the expedition of humphry clinker-第31节
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buttered muffins and tea to breakfast； the said captain still
favouring us with his company Nay； my uncle was so diverted with
his anecdotes； that he asked him to dinner； and treated him with
a fine turbot； to which he did ample justice That same evening I
spent at the tavern with some friends； one of whom let me into C's
character； which Mr Bramble no sooner understood； than he
expressed some concern for the connexion he had made； and
resolved to disengage himself from it without ceremony。
We are become members of the Society for the Encouragement of the
Arts； and have assisted at some of their deliberations； which
were conducted with equal spirit and sagacity My uncle is
extremely fond of the institution； which will certainly be
productive of great advantages to the public； if； from its
democratical form； it does not degenerate into cabal and
corruption You are already acquainted with his aversion to the
influence of the multitude； which； he affirms； is incompatible
with excellence； and subversive of order Indeed his detestation
of the mob has been heightened by fear； ever since he fainted in
the room at Bath； and this apprehension has prevented him from
going to the Little Theatre in the Hay…market； and other places
of entertainment； to which； however； I have had the honour to
attend the ladies。
It grates old Square…toes to reflect； that it is not in his power
to enjoy even the most elegant diversions of the capital； without
the participation of the vulgar； for they now thrust themselves
into all assemblies； from a ridotto at St James's； to a hop at
Rotherhithe。 I have lately seen our old acquaintance Dick Ivy；
who we imagined had died of dram…drinking； but he is lately
emerged from the Fleet； by means of a pamphlet which he wrote and
published against the government with some success。 The sale of
this performance enabled him to appear in clean linen； and he is
now going about soliciting subscriptions for his Poems； but his
breeches are not yet in the most decent order。
Dick certainly deserves some countenance for his intrepidity and
perseverance It is not in the power of disappointment； nor even
of damnation； to drive him to despair After some unsuccessful
essays in the way of poetry； he commenced brandy…merchant； and I
believe his whole stock ran out through his own bowels； then he
consorted with a milk…woman； who kept a cellar in Petty France：
but he could not make his quarters good； he was dislodged and
driven up stairs into the kennel by a corporal in the second
regiment of foot…guards He was afterwards the laureat of
Blackfriars； from whence there was a natural transition to the
Fleet As he had formerly miscarried in panegyric； he now turned
his thoughts to satire； and really seems to have some talent for
abuse。 If he can hold out till the meeting of the parliament； and
be prepared for another charge； in all probability Dick will
mount the pillory； or obtain a pension； in either of which events
his fortune will be made Mean while he has acquired some degree
of consideration with the respectable writers of the age； and as
I have subscribed for his works； he did me the favour t'other
night to introduce me to a society of those geniuses； but I found
them exceedingly formal and reserved They seemed afraid and
jealous of one another； and sat in a state of mutual repulsion；
like so many particles of vapour； each surrounded by its own
electrified atmosphere。 Dick； who has more vivacity than
judgment； tried more than once to enliven the conversation；
sometimes making an effort at wit； sometimes letting off a pun；
and sometimes discharging a conundrum； nay； at length he started
a dispute upon the hackneyed comparison betwixt blank verse and
rhyme； and the professors opened with great clamour； but； instead
of keeping to the subject； they launched out into tedious
dissertations on the poetry of the ancients； and one of them； who
had been a school…master； displayed his whole knowledge of
prosody； gleaned from Disputer and Ruddiman。 At last； I ventured
to say； I did not see how the subject in question could be at all
elucidated by the practice of the ancients； who certainly had
neither blank verse nor rhyme in their poems； which were measured
by feet； whereas ours are reckoned by the number of syllables
This remark seemed to give umbrage to the pedant； who forthwith
involved himself in a cloud of Greek and Latin quotations； which
nobody attempted to dispel A confused hum of insipid
observations and comments ensued； and； upon the whole； I never
passed a duller evening in my life Yet； without all doubt； some
of them were men of learning； wit； and ingenuity。 As they are
afraid of making free with one another； they should bring each
his butt； or whet…stone； along with him； for the entertainment of
the company My uncle says； he never desires to meet with more
than one wit at a time One wit； like a knuckle of ham in soup；
gives a zest and flavour to the dish； but more than one serves
only to spoil the pottage And now I'm afraid I have given you an
unconscionable mess； without any flavour at all； for which； I
suppose； you will bestow your benedictions upon
Your friend；
and servant
J。 MELFORD
LONDON； June 5
To Dr LEWIS。
DEAR LEWIS
Your fable of the monkey and the pig； is what the Italians call
ben trovata： but I shall not repeat it to my apothecary； who is a
proud Scotchman； very thin skinned； and； for aught I know； may
have his degree in his pocket A right Scotchman has always two
strings to his bow； and is in utrumque paratus Certain it is； I
have not 'scaped a scouring； but； I believe； by means of that
scouring； I have 'scaped something worse； perhaps a tedious fit
of the gout or rheumatism； for my appetite began to flag； and I
had certain croakings in the bowels； which boded me no good Nay；
I am not yet quite free of these remembrances； which warn me to
be gone from this centre of infection
What temptation can a man of my turn and temperament have； to
live in a place where every corner teems with fresh objects of
detestation and disgust？ What kind of taste and organs must those
people have； who really prefer the adulterate enjoyments of the
town to the genuine pleasures of a country retreat？ Most people；
I know； are originally seduced by vanity； ambition； and childish
curiosity； which cannot be gratified； but in the busy haunts of
men： but； in the course of this gratification； their very organs
of sense are perverted； and they become habitually lost to every
relish of what is genuine and excellent in its own nature。
Shall I state the difference between my town grievances； and my
country comforts？ At Brambleton…hall； I have elbow…room within
doors； and breathe a clear； elastic； salutary air I enjoy
refreshing sleep； which is never disturbed by horrid noise； nor
interrupted； but in a…morning； by the sweet twitter of the
martlet at my window I drink the virgin lymph； pure and
chrystalline as it gushes from the rock； or the sparkling
beveridge； home…brewed from malt of my own making； or I indulge
with cyder； which my own orchard affords； or with claret of the
best growth； imported for my own use； by a correspondent on whose
integrity I can depend； my bread is sweet and nourishing； made
from my own wheat； ground in my own mill； and baked in my own
oven； my table is； in a great measure； furnished from my own
ground； my five…year old mutton； fed on the fragrant herbage of
the mountains； that might vie with venison in juice and flavour；
my delicious veal； fattened with nothing but the mother's milk；
that fills the dish with gravy； my poultry from the barn…door；
that never knew confinement； but when they were at roost； my
rabbits panting from the warren； my game fresh from the moors； my
trout and salmon struggling from the stream； oysters from their
native banks； and herrings； with other sea fish； I can eat in
four hours after they are taken My sallads； roots； and potherbs；
my own garden yields in plenty and perfection； the produce of the
natural soil； prepared by moderate cultivation。 The same soil
affords all the different fruits which England may call her own；
so that my dessert is every day fresh…gathered from the tree； my
dairy flows with nectarious tildes of milk and cream； from whence
we derive abundance of excellent butter； curds； and cheese； and
the refuse fattens my pigs； that are destined for hams and bacon
I go to bed betimes； and rise with the sun I make shift to pass
the hours without weariness or regret； and am not destitute of
amusements within doors； when the weather will not permit me to
go abroad I read； and chat； and play at billiards； cards or
back…gammon Without doors； I superintend my farm； and execute
plans of improvements； the effects of which I enjoy with
unspeakable delight Nor do I take less pleasure in seeing my
tenants thrive under my auspices； and the poor live comfortably
by the employment which I provide You know I have one or two
sensible friends； to whom I can open all my heart； a blessing
which； perhaps； I might have sought in vain among the crowded
scenes of life： there are a few others of more humble parts； whom
I este
