Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

THE INVITATION.

"And what art thou, idle ceremony ?"

SHAKSPEARE.

SINCE the time of the Spectator's perambulations through the various scenes of life, his only object-to drag folly and vice from their hiding places, and hold them up to scorn and detestation,-the authors who have followed the same track, or at least the greater part of them, have always seemed to have another object in view, which has counteracted that which should have been the main, if not the only one. They, have visited only the extreme spheres of human intercourse, the highest and the lowest, thereby to show indirectly their own good-breeding: For as they évidently, from their literary acquirements, and from their knowledge of the dead languages, which they took care to sprinkle plentifully through their writings, could not be taken to belong to the latter, they might necessarily be deemed to associate with the former, and thus escape the galling suspicion of belonging to the middle class of society, or of having their manners and habits contaminated by those of honest tradesmen or merchants' clerks. Now, in my opinion, if there be any class of the general body of mankind, by whom the shafts of satire, or the lashes of reproof, would be most severely felt, and beneficially applied, it is by the middling class--far the most numerous, and I might almost add, important of society and for that reason it is that, although afflicted with the "never-failing vice of fools," I acknowledge myself to be a growth of the latter sphere, and shall not, I trust, be therefore considered less calculated or qualified to aim a few random shots at its prevailing follies.-Pardon this digression, and now to my subject.

While sitting the other evening over a dish of tea, and reading, for the twentieth time, I believe, Johnson's prosaic poem, or poetic prose, of Rasselas, and taking at every full period another sup, as he, perhaps, when writing it, might have done; the rapid rap-rap, at the street door, announced the presence of that dispenser of joy and sorrow-the post-man And being out of humour with every thing that surrounded me, and my own reflections pursuing the same old slabber'd tale” of human infelicity, I listened with anxiety in hopes that it might be a letter for me, which might rub off the rust of sameness from the moment, and turn the current of thought into a new stream; for I was in one of those fits of ennui in which, as Young says, we would

66

“Thank a misery for change, though sad.”

Guess, then, with what delight I heard the servant's footsteps approach my room.- -"Come in," succeeded the accustomed gentle tap at the door, and I pulled out my three-pence (being compelled to pay the extra penny for being about twenty yards off the stones,) and took the letter.

Before I broke the seal, I endeavoured to prolong the enjoyment, by amusing myself in guessing from whom it could come.-I had no chere amie, no friend with whom I was in the habit of corresponding; and this increased my curiosity.-I feared to break the seal lest, according to VOL. I. 18.

T

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

the moral of the book I had just put down, in the moment I expected to enjoy the pleasure, I should find that it was past. However, after tantalizing my imagination with a thousand schemes of lovers and antagonists, appointments and disappointments, mistakes and misfortunes; unable longer to restrain my curiosity-I broke the seal,-when lo! a blank sheet of paper and a printed card presented themselves: and thinking it merely the impudence of some persevering tradesman, as they are called, or that of a not less mis-called wag, by way of hoax, my spirits sunk down to Zero again. I had put the envelope into the fire, and was holding the card carelessly, just to cast my eye over it before I served it in the same manner, when I read, Mr. C. C's compliments to Mr. Brownstudy, and will be happy of the honour of his company on Wednesday next, to tea and supper at seven o'clock.' Unable at first to comprehend its meaning, I read it over again, and was still unable to decide in my own mind whether to take it in jest or earnest; but I remembered that the day mentioned was Mr. C. C's birth-day, when he would come of age, and not till then was I satisfied that it was intended as a serious invitation to a social party-and then remembered having seen such things in some of the shopwindows, at the west end of the town. "And is this," cried I, "from my old school-fellow Blunt Charley, as they used to call him at school-has he been pared down to modern etiquette, and begun to ape the manners of his betters? Then are they indeed his betters, for truly they have more wealth, and I now fear what I before disbelieved, that they have at least as much sense. I always thought him their superior in the latter point till now." But, accustomed to doubt my own judgment, I began to look at the thing in a different light, to argue with myself whether the world might not be right, and I wrong. What an advantage would it be to society, if all the transactions of men could be reduced to a settled form, but especially in their epistolary concerns. What disputes it might save! There would be no longer any disputes on the doubtful meaning of a word, sarcasm and satire might be abolished. There would be no more danger of a trait of genuine feeling or amiable sensibility escaping to give subject of ridicule, than of a grammatical error or a false metaphor, to refresh the palate of friendly criticism. It seems likewise that a strong argument may be drawn from analogy in favour of this formal correspondence; for as the object is to protect the weak from the insults of the strong, and to reduce the state of every man to a common level of muscular power-so the effect of this refinement upon feeling might be to reduce the power of intellect to an universal equality, and ignorance might then no longer have to "hide its diminished head," but might stalk abroad in full day, secure from the detection of wisdom or experience :

Then, the bold and coward,
The wise and fool, the artist and unread,

The hard and soft, seem all affin'd and kin :

which operation, to speak in the language of a stock broker, would give a rise to riches over knowledge of 20 per cent. What might be the effects of such a system upon the unfortunate race of Authors, I will not pretend to divine; but I cannot think it would be less calamitous than the blue bags and black robes. "Farewell, a long farewell," might they exclaim, to all slanders, breach of promises, guarantees, parole agreements, &c. &c. Crim.

con.'s even would lose half their attractions, and briefs, half their length. Scandal would exclaim that there had been a devastation of all that gives life to life; while on the other hand lean Propriety would fatten on the vapours of stagnant passions. Here my theory broke down-I took my cup to wash down the dry subject; but my tea, not partaking of any of the warmth of my ruminations, but rather of the frigidity of the fashion I deprecated, I took one sup as a cooling draught to my feverish sensibility, and emptied the rest into the slop-basin. Just then a thought struck me, like one of those important philosophical truths which accident alone discloses-thus I reasoned—my tea has cooled. Why has it cooled? From a natural inclination, or disposition, which all warm bodies have to give out caloric; may not this principle, thought I, be applied more universally? nay, even to morals and feelings? And then I have at once a Newtonian cause, both efficient and true, for fashionable refinement. It is no longer a gradual depravity of manners, but the effect of a natural and pre-existent cause. The manners, I then called to mind, have, according to general report, become less warm than formerly, and this to my new theory was "confirmation strong as proofs of holy writ;" so I resolved to write a full elucidation of the decay of heats. The pleasure of this reverie absorbed for a moment my former warmth, and turned the flood of thought another way. However it soon ebbed again, and my feelings now vented themselves upon the offending card, which in a moment of disgust I tore up, and, not to give it a chance of exposing its own folly, stuffed it between the bars of the grate; and as I watched its last sparks, "Thus," cried I, "perish all the enemies to unshackled friendship and genuine feeling!"

I immediately sat down to pen an answer:-"Mr. Brownstudy's compliments to Mr. C. C, deeply regrets"-here I paused to consider whether “deeply" was not an unnecessary word, and might not offend good-breeding, by discovering a spark of real feeling. I accordingly erased it and proceeded, "the cause which will prevent him from accepting his kind invitation. Here I should have stopped, and the thing would have done well enough, but feeling got the better of me-and I added, "He is also sorry that he has no polite letter-writer, or printed forms, to return his answer in terms of fashionable correctness; Mr.B. trusts therefore that Mr. C. C――'s goodness," which latter word was written over an erasure of friendship, "will place all errors in that respect to the score of ignorance, rather than to any intentional offence." I folded it up, sealed and directed it, and placed it on the table ready to be sent to the post.

After this was over, and. I began to cool a little on the subject, I bethought me of the invitation, and reflected on the feast of observation I might enjoy in such a meeting; I began to waver in my former determination. The letter was not yet gone; there was still time to retract; and if I should accept the invitation, I could be none the worse, and might be something the better. Besides, the true reason of my refusal might only expose me to ridicule, and a false one I disdained to give. It is with those things for which we have the inclination, as with poor chastity; when once we admit the "if I should," it is all over with us, "he who hesitates is lost." So it proved with me; and the result was, that the note followed the card, and I made up my mind to follow the fashion, however unfashionably.

Having thus disposed of the invitation, I heaved a sentimental sigh, thanked my stars that fortune had placed me in a sphere where the corroding rust of refinement had not yet penetrated, nor spread its baleful influ

ence; where the name was not yet wholly disjoined from the attractive form of friendship, and where the plain, honest, open-hearted Englishman might still be found, though surrounded by the puffs and perfumery of foreign politesse. And though these be now hovering over my own sphere, ready to descend when honesty shall give them place, yet, ere they fall, I trust that I shall have ascended to that sphere, where the forms of friendship shall be no more confounded with the marks of hypocrisy, or feeling compromised for the sake of refinement.

TO MARCO BOZZARRI.

SUBLIMELY ascended thy soul,
Bozzarri,-thou chief of the brave!

How serene was thy death in the battle-storm's roll,
How tranquil thy glorious grave!

Thy spirit was radiant in light,

A beautiful star of the morning!

It shone mid the host of the firmament bright,
And glanced in the time of the dawning!

The fam'd classic land of thy birth,
Awoke at thine echoing voice;

And the shades of the ancients descended to earth,
As it summon'd their children to rise.--

In the conflict's infuriate tide,

With a band of thy chosen ones round thee,
And stemming the flood of the enemy's pride,
The laurels of victory crowned thee.

When the foe was dispersing and fled,
The career of thy gallantry closed,
And thy spirit rejoined the illustrious dead,
And thy form with their ashes reposed.
Thou art set in the noon-tide of fame,
Thy spirit has fled in its glory,

But the lustre that plays round the patriot's name,
Shall brighten the annals of story!

ΤΟ

I saw thee, when in attitude of prayer
Thy countenance was raised towards the sky,
Pale as the hues of angel purity!

Without one tinge of earthly passion there:
While the luxuriance of thine auburn hair

Shaded thy brow, and half conceal'd the eye
Which sparkled with celestial brilliancy.
I thought thee like some guardian seraph fair,
Who his appointed charge on earth is tending;
But ever and anon his looks of light
Are to his native clime of bliss ascending,

As there he longs again to wing his flight!
---And though my knee before my God was bending,
I worshipp'd thee, his emanation bright!

I. R.

The MODERN TRAVELLER, a Popular Description, Geographical, Historical, and Topographical, of the various Countries of the Globe. Vol. I. PALESTINE. 18mo. Plates and Maps. London. James Duncan.

THIS Work is a condensation of the most interesting and valuable documents that are to be found in the works of our recent travellers, and is edited by a gentleman obviously acquainted with the nature of his office, from the care, perspicuity, and diligence, with which he has executed it. The Work is printed in an elegant cabinet form, is ornamented with Copper Plates and Maps, and will doubtless prove a valuable addition to the libraries of all classes of his Majesty's liege subjects."

The present state-of " God's chosen people," in the land of their forefathers, is laconically and energetically depicted. Their numbers, possessions, feasts, synagogues, peculiarities, and the beauty of their females, are thus delineated.

“The Jews reside chiefly on the edge of Mount Zion, and in the lower part of the city, near the shambles, which, in summer, are dreadfully offensive. Their number is 10,000; an amazing increase, within the past thirty

years.

"Many of the Jews are rich and in comfortable circumstances, and possess a good deal of property in Jerusalem; but they are careful to conceal their wealth, and even their comfort, from the jealous eye of their rulers, lest by awakening their cupidity, some vile, indefensible plot should be devised to their prejudice. In going to visit a respectable Jew in the holy city, it is a common thing to pass to his house over a ruined fore-ground, and up an awkward outside stair, constructed of rough unpolished stones, that totter under the foot; but it improves as you ascend, and at the top has a respectable appearance, as it ends in an agreeable platform in front of the house. On entering the house itself, it is found to be clean and well furnished; the sofas are covered with Persian carpets, and the people seem happy to receive you. The visitor is entertained with coffee and tobacco, as is the custom in the houses of the Turks and Christians. The ladies presented themselves with an ease and address that surprised me, and recalled to my memory the pleasing society of Europe. This difference of manner arises from many of the Jewish families in Jerusalem having resided in Spain and Portugal, where the females had rid themselves of the cruel domestic fetters of the East, and, on returning to their beloved land, had very properly maintained their justly acquired freedom and rank in society. They almost all speak a broken Italian, so that conversation goes on without the clumsy aid of an interpreter."

THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER.

"It was the feast of the Passover, and they were all eating unleavened bread; some of which was presented to me as a curiosity, and I partook of it, merely that I might have the gratification of eating unleavened bread with the sons and daughters of Jacob in Jerusalem; it is very insipid fare, and no one would eat it from choice. For the same reason I went to the synagogue, of which there are two in Jerusalem, although I visited only one. The form of worship is the same as in this country, and I believe in every country which the Jews inhabit. The females have a separate part of the synagogues in Europe, and in the Christian churches all over the Levant. They are not, however, expected to be frequent or regular in their atten

« AnteriorContinuar »