Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

of Lord Norbury, Mr. Curran was retained. When the messenger came to inform him, he was found playing in a Ball Court, in his native village of Newmarket; and the object being an-nounced, he said, "I will take the ball at the first hop." He had to contend with all the violence and fierceness which then, and often since, have been exhibited on that angry stage, where nothing carries an election but the heaviest purse and the longest sword. On that occasion he manifested a spirit not to be reduced, address and ability not to be surpassed, and he brought into action his wit, and all the energies of a youthful and of an useful mind.

On his return to Dublin, he was moving on to dine with the now Lord Norbury, the present chief justice of the Common Pleas, a nobleman also equally distinguished for wit and urbanity, for the finest temper, and the greatest kindness to the bar and public; his dinner hours were late, which Mr. Curran always disliked. Mr. Toler was going to take his ride, and meeting Mr. Curran walking towards his house to dine, passingly said, Do not forget, Curran, you dine with me to day;" "I rather fear, my friend," replied Mr.

Curran," it is you who may forget it."

The motto to the first carriage he set up on the strength of his fees was, PER VARIOS CASUS, on

which some person observed, that he prudently omitted the latter part of the sentence, per tot discrimina rerum, which gave him, he said, a better opinion of his judgement than he was otherwise inclined to entertain. It being remarked to him that he might have still something more appropriate; he answered, "Why, yes, to be sure, Ore tenus, but the herald painter dissuaded me; he did not like the brevity of wit; and being then engaged about discovering amidst the bones of the crusaders, armorial bearings suitable to the motto, I left to him the profit of two syllables, and he counted out the letters; a course, since very wisely, I assure you, adopted in Chancery. Nay, I rather think also by the common law courts; and thus you perceive, my friend, from what small sources great rivers begin to flow. God knows they sometimes do inundate without fertilizing; but things being so, who can force back those noxious streams?"

Mr. Curran, in one of his early excursions to England, happened to travel in a public coach with a well fed, well dressed, well powdered, conceited young clergyman, fresh from Oxford. The world was new to him, and he furnished one of those lamentable instances of the influence of prejudice even over an educated mind. He had under his protection two beautiful young female relatives. Mr. Curran's figure, and the neglect

of his person, presented the reverse of every thing which could prepossess; and this aided to puff, out the parson's pride. Mr. Curran, lean as Cassius, with an ill-fashioned Cork-cut coat (for which he once made this apology on going into a packet, then sailing for England, that no man in his senses should ever venture to sea, without a Cork-jacket,) was flung off at a mortifying distance by the reserve and pride of the company. Under this feeling he was smarting and much annoyed for the first forty miles of a long and unpromising journey to London. In this state of suppuration he reflected that this swell was nothing but like all other bubbles which break under the beam of superior intelligence; and that by letting out the gas of conceit, the balloon would rapidly descend.::

Tired of this popinjay's stupid vanity and stilted affectation, and having a cheerless and dreary prospect before him, he reflected that every thing is worth something. Having read in Gulliver's Travels, that a philosopher condescended to extract sun-beams from cucumbers, he hit upon the project of relieving himself from this contemptible and oppressive incubus, which weighed him down like an overloaded atmosphere, by sacrificing something to his vanity; and by the master-key of making himself ridiculous in the first instance, he was sure to gain an introduction

[ocr errors]

to the attention of the company. This was effected at a blow; he looked harshly on the parson, kindly on the ladies; surveyed all, and threw on himself an eye of contempt, so as to shew signs of self-inferiority: and flinging loose his folded arms, burst forth into a loud exclamation" Oh! I wish to Jasus I was back again in Dublin, and that I had never put my foot in this inhospitable and unpolite country!", The point was carried: the doctor smirked and smiled at the ladies, as much as to say, we have a rare treat here, this Hirish is red hot from his bogs. A perfect selfsufficiency began to beam on the doctor's countenance; and elated with a victory he had never won, he proceeded to pluck the laurels. "O then I perceive, my good friend, you are Hirish." "Yes, your honour, and, by Jasus, I would rather than the £40 I brought over with me, to buy threads, and tapes, and needles, at one of your manufacturing towns, to be back again: for I don't hope for luck, or grace, or happiness, while ever I stay among you. "Then, I suppose, you are in trade?" "Oh yes! I am a Dublin shopkeeper, and it is there the first gentleman in the land, or in the city, would speak civilly and politely to his fellow creature." "What pleasure do you find in that country? what amusements have you?" "Amusements! were you never in

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Dublin? were you never in the upper gallery in

Crow-street? or if you weren't, where were you

born? God Almighty help you, it is there you would see the fun, and the wit. It would be worth your while to step across; and if you were never there, that is the only spot in the known world worth talking of." friend, it cannot be, you should

66

Surely, my good pass all your time

there! there are nights you cannot spend in this manner." "'Tis very true, Sir, but it isn't my fault; for if I could help it, it is there I would pass every night." "But, Sir, on other nights, as soon as your shop is shut, how do you disposè of yourself?" "I go in and read a book for my wife, while she rocks the cradle." "What books do you read, give me leave to ask?" "What books, why Erasmus, and a pretty book it is." "Very well, indeed. And pray, do your women understand Latin?" "Yes, and Greek too; and often do I read the Greek of Homer to her, and she to me." Oh, my friend, it is impossible that either your wife or you can understand these books. Do you mean to say she understands the Greek and Latin languages?" "You are welcome to try me, Doctor; and as for the wife, she being a Kerry woman, could answer for herself, if she were here (and I wish to God she were), much better than I for myself." "Did you ever read the Naufragium?” "Oh yes, where the shipwreck was, and where the lovely lady was perishing, and a lovelier never yet was seen, except the two beautiful creatures I am now gazing upon

[ocr errors]
« AnteriorContinuar »