|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 15
_Have you Physicians among you?_ We have, said I, Men of extensive
Charity, great Humility, profound Learning, without the least Tincture
of Vanity. They are so very conscientious, that shou'd they prescribe
for a Patient, and he recover before he had taken all the Druggs brought
in, they will pay for those which remain, out of their own Pockets.
They never take a fee, but when they prescribe, tho' they visit you
frequently, and never prescribe, without they see an absolute Necessity.
They a modest, that they attribute the Recovery of a Person to divine
Providence, and are ready to accuse themselves of Ignorance or
Negligence should he die under their Hands.
_Have you any Lawyers in your part of the World?_ Lawyers, said I, we
have, but not more than necessary.
_You have then_, said my Lord, _very few, or are a litigious People.
What sort of Creatures are they?_ They are, said I, brought up many
Years in the Study of the Laws, and pass a strict Examination, not only
as to their Knowledge, but their Morals, before they are admitted to the
Bar; which is the Reason, that we have no Tricks, no Delays, to weary
and ruine the poor Client who has a Right, but no Money; they come
directly to the Merits of the Cause, and never endeavour by their
Rhetorick to put a fair Face on a bad one; and not one, if his Client
does not deceive him, will appear on the Side of Oppression or
Injustice; and if he is himself impos'd upon, when he perceives it, he
will not defend the Wrong. This Care of examining into the Probity of
the Students, and Candidates for the Bar, is the Reason our Lawyers are
very near in as great Reputation as our Priests.
Do you know from what you have said, _Probusomo_, that I conclude
your Statesmen Fools, and that you will soon fall a Prey to some
other Nation; or you either very ignorant of your National Affairs,
or a very great Lyar; or otherwise think me easily impos'd upon. I
have been many Years at the Head of the _Cacklogallinian_ Affairs,
under our August Master, _Hippomina Connuferento_, Darling of the
Sun, Delight of the Moon, Terror of the Universe, Gate of Happiness,
Source of Honour, Disposer of Kingdoms, and High Priest of the
_Cacklogallinian_ Church. I have, I say, long, in Obedience to this
Most Potent Prince, acted as Prime Minister, and to tell me, that
such a one will baulk his Master's, or his own Interest, on the
Score of Religion; nay, in his publick Capacity, that he believes
one Word of it, or has Ears for Justice or Compassion, wou'd be the
same thing as telling me, a Flatterer, in his Encomiums has a strict
Eye to Truth, or that a Poet who writes in Praise of great Men,
believes them really possess'd of the Virtues he attributes to 'em,
and has no other View in his Epistle than that of edifying others,
by shewing the bright Example of his Patrons. My Business now calls
me to Court; the Emperor, as yet, has never heard of you: For
whoever dares acquaint him with any thing, without my Permission,
passes his Time very ill. To Morrow, I'll present you to His
Majesty.
He left the Room, and I retired to my Apartment, where none cou'd come
at me, but who pass'd thro' my Lord's, which was Death to do, or even
to fly within Twenty Yards of his House, without Permission. Nay, the
proudest among them, and those of the highest Rank alight at his
Outer-gate, and walk into the House.
The next Morning my Lord came into my Apartment:
"Well, _Probusomo_, said he, I intend this Day to present you to his
Imperial Majesty; and tho' you are of a Species hitherto unknown in
our Parts of the World, and are, for that Reason, look'd upon as a
kind of Monster, as perhaps one of us should be, were we to appear
in your Nation, yet I have observ'd some Points of Discretion in
your Behaviour, and I begin to have a Kindness for you, for which
Reason I intend to instruct you how to demean your self; and if you
are wise enough to act and be guided by the Counsels I shall
prescribe to you, while you are at Court, I can, in spite of your
awkard Form, get you naturalized, and then perhaps may prefer you to
some Charge in the Government, considerable enough to enable you to
pass the rest of your Days in Ease and Plenty.
"You that don't know what a Court is (_proceeded he_) should receive
some Idea of it before you enter there. You must first be informed,
that Emperors do not always trouble themselves with the Affairs of
State; for they sometimes pass their whole Lives in a continued
Round of indolent Pleasures, while their Favourites govern all. I
don't doubt but you have already made your Observation upon the
servile Crowd who attend my Motions, who wait upon my Commands, with
an Obsequiousness that perhaps is not practised in your Parts of the
World, betwixt Creatures of the same Species, yet many of them hate
me, as I do them,--perhaps you'll think this strange; but when the
secret Springs of this Attachment to my Interest come to unfold
themselves to you, which will soon happen, by the Observations I see
you are capable of making, your Admiration will cease. However, I
shall be a little particular in explaining some Matters to you, that
you may thereby be the better qualified to serve my
Interest.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|