Paul Clifford

unrevealed t

t the hapless h

iefs,-permit

nders of your

AEneid,

Lobkins's protege. He now inhabited a second-floor, and defied the sheriff and his

upon his labours; and an infant cat played sportively at his learned feet, beguiling the weary moments with t

mist which hung about the chamber, perceived the pe

g? I tell you, sir, that manners are no less essential to human happiness than virtue; wherefore

d into his critical compositions, affected not to perceive the pewter Hippocrene, and with many apologies for his wa

Paul, "were very great

critic; "we make it a rule in ou

aul, "they were wr

Ignoramu

, Mr. MacGrawler!" sa

y recovering his characteristic, acumen, he observed, "It

riticism," renewed Paul, "mu

sir, that is not difficult -

ghed Paul;

either from fear of his superior knowledge, as the critic's vanity suggest

distinct and loud intonation to the voice of all who set, or think they set, thei

vating his eyebrows; "w-h-e-w! grea

against arrogance and presumption was expected to issue from those portals of wisdom, yet such is the fallacy of all human hopes, that Paul's of a surety would have

legs of mutton, as the critic of "The Asinaeum" have laid "the flattering unction to his soul" that he was really skilled in the art of criticism, or even acquainted with one of its commonest rules, because he could with all speed cut up and disjoint any work, from the smallest to the greatest, from the most superficial to the most superior; and thus it was that he never had the want

ro with a benignant air, Mr

mely, 'to tickle, to slash, and to plaster.' In each of these three I believe without vanity I am a profound adept! I will initiate you into all. Your labours shall begin this very evening. I have three works on my table; they must be despatched by tomorrow night. I wi

be able to read an epic in twelve books, and I should fall asleep in the first page of th

. MacGrawler could not restrain a smile of ine

mance in question must be tickled; it is not given to ra

explain the words of the a

t and branch. To plaster a book is to employ the dative, or giving case; and you must bestow on the work all the superlatives in the language - you must lay on your praise thick and thin, and not leave a crevice untrowelled. But to tickle, sir, is a com

the plot utterly improbable, the thoughts hackneyed, and the style ungrammatical - yet we would by no means discourage th

t the evident haste in which they were written. The author might do better - we recommend him a study of the be

to remember the fate of Pyrenaeus, who, attempting to pursue the Muses, forgot that he had not

rt of tickle, and may be reserved for one of the Quar

utation! Some fine ladies think him a great philosopher, and he has been praised i

I have selected the foregoing example from the criticisms of a disting

ral all tickles may be supposed to signify, however disguised, one or other of these meanings: 'This book would be exc

eral idea of the superior

rt of hysterical sound between a laug

e extract. But it is not often necessary to extract when you slash or when you plaster; when you slash, it is better in general to conclude with: 'After what we have said, it is unnecessary to add that we cannot offend the taste of our reader

Scaliger and MacGrawler. Doubtless you are reconciled to the task I have allotted y

mplicity which becomes the virtuously ambitious; and MacGrawler fo

d he evinced a peculiar genius in that branch of composition. And then it was that Paul, made conceited

ceive for the plastered Ep

s Nepos, receiveth not the sugared epithet of praise, but a sudden stroke across the os humerosve [Face or shoulders] even

Asinaeum,' will you not be sufficiently paid, sir, by the honour? Answer me that. Another man, young gentleman, would have charged you a premium for his instructions; and here have I, in one lesson, imparte

wler, I shall get nothing

three shillings an article!" Almost more than he deserves, the critic

kicked with one kick the cat, the Epic, and the Inquiry to the

etimes break forth despite of the after blessings of education; and we set not up Paul for thine

was retreating in high dudgeon towards the door, h

should receive nothing; yet my great love for you may induce me to bestir myself on your behalf. The 'Asinaeum,' I it is true, only gives three shillings an

sily pacified; he reseated himself,

ery low in the world just at present, and must get money in some way or another - in

c, declared his determination not to return to the Mug, and requested, at least, fr

ard his quondam pupil, despite of his present poverty; and, moreover, although the first happy project of pocketing all the profits derivable from Paul's industry was now abandoned, he still perceived great facility in pocketing a part of the same receipts. He therefore answered Paul very warmly, that he fully sympathized with him in his present melancholy situation; that, so far as he was concerned, he would share his last shilling with his beloved pupil, but that he regretted at that moment he had only eleven-pence halfpenny in his pocket; that he would, however, exert himself to the utmost in procuring an opening for Paul's literary genius; and that, if Paul liked to take the slashing and plastering part of the business on himself, he would willin