Imatges de pàgina
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Page 83. For "The Lord Mayor reclining on an otto-
"-read "Puck, as The Lord Mayor, reclining on an
ottoman."

man,

Page 206, line 2 of note, omit Hampden.

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ROM the courts above a visitor
Hither come I, an inquisitor
Not in philosophic stole,

But the dress of English Droll.

For in that memorable year

When Mercury turn'd auctioneer,2

1 An Eleatic Philosopher, of Abdera in Thrace. Born 513; died 404, B. C.

2 In the "Sale of Philosophers," as described by Lucian, the heads of the different sects are brought to the hammer, Mercury being the auctioneer. Pythagoras fetches ten Minæ, Diogenes, with his rags and cynicism, two obolshe may do for a house-dog! Aristippus (the founder of the Cyrenaic sect) is too fine a gentleman for any body to Democritus and Heraclitus are alike unsaleable. Socrates, with whom Lucian seems to confound the Platonic philosophy, after being well ridiculed and abused, is bought by Dion, of Syracuse, for the large sum of two talents. Epicurus produces two Mina. Chrysippus, the

venture on.

B

3

Putting up for sale a number
Of rare wits, like household lumber!
Many of the wisest sconces
Did not fetch the price of dunce's,
And for laugher's and for cryer's 3
There were neither bidders, buyers!
Knowing not in London town
If for philosophic crown
Up the market was or down,
But believing that a Vice
Always brings a liberal price!
Motley is the name I bear,
Motley is the coat I wear.

stoic, who gives some extraordinary specimens of his logic,
and for whom there is a great competition, is knocked
down for twelve Minæ. A peripatetic, or double person,
(exoteric and esoteric) with his physical knowledge, brings
twenty Minæ. Pyrrho, the sceptic, comes at last, who
after having been disposed of, and in the hands of the
buyer, is still in doubt whether he has been sold or not!
3 A Philosopher of Ephesus, founder of a sect named
after himself. Flourished from 500 to 425, B. C.

"Once more, Democritus, arise on earth,
With cheerful wisdom and instructive mirth,
See motley life in modern trappings dress'd,
And feed with varied fools th' eternal jest."
Dr. Johnson.

How the Sage was rewarded will be seen by the following extract from an autograph letter (in the possession of Uncle Timothy) written by the excellent and learned Elizabeth Carter to Miss Highmore, dated April 23, 1752.

“I extremely honour the just indignation you express

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