all the wrinkled demesnes' in its vicinity, that made me mistrust even while I liked my companion: perhaps, indeed, he was too frank, too familiar, too degagé," to be quite natural. 12. Your honest men soon buy reserve by experience. Rogues are communicative and open, because confidence and opennèss cost them nothing. To finish the description of my new acquaintance, I should observe that there was something in his countenance which struck me as not wholly unfamiliar; it was one of those which we have not, in all human probability, seen befōre, and yet which (perhaps from their very commonnèss) we imagine we have encountered a hundred times. We walked on briskly, notwithstanding the warmth of the day; in fact, the air was so pure, the grass so green, the laughing noon-day so full of the hum, the motion, and the life of creation, that the feeling produced was rather that of freshness and invigoration than of languor and heat. 66 "W IV. 63. THE CANDID MAN. PART SECOND. E have a beautiful country, sir," said my hero of the box. "It is like walking through a garden, after the mōre stěrile' and sullen features of the continent. A pure mind, sir, loves the country; for my part, I am always disposed to burst out in thanksgiving to Providence when I behold its works, and like the valleys in the psalm, I am ready to laugh and sing.” 2. "An enthusiast," said I, "as well as a philosopher! perhaps (and I believe it likely), I have the honor of addressing a poet also."-"Why, sir," replied the man, "I have made verses in my life; in short, there is little I have not done, for I was always a lover of variety; but, perhaps, your honor will let me return the suspicion. Are you not a favorite of the muse?"—"I can 1 Demesne (de men'), the chief manor-place, with that part of the lands belonging thereto which has not been granted out in tenancy but which has been retained by the lord for his own use, for the supply of his table and the maintenance of his family; a portion held in re serve for one's own use. 2 Degage (dā gå' zā), easy and unconstrained. 3 Stěr' ile, barren; unfruitful. not say that I am," said I. "I value myself only on my common sense-the věry antipodès to genius, you know, according to the orthodox belief." 3. "Common sense!" repeated my companion, with a singular and meaning smile, and a twinkle with his left eye. "Common sense! Ah, that is not my forte, sir. You, I dare say, are one of those gentlemen whom it is very difficult to take in, either passively or actively, by appearance, or in act? For my part, I have been a dupe all my life—a child might cheat me! I am the most unsuspicious person in the world.” 4. "Too candid by half," thought I. "This man is certainly a rascal; but what is that to me? I shall never see him again ;" and true to my love of never losing an opportunity of ascertaining individual character, I observed that I thought such an acquaintance věry valuable, especially if he were in trade; it was a pity, therefore, for my sake, that my companion had informed me that he followed no calling. 5. "Why, sir," said he, "I am occasionally in employment; my nominal profession is that of a broker. I buy shawls and handkerchiefs of poor countesses, and retail them to rich plebeians. I fit up new married couples with linen at a more moderate rate than the shops, and procure the bridegroom his present of jewels at forty per cent. less than the jewelers; nay, I am as friendly to an intrigue as a marriage; and when I can not sell my jewels, I will my good offices. A gentleman so handsome as your honor may have an affair upon your hands; if so, you may rely upon my secrecy and zeal. In short, I am an innocent, good-natured fellow, who does harm to no one or nothing, and good to every one for something." 6. "I admire your code," quoth I, "and whenever I want a mediätor between Venus' and myself, will employ you. Have you always followed your present idle profession, or were you brought up to any other ?"-"I was intended for a silversmith," answered my friend: "but Providence willed it otherwise: they taught me from childhood to repeat the Lord's prayer: Heaven 1 Plebeian (ple bě′ yan), one of the common people or low ranks of men-usually applied to the common people of ancient Rome. 2 Vēnus, or Aphrodite, in mythology, the Greek goddess of female beauty and of love; that is, beauty or love deïfied. heard me, and delivered me from temptation-there is, indeed, something terribly seducing in the face of a silver spoon!" 7. "Well,” said I, "you are the honestèst knave that ever I met, and one would trust you with one's purse, for the ingenuousness with which you own you would steal it. Pray, think you, is it probable that I have ever had the happiness of meeting you before? I can not help fancying so-as yet I have never been in the watch-house or the Old Bailey, my reason tells me that I must be mistaken." 8. "Not at all, sir," returned my worthy; "I remember you well, for I never saw a face like yours that I did not remember. I had the honor of sipping some British liquors in the same room with yourself one evening; you were then in company with my friend Mr. Gordon."—"Ha!" said I, “I thank you for the hint. I now remember well, by the same token, that he told me you were the most ingenious gentleman in England, and that you had a happy propensity of mistaking other people's possessions for your own; I congratulate myself upon so desirable an acquaintance.' 9. My friend smiled with his usual blandness, and made me a low bow of acknowledgment before he resumed:-"No doubt, sir, Mr. Gordon informed you right. I flatter myself few gentlemen understand better than myself the art of appropriation, though I say it who should not say it. I deserve the reputation I have acquired, sir; I have always had ill-fortune to struggle against, and always have remedied it by two virtues-perseverance and ingenuity. To give you an idea of my ill-fortune, know that I have been taken up twenty-three times on suspicion; of my perseverance, know that twenty-three times I have been taken up justly; and of my ingenuity, know that I have been twenty-three times let off, because there was not a tittle of legal evidence against me!" 10. "I venerate your talents, Mr. Jonson," replied I, "if by the name of Jonson it pleasèth you to be called, although, like the heathen deities, I presume that you have many titles, whereof some are more grateful to your ears than others."-"Nay," answered the man of two virtues, "I am never ashamed of my name; indeed, I have never done anything to disgrace me. I have never indulged in low company, nor profligate debauchery: whatever I have executed by way of profession has been done in a superior and artist-like manner; not in the rude bungling fashion of other adventurers. Moreover, I have always had a taste for polite literature, and went once as an apprentice to a publishing bookseller, for the sole purpose of reading the new works before they came out. In fine, I have never neglected any opportunity of improving my mind; and the worst that can be said against me is, that I have remembered my catechism, and taken all possible pains 'to learn and labor truly to get my living, and to do my duty in that state of life to which it has pleased Providence to call me."" 11. "I have often heard," answered I, "that there is honor among thieves; I am happy to learn from you that there is also religion: your baptismal sponsors must be proud of so diligent a godson."-"They ought to be, sir," replied Mr. Jonson, "for I gave them the first specimens of my address: the story is long, but, if you ever give me an opportunity, I will relate it."“Thank you,” said I; "meanwhile I must wish you good morning: your way now lies to the right. I return you my best thanks for your condescension in accompanying so undistinguished an individual as myself."-"Oh, never mention it, your honor," rejoined Mr. Jonson. I am always too happy to walk with a gentleman of your common sense.' Farewell, sir; may we meet again!" So saying, Mr. Jonson struck into his new road, and we parted. 12. I went home, musing on my adventure, and delighted with my adventurer. When I was about three paces from the door of my home, I was accosted in a most pitiful tone, by a poor old beggar, apparently in the last extreme of misery and disease. Notwithstanding my political economy, I was moved into almsgiving by a spectacle so wretched. I put my hand into my pocket, my purse was gone; and, on searching the other, lo-my handkerchief, my pocket-book, and a gold locket, which had belonged to Madame d'Anville, had vanished too. One does not keep company with men of two virtues, and receive compliments upon one's common sense, for nothing! "Give him. 13. The beggar still continued to importune me. some food and half-a-crown," said I to my landlady. Two hours afterward she came up to me-"Oh, sir! my silver tea-pot that villain the beggar !" A light flashed upon me--“ Ah, Mr. Job Jonson! Mr. Job Jonson!" cried I, in an indescribable rage; "out of my sight, woman! out of my sight!" I stopped short; my speech failed me. Never tell me that shame is the companion of guilt-the sinful knave is never so ashamed of himself as is the innocent fool who suffers by him. SIR E. BULWER LYTTON. Sir EDWARD BULWER LYTTON, youngest son of the late Gen. Bulwer, of Heydon Hall, Norwalk, England, who has assumed the surname of his mother's family, was born in 1805. He exhibited proofs of superior talents at a very early period, having written verses when only five or six years old. His preliminary studies were conducted under the eye of his mother, a woman of cultivated taste and rare accomplishments. He graduated with honor at Trinity College, Oxford, having won the chancellor's medal for the best English poem. In 1826 he published "Weeds and Wild Flowers," a small volume of poems; and the following year his first novel, "Falkland," appeared. Since that time he has been constantly before the public as an author, both in prose and verse. Of his early novels, perhaps, "Rienzi" is the most complete, high-toned, and energetic: of his more recent ones his "Caxtons," and "My Novel, or Varieties in English Life," are regarded as the best. About 1832, he became editor of the "New Monthly Magazine;" and to that journal he contributed essays and criticisms, subsequently published under the title of "The Student." Of his dramas, "The Lady of Lyons," "Richelieu," and "Money,” are, perhaps, three of the most popular plays now upon the stage. The first of these seldom fails of drawing tears when well represented. Few authors have displayed more versatility. His language and imagery are often exquisite, and his power of delineating certain classes of character and manners superior to that of any of his contemporaries. He commenced his political life in 1831, when he entered parliament, where he became conspicuous for his advocacy of the rights of dramatic authors, and for his liberal opinions on other questions. His speeches in parliament, and his addresses, have served to raise his reputation. His inaugural address as rector of the University of Glasgow, in particular, has been greatly admired. ་ H V. 64. L'ALLEGRO. ENCE loathed Melancholy, Of Cerberus,' and blackèst Midnight born! 2 'Mongst horrid shapes, and shrieks, and sighs unholy, Where brooding Darkness spreads his jealous wings, 1 Cer' be rus, in Greek mythology, the monster that guarded the entrance to the infernal regions. He is represented as a dog with several heads, the tail of a serpent, and a mane of snakes. 2 Styg'i an, of, or pertaining to, Styx, fabled by the ancients to be a river of hell over which the shades of the dead passed; hence, hellish. |