a distance than when it is close by, and I prefer it as a full-sized object in the foreground. LORD CURRYFIN. I have often wondered that a gentleman so well qualified as you are to discuss all subjects should so carefully avoid discussing any. MR. MACBORROWDALE. I work hard After dinner, my lord, after dinner. all the morning at serious things, sometimes till I get a headache, which, however, does not often trouble me. After dinner I like to crack my bottle and chirp and talk nonsense, and fit myself for the company of Jack of Dover. He was a man who travelled in search of a greater fool than himself, and did not find him.* THE REVEREND DOCTOR OPIMIAN. He must have lived in odd times. In our days he would not have gone far without falling in with a teetotaller, or a decimal coinage man, or a school-forall man, or a competitive examination man, who would not allow a drayman to lower a barrel into a cellar unless he could expound the mathematical principles by which he performed the operation. MR. MACBORROWDALE. Nay, that is all pragmatical fooling. The fooling Jack * Jacke of Dover, His Quest of Inquirie, or His Privy Search for the Veriest Foole in England. London. 1604. Reprinted for the Percy Society. 1842. looked for was jovial fooling, fooling to the top of his bent, excellent fooling, which, under the semblance of folly, was both merry and wise. He did not look for mere unmixed folly, of which there never was a deficiency. The fool he looked for was one which it takes a wise man to make—a Shakspearian fool.* THE REVEREND DOCTOR OPIMIAN. In that sense he might travel far, and return, as he did in his own day, without having found the fool he looked for. MR. MACBORROWDALE. Well! A teetotaller! He is the true Heautontimorumenos, the self-punisher, with a jug of toastand-water for his Christmas wassail. So far his folly is merely pitiable, but his intolerance makes it offensive. He cannot enjoy his own tipple unless he can deprive me of mine. A fox that has lost his tail. There is no tyrant like a thorough-paced reformer. I drink to his own reformation. MR. GRYLL. He is like Bababec's faquir, who sat in a chair full of nails, pour avoir de la considération. But the faquir did not want others to do the same. He wanted all the consideration for himself, and kept all the nails for himself. If these meddlers would do the like by their toast-and-water, nobody would begrudge it them. THE REVEREND DOCTOR OPIMIAN. Now, sir, if the man who has fooled the greatest * Oeuvre, ma foi, où n'est facile atteindre : EUTRAPEL, p. 28. number of persons to the top of their bent were to be adjudged the fittest companion for Jack of Dover, you would find him in a distinguished meddler with everything, who has been for half a century the merry-andrew of a vast arena, which he calls moral and political science, but which has in it a dash of everything that has ever occupied human thought. LORD CURRYFIN. I know whom you mean; but he is a great man in his way, and has done much good. THE REVEREND DOCTOR OPIMIAN. He has helped to introduce much change; whether for good or for ill remains to be seen. I forgot he was your lordship's friend. I apologize, and drink to his health. LORD CURRYFIN. Oh! pray, do not apologize to me. I would not have my friendships, tastes, pursuits, and predilections interfere in the slightest degree with the fullest liberty of speech on all persons and things. There are many who think with you that he is a moral and political Jack of Dover. So be it. Time will bring him to his level. MR. MACBORROWDALE. I will only say of the distinguished personage, that Jack of Dover would not pair off with him. This is the true universal science, the oracle of La Dive Bouteille. MR. GRYLL. It is not exactly Greek music, Mr. Minim, that you are giving us for our Aristophanic choruses. MR. MINIM. No, sir; I have endeavoured to give you a good selection, as appropriate as I can make it. MR. PALLET. Neither am I giving you Greek painting for the I have taken the liberty to introduce per scenery. spective. THE REVEREND DOCTOR OPIMIAN. Very rightly both, for Aristophanes in London. MR. MINIM. Besides, sir, we must have such music as your young ladies can sing. THE REVEREND DOCTOR OPIMIAN. Assuredly; and so far as we have yet heard them rehearse, they sing it delightfully. After a little more desultory conversation, they adjourned to the drawing-rooms. CHAPTER XV. Τοῦτο βίος, τοῦτ ̓ αὐτό τρυφὴ βίος· ἔρρετ ̓ ἀνίαι· Anthologia Palatina: V. 72. This, this is life, when pleasure drives out care. ORD CURRYFIN'S assiduities to Miss Gryll had discomposed Mr. Falconer more than he chose to confess to himself. Lord Curryfin, on entering the drawing-rooms, went up immediately to the young lady of the house; and Mr. Falconer, to the amazement of the reverend Doctor, sat down, in the outer drawing-room, on a sofa by the side of Miss Ilex, with whom he entered into conversation. In the inner drawing-room some of the young ladies were engaged with music, and were entreated to continue their performance. Some of them were conversing, or looking over new publications. |