. Thackerayana;. ery diverting humour (asinnocence always makes people cheerful), they would needs haveme, according to the distinction of pretty and very pretty fellows,inform them if I thought either of them had a title to the verypretty among those of their own sex; and if I did, which was themore deserving of the two ? To put them to the trial, Look ye, said I, I must not rashlygive my judgment in matters of this importance; pray let me seeyou dance; I play upon the kit. They immediately fell back tothe lower end of the room (you may be sure they curtsied lowenough to me), and began. Never
. Thackerayana;. ery diverting humour (asinnocence always makes people cheerful), they would needs haveme, according to the distinction of pretty and very pretty fellows,inform them if I thought either of them had a title to the verypretty among those of their own sex; and if I did, which was themore deserving of the two ? To put them to the trial, Look ye, said I, I must not rashlygive my judgment in matters of this importance; pray let me seeyou dance; I play upon the kit. They immediately fell back tothe lower end of the room (you may be sure they curtsied lowenough to me), and began. Never were two in the world so THE TATLER. 233 equally matched, and both scholars to my namesake Isaac*Never was man in so dangerous a condition as myself, when theybegan to expand their charms. Oh ! ladies, ladies, cried I; nothalf that air; you will fire the house ! Both smiled, for, by-the-by,there is no carrying a metaphor too far when a ladys charms arespoken of. Somebody, I think, has called a fine woman dancing. a brandished torch of beauty. These rivals move with such anagreeable freedom that you would believe their gesture was thenecessary effect of the music, and not the product of skill andpractice. Now Clidamira came on with a crowd of graces, anddemanded my judgment with so sweet an air—and she had nosooner carried it, but Dainia made her utterly forgot, by a gentlesinking and a rigadoon step. The contest held a full half hour;and, I protest, I saw no manner of difference in their perfectionsuntil they came up together and expected sentence. Look ye,ladies, said I, I see no difference in the least in your perform-ances; but you, Clidamira, seem to be so well satisfied that Ishould determine for you, that I must give it to Dainia, whostands with so much diffidence and fear, after showing an equalmerit to what she pretends to. Therefore, Clidamira, you are apretty, but, Dainia, you are a very pretty lady; for, said I, beauty loses its force if not accompanied with modes
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