nse of Shaftesbury, and
concluded his harangue with the greatest part of that frothy writer's
rhapsody, which he repeated with all the violence of enthusiastic
agitation, to the unspeakable satisfaction of his entertainer, and
the unutterable admiration of Pallet, who looked upon him as something
supernatural and divine.

So intoxicated was this vain young man with the ironical praises of
Pickle, that he forthwith shook off all reserve; and having professed
a friendship for our hero, whose taste and learning he did not fail to
extol, intimated in plain terms, that he was the only person, in these
latter ages, who possessed that genius, that portion of the divinity,
or Ti Theion, which immortalized the Grecian poets: that as Pythagoras
affirmed the spirit of Euphorbus had transmigrated into his body, he,
the doctor, strangely possessed with the opinion that he himself was
inspired by the soul of Pindar; because, making allowance for the
difference of languages in which they wrote, there was a surprising
affinity between his own works and those of that celebrated Theban; and
as a confirmation of this truth, he immediately produced a sample of
each, which, though in spirit and versification as different as the Odes
of Horace and our present poet-laureat, Peregrine did not scruple to
pronounce altogether congenial, notwithstanding the violence he by
this sentence offered to his own conscience, and a certain alarm to
his pride, that was weak enough to be disturbed by the physician's
ridiculous vanity and presumption, which, not contented with displaying
his importance in the world of taste and polite literature, manifested
itself in arrogating certain material discoveries in the province of
physic, which could not fail to advance him to the highest pinnacle of
that profession, considering the recommendation of his other talents,
together with a liberal fortune which he inherited from his father.

CHAPTER XLIV.

The Doctor prepares an Entertainment in the Manner of the Ancients,
which is attended with divers ridiculous Circumstances.

In a word, our young gentleman, by his insinuating behaviour, acquired
the full confidence of the doctor, who invited him to an entertainment,
which he intended to prepare in the manner of the ancients. Pickle,
struck with this idea, eagerly embraced the proposal, which he honoured
with many encomiums, as a plan in all respects worthy of his genius and
apprehension; and the day was