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of the House of Lancaster； than the ILIAD itself。 The events
described are as lofty as those sung by Homer in his great work；
and the characters brought upon the stage still more interesting。
I think Hotspur as much of a hero as Hector； and young Henry more
of a man than Achilles； and then there is the fat knight； the
quintessence of fun； wit； and rascality。 Falstaff is a creation
beyond the genius even of Homer。'
'You almost tempt me to read Shakespeare again … but the Germans？'
'I don't admire the Germans；' said the youth； somewhat excited。 'I
don't admire them in any point of view。 I have heard my father say
that； though good sharpshooters； they can't be much depended upon
as soldiers； and that old Sergeant Meredith told him that Minden
would never have been won but for the two English regiments； who
charged the French with fixed bayonets； and sent them to the right…
about in double…quick time。 With respect to poetry； setting
Shakespeare and the English altogether aside； I think there is
another Gothic nation； at least； entitled to dispute with them the
palm。 Indeed； to my mind； there is more genuine poetry contained
in the old Danish book which I came so strangely by； than has been
produced in Germany from the period of the Niebelungen lay to the
present。'
'Ah； the Koempe Viser？' said the elderly individual； breathing
forth an immense volume of smoke； which he had been collecting
during the declamation of his young companion。 'There are singular
things in that book； I must confess； and I thank you for showing it
to me； or rather your attempt at translation。 I was struck with
that ballad of Orm Ungarswayne； who goes by night to the grave…hill
of his father to seek for counsel。 And then； again； that strange
melancholy Swayne Vonved； who roams about the world propounding
people riddles； slaying those who cannot answer； and rewarding
those who can with golden bracelets。 Were it not for the violence；
I should say that ballad has a philosophic tendency。 I thank you
for making me acquainted with the book； and I thank the Jew Mousha
for making me acquainted with you。'
'That Mousha was a strange customer；' said the youth； collecting
himself。
'He WAS a strange customer；' said the elder individual； breathing
forth a gentle cloud。 'I love to exercise hospitality to wandering
strangers； especially foreigners； and when he came to this place；
pretending to teach German and Hebrew； I asked him to dinner。
After the first dinner； he asked me to lend him five pounds； I DID
lend him five pounds。 After the fifth dinner； he asked me to lend
him fifty pounds； I did NOT lend him the fifty pounds。'
'He was as ignorant of German as of Hebrew；' said the youth； 'on
which account he was soon glad； I suppose； to transfer his pupil to
some one else。'
'He told me；' said the elder individual； 'that he intended to leave
a town where he did not find sufficient encouragement； and； at the
same time； expressed regret at being obliged to abandon a certain
extraordinary pupil； for whom he had a particular regard。 Now I；
who have taught many people German from the love which I bear to
it； and the desire which I feel that it should be generally
diffused； instantly said that I should be happy to take his pupil
off his hands； and afford him what instruction I could in German；
for； as to Hebrew； I have never taken much interest in it。 Such
was the origin of our acquaintance。 You have been an apt scholar。
Of late； however； I have seen little of you … what is the reason？'
The youth made no answer。
'You think； probably； that you have learned all I can teach you？
Well； perhaps you are right。'
'Not so； not so；' said the young man eagerly； 'before I knew you I
knew nothing； and am still very ignorant； but of late my father's
health has been very much broken； and he requires attention； his
spirits also have become low； which； to tell you the truth； he
attributes to my misconduct。 He says that I have imbibed all kinds
of strange notions and doctrines； which will； in all probability；
prove my ruin； both here and hereafter； which … which … '
'Ah！ I understand；' said the elder； with another calm whiff。 'I
have always had a kind of respect for your father； for there is
something remarkable in his appearance； something heroic； and I
would fain have cultivated his acquaintance； the feeling； however；
has not been reciprocated。 I met him； the other day； up the road；
with his cane and dog； and saluted him； he did not return my
salutation。'
'He has certain opinions of his own；' said the youth； 'which are
widely different from those which he has heard that you profess。'
'I respect a man for entertaining an opinion of his own；' said the
elderly individual。 'I hold certain opinions； but I should not
respect an individual the more for adopting them。 All I wish for
is tolerance； which I myself endeavour to practise。 I have always
loved the truth； and sought it； if I have not found it； the greater
my misfortune。'
'Are you happy？' said the young man。
'Why； no！ And； between ourselves； it is that which induces me to
doubt sometimes the truth of my opinions。 My life； upon the whole；
I consider a failure； on which account； I would not counsel you； or
any one； to follow my example too closely。 It is getting late； and
you had better be going； especially as your father； you say； is
anxious about you。 But； as we may never meet again； I think there
are three things which I may safely venture to press upon you。 The
first is； that the decencies and gentlenesses should never be lost
sight of； as the practice of the decencies and gentlenesses is at
all times compatible with independence of thought and action。 The
second thing which I would wish to impress upon you is； that there
is always some eye upon us； and that it is impossible to keep
anything we do from the world； as it will assuredly be divulged by
somebody as soon as it is his interest to do so。 The third thing
which I would wish to press upon you … '
'Yes；' said the youth； eagerly bending forward。
'Is … ' and here the elderly individual laid down his pipe upon the
table … 'that it will be as well to go on improving yourself in
German！'
CHAPTER XXIV
The alehouse…keeper … Compassion for the rich … Old English
gentleman … How is this？ … Madeira … The Greek Parr … Twenty
languages … Whiter's health … About the fight … A sporting
gentleman … The flattened nose … Lend us that pightle … The surly
nod。
'HOLLOA； master！ can you tell us where the fight is likely to be？'
Such were the words shouted out to me by a short thick fellow； in
brown top…boots； and bareheaded； who stood； with his hands in his
pockets； at the door of a country alehouse as I was passing by。
Now； as I knew nothing about the fight； and as the appearance of
the man did not tempt me greatly to enter into conversation with
him； I merely answered in the negative； and continued my way。
It was a fine lovely morning in May； the sun shone bright above；
and the birds were carolling in the hedgerows。 I was wont to be
cheerful at such seasons； for； from my earliest recollection；
sunshine and the song of birds have been dear to me； yet； about
that period； I was not cheerful； my mind was not at rest； I was
debating within myself； and the debate was dreary and
unsatisfactory enough。 I sighed； and turning my eyes upward； I
ejaculated； 'What is truth？'
But suddenly； by a violent effort breaking away from my
meditations； I hastened forward； one mile； two miles； three miles
were speedily left behind； and now I came to a grove of birch and
other trees； and opening a gate I passed up a kind of avenue； and
soon arriving before a large brick house； of rather antique
appearance； knocked at the door。
In this house there lived a gentleman with whom I had business。 He
was said to be a genuine old English gentleman； and a man of
considerable property； at this time； however； he wanted a thousand
pounds； as gentlemen of considerable property every now and then
do。 I had brought him a thousand pounds in my pocket； for it is
astonishing how many eager helpers the rich find； and with what
compassion people look upon their distresses。 He was said to have
good wine in his cellar。
'Is your master at home？' said I； to a servant who appeared at the
door。
'His worship is at home； young man；' said the servant； as he looked
at my shoes； which bore evidence that I had come walking。 'I beg
your pardon； sir；' he added； as he looked me in the face。
'Ay； ay； servants；' thought I； as I followed the man into the
house； 'always look people in the face when you open the door； and
do so before you look at their shoes； or you may mistake the he