Vous le dirai-je? Je voudrois que pendant qu'on donne les apparences de l'eftime à ceux, qui travaillent pour la Gloire, on jonit du droit de les méprifer intérieurement. Car enfin il y a de la fottife à ne pas travailler pour foi, nous en fommes déjà convenus. De plus, le gens qui courent après la Gloire, ne fe chargent-ils pas des emplois les plus difficiles? Et valets de la focieté n'en rempliffent-ils pas les fonctions les plus pénibles? Apollon. Vous avez raifon: le mépris fembleroit devoir être la vraie récompenfe de ce qu'on fait pour la Gloire. Lord Lord Lyttelton. S. B. III. S. 415. Von seinen Todtengesprächen, den besten, welche die Engländer besigen, habe ich die zweite Ausgabe vor mir, die zu London, 1760. in gr. 8. erschien. Er befolgte einen weitern und mehr umfassenden Plan, als seine Vorgänger, und wählte seine dialogirende Personen aus der Geschichte aller Zeiten und den merkwürdigsten dars in vorkommenden Charakteren, wozu noch, wie in dem hier mitgetheilten Gespräche einige selbst erfundne Personen kas men. Bei seinen sich unterredenden Schatten sezt er die Kenntniß dessen voraus, was in der Folgezeit nach ihrem Les ben, und selbst bei andern Nationen, vorgefallen ist. Dies ser, sehr charakteristischen, Todtengespräche sind überhaupt acht und zwanzig, wovon aber die drei leßtern einen andern Verfasser haben. Eine nicht ganz verfehlte Nachahmung dieser Gespräche waren die siebzehn New Dialogues of the Dead eines ungenannten, die gleichfalls bei Dodsley zu Lons don, 1762, in gr. 8. heraus kamen. MERCURY An English DUELLIST A North American SAVAGE. The DUELLIST. MERCURY, Charon's Boat is on the other fide of the Water. Allow me, before it returns, to have fome converfation with the North-American Savage, whom you brought hither at the fame time as you conducted me to the Shades. I never faw one of that Species before, and am curious to know what the Animal is. He looks very grim. Pray, Sir, what is your Name? I understand You speak English. SAVAGE. Lord Lyttel ton. SAVAGE, Yes, I learnt it in my Childhood, having been bred for fome years in the town of New York. But, before I was a Man, I returned to my Countrymen, the valiant Mohawks; and being cheated by one of your's in the fale of fome Rum, I never cared to have any thing to do with them afterwards. Yet I took up the Hatchet for them with the rest of my Tribe in the War against France, and was kill ed while I was out upon a Scalping Party. But I died very well fatisfied: for my Friends were victo rious, and before I was fhot I had fcalped feven Men and five Women and Children. In a former War I had done ftill greater Exploits. My Name is the Bloody Bear: it was given me to express my Fiercenefs and Valour. DUELLIST. Bloody Bear, I refpect you, and am much your humble fervant. My Name is Tom Pushwell, very well known at Arthur's. I am a Gentleman by my Birth, and by Profeffion a Gamefter and Man of Honour. I have killed Men in fair Fighting, in honourable fingle combat, but don't un derftand cutting the Throats of Women and Chil dren. SAVAGE. Every Sir, that is our way of making War. Nation has its own Cuftoms. But by the Grimness of your Countenance, and that Hole in your Breaft, I prefume you were killed, as I was myfelf, in fome fcalping Party. How happened it that your Ennemy did not take off your fcalp? DUEL DUELLIST. Lord Lyttels Sir, I was killed in a Duel. A Friend of mi After two or three ne had lent me fome Money. Hide - Park. The Fellow could not fence: I was the adroiteft Swordiman in England. SAVAGE. Mercury, I won't go in a Boat with that Fellow. He has murdered his Countryman: he has murdered his Friend: I fay, I won't go in a Boat with that Fellow. I will fwim over the River: I can fwim like a Duck. MERCURY. Swim over the Styx! it must not be done; it is against the Laws of Pluto's Empire. You must go in the Boat, and be quiet. SAVAGE. ton. Lord Lyttel ton. SAVAGE. Don't tell me of Laws: I am a Savage: I value no Laws. Talk of Laws to the Englishman: there are Laws in his Country, and yet you fee he did not regard them. For they could never allow him to kill his Fellow-fubject, in time of Peace, because he asked him to pay a Debt. I know that the English are a barbarous Nation; but they can't be fo brutal as to make fuch things lawful, MERCURY. You reason well against Him. But how comes it that you are so offended with Murder; you, who have maffacred Women in their Sleep, and Children in the Cradle? SAVAGE. I killed none but Enemies: I never killed my own Countrymen: I never killed my Friend. Here, take my Blanket, and let it come over in thé Boat; but fee that the Murderer does not fit upon it, or touch it. If he does, I will burn it in the Fire I fee yonder. Farewell, I am refolved to fwim over the Water. MERCURY. By this touch of my Wand I take all thy Strength from thee. Swim now if thou canft. SAVAGE. This is a very potent Enchanter. me my Strength, and I will obey thee. Reftore MER |