He has never been angry with me yet,that I remember,in his life;but if I were to provoke him,I am sure he would never forgive me;he would be coolly immovable,and I might beg and pray,and write my heart out to no purpose.
Englishman.Why,then,he is an old dog,that's all I can say;and pray are you to obey your dry-nurse too,this same,and what's his name--Mr.
Harte?
Stanhope.Yes.
Englishman.So he stuffs you all morning with Greek,and Latin,and Logic,and all that.Egad I have a dry-nurse too,but I never looked into a book with him in my life;I have not so much as seen the face of him this week,and don't care a louse if I never see it again.
Stanhope.My dry-nurse never desires anything of me that is not reasonable,and for my own good;and therefore I like to be with him.
Englishman.Very sententious and edifying,upon my word!at this rate you will be reckoned a very good young man.
Stanhope.Why,that will do me no harm.
Englishman.Will you be with us to-morrow in the evening,then?We shall be ten with you;and I have got some excellent good wine;and we'll be very merry.
Stanhope.I am very much obliged to you,but I am engaged for all the evening,to-morrow;first at Cardinal Albani's;and then to sup at the Venetian Ambassadress's.
Englishman.How the devil can you like being always with these foreigners?I never go among them with all their formalities and ceremonies.I am never easy in company with them,and I don't know why,but I am ashamed.
Stanhope.I am neither ashamed nor afraid;I am very,easy with them;they are very easy with me;I get the language,and I see their characters,by conversing with them;and that is what we are sent abroad for,is it not?
Englishman.I hate your modest women's company;your women of fashion as they call 'em;I don't know what to say to them,for my part.
Stanhope.Have you ever conversed with them?
Englishman.No;I never conversed with them;but have been sometimes in their company,though much against my will.
Stanhope.But at least they have done you no hurt;which is,probably,more than you can say of the women you do converse with.
Englishman.That's true,I own;but for all that,I would rather keep company with my surgeon half the year,than with your women of fashion the year round.
Stanhope.Tastes are different,you know,and every man follows his own.
Englishman.That's true;but thine's a devilish odd one,Stanhope.All morning with thy dry-nurse;all the evening in formal fine company;and all day long afraid of Old Daddy in England.Thou art a queer fellow,and I am afraid there is nothing to be made of thee.
Stanhope.I am afraid so too.
Englishman.Well,then,good night to you;you have no objection,Ihope,to my being drunk to-night,which I certainly will be.
Stanhope.Not in the least;nor to your being sick tomorrow,which you as certainly will be;and so good night,too.
You will observe,that I have not put into your mouth those good arguments which upon such an occasion would,I am sure,occur to you;as piety and affection toward me;regard and friendship for Mr.Harte;respect for your own moral character,and for all the relative duties of man,son,pupil,and citizen.Such solid arguments would be thrown away upon such shallow puppies.Leave them to their ignorance and to their dirty,disgraceful vices.They will severely feel the effects of them,when it will be too late.Without the comfortable refuge of learning,and with all the sickness and pains of a ruined stomach,and a rotten carcass,if they happen to arrive at old age,it is an uneasy and ignominious one.The ridicule which such fellows endeavor to throw upon those who are not like them,is,in the opinion of all men of sense,the most authentic panegyric.Go on,then,my dear child,in the way you are in,only for a year and a half more:that is all I ask of you.After that,I promise that you shall be your own master,and that I will pretend to no other title than that of your best and truest friend.You shall receive advice,but no orders,from me;and in truth you will want no other advice but such as youth and inexperience must necessarily require.You shall certainly want nothing that is requisite,not only for your conveniency,but also for your pleasures;which I always desire shall be gratified.You will suppose that I mean the pleasures 'd'un honnete homme'.
While you are learning Italian,which I hope you do with diligence,pray take care to continue your German,which you may have frequent opportunities of speaking.I would also have you keep up your knowledge of the 'Jus Publicum Imperii',by looking over,now and then,those INESTIMABLE MANUSCRIPTS which Sir Charles Williams,who arrived here last week,assures me you have made upon that subject.It will be of very great use to you,when you come to be concerned in foreign affairs;as you shall be (if you qualify yourself for them)younger than ever any other was:I mean before you are twenty.Sir Charles tells me,that he will answer for your learning;and that,he believes,you will acquire that address,and those graces,which are so necessary to give it its full lustre and value.But he confesses,that he doubts more of the latter than of the former.The justice which he does Mr.Harte,in his panegyrics of him,makes me hope that there is likewise a great deal of truth in his encomiums of you.Are you pleased with,and proud of the reputation which you have already acquired?Surely you are,for I am sure I am.Will you do anything to lessen or forfeit it?Surely you will not.And will you not do all you can to extend and increase it?
Surely you will.It is only going on for a year and a half longer,as you have gone on for the two years last past,and devoting half the day only to application;and you will be sure to make the earliest figure and fortune in the world,that ever man made.Adieu.