Why weavers, gardeners, and gladiators--or a man with a pined leg (proceeding from some ailment in the _foot_)--should ever have had some tender nymph breaking her heart in secret for them, are points well and duly settled and accounted for by ancient and modern physiologists.
A water-drinker, provided he is a profess'd one, and does it without fraud or covin, is precisely in the same predicament: not that, at first sight, there is any consequence, or show of logic in it, "That a rill of cold water dribbling through my inward parts, should light up a torch in my _Jenny's_--"
----The proposition does not strike one; on the contrary, it seems to run opposite to the natural workings of causes and effects----
But it shews the weakness and imbecility of human reason.
----"And in perfect good health with it?"
--The most perfect, --Madam, that friendship herself could wish me----
"And drink nothing! --nothing but water?"
--Impetuous fluid! the moment thou pressest against the flood-gates of the brain----see how they give way!----
In swims CURIOSITY, beckoning to her damsels to follow--they dive into the centre of the current----
FANCY sits musing upon the bank, and with her eyes following the stream, turns straws and bulrushes into masts and bowsprits ----And DESIRE, with vest held up to the knee in one hand, snatches at them, as they swim by her with the other----
O ye water-drinkers! is it then by this delusive fountain, that ye have so often governed and turn'd this world about like a mill-wheel-- grinding the faces of the impotent--bepowdering their ribs--bepeppering their noses, and changing sometimes even the very frame and face of nature----
If I was you, quoth _Yorick_, I would drink more water, _Eugenius_ --And, if I was you, _Yorick_, replied _Eugenius_, so would I.
Which shews they had both read _Longinus_----
For my own part, I am resolved never to read any book but my own, as long as I live.
Why weavers, gardeners, and gladiators - or a man with a wasted leg - should ever have had some tender nymph breaking her heart in secret for them, are points well accounted for by ancient and modern physiologists.
A water-drinker, provided he is a professed one, and does it without fraud, is precisely in the same predicament: not that, at first sight, there is any logic in it, 'That a rill of cold water dribbling through my inward parts, should light up a torch in my Jenny's-'
- It seems to run opposite to the natural workings of causes and effects-
But it shows the weakness of human reason.
- 'And you are in perfect good health? And drink nothing but water?'
Impetuous fluid! the moment thou pressest against the flood-gates of the brain - see how they give way!
In swims Curiosity with her damsels - they dive into the centre of the current-
Fancy sits musing upon the bank, and, watching the stream, turns straws and bulrushes into masts and bowsprits. And Desire, with her vest held up in one hand, snatches at them with the other, as they swim by-
O ye water-drinkers! is it by this delusive fountain, that ye have so often turned this world around like a mill-wheel - grinding the faces of the impotent - bepeppering their noses, and changing the very face of nature-
'If I was you,' quoth Yorick, 'I would drink more water, Eugenius.'
'And, if I was you, Yorick,' replied Eugenius, 'so would I.'
Which shows they had both read Longinus-
For my own part, I am resolved never to read any book but my own, as long as I live.
Book 8 - Chapter 5