Οποτε ους ταυτα και τα τοιαυτα ηκουες, εωρων οπως εκεχηνεις προς αυτα, και πανυ σφοδρα προς δελεαρ αναπηπταμενον παρειχες το στομα.CHAPTER XXXIX.
Οποτε ους ταυτα και τα τοιαυτα ηκουες, εωρων οπως εκεχηνεις προς αυτα, και πανυ σφοδρα προς δελεαρ αναπηπταμενον παρειχες το στομα.
The parties, as it should appear, entered again upon the subject of the Symposium on the following morning, when the subsequent dialogue took place.
“Now, my dear child, let us come to some determination, and either decline the matter altogether, or fix upon the time, circumstance, and persons to be invited to our social repast.
Well then, that you may not think me capricious and fantastical, I will propose no other exceptions. Pray let us ask thewitty author.
I think I guess whom you mean, but do you apply those epithets to the individual himself, and his powers of conversation, or to his works?
Why to say the truth, I more immediately thought of his lively, agreeable, and interesting company and conversation, than I did of his works. For,although he has certainly written many things, which may reasonably claim the character both of wit and humour, I well know his works are of the more solid and substantial kind, works of importance to religion, to morals, and to literature.
Enough, enough, you well know he may have as much of our salt as he pleases.
We will also invite, if you please,the satirist.
That word is generally used, among us, in a harsh sense. But you know my opinion on the subject of satire, and must remember, that when satire is moderated by candour, and regulated by the mere desire of reforming error, without being stimulated by personal dislike, or individual resentment, it is alike honourable and salutary.
You describe the character of our Satirist very accurately. I know not which of his qualities inspires most approbation, the placid, instructive tenor of his conversation in private society, or the dignified and spirited demeanour with which he mounts his Pegasus, to restrain folly, chastise error, and disperse the gaudy mob of poetasters.
Who next? though these two are of themselves a host.
Why we will haveone noble author.
I cannot be much at a loss to know whom you intend, as our acquaintance in that line is not very extensive. What is the cause of your partiality tohim?
I like him, in the first place, because he never presumes upon his rank and title; because he descends to easy and elegant familiarity with every guest; and, moreover, because he has seen much, travelled much, and knows much; he neither arrogantly intrudes in conversation, or petulantly withholds the information he is so qualified to communicate.
We get on so smoothly now that it seems necessary to remind you of the smallness of our apartment. Have you any body else to name?
Oh yes, by all means, let us have thefacetious author.
Mean you a writer of facetious books?
Why, yes, that may be said, and said truly. He has been aprojectorof many truly facetious and original schemes, which he has detailed for the advantage, as well as amusement, of the public. I rather, however, thus designated him on account of the unvaried pleasantry and good-humour of his conversation. This has long been the delight of his friends, for it is always the same, always flows in the same even channel of ingenuous mirth. He never fatigues you with the repetition of what you have heard a thousand times before, but has a perpetual supply from his stores of memory for the promotion of cheerfulness.
Now you have proceeded thus far without interruption or contradiction, you will, I hope, permit me to name one of our guests, to whom I think it impossible you should object.
I don’t know that. But—
You know how I abominate that monosyllableBut—I must insist upon asking my very old friend, and your’s also, Sylvanus Urban.
You really anticipate me. He is worthy of a place at any table, and I should no more think of selecting a party from those whom I most esteemed, and best love, without soliciting his presence, than I would have our turbot (Husbandaside—mem, theremustbe a turbot!) without lobster, or partridges without bread-sauce.
You are perfectly right, yet pray tell me under what description of authors would you rank our old friend? What epithet would you apply to him?
Why I think Sylvanus Urban may be termed theuniversal author.
I agree with you entirely, for few indeed are the branches of science, to the extension and improvement of which, his labours have not contributed. Voluminous as are the productions of his pen, and consisting, as they do, of historical and antiquarian researches, in almost every ramification of the Belles Lettres, envy itself can hardly single out one which has not obtained the gratitude of the particular class of readers, for whose amusement andbenefit, they were more immediately intended.
But this is not all, and abruptly to break off the delineation of the portrait here, would be ungenerous and unjust. He has done more; he has not only contributed to the interests of literature by his own individual exertions—he has been a patron to others. If his means did not permit him to be munificent, he was steady and constant in his assistance to those who wanted and required it. The benefit of his experience, of his advice and judgment, was at the service of every less practised writer. If a wrong path had been pursued, he pointed out the right, and thus has often prevented the waste both of time and talent. His benevolence was uncircumscribed, guided by no prejudice, restrained by no feelings of party. His patience and fortitude, and christian resignation, in the greatest trials to which humanity can be exposed, was almost without parallel, firm and unshaken. In return he has experienced universal sympathy and esteem, and will descend to his last home revered, honoured, and beloved.
Well, but our table is not filled yet. Suppose we invite thelearned author.
Alas! so many of my learned friends, properly thus called, have paid the tribute of mortality, that I cannot be at a loss to know whom you mean. An admirable guest must he needs be at any table,for to the profoundest learning and acutest discernment, he joins the most affable and lively powers of conversation, and easily and cheerfully abstracts himself from the more abstruse objects of his thoughts, to contribute to the general festivity.
Memory loves to retrace the earlier and brighter scenes of life, when the gratification now proposed was repeatedly enjoyed with this and other learned men, of whom many have fallen asleep. Where wit and humour, and a reciprocity of communication, not easily paralleled, diffused universal complacency. Where—
Stop, stop—a truce to this melancholy mood, and let us consider the number of our party.
Thewitty author—the satirist—the noble author—the factious author—Sylvanus Urban—the learned author.
Six—with ourselves—Eight. Shall we not ask a female?
Run over in your mind the Female Authors with whom we have acquaintance, and determine which of them you will invite. Shall it be Mrs. ⸺.
Oh! no, no. She is certainly exceedingly clever and accomplished, and can be very agreeable; but she values herself so highly on her musical talents, that she will be affronted, if not entreated to sing one of her Bravura songs, which to me are detestable, nor do I think them so very delightful to you.Besides she expects to be first fiddle, and demands from the celebrity of her name, more attention, than is consistent with that equality which ought invariably to prevail in friendly meetings.
Will you ask Miss ⸺?
No, I think not. She is a mighty good sort of person, and nobody disputes her cleverness; but she is suspected of taking notes of the conversations, at which she may be present, and you must not be surprized if, when you least expect it, you find some observation, or anecdote, or chit chat, gravely inserted in some note in an original novel, or translation from some of the books vended at Leipsic fair.
But why must this female be an author? Need we go far to find one, who though she has never written any thing for publication, has one of the finest understandings in the world, a correct taste, admirable judgment, refined manners, joined to the sweetest temper in the world; whose conversation is far preferable to the pedantry of any half-learnedPrecieuse, or the confidence which has been inspired by flattery unduly bestowed.
You need say no more. Eliza shall complete our party.