. Thackerayana;. ing more necessary to establish reputation thanto suspend the enjoyment of it. He that cannot bear the sense ofmerit with silence, must of necessity destroy it; for fame beingthe general mistress of mankind, whoever gives it to himselfinsults all to whom he relates any circumstances to his own advan-tage. He is considered as an open ravisher of that beauty forwhom all others pine in silence. But some minds are so incapableof any temperance in this particular, that on every second in theirdiscourse you may observe an earnestness in their eyes whichshows they wait for your appro
. Thackerayana;. ing more necessary to establish reputation thanto suspend the enjoyment of it. He that cannot bear the sense ofmerit with silence, must of necessity destroy it; for fame beingthe general mistress of mankind, whoever gives it to himselfinsults all to whom he relates any circumstances to his own advan-tage. He is considered as an open ravisher of that beauty forwhom all others pine in silence. But some minds are so incapableof any temperance in this particular, that on every second in theirdiscourse you may observe an earnestness in their eyes whichshows they wait for your approbation; and perhaps the nextinstant cast an eye in a glass to see how they like themselves. Walking the other day in a neighbouring inn of court, I saw amore happy and more graceful orator than I ever before Hadheard or read of. A youth of about nineteen years of age was inan Indian dressing-gown and laced cap, pleading a cause beforea glass. The young fellow had a very good air, and seemed to T 274 hold his brief in his hand rather to help his action, than that he wanted notes for his further infor-mation. When I first began toobserve him, I feared he wouldsoon be alarmed; but he was sozealous for his client, and so favour-ably received by the court, that hewent on with great fluency to in-form the bench that he humblyhoped they would not let themerit of the cause suffer by the youth and inexperience of thepleader; that in all things he submitted to their candour; andmodestly desired they would not conclude but that strength ofargument and force of reason may be consistent with grace ofaction and comeliness of person. To me (who see people every day in the midst of crowds,whomsoever they seem to address, talk only to themselves and ofthemselves) this orator was not so extravagant a man as perhapsanother would have thought him; but I took part in his success,and was very glad to find he had in his favour judgment and costs,without any manner of opposition. No. 20
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