Imatges de pàgina
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they tell us, is "a social animal:"-let us see, then, how he acquits himself in that character; and what advantages attend the practice of "going into company," as the phrase is, which should hinder us from envying Robinson Crusoe, who was under the fortunate necessity of reducing his companylist to a parrot, a blackamoor, and a few goats.

And

Tes. With all my heart:-I have lately been over-run with cards of invitation without number; and though I had resolved to say No to them all, and keep myself out of the way of being pestered with any body's freaks, or follies but my own-and Mrs. Testy's; I will devote myself, Curtius-like, to this gulf, for the good of our cause. so, if I can contrive to struggle out again, or, in other words, if I should unexpectedly, continue in sound mind and body, after all my visits paid and returned," I will meet you at Philippi," or whatever place your ghost shall name-for you, I think, with all your mind about you, will hardly survive this

series of pitched battles with other minds, which you have before you.

Sen. I am under some alarm for myself, I must confess; and especially as I am not much better provided than yourself with the defence of patience; however, when my shield is worn out, I believe I must imitate your example, and brandish a cudgel.—And so I leave you.

Tes. Aye, to dress for company, as I must -like two bulls tricked out for sacrifice:let them take care, though, that we don't break our cords, and take to our horns,that's all.

DIALOGUE THE SEVENTH.

MISERIES OF SOCIAL LIFE.

Testy, Senior and Junior-Sensitive.

Testy.

ROBINSON CRUSOE, indeed! No, no,— Timon or Diogenes, if you will-these are the recluses for my envy :-the privilege of storming and railing is all I have purchased by making my bow in drawing rooms, and L won't part with it for a trifle.-I have got safe through it, though; and so, ladies and gentlemen, your humble servant!-tomorrow morning, I sell my house, and buy a hermitage out of the money.

Sen. Nay, my good friend, what have I

done? Let our doors be still open to each other, at least; if only that we may have the satisfaction of groaning in concert over the evils of good company-in which I mean to include, not merely the voluntary outrages which we have been incessantly suffering from our companions themselves, but likewise the thwarting accidents, the perverse perplexities, the unexpected contretems, with which Fortune herself, in pure malignity, delights to strew the carpet of social intercourse. -I will open with one from this last mentioned class of distractions;-(producing his list) for,

-excuse me, my friend-I cannot talk" the genial current of my soul" is " frozen up"my animal spirits are poisoned at the fountain-and I am dead to every faculty or desire, but those of pouring out the gathered gall that frets within me.

Tes. Come then-give it vent;—what is the first of the tap?—This is your day, Sensitive-I, who, you know, am almost all meat and bone, can have comparatively little to throw into the hoard of spiritual solicitudes.

However, you may judge, from the fury in which you found me just now, that I am not

quite so raw as you fancy, even in this branch of our business

"Non obtusa adeo gestamus pectora."

Vir.

And as to your second division of company comforts, consisting of cross accidents and rebuffs, of a more mechanical kind, and therefore better suited, you think, to my level of feeling, I have revelled in them from mornig till night-so much so, indeed, that to tell you the truth, I have been little in a humour for the tranquil drudgery of noting them down in my tablets;-I have funded a few loose agonies, however, of both sorts; and so as they are but a few, perhaps I might as well produce them at once; after which, I'll give you your head during the rest of our way.

Sen. Begin, Sir, by all means; and while I attend to you, I will endeavour to rouse my courage for the severer retrospect to which I am doomed ;-yet in which, (by one of those exquisite paradoxes in feeling, of which the

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