e9cria Jenkinson, je connais l\u2019homme.\nC\u2019est certainement lui; le meilleur coureur de l\u2019Angleterre: il a\nbattu Pinwire, de Newcastle. Son nom est Timothy Baxter; je le connais\nparfaitement, et aussi le lieu pr\u00e9cis o\u00f9 il s\u2019est retir\u00e9 pour le\nmoment. Si Votre Honneur veut ordonner \u00e0 M. le ge\u00f4lier de laisser deux\nde ses hommes venir avec moi, je m\u2019engage \u00e0 le produire devant vous\ndans une heure au plus.\u00bb L\u00e0-dessus on appela le ge\u00f4lier, qui apparut\nimm\u00e9diatement, et sir William lui demanda s\u2019il le connaissait.\u2014Oui,\ns\u2019il pla\u00eet \u00e0 Votre Honneur, r\u00e9pliqua le ge\u00f4lier, je connais bien sir\nWilliam Thornhill, et quiconque conna\u00eet quelque chose de lui d\u00e9sire\nen conna\u00eetre davantage.\u2014Eh bien, alors, dit le baronnet, ma demande\nest que vous permettiez \u00e0 cet homme et \u00e0 deux de vos aides d\u2019aller\ns\u2019acquitter d\u2019un message par mon ordre, et comme je fais partie de\nla commission des juges de paix, je m\u2019engage \u00e0 vous garantir.\u2014Votre\npromesse suffit, r\u00e9pliqua l\u2019autre, et vous pouvez d\u2019une minute \u00e0\nl\u2019autre les envoyer \u00e0 travers l\u2019Angleterre partout o\u00f9 Votre Honneur le\njuge bon.\u00bb\nEn cons\u00e9quence du consentement du ge\u00f4lier, Jenkinson fut d\u00e9p\u00each\u00e9 \u00e0 la\nrecherche de Timothy Baxter, pendant que nous nous amusions des amiti\u00e9s\nde notre plus jeune gar\u00e7on, Bill, qui venait d\u2019entrer et qui grimpait\nau cou de sir William pour l\u2019embrasser. Sa m\u00e8re allait imm\u00e9diatement\nch\u00e2tier sa familiarit\u00e9, mais le digne homme l\u2019en emp\u00eacha et prenant\nsur ses genoux l\u2019enfant, tout en haillons qu\u2019il \u00e9tait: \u00abEh quoi! Bill,\nmon fripon joufflu, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-il, vous rappelez-vous votre vieil\nami Burchell? Et vous, Dick, mon bon vieux camarade, \u00eates-vous ici?\nVous verrez que je ne vous ai pas oubli\u00e9s.\u00bb Ce disant, il leur donna\n\u00e0 chacun un gros morceau de pain d\u2019\u00e9pices, que les pauvres diables\nmang\u00e8rent de grand app\u00e9tit, car ils n\u2019avaient eu ce matin-l\u00e0 qu\u2019un\nd\u00e9jeuner tr\u00e8s succinct.\nNous nous m\u00eemes alors \u00e0 table; le d\u00eener \u00e9tait presque froid. Mais\nauparavant, comme mon bras \u00e9tait toujours douloureux, sir William\n\u00e9crivit une ordonnance, car il avait \u00e9tudi\u00e9 la m\u00e9decine pour se\ndistraire, et il \u00e9tait dans cet art d\u2019une habilet\u00e9 au-dessus de la\nmoyenne. On l\u2019envoya \u00e0 un apothicaire qui demeurait dans la localit\u00e9;\nmon bras fut pans\u00e9, et je sentis un soulagement presque imm\u00e9diat. Nous\nf\u00fbmes servis \u00e0 table par le ge\u00f4lier lui-m\u00eame, qui tenait \u00e0 rendre \u00e0\nnotre h\u00f4te tous les honneurs en son pouvoir. Nous n\u2019avions pas encore\ntout \u00e0 fait fini, lorsqu\u2019on apporta un autre message de la part de son\nneveu, demandant la permission de para\u00eetre pour \u00e9tablir son innocence\net son honneur. Le baronnet consentit \u00e0 la requ\u00eate et demanda qu\u2019on\nintroduis\u00eet M. Thornhill.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE XXXI\n_Anciens bienfaits inopin\u00e9ment pay\u00e9s avec usure._\nMONSIEUR Thornhill fit son entr\u00e9e muni du sourire qui ne le quittait\npresque jamais, et il allait embrasser son oncle; mais celui-ci le\nrepoussa d\u2019un air de m\u00e9pris. \u00abPas de caresses menteuses \u00e0 pr\u00e9sent,\nmonsieur, s\u2019\u00e9cria le baronnet, le regard s\u00e9v\u00e8re. Le seul chemin de\nmon c\u0153ur est la route de l\u2019honneur; mais ici je ne vois qu\u2019un tissu\ncompliqu\u00e9 de fausset\u00e9, de couardise et d\u2019oppression. Comment se\nfait-il, monsieur, que ce pauvre homme, pour qui je sais que vous\nprofessiez de l\u2019amiti\u00e9, soit trait\u00e9 si durement? Sa fille bassement\ns\u00e9duite en r\u00e9compense de son hospitalit\u00e9, et lui jet\u00e9 en prison,\npeut-\u00eatre pour avoir ressenti l\u2019outrage! Son fils aussi, que vous avez\neu peur d\u2019affronter en homme...\n\u2014Est-il possible, monsieur, interrompit son neveu, que mon oncle\npuisse reprocher comme un crime ce que ses instructions r\u00e9it\u00e9r\u00e9es m\u2019ont\nseules persuad\u00e9 d\u2019\u00e9viter?\n\u2014Votre reproche est juste, s\u2019\u00e9cria sir William. Vous avez, en cette\ncirconstance, agi prudemment et bien, quoiqu\u2019un peu diff\u00e9remment\npeut-\u00eatre de ce qu\u2019e\u00fbt fait votre p\u00e8re. Mon fr\u00e8re \u00e9tait vraiment\nl\u2019honneur m\u00eame; mais toi... Oui, vous avez agi dans cette circonstance\nparfaitement bien, et j\u2019y donne ma plus chaude approbation.\n\u2014Et j\u2019esp\u00e8re, dit son neveu, que le reste de ma conduite ne se\ntrouvera pas m\u00e9riter la censure. Je me suis montr\u00e9, monsieur, avec la\nfille de ce gentleman dans quelques lieux publics de divertissement; et\nainsi, ce qui \u00e9tait l\u00e9g\u00e8ret\u00e9, le scandale l\u2019a nomm\u00e9 d\u2019un nom plus fort,\net l\u2019on a pr\u00e9tendu que je l\u2019avais d\u00e9bauch\u00e9e. Je me suis pr\u00e9sent\u00e9 en\npersonne \u00e0 son p\u00e8re, voulant \u00e9claircir la chose \u00e0 sa satisfaction; mais\nil ne m\u2019a re\u00e7u qu\u2019avec des insultes et des injures. Quant au reste,\npour ce qui est de son s\u00e9jour ici, mon avou\u00e9 et mon intendant pourront\nvous renseigner mieux que moi, car je leur abandonne enti\u00e8rement\nl\u2019administration des affaires. S\u2019il a contract\u00e9 des dettes, et qu\u2019il\nne veuille, ou m\u00eame qu\u2019il ne puisse pas les payer, c\u2019est leur affaire\nde proc\u00e9der de cette mani\u00e8re, et je ne vois ni duret\u00e9 ni injustice \u00e0\nemployer les moyens de recouvrement les plus l\u00e9gaux.\n\u2014S\u2019il en est, dit sir William, comme vous l\u2019avez d\u00e9clar\u00e9, il n\u2019y a\nrien d\u2019impardonnable dans votre offense; et bien que votre conduite\ne\u00fbt pu \u00eatre plus g\u00e9n\u00e9reuse en ne permettant pas que ce gentleman f\u00fbt\nopprim\u00e9 par la tyrannie des subalternes, elle a du moins \u00e9t\u00e9 \u00e9quitable.\n\u2014Il ne peut contredire un seul point, r\u00e9pliqua le squire. Je le d\u00e9fie\nde le faire, et plusieurs de mes domestiques sont pr\u00eats \u00e0 attester ce\nque je dis. Ainsi, monsieur, continua-t-il en voyant que je gardais\nle silence, car en fait je ne pouvais pas le contredire, ainsi,\nmonsieur, mon innocence est bien \u00e9tablie; mais, bien qu\u2019\u00e0 votre pri\u00e8re\nje sois pr\u00eat \u00e0 pardonner \u00e0 ce gentleman toutes les autres offenses,\nses tentatives pour m\u2019amoindrir dans votre estime excitent en moi un\nressentiment que je ne puis ma\u00eetriser. Et ceci justement \u00e0 l\u2019heure\no\u00f9 son fils se pr\u00e9parait effectivement \u00e0 m\u2019enlever la vie. C\u2019est l\u00e0,\ndis-je, un crime tel que je suis r\u00e9solu \u00e0 laisser la loi suivre son\ncours. J\u2019ai ici le cartel qui m\u2019a \u00e9t\u00e9 envoy\u00e9 et deux t\u00e9moins pour le\nprouver; un de mes domestiques a \u00e9t\u00e9 bless\u00e9 dangereusement, et, quand\nmon oncle lui-m\u00eame m\u2019en dissuaderait, ce que je sais qu\u2019il ne fera pas,\nje ferai en sorte que justice publique soit faite et qu\u2019il soit puni de\nce qu\u2019il a fait.\n\u2014Monstre! cria ma femme, n\u2019as-tu pas eu assez de vengeance d\u00e9j\u00e0, et\nfaut-il que mon pauvre gar\u00e7on ressente ta cruaut\u00e9? J\u2019esp\u00e8re que le\nbon sir William nous prot\u00e8gera, car mon fils est aussi innocent qu\u2019un\nenfant; je suis s\u00fbre qu\u2019il l\u2019est et qu\u2019il n\u2019a jamais fait de mal \u00e0\npersonne.\n\u2014Madame, r\u00e9pliqua l\u2019excellent homme, vos souhaits pour son salut ne\nsont pas plus grands que les miens; mais je regrette de trouver son\ncrime trop \u00e9vident, et si mon neveu persiste...\u00bb Mais notre attention\nfut d\u00e9tourn\u00e9e \u00e0 ce moment par l\u2019apparition de Jenkinson et des deux\naides du ge\u00f4lier, qui entr\u00e8rent tra\u00eenant un homme de haute taille, tr\u00e8s\nbien mis, et r\u00e9pondant \u00e0 la description d\u00e9j\u00e0 donn\u00e9e du coquin qui avait\nenlev\u00e9 ma fille. \u00abVoici! cria Jenkinson en le tirant dans la chambre.\nVoici! nous l\u2019avons; et s\u2019il y a jamais eu un candidat pour Tyburn[11],\nc\u2019est celui-l\u00e0.\u00bb\nA l\u2019instant o\u00f9 M. Thornhill aper\u00e7ut le prisonnier et Jenkinson qui\nl\u2019avait en garde, il sembla reculer d\u2019effroi. Sa figure devint p\u00e2le\nde la conscience du crime accompli, et il aurait voulu dispara\u00eetre;\nmais Jenkinson, qui s\u2019aper\u00e7ut de son dessein, l\u2019arr\u00eata. \u00abQuoi! squire,\ns\u2019\u00e9cria-t-il, avez-vous honte de vos deux vieilles connaissances,\nJenkinson et Baxter? C\u2019est pourtant ainsi que tous les grands oublient\nleurs amis; mais j\u2019ai d\u00e9cid\u00e9 que nous ne vous oublierions pas. Notre\nprisonnier, avec la permission de Votre Honneur, continua-t-il en se\ntournant vers sir William, a d\u00e9j\u00e0 confess\u00e9 tout. C\u2019est lui le gentleman\nqu\u2019on dit avoir \u00e9t\u00e9 si dangereusement bless\u00e9; il d\u00e9clare que c\u2019est\nM. Thornhill qui l\u2019a engag\u00e9 dans cette affaire, qui lui a donn\u00e9 les\nv\u00eatements qu\u2019il porte maintenant pour avoir l\u2019air d\u2019un gentleman,\net qui lui a fourni la chaise de poste. Le plan \u00e9tait form\u00e9 entre\neux qu\u2019il enl\u00e8verait la jeune demoiselle en lieu s\u00fbr, et que l\u00e0 il\nla menacerait et la terrifierait; mais M. Thornhill devait, sur ces\nentrefaites, arriver, comme par hasard, \u00e0 son secours; ils se seraient\nbattus un moment, puis il aurait, lui, pris la fuite, et par l\u00e0 M.\nThornhill aurait eu la meilleure occasion de gagner sa tendresse en\njouant aupr\u00e8s d\u2019elle le r\u00f4le de d\u00e9fenseur.\u00bb\nSir William se rappela cet habit comme ayant \u00e9t\u00e9 fr\u00e9quemment port\u00e9 par\nson neveu; tout le reste, le prisonnier lui-m\u00eame le confirma dans un\nr\u00e9cit plus circonstanci\u00e9, ajoutant pour conclure que M. Thornhill lui\navait souvent d\u00e9clar\u00e9 qu\u2019il aimait les deux s\u0153urs \u00e0 la fois.\n\u00abCieux! s\u2019\u00e9cria sir William, quelle vip\u00e8re ai-je nourrie dans mon sein!\nEt lui qui semblait \u00eatre si amateur de la justice publique! Eh bien! il\nl\u2019aura. Assurez-vous de lui, monsieur le ge\u00f4lier... Cependant arr\u00eatez,\nje crains qu\u2019il n\u2019y ait pas de preuves l\u00e9gales pour le d\u00e9tenir.\u00bb\nAlors M. Thornhill, avec la plus grande humilit\u00e9, supplia de ne pas\nadmettre deux aussi fieff\u00e9s mis\u00e9rables comme preuves contre lui, mais\nd\u2019interroger ses domestiques.\u2014\u00abVos domestiques! r\u00e9pliqua sir William.\nMis\u00e9rable, ne les appelez plus v\u00f4tres. Mais voyons, entendons ce que\nces gens-l\u00e0 ont \u00e0 dire. Faites entrer son sommelier.\u00bb\n[Illustration]\nLorsque le sommelier fut introduit, il s\u2019aper\u00e7ut bient\u00f4t, \u00e0 l\u2019air de\nson ancien ma\u00eetre, que tout le pouvoir de celui-ci \u00e9tait d\u00e9sormais\npass\u00e9. \u00abDites-moi, demanda s\u00e9v\u00e8rement sir William, avez-vous jamais\nvu ensemble votre ma\u00eetre et cet individu-l\u00e0 qui est rev\u00eatu de ses\nhabits?\u2014Oui, s\u2019il pla\u00eet \u00e0 Votre Honneur, s\u2019\u00e9cria le sommelier, mille\nfois; c\u2019\u00e9tait l\u2019homme qui lui amenait toujours ses dames.\u2014Comment!\ninterrompit le jeune M. Thornhill, dire ceci \u00e0 ma face!\u2014Oui,\nr\u00e9pliqua le sommelier, \u00e0 la face de n\u2019importe qui. Pour vous dire\nune v\u00e9rit\u00e9, ma\u00eetre Thornhill, je ne vous ai jamais ni aim\u00e9 ni go\u00fbt\u00e9,\net je ne m\u2019inqui\u00e8te pas, \u00e0 l\u2019heure qu\u2019il est, de vous dire ce que\nje pense.\u2014Alors, s\u2019\u00e9cria Jenkinson, dites maintenant \u00e0 Son Honneur\nsi vous savez quelque chose de moi.\u2014Je ne peux pas dire, r\u00e9pliqua\nle sommelier, que je sache rien de bien bon de vous. La nuit que la\nfille de ce gentleman a \u00e9t\u00e9 amen\u00e9e par tromperie dans notre maison,\nvous en \u00e9tiez.\u2014En v\u00e9rit\u00e9, s\u2019\u00e9cria sir William, je vois que vous\nproduisez un excellent t\u00e9moin pour prouver votre innocence. Souillure\nde l\u2019humanit\u00e9! t\u2019associer \u00e0 de tels mis\u00e9rables!...\u00bb Puis, continuant\nson interrogatoire: \u00abVous me dites, monsieur le sommelier, que c\u2019est l\u00e0\nla personne qui lui a amen\u00e9 la fille de ce vieux gentleman.\u2014Non, s\u2019il\npla\u00eet \u00e0 Votre Honneur, r\u00e9pliqua le sommelier, il ne la lui amena pas,\ncar c\u2019est le squire lui-m\u00eame qui s\u2019est charg\u00e9 de cette affaire; mais il\na amen\u00e9 le pr\u00eatre qui a fait semblant de les marier.\u2014Ce n\u2019est que trop\nvrai, s\u2019\u00e9cria Jenkinson; je ne puis le nier; c\u2019est l\u00e0 l\u2019emploi qui me\nfut assign\u00e9, et je le confesse, \u00e0 ma confusion.\n\u2014Juste ciel! exclama le baronnet, comme chaque nouvelle d\u00e9couverte\nde son infamie m\u2019\u00e9pouvante! Tout son crime n\u2019est maintenant que trop\n\u00e9vident, et je vois que ses poursuites ont \u00e9t\u00e9 dict\u00e9es par la tyrannie,\nla l\u00e2chet\u00e9 et la vengeance. A ma requ\u00eate, monsieur le ge\u00f4lier, mettez\nen libert\u00e9 ce jeune officier, actuellement votre prisonnier, et\nreposez-vous sur moi pour les cons\u00e9quences. Je fais mon affaire de\npr\u00e9senter le cas sous son vrai jour \u00e0 mon ami le magistrat auquel il\na \u00e9t\u00e9 commis. Mais o\u00f9 est l\u2019infortun\u00e9e demoiselle? Qu\u2019elle paraisse\npour se confronter avec ce mis\u00e9rable. J\u2019ai h\u00e2te de savoir par quels\nartifices il l\u2019a s\u00e9duite. Priez-la d\u2019entrer. O\u00f9 est-elle?\n\u2014Ah! monsieur, dis-je; cette question me perce le c\u0153ur. J\u2019avais,\nil est vrai, jadis la b\u00e9n\u00e9diction d\u2019avoir une fille, mais ses\nmalheurs...\u00bb\u2014Une autre interruption m\u2019emp\u00eacha ici de poursuivre, car\nune personne apparut; et qui \u00e9tait-ce? Miss Arabella Wilmot elle-m\u00eame,\ncelle qui devait, le jour suivant, \u00eatre mari\u00e9e \u00e0 M. Thornhill. Rien ne\nput \u00e9galer sa surprise en voyant sir William et son neveu l\u00e0 devant\nelle, car sa venue \u00e9tait toute fortuite. Il se trouva qu\u2019elle et\nle vieux gentleman, son p\u00e8re, traversaient la ville en allant chez\nsa tante, qui avait voulu que ses noces avec M. Thornhill fussent\nc\u00e9l\u00e9br\u00e9es chez elle. Ils s\u2019\u00e9taient arr\u00eat\u00e9s pour se rafra\u00eechir et\n\u00e9taient descendus \u00e0 une auberge \u00e0 l\u2019autre extr\u00e9mit\u00e9 de la ville.\nC\u2019\u00e9tait l\u00e0 que, de la fen\u00eatre, la jeune demoiselle avait remarqu\u00e9 par\nhasard un de mes petits gar\u00e7ons jouant dans la rue; elle avait aussit\u00f4t\nenvoy\u00e9 un valet chercher l\u2019enfant et avait appris de lui quelques\nd\u00e9tails sur nos infortunes; mais elle ignorait encore que le jeune\nM. Thornhill en f\u00fbt la cause. Bien que son p\u00e8re lui e\u00fbt remontr\u00e9 \u00e0\nplusieurs reprises l\u2019inconvenance de venir nous voir dans une prison,\nles remontrances \u00e9taient rest\u00e9es sans effet; elle pria l\u2019enfant de la\nconduire, ce qu\u2019il fit; et c\u2019est ainsi qu\u2019elle nous surprit dans une\nconjoncture si inattendue.\nMais je ne saurais continuer sans faire une r\u00e9flexion sur ces\nrencontres accidentelles qui, bien qu\u2019elles arrivent tous les\njours, excitent rarement notre surprise, si ce n\u2019est dans quelque\nextraordinaire occasion. A quelle circonstance fortuite ne devons-nous\npas chaque plaisir et chaque agr\u00e9ment de nos existences? Combien\nd\u2019accidents apparents ne doivent pas concourir avant que nous puissions\n\u00eatre v\u00eatus ou nourris! Il faut que le paysan soit dispos\u00e9 \u00e0 travailler,\nque l\u2019averse tombe, que le vent remplisse la voile du marchand; sans\nquoi des multitudes manqueraient de leurs ressources accoutum\u00e9es.\nNous rest\u00e2mes tous en silence quelques instants, pendant que ma\ncharmante \u00e9l\u00e8ve\u2014c\u2019\u00e9tait le nom que j\u2019\u00e9tais habitu\u00e9 \u00e0 donner \u00e0 cette\njeune demoiselle\u2014unissait dans ses regards la piti\u00e9 et l\u2019\u00e9tonnement;\nce qui donnait \u00e0 sa beaut\u00e9 de nouvelles perfections. \u00abVraiment, mon\ncher monsieur Thornhill, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-elle en s\u2019adressant au squire\nqu\u2019elle supposait venir ici pour nous secourir et non pour nous\nopprimer, je vous sais un peu mauvais gr\u00e9 de venir ici sans moi et\nde ne m\u2019avoir jamais inform\u00e9e de la situation d\u2019une famille qui nous\nest si ch\u00e8re \u00e0 tous deux. Vous savez que j\u2019aurais autant de plaisir \u00e0\ncontribuer au soulagement de mon r\u00e9v\u00e9rend vieux ma\u00eetre ici pr\u00e9sent que\nvous pouvez en avoir vous-m\u00eame. Mais je vois que, comme votre oncle,\nvous prenez plaisir \u00e0 faire le bien en secret.\n\u2014Il trouve plaisir \u00e0 faire le bien! s\u2019\u00e9cria sir William en\nl\u2019interrompant. Non, ma ch\u00e8re enfant, ses plaisirs sont aussi vils\nque lui-m\u00eame. Vous voyez en lui, mademoiselle, le sc\u00e9l\u00e9rat le plus\ncomplet qui ait jamais d\u00e9shonor\u00e9 l\u2019humanit\u00e9. Un mis\u00e9rable, qui, apr\u00e8s\navoir tromp\u00e9 la fille de ce pauvre homme, apr\u00e8s avoir complot\u00e9 contre\nl\u2019innocence de la s\u0153ur, a jet\u00e9 le p\u00e8re en prison et le fils a\u00een\u00e9 dans\nles fers, parce que celui-ci avait le courage d\u2019affronter le tra\u00eetre.\nEt permettez-moi, mademoiselle, de vous f\u00e9liciter maintenant d\u2019\u00e9chapper\naux embrassements d\u2019un tel monstre.\n\u2014O bont\u00e9 divine! s\u2019\u00e9cria l\u2019aimable fille. Que j\u2019ai \u00e9t\u00e9 d\u00e9\u00e7ue! M.\nThornhill m\u2019a donn\u00e9 comme certain que le fils a\u00een\u00e9 de ce gentleman, le\ncapitaine Primrose, \u00e9tait parti pour l\u2019Am\u00e9rique avec sa jeune \u00e9pouse.\n\u2014Ma douce demoiselle, s\u2019\u00e9cria ma femme, il ne vous a dit que des\nfausset\u00e9s. Mon fils George n\u2019a jamais quitt\u00e9 le royaume ni n\u2019a\njamais \u00e9t\u00e9 mari\u00e9. Quoique vous l\u2019ayez abandonn\u00e9, il vous a toujours\ntrop aim\u00e9e pour penser \u00e0 une autre, et je lui ai entendu dire qu\u2019il\nmourrait gar\u00e7on pour l\u2019amour de vous.\u00bb Et elle continua \u00e0 s\u2019\u00e9tendre\nsur la sinc\u00e9rit\u00e9 de la passion de son fils; elle mit son duel avec M.\nThornhill dans son vrai jour; de l\u00e0 elle fit une rapide digression sur\nles d\u00e9bauches du squire, sur ses pr\u00e9tendus mariages, et termina par le\nplus outrageant tableau de sa couardise.\n[Illustration]\n\u00abCiel bon! s\u2019\u00e9cria miss Wilmot; que j\u2019ai \u00e9t\u00e9 pr\u00e8s du bord de l\u2019ab\u00eeme!\nMais que mon plaisir est grand d\u2019y avoir \u00e9chapp\u00e9! Les mille fausset\u00e9s\nque ce gentleman m\u2019a dites! Il a eu assez d\u2019art \u00e0 la fin pour me\npersuader que ma promesse au seul homme que j\u2019aie estim\u00e9 ne me liait\nplus d\u00e9sormais, puisqu\u2019il m\u2019avait \u00e9t\u00e9 infid\u00e8le. Par ses fausset\u00e9s j\u2019ai\nappris \u00e0 d\u00e9tester celui qui \u00e9tait aussi brave que g\u00e9n\u00e9reux!\u00bb\nMais \u00e0 ce moment mon fils \u00e9tait d\u00e9livr\u00e9 des entraves de la justice,\ncar l\u2019homme qu\u2019on supposait bless\u00e9 venait d\u2019\u00eatre reconnu pour un\nimposteur; de m\u00eame M. Jenkinson, qui avait jou\u00e9 le r\u00f4le de son valet\nde chambre, l\u2019avait coiff\u00e9 et lui avait fourni tout ce qui \u00e9tait\nn\u00e9cessaire pour avoir l\u2019air d\u2019un homme comme il faut. George entra sur\nces entrefaites, \u00e9l\u00e9gamment v\u00eatu de son uniforme, et, sans vanit\u00e9 (car\nje suis au-dessus de cela), jamais plus beau gar\u00e7on ne porta l\u2019habit\nmilitaire. En entrant, il fit \u00e0 miss Wilmot un modeste et respectueux\nsalut, car il ignorait encore le changement que l\u2019\u00e9loquence de sa\nm\u00e8re avait op\u00e9r\u00e9 en sa faveur. Mais il n\u2019y eut point de d\u00e9corum pour\narr\u00eater l\u2019impatience de sa rougissante ma\u00eetresse \u00e0 se faire pardonner.\nSes larmes, ses regards, tout contribuait \u00e0 d\u00e9couvrir les r\u00e9els\nsentiments de son c\u0153ur pour avoir oubli\u00e9 sa premi\u00e8re promesse et pour\ns\u2019\u00eatre laiss\u00e9e abuser par un imposteur. Mon fils paraissait confondu\nde tant de condescendance et pouvait \u00e0 peine croire que ce f\u00fbt r\u00e9el.\n\u00abAssur\u00e9ment, mademoiselle, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-il, ce n\u2019est qu\u2019une illusion! Je\nne peux jamais avoir m\u00e9rit\u00e9 cela! \u00catre l\u2019objet d\u2019une telle b\u00e9n\u00e9diction,\nc\u2019est \u00eatre trop heureux.\u2014Non, monsieur, r\u00e9pliqua-t-elle; j\u2019ai \u00e9t\u00e9\ntromp\u00e9e, bassement tromp\u00e9e, autrement rien n\u2019aurait pu me rendre\ninfid\u00e8le \u00e0 ma promesse. Vous connaissez mon amiti\u00e9; vous la connaissez\ndepuis longtemps. Mais oubliez ce que j\u2019ai fait, et, puisque vous\navez eu mes premiers v\u0153ux de constance, vous en aurez maintenant le\nrenouvellement: soyez assur\u00e9 que si Arabella ne peut \u00eatre \u00e0 vous, elle\nne sera jamais \u00e0 un autre.\u2014Et jamais \u00e0 un autre ne serez-vous, s\u2019\u00e9cria\nsir William, si j\u2019ai quelque influence sur votre p\u00e8re.\u00bb\nCe mot suffit \u00e0 mon fils Mo\u00efse, qui aussit\u00f4t vola \u00e0 l\u2019auberge o\u00f9 le\nvieux gentleman \u00e9tait, pour l\u2019informer dans tous les d\u00e9tails de ce\nqui s\u2019\u00e9tait pass\u00e9. Mais cependant le squire, reconnaissant qu\u2019il\n\u00e9tait ruin\u00e9 de toute part et voyant qu\u2019il n\u2019y avait plus d\u00e9sormais\nrien \u00e0 esp\u00e9rer de la flatterie et de la dissimulation, conclut que\nle parti le plus sage pour lui \u00e9tait de se retourner et de faire\nface \u00e0 ses accusateurs. Mettant donc de c\u00f4t\u00e9 toute honte, il se\nmontra ouvertement le dangereux coquin qu\u2019il \u00e9tait. \u00abJe vois alors,\ns\u2019\u00e9cria-t-il, que je n\u2019ai \u00e0 attendre aucune justice ici; mais je suis\nr\u00e9solu \u00e0 me la faire rendre. Vous savez, monsieur\u2014se tournant vers\nsir William,\u2014que je ne suis plus un pauvre d\u00e9pendant de vos faveurs.\nJe les m\u00e9prise. Rien ne peut m\u2019enlever la fortune de miss Wilmot,\nqui, j\u2019en remercie les soins de son p\u00e8re, est assez consid\u00e9rable. Les\narticles du contrat et une obligation pour le montant de sa fortune\nsont sign\u00e9s et en s\u00fbret\u00e9 entre mes mains. C\u2019\u00e9tait sa fortune, et non\nsa personne, qui m\u2019engageait \u00e0 d\u00e9sirer cette union; en possession de\nl\u2019une, prenne l\u2019autre qui voudra.\u00bb\nC\u2019\u00e9tait l\u00e0 un coup alarmant; sir William sentit la justesse de\nses pr\u00e9tentions, car il s\u2019\u00e9tait employ\u00e9 lui-m\u00eame \u00e0 r\u00e9diger les\narticles du contrat. Alors miss Wilmot, voyant que sa fortune \u00e9tait\nirr\u00e9m\u00e9diablement perdue, se tourna vers mon fils et lui demanda si la\nperte de ses biens pouvait diminuer sa valeur pour lui. \u00abSi la fortune,\ndit-elle, est hors de mon pouvoir, du moins j\u2019ai encore ma main \u00e0\ndonner.\n\u2014Et c\u2019est l\u00e0, mademoiselle, s\u2019\u00e9cria son r\u00e9el amant, c\u2019est l\u00e0 vraiment\ntout ce que vous avez jamais eu \u00e0 donner; tout, du moins, ce que\nj\u2019ai jamais jug\u00e9 digne d\u2019\u00eatre pris. Et je proteste aujourd\u2019hui, mon\nArabella, par tout ce qui est heureux au monde, que votre manque de\nfortune en ce moment accro\u00eet mon plaisir, puisqu\u2019il sert \u00e0 convaincre\nma douce enfant de ma sinc\u00e9rit\u00e9.\u00bb\nM. Wilmot entrait \u00e0 ce moment; il ne parut pas peu satisfait de ce\nque sa fille e\u00fbt \u00e9chapp\u00e9 \u00e0 un tel danger, et il consentit volontiers\n\u00e0 rompre le mariage. Mais quand il apprit que la fortune qu\u2019une\nobligation assurait \u00e0 M. Thornhill ne serait pas rendue, rien ne put\nsurpasser son d\u00e9sappointement. Il voyait maintenant qu\u2019il fallait que\ntout son argent all\u00e2t enrichir quelqu\u2019un qui n\u2019avait pas de fortune \u00e0\nlui. Il pouvait se faire \u00e0 l\u2019id\u00e9e qu\u2019il f\u00fbt une canaille; mais perdre\nl\u2019\u00e9quivalent de la fortune de sa fille, c\u2019\u00e9tait un calice d\u2019absinthe.\nIl resta quelques minutes absorb\u00e9 dans les calculs les plus p\u00e9nibles,\nlorsqu\u2019enfin sir William essaya de diminuer son angoisse. \u00abJe dois\nconfesser, monsieur, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-il, que votre d\u00e9sappointement actuel ne\nme d\u00e9pla\u00eet pas tout \u00e0 fait. Votre passion immod\u00e9r\u00e9e pour la richesse\nest aujourd\u2019hui punie justement. Mais si cette jeune fille ne peut pas\n\u00eatre riche, elle a encore une aisance suffisante pour satisfaire. Vous\nvoyez ici un honn\u00eate jeune soldat qui est dispos\u00e9 \u00e0 la prendre sans\nfortune; ils s\u2019aiment depuis longtemps tous les deux, et, par l\u2019amiti\u00e9\nque je porte \u00e0 son p\u00e8re, je ne manquerai pas de m\u2019int\u00e9resser \u00e0 son\navancement. Laissez donc cette ambition qui vous d\u00e9\u00e7oit, et acceptez\nune fois ce bonheur qui vous prie de le recevoir.\n\u2014Sir William, r\u00e9pliqua le vieux gentleman, soyez s\u00fbr que je n\u2019ai\njamais encore forc\u00e9 ses inclinations, et que je ne le ferai pas\nmaintenant. Si elle aime toujours ce jeune gentleman, qu\u2019elle l\u2019\u00e9pouse;\nj\u2019y consens de tout mon c\u0153ur. Il y a encore, gr\u00e2ce au ciel, un peu\nde fortune de reste, et votre promesse y ajoute quelque chose. Que\nseulement mon vieil ami ici pr\u00e9sent (c\u2019\u00e9tait moi qu\u2019il voulait dire) me\ndonne promesse de mettre 6,000 livres sterling sur la t\u00eate de ma fille\ns\u2019il rentre jamais en possession de sa fortune, et je suis pr\u00eat ce soir\nm\u00eame \u00e0 les punir le premier.\u00bb\nComme il ne d\u00e9pendait plus que de moi de rendre le jeune couple\nheureux, je m\u2019empressai de donner promesse de faire la constitution\nde rente qu\u2019il d\u00e9sirait, ce qui, pour quelqu\u2019un qui avait aussi peu\nd\u2019esp\u00e9rance que moi, n\u2019\u00e9tait pas une grande faveur. Nous e\u00fbmes alors\nla satisfaction de les voir voler dans les bras l\u2019un de l\u2019autre avec\ntransport. \u00abApr\u00e8s toutes mes infortunes, criait mon fils George, \u00eatre\nainsi r\u00e9compens\u00e9! S\u00fbrement, c\u2019est plus que je n\u2019aurais jamais os\u00e9\nesp\u00e9rer. \u00catre en possession de tout ce qui est bon, apr\u00e8s un si long\ntemps de douleur! Mes souhaits les plus ardents n\u2019auraient jamais pu\ns\u2019\u00e9lever si haut!\n[Illustration]\n\u2014Oui, mon George, r\u00e9pondait son aimable fianc\u00e9e; que le mis\u00e9rable\nprenne maintenant toute ma fortune. Puisque vous \u00eates heureux sans\nelle, je le suis aussi. Oh! quel \u00e9change ai-je fait, du plus vil\ndes hommes pour le plus cher, pour meilleur! Qu\u2019il jouisse de notre\nfortune, je puis maintenant \u00eatre heureuse m\u00eame dans la pauvret\u00e9.\n\u2014Et je vous promets, s\u2019\u00e9cria le squire avec une m\u00e9chante grimace,\nque, moi, je serai tr\u00e8s heureux avec ce que vous m\u00e9prisez.\u2014Arr\u00eatez,\narr\u00eatez, monsieur! s\u2019\u00e9cria Jenkinson. Il y a deux mots \u00e0 dire sur ce\nmarch\u00e9. Pour ce qui est de la fortune de cette demoiselle, monsieur,\nvous n\u2019en toucherez jamais le moindre sou. Je le demande \u00e0 Votre\nHonneur, continua-t-il en s\u2019adressant \u00e0 sir William, est-ce que le\nsquire peut avoir la fortune de cette demoiselle s\u2019il est mari\u00e9\n\u00e0 une autre?\u2014Comment pouvez-vous faire une question si simple?\nr\u00e9pliqua le baronnet. Non, sans doute, il ne le peut.\u2014J\u2019en suis\nf\u00e2ch\u00e9, s\u2019\u00e9cria Jenkinson; car comme ce gentleman et moi nous sommes de\nvieux compagnons de plaisirs, j\u2019ai de l\u2019amiti\u00e9 pour lui. Mais je dois\nd\u00e9clarer, quelque amour que je lui porte, que son contrat ne vaut pas\nun bourre-pipe, car il est mari\u00e9 d\u00e9j\u00e0.\u2014Vous mentez comme une canaille,\nriposta le squire qui parut irrit\u00e9 de l\u2019insulte. Je n\u2019ai jamais \u00e9t\u00e9\nl\u00e9galement mari\u00e9 \u00e0 personne.\n\u2014Vraiment si, j\u2019en demande pardon \u00e0 Votre Honneur, r\u00e9pliqua l\u2019autre;\nvous l\u2019avez \u00e9t\u00e9; et j\u2019esp\u00e8re que vous vous montrerez reconnaissant\ncomme il convient de l\u2019amiti\u00e9 de votre honn\u00eate ami Jenkinson, qui vous\nam\u00e8ne une femme. Si la compagnie suspend sa curiosit\u00e9 pendant quelques\nminutes, elle va la voir.\u00bb Ce disant, il sortit avec son activit\u00e9\nordinaire et nous laissa tous incapables de faire aucune conjecture\nvraisemblable sur son dessein. \u00abEh! qu\u2019il aille! s\u2019\u00e9cria le squire.\nQuoi que j\u2019aie pu faire autrement, je le mets au d\u00e9fi l\u00e0-dessus. Je\nsuis trop vieux aujourd\u2019hui pour qu\u2019on m\u2019effraye par des farces.\n\u2014Je suis surpris, dit le baronnet, de ce que le gaillard peut\nbien vouloir faire ici. Quelque grossi\u00e8re plaisanterie, je\nsuppose!\u2014Peut-\u00eatre a-t-il, monsieur, une intention plus s\u00e9rieuse,\nr\u00e9pliquai-je. Car lorsque je r\u00e9fl\u00e9chis aux divers stratag\u00e8mes que ce\ngentleman a invent\u00e9s pour s\u00e9duire l\u2019innocence, je pense qu\u2019il a pu\nse trouver une personne plus artificieuse que les autres, capable de\nle tromper \u00e0 son tour. Lorsqu\u2019on consid\u00e8re le nombre de celles qu\u2019il\na perdues, combien de parents ressentent avec angoisses aujourd\u2019hui\nl\u2019infamie et le malheur qu\u2019il a apport\u00e9s dans leur famille! Je ne\nserais pas surpris si quelqu\u2019une de ses victimes... Stup\u00e9faction!\nEst-ce ma fille perdue que je vois? Est-ce elle que je tiens? C\u2019est\nelle, c\u2019est elle, ma vie, mon bonheur! Je te croyais perdue, mon\nOlivia, et cependant je te tiens l\u00e0, et tu vivras pour ma b\u00e9n\u00e9diction!\u00bb\nLes plus chaleureux transports du plus tendre amant ne sont pas plus\ngrands que ne le furent les miens, lorsque je le vis faire entrer\nmon enfant, lorsque je tins dans mes bras ma fille, dont le silence\nexprimait seul le ravissement.\n\u00abEt tu m\u2019es donc rendue, ma ch\u00e9rie, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je, pour \u00eatre ma\nconsolation dans la vieillesse?\u2014Oui, elle est bien cela, s\u2019\u00e9cria\nJenkinson; et faites grand cas d\u2019elle, car elle est votre honorable\nenfant, une femme aussi honn\u00eate qu\u2019aucune ici dans toute la salle,\nqui que ce soit. Et quant \u00e0 vous, squire, aussi s\u00fbr que vous \u00eates ici\ndebout, cette jeune personne est votre femme en l\u00e9gitime mariage. Et\npour vous convaincre que je ne dis rien que la v\u00e9rit\u00e9, voici la licence\nen vertu de laquelle vous avez \u00e9t\u00e9 mari\u00e9s ensemble.\u00bb En disant cela,\nil mit la licence entre les mains du baronnet, qui la lut et la trouva\nparfaitement et de tout point r\u00e9guli\u00e8re. \u00abEt maintenant, messieurs,\nreprit-il, je vois que tout ceci vous surprend; mais quelques mots\nexpliqueront la difficult\u00e9. Ce glorieux squire-l\u00e0, pour lequel j\u2019ai\nune grande amiti\u00e9,\u2014mais ceci entre nous,\u2014m\u2019a souvent employ\u00e9 \u00e0 faire\ndiff\u00e9rentes petites choses pour lui. Entre autres, il m\u2019avait donn\u00e9\ncommission de lui procurer une fausse licence et un faux pr\u00eatre, dans\nle but de tromper cette jeune dame. Mais comme j\u2019\u00e9tais tout \u00e0 fait son\nami, qu\u2019ai-je fait? Je suis all\u00e9 prendre une vraie licence et un vrai\npr\u00eatre, et je les ai mari\u00e9s tous deux aussi solidement qu\u2019une soutane\npouvait le faire. Peut-\u00eatre penserez-vous que c\u2019est la g\u00e9n\u00e9rosit\u00e9\nqui me fit faire tout cela. Eh bien! non. A ma honte je le confesse,\nmon seul dessein \u00e9tait de garder la licence et de faire savoir au\nsquire que je pouvais prouver la chose contre lui quand je le jugerais\nconvenable, et de l\u2019amener ainsi \u00e0 composition chaque fois que j\u2019aurais\nbesoin d\u2019argent.\u00bb Un bruyant \u00e9clat de plaisir sembla alors remplir\ntoute la chambre; notre joie arriva jusqu\u2019\u00e0 la salle commune, o\u00f9 les\nprisonniers eux-m\u00eames sympathis\u00e8rent\n  Et secou\u00e8rent leurs cha\u00eenes\n  Avec transport et dans une sauvage harmonie.\nLe bonheur \u00e9tait r\u00e9pandu sur tous les visages et les joues d\u2019Olivia\nm\u00eame semblaient briller de plaisir. \u00catre ainsi rendue \u00e0 la r\u00e9putation,\n\u00e0 ses amis et \u00e0 la fortune du m\u00eame coup, c\u2019\u00e9tait un ravissement\nsuffisant pour arr\u00eater les progr\u00e8s de la maladie et lui rendre sa\nsant\u00e9 et sa vivacit\u00e9 d\u2019autrefois. Mais peut-\u00eatre parmi nous tous n\u2019y\nen avait-il pas un qui sent\u00eet un plaisir plus sinc\u00e8re que moi. Tenant\ntoujours dans mes bras l\u2019enfant ch\u00e8rement aim\u00e9e, je demandais \u00e0 mon\nc\u0153ur si ces transports n\u2019\u00e9taient pas une illusion. \u00abComment avez-vous\npu, m\u2019\u00e9criai-je en me tournant vers M. Jenkinson, comment avez-vous pu\najouter \u00e0 mes mis\u00e8res par l\u2019histoire de sa mort? Mais il n\u2019importe; ma\njoie de la retrouver est plus qu\u2019une compensation pour ma douleur.\n\u2014Pour votre question, r\u00e9pliqua Jenkinson, il est facile d\u2019y r\u00e9pondre.\nJe pensais que le seul moyen probable de vous d\u00e9livrer de prison \u00e9tait\nde vous soumettre au squire et de consentir \u00e0 son mariage avec l\u2019autre\njeune personne. Mais vous aviez fait v\u0153u de ne jamais accorder cela\ntant que votre fille serait vivante; il n\u2019y avait donc pas d\u2019autre\nm\u00e9thode de faire aboutir les choses que de vous persuader qu\u2019elle\n\u00e9tait morte. En cons\u00e9quence, je gagnai sur votre femme de se pr\u00eater \u00e0\nla supercherie, et nous n\u2019avons pas eu d\u2019occasion convenable de vous\nd\u00e9tromper avant aujourd\u2019hui.\u00bb\n[Illustration]\nDans toute l\u2019assembl\u00e9e, il n\u2019y avait plus que deux figures sur\nlesquelles la joie n\u2019\u00e9clat\u00e2t pas. Son assurance avait compl\u00e8tement\nabandonn\u00e9 M. Thornhill; il voyait maintenant le gouffre de l\u2019infamie\net du besoin devant lui, et il tremblait d\u2019y plonger. Il \u00e9tait tomb\u00e9\nsur ses genoux devant son oncle, et d\u2019une voix de mis\u00e8re d\u00e9chirante\nil implorait sa compassion. Sir William allait le repousser; mais, \u00e0\nma pri\u00e8re, il le releva et apr\u00e8s quelques instants de silence: \u00abTes\nvices, tes crimes et ton ingratitude, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-il, ne m\u00e9ritent aucun\nattendrissement. Cependant tu ne seras pas abandonn\u00e9 tout \u00e0 fait; on\nte fournira juste de quoi satisfaire aux n\u00e9cessit\u00e9s de la vie, mais\nnon \u00e0 ses extravagances. Cette jeune dame, ton \u00e9pouse, sera mise en\npossession du tiers de la fortune qui nagu\u00e8re \u00e9tait la tienne, et c\u2019est\nde sa piti\u00e9 seule que tu dois attendre tout suppl\u00e9ment de secours\n\u00e0 l\u2019avenir.\u00bb Il allait exprimer sa gratitude pour tant de bont\u00e9 en\ntermes choisis; mais le baronnet le pr\u00e9vint, en lui enjoignant de ne\npas ajouter \u00e0 sa platitude qui n\u2019\u00e9tait d\u00e9j\u00e0 que trop apparente. Il\nlui ordonna en m\u00eame temps de dispara\u00eetre et de choisir entre tous ses\nanciens domestiques celui qu\u2019il voudrait, et qui serait le seul qu\u2019on\nlui accorderait pour le servir.\nD\u00e8s qu\u2019il nous eut laiss\u00e9s, sir William s\u2019avan\u00e7a tr\u00e8s poliment vers sa\nnouvelle ni\u00e8ce et lui fit ses souhaits de prosp\u00e9rit\u00e9. Son exemple fut\nsuivi par miss Wilmot et son p\u00e8re; ma femme aussi embrassa sa fille\navec beaucoup d\u2019affection, car, pour employer son expression, on en\navait fait maintenant une femme honn\u00eate. Sophia et Mo\u00efse vinrent \u00e0\nleur tour, et notre bienfaiteur Jenkinson m\u00eame demanda \u00e0 \u00eatre admis\n\u00e0 cet honneur. Notre satisfaction ne paraissait gu\u00e8re susceptible\nd\u2019accroissement. Sir William, dont le plus grand plaisir \u00e9tait de\nfaire le bien, regardait tout autour de lui avec une physionomie\nouverte comme le soleil et ne voyait que joie dans les yeux, except\u00e9\ndans ceux de ma fille Sophia, qui, pour des raisons que nous ne\npouvions comprendre, ne semblait pas parfaitement satisfaite. \u00abJe\ncrois qu\u2019\u00e0 pr\u00e9sent, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-il avec un sourire, toute la compagnie,\nsauf une ou deux exceptions, para\u00eet parfaitement heureuse. Il ne me\nreste plus qu\u2019un acte de justice \u00e0 faire. Vous sentez, monsieur,\ncontinua-t-il en se tournant vers moi, les obligations que nous avons\nl\u2019un et l\u2019autre \u00e0 M. Jenkinson, et il n\u2019est que juste que l\u2019un et\nl\u2019autre nous l\u2019en r\u00e9compensions. Miss Sophia, j\u2019en suis s\u00fbr, le rendra\ntr\u00e8s heureux, et il aura de moi cinq cents livres sterling pour sa\ndot, somme avec laquelle, j\u2019en suis assur\u00e9, ils pourront vivre tr\u00e8s\nconfortablement ensemble. Allons, miss Sophia, que dites-vous de\nce mariage de ma fa\u00e7on? Voulez-vous le prendre?\u00bb Ma pauvre fille\nparut presque s\u2019affaisser dans les bras de sa m\u00e8re \u00e0 cette hideuse\nproposition, \u00abLe prendre, monsieur! s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-elle faiblement. Non,\nmonsieur, jamais. Quoi! reprit-il de nouveau; ne pas vouloir prendre\nM. Jenkinson, votre bienfaiteur, un beau gar\u00e7on, avec cinq cents\nlivres sterling et de bonnes esp\u00e9rances!\u2014Je vous demande, monsieur,\nr\u00e9pondit-elle, \u00e0 peine capable de parler, de cesser cela et de ne\npas me rendre si v\u00e9ritablement mis\u00e9rable.\u2014A-t-on jamais vu pareille\nobstination! s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-il encore. Refuser un homme \u00e0 qui la famille a\nde si infinies obligations, qui a sauv\u00e9 votre s\u0153ur et qui poss\u00e8de cinq\ncents livres! Quoi! ne pas vouloir le prendre!\u2014Non, monsieur, jamais,\nr\u00e9pliqua-t-elle irrit\u00e9e. Je mourrais plut\u00f4t.\u2014S\u2019il en est ainsi,\nreprit-il, si vous ne voulez pas le prendre, alors je pense qu\u2019il\nfaut que ce soit moi qui vous prenne.\u00bb Et en disant cela, il la serra\ncontre sa poitrine avec ardeur. \u00abMa plus aimable, ma plus raisonnable\ndes filles, s\u2019\u00e9cria-t-il, comment avez-vous jamais pu penser que votre\nBurchell, \u00e0 vous, pourrait vous tromper, ou que sir William Thornhill\npourrait jamais cesser d\u2019admirer une ma\u00eetresse qui l\u2019a aim\u00e9 pour lui\nseul? J\u2019ai, pendant plusieurs ann\u00e9es, cherch\u00e9 une femme qui, ignorant\nma fortune, p\u00fbt penser que j\u2019avais du m\u00e9rite comme homme. Apr\u00e8s avoir\nessay\u00e9 en vain, m\u00eame parmi les malapprises et les laides, quel a d\u00fb\n\u00eatre enfin mon ravissement d\u2019avoir fait la conqu\u00eate de tant de bon sens\net d\u2019une si c\u00e9leste beaut\u00e9!\u00bb Puis, se tournant vers Jenkinson: \u00abComme\nje ne puis, monsieur, me s\u00e9parer de cette jeune demoiselle, car elle a\npris du go\u00fbt pour la coupe de mon visage, toute la r\u00e9compense que je\npuis offrir est de vous donner sa dot, et vous pourrez vous pr\u00e9senter\n\u00e0 mon intendant demain pour toucher cinq cents livres sterling.\u00bb Nous\ne\u00fbmes ainsi \u00e0 recommencer tous nos compliments, et lady Thornhill\nsubit la m\u00eame tourn\u00e9e de c\u00e9r\u00e9monies que sa s\u0153ur un moment auparavant.\nCependant le valet de chambre de sir William parut, pour nous dire que\nles \u00e9quipages \u00e9taient pr\u00eats \u00e0 nous transporter \u00e0 l\u2019auberge, o\u00f9 tout\navait \u00e9t\u00e9 dispos\u00e9 pour nous recevoir. Ma femme et moi, nous pr\u00eemes\nla t\u00eate, et nous quitt\u00e2mes ce lugubre s\u00e9jour du chagrin. Le g\u00e9n\u00e9reux\nbaronnet fit distribuer quarante livres sterling parmi les prisonniers,\net M. Wilmot, engag\u00e9 par son exemple, donna la moiti\u00e9 de cette somme.\nNous f\u00fbmes re\u00e7us en bas par les acclamations des habitants, et je\nserrai la main \u00e0 deux ou trois de mes honn\u00eates paroissiens que je\nvis dans le nombre. Ils nous suivirent jusqu\u2019\u00e0 notre auberge, o\u00f9 un\nsomptueux festin \u00e9tait pr\u00e9par\u00e9; et quantit\u00e9 de mets plus grossiers\nfurent distribu\u00e9s \u00e0 la foule.\nApr\u00e8s le souper, comme mes forces \u00e9taient \u00e9puis\u00e9es par les alternatives\nde joie et de douleur qu\u2019elles avaient soutenues pendant la journ\u00e9e,\nje demandai la permission de me retirer, et, laissant la compagnie au\nmilieu de son all\u00e9gresse, d\u00e8s que je me trouvai seul, je r\u00e9pandis mon\nc\u0153ur en gratitude devant Celui qui donne la joie comme la peine, et je\ndormis tranquillement jusqu\u2019au matin.\n[Illustration]\nCHAPITRE XXXII\n_Conclusion._\nLE lendemain matin, d\u00e8s mon r\u00e9veil, je trouvai mon fils a\u00een\u00e9 assis \u00e0\nmon chevet. Il venait augmenter ma joie avec un autre retour de fortune\nen ma faveur. Apr\u00e8s m\u2019avoir, au pr\u00e9alable, d\u00e9li\u00e9 de l\u2019engagement que\nj\u2019avais pris la veille vis-\u00e0-vis de lui, il m\u2019apprit que mon n\u00e9gociant\nqui avait fait faillite \u00e0 Londres avait \u00e9t\u00e9 arr\u00eat\u00e9 \u00e0 Anvers, et qu\u2019il\navait fait abandon d\u2019un actif beaucoup plus consid\u00e9rable que ce qui\n\u00e9tait d\u00fb \u00e0 ses cr\u00e9anciers. La g\u00e9n\u00e9rosit\u00e9 de mon gar\u00e7on me fit presque\nautant de plaisir que cette bonne fortune inattendue. Mais j\u2019avais\nquelques doutes si je devais en justice accepter son offre. Pendant que\nje me posais cette question, sir William entra dans la chambre, et je\nlui communiquai mes doutes. Son opinion fut que, puisque mon fils \u00e9tait\nd\u00e9j\u00e0 en possession d\u2019une fortune tr\u00e8s abondante par son mariage, je\npouvais accepter son offre sans h\u00e9sitation. Quant \u00e0 lui, il venait pour\nme dire que, ayant envoy\u00e9 la veille au soir chercher les licences et\nles attendant d\u2019un moment \u00e0 l\u2019autre, il esp\u00e9rait que je ne refuserais\npas mon minist\u00e8re pour rendre tout le monde heureux ce matin m\u00eame. Un\nvalet entra pendant que nous causions pour nous dire que le messager\nrevenait, et ayant, \u00e0 ce moment, fini de m\u2019appr\u00eater, je descendis et\ntrouvai tout le monde anim\u00e9 par toute l\u2019all\u00e9gresse que la richesse et\nl\u2019innocence peuvent donner. Cependant, comme nous nous disposions d\u00e8s\nlors \u00e0 une c\u00e9r\u00e9monie tr\u00e8s solennelle, leurs rires me d\u00e9plurent tout \u00e0\nfait. Je leur dis la grave, d\u00e9cente et sublime disposition d\u2019esprit\nqu\u2019ils devaient prendre pour cet \u00e9v\u00e9nement mystique, et je leur lus\ndeux hom\u00e9lies et une th\u00e8se de ma composition, dans le but de les\npr\u00e9parer.\nN\u00e9anmoins ils semblaient encore parfaitement r\u00e9fractaires et\ningouvernables. M\u00eame pendant que nous allions \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9glise, moi montrant\nle chemin, toute gravit\u00e9 les avait compl\u00e8tement abandonn\u00e9s, et je\nfus souvent tent\u00e9 de me retourner avec indignation. A l\u2019\u00e9glise, une\nnouvelle difficult\u00e9 s\u2019\u00e9leva, qui ne promettait pas une facile solution.\n[Illustration]\nC\u2019\u00e9tait de savoir quel couple serait mari\u00e9 le premier; la fianc\u00e9e de\nmon fils insistait chaudement pour que lady Thornhill (celle qui allait\nl\u2019\u00eatre) e\u00fbt la pr\u00e9s\u00e9ance; mais l\u2019autre refusait avec une ardeur \u00e9gale,\nprotestant qu\u2019elle ne se rendrait pas coupable d\u2019une telle grossi\u00e8ret\u00e9\npour tout au monde. La discussion se prolongea quelque temps entre\nelles avec une obstination et une politesse \u00e9gales. Mais comme, pendant\ntout ce temps, je restais debout avec mon livre ouvert, je finis par\nme fatiguer tout \u00e0 fait de cette contestation, et fermant le livre:\n\u00abJe m\u2019aper\u00e7ois, dis-je, qu\u2019aucune de vous n\u2019a envie d\u2019\u00eatre mari\u00e9e,\net je crois que nous ferions aussi bien de nous en retourner, car je\nsuppose qu\u2019il n\u2019y aura point d\u2019affaire faite aujourd\u2019hui.\u00bb Ceci les\nramena tout de suite \u00e0 la raison. Le baronnet et sa lady furent mari\u00e9s\nles premiers, et ensuite mon fils et son aimable compagne. J\u2019avais\nd\u2019avance donn\u00e9 ce matin-l\u00e0 des ordres pour envoyer chercher en voiture\nmon honn\u00eate voisin Flamborough et sa famille; de cette fa\u00e7on, \u00e0 notre\nretour \u00e0 l\u2019auberge, nous e\u00fbmes le plaisir de voir les deux demoiselles\nFlamborough descendre devant nous. M. Jenkinson donna la main \u00e0\nl\u2019a\u00een\u00e9e, et mon fils Mo\u00efse conduisit l\u2019autre (depuis, je me suis aper\u00e7u\nqu\u2019il a pris une r\u00e9elle affection pour cette jeune fille, et il aura\nmon consentement et le t\u00e9moignage de ma lib\u00e9ralit\u00e9, d\u00e8s qu\u2019il jugera\nconvenable de les demander). Nous ne f\u00fbmes pas plus t\u00f4t revenus \u00e0\nl\u2019auberge que nombre de mes paroissiens, apprenant mon bonheur, vinrent\nme f\u00e9liciter, et parmi eux se trouvaient ceux qui s\u2019\u00e9taient soulev\u00e9s\npour me d\u00e9livrer et que j\u2019avais nagu\u00e8re r\u00e9primand\u00e9s si \u00e9nergiquement.\nJe racontai l\u2019histoire \u00e0 mon gendre, sir William, qui sortit et leur\nadressa des reproches d\u2019une grande s\u00e9v\u00e9rit\u00e9; mais, les voyant tout\nd\u00e9sesp\u00e9r\u00e9s de son rigoureux bl\u00e2me, il leur donna une demi-guin\u00e9e par\nt\u00eate pour boire \u00e0 sa sant\u00e9 et relever leurs esprits abattus.\nBient\u00f4t apr\u00e8s, on nous appela \u00e0 une table tr\u00e8s distingu\u00e9e, qui \u00e9tait\nservie par le cuisinier de M. Thornhill. Il n\u2019est peut-\u00eatre pas hors\nde propos de faire observer, relativement \u00e0 ce gentleman, qu\u2019il habite\naujourd\u2019hui, \u00e0 titre de familier, la maison d\u2019un parent, o\u00f9 il est fort\naim\u00e9 et o\u00f9 il s\u2019assied rarement \u00e0 la petite table, except\u00e9 quand il\nn\u2019y a pas de place \u00e0 l\u2019autre, car on ne le traite pas en \u00e9tranger. Son\ntemps est assez occup\u00e9 \u00e0 entretenir en bonne humeur son parent, qui est\nun peu m\u00e9lancolique, et \u00e0 apprendre \u00e0 jouer du cor de chasse. Ma fille\na\u00een\u00e9e, cependant, se souvient encore de lui avec regret, et elle m\u2019a\nm\u00eame dit, mais j\u2019en fais un grand myst\u00e8re, que, lorsqu\u2019il se r\u00e9formera,\nelle se laissera peut-\u00eatre fl\u00e9chir.\nMais pour revenir, car je ne suis pas propre \u00e0 faire des digressions\nainsi, au moment de nous asseoir pour le d\u00eener, nos c\u00e9r\u00e9monies furent\nsur le point de recommencer. La question \u00e9tait de savoir si ma fille\na\u00een\u00e9e, \u00e9tant d\u00e9j\u00e0 vieille dame, ne devait pas se placer au-dessus des\ndeux jeunes mari\u00e9es; mais mon fils George coupa court au d\u00e9bat, en\nproposant que tout le monde s\u2019ass\u00eet indistinctement, chaque gentleman\naupr\u00e8s de sa dame. Tous accept\u00e8rent l\u2019id\u00e9e avec une vive approbation,\nexcept\u00e9 ma femme, qui, je pus le remarquer, ne fut pas parfaitement\nsatisfaite, parce qu\u2019elle s\u2019attendait \u00e0 avoir le plaisir de si\u00e9ger au\nhaut bout de la table et de d\u00e9couper pour toute la compagnie. Mais,\nmalgr\u00e9 cela, il est impossible de d\u00e9crire notre bonne humeur. Je ne\npuis dire si nous e\u00fbmes plus d\u2019esprit entre nous que d\u2019ordinaire;\nmais je suis certain que nous e\u00fbmes plus de rires, ce qui r\u00e9pondait\nau but tout aussi bien. Il y a une plaisanterie dont je me souviens\nparticuli\u00e8rement: le vieux M. Wilmot buvait \u00e0 la sant\u00e9 de Mo\u00efse; mon\nfils, qui tournait la t\u00eate d\u2019un autre c\u00f4t\u00e9, r\u00e9pondit: \u00abMadame, je vous\nremercie.\u00bb Sur quoi, le vieux gentleman, clignant de l\u2019\u0153il au reste de\nla compagnie, dit qu\u2019il pensait \u00e0 sa ma\u00eetresse. A cette plaisanterie,\nje crus que les deux demoiselles Flamborough allaient mourir de rire.\nD\u00e8s que le d\u00eener fut fini, suivant ma vieille coutume, je demandai\nqu\u2019on enlev\u00e2t la table, afin d\u2019avoir le plaisir de voir toute ma\nfamille r\u00e9unie une fois encore autour d\u2019un joyeux foyer. Mes deux\npetits s\u2019assirent chacun sur un de mes genoux, et les autres par\ncouples. Je n\u2019avais plus, de ce c\u00f4t\u00e9-ci de la tombe, rien \u00e0 d\u00e9sirer;\ntous mes soucis \u00e9taient pass\u00e9s; ma joie \u00e9tait indicible. Il ne me\nrestait plus qu\u2019\u00e0 faire en sorte que ma gratitude dans la bonne fortune\nsurpass\u00e2t ma soumission d\u2019autrefois dans l\u2019adversit\u00e9.\n[Illustration]\n  Pages.\n  CHAPITRE PREMIER.\n  Description de la famille de Wakefield, chez laquelle r\u00e8gne un\n  air de parent\u00e9, aussi bien dans les esprits que dans les figures     3\n  CHAPITRE II.\n  Malheurs de famille.\u2014La perte de la fortune ne fait qu\u2019accro\u00eetre\n  CHAPITRE III.\n  Abn\u00e9gation.\u2014Les circonstances heureuses de notre vie se trouvent\n  g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement \u00eatre, en fin de compte, notre propre ouvrage           15\n  CHAPITRE IV.\n  Preuve que m\u00eame la plus humble fortune peut donner le bonheur,\n  lequel d\u00e9pend, non des circonstances, mais du caract\u00e8re             27\n  CHAPITRE V.\n  Pr\u00e9sentation d\u2019une nouvelle et importante connaissance.\u2014Les\n  choses o\u00f9 nous mettons le plus nos esp\u00e9rances se trouvent\n  d\u2019ordinaire \u00eatre les plus funestes                                  31\n  CHAPITRE VI.\n  CHAPITRE VII.\n  Portrait d\u2019un bel esprit de la ville.\u2014Les plus sots peuvent\n  r\u00e9ussir \u00e0 amuser pendant une soir\u00e9e ou deux                         43\n  CHAPITRE VIII.\n  Un amour qui ne promet gu\u00e8re de fortune peut cependant en amener\n  CHAPITRE IX.\n  Pr\u00e9sentation de deux dames tr\u00e8s distingu\u00e9es.\u2014Il semble toujours\n  que la sup\u00e9riorit\u00e9 de la toilette donne la sup\u00e9riorit\u00e9 de\n  CHAPITRE X.\n  La famille s\u2019efforce de faire comme plus riche qu\u2019elle.\u2014Mis\u00e8res\n  des pauvres quand ils veulent para\u00eetre au-dessus de leur \u00e9tat       67\n  CHAPITRE XI.\n  La famille persiste \u00e0 relever la t\u00eate                               73\n  CHAPITRE XII.\n  La fortune semble r\u00e9solue \u00e0 humilier la famille de Wakefield.\u2014Les\n  mortifications sont souvent plus douloureuses que les calamit\u00e9s\n  CHAPITRE XIII.\n  On s\u2019aper\u00e7oit que M. Burchell est un ennemi, car il a l\u2019audace de\n  CHAPITRE XIV.\n  Nouvelles humiliations, ou d\u00e9monstration que des calamit\u00e9s\n  apparentes peuvent \u00eatre des b\u00e9n\u00e9dictions r\u00e9elles                    95\n  CHAPITRE XV.\n  Toute l\u2019infamie de M. Burchell d\u00e9couverte d\u2019un coup.\u2014La folie\n  CHAPITRE XVI.\n  La famille use d\u2019artifices auxquels on en oppose d\u2019autres plus\n  CHAPITRE XVII.\n  Il ne se trouve gu\u00e8re de vertu qui r\u00e9siste \u00e0 la puissance d\u2019une\n  CHAPITRE XVIII.\n  Poursuite d\u2019un p\u00e8re pour rappeler \u00e0 la vertu un enfant \u00e9gar\u00e9       133\n  CHAPITRE XIX.\n  Portrait d\u2019une personne m\u00e9contente du pr\u00e9sent gouvernement et\n  appr\u00e9hendant la perte de nos libert\u00e9s                              141\n  CHAPITRE XX.\n  Histoire d\u2019un vagabond philosophe, qui court apr\u00e8s la nouveaut\u00e9\n  CHAPITRE XXI.\n  Courte dur\u00e9e de l\u2019amiti\u00e9 entre les m\u00e9chants; elle ne subsiste\n  qu\u2019aussi longtemps qu\u2019ils y trouvent leur mutuelle satisfaction    173\n  CHAPITRE XXII.\n  Les offenses se pardonnent ais\u00e9ment lorsqu\u2019il y a l\u2019amour au fond  185\n  CHAPITRE XXIII.\n  Nul que le m\u00e9chant ne peut \u00eatre longtemps et compl\u00e8tement\n  CHAPITRE XXIV.\n  CHAPITRE XXV.\n  Il n\u2019est pas de situation, quelque mis\u00e9rable qu\u2019elle semble, qui\n  ne soit accompagn\u00e9e de quelque esp\u00e8ce de consolation               209\n  CHAPITRE XXVI.\n  R\u00e9formes dans la prison.\u2014Pour rendre les lois compl\u00e8tes, elles\n  devraient r\u00e9compenser aussi bien que punir                         217\n  CHAPITRE XXVII.\n  CHAPITRE XXVIII.\n  Le bonheur et le malheur d\u00e9pendent de la prudence plut\u00f4t que de\n  la vertu, dans cette vie; car le ciel regarde les maux ou les\n  f\u00e9licit\u00e9s terrestres comme des choses purement insignifiantes en\n  soi et indignes de ses soins dans leur r\u00e9partition                 233\n  CHAPITRE XXIX.\n  \u00c9galit\u00e9 de traitement de la part de la Providence d\u00e9montr\u00e9e\n  vis-\u00e0-vis des heureux et des malheureux ici-bas.\u2014De la nature du\n  plaisir et de la peine, il ressort que les mis\u00e9rables doivent\n  recevoir la compensation de leurs souffrances dans la vie future   247\n  CHAPITRE XXX.\n  Un avenir meilleur commence \u00e0 para\u00eetre.\u2014Restons in\u00e9branlables, et\n  la fortune \u00e0 la fin changera en notre faveur                       255\n  CHAPITRE XXXI.\n  Anciens bienfaits inopin\u00e9ment pay\u00e9s avec usure                     267\n  CHAPITRE XXXII.\n[Illustration].\n[1] Le mot _vicaire_, consacr\u00e9 par l\u2019usage, a \u00e9t\u00e9 conserv\u00e9 dans\nle titre; mais on sait que le _vicar_ anglais correspond, dans la\nhi\u00e9rarchie de l\u2019\u00c9glise anglicane au _cur\u00e9_ de l\u2019\u00c9glise catholique, en\nce qu\u2019il est, comme ce dernier, \u00e0 la t\u00eate d\u2019une paroisse. Il en diff\u00e8re\nen ce qu\u2019il est nomm\u00e9 par un la\u00efque ayant sur la paroisse droit de\npatronage.\n[2] Ou _esquire_, \u00e9cuyer, titre de noblesse au-dessous de chevalier.\nOn d\u00e9signait ainsi les seigneurs ou hobereaux campagnards. Aujourd\u2019hui\nc\u2019est surtout une appellation de politesse qu\u2019on donne aux _gentlemen_,\nc\u2019est-\u00e0-dire aux hommes d\u2019une certaine \u00e9ducation et d\u2019un certain monde.\n[3] Personnages disputeurs et grotesques du roman de Fielding intitul\u00e9\n_Tom Jones_.\n[4] _Religious Courtship, or Historical Discourses on the necessity of\nmarrying religious Husbands and Wives and of their being of the same\nopinion._ \u00abLa Cour d\u00e9vote, ou n\u00e9cessit\u00e9 d\u2019unir des maris et des femmes\nayant de la religion et dont les opinions sont les m\u00eames.\u00bb\n[5] _The Ladies\u2019 Magazine._\n[6] Parce qu\u2019il est de deux couleurs et qu\u2019il brave les orages.\n[7] _Lie down to be saddled with wooden shoes!_\n[8] Rue de Londres qui \u00e9tait alors le quartier g\u00e9n\u00e9ral des \u00e9crivains.\n[9] Enl\u00e8ve le monde, pourvu que tu donnes un ami.\n[10] Sorte de jeu de cartes o\u00f9 celui qui a la main a le droit de\nprendre des cartes dans le jeu de son adversaire (_to crib_, enlever,\nchiper).\n[11] Lieu o\u00f9 l\u2019on pendait les criminels. 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{"source_document": "", "creation_year": 1754, "culture": " English\n", "content": "Produced by David Widger from page images generously\nprovided by Google Books\nTHE DESERTED VILLAGE\nBy Oliver Goldsmith\nIllustrated by the Etching Club\nNew York: D. Appleton And Co. Broadway\nMDCCCLVII\n[Illustration: 0001]\n[Illustration: 0008]\nThe Illustrations in this Volume are copied, with permission,\nfrom a series of Etchings published some years since by the\n\"Etching Club.\" Only a few impressions of that work were\nprinted, the copper-plates were destroyed, and the book, except\nin a very expensive form, has long been unattainable. Great\ncare has been taken to render the present Wood-blocks as like\nthe original Etchings as the different methods of engraving will\nallow.\nILLUSTRATIONS\n    Sweet Auburn! loveliest milage of the plain...T. Creswick, R.A....007\n    The never-failing brook, the busy mill........T. Creswick, R.A....008\n    The hawthorn bush, with seals in shade........C. W. Cope, R.A.....009\n    The matron's glance that would reprove........H. J. Townsend......010\n    The hollow sounding bittern guards its nest...F. Tayler...........012\n    These, far departing, seek a kinder shore.....C. Stonhouse........014\n    Amidst the swains show my book-learn'd skill..J. C. Horsley.......015\n    And, as a hare, whom hounds and horns pursue..F. Tayler...........016\n    To spurn imploring famine from the gale.......C. W. Cope, R.A.....017\n    While resignation gently slopes the way.......T. Creswick, R.A....018\n    The playful children let loose from school....T. Webster, R.A.....019\n    All but yon widow'd solitary thing............F. Tayler...........020\n    The village preacher's modest mansion rose....T. Creswick, R.A....021\n    He chid their wanderings; relieved pain.......C. W. Cope, R.A.....022\n    Shoulder'd his crutch, and show'd fields won..C. W. Cope, R.A.....023\n    Beside the bed where parting life was laid....R. Redgrave, R.A....025\n    And pluck'd his gown, share the man's smile...J. C. Horsley.......026\n    The village master taught his little school...T. Webster, R.A.....027\n    Full well they laugh'd with glee..............T. Webster, R.A.....028\n    Convey'd the dismal tidings when he frown'd...T. Webster, R.A.....028\n    In arguing too the parson own'd his skill.....C. W. Cope, R.A.....029\n    Near yonder thorn, that lifts its head high...T. Creswick, R.A....030\n    Where village statesmen with looks profound...F. Tayler...........031\n    But the long pomp, the midnight masquerade....J. C. Horsley.......033\n    Proud swells the tide with loads of ore.......T. Creswick, R.A....034\n    If to some common's fenceless limit stray'd...C. Stonhouse........036\n    Where the poor houseless female lies..........J. C. Horsley.......037\n    She left her wheel and robes of brown.........J. C. Horsley.......038\n    The rattling terrors of the vengeful snake....T. Creswick, R.A....040\n    The cooling brookt the grassy-vested green....T. Creswick, R.A....041\n    The good old sire the first prepared to go....C. W. Cope, R.A.....042\n    Whilst her husband strove to lend relief......R. Redgrave, R.A....043\n    Down where yon vessel spreads the sail........T. Creswick, R.A....044\n    Or winter wraps the polar world in snow.......T. Creswick, R.A....045\n    As rocks resist the billows aNd the sky.......T. Creswick, R.A....046\nDrawn on wood, from the original Etchings, by E. K. Johnson, and\nengraved by Horace Harral, Thomas Bolton, and James Cooper.\n[Illustration: 0016]\nTHE DESERTED VILLAGE\nSweet Auburn! loveliest village of the plain,\nWhere health and plenty cheer'd the labouring swain,\nWhere smiling spring its earliest visit paid,\nAnd parting summer's lingering blooms delay'd.\n[Illustration: 0017]\nDear lovely bowers of innocence and ease,\nSeats of my youth, when every sport could please,\nHow often have I loiter'd o'er thy green,\nWhere humble happiness endear'd each scene!\nHow often have I paused on every charm,\nThe shelter'd cot, the cultivated farm,\n[Illustration: 0020]\nThe never-failing brook, the busy mill,\nThe decent church that topt the neighbouring hill,\nThe hawthorn bush, with seats beneath the shade,\nFor talking age and whispering lovers made!\nHow often have I blest the coming day,\nWhen toil remitting lent its turn to play,\nAnd all the village train, from labour free,\nLed up their sports beneath the spreading tree;\n[Illustration: 0021]\nWhile many a pastime circled in the shade,\nThe young contending as the old survey'd;\nAnd many a gambol frolick'd o'er the ground,\nAnd sleights of art and feats of strength went round;\nAnd still, as each repeated pleasure tired,\nSucceeding sports the mirthful band inspired:\nThe dancing pair that simply sought renown,\nBy holding out to tire each other down;\nThe swain mistrustless of his smutted face,\nWhile secret laughter titter'd round the place;\nThe bashful virgin's sidelong looks of love,\nThe matron's glance that would those looks reprove;\nThese were thy charms, sweet village! sports like these,\nWith sweet succession, taught e'en toil to please;\nThese round thy bowers their cheerful influence shed,\nThese were thy charms--but all these charms are fled.\nSweet smiling village, loveliest of the lawn!\nThy sports are fled, and all thy charms withdrawn;\nAmidst thy bowers the tyrant's hand is seen,\nAnd desolation saddens all thy green:\nOne only master grasps the whole domain,\nAnd half a tillage stints thy smiling plain:\nNo more thy glassy brook reflects the day,\nBut choked with sedges works its weedy way;\nAlong thy glades a solitary guest,\nThe hollow-sounding bittern guards its nest;\nAmidst thy desert walks the lapwing flies,\nAnd tires their echoes with unvaried cries.\n[Illustration: 0025]\nSunk are thy bowers in shapeless ruin all,\nAnd the long grass o'ertops the mouldering wall;\nAnd trembling, shrinking from the spoiler's hand,\nFar, far away thy children leave the land.\nIll  fares the land, to hastening ills a prey,\nWhere wealth accumulates, and men decay:\nPrinces and lords may flourish, or may fade;\nA breath can make them, as a breath has made:\nBut a bold peasantry, their country's pride,\nWhen once destroy'd, can never be supplied.\nA time there was, ere England's griefs began,\nWhen every rood of ground maintain'd its man;\nFor him light labour spread her wholesome store,\nJust gave what life required, but gave no more:\nHis best companions, innocence and health;\nAnd his best riches, ignorance of wealth.\nBut times are alter'd; trade's unfeeling train\nUsurp the land, and dispossess the swain;\nAlong the lawn, where scatter'd hamlets rose,\nUnwieldy wealth and cumbrous pomp repose;\nAnd every want to luxury allied,\nAnd every pang that folly pays to pride.\nThose gentle hours that plenty bade to bloom,\nThose calm desires that ask'd but little room,\nThose healthful sports that graced the peaceful scene,\nLived in each look, and brighten'd all the green;\nThese, far departing, seek a kinder shore,\nAnd rural mirth and manners are no more.\n[Illustration: 0027]\nSweet Auburn! parent of the blissful hour,\nThy glades forlorn confess the tyrant's power.\nHere, as I take my solitary rounds\nAmidst thy tangling walks and ruin'd grounds,\nAnd, many a year elapsed, return to view\nWhere once the cottage stood, the hawthorn grew,\nRemembrance wakes with all her busy train,\nSwells at my breast, and turns the past to pain.\nIn all my wanderings round this world of care,\nIn all my griefs--and God has given my share--\n[Illustration: 0030]\nTo husband out life's taper at the close,\nAnd keep the flame from wasting by repose:\nI still had hopes, my latest hours to crown,\nAmidst these humble bowers to lay me down;\nI still had hopes, for pride attends us still,\nAmidst the swains to show my book-learn'd skill,\nAround my fire an evening group to draw,\nAnd tell of all I felt, and all I saw;\nAnd, as a hare, whom hounds and horns pursue,\nPants to the place from whence at first he flew,\n[Illustration: 0031]\nI still had hopes, my long vexations past,\nHere to return--and die at home at last.\nO blest retirement, friend to life's decline,\nRetreats from care, that never must be mine:\nHow blest is he who crowns, in shades like these,\nA youth of labour with an age of ease;\nWho quits a world where strong temptations try,\nAnd since 'tis hard to combat, learns to fly!\nFor him no wretches, born to work and weep,\nExplore the mine, or tempt the dangerous deep;\n[Illustration: 0034]\nNo surly porter stands, in guilty state,\nTo spurn imploring famine from the gate--\nBut on he moves to meet his latter end,\nAngels around befriending virtue's friend;\nSinks to the grave with unperceived decay,\nWhile resignation gently slopes the way;\nAnd, all his prospects brightening to the last,\nHis heaven commences ere the world be past.\n[Illustration: 0035]\nSweet was the sound, when oft, at evening's close,\nUp yonder hill the village murmur rose:\nThere, as I pass'd with careless steps and slow,\nThe mingling notes came soften'd from below;\nThe swain responsive as the milk-maid sung,\nThe sober herd that low'd to meet their young;\nThe noisy geese that gabbled o'er the pool,\nThe playful children just let loose from school;\nThe watch-dog's voice that bay'd the whispering wind,\nAnd the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind;\n[Illustration: 0038]\nThese all in sweet confusion sought the shade,\nAnd fill'd each pause the nightingale had made.\nBut now the sounds of population fail:\nNo cheerful murmurs fluctuate in the gale,\nNo busy steps the grass-grown footway tread,\nBut all the bloomy flush of life is fled;\nAll but yon widow'd solitary thing,\nThat feebly bends beside the plashy spring:\nShe, wretched matron, forced in age, for bread,\nTo strip the brook with mantling cresses spread\n[Illustration: 0039]\nTo pick her wintry faggot from the thorn,\nTo seek her nightly shed and weep till morn;\nShe only left of all the harmless train,\nThe sad historian of the pensive plain.\nNear yonder copse, where once the garden smiled,\nAnd still where many a garden flower grows wild,\n[Illustration: 0042]\nThere, where a few torn shrubs the place disclose,\nThe village preacher's modest mansion rose.\nA man he was to all the country dear,\nAnd passing rich with forty pounds a year;\nRemote from towns he ran his godly race,\nNor e'er had changed, nor wish'd to change his place\n[Illustration: 0043]\nUnskilful he to fawn, or seek for power,\nBy doctrines fashion'd to the varying hour;\nFar other aims his heart had learn'd to prize,\nMore bent to raise the wretched than to rise.\nHis house was known to all the vagrant train;\nHe chid their wanderings, but relieved their pain:\n[Illustration: 0046]\nThe long remember'd beggar was his guest,\nWhose beard descending swept his aged breast;\nThe ruin'd spendthrift, now no longer proud,\nClaim'd kindred there, and had his claims allow'd;\nThe broken soldier, kindly bade to stay,\nSate by his fire, and talk'd the night away;\nWept o'er his wounds, or, tales of sorrow done,\nShoulder'd his crutch, and show'd how fields were won.\nPleased with his guests, the good man learn'd to glow,\nAnd quite forgot their vices in their woe;\nCareless their merits or their faults to scan,\nHis pity gave ere charity began.\nThus to relieve the wretched was his pride,\nAnd e'en his failings lean'd to virtue's side;\nBut in his duty prompt, at every call,\nHe watch'd and wept, he pray'd and felt for all:\nAnd, as a bird each fond endearment tries\nTo tempt its new-fledged offspring to the skies,\nHe tried each art, reproved each dull delay,\nAllured to brighter worlds, and led the way.\nBeside the bed where parting life was laid,\nAnd sorrow, guilt, and pain, by turns dismay'd,\nThe reverend champion stood. At his control,\nDespair and anguish fled the struggling soul;\nComfort came down the trembling wretch to raise,\nAnd his last faltering accents whisper'd praise.\n[Illustration: 0050]\nAt church, with meek and unaffected grace,\nHis looks adorn'd the venerable place;\nTruth from his lips prevail'd with double sway,\nAnd fools, who came to scoff, remain'd to pray.\nThe service past, around the pious man,\nWith ready zeal each honest rustic ran:\nE'en children follow'd with endearing wile,\nAnd pluck'd his gown, to share the good man's smile\n[Illustration: 0051]\nHis ready smile a parent's warmth express'd,\nTheir welfare pleased him, and their cares distress'd\nTo them his heart, his love, his griefs, were given,\nBut all his serious thoughts had rest in heaven.\nAs some tall cliff, that lifts its awful form,\nSwells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm,\nThough round its breast the rolling clouds are spread,\nEternal sunshine settles on its head.\n[Illustration: 0054]\nBeside yon straggling fence that skirts the way\nWith blossom'd furze, unprofitably gay,\nThere, in his noisy mansion, skill'd to rule,\nThe village master taught his little school:\nA man severe he was, and stern to view;\nI knew him well, and every truant knew:\n[Illustration: 0055]\nFull well they laugh'd with counterfeited glee\nAt all his jokes, for many a joke had he;\nWell had the boding tremblers learn'd to trace\nThe day's disasters in his morning face:\nFull well the busy whisper, circling round,\nConvey'd the dismal tidings when he frown'd;\nYet he was kind, or if severe in aught,\nThe love he bore to learning was in fault:\nThe village all declared how much he knew;\n'Twas certain he could write and cipher too:\nLands he could measure, terms and tides presage,\nAnd e'en the story ran that he could gauge:\n[Illustration: 0058]\nIn arguing too the parson own'd his skill,\nFor e'en though vanquish'd, he could argue still;\nWhile words of learned length, and thundering sound,\nAmazed the gazing rustics ranged around;\nAnd still they gazed, and still the wonder grew\nThat one small head could carry all he knew.\nBut past is all his fame: the very spot,\nWhere many a time he triumph'd, is forgot.\n[Illustration: 0059]\nNear yonder thorn that lifts its head on high,\nWhere once the sign-post caught the passing eye,\nLow lies that house where nut-brown draughts inspired,\nWhere grey-beard mirth and smiling toil retired,\nWhere village statesmen talk'd with looks profound,\nAnd news much older than their ale went round.\n[Illustration: 0062]\nImagination fondly stoops to trace\nThe parlour splendours of that festive place;\nThe white-wash'd wall, the nicely-sanded floor,\nThe varnish'd clock that click'd behind the door;\nThe chest contrived a double debt to pay,\nA bed by night, a chest of drawers by day;\nThe pictures placed for ornament and use,\nThe twelve good rules, the royal game of goose\nThe hearth, except when winter chill'd the day,\nWith aspen boughs, and flowers, and fennel gay\nWhile broken tea-cups, wisely kept for show,\nRanged o'er the chimney, glisten'd in a row.\nVain, transitory splendours! could not all\nReprieve the tottering mansion from its fall I\nObscure it sinks, nor shall it more impart\nAn hour's importance to the poor man's heart:\nThither no more the peasant shall repair\nTo sweet oblivion of his daily care:\nNo more the farmer's news, the barber's tale,\nNo more the woodman's ballad shall prevail;\nNo more the smith his dusky brow shall clear,\nRelax his ponderous strength, and lean to hear;\nThe host himself no longer shall be found\nCareful to see the mantling bliss go round;\nNor the coy maid, half willing to be prest,\nShall kiss the cup to pass it to the rest.\nYes! let the rich deride, the proud disdain,\nThese simple blessings of the lowly train:\nTo me more dear, congenial to my heart,\nOne native charm, than all the gloss of art;\nSpontaneous joys, where nature has its play,\nThe soul adopts, and owns their first-born sway;\nLightly they frolic o'er the vacant mind,\nUnenvied, unmolested, unconfined.\n[Illustration: 0066]\nBut the long pomp, the midnight masquerade,\nWith all the freaks of wanton wealth array'd,\nIn these, ere triflers half their wish obtain,\nThe toilsome pleasure sickens into pain;\nAnd, e'en while fashion's brightest arts decoy,\nThe heart distrusting asks, if this be joy?\nYe friends to truth, ye statesmen, who survey\nThe rich man's joys increase, the poor's decay,\n'Tis yours to judge how wide the limits stand\nBetween a splendid and a happy land.\n[Illustration: 0067]\nProud swells the tide with loads of freighted ore,\nAnd shouting Folly hails them from her shore;\nHoards e'en beyond the miser's wish abound,\nAnd rich men flock from all the world around.\nYet count our gains. This wealth is but a name\nThat leaves our useful product still the same.\nNot so the loss. The man of wealth and pride\nTakes up a space that many poor supplied;\nSpace for his lake, his park's extended bounds,\nSpace for his horses, equipage, and hounds;\nThe robe that wraps his limbs in silken sloth\nHas robb'd the neighbouring fields of half their growth;\nHis seat, where solitary sports are seen,\nIndignant spurns the cottage from the green;\nAround the world each needful product flies,\nFor all the luxuries the world supplies:\nWhile thus the land, adorn'd for pleasure all,\nIn barren splendour feebly waits the fall.\nAs some fair female, unadorn'd and plain,\nSecure to please while youth confirms her reign,\nSlights every borrow'd charm that dress supplies,\nNor shares with art the triumph of her eyes;\nBut when those charms are past, for charms are frail,\nWhen time advances, and when lovers fail,\nShe then shines forth, solicitous to bless,\nIn all the glaring impotence of dress;\nThus fares the land, by luxury betray'd,\nIn nature's simplest charms at first array'd;\nBut verging to decline, its splendours rise,\nIts vistas strike, its palaces surprise;\nWhile, scourged by famine, from the smiling land\nThe mournful peasant leads his humble band;\nAnd while he sinks, without one arm to save,\nThe country blooms--a garden and a grave!\nWhere then, ah! where shall poverty reside,\nTo 'scape the pressure of contiguous pride?\n[Illustration: 0071]\nIf to some common's fenceless limits stray'd,\nHe drives his flock to pick the scanty blade,\nThose fenceless fields the sons of wealth divide,\nAnd e'en the bare-worn common is denied.\nIf to the city sped--What waits him there?\nTo see profusion, that he must not share;\nTo see ten thousand baneful arts combined\nTo pamper luxury, and thin mankind;\nTo see each joy the sons of pleasure know,\nExtorted from his fellow-creature's woe.\n[Illustration: 0074]\nHere, while the courtier glitters in brocade,\nThere the pale artist plies the sickly trade;\nHere, while the proud their long-drawn pomp display,\nThere the black gibbet glooms beside the way;\nThe dome where pleasure holds her midnight reign,\nHere, richly deck'd, admits the gorgeous train;\nTumultuous grandeur crowds the blazing square,\nThe rattling chariots clash, the torches glare.\nSure scenes like these no troubles e'er annoy!\nSure these denote one universal joy!\nAre these thy serious thoughts? Ah, turn thine eyes\nWhere the poor houseless shivering female lies:\nShe once, perhaps, in village plenty blest,\nHas wept at tales of innocence distrest;\n[Illustration: 0075]\nHer modest looks the cottage might adorn,\nSweet as the primrose peeps beneath the thorn;\nNow lost to all; her friends, her virtue fled,\nNear her betrayer's door she lays her head,\nAnd, pinch'd with cold, and shrinking from the shower,\nWith heavy heart deplores that luckless hour\nWhen idly first, ambitious of the town,\nShe left her wheel and robes of country brown.\nDo thine, sweet Auburn, thine, the loveliest train,\nDo thy fair tribes participate her pain?\nE'en now, perhaps, by cold and hunger led,\nAt proud men's doors they ask a little bread!\nAh, no. To distant climes, a dreary scene,\nWhere half the convex world intrudes between,\nThrough torrid tracts with fainting steps they go,\nWhere wild Altama murmurs to their woe.\nFar different there from all that charm'd before,\nThe various terrors of that horrid shore;\nThose blazing suns that dart a downward ray,\nAnd fiercely shed intolerable day;\nThose matted woods where birds forget to sing,\nBut silent-bats in drowsy clusters cling;\nThose poisonous fields with rank luxuriance crown'd,\nWhere the dark scorpion gathers death around;\nWhere at each step the stranger fears to wake\nThe rattling terrors of the vengeful snake;\n[Illustration: 0079]\nWhere crouching tigers wait their hapless prey,\nAnd savage men more murderous still than they;\nWhile oft in whirls the mad tornado flies,\nMingling the ravaged landscape with the skies.\nFar different these from every former scene,\nThe cooling brook, the grassy-vested green,\nThe breezy covert of the warbling grove,\nThat only shelter'd thefts of harmless love.\n[Illustration: 0082]\nGood Heaven! what sorrows gloom'd that parting day,\nThat call'd them from their native walks away!\nWhen the poor exiles, every pleasure past,\nHung round the bowers, and fondly look'd their last,\nAnd took a long farewell, and wish'd in vain\nFor seats like these beyond the western main;\nAnd shuddering still to face the distant deep,\nReturn'd and wept, and still return'd to weep.\nThe good old sire the first prepared to go\nTo new-found worlds, and wept for others' woe;\nBut for himself, in conscious virtue brave,\nHe only wish'd for worlds beyond the grave.\nHis lovely daughter, lovelier in her tears,\nThe fond companion of his helpless years,\n[Illustration: 0083]\nSilent went next, neglectful of her charms,\nAnd left a lover's for her father's arms.\nWith louder plaints the mother spoke her woes,\nAnd bless'd the cot where every pleasure rose;\nAnd kiss'd her thoughtless babes with many a tear,\nAnd clasp'd them close, in sorrow doubly dear;\nWhilst her fond husband strove to lend relief,\nIn all the silent manliness of grief.\n[Illustration: 0086]\nO luxury! thou curst by Heaven's decree,\nHow ill exchanged are things like these for thee!\nHow do thy potions, with insidious joy,\nDiffuse their pleasures only to destroy!\nKingdoms by thee, to sickly greatness grown,\nBoast of a florid vigour not their own:\nAt every draught more large and large they grow,\nA bloated mass of rank unwieldy woe;\nTill, sapp'd their strength, and every part unsound,\nDown, down they sink, and spread a ruin round.\nE'en now the devastation is begun,\nAnd half the business of destruction done;\nE'en now, methinks, as pondering here I stand,\nI see the rural virtues leave the land.\nDown where yon anchoring vessel spreads the sail,\nThat idly waiting flaps with every gale;\n[Illustration: 0087]\nDownward they move, a melancholy band,\nPass from the shore, and darken all the strand.\nContented toil, and hospitable care,\nAnd kind connubial tenderness, are there;\nAnd piety, with wishes placed above,\nAnd steady loyalty, and faithful love.\nAnd thou, sweet Poetry, thou loveliest maid,\nStill first to fly where sensual joys invade,\nUnfit, in these degenerate times of shame,\nTo catch the heart, or strike for honest fame;\nDear charming nymph, neglected and decried,\nMy shame in crowds, my solitary pride;\nThou source of all my bliss, and all my woe,\nThat found'st me poor at first, and keep'st me so;\n[Illustration: 0090]\nThou guide, by which the nobler arts excel,\nThou nurse of every virtue, fare thee well!\nFarewell! and oh! where'er thy voice be tried,\nOn Torno's cliffs, or Pambamarca's side,\nWhether where equinoctial fervors glow,\nOr winter wraps the polar world in snow,\nStill let thy voice, prevailing over time,\nRedress the rigours of the inclement clime.\nAid slighted Truth with thy persuasive strain:\nTeach erring man to spurn the rage of gain;\nTeach him, that states of native strength possest,\nThough very poor, may still be very blest;\nThat trade's proud empire hastes to swift decay,\nAs ocean sweeps the labour'd mole away;\nWhile self-dependent power can time defy,\nAs rocks resist the billows and the sky.\n[Illustration: 0091]\nEnd of Project Gutenberg's The Deserted Village, by Oliver Goldsmith", "source_dataset": "gutenberg", "source_dataset_detailed": "gutenberg -  The Deserted Village\n"},
{"source_document": "", "creation_year": 1754, "culture": " English\n", "content": "Produced by Louise Hope, Suzanne Shell and the Online\nDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net\n[Transcriber's Note:\nThe illustration references are explained at the end of this file.]\n[Illustration: Front Cover (frontcover.jpg)\n       An ELEGY on the GLORY of her SEX\n                Mrs Mary BLAIZE\n         R. Caldecott's PICTURE Books\n         Frederick Warne and Co. Ltd.]\n            on the Glory of Her Sex\n               MRS. MARY BLAIZE\n             Dr. Oliver Goldsmith\n[Illustration (painting, pic03.jpg)]\n[Illustration (drawing, pic04trans.gif)]\nGood people all,\n  with one accord,\nLament for\n  Madam Blaize,\nWho never wanted\n  a good word--\n[Illustration (drawing, pic05trans.gif)]\n_From those_\n[Illustration (drawing, pic06trans.gif)]\n  _who spoke her praise._\n[Illustration (painting, pic07.jpg)]\n[Illustration (drawing, pic08trans.gif)]\nThe needy seldom pass'd her door,\n  And always found her kind;\nShe freely lent to all the poor--\n[Illustration (drawing, pic09trans.gif)]\n_Who left_\n[Illustration (drawing, pic10trans.gif)]\n  _a pledge behind._\n[Illustration (painting, pic11.jpg)]\n[Illustration (drawing, pic12trans.gif)]\nShe strove the neighbourhood to please\n  With manners wondrous winning;\n[Illustration (drawing, pic13trans.gif)]\nAnd never follow'd wicked ways--\n[Illustration (drawing, pic14trans.gif)]\n  _Unless when she was sinning._\n[Illustration (drawing, pic15trans.gif)]\nAt church, in silks and satins new,\n  With hoop of monstrous size,\nShe never slumber'd in her pew--\n[Illustration (painting, pic16.jpg)]\n[Illustration (drawing, pic17trans.gif)]\n  _But when she shut her eyes._\n[Illustration (drawing, pic18trans.gif)]\n[Illustration (drawing, pic19trans.gif)]\nHer love was sought, I do aver,\n  By twenty beaux and more;\nThe King himself has follow'd her--\n[Illustration (painting, pic20.jpg)]\n[Illustration (drawing, pic21trans.gif)]\n  _When she has walk'd before._\n[Illustration (drawing, pic22trans.gif)]\nBut now, her wealth and finery fled,\n  Her hangers-on cut short-all:\nThe Doctors found, when she was dead\n  _Her last disorder mortal._\n[Illustration (drawing, pic23trans.gif)]\nLet us lament, in sorrow sore,\n  For Kent Street well may say,\nThat had she lived a twelvemonth more,--\n  _She had not died to-day._\n[Illustration (painting, pic24.jpg)]\n[Illustration (drawing, pic25trans.gif)]\n[Illustration: back cover (backtrans.gif)\n      Randolph Caldecott's Picture Books\n\"The humour of Randolph Caldecott's drawings is simply irresistible,\nno healthy-minded man, woman, or child could look at them without\nlaughing.\"\n_In square crown 4to, picture covers, with numerous coloured plates._\n1 John Gilpin\n2 The House that Jack Built\n3 The Babes in the Wood\n4 The Mad Dog\n5 Three Jovial Huntsmen\n6 Sing a Song for Sixpence\n7 The Queen of Hearts\n8 The Farmer's Boy\n9 The Milkmaid\n10 Hey-Diddle-Diddle and Baby Bunting\n11 A Frog He Would a-Wooing Go\n12 The Fox Jumps over the Parson's Gate\n13 Come Lasses and Lads\n14 Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross, &c.\n15 Mrs. Mary Blaize\n16 The Great Panjandrum Himself\n_The above selections are also issued in Four Volumes, square crown\n4to, attractive binding, red edges. Each containing four different\nbooks, with their Coloured Pictures and innumerable Outline Sketches._\n1 R. Caldecott's Picture Book No. 1\n2 R. Caldecott's Picture Book No. 2\n3 Hey-Diddle-Diddle-Picture Book\n4 The Panjandrum Picture Book\n_And also_\n_In Two Volumes, handsomely bound in cloth gilt, each containing eight\ndifferent books, with their Coloured Pictures and numerous Outline\nSketches._\nR. Caldecott's Collection of Pictures and Songs No. 1\nR. Caldecott's Collection of Pictures and Songs No. 2\nMiniature Editions,\n_size 5-1/2 by 4-1/2. Art Boards, flat back._\nTWO VOLUMES\nENTITLED\nR. CALDECOTT'S PICTURE BOOKS\nNos. 1 and 2,\n_Each containing coloured plates and numerous\nOutline Sketches in the text._\n_Crown 4to, picture covers._\nRandolph Caldecott's Painting Books. Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4.\n_Each with Outline Pictures to Paint, and Coloured Examples._\n_Oblong 4to, cloth._\nA Sketch Book of R. Caldecott's.\n_Containing numerous sketches in Colour and black and white_\n: LONDON : Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd. : & NEW YORK :\n_The Published Prices of the above Picture Books can be obtained of all\nBooksellers or from the Illustrated Catalogue of the Publishers._\nPRINTED AND COPYRIGHTED BY EDMUND EVANS, LTD.,\n     ROSE PLACE, GLOBE ROAD, LONDON, E.1. ]\n[Illustration Files:\nThe illustrations are included in the \"images\" directory accompanying\nthe html version of this file. They can be viewed or downloaded\nseparately. The paintings are full-color jpg's averaging about 60K;\nthe drawings are transparent gif's averaging about 15K.]", "source_dataset": "gutenberg", "source_dataset_detailed": "gutenberg -  An Elegy on the Glory of Her Sex, Mrs. Mary Blaize\n"},
{"source_document": "", "creation_year": 1754, "culture": " English\n", "content": "The Vicar of Wakefield\nA TALE\nSupposed to be written by Himself\nby Oliver Goldsmith\n_Sperate miseri, cavete felices_\nContents\n ADVERTISEMENT\n CHAPTER I.\n CHAPTER II.\n CHAPTER III.\n CHAPTER IV.\n CHAPTER V.\n CHAPTER VI.\n CHAPTER VII.\n CHAPTER VIII.\n CHAPTER IX.\n CHAPTER X.\n CHAPTER XI.\n CHAPTER XII.\n CHAPTER XIII.\n CHAPTER XIV.\n CHAPTER XV.\n CHAPTER XVI.\n CHAPTER XVII.\n CHAPTER XVIII.\n CHAPTER XIX.\n CHAPTER XX.\n CHAPTER XXI.\n CHAPTER XXII.\n CHAPTER XXIII.\n CHAPTER XXIV.\n CHAPTER XXV.\n CHAPTER XXVI.\n CHAPTER XXVII.\n CHAPTER XXVIII.\n CHAPTER XXIX.\n CHAPTER XXX.\n CHAPTER XXXI.\n CHAPTER XXXII.\nADVERTISEMENT\nThere are an hundred faults in this Thing, and an hundred things might\nbe said to prove them beauties. But it is needless. A book may be\namusing with numerous errors, or it may be very dull without a single\nabsurdity. The hero of this piece unites in himself the three greatest\ncharacters upon earth; he is a priest, an husbandman, and the father of\na family. He is drawn as ready to teach, and ready to obey, as simple\nin affluence, and majestic in adversity. In this age of opulence and\nrefinement whom can such a character please? Such as are fond of high\nlife, will turn with disdain from the simplicity of his country\nfire-side. Such as mistake ribaldry for humour, will find no wit in his\nharmless conversation; and such as have been taught to deride religion,\nwill laugh at one whose chief stores of comfort are drawn from\nfuturity.\nOLIVER GOLDSMITH.\nDetailed contents\nChapter I. The description of the family of Wakefield; in which a\nkindred likeness prevails as well of minds as of persons\nChapter II. Family misfortunes. The loss of fortune only serves to\nincrease the pride of the worthy\nChapter III. A migration. The fortunate circumstances of our lives are\ngenerally found at last to be of our own procuring\nChapter IV. A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness,\nwhich depends not on circumstance, but constitution\nChapter V. A new and great acquaintance introduced. What we place most\nhopes upon generally proves most fatal\nChapter VI. The happiness of a country fire-side\nChapter VII. A town wit described. The dullest fellows may learn to be\ncomical for a night or two\nChapter VIII. An amour, which promises little good fortune, yet may be\nproductive of much\nChapter IX. Two ladies of great distinction introduced. Superior finery\never seems to confer superior breeding\nChapter X. The family endeavours to cope with their betters. The\nmiseries of the poor when they attempt to appear above their\ncircumstances\nChapter XI. The family still resolve to hold up their heads\nChapter XII. Fortune seems resolved to humble the family of Wakefield.\nMortifications are often more painful than real calamities\nChapter XIII. Mr Burchell is found to be an enemy; for he has the\nconfidence to give disagreeable advice\nChapter XIV. Fresh mortifications, or a demonstration that seeming\ncalamities may be real blessings\nChapter XV. All Mr Burchell\u2019s villainy at once detected. The folly of\nbeing-over-wise\nChapter XVI. The Family use art, which is opposed with still greater\nChapter XVII. Scarce any virtue found to resist the power of long and\npleasing temptation\nChapter XVIII. The pursuit of a father to reclaim a lost child to virtue\nChapter XIX. The description of a Person discontented with the present\ngovernment, and apprehensive of the loss of our liberties\nChapter XX. The history of a philosophic vagabond, pursuing novelty,\nbut losing content\nChapter XXI. The short continuance of friendship among the vicious,\nwhich is coeval only with mutual satisfaction\nChapter XXII. Offences are easily pardoned where there is love at bottom\nChapter XXIII. None but the guilty can be long and completely miserable\nChapter XXIV. Fresh calamities\nChapter XXV. No situation, however wretched it seems, but has some sort\nof comfort attending it\nChapter XXVI. A reformation in the gaol. To make laws complete, they\nshould reward as well as punish\nChapter XXVII. The same subject continued\nChapter XXVIII. Happiness and misery rather the result of prudence than\nof virtue in this life. Temporal evils or felicities being regarded by\nheaven as things merely in themselves trifling and unworthy its care in\nthe distribution\nChapter XXIX. The equal dealings of providence demonstrated with regard\nto the happy and the miserable here below. That from the nature of\npleasure and pain, the wretched must be repaid the balance of their\nsufferings in the life hereafter\nChapter XXX. Happier prospects begin to appear. Let us be inflexible,\nand fortune will at last change in our favour\nChapter XXXI. Former benevolence now repaid with unexpected interest\nChapter XXXII. The Conclusion\nCHAPTER I.\nThe description of the family of Wakefield; in which a kindred likeness\nprevails as well of minds as of persons.\nI was ever of opinion, that the honest man who married and brought up a\nlarge family, did more service than he who continued single, and only\ntalked of population. From this motive, I had scarce taken orders a\nyear before I began to think seriously of matrimony, and chose my wife\nas she did her wedding gown, not for a fine glossy surface, but such\nqualities as would wear well. To do her justice, she was a good-natured\nnotable woman; and as for breeding, there were few country ladies who\ncould shew more. She could read any English book without much spelling,\nbut for pickling, preserving, and cookery, none could excel her. She\nprided herself also upon being an excellent contriver in house-keeping;\ntho\u2019 I could never find that we grew richer with all her contrivances.\nHowever, we loved each other tenderly, and our fondness encreased as we\ngrew old. There was in fact nothing that could make us angry with the\nworld or each other. We had an elegant house, situated in a fine\ncountry, and a good neighbourhood. The year was spent in moral or rural\namusements; in visiting our rich neighbours, and relieving such as were\npoor. We had no revolutions to fear, nor fatigues to undergo; all our\nadventures were by the fire-side, and all our migrations from the blue\nbed to the brown.\nAs we lived near the road, we often had the traveller or stranger visit\nus to taste our gooseberry wine, for which we had great reputation; and\nI profess with the veracity of an historian, that I never knew one of\nthem find fault with it. Our cousins too, even to the fortieth remove,\nall remembered their affinity, without any help from the Herald\u2019s\noffice, and came very frequently to see us. Some of them did us no\ngreat honour by these claims of kindred; as we had the blind, the\nmaimed, and the halt amongst the number. However, my wife always\ninsisted that as they were the same _flesh and blood_, they should sit\nwith us at the same table. So that if we had not, very rich, we\ngenerally had very happy friends about us; for this remark will hold\ngood thro\u2019 life, that the poorer the guest, the better pleased he ever\nis with being treated: and as some men gaze with admiration at the\ncolours of a tulip, or the wing of a butterfly, so I was by nature an\nadmirer of happy human faces. However, when any one of our relations\nwas found to be a person of very bad character, a troublesome guest, or\none we desired to get rid of, upon his leaving my house, I ever took\ncare to lend him a riding coat, or a pair of boots, or sometimes an\nhorse of small value, and I always had the satisfaction of finding he\nnever came back to return them. By this the house was cleared of such\nas we did not like; but never was the family of Wakefield known to turn\nthe traveller or the poor dependent out of doors.\nThus we lived several years in a state of much happiness, not but that\nwe sometimes had those little rubs which Providence sends to enhance\nthe value of its favours. My orchard was often robbed by school-boys,\nand my wife\u2019s custards plundered by the cats or the children. The\n\u2019Squire would sometimes fall asleep in the most pathetic parts of my\nsermon, or his lady return my wife\u2019s civilities at church with a\nmutilated curtesy. But we soon got over the uneasiness caused by such\naccidents, and usually in three or four days began to wonder how they\nvext us.\nMy children, the offspring of temperance, as they were educated without\nsoftness, so they were at once well formed and healthy; my sons hardy\nand active, my daughters beautiful and blooming. When I stood in the\nmidst of the little circle, which promised to be the supports of my\ndeclining age, I could not avoid repeating the famous story of Count\nAbensberg, who, in Henry II\u2019s progress through Germany, while other\ncourtiers came with their treasures, brought his thirty-two children,\nand presented them to his sovereign as the most valuable offering he\nhad to bestow. In this manner, though I had but six, I considered them\nas a very valuable present made to my country, and consequently looked\nupon it as my debtor. Our eldest son was named George, after his uncle,\nwho left us ten thousand pounds. Our second child, a girl, I intended\nto call after her aunt Grissel; but my wife, who during her pregnancy\nhad been reading romances, insisted upon her being called Olivia. In\nless than another year we had another daughter, and now I was\ndetermined that Grissel should be her name; but a rich relation taking\na fancy to stand godmother, the girl was, by her directions, called\nSophia; so that we had two romantic names in the family; but I solemnly\nprotest I had no hand in it. Moses was our next, and after an interval\nof twelve years, we had two sons more.\nIt would be fruitless to deny my exultation when I saw my little ones\nabout me; but the vanity and the satisfaction of my wife were even\ngreater than mine. When our visitors would say, \u2018Well, upon my word,\nMrs Primrose, you have the finest children in the whole country.\u2019\u2014\u2018Ay,\nneighbour,\u2019 she would answer, \u2018they are as heaven made them, handsome\nenough, if they be good enough; for handsome is that handsome does.\u2019\nAnd then she would bid the girls hold up their heads; who, to conceal\nnothing, were certainly very handsome. Mere outside is so very trifling\na circumstance with me, that I should scarce have remembered to mention\nit, had it not been a general topic of conversation in the country.\nOlivia, now about eighteen, had that luxuriancy of beauty with which\npainters generally draw Hebe; open, sprightly, and commanding. Sophia\u2019s\nfeatures were not so striking at first; but often did more certain\nexecution; for they were soft, modest, and alluring. The one vanquished\nby a single blow, the other by efforts successfully repeated.\nThe temper of a woman is generally formed from the turn of her\nfeatures, at least it was so with my daughters. Olivia wished for many\nlovers, Sophia to secure one. Olivia was often affected from too great\na desire to please. Sophia even represt excellence from her fears to\noffend. The one entertained me with her vivacity when I was gay, the\nother with her sense when I was serious. But these qualities were never\ncarried to excess in either, and I have often seen them exchange\ncharacters for a whole day together. A suit of mourning has transformed\nmy coquet into a prude, and a new set of ribbands has given her younger\nsister more than natural vivacity. My eldest son George was bred at\nOxford, as I intended him for one of the learned professions. My second\nboy Moses, whom I designed for business, received a sort of a\nmiscellaneous education at home. But it is needless to attempt\ndescribing the particular characters of young people that had seen but\nvery little of the world. In short, a family likeness prevailed through\nall, and properly speaking, they had but one character, that of being\nall equally generous, credulous, simple, and inoffensive.\nCHAPTER II.\nFamily misfortunes. The loss of fortune only serves to encrease the\npride of the worthy.\nThe temporal concerns of our family were chiefly committed to my wife\u2019s\nmanagement, as to the spiritual I took them entirely under my own\ndirection. The profits of my living, which amounted to but thirty-five\npounds a year, I made over to the orphans and widows of the clergy of\nour diocese; for having a sufficient fortune of my own, I was careless\nof temporalities, and felt a secret pleasure in doing my duty without\nreward. I also set a resolution of keeping no curate, and of being\nacquainted with every man in the parish, exhorting the married men to\ntemperance and the bachelors to matrimony; so that in a few years it\nwas a common saying, that there were three strange wants at Wakefield,\na parson wanting pride, young men wanting wives, and ale-houses wanting\ncustomers. Matrimony was always one of my favourite topics, and I wrote\nseveral sermons to prove its happiness: but there was a peculiar tenet\nwhich I made a point of supporting; for I maintained with Whiston, that\nit was unlawful for a priest of the church of England, after the death\nof his first wife, to take a second, or to express it in one word, I\nvalued myself upon being a strict monogamist. I was early innitiated\ninto this important dispute, on which so many laborious volumes have\nbeen written. I published some tracts upon the subject myself, which,\nas they never sold, I have the consolation of thinking are read only by\nthe happy Few. Some of my friends called this my weak side; but alas!\nthey had not like me made it the subject of long contemplation. The\nmore I reflected upon it, the more important it appeared. I even went a\nstep beyond Whiston in displaying my principles: as he had engraven\nupon his wife\u2019s tomb that she was the _only_ wife of William Whiston;\nso I wrote a similar epitaph for my wife, though still living, in which\nI extolled her prudence, oeconomy, and obedience till death; and having\ngot it copied fair, with an elegant frame, it was placed over the\nchimney-piece, where it answered several very useful purposes. It\nadmonished my wife of her duty to me, and my fidelity to her; it\ninspired her with a passion for fame, and constantly put her in mind of\nher end.\nIt was thus, perhaps, from hearing marriage so often recommended, that\nmy eldest son, just upon leaving college, fixed his affections upon the\ndaughter of a neighbouring clergyman, who was a dignitary in the\nchurch, and in circumstances to give her a large fortune: but fortune\nwas her smallest accomplishment. Miss Arabella Wilmot was allowed by\nall, except my two daughters, to be completely pretty. Her youth,\nhealth, and innocence, were still heightened by a complexion so\ntransparent, and such an happy sensibility of look, as even age could\nnot gaze on with indifference. As Mr Wilmot knew that I could make a\nvery handsome settlement on my son, he was not averse to the match; so\nboth families lived together in all that harmony which generally\nprecedes an expected alliance. Being convinced by experience that the\ndays of courtship are the most happy of our lives, I was willing enough\nto lengthen the period; and the various amusements which the young\ncouple every day shared in each other\u2019s company, seemed to encrease\ntheir passion. We were generally awaked in the morning by music, and on\nfine days rode a hunting. The hours between breakfast and dinner the\nladies devoted to dress and study: they usually read a page, and then\ngazed at themselves in the glass, which even philosophers might own\noften presented the page of greatest beauty. At dinner my wife took the\nlead; for as she always insisted upon carving every thing herself, it\nbeing her mother\u2019s way, she gave us upon these occasions the history of\nevery dish. When we had dined, to prevent the ladies leaving us, I\ngenerally ordered the table to be removed; and sometimes, with the\nmusic master\u2019s assistance, the girls would give us a very agreeable\nconcert. Walking out, drinking tea, country dances, and forfeits,\nshortened the rest of the day, without the assistance of cards, as I\nhated all manner of gaming, except backgammon, at which my old friend\nand I sometimes took a two-penny hit. Nor can I here pass over an\nominous circumstance that happened the last time we played together: I\nonly wanted to fling a quatre, and yet I threw deuce ace five times\nrunning. Some months were elapsed in this manner, till at last it was\nthought convenient to fix a day for the nuptials of the young couple,\nwho seemed earnestly to desire it. During the preparations for the\nwedding, I need not describe the busy importance of my wife, nor the\nsly looks of my daughters: in fact, my attention was fixed on another\nobject, the completing a tract which I intended shortly to publish in\ndefence of my favourite principle. As I looked upon this as a\nmaster-piece both for argument and style, I could not in the pride of\nmy heart avoid shewing it to my old friend Mr Wilmot, as I made no\ndoubt of receiving his approbation; but not till too late I discovered\nthat he was most violently attached to the contrary opinion, and with\ngood reason; for he was at that time actually courting a fourth wife.\nThis, as may be expected, produced a dispute attended with some\nacrimony, which threatened to interrupt our intended alliance: but on\nthe day before that appointed for the ceremony, we agreed to discuss\nthe subject at large. It was managed with proper spirit on both sides:\nhe asserted that I was heterodox, I retorted the charge: he replied,\nand I rejoined. In the mean time, while the controversy was hottest, I\nwas called out by one of my relations, who, with a face of concern,\nadvised me to give up the dispute, at least till my son\u2019s wedding was\nover. \u2018How,\u2019 cried I, \u2018relinquish the cause of truth, and let him be an\nhusband, already driven to the very verge of absurdity. You might as\nwell advise me to give up my fortune as my argument.\u2019 \u2018Your fortune,\u2019\nreturned my friend, \u2018I am now sorry to inform you, is almost nothing.\nThe merchant in town, in whose hands your money was lodged, has gone\noff, to avoid a statute of bankruptcy, and is thought not to have left\na shilling in the pound. I was unwilling to shock you or the family\nwith the account till after the wedding: but now it may serve to\nmoderate your warmth in the argument; for, I suppose, your own prudence\nwill enforce the necessity of dissembling at least till your son has\nthe young lady\u2019s fortune secure.\u2019\u2014\u2018Well,\u2019 returned I, \u2018if what you tell\nme be true, and if I am to be a beggar, it shall never make me a\nrascal, or induce me to disavow my principles. I\u2019ll go this moment and\ninform the company of my circumstances; and as for the argument, I even\nhere retract my former concessions in the old gentleman\u2019s favour, nor\nwill I allow him now to be an husband in any sense of the expression.\u2019\nIt would be endless to describe the different sensations of both\nfamilies when I divulged the news of our misfortune; but what others\nfelt was slight to what the lovers appeared to endure. Mr Wilmot, who\nseemed before sufficiently inclined to break off the match, was by this\nblow soon determined: one virtue he had in perfection, which was\nprudence, too often the only one that is left us at seventy-two.\nCHAPTER III.\nA migration. The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally\nfound at last to be of our own procuring.\nThe only hope of our family now was, that the report of our misfortunes\nmight be malicious or premature: but a letter from my agent in town\nsoon came with a confirmation of every particular. The loss of fortune\nto myself alone would have been trifling; the only uneasiness I felt\nwas for my family, who were to be humble without an education to render\nthem callous to contempt.\nNear a fortnight had passed before I attempted to restrain their\naffliction; for premature consolation is but the remembrancer of\nsorrow. During this interval, my thoughts were employed on some future\nmeans of supporting them; and at last a small Cure of fifteen pounds a\nyear was offered me in a distant neighbourhood, where I could still\nenjoy my principles without molestation. With this proposal I joyfully\nclosed, having determined to encrease my salary by managing a little\nfarm.\nHaving taken this resolution, my next care was to get together the\nwrecks of my fortune; and all debts collected and paid, out of fourteen\nthousand pounds we had but four hundred remaining. My chief attention\ntherefore was now to bring down the pride of my family to their\ncircumstances; for I well knew that aspiring beggary is wretchedness\nitself. \u2018You cannot be ignorant, my children,\u2019 cried I, \u2018that no\nprudence of ours could have prevented our late misfortune; but prudence\nmay do much in disappointing its effects. We are now poor, my\nfondlings, and wisdom bids us conform to our humble situation. Let us\nthen, without repining, give up those splendours with which numbers are\nwretched, and seek in humbler circumstances that peace with which all\nmay be happy. The poor live pleasantly without our help, why then\nshould not we learn to live without theirs. No, my children, let us\nfrom this moment give up all pretensions to gentility; we have still\nenough left for happiness if we are wise, and let us draw upon content\nfor the deficiencies of fortune.\u2019 As my eldest son was bred a scholar,\nI determined to send him to town, where his abilities might contribute\nto our support and his own. The separation of friends and families is,\nperhaps, one of the most distressful circumstances attendant on penury.\nThe day soon arrived on which we were to disperse for the first time.\nMy son, after taking leave of his mother and the rest, who mingled\ntheir tears with their kisses, came to ask a blessing from me. This I\ngave him from my heart, and which, added to five guineas, was all the\npatrimony I had now to bestow. \u2018You are going, my boy,\u2019 cried I, \u2018to\nLondon on foot, in the manner Hooker, your great ancestor, travelled\nthere before you. Take from me the same horse that was given him by the\ngood bishop Jewel, this staff, and take this book too, it will be your\ncomfort on the way: these two lines in it are worth a million, _I have\nbeen young, and now am old; yet never saw I the righteous man forsaken,\nor his seed begging their bread_. Let this be your consolation as you\ntravel on. Go, my boy, whatever be thy fortune let me see thee once a\nyear; still keep a good heart, and farewell.\u2019 As he was possest of\nintegrity and honour, I was under no apprehensions from throwing him\nnaked into the amphitheatre of life; for I knew he would act a good\npart whether vanquished or victorious. His departure only prepared the\nway for our own, which arrived a few days afterwards. The leaving a\nneighbourhood in which we had enjoyed so many hours of tranquility, was\nnot without a tear, which scarce fortitude itself could suppress.\nBesides, a journey of seventy miles to a family that had hitherto never\nbeen above ten from home, filled us with apprehension, and the cries of\nthe poor, who followed us for some miles, contributed to encrease it.\nThe first day\u2019s journey brought us in safety within thirty miles of our\nfuture retreat, and we put up for the night at an obscure inn in a\nvillage by the way. When we were shewn a room, I desired the landlord,\nin my usual way, to let us have his company, with which he complied, as\nwhat he drank would encrease the bill next morning. He knew, however,\nthe whole neighbourhood to which I was removing, particularly \u2019Squire\nThornhill, who was to be my landlord, and who lived within a few miles\nof the place. This gentleman he described as one who desired to know\nlittle more of the world than its pleasures, being particularly\nremarkable for his attachment to the fair sex. He observed that no\nvirtue was able to resist his arts and assiduity, and that scarce a\nfarmer\u2019s daughter within ten miles round but what had found him\nsuccessful and faithless. Though this account gave me some pain, it had\na very different effect upon my daughters, whose features seemed to\nbrighten with the expectation of an approaching triumph, nor was my\nwife less pleased and confident of their allurements and virtue. While\nour thoughts were thus employed, the hostess entered the room to inform\nher husband, that the strange gentleman, who had been two days in the\nhouse, wanted money, and could not satisfy them for his reckoning.\n\u2018Want money!\u2019 replied the host, \u2018that must be impossible; for it was no\nlater than yesterday he paid three guineas to our beadle to spare an\nold broken soldier that was to be whipped through the town for\ndog-stealing.\u2019 The hostess, however, still persisting in her first\nassertion, he was preparing to leave the room, swearing that he would\nbe satisfied one way or another, when I begged the landlord would\nintroduce me to a stranger of so much charity as he described. With\nthis he complied, shewing in a gentleman who seemed to be about thirty,\ndrest in cloaths that once were laced. His person was well formed, and\nhis face marked with the lines of thinking. He had something short and\ndry in his address, and seemed not to understand ceremony, or to\ndespise it. Upon the landlord\u2019s leaving the room, I could not avoid\nexpressing my concern to the stranger at seeing a gentleman in such\ncircumstances, and offered him my purse to satisfy the present demand.\n\u2018I take it with all my heart, Sir,\u2019 replied he, \u2018and am glad that a\nlate oversight in giving what money I had about me, has shewn me that\nthere are still some men like you. I must, however, previously entreat\nbeing informed of the name and residence of my benefactor, in order to\nrepay him as soon as possible.\u2019 In this I satisfied him fully, not only\nmentioning my name and late misfortunes, but the place to which I was\ngoing to remove. \u2018This,\u2019 cried he, \u2018happens still more luckily than I\nhoped for, as I am going the same way myself, having been detained here\ntwo days by the floods, which, I hope, by to-morrow will be found\npassable.\u2019 I testified the pleasure I should have in his company, and\nmy wife and daughters joining in entreaty, he was prevailed upon to\nstay supper. The stranger\u2019s conversation, which was at once pleasing\nand instructive, induced me to wish for a continuance of it; but it was\nnow high time to retire and take refreshment against the fatigues of\nthe following day.\nThe next morning we all set forward together: my family on horseback,\nwhile Mr Burchell, our new companion, walked along the foot-path by the\nroad-side, observing, with a smile, that as we were ill mounted, he\nwould be too generous to attempt leaving us behind. As the floods were\nnot yet subsided, we were obliged to hire a guide, who trotted on\nbefore, Mr Burchell and I bringing up the rear. We lightened the\nfatigues of the road with philosophical disputes, which he seemed to\nunderstand perfectly. But what surprised me most was, that though he\nwas a money-borrower, he defended his opinions with as much obstinacy\nas if he had been my patron. He now and then also informed me to whom\nthe different seats belonged that lay in our view as we travelled the\nroad. \u2018That,\u2019 cried he, pointing to a very magnificent house which\nstood at some distance, \u2018belongs to Mr Thornhill, a young gentleman who\nenjoys a large fortune, though entirely dependent on the will of his\nuncle, Sir William Thornhill, a gentleman, who content with a little\nhimself, permits his nephew to enjoy the rest, and chiefly resides in\ntown.\u2019 \u2018What!\u2019 cried I, \u2018is my young landlord then the nephew of a man\nwhose virtues, generosity, and singularities are so universally known?\nI have heard Sir William Thornhill represented as one of the most\ngenerous, yet whimsical, men in the kingdom; a man of consumate\nbenevolence\u2019\u2014\u2018Something, perhaps, too much so,\u2019 replied Mr Burchell,\n\u2018at least he carried benevolence to an excess when young; for his\npassions were then strong, and as they all were upon the side of\nvirtue, they led it up to a romantic extreme. He early began to aim at\nthe qualifications of the soldier and scholar; was soon distinguished\nin the army and had some reputation among men of learning. Adulation\never follows the ambitious; for such alone receive most pleasure from\nflattery. He was surrounded with crowds, who shewed him only one side\nof their character; so that he began to lose a regard for private\ninterest in universal sympathy. He loved all mankind; for fortune\nprevented him from knowing that there were rascals. Physicians tell us\nof a disorder in which the whole body is so exquisitely sensible, that\nthe slightest touch gives pain: what some have thus suffered in their\npersons, this gentleman felt in his mind. The slightest distress,\nwhether real or fictitious, touched him to the quick, and his soul\nlaboured under a sickly sensibility of the miseries of others. Thus\ndisposed to relieve, it will be easily conjectured, he found numbers\ndisposed to solicit: his profusions began to impair his fortune, but\nnot his good-nature; that, indeed, was seen to encrease as the other\nseemed to decay: he grew improvident as he grew poor; and though he\ntalked like a man of sense, his actions were those of a fool. Still,\nhowever, being surrounded with importunity, and no longer able to\nsatisfy every request that was made him, instead of money he gave\npromises. They were all he had to bestow, and he had not resolution\nenough to give any man pain by a denial. By this he drew round him\ncrowds of dependants, whom he was sure to disappoint; yet wished to\nrelieve. These hung upon him for a time, and left him with merited\nreproaches and contempt. But in proportion as he became contemptable to\nothers, he became despicable to himself. His mind had leaned upon their\nadulation, and that support taken away, he could find no pleasure in\nthe applause of his heart, which he had never learnt to reverence. The\nworld now began to wear a different aspect; the flattery of his friends\nbegan to dwindle into simple approbation. Approbation soon took the\nmore friendly form of advice, and advice when rejected produced their\nreproaches. He now, therefore found that such friends as benefits had\ngathered round him, were little estimable: he now found that a man\u2019s\nown heart must be ever given to gain that of another. I now found,\nthat\u2014that\u2014I forget what I was going to observe: in short, sir, he\nresolved to respect himself, and laid down a plan of restoring his\nfalling fortune. For this purpose, in his own whimsical manner he\ntravelled through Europe on foot, and now, though he has scarce\nattained the age of thirty, his circumstances are more affluent than\never. At present, his bounties are more rational and moderate than\nbefore; but still he preserves the character of an humourist, and finds\nmost pleasure in eccentric virtues.\u2019\nMy attention was so much taken up by Mr Burchell\u2019s account, that I\nscarce looked forward as we went along, til we were alarmed by the\ncries of my family, when turning, I perceived my youngest daughter in\nthe midst of a rapid stream, thrown from her horse, and struggling with\nthe torrent. She had sunk twice, nor was it in my power to disengage\nmyself in time to bring her relief. My sensations were even too violent\nto permit my attempting her rescue: she must have certainly perished\nhad not my companion, perceiving her danger, instantly plunged in to\nher relief, and with some difficulty, brought her in safety to the\nopposite shore. By taking the current a little farther up, the rest of\nthe family got safely over; where we had an opportunity of joining our\nacknowledgments to her\u2019s. Her gratitude may be more readily imagined\nthan described: she thanked her deliverer more with looks than words,\nand continued to lean upon his arm, as if still willing to receive\nassistance. My wife also hoped one day to have the pleasure of\nreturning his kindness at her own house. Thus, after we were refreshed\nat the next inn, and had dined together, as Mr Burchell was going to a\ndifferent part of the country, he took leave; and we pursued our\njourney. My wife observing as we went, that she liked him extremely,\nand protesting, that if he had birth and fortune to entitle him to\nmatch into such a family as our\u2019s, she knew no man she would sooner fix\nupon. I could not but smile to hear her talk in this lofty strain: but\nI was never much displeased with those harmless delusions that tend to\nmake us more happy.\nCHAPTER IV.\nA proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which\ndepends not on circumstance, but constitution.\nThe place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of\nfarmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to\nopulence and poverty. As they had almost all the conveniencies of life\nwithin themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities in search of\nsuperfluity. Remote from the polite, they still retained the primaeval\nsimplicity of manners, and frugal by habit, they scarce knew that\ntemperance was a virtue. They wrought with cheerfulness on days of\nlabour; but observed festivals as intervals of idleness and pleasure.\nThey kept up the Christmas carol, sent true love-knots on Valentine\nmorning, eat pancakes on Shrove-tide, shewed their wit on the first of\nApril, and religiously cracked nuts on Michaelmas eve. Being apprized\nof our approach, the whole neighbourhood came out to meet their\nminister, drest in their finest cloaths, and preceded by a pipe and\ntabor: A feast also was provided for our reception, at which we sat\ncheerfully down; and what the conversation wanted in wit, was made up\nin laughter.\nOur little habitation was situated at the foot of a sloping hill,\nsheltered with a beautiful underwood behind, and a pratling river\nbefore; on one side a meadow, on the other a green. My farm consisted\nof about twenty acres of excellent land, having given an hundred pound\nfor my predecessor\u2019s good-will. Nothing could exceed the neatness of my\nlittle enclosures: the elms and hedge rows appearing with inexpressible\nbeauty. My house consisted of but one story, and was covered with\nthatch, which gave it an air of great snugness; the walls on the inside\nwere nicely white-washed, and my daughters undertook to adorn them with\npictures of their own designing. Though the same room served us for\nparlour and kitchen, that only made it the warmer. Besides, as it was\nkept with the utmost neatness, the dishes, plates, and coppers, being\nwell scoured, and all disposed in bright rows on the shelves, the eye\nwas agreeably relieved, and did not want richer furniture. There were\nthree other apartments, one for my wife and me, another for our two\ndaughters, within our own, and the third, with two beds, for the rest\nof the children.\nThe little republic to which I gave laws, was regulated in the\nfollowing manner: by sun-rise we all assembled in our common\napartment; the fire being previously kindled by the servant. After we\nhad saluted each other with proper ceremony, for I always thought fit\nto keep up some mechanical forms of good breeding, without which\nfreedom ever destroys friendship, we all bent in gratitude to that\nBeing who gave us another day. This duty being performed, my son and I\nwent to pursue our usual industry abroad, while my wife and daughters\nemployed themselves in providing breakfast, which was always ready at a\ncertain time. I allowed half an hour for this meal, and an hour for\ndinner; which time was taken up in innocent mirth between my wife and\ndaughters, and in philosophical arguments between my son and me.\nAs we rose with the sun, so we never pursued our labours after it was\ngone down, but returned home to the expecting family; where smiling\nlooks, a treat hearth, and pleasant fire, were prepared for our\nreception. Nor were we without guests: sometimes farmer Flamborough,\nour talkative neighbour, and often the blind piper, would pay us a\nvisit, and taste our gooseberry wine; for the making of which we had\nlost neither the receipt nor the reputation. These harmless people had\nseveral ways of being good company, while one played, the other would\nsing some soothing ballad, Johnny Armstrong\u2019s last good night, or the\ncruelty of Barbara Allen. The night was concluded in the manner we\nbegan the morning, my youngest boys being appointed to read the lessons\nof the day, and he that read loudest, distinctest, and best, was to\nhave an half-penny on Sunday to put in the poor\u2019s box.\nWhen Sunday came, it was indeed a day of finery, which all my sumptuary\nedicts could not restrain. How well so ever I fancied my lectures\nagainst pride had conquered the vanity of my daughters; yet I still\nfound them secretly attached to all their former finery: they still\nloved laces, ribbands, bugles and catgut; my wife herself retained a\npassion for her crimson paduasoy, because I formerly happened to say it\nbecame her.\nThe first Sunday in particular their behaviour served to mortify me: I\nhad desired my girls the preceding night to be drest early the next\nday; for I always loved to be at church a good while before the rest of\nthe congregation. They punctually obeyed my directions; but when we\nwere to assemble in the morning at breakfast, down came my wife and\ndaughters, drest out in all their former splendour: their hair\nplaistered up with pomatum, their faces patched to taste, their trains\nbundled up into an heap behind, and rustling at every motion. I could\nnot help smiling at their vanity, particularly that of my wife, from\nwhom I expected more discretion. In this exigence, therefore, my only\nresource was to order my son, with an important air, to call our coach.\nThe girls were amazed at the command; but I repeated it with more\nsolemnity than before.\u2014\u2018Surely, my dear, you jest,\u2019 cried my wife, \u2018we\ncan walk it perfectly well: we want no coach to carry us now.\u2019 \u2018You\nmistake, child,\u2019 returned I, \u2018we do want a coach; for if we walk to\nchurch in this trim, the very children in the parish will hoot after\nus.\u2019\u2014\u2018Indeed,\u2019 replied my wife, \u2018I always imagined that my Charles was\nfond of seeing his children neat and handsome about him.\u2019\u2014\u2018You may be\nas neat as you please,\u2019 interrupted I, \u2018and I shall love you the better\nfor it, but all this is not neatness, but frippery. These rufflings,\nand pinkings, and patchings, will only make us hated by all the wives\nof all our neighbours. No, my children,\u2019 continued I, more gravely,\n\u2018those gowns may be altered into something of a plainer cut; for finery\nis very unbecoming in us, who want the means of decency. I do not know\nwhether such flouncing and shredding is becoming even in the rich, if\nwe consider, upon a moderate calculation, that the nakedness of the\nindigent world may be cloathed from the trimmings of the vain.\u2019\nThis remonstrance had the proper effect; they went with great\ncomposure, that very instant, to change their dress; and the next day I\nhad the satisfaction of finding my daughters, at their own request\nemployed in cutting up their trains into Sunday waistcoats for Dick and\nBill, the two little ones, and what was still more satisfactory, the\ngowns seemed improved by this curtailing.\nCHAPTER V.\nA new and great acquaintance introduced. What we place most hopes upon,\ngenerally proves most fatal.\nAt a small distance from the house my predecessor had made a seat,\novershaded by an hedge of hawthorn and honeysuckle. Here, when the\nweather was fine, and our labour soon finished, we usually sate\ntogether, to enjoy an extensive landscape, in the calm of the evening.\nHere too we drank tea, which now was become an occasional banquet; and\nas we had it but seldom, it diffused a new joy, the preparations for it\nbeing made with no small share of bustle and ceremony. On these\noccasions, our two little ones always read for us, and they were\nregularly served after we had done. Sometimes, to give a variety to our\namusements, the girls sung to the guitar; and while they thus formed a\nlittle concert, my wife and I would stroll down the sloping field, that\nwas embellished with blue bells and centaury, talk of our children with\nrapture, and enjoy the breeze that wafted both health and harmony.\nIn this manner we began to find that every situation in life might\nbring its own peculiar pleasures: every morning waked us to a\nrepetition of toil; but the evening repaid it with vacant hilarity.\nIt was about the beginning of autumn, on a holiday, for I kept such as\nintervals of relaxation from labour, that I had drawn out my family to\nour usual place of amusement, and our young musicians began their usual\nconcert. As we were thus engaged, we saw a stag bound nimbly by, within\nabout twenty paces of where we were sitting, and by its panting, it\nseemed prest by the hunters. We had not much time to reflect upon the\npoor animal\u2019s distress, when we perceived the dogs and horsemen come\nsweeping along at some distance behind, and making the very path it had\ntaken. I was instantly for returning in with my family; but either\ncuriosity or surprize, or some more hidden motive, held my wife and\ndaughters to their seats. The huntsman, who rode foremost, past us with\ngreat swiftness, followed by four or five persons more, who seemed in\nequal haste. At last, a young gentleman of a more genteel appearance\nthan the rest, came forward, and for a while regarding us, instead of\npursuing the chace, stopt short, and giving his horse to a servant who\nattended, approached us with a careless superior air. He seemed to want\nno introduction, but was going to salute my daughters as one certain of\na kind reception; but they had early learnt the lesson of looking\npresumption out of countenance. Upon which he let us know that his name\nwas Thornhill, and that he was owner of the estate that lay for some\nextent round us. He again, therefore, offered to salute the female part\nof the family, and such was the power of fortune and fine cloaths, that\nhe found no second repulse. As his address, though confident, was easy,\nwe soon became more familiar; and perceiving musical instruments lying\nnear, he begged to be favoured with a song. As I did not approve of\nsuch disproportioned acquaintances, I winked upon my daughters in order\nto prevent their compliance; but my hint was counteracted by one from\ntheir mother; so that with a chearful air they gave us, a favourite\nsong of Dryden\u2019s. Mr Thornhill seemed highly delighted with their\nperformance and choice, and then took up the guitar himself. He played\nbut very indifferently; however, my eldest daughter repaid his former\napplause with interest, and assured him that his tones were louder than\neven those of her master. At this compliment he bowed, which she\nreturned with a curtesy. He praised her taste, and she commended his\nunderstanding: an age could not have made them better acquainted. While\nthe fond mother too, equally happy, insisted upon her landlord\u2019s\nstepping in, and tasting a glass of her gooseberry. The whole family\nseemed earnest to please him: my girls attempted to entertain him with\ntopics they thought most modern, while Moses, on the contrary, gave him\na question or two from the ancients, for which he had the satisfaction\nof being laughed at: my little ones were no less busy, and fondly stuck\nclose to the stranger. All my endeavours could scarce keep their dirty\nfingers from handling and tarnishing the lace on his cloaths, and\nlifting up the flaps of his pocket holes, to see what was there. At the\napproach of evening he took leave; but not till he had requested\npermission to renew his visit, which, as he was our landlord, we most\nreadily agreed to.\nAs soon as he was gone, my wife called a council on the conduct of the\nday. She was of opinion, that it was a most fortunate hit; for that\nshe had known even stranger things at last brought to bear. She hoped\nagain to see the day in which we might hold up our heads with the best\nof them; and concluded, she protested she could see no reason why\nthe two Miss Wrinklers should marry great fortunes, and her children\nget none. As this last argument was directed to me, I protested I\ncould see no reason for it neither, nor why Mr Simpkins got the ten\nthousand pound prize in the lottery, and we sate down with a blank.\n\u2018I protest, Charles,\u2019 cried my wife, \u2018this is the way you always damp\nmy girls and me when we are in Spirits. Tell me, Sophy, my dear, what\ndo you think of our new visitor? Don\u2019t you think he seemed to be\ngood-natured?\u2019\u2014\u2018Immensely so, indeed, Mamma,\u2019 replied she. \u2018I think\nhe has a great deal to say upon every thing, and is never at a loss;\nand the more trifling the subject, the more he has to say.\u2019\u2014\u2018Yes,\u2019\ncried Olivia, \u2018he is well enough for a man; but for my part, I don\u2019t\nmuch like him, he is so extremely impudent and familiar; but on the\nguitar he is shocking.\u2019 These two last speeches I interpreted by\ncontraries. I found by this, that Sophia internally despised, as much\nas Olivia secretly admired him.\u2014\u2018Whatever may be your opinions of him,\nmy children,\u2019 cried I, \u2018to confess a truth, he has not prepossest me\nin his favour. Disproportioned friendships ever terminate in disgust;\nand I thought, notwithstanding all his ease, that he seemed perfectly\nsensible of the distance between us. Let us keep to companions of our\nown rank. There is no character more contemptible than a man that\nis a fortune-hunter, and I can see no reason why fortune-hunting\nwomen should not be contemptible too. Thus, at best, we shall be\ncontemptible if his views be honourable; but if they be otherwise! I\nshould shudder but to think of that! It is true I have no apprehensions\nfrom the conduct of my children, but I think there are some from his\ncharacter.\u2019\u2014I would have proceeded, but for the interruption of a\nservant from the \u2019Squire, who, with his compliments, sent us a side of\nvenison, and a promise to dine with us some days after. This well-timed\npresent pleaded more powerfully in his favour, than any thing I had to\nsay could obviate. I therefore continued silent, satisfied with just\nhaving pointed out danger, and leaving it to their own discretion to\navoid it. That virtue which requires to be ever guarded, is scarce\nworth the centinel.\nCHAPTER VI.\nThe happiness of a country fire-side.\nAs we carried on the former dispute with some degree of warmth, in\norder to accommodate matters, it was universally agreed, that we should\nhave a part of the venison for supper, and the girls undertook the task\nwith alacrity. \u2018I am sorry,\u2019 cried I, \u2018that we have no neighbour or\nstranger to take a part in this good cheer: feasts of this kind acquire\na double relish from hospitality.\u2019\u2014\u2018Bless me,\u2019 cried my wife, \u2018here\ncomes our good friend Mr Burchell, that saved our Sophia, and that run\nyou down fairly in the argument\u2019\u2014\u2018Confute me in argument, child!\u2019 cried\nI. \u2018You mistake there, my dear. I believe there are but few that can do\nthat: I never dispute your abilities at making a goose-pye, and I beg\nyou\u2019ll leave argument to me.\u2019\u2014As I spoke, poor Mr Burchell entered the\nhouse, and was welcomed by the family, who shook him heartily by the\nhand, while little Dick officiously reached him a chair.\nI was pleased with the poor man\u2019s friendship for two reasons; because I\nknew that he wanted mine, and I knew him to be friendly as far as he\nwas able. He was known in our neighbourhood by the character of the\npoor Gentleman that would do no good when he was young, though he was\nnot yet thirty. He would at intervals talk with great good sense; but\nin general he was fondest of the company of children, whom he used to\ncall harmless little men. He was famous, I found, for singing them\nballads, and telling them stories; and seldom went out without\nsomething in his pockets for them, a piece of gingerbread, or an\nhalfpenny whistle. He generally came for a few days into our\nneighbourhood once a year, and lived upon the neighbours hospitality.\nHe sate down to supper among us, and my wife was not sparing of her\ngooseberry wine. The tale went round; he sung us old songs, and gave\nthe children the story of the Buck of Beverland, with the history of\nPatient Grissel, the adventures of Catskin, and then Fair Rosamond\u2019s\nbower. Our cock, which always crew at eleven, now told us it was time\nfor repose; but an unforeseen difficulty started about lodging the\nstranger: all our beds were already taken up, and it was too late to\nsend him to the next alehouse. In this dilemma, little Dick offered him\nhis part of the bed, if his brother Moses would let him lie with him;\n\u2018And I,\u2019 cried Bill, \u2018will give Mr Burchell my part, if my sisters will\ntake me to theirs.\u2019\u2014\u2018Well done, my good children,\u2019 cried I,\n\u2018hospitality is one of the first Christian duties. The beast retires to\nits shelter, and the bird flies to its nest; but helpless man can only\nfind refuge from his fellow creature. The greatest stranger in this\nworld, was he that came to save it. He never had an house, as if\nwilling to see what hospitality was left remaining amongst us. Deborah,\nmy dear,\u2019 cried I, to my wife, \u2018give those boys a lump of sugar each,\nand let Dick\u2019s be the largest, because he spoke first.\u2019\nIn the morning early I called out my whole family to help at saving an\nafter-growth of hay, and, our guest offering his assistance, he was\naccepted among the number. Our labours went on lightly, we turned the\nswath to the wind, I went foremost, and the rest followed in due\nsuccession. I could not avoid, however, observing the assiduity of Mr\nBurchell in assisting my daughter Sophia in her part of the task. When\nhe had finished his own, he would join in hers, and enter into a close\nconversation: but I had too good an opinion of Sophia\u2019s understanding,\nand was too well convinced of her ambition, to be under any uneasiness\nfrom a man of broken fortune. When we were finished for the day, Mr\nBurchell was invited as on the night before; but he refused, as he was\nto lie that night at a neighbour\u2019s, to whose child he was carrying a\nwhistle. When gone, our conversation at supper turned upon our late\nunfortunate guest. \u2018What a strong instance,\u2019 said I, \u2018is that poor man\nof the miseries attending a youth of levity and extravagance. He by no\nmeans wants sense, which only serves to aggravate his former folly.\nPoor forlorn creature, where are now the revellers, the flatterers,\nthat he could once inspire and command! Gone, perhaps, to attend the\nbagnio pander, grown rich by his extravagance. They once praised him,\nand now they applaud the pander: their former raptures at his wit, are\nnow converted into sarcasms at his folly: he is poor, and perhaps\ndeserves poverty; for he has neither the ambition to be independent,\nnor the skill to be useful.\u2019 Prompted, perhaps, by some secret reasons,\nI delivered this observation with too much acrimony, which my Sophia\ngently reproved. \u2018Whatsoever his former conduct may be, pappa, his\ncircumstances should exempt him from censure now. His present indigence\nis a sufficient punishment for former folly; and I have heard my pappa\nhimself say, that we should never strike our unnecessary blow at a\nvictim over whom providence holds the scourge of its resentment.\u2019\u2014\u2018You\nare right, Sophy,\u2019 cried my son Moses, \u2018and one of the ancients finely\nrepresents so malicious a conduct, by the attempts of a rustic to flay\nMarsyas, whose skin, the fable tells us, had been wholly stript off by\nanother.\u2019 Besides, I don\u2019t know if this poor man\u2019s situation be so bad\nas my father would represent it. We are not to judge of the feelings of\nothers by what we might feel if in their place. However dark the\nhabitation of the mole to our eyes, yet the animal itself finds the\napartment sufficiently lightsome. And to confess a truth, this man\u2019s\nmind seems fitted to his station; for I never heard any one more\nsprightly than he was to-day, when he conversed with you.\u2019\u2014This was\nsaid without the least design, however it excited a blush, which she\nstrove to cover by an affected laugh, assuring him, that she scarce\ntook any notice of what he said to her; but that she believed he might\nonce have been a very fine gentleman. The readiness with which she\nundertook to vindicate herself, and her blushing, were symptoms I did\nnot internally approve; but I represt my suspicions.\nAs we expected our landlord the next day, my wife went to make the\nvenison pasty; Moses sate reading, while I taught the little ones: my\ndaughters seemed equally busy with the rest; and I observed them for a\ngood while cooking something over the fire. I at first supposed they\nwere assisting their mother; but little Dick informed me in a whisper,\nthat they were making a wash for the face. Washes of all kinds I had a\nnatural antipathy to; for I knew that instead of mending the complexion\nthey spoiled it. I therefore approached my chair by sly degrees to the\nfire, and grasping the poker, as if it wanted mending, seemingly by\naccident, overturned the whole composition, and it was too late to\nbegin another.\nCHAPTER VII.\nA town wit described. The dullest fellows may learn to be comical for a\nnight or two.\nWhen the morning arrived on which we were to entertain our young\nlandlord, it may be easily supposed what provisions were exhausted to\nmake an appearance. It may also be conjectured that my wife and\ndaughters expanded their gayest plumage upon this occasion. Mr\nThornhill came with a couple of friends, his chaplain, and feeder. The\nservants, who were numerous, he politely ordered to the next ale-house:\nbut my wife, in the triumph of her heart, insisted on entertaining them\nall; for which, by the bye, our family was pinched for three weeks\nafter. As Mr Burchell had hinted to us the day before, that he was\nmaking some proposals of marriage, to Miss Wilmot, my son George\u2019s\nformer mistress, this a good deal damped the heartiness of his\nreception: but accident, in some measure, relieved our embarrasment;\nfor one of the company happening to mention her name, Mr Thornhill\nobserved with an oath, that he never knew any thing more absurd than\ncalling such a fright a beauty: \u2018For strike me ugly,\u2019 continued he, \u2018if\nI should not find as much pleasure in choosing my mistress by the\ninformation of a lamp under the clock at St Dunstan\u2019s.\u2019 At this he\nlaughed, and so did we:\u2014the jests of the rich are ever successful.\nOlivia too could not avoid whispering, loud enough to be heard, that he\nhad an infinite fund of humour. After dinner, I began with my usual\ntoast, the Church; for this I was thanked by the chaplain, as he said\nthe church was the only mistress of his affections.\u2014\u2018Come tell us\nhonestly, Frank,\u2019 said the \u2019Squire, with his usual archness, \u2018suppose\nthe church, your present mistress, drest in lawnsleeves, on one hand,\nand Miss Sophia, with no lawn about her, on the other, which would you\nbe for?\u2019 \u2018For both, to be sure,\u2019 cried the chaplain.\u2014\u2018Right Frank,\u2019\ncried the \u2019Squire; \u2018for may this glass suffocate me but a fine girl is\nworth all the priestcraft in the creation. For what are tythes and\ntricks but an imposition, all a confounded imposture, and I can prove\nit.\u2019\u2014\u2018I wish you would,\u2019 cried my son Moses, \u2018and I think,\u2019 continued\nhe, \u2018that I should be able to answer you.\u2019\u2014\u2018Very well, Sir,\u2019 cried the\n\u2019Squire, who immediately smoaked him,\u2019 and winking on the rest of the\ncompany, to prepare us for the sport, if you are for a cool argument\nupon that subject, I am ready to accept the challenge. And first,\nwhether are you for managing it analogically, or dialogically?\u2019 \u2018I am\nfor managing it rationally,\u2019 cried Moses, quite happy at being\npermitted to dispute. \u2018Good again,\u2019 cried the \u2019Squire, \u2018and firstly, of\nthe first. I hope you\u2019ll not deny that whatever is, is. If you don\u2019t\ngrant me that, I can go no further.\u2019\u2014\u2018Why,\u2019 returned Moses, \u2018I think I\nmay grant that, and make the best of it.\u2019\u2014\u2018I hope too,\u2019 returned the\nother, \u2018you\u2019ll grant that a part is less than the whole.\u2019 \u2018I grant that\ntoo,\u2019 cried Moses, \u2018it is but just and reasonable.\u2019\u2014\u2018I hope,\u2019 cried the\n\u2019Squire, \u2018you will not deny, that the two angles of a triangle are\nequal to two right ones.\u2019\u2014\u2018Nothing can be plainer,\u2019 returned t\u2019other,\nand looked round with his usual importance.\u2014\u2018Very well,\u2019 cried the\n\u2019Squire, speaking very quick, \u2018the premises being thus settled, I\nproceed to observe, that the concatenation of self existences,\nproceeding in a reciprocal duplicate ratio, naturally produce a\nproblematical dialogism, which in some measure proves that the essence\nof spirituality may be referred to the second predicable\u2019\u2014\u2018Hold, hold,\u2019\ncried the other, \u2018I deny that: Do you think I can thus tamely submit to\nsuch heterodox doctrines?\u2019\u2014\u2018What,\u2019 replied the \u2019Squire, as if in a\npassion, \u2018not submit! Answer me one plain question: Do you think\nAristotle right when he says, that relatives are related?\u2019\n\u2018Undoubtedly,\u2019 replied the other.\u2014\u2018If so then,\u2019 cried the \u2019Squire,\n\u2018answer me directly to what I propose: Whether do you judge the\nanalytical investigation of the first part of my enthymem deficient\nsecundum quoad, or quoad minus, and give me your reasons: give me your\nreasons, I say, directly.\u2019\u2014\u2018I protest,\u2019 cried Moses, \u2018I don\u2019t rightly\ncomprehend the force of your reasoning; but if it be reduced to one\nsimple proposition, I fancy it may then have an answer.\u2019\u2014\u2018O sir,\u2019 cried\nthe \u2019Squire, \u2018I am your most humble servant, I find you want me to\nfurnish you with argument and intellects too. No, sir, there I protest\nyou are too hard for me.\u2019 This effectually raised the laugh against\npoor Moses, who sate the only dismal figure in a groupe of merry faces:\nnor, did he offer a single syllable more during the whole\nentertainment.\nBut though all this gave me no pleasure, it had a very different effect\nupon Olivia, who mistook it for humour, though but a mere act of the\nmemory. She thought him therefore a very fine gentleman; and such as\nconsider what powerful ingredients a good figure, fine cloaths, and\nfortune, are in that character, will easily forgive her. Mr Thornhill,\nnotwithstanding his real ignorance, talked with ease, and could\nexpatiate upon the common topics of conversation with fluency. It is\nnot surprising then that such talents should win the affections of a\ngirl, who by education was taught to value an appearance in herself,\nand consequently to set a value upon it in another.\nUpon his departure, we again entered into a debate upon the merits of\nour young landlord. As he directed his looks and conversation to\nOlivia, it was no longer doubted but that she was the object that\ninduced him to be our visitor. Nor did she seem to be much displeased\nat the innocent raillery of her brother and sister upon this occasion.\nEven Deborah herself seemed to share the glory of the day, and exulted\nin her daughter\u2019s victory as if it were her own. \u2018And now, my dear,\u2019\ncried she to me, \u2018I\u2019ll fairly own, that it was I that instructed my\ngirls to encourage our landlord\u2019s addresses. I had always some\nambition, and you now see that I was right; for who knows how this may\nend?\u2019 \u2018Ay, who knows that indeed,\u2019 answered I, with a groan: \u2018for my\npart I don\u2019t much like it; and I could have been better pleased with\none that was poor and honest, than this fine gentleman with his fortune\nand infidelity; for depend on\u2019t, if he be what I suspect him, no\nfree-thinker shall ever have a child of mine.\u2019 \u2018Sure, father,\u2019 cried\nMoses, \u2018you are too severe in this; for heaven will never arraign him\nfor what he thinks, but for what he does. Every man has a thousand\nvicious thoughts, which arise without his power to suppress. Thinking\nfreely of religion, may be involuntary with this gentleman: so that\nallowing his sentiments to be wrong, yet as he is purely passive in his\nassent, he is no more to be blamed for his errors than the governor of\na city without walls for the shelter he is obliged to afford an\ninvading enemy.\u2019\n\u2018True, my son,\u2019 cried I; \u2018but if the governor invites the enemy, there\nhe is justly culpable. And such is always the case with those who\nembrace error. The vice does not lie in assenting to the proofs they\nsee; but in being blind to many of the proofs that offer. So that,\nthough our erroneous opinions be involuntary when formed, yet as we\nhave been wilfully corrupt, or very negligent in forming them, we\ndeserve punishment for our vice, or contempt for our folly.\u2019 My wife\nnow kept up the conversation, though not the argument: she observed,\nthat several very prudent men of our acquaintance were free-thinkers,\nand made very good husbands; and she knew some sensible girls that had\nskill enough to make converts of their spouses: \u2018And who knows, my\ndear,\u2019 continued she, \u2018what Olivia may be able to do. The girl has a\ngreat deal to say upon every subject, and to my knowledge is very well\nskilled in controversy.\u2019\n\u2018Why, my dear, what controversy can she have read?\u2019 cried I. \u2018It does\nnot occur to me that I ever put such books into her hands: you\ncertainly over-rate her merit.\u2019 \u2018Indeed, pappa,\u2019 replied Olivia, \u2018she\ndoes not: I have read a great deal of controversy. I have read the\ndisputes between Thwackum and Square; the controversy between Robinson\nCrusoe and Friday the savage, and I am now employed in reading the\ncontroversy in Religious courtship\u2019\u2014\u2018Very well,\u2019 cried I, \u2018that\u2019s a\ngood girl, I find you are perfectly qualified for making converts, and\nso go help your mother to make the gooseberry-pye.\u2019\nCHAPTER VIII.\nAn amour, which promises little good fortune, yet may be productive of\nmuch.\nThe next morning we were again visited by Mr Burchell, though I began,\nfor certain reasons, to be displeased with the frequency of his return;\nbut I could not refuse him my company and fire-side. It is true his\nlabour more than requited his entertainment; for he wrought among us\nwith vigour, and either in the meadow or at the hay-rick put himself\nforemost. Besides, he had always something amusing to say that lessened\nour toil, and was at once so out of the way, and yet so sensible, that\nI loved, laughed at, and pitied him. My only dislike arose from an\nattachment he discovered to my daughter: he would, in a jesting manner,\ncall her his little mistress, and when he bought each of the girls a\nset of ribbands, hers was the finest. I knew not how, but he every day\nseemed to become more amiable, his wit to improve, and his simplicity\nto assume the superior airs of wisdom.\nOur family dined in the field, and we sate, or rather reclined, round a\ntemperate repast, our cloth spread upon the hay, while Mr Burchell gave\ncheerfulness to the feast. To heighten our satisfaction two blackbirds\nanswered each other from opposite hedges, the familiar redbreast came\nand pecked the crumbs from our hands, and every sound seemed but the\necho of tranquillity. \u2018I never sit thus,\u2019 says Sophia, \u2018but I think of\nthe two lovers, so sweetly described by Mr Gay, who were struck dead in\neach other\u2019s arms. There is something so pathetic in the description,\nthat I have read it an hundred times with new rapture.\u2019\u2014\u2018In my\nopinion,\u2019 cried my son, \u2018the finest strokes in that description are\nmuch below those in the Acis and Galatea of Ovid. The Roman poet\nunderstands the use of _contrast_ better, and upon that figure artfully\nmanaged all strength in the pathetic depends.\u2019\u2014\u2018It is remarkable,\u2019\ncried Mr Burchell, \u2018that both the poets you mention have equally\ncontributed to introduce a false taste into their respective countries,\nby loading all their lines with epithet. Men of little genius found\nthem most easily imitated in their defects, and English poetry, like\nthat in the latter empire of Rome, is nothing at present but a\ncombination of luxuriant images, without plot or connexion; a string of\nepithets that improve the sound, without carrying on the sense. But\nperhaps, madam, while I thus reprehend others, you\u2019ll think it just\nthat I should give them an opportunity to retaliate, and indeed I have\nmade this remark only to have an opportunity of introducing to the\ncompany a ballad, which, whatever be its other defects, is I think at\nleast free from those I have mentioned.\u2019\nA BALLAD.\n\u2018Turn, gentle hermit of the dale,\n    And guide my lonely way,\nTo where yon taper cheers the vale,\n    With hospitable ray.\n\u2018For here forlorn and lost I tread,\n    With fainting steps and slow;\nWhere wilds immeasurably spread,\n    Seem lengthening as I go.\u2019\n\u2018Forbear, my son,\u2019 the hermit cries,\n    \u2018To tempt the dangerous gloom;\nFor yonder faithless phantom flies\n    To lure thee to thy doom.\n\u2018Here to the houseless child of want,\n    My door is open still;\nAnd tho\u2019 my portion is but scant,\n    I give it with good will.\n\u2018Then turn to-night, and freely share\n    Whate\u2019er my cell bestows;\nMy rushy couch, and frugal fare,\n    My blessing and repose.\n\u2018No flocks that range the valley free,\n    To slaughter I condemn:\nTaught by that power that pities me,\n    I learn to pity them.\n\u2018But from the mountain\u2019s grassy side,\n    A guiltless feast I bring;\nA scrip with herbs and fruits supply\u2019d,\n    And water from the spring.\n\u2018Then, pilgrim, turn, thy cares forego;\n    All earth-born cares are wrong:\nMan wants but little here below,\n    Nor wants that little long.\u2019\nSoft as the dew from heav\u2019n descends,\n    His gentle accents fell:\nThe modest stranger lowly bends,\n    And follows to the cell.\nFar in a wilderness obscure\n    The lonely mansion lay;\nA refuge to the neighbouring poor,\n    And strangers led astray.\nNo stores beneath its humble thatch\n    Requir\u2019d a master\u2019s care;\nThe wicket opening with a latch,\n    Receiv\u2019d the harmless pair.\nAnd now when busy crowds retire\n    To take their evening rest,\nThe hermit trimm\u2019d his little fire,\n    And cheer\u2019d his pensive guest:\nAnd spread his vegetable store,\n    And gayly prest, and smil\u2019d;\nAnd skill\u2019d in legendary lore,\n    The lingering hours beguil\u2019d.\nAround in sympathetic mirth\n    Its tricks the kitten tries,\nThe cricket chirrups in the hearth;\n    The crackling faggot flies.\nBut nothing could a charm impart\n    To sooth the stranger\u2019s woe;\nFor grief was heavy at his heart,\n    And tears began to flow.\nHis rising cares the hermit spy\u2019d,\n    With answering care opprest:\n\u2018And whence, unhappy youth,\u2019 he cry\u2019d,\n    \u2018The sorrows of thy breast?\n\u2018From better habitations spurn\u2019d,\n    Reluctant dost thou rove;\nOr grieve for friendship unreturn\u2019d,\n    Or unregarded love?\n\u2018Alas! the joys that fortune brings,\n    Are trifling and decay;\nAnd those who prize the paltry things,\n    More trifling still than they.\n\u2018And what is friendship but a name,\n    A charm that lulls to sleep;\nA shade that follows wealth or fame,\n    But leaves the wretch to weep?\n\u2018And love is still an emptier sound,\n    The modern fair one\u2019s jest:\nOn earth unseen, or only found\n    To warm the turtle\u2019s nest.\n\u2018For shame fond youth thy sorrows hush\n    And spurn the sex,\u2019 he said:\nBut while he spoke a rising blush\n    His love-lorn guest betray\u2019d.\nSurpriz\u2019d he sees new beauties rise,\n    Swift mantling to the view;\nLike colours o\u2019er the morning skies,\n    As bright, as transient too.\nThe bashful look, the rising breast,\n    Alternate spread alarms:\nThe lovely stranger stands confest\n    A maid in all her charms.\n\u2018And, ah, forgive a stranger rude,\n    A wretch forlorn,\u2019 she cry\u2019d;\n\u2018Whose feet unhallowed thus intrude\n    Where heaven and you reside.\n\u2018But let a maid thy pity share,\n    Whom love has taught to stray;\nWho seeks for rest, but finds despair\n    Companion of her way.\n\u2018My father liv\u2019d beside the Tyne,\n    A wealthy Lord was he;\nAnd all his wealth was mark\u2019d as mine,\n    He had but only me.\n\u2018To win me from his tender arms,\n    Unnumber\u2019d suitors came;\nWho prais\u2019d me for imputed charms,\n    And felt or feign\u2019d a flame.\n\u2018Each hour a mercenary crowd,\n    With richest proffers strove:\nAmong the rest young Edwin bow\u2019d,\n    But never talk\u2019d of love.\n\u2018In humble simplest habit clad,\n    No wealth nor power had he;\nWisdom and worth were all he had,\n    But these were all to me.\n\u2018The blossom opening to the day,\n    The dews of heaven refin\u2019d,\nCould nought of purity display,\n    To emulate his mind.\n\u2018The dew, the blossom on the tree,\n    With charms inconstant shine;\nTheir charms were his, but woe to me,\n    Their constancy was mine.\n\u2018For still I try\u2019d each fickle art,\n    Importunate and vain;\nAnd while his passion touch\u2019d my heart,\n    I triumph\u2019d in his pain.\n\u2018Till quite dejected with my scorn,\n    He left me to my pride;\nAnd sought a solitude forlorn,\n    In secret where he died.\n\u2018But mine the sorrow, mine the fault,\n    And well my life shall pay;\nI\u2019ll seek the solitude he sought,\n    And stretch me where he lay.\n\u2018And there forlorn despairing hid,\n    I\u2019ll lay me down and die:\n\u2018Twas so for me that Edwin did,\n    And so for him will I.\u2019\n\u2018Forbid it heaven!\u2019 the hermit cry\u2019d,\n    And clasp\u2019d her to his breast:\nThe wondering fair one turn\u2019d to chide,\n    \u2018Twas Edwin\u2019s self that prest.\n\u2018Turn, Angelina, ever dear,\n    My charmer, turn to see,\nThy own, thy long-lost Edwin here,\n    Restor\u2019d to love and thee.\n\u2018Thus let me hold thee to my heart,\n    And ev\u2019ry care resign:\nAnd shall we never, never part,\n    My life,\u2014my all that\u2019s mine.\n\u2018No, never, from this hour to part,\n    We\u2019ll live and love so true;\nThe sigh that tends thy constant heart,\n    Shall break thy Edwin\u2019s too.\u2019\nWhile this ballad was reading, Sophia seemed to mix an air of\ntenderness with her approbation. But our tranquillity was soon\ndisturbed by the report of a gun just by us, and immediately after a\nman was seen bursting through the hedge, to take up the game he had\nkilled. This sportsman was the \u2019Squire\u2019s chaplain, who had shot one of\nthe blackbirds that so agreeably entertained us. So loud a report, and\nso near, startled my daughters; and I could perceive that Sophia in the\nfright had thrown herself into Mr Burchell\u2019s arms for protection. The\ngentleman came up, and asked pardon for having disturbed us, affirming\nthat he was ignorant of our being so near. He therefore sate down by my\nyoungest daughter, and, sportsman like, offered her what he had killed\nthat morning. She was going to refuse, but a private look from her\nmother soon induced her to correct the mistake, and accept his present,\nthough with some reluctance. My wife, as usual, discovered her pride in\na whisper, observing, that Sophy had made a conquest of the chaplain,\nas well as her sister had of the \u2019Squire. I suspected, however, with\nmore probability, that her affections were placed upon a different\nobject. The chaplain\u2019s errand was to inform us, that Mr Thornhill had\nprovided music and refreshments, and intended that night giving the\nyoung ladies a ball by moon-light, on the grass-plot before our door.\n\u2018Nor can I deny,\u2019 continued he, \u2018but I have an interest in being first\nto deliver this message, as I expect for my reward to be honoured with\nmiss Sophy\u2019s hand as a partner.\u2019 To this my girl replied, that she\nshould have no objection, if she could do it with honour: \u2018But here,\u2019\ncontinued she, \u2018is a gentleman,\u2019 looking at Mr Burchell, \u2018who has been\nmy companion in the task for the day, and it is fit he should share in\nits amusements.\u2019 Mr Burchell returned her a compliment for her\nintentions; but resigned her up to the chaplain, adding that he was to\ngo that night five miles, being invited to an harvest supper. His\nrefusal appeared to me a little extraordinary, nor could I conceive how\nso sensible a girl as my youngest, could thus prefer a man of broken\nfortunes to one whose expectations were much greater. But as men are\nmost capable of distinguishing merit in women, so the ladies often form\nthe truest judgments of us. The two sexes seem placed as spies upon\neach other, and are furnished with different abilities, adapted for\nmutual inspection.\nCHAPTER IX.\nTwo ladies of great distinction introduced. Superior finery ever seems\nto confer superior breeding.\nMr Burchell had scarce taken leave, and Sophia consented to dance with\nthe chaplain, when my little ones came running out to tell us that the\n\u2019Squire was come, with a crowd of company. Upon our return, we found\nour landlord, with a couple of under gentlemen and two young ladies\nrichly drest, whom he introduced as women of very great distinction and\nfashion from town. We happened not to have chairs enough for the whole\ncompany; but Mr Thornhill immediately proposed that every gentleman\nshould sit in a lady\u2019s lap. This I positively objected to,\nnotwithstanding a look of disapprobation from my wife. Moses was\ntherefore dispatched to borrow a couple of chairs; and as we were in\nwant of ladies to make up a set at country dances, the two gentlemen\nwent with him in quest of a couple of partners. Chairs and partners\nwere soon provided. The gentlemen returned with my neighbour\nFlamborough\u2019s rosy daughters, flaunting with red top-knots, but an\nunlucky circumstance was not adverted to; though the Miss Flamboroughs\nwere reckoned the very best dancers in the parish, and understood the\njig and the round-about to perfection; yet they were totally\nunacquainted with country dances. This at first discomposed us:\nhowever, after a little shoving and dragging, they at last went merrily\non. Our music consisted of two fiddles, with a pipe and tabor. The moon\nshone bright, Mr Thornhill and my eldest daughter led up the ball, to\nthe great delight of the spectators; for the neighbours hearing what\nwas going forward, came flocking about us. My girl moved with so much\ngrace and vivacity, that my wife could not avoid discovering the pride\nof her heart, by assuring me, that though the little chit did it so\ncleverly, all the steps were stolen from herself. The ladies of the\ntown strove hard to be equally easy, but without success. They swam,\nsprawled, languished, and frisked; but all would not do: the gazers\nindeed owned that it was fine; but neighbour Flamborough observed, that\nMiss Livy\u2019s feet seemed as pat to the music as its echo. After the\ndance had continued about an hour, the two ladies, who were\napprehensive of catching cold, moved to break up the ball. One of them,\nI thought, expressed her sentiments upon this occasion in a very coarse\nmanner, when she observed, that by the living jingo, she was all of a\nmuck of sweat. Upon our return to the house, we found a very elegant\ncold supper, which Mr Thornhill had ordered to be brought with him. The\nconversation at this time was more reserved than before. The two ladies\nthrew my girls quite into the shade; for they would talk of nothing but\nhigh life, and high lived company; with other fashionable topics, such\nas pictures, taste, Shakespear, and the musical glasses. \u2018Tis true they\nonce or twice mortified us sensibly by slipping out an oath; but that\nappeared to me as the surest symptom of their distinction, (tho\u2019 I am\nsince informed that swearing is perfectly unfashionable.) Their finery,\nhowever, threw a veil over any grossness in their conversation. My\ndaughters seemed to regard their superior accomplishments with envy;\nand what appeared amiss was ascribed to tip-top quality breeding. But\nthe condescension of the ladies was still superior to their other\naccomplishments. One of them observed, that had miss Olivia seen a\nlittle more of the world, it would greatly improve her. To which the\nother added, that a single winter in town would make her little Sophia\nquite another thing. My wife warmly assented to both; adding, that\nthere was nothing she more ardently wished than to give her girls a\nsingle winter\u2019s polishing. To this I could not help replying, that\ntheir breeding was already superior to their fortune; and that greater\nrefinement would only serve to make their poverty ridiculous, and give\nthem a taste for pleasures they had no right to possess.\u2014\u2018And what\npleasures,\u2019 cried Mr Thornhill, \u2018do they not deserve to possess, who\nhave so much in their power to bestow? As for my part,\u2019 continued he,\n\u2018my fortune is pretty large, love, liberty, and pleasure, are my\nmaxims; but curse me if a settlement of half my estate could give my\ncharming Olivia pleasure, it should be hers; and the only favour I\nwould ask in return would be to add myself to the benefit.\u2019 I was not\nsuch a stranger to the world as to be ignorant that this was the\nfashionable cant to disguise the insolence of the basest proposal; but\nI made an effort to suppress my resentment. \u2018Sir,\u2019 cried I, \u2018the family\nwhich you now condescend to favour with your company, has been bred\nwith as nice a sense of honour as you. Any attempts to injure that, may\nbe attended with very dangerous consequences. Honour, Sir, is our only\npossession at present, and of that last treasure we must be\nparticularly careful.\u2019\u2014I was soon sorry for the warmth with which I had\nspoken this, when the young gentleman, grasping my hand, swore he\ncommended my spirit, though he disapproved my suspicions. \u2018As to your\npresent hint,\u2019 continued he, \u2018I protest nothing was farther from my\nheart than such a thought. No, by all that\u2019s tempting, the virtue that\nwill stand a regular siege was never to my taste; for all my amours are\ncarried by a coup de main.\u2019\nThe two ladies, who affected to be ignorant of the rest, seemed highly\ndispleased with this last stroke of freedom, and began a very discreet\nand serious dialogue upon virtue: in this my wife, the chaplain, and I,\nsoon joined; and the \u2019Squire himself was at last brought to confess a\nsense of sorrow for his former excesses. We talked of the pleasures of\ntemperance, and of the sun-shine in the mind unpolluted with guilt. I\nwas so well pleased, that my little ones were kept up beyond the usual\ntime to be edified by so much good conversation. Mr Thornhill even went\nbeyond me, and demanded if I had any objection to giving prayers. I\njoyfully embraced the proposal, and in this manner the night was passed\nin a most comfortable way, till at last the company began to think of\nreturning. The ladies seemed very unwilling to part with my daughters;\nfor whom they had conceived a particular affection, and joined in a\nrequest to have the pleasure of their company home. The \u2019Squire\nseconded the proposal, and my wife added her entreaties: the girls too\nlooked upon me as if they wished to go. In this perplexity I made two\nor three excuses, which my daughters as readily removed; so that at\nlast I was obliged to give a peremptory refusal; for which we had\nnothing but sullen looks and short answers the whole day ensuing.\nCHAPTER X.\nThe family endeavours to cope with their betters. The miseries of the\npoor when they attempt to appear above their circumstances.\nI now began to find that all my long and painful lectures upon\ntemperance, simplicity, and contentment, were entirely disregarded. The\ndistinctions lately paid us by our betters awaked that pride which I\nhad laid asleep, but not removed. Our windows again, as formerly, were\nfilled with washes for the neck and face. The sun was dreaded as an\nenemy to the skin without doors, and the fire as a spoiler of the\ncomplexion within. My wife observed, that rising too early would hurt\nher daughters\u2019 eyes, that working after dinner would redden their\nnoses, and she convinced me that the hands never looked so white as\nwhen they did nothing. Instead therefore of finishing George\u2019s shirts,\nwe now had them new modelling their old gauzes, or flourishing upon\ncatgut. The poor Miss Flamboroughs, their former gay companions, were\ncast off as mean acquaintance, and the whole conversation ran upon high\nlife and high lived company, with pictures, taste, Shakespear, and the\nmusical glasses.\nBut we could have borne all this, had not a fortune-telling gypsey come\nto raise us into perfect sublimity. The tawny sybil no sooner appeared,\nthan my girls came running to me for a shilling a piece to cross her\nhand with silver. To say the truth, I was tired of being always wise,\nand could not help gratifying their request, because I loved to see\nthem happy. I gave each of them a shilling; though, for the honour of\nthe family, it must be observed, that they never went without money\nthemselves, as my wife always generously let them have a guinea each,\nto keep in their pockets; but with strict injunctions never to change\nit. After they had been closetted up with the fortune-teller for some\ntime, I knew by their looks, upon their returning, that they had been\npromised something great.\u2014\u2018Well, my girls, how have you sped? Tell me,\nLivy, has the fortune-teller given thee a pennyworth?\u2019\u2014\u2018I protest,\npappa,\u2019 says the girl, \u2018I believe she deals with some body that\u2019s not\nright; for she positively declared, that I am to be married to a\n\u2019Squire in less than a twelvemonth!\u2019\u2014\u2018Well now, Sophy, my child,\u2019 said\nI, \u2018and what sort of a husband are you to have?\u2019 \u2018Sir,\u2019 replied she, \u2018I\nam to have a Lord soon after my sister has married the \u2019Squire.\u2019\u2014\u2018How,\u2019\ncried I, \u2018is that all you are to have for your two shillings! Only a\nLord and a \u2019Squire for two shillings! You fools, I could have promised\nyou a Prince and a Nabob for half the money.\u2019 This curiosity of theirs,\nhowever, was attended with very serious effects: we now began to think\nourselves designed by the stars for something exalted, and already\nanticipated our future grandeur. It has been a thousand times observed,\nand I must observe it once more, that the hours we pass with happy\nprospects in view, are more pleasing than those crowned with fruition.\nIn the first case we cook the dish to our own appetite; in the latter\nnature cooks it for us. It is impossible to repeat the train of\nagreeable reveries we called up for our entertainment. We looked upon\nour fortunes as once more rising; and as the whole parish asserted that\nthe \u2019Squire was in love with my daughter, she was actually so with him;\nfor they persuaded her into the passion. In this agreeable interval, my\nwife had the most lucky dreams in the world, which she took care to\ntell us every morning, with great solemnity and exactness. It was one\nnight a coffin and cross bones, the sign of an approaching wedding: at\nanother time she imagined her daughters\u2019 pockets filled with farthings,\na certain sign of their being shortly stuffed with gold. The girls\nthemselves had their omens. They felt strange kisses on their lips;\nthey saw rings in the candle, purses bounced from the fire, and true\nlove-knots lurked in the bottom of every tea-cup.\nTowards the end of the week we received a card from the town ladies; in\nwhich, with their compliments, they hoped to see all our family at\nchurch the Sunday following. All Saturday morning I could perceive, in\nconsequence of this, my wife and daughters in close conference\ntogether, and now and then glancing at me with looks that betrayed a\nlatent plot. To be sincere, I had strong suspicions that some absurd\nproposal was preparing for appearing with splendor the next day. In the\nevening they began their operations in a very regular manner, and my\nwife undertook to conduct the siege. After tea, when I seemed in\nspirits, she began thus.\u2014\u2018I fancy, Charles, my dear, we shall have a\ngreat deal of good company at our church to-morrow,\u2019\u2014\u2018Perhaps we may,\nmy dear,\u2019 returned I; \u2018though you need be under no uneasiness about\nthat, you shall have a sermon whether there be or not.\u2019\u2014\u2018That is what I\nexpect,\u2019 returned she; \u2018but I think, my dear, we ought to appear there\nas decently as possible, for who knows what may happen?\u2019 \u2018Your\nprecautions,\u2019 replied I, \u2018are highly commendable. A decent behaviour\nand appearance in church is what charms me. We should be devout and\nhumble, chearful and serene.\u2019\u2014\u2018Yes,\u2019 cried she, \u2018I know that; but I\nmean we should go there in as proper a manner as possible; not\naltogether like the scrubs about us.\u2019 \u2018You are quite right, my dear,\u2019\nreturned I, \u2018and I was going to make the very same proposal. The proper\nmanner of going is, to go there as early as possible, to have time for\nmeditation before the service begins.\u2019\u2014\u2018Phoo, Charles,\u2019 interrupted\nshe, \u2018all that is very true; but not what I would be at. I mean, we\nshould go there genteelly. You know the church is two miles off, and I\nprotest I don\u2019t like to see my daughters trudging up to their pew all\nblowzed and red with walking, and, looking for all the world as if they\nhad been winners at a smock race. Now, my dear, my proposal is this:\nthere are our two plow horses, the Colt that has been in our family\nthese nine years, and his companion Blackberry, that have scarce done\nan earthly thing for this month past. They are both grown fat and lazy.\nWhy should not they do something as well as we? And let me tell you,\nwhen Moses has trimmed them a little, they will cut a very tolerable\nfigure.\u2019 To this proposal I objected, that walking would be twenty\ntimes more genteel than such a paltry conveyance, as Blackberry was\nwall-eyed, and the Colt wanted a tail: that they had never been broke\nto the rein; but had an hundred vicious tricks; and that we had but one\nsaddle and pillion in the whole house. All these objections, however,\nwere over-ruled; so that I was obliged to comply. The next morning I\nperceived them not a little busy in collecting such materials as might\nbe necessary for the expedition; but as I found it would be a business\nof time, I walked on to the church before, and they promised speedily\nto follow. I waited near an hour in the reading desk for their arrival;\nbut not finding them come as expected, I was obliged to begin, and went\nthrough the service, not without some uneasiness at finding them\nabsent. This was encreased when all was finished, and no appearance of\nthe family. I therefore walked back by the horse-way, which was five\nmiles round, tho\u2019 the foot-way was but two, and when got about half way\nhome, perceived the procession marching slowly forward towards the\nchurch; my son, my wife, and the two little ones exalted upon one\nhorse, and my two daughters upon the other. I demanded the cause of\ntheir delay; but I soon found by their looks they had met with a\nthousand misfortunes on the road. The horses had at first refused to\nmove from the door, till Mr Burchell was kind enough to beat them\nforward for about two hundred yards with his cudgel. Next the straps of\nmy wife\u2019s pillion broke down, and they were obliged to stop to repair\nthem before they could proceed. After that, one of the horses took it\ninto his head to stand still, and neither blows nor entreaties could\nprevail with him to proceed. It was just recovering from this dismal\nsituation that I found them; but perceiving every thing safe, I own\ntheir present mortification did not much displease me, as it would give\nme many opportunities of future triumph, and teach my daughters more\nhumility.\nCHAPTER XI.\nThe family still resolve to hold up their heads.\nMichaelmas eve happening on the next day, we were invited to burn nuts\nand play tricks at neighbour Flamborough\u2019s. Our late mortifications had\nhumbled us a little, or it is probable we might have rejected such an\ninvitation with contempt: however, we suffered ourselves to be happy.\nOur honest neighbour\u2019s goose and dumplings were fine, and the\nlamb\u2019s-wool, even in the opinion of my wife, who was a connoiseur, was\nexcellent. It is true, his manner of telling stories was not quite so\nwell. They were very long, and very dull, and all about himself, and we\nhad laughed at them ten times before: however, we were kind enough to\nlaugh at them once more.\nMr Burchell, who was of the party, was always fond of seeing some\ninnocent amusement going forward, and set the boys and girls to blind\nman\u2019s buff. My wife too was persuaded to join in the diversion, and it\ngave me pleasure to think she was not yet too old. In the mean time, my\nneighbour and I looked on, laughed at every feat, and praised our own\ndexterity when we were young. Hot cockles succeeded next, questions and\ncommands followed that, and last of all, they sate down to hunt the\nslipper. As every person may not be acquainted with this primaeval\npastime, it may be necessary to observe, that the company at this play\nthemselves in a ring upon the ground, all, except one who stands in the\nmiddle, whose business it is to catch a shoe, which the company shove\nabout under their hams from one to another, something like a weaver\u2019s\nshuttle. As it is impossible, in this case, for the lady who is up to\nface all the company at once, the great beauty of the play lies in\nhitting her a thump with the heel of the shoe on that side least\ncapable of making a defence. It was in this manner that my eldest\ndaughter was hemmed in, and thumped about, all blowzed, in spirits, and\nbawling for fair play, fair play, with a voice that might deafen a\nballad singer, when confusion on confusion, who should enter the room\nbut our two great acquaintances from town, Lady Blarney and Miss\nCarolina Wilelmina Amelia Skeggs! Description would but beggar,\ntherefore it is unnecessary to describe this new mortification. Death!\nTo be seen by ladies of such high breeding in such vulgar attitudes!\nNothing better could ensue from such a vulgar play of Mr Flamborough\u2019s\nproposing. We seemed stuck to the ground for some time, as if actually\npetrified with amazement.\nThe two ladies had been at our house to see us, and finding us from\nhome, came after us hither, as they were uneasy to know what accident\ncould have kept us from church the day before. Olivia undertook to be\nour prolocutor, and delivered the whole in a summary way, only saying,\n\u2018We were thrown from our horses.\u2019 At which account the ladies were\ngreatly concerned; but being told the family received no hurt, they\nwere extremely glad: but being informed that we were almost killed by\nthe fright, they were vastly sorry; but hearing that we had a very good\nnight, they were extremely glad again. Nothing could exceed their\ncomplaisance to my daughters; their professions the last evening were\nwarm, but now they were ardent. They protested a desire of having a\nmore lasting acquaintance. Lady Blarney was particularly attached to\nOlivia; Miss Carolina Wilelmina Amelia Skeggs (I love to give the whole\nname) took a greater fancy to her sister. They supported the\nconversation between themselves, while my daughters sate silent,\nadmiring their exalted breeding. But as every reader, however beggarly\nhimself, is fond of high-lived dialogues, with anecdotes of Lords,\nLadies, and Knights of the Garter, I must beg leave to give him the\nconcluding part of the present conversation. \u2018All that I know of the\nmatter,\u2019 cried Miss Skeggs, \u2018is this, that it may be true, or it may\nnot be true: but this I can assure your Ladyship, that the whole rout\nwas in amaze; his Lordship turned all manner of colours, my Lady fell\ninto a sound; but Sir Tomkyn, drawing his sword, swore he was her\u2019s to\nthe last drop of his blood.\u2019 \u2018Well,\u2019 replied our Peeress, \u2018this I can\nsay, that the Dutchess never told me a syllable of the matter, and I\nbelieve her Grace would keep nothing a secret from me. This you may\ndepend upon as fact, that the next morning my Lord Duke cried out three\ntimes to his valet de chambre, Jernigan, Jernigan, Jernigan, bring me\nmy garters.\u2019\nBut previously I should have mentioned the very impolite behaviour of\nMr Burchell, who, during this discourse, sate with his face turned to\nthe fire, and at the conclusion of every sentence would cry out\n_fudge!_ an expression which displeased us all, and in some measure\ndamped the rising spirit of the conversation.\n\u2018Besides, my dear Skeggs,\u2019 continued our Peeress, \u2018there is nothing of\nthis in the copy of verses that Dr Burdock made upon the occasion.\u2019\n_Fudge!_\n\u2018I am surprised at that,\u2019 cried Miss Skeggs; \u2018for he seldom leaves any\nthing out, as he writes only for his own amusement. But can your\nLadyship favour me with a sight of them?\u2019 _Fudge!_\n\u2018My dear creature,\u2019 replied our Peeress, \u2018do you think I carry such\nthings about me? Though they are very fine to be sure, and I think\nmyself something of a judge; at least I know what pleases myself.\nIndeed I was ever an admirer of all Doctor Burdock\u2019s little pieces; for\nexcept what he does, and our dear Countess at Hanover-Square, there\u2019s\nnothing comes out but the most lowest stuff in nature; not a bit of\nhigh life among them.\u2019 _Fudge!_\n\u2018Your Ladyship should except,\u2019 says t\u2019other, \u2018your own things in the\nLady\u2019s Magazine. I hope you\u2019ll say there\u2019s nothing low lived there? But\nI suppose we are to have no more from that quarter?\u2019 _Fudge!_;\n\u2018Why, my dear,\u2019 says the Lady, \u2018you know my reader and companion has\nleft me, to be married to Captain Roach, and as my poor eyes won\u2019t\nsuffer me to write myself, I have been for some time looking out for\nanother. A proper person is no easy matter to find, and to be sure\nthirty pounds a year is a small stipend for a well-bred girl of\ncharacter, that can read, write, and behave in company; as for the\nchits about town, there is no bearing them about one.\u2019 _Fudge!_;\n\u2018That I know,\u2019 cried Miss Skeggs, \u2018by experience. For of the three\ncompanions I had this last half year, one of them refused to do\nplain-work an hour in the day, another thought twenty-five guineas a\nyear too small a salary, and I was obliged to send away the third,\nbecause I suspected an intrigue with the chaplain. Virtue, my dear Lady\nBlarney, virtue is worth any price; but where is that to be found?\u2019\n_Fudge!_\nMy wife had been for a long time all attention to this discourse; but\nwas particularly struck with the latter part of it. Thirty pounds and\ntwenty-five guineas a year made fifty-six pounds five shillings English\nmoney, all which was in a manner going a-begging, and might easily be\nsecured in the family. She for a moment studied my looks for\napprobation; and, to own a truth, I was of opinion, that two such\nplaces would fit our two daughters exactly. Besides, if the \u2019Squire had\nany real affection for my eldest daughter, this would be the way to\nmake her every way qualified for her fortune. My wife therefore was\nresolved that we should not be deprived of such advantages for want of\nassurance, and undertook to harangue for the family. \u2018I hope,\u2019 cried\nshe, \u2018your Ladyships will pardon my present presumption. It is true, we\nhave no right to pretend to such favours; but yet it is natural for me\nto wish putting my children forward in the world. And I will be bold to\nsay my two girls have had a pretty good education, and capacity, at\nleast the country can\u2019t shew better. They can read, write, and cast\naccompts; they understand their needle, breadstitch, cross and change,\nand all manner of plain-work; they can pink, point, and frill; and know\nsomething of music; they can do up small cloaths, work upon catgut; my\neldest can cut paper, and my youngest has a very pretty manner of\ntelling fortunes upon the cards.\u2019 _Fudge!_\nWhen she had delivered this pretty piece of eloquence, the two ladies\nlooked at each other a few minutes in silence, with an air of doubt and\nimportance. At last, Miss Carolina Wilelmina Amelia Skeggs condescended\nto observe, that the young ladies, from the opinion she could form of\nthem from so slight an acquaintance, seemed very fit for such\nemployments: \u2018But a thing of this kind, Madam,\u2019 cried she, addressing\nmy spouse, requires a thorough examination into characters, and a more\nperfect knowledge of each other. Not, Madam,\u2019 continued she, \u2018that I in\nthe least suspect the young ladies virtue, prudence and discretion; but\nthere is a form in these things, Madam, there is a form.\u2019\nMy wife approved her suspicions very much, observing, that she was very\napt to be suspicious herself; but referred her to all the neighbours\nfor a character: but this our Peeress declined as unnecessary,\nalledging that her cousin Thornhill\u2019s recommendation would be\nsufficient, and upon this we rested our petition.\nCHAPTER XII.\nFortune seems resolved to humble the family of Wakefield.\nMortifications are often more painful than real calamities.\nWhen we were returned home, the night was dedicated to schemes of\nfuture conquest. Deborah exerted much sagacity in conjecturing which of\nthe two girls was likely to have the best place, and most opportunities\nof seeing good company. The only obstacle to our preferment was in\nobtaining the \u2019Squire\u2019s recommendation; but he had already shewn us too\nmany instances of his friendship to doubt of it now. Even in bed my\nwife kept up the usual theme: \u2018Well, faith, my dear Charles, between\nourselves, I think we have made an excellent day\u2019s work of it.\u2019\u2014\u2018Pretty\nwell,\u2019 cried I, not knowing what to say.\u2014\u2018What only pretty well!\u2019\nreturned she. \u2018I think it is very well. Suppose the girls should come\nto make acquaintances of taste in town! This I am assured of, that\nLondon is the only place in the world for all manner of husbands.\nBesides, my dear, stranger things happen every day: and as ladies of\nquality are so taken with my daughters, what will not men of quality\nbe! Entre nous, I protest I like my Lady Blarney vastly, so very\nobliging. However, Miss Carolina Wilelmina Amelia Skeggs has my warm\nheart. But yet, when they came to talk of places in town, you saw at\nonce how I nailed them. Tell me, my dear, don\u2019t you think I did for my\nchildren there?\u2019\u2014\u2018Ay,\u2019 returned I, not knowing well what to think of\nthe matter, \u2018heaven grant they may be both the better for it this day\nthree months!\u2019 This was one of those observations I usually made to\nimpress my wife with an opinion of my sagacity; for if the girls\nsucceeded, then it was a pious wish fulfilled; but if any thing\nunfortunate ensued, then it might be looked upon as a prophecy. All\nthis conversation, however, was only preparatory to another scheme, and\nindeed I dreaded as much. This was nothing less than, that as we were\nnow to hold up our heads a little higher in the world, it would be\nproper to sell the Colt, which was grown old, at a neighbouring fair,\nand buy us an horse that would carry single or double upon an occasion,\nand make a pretty appearance at church or upon a visit. This at first I\nopposed stoutly; but it was as stoutly defended. However, as I\nweakened, my antagonist gained strength, till at last it was resolved\nto part with him.\nAs the fair happened on the following day, I had intentions of going\nmyself, but my wife persuaded me that I had got a cold, and nothing\ncould prevail upon her to permit me from home. \u2018No, my dear,\u2019 said she,\n\u2018our son Moses is a discreet boy, and can buy and sell to very good\nadvantage; you know all our great bargains are of his purchasing. He\nalways stands out and higgles, and actually tires them till he gets a\nbargain.\u2019\nAs I had some opinion of my son\u2019s prudence, I was willing enough to\nentrust him with this commission; and the next morning I perceived his\nsisters mighty busy in fitting out Moses for the fair; trimming his\nhair, brushing his buckles, and cocking his hat with pins. The business\nof the toilet being over, we had at last the satisfaction of seeing him\nmounted upon the Colt, with a deal box before him to bring home\ngroceries in. He had on a coat made of that cloth they call thunder and\nlightning, which, though grown too short, was much too good to be\nthrown away. His waistcoat was of gosling green, and his sisters had\ntied his hair with a broad black ribband. We all followed him several\npaces, from the door, bawling after him good luck, good luck, till we\ncould see him no longer.\nHe was scarce gone, when Mr Thornhill\u2019s butler came to congratulate us\nupon our good fortune, saying, that he overheard his young master\nmention our names with great commendation.\nGood fortune seemed resolved not to come alone. Another footman from\nthe same family followed, with a card for my daughters, importing, that\nthe two ladies had received such pleasing accounts from Mr Thornhill of\nus all, that, after a few previous enquiries, they hoped to be\nperfectly satisfied. \u2018Ay,\u2019 cried my wife, I now see it is no easy\nmatter to get into the families of the great; but when one once gets\nin, then, as Moses says, one may go sleep.\u2019 To this piece of humour,\nfor she intended it for wit, my daughters assented with a loud laugh of\npleasure. In short, such was her satisfaction at this message, that she\nactually put her hand in her pocket, and gave the messenger seven-pence\nhalfpenny.\nThis was to be our visiting-day. The next that came was Mr Burchell,\nwho had been at the fair. He brought my little ones a pennyworth of\ngingerbread each, which my wife undertook to keep for them, and give\nthem by letters at a time. He brought my daughters also a couple of\nboxes, in which they might keep wafers, snuff, patches, or even money,\nwhen they got it. My wife was usually fond of a weasel-skin purse, as\nbeing the most lucky; but this by the bye. We had still a regard for Mr\nBurchell, though his late rude behaviour was in some measure\ndispleasing; nor could we now avoid communicating our happiness to him,\nand asking his advice: although we seldom followed advice, we were all\nready enough to ask it. When he read the note from the two ladies, he\nshook his head, and observed, that an affair of this sort demanded the\nutmost circumspection.\u2014This air of diffidence highly displeased my\nwife. \u2018I never doubted, Sir,\u2019 cried she, \u2018your readiness to be against\nmy daughters and me. You have more circumspection than is wanted.\nHowever, I fancy when we come to ask advice, we will apply to persons\nwho seem to have made use of it themselves.\u2019\u2014\u2018Whatever my own conduct\nmay have been, madam,\u2019 replied he, \u2018is not the present question; tho\u2019\nas I have made no use of advice myself, I should in conscience give it\nto those that will.\u2019\u2014As I was apprehensive this answer might draw on a\nrepartee, making up by abuse what it wanted in wit, I changed the\nsubject, by seeming to wonder what could keep our son so long at the\nfair, as it was now almost nightfall.\u2014\u2018Never mind our son,\u2019 cried my\nwife, \u2018depend upon it he knows what he is about. I\u2019ll warrant we\u2019ll\nnever see him sell his hen of a rainy day. I have seen him buy such\nbargains as would amaze one. I\u2019ll tell you a good story about that,\nthat will make you split your sides with laughing\u2014But as I live, yonder\ncomes Moses, without an horse, and the box at his back.\u2019\nAs she spoke, Moses came slowly on foot, and sweating under the deal\nbox, which he had strapt round his shoulders like a pedlar.\u2014\u2018Welcome,\nwelcome, Moses; well, my boy, what have you brought us from the\nfair?\u2019\u2014\u2018I have brought you myself,\u2019 cried Moses, with a sly look, and\nresting the box on the dresser.\u2014\u2018Ay, Moses,\u2019 cried my wife, \u2018that we\nknow, but where is the horse?\u2019 \u2018I have sold him,\u2019 cried Moses, \u2018for\nthree pounds five shillings and two-pence.\u2019\u2014\u2018Well done, my good boy,\u2019\nreturned she, \u2018I knew you would touch them off. Between ourselves,\nthree pounds five shillings and two-pence is no bad day\u2019s work. Come,\nlet us have it then.\u2019\u2014\u2018I have brought back no money,\u2019 cried Moses\nagain. \u2018I have laid it all out in a bargain, and here it is,\u2019 pulling\nout a bundle from his breast: \u2018here they are; a groce of green\nspectacles, with silver rims and shagreen cases.\u2019\u2014\u2018A groce of green\nspectacles!\u2019 repeated my wife in a faint voice. \u2018And you have parted\nwith the Colt, and brought us back nothing but a groce of green paltry\nspectacles!\u2019\u2014\u2018Dear mother,\u2019 cried the boy, \u2018why won\u2019t you listen to\nreason? I had them a dead bargain, or I should not have bought them.\nThe silver rims alone will sell for double money.\u2019\u2014\u2018A fig for the\nsilver rims,\u2019 cried my wife, in a passion: \u2018I dare swear they won\u2019t\nsell for above half the money at the rate of broken silver, five\nshillings an ounce.\u2019\u2014\u2018You need be under no uneasiness,\u2019 cried I, \u2018about\nselling the rims; for they are not worth six-pence, for I perceive they\nare only copper varnished over.\u2019\u2014\u2018What,\u2019 cried my wife, \u2018not silver,\nthe rims not silver!\u2019 \u2018No,\u2019 cried I, \u2018no more silver than your\nsaucepan,\u2019\u2014\u2018And so,\u2019 returned she, \u2018we have parted with the Colt, and\nhave only got a groce of green spectacles, with copper rims and\nshagreen cases! A murrain take such trumpery. The blockhead has been\nimposed upon, and should have known his company better.\u2019\u2014\u2018There, my\ndear,\u2019 cried I, \u2018you are wrong, he should not have known them at\nall.\u2019\u2014\u2018Marry, hang the ideot,\u2019 returned she, \u2018to bring me such stuff,\nif I had them, I would throw them in the fire.\u2019 \u2018There again you are\nwrong, my dear,\u2019 cried I; \u2018for though they be copper, we will keep them\nby us, as copper spectacles, you know, are better than nothing.\u2019\nBy this time the unfortunate Moses was undeceived. He now saw that he\nhad indeed been imposed upon by a prowling sharper, who, observing his\nfigure, had marked him for an easy prey. I therefore asked the\ncircumstances of his deception. He sold the horse, it seems, and walked\nthe fair in search of another. A reverend looking man brought him to a\ntent, under pretence of having one to sell. \u2018Here,\u2019 continued Moses,\n\u2018we met another man, very well drest, who desired to borrow twenty\npounds upon these, saying, that he wanted money, and would dispose of\nthem for a third of the value. The first gentleman, who pretended to be\nmy friend, whispered me to buy them, and cautioned me not to let so\ngood an offer pass. I sent for Mr Flamborough, and they talked him up\nas finely as they did me, and so at last we were persuaded to buy the\ntwo groce between us.\u2019\nCHAPTER XIII.\nMr Burchell is found to be an enemy; for he has the confidence to give\ndisagreeable advice.\nOur family had now made several attempts to be fine; but some\nunforeseen disaster demolished each as soon as projected. I endeavoured\nto take the advantage of every disappointment, to improve their good\nsense in proportion as they were frustrated in ambition. \u2018You see, my\nchildren,\u2019 cried I, \u2018how little is to be got by attempts to impose upon\nthe world, in coping with our betters. Such as are poor and will\nassociate with none but the rich, are hated by those they avoid, and\ndespised by these they follow. Unequal combinations are always\ndisadvantageous to the weaker side: the rich having the pleasure, and\nthe poor the inconveniencies that result from them. But come, Dick, my\nboy, and repeat the fable that you were reading to-day, for the good of\nthe company.\u2019.\n\u2018Once upon a time,\u2019 cried the child, \u2018a Giant and a Dwarf were friends,\nand kept together. They made a bargain that they would never forsake\neach other, but go seek adventures. The first battle they fought was\nwith two Saracens, and the Dwarf, who was very courageous, dealt one of\nthe champions a most angry blow. It did the Saracen but very little\ninjury, who lifting up his sword, fairly struck off the poor Dwarf\u2019s\narm. He was now in a woeful plight; but the Giant coming to his\nassistance, in a short time left the two Saracens dead on the plain,\nand the Dwarf cut off the dead man\u2019s head out of spite. They then\ntravelled on to another adventure. This was against three bloody-minded\nSatyrs, who were carrying away a damsel in distress. The Dwarf was not\nquite so fierce now as before; but for all that, struck the first blow,\nwhich was returned by another, that knocked out his eye: but the Giant\nwas soon up with them, and had they not fled, would certainly have\nkilled them every one. They were all very joyful for this victory, and\nthe damsel who was relieved fell in love with the Giant, and married\nhim. They now travelled far, and farther than I can tell, till they met\nwith a company of robbers. The Giant, for the first time, was foremost\nnow; but the Dwarf was not far behind. The battle was stout and long.\nWherever the Giant came all fell before him; but the Dwarf had like to\nhave been killed more than once. At last the victory declared for the\ntwo adventurers; but the Dwarf lost his leg. The Dwarf was now without\nan arm, a leg, and an eye, while the Giant was without a single wound.\nUpon which he cried out to his little companion, My little heroe, this\nis glorious sport; let us get one victory more, and then we shall have\nhonour for ever. No, cries the Dwarf who was by this time grown wiser,\nno, I declare off; I\u2019ll fight no more; for I find in every battle that\nyou get all the honour and rewards, but all the blows fall upon me.\u2019\nI was going to moralize this fable, when our attention was called off\nto a warm dispute between my wife and Mr Burchell, upon my daughters\nintended expedition to town. My wife very strenuously insisted upon the\nadvantages that would result from it. Mr Burchell, on the contrary,\ndissuaded her with great ardor, and I stood neuter. His present\ndissuasions seemed but the second part of those which were received\nwith so ill a grace in the morning. The dispute grew high while poor\nDeborah, instead of reasoning stronger, talked louder, and at last was\nobliged to take shelter from a defeat in clamour. The conclusion of her\nharangue, however, was highly displeasing to us all: she knew, she\nsaid, of some who had their own secret reasons for what they advised;\nbut, for her part, she wished such to stay away from her house for the\nfuture.\u2014\u2018Madam,\u2019 cried Burchell, with looks of great composure, which\ntended to enflame her the more, \u2018as for secret reasons, you are right:\nI have secret reasons, which I forbear to mention, because you are not\nable to answer those of which I make no secret: but I find my visits\nhere are become troublesome; I\u2019ll take my leave therefore now, and\nperhaps come once more to take a final farewell when I am quitting the\ncountry.\u2019 Thus saying, he took up his hat, nor could the attempts of\nSophia, whose looks seemed to upbraid his precipitancy, prevent his\ngoing.\nWhen gone, we all regarded each other for some minutes with confusion.\nMy wife, who knew herself to be the cause, strove to hide her concern\nwith a forced smile, and an air of assurance, which I was willing to\nreprove: \u2018How, woman,\u2019 cried I to her, \u2018is it thus we treat strangers?\nIs it thus we return their kindness? Be assured, my dear, that these\nwere the harshest words, and to me the most unpleasing that ever\nescaped your lips!\u2019\u2014\u2018Why would he provoke me then,\u2019 replied she; \u2018but I\nknow the motives of his advice perfectly well. He would prevent my\ngirls from going to town, that he may have the pleasure of my youngest\ndaughter\u2019s company here at home. But whatever happens, she shall chuse\nbetter company than such low-lived fellows as he.\u2019\u2014\u2018Low-lived, my dear,\ndo you call him,\u2019 cried I, \u2018it is very possible we may mistake this\nman\u2019s character: for he seems upon some occasions the most finished\ngentleman I ever knew.\u2014Tell me, Sophia, my girl, has he ever given you\nany secret instances of his attachment?\u2019\u2014\u2018His conversation with me,\nsir,\u2019 replied my daughter, \u2018has ever been sensible, modest, and\npleasing. As to aught else, no, never. Once, indeed, I remember to have\nheard him say he never knew a woman who could find merit in a man that\nseemed poor.\u2019 \u2018Such, my dear,\u2019 cried I, \u2018is the common cant of all the\nunfortunate or idle. But I hope you have been taught to judge properly\nof such men, and that it would be even madness to expect happiness from\none who has been so very bad an oeconomist of his own. Your mother and\nI have now better prospects for you. The next winter, which you will\nprobably spend in town, will give you opportunities of making a more\nprudent choice.\u2019 What Sophia\u2019s reflections were upon this occasion, I\ncan\u2019t pretend to determine; but I was not displeased at the bottom that\nwe were rid of a guest from whom I had much to fear. Our breach of\nhospitality went to my conscience a little: but I quickly silenced that\nmonitor by two or three specious reasons, which served to satisfy and\nreconcile me to myself. The pain which conscience gives the man who has\nalready done wrong, is soon got over. Conscience is a coward, and those\nfaults it has not strength enough to prevent, it seldom has justice\nenough to accuse.\nCHAPTER XIV.\nFresh mortifications, or a demonstration that seeming calamities may be\nreal blessings.\nThe journey of my daughters to town was now resolved upon, Mr Thornhill\nhaving kindly promised to inspect their conduct himself, and inform us\nby letter of their behaviour. But it was thought indispensably\nnecessary that their appearance should equal the greatness of their\nexpectations, which could not be done without expence. We debated\ntherefore in full council what were the easiest methods of raising\nmoney, or, more properly speaking, what we could most conveniently\nsell. The deliberation was soon finished, it was found that our\nremaining horse was utterly useless for the plow, without his\ncompanion, and equally unfit for the road, as wanting an eye, it was\ntherefore determined that we should dispose of him for the purposes\nabove-mentioned, at the neighbouring fair, and, to prevent imposition,\nthat I should go with him myself. Though this was one of the first\nmercantile transactions of my life, yet I had no doubt about acquitting\nmyself with reputation. The opinion a man forms of his own prudence is\nmeasured by that of the company he keeps, and as mine was mostly in the\nfamily way, I had conceived no unfavourable sentiments of my worldly\nwisdom. My wife, however, next morning, at parting, after I had got\nsome paces from the door, called me back, to advise me, in a whisper,\nto have all my eyes about me.\nI had, in the usual forms, when I came to the fair, put my horse\nthrough all his paces; but for some time had no bidders. At last a\nchapman approached, and, after he had for a good while examined the\nhorse round, finding him blind of one eye, he would have nothing to say\nto him: a second came up; but observing he had a spavin, declared he\nwould not take him for the driving home: a third perceived he had a\nwindgall, and would bid no money: a fourth knew by his eye that he had\nthe botts: a fifth, wondered what a plague I could do at the fair with\na blind, spavined, galled hack, that was only fit to be cut up for a\ndog kennel. By this time I began to have a most hearty contempt for the\npoor animal myself, and was almost ashamed at the approach of every\ncustomer; for though I did not entirely believe all the fellows told\nme; yet I reflected that the number of witnesses was a strong\npresumption they were right, and St Gregory, upon good works, professes\nhimself to be of the same opinion.\nI was in this mortifying situation, when a brother clergyman, an old\nacquaintance, who had also business to the fair, came up, and shaking\nme by the hand, proposed adjourning to a public-house and taking a\nglass of whatever we could get. I readily closed with the offer, and\nentering an ale-house, we were shewn into a little back room, where\nthere was only a venerable old man, who sat wholly intent over a large\nbook, which he was reading. I never in my life saw a figure that\nprepossessed me more favourably. His locks of silver grey venerably\nshaded his temples, and his green old age seemed to be the result of\nhealth and benevolence. However, his presence did not interrupt our\nconversation; my friend and I discoursed on the various turns of\nfortune we had met: the Whistonean controversy, my last pamphlet, the\narchdeacon\u2019s reply, and the hard measure that was dealt me. But our\nattention was in a short time taken off by the appearance of a youth,\nwho, entering the room, respectfully said something softly to the old\nstranger. \u2018Make no apologies, my child,\u2019 said the old man, \u2018to do good\nis a duty we owe to all our fellow creatures: take this, I wish it were\nmore; but five pounds will relieve your distress, and you are welcome.\u2019\nThe modest youth shed tears of gratitude, and yet his gratitude was\nscarce equal to mine. I could have hugged the good old man in my arms,\nhis benevolence pleased me so. He continued to read, and we resumed our\nconversation, until my companion, after some time, recollecting that he\nhad business to transact in the fair, promised to be soon back; adding,\nthat he always desired to have as much of Dr Primrose\u2019s company as\npossible. The old gentleman, hearing my name mentioned, seemed to look\nat me with attention, for some time, and when my friend was gone, most\nrespectfully demanded if I was any way related to the great Primrose,\nthat courageous monogamist, who had been the bulwark of the church.\nNever did my heart feel sincerer rapture than at that moment. \u2018Sir,\u2019\ncried I, \u2018the applause of so good a man, as I am sure you are, adds to\nthat happiness in my breast which your benevolence has already excited.\nYou behold before you, Sir, that Doctor Primrose, the monogamist, whom\nyou have been pleased to call great. You here see that unfortunate\nDivine, who has so long, and it would ill become me to say,\nsuccessfully, fought against the deuterogamy of the age.\u2019 \u2018Sir,\u2019 cried\nthe stranger, struck with awe, \u2018I fear I have been too familiar; but\nyou\u2019ll forgive my curiosity, Sir: I beg pardon.\u2019 \u2018Sir,\u2019 cried I,\ngrasping his hand, \u2018you are so far from displeasing me by your\nfamiliarity, that I must beg you\u2019ll accept my friendship, as you\nalready have my esteem.\u2019\u2014\u2018Then with gratitude I accept the offer,\u2019\ncried he, squeezing me by the hand, \u2018thou glorious pillar of unshaken\northodoxy; and do I behold\u2014\u2019 I here interrupted what he was going to\nsay; for tho\u2019, as an author, I could digest no small share of flattery,\nyet now my modesty would permit no more. However, no lovers in romance\never cemented a more instantaneous friendship. We talked upon several\nsubjects: at first I thought he seemed rather devout than learned, and\nbegan to think he despised all human doctrines as dross. Yet this no\nway lessened him in my esteem; for I had for some time begun privately\nto harbour such an opinion myself. I therefore took occasion to\nobserve, that the world in general began to be blameably indifferent as\nto doctrinal matters, and followed human speculations too much\u2014\u2018Ay,\nSir,\u2019 replied he, as if he had reserved all his learning to that\nmoment, \u2018Ay, Sir, the world is in its dotage, and yet the cosmogony or\ncreation of the world has puzzled philosophers of all ages. What a\nmedly of opinions have they not broached upon the creation of the\nworld? Sanconiathon, Manetho, Berosus, and Ocellus Lucanus, have all\nattempted it in vain. The latter has these words, _Anarchon ara kai\natelutaion to pan_, which imply that all things have neither beginning\nnor end. Manetho also, who lived about the time of Nebuchadon-Asser,\nAsser being a Syriac word usually applied as a sirname to the kings of\nthat country, as Teglat Phael-Asser, Nabon-Asser, he, I say, formed a\nconjecture equally absurd; for as we usually say _ek to biblion\nkubernetes_, which implies that books will never teach the world; so he\nattempted to investigate\u2014But, Sir, I ask pardon, I am straying from the\nquestion.\u2019\u2014That he actually was; nor could I for my life see how the\ncreation of the world had any thing to do with the business I was\ntalking of; but it was sufficient to shew me that he was a man of\nletters, and I now reverenced him the more. I was resolved therefore to\nbring him to the touch-stone; but he was too mild and too gentle to\ncontend for victory. Whenever I made any observation that looked like a\nchallenge to controversy, he would smile, shake his head, and say\nnothing; by which I understood he could say much, if he thought proper.\nThe subject therefore insensibly changed from the business of antiquity\nto that which brought us both to the fair; mine I told him was to sell\nan horse, and very luckily, indeed, his was to buy one for one of his\ntenants. My horse was soon produced, and in fine we struck a bargain.\nNothing now remained but to pay me, and he accordingly pulled out a\nthirty pound note, and bid me change it. Not being in a capacity of\ncomplying with his demand, he ordered his footman to be called up, who\nmade his appearance in a very genteel livery. \u2018Here, Abraham,\u2019 cried\nhe, \u2018go and get gold for this; you\u2019ll do it at neighbour Jackson\u2019s, or\nany where.\u2019 While the fellow was gone, he entertained me with a\npathetic harangue on the great scarcity of silver, which I undertook to\nimprove, by deploring also the great scarcity of gold; so that by the\ntime Abraham returned, we had both agreed that money was never so hard\nto be come at as now. Abraham returned to inform us, that he had been\nover the whole fair and could not get change, tho\u2019 he had offered half\na crown for doing it. This was a very great disappointment to us all;\nbut the old gentleman having paused a little, asked me if I knew one\nSolomon Flamborough in my part of the country: upon replying that he\nwas my next door neighbour, \u2018if that be the case then,\u2019 returned he, \u2018I\nbelieve we shall deal. You shall have a draught upon him, payable at\nsight; and let me tell you he is as warm a man as any within five miles\nround him. Honest Solomon and I have been acquainted for many years\ntogether. I remember I always beat him at threejumps; but he could hop\nupon one leg farther than I.\u2019 A draught upon my neighbour was to me the\nsame as money; for I was sufficiently convinced of his ability: the\ndraught was signed and put into my hands, and Mr Jenkinson, the old\ngentleman, his man Abraham, and my horse, old Blackberry, trotted off\nvery well pleased with each other.\nAfter a short interval being left to reflection, I began to recollect\nthat I had done wrong in taking a draught from a stranger, and so\nprudently resolved upon following the purchaser, and having back my\nhorse. But this was now too late: I therefore made directly homewards,\nresolving to get the draught changed into money at my friend\u2019s as fast\nas possible. I found my honest neighbour smoking his pipe at his own\ndoor, and informing him that I had a small bill upon him, he read it\ntwice over. \u2018You can read the name, I suppose,\u2019 cried I, \u2018Ephraim\nJenkinson.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\u2019 returned he, \u2018the name is written plain enough, and\nI know the gentleman too, the greatest rascal under the canopy of\nheaven. This is the very same rogue who sold us the spectacles. Was he\nnot a venerable looking man, with grey hair, and no flaps to his\npocket-holes? And did he not talk a long string of learning about Greek\nand cosmogony, and the world?\u2019 To this I replied with a groan. \u2018Aye,\u2019\ncontinued he, \u2018he has but that one piece of learning in the world, and\nhe always talks it away whenever he finds a scholar in company; but I\nknow the rogue, and will catch him yet.\u2019 Though I was already\nsufficiently mortified, my greatest struggle was to come, in facing my\nwife and daughters. No truant was ever more afraid of returning to\nschool, there to behold the master\u2019s visage, than I was of going home.\nI was determined, however, to anticipate their fury, by first falling\ninto a passion myself.\nBut, alas! upon entering, I found the family no way disposed for\nbattle. My wife and girls were all in tears, Mr Thornhill having been\nthere that day to inform them, that their journey to town was entirely\nover. The two ladies having heard reports of us from some malicious\nperson about us, were that day set out for London. He could neither\ndiscover the tendency, nor the author of these, but whatever they might\nbe, or whoever might have broached them, he continued to assure our\nfamily of his friendship and protection. I found, therefore, that they\nbore my disappointment with great resignation, as it was eclipsed in\nthe greatness of their own. But what perplexed us most was to think who\ncould be so base as to asperse the character of a family so harmless as\nours, too humble to excite envy, and too inoffensive to create disgust.\nCHAPTER XV.\nAll, Mr Burchell\u2019s villainy at once detected. The folly of being\nover-wise.\nThat evening and a part of the following day was employed in fruitless\nattempts to discover our enemies: scarce a family in the neighbourhood\nbut incurred our suspicions, and each of us had reasons for our opinion\nbest known to ourselves. As we were in this perplexity, one of our\nlittle boys, who had been playing abroad, brought in a letter-case,\nwhich he found on the green. It was quickly known to belong to Mr\nBurchell, with whom it had been seen, and, upon examination, contained\nsome hints upon different subjects; but what particularly engaged our\nattention was a sealed note, superscribed, _the copy of a letter to be\nsent to the ladies at Thornhill-castle._ It instantly occurred that he\nwas the base informer, and we deliberated whether the note should not\nbe broke open. I was against it; but Sophia, who said she was sure that\nof all men he would be the last to be guilty of so much baseness,\ninsisted upon its being read, In this she was seconded by the rest of\nthe family, and, at their joint solicitation, I read as follows:\u2014\n\u2018LADIES,\u2014The bearer will sufficiently satisfy you as to the person from\nwhom this comes: one at least the friend of innocence, and ready to\nprevent its being seduced. I am informed for a truth, that you have\nsome intention of bringing two young ladies to town, whom I have some\nknowledge of, under the character of companions. As I would neither\nhave simplicity imposed upon, nor virtue contaminated, I must offer it\nas my opinion, that the impropriety of such a step will be attended\nwith dangerous consequences. It has never been my way to treat the\ninfamous or the lewd with severity; nor should I now have taken this\nmethod of explaining myself, or reproving folly, did it not aim at\nguilt. Take therefore the admonition of a friend, and seriously reflect\non the consequences of introducing infamy and vice into retreats where\npeace and innocence have hitherto resided.\u2019\nOur doubts were now at an end. There seemed indeed something applicable\nto both sides in this letter, and its censures might as well be\nreferred to those to whom it was written, as to us; but the malicious\nmeaning was obvious, and we went no farther. My wife had scarce\npatience to hear me to the end, but railed at the writer with\nunrestrained resentment. Olivia was equally severe, and Sophia seemed\nperfectly amazed at his baseness. As for my part, it appeared to me one\nof the vilest instances of unprovoked ingratitude I had met with. Nor\ncould I account for it in any other manner than by imputing it to his\ndesire of detaining my youngest daughter in the country, to have the\nmore frequent opportunities of an interview. In this manner we all sate\nruminating upon schemes of vengeance, when our other little boy came\nrunning in to tell us that Mr Burchell was approaching at the other end\nof the field. It is easier to conceive than describe the complicated\nsensations which are felt from the pain of a recent injury, and the\npleasure of approaching vengeance. Tho\u2019 our intentions were only to\nupbraid him with his ingratitude; yet it was resolved to do it in a\nmanner that would be perfectly cutting. For this purpose we agreed to\nmeet him with our usual smiles, to chat in the beginning with more than\nordinary kindness, to amuse him a little; and then in the midst of the\nflattering calm to burst upon him like an earthquake, and overwhelm him\nwith the sense of his own baseness. This being resolved upon, my wife\nundertook to manage the business herself, as she really had some\ntalents for such an undertaking. We saw him approach, he entered, drew\na chair, and sate down.\u2014\u2018A fine day, Mr Burchell.\u2019\u2014\u2018A very fine day,\nDoctor; though I fancy we shall have some rain by the shooting of my\ncorns.\u2019\u2014\u2018The shooting of your horns,\u2019 cried my wife, in a loud fit of\nlaughter, and then asked pardon for being fond of a joke.\u2014\u2018Dear madam,\u2019\nreplied he, \u2018I pardon you with all my heart; for I protest I should not\nhave thought it a joke had you not told me.\u2019\u2014\u2018Perhaps not, Sir,\u2019 cried\nmy wife, winking at us, \u2018and yet I dare say you can tell us how many\njokes go to an ounce.\u2019\u2014\u2018I fancy, madam,\u2019 returned Burchell, \u2018you have\nbeen reading a jest book this morning, that ounce of jokes is so very\ngood a conceit; and yet, madam, I had rather see half an ounce of\nunderstanding.\u2019\u2014\u2018I believe you might,\u2019 cried my wife, still smiling at\nus, though the laugh was against her; \u2018and yet I have seen some men\npretend to understanding that have very little.\u2019\u2014\u2018And no doubt,\u2019\nreplied her antagonist, \u2018you have known ladies set up for wit that had\nnone.\u2019\u2014I quickly began to find that my wife was likely to gain but\nlittle at this business; so I resolved to treat him in a stile of more\nseverity myself. \u2018Both wit and understanding,\u2019 cried I, \u2018are trifles,\nwithout integrity: it is that which gives value to every character. The\nignorant peasant, without fault, is greater than the philosopher with\nmany; for what is genius or courage without an heart? _An honest man is\nthe noblest work of God._\n\u2018I always held that hackney\u2019d maxim of Pope,\u2019 returned Mr Burchell, \u2018as\nvery unworthy a man of genius, and a base desertion of his own\nsuperiority. As the reputation of books is raised not by their freedom\nfrom defect, but the greatness of their beauties; so should that of men\nbe prized not for their exemption from fault, but the size of those\nvirtues they are possessed of. The scholar may want prudence, the\nstatesman may have pride, and the champion ferocity; but shall we\nprefer to these the low mechanic, who laboriously plods on through\nlife, without censure or applause? We might as well prefer the tame\ncorrect paintings of the Flemish school to the erroneous, but sublime\nanimations of the Roman pencil.\u2019\n\u2018Sir,\u2019 replied I, \u2018your present observation is just, when there are\nshining virtues and minute defects; but when it appears that great\nvices are opposed in the same mind to as extraordinary virtues, such a\ncharacter deserves contempt.\u2019 \u2018Perhaps,\u2019 cried he, \u2018there may be some\nsuch monsters as you describe, of great vices joined to great virtues;\nyet in my progress through life, I never yet found one instance of\ntheir existence: on the contrary, I have ever perceived, that where the\nmind was capacious, the affections were good. And indeed Providence\nseems kindly our friend in this particular, thus to debilitate the\nunderstanding where the heart is corrupt, and diminish the power where\nthere is the will to do mischief. This rule seems to extend even to\nother animals: the little vermin race are ever treacherous, cruel, and\ncowardly, whilst those endowed with strength and power are generous,\nbrave, and gentle.\u2019\n\u2018These observations sound well,\u2019 returned I, \u2018and yet it would be easy\nthis moment to point out a man,\u2019 and I fixed my eye stedfastly upon\nhim, \u2018whose head and heart form a most detestable contrast. Ay, Sir,\u2019\ncontinued I, raising my voice, \u2018and I am glad to have this opportunity\nof detecting him in the midst of his fancied security. Do you know\nthis, Sir, this pocket-book?\u2019\u2014\u2018Yes, Sir,\u2019 returned he, with a face of\nimpenetrable assurance, \u2018that pocket-book is mine, and I am glad you\nhave found it.\u2019\u2014\u2018And do you know,\u2019 cried I, \u2018this letter? Nay, never\nfalter man; but look me full in the face: I say, do you know this\nletter?\u2019\u2014\u2018That letter,\u2019 returned he, \u2018yes, it was I that wrote that\nletter.\u2019\u2014\u2018And how could you,\u2019 said I, \u2018so basely, so ungratefully\npresume to write this letter?\u2019\u2014\u2018And how came you,\u2019 replied he, with\nlooks of unparallelled effrontery, \u2018so basely to presume to break open\nthis letter? Don\u2019t you know, now, I could hang you all for this? All\nthat I have to do, is to swear at the next justice\u2019s, that you have\nbeen guilty of breaking open the lock of my pocket-book, and so hang\nyou all up at his door.\u2019 This piece of unexpected insolence raised me\nto such a pitch, that I could scare govern my passion. \u2018Ungrateful\nwretch, begone, and no longer pollute my dwelling with thy baseness.\nBegone, and never let me see thee again: go from my doors, and the only\npunishment I wish thee is an alarmed conscience, which will be a\nsufficient tormentor!\u2019 So saying, I threw him his pocket-book, which he\ntook up with a smile, and shutting the clasps with the utmost\ncomposure, left us, quite astonished at the serenity of his assurance.\nMy wife was particularly enraged that nothing could make him angry, or\nmake him seem ashamed of his villainies. \u2018My dear,\u2019 cried I, willing to\ncalm those passions that had been raised too high among us, \u2018we are not\nto be surprised that bad men want shame; they only blush at being\ndetected in doing good, but glory in their vices.\n\u2018Guilt and shame, says the allegory, were at first companions, and in\nthe beginning of their journey inseparably kept together. But their\nunion was soon found to be disagreeable and inconvenient to both; guilt\ngave shame frequent uneasiness, and shame often betrayed the secret\nconspiracies of guilt. After long disagreeement, therefore, they at\nlength consented to part for ever. Guilt boldly walked forward alone,\nto overtake fate, that went before in the shape of an executioner: but\nshame being naturally timorous, returned back to keep company with\nvirtue, which, in the beginning of their journey, they had left behind.\nThus, my children, after men have travelled through a few stages in\nvice, shame forsakes them, and returns back to wait upon the few\nvirtues they have still remaining.\u2019\nCHAPTER XVI.\nThe family use art, which is opposed with, still greater.\nWhatever might have been Sophia\u2019s sensations, the rest of the family\nwas easily consoled, for Mr Burchell\u2019s absence by the company of our\nlandlord, whose visits now became more frequent and longer. Though he\nhad been disappointed in procuring my daughters the amusements of the\ntown, as he designed, he took every opportunity of supplying them with\nthose little recreations which our retirement would admit of. He\nusually came in the morning, and while my son and I followed our\noccupations abroad, he sat with the family at home, and amused them by\ndescribing the town, with every part of which he was particularly\nacquainted. He could repeat all the observations that were retailed in\nthe atmosphere of the playhouses, and had all the good things of the\nhigh wits by rote long before they made way into the jest-books. The\nintervals between conversation were employed in teaching my daughters\npiquet, or sometimes in setting my two little ones to box to make them\n_sharp_, as he called it: but the hopes of having him for a son-in-law,\nin some measure blinded us to all his imperfections. It must be owned\nthat my wife laid a thousand schemes to entrap him, or, to speak it\nmore tenderly, used every art to magnify the merit of her daughter. If\nthe cakes at tea eat short and crisp, they were made by Olivia: if the\ngooseberry wine was well knit, the gooseberries were of her gathering:\nit was her fingers which gave the pickles their peculiar green; and in\nthe composition of a pudding, it was her judgment that mix\u2019d the\ningredients. Then the poor woman would sometimes tell the \u2019Squire, that\nshe thought him and Olivia extremely of a size, and would bid both\nstand up to see which was tallest. These instances of cunning, which\nshe thought impenetrable, yet which every body saw through, were very\npleasing to our benefactor, who gave every day some new proofs of his\npassion, which though they had not arisen to proposals of marriage, yet\nwe thought fell but little short of it; and his slowness was attributed\nsometimes to native bashfulness, and sometimes to his fear of offending\nhis uncle. An occurrence, however, which happened soon after, put it\nbeyond a doubt that he designed to become one of our family, my wife\neven regarded it as an absolute promise.\nMy wife and daughters happening to return a visit to neighbour\nFlamborough\u2019s, found that family had lately got their pictures drawn by\na limner, who travelled the country, and took likenesses for fifteen\nshillings a head. As this family and ours had long a sort of rivalry in\npoint of taste, our spirit took the alarm at this stolen march upon us,\nand notwithstanding all I could say, and I said much, it was resolved\nthat we should have our pictures done too. Having, therefore, engaged\nthe limner, for what could I do? our next deliberation was to shew the\nsuperiority of our taste in the attitudes. As for our neighbour\u2019s\nfamily, there were seven of them, and they were drawn with seven\noranges, a thing quite out of taste, no variety in life, no composition\nin the world. We desired to have something in a brighter style, and,\nafter many debates, at length came to an unanimous resolution of being\ndrawn together, in one large historical family piece. This would be\ncheaper, since one frame would serve for all, and it would be\ninfinitely more genteel; for all families of any taste were now drawn\nin the same manner. As we did not immediately recollect an historical\nsubject to hit us, we were contented each with being drawn as\nindependent historical figures. My wife desired to be represented as\nVenus, and the painter was desired not to be too frugal of his diamonds\nin her stomacher and hair. Her two little ones were to be as Cupids by\nher side, while I, in my gown and band, was to present her with my\nbooks on the Whistonian controversy. Olivia would be drawn as an\nAmazon, sitting upon a bank of flowers, drest in a green joseph, richly\nlaced with gold, and a whip in her hand. Sophia was to be a\nshepherdess, with as many sheep as the painter could put in for\nnothing; and Moses was to be drest out with an hat and white feather.\nOur taste so much pleased the \u2019Squire, that he insisted on being put in\nas one of the family in the character of Alexander the great, at\nOlivia\u2019s feet. This was considered by us all as an indication of his\ndesire to be introduced into the family, nor could we refuse his\nrequest. The painter was therefore set to work, and as he wrought with\nassiduity and expedition, in less than four days the whole was\ncompleated. The piece was large, and it must be owned he did not spare\nhis colours; for which my wife gave him great encomiums. We were all\nperfectly satisfied with his performance; but an unfortunate\ncircumstance had not occurred till the picture was finished, which now\nstruck us with dismay. It was so very large that we had no place in the\nhouse to fix it. How we all came to disregard so material a point is\ninconceivable; but certain it is, we had been all greatly remiss. The\npicture, therefore, instead of gratifying our vanity, as we hoped,\nleaned, in a most mortifying manner, against the kitchen wall, where\nthe canvas was stretched and painted, much too large to be got through\nany of the doors, and the jest of all our neighhours. One compared it\nto Robinson Crusoe\u2019s long-boat, too large to be removed; another\nthought it more resembled a reel in a bottle; some wondered how it\ncould be got out, but still more were amazed how it ever got in.\nBut though it excited the ridicule of some, it effectually raised more\nmalicious suggestions in many. The \u2019Squire\u2019s portrait being found\nunited with ours, was an honour too great to escape envy. Scandalous\nwhispers began to circulate at our expence, and our tranquility was\ncontinually disturbed by persons who came as friends to tell us what\nwas said of us by enemies. These reports we always resented with\nbecoming spirit; but scandal ever improves by opposition.\nWe once again therefore entered into a consultation upon obviating the\nmalice of our enemies, and at last came to a resolution which had too\nmuch cunning to give me entire satisfaction. It was this: as our\nprincipal object was to discover the honour of Mr Thornhill\u2019s\naddresses, my wife undertook to sound him, by pretending to ask his\nadvice in the choice of an husband for her eldest daughter. If this was\nnot found sufficient to induce him to a declaration, it was then\nresolved to terrify him with a rival. To this last step, however, I\nwould by no means give my consent, till Olivia gave me the most solemn\nassurances that she would marry the person provided to rival him upon\nthis occasion, if he did not prevent it, by taking her himself. Such\nwas the scheme laid, which though I did not strenuously oppose, I did\nnot entirely approve.\nThe next time, therefore, that Mr Thornhill came to see us, my girls\ntook care to be out of the way, in order to give their mamma an\nopportunity of putting her scheme in execution; but they only retired\nto the next room, from whence they could over-hear the whole\nconversation: My wife artfully introduced it, by observing, that one of\nthe Miss Flamboroughs was like to have a very good match of it in Mr\nSpanker. To this the \u2019Squire assenting, she proceeded to remark, that\nthey who had warm fortunes were always sure of getting good husbands:\n\u2018But heaven help,\u2019 continued she, \u2018the girls that have none. What\nsignifies beauty, Mr Thornhill? or what signifies all the virtue, and\nall the qualifications in the world, in this age of self-interest? It\nis not, what is she? but what has she? is all the cry.\u2019\n\u2018Madam,\u2019 returned he, \u2018I highly approve the justice, as well as the\nnovelty, of your remarks, and if I were a king, it should be otherwise.\nIt should then, indeed, be fine times with the girls without fortunes:\nour two young ladies should be the first for whom I would provide.\u2019\n\u2018Ah, Sir!\u2019 returned my wife, \u2018you are pleased to be facetious: but I\nwish I were a queen, and then I know where my eldest daughter should\nlook for an husband. But now, that you have put it into my head,\nseriously Mr Thornhill, can\u2019t you recommend me a proper husband for\nher? She is now nineteen years old, well grown and well educated, and,\nin my humble opinion, does not want for parts.\u2019 \u2018Madam,\u2019 replied he,\n\u2018if I were to chuse, I would find out a person possessed of every\naccomplishment that can make an angel happy. One with prudence,\nfortune, taste, and sincerity, such, madam, would be, in my opinion,\nthe proper husband.\u2019 \u2018Ay, Sir,\u2019 said she, \u2018but do you know of any such\nperson?\u2019\u2014\u2018No, madam,\u2019 returned he, \u2018it is impossible to know any person\nthat deserves to be her husband: she\u2019s too great a treasure for one\nman\u2019s possession: she\u2019s a goddess. Upon my soul, I speak what I think,\nshe\u2019s an angel.\u2019\u2014\u2018Ah, Mr Thornhill, you only flatter my poor girl: but\nwe have been thinking of marrying her to one of your tenants, whose\nmother is lately dead, and who wants a manager: you know whom I mean,\nfarmer Williams; a warm man, Mr Thornhill, able to give her good bread;\nand who has several times made her proposals: (which was actually the\ncase) but, Sir,\u2019 concluded she, \u2018I should be glad to have your\napprobation of our choice.\u2019\u2014\u2018How, madam,\u2019 replied he, \u2018my approbation!\nMy approbation of such a choice! Never. What! Sacrifice so much beauty,\nand sense, and goodness, to a creature insensible of the blessing!\nExcuse me, I can never approve of such a piece of injustice And I have\nmy reasons!\u2019\u2014\u2018Indeed, Sir,\u2019 cried Deborah, \u2018if you have your reasons,\nthat\u2019s another affair; but I should be glad to know those\nreasons.\u2019\u2014\u2018Excuse me, madam,\u2019 returned he, \u2018they lie too deep for\ndiscovery: (laying his hand upon his bosom) they remain buried,\nrivetted here.\u2019\nAfter he was gone, upon general consultation, we could not tell what to\nmake of these fine sentiments. Olivia considered them as instances of\nthe most exalted passion; but I was not quite so sanguine: it seemed to\nme pretty plain, that they had more of love than matrimony in them:\nyet, whatever they might portend, it was resolved to prosecute the\nscheme of farmer Williams, who, from my daughter\u2019s first appearance in\nthe country, had paid her his addresses.\nCHAPTER XVII.\nScarce any virtue found to resist the power of long and pleasing\ntemptation.\nAs I only studied my child\u2019s real happiness, the assiduity of Mr\nWilliams pleased me, as he was in easy circumstances, prudent, and\nsincere. It required but very little encouragement to revive his former\npassion; so that in an evening or two he and Mr Thornhill met at our\nhouse, and surveyed each other for some time with looks of anger: but\nWilliams owed his landlord no rent, and little regarded his\nindignation. Olivia, on her side, acted the coquet to perfection, if\nthat might be called acting which was her real character, pretending to\nlavish all her tenderness on her new lover. Mr Thornhill appeared quite\ndejected at this preference, and with a pensive air took leave, though\nI own it puzzled me to find him so much in pain as he appeared to be,\nwhen he had it in his power so easily to remove the cause, by declaring\nan honourable passion. But whatever uneasiness he seemed to endure, it\ncould easily be perceived that Olivia\u2019s anguish was still greater.\nAfter any of these interviews between her lovers, of which there were\nseveral, she usually retired to solitude, and there indulged her grief.\nIt was in such a situation I found her one evening, after she had been\nfor some time supporting a fictitious gayety.\u2014\u2018You now see, my child,\u2019\nsaid I, \u2018that your confidence in Mr Thornhill\u2019s passion was all a\ndream: he permits the rivalry of another, every way his inferior,\nthough he knows it lies in his power to secure you to himself by a\ncandid declaration.\u2019\u2014\u2018Yes, pappa,\u2019 returned she, \u2018but he has his\nreasons for this delay: I know he has. The sincerity of his looks and\nwords convince me of his real esteem. A short time, I hope, will\ndiscover the generosity of his sentiments, and convince you that my\nopinion of him has been more just than yours.\u2019\u2014\u2018Olivia, my darling,\u2019\nreturned I, \u2018every scheme that has been hitherto pursued to compel him\nto a declaration, has been proposed and planned by yourself, nor can\nyou in the least say that I have constrained you. But you must not\nsuppose, my dear, that I will ever be instrumental in suffering his\nhonest rival to be the dupe of your ill-placed passion. Whatever time\nyou require to bring your fancied admirer to an explanation shall be\ngranted; but at the expiration of that term, if he is still regardless,\nI must absolutely insist that honest Mr Williams shall be rewarded for\nhis fidelity. The character which I have hitherto supported in life\ndemands this from me, and my tenderness, as a parent, shall never\ninfluence my integrity as a man. Name then your day, let it be as\ndistant as you think proper, and in the mean time take care to let Mr\nThornhill know the exact time on which I design delivering you up to\nanother. If he really loves you, his own good sense will readily\nsuggest that there is but one method alone to prevent his losing you\nforever.\u2019\u2014This proposal, which she could not avoid considering as\nperfectly just, was readily agreed to. She again renewed her most\npositive promise of marrying Mr Williams, in case of the other\u2019s\ninsensibility; and at the next opportunity, in Mr Thornhill\u2019s presence,\nthat day month was fixed upon for her nuptials with his rival.\nSuch vigorous proceedings seemed to redouble Mr Thornhill\u2019s anxiety:\nbut what Olivia really felt gave me some uneasiness. In this struggle\nbetween prudence and passion, her vivacity quite forsook her, and every\nopportunity of solitude was sought, and spent in tears. One week passed\naway; but Mr Thornhill made no efforts to restrain her nuptials. The\nsucceeding week he was still assiduous; but not more open. On the third\nhe discontinued his visits entirely, and instead of my daughter\ntestifying any impatience, as I expected, she seemed to retain a\npensive tranquillity, which I looked upon as resignation. For my own\npart, I was now sincerely pleased with thinking that my child was going\nto be secured in a continuance of competence and peace, and frequently\napplauded her resolution, in preferring happiness to ostentation.\nIt was within about four days of her intended nuptials, that my little\nfamily at night were gathered round a charming fire, telling stories of\nthe past, and laying schemes for the future. Busied in forming a\nthousand projects, and laughing at whatever folly came uppermost,\n\u2018Well, Moses,\u2019 cried I, \u2018we shall soon, my boy, have a wedding in the\nfamily, what is your opinion of matters and things in general?\u2019\u2014\u2018My\nopinion, father, is, that all things go on very well; and I was just\nnow thinking, that when sister Livy is married to farmer Williams, we\nshall then have the loan of his cyder-press and brewing tubs for\nnothing.\u2019\u2014\u2018That we shall, Moses,\u2019 cried I, \u2018and he will sing us Death\nand the Lady, to raise our spirits into the bargain.\u2019\u2014\u2018He has taught\nthat song to our Dick,\u2019 cried Moses; \u2018and I think he goes thro\u2019 it very\nprettily.\u2019\u2014\u2018Does he so,\u2019 cried I, then let us have it: where\u2019s little\nDick? let him up with it boldly.\u2019\u2014\u2018My brother Dick,\u2019 cried Bill my\nyoungest, \u2018is just gone out with sister Livy; but Mr Williams has\ntaught me two songs, and I\u2019ll sing them for you, pappa. Which song do\nyou chuse, the Dying Swan, or the Elegy on the death of a mad dog?\u2019\n\u2018The elegy, child, by all means,\u2019 said I, \u2018I never heard that yet; and\nDeborah, my life, grief you know is dry, let us have a bottle of the\nbest gooseberry wine, to keep up our spirits. I have wept so much at\nall sorts of elegies of late, that without an enlivening glass I am\nsure this will overcome me; and Sophy, love, take your guitar, and\nthrum in with the boy a little.\u2019\nAn Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog.\nGood people all, of every sort,\n    Give ear unto my song;\nAnd if you find it wond\u2019rous short,\n    It cannot hold you long.\nIn Isling town there was a man,\n    Of whom the world might say,\nThat still a godly race he ran,\n    Whene\u2019er he went to pray.\nA kind and gentle heart he had,\n    To comfort friends and foes;\nThe naked every day he clad,\n    When he put on his cloaths.\nAnd in that town a dog was found,\n    As many dogs there be,\nBoth mungrel, puppy, whelp, and hound,\n    And curs of low degree.\nThis dog and man at first were friends;\n    But when a pique began,\nThe dog, to gain some private ends,\n    Went mad and bit the man.\nAround from all the neighbouring streets,\n    The wondering neighbours ran,\nAnd swore the dog had lost his wits,\n    To bite so good a man.\nThe wound it seem\u2019d both sore and sad,\n    To every Christian eye;\nAnd while they swore the dog was mad,\n    They swore the man would die.\nBut soon a wonder came to light,\n    That shew\u2019d the rogues they lied,\nThe man recovered of the bite,\n    The dog it was that dy\u2019d.\n\u2018A very good boy, Bill, upon my word, and an elegy that may truly be\ncalled tragical. Come, my children, here\u2019s Bill\u2019s health, and may he\none day be a bishop.\u2019\n\u2018With all my heart,\u2019 cried my wife; \u2018and if he but preaches as well as\nhe sings, I make no doubt of him. The most of his family, by the\nmother\u2019s side, could sing a good song: it was a common saying in our\ncountry, that the family of the Blenkinsops could never look strait\nbefore them, nor the Huginsons blow out a candle; that there were none\nof the Grograms but could sing a song, or of the Marjorams but could\ntell a story.\u2019\u2014\u2018However that be,\u2019 cried I, \u2018the most vulgar ballad of\nthem all generally pleases me better than the fine modern odes, and\nthings that petrify us in a single stanza; productions that we at once\ndetest and praise. Put the glass to your brother, Moses.\u2014The great\nfault of these elegiasts is, that they are in despair for griefs that\ngive the sensible part of mankind very little pain. A lady loses her\nmuff, her fan, or her lap-dog, and so the silly poet runs home to\nversify the disaster.\u2019\n\u2018That may be the mode,\u2019 cried Moses, \u2018in sublimer compositions; but the\nRanelagh songs that come down to us are perfectly familiar, and all\ncast in the same mold: Colin meets Dolly, and they hold a dialogue\ntogether; he gives her a fairing to put in her hair, and she presents\nhim with a nosegay; and then they go together to church, where they\ngive good advice to young nymphs and swains to get married as fast as\nthey can.\u2019\n\u2018And very good advice too,\u2019 cried I, \u2018and I am told there is not a\nplace in the world where advice can be given with so much propriety as\nthere; for, as it persuades us to marry, it also furnishes us with a\nwife; and surely that must be an excellent market, my boy, where we are\ntold what we want, and supplied with it when wanting.\u2019\n\u2018Yes, Sir,\u2019 returned Moses, \u2018and I know but of two such markets for\nwives in Europe, Ranelagh in England, and Fontarabia in Spain. The\nSpanish market is open once a year, but our English wives are saleable\nevery night.\u2019\n\u2018You are right, my boy,\u2019 cried his mother, \u2018Old England is the only\nplace in the world for husbands to get wives.\u2019\u2014\u2018And for wives to manage\ntheir husbands,\u2019 interrupted I. \u2018It is a proverb abroad, that if a\nbridge were built across the sea, all the ladies of the Continent would\ncome over to take pattern from ours; for there are no such wives in\nEurope as our own. But let us have one bottle more, Deborah, my life,\nand Moses give us a good song. What thanks do we not owe to heaven for\nthus bestowing tranquillity, health, and competence. I think myself\nhappier now than the greatest monarch upon earth. He has no such\nfire-side, nor such pleasant faces about it. Yes, Deborah, we are now\ngrowing old; but the evening of our life is likely to be happy. We are\ndescended from ancestors that knew no stain, and we shall leave a good\nand virtuous race of children behind us. While we live they will be our\nsupport and our pleasure here, and when we die they will transmit our\nhonour untainted to posterity. Come, my son, we wait for a song: let us\nhave a chorus. But where is my darling Olivia? That little cherub\u2019s\nvoice is always sweetest in the concert.\u2019\u2014Just as I spoke Dick came\nrunning in. \u2018O pappa, pappa, she is gone from us, she is gone from us,\nmy sister Livy is gone from us for ever\u2019\u2014\u2018Gone, child\u2019\u2014\u2018Yes, she is\ngone off with two gentlemen in a post chaise, and one of them kissed\nher, and said he would die for her; and she cried very much, and was\nfor coming back; but he persuaded her again, and she went into the\nchaise, and said, O what will my poor pappa do when he knows I am\nundone!\u2019\u2014\u2018Now then,\u2019 cried I, \u2018my children, go and be miserable; for we\nshall never enjoy one hour more. And O may heaven\u2019s everlasting fury\nlight upon him and his! Thus to rob me of my child! And sure it will,\nfor taking back my sweet innocent that I was leading up to heaven. Such\nsincerity as my child was possest of. But all our earthly happiness is\nnow over! Go, my children, go, and be miserable and infamous; for my\nheart is broken within me!\u2019\u2014\u2018Father,\u2019 cried my son, \u201cis this your\nfortitude?\u2019\u2014\u2018Fortitude, child! Yes, he shall see I have fortitude!\nBring me my pistols. I\u2019ll pursue the traitor. While he is on earth I\u2019ll\npursue him. Old as I am, he shall find I can sting him yet. The\nvillain! The perfidious villain!\u2019\u2014I had by this time reached down my\npistols, when my poor wife, whose passions were not so strong as mine,\ncaught me in her arms. \u2018My dearest, dearest husband,\u2019 cried she, \u2018the\nBible is the only weapon that is fit for your old hands now. Open that,\nmy love, and read our anguish into patience, for she has vilely\ndeceived us.\u2019\u2014\u2018Indeed, Sir,\u2019 resumed my son, after a pause, \u2018your rage\nis too violent and unbecoming. You should be my mother\u2019s comforter, and\nyou encrease her pain. It ill suited you and your reverend character\nthus to curse your greatest enemy: you should not have curst him,\nvillian as he is.\u2019\u2014\u2018I did not curse him, child, did I?\u2019\u2014\u2018Indeed, Sir,\nyou did; you curst him twice.\u2019\u2014\u2018Then may heaven forgive me and him if I\ndid. And now, my son, I see it was more than human benevolence that\nfirst taught us to bless our enemies! Blest be his holy name for all\nthe good he hath given, and for all that he hath taken away. But it is\nnot, it is not, a small distress that can wring tears from these old\neyes, that have not wept for so many years. My Child!\u2014To undo my\ndarling! May confusion seize! Heaven forgive me, what am I about to\nsay! You may remember, my love, how good she was, and how charming;\ntill this vile moment all her care was to make us happy. Had she but\ndied! But she is gone, the honour of our family contaminated, and I\nmust look out for happiness in other worlds than here. But my child,\nyou saw them go off: perhaps he forced her away? If he forced her, she\nmay \u2018yet be innocent.\u2019\u2014\u2018Ah no, Sir!\u2019 cried the child; \u2018he only kissed\nher, and called her his angel, and she wept very much, and leaned upon\nhis arm, and they drove off very fast.\u2019\u2014\u2018She\u2019s an ungrateful creature,\u2019\ncried my wife, who could scarce speak for weeping, \u2018to use us thus. She\nnever had the least constraint put upon her affections. The vile\nstrumpet has basely deserted her parents without any provocation, thus\nto bring your grey hairs to the grave, and I must shortly follow.\u2019\nIn this manner that night, the first of our real misfortunes, was spent\nin the bitterness of complaint, and ill supported sallies of\nenthusiasm. I determined, however, to find out our betrayer, wherever\nhe was, and reproach his baseness. The next morning we missed our\nwretched child at breakfast, where she used to give life and\ncheerfulness to us all. My wife, as before, attempted to ease her heart\nby reproaches. \u2018Never,\u2019 cried she, \u2018shall that vilest stain of our\nfamily again darken those harmless doors. I will never call her\ndaughter more. No, let the strumpet live with her vile seducer: she may\nbring us to shame but she shall never more deceive us.\u2019\n\u2018Wife,\u2019 said I, \u2018do not talk thus hardly: my detestation of her guilt\nis as great as yours; but ever shall this house and this heart be open\nto a poor returning repentant sinner. The sooner she returns from her\ntransgression, the more welcome shall she be to me. For the first time\nthe very best may err; art may persuade, and novelty spread out its\ncharm. The first fault is the child of simplicity; but every other the\noffspring of guilt. Yes, the wretched creature shall be welcome to this\nheart and this house, tho\u2019 stained with ten thousand vices. I will\nagain hearken to the music of her voice, again will I hang fondly on\nher bosom, if I find but repentance there. My son, bring hither my\nBible and my staff, I will pursue her, wherever she is, and tho\u2019 I\ncannot save her from shame, I may prevent the continuance of iniquity.\u2019\nCHAPTER XVIII.\nThe pursuit of a father to reclaim a lost child to virtue.\nTho\u2019 the child could not describe the gentleman\u2019s person who handed his\nsister into the post-chaise, yet my suspicions fell entirely upon our\nyoung landlord, whose character for such intrigues was but too well\nknown. I therefore directed my steps towards Thornhill-castle,\nresolving to upbraid him, and, if possible, to bring back my daughter:\nbut before I had reached his seat, I was met by one of my parishioners,\nwho said he saw a young lady resembling my daughter in a post-chaise\nwith a gentleman, whom, by the description, I could only guess to be Mr\nBurchell, and that they drove very fast. This information, however, did\nby no means satisfy me. I therefore went to the young \u2019Squire\u2019s, and\nthough it was yet early, insisted upon seeing him immediately: he soon\nappeared with the most open familiar air, and seemed perfectly amazed\nat my daughter\u2019s elopement, protesting upon his honour that he was\nquite a stranger to it. I now therefore condemned my former suspicions,\nand could turn them only on Mr Burchell, who I recollected had of late\nseveral private conferences with her: but the appearance of another\nwitness left me no room to doubt of his villainy, who averred, that he\nand my daughter were actually gone towards the wells, about thirty\nmiles off, where there was a great deal of company. Being driven to\nthat state of mind in which we are more ready to act precipitately than\nto reason right, I never debated with myself, whether these accounts\nmight not have been given by persons purposely placed in my way, to\nmislead me, but resolved to pursue my daughter and her fancied deluder\nthither. I walked along with earnestness, and enquired of several by\nthe way; but received no accounts, till entering the town, I was met by\na person on horseback, whom I remembered to have seen at the \u2019Squire\u2019s,\nand he assured me that if I followed them to the races, which were but\nthirty miles farther, I might depend upon overtaking them; for he had\nseen them dance there the night before, and the whole assembly seemed\ncharmed with my daughter\u2019s performance. Early the next day I walked\nforward to the races, and about four in the afternoon I came upon the\ncourse. The company made a very brilliant appearance, all earnestly\nemployed in one pursuit, that of pleasure; how different from mine,\nthat of reclaiming a lost child to virtue! I thought I perceived Mr\nBurchell at some distance from me; but, as if he dreaded an interview,\nupon my approaching him, he mixed among a crowd, and I saw him no more.\nI now reflected that it would be to no purpose to continue my pursuit\nfarther, and resolved to return home to an innocent family, who wanted\nmy assistance. But the agitations of my mind, and the fatigues I had\nundergone, threw me into a fever, the symptoms of which I perceived\nbefore I came off the course. This was another unexpected stroke, as I\nwas more than seventy miles distant from home: however, I retired to a\nlittle ale-house by the road-side, and in this place, the usual retreat\nof indigence and frugality, I laid me down patiently to wait the issue\nof my disorder. I languished here for near three weeks; but at last my\nconstitution prevailed, though I was unprovided with money to defray\nthe expences of my entertainment. It is possible the anxiety from this\nlast circumstance alone might have brought on a relapse, had I not been\nsupplied by a traveller, who stopt to take a cursory refreshment. This\nperson was no other than the philanthropic bookseller in St Paul\u2019s\nchurch-yard, who has written so many little books for children: he\ncalled himself their friend; but he was the friend of all mankind. He\nwas no sooner alighted, but he was in haste to be gone; for he was ever\non business of the utmost importance, and was at that time actually\ncompiling materials for the history of one Mr Thomas Trip. I\nimmediately recollected this good-natured man\u2019s red pimpled face; for\nhe had published for me against the Deuterogamists of the age, and from\nhim I borrowed a few pieces, to be paid at my return. Leaving the inn,\ntherefore, as I was yet but weak, I resolved to return home by easy\njournies of ten miles a day. My health and usual tranquillity were\nalmost restored, and I now condemned that pride which had made me\nrefractory to the hand of correction. Man little knows what calamities\nare beyond his patience to bear till he tries them; as in ascending the\nheights of ambition, which look bright from below, every step we rise\nshews us some new and gloomy prospect of hidden disappointment; so in\nour descent from the summits of pleasure, though the vale of misery\nbelow may appear at first dark and gloomy, yet the busy mind, still\nattentive to its own amusement, finds as we descend something to\nflatter and to please. Still as we approach, the darkest objects appear\nto brighten, and the mental eye becomes adapted to its gloomy\nsituation.\nI now proceeded forward, and had walked about two hours, when I\nperceived what appeared at a distance like a waggon, which I was\nresolved to overtake; but when I came up with it, found it to be a\nstrolling company\u2019s cart, that was carrying their scenes and other\ntheatrical furniture to the next village, where they were to exhibit.\nThe cart was attended only by the person who drove it, and one of the\ncompany, as the rest of the players were to follow the ensuing day.\nGood company upon the road, says the proverb, is the shortest cut, I\ntherefore entered into conversation with the poor player; and as I once\nhad some theatrical powers myself, I disserted on such topics with my\nusual freedom: but as I was pretty much unacquainted with the present\nstate of the stage, I demanded who were the present theatrical writers\nin vogue, who the Drydens and Otways of the day.\u2014\u2018I fancy, Sir,\u2019 cried\nthe player, \u2018few of our modern dramatists would think themselves much\nhonoured by being compared to the writers you mention. Dryden and Row\u2019s\nmanner, Sir, are quite out of fashion; our taste has gone back a whole\ncentury, Fletcher, Ben Johnson, and all the plays of Shakespear, are\nthe only things that go down.\u2019\u2014\u2018How,\u2019 cried I, \u2018is it possible the\npresent age can be pleased with that antiquated dialect, that obsolete\nhumour, those overcharged characters, which abound in the works you\nmention?\u2019\u2014\u2018Sir,\u2019 returned my companion, \u2018the public think nothing about\ndialect, or humour, or character; for that is none of their business,\nthey only go to be amused, and find themselves happy when they can\nenjoy a pantomime, under the sanction of Johnson\u2019s or Shakespear\u2019s\nname.\u2019\u2014\u2018So then, I suppose,\u2019 cried I, \u2018that our modern dramatists are\nrather imitators of Shakespear than of nature.\u2019\u2014\u2018To say the truth,\u2019\nreturned my companion, \u2018I don\u2019t know that they imitate any thing at\nall; nor, indeed does the public require it of them: it is not the\ncomposition of the piece, but the number of starts and attitudes that\nmay be introduced into it that elicits applause. I have known a piece,\nwith not one jest in the whole, shrugged into popularity, and another\nsaved by the poet\u2019s throwing in a fit of the gripes. No, Sir, the works\nof Congreve and Farquhar have too much wit in them for the present\ntaste; our modern dialect is much more natural.\u2019\nBy this time the equipage of the strolling company was arrived at the\nvillage, which, it seems, had been apprised of our approach, and was\ncome out to gaze at us; for my companion observed, that strollers\nalways have more spectators without doors than within. I did not\nconsider the impropriety of my being in such company till I saw a mob\ngather about me. I therefore took shelter, as fast as possible, in the\nfirst ale-house that offered, and being shewn into the common room, was\naccosted by a very well-drest gentleman, who demanded whether I was the\nreal chaplain of the company, or whether it was only to be my\nmasquerade character in the play. Upon informing him of the truth, and\nthat I did not belong in any sort to the company, he was condescending\nenough to desire me and the player to partake in a bowl of punch, over\nwhich he discussed modern politics with great earnestness and interest.\nI set him down in my mind for nothing less than a parliament-man at\nleast; but was almost confirmed in my conjectures, when upon my asking\nwhat there was in the house for supper, he insisted that the Player and\nI should sup with him at his house, with which request, after some\nentreaties, we were prevailed on to comply.\nCHAPTER XIX.\nThe description of a person discontented with the present government,\nand apprehensive of the loss of our liberties.\nThe house where we were to be entertained, lying at a small distance\nfrom the village, our inviter observed, that as the coach was not\nready, he would conduct us on foot, and we soon arrived at one of the\nmost magnificent mansions I had seen in that part of the country. The\napartment into which we were shewn was perfectly elegant and modern; he\nwent to give orders for supper, while the player, with a wink, observed\nthat we were perfectly in luck. Our entertainer soon returned, an\nelegant supper was brought in, two or three ladies, in an easy\ndeshabille, were introduced, and the conversation began with some\nsprightliness. Politics, however, was the subject on which our\nentertainer chiefly expatiated; for he asserted that liberty was at\nonce his boast and his terror. After the cloth was removed, he asked me\nif I had seen the last Monitor, to which replying in the negative,\n\u2018What, nor the Auditor, I suppose?\u2019 cried he. \u2018Neither, Sir,\u2019 returned\nI. \u2018That\u2019s strange, very strange,\u2019 replied my entertainer. \u2018Now, I read\nall the politics that come out. The Daily, the Public, the Ledger, the\nChronicle, the London Evening, the Whitehall Evening, the seventeen\nmagazines, and the two reviews; and though they hate each other, I love\nthem all. Liberty, Sir, liberty is the Briton\u2019s boast, and by all my\ncoal mines in Cornwall, I reverence its guardians.\u2019 \u2018Then it is to be\nhoped,\u2019 cried I, \u2018you reverence the king.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\u2019 returned my\nentertainer, \u2018when he does what we would have him; but if he goes on as\nhe has done of late, I\u2019ll never trouble myself more with his matters. I\nsay nothing. I think only. I could have directed some things better. I\ndon\u2019t think there has been a sufficient number of advisers: he should\nadvise with every person willing to give him advice, and then we should\nhave things done in anotherguess manner.\u2019\n\u2018I wish,\u2019 cried I, \u2018that such intruding advisers were fixed in the\npillory. It should be the duty of honest men to assist the weaker side\nof our constitution, that sacred power that has for some years been\nevery day declining, and losing its due share of influence in the\nstate. But these ignorants still continue the cry of liberty, and if\nthey have any weight basely throw it into the subsiding scale.\u2019\n\u2018How,\u2019 cried one of the ladies, \u2018do I live to see one so base, so\nsordid, as to be an enemy to liberty, and a defender of tyrants?\nLiberty, that sacred gift of heaven, that glorious privilege of\nBritons!\u2019\n\u2018Can it be possible,\u2019 cried our entertainer, \u2018that there should be any\nfound at present advocates for slavery? Any who are for meanly giving\nup the privileges of Britons? Can any, Sir, be so abject?\u2019\n\u2018No, Sir,\u2019 replied I, \u2018I am for liberty, that attribute of Gods!\nGlorious liberty! that theme of modern declamation. I would have all\nmen kings. I would be a king myself. We have all naturally an equal\nright to the throne: we are all originally equal. This is my opinion,\nand was once the opinion of a set of honest men who were called\nLevellers. They tried to erect themselves into a community, where all\nshould be equally free. But, alas! it would never answer; for there\nwere some among them stronger, and some more cunning than others, and\nthese became masters of the rest; for as sure as your groom rides your\nhorses, because he is a cunninger animal than they, so surely will the\nanimal that is cunninger or stronger than he, sit upon his shoulders in\nturn. Since then it is entailed upon humanity to submit, and some are\nborn to command, and others to obey, the question is, as there must be\ntyrants, whether it is better to have them in the same house with us,\nor in the same village, or still farther off, in the metropolis. Now,\nSir, for my own part, as I naturally hate the face of a tyrant, the\nfarther off he is removed from me, the better pleased am I. The\ngenerality of mankind also are of my way of thinking, and have\nunanimously created one king, whose election at once diminishes the\nnumber of tyrants, and puts tyranny at the greatest distance from the\ngreatest number of people. Now the great who were tyrants themselves\nbefore the election of one tyrant, are naturally averse to a power\nraised over them, and whose weight must ever lean heaviest on the\nsubordinate orders. It is the interest of the great, therefore, to\ndiminish kingly power as much as possible; because whatever they take\nfrom that is naturally restored to themselves; and all they have to do\nin the state, is to undermine the single tyrant, by which they resume\ntheir primaeval authority. Now, the state may be so circumstanced, or\nits laws may be so disposed, or its men of opulence so minded, as all\nto conspire in carrying on this business of undermining monarchy. For,\nin the first place, if the circumstances of our state be such, as to\nfavour the accumulation of wealth, and make the opulent still more\nrich, this will encrease their ambition. An accumulation of wealth,\nhowever, must necessarily be the consequence, when as at present more\nriches flow in from external commerce, than arise from internal\nindustry: for external commerce can only be managed to advantage by the\nrich, and they have also at the same time all the emoluments arising\nfrom internal industry: so that the rich, with us, have two sources of\nwealth, whereas the poor have but one. For this reason, wealth in all\ncommercial states is found to accumulate, and all such have hitherto in\ntime become aristocratical. Again, the very laws also of this country\nmay contribute to the accumulation of wealth; as when by their means\nthe natural ties that bind the rich and poor together are broken, and\nit is ordained that the rich shall only marry with the rich; or when\nthe learned are held unqualified to serve their country as counsellors\nmerely from a defect of opulence, and wealth is thus made the object of\na wise man\u2019s ambition; by these means I say, and such means as these,\nriches will accumulate. Now the possessor of accumulated wealth, when\nfurnished with the necessaries and pleasures of life, has no other\nmethod to employ the superfluity of his fortune but in purchasing\npower. That is, differently speaking, in making dependents, by\npurchasing the liberty of the needy or the venal, of men who are\nwilling to bear the mortification of contiguous tyranny for bread. Thus\neach very opulent man generally gathers round him a circle of the\npoorest of the people; and the polity abounding in accumulated wealth,\nmay be compared to a Cartesian system, each orb with a vortex of its\nown. Those, however, who are willing to move in a great man\u2019s vortex,\nare only such as must be slaves, the rabble of mankind, whose souls and\nwhose education are adapted to servitude, and who know nothing of\nliberty except the name. But there must still be a large number of the\npeople without the sphere of the opulent man\u2019s influence, namely, that\norder of men which subsists between the very rich and the very rabble;\nthose men who are possest of too large fortunes to submit to the\nneighbouring man in power, and yet are too poor to set up for tyranny\nthemselves. In this middle order of mankind are generally to be found\nall the arts, wisdom, and virtues of society. This order alone is known\nto be the true preserver of freedom, and may be called the People. Now\nit may happen that this middle order of mankind may lose all its\ninfluence in a state, and its voice be in a manner drowned in that of\nthe rabble: for if the fortune sufficient for qualifying a person at\npresent to give his voice in state affairs, be ten times less than was\njudged sufficient upon forming the constitution, it is evident that\ngreater numbers of the rabble will thus be introduced into the\npolitical system, and they ever moving in the vortex of the great, will\nfollow where greatness shall direct. In such a state, therefore, all\nthat the middle order has left, is to preserve the prerogative and\nprivileges of the one principal governor with the most sacred\ncircumspection. For he divides the power of the rich, and calls off the\ngreat from falling with tenfold weight on the middle order placed\nbeneath them. The middle order may be compared to a town of which the\nopulent are forming the siege, and which the governor from without is\nhastening the relief. While the besiegers are in dread of an enemy over\nthem, it is but natural to offer the townsmen the most specious terms;\nto flatter them with sounds, and amuse them with privileges: but if\nthey once defeat the governor from behind, the walls of the town will\nbe but a small defence to its inhabitants. What they may then expect,\nmay be seen by turning our eyes to Holland, Genoa, or Venice, where the\nlaws govern the poor, and the rich govern the law. I am then for, and\nwould die for, monarchy, sacred monarchy; for if there be any thing\nsacred amongst men, it must be the anointed sovereign of his people,\nand every diminution of his power in war, or in peace, is an\ninfringement upon the real liberties of the subject. The sounds of\nliberty, patriotism, and Britons, have already done much, it is to be\nhoped that the true sons of freedom will prevent their ever doing more.\nI have known many of those pretended champions for liberty in my time,\nyet do I not remember one that was not in his heart and in his family a\ntyrant.\u2019\nMy warmth I found had lengthened this harangue beyond the rules of good\nbreeding: but the impatience of my entertainer, who often strove to\ninterrupt it, could be restrained no longer. \u2018What,\u2019 cried he, \u2018then I\nhave been all this while entertaining a Jesuit in parson\u2019s cloaths; but\nby all the coal mines of Cornwall, out he shall pack, if my name be\nWilkinson.\u2019 I now found I had gone too far, and asked pardon for the\nwarmth with which I had spoken. \u2018Pardon,\u2019 returned he in a fury: \u2018I\nthink such principles demand ten thousand pardons. What, give up\nliberty, property, and, as the Gazetteer says, lie down to be saddled\nwith wooden shoes! Sir, I insist upon your marching out of this house\nimmediately, to prevent worse consequences, Sir, I insist upon it.\u2019 I\nwas going to repeat my rernonstrances; but just then we heard a\nfootman\u2019s rap at the door, and the two ladies cried out, \u2018As sure as\ndeath there is our master and mistress come home.\u2019 It seems my\nentertainer was all this while only the butler, who, in his master\u2019s\nabsence, had a mind to cut a figure, and be for a while the gentleman\nhimself; and, to say the truth, he talked politics as well as most\ncountry gentlemen do. But nothing could now exceed my confusion upon\nseeing the gentleman, and his lady, enter, nor was their surprize, at\nfinding such company and good cheer, less than ours. \u2018Gentlemen,\u2019 cried\nthe real master of the house, to me and my companion, \u2018my wife and I\nare your most humble servants; but I protest this is so unexpected a\nfavour, that we almost sink under the obligation.\u2019 However unexpected\nour company might be to them, theirs, I am sure, was still more so to\nus, and I was struck dumb with the apprehensions of my own absurdity,\nwhen whom should I next see enter the room but my dear miss Arabella\nWilmot, who was formerly designed to be married to my son George; but\nwhose match was broken off, as already related. As soon as she saw me,\nshe flew to my arms with the utmost joy. \u2018My dear sir,\u2019 cried she, \u2018to\nwhat happy accident is it that we owe so unexpected a visit? I am sure\nmy uncle and aunt will be in raptures when they find they have the good\nDr Primrose for their guest.\u2019 Upon hearing my name, the old gentleman\nand lady very politely stept up, and welcomed me with most cordial\nhospitality. Nor could they forbear smiling upon being informed of the\nnature of my present visit: but the unfortunate butler, whom they at\nfirst seemed disposed to turn away, was, at my intercession, forgiven.\nMr Arnold and his lady, to whom the house belonged, now insisted upon\nhaving the pleasure of my stay for some days, and as their niece, my\ncharming pupil, whose mind, in some measure, had been formed under my\nown instructions, joined in their entreaties, I complied. That night I\nwas shewn to a magnificent chamber, and the next morning early Miss\nWilmot desired to walk with me in the garden, which was decorated in\nthe modern manner. After some time spent in pointing out the beauties\nof the place, she enquired with seeming unconcern, when last I had\nheard from my son George. \u2018Alas! Madam,\u2019 cried I, \u2018he has now been near\nthree years absent, without ever writing to his friends or me. Where he\nis I know not; perhaps I shall never see him or happiness more. No, my\ndear Madam, we shall never more see such pleasing hours as were once\nspent by our fire-side at Wakefield. My little family are now\ndispersing very fast, and poverty has brought not only want, but infamy\nupon us.\u2019 The good-natured girl let fall a tear at this account; but as\nI saw her possessed of too much sensibility, I forbore a more minute\ndetail of our sufferings. It was, however, some consolation to me to\nfind that time had made no alteration in her affections, and that she\nhad rejected several matches that had been made her since our leaving\nher part of the country. She led me round all the extensive\nimprovements of the place, pointing to the several walks and arbours,\nand at the same time catching from every object a hint for some new\nquestion relative to my son. In this manner we spent the forenoon, till\nthe bell summoned us in to dinner, where we found the manager of the\nstrolling company that I mentioned before, who was come to dispose of\ntickets for the Fair Penitent, which was to be acted that evening, the\npart of Horatio by a young gentleman who had never appeared on any\nstage. He seemed to be very warm in the praises of the new performer,\nand averred, that he never saw any who bid so fair for excellence.\nActing, he observed, was not learned in a day; \u2018But this gentleman,\u2019\ncontinued he, \u2018seems born to tread the stage. His voice, his figure,\nand attitudes, are all admirable. We caught him up accidentally in our\njourney down.\u2019 This account, in some measure, excited our curiosity,\nand, at the entreaty of the ladies, I was prevailed upon to accompany\nthem to the play-house, which was no other than a barn. As the company\nwith which I went was incontestably the chief of the place, we were\nreceived with the greatest respect, and placed in the front seat of the\ntheatre; where we sate for some time with no small impatience to see\nHoratio make his appearance. The new performer advanced at last, and\nlet parents think of my sensations by their own, when I found it was my\nunfortunate son. He was going to begin, when, turning his eyes upon the\naudience, he perceived Miss Wilmot and me, and stood at once speechless\nand immoveable. The actors behind the scene, who ascribed this pause to\nhis natural timidity, attempted to encourage him; but instead of going\non, he burst into a flood of tears, and retired off the stage. I don\u2019t\nknow what were my feelings on this occasion; for they succeeded with\ntoo much rapidity for description: but I was soon awaked from this\ndisagreeable reverie by Miss Wilmot, who, pale and with a trembling\nvoice, desired me to conduct her back to her uncle\u2019s. When got home, Mr\nArnold, who was as yet a stranger to our extraordinary behaviour, being\ninformed that the new performer was my son, sent his coach, and an\ninvitation, for him; and as he persisted in his refusal to appear again\nupon the stage, the players put another in his place, and we soon had\nhim with us. Mr Arnold gave him the kindest reception, and I received\nhim with my usual transport; for I could never counterfeit false\nresentment. Miss Wilmot\u2019s reception was mixed with seeming neglect, and\nyet I could perceive she acted a studied part. The tumult in her mind\nseemed not yet abated; she said twenty giddy things that looked like\njoy, and then laughed loud at her own want of meaning. At intervals she\nwould take a sly peep at the glass, as if happy in the consciousness of\nunresisting beauty, and often would ask questions, without giving any\nmanner of attention to the answers.\nCHAPTER XX.\nThe history of a philosophic vagabond, pursuing novelty, but losing\ncontent.\nAfter we had supped, Mrs Arnold politely offered to send a couple of\nher footmen for my son\u2019s baggage, which he at first seemed to decline;\nbut upon her pressing the request, he was obliged to inform her, that a\nstick and a wallet were all the moveable things upon this earth that he\ncould boast of. \u2018Why, aye my son,\u2019 cried I, \u2018you left me but poor, and\npoor I find you are come back; and yet I make no doubt you have seen a\ngreat deal of the world.\u2019\u2014\u2018Yes, Sir,\u2019 replied my son, \u2018but travelling\nafter fortune, is not the way to secure her; and, indeed, of late, I\nhave desisted from the pursuit.\u2019\u2014\u2018I fancy, Sir,\u2019 cried Mrs Arnold,\n\u2018that the account of your adventures would be amusing: the first part\nof them I have often heard from my niece; but could the company prevail\nfor the rest, it would be an additional obligation.\u2019\u2014\u2018Madam,\u2019 replied\nmy son, \u2018I promise you the pleasure you have in hearing, will not be\nhalf so great as my vanity in repeating them; and yet in the whole\nnarrative I can scarce promise you one adventure, as my account is\nrather of what I saw than what I did. The first misfortune of my life,\nwhich you all know, was great; but tho\u2019 it distrest, it could not sink\nme. No person ever had a better knack at hoping than I. The less kind I\nfound fortune at one time, the more I expected from her another, and\nbeing now at the bottom of her wheel, every new revolution might lift,\nbut could not depress me. I proceeded, therefore, towards London in a\nfine morning, no way uneasy about tomorrow, but chearful as the birds\nthat caroll\u2019d by the road, and comforted myself with reflecting that\nLondon was the mart where abilities of every kind were sure of meeting\ndistinction and reward.\n\u2018Upon my arrival in town, Sir, my first care was to deliver your letter\nof recommendation to our cousin, who was himself in little better\ncircumstances than I. My first scheme, you know, Sir, was to be usher\nat an academy, and I asked his advice on the affair. Our cousin\nreceived the proposal with a true Sardonic grin. Aye, cried he, this is\nindeed a very pretty career, that has been chalked out for you. I have\nbeen an usher at a boarding school myself; and may I die by an anodyne\nnecklace, but I had rather be an under turnkey in Newgate. I was up\nearly and late: I was brow-beat by the master, hated for my ugly face\nby the mistress, worried by the boys within, and never permitted to\nstir out to meet civility abroad. But are you sure you are fit for a\nschool? Let me examine you a little. Have you been bred apprentice to\nthe business? No. Then you won\u2019t do for a school. Can you dress the\nboys hair? No. Then you won\u2019t do for a school. Have you had the\nsmall-pox? No. Then you won\u2019t do for a school. Can you lie three in a\nbed? No. Then you will never do for a school. Have you got a good\nstomach? Yes. Then you will by no means do for a school. No, Sir, if\nyou are for a genteel easy profession, bind yourself seven years as an\napprentice to turn a cutler\u2019s wheel; but avoid a school by any means.\nYet come, continued he, I see you are a lad of spirit and some\nlearning, what do you think of commencing author, like me? You have\nread in books, no doubt, of men of genius starving at the trade: At\npresent I\u2019ll shew you forty very dull fellows about town that live by\nit in opulence. All honest joggtrot men, who go on smoothly and dully,\nand write history and politics, and are praised; men, Sir, who, had\nthey been bred coblers, would all their lives have only mended shoes,\nbut never made them.\n\u2018Finding that there was no great degree of gentility affixed to the\ncharacter of an usher, I resolved to accept his proposal; and having\nthe highest respect for literature, hailed the antiqua mater of\nGrub-street with reverence. I thought it my glory to pursue a track\nwhich Dryden and Otway trod before me. I considered the goddess of this\nregion as the parent of excellence; and however an intercourse with the\nworld might give us good sense, the poverty she granted I supposed to\nbe the nurse of genius! Big with these reflections, I sate down, and\nfinding that the best things remained to be said on the wrong side, I\nresolved to write a book that should be wholly new. I therefore drest\nup three paradoxes with some ingenuity. They were false, indeed, but\nthey were new. The jewels of truth have been so often imported by\nothers, that nothing was left for me to import but some splendid things\nthat at a distance looked every bit as well. Witness you powers what\nfancied importance sate perched upon my quill while I was writing. The\nwhole learned world, I made no doubt, would rise to oppose my systems;\nbut then I was prepared to oppose the whole learned world. Like the\nporcupine I sate self collected, with a quill pointed against every\nopposer.\u2019\n\u2018Well said, my boy,\u2019 cried I, \u2018and what subject did you treat upon? I\nhope you did not pass over the importance of Monogamy. But I interrupt,\ngo on; you published your paradoxes; well, and what did the learned\nworld say to your paradoxes?\u2019\n\u2018Sir,\u2019 replied my son, \u2018the learned world said nothing to my paradoxes;\nnothing at all, Sir. Every man of them was employed in praising his\nfriends and himself, or condemning his enemies; and unfortunately, as I\nhad neither, I suffered the cruellest mortification, neglect.\n\u2018As I was meditating one day in a coffee-house on the fate of my\nparadoxes, a little man happening to enter the room, placed himself in\nthe box before me, and after some preliminary discourse, finding me to\nbe a scholar, drew out a bundle of proposals, begging me to subscribe\nto a new edition he was going to give the world of Propertius, with\nnotes. This demand necessarily produced a reply that I had no money;\nand that concession led him to enquire into the nature of my\nexpectations. Finding that my expectations were just as great as my\npurse, I see, cried he, you are unacquainted with the town, I\u2019ll teach\nyou a part of it. Look at these proposals, upon these very proposals I\nhave subsisted very comfortably for twelve years. The moment a nobleman\nreturns from his travels, a Creolian arrives from Jamaica, or a dowager\nfrom her country seat, I strike for a subscription. I first besiege\ntheir hearts with flattery, and then pour in my proposals at the\nbreach. If they subscribe readily the first time, I renew my request to\nbeg a dedication fee. If they let me have that, I smite them once more\nfor engraving their coat of arms at the top. Thus, continued he, I live\nby vanity, and laugh at it. But between ourselves, I am now too well\nknown, I should be glad to borrow your face a bit: a nobleman of\ndistinction has just returned from Italy; my face is familiar to his\nporter; but if you bring this copy of verses, my life for it you\nsucceed, and we divide the spoil.\u2019\n\u2018Bless us, George,\u2019 cried I, \u2018and is this the employment of poets now!\nDo men of their exalted talents thus stoop to beggary! Can they so far\ndisgrace their calling, as to make a vile traffic of praise for bread?\u2019\n\u2018O no, Sir,\u2019 returned he, \u2018a true poet can never be so base; for\nwherever there is genius there is pride. The creatures I now describe\nare only beggars in rhyme. The real poet, as he braves every hardship\nfor fame, so he is equally a coward to contempt, and none but those who\nare unworthy protection condescend to solicit it.\n\u2018Having a mind too proud to stoop to such indignities, and yet a\nfortune too humble to hazard a second attempt for fame, I was now,\nobliged to take a middle course, and write for bread. But I was\nunqualified for a profession where mere industry alone was to ensure\nsuccess. I could not suppress my lurking passion for applause; but\nusually consumed that time in efforts after excellence which takes up\nbut little room, when it should have been more advantageously employed\nin the diffusive productions of fruitful mediocrity. My little piece\nwould therefore come forth in the mist of periodical publication,\nunnoticed and unknown. The public were more importantly employed, than\nto observe the easy simplicity of my style, of the harmony of my\nperiods. Sheet after sheet was thrown off to oblivion. My essays were\nburied among the essays upon liberty, eastern tales, and cures for the\nbite of a mad dog; while Philautos, Philalethes, Philelutheros, and\nPhilanthropos, all wrote better, because they wrote faster, than I.\n\u2018Now, therefore, I began to associate with none but disappointed\nauthors, like myself, who praised, deplored, and despised each other.\nThe satisfaction we found in every celebrated writer\u2019s attempts, was\ninversely as their merits. I found that no genius in another could\nplease me. My unfortunate paradoxes had entirely dried up that source\nof comfort. I could neither read nor write with satisfaction; for\nexcellence in another was my aversion, and writing was my trade.\n\u2018In the midst of these gloomy reflections, as I was one day sitting on\na bench in St James\u2019s park, a young gentleman of distinction, who had\nbeen my intimate acquaintance at the university, approached me. We\nsaluted each other with some hesitation, he almost ashamed of being\nknown to one who made so shabby an appearance, and I afraid of a\nrepulse. But my suspicions soon vanished; for Ned Thornhill was at the\nbottom a very good-natured fellow.\n\u2018What did you say, George?\u2019 interrupted I. \u2018Thornhill, was not that his\nname? It can certainly be no other than my landlord.\u2019\u2014\u2018Bless me,\u2019 cried\nMrs Arnold, \u2018is Mr Thornhill so near a neighbour of yours? He has long\nbeen a friend in our family, and we expect a visit from him shortly.\u2019\n\u2018My friend\u2019s first care,\u2019 continued my son, \u2018was to alter my appearance\nby a very fine suit of his own cloaths, and then I was admitted to his\ntable upon the footing of half-friend, half-underling. My business was\nto attend him at auctions, to put him in spirits when he sate for his\npicture, to take the left hand in his chariot when not filled by\nanother, and to assist at tattering a kip, as the phrase was, when we\nhad a mind for a frolic. Beside this, I had twenty other little\nemployments in the family. I was to do many small things without\nbidding; to carry the cork screw; to stand godfather to all the\nbutler\u2019s children; to sing when I was bid; to be never out of humour;\nalways to be humble, and, if I could, to be very happy.\n\u2018In this honourable post, however, I was not without a rival. A captain\nof marines, who was formed for the place by nature, opposed me in my\npatron\u2019s affections. His mother had been laundress to a man of quality,\nand thus he early acquired a taste for pimping and pedigree. As this\ngentleman made it the study of his life to be acquainted with lords,\nthough he was dismissed from several for his stupidity; yet he found\nmany of them who were as dull as himself, that permitted his\nassiduities. As flattery was his trade, he practised it with the\neasiest address imaginable; but it came aukward and stiff from me; and\nas every day my patron\u2019s desire of flattery encreased, so every hour\nbeing better acquainted with his defects, I became more unwilling to\ngive it. Thus I was once more fairly going to give up the field to the\ncaptain, when my friend found occasion for my assistance. This was\nnothing less than to fight a duel for him, with a gentleman whose\nsister it was pretended he had used ill. I readily complied with his\nrequest, and tho\u2019 I see you are displeased at my conduct, yet as it was\na debt indispensably due to friendship, I could not refuse. I undertook\nthe affair, disarmed my antagonist, and soon after had the pleasure of\nfinding that the lady was only a woman of the town, and the fellow her\nbully and a sharper. This piece of service was repaid with the warmest\nprofessions of gratitude; but as my friend was to leave town in a few\ndays, he knew no other method of serving me, but by recommending me to\nhis uncle Sir William Thornhill, and another nobleman of great\ndistinction, who enjoyed a post under the government. When he was gone,\nmy first care was to carry his recommendatory letter to his uncle, a\nman whose character for every virtue was universal, yet just. I was\nreceived by his servants with the most hospitable smiles; for the looks\nof the domestics ever transmit their master\u2019s benevolence. Being shewn\ninto a grand apartment, where Sir William soon came to me, I delivered\nmy message and letter, which he read, and after pausing some minutes,\nPray, Sir, cried he, inform me what you have done for my kinsman, to\ndeserve this warm recommendation? But I suppose, Sir, I guess your\nmerits, you have fought for him; and so you would expect a reward from\nme, for being the instrument of his vices. I wish, sincerely wish, that\nmy present refusal may be some punishment for your guilt; but still\nmore, that it may be some inducement to your repentance.\u2014The severity\nof this rebuke I bore patiently, because I knew it was just. My whole\nexpectations now, therefore, lay in my letter to the great man. As the\ndoors of the nobility are almost ever beset with beggars, all ready to\nthrust in some sly petition, I found it no easy matter to gain\nadmittance. However, after bribing the servants with half my worldly\nfortune, I was at last shewn into a spacious apartment, my letter being\npreviously sent up for his lordship\u2019s inspection. During this anxious\ninterval I had full time to look round me. Every thing was grand, and\nof happy contrivance: the paintings, the furniture, the gildings,\npetrified me with awe, and raised my idea of the owner. Ah, thought I\nto myself, how very great must the possessor of all these things be,\nwho carries in his head the business of the state, and whose house\ndisplays half the wealth of a kingdom: sure his genius must be\nunfathomable! During these awful reflections I heard a step come\nheavily forward. Ah, this is the great man himself! No, it was only a\nchambermaid. Another foot was heard soon after. This must be He! No, it\nwas only the great man\u2019s valet de chambre. At last his lordship\nactually made his appearance. Are you, cried he, the bearer of this\nhere letter? I answered with a bow. I learn by this, continued he, as\nhow that\u2014But just at that instant a servant delivered him a card, and\nwithout taking farther notice, he went out of the room, and left me to\ndigest my own happiness at leisure. I saw no more of him, till told by\na footman that his lordship was going to his coach at the door. Down I\nimmediately followed, and joined my voice to that of three or four\nmore, who came, like me, to petition for favours. His lordship,\nhowever, went too fast for us, and was gaining his Chariot door with\nlarge strides, when I hallowed out to know if I was to have any reply.\nHe was by this time got in, and muttered an answer, half of which only\nI heard, the other half was lost in the rattling of his chariot wheels.\nI stood for some time with my neck stretched out, in the posture of one\nthat was listening to catch the glorious sounds, till looking round me,\nI found myself alone at his lordship\u2019s gate.\n\u2018My patience,\u2019 continued my son, \u2018was now quite exhausted: stung with\nthe thousand indignities I had met with, I was willing to cast myself\naway, and only wanted the gulph to receive me. I regarded myself as one\nof those vile things that nature designed should be thrown by into her\nlumber room, there to perish in obscurity. I had still, however, half a\nguinea left, and of that I thought fortune herself should not deprive\nme: but in order to be sure of this, I was resolved to go instantly and\nspend it while I had it, and then trust to occurrences for the rest. As\nI was going along with this resolution, it happened that Mr Cripse\u2019s\noffice seemed invitingly open to give me a welcome reception. In this\noffice Mr Cripse kindly offers all his majesty\u2019s subjects a generous\npromise of 30 pounds a year, for which promise all they give in return\nis their liberty for life, and permission to let him transport them to\nAmerica as slaves. I was happy at finding a place where I could lose my\nfears in desperation, and entered this cell, for it had the appearance\nof one, with the devotion of a monastic. Here I found a number of poor\ncreatures, all in circumstances like myself, expecting the arrival of\nMr Cripse, presenting a true epitome of English impatience. Each\nuntractable soul at variance with fortune, wreaked her injuries on\ntheir own hearts: but Mr Cripse at last came down, and all our murmurs\nwere hushed. He deigned to regard me with an air of peculiar\napprobation, and indeed he was the first man who for a month past\ntalked to me with smiles. After a few questions, he found I was fit for\nevery thing in the world. He paused a while upon the properest means of\nproviding for me, and slapping his forehead, as if he had found it,\nassured me, that there was at that time an embassy talked of from the\nsynod of Pensylvania to the Chickasaw Indians, and that he would use\nhis interest to get me made secretary. I knew in my own heart that the\nfellow lied, and yet his promise gave me pleasure, there was something\nso magnificent in the sound. I fairly, therefore, divided my half\nguinea, one half of which went to be added to his thirty thousand\npound, and with the other half I resolved to go to the next tavern, to\nbe there more happy than he.\n\u2018As I was going out with that resolution, I was met at the door by the\ncaptain of a ship, with whom I had formerly some little acquaintance,\nand he agreed to be my companion over a bowl of punch. As I never chose\nto make a secret of my circumstances, he assured me that I was upon the\nvery point of ruin, in listening to the office-keeper\u2019s promises; for\nthat he only designed to sell me to the plantations. But, continued he,\nI fancy you might, by a much shorter voyage, be very easily put into a\ngenteel way of bread. Take my advice. My ship sails to-morrow for\nAmsterdam; What if you go in her as a passenger? The moment you land\nall you have to do is to teach the Dutchmen English, and I\u2019ll warrant\nyou\u2019ll get pupils and money enough. I suppose you understand English,\nadded he, by this time, or the deuce is in it. I confidently assured\nhim of that; but expressed a doubt whether the Dutch would be willing\nto learn English. He affirmed with an oath that they were fond of it to\ndistraction; and upon that affirmation I agreed with his proposal, and\nembarked the next day to teach the Dutch English in Holland. The wind\nwas fair, our voyage short, and after having paid my passage with half\nmy moveables, I found myself, fallen as from the skies, a stranger in\none of the principal streets of Amsterdam. In this situation I was\nunwilling to let any time pass unemployed in teaching. I addressed\nmyself therefore to two or three of those I met whose appearance seemed\nmost promising; but it was impossible to make ourselves mutually\nunderstood. It was not till this very moment I recollected, that in\norder to teach Dutchmen English, it was necessary that they should\nfirst teach me Dutch. How I came to overlook so obvious an objection,\nis to me amazing; but certain it is I overlooked it.\n\u2018This scheme thus blown up, I had some thoughts of fairly shipping back\nto England again; but happening into company with an Irish student, who\nwas returning from Louvain, our conversation turning upon topics of\nliterature, (for by the way it may be observed that I always forgot the\nmeanness of my circumstances when I could converse upon such subjects)\nfrom him I learned that there were not two men in his whole university\nwho understood Greek. This amazed me. I instantly resolved to travel to\nLouvain, and there live by teaching Greek; and in this design I was\nheartened by my brother student, who threw out some hints that a\nfortune might be got by it.\n\u2018I set boldly forward the next morning. Every day lessened the burthen\nof my moveables, like \u00c6sop and his basket of bread; for I paid them for\nmy lodgings to the Dutch as I travelled on. When I came to Louvain, I\nwas resolved not to go sneaking to the lower professors, but openly\ntendered my talents to the principal himself. I went, had admittance,\nand offered him my service as a master of the Greek language, which I\nhad been told was a desideratum in his university. The principal seemed\nat first to doubt of my abilities; but of these I offered to convince\nhim, by turning a part of any Greek author he should fix upon into\nLatin. Finding me perfectly earnest in my proposal, he addressed me\nthus: You see me, young man, continued he, I never learned Greek, and I\ndon\u2019t find that I have ever missed it. I have had a doctor\u2019s cap and\ngown without Greek: I have ten thousand florins a year without Greek; I\neat heartily without Greek, and in short, continued he, as I don\u2019t know\nGreek, I do not believe there is any good in it.\n\u2018I was now too far from home to think of returning; so I resolved to go\nforward. I had some knowledge of music, with a tolerable voice, and now\nturned what was once my amusement into a present means of subsistence.\nI passed among the harmless peasants of Flanders, and among such of the\nFrench as were poor enough to be very merry; for I ever found them\nsprightly in proportion to their wants. Whenever I approached a\npeasant\u2019s house towards night-fall, I played one of my most merry\ntunes, and that procured me not only a lodging, but subsistence for the\nnext day. I once or twice attempted to play for people of fashion; but\nthey always thought my performance odious, and never rewarded me even\nwith a trifle. This was to me the more extraordinary, as whenever I\nused in better days to play for company, when playing was my amusement,\nmy music never failed to throw them into raptures, and the ladies\nespecially; but as it was now my only means, it was received with\ncontempt: a proof how ready the world is to under rate those talents by\nwhich a man is supported.\n\u2018In this manner I proceeded to Paris, with no design but just to look\nabout me, and then to go forward. The people of Paris are much fonder\nof strangers that have money, than of those that have wit. As I could\nnot boast much of either, I was no great favourite. After walking about\nthe town four or five days, and seeing the outsides of the best houses,\nI was preparing to leave this retreat of venal hospitality, when\npassing through one of the principal streets, whom should I meet but\nour cousin, to whom you first recommended me. This meeting was very\nagreeable to me, and I believe not displeasing to him. He enquired into\nthe nature of my journey to Paris, and informed me of his own business\nthere, which was to collect pictures, medals, intaglios, and antiques\nof all kinds, for a gentleman in London, who had just stept into taste\nand a large fortune. I was the more surprised at seeing our cousin\npitched upon for this office, as he himself had often assured me he\nknew nothing of the matter. Upon my asking how he had been taught the\nart of a connoscento so very suddenly, he assured me that nothing was\nmore easy. The whole secret consisted in a strict adherence to two\nrules: the one always to observe, that the picture might have been\nbetter if the painter had taken more pains; and the other, to praise\nthe works of Pietro Perugino. But, says he, as I once taught you how to\nbe an author in London, I\u2019ll now undertake to instruct you in the art\nof picture buying at Paris.\n\u2018With this proposal I very readily closed, as it was a living, and now\nall my ambition was to live. I went therefore to his lodgings, improved\nmy dress by his assistance, and after some time, accompanied him to\nauctions of pictures, where the English gentry were expected to be\npurchasers. I was not a little surprised at his intimacy with people of\nthe best fashion, who referred themselves to his judgment upon every\npicture or medal, as to an unerring standard of taste. He made very\ngood use of my assistance upon these occasions; for when asked his\nopinion, he would gravely take me aside, and ask mine, shrug, look\nwise, return, and assure the company, that he could give no opinion\nupon an affair of so much importance. Yet there was sometimes an\noccasion for a more supported assurance. I remember to have seen him,\nafter giving his opinion that the colouring of a picture was not mellow\nenough, very deliberately take a brush with brown varnish, that was\naccidentally lying by, and rub it over the piece with great composure\nbefore all the company, and then ask if he had not improved the tints.\n\u2018When he had finished his commission in Paris, he left me strongly\nrecommended to several men of distinction, as a person very proper for\na travelling tutor; and after some time I was employed in that capacity\nby a gentleman who brought his ward to Paris, in order to set him\nforward on his tour through Europe. I was to be the young gentleman\u2019s\ngovernor, but with a proviso that he should always be permitted to\ngovern himself. My pupil in fact understood the art of guiding in money\nconcerns much better than I. He was heir to a fortune of about two\nhundred thousand pounds, left him by an uncle in the West Indies; and\nhis guardians, to qualify him for the management of it, had bound him\napprentice to an attorney. Thus avarice was his prevailing passion: all\nhis questions on the road were how money might be saved, which was the\nleast expensive course of travel; whether any thing could be bought\nthat would turn to account when disposed of again in London. Such\ncuriosities on the way as could be seen for nothing he was ready enough\nto look at; but if the sight of them was to be paid for, he usually\nasserted that he had been told they were not worth seeing. He never\npaid a bill, that he would not observe, how amazingly expensive\ntravelling was, and all this though he was not yet twenty-one. When\narrived at Leghorn, as we took a walk to look at the port and shipping,\nhe enquired the expence of the passage by sea home to England. This he\nwas informed was but a trifle, compared to his returning by land, he\nwas therefore unable to withstand the temptation; so paying me the\nsmall part of my salary that was due, he took leave, and embarked with\nonly one attendant for London.\n\u2018I now therefore was left once more upon the world at large, but then\nit was a thing I was used to. However my skill in music could avail me\nnothing in a country where every peasant was a better musician than I;\nbut by this time I had acquired another talent, which answered my\npurpose as well, and this was a skill in disputation. In all the\nforeign universities and convents, there are upon certain days\nphilosophical theses maintained against every adventitious disputant;\nfor which, if the champion opposes with any dexterity, he can claim a\ngratuity in money, a dinner, and a bed, for one night. In this manner\ntherefore I fought my way towards England, walked along from city to\ncity, examined mankind more nearly, and, if I may so express it, saw\nboth sides of the picture. My remarks, however, are but few: I found\nthat monarchy was the best government for the poor to live in, and\ncommonwealths for the rich. I found that riches in general were in\nevery country another name for freedom; and that no man is so fond of\nliberty himself as not to be desirous of subjecting the will of some\nindividuals in society to his own.\n\u2018Upon my arrival in England, I resolved to pay my respects first to\nyou, and then to enlist as a volunteer in the first expedition that was\ngoing forward; but on my journey down my resolutions were changed, by\nmeeting an old acquaintance, who I found belonged to a company of\ncomedians, that were going to make a summer campaign in the country.\nThe company seemed not much to disapprove of me for an associate. They\nall, however, apprized me of the importance of the task at which I\naimed; that the public was a many headed monster, and that only such as\nhad very good heads could please it: that acting was not to be learnt\nin a day; and that without some traditional shrugs, which had been on\nthe stage, and only on the stage, these hundred years, I could never\npretend to please. The next difficulty was in fitting me with parts, as\nalmost every character was in keeping. I was driven for some time from\none character to another, till at last Horatio was fixed upon, which\nthe presence of the present company has happily hindered me from\nacting.\u2019\nCHAPTER XXI.\nThe short continuance of friendship amongst the vicious, which is\ncoeval only with mutual satisfaction.\nMy son\u2019s account was too long to be delivered at once, the first part\nof it was begun that night, and he was concluding the rest after dinner\nthe next day, when the appearance of Mr Thornhill\u2019s equipage at the\ndoor seemed to make a pause in the general satisfaction. The butler,\nwho was now become my friend in the family, informed me with a whisper,\nthat the \u2019Squire had already made some overtures to Miss Wilmot, and\nthat her aunt and uncle seemed highly to approve the match. Upon Mr\nThornhill\u2019s entering, he seemed, at seeing my son and me, to start\nback; but I readily imputed that to surprize, and not displeasure.\nHowever, upon our advancing to salute him, he returned our greeting\nwith the most apparent candour; and after a short time, his presence\nserved only to encrease the general good humour.\nAfter tea he called me aside, to enquire after my daughter; but upon my\ninforming him that my enquiry was unsuccessful, he seemed greatly\nsurprised; adding, that he had been since frequently at my house, in\norder to comfort the rest of my family, whom he left perfectly well. He\nthen asked if I had communicated her misfortune to Miss Wilmot, or my\nson; and upon my replying that I had not told them as yet, he greatly\napproved my prudence and precaution, desiring me by all means to keep\nit a secret: \u2018For at best,\u2019 cried he, \u2018it is but divulging one\u2019s own\ninfamy; and perhaps Miss Livy may not be so guilty as we all imagine.\u2019\nWe were here interrupted by a servant, who came to ask the \u2019Squire in,\nto stand up at country dances; so that he left me quite pleased with\nthe interest he seemed to take in my concerns. His addresses, however,\nto Miss Wilmot, were too obvious to be mistaken; and yet she seemed not\nperfectly pleased, but bore them rather in compliance to the will of\nher aunt, than from real inclination. I had even the satisfaction to\nsee her lavish some kind looks upon my unfortunate son, which the other\ncould neither extort by his fortune nor assiduity. Mr Thornhill\u2019s\nseeming composure, however, not a little surprised me: we had now\ncontinued here a week, at the pressing instances of Mr Arnold; but each\nday the more tenderness Miss Wilmot shewed my son, Mr Thomhill\u2019s\nfriendship seemed proportionably to encrease for him.\nHe had formerly made us the most kind assurances of using his interest\nto serve the family; but now his generosity was not confined to\npromises alone: the morning I designed for my departure, Mr Thornhill\ncame to me with looks of real pleasure to inform me of a piece of\nservice he had done for his friend George. This was nothing less than\nhis having procured him an ensign\u2019s commission in one of the regiments\nthat was going to the West Indies, for which he had promised but one\nhundred pounds, his interest having been sufficient to get an abatement\nof the other two. \u2018As for this trifling piece of service,\u2019 continued\nthe young gentleman, \u2018I desire no other reward but the pleasure of\nhaving served my friend; and as for the hundred pound to be paid, if\nyou are unable to raise it yourselves, I will advance it, and you shall\nrepay me at your leisure.\u2019 This was a favour we wanted words to express\nour sense of. I readily therefore gave my bond for the money, and\ntestified as much gratitude as if I never intended to pay.\nGeorge was to depart for town the next day to secure his commission, in\npursuance of his generous patron\u2019s directions, who judged it highly\nexpedient to use dispatch, lest in the mean time another should step in\nwith more advantageous proposals. The next morning, therefore, our\nyoung soldier was early prepared for his departure, and seemed the only\nperson among us that was not affected by it. Neither the fatigues and\ndangers he was going to encounter, nor the friends and mistress, for\nMiss Wilmot actually loved him, he was leaving behind, any way damped\nhis spirits. After he had taken leave of the rest of the company, I\ngave him all I had, my blessing. \u2018And now, my boy,\u2019 cried I, \u2018thou art\ngoing to fight for thy country, remember how thy brave grandfather\nfought for his sacred king, when loyalty among Britons was a virtue.\nGo, my boy, and imitate him in all but his misfortunes, if it was a\nmisfortune to die with Lord Falkland. Go, my boy, and if you fall, tho\u2019\ndistant, exposed and unwept by those that love you, the most precious\ntears are those with which heaven bedews the unburied head of a\nsoldier.\u2019\nThe next morning I took leave of the good family, that had been kind\nenough to entertain me so long, not without several expressions of\ngratitude to Mr Thornhill for his late bounty. I left them in the\nenjoyment of all that happiness which affluence and good breeding\nprocure, and returned towards home, despairing of ever finding my\ndaughter more, but sending a sigh to heaven to spare and to forgive\nher. I was now come within about twenty miles of home, having hired an\nhorse to carry me, as I was yet but weak, and comforted myself with the\nhopes of soon seeing all I held dearest upon earth. But the night\ncoming on, I put up at a little public-house by the roadside, and asked\nfor the landlord\u2019s company over a pint of wine. We sate beside his\nkitchen fire, which was the best room in the house, and chatted on\npolitics and the news of the country. We happened, among other topics,\nto talk of young \u2019Squire Thornhill, who the host assured me was hated\nas much as his uncle Sir William, who sometimes came down to the\ncountry, was loved. He went on to observe, that he made it his whole\nstudy to betray the daughters of such as received him to their houses,\nand after a fortnight or three weeks possession, turned them out\nunrewarded and abandoned to the world. As we continued our discourse in\nthis manner, his wife, who had been out to get change, returned, and\nperceiving that her husband was enjoying a pleasure in which she was\nnot a sharer, she asked him, in an angry tone, what he did there, to\nwhich he only replied in an ironical way, by drinking her health. \u2018Mr\nSymmonds,\u2019 cried she, \u2018you use me very ill, and I\u2019ll bear it no longer.\nHere three parts of the business is left for me to do, and the fourth\nleft unfinished; while you do nothing but soak with the guests all day\nlong, whereas if a spoonful of liquor were to cure me of a fever, I\nnever touch a drop.\u2019 I now found what she would be at, and immediately\npoured her out a glass, which she received with a curtesy, and drinking\ntowards my good health, \u2018Sir,\u2019 resumed she, \u2018it is not so much for the\nvalue of the liquor I am angry, but one cannot help it, when the house\nis going out of the windows. If the customers or guests are to be\ndunned, all the burthen lies upon my back, he\u2019d as lief eat that glass\nas budge after them himself.\u2019 There now above stairs, we have a young\nwoman who has come to take up her lodgings here, and I don\u2019t believe\nshe has got any money by her over-civility. I am certain she is very\nslow of payment, and I wish she were put in mind of it.\u2019\u2014\u2018What\nsignifies minding her,\u2019 cried the host, \u2018if she be slow, she is\nsure.\u2019\u2014\u2018I don\u2019t know that,\u2019 replied the wife; \u2018but I know that I am\nsure she has been here a fortnight, and we have not yet seen the cross\nof her money.\u2019\u2014\u2018I suppose, my dear,\u2019 cried he, \u2018we shall have it all in\na, lump.\u2019\u2014\u2018In a lump!\u2019 cried the other, \u2018I hope we may get it any way;\nand that I am resolved we will this very night, or out she tramps, bag\nand baggage.\u2019\u2014\u2018Consider, my dear,\u2019 cried the husband, \u2018she is a\ngentlewoman, and deserves more respect.\u2019\u2014\u2018As for the matter of that,\u2019\nreturned the hostess, \u2018gentle or simple, out she shall pack with a\nsassarara. Gentry may be good things where they take; but for my part I\nnever saw much good of them at the sign of the Harrow.\u2019\u2014Thus saying,\nshe ran up a narrow flight of stairs, that went from the kitchen to a\nroom over-head, and I soon perceived by the loudness of her voice, and\nthe bitterness of her reproaches, that no money was to be had from her\nlodger. I could hear her remonstrances very distinctly: \u2018Out I say,\npack out this moment, tramp thou infamous strumpet, or I\u2019ll give thee a\nmark thou won\u2019t be the better for this three months. What! you\ntrumpery, to come and take up an honest house, without cross or coin to\nbless yourself with; come along I say.\u2019\u2014\u2018O dear madam,\u2019 cried the\nstranger, \u2018pity me, pity a poor abandoned creature for one night, and\ndeath will soon do the rest.\u2019 I instantly knew the voice of my poor\nruined child Olivia. I flew to her rescue, while the woman was dragging\nher along by the hair, and I caught the dear forlorn wretch in my\narms.\u2014\u2018Welcome, any way welcome, my dearest lost one, my treasure, to\nyour poor old father\u2019s bosom. Tho\u2019 the vicious forsake thee, there is\nyet one in the world that will never forsake thee; tho\u2019 thou hadst ten\nthousand crimes to answer for, he will forget them all.\u2019\u2014\u2018O my own\ndear\u2019\u2014for minutes she could no more\u2014\u2018my own dearest good papa! Could\nangels be kinder! How do I deserve so much! The villain, I hate him and\nmyself, to be a reproach to such goodness. You can\u2019t forgive me. I know\nyou cannot.\u2019\u2014\u2018Yes, my child, from my heart I do forgive thee! Only\nrepent, and we both shall yet be happy. We shall see many pleasant days\nyet, my Olivia!\u2019\u2014\u2018Ah! never, sir, never. The rest of my wretched life\nmust be infamy abroad and shame at home. But, alas! papa, you look much\npaler than you used to do. Could such a thing as I am give you so much\nuneasiness? Sure you have too much wisdom to take the miseries of my\nguilt upon yourself.\u2019\u2014\u2018Our wisdom, young woman,\u2019 replied I.\u2014\u2018Ah, why so\ncold a name papa?\u2019 cried she. \u2018This is the first time you ever called\nme by so cold a name.\u2019\u2014\u2018I ask pardon, my darling,\u2019 returned I; \u2018but I\nwas going to observe, that wisdom makes but a slow defence against\ntrouble, though at last a sure one.\u2019\nThe landlady now returned to know if we did not chuse a more genteel\napartment, to which assenting, we were shewn a room, where we could\nconverse more freely. After we had talked ourselves into some degree of\ntranquillity, I could not avoid desiring some account of the gradations\nthat led to her present wretched situation. \u2018That villain, sir,\u2019 said\nshe, \u2018from the first day of our meeting made me honourable, though\nprivate, proposals.\u2019\n\u2018Villain indeed,\u2019 cried I; \u2018and yet it in some measure surprizes me,\nhow a person of Mr Burchell\u2019s good sense and seeming honour could be\nguilty of such deliberate baseness, and thus step into a family to undo\nit.\u2019\n\u2018My dear papa,\u2019 returned my daughter, \u2018you labour under a strange\nmistake, Mr Burchell never attempted to deceive me. Instead of that he\ntook every opportunity of privately admonishing me against the\nartifices of Mr Thornhill, who I now find was even worse than he\nrepresented him.\u2019\u2014\u2018Mr Thornhill,\u2019 interrupted I, \u2018can it be?\u2019\u2014\u2018Yes,\nSir,\u2019 returned she, \u2018it was Mr Thornhill who seduced me, who employed\nthe two ladies, as he called them, but who, in fact, were abandoned\nwomen of the town, without breeding or pity, to decoy us up to London.\nTheir artifices, you may remember would have certainly succeeded, but\nfor Mr Burchell\u2019s letter, who directed those reproaches at them, which\nwe all applied to ourselves. How he came to have so much influence as\nto defeat their intentions, still remains a secret to me; but I am\nconvinced he was ever our warmest sincerest friend.\u2019\n\u2018You amaze me, my dear,\u2019 cried I; \u2018but now I find my first suspicions\nof Mr Thornhill\u2019s baseness were too well grounded: but he can triumph\nin security; for he is rich and we are poor. But tell me, my child,\nsure it was no small temptation that could thus obliterate all the\nimpressions of such an education, and so virtuous a disposition as\nthine.\u2019\n\u2018Indeed, Sir,\u2019 replied she, \u2018he owes all his triumph to the desire I\nhad of making him, and not myself, happy. I knew that the ceremony of\nour marriage, which was privately performed by a popish priest, was no\nway binding, and that I had nothing to trust to but his honour.\u2019\n\u2018What,\u2019 interrupted I, \u2018and were you indeed married by a priest, and in\norders?\u2019\u2014\u2018Indeed, Sir, we were,\u2019 replied she, \u2018though we were both\nsworn to conceal his name.\u2019\u2014\u2018Why then, my child, come to my arms again,\nand now you are a thousand times more welcome than before; for you are\nnow his wife to all intents and purposes; nor can all the laws of man,\ntho\u2019 written upon tables of adamant, lessen the force of that sacred\nconnexion.\u2019\n\u2018Alas, Papa,\u2019 replied she, \u2018you are but little acquainted with his\nvillainies: he has been married already, by the same priest, to six or\neight wives more, whom, like me, he has deceived and abandoned.\u2019\n\u2018Has he so?\u2019 cried I, \u2018then we must hang the priest, and you shall\ninform against him to-morrow.\u2019\u2014\u2018But Sir,\u2019 returned she, \u2018will that be\nright, when I am sworn to secrecy?\u2019\u2014\u2018My dear,\u2019 I replied, \u2018if you have\nmade such a promise, I cannot, nor will I tempt you to break it. Even\ntho\u2019 it may benefit the public, you must not inform against him. In all\nhuman institutions a smaller evil is allowed to procure a greater good;\nas in politics, a province may be given away to secure a kingdom; in\nmedicine, a limb may be lopt off, to preserve the body. But in religion\nthe law is written, and inflexible, never to do evil. And this law, my\nchild, is right: for otherwise, if we commit a smaller evil, to procure\na greater good, certain guilt would be thus incurred, in expectation of\ncontingent advantage. And though the advantage should certainly follow,\nyet the interval between commission and advantage, which is allowed to\nbe guilty, may be that in which we are called away to answer for the\nthings we have done, and the volume of human actions is closed for\never. But I interrupt you, my dear, go on.\u2019\n\u2018The very next morning,\u2019 continued she, \u2018I found what little\nexpectations I was to have from his sincerity. That very morning he\nintroduced me to two unhappy women more, whom, like me, he had\ndeceived, but who lived in contented prostitution. I loved him too\ntenderly to bear such rivals in his affections, and strove to forget my\ninfamy in a tumult of pleasures. With this view, I danced, dressed, and\ntalked; but still was unhappy. The gentlemen who visited there told me\nevery moment of the power of my charms, and this only contributed to\nencrease my melancholy, as I had thrown all their power quite away.\nThus each day I grew more pensive, and he more insolent, till at last\nthe monster had the assurance to offer me to a young Baronet of his\nacquaintance. Need I describe, Sir, how his ingratitude stung me. My\nanswer to this proposal was almost madness. I desired to part. As I was\ngoing he offered me a purse; but I flung it at him with indignation,\nand burst from him in a rage, that for a while kept me insensible of\nthe miseries of my situation. But I soon looked round me, and saw\nmyself a vile, abject, guilty thing, without one friend in the world to\napply to. Just in that interval, a stage-coach happening to pass by, I\ntook a place, it being my only aim to be driven at a distance from a\nwretch I despised and detested. I was set down here, where, since my\narrival, my own anxiety, and this woman\u2019s unkindness, have been my only\ncompanions. The hours of pleasure that I have passed with my mamma and\nsister, now grow painful to me. Their sorrows are much; but mine is\ngreater than theirs; for mine are mixed with guilt and infamy.\u2019\n\u2018Have patience, my child,\u2019 cried I, \u2018and I hope things will yet be\nbetter. Take some repose to-night, and to-morrow I\u2019ll carry you home to\nyour mother and the rest of the family, from whom you will receive a\nkind reception. Poor woman, this has gone to her heart: but she loves\nyou still, Olivia, and will forget it.\nCHAPTER XXII.\nOffences are easily pardoned where there is love at bottom.\nThe next morning I took my daughter behind me, and set out on my return\nhome. As we travelled along, I strove, by every persuasion, to calm her\nsorrows and fears, and to arm her with resolution to bear the presence\nof her offended mother. I took every opportunity, from the prospect of\na fine country, through which we passed, to observe how much kinder\nheaven was to us, than we to each other, and that the misfortunes of\nnature\u2019s making were very few. I assured her, that she should never\nperceive any change in my affections, and that during my life, which\nyet might be long, she might depend upon a guardian and an instructor.\nI armed her against the censures of the world, shewed her that books\nwere sweet unreproaching companions to the miserable, and that if they\ncould not bring us to enjoy life, they would at least teach us to\nendure it.\nThe hired horse that we rode was to be put up that night at an inn by\nthe way, within about five miles from my house, and as I was willing to\nprepare my family for my daughter\u2019s reception, I determined to leave\nher that night at the inn, and to return for her, accompanied by my\ndaughter Sophia, early the next morning. It was night before we reached\nour appointed stage: however, after seeing her provided with a decent\napartment, and having ordered the hostess to prepare proper\nrefreshments, I kissed her, and proceeded towards home. And now my\nheart caught new sensations of pleasure the nearer I approached that\npeaceful mansion. As a bird that had been frighted from its nest, my\naffections out-went my haste, and hovered round my little fire-side,\nwith all the rapture of expectation. I called up the many fond things I\nhad to say, and anticipated the welcome I was to receive. I already\nfelt my wife\u2019s tender embrace, and smiled at the joy of my little ones.\nAs I walked but slowly, the night wained apace. The labourers of the\nday were all retired to rest; the lights were out in every cottage; no\nsounds were heard but of the shrilling cock, and the deep-mouthed\nwatch-dog, at hollow distance. I approached my little abode of\npleasure, and before I was within a furlong of the place, our honest\nmastiff came running to welcome me.\nIt was now near mid-night that I came to knock at my door: all was\nstill and silent: my heart dilated with unutterable happiness, when, to\nmy amazement, I saw the house bursting out in a blaze of fire, and\nevery apperture red with conflagration! I gave a loud convulsive\noutcry, and fell upon the pavement insensible. This alarmed my son, who\nhad till this been asleep, and he perceiving the flames, instantly\nwaked my wife and daughter, and all running out, naked, and wild with\napprehension, recalled me to life with their anguish. But it was only\nto objects of new terror; for the flames had, by this time, caught the\nroof of our dwelling, part after part continuing to fall in, while the\nfamily stood, with silent agony, looking on, as if they enjoyed the\nblaze. I gazed upon them and upon it by turns, and then looked round me\nfor my two little ones; but they were not to be seen. O misery!\n\u2018Where,\u2019 cried I, \u2018where are my little ones?\u2019\u2014\u2018They are burnt to death\nin the flames,\u2019 says my wife calmly, \u2018and I will die with them.\u2019\u2014That\nmoment I heard the cry of the babes within, who were just awaked by the\nfire, and nothing could have stopped me. \u2018Where, where, are my\nchildren?\u2019 cried I, rushing through the flames, and bursting the door\nof the chamber in which they were confined, \u2018Where are my little\nones?\u2019\u2014\u2018Here, dear papa, here we are,\u2019 cried they together, while the\nflames were just catching the bed where they lay. I caught them both in\nmy arms, and snatched them through the fire as fast as possible, while\njust as I was got out, the roof sunk in. \u2018Now,\u2019 cried I, holding up my\nchildren, \u2018now let the flames burn on, and all my possessions perish.\nHere they are, I have saved my treasure. Here, my dearest, here are our\ntreasures, and we shall yet be happy.\u2019 We kissed our little darlings a\nthousand times, they clasped us round the neck, and seemed to share our\ntransports, while their mother laughed and wept by turns.\nI now stood a calm spectator of the flames, and after some time, began\nto perceive that my arm to the shoulder was scorched in a terrible\nmanner. It was therefore out of my power to give my son any assistance,\neither in attempting to save our goods, or preventing the flames\nspreading to our corn. By this time, the neighbours were alarmed, and\ncame running to our assistance; but all they could do was to stand,\nlike us, spectators of the calamity. My goods, among which were the\nnotes I had reserved for my daughters\u2019 fortunes, were entirely\nconsumed, except a box, with some papers that stood in the kitchen, and\ntwo or three things more of little consequence, which my son brought\naway in the beginning. The neighbours contributed, however, what they\ncould to lighten our distress. They brought us cloaths, and furnished\none of our out-houses with kitchen utensils; so that by day-light we\nhad another, tho\u2019 a wretched, dwelling to retire to. My honest next\nneighbour, and his children, were not the least assiduous in providing\nus with every thing necessary, and offering what ever consolation\nuntutored benevolence could suggest.\nWhen the fears of my family had subsided, curiosity to know the cause\nof my long stay began to take place; having therefore informed them of\nevery particular, I proceeded to prepare them for the reception of our\nlost one, and tho\u2019 we had nothing but wretchedness now to impart, I was\nwilling to procure her a welcome to what we had. This task would have\nbeen more difficult but for our recent calamity, which had humbled my\nwife\u2019s pride, and blunted it by more poignant afflictions. Being unable\nto go for my poor child myself, as my arm grew very painful, I sent my\nson and daughter, who soon returned, supporting the wretched\ndelinquent, who had not the courage to look up at her mother, whom no\ninstructions of mine could persuade to a perfect reconciliation; for\nwomen have a much stronger sense of female error than men. \u2018Ah, madam,\u2019\ncried her mother, \u2018this is but a poor place you are come to after so\nmuch finery. My daughter Sophy and I can afford but little\nentertainment to persons who have kept company only with people of\ndistinction. Yes, Miss Livy, your poor father and I have suffered very\nmuch of late; but I hope heaven will forgive you.\u2019\u2014During this\nreception, the unhappy victim stood pale and trembling, unable to weep\nor to reply; but I could not continue a silent spectator of her\ndistress, wherefore assuming a degree of severity in my voice and\nmanner, which was ever followed with instant submission, \u2018I entreat,\nwoman, that my words may be now marked once for all: I have here\nbrought you back a poor deluded wanderer; her return to duty demands\nthe revival of our tenderness. The real hardships of life are now\ncoming fast upon us, let us not therefore encrease them by dissention\namong each other. If we live harmoniously together, we may yet be\ncontented, as there are enough of us to shut out the censuring world,\nand keep each other in countenance. The kindness of heaven is promised\nto the penitent, and let ours be directed by the example. Heaven, we\nare assured, is much more pleased to view a repentant sinner, than\nninety nine persons who have supported a course of undeviating\nrectitude. And this is right; for that single effort by which we stop\nshort in the downhill path to perdition, is itself a greater exertion\nof virtue, than an hundred acts of justice.\u2019\nCHAPTER XXIII.\nNone but the guilty can be long and completely miserable.\nSome assiduity was now required to make our present abode as convenient\nas possible, and we were soon again qualified to enjoy our former\nserenity. Being disabled myself from assisting my son in our usual\noccupations, I read to my family from the few books that were saved,\nand particularly from such, as, by amusing the imagination, contributed\nto ease the heart. Our good neighbours too came every day with the\nkindest condolence, and fixed a time in which they were all to assist\nat repairing my former dwelling. Honest farmer Williams was not last\namong these visitors; but heartily offered his friendship. He would\neven have renewed his addresses to my daughter; but she rejected them\nin such a manner as totally represt his future solicitations. Her grief\nseemed formed for continuing, and she was the only person of our little\nsociety that a week did not restore to cheerfulness. She now lost that\nunblushing innocence which once taught her to respect herself, and to\nseek pleasure by pleasing. Anxiety now had taken strong possession of\nher mind, her beauty began to be impaired with her constitution, and\nneglect still more contributed to diminish it. Every tender epithet\nbestowed on her sister brought a pang to her heart and a tear to her\neye; and as one vice, tho\u2019 cured, ever plants others where it has been,\nso her former guilt, tho\u2019 driven out by repentance, left jealousy and\nenvy behind. I strove a thousand ways to lessen her care, and even\nforgot my own pain in a concern for her\u2019s, collecting such amusing\npassages of history, as a strong memory and some reading could suggest.\n\u2018Our happiness, my dear,\u2019 I would say, \u2018is in the power of one who can\nbring it about a thousand unforeseen ways, that mock our foresight. If\nexample be necessary to prove this, I\u2019ll give you a story, my child,\ntold us by a grave, tho\u2019 sometimes a romancing, historian.\n\u2018Matilda was married very young to a Neapolitan nobleman of the first\nquality, and found herself a widow and a mother at the age of fifteen.\nAs she stood one day caressing her infant son in the open window of an\napartment, which hung over the river Volturna, the child, with a sudden\nspring, leaped from her arms into the flood below, and disappeared in a\nmoment. The mother, struck with instant surprize, and making all effort\nto save him, plunged in after; but, far from being able to assist the\ninfant, she herself with great difficulty escaped to the opposite\nshore, just when some French soldiers were plundering the country on\nthat side, who immediately made her their prisoner.\n\u2018As the war was then carried on between the French and Italians with\nthe utmost inhumanity, they were going at once to perpetrate those two\nextremes, suggested by appetite and cruelty. This base resolution,\nhowever, was opposed by a young officer, who, tho\u2019 their retreat\nrequired the utmost expedition, placed her behind him, and brought her\nin safety to his native city. Her beauty at first caught his eye, her\nmerit soon after his heart. They were married; he rose to the highest\nposts; they lived long together, and were happy. But the felicity of a\nsoldier can never be called permanent: after an interval of several\nyears, the troops which he commanded having met with a repulse, he was\nobliged to take shelter in the city where he had lived with his wife.\nHere they suffered a siege, and the city at length was taken. Few\nhistories can produce more various instances of cruelty, than those\nwhich the French and Italians at that time exercised upon each other.\nIt was resolved by the victors, upon this occasion, to put all the\nFrench prisoners to death; but particularly the husband of the\nunfortunate Matilda, as he was principally instrumental in protracting\nthe siege. Their determinations were, in general, executed almost as\nsoon as resolved upon. The captive soldier was led forth, and the\nexecutioner, with his sword, stood ready, while the spectators in\ngloomy silence awaited the fatal blow, which was only suspended till\nthe general, who presided as judge, should give the signal. It was in\nthis interval of anguish and expectation, that Matilda came to take her\nlast farewell of her husband and deliverer, deploring her wretched\nsituation, and the cruelty of fate, that had saved her from perishing\nby a premature death in the river Volturna, to be the spectator of\nstill greater calamities. The general, who was a young man, was struck\nwith surprize at her beauty, and pity at her distress; but with still\nstronger emotions when he heard her mention her former dangers. He was\nher son, the infant for whom she had encounter\u2019d so much danger. He\nacknowledged her at once as his mother, and fell at her feet. The rest\nmay be easily supposed: the captive was set free, and all the happiness\nthat love, friendship, and duty could confer on each, were united.\u2019\nIn this manner I would attempt to amuse my daughter; but she listened\nwith divided attention; for her own misfortunes engrossed all the pity\nshe once had for those of another, and nothing gave her ease. In\ncompany she dreaded contempt; and in solitude she only found anxiety.\nSuch was the colour of her wretchedness, when we received certain\ninformation, that Mr Thornhill was going to be married to Miss Wilmot,\nfor whom I always suspected he had a real passion, tho\u2019 he took every\nopportunity before me to express his contempt both of her person and\nfortune. This news only served to encrease poor Olivia\u2019s affliction;\nsuch a flagrant breach of fidelity, was more than her courage could\nsupport. I was resolved, however, to get more certain information, and\nto defeat, if possible, the completion of his designs, by sending my\nson to old Mr Wilmot\u2019s, with instructions to know the truth of the\nreport, and to deliver Miss Wilmot a letter, intimating Mr Thornhill\u2019s\nconduct in my family. My son went, in pursuance of my directions, and\nin three days returned, assuring us of the truth of the account; but\nthat he had found it impossible to deliver the letter, which he was\ntherefore obliged to leave, as Mr Thornhill and Miss Wilmot were\nvisiting round the country. They were to be married, he said, in a few\ndays, having appeared together at church the Sunday before he was\nthere, in great splendour, the bride attended by six young ladies, and\nhe by as many gentlemen. Their approaching nuptials filled the whole\ncountry with rejoicing, and they usually rode out together in the\ngrandest equipage that had been seen in the country for many years. All\nthe friends of both families, he said, were there, particularly the\n\u2019Squire\u2019s uncle, Sir William Thornhill, who bore so good a character.\nHe added, that nothing but mirth and feasting were going forward; that\nall the country praised the young bride\u2019s beauty, and the bridegroom\u2019s\nfine person, and that they were immensely fond of each other;\nconcluding, that he could not help thinking Mr Thornhill one of the\nmost happy men in the world.\n\u2018Why let him if he can,\u2019 returned I: \u2018but, my son, observe this bed of\nstraw, and unsheltering roof; those mouldering walls, and humid floor;\nmy wretched body thus disabled by fire, and my children weeping round\nme for bread; you have come home, my child, to all this, yet here, even\nhere, you see a man that would not for a thousand worlds exchange\nsituations. O, my children, if you could but learn to commune with your\nown hearts, and know what noble company you can make them, you would\nlittle regard the elegance and splendours of the worthless. Almost all\nmen have been taught to call life a passage, and themselves the\ntravellers. The similitude still may be improved when we observe that\nthe good are joyful and serene, like travellers that are going towards\nhome; the wicked but by intervals happy, like travellers that are going\ninto exile.\u2019\nMy compassion for my poor daughter, overpowered by this new disaster,\ninterrupted what I had farther to observe. I bade her mother support\nher, and after a short time she recovered. She appeared from that time\nmore calm, and I imagined had gained a new degree of resolution; but\nappearances deceived me; for her tranquility was the langour of\nover-wrought resentment. A supply of provisions, charitably sent us by\nmy kind parishioners, seemed to diffuse new cheerfulness amongst the\nrest of the family, nor was I displeased at seeing them once more\nsprightly and at ease. It would have been unjust to damp their\nsatisfactions, merely to condole with resolute melancholy, or to\nburthen them with a sadness they did not feel. Thus, once more, the\ntale went round and the song was demanded, and cheerfulness\ncondescended to hover round our little habitation.\nCHAPTER XXIV.\nFresh calamities.\nThe next morning the sun rose with peculiar warmth for the season; so\nthat we agreed to breakfast together on the honeysuckle bank: where,\nwhile we sate, my youngest daughter, at my request, joined her voice to\nthe concert on the trees about us. It was in this place my poor Olivia\nfirst met her seducer, and every object served to recall her sadness.\nBut that melancholy, which is excited by objects of pleasure, or\ninspired by sounds of harmony, sooths the heart instead of corroding\nit. Her mother too, upon this occasion, felt a pleasing distress, and\nwept, and loved her daughter as before. \u2018Do, my pretty Olivia,\u2019 cried\nshe, \u2018let us have that little melancholy air your pappa was so fond of,\nyour sister Sophy has already obliged us. Do child, it will please your\nold father.\u2019 She complied in a manner so exquisitely pathetic as moved\nme.\nWhen lovely woman stoops to folly,\n    And finds too late that men betray,\nWhat charm can sooth her melancholy,\n    What art can wash her guilt away?\nThe only art her guilt to cover,\n    To hide her shame from every eye,\nTo give repentance to her lover,\n    And wring his bosom\u2014is to die.\nAs she was concluding the last stanza, to which an interruption in her\nvoice from sorrow gave peculiar softness, the appearance of Mr\nThornhill\u2019s equipage at a distance alarmed us all, but particularly\nencreased the uneasiness of my eldest daughter, who, desirous of\nshunning her betrayer, returned to the house with her sister. In a few\nminutes he was alighted from his chariot, and making up to the place\nwhere I was still sitting, enquired after my health with his usual air\nof familiarity. \u2018Sir,\u2019 replied I, \u2018your present assurance only serves\nto aggravate the baseness of your character; and there was a time when\nI would have chastised your insolence, for presuming thus to appear\nbefore me. But now you are safe; for age has cooled my passions, and my\ncalling restrains them.\u2019\n\u2018I vow, my dear sir,\u2019 returned he, \u2018I am amazed at all this; nor can I\nunderstand what it means! I hope you don\u2019t think your daughter\u2019s late\nexcursion with me had any thing criminal in it.\u2019\n\u2018Go,\u2019 cried I, \u2018thou art a wretch, a poor pitiful wretch, and every way\na lyar; but your meanness secures you from my anger! Yet sir, I am\ndescended from a family that would not have borne this! And so, thou\nvile thing, to gratify a momentary passion, thou hast made one poor\ncreature wretched for life, and polluted a family that had nothing but\nhonour for their portion.\u2019\n\u2018If she or you,\u2019 returned he, \u2018are resolved to be miserable, I cannot\nhelp it. But you may still be happy; and whatever opinion you may have\nformed of me, you shall ever find me ready to contribute to it. We can\nmarry her to another in a short time, and what is more, she may keep\nher lover beside; for I protest I shall ever continue to have a true\nregard for her.\u2019\nI found all my passions alarmed at this new degrading proposal; for\nthough the mind may often be calm under great injuries, little villainy\ncan at any time get within the soul, and sting it into rage.\u2014\u2018Avoid my\nsight, thou reptile,\u2019 cried I, \u2018nor continue to insult me with thy\npresence. Were my brave son at home, he would not suffer this; but I am\nold, and disabled, and every way undone.\u2019\n\u2018I find,\u2019 cried he, \u2018you are bent upon obliging me to talk in an\nharsher manner than I intended. But as I have shewn you what may be\nhoped from my friendship, it may not be improper to represent what may\nbe the consequences of my resentment. My attorney, to whom your late\nbond has been transferred, threatens hard, nor do I know how to prevent\nthe course of justice, except by paying the money myself, which, as I\nhave been at some expences lately, previous to my intended marriage, is\nnot so easy to be done. And then my steward talks of driving for the\nrent: it is certain he knows his duty; for I never trouble myself with\naffairs of that nature. Yet still I could wish to serve you, and even\nto have you and your daughter present at my marriage, which is shortly\nto be solemnized with Miss Wilmot; it is even the request of my\ncharming Arabella herself, whom I hope you will not refuse.\u2019\n\u2018Mr Thornhill,\u2019 replied I, \u2018hear me once for all: as to your marriage\nwith any but my daughter, that I never will consent to; and though your\nfriendship could raise me to a throne, or your resentment sink me to\nthe grave, yet would I despise both. Thou hast once wofully,\nirreparably, deceived me. I reposed my heart upon thine honour, and\nhave found its baseness. Never more, therefore, expect friendship from\nme. Go, and possess what fortune has given thee, beauty, riches,\nhealth, and pleasure. Go, and leave me to want, infamy, disease, and\nsorrow. Yet humbled as I am, shall my heart still vindicate its\ndignity, and though thou hast my forgiveness, thou shalt ever have my\ncontempt.\u2019\n\u2018If so,\u2019 returned he, \u2018depend upon it you shall feel the effects of\nthis insolence, and we shall shortly see which is the fittest object of\nscorn, you or me.\u2019\u2014Upon which he departed abruptly.\nMy wife and son, who were present at this interview, seemed terrified\nwith the apprehension. My daughters also, finding that he was gone,\ncame out to be informed of the result of our conference, which, when\nknown, alarmed them not less than the rest. But as to myself, I\ndisregarded the utmost stretch of his malevolence: he had already\nstruck the blow, and now I stood prepared to repel every new effort.\nLike one of those instruments used in the art of war, which, however\nthrown, still presents a point to receive the enemy.\nWe soon, however, found that he had not threatened in vain; for the\nvery next morning his steward came to demand my annual rent, which, by\nthe train of accidents already related, I was unable to pay. The\nconsequence of my incapacity was his driving my cattle that evening,\nand their being appraised and sold the next day for less than half\ntheir value. My wife and children now therefore entreated me to comply\nupon any terms, rather than incur certain destruction. They even begged\nof me to admit his visits once more, and used all their little\neloquence to paint the calamities I was going to endure. The terrors of\na prison, in so rigorous a season as the present, with the danger, that\nthreatened my health from the late accident that happened by the fire.\nBut I continued inflexible.\n\u2018Why, my treasures,\u2019 cried I, \u2018why will you thus attempt to persuade me\nto the thing that is not right! My duty has taught me to forgive him;\nbut my conscience will not permit me to approve. Would you have me\napplaud to the world what my heart must internally condemn? Would you\nhave me tamely sit down and flatter our infamous betrayer; and to avoid\na prison continually suffer the more galling bonds of mental\nconfinement! No, never. If we are to be taken from this abode, only let\nus hold to the right, and wherever we are thrown, we can still retire\nto a charming apartment, when we can look round our own hearts with\nintrepidity and with pleasure!\u2019\nIn this manner we spent that evening. Early the next morning, as the\nsnow had fallen in great abundance in the night, my son was employed in\nclearing it away, and opening a passage before the door. He had not\nbeen thus engaged long, when he came running in, with looks all pale,\nto tell us that two strangers, whom he knew to be officers of justice,\nwere making towards the house.\nJust as he spoke they came in, and approaching the bed where I lay,\nafter previously informing me of their employment and business, made me\ntheir prisoner, bidding me prepare to go with them to the county gaol,\nwhich was eleven miles off.\n\u2018My friends,\u2019 said I, \u2018this is severe weather on which you have come to\ntake me to a prison; and it is particularly unfortunate at this time,\nas one of my arms has lately been burnt in a terrible manner, and it\nhas thrown me into a slight fever, and I want cloaths to cover me, and\nI am now too weak and old to walk far in such deep snow: but if it must\nbe so\u2014\u2019\nI then turned to my wife and children, and directed them to get\ntogether what few things were left us, and to prepare immediately for\nleaving this place. I entreated them to be expeditious, and desired my\nson to assist his elder sister, who, from a consciousness that she was\nthe cause of all our calamities, was fallen, and had lost anguish in\ninsensibility. I encouraged my wife, who, pale and trembling, clasped\nour affrighted little ones in her arms, that clung to her bosom in\nsilence, dreading to look round at the strangers. In the mean time my\nyoungest daughter prepared for our departure, and as she received\nseveral hints to use dispatch, in about an hour we were ready to\ndepart.\nCHAPTER XXV.\nNo situation, however wretched it seems, but has some sort of comfort\nattending it.\nWe set forward from this peaceful neighbourhood, and walked on slowly.\nMy eldest daughter being enfeebled by a slow fever, which had begun for\nsome days to undermine her constitution, one of the officers, who had\nan horse, kindly took her behind him; for even these men cannot\nentirely divest themselves of humanity. My son led one of the little\nones by the hand, and my wife the other, while I leaned upon my\nyoungest girl, whose tears fell not for her own but my distresses.\nWe were now got from my late dwelling about two miles, when we saw a\ncrowd running and shouting behind us, consisting of about fifty of my\npoorest parishioners. These, with dreadful imprecations, soon seized\nupon the two officers of justice, and swearing they would never see\ntheir minister go to gaol while they had a drop of blood to shed in his\ndefence, were going to use them with great severity. The consequence\nmight have been fatal, had I not immediately interposed, and with some\ndifficulty rescued the officers from the hands of the enraged\nmultitude. My children, who looked upon my delivery now as certain,\nappeared transported with joy, and were incapable of containing their\nraptures. But they were soon undeceived, upon hearing me address the\npoor deluded people, who came, as they imagined, to do me service.\n\u2018What! my friends,\u2019 cried I, \u2018and is this the way you love me! Is this\nthe manner you obey the instructions I have given you from the pulpit!\nThus to fly in the face of justice, and bring down ruin on yourselves\nand me! Which is your ringleader? Shew me the man that has thus seduced\nyou. As sure as he lives he shall feel my resentment. Alas! my dear\ndeluded flock, return back to the duty you owe to God, to your country,\nand to me. I shall yet perhaps one day see you in greater felicity\nhere, and contribute to make your lives more happy. But let it at least\nbe my comfort when I pen my fold for immortality, that not one here\nshall be wanting.\u2019\nThey now seemed all repentance, and melting into tears, came one after\nthe other to bid me farewell. I shook each tenderly by the hand, and\nleaving them my blessing, proceeded forward without meeting any farther\ninterruption. Some hours before night we reached the town, or rather\nvillage; for it consisted but of a few mean houses, having lost all its\nformer opulence, and retaining no marks of its ancient superiority but\nthe gaol.\nUpon entering, we put up at an inn, where we had such refreshments as\ncould most readily be procured, and I supped with my family with my\nusual cheerfulness. After seeing them properly accommodated for that\nnight, I next attended the sheriff\u2019s officers to the prison, which had\nformerly been built for the purposes of war, and consisted of one large\napartment, strongly grated, and paved with stone, common to both felons\nand debtors at certain hours in the four and twenty. Besides this,\nevery prisoner had a separate cell, where he was locked in for the\nnight.\nI expected upon my entrance to find nothing but lamentations, and\nvarious sounds of misery; but it was very different. The prisoners\nseemed all employed in one common design, that of forgetting thought in\nmerriment or clamour. I was apprized of the usual perquisite required\nupon these occasions, and immediately complied with the demand, though\nthe little money I had was very near being all exhausted. This was\nimmediately sent away for liquor, and the whole prison soon was filled\nwith riot, laughter, and prophaneness.\n\u2018How,\u2019 cried I to myself, \u2018shall men so very wicked be chearful, and\nshall I be melancholy! I feel only the same confinement with them, and\nI think I have more reason to be happy.\u2019\nWith such reflections I laboured to become chearful; but chearfulness\nwas never yet produced by effort, which is itself painful. As I was\nsitting therefore in a corner of the gaol, in a pensive posture, one of\nmy fellow prisoners came up, and sitting by me, entered into\nconversation. It was my constant rule in life never to avoid the\nconversation of any man who seemed to desire it: for if good, I might\nprofit by his instruction; if bad, he might be assisted by mine. I\nfound this to be a knowing man, of strong unlettered sense; but a\nthorough knowledge of the world, as it is called, or, more properly\nspeaking, of human nature on the wrong side. He asked me if I had taken\ncare to provide myself with a bed, which was a circumstance I had never\nonce attended to.\n\u2018That\u2019s unfortunate,\u2019 cried he, \u2018as you are allowed here nothing but\nstraw, and your apartment is very large and cold. However you seem to\nbe something of a gentleman, and as I have been one myself in my time,\npart of my bed-cloaths are heartily at your service.\u2019\nI thanked him, professing my surprize at finding such humanity in a\ngaol in misfortunes; adding, to let him see that I was a scholar, \u2018That\nthe sage ancient seemed to understand the value of company in\naffliction, when he said, Ton kosman aire, ei dos ton etairon; and in\nfact,\u2019 continued I, \u2018what is the World if it affords only solitude?\u2019\n\u2018You talk of the world, Sir,\u2019 returned my fellow prisoner; \u2018_the world\nis in its dotage, and yet the cosmogony or creation of the world has\npuzzled the philosophers of every age. What a medly of opinions have\nthey not broached upon the creation of the world. Sanconiathon,\nManetho, Berosus, and Ocellus Lucanus have all attempted it in vain.\nThe latter has these words. Anarchon ara kai atelutaion to pan, which\nimplies_\u2019\u2014\u2018I ask pardon, Sir,\u2019 cried I, \u2018for interrupting so much\nlearning; but I think I have heard all this before. Have I not had the\npleasure of once seeing you at Welbridge fair, and is not your name\nEphraim Jenkinson?\u2019 At this demand he only sighed. \u2018I suppose you must\nrecollect,\u2019 resumed I, \u2018one Doctor Primrose, from whom you bought a\nhorse.\u2019\nHe now at once recollected me; for the gloominess of the place and the\napproaching night had prevented his distinguishing my features\nbefore.\u2014\u2018Yes, Sir,\u2019 returned Mr Jenkinson, \u2018I remember you perfectly\nwell; I bought an horse, but forgot to pay for him. Your neighbour\nFlamborough is the only prosecutor I am any way afraid of at the next\nassizes: for he intends to swear positively against me as a coiner. I\nam heartily sorry, Sir, I ever deceived you, or indeed any man; for you\nsee,\u2019 continued he, shewing his shackles, \u2018what my tricks have brought\nme to.\u2019\n\u2018Well, sir,\u2019 replied I, \u2018your kindness in offering me assistance, when\nyou could expect no return, shall be repaid with my endeavours to\nsoften or totally suppress Mr Flamborough\u2019s evidence, and I will send\nmy son to him for that purpose the first opportunity; nor do I in the\nleast doubt but he will comply with my request, and as to my evidence,\nyou need be under no uneasiness about that.\u2019\n\u2018Well, sir,\u2019 cried he, \u2018all the return I can make shall be yours. You\nshall have more than half my bed-cloaths to night, and I\u2019ll take care\nto stand your friend in the prison, where I think I have some\ninfluence.\u2019\nI thanked him, and could not avoid being surprised at the present\nyouthful change in his aspect; for at the time I had seen him before he\nappeared at least sixty.\u2014\u2018Sir,\u2019 answered he, you are little acquainted\nwith the world; I had at that time false hair, and have learnt the art\nof counterfeiting every age from seventeen to seventy. Ah sir, had I\nbut bestowed half the pains in learning a trade, that I have in\nlearning to be a scoundrel, I might have been a rich man at this day.\nBut rogue as I am, still I may be your friend, and that perhaps when\nyou least expect it.\u2019\nWe were now prevented from further conversation, by the arrival of the\ngaoler\u2019s servants, who came to call over the prisoners names, and lock\nup for the night. A fellow also, with a bundle of straw for my bed\nattended, who led me along a dark narrow passage into a room paved like\nthe common prison, and in one corner of this I spread my bed, and the\ncloaths given me by my fellow prisoner; which done, my conductor, who\nwas civil enough, bade me a good-night. After my usual meditations, and\nhaving praised my heavenly corrector, I laid myself down and slept with\nthe utmost tranquility till morning.\nCHAPTER XXVI.\nA reformation in the gaol. To make laws complete, they should reward as\nwell as punish.\nThe next morning early I was awakened by my family, whom I found in\ntears at my bed-side. The gloomy strength of every thing about us, it\nseems, had daunted them. I gently rebuked their sorrow, assuring them I\nhad never slept with greater tranquility, and next enquired after my\neldest daughter, who was not among them. They informed me that\nyesterday\u2019s uneasiness and fatigue had encreased her fever, and it was\njudged proper to leave her behind. My next care was to send my son to\nprocure a room or two to lodge the family in, as near the prison as\nconveniently could be found. He obeyed; but could only find one\napartment, which was hired at a small expence, for his mother and\nsisters, the gaoler with humanity consenting to let him and his two\nlittle brothers lie in the prison with me. A bed was therefore prepared\nfor them in a corner of the room, which I thought answered very\nconveniently. I was willing however previously to know whether my\nlittle children chose to lie in a place which seemed to fright them\nupon entrance.\n\u2018Well,\u2019 cried I, \u2018my good boys, how do you like your bed? I hope you\nare not afraid to lie in this room, dark as it appears.\u2019\n\u2018No, papa,\u2019 says Dick, \u2018I am not afraid to lie any where where you\nare.\u2019\n\u2018And I,\u2019 says Bill, who was yet but four years old, \u2018love every place\nbest that my papa is in.\u2019\nAfter this, I allotted to each of the family what they were to do. My\ndaughter was particularly directed to watch her declining sister\u2019s\nhealth; my wife was to attend me; my little boys were to read to me:\n\u2018And as for you, my son,\u2019 continued I, \u2018it is by the labour of your\nhands we must all hope to be supported. Your wages, as a day-labourer,\nwill be full sufficient, with proper frugality, to maintain us all, and\ncomfortably too. Thou art now sixteen years old, and hast strength, and\nit was given thee, my son, for very useful purposes; for it must save\nfrom famine your helpless parents and family. Prepare then this evening\nto look out for work against to-morrow, and bring home every night what\nmoney you earn, for our support.\u2019\nHaving thus instructed him, and settled the rest, I walked down to the\ncommon prison, where I could enjoy more air and room. But I was not\nlong there when the execrations, lewdness, and brutality that invaded\nme on every side, drove me back to my apartment again. Here I sate for\nsome time, pondering upon the strange infatuation of wretches, who\nfinding all mankind in open arms against them, were labouring to make\nthemselves a future and a tremendous enemy.\nTheir insensibility excited my highest compassion, and blotted my own\nuneasiness from my mind. It even appeared a duty incumbent upon me to\nattempt to reclaim them. I resolved therefore once more to return, and\nin spite of their contempt to give them my advice, and conquer them by\nperseverance. Going therefore among them again, I informed Mr Jenkinson\nof my design, at which he laughed heartily, but communicated it to the\nrest. The proposal was received with the greatest good-humour, as it\npromised to afford a new fund of entertainment to persons who had now\nno other resource for mirth, but what could be derived from ridicule or\ndebauchery.\nI therefore read them a portion of the service with a loud unaffected\nvoice, and found my audience perfectly merry upon the occasion. Lewd\nwhispers, groans of contrition burlesqued, winking and coughing,\nalternately excited laughter. However, I continued with my natural\nsolemnity to read on, sensible that what I did might amend some, but\ncould itself receive no contamination from any.\nAfter reading, I entered upon my exhortation, which was rather\ncalculated at first to amuse them than to reprove. I previously\nobserved, that no other motive but their welfare could induce me to\nthis; that I was their fellow prisoner, and now got nothing by\npreaching. I was sorry, I said, to hear them so very prophane; because\nthey got nothing by it, but might lose a great deal: \u2018For be assured,\nmy friends,\u2019 cried I, \u2018for you are my friends, however the world may\ndisclaim your friendship, though you swore twelve thousand oaths in a\nday, it would not put one penny in your purse. Then what signifies\ncalling every moment upon the devil, and courting his friendship, since\nyou find how scurvily he uses you. He has given you nothing here, you\nfind, but a mouthful of oaths and an empty belly; and by the best\naccounts I have of him, he will give you nothing that\u2019s good hereafter.\n\u2018If used ill in our dealings with one man, we naturally go elsewhere.\nWere it not worth your while then, just to try how you may like the\nusage of another master, who gives you fair promises at least to come\nto him. Surely, my Friends, of all stupidity in the world, his must be\ngreatest, who, after robbing an house, runs to the thieftakers for\nprotection. And yet how are you more wise? You are all seeking comfort\nfrom one that has already betrayed you, applying to a more malicious\nbeing than any thieftaker of them all; for they only decoy, and then\nhang you; but he decoys and hangs, and what is worst of all, will not\nlet you loose after the hangman has done.\u2019\nWhen I had concluded, I received the compliments of my audience, some\nof whom came and shook me by the hand, swearing that I was a very\nhonest fellow, and that they desired my further acquaintance. I\ntherefore promised to repeat my lecture next day, and actually\nconceived some hopes of making a reformation here; for it had ever been\nmy opinion, that no man was past the hour of amendment, every heart\nlying open to the shafts of reproof, if the archer could but take a\nproper aim. When I had thus satisfied my mind, I went back to my\napartment, where my wife had prepared a frugal meal, while Mr Jenkinson\nbegged leave to add his dinner to ours, and partake of the pleasure, as\nhe was kind enough to express it of my conversation. He had not yet\nseen my family, for as they came to my apartment by a door in the\nnarrow passage, already described, by this means they avoided the\ncommon prison. Jenkinson at the first interview therefore seemed not a\nlittle struck with the beauty of my youngest daughter, which her\npensive air contributed to heighten, and my little ones did not pass\nunnoticed.\n\u2018Alas, Doctor,\u2019 cried he, \u2018these children are too handsome and too good\nfor such a place as this!\u2019\n\u2018Why, Mr Jenkinson\u2019, replied I, \u2018thank heaven my children are pretty\ntolerable in morals, and if they be good, it matters little for the\nrest.\u2019\n\u2018I fancy, sir,\u2019 returned my fellow prisoner, \u2018that it must give you\ngreat comfort to have this little family about you.\u2019\n\u2018A comfort, Mr Jenkinson,\u2019 replied I, \u2018yes it is indeed a comfort, and\nI would not be without them for all the world; for they can make a\ndungeon seem a palace. There is but one way in this life of wounding my\nhappiness, and that is by injuring them.\u2019\n\u2018I am afraid then, sir,\u2019 cried he, \u2018that I am in some measure culpable;\nfor I think I see here (looking at my son Moses) one that I have\ninjured, and by whom I wish to be forgiven.\u2019\nMy son immediately recollected his voice and features, though he had\nbefore seen him in disguise, and taking him by the hand, with a smile\nforgave him. \u2018Yet,\u2019 continued he, \u2018I can\u2019t help wondering at what you\ncould see in my face, to think me a proper mark for deception.\u2019\n\u2018My dear sir,\u2019 returned the other, \u2018it was not your face, but your\nwhite stockings and the black ribband in your hair, that allured me.\nBut no disparagement to your parts, I have deceived wiser men than you\nin my time; and yet, with all my tricks, the blockheads have been too\nmany for me at last.\u2019\n\u2018I suppose,\u2019 cried my son, \u2018that the narrative of such a life as yours\nmust be extremely instructive and amusing.\u2019\n\u2018Not much of either,\u2019 returned Mr Jenkinson. \u2018Those relations which\ndescribe the tricks and vices only of mankind, by increasing our\nsuspicion in life, retard our success. The traveller that distrusts\nevery person he meets, and turns back upon the appearance of every man\nthat looks like a robber, seldom arrives in time at his journey\u2019s end.\n\u2018Indeed I think from my own experience, that the knowing one is the\nsilliest fellow under the sun. I was thought cunning from my very\nchildhood; when but seven years old the ladies would say that I was a\nperfect little man; at fourteen I knew the world, cocked my hat, and\nloved the ladies; at twenty, though I was perfectly honest, yet every\none thought me so cunning, that not one would trust me. Thus I was at\nlast obliged to turn sharper in my own defence, and have lived ever\nsince, my head throbbing with schemes to deceive, and my heart\npalpitating with fears of detection.\n\u2018I used often to laugh at your honest simple neighbour Flamborough, and\none way or another generally cheated him once a year. Yet still the\nhonest man went forward without suspicion, and grew rich, while I still\ncontinued tricksy and cunning, and was poor, without the consolation of\nbeing honest.\n\u2018However,\u2019 continued he, \u2018let me know your case, and what has brought\nyou here; perhaps though I have not skill to avoid a gaol myself, I may\nextricate my friends.\u2019\nIn compliance with his curiosity, I informed him of the whole train of\naccidents and follies that had plunged me into my present troubles, and\nmy utter inability to get free.\nAfter hearing my story, and pausing some minutes, he slapt his\nforehead, as if he had hit upon something material, and took his leave,\nsaying he would try what could be done.\nCHAPTER XXVII.\nThe same subject continued.\nThe next morning I communicated to my wife and children the scheme I\nhad planned of reforming the prisoners, which they received with\nuniversal disapprobation, alledging the impossibility and impropriety\nof it; adding, that my endeavours would no way contribute to their\namendment, but might probably disgrace my calling.\n\u2018Excuse me,\u2019 returned I, \u2018these people, however fallen, are still men,\nand that is a very good title to my affections. Good council rejected\nreturns to enrich the giver\u2019s bosom; and though the instruction I\ncommunicate may not mend them, yet it will assuredly mend myself. If\nthese wretches, my children, were princes, there would be thousands\nready to offer their ministry; but, in my opinion, the heart that is\nburied in a dungeon is as precious as that seated upon a throne. Yes,\nmy treasures, if I can mend them I will; perhaps they will not all\ndespise me. Perhaps I may catch up even one from the gulph, and, that\nwill be great gain; for is there upon earth a gem so precious as the\nhuman soul?\u2019\nThus saying, I left them, and descended to the common prison, where I\nfound the prisoners very merry, expecting my arrival; and each prepared\nwith some gaol trick to play upon the doctor. Thus, as I was going to\nbegin, one turned my wig awry, as if by accident, and then asked my\npardon. A second, who stood at some distance, had a knack of spitting\nthrough his teeth, which fell in showers upon my book. A third would\ncry amen in such an affected tone as gave the rest great delight. A\nfourth had slily picked my pocket of my spectacles. But there was one\nwhose trick gave more universal pleasure than all the rest; for\nobserving the manner in which I had disposed my books on the table\nbefore me, he very dextrously displaced one of them, and put an obscene\njest-book of his own in the place. However I took no notice of all that\nthis mischievous groupe of little beings could do; but went on,\nperfectly sensible that what was ridiculous in my attempt, would excite\nmirth only the first or second time, while what was serious would be\npermanent. My design succeeded, and in less than six days some were\npenitent, and all attentive.\nIt was now that I applauded my perseverance and address, at thus giving\nsensibility to wretches divested of every moral feeling, and now began\nto think of doing them temporal services also, by rendering their\nsituation somewhat more comfortable. Their time had hitherto been\ndivided between famine and excess, tumultous riot and bitter repining.\nTheir only employment was quarrelling among each other, playing at\ncribbage, and cutting tobacco stoppers. From this last mode of idle\nindustry I took the hint of setting such as chose to work at cutting\npegs for tobacconists and shoemakers, the proper wood being bought by a\ngeneral subscription, and when manufactured, sold by my appointment; so\nthat each earned something every day: a trifle indeed, but sufficient\nto maintain him.\nI did not stop here, but instituted fines for the punishment of\nimmorality, and rewards for peculiar industry. Thus in less than a\nfortnight I had formed them into something social and humane, and had\nthe pleasure of regarding myself as a legislator, who had brought men\nfrom their native ferocity into friendship and obedience.\nAnd it were highly to be wished, that legislative power would thus\ndirect the law rather to reformation than severity. That it would seem\nconvinced that the work of eradicating crimes is not by making\npunishments familiar, but formidable. Then instead of our present\nprisons, which find or make men guilty, which enclose wretches for the\ncommission of one crime, and return them, if returned alive, fitted for\nthe perpetration of thousands; we should see, as in other parts of\nEurope, places of penitence and solitude, where the accused might be\nattended by such as could give them repentance if guilty, or new\nmotives to virtue if innocent. And this, but not the increasing\npunishments, is the way to mend a state: nor can I avoid even\nquestioning the validity of that right which social combinations have\nassumed of capitally punishing offences of a slight nature. In cases of\nmurder their right is obvious, as it is the duty of us all, from the\nlaw of self-defence, to cut off that man who has shewn a disregard for\nthe life of another. Against such, all nature arises in arms; but it is\nnot so against him who steals my property. Natural law gives me no\nright to take away his life, as by that the horse he steals is as much\nhis property as mine. If then I have any right, it must be from a\ncompact made between us, that he who deprives the other of his horse\nshall die. But this is a false compact; because no man has a right to\nbarter his life, no more than to take it away, as it is not his own.\nAnd beside, the compact is inadequate, and would be set aside even in a\ncourt of modern equity, as there is a great penalty for a very trifling\nconvenience, since it is far better that two men should live, than that\none man should ride. But a compact that is false between two men, is\nequally so between an hundred, or an hundred thousand; for as ten\nmillions of circles can never make a square, so the united voice of\nmyriads cannot lend the smallest foundation to falsehood. It is thus\nthat reason speaks, and untutored nature says the same thing. Savages\nthat are directed by natural law alone are very tender of the lives of\neach other; they seldom shed blood but to retaliate former cruelty.\nOur Saxon ancestors, fierce as they were in war, had but few executions\nin times of peace; and in all commencing governments that have the\nprint of nature still strong upon them, scarce any crime is held\ncapital.\nIt is among the citizens of a refined community that penal laws, which\nare in the hands of the rich, are laid upon the poor. Government, while\nit grows older, seems to acquire the moroseness of age; and as if our\nproperty were become dearer in proportion as it increased, as if the\nmore enormous our wealth, the more extensive our fears, all our\npossessions are paled up with new edicts every day, and hung round with\ngibbets to scare every invader.\nI cannot tell whether it is from the number of our penal laws, or the\nlicentiousness of our people, that this country should shew more\nconvicts in a year, than half the dominions of Europe united. Perhaps\nit is owing to both; for they mutually produce each other. When by\nindiscriminate penal laws a nation beholds the same punishment affixed\nto dissimilar degrees of guilt, from perceiving no distinction in the\npenalty, the people are led to lose all sense of distinction in the\ncrime, and this distinction is the bulwark of all morality: thus the\nmultitude of laws produce new vices, and new vices call for fresh\nrestraints.\nIt were to be wished then that power, instead of contriving new laws to\npunish vice, instead of drawing hard the cords of society till a\nconvulsion come to burst them, instead of cutting away wretches as\nuseless, before we have tried their utility, instead of converting\ncorrection into vengeance, it were to be wished that we tried the\nrestrictive arts of government, and made law the protector, but not the\ntyrant of the people. We should then find that creatures, whose souls\nare held as dross, only wanted the hand of a refiner; we should then\nfind that wretches, now stuck up for long tortures, lest luxury should\nfeel a momentary pang, might, if properly treated, serve to sinew the\nstate in times of danger; that, as their faces are like ours, their\nhearts are so too; that few minds are so base as that perseverance\ncannot amend; that a man may see his last crime without dying for it;\nand that very little blood will serve to cement our security.\nCHAPTER XXVIII.\nHappiness and misery rather the result of prudence than of virtue in\nthis life. Temporal evils or felicities being regarded by heaven as\nthings merely in themselves trifling and unworthy its care in the\ndistribution.\nI had now been confined more than a fortnight, but had not since my\narrival been visited by my dear Olivia, and I greatly longed to see\nher. Having communicated my wishes to my wife, the next morning the\npoor girl entered my apartment, leaning on her sister\u2019s arm. The change\nwhich I saw in her countenance struck me. The numberless graces that\nonce resided there were now fled, and the hand of death seemed to have\nmolded every feature to alarm me. Her temples were sunk, her forehead\nwas tense, and a fatal paleness sate upon her cheek.\n\u2018I am glad to see thee, my dear,\u2019 cried I; \u2018but why this dejection\nLivy? I hope, my love, you have too great a regard for me, to permit\ndisappointment thus to undermine a life which I prize as my own. Be\nchearful child, and we yet may see happier days.\u2019\n\u2018You have ever, sir,\u2019 replied she, \u2018been kind to me, and it adds to my\npain that I shall never have an opportunity of sharing that happiness\nyou promise. Happiness, I fear, is no longer reserved for me here; and\nI long to be rid of a place where I have only found distress. Indeed,\nsir, I wish you would make a proper submission to Mr Thornhill; it may,\nin some measure, induce him to pity you, and it will give me relief in\ndying.\u2019\n\u2018Never, child,\u2019 replied I, \u2018never will I be brought to acknowledge my\ndaughter a prostitute; for tho\u2019 the world may look upon your offence\nwith scorn, let it be mine to regard it as a mark of credulity, not of\nguilt. My dear, I am no way miserable in this place, however dismal it\nmay seem, and be assured that while you continue to bless me by living,\nhe shall never have my consent to make you more wretched by marrying\nanother.\u2019\nAfter the departure of my daughter, my fellow prisoner, who was by at\nthis interview, sensibly enough expostulated upon my obstinacy, in\nrefusing a submission, which promised to give me freedom. He observed,\nthat the rest of my family was not to be sacrificed to the peace of one\nchild alone, and she the only one who had offended me. \u2018Beside,\u2019 added\nhe, \u2018I don\u2019t know if it be just thus to obstruct the union of man and\nwife, which you do at present, by refusing to consent to a match which\nyou cannot hinder, but may render unhappy.\u2019\n\u2018Sir,\u2019 replied I, \u2018you are unacquainted with the man that oppresses us.\nI am very sensible that no submission I can make could procure me\nliberty even for an hour. I am told that even in this very room a\ndebtor of his, no later than last year, died for want. But though my\nsubmission and approbation could transfer me from hence, to the most\nbeautiful apartment he is possessed of; yet I would grant neither, as\nsomething whispers me that it would be giving a sanction to adultery.\nWhile my daughter lives, no other marriage of his shall ever be legal\nin my eye. Were she removed, indeed, I should be the basest of men,\nfrom any resentment of my own, to attempt putting asunder those who\nwish for an union. No, villain as he is, I should then wish him\nmarried, to prevent the consequences of his future debaucheries. But\nnow should I not be the most cruel of all fathers, to sign an\nInstrument which must send my child to the grave, merely to avoid a\nprison myself; and thus to escape one pang, break my child\u2019s heart with\na thousand?\u2019\nHe acquiesced in the justice of this answer, but could not avoid\nobserving, that he feared my daughter\u2019s life was already too much\nwasted to keep me long a prisoner. \u2018However,\u2019 continued he, \u2018though you\nrefuse to submit to the nephew, I hope you have no objections to laying\nyour case before the uncle, who has the first character in the kingdom\nfor every thing that is just and good. I would advise you to send him a\nletter by the post, intimating all his nephew\u2019s ill usage, and my life\nfor it that in three days you shall have an answer.\u2019 I thank\u2019d him for\nthe hint, and instantly set about complying; but I wanted paper, and\nunluckily all our money had been laid out that morning in provisions;\nhowever he supplied me.\nFor the three ensuing days I was in a state of anxiety, to know what\nreception my letter might meet with; but in the mean time was\nfrequently solicited by my wife to submit to any conditions rather than\nremain here, and every hour received repeated accounts of the decline\nof my daughter\u2019s health. The third day and the fourth arrived, but I\nreceived no answer to my letter: the complaints of a stranger against a\nfavourite nephew, were no way likely to succeed; so that these hopes\nsoon vanished like all my former. My mind, however, still supported\nitself though confinement and bad air began to make a visible\nalteration in my health, and my arm that had suffered in the fire, grew\nworse. My children however sate by me, and while I was stretched on my\nstraw, read to me by turns, or listened and wept at my instructions.\nBut my daughter\u2019s health declined faster than mine; every message from\nher contributed to encrease my apprehensions and pain. The fifth\nmorning after I had written the letter which was sent to Sir William\nThornhill, I was alarmed with an account that she was speechless. Now\nit was, that confinement was truly painful to me; my soul was bursting\nfrom its prison to be near the pillow of my child, to comfort, to\nstrengthen her, to receive her last wishes, and teach her soul the way\nto heaven! Another account came. She was expiring, and yet I was\ndebarred the small comfort of weeping by her. My fellow prisoner, some\ntime after, came with the last account. He bade me be patient. She was\ndead!\u2014The next morning he returned, and found me with my two little\nones, now my only companions, who were using all their innocent efforts\nto comfort me. They entreated to read to me, and bade me not to cry,\nfor I was now too old to weep. \u2018And is not my sister an angel, now,\npappa,\u2019 cried the eldest, \u2018and why then are you sorry for her? I wish I\nwere an angel out of this frightful place, if my pappa were with me.\u2019\n\u2018Yes,\u2019 added my youngest darling, \u2018Heaven, where my sister is, is a\nfiner place than this, and there are none but good people there, and\nthe people here are very bad.\u2019\nMr Jenkinson interupted their harmless prattle, by observing that now\nmy daughter was no more, I should seriously think of the rest of my\nfamily, and attempt to save my own life, which was every day declining,\nfor want of necessaries and wholesome air. He added, that it was now\nincumbent on me to sacrifice any pride or resentment of my own, to the\nwelfare of those who depended on me for support; and that I was now,\nboth by reason and justice, obliged to try to reconcile my landlord.\n\u2018Heaven be praised,\u2019 replied I, \u2018there is no pride left me now, I\nshould detest my own heart if I saw either pride or resentment lurking\nthere. On the contrary, as my oppressor has been once my parishioner, I\nhope one day to present him up an unpolluted soul at the eternal\ntribunal. No, sir, I have no resentment now, and though he has taken\nfrom me what I held dearer than all his treasures, though he has wrung\nmy heart, for I am sick almost to fainting, very sick, my fellow\nprisoner, yet that shall never inspire me with vengeance. I am now\nwilling to approve his marriage, and if this submission can do him any\npleasure, let him know, that if I have done him any injury, I am sorry\nfor it.\u2019 Mr Jenkinson took pen and ink, and wrote down my submission\nnearly as I have exprest it, to which I signed my name. My son was\nemployed to carry the letter to Mr Thornhill, who was then at his seat\nin the country. He went, and in about six hours returned with a verbal\nanswer. He had some difficulty, he said, to get a sight of his\nlandlord, as the servants were insolent and suspicious; but he\naccidentally saw him as he was going out upon business, preparing for\nhis marriage, which was to be in three days. He continued to inform us,\nthat he stept up in the humblest manner, and delivered the letter,\nwhich, when Mr Thornhill had read, he said that all submission was now\ntoo late and unnecessary; that he had heard of our application to his\nuncle, which met with the contempt it deserved; and as for the rest,\nthat all future applications should be directed to his attorney, not to\nhim. He observed, however, that as he had a very good opinion of the\ndiscretion of the two young ladies, they might have been the most\nagreeable intercessors.\n\u2018Well, sir,\u2019 said I to my fellow prisoner, \u2018you now discover the temper\nof the man that oppresses me. He can at once be facetious and cruel;\nbut let him use me as he will, I shall soon be free, in spite of all\nhis bolts to restrain me. I am now drawing towards an abode that looks\nbrighter as I approach it: this expectation cheers my afflictions, and\nthough I leave an helpless family of orphans behind me, yet they will\nnot be utterly forsaken; some friend, perhaps, will be found to assist\nthem for the sake of their poor father, and some may charitably relieve\nthem for the sake of their heavenly father.\u2019\nJust as I spoke, my wife, whom I had not seen that day before, appeared\nwith looks of terror, and making efforts, but unable to speak. \u2018Why, my\nlove,\u2019 cried I, \u2018why will you thus encrease my afflictions by your own,\nwhat though no submissions can turn our severe master, tho\u2019 he has\ndoomed me to die in this place of wretchedness, and though we have lost\na darling child, yet still you will find comfort in your other children\nwhen I shall be no more.\u2019 \u2018We have indeed lost,\u2019 returned she, \u2018a\ndarling child. My Sophia, my dearest, is gone, snatched from us,\ncarried off by ruffians!\u2019\n\u2018How madam,\u2019 cried my fellow prisoner, \u2018Miss Sophia carried off by\nvillains, sure it cannot be?\u2019\nShe could only answer with a fixed look and a flood of tears. But one\nof the prisoners\u2019 wives, who was present, and came in with her, gave us\na more distinct account: she informed us that as my wife, my daughter,\nand herself, were taking a walk together on the great road a little way\nout of the village, a post-chaise and pair drove up to them and\ninstantly stopt. Upon which, a well drest man, but not Mr Thornhill,\nstepping out, clasped my daughter round the waist, and forcing her in,\nbid the postillion drive on, so that they were out of sight in a\nmoment.\n\u2018Now,\u2019 cried I, \u2018the sum of my misery is made up, nor is it in the\npower of any thing on earth to give me another pang. What! not one\nleft! not to leave me one! the monster! the child that was next my\nheart! she had the beauty of an angel, and almost the wisdom of an\nangel. But support that woman, nor let her fall. Not to leave me\none!\u2019\u2014\u2018Alas! my husband,\u2019 said my wife, \u2018you seem to want comfort even\nmore than I. Our distresses are great; but I could bear this and more,\nif I saw you but easy. They may take away my children and all the\nworld, if they leave me but you.\u2019\nMy son, who was present, endeavoured to moderate our grief; he bade us\ntake comfort, for he hoped that we might still have reason to be\nthankful.\u2014\u2018My child,\u2019 cried I, \u2018look round the world, and see if there\nbe any happiness left me now. Is not every ray of comfort shut out;\nwhile all our bright prospects only lie beyond the grave!\u2019\u2014\u2018My dear\nfather,\u2019 returned he, \u2018I hope there is still something that will give\nyou an interval of satisfaction; for I have a letter from my brother\nGeorge\u2019\u2014\u2018What of him, child,\u2019 interrupted I, \u2018does he know our misery.\nI hope my boy is exempt from any part of what his wretched family\nsuffers?\u2019\u2014\u2018Yes, sir,\u2019 returned he, \u2018he is perfectly gay, chearful, and\nhappy. His letter brings nothing but good news; he is the favourite of\nhis colonel, who promises to procure him the very next lieutenancy that\nbecomes vacant!\u2019\n\u2018And are you sure of all this,\u2019 cried my wife, \u2018are you sure that\nnothing ill has befallen my boy?\u2019\u2014\u2018Nothing indeed, madam,\u2019 returned my\nson, \u2018you shall see the letter, which will give you the highest\npleasure; and if any thing can procure you comfort, I am sure that\nwill.\u2019 \u2018But are you sure,\u2019 still repeated she, \u2018that the letter is from\nhimself, and that he is really so happy?\u2019\u2014\u2018Yes, Madam,\u2019 replied he, \u2018it\nis certainly his, and he will one day be the credit and the support of\nour family!\u2019\u2014\u2018Then I thank providence,\u2019 cried she, \u2018that my last letter\nto him has miscarried.\u2019 \u2018Yes, my dear,\u2019 continued she, turning to me,\n\u2018I will now confess that though the hand of heaven is sore upon us in\nother instances, it has been favourable here. By the last letter I\nwrote my son, which was in the bitterness of anger, I desired him, upon\nhis mother\u2019s blessing, and if he had the heart of a man, to see justice\ndone his father and sister, and avenge our cause. But thanks be to him\nthat directs all things, it has miscarried, and I am at rest.\u2019 \u2018Woman,\u2019\ncried I, \u2018thou hast done very ill, and at another time my reproaches\nmight have been more severe. Oh! what a tremendous gulph hast thou\nescaped, that would have buried both thee and him in endless ruin.\nProvidence, indeed, has here been kinder to us than we to ourselves. It\nhas reserved that son to be the father and protector of my children\nwhen I shall be away. How unjustly did I complain of being stript of\nevery comfort, when still I hear that he is happy and insensible of our\nafflictions; still kept in reserve to support his widowed mother, and\nto protect his brothers and sisters. But what sisters has he left, he\nhas no sisters now, they are all gone, robbed from me, and I am\nundone.\u2019\u2014\u2018Father,\u2019 interrupted my son, \u2018I beg you will give me leave to\nread this letter, I know it will please you.\u2019 Upon which, with my\npermission, he read as follows:\u2014\nHonoured Sir,\n    I have called off my imagination a few moments from the pleasures\n    that surround me, to fix it upon objects that are still more\n    pleasing, the dear little fire-side at home. My fancy draws that\n    harmless groupe as listening to every line of this with great\n    composure. I view those faces with delight which never felt the\n    deforming hand of ambition or distress! But whatever your happiness\n    may be at home, I am sure it will be some addition to it, to hear\n    that I am perfectly pleased with my situation, and every way happy\n    here.\n    Our regiment is countermanded and is not to leave the kingdom; the\n    colonel, who professes himself my friend, takes me with him to all\n    companies where he is acquainted, and after my first visit I\n    generally find myself received with encreased respect upon\n    repeating it. I danced last night with Lady G-, and could I forget\n    you know whom, I might be perhaps successful. But it is my fate\n    still to remember others, while I am myself forgotten by most of my\n    absent friends, and in this number, I fear, Sir, that I must\n    consider you; for I have long expected the pleasure of a letter\n    from home to no purpose. Olivia and Sophia too, promised to write,\n    but seem to have forgotten me. Tell them they are two arrant little\n    baggages, and that I am this moment in a most violent passion with\n    them: yet still, I know not how, tho\u2019 I want to bluster a little,\n    my heart is respondent only to softer emotions. Then tell them,\n    sir, that after all, I love them affectionately, and be assured of\n    my ever remaining\nYour dutiful son.\n\u2018In all our miseries,\u2019 cried I, \u2018what thanks have we not to return,\nthat one at least of our family is exempted from what we suffer. Heaven\nbe his guard, and keep my boy thus happy to be the supporter of his\nwidowed mother, and the father of these two babes, which is all the\npatrimony I can now bequeath him. May he keep their innocence from the\ntemptations of want, and be their conductor in the paths of honour.\u2019 I\nhad scarce said these words, when a noise, like that of a tumult,\nseemed to proceed from the prison below; it died away soon after, and a\nclanking of fetters was heard along the passage that led to my\napartment. The keeper of the prison entered, holding a man all bloody,\nwounded and fettered with the heaviest irons. I looked with compassion\non the wretch as he approached me, but with horror when I found it was\nmy own son.\u2014\u2018My George! My George! and do I find thee thus. Wounded!\nFettered! Is this thy happiness! Is this the manner you return to me! O\nthat this sight could break my heart at once and let me die!\u2019\n\u2018Where, Sir, is your fortitude,\u2019 returned my son with an intrepid\nvoice. \u2018I must suffer, my life is forfeited, and let them take it.\u2019\nI tried to restrain my passions for a few minutes in silence, but I\nthought I should have died with the effort\u2014\u2018O my boy, my heart weeps to\nbehold thee thus, and I cannot, cannot help it. In the moment that I\nthought thee blest, and prayed for thy safety, to behold thee thus\nagain! Chained, wounded. And yet the death of the youthful is happy.\nBut I am old, a very old man, and have lived to see this day. To see my\nchildren all untimely falling about me, while I continue a wretched\nsurvivor in the midst of ruin! May all the curses that ever sunk a soul\nfall heavy upon the murderer of my children. May he live, like me, to\nsee\u2014\u2019\n\u2018Hold, Sir,\u2019 replied my son, \u2018or I shall blush for thee. How, Sir,\nforgetful of your age, your holy calling, thus to arrogate the justice\nof heaven, and fling those curses upward that must soon descend to\ncrush thy own grey head with destruction! No, Sir, let it be your care\nnow to fit me for that vile death I must shortly suffer, to arm me with\nhope and resolution, to give me courage to drink of that bitterness\nwhich must shortly be my portion.\u2019\n\u2018My child, you must not die: I am sure no offence of thine can deserve\nso vile a punishment. My George could never be guilty of any crime to\nmake his ancestors ashamed of him.\u2019\n\u2018Mine, Sir,\u2019 returned my son, \u2018is, I fear, an unpardonable one. When I\nreceived my mother\u2019s letter from home, I immediately came down,\ndetermined to punish the betrayer of our honour, and sent him an order\nto meet me, which he answered, not in person, but by his dispatching\nfour of his domestics to seize me. I wounded one who first assaulted\nme, and I fear desperately, but the rest made me their prisoner. The\ncoward is determined to put the law in execution against me, the proofs\nare undeniable, I have sent a challenge, and as I am the first\ntransgressor upon the statute, I see no hopes of pardon. But you have\noften charmed me with your lessons of fortitude, let me now, Sir, find\nthem in your example.\u2019\n\u2018And, my son, you shall find them. I am now raised above this world,\nand all the pleasures it can produce. From this moment I break from my\nheart all the ties that held it down to earth, and will prepare to fit\nus both for eternity. Yes, my son, I will point out the way, and my\nsoul shall guide yours in the ascent, for we will take our flight\ntogether. I now see and am convinced you can expect no pardon here, and\nI can only exhort you to seek it at that greatest tribunal where we\nboth shall shortly answer. But let us not be niggardly in our\nexhortation, but let all our fellow prisoners have a share: good gaoler\nlet them be permitted to stand here, while I attempt to improve them.\u2019\nThus saying, I made an effort to rise from my straw, but wanted\nstrength, and was able only to recline against the wall. The prisoners\nassembled according to my direction, for they loved to hear my council,\nmy son and his mother supported me on either side, I looked and saw\nthat none were wanting, and then addressed them with the following\nexhortation.\nCHAPTER XXIX.\nThe equal dealings of providence demonstrated with regard to the happy\nand the miserable here below. That from the nature of pleasure and\npain, the wretched must be repaid the balance of their sufferings in\nthe life hereafter.\nMy friends, my children, and fellow sufferers, when I reflect on the\ndistribution of good and evil here below, I find that much has been\ngiven man to enjoy, yet still more to suffer. Though we should examine\nthe whole world, we shall not find one man so happy as to have nothing\nleft to wish for; but we daily see thousands who by suicide shew us\nthey have nothing left to hope. In this life then it appears that we\ncannot be entirely blest; but yet we may be completely miserable!\nWhy man should thus feel pain, why our wretchedness should be requisite\nin the formation of universal felicity, why, when all other systems are\nmade perfect by the perfection of their subordinate parts, the great\nsystem should require for its perfection, parts that are not only\nsubordinate to others, but imperfect in themselves? These are questions\nthat never can be explained, and might be useless if known. On this\nsubject providence has thought fit to elude our curiosity, satisfied\nwith granting us motives to consolation.\nIn this situation, man has called in the friendly assistance of\nphilosophy, and heaven seeing the incapacity of that to console him,\nhas given him the aid of religion. The consolations of philosophy are\nvery amusing, but often fallacious. It tells us that life is filled\nwith comforts, if we will but enjoy them; and on the other hand, that\nthough we unavoidably have miseries here, life is short, and they will\nsoon be over. Thus do these consolations destroy each other; for if\nlife is a place of comfort, its shortness must be misery, and if it be\nlong, our griefs are protracted. Thus philosophy is weak; but religion\ncomforts in an higher strain. Man is here, it tells us, fitting up his\nmind, and preparing it for another abode. When the good man leaves the\nbody and is all a glorious mind, he will find he has been making\nhimself a heaven of happiness here, while the wretch that has been\nmaimed and contaminated by his vices, shrinks from his body with\nterror, and finds that he has anticipated the vengeance of heaven. To\nreligion then we must hold in every circumstance of life for our truest\ncomfort; for if already we are happy, it is a pleasure to think that we\ncan make that happiness unending, and if we are miserable, it is very\nconsoling to think that there is a place of rest. Thus to the fortunate\nreligion holds out a continuance of bliss, to the wretched a change\nfrom pain.\nBut though religion is very kind to all men, it has promised peculiar\nrewards to the unhappy; the sick, the naked, the houseless, the\nheavy-laden, and the prisoner, have ever most frequent promises in our\nsacred law. The author of our religion every where professes himself\nthe wretch\u2019s friend, and unlike the false ones of this world, bestows\nall his caresses upon the forlorn. The unthinking have censured this as\npartiality, as a preference without merit to deserve it. But they never\nreflect that it is not in the power even of heaven itself to make the\noffer of unceasing felicity as great a gift to the happy as to the\nmiserable. To the first eternity is but a single blessing, since at\nmost it but encreases what they already possess. To the latter it is a\ndouble advantage; for it diminishes their pain here, and rewards them\nwith heavenly bliss hereafter.\nBut providence is in another respect kinder to the poor than the rich;\nfor as it thus makes the life after death more desirable, so it smooths\nthe passage there. The wretched have had a long familiarity with every\nface of terror. The man of sorrow lays himself quietly down, without\npossessions to regret, and but few ties to stop his departure: he feels\nonly nature\u2019s pang in the final separation, and this is no way greater\nthan he has often fainted under before; for after a certain degree of\npain, every new breach that death opens in the constitution, nature\nkindly covers with insensibility.\nThus providence has given the wretched two advantages over the happy,\nin this life, greater felicity in dying, and in heaven all that\nsuperiority of pleasure which arises from contrasted enjoyment. And\nthis superiority, my friends, is no small advantage, and seems to be\none of the pleasures of the poor man in the parable; for though he was\nalready in heaven, and felt all the raptures it could give, yet it was\nmentioned as an addition to his happiness, that he had once been\nwretched and now was comforted, that he had known what it was to be\nmiserable, and now felt what it was to be happy.\nThus, my friends, you see religion does what philosophy could never do:\nit shews the equal dealings of heaven to the happy and the unhappy, and\nlevels all human enjoyments to nearly the same standard. It gives to\nboth rich and poor the same happiness hereafter, and equal hopes to\naspire after it; but if the rich have the advantage of enjoying\npleasure here, the poor have the endless satisfaction of knowing what\nit was once to be miserable, when crowned with endless felicity\nhereafter; and even though this should be called a small advantage, yet\nbeing an eternal one, it must make up by duration what the temporal\nhappiness of the great may have exceeded by intenseness.\nThese are therefore the consolations which the wretched have peculiar\nto themselves, and in which they are above the rest of mankind; in\nother respects they are below them. They who would know the miseries of\nthe poor must see life and endure it. To declaim on the temporal\nadvantages they enjoy, is only repeating what none either believe or\npractise. The men who have the necessaries of living are not poor, and\nthey who want them must be miserable. Yes, my friends, we must be\nmiserable. No vain efforts of a refined imagination can sooth the wants\nof nature, can give elastic sweetness to the dank vapour of a dungeon,\nor ease to the throbbings of a broken heart. Let the philosopher from\nhis couch of softness tell us that we can resist all these. Alas! the\neffort by which we resist them is still the greatest pain! Death is\nslight, and any man may sustain it; but torments are dreadful, and\nthese no man can endure.\nTo us then, my friends, the promises of happiness in heaven should be\npeculiarly dear; for if our reward be in this life alone, we are then\nindeed of all men the most miserable. When I look round these gloomy\nwalls, made to terrify, as well as to confine us; this light that only\nserves to shew the horrors of the place, those shackles that tyranny\nhas imposed, or crime made necessary; when I survey these emaciated\nlooks, and hear those groans, O my friends, what a glorious exchange\nwould heaven be for these. To fly through regions unconfined as air, to\nbask in the sunshine of eternal bliss, to carrol over endless hymns of\npraise, to have no master to threaten or insult us, but the form of\ngoodness himself for ever in our eyes, when I think of these things,\ndeath becomes the messenger of very glad tidings; when I think of these\nthings, his sharpest arrow becomes the staff of my support; when I\nthink of these things, what is there in life worth having; when I think\nof these things, what is there that should not be spurned away: kings\nin their palaces should groan for such advantages; but we, humbled as\nwe are, should yearn for them.\nAnd shall these things be ours? Ours they will certainly be if we but\ntry for them; and what is a comfort, we are shut out from many\ntemptations that would retard our pursuit. Only let us try for them,\nand they will certainly be ours, and what is still a comfort, shortly\ntoo; for if we look back on past life, it appears but a very short\nspan, and whatever we may think of the rest of life, it will yet be\nfound of less duration; as we grow older, the days seem to grow\nshorter, and our intimacy with time, ever lessens the perception of his\nstay. Then let us take comfort now, for we shall soon be at our\njourney\u2019s end; we shall soon lay down the heavy burthen laid by heaven\nupon us, and though death, the only friend of the wretched, for a\nlittle while mocks the weary traveller with the view, and like his\nhorizon, still flies before him; yet the time will certainly and\nshortly come, when we shall cease from our toil; when the luxurious\ngreat ones of the world shall no more tread us to the earth; when we\nshall think with pleasure on our sufferings below; when we shall be\nsurrounded with all our friends, or such as deserved our friendship;\nwhen our bliss shall be unutterable, and still, to crown all, unending.\nCHAPTER XXX.\nHappier prospects begin to appear. Let us be inflexible, and fortune\nwill at last change in our favour.\nWhen I had thus finished and my audience was retired, the gaoler, who\nwas one of the most humane of his profession, hoped I would not be\ndispleased, as what he did was but his duty, observing that he must be\nobliged to remove my son into a stronger cell, but that he should be\npermitted to revisit me every morning. I thanked him for his clemency,\nand grasping my boy\u2019s hand, bade him farewell, and be mindful of the\ngreat duty that was before him.\nI again, therefore laid me down, and one of my little ones sate by my\nbedside reading, when Mr Jenkinson entering, informed me that there was\nnews of my daughter; for that she was seen by a person about two hours\nbefore in a strange gentleman\u2019s company, and that they had stopt at a\nneighbouring village for refreshment, and seemed as if returning to\ntown. He had scarce delivered this news, when the gaoler came with\nlooks of haste and pleasure, to inform me, that my daughter was found.\nMoses came running in a moment after, crying out that his sister Sophy\nwas below and coming up with our old friend Mr Burchell.\nJust as he delivered this news my dearest girl entered, and with looks\nalmost wild with pleasure, ran to kiss me in a transport of affection.\nHer mother\u2019s tears and silence also shewed her pleasure.\u2014\u2018Here, pappa,\u2019\ncried the charming girl, \u2018here is the brave man to whom I owe my\ndelivery; to this gentleman\u2019s intrepidity I am indebted for my\nhappiness and safety\u2014\u2019 A kiss from Mr Burchell, whose pleasure seemed\neven greater than hers, interrupted what she was going to add.\n\u2018Ah, Mr Burchell,\u2019 cried I, \u2018this is but a wretched habitation you now\nfind us in; and we are now very different from what you last saw us.\nYou were ever our friend: we have long discovered our errors with\nregard to you, and repented of our ingratitude. After the vile usage\nyou then received at my hands I am almost ashamed to behold your face;\nyet I hope you\u2019ll forgive me, as I was deceived by a base ungenerous\nwretch, who, under the mask of friendship, has undone me.\u2019\n\u2018It is impossible,\u2019 replied Mr Burchell, \u2018that I should forgive you, as\nyou never deserved my resentment. I partly saw your delusion then, and\nas it was out of my power to restrain, I could only pity it!\u2019\n\u2018It was ever my conjecture,\u2019 cried I, \u2018that your mind was noble; but\nnow I find it so. But tell me, my dear child, how hast thou been\nrelieved, or who the ruffians were who carried thee away?\u2019\n\u2018Indeed, Sir,\u2019 replied she, \u2018as to the villain who carried me off, I am\nyet ignorant. For as my mamma and I were walking out, he came behind\nus, and almost before I could call for help, forced me into the\npost-chaise, and in an instant the horses drove away. I met several on\nthe road, to whom I cried out for assistance; but they disregarded my\nentreaties. In the mean time the ruffian himself used every art to\nhinder me from crying out: he flattered and threatened by turns, and\nswore that if I continued but silent, he intended no harm. In the mean\ntime I had broken the canvas that he had drawn up, and whom should I\nperceive at some distance but your old friend Mr Burchell, walking\nalong with his usual swiftness, with the great stick for which we used\nso much to ridicule him. As soon as we came within hearing, I called\nout to him by name, and entreated his help. I repeated my exclamations\nseveral times, upon which, with a very loud voice, he bid the\npostillion stop; but the boy took no notice, but drove on with still\ngreater speed. I now thought he could never overtake us, when in less\nthan a minute I saw Mr Burchell come running up by the side of the\nhorses, and with one blow knock the postillion to the ground. The\nhorses when he was fallen soon stopt of themselves, and the ruffian\nstepping out, with oaths and menaces drew his sword, and ordered him at\nhis peril to retire; but Mr Burchell running up, shivered his sword to\npieces, and then pursued him for near a quarter of a mile; but he made\nhis escape. I was at this time come out myself, willing to assist my\ndeliverer; but he soon returned to me in triumph. The postillion, who\nwas recovered, was going to make his escape too; but Mr Burchell\nordered him at his peril to mount again, and drive back to town.\nFinding it impossible to resist, he reluctantly complied, though the\nwound he had received seemed, to me at least, to be dangerous. He\ncontinued to complain of the pain as we drove along, so that he at last\nexcited Mr Burchell\u2019s compassion, who, at my request, exchanged him for\nanother at an inn where we called on our return.\u2019\n\u2018Welcome then,\u2019 cried I, \u2018my child, and thou her gallant deliverer, a\nthousand welcomes. Though our chear is but wretched, yet our hearts are\nready to receive you. And now, Mr Burchell, as you have delivered my\ngirl, if you think her a recompence she is yours, if you can stoop to\nan alliance with a family so poor as mine, take her, obtain her\nconsent, as I know you have her heart, and you have mine. And let me\ntell you, Sir, that I give you no small treasure, she has been\ncelebrated for beauty it is true, but that is not my meaning, I give\nyou up a treasure in her mind.\u2019\n\u2018But I suppose, Sir,\u2019 cried Mr Burchell, \u2018that you are apprized of my\ncircumstances, and of my incapacity to support her as she deserves?\u2019\n\u2018If your present objection,\u2019 replied I, \u2018be meant as an evasion of my\noffer, I desist: but I know no man so worthy to deserve her as you; and\nif I could give her thousands, and thousands sought her from me, yet my\nhonest brave Burchell should be my dearest choice.\u2019\nTo all this his silence alone seemed to give a mortifying refusal, and\nwithout the least reply to my offer, he demanded if we could not be\nfurnished with refreshments from the next inn, to which being answered\nin the affirmative, he ordered them to send in the best dinner that\ncould be provided upon such short notice. He bespoke also a dozen of\ntheir best wine; and some cordials for me. Adding, with a smile, that\nhe would stretch a little for once, and tho\u2019 in a prison, asserted he\nwas never better disposed to be merry. The waiter soon made his\nappearance with preparations for dinner, a table was lent us by the\ngaoler, who seemed remarkably assiduous, the wine was disposed in\norder, and two very well-drest dishes were brought in.\nMy daughter had not yet heard of her poor brother\u2019s melancholy\nsituation, and we all seemed unwilling to damp her cheerfulness by the\nrelation. But it was in vain that I attempted to appear chearful, the\ncircumstances of my unfortunate son broke through all efforts to\ndissemble; so that I was at last obliged to damp our mirth by relating\nhis misfortunes, and wishing that he might be permitted to share with\nus in this little interval of satisfaction. After my guests were\nrecovered, from the consternation my account had produced, I requested\nalso that Mr Jenkinson, a fellow prisoner, might be admitted, and the\ngaoler granted my request with an air of unusual submission. The\nclanking of my son\u2019s irons was no sooner heard along the passage, than\nhis sister ran impatiently to meet him; while Mr Burchell, in the mean\ntime, asked me if my son\u2019s name were George, to which replying in the\naffirmative, he still continued silent. As soon as my boy entered the\nroom, I could perceive he regarded Mr Burchell with a look of\nastonishment and reverence. \u2018Come on,\u2019 cried I, \u2018my son, though we are\nfallen very low, yet providence has been pleased to grant us some small\nrelaxation from pain. Thy sister is restored to us, and there is her\ndeliverer: to that brave man it is that I am indebted for yet having a\ndaughter, give him, my boy, the hand of friendship, he deserves our\nwarmest gratitude.\u2019\nMy son seemed all this while regardless of what I said, and still\ncontinued fixed at respectful distance.\u2014\u2018My dear brother,\u2019 cried his\nsister, \u2018why don\u2019t you thank my good deliverer; the brave should ever\nlove each other.\u2019\nHe still continued his silence and astonishment, till our guest at last\nperceived himself to be known, and assuming all his native dignity,\ndesired my son to come forward. Never before had I seen any thing so\ntruly majestic as the air he assumed upon this occasion. The greatest\nobject in the universe, says a certain philosopher, is a good man\nstruggling with adversity; yet there is still a greater, which is the\ngood man that comes to relieve it. After he had regarded my son for\nsome time with a superior air, \u2018I again find,\u2019 said he, \u2018unthinking\nboy, that the same crime\u2014\u2019 But here he was interrupted by one of the\ngaoler\u2019s servants, who came to inform us that a person of distinction,\nwho had driven into town with a chariot and several attendants, sent\nhis respects to the gentleman that was with us, and begged to know when\nhe should think proper to be waited upon.\u2014\u2018Bid the fellow wait,\u2019 cried\nour guest, \u2018till I shall have leisure to receive him;\u2019 and then turning\nto my son, \u2018I again find, Sir,\u2019 proceeded he, \u2018that you are guilty of\nthe same offence for which you once had my reproof, and for which the\nlaw is now preparing its justest punishments. You imagine, perhaps,\nthat a contempt for your own life, gives you a right to take that of\nanother: but where, Sir, is the difference between a duelist who\nhazards a life of no value, and the murderer who acts with greater\nsecurity? Is it any diminution of the gamester\u2019s fraud when he alledges\nthat he has staked a counter?\u2019\n\u2018Alas, Sir,\u2019 cried I, \u2018whoever you are, pity the poor misguided\ncreature; for what he has done was in obedience to a deluded mother,\nwho in the bitterness of her resentment required him upon her blessing\nto avenge her quarrel. Here, Sir, is the letter, which will serve to\nconvince you of her imprudence and diminish his guilt.\u2019\nHe took the letter, and hastily read it over. \u2018This,\u2019 says he, \u2018though\nnot a perfect excuse, is such a palliation of his fault, as induces me\nto forgive him. And now, Sir,\u2019 continued he, kindly taking my son by\nthe hand, \u2018I see you are surprised at finding me here; but I have often\nvisited prisons upon occasions less interesting. I am now come to see\njustice done a worthy man, for whom I have the most sincere esteem. I\nhave long been a disguised spectator of thy father\u2019s benevolence. I\nhave at his little dwelling enjoyed respect uncontaminated by flattery,\nand have received that happiness that courts could not give, from the\namusing simplicity around his fire-side. My nephew has been apprized of\nmy intentions of coming here, and I find is arrived; it would be\nwronging him and you to condemn him without examination: if there be\ninjury, there shall be redress; and this I may say without boasting,\nthat none have ever taxed the injustice of Sir William Thornhill.\u2019\nWe now found the personage whom we had so long entertained as an\nharmless amusing companion was no other than the celebrated Sir William\nThornhill, to whose virtues and singularities scarce any were\nstrangers. The poor Mr Burchell was in reality a man of large fortune\nand great interest, to whom senates listened with applause, and whom\nparty heard with conviction; who was the friend of his country, but\nloyal to his king. My poor wife recollecting her former familiarity,\nseemed to shrink with apprehension; but Sophia, who a few moments\nbefore thought him her own, now perceiving the immense distance to\nwhich he was removed by fortune, was unable to conceal her tears.\n\u2018Ah, Sir,\u2019 cried my wife, with a piteous aspect, \u2018how is it possible\nthat I can ever have your forgiveness; the slights you received from me\nthe last time I had the honour of seeing you at our house, and the\njokes which I audaciously threw out, these jokes, Sir, I fear can never\nbe forgiven.\u2019\n\u2018My dear good lady,\u2019 returned he with a smile, \u2018if you had your joke, I\nhad my answer: I\u2019ll leave it to all the company if mine were not as\ngood as yours. To say the truth, I know no body whom I am disposed to\nbe angry with at present but the fellow who so frighted my little girl\nhere. I had not even time to examine the rascal\u2019s person so as to\ndescribe him in an advertisement. Can you tell me, Sophia, my dear,\nwhether you should know him again?\u2019\n\u2018Indeed, Sir,\u2019 replied she, \u2018I can\u2019t be positive; yet now I recollect\nhe had a large mark over one of his eye-brows.\u2019 \u2018I ask pardon, madam,\u2019\ninterrupted Jenkinson, who was by, \u2018but be so good as to inform me if\nthe fellow wore his own red hair?\u2019\u2014\u2018Yes, I think so,\u2019 cried\nSophia.\u2014\u2018And did your honour,\u2019 continued he, turning to Sir William,\n\u2018observe the length of his legs?\u2019\u2014\u2018I can\u2019t be sure of their length,\u2019\ncried the Baronet, \u2018but I am convinced of their swiftness; for he\nout-ran me, which is what I thought few men in the kingdom could have\ndone.\u2019\u2014\u2018Please your honour,\u2019 cried Jenkinson, \u2018I know the man: it is\ncertainly the same; the best runner in England; he has beaten Pinwire\nof Newcastle, Timothy Baxter is his name, I know him perfectly, and the\nvery place of his retreat this moment. If your honour will bid Mr\nGaoler let two of his men go with me, I\u2019ll engage to produce him to you\nin an hour at farthest.\u2019 Upon this the gaoler was called, who instantly\nappearing, Sir William demanded if he knew him. \u2018Yes, please your\nhonour,\u2019 reply\u2019d the gaoler, \u2018I know Sir William Thornhill well, and\nevery body that knows any thing of him, will desire to know more of\nhim.\u2019\u2014\u2018Well then,\u2019 said the Baronet, \u2018my request is, that you will\npermit this man and two of your servants to go upon a message by my\nauthority, and as I am in the commission of the peace, I undertake to\nsecure you.\u2019\u2014\u2018Your promise is sufficient,\u2019 replied the other, \u2018and you\nmay at a minute\u2019s warning send them over England whenever your honour\nthinks fit.\u2019\nIn pursuance of the gaoler\u2019s compliance, Jenkinson was dispatched in\nsearch of Timothy Baxter, while we were amused with the assiduity of\nour youngest boy Bill, who had just come in and climbed up to Sir\nWilliam\u2019s neck in order to kiss him. His mother was immediately going\nto chastise his familiarity, but the worthy man prevented her; and\ntaking the child, all ragged as he was, upon his knee, \u2018What, Bill, you\nchubby rogue,\u2019 cried he, \u2018do you remember your old friend Burchell; and\nDick too, my honest veteran, are you here, you shall find I have not\nforgot you.\u2019 So saying, he gave each a large piece of gingerbread,\nwhich the poor fellows eat very heartily, as they had got that morning\nbut a very scanty breakfast.\nWe now sate down to dinner, which was almost cold; but previously, my\narm still continuing painful, Sir William wrote a prescription, for he\nhad made the study of physic his amusement, and was more than\nmoderately skilled in the profession: this being sent to an apothecary\nwho lived in the place, my arm was dressed, and I found almost\ninstantaneous relief. We were waited upon at dinner by the gaoler\nhimself, who was willing to do our guest all the honour in his power.\nBut before we had well dined, another message was brought from his\nnephew, desiring permission to appear, in order to vindicate his\ninnocence and honour, with which request the Baronet complied, and\ndesired Mr Thornhill to be introduced.\nCHAPTER XXXI.\nFormer benevolence now repaid with unexpected interest.\nMr Thornhill made his entrance with a smile, which he seldom wanted,\nand was going to embrace his uncle, which the other repulsed with an\nair of disdain. \u2018No fawning, Sir, at present,\u2019 cried the Baronet, with\na look of severity, \u2018the only way to my heart is by the road of honour;\nbut here I only see complicated instances of falsehood, cowardice, and\noppression. How is it, Sir, that this poor man, for whom I know you\nprofessed a friendship, is used thus hardly? His daughter vilely\nseduced, as a recompence for his hospitality, and he himself thrown\ninto a prison perhaps but for resenting the insult? His son too, whom\nyou feared to face as a man\u2014\u2019\n\u2018Is it possible, Sir,\u2019 interrupted his nephew, \u2018that my uncle could\nobject that as a crime which his repeated instructions alone have\npersuaded me to avoid.\u2019\n\u2018Your rebuke,\u2019 cried Sir William, \u2018is just; you have acted in this\ninstance prudently and well, though not quite as your father would have\ndone: my brother indeed was the soul of honour; but thou\u2014yes you have\nacted in this instance perfectly right, and it has my warmest\napprobation.\u2019\n\u2018And I hope,\u2019 said his nephew, \u2018that the rest of my conduct will not be\nfound to deserve censure. I appeared, Sir, with this gentleman\u2019s\ndaughter at some places of public amusement; thus what was levity,\nscandal called by a harsher name, and it was reported that I had\ndebauched her. I waited on her father in person, willing to clear the\nthing to his satisfaction, and he received me only with insult and\nabuse. As for the rest, with regard to his being here, my attorney and\nsteward can best inform you, as I commit the management of business\nentirely to them. If he has contracted debts and is unwilling or even\nunable to pay them, it is their business to proceed in this manner, and\nI see no hardship or injustice in pursuing the most legal means of\nredress.\u2019\n\u2018If this,\u2019 cried Sir William, \u2018be as you have stated it, there is\nnothing unpardonable in your offence, and though your conduct might\nhave been more generous in not suffering this gentleman to be oppressed\nby subordinate tyranny, yet it has been at least equitable.\u2019\n\u2018He cannot contradict a single particular,\u2019 replied the \u2019Squire, \u2018I\ndefy him to do so, and several of my servants are ready to attest what\nI say. Thus, Sir,\u2019 continued he, finding that I was silent, for in fact\nI could not contradict him, \u2018thus, Sir, my own innocence is vindicated;\nbut though at your entreaty I am ready to forgive this gentleman every\nother offence, yet his attempts to lessen me in your esteem, excite a\nresentment that I cannot govern. And this too at a time when his son\nwas actually preparing to take away my life; this, I say, was such\nguilt, that I am determined to let the law take its course. I have here\nthe challenge that was sent me and two witnesses to prove it; one of my\nservants has been wounded dangerously, and even though my uncle himself\nshould dissuade me, which I know he will not, yet I will see public\njustice done, and he shall suffer for it.\u2019\n\u2018Thou monster,\u2019 cried my wife, \u2018hast thou not had vengeance enough\nalready, but must my poor boy feel thy cruelty. I hope that good Sir\nWilliam will protect us, for my son is as innocent as a child; I am\nsure he is, and never did harm to man.\u2019\n\u2018Madam,\u2019 replied the good man, \u2018your wishes for his safety are not\ngreater than mine; but I am sorry to find his guilt too plain; and if\nmy nephew persists\u2014\u2019 But the appearance of Jenkinson and the gaoler\u2019s\ntwo servants now called off our attention, who entered, haling in a\ntall man, very genteelly drest, and answering the description already\ngiven of the ruffian who had carried off my daughter\u2014\u2018Here,\u2019 cried\nJenkinson, pulling him in, \u2018here we have him, and if ever there was a\ncandidate for Tyburn, this is one.\u2019\nThe moment Mr Thornhill perceived the prisoner, and Jenkinson, who had\nhim in custody, he seemed to shrink back with terror. His face became\npale with conscious guilt, and he would have withdrawn; but Jenkinson,\nwho perceived his design, stopt him\u2014\u2018What, \u2019Squire,\u2019 cried he, \u2018are you\nashamed of your two old acquaintances, Jenkinson and Baxter: but this\nis the way that all great men forget their friends, though I am\nresolved we will not forget you. Our prisoner, please your honour,\u2019\ncontinued he, turning to Sir William, \u2018has already confessed all. This\nis the gentleman reported to be so dangerously wounded: He declares\nthat it was Mr Thornhill who first put him upon this affair, that he\ngave him the cloaths he now wears to appear like a gentleman, and\nfurnished him with the post-chaise. The plan was laid between them that\nhe should carry off the young lady to a place of safety, and that there\nhe should threaten and terrify her; but Mr Thornhill was to come in in\nthe mean time, as if by accident, to her rescue, and that they should\nfight awhile and then he was to run off, by which Mr Thornhill would\nhave the better opportunity of gaining her affections himself under the\ncharacter of her defender.\u2019\nSir William remembered the coat to have been frequently worn by his\nnephew, and all the rest the prisoner himself confirmed by a more\ncircumstantial account; concluding, that Mr Thornhill had often\ndeclared to him that he was in love with both sisters at the same time.\n\u2018Heavens,\u2019 cried Sir William, \u2018what a viper have I been fostering in my\nbosom! And so fond of public justice too as he seemed to be. But he\nshall have it; secure him, Mr Gaoler\u2014yet hold, I fear there is not\nlegal evidence to detain him.\u2019\nUpon this, Mr Thornhill, with the utmost humility, entreated that two\nsuch abandoned wretches might not be admitted as evidences against him,\nbut that his servants should be examined.\u2014\u2018Your servants\u2019 replied Sir\nWilliam, \u2018wretch, call them yours no longer: but come let us hear what\nthose fellows have to say, let his butler be called.\u2019\nWhen the butler was introduced, he soon perceived by his former\nmaster\u2019s looks that all his power was now over. \u2018Tell me,\u2019 cried Sir\nWilliam sternly, \u2018have you ever seen your master and that fellow drest\nup in his cloaths in company together?\u2019 \u2018Yes, please your honour,\u2019\ncried the butler, \u2018a thousand times: he was the man that always brought\nhim his ladies.\u2019\u2014\u2018How,\u2019 interrupted young Mr Thornhill, \u2018this to my\nface!\u2019\u2014\u2018Yes,\u2019 replied the butler, \u2018or to any man\u2019s face. To tell you a\ntruth, Master Thornhill, I never either loved you or liked you, and I\ndon\u2019t care if I tell you now a piece of my mind.\u2019\u2014\u2018Now then,\u2019 cried\nJenkinson, \u2018tell his honour whether you know any thing of me.\u2019\u2014\u2018I can\u2019t\nsay,\u2019 replied the butler, \u2018that I know much good of you. The night that\ngentleman\u2019s daughter was deluded to our house, you were one of\nthem.\u2019\u2014\u2018So then,\u2019 cried Sir William, \u2018I find you have brought a very\nfine witness to prove your innocence: thou stain to humanity! to\nassociate with such wretches!\u2019 (But continuing his examination) \u2018You\ntell me, Mr Butler, that this was the person who brought him this old\ngentleman\u2019s daughter.\u2019\u2014\u2018No, please your honour,\u2019 replied the butler,\n\u2018he did not bring her, for the \u2019Squire himself undertook that business;\nbut he brought the priest that pretended to marry them.\u2019\u2014\u2018It is but too\ntrue,\u2019 cried Jenkinson, \u2018I cannot deny it, that was the employment\nassigned me, and I confess it to my confusion.\u2019\n\u2018Good heavens!\u2019 exclaimed the Baronet, \u2018how every new discovery of his\nvillainy alarms me. All his guilt is now too plain, and I find his\npresent prosecution was dictated by tyranny, cowardice and revenge; at\nmy request, Mr Gaoler, set this young officer, now your prisoner, free,\nand trust to me for the consequences. I\u2019ll make it my business to set\nthe affair in a proper light to my friend the magistrate who has\ncommitted him. But where is the unfortunate young lady herself: let her\nappear to confront this wretch, I long to know by what arts he has\nseduced her. Entreat her to come in. Where is she?\u2019\n\u2018Ah, Sir,\u2019 said I, \u2018that question stings me to the heart: I was once\nindeed happy in a daughter, but her miseries\u2014\u2019 Another interruption\nhere prevented me; for who should make her appearance but Miss Arabella\nWilmot, who was next day to have been married to Mr Thornhill. Nothing\ncould equal her surprize at seeing Sir William and his nephew here\nbefore her; for her arrival was quite accidental. It happened that she\nand the old gentleman her father were passing through the town, on\ntheir way to her aunt\u2019s, who had insisted that her nuptials with Mr\nThornhill should be consummated at her house; but stopping for\nrefreshment, they put up at an inn at the other end of the town. It was\nthere from the window that the young lady happened to observe one of my\nlittle boys playing in the street, and instantly sending a footman to\nbring the child to her, she learnt from him some account of our\nmisfortunes; but was still kept ignorant of young Mr Thornhill\u2019s being\nthe cause. Though her father made several remonstrances on the\nimpropriety of going to a prison to visit us, yet they were\nineffectual; she desired the child to conduct her, which he did, and it\nwas thus she surprised us at a juncture so unexpected.\nNor can I go on, without a reflection on those accidental meetings,\nwhich, though they happen every day, seldom excite our surprize but\nupon some extraordinary occasion. To what a fortuitous concurrence do\nwe not owe every pleasure and convenience of our lives. How many\nseeming accidents must unite before we can be cloathed or fed. The\npeasant must be disposed to labour, the shower must fall, the wind fill\nthe merchant\u2019s sail, or numbers must want the usual supply.\nWe all continued silent for some moments, while my charming pupil,\nwhich was the name I generally gave this young lady, united in her\nlooks compassion and astonishment, which gave new finishings to her\nbeauty. \u2018Indeed, my dear Mr Thornhill,\u2019 cried she to the \u2019Squire, who\nshe supposed was come here to succour and not to oppress us, \u2018I take it\na little unkindly that you should come here without me, or never inform\nme of the situation of a family so dear to us both: you know I should\ntake as much pleasure in contributing to the relief of my reverend old\nmaster here, whom I shall ever esteem, as you can. But I find that,\nlike your uncle, you take a pleasure in doing good in secret.\u2019\n\u2018He find pleasure in doing good!\u2019 cried Sir William, interrupting her.\n\u2018No, my dear, his pleasures are as base as he is. You see in him,\nmadam, as complete a villain as ever disgraced humanity. A wretch, who\nafter having deluded this poor man\u2019s daughter, after plotting against\nthe innocence of her sister, has thrown the father into prison, and the\neldest son into fetters, because he had courage to face his betrayer.\nAnd give me leave, madam, now to congratulate you upon an escape from\nthe embraces of such a monster.\u2019\n\u2018O goodness,\u2019 cried the lovely girl, \u2018how have I been deceived! Mr\nThornhill informed me for certain that this gentleman\u2019s eldest son,\nCaptain Primrose, was gone off to America with his new married lady.\u2019\n\u2018My sweetest miss,\u2019 cried my wife, \u2018he has told you nothing but\nfalsehoods. My son George never left the kingdom, nor was married. Tho\u2019\nyou have forsaken him, he has always loved you too well to think of any\nbody else; and I have heard him say he would die a batchellor for your\nsake.\u2019 She then proceeded to expatiate upon the sincerity of her son\u2019s\npassion, she set his duel with Mr Thornhill in a proper light, from\nthence she made a rapid digression to the \u2019Squire\u2019s debaucheries, his\npretended marriages, and ended with a most insulting picture of his\ncowardice.\n\u2018Good heavens!\u2019 cried Miss Wilmot, \u2018how very near have I been to the\nbrink of ruin! But how great is my pleasure to have escaped it! Ten\nthousand falsehoods has this gentleman told me! He had at last art\nenough to persuade me that my promise to the only man I esteemed was no\nlonger binding, since he had been unfaithful. By his falsehoods I was\ntaught to detest one equally brave and generous!\u2019\nBut by this time my son was freed from the encumbrances of justice as\nthe person supposed to be wounded was detected to be an impostor. Mr\nJenkinson also, who had acted as his valet de chambre, had dressed up\nhis hair, and furnished him with whatever was necessary to make a\ngenteel appearance. He now therefore entered, handsomely drest in his\nregimentals, and, without vanity, (for I am above it) he appeared as\nhandsome a fellow as ever wore a military dress. As he entered, he made\nMiss Wilmot a modest and distant bow, for he was not as yet acquainted\nwith the change which the eloquence of his mother had wrought in his\nfavour. But no decorums could restrain the impatience of his blushing\nmistress to be forgiven. Her tears, her looks, all contributed to\ndiscover the real sensations of her heart for having forgotten her\nformer promise and having suffered herself to be deluded by an\nimpostor. My son appeared amazed at her condescension, and could scarce\nbelieve it real.\u2014\u2018Sure, madam,\u2019 cried he, \u2018this is but delusion! I can\nnever have merited this! To be, blest thus is to be too happy.\u2019\u2014\u2018No,\nSir,\u2019 replied she, \u2018I have been deceived, basely deceived, else nothing\ncould have ever made me unjust to my promise. You know my friendship,\nyou have long known it; but forget what I have done, and as you once\nhad my warmest vows of constancy, you shall now have them repeated; and\nbe assured that if your Arabella cannot be yours, she shall never be\nanother\u2019s.\u2019\u2014\u2018And no other\u2019s you shall be,\u2019 cried Sir William, \u2018if I\nhave any influence with your father.\u2019\nThis hint was sufficient for my son Moses, who immediately flew to the\ninn where the old gentleman was, to inform him of every circumstance\nthat had happened. But in the mean time the \u2019Squire perceiving that he\nwas on every side undone, now finding that no hopes were left from\nflattery or dissimulation, concluded that his wisest way would be to\nturn and face his pursuers. Thus laying aside all shame, he appeared\nthe open hardy villain. \u2018I find then,\u2019 cried he, \u2018that I am to expect\nno justice here; but I am resolved it shall be done me. You shall know,\nSir,\u2019 turning to Sir William, \u2018I am no longer a poor dependent upon\nyour favours. I scorn them. Nothing can keep Miss Wilmot\u2019s fortune from\nme, which, I thank her father\u2019s assiduity, is pretty large. The\narticles, and a bond for her fortune, are signed, and safe in my\npossession. It was her fortune, not her person, that induced me to wish\nfor this match, and possessed of the one, let who will take the other.\u2019\nThis was an alarming blow, Sir William was sensible of the justice of\nhis claims, for he had been instrumental in drawing up the marriage\narticles himself. Miss Wilmot therefore perceiving that her fortune was\nirretrievably lost, turning to my son, she asked if the loss of fortune\ncould lessen her value to him. \u2018Though fortune,\u2019 said she, \u2018is out of\nmy power, at least I have my hand to give.\u2019\n\u2018And that, madam,\u2019 cried her real lover, \u2018was indeed all that you ever\nhad to give; at least all that I ever thought worth the acceptance. And\nnow I protest, my Arabella, by all that\u2019s happy, your want of fortune\nthis moment encreases my pleasure, as it serves to convince my sweet\ngirl of my sincerity.\u2019\nMr Wilmot now entering, he seemed not a little pleased at the danger\nhis daughter had just escaped, and readily consented to a dissolution\nof the match. But finding that her fortune, which was secured to Mr\nThornhill by bond, would not be given up, nothing could exceed his\ndisappointment. He now saw that his money must all go to enrich one who\nhad no fortune of his own. He could bear his being a rascal; but to\nwant an equivalent to his daughter\u2019s fortune was wormwood. He sate\ntherefore for some minutes employed in the most mortifying\nspeculations, till Sir William attempted to lessen his anxiety.\u2014\u2018I must\nconfess, Sir\u2019 cried he, \u2018that your present disappointment does not\nentirely displease me. Your immoderate passion for wealth is now justly\npunished. But tho\u2019 the young lady cannot be rich, she has still a\ncompetence sufficient to give content. Here you see an honest young\nsoldier, who is willing to take her without fortune; they have long\nloved each other, and for the friendship I bear his father, my interest\nshall not be wanting in his promotion. Leave then that ambition which\ndisappoints you, and for once admit that happiness which courts your\nacceptance.\u2019\n\u2018Sir William,\u2019 replied the old gentleman, \u2018be assured I never yet\nforced her inclinations, nor will I now. If she still continues to love\nthis young gentleman, let her have him with all my heart. There is\nstill, thank heaven, some fortune left, and your promise will make it\nsomething more. Only let my old friend here (meaning me) give me a\npromise of settling six thousand pounds upon my girl, if ever he should\ncome to his fortune, and I am ready this night to be the first to join\nthem together.\u2019\nAs it now remained with me to make the young couple happy, I readily\ngave a promise of making the settlement he required, which, to one who\nhad such little expectations as I, was no great favour. We had now\ntherefore the satisfaction of seeing them fly into each other\u2019s arms in\na transport. \u2018After all my misfortunes,\u2019 cried my son George, \u2018to be\nthus rewarded! Sure this is more than I could ever have presumed to\nhope for. To be possessed of all that\u2019s good, and after such an\ninterval of pain! My warmest wishes could never rise so high!\u2019\u2014\u2018Yes, my\nGeorge,\u2019 returned his lovely bride, \u2018now let the wretch take my\nfortune; since you are happy without it so am I. O what an exchange\nhave I made from the basest of men to the dearest best!\u2014Let him enjoy\nour fortune, I now can be happy even in indigence.\u2019\u2014\u2018And I promise\nyou,\u2019 cried the \u2019Squire, with a malicious grin, \u2018that I shall be very\nhappy with what you despise.\u2019\u2014\u2018Hold, hold, Sir,\u2019 cried Jenkinson,\n\u2018there are two words to that bargain. As for that lady\u2019s fortune, Sir,\nyou shall never touch a single stiver of it. Pray your honour,\u2019\ncontinued he to Sir William, \u2018can the \u2019Squire have this lady\u2019s fortune\nif he be married to another?\u2019\u2014\u2018How can you make such a simple demand,\u2019\nreplied the Baronet, \u2018undoubtedly he cannot.\u2019\u2014\u2018I am sorry for that,\u2019\ncried Jenkinson; \u2018for as this gentleman and I have been old fellow\nspotters, I have a friendship for him. But I must declare, well as I\nlove him, that his contract is not worth a tobacco stopper, for he is\nmarried already.\u2019\u2014\u2018You lie, like a rascal,\u2019 returned the \u2019Squire, who\nseemed rouzed by this insult, \u2018I never was legally married to any\nwoman.\u2019\u2014\u2018Indeed, begging your honour\u2019s pardon,\u2019 replied the other, \u2018you\nwere; and I hope you will shew a proper return of friendship to your\nown honest Jenkinson, who brings you a wife, and if the company\nrestrains their curiosity a few minutes, they shall see her.\u2019\u2014So saying\nhe went off with his usual celerity, and left us all unable to form any\nprobable conjecture as to his design.\u2014\u2018Ay let him go,\u2019 cried the\n\u2019Squire, \u2018whatever else I may have done I defy him there. I am too old\nnow to be frightened with squibs.\u2019\n\u2018I am surprised,\u2019 said the Baronet, \u2018what the fellow can intend by\nthis. Some low piece of humour I suppose!\u2019\u2014\u2018Perhaps, Sir,\u2019 replied I,\n\u2018he may have a more serious meaning. For when we reflect on the various\nschemes this gentleman has laid to seduce innocence, perhaps some one\nmore artful than the rest has been found able to deceive him. When we\nconsider what numbers he has ruined, how many parents now feel with\nanguish the infamy and the contamination which he has brought into\ntheir families, it would not surprise me if some one of them\u2014Amazement!\nDo I see my lost daughter! Do I hold her! It is, it is my life, my\nhappiness. I thought thee lost, my Olivia, yet still I hold thee\u2014and\nstill thou shalt live to bless me.\u2019\u2014The warmest transports of the\nfondest lover were not greater than mine when I saw him introduce my\nchild, and held my daughter in my arms, whose silence only spoke her\nraptures. \u2018And art thou returned to me, my darling,\u2019 cried I, \u2018to be my\ncomfort in age!\u2019\u2014\u2018That she is,\u2019 cried Jenkinson, \u2018and make much of her,\nfor she is your own honourable child, and as honest a woman as any in\nthe whole room, let the other be who she will. And as for you \u2019Squire,\nas sure as you stand there this young lady is your lawful wedded wife.\nAnd to convince you that I speak nothing but truth, here is the licence\nby which you were married together.\u2019\u2014So saying, he put the licence into\nthe Baronet\u2019s hands, who read it, and found it perfect in every\nrespect. \u2018And now, gentlemen,\u2019 continued he, I find you are surprised\nat all this; but a few words will explain the difficulty. That there\n\u2019Squire of renown, for whom I have a great friendship, but that\u2019s\nbetween ourselves, as often employed me in doing odd little things for\nhim. Among the rest, he commissioned me to procure him a false licence\nand a false priest, in order to deceive this young lady. But as I was\nvery much his friend, what did I do but went and got a true licence and\na true priest, and married them both as fast as the cloth could make\nthem. Perhaps you\u2019ll think it was generosity that made me do all this.\nBut no. To my shame I confess it, my only design was to keep the\nlicence and let the \u2019Squire know that I could prove it upon him\nwhenever I thought proper, and so make him come down whenever I wanted\nmoney.\u2019 A burst of pleasure now seemed to fill the whole apartment; our\njoy reached even to the common room, where the prisoners themselves\nsympathized,\n\u2014And shook their chains\nIn transport and rude harmony.\nHappiness was expanded upon every face, and even Olivia\u2019s cheek seemed\nflushed with pleasure. To be thus restored to reputation, to friends\nand fortune at once, was a rapture sufficient to stop the progress of\ndecay and restore former health and vivacity. But perhaps among all\nthere was not one who felt sincerer pleasure than I. Still holding the\ndear-loved child in my arms, I asked my heart if these transports were\nnot delusion. \u2018How could you,\u2019 cried I, turning to Mr Jenkinson, \u2018how\ncould you add to my miseries by the story of her death! But it matters\nnot, my pleasure at finding her again, is more than a recompence for\nthe pain.\u2019\n\u2018As to your question,\u2019 replied Jenkinson, \u2018that is easily answered. I\nthought the only probable means of freeing you from prison, was by\nsubmitting to the \u2019Squire, and consenting to his marriage with the\nother young lady. But these you had vowed never to grant while your\ndaughter was living, there was therefore no other method to bring\nthings to bear but by persuading you that she was dead. I prevailed on\nyour wife to join in the deceit, and we have not had a fit opportunity\nof undeceiving you till now.\u2019\nIn the whole assembly now there only appeared two faces that did not\nglow with transport. Mr Thornhill\u2019s assurance had entirely forsaken\nhim: he now saw the gulph of infamy and want before him, and trembled\nto take the plunge. He therefore fell on his knees before his uncle,\nand in a voice of piercing misery implored compassion. Sir William was\ngoing to spurn him away, but at my request he raised him, and after\npausing a few moments, \u2018Thy vices, crimes, and ingratitude,\u2019 cried he,\n\u2018deserve no tenderness; yet thou shalt not be entirely forsaken, a bare\ncompetence shall be supplied, to support the wants of life, but not its\nfollies. This young lady, thy wife, shall be put in possession of a\nthird part of that fortune which once was thine, and from her\ntenderness alone thou art to expect any extraordinary supplies for the\nfuture.\u2019 He was going to express his gratitude for such kindness in a\nset speech; but the Baronet prevented him by bidding him not aggravate\nhis meanness, which was already but too apparent. He ordered him at the\nsame time to be gone, and from all his former domestics to chuse one\nsuch as he should think proper, which was all that should be granted to\nattend him.\nAs soon as he left us, Sir William very politely stept up to his new\nniece with a smile, and wished her joy. His example was followed by\nMiss Wilmot and her father; my wife too kissed her daughter with much\naffection, as, to use her own expression, she was now made an honest\nwoman of. Sophia and Moses followed in turn, and even our benefactor\nJenkinson desired to be admitted to that honour. Our satisfaction\nseemed scarce capable of increase. Sir William, whose greatest pleasure\nwas in doing good, now looked round with a countenance open as the sun,\nand saw nothing but joy in the looks of all except that of my daughter\nSophia, who, for some reasons we could not comprehend, did not seem\nperfectly satisfied. \u2018I think now,\u2019 cried he, with a smile, \u2018that all\nthe company, except one or two, seem perfectly happy. There only\nremains an act of justice for me to do. You are sensible, Sir,\u2019\ncontinued he, turning to me, \u2018of the obligations we both owe Mr\nJenkinson. And it is but just we should both reward him for it. Miss\nSophia will, I am sure, make him very happy, and he shall have from me\nfive hundred pounds as her fortune, and upon this I am sure they can\nlive very comfortably together. Come, Miss Sophia, what say you to this\nmatch of my making? Will you have him?\u2019\u2014My poor girl seemed almost\nsinking into her mother\u2019s arms at the hideous proposal.\u2014\u2018Have him,\nSir!\u2019 cried she faintly. \u2018No, Sir, never.\u2019\u2014\u2018What,\u2019 cried he again, \u2018not\nhave Mr Jenkinson, your benefactor, a handsome young fellow, with five\nhundred pounds and good expectations!\u2019\u2014\u2018I beg, Sir,\u2019 returned she,\nscarce able to speak, \u2018that you\u2019ll desist, and not make me so very\nwretched.\u2019\u2014\u2018Was ever such obstinacy known,\u2019 cried he again, \u2018to refuse\na man whom the family has such infinite obligations to, who has\npreserved your sister, and who has five hundred pounds! What not have\nhim!\u2019\u2014\u2018No, Sir, never,\u2019 replied she, angrily, \u2018I\u2019d sooner die\nfirst.\u2019\u2014\u2018If that be the case then,\u2019 cried he, \u2018if you will not have\nhim\u2014I think I must have you myself.\u2019 And so saying, he caught her to\nhis breast with ardour. \u2018My loveliest, my most sensible of girls,\u2019\ncried he, \u2018how could you ever think your own Burchell could deceive\nyou, or that Sir William Thornhill could ever cease to admire a\nmistress that loved him for himself alone? I have for some years sought\nfor a woman, who a stranger to my fortune could think that I had merit\nas a man. After having tried in vain, even amongst the pert and the\nugly, how great at last must be my rapture to have made a conquest over\nsuch sense and such heavenly beauty.\u2019 Then turning to Jenkinson, \u2018As I\ncannot, Sir, part with this young lady myself, for she has taken a\nfancy to the cut of my face, all the recompence I can make is to give\nyou her fortune, and you may call upon my steward to-morrow for five\nhundred pounds.\u2019 Thus we had all our compliments to repeat, and Lady\nThornhill underwent the same round of ceremony that her sister had done\nbefore. In the mean time Sir William\u2019s gentleman appeared to tell us\nthat the equipages were ready to carry us to the inn, where every thing\nwas prepared for our reception. My wife and I led the van, and left\nthose gloomy mansions of sorrow. The generous Baronet ordered forty\npounds to be distributed among the prisoners, and Mr Wilmot, induced by\nhis example, gave half that sum. We were received below by the shouts\nof the villagers, and I saw and shook by the hand two or three of my\nhonest parishioners, who were among the number. They attended us to our\ninn, where a sumptuous entertainment was provided, and coarser\nprovisions distributed in great quantities among the populace.\nAfter supper, as my spirits were exhausted by the alternation of\npleasure and pain which they had sustained during the day, I asked\npermission to withdraw, and leaving the company in the midst of their\nmirth, as soon as I found myself alone, I poured out my heart in\ngratitude to the giver of joy as well as of sorrow, and then slept\nundisturbed till morning.\nCHAPTER XXXII.\nThe Conclusion.\nThe next morning as soon as I awaked I found my eldest son sitting by\nmy bedside, who came to encrease my joy with another turn of fortune in\nmy favour. First having released me from the settlement that I had made\nthe day before in his favour, he let me know that my merchant who had\nfailed in town was arrested at Antwerp, and there had given up effects\nto a much greater amount than what was due to his creditors. My boy\u2019s\ngenerosity pleased me almost as much as this unlooked for good fortune.\nBut I had some doubts whether I ought in justice to accept his offer.\nWhile I was pondering upon this, Sir William entered the room, to whom\nI communicated my doubts. His opinion was, that as my son was already\npossessed of a very affluent fortune by his marriage, I might accept\nhis offer without any hesitation. His business, however, was to inform\nme that as he had the night before sent for the licences, and expected\nthem every hour, he hoped that I would not refuse my assistance in\nmaking all the company happy that morning. A footman entered while we\nwere speaking, to tell us that the messenger was returned, and as I was\nby this time ready, I went down, where I found the whole company as\nmerry as affluence and innocence could make them. However, as they were\nnow preparing for a very solemn ceremony, their laughter entirely\ndispleased me. I told them of the grave, becoming and sublime\ndeportment they should assume upon this Mystical occasion, and read\nthem two homilies and a thesis of my own composing, in order to prepare\nthem. Yet they still seemed perfectly refractory and ungovernable. Even\nas we were going along to church, to which I led the way, all gravity\nhad quite forsaken them, and I was often tempted to turn back in\nindignation. In church a new dilemma arose, which promised no easy\nsolution. This was, which couple should be married first; my son\u2019s\nbride warmly insisted, that Lady Thornhill, (that was to be) should\ntake the lead; but this the other refused with equal ardour, protesting\nshe would not be guilty of such rudeness for the world. The argument\nwas supported for some time between both with equal obstinacy and good\nbreeding. But as I stood all this time with my book ready, I was at\nlast quite tired of the contest, and shutting it, \u2018I perceive,\u2019 cried\nI, \u2018that none of you have a mind to be married, and I think we had as\ngood go back again; for I suppose there will be no business done here\nto-day.\u2019\u2014This at once reduced them to reason. The Baronet and his Lady\nwere first married, and then my son and his lovely partner.\nI had previously that morning given orders that a coach should be sent\nfor my honest neighbour Flamborough and his family, by which means,\nupon our return to the inn, we had the pleasure of finding the two Miss\nFlamboroughs alighted before us. Mr Jenkinson gave his hand to the\neldest, and my son Moses led up the other; (and I have since found that\nhe has taken a real liking to the girl, and my consent and bounty he\nshall have whenever he thinks proper to demand them.) We were no sooner\nreturned to the inn, but numbers of my parishioners, hearing of my\nsuccess, came to congratulate me, but among the rest were those who\nrose to rescue me, and whom I formerly rebuked with such sharpness. I\ntold the story to Sir William, my son-in-law, who went out and reprove\nthem with great severity; but finding them quite disheartened by his\nharsh reproof, he gave them half a guinea a piece to drink his health\nand raise their dejected spirits.\nSoon after this we were called to a very genteel entertainment, which\nwas drest by Mr Thornhill\u2019s cook. And it may not be improper to observe\nwith respect to that gentleman, that he now resides in quality of\ncompanion at a relation\u2019s house, being very well liked and seldom\nsitting at the side-table, except when there is no room at the other;\nfor they make no stranger of him. His time is pretty much taken up in\nkeeping his relation, who is a little melancholy, in spirits, and in\nlearning to blow the French-horn. My eldest daughter, however, still\nremembers him with regret; and she has even told me, though I make a\ngreat secret of it, that when he reforms she may be brought to relent.\nBut to return, for I am not apt to digress thus, when we were to sit\ndown to dinner our ceremonies were going to be renewed. The question\nwas whether my eldest daughter, as being a matron, should not sit above\nthe two young brides, but the debate was cut short by my son George,\nwho proposed, that the company should sit indiscriminately, every\ngentleman by his lady. This was received with great approbation by all,\nexcepting my wife, who I could perceive was not perfectly satisfied, as\nshe expected to have had the pleasure of sitting at the head of the\ntable and carving all the meat for all the company. But notwithstanding\nthis, it is impossible to describe our good humour. I can\u2019t say whether\nwe had more wit amongst us now than usual; but I am certain we had more\nlaughing, which answered the end as well. One jest I particularly\nremember, old Mr Wilmot drinking to Moses, whose head was turned\nanother way, my son replied, \u2018Madam, I thank you.\u2019 Upon which the old\ngentleman, winking upon the rest of the company, observed that he was\nthinking of his mistress. At which jest I thought the two miss\nFlamboroughs would have died with laughing. As soon as dinner was over,\naccording to my old custom, I requested that the table might be taken\naway, to have the pleasure of seeing all my family assembled once more\nby a chearful fireside. My two little ones sat upon each knee, the rest\nof the company by their partners. I had nothing now on this side of the\ngrave to wish for, all my cares were over, my pleasure was unspeakable.\nIt now only remained that my gratitude in good fortune should exceed my\nformer submission in adversity.", "source_dataset": "gutenberg", "source_dataset_detailed": "gutenberg -  The Vicar of Wakefield\n"},
{"created_timestamp": "02-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Adams/02-01-02-0005-0001", "content": "Title: [February 1754]\nFrom: \nTo: \n       This winter, we had a vacation.\n       In the winter of 1754 we had no snow at all save a smattering or two, But perpetuall rains and warm weather thro\u2019ought the whole.\n   In the academic year 1752\u20131753 there had been no winter vacation at the College. This was because during 1752 the number of instructional days had been greatly diminished, in the spring by the closure necessitated by a smallpox epidemic, in the fall by the loss of eleven days (3\u201313 Sept.) through the Act of Parliament in 1751 (24 Geo. 2, c. 23) providing for a change from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in 1752. From 22 April all college exercises, including commencement, had therefore been suspended, not to be resumed until 14 (i.e. 3, old style) September.\n   Moreover, the permanence of the vacation on the College calendar was in some doubt. A winter vacation of five weeks beginning the first Wednesday in January had been authorized in 1749 and renewed for a further trial period of three years in 1751. Upon the expiration of that period the Overseers refused to accept the Corporation\u2019s vote for a further extension of five years and approved a continuance only \u201cfor the year current.\u201d In 1754 the vacation period was from 2 Jan. to 6 February. (MH-AR: Corporation Records, College Book No. 7; Overseer\u2019s Records 1744\u20131768; Meetings of 1 Oct. 1751, 4 May, 3 Oct. 1752, 1 Oct. 1754).\n   JA\u2019s recollection of the weather during recent months is confirmed in a general way by the daily meteorological observations in Professor John Winthrop\u2019s Meteorological Journal, 1742\u20131759 (MS, MH-Ar). He records snow on two days in January and one day in February, none heavy, and \u201ca little\u201d snow on three days in February. There were rains on nine days in January and seven days in February. The Fahrenheit thermometer reached a high of 54\u00b0 in January, 52.5\u00b0 in February. The low was 3\u00b0 in January, 12\u00b0 in February. The mean morning and afternoon readings, 29\u00b0\u201338\u00b0, were somewhat higher than in immediately preceding years.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "03-08-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Adams/02-01-02-0005-0002-0002", "content": "Title: March 8th.\nFrom: Adams, John\nTo: \n       A Clowdy morning. I am now reading my lord Orrerys letters to his son Concerning Dr. Swift and his writings, which for softness and delicacy of style, accuracy and serenity of sentiment, are absolutely inimitable. Reading also the last volume of Monsieur Rollin\u2019s Belles Lettres which are worth their weight in gold.\u2014for his excellent reflections on every remarkable event that occurs in history he informs his readers of the true source  of every action and instructs them in the method of forming themselves upon the models of virtue to be met with in History.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "03-19-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Adams/02-01-02-0005-0002-0005", "content": "Title: 19 [March 1754].\nFrom: Adams, John\nTo: \n       This morning is beyond description, Beautyfull, the Skie bespangled with Clouds which shed a lustre on us by the refraction of the rays of light, together with the healthy and enlivening air, which was purifyed By the thunder, afford most spirited materials for Contemplation. The gaiety of the weather is equally delightfull to the phylosopher, Poet and the man of Pleasure. The Phylosopher finds his passions all Calm, serene, and Pliable so that he finds no Difficulty in subjecting them to the subserviency of his reason, he can now contemplate all the gaudy appearances of nature and like Pythagoras bring Phylosophy down from heaven and make her conversible to men. The Poet thinks this the Best time to Converse with his muse and Consequently gives himself up wholly to her directions. His whole soul is at her disposal!l and he no more retains the government of himself. While the man of pleasure find such delicacys arising from the objects of sence as are adapted to produce the highest sensations of delight in him.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "04-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Adams/02-01-02-0007-0001", "content": "Title: [April 1754]\nFrom: \nTo: \n        Then, Mr. Winthrop began a Course of Experimental\n   Written in JA\u2019s experimental hand of 1754\u20131756, with this fragmentary line canceled and the date heading certainly intended to be. This false beginning of JA\u2019s notes on Winthrop\u2019s lectures heads p. {7} of the MS and was lined out, presumably at once, because JA supposed that he would need more space than he had left for his (unwritten) journal entries for the last dozen days of March; see note on entry of 19 March 1754, above. For the true beginning of the lecture notes, see the second entry of 1 April 1754, p. 60, below.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "04-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Adams/02-01-02-0009-0001-0001", "content": "Title: [Winthrop\u2019s Lectures on Experimental Philosophy.] April 1st. 1754.\nFrom: Adams, John\nTo: \n       Mr. Winthrop began a series of Experimental Phylosophy, and in the 1st place he explained to us the meaning, nature, and excellence of natural phylosophy, which is, (he says) the knowledge of those laws by which all the Bodys, in the universe are restrained, it being evident that not only those great masses of matter the heavenly Bodys, but all the minutest combinations of matter in each of them are regulated by the same general laws. For instance it is plain that all the planets observe exactly the same uniform rules in their revolutions round the sun, that every particle of matter observes on the surface of the earth.\u2014As to the usefulness of natural phylosophy, to be convinced of that, it is necessary only to reflect on the state of all the Civilized nations of Europe, compared to many nations, in affrica, of as quick natural parts as Europeans, who live in a manner very little superiour to the Brutes.\u2014The first Cause, and indeed the alpha and omega of natural phaenomena, is motion, their being an utter impossibility that any effect should be produced in a natural way without motion, and this motion or rather Bodys in motion are subject to the following laws, 1st two bodys of different velocitys or swiftnesses, but aequal masses which motion is subject to Certain laws which he ex\u00adplained, and I have forgot. But thus much I remember, that motion, produced by gravity, was universally in right lines, from the body acted upon by gravity, to the Center of gravity, as the Center of the earth, for instance, or the like. He explained also, powers, weights, the line of direction of powers and weights, the Center of gravity, Center of  magnitude, and Center of motion, with the several methods of finding them, some of which I\u2019ve forgot, and the rest he showed us examples of which cant easyly be exhibited. But by reason of some of these laws (he tells us) there are two famous towers in Italy, the one at Bolognia, and the other at Pisa, each near an hundred feet high which are not in a perpendicular position, but inclined to the horizon to a Certain degree, so as not to have the line of direction fall without the Base, because if the line of direction fell not within the Base, the buildings would inevitably fall. After this and many other things and Terms relating to motion, velocity &c. explained he dismiss\u2019d us for the first time.\u2014He touch\u2019d also upon the advantages of gunpowder in war, above those of the Battering ram. For says he, the Battering ram was a hugh, and unweildy peice of timber or rather combination of timbers, with an iron head much in the shape of a rams head, whence it drew its name, commonly weighing near forty thousand Pounds, and consequently required a 1000 men to manage it, a man being scarce able to handle more than 40 lb. with velocity enough to do execution. Now one of our cannon, by the almost irresistable force of rarifyed vapour will discharge a 36 pounder so as to make as large a Breach in a wall, as the Battering ram, and requires but about 6 5 or 6 men to order and direct it. Therefore 6 men can do as much execution now with a Cannon as 1000 could with a Battering ram, and the momenta are equal the velocity of the Cannon exceeding  that of the ram, as much as the ram exceeds the Cannon in weight, that is as 36:40000.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "04-03-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Adams/02-01-02-0009-0001-0002", "content": "Title: April 3d. 1754.\nFrom: Adams, John\nTo: \n       The second lecture, which was wholly taken up in explaining the Propertys of the Centers of gravity and motion, which were applyed to the instruments, Cheifly in use in Common life, such as, the lever, pulley, Ballance axis in peritrocheo, &c. But the Ballance was principally insisted on. The reason of it was fully explained and the method of weighing, viz the distances of the Bodys from the Center of motion, must be precisely in a reciprocall proportion of their quantitys of matter or weights, always alowing for the weight of the Beam on which they are suspended, as well as friction, and the falsity of the supposition, that radii proceeding from the center of the earth are parrellel. Mr. Winthrop also demonstrated to us that all the advantages arising from any of the engines in use, resulted from the different possion position of them, with relation to force and velocity, thence he shew\u2019d the famous problem of Archimedes viz, to move any weight however great by any force however small.\u2014I had like to have forgot that he applied the doctrines of the center of gravity to the heavenly Bodys, shewing us the affections of the sun and planets with respect to their Centers of gravity, and instructed us in the manner of finding the Common Center of gravity of any 2 of \u2019em e.g. earth and moon, viz By this proportion as the quantitys of matter in Both added together is to the quantity of matter in the one separtely so is the distance of their centers to the distance of the Center of the other, from the Common Center sought. And to find the common Center of gravity of 3, 4 or 5 or any given number of Bodys, having found the common center of any 2, from that said Center draw a line to another of said Bodys and find the common Center of gravity of these two respecting the  common Center of gravity of the former 2 as a Body containing a quantity of matter equal to Both said Bodys.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "04-05-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Adams/02-01-02-0009-0001-0003", "content": "Title: April 5th. 1754.\nFrom: Adams, John\nTo: \n       The theory of the Ballance, scales, steel-yard &c. and all and the 3 species of lever\u2019s continued to which (viz) the lever he referred allmost all the instruments in life, and universally. To make a aequilibrium, the product of the quantity of matter in the weight multiplyed into its distance from the Center of motion, must be equal to the quantity of matter in the power, multiplyed into it\u2019s distance from said Center.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "04-06-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Adams/02-01-02-0009-0001-0004", "content": "Title: April 6th. 1754.\nFrom: Adams, John\nTo: \n       The phaenomina of The nature of the Pulley, axis in peritrochaeo, and inclined Plane explained, which all depend on the laws before laid down (viz) that the quantity of matter in the weight bears the same proportion to the quantity of matter in the power, as the distance of the power from the Center of motion, to the distance of the weight from said Center.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "04-08-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Adams/02-01-02-0009-0001-0005", "content": "Title: April 8th. 1754.\nFrom: Adams, John\nTo: \n       The Theory of simple machines and in particular of the inclined plane, of the wedge and screw, and other machines compounded of these simple ones, finish\u2019d.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "04-09-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Adams/02-01-02-0009-0001-0006", "content": "Title: April 9 1754.\nFrom: Adams, John\nTo: \n       Sir Isaac Newtons three laws of nature proved and illustrated, together with the application of them to the planets, which are kept in their orbits by two forces acting upon them, viz that of gravity and that which is call\u2019d their Centrifugal force whereby it they strives to recede from the Center of their orbits, and fly off therefrom in tangents.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "04-10-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Adams/02-01-02-0009-0001-0007", "content": "Title: April 10, 1754.\nFrom: Adams, John\nTo: \n       The theory of Centrifugal forces, continued; and aplyed to the Cases of the planets; and from this Centrifugal force, Mr. Winthrop confuted the hypothesis of vortices, from this also arises the spheroidal form of the earth.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "01-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0051", "content": "Title: Poor Richard Improved, 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: \nKind Reader,\nI have now serv\u2019d you three Apprenticeships, yet, old as I am, I have no Inclination to quit your Service, but should be glad to be able to continue in it three times three Apprenticeships longer.\nThe first Astrologers I think, were honest Husbandmen; and so it seems are the last; for my Brethren Jerman and Moore, and myself, the only remaining Almanack-makers of this Country, are all of that Class: Tho\u2019 in intermediate Times our Art has been cultivated in great Cities, and even in the Courts of Princes; witness History, from the Days of King Nebuchadnezzar I. of Babylon, to those of Queen James I. of England. But you will ask, perhaps, how I prove that the first Astrologers were Countrymen? I own this is a Matter beyond the Memory of History, for Astrology was before Letters; but I prove it from the Book of the Heavens, from the Names of the twelve Signs, which were mostly given to remark some Circumstance relative to rural Affairs, in the several successive Months of the Year, and by that Means to supply the Want of Almanacks. Thus, as the Year of the Ancients began most naturally with the Spring, Aries and Taurus, that is, the Ram and the Bull, represented the successive Addition to their Flocks of Sheep and Kine, by their Produce in that Season, Lambs and Calves. Gemini were originally the Kids, but called the Twins, as Goats more commonly bring forth two than one: These follow\u2019d the Calves. Cancer, the Crab, came next, when that Kind of Fish were in Season. Then follow\u2019d Leo, the Lion, and Virgo, the Wench, to mark the Summer Months, and Dog-days, when those Creatures were most mischievous. In Autumn comes first Libra, the Ballance, to point out the Time for weighing and selling the Summer\u2019s Produce; or rather, a Time of Leisure for holding Courts of Justice in which they might plague themselves and Neighbours; I know some suppose this Sign to signify the equal Poise, at that Time, of Day and Night; but the other Signification is the truer, as plainly appears by the following Sign Scorpio, or the Scorpion, with the Sting in his Tail, which certainly denotes the Paying of Costs. Then follows Sagittary, the Archer, to show the Season of Hunting; for now the Leaves being off the Trees and Bushes, the Game might be more easily seen and struck with their Arrows. The Goat accompanies the short Days and long Nights of Winter, to shew the Season of Mirth, Feasting and Jollity; for what can Capricorn mean, but Dancing or Cutting of Capers? At length comes Aquarius, or the Water-bearer, to show the Season of Snows, Rains and Floods; and lastly Pisces, or the two Shads, to denote the approaching Return of those Fish up the Rivers: Make your Wears, hawl your Seins; Catch \u2019em and pickle \u2019em, my Friends; they are excellent Relishers of old Cyder. But if you can\u2019t get Shad, Mackrell may do better.\nI know, gentle Readers, that many of you always expect a Preface, and think yourselves slighted if that\u2019s omitted. So here you have it, and much good may\u2019t do ye. As little as it is to the Purpose, there are many less so, now-a-days. I have left out, you see, all the usual Stuff about the Importunity of Friends, and the like, or I might have made it much bigger. You think, however, that \u2019tis big enough o\u2019Conscience, for any Matter of Good that\u2019s in it; I think so too, if it fills the Page, which is the Needful at present, from Your loving Friend to serve,\nR. Saunders\nIn our Almanack for 1750, we gave the Number of Inhabitants in New-Jersey, as taken 1737\u20138, and 1745, by which it appear\u2019d that the Total of all Ages, Sexes and Colours, amounted\nWhich makes an Increase in seven Years of\n  being almost one Third, tho\u2019 that is a Province into which there are but few direct Importations of Strangers. \nIn 1699 an Account was taken of the Freeholders in West-Jersey, by which it appear\u2019d that there were, viz.\n  In Burlington County, and Maidenhead,\n  In Gloucester, and Egg-Harbour,\n  In Salem County,\n  In Cape-May County,\nIn all, Freeholders,\n  If we suppose six Souls to each Freeholder,\n  There might then be in West-Jersey, Souls,\n  In 1745 there were in the same Counties, viz.\n  Souls.\n  Burlington, Hunterdon and Morris, which werein 1699 all Burlington County,\n  Gloucester, which includes Egg Harbour,\n  Salem,\n  Cape-May,\nIn all, Souls,\nBy which it appears that West-Jersey has increased in Forty-six Years, more than six for one; tho\u2019 some of its Counties are from their Situation reckoned not very healthy.\nA Receipt for curing Gammons, in the best Manner.\nFor three Dozen of Hams, take common Salt, and Sugar, twelve Pounds of each, Salt-petre six Pounds, rub it on the Hams after it is powder\u2019d fine, and let them stand a Week; then make a Lye, of a Bushel of Wood Ashes, with as much common Salt as will make it strong enough to bear an Egg; let the Hams lie in it three or four Weeks: Boil the Lye well, and skim it till it is clear, and let it cool, before you pour it on the Hams. When you smoke them, rub them with Bran till they are dry. This Lye will serve for your hung Beef, or Tongues, after being boiled over again and skim\u2019d.\nNote, Gammons thus cured, will fetch a good Price, for Exportation.\nJanuary. I Month.\nThe first Degree of Folly, is to conceit one\u2019s self wise; the second to profess it; the third to despise Counsel.\n  Take heed of the Vinegar of sweet Wine, and the Anger of Good-nature.\nFebruary. II Month.\n  The Bell calls others to Church, but itself never minds the Sermon.\n  Cut the Wings of your Hens and Hopes, lest they lead you a weary Dance after them.\nMarch. III Month.\n  In Rivers and bad Governments, the lightest Things swim at top.\n  The Cat in Gloves catches no Mice.\nApril. IV Month.\n  If you\u2019d know the Value of Money, go and borrow some.\n  The Horse thinks one thing, and he that saddles him another.\n  Love your Neighbour; yet don\u2019t pull down your Hedge.\nMay. V Month.\n  When Prosperity was well mounted, she let go the Bridle, and soon came tumbling out of the Saddle.\n  Some make Conscience of wearing a Hat in the Church, who make none of robbing the Altar.\nJune. VI Month.\n  In the Affairs of this World Men are saved, not by Faith, but by the Want of it.\n  Friendship cannot live with Ceremony, nor without Civility.\n  Praise little, dispraise less.\nJuly. VII Month.\n  The learned Fool writes his Nonsense in better Language than the unlearned; but still \u2019tis Nonsense.\n  A child thinks 20 Shillings and 20 years can scarce ever be spent.\nAugust. VIII Month.\n  Don\u2019t think so much of your own Cunning, as to forget other Mens: A cunning Man is overmatch\u2019d by a cunning Man and a Half.\n  Willows are weak, but they bind the Faggot.\n  You may give a Man an Office, but you cannot give him Discretion.\nSeptember. IX Month.\n  He that doth what he should not, shall feel what he would not.\n  To be intimate with a foolish Friend, is like going to bed to a Razor.\n  Little Rogues easily become great Ones.\nOctober. X Month.\n  You may sometimes be much in the wrong, in owning your being in the right.\n  Friends are the true Sceptres of Princes.\n  Where Sense is wanting, every thing is wanting.\nNovember. XI Month.\n  Many Princes sin with David, but few repent with him.\n  He that hath no ill Fortune will be troubled with good.\nFor Age and Want save while you may;\nNo Morning Sun lasts a whole Day.\nDecember. XII Month.\n  Learning to the Studious; Riches to the Careful; Power to the Bold; Heaven to the Virtuous.\nNow glad the Poor with Christmas Cheer;\nThank God you\u2019re able so to end the Year.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "01-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0052", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 1 January 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Colden, Cadwallader\nDear Sir,\nI have your Favour of the 3d past, with your Son\u2019s Remarks on the Abb\u00e9 Nollet\u2019s Letters. I think the Experiments and Observations are judiciously made, and so well express\u2019d, that, with your and his Leave, I would transmit them to Mr. Collinson for Publication. I have repeated all the Abb\u00e9\u2019s Experiments in Vacuo, and find them answer exactly as they should do on my Principles, and in the material Part quite contrary to what he has related of them; so that he has laid himself extreamly open by attempting to impose false Accounts of Experiments on the World to support his Doctrine. Mr. Dalibard wrote me that he was preparing an Answer that would be published the Beginning of this Winter; but as he seems to have been impos\u2019d on by the Abb\u00e9\u2019s confident Assertion that a charg\u2019d Bottle set down on an Electric per se is depriv\u2019d of its Electricity, and in his Letter to me attempts to account for it, I doubt he is not yet quite Master enough of the Subject to do the Business effectually; so I conclude to write a civil Letter to the Abb\u00e9 myself, in which, without resenting his Chicanery or any thing else in his Letters, I shall endeavour to set the disputed Matters in so clear a Light, as to satisfy every one that will take the Trouble of Reading it. Before I send it home, I shall communicate it to you, and take your Friendly Advice on it. I set out to-morrow on a Journey to Maryland, where I expect to be some Weeks; but shall have some Leisure when I return. At present I can only add my Thanks to your ingenious Son, and my hearty Wishes of a happy New Year to you and him and all yours. I am, Sir, Your obliged, and most obedient humble Servant\nB Franklin\nP. S. I wrote to you last Post, and sent my Paper on the Increase of Mankind. I send the Supplemental Electrical Experiments in several Fragments of Letters; of which Cave has made the most, by printing some of them twice over.\n Addressed: The honble Cadwallader [Colden] \u2002Coldengham \u2002Free \u2003\u2003B Franklin", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "01-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0053", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Darling and Nathan Whiting, 1 January 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Darling, Thomas,Whiting, Nathan\nGentlemen,\nI received your Money of Mr. Willing, and will remit it to London as soon as I have your Orders to whom.\nI expect the Printing Materials for Newhaven early in the Spring; they are to come in to New York, unless there be a Vessel bound to Newhaven or Middletown. As soon as I hear of their Arrival, I purpose a Journey into Connecticut. But reflecting on the Sum you suppose the Building will cost, and remembring from dear Experience that the final Amount is generally double the Computation, I begin to think, that \u2019till we have made Trial how the Business is like to be encourag\u2019d, it will be better to hire a Room or two, or accept of Mr. Clap\u2019s kind Offer of a Room in the College for the first Year. Yet if you have already done any thing in the Affair, let me know that I may reimburse you. I am, Gentlemen, Your oblig\u2019d humble Servant\nB Franklin\nI heartily wish a happy New Year to you, Mr. Clap, and all our Newhaven and Connecticut Friends.\n Endorsed: I See Mr. Franklins determinations for which I am Sorry, you\u2019ll act accordingly. \u2003N Whiting at Fairfield", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "01-14-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0054", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 14 January 1754\nFrom: Collinson, Peter\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nMy Dear Friend\nI am so disheartend at the Loss of Capt. Davis, that I cannot tell how to sett Penn to paper. I had so amply Employed my Budget in 2 or 3 pacquetts with a Large pack and Books per M. Dalibard at Paris a Box with 6 of Bird thermometers books Magazins all gone and Poor John Bartram has lost his Two Guinea Microscope and prints for Billey Seeds and Two or three Sheets all of my Scrawl.\nI had writt you Largely of Mr. Smiths Affair. The propretor has give Mee all the Assurance He will Support a Rectorship which will be setled when He Comes to Town. I have but a few Minites for this Scrowl so accept my best Wishes. Yours\nP Collinson\nI hope John Bartram will send Twelve Boxs of Seed.\n Addressed: To \u2002Benn: Franklin \u2002Esqr \u2002at Philadephia \u2002via New England.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "01-16-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0055", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Nathan Whiting, 16 January 1754\nFrom: Whiting, Nathan\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nDear Sir\nNew York Jany 16 1754\nIn my passage to N York I met the Post by whom Received your Letter by it percieve you have Suspended the Building your Printing office for the present. I shall be sorry If in the Cost we made upon it we inhanced the price more than we ought, and by that means hinderd your proceeding but I believe we did Not, however should be Glad it might Not Cost you the money, and suppose It would Cost as little perhaps less now than ever. As to the terms we proposed of your advancing \u00a350 Sterling now we should Not have insisted on, but willingly have first Erected the building or part and then we might have known the Just Amount of the bills. As to the trouble we have been at already tis Nothing. We are glad to have it in our power to render you any agreable Service, we have contracted with a Man for Brick Stone and lime to be deliverd early In the Spring and advanced to him Goods at Cash price on That Account but I believe we shall have no great difficulty to perswade him to pay us for the Goods in Some other way. If not Can dispose probably of those Articles.\nI am obliged to you for your care in gitting our money of Mr. Willing. We desired you in our last if you did not Join It with some of your own to remit into the hands of Messrs. Livingston & Alexander that I might remit it with other Cash, as it is now too late (the last, fall Ships having sail\u2019d a few Day since) I desire you would remit it to Mr. Alexander Champion in London either in Cash or Goods bills, if before the Reciept of this you have not orderd it to N York, if you have I shall Leave orders for the disposal of it with the Gentleman mentiond. And before I conclude this Subject must ask your pardon for giving You so much trouble about it. I am &c.\nN Whiting\n Endorsed: Copy of Letter to Mr Franklin concerning Printing House.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "01-26-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0056", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 26 January 1754\nFrom: Collinson, Peter\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nMy Dear Friend\nLondon Jany 26 1754\nAs I emptied my Budget Largely by unfortunate Capt. Davis and as our Friend Smith comes in Capt. Shirley it will save Mee a very Long detail of what has passed between Mee and your proprietor as He has been privy to most of It, in General I can tell you He is Ardent in promoting Enlish Schools for teaching the Germans, as you will see by the Scheme When Mr. Smith comes, I am perswaded it will Meet your approbation. The German Society here you will also have an Account of from the same hand of which they are very Desirous of your Correspondence Advice and Counsel. Your Proprietor is very Solicitous about the Prosperity of the Academy for the present. He has orderd Mr. Peters to pay the Rector Fifty pounds per Annum. Butt He has assured Mee several Times that he has appropriated a Considerable Estate in Land and has left it in his Will for the Encouragement of that Seminary which He hopes to see in a year or Two and then will Effectually settle It. He has had frequent occations of seeing Mr. Smith for whom [he] has a very good Esteem and Indeed He has taken Infinite Pains on drawing Schemes and Plans for several Purposes which He will acquaint you with and Does very well approve of his Being Rector. So now I hope that Noble Institution will go on prosperously. You a little to Long Delayed thanking the proprietor for his kind present of \u00a3500. But our Friend Smith assign\u2019d Him the Reasons of it. His Bill and Petition to the Lord Chancellor to Inforce His Decree is what detains Him Here for His Lady is very Desirous to go over.\nI think I before acquainted Thee that a Long Memorial containing the State of the Controversy between the Frankleans and Nolletians per Mr. Dalibard was lost on Davis. Thy last Letter I dispatch\u2019d to Him. It is quite Friendly to leave it open for Mee to Reade for it containd many Curious Hints and Experiments.\nWhat was Intimated of New Discoveries on Electricity are not Sufficiently Verified because no further Notice is taken in thine of Novr: 27 and 10br. 4. Douglas 2 Vol. came safe to hand and I have credited thy account with Thirteen Shillings. What I have of Douglas 2 Vol. is to No. 22 Inclusive.\nMany Well Wishers Here to Capt. Swains Expedition are Concern\u2019d He had no better Success yett his Journal and Discoveries, maybe well worth our Knowledge. These may be compared with the Maps you have al[ready] and what I now send of the French Discoveries with a New Map of N: Caroline, Virginia and Maryland comes By Budden in a Long Deal Case Marked L\u2020C. There is packed with It some Seed Black Oats and Rape which I friend Elicot [sic] Desird, some School Book &c. for Billy Bartram, and Bill for J. Read. Thine of Decemr: 4 came to late to be packed with the above. So I have sent 15 yd of our Richest Damask for thy Wife in a Box by it self Directed at Length to the Care of Neat & Neve to putt it on board Capt. Budden which I hope will prove to her Satisfaction.\nI hope to gett 2 or 3 Thermometers to send per Mr. Smith with the Gold: Medal the Gift of the Royal Society for thy Ingenious and New Discoveries on Electricity. The Oration Deliver\u2019d on this Occation our President has promissed Mee. That unworthy Man Capt. Mitchell contrary to the Directions putt the pacquet into the post office. So there was 23 Shillings postage. But haveing Friends at Court gott it off but no thanks to the Capt. for Every one could not have done that, and then they had lain and been burnt. I have for some Months past heard that Mr. Robinson and Thy Self are admitted post masters, with Ingenious and Indefatigable Men it may be putt on such a footing as to turn to good Account.\nButt it is really very hard for poor Doctor Mitchell who was really Bambozelled per the Office. It is too Long a Story to Tell.\nJohn Bartrams Bill I have Carried to thy Account. Pray is it certainly known what the French have done (by the Speeches for which Wee are much Obliged). Only Mention is made of their marching their Army. Sure the Governers of the Colonies will have private Orders to Dislodge them, turn the Tables, Lett them be the Complainants. If they are not now drove out of their lurking Places it will [be] too Late Ever after. This I know that there was a Cabinett counsel peculiarly for this Purpose and I know further which I hope is known or will be Soone to your Governers. I have seen the Governors Virginia Speech. If it had been couch\u2019d more covertly it would give less alarm to the French of our Intentions but they are Jockeying us every where for they slyly Dispatch a 10 sail Squadron per 2 or 3 Ships at a Time to the E: Indies and now Wee are pressing Men and Hurrying another after them: which is to take in Soldiers at Ireland.\nI Heartyly Wish our Worthy Friend Smith may have a Safe Passage. He has great Abilities and he has been Indefatigable in Applying them to several usefull purposes, and as years Increase, His Judgement and Understanding will grow more Mature for his Age. Few if any can Excell Him, the Warmth and fire of youth will be Temper\u2019d by your prudent and Cordial Advice.\nThe only Thing that your Proprietor objects too Is his takeing Orders because it may give dislike to some to see one att the Head of the Academy in a Canonical Habit and therefore He hopes He will never or but very rarely Use that Dress. This I have Mention\u2019d to Him. From his Good Sence, I hope he will not give Offense.\nPray in thy next Lett Mee know how the Academy Goes on.\nI am with much Respect and Esteem thy Affectionate Friend\nP Collinson\nI send this first for fear it should be left in a few Days I hope to gett the Capt. Receipt for the Long Case with the Map and for the Box with thy Wive\u2019s Silk.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "02-06-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0057", "content": "Title: Pennsylvania Assembly Committee: Report on the State of the Trade, 6 February 1754\nFrom: Pennsylvania Assembly Committee\nTo: \nContinuing the efforts of previous Assemblies to increase the amount of paper money in circulation, the House appointed a committee of four, Oct. 17, 1753, \u201cto enquire into the State and Circumstances of the Trade of this Province, with regard to the Quantity of our Paper Currency from its first Emission in 1723, to the present Time.\u201d Accompanying the report, read February 6, was a statistical account of the quantities of wheat, flour, bread, and flaxseed exported from Philadelphia during the six years 1729\u201331 and 1749\u201351, which showed an increase in the annual value of these commodities exported, from a total of \u00a362, 473 14s. 3d. in 1729 to \u00a3187,457 11s. 1d. in 1751.\n[February 6, 1754]\nIn Obedience to the Order of the House, your Committee have enquired into the State and Circumstances of the Trade of this Province with regard to the Quantity of our Paper Currency from its first Emission in 1723, to the present Time; and do find, by authentic Accounts, that before that Period our Trade was in a declining State; and that since the same, our Importations from Great-Britain have increased as follows, viz.\nIn 1723 they amounted only to\n  In 1730 they were\n  In 1737 they were\n  In 1742 they were\n  In 1747 they were\n  In 1751 they were\nWe do also find, that in the Years 1729, 1730, and 1731, we had near the same Quantity of Paper Money that we now have, and ever since have had; and that our Exportations of Wheat, Flour, Bread, and Flaxseed, amounted then, one Year with another, to little more than \u00a360000 per Annum; whereas in the Year 1749 those Articles amounted to\nIn 1750 to\nwhich last is more than treble the Value of those Articles exported twenty Years before. For a more particular Account of those Exportations, your Committee beg Leave to refer to a Valuation of the several Articles hereunto annexed.\nBy the Report of a former Committee of Assembly, made in August, 1752, it appears that our Numbers of People, and Domestic Trade, have increased in like Proportion.\nYour Committee beg Leave to observe, that they apprehend the Occasions for a Medium of Trade; must have increased equally with the Trade; and that our Foreign and Domestic Commerce could not have been carried on as it has been for some Years past, had not the accidental Introduction of great Quantities of Silver and Gold, by the War, supplied the Deficiency of our Paper Currency for that Purpose. And since Complaints of the Want of a sufficient Medium (occasioned by the Diminution of our Quantity of Gold and Silver which is continually sent Home in Return for British and India Manufactures) are daily growing louder; and our Paper Currency must, by the present Acts, begin shortly to diminish one sixth Part annually, your Committee humbly submit it to the Consideration of the House, whether it is not now become necessary, not only to prolong the Re-emissions, but to strike and emit an additional Sum.\nEvan Morgan,\nBenjamin Franklin,\nJoseph Stretch,\nWilliam Callender.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "02-13-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0059", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, 13 February 1754\nFrom: Colden, Cadwallader\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nDear Sir\nColdengham Febry 13th 1754\nThe want of an opportunity is the only reason why I have not before this acknowleged your favor of the 6th of Decr. and the same cause prevented my having the pleasure of yours of the 1st of last month till a few days since that my son Alexander brought it with him.\nI am exceedingly pleased with the friendly complement you make me in that of Decr. 6th for your approbation or esteem I shall allwise value next to the approbation of my own mind in all public actions of my life. For this reason I hope you\u2019l excuse me in explaining my self on my past conduct in public affairs. You know I have seldom troubled you on this Subject. I value highly the English constitution as the best contrived for the security of our Liberty and Property when the ballance is kept equal among the several branches of Government. I think, and I have long thought it, that in America we are in much greater Danger from Popular Licentiousness than from any abuse of Power in our Governers though I own some of them have been bad enough and I think the danger from the too great power in the People is daily increasing. By Popularity Ambitious men who think every measure to be right which serves their purpose have in all ages effectually gained their ends. I hope that upon a strict inquiry it will be found that my actions in the public affairs have been directed only by this Principle of preserving our constitution against popular intrusion. As I had no personal interest with Lord Halifax either by my self or any one friend his approbation pleases me the more as I am fond of believing that it has arose after he had fully considered and weigh\u2019d the several past transactions in this Govt. The concluding part of his letter shews that he thinks I am guided by the Principle I have mentioned as the rule of my conduct. His words are \u201cThe same Zeal and Loyalty which you have hitherto shewn in the Support of his Majesty\u2019s Rights, I flatter my self, you will continue to exert; and I hope that all those, who have a true regard to the happiness of the Province, will unite in their endeavours to support its constitution, which may as effectually be destroyed by unjust attacks on the prerogative of the Crown, on the one hand, as on the Rights and Liberties of the People, on the other.\u201d He likewise took the trouble to send me an Authentic proof of his endeavour to do me a particular piece of kindness and which he would have effected had Mr. Clinton\u2019s friends been as hearty as he was.\nI am exceedingly pleased with your observations on the increase of mankind. I think with our friend Bartram that the last Paragraph is the only one liable to exception and I wish it had been rather somewhere in the midle than at the end of that discourse because the reader should be the most fully satisfied when you take leave of him. I perswade my self you take my remarks in good part as I expect the like impartiality for me. I must delay any remarks on the Meteorological subject till an other Opportunity. My thoughts of late have been employed in putting some part of my Principles in a better light to remove some objections made by those whose opinion I value most and I hope to do it in such manner as will make these Principles superior to all opposition with men who truely indeavour after truth. I do not expect to avoid contradiction no more than you have escaped it. This with my not knowing of any Opportunity to write by has made me delay considering the papers you inclosed. I send back your observations on the increase of mankind by my son.\nMy son David thanks you for the notice you are pleased to take of his performance but is affrayed that your desiring leave to send it to Mr. Collinson is a meer complement as he thinks there is nothing new in it to deserve publishing. Tho as to my part I did not remember any experiment which so clearly proves that a greater quantity of Electrical matter may pass through one without giving a Shock than often when it does and that there is something very singular between the inside and outside of the viol or between the one side or other of coated glass and which from your experiments seem evidently to be occasion\u2019d by the one side\u2019s being + and the other \u2014. Tho how this can be is not so easy to explain from what we hitherto know of Electricity. My son Alexander will send you Pike\u2019s book which please to send back after you have read it. I am Sir Your most obedient humble Servant\nCadwallader Colden\nMr. Collinson at last informs me that he had sent my answer to Profr. Kastner to Lord Macclesfield who was much engaged at that time in makeing Interest for his son\u2019s Election for Oxfordshire.\n Addressed: To \u2002Benjamin Franklen Esqr \u2002Philadelphia", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "02-14-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0060", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Edward Shippen, 14 February 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Shippen, Edward\nDear Sir,\nPhilada. Feb. 14, 1754\nI receiv\u2019d your Favour of the 8th Inst. with the Dollar enclos\u2019d.\nThe Postage of the Letter to Boston is\n  3 Bunches of Quills at 1s. 6d.\nBallance\nThey are the best Quills I could get in Town.\nI was about to send for my Printing Materials, &c. as I heard that S. Holland was broke up. But a sober young Man, a Printer, desires to make a little Tryal of Lancaster, and I have consented to let him have the Use of them for that purpose a few Months. If he meets with Encouragement he will settle among you: Otherwise, he will bring away the Press and Letters. I should imagine a Printing-House would be thought a publick Convenience in such a Place as yours, and therefore, as well as for the sake of the young Man, hope he will have your Countenance, if he behaves properly. My Compliments to Mrs. Shippen, and all Friends. I am, Dear Sir, Your most obedient Servant\nB Franklin\nP.S. I do not know in what Condition, or in whose Care S. Holland has left my Things; I must therefore beg you would be so good as to take care of them for a few Days in my Behalf, till Mr. Dunlap gets up, which I hope will be by the Beginning of next Week: Besides the Printing Materials there were Books and Paper belonging to me.\n Addressed: To \u2002Edwd Shippen Esqr \u2002Lancaster \u2002with a Parcel\nEndorsed: Benjamin Franklin Feb. 14. 1754 Letter Philada.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "02-15-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0061", "content": "Title: Pennsylvania Assembly Committee: Report on Laws, 15 February 1754\nFrom: Pennsylvania Assembly Committee\nTo: \nSoon after the opening of each October session, the Pennsylvania Assembly appointed a committee \u201cto inspect the Laws of this Province, and report which of them are expired, or near expiring, and ought to be re-enacted; with their Opinion what Amendments to them or others may be necessary.\u201d The committee appointed October 17, 1753, made its report the following February 15.\n[February 15, 1754]\nWe the Committee appointed to consider what Laws of this Province are expired or near expiring, and what others need Amendment, &c. do report,\nThat the Act for the new Appointment of Trustees, &c. passed in the Twenty-second Year of the present Reign, is, so far as relates to that Appointment, now expired.\nThat the several Acts for establishing of Ferries, except that for the Middle Ferry on Schuylkill, are expired.\nThat the Term of one Year, mentioned in the Act for the Continuance of an Act, intituled, An Act for the better securing the City of Philadelphia from the Danger of Gunpowder, is expired; and as the present Situation of the Powder-house is inconvenient and dangerous to the Neighbourhood, of late Years grown much thicker, we think the Powder might be better placed at the Battery, below the Town, where we understand a Powder-house is already erected.\nThat the Laws relating to Roads want some Amendment, at least to accommodate them to the particular Circumstances of some Roads and Streets.\nThat the Act for prohibiting the Importation of Germans, or other Passengers, in too great Numbers in one Vessel, is defective, in not directing the Room each Freight shall have in Height, as well as in Length and Breadth; and also needs some other Provisions to prevent the Abuses those poor Strangers complain of; and also to prevent the Importation of German Papists and Convicts.\nThat it might be of Use to both Landlords and Tenants, and prevent chargeable Suits for small Dues, if Actions of Debt for Rent under Five Pounds, were not excepted in the Five Pound Act.\nThat as some Doubts have arisen, whether Persons under Age are bound by their Covenants to serve as Apprentices or Servants, it may be proper to ascertain that Matter by a Law.\nThat there seems a Necessity of providing some Law to punish more effectually the Counterfeiters of Gold and Silver Coin, and the Paper Currency of the neighbouring Colonies passing in this Province. And also to prevent the Passing of Counterfeit English Halfpence, which are now bringing in, in great Quantities.\nThat great Frauds are complained of in the Making up of Hemp for Sale in this Province; and in the Packing of Butter for Exportation; and as nothing is more to the Reputation of a People, and the Advantage of Commerce, than Faithfulness in making up their Wares and Merchandize, we think a Law to remedy the above Evils will be very useful.\nThat if the several Poor Acts were revised, and reduced to one, we think it would be more convenient than to have them, as at present, dispersed in the Book.\nThat the Clause relating to Witchcraft, in the Act for the Advancement of Justice, as it brings over a Statute since repealed, and seems unnecessary here, may as well be repealed, and the Substance of the Statute made instead of it, in the Ninth of the present Reign, brought over in its Place.\nThat for the better Preservation of the English Language, in this Province, it may be proper to require by a Law, that all written Contracts be in English, and to give some Encouragement to English Schools in those Parts of the Province where Foreigners are thick seated.\nAnd that a Law for regulating the Indian Trade is, in our Opinion, now become absolutely necessary.\nAll which is nevertheless humbly submitted to the House, by\nEvan Morgan,\nBenjamin Franklin,\nJoseph Trotter,\nWilliam Callender.\nJoseph Fox,", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "02-26-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0062", "content": "Title: Franklin and Hall: Notice to the Public, 26 February 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin,Hall, David\nTo: \n   Our Subscribers in Virginia, are desired to pay their respective Ballances due for this Gazette, to William Hunter, Esq; of Williamsburgh; those on the Western Shore of Maryland, to William Young, Esq; of Baltimore County; and those on the Eastern Shore, to Thomas Ringold, Esq; of Chester Town; their several Accounts being left with those Gentlemen for that Purpose, who are fully impowered by us to receive, give Discharges, &c.\nFranklin and Hall", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "02-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0063", "content": "Title: William Smith to Richard Peters and Benjamin Franklin, [February 1754]\nFrom: Smith, William\nTo: Peters, Richard,Franklin, Benjamin\nThe attitudes and behavior of the Germans of Pennsylvania toward politics, defense, and war had concerned Franklin as far back as 1747, when he flattered them in Plain Truth, hoping to win their support for the Association (see above, III, 203). He did not succeed in detaching them from the Quakers, however; they remained pro-Quaker, some were Roman Catholics who seemed open to French blandishments, and others belonged to unorganized or disorganized Protestant churches with poor leadership. At a time when the British were preparing for the decisive struggle with France for control of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, the Germans were at best no source of strength to imperial thought or force. After 1751 Franklin expressed this apprehension frequently. The concern of Rev. Michael Schlatter, a German Reformed minister, for his people was different. When he returned to Holland in 1751 after five years in Pennsylvania, he appealed for help in providing teachers, catechists, and ministers to the rural Germans. The synods, several Dutch states, and many private persons responded, among them the English minister at Amsterdam, Rev. David Thomson. He translated Schlatter\u2019s appeal, circulated it in England, and personally presented it to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which authorized a collection that netted \u00a31200.\nTo receive and disburse the money a committee was formed in London, with Rev. Samuel Chandler, the eminent Dissenting minister of the Old Jewry, as secretary. At this point William Smith, in London for ordination, offered the Society a practical program (see below, p. 214). The Society approved it with some revisions, ordered it printed, and expressed a desire to receive the \u201cCorrespondence, advice and Counsel\u201d of Franklin, whom Smith and Collinson told them about. To administer the Society\u2019s business in America trustees-general were soon nominated. Thomas Penn proposed Governor Hamilton, Chief Justice Allen, Secretary Richard Peters, and, of course, Smith. Smith added Franklin\u2019s name; and Penn nominated Conrad Weiser, \u201conly because he is a German and it might be agreeable to that People.\u201d The Society then named Schlatter superintendent of the schools to be opened.\nOpposition formed at once. Christopher Saur, publisher of the Pensylvanische Berichte and the most influential single spokesman of the German sectarians, recognized it for what it was\u2014an imperial scheme\u2014and attacked it strongly. Germans everywhere resented being called stupid, stubborn, rebellious, and even traitorous. Suspicions multiplied, wild misrepresentations were spread abroad, and even Germans who favored the schools as individuals found it hard to cooperate. The trustees helped matters somewhat by printing early in 1755, in English and German, a history of the Society, which they had asked Smith to write. The Reformed Coetus meeting at Lancaster in April, for example, spoke favorably of the \u201cpraiseworthy undertaking\u201d and protested Saur\u2019s statements. On April 10 Smith reported to Penn that four schools were in operation, that six others would open in a few weeks, and that petitions had been received for fifteen more.\nDespite this not unhopeful beginning, however, the German school movement slowed. Smith himself was partly responsible. In a vigorous attack on Quaker leadership in Pennsylvania politics published in London in 1755 and sent to Pennsylvania at once, he repeated the familiar charges against the Germans and proposed some of the restrictions Collinson had suggested two years before, with the addition of a test oath to bar pacifists, both German and Quaker, from the Assembly. Matters worsened with the publication at Boston in 1755 of Franklin\u2019s Observations on the Increase of Mankind, with its intemperate reference to \u201cPalatine Boors.\u201d Few could now gainsay Saur\u2019s assertion to Weiser that Franklin and his friends were not really interested in the Germans\u2019 religion or education, but only in how \u201cthe stupid Germans could be used as militia-men to protect their property.\u201d By fall of that year the Reformed Coetus had become cool to the schools. And the disruption of life in the western parts of the province which followed Braddock\u2019s defeat, dealt the movement another blow.\nNonetheless the German Society went on collecting money, and some schools continued\u2014nine were in operation in 1760. On both sides of the ocean, however, the imperialists realized that they had failed to \u201canglify\u201d the foreigners in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, and instead had solidified German opposition to their aims. Schlatter resigned his superintendency in 1757; at the end of that year the Society\u2019s newspaper, the Philadelphische Zeitung, ceased publication. Franklin went to England, where he not only took no part in the Society\u2019s waning work but was not even invited to meetings. In 1769 the London group turned over its remaining funds\u2014\u00a388 12s. 4d.\u2014to the trustees of the College of Philadelphia.\nDear and worthy Sirs\n[February 1754]\nThe loss of a very large packet (which took me up above a week\u2019s writing), sent by Capt. Davis, is the reason why I have not communicated to you before now, the Success I have had in several Schemes for your Province. My whole time has been spent this way, and you\u2019ll see by those papers I send you that I have been pretty constantly employed. There are 3 or 4 letters of great importance, I cannot now send you the originals being lost with Davis, unless I should trouble Mr. Penn to take them from his Copies. It would have been well if you had seen all the steps taken, with the Archbishop\u2019s, Mr. Collinson\u2019s and other letters; but this you shall know by word of mouth. Those I send will make you master of the Schemes. The one of them I just borrowed from Mr. Collinson and copied with some assistance. It is the 2d part of a long letter to Mr. Penn, and contains the Scheme for your Academy and the Arguments for it, which I hope are conformable to your own Sentiments. You\u2019ll see it must be kept private. Mr. Penn has come in to every part of it, and he will give an yearly Sum for some time, and when he comes to Pennsylvania intends to give a manor to the Academy for the purposes I have pointed out. He ask\u2019d me at first what I thought would be the best way of bestowing his donation, and you\u2019ll see how disinterested I was to propose a new object for one half of it, when the whole might otherwise have been applied for a philosophy professor. But I shall always glory to prefer private to public good, and I rejoice exceedingly to have been the means of two such Foundations, which, being once made by the proprietor, he will not desert for the sake of a small additional expence. It would not become me to say how many arguments I used to bring these Schemes to bear. The proprietor was not at first satisfy\u2019d that such liberal institutions were useful in an infant Country. Your Academy also interfered with a Design he had in view of his own, and of which he intended to be the Founder. These and many other Circumstances were obstacles. But when I was able to shew the worthy Gentleman the necessity of such a seminary in a political light, he generously agreed to ingraft his Scheme upon yours in the two Foundations proposed, provided I would undertake to be the person to execute them. Tho\u2019 I had not, nor have not yet, heard from either of you I agreed to this, hoping that the person who had been the great means of such an Union (which otherwise might have been the work of years) even if not personally known to you, would be welcome to all the Trustees, when he comes recommended by the proprietor, with an order for foundations, by one of which, he will be in a great measure supported, with small addition from you.\nI must in a very particular manner thank Mr. Peters for his kind letter to Mr. Penn, and his having transmitted my Mirania &c. in such a favorable light to him. This together with the good Archbishop\u2019s Letter procured me an uncommon share of his confidence, and such as no indifferent person ever before enjoy\u2019d. I have been several days with him in the country, and have the Honor to dine once or twice with him in Town every week especially on Sundays. He is pleased to consult me upon every point that relates to literature in his Country, which he sees absolutely necessary to maintain good Government. For my arguments on this head I refer you to my large letter concerning the Germans. I have sent you the original Copy as it was done currente calamo, as I could not possibly transcribe it. You will see many repetitions and faults of Diction which were not in the fair and more concise Copy to Mr. Penn. This last mentioned Copy was read before the Society entrusted with the moneys for the Germans. They have adopted Your scheme and are satisfy\u2019d that the Education of youth ought to be their more immediate Object. They were pleased to thank me for what I had laid before them, and desired me against their next meeting to shorten it that a few [Copies] might be transcribed for the Archbishop, Lord Chancellor, Lord Halifax, and the minister, and speaker of the H. of commons. This I presented last saturday and had their approbation. Copies are now making and I have got a friend to do one for you. The long one, if (as I hope from candid friends) you overlook its incorrectness will be useful to you, as you should see all that can be said, and may improve the rough hints. The short one is more correct and is thought such a warm representation of the case that [it] must have good Effects. You\u2019ll observe I have [drawn?] in strong arguments to shew the use of learning in the colonies, and have taken the liberty in some places to make use of Mr. Franklin\u2019s letters which the friendly Mr. Jackson supplied me with. Another great part of my aim was to have the management of this important Trust devolved upon Men of the first rank of Pennsylvania, and not upon Clergy who depend on Dutch Synods. I hope to see all such dependence entirely shaken off once we can supply the Germans with ministers from the Academy. And the entrusting the money with proper Persons in Philadelphia will keep their Clergy who are in our pay under proper awe. I beg you\u2019ll consider attentively the plan of Government and political education I have proposed. It merits the deepest deliberation, for its Effects will be long felt in one shape or other. The good Mr. Schlatter is here. I have been at some pains with him; and see but one Fault in him, his too great Attachment to foreign Synods and clergy who would counterwork our design. Ecclesiastical power from Holland will not go down in Pennsylvania. I wish the Dutch Churches there were a complete body under their own separate Government. Appeals to Holland are troublesome and tedious, as Mr. Schlatter has felt. Were their Church in pennsylvania a complete one with full powers, under the civil power of the Country, his affair would long ere now have been compromised and settled.\nBy the following Scheme, however, which I have laid before the Society and which they approve of, Mr. Schlatter will be made easy; he will have more powers than ever and yet seem to have less as he will be screen\u2019d by some great names. The Scheme is this. Messieurs Hamilton, Allen, Franklin, Peters, Weiser, Schlatter (to which number they propose adding myself while in the Academy) are to be Trustees-general, as in the larger Scheme. They are to appoint Mr. Schlatter with one or other of their own number to visit all the Schools once a year, as in the larger Scheme. Besides this Schlatter will also have a commission from the Dutch Synods to superintend and visit all the Churches, which he may do at the same Time. For this service, and in Consideration of what he has suffered, the Society propose \u00a3100 Sterling to him per annum, which, with his Congregation in Philadelphia will support him. Besides this I have proposed that the Schoolmasters educated on the Proprietor\u2019s Bounty, and other Germans that may come to the Academy shall, to remove all objections, an hour or two every day attend Mr. Schlatter or some other of their own Clergy in Philadelphia to be instructed in their own Religion, and it is proposed to the Society to give such a Clergyman \u00a320 or \u00a330 per annum and call him Hollisian or German Professor of Divinity. You will see the necessity of this when you consider the Scheme upon which Mr. Tennent came over, which I soon smell\u2019d out, and with some Assistance from names I must not mention have I believe broke the Neck of. He came begging for the Jersey College. He petitioned the Society for German Affairs to found a Professorship there, as that College was the fittest in America to educate Clergy for the German Ministry on account of its being a presbyterian one. (N.B. When it serves his Ends he calls it a catholic one.) He gave out also that the Society could not refuse this request if they considered that the money was raised to serve the dissenting Interest. I had the honor to be present when this Petition was read. I saw Mr. Tenent\u2019s design was to procure a Coalition between the Germans and the new-lights. He blabbed out that the Germans had been instructed from Holland to join and be govern\u2019d by their Synods. Such a formidable union would destroy the whole political balance of your provinces and crush every other persuasion beneath its weight. But yet such an union he thought to obtain if not by authority of the Church of Holland, at least by monopolizing the Education of German Clergy and sending them out such Hell-fire hot ones as he himself once was called. I represented all this and shew\u2019d how much it would for ever tend to defeat the political Coalition desired in Pennsylvania, should all their Clergy be educated in another Province of a different Constitution from the Country in which they were to live, and that we had better have Clergy from Holland than have them on such a Scheme. I also observed how ridiculous it would be to send our Germans to be educated in Neighbouring provinces, When there was such an excellent Institution in Pennsylvania; and indeed it is obvious of how great importance it is to have both Schoolmasters and Clergy for some years in the City of Philadelphia for Education, where they will form Connexions and learn to love and admire your Constitution, which they probably would not do by a Jersey education. I have been more full on this head that from these and other arguments in my Letters you may know what is doing, and take proper Steps to prevent Measures so prejudicial to the good of your province.\nPartly in consequence of what I had said, and partly by reason of [a] Sermon of Mr. Tennants which had been sent from Philadelphia to Mr. Chandler, Tennant was mortify\u2019d in a very odd manner. Mr. Schlatter and I were at breakfast with Chandler. Tennant came in, and happening to have some talk about the jersey college and its fitness to educate German Clergy, I told him that the Union he proposed would be hurtful in a political Sense and was impossible in a religious one; and that if he meant only an union in Love and good Offices, I did not see why it might not prevail among all that name Christ, without being confined to English and german presbyterians. Upon this Chandler said, \u201cMr. Tennant I have been just reading a Sermon against Union among Christians.\u201d Tennant replied that was strange, and begg\u2019d to see it. Chandler then put the Sermon into his hand; and figure to yourselves his Confusion, when he saw his own name in the Title. For several minutes he could not speak, and I was in pain at the too severe blow. He at last began to justify his Sermon, to which Chandler abruptly replied that he had read it twice, and was able to judge for himself, and that he begg\u2019d to be excusd from having any thing to do with the man who could preach such a sermon, or the business he was engag\u2019d in.\nIn order to prevent this Scheme of drawing the Pennsylvania Germans to the Jersey College (which is the only thing that could have made me interfere, as I heartily wish prosperity to every American Seminary, and am sensible how much knowlege tends to support free Society) I say in [order] to prevent this Scheme, I have proposed to the Society to give \u00a320 per annum to the eldest German Minister in Philadelphia who may be called German Professor of Divinity as I said before. This will be agreeable to the Germans and bring their young Clergy to Philadelphia for a year or two which will be of great use to anglify them, and attach them more and more to us by their forming connexions in the City. Good Mr. Schlatter is for having none of the young Clergy come near your City for fear of their morals; but this would keep them still Germans, and as the Scheme is chiefly to anglify and incorporate; the City for [a] year or two is to be chosen. I shall be able, I believe, to reconcile the worthy man, and I know the Society are of my mind, and I believe will agree to fix such a Professor in Philadelphia or leave it to the Trustees-general.\nThe proprietor has agreed to give ten or twelve acres of land to every Schoolmaster and I hope whatever opinions some on your Side of the water entertain of him, they will now be convincd that he is not the nominal but the real father of his Country. As I shall sail in 6 weeks after the date of this, I shall not give you the pain of reading more on this Subject, in this hasty Scribble, where I beg you\u2019ll neither look for Method nor correctness. I have been so employ\u2019d this week I could not write you as good manners and the regard I have for you require; but yet I thought it incumbent on me to write.\nI have this day drawn out a short memorial of 3 pages, containing the case of the Germans, without any reasonings on Education. This is gone to the Press and you shall have a few next Ship. When it is printed the four Peers who are of the Society are to divide their own house among them and give away copies, and sollicit Contributions. The same method will be taken among the Commons and in the City. And I doubt not the Contributions will amount to a great Sum, his Majesty having given \u00a31000 and the Princess Dowager \u00a3100.\nMr. Chandler and I go to the Archbishop on Monday. He has had a Copy of my letter to the Society. He has been very kind to me. I have seen him oft, and he said he would provide for me. But when I let him know the project for my return, he press\u2019d it, and writ to Mr. Penn on the subject. He said I would have an opportunity of doing more good with you than in England; and that the Encouragment would be better than I could expect at first setting out in England even if I had the greatest friends. This, with the precariousness of the Archbishops life, as he is in a very bad state of health, determined me; for if he should die, he is the only person I know that bestows his favors on unfriended merit.\nCol. Martin of Antigua sent a letter to Mr. Penn in my favors, which I send you a copy of. The Colonel told me if I return\u2019d he would send his youngest Son to the Academy who he believd might be attended with several others from that Island. I have desired him to make his Son meet me in the beginning of June, and I expect he will do so. Mr. Penn speaks of sending out a Nephew with me, but he is not yet come to an absolute determination. He shew\u2019d me some orations on the Subject of his Charter. He is justly displeas\u2019d at the word Protection in Mr. Morris\u2019s. It is imprudent as well as weak to say Philadelphia will be the Protection of England. I suppose Strength or support was meant. J. Martin is greatly improved if the oration he subscribes is his own. I much approve of Compositions of this Nature.\n([Illegible] on Monday) Mr. Chandler and I have been with the Archbishop this day. I had sent his Grace a few days before the shortest Copy about the Germans, as is just mentioned above; upon which he made the enclosed remarks at the end of the piece; and I hope you\u2019ll be pleased to see so great a name bear testimony to the force of my reasonings. Money will not be wanted. His Grace, as you\u2019ll see, wants to make a parliamentary work of it. I shall come over with a form\u2019d Scheme and an appointment of Trustees; till then take in good part and make the best use of this hasty Scrawl. My zeal to forward this affair and the extensive correspondence in which it has engaged me for some weeks now leaves me no time to write correctly. I ever remain, Dear Sirs, Your most obliged humble Servant\nWill Smith\n[Enclosure]William Smith to the Society for the Relief and Instruction of Poor Germans\n[December 13, 1753]\nAbstract: He is gratified to learn that a society has been formed in London to propagate Christian knowledge and the English language among the Germans of Pennsylvania. He will not propose any scheme for the more equal distribution, in the future, of foreigners among the British colonies, or inquire whether British America might not grow as fast by the natural increase of population without the admission of additional foreigners. He will consider here only \u201cthe most probable method for incorporating these foreigners with ourselves, who are already settled among us.\u201d What he submits to the Society is essentially what he has already laid before Proprietor Thomas Penn on the same subject.\nImagine \u201cupwards of 100,000 strangers settled in our territory, chiefly by themselves, and multiplying fast; strangers \u2026 to our Laws and manners; strangers to the sacred sound of liberty in the land where they were born, and uninstructed in the right use and Value of it in the country where they now enjoy it; utterly ignorant and apt to be misled by our unceasing enemies, \u2026 and what is worst of all, in danger of sinking deeper and deeper every day into these deplorable circumstances, as being almost entirely destitute of instructors and unacquainted with our language, so that it is hardly possible for us to warn them of their danger, or remove any prejudices they once entertain.\u201d Indeed, these prejudices may actually be increased by designing men, for in Pennsylvania many German books are imported, there are as many German printing houses as English, of late legal documents are often made in German, interpreters are constantly needed in courts \u201cand will probably be soon wanted in the assembly itself to tell one half the legislature what the other says.\u201d These circumstances should awaken both our compassion and our vigilance. The Germans are not themselves blamable. They simply lack the means to prevent themselves from falling into ignorance or being seduced from their religion, for they have neither preachers nor teachers to instruct them or their children in the gospel or in English, which is the qualification for all posts of honor, used in all writings, the courts of justice, and the like. For commiserating their circumstances, \u201cthe whole British nation, nay the whole protestant interest, and the interest of liberty\u201d are all obliged to the Society. This is not the work of any party, but \u201ca British work\u201d; nor does it concern a particular denomination, but aims to keep a vast multitude of fellow Protestants from falling into deeper ignorance, being seduced by the enemy, living in a separate body, turning trade out of its proper channels, and at last giving us their laws and language.\nHe proposes the following measures:\n1. That faithful clergymen be supplied to preach the gospel among the Germans, for their principles, and keep them to their duty.\n2. That English common schools be established in the German communities, which German and English children may attend free. Such institutions \u201ccould hardly fail of incorporating them in process of time,\u201d for there they will form acquaintances and connections, learn the common language, like manners, and the meaning of liberty, a common weal, and a common country. Intermarriage will follow, which will further unite them in a common interest, as Roman history shows. More important, this common education will promote such a spirit through all ranks as is best suited to the particular genius of every colony.\nHe then takes up the following practical questions:\n1. The method of education \u201cshould be calculated rather to make good citizens than what is called good scholars.\u201d English \u201ctogether with a short system of truths and duties, in the socratic method by way of catechism,\u201d writing and arithmetic are all the education necessary for the vulgar; but at the same time they must be instructed in the principles of our common Christianity, the use and end of society, the differences between forms of government, and the excellency of our own, for \u201cthe virtue of the active vulgar is the strength of the state.\u201d But this is such a large topic he will enlarge on it in a separate letter.\n2. The government of the schools should be under the direction of six or seven of the principal gentlemen living in Pennsylvania where the need for English schools is greatest; these may be called trustees-general. One or more of them should visit all the schools annually to examine the students and award prizes to those who speak or read English best and give the best answers to questions on religious and civil duties. The trustees-general should be empowered to appoint at least six deputy trustees or visitors for each school, three English and three German, who should visit the schools monthly, present premiums, and transmit monthly or quarterly reports to the trustees-general at Philadelphia. The appointment of trustees-general should be the first step taken to put the schools into operation.\n3. Supplying proper instructors is \u201csomething difficult.\u201d They must know English and German and be able to teach mathematics, geography, drawing, history, ethics, \u201cwith the constitution and interests of the several colonies with respect to the mother country and one another.\u201d They should be natives of the countries where they will teach, whose genius they will therefore know, and where they will therefore exert a natural leadership. Fortunately in Pennsylvania there is a flourishing seminary, \u201con the most catholic and manly bottom,\u201d for educating such teachers; and the Proprietor of the province has agreed to endow the education of three or four poor English and German youths in the academy each year, which should amply supply the German schools.\n4. Maintenance. The Germans could not support these instructors; but the English in America, though with difficulty providing for their own children, would do what they could toward erecting school-houses, churches, and housing with a few acres for the teachers. For the rest, they must depend on the charity of the Society. Twenty pounds to a schoolmaster and forty to one who is both minister and schoolmaster (together with a glebe \u201cand the perquisites of some of the most substantial Scholars\u201d) would enable them to live decently.\nHe prays for success in their undertaking. The propagation of such knowledge is the only way to preserve good government and advance the interests of the mother country in America. \u201cCommerce is the child of Industry and an unprecarious Property; but these depend on virtue and liberty, which again depend on knowledge and Religion.\u201d A free people can be governed only by reason, virtue, glory, honor, and the like, which are the results of education, without which, therefore, they cannot be governed at all. Where men are free to speak and act they must be instructed how to speak and act rightly, otherwise they will use their liberty against those from whom they received it.\nBut there are other lights than the merely political in which to consider this matter. The fate of a considerable branch of the Protestant interest in this part of the world is important, and the plight of the children is most affecting of all, for they are \u201ccoming forward into the world like grasshoppers in multitude,\u201d liable to remain in ignorance, an easy prey for the designing. In their hands is the fate of a great part of the new world: whether it shall fall under the dread reign of popery or sink back into original barbarism, or flourish long in all that exalts and embellishes society.\nThe churches of the Netherlands and of Scotland will help as they have done in the past. But the English have the most immediate obligation \u201cto incorporate these foreigners with themselves; to mingle them in equal privileges with the Sons of freedom, and teach their conscious bosoms to exult at the thoughts of an unprecarious property, a home and social endearments; to contrive Laws for making them flourish long in a well-ordered Society, and make a provision for improving their natures and training them up for eternal scenes!\u201d\nHe hopes to be \u201ca pleased spectator of part of this happiness,\u201d and assures his correspondents that he will \u201cdecline no labor as often as you honor me with any opportunity of forwarding your grand Scheme to effect it.\u201d\nNotes by Archbishop Herring, February 1754. This plan seems \u201cas great and as necessary to be put in Execution, as any that ever was laid before the British Nation,\u201d and neglect of it might occasion inconceivable and even irreparable mischief. The method of recommending it to the public should be short and comprehensible.\n1. State and prove how many Germans have migrated.\n2. Tell where they came from, why they moved away, what their religion, temper, circumstances, and occupations are.\n3. State where they now live, the country and the people they border on, how they subsist at present, what provisions are made for their government and the due exercise of religion. \u201cThese things and others of equal consequence being clearly and precisely known, they will all of them probably furnish very convincing arguments that they are Objects highly worthy our attention.\u201d It may then be requisite\n1. To show what has been done for them and how inadequate private collections are \u201cto attain fully so great and desirable an End, which seems worthy the immediate Care of some parliamentary provision.\u201d\n2. To suggest a way to channel and direct the German immigrants so as to make them governable, by dividing them into districts under the inspection of magistrates, the control of the laws, and the instruction of Christian preachers and schoolmasters.\n3. To show the necessity for a regular education which will lead to a common language, friendship, intermarriage, and a general blending of interests. The notion should be propagated that the Germans are one with the English and that it is best for both to have in time a common language. There should be no affectation in this education and no attempt at a high degree of science; but the content should be plain and practical religion and knowledge suitable to their occupations. \u201cThere will be room enough left under these general regulations to attend to any distinguished Genius.\u201d\n\u201cThe arguments to enforce this good plan will be drawn, not from general Considerations, but the particular interest of our Colonies, which would bleed under the mischief, if such a number of sober and useful protestant people be abandoned to be made the prey of French papists and Jesuits or become mixed with the Tribes of Indians who are under the pay and Influence of the French.\u201d", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "03-13-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0068", "content": "Title: Subscription to Freemasons\u2019 Hall, 13 March 1754\nFrom: \nTo: \nPhiladelphia March 13. 1754\nWhereas at a Meeting of the Grand and First Lodges, on Thursday the 12th day of March 1752, a Committee was then appointed and fully authorized to look out for a suitable Lot whereon to erect a Building for the Accomodation of the said Lodges, Philadelphia Assembly, and other Uses; and to take such Deed for it in their Names, for the Use and Behalf of the aforesaid Grand and First Lodges as they shall be advised to by Council learned in the Law; and to do such other Things for the carrying on and compleating the same, and Letting it out when finished, as in and by the Minutes of that Meeting they are directed to do. And whereas the said Committee have in Pursuance thereof made a Report to the Grand and first Lodges (who met for that Purpose on Saturday the 23d of February last) of a certain Lot, which was unanimously approved of by the said Lodges, who Did then in full Confidence of the Honour and Integrity of the said Committee, confirm the Authoritys given to them in 1752, and enjoined them to take proper measures for purchasing the said Lot, and erecting the proposed Building as soon as conveniently may be. Now We the Subscribers, being willing to promote the aforementioned laudable undertaking, (as we think it will not only tend to the establishing our particular Society on a lasting Foundation and enable us further to extend our Charity to the Distressed among Masons, but also be of general Service to the Inhabitants of this City, who have frequent occasion for a Building of the Kind propos\u2019d to be erected) Do therefore agree to advance and pay to Messrs. Samuel Mifflin and John Swift, towards defraying the Expences thereof, the Sums annex\u2019d to our respective Names on Demand: Saving to us, our Heirs, Executors, Administrators, or Assigns, the Right of being fully repaid by the persons who shall from time to time have the said Building in Trust as aforesaid, in the Manner directed by the Minutes inserted in the Minute Book of the first Lodge on the 12th day of March 1752. Vizt. \u201cOut of the first Moneys arising from the said Building after all Expences are paid, in Proportion to the several Sums lent.\u201d\nfor Mr. John Mather jun\nper [?] Daniel Roberdeau, \nJS\nTench Francis JUNR:\nSM\nJohn Swift for\nSM\nRichd: Hill junr.\nJS\nJames Trotter\nJS\nWm. Moore\nSM\nRobt. Osborne\nJS\nTho Lawrence JR\nJS\nJohn Wallace for Self and\nJS\nAlexr Hamilton\nSM\nEdwd. Shippen JR\nSM\nWm Donnelly\nJS\nJames Wallace\nSM\nAndrew Elliot\nConrad Shutz\nSM\nBenj. True\npd.\nChas Humphreys\nJS\nDavid M\u2019Ilvaine\nJS\nAlexr. Lunan\nSM\nMichl. Hillegas\nJS\nJohn Bell\nJS\nWm. Franklin\nSM\nDaniel Roberdeau\nJS\nSaml: Mifflin\nJS\nJudah Foulke\nHenry Elwes\npd.\nRobt: Smith\nSM\nJohn Swift\nSM\nTownsend White\nSM\nCharles Stedman\nJS\nJohn Kidd\nJS\nAlexr Huston\nJS\nJames Hamilton\nSM\nWill: Allen\nSM\nB Franklin\nSM\nWm Plumsted\nJS\nThos. Cadwalader\nSM\nThomas Bond\nSM\nThos Boude\nJS\nThomas Hart", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "03-15-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0069", "content": "Title: Samuel Chandler to James Hamilton, William Allen, Richard Peters, Benjamin Franklin, Conrad Weiser, and William Smith, 15 March 1754\nFrom: Chandler, Samuel\nTo: Hamilton, James,Allen, William,Peters, Richard,Franklin, Benjamin,Weiser, Conrad,Smith, William\nWilliam Smith delivered this letter to Governor Hamilton a few days after he returned from England on May 22. Hamilton communicated it at once to the others named in it. Franklin, Peters, and Weiser were about to set out to Albany, so no meeting could be held until after their return (see below, p. 333). They asked Smith to acknowledge receipt of the letter and to assure Chandler that they were sensible of the honor done them and that they would \u201cdecline no labor in the execution of their important trust. Their general interest as Britons,\u201d Smith continued, \u201ctheir particular interest as Americans, and their sincere desire of promoting every charitable design, all concur to engage them to do everything experience and advantage of their situation shall enable them to do.\u201d\nLondon, 15th March, 1754\nTo the Honorable James Hamilton, Esq., Lieutenant-Governor of Pennsylvania; William Allen, Esq., Chief Justice; Richard Peters, Esq., Secretary of Pennsylvania; Benjamin Franklin, Esq., Postmaster-General; Conrad Weiser, Esq., Interpreter, and the Rev. William Smith.\nGentlemen: The number and destitute circumstances of the German Protestants settled in Pennsylvania and Maryland, have engaged some very worthy gentlemen to form themselves into a Society for their relief, and particularly to provide them with a few German ministers and some English schoolmasters, that the elder among them may not be destitute of needful instruction, and the younger may be brought to the knowledge of the English language; that they may become better subjects to the British Government and more useful to the Colonies, where Providence has now fixed their habitation.\nThe Society consists of the Right Hon. Earl of Shaftesbury; Right Hon. Lord Willoughby, of Parham; Right Hon. Sir Luke Schaub, Bart.; Right Hon. Sir Joshua Van Neck, Bart.; Thomas Chitty, Esq., Thomas Fludyer, Esq., Aldermen of the City of London; Benjamin Amory, LL.D., James Vernon, Esq., John Bance, Esq., Robert Fergusson, Esq., Nathaniel Paice, Rev. Dr. Birch, Rev. Mr. Caspar Wettstein, Rev. Mr. David Thomson, minister at Amsterdam, and myself, whom they honored to appoint as their secretary. His Majesty and her Highness the Princess of Wales have with truly royal and princely generosity contributed to the encouragement of this design, and the Church of Scotland has made a very liberal collection toward promoting the same excellent work; and we are endeavoring to obtain a further supply by means of a subscription from some benevolent noblemen and gentlemen of the city of London. Thus, from our first beginnings, we are encouraged to hope that we shall gather a sum sufficient for assisting these poor Protestants for some few years in the above-mentioned instances, till they are brought into a more regular state, and better able to take care of themselves and their families. The honorable Society, earnestly desirous to apply the moneys they collect in the most effectual manner for his majesty\u2019s service, the benefit of the Colonies, and the welfare of these poor people, could think of no method so likely to carry on these salutary views as the opening a correspondence with some worthy gentlemen of knowledge, interest, and experience in Pennsylvania; and as they know of none in whose honor, integrity, and prudence they can better confide, gentlemen, than in yours, they have unanimously, with the advice of the honorable proprietor, resolved that you be desired to accept of the inspection and management of the whole charity as their trustees in Pennsylvania, and particularly to assist with your encouragement and counsel the Rev. Mr. Michael Schlatter, whom the Society has ordered, with a yearly salary of \u00a3100 sterling, under your direction, to be their supervisor and visitor of the schools they have agreed to erect in the following places, viz., Reading, York, Easton, Lancaster, Skippack, and Hanover, where, as they are informed by a letter from the worthy secretary to the honorable proprietor, now before me, the Germans are being settled. The intention of the schools is to instruct their youth in the English language and the common principles of the Christian religion and morality. The school-masters for these schools should understand both the German and the English languages, and we are encouraged to hope by Mr. Schlatter that proper persons for this purpose may be found in the province, the choice of which we must beg leave to devolve upon you, as we have an entire confidence in your disposition to promote so good a work, and judgment in the conduct of it. The yearly salary of each of these masters we are willing to allow for some years in any sum not exceeding \u00a320, and the proportion to each we beg you would determine for us; and, indeed, that you would transact the whole of this important affair, as you shall judge it most expedient to accomplish the good intentions that are before us. As to German ministers, we have as yet appointed none, because, as you are well acquainted with the circumstances of the Germans settled among you, we are willing to act with your advice, which will in great measure determine us as to the numbers that shall be sent over, the places they shall settle at, and the stipend that shall be yearly allowed them. This advice, therefore, we earnestly request, and indeed that you will be so good as to send us such information, from time to time, of what may be proper for us to do the most effectually to secure the good ends we aim at, and of the success that shall attend the measures we take in concert with you if it shall please God happily to prosper them. The account transmitted to me as their secretary shall be regularly laid before them, the honorable Society.\nWe are sensible, gentlemen, that such a correspondence will occasion you some trouble; but when we consider the importance of the service, the benevolence of your dispositions, and the worth of your characters, we promise ourselves your kind assistance in a work which we know must have your entire approbation and best wishes. As for myself, \u2019tis my great pleasure I have so honorable an introduction to the acquaintance of gentlemen, whose characters I so honorable esteem, and on whose friendship I should place the greatest value.\nI have the honor, in the name of the Society, to be Your most humble servant,\nS. Chandler\nFavored by the hand of the Rev. William Smith.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "03-17-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0070", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Jackson, 17 March 1754\nFrom: Jackson, Richard\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nSir\nInner Temple 17 Mar 1754\nI would fain merit a Correspondence, I have so much Pleasure in, and have therefore ventured to digest and commit to paper the Thoughts I have before mentioned to you, on the Subject of a Medium of Commerce, including a Plan of a Provincial Bank, which if any way Eligible, you will be able to adapt to the Circumstances of the Province of Pennsylvania.\nHowever imperfectly I may have executed my design, I am convinced my Principles are true: I think if they be not precisely so, it is the fault of my expression. Yet I am well aware that it is much more frequent, for us to Err in applying our Principles, than in deducing them. For tho\u2019 it is a false Proposition that what is true in Theory, may be otherwise in Practice yet every days experience teaches us, that Sanguine Men will perpetually be building a Practice on a Theory that cannot support it. This I think proper to say to clear myself from the Imputation of deeming myself equal to a Task, that so many abler men have wisely declined.\nShould a Bank of any kind be capable of receiving a firm Establishment in your Province I make no doubt, but it would provide an Ample Fund not only for the Publick Services, to which the Interest of your subsisting Loans are appropriated, but for the carrying into full execution all those Beneficent views, at this time entertained among you, and that too liable to abundantly fewer Casualties, both in its Birth, and Continuance: if I am not mistaken in this fact I need say nothing more to reccommend my Notion, especially at this juncture.\nAs I dare not consider my Papers as any thing more than meer speculation, I have now purposely turned to the 14 G 2.a Statute made to prevent the Erection of Banks in America, but from the Reccolection I have of that Statute It will not extend to a Bank on the foot I recommend one, and Incorporated by the Assembly, or even by Mr. Penn.\nAs I think it incumbent, on me to suggest all the difficulties, I can conceive may occurr in the Prosecution of the Affair, I will add that I cannot foresee to what amount, the Credit of a Set of Gentlemen, Empowered to Lend Money in Pennsylvania, however judiciously named, might reach in England, tho\u2019 supported by Mortgage of the Provincial Revenue, but I Question not it would reach far enough.\nI have long had it in my mind, to return an Answer to your favour of the 5th May, and am ashamed to own, that after having had 6 Mo. to do it in, I am prevented by Mr. Smiths return from Cambridge on his return to Philadelphia only a fortnight before I expected him. I will Endeavour to trouble you with a Sheet or two on this Head by the next Ship.\nI ought to beg your Pardon for the little Ceremony I observe, in sending the Papers inclosed herewith. They are my first Draught from undigested Materials. My Servant has had time to make but one Copy and that an Incorrect one. Mr. Smith did me the favour to peruse that I now send, and judged it preferable. I am a Careless Writer, but you will excuse me.\nI am greatly pleased with that Gentleman\u2019s Company. He is a very Ingenious Modest Man, and my friends at the University, whose Conversation with him, I suppose has been more in the Literary Way, give him a great Character. I wish his stay there could have been somewhat longer, he would have made it profitable.\nI have deferred writing my Letter until this Night, that I might at Court today have picked up some News worth your Attention, relating to the new Model of the Administration become necessary by the Death of Mr. Pelham. The General Confidence reposed in the Integrity of that Gentleman was a Cement as well as a support, to those with whom he shared the Power intrusted to them by the Crown. I fear they want both at present. The Lord Chancellor, The Duke of Newcastle, and most of the Old Friends of Sir Robert Walpole, and many of those who came in at his Resignation hold together, but they find it a difficult matter to satisfy Mr. Fox the Secretary at War. He is so considerable both by his Abilities and his Connections, (which last it is said extend even among the Royal Family) that he has been looked on as dangerous either satisfyed or disatisfyed. It was once agreed, that he should accept the Office of Secretary of State, and the D. of Newcastle for the present at least, be first Commissioner of the Treasury; but Mr. Fox afterwards discovering, he was not to Injoy as much Power in the H. of Commons as he thought himself intitled to, rejected this Offer, and today there are two Reports, One that he is to continue Secy. at War (I fear if he does, as no friend) the other that he is to quit Every thing. We that have no immediate concern wish only for Concord, as the Publick Service cannot but suffer by Dissension. I am Dear Sir with great Esteem your most Obedient much Obliged Servant\nRichd Jackson\nI write you no Secrets but I had [rather] they should not be known to come from me.\n[Enclosure]\n1. Whatever reason there may be to doubt, whether Political Welfare necessarily conduces to the Happiness of Individuals; it is generally admitted to do so; at least, Plenty of the Necessaries and Conveniencies of Life, Publick and Private Splendor, and Security from External and Internal Violence, to one of which Heads I believe every Article of Political Welfare may be reduced, are at this day the Ends of all Governments usually esteemed good ones.\n2. These Ends are attained by the Accumulated Labour of the Collective Body of Individuals, who form the State, and that, exactly in a degree, proportionable to the Amount of all their Labour, under which Term I Include, as well the Operations of the Understanding, as those of the Hands and Arms.\n3. The Means of adding to the Publick Stock, and of supporting the Private owner of them, Sir William Petty calls Efficiencies, in opposition to the National Wealth already acquired by past Labour; which last consists in the Means of Security, the Various species of Lasting Splendor, but principally in the Improvements made by its Inhabitants on the Natural Face of a Country, which may be partly referred to the last head, and partly to that of Plenty, as it renders the Earth capable of greater Annual Productions.\n4. A Part of the Wealth or Stock of every Civilized People consists in Gold and Silver Coined or Uncoined Substances that would never have obtained a great Value, meerly as Commodities, but have acquired one greater than almost any other in the World, from their aptness, for what they are now universally become, a Medium of Commerce.\n5. Should it be admitted that Commerce is not essentially necessary to Political Welfare, It is in Antient History, and not in the present State of the Globe that we are to search for the Latter without the former, for Neither the Stock of a State, nor its Efficiencies can be augmented, but by increasing the Labour of its Subjects or Multiplying its Effects, ( which is a work of the Understanding) and the Manners of the Present Age furnish us with no sufficient stimulus but Commerce.\n6. That Constitution of Government and that set of Manners which most effectually promote universal Labour and Application are, Politically speaking, the best Government and the best Manners, and that which is necessary for Carrying on Commerce is Politically necessary to the Well being of a State.\n7. Gold and Silver by the Common Consent of Mankind represent, and are in their respective different degrees capable of being converted into most of the things that are to be ranked under any of the 3 Heads of Political Ends, that is, into every thing that is an object of Commerce, or in other words they are as I said before a Universal Medium of Commerce.\n8. The Use of a Medium of C[ommerce] is to assure to the Seller an Equal Value quam proximo of the same or one or more other objects of Commerce, in return for that he then parts with and for this it is a Pledge.\n9. A Commerce carried on by a Medium, will always be preferable to one carried on by Barter, or otherwise, because it will be more extensive; and it will be more extensive, because by a Medium Labour will often receive its reward, and consequently its Incouragement, by the Effects of distant Labour that could never otherwise have reached it.\n10. This is the more Evident when one Considers that, to carry on a Trade by Barter, 2 Commodities must actually be at the same time in Commercio, but Money supplys the place of that which is absent[,]is afterward convertible, into another Commodity, that nothing but money could have purchased, and thus Introduces Trade where it could not have come without a Medium.\n11. Labour is not only encouraged but forced by a Medium for where there is no Medium, there can be little or no Trade, and the Necessaries of Life will be to be had with little or no Labour. Besides a Medium of Commerce is the Foundation of Accumulation, the Nature of which is to force Labour, on some side for present subsistence as it Locks up, or carries out of the Way, the Effects of Past Labour. And thus a Medium of Commerce propagates Labour and thereby increases the Efficiencies of a State.\n12. It is Evident therefore that any Medium is better than none, provided it answers the purpose of a Pledge in any tolerable degree, if it does not, it is a snare and Engine of Fraud. Tobacco Sugar and Rice have been long used as Mediums of Trade with success, and Paper Money in Countries where the Legislature has been wise and honest as in Pennsylvania has been found liable to fewer Objections than any of them.\n13. But the Universality of a Value set on Gold and Silver will not only upon Emergencies enable that Country which is possessed of either or of Credit convertible into either, to avail itself of the Labour of other Countries, but what is of much greater moment gives that Value a Steadiness.\n14. This Steadiness tho by no means perfect, is greatly superior to that of any other Medium that ever was, or probably ever will be devised: because its Universality will in a great measure prevent the Effects of any Accession to its Quantity, even tho\u2019 this Accession fall out in a Particular spot from whence it cannot be immediatly dispersed, for like Water spread over a great Tract of Land the Increase will quickly become imperceptible by being diffused, the Expectation of which will prevent all considerable Effects from its Increase before it be actually dispersed.\n15. A Paper Currency not convertible at pleasure into Money can never become the Medium of a Commerce intended much beyond the Power of the Legislature that creates it.\n16. Every Accession therefore to its Quantity must be immediatly felt, and cannot be made without Injustice to those, who are possessed of part of that already subsisting and to Creditors unless it be exactly in the same proportion as the Objects of Commerce actually in Commercio increase with it, and if it be not increased so fast, there is a kind of Injustice done to Sellers and Debtors.\n17. But it is Inseperable from the Nature of a Medium of Commerce to be of as steady a Value as possible, because it is not like other Pledges of a Value superior to the thing for which it is Pledged; at most it is only inconsiderably so, unless it be used in a Concern that requires much Skill, and then that superiority is considered as the Price of that Skill.\n18. A Currency liable to sudden Changes of Value must necessarily subject Buyers and Sellers, Creditors and Debtors to Risques which if they be unnecessary ought to be removed, because caeteris paribus Commerce will always thrive most where subject to fewest Risques.\n19. If a Gold and Silver Currency can be introduced into Pennsylvania, these Risques are there unnecessary; and if there be a Balance of Trade in its favour it cannot want Gold and Silver for that purpose unless we suppose, there are reasons that induce those Persons who receive the Balance to invest it in Securities elsewhere. If this be the Fact, the Proposal I am going to make must be feasible.\n20. But it is said, Gold and Silver will not stay in the Country, for that the Balance is apt to and this Case is by no means inconsistent with the Condition of a thriving Infant State, for Every State is thrifty that Superlucrates but if the Increase of Stock, the Improvement of Lands and Efficiencies produces a much greater Income than the Rate of Interest the Whole Superlucration may be expended this way together with a Debt, that may augment every year and yet the Country more able to support it; indeed where there is both Industry and Credit it must be so. Now Nobody denys that the Value of the Stock in Pennsylvania, and Annual Value of its Land increase at a prodigious Rate as well as its Efficiencies.\n21. If the Individuals in such a Country want Credit it can only be for want of their Credit being manifested in a Country where Money is accumulated: which in proportion as it is the Case of any Country, Interest will be Low, so that Lowness of Interest is by no means the Test of Political Welfare, tho it is a Proof of an Accumulated Medium extra Commercium.\n22. But in the Case of the Province of Pennsylvania admitting a yearly Balance at present to be against them the Consequence of which is, the [Interests?] must contract [illegible] debts, and yet supposing, there is a Considerable Superlucation but converted into Stock and Improvements all that is wanting to introduce an unvariable Medium of Commerce with as Low a Rate of Interest to be paid for it by Individuals, in that Province as possible, is that the Province stand Middle Man, and as such, acquire to themselves the Difference of Int[erest] paid and received, in consideration of the Risque they would be liable to, and in lieu of the Profit they now make of the Publick Loans, the former of which would be no greater, and the Latter, tho\u2019 perhaps less at first, probably in time abundantly more and very soon surpass it.\nMy Proposal is to erect a Provincial Bank, by Act of Assembly, the Plan of which I am sure many gentlemen in that Assembly are far more capable of contriving than I am. I shall however offer a Sketch, that will serve at least for an Illustration of what I have been saying, and \u2019tho\u2019 liable to objections from People better acquainted with the State of the Province, may admit of Improvements that will remove them.\nLet this Bank be intrusted to the Management of the Gentlemen now Trustees of the Loan Office.\nLet them be impowered to Issue Notes payable as our Bank Notes at sight, and vest in them the other Powers given by Parliament to the Corporation of the Bank of England.\nIf it be not too great an Undertaking at once (I mean if it be judged that the New Bank be able to support it) Let all the Subsisting Emissions of Paper Money be called in, and exchanged at a price fixed, for these Notes: And Let the Trustees at their discretion (under proper regulations) lend to every body as great a sum more of these Notes as they are able to secure the Repayment of, with reasonable Interest.\nIf it be true that a Balance of Trade remains with England against Pennsylvania, more than the latter receives from the rest of the World, which is one Reason why the Province Bills have been many years below Par, its Notes will be often brought for Payment by those who want Credit in England, and tho\u2019 the Want of a Medium for Circulation, (more likely to increase than diminish) must speedily carry these out again upon Loan, yet the Bank will find itself necessitated at first to contract, and afterwards from time to time to augment a debt in England, until either this Balance ceases, or which is not to be expected, the Bank becomes capable to Circulate without assistance all its Note Credit.\nHere the New Bank will find itself in the situation of Middle man, and the Danger inherent to this situation I had in view, when I left room for the Objection that it would be too great an undertaking to change all the Paper Money for Notes at once.\nWhether this be ventured on or not; it will be necessary, to borrow a sum of Money in England greater or less in proportion to the Extent of the Design, on the Public Security of the Province; a Part of which I believe it would be proper to lay out in India Bonds or somewhat of like Nature, which tho\u2019 it make less Interest than the Bank itself pays will be a Security, (not quite dead) to be deposited with the Bank of England, or some Considerable Bankers in London, for the Money, they may pay on the Draughts of the Provincial Bank, Another Part of this Money must be shipped for Pennsylvania to be there applyed for Payment of all Notes brought for that Purpose.\nAnd tho\u2019 I have above said that this Debt in England will Augment, I think it is not impossible but that, the Profits made by the Bank above so much as shall be appropriated to Publick Services together with a Part of the Money first borrowed if the Increase of the Credit of the Bank shall render the residue sufficient to Circulate its Notes, may pay the Balance, that must certainly run the Province in Debt and consequently the Bank if it be not thus paid: but I rather think they will not for many years at least be sufficient.\nBesides this original and probably increasing Loan, I suppose it would be proper, to fortify the Credit of the Bank by taking in a Subscription like that called here the Bank Circulation, that is a Subscription of Substantial Persons who undertake on a Call to advance their respective proportions of the whole sum subscribed, and make a Deposit of \u00a310 per Cent as a security for their performance, in consideration of which they receive an Extraordinary Int[erest] on this 10 per Cent.\nIt has often been said that sending Money to Pennsylvania, to serve as a Medium of Trade is but hedging in a Cuckoo, for that it will immediatly, and must necessarily come to England again, to pay this Balance I spoke of before. This Objection I conceive I have already answered in substance, For I do not propose the Money to be sent as a Medium, but to support a Note Credit that will be so, and therefore it is probable whatever Balance be paid to England the Cash in the Bank in Philadelphia need be very small, and may be easily preserved from removal thus. If the Bank can borrow money in England to pay this Balance as I suppose it may, and will give Bills \u00bc per Cent below the Market Price no body can draw but themselves. These Draughts will be paid by their Bankers in London or the B. of England and the Money replaced by fresh Loans, while the Bond I mentioned before, stand as a security to the Bankers, or Bank of England.\nShould this Debt thus Augmenting become very large, it will always be greatly inferior, and must naturally every day become more and more inferior to the Value of the Notes Circulated in America, and as the Excess of Int[erest] paid by the Borrowers in Pennsylvania, above what the Bank pay in England will probably defray all charges of Management, the Interest of the Difference, between the Amount of the Debt and that of the Circulated Notes, will be clear Gains to the Province, in lieu of that now made on their Loans.\nIn short the Benefits of this Plan will be\n1. Trade will feel no Shock, nor Obstruction by the calling in the Paper Money, the Place of which will be immediately supplied by a better Currency.\n2. Neither Buyers nor Sellers, Creditors nor Debtors can suffer any Loss, or run any risk by the Variation in Value of this Currency for there never can be more or less of it in Circulation than is truely necessary for the Purposes of Domestic Commerce and had it no other advantage over Paper Money this is a very visible one, that it will spontaneously flow and Ebb in Quantity as it is wanted.\n3. This Increase being spontaneous will remove all mischiefs that may now arise for want of a sufficient Medium, and effectually obviate Evils that may as things stand at present be irreperable before an Additional Medium is created, and this without those Struggles in the Legislature, that frequently may otherwise leave Animosities that cannot but have Pernicious Consequences.\n4. A Bank of this Kind cannot fail in a very short time of becoming the Mint of all N. America and it will be impossible to prevent their Notes from pervading wherever Commerce finds its way in that Country, except by erecting Banks of equal Credit, a hard matter to effect when this has so much the Start of them; thus the Bank of Philadelphia may hereafter even in a few years, Circulate \u00a31000000 of Notes, which puts me in mind that I could wish them payable in Sterling Money.\nAt present the Loans of \u00a380000 are thought not near sufficient for the use of the Province.\n40000 [written above: \u00a320000] more are deemed not enough. It cannot therefore be supposed that less than \u00a3200000 would be immediatly Circulated in a Country where Trade is increasing every day.\nThese Notes might be Circulated on a Bottom of \u00a340000 borrowed for that Purpose, of which \u00a310000 might be the 10 per Cent on 100000 Circulation subscription. Perhaps the whole of this \u00a340000 would be best left in England, at most a Small sum would be enough for the Reasons above to send into Pennsylvania.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "03-18-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0071", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from William Clarke, 18 March 1754\nFrom: Clarke, William\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nSir,\nBoston March 18th. 1754\nThe enclosed Account I had some time ago from a Gentleman in this Town as the substance of what he had collected from conversing with Mr. Pattin, when he was last here, but as it was only from recollecting what had passed between them Months before, some Articles may be wrong; and as I should be glad of a particular information of several other things not contained in it; I shall esteem it a particular favour, if it will not break in too much upon your time, which I know is always usefully employed, to have from you a particular Account of the following Articles vizt.\nHow far the inclosed account is true, how low down the River Ohio he has been, where he was taken, what Forts the French had that he knew of before the late War upon the Lakes, upon the Rivers issuing out of or running into the Lakes, or those that empty themselves into the River Missisippi, with their Scituation distances from each other, and their Strength both as to men and Guns; what Tribes of Indians trade with the English, and the number of them, tho I beleive you know the state of most of these Facts better your self, than he can. The following I am sure you must be much better Acquainted with. What Tribes of Indians are in Alliance with the Six Nations, what Number they are computed at, the Number of the Six nations themselves, whether all the Tribes of Indians in alliance with the Six Nations are likewise in Alliance with the English, Whether the Six Nations and their Allies trade wholly or cheifly with the English. Whether any of the French Indians as we vulgarly call them ever trade with us. It would be very agreeable to know the Rout by which Mr. Pattin was carried to Quebec and where he afterwards lived among the Indians, as also the Rout of your Traders into the Indian Country.\nI understand that Mr. Pattin has lately been sent by Govr. Hamilton to gain as thorough a knowledge as may be of the late and present transactions of the French upon the back of the English Settlements Southward and Westward. I am extremely desirous to see a particular Account of his report.\nIn the Treaty between the Indians of the Six nations and the Commissioners of Pensylvania the last Year, of which number I have the Satisfaction to see that you were one, I observe that the French Commander acquainted the Indians that he had orders to build four Forts vizt at Weningo Mohongialo Forks Logs Town and Beaver Creek. I have not in any Maps I have been able to procure found any such names. I should be obliged to you to let me know by what names these places are called in Bellin\u2019s or D\u2019Anville\u2019s Maps or if they are not particularly pointed out what distance they respectively are from Lake Erie and how they bear from it.\nThe Govr. at whose desire, as well as for my own Satisfaction I write this, bids me make his compliments very particularly to you, I have often heard him speak with great satisfaction of the Character you had acquired in France. He designs very soon to begin a correspondence with you, and would have done it sooner were he not so fully employed.\nI am with the greatest esteem Your most obedient humble Servant\nWm: Clarke\nBenja: Franklin Esqr.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "03-31-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0072", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas-Fran\u00e7ois Dalibard, 31 March 1754\nFrom: Dalibard, Thomas-Fran\u00e7ois\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\n\u00e0 Paris le 31. Mars 1754.\nJe Re\u00e7us, Monsieur et tr\u00e8s cher ami, le 15. Janvier dernier votre tr\u00e8s obligeante lettre du 28. 8bre.1753. et je n\u2019y r\u00e9pondis pas sur le champ, parceque je jugeai \u00e0 propos d\u2019attendre ce que vous devi\u00e9z m\u2019envoyer par le prochain vaisseau que vous me marqui\u00e9z devoir partir 8. ou 10. jours apr\u00e8s; j\u2019ai toujours attendu jusqu\u2019\u00e0 pr\u00e9sent sans avoir re\u00e7u autre chose qu\u2019un petit paquet de graines et une tr\u00e8s gracieuse lettre de notre respectable ami M. Bartram. Notre digne Correspondant M. Collinson me l\u2019a fait remettre par un ami commun qui me fournit une autre occasion de faire passer mes r\u00e9ponses en Angleterre. Ce n\u2019est que depuis deux jours que j\u2019ai re\u00e7u le paquet de Mr. Bartram, et je vous prie de vouloir bien lui faire rendre ma r\u00e9ponse.\nJ\u2019avois appris peu de tems avant la r\u00e9ception de votre derni\u00e8re lettre que le vaisseau qui vous portoit le paquet de livres que j\u2019avois envoy\u00e9 pour vous \u00e0 M. Collinson, avoit p\u00e9ri \u00e0 l\u2019embouchure de la Tamise. J\u2019ai \u00e9t\u00e9 tr\u00e8s fach\u00e9 de cette perte qu\u2019il ne m\u2019est pas possible de reparer enti\u00e8rement, parcequ\u2019il y avoit quelques livres que j\u2019avois re\u00e7us d\u2019allemagne et que je ne puis plus retrouver icy. Je compte vous envoyer par la premi\u00e8re occasion que je pourai trouver qui partira pour Londres les livres que vous me demand\u00e9z, s\u00e7avoir les 4. vol. de l\u2019hist. nat. de M. de Buffon, 2. \u00e9xemplaires de vos lettres, et les Cartes du Nord et du Midy de l\u2019am\u00e9rique par Mrs. de l\u2019Isle et Buache. J\u2019y joindrai deux \u00e9xemplaires de mon Flora Parisiensis, et si la traduction que je fais faire d\u2019un livre sur l\u2019Electricit\u00e9 de Mr. Beccaria, dont l\u2019auteur m\u2019a fait pr\u00e9sent, est achev\u00e9e, je vous en enverrai l\u2019original italien.\nL\u2019esp\u00e9rance que j\u2019avois de recevoir bient\u00f4t ce que vous m\u2019av\u00e9z anonc\u00e9 par votre lettre du 28. 8bre.m\u2019a fait diff\u00e9rer jusqu\u2019\u00e0 pr\u00e9sent la nouvelle \u00e9dition de vos lettres sur l\u2019Electricit\u00e9. Outre cela differrentes affaires press\u00e9es ont tellement rempli mon tems pendant tout l\u2019hiver dernier, que je n\u2019ai p\u00fb donner que quelques momens aux recherches physiques. J\u2019en ai \u00e9t\u00e9 et j\u2019en suis encore d\u2019autant plus mortifi\u00e9 que nous avons eu dans ce pays-cy le tems le plus favorable aux exp\u00e9riences \u00e9lectriques. Je n\u2019ai p\u00fb parvenir \u00e0 avoir un Globe de soufre tel que je me l\u2019\u00e9tois propos\u00e9, et cela parceque je n\u2019ai pas eu le tems de le faire faire en ma pr\u00e9sence. C\u2019est par le m\u00eame d\u00e9faut qu\u2019on n\u2019a pas encore r\u00e9ussi \u00e0 \u00e9x\u00e9cuter mon Electrom\u00e8tre; mais je n\u2019ai encore renonc\u00e9 ni \u00e0 l\u2019un ni \u00e0 l\u2019autre. J\u2019esp\u00e8re y donner mes soins en peu de tems sit\u00f4t que je serai un peu d\u00e9barass\u00e9 de mes affaires, et je me remettrai \u00e0 l\u2019Electricit\u00e9 qui me paro\u00eet toujours m\u00e9riter la plus s\u00e9rieuse attention.\nTous nos amis Electriciens Mrs. de Buffon, de Fonferri\u00e8re, de Marty &c. me chargent de mille complimens pour vous, et Mr. Du Bourg pareillement. Nous attendons tous de vos nouvelles avec le plus grand empressement. Je vous prie de m\u2019en donner le plus promptement et le plus souvent qu\u2019il vous sera possible. Votre nom est r\u00e9v\u00e9r\u00e9 dans ce pays-cy, comme il m\u00e9rite de l\u2019\u00eatre. Il n\u2019y a qu\u2019un petit nombre d\u2019\u00e9lectriseurs tels que M. l\u2019abb\u00e9 Nollet, dont l\u2019honneur de vos d\u00e9couvertes excite la jalousie. J\u2019ai l\u2019honneur d\u2019\u00eatre avec l\u2019attachement le plus parfait et le plus inviolable, Monsieur, Votre tr\u00e8s humble et tr\u00e8s ob\u00e9issant serviteur\nDalibard\nM. Franklin", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "04-12-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0075", "content": "Title: Pennsylvania Assembly: Reply to the Governor, 12 April 1754\nFrom: Pennsylvania Assembly\nTo: \nAlthough the French had begun their advance into the upper Ohio Valley and Governor Hamilton had urged the Assembly to take steps towards defending the western frontier, that Quaker-controlled body had adjourned, March 9, for eight weeks without doing anything effective (see above, p. 259 n). But Hamilton called the House back into session on April 2 and the next day sent down a message urging a money grant for the King\u2019s use in the critical situation then existing. After considerable debate the Assembly resolved April 5, by a vote of 18 to 16, \u201cthat a Sum of Money be at this Time given to the King\u2019s Use.\u201d The committee appointed to bring in a bill consisted of nine members, including Franklin, all of whom had voted in favor of a grant. The measure they reported, April 9, left blank the sum to be appropriated and the House debated at length the amount to insert. The first proposal, for \u00a320,000, was defeated 8 to 25; then in succession \u00a315,000 lost by a vote of 10 to 23, \u00a310,000 by 11 to 22, and \u00a35000 by 10 to 22. The committee members themselves split 4 to 5 on the first vote and 5 to 4 on the other three. Franklin and two others, who had supported the first three proposals, switched to the negative on the last, obviously in the belief that \u00a35000 was too small a sum to meet the needs of the situation. Unable to agree, the Assembly then created a new committee of ten, including Franklin and two others from the first group, to prepare an answer to the governor\u2019s message. The members of the new committee had voted 4 to 6 on each of the first three proposals but had been unanimously\u2014though for opposite reasons\u2014opposed to the fourth.\nMeanwhile the governor had sent a further message, this one regarding the projected Albany Congress and his plan to appoint commissioners to represent Pennsylvania. He asked the Assembly to provide for a present to the Indians and for the commissioners\u2019 expenses. In answer to an inquiry, he had informed the House that he proposed to name John Penn, Richard Peters, Franklin, and Isaac Norris as commissioners. When the committee of ten reported its draft reply to the first message, the Assembly voted to adjourn until May 13 and to appropriate \u00a3500 for a present to the Six Nations, and directed the committee to add a clause to their answer notifying the governor of these resolves and promising to provide for the Albany Commissioners\u2019 expenses at their next sitting. So amended, the reply was approved and signed by the speaker April 12.\nMay it please the Governor,\nWhenever the Service of the King, or the Interest of the Country, may appear to require their Attendance in Assembly, we hope the Representatives of the People will always, as they have now done, pay a ready and chearful Obedience to the Governor\u2019s Call, however inconvenient the Season may be with respect to their private Affairs: We are nevertheless thankful to the Governor for his considerate Regard to our Circumstances on the present Occasion, expressed in his Message of the Third Instant.\nAnd we now beg Leave to inform the Governor, that we have had that Message under our serious Consideration ever since it came down to the House; but, after all our Debates thereupon, we find, that near one Half of the Members are, for various Reasons, against granting any Money to the King\u2019s Use at this Time; and those who are for granting, differ so widely in their Sentiments concerning the Sum, that there seems at present no Possibility of their agreeing, except in such a Sum, as, in the Judgment of many of them, is quite disproportionate to the Occasion: Therefore, and that the Members may have an Opportunity of consulting their Constituents on this important Affair, we are now inclined to adjourn to the Thirteenth of the next Month.\nWe thank the Governor for his very obliging Message of the Fourth Instant, and shall take the same, and the Papers therewith communicated to us, under Consideration, and offer our Sentiments to the Governor on the weighty Matters they contain at our next Meeting. At the same Time we shall provide for the Expences of the Commisioners the Governor has been pleased to nominate for the Treaty at Albany, of whom we approve, and have now voted a Present of Five Hundred Pounds, to be by them delivered to the Indians on that Occasion, in Behalf of this Province.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "04-15-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0076", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 15 April 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Johnson, Samuel\nDear Sir\nPhilada. April 15. 1754\nWhen I return\u2019d from Maryland in February last, I found your Favour of Jany. 1. but having mislaid it soon after, I defer\u2019d answering \u2019till I should find it again, which I have now done. I think you ought not to be, as you say you are, vexed at your self that you offered your Noetica to be printed; for tho\u2019 the Demand for it in this part of the World has not yet been equal to the Merit of the Work, yet you will see by the enclos\u2019d Newspaper, they are reprinting it in England, where good Judges being more plenty than with us, it will, I doubt not, acquire a Reputation, that may not only make it extensively useful there, but bring it more into Notice in its native America. As to the Use of it in our Academy, you are to consider, that tho\u2019 our Plan is large, we have as yet been able to carry little more into Execution than the Grammatical and Mathematical Parts; the rest must follow gradually as the Youth come forward and we can provide suitable Masters. Some of the eldest Scholars, who have now left us, did read it; but those at present in the Academy are chiefly engag\u2019d in lower Studies. For my own part, I knew too well the Badness of our general Taste, to expect any great Profit in Printing it; tho\u2019 I did think it might sell better than I find it does, having struck off 500, and not dispos\u2019d of more than 50 in these Parts. There were Parcels sent to New York, Rhodeisland and Boston, and advertis\u2019d there, tho\u2019 it seems you have not heard of it. How they sold I have not learnt, and did not remember to enquire when I was there last Year. I am far from thinking it right that the Loss should fall on you, who took so much Pains in the Composition. You gave me no other Expectations than what I might gather from your saying in your Letter of May 10, 1750, you believed you could dispose of 100 Copies in Connecticut, and perhaps another Hundred might be disposed of at Boston: All I would request of you is, that, if you think fit, you would take the trouble of writing to such of the Ministers of your Church in New England and New York as you are acquainted with, and desire them to recommend the Book to their Friends; and if, with those you have had, all that shall be dispos\u2019d of in those Colonies amount to 200, I will chearfully take my Chance with the Remainder. And if you cannot procure the Sale of so many, make yourself easy nevertheless; I shall be perfectly satisfy\u2019d with your Endeavour. With my best Respects to good Mrs. Johnson and your valuable Sons, I am, Dear Sir, very affectionately Your most humble Servant\nB Franklin", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "04-18-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0078", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Smith, 18 April 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Smith, William\nDear Sir\nPhilada. April 18. 1754\nI have had but one Line from you since your Arrival in England, which was a short one, via Boston, dated October 18. acquainting me you had wrote largely by Davis. Davis was lost, and with him your Letters, to my great Disappointment. Mesnard and Gibbon are since arriv\u2019d here, and I hear nothing from you; which I should tell you chagrins me not a little, were I not asham\u2019d to own to my Pupil, that I do not always practise the Philosophy I endeavour\u2019d to teach him. My Comfort is, an Imagination that you only omit Writing because you are Coming, and purpose to tell me every thing viv\u00e2 voce. So not knowing whether this Letter will reach you, and hoping either to see you or hear from you by the Myrtilla, Budden\u2019s Ship, which is daily expected, I only add that I am, with great Esteem and Affection, Dear Sir, Your most humble Servant\nB Franklin\nMr. Smith\n Endorsed: B. Franklin Esqr April 18, 1754", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "04-18-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0079", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 18 April 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Strahan, William\nDear Sir\nPhilada. April 18. 1754\nBy Capt. Gibbon I received a Copy of yours per the Myrtylla, but she is not yet arrived. I am glad to hear the Bills I sent you for \u00a3100 Sterling are accepted, and that the Goods were to be shipt soon for Connecticut. Bryant is arrived at New York, who left London the Middle of March; I have not heard whether he has brought them. I now enclose you a Bill for \u00a320 Sterling, drawn by Mrs. Stevens on Alexander Grant Merchant London; and what Ballance may remain unpaid, I will send as soon as I can know it.\nI am glad you have sent again the Things that were shipt in Davis. As to that Loss, give your self no Concern about it. It is mine, and but a Trifle. I do not know or regard what the Custom of Merchants may be in such Cases; but when I reflect how much Trouble I have given you from time to time in my little Affairs, that you never charg\u2019d me Commissions and have frequently been in Advance for me; were the Loss much greater, to be sure I should not suffer it to fall on you.\nBenja. Mecom writes me that he has remitted you Thirty Pounds Sterling which I am pleas\u2019d to hear. And am glad you have not sent him the great Parcel of Books, &c. which you mention he has wrote for. He is a young Lad, quite unacquainted with the World, and I fear would be much embarrass\u2019d if he went suddenly into Dealings too deep for his Stock. The People of those Islands might buy his Books, but I know they are very dull Pay, and he would find it impracticable to collect the Money when it ought to be sent you. Pray keep him within Bounds, let him have good saleable Sortments, but small, and do not suffer him to be more than Fifty Pounds in your Debt, if so much. It is best for him to proceed gradually, and deal more as his Stock and Experience increases. I am thankful to you for prudently delaying to send what he so indiscretely wrote for, till you had advis\u2019d me of it. Our Compliments to Mrs. Strahan and your Children. I am, with great Esteem, Dear Sir, Your most humble Servant\nB Franklin\nPlease to send me the Philosophical Transactions from the End of Martin\u2019s Abridgement 1744 to the present time. I suppose they are not abridg\u2019d; send them large as they come out. Also Dampier\u2019s Voyages, 4 Vols. 8vo.\n Addressed: To \u2002Mr. William Strahan \u2002Printer \u2002London \u2002per the Lydia \u2002Capt. Reeve", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "04-19-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0080", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Watson, 19 April 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Watson, William\nSir,\nPhilada. 19th. April 1754\nI have lately perused the 47th Vol. of the Transactions, wherein I find your very candid and favourable Account of my Electrical papers, for which be pleased to accept my grateful Acknowledgments.\nMy Friend Mr. Collinson once gave me reason to hope for the pleasure and advantage of a Correspondence with you, by telling me you intended me a Letter. I never received it; and wou\u2019d have wrote to you, but that I heard you was much engaged in business, and I fear\u2019d to incommode you; but the good Opinion of me you are pleased to express in that account, encourages me to think a few lines whose chief aim is the Improvement of knowledge, will not be disagreeable.\nI was exceedingly pleased with your curious Account of the Phaenomena of Electricity in Vacuo, which I had long expected but never before seen.\nThere is but one particular of that account in which I am not yet perfectly Satisfy\u2019d. It is in Page 367. where you seem to think (from observing the Electricity to pass in Vacuo in one continued Stream of the same Dimension, etc.) \u201cthat the cause of that very powerfull Repulsion of the Particles of Electrical Fire one to the Other, which we see in Open Air, is more owing to the Resistance of the Air, than to any natural Tendency of the Electricity it self.\u201d etc.\nAt first View this appears likely; But may not the cause of the Stream\u2019s not Diverging in Vacuo possibly be this, that the inner sides of the Receiver, being first Electrify\u2019d, and having themselves an electric Atmosphere, the same repels every way and operates equally on every side of the Stream so as to confine it, and prevent it\u2019s Expansion? this being the Case even when the Receiver is not exhausted: For let a [two pages missing].\n4. That the holes made [in] this Pasteboard by the Electric Strokes afford very equivocal Signs of the Direction, (as I have shown more largely in a Paper to Mr. Collinson) the appearance varying according to the Circumstances.\nIn the same 47th. Vol: of the Transactions, there is I think a small mistake, page 552. in relation of the Experiment with a pair of Scales; where it is said, that an Electrified Seal was attracted by a Needle, and repelled by an Obtuse Body, which I take to be a reverse of the Fact, and to have led the Gentleman who wrote that Letter, into an Error in the Consequence he Draws from the supposed State of the Experiment.\nThe Paper abovementioned to Mr. Collinson, contains a Doctrine so seemingly Paradoxical, Viz. That Clouds are most commonly Electrified Negatively, and the Strokes of Lightning therefore most frequently upwards from the Earth to the Cloud That I fear it will be thought whimsical, and that many of your Electricians will scarce think it worth while to repeat the Experiments. I hope however that you will not suffer it to be condemned too hastily; but procure it a fair and thorough Examination.\nI am with the greatest Esteem and Respect Sir your most humble servant\nB. Franklin\nP.S.: I have repeated all the Experiments proposed by M. Nollet, (in his Letters to me) in opposition to my Opinions, and intend him a private letter on the Subject thro your hands. Much Business has prevented my finishing it so as to send it off per this Ship.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "04-26-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0081", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Belcher, 26 April 1754\nFrom: Belcher, Jonathan\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nSir\nElizabeth Town (N.J.) April 26: 1754\nAs you are not only a lover of Learning but without a Compliment an Ornoment to it in the Age wherein you live you will forgive the freedom I take in Recommending to your Favour and Friendship Mr. John and Samuel Winthrop two worthy young Gentlemen making a Journey this Way partly for their Health as also to see this Country. The elder is Professer of Phylisophy at Harvard College in New England and the other is an Officer of the Supreme Court of the Massachusetts Bay. They are descended from one of the first families in New England and their deceas\u2019d Father was my Particular Friend and Acquaintance and after saying these things I will only add that any Respect or Civility you are pleas\u2019d to shew them I shall take as a fresh Instance of your Real Regard for Sir Your hearty Friend and Servant.\nMr. Franklin per Messrs: Winthrops", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "04-28-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0082", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 28 April 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Strahan, William\nDear Sir,\nPhilada. April 28. 1754\nThe above is a Copy of mine per Reeve. Two Ships are since arrived in New York, but I hear nothing yet of the Things expected, tho\u2019 possibly they may be come. I enclose Mrs. Steevens second Bill for \u00a320 Sterling.\nPlease to send the following Books, viz.\n2 Familiar Letters by Charles Halifax 12mo\nBaldwin\n  2 Nelson on the Government of Children 8vo\n  Dodsley\n  3 Treatise on Cyder-making\n  Cave\n  Letter from a Russian Officer, with some Observations \u2003 by Arthur Dobbs Esqr\n  Linde\n  The Nutcracker, by F. Foote Esqr\n  Cooper\n  The Book of Conversation and Behaviour Seed\u2019s Sermons\n  Griffiths\n  Mother Midnight\u2019s Works compleat 3 Vols Matho 2 Vols 8vo\n  Carnan\nI am, Dear Sir, very affectionately, Your most humble Servant\nB Franklin\nP.S. I am not certain whether I before wrote to you for the following, viz.\n2 Green\u2019s Maps of AmericaPhilosophical Principles of Nat. and Reveal\u2019d Religion, by Ramsay.\nAstronomical Rotula, a Print, per Ferguson\n2 Fry and Jefferson\u2019s Maps of Virginia, Maryland &c.\nI now enclose Mrs. Steevens\u2019s second Bill.\nMr. Strahan\n Addressed: To \u2002Mr William Strahan \u2002Printer \u2002London \u2002Per the Tryal vCapt. Cuzzins", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "04-30-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0083", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Peters, [30 April 1754?]\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Peters, Richard\nDear Sir\nTues. morn. [April 30? 1754]\nIt was late in the Evening when I came home last Night, or I should have sent you Mr. Smith\u2019s Letters, concerning which I shall be glad to talk with you when you have a little Leisure. If you are at liberty to dine where you please to day, I shall be glad of your Company; my Dame being from home, and I quite Master of the House. Your humble Servant\nB Franklin\n Addressed: To \u2003Richd Peters Esqr\nEndorsed: Ben [torn] Apr 1754", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "05-06-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0084", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from William Clarke, 6 May 1754\nFrom: Clarke, William\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nSir,\nBoston, May 6th: 1754\nI received your Favours, by the two last Posts; for both of which I am very much obliged to you; the former I should have acknowledged, by the return of the Post; but was obliged to be out of Town. I now return you the Papers, with my hearty thanks for the trouble you have taken.\nI fully agree to your observation in your last, that although several of the English Governments are singly a Match for the French; yet under their present Circumstances and disposition, all of them together are not able to withstand them. I am very sorry that neither your Government nor some of your Neighbouring ones have exerted any proper Spirit, with regard to the present Measures of the French, nor a proper concern for their own Security. For my own part, I cannot help thinking that unless there be a united and vigorous opposition of the English Colonies to them, the French are laying a solid Foundation for being, some time or other, sole Masters of this Continent; notwithstanding our present Superiority to them, in point of Numbers. But this Union is hardly to be expected to be brought about by any confederacy, or voluntary Agreement, among our selves. The Jealousies the Colonies have of each other, with regard to their real or imaginary different Interests, &c. will effectually hinder any thing of this kind from taking place. But were everything else to be got over, we should never agree about the Form of the Union, or who should have the execution of the Articles of it. So that however necessary a Step this may be, for the mutual Safety and preservation of these Colonies; it is pretty certain, it will never be taken, unless we are forced to it, by the Supreme Authority of the Nation. And how little Attentive those that have the management of this authority are, and have been, to the Affairs of the Plantations, we know but too well.\nInclosed I send you the heads of what is intended to serve, for several small peices, to be published at home; if it should become necessary to raise the Spirits of the People in order to awaken the Attention of the Ministry. I should be extremely obliged to you for any hint upon any part of it, especially the last; particularly the nature of the Union, that ought to be established amongst his Majesty\u2019s Colonies, on this Continent; under what direction the whole English Force of the Continent might be best placed, to answer the design of the Union, and by what Method any tolerable computation may be made of the Numbers of the People, in the respective Colonies. You will find by the Govr\u2019s. Speeches, and the Address of both Houses, what is the present Temper of our Court; but as the new Elections are coming on, we cannot well tell what may be the Temper of the next. I am Your most obedient, humble Servant,\nWm Clarke\nP.S. Our Court have appointed Commissioners to meet with the Commissioners from the other Governments, at the proposed Interview with the Indians of the Six Nations.\nThe French Forts are of no Consequence, but as it gives them the Advantage of gaining the Indians.\nIndeed their building Forts at such distances from the places from whence they must draw their supplies, and that with so much difficulty, must, I should think, rather weaken them, than make them more formidable; was it not hereby they will be able in a manner to engross the whole trade of the Indians, and so effectually to attach them to their Interest, as to have it in their power to employ them to harass all the English out-Settlements throughout their whole extent, even in time of Peace; and when once it is in their Power, we know that they won\u2019t fail of doing it.\n  Benja: Franklin Esqr Philadelphia", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "05-08-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0085", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Partridge, 8 May 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Partridge, Richard\nFranklin\u2019s brief note to Partridge accompanied a news article and cartoon which appeared in the Gazette of the following day. How much, if indeed any, of the text of the enclosure Franklin wrote himself cannot now be determined. He may not have been responsible for the wording of the news report, which constitutes about three-quarters of the whole; his known concern for colonial union increases the probability that he was responsible for the editorializing passage at the end.\nThe \u201cSnake Cartoon,\u201d which appeared in the Gazette directly below the article, has usually been considered the first American political cartoon. In view of the cut which Franklin had reproduced in his pamphlet Plain Truth (1747) from a schoolbook he had published earlier (see above, III, xiv, 190), the \u201cemblem\u201d of the dismembered snake should be more precisely designated as the first cartoon in an American newspaper drawn and published for a political purpose. Again there is no documentary evidence of Franklin\u2019s personal responsibility for the cartoon, but that it was his idea appears probable. Who executed the woodcut is not known.\nWithin two weeks of the appearance of this issue of the Pennsylvania Gazette the cartoon was copied in two New York and two Boston papers and was soon thereafter known in Williamsburg and Charleston. Other papers reprinted the news article without reproducing the cartoon.\nSir,\nWith this I send you a Paragraph of News from our Gazette, with an Emblem printed therewith, which it may be well enough to get inserted in some of your most publick Papers.\nIn haste I am your most humble Servant\nB: Franklin\n[Enclosure]\nPhiladelphia, May 9. [1754]\nFriday last an Express arrived here from Major Washington, with Advice, that Mr. Ward, Ensign of Capt. Trent\u2019s Company, was compelled to surrender his small Fort in the Forks of Monongahela to the French, on the 17th past; who fell down from Venango with a Fleet of 360 Battoes and Canoes, upwards of 1000 Men, and 18 Pieces of Artillery, which they planted against the Fort; and Mr. Ward having but 44 Men, and no Cannon to make a proper Defence, was obliged to surrender on Summons, capitulating to march out with their Arms, &c. and they had accordingly joined Major Washington, who was advanced with three Companies of the Virginia Forces, as far as the New Store near the Allegheny Mountains, where the Men were employed in clearing a Road for the Cannon, which were every Day expected with Col. Fry, and the Remainder of the Regiment\u2014We hear farther, that some few of the English Traders on the Ohio escaped, but \u2019tis supposed the greatest Part are taken, with all their Goods, and Skins, to the Amount of near \u00a320,000. The Indian Chiefs, however, have dispatch\u2019d Messages to Pennsylvania, and Virginia, desiring that the English would not be discouraged, but send out their Warriors to join them, and drive the French out of the Country before they fortify; otherwise the Trade will be lost, and, to their great Grief, an eternal Separation made between the Indians and their Brethren the English. \u2019Tis farther said, that besides the French that came down from Venango, another Body of near 400, is coming up the Ohio; and that 600 French Indians, of the Chippaways and Ottaways, are coming down Siota River, from the Lake, to join them; and many more French are expected from Canada; the Design being to establish themselves, settle their Indians, and build Forts just on the Back of our Settlements in all our Colonies; from which Forts, as they did from Crown-Point, they may send out their Parties to kill and scalp the Inhabitants, and ruin the Frontier Counties. Accordingly we hear, that the Back Settlers in Virginia, are so terrify\u2019d by the Murdering and Scalping of the Family last Winter, and the Taking of this Fort, that they begin already to abandon their Plantations, and remove to Places of more Safety. \u2014The Confidence of the French in this Undertaking seems well-grounded on the present disunited State of the British Colonies, and the extreme Difficulty of bringing so many different Governments and Assemblies to agree in any speedy and effectual Measures for our common Defence and Security; while our Enemies have the very great Advantage of being under one Direction, with one Council, and one Purse. Hence, and from the great Distance of Britain, they presume that they may with Impunity violate the most solemn Treaties subsisting between the two Crowns, kill, seize and imprison our Traders, and confiscate their Effects at Pleasure (as they have done for several Years past) murder and scalp our Farmers, with their Wives and Children, and take an easy Possession of such Parts of the British Territory as they find most convenient for them; which if they are permitted to do, must end in the Destruction of the British Interest, Trade and Plantations in America.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "05-13-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0086", "content": "Title: James Hamilton: Commission to Treat with the Indians, 13 May 1754\nFrom: Hamilton, James\nTo: \nThe Board of Trade in London recognized that the French were trying to seduce the Iroquois from their British alliance and that the colonies, especially New York, were contributing to the danger by violating treaty engagements with the Indians and ignoring their complaints. Hence the Board wrote the governor of New York, Sept. 18, 1753, directing him to meet the Six Nations at a conference \u201cfor burying the Hatchet and renewing the Covenant Chain.\u201d The letter expressed the desire that the other colonies which had dealings with the Iroquois also send commissioners to the conference and join \u201cin one general Treaty to be made in his Majesty\u2019s Name,\u201d instead of dealing separately with the Indians as had been a common practice in the past. On the same day the Board of Trade sent a shorter circular letter to the governors of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, and New Jersey, informing them of the instructions to the governor of New York and directing them to recommend to their assemblies the necessary provision for commissioners and for the usual presents to the Indians. James DeLancey, who had succeeded to the acting governorship of New York, wrote to Hamilton, December 11, that he planned to hold the conference at Albany on June 13 or 14. The latter date was subsequently chosen.\nHamilton laid the matter before the Assembly, February 14, and that body sent a grudging reply on the 27th, mentioning the inconvenience of conducting Indian negotiations at Albany but promising to make proper provision for Pennsylvania\u2019s representation and for \u201ca small Present\u201d to the Indians. On April 4 the governor sent the Assembly a letter he had solicited from DeLancey on the business the New Yorker thought should be transacted at Albany and asked the representatives\u2019 advice on instructions for Pennsylvania commissioners. Aside from the general Indian treaty specified by the Board of Trade, DeLancey\u2019s major proposal was that the commissioners \u201cconcert measures\u201d for a series of forts in the Indian country, to protect the Iroquois as well as the whites from the common French enemy, and that \u201csome reasonable and equal Plan\u201d should be agreed on for \u201cExpence and Operations.\u201d He also expressed the rather vague hope that \u201cfrom a full and free inquiry at the Treaty into the State of the Colonies, something may be struck out of general Utility necessary to be laid before his Majesty \u2026 that may contribute to the Safety and Prosperity of the Colonies, and \u2026 may produce Events beyond our present Expectations.\u201d The Pennsylvania Assembly\u2019s only response at this time was to ask Hamilton whom he proposed to appoint as commissioners. When he replied naming John Penn and Richard Peters of the Council, Isaac Norris, speaker of the House, and Franklin, the representatives indicated their approval of his choices.\nHamilton reminded the Assembly, May 7, of his request for advice on the instructions for the commissioners and sent down copies of several papers, including those relating to the loss of the unfinished Virginia fort at the forks of the Ohio, a further letter from DeLancey, and a resolution passed by the New York Assembly, April 17, urging that the neighboring governments \u201cjoin with this Colony in the Expence of erecting and maintaining\u201d the proposed forts in the Indian country. Hamilton earnestly recommended DeLancey\u2019s proposals and those of Governor Shirley of Massachusetts \u201cfor a Union of the several Colonies in Indian Affairs,\u201d and asked for authority to include in his instructions to the commissioners directions to support any \u201creasonable Plan [that] shall be offered them for that Purpose.\u201d\nThe Assembly referred the messages of April 4 and May 7 with their accompanying papers to a committee of ten, not including Franklin, to prepare a reply. Apparently the draft which the committee reported aroused opposition in the House; it was considered on the afternoon of May 13, again on the morning of the 14th, and the same afternoon, \u201cafter a considerable Debate thereupon,\u201d the House resolved that it should \u201cbe transcribed as it now stands, in order to be sent up to the Governor.\u201d There is no record of how the Assembly divided on this vote. The reply to the governor, finally signed on May 18, declared flatly that \u201cno Propositions for an Union of the Colonies, in Indian Affairs, can effectually answer the good Purposes, or be binding, farther than are confirmed by Laws, enacted under the several Governments, comprized in that Union.\u201d Not knowing what restrictions the governor might be under in passing their laws and with little hope of help from the Proprietors in meeting Indian expenses, \u201cwe are, under these circumstances, at a Loss to advise him on the important Articles he has been pleased to propose to our Consideration.\u201d\nWhile this debate was going on, Hamilton signed the commission for the four Pennsylvania delegates, May 13. His hopes of being able to give them in addition written instructions on how they were to proceed at Albany, based on a promise of support from the Assembly, were dashed by the message of the 18th. Consequently this commission, couched in the most general terms and completely silent on all subjects except the negotiations with the Six Nations, was the only authorization the commissioners had for their proceedings at Albany. As was also true of the delegates of most of the other colonies represented at the conference, they were clearly exceeding the powers granted to them by their home authorities when they undertook to prepare a plan of colonial union at the conference.\nPensilvania ss.\nGeorge the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland, King Defender of the Faith and so forth, To Our Trusty and Wellbeloved John Penn Richard Peters, Isaac Norris and Benjamin Franklin of the City of Philadelphia Esqrs. Greeting.\nWhereas the Honourable James Delancey Esqr. Our Lieutenent Governour and Commander in Chief of Our Province of New York has received Our directions to hold an Interview with Our loving and good Allies the Six United Nations of Indians at the City of Albany within Our said Province for delivering to them Our presents, and for renewing the Covenant Chain with them, and has fixed upon the fourteenth day of June ensuing for this purpose, and it has been Usual when an Interview has been held with these Indians for all his Majesty\u2019s Colonies whose Interest and Security is Connected with and depend upon them to join in such Interview, and it appears to Us that the present Disposition of those Indians, and the Attempts which have been made to withdraw them from Our Interest, do make such a general Interview more particularly necessary at this time, when the Subjects of the French King have Actually Marched into and Erected Forts and Committed Hostilities within the known limits of Our Dominions. Know Ye that reposing special Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty Abilities and Prudence, We have thought fit to Nominate and Appoint You the said John Penn Richard Peters Isaac Norris and Benjamin Franklin and every of You Our Commissioners on behalf of Our Governour of Our Province of Pensylvania aforesaid in Conjunction with Our Lieutenant Governour of New York, and with the Commissioners of the other Governments to treat with the Six United Nations of Indians at Albany or with their or any or every of their Chiefs or Delegates, and with them to renew, ratify and confirm the Leagues of Amity, subsisting between Us and the said Nations of Indians, and to make them the Presents that have been provided for them by the Governour and Assembly of our said Province of Pensilvania And further to do, Act, transact and finally to Conclude and Agree with the Indians aforesaid, all and every other matter and thing which to you shall appear necessary for the engaging them heartily in Our Interest and for frustrating any Attempts which have been made to withdraw them from it, as fully and amply to all Intents, Constructions and Purposes, as Our Governour of Our Province of Pensilvania aforesaid might or could do, being Personally present Hereby ratifying confirming and holding for firm and effectual whatsoever you the said John Penn, Richard Peters, Isaac Norris and Benja. Franklin, or any of you shall lawfully do in and about the Premises. In Testimony whereof We have caused the Great Seal of Our said Province to be hereunto Affixed. Witness James Hamilton Esqr. (by virtue of a Commission from Thomas Penn and Richard Penn Esqrs. true and Absolute Proprietaries of the said Province, and with Our Royal Approbation) Lieutenant Governour and Commander in Chief of the Province aforesaid and Counties of New Castle Kent and Sussex upon Delaware, at Philadelphia the thirteenth day of May, in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty four, And in the twenty seventh year of Our Reign.\nJames Hamilton\nA true Copy, Ex. Richard PetersIs. NorrisB. Franklin.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "05-24-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0088", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Shippen, 24 May 1754\nFrom: Shippen, Edward\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nDear Sir\nLancaster 24th May 1754\nThe inclosed came to hand just now, which I send to you, to let you see the Spirit of some of our back Setlers. If the Managers of the Lottery for the Battery should think Proper to encourage those People, they may be pleased to send fifty small Arms to Captain John Harris, who ought to engage himself to see them forthcoming. I am out of all Temper with our Assembly; but have a great esteem for yourself and am Dear Sir Your most Humble servant\nEdwd: Shippen\nP:S: I am just setting off for Cumberland County and shall call on Captain Harris and let him know what I have done with his Letters.\nTo Benjamin Franklin Esqr.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "05-28-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0089", "content": "Title: Some Account of the Pennsylvania Hospital, [28 May 1754]\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: \nThe history of the origin and establishment of the Pennsylvania Hospital has been briefly told in the preceding volume. To report on their stewardship and demonstrate reasons for continued support by the Assembly and the public, the Managers in the spring of 1754 decided to print an account of the institution\u2019s history. Franklin prepared it, presenting his manuscript on May 28. It was a record of one of his and Philadelphia\u2019s noblest civic achievements; and from its magnificent opening paragraph to its final moving appeal, it is, in Carl Van Doren\u2019s words, \u201can example of homespun splendor hardly to be matched in the English language.\u201d Fifteen hundred copies were ordered; and on July 27 the Managers\u2019 clerk reported that the printing was completed.\nThe Account contains the principal documents relating to the Hospital to 1754\u2014the first petition, the act of incorporation embodying the principle of matching funds, schedules of the attending physicians, reports on cases, even a record of the contributions of \u201cthe charitable Widows, and other good Women of the City\u201d which paid for the first importation of drugs\u2014surely the first women\u2019s auxiliary. Many of these documents\u2014those for which Franklin was responsible\u2014have been mentioned under their respective dates, but as they are integral parts of his pamphlet, they are printed in full here, with annotation.\nSome Account OF THE Pennsylvania Hospital\nAbout the End of the Year 1750, some Persons, who had frequent Opportunities of observing the Distress of such distemper\u2019d Poor as from Time to Time came to Philadelphia, for the Advice and Assistance of the Physicians and Surgeons of that City; how difficult it was for them to procure suitable Lodgings, and other Conveniences proper for their respective Cases, and how expensive the Providing good and careful Nurses, and other Attendants, for want whereof, many must suffer greatly, and some probably perish, that might otherwise have been restored to Health and Comfort, and become useful to themselves, their Families, and the Publick, for many Years after; and considering moreover, that even the poor Inhabitants of this City, tho\u2019 they had Homes, yet were therein but badly accommodated in Sickness, and could not be so well and so easily taken Care of in their separate Habitations, as they might be in one convenient House, under one Inspection, and in the Hands of skilful Practitioners; and several of the Inhabitants of the Province, who unhappily became disorder\u2019d in their Senses, wander\u2019d about, to the Terror of their Neighbours, there being no Place (except the House of Correction) in which they might be confined, and subjected to proper Management for their Recovery, and that House was by no Means fitted for such Purposes; did charitably consult together, and confer with their Friends and Acquaintances, on the best Means of relieving the Distressed, under those Circumstances; and an Infirmary, or Hospital, in the Manner of several lately established in Great Britain, being proposed, was so generally approved, that there was Reason to expect a considerable Subscription from the Inhabitants of this City, towards the Support of such an Hospital; but the Expence of erecting a Building sufficiently large and commodious for the Purpose, it was thought would be too heavy, unless the Subscription could be made general through the Province, and some Assistance could be obtained from the Assembly; the following Petition was therefore drawn, and presented to the House on the 23d of January, 1750\u201351.\nTo the Honourable House of Representatives of the Province of Pennsylvania,\nThe Petition of sundry Inhabitants of the said Province.\nHumbly sheweth,\nThat with the Numbers of People the Number of Lunaticks, or Persons distemper\u2019d in Mind, and deprived of their rational Faculties, hath greatly encreased in this Province.\nThat some of them going at large, are a Terror to their Neighbours, who are daily apprehensive of the Violences they may commit; and others are continually wasting their Substance, to the great Injury of themselves and Families, ill disposed Persons wickedly taking Advantage of their unhappy Condition, and drawing them into unreasonable Bargains, &c.\nThat few or none of them are so sensible of their Condition as to submit voluntarily to the Treatment their respective Cases require, and therefore continue in the same deplorable State during their Lives; whereas it has been found, by the Experience of many Years, that above two Thirds of the mad People received into Bethlehem Hospital, and there treated properly, have been perfectly cured.\nYour Petitioners beg Leave farther to represent, that tho\u2019 the good Laws of this Province have made many compassionate and charitable Provisions for the Relief of the Poor, yet something farther seems wanting in Favour of such whose Poverty is made more miserable by the additional Weight of a grievous Disease, from which they might easily be relieved, if they were not situated at too great a Distance from regular Advice and Assistance, whereby many languish out their Lives, tortur\u2019d perhaps with the Stone, devour\u2019d by the Cancer, depriv\u2019d of Sight by Cataracts, or gradually decaying by loathsome Distempers; who, if the Expence in the present Manner of nursing and attending them separately when they come to Town, were not so discouraging, might again, by the judicious Assistance of Physick and Surgery, be enabled to taste the Blessings of Health, and be made in a few Weeks useful Members of the Community, able to provide for themselves and Families.\nThe kind Care our Assemblies have heretofore taken for the Relief of sick and distemper\u2019d Strangers, by providing a Place for their Reception and Accommodation, leaves us no Room to doubt their shewing an equal tender Concern for the Inhabitants. And we hope they will be of Opinion with us, that a small Provincial Hospital, erected and put under proper Regulations, in the Care of Persons to be appointed by this House, or otherwise, as they shall think meet, with Power to receive and apply the charitable Benefactions of good People towards enlarging and supporting the same, and some other Provisions in a Law for the Purposes abovementioned, will be a good Work, acceptable to God, and to all the good People they represent.\nWe therefore humbly recommend the Premises to their serious Consideration.\nOn the second Reading of the Petition, January 29, the House gave Leave to the Petitioners to bring in a Bill, which was read the first Time on the first of February. For some Time it was doubtful whether the Bill would not miscarry, many of the Members not readily conceiving the Necessity or Usefulness of the Design; and apprehending moreover, that the Expence of paying Physicians and Surgeons, would eat up the whole of any Fund that could be reasonably expected to be raised; but three of the Profession, viz. Doctors Lloyd Zachary, Thomas Bond, and Phineas Bond, generously offering to attend the Hospital gratis for three Years, and the other Objections being by Degrees got over, the Bill, on the seventh of the same Month, passed the House, Nemine Contradicente, and in May following it received the Governor\u2019s Assent, and was enacted into a Law, as follows.\nAn Act to encourage the Establishing of an Hospital for the Relief of the Sick Poor of this Province, and for the Reception and Cure of Lunaticks.\n     Whereas the saving and restoring useful and laborious Members to a Community, is a Work of publick Service, and the Relief of the Sick Poor is not only an Act of Humanity, but a religious Duty; and whereas there are frequently, in many Parts of this Province, poor distemper\u2019d Persons, who languish long in Pain and Misery under various Disorders of Body and Mind, and being scattered abroad in different and very distant Habitations, cannot have the Benefit of regular Advice, Attendance, Lodging, Diet and Medicines, but at a great Expence, and therefore often suffer for want thereof; which Inconveniency might be happily removed, by collecting the Patients into one common Provincial Hospital, properly disposed and appointed, where they may be comfortably subsisted, and their Health taken Care of at a small Charge, and by the Blessing of God on the Endeavours of skilful Physicians and Surgeons, their Diseases may be cured and removed. And whereas it is represented to this Assembly, that there is a charitable Disposition in divers Inhabitants of this Province to contribute largely towards so good a Work, if such Contributors might be incorporated with proper Powers and Privileges for carrying on and compleating the same, and some Part of the Publick Money given and appropriated to the Providing a suitable Building for the Purposes aforesaid.\nTherefore, for the Encouragement of so useful, pious and charitable a Design, we pray that it may be enacted, And be it enacted by the Honourable James Hamilton, Esquire, Lieutenant-Governor under the Honourable Thomas Penn, and Richard Penn, Esquires, true and absolute Proprietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of New-Castle, Kent and Sussex, upon Delaware, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Representatives of the Freeman of the said Province in General Assembly met, and by the Authority of the same, That it shall and may be lawful to and for all Persons, each of whom shall have contributed or subscribed the Sum of Ten Pounds or more, towards founding an Hospital, for the Reception and Relief of Lunaticks, and other distemper\u2019d and sick Poor within this Province, or as many of them as shall think fit to assemble and meet on the first Day of the Month called July next; and for all Persons who shall thereafter contribute the like Sum of Ten Pounds or more (together with the said first Subscribers) or so many of them as shall think fit to assemble and meet on the second Day of the first Week, in the Month called May, yearly for ever, at some convenient Place in the City of Philadelphia, then and there to elect by Ballot, twelve fit and suitable Persons of their own Number to be Managers of the said Contribution and Hospital, and one other Person to be Treasurer of the same, until the next Election; and farther, to make such Laws, Rules and Orders, as shall appear to them the said Contributors met, or the major Part of them, to be good, useful and necessary, for the well governing, ordering and regulating the said Hospital, and for the Regulation of the future Elections of Managers, Treasurer, and other necessary Officers and Ministers thereof, and for limiting and appointing their Number, Trust, and Authority, and generally for the well ordering all other Things concerning the Government, Estate, Goods, Lands, Revenues, as also all the Business and Affairs of the said Hospital: All which Laws, Rules and Orders, so to be made as aforesaid, shall be from Time to Time inviolably observed by all concern\u2019d, according to the Tenor and Effect of them, provided they be not repugnant to the Laws of England or this Government, and are approved by the Chief Justice, the Speaker of the Assembly, and the Attorney-General of this Province for the Time being, under their Hands and Seals. And the said Contributors shall be, and are hereby made a Body Corporate in Law, to all Intents and Purposes, and shall have perpetual Succession, and may sue, or be sued, plead, or be impleaded, by the Name of The Contributors to the Pennsylvania Hospital, in all Courts of Judicature within this Province, and by that Name, shall and may receive and take any Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments, not exceeding the yearly Value of One Thousand Pounds, of the Gift, Alienation, Bequest, or Devise of any Person or Persons whomsoever; and of any Goods or Chattels whatsoever; and the said Contributors are hereby impower\u2019d to have and use one common Seal in their Affairs, and the same at their Pleasure to change and alter.\nProvided nevertheless, That no General Meeting of the said Contributors, nor any Persons acting under them, shall employ any Money or other Estate, expresly given or added to the Capital Stock of the said Hospital, in any other Way than by applying its annual Interest or Rent towards the Entertainment and Care of the sick and distemper\u2019d Poor, that shall be from Time to Time brought and placed therein, for the Cure of their Diseases, from any Part of this Province, without Partiality or Preference.\nAnd for the further Encouragement of this beneficent Undertaking, Be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That when the said Contributors shall have met and chosen their Managers and Treasurer as aforesaid, and shall have raised by their Contributions, a Capital Stock of Two Thousand Pounds Value (the yearly Interest or Rent of which is to be applied to the Accommodating of the Sick Poor in the said Hospital, free of Charge for Diet, Attendance, Advice and Medicines) and shall make the same appear to the Satisfaction of the Speaker of the Assembly for the Time being; that then it shall and may be lawful for the said Speaker of the Assembly, and he is hereby required to sign an Order or Orders on the Provincial Treasurer, or Trustees of the Loan-Office, for the Payment of Two Thousand Pounds, in two yearly Payments, to the Treasurer of the said Hospital, to be applied to the Founding, Building, and Furnishing of the same.\nAnd be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Accounts of the Disbursements of the said Two Thousand Pounds, so ordered by the Speaker of the Assembly aforesaid, or any Part thereof that shall be hereafter expended, as the Case may be, and of the Rents, Products, and Interests of any real or personal Estates or Sums of Money charitably given to the Use of the said Hospital, together with a List of such Donations, shall be fairly drawn out and published annually in the Gazette, or other Newspapers: And the Managers of the said Hospital shall at all Times, when required, submit the Books, Accounts, Affairs, and \u0152conomy thereof, to the Inspection and free Examination of such Visitors as may from Time to Time be appointed by the Assembly of this Province, to visit and inspect the same.\nProvided always, and it is hereby further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if at any Time hereafter, there should not be a constant Succession of Contributors to meet yearly and chuse Managers as aforesaid, then the said Hospital, and the Estate and Affairs thereof, shall be in the Management, and under the Direction of such Persons as shall be from Time to Time appointed by Act of General Assembly of this Province for that Purpose.\nAs soon as the Law was published, the Promoters of the Design set on Foot a Subscription, which in a short Time amounted to considerable more than the Sum required by the Act. And on the First of the Month called July, 1751, a Majority of the Contributors met at the State-House in Philadelphia, and pursuant to the Act chose by Ballot twelve Managers, and a Treasurer, viz.\nManagers,\nJoshua Crosby\nSamuel Rhodes\nBenjamin Franklin\nHugh Roberts\nThomas Bond\nJoseph Morris\nSamuel Hazard\nJohn Smith\nRichard Peters\nEvan Morgan\nIsrael Pemberton, JUNIOR,\nCharles Norris.\nTreasurer, John Reynell.\nThe Managers met soon after the Choice, and viewed several Spots of Ground in and near the City, which were thought suitable to erect Buildings on for this Purpose; and agreeing in Judgment, that one particular Lot, belonging to the Proprietaries, would suit as well or better than any other, they drew up the following respectful Address, and sent it (with the following Letter) to Thomas Hyam, and Sylvanus Bevan, to be presented by them to the Proprietaries. And that it may be seen at one View, what has been hitherto done in that Affair, it is thought proper to add the Answers the Managers received from their Agents, and other Papers relative thereto.\n  To the Honourable Thomas Penn, and Richard Penn, Esquires, Proprietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania, &c.\n  The Address of the Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital.\nPhiladelphia, July 6, 1751.\nMay it please the Proprietaries,\nIt hath been long observed, that this your Province, remarkable for the Goodness of its Constitution, Laws and Government, and many other Advantages, is yet deficient of a common Hospital or Infirmary, for the Relief of such Poor as are afflicted with curable Diseases.\nYour good People here, to supply this Defect, and out of a tender charitable Regard for their Fellow-creatures, have voluntarily subscribed, and are still subscribing, large Sums towards a Stock for the Support of such an Hospital: And the General Assembly being petitioned by a Number of the Inhabitants of all Ranks and Denominations, have passed an Act to encourage the same, and granted Two Thousand Pounds for the Founding, Building, and Furnishing thereof.\nIn Pursuance of that Act, we the Subscribers were, on the first of this Instant, chosen by the Contributors to be Managers of the said Hospital, and think it our Duty to take this first Opportunity of laying the Affair before our Proprietaries, in humble Confidence that so good and pious an Undertaking will not fail of their Approbation; hoping withal, from the accustomed Bounty of the Proprietary Family, in encouraging former Designs of publick Utility to the People of their Province, the present will also receive their kind Assistance; and as private Persons raise a Stock to support the Hospital, and the Assembly build the House, so (that all concerned in the Province may share in the Honour, Merit and Pleasure of promoting so good a Work) the Proprietaries will be pleased to favour us with the Grant of a Piece of Ground for the Buildings, and their necessary Accommodations.\nIf any Thing should occur to the Proprietaries, that they may think of Service with respect to the Management or Rules of the Hospital, we should be obliged to them for their Sentiments, being desirous that what falls within our Duty, may be done to the greatest Advantage for the Publick.\nWe are, with great Respect, Your very affectionate Friends,\nJoshua Crosby\nSamuel Rhodes\nBenjamin Franklin\nJoseph Morris\nThomas Bond\nJohn Smith\nSamuel Hazard\nEvan Morgan\nIsrael Pemberton, JUNIOR\nCharles Norris.\nHugh Roberts\n     Esteemed Friends, Thomas Hyam, and Silvanus Bevan,\n     Philadelphia, July 6, 1751.\nThe Opinion we have of your beneficent Principles, induces us to make this Application to you, and we hope the Opportunity of exerting your Tenderness to the Afflicted and Distressed, will be so acceptable, as to render any Apology unnecessary for our Freedom in requesting your Friendship in delivering and solliciting the Address we herewith send to our Proprietaries, Thomas and Richard Penn.\nThe Circumstances of this Province have, in a few Years past, been much alter\u2019d, by the Addition of a great Number of Persons who arrive here from several Parts of Europe, many of whom are poor, and settle in remote Parts of the Country, where suitable Provision cannot be made for their Relief from the various Disorders of Body and Mind some of them labour under; the Consideration of which hath lately rais\u2019d in many of the Inhabitants of this City a benevolent Concern, and engaged them to apply for the Assistance of the Legislature, by whom a Law is passed, and some Provision made out of the Provincial Treasury for the Erecting a publick Hospital or Infirmary, under the Direction of a Corporation, by whom we have lately been elected the Managers; but as the publick Funds are not sufficient to answer the Expence of endowing it, a charitable Subscription for that Purpose hath been propos\u2019d and begun with good Success. The Necessity and Advantages of this Institution are so apparent, that Persons of all Ranks unite very heartily in promoting it; and as several of our most eminent Physicians and Surgeons have freely offered their Service for some Years, we have good Grounds to expect that this Undertaking may be of general Service much sooner than was at first expected, and that our Legislature will soon make a further Provision for the Building, which we apprehend it will be prudent to contrive and erect in such Manner, as to admit of such Additions as the future State of the Province may require. The principal Difficulty we now labour under, is the Want of a commodious Lot of Ground in a healthy Situation; for (tho\u2019 we have so great Encouragement as we have mention\u2019d) we cannot flatter ourselves with speedily raising a Sum sufficient to enable us to provide for all other necessary Charges, and to purchase a suitable Piece of Ground so near the built Part of the City, as the constant Attendance of the Physicians, and other Considerations, will necessarily require: We are therefore under the Necessity of laying the State of our Case before our Proprietaries, and we hope the same Motives which have induced others, will have due Weight with them to promote this good Work, and that they will generously direct a Piece of Ground to be alloted for this Service.\nThere are several Lots in different Parts of this City very suitable, but from their Situation, &c. are of great Value for other Purposes; we have therefore thought of one, which is in a Part of the Town quite unimproved, and where, in all Probability, there will be the Conveniency of an open Air for many Years; it is the vacant Part of the Square between the Ninth and Tenth-streets from Delaware, on the South Side of Mulberry-street, and is 396 Feet East and West, and 360 Feet North and South. The Lots in this Part of the City have not advanced in Value for several Years past, and are not likely to be soon settled; so that we are in Hopes, if you will favour us with your Application for this Piece of Ground, you will meet with no Difficulty in obtaining it.\nThe Interest of the Proprietaries and People are so nearly connected, that it seems to us self-evident that they mutually share in whatever contributes to the Prosperity and Advantage of the Province; which Consideration, added to the Satisfaction arising from Acts of Charity and Benevolence, will, we hope, have so much Weight with them, as to render any other Argument superfluous; but as your own Prudence will suggest to you the most effectual Method of solliciting this Address successfully, we rely thereon so much, as to think it unnecessary to add any Thing more on this Occasion, than that your Friendship therein will be exceedingly grateful to us, and our Fellow-citizens in general; and next to obtaining the Lot we ask for, the most agreeable Service you can do us, is to obtain a speedy Answer; for the Promoting this Undertaking appears to us so necessary, that all concerned therein are unanimous in determining to prepare for the Building early in the Spring next Year.\nWe are, with much Respect, Your obliged and real Friends.\nSigned as before.\n  Esteemed Friends,\n  London, 18th 1st Mo. 1752.\nWe received yours the Sixth July past, and the Address which it brought was by us delivered to Thomas Penn, Esquire, unto which we most readily joined what Interest we have with him and his Brother, to grant your Request of a Piece of Ground, whereon to build the proposed Hospital in your City; and we make no Doubt but Joshua Crosby hath informed you of what his Answer was, and also of what Thomas Hyam and son wrote him from Time to Time on the Subject; and now we have the Pleasure to acquaint you, that Yesterday we received a Letter from him granting your Request, a Copy whereof is here under. We are your assured Friends,\n  Thomas Hyam,Sylvanus Bevan.\n    To the Managers of thePennsylvania Hospital.\nGentlemen,\n  London, January 17, 1752.\nYou may inform the Directors of the Hospital at Philadelphia, that we sent Orders to the Governor, the Nineteenth of December, by Way of New-England, to grant them a Piece of Ground to build the Hospital upon, tho\u2019 not the Piece they ask\u2019d, yet one of the same Size, and where, if it should be necessary, we can grant them an Addition.\nI am, Gentlemen, Your affectionate Friend,\n  Thomas Penn.\n    To Messieurs Sylvanus Bevan, and Thomas Hyam.\nThe Governor was pleased to favour the Managers with a Copy of the Instructions he received upon this Occasion, which, after due Consideration, they made some Observations upon, and sent to their Agents. A Copy of these several Papers here follow in their Order.\nThomas Penn, and Richard Penn, true and absolute Proprietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania, and of the Counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, in America:\nTo James Hamilton, Esq; our Lieutenant-Governor of our said Province, and Counties, and to all other Persons whom these Presents may concern, greeting.\nWhereas it hath been represented unto us, that there is a Want in our said Province of a common Hospital or Infirmary, for the Relief of such Poor as are afflicted with curable Diseases; and that many of the good Inhabitants thereof, to supply that Defect, and out of a tender and charitable Regard to their Fellow-creatures, had voluntarily subscribed, and were still subscribing, large Sums of Money, towards a Stock for the Support of such an Hospital; and that the Assembly there, being petitioned by a Number of the Inhabitants of all Ranks and Denominations, had already granted Two Thousand Pounds, for the Founding, Building and Furnishing thereof; and that the Persons who had contributed towards the Stock thereof, or many of them, had, in the Month of July last past, chosen certain Persons to be Managers of the said intended Hospital.\nAnd whereas the said Managers have addressed us, laying the said Affair before us, in Confidence that so good and pious an Undertaking would not fail of our Approbation, and hoping, from the accustom\u2019d Bounty of our Family in encouraging former Designs of publick Utility to the People of our said Province, the present would also receive our kind Assistance; and that as private Persons raised the Stock to support the Hospital, and the Assembly were to build the House, so that we would be pleased to favour the said Managers with the Grant of a Piece of Ground for the Buildings and necessary Accommodations for the said Hospital; and also requesting our Sentiments, if any Thing should occur to us that we might think of Service with respect to the Management or Rules of the said Hospital:\nKnow ye therefore, that we, having taken the Premises into our Consideration, and approving and greatly favouring the said general Scheme and Intention, and being desirous to aid and assist the same, as conceiving that the due Execution thereof may tend to the Relief of many poor and necessitous Persons in our said Province, and to the general Benefit and Advantage of the same, have resolved to incorporate the present and future Subscribers by our Grant of Incorporation; and at the same time to grant unto such Corporation so incorporated, a valuable Tract of Land in a proper Place within our good City of Philadelphia.\nIn order whereto, we do by these Presents give, grant, and commit unto you, our said Lieutenant-Governor, full Power, Commission, and Authority, by one Instrument or Grant of Incorporation, to be issued in our Names, and to be sealed with the Great Seal of our said Province, to incorporate and erect into a Body Politick or Corporate, by such Name or Title as to you shall seem most apt and convenient, all and every such Persons, who already have subscribed and paid, or at any Time hereafter shall subscribe and pay the Sum of Ten Pounds or more, of current Money of our said Province, towards the Founding and Establishing an Hospital for the Reception and Relief of Lunaticks, and other distemper\u2019d and sick Poor within our said Province, such Corporation to have Continuance to such Contributors and their Successors for ever; and to grant all usual, common, proper and reasonable Powers of a Corporation unto such Corporation, and their Successors; and particularly for the Making of such reasonable and lawful By-Laws, Rules and Orders, as to the said Corporation, or the major Part of them, when duly assembled in such Manner as shall be therein appointed, shall seem useful and necessary for the well-ordering, regulating and governing the said Hospital; for the Regulation of the future Elections of Managers, Treasurer or Treasurers, and other necessary Officers and Ministers thereof; for limiting their Numbers, Trusts and Authorities, and the Times and Durations of their respective Continuance in their Offices, and the Causes and Manner of removing any of them (if Occasion should require) and generally, for the well-ordering all other Matters and Things, any way relating to or concerning the good Government, Estate, Lands, Rents, Revenues, Interest, Monies and Goods, and all other the Business and Affairs of the said Hospital, and of the Poor therein, and of the Officers and Ministers thereof. And also to grant, that all such By-Laws, Rules and Orders, so to be made as aforesaid, shall be from Time to Time inviolably observ\u2019d by all concerned, according to the Tenor and Effect of them, provided they be reasonable in themselves, not repugnant to the Laws of Great-Britain, or of our said Province, and be first approved by us, or such of us, our Heirs or Assigns, Proprietaries of our said Province, as shall for the Time being be in America, and by the Chief Justice, and Speaker of the Assembly for the Time being, under our and their Hands and Seals, in case we, or either of us, or the Heirs or Assigns of us, or of either of us, or any of them, shall for the Time being happen to be in America; but in case we, or either of us, nor any of the Heirs or Assigns of either of us, Proprietaries of our said Province, shall happen from Time to Time to be in America, then being first approved by and under the Hands and Seals of the Governor or Lieutenant-Governor, the Chief Justice, the Speaker of the Assembly, and the Attorney-General of our said Province for the Time being, or by any three of them. And also to grant and appoint such Persons to be present and immediate Officers of such Corporation (until a future Election of new Ones) as have already been chosen or appointed by the Subscribers thereto; and to grant Power to the said Corporation, and to their Successors, to take and receive, and to hold and enjoy, for the Use of the said Corporation, any Lands, Tenements or Hereditaments within our said Province, not exceeding in the whole the yearly Value of One Thousand Pounds at the Time of such taking of the Gift, Grant, Alienation, Bequest or Devise of any Person or Persons whatsoever; and also to take, receive, hold and enjoy, any Goods or Chattels, to any Value whatsoever: And to grant unto the said Corporation Power to use a common Seal for the Business of the said Corporation, and the same at Pleasure to alter and change; but you are in such our Grant of Incorporation to insert one or more express Provisoes and Conditions, that no General Meeting of the Members of such Corporation, or any Persons acting under them, shall sell or convert into Money, any real Estate, given or to be given to the said Corporation (unless directed so to do by the Donor or Donors of the same) nor shall employ or dispose of any Principal Money or other Effects, which are or shall be given or added for the Purpose of encreasing of the Capital Stock of the said Corporation, in any other Manner than by applying the annual Rent, Revenue, Income, or Interest of the same, towards the Entertainment and Cure of the sick and distemper\u2019d Poor, that shall from Time to Time be brought and placed in or under the Care of the said Hospital, and the Officers and Ministers thereof, for the Cure of their Diseases, from any Part of our said Province, without Partiality or Preference. And also that fair, full and plain Accounts in Writing, of all Subscriptions, Benefactions, Donations, and Gifts of every Kind to the said Corporation, and of the Disposal, Employment and Disbursements of the same, and of the Rents, Revenues, Incomes, Interest and Produce arising therefrom, and of the Disposal thereof, and of all Salaries paid to any Officers or Servants, shall constantly lay open in some publick Part of the Hospital, for the free View and Inspection, at all Times in the Day, of any Subscriber or Contributor; and that an Account of the same, signed by three or more of the Managers, be, from Time to Time, once in the Month of October, in every Year, published in the Gazette, or other News-paper, printed in our said Province, for the Information of all Persons. And that the Books, Accounts, Affairs, \u0152conomy, Disposition, and Management of the said Hospital, and of all the Estate, Rents, Revenues, and Interest thereof, and of all the Managers, Treasurers, Officers, Ministers and Servants thereof, and every Matter and Thing relating to the same, or to any of them, and all Abuses concerning the same (if any such should ever happen) shall at all Times be subject to the Inspection, free Examination and Reformation of such Visitors, not exceeding four in Number, as we, our Heirs or Assigns, Proprietaries of the said Province, or the Lieutenant-Governor of the said Province for the Time being, shall from Time to Time appoint, so as the Chief Justice, and the Speaker of the Assembly of our said Province for the Time being, be always two of such Visitors.\nAnd we do hereby give, grant and commit to you, our said Lieutenant-Governor, further Power, Commission and Authority, in and by the same Instrument or Grant of Incorporation to be so issued as aforesaid, to give and grant unto, and for the Use of the said Corporation, and their Successors for ever, all that Part of the Square or Parcel of vacant Land, in our said City of Philadelphia, herein after described; That is to say, All that Piece or Parcel of Land situated, lying and being on the North Side of Sassafras-street, between Sixth and Seventh-streets from Delaware, containing from East to West on Sassafras-street Three Hundred and Ninety-six Feet, or thereabouts, little more or less, and from South to North, on Sixth and Seventh-streets, Three Hundred Feet, and bounding Northwards on other vacant Land, Part of the same Square, reserved to us, to hold unto, and to the Use of the said Corporation and their Successors, to and for the Use of the said Hospital for ever, rendering to the Hands of our Receiver-General, and of the Receiver-General of us, our Heirs, or Assigns, Proprietaries of the said Province for the Time being, in our said Province, for our Use, the yearly Rent of Five Shillings of lawful Money of Great-Britain, on the first Day of March in each and every Year henceforth for ever, under a declared and express Provisoe and Condition to be contained in such Grant of Incorporation, that if, at any Time hereafter, there shall not be a constant Succession of Contributors to meet yearly and choose Managers and Officers, then the said Tract of Land thereby to be granted, shall revert and return to us, our Heirs and Assigns, Proprietaries of our said Province, as in our first and former Estate. And you are to insert in such Grant, all such other proper Clauses and Matters not contrary to, or inconsistent with, the Directions hereby given, as to you shall seem proper and reasonable; and particularly for the Enrolment of the said Grant in the Master of the Rolls-Office in Philadelphia.\nFor all which this shall be to you our sufficient Warrant, Commission and Authority.\nGiven under our Hands and Seals this Twenty-eighth Day of October, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty-one.\n  Thomas Penn, L. S.\nRichard Penn, L. S.\n  Signed, sealed and delivered by the before namedThomas Penn, and Richard Penn,Esquires, in the Presence of us,\u2003Francis Eyre,\u2003Robert Gwynn.\nRemarks.\nThe Design of the Hospital being (in itself) so beneficent, and our honourable Proprietaries having fully express\u2019d their Approbation of it in strong Terms, as well as declared their kind Intentions of aiding and assisting it, by granting a valuable Tract of Land, in a proper Place, for an Hospital; all therefore that seems necessary for us to do, is to convince our honourable Proprietaries, that the Methods by which they have proposed to aid and assist the Hospital, will by no Means answer these good Intentions, but are really inconsistent therewith.\nWe must then beg Leave to remark in the first Place, with regard to the Charter, That as the Act of Assembly is undoubtedly the best Grant of Incorporation that we can possibly have, and as the Representatives of the Freemen of this Province have generously contributed towards the Design, we should fail of the Respect that is justly due to them, were we to accept of any other, without obtaining some very great and manifest Advantage by it; but that there are no such Advantages in the Charter proposed, is evident at first View: On the contrary, we should by it be confined to stricter Limits than we now are, particularly with respect to the Power of making By-Laws, and being subjected to Visitors of the Proprietaries Appointment. But that Clause which makes the Lot (and of Consequence the Buildings on it) revert to the Proprietaries, on Failure of a Succession of Contributors, is so weighty an Objection, that were there no other, we could not entertain the least Thoughts of accepting the Charter; for as the Sum allowed for Support of the Hospital is limited, we may reasonably conclude, that in Time there will cease to be a Succession of Contributors, and no Person can imagine that when that happens to be the Case, the Lot and Buildings ought to become the private Property of any Man: And tho\u2019 the Act of Assembly hath made Provision in a Manner which may be liable to some Inconveniences, yet it can scarce fail of answering the Purposes first intended. The Proprietaries, to be sure, have not attended to these Consequences, or they never would have proposed any Thing so inconsistent with the Design they intended to promote.\nAs to the Lot that the Proprietaries designed for the Hospital, it is so situated, and so circumstanced, that it will by no Means be suitable for the Purpose; it is a moist Piece of Ground, adjoining to the Brick-yards, where there are Ponds of standing Water, and therefore must be unhealthy, and more fit for a Burying-place (to which Use Part of it is already applied) than for any other Service; besides, as it is Part of a Square allotted by the late honourable Proprietary for publick Uses, as the old Maps of the City will shew, our Fellow-citizens would tax us with Injustice to them, if we should accept of this Lot by a Grant from our present Proprietaries, in such Terms as would seem to imply our assenting to their having a Right to the Remainder of the Square.\n  Philadelphia, 2d of 7th Mo. 1752.\n  Esteemed Friends, Thomas Hyam, and Sylvanus Bevan,\n  We now, on Behalf of the Contributors to the Pennsylvania Hospital, with much Gratitude and Respect, acknowledge the benevolent Disposition you have manifested by your Industry and Care in solliciting our Address to our Proprietaries; and as we are fully convinced nothing hath been wanting on your Parts, we should have been much pleased that the Lot which the Proprietaries proposed for the Hospital, and the Terms of their Grant, were such as we desired, or could accept.\nImmediately after the Receipt of your Letter, with the Copy of that you had from the Proprietaries, our President waited on the Governor, who was pleased to communicate to us the Instructions he had received; and as the Answer given by the Proprietaries to you, may have induced you to think they had granted our Request, we think it necessary to send you a Copy of their Instructions to the Governor, after Perusal of which, and of the few Remarks we have made thereon, we have no Doubt you will approve of our Resolutions not to accept of a Lot on these Terms.\nBefore we agreed on the Address to the Proprietaries, we survey\u2019d the Square (of which the Lot proposed by them is a Part) and the Situation appeared to us in every Respect inconvenient and unsuitable for our Purpose: It is contiguous to the Brickmakers Grounds, from which the City hath been furnished with Bricks above Forty Years past, so that their large Ponds being continually filled with standing Water, renders the Neighbourhood unhealthy, and of course absolutely improper for our Purpose, which is to restore the Sick to Health; and the only proper Use of that Square will be for a Burying-ground, to which Service some Part of it hath been applied by a Grant from the Proprietaries; and the Dissatisfaction which appeared, and still subsists among our Fellow-citizens, on the Proprietaries claiming a Right to make that Grant is so great, that if there were no other Objection, we would not run the Risque of encreasing it.\nWe still think that the Lot we first mentioned is more suitable for us than any other so near the City, and of so small Value, and we are not entirely without Hopes that the Proprietaries, who have so fully declared their Approbation of our Design, will still grant the same to us; we are assured, if they regard their own Interest in the Affections of the People, or even attend to the Justice of their concurring in the Promoting of every Scheme calculated for the Publick Utility of their Province, they will chearfully grant it to us: And if you should entertain the same Sentiments, we request you to renew your Sollicitations to them, and if you find them still unwilling to favour our Request, we should be pleased to know whether they will sell it to us, or let it for ever on an annual Rent, and the Price or Rent they propose; for as the Number of Contributors still continues gradually encreasing, we shall rather endeavour to purchase a Lot in a proper Situation, than to build the House in an inconvenient Place, or to accept of any Lot on such Terms as we know would give a general Dissatisfaction.\nOne of the Contributors hath offered to give a Lot of Ground much larger than that we now ask, and in a very good Air, but being about a Mile out of Town, we are apprehensive it will be inconvenient to the Physicians, who, as they freely give their Attendance, should be subjected to as little Difficulty as possible.\nWe have, for the present, hired a House tolerably convenient, into which we began to admit Patients about six Months since; the Number since received is Twenty-three, of which Twelve have been cured and discharged, and Eleven are remaining; and as the Benefits of this Institution become daily more attended to, we have not the least Doubt that the Minds of such who are blessed with the Means, will gradually become the more freely disposed to contribute towards this good Work, and that it will soon become of general Service to the People of this Province.\nThe kind Manner in which you have chearfully engaged to serve us, gives us Reason to think you will approve of our writing to you with so much Freedom, we shall not therefore offer any Apology for it.\nWe are your obliged Friends.\nSigned by Order, and on Behalf of the Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital,\nJoshua Crosby, President.\nTo the Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital.\nRespected Friends,\n-----We attended your Proprietary, Thomas Penn, Esquire, and presented to him your Remarks on the Grant of Land made by him and his Brother Richard to your Society (dated the Eighth of October, 1751) and requested instead thereof that Spot which your Memorial mentioned, and desired might be granted for the intended Hospital; he perused the Remarks, and made Objections to them, alledging that the Ground which you desired was contiguous to that which they have offered, consequently no Difference in the Healthiness thereof. And as to the Remark against its reverting to the Proprietaries, he very readily declared nothing more was intended by the Clause in the Grant, than that provided the Scheme for the Establishment and Continuance of the Hospital should not succeed, either for want of the Sum proposed to be raised as a Fund, or through any other Cause, that then the Ground should revert, &c. but as to the Erections thereon, they should be at the Managers Disposal. We desired his Answer in Writing, but he refused the Giving it in that Manner, and added, the Governor should have the necessary Instructions on the Affair, unto whom you might apply concerning it. On the whole, he came to this Resolution, not to make any Alteration in what was before granted, nor to lett or sell the Spot of Ground you pitch upon; and therefore we are of Opinion, you should either accept the Proprietary\u2019s Offer, with the Clause relating to the reverting to them being explained, or else to fix on some other Piece of Ground. And if there is no other Objection than the small Disstance of a Mile to the Place which one of the Contributors hath offered to give you, may not that be more fit for an Hospital or Infirmary, than to have it in the City, where infectious Diseases may be much more liable to spread. We observe, with Pleasure, the Success that hath attended the Beginning of the good Work you are engaged in, and hope it will go forward, and be happily compleated, and are, with hearty Salutes, Your real Friends,\nThomas Hyam,Sylvanus Bevan.\n  Pennsylvania Hospital, 30th 6th Mo. 1753.\n    Esteemed Friends, Thomas Hyam, and Sylvanus Bevan,\nWe have lately received your Favour of Thirty-first First Month last, with Duplicate of your former Letters to our President, and being sensible that you have sollicited our Address to the Proprietaries with all the Diligence and Care we could desire or expect, we gratefully acknowledge your Friendship, and think ourselves under the same Obligations we should have been if your kind Endeavours had obtained the desired Effect.\nThe Accounts of the Affairs of the Hospital, and of its present State, will be laid before the Assembly at their next Meeting, and soon after published, of which we shall direct Duplicates to be sent you; and as you have interested yourselves in the Promotion of it, and we are convinced of your good Wishes for its Success, when we can give you a pleasing Account of its Advancement, shall take the Liberty of communicating the same, being, with real Respects, Your obliged Friends.\nSigned on Behalf of the Board of Managers, \n  Joshua Crosby.\nThe following Papers were published in the Pennsylvania Gazette, of August the eighth, and fifteenth, 1751, viz.\n[At this point Franklin reprinted the two-part \u201cAppeal for the Hospital,\u201d reproduced above, IV, 147\u201354.]\nOn the Sixteenth of August it being made appear, to the Satisfaction of the Assembly, that the Contributions amounted to upwards of Two Thousand Pounds, an Order was obtained for the Two Thousand Pounds that had been conditionally granted by the Act, One Thousand Pounds to be paid immediately, the other in Twelve Months: The Money, when received, was lett out at Interest on good Security, that it might be improving till it should be wanted for the Building, which the Managers were obliged to postpone till a Piece of Ground could be obtained that would afford sufficient Room in an airy, healthy Situation, and yet so nigh the built Streets of the City, as that the Managers, Physicians and Surgeons, might readily and conveniently visit the House on every Occasion. But that some Good might be doing in the mean Time, the Managers concluded to hire a House, and take in some Patients for a Beginning; but some Doubts arising concerning the Power and Duty of the Managers, a general Meeting of the Contributors was called to settle the same, and the following Law was passed for those and other Purposes, viz.\nA Law for regulating the Elections of the Managers and Treasurer of the Pennsylvania Hospital, and declaring their Trust, Duty and Authority.\nWhereas by an Act of the General Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania, intituled, An Act to encourage the Establishing of an Hospital for the Relief of the Sick Poor of this Province, and for the Reception and Cure of Lunaticks, the Contributors to the said Hospital are made a Body Corporate, and impowered to meet, and to make such Laws, Rules and Orders, as shall appear to them the said Contributors met, or the major Part of them, to be good, useful and necessary, for the well governing and regulating the said Hospital, and for the Regulation of the Elections of Managers, a Treasurer, and other necessary Officers and Ministers thereof, and for limiting and appointing their Number, Trust and Authority.\nAnd whereas, in Pursuance of the said Law, the Contributors have met, and have chosen twelve Managers and a Treasurer, which Treasurer hath received considerable Sums of Money for the Use of the said Hospital, and it is now become necessary, for the more orderly Disposition and Application of the said Monies, and of such Sums as may hereafter be received, and for the more sure Direction of the Managers and Treasurer therein, to declare and appoint their Trust, Authority and Duty: Therefore it is enacted by the Contributors to the Pennsylvania Hospital, in general Meeting duly assembled, That the Managers of the said Hospital for the Time being, shall have the Power of disposing of all Monies paid to the Treasurer for the Building, Furnishing, Support, Use and Service of the Hospital, and for the Hiring and Furnishing a House or Houses for the Reception of Patients, until the said Hospital shall be built, under the Limitations and Restrictions of the before-mentioned Act of Assembly. And the said Managers shall likewise have the Power to direct the Manner and Terms of receiving and discharging of Patients; and all Officers and Servants belonging to the Hospital, other than the Treasurer, shall be in the Choice, and under the Direction of the Managers, who shall allow and order their respective Salaries, and may displace them, and appoint others, as often as they shall think fit. And the said Managers shall have the Power of calling general Meetings of the Contributors, as often as they judge it necessary for the Service and Advantage of the Hospital; and shall cause due and publick Notice to be given of the Time, Place, and Design or Purpose of such occasional Meeting, at least ten Days before the same is to be held, and shall nominate some discreet Member to preside therein, and regulate the Debates thereof. And the said Managers shall have the Keeping, and Power of affixing, the Seal of the Corporation, which Seal shall be made nearly agreeable to the Form or Draught hereunto annexed; and they shall settle the Accounts with the Treasurer from Time to Time, and take Care that all Laws, Rules and Orders made by the Contributors, and legally approved, be duly and faithfully executed; for all which, or any other Services relating to the Hospital, they shall not claim, receive, or retain, any Fee, Gratuity or Reward whatsoever.\nAnd for the more orderly Execution of their Duty and Trust, the Managers are hereby required to meet at least once a Month at the Hospital, or some other fit Place in the City of Philadelphia, to confer and conclude concerning the Matters hereby committed to them; and shall cause fair Minutes of their Proceedings to be kept by their Clerk, in a Book to be provided for that Purpose: In every of which Meetings of the Managers aforesaid, eight of their Number met shall be a Quorum, capable to consult, confer and conclude of and upon all Matters appertaining to their Trust, according to the aforesaid Act of Assembly, and the Laws of this Corporation; and whatsoever seven of the Number so met shall so conclude, shall be deemed and taken for and as the Resolution of the Managers for the Time, and accordingly enter\u2019d in their Minutes. To which Minutes, and also to the Treasurer\u2019s Accounts, all Persons concerned shall have free Recourse at all seasonable Times.\nAnd it is further enacted by the Contributors aforesaid, that every Treasurer hereafter chosen shall, before he take upon himself the Execution of his Office, enter into an Obligation, with one sufficient Surety, in double the Value that doth, or probably may come into his Hands, during the Continuance of his Office, as near as can be estimated by the Managers, unto the Contributors of the Pennsylvania Hospital; conditioned, that he will, once in three Months, or oftener if required, render his Accounts to the Managers of the said Hospital, and well and truly account, adjust and settle with them when required, for and concerning all Monies that are or shall come into his Hands belonging to the said Contributors, and pay the Ballance that shall appear on such Settlement to be in his Hands, unto such Person, or for such Service as a Board of Managers for the Time being shall order and appoint, and not otherwise; and that he will at the Expiration of his Office, well and truly deliver up and pay the Ballance of the Monies then remaining in his Hands, together with the Books of Accounts concerning the same, and other the Papers and Writings in his Keeping belonging to the Contributors, unto his Successor in the said Office; and that he will do and execute all other Things as Treasurer to the Contributors aforesaid, according to the true Sense and Meaning of this Law. And he is hereby authorised immediately upon entring into his Office, to demand and receive of the preceding Treasurer, his Heirs, Executors or Administrators, the Cash, Books of Accounts, Writings and other Effects belonging to the Corporation, giving his Receipt for the same.\nAnd for the more regular and satisfactory conducting of future Elections, and the Preventing of Disputes and Misunderstandings among the Contributors, concerning the same, it is hereby farther enacted, That the Place and Hour of the Election shall be appointed by the Managers of the current Year, and notified by their Clerk, at least twenty Days before the Election, by printed Advertisements: And the said Managers shall and are hereby required and impowered to nominate three discreet Members of this Corporation to inspect and judge of the said Election, and declare who are the Persons elected; and the Managers shall cause their Clerk to enter in their Book of Minutes the Names of the Persons elected, according to the Tickets.\nAnd if any Person elected Manager, shall refuse or neglect to act, or shall be absent from three successive Monthly Meetings of the Managers, in any of the first ten Months of the Year for which he shall be elected Manager; or if within the same Year or Term of his Office, he shall be confined by Sickness, or otherwise render\u2019d incapable of executing the Office of a Manager, according to the true Meaning of this Law, or shall die, the rest of the Managers, as often as Occasion shall require, in any of the Cases aforesaid, shall proceed in their Duty and Office without him; or if they think fit they shall nominate another of the Contributors to supply his Place of a Manager until the then next ensuing Election.\nAnd if any Person so elected Treasurer, shall absent himself from his said Office for the Space of thirty Days, or shall be otherwise render\u2019d incapable, or neglect his Office or Duty of Treasurer, it shall and may be lawful for the Managers for the Time being, to displace him from the said Office; and the Managers causing their Clerk to make a Minute for the Purpose, containing their Reasons for displacing him, he shall thereupon, and from thenceforth, cease to be the Treasurer aforesaid, and shall, upon Notice thereof, adjust and settle with the Managers, and pay and deliver the Money, Books, Writings, Accounts, and all other Effects whatsoever in his Hands belonging to this Corporation, to such Person or Persons as the Managers shall order and appoint; and in that Case, and so often, and also if the Treasurer shall depart this Life, the Managers shall nominate another of the Members of this Corporation, but not of their own Number, to be Treasurer until the next Meeting for the annual Election, or other general Meeting of the Contributors.\nProvided always, any Thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, That before the Managers for the Time being proceed to erect any Building for the said Hospital, a Plan of such proposed Building, with an Estimation of the Expence, shall be prepared and laid before a general Meeting of the Contributors for their Consideration; and their Approbation shall be obtained before the same is carried into Execution.\nSigned by Order of a general Meeting of the Contributors,\n  Joshua Crosby, President.\nJanuary 17, 1752, The above Bill was read three Times at a general Meeting of the Contributors to the Pennsylvania Hospital, and pass\u2019d by a very great Majority.\n  B. Franklin, Clerk.\nWe approve this Law,\nWilliam Allen, Chief Justice.\n  Isaac Norris, Speaker of the Assembly.\n  Tench Francis, Attorney General.\nThe Managers hired the most convenient House that could be procured, with Gardens, &c. agreed with a Matron to govern the Family, and nurse the Sick, and provided Beds and other necessary Furniture; and prepared the following Rules respecting the Admission and Discharge of Patients, a Number of which were printed and dispersed among the Contributors, viz.\nRules agreed to by the Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital, for the Admission and Discharge of Patients.\nFirst, That no Patients shall be admitted whose Cases are judg\u2019d incurable, Lunaticks excepted; nor any whose Cases do not require the particular Conveniences of an Hospital.\nSecondly, That no Person, having the Small-pox, Itch, or other infectious Distempers, shall be admitted, until there are proper Apartments prepared for the Reception of such as are afflicted with those Diseases; and if any such Persons should be inadvertently admitted, they shall forthwith be discharged.\nThirdly, That Women having young Children shall not be received, unless their Children are taken Care of elsewhere, that the Hospital may not be burthen\u2019d with the Maintenance of such Children, nor the Patients disturbed with their Noise.\nFourthly, That all Persons desirous of being admitted into the Hospital (not Inhabitants of Philadelphia) must, before they leave their Abode, have their Cases drawn up in a plain Manner, and sent to the Managers, together with a Certificate from a Justice of Peace, and the Overseer or Overseers of the Poor of the Township in which they reside, that they have gain\u2019d a Residence in such Township, and are unable to pay for Medicines and Attendance; to which an Answer shall speedily be returned, informing them whether and when they may be admitted. All Persons employed in drawing up their Cases, are desired to be particular in enumerating the Symptoms, and to mention the Patient\u2019s Age, Sex, and Place of Abode, with the Distance from the City of Philadelphia.\nFifthly, That all Persons who have thus obtained a Letter of Licence to be received into the Hospital, must be there at the Time mentioned for their Reception, and bring with them that Letter, and must likewise deposite in the Hands of the Treasurer so much Money, or give such Security as shall be mentioned in their respective Letters of Licence, to indemnify the Hospital either from the Expence of Burial, in case they die, or to defray the Expence of carrying them back to their Place of Abode, and that they may not become a Charge to the City.\nSixthly, If several Persons, not excluded by the preceding Exceptions, are applying when they cannot be received, without exceeding the Number allowed by the Managers to be entertained at one Time in the Hospital, the Preference will be given, when the Cases are equally urgent, first to such as are recommended by one or more of the Contributors, Members of this Corporation, residing in the Township to which the poor Persons belong; secondly, to those who stand first in the List of Applications; but if some Cases are urgent, and others can admit of Delay, those with the most urgent Symptoms shall be preferred.\nSeventhly, Notwithstanding such Letters of Licence, if it shall appear by a personal Examination of any of the Patients, that their Cases are misrepresented, and that they are improper Subjects of the Hospital, the Managers shall have the Power of refusing them Admission.\nEighthly, That at least one Bed shall be provided for Accidents that require immediate Relief.\nNinthly, That if there shall be Room in the Hospital to spare, after as many poor Patients are accommodated as the Interest of the Capital Stock can support, the Managers shall have the Liberty of taking in other Patients, at such reasonable Rates as they can agree for; and the Profits arising from boarding and nursing such Patients, shall be appropriated to the same Uses as the Interest-money of the publick Stock. Provided that no such Persons, under Pretence of coming to board in the Hospital, shall be admitted, unless, on the first Application made on his Behalf, a Certificate be produced from the Overseer or Overseers of the Poor of the Township in which he lives, of his having gained a Residence in the said Township; and unless sufficient Security be given to the Managers to indemnify the City and Hospital from all Charges and Expences whatsoever, occasioned by his removing hither.\nTenthly, That those who are taken into the Hospital at a private Expence, may employ any Physicians or Surgeons they desire.\nEleventhly, That all Persons who have been admitted into the Hospital, shall be discharged as soon as they are cured, or, after a reasonable Time of Trial, are judg\u2019d incurable.\nTwelfthly, That all Patients when cured, sign Certificates of their particular Cases, and of the Benefit they have received in this Hospital, to be either published or otherwise disposed of, as the Managers may think proper.\nThirteenthly, That no Patient go out of the Hospital without Leave from one of the Physicians or Surgeons first signified to the Matron: That they do not swear, curse, get drunk, behave rudely or indecently, on Pain of Expulsion after the first Admonition.\nFourteenthly, That no Patient presume to play at Cards, Dice, or any other Game within the Hospital, or to beg any where in the City of Philadelphia, on Pain of being discharged for Irregularity.\nFifteenthly, That such Patients as are able shall assist in nursing others, washing and ironing the Linen, washing and cleaning the Rooms, and such other Services as the Matron shall require.\nThe foregoing Rules were agreed to by a Board of Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital, the Twenty-third Day of the First Month (January) 1752.\nBenjamin Franklin, Clerk.\n  We do approve of the foregoing Rules,\nWilliam Allen, Chief Justice.\n  Isaac Norris, Speaker of the Assembly.\n  Tench Francis, Attorney General.\nAbout this Time all the Physicians and Surgeons, who were Contributors, were consulted, in order to form some Rules relating to the Choice, Admission and Conduct of the Practitioners, and, after sundry Meetings, the following were prepared and agreed to at a general Meeting of the Contributors, viz.\nRules to be observed in the Choice of the Physicians and Surgeons of the Pennsylvania Hospital, to limit and appoint their Number, Authority and Duty, and to raise a Fund for supplying the said Hospital with Medicines.\nImprimis, The Managers of the said Hospital shall, within ten Days after their first Meeting in the Month called May, yearly, choose six Practitioners in Physick and Surgery, to visit and take Care of the Patients in the said Hospital, and the other Practitioners (who are at this Time Members of this Corporation) shall have the Privilege of attending and observing the Practice of those chosen for the Service of the Year.\nSecondly, The Practitioners chosen shall give their Attendance at such Times, and in such Manner, and be classed with each other, as shall be concluded and agreed upon by the Managers and Practitioners.\nThirdly, Upon extraordinary Cases, the Practitioners in Attendance shall call in two or more of the Practitioners chosen for the Service of the Year, to consult with.\nFourthly, In all such Cases, which will admit of Time for Deliberation, all the six Practitioners chosen for the Service of the Year, shall have timely Notice thereof.\nFifthly, If any Practitioner be removed by the Managers for Neglect of Duty, or any other Cause, or shall die, in that Case the Managers shall choose another Practitioner (who is a Member of this Corporation) to supply his Place.\nSixthly, Each Apprentice or other Student the Practitioners shall introduce to see the Practice of the Hospital, shall pay one English Guinea, or Thirty-four Shillings, current Money, per Year, to be laid out in Medicines, or such other Manner as the Managers think most proper.\nSeventhly, No Practitioner, during the Term for which he is chosen to serve the Hospital, shall act as a Manager.\nEighthly, The Practitioners shall keep a fair Account (in a Book provided for that Purpose) of the several Patients under their Care, of the Disorders they labour under, and shall enter in the said Book the Recipes or Prescriptions they make for each of them.\nNinthly, No Person shall be received hereafter as a Candidate to be employed in the said Hospital, as a Physician or Surgeon, until he be a Member of this Corporation, and of the Age of Twenty-seven Years, hath serv\u2019d a regular Apprenticeship in this City or Suburbs, hath studied Physick or Surgery seven Years or more, and hath undergone an Examination of six of the Practitioners of the Hospital, in the Presence of the Managers, and is approved of by them: And with respect to Strangers, they shall have resided three Years or more in this City, and shall be examined and approved of in the Manner, and under the Restrictions aforesaid.\nTenthly, These Rules shall continue in Force two Years, and from thence to the Time of the next general Meeting of the Contributors, and no longer.\nThe foregoing Rules were agreed to at a general Meeting of the Contributors to the Pennsylvania Hospital, the sixth Day of April, 1752, and three Times read, and ordered to be engrossed; and at a Meeting of the Contributors on the thirteenth Day of April, 1752, were again read, and, by their Order, signed by\nJoshua Crosby, President.\n\u2003We do approve of these Rules,\n  William Allen, Chief Justice.\n  Isaac Norris, Speaker of the Assembly.\n  Tench Francis, Attorney General.\nThrough the Industry of the Managers, every Thing was ready for the Admission of Patients by the Tenth of February, 1752, and the first were accordingly taken in on that Day. From which Time the Physicians and Surgeons, with a Committee of the Managers, have constantly and chearfully given Attendance at the House twice a Week, to visit the Sick, examine Cases, admit and discharge Patients, &c. besides the daily Attendance of the former.\nOn the 7th of May, 1752, there was a new Choice of Directors, and a Treasurer, viz.\nManagers\nJoshua Crosby\nIsaac Jones\nHugh Roberts\nSamuel Rhodes\nJohn Smith\nSamuel Hazard\nIsrael Pemberton,jun.\nJohn Reynell\nBenjamin Franklin\nWilliam Griffitts\nJoseph Morris\nThomas Lawrence,jun\nTreasurer Charles Norris.\nThe Managers met soon after, and chose six Physicians and Surgeons for the ensuing Year, viz. Doctors Lloyd Zachary, Thomas Bond, Phineas Bond, Thomas Cadwallader, Samuel Preston Moore, and John Redman; and those agreed to attend in the following Order.\nMay\nLloyd Zachary\nT. Cadwallader\nThomas Bond\nJune\nT. Cadwallader\nThomas Bond\nS. Preston Moore\nJuly\nThomas Bond\nS. Preston Moore\nPhineas Bond\nAugust\nS. Preston Moore\nPhineas Bond\n  John Redman\nSeptember\nLloyd Zachary\nPhineas Bond\n  John Redman\nOctober\nLloyd Zachary\nT. Cadwallader\n  John Redman\nNovember\nLloyd Zachary\nT. Cadwallader\nThomas Bond\nDecember\nT. Cadwallader\nThomas Bond\nS. Preston Moore\nJanuary\nThomas Bond\nS. Preston Moore\nPhineas Bond\nFebruary\nS. Preston Moore\nPhineas Bond\n  John Redman\nMarch\nLloyd Zachary\nPhineas Bond\n  John Redman\nApril\nLloyd Zachary\nT. Cadwallader\nJohn Redman\nThe Practitioners charitably supplied the Medicines gratis till December, 1752, when the Managers having procured an Assortment of Drugs from London, opened an Apothecary\u2019s Shop in the Hospital, and it being found necessary, appointed an Apothecary to attend and make up the Medicines daily, according to the Prescriptions, with an Allowance of Fifteen Pounds per Annum for his Care and Trouble, he giving Bond, with two sufficient Sureties, for the faithful Performance of his Trust. To pay for these Medicines, which cost One Hundred Twelve Pounds, Fifteen Shillings, and Two-pence Halfpenny, Sterling, a Subscription was set on Foot among the charitable Widows, and other good Women of the City, and the following Sums were contributed, viz.\nMary Allen,\nHannah Lloyd,\nMargaret Clymer,\nSarah Mifflin,\nDeborah Claypoole,\nDebby Morris,\nMary Calvert,\nDebby Norris,\nSusannah Dillwyn,\nContent Nicholson,\nSarah Edgell,\nHannah Ogden,\nSarah Fishbourne,\nMary Plumstead,\nAbigail Griffitts,\nMary Powell,\nFrances Griffitts,\nElizabeth Paschall,\nElizabeth Griffitts, jun.\nBeulah Paschall,\nElizabeth Holton,\nMartha Roberts,\nHannah Kearney,\nMary Standley,\nMiriam Kelly,\nAnn Strettel,\nSarah Lloyd,\nRebecca Steel,\nSarah Logan,\nSundry Women, by Isaac Jones,\nFrom this Bounty the Managers have since been enabled to furnish Medicines to many poor Out-patients, who, at their Request, have been kindly visited by the Physicians gratis, besides the Service of them to those in the Hospital.\nAbout the Beginning of this Year twelve Tin Boxes were provided, on which were written these Words in Gold Letters, Charity For The Hospital. One Box for each Manager, to be put up in his House, ready to receive casual Benefactions, in Imitation of a good Custom practised in some foreign Countries, where these Kind of Boxes are frequent in Shops, Stores, and other Places of Business, and into which the Buyer and Seller (when different Prices are proposed) often agree to throw the Difference, instead of splitting it: In which the Successful in Trade sometimes piously deposite a Part of their extraordinary Gains, and Magistrates throw their petty Fees; a Custom worthy Imitation! But these Boxes among us have produced but little for the Hospital as yet, not through want of Charity in our People, but from their being unacquainted with the Nature and Design of them.\nIn March, 1753, Doctor Lloyd Zachary, who had diligently attended the Hospital from the Beginning, being disabled by a paralytick Disorder, Doctor William Shippen was about this Time chosen, by the Managers, to supply his Place.\nIn May, 1753, the Committee of Managers appointed to settle the Accounts of the Hospital, made a Report of them, of which the following is an Abstract, viz.\nUpon a View of the general Accounts of the Hospital, from the Beginning to this Day, we find them to stand as follows:\nThe Stock given by Law for founding, building and furnishing the Provincial Hospital.\nDr.\nCr.\nTo real Securities in the Treasurer\u2019s Hands for sundry Sums lent out on Interest,\nBy two Orders drawn by the Speaker of the Assembly upon the Trustees of the Loan-Office, and paid,\nTo House-rent and Furniture to this Date,\nBy sundry Sums received for Interest of Money lent,\nBallance due to the Stock,\nDr. The Capital Stock of the Provincial Hospital.\nCr.\nTo sixty Bonds given by sundry Subscribers, amounting to\nBy One Hundred and Thirty-five Subscriptions, amounting in the Whole to Two Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty-one Pounds, Sixteen Shillings, and Eight pence,\nTo sundry Subscriptions, for which Bonds are not yet given,\nTo real Securities in the Treasurer\u2019s Hands, for sundry Sums lent out on Interest,\nTo an Annuity of Thirty-five Shillings Sterling, per Annum, issuing out of a Lot of Land on Cedarstreet, given by Joseph Wharton, in Lieu of his Subscription,\nTo a Lot of Land in the Northern Liberties, given by Matthias Koplin, as a Subscription,\nBallance due to Capital Stock,\nThe Maintenance of the Pennsylvania Hospital.\nDr.\nCr.\nTo Expences of Housekeeping, Fire-wood and Wages, from the Beginning to this Date, amounting to,\nBy Interest-money received to this Date,\nBy sundry Sums received for boarding Patients on Pay\nBy a Donation from B. Franklin\u2019s Charity-Box,\nBall. expended more than received,\nWe do also herewith lay before the Board, a compleat List of Subscribers, and an Account of the Patients received in the Hospital to this Time, by which it appears, That from the Eleventh of the Second Month, 1752, to the Fourth of the Fifth Month, 1753, there have been Sixty-four Patients received.\n     Of which32have been cured and discharged.\n  have been considerably relieved.\n  discharged as Incurables.\n    discharged for irregular Behaviour.\n    discharged because admitted contrary to Rules.\n    left the Hospital without Leave.\n    have been taken away by their Friends.\n    have died with various Disorders.\n    remains.\n  In all,\n     We likewise report, that several Out-patients have received the Advice of the Physicians, and the Use of the Medicines, &c.\nAll which we submit to the Board,\n  Samuel Hazard,John Reynell,John Smith.\nPhiladelphia, 5th Mo. 5, 1753.\nThe Managers and Treasurer chosen at the Election on the 7th of May, 1753, were as follows, viz.\nManagers\nJoshua Crosby\nSamuel Hazard\nBenjamin Franklin\nJoseph Morris\nIsrael Pemberton jun.\nHugh Roberts\nJohn Smith\nWilliam Griffitts\nSamuel Rhodes\nIsaac Jones\nJohn Reynell\nEvan Morgan.\nTreasurer Charles Norris.\nThe Managers re-chose the following Physicians and Surgeons to attend the Hospital for the ensuing Year, viz. Doctors Thomas Bond, Phineas Bond, Thomas Cadwallader, John Redman, Samuel Preston Moore, and William Shippen.\nIn the Beginning of 1754, Spinning-wheels were provided by the Managers, for the Employment of such of the Women Patients as may be able to use them.\nIn the Second Month, 1754, a Bill lying before the House of Assembly, for re-emitting and continuing the Currency of the Bills of Credit of this Province, and for striking a further Sum, the following Proposal was laid before the House, viz.\nTo the Representatives of the Freemen of the Province of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met.\nWe the Subscribers being persuaded, that the same charitable Disposition which induced the House of Representatives some Time ago to found an Hospital for the Relief of the Sick Poor, &c. will still incline them to promote all proper Measures to render so laudable an Institution of the most extensive Service, with this View we offer to sign the Paper Bills of Credit proposed to be issued by the Law now under Consideration, and we will Contribute such Sums of Money as may by Law become due to us for that Service, towards encreasing the Capital Stock of the said Hospital, or to be applied in such other Manner, for the Uses thereof, as the Managers may think most proper.\nSubmitted with all due Respect to the Consideration of the House,\nHugh Roberts,\nSamuel Sansom,\n  John Reynell,\nEdward Pennington,\n  Joseph Wharton,\nThomas Clifford,\n  John Smith,\nWilliam Grant,\n  James Pemberton,\nThomas Say,\n  Isaac Greenleafe,\nJoseph Saunders,\n  Isaac Jones,\nGeorge Spofford,\n  Thomas Crosby,\nJohn Pole,\n  Daniel Williams,\nJoseph King,\n  Charles Jones,\nOwen Jones,\n  Samuel Hazard,\nIsrael Pemberton,\n  Samuel Rhodes,\nJonathan Evans,\n  Joseph Morris,\nWilliam Logan,\nSamuel Burge.\nAnd three of the Members of the House, viz. Edward Warner, Evan Morgan, and Joseph Fox, offered to sign the said Money upon the same Terms, and their Names were accordingly inserted in the Bill.\n   *As the Bill miscarried, nothing was obtained by this kind Proposal for the Hospital.\nIn the same Month the Accounts of the Hospital were laid before the House of Assembly, and a Committee appointed to examine them, and to visit the Hospital, who having accordingly done so, made their Report in Writing, which (having recited the foregoing general State of the said Accounts) concludes thus:\n\u201cWe also report, that by the List of Patients, we find, that from the Eleventh of Second Month, 1752, to the Fourth of Fifth Month, 1753, there were Sixty-four Patients received into the Hospital, afflicted with Lunacy, and various other Disorders, which required the Conveniences of such a Place; of which Number Thirty-two were cured and discharged, and some others received considerable Relief. We likewise report, that we have visited the Hospital, and find a considerable Number of distemper\u2019d Patients there, who are well taken Care of, and the Whole appears to us to be under very regular and good Management, and likely to answer the original Design. All which we submit to the House,\nJoseph Trotter,\nJames Wright,\nWilliam Callender,\nJohn Armstron,\nMahlon Kirkbride,\nMoses Starr.\nGeorge Ashbridge,\nAbout this Time a Seal was procured by the Managers; it was engraven on Silver, the Device, the good Samaritan taking the sick Man, and delivering him to the Inn-keeper, with these Words underneath, Take Care of him, and I will repay thee.\nThe Twenty-seventh of Fourth Month, 1754, John Reynell, and John Smith, the Committee appointed for that Purpose, reported an Account of Patients remaining on the Twenty-eighth of Fourth Month, 1753, and of such as have been admitted into the Pennsylvania Hospital from that Time to the Twenty-seventh of Fourth Month, 1754, from which it appears that there were Sixty-one Patients.\nOf which\nwere cured and discharged.\nreceived considerable Benefit.\ndischarged at the Request of their Friends.\ndischarged for Disobedience to Rules.\njudg\u2019d incurable.\ndied.\nremained.\nIn all,\nAnd the Committee appointed to state and settle the Accounts to this Time, made their Report, of which the following is an Abstract.\nOn a general State of the Accounts, it appears that\n     The Stock granted by Act of Assembly for building, founding, and furnishing the Hospital.\nDr.\nCr.\nTo Cash lent out on Land Securities in the Treasurer\u2019s Hands,\nBy Cash of the Trustees of the Loan-Office, at two Payments,\nTo Expences of Furniture, House-rent, &c. adjusted 4th of 5th Mo. 1752,\n  By Interest received by the Treasurer last Year, \u00a367\u20070\u20070\n  Ditto this Year,160\u20070\u20070\nDitto, 5th of 5th Mo. 1753,\nDitto, 6th of 5th Mo. 1754.\nBallance due to the Stock,\nDr. The Capital Stock of the Pennsylvania Hospital.\nCr.\nTo Fifty-seven Bonds remaining due from sundry Subscribers, amounting to\nBy One Hundred and Thirty-three Subscriptions before the Settlement of Accounts, on the 4th of 5th Mo. 1752,\nTo Twenty-three Subscriptions for which Bonds are not yet given,\nBy two additional Subscriptions in 1753,\nTo Land Securities in the Treasurer\u2019s Hands, for Money lent to Persons on Interest,\nBy one Ditto, in 1754,\nTo Deeds in the Treasurer\u2019s Hands for a Lot near Germantown, and an Annuity of Thirty-five Shillings Sterling per Annum, both which were valued at\nBallance in the Treasurer\u2019s Hands,\nDr. The Houshold Expences of the Pennsylvania Hospital.\nCr.\nTo Ballance of last Year\u2019s Account,\nBy Interest-money received from the Subscribers,\nTo the Amount of Provisions, Firewood and Wages, from the 4th of 5th Mo. 1753, to this Day,\nReceived from the Borrowers of Money lent,\nBy Donations from several Charity-Boxes,\nBy Cash received for the Boarding of Pay Patients,\nBallance expended more than is yet received,\nWe likewise find that the Amount of Subscriptions collected from Widows and other charitable Women, towards paying for the Medicines received from Sylvanus and Timothy Bevan last Year, and paid into the Hands of William Griffitts, is One Hundred and Eleven Pounds, Five Shillings and Six-pence, and that the Ballance remaining due on Account of said Medicines, is Seventy-nine Pounds, Sixteen Shillings and Four-pence Halfpenny, which ought speedily to be discharged.\nSubmitted to the Board of Managers,\n  Hugh Roberts,\n    Israel Pemberton.\nPhiladelphia, 6 5th Mo. 1754\nAbstract of Cases admitted into the Pennsylvania Hospital, from the Eleventh of the Second Month, 1752, to the Twenty-seventh of the Fourth Month, 1754.\n    Ad-mitted.\n    Cured.\n    Re-lieved.\n    IrregularBehav-iour.\n    Incur-able.\n    Takenawayby theirFriends.\n    Dead.\n    Re-maining.\nAgues\n  Cancer,\n  Colliquative Purging,\n  Consumption,\n  Contusion,\n  Cough, of long standing,\n  Dropsies,\n  Empyema,\n  Eyes disordered,\n  Falling Sickness,\n  Fevers,\n  Fistula in Ano,\n  \u2014\u2014 in Perinaeo,\n  Flux,\n  Gutta Serena,\n  Hair Lip,\n  Hypocondriac Melancholy,\n  Hypopyon,\n  Lunacy,\n  Mortification,\n  Prolapsus Ani,\n  \u2014\u2014 Uteri,\n  Palsy,\n  \u2014 of the Bladder,\n  Rheumatism and Sciatica,\n  Scorbutick and scrophulous Diseases,\n  Ulcers, with Caries, &c.\n  Vertigo,\n  Uterine Disorder,\n  Wen,\n  Wounded,\n  In all,\u00a0\u00a0\nN. B. The Majority of the Lunaticks taken in had been many Years disorder\u2019d, and their Diseases become too habitual to admit of Relief; others whose Cases were recent, and might probably have been cured, being put in at private Expence, were so hastily taken away by their Friends, that sufficient Time was not allowed for their Recovery: The Managers have therefore, as well for the Sake of the Afflicted, as the Reputation of the Hospital, resolved to admit none hereafter, who are not allowed to remain twelve Months in the House, if not cured sooner, or judged by the Physicians to be incurable.\nThe Choice of the Sick to be supported on the publick Stock, was confined to such only whose Cases could not be healed properly in their respective Habitations, but required the extraordinary Conveniences and Advantages of an Hospital; amongst these, several, for want of this noble Charity in Time, had languished too long to receive any other Advantage from it than the Relief of their Poverty, and the Satisfaction of being convinced they had every Chance for Recovery that Care and Tenderness could afford.\nFrom the foregoing Accounts it appears, That from the Tenth of February, 1752, to the Twenty-seventh of April, 1754, which is but about two Years and two Months, sixty Persons, afflicted with various Distempers, have been cured, besides many others that have received considerable Relief, both In and Out-patients; and if so much Good has been done by so small a Number of Contributors, how much more then may reasonably be expected from the liberal Aid and Assistance of the Well-disposed who hitherto have not join\u2019d in the Undertaking? Experience has more and more convinced all concerned, of the great Usefulness of this Charity. The careful Attendance afforded to the Sick Poor; the Neatness, Cleanness, and Regularity of Diet with which they are kept in the Hospital, are found to contribute to their Recovery much sooner than their own Manner of Living at Home, and render the Physick they take more effectual. Here they have the best Advice, and the best Medicines, which are Helps to Recovery, that many in better Circumstances in different Parts of the Province do not enjoy. In short, there is scarce any one Kind of doing Good, which is not hereby in some Manner promoted; for not only the Sick are visited and relieved, but the Stranger is taken in, the Ignorant instructed, and the Bad reclaimed;\n   *The kind Visits and Conversation of some serious Persons, and the pious Books that have been left in the Hospital, recommended to the Perusal of the Patients, together with the exact Regularity, kept in the House, have been attended with a Blessing in these Respects.\n present Wants are supplied, and the future prevented, and (by easing poor Families of the Burthen of supporting and curing their Sick) it is also the Means of feeding the Hungry, and cloathing the Naked.\nIt is therefore hoped, that by additional Benefactions from pious and benevolent Persons (an Account of which will be published yearly according to Law) this Charity may be farther extended, so as to embrace with open Arms all the Sick Poor that need the Relief it affords, and that the Managers will not, in Time to come, be under a Necessity, from the Narrowness of the Funds, of refusing Admittance to any proper Object. \u201cIt is hoped that a deaf Ear will not be turn\u2019d to the Cries of those, in whose Favour both Religion and Humanity strongly plead; who are recommended by the great Pattern of human Conduct; who in Sickness are lost to Society; who contribute greatly to the Instruction of those Youth to whom the Lives of High and Low may hereafter be entrusted, whose Prayers are to be sent up for their Deliverers; but that all will assist to render the Funds of this Hospital answerable to the Necessities of the Poor. Incapacity of contributing can by none be pleaded; the Rich only indeed can bestow large Sums, but most can spare something yearly, which collected from many, might make a handsome Revenue, by which great Numbers of distress\u2019d Objects can be taken Care of, and relieved, many of whom may possibly one Day make a Part of the blessed Company above, when a Cup of cold Water given to them will not be unrewarded. Let People but reflect what unnecessary Expences they have been at in any Year for vain Superfluities or Entertainments, for mere Amusements or Diversions, or perhaps in vicious Debauches; and then let them put the Question to themselves, Whether they do not wish that Money had been given in the Way now proposed? If this Reflection has Influence on their future Conduct, the Poor will be provided for. The least Mite may be here given without a Blush; for what People would not chuse to give the Treasurer, or any Manager, the Trouble to receive, may be put into their Charity-boxes, or into the Box which is fixed in the Entry of the Hospital: Where Money cannot so well be spared, Provision or Linen, Blankets, and any Kind of Furniture, Herbs and Roots for the Kitchen, or the Apothecary, or other Necessaries of a Family, may be delivered to the Matron or Governess; old Linen, and even Rags, for Lint, Bandages, and other chyrurgical Dressings, are acceptable, being scarce to be purchas\u2019d sometimes for Money; and tho\u2019 they are of little or no Value to those who have them, they are absolutely necessary in such an Hospital, and will be thankfully received.\u201d\nIt ought in Justice to be here observed, that the Practitioners have not only given their Advice and Attendance gratis, but have made their Visits with even greater Assiduity and Constancy than is sometimes used to their richer Patients; and that the Managers have attended their Monthly Boards, and the Committees the Visitations of two Days in every Week, with greater Readiness and Punctuality than has been usually known in any other publick Business, where Interest was not immediately concerned; owing, no Doubt, to that Satisfaction which naturally arises in humane Minds from a Consciousness of doing Good, and from the frequent pleasing Sight of Misery relieved, Distress removed, grievous Diseases healed, Health restored, and those who were admitted languishing, groaning, and almost despairing of Recovery, discharged sound and hearty, with chearful and thankful Countenances, gratefully acknowledging the Care that has been taken of them, praising God, and blessing their Benefactors, who by their bountiful Contributions founded so excellent an Institution.\nN.B. All Persons who shall be disposed to contribute to the Support of this Hospital by Will, are advised to do it in the following Manner.\nItem, I give and bequeath to the Contributors to the Pennsylvania Hospital, the Sum of to be paid to their Treasurer for the Time being, and applied towards carrying on the charitable Design of the said Hospital.\nList of the Contributors to the Pennsylvania Hospital.\nA\nWilliam Allen, Esq.\nDitto, per Ann. during Life,\nStephen Anthony,\nJohn Armitt,\nWilliam Attwood,\nB\nJohn and James Bankson,\nAnthony Benezet,\nDaniel Benezet,\nWilliam Blair,\nJohn Blakey, Hatter,\nJohn Bleakley,\nThomas Bond,\nPhineas Bond,\nJohn Bowman,\nWilliam Branson,\nJohn Brooks,\nC\nThomas Cadwallader,\nJohn Campbell,\nWilliam Clemm,\nJohn Coates,\nWarwick Coates,\nJoseph Cox,\nMoses Cox,\nJoshua Crosby,\nThomas Crosby,\nD\nDavid Deshler,\nE\nGeorge Emlen,\nJoshua Emlen,\nSamuel Emlen, junior,\nF\nRichard Farmar,\nWilliam Fishbourne,\nJoshua Fisher,\nEnoch Flower,\nJoseph Fox,\nBenjamin Franklin,\nSolomon Fussell,\nG\nJohn Goodwin, junior,\nThomas Graeme,\nWilliam Grant,\nGeorge Gray, Brewer,\nIsaac Greenleafe,\nWilliam Griffitts,\nH\nDavid Hall,\nAdam Harker,\nArent Hassert,\nSamuel Hazard,\nEdward Hicks,\nAugustine Hicks,\nWilliam Hinton,\nWilliam Hodge,\nAndrew Hodge,\nJoshua Howell,\nJohn Hughes,\nPhilip Hulbert,\nJ\nAbel James,\nRobert Janney,\nDerrick Johnson,\nJoseph Johnson,\nMatthew Johns,\nIsaac Jones,\nCharles Jones,\nJohn Jones, Merchant,\nK\nJohn Kearsley,\nJohn Kearsley, junior,\nJoseph King,\nMatthias Koplin,\nL\nJohn Lassell,\nThomas Lawrence, junior,\nJoseph Leech,\nJacob Lewis,\nThomas Lightfoot,\nThomas Livezey, junior,\nJames Logan,\nJohn Lord,\nJoseph Lownes,\nJames Lownes,\nBenjamin Loxley,\nM\nWight Massey,\nWilliam Masters,\nJohn Meas,\nRees Meredith,\nJonathan Mifflin,\nGeorge Mifflin,\nJohn Mifflin,\nSamuel Mifflin,\nWilliam Moode,\nSamuel Preston Moore,\nRobert Moore,\nEvan Morgan,\nAnthony Morris,\nAnthony Morris, junior,\nJoseph Morris,\nSamuel Morris, Sheriff,\nMorris Morris,\nN\nSamuel Neave,\nJohn Nelson,\nWilliam Nicholson,\nJohn Nixon,\nSamuel Noble,\nIsaac Norris,\nCharles Norris,\nPeter Nygh,\nJohn Palmer,\nThomas Paschall,\nOswald Peele,\nIsrael Pemberton,\nIsrael Pemberton, junior,\nJames Pemberton,\nJohn Pemberton,\nEdward Pennington,\nRichard Peters,\nWilliam Plumsted,\nJohn Pole,\nSamuel Powell,\nR\nAndrew Rambo,\nJohn Redman,\nJohn Reynell,\nSamuel Rhodes,\nJoseph Richardson, Merchant,\nFrancis Richardson,\nHugh Roberts,\nJohn Ross,\nS\nSamuel Sansom,\nThomas Say,\nEdward Shippen,\nWilliam Shippen,\nJohn Smith,\nPeter Sonmans,\nChristopher Sour,\nCharles and Alexander Stedman,\nThomas Stretch,\nT\nAdam Thomson,\nJoseph Trotter,\nRobert Tuite,\nU\nJohn Unbekandt,\nW\nWilliam Wallace,\nJames West,\nJoseph Wharton,\nTownsend White,\nJohn Wier,\nRobert Willan,\nDaniel Williams,\nCaspar Wistar,\nJohn Wistar,\nEdmund Woolley,\nJames Wright,\nZ\nLloyd Zachary,", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "05-28-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0090", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 28 May 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Collinson, Peter\nDear Sir.\nPhilada: 28th May. 1754\nI had at length the pleasure of hearing from you per the Myrtilla that brought me yours of the 26th. Janry. with which I received the two Cases containing the Maps, Silk &c. all very agreeable: but nothing more so than the good News you tell me, that our Proprietor is solicitous for the Prosperity of the Academy, has ordered a Salary towards the Support of a Rector, and intends a settlement of Land &c. I hope he will soon see the good Effects of his Bounty, and live long to enjoy the pleasure it must afford him.\nI suppose you acquainted M. Dalibard, that his Pacquet to me was unfortunately lost in Capt. Davis. I have not had a line from him since in answer to my Letters. I was in hopes that hearing of the loss, he would have renewed that Pacquet.\nBy Capt. Cuzzins I sent you a paper containing my new Experiments and Observations on Lightning, and on the positive and negative Electricity of the Clouds: But I fear the notion that Thunder Strokes are sometimes upwards from the Earth to the Clouds will appear so extravagantly whimsical, that none of your Electricians will give themselves the trouble of repeating and verifying the Experiment and the Society will be half asham\u2019d of the Honour they have done me. I am not certain whether a Postscript to that Paper, dated April 18th. 1754 was sent with it, and therefore now send a Copy enclosed.\nCapt. Swaine is gone on a Second Attempt for the N.W. Passage. He has left his Journals and Drafts of the first Voyage with me: but not with permission of Communicating them till his Return.\nI am sorry you had so much Trouble about the Pacquet Capt. Mitchel carelessly put into the Post Office, and that you were all so disappointed in its Contents.\nI am glad our Friend Smith has recommended himself to your Regards. He has, as you observe, great abilities, and indefatigable application; and I doubt not will be serviceable to this Country. As to his Gown, I think with you that it may not at first be proper to use it frequently in the Academy; tho\u2019 if it should prejudice the main design with some, it might perhaps advantage it as much with others.\nThe above is in answer to yours of Janry. 26th. Mr. Smith is since arrived, and has brought me your favour of March 7th. with the Medal your Society has honoured me with; also the Magazines, Bower\u2019s 3d Vol. Knight\u2019s Philosophy, and the 3 Barometers, two of which came safe, but the Ball of the third was broke to pieces and the Mercury gone. This Loss added to the former, leaves me but 2 out of Nine. It seems to me to be a fault in making them, that the Ball is not left thicker, or that it is not better bedded than in a hole of a Brass Plate; for as the Tube has some play up and down, the cross Clamps not binding it fast, any sudden shock in Carriage striking the thin Glass Ball against the sharp Edge of the hole, with the weight of the included Mercury, breaks it. So it seems to me that either the Tube should be fixed, or the Hole lin\u2019d, with a little Circle of List, Buckskin, Velvet, or some other soft spungy substance that would prevent the Collision of the Glass and Brass. Two others lately brought over here for two of my Acquaintance, are broke just in the same manner, and as I intended to distribute mine to Friends in the different Colonies on the Continent, if they cannot be made to bear Carriage. \u2019Tis to no purpose to send any more. Is it practicable to Repair this broken one, if I send it back for that purpose?\nI am heartily concern\u2019d with you, at the Dissensions so unseasonably kindling in the Colony Assemblies, when unanimity is became more than ever necessary to Frustrate the Designs of the French. May I presume to whisper my Sentiments in a private Letter? Britain and her Colonies should be considered as one Whole, and not as different States with separate Interests.\nInstructions from the Crown to the Colonies, should have in View the Common Weal of that Whole, to which partial Interests ought to give way: And they should never Aim at extending the Prerogative beyond its due Bounds, nor abridging the just Liberties of the people: In short, they should be plainly just and reasonable, and rather savour of Fatherly Tenderness and Affection, than of Masterly harshness and Severity. Such Instructions might safely be made publick; but if they are of a different kind, they must be kept secret. Then the Representatives of the People, knowing nothing of the Instructions, frame Laws which cannot pass. Governors not daring to produce the Instructions invent other Reasons for refusing the Bill. False Reasons seldom appear good, their Weakness is discover\u2019d and expos\u2019d. The Governor persists and is despised. The people lose their Respect for him, grow Angry and rude. And if at length the Instruction appears, perhaps to justify the Governor\u2019s conduct, they say, why was it not produc\u2019d before? for then all this Time spent in Framing the Bill, and disputing the point, might have been saved, the heavy charge of long Sessions prevented and Harmony preserved. \u2014 But enough of this.\nMr. Smith has given me a particular and very pleasing Account of the German Society, and the Governor has communicated to me a Letter from Mr. Chandler their Secretary. I cannot but applaud most sincerely, so judicious, so generous, and so pious an Undertaking; and the Society may depend on everything in my Power that may contribute to its Success. Mr. Smith will give the Reason why we do not write by this Ship.\nI shall be glad to see Mr. Short\u2019s improvement on my Fire-Hearths: And M. Le Cat\u2019s Letters on my Experiments.\nI am asham\u2019d to say any thing more of the great Philosophical Pacquet, I so often threatned you with: It\u2019s enormous Bulk, and the little time I can spare to transcribe Things, together with the Fits of Diffidence that sometimes seize me, have hitherto occasioned it\u2019s Delay, But I believe you will get it at last.\nI am just about setting out for the Treaty at Albany and do not expect to be at home again for some Months, as Mr. Hunter and my self are to make a progress thro\u2019 all the Colonies after the Treaty, in order to regulate the Post offices, and must Travel at least 3000 Miles before we sit down at home again.\nBut wherever I am, I shall, as I ought, remember your Friendship and esteem myself Dear Sir, Your much obliged humble servant.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "05-29-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0091", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to the President and Council of the Royal Society, 29 May 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: President and Council of the Royal Society\nGentlemen,\nPhilada. May 29. 1754\nThe very great Honour you have done me, in adjudging me your Medal for 1753, demands my grateful Acknowledgements, which I beg you would accept as the only Return at present in my Power.\nI know not whether any of your learned Body have attain\u2019d the ancient boasted Art of multiplying Gold; but you have certainly found the Art of making it infinitely more valuable.\nYou may easily bestow your Favours on Persons of more Merit; but on none who can have a higher Sense of the Honour, or a more perfect Respect for your Society and Esteem of its excellent Institution, than Gentlemen, Your most obliged and most obedient Servant\nB Franklin\nPresident and Council of the Royal Society.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "05-30-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0092", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Penn, 30 May 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Penn, Thomas\nSir,\nPhilada. May 30. 1754\nMr. Peters has communicated to me a Paragraph of your Letter of Feby. 1. relating to a Plan desired by Sir Everard Fawkener, for the Extension of Correspondence, without any View to present Advantage. Immediately after the Treaty at Albany, Mr. Hunter and I are to proceed on a Journey thro\u2019 all the Northern Colonies, to visit all the Post Offices, and see every thing with our own Eyes; after which we may be able to project some Plan of that kind, less imperfect than the best we can at present offer.\nI beg Leave to return you my Thanks for your favourable Character of me to Sir Everard, and for the Assurances you are pleas\u2019d to give me of your friendly Offices. If in any thing I could possibly be serviceable to you, it would give me great Pleasure, as I am, with the sincerest Respect and Esteem, Sir, Your Honour\u2019s most obedient and most humble Servant\nB Franklin\nHonble. Thos Penn, Esqr\n Addressed: To \u2002The honourable Thomas Penn Esqr \u2002Proprietor of the Province of Pennsyl- \u2002vania \u2002London \u2002per the Carolina Capt. Mesnard\nEndorsed: Benjamin Franklin May 30th: 1754\u2003P Collinson\u2003Green", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-08-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0093", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to James Alexander and Cadwallader Colden with Short Hints towards a Scheme for Uniting the Northern Colonies, 8 June 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Alexander, James,Colden, Cadwallader\nThe Pennsylvania commissioners to the Albany Congress left Philadelphia on Monday morning, June 3, and arrived at New York on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 5th. Some of them, especially Richard Peters, were active during the next three days buying various goods for the Pennsylvania present to the Indians, apparently without Franklin\u2019s assistance. On one of these days he and Peters met with their mutual friend James Alexander and the conversation turned \u201cto the uniting the Colonies and the difficulties thereof,\u201d as Alexander put it in a letter to Cadwallader Colden, June 9. Franklin thought he had a plan that might avoid some of those difficulties and promised \u201cto set down some hints of a Scheme\u201d for his friend. The result was the paper he sent, with a short covering note, to Alexander, June 8, the day before he left New York for Albany.\nFranklin had believed in the need for some form of colonial union since at least 1751, when he had written James Parker describing a plan he thought might be effective. During the years that had elapsed the increasing menace of French encroachments could only strengthen his conviction, though he might develop or modify his ideas on the precise form a union should take and how it could best be put into operation. At some time between March 20, 1751, and June 8, 1754, he may have set down on paper the outline of a revised scheme, but there is no evidence that he did so. More probably his plan remained a matter of thought and possibly of conversation with friends until his talk with Alexander while on the journey to Albany, which resulted in the drafting of the paper printed below.\nPrecise comparison between the proposal of 1751 and that now sent to Alexander is impossible because the earlier version is couched in rather general terms and does not spell out the powers to be assigned to the new central agencies, though it does cover in broad language the same areas of Indian affairs and common defense. On most points which can be compared the two plans show no significant differences. The one striking exception is that Franklin believed in 1751 that the union should be a voluntary one, \u201centered into by the Colonies themselves,\u201d while in 1754 he had become convinced that the plan, when perfected at Albany, should be \u201csent home, and an Act of Parliament obtain\u2019d for establishing it.\u201d Franklin was political realist enough to recognize, after his experiences with the Pennsylvania Assembly during that winter and spring on the matter of aiding Virginia against the French in the upper Ohio Valley, and after observing the narrow provincialism of the assemblies of some of the other colonies, that only the interposition of the mother country by act of Parliament could bring about such a union as he had in mind.\nN York June 8. 1754\nMr. Alexander is requested to peruse these Hints, and make such remarks in correcting or Improving the Scheme, and send the Paper with such remarks to Dr. Colden for his sentiments who is desired to forward the whole to Albany to their Very humble Servant\nB: Franklin\n[Enclosure]\nShort hints towards a scheme for uniting the Northern Colonies\nA Governour General\nTo be appointed by the King.\nTo be a Military man\nTo have a Salary from the Crown\nTo have a negation on all acts of the Grand Council, and carry into execution what ever is agreed on by him and that Council.\nGrand Council\nOne member to be chosen by the Assembly of each of the smaller Colonies and two or more by each of the larger, in proportion to the Sums they pay Yearly into the General Treasury.\nMembers Pay\n\u2014\u2014Shillings sterling per Diem deuring their sitting and mileage for Travelling Expences.\nPlace and Time of meeting\nTo meet \u2014\u2014 times in every Year, at the Capital of each Colony in Course, unless particular circumstances and emergencies require more frequent meetings and Alteration in the Course, of places. The Governour General to Judge of those circumstances &c. and call by his Writts.\nGeneral Treasury\nIts Fund, an Excise on Strong Liquors pretty equally drank in the Colonies or Duty on Liquor imported, or \u2014\u2014 shillings on each Licence of Publick House or Excise on Superfluities as Tea &c. &c. all which would pay in some proportion to the present wealth of each Colony, and encrease as that wealth encreases, and prevent disputes about the Inequality of Quotas.\nTo be Collected in each Colony, and Lodged in their Treasury to be ready for the payment of Orders issuing from the Governour General and Grand Council jointly.\n  Duty and power of the Governour General and Grand Council\nTo order all Indian Treaties.\n  \u2003make all Indian purchases not within proprietary Grants\n  \u2003make and support new settlements by building Forts, raising and paying Soldiers to Garison the Forts, defend the frontiers and annoy the Ennemy.\n  \u2003equip Grand Vessels to scour the Coasts from Privateers in time of war, and protect the Trade\n  \u2003and every thing that shall be found necessary for the defence and support of the Colonies in General, and encreasing and extending their settlements &c.\nFor the Expence they may draw on the fund in the Treasury of any Colony.\nManner of forming this Union\nThe scheme being first well considered corrected and improved by the Commissioners at Albany, to be sent home, and an Act of Parliament obtain\u2019d for establishing it.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-09-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0094", "content": "Title: James Alexander to Cadwallader Colden, 9 June 1754\nFrom: Alexander, James\nTo: Colden, Cadwallader\nDear Sir\nNew York May [June] 9th 1754\nI communicated yours of May 16th and 28th and my Answers to Mr. Pownal Mr. Peeters and Mr. Franklin.\nBefore I communicated them to Mr. Pownal, he had thought of forewith building one Vessel of force and sundry small Vessels to attend her, to prevent the boarding of the larger by Cannoes and Pereagoes upon Lake Ontario, and on the many good Consequences of that scheme, when I told him you had thought on nearly the same thing, which introduced the communicating them to him.\nI had some conversation with Mr. Franklin and Mr. Peeter, as to the Uniting the Colonies, and the Difficulties thereof by effecting our liberties on the one hand, or being ineffectual on the other. Whereon Mr. Franklin promised to set down some hints of a scheme that he thought might do which accordingly he sent to me to be transmitted to you and it\u2019s inclosed.\nTo me it seems extreamly well digested, and at first sight avoids many difficulties that had accur\u2019d to me.\nSome difficulties still remain. For Example there cannot be found men tolorably skilled in Warlike affairs to be chosen for the Grand Council. And there\u2019s danger in communicating to them the Schemes to be put in execution for fear of a discovery to the Enemy. Whether this may not be in some measure remedied by a Council of State of a few persons to be chosen by the Grand Council at their stated meetings which Council of State to be allways attending the Governour General, and with him to degest before hand all matters to be laid before the next Grand Council, and only the General but not the particular plans of Operation.\n   That the Governour General and that Council of State issue the Orders for the payment of Monies so far as the Grand Council have before hand agreed may be issued for any General plan to be executed. That the Governour General and Council of State at every meeting of the Grand Council Lay before them their Accounts and Transactions since the last meeting, at least so much of their Transactions as is safe to be made Publick. This Council of State to be something like that of the United provinces, and the Grand Council to resemble the States General. That the Capacity and Ability of the persons to be chosen of the Council of State and Grand Council be their only Qualifications whether members of the respective bodies that chuse them or not. That the Grand Council with the Governour Generall have power to encrease but not to decrease the Duties laid by Act of Parliament And have power to issue bills of Credit on Emergencies to be Sunk by the encreas\u2019d funds bearing a small interest but not to be tenders. I am Dear Sir Your most Obedient and most humble Servant\nJa: Alexander", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-14-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0095", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Timothy, 14 June 1754\nFrom: Timothy, Peter\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nDear Sir\nCharles-Town, So. Carolina, June 14. 1754\nYour Favour of the 23th of April, by Capt. Robeson, has been received. Perhaps if you had been by when I read it, you would have pitied me; for my Concern was great, and very visible. I own you had some Reason to be so severe: But had you been in my Place, you might have acted as I did; Robeson came here under the Character of a professed Gamester; and Baddely\u2019s Vessel is really bad; if there was so great a Risque in both; would it have been prudent in me to send by either? Then why did I not send by Haselton? He told me, he should sail on Monday; in the mean Time I endeavour\u2019d to get a Bill, could get none; afterwards try\u2019d for Dollars, of which there was hardly any to be seen, but got enough by Saturday Evening, the next Morning early he sail\u2019d.\nBut my Case had like to look\u2019d worse now than ever. Three Days ago Mr. Sinclair told me that Robeson, tho\u2019 enter\u2019d out for Philadelphia, was not going there. It was thought he intended for Hispaniola, or Santa-Cruz, &c. This Morning I was inform\u2019d he goes for Philadelphia certainly; the Dollars I got to send by Haselton were gone; Messrs. Austin and Laurens, who promised me a Bill, upon examining their Accompts, had not above \u00a310 to draw for; and no Other Merchant in Charles-Town had Money due in your City. I was again obliged to hunt for Dollars; but Dollars, (which are every Day scarcer) were not to be found. All this, without any Thing more would have plainly worn the Face of a Pretence. But, while I was complaining of my Difficulty, a Gentleman who had with great Pains collected some Dollars for London, told me he would spare me 50: These I have got, and with 15 more, I send you by Rudeman Robeson, as you desire, for which I will take a Receipt from him.\nMr. Sinclair is to receive the Money for the 20 Reams of Paper by Ross, saying, \u201cyou have ordered a Remittance in Bills to London, that therefore, and as the Paper was shipp\u2019d to him, \u2019tis most proper to pay him.\u201d And it is much easier to get our Currency for him, than Dollars.\nI have but 8 Reams of your Paper left; and, if I could get Dollars, I have not Money now to purchase them; Therefore can\u2019t send to you for more Paper yet: (Money comes in very slowly in Carolina, especially to me.) But, if you\u2019ll send 20 Reams more to Mr. Sinclair by the first Opportunity, I\u2019ll purchase it of him, as you proposed to me in your Letter before the last. And for the next Parcel will send Money to you. I believe the 65 Dollars I now send, will about Ballance my Account. Please send me the whole Debit and Credit as it stands when you receive this. Mr. Griffith had 5 Dollars of me, for which he was to send me two Barrels of Beer: As he did not send the Beer, please receive to the Five Dollars of him. I am in the greatest Hurry imaginable, or would write to him; but you\u2019ll be kind eno\u2019 to present my sincere Respects to him.\nYou may judge of my Hurry, when I tell you I am, (and have been these 4 Months) the sole Inhabitant of my Printing-Office, (excepting a Negro Boy whom I\u2019m teaching to serve me at the Press.) I discharged my villainous Apprentice; gave him two Years Time, quitted all Claims on him for Monies received and gamed away, for Loss of Time, and Charges for taking up &c. &c. &c. A Lad very capable of the Business, and might have been of vast Service to me, but for 3 Years has always pulled the Contrary Way; owing to an unhappy Affection for Drink, Play, and scandalous Company.\nMy best Respects to your Fire-Side, and believe Me to remain Dear Sir Your most affectionate and obedient humble Servant\nPetr. Timothy\nLyall did not come in. And Dun, came into the Road one Afternoon, and sail\u2019d the next Morning.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-19-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0096", "content": "Title: Proceedings of the Albany Congress, 19 June 1754\u201311 July 1754\nFrom: \nTo: \nJames DeLancey had summoned the Albany Congress to meet on June 14, but its opening session did not take place until the 19th. The delay was caused chiefly by the failure of some of the Iroquois to come to Albany on time, but even the colonial representatives did not arrive until after the scheduled opening date. DeLancey himself landed from his voyage up the Hudson promptly enough, June 13, but none of the commissioners from other provinces are known to have arrived before the 15th, and some reached Albany only on the 17th. The next day DeLancey sent around Goldsbrow Banyar, the deputy secretary of the province, asking the commissioners to meet with him the following morning, Wednesday, June 19, to organize the Congress and proceed to business.\nSome changes had taken place in the list of colonies participating in the Congress since the Board of Trade had directed that it be held. Virginia and New Jersey had declined to send commissioners, but DeLancey, acting on Shirley\u2019s suggestion, had invited Rhode Island and Connecticut to be represented, and these self-governing colonies had accepted. Commissioners were therefore present from the four New England colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, and from the two proprietary provinces of Pennsylvania and Maryland. DeLancey presided at nine of the thirty-two sittings and officially represented his province at the Congress, but four members of the New York Council also attended most of the sessions. To the displeasure of the delegates from other colonies, he did not formally commission these four, and in the records they are never referred to as \u201ccommissioners\u201d; but they did participate in the deliberations and brought the total attendance to twenty-five.\nThe sessions took place in the Albany court house. For the first two days Banyar probably attended and took the minutes, but on June 21 Peter Wraxall was chosen secretary, and thereafter kept the official record. His rough notes have not been located, but on the next to last day of the Congress John Chambers of New York and Richard Peters of Pennsylvania were appointed to inspect Wraxall\u2019s minutes; the next morning they reported themselves satisfied. Presumably each delegation received an official copy and the Congress ordered that all British governments on the continent might take copies of the whole or any part of the proceedings upon paying for them. It is not certain, therefore, how many official copies were made and certified by Wraxall. Five complete, or virtually complete, copies are known to survive, one incomplete document is probably the largest part of another; some other manuscript versions\u2014uncertified copies or later transcripts of the whole or parts of the record\u2014also exist. The entire text runs to over 20,000 words, not including the heading and attendance record of each of the thirty-two sittings. The text has been printed in full several times, and it seems unnecessary to reprint it here. Instead an abstract of the minutes for each session is given below, omitting entirely the substance of the speeches delivered to or by the Indians (which actually took place at separate gatherings) and indicating attendance or absence of particular members only when the fact seems pertinent. A few significant phrases or longer passages are marked as being direct quotations from the minutes. The texts of important documents are printed separately below under their own dates, with cross-references to them in the abstract.\nProceedings of the Congress at Albany. A.D.1754.\nTexts of the Commissions:\nMassachusetts: Samuel Welles, John Chandler, Thomas Hutchinson, Oliver Partridge, John Worthington.\n  New Hampshire: Theodore Atkinson, Richard Wibird, Meshech Weare, Henry Sherburne, Jr.\n  Connecticut: William Pitkin, Roger Wolcott, Jr., Elisha Williams.\n  Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, Martin Howard, Jr.\n  Pennsylvania: John Penn, Richard Peters, Isaac Norris, Benjamin Franklin.\n  Maryland: Benjamin Tasker, Abraham Barnes.\nWed. June 19, A.M. All above commissioners present except Hutchinson. Also present: Lieut. Gov. James DeLancey, and Joseph Murray, William Johnson, John Chambers, and William Smith, New York councilors. Commissions, part of Board of Trade letter, Sept. 18, 1754, and minutes of N.Y. Indian commissioners, June 15 and 18, read. DeLancey promises attendance of N.Y. secretary or agent for Indian affairs with records.\nSame day, P.M. Whole of above letter of Board of Trade and above minutes of N.Y. Indian commissioners read and entered on minutes. Committee appointed to prepare draft of speech for DeLancey to make to Indians.\nThurs. June 20, A.M. Board adjourns without business.\nFri. June 21, A.M. Hutchinson attends for first time. Board agrees colonies should be named in minutes in north-to-south order. [Maine being part of Mass., that province takes precedence.] Peter Wraxall named secretary. Committee\u2019s draft speech read; some objections made; no conclusion reached.\nSat. June 22, A.M. Draft speech agreed upon.\nMon. June 24, A.M. Thanks voted to Richard Peters for Sunday\u2019s sermon; its printing desired. Oath to be administered to Wraxall.\nSame day, P.M. Motion \u201cthat the Commissioners deliver their opinion whether a Union of all the Colonies is not at present absolutely necessary for their Security and defence\u201d passed unanimously. DeLancey proposes building two forts in Indian country to protect Indians; Board determines to proceed on this question after considering some method for colonial union. Committee appointed \u201cto prepare and receive Plans or Schemes for the Union of the Colonies and to digest them into one general Plan for the Inspection of this Board.\u201d Members: Hutchinson, Atkinson, Pitkin, Hopkins, Franklin, and Tasker. DeLancey names Smith to represent N.Y.\nTues. June 25, A.M. Above committeemen all absent. Board adjourns without business.\nSame day, P.M. All present. DeLancey\u2019s proposed changes in draft speech read.\nWed. June 26, A.M. All Pa. commissioners and some others absent. Draft speech further considered.\nThurs. June 27, A.M. All commissioners present. Draft speech further considered.\nSame day, P.M. Motion passed that members\u2019 commissions be prefixed to record of Congress. Draft speech settled upon, read, and unanimously approved; text entered in minutes.\nFri. June 28, A.M. Members of committee on Union and some others absent. Board adjourns without business.\nSame day, P.M. Committee on Union presents \u201cshort hints of a scheme for that purpose\u201d; copies taken by commissioners of the respective provinces (see below, pp. 357\u201363).\nSat. June 29, A.M. Congress meets but adjourns to attend DeLancey while delivering speech to Indians.\nSame day, P.M. Stockbridge (River) Indians reported in town; DeLancey asked to give orders for their support; Franklin a member of committee to inform him. Hints of Union scheme debated; no conclusion.\nMon. July 1, A.M. Franklin reports DeLancey\u2019s opinion that Mass. should support River Indians while in town. But record shows that they usually attended treaties with Iroquois and that N.Y. governor addressed them. DeLancey agrees to make speech to them and order support, but expects commissioners of the several colonies to contribute to expense. DeLancey presents minutes of N.Y. Council, June 27 and 28, at which Lower and Upper Castles of Mohawks, respectively, were present, including speeches to and by Indians; texts entered in Congress minutes. Motion agreed to that \u201ca representation of the present state of the Colonies\u201d be prepared by same committee as that on Plan of Union. Plan of Union debated; no decision.\nTues. July 2, A.M. \u201cAfter the debates held on the plan of an Union, it was moved; if the Board should proceed to form the plan of a Union of the Colonies, to be established by an Act of Parliament. Whereupon it was moved to put the previous question, which passed in the negative. The Question was then put, whether the Board should proceed to form a plan of a Union of the Colonies to be established by Act of Parliament which passed in the affirmative.\u201d\nSame day, P.M. Answer of Six Nations to DeLancey\u2019s speech of June 29 read and text entered in minutes; debated; same committee as that for DeLancey\u2019s speech is appointed to draft reply.\nWed. July 3, A.M. Draft speech read and sent to DeLancey for opinion. He with two N.Y. councilors and several commissioners, all previously absent at this session, take their seats. DeLancey\u2019s proposed additions and the draft speech read, debated, and other additions proposed by various commissioners. Text of speech as agreed to inserted in minutes.\nThurs. July 4, A.M. Plan of Union further debated.\nSame day, P.M. Plan of Union further debated. Board adjourns to attend DeLancey while Indians address him and them.\nFri. July 5, A.M. Indian rejoinder of yesterday (chiefly to DeLancey\u2019s speech delivered on July 3) read and inserted in minutes. Board considers Plan of Union but does not finish.\nSat. July 6, A.M. No New Yorkers present. DeLancey sends speech planned to deliver to River Indians; agreed to with a small addition. DeLancey also sends word that provisions available for the Indians are exhausted and he can maintain them no longer; Board agrees to take over support of Indians at Albany. Committee presents a \u201crepresentation of the present State of the Colonies\u201d; ordered to lie on table for consideration of commissioners. DeLancey\u2019s draft speech for Iroquois this afternoon is presented with request for suggested alterations; he plans to read them N.Y. act concerning sale of rum to Indians and recommends Upper Castle of Mohawks\u2019 request for a church. DeLancey also sends approval of addition proposed to speech to River Indians; text of his message inserted in minutes. Hutchinson and Franklin to prepare answer to DeLancey on draft speech to Iroquois; Hutchinson reports proposed answer, which is unanimously agreed to and text entered in minutes.\nIn spite of the pledge of July 9, some of the same Indians and others granted to representatives of Connecticut\u2019s Susquehannah Company on July 11, 1754, a large tract within the bounds of the Pennsylvania patent, from the 41st to the 42nd parallels and from ten miles east of the Susquehanna River westward for two degrees of longitude or 120 miles. Julian P. Boyd, ed., The Susquehannah Company Papers (Wilkes-Barre, Pa., 1930\u201333), I, lxxxiv\u2013lxxxv, 101\u201321. This grant was a major basis for a protracted dispute between Pennsylvania and settlers from Connecticut.\nSame day, P.M. N.Y. councilors present with commissioners. Message from DeLancey read: he had sachems of Canajoharie Castle at council meeting yesterday and, after two meetings, principal cause of uneasiness (a controversy between \u201csome Germans and one Teady Magin, relating to an Indian purchase\u201d) had been settled to mutual satisfaction; he had promised to look into other complaints upon returning to New York and do justice; says Indians were now satisfied; text of message entered in minutes. Board adjourns to attend interview with Scaticook and River Indians.\nMon. July 8, A.M. DeLancey\u2019s proposed speech to Iroquois and their complaints considered; Board informed that William Livingston and William Alexander, two of heirs of Philip Livingston, patentee of lands on which Canajoharie Castle stands, attend on request and declare willingness to give up rights to such parts as may be thought necessary. At DeLancey\u2019s request one commissioner from each colony is appointed to be present with him when he asks these Indians if they are satisfied. DeLancey\u2019s proposed speech to Iroquois submitted July 6 debated and alterations recommended on sale of rum to Indians and church for the Canajoharies. \u201cRepresentation of the present State of the Colonies\u201d again read but no final resolution agreed to. Answers of Scaticook and River Indians to DeLancey\u2019s speech of July 6 read and texts entered in minutes.\nSame day, P.M. Consideration resumed on Plan of Union but not completed. Proposed speech to Iroquois returned with Board\u2019s proposed changes; ordered to lie on table for further consideration. Committee appointed to attend DeLancey\u2019s conference with Canajoharie Indians reports that Indians express willingness \u201cto try one year more\u201d with DeLancey but if they are \u201cneglected as they used to be,\u201d they will send to the commissioners of other colonies for help; they agree to this because they do not wish to show differences with the English before the French Indians who are in Albany; DeLancey repeats promise to look into their affairs. Board adjourns to attend interview with Iroquois.\nTues. July 9, A.M. DeLancey, Johnson, and Chambers of N.Y., Partridge of Mass., and Hopkins of R.I. absent. Record of conference with Iroquois of \u201cyesterday evening\u201d and answer to Scaticook Indians read and texts entered in minutes. Board notes for minutes that last part of latter document relating to manner of patenting lands was DeLancey\u2019s addition after Board had approved draft. \u201cThe plan of the Union was debated and agreed upon, and Mr. Franklin was desired to make a draft of it as now concluded upon.\u201d\nSame day, P.M. All present except Franklin \u201cabsent by his appointment in the morning.\u201d The draft of the Representation on the Present State of the Colonies \u201cread and considered paragraph by paragraph, some amendments made, and the whole was agreed to and ordered to be minuted.\u201d Text follows (see below, p. 368).\nWed. July 10, A.M. \u201cMr. Franklin reported the draught in a new form of a plan of a Union, agreeable to the determination of yesterday which was read paragraph by paragraph and debated and the further consideration of it deferred to the afternoon.\u201d\nSame day, P.M. DeLancey, the four New York councilors, and all commissioners present. Consideration of Plan of Union resumed; text inserted in minutes (see below, p. 387). \u201cAfter Debate on the foregoing Plan: Resolved. That the Commissioners from the several Governments be desired to lay the same before their respective constituents for their consideration, and that the Secretary to this Board transmit a copy thereof with their vote thereon to the Governor of each of the Colonies which have not sent their Commissioners to this Congress.\u201d DeLancey proposes that, agreeable to resolution of June 24, commissioners now consider building forts in Indian country. Resolved that \u201cconsidering the present wavering disposition of the Senecas it was expedient that a Fort should be built in their Country at a Place called Irondequat or Tierondequat\u201d; committee appointed to consider what further forts might be necessary, each colony delegation to name one member. Chambers and Peters appointed a committee to revise minutes \u201csettled and agreed upon by this Board.\u201d\nThurs. July 11, A.M. All present except Pitkin. Welles for committee on forts reports that after careful consideration committee believes several other forts are equally necessary, but \u201cas there is no probability of their being effected in the present disunited state of the Colonies, and the General union may make some of them unnecessary,\u201d committee does not believe Board should consider matter further at this time. Board accepts this report. Certain proposals from William Johnson relative to Six Nations and for defeating French designs and certain considerations offered by Thomas Pownall \u201ctowards a general plan of the Measures of the English Provinces\u201d read to Board. Franklin asked to give Board\u2019s thanks to Johnson and Pownall and to request copies for commissioners for consideration of their respective governments. All British governments in North America given liberty to take copies of the proceedings of this Congress, on paying for same. Records are to be deposited in N.Y. provincial secretary\u2019s office when Wraxall leaves the province. Chambers and Peters report examining these minutes and finding them correct. Congress then \u201crose without any further adjournment.\u201d Attested a true copy by Peter Wraxall, Secretary.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-20-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0097", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, 20 June 1754\nFrom: Colden, Cadwallader\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nSir\nColdenghame June 20th 1754\nI inclose the papers which I received from Mr. Alexander to be conveyed to you by the first opportunity to Albany. You will find that I make remarks with that freedom which I believe you expect from me that in case you find any weight in any of them you may make your scheme more perfect by avoiding reasonable exceptions to it and have the pleasure of adding this to many other well received schemes which you have formed for the benefit of your country. I hope in your return from Albany you may have time to stop a day or two at my house As you seldom can miss a passage from hence to New York if it should be inconvenient for your sloop to wait so long. By this you will give a very great pleasure to\n  To Benjn Franklin Esqr \u2003at Albany\n[Enclosure]\nRemarks on short hints towards a Scheme for uniting the Northern Colonies\nGovernor General\nIt seems agreed on all hands that something is necessary to be don for uniting the Colonies in their mutual defence and it seems to be likewise agreed that it can only be don effectually by Act of Parliament for this reason I suppose that the necessary funds for carrying it into execution in pursuance of the ends proposed by it cannot be otherwise obtained. If it were thought that the assemblies of the several Colonies may agree to lay the same duties and apply them to general defence and security of all the Colonies no need of an act of Parliament. Q[uery:] which best for the Colonies by Parliament or by the several assemblies.\nThe Kings Ministers so long since as the year -23 or-24 had thoughts of sending over a Governor General of all the Colonies and the Earl of Stairs was proposed as a fit Person. It is probable the want of a suitable support of the Dignity of that office prevented that scheme\u2019s being carried into execution and that the Ministry and People of England think that this charge ought to be born by the Colonies.\nGrand Council\nQ. Is the Grand Council with the Governor General to have a Legislative Authority? If only an executive power objections may be made to their being elective. It would be in a great measure a change of the constitution to which I suspect the Crown will not consent. We see the inconveniences attending the present constitution and remedies may be found without changeing it but we cannot foresee what may be the consequences of a change in it. If the Grand Council be elected for a short time steady measures cannot be pursued. If elected for a long time and not removeable by the Crown they may become dangerous. Are they to have a negative on the Acts of the Governor General? It is to be considered that England will keep their Colonies as far as they can dependent on them and this view is to be preserved in all schemes to which the Kings consent is necessary.\n  Place and time of Meeting\nIt may be thought dangerous to have fixed meetings of the Grand Council of all the Colonies at certain times and places. It is a Privilege which the Parliament has not, nor the Privy Council and may be thought destructive of the Constitution.\n  General Treasury\nSome estimate ought to be made of the Produce which may be reasonably expected from the funds proposed to be raised by Duties on Liquors &c. to see whether it will be sufficient for the ends proposed. This I think may be don from the Custom houses in the most considerable places for Trade in the Colonies.\nDuties on Liquors &c. to see whether it will be sufficient for the ends proposed. This I think may be don from the Custom houses in the most considerable places for Trade in the Colonies.\n  Manner of forming the Union\nNo doubt any private person may in a proper manner make any proposals which he thinks for the public benefite but if they are to be made by the Commissioners of the Several Colonies who now meet at Albany it may be presumed that they speak the sense of their constituents. What Authority have they to do this? I know of none from either the Council or Assembly of New York. However these things may be properly talkt of in conversation among the Commissioners for farther information and in order to induce the several assemblies to give proper powers to Commissioners to meet afterwards for this purpose.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-23-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0098", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from William Daniell, 23 June 1754\nFrom: Daniell, William\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nSir\nKingston 23rd. June 1754\nIn my Last of the 12th Ultimo I made proposal for Dealing with you for paper which if Convenient should be glad you would be as Expeditious as possible in Sending me the 50 Rms. of Demy Paper I wrote for as also a Sheet of Each sort of writing or printing paper you make with the prices per Rm. wrote on Each sheet as I am taking some things in hand for the Press I shall take it a favor if you would Let me know at onst the Lowest prices to save the Time a second Letter will take to Come to your hand. I am, Sir Your Most Obedient servant\nWilliam Daniell\nPS. Send me a Cask of 50 or 100 lb. of Pott ash and 50 lb. Brasileto pounded.\n Addressed: To \u2002Benjamin Franklin Esqr. \u2002Philadelphia", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-25-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0099", "content": "Title: Sarah Sober to Richard Peters and Benjamin Franklin: Trust Agreement, 25 June 1754\nFrom: Sober, Sarah\nTo: Peters, Richard,Franklin, Benjamin\nAbstract: An indenture by Sarah Sober of Philadelphia, widow (called in this abstract the settlor) and Richard Peters and Benjamin Franklin (called the trustees). Whereas the settlor has assigned to the trustees two bonds, one dated Aug. 17, 1753, from Stephen Shewell and Hannah Fordham for \u00a3100 lent by her to him at interest, the other, dated Oct. 1, 1751, from Dr. John Redman for \u00a350 also lent by her to him at interest; it is mutually covenanted and agreed that the two bonds are made over in trust for the following purposes: that the trustees, the survivor of them, and his executors and administrators will keep the said \u00a3150 at interest and reinvest the interest until one or more of the following contingencies occurs:\nFirst, the settlor\u2019s son John Sober has a natural son by Elizabeth Justice, widow; if this child should at any time be neglected by its parents, or not educated or provided for to the trustees\u2019 satisfaction, the trustees shall apply so much of the interest (not the principal) to the maintenance and education of the boy, or the putting him out to apprenticeship, as they think proper. Second, if John Sober \u201cthro\u2019 Misfortune or Misconduct lose or Squander his Estate and Fortune and be reduced to Poverty,\u201d the trustees shall have power to apply the whole principal and interest (or as much of it as they think proper) towards his support. Lastly, upon the death of John Sober the trustees shall pay over the unexpended principal and interest as follows: two thirds to the first child of the settlor\u2019s daughter Mary, now the wife of Dr. John Redman, or for want of such issue, to the said Mary herself, her executors or administrators, or to such person as she may direct by her deed or last will; one sixth of the residue to the Academy of Philadelphia; the remaining one sixth to such person or persons and to such uses as the settlor has now ordered and directed by a private memorandum under her hand.\nThe trustees, the survivor of them, or his executors or administrators, shall not be answerable for any loss arising through defect in the securities now or hereafter taken for the moneys, nor be accountable for any more of the moneys than actually come into their hands severally and individually, nor be chargeable for the receipts of any of the others of them. Signed and sealed by Sarah Sober, Richard Peters, and Benjamin Franklin in the presence of John Paschall and John Morgan. On Feb. 8, 1759, John Morgan, \u201cPractitioner in Physic,\u201d appeared before Isaac Jones, justice of the peace, and made oath to having witnessed the signing and sealing by the settlor and the trustees and to having himself signed as witness.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-28-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0100", "content": "Title: Albany Congress Committee: Short Hints towards a Scheme for a General Union of the British Colonies on the Continent, 28 June 1754\nFrom: Albany Congress Committee\nTo: \nThe first four days of the Albany Congress were devoted to organization and to consideration of matters relating to the forthcoming conference with the Six Nations. On Monday, June 24, however, a motion was passed unanimously \u201cthat the Commissioners deliver their opinion whether a Union of all the Colonies is not at present absolutely necessary for their security and defence.\u201d So important, indeed, did the delegates consider this matter that they refused even to discuss DeLancey\u2019s proposal for building two forts in the Indian country until \u201cthey had considered some Method of effecting the Union between the Colonies.\u201d They voted to create a committee \u201cto prepare and receive Plans or Schemes\u201d for such a union \u201cand to digest them into one general plan for the inspection of this Board.\u201d Each delegation chose one of its members to serve on this committee and DeLancey named one of the New York councilors to represent that province.\nThe committee left no known records of its sessions, and the paucity of other contemporary evidence leaves great uncertainty as to just what happened at its meetings. Writing thirty-four years later, Franklin remembered that he had offered the Congress a copy of the \u201cShort Hints\u201d he had drafted in New York and sent to James Alexander, and unquestionably this was one paper that the committee had before it. He added that \u201cIt then appear\u2019d that several of the Commissioners had form\u2019d Plans of the same kind.\u201d The present editors have found no conclusive evidence as to which commissioners Franklin referred to or as to whether the other plans considered had already been reduced to paper or were presented to the committee orally. If the undated plan surviving in Richard Peters\u2019 hand was a pre-Albany paper, this may have been one of those submitted, but, if so, it had no influence on the committee\u2019s report. On the last day of the Congress, papers written by William Johnson and Thomas Pownall were read to the Board, but both of these were programs for concerted action\u2014military, naval, and civil\u2014rather than plans of union, and there is no reason to believe that the committee used them in preparing its plan, if, indeed, it saw them at all. Doubtless the Massachusetts commissioners presented some sort of scheme, orally or in writing, for that colony had shown the greatest interest in colonial union before the Congress of any represented there. It has been argued that one or the other of two documents found among the Trumbull Papers in the Connecticut State Library is a copy of a plan prepared by Thomas Hutchinson before the Albany meeting and that it played an important part in the work of the committee, but the identification is conjectural at best. The present editors have not found any contemporary document containing a plan of union, other than Franklin\u2019s \u201cShort Hints,\u201d which they can identify with even reasonable assurance as one which was laid before the committee.\nThe official record states that on Friday afternoon, June 28, \u201cThe Committee appointed the 24th instant to prepare and receive plans and schemes for the union of the Colonies, presented short hints of a scheme for that purpose of which copies were taken by the Commissioners of the respective provinces.\u201d The text of this report was not entered in the record, and the wording of the minute strongly suggests that, in the absence of adequate clerical help, the commissioners present made their own copies for study and reference. No other business was transacted that afternoon.\nThe paper printed below is, in the judgment of the present editors, one of the copies of the committee\u2019s \u201cShort Hints\u201d made that afternoon. It is in the hand of Meshech Weare, one of the New Hampshire commissioners. There is no good reason, other than the handwriting, to believe that Weare was the author of the document; he is not known to have been particularly interested in the problem of colonial union; if he had been, his fellow-commissioners from New Hampshire would probably have named him to the committee instead of Theodore Atkinson. Furthermore, it is beyond belief that he or any other individual could have independently composed a plan which follows so closely, in ideas, in arrangement, and in part even in phraseology, the \u201cShort Hints\u201d Franklin had composed before reaching Albany. On the other hand, Weare did attend the session of the Congress when the committee\u2019s proposals were presented, of which, as the record states, \u201ccopies were taken by the Commissioners.\u201d For convenience, the document in Weare\u2019s hand will hereafter be referred to as \u201cthe committee\u2019s \u2018Short Hints.\u2019\u201d\nDetailed textual comparison of Franklin\u2019s \u201cShort Hints\u201d sent to Alexander on June 8 and the committee\u2019s \u201cShort Hints\u201d makes clear that the committee\u2019s paper is basically an elaboration and development of Franklin\u2019s, cast in form for further discussion. A few important differences can be observed immediately: Franklin\u2019s proposal is a very brief outline, parts not even developed into full sentences; the committee\u2019s paper, while still an outline, is substantially longer, more of the points are written out in sentence form, and (in the opening paragraphs and the passage dealing with the revenue) the proposals are prefaced by comment. Franklin called his plan a \u201cscheme for uniting the Northern Colonies,\u201d without specifying exactly which governments he had in mind; the committee made clear that its plan contemplated \u201ca General Union of the Brittish Colonies on the Continent,\u201d thereby indicating no geographical limitation. Franklin\u2019s proposed chief executive was to be called \u201cGovernor General\u201d; the committee\u2019s, \u201cPresident General.\u201d Franklin indicated that the members of the Grand Council were to be chosen by the respective assemblies, without distinguishing between the two houses of the legislatures, quite possibly because his own Pennsylvania Assembly and that of Delaware were unicameral and did not include the governor\u2019s Council, as was the case everywhere else; the committee, which included men from the other colonies, stipulated that only the representatives were to choose the delegates. The committee proposal also deals with some matters, such as the regulation of Indian trade, the appointment of officers, and impressment, which Franklin had either deliberately omitted or overlooked in jotting down his ideas for Alexander. The order of treatment of the executive and Grand Council is reversed in the two papers, but otherwise the arrangement of topics is the same. Other noteworthy variations are indicated below in appropriate footnotes. In spite of these differences, it is clear that the committee\u2019s \u201cShort Hints\u201d is based solidly on Franklin\u2019s\u2014amplified, developed, and sometimes modified, as a result of discussions within the committee, where men with varying ideas and different political backgrounds had expressed their views.\nThe committee\u2019s \u201cShort Hints,\u201d in turn, became the basis for future discussion in the Congress as a whole. On eight occasions during the days that followed the members \u201cconsidered\u201d or \u201cdebated\u201d its provisions, making changes in the process, and on July 9 they reached agreement and directed Franklin \u201cto make a draught of it as now concluded upon.\u201d\nShort hints towards a Scheme for a General Union of the Brittish Colonies on the Continent.\nIn Such a Scheme the Just Prerogative of the Crown must be preserved or it will not be Approved and Confirmed in England. The Just liberties of the People must be Secured or the Several Colonies will Disapprove of it and Oppose it. Yet Some Prerogative may be abated to Extend Dominion and Increase Subjects and Some Liberty to Obtain Safety.\nThe Power of all the Colonies should be Ready to Defend any one of them with the Greatest Possible Dispatch.\nTherefore Particuler Considerations in the Several Assemblies of the Expediency of any General Measure must be avoided as attended with much delay many difficulties and Great Uncertainty.\nSuppose then that One General Government be formd Including all the Brittish Dominions on the Continent Within and Under which Government the Several Colonies may Each Enjoy its own Constitution Laws Liberties and Priviledges as so many Seperate Corporations in one Common Wealth. To this End Suppose there be a Grand Councill to Consist of two members at least Chosen by the Representatives of each Colony in Assembly. The larger Colonies to Choose more in Some Proportion to the Sums they Yearly Contribute to the General Treasury. The Elections may be every three years and the members of each Colony to Continue till a new Choice.\nAssemblies to be Called for that purpose in each Colony once in three years in the month of May.\nA President General to be appointed by the Crown to Receive his Salary from Home. His assent to Render valid all Acts of the Grand Councill. His Duty to Carry them into Execution.\nMeetings of the Grand Councill once in every year And at Such other times As the President General shall think proper to Call them having first been Applied to or obtained the Consent in writing of Seven of the Members for that purpose. At any annual Meeting the Councill to Determine where the next meeting is to be, to Sit by their own adjournments not Subject to Prorogations or Dissolutions by the President General without their own Consent. No Sessions to Continue longer than Six weeks without the Consent of the Councill.\nMembers Pay ten shillings Sterling per Diem.\nDuring their Siting and Journey twenty miles to be Reckond a Days Journey.\nFunds to Supply the General Treasury\nIt is a difficult Matter to fix Quotas to be paid by each Colony that would be Equal to the ability of Each, or if Really Equal to Perswade the Colonys to think so or if Equal now that would long Continue so Some Colonies Growing faster than Others. Therefore Let the Money arise from somewhat that may be nearly proportionable to Each Colony and Grow with it, Such as from Excise upon Liquors Retailed or Stamps on all Legal Writings Writs &c. or both to be Collected in Each Province and Paid to a Treasurer to be Appointed in each Colony by the Grand Councill to be Ready on Orders from the President General and Grand Councill.\nPower of the President General and Grand Councill\nTo hold or order all Indian Treaties, Regulate all Indian Trade, make Peace and Declare war with the Indian Nations, Make all Indian Purchases of Lands not within the Bounds of Perticuler Colonies, Make new Settlements on Such Purchases by Granting Lands Reserving a Rent for the General Treasury Raise and Pay Soldiers and build forts to Defend the frontiers of Any of the Colonies, Equip Guardships to Scour and Protect the Coasts from Privateers and Pyrates, Appoint all Military officers that are to Act Under the General Command, the President General to Nominate and the Councill to approve. But all Collectors or farmers of the Duties Excise &c. for the General Treasury and other Civil officers necessary, are to be Chosen by the Grand Councill And Approved by the President General.\nThey shall not Impress men in any Colony without the Consent of its Legislature.\nActs or Laws made by them to Regulate Indian Trade or new Settlements of Lands to be Sent home to the King and Councill for approbation within months. They may Draw on the General Fund in any Colony for Defraying all General Expences. Their Accompt to be Yearly Settled and Reported to the Several Assemblies of Each Colony, Each Colony may Defend it Self on any Emergency. The Accompts of Expence to be laid before the Grand Councill and Paid as far as Reasonable.\nManner of forming this Union\nWhen the Scheme is well Considerd Corrected and Improved a Temporary Act of Parliament to be Obtained for Establishing of it.\nPerticuler Colonies not to Declare Warr.\nQuere Whether the Duties Excise &c. are best Established by the Grand Councill or by the Act of Parliament that forms the Constitution.\nQuorum of the Councill how many.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "07-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0102", "content": "Title: Richard Peters: Rough Notes on a Debate at Albany, 1 July 1754\nFrom: Peters, Richard\nTo: \nThe \u201cShort Hints\u201d which the committee presented to the Albany Congress contained the proposal\u2014as Franklin\u2019s earlier \u201cShort Hints\u201d had done\u2014that an act of Parliament should be obtained to put the projected Plan of Union into effect. This appears to have been one of the most hotly debated aspects of the entire scheme. There survives as a four-page manuscript in the almost undecipherable hand of Richard Peters a set of rough notes on this debate, dated July 1, the day before the decisive vote on this question was taken. Who advanced the various arguments noted is, for the most part, not indicated, but the paper is useful as indicating some of the points offered by commissioners who, like Franklin, hoped to gain approval for a parliamentary enactment.\nArguments for an Union by Act of Parliament.\n1st Argument\nAn Union by Acts of Assembly must be tedious and after all the Bills be rejected by the Governors or if passd and sent home perhaps will be repealed.\n2d Argument. It will take us from The present Government of the Colonies which is by Instructions that are Acts of the Secretaries of State. Instance the Order for Officers Instructions.\nThey are afraid of an Act of Parliament.\nWhy.\nBecause the more the State of the Colonies is known the less Their power of hurting us will be.\n3d Argument\nPeople are afraid of disobliging their Constituents, not of doing what is right.\nTherfore if this temper generally prevail mens Judgment is not free.\nTo shew that Novelty is not dangerous.\nNovelty not dangerous\nBecause\nThe new Scheme is founded on the removal of Ignorance, rashness or bad Design in the Parliament.\nQ. Would it not be worth while to know the Sentiments of Ministry and Parliament about an Union.\nQ. Coud not some mention be made of boundaries between France and England.\nAgain. One woud or shoud put into any Scheme the method proposd of procuring an Act of Parliament that mens fears if right may have the concurrence of their Constituents Judgment if wrong, may be removd by Argument.\nIf the Naval Power of France encreases and we be straightend to the West.\nThe Independency of the Indians.\nUnobserved methods of importing [illegible] in to Canada and the Mississippi.\nTrade with Canada from Albany and the Sea Ports of Philadelphia. Boston. New York.\nMr. Woolcots Argument\nThe uncertainty of a Council after an Act of Parliament as great as before.\nMilitia of Pennsylvania without a Military force.\n4th Argument\n1st July Governor Present.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "07-09-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0103", "content": "Title: Albany Congress: Representation of the Present State of the Colonies, 9 July 1754\nFrom: Albany Congress\nTo: \nRecent events had made clear to everyone attending the Albany Congress that a struggle with the French was impending for the mastery of the continent. The chief purpose of any plan of union which they might draw up was to strengthen the British colonies in that conflict, and in the minds of a majority, if not all, of the commissioners some form of concerted action was essential to successful defense. In order to make the matter fully clear to their assemblies at home and to the authorities in Great Britain, the commissioners decided that a general statement of the situation was needed as a supporting document for the plan of union which they were preparing. At the morning session of Monday, July 1, after one debate on the committee\u2019s \u201cShort Hints,\u201d a motion was adopted that \u201ca representation of the present state of the Colonies\u201d be prepared and that the same committee which had presented the \u201cShort Hints\u201d should undertake the task.\nIn an autobiographical sketch written many years later Thomas Hutchinson of Massachusetts declared that he had written the draft of the committee\u2019s Representation, and there appears to be no good reason to question his claim to principal authorship. Doubtless other members of the committee, including Franklin, made suggestions, but what or how important they may have been cannot now be determined. The committee presented its draft to the Congress on Saturday, July 6; it was read and ordered to lie on the table for the consideration of the commissioners. It was read again on Monday the 8th, and read once more, considered paragraph by paragraph, amended, and agreed to on the afternoon of July 9, at a session which Franklin missed because he was busy putting into final form the Plan of Union as worked out in previous debates.\nThe Representation as adopted by the Congress was in part a review of British claims in North America and of French encroachments, in part a sharp criticism of the misconduct of some unnamed colonies and individuals in their Indian relations (doubtless New York and its Indian commissioners were chief targets), and in part a series of recommendations for future action, concluding with the crowning point: the need for a union of all the colonies \u201cThat so their Councils, Treasure, and Strength may be employed in due Proportion against their Common Enemy.\u201d\nThat His Majesties Title to the Northern Continent of America, appears to be founded on the Discovery thereof first made, and the Possession thereof first taken in 1497 under a Commission from Henry the 7th. of England to Sebastian Cabot,\nThat the French have Possessed themselves of Several parts of this Continent which by Treaties have been ceded and Confirmed to them.\nThat the Right of the English to the Whole Sea Coast from Georgia on the South to the River St. Laurence on the North, excepting the Island of Cape Breton and the Islands in the Bay of St. Laurence, remains plain and Indisputable,\nThat all the Lands or Countries Westward from the Atlantic Ocean, to the South Sea, between 48 and 34 Degrees North Latitude were expressly included in the Grant of King James the 1st. to divers of his Subjects, so long since as the year 1606, and afterwards Confirmed in 1620. and under this Grant, the Colony of Virginia claims extent as far West as the South Sea, and the Ancient Colonies of the Masachusets-bay and Conecticot were by their respective Charters, made to extend to the said South Sea, So that not only the Right to the Sea Coast but to all the Inland Countries, from Sea to Sea has at all times been Asserted by the Crown of England.\nThat the Province of Nova Scotia or Accadie hath known and Determinate Bounds by the Original Grant from King James the 1st. and that there is Abundant Evidence of the Sense which the French had of these Bounds while they were in Possession of it, and that these Bounds being then known, the said Province by the Treaty of Utrecht according to its Ancient Limits, was ceded, to Great Britain, and remained in Possession thereof until the Treaty of Aix La Chapelle, by which it was confirmed, but by said Treaty it is Stipulated, that the Bounds of the said Province, shall be determined by Commissaries, &c.\nThat, By the Treaty of Utrecht the Country of the Five Cantons of the Iroquois, is Expressly acknowledged, to be under the Dominion of the Crown of Great Britain,\nThat the Lake Champlain formerly called Lake Iroquois and the Country Southward of it, as far as the Dutch or English Settlements the Lakes Ontario, Erie, and all the Countries adjacent have by all Ancient Authors, French and English been allowed to belong to the Five Cantons or Nations and the Whole of these Countries long before the said Treaty of Utrecht, were by said Nations, put under the Protection of the Crown of Great Britain,\nThat by the Treaty of Utrecht, there is reserved to the French, a Liberty of Frequenting the Countries, of the Five Nations and other Indians in Friendship with Great Britain for the sake of Commerce, as there is also to the English a Liberty of Frequenting the Countries of those in Friendship with France for the same Purpose,\nThat after the Treaty of Utrecht the French built Several Fortresses, in the Country of the Five Nations, and a very Strong one at a Place Called Crown Point to the South of Lake Champlain.\nThat the French Court hath Evidently since the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle, made this Northern Continent more than ever the Object of its Attention,\n  That the French have most unjustly taken Possession of Part of the Province of Nova Scotia, and in the River St. John\u2019s and other parts of said Province, they have built Strong Fortresses, and from this River they will have during the Winter and Spring Season, a much easier Communication between France and Canada, than they have heretofore had, and will be furnished with a Harbour more Commodiously Situated, for the annoying the British Colonies by Privatiers and Men of War than Louisburgh itself.\nThat they have taken Possession of, and begun a Settlement at the head of the River Kinnebeck, within the Bounds of the Province of Main, the most convenient Situation, for affording Support and Safe retreat to the eastern Indians in any of their attempts upon the Governments of New-England.\nThat, it appears by Information of the Natives the French have been making Preparations for another Settlement at a Place called Cohass on Coneticut River, near the head thereof, where it is but about ten miles distant from a branch of Merrimack River, and from Whence there is a very near and easy Communication with the Abnekais Indians, who are Settled on the River St. Fran\u00e7ois, about forty miles from the River St. Laurence, and it is certain that the Inhabitants of New Hampshire, in which Province this Cohass is Supposed to Lye, have been interrupted, and impeded by the French Indians, from making any Settlements there.\nThat Since the Treaty of Aix La Chapelle, the French have increased the Number of their Forts, in the Country of the Great Lakes, and on the Rivers which run into the Missisippi, and are Securing a Communication between the Two Colonies of Louisania, and Canada, and at the same time putting themselves into a Capacity of annoying the Southern British Colonys, and preventing any further Settlement of his Majesties Dominions.\nThat they have been gradually increasing their Troops in America, transporting them in their Ships of War, which return to France, with a Bare Complement of Men, leaving the rest in their Colonies, and by this means they are less Observed by the Powers of Europe than they would be if Transports as usual heretofore, were provided for this purpose,\nThat they have taken Prisoners divers of His Majesty\u2019s subjects trading in the Country of the Iroquois, and other inland Parts, and plundered Such Prisoners of Several Thousand Pounds Sterling, and they are Continually exciting the Indians, to destroy or make Prisoners, the Inhabitants of the Frontiers of the British Colonies, which prisoners are Carried, to Canada, and a Price, equal to what Slaves are sold for in the Plantations is demanded for their Redemption and Release,\nThat they are Continually drawing off the Indians from the British Interest, and have lately persuaded one half of the Onondaga Tribe with many from the other Nations along with them, to remove to a Place called Osweegchie, on the River Cadaraqui, where they have built them a Church and Fort, and many of the Senecas, the most numerous Nation, appear to be wavering and rather inclined to the French, and it is a Melancholly Consideration, that not more than 150 Men of all the Several Nations, have attended this Treaty, altho they had Notice that all the Governments would be here by their Commissioners, and that a large present would be given,\nThat it is the Evident Design of the French to Surround the British Colonies, to fortifie themselves on the Back thereof to take and keep Possession, of the heads of all the Important Rivers, to draw, over the Indians to their Interest, and with the help of such Indians added to such Forces as are already arrived and may hereafter be sent from Europe To be in a Capacity of making a General Attack on the Several Governments, and if at the same time a Strong Naval Force be sent from France, there is the utmost danger that the Whole Continent will be Subjected to that Crown and that the Danger of such a Naval Force is not meerly Imaginary, may be argued from past Experience, for if it had not been for the most Extraordinary Interposition of Heaven, every Sea Port Town on the Continent in the year 1746, might have been ravaged and Destroyed, by the Squadron under the Command of the Duke D\u2019Anville, notwithstanding the then declining State of the French, and the very flourishing State of the British Navy, and the farther advantage accrueing to the English from the Possession of Cape Briton. That the French Find by Experience they are able to make greater and more Sure advantages upon their Neighbours in Peace, than in war. What they unjustly possessed themselves of after the Peace of Utrecht, they now pretend to have a right to hold, by Virtue of the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle, until the true Boundary between the English and the French be Settled by Commissarys, but their Conquest made during the War, they have been Obliged to restore.\nThat the French Affairs relative to this Continent, are under one Direction, and Constantly regarded by the Crown, and Ministry, who are not insensible how great a Stride they would make, towards an Universal Monarchy if the British Colonies were added to their Dominions, and Consequently the Whole Trade of North America engrossed by them.\nThat the said Colonies being in a Divided Disunited State, there has never been any Joint Exertion of their Force, or Counsels to repel or defeat the measures of the French and particular Colonies are unable and unwilling to maintain the Cause of the Whole.\nThat there has been a very great Neglect of the Affairs of the Iroquois, or, as they are Commonly called the Indians of the Six Nations, and their Friendship and Alliance has been Improved to private Purposes, for the Sake of the Trade with them, and the purchase or acquisition of their Lands more than to the Public Service, That they are Supplyed with Rum by the Traders in vast and almost incredible Quantities, the Laws of the Colonies now in Force being insufficient to restrain the Supply, and the Indians of every Nation, are frequently drunk, and abused in their Trade, and their Affections thereby alienated from the English, They often wound and murder one another in their Liquor, and to avoid Revenge Flee to the French, and perhaps more have been lost by these means than by the French Artifices,\nThat purchases of Lands from the Indians by Private persons for small Triffling Considerations, have been the Cause of Great Uneasiness and Discontents, and if the Indians are not in Fact imposed on and injured, yet they are apt to think that they have been, and indeed they appear not fit to be intrusted at Large with the Sale of their own Lands, and the Laws of some of the Colonies which make such Sales void, unless the Allowance of the Government be first Obtained, seem to be well Founded.\nThat the Granting or Patenting Vast Tracts of Land to private Persons, or Companys without Conditions of Speedy Settlement, has tended to prevent the Strengthning the Frontiers of the Particular Colony where Such Tracts Lye, and been Prejudicial to the rest,\nThat it seems absolutely necessary that Speedy and Effectual measures be taken to Secure the Colonies from the Slavery they are threatened with.\nThat any Further Advances of the French should be prevented and the Encroachments already made removed, That the Indians in Alliance or Friendship with the English be Constantly regarded, under some wise Direction or Superintendency. That Endeavours be used for the Recovery of those Indians, who are lately gone over to the French, and for Securing those that remain. That some Discreet Person or Persons, be appointed to reside constantly with each Nation of Indians, such Persons to have no Concern in Trade, and duly to Communicate all advices to the Superintendents. That the Trade with the said Indians, be well regulated, and made Subservient to the Public Interest, more than to private gain. That there be Forts built for the Security of Each Nation and the better Carrying on the Trade with them, That Warlike Vessels be Provided Sufficient to maintain His Majesty\u2019s Right to a Free Navigation on the Several Lakes. That All future purchase of Lands from the Indians be Void unless made by the Government where such Lands Lye, And from the Indians in a Body in their Public Councils. That the Patentees, or Possessors of large unsettled Territories, be injoyned to Cause them to be Settled in a reasonable Time on pain of Forfeiture. That the Complaints of the Indians, relative to any Grants or Possessions, of their Lands fraudulently Obtained be enquired into and all Injuries redressed. That the Bounds of those Colonys which extend to the South Sea, be Contracted, and limitted by the Alleghenny or Apalachian mountains, and that measures be taken for settling from time to time Colonies of His Majesty\u2019s Protestant Subjects, Westward of said Mountains in Convenient Cantons to be Assigned for that purpose; and finally that there be a Union, of His Majesty\u2019s Several Governments on the Continent, that so their Councils, Treasure, and Strength may be employed in due Proportion against their Common Enemy. All which is Submitted.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "01-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0104", "content": "Title: The Albany Plan of Union, 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: \nAfter the Committee on a Plan of Union had presented its \u201cShort Hints\u201d to the Albany Congress, June 28, that body discussed the proposals on eight occasions. At the last of these sittings, the morning of July 9, \u201cThe plan of the Union was debated and agreed upon, and Mr. Franklin was desired to make a draught of it as now concluded upon.\u201d Franklin was absent from the afternoon meeting that day \u201cby his appointment of this morning,\u201d but at the morning session of the 10th he \u201creported the draught in a new form of a plan of a Union agreeable to the determination of yesterday.\u201d The paper was read paragraph by paragraph and debated both morning and afternoon. Finally it was \u201cResolved. That the Commissioners from the several Governments be desired to lay the same before their respective constituents for their consideration, and that the Secretary to this Board transmit a copy thereof with their vote thereon to the Governor of each of the Colonies which have not sent their Commissioners to this Congress.\u201d\nUnfortunately, the minutes do not record the details of the vote on this resolution, and Atkinson\u2019s \u201cMemo Book\u201d is no help, for, curiously enough, it omits all mention of this debate and vote. The other evidence is sharply contradictory. Writing to Colden from New York, July 21, on his way home, Franklin admitted that there had been \u201ca great deal of Disputation about the Plan\u201d during the Congress, \u201cbut at length we agreed on it pretty unanimously.\u201d Thomas Pownall, who observed the proceedings, wrote in a letter to England, July 23, that \u201cWhat appears in the Minutes was the Unanimous Opinion of all mett except N York and in some points Mr. Norris of Philadelphia and he only so far differ\u2019d as the Principles of the Party he is at the head of lead him to appear.\u201d A committee of the Connecticut Assembly appointed to study the Albany Plan reported in October that \u201cThe gentlemen, who went commissioners from the colony of Connecticut, objected to the proposed plan; and thought they were never answered or obviated, and therefore never came into, or gave any consent to the same.\u201d Writing in the 1780s, Thomas Hutchinson declared flatly that the plan was \u201cunanimously voted,\u201d and Franklin stated twice in the same decade that it was \u201cunanimously agreed to.\u201d At about the same time or a little later, William Smith, the New York historian, whose father had been a member of the Committee on the Plan of Union at Albany, wrote that \u201cExcept Mr. Delancey, every member consented to this plan, and qualified as he was rather for short altercation than copious debate, he made no great opposition.\u201d While these statements cannot be reconciled, probably Hutchinson\u2019s and Franklin\u2019s later memories were at fault, and there was opposition to the final vote at least from the Connecticut commissioners and from some of the New York representatives. A somewhat oblique passage in Franklin\u2019s autobiography also suggests that Pownall may have been correct in indicating that Isaac Norris disliked the plan.\nDetailed comparison of the text of the Albany Plan of Union as entered on the official record with the committee\u2019s \u201cShort Hints\u201d presented June 28 shows clearly that the discussions which had taken place on the floor of the Congress produced many alterations and additions in details but few major changes in substance. The headings of both documents agreed in calling for \u201cone General Government,\u201d but the committee\u2019s \u201cShort Hints\u201d proposed to include \u201call the British dominions on the continent,\u201d while the final plan specifically named the individual colonies from New England south to the Carolinas omitting Delaware and ignoring Nova Scotia and Georgia. Again, the final plan was more specific in the matter of the representation to be allowed each colony in the Grand Council, at least at the start. The numbers ranged from two each for New Hampshire and Rhode Island to seven each for Massachusetts and Virginia, but the plan provided that after the first three years the quotas were to be based, as they were in the committee\u2019s scheme, on the relative amounts of money raised in each colony for the common treasury. The final plan provided for the election of a speaker by the Grand Council and stipulated that upon the death of the president general the speaker was to succeed temporarily to his powers, while neither Franklin\u2019s original scheme nor the committee\u2019s proposals mentioned a speaker or indicated who was to take over the chief executive\u2019s responsibilities in case of that official\u2019s death. The final plan also arranged for the temporary filling of vacancies in minor offices when necessary, as the committee\u2019s proposals had not done.\nIn contrast, the plan approved by the Congress was less specific than either Franklin or the committee had been on the sources of revenues for the new central government. They had suggested particular duties and excises which seemed most equitable, but the final plan simply authorized the levying of \u201csuch General Duties, Imposts, or Taxes\u201d as appeared most equal and just and least inconvenient. The committee had proposed the appointment of a treasurer in each colony and the local retention of funds until paid out on orders of the president general and Grand Council; the final plan contained a similar provision but also called for a general treasurer and common treasury to which funds might be transferred by the \u201cparticular\u201d treasurers if so required.\nOne striking change concerns the buying of land from the Indians. The committee\u2019s scheme had authorized the president general and Grand Council to make such purchases only \u201cof Lands not within the bounds of perticuler Colonies\u201d; the Congress plan contains the same limitations but adds: \u201cor that shall not be within their Bounds when some of them are reduced to more Convenient Dimensions.\u201d As Franklin later indicated in his commentary on the plan, this addition was aimed at the colonies with sea-to-sea charters; they would include Virginia and the two Carolinas, none of which was represented at Albany, and Massachusetts and Connecticut, both of which were. It is not surprising that this provision should cause disquiet among the Connecticut commissioners, all of whom were members of the Susquehannah Company, at that very time attempting to buy Indian lands within Pennsylvania\u2019s boundaries on the strength of their colony\u2019s prior charter. The last significant addition to be mentioned here which grew out of the discussions of the Congress was one authorizing the president general and Grand Council to make laws for the settlements established on such land purchases \u201ctill the Crown shall think fit to form them into Particular Governments.\u201d Here is a pale foreshadowing of the scheme adopted in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 for the creation of \u201cterritorial\u201d governments as a transitional step in the evolution of new states. Other, less important changes incorporated in the final plan will be indicated in footnotes at the appropriate places in the text.\nIt is necessary to discuss here the questions of primary authorship of the Albany Plan and of the source or sources for its ideas and phraseology, because of a controversy on these points over the past several years. Professor Lawrence H. Gipson has contended that Thomas Hutchinson played a much larger part in the framing of the plan than he has usually been given credit for; that, like Franklin, he had drafted a plan before the Congress met; that this paper was considered by the commissioners; and that many of its provisions and even more of its phraseology appeared in the final text that Franklin presented to the Congress on the morning of July 10, in obedience to the instructions given him the day before. This view has been sharply challenged, especially by Professor Verner W. Crane.\nWith one important exception the later statements by Franklin and Hutchinson on the responsibility for the plan support the traditional view of Franklin\u2019s primary authorship. Those statements closest in time to the meeting of the Congress come from Franklin. On July 14, three days after the adjournment he wrote to Colden, \u201cThe Commissioners agreed on a Plan of Union, viz. from N Hampshire to So. Carolina inclusive: the same with that of which I sent you the Hints, some few Particulars excepted.\u201d Five and a half months later, writing to Peter Collinson, December 29, he referred to the influence of \u201cthe commissioners from the 2 popular Governments\u201d (Connecticut and Rhode Island), and added: \u201cFor tho\u2019 I projected the Plan and drew it, I was oblig\u2019d to alter some Things contrary to my Judgment, or should never have been able to carry it through.\u201d From this claim to primary authorship Franklin never deviated; writing in 1788 he remembered that at Albany \u201cA Committee was then appointed one Member from each Colony, to consider the several Plans and report. Mine happen\u2019d to be prefer\u2019d, and with a few Amendments was accordingly reported.\u201d\nHutchinson\u2019s earliest known statement is in a letter dated Oct. 27, 1769, to Sir Francis Bernard, governor of Massachusetts, discussing the nonimportation movement and efforts for concerted action against parliamentary taxation. He referred to the earlier attempt at colonial union: \u201cAt the congress at Albany in 1754 I was in favour of an Union of the governments for certain Purposes and I drew the Plan which was then accepted [but] if I had imagined such absurd notions of government could ever have entred unto the heads of the Americans as are now Publickly avowed I should then have been against any sort of union as I was for it.\u201d Thus fifteen years after the event Hutchinson emphatically claimed authorship of the Albany Plan, but some years later he ascribed it to Franklin equally emphatically three times. In the third volume of his History of Massachusetts Bay, written in England during the 1780s, he declared: \u201cThe plan for a general union was projected by Benjamin Franklin, Esq., one of the commissioners from the province of Pennsylvania, the heads whereof he brought with him.\u201d And again, \u201cMr. Franklin defended his own plan\u201d against Shirley\u2019s counter-proposals later in 1754. In the autobiographical sketch he wrote during the same decade Hutchinson was even more specific: \u201cThe same famous Dr. Franklin was one of the Commissioners from Pensilvania. He, with Mr. Hutchinson, were the Committee who drew up the plan of Union, and the representation of the state of the Colonies. The former was the projection of Dr. F., and prepared in part before he had any consultation with Mr. H., probably brought with him from Philadelphia; the latter was the draught of Mr. H.\u201d\nReconciliation of Hutchinson\u2019s one statement of his own authorship with his three statements of Franklin\u2019s authorship and Franklin\u2019s own three, is virtually impossible. If Hutchinson was correct in 1769, he was wrong three times in the 1780s, and Franklin was wrong twice in 1754 and once in 1788. Gipson\u2019s explanation of Hutchinson\u2019s several repudiations of his own authorship is that \u201chis one aim in these writings seems to have been\u2014with the American union then a fact\u2014to place the chief responsibility for promoting earlier unions on the shoulders of his one-time friend, Franklin, who was now his enemy and that of all American loyalists.\u201d This argument is plausible but hardly convincing, and it does not explain why Franklin should have misstated his part three times, two of them while the events of the Congress were fresh in his memory. On balance, the six statements in support of Franklin\u2019s primary authorship seem the more weighty.\nProfessor Gipson believes that the text of a plan of union prepared by Hutchinson before the Albany meeting is to be found in one of two draft plans located among the Trumbull Papers in the Connecticut State Library, and that Franklin used it extensively in preparing the \u201cdraught in a new form\u201d he laid before the Congress on July 10, which became the text of the final Albany Plan. Both these drafts are in the handwriting of Jonathan Trumbull, not an Albany commissioner but a member of the Connecticut Council who apparently served as secretary of the committee appointed by the Assembly to report on the Albany Plan after it was brought back by the commissioners. Both manuscripts contain cancellations and interlinear additions in Trumbull\u2019s hand. Internal evidence establishes that the shorter of the two plans is the earlier in composition, though they are bound in reverse order among the Trumbull Papers. Merely for convenience, they will be called here the Trumbull Short Plan and the Trumbull Long Plan, without any intention of ascribing authorship by these names.\nNo contemporary document has been found that mentions a written plan prepared by Hutchinson or any other person in Massachusetts before the Albany meeting. Franklin states in his autobiography that \u201cseveral of the Commissioners had form\u2019d Plans of the same kind\u201d as his own, but he does not identify the authors nor say whether their plans had been written out\u2014any more than his had been before he set it down in outline form for James Alexander in New York on his way to Albany. The official minutes record, June 24, that a committee was appointed \u201cto prepare and receive Plans or Schemes\u201d and \u201cto digest them into one general plan,\u201d but these minutes do not say what documents the committee was expected to receive. It is therefore an assumption only, though not an unreasonable one, that there were other written plans similar in general purport to Franklin\u2019s \u201cShort Hints.\u201d An equally reasonable contrary assumption is that Hutchinson and others presented their ideas orally rather than in writing. No proof of either assumption has been found.\nIt is well known that Governor Shirley, Hutchinson, and other Massachusetts leaders were strong advocates of a colonial union before the Albany meeting, and the commission Shirley gave his delegates was the only one which mentioned the adoption of \u201carticles of Union and Confederation\u201d as one of the objects of the Congress. Certainly the Massachusetts commissioners arrived with some plan in mind, whatever its content and form. After careful study of all the available evidence, the present editors believe that neither the Trumbull Short Plan nor the Trumbull Long Plan, with or without the emendations appearing on the manuscripts, represents the text of a paper written before the Albany meeting and presented to the Congress or its committee for consideration.\nA complete exposition of the reasons for this conclusion would require far more space than is appropriate for this headnote. It may be said in general, however, that the argument in favor of identifying one of the documents in Trumbull\u2019s hand with a pre-Albany plan by Hutchinson rests for the most part on a series of assumptions which cannot be proved (or positively disproved) because the necessary external evidence does not exist. A major reason for rejecting the Gipson identification is found in a detailed textual analysis of the five central documents concerned. They are: 1. Franklin\u2019s \u201cShort Hints,\u201d which we know was laid before the Congress committee (above, p. 337); 2. The committee\u2019s \u201cShort Hints,\u201d presented to the Congress on June 28 (above, p. 361); 3. The Albany Plan of Union, agreed to in principle, July 9, reduced to a \u201cnew form\u201d by Franklin and presented to the Congress on the morning of July 10 and referred to the various assemblies the same afternoon; 4. The Trumbull Short Plan; 5. The Trumbull Long Plan.\nFor this purpose an arrangement of the five documents in parallel columns is necessary, with those phrases or sentences relating to the same topics placed together, without regard to their order in the different documents. Such an arrangement reveals clearly the close relationship between Franklin\u2019s \u201cShort Hints\u201d and the committee\u2019s \u201cShort Hints,\u201d and between the final Albany Plan and the two Trumbull plans. An obvious reason for the considerable differences in wording between the two groups is that the first two papers are merely outlines of proposals for consideration, while those in the second group are fully worked out plans. The Albany Plan is known to be the \u201cnew form\u201d that Franklin prepared for final action after the Congress had debated the committee\u2019s \u201cShort Hints\u201d at length; their differences in wording are quite in keeping with the different purposes they were designed to serve.\nGipson has used the similarities within each of the two groups and the differences between the two as a major basis for his hypothesis. He believes that Franklin borrowed the phraseology of Hutchinson\u2019s pre-Albany plan (exemplified in one of the Trumbull documents) for use in the \u201cnew form\u201d into which he recast the committee\u2019s \u201cShort Hints\u201d after the latter had been debated and amended in the Congress. In this way Gipson both explains the similarity in wording of the final Albany Plan and the Trumbull plans and supports his hypothesis that the Trumbull plans were written before the Congress met. Just why Franklin should have made such a borrowing is not clear. By 1754 he had been writing for the public\u2014and writing fluently and well\u2014for more than thirty years; moreover, as an active member of the Pennsylvania Assembly he had repeatedly taken part in the drafting of committee reports, messages to the governor, and bills, which embodied the results of discussions of a deliberative body. In short, he was an old hand at just the sort of writing the Congress asked him to undertake. With all this background, he certainly would have felt no need to resort to the phraseology of a document written by another man which had not served as the basis for the Congress debates. Such a suggestion must be rejected unless positive evidence in its favor can be produced.\nCloser examination of the wording of the five documents, arranged in parallel columns by topics, suggests strongly that both Trumbull plans were written after the Albany Plan, not before it. They are almost certainly two stages of an attempt to revise it into something more acceptable to many New Englanders. It is true that in many passages there is nothing to indicate an order of composition. In others, however, the priority of the Albany Plan seems probable, and in a few almost conclusive. The latter is especially the case if the emendations in the Trumbull documents are taken into account.\nFor example, the Albany Plan declares \u201cThat the said General Government be administered by a President General.\u201d The Trumbull Short Plan reads the same except that \u201cone\u201d replaces \u201ca\u201d before \u201cPresident General.\u201d Unamended, the Trumbull Long Plan repeats the words of the Trumbull Short Plan, but the changes in the manuscript are significant: \u201cThat [inserted above: in] the said General Government [Government is struck through and inserted above is: Union, The Ordering and Directing of the Affairs thereof] be administered by one President General.\u201d These emendations were certainly made after the action of the Congress.\nThe probable chronological relationship of the five documents is best shown in the opening lines of the sections dealing with the powers of the president general (called \u201cgovernor general\u201d in Franklin\u2019s \u201cShort Hints\u201d) and the Grand Council:\nFranklin\u2019s \u201cShort Hints\u201d:  To order all Indian Treaties\nCommittee\u2019s \u201cShort Hints\u201d:  To hold or order all Indian Treaties, regulate all Indian Trade, make Peace and Declare War with the Indian Nations\nAlbany Plan: That the president General, with the Advice of the Grand Council, hold or Direct all Indian Treaties in which the General Interest or Welfare of the Colony\u2019s may be Concerned; and make Peace or Declare War with Indian Nations.\nTrumbull Short Plan: That the President General with the Advice and Consent of the Grand Council hold and Direct all Indian Treaties in which the General Interest or Welfare of These Colonies may be concerned; and make peace or declare Warr with Indian Nations\nTrumbull Long Plan: That the President General with the Grand Council Summoned and Assembled for that Purpose, or a Quorum of Them as aforesaid shall hold and direct all Indian Treaties in which the General Interest or Welfare of these Colonies may be Concerned; and make Peace or Declare Warr with Indian Nations.\nEach of the documents after the first adds words not found in that next above it. The nature of these additions suggest strongly that the documents were composed in the order here indicated. Comparison of passages closely following the one above quoted, supports the same conclusion, especially when it is recognized that the two Trumbull plans originated in New England, where neither Massachusetts nor Connecticut people were anxious to have their asserted bounds \u201creduced to more convenient dimensions,\u201d as the Albany Plan proposed. Their altered phraseology appears to be a conscious effort to soften the implications of wording adopted by a more widely representative group:\nFranklin \u201cShort Hints\u201d: make all Indian purchases not within proprietary Grants.\nCommittee\u2019s \u201cShort Hints\u201d: Make all Indian Purchases of Lands not within the Bounds of Perticuler Colonies.\nAlbany Plan: That they Make all Purchases from the Indians for the Crown, of Lands now not within the Bounds of Particular Colonies or that shall not be within their Bounds when some of them are reduced to more Convenient Dimensions.\nTrumbull Short Plan: That They make all purchases from Indians for the Crown of Lands not now within the Bounds of particular Colonies, or That shall not be within Their Bounds when the Dimention [written directly upon the first five letters of this last word is: Exten, making it read Extention] of Some of Them are rendered more Certain.\nTrumbull Long Plan: That they make all purchases from Indians for the Crown of Lands not now within the Bounds of particular Colonies, or That shall not be within their bounds when the Extention of Some of them are rendered more Certain.\nSuch differences as these appear to the present editors as almost conclusive evidence that the two documents in Trumbull\u2019s hand, whatever their authorship, were composed and revised after the Albany Plan was approved by the Congress. Both in content and in phraseology they appear to be later modifications, not sources, of the Albany Plan. And since they are in many details so contrary to what Franklin advocated, it is certain that he could have had nothing to do with their composition; hence their texts are not included in this edition of his papers. On the other hand, the sequence from Franklin\u2019s \u201cShort Hints\u201d through the committee\u2019s \u201cShort Hints\u201d to the final plan as written out by Franklin and approved by the Congress is clearly established by the complete textual analysis. The plan was based initially on Franklin\u2019s \u201cShort Hints\u201d; it was modified and altered in some particulars by the views of other delegates (doubtless including Hutchinson) in order to gain the support of a majority; and it was cast in final form once again by Franklin.\nPlan of a Proposed Union of the Several Colonies of Masachusets-bay, New Hampshire, Coneticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jerseys, Pensilvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, For their Mutual Defence and Security, and for Extending the British Settlements in North America.\nThat humble Application be made for an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain, by Virtue of which, one General Government may be formed in America, including all the said Colonies, within and under which Government, each Colony may retain its present Constitution, except in the Particulars wherein a Change may be directed by the said Act, as hereafter follows.\nPresident General\nThat the said General Government be administred by a President General, To be appointed and Supported by the Crown, and a Grand Council to be Chosen by the Representatives of the People of the Several Colonies, met in their respective Assemblies.\nGrand Council.\nElection ofMembers.\nThat within Months after the passing of such Act, The House of Representatives in the Several Assemblies, that Happen to be Sitting within that time or that shall be Specially for that purpose Convened, may and Shall Choose Members for the Grand Council in the following Proportions, that is to say.\nMasachusets-Bay\nNew Hampshire\nConecticut\nRhode-Island\nNew-York\nNew-Jerseys\nPensilvania\nMaryland\nVirginia\nNorth-Carolina\nSouth-Carolina\nPlace of first meeting.\n  Who shall meet for the first time at the City of Philadelphia, in Pensilvania, being called by the President General as soon as conveniently may be, after his Appointment.\nNew Election.\n  That there shall be a New Election of Members for the Grand Council every three years; And on the Death or Resignation of any Member his Place shall be Supplyed by a New Choice at the next Sitting of the Assembly of the Colony he represented.\nProportion of Members after first 3 years.\n  That after the first three years, when the Proportion of Money arising out of each Colony to the General Treasury can be known, The Number of Members to be Chosen, for each Colony shall from time to time in all ensuing Elections be regulated by that proportion (yet so as that the Number to be Chosen by any one Province be not more than Seven nor less than Two).\nMeetings of Grand Council.\n  That the Grand Council shall meet once in every Year, and oftner if Occasion require, at such Time and place as they shall adjourn to at the last preceeding meeting, or as they shall be called to meet at by the President General, on any Emergency, he having first obtained in Writing the Consent of seven of the Members to such call, and sent due and timely Notice to the whole.\nCall.\nSpeaker.\n  That the Grand Council have Power to Chuse their Speaker, and shall neither be Dissolved, prorogued nor Continue Sitting longer than Six Weeks at one Time without their own Consent, or the Special Command of the Crown.\nContinuance.\nMember\u2019s Allowance\n  That the Members of the Grand Council shall be Allowed for their Service ten shillings Sterling per Diem, during their Sessions or Journey to and from the Place of Meeting; Twenty miles to be reckoned a days Journey.\nAssent of President General. His Duty.\n  That the Assent of the President General be requisite, to all Acts of the Grand Council, and that it be His Office, and Duty to cause them to be carried into Execution.\nPower of President and Grand Council. Peace and War.\n  That the President General with the Advice of the Grand Council, hold or Direct all Indian Treaties in which the General Interest or Welfare of the Colony\u2019s may be Concerned; And make Peace or Declare War with the Indian Nations. That they make such Laws as they Judge Necessary for regulating all Indian Trade. That they make all Purchases from Indians for the Crown, of Lands not within the Bounds of Particular Colonies, or that shall not be within their Bounds when some of them are reduced to more Convenient Dimensions. That they make New Settlements on such Purchases, by Granting Lands in the Kings Name, reserving a Quit Rent to the Crown, for the use of the General Treasury. That they make Laws for regulating and Governing such new Settlements, till the Crown shall think fit to form them into Particular Governments.\nIndian Purchases.\nNew Settlements\nLaws to Govern them.\nRaise Soldiers &c. Lakes. \n  That they raise and pay Soldiers, and build Forts for the Defence of any of the Colonies, and equip Vessels of Force to Guard the Coasts and Protect the Trade on the Ocean, Lakes, or Great Rivers; But they shall not Impress Men in any Colonies, without the Consent of its Legislature. That for these purposes they have Power to make Laws And lay and Levy such General Duties, Imposts, or Taxes, as to them shall appear most equal and Just, Considering the Ability and other Circumstances of the Inhabitants in the Several Colonies, and such as may be Collected with the least Inconvenience to the People, rather discouraging Luxury, than Loading Industry with unnecessary Burthens. That they may a General Treasurer and a Particular Treasurer in each Government, when Necessary, And from Time to Time may Order the Sums in the Treasuries of each Government, into the General Treasury, or draw on them for Special payments as they find most Convenient; Yet no money to Issue, but by joint Orders of the President General and Grand Council Except where Sums have been Appropriated to particular Purposes, And the President General is previously impowered By an Act to draw for such Sums.\nNot to Impress\nPower to make Laws Duties &c.\nTreasurer.\nMoney how to Issue.\nAccounts.\n  That the General Accounts shall be yearly Settled and Reported to the Several Assembly\u2019s.\nQuorum.\n  That a Quorum of the Grand Council impower\u2019d to Act with the President General, do consist of Twenty-five Members, among whom there shall be one, or more from a Majority of the Colonies. That the Laws made by them for the Purposes aforesaid, shall not be repugnant but as near as may be agreeable to the Laws of England, and Shall be transmitted to the King in Council for Approbation, as Soon as may be after their Passing and if not disapproved within Three years after Presentation to remain in Force.\nLaws to be Transmitted.\nDeath of President General.\n  That in case of the Death of the President General The Speaker of the Grand Council for the Time Being shall Succeed, and be Vested with the Same Powers, and Authority, to Continue until the King\u2019s Pleasure be known.\nOfficers how Appointed.\n  That all Military Commission Officers Whether for Land or Sea Service, to Act under this General Constitution, shall be Nominated by the President General But the Approbation of the Grand Council, is to be Obtained before they receive their Commissions, And all Civil Officers are to be Nominated, by the Grand Council, and to receive the President General\u2019s Approbation, before they Officiate; But in Case of Vacancy by Death or removal of any Officer Civil or Military under this Constitution, The Governor of the Province, in which such Vacancy happens, may Appoint till the Pleasure of the President General and Grand Council can be known. That the Particular Military as well as Civil Establishments in each Colony remain in their present State, this General Constitution Notwithstanding. And that on Sudden Emergencies any Colony may Defend itself, and lay the Accounts of Expence thence Arisen, before the President General and Grand Council, who may allow and order payment of the same As far as they Judge such Accounts Just and reasonable.\nVacancies how Supplied.\nEach Colony may defend itself on Emergency.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "07-21-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0106", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 21 July 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Colden, Cadwallader\nDear Sir,\nNew York July 21. 1754\nI wrote a Line to you from your Landing, promising to send you a Copy of the Plan of Union, which I now enclose.\nWe had a great deal of Disputation about it, almost every Article being contested by one or another; but at length we agreed on it pretty unanimously; and Copies are ordered for the several Governments: How they will relish it, or how it will be look\u2019d on in England, I know not. It is not altogether to my mind, but \u2019tis as I could get it; For the sake of obtaining generals, you know one is sometimes oblig\u2019d to give up particulars. I am, with the greatest Esteem and Respect, Dear Sir, Your most humble Servant\nB Franklin\nP S. You will see by the enclos\u2019d Pamphlet, that Measures are taking in England for anglifying our Germans. The Society have appointed our Governor, Mr. Allen, Mr. Peters, my self, and some others Commissioners for executing their Plan in Pensilvania.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "07-29-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0107", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 29 July 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Collinson, Peter\nDear Sir,\nPhilada. July 29. 1754\nI am just return\u2019d from Albany, where were Commissioners from seven Provinces to treat with the Indians of the Six Nations. I suppose the Treaty will be printed, and I shall send you a Copy. At present can only mention, that we brighten\u2019d the Chain with them &c. and parted good Friends; but in my Opinion no Assistance is to be expected from them in any Dispute with the French, \u2019till by a compleat Union among our selves we are enabled to support them in case they should be attacked. The Commissioners agreed upon a Plan for such Union of Eleven Colonies, viz. from N. Hampshire to S. Carolina inclusive; which Plan they have recommended to the Consideration of the several Assemblies; and if approv\u2019d, it is to be laid before the Government at home, in order to be established by Act of Parliament. By next Ship I will send you a Copy of it, and also a Copy of a Representation we drew up of the State of the Colonies, &c. My long Journey is postpon\u2019d a while, on Account of Mr. Hunter\u2019s Sickness.\nYesterday I receiv\u2019d yours of May 2. per Capt. Joye, with the Box and Books in good Order. I have just had time to run thro\u2019 Father Beccaria\u2019s Piece Dell\u2019 Elettricismo artificiale e naturale, which pleases me much; and the more, as I find his Experiments and Observations on Lightning have led him to the same strange Opinion with me, that Thunder-Strokes are sometimes Upwards from the Earth to the Cloud; so that I hope the Paper I sent you last Spring on that Subject, will now be kept a little in Countenance, till your Philosophers have Opportunity of verifying the Experiments therein related.\nI am, with sincerest Affection, Dear Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant\nB Franklin\nP.S. As Mr. Dalibard had promised to send me that Italian Book, and I have no Letter from Mr. Delor, I imagine what you say the latter sent me, was only his Translation of Pere Beccaria\u2019s Letter, so have acknowledg\u2019d only the Receipt of that from him, and the Italian Book from M. Dalibard. Be pleased to forward my Letters to them per first convenient Opportunity.\nI am much pleased with Mr. Beccarias Book on Electricity for his curious experiments, Clear Expression, and Excellent Methods. I beg the favour of you to present Him my sincere Thanks for the Countenance he has afforded my Opinions and the handsome defence he has made of some of them, against the Attacks of Mr. Nollet. Our Different experiments and Observations on Lightening have led us both to the same strange opinion vizt: that Thunder Strokes are frequently from the Earth to the Clouds \u2014which Opinion I imagine will be found true by such as examine it with the requisite attention.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "07-29-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0108", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques de Romas, 29 July 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Romas, Jacques de\nSir,\nPhiladelphia, July 29. 1754\nYour most obliging Favour of Octob. 19 with your two very ingenious Memoirs on the subject of Electricity, came not to hand till yesterday. By this Vessel, which is just departing for London, I can only acknowledge the Receipt of them, and assure you that the Correspondence so kindly offer\u2019d will be extreamly agreable to me. A more particular answer I must defer till the next Opportunity; in the mean time I send you a late Paper of mine on Lightning, which perhaps may not be published before this reaches your Hands.\nI am very respectfully, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant\nB. Franklin\nM. Romas", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "08-03-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0110", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, 3 August 1754\nFrom: Muhlenberg, Henry Melchior\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nProvidence Augt. 3d. 1754\nThat he rejoiced much in hearing an illustrious Society at home had undertaken to sollicit a Charity and carry on a Scheme for promoting the Knowlege of God among the Germans in Pennsylvania &c. and for making them loyal Subjects to the sacred Protestant Throne of Great Britain; and that he was pleas\u2019d the Managment of said Charity was entrusted to such impartial Persons. But, as by long Experience, he was acquainted with almost all the Corners of Pennsylvania, and with the Temper and Circumstances of his Countrymen, he much fear\u2019d some ill-minded Persons would strive to defeat so just and noble a View, as they had of late done many others, to the Offence of many thousand ignorant, but well-meaning Souls, unless proper Measures were taken to prevent it.\nThe joyful News were no sooner heard than Mr. Sauer, who prints a German News-paper, which is universally read by the Germans all over Pennsylvania and the neighbouring Colonies, made haste to ferment them against the Scheme, as may be seen from the Extracts which are subjoin\u2019d and literally translated from his Paper. Hence then it appears that such a Man has it much in his Power, and too evidently in his Disposition, greatly to retard this good work and stir up the People against their gracious Superiours and their inestimable Benevolence for the Welfare of poor ignorant Souls.\nMr. Muhlenberg further observes that Mr. Franklin having at great Expence set up another German Press, in order to rescue the Germans out of Sauer\u2019s Hands, and the Hands of those whose Interest it is, by Sauer\u2019s Means, to mislead and keep them in Ignorance; but that for Want of a German Printer with sufficient Skill and Correspondence, and a proper Interest made to support Mr. Franklin\u2019s Undertaking, Sauer kept the Advantage, continuing to mislead the People, turn them against their Clergy and every Body that endeavoured to reduce them to Order in Church and State. That he (Mr. Muhlenberg himself) once attempted to buy a Press, on Purpose to rescue his ignorant Country, and instil sound Notions in them concerning the inestimable Privileges, spiritual and temporal, which they enjoy under the sacred protestant Throne of great Britain; but that by Reason of his large encreasing Family and narrow Circumstances, he had been obliged to drop his Design, and beheld his poor Countrymen as much poison\u2019d as ever, with Notions that may produce unhappy Consequences in very remote Periods. That he saw no Way to cure this growing Evil, unless the honourable Society or their Trustees in Pennsylvania, should be at the Expence of bu[y]ing a Press, and make a proper Interest to support a News Paper, Almanack &c. That He would undertake the Direction of the said Press under the Trustees; that he would use his whole Influence among his People and Bretheren to support it, and that a Person might be got who could manage the Press and serve as a Schoolmaster at the same Time. He adds that he did not doubt of the Success of this Scheme, since he had a large Correspondence with pious German Ministers and Congregations, in Pensylvania, New-York, new England, Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Carolina and Georgia, who could be engaged to support it, without putting the Society to any Expence, especially if the Printing house is in the Country, where there is no House-rent and where the same person might serve as Schoolmaster and chief printer.\nHe further laments the Riots, Disloyalty, and Irreligion which are nursed among his Countrymen by thus stirring them up against pious and regularly ordain\u2019d Clergy, while vicious Vagabonds, coming in without Orders and Credentials are indulged, many of whom are justly suspected to be more in the French than British Interest. They marry People without Discretion, trade with the Sacraments and Ordinances, and sow Prejudices against the English Government. One, who names himself Charles Rudolph, Prince of Wirtenberg and Minister of the Gospel, is a Stroler of this Kind. Yet it can be proved that he made a Conspiracy with the Indians against the English and escaped the Gallows in Georgia, by stealing a Boat and running over to the Spaniards; and is infamous all over America for Riots and breaking of Goals, nevertheless he is followed as a Lutheran, and somtimes as a Calvinist Minister. Another, named Engelland, turned in Germany Roman Catholic, was under the hands of the Hangman, reprieved at the Intercession of the Jesuits, after receiving 80 Lashes at the Gallows, was banish\u2019d the Spanish Netherlands for stealing and carrying off innocent Children, and now about Lancaster and York he breeds Dissensions &c. by passing as a Lutheran Minister. There are many more of the same Sort, which we shall never get rid of, nor reduce the People to Order, till our gracious Superiors are pleas\u2019d to demand proper Credentials of all who exercise the Ministry, and not suffer Vagabonds to laugh at us, who are regular Clergymen, by saying it is a free Country and turning Liberty into Licentiousness.\nIn all this, such Vagabonds are supported by Mr. Sauer in his news-paper, who is a professed Adversary to all regularly ordain\u2019d Clergy, and who by varnishing over the Crimes of these People, draws Conclusions a particulari ad Universale, and persuades ignorant People to Quakerism and even Heathenism; For he often tells the People that Clergy of all kinds are Rogues and Tools of tyrranical Government to awe the Mob.\nI have no View but the Good of my poor Countrymen, and therefore I hope you\u2019ll consider these Things and pardon my Boldness.\n(sic subscribitur) Henry M\u00fchlenberg", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "08-08-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0111", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 8 August 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Strahan, William\nDear Sir\nPhilada. Augt. 8. 1754\nThe above is Copy of my last. Not receiving the Printing House as expected last Spring, has been a considerable Disappointment; but I am more concern\u2019d to hear that you and yours have had so much Sickness. I hope before this time you are all perfectly recover\u2019d. I inclose a Bill for \u00a320 Sterling, drawn by Mrs. Mary Steevens on Alexr. Grant Esqr; which when paid you will pass to my Credit. With sincere Respect and Affection, I am, Dear Sir Your most humble Servant\nB Franklin\n Addressed: To \u2002Mr. William Strahan \u2002Printer \u2002London \u2002Per the London \u2002Capt. Shirley", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "08-10-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0112", "content": "Title: Jonathan Thomas: Burlington Post Office Records, 10 August 1754\nFrom: Thomas, Jonathan\nTo: \nThis is a mutilated record of letters received in the Burlington, New Jersey, postoffice, by Jonathan Thomas, postmaster. Tears in the manuscript make some of the dates uncertain, but the period covered appears to be from July 20, 1748, through July 29, 1749. Letters are recorded as received from New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, and (once only) from London. These records fill two pages. On a third are the two following signed receipts:\n[Received date missing] of Mr. Jonathan Thomas the [Sum of? Pou]nds Eight Shillings and Eight pence [on the Post-Off]ice Acct. Per me\nB Franklin Postmaster\n[Received] August 10, 1754. of Mr. Jonathan Thomas [the Sum of] Five Pounds, Two Shillings, and Five [pence], on Account of the Post-Office, having paid Ten per Cent on \u00a314: 10: 1. Per us\nB FranklinWm. Hunter", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "08-28-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0113", "content": "Title: Deed of Trust for the Loganian Library, 28 August 1754\nFrom: Logan, James\nTo: \nAs early as March 1745 James Logan had decided to give his library to the people of Philadelphia, and executed a deed of trust for the purpose. Soon afterwards he began the erection of a suitable building on Sixth Street to house his collection. Later he became dissatisfied with some provisions of the deed of trust, canceled it, and began the preparation of a new one, which, however, he never completed because of serious illness. He died, October 31, 1751, and after some delay his heirs executed a deed of trust in which they named seven trustees, including Franklin, to carry out Logan\u2019s intentions. This instrument, some 8000 words long, recites in detail and often verbatim several earlier documents which reveal Logan\u2019s plans and make clear the sources of income he intended to provide for the library\u2019s support. It bears, somewhat inaccurately, the title \u201cDeed of Trust Respecting Land in Buck County, Granted for Supporting the Loganian Library.\u201d\nAugust 28, 1754\nAbstract: An indenture, dated Aug. 28, 1754, between William Logan and James Logan, sons of James Logan deceased, and his son-in-law John Smith, Logan\u2019s executors, together with Hannah Smith, his surviving daughter, all of the first part; and Israel Pemberton, Jr., William Allen, Richard Peters, and Benjamin Franklin, all of the second part. By his last will, dated Nov. 25, 1749, James Logan had reserved from his bequest of certain Philadelphia lots to his son James the land on which his library had been built; had provided that if either of his granddaughters, Mary and Sarah Norris, died before attaining her majority, his \u00a31000 bequest to her was to be invested in rents for the maintenance of the library; and had requested Richard Peters to assist in arranging his books in it. By an instrument of settlement, dated March 8, 1745, he had assigned certain Philadelphia ground rents for library maintenance and had prescribed rules for its operation, but had later canceled this instrument and begun the preparation of a new one which remained unfinished when he was incapacitated by \u201cthe dead Palsy.\u201d William Penn had granted to Logan, Nov. 3, 1701, a tract of 596\u00be acres in Solebury Township, Bucks County, which Logan had in turn granted in two parcels to Jonathan Ingham and Jacob Dean, May 1 and 26, respectively, 1750, with elaborate provisions (here recited) for rents, which were to be revalued periodically forever. By 1761 these rents would amount to \u00a335 sterling per annum.\nBy the unfinished new instrument of settlement he had proposed to convey the library building and land, his books, and the rents of the Bucks County tract to William and James Logan, Smith, Pemberton, Allen, Peters, and Franklin, as trustees. William Logan was to be the first librarian and upon his death the office was to pass to his eldest son and his male heirs \u201cin priority of Birth and Seniority of Age.\u201d In case of the failure of male issue, the librarianship was to pass to James Logan, the younger, and his male heirs, then to the male heirs of Hannah Smith, Mary Norris, and Sarah Norris, each in turn and all according to the same principle as in the case of William\u2019s heirs. If the right of succession should devolve on a minor, the trustees were to appoint a substitute until he came of age, unless \u201cby the pregnancy of his parts\u201d he should be judged capable of officiating sooner. In case no qualified Logan heir should be found, the trustees might appoint a suitable \u201cProficient in Literature\u201d as librarian. Since most of the above provisions of the unfinished document were the same as those of the canceled instrument of 1745, certain additional clauses of the latter, relating to the qualifications of the librarian and the rules for borrowing books, are recited.\nNow, for the execution of Logan\u2019s intention as expressed in the above instruments and in consideration of ten shillings paid by the parties of the second part, the parties of the first part convey to them and their heirs forever the piece of ground in Philadelphia beginning at a distance of 80 ft. north of the corner of Sixth and Walnut Streets, running northward along Sixth St. for 80 ft. for the full length thereof and containing in breadth 55 ft. from Sixth St., with all the buildings and appurtenances pertaining thereto; all the books mentioned in the catalogue of Logan\u2019s library or added to it; and all rents mentioned in the last will and in the unfinished instrument of settlement and set forth verbatim hereinbefore\u2014the library to be called The Loganian Library\u2014to have and to hold for the benefit of the parties of the first and second parts (excepting Hannah Smith) and their survivors and heirs, in trust for the purpose of carrying out the intentions of the testator as expressed in the above instruments.\nThis indenture is to be recorded in the office for recording deeds and all the above documents are to be copied into a record book kept by the librarian or memorandum made of the locations of their official recordings. The parties agree that two-thirds of the trustees may make and alter rules for the library not inconsistent with the testator\u2019s intent, and provision is made for the use of any increase in the rents from the Bucks County land and of unexpended funds from deposits forfeited by borrowers of books. To help determine the right of succession, the librarian is to keep a genealogical record of the Logan family. The legislature is besought to investigate and remedy any suspected breach of the trust. On the death of any trustee the survivors are to appoint his successor within thirty days and make legal conveyance to him; in the case of the death of one of Logan\u2019s descendants in the group the successor is to be the descendant next of kin, if possible, with provision for the appointment of a temporary substitute in case the next of kin is a minor. The trustees agree that none of them will convey his title and interest to anyone so as to create a tenancy in common or otherwise sever the joint tenancy, without the consent of the other trustees. Signed: Willm. Logan, James Logan, John Smith, Hannah Smith, Isr. Pemberton, Will: Allen, Richard Peters, B. Franklin. Sealed and delivered in the presence of: Th Bond, Jams: Pemberton, Jn Reily.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "08-30-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0114", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 30 August 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Colden, Cadwallader\nDear Sir\nPhilada. Augt. 30. 1754\nI have now before me your Favours of July 23. and August 5th.\nI return Mr. Pyke\u2019s Philosophia sacra. His Manner of Philosophizing is much out of my Way.\nI am now about to proceed on my Eastern Journey, but hope to be at home in the Winter, the best Season for Electrical Experiments, when I will gladly make any you desire; In the mean time should be glad you would communicate the Thoughts you mention, that I may consider them. If you please, direct them to me at Boston.\nThere must, I think, be some Mistake in what you mention, of my having sent Mr. Collinson the Paper you wrote me on Waterspouts. I have the Original now by me, and cannot recollect that I ever copied it, or that I ever communicated the Contents of it to Mr. Collinson or any one. Indeed I have long had an Intention of sending him all I have wrote, and all I have receiv\u2019d from others on that curious Subject, without mentioning Names; but it is not yet done.\nOur Assembly were not inclin\u2019d to show any Approbation of the Plan of Union; yet I suppose they will take no Steps to oppose its being established by the Government at home. Popular Elections have their Inconveniences, in some Cases; but in Establishing new Forms of Government, we cannot always obtain what we may think the best; for the Prejudices of those concern\u2019d, if they cannot be remov\u2019d, must be in some Degree comply\u2019d with. However, I am of Opinion, that when Troops are to be rais\u2019d in America, the Officers appointed must be Men they know and approve, or the Levies will be made with more Difficulty, and at much greater Expence.\nIt is not to be expected that a Quaker Assembly will establish any but Quaker Schools; nor will they ever agree to a Tax for Payment of any Clergy. It is intended by the Society that the Schoolmasters among the Germans shall teach English.\nI am glad the Representation is agreable to your Sentiments. The Letter to Lord Halifax I suppose your Son sends from New York.\nSince my Return I have received from Italy a Book in Quarto, entitled, Dell\u2019 Ellettricismo artificiale e naturale, libri due, di Giambattista Beccaria de\u2019 CC. RR. delle Scuole pie. printed at Turin, and dedicated to the King [of Sardinia]. The Author professedly goes on my [torn]; he seems a Master of Method, and has reduc\u2019d to systematic Order the scatter\u2019d Experiments and Positions deliver\u2019d in my Papers. At the End of the first Book, there is a Letter address\u2019d to the Abb\u00e9 Nollet, in which he answers some of the Abbe\u2019s principal Objections. This Letter being translated into French, I send the Translation for your perusal, and will send the Italian Book it self by some future Opportunity if you desire it. It pleases me the more, in that I find the Author has been led by sundry Observations and Experiments, tho\u2019 different from mine, to the same strange Conclusion, viz. That some Thunder Strokes are from the Earth up[wards]. In which I fear\u2019d I should for some time ha[ve been] singular.\nWith the greatest Esteem and Regard, [I am] Dear Sir, Your most humble [Servant]\nB Fr[anklin]\nPlease to send me the French Piece per first Opportunity after you have perus\u2019d it, directed to me at Boston.\nDr. Colden\n Addressed (in another hand): To \u2002The Honble \u2002Cadwallader Colden Esqr \u2002Cold[engham]", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "09-02-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0115", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from John Franklin, 2 September 1754\nFrom: Franklin, John\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nDear Brother\nBoston Sepr 2d 1754\nThis may serve to Lett you Know that I expected to hear Complaints from Philadelphia of hot wether since we had hear about the Time of your Date about 10 Days of your ordinary sumer wether i.e. hot and moist which occasiond abundence of Complaints Like the Important subject of your Last.\nHaveing some faith in Blanchards Remedea for the stone I had about a twelvemonth since spoke to a Gentelman to send for it for me and on Receiveing the Advertiser that you sent me I wrote to Mr. Collinson your Frind that If he thought from the Experience had of it in London it would be servisable in my disorder to procure and send it me, but this morning Mr. Williams Tells me that I have Got it Come in the ship that Came in on Saturday which when I wrote Mr. Collinson I did not Expect. If these Come to hand before you Leive Home have ocesion to write and have oppertunity Give him a hint that he may Refrain sending it; it will be some Considerable Time before a ship Goes from hence.\nMy wife and the Gerles Joine In Lov to you and sister and my wife perticulirly Thanks sister for her Letter and the perticuler Account it Contains of Mr. Whitefield with which shee has Entertaind severell of his and her frinds. I suppose youl meet these on the Rhoad If you Come out at the Time sister writes.\nI am your affectionate Brother\nJohn Franklin\nPS The Enclosd is for Mr. Beachams son who he hears is sick. He\u2019d be obligd to you to forward it as Directed as soon as you Can.\n Addressed: To \u2002Benjamin Franklin Esq \u2002Postmr \u2002Philadelphia", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "09-07-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0116", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Turner, 7 September 1754\nFrom: Turner, Thomas\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nSir\nRiver Virga. Septr. 7th. 1754.\nAt the Request of Col. Charles Carter I send you our Governors proroguing Speech. He and I came home last night late from the Assembly and having this Opportunity he was unwilling to lose it.\nBy the Speech it must appear to those who are unacquainted with our unhappy Difference, that We have refused to do any Thing for our Country in this Time of Danger. That is so far from being the case, that tho the Forces are now provided with three Months Wages and Provisions We chearfully voted Twenty Thousand Pounds. And to settle amicably our old affair of the Pistole Fee on all Patents issuing from the Secretaries office we proposed to fall into any Measure he would point out to Us, but without the least Hopes of Success. He lays heavy Charges against Us in his Speech, such as We think we do not deserve. When the Truth comes to be known We hope the World will much more blame him than Us who rather than give up a private Pike [pique] and Resentment refused to have so large a Sum. I am so hurried by this Bearer that I am obliged to conclude and am Sir your unknown humble Servant,\nThos. Turner\nTo Benjamin Franklin Esquire.\n Endorsed: Thomas Turner to Ben Franklyn with the Govr of Virginias Proroguing Speech 8ber 1754", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "09-17-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0117", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Peters, 17 September 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Peters, Richard\nDear Sir\nNew York, Sept. 17. 1754\nThe Bearer, Mr. Elphinston, has a secret Art, by which he teaches, even a veteran Scrawler, to write fairly in 30 Hours. I have often heard you laugh at the Secretary\u2019s Writing, and I hope he will take this Opportunity of mending his Hand; for tho\u2019 we are about to have a new Governor, and, they say, a new Assembly, I do not desire to see a new Secretary: I only think it convenient that what he writes may possibly be read.\nBut to be serious. Many Gentlemen and Ladies of this Place have improv\u2019d their Hands exceedingly under this Gentleman\u2019s Direction, and in a Time so short, as is really surprizing; the Testimonies will be produc\u2019d to you. Mr. Elphinstone visits Philadelphia, hoping, from the Character of the Place, that so useful an Art will not fail to meet with Encouragement there. He bears the Character here of an honest worthy Man, and as such I beg leave to recommend him to your Patronage. With the greatest Respect, I am, Dear Sir, Your affectionate humble Servant\nB Franklin\nP.S. I have heard our good Friend Mr. Allen sometimes wishing for a better Hand; this may be a good Opportunity for him to acquire it easily. His Example and yours would be the Making of the Artist\u2019s Fortune.\nR. Peters Esqr.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "09-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0118", "content": "Title: New Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Part III [September 1754]\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: \nThe publication of Franklin\u2019s reports of electrical experiments, communicated to the Royal Society through Peter Collinson, was continued in this pamphlet, published in September 1754. It was consecutively paged (pp. 111\u201354) with Parts I and II, which had appeared in 1751 and 1753 respectively (see above, IV, 125 and 458), and sold for a shilling; and the publishers inserted a leaf giving the contents of all  three parts. The letters and papers in Part III are listed here, together with the description of their contents as given on the inserted leaf, and a reference to the pages where they are printed in this edition.\nLetter XII. Franklin to Collinson, September 1753. pp. 111\u201327.\nOf the luminous Appearance of Sea-Water; how clouds become electrified; Experiments for shewing whether they are negatively or positively electrified; conjectures on this Occasion. What Thickness of a metalic rod [is] best for drawing Lightning from the Clouds, and securing Edifices, &c. [Above, pp. 68\u201379]\nLetter XIII. Franklin to Collinson, April 18, 1754. pp. 128\u20139.\nAn account of Mr. Kinnersley\u2019s Experiments on the positive and negative State of Electricity in the Clouds. [Above, p. 262]\nDavid Colden, Remarks on the Abb\u00e9 Nollet\u2019s Letters on Electricity to Benjamin Franklin. pp. 130\u201342. [Above, pp. 135\u201343]\nJohn Canton, Electrical Experiments, with an Attempt to account for their Phaenomena; together with some Observations on Thunder Clouds; made in London about the same Time Mr. Franklin\u2019s were carrying on in America, December 6, 1753. pp. 143\u201352. [Above, pp. 149\u201354]\nAppendix: Mr. Franklin\u2019s Account of his killing a Turkey by an electrical Shock; and of the Sensations which he felt himself upon receiving accidentally another violent electrical Shock, without Detriment. pp. 153\u20134.\nFranklin\u2019s New Experiments was listed in the Gentleman\u2019s Magazine in September 1754. Its contents were reviewed there in unusual detail.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "10-03-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0119", "content": "Title: Scheme of the First Academy Lottery, 3 October 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: \nScheme of a Lottery, for raising 3000 Pieces of Eight, for the Use of the Academy at Philadelphia.\nThe Purchase of Ground and Buildings for the Academy, the Alterations and Improvements that were necessary to accommodate the Scholars, and the furnishing of the several Schools, having, all together, prov\u2019d an Expence far beyond their first Expectation, the Trustees, desirous as soon as possible to compleat their Plan, for the Good of the Publick and of Posterity, find themselves under a Necessity of obtaining some Assistance by way of Lottery: And as several Lotteries have, since the Founding of this Academy by Subscription, been carried on and encouraged here for the Benefit of Schools and Colleges in the neighbouring Provinces, \u2019tis hoped it will not be thought less reasonable that we should at length have one for the Benefit of our own. Those who in this way have lately contributed liberally to Matters of mere external Ornament to the City, will doubtless more chearfully encourage the Academy; an Undertaking which aims at adorning the Minds of our Youth with every Excellence, and rendering them really useful and serviceable Members of Society.\nPrizes.\nDollars.\nDollars.\nof\n  each,\nare\nof\nare\nof\nare\nof\nare\nof\n   & a half,\nare\nof\nare\n  Prizes,\n  Blanks,\n  Tickets, at Four Dollars each, are\nThe Money to be paid to the Possessors of Prizes as soon as the Drawing is finished, Twenty per Cent. being first deducted from the 93 larger Prizes; but the 1000 small Prizes to be paid without any Deduction, which reduces the Deduction on the whole to Fifteen per Cent.\nThe Drawing to begin punctually on Monday the 20th of January next, or sooner if sooner full. The Prizes to be published in this Gazette.\nThe following Persons are appointed Managers of this Lottery, viz. Messieurs William Allen, John Inglis, William Masters, Samuel M\u2019Call, junior, Joseph Turner, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Leech, William Shippen, Philip Syng, Phineas Bond, Richard Peters, Abraham Taylor, William Plumsted, Joshua Maddox, Thomas White, and Thomas Cadwallader, who are to give Bond, and be on Oath for the faithful Performance of their Trust.\nPrize-Money not demanded within six Months after the Drawing is finished, to be deemed as generously given to the Academy, and applied accordingly.\nTickets will begin to be sold by the Managers at their respective Dwellings on the 22d of October instant.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "10-14-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0120", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 14 October 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Franklin, William\nDear Son,\nBoston, Oct. 14. 1754\nI have yours of the 4th Inst. and find the Election has turn\u2019d out as I expected. I am glad Rutherford has refus\u2019d to undertake the Stage; for I did not like your proposing it to him. I admire Mr. Colden was so unready; I thought every thing had been fully explain\u2019d to him.\nPoor Mr. Hunter is relaps\u2019d into his last Summer Fever; and has kept his Bed these 8 Days, frequently delirious, and Watchers attend him every Night. But to day he seems better; he is however extreamly weaken\u2019d and emaciated. This has prevented our Journey to Piscataqua, and very much disconcerts our Measures. He desires to be kindly remember\u2019d to you. It seems now as if we should not return so soon as expected, for I apprehend his Illness may be long, tho\u2019 I hope not dangerous: So write me every thing relating to the Assembly and Governor, his Reception, &c. Your first Session will be over before this can reach you, or I should desire you to present my Respects to some of the Members my old Friends: Let me know particularly what pass\u2019d at the Meeting.\nI enclose Governor Shirley\u2019s late Proceedings at the Eastward. He is particulary civil to me.\nYour Relations here are all well, and remember their Love to you. Your Aunt Mecom says she wants to hear from you often, and that you ought to write to her. I am, Your loving Father\nB Franklin\nP.S. I have just receiv\u2019d the enclos\u2019d from Capt. Swaine. [Give] it to Mr. Allen or Mr. Mifflin. The other enclos\u2019d Letters are from the [Ship\u2019s] Company to their Wives &c. Don\u2019t charge them Postage.\n Endorsed: B. Franklin Octr. 14, 1754", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "11-04-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0121", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 4 November 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Strahan, William\nDear Sir\nBoston, Nov. 4. 1754\nI am favoured with yours of July 31. and Augt. 5. which came to hand since my Arrival here. I hear from Mr. Parker, that the Goods for Connecticut were safe arrived at New York, and that he had sent them to Newhaven: I thank you for your Care in that Matter. Inclosed you have a second Bill for \u00a320 Sterling drawn by Mrs. Stevens on Alexr. Grant Esqr: the first I sent before I left home. On my Return shall remit farther, and am with great Respect and Affection, Dear Sir Your most humble Servant\nB Franklin\nP.S. I am glad to hear your Son Billy likes the Printing Business. If, with the Trade, you give him a good deal of Reading and Knowledge of Books, and teach him to express himself well on all Occasions in Writing, it may be of very great Advantage to him as a Printer. You have some Instances among you. My Daughter is now 11 Years old, grows finely, an honest good Girl, as dutiful and sweet-temper\u2019d as one could wish. I promise my self much Comfort in her when I grow old, if we should live. But these things will be as God pleases.\n Addressed: To \u2002Mr William Strahan \u2002Printer in New Street Fetter Lane \u2002London", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "11-25-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0123", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Darling and Nathan Whiting, 25 November 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Darling, Thomas,Whiting, Nathan\nGentlemen\nBoston, Nov. 25. 1754\nI hoped to have had the Pleasure of seeing you at New Haven long before this time, but the Sickness of my Fellow Traveller Mr. Hunter, and various Accidents have hitherto prevented: I hope however to be there in three or four Weeks at farthest.\nI suppose you long since received the Press, Types and Stationary I ordered into your Care. My Nephews that are Printers having one after the other changed their Minds, and chusing to continue where they are, the one at Antigua, and the other at Newport; I must provide another Hand for your Place. In the meantime, Mr. Parker of New York will come I believe and make trial this Winter. If he likes the Place, perhaps he may continue. So please to deliver him the whole when he arrives with you.\nPlease to present the enclos\u2019d Sermon with my Respects to Mr. Clap. And I would farther request your Delivery of the enclos\u2019d Letter to Mr. Holt, a Gentleman I suppose to be now in your Town.\nWith great Respect, I am, Gentlemen, Your obliged humble Servant\nB Franklin\nMessrs. Darling and Whiting\n Endorsed: Benja Franklin Letter", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "12-04-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0125", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Shirley, [4 December 1754]\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Shirley, William\nSir,\nBoston. December 4. 1754\nI mention\u2019d it Yesterday to your Excellency as my Opinion, that Excluding the People of the Colonies from all Share in the Choice of the Grand Council would probably give extreme Dissatisfaction, as well as the Taxing them by Act of Parliament where they have no Representative. In Matters of General Concern to the People, and especially where Burthens are to be laid upon them, it is of Use to consider as well what they will be apt to think and say, as what they ought to think: I shall, therefore, as your Excellency requires it of me, briefly mention what of either Kind occurs at present, on this Occasion.\nFirst, they will say, and perhaps with Justice, that the Body of the People in the Colonies are as loyal, and as firmly attach\u2019d to the present Constitution and reigning Family, as any Subjects in the King\u2019s Dominions; that there is no Reason to doubt the Readiness and Willingness of their Representatives to grant, from Time to Time, such Supplies, for the Defence of the Country, as shall be judg\u2019d necessary, so far as their Abilities will allow: That the People in the Colonies, who are to feel the immediate Mischiefs of Invasion and Conquest by an Enemy, in the Loss of their Estates, Lives and Liberties, are likely to be better Judges of the Quantity of Forces necessary to be raised and maintain\u2019d, Forts to be built and supported, and of their own Abilities to bear the Expence, than the Parliament of England at so great a Distance. That Governors often come to the Colonies meerly to make Fortunes, with which they intend to return to Britain, are not always Men of the best Abilities and Integrity, have no Estates here, nor any natural Connections with us, that should make them heartily concern\u2019d for our Welfare; and might possibly be sometimes fond of raising and keeping up more Forces than necessary, from the Profits accruing to themselves, and to make Provision for their Friends and Dependents. That the Councellors in most of the Colonies, being appointed by the Crown, on the Recommendation of Governors, are often of small Estates, frequently dependant on the Governors for Offices, and therefore too much under Influence. That there is therefore great Reason to be jealous of a Power in such Governors and Councils, to raise such Sums as they shall judge necessary, by Draft on the Lords of the Treasury, to be afterwards laid on the Colonies by Act of Parliament, and paid by the People here; since they might abuse it, by projecting useless Expeditions, harrassing the People, and taking them from their Labour to execute such Projects, and meerly to create Offices and Employments, gratify their Dependants and divide Profits. That the Parliament of England is at a great Distance, subject to be misinform\u2019d by such Governors and Councils, whose united Interests might probably secure them against the Effect of any Complaints from hence. That it is suppos\u2019d an undoubted Right of Englishmen not to be taxed but by their own Consent given thro\u2019 their Representatives. That the Colonies have no Representatives in Parliament. That to propose taxing them by Parliament, and refusing them the Liberty of chusing a Representative Council, to meet in the Colonies, and consider and judge of the Necessity of any General Tax and the Quantum, shews a Suspicion of their Loyalty to the Crown, or Regard for their Country, or of their Common Sense and Understanding, which they have not deserv\u2019d. That compelling the Colonies to pay Money without their Consent would be rather like raising Contributions in an Enemy\u2019s Country, than taxing of Englishmen for their own publick Benefit. That it would be treating them as a conquer\u2019d People, and not as true British Subjects. That a Tax laid by the Representatives of the Colonies might easily be lessened as the Occasions should lessen, but being once laid by Parliament, under the Influence of the Representations made by Governors, would probably be kept up and continued, for the Benefit of Governors, to the grievous Burthen and Discouragement of the Colonies, and preventing their Growth and Increase. That a Power in Governors to march the Inhabitants from one End of the British and French Colonies to the other, being a Country of at least 1500 Miles square, without the Approbation or Consent of their Representatives first obtain\u2019d to such Expeditions, might be grievous and ruinous to the People, and would put them on a Footing with the Subjects of France in Canada, that now groan under such Oppression from their Governor, who for two Years past has harrass\u2019d them with long and destructive Marches to the Ohio. That if the Colonies in a Body may be well governed by Governors and Councils appointed by the Crown, without Representatives, particular Colonies may as well or better by so governed; a Tax may be laid on them all by Act of Parliament, for Support of Government, and their Assemblies be dismiss\u2019d as a useless Part of their Constitution. That the Powers propos\u2019d, by the Albany Plan of Union to be vested in a Grand Council representative of the People, even with Regard to Military Matters, are not so great as those the Colonies of Rhode-Island and Connecticut are intrusted with, and have never abused; for by this Plan the President-General is appointed by the Crown, and controlls all by his Negative; but in those Governments the People chuse the Governor, and yet allow him no Negative. That the British Colonies, bordering on the French, are properly Frontiers of the British Empire; and that the Frontiers of an Empire are properly defended at the joint Expence of the Body of People in such Empire. It would now be thought hard, by Act of Parliament, to oblige the Cinque Ports or Sea Coasts of Britain to maintain the whole Navy, because they are more immediately defended by it, not allowing them, at the same Time, a Vote in chusing Members of Parliament: And if the Frontiers in America must bear the Expence of their own Defence, it seems hard to allow them no Share in Voting the Money, judging of the Necessity and Sum, or advising the Measures. That besides the Taxes necessary for the Defence of the Frontiers, the Colonies pay yearly great Sums to the Mother Country unnotic\u2019d: For Taxes, paid in Britain by the Land holder or Artificer, must enter into and increase the Price of the Produce of Land, and of Manufactures made of it; and great Part of this is paid by Consumers in the Colonies, who thereby pay a considerable Part of the British Taxes. We are restrain\u2019d in our Trade with Foreign Nations, and where we could be supplied with any Manufactures cheaper from them, but must buy the same dearer from Britain, the Difference of Price is a clear Tax to Britain. We are oblig\u2019d to carry great Part of our Produce directly to Britain, and where the Duties there laid upon it lessens its Price to the Planter, or it sells for less than it would in Foreign Markets, the Difference is a Tax paid to Britain. Some Manufactures we could make, but are forbid, and must take them of British Merchants; the whole Price of these is a Tax paid to Britain. By our greatly increasing the Consumption and Demand of British Manufactures, their Price is considerably rais\u2019d of late Years; the Advance is clear Profit to Britain, and enables its People better to pay great Taxes; and much of it being paid by us is clear Tax to Britain. In short, as we are not suffer\u2019d to regulate our Trade, and restrain the Importation and Consumption of British Superfluities, (as Britain can the Consumption of Foreign Superfluities) our whole Wealth centers finally among the Merchants and Inhabitants of Britain, and if we make them richer, and enable them better to pay their Taxes, it is nearly the same as being taxed ourselves, and equally beneficial to the Crown. These Kind of Secondary Taxes, however, we do not complain of, tho\u2019 we have no Share in the Laying or Disposing of them; but to pay immediate heavy Taxes, in the Laying Appropriation or Disposition of which, we have no Part, and which perhaps we may know to be as unnecessary as grievous, must seem hard Measure to Englishmen, who cannot conceive, that by hazarding their Lives and Fortunes in subduing and settling new Countries, extending the Dominion and encreasing the Commerce of their Mother Nation, they have forfeited the native Rights of Britons, which they think ought rather to have been given them, as due to such Merit, if they had been before in a State of Slavery.\nThese, and such Kind of Things as these, I apprehend will be thought and said by the People, if the propos\u2019d Alteration of the Albany Plan should take Place. Then, the Administration of the Board of Governors and Council so appointed, not having any Representative Body of the People to approve and unite in its Measures, and conciliate the Minds of the People to them, will probably become suspected and odious. Animosities and dangerous Feuds will arise between the Governors and Governed, and every Thing go into confusion. Perhaps I am too apprehensive in this Matter, but having freely given my Opinion and Reasons, your Excellency can better judge whether there be any Weight in them. And the Shortness of the Time allow\u2019d me will I hope, in some Degree, excuse the Imperfections of this Scrawl.\nWith the greatest Respect and Fidelity, I am, Your Excellency\u2019s most obedient and most humble Servant\nB Franklin\n Endorsed: Copy of a Letter to Govr. Shirley, on the Proposal of excluding the American Assemblies from the Choice of the Grand Council, and taxing the People in America by Parliament.\tTo P Collinson", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "12-22-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0127", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Shirley, 22 December 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Shirley, William\nSir,\nBoston, Dec. 22, 1754\nSince the conversation your Excellency was pleased to honour me with, on the subject of uniting the Colonies more intimately with Great Britain, by allowing them Representatives in Parliament, I have something further considered that matter, and am of opinion, that such an Union would be very acceptable to the Colonies, provided they had a reasonable number of Representatives allowed them; and that all the old Acts of Parliament restraining the trade or cramping the manufactures of the Colonies, be at the same time repealed, and the British Subjects on this side the water put, in those respects, on the same footing with those in Great Britain, \u2019till the new Parliament, representing the whole, shall think it for the interest of the whole to re-enact some or all of them: It is not that I imagine so many Representatives will be allowed the Colonies, as to have any great weight by their numbers; but I think there might be sufficient to occasion those laws to be better and more impartially considered, and perhaps to overcome the private interest of a petty corporation, or of any particular set of artificers or traders in England, who heretofore seem, in some instances, to have been more regarded than all the Colonies, or than was consistent with the general interest, or best national good. I think too, that the government of the Colonies by a Parliament, in which they are fairly represented, would be vastly more agreeable to the people, than the method lately attempted to be introduced by Royal Instructions, as well as more agreeable to the nature of an English Constitution, and to English Liberty; and that such laws as now seem to bear hard on the Colonies, would (when judged by such a Parliament for the best interest of the whole) be more chearfully submitted to, and more easily executed.\nI should hope too, that by such an union, the people of Great Britain and the people of the Colonies would learn to consider themselves, not as belonging to different Communities with different Interests, but to one Community with one Interest, which I imagine would contribute to strengthen the whole, and greatly lessen the danger of future separations.\nIt is, I suppose, agreed to be the general interest of any state, that it\u2019s people be numerous and rich; men enow to fight in its defence, and enow to pay sufficient taxes to defray the charge; for these circumstances tend to the security of the state, and its protection from foreign power: But it seems not of so much importance whether the fighting be done by John or Thomas, or the tax paid by William or Charles: The iron manufacture employs and enriches British Subjects, but is it of any importance to the state, whether the manufacturers live at Birmingham or Sheffield, or both, since they are still within its bounds, and their wealth and persons at its command? Could the Goodwin Sands be laid dry by banks, and land equal to a large country thereby gain\u2019d to England, and presently filled with English Inhabitants, would it be right to deprive such Inhabitants of the common privileges enjoyed by other Englishmen, the right of vending their produce in the same ports, or of making their own shoes, because a merchant, or a shoemaker, living on the old land, might fancy it more for his advantage to trade or make shoes for them? Would this be right, even if the land were gained at the expence of the state? And would it not seem less right, if the charge and labour of gaining the additional territory to Britain had been borne by the settlers themselves? And would not the hardship appear yet greater, if the people of the new country should be allowed no Representatives in the Parliament enacting such impositions? Now I look on the Colonies as so many Counties gained to Great Britain, and more advantageous to it than if they had been gained out of the sea around its coasts, and joined to its land: For being in different climates, they afford greater variety of produce, and materials for more manufactures; and being separated by the ocean, they increase much more its shipping and seamen; and since they are all included in the British Empire, which has only extended itself by their means; and the strength and wealth of the parts is the strength and wealth of the whole; what imports it to the general state, whether a merchant, a smith, or a hatter, grow rich in Old or New England? And if, through increase of people, two smiths are wanted for one employed before, why may not the new smith be allowed to live and thrive in the new Country, as well as the old one in the Old? In fine, why should the countenance of a state be partially afforded to its people, unless it be most in favour of those, who have most merit? and if there be any difference, those, who have most contributed to enlarge Britain\u2019s empire and commerce, encrease her strength, her wealth, and the numbers of her people, at the risque of their own lives and private fortunes in new and strange countries, methinks ought rather to expect some preference.\nWith the greatest respect and esteem I have the honour to be Your Excellency\u2019s most obedient and most humble servant.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "12-24-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0128", "content": "Title: Benjamin Franklin and William Hunter: Commission to Thomas Vernon, 24 December 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin,Hunter, William\nTo: \n[December 24, 1754]\nBenjamin Franklin, and William Hunter, Esquires, D.\nPost-Masters-General of all His Majesty\u2019s Provinces and Dominions on the Continent of North-America.\nTo All to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting, Know Ye, That Wehaving received good Testimony of the Fidelity, and Loyalty to His Majesty, of Mr. Thomas Vernon of Newport in Rhodeisland, Gent. and reposing great Trust and Confidence in the Knowledge, Care, and Ability of the said Thomas Vernon to Execute the Office and Duties required of a Deputy Post-Master, have Deputed, Constituted, Authorized, and Appointed, and by these Presents do Depute, Constitute, Authorize, and Appoint the said Thomas Vernon to be our lawful and sufficient Deputy, to Execute the Office of Deputy Post-Master for the Town of Newport aforesaid to have, hold, use, exercise and enjoy the said Office, with all and every the Rights, Privileges, Benefits and Advantages, to the same belonging, from the twenty-fifth Day of December. 1754 for the Term of three Years, unless sooner removed by us, under such Conditions, Covenants, Provisoes, Payments, Orders and Instructions, to be faithfully observed, performed, and done, by the said Deputy, and Servants, as he or they shall, from Time to Time, receive from Us, or by our Order. In Witness whereof, We the said Benjamin Franklin, and William Hunter, have hereunto set our Hands, and caused the Seal of our Office to be affixed: Dated the 24th Day of December 175 4 in the twenty-eighth Year of His Majesty\u2019s Reign.\nB FranklinWm. Hunter", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "12-29-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0129", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 29 December 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Collinson, Peter\nDear Sir\nBoston, Dec. 29. 1754\nI wrote a few Lines by a Vessel that went from hence about 2 Weeks since, acknowledging the Receipt of your several Favours of July 30. Augt. 6, and 23. and Sept. 18. Sundry Affairs have retarded my Return home, but tomorrow I purpose to set out.\nI am much oblig\u2019d to you for the favourable Light you put me in, to our Proprietor, as mention\u2019d in yours of July 30. I know not why he should imagine me not his Friend, since I cannot recollect any one Act of mine that could denominate me otherwise. On the contrary, if to concur with him, so far as my little Influence reach\u2019d, in all his generous and benevolent Designs and Desires of making his Province and People flourishing and happy, be any Mark of my Respect and Dutyful Regard to him, there are many who would be ready to say I could not be suppos\u2019d deficient in such Respect. The Truth is, I have sought his Interest more than his Favour; others perhaps have sought both, and obtain\u2019d at least the latter. But in my Opinion, great Men are not always best serv\u2019d by such as show on all Occasions a blind Attachment to them: An Appearance of Impartiality in general, gives a Man sometimes much more Weight when he would serve in particular Instances.\nI am very thankful to the Society for their favourable Reception of my last Paper. I wish it had been more worthy of their Attention. I long since promis\u2019d you a philosophical Pacquet consisting of many Particulars, but as it contains some Oddities, and some Novelties which I have not had time to dress so as to be fit for the View of your ingenious Friends, I must defer it a while longer, and beg your Excuse.\nAs to the State of the Colonies, a pretty full Representation of it was drawn up by the Commissioners at Albany, and was sent home to the Ministry with the Proceedings. However, as you perhaps have not seen it, I send you herewith the whole Treaty, [and] as, I have no other Copy, I must beg you would return it after Perusal. All the Assemblies in the Colonies have, I suppose, had the Union Plan laid before them; but it is not likely, in my Opinion, that any of them will act upon it so as to agree to it, or to propose any Amendments to it. Every Body cries, a Union is absolutely necessary; but when they come to the Manner and Form of the Union, their weak Noddles are presently distracted. So if ever there be an Union, it must be form\u2019d at home by the Ministry and Parliament. I doubt not but they will make a good one, and I wish it may be done this Winter.\nI send you withal the Remainder of Douglas\u2019s Summaries. He did not live to finish his Work.\nMy Respects to Mr. Watson, to whom I shall write after my Return.\nWith the Treaty at Albany, I send you a Paper I drew up containing the Motives on which the Commissioners at Albany proceeded in forming their Plan. A Gentleman here had a Copy of me to send to Lord Halifax, which if receiv\u2019d you need not show his Lordship this; but may communicate it to our Friend Jackson. Some Things in the Plan may perhaps appear of too popular a Turn, the Commissioners from the 2 popular Governments, having a considerable Weight at the Board: When I give the Reasons on which each Article was settled as it stands, I would not be understood as expressing every where my own Opinion: For tho\u2019 I projected the Plan and drew it, I was oblig\u2019d to alter some Things contrary to my Judgment, or should never have been able to carry it through.\nWith great Esteem and Affection, I am, Dear Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant\nB Franklin\n Addressed: To \u2002Peter Collinson Esqr F.R.S. \u2002London \u2002per favr of \u2002Mr M\u2019Clenagan \u2002with a Pacquet\nForwarded: In Charles Street Westminster at Mrs. Jump\u2019s.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "12-30-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0131", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Shirley, [30 December 1754?]\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Shirley, William\n[Sir]\nMonday Morning [December 30? 1754]\nI return your Excellency the Papers you have been pleas\u2019d to favour me with the Perusal of. I really can think of nothing to add on the Topics you mention\u2019d to me; but am of Opinion that the Force and Impression of the Matters contain\u2019d in the 5 first and 3 last Pages, would be greater, if they might be read together, and were not disjoin\u2019d by the Accounts of the French Settlements and Encroachments. I think, therefore, they should make a separate Part of the Pamphlet; The Account of the French Settlements and Encroachments another distinct Part; and that divided into shorter Paragraphs. And if Your Excellency should be of Opinion that my Paper on the Peopling of Countries, &c. would on this Occasion be of any Use, I would not object to its being annexed. With the greatest Esteem and Attachment, I am, Your Excellency\u2019s most obedient and most humble Servant\nB Franklin\n Addressed: To \u2002His Excellency William Shirley Esqr\nEndorsed: Papers Concerng the Settlemt. of N Eng &c.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "01-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0133", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 1754\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Franklin, Deborah\nDame\nSend 50 Reams largest Demi to Mr. Daniel, Printer at Jamaica.\nSend 30 Reams Do to Peter Timothy.\nSend the Ream of thick blue Paper to Parker.\nSend half the brown Paper in the House to Parker[?], \u2019tother half to Brother John in Boston; No, send it all to Boston.\n[In margin]: Nota, bene. Don\u2019t forget to enter it.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "01-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0134", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Kemble, 1754\nFrom: Kemble, Peter\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nSir:\nNew [Brunswick, c. 1754?]\nBegg the favour you\u2019d forward the Incloseds, in which you\u2019ll much oblige Sir your most humble Servant\nPeter Kemble\n Addressed: To \u2002Benjamen Franklin Esqr: \u2002In \u2002Philadelphia", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "01-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-05-02-0135", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from \u2014\u2014\u2014, 1754\nFrom: \u2014\u2014\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nThis letter, undated, unsigned, and in an unidentified hand, survives among Franklin\u2019s papers. Internal evidence indicates that it was written by someone in the colonies and at about the middle of the eighteenth century. Because the problem of colonial union was being so actively discussed in 1754, it is tentatively assigned to that year.\nDear Sir\nAccording to your request &c. of all the Schems for uniteing the Strenth of the Colonies which have hitherto appeared, no one in my humble opinion, seems more reasonable, or, that woud more effectually answer all intents and purposes than that of Mr. Davenants published in the year 1698. This Gentleman tells us, that he has seen a Scheme for the general Government of the Northern Colonies, which seems contrived with very good Judgement, upon which account, he says, he thought it not unreasonable to offer the heads of it to the public consideration.\n1. That the Colonies may be authorised to meet once a year, or oftner if need require, by their stated and appointed Deputies, and resolve on such measures, as shall be most adviseable at any time to take, for their public tranquility and safty.\n2. That in order to it Two persons well qualified for their understanding, sobriety, and substance, be appointed by such province, as their Representatives, or Deputies, which in the whole will make the Congress twinty (now 26) persons.\n3dly. That the Kings Commissioner for that purpose especially to be appointed, shoud have the Chair and preside in the said Congress.\n4thly. That they shoud meet as near as conveniently may be, to the most Central Colony, for the ease of the Deputies.\n5thly. Since that in all probability may be Newyork, both because it is near the Center of the Colonies, And for that it is the Chief Frontier, and the Governor in the Kings Nomination: That the Gov. be the Kings High Commissioner during the session, after the manner of Scotland. (Formerly)\n6thly. That their business shoud be to hear and adjust all matters of complaint, or difference between Province and Province &c. as first to consider of ways and means to support the union, and Safty of these Provinces against their Common Enemies. In which Congress the Quotas of men, and charges will be much easier and more equally allotted and proportioned than it is possible for any other establishment to do. For the Provinces knowing their own condition, and one anothers can debate that Matter with more freedom, and Satisfaction, and better adjust, and ballance their affairs in all respects, for their common Safty.\n7. That in times of war the Kings High Commissioner shoud be General, or Commander in chief of the several Quota\u2019s upon service against the Common Enemy. (And I will beg leave to add that all proceedings ought to be laid before the Parlament only.)\nThis Constitution has some resemblance with the Court of the Amphictiones which was a kind of Council, where the General affairs of Greece were debated, which if they had preserv\u2019d in its original purity, and to the first design of it that Country had not been so easie a conquest to the Romans. And it is submitted to better Judgements, whether it woud not Greatly tend to the wellfare and Safty of these Colonies, That Laws not contrary to the Law of England ennacted in such an assembly, shoud remain in force till altered by the Parliment of Gt. Britain, without doubt it woud be a great incitement, to their industry, and render them more pertinacious in their deffence upon any invasion that might happen, to find themselves a free people, and governed by Constitutions of their own makeing, and this seems the more necessary because heretofore, many good Laws have been abrogated in England, upon the false and corrupt Sugestions of Interrested persons. Besides nothing can be more precarious to a people, than Levity in makeing and Rescinding Laws.\nHad a proper attention been Given to above, at that time, and the several colonies properly employd, according to their situation, circumstances, and the nature of their productions That is to say\u2014Newfound Land and Nova Scotia, in that of the Fishery, whaling no[t] excepted.\nMassachusets, Rhodeisland, and Connecticut in collecting ship timber, Bark and building.\nNewyork in the manufacture of Hemp, potash, Salt petre, or even Gunpowder, and ship timber Bark &c.\nNewjersey\u2019s which is one continued body of iorn oar in the iorn Manufactury, and ship timber &c.\nPensilvania is chiefly a bread colony but capable of affording most of the other Articles.\nMaryland and Virginia to continue in that of the Tobacco trade.\nThe two Carolinas, in pitch, Tar, Turpentine, Indigo, Silk and Rice.\nGeorgia, intirely in that of Silk and Indigo.\nHad the several Colonies, I say, at that time been thus directed, with proper encouragement, what an advantageous figure woud they have made at this day both for themselves, and their mother Country, but I hope it is not yet too late.\nThat the high price of labour is owing to the want of hands here, is a General mistake. It is really for want of employment. A labourer who can hardly find employment three days in the week, which is Generally their case, must charge for the four days he is like to live idle for want of employment, or starve. The thoughts indeed of a long winter, to a labourer, who perhaps may not meet with one weeks employment during the whole Season, is not a litle shocking. Whereas by a certain employment during the whole year round he can afford to work for one half of the present wages and will find his account more, at the years end. Besides a full exertion of those manufactories will by the constant returns made reduce the price of that important article of clothing, and at the same time enable the Farmer to purchase those very articles, cheaper and better than he can possibly make them.\nI woud not have it here understood, that I mean any of the Colonies shoud monopolize. Let each raise those several articles according to their Circumstances, and Situation. But upon the articles allotted to each respective Colony let there be a bounty allowed, at least let there be skillfull hands placed amongst them for a time at the publick charge. And why might not we detatch some of our own people, of capacity and understanding, after the manner of Peter the Great, into those countries where those manufactories are already carried to perfection, who might return overseers of our works.\nTo conclud, for I will go no further than the sheet will allow me, I may venture to assure you, there are many thousands of idle people in these provinces who do not know which way to turn their hands and we are dayly encreasing by propagation and accession, who, in this case, may find full employment as well as the young, the old, the lame and the Blind. Yours.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "03-27-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/01-01-02-0004-0002", "content": "Title: Expedition to the Ohio, 1754: Narrative\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: \n On the 31st of March, I received from his Honour a Lieutenant Colonel\u2019s Commission,\n   The date of the commission\u2019s receipt as given here is in error. Dinwiddie wrote to GW 15 Mar. enclosing the commission as lieutenant colonel of the Virginia Regiment, \u201cpay, 12s. 6d. per day\u201d (ViHi), and GW acknowledged its receipt 20 Mar. (WRITINGSJohn C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745\u20131799. 39 vols. Washington, D.C., 1931\u201344., 1:35\u201336).\n of the Virginia Regiment, whereof Joshua Fry, Esq; was Colonel, dated the 15th; with Orders to take the Troops, which were at that Time quartered at Alexandria, under my Command, and to march with them towards the Ohio, there to help Captain Trent to build Forts, and to defend the Possessions of his Majesty against the Attempts and Hostilities of the French.\n   In Alexandria, GW was facing the perennial problems of recruiting and supply. On 9 Mar. he wrote to Dinwiddie: \u201cI have increased my number of Men to abt. 25, and dare venture to say, I should have had several more if the excessive bad weather did not prevent their meeting agreeable to their Officer\u2019s Commands. We daily Experience the great necessity for Cloathing the Men, as we find the generality of those, who are to be Enlisted, are of those loose, Idle Persons, that are quite destitute of House, and Home, and, I may truly say, many of them of Cloaths; which last, renders them very incapable of the necessary Service, as they must unavoidably be expos\u2019d to inclement weather in their Marches, &c., and can expect no other than to encounter almost every difficulty, that\u2019s incident to a Soldiers Life. There is many of them without Shoes, others want Stockings, some are without Shirts, and not a few that have Scarce a Coat, or Waistcoat to their Backs; in short, they are as illy provided as can well be conceiv\u2019d\u201d (ViHi).\n April the 2d, Every Thing being ready, we began our march according to our Orders, the 2d of April, with two Companies of Foot, commanded by Captain Peter Hog,\n   Peter Hog (1703\u20131782), a native of Edinburgh, settled in Augusta County about 1745. He was commissioned a captain in the Virginia Regiment 9 Mar. 1754. In July 1756 he was chosen to erect a line of frontier forts commissioned by the Virginia Assembly. Hog was licensed to practice law on 10 May 1759, and in 1772 Lord Dunmore appointed him prosecuting attorney for Dunmore County. He eventually became a landowner of considerable importance with extensive holdings in Kentucky and western Virginia.\n and Lieutenant Jacob Vambraam,\n   Jacob Van Braam had accompanied GW on his journey to the French commandant in 1753. According to a memorial Van Braam presented to Lord George Germain 31 July 1777, he was \u201cformerly a Lieutenant in the Dutch Service\u2014that having some connections in America, he went to that Country in the Year 1752. In 1753 he was sent with Mr. Washington to the French who were at that time erecting Forts on the Ohio\u2014that the Year after (the French still pursuing their incroachments) the Virginians raised a Regiment of which your Memorialist had the sole disciplining\u2014that Mr. Washington who was Colonel of the said Regiment being compelled by a superior force of Canadians and Indians to surrender Fort Necessity, your Memoralist was sent as an Hostage to Canada, where he was kept in a Gaol for several years \u2019till the reduction of that Country\u201d (P.R.O., C.O.5/116, ff. 2\u201324). Van Braam\u2019s role in translating the articles of capitulation of Fort Necessity aroused so much criticism in Virginia that his name was omitted from the list of officers thanked by the Assembly for their participation in the campaign. By 1761, however, tempers had cooled and Van Braam was specifically recommended by Gov. Francis Fauquier for a commission in the British army (Fauquier to William Pitt, 3 April 1761, P.R.O., C.O.30/8/32, ff. 17\u201318). He was also granted 9,000 acres of land as an officer in the Virginia Regiment (VA. EXEC. JLS.H. R. McIlwaine et al., eds. Executive Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia. 6 vols. Richmond, 1925\u201366., 6:440, 549). He subsequently received a commission in the Royal American Regiment. At the end of the war he went on half pay and settled on \u201ca considerable farm\u201d in Wales. In 1775 he was again appointed to a company in one of the battalions of the Royal American Regiment and sent to Saint Augustine in East Florida (P.R.O., C.O.5/116, ff. 21\u201324). He served as captain in the British army in the Georgia campaign and sold his commission in 1779. After the war he apparently settled in France (see Van Braam to GW, 20 Dec. 1783, DLC:GW).\n five Subalterns, two Serjeants, six Corporals, one\nDrummer, and one Hundred and twenty Soldiers, one Surgeon,\n   The surgeon who accompanied the expedition was Dr. James Craik (1730\u20131814), a native of Arbigland, Scot. Educated at the University of Edinburgh, he emigrated in 1750, first to the West Indies and then to Virginia, opening a practice in Norfolk, where he was living when commissioned in the Virginia Regiment 7 Mar. 1754. During the French and Indian War he was stationed at Winchester and served in the Braddock campaign. At the close of the war he settled on a plantation at Port Tobacco, Charles County, Md. During the Revolution, Craik held, among other posts, that of chief physician and surgeon of the Continental Army. He was a frequent visitor to Mount Vernon, especially when there was illness in the family and among the slaves, accompanied GW on his journey to the Ohio and Kanawha rivers in 1770 and 1784, and attended him in his last illness.\n one Swedish Gentleman,\n   Carolus Gustavus de Spiltdorf was commissioned an ensign in the Virginia Regiment 21 July 1754 and promoted to lieutenant 29 Oct. 1754. He was killed during Braddock\u2019s Defeat 9 July 1755.\n who was a Volunteer, two Waggons, guarded by one Lieutenant, Serjeant, Corporal, and Twenty-five Soldiers. We left Alexandria on Tuesday Noon, and pitched our Tents about four miles from Cameron, having travelled six Miles.\n   Cameron was located at the head of Hunting Creek, Fairfax County. Although only the site of an inn or ordinary, it gained some importance from its site at the junction of several roads and as a mustering place for militia meetings (see HARRISON [1]Fairfax Harrison. Landmarks of Old Prince William: A Study of Origins in Northern Virginia. Berryville, Va., 1964., 414\u201315).\n   Although the printed diary does not indicate the route taken by the expedition from Cameron, it can be partially reconstructed from the account of GW\u2019s expenses submitted to the colony of Virginia in Oct. 1754 (DLC:GW). It appears likely that after leaving Cameron he proceeded through Loudoun County to the establishment of the Quaker Edward Thompson at the later site of Hillsboro (\u201cTo Expences of the Regimt. at Edward Thompsons in Marching up 2.16.6\u201d). The regiment crossed the Blue Ridge at Vestal\u2019s Gap 8 April and proceeded across the Shenandoah by ferry (\u201cTo Bacon for [the regiment] of John Vestal at Shanandoah & Ferriages over 1.9.0\u201d) and on to Winchester. The next stage was to Joseph Edwards\u2019s fort on Cacapon Creek (\u201cTo an Express at Edwards\u2019s 2.6\u201d), then to Job Pearsal\u2019s on the right bank of the South Branch of the Potomac, then to Thomas Cresap\u2019s establishment near the mouth of the South Branch, and on to Wills Creek.\n   In the Contrecoeur version the following entry appears for 17 April: \u201cAbout noon I met Mr. Gist who had been sent from Oyo on express by the Half King in order to find out when the English could be expected there. He informed me that the Indians are very angry at our delay, and that they threaten to abandon the country; that the French are expected every day at the lower part of the river; that the fort is begun, but hardly advanced; and several other particulars\u201d (CONTRECOEUR DIARYDonald H. Kent, ed. Contrecoeur\u2019s Copy of George Washington\u2019s Journal for 1754. Harrisburg, Pa., 1952., 12).\n  (From the 3d of April, to the 19th of said Month, this Journal only contains the March of the Troops, and how they were joined by a Detachment which was brought by Captain Stevens.) \n   Adam Stephen (c.1718\u20131791) was born in Scotland and studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. After briefly pursuing a career in the British navy, Stephen settled down to the practice of medicine in Virginia. He joined the Virginia Regiment in 1754 as a captain and was later promoted to lieutenant colonel. He took part in the Braddock campaign in 1755 and in 1756 was among the forces sent against the Creeks in South Carolina, serving with the Virginia troops until 1758. During Pontiac\u2019s rebellion he again joined the army and faced charges in 1764 that he used militia to guard wagons carrying his own property. The charges were dismissed, but he was censured for sending Virginia troops out of the colony (JHBH. R. McIlwaine and John Pendleton Kennedy, eds. Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia. 13 vols. Richmond, 1905\u201315., 1761\u201365, 296\u201398). In Feb. 1776 he was appointed colonel of the 4th Virginia Regiment and in Sept. 1776 a brigadier general in the Continental Army. In Oct. 1777 he was charged with \u201cActing unlike an officer\u201d at Germantown. He was dismissed from the service in Nov. 1777. After the war he lived on his farm in Berkeley County (now West Virginia) and in 1788 served as a member of the Virginia Convention to ratify the Constitution.\n  The 19th, Met an Express who had Letters from Captain Trent, at the Ohio, demanding a Reinforcement with all Speed, as he hourly expected a Body of Eight Hundred French. I tarried at Job Pearsall\u2019s\n   Job Pearsal was \u201cone of the first settlers on the south branch of the Potomac, at or near the site of the present town of Romney. His cabin, on the right bank of the stream, was surrounded by a stockade. . . . This was on the line of the main road between Winchester, the forts on Patterson creek, Oldtown and Fort Cumberland\u201d (TONER [3]J. M. Toner, ed. Journal of Colonel George Washington, Commanding a Detachment of Virginia Troops, Sent by Robert Dinwiddie, Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia, across the Alleghany Mountains, in 1754, to Build Forts at the Head of the Ohio. Albany, 1893., 30). See also KOONTZ, 138.\n for the Arrival of the Troops, where they came the next Day. When I received the above Express, I dispatched a Courier to Colonel Fry, to give him Notice of it. The 20th, Came down to Colonel Cresap, to order the Detachment, and on my Rout, had Notice that the Fort was taken by the French. That News was confirmed by Mr. Wart,\n   Trent had left Ens. Edward Ward in charge of the construction of the proposed fort at the mouth of the Monongahela while he returned to Wills Creek for provisions. Shortly after Trent\u2019s departure, Ward received word that a body of French were marching on the fort. Upon the advice of the Half-King, Ward hastily threw up a stockade at the Forks. On 17 April the French forces appeared with a summons to surrender. Since the French had some 1,000 men to Ward\u2019s 41 he was forced to comply. For Ward\u2019s deposition on his surrender, see GISTWilliam M. Darlington, ed. Christopher Gist\u2019s Journals with Historical, Geographical and Ethnological Notes and Biographies of his Contemporaries. Pittsburgh, 1893., 275\u201378.\n the Ensign of Captain Trent, who had been obliged to surrender to a Body of One Thousand French and upwards, under the Command of Captain Contrecoeur,\n   Claude Pierre P\u00e9caudy, sieur de Contrecoeur (1706\u20131775), had begun his military career in the French army as an ensign in 1729. He advanced to the rank of lieutenant in 1742 and to captain in 1748, and in 1754 was ordered to construct a fort at the Forks of the Ohio and put in command of French forces in the Ohio country. He retired from the army in 1759 and established residence in Canada, where, in 1774, he was appointed to the legislative council of the Province of Quebec.\n   Contrecoeur\u2019s \u201cSummons\u201d to Ward to surrender the stockade is in PAPIERS CONTRECOEURFernand Grenier, ed. Papiers Contrec\u0153ur et autres documents concernant le conflit anglo-fran\u00e7ais sur l\u2019Ohio de 1745 \u00e0 1756. Quebec, 1952., 117\u201319. In it he warned the English that the French government would not tolerate expansion into the Ohio country.\n who was come from Venango (in French, the Peninsula) with Sixty Battoes, and Three Hundred Canoes, and who having planted eighteen Pieces of Cannon against the Fort, afterwards had sent him a Summons to depart.\n   Venango (now Franklin, Pa.) was at the junction of the Allegheny River and French Creek. \u201cPeninsula\u201d is a translation, not of Venango, but of Presque Isle (Erie, Pa.), on Lake Erie.\n Mr. Wart also informed me, that the Indians kept stedfastly\nattached to our Interest.\n   Ward noted in his deposition the strong support given to his detachment by the Half-King, who had helped him to erect the fort. The chief \u201cstormed greatly at the French at the Time they were oblieged to march out of the Fort and told them it was he Order\u2019d that Fort and laid the first Log of it himself, but the French paid no Regard to what he said\u201d (GISTWilliam M. Darlington, ed. Christopher Gist\u2019s Journals with Historical, Geographical and Ethnological Notes and Biographies of his Contemporaries. Pittsburgh, 1893., 278).\n He brought two young Indian Men with him, who were Mingoes, that they might have the Satisfaction to see that we were marching with our Troops to their Succour. He also delivered me the following Speech, which the Half-King sent to me. Fort-Ohio, April 18th, 1754. A SPEECH from the Half-King, for the Governors of Virginia and Pennsylvania. MY Brethren the English. The Bearer will let you understand in what Manner the French have treated us. We waited a long Time, thinking they would come and attack us; we now see how they have a Mind to use us. We are now ready to fall upon them, waiting only for your Succour. Have good Courage, and come as soon as possible; you will find us as ready to encounter with them as you are yourselves. We have sent those two young Men to see if you are ready to come, and if so, they are to return to us, to let us know where you are, that we may come and join you. We should be glad, if the Troops belonging to the two Provinces could meet together at the Fort which is in the Way. If you do not come to our Assistance now, we are intirely undone, and imagine we shall never meet together again. I speak it with a Heart full of Grief. A Belt of Wampum. The Half-King directed to me the following Speech. I am ready, if you think it proper, to go to both the Governors, with these two young Men, for I have now no more Dependance on those who have been gone so long, without returning or sending any Message. A Belt of Wampum. April 23d. A COUNCIL of WAR held at Wills-Creek, in order to consult upon what must be done on Account of the News brought by Mr. Wart, The News brought by Ensign Wart, having been examined into, as also the Summons sent by Captain Contrecoeur, Commander of the French Troops, and the Speeches of the Half-King, and of\nthe other Chiefs of the Six-Nations; it appears, that Mr. Wart, was forced to surrender the said Fort, the 17th of this Instant, to the French, who were above One Thousand strong, and had eighteen Artillery Pieces, some of which were nine Pounders, and also that the Detachment of the Virginia Regiment, amounting to One Hundred and Fifty Men, commanded by Colonel Washington had Orders to reinforce the Company of Captain Trent, and that the aforesaid Garrison consisted only of Thirty-three effective Men. It was thought a Thing impracticable to march towards the Fort without sufficient Strength; however, being strongly invited by the Indians, and particularly by the Speeches of the Half-King, the President gave his Opinion, that it would be proper to advance as far as Red-Stone-Creek, on Monaungahela, about Thirty-seven Miles on this Side of the Fort, and there to raise a Fortification, clearing a Road broad enough to pass with all our Artillery and our Baggage, and there to wait for fresh Orders. The Opinion aforesaid was resolved upon, for the following Reasons; 1st, That the Mouth of Red-Stone is the first convenient Place on the River Monaungahela. 2d, That Stores are already built at that Place for the Provisions of the Company, wherein our Ammunition may be laid up;\n   The Ohio Company had erected a store on the right bank of Red Stone Creek (Brownsville, Pa.) in Jan. 1754.\n our great Guns may be also sent by Water whenever we should think it convenient to attack the Fort. 3d, We may easily (having all these Conveniences) preserve our People from the ill Consequences of Inaction, and encourage the Indians our Allies, to remain in our Interest. Whereupon, I sent Mr. Wart to the Governor, with one of the young Indians and an Interpreter: I thought it proper also to acquaint the Governors of Maryland and Pennsylvania of the News;\n   Ward was in Williamsburg by 4 May. On that day Dinwiddie informed the council of Ward\u2019s surrender and presented it a copy of \u201cthe Resolve of a Council of War held thereupon.\u201d The council requested \u201cthat his Honour would Signifie by a Letter to Col. Washington that his Conduct in General has been approved of, more particularly the Caution he has taken in halting at Red Stone Creek, til they have Assembled a Sufficient Body to secure themselves & Cannon and then to proceed to Monongahela\u201d (VA. EXEC. JLS.H. R. McIlwaine et al., eds. Executive Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia. 6 vols. Richmond, 1925\u201366., 5:468\u201369).\n   GW\u2019s letter to Gov. Horatio Sharpe of Maryland is printed, under 27 April, in WRITINGSJohn C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745\u20131799. 39 vols. Washington, D.C., 1931\u201344., 1:43\u201344. The letter to Gov. James Hamilton of Pennsylvania, dated 24 April, is in the University of Pittsburgh libraries.\n and I\nsent away the other Indian to the Half-King, with the Speeches inclosed in the following Letter. To the Honourable Robert Dinwiddie, Esq; Governor, &c.\n   For GW\u2019s letter to Dinwiddie, dated 25 April 1754, see P.R.O., C.O.5/14, f. 191. It is entirely possible that a copy of the letter was not included in the original diary but was found among GW\u2019s papers by the French after the capture of Fort Necessity.\n Sir, Mr. Wart, an Ensign of Captain Trent\u2019s Company, is this Day come from Monaungahela, and has brought the sorrowful News of the Reduction of the Fort, on the 17th of this Instant; having been summoned by Captain Contrecoeur to surrender to a Body of French Troops who were a Thousand strong, who came from Venango, with eighteen Pieces of Cannon, sixty Battoes, and Three Hundred Canoes; they permitted all our Men to retire, and take with them their Working-Tools out of the Fort, which was done the same Day. Upon receiving this News, I called a Council of War, in order to consult what was best to be done in such Circumstances; and have sent you a particular Account of every Thing agreed upon at the said Council by the same Express, that you may know Things yet more particularly. Mr. Wart is the Bearer of the Summons, as also of the Speech from the Half-King, wherein I inclosed the Wampum; he is in Company with one of those Indians mentioned in the Speech, who had been sent to see our Forces, and to know what Time they might expect us; the other Indian, I have sent back with a Message. I hope you will find it necessary, to send us our Forces as soon as they are raised, as also a sufficient Number of Canoes, and other Boats with Decks; send us also some Mortar-Pieces, that we may be in a Condition to attack the French with equal Forces. And as we are informed that the Indians of the Six Nations, and the Outawas, are coming down Sciodo-Creek, in order to join the French who are to meet at the Ohio; so I think it would not be amiss to invite the Cherokees, Catawbas, and the Chickasaws to come to our Assistance; and as I have received Intelligence, that there is no good Understanding between them and the Indians of the Six Nations aforesaid, it would be well to perswade them to make a Peace with them; otherwise if they should meet at the Ohio, it might cause great Disorder, and turn out to our Disadvantage.\n   Dinwiddie relayed GW\u2019s plan regarding the southern Indians to South Carolina Gov. James Glen. Glen, unenthusiastic about the proposal, replied, 1 June 1754, that \u201cthe Catawbas, the Cherokees, Creeks, and Chickesaws . . . are not only in perfect Peace and Friendship with one another, but were never more strongly attached to the British Interest. If this were to be disputed, let Facts speak; they come when we send for them, they go when they are bid and they do whatever is desired of them. . . . What Benefit then do you propose by sending so many pressing Messages to prevail with these Four Nations or with the Five Nations in New York to come to Virginia. . . . I will answer for their good Behavior with my Life, if your Province does not interfere\u201d (S.C. IND. AFF. DOCS.William L. McDowell, Jr., ed. Documents relating to Indian Affairs. 2 vols. Columbia, S.C., 1958-70. In Colonial Records of South Carolina, 2d ser., vols. 2\u20133., 21 May 1750\u20137 Aug. 1754, 524\u201328).\n  We find the great Advantage there is in Water-Carriage, wherefore, I would remind you to provide a Number of Boats for that Purpose. This Day, arrived the Men belonging to Captain Trent, who by your Orders had been inlisted as Militia-Troops; the Officers having imprudently promised them Two Shillings per Day, they now refuse to serve for less Pay; Wart shall receive your Orders on that Head.\n   In recruiting men to construct the fort at the Forks, Trent had apparently promised them pay of 2s. per day, the amount commonly allowed volunteers; however, he had enlisted the men in the militia, where the rate allowed private soldiers was 8d. per day (DINWIDDIER. Alonzo Brock, ed. The Official Records of Robert Dinwiddie, Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Virginia, 1751\u20131758. 2 vols. Richmond, 1883\u201384., 1:117). Although Dinwiddie\u2019s instructions to Trent are not specific on this point, he may have intended Trent\u2019s men to be enlisted for a brief period as volunteers (see DINWIDDIER. Alonzo Brock, ed. The Official Records of Robert Dinwiddie, Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Virginia, 1751\u20131758. 2 vols. Richmond, 1883\u201384., 1:55\u201356). GW had additional reason to fear unrest among his men since four of them had been detected in a plan to desert when the company had arrived in Winchester. An entry in GW\u2019s account book notes: \u201cApril 10. To Cash to B: Hamilton for discovering the Plot of 4 Soldrs. to Desert. 1.4\u201d (DLC:GW). GW continued to have trouble with Trent\u2019s soldiers until, against his orders, they finally dispersed (GW to Dinwiddie, 18 May 1754, ViHi).\n To his Excellency Horatio Sharpe, Governor of Maryland. Sir, I AM here arrived with a Detachment of One Hundred and Fifty Men: We daily expect Colonel Fry with the remaining Part of the Regiment and the Artillery; however, we shall march gently a-cross the Mountains, clearing the Roads as we go, that our Cannon may with the greater Ease be sent after us; we propose to go as far as Red-Stone River, which falls into Monaungahela, about Thirty-seven Miles this Side of the Fort which the French have taken, from thence all our heavy Luggage may be carried as far as the Ohio. A Store is built there by the Ohio Company, wherein may be placed our Ammunition and Provisions. Besides the French Forces above mentioned, we have Reason to\nbelieve, according to the Accounts we have heard, that another Party is coming to the Ohio; we have also learnt that Six Hundred of the Chippowais and Ollowais Indians, are coming down the River Sciodo, in order to join them. The following is my Answer to the Speech of the Half-King; \u201cTo the Half-King, and to the Chiefs and Warriors of the Shawanese and Loups our Friends and Brethren. I received your Speech by Brother Bucks,\n   \u201cBrother Bucks\u201d was the Indian name of the trader George Croghan, Ens. Edward Ward\u2019s half brother; however, it was Ward who brought the Half-King\u2019s speech to GW in company with two young men of the Mingoes.\n who came to us with the two young Men six Days after their Departure from you. We return you our greatest Thanks, and our Hearts are fired with Love and Affection towards you, in Gratitude for your constant Attachment to us, as also your gracious Speech, and your wise Counsels. This young Man will inform you, where he found a small Part of our Army, making towards you, clearing the Roads for a great Number of our Warriors, who are ready to follow us, with our great Guns, our Ammunition and Provisions. As I delight in letting you know with speed the Thoughts of our Heart, I send you back this young Man, with this Speech, to acquaint you therewith, and the other young Man I have sent to the Governor of Virginia, to deliver him your Speech and your Wampum, and to be an Eye-witness of those Preparations we are making, to come in all Haste to the Assistance of those whose Interest is as dear to us as our Lives. We know the Character of the treacherous French, and our Conduct shall plainly shew you, how much we have it at Heart. I shall not be satisfied if I do not see you before all our Forces are met together at the Fort which is in the Way; wherefore, I desire, with the greatest Earnestness, that you, or at least one of you, would come as soon as possible to meet us on the Road, and to assist us in Council. I present you with these Bunches of Wampum, to assure you of the Sincerity of my Speech, and that you may remember how much I am your Friend and Brother.\u201d Signed, washingtonor conotocarious\n   GW inherited the Indian name given to his great-grandfather, John Washington. The name signified \u201ctown taker\u201d or \u201cdevourer of villages.\u201d In his \u201cBiographical Memoranda,\u201d comments written in 1786 on a projected biography of him by David Humphreys, GW stated that during the 1753 journey to the French commandant he \u201cwas named by the half-King (as he was called) and the tribes of Nations with whom he treated, Caunotaucarius (in English) the Town taker; which name being registered in their Manner and communicated to other Nations of Indians, has been remembered by them ever since in all their transactions with him during the late War\u201d (anonymous donor).\n  April 28. Came to us some Pieces of Cannon, which were taken up to the Mouth of Patterson\u2019s River. (From the 29th of April, to the 11th of May, the Journal only contains Marches, and Things of little Consequence.) \n   The version of GW\u2019s diary found among Contrecoeur\u2019s papers contains the following entries for some of the missing days:\n   \u201cMay 4. We met Captain Trente\u2019s factor who informed us that 400 more French had certainly arrived at the fort and that the same number were expected in a short time. He also informed us that they were busy building two strong houses, one upon the Oyo, and the other upon the River Mal engueul\u00e9e [Monongahela], both of them about three hundred rods from their junction; and that they are setting up a battery on an islet between them.\n   \u201cMay 5. We were joined by another trader coming from Aliganie who confirmed the same news, and who added that the French were building in the place where the Oyo Company had at first intended to build a fort, at the mouth of the small River Shutti\u00e9s [Chartiers Creek].\n   \u201cMay 7. We met a trader who informed us that the French had come to the mouth of the River Rouge [Red Stone Creek], and that they had taken possession of it with about four hundred men.\n   \u201cMay 8. This report was contradicted by some other traders who came directly from there.\n   \u201cMay 10. A trader arrived from the Wyendot country, having passed by the Mal engueul\u00e9 forks where he had seen the Half King and the other chiefs of the Six Nations who had just received the speech I had sent them. The Half King showed the pleasure it had given him and, before the trader left, a detachment of 50 men was sent to meet us. He informs me that the French are working with all their might to build a fort on the point which I had indicated to the government. On the way this same merchant met M. La Force at Mr. Gist\u2019s new plantation with three other Frenchmen and two Indians who had come to reconnoiter the country of the River Rouge and the vicinity under the specious pretense of hunting deserters\u201d (CONTRECOEUR DIARYDonald H. Kent, ed. Contrecoeur\u2019s Copy of George Washington\u2019s Journal for 1754. Harrisburg, Pa., 1952., 18\u201320).\n   Some of GW\u2019s activities for the missing period can be reconstructed from his letter written from the Little Meadows to Robert Dinwiddie 9 May (ViHi). During these days his command began the slow push from Wills Creek. The initial problem was transportation. William Trent had been ordered to have packhorses waiting at Wills Creek to convey troops and supplies, but when GW arrived \u201cthere was none in readiness, nor any in expectation, that I could perceive.\u201d The troops were therefore compelled to wait until wagons could be procured from the South Branch of the Potomac some 40 miles away. The wagons probably did not arrive until 29 April. For the party to reach the Ohio Company\u2019s new store at Red Stone Creek, it was necessary to improve and widen the existing road; GW detached a body of 60 men for the work, \u201cwhich party since the 25th. of Apl., and the main body since the 1st. Instt. have been laboriously employ\u2019d, and have got no further than these Meadows abt. 20 Miles from the new Store, where we have been two Days making a Bridge across and are not done yet.\u201d The pace slowed to as little as four miles a day, and reports poured into camp that the French were on the march.\n  May the 11th, Detached a Party of Twenty-five Men, commanded by Captain Stevens and Ensign Peronie,\n   William La P\u00e9ronie (Peyroney), a native of France who settled in Virginia about 1750, had apparently had previous military experience and was appointed an ensign in the Virginia Regiment. He was wounded in the engagement at Fort Necessity. In a letter of 12 June 1754 to Dinwiddie, GW warmly recommended him for promotion to adjutant, noting that he had been \u201csensibly chagrined, when I acquainted him with your pleasure, of giving him an ensigncy. This he had twelve years ago, and long since commanded a company\u201d (WRITINGSJohn C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745\u20131799. 39 vols. Washington, D.C., 1931\u201344., 1:76\u201384). He received the appointment of adjutant and was killed at Braddock\u2019s Defeat.\n with Orders to go to Mr. Gist\u2019s, to enquire where La Force, and his Party were;\n   Christopher Gist\u2019s new settlement was in central Fayette County, Pa., near present-day Mount Braddock.\n   Adam Stephen described this incident in his \u201cAutobiography\u201d: \u201cOn the 11th of May 1754 he [Stephen] was detached by Col. Washington from the Little Meadows, an Encampment about 20 miles above Fort Cumberland, with Monsieur Perony an Ensign, & 25 men; to apprehend Monsieur Jumonville, La Force & other Frenchmen, detached from Fort du Quesne to Reconnoitre the Country.\n   \u201cStephens Carried only four days provision with him; & there fell such a heavy rain, that it raisd all the Rivers in the Mountains; he sent out Hunters to kill provisions; employd the Rest in making Rafts, & with labour & difficulty crossd all the Rivers.\n   \u201cHe at last arrivd with his detachmt. on the Monongahela near Redstone, & was informed by Some Indian Traders, whom the French had permitted to Retire; that Joumonville & his party finding the Weather unsuitable for Reconnoitering had returnd down the River to Fort du Quesne the day before. Stephens unwilling to Return to Washington without Some thing to Say, bethought himself of sending a Spy to Fort du Quesne for Intelligence. It was distant about 37 miles.\n   \u201cHe pitched upon a person that in five days brought him the most Satisfactory & Accurate Acct of every thing at Fort du Quesne. . . .\n   \u201cStephens was amazed at so great an Accuracy, & it immediately enterd into his head; that the fellow had got five pounds of him for the Scout, & that probably he had Recevd. as much of the French for informing them of his Strength & Situation. This occasiond as Quick a Return to Meet Washington as possible\u201d (PPL: Benjamin Rush Papers).\n and in case they were in the Neighbourhood, to cease pursuing and to take care of themselves. I also ordered them to examine closely all the Woods round about, and if they should find any Frenchman apart from the rest, to seize him and bring him to us, that we might learn what we could from him: We were exceedingly desirous to know, if there was any Possibility of sending\ndown any Thing by Water, as also to find out some convenient Place about the Mouth of Red-Stone-Creek, where we could build a Fort, it being my Design to salute the Half-King, and to send him back under a small Guard; we were also desirous to enquire what were the Views of the French, what they had done, and what they intended to do, and to collect every Thing, which could give us the least Intelligence. The 12th, Marched away, and went on a rising Ground, where we halted to dry ourselves, for we had been obliged to ford a deep River, where our shortest Men had Water up to their Arm-pits. There came an Express to us with Letters, acquainting us, that Col. Fry, with a Detachment of One Hundred Men and upwards, was at Winchester, and was to set out in a few Days to join us; as also, that Col. Innis\n   James Innes (d. 1759) was born in Scotland and emigrated to North Carolina some time after 1733. He settled in Wilmington and in 1740\u201341 commanded the Cape Fear Company in the campaign against Cartagena. After his return to North Carolina, he became a planter and served as colonel of the New Hanover County militia. In 1750 he was appointed to the North Carolina Council. At the outbreak of the French and Indian War, he was named commander of the North Carolina forces and, after Joshua Fry\u2019s death, was appointed by his friend Governor Dinwiddie to overall command of the combined colonial forces for the expedition against the French in the Ohio Valley (DINWIDDIER. Alonzo Brock, ed. The Official Records of Robert Dinwiddie, Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Virginia, 1751\u20131758. 2 vols. Richmond, 1883\u201384., 1:194\u201395). He held various posts during the war\u2014among them campmaster general and governor of Fort Cumberland.\n was marching with Three Hundred and Fifty Men, raised in Carolina; that it was expected Maryland would raise Two Hundred Men, and that Pennsylvania had raised Ten T[h]ousand Pounds (equal to about Fifty-two Thousand Five Hundred Livres) to pay the Soldiers raised in other Colonies, as that Province furnisheth no Recruits, as also that Governor Shirley had sent 600 Men to harrass the French in Canada; I hope that will give them some Work to do, and will slacken their sending so many Men to the Ohio as they have done.\n   Although these estimates were optimistic, similar information was sent by Dinwiddie to Capel Hanbury of London 10 May 1754 (DINWIDDIER. Alonzo Brock, ed. The Official Records of Robert Dinwiddie, Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Virginia, 1751\u20131758. 2 vols. Richmond, 1883\u201384., 1:153\u201355).\n   The Contrecoeur version of the diary has the following entry: \u201cMay 15. I learned by letter, among other things, that Governor Charlay [William Shirley of Massachusetts] had sent six hundred men to harass the French in Canada. I hope that that will give them something to do, and will hinder them from sending so many forces to the River Oyo\u201d (CONTRECOEUR DIARYDonald H. Kent, ed. Contrecoeur\u2019s Copy of George Washington\u2019s Journal for 1754. Harrisburg, Pa., 1952., 20). As the information is similar to that contained in the entry for 12 May, the date may be in error.\n The 16th, Met two Traders, who told us they fled for Fear of\nthe French, as Parties of them were often seen towards Mr. Gist\u2019s. These Traders are of Opinion, as well as many others, that it is not possible to clear a Road for any Carriage to go from hence to Red-Stone-Creek. The 17th, This Night Mr. Wart arrived with the young Indian from Williamsburg, and delivered me a Letter, wherein the Governor is so good as to approve of my Proceedings, but is much displeased with Captain Trent, and has ordered him to be tried, for leaving his Men at the Ohio: The Governor also informs me, that Capt. Mackay, with an Independant Company of 100 Men, excluding the Officers, were arrived, and that we might expect them daily; and that the Men from New-York would join us within ten Days.\n   Dinwiddie\u2019s letter to GW is dated 4 May 1754 (DINWIDDIER. Alonzo Brock, ed. The Official Records of Robert Dinwiddie, Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Virginia, 1751\u20131758. 2 vols. Richmond, 1883\u201384., 1:148\u201349). Capt. James Mackay and his company from South Carolina did not catch up with the Virginians until 14 June. The South Carolina force and its captain were part of the regular British army establishment, a fact which raised the delicate question of rank between Mackay, who held the king\u2019s commission, and GW, whose commission was provincial. Officers holding royal commissions had proved reluctant on other occasions to take orders from officers of higher rank in the provincial forces. Dinwiddie himself may have had misgivings about possible friction; in his letter of 4 May to GW he noted that Mackay \u201cappears to be an Officer of some Experience and Importance, You will . . . so well agree as not to let some Punctillios ab\u2019t Com\u2019d render the Service You are all engag\u2019d in, perplexed or obstructed\u201d (ViHi).\n   James Mackay (d. 1785) had been appointed an ensign in a Georgia independent company of foot in 1737 and had served at Fort Diego, Fla., where he was promoted to lieutenant in May 1740. In Feb. 1741/42 he was promoted to captain lieutenant and in July 1745 to captain in Oglethorpe\u2019s Regiment. After the disbandment of this regiment in 1749, he was made captain of one of the newly organized independent companies in South Carolina. He apparently resigned his commission in 1755 and returned to Georgia, where he was an active politician, an extensive landowner, and proprietor of Strathy Hall. In 1785 he went to Rhode Island for his health and died at Alexandria, Va., on his return journey to Georgia (GW to Robert Sinclair, 6 May 1792, DLC:GW). For the friction of command between GW and Mackay, see also HARDENWilliam Harden. \u201cJames Mackay, of Strathy Hall, Comrade in Arms of George Washington.\u201d Georgia Historical Quarterly 1 (1917): 77\u201398..\n This Night also came two Indians from the Ohio, who left the French Fort five Days ago: They relate that the French Forces are all employed in building their Fort, that it is already Breast-high, and the Thickness of twelve Feet, and filled up with Earth and Stone, &c. They have cut down and burnt up all the Trees which were about it, and sown Grain instead thereof. The Indians believe there were only 600 in Number; though they say themselves they are 800: They expect a greater Number in a few Days, which may amount to 1600, then they say they can defy the English.  The 18th, The Waters being yet very high, hindred me from advancing on Account of my Baggage, wherefore I determined to set myself in a Posture of Defence against any immediate Attack from the Enemy, and went down to observe the River.\n   The question of the discrepancy between the pay of British officers and that of provincial officers had rankled with GW\u2019s troops throughout the campaign. By 18 May the irritation of GW and the officers of his command reached the boiling point. At the beginning of the campaign the question was not definitely decided, but the estimate was 15s. per day for a lieutenant colonel and 12s. 6d. for a major. GW had objected to the sums at the time as being lower than the pay of corresponding ranks in the British regular army (GW to Dinwiddie, 29 May 1754, ViHi). Dinwiddie, however, had assured him that subsistence for the officers would be provided. When GW\u2019s commission was sent to him, the pay had been reduced to 12s. 6d. for a lieutenant colonel and 10s. for a major, with a corresponding reduction for lesser ranks (DINWIDDIER. Alonzo Brock, ed. The Official Records of Robert Dinwiddie, Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Virginia, 1751\u20131758. 2 vols. Richmond, 1883\u201384., 1:106\u20137, 112\u201315). Ward had presumably brought word to GW\u2019s camp that the committee of the General Assembly overseeing expenditure had refused an increase. GW wrote to Dinwiddie 18 May, transmitting a written memorial from his officers protesting pay and rations: \u201cI am heartily concerned, that the officers have such real cause to complain of the Committee\u2019s resolves; and still more to find my inclinations prone to second their just grievances.\u201d Although GW was reluctant to surrender his commission, \u201cI would rather prefer the great toil of a daily laborer, and dig for a maintenance . . . than serve upon such ignoble terms; for I really do not see why the lives of his Majesty\u2019s subjects in Virginia should be of less value, than of those in other parts of his American dominions. . . . Upon the whole, I find so many clogs upon the expedition, that I quite despair of success\u201d (ViHi). Dinwiddie responded angrily 25 May, expressing surprise at \u201cSuch ill timed Complaints. . . . The Gent. very well knew the Terms on w\u2019ch they were to serve. . . . Thus much, in answer to the paper signed by Capt. Stephen and others. Now, Colo. W., I shall more particularly answer w\u2019t relates to Y\u2019rself, and I must begin with expressing both Concern and Surprize to find a Gent. . . . from whom I had so great Expectat\u2019s and Hopes . . . concuring with Complaints in general so ill-founded\u201d (ViHi). The importance of this pay issue to GW and his officers during the campaign is indicated by the fact that before giving Dinwiddie a detailed account of his defeat of Jumonville\u2019s forces he prefaced his report with a lengthy refutation of the governor\u2019s letter of 25 May (GW to Dinwiddie, 29 May 1754, ViHi).\n The 19th, I dispatched the young Indian which was returned with Mr. Wart, to the Half King, with the following Speech. To the Half King, &c. My Brethren, It gives me great Pleasure, to learn that you are marching to assist me with your Counsels; be of good Courage, my Brethren, and march vigorously towards your Brethren the English; for fresh Forces will soon join them, who will protect you against your treacherous Enemy the French. My Friends whom I send to you,\nwill acquaint you of an agreeable Speech which the Governor of Virginia adresses to you: He is very sorry for the bad Usage you have received. The great Waters do not permit us to make such Haste towards you as we would do; for that Reason I have sent the young Men to invite you to come and meet us: They can tell you many Things which they have seen in Virginia, and also how well they were received by the most Part of our Grandees; they did not use them as the French do your People who go to their Fort: they refuse them Provisions; this Man has had given him, all that his Heart could wish: For the Confirmation of all this, I here give you a Belt of Wampum. The 20th, Embarked in a Canoe with Lieut. West, three Soldiers, and one Indian;\n   John West, Jr. (d. 1777), of Fairfax County was commissioned a lieutenant in the Virginia Regiment 27 Feb. 1754 and served until August, when the regiment was disbanded (VA. TROOPS\u201cVirginia Troops in French and Indian Wars.\u201d Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 1 (1893\u201394): 278\u201387, 378\u201390., 284; GW to Robert Dinwiddie, 20 Aug. 1754, ViHi). His resignation may have been prompted by the death about this time of his father, Hugh West (Hugh West\u2019s will, 9 Feb. 1754, Fairfax County Wills, Book B\u20131, 74\u201375, Vi Microfilm). John West, Jr., like GW, was a trained surveyor, and during the previous year had been appointed surveyor for Fairfax County (John West, Jr.\u2019s bond, Fairfax County Deeds, Book C\u20131, 546, Vi Microfilm). He was Fairfax County sheriff 1759\u201361, justice of the Fairfax County court 1757\u201376, and clerk of Truro Parish 1758\u201363.\n   The Indian who accompanied the party refused to proceed beyond the Forks until GW \u201cpromised him a ruffled shirt, which I must take from my own, and a match-coat\u201d (GW to Joshua Fry, 23 May 1754, WRITINGSJohn C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745\u20131799. 39 vols. Washington, D.C., 1931\u201344., 1:52\u201353).\n and having followed the River along about Half a Mile, were obliged to come ashore, where I met Peter Suver, a Trader,\n   John C. Fitzpatrick suggests that the name Peter Suver was a French interpretation of Philip Sute, \u201camong . . . the earliest settlers in the Red Stone Creek region\u201d (Fitzpatrick, DiariesJohn C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Diaries of George Washington, 1748\u20131799. 4 vols. Boston and New York, 1925., 1:83 n.2). A more likely suggestion is Peter Shaver (Shafer), a licensed trader in Pennsylvania in 1744 who lived \u201cfour miles from the Susquehanna River\u201d in 1750 (HANNACharles A. Hanna. The Wilderness Trail: Or The Ventures and Adventures of the Pennsylvania Traders on the Allegheny Path: With Some New Annals of the Old West, and the Records of Some Strong Men and Some Bad Ones. 2 vols. New York and London, 1911., 2:340). Shaver was killed by Indians in the fall of 1755.\n who seemed to discourage me from seeking a Passage by Water; that made me alter my Mind of causing Canoes to be made; I ordered my People to wade, as the Waters were shallow enough; and continued myself going down the River in the Canoe: Now finding that our Canoe was too small for six Men, we stopped to make some Sort of a Bark;\n   \u201cWashington\u2019s journal shows that the time spent at the task would have sufficed only for the building of a raft\u201d (FREEMANDouglas Southall Freeman. George Washington: A Biography. 7 vols. New York, 1948\u201357., 1:364n).\n with which, together with our Canoe, we gained Turkey-Foot,\n   Turkey Foot, present-day Confluence, Pa., is at the confluence of Laurel Creek, Casselman\u2019s River, and the Youghiogheny.\n by the Beginning of the Night. We underwent several Difficulties about\neight or ten Miles from thence, though of no great Consequence, finding the Waters sometimes deep enough for Canoes to pass, and at other times more shallow. The 21st, Tarried there some Time to examine the Place, which we found very convenient to build a Fort, not only because it was gravelly, but also for its being at the Mouth of three Branches of small Rivers: The Plan thereof, which may be seen here, is as exact as could be done, without Mathematical Instruments.\n   The plan of Turkey Foot has not been located.\n We went about two Miles to observe the Course of the River, which is very strait, has many Currents, is full of Rocks, and rapid; we waded it, though the Water was pretty high, which made me think it would not be difficult to pass it with Canoes. We also found other Places where the Water was rapid, but not so deep, and the Current smoother; we easily passed over them; but afterwards we found little or scarce any Bottom: There are Mountains on both Sides of the River. We went down the River about ten Miles, when at last it became so rapid as to oblige us to come ashore. (From the 22d to the 24th, the Journal contains only a Description of the Country.) \n   On 23 May GW wrote to Joshua Fry that he has \u201creturned from my discoveries down the Youghiogany, which I am sorry to say, can never be made navigable.\u201d The group had traveled some 30 miles in a fruitless search for a water route. GW had been pessimistic about the possibility of finding the Youghiogheny navigable and had ordered the soldiers on by land in the direction of Red Stone Creek. \u201cBy concurring intelligence, which we received from the Indians, the French are not above seven or eight hundred strong, and by a late account we are informed, that one half of them were detached in the night, without even the Indians knowledge, on some secret expedition; but the truth of this, though it is affirmed by an Indian lately from their fort, I cannot yet vouch for, not tell where they are bound\u201d (WRITINGSJohn C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745\u20131799. 39 vols. Washington, D.C., 1931\u201344., 1:52\u201353). Upon his return to the Great Crossing of the Youghiogheny, GW met Adam Stephen and his party (see note 40).\n The 24th, This Morning arrived an Indian, in Company with him I had sent to the Half King, and brought me the following Letter from him. To any of his Majesty\u2019s Officers whom these may concern. AS \u2019tis reported that the French Army is set out to meet M. George Washington, I exhort you, my Brethren, to guard against them; for they intend to fall on the first English they meet; they have been on their March these two Days; the Half King, and the other Chiefs, will join you within five Days, to hold a Council,\nthough we know not the Number we shall be. I shall say no more; but remember me to my Brethren the English. Signed, The HALF-KING.\n   This letter was written for the Half-King by his interpreter, John Davison. GW copied the letter verbatim in his letter to Dinwiddie, 27 May 1754, retaining Davison\u2019s highly original spelling and punctuation. In GW\u2019s version the letter reads: \u201cTo the forist his Majesties Commander Offeverses to hom this meay concern: On acct of a french armey to meat Miger Georg Wassiontton therfor my Brotheres I deesir you to be awar of them for deisin\u2019d to strik the forist Englsh they see tow deays since they marchd I cannot tell what nomber the half King and the rest of the Chiefes will be with you in five dayes to consel, no more at present but give my serves to my Brother\u2019s the English\u201d (ViHi).\n I Examined those two young Indians in the best Manner I could, concerning every Circumstance, but was not much the better satisfied. They say there are Parties of them often out, but they do not know of any considerable Number coming this Way. The French continue raising their Fort, that Part next to the Land is very well inclosed, but that next to the Water is much neglected, at least without any Defence: They have only nine Pieces of Cannon, and some of them very small, and not one mounted. There are two on the Point, and the others some Distance from the Fort next to the Land. They relate that there are many sick among them, that they cannot find any Indians to guide their small Parties towards our Camp, these Indians having refused them. The same Day at Two o\u2019Clock, we arrived at the Meadows,\n   GW is referring to Great Meadows, near Laurel Hill (approximately 11 miles southeast of present-day Uniontown, Pa.). It was here that he erected Fort Necessity. In 1771 GW acquired ownership of more than 200 acres in the area of Great Meadows, including the site of Fort Necessity.\n   On the evening of 24 May, GW received another report that the French were at the crossing of the Youghiogheny some 18 miles away; he decided upon Great Meadows as a convenient place to make a stand. \u201cWe have, with Natures assistance made a good Intrenchment and by clearing the Bushes out of these Meadows prepar\u2019d a charming field for an Encounter\u201d (GW to Dinwiddie, 27 May 1754, ViHi).\n where we saw a Trader, who told us that he came this Morning from Mr. Gist\u2019s, where he had seen two Frenchmen the Night before; and that he knew there was a strong Detachment out, which confirmed the Account we had received from the Half King: Wherefore I placed Troops behind two natural Intrenchments, where our Waggons also entered. The 25th, Detached a Party to go along the Roads, and other\nsmall Parties to the Woods, to see if they could make any Discovery. I gave the Horse-men Orders to examine the Country well, and endeavour to get some News of the French, of their Forces, and of their Motions, &c. At Night all these Parties returned, without having discovered any thing, though they had been a great way towards the Place from whence it was said the Party was coming. The 26th, Arrived William Jenkins; Col. Fry had sent him with a Letter from Col. Fairfax,\n   William Fairfax was at this time lieutenant colonel of the Fairfax County militia. The letter has not been found.\n which informed me, that the Governor himself, as also Colonels Corbin and Ludwell, were arrived at Winchester,\n   Dinwiddie was preparing for a conference at Winchester with chiefs of both northern and southern tribes. He hoped to settle the differences between these traditional enemies and to hold them to the British interest. The governor left for Winchester 13 May 1754, and as he reported to Sir Thomas Robinson 18 June, \u201cI waited in that Town 16 days, in expectation of the Ind\u2019s, agreeable to their Promise. I rec\u2019d a Message from the Chiefs of some of their Tribes, acquaint\u2019g me that they could not come to W. at that Time, because the French had invaded and taken Possession of their Lands, and that they c\u2019d not properly leave their People, but that they had joined our Forces under the Com\u2019d of Colo. Geo. Washington, but desir\u2019d me to send them some of the Present sent them from their Father, the King of G. B., w\u2019ch I accordingly did to Colo. W\u2014\u201d (DINWIDDIER. Alonzo Brock, ed. The Official Records of Robert Dinwiddie, Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Virginia, 1751\u20131758. 2 vols. Richmond, 1883\u201384., 1:201\u20135).\n   Richard Corbin and Philip Ludwell, both members of the governor\u2019s council, accompanied Dinwiddie to the Winchester council.\n and were desirous to to see the Half King there, whereupon I sent him an Account thereof.\n   Upon GW\u2019s arrival at Great Meadows he had sent out \u201csmall light partys of Horse (Wagn. Horses) to reconnoitre the Enemy, and discover their strength & motion, who return\u2019d Yesterday with\u2019t seeing any thing of them nevertheless, we were alarm\u2019d at Night and remaind under Arms from two oClock till near Sun rise. We conceive it was our own Men, as 6 of them Deserted, but can\u2019t be certain whether it was them or other Enemy\u2019s. Be it as it will, they were fired at by the Centrys, but I believe without damage\u201d (GW to Dinwiddie, 27 May 1754, ViHi).\n The 27th, Arrived Mr. Gist, early in the Morning, who told us, that Mr. la Force, with fifty Men, whose Tracks he had seen five Miles off, had been at his Plantation the Day before, towards Noon; and would have killed a Cow, and broken every Thing in the House, if two Indians, whom he had left in the House, had not persuaded them from their Design: I immediately detached 65 Men,\n   According to GW\u2019s letter of 27 May to Dinwiddie (ViHi) and Adam Stephen\u2019s \u201cAutobiography\u201d (PPL: Benjamin Rush Papers), he dispatched 75 men.\n under the Command of Captain Hog, Lieut. Mercer,\n   George Mercer (1733\u20131784) was educated at William and Mary and served in the 1st and 2nd Virginia regiments from 1754 to 1760. For a period he was GW\u2019s aide. When the Ohio Company renewed its activities after the French and Indian War, Mercer was an active promoter of its interests, serving as its London agent 1763\u201370. He was a burgess from Frederick County from 1761 to 1765, although he missed some sessions when he was on Ohio Company business in London. He returned to Virginia in the autumn of 1765 for a brief but stormy career as stamp officer for the colony under the Stamp Act and went back to London at the end of the year. By 1776 his personal finances were in serious disorder, and he moved from London to Paris, although he apparently retained some nebulous connection with the British government (see JAMESAlfred Procter James. George Mercer of the Ohio Company: A Study in Frustration. Pittsburgh, 1963., 78\u201380).\nEnsign Peronie, three Sergeants, and three Corporals, with Instructions. The French enquired at Mr. Gist\u2019s, what was become of the Half King? I did not fail to let the young Indians who were in our Camp know, that the French wanted to kill the Half King; and that had its desired Effect. They thereupon offered to accompany our People to go after the French, and if they found it true that he had been killed, or even insulted by them, one of them would presently carry the News thereof to the Mingoes, in order to incite their Warriors to fall upon them. One of these young Men was detached towards Mr. Gist\u2019s; that if he should not find the Half King there, he was to send a Message by a Delaware. About eight at Night, received an Express from the Half King, which informed me, that, as he was coming to join us, he had seen along the Road, the Tracts of two Men, which he had\n   followed, till he was brought thereby to a low obscure Place; that he was of Opinion the whole Party of the French was hidden there. That very Moment I sent out Forty Men, and ordered my Ammunition to be put in a Place of Safety, under a strong Guard to defend it, fearing it to be a Stratagem of the French to attack our Camp; and with the rest of my Men, set out in a heavy Rain, and in a Night as dark as Pitch, along a Patch scarce broad enough for one Man; we were sometimes fifteen or twenty Minutes out of the Path, before we could come to it again, and so dark, that we would often strike one against another: All Night long we continued our Rout, and the 28th, about Sun-rise, we arrived at the Indian Camp, where, after having held a Council with the Half King, it was concluded we should fall on them together; so we sent out two Men to discover where they were, as also their Posture, and what Sort of Ground was thereabout; after which, we formed ourselves for an Engagement, marching one after the other, in the Indian Manner: We were advanced pretty near to them, as we thought, when they discovered us; whereupon I ordered my Company to fire; mine was supported by that of Mr. Wager\u2019s,\n   Thomas Waggener held the rank of lieutenant in Jacob Van Braam\u2019s company and was slightly wounded during the skirmish with Jumonville.\n and my Company and his received the whole Fire of the French, during the greatest Part of the Action, which only lasted a Quarter of an Hour, before the Enemy was routed. We killed Mr. de Jumonville, the Commander of that Party, as also nine others; we wounded one, and made Twenty-one Prisoners, among whom were M. la Force, M. Drouillon, and two Cadets.\n   The site of the French camp is present-day Jumonville\u2019s Rocks, three miles north of Summit, Pa. (CLELANDHugh Cleland. George Washington in the Ohio Valley. Pittsburgh, 1955., 80 n.30). The officers were Michel P\u00e9pin, called La Force, and Pierre Jacques Drouillon de Mac\u00e9 (b. 1725). Drouillon had been commissioned in 1750 and had served with Marin in constructing forts in the Ohio country. The cadets were Boucherville and Dusabl\u00e9 (PAPIERS CONTRECOEURFernand Grenier, ed. Papiers Contrec\u0153ur et autres documents concernant le conflit anglo-fran\u00e7ais sur l\u2019Ohio de 1745 \u00e0 1756. Quebec, 1952., 204 n.3). See also DINWIDDIER. Alonzo Brock, ed. The Official Records of Robert Dinwiddie, Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Virginia, 1751\u20131758. 2 vols. Richmond, 1883\u201384., 2:227\u201328.\n   The historical controversy over this engagement has continued to recent times. The French claimed that Jumonville\u2019s mission was that of an ambassador, similar to GW\u2019s own journey to the French forts a few months earlier, and that the English opened fire on the French without warning. Joseph Coulon de Villiers, sieur de Jumonville (1718\u20131754), had joined the French army in 1738 and served in the French campaign against the Chickasaw in 1739. After further service in Canada he was appointed in 1754 by Contrecoeur to carry an ultimatum to the English forces to leave the Ohio country. According to the French, he was on this peaceful mission when he was attacked by the English early on the morning of 28 May 1754. What was to become the French version of the engagement is contained in a letter from Contrecoeur to Duquesne, 2 June 1754: \u201cI expected Mr. de Jumonville, within four Days; the Indians have just now informed me, that that Party is taken and defeated; they were Eight in Number, one whereof was Mr. de Jumonville. One of that Party, Monceau by Name, a Canadian, made his Escape, and tells us that they had built themselves Cabbins, in a low Bottom, where they sheltered themselves, as it rained hard. About seven o\u2019Clock the next Morning, they saw themselves surrounded by the English on one Side and the Indians on the Other. The English gave them two Volleys, but the Indians did not fire. Mr. de Jumonville, by his Interpreter, told them to desist, that he had something to tell them. Upon which they ceased firing. Then Mr. de Jumonville ordered the Summons which I had sent them to retire, to be read. . . . The aforesaid Monceau, saw all our Frenchmen coming up close Mr. de Jumonville, whilst they were reading the Summons, so that they were all in Platoons, between the English and the Indians, during which Time, said Monceau made the best of his Way to us, partly by Land through the Woods, and partly along the River Monaungahela, in a small Canoe.\n   \u201cThis is all, Sir, I could learn from said Monceau. The Misfortune is, that our People were surprized; the English had incircled them, and came upon them unseen. . . .\n   \u201cThe Indians who were present when the Thing was done, say, that Mr. de Jumonville was killed by a Musket-Shot in the Head, whilst they were reading the Summons; and that the English would afterwards have killed all our Men, had not the Indians who were present, by rushing in between them and the English, prevented their Design\u201d (MEMOIR[Jacob Nicolas Moreau]. A Memorial Containing a Summary View of Facts, with Their Authorities. In Answer to the Observations Sent by the English Ministry to the Courts of Europe. Translated from the French. New York, 1757., 69; see also ROBITAILLEGeorges Robitaille. Washington et Jumonville: \u00c9tude Critique. Montreal, 1933.; FA\u0178Bernard Fa\u00ff. George Washington: Republican Aristocrat. Boston and New York, 1931., 73\u201375).\n   The British version of the engagement follows closely GW\u2019s own account sent to Dinwiddie on 29 May: \u201cI set out with 40 Men before 10, and was from that time till near Sun rise before we reach\u2019d the Indian\u2019s Camp, hav\u2019g March\u2019d in [a] small path, a heavy Rain, and a Night as Dark as it is possible to concieve. We were frequently tumbling one over another, and often so lost, that 15 or 20 Minutes\u2019 search would not find the path again.\n   \u201cWhen we came to the Half King, I council\u2019d with him, and got his assent to go hand in hand and strike the French. Accordingly, himself, Monacatoocha, and a few other Indians set out with us, and when we came to the place where the Tracts were, the Half King sent Two Indians to follow their Tract, and discover their lodgment, which they did abt. half a mile from the Road in a very obscure place surrounded with Rocks. I thereupon in conjunction with the Half King and Monacatoocha, form\u2019d a disposition to attack them on all sides, which we accordingly did and after an Engagement of abt. 15 Minutes we killed 10, wounded one, and took 21 Prisoner\u2019s. . . . [The] Officers pretend they were coming on an Embassy, but the absurdity of this pretext is too glaring as your Honour will see by the Instructions and Summons inclos\u2019d. . . . These Enterprising Men were purposely choose out to get intelligence. . . . This with several other Reasons, induc\u2019d all the Officers to believe firmly that they were sent as spys, rather than any thing else, and has occasiond my sending them as prisoners, tho\u2019 they expected (or at least had some faint hope, of being continued as ambassadors)\u201d (ViHi).\n   See also LEDUCGilbert F. Leduc. Washington and \u201cThe Murder of Jumonville.\u201d Boston, 1943.. Accounts of the engagement by Adam Stephen appeared in the Md. Gaz., 29 Aug. 1754, the Pa. Gaz., 19 Sept. 1754, and in his \u201cAutobiography\u201d (PPL: Benjamin Rush Papers). Photostats of a deposition by Pvt. John Shaw are in PPiU.\n   In a letter to his brother, John Augustine, 31 May 1754, GW wrote a brief description of the engagement and its aftermath, which was printed in the London Magazine, Aug. 1754. According to this letter there were 12 Frenchmen killed. \u201cWe had but one man killed, and two or three wounded. . . . We expect every hour to be attacked by superior force, but, if they forbear one day longer, we shall be prepared for them. We have already got entrenchments, are about a pallisado which I hope will be finished to-day. . . . I fortunately escaped without any wound, for the right wing, where I stood, was exposed to and received all the enemy\u2019s fire. . . . I heard the bullets whistle, and, believe me, there is something charming in the sound\u201d (WRITINGSJohn C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745\u20131799. 39 vols. Washington, D.C., 1931\u201344., 1:70). It was the latter observation which prompted George II\u2019s wry remark: \u201cHe would not say so, if he had been used to hear many\u201d (WALPOLEHorace Walpole. Memoirs of the Reign of King George the Second. 2d ed. 3 vols. London, 1847., 1:400). Another account by GW of the engagement is in his \u201cBiographical Memoranda\u201d (anonymous donor).\n The Indians scalped the Dead, and took away the most\nPart of their Arms, after which we marched on with the Prisoners and the Guard, to the Indian Camp, where again I held a Council with the Half-King; and there informed him, that the Governor was desirous to see him, and was waiting for him at Winchester;\nhe answered that, he could not go just then, as his People were in too eminent a Danger from the French, whom they had fallen upon; that he must send Messengers to all the allied Nations, in order to invite them to take up the Hatchet. He sent a young Delaware Indian to the Delaware Nation, and gave him also a French Scalp to carry to them. This young Man desired to have a Part of the Presents which were allotted for them, but that the remaining Part might be kept for another Opportunity: He said he would go to his own Family, and to several others, and would wait on them at Mr. Gist\u2019s, where he desired Men and Horses should be sent ready to bring them up to our Camp. After this I marched on with the Prisoners; They informed me that they had been sent with a Summons to order me to depart.\n   A translation of the summons is in MEMOIR[Jacob Nicolas Moreau]. A Memorial Containing a Summary View of Facts, with Their Authorities. In Answer to the Observations Sent by the English Ministry to the Courts of Europe. Translated from the French. New York, 1757., 68. A copy of the French version found among the Contrecoeur Papers is in PAPIERS CONTRECOEURFernand Grenier, ed. Papiers Contrec\u0153ur et autres documents concernant le conflit anglo-fran\u00e7ais sur l\u2019Ohio de 1745 \u00e0 1756. Quebec, 1952., 130\u201331. Contrecoeur\u2019s orders to Jumonville are in MEMOIR[Jacob Nicolas Moreau]. A Memorial Containing a Summary View of Facts, with Their Authorities. In Answer to the Observations Sent by the English Ministry to the Courts of Europe. Translated from the French. New York, 1757., 67.\n A plausible Pretence to discover our Camp, and to obtain the Knowledge of our Forces and our Situation! It was so clear that they were come to reconnoitre what we were, that I admired at their Assurance, when they told me they were come as an Embassy; for their Instructions mentioned that they should get what Knowledge they could of the Roads, Rivers, and of all the Country as far as Potowmack: And instead of coming as an Embassador, publickly, and in an open Manner, they came secretly, and sought after the most hidden Retreats, more like Deserters than Embassadors in\nsuch Retreat they incamped, and remained hid for whole Days together, and that, no more than five Miles from us: From thence they sent Spies to reconnoitre our Camp; after this was done, they went back two Miles, from whence they sent the two Messengers spoken of in the Instruction, to acquaint M. de Contrecour of the Place we were at, and of our Disposition, that he might send his Detachments to inforce the Summons as soon as it should be given. Besides, an Embassador has princely Attendants; whereas this was only a simple petty French Officer; an Embassador has no Need of Spies, his Character being always sacred: And seeing their Intention was so good, why did they tarry two Days, at five Miles distance from us, without acquainting me with the Summons, or, at least, with something that related to the Embassy? That alone would be sufficient to raise the greatest Suspicions, and we ought to do them the Justice to say, that, as they wanted to hide themselves, they could not pick out better Places than they had done. The Summons was so insolent, and savoured the Gasconnade so much, that if it had been brought openly by two Men, it would have been an immediate Indulgence, to have suffered them to return. It was the Opinion of the Half-King in this Case, that their Intentions were evil, and that it was a pure Pretence; that they never intended to come to us but as Enemies; and if we had been such Fools as to let them go, they would never help us any more to take other Frenchmen. They say they called to us as soon as they had discovered us; which is an absolute Falshood, for I was then marching at the Head of the Company going towards them, and can positively affirm, that, when they first saw us, they ran to their Arms, without calling; as I must have heard them, had they so done. The 29th, Dispached Ensign Latour\n   Ens. James Towers, of Capt. Peter Hog\u2019s company, resigned from the Virginia Regiment at the end of 1754.\n to the Half-King, with about Twenty-five Men, and almost as many Horses; and as I expected some French Parties would continually follow that which we had defeated, I sent an Express to Colonel Fry for a Reinforcement. After this the French Prisoners desired to speak with me, and asked me in what Manner I looked upon them, whether as the Attendants of an Embassador, or as Prisoners of War: I answered\nthem that it was in Quality of the Latter, and gave them my Reasons for it, as above. The 30th, Detached Lieutenant West, and Mr. Spindorph, to take the Prisoners to Winchester, with a Guard of Twenty Men. Began to raise a Fort with small Pallisadoes, fearing that when the French should hear the News of that Defeat, we might be attacked by considerable Forces. June the 1st, Arrived here an Indian Trader with the Half-King: They said that when Mr. de Jumonville was sent here, another Party had been detached towards the lower Part of the River, in order to take and kill all the English they should meet. We are finishing our Fort. Towards Night arrived Ensign Towers, with the Half-King, Queen Alguipa, and about Twenty-five or Thirty Families, making in all about Eighty or One Hundred Persons, including Women and Children. The old King being invited to come into our Tents, told me that he had sent Monakatoocha to Log\u2019s Town, with Wampum, and four French Scalps, which were to be sent to the Six Nations, to the Wiendots, &c. to inform them, that they had fallen upon the French, and to demand their Assistance. He also told me he had something to say at the Council, but would stay till the Arrival of the Shawanese, whom we expected next Morning. The 2d, Arrived two or three Families of the Shawanese: We had Prayers in the Fort. The 3d, The Half-King assembled the Council, and informed me that he had received a Speech from Grand-Chaudiere,\n   Big Kettle (Canajachrera) was a Seneca chief living in the Ohio country. The Pennsylvanians referred to him as Broken Kettle (HANNACharles A. Hanna. The Wilderness Trail: Or The Ventures and Adventures of the Pennsylvania Traders on the Allegheny Path: With Some New Annals of the Old West, and the Records of Some Strong Men and Some Bad Ones. 2 vols. New York and London, 1911., 1:344\u201346).\n in Answer to the one he had sent him. The 5th, Arrived an Indian from the Ohio, who had lately been at the French Fort: This Indian confirms the News of two Traders being taken by the French, and sent to Canada; he saith they have set up their Pallisadoes, and enclosed their Fort with exceeding large Trees. There are eight Indian Families on this side the River, coming to join us: He met a Frenchman who had made his Escape in the Time of M. de Jumonville\u2019s Action,\n   Contrecoeur identified the fugitive as a Canadian called Monceau (see note 59).\n he was without either Shoes or Stockings, and scarce able to walk; however he let him pass, not knowing we had fallen upon them.  The 6th, Mr. Gist is returned, and acquaints me of the safe Arrival of the French Prisoners at Winchester, and of the Death of poor Colonel Fry.\n   Fry had died on 31 May (see note 8). On 4 June Dinwiddie wrote to GW, appointing him to the command of the Virginia Regiment (DINWIDDIER. Alonzo Brock, ed. The Official Records of Robert Dinwiddie, Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Virginia, 1751\u20131758. 2 vols. Richmond, 1883\u201384., 1:193\u201394).\n It gave the Governor great Satisfaction to see the French Prisoners safely arrived at Winchester. I am also informed that, Mr. Montour,\n   Andrew Montour, a French and Indian fur trader, was the son of Madam Montour, a prominent frontier figure who frequently acted as interpreter, and of Roland Montour, a Seneca. He attended the councils at Logstown in 1750 and 1752 and was at various times Indian agent and interpreter for both Virginia and Pennsylvania. For his service he received a grant of land on Sherman\u2019s Creek in Perry County, Pa. Montour served in Braddock\u2019s campaign in 1755 and was present at the battle on the Monongahela. He continued his service throughout the French and Indian War and during Pontiac\u2019s rebellion in 1763. In 1769 he was given a grant of 300 acres below the mouth of the Monongahela and was probably living there when his death occurred some time before 1775. In 1754 Montour held a commission from Dinwiddie to organize scouts for the English forces. GW had requested 3 June that Montour join him since \u201che would be of singular use to me here at this present, in conversing with the Indians\u201d (GW to Dinwiddie, 3 June 1754, PHi: Dreer Collection).\n is coming with a Commission to command Two Hundred Indians. Mr. Gist met a French Deserter, who assured him, that they were only Five Hundred Men, when they took Mr. Wart\u2019s Fort, that they were now less, having sent Fifteen Men to Canada, to acquaint the Governor of their Success: That there were yet Two Hundred Soldiers who only waited for a favourable Opportunity to come and join us. The 9th, Arrived the last Body of the Virginia Regiment, under the Command of Colonel Must,\n   George Muse (1720\u20131790), was born in England, had served in the campaign against Cartegena, and in 1752 had been appointed adjutant of the Middle Neck. He served in the Virginia Regiment as captain, major, and lieutenant colonel. Muse apparently behaved badly at the Fort Necessity engagement during the 1754 campaign. According to Landon Carter, \u201cinstead of bringing up the 2d division to make the Attack with the first, he marched them or rather frightened them back into the trenches\u201d (CARTER [3]Jack P. Greene, ed. The Diary of Colonel Landon Carter of Sabine Hall, 1752\u20131778. 2 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1965., 1:110). His name was specifically omitted from the list of officers thanked by the House of Burgesses after the campaign (JHBH. R. McIlwaine and John Pendleton Kennedy, eds. Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia. 13 vols. Richmond, 1905\u201315., 1752\u201358, 198).\n and we learnt that the Independent Company of Carolina was arrived at Wills-Creek. The 10th, I received the Regiment, and at Night had Notice, that some French were advancing towards us; whereupon I sent a Party of Indians upon the Scout towards Gist\u2019s, in order to discover\nthem, and to know their Number: Just before Night we had an Alarm, but it proved false. The 12th, Returned two of the Men, whom we had sent out Yesterday upon the Scout; they discovered a small Party of French; the others went on as far as Stuart\u2019s.\n   Stewart\u2019s Crossing was on the Youghiogheny River below present-day Connellsville in Fayette County, Pa.\n Upon this Advice, I thought it necessary to march with the major Part of the Regiment, to find out those Ninety Men, of whom we had Intelligence. Accordingly I gave Orders to Colonel Must, to put away all our Baggage and Ammunition, and to place them in the Fort, and set a good Guard there till my Return; after which I marched at the Head of One Hundred and Thirty Men, and about Thirty Indians; but at the Distance of half a Mile, I met the other Indians, who told me, there were only nine Deserters; whereupon I sent Mr. Montour, with some few Indians, in order to bring them safe to me; I caused them to be drest, and they confirmed us in our Opinion, of the Intention of M. de Jumonville\u2019s Party; that more than One Hundred Soldiers were only waiting for a favourable Opportunity to come and join us; that M. de Contrecour expected a Reinforcement of Four Hundred Men; that the Fort was compleated; and its Artillery a shelter to its Front and Gates; that there was a double Pallisadoe next to the Water; that they have only eight small Pieces of Cannon; and know what Number of Men we are. They also informed us, that the Delaware and Shawanese had taken up the Hatchet against us; whereupon, resolved to invite those two Nations to come to a Council at Mr. Gist\u2019s. Sent for that Purpose Messengers and Wampum. The 13th, Perswaded the Deserters to write the following Letter, to those of their Companions who had an Inclination to Desert.\n   This letter was omitted from the published diary, and no copy has been found. However, GW apparently dispatched a Delaware carrying the letter into Contrecoeur\u2019s headquarters at the Forks. On 8 Sept. Duquesne wrote to Contrecoeur concerning GW\u2019s action: \u201cYou see how treacherous he is, having expected he could, in trusting our nine vile deserters, make your garrison revolt, by which means they flattered themselves they could take the fort. Inform yourself, without seeming to do so, if this Delaware, who is said to have transmitted the letter to the Soldiers of your garrison, again frequents the fort\u201d (PAPIERS CONTRECOEURFernand Grenier, ed. Papiers Contrec\u0153ur et autres documents concernant le conflit anglo-fran\u00e7ais sur l\u2019Ohio de 1745 \u00e0 1756. Quebec, 1952., 249\u201353).\n (It is not in the Journal.) The 15th, Set about clearing the Roads.  16th, Set out for Red-Stone-Creek, and were extremely perplexed, our Waggons breaking very often. 17th, Dispatched an Express to the Half-King, in order to perswade him to send a Message to the Loups [Delawares]; which he did. 18th, Arrived eight Mingoes from Loiston [Logstown], who at their Arrival told me of a Commission they had, and that a Council must be held. When we assembled, they told us very shortly, that they had often desired to see their Brethren out in the Field with Forces, and begged us not to take it amiss, that they were amongst the French, and that they complied with some of their Customs; notwithstanding which they were naturally inclined to fall upon them, and other Words to that Purport: After which they said, they had brought a Speech with them; and desired to deliver it with Speed. These, and other Discourses to the same Purpose, made us suspect that their Intentions towards us were evil; wherefore I delayed giving them Audience until the Arrival of the Half-King, and desired also the Delawares to have Patience till then, as I only waited their Arrival to hold a Council, which I expected would be that same Day. After the eight Mingoes had conferred a while together, they sent me some Strings of Wampum, desiring me to excuse their insisting on the Delivery of their Speech so speedily, that they now perceived it necessary to wait the Arrival of the Half King. When the Half-King arrived, I consented to give them Audience. A Council was held in the Camp for that Purpose, where the Half-King, and several of the Six Nations, Loups and Shawanese, to the Number of Forty, were present. The Speaker of the Six-Nations directed the following Speech to the Governor of Virginia. Brethren, WE your Brothers of the Six Nations, are now come to acquaint you, that we have been informed you threaten to destroy entirely all your Brethren the Indians, who will not join you on the Road; wherefore we who keep in our own Towns, expect every Day to be cut in Pieces by you. We would desire to know from your Mouth, if there be any Truth in that Information, and that you would not look upon it as preposterous, that we are come to enquire into it, since you very well know, that bad News commonly makes a deeper Impression upon us than good; that we\nmay be fully satisfied by your Answers of the Truth thereof, we give you this Belt of Wampum. We know the French will ask us at our Return, of what Number our Brethren are whom we went to see? Therefore we desire you, by this Belt, to let us know it, as also the Number of those whom you expect, and at what Time you expect them, and when you reckon to attack the French, that we may give Notice thereof to our Town, and know also, what we shall have to tell the French. ANSWER. Brethren, WE are very glad to see you, and sorry that such Reports disquiet you: The English do not intend to hurt you, or any of your Allies; this News, we know, must have been forged by the French, who are constantly treacherous, asserting the greatest Falshoods whenever they think they will turn out to their Advantage; they speak well, promise fine Things, but all from the Lips outward; whilst their Heart is corrupted and full of venomous Poison. You have been their Children, and they would have done every Thing for you, but they no sooner thought themselves strong enough, than they returned to their natural Pride, and drove you off from your Lands, declaring you had no Right on the Ohio. The English, your real Friends, are too generous, to think of using the Six Nations, their faithful Allies, in like Manner; when you made your Address to the Governors of Virginia and Pennsylvania, they (at your repeated Request) sent an Army to maintain your Rights; to put you in the Possession of your Lands, and to take Care of your Wives and Children, to dispossess the French, to support your Prerogatives, and to make that whole Country sure to you; for those very Ends are the English Arms actually employed; it is for the Safety of your Wives and your Children that we fight; and as this is the only Motive of our Conduct, we cannot reasonably doubt of being joined by the remaining Part of your Forces, to oppose the common Enemy. Those that will not join us, shall be answerable, for whatever may be the Consequence; we only desire you, Brethren, to chuse that Side which shall seem most agreeable to them. The Indians of the Six Nations are those, who have the most Interest in this War; for them it is that we fight; and it would greatly trouble me to do them the least Hurt: We have engaged in this War, in order to assist and protect you; our Arms are open\nto receive you, and our Hands ready to nourish your Families during the Course of this War. The Governor of Virginia has often desired they might be sent to him, that he might see them in Person, nourish and cloath them according to their own Desire; but as you could not be determined to send them to him, we are ready to share in a friendly Manner, all our Provisions with you, and shall take such Measures, and give such Orders, that enough shall be brought to maintain your Wives and Children. Such a Conduct will evidently prove how much more the English love and esteem their Allies the Six Nations, than the French do; as we have drawn the Sword in your Cause, and in your Defence, delay not one Moment, be no more in Suspence, but put your Wives and Children under our Protection; and they shall find Plenty of Provisions; in the mean while, set your young Men and your Warriors to sharpen their Hatchets, in order to join and unite with us vigorously in our Battles. The Present, my Brethren, which I offer you, is not so considerable as I could wish, but I expect in a short Time a Quantity of Goods, which are to be at my Disposal, in order to reward those who shall have shewn themselves brave and active on this Occasion; however, I shall recompense them most generously. Be of good Courage, my Brethren, deliver your Country, and make it sure to your Children; let me know the Thoughts of your Hearts on this Affair, that I may give an Account of your Sentiments to your great Friend and Brother the Governor of Virginia. In order to assure you of my Sincerity and Esteem, I present you this Belt. The 20th, The Council still continued. When the Delawares knew that they were suspected of being in the French Interest, they demanded the Reason why they had been sent for, and what they should tell the French at their Return. I answered them, it was to let them know, that we were come at their reiterated requests to assist them with Sword in Hand; that we intended to put them in the Possession of those Lands which the French had taken from them. And as they had often demanded our Assistance, in Quality of our ancient and faithful Allies, I invited them to come and place themselves under our Protection, together with the Women and Children. Whereupon the Indian Speaker stretched out his Blanket on the Floor, and laid several Belts and Strings of Wampum thereon,\nin the same order he had received them from the French. This done, he repeated the Speeches of M. de Contrecour; after which, the Delaware Speaker directed to me the following Speech. Brethren, THE Governors of Virginia and Pennsylvania; We your Brethren, the Delawares remember perfectly well the Treaty of Loiston, where you and your Uncles the Six-Nations, considering the bad Situation we were in, for want of a Man to be our Leader, you then gave us a King,\n   At the Logstown council in 1752, Shingas had been made head chief of the Delaware Nation by the Half-King (see SIPEC. Hale Sipe. The Indian Chiefs of Pennsylvania: Or, A Story of the Part Played by the American Indian in the History of Pennsylvania, Based Primarily on the Pennsylvania Archives and Colonial Records, and Built Around the Outstanding Chiefs. 1927. Reprint. New York, 1971., 287\u201388). For Shingas, see 25 Nov. 1753, n.27.\n and told us, he should transact all our publick Affairs between you and us; you gave us a Charge, not to listen to every vain Report that might be spread, but to consult ourselves, and to do, what would seem to us, to be right: We assure you, that we have given no Credit to any of those Reports, nor ever shall; but will be guided by you, our Brethren; and by our Uncles the Six-Nations: And will do, on all Occasions, what is just and right, taking Advice from you alone. To assure you of the Desire we have to fulfill our Engagements with you, we present you this Belt. After which they made the following Discourse, to the Six-Nations. Uncles, Thirteen Days are now past since we have received this Belt from the Onondago Council; I do not doubt your knowing it: They exhorted us to remember old Times, when they cloathed us with a Robe reaching down to our Heels; afterwards told us, to raise it up to our Knees, and there to make it very fast, and come to them at the Head of Susquehanna, where they had provided a Place for us to live; that they had also sent a Speech to those of our Nation, who live near the Minisinks, inviting them to go to the Place by them appointed, that they might live with us: They also sent us a Speech, to give us Notice that the English and French were upon the Point of coming to an Engagement on the River Ohio, and exhorted us to do nothing in that Juncture, but what was reasonable, and what they would tell us themselves. Lastly, They recommended to us, to keep fast Hold of the Chain of Friendship, which has so long subsisted between us and them; and our Brethren the English. A Belt. Then the Delawares spoke to the Shawanese as follows:  \u201cGrand Sons, by this Belt, we take you between our Arms, and fetch you away from the Ohio, where you now are, to carry you amongst us, that you may live where we live, and there live in Peace and Quiet.[\u201d] The Council after this was adjourned to the next Morning. The 21st, Met very early, and I spoke first to the Delawares in the following Manner. \u201cBrethren, BY your open and generous Conduct on this Occasion, You have made yourselves dearer to us than ever; we return you our Thanks, that you did not go to Venango, when the French first invited you there; their treating you in such childish Manner, as we perceive they do, raises in us a just and strong Resentment: They call you their Children, and speak to you, as if you in reality were Children, and had no more Understanding than such. Consider well my Brethren, and compare all their Discourse, and you will find that all it tends to do, is to tell you, I am going to open your Eyes, to unstop your Ears, and such like Words to no Purpose, only proper to amuse Children. You also observe Brethren, that if they deliver a Speech, or make a Promise, and confirm it by a Belt, they imagine it binds them no longer than they think it consistent with their Interest to stand to it. They have given one Example of it; and I will make you observe it, in the Jump which they say they have made over the Boundaries, which you have set them; which ought to stir you up my Brethren, to a just Anger, and cause you to embrace the favourable Opportunity that we offer You, as we are come, at your Request, to assist you, and by Means of which, you may make them Jump back again, with more Speed than they advanced. A String of Wampum. The French are continually telling you, not to give Heed to the ill Reports that are told you concerning them who are your Fathers. If they did not know in their very Souls, how richly they deserve it on your Account, why should they suspect being accused? Why should they forewarn you of it, in order to hinder you from believing what is told you concerning them? With Regard to what they tell you of us, our Conduct alone will answer in our Behalf: Examine the Truth yourselves; you know the Roads leading to our Habitations, you have lived amongst us, you can speak our Language; but in order to justify ourselves from whatever might be said against us, and assure you of our brotherly Love; we once more invite your old Men, your Wives\nand your Children, to take Sanctuary under our Protection, and between our Arms, in order to be plentifully fed, whilst your Warriors and young Men join with ours, and espouse together the common Cause. A String of Wampum. Brethren, we thank you with all our Hearts, for having declared unto us, your Resolution of accomplishing the Engagements which you have entered into, at the Treaty of Loiston [Logstown], and we can do no otherwise than praise your generous Conduct with Regard to your Grand Sons the Shawanese; it gives us infinite Pleasure. We are greatly obliged to the Council given you by Onondago, charging you to hold fast the Chain of Friendship by which we are bound; I dare say, that had he known, how nearly you are interested in this War, or that it is for the Love of you, and at your Request, we have taken up Arms, he would have ordered you to DECLARE and to act immediately against the COMMON ENEMY of the Six Nations. In order to assure you of my Affection, and to confirm the Truth of what I have said, I present you these Two great Strings.\u201d After this, the Council broke up, and those treacherous Devils, who had been sent by the French as Spies, returned, though not without some Tale ready prepared to amuse the French, which may be of Service to make our own Designs succeed. As they had told me there were Sixteen Hundred French, and Seven Hundred Indians on their March, to reinforce those at the Garrison, I perswaded the Half King to send three of his Men to inquire into the Truth of it; though I imagined this News to be only Soldiers Discourse; these Indians were accordingly sent in a secret Manner, before the Council broke up, and had Orders to go to the Fort, and get what Information they could from all the Indians they should meet, and if there was any News worth while, one of them should return, and the other two continue their Rout as far as Venango, and about the Lake, in order to obtain a perfect Knowledge of every Thing. I also perswaded King Shingas, to send out Rangers towards the River, to bring us News, in Case any French should come; I gave him also a Letter, which he was to send back again by an Express, to prevent my being imposed upon by a false Alarm. Though King Shingas, and others of the Delawares, could not be persuaded to retire to our Camp with their Families, through the Fear they were in of Onondago\u2019s Council, they nevertheless gave us strong Assurances of their Assistance, and directed us in\nwhat Manner to act, in order to obtain our Desire: the Method was this; we were to prepare a great War-Belt, to invite all those Warriors who would receive it, to act independantly from their King and Council; and King Shingas promised to take privately the most subtil Methods to make the Affair succeed, though he did not dare to do it openly. The very Day the Council broke up, I perswaded Kaquehuston,\n   This is probably a reference to Kekeuscung, \u201cthe healer,\u201d who later became a Delaware chief. Like most of his tribe, he eventually supported the French. See n. 68.\n a trusty Delaware, to carry that Letter to the Fort which the French Deserters had written to their Comrades, and gave him Instructions how he should behave in his Observations, upon several Articles of which I had spoken to him; for I am certain the Fort may be surprized, as the French are encamped outside, and cannot keep a strict Guard, by Reason of the Works they are about. I also perswaded George,\n   Delaware George later became a chief and went over to the French.\n another trusty Delaware, to go and take a View of the Fort, a little after Kaquehuston, and gave him proper Instructions recommending him particularly to return with Speed, that we might have fresh News. Presently after the Council was over, notwithstanding all that Mr. Montour could do to disswade them, the Delawares, as also the Half-King, and all the other Indians, returned to the Great Meadows; but though we had lost them, I still had Spies of our own People, to prevent being surprised. As it had been told me, that if I sent a Belt of Wampum and a Speech, that might bring us back both the Half-King and his young Men; accordingly I sent the following Speech by Mr. Croghan.\n   George Croghan (d. 1782) was probably the best-known Indian trader on the Pennsylvania frontier. He was born in Ireland and emigrated to Pennsylvania around 1741, settling near Carlisle. In the years before the French and Indian War he established a network of trading posts on the frontier and became Pennsylvania\u2019s chief agent to the Indians. During the war he served with Washington and Braddock in their campaigns and in 1756 was appointed deputy superintendent of Indian affairs by Sir William Johnson. Like most of the traders, his business had been destroyed by the war, and after 1763 he turned his attention to western lands. From Croghan Hall, his estate near Pittsburgh, where he had moved in 1758, he engaged in extensive speculation in Ohio and Illinois lands, participating in the Illinois Company and the Grand Ohio Company. The Revolution wrecked most of these western land schemes, and Croghan died near Philadelphia in comparative poverty.\n  \u2019Tis but lately since we were assembled together; we were sent here by your Brother the Governor of Virginia, at your own Request, in Order to succour you, and fight for your Cause; wherefore my Brethren, I must require that you and your young Men come to join and encamp with us, that we may be ready to receive our Brother Monacotocha, whom I daily expect: That this request may have its desired Effect, and make a suitable Impression upon your Minds, I present you with this String of Wampum. As those Indians, who were Spies sent by the French, were very inquisitive, and asked us many Questions in order to know by what Way we proposed to go to the Fort, and what Time we expected to arrive there; I left off working any further at the Road, and told them we intended to keep on across the Woods as far as the Fort, falling the Trees, &c. That we were waiting here for the Reinforcement which was coming to us, our Artillery, and our Waggons to accompany us there; but, as soon as they were gone, I set about marking out and clearing a Road towards Red-Stone. The 25th, Towards Night came three Men from the Great Meadows, amongst whom was the Son of Queen Aliguipa.\n   This was probably Canachquasy, also known as Captain New Castle (d. 1756), an important agent of the Pennsylvania government in its relations with the Indians (see SIPEC. Hale Sipe. The Indian Chiefs of Pennsylvania: Or, A Story of the Part Played by the American Indian in the History of Pennsylvania, Based Primarily on the Pennsylvania Archives and Colonial Records, and Built Around the Outstanding Chiefs. 1927. Reprint. New York, 1971., 258\u201366).\n He brought me a Letter from Mr. Croghan,\n   Letter from George Croghan not found.\n informing me what Pains he was at to perswade any Indians to come to us; that the Half-King was inclined, and was preparing to join us, but had received a Blow which was a Hindrance to it. I thought it proper to send Captain Montour to Fort-Necessity, in order to try if he could, possibly, gain the Indians to come to us. The 26th, Arrived an Indian, bringing News that Monacotoocha, had burnt his Village (Loiston) and was gone by Water with his People to Red-Stone, and may be expected there in two Days. This Indian passed close by the Fort, and assures us, that the French had received no Reinforcement, except a small Number of Indians, who had killed, as he said, two or three of the Delawares. I did not fail to relate that Piece of News to the Indians in its proper Colours, and particularly to two of the Delawares who are here. The 27th, Detached Captain Lewis,\n   Andrew Lewis (1720\u20131781) was a native of Ulster, Ireland, came to Virginia in 1732, and settled in what is now Augusta County. He served in the Augusta militia, received a commission as captain in the Virginia Regiment in 1754, and was present at the capitulation of Fort Necessity. During the French and Indian War he served as commissioner to the Cherokee and to the Six Nations. Lewis was captured by the French during James Grant\u2019s ill-fated attack on Fort Duquesne in Sept. 1758 and was taken to Montreal. He had settled near present-day Salem, Va., and after the war served as justice of the peace for the newly formed Botetourt County. He represented the county in the House of Burgesses and participated in the Virginia conventions of Mar. and Dec. 1775. In 1774 he led the Virginia forces that defeated the Indians under Cornstalk at the Battle of Point Pleasant. During the Revolution he held the rank of brigadier general and took part in the campaign against Dunmore. He resigned his commission in 1777 but continued to maintain an active interest in military affairs.\n Lieutenant Wagghener,\nand Ensign Mercer,\n   John Fenton Mercer (1735\u20131756), a son of John Mercer (1704\u20131768), served successively as ensign, lieutenant, and captain in the Virginia Regiment. He was killed by Indians while on scouting duty for GW in Apr. 1756.\n two Serjeants, two Corporals, one Drummer, and Sixty Men, in order to endeavour to clear a Road, to the Mouth of Red-Stone-Creek on Monaungahela.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "01-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0031", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, January 1754\nFrom: Dinwiddie, Robert\nTo: Washington, George\n[Williamsburg, January 1754]\nEditorial Note\u2003The reports that GW made to Dinwiddie upon his return from his mission to the French commandant reinforced the governor\u2019s conviction that no time was to be lost in taking action against French encroachment on the Ohio. Dinwiddie had held a British vessel, the Speedwell, in port pending GW\u2019s return from the Ohio and at once notified Holderness and the Board of Trade that the earlier reports of French infiltration had been confirmed. \u201cMr Washington had my Orders to make what Observations he cou\u2019d on his Journey, & to take a Plan of their Fort, . . . He assures me that they have begun another Fort at the Mouth of the Creek, which he thinks will be finish\u2019d by the Month of March. There were in the Fort where the Commander resided, about 300 regular Forces; & nine hundred more were gone to Winter Quarters (in order to save their Provisions) to some Forts on Lake Erie &ca but that they were to return by the Month of March; then they fully determin\u2019d with all the Forces they cou\u2019d collect, which he understood wou\u2019d be fifteen hundred regulars, besides Indians, to go down the River Ohio, & propose building many other Forts, & that their chief residence wou\u2019d be at the Logstown; & that they had near three hundred Canoes to transport their Soldiers, Provisions & Ammunition &ca.\u201d\nOn 21 Jan. Dinwiddie presented the unaccommodating reply of the French commandant to the council, which advised the governor as an emergency measure to recruit 100 men from Frederick and Augusta counties to be placed under GW\u2019s command and proceed immediately to the frontier. In addition, Capt. William Trent was to be ordered to raise \u201cwhat Traders and other Men he can to annoy the Enemy\u201d; presumably Trent\u2019s recruiting activities would net another 100 men. The House of Burgesses, prorogued until the last Thursday in April 1754, should be called into immediate session. Dinwiddie\u2019s most pressing need was for the money and supplies that only the burgesses could provide, but in the meantime he ordered Trent to the Forks of the Ohio to superintend the construction of a fort on the site and appointed John Carlyle commissary of provisions and stores with headquarters at Alexandria. The ordnance promised to Dinwiddie by Holderness in Aug. 1753 finally arrived in the colony and included 30 cannon and 80 barrels of powder, as well as other stores. Dinwiddie had hoped to use the cannon to protect the new fort at the\nForks of the Ohio, but he wrote to the Board of Trade, 29 Jan. 1754, that \u201cthe guns are much too large to be transported so great a distance by land, and in bad roads. However, I shall make a tryal of ten; if we can get them carried to the fort they will be very serviceable.\u201d\nBy the time the burgesses convened, Dinwiddie had already written to the governors of nearby states asking for cooperation in opposing the French. As he informed the burgesses, \u201ctheir Eyes are fix\u2019d on your Proceedings, and I hope you will engage them, by a laudable Example, to contribute sufficiently for the common Cause.\u201d The response of the other colonies to Dinwiddie\u2019s appeals was disappointing. Although Gov. James Hamilton of Pennsylvania supported Dinwiddie, the Pennsylvania Assembly, largely Quaker and influenced by the uncertainty of Pennsylvania\u2019s claims in the Ohio country, refused repeatedly to vote funds for defense. Maryland governor Horatio Sharpe wrote Dinwiddie that the assembly \u201chad come to a resolution that the Exigencies of Affairs was not such as required any Aid or Support from them.\u201d The North Carolina Assembly did grant a supply of \u00a312,000 for defense, and South Carolina promised to contribute proportionately to the other colonies.\nOn 14 Feb. 1754 the Virginia House of Burgesses met to consider Dinwiddie\u2019s reports and on 22 Feb. passed an act authorizing \u00a310,000 for the defense of the frontier. As Dinwiddie observed, the sum was secured \u201cwith great Applicatn: many Argum\u2019ts: & with much difficulty.\u201d Much of Dinwiddie\u2019s difficulty in persuading the House of Burgesses to vote adequate sums for defense arose out of the governor\u2019s disputes with the legislature over domestic matters, most recently the conflict over the pistole fee. However, some of the problems stemmed from a suspicion widely held not only in Virginia but in other colonies as well that the proposed military expeditions were designed to further the interests of the Ohio Company of which Dinwiddie was an ardent supporter. As GW later wrote, his report of French military activity on the Ohio \u201cwas yet thought a Fiction; and Scheme to promote the Interest of a private Company (by many Gentlemen that had a share in Government) . . . . These unfavourable Surmises caus\u2019d great delays in raiseing the first Men and Money.\u201d\nAlthough Dinwiddie had been ordered by the crown to raise the militia, the situation was complicated by uncertainty as to whether the land around the Fork belonged to Virginia or to Pennsylvania. Since the militia law implied that militia could not be employed outside the boundaries of the colony, Dinwiddie encountered increasing opposition in the counties to conscripting troops and to the recruiting effort. As a result he was forced to rely on volunteers rather than regularly conscripted militia, but, as he observed to Lord Holderness, \u201cI think\n300 Men rais\u2019d voluntarily will do more Service than 800 Men of the Militia forc\u2019d on the Service.\u201d With the \u00a310,000 voted by the burgesses Dinwiddie began the process of raising 6 companies of volunteers of 50 men each. By mid-March he had appointed officers to begin recruiting and hoped to have a force of 300 troops at Alexandria by 20 Mar. to escort guns and supplies to the Forks of the Ohio. On 19 Feb. 1754, in order to encourage enlistment, Dinwiddie issued a proclamation promising grants of land to volunteers who completed a tour of duty.\nAfter GW\u2019s arrival in Williamsburg in January, Dinwiddie placed him on active pay as a captain, although as adjutant he still held the rank of major attached to that post.\n[Williamsburg, January 1754]\n Instructs. to be observ\u2019d by Majr Geo. Washington on the Expeditn to the Ohio\nMAJR GEO. WASHINGTON\nYou are forthwith to repair to the Coty of Frederick, & there to take under Yr Comd 50 Men of the Militia, who will be deliver\u2019d to You by the Comdr of the sd Coty pursuant to my Orders\u2014You are to send Yr Lieut. at the same Time to the Coty of Augusta, to receive 50 Men from the Comdr of that Coty as I have order\u2019d, & with them he is to join You at Alexandria to which Place You are to proceed, as soon as You have recd the Men in Frederick\u2014Having recd this Detachmt You are to train & dicipline them in the best Manner You can, & for all Necessaries You are to apply YrSelf to Mr Jno. Carlisle at Alexa. who has my Orders to supply You\u2014Having all Things in readiness, You are to use all Expedition in proceeding to the Fork of Ohio, with the Men under Yr Comd & there You are to finish & compleat in the best Manner, & as soon as You possibly can the Fort which I expect is there already begun by the Ohio Compa. You are to act on the Difensive, but in Case any Attempts are made to obstruct the Works or interrupt our Settlemts by any Persons whatsoever, You are to restrain all such Offenders, & in Case of resistance to make Prisoners of or kill & destroy them. For the rest You are to conduct Yrself as the Circumsts. of the Service shall require, & to act as You shall find best for the Furtherence of His M[ajest]y\u2019s Service, & the Good of His Domn.\nWishing You Health & Success I bid You Farewell.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "02-19-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0032", "content": "Title: To George Washington from William Trent, 19 February 1754 [letter not found]\nFrom: Trent, William\nTo: Washington, George\n\tLetter not found: from William Trent, Forks of the Ohio, 19 Feb. 1754. A newspaper account of this letter reads: \u201cLetters from Messieurs Trent, and Gist, to Major Washington, of Virginia, give some Account of their Situation near the Ohio. The first Letter is dated Feb. 19, at Yaughyaughgany big Bottom. The 17th Mr. Trent arrived at\nthe Forks of Monongohella (from the Mouth of Red Stone Creek, where he has built a strong Store House), and met Mr. Gist, and several Others: In 2 or 3 Days they expected down all the People, and as soon as they came were to lay the Foundation of the Fort, expecting to make out for that Purpose about 70 or 80 Men. The Indians were to join them and make them strong. They requested him (Major Washington) to march out to them with all possible Expedition. They acquaint him, that Monsieur La Force (ou, La Farce) had made a Speech to some of our Indians and told them, that neither they nor the English there, would see the Sun above 20 Days longer; 13 of the Days being then to come: By what Mr. Croghan could learn from an Indian in the French Interest, they might expect 400 French down in that Time: A Messenger sent from the French Fort had Letters for the Commanders of the other Forts to march immediately and join them, in order to cut off our Indians and Whites, and some French Indians were likewise expected to join them: When La Force had made his speech to the Indians, they sent a String of Wampum to Mr. Croghan, to desire him to hurry the English to come, for that they expected soon to be attack\u2019d, and pressed hard to come and join them; for they wanted Necessaries and Assistance, and then would strike: They further write, that 600 French and Indians were gone against the lower Shawneese-Town, to cut off the Shawneese; 200 Ottaways and Chipawas came to Mushingum and demanded the White People there, and shewed them the French Hatchet; the Wayondotts, tho\u2019 not above 30 Men, refused to let them kill them in their Town; but they expected every Day to hear they had cut off the Whites and likewise the Wayondotts.\u201d", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "02-23-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0033", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Christopher Gist, 23 February 1754 [letter not found]\nFrom: Gist, Christopher\nTo: Washington, George\n\tLetter not found: from Christopher Gist, Monongahela, Pa., 23 Feb. 1754. A newspaper quotation of this letter reads: \u201cAn Indian who was taken Prisoner from the Chickasaws by the Six Nations some Years ago, has been this Year to see his Friends there; in his Passage up the Ohio, fell in with a Body of near 400 French coming up the River; he parted with them below the Falls, and then came, in Company with\n10 of them that were sent up to treat with the Shawneese at the lower Town; on their Arrival there, the English Traders had agreed to make Prisoners of them, but the French getting a Hint from some Indians, they fled away in the Night without discovering their Business: We have also News of 600 French and Indians gone down to fall on the Shawneese if they will not admit the lower Army to pass up the River to join that above; it would therefore be prudent to let the Governor know this, perhaps he might send a Number of Cherokees to join the Shawneese at the lower Town, and defeat them, or prevent their joining those above. Pray send a Line by Mr. Steuart, and let us know the exact Time you will be here, that we may Speak Truth in all we say to our Friends.\u201d", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "02-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0034", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Richard Corbin, February\u2013March 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Corbin, Richard\nDear Sir:\n[February\u2013March 1754]\nIn a conversation at Green Spring you gave me some room to hope for a commission above that of a Major, and to be ranked among the chief officers of this expedition. The command of the whole forces is what I neither look for, expect, nor desire; for I must be impartial enough to confess, it is a charge too great for my youth and inexperience to be intrusted with. Knowing this, I have too sincere a love for my country, to undertake that which may tend to the prejudice of it. But if I could entertain hopes that you thought me worthy of the post of Lieutenant-colonel, and would favour me so far as to mention it at the appointment of officers, I could not but entertain a true sense of the kindness.\nI flatter myself that under a skilful commander, or man of sense, (which I most sincerely wish to serve under,) with my own application and diligent study of my duty, I shall be able to conduct my steps without censure, and in time, render myself worthy of the promotion that I shall be favoured with now.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "03-03-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0035", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 3 March 1754 [letter not found]\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Dinwiddie, Robert\n\tLetter not found: to Robert Dinwiddie, Belvoir, 3 Mar. 1754. On 15 Mar. 1754 Dinwiddie wrote to GW: \u201cYr two Letters of the 3d & 7th Currt I recd.\u201d", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "03-07-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0036", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 7 March 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Dinwiddie, Robert\nHble Sir\nMarch 7th 1754 Belvoir\nIf the Vessel your Honour hir\u2019d of Colo. Eyre has not left York, or Mr Carlyle\u2019s Norfolk and Hampton We should be glad to have as many Tints sent up as can be spard, for there is no proper Linnen to make them of here and would be difficult to\nget done if there was[.] We also are much in want of Cutlasses, Halbards, Officer\u2019s half Pikes, Drum\u2019s &ca which I am inform\u2019d are in the Magazine that Drum which was sent up with the Artillery being very bad is scarcely worth the trouble of carrying.\nThe generality of those Men, who have enlisted for this Expedition are much in want of, and press greatly for Cloathings[.] They all desire so earnestly to be put into a Uniform dress that they would gladly do it at their own Expence to be deducted out of their Pay it was the greatest objection to enlisting and many have refus\u2019d solely on that account after coming purposely to do it with Expectation of getting a Regimental Sute and if I may be so bold to offer my Opinion I can\u2019t think but the good Effects that it may produce will sufficiently recompense for any trouble that will ensue. It is the Nature of Indians to be struck with, and taken by show and this will give them a much higher Conception of our Power and greatness and I verily believe fix in our Interest many that are now wavering and undetermin\u2019d whose Cause to Espouse\u2014If it was only a Coat of the Coursest red which may be had in these parts it would answer the Intention\u2014red with them is compard to Blood and is look\u2019d upon as the distinguishing marks of Warriours and great Men\u2014The shabby and ragged appearance the French common Soldiers make affords great matter for ridicule amongst the Indians and I really believe is the chief motive why they hate and despise them as they do. If these are the Effects, the Cause may be easily, and timely remedied. I hope Your Honour will pardon this freedom, which I should not have assum\u2019d but with a good Intention It is my acquaintance with these Indians, and a Study of their Tempers that has in some measure let me into their Customs and dispositions.\nThere is another thing the Soldiers enquire much about i,e, who is to be pay Master and the time for payment Your Honour\u2019s answer to this will oblige me very much as I may thereby satisfie the doubts which arrise on that Head[.] I am with all due respect Yr Honours most Obt Humble Servt\nGo: Washington", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "03-09-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0037", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 9 March 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Dinwiddie, Robert\nHonble Sir\nAlexandria 9th of March 1754.\nIn my last by Mr Stuart I slightly mentioned the objection many had against Enlisting (to wit) not knowing who was to be Pay Master, or the times for Payment: It is now grown a pretty general Clamour, and some of those who were amongst the first Enlister\u2019s; being Needy, and knowing it to be usual for His Majesty\u2019s Soldiers to be paid once a Week, or at most every Fortnight, are very importunate to receive their Due. I have sooth\u2019d, and quieted them as much as possible under pretence of receiving your Honour\u2019s Instructions in this particular at the arrival of the Colonel.\nI have increas\u2019d my number of Men to abt 25, and dare venture to say, I should have had several more if the excessive bad weather did not prevent their meeting agreeable to their Officer\u2019s Commands.\nWe daily Experience the great necessity for Cloathing the Men, as we find the generallity of those who are to be Enlisted, are of those loose, Idle Persons that are quite destitute of House, and Home, and I may truely say many of them of Cloaths; which last, render\u2019s them very incapable of the necessary Service, as they must unavoidably be expos\u2019d to inclement weather in their Marches &ca; and can expect no other, than to encounter almost every difficulty that\u2019s incident to a Soldiers Life[.] There is many of them without Shoes, other\u2019s want Stockings,\nsome are without Shirts, and not a few that have Scarce a Coat, or Waistcoat, to their Backs; in short, they are as illy provided as can well be conceiv\u2019d, but I really believe every Man of them for their own Credits sake, is willing to be Cloathed at their own Expence: they are perpetually teazing me to have it done, but I am not able to advance the money provided there was no risque in it, which there certainly is, and too great for me to run; th\u00f4 it would be nothing to the Country, as a certain part of their pay might be deducted and appropriated to that use: Mr Carlyle, or any of the Merchants here would furnish them with proper necessarys if there was a certainty of any part of their pay stopt to reimburse the Expence\u2014But I must here in time put a kirb to my requests, and remember that I ought not to be too importunate; otherwise, I shall be as troublesome to your Honour, as the Soldiers are to me: there is nothing but the necessity of the thing could urge me to be thus free, but I shall no more exagerate this affair to your Honour, as I am well assur\u2019d whatever you think for the Benefit, or good of the Expedition you will cause to have done. I am Honble Sir, Yr most Obt Hble Servt\nGo: Washington", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "03-15-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0038", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 15 March 1754\nFrom: Dinwiddie, Robert\nTo: Washington, George\nSir\nYr two Letters of the 3d & 7th Currt I recd & the enclos\u2019d from Messrs Trent & Cresap. I am surpriz\u2019d from their Letters that the French are so early expected down the Ohio; which I think makes it necessary for You to march what Soldiers You have enlisted immediately to the Ohio, & escort some Waggons, with the necessary Provisions; Colo. Fry to march with the others as soon as possible. I shall send three Sloops with Recruits from York, James River, & the Eastern Shoar, so that I hope the Number of Men will be fully Compleated. By the first of these Sloops, I shall send 24 more Tents, which is all that\u2019s to be had here. Picks, Cutlasses, or Halberts, none in the Magazine; so the Officers must head their Comps. with small Arms.\nI have no Objection to the Soldiers being in an uniform Dress, on the Head You propose, but I am perswaded You have not Time to get them made, unless to be sent after You; in that Case, Care shd be taken of buying the Cloth at the cheapest rate\u2014The Soldiers are to be pd from the Day they were enlisted, \u2019til the Day they march, after that every two Mos. to be pd by Mr Carlyle at Alexa. on producing a Certificate from the Comdg Officer & their Capt. which Certificate will be a Voucher to Mr Carlyle, & he will be supplied accordingly. Mr Muse was with me this Day, & will soon be at Alexa. I have appointed him Majr at 10/ \u214c Day; & enclos\u2019d You have a Como. for Lieut.\nColo. pay 12/ \u214c Day, without any Trouble of Comanding a Compa.\u2014I have sent to the Treasurer for Money, if he disappoints me, I shall nevertheless send You some immediately, which You may expect in 24 Hours after this Messenger. I recommend to You Dispatch to be with Capt. Trent if possible before the French come down the river; send a Runner before You for Intelligence that You may not meet with any Surprize. I hope the Colonies to the Nowd will assist Us.\nHis M[ajest]y has order\u2019d two Independt Comps. from NY: & one from Carolina, to come here to be under my Comd\u2014I have sent Expres[se]s for their immediate coming here, wn they arrive I propose sending them out to the Ohio. I wd gladly hope, as Capt. Trent has begun to build a Fort at Allegany, that the French will not immediately disturb us there; & wn our Forces are properly collected we shall be able to keep Possession, & drive the French from the Ohio. I hope the Cherokees and Catawbas are there by this Time. I intreat You to be diligent in Yr March, take wt Officers You see proper that are at Alexa., & keep up a good, Dicipline, \u2019till Colo. Fry joins You: He has my Orders to choose a Court Martial, to peruse the Articles of War, & select from them such the Court may think proper for the Dicipline of the Men.\nPray God preserve You, & grant Success to our just Designs. I am most Sincerely Sr Yr Friend & hble Servt", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "03-20-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0039", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 20 March 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Dinwiddie, Robert\nHonble Sir\n[Alexandria, 20 March 1754]\nI was favour\u2019d with your Honours Letter by Mr Steward, inclosing a Lieutt Colo.\u2019s Commission; for which Promotion, I hope my future Behaviour will sufficiently testifie the true sense I have of the kindness; and as I intend strictly to adhere to all the proper Rules (as far as it is in my power) and discipline of the Profession I have now enter\u2019d into; I am vain enough to believe, I shall not be quite an unfit Member for it; but in time, shall be able to recompense for the present indulgences\u2014At this time there is abt 75 Men at Alexandria near 50 of which I have Enlisted, the others have been sent by Mesrs Polson, Mercer, and Waggoner to this place, there is very few Officers repaird hither yet, which has occasiond a very fatiguing time to me, to manage a number of selfwill\u2019d, ungovernable People, I shall implicitly obey your Honour\u2019s Commands, and March out with an Expedition: Majr Carlyle is now preparing Waggons for the conveyance of Provisions &ca which till now could not travel for heavy roads. I doubt not but your Honour has been inform\u2019d before this of Mr Vanbraam\u2019s ill success in Augusta by the Express which was sent from thence on that purpose.\nMajor Muse\u2019s promotion, and Messrs Rose and Bently\u2019s declining will occasion the want of Officer\u2019s; in which Case, if I may be so bold I would beg leave to mention Mr Vanbraam who is the oldest Lieutt and an experienced Soldier for a Comd, unless the Officers come in, I shall be obligd to appoint him that Office till I have your Honrs further commands it would be confering a very great Obligation on him was yr Honr to confirm the place to him I verily believe his behaviour therein would not render him displeasing to you Sir\u2014I have given Captn Stephen\u2019s orders to be in readiness to Join us at Winchester with his Company as they were already in that Neighbourhood\u2014raiz\u2019d there; I have nothing further to trouble your Honour with at present, but my sincere thanks for the indulgent favour\u2019s I have met with; and to declare, how much I am your Honour\u2019s most Obedient & very Hble Servt\nGo: Washington", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "03-22-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0040", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Adam Stephen, 22 March 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Stephen, Adam\nDr Sir,\nAlexandria [March] 22d 1754\nI wrote to you in Frederick not knowing your Intention of going to Stafford, desiring that all your Men &ca might be in readiness to March by the middle or last of next Week at furthest for Ohio: I have just receiv\u2019d the Governers Orders (which was sent upon the Arri\u27e8val\u27e9 of Captn Trents express) to dispatch with all expedition thither, with the Men that are already raiz\u2019d, and such Officer\u2019s as I see proper: therefore, I shall do myself the Honour of calling upon you for one, I expect several other\u2019s up this Day, together with three Sloops from York, James River and Eastern Shore with Recruits[.] Those which cannot be in readiness to go are to stay and March with Colo. Frye who is to bring out the remainder of the Men, Artillery &ca I shou\u2019d be glad you wou\u2019d repair to Alexandria imediately upon the receipt of this in your way to Winchester that we may consult on proper Mean\u2019s. I am Dr Sir Yr Affe Hble Servt\nGo: Washington\nP.S. I suppose you have read or heard of the Governor\u2019s command requiring all officers to be and appear at Alexandria the 20th inst.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "04-24-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0043", "content": "Title: From George Washington to James Hamilton, 24 April 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Hamilton, James\nHonble Sir\n[Wills Creek, Md., c.24] April\u20141754\nIt is with the greatest concern I acquaint you that Mr Ward Ensign in Captn Trents Company was compelld to surrender his small Fort in the Forks of Monongehele to the French on the 17th Instant: Who fell down from Venango with a Fleet of 360 Batoes and Canoes with upwards of one thousand Men and eighteen pieces of Artillery\u2014which they planted against the Fort, drew up their Men and sent the enclos\u2019d Summons to Mr Ward, who having but an inconsiderable number of Men and no Cannon to make a proper defence was oblige to surrender they sufferd him to draw of his Men, Arms, and Working Tools and gave leave that he might retreat to the Inhabitants.\nI have heard of your Honour\u2019s great zeal for His Majestys Service; and for all our Interest\u2019s on the present occasion\u2014You will see by the Inclos\u2019d Speech of the Half Kings that the Indians expect some assistance from you and I am perswaded you\nwill take proper notice of their moving Speech and of their unshaken fidility.\nI thought it more advisable to acquaint your Honour with it imediately than to wait \u2019till you could get Intelligence by way of Williamsburg and the Young Man as the Half King proposes.\nI have arriv\u2019d thus far with a detachment of 150 Men; Colo. Fry with the remainder of the Regimt and Artillery is daily expected. In the meantime we advance slowly across the Mountains making the Roads as we March, fit for the Carriage of our great Guns &ca and are design\u2019d to proceed as far as the mouth of red Stone Creek which Enter\u2019s Monongehele abt 37 miles above the Fort taken by the French from whence we have a Water Carriag\u27e8e\u27e9 down the River\u2014And there is a storehouse built by the Ohio Company which may serve as a recepticle for our Amunition and Provisions.\nBesides these French that came from Venango we have credible accts that another party are coming up Ohio\u2014we also have Intelligence that 600 of the Chippoways and Ottoways are Marching down Sciodo Ck to join them. I hope your Honour will excuse the Freedom I have assum\u2019d in acqt. you with these Advises. It was the Warm Zeal I owe my Country that influenced me to it and occasiond this express. I am with all due respect & Regard Yr Honours most Obt & very Hble Servt\nGo: Washington", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "04-24-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0044", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Horatio Sharpe, 24 April 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Sharpe, Horatio\nWills Creek [Md.] 24th April, 1754\nMay it please your Excellency,\nIt is with the greatest concern I acquaint you, that Mr. Ward, ensign in captain Trent\u2019s company, was obliged to surrender his small fortress in the Forks of Monongehela, at the summons of captain Contrecoeur, commander of the French forces, who fell down from Venango with a fleet of 360 canoes and battoes, conveying upwards of one thousand men, eighteen pieces of artillery, and large stores of provisions and other necessaries. Mr. Ward having but an inconsiderable number of men not (exceeding 30,) and no cannon to make a proper defence was forced to deliver up the fort on the 17th instant. They suffered him to draw out his men, arms, and working tools, and gave leave that he might retreat to the inhabitants with them. I have heard of your excellency\u2019s great zeal for his majesty\u2019s service, and for all\nour interests on the present occasion; therefore I am persuaded you will take proper notice of the Indians\u2019 moving speech, and think their unshaken fidelity worthy your consideration.\nI have arrived thus far with a detachment of 159 men; col. Fry with the remainder of the regiment and artillery is daily expected. In the mean time we shall advance slowly across the mountains, making the roads as we march, fit for the carriage the great guns, &c. and are designed to proceed as far as the mouth of the Red Stone Creek, which enters Monongehela about 37 miles above the fort (the French have taken) from whence we have water carriage down the river: there is a storehouse built by the Ohio company at the place, which for the present, may serve as a receptacle for our ammunition and provisions.\nBesides the French herein mentioned, we have credible information that another party are coming up Ohio. We also have intelligence that 600 of the Chippoways, and Ottoway Indians are marching down Scido Creek to join them.\nI ought first to have begged pardon of your excellency for this liberty of writing, as I am not happy enough to be ranked among those of your acquaintance. It was the glowing zeal I owe my country that influenced me to import these advices, and my inclination prompted me to do it to you as I know you are solicitous for the public weal and warm in this interesting cause\u2014that should rouse from the lethargy we have fallen into, the heroick spirit of every free-born Englishman to assert the rights and privileges of our king (if we don\u2019t consult the benefit of ourselves) and resque from the invasions of a usurping enemy, our majesty\u2019s property, his dignity, and lands.\nI hope sir, you will excuse the freeness of my expressions, they are the pure sentiments of the breast of him who is with all imaginable regard and due respect, Your Excellency\u2019s most ob\u2019t and Very humble serv\u2019t.\nGeo: Washington\nN.B. I herewith have inclosed for your Excellency\u2019s perusal a copy of the summons from the French officer, and also the Indians speech which was delivered to, and brought by Mr. Ward.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "04-25-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0045", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 25 April 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Dinwiddie, Robert\nHonble Sir,\n25th April 1754 Wills Creek [Md.]\nCaptain Trents Ensign Mr Ward this Day arrived from the Forks of Monongehele, and brings the disagreeable account that the Fort on the Seventeenth Instant was surrender\u2019d at the summons of Captain Contrecour to a Body of French consisting of upwards of one Thousand Men, who came from Vena[n]go with Eighteen pieces of Cannon, Sixty Battoes, and three Hundred Canoes: they gave him liberty to bring off all his men and working Tools, which he accordingly did the same Day.\nImmediately upon this Information I called a Council of War to advise on proper measures to be taken in this Exigence; a Copy of whose resolves, with the proceedings I herewith inclose by the Bearer, who I have continued Express to your Honour for more minute Intelligence.\nMr Ward has the Summons with him, and a speech from the Half King which I also inclose with the Wampum: He is accompanied by one of the Indians that is mentioned therein, who were sent to see where we were, what was our strength, and to know the time to expect us out; the other Young man I have prevailed upon to return to the Half King with the following Speech.\n\u201cSachems Warriours of the Six united Nations; Shanoahs and Delawares, our Friends and Brethren:\n\u201cI received by the Bucks Brother your speech, who came to us with the two young men five sleeps after leaveing you; We return you thanks from Hearts glowing with Affection for your steadfast adherence to us, for your kind speech, and for your wise Councils, and directions to the Bucks Brother.\n[\u201c]The Young man will inform you where he met a small part\nor our army advancing towards you, Clearing the Roads for a great Number of our Warriours that are immediately to follow with our Great Guns, our Ammunition, and our Provisions.\n[\u201c]I could not delay to let you know our Hearts and therefore have sent back one of the Young Men with this speech to acquaint you with them; while I have sent the other according to your desire to the Governour of Virginea with the Bucks Brother to deliver your speech and Wampum, And to be an Eye witness of the preparations we are makeing, to come in haste to support you, whose Interest is as dear to us as our Lives. We resent the usage of the treacherous French, and our Conduct henceforth will plainly shew to you how much we have it at Heart.\n[\u201c]I cannot be easye without seeing you, before our Forces meet at the Fork of the Roads, and therefore have the greatest inclination that you and Esscruniata or one of you meet me on the Road as soon as possible to assist us in Council. To Assure you of the good will we bare you; and to confirm the truth of what has been said, I herewith present you this string of Wampum that you may thereby remember how much I am Your Brother and Friend\n      [\u201c]Go: WashingtonalsConnotaucarious\n[\u201c]To The Half KingEsscruneata & the Belt of Wampum[\u201d]\nI hope my proceedings in these affairs will be Satisfactory to Your Honour, as I have to the Utmost of my knowledge consulted the Interest of the Expedition and good of my Country: whose Rights, while they are asserted in so just a Cause I will defend to the last remains of Life. Hitherto the difficulty I have met with in Marching has been greater than I expect to encounter on Ohio where probably I may be surround\u2019d by the Enemy; and this occasion\u2019d by those who had they acted as becometh every good Subject, would have exerted their Utmost abilitys to forward our just designs Out of Twenty four Waggons that were impress\u2019d at Winchester, we got but Ten after waiting a week, and some of those so illy provided with Teams that we could not travel with them without the Soldiers assisting\nthem up the Hills. when it was known they had better Teams at home. I doubt not but in some points I may have strained the Law, but I hope as my sole motive was to Expedite the March, I shall be supported in it should my authority be Questioned which at present I dont Apprehend will, unless some busy body intermeddles.\nYour Honour will see by the resolves in Council that I am destin\u2019d to Monongehele with all the diligent dispatch in My power. We will endeavour to make the Road sufficiently good for the heaviest Artillery to pass and when we Arrive at Red Stone Creek Fortifie ourselves as strongly as the short time will allow off. I doubt not but to maintain a possession there till we are Reinforced (If it seasonably Arrives) unless the waters rising admit their Cannon to be convey\u2019d up in Canoes and then I flatter myself we shall not be so wanting for Intelligence but to get timely notice of it and make a good Retreat.\nI hope your Honour will see the absolute Necessity there is for haveing as soon as our Forces are collected a Number of Cannon (some of heavy Mettle) with Mortors Granadoes &c. to attack the French, and put us on an equal footing with them.\nPerhaps it may also be thought adviseable to Invite the Cherokees, Cawtabas, and Chicasaws to March to our Assistance (as we are informed that Six Hundred Chippoways & Ottaways are Marching down Sciodo Creek to join the French that are coming up Ohio). In that case I would beg leave to recommend their being Orderd to this Place first that a peace may be concluded between them and the Six Nations for I am informed by several hands that as there is no good harmony subsisting betwixt them that by comeing first to Ohio it may create great discords and turn much to our disadvantage.\nAs I had oppertunitys to the Governour\u2019s of Maryland and Pensylvania I wrote to both acquainting them with these advices, and inclosed the Summons and Indian speech, which I hope your Honour will not think me too forward in doing: I consider\u2019d that the Assembly of Maryland was to sit in five days time, and the Pensylvania Assembly now Sitting and that by giveing them timely notice something might be done which would turn to the advantage of this Expedition which now requires all the Force we can Muster.\nBy the best information I can get I much doubt whether any of the Indians will be in to treat in May. I am with all due respect and regard Your Honours most Obt & Very Humle Servt\nGo: Washington\nQuery Whether the Indian Women and Children if they settle amongst us are to be maintained at our Expence or not, they will Expect it.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "05-04-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0046", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 4 May 1754\nFrom: Dinwiddie, Robert\nTo: Washington, George\nSr\n[Williamsburg] May 4th 1754\nThis Day I recd Yr Advices by Mr Ward, which give me great Concern to experience that my Fears of the French geting Possessn before us of the Fork of Monongehela were too prognistic\u2014The March of our Forces has been delay\u2019d by unfortunate Circumstances. The Independt Compa. from So. Car. arriv\u2019d two Day ago, is compleat 100 Men besides Officers, & will reembark for Alexa. next Week, thence proceed immediately to join Colo. Fry & You. The two Independt Compas. from N. York, may be expected in abt ten Days\u2014The No. Car. Men, under the Command of Colo. Innes are immagind to be on\ntheir March & will probably be at the Rendezvous abt the 15th Inst.\u2014I have laid Yr Letters before the Council, & We approv\u2019d of the Caution You have taken in halting at red Stone Creek, \u2019till You have assembled a sufficient Body to secure YrSelves & Cannon &ca & then to proceed to Monongehela\u2014I have wrote to Colo. Fry directing him also to proceed to red Stone Creek, which being not far from the Place call\u2019d the Fork of the Roads, where the Half King proposes to meet a select Body of our friendly Inds. You will have frequent Occasions of seeing each other, & agree in Council what is fittest to be done in the present Emergency\u2014I hope Capt. McKay who Commands the Independt Compa. will soon be with You\u2014And as he appears to be an Officer of some Experience & Importance, You will with Colo. Fry & Colo. Innes so well agree, as not to let some Punctillio\u2019s abt Command render the Service You are all engag\u2019d in, perplex\u2019d or obstructed. The ill Conduct of Capt. Trent & his Lt Fraser, in leavg the Fort withot Leave meets with just resentmt here; I have order\u2019d Colo. Fry to try them by a Court Martial, wn I hope they will meet with such Punishmt as this unaccountable Action deserves. I am with respect &ca", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "05-09-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0047", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 9 May 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Dinwiddie, Robert\nHonble Sir\nLittle Meadows [Md.] 9th of May 1754\nI acquainted your Honour by Mr Ward with the determination\u2019s, which we prosecuted in 4 Days after his Departure, as soon as Waggons arrived to convey our Provisions. The want of proper Conveyances has much retarded this Expedition, and at this time, unfortunately delay\u2019d the Detachment I have the Honour to command\u2014Even when we came to Wills Ck my disappointments were not less than before, for there I expected to have found a sufficient number of pack Horses provided by Captn Trent conformable to his Promise, Majr Carlyles Letter\u2019s and my own (that I might prosecute my first intention with\nlight expeditious Marches) but instd of tht, there was none in readiness, nor any in expectation, that I could perceive, which reducd me to the necessity of waitg till Waggon\u2019s cd be procur\u2019d from the Branch (40 Miles distant) However in the mean time I detach\u2019d a party of 60 Men to make and amend the Road, which party since the 25th of Apl, and the main body since the 1st Instt have been laboriously employ\u2019d, and have got no further than these Meadows abt 20 Miles from the new Store; where we have been two Days making a Bridge across and are not gone yet: The great difficulty and labour that it requires to amend and alter the Roads, prevents our Marchg above 2, 3, or 4 Miles a Day, and I fear (th\u00f4 no diligen\u27e8ce\u27e9 shall be neglected) we shall be detaind some considerable time before it can be made good for the Carriage\u27e8s\u27e9 of the Artillery with Colo. Fry.\nWe Daily receive Intelligence from Ohio by one or other of the Trader\u2019s that are continually retreating to the Inhabitants with their Effects; they all concur, that the French are reinforced with 800 Men; and this Day by one Kalender I receiv\u2019d an acct which he sets forth as certain, that there is 600 Men building at the Falls of Ohio, from whence they intd to move up to the lower Shawno Town at the Mouth of Sciodo Ck to Erect other Fortresses\u2014He likewise says that these forces at the Fork\u2019s are Erectg their works with their whole Force, and as he was coming met at Mr Gists new settlemt Monsieur La-Force with 4 Soldrs who under the specious pretence of hunting Deserters were reconnoitreg and discovering the Country. He also brings the agreeable news that the Half King has receiv\u2019d, & is much pleas\u2019d with the speech I sent them, and is now upon their March with 50 Men to meet us.\nThe French down the River are sending presents and invitations to all the neighbouring Indians, and practiseing every means to influence them in their Interest.\nWe have heard nothing from the Cawtaba\u2019s or any of the Southern Indians th\u00f4 this is the time we mostly need their assistance I have not above 160 Effective Men with me since Captn Trent\u27e8s\u27e9 have left us, who I discharg\u2019d from this Detacht & order\u2019d them to wait your Honour\u2019s Comds at Captn Trents for I found them rather injurious to the other Men than Serviceable to the Expn till they could be upon the same Establisht with us and come under the rigr of the Martial Law. I am Honble Sir\nwith the most profound respect yr Honour\u2019s most Obt & most Hbe Servt\nGo: Washington\nP.S. I hope yr Hr will excuse the papr & w[ritin]g the want of conveniences obliges me to this.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "05-15-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0048", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Sarah Carlyle, 15 May 1754 [letter not found]\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Carlyle, Sarah\nLetter not found: to Sarah Carlyle, 15 May 1754. On 17 June 1754 Sarah Carlyle wrote to GW: \u201cI Received your letter dated the 15 May.\u201d", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "05-18-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0049", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 18 May 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Dinwiddie, Robert\nGt xing of Yaughyaughgani [Pa.]May 18th 1754\nHonble Sir\nI receiv\u2019d your Honour\u2019s favour by Mr Ward, who arrivd here last Night just as two Indians from the Ohio Did\u2014Which Indian\u2019s contradict the Report of the French having receivd reinforcements, th\u00f4 they agree that 800 Men are very shortly expected: those that are there, are busily employd in Erecting the Fort which they have remov\u2019d to the point I recommended for the Countrys use, whose Walls they have now made two fathom thick, and have raizd it Breast high.\nThey are daily sending Scouts out, some of which, abt 5 days ago was seen within 6 or 7 Miles of our Camp; but as I did not receive timely Notice of it, they have escap\u2019d, unless they have fallen in with a party I sent out abt 8 Days ago to Red Stone, to Reconnoitre the Country thereabouts, and to get Intelligence of the motions of the French.\nIt is imagin\u2019d the Half King will be here in two or three Days; but to hurry him, I have sent the Indian that came up with Mr\nWard, with a short speech acquainting him with my desire of his coming as expeditiously as possible to receive the speech which your Honour sent by Mr Ward and that Colo. Fry wrote me I was to deliver: when he arrives I will endeavour to send him on to meet your Honour at Winchester.\nThese Indians, and all the Trader\u2019s that I have been able to get any information from of late, agree that it is almost impracticable to open a Road, that a Waggon can pass from this to Red Stone Ck: but most of them assure me, that (except one place) Water Carriage may be had down this River, which will be a most advantageous discovery if it proves so\u2014as it will save 40 Miles Land Carriage over almost impassible Roads & Mountns.\nThe Water is now so high, that we cannot possible cross over with our Men, which likewise secures us from any imediate attacks of the Enemy: therefore, I have Resolv\u2019d to go down the River to this Fall, which is at the Turkey foot: to inform myself concerning the Nature and difficulty attending this Fall; in order thereto, I have provided a Canoe, and shall with an Officer and 5 Men set out upon this discovery to morrow Morning.\nCaptn Trents Men, who by their refractory Behaviour did oblige me to seperate them from the other Soldiers, has now left the new Store and dispersd contrary to my positive order\u2019s till they receiv\u2019d your Honour\u2019s Commands\u2014As I shall have frequent communications with the Indians which is of no Effect witht Wampum, I hope your Honour will order some to be sent\u2014indeed, we ought to have Shirts and many other things of this sort, which is always expected by every Indian that brings a message or good report. Also the Cheifs, who visit, & converse in Council look for it: if it would not be thought too bold in me, I would recommend some of the Treaty Goods being sent for that purpose with, or after Colo. Fry: this is the method the French pursue, and a trifle judiciously bestow\u2019d, and in season may turn to our advantage[.] If I find this River Navigable I am convinced it cannot but be agreeable to yr Honour building Canoes in order to convey our Artillery down; as the Roads to this place are made as good as it can be, having spent much time & great Labour upon it I believe Waggons may travel now with 15 or 1800 wt in them by doubling at one or two pinches only. I am Yr Honour\u2019s most Obt Hble Serv.\nGo: Washington", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "05-18-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0050", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 18 May 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Dinwiddie, Robert\n[Great Crossing of the] Youghiogany [Pa.] May 18, 1754.\nSir,\nI am heartily concerned, that the officers have such real cause to complain of the Committee\u2019s resolves; and still more to find my inclinations prone to second their just grievances.\nI have endeavoured, as far as I was able, to see in the best light I could the trifling advantages that may accrue; yet nothing prevents their throwing down their commissions, (with gratitude and thanks to your Honor, whose good intentions of serving us we are all well assured of,) but the approaching danger, which has too far engaged their honor to recede till other officers are sent in their room, or an alteration made regarding their pay, during which time they will assist with their best endeavours voluntarily, that is, without receiving the gratuity allowed by the resolves of the Committee.\nGiving up my commission is quite contrary to my intention. Nay, I ask it as a greater favor, than any amongst the many I have received from your Honor, to confirm it to me. But let me serve voluntarily; then I will, with the greatest pleasure in life, devote my services to the expedition without any other reward, than the satisfaction of serving my country; but to be slaving dangerously for the shadow of pay, through woods, rocks, mountains,\u2014I would rather prefer the great toil of a daily laborer, and dig for a maintenance, provided I were reduced to the necessity, than serve upon such ignoble terms; for I really do not see why the lives of his Majesty\u2019s subjects in Virginia should be of less value, than of those in other parts of his American dominions; especially when it is well known, that we must undergo double their hardship.\nI could enumerate a thousand difficulties that we have met with, and must expect to meet with, more than other officers who have almost double our pay; but as I know you reflect on these things, and are sensible of the hardships we must necessarily encounter, it would be needless to enlarge.\nBesides, as I have expatiated fully (and, perhaps, too warmly) in a letter to Colonel Fairfax, who, I suppose, will accompany you to Winchester, upon the motives that occasion these my resolves, I shall not trouble you with them; for the subject leads me too far when I engage in it.\nAnother thing resolved by the Committee is, that only one sergeant and one corporal be allowed to a company; with whom it is as much impossible to do the necessary duty, as it is to conquer kingdoms with my handful of men.\nUpon the whole, I find so many clogs upon the expedition, that I quite despair of success; nevertheless, I humbly beg it, as\na particular favor, that your Honor will continue me in the post I now enjoy, the duty whereof I will most cheerfully execute as a volunteer, but by no means upon the present pay.\nI hope what I have said will not be taken amiss; for I really believe, were it as much in your power, as it is your inclination, we should be treated as gentlemen and officers, and not have annexed to the most trifling pay, that ever was given to English officers, the glorious allowance of soldier\u2019s diet\u2014a pound of pork, with bread in proportion, per day. Be the consequence what it will, I am determined not to leave the regiment, but to be amongst the last men that quit the Ohio, even if I serve as a private volunteer, which I greatly prefer to the establishment we are now upon. I am, &c.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "05-23-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0051", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Joshua Fry, 23 May 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Fry, Joshua\n[Great Crossing of the Youghiogheny, Pa.] 23 May, 1754\nSir,\nThis day I returned from my discoveries down the Youghiogany, which, I am sorry to say, can never be made navigable. We traced the watercourse near thirty miles, with the full expectation of succeeding in the much desired aim; but, at length, we came to a fall, which continued rough, rocky, and scarcely passable, for two miles, and then fell, within the space of fifty yards, nearly forty feet perpendicular.\nAs I apprehended there would be difficulty in these waters, I sent the soldiers forward upon the road, when I left the camp, which was as soon as they could cross; therefore, no time has\nbeen lost; but the roads are so exceedingly bad, that we proceed very slow.\nBy concurring intelligence, which we received from the Indians, the French are not above seven or eight hundred strong, and by a late account we are informed, that one half of them were detached in the night, without even the Indians\u2019 knowledge, on some secret expedition; but the truth of this, though it is affirmed by an Indian lately from their fort, I cannot yet vouch for, nor tell where they are bound.\nI would recommend, in the strongest terms possible, your writing to the Governor for some of the treaty goods, or any others suitable for the Indians. Nothing can be done without them. All the Indians that come expect presents. The French take this method, which proves very acceptable; besides, if you want one or more to conduct a party, to discover the country, to hunt, or for any particular service, they must be bought; their friendship is not so warm, as to prompt them to these services gratis; and that, I believe, every person, who is acquainted with the nature of Indians, knows. The Indian, that accompanied me down the river, would go no further than the Forks, about ten miles, till I promised him a ruffled shirt, which I must take from my own, and a watch-coat. He said the French always had Indians to show them the woods, because they paid well for so doing; and this may be laid down as a standing maxim amongst them. I think were the goods sent out, and delivered occasionally, as you see cause, that four or five hundred pounds\u2019 worth would do more good, than as many thousands given at a treaty.\nI hope I may be excused for offering my opinions so freely, for I can aver we shall get no intelligence, or other services from them, unless we have goods to apply to these uses. I am, &c.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "05-25-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0052", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 25 May 1754\nFrom: Dinwiddie, Robert\nTo: Washington, George\nSir\nWinchester May 25th 1754\nI can assure You I am concerned & no less surpriz\u2019d to find by Yr Letr of the 18th of this Mo. such ill timed Complaints & as I conceive not altogether founded in such real Cause as I am sorry to find You think they are\u2014You certainly judge very rightly of the Importance of the Service & that Yr Honrs are engag\u2019d too far to recede from it, which I hope an attentive reflection on wt I am going to observe will satisfie You & the other Gent. there is not so great Provocation to withdraw Yrselves from as You seem to think at present\u2014The first Objectn to the Pay if made at all shd have been made before engaging in the Service. The Gent. very well knew the Terms on which they were to serve & were satisfied then with it, nor cd they be ignorant of the Numbers that as well as themselves & to whom they were prefer\u2019d approved of the Terms & were desirous to serve on those Conditions. And as to the Canad. Expedition, it is I believe a Mistake to say, that those who served in it were found with Wine & Beer at the Public Expence, & that their Wages were higher or even so high as Yours. I agree with You about the second Article wherein the Allowance for enlisting is complained of, I do not approve of that & am very far from intinding the Officers shd raise recruits at their own private Expence, the 21/6 allowed, however it is greater than the Complainants mention who take no Notice of it. I am willing to think it was inadvertency in the Committee, & I will take care it shall be rectified. But as to Your Allowance being the same as the common Men, I must observe to You that it is so throughout His Majesty\u2019s Army & Navy, & if any Officer indulges further it is from his own Pocket. And it shd be remember\u2019d that an Officer in\nEngland is obliged to many more expences than You are, that the Difference of his Pay is over ballanc\u2019d by them. The number of Sergeants & Corporals is not sufficient & I will have more appointed. The Hardships complained of in the last Article are such as usually attend on a Military Life & are consider\u2019d by Soldiers rather as Oppties of Glory than Objects of Discouragemt. They might have easily been foreseen & avoided but wd be now the worst reason in the World for quiting the Service or laying down Commos. that had been earnestly solicited & were granted on Public well Known Terms. In fine let the Gent. be assur\u2019d I have them no less at Heart than the Cause to which they have devoted themselves, & that I shall not be wanting to make them easy, & reward their Merit as far as I find I have it in my Power. I have no Complaints of this kind from Colo. Fry or his Corps, & I hope You will take care not to let them know anything of Your Dissatisfactn\u2014Communicate the above to Yr Officers with Yr usual good Sense, & endeavour to pacifie their ill timed Complaints. Thus much in answer to the Paper signed by Capt. Stephens & others. Now Colo. W: I shall more particularly answer wt relates to YrSelf, & I must begin with expressing both Concern & Surprize, to find a Gent. whom I so particularly consider\u2019d, & from whom I had so great Expectats. & Hopes, appear so differently from himself, & give me leave to say mistakenly as I think, concuring with Complaints in general so ill founded. I am sensible of Yr Difficulties & You may believe I shall not let Your Merit pass unnotic\u2019d. I believe You sincerely attach\u2019d to Yr Countrie\u2019s Wellfare & Prosperity, which You know very much depends on the Success of Your present Expeditn & this I perswade myself will sweeten the Toils, that You will hereafter reflect on with Pleasure & engage You to think of nothing less than resigning Yr Comd or countenancing in any sort the Discontent that cd never be more unseasonable or pernicious than at present. You seem to be unacquaint\u2019d with the Allowance of \u00a3100 \u214c Ann. to Colo. Fry, for a Table to himself & the Field Officers, & therefore I mentn it as I have done to him, & on junction of the Forces he no doubt will keep a Table agreeable to the Allowance given him\u2014The Capt. of the Independt Compa. from So. Car. is now here, & his Corps consisting of 100 fine Men expected on Sunday; & I have Advice that a large Body of Inds. & white Men from No. Car. are on their\nMarch & may be expected here in a Week, & the two Independt Compas. from NY: cannot I think be long behind them, I shall hasten them all to You as they arrive. I remn here in great Expectatn & Uneasiness for the Half King & some other of the Indn Chiefs, whom I desire You will hasten if not already pass\u2019d You, & pray let me have the best Intelligence You can of the Twightwees, & whether I may expect to see them here\u2014Mr Jno. Willis returns to the Service, & I recommend him to Yr favo. & Notice. I desire You will be particularly cautious in regard to the Disigns of the French, You know they are a cunning People, & may be apt to take the advantage of Yr small Number which I hope will soon be increasd to make a good Figure agst them. With great Sincerity & regard I wish You Health, & Success to our Arms & am with very great Esteem. Sr Yr humble Servt", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "05-27-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0053", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 27 May 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Dinwiddie, Robert\nHonble Sir\nGt Meadws [Pa.] 27th May 1754\nThe 25th Ult. by an Express from Colo. Fry I receiv\u2019d the News of your Honour\u2019s arrival at Winchester and desire of\nseeing the Half King and other Chiefs of the 6 Nations\u2014I have by Sundry Speeches and messages invited him Monacatoocha &ca to meet me and have reason to expect he is on his Road as he only purposd to settle his People to planting at a place choose on Monongehele Yaughyaughgane for that purpose but fearing something might have retarded his March I imediately upon the arrival of the Express dispatch\u2019d a Messenger with a speech he is not return yet\u2014abt 4 Days ago I receivd a message from the Half [King] of which the following is a copy exactly taken.\n\u201cTo the forist his Magesteis Commanden Offeverses to hom this meay concern.\n\u201cAn acct of a french armey to meat Miger Georg Wassiontton therfor my Brotheres I deisir you to be awar of them for deisind to strike the forist Englsh they see tow deays since they marchd I cannot tell what nomber the hilf King and the rest of the Chiefes will be with you in five dayes to Consel\u2014no more at present but give my serves to my Brother\u2019s the English.\u201d\n\u201cThe Half KingJohn Davison\u201d\nThis acct was seconded in the Evening by another that the French were at the xing of Yaughyaughgane abt 18 Miles\u2014I hereupon hurried to this place as a convenient spott. We have with Natures assistance made a good Intrenchment and by clearing the Bushes out of these Meadows prepar\u2019d a charming field for an Encounter\u2014I detach\u2019d imediately upon my arrival here small light partys of Horse (Wagn Horses) to reconnoitre the Enemy and discover their strength & motion who returnd Yesterday witht seeing any thing of them nevertheless we were alarmd at Night and remaind under Arms from two oClock till near Sun rise we conceive it was our own Men as 6 of them Deserted but can\u2019t be certain Whether it was them or other Enemy\u2019s be it as it will they were fired at by the Centrys but I believe without damage.\nThis Morning Mr Gist arrivd from his place Where a Detachment of 50 Men was seen Yesterday at Noon Comd by Monsr Laforce he afterwards saw their tracks within 5 Miles of our Camp\u2014I imediately detachd 75 Men in pursuit of them who I hope will overtake them before they get to red Stone where\ntheir Canoes Lie[.] Mr Gist being an Eye Witness of our proceedings hereupon, and waiting for this witht my knowing till just now that he intended to wait upon your Honr obliges me to refer to him for particulars\u2014as I expect my Messenger in to Night from the half King I shall write more fully to morrow by the Express that came fm Colo. Fry.\nBut before I conclude I must take the Liberty of mentioning to Your Honour the gt necessity there is for having goods out here to give for Services of the Indians they all expect it and refuse to Scout or do any thing without\u2014saying these Services are paid well by the French\u2014I really think was 5 or 600 Pounds worth of proper goods sent it wd tend more to our Interest than so many thousands given in a Lump at a treaty[.] I have been oblig\u2019d to pay Shirts for what they have already done which I cannot continue to do.\nThe Number\u2019s of the French have been greatly magnified as your Honour may see by a copy of the inclosd Journal who I sent out to gain Intelligence\u2014I have receivd Letter\u2019s from the Governer\u2019s of Pensylvania & Maryland Copys of which I also send I am Yr Honrs most Obt & most Hble Servt\nGo: Washington\nP.S. I hope your Honr will excuse the Haste with which I was oblig\u2019d to use in writing this.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "05-29-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0055", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 29 May 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Dinwiddie, Robert\nHonble Sir\nFrom our Camp at the Gt Meadows [Pa.]the 29th of May 1754\nThe bearer hereof, Monsieur Druillong, with Monsieur LaForce and two Cadets I beg leave to recommend to your Honour\u2019s particular Notice as Prisoner\u2019s of War, and Officer\u2019s whom I had the Honour of taking.\nI have assur\u2019d them they will meet with all the Respect and favour due to their Charactr and Personal merit: and I hope\nthey will do me the justice to acquaint your Honour that I neglected no mean\u2019s that was in my power to render their confinement easy here.\nLieutt West is preferr\u2019d to conduct these Gentlemen with 16 Private Prisoner\u2019s to your Honour at Winchester who will acqt you with the profound respect with which I am your Honr most Obt & most Hbl. Servt\nGo: Washington", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "05-29-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0057", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Joshua Fry, 29 May 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Fry, Joshua\nSir\nFrom our Camp at the Gt Meadws [Pa.]29 of Ma\u27e8y\u27e9 1754\nThis by an imediate express, I send to infm you that Yesterday I engagd a party of French whereof 11 were kill\u2019d and 20 taken with the loss of only 1 of mine killd and 2 or 3 wounded among which was Lieutt Waggener: by some of their Paper\u2019s we can discover that large detachts are expected every day, which we may reasonably suppose are to attack us especially since we have began.\nThis is therefore to acquaint you with the necessity there is for a Reinforcet which I hope you will detach imediately as you can be in no manner of danger in your March, for the French must pass our Camp which I flatter myself is not practicable witht my having intelligence thereof especially as there will be Indian\u2019s always scouting[.] If there does not come a sufficient Reinforcement we must either quit our gd & retn to you or fight very unequal Number\u2019s which I will do before I will give up one Inch of what we have gaind\u2014The great haste I am in to dispatch the bearer prevents me from being particular at this time\u2014I shall conclude Sir with assuring you how sincerely concern\u2019d I am for your indisposion which I hope you\u2019ll soon recover\nfrom and be able to join us with the Artillery that we may attack the French [in] their Forts I am Sir Yr most Hble Servt\nGo: Washington", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "05-31-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0058", "content": "Title: From George Washington to John Augustine Washington, 31 May 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Washington, John Augustine\nDr John\n[Camp in the Great Meadows, Pa.,31 May 1754]\nSince my last we have arrived at this place, where 3 days agoe we had an engagemt wth the French that is, between a party of theirs & Ours; Most of our men were out upon other detachments, so that I had scarcely 40 men under my Command, and about 10, or a doz. Indians, nevertheless we obtained a most signal Victory. The Battle lasted abt 10, or 15 minutes, sharp firing on both sides, when the French gave ground & run, but to no great purpose; there were 12 killed, among which was Monsr De Jumonville the Commandr, & taken 21 prisoners with whom are Monsieurs La Force, Druillong, together with 2 Cadets. I have sent them to his Honr the Governor at Winchester conducted by Lieut. West & a guard of 20 men. We had but one man killed, 2 or 3 wounded and a great many more within an Inch of being shott; among the wounded on our side was Lieut. Waggoner, but no danger will ensue.\nWe expect every Hour to be attacked by a superior Force, but shall if they stay one day longer be prepared for them; We have already got Intrenchments & are about a Pallisado\u2019d Fort, which will I hope be finished today. The Mingo\u2019s have struck the French & I hope will give a good blow before they have done, I expect 40 odd of them here to night, wch with our Fort and some reinforcements from Colo. Fry, will enable us to exert our Noble Courage with Spirit. I am Yr Affe Bror\nGeo. Washington\nI fortunately escaped without a wound, tho\u2019 the right Wing where I stood was exposed to & received all the Enemy\u2019s fire and was the part where the man was killed & the rest wounded. I can with truth assure you, I heard Bulletts whistle and believe me there was something charming in the sound.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0059", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 1 June 1754\nFrom: Dinwiddie, Robert\nTo: Washington, George\nSir\nWinchester June 1st 1754\nMr Gist brot Yr Letter & the very agreeable Acct of Yr Killing & taking Monsr Le Force & his whole Party of 35 Men on which Success I heartily congratulate You, as it may give a Testimony to the Inds. that the French are not invincible wn fairly engagd with the English; but hope the good Spirits of Yr Soldiers will not tempt You to make any hazardous Attempts agst a too numerous Enemy. When Colo. Fry\u2019s Corps & Capt. McKay\u2019s Compa. join You, You will be enabled to act with better Vigour. I am in daily Expectatn of seeing or hearing from Colo. Innes, & a Body of Cherokee Inds. which I shall direct to march with all Diligence. I have sent Colo. Cresap to bring away Monsr Le Force & the other Prisoners, which You will deliver him, & be thereby reliev\u2019d from the Anxiety of guarding so many Prisoners with Yr small Number. I have caus\u2019d an Assortmt of Indn Goods to be packt up in order to be sent You immediately; & have engag\u2019d Mr Croghan as an Interpreter to attend the Commander in Chief, assist in delivering the several Presents, & advise You in all matters You may have occasion to consult him about, hoping his faithful demeanour will merit Yr & the Officers kind reception & Entertainmt\u2014I have also sent out of my private Store some rum, which will be sent You with the Goods from this on Monday next\u2014I wait with Impatience the return of Burney to know whether the Half King comes here.\nPray God preserve You in all Yr proceedings & grant Success to our Arms. I remain with great Esteem Sr Yr most humble Servt", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0060", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 1 June 1754\nFrom: Dinwiddie, Robert\nTo: Washington, George\nSir\nWin[chester] 1st June [1754].\nMr Geo. Croghan, a Gent. well acquainted with Indn. Affairs is engag\u2019d by me to serve His My as an Interpreter. I therefore desire You to shew him a proper regard & in such Matters relating to the Delivery of Presents, wt You may have to negotiate with the Half King & the Inds. in the British Alliance & Int[eres]t You will consult him. I am Sr Yr most humble Servt", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-02-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0061", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 2 June 1754\nFrom: Dinwiddie, Robert\nTo: Washington, George\nSir\nWinr 2d June [1754]\nI heartily wish that YrSelf & Officers had not at this Time discover\u2019d an Uneasiness on Acct of Yr Pay especially as the long Delay of Colo. Fry\u2019s Detachmt in not yet joining Yrs gives me too much Concern. You must all be sensible that if Yr present Establishmt is less than the first Estimate made; it was from a Calculatn of the 10,000 only granted to support the Expedition which if it had been greater my good Inclinatn wd have readily enlarged Yr Encouragemt\u2014The Difficulties You have undergone are obvious, the prudent Measures taken approv\u2019d, & Yr Success in taking Monsr. Le Force & the other Prisoners highly pleasing\u2014As soon as I was acquainted therewith I engag\u2019d Colo. Cresap then here to take a Guard & my Letter for the delivery of them, supposing You cd not spare a sufficient Number, but as they are already advanc\u2019d under Lieut. West\u2019s Care, Colo. Cresap may meet & receive them this Day, & Mr West sooner return. I have sent strict Orders to Majr Muse to hasten his March by leaving the Waggons, & carrying the most necessary Provisions &ca on horseback. Mr Croghan has undertaken to deliver You 10,000 of Flour immediately, & as the Half King Monacatoocha &ca intend to secure their Families with You. I shall take care to have You supplied with Provisions for their Sustenance; Those Chiefs having taken up & dispers\u2019d the Hatchet will soon bring a good Number of Inds. to sustain You, & wn joined by the other of our Forces now on their March, You will be enabled to improve Your Success. I doubt not Yr continuing to act with Prudence & resolution, & You may depend on my duely representing Yr Merit, that of Yr Officers & faithful Soldiers, to His M[ajest]y & our next Genl Assembly to consider of. I have sent You some Medals for YrSelf, Colo. Fry, the Half King Monacatoocha, the Chiefs of the Delawars & Shawnesse to wear as Tokens of His Majesty\u2019s Favo. Colo. Fairfax, Colo. Corbin, Colo. Ludwell & myself being alike adorn\u2019d. You will also receive from Capt. Montour a Belt & String of Wampum\u20144000 Black & 4000 white Wampum to be dispos\u2019d as You may have occasion to make Speeches. The Goods You desire for the Inds. & three barrels of rum will be sent off Tomorrow\n& order\u2019d to be carried with the utmost dispatch. I have likewise sent a Present of 4000 Wampum for, & a Speech to the Half King, whose reasons for not meeting me here at this Time are very allowable & I must hope for on some more favourable Occasion for I am most desirous of taking him by the Hand & assuring Him of my grateful Thanks for his firm & unshaken Friendship to the faithful Subjects of the British King his gracious Father & good Ally. I wish You the Officers & Soldiers perfect Health to overcome all Obstacles & the Honr of vanquishing all opponent Enemies & am Sir Yr assur\u2019d humble Servt\nP.S. The Speech is as enclos\u2019d which You will deliver.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-04-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0063", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 4 June 1754\nFrom: Dinwiddie, Robert\nTo: Washington, George\nSir\nWinr June 4th 1754\nOn the Death of Colo. Fry I have thot it proper to send You the enclos\u2019d Como. to Comd the Virga regimt, & another for Majr Muse to be Lieut. Colo. The eldest Capt. to be Majr & the eldest Lieut. to be Capt. the eldest Ensign to be Lieut. unless You shd have Objectn to them. I think You will want two Ensigns, if so, I recommend Mr Perroney if he has behav\u2019d so as to merit it, the other I leave to You. I have no Como. now here, but send the Names of the Persons to succeed as above & I will send up Commos. to bear equal Date with Yrs so that they may act by Yr Orders \u2019till that Time. Colo. James Innes, an old experienc\u2019d Officer is daily expected, who is appointed Commander in Chief of all the Forces, which I am very sensible will be very agreeable to You & the other Officers. The Capts. & Officers of the Independt Compas. having their Commos. sign\u2019d by His\nM[ajest]y immagine they claim a distinguish\u2019d rank & being long trained in Arms expect suitable regards, You will therefore consult & agree with Yr Officers to shew them particular marks of Esteem, which will avoid such Causes of Uneasiness as otherwise might obstruct His Majesty\u2019s Service wherein All are alike engag\u2019d & must answer for any ill Consequence of an unhappy Disagreemt\u2014You cannot believe the Uneasiness & Anxiety I have had for the Tardiness of the Detachmt under Colo. Fry\u2019s Commd in not joining You some Time since, as all the Delay in the Provisions, & Ammunition; however I have given strong Instructs. on both these Heads, & hope You will soon be joined with proper Numbers to give the French a total Defeat. Continue in good Spirits, & prosecute Yr usual Conduct & Prudence, which must recommend You to the favo. of His My & Yr Country My Friendship & respect I hope you do not doubt. I therefore remn with great Truth, Sr Your real Friend", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-05-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0064", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Charles Carter, 5 June 1754\nFrom: Carter, Charles\nTo: Washington, George\nSr\nFredericksburgh June 5 1754\nWe had the agreable news of the victory obtaind by the Partie under your Command I heartily congratulate you and all the Brave gentlen that were of the company. From this happy begining I am lead to hope you will soon make those cruel men know that numbers can\u2019t support an unrighteous cause God grant you may be blest with the like success and drive them Out of our Colony I had this affair in the begining much at heart and you are a witness to the share I had in promoting the Bill for defending our Frontiers and you may depend I shall be always ready to serve such brave men to the utmost of my power.\nWe are told the officers are very uneasy on acct of some late resolves of the Comittee I am not yet satisfied what their complaint is as it comes from a youth in the service I hope much may be imputd to his not being well informd[.] While I was at the Committee I can aver there was the greatest readiness to promote and encourage the officers and men and make the most effectual provision no doubt any just complaint will meet with immediate redress for my part I shall always be a true friend to such deserving men I know the hardships you must suffer and I hope you will be amply rewarded and return crownd with Laurels. I should be glad to know the name of the unfortunate man that died in our Cause please to favour me with an Acct of every Important occurance and the grounds of the Complaint[.] You are so well satisfied of the importance of the trust reposd in you that it would be impertinence to use any Arguments to excite you to a courageous discharge of it My compliments to all the officers I am charm with their Bravery[.] I am Sr Yr most obligd hume Servt\nCh. Carter\nPS The above was wrote in the dark but I could not omit an opportunity to congratulate you on this happy occasion.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-06-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0065", "content": "Title: From George Washington to John Carlyle, 6 June 1754 [letter not found]\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Carlyle, John\nLetter not found: to John Carlyle, 6 June 1754. On 17 June 1754 John Carlyle wrote to GW: \u201cI Received your favour of the 6th.\u201d This was probably the letter to Carlyle described by GW in his letter to Robert Dinwiddie, 10 June 1754, in which he stated that he complained to Carlyle of the \u201ctardiness\u201d of the commissary\u2019s deputies and requested that \u201csuitable stores of Ammunition might be sent up speedily.\u201d", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-10-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0066", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 10 June 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Dinwiddie, Robert\nHonble Sir\nYours of the 1st, 2d, & 4th Ulto I receivd by the Post and return your Honour my hearty thanks for your kind congratulation on our late success\u2014which I hope to improve without risquing the imputation of rashness or hazarding what a prudent conduct woud forbid. I rejoice that I am likely to be happy under the Command off an experienced Officer and a Man of Sense\u2014it is what I have most ardently wish\u2019d for\u2014I shall here beg leave to return my grateful thanks for your favour in promoting me to the Command of the Regiment\u2014believe me Honble Sir when I assure you, my Breast is warm\u2019d with every generous Sentiment that your goodness can inspire: I want nothing but oppertunity to testifie my sincere regard for your Person, to whom I stand indebted for so many unmerited favour\u2019s.\nYour Honour may depend, I shall myself, and will endeavour to make my Officer\u2019s shew Captn McKay all the respect due to his Rank & merit but should have been particularly oblig\u2019d if your Honour had declar\u27e8\u2019d\u27e9 whether he was under my Command,\nor Independant of it. however I shall be studious to avoid all disputes tht may tend to publick prejudice, but as far as I am able will inculcate harmony, and unanimity. I hope Captn McKay will have more Sense than to insist upon any unreasonable distinction, th\u00f4 he and His have Comns from his Majesty; let him consider, tho. we are greatly inferiour in respect to profitable advantages, yet we have the same Spirit to serve our Gracious King as they have; and are as ready, and willing to sacrafice our lives for our Country\u2019s good as them\u2014and here once more and for the last time I must say this Will be a canker that will grate some Officer\u2019s of this Regiment beyond all measure to serve upon such different terms when their Lives, their Fortunes, and their Characters are equally, and I dare say as effectually exposd as those who are happy enough to have Kings Commission\u2019s.\nI have been sollicitous on this head, have earnestly endeavour\u2019d to reconcile the Officer\u2019s to their appointmen\u27e8t\u27e9 and flatter myself I have succeded\u2014having heard n\u27e8o\u27e9 mention thereof lately. I consider\u2019d the pernicious consequences that would have attended a disunion; therefore, was too much attach\u2019d to my Countrys Interest to suffer it to ripen after I recd your advising Letter\u2019s. Your assurance Honble Sir of His Majesty\u2019s favour has given me the greatest satisfaction, and hope, in which and your Interest of recommending I alone shall depend tho. I must have gratitude enough to acknowledge you have already been too bountiful of yr favour\u2019s to me.\nI am very thankful to your Honour for ordering an assortment of Indian goods, which we daily find still more necessary\u2014I shall take care while they are under my direction that they are judiciously applied in order thereto I shall be particularly careful in consulting Mssr Croghon, and Montour, by whom I shall be advisd in all Indian affairs agreeable to your Honour\u2019s directions.\nI shall wear the Medal you were pleasd to Compli[men]t me with, with great pleasure; and shall present the other\u2019s to Indian Chiefs as I have already done one to the Half King. I am particularly obligd in your favour of the Rum out of your own private Store I shall allways remember my duty in drinking of it and then your Honour\u2019s health can never be forgot.\nThe approbation you have expressd of my conduct has given\nme more pleasure than any thing wch has happen\u2019d since my Imbarking in this Expedition. I am very Sensible if your Honour approves of my proceedings hitherto you will have no Reason to doubt my conduct hereafter; for I assure you Sir I have expected nothing but your disapprobation; such unfortunate circumstances have Interven\u2019d to Eclipse, or Cloud the Face of things and turn them to my disadvantage: and now I shall not have it in my power to convince yr Honr, my Friends, and Country of my diligence, and application to the Art Military, as a Head will soon arrive to whom all Honour and Glory must be given.\nWe have been extreamely ill used by Major Carlyle\u2019s Deputy\u2019s; which I am heartily sorry for, as he is a Gentleman so capable of the Business himself and has taken so much pains to give satisfaction\u2014He, I believe has been deceivd, and we have suffer\u2019d by those under him; and by those who have contracted for Provn we have been 6 Days witht Flour, and none upon the Road to our relief that we know off. though I have by repeated expresses given timely notice to have had supplies\u2014We have not Provision\u2019s of any sort in the Camp to serve us 2 Days th\u00f4 I have sent time after time acquainting therewith; once before, we shd have been 4 days witht if Providence had not sent a Trader from Ohio to our relief for whose flour I was obligd to give 21/8 pr Hundd.\nIn a late Letter to Majr Carlyle I have complaind of the tardiness of his deputy\u2019s and desird he wd accuse them therewith as I had also done\u2014I likewise desird that suitable stores of Ammunition might be sent up speedily, for till that is done we have it not in our power to attempt any advantageous enterprise but must wait its arrival at red Stone for which I shall set of the Moment Provision\u2019s arrive to sustain on the March[.] Majr Carlyle mentiond a contract he had made with Mr Croghan for flour, likewise Mr Croghan\u2019s offer of furnishing more if requir\u2019d I therefore have desird to have all that Mr Croghon can furnish[.] Majr Muse with Captn Montour join\u2019d us Yesterday who brought the Wampum your Honour sent to the Half King which I presented with the Medal and Speech\u2014he is very thankful for the notice you have taken of him therein.\nMajr Muse brought 9 of the Swivel\u2019s with some powder and Ball and this Day I have engag\u2019d 50 or 60 Horses to Bring up\nmore of the Ball and other Stores from Wills Ck if there shd be no Provn to load them with, they have set off accordingly the Ball are to be Bt in leathr Bags made for that purpose. I hear that Captn McKay who was to have brought the Artillery is Marchd without as Waggon\u2019s coud not be got to convey them\u2014I shall write to Mr Gist to procure Waggon\u2019s if he is obligd to go to Pensylvania for them, to bring out the Artillery; if not, when Colo. Innis comes up we shall have nothing in readiness and shall slip this best season for action.\nMajr Carlyle acquainted me that he had agree\u2019d Colo. Fry for the place of Deputy paymaster and now propos\u2019d the same to me as the Office devolv\u2019d with the Command of the Regiment upon I hope your Honour was pleasd to countenance this as he wrote from Winchester however I returnd him no other answer than that when the Office was ascertaind to me I did not doubt but we should agree.\nI flatter myself as it was annext to the Comd your Honour will please to confirm it to me that I may give Majr Carlyle an answer accordingly. I see by the resolves of the Committee that money was to be given to Colo. Fry as Comr for paying the Regimt\u2014therefore I hope this will not be looked upon as presuming in me especially as I believe it is usual for the Colo. of every Regiment to be Paymaster. The Indians are drawing off from the River daily one of whom last Night brought News of Monacatoocha. He set of from the Logs Town abt 5 Nights ago, with the French Scalps and four Hatchets with which he intended to visit the 4 Tribes of Indian\u2019s between this and Lake Irrie, and present each Tribe a scalp and Hatchet, and at the same time acquaint them that they expected as the English and Six Nations had hand in hand struck the French they would bring of their Tribes and join our Forces This messenger likewise says, that Monacatoocha was determined not only to Council with the chiefs of those Tribes but with their great Warriour\u2019s also (which is customary in these cases) and was to return as soon as possible which he imagin\u2019d would be in 15 Days but in case he should not return in that time he left orders, for the Indian\u2019s at Logs Town to set of for red Stone Creek and expect he had cross\u2019d the River low down (at yellow Creek) with a party of those Indians beforementd so that they would all meet at Red Stone to join their Brother\u2019s the English He also desird there\nmight be no attack made against the French Fort till he should return by which time he hop\u2019d all the Forces would be gather\u2019d and then they would make a General attack together and gain a compleat victory at once.\n The Half King has sent Messenger\u2019s to other places for Warriour\u2019s who are to meet us also at Red Stone Creek: besides these, He has sent two other messages by the advice of Mr Croghon[,] Montour and myself to envite the Shawnesse to come and receive one of their Men who was Imprison\u2019d in Carolina, and to Council with us; that to the Delawares is for the same purpose as we hear both these Nation\u2019s have accepted the Hatchet against us\u2014This report was first brought by an Indian sent from the Logs Town to the Half King\u2014and since confirm\u2019d by 9 French deserter\u2019s who arriv\u2019d at our Camp to Day. These Men further say that the Fort at the Forks is compleated, and proof against any attempts, but with Bombs on the Land side, there was not above 500 Men in it when they left it, but expected by this 200 more were arrivd there and 900, were order\u2019d to follow them and might be expected in 14, or 15 Days. this I believe was more to chear the Hearts of their drooping Soldier\u2019s and amuse the Indians than anything else[.] They had in the Fort when they left it abt 2 Months Provision\u2019s and that upon the Spoil[.] As soon as I have got all the Intelligence out of these Deserter\u2019s I shall send them down\u2014I was as sensibly disappointed when I met these Persons today as ever I was in my life\u2014by misunderstanding the Scouts that brought me Intelligence; that is mistaking 90 for 9 I march\u2019d out at the head of 130 Men (the Majr part of effective Men in the Regiment) full with hope of procureing another present of F\u2014\u2014h P\u2014\u2014rs for your Honour then judge my disappointment at meeting 9 only, and those coming for protection[.] I guarded against all casualties that might happen to the Camp and order\u2019d Colo. Muse to repair into the Fort and Erect the small Swivel which he cou\u2019d do in an hour\u2019s time for defence of the place. agreeable to your Honour\u2019s desire I shall here mention the names of the Gentlemen who are to be promoted\u2014Lieutt George Mercer by your Honour\u2019s Comn will worthily succeed to a Captaincy\u2014(Captn Vanbra\u2019am has acted as Captn ever since we left Alexandria and an experienc\u2019d good Officer he is and very worthy the Command he has enjoy\u2019d). Mr James Towers is the\nEldest Ensign which Your Honr will please to send a Lieutenancy for\u2014Captn Stephen I have already given a Major\u2019s Commission to, finding one Blank amongst Colo. Fry\u2019s Paper\u2019s.\nIf merit Sir will entitle a Gentleman to your Honour\u2019s notice, Mr Peyrouney may justly claim a share of your favours, his conduct has been govern\u2019d by the most consummate prudence, and all his action\u2019s have sufficiently testified his readiness to serve his Country. (which I really believe he looks upon Virginia to be) He was sensibly chagrin\u2019d when I acquainted him with your Honour\u2019s pleasure of giving him an Ensigncy, this he has had 12 year\u2019s ago, and long since Command\u2019d a Company\u2014He was prevaild on by Colo. Fry when he left Alexandria to accept the former Commission (and assist my Detachment as I had very few Officers) till we all met on Ohio which Comission he would now have resign\u2019d, and return to Virginia but for my great disswation to the Contrary: I have promis\u2019d to sollicit your Honr to appoint him Adjutant, and continue him Ensign which will induce a very good Officer to remain in the Regiment\u2014The Office of Adjutant Sir, is the most necesy belonging to a Regiment; distributing the daily order\u2019s, receiving all reports, seeing order\u2019s executed &ca in short an Adjutant is an indispensible Officer.\nIf your Honour is pleasd to indulge me in this reqt I shall look upon it in a very particular light, as I think the personal merit of the Gentleman, his knowledge of Military duty, and his activity, which is requird by the Office will render him highly worthy the favour.\nThere is an Ensign still Wanting, which I hope your Honour will please to send if you know of any fitt for the Office, their is a young Man in the Camp that came with Captn Lewis who has sollicited but I am yet ignorant of his Character or qualities; he is a Volunteer and recommended by Captn Lewis.\nYour Honour in a Letter by Mr Ward acquainted me you had given Order\u2019s to Colo. Fry to examine into the proceedings of Captn Trent and his Lieutt Frasier by a Court Martial\u2014I shall be glad if you wd repeat your order\u2019s and Instructions to me or rather to Colo Innis, for an Officer cannot be tried by those of its own Regiment only, but have a right to be heard in a General Court Martial\u2014Captn Trents behaviour has been very tardy, and has convinc\u2019d the World of what they before suspected\u2014\nhis gt Temedity\u2014Lieutt Frazer\u2019s though not altogether blameless, is much more excusable than the other, for he wd not except of the Commission till he had a promise from his Captn that he shd not reside at the Fort nor visit it above once a Week or as he saw necessary.\nQueen Aliquippa desird her Son (who is really a great Warriour) might be taken into Council, as She was declining and unfit for Business and have an English Name given him\u2014I therefore call\u2019d the Indians together by the advise of the Half King, and presented One of the medals and desird him to wear it in remembrance of his gt Father the King of England, and calld him by the Name of Colo. Fairfax which was told him signified the first of the Council\u2014this gave him &ca great pleasure[.] I was also told an English Name wd please the Half King much, which made me presume to give him that of your Honour\u2019s, and call him Dinwiddie\u2014Interpreted in their Language the head of all.\nI am plodding a Scheme, which if I can Execute, I hope will procure me Captn Juncaire the Indian Interpreter; I am not certain I shall be able to put my design in execution or the Effects of it; if I do, th\u00f4 I shall hope the best[.] If it shd prove successful it will be glorious to have a Man of his Importance\u2014and I don\u2019t doubt but he will be as agreeable a present as can be made by Your Honour\u2019s most assurd and most Obt Hble Servt\nGo: Washington\nNB These Deserter\u2019s corroborate what the other said, and we suspected. La-Force & that party was sent out for Spy\u2019s, and were to shew that Summon\u2019s if discover\u2019d or overpower\u2019d by a Superior party of our\u2019s\u2014They say the Comr was blam\u2019d for sending so small a party.\nSince writing the foregoing, Captn McKay with the Independant Company has arriv\u2019d, who I take to be a very good sort of a Gentleman.\nFor want of proper Instructions from your Honour I am much at a loss to know how to act, or proceed in regard to his company: I made it my particular study to receive him (as it was your Honour\u2019s desire) with all the Respect and politeness that was due to his Rank, or that I was capable of shewing: and don\u2019t doubt from his appearance and behavr but a strict intimacy will\nensue, when matter\u2019s are put in a clearer light. but at present I assure your Honour they will rather impede the Service than forward it, for having Commissions from the King they look upon themselves as a distinct Body, and will not incorporate and do duty as our Men\u2014but keep seperate Guards, Incamp seperate &ca. I have not offer\u2019d to controul him in anything, or shewd that I claimd a superior Command, but in giving the Parrole & Countersign which must be the same in an Army consisting of 10 Different Nation\u2019s, to distinguish Friends from Foes\u2014He knows the necessity of this, yet does not think he is to receive it from me.\nThen who is to give it? am I to Issue these order\u2019s to a Company? or is an Independant Captn to prescribe Rules to the Virginia Regiment? this is the Question, but how absurd is obvious.\nIt now behooves Honble Sir that you lay your absolute commands on one or tother to obey\u2014this is indispensably necessary for nothing clashes more with reason than to conceive our small bodys, can act distinctly\u2014witht having connection with one another and yet be serviceable to the Publick\u2014many incontestible Reasons may be given\u2014among which I shall only innumerate one or two at this time\u2014If I receive Intelligence of the Enemy, and have occasion to send out a Field Officers Command, which will require a proportion of his Men\u2014It is to his choice whether he will send any or not\u2014If he does\u2014and it is under the Command of an Ensign or Sergeant\u2014Shoud my Officer and his differ abt a disposition (as it is more than possible they wd as I suppose His wd be for a Regular attack which wd expose us to almost imediate death witht hope of damageing them as the French all fight in the Indian method which by this we have got some experience in) I say if they differ in their Opinions of forming the Men the Independant party may face to the Right abt and away back so it is in regard to the whole th\u00f4 I dont doubt but Captn McKay is an Officer of more sense and I dare say wd do the best for the service but Sir too Commander\u2019s is so incompatible with the Service we are engag\u2019d in, that we cannot be so serviceable to one another or the Publick as we ought; and I am sincerely sorry that he has arriv\u2019d before your Honour\u2019s Instructions by Colo. Innis who I doubt not will be fully authorisd how to act but as we have no news of Colo. Innis and it is absolutely necessary that this should be known In\nthe mean time I have desird Major Carlyle to send this by an imediate Express to your Honour who I hope will satisfie these doubts.\nCaptn McKay and I have liv\u2019d in the most perfect harmony since his arrival and have Reason\u2019d on this calmly, and don\u2019t doubt but if we shd have occasion to exert our whole force but we shall do as well as divided authority can. We have not had the least warm dispute\u2014He thinks your Honour has not a power to give commissions that will command him\u2014If so I can very confidantly say his absence wd tend to the Publick advantage. I have been particularly careful of discovering no foolish desire of com[mandin]g him neither have I intermedled with his Co. in the least or given any directions concerning it. only those General\u2014the Word\u2014Counter Sign\u2014and place to repair to in case of an Alarm\u2014none of which he thinks he shd receive. I have testified to him in the most serious manner the pleasure I shd take in consulting and advising with him upon all occasion\u2019s and I am very sensible with him we shall never differ when your Honour decides this, which I am convinced your own just discernment and consideration will make appear, the impossibly of a Medm the Nature of the thing will not allow of it: It must be known who is to Command before order\u2019s will be observ\u2019d, and I am very confidant your Honour will see the absurdity & consider the Effects of Captn McKays having the direction of the Regiment, for it would certainly be the hardest thing in Life if we are to do double & trible duty, and neither be entitled to the Pay or Rank of Soldiers\u2014That the first Column of the Virginia Regiment has done more for the Interest of this Expedition than any Company or Corps that will hereafter arrive will be obvious to them all\u2014this Honble Sir Captn McKay did not hesitate one moment to allow since he has seen the Work we have done upon the Roads &ca\u2014We shall part tomorrow\u2014I shall continue my March to red Stone while the Company remains here but this Sir I found absolutely necessary for the Publick Interest. Captn McKay says that it is not in his power to oblige his Men to work on the Road unless he will engage them a Shilling Sterling a Day which I wd not choose to do and to suffer them to March at their ease whilst our faithful Soldier\u2019s are laboriously employd carry\u2019s an Air of such distinction that it is not to be wonder\u2019d at, if the poor fellows were to declare\nthe hardship of it[.] He also declares to me that this is not particular to his Company only but that no Soldier\u2019s subject to martial law can be obligd to do it for less\u2014I therefore shall continue to compleat the work we have began with my poor fellows\u2014we shall have the whole credit as none other\u2019s have assisted.\nI hope from what has been said your honour will see the necessity of giving your speedy order\u2019s on this head. and I am sensible you will consider the Evil tendancy that will accompany Captn McKays com[mandin]g for I am sorry to observe this is what we always hop\u2019d to enjoy\u2014the Rank of Officers which to me Sir is much dearer than the Pay.\nCaptn McKay brought none of the Cannon very little Ammunition, abt 5 Days allowance of flower, and 60 Beeves. Since I have spun a letter to this enormous size, I must go a little further and beg your Honour\u2019s patience to peruse it\u2014I am much grieved to find our Stores so slow advancing[.] God knows when we shall [be] able to do any thing for to deserve better of our Country\u2014I am Honble Sir with the most sincere & unfeigned Regard Yr Honour\u2019s most Obt & most Hble Servt\nGo: Washington\nThe Contents of this Letter is a profound Secret.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-17-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0068", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Sarah Carlyle, 17 June 1754\nFrom: Carlyle, Sarah\nTo: Washington, George\nDr Sir\nI Received your Letter dated the 15 May, Which gave me both pleasure and pain, the first to heare of your health, the latter to be Informed of the many Risques you run, but am hopeful your good Constitution and a kind protecter will bring you out of them all as it has In the last Ingagement preserved you from harm. If I thought my Letters were Agreeabel to you I wou\u2019d continew a Correspondence that I must own Agreeabel to me, but must not Expect it to be Carred on (on my Side) with the Spirret it ought to Inliven you Which wou\u2019d be my desire If I cou\u2019d.\nthose pleasing reflections on the hours past ought to be banished out of your thoughts, you have now a Noblier prospect that of preserveing your Country from the Insults of an Enimy. and as god has blessed your first Attempt, hope he may Continew his blessings and on your return, Who knows but fortune may have reserved you for Sum unknown She, that may recompence you for all the Tryals past, how\u27e8ever\u27e9 you have my Warmest Wishes and may be assurd that I ever am Your Sincear Wellwisher and Your Humbel Servent\nSarah Carlyle", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-18-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0069", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 18 June 1754\nFrom: Dinwiddie, Robert\nTo: Washington, George\nSir\nI rec\u2019d Yr Letter of June 3d & I am very glad to know by it that the Half Kg with 80 Persons is arriv\u2019d at Yr Camp. I have given all necessary Orders for a proper Supply for Yr R[egimen]t and Yr[self] not doubting but by this Time Muse has joined You\u2014The barbarous Intents. of the French surprizes me & their Speech to the Wayandotts Twightwees &ca & it gives me Pleasure that those Nat[ion]s have declared their Inclinats. in our Favo. & their endeavouring to get the Chippaways & Ottaways to our Int[eres]t which at this Time will be of very great Service as we have begun not doubting but they will take up the Hatchet against the French. I hope the Half King\u2019s Message by Monacatoocha will have its proper Effect by drawing these Nats. to our Intt. I approve of Yr Proposal to the Half King of sending the Women & Children into the Inhabits. if he agrees to send them they will be taken proper Care of having given Orders Accordingly.\nI thorowly consider\u2019d the great Use Montour wd be to You & was uneasy that You had no Interpr. I therefore gave him a Como. to comd a select Nr of Inds. on this Expedition, & hope he is with You before this; I further engag\u2019d Mr Croghan to repair to Yr Camp & there to remn as Yr Interpreter. I firmly believe wt the Deserters mention in regard to the Master Traders being confined at the Fr. Fort, & of the Party sent down the Ohio to kill & take Prisoners all the English, which I beg You will make proper Use of in being on Yr Guard from any Surprise. From the Appearance of the Prisoners I judge that the Party under Jumonville was of chosen Men but I hope their Numbs. at the Fort cannot be 1100 However act with Caution as if they were so: tho\u2019 it gives me Pleasure to find Yr resolutn not to be shaken by the apprehension of Superiour Numbers as appear\u2019d by the late action which was conducted with good Sense & Bravery. My Godson\u2019s Behavior gives me Pleasure, & I desire wn the Goods come out You may equip him agreeable to his Merit & his being my Godson\u2014I have order\u2019d the remainder of the Goods to be kept at Win[chester] till the So[uth]ern Inds. arrive there. They are to have some of them & the remainder to be sent to the Camp to be distributed to the Inds. occasionally\nagreeable to Yr former Proposal. I am glad You have finished Yr Pallisadoed Fort, & hope the Independt Company from So. Car. will join You this Night\u2014The two Compas. from NY: are every Minute expected having been embark\u2019d above a Fortnight, & they shall have my orders to march immediately, which, with the Forces from No. Car. the So[u]th[er]n Inds. & our friendly Inds. on Ohio, wn collected in a Body will make a good Figure against any Number the Fr. can bring against Us. I have with great Pleasure recd the 3 Strings of Wam. from the Wyandotts & the other Warriors. I desire You will make a Speech in my Name & give 3 Strings properly in return\u2014Yr Conduct gives me great Satisfactn & Pleasure & I am, Sr Yr real Friend.\nP.S. If the Women & Children come into the Inhabitts: I think they\u2019ll be taken the best care of at Win[chester] which You may propose to the Half King\u2014I am in my way to Wmsburg but I have ordered Majr Carlyle to send me immediately any Message & Informatn that You find necessary to send.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-24-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0070", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Bryan Fairfax, 24 June 1754\nFrom: Fairfax, Bryan\nTo: Washington, George\nDear Sir\nAlexandria June 24th 1754\nThe agreeable and long wished for News of the detachments under the Command of Major Muse and Capt. McKay having joined you in time to prevent the Success of any Attacks from the french was very satisfactory to me; whose mind was continually alarmed with the Apprehensions of your being forced to another battle when unprepared for it.\nThe Triton arrived here the 22d with the two Companies\nfrom New York, tho\u2019 not compleat. And a fair Wind yesterday brought up a Schooner with 107 Men, belonging to the No. Carolina Regiment that are on their March.\nMy Sisters are not yet returned from below, but expected in ten Days. With best Respects to the whole Corps, and wishing you all imaginable Success I remain Yr assured friend and Very humble Servt\nBryan Fairfax", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-25-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0071", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 25 June 1754\nFrom: Dinwiddie, Robert\nTo: Washington, George\nSir\nWilliamsburg June 25th 1754\nThis will (I hope) be deliver\u2019d You by Colo. James Innes, who has my Commission to command in chief on the Expedition, which I dare say will be very agreeable to You, & am in Hopes when all the Forces are collected in a Body You will be able to turn the Tables on the French and dislodge them from the Fort, & in Time to take full Possession of the Ohio river.\nAs I am afraid of Disputes from the Officers of the Independt Companies to prevent that I have order\u2019d Colo. Innes to Command in Chief & You are to be second in Comd[.] I have sent a breviate Commission of Lieutt Colo. to Capt. Clark, to be third in Command, & the same to Capt. Mackay to be fourth in\nCommand on this Expedition; & have desired Colo. Innes to allow their Lieuts. to rank with our Capts. this is only Feathers in their Caps & to prevent any ill Blood in regard to rank; as Unanimity is the only step towards Success in the Expedition, & I doubt not all the Officers will perceive my meaning in this regulation.\nI have directed His Majesty\u2019s Present to be sent out to be given among the Indians as Colo. Innes may think proper with Your Advice. I have given Orders to keep You duely supplied with Provisions, & am in great Hopes, when joined in a Body You will be a proper Match for the French, as I am in hopes You will have a good Number of our friendly Inds. to your Assistance.\nI have no more to add but recommending You to the Protection of God & wishing Success to attend all Your Undertakings I remain in Truth Sr, Yr most hble Servt\nRobt Dinwiddie\nP.S: My Service to all Yr Brother Officers.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-27-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0072", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 27 June 1754\nFrom: Dinwiddie, Robert\nTo: Washington, George\nSr\nWmsburg June 27th 1754\nYr Letter without Date I recd am sorry You have occasion to complain for want of Flouer &ca it gives me much Uneasiness, & have wrote strongly to Majr Carlyle to prevent any such Complaints for the Future, & I hope You will have no room to complain for the want of Provisions or Ammunition having desired that the last may be immediately sent out. Before this reaches You I doubt not Colo. Innes will be with You, who has my full Instructs. for conducting the Expedition, & a regulatn in regard to the Comdrs of the Independt Compas. which I hope will prevent any murmuring in regard to rank.\nI wish You had suspended going to Red Stone Creek, \u2019till You was joined by the other Forces, being much affraid of a Surprize; You know the French act with great Secrecy & Cunning, & therefore I do not doubt You will be on Yr Guard\u2014I shall be glad Mr Perroney be appointed Adjutant, I have left the Appointmts to Colo. Innes & on Yr Applicatn I dare say he will appoint him; & regulate the Affairs in regard to the regulars working on the roads building Forts &ca\u2014I am excessively hurried with Affairs of great Consequence, that I cannot answer Yr Letter fully, but be always assured that I have a true regard for Yr Merit & good Conduct, & I shall be very carefull in representing the same when I have the opportunity of serving You. I refer You to Colo. Innes, who no doubt will consult with You in most Things.\nI have order\u2019d two Hogsheads of rum out, & when in want desire Colo. Innes to write to Majr Carlyle for more. I am with Esteem & respect Sr Yr Friend & humble Servt\nRobt Dinwiddie\nP.S: The Frenchman You recomanded does not appear. Let Capt. Trent & his Lieut. lie dormant for some Time. I am well pleas\u2019d to have the Half King my Namesake & my Service to him.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-28-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0073", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Daniel Campbell, 28 June 1754\nFrom: Campbell, Daniel\nTo: Washington, George\nDr Sir\nFalmo. 28 June 1754\nI was agreeably favour\u2019d with yours of 31st March last & would have wrote you sooner but was prevented for want of a proper opporty; I have since had the pleasure of Seeing the Bearer Mr Splittdorff with the fruits of your Victory over the French, the Sight of whom gave me & your other friends such satisfaction as is only felt by those who have hearts full of Mutual affection & friendship. In this affair of the Skirmish the world hereabouts with whom I am conversant talks of you as I would have them, & I hope this is only a prelude to your further Conquests. I am very certain that you have grander & more beneficial Objects in view than sitting down to read & write Letters of no importance to the Publick, but if you knew what pleasure I receive by hearing of your Circumstances & welfare you would steall a little time, if it was no more than to say you are well &c., But I hope you are not so much pinch\u2019d for time but that you can enter on particulars, which I would now do to you but nothing remarkable or worth your ear has happen\u2019d here. The converted Brethren whom you justly Stile so, have answer\u2019d that Character, & nothing reigns but peace & harmony of which I wish the Continuance; On the first Saturday of this month (Our Lodge Day) Coln. John Thorton was unanimously voted to the Chair, as was Dr Halkerston to the Senior Wardenship & Mr Wm McWilliams to the Junior, Mr James Strachan Treasurer & Mr Jas McKittrick Secretary. I intend (God Willing) Shortly for Scotland which I hope will not break our Correspondance for we can at least have an intercourse by letters yearly & I shall take care to write you from thence, as you may to me Via Falmouth. Your Mother &c.\nwhom I frequently see are well, very lately I had the honour to dance with her, when your health was not forgot, Mr Splittdorff waits on her this Evening for her commands to you. I sincerely thank you for the countenance you shew\u2019d Angus McDonald on my Account. I have been lately surpris\u2019d with a story that he was Shot for stricking one of his Officers, which I hope is false if not I pity his fate, & rather wish he had dyed as a Soldier in the field of Battle, If he is alive please desire him to write me under your Cover. I hear that there are 270 Men at Alexandria of New York & Carolina forces which are to Join you soon, This day Mr Innis (who I hear is to have the command in Room of Colnl Fry) passed through this town in his way to you, as did also two of the French deserters in their way to Williamsburgh, five more are Expected to Morrow. I expect you\u2019ll embrace the first convenient opporty of writting me either by Winchester or Alexandria & if you have time be particular as to your own & the French Circumstances; Mr Alexr Wodrow & your Falmo. friends desire to be remembred to you. With such wishes as you would desire from the sincerest friend & Brother I am Dr Sr Your affectt & Hue Servt\nDaniel Campbell\nPS Make my Complts to Messrs Vanbraam, Stephens, Mercer & Stobo.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "06-28-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0075", "content": "Title: Minutes of a Council of War, 28 June 1754\nFrom: Council of War\nTo: \nAt a Council of War held at Mr Gists Ju\u27e8ne\u27e9 28th 1754\nAfter the Junction with our own Detachmt and the Independent Company To Consider what was most prudent & necessary \u27e8to\u27e9 be done in the present Situation of Affairs: It was Unanimously Resolved that it was Absolutly necessary to Return to our Fort at the meadows & Wait there untill Supply\u2019d with a Stock of provisions Sufficient to serve us for some months.\nThe Reasons for so doing were very Weighty:\nMonacattocha a man of Sense and Experience & a gre\u27e8at\u27e9 friend to the English Had left the French Fort only two days before & Had Seen the Reinforcemt arrive & heard them declare their Resolution to march and Attack the English with 800 of their own men & 400 Indians.\nThere was a Reinforcemt hourly expected, we learned from French Deserters.\nWe knew that two off our men had deserted to them and Acquaintd The Enemy of our Starving Condition and our Numbrs & Situation.\nWe had wanted meat & Bread for Six days already, and were still uncertain when any would Arrive. We had only about 25 head of Live Cattle the most of them Milch Cows to depend upon for 400 men, and about one quart of Salt to Use with our Meat, or preserve it. The Enemy being thrice our Number & knowing our Cir[c]umstances would not give us a Chance to fight them, but Strive to starve us out by intercepting our Convoys. The Live Cattle were Uncertain \u27e8&\u27e9 the Enemy strove to Block us up. If the Enemy were so Void of knowledge in Military affairs as to Risk a Battle; we must give a Total defeat to thrice our Number, Otherwise be Cut to pieces by so prodigious a Number of their Indians in our Retreat, who are the best people in the World to improve a Victory and at the best lose all our\nWarlike Stores & Swivles. Compelld by these Reasons it was Unanimously Resolvd to Decamp directly, and to have our Swivles drawn By the men by Reason of the Scarcity of horses.\nBesides The In\u27e8di\u27e9ans declar\u2019d that they would have leave us, unless we Returnd to \u27e8the\u27e9 Meadows. The distance Betwixt that & Mr Gist\u2019s house, is thirteen miles of hilly Road form\u2019d Naturally for Ambushes. The French could not so Easily Support themselves at the Meadow as at Gists by the reason of distance to Carry the Stores & provisions & their want of horses to do it. They Can come within five miles of Gist\u2019s house by water, Thirteen miles further of bad Road was a great Obstruction to them & gave us an Opportunity of Obtaining intilligence, and Securing our Convoys. While we lay at Gist\u2019s house, They might pass us unobserv\u2019d by a different Road from Red Stone that Lay about nine miles from us: But at the Meadows, both Roads are United, and the Bearing of the Mountains makes it difficult for an Enemy to Come Near or pass us without Receiving advice of it. From all these Considerations this Resolves Signed by", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "07-19-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0076-0002", "content": "Title: I., 19 July 1754\nFrom: Washington, George,Mackay, James\nTo: \nWilliamsburg 19 July 1754\nThe third of this Instant July, about 9 o\u2019Clock, we received Intelligence that the French, having been reinforced with 700 Recruits, had left Monongehela, and were in full March with 900 Men to attack us. Upon this, as our Numbers were so unequal, (our whole Force not exceeding 300) we prepared for our Defence in the best Manner we could, by throwing up a small Intrenchment, which we had not Time to perfect, before our Centinel gave Notice, about Eleven o\u2019Clock, of their Approach, by firing his Piece, which he did at the Enemy, and as we learned afterwards killed three of their Men, on which they began to fire upon us, at about 600 Yards Distance, but without any Effect: We immediately called all our Men to their Arms, and drew up in Order before our Trenches; but as we looked upon this distant Fire of the Enemy only as an Artifice to intimidate, or draw our Fire from us, we waited their nearer Approach before we returned their Salute. They then advanced in a very irregular Manner to another Point of Woods, about 60\nYards off, and from thence made a second Discharge; upon which, finding they had no Intention of attacking us in the open Field, we retired into our Trenches, and still reserved our Fire; as we expected from their great Superiority of Numbers, that they would endeavour to force our Trenches; but finding they did not seem to intend this neither, the Colonel gave Orders to fire, which was done with great Alacrity and Undauntedness. We continued this unequal Fight, with an Enemy sheltered behind the Trees, ourselves without Shelter, in Trenches full of Water, in a settled Rain, and the Enemy galling us on all Sides incessantly from the Woods, till 8 o\u2019Clock at Night, when the French called to Parley: From the great Improbability that such a vastly superior Force, and possessed of such an Advantage, would offer a Parley first, we suspected a Deceit, and therefore refused to consent that they should come among us; on which they desired us to send an Officer to them, and engaged their Parole for his Safety; we then sent Capt. Van Braam, and Mr. Peyronee, to receive their Proposals, which they did, and about Midnight we agreed that each Side should retire without Molestation, they back to their Fort at Monongehela, and we to Wills\u2019s Creek: That we should march away with all the Honours of War, and with all our Stores, Effects and Baggage. Accordingly the next Morning, with our Drums beating and our Colours flying, we began our March in good Order, with our Stores, &c. in Convoy; but we were interrupted by the Arrival of a Reinforcement of 100 Indians among the French, who were hardly restrained from attacking us, and did us considerable Damage by pilfering our Baggage. We then proceeded, but soon found it necessary to leave our Baggage and Stores; the great Scarcity of our Provisions obliged us to use the utmost Expedition, and having neither Waggons nor Horses to transport them. The Enemy had deprived us of all our Creatures; by killing, in the Beginning of the Engagement, our Horses, Cattle, and every living Thing they could, even to the very Dogs. The Number of the Killed on our Side was thirty, and seventy wounded; among the former was Lieutenant Mercier, of Captain Maccay\u2019s independant Company; a Gentleman of true military Worth, and whose Bravery would not permit him to retire, though dangerously wounded, till a second Shot disabled him, and a third put an End to his Life, as he was carrying\nto the Surgeon. Our Men behaved with singular Intrepidity, and we determined not to ask for Quarter, but with our Bayonets screw\u2019d, to sell our Lives as dearly as possibly we could. From the Numbers of the Enemy, and our Situation, we could not hope for Victory; and from the Character of those we had to encounter, we expected no Mercy, but on Terms that we positively resolved not to submit to.\nThe Number killed and wounded of the Enemy is uncertain, but by the Information given by some Dutch in their Service to their Countrymen in ours, we learn that it amounted to above three hundred; and we are induced to believe it must be very considerable, by their being busy all Night in burying their Dead, and yet many remained the next Day; and their Wounded we know was considerable, by one of our Men, who had been made Prisoner by them after signing the Articles, and who, on his Return told us, that he saw great Numbers much wounded and carried off upon Litters.\nWe were also told by some of their Indians after the Action, that the French had an Officer of distinguishable Rank killed. Some considerable Blow they must have received, to induce them to call first for a Parley, knowing, as they perfectly did, the Circumstances we were in.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "07-03-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0076-0003", "content": "Title: II., 3 July 1754\nFrom: Washington, George,Mackay, James\nTo: \nCapitulation accord\u00e9e par \u27e8M.\u27e9 de Vill\u27e8iers Capitaine\u27e9 D\u2019infant\u27e8erie\u27e9 Commandant des troupes de Sa Majest\u00e9 tres Chr\u00e9tienne a celuy des troupes Anglais actuellement dans le fort de N\u00e9cessit\u00e9 qui avoit \u00e9t\u00e9 Construit sur les terres du Domaine Du Roy\nCe 3e Juillet 1754 a huit heures du soir.\nSavoir.\nComme notre intention n\u2019a jamais \u00e9t\u00e9 de troubler la Paix et la Bonne armonie qui r\u00e9gnoit entre les deux Princes amis, mais seulement de venger L\u2019assasin qui a \u00e9t\u00e9 fait sur un de nos officier porteur d\u2019une sommation et sur son escorte, comme aussy d\u2019empecher aucun Etablissement sur les terres du Roy mon maitre.\nA Ces Considerations nous voulons bien accorder grace a tous les Anglois qui sont dans le dit fort aux conditions ci-apr\u00e8s\nArticle pr.\nNous accordons au Commandant Anglois de se retirer avec toute sa Garnison pour s\u2019en Retourner paisiblement dans son pays et luy promettons d\u2019Empecher qu\u2019il luy soit fait aucune insulte par nos fran\u00e7ois, et de maintenir autant qu\u2019il sera en notre pouvoir tous les sauvages qui sont avec nous.\n2e\nIl luy sera permis de sortir et d\u2019emporter tout ce qui leur appartiendra a l\u2019Exception de L\u2019Artillerie que nous nous reservons.\n3e\nQue nous leur accordons les honneurs de la guerre qu\u2019ils sortiront tambour battant avec une piece de petit Canon, voulant bien par la leur prouver que nous les traittons en amis.\n4e\nQue sit\u00f4t les articles sign\u00e9s de part et d\u2019autre, ils ameneront le Pavillon Anglois\n5e\nQue demain a la pointe du jour un d\u00e9tachement fran\u00e7ois ira pour faire d\u00e9filer la Garnison et prendre pocession du dit fort.\n6e\nQue comme les Anglois n\u2019ont presque plus de chevaux ni Boeufs, ils seront libres de mettre leurs effets en cache pour venir les charcher lorsqu\u2019ils auront Rejoint des Chevaux; ils pourront a cette fin y laisser des gardiens en tel nombre qu\u2019ils voudront aux conditions qu\u2019ils donneront parole d\u2019honneur de ne plus travailler a aucun Etablissement dans ce lieu icy ni en de\u00e7a la hauteur des terres pendant une ann\u00e9e a compter de ce jour.\n7e\nQue comme les Anglois ont en leur pouvoir un officier, deux Cadets et G\u00e9n\u00e9ralement les prisonniers qu\u2019ils nous ont faits dans l\u2019assasinat du Sr de Jumonville, et qu\u2019ils promettent de les renvoyer avec Sauve garde jusqu\u2019au fort Duquesne situ\u00e9 sur la Belle Rivi\u00e8re, et que pour s\u00fbret\u00e9 de cet article ainsi que de ce traitt\u00e9. Mrs Jacob Vannebrame et Robert Stobo tous deux Capitaines, nous seront Remis en \u00f4tage jusqu\u2019a l\u2019arriv\u00e9e de nos Canadien et fran\u00e7ois ci dessus mentionn\u00e9s.\nNous nous obligeons de notre cot\u00e9 a donner escorte pour Remener en suret\u00e9 les deux officiers qui nous promettent nos fran\u00e7ois dans deux mois et demi pour le plus tard\nfait double sur un des postes de notre Blocus de jour et an que dessus\nPr. Copie\u2003ont sign\u00e9 Mrs.\nJames Mackay, Go. Washington \nCoulon Villier \npour copie Coulon Villier", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "07-05-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0077", "content": "Title: To George Washington from William Fairfax, 5 July 1754\nFrom: Fairfax, William\nTo: Washington, George\nDear Sir\nAlexandria 5th July 1754\nI came hither at our Governor\u2019s Request to view Captn Clarke\u2019s Compa. & Captn Rutherford\u2019s under the Care & Command of Capt. Ogilvie, who I am told have been delayd & retarded many Days, By the Muster It appeard they are not compleat.\nColo. Innes is at Winchester, waiting for these and two Compas. of his own Men now here, the rest to march from No. Carolina by Land. It will yet require a long Time before They can join You and make You regret the Hours\u2014till then You can do little but Guard, Look out, and now & then bring in a stragling Party of other Embassadors. Th\u00f4 I sometimes Flatter my Self the brave Dinwiddie & Monacatoocha (whom I desire to take the Name of Washington) will exert their Power & Skill to defeat all the Wiles of the suttle French And as by our Forces not joyning Sooner, the French have gaind the more Time to augment and strengthen their Garrisons, the most effectual & least hazardous Method to regain our Fort and Lands Seems to be, a Prevention of all supply of Provisions which a good Encampment near Them and active Scouts of our brave Indian Warriors might accomplish, And I hope our Treaty at Albany has engagd the Six Nations & Allies who reside between the Ohio & Canada to intercept all Supplys intended; whereby their present Provisions must Soon be expended. Majr Carlyle dayly expects a \u00a31000 from Mr Allen of Philadelphia, and is to be with the Governor in less than a Fortnight to receive abt \u00a31500, the Governor having applied to the Council who have consented that the Receivr Genl should lend \u00a32000 out of the 2s. \u214c Hhd Fund to the Public Treasurer to answer the Drafts on Him. In short every probable Step has been taken to purchase and send You the necessary Provisions & to assist the March of the Forces that are following. You cannot well guess at the Fatigue Mr Carlyle undergoes to acquit Himself of the various Demands, the different Corps make. It will give Me the greatest Pleasure to know from You that Colo. Innes, Captns Clarke, Mackay & Ogilvie begin and likely to hold a good Union of Friendship, Councils and joint Operations to fulfil his Majesty\u2019s Commands and Expectations from Them\u2014I have no doubt of your friendly Agreement with Them on their own Merit, but may be enlargd for your late Brothers Sake, formerly known to Colo. Innes & Capt. Clarke on the Carthagena Expedition.\nG. Fx has been lately visited wth the wonted Agues & Fevers, but hopes Soon to amend as Mrs Fx, Miss Bety Cary & Miss Hannah returnd to Us last Sunday, And I left them on Monday to muster the Soldiers here; have not heard from Them who\nknow not of my present Writing. I suppose You will at least have Weekly Matter to insert in our Gazette which your Friends & Mr Hunter will be glad to Publish. Lt. Colo. Grainger & Capt. Woodrow I believe You will find worthy of yr Acquaintance. Mr Henry Vanmeter now here has engagd to Send You Beeves and wt else his Influence can get for You that\u2019s wanting\u2014In short yr Friends are very anxious to have You constantly & wel supplied. As Mr Carlyle writes, I need not add more particulars, referring to Him, Majr Clarke &c. Please to make my Sincere Complements & best Wishes known to your worthy Officers, my Brethren & faithful Warriors Dinwiddie[,] Washington & Fairfax likewise to all other the cordial Allies of Great Britain\u2014I remain dear Sir Yr truly affecte Friend &c.\nW. Fairfax", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "07-05-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0078", "content": "Title: James Innes to GW or James Mackay, 5 July 1754\nFrom: Innes, James\nTo: Washington, George,Mackay, James\nGentlmen\nWinchester 5 July 1754 Eleven Oclock\nI have this moment received your Express & am verey glade to find you are Joined. I wish My Regemt, with the New York Companeys were arrived here they are upon ther march, nor cann I laren the reason of there so long Stay att Bell Haven you may depend I will make all the heast in my Power to join you[.] If you Should be Oblidged to retire you must demolish your Works other ways it is making a Cover for the enemie I have forwarded your Express to the Troops on there march. It is what I daily expected they would by a Strong Detatchment inquare about there partey Lost. pray leave no room for A Surprize but be vigilant. & depend We will make them retire in there turne I long to be with you & this would be a fine Oppertunity to prevent there returning to there forte. I wish you good Sucess & am your Most Hue Servtt\nJames Innes", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "07-28-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0080", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 28 July 1754 [letter not found]\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Dinwiddie, Robert\n Letter not found: to Robert Dinwiddie, 28 July 1754. On 3 Aug. 1754 Dinwiddie wrote to GW: \u201cI recd Yrs of the 28th ulto.\u201d", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "07-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0081", "content": "Title: Notes on the Navigation of the Potomac River above the Great Falls, July\u2013August 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: \n[July\u2013August 1754]\n Reference\u2003Above the Mouth of Shan[andoa]h there is but one fall and that is smooth and shallow which prevents Craft from passing at all times\u2014Abt \u00bd Mile below is the place Esteem\u2019d the most difficult It runs exceeding swift for wch reason it is call\u2019d the spout and the bottom being very Rocky occasions rough water which will prevent small Canoes ever passing as our\u2019s that was large had like to have fill\u2019d\u2014There continues for near three Miles Rocky & uneven\u2014Water in which dist[anc]e and towards the latter end there is two other Falls one swift & ugly but when the River is higher than ordinary a passage may be had r[oun]d a small Island\u2014which passage may be greatly improved\u2014There \u27e8is\u27e9 also a passage at the spout which vessels may, and have been hald up by near the shoar, and this may yet be improved\u2014Abt 12 Miles below this is another Fall but very easy and passable and abt 2 Miles from that is a cluster of small Islands with many Rocks and swift water which render\u2019s the passage somewhat precarious: from this to the Seneca Fall is a fine smooth even Water as can be desir\u2019d The Seneca Fall is easily pass\u2019d in two places and Canoes may continue within two Miles of the Great Falls but further it is not pos\u27e8sible\u27e9 therefore the expence and trouble of going up Seneca Falls will not answer the Charges as all Carriages are oblig\u2019d to pass difficult Bridge from whence it is but 8 Miles to the Landing place at Mr Barnes Quarter at the Sugerlands and is 5 Miles to any Landing below the aforesd Falls of Seneca.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "08-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0082", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 1 August 1754\nFrom: Dinwiddie, Robert\nTo: Washington, George\nSir\u2014\nWmsburg Augst 1st 1754\nThe Council met Yesterday & considering the present State of our Forces, & reason to think the French will be strongly reinforc\u2019d next Spring\u2014It was resolv\u2019d that the Forces shou\u2019d immediately march over the Allegany Mountains, either to dispossess the French of their Fort, or build a Fort in a proper Place that may be fix\u2019d on by a Council of War\u2014Colo. Innes has my Orders for the executing the above Affair\u2014I am therefore now to order You to get Your regiment compleated to 300 Men, & I have no doubt but You will be able to enlist what You are defficient of Yr Number very soon, & march directly to Wills\u2019s Creek to join the other Forces\u2014And that there may be no Delay, I order You to march what Companies You have compleat; & leave orders with the Officers remaining to follow You as soon as they have enlisted Men sufficient to make up their Compas.\nYou know the Season of the Year calls for Dispatch; I depend on Yr former & usual Diligence, & Spirit, to encourage Yr People to be active on this Occasion. Consult with Majr Carlyle\nwhat Amunition may be wanting that I may send it up immediately: I trust much on Your Diligence & Dispatch in geting Your regiment to Wills\u2019s Creek as soon as possible\u2014Colo. Innes will consult You in the appointing of Officers in Yr regiment\u2014Pray consider if possible or practicable to send a Party of Indians &ca to destroy the Corn at the Fort & Logstown this would be of great Service, & a very great Disappointment to the Enemy. I can say no more but to press Dispatch of Yr Regiment to Wills\u2019s Creek, & that Success may attend our Arms & just Expedition is the sincere Desire of Sr Yr very hble Serv.\nRobt Dinwiddie\nEnclos\u2019d You have Yr Como.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "08-11-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0085", "content": "Title: From George Washington to William Fairfax, 11 August 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Fairfax, William\nTo the Honble William FairfaxHonble Sir,\nAlexandria, 11th of August, 1754.\nSince my last to you, I have received, by Mr Spritdorph, the Letter therein alluded to (of the 1st Inst.) the contents of which are nearly the same with the other received from the Governour four days before, dated the 3d Inst.\u2014The following is an exact copy of it. \u201cThe Council met yesterday, and, considering the present state of our Forces, and having reason to think that the French will be reinforced next Spring\u2014It was resolved, that the Forces should immediately march over the Alegany Mountains, either to dispossess the French of their Fort, or build one in a proper place that may be fixed upon by a Council of War\u2014Colo. Innis has my orders for executing the above affair\u2014I am therefore, now, to order you to get your Regiment completed to 300 Men, and I have no doubt, that you will be able to enlist what you are deficient of your number, very soon; and march directly to Will\u2019s-Creek to join the other Forces; and, that there may be no delay, I order you to march what Companies you have complete; and leave orders with the Officers remaining, to follow you as soon as they shall have enlisted men sufficient to make up their Companies. You know, the Season of the Year\ncalls for dispatch\u2014I depend upon your former, usual diligence and spirit, to encourage your people to be active on this occasion. Consult with Maj. Carlyle what ammunition may be wanted, that I may send it up immediately. I trust much to your diligence and dispatch, in getting your Regiment to Will\u2019s-Creek as soon as possible.\n\u201cColo. Innis will consult you, in the appointment of Officers for your Regiment. Pray consider, if practicable, that, to send a party of Indians, &c. to destroy the Corn at the Fort and Log-Town, would be of great service to us, and a considerable disappointment to the Enemy. I can say no more, but to press dispatch of your Regiment to Will\u2019s-Creek; and, that success may attend our arms and just Expedition, is the sincere desire of, Sir, Yr\u2019s &c.\u201d\nThus, Sir, you will see, I am ordered, with the utmost dispatch, to repair to Will\u2019s-Creek with the Regiment: to do which, under the present circumstances, is as impracticable as it is (as far as I can see into the thing) to dispossess the French of their Fort; both of which, with our means, are morally impossible.\nThe Governour observes, that, considering the state of our Forces at present, it is thought advisable to move out immediately to dispossess the French: now that very reason, \u201cthe state of our forces,\u201d is, alone, sufficiently opposed to the measure, without a large addition to them. Consider, I pray you, Sir, under what unhappy circumstances the men at present are; and their numbers, compared with those of the Enemy, are so inconsiderable, that we should be harrassed and drove from place to place at their pleasure: and to what end would the building of a Fort be, unless we could proceed as far as RedStone, where we should have to take water, and where the enemy can come with their artillery, &c.\u2014I can not see, unless it be to secure a Retreat, which we should have no occasion for, were we to go out in proper force & properly provided, which I aver can not be done this Fall: for, before our Force can be collected with proper Stores of Provisions, Ammunition, working-tools, &c. it would bring on a season in which Horses can not travel over the mountains on account of Snows, want of Forage, slipperiness of the Roads, high waters, &c. Neither can men, unused to that life, live there, without some other defence from the weather than Tents: this I know of my own knowledge, as I\nwas out last winter from the 1st of Novr \u2019till sometime in January; and notwitstanding I had a good Tent, was as properly prepared, and as well guarded, in every respect, as I could be against the weather, yet the cold was so intense that it was scarcely supportable. I believe out of the 5 or 6 men that went with me, 3 of them, tho\u2019 they were as well clad as they could be, were rendered useless by the Frost, and were obliged to be left upon the Road. But the impossibility of supporting us with provisions, is alone sufficient to discourage the attempt; for, were Commissaries, with sufficient funds, to set about procuring Provisions and getting them out, it is not probable that enough can be conveyed out this Fall to support us thro\u2019 the Winter: for you are to consider, Sir, as I before observed, that the snows and hard frosts set in very early upon those Mountains, and as they are, in many places, almost inaccessible at all times, it is then more than Horses can do to clamber up them; but allow that they could, for want of provender, they will become weak and die upon the Road as ours did, tho\u2019 we carried Corn with us for that purpose, and purchased from place to place. This reason holds good, also, against driving out livestock, which, if it could be done, would save some thousands of Horse-Loads that might be employed in carrying Flour (which alone, not to mention Ammunition, Tools, &c.) we shall find, will require more Horses than at this present moment can be procured with our means.\nHis Honour also asks, whether it is practicable to destroy the Corn at the Fort and at Log-Town? at this question I am a little surprized; when it is known we must pass French-Fort and the Ohio to get to Log-Town; and how this can be done with inferior numbers, under the disadvantages we labour I see not; and of the ground to hope we may engage a sufficient party of Indians for this undertaking, I have no information nor have I any conception: for it is well known, that notwithstanding the Expresses that the Indians sent to one another, & all the pains that Mountour and Croghon (who by vainly boasting of their interest with the Indians, involved the Country in great calamity, by causing dependance to be placed where there was none) could take; never could induce above 30 fighting Men to join us, and not more than one half of those, serviceable upon any occasion.\nI could make many other remarks equally true and pertinent; but to you, Sir, who I am sensible have acquired a pretty good knowledge of the Country, and who see the difficulties that we labour under in getting proper necessaries, even at Winchester, it is needless: therefore I shall only add some of the difficulties which we are particularly subjected to in the Virginia Regiment: And to begin, Sir; you are sensible of the sufferings our Soldiers underwent in the last attempt (in a good season) to take possession of the fork of the Allegany and Monongalia. You also saw the Disorders those sufferings produced among them at Winchester after they returned: They are yet fresh in their memories, and have an irritable effect. Thro\u2019 the indiscretion of Mr Spiltdorph, they got some intimation that they were again ordered out, and it immediately occasioned a general clamour, and 6 Men to desert last night; this we expect will be the consequence every night, except prevented by close confinement.\nIn the next place, I have orders to compleat my Regiment; and not a 6d. is sent for that purpose. Can it be imagined, that subjects fit for this purpose, who have been so much impressed with, and alarmed at our want of, Provisions (which was a main objection to enlisting before) will more readily engage now without money, than they did before, with it! We were then from the first of February \u2019till the first of May and could not compleat our 300 Men by 40; and the Officer\u2019s suffered so much by having their Recruiting expences witheld, that they unanimously refuse to engage in that Duty again without they are refunded for the past, and a sufficient allowance made them in future. I have, in the next place (to shew the state of the Regiment) sent you a report thereof; by which you will perceive what great deficiencies there are of Men, Arms, Tents, Kettles, Screws, (which was a fatal want before) Bayonets, Cartouch-Boxes, &c. &c. &c. Again, were our Men ever so willing to go, for want of the proper necessaries of life, they are unable to do it; the chief part are almost naked, and scarcely a man has either Shoes, Stockings or Hat. These things the Merchants will not credit them for; the Country has made no provision; they have not Money themselves; and it can not be expected that the Officers will engage for them again, personally, having suffered greatly already on this head: especially, now when we have all\nthe reason in the world to believe, they will desert whenever they have an opportunity. There is not a man that has a Blanket to secure him from cold or wet. Ammunition is a material article, and that is to come from Williamsburgh or wherever the Governour can procure it. An account must be first sent of the quantity which is wanted; this added to the carriage up, with the necessary Tools, &c. that must be had, as well as the time of bringing them round, will, I believe, advance us into that season, when it is usual, in more moderate climates, to retreat into Winter Quarters, but here, with us, to begin a Campaign.\nThe promises of those Traders, who offer to contract for large Quantities of Flour, are not to be depended upon; a most flagrant instance of which we experienced in Croghon, who was under obligation to Maj. Carlyle for the delivery of this Article in a certain time, and who was an eye-witness to our Wants; yet had the assurance, during our sufferings, to tantalize us, and boast of the Quantity he could furnish, as he did of the number of Horses he cou\u2019d command; notwitstand we were equally disappointed of these also: for out of 200 head he had contracted for, we never had above 25 employed in bringing the flour that was engaged for the Camp; and even this, small as the quantity was, did not arrive within a month of the time it was to have been delivered. Another thing worthy of consideration, is, if we depend on Indian assistance we must have a large quantity of proper indian goods to reward their Services, & make them presents; it is by this means alone that the French command such an interest among them, & that we had so few: This, with the scarcity of Provisions, was proverbial; would induce them to ask, when they were to join us, if we meant to starve them as well as ourselves\u2014But I will have done; and only add assurances of the regard and affectn with which I am, &c.\nGeo. Washington", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "08-11-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0086", "content": "Title: To George Washington from James Innes, 11 August 1754\nFrom: Innes, James\nTo: Washington, George\nDear Sir\nWinchester 11th Augst 1754\nYour favour of the Eight instt I receivd & Observed the contents I received no other Letter from the Governor than what you brought & which I communicated to you only with the Skeem of building a Logg Forth & Magazeen to receive the Provisions with which I have Acquanted Major Carlyle by Mr Wood fully. & to which I referr you, I also referr you to him for my Account in Relation to my Late Regement. & that you have hear Arems Tents & Amunition Sufisient when your Regement is compleat I intend to proceed for Willis Creek tomorrow or Tewsday & Shall long much to See you. I have some better hope to day than I hade yesterday of being able to raise one Companey from the Regement. I am Sir Your Mostt Obedtt Hule Servtt\nJames Innes", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "08-15-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0088", "content": "Title: From George Washington to James Mackay, 15 August 1754 [letter not found]\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Mackay, James\nLetter not found: to James Mackay, 15 Aug. 1754. On 27 Aug. 1754 Mackay wrote to GW: \u201cI was favourd with yours of the 15 Instt.\u201d", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "08-20-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0089", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 20 August 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Dinwiddie, Robert\nHonble Sir\nAlexandria 20th of August 1754\nMr Peyrouney solliciting for leave to attend the Assembly,\nhoping to have some allowance made for his loss of Cloaths &ca which he sustaind in common with us all, and being not thoroughly cur\u2019d of his Wounds which has hitherto render\u2019d him unfit for Duty I thought it proper to indulge him in his request, and he now comes for the purpose aforesaid\u2014By him I again take the Liberty of recommending to your Honour the great necessity there is of a regulation in the Soldier\u2019s pay. and that a deduction be made for the Country to furnish them with cloath\u2019s; otherwise, they never will be fit for Service; they are now Naked and can\u2019t get credit even for a Hatt, and are teazing the Officer\u2019s every Day to furnish them with these and other necessarys\u2014Another thing which should be fix\u2019d indisputably, is the Law we are to be guided by; whethe[r] Martial, or Military if the former I must beg the favour of Your Honour to give me some written order\u2019s, & indemnification; otherwise I cannot give my assent (as I am liable for all the proceedings) to any judgement of the Martial Court that touches the Life of a Soldier; tho. at this time, there is absolute necessity for it, as the Soldier\u2019s are deserting constantly, and Yesterday while we were at Church 25 of them collected and were going of in Face of there Officer\u2019s, but were stop\u2019d and Imprison\u2019d, before the Plot came to its full hight. Colo. Innis did not fill up any Commission\u2019s for the Virginia Regiment which has given those that were entitled to promotion some uneasiness; his reason\u2019s were, it wou\u2019d be an unnecessary expence to the Country till there were order\u2019s to recruit, but this I think shou\u2019d not have been consider\u2019d while it is remember\u2019d who small encouragement is shewn them upon every occasion\u2014another motive which I believe served to prevent it, was, his dislike to the tenour of the Commissions, which favourd so much of the Militia: he told me he woud send down another for your Approbation, & Colo. Fairfax has also taken another both of which is greatly preferable to those by which we act. and here I must beg leave to acquaint your Hono\u27e8r\u27e9 that the one you sent me is not signed\u2014The Officers are uneasy abt their Pay, and think it hard to be kept out of it so long; they hope your Honour will order, that the dates of their Commission\u2019s be from the vacancy\u2019s that happen\u2019d, of which I have enclos\u2019d a list for information hoping with them your Honour will be kind enough to fill them up yourself and send such Comn as were sent for Presedents.\nMr West Lieutt of Vanbraam\u2019s Company has resign\u2019d his commisn which I herewith send\u2014I also inclose a List of Medecines which the Doctr desires may be procur\u2019d for the use of the Regiment; he sollicits much for a Mate & I believe it necessary as he often has more business than he can well manage, then were a large Detacht sent upon Duty it woud be imprudent to go witht a surgeon: If your Honour shou\u2019d think proper to promote Mr Peyrouney we shall be at a loss for a good Disciplinarian to do Adjutants Duty wch requires a perfect knowledge of all kinds of the Duty. I shoud therefore take it extreamely kind if you woud be pleas\u2019d to confer the Office upon Mr Frazier who I think I can fully answer for let his former conduct be what it will. We have Catchd two Deserter\u2019s which I keep imprison\u2019d till I receive your Honours answer how far the Martial Law may be extended, and it is absolutely necessary that an Example be made of some for warning to other\u2019s, for there is scarce a Night, or oppertunity but what some or other are deserting, and often two three or 4 at a time; we always advertize, & pursue them as quickly as possible, but seldom, to any purpose: the expences attending this will fall heavy upon the Country while this Spirit prevails. I am Your Honours Most Obt & most Hble Servt\nGo: Washington\nNB I shou\u2019d be extreamely pleas\u2019d if your Honour thought it advisable to send these Commissions by Majr Carlyle or the first Opperty.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "08-21-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0090", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 21 August 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Dinwiddie, Robert\nHonble Sir\nAlexandria 21st Augt 1754\nThe bearer hereof Mr Wright discovering an Inclination to the Art Military, & having in some Measure made it his Study I have taken the liberty to recommend him to your Honour for one of the Vacancy\u2019s in the Virginia Regiment; this I do with more assurance of succeeding, as Mr Wrights Character for good Sense and Sobriety, will render him worthy the favour you may please to confer, and I dare venture to say, he will endeavour to deserve.\nYesterday Mr Perouney set of from this; who I hope will also meet with your Honour\u2019s approbation and indulgence, as his behaviour has merited a reward from his Country (such he looks upon this to be).\nMr Campbell arriv\u2019d Yesterday after appointing the Muster\u2019s for the Northern Neck. I was not a little surprisd to hear him say he was to have the Half of my Salary especially when he at the same time gave me to understand he expected it was the half of the 70 exclusive of the 30 which he has for two County\u2019s which is near a third of what I get for the whole 11 Countys\u2014a great disproportion this\u2014I hope your honour gave Mr Campbell no room to expect this, for I think it exceeding hard that I shoud give so much more for a deputy than other\u2019s, especially when the duty is much easier: for the Middle district which has 18 Countys, Muse gives but 40\u00a3s Colo. Thornton give\u2019s yet less for his, while I by Mr Campbell\u27e8\u2019s\u27e9 acct is to give \u00a365 or at any Rate 50\u00a3\u2014I hope if your Honour is kind enough to continue me in that Office you will not oblige me to give such an exorbitant allowance to a Person who by all accts knows nothing of the duty he has under taken: I can get a Person whom I have taken great pains myself to teach, and who is now perfectly acquainted with every part of the Service; to do the duty of the whole, for the same that other\u2019s give: and I shou\u2019d be very glad for the sake of having the Countys kept in tolerably discipline, and for the favour of obliging me your Honour woud indulge me in this: as I will engage it shall turn more to the Publick advantage, whose Interest I am certain from well founded Reasons you espouse preferable to that of private\u2014I am with all due regard, & imaginable respect your Honour\u2019s Most Obd. & most Hble Servt\nGo: Washington\nI must again mention Mr Frazier as a person we shall much need if Mr Peyrouney is promoted as I hope he will.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "08-27-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0091", "content": "Title: To George Washington from James Mackay, 27 August 1754\nFrom: Mackay, James\nTo: Washington, George\nDear Sir\nWills Creek [Md.] 27 Augst 1754\nI was favourd with yours of the 15 Instt by Mr Cowpar which was the first I heard of the Suddent Resolves, and your being So Well provided to enable you to Comply wt your Instructions gives grate hops of the Success of the Interpraise what ever it is Not doubting but that every other thing upon which an expedition of Such Importance depends Will be equely taken care of; Some days ago we had 12 head of Cattle but they went away and I Sappose after the example of the No. Carolina Regt have gon home but by this is not all our dependance for we have about 40 lb of Baccon and 3 Milk Cows one of which we have eat this day So if we go Soon on this new Sceam there is no doubt of our being well supplyed there being Such large provision made for it.\nWe have been almost drownded here being threatned wt a Second Deludge for it has Reand 40 days and 40 Nights which has causd great Sickness among my people, and the Rievers are so high that Colo. Innes and the New York Compys have not been able to Cross the So. Branch.\nI Shall take care that you Shall have your Rifle, but the man that has it hops that youl be So good as to gett him Some other Rifle for it, as you Was plasd to accquaint every person that whatever they Carried Should be their own and every person have payd for what ever they Returnd.\nI most begg of you when you are getting nesessarys for your Regiment that youl think of your fellow Sufferers and put the Commissary in maind that we have no tents or any other Nesessarys fitt to take the Field wt.\nI Shall be Oblidgd to you if youl be so good as to let me know the Resolves of your assambly when you are lett into that Secrat the Genn wt me Joins in our Compliments to you and the Genn of your Corps. I am Sr Your Most Obedient Humble Servt\nJames Mackay", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "08-27-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0092", "content": "Title: To George Washington from John Ridout, 27 August 1754\nFrom: Ridout, John\nTo: Washington, George\nSir\nAnnapolis [Md.] August 27th 1754\nAs Several of the Soldiers lately belonging to the North Carolina Companies under the Command of Colo. Innes have applyed to the Recruiting Officers who have His Excellency\u2019s Commission for raising Men in this Province; declaring they were discharged by Colo. Innes & petitioning to be admitted into the MaryLand Company have upon their producing a Sort of Discharge signed by Colo. Innes\u2019s Order been inlisted here. His Excellency desires You would please to inform him of what You know of Colo. Innes\u2019s Design by giving such Discharges, whether You think He will expect the Men ever to return to him again, or whether You would make any Objection To them if any of them were to offer to serve under your Command. I am Sir Your mo. obedt humb. Servt\nJ. Ridout", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "08-28-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0093", "content": "Title: Advertisement, 28 August 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: \nAlexandria, August 28, 1754\nWhereas a great many false Reports have been raised, by Deserters from the Virginia Regiment, that they were discharged from said Regiment, had Leave to be absent for a Time, or that the Regiment was entirely broke: By which feign\u2019d Stories, they have been allowed to pass free and unmolested. This is, therefore, to give Notice, that all Soldiers who are found two Miles distant from the Camp or Quarters, without a Furlough or Discharge signed by me, or the Commanding Officer for the Time being, may be deem\u2019d and taken for Deserters. And for Encouragement of taking up and securing such, a Reward of One Pistole shall be given for any Deserter so taken and brought to the Quarters, if within ten Miles of the Place; and Two Pistoles, if taken at a greater Distance.\nGeorge Washington", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "08-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0094", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Charles Carter, August 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Carter, Charles\nSir\n[Alexandria, August 1754]\nYour desire, added to my own curiosity engaged me the last time I was in Frederick to return down by Water to discover the Navigation of Potomack\u2014the following are the observations I mad thereupon\u2014From the Mouth of Paterson\u2019s Creek to the begg of Shannondoah Falls there is no other obstacle than the shallowness of the Water to prevent Craft from passing\u2014the first of those Falls is also even and shallow but swift and continues so with interruptions of Rocks to what is known by the Spout wch is a Mile & half from this their is Rocky swift and very uneven water for near 6 Miles in which distant there are 4 Falls; the first of which is tolerably clear of Rocks but shallow yet may be much amended by digging a Channel on the Maryland\nside abt 2 Miles from this and \u00bd Mile below the Mouth of Shannondoah is what they call the Spout. which is the great (& ind[ee]d almost the only) difficulty of the whole it has a considerable Fall the water being confined shoots with great Rapidity & what adds much to the difficulty is the bottom being exceeding Rocky occasions a Rippling so prodigious that none but boats or large Canoes Can pass\u2014The canoe I was in whch was not small had near sunk having received much water on both sides and at the hd\u2014Their may be a passage also got round this also upon the Maryland shoar that Vessels may be hald up after removing some Rocks which a moderate expence may accomplish\u2014One of the other two Falls is swift and ugly not much unlike the Spout but when the River is higher than ordinary a passage may be had round a small Island on the Other Side\u2014which passage may be greatly improved. abt 8 Miles below this there is another Fall which is very easy & passable and abt 2 Miles from that is a cluster of small Islands with many Rocks and swift water which renders the passage somewat precarious: From this to the Seneca Fall the Water is as smooth & even as can be desird, with scarcely any perceptable Fall\u2014The Seneca Fall is easily pass\u2019d in two places and Canoes may continue within two Miles of the Gt Falls but further it is not possible therefore the advantage of passg this Fall will not be adiquate to the expense and trouble will not answer the Charges as all Carriages for the benefit of a good Road are obligd to pass difficult Bridge from whence it is but 8 Miles to the Landing place at the Sugerland Island and is 5 Miles to the Lowest landing that can be h\u2019d below the aforesd Falls of Seneca. Thus Sir as far as I was capable, have I given you an acct of the Conveniences and inconveniences that attend the Navigation of Potomack frm the Fall up which I doubt but you will readily concur with me in judging it more convenient least expensive and I may further say by much the most expeditious way to the Country. There is but one objection that can obviate this Carriage & that is the Scarcity of water in the best season of the year for this kind of conveyance.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "08-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0095", "content": "Title: From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, August 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Dinwiddie, Robert\nGouvernour DinwiddieHonble Sir,\n[Alexandria, August 1754]\nAs I wrote so lately and fully, to you by Mr Polson, on the subject of the Orders I had received, I have little to add now, only to acqaint your Honour, that as far as it is in my power, I shall endeavour to comply with them: what Men we can, we do enlist; but to send Officers into different parts for that purpose, would be unavailing, as they neither have money, nor can get any. I have given Maj. Carlyle Memorandums of several Questions to ask your Honour, to which I beg your answers, that I may be governed thereby. I have also sent some of the Soldier\u2019s accompts, in hope of getting the money for them, as they are uneasy on that head. There are others of them that are rendered useless by their late wounds; therefore I hope your Honour\nwill recommend it to the consideration of the Assembly, that some provision may be made to keep them from want.\nI have also desired Maj. Carlyle to mention to your Honour, the great necessity there is for regulation in the Soldiers\u2019 pay; and that a certain part may be deducted and appropriated for clothing: unless this be done, we shall ever be in the distressed condition we are at present, of which Maj. Carlyle can fully inform you; and to whom I shall refer your Honour for many particulars, especially the consequence of going as high as Will\u2019s-Creek, if we can not march farther: as, for the reasons which have been alledged, I fear we can not, were we to attempt it; and, at that place, for want of proper conveniences, we could not remain. I have the honour to be &c.\nGeo. Washington", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "09-04-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0097", "content": "Title: From George Washington to James Innes, 4 September 1754 [letter not found]\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Innes, James\nLetter not found: to James Innes, 4 Sept. 1754. On 8 Sept. 1754 Innes wrote to GW: \u201cYour favour of the 4th Septr I received.\u201d", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "09-05-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0098", "content": "Title: To George Washington from William Fairfax, 5 September 1754\nFrom: Fairfax, William\nTo: Washington, George\nSir,\nWilliamsburg, 5. Sept. 1754\nCapt. Stobo by the trust and care of Delaware George had a letter conveyed to the Governor, in which advice was by no means to let Mon. le Force return which is considered & accordingly ordered[.] The news of your engagement & rout at the Meadows did not give the public more affecting concern than the unhappy conclusion of our present meeting. Instead of augmenting our forces, the Governor perhaps will have some difficulty to get means for the pay and maintenance of the remaining few, you now have. There have been solicitors waiting in hopes of getting commissions, of which number Dr Stuart is foremost in the Governor\u2019s list, but all are likely to be disappointed. We have some intimation that the King has ordered all the Officers of the late American Regiment now on half pay to repair thither & do duty. We had a bill for mutiny & desertion before us; but it being for no longer than one year, we amended it for two years or so long as the expedition required. It was disagreed to so that all our efforts to promote the public service have miscarried[.] Mr Carlyle has had harsh reflections cast on him by warm Calumniators which are great discouragements. In short our prospect is gloomy. The expectation of our ship of war in which Govr Dobbs comes to consult & advise with ours about the operations of the Ohio adventure, may bring us His Maj\u2019ys further instructions & some aid, which admits a little hope our affairs may have a better aspect. I shall be glad when I can write on a more pleasing subject. In the mean time I wish you may be able to enjoy the fruits of that philosophic mind you have already begun to practice. If your winter Quarters should\nbe at Alexandria, We may pass some of your leisure hours together at Bellevoir. Pray make my compliments to all enquiring friends, & continue to believe that I am, Dear Sir, Your assured friend & affec. servt\nW. Fairfax", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "09-05-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0099", "content": "Title: To George Washington from William La P\u00e9ronie, 5 September 1754\nFrom: La P\u00e9ronie (Peyroney, Peyrouny), William\nTo: Washington, George\nSir\n[Williamsburg] September 5 1754\nAs I imagine you By this time, plung\u2019d in the midst of dellight heaven can aford: & enchanted By Charms even stranger to the Ciprian Dame I thought it would Contribue a litle to the variety of yours amusement to Send you few lines to peruse.\nI shan\u2019t make Bold to describe the procedings of the house, which no doute you have had already some hint of. I only will make use of these three expresion related to those of the oracle: furtim venerunt/ invane Sederunt/ & perturbate Redierunt.\nBut all that is matere of indifference to the wirginia Regiment Collo. Wasington will still Remain att the head of it, and I spect with more esplendour than ever: for (as I hope) notwistanding we will Be on the British stabichment, we shall be augmanted to Six houndred & by those means entitle you to the Name not\nonly of protector of your Contry But to that of the flower of the wirginians, By the pouvers you\u2019ll have in your hands to prove it So.\nMany enquired to me about Muses Braveries; poor Body I had pity him ha\u2019nt he had the weakness to Confes his Coardise him Self, & the inpudence to taxe all the reste of the oficiers withoud exeption of the same imperfection. for he said to many of the Cousulars and Burgeses that he was Bad But th\u2019 the reste was as Bad as he.\nTo speak francly had I been in town at the time I Cou\u2019nt help\u2019d to make use of my horse\u2019s wheup for to vindicate the injury of that vilain.\nhe Contrived his Business so that several ask me if it was true that he had Challang\u2019d you to fight: my answer was no other But that he Should rather chuse to go to hell than doing of it. for had he had such thing declar\u2019d: that was his Sure Road\u2014I have made my particular Business to tray if any had some Bad intention against you here Below: But thank God I meet allowais with a goad wish for you from evry mouth each one entertining such Caracter of you as I have the honnour to do my Self who am the Most humble And Obediant of yours Servants\nLe Chevalier De Peyrouny\nHis honour the Governor did Grand me the Capt. Comission after having being recomand to him from the house of Burgess and parlament and you Sir to whom I am infinitly oblig\u2019d[.] If th\u2019 was your pleasure I Should stay some few dais more here below I should take it as a great favour not beeng yet well recoverd from my wond I beg\u2019d it already from the governor which granted. I hope the same indulgence from you when you\u2019ll be please to send me your orders my adress is at williamsburg at Mr finis.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "09-11-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0101", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 11 September 1754\nFrom: Dinwiddie, Robert\nTo: Washington, George\nSr\nWilliamsburg Septr 11th 1754\nNo doubt You have heard that our Assembly is prorogu\u2019d without granting any Supplies; Under this unexpected Disappointment, I fear we are not Numbers sufficient to attack the Fort taken from Us by the French: Therefore I order You to give a Detachment of Forty or Fifty Men to Capt. Lewis, with them he is to march immediately for Augusta County, in order to protect our Frontiers from the Incursions of small Parties of Indians, & I suppose some French, order him to march immediately & to apply to Colo. Patton the County Lieut. who will direct him where to proceed, that he may be the most usefull\u2014With the remainder of our regiment You are to march to Wills\u2019s Creek, to join the other Forces in executing such Orders as I may see proper to direct; Major Carlyle will supply Your Men with Necessaries, not doubting they will agree to have the said Supplies stop\u2019t from their Pay; I therefore desire You will immediately march them to the Place above mentioned. You know best whether You can venture to march them from Rock Creek to Wills\u2019s\u2014This late Disappointment from the Assembly has entirely defeated the Operations I had proposed; however its\nprobable on their next Meeting they will more seriously consider the great Danger our Country is exposed to & grant proper Supplies\u2014I am sorry my Clerk sent Yr Commission unsigned, it\u2019s a very great Omission, if You had sent it down the Date should have been alter\u2019d, I mean a few Day\u2019s after Colo. Fry\u2019s Death, & I would have Signed it & returned it to You.\nI have appointed Mr Peyroney Capt. agreeable to Your recommendation. And I now send You Commisss. agreeable to Your List, which deliver to them, & let them know, that I expect they will discharge their Duties with good Spirit, & a proper Example of Courage & good Conduct. I have only sent You four Commissions for Ensigns, till I have a proper Supply for their Payment. I think You may order Wm Wright to join Capt. Lewis when he goes to Augusta. As to Fraizer he is not here at present, I shall consider what You write in regard to him.\nMr Campbell is to have 50 \u214c Ann. from Your Salary as Adjutant, & that is what Finnie receives from Mr Muse. I expect You will march accordingly for Wills\u2019s Creek, & send me an Acct of the Number of Men. You have not sent Acct of the Pay of Your Regiment; as the Pay was ordered for the whole Number, there must be great Saving from the Dead & Deserters. I have not yet been able to procure a proper Allowance for the poor Sick & Wounded, which gives me Concern; Majr Carlyle in the mean Time must maintain them till I can obtain some Allowance for their Misfortunes in the Service of their Country, & for the Future send me a Monthly Muster Roll, with the Pay due to each Company, & I doubt not I shall be enabled to pay them duely.\nLet me know the Day You march, & I sincerely wish You Health & Happiness, & I remain Sr Your Friend &ca\nRobt Dinwiddie", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "09-20-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0103", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Horatio Sharpe, 20 September 1754\nFrom: Sharpe, Horatio\nTo: Washington, George\nSir\nSt. Mary\u2019s County [Md.] 20th Septr 1754\nInformation having been given me in May last that certain Inhabitants of this County, called Jerrard Jordan, Joseph Broadaway, William Harrison & Robert Harrison, had committed a Riot, & spoke treasonable Words against His Majesty & his Government, which Information was supported & confirmed by several Depositions to the same purports that were transmitted me as from some Soldiers in the Virginia Regiment in whose presence such Words were said to have been uttered, while they were recruiting in this Provine: I thought proper to order the Apprehension of the reported Delinquents who accordingly were produced at the Assizes held in this County Yesterday, but\nno Evidence appearing against them by reason I was not timely advised of their Apprehension, they were dismissed by the Court upon recognizing for their Appearance at the next Court: which I will by special Commission order to sit at any time You may think suitable & convenient for the Witnesses to attend to give testimony, if You think upon making particular Enquiry into the Affair that their is a probability by such testimony of proving the Charge & information that has been laid against the above named Rioters. Your speedy Answer to this will much oblige. Sir Your Humble Servt\nHoro Sharpe", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "09-22-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0104", "content": "Title: From George Washington to James Innes, 22 September 1754 [letter not found]\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Innes, James\n Letter not found: to James Innes, 22 Sept. 1754. On 27 Sept. 1754 Innes wrote to GW: \u201cYour favour of the 22d from Alexa I recd.\u201d", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "09-27-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0105", "content": "Title: To George Washington from James Innes, 27 September 1754\nFrom: Innes, James\nTo: Washington, George\nDr Sir\nCamp Moun[t] Pleasant [Md.] 27th Septr 1754\nYour favour of the 22d from Alexa. I recd & shou\u2019d be extreamly glade to see you at Winchester, was it any way consistant with my situation to leave this without orders, with which you\u2019ll please aquaint Major Carlyle and that he would forgive me for not writing to him for I realy have not the time without delaying the Express, if the Governr hath orderd your Regiment here it would be very imprudent in me to Countermand them Especialy as I expect Governr Sharp with his Forces very soon and tho it be now turning towards Winter I would propose the doing something to forward the Service in the Spring. I have with great difficulty labourd hard and only with a few Tools found in this neighbourghood brought in from the Meadows on which I seized. I have erected a Puntion Fort which when Compleated must of Course be of good Service in this part of the Province, as well as to the present Expedition. notwithstanding when Governr Sharp and you join us I propose if we agree to goe thirty miles or more to the Westward to do something of the same kind there, tho by last nights advice I have Account the French have gather\u2019d three Hundred Indians to their Fort, since Mr Lyon my Messinger came from that, which was the 21st Curtt[.] To what purpose these Indians are I know not, but if to pay us a visit. I should be Glad of Your good Company. I observe what you write in regard to Ranking with His Majestys Troops and I do assure you they are they same with me, and now afresh as Captain Rutherford is arrived with respect to my Commission from Governr Dinwiddie. but my Commission from His Majesty being the Oldest leaves no room to cavil so all that subsides and tho. I have the Command with the greatest harmoney. as things are Circumstanced at present I undergoe Fatigue. Plagued & Continualy harrassed in that station more then if otherways, to all which I freely submitt tho not for any obligation the Commitee hath lay\u2019d upon me. as I have the present service at heart and would do anything in my\nPower to help the opperation of every Part, that you should do duty seperatly and live in good harmonie untill His Majestys Pleasure is known I will take the labouring our upon myself do double duty by giving out seperate orders, if any better expedient can be found shall be very ready to concur. poor Capt. Stobo is sent to Mount Real and will be kept there till he is exchanged, the Chiefest Reason I can give for this, I am afraid as he wrote two Letters to \u27e8You\u27e9 and them Letters were opend at Mr Croughans and to Publickly Spoke of and handed aboute the Knowledge thereof came to the Commanding Officers knowledge, and he is strongly watch\u2019d ever since, so that the wou\u2019d not so much as let Mr Lyon see him, I am sorry to hear many of Your People are sick but thank God we are all well here and live in Cover, only I am obliged to spare so\u27e8me\u27e9 of my Rum as we want Spirits as the cold weather comes on. I am with my Complimtts to all Friends Dr Sir Yor most Humble Servtt\nJames Innes\nP.S. Mr Splidolph wrote me a letter \u27e8some\u27e9 time agoe about His Commission \u27e8I have\u27e9 no objection please Aquaintt him. Your Recommendation will be sufficient for him to Act untill he arrives hear when he will certainly have one if you appoint him.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "09-28-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0106", "content": "Title: To George Washington from James Mackay, 28 September 1754\nFrom: Mackay, James\nTo: Washington, George\nCamp Mount Plesant near Wills Creek [Md.]28 Sepr 1754\nDear Sir\nAbout a fortneight ago I went down to Penselvania and on my Return about Three days ago I Was favourd wt yours Without a date[.] I am Sorry to faind your assambly met to So litle purposs. Govr Morris is arrivd at Philadelphia by this time he Was at New York thess ten days they are in hops of grate matters when there new assambly meets (which is to be Elected the first of Octr) as they are every where endevoring to get out the Quakars.\nI had Several despuits about our Capitulation but I Satisfyd every Person that mentiond that Subject as to the artickle in Questan, that they Were owing to a bad Interpretar and Contrary to the translation made to us when we signd them, We are now fortifying our Selves here, and I am affraid no prospect of going farther this Wintar. Capt. Rutherford who Commands one of the New York Compys is Just arrivd from England and cam up with me from Philadelphia, he Expects that\nGovr Dinwiddie Will have Sum particular Instructions by Govr Dobs which Will enable him to proseed more Vegorusly, but I belive all will be two late for this year I have no mor to add for we have at presant pace and Plenty. The Genn With me Joins in our Compliments to you and the officers of your Corps I am Dr Sir your Most Affectionate Humble Servt\nJames Mackay", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "10-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0107", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Horatio Sharpe, 1 October 1754\nFrom: Sharpe, Horatio\nTo: Washington, George\nSir\nAnnapolis [Md.] 1 Octr 1754\nI am sorry to learn that any Person has represented, any Expressions or Observation of mine concerning the late Engagement to You in such a light as may give You cause for the least uneasiness. indeed at seeing some things inserted in the Publick papers soon after the Action, & at hearing other Stories that were propagated, & which for want of a more timely Confutation, made an impression on many Minds; I might perhaps have observed that if the measures taken before & the Terms accepted upon the Engagement were really as we had them represented to us, I was apprehensive the Action might be attended with evil Consequences, & woud but little encrease the Reputation of the Gentlemen who had been principally concerned therein. that such Conclusions were by many People drawn, I beleive You cannot be much surprized if You are not an entire Stranger to the Stories & Representations that were at that time received; but after some of the Gentlemen who had\nbeen Witnesses of the Affair had honourably submitted an Account thereof to the publick, & Circumstances were made known, & the Actor\u2019s Conduct scrutinized, it appeared in a more Advantageous View & many found themselves disposed to exculpate who had been forward to condemn Your Behaviour & I beleive There were few Readers in whom a Different Description of the same Action did not raise different Sensations, & induce them to entertain very dissimilar Sentiments of the Agents: the Prejudices they had before contracted I make no doubt but they again divested themselves of, & Your Reputation again revived. for my own part I assure You I am not insensible of the Difficulties You had to encounter, & I do not by the Issue of that Enterprize in the least measure the Merit of the Gentlemen concerned therein. that the Blame with respect to the Terms of Capitulation does not lye at Your Door concurrent Circumstances would have inclined me to think, had You not made such Professions as confirm me in my opinion. Your writing to me with so much freedom & such engenuity is highly agreeable, & I make no doubt but Your future Behaviour will convince the World of the Injustice done You by the Suspicions they have entertained. as You express an Intention to be at Annapolis e\u2019er long You will excuse my being more prolix & particular in answering Your Letter. But I should be glad You would detain those Evidences at Belhaven if the Regiment leaves that place before the Beginning of next Month, because I cannot possibly have the reputed Rioters brought to a Tryal in St. Mary\u2019s County before that time. I am Sr Your very Humble Servt\nHoro Sharpe", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "10-14-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0108", "content": "Title: To George Washington from John Ridout, 14 October 1754\nFrom: Ridout, John\nTo: Washington, George\nSir\nAnnapolis [Md.] October 14. 1754.\nThe Receipt of Yours by the Express Yesterday His Excellency desires me to acknowledge; which that I do so briefly You will be kind enough to excuse & attribute to my being in some hast to make preparations for accompanying the Governor to Williamsburgh, for which place He is just about to embark, & from the Contents of Your Letter expects to have the pleasure of seeing You there also. in the mean time beleive me with great Regard Your most obedt & most humb. Servant\nJ. Ridout", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "10-23-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0109", "content": "Title: Invoice, 23 October 1754\nFrom: Bacon, Anthony\nTo: Washington, George\n[23] October 1754\nInvoice of Goods Shipd by Anthony Bacon on board the Ruby Captn Edward Ogle pr Maryland, on Acct and risque, and by order of Jno. Carlyle Esqr.\n      Bought of\n      1 Gold Shoulder Knott\n      Lucy Hatton.\n      6 Yards gold Regim Lace\u200310/6\n      Ditto of John Towers\n      24 rich gold Embroidd Loops\u20033/3\n      4\u00bd yds plated gold Vellum\u200316d\n      2 doz. 4 gold wyre\u2003C\u00f4\u20036/\n      \u00bc Oz. gold Thread\u200310/\n      4 large Shammy Skins\u200320d\n      2 yds Buckram\u20031/\n      1 yd fine glaz\u2019d Irish\u200314d\n      1 yd Pocket fustian\u200312d\n      1 pr Stay take\u20034d\n      1 oz. light col[ore]d Silk\u20032/6\n      1 Rich Crimson Ingr[ained] silk Sash\n      Bought of Jacob Hewett\n      10 yds best brod blue Allipeen\u20032/\n      2\u00bd yds Do. Man\u2019s Crimson Velvet\u200326/\n      Bought of Saml Towers\n      4 dozn fash. gilt Coat Buttn\u20031/2\n      4\u00bd dozn ditto Breast\u20037d\n      Bought of Mauduits & Co.\n      3\u00bd yds superf[in]e d[ou]ble dy\u2019d Scarl. Cloth\n      2 yds Ditto blue\u200318/\n      Bought of\n      1 Hat\u200316s.\u2003gold Lace\u200320/\n      Loxham\n      Box 2/6\u2003Entry, Cocket, & Searcher\u2019s Fees 3/6\n      Porterage, Wharfage, & Lighterage 1/\u2003Freight 16/\n      Primage 1/\u2003Bills Lading 1/\u2003Commissions 17/\nLondon 23d Octr 1754. E[rrors] E[xcepted]\nAntho. Bacon", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "10-23-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0110", "content": "Title: From George Washington to John Robinson, 23 October 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Robinson, John\n[Williamsburg, 23 October 1754]\nTo the Speaker of the House of Burgesses. Sir,\nNothing could have given me, and the Officers under my command, greater satisfaction, than to have received the thanks of the House of Burgesses, in so particular and honourable a manner, for our Behaviour in the late unsuccessful Engagement with the French at the Great-Meadows; and we unanimously hope, that our future Conduct in the Service of our Country, may entitle us to a continuance of its approbation. I assure you, Sir, I shall always look upon it as my indispensable duty to endeavour to deserve it.\nI was desired, by the Officers of the Virginia Regiment, to offer their grateful thanks for the Honour which has been confered\nupon them; and hope the enclosed will be indulgently received, and answer their, and the intended purpose of, Sir, Your most hble Servant,\nGo: WashingtonOctob. 23, 1754.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "10-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0111", "content": "Title: From George Washington to John Robinson and the House of Burgesses, October 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Robinson, John,House of Burgesses\n[October 1754]\nTo the Worshipful, the Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Burgesses.\nWe, the Officers of the Virginia Regiment, are higly sensible of the particular Mark of Distinction, with which you have honoured Us, in returning your Thanks for our Behaviour in the late Action: and can not help testifying our grateful Acknowledgments, for your high sense, of what We shall always esteem a Duty to our Country, and to the best of Kings.\nFavoured with your Regard, We shall zealously endeavour to deserve your Applause; and, by our future actions, strive to convince the Worshipful House of Burgesses, how much We Esteem their Approbation; and; as it ought to be, Regard it, as the Voice of our Country. Signed for the whole Corps.\nGeo: Washington", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "10-01-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0112", "content": "Title: Account with the Colony of Virginia, October 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: \n[October 1754]\n      Dr\u2003\u2003\u2003\u2003\u2003\u2003\u2003\u2003\u2003\u2003\u2003\u2003\u2003\u2003\u2003\u2003\u2003\u2003\u2003\u2003The Country in Acct\u2014with George Washington\n      To Expences of the Regimt at Edward Thompsons in Marching up\n      To Bacon for Do of John Vestal at Shenandoah & Ferriages over\n      By Cash of Majr Carlyle\u2014\n      To Cash to B. Hamilton for discovering the plot of 4 Soldrs to Desert\n      To Cash to Mr Wood\n      By Do of the Right Honble the Ld Fairfax\n      To Do for Enlisting Thomas Kitson\n      To Do for Enlisting Barnaby Evans\n      To Do to a joiner for a Standard\n      By Do of Captn Stobo wch was found in Colo. Frys posn\n      To Do to a Blacksmith for mending a Wag[on]\n      To Do for an Acct of Brickners Expencs to Belh[ave]n with Recrutes in Feb. last\n      To an Express at Edwards\u2019s\n      By Do of Colo. Muse in pt of what he had of Colo. Fry\n      To Cash at the So. B[ranc]h for necescerys\n      To Cash to Jacob Arrans at Enlisting N.B. this person was one of Capt. Trents Men, Master of the Indian Language & perfectly acquainted with all the ways & Mountns betwn this and the Fork\n      Edward Lucas\u2014another\n      To Cash to John McGuire at Enlisting\n      To Do to John Smith at Do\n      To Do to John Baker at Do\n      To Do to Wm Cromwell D[eput]y C[ommissar]y to buy Cattle\n      To Enlisting John Lee\n      To Cash for Flour\n      To an Express\n      To Cash to Mr Croghon\n      To Do for Flour\n      To Do to Wm Jenkins for a Formal Express\n      To Enlisting of James Bowman Thomas\n      To Do pd for Bacon\n      To hire of my Horse to Ward & Saddle & Bridle lost\n      To my Expences in Riding to & from Wmsburg after the late Engagement\n      To Expences in comeing down Potomack River for Canoes Men hire &c. this was undertaken by the perticular desire of Colo. Charles Carter\n      To an Express from Alexa. to Winchester\n      To Sundry small disbursemts wch I cannot recollect or Acct for having lost all my papers in the Engagement\n      July 29th\n      To Cash to an Express for Money from Williamsburg\n      By Cash of Majr Carlyle to distribute among the Soldiers of the Virginia Regiment & Capt. McKays Independent Company by order of the Committee allowg each man one pistole\n      To Do lost in the wt of \u00a3600 braught by the sd Express\n      To the payment of the Regiment as pr pay Bill\n      To a pistoll bounty Money to 218 Soldrs as pr List\n      To 98 Do to Capt. McKay as pr Receipt & pr Order\n      To Cash to Carson for apprehending two Deserters & Charges pr Do as pr Re\u27e8ceipt\u27e9\n      To Do to Capt. Mercer for recruiting as pr Acct\n      To Do to Lieutenant James Towers as pr Do\n      To Do to Frances Self for his Expence and trouble in finding Arms sold by Deserted Soldiers\n      By Cash of his Honour the Governer pr Express\n      To Do to Constable for assisting him\n      To do to Mr Bullet for Recruiting as pr Accompt\n      By Do of Majr Carlyle\n      Sepr 4th\n      To Do to John May for his expences in persuit of Deserters\n      To do to Charles Smith for . . Do\n      To Do for Enlisting 2 recruits with expences\n      To do pd Daniel Cincheloe for Deserter\n      To Do pd Sergeant Trotter for his Expences in p[ursuin]g of Desers\n      To Do pd Charles Callineaux his recruiting Expences\n      To Do Sergnt Carter for his Expences in following Deserters\n      To Do to Capt. Hogg as pr Accompt for 2 recruits\n      To Do to a Negroe for finding 2 Muskets supposd to be lost ever since last May\n      To do for Wm Scot a new Recruit & Charges\n      To do to Henry Hardin for b[ringin]g a Deserter as pr Rect\n      To Do to Capt. Lewis and the Detachment under his Comd sent to Augusta by the Governors Order\u2014see the pay Bill for that purpose\n      To Do to Capt. Polson in part for his Comys pay to the 29th of Sept. pr Receipt\n      To Do to Captn Hogg for pr Do . . . pr Receipt\n      To Do to Capt. Mercer for Do as pr Do\n      To Do Capt. Polson Expences to Wmsburg as an Express & for Cash wch he pd for a wounded Soldier", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "11-15-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0114", "content": "Title: From George Washington to William Fitzhugh, 15 November 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: Fitzhugh, William\nTo Colo. William Fitzhugh.Dear Sir,\nBelvoir, November 15th 1754\nI was favoured with your letter, from Rousby-Hall, of the 4th Instant. It demands my best acknowledgments, for the particular marks of Esteem you have expressed therein; and for the kind assurances of his Excellency, Governour Sharp\u2019s good wishes towards me. I also thank you, and sincerely, Sir, for your friendly intention of making my situation easy, if I return to the Service; and do not doubt, could I submit to the Terms, that I should be as happy under your command, in the absence of the General, as under any gentleman\u2019s whatever: but, I think, the disparity between the present offer of a Company, and my former Rank, too great to expect any real satisfaction or enjoyment in a Corps, where I once did, or thought I had a right to, command; even if his Excellency had power to suspend the orders received in the Secretary of Wars\u2019 Letter; which, by the bye, I am very far from thinking he either has or will attempt to do, without fuller Instructions than I believe he has: especially, too, as there has been a representation of this matter by Governour Dinwiddie, and, I believe, the Assembly of this State; we have advices, that it was received before Demmarree obtained his Letter.\nAll that I presume the General can do, is, to prevent the different Corps from interfering, which will occasion the Duty to be done by Corps, instead of Detachments; a very inconvenient way, as is found by experience.\nYou make mention in your letter of my continuing in the Service, and retaining my Colo.\u2019s Commission. This idea has filled me with surprise: for if you think me capable of holding a Commission that has neither rank or emolument annexed to it; you\nmust entertain a very contemptible opinion of my weakness, and believe me to be more empty than the Commission itself.\nBesides, Sir, if I had time, I could enumerate many good reasons, that forbid all thoughts of my Returning; and which, to you, or any other, would, upon the strictest scrutiny, appear to be well-founded. I must be reduced to a very low Command, and subjected to that of many who have acted as my inferior Officers. In short, every Captain, bearing the King\u2019s Commission; every half-pay Officer, or other, appearing with such commission, would rank before me; for these reasons, I choose to submit to the loss of Health, which I have, however, already sustained (not to mention that of Effects) and the fatigue I have undergone in our first Efforts; than subject myself to the same inconveniences, and run the risque of a second disappointment. I shall have the consolation itself, of knowing, that I have opened the way when the smallness of our numbers exposed us to the attacks of a Superior Enemy; That I have hitherto stood the heat and brunt of the Day, and escaped untouched, in time of extreme danger; and that I have the Thanks of my Country, for the Services I have rendered it.\nIt shall not sleep in silence, my having received information, that those peremptory Orders from Home, which, you say, could not be dispensed with, for reducing the Regiments into Independant Companies, were generated, hatched, & brought from Will\u2019s-Creek. Ingenuous treatment, & plain dealing, I at least expected\u2014It is to be hoped the project will answer; it shall meet with my acquiescence in every thing except personal Services. I herewith enclose Governour Sharp\u2019s Letter, which I beg you will return to him, with my Acknowledgments for the favour he intended me; assure him, Sir, as you truly may, of my reluctance to quit the Service, and of the pleasure I should have received in attending his Fortunes: also, inform him, that it was to obey the call of Honour, and the advice of my Friends, I declined it, and not to gratify any desire I had to leave the military line.\nMy inclinations are strongly bent to arms.\nThe length of this, & the small room I have left, tell me how necessary it is to conclude, which I will do as you always shall find\u2014Truly & sincerely, Your most hble Servant,\nGeo. Washington.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "12-10-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0115-0002", "content": "Title: I., 10 December 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: \n[10 December 1754]\nMemorandum    \nThe Division of the Slaves of the late Lawrence Washington Esqr. as made pursuant to the last Will and Testament of the Said Lawrence is hereunto annexd: and that Moiety of the said Slaves, the use of which by the Will aforesaid was devis\u2019d to the Widow of the said Law[renc]e during her Life, George Lee Esqr. of Westmoreland County who Intermarried with the said Widow doth hereby acknowledge to have receiv\u2019d\u2014The other Moiety; which by the Death of the said Lawrence\u2019s daughter Sarah, is to descend according to the true Intent of the Will to the several Devisees therein mention\u2019d; They also acknowledge to have receiv\u2019d as pr this Division, and agree on both sides to abide thereby in pursuance of the Testators direction, true\nmeaning, and Intention In Witness whereof they have set their Hands and Seals this Tenth day of Decemr 1754.\nTest\n      George Lee\n      W. Fairfax\n      Ann Lee\n      Go. Wm Fairfax\n      Robt Mirrie\n      Augst. Washington\n      John Dalton\n      John Turberville\n      Thomas Plummer\n      G. Washington\n      Sarah Carlyle\n      John Carlyle\n      Bryan Fairfax \u27e8for\u27e9 A.W.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "12-10-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0115-0003", "content": "Title: II., 10 December 1754\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: \n[10 December 1754]\nA Division of the Negros made, and agreed to between Colo. George Lee and the Brothers of the deceasd Majr Lawrence Washington the 10th day of December Anno Domini 1754\u2013\n      Colo. Lee &ca part\n      The Estates part\n      Old Moll\n      Phebe\n      Lawrence\n      Peter\n      Pharrow\n      Will\n      Abram\n      Frank\n      Couta\n      Barbara\n      Nell\n      Moll\n      Sall\n      Milly\n      Bella\n      Hannah\n      Barbara\n      Penny\n      Anteno\n      Will\n      Sando als Dicer\n      Aaron\n      Judah\n      James\n      Dula\n      Camero\n      Dublin\n      Sambo\n      Acco\n      Sando\n      Harry\n      Scipio\n      Roger\n      Tomboy\n      Grace\n      Lett\n      Phillis\n      Jenny\n      Kate\n      Judah\n      Ceasaer\n Farrow\u20141 Month Old\u2014\nCharles\u20144\u20137\u00bd high\n          Murreah\n          5 Months Old\nPhill\nf[eet] I[nches]\nTom\n 4\u20131 high\nPrince\nBetty\nLucy\nSam\nTom\n 4 Months Old\nTobey\n 1 Month Old", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "12-17-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0116", "content": "Title: Lease of Mount Vernon, 17 December 1754\nFrom: Washington, George,Lee, George,Lee, Ann\nTo: \n[17 December 1754]\nThis Indenture made this seventeenth day of December in the year of our Lord God One thousand Seven Hundred & fifty four Between George Lee of the County of westmorland and Colony of Virginia Gentleman and Ann his wife of the one part and George Washington of the County of King George and Colony aforesaid Gentleman of the other part Witnesseth that the said George Lee and Ann his wife for and in Consideration of the Rents and Covenants hereinafter Expressed and Reserved hath Demised set and to Farm Let and by these presents for themselves their Heirs Executors administrators and Assigns doth Demise set & to Farm Let unto the said George Washington his heirs and Assigns all them two messuages Tenements or parcels of Land the one scituate one Little Hunting Creek the other on Doeg Creek in the County of fairfax whereof Lawrence Washington Late of the County of Fairfax Esqr died Siezed and Possesd and Whereof the said Ann Lee Late the Widdow & Relict of the said Lawrence Washington Esqr. is Tenant for Life in Virtue of the Last will and Testament of the said Lawrence also one Water Grist Mill on part of the said Lands and Tenements Erected Together with the following Negroe slaves Viz: Nan. James Dula Grace Dublin Harry Roger Phillis Kate Ceasar Charles Farrow Doll Sue: George Lydia Murreah & Glasgow To Have and to hold the said two Tracts of Land Water Grist Mill with all and Singular the Appurtenancies thereunto Belonging Together with the said negroe slaves unto the said George Washington his heirs and Assigns and to his and their own proper use and Behoof from the day of the date of these presents for and during the Natural Life of her the said Ann Lee Yielding and Paying yearly and Every year during the said Term unto the said George Lee his Certain Attorney Heirs Executors administrators or Assigns on the Twenty fifth day of December the sum or Quantity of Fifteen thousand pounds of Tobacco in fifteen Hogsheads to be Delivered out\u2014at one or some of the Warehouses in the County of Fairfax or as much Current money of Virginia in Lieu thereof as will be Equal there to at twelve shillings and six pence Current money for Every Hundred Weight of Tobacco at the Election of the\nsaid George Washington his Heirs or Assigns (the first rent to grow due on the twenty fifth day of December in the year one thousand Seven Hundred & Fifty five).\nBut if it should so happen that any of the above Negroe slaves should Die during the said Term hereby granted then and in that Case the said yearly rent of Fifteen thousand shall not be all paid but the following Deduction therefrom shall be made Viz. for Every Labouring Negroe man slave so Dying a Deduction of one thousand pounds of Tobacco shall be made (Except the Negroe man named Ceasar and for him only five Hundred pounds of Tobacco) and for Every negroe woman Slave so Dying the sum of Eight hundred pounds of tobacco and so on as often as any of the said Slaves shall Die And the said George Lee and Ann his wife for themselves their Heirs Executors & Assigns doth Covinant promise and Agree to & with the said George Washington his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns that under the rents and Covenants above Expressed and Comprized it shall & may be Lawfull to and for the said George Washington his heirs & Assigns into the said Demised premises with the Appurtenancies to Enter Possession of the said Slaves to take and during the Natural Life of the said Ann Lee the same To have hold use Occupie Possess and Enjoy without the Let suite Trouble molestation Interruption Eviction or Denial of them the said George Lee and Ann his wife their or Either of their Heirs Executors administrators or assigns And further: the said George Washington for himself his heirs Executors administrators and Assigns doth Covenant promise and grant to and with the said George Lee and Ann his wife their Heirs Executors administrators and Assigns that he the said George Washington the aforesaid Annual Rent unto the said George Lee and Ann his wife their Certain Attorney Heirs Executors &c. During the said Term and on the days and times above Expressed will well and Truly Content & pay And Lastly the said George Washington for himself his Heirs &c. doth Covenant & grant to and with the said George Lee And Ann his wife that In Case the said Yearly rent should be Behind and unpaid for the space of five Months\u2014After the sames Becomes due at any time: and there should not be found upon the said Demised premises Sufficient to Levie the same by Distress that then it Shall & may be Lawfull for the said George & Ann his\nwife during the Life of the said Ann into the said Demised premises again to re:enter the said Slaves into their possession to re:take and the same to hold as if this Lease had never been made In Testimony whereof as well the said George Lee & Ann his wife as the said George Washington hath hereunto set their hands & seals the day and year first above Written\nGeorge Lee\nAnn Lee\nGo: Washington\nMemorandum, The Eleniation above of Delivering out of one or sum of the Warehouses in the County of Fairfax, the Quantity of Tobacco aforesaid is Just [.] Sealed and Delivered In the presence of W: Fairfax John Dalton Denis McCarty At a Court held for the County of Fairfax 17. December 1754\nGeorge Lee Gent. and Ann his Wife (she being first privately Examined & thereto consenting) and George Washington Gent. acknowledged this Lease which is thereupon admitted to record\nTest\nP. Wagener Clk", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754},
{"created_timestamp": "12-20-1754", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0117", "content": "Title: To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 20 December 1754\nFrom: Dinwiddie, Robert\nTo: Washington, George\nSir\n[Williamsburg] decr 20th [1754]\nI recd Yr Letter but at prest cannot order You the Money You say due you as Adjutt[.] wn the Council meets I shall let them know Yr Demd & if they agree with me it will be pd\u2014I am Sir Yr humble Servt", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1754}
]